Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
28/11/2017Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, a'r cwestiwn cyntaf, David Melding.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from David Melding.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gyllideb Rhentu Doeth Cymru? OAQ51384
1. Will the First Minister make a statement on the budget of Rent Smart Wales? OAQ51384
Yes. Rent Smart Wales is self-financing through fees. We do, however, support local authorities to promote and enforce registration with Rent Smart Wales.
Gwnaf. Mae Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn ariannu ei hun drwy ffioedd. Rydym ni, fodd bynnag, yn cynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol i hyrwyddo a gorfodi cofrestriad gyda Rhentu Doeth Cymru.
First Minister, according to the freedom of information request put forward by the Residential Landlords Association, Rent Smart Wales is currently operating at over double its projected cost. At the end of February 2017, it had hired 50 full-time equivalents to administer the scheme, which is five times the projection of your regulatory impact assessment. Was the Welsh Government naive in its estimates of the administrative costs of Rent Smart Wales, or is inefficiency at Rent Smart Wales to blame?
Prif Weinidog, yn ôl y cais rhyddid gwybodaeth a wnaed gan y Gymdeithas Landlordiaid Preswyl, mae Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn gweithredu ar dros ddwbl ei gost rhagamcanol ar hyn o bryd. Erbyn diwedd mis Chwefror 2017, roedd wedi cyflogi 50 o weithwyr cyfwerth ag amser llawn i weinyddu'r cynllun, sydd bum gwaith yr amcanestyniad o'ch asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol. A oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn naïf yn ei hamcangyfrifon o gostau gweinyddol Rhentu Doeth Cymru, neu ai aneffeithlonrwydd yn Rhentu Doeth Cymru sydd ar fai?
As I said, Rent Smart Wales is entirely self-financing. It's paid for through the fees for registration and licensing of landlords and agents, and it's a matter for Rent Smart Wales, of course, which is run by Cardiff council, to explain its operating costs and what it does with the personnel that it has.
Fel y dywedais, mae Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn ariannu ei hun yn llwyr. Telir amdano drwy ffioedd ar gyfer cofrestru a thrwyddedu landlordiaid ac asiantau, a mater i Rhentu Doeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, sy'n cael ei redeg gan gyngor Caerdydd, yw esbonio ei gostau gweithredu a'r hyn y mae'n ei wneud gyda'r personél sydd ganddo.
First Minister, how does the work of Rent Smart Wales help towards supporting the most vulnerable members of our society who live in private rented accommodation?
Prif Weinidog, sut mae gwaith Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn helpu tuag at gynorthwyo aelodau mwyaf agored i niwed ein cymdeithas sy'n byw mewn llety rhent preifat?
Rent Smart Wales ensures that anyone involved in the letting and management of properties is both fit and proper and trained. The fit-and-proper-person test makes sure that nobody with unspent criminal convictions can have any involvement with a tenant, particularly important, of course, when dealing with vulnerable tenants. And training ensures that a landlord or agent is aware of their legal responsibilities, especially in terms of the safety of the property they let.
Mae Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod unrhyw un sy'n ymwneud â gosod a rheoli adeiladau yn addas a phriodol ac wedi ei hyfforddi. Mae'r prawf person addas a phriodol yn gwneud yn siŵr na all neb ag euogfarnau troseddol heb eu disbyddu gael unrhyw gyswllt â thenant, sy'n arbennig o bwysig, wrth gwrs, wrth ymdrin â thenantiaid agored i niwed. Ac mae hyfforddiant yn sicrhau bod landlord neu asiant yn ymwybodol o'i gyfrifoldebau cyfreithiol, yn enwedig o ran diogelwch yr adeilad y mae'n ei osod.
First Minister, figures released last week showed that 86,238 landlords are now registered, meaning an estimated 3,762 are letting properties illegally. Registering as landlords costs £33.50 if completed online, and £80.50 on paper, irrespective of the number of properties they have. The scheme was launched on 23 November 2015, giving landlords 12 months to register, before it became law last year. First Minister, isn't it time that all landlords followed the example of the vast majority and live up to their social obligations to their tenants, comply with the law and deliver decent housing conditions in Wales? And what can the Welsh Government do to aid bringing those who, for whatever reason, continue to flout the law—?
Prif Weinidog, dangosodd ffigurau a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf bod 86,238 o landlordiaid wedi eu cofrestru erbyn hyn, sy'n golygu bod amcangyfrif o 3,762 yn gosod adeiladau yn anghyfreithlon. Mae cofrestru fel landlordiaid yn costio £33.50 os caiff ei wneud ar-lein, ac £80.50 ar bapur, waeth faint o adeiladau sydd ganddyn nhw. Lansiwyd y cynllun ar 23 Tachwedd 2015, gan roi 12 mis i landlordiaid gofrestru, cyn iddo ddod yn gyfraith y llynedd. Prif Weinidog, onid yw'n bryd i bob landlord ddilyn esiampl y mwyafrif llethol a chyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau cymdeithasol i'w tenantiaid, cydymffurfio â'r gyfraith a darparu amodau tai addas yng Nghymru? A beth all Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i helpu i ddod â'r rheini sydd, am ba reswm bynnag, yn parhau dorri'r gyfraith—?
Well, I absolutely agree that those landlords who have, as yet, failed to come forward need to do that now. They are breaking the law. If landlords come forward now, they may escape any financial penalties for non-compliance. If they don't come forward now and are subsequently found out, then, of course, Rent Smart Wales could issue fines, take them to court for prosecution, and they even have the power to remove their ability to let or manage properties. So, the sanctions are there. It's hugely important that landlords avoid those sanctions by complying with the law.
Wel, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr bod angen i'r landlordiaid hynny sydd wedi methu, hyd yma, â dod ymlaen, wneud hynny nawr. Maen nhw'n torri'r gyfraith. Os daw landlordiaid ymlaen nawr, efallai y byddan nhw'n osgoi unrhyw gosbau ariannol am beidio â chydymffurfio. Os na fyddan nhw'n dod ymlaen nawr ac yn cael eu darganfod yn ddiweddarach, yna, wrth gwrs, gallai Rhentu Doeth Cymru gyflwyno dirwyon, mynd â nhw i'r llys i'w herlyn, ac mae'r grym ganddyn nhw hyd yn oed i ddiddymu eu gallu i osod neu reoli adeiladau. Felly, mae'r cosbau yno. Mae'n hynod bwysig bod landlordiaid yn osgoi'r cosbau hynny trwy gydymffurfio â'r gyfraith.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl i oedolion yng Nghymru? OAQ51382
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on adult mental health services in Wales? OAQ51382
Improving mental health services continues to be a priority for the Welsh Government and we have committed a further £40 million for mental health services over the next two years.
Mae gwella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru ac rydym ni wedi ymrwymo £40 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf.
First Minister, I'm really glad to see that you are increasing the resources for those suffering with mental health problems. But what I'm finding in Aberconwy is the interpretation of the Mental Health Act 1983—. And I know that many our patients are finding this very hard to navigate when it comes to support required. Even I, when I'm dealing on behalf of my constituents—it's really hard to ensure that statutory bodies are complying with this legislation, even down to treatment and care plans. When you ask the statutory partners responsible for a copy of the treatment and care plan, more often than not, we have to wait weeks to receive them. They've never, ever been written up in advance. I'm talking about people with complex mental health conditions. What will you do, as First Minister please, to ensure that it's not just the case of throwing money at this, and that strategic and well-intentioned plans are in place for these people who are, on some occasions, falling through the net and becoming very, very vulnerable indeed?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n wirioneddol falch o weld eich bod chi'n cynyddu'r adnoddau ar gyfer y rhai sy'n dioddef problemau iechyd meddwl. Ond yr hyn yr wyf i'n ei weld yn Aberconwy yw'r dehongliad o Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl 1983—. A gwn fod llawer o'n cleifion yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn dod o hyd i'w ffordd drwy hyn o ran y cymorth sydd ei angen. Rwyf i hyd yn oed, pan rwy'n gweithredu ar ran fy etholwyr—mae'n anodd iawn sicrhau bod cyrff statudol yn cydymffurfio â'r ddeddfwriaeth hon, hyd yn oed o ran cynlluniau gofal a thriniaeth. Pan fyddwch chi'n gofyn i'r partneriaid statudol cyfrifol am gopi o'r cynllun triniaeth a gofal, yn amlach na pheidio, mae'n rhaid i ni aros am wythnosau i'w derbyn. Nid ydyn nhw erioed wedi cael eu hysgrifennu ymlaen llaw. Rwy'n sôn am bobl sydd â chyflyrau iechyd meddwl cymhleth. Beth wnewch chi , fel Prif Weinidog os gwelwch yn dda, i sicrhau nad yw'n achos syml o daflu arian at hyn, a bod cynlluniau strategol sy'n llawn bwriadau da ar waith ar gyfer y bobl hyn sydd, weithiau, yn syrthio drwy'r rhwyd ac yn dod yn hynod agored i niwed?
We do expect, of course, public bodies to comply with the law. She asks about what structure should be in place. Leaving aside the issue of the amount of money available, our 10-year mental health strategy, 'Together for Mental Health', takes a population approach to improving the mental well-being of people in Wales and supporting people with a mental illness. We want to make sure that people can have access to talking therapies, for example. We're looking at ways of helping young people even more, and she will be aware, of course, of the money that's being put in place for child and adolescent mental health services. But we certainly expect that, where public bodies are expected to comply with legislation, they do so.
Rydym ni yn disgwyl, wrth gwrs, i gyrff cyhoeddus gydymffurfio â'r gyfraith. Mae hi'n gofyn pa strwythur ddylai fod ar waith. Gan adael o'r neilltu y mater o faint o arian sydd ar gael, mae ein strategaeth iechyd meddwl 10 mlynedd, 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl', yn mabwysiadu dull poblogaeth o wella llesiant meddyliol pobl yng Nghymru a chynorthwyo pobl â salwch meddwl. Rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr y gall pobl gael mynediad at therapïau siarad, er enghraifft. Rydym ni'n ystyried ffyrdd o helpu pobl ifanc hyd yn oed yn fwy, a bydd yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, o'r arian sy'n cael ei roi ar waith ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed. Ond rydym ni'n sicr yn disgwyl, pan ddisgwylir i gyrff cyhoeddus gydymffurfio â deddfwriaeth, eu bod nhw'n gwneud hynny.
First Minister, let me tell you about a 30-year-old man, who, after a mental health crisis, presented himself to Ysbyty Gwynedd, was then transferred overnight, on a six-and-a-half-hour journey, to a hospital in the south-east of England. His family was able to negotiate a handover to the home treatment team, so, after a week, he was returned home, but describes being accompanied back to his house, flanked by two guards, as embarrassing and traumatic. The whole experience he says left him feeling like a criminal and not a vulnerable patient. This is clearly unacceptable. So, what action will the Government take to address the shortage of mental health beds not just in north Wales, but throughout the country, and to include investment in beds themselves and staff, and also in home treatment teams?
Prif Weinidog, gadewch i mi ddweud wrthych chi am ddyn 30 mlwydd oed, a aeth, ar ôl argyfwng iechyd meddwl, i Ysbyty Gwynedd, cyn cael ei drosglwyddo dros nos, ar daith chwe awr a hanner, i ysbyty yn ne-ddwyrain Lloegr. Llwyddodd ei deulu i gytuno trosglwyddiad i'r tîm triniaeth yn y cartref, felly, ar ôl wythnos, fe'i dychwelyd adref, ond mae'n disgrifio ei brofiad o gael ei hebrwng yn ôl i'w dŷ, gan ddau warchodwr, fel un annifyr a thrawmatig. Fe wnaeth yr holl brofiad ei adael yn teimlo fel troseddwr ac nid claf agored i niwed. Mae hyn yn amlwg yn annerbyniol. Felly, pa gamau wnaiff y Llywodraeth eu cymryd i roi sylw i'r prinder gwelyau iechyd meddwl nid yn unig yn y gogledd, ond ledled y wlad, ac i gynnwys buddsoddiad yn y gwelyau eu hunain a staff, ac mewn timau triniaeth yn y cartref hefyd?
Well, the Member gives an example there that deserves further investigation. It's very difficult to comment on it without knowing more about it, but, if he wishes to write to me with more details, I would of course be pleased to investigate that for him. He asked the question as well on mental health spending. Well, of course, mental health spending is ring-fenced in Wales, and we plan to increase that funding by a further £20 million to nearly £650 million in 2018-19.
Wel, mae'r aelod yn rhoi enghraifft yn y fan yna sy'n haeddu ymchwiliad pellach. Mae'n anodd iawn gwneud sylwadau ar hynny heb wybod mwy am y peth, ond, os hoffai ysgrifennu ataf gyda rhagor o fanylion, byddwn wrth gwrs yn falch o ymchwilio i hynny ar ei ran. Gofynnodd y cwestiwn hefyd am wariant iechyd meddwl. Wel, wrth gwrs, mae gwariant ar iechyd meddwl wedi ei neilltuo yng Nghymru, ac rydym ni'n bwriadu cynyddu'r cyllid hwnnw gan £20 miliwn ychwanegol i bron i £650 miliwn yn 2018-19.
First Minister, despite the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010, nearly a quarter of patients in Wales wait longer than 28 days for a local primary mental health support services assessment, and 20 per cent of those patients will wait more than 28 days for treatment following the assessment. In recent months, we have had warnings about insufficient consultant psychiatrists and problems recruiting sufficient psychologists. First Minister, what is your Government doing to improve recruitment of trained mental health clinical staff and put an end to lengthy delays in mental health treatment in Wales?
Prif Weinidog, er gwaethaf Mesur Iechyd Meddwl (Cymru) 2010, mae bron chwarter y cleifion yng Nghymru yn aros yn hwy na 28 diwrnod am asesiad gwasanaethau cymorth iechyd meddwl sylfaenol lleol, a bydd 20 y cant o'r cleifion hynny yn aros mwy na 28 diwrnod am driniaeth yn dilyn yr asesiad. Yn y misoedd diwethaf, rydym ni wedi cael rhybuddion am brinder seiciatryddion ymgynghorol a phroblemau yn recriwtio digon o seicolegwyr. Prif Weinidog, beth mae eich Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i wella'r broses o recriwtio staff clinigol iechyd meddwl wedi'u hyfforddi a rhoi terfyn ar oediadau hirfaith cyn cael triniaeth iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru?
Well, we have, of course, in place a recruitment campaign, which has proven very successful. We put extra resources into CAMHS when that was needed, when demand did become very high and that demand needed to be satisfied. I can say that more than 154,000 people have been seen by local primary mental health support services since their introduction, as part of the implementation of the Measure in 2012, and over 82,000 people have received therapeutic interventions by their LPMHSS. So, we know that many people have benefited from that Measure, and we can see, of course, that the budget is ring-fenced for mental health, to ensure that sufficient resource is available.
Wel, mae gennym ni ymgyrch recriwtio ar waith, wrth gwrs, sydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn. Rydym ni wedi neilltuo adnoddau ychwanegol i CAMHS pan oedd hynny'n angenrheidiol, pan ddaeth galw yn uchel iawn a bod angen bodloni'r galw hwnnw. Gallaf ddweud bod mwy na 154,000 o bobl wedi eu gweld gan wasanaethau cymorth iechyd meddwl sylfaenol lleol ers eu cyflwyno, yn rhan o weithrediad y Mesur yn 2012, ac mae dros 82,000 o bobl wedi derbyn ymyraethau therapiwtig gan eu LPMHSS. Felly, rydym ni'n gwybod bod llawer o bobl wedi elwa ar y Mesur hwnnw, a gallwn weld, wrth gwrs, bod y gyllideb wedi ei neilltuo ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, i sicrhau bod adnoddau digonol ar gael.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the opposition, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. First Minister, tomorrow, there'll be a motion before the Assembly to ask the Assembly's permission to set up an inquiry by the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister to scrutinise the allegations that have been made about the time in office of Leighton Andrews, and your special adviser, Steve Jones. I understand the leader of the house will respond to that debate tomorrow, which is quite right, because it's organising Assembly business. But I'm just working out in my own mind—I'm sure many other people are trying to work out in their own mind—why the Government has tabled a 'delete all' amendment to that motion, and why you have an objection to the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister undertaking this piece of work, on what certainly is not a political point, I would suggest; it is merely trying to get to the bottom of the allegations that have been made.
Diolch i chi, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, yfory, bydd cynnig gerbron y Cynulliad i ofyn caniatâd y Cynulliad i sefydlu ymchwiliad gan y Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog i graffu ar yr honiadau a wnaed am gyfnod Leighton Andrews a'ch cynghorwr arbennig, Steve Jones, yn eu swyddi. Rwy'n deall y bydd arweinydd y tŷ yn ymateb i'r ddadl honno yfory, sy'n gwbl gywir, gan ei fod yn achos o drefnu busnes y Cynulliad. Ond rwy'n ceisio gweithio allan yn fy meddwl fy hun—rwy'n siŵr bod llawer o bobl eraill yn ceisio gweithio allan yn eu meddyliau eu hunain—pam mae'r Llywodraeth wedi cyflwyno gwelliant 'dileu popeth' i'r cynnig hwnnw, a pham mae gennych chi wrthwynebiad i'r Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog ymgymryd â'r darn hwn o waith, ar yr hyn y mae'n sicr nad yw'n bwynt gwleidyddol, byddwn yn awgrymu; y cwbl mae'n ei wneud yw ceisio mynd at wraidd yr honiadau a wnaed.
Well, I take the view that an independent process is the best way of doing that, and that's why we've tabled the amendment that we have.
Wel, rwyf i o'r farn mai proses annibynnol yw'r ffordd orau o wneud hynny, a dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi cyflwyno'r gwelliant yr ydym ni wedi ei gyflwyno.
Well, surely, the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister is an independent process. People sit on that committee and look objectively at the evidence that's given to the committee, and ultimately determine and provide a report based on that evidence. It was slightly alarming, from the Counsel General's interview on the Politics Show, that he questioned the ability of the Chair—as a Labour Chair—and Labour Members to actually be objective in their scrutiny. I believe that they will act with integrity and objectivity on the evidence that is provided by the witnesses that would come before them. I have the words here, which actually do say, 'the Labour Chair and AMs to act impartially on the subject', which I have stated is clearly not a political subject. [Interruption.] But those are the words—I've got them here in front of me—if, from a sedentary position, the Member wants to talk about them.
So, I do believe that they would act objectively, and I do think it is important for this institution that, if that vote is carried tomorrow, the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister is allowed to undertake that work. Surely that's what that committee actually does. So, I do ask you again to enlarge why you have put that 'delete all' motion down that will prevent the very committee that is charged by this Assembly to scrutinise you and your office and the activities of you and your office while in Government?
Wel, does bosib nad yw Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog yn broses annibynnol. Mae pobl yn eistedd ar y pwyllgor hwnnw ac yn edrych yn wrthrychol ar y dystiolaeth a roddir i'r Pwyllgor, gan wneud penderfyniad a darparu adroddiad yn seiliedig ar y dystiolaeth honno yn y pen draw. Roedd yn peri pryder braidd, o gyfweliad y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ar y Politics Show, ei fod yn amau gallu'r Cadeirydd—fel Cadeirydd Llafur—ac Aelodau Llafur i fod yn wirioneddol wrthrychol yn eu gwaith craffu. Rwyf i'n credu y byddan nhw'n gweithredu gydag uniondeb a gwrthrychedd ar sail y dystiolaeth a ddarperid gan y tystion a fyddai'n dod ger eu bron. Mae'r geiriau gen i yma, sydd yn dweud mewn gwirionedd, 'y Cadeirydd ac ACau Llafur i weithredu'n ddiduedd ar y pwnc', yr wyf i wedi datgan yn eglur nad yw'n bwnc gwleidyddol. [Torri ar draws.] Ond dyna'r geiriau—maen nhw gen i yma o fy mlaen—os yw'r Aelod eisiau eu trafod drwy fod ar ei eistedd.
Felly, rwy'n credu y bydden nhw yn gweithredu'n wrthrychol, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig i'r sefydliad hwn, os derbynnir y bleidlais honno yfory, y caniateir i'r Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog wneud y gwaith hwnnw. Onid dyna mae'r pwyllgor hwnnw'n ei wneud mewn gwirionedd. Felly, gofynnaf eto i chi ymhelaethu ar pam yr ydych chi wedi cyflwyno'r cynnig 'dileu popeth' hwnnw a fydd yn atal yr union bwyllgor y mae'r Cynlluniad hwn yn gosod y cyfrifoldeb arno am graffu arnoch chi a'ch swyddfa a'ch gweithgareddau chi a'ch swyddfa pan eich bod yn y Llywodraeth?
Well, he has been partial himself in the words that he has alleged the Counsel General used—that's the problem. The committee is there to scrutinise me as First Minister—of course it is—but I take the view, and I think reasonable people will take the view, that, where there is an issue such as this, an independent process is the right to process to deal with the issue.
Wel, mae ef ei hun wedi bod yn unochrog yn y geiriau yr oedd yn honni i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol eu defnyddio—dyna'r broblem. Mae'r pwyllgor yno i graffu arnaf i fel Prif Weinidog— wrth gwrs ei fod—ond rwyf i o'r farn, ac rwy'n credu y bydd pobl resymol o'r farn, pan geir mater fel hwn, mai proses annibynnol yw'r broses gywir i ymdrin â'r mater.
Well, it is really regrettable to see that you are not prepared to have confidence in the committees of this Assembly to actually do the work that they are charged with doing and actually listen to the evidence that is given. But, tomorrow, there is a motion and there is an amendment. So, whichever one carries, there will be an inquiry. Can you confirm that Government Ministers or Government Secretaries who will be giving evidence to either one of those investigations will be relieved of collective responsibility and they can speak as individuals when putting the evidence before the investigations? And, above all, I'm not sure how people will vote in this Chamber tomorrow, but it could well boil down to one vote. These allegations are levelled at you as First Minister, and the activities of the First Minister's office. Will you absent yourself from voting in that vote tomorrow, given that it is specifically dealing with allegations—and I level this—which need to either be proved or dismissed and are levelled at you as First Minister? Will you absent yourself from that vote?
Wel, mae'n peri gofid mawr gweld nad ydych chi'n barod i fod â ffydd ym mhwyllgorau'r Cynulliad hwn i wneud y gwaith y maen nhw'n gyfrifol am ei wneud a gwrando ar y dystiolaeth a roddir. Ond, yfory, ceir cynnig a cheir gwelliant. Felly, pa bynnag un fydd yn ennill y bleidlais, bydd ymchwiliad. A allwch chi gadarnhau y bydd Gweinidogion y Llywodraeth neu Ysgrifenyddion y Llywodraeth a fydd yn rhoi tystiolaeth i unrhyw un o'r ymchwiliadau hynny yn cael eu rhyddhau o gyfrifoldeb ar y cyd ac y cânt siarad fel unigolion wrth roi'r dystiolaeth gerbron yr ymchwiliadau? Ac, yn anad dim, nid wyf yn siŵr sut bydd pobl yn pleidleisio yn y Siambr hon yfory, ond mae'n bosibl iawn y gallai fod un bleidlais ynddi. Mae'r cyhuddiadau hyn wedi eu gwneud yn eich erbyn chi fel Prif Weinidog, a gweithgareddau swyddfa'r Prif Weinidog. A wnewch chi absenoli eich hun o bleidleisio yn y bleidlais honno yfory, o ystyried ei bod yn ymdrin yn benodol â honiadau—ac rwy'n gwneud y cyhuddiad hwn—y mae angen naill ai eu profi neu eu hanwybyddu ac sydd wedi eu gwneud yn eich erbyn chi fel Prif Weinidog? A wnewch chi absenoli eich hun o'r bleidlais honno?
Well, I think, by his comments today, the leader of the opposition has shown that it's highly political what he's trying to do; it's nothing to do with it being impartial at all. I saw his comments over the weekend, when he said that he wants an investigation up to the present day, for no apparent reason. Also, he said that the committee should make recommendations about the running of the First Minister's office. It's not a matter for the committee as to how the Welsh Government is run in that way. I am not afraid of an independent process. I'm not afraid of an independent process. I'm not afraid of an independent adviser looking as to whether I've breached the ministerial code, because I'm confident that I have not. I am not afraid of an independent process. I don't know why he is so afraid of an independent process.
Wel, rwy'n credu, ar sail ei sylwadau heddiw, bod arweinydd yr wrthblaid wedi dangos ei fod yn wleidyddol iawn yn yr hyn y mae'n ceisio ei wneud; nid yw'n ymwneud o gwbl â bod yn ddiduedd. Gwelais ei sylwadau dros y penwythnos, pan ddywedodd ei fod eisiau ymchwiliad hyd at heddiw, am ddim rheswm amlwg. Hefyd, dywedodd y dylai'r Pwyllgor wneud argymhellion ynghylch rhedeg Swyddfa'r Prif Weinidog. Nid yw'n fater i'r pwyllgor sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael ei rhedeg yn y modd hwnnw. Nid wyf yn ofni proses annibynnol. Nid wyf yn ofni proses annibynnol. Nid wyf yn ofni cynghorydd annibynnol yn ymchwilio i ba un a ydw i wedi mynd yn groes i'r Cod Gweinidogol, gan fy mod i'n ffyddiog nad wyf i wedi gwneud hynny. Nid wyf yn ofni proses annibynnol. Nid wyf i'n gwybod pam mae e'n ofni proses annibynnol gymaint.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.
The Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood.
Diolch, Llywydd.
First Minister, mental health and children's mental health is one of the biggest issues facing Wales at the moment and, on 27 September last year, you claimed that investment would drive down waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services. You said,
'The resources have been put in and I fully expect the waiting times and the numbers to go down as those resources work through the system.'
Do you stand by that statement?
Diolch, Llywydd.
Prif Weinidog, iechyd meddwl ac iechyd meddwl plant yw un o'r problemau mwyaf sy'n wynebu Cymru ar hyn o bryd ac, ar 27 Medi y llynedd, fe wnaethoch honni y byddai buddsoddiad yn lleihau amseroedd aros am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed. Dywedasoch,
'Mae'r adnoddau wedi eu sefydlu ac rwyf yn llwyr ddisgwyl i'r amseroedd aros a'r niferoedd leihau wrth i'r adnoddau hynny weithio drwy'r system.'
A ydych chi'n glynu wrth y datganiad hwnnw?
Yes, I do. It is right to say, for example, with CAMHS, demand did outstrip what was available. There's no question about that and that's why we put the extra £8 million a year into children and adolescent mental health services in order to deal with that. If we look at the new funding that's been announced for mental health, on top of the general increases, £22 million of new funding has been targeted at improving access to a number of specific services: so, £8 million a year for older person's mental health; the £8 million I've mentioned for CAMHS; £3 million a year for psychological therapies for adult services; more than £0.5 million a year for community perinatal services, and £1.5 million a year in local primary mental health support services to further support the Measure in 2012.
Ydw, mi ydwyf. Mae'n iawn i ddweud, er enghraifft, gyda CAMHS, bod y galw'n fwy na'r hyn a oedd ar gael. Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth am hynny a dyna pam y gwnaethom ni roi'r £8 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn wasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a'r glasoed er mwyn ymdrin â hynny. Os edrychwn ni ar y cyllid newydd sydd yn cael ei gyhoeddi ar gyfer iechyd meddwl, y tu hwnt i'r cynnydd cyffredinol, targedwyd £22 miliwn o gyllid newydd at wella mynediad at nifer o wasanaethau penodol: felly, £8 miliwn y flwyddyn ar gyfer iechyd meddwl pobl hŷn; yr £8 miliwn yr wyf i newydd ei grybwyll ar gyfer CAMHS; £3 miliwn y flwyddyn ar gyfer therapïau seicolegol ar gyfer gwasanaethau i oedolion; mwy na £0.5 miliwn y flwyddyn ar gyfer gwasanaethau amenedigol cymunedol, a £1.5 miliwn y flwyddyn mewn gwasanaethau cymorth iechyd meddwl sylfaenol lleol i gefnogi ymhellach y Mesur yn 2012.
Earlier this year, First Minister, StatsWales changed the way that waiting time numbers were being reported, removing the cases that were regarded as non-CAMHS pathways. This removed 1,700 children—some 74 per cent of the total—from the waiting list in one fell stroke. That makes historic comparisons impossible, but we do now have seven month's worth of new data, which means that we can see what has happened so far this year, and it's clear that waiting times for CAMHS are getting worse. Back in March, 87 per cent of children were waiting less than a month, and now it's 45 per cent. Back in March, no children were waiting longer than 16 weeks for that first appointment, and now one in five children are. That doesn't sound like a driving down of waiting times to me. You've previously argued that there are too many children being referred for specialist treatment. Do you still think that the problem with CAMHS is that too many children are being referred?
Yn gynharach eleni, Prif Weinidog, newidiodd StatsCymru y ffordd yr oedd niferoedd amseroedd aros yn cael eu hadrodd, gan gael gwared ar yr achosion a oedd yn cael eu hystyried fel llwybrau nad oeddent yn CAMHS. Tynnodd hyn 1,700 o blant—tua 74 y cant o'r cyfanswm—oddi ar y rhestr ar unwaith. Mae hynny'n gwneud cymariaethau hanesyddol yn amhosibl, ond mae gennym ni werth saith mis o ddata newydd erbyn hyn, sy'n golygu y gallwn ni weld beth sydd wedi digwydd hyd yn hyn eleni, ac mae'n amlwg bod amseroedd aros ar gyfer CAMHS yn gwaethygu. Yn ôl ym mis Mawrth, roedd 87 y cant o blant yn aros llai na mis, 45 y cant yw hynny erbyn hyn. Yn ôl ym mis Mawrth, nid oedd unrhyw blant yn aros yn hwy na 16 wythnos am yr apwyntiad cyntaf hwnnw, a bellach mae hynny'n wir am un o bob pump o blant. Nid yw hynny'n swnio fel lleihau amseroedd aros i mi. Rydych chi wedi dadlau yn y gorffennol bod gormod o blant yn cael eu hatgyfeirio ar gyfer triniaeth arbenigol. A ydych chi'n dal i gredu mai'r broblem gyda CAMHS yw bod gormod o blant yn cael eu hatgyfeirio?
Well, it is a fact that around 25 per cent to one third of referrals to specialist CAMHS are redirected to other services because the referral is inappropriate for what is a highly specialised service. Now, that's done to ensure that those children who require specialist support are able to receive it in a timely manner. Of course we expect CAMHS to deal with those young people who need help from CAMHS, but we also know that many of those young people who are directed to CAMHS in the first place aren't directed elsewhere to a service that is more appropriate for them.
Wel, mae'n ffaith bod tua 25 y cant i draean o atgyfeiriadau at CAMHS arbenigol yn cael eu hailgyfeirio i wasanaethau eraill gan fod yr atgyfeiriad yn amhriodol ar gyfer yr hyn sy'n wasanaeth hynod arbenigol. Nawr, gwneir hynny i sicrhau bod y plant hynny sydd angen cymorth arbenigol yn gallu ei gael yn brydlon. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n disgwyl i CAMHS ymdrin â'r bobl ifanc hynny sydd angen cymorth gan CAMHS, ond rydym ni hefyd yn gwybod bod llawer o'r bobl ifanc hynny sy'n cael eu cyfeirio at CAMHS yn y lle cyntaf nad ydynt yn cael eu cyfeirio i fannau eraill at wasanaeth sy'n fwy priodol iddyn nhw.
Seventy-four per cent.
When confronted by a long-standing problem, First Minister, it looks like the response of your Government is to move the goalposts and to manipulate the data or to claim that not everyone really needed the service. Now, there are several other examples where, rather than improve services, you've moved the goalposts. It happened with the ambulance service, the number of full-time GPs in the NHS, and last week cancer targets were changed but we don't yet know what to. Yet you still reject Plaid Cymru's call for a 28-day diagnosis target set by the independent cancer task force.
Isn't it time we removed your Government's ability to avoid scrutiny by moving the goalposts? And isn't it time that Wales established an independent body for setting targets and publishing the data against those targets? What will it take, First Minister, for waiting times in CAMHS to be reduced so that children get the treatment that they need?
Saith deg pedwar y cant.
Pan fydd yn wynebu problem hirsefydlog, Prif Weinidog, mae'n ymddangos mai ymateb eich Llywodraeth yw newid y rheolau a thrin y data neu hawlio nad oedd pawb wir angen y gwasanaeth. Nawr, ceir nifer o enghreifftiau eraill lle, yn hytrach na gwella gwasanaethau, yr ydych chi wedi newid y rheolau. Digwyddodd hynny â'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans, nifer y meddygon teulu llawn amser yn y GIG, a newidiwyd y targedau canser yr wythnos diwethaf, ond nid ydym ni'n gwybod i beth eto. Ac eto rydych chi'n dal i wrthod galwad Plaid Cymru am darged diagnosis 28 diwrnod a bennwyd gan y tasglu canser annibynnol.
Onid yw'n bryd i ni gael gwared ar allu eich Llywodraeth i osgoi craffu trwy newid y rheolau? Ac onid yw'n bryd i Gymru sefydlu corff annibynnol ar gyfer gosod targedau a chyhoeddi'r data yn erbyn y targedau hynny? Beth fydd ei angen, Prif Weinidog, i amseroedd aros yn CAMHS gael eu lleihau fel bod plant yn cael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt?
Well, it comes as a surprise to me, as I stand here every week, to suggest that I'm not scrutinised, because I can guarantee Members that certainly I am. Can I make the point that statistics are not changed by Government? They're dealt with independently, and it's up to the UK Statistics Authority to decide how it gathers statistics. It's not something Government decides. Yes, it is true to say, with the ambulance response times, for example, that that was changed, but that put it in a comparable position with England. That's one of the reasons why that was done.
When it comes to looking at cancer targets, these are issues that we look at to make them more effective. The issue I always have with the 28-day diagnosis is that specialists say to me that it's often not possible to do that because of the nature of somebody's cancer. People react in different ways and their diagnosis is done in different ways. I'm not a doctor; I'm just referring to what people have said to me.
Now, she makes the point about making sure that young people get the treatment that they need at the right time, and a priority of the Together for Children and Young People programme is to reduce inappropriate referrals, to examine the way in which specialist mental health services work with primary care and others in social services, education and youth justice and the third sector to ensure that young people do have timely access to appropriate help. But, of course, what is important is that young people, when they're referred, get the right level of service and don't just get defaulted to CAMHS. So, this is a holistic approach that we're taking, and we're confident, if we take into account as well the pilot projects that were announced in September for mental health support in schools, that we will then be able, of course, to ensure that more and more young people get the help and support that they need.
Wel, mae'n syndod i mi, wrth i mi sefyll yma bob wythnos, i awgrymu nad wyf yn destun craffu, oherwydd gallaf sicrhau'r Aelodau fy mod i yn sicr. A gaf i wneud y pwynt nad yw ystadegau yn cael eu newid gan y Llywodraeth? Ymdrinnir â nhw'n annibynnol, a chyfrifoldeb Awdurdod Ystadegau'r DU yw penderfynu sut y mae'n casglu ystadegau. Nid yw'n rhywbeth y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei benderfynu. Ydy, mae'n wir i ddweud, gydag amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys, er enghraifft, y newidiwyd hynny, ond roedd hynny'n eu rhoi mewn sefyllfa gymharol â Lloegr. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y gwnaed hynny.
O ran edrych ar dargedau canser, mae'r rhain yn faterion yr ydym ni'n eu hystyried i'w gwneud yn fwy effeithiol. Y broblem sydd gen i bob amser gyda'r diagnosis 28 diwrnod yw bod arbenigwyr yn dweud wrthyf ei bod yn aml yn amhosibl gwneud hynny oherwydd natur canser rhywun. Mae pobl yn ymateb mewn gwahanol ffyrdd ac mae eu diagnosis yn cael ei wneud mewn gwahanol ffyrdd. Nid wyf i'n feddyg; y cwbl yr wyf yn ei wneud yw cyfeirio at yr hyn y mae pobl wedi ei ddweud wrthyf i.
Nawr, mae hi'n gwneud y pwynt am wneud yn siŵr bod pobl ifanc yn cael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt ar yr adeg gywir, ac un o flaenoriaethau'r rhaglen Law yn Llaw ar gyfer Plant a Phobl Ifanc yw lleihau nifer yr atgyfeiriadau amhriodol, i ystyried y ffordd y mae gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl arbenigol yn gweithio gyda maes gofal sylfaenol ac eraill ym meysydd gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, addysg a chyfiawnder ieuenctid a'r trydydd sector i sicrhau cymorth priodol ar gael yn brydlon i bobl ifanc. Ond, wrth gwrs, yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw bod pobl ifanc, pan eu bod yn cael eu hatgyfeirio, yn cael y lefel briodol o wasanaeth ac nad ydynt yn cael eu hanfon yn uniongyrchol at CAMHS. Felly, mae hwn yn ddull cyfannol yr ydym ni'n ei ddilyn, ac rydym ni'n hyderus, os cymerwn ni i ystyriaeth hefyd y prosiectau arbrofol a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Medi ar gyfer cymorth iechyd meddwl mewn ysgolion, y bydd yn gallu sicrhau wedyn, wrth gwrs, bod mwy a mwy o bobl ifanc yn cael y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt.
Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Neil Hamilton.
Leader of the UKIP group, Neil Hamilton.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. The temperature in this Chamber may rise tomorrow, but I wonder if the First Minister's seen that the Met Office forecasts for outside show that we are likely to have sub-zero temperatures for the next week or two. I wonder if he also saw on Monday in The Guardian that there was a report saying that electricity and gas prices have risen in the last 20 years by three times the rate of inflation and the average household now spends £562 a year on heating and lighting. What it didn't say was that this is overwhelmingly due to the rise in green taxes, which will cost households almost £150 a year from next year, and they've risen by two thirds since 2014 and are now 20 per cent of the typical electricity bill. Considering that a quarter of the households in Wales live in fuel poverty, how can we justify loading these charges upon the poorest and most vulnerable in society?
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Efallai y bydd y tymheredd yn y Siambr hon yn codi yfory, ond tybed a yw'r Prif Weinidog wedi gweld bod rhagolygon y Swyddfa Dywydd ar gyfer y tu allan yn dangos ein bod ni'n debygol o gael tymheredd is-sero dros yr wythnos neu ddwy nesaf. Tybed a welodd hefyd ddydd Llun yn The Guardian fod adroddiad yn dweud bod prisiau trydan a nwy wedi codi o dair gwaith cyfradd chwyddiant yn yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf a bod cartref cyffredin yn gwario £562 flwyddyn ar wresogi a goleuo erbyn hyn. Yr hyn nad oedd yn ei ddweud oedd bod hyn i raddau helaeth iawn oherwydd y cynnydd i drethi gwyrdd, a fydd yn costio bron i £150 y flwyddyn i aelwydydd o'r flwyddyn nesaf, ac maen nhw wedi codi gan ddwy ran o dair ers 2014 ac maen nhw'n 20 y cant o'r Bil trydan nodweddiadol erbyn hyn. O ystyried bod chwarter o aelwydydd yng Nghymru yn byw mewn tlodi tanwydd, sut gallwn ni gyfiawnhau llwytho'r ffioedd hyn ar y bobl dlotaf a mwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas?
This is a man who voted in favour of privatising electricity and gas. That's the reason why prices have gone up. The fact is there's no real competition, people don't really understand how to get the best tariff, despite people's best endeavours to do that. In fact, the service was far better when we had a nationalised provider, and that is something I'd like to see return in the future. It's nothing to do with green taxes. It's all to do with the fact that private companies make profits on the back of ordinary people, something he supported and, in fact, that party over there supports as well.
Dyma ddyn a bleidleisiodd o blaid preifateiddio trydan a nwy. Dyna'r rheswm pam mae prisiau wedi codi. Y ffaith yw nad oes unrhyw gystadleuaeth mewn gwirionedd, nid yw pobl wir yn deall sut i gael y tariff gorau, er gwaethaf ymdrechion gorau pobl i wneud hynny. A dweud y gwir, roedd y gwasanaeth yn well o lawer pan oedd gennym ni ddarparwr gwladoledig, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr hoffwn ei weld yn dychwelyd yn y dyfodol. Nid yw'n ymwneud o gwbl â threthi gwyrdd. Mae'n ymwneud yn gyfan gwbl â'r ffaith fod cwmnïau preifat yn gwneud elw ar draul pobl gyffredin, rhywbeth y gwnaeth ef ei gefnogi ac, yn wir, y mae'r blaid yna draw fan acw yn ei gefnogi hefyd.
The First Minister, of course, did not answer the question. Five per cent of an electricity bill goes in profits to the electricity companies, 20 per cent in green taxes. So, the First Minister is completely wrong. But however bad things are at the minute, things are going to get worse, because the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts, which accompanied the budget papers this year, show that environmental levies will rise from £10.7 billion this year to £13.5 billion by 2022. So, that means that green taxes will then be over £200 per annum for the average electricity user and a third of power bills.
The introduction of smart meters is going to add another £11 billion to that. That's £84 a year extra for the next five years for every household. Also, an extra £2 billion is going to be spent on upgrading transmission lines and infrastructure to cater for remote windfarms. That adds another £25 per household. So, I repeat my question, which the First Minister didn't answer the first time around: how can we justify loading these charges upon the poorest and most vulnerable in society?
Ni wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ateb y cwestiwn, wrth gwrs. Mae pump y cant o fil trydan yn mynd fel elw i'r cwmnïau trydan, 20 y cant mewn trethi gwyrdd. Felly, mae'r Prif Weinidog yn gwbl anghywir. Ond waeth pa mor ddrwg yw pethau ar y funud, mae pethau'n mynd i waethygu, gan fod rhagolygon y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol, a ategodd y papurau cyllideb eleni, yn dangos y bydd ardollau amgylcheddol yn cynyddu o £10.7 biliwn eleni i £13.5 biliwn erbyn 2022. Felly, mae hynny'n golygu y bydd trethi gwyrdd dros £200 y flwyddyn erbyn hynny i'r defnyddiwr trydan cyffredin ac yn draean o filiau ynni.
Mae cyflwyno mesuryddion clyfar yn mynd i ychwanegu £11 biliwn arall at hynny. Mae hynny'n £84 y flwyddyn yn ychwanegol dros y pum mlynedd nesaf i bob aelwyd. Hefyd, mae £2 biliwn ychwanegol yn mynd i gael ei wario ar uwchraddio llinellau trosglwyddo a seilwaith i ddarparu ar gyfer ffermydd gwynt o bell. Mae hynny'n ychwanegu £25 fesul aelwyd. Felly, ailadroddaf fy nghwestiwn, na atebodd y Prif Weinidog y tro cyntaf: sut allwn ni gyfiawnhau llwytho'r ffioedd hyn ar y bobl dlotaf a mwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas?
Well, I mean, first of all, I had some rumbling from the party opposite about the overcharging of customers—in 2015, when my party stood in the general election, they accused us of being Marxists for wanting to put a price cap on energy prices. That's how much they cared for ordinary people. We all know what the Tories are like.
Now, in answer to the question posed by the leader of UKIP, every single method of generating energy costs money—every single method. Nuclear costs a great deal of money as well. Yes, we do want to make sure that we have cleaner, greener energy—it's good for energy security; why would we want to import energy from other countries when we can generate our own in a renewable way? Or is he saying is that we should just have coal-fired power stations absolutely everywhere and more opencast? Because that is the upshot of what he's saying.
Wel, hynny yw, yn gyntaf oll, cefais rywfaint o achwyn gan y blaid gyferbyn am godi gormod ar gwsmeriaid—yn 2015, pan wnaeth fy mhlaid sefyll yn yr etholiad cyffredinol, fe'n cyhuddwyd ganddynt o fod yn Farcswyr am fod eisiau rhoi cap ar brisiau ynni. Dyna faint o ots oedd ganddyn nhw am bobl gyffredin. Rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod sut rai yw'r Torïaid.
Nawr, i ateb y cwestiwn a ofynnwyd gan arweinydd UKIP, mae pob un dull o gynhyrchu ynni yn costio arian—pob un dull. Mae niwclear yn costio llawer iawn o arian hefyd. Ydym, rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni ynni glanach, gwyrddach—mae o les i ddiogelwch ynni; pam y byddem ni eisiau mewnforio ynni o wledydd eraill a ninnau'n gallu cynhyrchu ynni ein hunain mewn modd adnewyddadwy? Neu a yw'n dweud y dylem ni gael gorsafoedd pŵer glo ym mhobman a mwy o gloddio glo brig? Oherwydd dyna ganlyniad yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud.
He refuses to answer the question: how do we justify loading poor people with these excessive charges that are going to grow and grow with every year that passes? The OBR papers—the fiscal supplementary tables—following the budget show that the cost of the Climate Change Act 2008 in 2022 will be nearly £15 billion a year. And, over the next five years, the average household will be spending an enormous amount of its income on green taxes—£66 billion, £2,500 per household, over the next five years, will be taken from household budgets in green taxes. Green taxes are driving poor and vulnerable people into the red.
Mae'n gwrthod ateb y cwestiwn: sut ydym ni'n cyfiawnhau llwytho pobl dlawd gyda'r ffioedd gormodol hyn sy'n mynd i dyfu a thyfu wrth i bob blwyddyn fynd heibio? Mae papurau'r OBR—y tablau atodol cyllidol—yn dilyn y gyllideb yn dangos y bydd cost Deddf Newid yn yr Hinsawdd 2008 yn 2022 bron i £15 biliwn y flwyddyn. A, thros y pum mlynedd nesaf, bydd y cartref cyffredin yn gwario swm enfawr o'i incwm ar drethi gwyrdd—bydd £66 biliwn, £2,500 yr aelwyd, dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, yn cael ei gymryd o gyllidebau aelwydydd mewn trethi gwyrdd. Mae trethi gwyrdd yn gyrru pobl dlawd ac agored i niwed i mewn i'r coch.
He talks about driving poor and vulnerable people into the red; the privatisation of energy was one way of doing that—we know that. His party stood on a programme of a flat tax, which would increase taxes for the vast majority of poorer people, and reduce them for people who are earning more. He's in no position to lecture anybody else about looking after poorer people. Let me ask him this—. At the end of the day, he doesn't believe in climate change. I do, he doesn't. I look at the science, he doesn't. That's the way that he sees it.
I believe that cleaning up the environment costs money. The UK was a mess in the 1980s; it was filthy. The River Irwell in Salford would catch fire if you threw a match into it. Where I live in Bridgend, the River Ogmore would run different colours according to what had been chucked into it by whatever industry was upriver. Nobody says to me, 'I want to go back to those days where the environment was degraded, where the rivers were polluted, where the air was polluted', but it seems to be something that he's more than happy to see again.
Mae'n sôn am yrru pobl dlawd ac agored i niwed i mewn i'r coch; roedd preifateiddio ynni yn un ffordd o wneud hynny—rydym ni'n gwybod hynny. Safodd ei blaid ef ar sail rhaglen o dreth safonol, a fyddai'n cynyddu trethi i'r mwyafrif helaeth o bobl dlotach, a'u lleihau i bobl sy'n ennill mwy. Nid yw mewn unrhyw sefyllfa i bregethu i unrhyw un arall am ofalu am bobl dlotach. Gadewch i mi ofyn hyn iddo—. Yn y pen draw, nid yw'n credu yn y newid yn yr hinsawdd. Rwyf i, nid yw ef. Rwyf i'n edrych ar y gwyddoniaeth, nid yw ef. Dyna'r ffordd y mae'n ei gweld hi.
Rwy'n credu bod glanhau'r amgylchedd yn costio arian. Roedd y DU yn llanastr yn y 1980au; roedd yn fochaidd. Byddai'r afon Irwell yn Salford yn mynd ar dân pe byddech chi'n taflu matsien i mewn iddi. Lle'r wyf i'n byw ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, byddai'r afon Ogwr yn llifo mewn gwahanol liwiau yn dibynnu ar yr hyn oedd wedi cael ei daflu i mewn iddi gan ba bynnag ddiwydiant oedd i fyny'r afon. Nid oes neb yn dweud wrthyf, 'rwyf i eisiau mynd yn ôl i'r dyddiau hynny pan oedd yr amgylchedd wedi ei ddiraddio, pan oedd yr afonydd yn llygredig, pan oedd yr aer yn llygredig', ond mae'n ymddangos ei fod yn rhywbeth y mae ef yn fwy na hapus i'w weld eto.
3. Pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru’n eu cymryd i sicrhau y caiff yr amgylchedd ei ddiogelu’n well dros y 12 mis nesaf? OAQ51368
3. What action will the Welsh Government take to enhance environmental protection in the next 12 months? OAQ51368
A very topical question, if I may say. Through the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the creation of Natural Resources Wales, we already have, of course, some of the most advanced environmental legislation and integrated enforcement arrangements in the world.
Cwestiwn amserol iawn, os caf i ddweud. Trwy Ddeddf yr Amgylchedd (Cymru) 2016, Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 a chreu Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, mae gennym ni eisoes, wrth gwrs, rywfaint o'r ddeddfwriaeth amgylcheddol a threfniadau gorfodi integredig mwyaf datblygedig yn y byd.
Thank you for that reply, First Minister. No less than eight wildlife and countryside charities in Wales have criticised cuts in the environment funding set out in the draft budget. WWF Cymru said that there is an apparent gap between your pledges on the environment and the reality of what's happening on the ground, while others have questioned whether the Welsh Government has provided sufficient resources to deliver legislation such as the environment and well-being of future generations Acts. What message does the First Minister think this cut in funding sends about his Government's commitment to protecting the environment in Wales?
Diolch i chi am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Mae dim llai nag wyth o elusennau bywyd gwyllt a chefn gwlad yng Nghymru wedi beirniadu toriadau i gyllid amgylcheddol a nodwyd yn y gyllideb ddrafft. Dywedodd WWF Cymru ei bod yn ymddangos bod bwlch rhwng eich addewidion ar yr amgylchedd a realiti'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad, tra bod eraill wedi cwestiynu a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu adnoddau digonol i ddarparu deddfwriaeth fel Deddfau'r amgylchedd a llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Pa neges y mae'r Prif Weinidog yn ei gredu y mae'r toriad hwn i gyllid yn ei anfon am ymrwymiad ei Lywodraeth i ddiogelu'r amgylchedd yng Nghymru?
If you look at the local authority environment and sustainable development single revenue grant, a total of £61.79 million has been allocated to the local authorities for 2017-18. That is something that is hugely important, on top of, of course, the spending that will come from Government.
But, again, I say to him and his party, he is in no position to lecture us about money when, yet again, we have a budget that deprives Wales of money, that gives us a mere £200 million over four years to spend, where we end up in a position where we are 7 per cent worse off in real terms [Interruption.]—I know it hurts, but you've got to listen—7 per cent worse off in real terms since 2010, where, when Northern Ireland got £1.67 billion, they made no representations at all for Wales, and where Wales is so insignificant in their thinking, that the leader—and I feel sorry for him now—of the opposition is banned from sitting in the UK Cabinet, even as his Scottish colleague is there. And there they are, sitting lecturing us about standing up for Wales and making sure that we get more money for Wales. We'll do that; they will never do that.
Os edrychwch chi ar grant refeniw sengl yr amgylchedd a datblygu cynaliadwy awdurdodau lleol, dyrannwyd cyfanswm o £61.79 miliwn i'r awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer 2017-18. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n hynod bwysig, yn ogystal, wrth gwrs, â'r gwariant a fydd yn dod gan y Llywodraeth.
Ond, unwaith eto, dywedaf wrtho ef a'i blaid, nad yw mewn unrhyw sefyllfa i bregethu i ni am arian pan, unwaith eto, mae gennym ni gyllideb sy'n amddifadu Cymru o arian, sy'n rhoi dim ond £200 miliwn i ni i'w wario dros bedair blynedd, lle'r ydym ni'n canfod ein hunain mewn sefyllfa lle'r ydym ni 7 y cant yn waeth ein byd mewn termau real [Torri ar draws.]—rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn brifo, ond mae'n rhaid i chi wrando—7 y cant yn waeth ein byd mewn termau real ers 2010, lle, pan gafodd Gogledd Iwerddon £1.67 biliwn, ni wnaethon nhw unrhyw ddadleuon o gwbl dros Gymru, a lle mae Cymru mor ddibwys yn eu hystyriaethau, fel bod arweinydd yr wrthblaid—ac rwy'n teimlo trueni tuag ato erbyn hyn—wedi ei wahardd rhag eistedd yng Nghabinet y DU, er bod ei gydweithiwr o'r Alban yno. Ac dyna nhw, yn eistedd yn y fan yna yn pregethu wrthym ni am sefyll dros Gymru a gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cael mwy o arian i Gymru. Byddwn ni'n gwneud hynny; ni fyddan nhw byth yn gwneud hynny.
Wrth i ni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, mae nifer cynyddol o bobl yn poeni ein bod ni'n cadw'r cyfreithiau amgylcheddol sydd yn amddiffyn yr hyn yr ydych chi newydd ei ddisgrifio—y ffordd yr ŷm ni wedi gwella'r amgylchedd yma yng Nghymru ac ym Mhrydain. Nawr, ddydd Llun, gerbron y pwyllgor materion allanol, fe ddywedoch chi eich bod chi wedi paratoi Bil parhad rhag ofn nad yw'r trafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth San Steffan yn llwyddo i ddarparu'r amddiffyn yma rydym ni'n chwilio amdano fe. Onid ydych chi'n teimlo y byddai fe'n briodol ichi gyhoeddi'r Bil parhad yna ar ffurf drafft nawr fel arwydd cyhoeddus o'ch ymrwymiad a'ch bwriad chi i sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth yma'n parhau wrth ymadael â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd?
As we exit the European Union, an increasing number of people are concerned that we should retain the environmental laws that protect what you’ve just described—mainly the way that we have improved the environment here in Wales and in the UK. Now, on Monday, before the external affairs committee, you said that you had prepared a continuity Bill in case negotiations with the Westminster Government don’t succeed in providing these protections that we’re seeking. Don’t you believe it would be appropriate for you to publish that continuity Bill in draft form now, as a public demonstration of your commitment to ensure that this legislation should remain as we exit the European Union?
Mae yna Fil. Bydd yna benderfyniad ynglŷn â phryd y dylai'r Bil yna gael ei gyhoeddi. Ar hyn o bryd, beth hoffwn ei weld yw'r gwelliannau yn cael eu derbyn gan Dŷ'r Cyffredin. Os yw hynny'n wir, ni fydd eisiau cael Bil parhad, ond mae'n wir i ddweud bod un wedi cael ei ddrafftio.
There is a Bill. There will be a decision about when it should be published. At present, what I would like to see is that the House of Commons accepts the amendments. If that does come to pass, then we won’t need a continuity Bill, but it's true to say that one has been drafted.
First Minister, the Welsh Labour Government has shown that, through its proactive approach to regulation, enforcement and wider initiatives, great progress can be made to protect the Welsh environment. This is clearly evidenced in the Welsh Labour Government's proactive ambition for Wales to recycle 70 per cent of all waste by 2025 and zero waste by 2050, with over 60 per cent of our municipal waste in Wales currently being recycled. What further actions, therefore, can the Welsh Government take to enhance this fantastic and strategic achievement?
Prif Weinidog, mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi dangos, drwy ei dull rhagweithiol o reoleiddio, gorfodi a mentrau ehangach, y gellir gwneud cynnydd mawr i ddiogelu amgylchedd Cymru. Gwelir hyn yn amlwg yn uchelgais rhagweithiol Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru i Gymru ailgylchu 70 y cant o'r holl wastraff erbyn 2025 a bod yn ddi-wastraff erbyn 2050, gyda dros 60 y cant o'n gwastraff dinesig yng Nghymru yn cael ei ailgylchu ar hyn o bryd. Pa gamau pellach, felly, all Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd i wella'r cyflawniad gwych a strategol hwn?
I pay credit to my colleague Lesley Griffiths and those who held the position before her for the fantastic work that's been done on recycling. Back in 2000, we recycled about 4 per cent of waste arisings in Wales. There are stretching targets for the future, but also we need to work with others to make sure that the level of packaging is reduced. It's difficult to do it at the Welsh level, because most of what comes into Wales is packaged and purchased elsewhere, but co-ordinated European action, indeed, worldwide action, to reduce packaging in the first place would reduce waste arisings and make it even easier for us to increase our level of recycling.
Talaf deyrnged i'm cyd-Aelod Lesley Griffiths a'r rheini a oedd yn gwneud y swydd o'i blaen am y gwaith ardderchog a wnaed o ran ailgylchu. Yn ôl yn 2000, roeddem ni'n ailgylchu tua 4 y cant o sgil-gynhyrchion gwastraff yng Nghymru. Ceir targedau ymestynnol ar gyfer y dyfodol, ond mae angen hefyd i ni weithio gydag eraill i wneud yn siŵr bod llai o ddeunydd pacio. Mae'n anodd gwneud hynny ar lefel Cymru, gan fod y rhan fwyaf o'r hyn a ddaw i Gymru yn cael ei becynnu a'i brynu mewn mannau eraill, ond byddai gweithredu Ewropeaidd cydgysylltiedig, gweithredu byd-eang, yn wir, i leihau deunydd pacio yn y lle cyntaf yn lleihau sgil-gynhyrchion gwastraff ac yn ei gwneud yn haws fyth i ni gynyddu ein lefel o ailgylchu.
4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'u cynnal ynghylch cynlluniau i adleoli staff o swyddfa'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn ardal y Mynydd Bychan yng Nghaerdydd? OAQ51378
4. What discussions has the First Minister held regarding plans to relocate staff from the Department for Work and Pensions office in the Heath area of Cardiff? OAQ51378
The former Minister for Skills and Science met with Damian Hinds, the Minister for employment, to discuss the DWP’s estate plans, and he agreed to keep Welsh Government updated on any potential transfer of DWP functions from Gabalfa, and other locations, to a new hub north of Cardiff.
Cafodd y cyn Weinidog Sgiliau a Gwyddoniaeth gyfarfod gyda Damian Hinds, y Gweinidog cyflogaeth, i drafod cynlluniau ystâd yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, a chytunodd i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Lywodraeth Cymru am unrhyw drosglwyddo swyddogaethau posibl yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau o Gabalfa, a lleoliadau eraill, i ganolfan newydd i'r gogledd o Gaerdydd.
I thank the First Minister for that response. I want to make the First Minister aware that a huge number of the staff at the DWP office in Heath in my constituency are absolutely filled with uncertainty and concern at the moment. Many of them are disabled, many of them have caring responsibilities, and some of them will have to travel up to three buses to get the new location, not yet specifically specified, in Nantgarw. This is where other staff will be relocated from other parts of Wales. Could he ensure that their concerns are conveyed to the DWP so that they're not left to this feeling of uncertainty about not knowing what's happening and what's going to happen about the fact that they're going to have to travel so much further and for such a longer time? Many of them will not be able to take up the jobs in Nantgarw.
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb yna. Hoffwn wneud y Prif Weinidog yn ymwybodol bod nifer enfawr o'r staff yn swyddfa'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn y Mynydd Bychan yn fy etholaeth i yn llawn ansicrwydd a phryder ar hyn o bryd. Mae llawer ohonyn nhw yn anabl, mae gan lawer ohonyn nhw gyfrifoldebau gofalu, a bydd yn rhaid i rai ohonyn nhw deithio ar hyd at dri o fysiau i gyrraedd y lleoliad newydd, nad yw wedi ei nodi'n benodol eto, yn Nantgarw. Dyma lle bydd staff eraill yn cael eu hadleoli o rannau eraill o Gymru. A fyddai modd iddo sicrhau bod eu pryderon yn cael eu cyfleu i'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau fel nad ydynt yn cael eu gadael gyda'r teimlad hwn o ansicrwydd o ran peidio â gwybod beth sy'n digwydd a beth sy'n mynd i ddigwydd ynghylch y ffaith eu bod nhw'n mynd i orfod teithio cymaint pellach ac am gyhyd? Ni fydd llawer ohonyn nhw yn gallu derbyn y swyddi yn Nantgarw.
Well, it's a matter, of course, for the DWP, but, at that meeting, what was confirmed by the DWP Minister involved, the Minister for employment, was they were looking to relocate staff from five DWP benefit offices to an office north of Cardiff. It was said that the Minister would keep Welsh Government informed, but, clearly, it's hugely important that people know what is planned and know what the future holds for them as quickly as possible.
Wel, mae'n fater, wrth gwrs, i'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, ond, yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, cadarnhawyd gan y Gweinidog Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau dan sylw, y Gweinidog dros gyflogaeth, eu bod yn bwriadu adleoli staff o bum swyddfa budd-daliadau'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau i swyddfa i'r gogledd o Gaerdydd. Dywedwyd y byddai'r Gweinidog yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Lywodraeth Cymru, ond, yn amlwg, mae'n bwysig dros ben bod pobl yn gwybod beth yw'r cynlluniau ac yn gwybod beth fydd yn digwydd iddyn nhw yn y dyfodol cyn gynted â phosibl.
Unfortunately, we could end up with a large vacant site in north Cardiff to add to eventual vacant sites at the tax office and Tesco House. This could well lead to more contentious housing schemes for north Cardiff. What can your Government do to protect residents from the problem of urban overdevelopment?
Yn anffodus, gallem ni gael safle gwag mawr yng ngogledd Caerdydd yn y pen draw, i ychwanegu at safleoedd a fydd hefyd yn wag yn y pen draw yn y swyddfa dreth a Tesco House. Mae'n bosibl iawn y gallai hyn arwain at fwy o gynlluniau tai dadleuol i ogledd Caerdydd. Beth all eich Llywodraeth ei wneud i ddiogelu trigolion rhag y broblem o orddatblygu trefol?
It's a matter, of course, for Cardiff council to produce its local development plan, ensure there is a five-year housing supply, and, of course, that plan is produced in accordance with national planning guidance.
Mater i gyngor Caerdydd, wrth gwrs, yw llunio ei gynllun datblygu lleol, i sicrhau bod cyflenwad tai pum mlynedd, ac, wrth gwrs, caiff y cynllun hwnnw ei lunio yn unol â chanllawiau cynllunio cenedlaethol.
5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o ragolygon dros y pedwar mis nesaf ar gyfer prynwyr tro cyntaf yn Sir Fynwy? OAQ51388
5. What assessment has the First Minister made of the prospects over the next four months for first-time buyers in Monmouthshire? OAQ51388
Providing opportunity for first-time buyers in Monmouthshire, and, indeed, across Wales, has always been one of our key priorities. Home ownership is a significant part of our 20,000 affordable homes target, and Help to Buy—Wales is supporting this with nearly three quarters of new homes purchased through the scheme being first-time buyers.
Mae cynnig cyfleoedd i brynwyr tro cyntaf yn Sir Fynwy, ac, yn wir, ledled Cymru, wedi bod yn un o'n blaenoriaethau allweddol erioed. Mae perchentyaeth tai yn rhan sylweddol o'n targed o 20,000 o gartrefi fforddiadwy, ac mae Cymorth i Brynu—Cymru yn cynorthwyo hyn gyda bron tri chwarter y cartrefi newydd sy'n cael eu prynu drwy'r cynllun yn brynwyr tro cyntaf.
First Minister, the average Help to Buy house price for first-time buyers in Monmouthshire is £240,000, similar to Gloucestershire across the border. Are you not concerned that, if your Government fails to match England's approach to first-time buyers, some of our young people will leave Wales and buy over the border instead?
Prif Weinidog, £240,000 yw'r pris tai Cymorth i Brynu cyfartalog i brynwyr tro cyntaf yn Sir Fynwy, sy'n debyg i Swydd Gaerloyw ar draws y ffin. Onid ydych chi'n pryderu, os bydd eich Llywodraeth yn methu â dilyn dull cyfatebol i Loegr ar gyfer prynwyr tro cyntaf, y bydd rhai o'n pobl ifanc yn gadael Cymru ac yn prynu dros y ffin yn hytrach?
I'm sure they will be attracted by the fact that council tax is substantially lower in Wales than it is in England under the Conservative Government. But he asked the question about stamp duty. We understand, of course, there will be a need to respond to changes to stamp duty policy following the UK Government budget. Now that the UK Government has announced a relief for first-time buyers, the Cabinet Secretary will give consideration to whether changes should be made to land transaction tax.
Rwy'n siŵr y byddant yn cael eu denu gan y ffaith fod y dreth gyngor yn sylweddol is yng Nghymru nag ydyw yn Lloegr o dan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. Ond gofynnodd y cwestiwn am dreth stamp. Rydym ni'n deall, wrth gwrs, y bydd angen ymateb i newidiadau i bolisi treth stamp yn dilyn cyllideb Llywodraeth y DU. Nawr bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi rhyddhad i brynwyr tro cyntaf, bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ystyried pa un a ddylid gwneud newidiadau i dreth trafodiadau tir.
First Minister, one of the things that first-time buyers in Monmouth share with those in Taff Ely and Pontypridd is the growth of leasehold properties—properties being sold by leasehold creating a whole series of financial issues in respect of ground rent, and in respect of the subsequent reversions or when the periods of years begin to expire. Do you agree with me that the growth of leasehold, for one, is unwelcome within Wales, but secondly, that the Welsh Government should give consideration to barring or abolishing leasehold properties for the future?
Prif Weinidog, un o'r pethau y mae prynwyr tro cyntaf yn Sir Fynwy yn ei rannu gyda'r rheini yn Nhaf Elái a Phontypridd yw cynnydd i eiddo lesddaliadol—eiddo yn cael ei werthu trwy lesddaliad gan greu cyfres gyfan o broblemau ariannol o ran rhent tir, ac o ran yr atchweliadau dilynol neu pan fydd y cyfnodau o flynyddoedd yn dechrau dod i ben. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi nad oes croeso i dwf lesddaliadau, yn un peth, yng Nghymru, ond yn ail, y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru roi ystyriaeth i wahardd neu ddiddymu eiddo lesddaliadol ar gyfer y dyfodol?
There's been a great deal of exploitation of leasehold where leases have come to an end. Of course, there are some areas, as my friend will know, such as apartments and flats, where leasehold tends to be something fairly normal. When it comes to houses, however, Wales has a history, where leaseholds have come to an end in the past, where people have been charged large amounts in order to buy out the land on which their houses actually sit. I think, in the future, it's hugely important that freehold is the tenancy that is normal, as far as housing is concerned. There may be examples, such as community land trusts, where that wouldn't be appropriate, just to make sure that house prices are kept down. But yes, certainly we want to do all that we can to ensure that people are not exploited when leases come to an end, quite often after a period of more than a century.
Bu llawer iawn o gamfanteisio ar lesddaliadau pan oedd lesoedd wedi dod i ben. Wrth gwrs, ceir rhai meysydd, fel y bydd fy ffrind yn gwybod, fel fflatiau, lle mae lesddaliad yn tueddu i fod yn rhywbeth eithaf normal. Pan ddaw i dai, fodd bynnag, mae gan Gymru hanes, pan fo lesddaliadau wedi dod i ben yn y gorffennol, pan godwyd symiau mawr ar bobl i brynu'r tir y mae eu tai yn eistedd arno. Rwy'n credu, yn y dyfodol, ei bod yn bwysig dros ben mai rhydd-ddaliad yw'r denantiaeth sy'n arferol, cyn belled ag y mae tai yn y cwestiwn. Efallai y bydd enghreifftiau, fel ymddiriedolaethau tir cymunedol, lle na fyddai hynny'n briodol, dim ond i wneud yn siŵr bod prisiau tai yn cael eu cadw i lawr. Ond ydym, rydym ni'n sicr eisiau gwneud popeth y gallwn i sicrhau nad yw pobl yn dioddef camfanteisio pan fydd lesddaliadau yn dod i ben, ar ôl cyfnod o fwy na chanrif yn aml iawn.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i gefnogi safleoedd o ddiddordeb hanesyddol ledled Cymru? OAQ51347
6. Will the First Minister outline what the Welsh Government is doing to support sites of historical interest across Wales? OAQ51347
Mae yna 4,000 o henebion ar draws Cymru wedi cael eu rhestru, a thua 30,000 o adeiladau ar draws y wlad yn cael eu gwarchod drwy restru hefyd.
There are 4,000 ancient monuments listed across Wales, and 30,000 buildings across the country protected through listing also.
Brif Weinidog, byddwch chi’n ymwybodol fy mod i, am flynyddoedd bellach, wedi dadlau y dylai awdurdodau lleol fod â dyletswydd statudol i ddiogelu ein cofebion rhyfel. Rydw i’n cydnabod, fel rhan o goffáu y rhyfel byd cyntaf, fod eich Llywodraeth chi wedi lansio cynllun grant i gefnogi atgyweirio a chadw cofebion rhyfel yma yng Nghymru. Yn wir, rydw i yn deall bod grantiau o hyd at £10,000 ar gael o dan y cynllun. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni pa mor llwyddiannus y mae’r cynllun wedi bod hyd yn hyn? A hefyd, a fyddech chi’n fodlon ymrwymo i gyhoeddi dadansoddiad o ble mae’r arian hwnnw wedi ei dderbyn, fel y gallwn ni weld bod pob rhan o Gymru wedi elwa o’r arian yma?
First Minister, you will be aware that I, for many years, have argued that local authorities should have a statutory duty to safeguard our war memorials. Now, I acknowledge, as part of the commemoration of the first world war, that your Government has launched a grant scheme to support monuments here in Wales, and I do understand that grants of up to £10,000 are available under that programme. So, can you tell us how successful that programme has been to date? And would you commit to publishing an analysis of where that money has been spent, so that we can see that all parts of Wales have benefited from that funding?
Rydym yn hyderus iawn bod y cynllun wedi bod yn un llwyddiannus dros ben. Roeddem ni'n moyn sicrhau, wrth gofio’r ffaith bod canmlwyddiant y rhyfel byd cyntaf wedi bod gyda ni dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, fod yna ffordd i sicrhau bod cofebion yn cael eu hailwneud a'u hadnewyddu mewn ffordd lle mae pobl yn gallu deall beth ydyn nhw a bod yna ddigon o falchder yn cael ei roi iddyn nhw hefyd. Rydym ni yn rhoi, wrth gwrs, arian i Cadw, er mwyn sicrhau bod arian cyfalaf gyda nhw hefyd. Nid oes problem gennyf i ynglŷn â sicrhau bod yna restr yn cael ei rhoi i Aelodau ynglŷn â ble mae’r arian wedi mynd. Rwy'n siŵr y gall hynny gael ei wneud, ac rydym ni’n hyderus bod y cynllun wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn.
We are extremely confident that it's been a very successful scheme. Bearing in mind that the centenary of the first world war has been noted over the past few years, it's a way of ensuring that the monuments are renewed and maintained in a way that people can understand what they are, and that there's a feeling of pride in them as well. And, of course, we do give funding to Cadw to ensure that they have capital funding too. I have no problem whatsoever as regards giving you a schedule of the expenditure on the scheme. I'm sure that can be done, and we are confident that the scheme has been extremely successful.
First Minister, I've spoken many times in the Chamber about the need to capitalise on the industrial heritage of Merthyr Tydfil as part of an economic strategy for the whole area, and I'm sure that you'll join me in thanking the organisers and the many experts who recently gave their time at the industrial heritage charrette that was held in Cyfarthfa Castle, which looked at new and innovative ways to develop some of the incredible heritage sites and develop a unique attraction. Would you agree that, in looking to protect historic sites, we must find ways to protect the future of sites like the blast furnaces at Cyfarthfa before we lose them forever, and, at the same time, lose the potential opportunities that they bring to strengthen the local economy?
Prif Weinidog, rwyf wedi siarad droeon yn y Siambr am yr angen i fanteisio ar dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol Merthyr Tudful yn rhan o strategaeth economaidd ar gyfer yr ardal gyfan, ac rwy'n siŵr y gwnewch chi ymuno â mi i ddiolch i'r trefnwyr a'r arbenigwyr lu a roddodd o'u hamser yn ddiweddar yn y digwyddiad treftadaeth ddiwydiannol a gynhaliwyd yng Nghastell Cyfarthfa, a ystyriodd ffyrdd newydd ac arloesol i ddatblygu rhai o'r safleoedd treftadaeth anhygoel a datblygu atyniad unigryw. A ydych chi'n cytuno, wrth geisio diogelu safleoedd hanesyddol, bod yn rhaid i ni ganfod ffyrdd o warchod dyfodol safleoedd fel y ffwrneisi chwyth yng Nghyfarthfa cyn i ni eu colli am byth, ac, ar yr un pryd, colli'r cyfleoedd posibl y maen nhw'n eu cynnig i gryfhau'r economi leol?
I do, and I think the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 has placed us at the forefront of the UK nations in the protection and management of the historic environment. A large proportion of that Act has now been implemented. In addition, of course, I mentioned earlier that Cadw has allocated over £22 million in capital funding to support the maintenance of historic buildings and scheduled monuments in Wales since 2011, with revenue support for maintenance around £6.5 million. So, there is money available, and we want to make sure that we are able to protect as much of Wales's industrial heritage as possible.
Ydw, ac rwy'n credu bod Deddf yr Amgylchedd Hanesyddol (Cymru) 2016 wedi ein rhoi ar flaen y gad ymhlith gwledydd y DU o ran diogelu a rheoli'r amgylchedd hanesyddol. Mae cyfran fawr o'r Ddeddf honno wedi ei gweithredu erbyn hyn. Hefyd, wrth gwrs, soniais yn gynharach bod Cadw wedi dyrannu dros £22 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf i gynorthwyo'r gwaith o gynnal a chadw adeiladau hanesyddol a henebion rhestredig yng Nghymru ers 2011, gyda tua £6.5 miliwn o gymorth refeniw ar gyfer cynnal a chadw. Felly, mae arian ar gael, ac rydym ni eisiau sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu diogelu cymaint o dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol Cymru â phosibl.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i leihau anghydraddoldeb yng Nghymru? OAQ51350
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on action the Welsh Government is taking to reduce inequality in Wales? OAQ51350
Yes. Equality is central to the work of the Welsh Government and our vision for Wales, as set out in 'Prosperity for All'. Our strategic equality plan 2017-20 sets out the steps we will take to achieve our equality objectives, and those objectives focus on tackling the most entrenched inequalities in Wales.
Gwnaf. Mae cydraddoldeb yn ganolog i waith Llywodraeth Cymru a'n gweledigaeth ar gyfer Cymru, fel y nodir yn 'Ffyniant i Bawb'. Mae ein cynllun cydraddoldeb strategol ar gyfer 2017-20 yn nodi'r camau y byddwn yn eu cymryd i gyflawni ein hamcanion cydraddoldeb, ac mae'r amcanion hynny yn canolbwyntio ar fynd i'r afael â'r anghydraddoldebau sydd wedi ymwreiddio fwyaf yng Nghymru.
One of the entrenched inequalities in Wales is the disparity between the quality of the health service and the timing of the health service in north Wales versus other parts of the country. Why is it, First Minister, that my own constituents are twice as likely as constituents in Cwm Taf health board, for example, to be in an emergency department for four hours or more, and why is it that, in north Wales, one in 11 patients waits for 36 weeks or more from referral to treatment, versus just one in 83 down here in Cardiff and the Vale? This inequality is clearly unacceptable. I'm sure you would agree that that is unacceptable. What action are you taking to put this situation right, given that this health board is in special measures?
Un o'r anghydraddoldebau sydd wedi ymwreiddio yng Nghymru yw'r anghydraddoldeb rhwng ansawdd y gwasanaeth iechyd ac amseriad y gwasanaeth iechyd yn y gogledd o'i gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r wlad. Pam, Prif Weinidog, mae fy etholwyr i ddwywaith mor debygol ag etholwyr ym mwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf, er enghraifft, i fod mewn adran achosion brys am bedair awr neu fwy, a pham, yn y gogledd, mae un o bob 11 o gleifion yn aros 36 wythnos neu fwy o atgyfeiriad i driniaeth, o'i gymharu â dim ond un o bob 83 i lawr yma yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro? Mae'r anghydraddoldeb hwn yn amlwg yn annerbyniol. Rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cytuno â mi bod hynny'n annerbyniol. Pa gamau ydych chi'n eu cymryd i unioni'r sefyllfa hon, o gofio bod y bwrdd iechyd hwn yn destun mesurau arbennig?
Well, of course, there will be differences between health boards. For example, Betsi Cadwaladr has historically been the best performing health board when it comes to cancer treatment in Wales. But there are disparities. Of course, as the Cabinet Secretary for health and well-being is aware, we look to iron out those disparities and take action where that is needed. Where there is a need, for example, to recruit, we look to recruit and work with health boards in order to recruit the right level of medical staff they need in order to provide the service that we think is appropriate and right for the people who live in all parts of Wales.
Wel, wrth gwrs, bydd gwahaniaethau rhwng byrddau iechyd. Er enghraifft, Betsi Cadwaladr yw'r bwrdd iechyd sydd wedi perfformio orau yn hanesyddol o ran triniaeth canser yng Nghymru. Ond ceir anghydraddoldebau. Wrth gwrs, fel y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd a llesiant yn ymwybodol, rydym ni'n ceisio unioni'r anghydraddoldebau hynny a chymryd camau pan fo hynny'n angenrheidiol. Pan fo angen, er enghraifft, recriwtio, rydym ni'n ceisio recriwtio a gweithio gyda byrddau iechyd er mwyn recriwtio'r lefel briodol o staff meddygol sydd ei hangen arnynt i ddarparu'r gwasanaeth yr ydym yn credu sy'n briodol ac yn iawn i'r bobl sy'n byw ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
First Minister, the Welsh index of multiple deprivation suggests that households containing children have a higher rate of income deprivation than the overall population, with 24 per cent of such households in deprivation, compared with 16 per cent overall. Members in this Senedd are very well aware that universal credit, the single monthly payment that replaces the six current working-age benefits, is being rolled out across Wales. Despite the outstanding and proactive work being undertaken in Wales to support, advise and assist those impacted by welfare reform, it is inevitable that universal credit will impact negatively on the lives of the most vulnerable people across our nation, through the operation of a process that seems designed to purposely push people into poverty and debt. What representations can the Welsh Government make to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to call on the UK Tory Government to rethink a highly regressive and destructive policy?
Prif Weinidog, mae mynegai amddifadedd lluosog Cymru yn awgrymu bod gan aelwydydd lle ceir plant gyfradd uwch o amddifadedd incwm na'r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol, gyda 24 y cant o aelwydydd o'r fath mewn amddifadedd, o'i gymharu ag 16 y cant yn gyffredinol. Mae Aelodau yn y Senedd hon yn ymwybodol iawn bod credyd cynhwysol, y taliad misol sengl sy'n disodli'r chwe budd-dal oedran gweithio presennol, yn cael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru. Er gwaethaf y gwaith rhagorol a rhagweithiol sy'n cael ei wneud yng Nghymru i gynorthwyo, cynghori a helpu'r rhai sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan ddiwygio lles, mae'n anochel y bydd credyd cynhwysol yn cael effaith negyddol ar fywydau'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed ar draws ein gwlad, trwy weithrediad proses y mae'n ymddangos sydd wedi ei chynllunio'n fwriadol i wthio pobl i dlodi a dyled. Pa sylwadau all Llywodraeth Cymru eu gwneud i'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Waith a Phensiynau i alw ar Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU i ailystyried polisi hynod atchweliadol a dinistriol?
The roll-out of universal credit is a mess. People are left without money—people who need money on a weekly basis. People are left in a situation where they cannot afford to buy things. People are left in a situation of uncertainty, and we know that the UK Government's response to all this is, 'Who cares?' pretty much. Well, we care on this side of the Chamber. We urge the UK Government to make sure that people who need that money get that money and they stop the cuts they are making to the benefit system, and the cuts they are making to the spending that we as a society have historically made on those who are most vulnerable. We will always stand for those who are most vulnerable.
Mae'r cyflwyniad o gredyd cynhwysol yn llanastr. Mae pobl yn cael eu gadael heb arian—pobl sydd angen arian ar sail wythnosol. Mae pobl yn cael eu gadael mewn sefyllfa lle na allant fforddio prynu pethau. Mae pobl yn cael eu gadael mewn sefyllfa o ansicrwydd, ac rydym ni'n gwybod mai ymateb Llywodraeth y DU i hyn i gyd yw, 'Beth yw'r ots?' fwy neu lai. Wel, mae ots i ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr. Rydym ni'n annog Llywodraeth y DU i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl sydd angen yr arian hwnnw yn cael yr arian hwnnw a'u bod yn rhoi terfyn ar y toriadau y maen nhw'n eu gwneud i'r system fudd-daliadau, a'r toriadau y maen nhw'n ei gwneud i'r gwariant yr ydym ni fel cymdeithas wedi ei wario yn hanesyddol ar y rheini sydd fwyaf agored i niwed. Byddwn bob amser yn sefyll dros y rhai sydd fwyaf agored i niwed.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y camau a gymerwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â thrais yn erbyn menywod a merched? OAQ51342
8. Will the First Minister provide an update on action taken by the Welsh Government to tackle violence against women and girls? OAQ51342
Could I congratulate the Member for what I think is the first First Minister's question that she has asked? I hope that I am able to give her an answer that is satisfactory to her.
We are implementing the national strategy that sets out our action to tackle violence against women and girls, and survivors' voices have to be at the forefront of this work. In recognition of that, we are developing a national survivor engagement framework.
A gaf i longyfarch yr aelod ar yr hyn y credaf yw'r cwestiwn cyntaf i'r Prif Weinidog y mae hi wedi ei ofyn? Rwy'n gobeithio y gallaf i roi ateb sy'n foddhaol iddi hi.
Rydym ni'n gweithredu'r strategaeth genedlaethol sy'n cyflwyno ein camau i fynd i'r afael â thrais yn erbyn menywod a merched, ac mae'n rhaid i leisiau goroeswyr fod yn flaenllaw yn y gwaith hwn. Gan gydnabod hynny, rydym ni'n datblygu fframwaith ymgysylltu â goroeswr cenedlaethol.
I thank the First Minister for that answer to my first question to him. I think it is shocking to learn this week that, on average, two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner in England and Wales. Yesterday, I spoke at the BAWSO annual Light a Candle multi-faith event at Llandaff cathedral, following a march from the offices of the Llamau housing society. We raised awareness and support for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. I welcomed, in my words in the cathedral, the approach that Julie James is taking regarding tackling violence against women as everybody's business. That was the message yesterday. Can I pay tribute to BAWSO, who organised the event yesterday? They undertake pioneering work, supporting women facing domestic abuse, forced marriage, trafficking and FGM, which we debated recently. Can the First Minister assure me that Welsh Government recognises the importance of the Wales-wide work of BAWSO?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna i fy nghwestiwn cyntaf iddo. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn syfrdanol darganfod yr wythnos hon bod dwy fenyw yr wythnos ar gyfartaledd yn cael eu lladd gan bartner neu gyn-bartner yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Ddoe, siaradais yn nigwyddiad amlffydd Light a Candle blynyddol BAWSO yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf, yn dilyn gorymdaith o swyddfeydd cymdeithas dai Llamau. Codwyd ymwybyddiaeth a chefnogaeth gennym i'r Diwrnod Rhyngwladol ar gyfer Dileu Trais yn erbyn Menywod. Croesewais, yn fy ngeiriau yn yr Eglwys Gadeiriol, y dull y mae Julie James yn ei ddilyn o ran mynd i'r afael â thrais yn erbyn menywod fel busnes i bawb. Dyna oedd y neges ddoe. A gaf i dalu teyrnged i BAWSO, a drefnodd y digwyddiad ddoe? Maen nhw'n gwneud gwaith arloesol, gan gefnogi menywod sy'n wynebu cam-drin domestig, priodasau dan orfod, masnachu mewn pobl ac anffurfio organau cenhedlu benywod, a drafodwyd gennym yn ddiweddar. A all y Prif Weinidog fy sicrhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd gwaith BAWSO ledled Cymru gyfan?
Yes, I am grateful for organisations such as BAWSO, who do offer support for some of the most vulnerable members of the BME community. We have provided £446,000 of funding to BAWSO from the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence revenue grant during this financial year, and officials recently met with BAWSO service users as part of the survivor engagement framework. And I understand the Leader of the House and Chief Whip is due to visit BAWSO's Wrexham office next week.
Gallaf, rwy'n ddiolchgar i sefydliadau fel BAWSO, sydd yn cynnig cymorth i rai o aelodau mwyaf agored i niwed y gymuned pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Rydym ni wedi darparu £446,000 o gyllid i BAWSO o'r grant refeniw trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon, a chyfarfu swyddogion â defnyddwyr gwasanaeth BAWSO yn ddiweddar yn rhan o'r fframwaith ymgysylltu â goroeswyr. Rwy'n deall y bydd Arweinydd y Tŷ a'r Prif Chwip yn ymweld â swyddfa BAWSO yn Wrecsam yr wythnos nesaf.
First Minister, victims of domestic abuse very often have to go into hiding or stay in shelters for inordinately long periods of time. If you look across the piece in Europe, countries such as Italy and Germany not only have much more direct and emphatic laws about removing the abuser from the marital home, rather than the abused, but they also take the view that if a family has been disrupted and a parent, very often a woman with children, has to go into hiding, rather than just leave them in shelters, they actually take them, put them in a home and then help them to build a new life, new schools, new permanency, put down new roots in a place of safety. Will you undertake on behalf of your Government to look at what places like Italy and Germany do, to see if we can actually bring that kind of groundbreaking, whole-family view to how we might help somebody who is suffering and had to leave their home because of domestic abuse?
Prif Weinidog, mae'n rhaid i ddioddefwyr cam-drin domestig guddio neu aros mewn llochesi am gyfnodau hir iawn o amser yn aml iawn. Os edrychwch chi ar draws Ewrop yn gyffredinol, nid yn unig y mae gan wledydd fel yr Eidal a'r Almaen gyfreithiau llawer mwy uniongyrchol a phendant ar gymryd y camdriniwr allan o'r cartref priodasol, yn hytrach na'r sawl sy'n cael ei gam-drin, ond maen nhw hefyd o'r farn os amharwyd ar deulu a bod rhaid i riant, menyw â phlant yn aml iawn, guddio, yn hytrach na dim ond eu gadael mewn llochesi, maen nhw'n mynd â nhw, yn eu rhoi mewn cartref ac yna'n eu helpu i adeiladu bywyd newydd, ysgolion newydd, sefydlogrwydd newydd, plannu gwreiddiau newydd mewn lle diogel. A wnewch chi addo ar ran eich Llywodraeth i edrych ar yr hyn y mae lleoedd fel yr Eidal a'r Almaen yn ei wneud, i weld a allwn ni ddod â'r math hwnnw o safbwynt arloesol, teulu cyfan o ran sut y gallem ni helpu rhywun sy'n dioddef ac y bu'n rhaid iddo adael ei gartref oherwydd cam-drin domestig?
Yes, I think it's important that we look at good examples across Europe. One of the issues that we faced at one time was the wall we'd hit with the devolution boundary and not being able to do as we would want to do in order to make sure that we can be as effective as possible. We know, of course, with the reserved-powers model, there are greater opportunities now for us to develop the kind of legal framework that we would want, but, certainly, as we develop the cross-Government delivery framework that will be complementing our national strategy, looking at other countries and what they do, in order to see what the best practice is, will form an important part of feeding in to what we will then look to do in Wales.
Gwnaf, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni edrych ar enghreifftiau da ledled Ewrop. Un o'r materion a wynebwyd gennym ar un adeg oedd y wal y daethom yn ei herbyn gyda'r ffin ddatganoli a methu â gallu gwneud fel y byddem yn ei ddymuno er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr y gallwn fod mor effeithiol â phosibl. Rydym ni'n gwybod, wrth gwrs, gyda'r model cadw pwerau, bod mwy o gyfleoedd nawr i ni ddatblygu'r math o fframwaith cyfreithiol y byddem ni'n dymuno ei gael, ond, yn sicr, wrth i ni ddatblygu'r fframwaith cyflawni traws-Lywodraeth a fydd yn ategu ein strategaeth genedlaethol, bydd edrych ar wledydd eraill a'r hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud, er mwyn gweld beth yw'r arfer gorau, yn rhan bwysig o gyfrannu at yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ceisio ei wneud yng Nghymru wedyn.
Mae Cymorth i Ferched Bangor a'r cylch, yn fy etholaeth i, yn hynod bryderus yn sgil y sôn am integreiddio grant gwasanaethau trais yn erbyn merched, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol i mewn i un grant cyfansawdd. Maen nhw'n bryderus y gallai'r un peth a ddigwyddodd yn Lloegr ddigwydd yma. Fe gollwyd 17 y cant o lochesi arbenigol, a bu'n rhaid gwrthod traean o'r holl gyfeiriadau at lochesi oherwydd prinder lle. Fe ddigwyddodd hyn ar ôl i'r Llywodraeth yn Lloegr roi'r gorau i glustnodi Cefnogi Pobl—'ring-fence-io', hynny yw—fel arian ar wahân. A fedrwch chi warantu y bydd lefel ddigonol o gyllid ar gael ar gyfer darparu llochesi ar draws Cymru os daw'r newid cyllidebol i rym yn 2018-19?
Women’s Aid in Bangor, in my constituency, are extremely concerned about the talk of integrating the violence against women, domestic violence and sexual violence grant into a single composite grant. They are concerned that the same thing that’s happened in England could happen here: 17 per cent of specialist shelters were lost and a third of all referrals to shelters had to be rejected because of a shortage of space. This happened after the Government in England stopped ring-fencing Supporting People as a separate part of funding. Can you guarantee that a sufficient level of funding will be available to provide shelters across Wales if this budgetary change is made in 2018-19?
Dyna yn gymwys beth rŷm ni'n moyn ei weld, ac ni fyddem ni'n moyn gweld y gwasanaeth sydd yna ar hyn o bryd yn cael ei leihau mewn unrhyw ffordd.
That is exactly what we wish to see, and we don’t want to see the service that is there at present being reduced in any way.
9. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am feysydd parcio a reolir gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru? OAQ51390
9. Will the First Minister make a statement on local authority-managed car parks in Wales? OAQ51390
Yes. Local authority-managed car parks in Wales are managed by local authorities. [Laughter.]
Gwnaf. Rheolir meysydd parcio a reolir gan awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru gan awdurdodau lleol. [Chwerthin.]
I thank the First Minister for that illuminating response. It was recently revealed, following a freedom of information request to all local authorities by the BBC, that councils are making hundreds of thousands of pounds a year out of pay-and-display parking machines that don't give change. Only six of the 22 local authorities were able to provide the information, but, for them, this amounted to £650,000 over three years. Is this not an abuse, and should not these profits go back into the development of car parks or related services to improve parking facilities in towns? At the minute, there is no statutory requirement for local authorities to do that, but where profits are being made in this way, so that they're not just going to be a rip-off on the motorist, shouldn't the money be used for related purposes?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb dadlennol yna. Datgelwyd yn ddiweddar, yn dilyn cais rhyddid gwybodaeth i bob awdurdod lleol gan y BBC, bod cynghorau yn gwneud cannoedd o filoedd o bunnoedd y flwyddyn o beiriannau parcio talu ac arddangos nad ydynt yn rhoi newid. Dim ond chwech o'r 22 awdurdod lleol oedd yn gallu darparu'r wybodaeth, ond iddyn nhw, roedd hyn yn dod i gyfanswm o £650,000 dros dair blynedd. Onid yw hyn yn gamdriniaeth, ac oni ddylai'r elw hwn fynd yn ôl i ddatblygu meysydd parcio neu wasanaethau cysylltiedig i wella cyfleusterau parcio mewn trefi? Ar hyn o bryd, nid oes unrhyw ofyniad statudol i awdurdodau lleol wneud hynny, ond pan fo elw yn cael ei wneud yn y modd hwn, fel nad yw'n mynd i fod yn ddim ond dwyn oddi ar y modurwr, oni ddylai'r arian gael ei ddefnyddio at ddibenion cysylltiedig?
Well, there are three things. I think, first of all, technology has progressed to the point where any new machines should be not just coin machines, but machines where people can use apps to park, or, indeed, machines where people can use their card to pay. Now, I'm fortunate to live in a very progressive Labour-controlled authority in Bridgend where that is possible in the car parks, and indeed, they have a policy where parking is free in a multi-storey for the first two hours, showing that they deliver for the people of Bridgend. Bear in mind, of course, that any money raised from car parking does go back into local authority coffers for the benefit of the local community. But I do take the point: I do believe that, as new machines are replaced, they should offer people the option of a number of ways to pay, whether it’s by phone, by app or by chip and pin.
Wel, mae tri pheth yn y fan yma. Rwy'n credu, yn gyntaf oll, bod technoleg wedi symud ymlaen i'r pwynt lle na ddylai unrhyw beiriannau newydd fod yn beiriannau darnau arian yn unig, ond yn beiriannau lle gall pobl ddefnyddio apiau i barcio, neu, yn wir, peiriannau lle gall pobl ddefnyddio eu cerdyn i dalu. Nawr, rwy'n ffodus i fyw mewn awdurdod hynod flaengar a reolir gan Lafur ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr lle mae hynny'n bosibl yn y meysydd parcio, ac yn wir, mae ganddyn nhw bolisi lle gellir parcio am ddim mewn maes parcio aml-lawr am y ddwy awr gyntaf, sy'n dangos eu bod nhw'n cyflawni dros bobl Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Cofiwch, wrth gwrs, bod unrhyw arian sy'n cael ei godi o barcio yn mynd yn ôl i goffrau'r awdurdod lleol er budd y gymuned leol. Ond rwy'n derbyn y pwynt: rwy'n credu, wrth i beiriannau newydd ddisodli hen rai, y dylen nhw gynnig y dewis o nifer o ffyrdd o dalu i bobl, boed hynny dros y ffôn, trwy ap neu gyda cherdyn a rhif.
Finally, question 10, Jayne Bryant.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 10, Jayne Bryant.
10. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am recriwtio a chadw staff yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol? OAQ51387
10. Will the First Minister provide an update on the recruitment and retention of staff in the social care sector? OAQ51387
The social care workforce delivers a vital public service, and to ensure the sector is sustainable, we’re taking forward actions including tackling zero-hours contracts and low pay, registering workers and developing career pathways, and that will help to raise the status and profile of workers so that social care becomes a positive career choice.
Mae'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol yn darparu gwasanaeth cyhoeddus hanfodol, ac i sicrhau bod y sector yn gynaliadwy, rydym yn cymryd camau gan gynnwys mynd i'r afael â chontractau dim oriau a chyflogau isel, gan gofrestru gweithwyr a datblygu llwybrau gyrfaol, a bydd hynny'n helpu i godi statws a phroffil y gweithwyr fel y bydd gofal cymdeithasol yn ddewis gyrfaol cadarnhaol.
Thank you, First Minister. Social care workers do an outstanding job. With an ageing population living longer, many with complex needs, we know that it’s crucial to ensure that we have a workforce ready for now and in the future. Recently, one of my constituents who has worked in care homes for many years has decided to take a job in a fast-food chain. The long hours, poor pay and difficult working conditions have left her with no choice but to leave the career that she loves. While I’m pleased at the Government’s commitment to implement an accredited qualification for carers, making this a reality is key to stopping people like my constituent, a dedicated and skilled social care worker, leaving the profession. Could the First Minister provide an update on how far these plans have been developed?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Mae gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol. Mae'r boblogaeth sy'n heneiddio yn byw yn hirach, ac mae gan lawer ohonynt anghenion cymhleth. Felly gwyddom ei bod yn hanfodol sicrhau bod gennym weithlu sy'n barod nawr ac yn y dyfodol. Yn ddiweddar, mae un o'm hetholwyr, sydd wedi gweithio mewn cartrefi gofal am nifer o flynyddoedd, wedi penderfynu cymryd swydd gyda chadwyn bwyd cyflym. Mae'r oriau hir, y cyflog gwael, a'r amodau gwaith anodd wedi golygu mai dim ond un dewis oedd ganddi, sef rhoi'r gorau i'r yrfa y mae'n hapus iawn ynddi. Er fy mod i'n falch bod y Llywodraeth wedi ymrwymo i gyflwyno cymhwyster achrededig ar gyfer gofalwyr, gwneud hyn yn realiti fydd yr allwedd i atal pobl fel fy etholwr i, sy'n weithiwr gofal cymdeithasol ymroddedig a medrus, rhag gadael y proffesiwn. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar ba mor bell y mae'r cynlluniau hyn wedi eu datblygu?
Yes. First of all, we provided £19 million of recurrent funding for local authorities to work with their service providers to help manage the impact of implementing the national living wage, which we wanted to see. What have we done? Well, we’ve brought forward regulations to improve the terms and conditions of the workforce, requiring providers to provide more transparency in their use of zero-hours contracts, to offer workers a choice of fixed-hours contracts after a three-month period of employment, and to clearly delineate between travel and care time. We’ve extended the register to domiciliary care workers on a voluntary basis from 2018, ahead of the mandatory registration from 2020, and that’s an essential aspect of ensuring the professionalisation of the workforce so we can have social care workers who are appropriately qualified to deliver quality care to the vulnerable in our society.
Gwnaf. Yn gyntaf oll, sicrhawyd £19 miliwn o gyllid cylchol fel bod awdurdodau lleol yn gallu gweithio gyda'u darparwyr gwasanaeth i helpu i reoli'r effaith o weithredu'r cyflog byw cenedlaethol. Dyna'r hyn yr oeddem eisiau ei weld. Beth rydym ni wedi'i wneud? Wel, rydym wedi cyflwyno rheoliadau i wella'r telerau ac amodau ar gyfer y gweithlu, gan ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ddarparwyr fod yn fwy tryloyw o ran eu defnydd o gontractau dim oriau, i gynnig dewis contract oriau sefydlog i weithwyr ar ôl cyfnod tri mis o gyflogaeth, ac i nodi'n glir yr amser teithio a'r amser gofal. Rydym wedi ymestyn y gofrestr i weithwyr gofal cartref ar sail wirfoddol o 2018 ymlaen, cyn cyflwyno cofrestriadau gorfodol o 2020. Mae hynny'n hanfodol er mwyn sicrhau bod y gweithlu yn cael ei broffesiynoli fel y gallwn ni gael gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol sy'n meddu ar gymwysterau priodol i ddarparu gofal o ansawdd i'r rhai hynny sy'n agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw’r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes. Rydw i’n galw ar arweinydd y tŷ, Julie James.
The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the leader of the house, Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week’s business. Business for the next three weeks is as shown on the business statement and announcement found amongst the meeting papers that are available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Nid oes unrhyw newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Mae'r busnes ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf fel y mae wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes i'w weld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Can I ask for two statements? Firstly, a Welsh Government statement providing an update on developments in the Swansea city region, and Welsh Government support for the city region, and further confirmation of what the Cabinet Secretary for Finance said earlier this week: that the money would be made available for the city region within the budget.
The second question I would like to ask is for a Welsh Government statement on universal credit roll-out in Wales, and an update on any discussions with the Westminster Government regarding the availability of application forms and information through the medium of Welsh.
A gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad? Yn gyntaf, hoffwn gael datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar ddatblygiadau yn ninas ranbarth Abertawe, a chefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i'r ddinas ranbarth, a chadarnhad pellach o'r hyn a ddywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid yn gynharach yr wythnos hon: y byddai'r arian ar gael ar gyfer y ddinas-ranbarth o fewn y gyllideb.
Yr ail gwestiwn yr hoffwn i ei ofyn yw am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y broses o gyflwyno'r credyd cynhwysol yng Nghymru, a'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am unrhyw drafodaethau â Llywodraeth San Steffan ynghylch argaeledd ffurflenni cais a gwybodaeth trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.
Thank you for those two questions. The Member will be already aware that there’s a lot of work under way on the Swansea bay region city deal to develop the proposed projects into full business cases and to finalise the governance arrangements. That’s with the expectation that funding for the city deal will begin in 2018-19. We know that good progress is being made. The next milestone will be the establishment of a joint cabinet and the formal submission of the detailed business cases.
Swansea bay city region is also working with the Welsh and UK Governments to develop an agreed implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan that sets out the proposed approach to evaluating the impact of delivery. This is a £1.3 billion deal underpinned by £125.4 million of Welsh Government funding, £115.6 million of UK Government funding, £396 million of other public sector money, and £637 million from the private sector. I know that he shares my ambition for the Swansea city region, and we look forward to making it a reality as soon as possible.
Diolch i chi am y ddau gwestiwn hynny. Bydd yr Aelod eisoes yn ymwybodol bod llawer o waith ar fargen dinas ranbarth Bae Abertawe ar y gweill i droi prosiectau arfaethedig yn achosion busnes llawn ac i gwblhau'r trefniadau llywodraethu. Mae hyn yn digwydd wrth ddisgwyl y bydd cyllido ar gyfer y fargen ddinesig yn dechrau yn 2018-19. Rydym yn gwybod bod cynnydd da'n cael ei wneud. Y garreg filltir nesaf fydd sefydlu cabinet ar y cyd a chyflwyniad ffurfiol yr achosion busnes manwl.
Mae dinas ranbarth Bae Abertawe hefyd yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU i ddatblygu cynllun gweithredu, monitro a gwerthuso cytûn sy'n nodi'r dull arfaethedig o werthuso effaith y ddarpariaeth. Mae hon yn fargen £1.3 biliwn a ategir gan £125.4 miliwn o gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru, £115.6 miliwn o gyllid Llywodraeth y DU, £396 miliwn o gyllid arall y sector cyhoeddus, a £637 miliwn o'r sector preifat. Gwn ei fod yn rhannu fy uchelgais ar gyfer dinas ranbarth Abertawe, ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at ei gwireddu cyn gynted â phosibl.
Andrew—
Andrew—
Sorry, on the other one here—I was asked two questions, Llywydd.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, ar yr un arall yma—gofynnwyd dau gwestiwn i mi, Llywydd.
My apologies.
Ymddiheuriadau.
On the statement on universal credit, we know that there’s been a revised roll-out schedule for universal credit following the UK autumn budget changes announced last week, and that confirms that, with the exception of Cardiff, all the other job centres across Wales will have implementation of universal credit pushed back by a few months. We very much welcome the pause of this roll-out, which we’ve been calling on the UK Government to action for some time. The Minister for Housing and Regeneration has written to the Minister of State for Employment requesting more details in relation to the UK autumn budget changes, particularly where universal claimants are in receipt of housing costs, to understand how the new support arrangements will work for claimants in the transition to universal credit. The Minister is also seeking reassurance that the Department for Work and Pensions will be able to offer financial support to universal credit claimants over the Christmas period as, Llywydd, I think a large number of us in the Chamber have been very concerned at the reports that universal credit claimants might be very seriously disadvantaged, especially if they're weekly paid.
We also understand that applications for universal credit in Welsh are currently only available via a free telephone service provided by the Department for Work and Pensions's service centre. However, the Secretary of State did recently confirm that they're working towards having applications for universal credit online in Welsh as they move into the final phase of development.
So, I think, overall, we're pleased that they've acknowledged that there are some issues with universal credit. We'd have liked them to have acknowledged it sooner. We'd like them to also acknowledge that there's a real problem with people generally having their income decreasing as a result of the universal credit roll-out. And whilst we welcome the abolition of the seven-day waiting period for the first payment of universal credit, we remain very concerned that there are still universal credit claimants waiting more than six weeks for their first payment.
Ar y datganiad ar gredyd cynhwysol, gwyddom fod amserlen wedi ei diwygio ar gyfer cyflwyno credyd cynhwysol yn dilyn y newidiadau yng nghyllideb yr Hydref ar gyfer y DU, a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae hynny'n cadarnhau y bydd pob canolfan byd gwaith, ac eithrio Caerdydd, yn gweithredu'r broses gyflwyno credyd cynhwysol ychydig fisoedd yn hwyrach. Rydym yn croesawu'n fawr yr oedi hwn yn y broses gyflwyno. Rydym wedi bod yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i'w weithredu ers peth amser. Mae'r Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog Gwladol dros Gyflogaeth yn gofyn am fwy o fanylion mewn cysylltiad â newidiadau yng nghyllideb yr Hydref ar gyfer y DU, yn enwedig o ran hawlwyr cyffredinol sy'n derbyn costau tai, i ddeall sut y bydd trefniadau cymorth newydd yn gweithio ar gyfer hawlwyr wrth iddyn nhw symud tuag at gredyd cymhwysol. Mae'r Gweinidog hefyd yn ceisio sicrwydd y bydd yr adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn gallu cynnig cymorth ariannol i hawlwyr y credyd cynhwysol dros gyfnod y Nadolig gan fy mod i'n credu, Llywydd, fod nifer fawr ohonom ni yn y Siambr wedi bod yn bryderus iawn am yr adroddiadau y gallai hawlwyr y credyd cynhwysol fod dan anfantais ddifrifol iawn, yn enwedig os cân nhw eu talu yn wythnosol.
Rydym ni hefyd yn deall bod ceisiadau ar gyfer credyd cynhwysol yn Gymraeg yn bosibl ar hyn o bryd dim ond drwy wasanaeth ffôn am ddim a ddarperir gan ganolfan gwasanaethau yr adran Gwaith a Phensiynau. Fodd bynnag, cadarnhaodd yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn ddiweddar eu bod yn gweithio tuag at gael ceisiadau am gredyd cynhwysol yn Gymraeg ar-lein wrth iddyn nhw symud at y cam datblygu terfynol.
Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod yn falch, yn gyffredinol, eu bod nhw wedi cydnabod y problemau sy'n bodoli o ran credyd cynhwysol. Bydden ni wedi hoffi eu gweld nhw'n cydnabod hyn yn gynt. Bydden ni hefyd yn hoffi eu gweld nhw'n cydnabod bod problem wirioneddol gyda phobl yn gyffredinol yn gweld gostyngiad yn eu hincwm o ganlyniad i gyflwyno'r credyd cynhwysol. Ac er ein bod yn croesawu'r ffaith bod y cyfnod aros o saith diwrnod ar gyfer y taliad cyntaf o gredyd cynhwysol wedi'i ddiddymu, rydym yn dal i bryderu bod hawlwyr y credyd cynhwysol yn aros am fwy na chwe wythnos am eu taliad cyntaf.
Leader of the house, could I seek two statements from you, please? One is a statement from the Minister for economy and transport in relation to the potential overspend that was identified in his written statement yesterday of in excess of £50 million for the Heads of the Valleys road, on the stage that they're doing at the moment on the eastern edge, and the implications that that overspend could have on his budget for projects around the rest of Wales, because £50 million plus is a significant capital expenditure, which I presume hasn't been budgeted for, but will have implications on that budget, and it's important that we, as Assembly Members, when we're pressed in our own communities about the likely impact, can have answers to that. In an ideal world, it would be good to have an oral statement, if that was possible, because, to date, the inquiry, and the overspend, that the Minister commissioned have all been dealt with via written statements and there's been no opportunity to question the Minister on the floor of the Plenary here, so I'd hope that you would seek an oral statement on behalf of Members from the Minister before the Christmas recess.
Secondly, at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair yesterday—I know the Cabinet Secretary and other Members of the Government were there seeing the best of Welsh agriculture and the best of the rural economy. A comment that comes over time and time again—and, in fairness, I know the Minister has made progress on this—is around bureaucracy and red tape in the agricultural sector. But there is a perception, and in some instances a reality, that there is a considerable amount of that in certain Government-backed schemes. Could we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary as to what measures have been brought forward by the Government over the last 16 months since the election to try and dispel some of those myths that exist, and actually where the reality is to get on top of some of the red tape that stops applications coming forward and makes it a bureaucratic nightmare for some applicants? Because I know that's not the intention of the schemes, but, again, there is this reality and perception in some cases that people feel that it is hugely cumbersome to apply for some of these grants.
Arweinydd y Tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad gennych chi, os gwelwch yn dda? Un o'r rhain yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog dros yr economi a thrafnidiaeth ar y gorwariant posibl a nodwyd yn ei ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ddoe o fwy na £50 miliwn ar ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd, ar y rhan y maen nhw'n ei wella ar hyn o bryd ar y pen dwyreiniol, a goblygiadau y gorwariant hwnnw ar ei gyllideb ar gyfer prosiectau ledled gweddill Cymru. Mae £50 miliwn a throsodd yn wariant cyfalaf sylweddol, ac rwy'n cymryd na chyllidwyd ar ei gyfer, ond fe fydd yna oblygiadau o ran y gyllideb honno. Ac mae'n bwysig bod gennym ni, fel Aelodau Cynulliad, atebion i hynny pan fyddwn ni dan bwysau yn ein cymunedau ni i ddweud beth fydd effaith debygol hynny. Mewn byd delfrydol, da o beth fyddai inni gael datganiad llafar, os oes modd, oherwydd, hyd yma, ymdriniwyd â'r ymchwiliad, a'r gorwariant, a gomisiynwyd gan y Gweinidog drwy ddatganiadau ysgrifenedig ac ni bu cyfle i holi'r Gweinidog ar lawr y cyfarfod llawn yma. Felly gobeithio y byddwch yn gofyn am ddatganiad llafar ar ran yr Aelodau gan y Gweinidog cyn toriad y Nadolig.
Yn ail, yn Ffair Aeaf Frenhinol Cymru ddoe—gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ac aelodau eraill o'r Llywodraeth yno yn gweld y gorau o amaethyddiaeth Cymru a'r gorau o'r economi wledig. Sylw a wneir dro ar ôl tro—ac, a bod yn deg, gwn fod y Gweinidog wedi gwneud cynnydd ar hyn—yw ynghylch biwrocratiaeth yn y sector amaethyddol. Ond ceir y teimlad, ac mewn rhai achosion mae hynny'n realiti, fod cryn dipyn o hynny'n digwydd mewn rhai cynlluniau a gefnogir gan y Llywodraeth. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynghylch pa fesurau sydd wedi cael eu cyflwyno gan y Llywodraeth dros yr 16 mis diwethaf ers yr etholiad i geisio chwalu rhai o'r mythau hynny sy'n bodoli, ac mewn gwirionedd sut mae cael trefn ar y fiwrocratiaeth hon sy'n atal ceisiadau rhag cael eu cyflwyno ac sy'n ei gwneud yn hunllef fiwrocrataidd i rai ymgeiswyr? Gwn nad yw hynny'n fwriad gan y cynlluniau, ond, eto i gyd, mae'r teimlad hwn yn bodoli mewn gwirionedd mewn rhai achosion ac mae pobl yn teimlo mai peth beichus iawn yw gwneud cais am rai o'r grantiau hyn.
Thank you for those two questions. In terms of the A465, we have had a number of occasions—we've had topical questions and other available opportunities for Members to question the Cabinet Secretary around the issues there. We very recently discussed it in this Chamber and of course there will be further opportunities in questions and so on to discuss it in the future, so I don't really see that we need a statement. I'm sure, at the end of the scheme, the Cabinet Secretary will be updating the Assembly accordingly.
In terms of the winter fair arrangements, I very much welcome the Cabinet Secretary's visits to the winter fair, I believe she really enjoyed them, and they are an excellent opportunity to showcase really excellent Welsh produce, which a number of us have also taken the opportunity to do. I personally have done a small amount of Christmas shopping there, I'm delighted to tell the house. I don't think we've had any complaints, however, in terms of the red tape that Andrew R.T. Davies mentions. The Minister is shaking her head at me that there are no such complaints, so perhaps if he provides some details, the Minister could have a look at them.
Diolch i chi am y ddau gwestiwn yna. O ran yr A465, ar sawl achlysur—rydym wedi cael cwestiynau amserol ac mae cyfleoedd eraill wedi bod i'r Aelodau holi Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynghylch materion sy'n codi yma. Trafodwyd hyn yn y Siambr hon yn ddiweddar iawn ac wrth gwrs bydd cyfleoedd pellach yn y cwestiynau ac ati i'w drafod yn y dyfodol. Felly nid wyf yn gweld bod angen datganiad arnom mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n siŵr, ar ddiwedd y cynllun, y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn rhoi diweddariad i'r Cynulliad yn unol â hynny.
O ran trefniadau'r ffair aeaf, rwy'n croesawu'n fawr iawn ymweliad Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet â'r Ffair Aeaf, credaf ei bod wedi eu mwynhau'n fawr, ac maen nhw yn gyfle ardderchog i arddangos cynnyrch o Gymru sydd yn wirioneddol ardderchog, ac mae nifer ohonom ni wedi achub ar y cyfle i wneud hynny hefyd. Rwyf i wedi gwneud ychydig o siopa Nadolig yno fy hunan, rwy'n falch iawn o gael dweud hynny wrth y tŷ. Nid wyf i'n credu ein bod ni wedi cael unrhyw gwynion, er hynny, o ran y fiwrocratiaeth y mae Andrew R.T. Davies yn sôn amdani. Mae'r Gweinidog yn ysgwyd ei phen yn arwydd i mi nad oes unrhyw gwynion o'r fath wedi bod. Efallai pe bai ef yn rhoi rhywfaint o fanylion, y gallai'r Gweinidog edrych arnyn nhw.
Could I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for the economy, or indeed the First Minister, in response to comments by Airbus UK senior vice-president Katherine Bennett to MPs last week that Brexit could add significant costs and red tape to the UK operation? She's warned that Brexit could actually blunt the competitive edge of the Broughton plant, which as we know is a key employer of 6,000 workers in north-east Wales. Given that everything that's imported from Airbus in the UK is imported into the EU, does this Labour Government agree with Ms Bennett that our place is within the single market, within the customs union and the European Aviation Safety Agency, so that we can fend off other arms of the company, maybe in other parts of the world, who in her words are knocking on the door as a result of the situation that we find ourselves in in this country?
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi, neu yn wir y Prif Weinidog, mewn ymateb i'r sylwadau a wnaed gan uwch Is-Lywydd Airbus UK Katherine Bennett i Aelodau Seneddol yr wythnos diwethaf y gallai Brexit ychwanegu costau sylweddol a biwrocratiaeth i'w weithrediad yn y DU? Mae hi wedi rhybuddio y gallai Brexit mewn gwirionedd bylu mantais gystadleuol y ffatri ym Mrychdyn, sydd fel y gwyddom ni yn gyflogwr allweddol o 6,000 o weithwyr yn y Gogledd-ddwyrain. O gofio bod popeth sy'n cael ei fewnforio gan Airbus o'r DU yn cael ei fewnforio i'r UE, a yw'r Llywodraeth Lafur hon yn cytuno â Ms Bennett mai ein lle ni yw o fewn y farchnad sengl, o fewn yr Undeb Tollau Tramor ac Asiantaeth Diogelwch Hedfan Ewrop, fel y gallwn gadw draw adrannau eraill o'r cwmni, efallai mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd, sydd, yn ei geiriau hi, yn curo ar y drws o ganlyniad i'r sefyllfa y cawn ni ein hunain ynddi yn y wlad hon?
A gaf i hefyd ofyn am ddatganiad arall? A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg a Dysgu Gydol Oes ar gynlluniau strategol y Gymraeg mewn addysg? Mi gawsom ni ddatganiad gan y cyn-Weinidog ddechrau Hydref—mae yna bron i ddau fis, wrth gwrs, ers hynny. Mi wnaeth e dderbyn pob un o'r argymhellion a wnaethpwyd yn yr adolygiad brys a gynhaliwyd gan Aled Roberts. Nawr, ers hynny nid ydym wedi clywed dim byd pellach. Ac rydw i wedi cael awdurdodau addysg, cynghorwyr, addysgwyr, cyrff a mudiadau yn cysylltu â fi yn gofyn beth yw y sefyllfa, ac yn poeni, efallai, fod yna berig ein bod ni'n colli momentwm ar y mater pwysig iawn yma. Felly, mi fyddwn i yn ddiolchgar am ddatganiad, hyd yn oed petai hi ddim ond yn ategu yr ymrwymiad i weithredu, ond hefyd, efallai, yn cynnwys amserlen ar gyfer y gweithredu hynny, fel bod modd inni fynd i'r afael â'r gwendidau sydd yn y cynlluniau strategol yma unwaith ac am byth.
May I also ask for a further statement? May I ask for statement from the Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning on the Welsh in education strategic plans? We did have a statement from the former Minister at the beginning of autumn—there have been almost two months since then. He accepted each of the recommendations made in the speedy review carried out by Aled Roberts. Now, since then, we haven’t heard anything further, and I’ve had local education authorities, councillors, educators and other organisations getting in touch with me asking what the situation is, and they are concerned that we are perhaps losing momentum on this most important issue. So, I would be grateful for a statement, even if it were to only endorse the commitment to take action, but also include a timetable for that action, so that we can tackle the weaknesses in these WESPS once and for all.
Thank you for both of those very important questions. In terms of the Brexit thing, we continue to call on the UK Government to provide Welsh businesses with the clarity they urgently need. And we absolutely do demand that they do not lose sight of the needs of businesses, workers and potential investors in their approach to the Brexit negotiations. We share the Member's concern at the current approach to the negotiations. There have been a large number of opportunities to discuss this in the Chamber, and I'm sure we're all very much looking forward to debating the Bill as it comes forward as well. But we certainly do share your concerns.
In terms of the Welsh language issues that the Member raises, the Minister was here listening very carefully to his comments, and I'm sure as she comes to terms with her new brief, she'll be taking them on board.
Diolch i'r ddau ohonoch chi am y cwestiynau pwysig iawn hynny. O ran y Brexit 'ma, rydym yn parhau i alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i roi eglurder i fusnesau Cymru y mae ei angen ar frys arnyn nhw. Ac rydym yn mynnu'n wir nad ydyn nhw'n colli golwg ar anghenion busnesau, gweithwyr a darpar fuddsoddwyr yn eu trafodaethau ar Brexit. Rydym yn rhannu pryder yr Aelod ynghylch y dull presennol o negodi. Bu nifer fawr o gyfleoedd i drafod hyn yn y Siambr, ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn edrych ymlaen at drafod y Bil wrth iddo gael ei gyflwyno hefyd. Ond yn sicr rydym yn rhannu eich pryderon.
O ran materion yr iaith Gymraeg a godir gan yr Aelod, roedd y Gweinidog yma yn gwrando'n astud iawn ar ei sylwadau, ac rwy'n siŵr wrth iddi ddod i delerau â'i briff newydd, y bydd hi'n rhoi ystyriaeth iddyn nhw.
Leader of the house, later this week I'm attending a Wales automotive forum event, where I'll meet with Aston Martin. They'll update me on the positive progress on phase 1 of the new plant in St Athan.
Will you reiterate the Welsh Government's support for the project, given the concerns raised by Aston Martin very recently about the potentially catastrophic consequences of a Brexit 'no deal'? And will you join with me in urging the UK Government to obtain a Brexit deal that is good for St Athan and the rest of the country?
Arweinydd y Tŷ, yn nes ymlaen yn ystod yr wythnos hon byddaf yn bresennol mewn digwyddiad gan Fforwm Moduro Cymru, lle byddwn yn cwrdd ag Aston Martin. Byddan nhw'n fy niweddaru i ar y cynnydd cadarnhaol ar Gam 1 y gwaith newydd yn Sain Tathan.
A wnewch chi ddatgan o'r newydd gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i'r prosiect, o ystyried y pryderon a godwyd gan Aston Martin yn ddiweddar iawn am ganlyniadau trychinebus Brexit 'dim cytundeb'? Ac a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i annog Llywodraeth y DU i gael cytundeb Brexit sy'n llesol i Sain Tathan a gweddill y wlad?
Absolutely. We're working very closely with Aston Martin, who intend to build their new sport utility vehicle at St Athan. And, Llywydd, I cannot resist the opportunity to say that I had the opportunity to visit Aston Martin at the Gaydon plant, and had the opportunity to have a look at some of the new designs there—and they are very exciting indeed. I also met a number of the apprentices from Wales working in that plant, and their commitment is really quite something to behold.
The project does remain firmly on track, and the company's consistently set out its commitment to the UK. But it has indeed sought clarity on Brexit from the UK Government to enable it to plan appropriately. And as I said in answer to the previous Member as well, we continue to call on the UK Government, alongside Aston Martin, to come to the understanding that no deal represents a real risk to business here in Wales, and that we, absolutely, urgently need clarity on our position after Brexit and, indeed, that they take into account the needs of businesses, workers and potential investors in their approach to the Brexit negotiations, which I'm afraid we're less than sanguine that they currently are doing.
Gwnaf yn hollol. Rydym yn cydweithio'n agos iawn ag Aston Martin, sy'n bwriadu adeiladu eu cyfleustod chwaraeon newydd yn Sain Tathan. Llywydd, ni allaf ymwrthod rhag cymryd y cyfle i ddweud imi gael y cyfle i ymweld ag Aston Martin yn ffatri Gaydon, a chyfle i edrych ar rai o'r dyluniadau newydd sydd yno—ac maen nhw'n gyffrous iawn. Fe wnes i gyfarfod hefyd â nifer o brentisiaid o Gymru yn gweithio yn y ffatri honno, ac mae eu hymrwymiad yn rhywbeth sydd yn wir yn werth ei weld.
Mae'r prosiect yn parhau yn sicr ar y trywydd iawn, ac mae'r cwmni wedi nodi'n gyson ei ymrwymiad i'r DU. Ond mae wedi ceisio eglurder ar Brexit gan Lywodraeth y DU er mwyn iddo allu cynllunio'n briodol. Ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb i'r Aelod blaenorol hefyd, rydym yn parhau i alw ar Lywodraeth y DU, ochr yn ochr ag Aston Martin, i ddod i ddealltwriaeth bod unrhyw fargen yn cynrychioli perygl gwirioneddol i fusnesau yma yng Nghymru. Mae angen eglurder arnom ar fyrder o ran ein sefyllfa ar ôl Brexit ac, yn wir, mae angen iddyn nhw gymryd i ystyriaeth anghenion busnesau, gweithwyr a darpar fuddsoddwyr yn eu trafodaethau ar Brexit. Rwy'n ofni nad ydym yn obeithiol iawn ar hyn o bryd bod hynny'n digwydd.
Leader of the house, could I call for two statements, please? Firstly, on refuse and bin bag collection—something often raised here, but not in this part of Wales I'm about to refer to. Concerns have been raised with me in Flintshire, from Higher Kinnerton to Holywell, that people are no longer allowed to leave any extra black bin bags alongside the council-provided black bin. One constituent told me she'd rung county hall and was told it had been decided and it was to force people to recycle, but she added:
'I and many others still have non-recyclable refuse to dispose of from time to time, and this is when the council's policy falls down and creates fly-tipping.'
She said the policy of charging £50 by the council to take away a single item was, in her words, outrageous, and she simply can't understand why the council prefers to send out individual lorries to deal with fly tipping rather than collect everything in one go from the pavement. She concluded:
'I'm writing to you to urge you to raise this issue—one of the things that really affects people's day-to-day lives.'
Hence my raising it in the Chamber with you today.
Secondly, could I call for a statement on support for male domestic abuse victims? You may have seen press coverage last week relating to the men's refuge in Flintshire—the domestic abuse safety unit in Shotton. Well, it's not actually located there but hosted by—. And it reported a man who'd escaped from an abusive wife and moved into the refuge, saying it had got to the point where he was too frightened to leave the house. I visited—or should I say revisited—the domestic abuse safety unit last Friday, at their request, and they again emphasised and acknowledged evidence indicating that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by violence, and this is a violation of human rights and a cause and consequence of gender inequality. But they've also chosen to provide a gender-neutral service, because they say that domestic abuse and sexual violence affects both men and women. They told me that the male refuge received five referrals on its first day for just two spaces, and it's been full ever since, despite 30 referrals being refused, partly because it was full, partly because of risk assessment; that they're currently operating waiting lists; that they're receiving referrals from across Wales, and across the UK, and, for example, someone currently resident with them came from Conwy, who don't provide any men's beds, but refer them to Flintshire because there's nowhere else to go. I understand it's the only male refuge in north Wales, currently funded by the council, supporting people to March 2018, with funding for the female victims supported to 2019. Could I call for a statement accordingly?
Arweinydd y Tŷ, a gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda? Yn gyntaf, ar sbwriel a chasgliadau bagiau sbwriel—pethau sydd yn aml yn cael eu codi yma, ond nid yn y rhan hon o Gymru yr wyf yn mynd i gyfeirio ati. Codwyd pryderon gyda mi yn Sir y Fflint, o Kinnerton Uchaf i Dreffynnon, nad yw pobl mwyach yn cael gadael unrhyw fagiau bin du ychwanegol ochr yn ochr â bagiau bin du a ddarparwyd gan y cyngor. Dywedodd un etholwr wrthyf ei bod hi wedi ffonio Neuadd y Sir a dywedwyd wrthi y penderfynwyd ar hynny er mwyn gorfodi pobl i ailgylchu, ond ychwanegodd:
Mae gen i a llawer un arall sbwriel na ellir ei ailgylchu y mae'n rhaid cael gwared arno o bryd i'w gilydd, a dyma pryd mae polisi'r cyngor yn chwalu ac yn arwain at dipio anghyfreithlon.
Dywedodd fod y polisi gan y Cyngor i godi tâl o £50 am gasglu un eitem, yn ei geiriau hi, yn warthus, ac nid yw'n gallu deall o gwbl pam mae'n well gan y Cyngor anfon lorïau unigol i ymdrin â thipio anghyfreithlon yn hytrach na chasglu popeth ar yr un pryd o'r palmant. Daeth hi i'r casgliad hwn:
Rwy'n ysgrifennu atoch chi i'ch annog i godi'r mater hwn—un o'r pethau hynny sy'n effeithio'n wirioneddol ar fywydau pobl o ddydd i ddydd.
Ac felly rwy'n ei godi yn y Siambr gyda chi heddiw.
Yn ail, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad ar gymorth i wŷr sy'n dioddef o gamdriniaeth ar yr aelwyd? Efallai eich bod wedi gweld y sylw a roddwyd yn y wasg i loches dynion yn Sir y Fflint yr wythnos diwethaf—yr uned diogelwch rhag cam-drin ar yr aelwyd yn Shotton. Wel, nid yw'r uned wedi ei lleoli yno mewn gwirionedd ond yn cael ei chynnal gan—. Ac roedd yn adrodd am ddyn a oedd wedi dianc rhag ei wraig a oedd yn ymosod arno ac wedi cael ei symud i loches, gan ddweud ei fod wedi mynd i'r fath ystâd fel ei fod yn rhy ofnus i adael y tŷ. Ymwelais—neu fe ddylwn i ddweud ymwelais eto—â'r uned diogelwch rhag cam-drin ar y aelwyd ddydd Gwener diwethaf, ar eu cais nhw. Roedden nhw eto yn pwysleisio ac yn cydnabod y dystiolaeth sy'n dangos bod menywod a merched yn cael eu heffeithio'n anghymesur gan drais, a bod hon yn drosedd yn erbyn hawliau dynol ac yn achos ac yn ganlyniad anghydraddoldeb rhwng y rhywiau. Ond maen nhw hefyd wedi dewis darparu gwasanaeth niwtral o ran rhyw, oherwydd eu bod yn dweud bod cam-drin ar yr aelwyd a thrais rhywiol yn effeithio ar ddynion a menywod. Dywedasant wrthyf fod y lloches ar gyfer dynion wedi cael pum atgyfeiriad ar y diwrnod cyntaf ar gyfer dim ond dau le, ac mae wedi bod yn llawn ers hynny, er bod 30 o atgyfeiriadau wedi eu gwrthod, yn rhannol oherwydd ei bod yn llawn, yn rhannol oherwydd asesiadau risg; mae rhestrau aros yn eu lle ar hyn o bryd; maent yn cael atgyfeiriadau ledled Cymru, a ledled y DU, ac, er enghraifft, mae rhywun sy'n preswylio gyda nhw ar hyn o bryd wedi dod o Sir Conwy, nad yw'n darparu unrhyw welyau ar gyfer dynion, ond yn eu hatgyfeirio i Sir y Fflint am nad oes unman arall i fynd iddo. Deallaf mai hon yw'r unig loches i ddynion yn y Gogledd, sydd yn cael ei hariannu ar hyn o bryd gan y Cyngor, gan gefnogi pobl hyd fis Mawrth 2018, gyda chyllid ar gyfer dioddefwyr sy'n fenywod hyd 2019. A gaf i alw am ddatganiad yn unol â hynny?
Thank you for those very important questions. In terms of domestic waste collection, it's very much a matter for individual local authorities to decide how best to provide collection services to their residents. The Welsh Government advocates that local authorities provide comprehensive weekly collection services for dry recyclables and food waste, with a view to residents who make full use of the weekly recycling collections having very little to put in the residual refuse bags or bins. During FMQs, the Member will have heard an answer in which Wales's extremely good rate in terms of recycling was lauded, quite rightly so, and what I would say to the Member is that if his local authority is struggling, they should look for help from other local authorities who have very good practice in this area.
In terms of male domestic abuse, I did see the programme that the Member refers to and it's a very serious issue. And, of course, we need to work towards having a Wales where violence against anyone in any situation is completely unacceptable. Our groundbreaking Act covers violence against women and girls, which is a very serious problem—still two women a week get killed as a result of gender based violence—but, of course, we need to make sure that services exist for all victims of domestic abuse wherever it arises.
Diolch ichi am y cwestiynau pwysig iawn hynny. O ran casglu gwastraff domestig, mater i awdurdodau lleol unigol yn sicr yw penderfynu sut i ddarparu gwasanaethau casglu yn y modd gorau i'w trigolion. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn argymell bod awdurdodau lleol yn darparu gwasanaethau casglu wythnosol cynhwysfawr ar gyfer deunydd ailgylchu sych a gwastraff bwyd, gan ystyried mai ychydig iawn sydd gan y trigolion sy'n gwneud defnydd llawn o'r gwasanaeth ailgylchu wythnosol i'w roi yn y biniau neu fagiau gwastraff gweddillol. Yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, bydd yr Aelod wedi clywed ateb lle cafwyd canmoliaeth i Gymru sydd â chyfradd eithriadol dda o ran ailgylchu, ac yn gwbl briodol felly, Byddwn i'n dweud wrth yr Aelod, os yw ei awdurdod lleol ef yn cael trafferth â hyn, y dylen nhw ofyn am gymorth gan awdurdodau lleol eraill sydd ag ymarfer da iawn yn y maes hwn.
O ran cam-drin gwŷr ar yr aelwyd, fe welais i'r rhaglen yr oedd yr Aelod yn cyfeirio ati, ac mae'n fater difrifol iawn. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae angen inni weithio tuag at gael Cymru'n wlad lle mae trais yn erbyn unrhyw un mewn unrhyw sefyllfa yn gwbl annerbyniol. Mae ein Ddeddf arloesol yn ymdrin â thrais yn erbyn menywod a merched, sydd yn broblem ddifrifol iawn—lleddir dwy fenyw yr wythnos o hyd o ganlyniad i drais ar sail eu rhyw—ond, wrth gwrs, mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod gwasanaethau yn bodoli ar gyfer holl ddioddefwyr cam-drin ar yr aelwyd lle bynnag y bo hynny'n codi.
Can I ask for a Welsh Government statement on the impact on our communities of the recent budget and the inherent cuts to police spending and police numbers in Wales? We know that already, since 2010, there has been a £2.3 billion cut by the UK Government in policing, with the loss of 20,000 officers, and we know that inherent in this current budget is a further £800 million of real-terms cuts to policing, with the potential loss of a further 15,000 police officers across the UK, bringing police levels down to the levels in the 1970s, and that this will have significant implications for safety and for our communities. It seems to me that it's an important matter that there should be a Government statement on.
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar effaith y gyllideb diweddar ar ein cymunedau a'r toriadau sydd ynghlwm i wariant yr heddlu a niferoedd yr heddlu yng Nghymru? Rydym yn gwybod eisoes, ers 2010, fod toriad o £2.3 biliwn wedi bod gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn plismona, gyda cholli 20,000 o swyddogion, a gwyddom, yn y gyllideb bresennol hon, fod £800 miliwn pellach o doriadau mewn termau real i blismona, gyda'r posibilrwydd o golli 15,000 o swyddogion yr heddlu ledled y DU. Bydd hyn yn dod â lefelau'r heddlu i lawr i lefelau'r 1970au, a bydd gan hyn oblygiadau sylweddol i ddiogelwch ac i'n cymunedau. Mae'n ymddangos i mi fod hwn yn fater pwysig y dylid cael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth arno.
Thank you for that very important point. Members are obviously very aware that most aspects of policing policy remain non-devolved, and overall spending plans for the police in England and Wales are determined by the Home Office still. However, we're continuing to invest in community safety through our funding of the 500 additional community support officers that the Member will be very well aware of as well, and in protecting the budget for the additional community support officers for 2018-19, with £16.8 million earmarked in the budget for next year for the continued delivery of this commitment.
We also work very closely with police and crime commissioners and police forces in Wales, who can also bid for other sources of Welsh Government funding. They're doing a really good job in terms of collaborating and so on, and we allow them the freedom to make their own decisions about council tax increases, for example, in funding. But I completely share the Member's difficulties with the budget as announced. We will wait to see what the actual formula looks like, but I will certainly be sharing his concerns with the Minister for public services, who I'm sure will take them into account in planning out his year's work.
Diolch ichi am y pwynt pwysig iawn yna. Bydd Aelodau yn amlwg yn ymwybodol iawn fod y rhan fwyaf o agweddau ar bolisi plismona heb eu datganoli, a phennir cynlluniau gwariant cyffredinol ar gyfer yr heddlu yng Nghymru a Lloegr gan y Swyddfa Gartref o hyd. Serch hynny, rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi ym maes diogelwch cymunedol drwy ein cyllid i gael 500 o swyddogion cymorth cymunedol ychwanegol, a bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol iawn o hyn hefyd, ac rydym yn amddiffyn y gyllideb ar gyfer swyddogion cymorth cymunedol ychwanegol ar gyfer 2018-19. Clustnodwyd £16.8 miliwn yn y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf er mwyn parhau gyda'r ymrwymiad hwn.
Rydym hefyd yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda chomisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu yng Nghymru, a fydd hefyd yn gallu gwneud cais am ffynonellau eraill o gyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Maen nhw yn gwneud gwaith da iawn o ran cydweithio ac ati, ac rydym yn caniatáu'r rhyddid iddyn nhw i wneud eu penderfyniadau eu hunain ar gynnydd yn y dreth gyngor, er enghraifft, gyda chyllid. Ond rwy'n rhannu'n llwyr yr hollol anawsterau sydd gan yr Aelod gyda'r gyllideb fel y'i cyhoeddwyd. Byddwn yn aros i weld y fformiwla ei hun, ond byddaf yn sicr yn rhannu ei bryderon gyda'r Gweinidog dros wasanaethau cyhoeddus, a fydd, rwy'n siŵr, yn eu cymryd i ystyriaeth wrth gynllunio gwaith y flwyddyn.
Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement on the lack of employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Wales, and learning difficulties also? Mencap Cymru has recently pointed out that there are huge barriers facing people with learning difficulties who want to work. They went on to say that the employment rate in Wales was terribly low, with many employers needing to be educated about the benefits of employing someone with a learning disability. May I ask for a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to extend employment opportunities in this largely untapped potential workforce?
The second statement I need from the Minister would be that I visited a Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals establishment in Newport. It's a wonderful job that volunteers and officials are doing, but I was very much disturbed when I heard that some of the animals—some dogs—had been very cruelly treated by people. And the offenders list, or register, is not here in this country. People can kill one animal and go and buy another one, or get another, from other devolved areas of the United Kingdom. So, we should be doing something seriously, through our respectable, honourable Chamber, that the people should treat animals with respect in Wales. And the RSPCA is doing a wonderful job, and we should be supporting them. Thank you.
Arweinydd y Tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad ar y diffyg cyfleoedd cyflogaeth i bobl ag anableddau dysgu yng Nghymru, ac anawsterau dysgu hefyd? Mae Mencap Cymru wedi nodi'n ddiweddar fod rhwystrau enfawr yn wynebu pobl ag anawsterau dysgu sydd yn dymuno gweithio. Fe aethon nhw ymlaen i ddweud bod y gyfradd gyflogaeth yng Nghymru yn isel ofnadwy, a bod angen addysgu llawer o gyflogwyr am fanteision cyflogi rhywun ag anabledd dysgu. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad ar beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i ymestyn cyfleoedd cyflogaeth yn y gweithlu hwn na fanteisiwyd arno i raddau helaeth?
Yr ail ddatganiad sydd ei angen arnaf gan y Gweinidog fyddai fy mod wedi ymweld ag un o sefydliadau'r Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Atal Creulondeb i anifeiliaid yng Nghasnewydd. Mae'r gwirfoddolwyr a'r swyddogion yn gwneud gwaith ardderchog, ond cefais fy nychryn yn fawr pan glywais fod rhai o'r anifeiliaid—cŵn oedden nhw—wedi cael eu trin yn greulon iawn gan bobl. Ac nid oes rhestr na chofrestr o'r troseddwyr yma yn y wlad hon. Gall pobl ladd un anifail ac yna mynd allan i brynu un arall, neu gael un arall, o ardaloedd datganoledig eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, dylem fod yn gwneud rhywbeth o ddifrif, drwy gyfrwng ein Siambr barchus, anrhydeddus, fel bod pobl yn trin anifeiliaid â pharch yng Nghymru. Mae'r RSPCA yn gwneud gwaith rhagorol, a dylem eu cefnogi nhw. Diolch.
In terms of the Member's first question, the Minister responsible for employability is sitting behind me, and I'm sure she'll be looking into making sure that Wales is a disability-confident and friendly nation. She'll be bringing forward a statement on the employability plan, which I'm certain will include a number of issues around disability-confident employers. When I was holding that portfolio, I did a large amount of work to make sure that employers in Wales understood what disability-confident might mean, and understood all of the attributes that many people could bring to their employer, if only people could see past them and to their skills instead. And I'm sure the Minister will be taking that into account when she brings her employability statement forward.
In terms of the RSPCA, I don't disagree at all with what the Member has to say. I was very distressed to see the vote in the House of Commons around animals, and whether they suffer cruelty or not. I would ask him to make sure that his own Government, in England, make sure that they bring forward the right measures, to make sure that sentient creatures are not cruelly treated, and are treated correctly.
O ran cwestiwn cyntaf yr Aelod, mae'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am gyflogadwyedd yn eistedd y tu ôl imi, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd hi'n ceisio sicrhau y bydd Cymru yn genedl hyderus a chyfeillgar o ran anableddau. Bydd hi'n cyflwyno datganiad ar y cynllun cyflogadwyedd, ac rwy'n sicr y bydd yn cynnwys nifer o faterion yn ymwneud â chyflogwyr a'u hyder o ran anabledd. Pan oedd y portffolio hwnnw gennyf i, fe wnes i doreth o waith i wneud yn siŵr bod cyflogwyr yng Nghymru yn deall beth mae hyder o ran anabledd yn ei olygu, ac yn deall yr holl nodweddion y gallai llawer o bobl eu cyflwyno i'r cyflogwr, dim ond i bobl edrych y tu hwnt i anableddau pobl a chanolbwyntio ar eu sgiliau. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn cymryd hynny i ystyriaeth pan fydd yn cyflwyno ei datganiad ar gyflogadwyedd.
O ran yr RSPCA, nid wyf yn anghytuno o gwbl â'r hyn oedd gan yr Aelod i'w ddweud. Roedd yn ofid mawr i weld y bleidlais yn Nhŷ’r Cyffredin ynghylch anifeiliaid, ac a ydyn nhw'n dioddef creulondeb neu beidio. Byddwn yn gofyn iddo wneud yn siŵr bod ei Lywodraeth ef ei hun, yn Lloegr, yn sicrhau ei bod yn cyflwyno'r mesurau cywir, er mwyn sicrhau nad yw creaduriaid yn cael eu trin yn greulon, a'u bod yn cael eu trin yn iawn.
Leader of the house, I wondered whether we could have a debate in Government time about what we can do to increase breastfeeding in Wales. The UK has the worst breastfeeding rates in the world, and that puts Wales, I'm afraid, in a very poor position. We know that 71 per cent of mothers start breastfeeding, compared with 83 per cent in England, but it's devastating to know that only 17 per cent are still breastfeeding just six weeks after the birth. This isn't just about the professional support that we give to mothers, which I know that the Cabinet Secretary for health is looking into, to try and improve breastfeeding rates, it is also about society's attitudes to breastfeeding, which is all our responsibility.
Because we heard last week from Dr Aimee Grant of Cardiff University on the research she's done in a Communities First area in Newport, about the attitudes to people feeding in public. And this is an absolutely crucial issue, because women don't go into purdah when they have babies—they need to be out and about, doing their daily tasks. So, when I read that people are saying that the
'standard joke in my house, if I breastfeed in Starbucks the whole café’s just gonna leave...and every middle-class, y’know, over 60-year-old woman is just going to be horrified.'
This is absolutely appalling. Breasts are for feeding babies, not for selling newspapers. And another woman, who said she always felt she had to cover up when she breastfed in public, was made to feel like she was pole dancing, because she was breastfeeding. This is completely outrageous, and we all have to do something about this, because it has a devastating impact on both the baby and the mother in later life. And it is feeding into our obesity, diabetes and cancer rates, and we just have to do something about it. So, I wondered if we could have a statement, and a debate, about how we collectively can do something about this.
Arweinydd y Tŷ, tybed a ellid cael dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth am yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i gynyddu bwydo ar y fron yng Nghymru. Y DU sydd â'r cyfraddau isaf o fwydo ar y fron yn y byd, ac mae hynny'n rhoi Cymru, mae arnaf ofn, mewn sefyllfa wael iawn. Gwyddom fod 71 y cant o famau yn dechrau bwydo ar y fron, o'i gymharu ag 83 y cant yn Lloegr. Ond mae'n dorcalonnus i wybod mai dim ond 17 y cant sydd yn dal i fwydo ar y fron chwe wythnos yn unig ar ôl yr enedigaeth. Nid yw hyn yn ymwneud yn unig â'r cymorth proffesiynol yr ydym yn ei roi i famau, y gwn y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd yn ei ystyried, i geisio gwella cyfraddau bwydo ar y fron, ond mae hefyd yn ymwneud ag agweddau cymdeithas tuag at fwydo ar y fron, sydd yn gyfrifoldeb inni oll.
Oherwydd clywsom yr wythnos ddiwethaf gan Dr Aimee Grant o Brifysgol Caerdydd am yr ymchwil a wnaed ganddi mewn ardal Cymunedau yn Gyntaf yng Nghasnewydd, i'r agweddau tuag at bobl yn bwydo ar y fron yn gyhoeddus. Ac mae hwn yn fater cwbl ganolog, oherwydd nid yw menywod yn mynd i gyfnod o encilio pan fydd babanod ganddyn nhw—mae angen iddyn nhw fod allan ac o gwmpas y lle, wrth eu gorchwylion beunyddiol. Felly, pan ddarllenais fod pobl yn dweud mai
y jôc safonol yn fy nghartref i, pe byddwn yn bwydo ar y fron yn Starbucks byddai pawb yn gadael y caffi... a byddai pob menyw ddosbarth canol, dros 60 oed, yn cael ei harswydo.
Mae hyn yn gwbl warthus. Mae bronnau yno er mwyn bwydo babanod, nid er mwyn gwerthu papurau newydd. A dywedodd menyw arall ei bod bob amser yn teimlo bod yn rhaid iddi guddio'r weithred o fwydo ar y fron yn gyhoeddus, a byddai'n teimlo ei bod yn dawnsio ar bolyn wrth fwydo ar y fron. Mae hyn yn gwbl sarhaus, a rhaid i bob un ohonom wneud rhywbeth am hyn, oherwydd yr effaith ddinistriol ar y baban ac ar y fam yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd. Mae'n cyfrannu at ein cyfraddau gordewdra, diabetes a chanser, ac mae'n rhaid inni wneud rhywbeth amdano. Felly, tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad, a dadl ynghylch sut y gallwn ni gyda'n gilydd wneud rhywbeth am hyn.
I thank the Member for bringing up that very important topic. I share her passion for it, having experienced something very similar when I was breastfeeding my own children. And I'm appalled to find that, very many years later, the situation hasn't improved all that much.
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services recently requested that officials and the Royal College of Midwives facilitate a task and finish group to explore ways to improve uptake, and to provide support to families. We have got a very good agenda for increasing the rate of breastfeeding in Wales, which remains a priority for us, and we've done a number of things, including the 'Transforming Health Improvement in Wales' review of all health improvement programmes, including the breastfeeding programme. I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will bring forward a statement once the task and finish group has reported, so that we can all have a better view of where we are now and then how we can take the service forward in the future.
Diolch i'r Aelod am godi'r pwnc pwysig iawn hwn. Rhannaf ei brwdfrydedd, ar ôl profi rhywbeth tebyg iawn pan oeddwn i'n bwydo fy mhlant fy hun ar y fron. Ac rwy'n arswydo, flynyddoedd lawer wedi hynny, nad yw'r sefyllfa wedi gwella llawer.
Gofynnodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn ddiweddar i swyddogion ac i Goleg Brenhinol y Bydwragedd hwysluso grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen i edrych ar ffyrdd o gynyddu'r niferoedd, a rhoi cymorth i deuluoedd. Mae gennym ni agenda dda iawn ar gyfer cynyddu'r gyfradd o fwydo ar y fron yng Nghymru. Mae'n dal i fod yn flaenoriaeth inni, ac rydym wedi gwneud nifer o bethau, gan gynnwys cynnal adolygiad 'Trawsnewid Gwella Iechyd yng Nghymru' o'r holl raglenni gwella iechyd, gan gynnwys rhaglen bwydo ar y fron. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cyflwyno datganiad pan fydd y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen wedi cyflwyno ei adroddiad, fel y gall pob un ohonom gael syniad gwell o'n sefyllfa ni ar hyn o bryd ac yna sut y gellir symud y gwasanaeth yn ei flaen i'r dyfodol.
Leader of the house, I'm sure that you were shocked, as everybody in this Chamber would have been, by the news yesterday of a 17-year-old from Rhondda Cynon Taf who was radicalised online and then went on to plan a terror attack at a concert in Cardiff here in June. We had a debate in the Senedd back in May of this year, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education, at that time, announced that there was going to be a national online safety action plan developed and implemented. I'd be grateful if we could have a statement to give us an update on the implementation of that plan, to ensure that we can look at the progress to make sure that we reduce the chances of young people being radicalised in the way that this 17-year-old has been. I think it's a matter that requires urgent attention, particularly in the current climate, and I would be grateful if the Government could make time available for that.
Arweinydd y Tŷ, rwy'n siŵr eich bod wedi eich synnu, fel pawb yn y Siambr hon, gan y newyddion ddoe am fachgen 17 oed o Rhondda Cynon Taf a oedd wedi cael ei radicaleiddio ar-lein ac a aeth yn ei flaen i gynllunio ymosodiad terfysgol ar gyngerdd yma yng Nghaerdydd ym mis Mehefin. Cawsom ddadl yn y Senedd ym mis Mai eleni, a chyhoeddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, bryd hynny, fod cynllun gweithredu diogelwch ar-lein cenedlaethol yn mynd i gael ei ddatblygu a'i weithredu. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallem gael datganiad i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni am weithrediad y cynllun hwnnw, er mwyn sicrhau y gallwn edrych ar y cynnydd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn lleihau'r tebygolrwydd y bydd pobl ifanc yn cael eu radicaleiddio yn y ffordd y cafodd y bachgen 17 mlwydd oed hwn. Rwyf i o'r farn bod hwn yn fater sy'n gofyn am sylw ar fyrder, yn enwedig yn yr hinsawdd bresennol, a byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Llywodraeth sicrhau amser ar gyfer hynny.
The Cabinet Secretary has indicated to me that she thinks a statement is due shortly. Actually, I'll also be answering questions with my portfolio hat on next week, so we'll be able to cover some of it off there as well, because I think the Member is right that this is an incredibly important area and I, too, was shocked by the programme that I also saw.
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi dweud wrthyf ei bod yn credu y disgwylir datganiad cyn bo hir. Mewn gwirionedd, byddaf innau hefyd yn ateb cwestiynau gan wisgo het fy mhortffolio i yr wythnos nesaf, felly gallwn ymdrin â pheth ohono yno hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn iawn a bod hwn yn faes eithriadol o bwysig, a chefais innau fy syfrdanu gan y rhaglen a welais i hefyd.
Can I associate myself with the comments made by Jenny Rathbone? I was pleased to attend this meeting last week with the Cardiff University academic and was really shocked at the tales that were told and I think if we could look at where we are with breastfeeding, that would be a great help.
Yesterday, the cross-party Gypsy and Traveller group met in Pembrokeshire and had feedback from the members of the community there about what were the issues they were concerned about. One of the things that came up was the need for feedback on the accommodation needs assessments that have been carried out as a result—during the last Assembly—of a duty being put on local authorities to provide an adequate number of pitches and sites for Gypsies and Travellers. So, I wonder, leader of the house, because I believe this does come under your responsibilities, if we could have a statement where we look at what progress has been made across Wales about creating more pitches where they're needed and what the accommodation needs assessments have actually led to.
A gaf innau fy nghysylltu fy hun â'r sylwadau a wnaeth Jenny Rathbone? Roeddwn yn falch o gael mynd i'r cyfarfod hwn yr wythnos diwethaf gydag academyddion Prifysgol Caerdydd a chefais fy synnu'n fawr gan yr hanesion glywsom. Os oes modd inni edrych ar ein sefyllfa o ran bwydo ar y fron, byddai hynny o gymorth mawr.
Ddoe, cyfarfu'r grŵp trawsbleidiol Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yn Sir Benfro. Cafodd adborth gan aelodau o'r gymuned yno am y materion yr oedden nhw'n pryderu yn eu cylch. Un o'r pethau a godwyd oedd yr angen am adborth ar yr asesiadau o anghenion lletya a gynhaliwyd yn sgil—yn ystod y Cynulliad diwethaf—rhoi dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu nifer digonol o leiniau a safleoedd ar gyfer Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Felly, tybed, arweinydd y Tŷ, gan fy mod yn credu mai un o'ch cyfrifoldebau chi yw hyn, a gawn ni ddatganiad yn edrych ar y cynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud ledled Cymru o ran creu rhagor o leiniau lle mae eu hangen nhw, a'r hyn y mae'r asesiadau o anghenion lletya wedi ei arwain ato mewn gwirionedd.
Yes, I welcome both of those. In terms of the breastfeeding remarks, I'll just say in addition to the remarks that I made to Jenny Rathbone, that we have a number of examples of promoting and normalising breastfeeding across all Public Health Wales programmes of work, including, for example, the NHS settings programme, where health boards will continue to be supported to achieve and maintain UNICEF's UK baby-friendly accreditation and a breastfeeding report card is being developed to measure success, share good practice and identify areas requiring additional support. I will also be taking a good look at this in my new equalities portfolio, as I do think there is a real issue about how women are regarded in terms of their breasts and breastfeeding. So, I will certainly be doing that in conjunction with the Cabinet Secretary.
In terms of the Gypsy/Traveller issues that the Member raised—and has always raised as long as I've known her, which is all my life—I will certainly be looking at that. I'll be looking to have a meeting with the Minister for housing as soon as I possibly can and I'm very happy to say that I will then bring forward a statement on where we are and what we propose to do in the future, as soon as I've been able to have those meetings.
Ydw, rwy'n croesawu'r ddeubeth hyn. O ran y sylwadau ar fwydo ar y fron, fe ddywedaf yn ychwanegol i'r sylwadau a wnes i Jenny Rathbone, fod gennym ni nifer o enghreifftiau o hybu a normaleiddio bwydo ar y fron ar draws holl raglenni gwaith Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, gan gynnwys, er enghraifft, raglen lleoliadau'r GIG, lle bydd byrddau iechyd yn parhau i gael eu cefnogi i gyflawni a chynnal achrediad Cyfeillgar i Fabanod UNICEF UK. Ac mae cerdyn adroddiad bwydo ar y fron yn cael ei ddatblygu i fesur llwyddiant, rhannu arfer da a nodi'r meysydd sydd angen cymorth ychwanegol. Byddaf yn edrych yn fanwl ar hyn yn fy mhortffolio cydraddoldeb newydd, gan fy mod o'r farn bod yma broblem wirioneddol o ran sut y caiff menywod eu hystyried o safbwynt eu bronnau a bwydo ar y fron. Felly, byddaf yn sicr yn gwneud hynny ar y cyd ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
O ran y materion Sipsiwn/Teithwyr a gododd yr aelod—ac y mae hi wedi eu codi byth ers i mi ei hadnabod hi, sef gydol fy oes—byddaf yn sicr yn edrych ar hynny. Byddaf yn ceisio cael cyfarfod gyda'r Gweinidog Tai cyn gynted ag y gallaf ac rwy'n hapus iawn i ddweud y byddaf wedyn yn cyflwyno datganiad ar ein sefyllfa bresennol a'r hyn yr ydym yn cynnig ei wneud yn y dyfodol, cyn gynted ag y byddaf wedi gallu cynnal y cyfarfodydd hynny.
It's a follow-on, really, from Mark Isherwood. I wanted a statement about domestic abuse that can affect everyone, both male and female. The Welsh Government figures on violence against women and girls include all the assaults and all the abuse of males in with those figures, but the word 'male' isn't mentioned. So, the figures are not really what is written on the tin. So, I'm wondering really when the Government will start to actually recognise—and I didn't really get it from your statement earlier—that domestic abuse is a serious problem that affects a lot of men. One in three victims are male and according to the Office for National Statistics only 10 per cent of men will report abuse. So, in terms of the men who are murdered by partners and ex-partners, there's roughly one every 11 days and that's not to diminish the other side of what you spoke about earlier. But there needs to be a recognition in this building and amongst everybody here that men are also the victims of domestic abuse and there need to be services for people, for everybody.
Final question. You won't be able to give me the answer now, but I would appreciate it at some point in the near future. How many beds are there in terms of refuge for men in each county of Wales? Diolch yn fawr. Thank you.
Mae hyn, mewn gwirionedd, yn dilyn yr hyn a ddywedodd Mark Isherwood. Roeddwn yn awyddus i gael datganiad am gam-drin ar yr aelwyd sy'n effeithio ar bawb, yn wragedd ac yn ddynion. Mae ffigurau Llywodraeth Cymru ar drais yn erbyn menywod a merched yn cynnwys yr holl ymosodiadau a phob achos o gam-drin dynion yn y ffigurau hynny, ond nid oes sôn am y geiriau 'dyn/gŵr'. Felly, nid yr hyn sy'n cael ei ddatgan yw'r ffigurau mewn gwirionedd. Tybed pryd fydd y Llywodraeth mewn gwirionedd yn dechrau cydnabod—ac nid oedd hynny yn amlwg yn eich datganiad yn gynharach—bod cam-drin ar yr aelwyd yn broblem ddifrifol sy'n effeithio ar lawer o ddynion. Mae un o bob tri dioddefwr yn wrywaidd, ac yn ôl y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol dim ond 10 y cant o ddynion sy'n adrodd am eu cam-drin. Felly, o ran y dynion sy'n cael eu llofruddio gan bartneriaid a chyn-bartneriaid, ceir un bob 11 diwrnod yn fras, ac nid yw hynny'n lleihau'r ochr arall i'r hyn y buoch chi'n siarad amdano'n gynharach. Ond mae angen cydnabod yn yr adeilad hwn ac ymhlith pawb sydd yma fod dynion hefyd yn dioddef o gam-drin ar yr aelwyd ac mae angen sicrhau bod gwasanaethau ar gyfer pobl, ar gyfer pawb.
Y cwestiwn olaf. Ni fyddwch yn gallu rhoi ateb i mi nawr, ond byddwn yn ei werthfawrogi rywbryd yn y dyfodol agos. Faint o welyau sydd ar gael mewn llochesi i ddynion ym mhob sir yng Nghymru? Diolch yn fawr.
The Member brings this up consistently, and, as I said in response to Mark Isherwood, we are working, of course, towards a situation where no-one in Wales lives in fear of violence or anything else. There's a huge cultural issue around the acceptability of domestic violence. I will, of course, be looking at violence against everybody in all kinds of settings in my new role, but it is actually important to remember that two women a week are killed by domestic violence, and we need to get our priorities straight.
Mae'r Aelod yn codi hyn yn gyson, ac, fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Mark Isherwood, rydym yn gweithio, wrth gwrs, tuag at sefyllfa lle nad oes neb yng Nghymru yn byw gan ofni trais neu unrhyw beth arall. Ceir mater enfawr o ddiwylliant ynghylch pa mor dderbyniol yw trais ar yr aelwyd. Byddaf, wrth gwrs, yn edrych ar drais yn unrhyw fangre yn erbyn unrhyw un yn rhinwedd fy swydd newydd, ond mae'n bwysig cofio bod dwy fenyw yr wythnos yn cael eu lladd oherwydd trais ar yr aelwyd, ac mae angen inni sicrhau bod y blaenoriaethau sydd gennym yn gymwys.
Leader of the house, today we've seen the publication of the fifth state of the nation report from the social mobility commission, which actually doesn't give us good reading in certain areas, because it highlights the fact that austerity doesn't solve the problem; it creates even more problems for many of our deprived communities. Now, most of the deprived communities are therefore facing challenges, and the young people in those communities are facing those challenges as well. Can we have a statement from the Welsh Government to say how we'll actually now work towards tackling some of those points to ensure that our young people in the disadvantaged communities have a better chance in life?
Arweinydd y Tŷ, rydym ni wedi gweld heddiw gyhoeddiad y pumed adroddiad ar gyflwr y genedl gan y Comisiwn Symudedd Cymdeithasol, nad ydyw'n ddifyr ei ddarllen mewn rhai mannau mewn gwirionedd, gan ei fod yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith nad yw llymder yn datrys y broblem; ei fod yn creu mwy o broblemau fyth i lawer o gymunedau difreintiedig. Nawr, mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r cymunedau difreintiedig yn wynebu heriau o'r herwydd, ac mae'r pobl ifanc yn y cymunedau hynny yn wynebu'r heriau hynny hefyd. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth i ddweud sut byddwn ni'n gweithio nawr tuag at fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r pwyntiau hynny i sicrhau bod gan ein pobl ifanc yn y cymunedau difreintiedig gyfle rhagorach yn eu bywyd?
I very much welcome the Member's question. There is a big piece across the Government about social mobility currently under way. As the Member knows, I chair the fair work board, which is looking very much in terms of fair work and how we can increase social mobility. With my previous hat on, I had a number of meetings with various Cabinet Secretaries, and I will be incorporating the remarks that he's made in terms of what we're trying to achieve with the fair work board and working across the Government with other Cabinet colleagues to address some of the issues that were highlighted in that report, which I think are really a cause for concern to all of us.
Rwy'n croesawu cwestiwn yr Aelod yn fawr iawn. Mae gwaith mawr ledled y Llywodraeth ynghylch symudedd cymdeithasol ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd. Fel y mae'r Aelod yn gwybod, y fi yw cadeirydd y bwrdd gwaith teg, sydd yn edrych i raddau helaeth iawn ar waith teg a sut y gallwn gynyddu symudedd cymdeithasol. A'm het flaenorol am fy mhen, cefais nifer o gyfarfodydd gyda'r Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet amrywiol, a byddaf yn cynnwys y sylwadau a wnaeth ef o ran yr hyn yr ydym yn ceisio ei gyflawni gyda'r bwrdd gwaith teg a chan weithio ledled y Llywodraeth gyda chydweithwyr eraill yn y Cabinet i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion a ddaeth i'r amlwg yn yr adroddiad hwnnw, yr wy'n credu eu bod yn peri pryder gwirioneddol i bob un ohonom ni.
Two things, if I may, leader of the house. First of all, there wasn't time earlier for me to have my supplementary question to Neil Hamilton's question to the First Minister, despite the brevity of the answer that he received initially, on parking charges in Wales. But can I concur with Neil Hamilton's comments that it is important that councils are encouraged and given guidance to keep those charges as low as possible and to make sure that people travelling to our town centres across Wales aren't spending more than is required by the policies in those areas? In Monmouthshire, there are overstay facilities on many of the parking machines, and that does mean that people who do overstay aren't fined in the first instance; they can actually pay their ticket afterwards. So, could the Assembly give guidance to local authorities on how to keep charges to what is required in those areas, and perhaps we could have a statement on that?
Secondly, on the weekend, one of my constituents in my village, actually, slipped in the cold weather we're experiencing at the moment and suffered a head injury. Luckily, there were friends and neighbours on hand to support her, but it was an hour before the first responder was able to be there. In fact, the subsequent ambulance was then with her about 10, 15 minutes after that, I think. So, specifically in relation to the times for first responders, can we have an update on what's being done to make sure that those are on hand in Wales when people need them? I know of many instances where first responders are there in the requisite time, but in the case of a head injury I really do think it's important that people do get the support and the medical treatment they need as soon as possible by those first responders, and perhaps you could look at what's happening there across Wales.
Dau beth, os caf i, arweinydd y tŷ. Yn gyntaf i gyd, nid oedd amser i'w gael yn gynharach i mi ofyn fy nghwestiwn atodol i gwestiwn Neil Hamilton i'r Prif Weinidog, er gwaethaf crynoder yr ateb a gafodd i ddechrau, ar daliadau am barcio yng Nghymru. Ond a gaf i gyd-fynd â sylwadau Neil Hamilton ei bod yn bwysig bod cynghorau yn cael eu hannog a chanllawiau yn cael eu rhoi iddyn nhw i gadw'r ffioedd hynny cyn ised â phosibl a gwneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl sy'n teithio i ganol ein trefi ledled Cymru yn gwario mwy na'r hyn sy'n ofynnol gan y polisïau yn yr ardaloedd hynny? Yn Sir Fynwy, ceir cyfleusterau i aros dros amser ar lawer o'r peiriannau parcio, ac mae hynny'n golygu nad yw pobl sy'n aros dros eu hamser yn cael dirwy yn y lle cyntaf; fe allan nhw dalu am eu tocyn ar y diwedd. Felly, a all y Cynulliad roi canllawiau i awdurdodau lleol ar sut i gadw'r ffioedd at yr hyn sy'n angenrheidiol yn yr ardaloedd hynny, ac efallai y cawn ni ddatganiad am hynny?
Yn ail, ar y penwythnos, llithrodd un o'm hetholwragedd yn fy mhentref i, mewn gwirionedd, yn y tywydd oer yr ydym ni'n ei gael ar hyn o bryd a chafodd anaf i'w phen. Yn ffodus, roedd ffrindiau a chymdogion wrth law i'w chefnogi hi, ond aeth awr heibio cyn i'r ymatebwr cyntaf allu bod yn y fan. Roedd yr ambiwlans a ddaeth ati hi wedyn yno ryw 10, 15 munud ar ôl hynny, rwy'n meddwl. Felly, yn benodol o ran yr amseroedd ar gyfer ymatebwyr cyntaf, a gawn ni ddiweddariad ar yr hyn sy'n cael ei wneud i sicrhau bod y rhain wrth law yng Nghymru pan fydd eu hangen ar bobl? Rwy'n gwybod am lawer o enghreifftiau lle mae ymatebwyr cyntaf yn cyrraedd yn yr amser gofynnol, ond yn achos anafiadau i'r pen rwyf i'n wir o'r farn ei bod yn bwysig fod pobl yn cael y cymorth a'r driniaeth feddygol sydd yn angenrheidiol cyn gynted ag y bo'r modd drwy'r ymatebwyr cyntaf hynny, ac efallai y gallech chi edrych ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd ledled Cymru.
In terms of the Member's first question on parking charges, I can only commend him to the answer the First Minister gave. There are a large number of authorities with cutting-edge practices in terms of parking charges, utilising modern methods of charging for the exact time that a person stays, including apps that do that and registering with the local authorities, and so on. And I would certainly commend that as a course of action to all local authorities, in conjunction with a good travel plan, because I do think it's very important to include active travel plans in city centres as well. Actually, there's quite a lot of research to show that people who travel by public transport into city centres spend more and spend more time in the shops and restaurants there. So, I think parking charges in an overall travel plan for our shopping centres is a very good thing.
In terms of the winter preparedness and the first responders, the Cabinet Secretary was here listening to the Member's remarks and nodding, so I'm sure the Member will get a response to that in due course.
O ran cwestiwn cyntaf yr Aelod ynghylch taliadau am parcio, ni allaf ond cymeradwyo iddo'r ateb a roddodd y Prif Weinidog. Ceir nifer fawr o awdurdodau ag arferion arloesol o ran taliadau am barcio, gan ddefnyddio dulliau modern o godi tâl am yr union amser y mae'r cerbyd yn aros, gan gynnwys apiau sydd yn gwneud hynny a chofrestru gydag awdurdodau lleol, ac ati. A byddwn yn sicr yn argymell hynny yn ffordd o weithredu i bob awdurdod lleol, ar y cyd â chynllun teithio da, gan i mi gredu ei bod yn bwysig iawn cynnwys cynlluniau teithio llesol yng nghanol dinasoedd hefyd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae cryn dipyn o ymchwil i'w gael sy'n dangos bod pobl sy'n teithio ar gludiant cyhoeddus i ganol dinasoedd yn gwario mwy ac yn treulio mwy o amser yn y siopau a'r bwytai sydd yno. Felly, rwy'n credu bod taliadau parcio mewn cynllun teithio cyffredinol ar gyfer ein canolfannau siopa yn beth da iawn.
O ran bod yn barod ar gyfer y gaeaf a'r ymatebwyr cyntaf, roedd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yma yn gwrando ar sylwadau yr Aelod, ac yn nodio'i ben, felly rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelod yn cael ymateb i hynny maes o law.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Gofal Cymdeithasol a Phlant ar wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal, ac rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog i wneud ei ddatganiad—Huw Irranca-Davies.
The next item, therefore, is a statement by the Minister for Children and Social Care on improving outcomes for looked-after children, and I call on the Minister to make the statement—Huw Irranca-Davies.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to update Members on our collaborative approach to improving outcomes for looked-after children in Wales.
It is clear there is consensus among Members from all parties that looked-after children should have the same start in life and opportunities as all children. We clearly state this as our vision and our commitment to looked-after children in the programme for government ‘Taking Wales Forward’ and the national strategy ‘Prosperity for All’. I was pleased to have the chance to discuss the cross-Government approach to realising this vision with my Cabinet colleagues at my first Cabinet meeting earlier this month.
Over the last few years, the numbers of looked-after children in Wales have remained steadily high. Latest figures show that there are 5,662 looked-after children in Wales, with around 700 young people leaving care each year. Through providing a greater focus on prevention and early intervention, I want to see a reduction in the numbers of children coming into care, whilst continuing to ensure the right decisions are taken for every child and young person. This can only be achieved by taking a collaborative approach, working with front-line professionals, managers and decision makers.
Now, I think I'm on safe ground to say that we all want to work in a collaborative way. And for me, working together to improve the lives of looked-after children is one of the best opportunities we have to demonstrate the value of cross-Government working.
We know that most children flourish and thrive when they are loved and cared for within their own families. But, of course, this does not mean children should be left with families come what may. We acknowledge that there are times when authorities must intervene for the well-being and the safety of children. However, the more we can help families stay together during difficult times by offering the right level of support in the right environment, the more we can do for the children who cannot remain at home.
I have decided the ministerial advisory group established by the former Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children will continue. This group is instrumental in guiding this work and in advising me, drawing its membership from across Government and across the sectors that provide services directly to families. I met with the Chair, David Melding Assembly Member, last week to discuss the pioneering work of this advisory group. David has been ably leading this work and I'm pleased to confirm that he has agreed to continue in this role.
Achieving our shared vision for looked-after children requires a whole-systems approach and I'm pleased we've been able to assist by providing generous Government funding. Just this year, we have invested £8 million to drive change and improve outcomes for looked-after children. This investment will help make sustainable changes that, over time, will reduce the number of children coming into care. This includes £5 million to expand local authorities' edge-of-care services; £850,000 to expand the Reflect project across all seven regions in Wales—this is a project that works with young mums to break the cycle of repeat pregnancies and recurrent care proceedings; £1.625 million to help care leavers on their journey towards independence by enhancing local authority training and apprenticeship schemes and extending the availability of personal advisers up to the age of 25; £400,000 to deliver the Fostering framework for Wales; and £125,000 to develop adoption support work right across the country.
Furthermore, our £1 million St David’s Day fund, which we launched in March, is providing flexible, financial support directly to care leavers in the same way that other young people receive financial help from parents. Carl Sargeant was passionate about this fund, and he would be pleased with the positive impact it's already having on care leavers right across Wales.
The group has developed a programme of change based around three themes, and they are: firstly, preventing children entering care, and early intervention—the preventative approach; secondly, improving outcomes for children already in care; and thirdly, supporting care leavers to successful independent futures. Working together, we've already made good progress, and I am grateful to our partners for their commitment and their dedication to working with us. We are now at the stage where we can pick up the pace of improvement and set cross-Government, challenging goals to deliver real step changes to improve the lives of looked-after children.
Research shows us that there is a strong relationship between the number of children entering care and deprivation in local areas. Tackling poverty and building community resilience will help keep families together during times of crisis. This year, we've invested in a range of prevention and early intervention measures to support families and reduce the number of children coming into care. As well as the £5 million investment in edge-of-care services I referred to, we have provided local authorities with £76 million for Flying Start and £38 million for Families First. Our focus going forward is on those early years. We recognise that this is a critical time in terms of child development and outcomes, especially for those living in deprivation. So, work is taking place to develop an integrated early years system to ensure that families get the right support.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y cyfle hwn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am ein dull cydweithredol o wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghymru.
Mae'n amlwg y ceir consensws ymhlith yr Aelodau o'r holl bleidiau y dylai plant sy'n derbyn gofal gael yr un dechrau mewn bywyd a chyfleoedd â phob plentyn arall. Rydym yn nodi hyn yn glir fel ein gweledigaeth a'n hymrwymiad i blant sy'n derbyn gofal yn y rhaglen lywodraethu 'Symud Cymru Ymlaen' a'r strategaeth genedlaethol 'Ffyniant i Bawb'. Roeddwn i'n falch o gael y cyfle i drafod y dull traws-lywodraethol i wireddu'r weledigaeth hon â fy nghyd-Aelodau o'r Cabinet yn fy nghyfarfod Cabinet cyntaf yn gynharach y mis hwn.
Yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae nifer y plant sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghymru wedi aros yn gyson uchel. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos bod 5,662 o blant sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghymru, a bod tua 700 o bobl ifanc yn gadael gofal bob blwyddyn. Drwy ganolbwyntio yn fwy ar atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar, rwyf eisiau gweld gostyngiad yn nifer y plant sy'n dod i mewn i ofal, gan barhau i sicrhau y gwneir y penderfyniadau cywir ar gyfer pob plentyn a pherson ifanc. Ni ellir cyflawni hyn heblaw drwy ddefnyddio dull cydweithredol, drwy weithio gyda gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen, rheolwyr a'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau.
Nawr, rwy'n credu fy mod i ar dir cadarn wrth ddweud bod pob un ohonom yn dymuno gweithio mewn modd cydweithredol. Ac i mi, mae cydweithio i wella bywydau plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn un o'r cyfleoedd gorau sydd gennym i ddangos gwerth gwaith traws-lywodraethol.
Rydym yn gwybod bod y rhan fwyaf o blant yn ffynnu wrth gael eu caru ac wrth dderbyn gofal yn eu teuluoedd eu hunain. Ond, wrth gwrs, nid yw hyn yn golygu y dylid gadael plant gyda'u teuluoedd doed a ddelo. Rydym yn cydnabod bod adegau pan fo'n rhaid i awdurdodau ymyrryd er lles a diogelwch plant. Fodd bynnag, po fwyaf y gallwn ni helpu teuluoedd i aros gyda'i gilydd yn ystod adegau anodd, drwy gynnig y lefel gywir o gymorth yn yr amgylchedd cywir, y mwyaf y gallwn ni ei wneud ar gyfer y plant nad ydyn nhw'n gallu aros gartref.
Rwyf i wedi penderfynu y bydd y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog a sefydlwyd gan y cyn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gymunedau a Phlant yn parhau. Mae'r grŵp hwn yn allweddol wrth arwain y gwaith hwn a fy nghynghori i, a daw ei aelodaeth o bob rhan o'r Llywodraeth ac o bob sector sy'n darparu gwasanaethau uniongyrchol i deuluoedd. Cyfarfûm â'r Cadeirydd, yr Aelod Cynulliad David Melding, yr wythnos diwethaf i drafod gwaith arloesol y grŵp cynghori hwn. Mae David wedi bod yn arwain y gwaith hwn yn fedrus ac rwy'n falch o gadarnhau ei fod wedi cytuno i barhau yn y swyddogaeth hon.
Mae cyflawni ein cydweledigaeth ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn gofyn am ymagwedd system gyfan ac rwy'n falch ein bod ni wedi gallu cynorthwyo drwy ddarparu cyllid hael gan y Llywodraeth. Dim ond eleni, rydym ni wedi buddsoddi £8 miliwn i ysgogi newid a gwella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal. Bydd y buddsoddiad hwn yn helpu i wneud newidiadau cynaliadwy a fydd, yn y pen draw, yn lleihau nifer y plant sy'n dod i mewn i ofal. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £5 miliwn i ehangu gwasanaethau ar ffiniau gofal awdurdodau lleol; £850,000 i ehangu'r prosiect Adlewyrchu i'r saith rhanbarth yng Nghymru͏—mae hwn yn brosiect sy'n gweithio gyda mamau ifanc i dorri'r cylch o ailfeichiogi ac achosion gofal rheolaidd; £1.625 miliwn i helpu pobl sy'n gadael gofal ar eu taith tuag at annibyniaeth drwy wella cynlluniau prentisiaeth a hyfforddiant awdurdodau lleol ac ymestyn y gallu i gael defnyddio gwasanaethau cynghorwyr personol hyd at 25 oed; £400,000 i gyflawni'r Fframwaith Maethu Cymru; a £125,000 i ddatblygu gwaith cymorth mabwysiadu ledled y wlad.
Hefyd, mae ein cronfa Dydd Gŵyl Dewi gwerth £1 miliwn, a lansiwyd gennym ym mis Mawrth, yn darparu cymorth hyblyg, ariannol uniongyrchol i'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal yn yr un modd ag y mae pobl ifanc eraill yn cael cymorth ariannol gan rieni. Roedd Carl Sargeant yn angerddol am y gronfa hon, a byddai'n falch o'r effaith gadarnhaol y mae eisoes yn ei chael ar y rhai sy'n gadael gofal ledled Cymru.
Mae'r grŵp wedi datblygu rhaglen o newid yn seiliedig ar dair thema, sef: yn gyntaf, atal plant rhag dechrau derbyn gofal, ac ymyrraeth gynnar — y dull ataliol; yn ail, gwella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sydd eisoes yn derbyn gofal; ac yn drydydd, cefnogi'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal i ddyfodol annibynnol llwyddiannus. Trwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, rydym ni eisoes wedi gwneud cynnydd da, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'n partneriaid am eu hymrwymiad a'u hymroddiad i weithio gyda ni. Erbyn hyn, rydym ni ar gam pryd y gallwn ni gynyddu cyflymder y gwelliant a gosod nodau traws-lywodraethol, heriol i gyflawni newidiadau gwirioneddol arwyddocaol i wella bywydau plant sy'n derbyn gofal.
Dengys ymchwil bod cysylltiad cryf rhwng nifer y plant sy'n dechrau derbyn gofal ac amddifadedd mewn ardaloedd lleol. Trwy fynd i'r afael â thlodi a meithrin cydnerthedd cymunedol, byddwn yn helpu i gadw teuluoedd gyda'i gilydd yn ystod adegau o argyfwng. Eleni, rydym ni wedi buddsoddi mewn amrywiaeth o fesurau atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar i gefnogi teuluoedd ac i leihau nifer y plant sy'n dechrau derbyn gofal. Yn ogystal â'r buddsoddiad o £5 miliwn mewn gwasanaethau ar ffiniau gofal y cyfeiriais ato, rydym ni wedi darparu £76 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer Dechrau'n Deg a £38 miliwn ar gyfer Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf. Mae ein pwyslais wrth fwrw ymlaen ar y blynyddoedd cynnar hynny. Rydym ni'n cydnabod bod hwn yn gyfnod tyngedfennol o ran datblygiad plant a chanlyniadau, yn enwedig ar gyfer y rhai sy'n byw mewn amddifadedd. Felly, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo i ddatblygu system blynyddoedd cynnar integredig i sicrhau bod teuluoedd yn cael y cymorth cywir.
To improve outcomes for children already in care, we know that stable placements are crucial for children to feel secure, have a sense of belonging and be able to fulfil their potential. So, we have a three-year joint education and social services plan, entitled 'Raising the ambitions and educational attainment of children who are looked after in Wales'. This plan is supported by £4 million investment via the pupil development grant and it provides targeted educational support to care experienced children. Whilst it is encouraging that, at key stage 4, 23 per cent of looked-after children in Wales achieved level 2 inclusive—a 10 per cent increase from 2013—there is still so much to do to reduce the attainment gap further.
So, as well as improving education attainment, having a stable placement also enhances children’s emotional well-being and resilience. Care experienced children have a greater incidence of poor mental health. To reduce the trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences, we have invested in the establishment of a national ACEs hub, and, through our 'Together for Children and Young People' delivery plan, we have published an agreed care pathway for vulnerable young people, including those looked after to ensure that appropriate referrals are made to access therapeutic support.
For families and professionals involved in foster care, we have provided funding for an innovative social pedagogy pilot, which is exploring the impact of a holistic approach to education and life skills.
As children develop and make their way through life, we want them to be ambitious and to access opportunities so that they become economically active citizens. Yet, we know that 43 per cent of looked-after children are not in education, employment or training. So, through the Government’s youth engagement and progression framework, much work is under way with Careers Wales, youth services, schools, colleges and work-based learning providers to identify and support young people NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.
In terms of higher education, we are progressing the recommendations from the Diamond review and are preparing to legislate for the benefit of care leavers so that they may receive the maximum level of maintenance grant to support their education from 2018-19.
It would be remiss not to acknowledge today the important fact that between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of young homeless people have been in care. To this end, we have invested £83,000 in the End Youth Homelessness Cymru partnership, which Llamau convenes on our behalf and have recently approved £2.6 million for homelessness projects. Of the 60-plus projects funded, 15 are specifically aimed at preventing homelessness for young people following the positive pathway approach.
Finally, we are looking at other innovative ways that we can help young care leavers on their road to independence. For example, we are working with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to consider removing council tax liability from all care leavers aged between 18 and 25. Work to deliver this is in the early stages, but we believe practical help like this will make a real tangible difference.
Delivering a step change in outcomes for looked-after children is a key public policy challenge for us all here in Wales. The Government has set a clear policy direction and will continue to listen to the advice of the ministerial advisory group and the voices of front-line professionals and children and young people who are affected. With the support of this Assembly, our ambition must be to help to transform the outcomes of children, by providing a greater focus on prevention and early intervention, to reduce the numbers of children entering care, to improve the outcomes for those already in care, and supporting care leavers towards independent, successful lives. Thank you.
I wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sydd eisoes yn derbyn gofal, gwyddom fod lleoliadau sefydlog yn hanfodol i blant deimlo'n ddiogel, i gael ymdeimlad o berthyn a gallu cyflawni eu potensial. Felly, mae gennym ni gynllun addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol tair blynedd, o'r enw 'Codi uchelgais a chyrhaeddiad addysgol plant sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghymru'. Cefnogir y cynllun hwn gan fuddsoddiad o £4 miliwn drwy'r grant datblygu disgyblion, ac mae'n darparu cymorth addysgol wedi'i dargedu i blant sydd wedi cael profiad o dderbyn gofal. Er ei fod yn galonogol, yng nghyfnod allweddol 4, bod 23 y cant o'r plant sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghymru wedi cyflawni lefel 2 cynhwysol—cynnydd o 10 y cant o 2013—mae llawer i'w wneud o hyd i leihau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad.
Felly, yn ogystal â gwella cyrhaeddiad addysg, mae bod â lleoliad sefydlog hefyd yn gwella cydnerthedd a lles emosiynol plant. Ceir mwy o achosion o iechyd meddwl gwael ymhlith plant sydd wedi cael profiad o dderbyn gofal. I leihau'r trawma a achosir gan brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod, rydym ni wedi buddsoddi er mwyn sefydlu canolfan genedlaethol i fynd i'r afael â phrofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod, a, thrwy ein cynllun cyflawni 'Law yn llaw dros Blant a Phobl Ifanc', rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi llwybr gofal y cytunwyd arno ar gyfer pobl ifanc sy'n agored i niwed, gan gynnwys y rhai hynny sy'n derbyn gofal i sicrhau y gwneir atgyfeiriadau priodol i gael mynediad at gymorth therapiwtig.
Ar gyfer teuluoedd a gweithwyr proffesiynol sy'n ymwneud â gofal maeth, rydym ni wedi darparu cyllid ar gyfer cynllun treialu addysgeg gymdeithasol arloesol, sy'n archwilio effaith ymagwedd gyfannol at addysg a sgiliau bywyd.
Fel y mae plant yn datblygu ac yn gwneud eu ffordd trwy fywyd, rydym ni'n dymuno iddyn nhw fod yn uchelgeisiol ac i fanteisio ar gyfleoedd er mwyn iddyn nhw fod yn ddinasyddion economaidd weithgar. Ac eto, gwyddom nad yw 43 y cant o blant sy'n derbyn gofal mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant. Felly, drwy fframwaith ymgysylltu a dilyniant pobl ifanc y Llywodraeth, mae llawer o waith yn mynd rhagddo gyda Gyrfa Cymru, gwasanaethau ieuenctid, ysgolion, colegau a darparwyr dysgu seiliedig ar waith i nodi a chefnogi pobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant neu sydd mewn perygl o fod yn hynny.
O ran addysg uwch, rydym ni'n gwneud cynnydd ar yr argymhellion o adolygiad Diamond ac yn paratoi i ddeddfu er budd y rhai sy'n gadael gofal er mwyn iddyn nhw allu derbyn uchafswm y grant cynhaliaeth i gefnogi eu haddysg o 2018-19 ymlaen.
Byddwn ar fai heddiw pe na byddwn yn cydnabod y ffaith bwysig bod rhwng 20 a 30 y cant o bobl ifanc ddigartref wedi bod yn derbyn gofal. I'r perwyl hwn, rydym ni wedi buddsoddi £83,000 yn y bartneriaeth End Youth Homelessness Cymru, y mae Llamau yn ei chynnal ar ein rhan ac sydd wedi cymeradwyo £2.6 miliwn ar gyfer prosiectau digartrefedd yn ddiweddar. O'r dros 60 o brosiectau a ariennir, nod benodol 15 ohonynt yw atal digartrefedd i bobl ifanc drwy ddilyn y dull llwybr cadarnhaol.
Yn olaf, rydym ni'n ystyried ffyrdd arloesol eraill y gallwn ni eu defnyddio i helpu pobl ifanc sy'n gadael gofal ar eu ffordd i annibyniaeth. Er enghraifft, rydym ni'n gweithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid i ystyried dileu'r rwymedigaeth i dalu'r dreth gyngor i bob un sy'n gadael gofal sydd rhwng 18 a 25 oed. Mae'r gwaith i gyflawni hyn yn y camau cynnar, ond credwn y bydd cymorth ymarferol fel hyn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol.
Mae cyflawni newid arwyddocaol yn y canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn her polisi cyhoeddus allweddol i bob un ohonom ni yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi pennu cyfeiriad polisi clir a bydd yn parhau i wrando ar gyngor y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog, a lleisiau'r gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen a'r plant a'r bobl ifanc sy'n cael eu heffeithio. Gyda chymorth y Cynulliad hwn, mae'n rhaid i helpu i weddnewid canlyniadau i blant fod yn uchelgais i ni, a hynny drwy roi mwy o bwyslais ar atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar, lleihau nifer y plant sy'n dechrau derbyn gofal, gwella canlyniadau y rhai sydd eisoes yn derbyn gofal, a chefnogi'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal i fyw bywydau annibynnol a llwyddiannus. Diolch.
Can I make it clear I'm speaking at the moment in my role as chair of the ministerial advisory group? Deputy Presiding Officer, this is the first chance I've had to pay tribute to Carl Sargeant, so I will take that opportunity, because Carl showed great vision and leadership in this area. To convene the group as a ministerial advisory group under the chairmanship of an opposition Member, I think emphasised both the non-partisan nature of this political challenge, but also that we do need the rigour and accountability of ministerial action, and, with that combination, we can really drive up standards. So, we've got a lot to thank Carl for, and we will do so as the work emerges in the next number of years.
Can I also put on record my thanks to the Minister that I have his confidence to continue as the chair of the ministerial advisory group, not least because of the excellence of its members and the many contributions they have already made? I'm pleased to say that the ministerial advisory group fully shares your vision, Minister, and that of the former Cabinet Secretary, that the heart of that is timely, effective, early intervention that ensures we take into care only those children who really need to be looked after and we support those children on the edge of care in their family settings. I think that really has to be at the heart of reform, and the ministerial advisory group was heartened by the £8 million that's been invested in driving this sort of change, with £5 million of that in the edge-of-care service development.
I'd also like to say that some things have emerged from the group that are now clearly reflected in Government statements. The link between deprivation and the numbers being taken into care was something that we specifically looked at in the ministerial advisory group, and I'm sure that the Minister will want to join me in commending in particular the work of one of our members, Professor Jonathan Scourfield of Cardiff University who has done so much in the statistical analysis of this issue, and has been vigilant in ensuring that the role of poverty and inequality is emphasised in any approach to developing policy in these areas.
I'd also like to say that work on educational attainment has progressed quite significantly. The attainment gap is still wide, and we need that ambition to close it. It needs to be connected up, clearly, to things like where foster carers are in providing that support at home for looked-after children. So, there are many loose ends, as it were, that need to be joined up to have this integrated approach. But we have had the first intimations of developing educational strategies that really do start to draw out the full potential of looked-after children and aim for that explicitly.
I think, when we look at care leavers, probably housing is the most important thing for them. For looked-after children, it is usually educational attainment in terms of what their life chances will be, and that feeds back into the stability of their care placement, because, if that's unstable and they're moving around, that's very disruptive. Often, it means they move school, for instance. But, for care leavers, housing and ensuring—through innovative methods like Housing First, where we absolutely preserve that tenancy and support it and ensure that that stability is provided to care leavers.
Can I end by just saying that I think the role of us all, and particularly our colleagues in local government, as politicians—corporate parenting is essential in this area? The great advantage we have is that it's non-partisan. There is no division politically on how we need to progress and the importance all parties place on this, but we need to give political leadership, as well, because it's not always been the case that, in the political arena, this issue has had the emphasis that it should, nor in the wider community or media, sometimes. So, we really need to be first, and, when we are talking about corporate parenting, I think that applies to the Minister, it applies to Assembly Members here, even though it sits more directly with our colleagues and friends in local government. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
A gaf i ei gwneud yn glir fy mod i'n siarad ar hyn o bryd yn fy swyddogaeth fel Cadeirydd y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog? Dirprwy Lywydd, dyma'r cyfle cyntaf yr wyf wedi'i gael i dalu teyrnged i Carl Sargeant, felly byddaf yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwnnw, oherwydd dangosodd Carl weledigaeth ac arweinyddiaeth gref yn y maes hwn. Rwy'n credu bod y ffaith iddo sefydlu'r grŵp fel grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog o dan gadeiryddiaeth Aelod o'r wrthblaid, yn pwysleisio natur amhleidiol yr her wleidyddol hon, ond hefyd bod arnom angen cadernid ac atebolrwydd gweithredu gweinidogol, a, gyda'r cyfuniad hwnnw, gallwn ni godi safonau o ddifrif. Felly, mae gennym ni lawer i ddiolch i Carl amdano, a byddwn yn gwneud hynny wrth i'r gwaith ddatblygu yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf.
A gaf i hefyd gofnodi fy niolch i'r Gweinidog am ei hyder ynof i barhau fel cadeirydd y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog, yn enwedig oherwydd rhagoriaeth ei aelodau a'r cyfraniadau niferus y maen nhw wedi'u gwneud eisoes? Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog yn rhannu eich gweledigaeth yn llawn, Gweinidog, a gweledigaeth y cyn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mai ymyrraeth amserol effeithiol a chynnar, sy'n sicrhau mai dim ond y plant hynny sydd angen derbyn gofal sy'n mynd i mewn i ofal mewn gwirionedd a'n bod ni'n cefnogi'r plant hynny ar ffiniau gofal yn eu sefyllfa deuluol, sydd wrth wraidd y mater. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i hynny fod wir wrth wraidd y diwygio, ac roedd y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog wedi'i galonogi gan yr £8 miliwn sydd wedi'i fuddsoddi mewn ysgogi'r math hwn o newid, a £5 miliwn o hynny mewn datblygu gwasanaeth ffiniau gofal.
Hoffwn i ddweud hefyd fod rhai pethau wedi dod i'r amlwg yn y grŵp sydd erbyn hyn wedi eu hadlewyrchu'n glir mewn datganiadau gan y Llywodraeth. Roedd y cyswllt rhwng amddifadedd a nifer y bobl sy'n derbyn gofal yn rhywbeth y buom yn ei ystyried yn benodol yn y grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn dymuno ymuno â mi i ganmol yn arbennig gwaith un o'n haelodau, yr Athro Jonathan Scourfield o Brifysgol Caerdydd, sydd wedi gwneud cymaint o ran dadansoddi'r mater hwn yn ystadegol, ac sydd wedi sicrhau y ceir pwyslais ar y rhan y mae tlodi ac anghydraddoldeb yn ei chwarae mewn unrhyw ymagwedd at ddatblygu polisi yn y meysydd hyn.
Hoffwn i ddweud hefyd bod gwaith ar gyrhaeddiad addysgol wedi datblygu'n eithaf sylweddol. Mae'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad yn dal i fod yn eang, ac mae angen yr uchelgais hwnnw er mwyn ei gau. Mae angen iddo gysylltu, yn amlwg, â phethau megis swyddogaeth gofalwyr maeth wrth ddarparu'r cymorth hwnnw yn y cartref i blant sy'n derbyn gofal. Felly, mae yna lawer o bethau y mae angen eu cysylltu â'i gilydd er mwyn cyflawni'r ymagwedd integredig hon. Ond rydym ni wedi cael yr argoelion cyntaf o ddatblygu strategaethau addysgol sydd mewn gwirionedd yn dechrau gwireddu potensial llawn plant sy'n derbyn gofal a cheisio cyflawni hynny'n benodol.
Rwy'n credu, wrth edrych ar y rhai sy'n gadael gofal, mae'n debyg mai tai yw'r peth pwysicaf iddynt. I blant sy'n derbyn gofal, cyrhaeddiad addysgol ydyw fel arfer, o ran beth fydd eu cyfleoedd mewn bywyd, ac mae hynny'n dibynnu ar sefydlogrwydd eu lleoliad gofal, oherwydd, os yw hwnnw'n ansefydlog ac maen nhw'n symud o gwmpas, mae hynny'n gallu creu cryn drafferthion. Yn aml, mae'n golygu eu bod yn symud ysgol, er enghraifft. Ond, i'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal, tai a sicrhau— drwy ddulliau arloesol megis Housing First, pan fyddwn yn cadw'r denantiaeth honno'n llwyr ac yn ei chefnogi, ac yn sicrhau bod y sefydlogrwydd hwnnw ar gael i'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal.
A gaf i gloi drwy ddweud fy mod i'n credu mai swyddogaeth bob un ohonom, yn enwedig ein cydweithwyr mewn Llywodraeth Leol, fel gwleidyddion—mae rhianta corfforaethol yn hanfodol yn y maes hwn? Y fantais fawr sydd gennym yw ei fod yn amhleidiol. Ni cheir rhaniad gwleidyddol ynghylch sut y mae angen inni barhau, na'r pwysigrwydd y mae'r holl bleidiau yn ei roi ar hyn, ond mae angen inni roi arweiniad gwleidyddol, hefyd, oherwydd ni fu'n wir erioed, yn yr arena wleidyddol, bod y pwyslais priodol wedi'i roi ar mater hwn, nac yn y gymuned ehangach na'r cyfryngau, weithiau. Felly, mae angen inni fod yn gyntaf, ac, wrth sôn am rianta corfforaethol, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n wir am y Gweinidog, mae'n wir am Aelodau'r Cynulliad hwn, er ei fod yn rhan fwy uniongyrchol o waith ein cydweithwyr a'n cyfeillion mewn Llywodraeth Leol. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
I thank David for his comments, not least in respect of our former colleague, Carl, and his work in this area, and many other areas as well. It's right to remark that, often, this area, in the past, has not received the attention it was probably due. It was easily overlooked. The whole issue of children and young people in care settings is so easily overlooked, because it only makes the headlines when something goes wrong, as opposed to a collaborative approach, as we're now trying to strive for, which can really have quite a dramatic impact on the outcomes and the life opportunities of young people. And, certainly, Carl saw that very much. He was, indeed, instrumental in establishing the ministerial advisory group and making sure, indeed, that it had that independence and that authority that comes with that independent voice. It is clearly non-partisan. It is very much collaborative in its approach. It's the opposite of finger-pointing. The only pointing that it does is to point at the gaps in provision or knowledge or data or strategy or plans and say, 'Right, now how do we all come together to deal with this?'
I'm delighted that David has taken on the gamut of continuing to chair it, because, having played such a good role already, I think the continuity is very important. As I say, I think the work that the group is doing—the ministerial advisory group—on improving outcomes has reached a point where, already, it has an impressive array of work streams that it's been involved with that have led to tangible outcomes and changes in policy, and it seems to be at that point where it's going to kick on to another step change. I have no doubt, again, it will have direct impacts on the children and young people we're looking at.
Indeed, the work of Jonathan Scourfield I'm aware of and I hope to be meeting soon as well to discuss the work with him and his very much holistic approach on how we tackle these issues, including those wider issues of poverty and the family circumstance, not simply focusing on the child or young person themselves.
So, I trust and have full confidence in the role of David, both in this Assembly, as a Member of this Assembly, but also in chairing that group, to give challenge to the Government, but also to do it in a way that says, 'This is the way in which we can resolve these issues', rather than simply saying, 'Well, hand us a bankroll of money and we can solve it'. We all know it's not as simple as that. It's a number of clever, intelligent interventions on a sustainable way.
Diolch i David am ei sylwadau, yn enwedig ynghylch ein cyn gyd-Aelod, Carl, a'i waith yn y maes hwn, a llawer o feysydd eraill hefyd. Mae'n iawn i ddweud, yn y gorffennol, na chafodd y maes hwn y sylw dyledus mae'n debyg. Roedd yn hawdd ei anwybyddu. Mae hi mor hawdd anghofio'r mater cyfan o blant a phobl ifanc mewn lleoliadau gofal, oherwydd dim ond pan aiff rywbeth o chwith y mae'n cyrraedd penawdau'r newyddion, yn wahanol i'r dull cydweithredol, fel yr ydym yn ymdrechu i'w gyflawni erbyn hyn, a all gael effaith eithaf sylweddol mewn gwirionedd ar ganlyniadau a chyfleoedd bywyd pobl ifanc. Ac, yn sicr, gwelodd Carl hynny'n glir iawn. Yn wir, bu'n allweddol wrth sefydlu'r grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog a sicrhau, mewn gwirionedd, bod ganddo'r annibyniaeth honno a'r awdurdod hwnnw a ddaw yn sgil y llais annibynnol hwnnw. Mae'n amlwg yn amhleidiol. Mae'n defnyddio dull cydweithredol iawn. Mae'n gwbl groes i bwyntio bys. Yr unig bwyntio bys a wneir yw at y bylchau mewn darpariaeth neu wybodaeth neu ddata neu strategaeth neu gynlluniau a dweud, 'Iawn, sut yr ydym ni i gyd am gydweithio i ymdrin â hyn?'
Rwy'n falch bod David wedi cytuno i barhau i'w gadeirio, oherwydd, gan ei fod wedi cyflawni'r swyddogaeth cystal eisoes, rwy'n credu bod y parhad yn bwysig iawn. Fel y dywedais, rwy'n credu bod y gwaith y mae'r grŵp yn ei wneud—y grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog—i wella canlyniadau, wedi cyrraedd pwynt lle, mae ganddo eisoes amrywiaeth drawiadol o ffrydiau gwaith y mae'n gysylltiedig â nhw, sydd wedi arwain at ganlyniadau pendant a newidiadau mewn polisi, ac ymddengys ei fod ar y pwynt hwnnw pan fo'n paratoi ar gyfer newid sylweddol arall. Nid oes gennyf amheuaeth, unwaith eto, y bydd yn cael effaith uniongyrchol ar y plant a'r bobl ifanc dan sylw.
Yn wir, rwy'n ymwybodol o waith Jonathan Scourfield ac rwy'n gobeithio cyfarfod ag ef cyn bo hir hefyd i drafod y gwaith gydag ef a'i ddull cyfannol iawn o fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn, gan gynnwys y materion ehangach hynny o dlodi ac amgylchiadau teuluol, ac nid canolbwyntio ar y plentyn neu'r person ifanc yn unig.
Felly, hyderaf ac rwyf yn gwbl ffyddiog yn swyddogaeth David, yn y Cynulliad hwn, ac fel Aelod o'r Cynulliad hwn, ond hefyd wrth gadeirio'r grŵp hwnnw, i herio'r Llywodraeth, ond hefyd i wneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n dweud, 'Dyma'r ffordd y gallwn ni ddatrys y materion hyn', yn hytrach na dim ond dweud, 'Wel, rhowch ddigon o arian i ni a gallwn ei ddatrys'. Mae pob un ohonom yn gwybod nad yw mor syml â hynny, ond yn hytrach yn fater o ymyraethau clyfar a deallus mewn modd cynaliadwy.
Can I thank the Minister for Children and Social Care for his statement on improving outcomes for looked-after children? Obviously, as we debated last week, in the debate here on substance misuse, some children have a horrendous start in life—neglected, abused, tormented, starved of love and affection. Much of this ends up later on in drug and alcohol issues, and homelessness also, as discussed last week. It's right to commend the work of Llamau, as the Minister has already done in his statement—tremendous work, over the years, from Llamau, in recognising and helping to sort out homelessness issues amongst our young people.
I like the idea, as the Minister said here in his penultimate paragraph, about removing the council tax liability from all care leavers aged between 18 and 25. I like that idea, and I hope it comes to fruition. We shall wait and see. Obviously, after such a horrific start, children inevitably can end up in local authority care. Yes, some of us have also been county councillors in our time and very well aware of our continuing corporate parenting role now, but it started off in our local authority days.
Back to the statement and its accent on the preventative agenda, a couple of questions do spring to mind. The first one: obviously, the quality of foster care is all-important, and I understand the national framework for fostering is being discussed. I wonder if the Minister can tell us more about that, including, for example, the extra investment that he'll be putting into training and support for foster carers.
Moving on, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 means that local authorities must have care plans beyond the age of 18 for looked-after children, including funding continued foster placements, where both parties want it. In terms of funding continued foster placements, how many of these plans have happened, and what is the outcome? I’m sure we would all be pleased to have that information to hand. Obviously, although work to prevent children from entering the care system is all important, what safeguards are there to ensure that children do not end up more damaged because of an ill-advised attempt to prevent them from entering the care system? Finally, while there is support for foster carers and adopters with any behavioural issues, there doesn’t seem to be the wider awareness in the educational system, with some schools apparently not making allowances that a bad start in life may be behind some challenging behaviour that needn’t happen if schools made reasonable adjustments. There are several examples over the years—if just people were just more aware. So, I was wondering if we could ask the Minister to work with the education Cabinet Secretary to ensure that teacher training includes training on issues of neglect, abuse and attachment disorders. Diolch yn fawr.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog Plant a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol am ei ddatganiad ar wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal? Yn amlwg, fel y trafodwyd gennym yr wythnos diwethaf, yn y ddadl yn y fan yma ar gamddefnyddio sylweddau, mae rhai plant yn cael dechrau erchyll mewn bywyd—yn cael eu hesgeuluso, eu cam-drin, eu poenydio, a'u hamddifadu o gariad. Mae llawer o hyn yn y diwedd yn achosi problemau â chyffuriau ac alcohol, a digartrefedd hefyd, fel y trafodwyd yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae'n iawn i ganmol gwaith Llamau, fel y mae'r Gweinidog eisoes wedi'i wneud yn ei ddatganiad—gwaith rhagorol dros y blynyddoedd, gan Llamau, o ran cydnabod a helpu i ddatrys problemau digartrefedd ymhlith ein pobl ifanc.
Rwy'n hoffi'r syniad, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog yn y fan yma yn ei baragraff olaf ond un, o gael gwared ar y rhwymedigaeth treth gyngor i bawb sy'n gadael gofal rhwng 18 a 25 oed. Rwy'n hoffi'r syniad hwnnw, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn dwyn ffrwyth. Mae'n rhaid inni aros i weld. Yn amlwg, ar ôl dechrau mor erchyll, yn anochel gall plant fynd i dderbyn gofal gan yr awdurdod lleol yn y pen draw. Ydyn, mae rhai ohonom ni wedi bod yn gynghorwyr sir hefyd yn ein tro ac rydym ni'n ymwybodol iawn o'n swyddogaeth rhianta corfforaethol parhaus nawr, ond dechreuodd hynny yn ein dyddiau awdurdod lleol.
Yn ôl at y datganiad a'i bwyslais ar yr agenda ataliol, mae un neu ddau o gwestiynau yn dod i'r meddwl. Yr un cyntaf: yn amlwg, mae ansawdd gofal maeth yn hollbwysig, ac rwy'n deall bod y fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer maethu yn cael ei drafod. Tybed a wnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud mwy wrthym am hynny, gan gynnwys, er enghraifft, y buddsoddiad ychwanegol y bydd yn ei roi i hyfforddiant a chefnogi gofalwyr maeth.
Gan symud ymlaen, mae Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 yn golygu bod yn rhaid i awdurdodau lleol fod â chynlluniau gofal y tu hwnt i 18 oed ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal, gan gynnwys ariannu lleoliadau maeth parhaus, pan fo'r ddwy ochr yn dymuno hynny. O ran parhau i ariannu lleoliadau maeth, faint o'r cynlluniau hyn sydd wedi digwydd, a beth yw'r canlyniad? Rwy'n siŵr y byddem ni i gyd yn falch o gael y wybodaeth honno i law. Yn amlwg, er bod gwaith i atal plant rhag mynd i mewn i'r system gofal yn hollbwysig, pa gamau diogelu sydd wedi'u sefydlu i sicrhau nad yw plant yn cael eu niweidio hyd yn oed mwy oherwydd ymgais annoeth i'w hatal rhag mynd i'r system ofal? Yn olaf, er bod cymorth ar gael i ofalwyr maeth a mabwysiadwyr ar gyfer unrhyw broblemau ymddygiad, nid yw'n ymddangos bod ymwybyddiaeth ehangach yn y system addysgol, ac nid yw rhai ysgolion, mae'n debyg, yn cymryd i ystyriaeth y gallai dechrau gwael mewn bywyd fod yn gyfrifol am rywfaint o'r ymddygiad heriol ac ni fyddai angen i hynny ddigwydd pe byddai ysgolion yn rhoi ystyriaeth resymol i hyn. Bu sawl enghraifft dros y blynyddoedd—pe byddai pobl ond wedi bod yn fwy ymwybodol. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allem ni ofyn i'r Gweinidog weithio gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg i sicrhau bod hyfforddiant i athrawon yn cynnwys hyfforddiant ar broblemau esgeulustod, cam-drin ac anhwylder ymlyniad. Diolch yn fawr.
Dai, thank you very much for those observations and questions as well, which I will try and respond to. First of all, the dialogue that we have across the Cabinet, including with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, on the issue of identification of those who need additional support by professionals working the front line, such as teachers, teachers’ support and so on, is a key issue. It has to be, in order to actually know, then, the right support that needs to be put in place and the right additional help that needs to be put in place. We know, by the way, as Dai will know, that, roughly two thirds of children who are in looked-after situations, the evidence suggests that they have some form of special educational needs. So, it’s not only identifying the situation of being in looked-after care, but it could well be that many of them will have additional educational needs.
I think the thing that we can all agree on in this Chamber as we try and work across Government, but also with other partners on the ground, is that mediocrity, accepting mediocrity, in educational attainment for looked-after children is simply not acceptable. We should be as ambitious for every single child, right across the piece. And whatever we have to bring to that—. Part of that, by the way, is—. I referred to earlier on, particularly with foster care, which Dai mentioned, that we’re funding this social pedagogy—I never get it right, whether it is 'peda-gogy' or 'peda-godgy'. [Interruption.] Thank you. 'Peda-godgy'; thank you very much—which is aiming to improve the educational attainment of children, particularly in foster care. This project looks to support foster parents to be more actively involved with their foster children's education, and helping them to build better links with the education system, which we also know is a key thing—it's the parents being involved in the education of the young person, not simply stepping away from it, standing off. Included within that, by the way, has been a series of masterclasses for people involved in fostering, whether on a personal or even a professional level. They've been very well attended, and the feedback that we have had from them has been excellent as well.
You touched on the issue of homelessness, and those stark figures that I mentioned there, that we know that 20 per cent to 30 per cent of those people who we find homeless have been in care situations. So, we have developed the Welsh youth homelessness positive pathway, which was launched in 2016 by the former Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children. It’s quite a comprehensive approach to helping young people avoid homelessness, and we think that this is the best approach to planning local services—front-line services—for young people. But we do know that more needs to be done, by the way, to embed this across Government, particularly in relation to mental health services.
You also touched on the issue of substance abuse or substance misuse. We've identified this as one of the ACE issues—the adverse childhood experiences—that can alter the early development of a child. Dai, who's a doctor as well, will know that excessive exposure to some of these substances as well can also affect—if the child directly is exposed to them—the neurological development as well, such things as hormonal systems and so on. There were nearly 5,000 reported cases of children in need due to parental substance misuse within 2016. We're investing £50 million to tackle the harms associated with this.
But Dai is absolutely right: in taking all these approaches, we need to make the right decision for the right child in the right circumstance, and whilst our emphasis should be, actually, on early intervention and prevention, there are occasions, as I said in my opening statement, where sometimes it is necessary to remove the child from an environment. But, first of all, we have to do everything to try and make sure that, if we can, they can be kept in that home environment, and only then removed.
Dai, diolch yn fawr iawn am y sylwadau yna a'r cwestiynau hefyd, ac fe geisiaf ymateb iddynt. Yn gyntaf oll, mae'r ddeialog yr ydym wedi ei chael ar draws y Cabinet, gan gynnwys gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, ar y mater o nodi y rhai hynny sydd angen cymorth ychwanegol gan weithwyr proffesiynol sy'n gweithio yn y rheng flaen, fel athrawon, cynorthwywyr athrawon ac yn y blaen, yn fater allweddol. Mae'n rhaid iddo fod, er mwyn gwybod mewn gwirionedd, wedyn, beth yw'r cymorth cywir y mae angen ei roi ar waith a'r cymorth ychwanegol cywir y mae angen ei roi ar waith. Rydym ni'n gwybod, gyda llaw, fel y gŵyr Dai, ar gyfer dwy ran o dair o'r plant sydd mewn sefyllfaoedd derbyn gofal bod y dystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod ganddyn nhw ryw fath o anghenion addysgol arbennig. Felly, nid yw hyn yn golygu dim ond nodi'r sefyllfa o fod yn derbyn gofal, ond gallai llawer ohonynt fod ag anghenion addysgol ychwanegol.
Rwy'n credu mai'r peth y gallwn ni i gyd gytuno arno yn y Siambr hon wrth inni geisio gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth, ond hefyd gyda phartneriaid eraill ar lawr gwlad, yw bod darparu gwasanaeth dinod, derbyn gwasanaeth dinod, o ran cyrhaeddiad addysgol plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn syml yn annerbyniol. Dylem ni fod mor uchelgeisiol ar gyfer pob plentyn unigol, ar bob agwedd. A beth bynnag sydd gennym ni i'w gyfrannu at hynny—. Rhan o hynny, gyda llaw, yw—. Cyfeiriais yn gynharach, yn benodol ym maes gofal maeth, y soniodd Dai amdano, ein bod ni'n ariannu'r pedagogy—peda-gogy neu peda-godgy, dydw i byth yn ei ddweud yn iawn [Torri ar draws.] Diolch. Peda-godgy; diolch yn fawr iawn—cymdeithasol hwn, sydd â'r nod o wella cyrhaeddiad addysgol plant, yn enwedig mewn gofal maeth. Bwriad y prosiect hwn yw cefnogi rhieni maeth i gymryd rhan fwy gweithredol yn addysg eu plant maeth, a'u helpu i ddatblygu cysylltiadau gwell gyda'r system addysg, yr ydym yn gwybod hefyd ei fod yn beth allweddol—y rhieni yn cymryd rhan yn addysg y person ifanc, nid dim ond camu i ffwrdd oddi wrtho, sefyll yn ôl. Wedi'i gynnwys yn hynny, gyda llaw, mae cyfres o ddosbarthiadau meistr ar gyfer pobl sy'n ymwneud â maethu, pa un ai ar sail bersonol neu hyd yn oed ar lefel broffesiynol. Mae llawer iawn o bobl wedi'u mynychu, ac mae'r adborth yr ydym wedi'i gael wedi bod yn ardderchog hefyd.
Gwnaethoch chi sôn am y broblem o ddigartrefedd, a'r ffigurau llwm hynny y soniais amdanyn nhw, ein bod yn gwybod bod 20 y cant i 30 y cant o'r bobl hynny yr ydym yn eu canfod yn ddigartref wedi bod mewn sefyllfaoedd gofal. Felly, rydym ni wedi datblygu llwybr cadarnhaol digartrefedd ieuenctid Cymru, a lansiwyd yn 2016 gan gyn-Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gymunedau a Phlant. Mae'n ddull cynhwysfawr iawn o helpu pobl ifanc i osgoi digartrefedd, ac rydym ni'n credu mai dyma'r dull gorau o gynllunio gwasanaethau lleol—gwasanaethau rheng flaen—ar gyfer pobl ifanc. Ond rydym ni'n gwybod bod angen gwneud mwy, gyda llaw, i ymwreiddio hyn ar draws y Llywodraeth, yn enwedig o ran gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl.
Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio hefyd at y broblem o gamddefnyddio sylweddau. Rydym ni wedi nodi hyn fel un o'r materion ACE—y profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod—sy'n gallu newid datblygiad cynnar plentyn. Bydd Dai, sydd hefyd yn feddyg, yn gwybod bod gormod o amlygiad i rai o'r sylweddau hyn yn gallu effeithio ar—os yw'r plentyn yn agored iddynt yn uniongyrchol—ddatblygiad niwrolegol hefyd, pethau fel systemau hormonaidd ac ati. Roedd bron i 5,000 o achosion o blant mewn angen oherwydd bod eu rhieni yn camddefnyddio sylweddau yn 2016. Rydym ni'n buddsoddi £50 miliwn i fynd i'r afael â'r niwed sy'n gysylltiedig â hyn.
Ond mae Dai yn llygad ei le: wrth weithredu'r holl ddulliau hyn, mae angen inni wneud y penderfyniad cywir ar gyfer y plentyn cywir dan yr amgylchiadau cywir, ac er y dylai ein pwyslais, mewn gwirionedd, fod ar ymyrraeth gynnar ac atal, ceir adegau, fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad agoriadol, lle mae'n angenrheidiol weithiai i dynnu'r plentyn o amgylchedd. Ond, yn gyntaf oll, mae'n rhaid inni wneud popeth i geisio gwneud yn siŵr, os gallwn ni, y cânt aros yn yr amgylchedd cartref hwnnw, a dim ond eu symud ar ôl hynny.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. May I say 'congratulations' on your recent appointment? I'm sure that the other Members here will agree with me that, in an ideal world, no child would be taken from their family to be looked after by the state. No matter how caring or dedicated the staff looking after children in care are, there is no substitute for the security of a stable family environment, however that family may be made up. But it of course happens. It's sometimes a horrible necessity that a child has to be taken away from their family, and I'm pleased to see that schemes are in place to reduce the number of children being taken into care in the first place and that there are things being put in place to provide them with support once they come out of care. I would like to see, though, further support being given to children in care, but I'll come on to that in a moment.
Working with young mums to break the cycle of repeated pregnancies is a good idea, as is extending the support available from personal advisers up to the age of 25. But what worries me is that, although I acknowledge that funds are not unlimited, the sums set out in your statement intended to be spent on 5,500 or more children being looked after by the Welsh Government don't seem to me to be particularly large: £400,000 to deliver the fostering network is a relatively small sum, and £125,000 to develop adoption support work across the country represents a tiny amount of money. I mean, it's only £25,000 per region. So, how do you see this money being spent, and how much difference do you think it's going to make to the actual outcomes of looked-after children? The sum set aside to address youth homelessness is tiny, given the number of homeless and rough sleepers in Wales.
Looked-after children are already disadvantaged by the circumstances that took them into care in the first place. Their education will have suffered alongside. It's vital that these children are helped to find a better future, and providing additional educational support is very, very important. The money promised and referred to in your statement as being for that purpose is submerged within the pupil deprivation grant of £4 million, but that £4 million has to provide educational support for deprived children who aren't looked after, as well. So, how much of the pupil deprivation grant will be spent on improving the educational outcomes of looked-after children specifically, and how can you assure us that the money set aside will be sufficient to bring substantive results?
I welcome the proposals to exempt care leavers from council tax; I think that's a brilliant idea. And I would really, really encourage local authorities across Wales to adopt the proposal. As I said, the schemes referred to in your statement are encouraging, and, like I said, I have doubts about whether sufficient resources are being put in place, but I really do hope that the investment that you've referred to, and the schemes that you've referred to, bear the fruit that you and the rest of us hope for. Thank you.
Diolch ichi am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. A gaf i ddweud 'llongyfarchiadau' ar eich penodiad diweddar? Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelodau eraill yma yn cytuno â mi, mewn byd delfrydol, ni fyddai unrhyw blentyn yn cael eu cymryd oddi ar ei deulu i dderbyn gofal gan y wladwriaeth. Ni waeth pa mor ofalgar neu ymroddgar yw'r staff sy'n gofalu am blant sy'n derbyn gofal, nid yw hynny cystal â diogelwch amgylchedd teuluol sefydlog, beth bynnag yw natur y teulu hwnnw. Ond wrth gwrs mae'n digwydd. Weithiau mae'n anghenraid ofnadwy bod yn rhaid i blentyn gael ei dynnu oddi wrth ei deulu, ac rwy'n falch o weld bod cynlluniau ar waith i leihau nifer y plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn y lle cyntaf a bod pethau'n cael eu rhoi ar waith i ddarparu cymorth iddyn nhw pan fyddan nhw'n gadael gofal. Hoffwn weld, er hyn, mwy o gymorth yn cael ei roi i blant sy'n derbyn gofal, ond byddaf yn dod at hynny yn y man.
Mae gweithio gyda mamau ifanc i dorri'r cylch o feichiogrwydd dro ar ôl tro yn syniad da, fel y mae ymestyn y cymorth sydd ar gael gan gynghorwyr personol hyd at 25 oed. Ond yr hyn sy'n fy mhoeni i, er fy mod yn cydnabod nad yw arian yn ddiderfyn, nad yw'r symiau a nodir yn eich datganiad y bwriedir eu gwario ar 5,500 neu fwy o blant sy'n derbyn gofal gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ymddangos yn arbennig o fawr i mi: mae £400,000 i gyflawni'r rhwydwaith maethu yn swm cymharol fach, ac mae £125,000 i ddatblygu gwaith cymorth mabwysiadu ar draws y wlad yn cynrychioli swm bach iawn o arian. Dim ond £25,000 fesul rhanbarth yw hynny. Felly, sut ydych chi'n gweld yr arian hwn yn cael ei wario, a faint o wahaniaeth ydych chi'n meddwl y mae'n mynd i'w wneud i ganlyniadau plant sy'n derbyn gofal? Mae'r swm sydd wedi'i neilltuo i fynd i'r afael â digartrefedd ymhlith pobl ifanc yn fach iawn, o ystyried nifer y bobl ddigartref a'r rhai sy'n cysgu ar y stryd yng Nghymru.
Mae plant sy'n derbyn gofal eisoes dan anfantais oherwydd yr amgylchiadau a aeth â nhw i mewn i ofal yn y lle cyntaf. Bydd eu haddysg wedi dioddef hefyd. Mae'n hollbwysig bod y plant hyn yn cael cymorth i ddod o hyd i well dyfodol, ac mae darparu cefnogaeth addysgol ychwanegol yn bwysig iawn, iawn. Mae'r arian a addawyd ac y cyfeiriwyd ato yn eich datganiad o fod ar gyfer y diben hwnnw wedi'i gynnwys yn y grant amddifadedd disgyblion o £4 miliwn, ond mae'n rhaid i'r £4 miliwn hwnnw ddarparu cymorth addysgol ar gyfer plant difreintiedig nad ydynt yn derbyn gofal hefyd. Felly, faint o'r grant amddifadedd disgyblion fydd yn cael ei wario ar wella deilliannau addysgol plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn benodol, a sut y gallwch chi ein sicrhau ni y bydd yr arian a neilltuwyd yn ddigonol i sicrhau canlyniadau sylweddol?
Rwy'n croesawu'r cynigion i eithrio'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal rhag y dreth gyngor; rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n syniad gwych. A dweud y gwir, byddwn i'n annog awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru i fabwysiadu'r cynnig. Fel y dywedais, mae'r cynlluniau y cyfeiriwyd atynt yn eich datganiad yn galonogol, ac, fel y dywedais, mae gennyf amheuon ynghylch a oes digon o adnoddau yn cael eu rhoi ar waith, ond rwyf wir yn gobeithio y bydd y buddsoddiad yr ydych chi wedi cyfeirio ato, a'r cynlluniau yr ydych chi wedi cyfeirio atynt, yn cyflawni'r hyn yr ydych chi a'r gweddill ohonom yn gobeithio amdano. Diolch.
Michelle, thank you very much. I think the nub of your argument—. And by the way, can I just thank you for welcoming the approach that we're taking and what we're trying to achieve with the outcomes? Because this is very much focused on the outcomes, rather than simply saying, 'We tick boxes, we distribute grants, and we keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best'. This is all designed around the idea of collaborating with partners out there, both with local government and with others, and with existing schemes on the ground, such as the Flying Start programme, the Families First programme, and so on, in order to deliver that turnaround in a child or young person's life, in their family situation, that will be enduring and long lasting.
So, what I would say to you, Michelle, is: while some of the individual sums may look small—they're not insignificant, by the way, because we have to find this from a shrinking budget, quite frankly—they are not, because, when you target them in the right way—. And this is the approach: taking advice, by the way; not simply the Welsh Government doing it off the top of its head and saying, 'Well, it's a little bit of money here and a little bit over there'. It's steered very much by the views of front-line professionals, by those who are in care situations themselves, by the ministerial advisory group as well, who are saying that these are the right interventions.
I would say that, if money was no object, frankly, and I had the cheque book, I would write a cheque 10 times as big, and I would transform it tomorrow, and by next year. We’re simply not in that situation. We are where we are, but what we can do is both box cleverer by working much cleverer on the ground, and doing the right interventions, so that those edge-of-care services, for example, and the £8 million additional that we’ve just put into that area of work—that’s exactly the sort of thing. That £8 million can go a long way in the right situation to actually addressing that issue of helping keep children and young people in a family situation where it’s appropriate, by putting the wraparound with them. When you add that to Flying Start and Families First and other interventions, that goes a long, long way.
So, it’s not a question of putting one box over here and saying, ‘This will solve the problem’. It’s actually to do with integrated, collaborative services on the ground that identify the young person, identify the support they need, and pull that support around them. I would simply say: don’t look at just slivers of funding. Look on the ground there, and where the outcomes come. Because the measure of success with this is very much to do with the outcomes: does this mean that the effects for children who are in looked-after care situations are better? Does it mean that those who leave to lead independent lives are improved? Does it mean that, actually, those who are on the edge of going into care—that their opportunities are also improved, and sometimes kept in the family situation as well by better wraparound care?
Michelle, diolch yn fawr iawn. Credaf mai hanfod eich dadl—. A gyda llaw, a gaf i ddiolch ichi am groesawu'r dull yr ydym ni'n ei arddel a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei gyflawni gyda'r canlyniadau? Oherwydd, mae hyn yn sicr yn canolbwyntio ar y canlyniadau, yn hytrach na dim ond dweud, 'Rydym ni'n ticio blychau, rydym ni'n dosbarthu grantiau, ac rydym ni'n cadw ein bysedd wedi'u croesi ac yn gobeithio am y gorau'. Mae hyn i gyd yn seiliedig ar y syniad o gydweithio â phartneriaid allan yna, gyda llywodraeth leol ac eraill, a gyda chynlluniau sydd eisoes yn bodoli ar lawr gwlad, fel y rhaglen Dechrau'n Deg, y rhaglen Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf, ac ati, er mwyn cyflawni'r newid hwnnw ym mywyd plentyn neu berson ifanc, yn ei sefyllfa deuluol, a fydd yn barhaus ac a fydd yn para'n hir.
Felly, yr hyn y byddwn yn ei ddweud wrthych chi, Michelle, yw: er bod rhai o'r symiau unigol yn edrych yn fach—dydyn nhw ddim yn ddibwys, gyda llaw, oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni ddod o hyd iddyn nhw o gyllideb sy'n crebachu, a dweud y gwir—dydyn nhw ddim, oherwydd, pan fyddwch chi'n eu targedu yn y ffordd gywir—. A dyma'r dull: cymryd cyngor, gyda llaw; nid dim ond Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud ei hun a dweud, 'Wel, mae'n ychydig o arian yn y fan yma ac ychydig fan draw'. Mae wedi'i lywio i raddau helaeth gan farn gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen, gan y rhai hynny sydd mewn sefyllfaoedd gofal eu hunain, gan grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog hefyd, sydd yn dweud mai dyma'r ymyraethau cywir.
Rwyf am ddweud, pe byddai gennym ni ddigon o arian, a dweud y gwir, a bod y llyfr sieciau gennyf i, byddwn i'n ysgrifennu siec 10 gwaith yn fwy, a byddwn yn ei weddnewid yfory, ac erbyn y flwyddyn nesaf. Dydyn ni ddim yn y sefyllfa honno. Rydym ni ble'r ydym ni, ond mae'r hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud yw fwy craff drwy weithio llawer yn glyfrach ar lawr gwlad, a gwneud yr ymyraethau cywir, fel bod y gwasanaethau ar ffiniau gofal hynny, er enghraifft, a'r £8 miliwn ychwanegol yr ydym ni newydd ei roi i'r maes gwaith hwnnw—dyna'n union y math o beth. Gall yr £8 miliwn hwnnw fynd yn bell yn y sefyllfa iawn i fynd i'r afael â mater hwnnw o helpu i gadw plant a phobl ifanc mewn sefyllfa teuluol pan fo hynny'n briodol, drwy ddarparu gwasanaethau cofleidiol iddyn nhw. Pan fyddwch chi'n ychwanegu hynny at Dechrau'n Deg a Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf ac ymyraethau eraill, mae hynny'n gallu cyflawni llawer iawn.
Felly, nid yw'n gwestiwn o roi un blwch draw fan hyn a dweud, 'Bydd hyn yn datrys y broblem'. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n ymwneud â gwasanaethau integredig a chydweithredol ar lawr gwlad sy'n nodi'r person ifanc, yn nodi'r cymorth sydd ei angen arno, ac sy'n trefnu'r cymorth hwnnw o'i amgylch. Byddwn i'n dweud yn syml: peidiwch ag edrych ar ddarnau bach o arian. Edrych ar lawr gwlad, a lle ceir y canlyniadau. Oherwydd, mae mesur llwyddiant hyn yn gysylltiedig iawn â'r canlyniadau: a yw hyn yn golygu bod yr effeithiau ar gyfer plant sydd mewn sefyllfaoedd derbyn gofal yn well? A yw'n golygu bod y rhai hynny sy'n gadael i fyw bywydau annibynnol yn well? A yw'n golygu, mewn gwirionedd, bod y rhai hynny sydd ar ffiniau gofal—bod eu cyfleoedd hwythau wedi gwella, a'u bod weithiau yn cael eu cadw yn y sefyllfa deuluol hefyd drwy ofal cofleidiol gwell?
First of all, I endorse David Melding’s comments about the former Minister and the non-partisan nature of this. I also extend congratulations on your new position.
There are lots of good things here, and I’ve heard lots of good things that you’ve said today. I notice that you said you want to see a reduction in the numbers of children coming into care. I note that you say
‘the more we can help families stay together during difficult times, by offering the right level of support’—
that that's the right way to do things. But what concerns me about the cases I get time after time after time is that parents who desperately want to keep the children in this region, South Wales Central, appear to be losing them for a whole variety of reasons, one of which, often, is not safety. I have a case on my books where it’s recognised that the parents love the children, the children love the parents, and unfortunately for the parents, they called in children’s services to get support, and they’ve ended up losing the children, and they’re desperately fighting to get them back, because that particular children’s services department say that these parents don’t have the skills to parent.
I would question that judgment, because far too often parents are saying to me that adoption and care is almost becoming an industry, and the interactions that I’ve had with families—. Ironically, I’ve just had a message through today from a mother who wants me to go and visit because she’s in danger of losing her child. I would say, really, as a former professional teacher, families need support, but what they’re getting is a very adversarial system that interrogates, almost, and there is a tick-box approach from social workers under tremendous pressure. So, I wondered what you thought of those things, and whether or not you’re looking at countries around the world where there is no forced adoption, because forced adoption is something that is really troubling me, looking at the kind of cases that I’ve picked up for far too long, actually, not only in here, but across the road as well.
Yn gyntaf oll, rwy'n ategu sylwadau David Melding am y cyn-Weinidog a natur amhleidiol hyn. Hoffwn innau hefyd estyn llongyfarchiadau i chi ar eich swydd newydd.
Mae llawer o bethau da yma, ac rwyf wedi clywed llawer o bethau da yr ydych chi wedi eu dweud heddiw. Sylwais eich bod wedi dweud yr hoffech chi weld gostyngiad yn nifer y plant sy'n dechrau derbyn gofal. Sylwais eich bod yn dweud
po fwyaf y gallwn ni helpu teuluoedd i aros gyda'i gilydd yn ystod cyfnodau anodd, drwy gynnig y lefel gywir o gymorth'—
mai dyna'r ffordd iawn o wneud pethau. Ond yr hyn sy'n fy mhoeni i am yr achosion a gaf i dro ar ôl tro ar ôl tro yw ei bod yn ymddangos bod rhieni sy'n awyddus iawn i gadw eu plant yn y rhanbarth hwn, Canol De Cymru, yn eu colli am amrywiaeth eang o resymau, ac yn aml, nid yw diogelwch yn un ohonynt. Mae gennyf achos ar fy llyfrau lle y cydnabyddir bod y rhieni yn caru'r plant, y plant yn caru'r rhieni, ac yn anffodus i'r rhieni, eu bod wedi galw ar y gwasanaethau plant am gymorth, ac yna wedi colli'r plant, ac maen nhw'n ymladd yn daer i'w cael yn ôl, oherwydd bod yr adran gwasanaethau plant benodol honno yn dweud nad oes gan y rhieni hyn y sgiliau i fod yn rhieni.
Rwyf i'n amau'r farn honno, oherwydd yn rhy aml o lawer mae rhieni yn dweud wrthyf bod mabwysiadu a gofal bron â bod yn ddiwydiant, ac mae'r ymgysylltu yr wyf i wedi ei gael â theuluoedd —. Yn eironig, dim ond heddiw cefais neges gan fam sydd eisiau imi fynd i ymweld â hi oherwydd ei bod mewn perygl o golli ei phlentyn. Byddwn i'n dweud, mewn gwirionedd, fel cyn-athro proffesiynol, bod angen cymorth ar deuluoedd, ond yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei gael yw system wrthwynebol iawn sy'n cwestiynu, bron, a cheir dull ticio blychau gan weithwyr cymdeithasol sydd o dan bwysau aruthrol. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed beth oedd eich barn am y pethau hynny a pha un a ydych chi'n edrych ar wledydd ledled y byd lle na cheir unrhyw fabwysiadu gorfodol, gan fod mabwysiadu gorfodol yn rhywbeth sy'n peri llawer o bryder i mi, mewn gwirionedd, wrth edrych ar y math o achosion yr wyf i wedi edrych arnynt am ormod o amser o lawer, mewn gwirionedd, nid yn unig yn y fan hon, ond dros y ffordd hefyd.
Neil, thank you for that. Can I say that we always look around the world for best practice? But we can also look on our own doorsteps, because what we know is that there are variations in the approaches taken locally throughout Wales, as there are in England, by the way, as well. But it’s certainly some of that investment into the wraparound families provision. If you look at something like Families First, for example, it often gets missed because, if you say ‘Families First’, people think that’s a lovely cosy thing, but actually that is exactly the multi-agency approach to a family that says where are the areas of competence, of expertise, of knowledge that that family needs in order to provide a stable, resilient family environment for children.
The investment in things like Families First is helped by our analysis of things like the ACEs hub, which we've now invested in, which identifies those areas of adverse childhood experiences. We know that if you have two or three or four of them, it's more likely that that child is going to be in difficulty, if not actually taken into care. So, how do things like Families First help to avoid that situation? How does it wrap around that family? We've put £270 million in the Families First programme since 2012. It provides that supportive, enriching environment for children. It reduces the incidence of adverse childhood experiences. The approach taken here provides families with coherent packages of support, through a multi-agency approach that helps them as a family develop the skills for them, but also for their children as well. Those sort of approaches are definitely the way forward. We know it because it achieves the outcomes we've been talking about. But it takes long-term, sustained investment, working with families, to do it.
The point where I would agree and where we need to look at is how do we shift the curve, recognising that we have to make sure that we invest in the outcomes for children and young people who are leaving care and those people who are currently within care. We have to do that, but we also somehow have to shift the curve to make sure that we're investing more in those early years and prevention, because that is the thing that will give those families the support that avoids the necessity in future of more children being taken into care. But, sometimes, it is inevitable that the right thing for the child in a particular situation is that they're taken into care. In such a circumstance, we need to make sure that it's done with the most expert judgment, with the most compassion, and also that it's done sharing best practice, not just from abroad, but actually up the road in Wales as well.
Neil, diolch ichi am hynna. A gaf i ddweud ein bod bob amser yn edrych o amgylch y byd am arferion gorau? Ond fe allwn ni hefyd edrych ar garreg y drws, oherwydd yr hyn a wyddom yw y ceir amrywiadau yn y dulliau lleol ledled Cymru, fel y ceir yn Lloegr, gyda llaw, hefyd. Ond yn sicr mae'n rhywfaint o'r buddsoddiad hwnnw yn y ddarpariaeth gofleidiol i deuluoedd. Os ydych chi'n ystyried rhywbeth fel Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf, er enghraifft, mae'n aml yn cael ei ddiystyru oherwydd, os ydych chi'n dweud 'Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf', mae pobl yn meddwl mai rhywbeth clyd a hyfryd yw hwnnw, ond mewn gwirionedd, dyna'r union ddull amlasiantaeth i deulu sy'n dweud lle mae'r meysydd cymhwysedd, arbenigedd, gwybodaeth sydd eu hangen ar y teulu hwnnw er mwyn darparu amgylchedd teuluol sefydlog a chadarn ar gyfer plant.
Mae buddsoddi mewn pethau fel Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf yn cael ei ategu gan ein dadansoddiad o bethau fel y canolfannau profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod, yr ydym wedi buddsoddi ynddynt erbyn hyn, sy'n nodi'r meysydd hynny o brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod. Rydym ni'n gwybod os ydych chi'n profi dau neu dri neu bedwar ohonynt, mae'n fwy tebygol bod y plentyn hwnnw yn mynd i ddioddef anhawster, os nad mynd i dderbyn gofal, mewn gwirionedd. Felly, sut mae pethau fel Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf yn helpu i osgoi'r sefyllfa honno? Sut mae'n cofleidio'r teulu hwnnw? Rydym ni wedi rhoi £270 miliwn yn y rhaglen Teuluoedd yn Gyntaf ers 2012. Mae'n darparu'r amgylchedd cefnogol, cyfoethog hwnnw i blant. Mae'n lleihau nifer yr achosion o brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod. Mae'r dull gweithredu hwn yn darparu pecynnau cydlynol o gymorth i deuluoedd, drwy ddull amlasiantaeth sy'n eu helpu nhw fel teulu i ddatblygu sgiliau ar eu cyfer nhw, ond ar gyfer eu plant hefyd. Y math hwn o ddull yw'r ffordd ymlaen yn bendant. Rydym ni'n gwybod hyn oherwydd ei fod yn cyflawni'r canlyniadau yr ydym ni wedi bod yn siarad amdanyn nhw. Ond mae'n golygu buddsoddiad hirdymor, parhaus, gan weithio gyda theuluoedd, i wneud hynny.
Y pwynt lle y byddwn yn cytuno ac y mae angen inni ei ystyried yw sut yr ydym ni am symud y gromlin, gan gydnabod bod yn rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn buddsoddi yn y canlyniadau ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc sy'n gadael gofal a'r bobl hynny sydd yn derbyn gofal ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n rhaid inni wneud hynny, ond mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd rywsut newid y duedd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn buddsoddi mwy yn y blynyddoedd cynnar a gwasanaethau atal, oherwydd dyna beth fydd yn rhoi i'r teuluoedd hynny y cymorth a fydd yn osgoi'r angen yn y dyfodol i fwy o blant orfod derbyn gofal. Ond, weithiau, mae'n anochel mai'r peth iawn ar gyfer y plentyn sydd mewn sefyllfa benodol ei fod yn dechrau derbyn gofal. Mewn amgylchiadau o'r fath, mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n cael ei wneud gyda'r farn fwyaf arbenigol, gyda'r trugaredd mwyaf, a hefyd ei fod yn cael ei wneud gan rannu arferion gorau, nid dim ond o dramor, ond i fyny'r ffordd, mewn gwirionedd, o rannau o Gymru hefyd.
Minister, can I also thank you for today's statement and welcome you to your new role? Congratulations. Also, I follow other Members in paying tribute to Carl Sargeant for his important work in this area over many years. It's not an easy area to deal with, but he did it with determination and panache. It's strange him not being in this Chamber when this issue is being discussed.
I just want to say a few words, given that the Public Accounts Committee will be launching our inquiry into looked-after children, or care-experience children as we prefer to call them, in the new year. It will be a far-reaching inquiry that will primarily consider the effectiveness of spend on this area of the Welsh budget, because as you said, it is a considerable area of spend and we want to have the maximum benefit for those children in need that you've identified. It's also a subject that the Public Accounts Committee intends to return to in stages over the remainder of this Assembly term, rather than it being a one-off inquiry that will then just be left. We think that it's important enough to revisit.
The figures that you've mentioned justify the approach. The number of children in care in Wales is 90 children per 10,000 people, compared to a lower rate of 60 per 10,000 people in England. So, if you combine that with the statistic that spending on services has increased markedly since 2011, there are clearly many questions that need to be looked at.
Turning to your statement in particular, you've hinged your statement on delivering the programme for government. Can I ask you—? You cite collaboration extensively in your statement as being all-important in helping the Welsh Government achieve its objectives. How are you going to ensure that effective collaboration between front-line professionals, managers and decision makers really works on the ground in practice? It's a noble objective for a strategy, but it needs to be more than that. We've heard many noble objectives in this Chamber and many strategies over many years—I can see the finance Secretary will agree with me—but it's about converting those objectives into real progress on the ground that all of us would like to see.
And crucially, I suppose, what resource will be committed to delivering this aspect of 'Prosperity for All'? The cost of promoting cross-Government working is not always an easy one to estimate, I know, but we do need to have some basic idea of what the cost is going to be and how that is going to be funded over the years to come—beyond your comment earlier, I think in response to Michelle Brown, that you shouldn't just see this as slivers of funding in different budgets, but you should be looking at the holistic whole.
Can I welcome, as you have, the work of my colleague David Melding and the ministerial advisory group over some considerable time now? I know they've done a lot of good work in this area. Over time, we'd all like to see a reduction in the number of children coming into care, but of course this must be balanced by a need to provide those children who do need to be cared for with the support they need, in the way that they need it, and when they need it. So, how do you intend to ensure that, in these circumstances, care is individually tailored to young people's needs and we avoid a one-size-fits-all, off-the-shelf care package?
I think you anticipated my question earlier, when you spoke about—well, I don't think you called it 'co-production' but certainly the principles of putting the citizen at the centre and tailoring care to the particular needs of the individual is I think uppermost in your thoughts. And I think that can be a big difference here, above and beyond funding issues. If you can actually put the care-experience child at the centre of that process, not just at the centre of care, but at the centre of the decision-making process about deciding how they're going to be looked after, then you can make a big difference as a Minister by achieving that aim.
And finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, we do, of course, need to address the issue of what happens after care, again, something you mentioned. I welcome your ambition to remove the council tax burden from care leavers up to the age of 25. I think that's got a lot of potential and really is worth exploring. That's a good development. We know, statistically, that adults who have been through the care system are more likely to suffer problems, including drug misuse, and are more likely to be in prison. The proportion of the prison population who have been in care is marked and is clearly trying to tell us something.
You've also said in your statement that up to 30 per cent of homeless people have been in care at some point. So, how do we ensure that care continues in some form, as long as possible, and that the curtain doesn't simply come down when a young person reaches 18, because they're too often viewed as adults at that point, and we know that, actually, you don't suddenly go from being in care to being out and left to your own devices in the world when the clock strikes 12 and you suddenly become 18. People need support after that. And I don't think that's always been there or always been pre-eminent in the past. I think that this is again an area in which you as a Minister can really make some big changes to the way that care-experience or looked-after children are cared for in Wales. And I wish you success in that venture and look forward to working with you next year when the Public Accounts Committee begins our inquiry into this important area.
Gweinidog, a gaf innau hefyd ddiolch i chi am y datganiad heddiw a'ch croesawu i'ch swydd newydd? Llongyfarchiadau. Hefyd, rwy'n dilyn yr Aelodau eraill wrth dalu teyrnged i Carl Sargeant am ei waith pwysig yn y maes hwn dros flynyddoedd lawer. Nid yw'n faes hawdd i ymdrin ag ef, ond fe wnaeth hynny gyda phenderfyniad a steil. Mae'n rhyfedd nad yw ef yma yn y Siambr hon pan fo'r mater hwn yn cael ei drafod.
Hoffwn ddweud ychydig o eiriau, o gofio y bydd y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus yn lansio ein hymchwiliad i blant sy'n derbyn gofal, neu blant sydd wedi cael profiad o dderbyn gofal fel y mae'n well gennym eu galw, yn y flwyddyn newydd. Bydd yn ymchwiliad pellgyrhaeddol a fydd yn bennaf yn ystyried effeithiolrwydd y gwariant ar y maes hwn o gyllideb Cymru, oherwydd fel dywedasoch, mae'n faes sylweddol o wariant, ac rydym ni'n dymuno cael y budd mwyaf posibl ar gyfer y plant mewn angen hynny yr ydych chi wedi'u nodi. Mae hefyd yn bwnc y mae'r Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus yn bwriadu dychwelyd ato gam wrth gam dros weddill tymor y Cynulliad hwn, yn hytrach na'i fod yn ymchwiliad untro a fydd wedyn yn cael ei adael. Rydym ni'n credu ei fod yn ddigon pwysig i'w ailystyried.
Mae'r ffigurau yr ydych chi wedi eu crybwyll yn cyfiawnhau'r dull. Mae nifer y plant mewn gofal yng Nghymru yn 90 o blant fesul 10,000 o bobl, o'i gymharu â chyfradd is o 60 fesul 10,000 o bobl yn Lloegr. Felly, os ydych chi'n cyfuno hynny â'r ystadegyn bod gwariant ar wasanaethau wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol ers 2011, yn amlwg, mae llawer o gwestiynau y mae angen rhoi sylw iddynt.
Gan droi at eich datganiad yn arbennig, mae eich datganiad yn canolbwyntio ar gyflawni'r rhaglen lywodraethu. A gaf i ofyn i chi—? Rydych chi'n nodi yn helaeth yn eich datganiad bod cydweithio yn hollbwysig i helpu Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflawni ei hamcanion. Sut y byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod y cydweithio effeithiol hwnnw rhwng gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen, rheolwyr a'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau yn gweithio mewn gwirionedd yn ymarferol ar lawr gwlad? Mae'n amcan clodwiw ar gyfer strategaeth, ond mae angen iddo fod yn fwy na hynny. Rydym ni wedi clywed llawer o amcanion clodwiw yn y Siambr hon a llawer o strategaethau dros lawer o flynyddoedd—gallaf weld y bydd yr ysgrifennydd dros gyllid yn cytuno â mi—ond mae'n ymwneud â throsi'r amcanion hynny yn gynnydd gwirioneddol ar lawr gwlad yr hoffai pob un ohonom ei weld.
Ac yn hollbwysig, mae'n debyg, pa adnoddau fydd yn cael eu hymrwymo i ddarparu'r agwedd hon ar 'Ffyniant i Bawb'? Nid yw'r gost o hyrwyddo gwaith traws-lywodraethol bob amser yn hawdd i'w hamcangyfrif, rwy'n gwybod, ond mae angen cael rhyw syniad sylfaenol o beth fydd y gost a sut y caiff hynny ei ariannu dros y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod—y tu hwnt i'ch sylw yn gynharach, mewn ymateb i Michelle Brown rwy'n credu, na ddylech chi weld hyn fel darnau bach o gyllid mewn gwahanol gyllidebau, ond dylech chi fod yn edrych ar y darlun cyfannol.
A gaf i groesawu, fel y gwnaethoch chi, waith fy nghyd-Aelod David Melding a grŵp cynghori'r gweinidog dros gryn amser erbyn hyn? Gwn eu bod wedi gwneud llawer o waith da yn y maes hwn. Dros amser, hoffai pawb ohonom weld gostyngiad yn nifer y plant sy'n dechrau derbyn gofal, ond wrth gwrs mae'n rhaid cydbwyso hyn ag angen i ddarparu'r cymorth sydd ei angen ar y plant hynny sydd angen derbyn gofal, o ran y ffordd y mae ei angen arnynt, a phan fo ei angen arnynt. Felly, sut ydych chi'n bwriadu sicrhau, o dan yr amgylchiadau hyn, bod gofal wedi'i deilwra i anghenion unigol pobl ifanc a'n bod yn osgoi pecyn gofal sydd yr un fath i bawb?
Rwy'n credu eich bod wedi rhagweld fy nghwestiwn yn gynharach, pan wnaethoch chi sôn am—wel, dydw i ddim yn meddwl eich bod wedi ei alw'n 'gydgynhyrchu' ond yn sicr mae'r egwyddorion o ganolbwyntio ar y dinesydd a theilwra gofal i anghenion penodol yr unigolyn yn flaenoriaeth yn eich meddwl, rwy'n credu. Ac rwy'n credu y gall hynny fod yn wahaniaeth mawr yma, y tu hwnt i'r materion cyllido. Os gallwch chi roi'r plentyn sydd wedi cael profiad o dderbyn gofal wrth wraidd y broses honno, nid yn unig wrth wraidd gofal, ond wrth wraidd y broses o wneud penderfyniadau wrth benderfynu sut maen nhw'n mynd i dderbyn gofal, yna gallwch wneud gwahaniaeth mawr fel Gweinidog drwy gyflawni'r nod hwnnw.
Ac yn olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae angen inni, wrth gwrs, roi sylw i'r mater o beth sy'n digwydd ar ôl gofal, unwaith eto, rhywbeth y gwnaethoch chi ei grybwyll. Rwy'n croesawu eich uchelgais i dynnu baich y dreth gyngor oddi ar bobl ifanc sy'n gadael gofal tan eu bod yn 25 oed. Credaf fod llawer o botensial i hynny ac mae wir yn werth ei archwilio. Mae hwnnw'n ddatblygiad da. Yn ystadegol, gwyddom fod oedolion sydd wedi bod drwy'r system ofal yn fwy tebygol o ddioddef problemau, gan gynnwys camddefnyddio cyffuriau, ac yn fwy tebygol o fod yn y carchar. Mae cyfran y boblogaeth sydd yn y carchar ac sydd wedi bod yn derbyn gofal yn nodedig ac mae'n amlwg yn ceisio dweud rhywbeth wrthym ni.
Rydych chi wedi dweud hefyd yn eich datganiad bod hyd at 30 y cant o bobl ddigartref wedi bod yn derbyn gofal ar ryw adeg. Felly, sut ydym ni am sicrhau bod gofal yn parhau ar ryw ffurf, cyhyd ag y bo modd, ac nad yw'r cyfan yn dod i ben pan fydd person ifanc yn cyrraedd 18 oed, oherwydd yn rhy aml maen nhw'n cael eu hystyried yn oedolion ar yr adeg honno, a gwyddom, mewn gwirionedd, nad ydych chi'n sydyn yn mynd o fod yn derbyn gofal i fod allan ar eich pen eich hun yn y byd pan fo'r cloc yn taro 12 a'ch bod yn sydyn yn 18 oed. Mae angen cymorth ar bobl ar ôl hynny. A dydw i ddim yn meddwl ei fod wedi bod ar gael bob amser neu nad yw wedi bod yn amlwg bob amser yn y gorffennol. Rwy'n credu unwaith eto bod hwn yn faes y gallwch chi fel Gweinidog wneud rhai newidiadau mawr, mewn gwirionedd, i'r ffordd y mae plant sy'n cael profiad o dderbyn gofal neu blant sy'n derbyn gofal yn cael gofal yng Nghymru. Ac rwy'n dymuno llwyddiant i chi yn y fenter honno ac yn edrych ymlaen at weithio gyda chi pan fydd y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus yn dechrau ein hymchwiliad i'r maes pwysig hwn y flwyddyn nesaf.
Thank you. And I'll reciprocate by saying that I look forward to helping the committee in its work, either appearing in person or by evidence, whichever you require, how often you require—perhaps not every week, but whenever you need me there. And can I thank you as well for your recognition, Nick, of what you, I think, termed the significant funding that is going in, not only on its own in terms of the targeted funding for interventions with children in looked-after care, or those who are at the point of entering looked-after care, but also as part of the wider package care there? You make the really important point about how we make sure that this is driven home. Well, it is now fundamentally embedded: it's there within our plans going forward and it's there as a key ambition. Improving outcomes for children in care is a key ambition within 'Taking Wales Forward'. It's within the priorities in the national strategy 'Prosperity for All'. And as you know, some of those documents have been criticised for being light on words, but it's in there—it's bolted in there, front and foremost. We are committed, absolutely committed, to ensuring that all looked-after children enjoy the same life chances as other children. But a lot of this will, I have to say, be driven by the work that's already in train, including that driven by the ministerial advisory group on improving outcomes for children. Let me just touch on some of those because they're significant in the way that it's been taken forward.
Thank you for the kind words again about Carl. It was under Carl that phase 1 was taken forward, back in 2015-16. There's a phase 2 programme under way already, chaired ably by David Melding. It's based on the three themes that I described earlier on. Collaboration is fundamental to this, but it's interesting the way that it takes that collaboration forward in specifics. So, it's got a wide-reaching programme, and as part of phase 2, it looks at things such as professional practice, assessment of risk and edge-of-care services, permanency planning, building stable placements. Each work stream is chaired by a local authority head of children's services. It's vice-chaired by a representative from the third sector. There are 25 work areas within that work programme. They cover research, pilot projects, policy development, improvements, tangible improvements to professional practice and so on, and the group has produced its framework for action, which gives real detail to the pathways in which we will achieve these improved outcomes. And that, of course, is backed up by the additional funding that we are putting in place. So, have no doubt of the commitment of this Government to deliver on this, but to do it by working in collaboration with those on the front line, in collaboration with children and young people themselves, and the work of the ministerial advisory group. It's deeply embedded within Government. And I'm keen—and I thank you for your kind words on my coming into this post—to take forward this work, and to see that real step change that I think we can now do.
Diolch. Ac rwyf am ymateb drwy ddweud fy mod i'n edrych ymlaen at gynorthwyo'r Pwyllgor yn ei waith, naill ai yn bersonol neu drwy roi tystiolaeth, pa un bynnag yr ydych chi ei angen, pa mor aml yr ydych chi ei angen—nid pob wythnos efallai, ond pryd bynnag y byddwch chi fy angen i yno. A gaf i ddiolch ichi hefyd am eich cydnabyddiaeth, Nick, o'r hyn y gwnaethoch, rwy'n credu, ei alw'n gyllid sylweddol sy'n cael ei roi, nid yn unig ar ei ben hun o ran y cyllid sydd wedi'i dargedu ar gyfer ymyraethau i blant sy'n derbyn gofal, neu'r rhai hynny sydd ar fin dod yn blant sy'n derbyn gofal, ond hefyd yn rhan o'r pecyn ehangach o ofal yn y fan yna? Rydych chi'n gwneud y pwynt pwysig iawn ynghylch sut yr ydym ni'n sicrhau bod hyn yn hollol glir. Wel, mae hyn wedi'i ymwreiddio'n sylfaenol erbyn hyn: mae yno yn ein cynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol ac mae'n uchelgais allweddol i ni. Mae gwella canlyniadau plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn uchelgais allweddol yn 'Symud Cymru ymlaen'. Mae yn y blaenoriaethau yn y strategaeth genedlaethol 'Ffyniant i Bawb'. Ac fel y gwyddoch chi, mae rhai o'r dogfennau hynny wedi cael eu beirniadu am fod yn brin o eiriau, ond mae yno—mae wedi'i osod yn gadarn yno fel blaenoriaeth. Rydym ni'n ymrwymedig, yn gwbl ymrwymedig, i sicrhau bod pob plentyn sy'n derbyn gofal yn manteisio ar yr un cyfleoedd mewn bywyd â phlant eraill. Ond bydd llawer o hyn, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yn cael ei ddatblygu gan y gwaith sydd eisoes ar y gweill, gan gynnwys y gwaith a wneir gan grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog ar wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant. Gadewch imi sôn am rai o'r rheini oherwydd eu bod nhw'n arwyddocaol ar gyfer y ffordd y caiff hyn ei ddatblygu yn y dyfodol.
Diolch unwaith eto am y geiriau caredig am Carl. O dan Carl y cafodd cam 1 ei ddatblygu, yn ôl yn 2015-16. Mae rhaglen cam 2 eisoes ar y gweill, dan gadeiryddiaeth fedrus David Melding. Mae'n seiliedig ar y tair thema a ddisgrifiais yn gynharach. Mae proses gydweithredu yn hanfodol i hyn, ond mae'n ddiddorol gweld sut y mae'n datblygu'r cydweithredu hwnnw yn benodol. Felly, mae'n rhaglen sy'n ymestyn yn eang, ac yn rhan o gam 2, mae'n ystyried pethau fel arfer proffesiynol, asesu risg a gwasanaethau ar ffiniau gofal, cynllunio ar gyfer parhad, creu lleoliadau sefydlog. Mae pob ffrwd waith yn cael ei chadeirio gan bennaeth gwasanaethau plant awdurdod lleol. Cynrychiolydd o'r trydydd sector fydd yr is-gadeirydd. Mae 25 o feysydd gwaith yn y rhaglen waith honno. Maen nhw'n cwmpasu gwaith ymchwil, prosiectau treialu, datblygu polisïau, gwelliannau, gwelliannau sylweddol i arfer proffesiynol ac ati, ac mae'r grŵp wedi llunio ei fframwaith ar gyfer gweithredu, sy'n rhoi manylion gwirioneddol am y llwybrau y byddwn yn cyflawni'r canlyniadau gwell hyn drwyddynt. Ac, wrth gwrs, ategir hynny gan yr arian ychwanegol yr ydym yn ei roi ar gael. Felly, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth ynghylch ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon i gyflawni hyn, ond i wneud hynny drwy weithio ar y cyd â'r rhai hynny ar y rheng flaen, ar y cyd â'r plant a'r bobl ifanc eu hunain, a gwaith grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog. Mae wedi ei ymwreiddio'n ddwfn o fewn y Llywodraeth. Ac rwy'n awyddus—ac rwy'n diolch ichi am eich geiriau caredig yn dilyn fy mhenodiad i'r swydd hon—i ddatblygu'r gwaith hwn, ac i weld y newid sylweddol hwnnw y credaf y gallwn ni ei wneud erbyn hyn.
Thank you. Finally, Caroline Jones.
Diolch. Yn olaf, Caroline Jones.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your statement Minister. And I too would like to pay tribute to the work and dedication of Carl Sargeant in this area.
As others have highlighted, outcomes for looked-after children are well below those of children who are not in our care system. We have to provide additional support for these children, who have already had the worst possible start in life. However, according to Action on Children Cymru, there is a postcode lottery in the support available to children in care. This is unacceptable. I am pleased that the Welsh Government have acknowledged this, and have allocated additional funding to improve the life chances for these young people. I would also like to acknowledge the work undertaken by David Melding, who has a long and distinguished record for standing up for looked-after children. And I am pleased that David will continue to chair the ministerial advisory group.
I have just a couple of questions for you, Minister. There have been a number of concerns raised about children’s services in Bridgend, and we are told that the courts in Bridgend have lost trust in the local authority’s ability to carry out its duties with regard to looked-after children. This has led to a number of children being placed out of county. Minister, what steps are you taking to end the postcode lottery, referred to by Action on Children? How will you ensure that children’s services are able to fulfil their duties to both protect young people, ensure they achieve the best possible outcomes, and put an end to out-of-county placements where possible?
Minister, I am pleased to see that there is additional funding to support care leavers on their journey towards independence. This is an area that we have, in the past, failed in. The recent Children in Need DIY SOS programme highlighted the absolutely fantastic work undertaken by the Roots Foundation in my region. As well as running an activities centre for young people in care, Roots provided support housing for young people in care and leaving care. They help provide the necessary skills to enable young care leavers to live independently. Minister, does your Government have any plans to replicate the work of the Roots Foundation to other parts of Wales? And finally, Minister, what is your Government doing to support charities like Roots, who play a vital role in supporting looked-after children, and help to improve outcomes for these vulnerable young people?
Thank you again for your statement, and I hope that we can all work together, collaboratively, to improve outcomes for looked-after children. Thank you.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch i chi am eich datganiad, Weinidog. A hoffwn i hefyd dalu teyrnged i waith ac ymroddiad Carl Sargeant yn y maes hwn.
Fel y mae eraill wedi amlygu, mae canlyniadau plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn llawer is nag ar gyfer plant nad ydynt yn ein system gofal. Mae'n rhaid i ni ddarparu cymorth ychwanegol ar gyfer y plant hyn, sydd eisoes wedi cael y dechrau gwaethaf posibl mewn bywyd. Fodd bynnag, yn ôl Gweithredu dros Blant Cymru, mae'r cymorth sydd ar gael i blant sy'n derbyn gofal yn loteri cod post. Mae hyn yn annerbyniol. Rwy'n falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cydnabod hyn, ac wedi neilltuo cyllid ychwanegol i wella cyfleoedd bywyd y bobl ifanc hyn. Hoffwn hefyd gydnabod y gwaith a wnaed gan David Melding, sydd â hanes hir a rhagorol o gefnogi plant sy'n derbyn gofal. Ac rwy'n falch y bydd David yn parhau i gadeirio grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog.
Mae gennyf i un neu ddau o gwestiynau i chi, Weinidog. Mae nifer o bryderon wedi eu codi ynghylch gwasanaethau plant ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, a dywedir wrthym ni bod y llysoedd ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi colli ffydd yng ngallu'r awdurdod lleol i gyflawni ei ddyletswyddau o ran plant sy'n derbyn gofal. Mae hyn wedi arwain at nifer o blant yn cael eu lleoli y tu allan i'r sir. Gweinidog, pa gamau ydych chi'n eu cymryd i roi terfyn ar y loteri cod post, y cyfeiriodd Gweithredu dros Blant ato? Sut y byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod gwasanaethau plant yn gallu cyflawni eu dyletswyddau i ddiogelu pobl ifanc, sicrhau eu bod yn cyflawni'r canlyniadau gorau posibl, a rhoi diwedd ar leoliadau y tu allan i'r sir pan fo hynny'n bosibl?
Gweinidog, rwy'n falch o weld bod arian ychwanegol wedi ei roi ar gael i gefnogi'r rhai sy'n gadael gofal ar eu taith tuag at annibyniaeth. Mae hwn yn faes yr ydym ni wedi methu ynddo yn y gorffennol. Roedd y rhaglen DIY SOS Plant Mewn Angen yn ddiweddar yn tynnu sylw at y gwaith hollol wych a wneir gan y Roots Foundation yn fy rhanbarth i. Yn ogystal â rhedeg canolfan weithgareddau i bobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal, mae Roots wedi darparu tai â chymorth i bobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal ac sy'n gadael gofal. Maen nhw'n helpu i ddarparu'r sgiliau angenrheidiol i alluogi pobl ifanc sy'n gadael gofal i fyw'n annibynnol. Gweinidog, a oes gan eich Llywodraeth chi unrhyw gynlluniau i ail-greu gwaith y Roots Foundation mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru? Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, beth mae eich Llywodraeth chi'n ei wneud i gefnogi elusennau fel Roots, sy'n chwarae rhan hanfodol wrth gefnogi plant sy'n derbyn gofal, ac yn helpu i wella canlyniadau'r bobl ifanc hyn sy'n agored i niwed?
Diolch i chi unwaith eto am eich datganiad, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ni i gyd weithio gyda'i gilydd, ar y cyd, i wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant sy'n derbyn gofal. Diolch.
Thank you very much for those comments, and your welcome again, and the recognition of Carl's work in this area as well.
One of the ways in which we're looking to take that step forward, and to avoid this postcode lottery situation, the way that there are differences, variability—. We want, by the way, to have innovation—we want innovation. We want it to be based on the needs of the local population, and what those needs of those children in care, or children facing a care situation, are. But we need to make sure that they have quality services provided to them and quality support. Now, part of that, in terms of, for example, the early intervention, and the early years, is trying to roll out best knowledge and best practice on what actually works, and then allowing those local areas to pick up the very best, rather than constantly reinventing the wheel.
Now, one approach to that is we're taking an approach to early years integration, based on early intervention and prevention—an integrated early years system for families and parents. Now, what we're aiming to do with this is to ensure that all programmes and services for the early years come together seamlessly, to get the best value for parents and children. We know there are some in the Bridgend area; there are some really good individual programmes for families and young people. How do you pull them together seamlessly within? I have to acknowledge again the limited resources available. In fact, that puts an added incentive—make sure that they work together well.
So, my officials have begun discussions with colleagues across Welsh Government, from health, social services and education, to scope how we take this forward, with the goal of achieving a much more coherent and focused approach to those early years. And a key component of this programme will be an intensive project with two public service boards, one in the Valleys and one in north Wales, to see how early years services might be reconfigured based on closer working between the local health boards, local authorities, Welsh Government and other partners. So, the idea is that we design services that support this long-term preventative approach and it could potentially be a model to be utilised more widely across Wales. Now, that's the approach we're thinking through at different levels of intervention—how do we make it seamless and how do we learn best practice and share it across Wales?
You referred to an interesting organisation—Roots. I'd like to find out more about that to look at it. I don't think we're so much in the era now of simply identifying a group and saying, 'Well, here's a Welsh Government grant.' What we are in the business, however, of saying is that the local partners on the ground should be, with the funding available, looking at what the needs of that local population are and then deciding who can provide that best. But I'd like to hear more about that project—perhaps we can talk or you can write to me. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y sylwadau yna, ac am eich croeso eto, a'r gydnabyddiaeth ar gyfer gwaith Carl yn y maes hwn hefyd.
Un o'r ffyrdd yr ydym ni'n edrych arni i symud y cam hwnnw ymlaen, ac i osgoi'r sefyllfa hon o'r loteri cod post hon, y ffaith y gwelir gwahaniaethau, amrywioldeb—. Rydym ni eisiau, gyda llaw, gweld arloesi—rydym ni eisiau arloesi. Rydym ni eisiau iddo fod yn seiliedig ar anghenion y boblogaeth leol, ac ar hyn yw anghenion sydd gan y plant hynny sy'n derbyn gofal, neu blant sy'n wynebu'r sefyllfa o fod yn derbyn gofal. Ond mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod cymorth o ansawdd da a gwasanaeth o ansawdd da ar gael iddyn nhw. Nawr, rhan o hynny yw, o ran, er enghraifft, yr ymyrraeth gynnar, a'r blynyddoedd cynnar, ceisio cyflwyno'r wybodaeth orau a'r arferion gorau ar yr hyn sy'n gweithio mewn gwirionedd, ac yna caniatáu i ardaloedd lleol fanteisio ar y gorau oll, yn hytrach na dechrau o'r dechrau drwy'r amser.
Nawr, un agwedd ar hynny yw, ein bod yn gweithredu dull o integreiddio'r blynyddoedd cynnar, yn seiliedig ar ymyrraeth gynnar ac atal—system y blynyddoedd cynnar integredig ar gyfer teuluoedd a rhieni. Nawr, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud yw sicrhau bod yr holl raglenni a gwasanaethau ar gyfer y blynyddoedd cynnar yn dod at ei gilydd yn ddi-dor, i gael y gwerth gorau i rieni a phlant. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod rhai yn ardal Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr; bod yno rai rhaglenni unigol da iawn ar gyfer teuluoedd a phobl ifanc. Sut ydych chi'n eu tynnu ynghyd yn ddi-dor? Mae'n rhaid imi gydnabod unwaith eto yr adnoddau prin sydd ar gael. Mewn gwirionedd, mae hynny'n rhoi cymhelliant ychwanegol—gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd yn dda.
Felly, mae fy swyddogion wedi dechrau trafodaethau â chydweithwyr ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, o'r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, iechyd ac addysg, i ystyried sut i ddatblygu hyn, gyda'r nod o sicrhau dull llawer mwy ystyrlon a phenodol ar gyfer y blynyddoedd cynnar hynny. Ac elfen allweddol o'r rhaglen hon fydd prosiect dwys gyda dau fwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, un yn y Cymoedd ac un yn y gogledd, i weld sut y gellid ad-drefnu gwasanaethau'r blynyddoedd cynnar yn seiliedig ar gydweithio agosach rhwng y byrddau iechyd lleol, awdurdodau lleol, Llywodraeth Cymru a phartneriaid eraill. Felly, y syniad yw ein bod ni'n cynllunio gwasanaethau sy'n cefnogi'r dull ataliol hirdymor hwn, a gallai o bosibl fod yn fodel i'w ddefnyddio yn ehangach ledled Cymru. Nawr, dyna'r dull yr ydym ni'n ei ystyried ar wahanol lefelau o ymyrraeth—sut i'w wneud yn ddi-dor a sut y gallwn ni ddysgu arferion gorau a'u rhannu ar draws Cymru?
Fe wnaethoch gyfeirio at sefydliad diddorol—Roots. Hoffwn i gael gwybod mwy am hynny er mwyn edrych arno. Nid wyf yn credu ein bod ni bellach mewn cyfnod pan fyddwn ni'n nodi grŵp ac yn dweud, 'Wel, dyma grant gan Lywodraeth Cymru.' Fodd bynnag, rydym ni yn y busnes o ddweud y dylai'r partneriaid lleol ar lawr gwlad fod, gyda'r cyllid sydd ar gael, yn edrych ar ba anghenion sydd gan y boblogaeth leol ac wedyn penderfynu pwy all ddarparu orau ar gyfer hynny. Ond hoffwn i glywed mwy am y prosiect hwnnw—efallai y gallwn ni gael sgwrs neu cewch ysgrifennu ataf. Diolch.
Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Yr eitem nesaf yw Rheoliadau Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Datgelu a Ganiateir) (Cymru) 2017. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid i siarad i'r cynnig—Mark Drakeford.
The next item is the Tax Collection and Management (Permitted Disclosures) (Wales) Regulations 2017. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to move the motion—Mark Drakeford.
Cynnig NDM6577 Julie James
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Datgelu a Ganiateir) (Cymru) 2017 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 25 Hydref 2017.
Motion NDM6577 Julie James
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The Tax Collection and Management (Permitted Disclosures) (Wales) Regulations 2017 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 25 October 2017.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rydw i'n falch o gyflwyno'r Rheoliadau Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Datgelu a Ganiateir) (Cymru) 2017.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m pleased to introduce the Tax Collection and Management (Permitted Disclosures) (Wales) Regulations 2017.
6Dirprwy Lywydd, for very good reasons this National Assembly decided that the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016 should prohibit the disclosure of protected taxpayer information by a Welsh Revenue Authority official unless that disclosure is expressly permitted by section 18 of the Act.
Protected taxpayer information is defined in the Act as information relating to a person, which will enable them to be identified, and information that was acquired by the WRA or a delegated body. Disclosure is a serious matter and a breach of this requirement is a criminal offence. Section 18(1) of the Act sets out a list of gateways, however, under which it is permissible to disclose protected taxpayer information. At present, this section does not provide a gateway for the disclosure of protected taxpayer information to either Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or to Revenue Scotland, where such a disclosure is simply in connection with a function of these respective bodies or in connection with the function of the Welsh Revenue Authority. The purpose of the amendments I'm laying today is to provide relevant WRA officials with such a gateway to discuss protective taxpayer information with HMRC and with Revenue Scotland.
The regulations will ensure consistency with HMRC, which itself will have a legal gateway to share information with the Welsh Revenue Authority in April 2018. The reason for doing all of this, Dirprwy Lywydd, is that the Welsh Revenue Authority I believe should be able to do the same as HMRC is able to do to support compliance on devolved taxes and their equivalent in order to deter avoidance and evasion. Again, for the purposes of compliance in relation to devolved taxes, the Welsh Revenue Authority is currently discussing a reciprocal arrangement with Revenue Scotland for the purposes of information sharing with them. That's the basis on which I hope Members will support these matters this afternoon.
Dirprwy Lywydd, am resymau da iawn fe benderfynodd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol hwn y dylai Deddf Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Cymru) 2016 wahardd swyddogion Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru rhag datgelu gwybodaeth warchodedig am drethdalwr oni bai bod adran 18 o'r Ddeddf yn caniatáu datgeliad o'r fath yn benodol.
Diffinnir gwybodaeth warchodedig am drethdalwr yn y Ddeddf fel gwybodaeth sy'n ymwneud â pherson, a fydd yn fodd o'u hadnabod, a gwybodaeth a ddaeth i law ACC neu gorff dirprwyedig. Mae datgelu yn fater difrifol ac mae torri'r gofyniad hwn yn drosedd. Mae adran 18(1) o'r Ddeddf yn nodi rhestr o achlysuron, fodd bynnag, ble caniateir datgelu gwybodaeth warchodedig am drethdalwr. Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'r adran hon yn rhoi hawl i ddatgelu gwybodaeth warchodedig am drethdalwr i Gyllid a Thollau Ei Mawrhydi na chwaith i Gyllid yr Alban, os yw datgeliad o'r fath yn ddim amgenach na chysylltiad â swyddogaethau'r cyrff hyn neu yn gysylltiad â swyddogaeth Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru. Diben y gwelliannau yr wyf i'n eu gosod gerbron heddiw yw rhoi hawl i swyddogion perthnasol o ACC drafod gwybodaeth warchodedig am drethdalwyr gyda Chyllid a Thollau EM a Chyllid yr Alban.
Bydd y rheoliadau yn sicrhau cysondeb gyda Chyllid a Thollau EM, y bydd ganddo fodd cyfreithiol o rannu gwybodaeth gydag Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru ym mis Ebrill 2018. Y rheswm dros wneud hyn i gyd, Dirprwy Lywydd, yw y dylai Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru, rwy'n credu, allu gwneud yr un peth â Chyllid a Thollau EM er mwyn cefnogi'r agwedd o gydymffurfio â threthi datganoledig a threthi cyfatebol er mwyn ceisio atal pobl rhag osgoi ac efadu trethi. Eto, at ddibenion cydymffurfio mewn cysylltiad â threthi datganoledig, mae Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn trafod trefniant cyfatebol gyda Chyllid yr Alban at ddibenion rhannu gwybodaeth gyda nhw. Ac rwy'n gobeithio ar y sail hynny y bydd Aelodau yn cefnogi'r materion hyn y prynhawn yma.
Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid.
I call on the Chair of the Finance Committee.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, ac a gaf i groesawu'r ffaith ein bod ni'n trafod rheoliadau am y tro cyntaf yn ymwneud â threthi datganoledig yng Nghymru. Wrth gwrs, mae tair Deddf wedi'u pasio erbyn hyn ond mae'r Rheolau Sefydlog wedi newid i ganiatáu i'r Pwyllgor Cyllid edrych yn benodol ar reoliadau sy'n ymwneud â threthi datganoledig, ac mae'n fwriad gan y pwyllgor i wneud hynny, yn sicr, fesul tro, wrth i rai newydd, am y tro cyntaf, gael eu cyflwyno.
Rydym wedi cyhoeddi adroddiad ar y rheoliadau hyn. Nid oes dim byd syfrdanol ynddo, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud. Mae'r pwyllgor yn gytûn â bwriad y Llywodraeth a'r hyn mae'r Llywodraeth yn ceisio ei wneud sydd wedi cael ei ddisgrifio gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Yr unig beth y byddwn i am ei bwysleisio heddiw yw mai diddordeb byw'r pwyllgor o hyd yw sicrhau bod canllawiau clir ar gael yn rheoli sut mae'r pwerau yma yn cael eu defnyddio gan y gwahanol gyrff sy'n cael y caniatâd i ddefnyddio gwybodaeth trethdalwyr yn y modd yma, ac er ein bod ni wedi trafod hyn a sicrhau hyn wrth i'r Biliau fynd drwy'r Cynulliad, mae hefyd yr un mor bwysig i sicrhau bod y canllawiau i gyd yn glir iawn yn ymwneud â'r darpariaethau is-ddeddfwriaeth yn ogystal. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome the fact that we are discussing regulations with regard to devolved taxes for the first time here. Of course, three Acts have been passed by now but Standing Orders have been amended to allow the Finance Committee to consider specifically regulations relating to devolved taxes, and it’s the committee’s intention to do that, certainly, as the new ones are tabled.
We have published a report on these regulations. There’s nothing surprising in it, but the committee is in agreement with the Government’s intention and what it intends to do, and what has been described by the Cabinet Secretary. The only thing that I would want to emphasise today is the live interest of the committee in ensuring that clear guidance is available to regulate how these powers are used by the different bodies that are allowed to use taxpayers’ information in this way, and even though we have discussed this and ensured this as the Bills have gone through the Assembly, it is just as important to ensure that the guidance is very clear with regard to the provision of subordinate legislation as well. Thank you.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i ymateb.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary to reply.
Dirprwy Lywydd, a gaf i ddweud gair o ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am y gwaith maen nhw wedi'i wneud i graffu ar y rheoliadau, ac am y cyfle i'r Llywodraeth i ymateb i'r pwyntiau roedd y pwyllgor wedi'u codi? Rydw i'n meddwl bod y pwyllgor nawr yn hapus gyda'r atebion rydym ni wedi eu rhoi. Ar ochr canllawiau clir, wrth gwrs, rydw i'n cytuno gyda Chadeirydd y pwyllgor. Rydw i'n gwybod bod cadeirydd y WRA a'r bwrdd newydd wedi rhoi blaenoriaeth ar ganllawiau. Siaradais i ddoe gyda phrif weithredwr y WRA, ac rydw i'n hyderus bod y gwaith ar y gweill. Maen nhw'n gwneud y gwaith yn barod; maen nhw'n siarad gyda phobl yn y maes; a bydd cyngor ar gael ar ôl yr Nadolig mewn amser i bobl fod yn glir ar beth mae'r awdurdod yn mynd i'w gasglu a'r ffordd y byddant yn mynd at eu gwaith nhw, a chael hynny mas mewn digon o amser cyn 1 Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf pan fydd y WRA yn dod at y gwaith hwnnw.
Deputy Presiding Officer, may I just say thank you to the committee for the work that they have done in scrutinising the regulations and giving the Government an opportunity to respond to the points raised by the committee? I believe that the committee is now content with the responses that they have received. In terms of clear guidance, of course I agree with the committee Chair. I know that the chair of the WRA and the new board have given priority to guidance. I spoke yesterday to the WRA chief executive and I am confident that the work is in the pipeline. They’ve already commenced it; they are speaking to stakeholders; and guidance will be available after Christmas so that people can have clarity as to what information the authority is going to gather and how they’re going to approach their work, and that will be is issued in a timely manner before 1 April next year when the WRA approaches that work.
Diolch. Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog—
Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order—
I can't do it; I'll have to do it: 12.36.
Ni allaf wneud hynny; bydd yn rhaid i mi wneud hynny: 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The next item on the agenda then—we'll go back to normal—is the debate on entrepreneurship and the national imperative.
Yr eitem nesaf ar yr agenda felly—fe awn ni'n ôl at y drefn arferol—yw'r ddadl ar entrepreneuriaeth a'r anghenraid cenedlaethol.
I can't understand you now. [Laughter.]
Allaf i ddim eich ddeall chi nawr. [Chwerthin.]
Wel, mae'n ddrwg gen i, ond—
Well, I'm sorry, but—
I think we need to move from business, I'd be here all day if I was doing all this in Welsh. I will practice over the Christmas recess, I promise.
So, I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to move the motion. Ken Skates.
Rwy'n credu bod angen inni adael y maes busnes, byddwn ni yma drwy'r dydd pe byddwn i'n gwneud hyn i gyd yn Gymraeg. Gwnaf ymarfer dros egwyl y Nadolig, rwy'n addo.
Felly, galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth i gynnig y cynnig. Ken Skates.
Cynnig NDM6578 Julie James
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
Yn cydnabod bod entrepreneuriaeth a mentrau bach a chanolig yn allweddol i Gymru o safbwynt creu gwell swyddi a chefnogi buddsoddiad a bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mewn partneriaeth â rhanddeiliaid, swyddogaeth allweddol o safbwynt creu’r amgylchedd cywir a chefnogi’r seilwaith.
Motion NDM6578 Julie James
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Recognises that entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises are imperative to Wales in creating better jobs and supporting investment and that the Welsh Government, in partnership with stakeholders, has a key role to play to create the right environment and support infrastructure.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to begin by thanking you for allowing me to bring forward this debate today, and to begin by positing a question: what is it, what connects the most successful and diverse economic regions around the world, from Boston to Utah, from Israel to the German Mittelstand? In my view, it's a vibrant business base; a business base driven by the twin pillars of entrepreneurship and innovation. Entrepreneurship and innovation enabled by the availability of finance; research and development; skills; infrastructure and, of course, opportunity.
As a Welsh Government, we have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve here in Wales. We want to grow our economy, and that means fostering entrepreneurship and helping businesses of all sizes to become more productive and more successful. But it has to be growth with a purpose: growth that tackles the inequalities and productivity challenges that hold our economy back; inclusive growth that spreads opportunities so that we all play a part and deliver to our full potential. That's why it's important to champion and to cherish our entrepreneurs and the benefit of entrepreneurial skills to enable growth within businesses. I recognise the success we have already achieved in this regard.
Since its launch in 2012, Business Wales—the Welsh Government's service for entrepreneurs and SMEs—has dealt with over 150,000 enquiries; it's provided advice to over 77,000 individuals and businesses; it's engaged nearly 0.25 million young people in entrepreneurship; signposted and provided information to a further 92,000 businesses; it's created over 25,000 jobs and safeguarded a further 5,000; and it has supported the creation of 12,000 new enterprises here in Wales.
I recently announced that the Business Wales accelerated growth programme since April 2015 has created over 2,300 jobs to date, and the programme has also helped participating companies attract £80 million of private sector investment and generate £38 million of exports. This highlights the potential in Wales and also the importance of a supportive ecosystem that proactively helps entrepreneurs and SMEs maximise their contribution to the Welsh economy.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fe hoffwn i ddechrau drwy ddiolch ichi am ganiatáu imi gyflwyno'r ddadl hon heddiw, a dechrau drwy ofyn cwestiwn: beth yn wir, beth yw'r cysylltiad rhwng rhanbarthau economaidd mwyaf llwyddiannus ac amrywiol y byd, o Boston i Utah, o Israel i Mittelstand yn yr Almaen? Yn fy marn i, yr ateb yw sylfaen busnes llewyrchus; sail busnes gyda dwy agwedd iddi sef entrepreneuriaeth ac arloesedd. Entrepreneuriaeth ac arloesedd wedi ei wneud yn bosib oherwydd bod cyllid ar gael; ymchwil a datblygu; sgiliau; seilwaith ac, wrth gwrs, cyfle.
Mae gennym ni, Lywodraeth Cymru, weledigaeth glir iawn o'r hyn yr ydym ni eisiau ei gyflawni yma yng Nghymru. Rydym ni eisiau gweld ein heconomi yn tyfu, ac mae hynny'n golygu meithrin entrepreneuriaeth a helpu busnesau o bob maint i ddod yn fwy cynhyrchiol ac yn fwy llwyddiannus. Ond mae'n rhaid i'r twf hwnnw fod â diben: twf sy'n mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau a'r heriau cynhyrchiant sy'n dal ein heconomi yn ôl; twf cynhwysol sy'n cynnig cyfleoedd eang fel y gallwn ni i gyd chwarae rhan a chyflawni i'n llawn botensial. Dyna pam mae'n bwysig hyrwyddo a meithrin ein hentrepreneuriaid a manteision sgiliau entrepreneuraidd fel bod modd i fusnesau dyfu. Rwy'n cydnabod y llwyddiant yr ydym ni eisoes wedi ei gyflawni yn hyn o beth.
Ers ei lansio yn 2012, mae Busnes Cymru—gwasanaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer entrepreneuriaid a busnesau bach a chanolig—wedi ymdrin â dros 150,000 o ymholiadau; mae wedi rhoi cyngor i dros 77,000 o unigolion a busnesau; mae wedi annog bron chwarter miliwn o bobl ifanc i fentro i fyd entrepreneuriaeth; cyfeirio a darparu gwybodaeth i 92,000 o fusnesau ychwanegol; wedi creu dros 25,000 o swyddi a diogelu 5,000 arall; ac mae wedi cefnogi creu 12,000 o fentrau newydd yma yng Nghymru.
Cyhoeddais yn ddiweddar bod rhaglen cyflymu twf Busnes Cymru ers mis Ebrill 2015 wedi creu dros 2,300 o swyddi hyd yn hyn, ac mae'r rhaglen hefyd wedi helpu cwmnïau sy'n cymryd rhan i ddenu £80 miliwn o fuddsoddiad gan y sector preifat a chynhyrchu £38 miliwn o allforion. Mae hyn yn amlygu'r potensial sy'n bodoli yng Nghymru a hefyd pwysigrwydd ecosystemau cefnogol sy'n helpu entrepreneuriaid a busnesau bach a chanolig mewn modd rhagweithiol i gyfrannu i'r eithaf at economi Cymru.
Building capacity has been a key objective. Big Ideas Wales, which encourages entrepreneurship from an early stage and develops the entrepreneurial skills of young people, has delivered, in my view, outstanding results, with 70 per cent of young people under the age of 25 now having aspirations to work for themselves. And 375 role models have engaged with more than 56,000 young people in 86 per cent of schools, further education colleges and higher education institutions.
I do think that we need to celebrate the successes of young people in business. We have some excellent examples of the practical ways that we do this, through competitions and also through boot camps. Capacity building of this type complements our drive to encourage graduate start-ups. More broadly, the recent winners of the Fast Growth 50 showcased the talent and opportunity that we have in our country.
It's encouraging to see that we now have a record number of active businesses in Wales, and the number of new business births is the highest for over a decade. Small and medium-sized businesses in Wales account for 99.3 per cent of enterprises in our country, 62 per cent of employment and 39.7 per cent of turnover. To grow, Welsh businesses must evolve and to evolve, they must innovate. Government, academia and providers of finance are all part of that ecosystem. That's why I've supported Be The Spark, a new national initiative to drive innovation and entrepreneurship here in Wales. The approach has been developed by a high-calibre panel, chaired by Simon Gibson, and has resulted from Wales's participation in the regional entrepreneurship acceleration programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It's estimated that the MIT alumni and the Boston ecosystem combined would equate to the twelfth biggest economy on the planet. Be The Spark is a strategy specifically for Wales that makes innovation-driven entrepreneurship the responsibility of all stakeholders, not just Government, but also financiers, larger corporates, academia and entrepreneurs, and Be The Spark has examined key metrics to outline the challenges for Wales.
Whilst some of these will undoubtedly be challenging, I want to embrace the corresponding opportunity and set an ambition of where we need to be, and it's here. We need to address lower than UK start-up rates, from the current 60 per 10,000 to 120 per 10,000. The UK rate at present stands at 93 per 10,000. We also need to proportionally increase patent activity from 3.3 per cent to 5 per cent. We need to encourage an active and diverse angel investment community. It's a fact that Wales currently receives under 1.1 per cent of UK angel investment. We also need to increase the HE graduate start-up levels from 0.3 per cent of the student population to 1 per cent. That would lead to an extra 1,000 new starts every year. Extend this target still further to students currently in higher education, and we could deliver another 1,000 new starts. That's close to a 1 per cent increase in the business stock in our country. We also need to increase the proportion of growth firms in Wales from 19 per cent to 30 per cent classified as growing. And, finally, we need to increase the level of industry research and development expenditure, delivered in collaboration with higher and further education.
Deputy Presiding Officer, we need to harness the power and influence of all stakeholder groups and move forward with a shared objective. It should be a shared objective across Government, across education and businesses, and I do think that a prime example of this in action is the Welsh Government's £20 million investment in the Deeside advanced manufacturing research institute, which targets the need to focus on commercialisation, unlocked by all stakeholders working together. But as a Government, we don't have all of the solutions ourselves. Entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, those working in risk capital, as well as key people from academia and Government, need to work together to make this happen, and Be The Spark has to be the key driver for innovation-driven entrepreneurship here in Wales.
As part of this collaborative approach, I am delighted to note that NatWest has agreed two-year funding for the chief executive officer of Be The Spark, Caroline Thompson. Entrepreneurs are imperative for developing a strong economy and creating better jobs and supporting investment. We need to encourage entrepreneurship from an early age, through raising aspirations and understanding of entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial mindset has benefits for those who not only start a business but also enter employment. There's an identified key challenge for our larger businesses where intra-preneurship is an essential ingredient in improving productivity through innovation.
Business Wales is the recognised service for entrepreneurs here in Wales. It provides support for aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and existing microbusinesses and small and medium-sized enterprises through a variety of channels, including online, on the phone and through dedicated business advisers located across the length and breadth of our country. I highlighted earlier the importance of the Business Wales service here in Wales.
Mae meithrin gallu wedi bod yn amcan allweddol. Yn fy marn i, mae Syniadau Mawr Cymru, sy'n annog entrepreneuriaeth o gyfnod cynnar ac yn datblygu sgiliau entrepreneuraidd pobl ifanc, wedi esgor ar ganlyniadau rhagorol, gyda 70 y cant o bobl ifanc o dan 25 oed yn dymuno gweithio iddyn nhw eu hunain. Ac mae 375 o bobl ysbrydoledig wedi siarad â mwy na 56,000 o bobl ifanc mewn 86 y cant o ysgolion, colegau addysg bellach a sefydliadau addysg uwch.
Rwy'n credu bod angen inni ddathlu llwyddiannau pobl ifanc mewn busnes. Mae gennym ni enghreifftiau ardderchog o'r ffyrdd ymarferol yr ydym ni'n gwneud hyn, drwy gystadlaethau a hefyd drwy gyfrwng gwersylloedd dwys. Mae meithrin gallu o'r math hwn yn ategu ein hymgyrch i annog graddedigion i ddechrau busnesau newydd. Yn fwy cyffredinol, roedd enillwyr diweddar cystadleuaeth Fast Growth 50 yn arddangos y doniau a'r cyfleoedd sydd gennym ni yn ein gwlad.
Mae'n galonogol gweld bod gennym ni bellach y nifer mwyaf erioed o fusnesau gweithredol yng Nghymru, ac mae nifer y busnes newydd sy'n cael eu sefydlu ar ei uchaf ers dros ddegawd. Mae busnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru yn cyfrif am 99.3 y cant o fentrau yn ein gwlad, 62 y cant o gyflogaeth a 39.7 y cant o'r trosiant. Er mwyn tyfu, mae'n rhaid i fusnesau Cymru ddatblygu ac esblygu, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw arloesi. Mae llywodraeth, y byd academaidd a darparwyr cyllid i gyd yn rhan o'r ecosystem honno. Dyna pam yr wyf i wedi cefnogi Creu Sbarc, menter genedlaethol newydd i hyrwyddo arloesi ac entrepreneuriaeth yma yng Nghymru. Cafodd y dull ei ddatblygu gan banel o safon uchel, dan gadeiryddiaeth Simon Gibson, ac mae'n deillio o gyfranogiad Cymru yn y rhaglen sbarduno entrepreneuriaeth ranbarthol a gynhaliwyd yn Sefydliad Technoleg Massachusetts. Amcangyfrifir y byddai cynfyfyrwyr Sefydliad Technoleg Massachusetts ac ecosystem Boston gyda'i gilydd yn gyfwerth â deuddegfed economi mwyaf y blaned. Mae Creu Sbarc yn strategaeth benodol ar gyfer Cymru sy'n gwneud entrepreneuriaeth ac arloesedd yn gyfrifoldeb pob rhanddeiliad, nid dim ond y Llywodraeth, ond hefyd arianwyr, corfforaethau mwy, y byd academaidd ac entrepreneuriaid, ac mae Creu Sbarc wedi edrych ar ffigyrau allweddol er mwyn amlinellu'r heriau sy'n wynebu Cymru.
Er y bydd rhai o'r rhain yn ddi-os yn heriol, hoffwn achub ar y cyfle cyfatebol a gosod uchelgais ar gyfer lle mae angen inni fod, a dyma yw hynny. Mae'n rhaid inni ymdrin â chyfraddau dechrau busnes llai na gweddill y DU, o'r 60 presennol fesul 10,000 i 120 fesul 10,000. Cyfradd y DU ar hyn o bryd yw 93 fesul 10,000. Mae angen inni hefyd weld cynnydd cymesur mewn ceisiadau patent o 3.3 y cant i 5 y cant. Mae angen inni annog datblygiad cymuned amrywiol o fuddsoddwyr 'angel'. Mae'n ffaith bod Cymru ar hyn o bryd yn cael llai nac 1.1 y cant o fuddsoddiad drwy'r rhwydwaith 'UK angel investment'. Mae angen inni hefyd gynyddu cyfraddau cychwyn busnesau ymhlith graddedigion Addysg Uwch o 0.3 y cant o boblogaeth y myfyrwyr i 1 y cant. Byddai hynny'n arwain at sefydlu 1,000 ychwanegol o fusnesau newydd bob blwyddyn. Byddai ymestyn y targed hwn hyd yn oed ymhellach i'r myfyrwyr hynny sydd ar hyn o bryd mewn addysg uwch, ac fe allem ni greu 1,000 o fusnesau newydd ychwanegol. Mae hynny'n agos at gynnydd o 1 y cant yn y stoc busnes yn ein gwlad. Mae angen hefyd inni gynyddu cyfran y cwmnïau twf yng Nghymru, y rhai hynny sydd wedi eu dosbarthu fel rhai sy'n tyfu, o 19 y cant i 30 y cant. Ac, yn olaf, mae angen inni gynyddu faint sy'n cael ei wario ar ymchwil a datblygu diwydiant, a gwneud hyn mewn cydweithrediad ag addysg uwch ac addysg bellach.
Dirprwy Lywydd, bydd angen inni fanteisio ar rym a dylanwad pob grŵp rhanddeiliaid a symud ymlaen gydag amcan ar y cyd. Dylai hwn fod yn amcan ar y cyd rhwng y Llywodraeth, addysg a busnesau, ac rwyf yn credu mai enghraifft wych o hyn ar waith oedd buddsoddiad £20 miliwn Llywodraeth Cymru yn yr Athrofa Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch yng Nglannau Dyfrdwy, sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr angen i edrych yn fanwl ar fasnacheiddio, gyda'r holl randdeiliaid yn cydweithio. Ond fel Llywodraeth, does gennym ni mo'r atebion i gyd ein hunain. Mae angen i entrepreneuriaid ac arweinwyr corfforaethol, y rhai sy'n gweithio mewn cyfalaf risg, yn ogystal â phobl allweddol o'r byd academaidd a'r Llywodraeth, gydweithio i wneud i hyn ddigwydd, ac mae'n rhaid i Creu Sbarc fod yn sbardun allweddol ar gyfer hyrwyddo entrepreneuriaeth arloesol yma yng Nghymru.
Fel rhan o'r cydweithio hwn, rwy'n falch iawn o nodi bod NatWest wedi cytuno i roi dwy flynedd o gyllid er mwyn ariannu Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Creu Sbarc, Caroline Thompson. Mae entrepreneuriaid yn hanfodol er mwyn datblygu economi gref a chreu gwell swyddi a chefnogi buddsoddiad. Mae angen inni annog entrepreneuriaeth o oedran cynnar, drwy ennyn dyheadau a dealltwriaeth o entrepreneuriaeth. Mae gan feddylfryd entrepreneuraidd fanteision ar gyfer y rhai sydd nid yn unig yn cychwyn busnes ond hefyd y rhai hynny sy'n dechrau gweithio. Mae her allweddol amlwg ar gyfer ein busnesau mwy o faint ble mae mentergarwch mewnol yn elfen hanfodol er mwyn gwella cynhyrchiant drwy arloesi.
Busnes Cymru yw'r gwasanaeth cydnabyddedig ar gyfer entrepreneuriaid yma yng Nghymru. Mae'n cynnig cymorth ar gyfer darpar entrepreneuriaid, busnesau newydd a microfusnesau sydd eisoes yn bodoli a mentrau bach a chanolig drwy gyfrwng sawl ffynhonnell, gan gynnwys ar-lein, dros y ffôn a thrwy gyfrwng cynghorwyr busnes ymroddgar sy'n gweithio ar hyd a lled ein gwlad. Cyfeiriais gynnau at bwysigrwydd gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru yma yng Nghymru.
Mark Isherwood a gododd—
Mark Isherwood rose—
I'll give way to the Member.
Ildiaf i'r Aelod.
I had the pleasure of attending the Be The Spark event last Wednesday. They welcomed the fact you had hosted it. They did express regret that nobody from Welsh Government was able to attend it, but it was great to hear contributions not only from business, including someone from Wrexham sat next to me, but also from local authorities, with the chief executive of Monmouthshire speaking, and, of course, academia as well. So, how will you ensure, given what you're saying, that this is about a collective innovation-driven entrepreneurship approach that includes social entrepreneurship, innovation in public service delivery and, of course, driving the economy of Wales through the business sector too?
Cefais y pleser o fynd i'r digwyddiad Creu Sbarc ddydd Mercher diwethaf. Roedden nhw'n croesawu'r ffaith eich bod wedi'i gynnal. Fe wnaethon nhw ddweud eu bod yn siomedig nad oedd neb o Lywodraeth Cymru yn gallu bod yno, ond roedd hi'n wych clywed cyfraniadau nid yn unig gan fusnesau, gan gynnwys rhywun o Wrecsam oedd yn eistedd wrth fy ymyl, ond hefyd gan awdurdodau lleol, gyda Phrif Weithredwr Sir Fynwy yn siarad, ac, wrth gwrs, y byd academaidd hefyd. Felly, sut fyddwch chi'n sicrhau, o ystyried yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud, fod a wnelo hyn â chydweithio mewn modd entrepreneuraidd ac arloesol, sy'n cynnwys entrepreneuriaeth gymdeithasol, arloesi wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac, wrth gwrs, datblygu economi Cymru drwy y sector busnes hefyd?
I'm delighted to hear the change of heart by the Welsh Conservatives concerning the Be The Spark initiative. The change of approach has gone from one of objection in the summer to now applauding the work of all of the stakeholders in Be The Spark, and I'm delighted that one of my most senior officials is indeed a founding member of the Be The Spark team here in Wales.
I was sorry I was unable to be at the particular event that the Member highlights. I, with my colleague Lesley Griffiths, that evening travelled back to north Wales because of the tragic circumstances that we faced, but I am utterly committed, as are my officials, to playing a very active role in ensuring that Welsh Government contributes to what must be a cultural change in the way that we approach entrepreneurship and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Indeed, I've been insistent on maintaining the Be The Spark initiative across all stakeholder groups, with Welsh Government taking the leadership role. We have faced, in the past, some criticism for taking this initiative forward, but I do believe that the event that the Member points to is another example of the success of this particular programme.
We'll be seeing in the months to come the number of mentors and the number of people pledging support to Be The Spark increasing still further, with valuable opportunities for networking to take place. I'm pleased today to say that, in complementing the Business Wales service and to complement the Be The Spark event that took place very recently, I've announced more than £5 million for new activity to support entrepreneurship in Wales. This includes £1 million of funding to establish a pathfinder project to encourage regional, community-based entrepreneurship, and the initiative will focus on engaging with disadvantaged individuals at a community level in specific locations across Wales, following an approach that is flexible and responsive to local, regional and spatial needs, including the new economic regions and the Valleys task force.
Recognising the importance of space and supporting our commitment to taking Wales forward through procurement, an additional £4 million has been allocated to support the establishment of another four enterprise hubs across Wales. These hubs will be located to fill areas of market failure, working hand in glove with incubators from the private and academic sectors so that, wherever you live, you can access incubation. This is in addition to the £1 million of funding I previously announced to establish a new business hub in Wrexham.
Deputy Presiding Officer, growing businesses also need, of course, access to growth capital, and the recent launch of the Development Bank of Wales is an important core component of the Government's economic policy and delivery. The development bank is a key tool to address this issue. Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales have an agreed operational plan in place to better align the services offered, with a clear aim of benefiting the customer. This will enable us to provide a seamless mix of expert advice and support alongside affordable finance exactly when it is needed.
I want to continue to develop the scope and role for the development bank supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs, including considering innovative finance solutions. In addition, my officials are exploring options for closer alignment in joint working between Business Wales and Careers Wales. Securing closer integration between the two services has the potential to better connect the delivery of business support and employer engagement with the education, economy and skills system, and a more streamlined approach to services for our customers.
We want to ensure that entrepreneurship is part of the suite of options made available to young people. This will build on our ambitions of the new curriculum to encourage ambitious, creative and enterprising contributors. We need to make the right connections to nurture the talent of our pupils and students and to support their interest for business through Big Ideas Wales.
Finally, we need to ensure that we continue to provide entrepreneurs and SMEs in Wales with the appropriate environment and the appropriate support at the right time to enable them to create better jobs and support investment in the Welsh economy. Deputy Presiding Officer, I'm keen to hear Members' views about how we can support this agenda together, going forward.
Rwy'n falch iawn o glywed bod Ceidwadwyr Cymru wedi newid eu meddwl ynglŷn â'r fenter Creu Sbarc. Maen nhw wedi newid o fod yn wrthwynebus yn ystod yr haf i fod bellach yn canmol gwaith holl randdeiliaid Creu Sbarc, ac rwy'n falch bod un o'm swyddogion uchaf yn wir yn un o'r aelodau a sefydlodd y tîm Creu Sbarc yma yng Nghymru.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf na allwn fod yn y digwyddiad penodol y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato. Fe wnes i, gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, Lesley Griffiths, deithio'n ôl i'r Gogledd oherwydd yr amgylchiadau trasig oedd yn ein hwynebu ni, ond rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr, fel y mae fy swyddogion, i chwarae rhan weithredol iawn yn sicrhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyfrannu at yr hyn sy'n gorfod bod yn newid diwylliannol yn y ffordd yr awn i'r afael ag entrepreneuriaeth ac entrepreneuriaeth arloesol. Yn wir, rwyf wedi bod yn benderfynol o gynnal y fenter Creu Sbarc ar draws yr holl grwpiau rhanddeiliaid, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru wrth y llyw. Rydym ni wedi wynebu, yn y gorffennol, rhywfaint o feirniadaeth am ddatblygu'r fenter hon, ond rwy'n credu bod y digwyddiad y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato yn enghraifft arall o lwyddiant y rhaglen benodol hon.
Byddwn yn gweld yn y misoedd i ddod nifer y mentoriaid a nifer y bobl sy'n addo cefnogi'r fenter Creu Sbarc yn cynyddu mwy eto, a chyfleoedd rhwydweithio gwerthfawr yn codi. Rwy'n falch heddiw o ddweud, i ategu gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru ac i ategu'r digwyddiad Creu Sbarc a gynhaliwyd yn ddiweddar iawn, fy mod i wedi cyhoeddi mwy na £5 miliwn ar gyfer gweithgaredd newydd i gefnogi entrepreneuriaeth yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £1 miliwn o gyllid i sefydlu prosiect braenaru i annog entrepreneuriaeth ranbarthol a chymunedol. Bydd y fenter yn canolbwyntio ar weithio gydag unigolion dan anfantais mewn cymunedau penodol ledled Cymru, gan weithio mewn modd hyblyg sy'n ymateb i anghenion lleol, rhanbarthol a gofodol gan gynnwys Tasglu'r Cymoedd a rhanbarthau economaidd newydd.
Gan gydnabod pwysigrwydd gofod a chefnogi ein hymrwymiad i ddatblygu Cymru drwy gaffael, dyrannwyd £4 miliwn ychwanegol i gefnogi sefydlu pedair canolfan fenter arall yng Nghymru. Bydd y canolfannau hyn yn llenwi'r meysydd methiant yn y farchnad, yn gweithio law yn llaw â mentrau sefydlu busnes o'r sectorau preifat ac academaidd er mwyn sicrhau, ble bynnag yr ydych chi'n byw, y bod modd ichi fanteisio ar gyfleusterau sefydlu busnes. Mae hyn yn ychwanegol at y £1 miliwn o gyllid a gyhoeddais yn flaenorol i sefydlu canolfan fusnes newydd yn Wrecsam.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae angen i fusnesau sy'n tyfu, wrth gwrs, gael gafael ar gyfalaf twf, ac mae lansiad diweddar Banc Datblygu Cymru yn gydran greiddiol bwysig o bolisi economaidd a darpariaethau'r Llywodraeth. Mae'r banc datblygu yn offeryn allweddol i fynd i'r afael a'r mater hwn. Mae Busnes Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru wedi cytuno ar gynllun gweithredu er mwyn cael cyfatebiaeth well yn y gwasanaethau a gynigir, gyda'r nod clir o roi budd i'r cwsmer. Bydd hyn yn fodd inni ddarparu cyfuniad o gyngor a chymorth arbenigol cyson ochr yn ochr â chyllid fforddiadwy ar yr union bryd y mae angen hynny.
Rwyf am barhau i ddatblygu'r cwmpas a swyddogaeth ar gyfer y banc datblygu gan gefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig ac entrepreneuriaid, gan gynnwys ystyried posibiliadau cyllido arloesol. Yn ogystal â hyn, mae fy swyddogion yn ystyried dewisiadau o ran cydweithio agosach rhwng Busnes Cymru a Gyrfa Cymru. Drwy sicrhau gwell cydweithio rhwng y ddau wasanaeth, efallai y bydd hi'n bosib cael cyswllt gwell rhwng cynnig cefnogaeth fusnes a brwdfrydedd cyflogwyr gyda'r system addysg, economi a sgiliau, a ffordd fwy effeithlon o gynnig gwasanaethau i'n cwsmeriaid.
Mae arnom ni eisiau sicrhau bod entrepreneuriaeth yn rhan o gyfres o ddewisiadau sydd ar gael i bobl ifanc. Bydd hyn yn adeiladu ar ein huchelgais yn y cwricwlwm newydd i feithrin pobl fentrus, greadigol ac uchelgeisiol. Mae angen inni wneud y cysylltiadau cywir i feithrin doniau ein disgyblion a myfyrwyr ac i gefnogi eu diddordeb ym myd busnes drwy gyfrwng Syniadau Mawr Cymru.
Yn olaf, mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod ni'n parhau i ddarparu'r amgylchiadau priodol a'r gefnogaeth briodol ar yr adeg iawn i entrepreneuriaid a busnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru i'w galluogi i greu gwell swyddi a chefnogi buddsoddi yn economi Cymru. Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n awyddus i glywed barn yr Aelodau ynghylch sut y gallwn ni gefnogi'r agenda hwn gyda'n gilydd yn y dyfodol.
Thank you very much. It'll be interesting to see your reply, given that that was a 14-minute opening speech. Never mind. I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on Rhun ap Iorwerth to move amendment 1, tabled in his name—Rhun.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Bydd hi'n ddiddorol clywed eich ymateb, o gofio bod honno'n araith agoriadol 14 munud o hyd. Dim ots. Rwyf wedi dewis y gwelliant i'r cynnig, a galwaf ar Rhun ap Iorwerth i gynnig gwelliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn ei enw ef—Rhun.
Gwelliant 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth
Ychwanegu pwyntiau newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fuddsoddi mewn rhwydwaith o ganolbwyntiau entrepreneuraidd ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
Yn cynnig defnyddio’r cronfeydd trafodiadau ariannol newydd a ddyrannwyd i Gymru gan Lywodraeth y DU i greu cronfa fuddsoddi busnesau bach a chanolig newydd ar gyfer Banc Datblygu Cymru.
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sefydlu corff arloesi cenedlaethol penodedig, fel partneriaeth rhwng busnes, llywodraeth a’r byd academaidd i gynyddu lefelau datblygu o ran cynhyrchion newydd.
Amendment 1. Rhun ap Iorwerth
Add as new points at end of motion:
Calls on the Welsh Government to invest in a network of entrepreneurial hubs in every part of Wales.
Proposes that additional financial transaction funds allocated to Wales by the UK Government are used to create a new SME investment fund for the Development Bank of Wales.
Calls on the Welsh Government to establish a dedicated national innovation body, as a partnership between business, government and academia, to drive up levels of new product development.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Yes. A 50-second reply to the debate from the Cabinet Secretary will be interesting to listen to.
Bydd. Bydd ymateb 50 eiliad i ddadl Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ddiddorol gwrando arno.
Rydw i yn falch, yn absenoldeb yr Aelod dros Ddwyrain Caerfyrddin heddiw, i gael cymryd rhan yn y ddadl yma ar ran Plaid Cymru ac i droedio hen lwybrau'n siarad ar faterion datblygu economaidd.
Mae yn ddadl ar faes allweddol pwysig, rydw i'n meddwl, i ddyfodol Cymru. Mae ein dyfodol economaidd ni'n seiliedig ar bobl dalentog yn datblygu syniadau ac yn datblygu'r syniadau hynny yng Nghymru, ac mae'n rhaid inni greu'r awyrgylch busnes cywir i alluogi entrepreneuriaeth i lwyddo, ac mae ein gwelliant ni'n taflu rhyw faint o oleuni ar beth y byddwn ni, ym Mhlaid Cymru, yn hoffi ei weld o ran ymyrraeth y Llywodraeth er mwyn cyflawni'r amcan yma.
Mi ganolbwyntiaf i ar arloesedd, sy'n golygu gwneud pethau cwbl newydd neu, o bosib, gwneud hen bethau mewn ffyrdd newydd, ond nid yw arloesedd, yn angenrheidiol, yn digwydd mewn vacuum, ac mae angen hybu ac annog arloesedd. Dyna pam rydym ni'n galw am sefydlu corff arloesi cenedlaethol i gynyddu gwariant ar ymchwil a datblygiad, er enghraifft, i adeiladu enw da i Gymru yn rhyngwladol fel cenedl o ragoriaeth ar gyfer ymchwil ac arloesedd.
Ac mae yna berthynas agos iawn, onid oes, rhwng arloesedd ac entrepreneuriaeth. Pan fo entrepreneuriaid yn trosi gwybodaeth newydd yn arfer newydd, dyna pryd mae arloesi'n digwydd. Mae arloesedd a chreu dyfeisiadau a datblygu syniadau newydd yn creu entrepreneuriaid, ond beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud ydy bod yn genedl sydd yn gallu cyflymu'r raddfa y mae'n entrepreneuriaid ni'n gallu gwneud defnydd ymarferol newydd o syniadau a dyfeisiadau newydd. A dyna le mae rôl y Llywodraeth yn gwbl allweddol.
Mi fyddai'n dda meddwl y byddai'r farchnad ynddi'i hun yn sicrhau bod yna ddigonedd o ymchwil mewn datblygiad cynnyrch, mewn R&D, yma yng Nghymru, ond nid yw pob amser yn wir. Ni allwn ddibynnu ar y farchnad, ac mae enghreifftiau rhyngwladol, wrth gwrs, yn dangos bod rôl cyrff arloesi yn arbennig o werthfawr i fynd i'r afael ar dangyllido, o bosib, mewn cronfeydd R&D, oherwydd methiant y farchnad. Mae yna amrywiaeth fawr o ran maint, o ran strwythur y mathau o gyrff sy'n bodoli mewn llefydd ar draws y byd, ond mae rhesymeg—raison d’être—i'r cyrff hynny'n gyson iawn, mewn difrif. Mae'n bosib mai Innovate UK ac Enterprise Ireland ydy rhai o'r cyrff arloesedd mwyaf adnabyddus yn y byd. Maen nhw'n fawr: £600 miliwn yn achos Innovate UK; €300 miliwn i Enterprise Ireland. Ond mae yna gyrff llawer llai o gwmpas y byd sy'n gweithio mewn cyd-destun rhanbarthol, sub-state, felly, ac sy'n gallu dysgu gwersi gwerthfawr iawn i Gymru.
Soniaf i am barc arloesedd JIC De Morafia yn y Weriniaeth Tsiecaidd, rhanbarth efo dim ond 1.1 miliwn o bobl—diweithdra wedi syrthio o 12 y cant yn 2002 i 4.7 y cant erbyn hyn. Dim ond £0.5 miliwn yn flynyddol oedd cronfa'r parc arloesi pan sefydlwyd hwnnw, ond, erbyn hyn, mae'r ffigwr wedi cynyddu i £1.5 miliwn—swm cymharol fach, ond mae effaith arwyddocaol i'r arian hwnnw. Mae De Morafia wedi cael strategaeth arloesedd rhanbarthol ers 2002 ac mae'r parc arloesedd yn canolbwyntio yn bennaf ar weithredu strategaeth mewn partneriaeth â phrifysgolion, siambr fasnach a mudiadau eraill nid er elw. Mae'n canolbwyntio'n bennaf ar yr agenda ymchwil ac wedi sicrhau ymchwil fel bod De Morafia yn gwario 3.4 y cant rŵan o'u cynnyrch domestig gros rhanbarthol ar ymchwil a datblygiad. Mae hynny'n deirgwaith y ganran o werth ychwanegol gros Cymru sy'n mynd i'r maes yma. Felly, dyma'n cystadleuwyr ni yr ydym ni angen bod yn cystadlu â nhw o ran ein gwariant ar arloesedd. Mae Gwlad y Basg hefyd yn enghraifft lle mae yna gorff arloesedd rhagorol.
Rydw i'n gwybod nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r syniad o gyrff arbenigol hyd braich yn cefnogi'r Llywodraeth yn ei hagenda datblygu economaidd. Rydw i'n cofio pan oeddwn i'n llefarydd economi imi gyflwyno'r syniad o gael Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru newydd ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. 'Nid ydy o'n ddemocrataidd; cwango ydy o'—dyna oedd y gri oeddwn i'n ei chlywed gan rai, ond, wrth gwrs, yn yr oes ddatganoledig yma, mae'r atebolrwydd yma gennym ni yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Yn achos Gwlad y Basg, hefyd, mae cyfarwyddwr cyffredinol y corff arloesedd yno yn wleidydd, ac mae o'n newid bob pedair blynedd, felly mae'n bosib gweithredu hyd braich heb golli'r atebolrwydd.
Mae amser yn drech na fi. Mae angen arloesedd mewn polisi hefyd. Mae angen arloesedd yn agwedd Llywodraeth tuag at ddatblygu economaidd. Rydw i'n apelio ar ran busnes, ar ran economi Cymru, am greadigrwydd gan y Llywodraeth a gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I am pleased, in the absence of the Member for Carmarthen East, to take part in this debate for Plaid Cymru to pursue issues with regard to economic development.
It is a debate on a vital area for the future of Wales. Our economic future is based on talented people developing ideas and developing those ideas in Wales, and we have to create the correct business environment to allow entrepreneurs to succeed, and our amendment sheds some light on what we in Plaid Cymru would like to see with regard to Government intervention to achieve that objective.
I’ll focus on innovation, which means doing entirely new things or, possibly, doing old things in new and better ways, but innovation can’t, necessarily, happen in a vacuum and we need to promote and encourage innovation. That’s why we call for the establishment of a dedicated national innovation body to increase expenditure on research and development, for example, to develop a reputation for Wales internationally as a nation of excellence with regard to research and innovation.
And there’s a close relationship, isn’t there, between innovation and entrepreneurship. When entrepreneurs transfer new information into new practice, that’s when innovation happens. Innovation and creating devices and developing new ideas create entrepreneurs, but what we need to do is to be a nation that can accelerate the speed at which our entrepreneurs can make use—practical use—of new ideas and innovations, and that’s where the Government’s role is vital.
It would be good to think that the market in itself would ensure that there’s plenty of research in the development of products, in R&D, here in Wales, but it’s not always the case. We can’t always depend on the market, and there are international examples that show that the role of innovation bodies is extremely valuable in getting to grips with underfunding, perhaps, in R&D funds, because of market failure. There is a great deal of variance with regard to the size and structure of bodies that exist in locations worldwide, but the raison d’être for those bodies is consistent. It’s possible that Innovate UK and Enterprise Ireland are some of the most recognised innovation bodies in the world. They’re large: £600 million in the case of Innovate UK, and €300 million with regard to Enterprise Ireland. But there are smaller bodies that work in a regional context, a sub-state context, which can lead to very important lessons for Wales.
I’ll talk about the JIC Innovation Park in the Czech Republic in South Moravia. Now, it’s a region with only 1.1 million residents, and unemployment has fallen from 12 per cent in 2002 to 4.7 per cent by now. It was only £0.5 million annually that the innovation park fund stood at when it was established, but now the sum has increased to £1.5 million. It’s a relatively small amount of money, but it has a significant impact. South Moravia has had a regional innovation strategy since 2002 and the innovation park focuses mainly on implementing strategies in partnership with the chamber of commerce, universities and other not-for-profit bodies. It focuses on the research agenda and has ensured research so that South Moravia spends 3.4 per cent of its gross domestic product on research and development, and that’s three times the percentage of the gross value added of Wales spent in this area. So, these are our competitors that we need to compete with, with regard to our expenditure on innovation. The Basque Country is also an example where there is an innovation body that is doing excellent work.
I know that the Welsh Government doesn’t support the idea of arm’s-length expert bodies supporting the Government in its agenda. I know when I was economy spokesperson I mooted the idea of having a new Welsh Development Agency for the twenty-first century. ‘It’s not democratic; it’s a quango’—that was the call from some, but, in the devolved era, there is that accountability here in the National Assembly. And, with regard to the Basque Country, the CEO there is a politician, and changes every four years, so it is possible to operate an arm’s-length body without losing accountability.
Time has beaten me. We do need innovation in policy as well. We need innovation in the Government’s attitude towards economic development. I appeal on behalf of business, and on behalf of the economy in Wales, for creativity from the Government and from the Cabinet Secretary.
Thank you. Hefin David.
Diolch. Hefin David.
Diolch. I've never fully understood this concept of entrepreneurship, despite having tried to teach it for some period of time in my professional life. The concern I have is where entrepreneurship is wrapped up with the concept of small and medium-sized enterprises, and, of course, when you talk about innovation-driven entrepreneurship, which is what the Cabinet Secretary has raised today, you can start to understand what we're talking about. We're talking about high-tech fast growth, perhaps.
But, nonetheless, not all small and medium-sized enterprises are considered to be entrepreneurial in those terms, and an awful lot of firms are microfirms, they're never going to grow beyond 10 employees, and you could even say that that's the vast majority of firms in the sector. Therefore, we should be careful when we use phrases like 'small firms are the lifeblood of the economy'. We need to know exactly what we're talking about, and I'm cautious when using such language.
Self-employment is a separate thing, too, to the concept of entrepreneurship, and we see in the Government motion that it mentions better jobs alongside the concept of entrepreneurship. Well, not all jobs in small firms are better jobs. Some jobs are pretty hideous in small firms, where you've got people, maybe young people, on very low salaries doing the kind of jobs that machinery could be doing at higher cost for the business owner. So, it can be what the academics would call 'bleak house' HR within small firms, so we shouldn't just assume that entrepreneurship is all small and medium-sized enterprises and it's going to solve all economic problems.
That said, what the Cabinet Secretary is talking about, particularly in the concept of business hubs, is working with academia, working with industry and partners, to develop innovation-driven entrepreneurship, which is that thing, which, also, Rhun ap Iorwerth has referred to, that will be an engine for growth. I'll come back to self-employment in a minute, but also the Cabinet Secretary mentioned community entrepreneurship projects, and, by that, I would assume the Cabinet Secretary is also referring to social enterprises, and I would, at this point, therefore, take the opportunity to mention a social enterprise in my constituency, the Ridgeway Golf Club. All profits plunge back into the Ridgeway Golf Club; it's got nine full-time employees, four part-time—these are the kinds of things we should be encouraging for community entrepreneurship—and they also do very reasonably-priced weddings, should any royals be watching this debate, as I'm sure they may well be.
Self-employment, though, we need to consider as part of this entrepreneurship concept. There are 237,200 small enterprises in Wales, and they're employing 389,600 people. That is 1.6 employees per firm. So, a majority of small firms will not grow beyond that microfirm stage, and the business owners who run them don't want to. So, we need to be very clear about the kinds of businesses that are targeted when we refer to entrepreneurship.
The northern Valleys, by which I mean Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil local authorities, for example, have the lowest levels of self-employment in Wales. The Valleys area also has the lowest level of female self-employment in Wales, but not the lowest level of male self-employment. That could be because of the preponderance of construction businesses in that area. The Federation of Small Businesses recently produced, and launched at my cross-party group—the cross-party group I chair on small and medium-sized enterprises—a report on self-employment, which gives us that picture.
Self-employed people in the Valleys also tend to have fewer educational qualifications than those in urban or rural Wales, and what would concern me is if the Government's approach is entirely towards high-tech fast-growth firms and leaving behind those self-employed people who are the foundation—the economy of the everyday that provides so much to our economy. Entrepreneurship—I get concerned—may leave out those people.
So, the Welsh Government must encourage and grow sustainable self-employment and go beyond the construction sector, diversifying into sectors of the economy of the everyday, and ensuring that female business owners have as much opportunity as others.
Welsh Government must also recognise that interaction between the self-employed is not just competitive and very often, at microfirm level, is collaborative. Small firms work together to build social capital. So, rather than find employees, very often small firms will work with associates to deliver certain projects. So, you get clusters of firms working together, which—. You asked the question. Well, 10 small firms employing 50 people: is that as valuable as one small firm employing 50 people? I'd say, 'Yes, it is'. So, don't let a focus on entrepreneurship let those people down. If we're going to boost entrepreneurship—and let's use the word—and make self-employment a success, we need to appreciate the nuanced way in which it works in different parts of Wales, and join it up with other strategies and initiatives that the Welsh Government has to offer.
Diolch. Nid wyf i erioed wedi deall y cysyniad hwn o entrepreneuriaeth yn iawn, er gwaethaf ceisio'i addysgu am ryw gyfnod yn fy mywyd proffesiynol. Y pryder sydd gennyf i yw pan fo entrepreneuriaeth yn rhan o'r cysyniad o fentrau bach a chanolig, ac, wrth gwrs, pan eich bod chi'n sôn am entrepreneuriaeth arloesol, sef yr hyn y mae Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi ei godi heddiw, fe allwch chi ddechrau deall yr hyn yr ydym ni'n sôn amdano. Rydym ni'n sôn o bosib am dwf cyflym uwch-dechnoleg.
Ond, serch hynny, ni chaiff pob busnes bach a chanolig ei ystyried yn entrepreneuraidd yn y termau hynny, ac mae llawer iawn ohonyn nhw yn gwmnïau bychain iawn, dydyn nhw byth yn mynd i dyfu y tu hwnt i 10 o weithwyr ac fe allech chi hyd yn oed ddweud mai dyna'r rhan fwyaf o gwmnïau yn y sector. Felly, fe ddylem ni fod yn ofalus pan rydym ni'n defnyddio ymadroddion fel 'busnesau bach yw anadl einioes yr economi'. Mae angen inni wybod yn union beth yr ydym ni'n siarad amdano, ac rwy'n ofalus wrth ddefnyddio iaith o'r fath.
Mae hunangyflogaeth yn beth ar wahân, hefyd, i'r cysyniad o entrepreneuriaeth, a gwelwn fod cynnig y Llywodraeth yn sôn am swyddi gwell ochr yn ochr â'r cysyniad o entrepreneuriaeth. Wel, nid yw pob swydd mewn cwmnïau bach yn swyddi gwell. Mae rhai swyddi eithaf erchyll mewn cwmnïau bach, lle mae gennych chi bobl, pobl ifanc efallai, ar gyflogau bychain iawn y math o swyddi y gallai peiriannau ei wneud ar gost uwch i berchennog y busnes. Felly, gall fod yr hyn y mae academyddion yn ei alw yn adnoddau dynol 'bleak house' mewn cwmnïau bach, felly ni ddylem ni dybio bod entrepreneuriaeth yn golygu busnesau bach a chanolig yn unig a bod hynny'n mynd i ddatrys yr holl broblemau economaidd.
Wedi dweud hynny, yr hyn y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn sôn amdano, yn arbennig yn y cysyniad o ganolfannau busnes, yw gweithio gyda'r byd academaidd, gweithio gyda diwydiant a phartneriaid i ddatblygu entrepreneuriaeth arloesol, sef y peth hwnnw y cyfeiriodd Rhun ap Iorwerth ato hefyd, fydd yn sbarduno twf. Dychwelaf at hunangyflogaeth mewn munud, ond fe soniodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hefyd am brosiectau entrepreneuriaeth gymunedol, ac, yn hynny o beth, rwy'n tybio bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hefyd yn cyfeirio at fentrau cymdeithasol, ac fe hoffwn i, ar yr adeg yma, felly, fanteisio ar y cyfle i sôn am fenter gymdeithasol yn fy etholaeth i, sef Clwb Golff Ridgeway. Mae'r holl elw'n mynd yn ôl i Glwb Golff Ridgeway; mae gan y Clwb naw o weithwyr llawn amser, pedwar rhan-amser—dyma'r mathau o bethau y dylem ni fod yn eu hannog o ran entrepreneuriaeth gymunedol—ac maen nhw hefyd yn cynnal priodasau am bris rhesymol iawn, rhag ofn bod rhai o'r teulu brenhinol yn gwylio'r ddadl hon, fel rwy'n siŵr y gallan nhw fod.
Mae'n rhaid inni ystyried hunangyflogaeth, er hynny, fel rhan o'r cysyniad hwn o entrepreneuriaeth. Mae 237,200 o fentrau bach yng Nghymru, ac maen nhw'n cyflogi 389,600 o bobl. Dyna 1.6 gweithiwr i bob cwmni. Felly, ni fydd y rhan fwyaf o gwmnïau bach yn tyfu y tu hwnt i'r cam hwnnw o fod yn gwmni bychan iawn, ac nid yw'r perchnogion busnes sy'n eu rhedeg eisiau hynny. Felly, mae angen inni fod yn glir iawn ynghylch y mathau o fusnesau sydd wedi'u targedu pan rydym ni'n cyfeirio at entrepreneuriaeth.
Yn y Cymoedd gogleddol, sef awdurdodau lleol Caerffili, Blaenau Gwent a Merthyr Tudful, er enghraifft, y mae'r lefelau isaf o hunan-gyflogaeth yng Nghymru. Yn ardal y Cymoedd hefyd mae'r lefel isaf o fenywod hunangyflogedig yng Nghymru, ond nid y lefel isaf o ddynion hunangyflogedig. Gallai hynny fod oherwydd y niferoedd mawr o fusnesau adeiladu yn yr ardal honno. Yn ddiweddar fe wnaeth y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach gynhyrchu, a lansio yn fy ngrŵp trawsbleidiol—y grŵp trawsbleidiol rwy'n ei gadeirio ar fentrau bach a chanolig—adroddiad ar hunangyflogaeth, sy'n rhoi'r darlun hwnnw inni.
Mae pobl hunan-gyflogedig yn y Cymoedd hefyd yn tueddu i fod â llai o gymwysterau addysgol na'r rheini yn nhrefi neu yng nghefn gwlad Cymru, a'r hyn fyddai'n peri pryder i mi yw petai'r Llywodraeth yn canolbwyntio'n llwyr ar gwmnïau uwch-dechnoleg sy'n tyfu'n gyflym gan anghofio am y bobl hunangyflogedig hynny sy'n sylfaen—yr economi bob dydd sy'n darparu cymaint i'n heconomi. Gallai entrepreneuriaeth—rwy'n pryderu—hepgor y bobl hynny.
Felly, mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru annog a meithrin hunangyflogaeth gynaliadwy a mynd y tu hwnt i'r sector adeiladu, gan arallgyfeirio i sectorau o'r economi bob dydd, a sicrhau bod menywod sy'n berchen busnesau yn cael cymaint o gyfle â phobl eraill.
Mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gydnabod hefyd nad yw rhyngweithio rhwng pobl hunangyflogedig yn gystadleuol yn unig, ac yn aml iawn, o ran busnesau bychain iawn, mae'n gydweithredol. Cwmnïau bach yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i greu cyfalaf cymdeithasol. Felly, yn hytrach na chwilio am weithwyr, mae cwmnïau bach iawn yn aml yn gweithio gyda'u cysylltiadau i gyflawni prosiectau penodol. Felly, mae gennych chi glystyrau o gwmnïau sy'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd, sy'n—. Fe wnaethoch chi ofyn y cwestiwn. Wel, 10 cwmni bach yn cyflogi 50 o bobl: Ydy hynny mor werthfawr ag un cwmni bach yn cyflogi 50 o bobl? Mi fuaswn i'n dweud, 'Ydy, mae o'. Felly, peidiwch â gadael i ganolbwyntio ar entrepreneuriaeth siomi'r bobl hynny. Os ydym ni'n mynd i hybu entrepreneuriaeth—a gadewch inni ddefnyddio'r gair—a gwneud hunangyflogaeth yn llwyddiant, mae angen inni werthfawrogi y ffyrdd amryfal y mae'n gweithio mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, a chysylltu hynny â strategaethau a mentrau eraill y mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'w cynnig.
As we approach Small Business Saturday, I and my Welsh Conservative colleagues welcome this debate on entrepreneurship in Wales, and very much welcome the principles of the Government's motion. I agree that unlocking entrepreneurship is essential in order to enable the creation of a strong and vibrant economy. I also agree that the Welsh Government has a key role in creating the right environment for this underlying entrepreneurial talent to thrive. Also, the Cabinet Secretary, in his opening remarks, talked about building the correct business base as well, which I also agree with. I also very much agree that it's very important to celebrate and encourage younger people when they start up in business themselves. I certainly am a big fan of role models going into schools to tell younger people about the positive life option available to them of self-employment and running their own business.
With regard to Plaid's amendment, I was originally a little bit sceptical because my concern is that we don't want to see lots of empty buildings with the creation of more hubs. But I've heard the wider explanation from Plaid in regard to their amendment, and I'm happy to indicate our support for that amendment this afternoon.
The national imperative for entrepreneurship exists today, as it did 18 years ago, when the Assembly was first established. I don't think, in 18 years, we have anywhere near harnessed entrepreneurial potential, perhaps, as we should have done. I have to say, regrettably, I think the data speaks for itself. I know that the Cabinet Secretary mentioned an increase in enterprise births, but, from the research I've undertaken, there are fewer registered enterprise births in Wales in comparison to the UK as a whole, and business births in Wales represent a smaller proportion of businesses than any other UK region.
It’s clear that a strong, self-supporting economy and a culture of entrepreneurialism is built on appropriate business support. We know that the Welsh Government has traditionally favoured non-repayable loans, which will still account for over two-thirds of all capital lending to Welsh firms, and this is in spite, of course, of the Welsh Government’s stated aim to transition to an investment-led culture in relation to business lending practices. From my perspective, the Welsh firms fully deserve the financial support of the Welsh Government, but Welsh taxpayers also deserve strong commitments from the Welsh Government that the money extended to private firms will eventually be repaid and will be recycled to benefit other business start-ups and other vital public services. So, in this regard, I do think that the Welsh Government is failing to create the right and correct business environment. That said, I think that the development bank is the right organisation to support SMEs over the long term. It will be, of course, essential that the development bank has the right level of funding to provide intelligent and better targeted financial support to boost growth amongst SMEs.
In an environment where we have seen business start-ups fall by a quarter, I do think that the Welsh Government needs to show that Wales is very much open for business, and remove some of the obstacles and barriers that face entrepreneurs, through a permanent scheme for small business rate relief and a new approach to enterprise zones, which I think has been, I’m sad to say, a failure, given the data that we have received so far. The figures don’t make positive reading. Each new job created as a result of this flagship policy has come at a cost of £74,000, with £221 million having been invested since 2012. Now, enterprise zones were set up by the Welsh Government to grow the local economy and to provide new jobs, but there is little evidence of that to date. I appreciate that the Cabinet Secretary may say, in his 40 seconds, that he has got to have a longer term approach here. Yes, let’s see that happen. I hope that does come to be the case.
I suggest that we do need a new approach that will see the Welsh Government collaborate closely with the UK Government on the industrial strategy to help Welsh businesses create better, higher-paid jobs. In that regard, the strategy makes very clear commitments to advancing Wales's city and growth deals. I was heartened last week when the Chancellor gave reference to a mid Wales growth deal. I was very heartened by that, and that’s, of course, a recommendation that the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee recently made as well. I very much hope that the Government will be responding positively to that. I’m looking at the clock and my time’s out, but I do hope that the Cabinet Secretary will manage to address many of my points in the 40 seconds that he has.
Wrth i Ddydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bychain agosáu, rwyf i a'm cyd-Aelodau o'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn croesawu'r ddadl ar entrepreneuriaeth yng Nghymru, ac yn rhoi croeso gwresog iawn i'r egwyddorion sy'n sail i gynnig y Llywodraeth. Rwy'n cytuno bod rhyddhau entrepreneuriaeth yn hanfodol er mwyn creu economi gref a llewyrchus. Cytunaf hefyd bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru swyddogaeth allweddol o ran creu'r amgylchedd cywir er mwyn i'r doniau entrepreneuraidd sylfaenol hyn ffynnu. Hefyd, yn ei sylwadau agoriadol, fe wnaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet siarad am adeiladu'r sylfaen busnes cywir hefyd, yr wyf i hefyd yn cytuno ag ef. Rwyf i hefyd yn cytuno'n llwyr ei bod yn bwysig iawn i annog a dathlu llwyddiant pobl ifanc pan fyddant yn sefydlu eu busnes eu hunain. Rwyf yn sicr yn gefnogwr brwd o bobl ysbrydoledig yn mynd i ysgolion i ddweud wrth bobl iau am y dewis bywyd cadarnhaol sydd ar gael iddyn nhw drwy fod yn hunangyflogedig a rhedeg eu busnes eu hunain.
O ran gwelliant Plaid Cymru, roeddwn i braidd yn amheus ar y dechrau oherwydd fy mhryder i yw nad ydym ni eisiau gweld llawer o adeiladau gwag wrth greu mwy o ganolfannau. Ond rwyf wedi clywed yr esboniad ehangach gan Plaid Cymru o ran eu gwelliant, ac rwy'n hapus i ddangos ein cefnogaeth i'r gwelliant hwnnw y prynhawn yma.
Mae'r Anghenraid Cenedlaethol am Entrepreneuriaeth yn bodoli heddiw, fel yr oedd 18 mlynedd yn ôl, pan sefydlwyd y Cynulliad gyntaf. Nid wyf yn credu, mewn 18 mlynedd, ein bod ni wedi dod yn agos at harneisio potensial entrepreneuraidd, fel y dylem ni, efallai, fod wedi gwneud. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yn anffodus, fy mod i'n credu bod y data yn siarad drosto'i hun. Rwy'n gwybod y soniodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am gynnydd yn nifer y mentrau newydd, ond, o'r ymchwil yr wyf i wedi ei wneud, mae llai o fentrau newydd cofrestredig yng Nghymru nag yn y DU yn ei chyfanrwydd, ac mae sefydlu busnesau yng Nghymru yn cynrychioli cyfran lai o fusnesau nag unrhyw ranbarth arall yn y DU.
Mae'n amlwg bod economi gref, hunangynhaliol a diwylliant o entrepreneuriaeth yn seiliedig ar gymorth busnes priodol. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn draddodiadol wedi ffafrio benthyciadau nad oes angen eu talu'n ôl, sy'n dal yn cyfrif am dros ddwy ran o dair o'r holl fenthyca cyfalaf cyfan i gwmnïau Cymru, ac mae hyn er gwaethaf, wrth gwrs, nod datganedig Llywodraeth Cymru i drosglwyddo i ddiwylliant ble mae pwyslais mwy ar fuddsoddi o ran arferion benthyca busnesau. O'm safbwynt i, mae cwmnïau Cymru'n llawn haeddu cymorth ariannol Llywodraeth Cymru, ond hefyd mae trethdalwyr Cymru yn haeddu ymrwymiadau cryf gan Lywodraeth Cymru y caiff yr arian a roddwyd i gwmnïau preifat ei ad-dalu yn y pen draw a'i ailgylchu er budd busnesau newydd eraill a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol eraill. Felly, yn hyn o beth, rwyf yn credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn methu â chreu'r amgylchiadau busnes cywir a phriodol. Wedi dweud hynny, credaf mai'r banc datblygu yw'r sefydliad cywir i gefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig dros y tymor hir. Bydd hi'n hanfodol, wrth gwrs, y caiff y banc y lefel gywir o gyllid i ddarparu cymorth ariannol doeth a mwy penodol i hybu twf ymhlith busnesau bach a chanolig.
Mewn amgylchedd lle'r ydym ni wedi gweld 25% yn llai o fusnesau newydd yn cael eu sefydlu, rwyf yn credu bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddangos bod Cymru'n rhoi croeso mawr i fusnesau, a chael gwared ar rai o'r rhwystrau a'r llyffetheiriau sy'n wynebu entrepreneuriaid, drwy gynllun parhaol ar gyfer rhyddhad ardrethi i fusnesau bach a ffordd newydd o ymdrin â'r ardaloedd menter, y credaf y buont, mae'n drist gen i ddweud, yn fethiant, o ystyried y data a gawsom ni hyd yma. Nid yw'r ffigurau yn rhai cadarnhaol. Mae pob swydd newydd a grëwyd o ganlyniad i'r polisi blaenllaw hwn wedi dod ar gost o £74,000, gyda £221 miliwn wedi'i fuddsoddi ers 2012. Nawr, sefydlwyd ardaloedd menter gan Lywodraeth Cymru i hybu'r economi leol ac i ddarparu swyddi newydd, ond ychydig o dystiolaeth sydd o hynny hyd yn hyn. Rwy'n sylweddoli y gall Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddweud, yn ei 40 eiliad, bod yn rhaid iddo gael dull tymor hwy yn y fan yma. Ie, gadewch i ni weld hynny'n digwydd. Gobeithio'n wir mai dyna sut y bydd hi.
Rwy'n awgrymu bod angen ffordd newydd o weithio a fydd yn gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydweithio'n agos â Llywodraeth y DU ar y strategaeth ddiwydiannol i helpu busnesau Cymru i greu swyddi gwell sy'n talu'n well. Yn hynny o beth, mae'r strategaeth yn gwneud ymrwymiadau clir iawn i hyrwyddo bargeinion dinesig Cymru a bargeinion twf Cymru. Fe'm calonogwyd yr wythnos diwethaf pan gyfeiriodd y Canghellor at fargen twf Canolbarth Cymru. Fe'm calonogwyd yn fawr gan hynny, ac mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn argymhelliad a wnaeth y Pwyllgor Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau yn ddiweddar hefyd. Rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd y Llywodraeth yn ymateb yn gadarnhaol i hynny. Rwy'n edrych ar y cloc ac mae fy amser ar ben, ond rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn llwyddo i fynd i'r afael â llawer o'm mhwyntiau i yn y 40 eiliad sydd ganddo.
He has slightly longer than 40 seconds, because he took quite a long intervention from one of your colleagues, so I'm going to allow for that. David Rowlands.
Mae ganddo ychydig yn fwy na 40 eiliad, oherwydd iddo gymryd ymyriad gweddol hir gan un o'ch cyd-Aelodau, felly rwy'n mynd i ystyried hynny. David Rowlands.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for bringing forward this debate on a vitally important aspect of business development in Wales. I would like to say at the outset that we will be supporting the Plaid Cymru amendments to this debate.
Entrepreneurship is the driver of all industrial enterprise. Without it, we would not be able to enjoy all the social benefits that we now take for granted. As the Welsh economy evolves, moving away from the traditional heavy industries of coal and steel, so the role of SMEs will continue to be an essential element in the development of the Welsh economy.
Already, SMEs play a greater role in the Welsh economy than any other part of the UK. It is therefore essential that the Welsh Government puts in place the correct strategies and policies not only to support the existing SMEs, but also to further develop this essential part of Wales's economic growth. It is true to say that SMEs embody much of the aims of the Welsh Government, in that they are often at the cutting edge of innovation, especially in the environmentally sensitive sector. Many of the smaller enterprises employ just a few people, so they should be encouraged to locate in places where they can contribute to the foundational economy. This would have the added effect of embracing the 'jobs closer to home' agenda of the Welsh Government.
I spoke earlier about creating the right environment for SMEs to grow and prosper. I believe the Welsh Government should use all the levers at its disposal to make this a reality. We acknowledge the roll-out of superfast broadband and the essential role that internet access plays in the development of businesses, but we would again reiterate the need to inform and advise, particularly start-ups, on the advantages that superfast broadband can deliver to help their enterprise prosper.
We would hope that the new Development Bank of Wales, building on Finance Wales initiatives, will play a crucial role in the establishment of a strong SME base in Wales. It is essential that the development bank works closely with Business Wales to facilitate a joined-up approach to helping the sector to develop. Above all, access to capital must be as easy and stress-free as possible. Stakeholder funds must be the essential funding option, as start-up companies, particularly innovative companies, will not see a return on profits perhaps for a number of years. Repayment loans are therefore not a suitable funding arrangement for these companies. The role of the development bank is therefore critical in growing this essential part of the Welsh economy.
Business Wales also has a vital role to play, especially with start-ups in the innovative sector. Often, these entrepreneurs are science-specific, with little business acumen or experience. The advice and help that Business Wales can provide in this area will often be the make-or-break input for these companies. I also see that Business Wales's remit should be to guide companies in the best pathways to appropriate investment from the development bank.
The connectivity between our academic institutions and business is also hugely important in the growth of entrepreneurship and private economy development in Wales.
To sum up, the Welsh Government's remit is to provide the best possible environment for SMEs to prosper and grow. This includes suitable accommodation units in appropriate locations, good travel infrastructure, access to capital and business advice, but also a regime as free from regulation and red tape as possible. Only with these interventions in place will we see a strong, vibrant private sector develop and grow in Wales over the coming years, providing good-quality, well-paid jobs for our future generations.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon ar agwedd hollbwysig ar ddatblygu busnes yng Nghymru. Hoffwn ddweud ar y dechrau y byddwn yn cefnogi gwelliannau Plaid Cymru i'r ddadl hon.
Entrepreneuriaeth sy'n sbarduno pob menter ddiwydiannol. Hebddo, ni fyddem ni'n gallu mwynhau'r manteision cymdeithasol yr ydym ni'n eu cymryd yn ganiataol. Wrth i economi Cymru esblygu, gan gefnu ar y diwydiannau trwm traddodiadol o lo a dur, felly hefyd bydd swyddogaeth busnesau bach a chanolig yn parhau i fod yn elfen hanfodol o ddatblygiad economi Cymru.
Eisoes, mae busnesau bach a chanolig yn chwarae rhan fwy blaenllaw yn economi Cymru nag yn unrhyw ran arall o'r DU. Mae hi felly'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi'r strategaethau a'r polisïau cywir ar waith nid yn unig i gefnogi busnesau bach a chanolig sy'n bodoli eisoes, ond hefyd i ddatblygu ymhellach y rhan hanfodol hon o dwf economaidd Cymru. Mae'n wir dweud bod busnesau bach a chanolig yn ymgorffori llawer o amcanion Llywodraeth Cymru, oherwydd maen nhw'n aml ar flaen y gad o ran arloesi, yn enwedig yn y sector amgylcheddol sensitif. Mae llawer o'r mentrau llai yn cyflogi dim ond ychydig o bobl, felly dylid eu hannog i ymsefydlu mewn mannau lle y gallan nhw gyfrannu at yr economi sylfaenol. Byddai hyn yn cael yr effaith ychwanegol o gefnogi agenda 'swyddi yn nes at y cartref' Llywodraeth Cymru.
Siaradais yn gynharach am greu'r amgylchedd iawn i fusnesau bach a chanolig dyfu a ffynnu. Rwy'n credu y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ddefnyddio pob dyfais sydd ganddi i wireddu hyn. Rydym ni'n cydnabod cyflwyno band eang cyflym iawn a'r swyddogaeth hanfodol y mae mynediad i'r rhyngrwyd yn ei chwarae mewn datblygu busnesau, ond unwaith eto byddem yn ailadrodd yr angen i hysbysu a chynghori, yn enwedig busnesau newydd, ynglŷn â'r manteision y gall band eang cyflym iawn ei gynnig i helpu eu menter i ffynnu.
Byddem yn gobeithio y bydd y banc newydd, Banc Datblygu Cymru, gan adeiladu ar fentrau Cyllid Cymru, yn chwarae rhan hollbwysig wrth sefydlu sylfaen gref o fusnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru. Mae'n hanfodol bod y banc datblygu yn gweithio'n agos gyda Busnes Cymru er mwyn hwyluso ffordd cydgysylltiedig o weithio i helpu'r sector i ddatblygu. Yn anad dim, rhaid i gyfalaf fod ar gael mor rhwydd a di-straen â phosib. Rhaid i gronfeydd rhanddeiliaid fod y dewis ariannu hanfodol, oherwydd ni fydd cwmnïau newydd, yn enwedig cwmnïau arbennig o arloesol, yn gweld elw ar eu henillion efallai am nifer o flynyddoedd. Nid yw benthyciadau y mae angen eu had-dalu felly yn drefniant ariannu addas i'r cwmnïau hyn. Felly mae swyddogaeth y banc datblygu yn dyngedfennol er mwyn datblygu’r rhan hanfodol hon o economi Cymru.
Mae gan Busnes Cymru hefyd swyddogaeth hanfodol i'w chwarae, yn enwedig gyda busnesau newydd yn y sector arloesol. Yn aml, mae'r entrepreneuriaid hyn yn canolbwyntio'n benodol ar wyddoniaeth, a does ganddyn nhw fawr o synnwyr busnes na phrofiad chwaith. Gall y cyngor a'r cymorth y gall Busnes Cymru ei roi yn y maes hwn olygu'n aml y gwahaniaeth rhwng methu a llwyddo i'r cwmnïau hyn. Gwelaf hefyd mai cylch gwaith Busnes Cymru ddylai fod i arwain cwmnïau ar hyd y llwybrau gorau i gael buddsoddiad priodol gan y banc datblygu.
Mae'r cysylltedd rhwng ein sefydliadau academaidd a'n busnesau hefyd yn hynod o bwysig o ran twf entrepreneuriaeth a datblygu'r economi breifat yng Nghymru.
I grynhoi, cylch gwaith Llywodraeth Cymru yw darparu'r amgylchedd gorau posibl er mwyn i fusnesau bach a chanolig ffynnu a thyfu. Mae hyn yn cynnwys unedau busnes addas mewn lleoliadau priodol, seilwaith teithio da, gallu cael cyfalaf a chyngor busnes, ond hefyd cyfundrefn sydd mor rhydd â phosib o reolaethau a biwrocratiaeth. Dim ond drwy fynd ati fel hyn y byddwn yn gweld sector preifat cryf, llewyrchus yn datblygu a thyfu yng Nghymru dros y blynyddoedd nesaf, gan ddarparu swyddi da sy'n talu'n dda, ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.
I intend to examine how two European cities, Aarhus in Denmark and Mannheim in Germany, promote entrepreneurship. People often talk about some of the great cities of the world—and sometimes about Cambridge and sometimes about areas around Harvard—but these are two medium-sized European cities. I'm going to talk about barriers to growth for medium-sized businesses, because Wales is very poor at developing medium-sized companies into large companies—we've actually done it once, haven't we—and barriers for microbusinesses growing into larger businesses, starting with Aarhus.
The second city in population in Denmark is Aarhus. Compare it to Swansea, which is the second city in Wales. GDP in Swansea is 75 per cent of the European average; in Aarhus, it's 107 per cent. So, obviously, Aarhus is doing something right. Aarhus has a university that was founded in 1928—so, compared to our university, it's quite modern—and it's Denmark's largest, with 44,500 students in January 2013. It has probably gone up since then. In ranking lists of the world's best universities, it's regularly in the top 100.
But what else does it do? The largest research area is the INCUBA science park, which focuses on ICT and biomedical research. The organisation is owned partly by the university and partly by private investors and it aims to foster close relationships between public institutions and start-up companies. As we all know, ICT and biomedical research are two of the current growth industries across the world.
Mannheim is Swansea's twin city, but that is where the similarity ends. Economic data for the two areas makes interesting—and for a Swansea resident, very depressing—reading. Mannheim's metropolitan region has a GVA of 147 per cent of the European average, but the city itself goes up to 210 per cent, compared to Swansea at 75 per cent. So, for anybody who's earning £20,000, their equivalent in Mannheim is earning just under £60,000.
An institution affiliated with the university is the Mannheim centre for entrepreneurship and innovation, which provides a founder and incubator platform for students, young entrepreneurs and investors. The institute is supported by the Mannheim institute for mittelstand and SME research, and the chair of SME research and entrepreneurship at the University of Mannheim.
Successful start-ups: according to local media sources, Payback was sold to American Express for €500 million. Delivery Hero raised $1.4 billion in funding. Auto1 raised $200 million in funding. You've got other firms, such as Goodgame, that are initiating IPOs, raising £32 million in funding. And then you've got Movilizer, which was sold to Honeywell. Not all of them stay locally owned, but they've all grown. That explains why Mannheim was ranked eleventh in the top 15 of the most inventive cities worldwide. Can we get a Welsh team, a Welsh city, in there please?
Turning to Wales, what medium-sized companies tell me are their problems: an inability to secure funding on assets held abroad; a limit of £5 million on lending by the commercial bank of Wales does not meet the needs of medium-sized enterprises; the size of Welsh Government contracts—some are put together in such a way as medium-sized enterprises cannot tender for them. In fact, many are put together so no Welsh firm can tender for them. The difficulty of raising working capital from commercial banks, and the danger that they will call it in at any time.
One microcompany that had grown into a small company told me that their problems were: finding premises that were expandable; needing to move continually as they grow; a lack of readily available buildings; late payments; in construction, the continuing growth of sub-contracted agency workers that distort competition; and difficulty of access to markets. Is it surprising that small breweries have been amongst the most successful? Because we know that large supermarkets and Wetherspoon have been keen to retail their products. We know—we always talk about our own constituencies—about Boss brewery in Swansea. You can actually buy their beer in Wetherspoon pubs and you can get it in most of the large supermarkets. But that's where you've got the large companies helping it. And microbreweries are growing the length and breadth of Wales because they have that.
So, what do we need to do in Wales? Work more closely with universities, either on the Aarhus business model or like the Mannheim centre of innovation and entrepreneurship. But we need to use universities. We also know that the term 'technium' has become synonymous with failure, but the initial idea of using it in Swansea to provide facilities for start-up companies spinning out of the university was a good one. Labelling all advanced factories as techniums was doomed to failure. We need to provide larger loans from commercial banks to medium-sized companies; provide loan schemes against overseas assets; let government contracts in such a size that medium-sized Welsh companies can bid; and make it easier for microcompanies to expand. We are no less skilled, entrepreneurial and capable than anywhere else. We need a policy that works to support the growth of Welsh companies and the starting of new ones.
Rwy'n bwriadu edrych ar sut mae dwy ddinas Ewropeaidd, Aarhus yn Denmarc a Mannheim yn yr Almaen, yn hyrwyddo entrepreneuriaeth. Mae pobl yn aml yn sôn am rai o ddinasoedd mawr y byd—ac weithiau am Gaergrawnt ac weithiau am ardaloedd yng nghyffiniau Harvard—ond dwy ddinas Ewropeaidd canolig ei maint yw'r rhain. Rwy'n mynd i sôn am rwystrau sy'n atal busnesau canolig rhag tyfu, gan fod Cymru yn wael iawn am ddatblygu cwmnïau canolig eu maint i fod yn gwmnïau mawrion—rydym ni wedi gwneud hynny unwaith, i ddweud y gwir, yn do—a'r rhwystrau sy'n atal microfusnesau rhag tyfu i fod yn fusnesau mwy o faint, gan ddechrau gydag Aarhus.
Ail ddinas fwyaf poblog Denmarc yw Aarhus. Cymharwch hi ag Abertawe, sef yr ail ddinas yng Nghymru. Mae cynnyrch domestig gros yn Abertawe yn 75 y cant o'r cyfartaledd Ewropeaidd; yn Aarhus, mae'n 107 y cant. Felly, yn amlwg, mae Aarhus gwneud rhywbeth yn iawn. Mae gan Aarhus brifysgol a sefydlwyd ym 1928—felly, o'i chymharu â'n prifysgol ni, mae hi'n hollol fodern—a hi yw'r brifysgol fwyaf yn Denmarc, gyda 44,500 o fyfyrwyr ym mis Ionawr 2013. Mae'n siŵr ei fod wedi cynyddu ers hynny. Yn rhestrau graddio prifysgolion gorau'r byd, mae hi'n rheolaidd ymysg y 100 uchaf.
Ond beth arall mae hi'n ei wneud? Yr ardal ymchwil mwyaf yw Parc Gwyddoniaeth INCUBA, sy'n canolbwyntio ar TGCh ac ymchwil biofeddygol. Mae'r brifysgol a buddsoddwyr preifat yn rhanberchnogion ar y sefydliad ac mae'n ceisio meithrin perthynas agos rhwng sefydliadau cyhoeddus a chwmnïau newydd. Fel y gwyddom ni i gyd, TGCh ac ymchwil biofeddygol yw dau o'r diwydiannau twf presennol ar draws y byd.
Mae Mannheim wedi ei gefeillio ag Abertawe, ond dyna ble mae'r tebygrwydd yn dod i ben. Mae edrych ar y data economaidd ar gyfer y ddwy ardal yn ddiddorol—ac o'm rhan i sy'n byw yn Abertawe, yn ddigalon. Mae gan ranbarth metropolitan Mannheim werth ychwanegol gros sy'n 147 y cant o'r cyfartaledd Ewropeaidd, ond yn y ddinas ei hun mae'n cynyddu i 210 y cant, o'i gymharu ag Abertawe sydd ar 75 y cant. Felly, i unrhywun sy'n ennill £20,000, byddai rhywun sy'n gwneud swydd debyg yn Mannheim yn ennill ychydig o dan £60,000.
Sefydliad sy'n gysylltiedig â'r Brifysgol yw canolfan entrepreneuriaeth ac arloesi Mannheim, sy'n rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwyr, entrepreneuriaid ifanc a buddsoddwyr sefydlu a meithrin busnesau. Cefnogir y sefydliad gan y sefydliad mittelstand ac ymchwil busnesau bach a chanolig Mannheim, a chadeirydd ymchwil busnesau bach a chanolig ac entrepreneuriaeth ym Mhrifysgol Mannheim.
Busnesau newydd llwyddiannus: yn ôl ffynonellau o'r cyfryngau lleol, gwerthwyd Payback i American Express am €500 miliwn. Cododd Delivery Hero $1.4 biliwn o gyllid. Cododd Auto1 $200 miliwn mewn cyllid. Mae cwmnïau eraill yn bod hefyd, fel Goodgame, sy'n dechrau ar y broses o gyflwyno cynigion cyhoeddus cychwynnol, gan godi £32 miliwn mewn cyllid. Ac wedyn dyna i chi Movilizer, a werthwyd i Honeywell. Nid yw pob un ohonyn nhw yn aros mewn perchnogaeth leol, ond maen nhw i gyd wedi tyfu. Mae hynny'n esbonio pam y cafodd Mannheim ei gosod yn unfed ar ddeg yn y 15 uchaf o'r dinasoedd mwyaf dyfeisgar ledled y byd. Allwn ni gael tîm o Gymru, dinas o Gymru, yno os gwelwch yn dda?
Gan droi at Gymru, yr hyn y mae cwmnïau canolig yn ei ddweud wrthyf yw eu problemau: anallu i sicrhau cyllid ar asedau sydd ganddyn nhw dramor; nid yw terfyn o £5 miliwn ar fenthyciadau gan fanc masnachol Cymru yn diwallu anghenion busnesau canolig eu maint; maint contractau Llywodraeth Cymru—caiff rhai eu llunio yn y fath fodd fel na all fentrau canolig dendro amdanynt. Mewn gwirionedd, caiff llawer eu rhoi at ei gilydd fel na all unrhyw gwmni yng Nghymru dendro ar eu cyfer. Anhawster cael cyfalaf gweithio gan fanciau masnachol, a'r perygl y byddant yn ei alw'n ôl unrhyw bryd.
Roedd un cwmni micro a oedd wedi tyfu yn gwmni bach yn dweud wrthyf i mai dyma oedd eu problemau: dod o hyd i safle yr oedd posib ei ehangu; angen symud yn barhaus wrth iddyn nhw dyfu; diffyg adeiladau ar gael yn rhwydd; taliadau hwyr; yn y diwydiant adeiladu, twf parhaus gweithwyr asiantaeth wedi eu his-gontractio sy'n llesteirio cystadleuaeth; ac anhawster cael mynediad i farchnadoedd. A yw hi'n syndod bod y bragdai bach wedi bod ymhlith y mwyaf llwyddiannus? Oherwydd rydym ni'n gwybod y bu archfarchnadoedd mawr a Wetherspoon yn awyddus i werthu eu cynnyrch. Rydym ni'n gwybod—rydym ni wastad yn sôn am ein hetholaethau ein hunain— am fragdy Boss yn Abertawe. Fe allwch chi brynu eu cwrw yn nhafarndai Wetherspoon a'i gael yn y rhan fwyaf o'r archfarchnadoedd mawr. Ond mae hynny oherwydd bod y cwmnïau mawr yn helpu. Ac mae bragdai bychain yn tyfu ar hyd a lled Cymru oherwydd bod ganddyn nhw hynny.
Felly, beth sydd angen i ni ei wneud yng Nghymru? Gweithio'n agosach gyda phrifysgolion, naill ai ar fodel busnes Aarhus neu fel canolfan arloesi ac entrepreneuriaeth Mannheim. Ond mae angen inni ddefnyddio prifysgolion. Rydym ni hefyd yn gwybod bod y term 'technium' wedi dod yn gyfystyr â methiant, ond roedd y syniad cychwynnol o'i ddefnyddio yn Abertawe i ddarparu cyfleusterau ar gyfer cwmnïau newydd oedd yn deillio o'r brifysgol yn un da. Roedd galw pob uwch ffatri yn ganolfannau technium yn siŵr o fethu. Mae angen inni ddarparu benthyciadau mwy gan fanciau masnachol i gwmnïau canolig; darparu cynlluniau benthyciadau yn erbyn asedion tramor; llunio contractau'r Llywodraeth mewn maint o'r fath y gall cwmnïau canolig eu maint yng Nghymru ymgeisio; a'i gwneud hi'n haws i microgwmnïau ehangu. Nid ydym ni'n ddim llai medrus, entrepreneuraidd a galluog nag unrhyw le arall. Mae angen polisi sy'n gweithio arnom ni i gefnogi twf cwmnïau Cymreig ac i gychwyn rhai newydd.
The recent FSB Wales report on self-employment in Wales provides a useful snapshot of the current state of entrepreneurship and self-employment in Wales. The report reminds us that the number of self-employed people in Wales has grown by 15,000 between 2007 and 2016. So, nearly two out of every five new jobs created in Wales are actually self-employed. And across the UK, self-employment rates are now at their highest in 40 years. The report's sketching of the positive reasons underpinning these changes is also to be welcomed.
But the report also outlines some of the challenges inhibiting the growth of self-employment and the entrepreneurial spirit. For a start, it outlines a striking disparity between different parts of Wales. Self-employment rates, it says, are lowest in the south Wales Valleys. The lowest rate in Wales, in Neath Port Talbot, is 8.6 per cent, and this is around a quarter of the rate in neighbouring Powys. In my own authority of RCT, the self-employment rate stands at just 9.8 per cent.
I note that the Valleys taskforce delivery plan commits the Welsh Government to a range of actions to help address this—for example, the work around targeted business support to boost start-ups and encourage entrepreneurs. I also welcome the work around increasing the numbers of business units, and bespoke business advice to the 100 top Valleys businesses with the greatest potential for growth. Yet, there still remains an area where we must maintain focus to boost economic prosperity in what are, after all, some of the most disadvantaged communities in Wales. For that reason, I welcome today's Welsh Government announcement of the creation of two new hubs in the south Wales Valleys to boost entrepreneurship, and an additional £1 million for community entrepreneurship projects that specifically target people in less advantaged communities around Wales.
However, it is staggering to note the sharp gender disparity in terms of self-employment rates, and that's what I'd like to focus the rest of my contribution on today. For every woman who is self-employed, there are 2.3 men. Again, this disparity is worse in Valleys areas. It's a shame for me to note that the gulf is widest in my own home community of RCT. In my authority, there are three self-employed men for every self-employed woman. Of course, when we look at the raw data, we can miss the many excellent role models of women entrepreneurs out there. From my own constituency, I can think of Helen Walbey, who I would describe as a true renaissance woman. Helen is a policy chair at Federation of Small Businesses Wales, a part-time lecturer and a business mentor. But her real gender barrier-breaking background was in setting up a company called Recycle Scooters, a specialist company selling, servicing and repairing motor bikes, scooters and accessories.
Then there’s Rachel Bedgood, who established one of the largest pre-employment screening, disclosure and barring service providers in the UK. Rachel and her company have won numerous awards, and really are at the top of their game. Mandy St John Davey took on self-employed information and communications technology consultancy roles with large firms and the Welsh Office. Mandy then turned to property and launched an incredibly successful entrepreneurial career in this area.
Firmly embedded in the foundational economy, we have Sian Davies and her Garnish Cymru business, and Janette Leonard who offers her innovative Dial-A-Dinner enterprise, branching out to also provide healthy food alternatives.
But, of course, listing a few examples from Cynon Valley will not overcome all the barriers to entrepreneurial activity, and to women’s entrepreneurial activity in particular, but it does play an important role in one aspect, by highlighting a number of recognisable and relatable role models, not only encouraging women to think 'I could do that' but hopefully providing networks and mentors who can provide practical support.
Now, this was one of the recommendations on promoting female entrepreneurship that was made in the last Assembly by the cross-party group on women in the economy. I know there is a danger that good work carried out by CPGs can sometimes be sidelined, however the work of this group was crucial to understanding the barriers to women’s economic engagement. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor as Cynon Valley AM, Christine Chapman, who chaired this group. Christine, with her new life coaching business, is now one of those woman entrepreneurs we so desperately need in Wales, and in the Valleys in particular.
The CPG also recommended that we embed gender awareness in business support and enterprise education. It recognised the need to provide targeted interventions to specifically help women to start up and develop their own businesses. Business Wales and other support providers must engage with women entrepreneurs, and gender-disaggregated data must be gathered and reviewed to ensure that gaps are identified and addressed. The FSB report mentioned earlier notes a particular need to address the gender gap. I hope that this is a challenge we can look to take on today.
Mae adroddiad diweddar Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru ynglŷn â hunangyflogaeth yng Nghymru yn rhoi cipolwg defnyddiol o gyflwr presennol entrepreneuriaeth a hunangyflogaeth yng Nghymru. Mae'r adroddiad yn ein hatgoffa bod nifer y bobl hunangyflogedig yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu 15,000 rhwng 2007 a 2016. Felly, mae bron dau o bob pump o swyddi newydd wedi'u creu yng Nghymru yn hunangyflogedig mewn gwirionedd. A ledled y DU, mae cyfraddau hunangyflogaeth yn awr ar eu huchaf mewn 40 mlynedd. Mae braslun yr adroddiad o'r rhesymau cadarnhaol sy'n sail i'r newidiadau hyn hefyd i'w groesawu.
Ond mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn amlinellu rhai o'r heriau sy'n llesteirio twf hunangyflogaeth ac ysbryd entrepreneuraidd. I ddechrau, mae'n amlinellu'r gwahaniaeth trawiadol rhwng gwahanol rannau o Gymru. Mae'n dweud bod cyfraddau hunangyflogaeth ar eu hisaf yng Nghymoedd y De. Mae'r gyfradd isaf yng Nghymru, 8.6 y cant, yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, ac mae hyn oddeutu chwarter y gyfradd ym Mhowys gyfagos. Yn fy awdurdod fy hun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, mae'r gyfradd hunangyflogaeth yn ddim ond 9.8 y cant.
Rwy'n sylwi bod y cynllun cyflenwi tasglu'r Cymoedd yn ymrwymo Llywodraeth Cymru i amrywiaeth o gamau i helpu mynd i'r afael â hyn—er enghraifft, y gwaith ynglŷn â thargedu cymorth busnes i hybu busnesau newydd ac annog entrepreneuriaid. Rwyf hefyd yn croesawu'r gwaith o ran cynyddu'r nifer cynyddol o unedau busnes, a chyngor busnes pwrpasol i'r 100 o fusnesau yn y Cymoedd sydd â'r potensial mwyaf i dyfu. Ac eto, mae ardal yn dal i fod lle mae'n rhaid parhau i ganolbwyntio arni er mwyn hybu ffyniant economaidd rhai o'r cymunedau sydd, wedi cyfan, gyda'r mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru. Am y rheswm hwnnw, rwy'n croesawu cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth Cymru heddiw i greu dwy ganolfan newydd yn y Cymoedd i hybu entrepreneuriaeth, ac £1 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer prosiectau entrepreneuriaeth cymunedol sy'n benodol yn targedu pobl mewn cymunedau llai breintiedig ledled Cymru.
Fodd bynnag, mae'n syfrdanol sylwi ar y gwahaniaeth mawr rhwng y rhywiau o ran cyfraddau hunangyflogaeth, a dyna'r hyn yr hoffwn i ganolbwyntio arno yng ngweddill fy nghyfraniad heddiw. Ar gyfer pob menyw sy'n hunangyflogedig, mae 2.3 dyn. Unwaith eto, mae'r gwahaniaeth hwn yn waeth yn ardal y Cymoedd. Mae'n druenus dweud bod y gagendor fwyaf llydan yn y gymuned lle rwy'n byw yn Rhondda Cynon Taf. Yn fy awdurdod i, mae tri dyn hunangyflogedig am bob menyw hunangyflogedig. Wrth gwrs, wrth inni edrych ar y data crai, fe allwn ni esgeuluso llawer enghraifft ragorol o entrepreneuriaid benywaidd. Yn fy etholaeth fy hun, gallaf feddwl am Helen Walbey, y byddwn yn ei disgrifio fel un o wir fenywod y dadeni. Mae Helen yn gadeirydd polisi Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru, yn ddarlithydd rhan-amser a mentor busnes. Ond gwelwyd hi'n chwalu'r rhwyg rhwng y rhywiau mewn difrif pan sefydlodd hi gwmni o'r enw Recycle Scooters, cwmni arbenigol sy'n gwerthu, gwasanaethu a thrwsio beiciau modur, sgwteri ac ategolion.
A dyna ichi Rachel Bedgood wedyn, a sefydlodd un o'r cwmnïau darparu gwasanaeth sgrinio, datgelu a gwahardd cyn-cyflogaeth mwyaf yn y DU. Mae Rachel a'i chwmni wedi ennill nifer o wobrau ac yn feistri yn eu maes. Bu Mandy St John Davey yn gwneud gwaith ymgynghorol hunangyflogedig ym maes technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu gyda chwmnïau mawr a'r Swyddfa Gymreig. Trodd Mandy wedyn at eiddo a lansio gyrfa entrepreneuraidd anhygoel o lwyddiannus yn y maes hwn.
Dyna ichi Sian Davies wedyn sydd wedi ymsefydlu'n gadarn yn yr economi sylfaenol gyda'i busnes Garnish Cymru, a Janette Leonard gyda'i menter arloesol Dial-a-Dinner, sydd wedi ehangu i ddarparu dewisiadau bwyd iach hefyd.
Ond, wrth gwrs, nid yw rhestru rhai enghreifftiau o Gwm Cynon yn mynd i ddatrys pob rhwystr i weithgarwch entrepreneuraidd, a gweithgarwch entrepreneuraidd ymysg menywod yn arbennig, ond mae yn chwarae rhan bwysig mewn un agwedd, gan dynnu sylw at nifer o esiamplau da adnabyddus y mae modd uniaethu gyda nhw, sydd nid yn unig yn annog menywod i feddwl 'fe allwn i wneud hynny' ond yn fodd, gobeithio, o ddarparu rhwydweithiau a mentoriaid sy'n gallu darparu cymorth ymarferol.
Nawr, dyma oedd un o'r argymhellion a wnaeth y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar fenywod yn yr economi yn y Cynulliad diwethaf ynglŷn â hyrwyddo entrepreneuriaeth ymysg menywod. Rwy'n gwybod bod perygl y gall y gwaith da a wneir gan grwpiau trawsbleidiol gael ei wthio o'r neilltu weithiau. Fodd bynnag, roedd gwaith y grŵp hwn yn hanfodol o ran deall y rhwystrau i ymgysylltiad economaidd menywod. Fe hoffwn i dalu teyrnged i Christine Chapman a'm rhagflaenodd fel AC Cwm Cynon ac a gadeiriodd y grŵp hwn. Mae Christine, gyda'i busnes newydd hyfforddiant bywyd, bellach yn un o'r menywod entrepreneuraidd hynny y mae eu dirfawr angen arnom ni yng Nghymru, ac yn y Cymoedd yn benodol.
Argymhellodd y grŵp trawsbleidiol hefyd ein bod yn ymgorffori ymwybyddiaeth o'r bwlch rhwng y rhywiau mewn addysg menter a chymorth busnes. Roedd y grŵp yn cydnabod bod angen gweithredu'n benodol i helpu menywod i ddechrau a datblygu eu busnesau eu hunain. Rhaid i Busnes Cymru a darparwyr cymorth eraill ymgysylltu ag entrepreneuriaid benywaidd, ac mae'n rhaid casglu ac adolygu data ar sail rhyw i sicrhau y caiff y bylchau eu cydnabod a'u trafod. Mae adroddiad Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach y cyfeiriwyd ato'n gynharach yn nodi bod angen mynd i'r afael yn benodol â'r bwlch rhwng y rhywiau. Gobeithio bod hyn yn her yr ydym ni'n barod i'w chymryd heddiw.
Thank you very much. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport to reply—Ken Skates.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth i ymateb—Ken Skates.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'm conscious of time and so I'll limit my comments to individual Members to as little time as possible. I think it is clear, though, that as well as an ecosystem or a community of enablers, what is absolutely vital in fostering greater sense of entrepreneurship is a cultural change within Wales, a behavioural change, an attitudinal change. Many Members used examples of places around the world where entrepreneurialism and innovation-driven entrepreneurialism is particularly successful in contributing to higher productivity level. Aarhus, Mannheim, other parts of the world—what is absolutely clear from all of those places is that they have the right ecosystem, the right support networks, but they also have a very distinct cultural approach to entrepreneurship—a cultural approach that we need to adopt and embrace with a concerted effort, not only to invest in the structures that are required to foster new business start-ups, but also to encourage a behavioural change. No national body in its own right will enable a significant increase in business start-ups. There is a need to bring together individual interests and collective community interests. I'd be very interested to learn more about the example of Ridgeway golf club. I think what Hefin David said and what Vikki Howells said about the need to address self-employment challenges for people who wish to be employed in, if you like, jobs of the everyday and that they're taken on board—that's why we're keen in schools to ensure that enterprise troopers and that role models don't just encourage young people into tech-led, cutting-edge entrepreneurship activities, but give young people a sense of pride in taking on self-employment in any field that young people wish to pursue.
I also think that it's absolutely essential that the fair work board take on board what Vikki Howells was saying about the disadvantage that were in place in seeking self-employment. I do think that it's a great advantage of Be The Spark: having a woman in charge of that particular initiative.
I'm going to close in terms of the need for everybody to work together. I'm going to close with a comment from Clint Betts, the chief executive officer of Silicon Slopes, a non-profit organisation for entrepreneurs in Utah. When he visited Wales recently, Clint stated that he believes the critical element in building the right ecosystem is that everybody recognises there is no competition in community building. That's the spirit that I want to move forward, and I want to work with Members across this Chamber to fulfil the potential that I know is out there.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r amser, ac felly fe wna i gyfyngu fy sylwadau i Aelodau unigol i gyn lleied o amser â phosibl. Credaf ei bod hi'n amlwg, serch hynny mai'r hyn sy'n gwbl hanfodol o ran meithrin mwy o ymdeimlad o entrepreneuriaeth, yn ychwanegol at ecosystem neu gymuned o hwyluswyr, yw newid diwylliannol yng Nghymru, newid arferion, newid agwedd. Defnyddiodd llawer o Aelodau enghreifftiau o leoedd o amgylch y byd lle mae entrepreneuriaeth ac entrepreneuriaeth arloesol yn arbennig o lwyddiannus wrth gyfrannu at lefel cynhyrchiant uwch. Aarhus, Mannheim, rhannau eraill o'r byd—yr hyn sy'n gwbl glir o'r holl leoedd hynny yw bod ganddyn nhw'r ecosystem briodol, y rhwydweithiau cymorth priodol, ond mae ganddyn nhw hefyd ymagwedd diwylliannol wahanol iawn at entrepreneuriaeth—ymagwedd ddiwylliannol y mae angen inni roi ein bryd a'n hymdrech ar ei mabwysiadu a'i chroesawu, nid yn unig er mwyn buddsoddi yn y strwythurau sydd eu hangen er mwyn feithrin busnesau newydd, ond hefyd i annog newid ymddygiad. Ni fydd yr un corff cenedlaethol ar ei ben ei hun yn galluogi cynnydd sylweddol mewn busnesau newydd. Mae angen dwyn ynghyd diddordebau unigol a chydfuddiannau cymunedol. Byddwn yn awyddus iawn i ddysgu mwy am yr enghraifft o Glwb Golff Ridgeway. Rwy'n credu bod yr hyn a ddywedodd Hefin David ac a ddywedodd Vikki Howells ynglŷn â'r angen i fynd i'r afael â heriau hunangyflogaeth bobl yr hoffen nhw weithio, os mynnwch chi, mewn swyddi bob dydd, a bod angen ystyried yr heriau hynny—dyna pam ein bod ni'n awyddus mewn ysgolion i sicrhau bod criwiau mentrus ac esiamplau da nid yn unig yn annog pobl ifanc i ymhél â gweithgareddau entrepreneuriaeth technolegol, arloesol, ond yn meithrin ymdeimlad o falchder mewn pobl ifanc o ran bod yn hunangyflogedig mewn unrhyw faes y mae pobl ifanc yn dymuno gweithio ynddo.
Credaf hefyd ei bod hi'n gwbl hanfodol bod y bwrdd gwaith teg yn ystyried yr hyn yr oedd Vikki Howells yn ei ddweud am yr anfanteision oedd yn wynebu pobl wrth geisio bod yn hunangyflogedig. Rwyf yn credu bod hynny'n un o fanteision mawr Creu Sbarc: bod menyw yn gyfrifol am y fenter benodol honno.
Dof i ben gyda'r angen i bawb gydweithio. Dof i ben gyda sylw gan Clint Betts, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Silicon Slopes, sefydliad di-elw ar gyfer entrepreneuriaid yn Utah. Pan ymwelodd â Chymru'n ddiweddar, dywedodd Clint ei fod yn credu mai'r elfen hollbwysig wrth greu'r ecosystem briodol yw fod pawb yn cydnabod nad oes cystadleuaeth mewn meithrin cymunedau. Dyna'r ysbryd yr hoffwn i ei feithrin, ac rwyf i eisiau gweithio gydag Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr hon i gyflawni'r potensial rwy'n gwybod sy'n bodoli.
Thank you very much. The proposal is to agree amendment 1. Does any Member object? No. [Objection.] Yes, you will have to sharpen yourselves up in the new year, I'm thinking. [Laughter.] Therefore, I defer voting on this item until voting time.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Y cynnig yw derbyn gwelliant 1. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, bydd angen ichi fod yn fwy o gwmpas eich pethau yn y flwyddyn newydd, rwy'n credu. [Chwerthin.] Felly, rwy'n gohirio'r bleidlais ar yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I'm going to proceed to voting time. Okay, fine. So, we call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 19, no abstentions, 25 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is not carried.
Oni bai bod tri aelod yn dymuno i'r gloch gael ei chanu, rwy'n mynd i symud ymlaen i'r cyfnod pleidleisio. Iawn, o'r gorau. Felly, rydym ni'n galw am bleidlais ar welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rhun ap Iorwerth. Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 19, neb yn ymatal, 25 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 yn methu.
NDM6578 - Gwelliant 1: O blaid: 19, Yn erbyn: 25, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
NDM6578 - Amendment 1: For: 19, Against: 25, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
I now call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Julie James. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 44, no abstentions, none against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Galwaf yn awr am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Julie James. Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 44, neb yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig.
NDM6578 - Dadl: Entrepreneuriaeth: Pwrpas Cenedlaethol: O blaid: 44, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
NDM6578 - Debate: Entrepreneurship: A National Imperative: For: 44, Against: 0, Abstain: 0
Motion has been agreed
Before we move to the debate on Stage 3, the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill, I will suspend proceedings for 10 minutes. The bell will be rung five minutes before we reconvene, and I would encourage Members to return to the Chamber as soon as possible, please. Therefore, we will now suspend proceedings for 10 minutes. Thank you.
Cyn inni symud at y ddadl ar Gyfnod 3, Bil Diddymu’r Hawl i Brynu a Hawliau Cysylltiedig (Cymru), byddaf yn gohirio'r trafodion am 10 munud. Caiff y gloch ei chanu bum munud cyn inni ailymgynnull, ac rwy'n annog Aelodau i ddychwelyd i'r Siambr mor fuan â phosib, os gwelwch yn dda. Byddwn ni felly yn gohirio'r trafodion am 10 munud. diolch.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 16:38.
Ailymgynullodd y Cynulliad am 16:47, gyda'r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
Plenary was suspended at 16:38.
The Assembly reconvened at 16:47, with the Llywydd in the Chair.
Galw yr Aelodau i drefn eto, felly, a dyma ni'n cyrraedd yr eitem ar Gyfnod 3 y Bil Diddymu'r Hawl i Brynu a Hawliau Cysylltiedig (Cymru).
I call Assembly Members to order again, and we've reached the item on Stage 3 of the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill.
Mae'r grŵp cyntaf o welliannau yn ymwneud â dileu'r ataliad dros dro presennol ar yr hawl i brynu. Gwelliant 5 yw'r prif welliant yn y grŵp hwn. Rwy'n galw ar David Melding i gynnig y gwelliant ac i siarad amdano. David Melding.
The first group of amendments relates to the removal of the existing suspension of the right to buy. Amendment 5 is the lead amendment in this group. I call on David Melding to move and speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group. David Melding.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 5 (David Melding).
Amendment 5 (David Melding) moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. And I move amendment 5. Before I speak to amendment 5, can I just say a few words about Carl Sargeant, who was, of course, the Cabinet Secretary at Stages 1 and 2 of this Bill? I have to say, after concluding Stage 2, in which there were many very serious debates around issues of principle, I never for a moment thought that I would be in this position of having to push at Stage 3 my amendments and have a different person respond.
I found Carl throughout the debate courteous, fair and formidable, it has to be said. And there weren't many responses made in terms of conceding to what we were calling for at Stage 2, but I'm sure he would've expected me to have made the full argument here in Plenary for genuine points of principle where we disagree, but, in respect of this Bill, where we believe it would improve the Bill, given that the Assembly is now minded to have some form of abolition.
So, then, if I may move, Llywydd, to the purpose of amendment 5, which is to remove the suspensions of the right to buy and associated rights in the areas that are currently designated as suspended under the Housing (Wales) Measure 2011. Currently, they are Cardiff, Anglesey, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Flintshire and Denbighshire. This will allow qualifying tenants in those areas to exercise their rights like any other qualifying tenants across Wales, up until the abolition comes into effect.
Amendments 14, 9, 11, 1 and 3 are consequential amendments that are required to make the lead amendment effective.
Llywydd, I've submitted amendment 5 because of how unfair I believe the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill would be if it were implemented as it currently stands. If the Government is intent on completely removing the right to utilise the right to buy for those tenants in the six suspended authorities, whilst extending a grace period to tenants in the remaining 16 authorities, then effectively the Government would be creating two categories of tenants on this fundamental matter. There could be, in my view, serious human rights implications on this issue, and I don't think the Government has adequately yet responded to these concerns at any stage of consideration so far.
During the Stage 1 evidence sessions of the committee, we saw how much of an issue this was. Some of the contributors highlighted that, in areas where a suspension was currently in place, not allowing tenants the opportunity to purchase their home prior to abolition could be seen as unfair. I think this point was impressed on all members of the committee, even if they didn't move their position ultimately. The evidence was strong.
During the evidence sessions, the representatives of the City and County of Swansea stated that they had already experienced tenants who were voicing complaints over the unfairness of not being given the opportunity to buy their homes before abolition comes into effect. Other respondents, including Shelter Cymru, stressed that more consideration should be given to this issue of equity.
The Welsh Government has conceded that representations have been received from individual tenants, and I know we all can appreciate that because we've received many responses as well from concerned constituents. Indeed, the Cabinet Secretary, when he replied to this amendment at Stage 2, conceded the point and said that he understood the reasoning behind these amendments in respect of making representations of individuals.
I believe that this amendment is vital if we are to be fair to all tenants across Wales, in offering them one last opportunity to purchase their home, and I hope that the Chamber bears this in mind when considering this amendment. I so move.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Ac rwyf yn cynnig gwelliant 5. Cyn imi siarad am welliant 5, a gaf i ddweud ychydig eiriau am Carl Sargeant, a oedd, wrth gwrs, yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yng Nghyfnodau 1 a 2 y Bil hwn? Rhaid imi ddweud, ar ôl cwblhau cyfnod 2, lle'r oedd llawer o ddadleuon difrifol iawn ynghylch materion o egwyddor, ni chredais am eiliad y byddwn yn y sefyllfa hon o orfod gwthio fy ngwelliannau yng Nghyfnod 3 a chael person gwahanol yn ymateb.
Drwy gydol y ddadl, roeddwn yn ystyried Carl i fod yn gwrtais, yn deg ac yn anodd ei drechu, rhaid dweud. Ac ni chafwyd llawer o ymatebion o ran ildio i'r hyn yr oeddem yn galw amdano yng Nghyfnod 2, ond rwy'n siŵr y byddai wedi disgwyl imi roi'r ddadl lawn yma yn y cyfarfod llawn ar gyfer pwyntiau dilys o egwyddor lle'r ydym yn anghytuno, ond, mewn perthynas â'r Bil hwn, lle credwn y byddai'n gwella'r Bil, o ystyried bod y Cynulliad yn awr yn ystyried rhyw fath o ddiddymu.
Felly, os caf gynnig, Llywydd, i bwrpas gwelliant 5, sydd yn cael gwared ar ataliadau dros dro ar yr hawl i brynu a hawliau cysylltiedig yn yr ardaloedd sydd wedi'u dynodi i fod wedi'u hatal dros dro ar hyn o bryd dan Fesur Tai (Cymru) 2011. Ar hyn o bryd, y rhain yw Caerdydd, Ynys Môn, Sir Gaerfyrddin, Abertawe, Sir y Fflint a Sir Ddinbych. Bydd hyn yn galluogi tenantiaid cymwys yn yr ardaloedd hynny i arfer eu hawliau fel unrhyw denantiaid cymwys eraill ledled Cymru, hyd nes bydd y diddymiad yn dod i rym.
Mae gwelliannau 14, 9, 11, 1 a 3 yn welliannau canlyniadol y mae eu hangen i wneud y prif welliant yn effeithiol.
Llywydd, rwyf wedi cyflwyno gwelliant 5 oherwydd credaf y byddai Bil Diddymu'r Hawl i Brynu a Hawliau Cysylltiedig (Cymru) wedi bod yn annheg, pe byddai'n cael ei weithredu fel y saif ar hyn o bryd. Os yw'r Llywodraeth yn benderfynol o gael gwared yn gyfan gwbl ar yr hawl i ddefnyddio'r hawl i brynu ar gyfer y tenantiaid hynny yn y chwe awdurdod a ataliwyd dros dro, tra'n ymestyn cyfnod gras i denantiaid yn yr 16 awdurdod sy'n weddill, yna i bob pwrpas byddai'r Llywodraeth yn creu dau gategori o denantiaid ar y mater sylfaenol hwn. Gallai fod, yn fy marn i, oblygiadau hawliau dynol difrifol ar y mater hwn, ac nid wyf yn credu bod y Llywodraeth wedi ymateb yn ddigonol hyd yma i'r pryderon hyn yn ystod unrhyw gam o'r ystyriaethau hyd yn hyn.
Yn ystod sesiynau tystiolaeth Cyfnod 1 y Pwyllgor, gwelsom gymaint o broblem oedd hyn. Amlygodd rhai o'r cyfranwyr, mewn ardaloedd lle'r oedd ataliad dros dro ar waith ar hyn o bryd, y gellid ystyried bod peidio â rhoi'r cyfle i denantiaid brynu eu cartref cyn diddymu yn annheg. Credaf fod y pwynt hwn wedi cael ei bwysleisio ar bob aelod o'r Pwyllgor, hyd yn oed os na wnaethant newid eu safbwynt yn y pen draw. Roedd y dystiolaeth yn gryf.
Yn ystod y sesiynau tystiolaeth, dywedodd cynrychiolwyr o Ddinas a Sir Abertawe eu bod eisoes wedi cael profiad o denantiaid oedd yn mynegi cwynion ynghylch annhegwch peidio â chael cyfle i brynu eu cartrefi cyn i'r diddymu ddod i rym. Pwysleisiodd ymatebwyr eraill, gan gynnwys Shelter Cymru, y dylid rhoi mwy o ystyriaeth i'r mater hwn o ecwiti.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyfaddef ei bod wedi cael sylwadau gan denantiaid unigol, a gwn y gall pob un ohonom werthfawrogi hynny oherwydd rwyf i wedi derbyn llawer o ymatebion hefyd gan etholwyr pryderus. Yn wir, fe wnaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pan ymatebodd i'r gwelliant hwn yng Nghyfnod 2, ildio'r pwynt a dweud ei fod yn deall y rhesymeg y tu ôl i'r gwelliannau hyn mewn cysylltiad â gwneud sylwadau unigolion.
Credaf fod y gwelliant hwn yn hanfodol os ydym i fod yn deg â'r holl denantiaid ledled Cymru, wrth gynnig iddynt un cyfle olaf i brynu eu cartref, a gobeithio y bydd y Siambr yn cadw hyn mewn cof wrth ystyried y gwelliant hwn. Rwy'n gwneud y cynnig felly.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rydw i am siarad am y gwelliannau ond hefyd am amlinellu agwedd Plaid Cymru at y Bil. Bu Plaid Cymru yn gwrthwynebu hawl i brynu ers tro byd, efo ein haelodau ni yn cefnogi dileu’r hawl i brynu mewn cynigion i’r gynhadledd—cynadleddau’r blaid—ers degawdau, o’r adeg y gweithredwyd y polisi i ddechrau gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. A phan roeddem ni’n rhan o glymblaid Cymru’n Un, fe wnaethon ni geisio gweithredu’r polisi yma yn unol â dymuniadau ein haelodau ni drwy sicrhau’r pwerau deddfwriaethol i wneud hynny. Ers hynny, caniatawyd i awdurdodau lleol wneud cais i atal yr hawl i brynu, ac yn wir fe wnaeth rhai hynny. Mae awdurdodau o dan reolaeth y blaid a rhai dan reolaeth pleidiau eraill wedi manteisio ar hyn i warchod eu stoc tai a gwarchod buddsoddiadau yn y stoc tai. Felly, yn amlwg, mi fyddwn ni’n cefnogi y Bil yma. Ac yn wir, rydym ni wedi cymryd rhan lawn yn y broses graffu, ac rydym ni’n credu bod hyn wedi arwain at Fil cryfach o ganlyniad. Rydym ni wedi gweithio efo’r Llywodraeth ar welliannau 15 ac 16, ac felly rydym ni’n gobeithio y bydd y rheini yn pasio.
Yn unol â’r agwedd yma, byddwn yn pleidleisio dros y Bil a byddwn yn pleidleisio yn erbyn y gwelliannau Ceidwadol a fydd, yn ein barn ni, yn glastwreiddio bwriad polisi’r Bil. Ond tybiaf ei fod yn deg dweud hefyd, er y bydd y ddeddfwriaeth yn gam cadarnhaol tuag at warchod y stoc tai, ynddo'i hun, ni fydd yn ddigon. Mewn llawer ffordd, daw’r ddeddfwriaeth hon yn rhy hwyr i warchod y stoc a gollwyd. Rydym ni’n gwybod bod yna ddiffyg enfawr o ran tai cymdeithasol, efo rhestri aros yn parhau yn warthus o uchel. Ers 1980, dim ond 60,000 o gartrefi newydd a godwyd yn y sector awdurdodau lleol neu dai cymdeithasol. Mae yna 90,000 ar y rhestr ar hyn o bryd. Dros y bum mlynedd diwethaf, rydym ni wedi codi, ar gyfartaledd, 950 o dai newydd yn y sector tai cymdeithasol o dan y Llywodraeth yma. Ar y rât yma, mae'n mynd i gymryd 95 mlynedd i godi digon o dai i fynd i'r afael â'r rhestr aros a rhagdybio na fydd newid net yn y galw, sydd yn llawer rhy hir.
Ac ydy, mae'n wir y gallai'r bobl hynny mewn tai cymdeithasol fod yn awr eisiau bod yn berchen ar eu cartrefi eu hunain, ond mae'r cyfuniad o gyflogau isel, cyflogaeth ansicr a phrisiau tai uchel yn rhwystr, felly mae angen i ni adeiladu mwy o dai cymdeithasol, a rhoi llawer mwy o gefnogaeth i bobl i fod yn berchen ar eu cartrefi eu hunain, trwy gefnogaeth i brynwyr tro cyntaf, er enghraifft.
Mae yna rai cynlluniau ar y gweill yn barod. Mae yna un yn cael ei gynnal yn fy ardal i, lle rydych chi'n talu rhent canolradd ar eich eiddo cymdeithasol, ac yna mae gennych chi ddewis o brynu'r tŷ, ond os ydych chi'n symud ymlaen, wedyn, i'w werthu fo, mae'n rhaid i chi ei werthu fo yn ôl i bobl leol. Gallai dulliau fel hyn fod yn erfyn gwerthfawr i helpu perchnogaeth eiddo mewn ardaloedd lle mae'r pris cyfartalog yn sylweddol uwch na'r cyflogau lleol. Ac mewn rhannau o Wynedd, mae hynny'n sicr o fod yn wir.
Felly, mae gwarchod ein buddsoddiad drwy basio'r ddeddfwriaeth yma'n un cam bychan o'r hyn sydd angen ei wneud, ac rydw i'n cofio clywed Carl Sargeant ei hun yn dweud yn y pwyllgor mai darn yn unig o'r jig-so ydy'r ddeddfwriaeth yma; mae angen dipyn mwy na'r cydsynio i hyn, heddiw. Felly, rydw i'n mawr obeithio na fyddwn ni'n gweld y Ddeddf yma fel diwedd y daith.
Gair am welliannau'r Torïaid: mae'r gwelliannau hyn i gyd yn codi atal yr hawl i brynu mewn ardaloedd lle mae hyn eisoes mewn grym. Rydym ni'n credu y byddai hyd yn oed codi'r atal dros dro yn niweidiol, ac fel rhan o'r cyfnod ataliol, mae tenantiaid yn yr ardaloedd penodedig eisoes wedi cael cyfle i brynu tra roedd yr atal yn mynd drwy'r broses, felly fe fyddwn ni'n pleidleisio yn erbyn y gwelliannau.
Thank you, Llywydd. I want to speak to the amendments, but I also want to outline Plaid Cymru's stance on the Bill. Plaid Cymru has opposed the right to buy for some time, with our members supporting the abolition of the right to buy in motions to Plaid conferences over a period of decades, from the time when the policy was implemented first of all by the Conservative Government. And when we were part of the One Wales coalition, we attempted to implement this policy in accordance with the wishes of our members by trying to secure the legislative powers to do that. Since then, local authorities have been allowed to make an application to suspend the right to buy, and indeed some did that. Authorities controlled by Plaid and some controlled by other parties have taken advantage of this in order to protect their housing stock and to protect the investment made in that housing stock. So, clearly, we will be supporting this Bill today. Indeed, we have participated fully in the scrutiny process, and we believe that this has led to a stronger Bill as a result of that. We've worked with Government on amendments 15 and 16, and we therefore hope that those will be passed today.
In accordance with this stance, we'll be voting in favour of the Bill and against the Conservative amendments, which, in our view, would dilute the policy intentions of the Bill. But I believe it's also fair to say that, although this legislation will be a positive step towards protecting the housing stock, in and of itself it won't be sufficient in many ways. This legislation comes too late to protect the housing stock that's already been lost. We know that there is a huge deficit in terms of social housing, with waiting lists remaining terribly long. Since 1980, only 60,000 new homes were built in the local authority sector or social housing sector. There are 90,000 people on the waiting list at present. Over the past five years, we have built, on average, 950 new homes in the social housing sector under this Government. At this rate, it will take 95 years to build enough homes to tackle the waiting list without anticipating a net change in demand, and that clearly is too long.
And, yes, it’s true that some of those people in social housing may now want to become home owners themselves, but a combination of low wages, uncertainty in terms of unemployment and high housing prices are a barrier, and therefore we need to build more social housing and to provide far greater support for people to become home owners themselves, by support for first-time buyers, for example.
There are some programmes already in the pipeline. There is one being undertaken in my area where you pay a medium rent on your social property and then you have a choice as to whether you purchase that home, but if you then move on to sell that property, you would have to sell it on to people living locally. Means such as this could be important tools in supporting home ownership in areas where average house prices are significantly higher than local salaries, and in parts of Gwynedd, that is certainly the case.
So, protecting our investment by passing this legislation is one small step in the right direction in terms of what needs to be done, and I remember Carl Sargeant himself saying at committee stage that this is only a piece of the jigsaw, and that more needs to be done than simply consenting to this Bill today. So, I very much hope that we won’t see this Bill as a full stop.
A word on the Conservative amendments: all of these amendments lift the suspension of the right to buy in areas where it is already in place. We believe that lifting the suspension, even temporarily, would be damaging, and as part of the suspension period, tenants in those designated areas have already had the opportunity to buy while the suspension was going through the process, so we will be voting against the amendments.
First of all, I agree with David Melding's comments about the former Minister, Carl Sargeant. Of course, there were political differences on the committee when the Bill was debated, and there are bound to be political differences, but he was always amicable on a personal level. So, I would like to agree with what David said about Carl.
As a group, UKIP didn't support the abolition of the right to buy. We felt that tenants are only buying their homes in fairly small numbers now, so we didn't feel that abolishing the right to buy would be very significant in terms of aiding the provision of social housing, and it is making it more difficult to achieve the important aspiration of home ownership.
There were various amendments put forward at committee stage by David Melding and by Bethan Jenkins. In Bethan's absence, of course, Siân Gwenllian is speaking to them today. I felt, on the committee, that these were generally helpful amendments that would've improved the legislation and I was disappointed that the Government didn't support any of the amendments at the committee stage. UKIP is happy to support all of the amendments today. Thank you.
Yn gyntaf, cytunaf â sylwadau David Melding am y cyn-Weinidog, Carl Sargeant. Wrth gwrs, roedd gwahaniaethau gwleidyddol ar y Pwyllgor pan drafodwyd y Bil, ac mae'n anochel y bydd gwahaniaethau gwleidyddol, ond roedd bob amser yn gyfeillgar ar lefel bersonol. Felly, hoffwn gytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd David am Carl.
Fel grŵp, nid oedd UKIP yn cefnogi diddymu'r hawl i brynu. Roeddem yn teimlo mai dim ond niferoedd eithaf bach o denantiaid sy'n prynu eu cartrefi bellach, felly nid oeddem yn teimlo y byddai dileu'r hawl i brynu yn arwyddocaol iawn o ran helpu i ddarparu tai cymdeithasol, ac mae'n ei gwneud hi'n fwy anodd i gyflawni'r dyhead pwysig o fod yn berchen ar eich tŷ eich hunan.
Roedd gwelliannau amrywiol wedi'u cyflwyno yn y cam pwyllgor gan David Melding a Bethan Jenkins. Yn absenoldeb Bethan, wrth gwrs, mae Siân Gwenllian yn siarad amdanynt heddiw. Teimlwn, yn y Pwyllgor, fod y rhain yn welliannau defnyddiol yn gyffredinol a fyddai wedi gwella'r ddeddfwriaeth, ac roeddwn yn siomedig na wnaeth y Llywodraeth gefnogi unrhyw welliannau yn y cam Pwyllgor. Mae UKIP yn hapus i gefnogi'r holl welliannau heddiw. Diolch.
Carl Sargeant would've been disappointed had David Melding not put forward this amendment. I'm sure that he respected David's position completely, whilst he did not agree with it. And, what he said at the time was, 'I accept the Member's points regarding the need to build more houses, but while we're building them, we are still haemorrhaging them in terms of the right to buy and that cannot continue.'
So, as a Member for Cardiff, I would be very alarmed at the proposal to delete the suspension of the right to buy in Cardiff. We have over 8,000 people on Cardiff's housing waiting list and this amendment would instantly invite the vultures to descend on Cardiff and start harassing people to exercise, so to speak, their right to buy, give them the deposit money and then move them to accommodation elsewhere, so that the vultures could then use this house, built with public funds, for private profit. So, I cannot support this amendment, and I hope that we will not, as a collective, either.
There's a huge difference between council house rents in Cardiff and average rents in private rented accommodation in Cardiff, which is, unfortunately, way beyond what is affordable for people on low wages, and that is what prompts this inevitable level of exploitation. In my view, social housing in this level of a shortage has to be allocated on the basis of need, not on the basis of income. So, until we have no or negligible numbers on the housing waiting list, I do not think we can afford to let go of the valuable assets of council housing that we have, so I hope that we will defeat this amendment.
Byddai Carl Sargeant wedi bod yn siomedig pe na fyddai David Melding wedi cyflwyno'r gwelliant hwn. Roedd yn parchu sefyllfa David yn llwyr, rwy'n siŵr, er nad oedd yn cytuno ag ef. A'r hyn a ddywedodd ar y pryd oedd, 'Rwy'n derbyn pwyntiau'r Aelod ynghylch yr angen i adeiladu mwy o dai, ond tra'r ydym ni'n eu hadeiladu, rydym yn dal i'w colli nhw drwy'r hawl i brynu ac ni all hynny barhau.'
Felly, fel Aelod dros Gaerdydd, byddwn yn bryderus iawn ynghylch y cynnig i gael gwared ar atal yr hawl i brynu yng Nghaerdydd. Mae gennym fwy na 8,000 o bobl ar y rhestr aros am dai yng Nghaerdydd. Byddai'r gwelliant hwn ar unwaith yn gwahodd y fwlturiaid i ddisgyn ar Gaerdydd a dechrau poeni pobl i arfer eu hawl i brynu, yn rhoi'r arian blaendal iddynt ac yna'n eu symud i lety mewn mannau eraill, fel y gall y fwlturiaid ddefnyddio'r tŷ hwn, a adeiladwyd ag arian cyhoeddus, ar gyfer elw preifat. Felly, ni allaf gefnogi'r gwelliant hwn, ac rwy'n gobeithio na fyddwn ni, ar y cyd, yn gwneud hynny ychwaith.
Mae gwahaniaeth enfawr rhwng rhenti tai cyngor yng Nghaerdydd a rhenti cyfartalog mewn llety rhent preifat yng Nghaerdydd, sydd, yn anffodus, ymhell y tu hwnt i'r hyn sy'n fforddiadwy i bobl ar gyflogau isel, a dyna sy'n ysgogi'r lefel anochel hon o gam-fanteisio. Yn fy marn i, gan fod cymaint o brinder, mae'n rhaid i dai cymdeithasol gael eu neilltuo ar sail angen yn hytrach nag ar sail incwm. Felly, hyd nes y bydd gennym neb, neu nifer fach iawn yn unig, ar y rhestr aros am dai, nid wyf yn credu y gallwn fforddio gollwng ein gafael ar yr asedau gwerthfawr o dai cyngor sydd gennym. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn trechu'r gwelliant hwn.
I rise to support my colleague David Melding's amendments, particularly amendment 5. I don't agree with the abolition of the right to buy. I know too many people who've had the ability to buy a home, and they would never have had that chance before, but I am prepared to accept that that is a battle lost already, and I understand the ideological opposition to this. But, if you are going to do this, what I simply cannot get my head around is the fact that you're not going to be fair about it, and I do expect any law that we as an Assembly pass here to be fair and equitable to all the members of our society.
I cannot understand why some people, mainly those in the six counties that already have a suspension, are not going to be allowed the opportunity to buy their houses if they wish. I don't think the numbers are, actually, that many, but the point is that we're making two classes of tenants. I did hear the point that Jenny Rathbone made about the vultures descending on Cardiff, but then you could say that the vultures will descend on all the other ones that don't have a suspension currently in place. What I think we're doing is we're being incredibly unfair, and I have had a significant number of people write to me from Carmarthenshire who've been unable to buy their houses and would have liked to have had the chance. They didn't realise that there was a suspension going to happen. When it happened, they assumed that at some point it would stop and they could do it, and they've been much aggrieved by the fact that they're going to be treated differently to people in Pembrokeshire or Ceredigion, and I simply—
Codaf i gefnogi gwelliannau fy nghyd-Aelod, David Melding, yn enwedig gwelliant 5. Nid wyf yn cytuno â diddymu'r hawl i brynu. Rwy'n adnabod gormod o bobl sydd wedi cael y gallu i brynu cartref, ac ni fyddent wedi cael y cyfle hwnnw o'r blaen. Ond rwy'n barod i dderbyn bod honno'n frwydr sydd wedi'i cholli eisoes, ac rwy'n deall y gwrthwynebiad ideolegol i hyn. Ond, os ydych yn mynd i wneud hyn, yn syml yr hyn na allaf ei ddeall yw'r ffaith nad ydych yn mynd i fod yn deg yn ei gylch, ac rwy'n disgwyl bod unrhyw gyfraith yr ydym ni fel Cynulliad yn ei phasio i fod yn deg a chydradd i holl Aelodau ein cymdeithas.
Ni allaf ddeall pam nad yw rhai pobl, yn bennaf y rheini yn y chwe sir sydd eisoes wedi'u hatal dros dro, yn mynd i gael y cyfle i brynu eu cartrefi os ydynt yn dymuno hynny. Nid wyf yn credu bod y niferoedd, mewn gwirionedd, mor uchel â hynny, ond y pwynt yw ein bod ni'n gwneud dau ddosbarth o denantiaid. Clywais y pwynt a wnaeth Jenny Rathbone am y fwlturiaid yn disgyn ar Gaerdydd, ond yna gallech ddweud y bydd y fwlturiaid yn disgyn ar bob un arall sydd heb ataliad dros dro ar hyn o bryd. Yr hyn y credaf yr ydym yn ei wneud yw bod yn eithriadol o annheg. Rwyf wedi cael nifer sylweddol o bobl yn ysgrifennu ataf o Sir Gaerfyrddin sydd wedi methu prynu eu tai a byddent wedi hoffi cael y cyfle hwnnw. Nid oeddent yn sylweddoli bod ataliad dros dro yn mynd i ddigwydd. Pan ddigwyddodd, roeddent yn rhagdybio y byddai'n dod i ben ar ryw adeg a gallent wneud hynny, ac maent wedi bod yn teimlo'n ddig gan y ffaith eu bod nhw'n mynd i gael eu trin yn wahanol i bobl yn Sir Benfro neu Geredigion, ac yn syml —
Would the Member give way?
A wnaiff yr Aelod ildio?
Absolutely.
Wrth gwrs.
I understand what the Member is saying. There is a fundamental problem with the Conservative position on this. From those benches, there is a constant advocacy of local decision making and local authorities being able to make these decisions for themselves. These six authorities have made their own decisions, have been elected to make those decisions, and have suspended the right to buy in their areas. The legislation doesn't change that, and surely all we're doing is reflecting local decision making.
Rwy'n deall yr hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei ddweud. Mae problem sylfaenol gyda safbwynt y Ceidwadwyr ar hyn. O'r meinciau hynny, mae dadlau cyson dros wneud penderfyniadau lleol ac awdurdodau lleol yn gallu gwneud y penderfyniadau drostynt eu hunain. Mae'r chwe awdurdod hyn wedi gwneud eu penderfyniadau eu hunain, wedi cael eu hethol i wneud y penderfyniadau hynny, ac wedi atal dros dro yr hawl i brynu yn eu hardaloedd. Nid yw'r ddeddfwriaeth yn newid hynny, a siawns mai'r cyfan yr ydym yn ei wneud yw adlewyrchu penderfyniadau lleol.
No, I don't accept that at all—
Na, nid wyf yn derbyn hynny o gwbl—
It was a suspension, not abolition.
Ataliad dros dro oedd hyn, nid diddymiad.
A suspension—well, as David's just saying, a suspension is not the same as an abolition, and the people who live in those areas now will know that they have no further chance ever of being able to buy their home. All we're asking is that they are treated the same as the people in Pembrokeshire or the people in Ceredigion, and they have that year of grace. If they buy their house, they buy their house; if they don't buy the house, they don't buy it, and then we go on from that and everybody is treated the same.
But this place always goes on and on and on about equality, and we say that equality is one of the underpinning principles of the Assembly, but, today, we're about to make an unequal bit of law that says, 'If you happen to be a tenant in some of our local authorities, you've got a year to save up the money, get a mortgage and buy your home, but, tell you what, if you live in Carmarthenshire or the other five, tough luck, you've lost your opportunity.' I think that is fundamentally unfair. I'm asking you, Minister, because we are building our business, our parliament under different principles—equality underpins everything we say that we want to do—but this is not fair. If you're going to abolish it, abolish it, but abolish it equally for everybody, and let those six authorities have that extra year's grace for the handful of people who might wish to buy their homes.
Ataliad dros dro—wel, fel y mae David yn ei ddweud, nid yw ataliad dros dro yr un fath â diddymu, a bydd y bobl sy'n byw yn yr ardaloedd hynny yn awr yn gwybod nad oes ganddynt unrhyw gyfle bellach i allu prynu eu cartref. Y cyfan yr ydym yn gofyn amdano yw eu bod yn cael eu trin yr un fath â phobl yn Sir Benfro neu bobl yng Ngheredigion, ac mae ganddynt y flwyddyn honno o ras. Os ydynt yn prynu eu tŷ, maent yn prynu eu tŷ; os nad ydynt yn prynu'r tŷ, yna nid ydynt yn ei brynu, ac wedyn awn ymlaen o hynny ac mae pawb yn cael eu trin yr un fath.
Ond mae'r lle hwn bob amser yn mynd ymlaen ac ymlaen am gydraddoldeb, ac rydym yn dweud mai cydraddoldeb yw un o egwyddorion sylfaenol y Cynulliad. Ond heddiw, rydym ar fin gwneud darn o gyfraith sydd braidd yn anghyfartal, sy'n dweud, 'os ydych yn digwydd bod yn denant yn rhai o'n hawdurdodau lleol, mae gennych flwyddyn i gynilo arian, cael morgais a phrynu eich cartref, ond os ydych yn byw yn Sir Gaerfyrddin neu'r pump arall, druan â chi, rydych wedi colli eich cyfle.' Credaf fod hynny'n sylfaenol annheg. Rwy'n gofyn ichi, Gweinidog, oherwydd ein bod yn adeiladu ein busnes, ein Senedd dan egwyddorion gwahanol—mae cydraddoldeb yn sail i bopeth yr ydym yn dweud ein bod am wneud—ond nid yw hyn yn deg. Os ydych chi'n mynd i'w ddiddymu, diddymwch ef, ond diddymwch ef yn gyfartal i bawb, a gadewch i'r chwe awdurdod hynny gael gras am y flwyddyn ychwanegol honno ar gyfer y llond dwrn o bobl a allai fod yn dymuno prynu eu cartrefi.
The primary reason we have a shortage of social housing is because, without going back over prehistory, the Welsh Governments in the first three Assembly terms took the decision to give it low priority in their funding, and they cut the supply of new social housing over 12 years by over 70 per cent. There were warnings from the sector, from the commercial through to the charitable sector, that this would happen. Each time I, often supported by Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats in those days, put down a motion highlighting the warnings of a Welsh housing crisis, the response from the Welsh Government wasn't to respond to the substantive concerns raised by the housing sector, but it was to put down an amendment removing the term 'Welsh housing crisis'. That was a betrayal. That is the primary reason we're here today.
There's an element of catch-up now, but, sadly, still, the numbers of social homes being provided are massively below levels required. There's some masking going on with the use of the term 'affordable housing', but we know that that includes intermediate rent, low-cost home ownership and anything else that can be added in to help the Welsh Government deliver a target that is still massively below the levels that successive independent reports have told us we need. We know, from independent research, that the average council house tenant resident in their home today will stay in that home for another 15 years. So, the impact on increasing supply for people on waiting lists, or people in housing crisis, will be negligible. But since 2010 in England, and since 2010 with devolved powers to Welsh Ministers, there's the opportunity to use the proceeds to build new social houses—council houses—and take some people off the housing waiting list, which this proposal will not achieve. With David Melding's amendments, at least some money could be realised to build some new social housing and take some people off the housing waiting lists in volumes that the alternative you're proposing couldn't even dream to achieve. You are biting off your nose to spite your face. It's poor housing economics, and, unfortunately, it's simply adding to the betrayal over housing in the previous terms of this Assembly.
Y prif reswm dros brinder tai cymdeithasol yw, heb fynd yn ôl i hen hanes, fod Llywodraethau Cymru yn nhri thymor cyntaf y Cynulliad wedi penderfynu rhoi blaenoriaeth isel i hynny yn eu cyllid, a thorrwyd dros 70 y cant ar y cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol newydd dros gyfnod o 12 mlynedd. Cafwyd rhybuddion gan y sector, o'r sector masnachol i'r sector elusennol, y byddai hyn yn digwydd. Bob tro, yn aml gyda chefnogaeth Plaid Cymru a'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn y dyddiau hynny, y byddwn i'n gwneud cynnig yn tynnu sylw at y rhybuddion o argyfwng tai Cymru, yr ymateb gan Lywodraeth Cymru oedd peidio ag ymateb i'r pryderon sylweddol a godwyd gan y sector tai, ond cyflwyno gwelliant i gael gwared ar y term 'argyfwng tai Cymru'. Roedd hynny'n frad. Dyna'r rheswm sylfaenol dros fod yma heddiw.
Bellach, ceir elfen o ddal i fyny, ond, yn anffodus, yn dal i fod, mae nifer y tai cymdeithasol a ddarperir yn sylweddol is na'r lefelau gofynnol. Mae rhywfaint o gelu yn mynd ymlaen gyda'r defnydd o'r term 'tai fforddiadwy', ond gwyddom fod hynny'n cynnwys rhent canolradd, perchentyaeth cost isel ac unrhyw beth arall y gellir ei ychwanegu i helpu Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflawni targed sy'n dal yn sylweddol is na'r lefelau y mae adroddiadau annibynnol olynol wedi dweud sydd eu hangen arnom. Gwyddom, o ymchwil annibynnol, y bydd y tenant tai cyngor cyffredin sy'n preswylio yn ei gartref heddiw yn aros yn y cartref hwnnw am 15 mlynedd arall. Felly, bydd yr effaith ar gynyddu'r cyflenwad o bobl ar restrau aros, neu'r bobl mewn argyfwng tai, yn ddibwys. Ond ers 2010 yn Lloegr, ac ers 2010 gyda'r pwerau sydd wedi'u datganoli i Weinidogion Cymru, mae cyfle i ddefnyddio'r enillion i adeiladu tai cymdeithasol newydd—tai cyngor—a thynnu rhai pobl oddi ar y rhestr aros am dai, ond ni fydd y cynnig hwn yn ei gyflawni. Gyda gwelliannau David Melding, gellid sicrhau o leiaf rhywfaint o arian i adeiladu rhai tai cymdeithasol newydd a thynnu rhai pobl oddi ar restrau aros am dai mewn niferoedd na allai'r dull amgen yr ydych chi'n ei gynnig hyd yn oed freuddwydio am ei gyflawni. Mae hynny'n hunanddinistriol. Mae'n wael o ran economeg tai, ac, yn anffodus, mae'n ychwanegu at y brad a fu yn ystod tymhorau blaenorol y Cynulliad hwn.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans.
Thank you. I would like, at the start of my contribution, to acknowledge and pay tribute to Carl Sargeant for his leadership in introducing this Bill, and for his commitment and his hard work in seeing it through Stages 1 and 2. I'd also like to thank Assembly Members and, in particular, committee members, for their constructive scrutiny of the Bill during Stage 1 and Stage 2 proceedings, and for the support the Bill has had so far in its passage through the Assembly.
This Bill forms a key part of the Government’s housing policy. Ending the right to buy and the right to acquire will protect our social housing for those in need and give local authorities and housing associations the confidence to invest in new developments to help meet the need for quality, affordable housing in Wales. The right to buy has been a feature of social housing for many years in Wales, and this has resulted in the loss of a significant number of homes—more than 139,000 between 1981 and 2016—from the social housing stock. In recent years, although sales of social housing have slowed, social housing stock is still being lost at a time of considerable housing supply pressure. Recognising the impact of homes lost through the right to buy and the continued pressure on social housing, the previous Welsh Government introduced the Housing (Wales) Measure 2011. This enables a local authority to apply to suspend the right to buy and the right to acquire in its area. Currently, as we've heard, six local authorities have suspended the right to buy.
Amendment 5 seeks to lift right-to-buy suspensions and prevent any further applications for suspension being submitted. Proposing to lift suspensions ignores the fact that local authorities have demonstrated evidence of significant housing pressure and have proposed and taken action to address the pressure during the suspension period. Suspensions have been approved where evidence shows a substantial imbalance between the demand for social housing and its supply. To lift the suspensions would only exacerbate that imbalance and undermine the purpose of the Measure and the actions of the third Assembly in passing the Measure in 2011.
In suspended areas, existing tenants of social housing still have security of tenure and affordable rents. They also benefit from the investment by landlords to bring all social housing up to the Welsh housing quality standard, and this is in contrast to those who cannot access social housing.
For those who aspire to low-cost home ownership, this Government is committed to supporting them, but not at the expense of reducing the social housing stock. There are other home ownership schemes available, such as Help to Buy—Wales and homebuy. We're also developing a new rent-to-own scheme, which offers a route to home ownership for those who do not have a deposit saved, but can afford a market rent.
Where suspensions are in place, social housing landlords are reassured that investment in new social housing is a long-term investment. Developments are proposed, for example, in Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Flintshire. Lifting the suspensions would undermine the efforts of local authorities to manage their housing stock in the face of increased pressure. It would also undermine our core aim of protecting social housing for the long-term benefit of the most vulnerable people in society. I therefore urge Members to reject amendment 5 and all the related amendments.
Diolch. Hoffwn, ar ddechrau fy nghyfraniad, gydnabod a thalu teyrnged i Carl Sargeant am ei arweiniad wrth gyflwyno'r Bil hwn, ac am ei ymrwymiad a'i waith caled i'w lywio drwy Gyfnodau 1 a 2. Hoffwn hefyd ddiolch i Aelodau'r Cynulliad ac, yn benodol, aelodau'r Pwyllgor, am eu craffu adeiladol ar y Bil yn ystod trafodion Cyfnod 1 a Chyfnod 2, ac am y gefnogaeth y mae'r Bil wedi ei chael hyd yn hyn ar ei daith drwy'r Cynulliad.
Mae'r Bil hwn yn ffurfio rhan allweddol o bolisi tai'r Llywodraeth. Bydd rhoi terfyn ar yr hawl i brynu a'r hawl i gaffael yn diogelu ein tai cymdeithasol ar gyfer y rhai mewn angen ac yn rhoi'r hyder i awdurdodau lleol a chymdeithasau tai i fuddsoddi mewn datblygiadau newydd er mwyn helpu i ddiwallu'r angen am dai fforddiadwy o ansawdd yng Nghymru. Mae'r hawl i brynu wedi bod yn nodwedd o dai cymdeithasol ers blynyddoedd lawer yng Nghymru, ac mae hyn wedi arwain at golli nifer sylweddol o gartrefi—mwy na 139,000 rhwng 1981 a 2016—o'r stoc tai cymdeithasol. Yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, er bod gwerthiant tai cymdeithasol wedi arafu, mae'r stoc tai cymdeithasol yn cael ei golli ar adeg o gryn bwysau ar gyflenwi tai. Gan gydnabod effaith y tai a gollwyd drwy hawl i brynu a'r pwysau parhaus ar dai cymdeithasol, cyflwynodd y Llywodraeth Cymru flaenorol Fesur Tai (Cymru) 2011. Mae hwn yn galluogi awdurdod lleol i wneud cais i atal dros dro yr hawl i brynu a'r hawl i gaffael yn ei ardal. Ar hyn o bryd, fel y clywsom, mae chwe awdurdod lleol wedi atal dros dro yr hawl i brynu.
Mae gwelliant 5 yn ceisio codi'r ataliadau hawl i brynu a rhwystro unrhyw geisiadau pellach am atal dros dro rhag cael eu cyflwyno. Mae cynnig i godi'r ataliadau dros dro yn anwybyddu'r ffaith fod awdurdodau lleol wedi dangos tystiolaeth o bwysau tai sylweddol ac maent wedi cynnig ac wedi cymryd camau i fynd i'r afael â'r pwysau yn ystod y cyfnod atal. Cymeradwywyd ataliadau dros dro lle mae tystiolaeth yn dangos anghydbwysedd sylweddol rhwng y galw am dai cymdeithasol a'u cyflenwad. Byddai codi'r ataliadau dros dro yn gwaethygu'r anghydbwysedd hwnnw ac yn tanseilio diben y Mesur a gweithredoedd y trydydd Cynulliad wrth basio'r Mesur yn 2011.
Mewn ardaloedd ataliedig, mae tenantiaid presennol tai cymdeithasol yn dal i elwa ar ddeiliadaeth a rhenti fforddiadwy. Maent hefyd yn elwa o fuddsoddiad gan landlordiaid i ddod â'r holl dai cymdeithasol i fyny at safon ansawdd tai Cymru, ac mae hyn yn wahanol i'r rhai na allant gael mynediad at dai cymdeithasol.
I'r rhai sy'n anelu at berchentyaeth cost isel, mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ymrwymedig i'w cefnogi, ond nid ar draul lleihau'r stoc tai cymdeithasol. Mae cynlluniau perchentyaeth eraill ar gael, megis Cymorth i Brynu—Cymru a Chymorth Prynu. Rydym hefyd yn datblygu cynllun rhentu i brynu newydd, sy'n cynnig llwybr i fod yn berchen ar gartref i'r rheini nad oes ganddynt flaendal wedi'i gynilo, ond a all fforddio rhent y farchnad.
Lle mae ataliadau dros dro ar waith, mae landlordiaid tai cymdeithasol yn dawel eu meddwl bod buddsoddiad mewn tai cymdeithasol newydd yn fuddsoddiad hirdymor. Er enghraifft, cynigir datblygiadau yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, Abertawe a Sir y Fflint. Byddai codi'r ataliadau yn tanseilio ymdrechion awdurdodau lleol i reoli eu stoc tai yn wyneb pwysau cynyddol. Byddai hefyd yn tanseilio ein nod craidd o ddiogelu tai cymdeithasol er budd hirdymor y bobl sydd fwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas. Felly anogaf yr Aelodau i wrthod gwelliant 5 a phob gwelliant cysylltiedig.
Galwaf ar David Melding i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on David Melding to reply to the debate.
Thank you, Llywydd. I’m grateful to Members who have taken part in the debate around amendment 5. I’m very frustrated, naturally, that this whole issue of equality and equity has been dodged. Let me just reiterate why that causes us real concern on this side of the Chamber. When tenants were consulted on the suspension in those authorities, they took comfort in the thought that the suspension would be temporary, not permanent. Suspending a right is not the same as abolishing that right. That is the difference, and I think it’s only fair that people realise what they're going to vote on. Obviously, this Assembly can take that decision, but my duty is to ensure that this is on the record and everyone clearly understands what they're doing in terms of creating two classes of tenants between now and the eventual abolition of this right.
TPAS Cymru, the tenants' organisation, told the committee that some tenants living in areas where a suspension is in place are under the impression that it would have to be lifted at some point in time, when they could have then exercised their right if they wanted to. They also said, and I quote, when the right to buy was suspended in those areas:
'The abolition discussion wasn’t there then. So...in terms of fairness and consistency across Wales, some consideration should be given to that 12-month period applying equally to tenants.'
I think this answers, for instance, Simon’s point that somehow they've already had this debate. They had a debate about suspension without any right, once that decision was taken, for a grace period in which they could then exercise their embedded rights. So, these statutes are not the same. The Measure is very different from the Bill in front of us.
Ultimately, Llywydd, the purpose of the suspension Measure was to suspend the right to buy for five years, and not to abolish the right completely—simple as that. As stated by Mr Clarke, an adviser to Welsh Tenants, there are tenants who accepted the suspension principle who are now anticipating that, in five years' time, they will have an opportunity to exercise their right to buy their home. Well, of course, they are going to get disabused of that at some point. And I fear, when that happens, we will have many more letters sent to us, on top of the ones we have already received, from tenants who are very unhappy about this different way of treating tenants in different parts of Wales.
Can I just reply to some of the general remarks that were made, because I think some Members have taken the opportunity in the first grouping to look at some more general issues? I’m obviously sorry that Siân Gwenllian and the Plaid group will not be supporting the amendment, but I think they're right to say that the real problem here is a lack of supply. We need to build more homes, and we need to build more social homes in particular. I appreciate what Gareth Bennett said, and that’s helpful. It has certainly been our intention on this side of the Chamber to improve the legislation in front of us. We cannot stop the abolition. I think that's quite clearly going to happen because the principle has already been accepted, and, of course, amendments are not permitted if they wreck the principle of legislation; the Llywydd would not permit that. So, I do believe that all the amendments I am laying this afternoon could be passed by people who firmly believe that abolition is very, very important.
Jenny said that it’s still the case that social homes are haemorrhaging—she used the word 'haemorrhaging’—and that had to be addressed with the supply issue. Well, I think we need to have a sense of magnitude here. There are barely 300 or 400 sales under right to buy and associated rights at the moment each year. We are hoping to build between 4,000 and 5,000 social homes, and I think that, over the next 10 years, we should do even better than that. So, you know, it really is a supply issue, and I think that is really what we should be concentrating on.
Diolch ichi, Llywydd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelodau sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl ynghylch gwelliant 5. Rwy'n rhwystredig iawn, yn naturiol, fod yr holl fater hwn o gydraddoldeb a thegwch wedi ei osgoi. Gadewch imi ailadrodd pam y mae hynny'n achosi pryder gwirioneddol ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr. Pan ymgynghorwyd â thenantiaid ar atal dros dro yn yr awdurdodau hynny, roeddent yn cael cysur yn y syniad y byddai yr ataliad yn un dros dro, nid yn barhaol. Nid yw atal hawl dros dro yr un fath â diddymu'r hawl honno. Dyna'r gwahaniaeth, a chredaf nad yw ond yn deg bod pobl yn sylweddoli beth y maent yn mynd i bleidleisio arno. Yn amlwg, gall y Cynulliad hwn gymryd y penderfyniad hwnnw, ond fy nyletswydd i yw sicrhau bod hwn ar gofnod a bod pawb yn amlwg yn deall beth y maen nhw'n ei wneud o ran creu dau ddosbarth o denantiaid rhwng nawr a diddymu'r hawl hwn yn y pen draw.
Dywedodd TPAS Cymru, sefydliad y tenantiaid, wrth y Pwyllgor fod rhai tenantiaid sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd lle mae ataliad dros dro ar waith dan yr argraff y byddai'n rhaid iddo gael ei godi rywbryd, ac yna byddent wedi gallu arfer eu hawl os oeddent yn dymuno gwneud hynny. Dywedasant hefyd, a dyfynnaf, pan fyddai'r hawl i brynu yn cael ei atal yn yr ardaloedd hynny:
Nid oedd y drafodaeth diddymu yno bryd hynny. Felly o ran tegwch a chysondeb ledled Cymru, dylid rhoi rhywfaint o ystyriaeth i'r cyfnod hwnnw o 12 mis fod yn berthnasol yn yr un modd i denantiaid.
Credaf fod hyn yn ateb, er enghraifft, y pwynt gan Simon eu bod rywsut eisoes wedi cael y ddadl hon. Cawsant ddadl ynghylch atal dros dro heb unrhyw hawl, unwaith y gwnaed y penderfyniad hwnnw, ar gyfer cyfnod gras lle gallent wedyn arfer eu hawliau sefydledig. Felly, nid yw'r statudau hyn yr un fath. Mae'r Mesur yn wahanol iawn i'r Bil sydd ger ein bron.
Yn y pen draw, Llywydd, diben y Mesur atal dros dro oedd atal yr hawl i brynu am bum mlynedd, ac nid diddymu'r hawl yn llwyr—mor syml â hynny. Fel y dywedodd Mr Clarke, Cynghorydd i denantiaid Cymru, ceir tenantiaid sydd wedi derbyn yr egwyddor atal dros dro sydd yn awr yn rhagweld, ymhen pum mlynedd, y bydd ganddynt gyfle i ymarfer eu hawl i brynu eu cartref. Wel, wrth gwrs, maent yn mynd i gael eu dadrithio ynglŷn â hynny ar ryw adeg. Ac ofnaf, pan ddigwydd hynny, y bydd gennym lawer mwy o lythyrau yn cael eu hanfon atom, ar ben y rhai yr ydym eisoes wedi'u derbyn, gan denantiaid sy'n anhapus iawn â'r ffordd wahanol hon o drin tenantiaid mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru.
A gaf i ymateb i rai o'r sylwadau cyffredinol a wnaed, oherwydd credaf fod rhai Aelodau wedi manteisio ar y cyfle yn y grŵp cyntaf i edrych ar rai materion mwy cyffredinol? Mae'n ddrwg gennyf yn amlwg na fydd Siân Gwenllian a grŵp Plaid yn cefnogi'r gwelliant, ond credaf eu bod yn iawn i ddweud mai'r gwir broblem yw diffyg cyflenwad. Mae angen inni adeiladu mwy o gartrefi, ac mae angen inni adeiladu cartrefi mwy cymdeithasol yn benodol. Gwerthfawrogaf yr hyn a ddywedodd Gareth Bennett, ac mae hynny'n ddefnyddiol. Mae'n sicr wedi bod yn fwriad gennym ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr i wella'r ddeddfwriaeth sydd ger ein bron. Ni allwn atal y diddymu. Credaf fod hynny yn amlwg yn mynd i ddigwydd oherwydd derbyniwyd yr egwyddor eisoes, ac, wrth gwrs, ni chaniateir gwelliannau os ydyn nhw'n difetha egwyddor y ddeddfwriaeth; ni fyddai'r Llywydd yn caniatáu hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu y gallai pob un o'r gwelliannau y byddaf yn eu cyflwyno y prynhawn yma gael eu pasio gan bobl sy'n credu'n gryf bod diddymu yn bwysig iawn, iawn.
Dywedodd Jenny ei bod yn dal yn wir fod cartrefi cymdeithasol yn dioddef o waedlif—defnyddiodd y gair 'gwaedlif'—ac roedd yn rhaid mynd i'r afael â hynny o ran y problem cyflenwad. Wel, credaf fod angen inni gael syniad o'r maint yma. Ceir prin 300 neu 400 o werthiannau dan yr hawl i brynu a hawliau cysylltiedig ar hyn o bryd bob blwyddyn. Rydym yn gobeithio adeiladu rhwng 4,000 a 5,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol, a chredaf, dros y 10 mlynedd nesaf, y dylem wneud hyd yn oed yn well na hynny. Felly, wyddoch chi, mewn gwirionedd mae'n fater o sicrhau cyflenwad, a chredaf mewn gwirionedd mai dyma'r hyn y dylem fod yn canolbwyntio arno.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
But, obviously, that argument has been aired and we have lost it. But I still think it's important to put them in some perspective. I will give way, if—.
Ond, yn amlwg, gwyntyllwyd y ddadl honno ac rydym wedi'i cholli hi. Ond rwy'n dal i gredu ei bod yn bwysig eu rhoi mewn persbectif. Ildiaf, os—
Thank you. Whilst accepting the fundamental principle of local democracy and the reasoning for the suspensions in the areas that we've discussed, would you accept that the word 'haemorrhaging' reflects the 46 per cent loss of social housing through right to buy? Would you accept that, by losing more of a precious commodity, you're not protecting it?
Diolch. Gan dderbyn yr egwyddor sylfaenol o ddemocratiaeth leol a'r rhesymeg dros yr ataliadau dros dro yn yr ardaloedd a drafodwyd, a fyddech yn derbyn bod y gair 'gwaedlif' yn adlewyrchu colli 46 y cant o'r tai cymdeithasol drwy'r cynllun hawl i brynu? A fyddech yn derbyn, drwy golli mwy o nwyddau gwerthfawr, nad ydych yn eu diogelu?
Well, we've not lost housing stock, have we? The tenancy has changed, obviously, and that's significant. There's a whole debate to be had about that, but to somehow say we've lost 150,000 homes in Wales is really a rather silly argument.
In other amendments that I'm proposing, I will return to this issue of whether sensible reform could be suggested, and a different balance. And should we ever be in a position to re-establish the right to buy, I'm sure that there would be things we would do differently. I think, sometimes, there have been one or two outlying advocates of right to buy that have not emphasised the need for social housing enough, because right to buy is not for everyone; it's not for most people who are in the social sector and, you know, I don't think conceding that reduces the argument that I'm making this afternoon.
I'm grateful to Angela, who passionately emphasised the fairness issue, and then Mark, who, of course, to those of us who have served since Mark's election first in 2003, will know what a champion of house building he's been and the fact that we need to increase the supply, which is definitely the basis of all this.
But let's make this Bill fairer. I urge Members to support amendment 5.
Wel, nid ydym wedi colli stoc dai, ydym ni? Newidiodd y denantiaeth, yn amlwg, ac mae hynny'n arwyddocaol. Mae dadl gyfan i'w chael ynglŷn â hynny, ond mae dweud rywsut ein bod wedi colli 150,000 o gartrefi yng Nghymru mewn gwirionedd yn ddadl braidd yn wirion.
Mewn gwelliannau eraill yr wyf yn eu cynnig, byddaf yn dychwelyd at y mater hwn o p'un a ellid awgrymu diwygiad synhwyrol, a chydbwysedd gwahanol. A pe digwydd i ni byth fod mewn sefyllfa i ail-sefydlu'r hawl i brynu, rwy'n siŵr y byddai pethau y byddem yn eu gwneud yn wahanol. Rwy'n meddwl, weithiau, y bu un neu ddau o eiriolwyr pellennig o'r hawl i brynu nad ydynt wedi pwysleisio'r angen am dai cymdeithasol yn ddigon, oherwydd nid yw'r hawl i brynu ar gyfer pawb; nid yw ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o bobl sydd yn y sector cymdeithasol, a wyddoch chi, dwi ddim yn meddwl bod ildio hynny'n lleihau'r ddadl yr wyf yn ei gwneud y prynhawn yma.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Angela, a bwysleisiodd fater tegwch yn angerddol, ac yna i Mark, sydd, wrth gwrs, i'r rheini ohonom sydd wedi gwasanaethu ers etholiad Mark gyntaf yn 2003, fydd yn gwybod cymaint o hyrwyddwr adeiladu tai y mae wedi bod a'r ffaith bod angen inni gynyddu'r cyflenwad, sy'n bendant yn sail i hyn i gyd.
Ond gadewch i ni wneud y Bil hwn yn decach. Anogaf yr Aelodau i gefnogi gwelliant 5.
Os na dderbynnir gwelliant 5, bydd gwelliannau 9, 11, 1 a 3 yn methu. Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 5? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Symudwn i bleidlais electronig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 15, neb yn ymatal, 35 yn erbyn. Felly, gwrthodwyd gwelliant 5.
If amendment 5 is not agreed to, amendments 9, 11, 1 and 3 will fall. The question is that amendment 5 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We’ll proceed to an electronic vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 15, no abstentions, 35 against. Therefore, amendment 5 is not agreed.
Gwelliant 5: O blaid: 15, Yn erbyn: 35, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Methodd gwelliannau 9, 11, 1 a 3.
Amendments 9, 11, 1 and 3 fell.
Y grŵp nesaf o welliannau yw grŵp 2, sy'n ymwneud â'r cyfnod diddymu. Gwelliant 6 yw'r prif welliant yn y grŵp yma. Rydw i'n galw ar David Melding i gynnig y prif welliant a siarad am y gwelliant a'r gwelliannau eraill yn y grŵp—David Melding.
The next group of amendments is group 2, which relates to the abolition period. Amendment 6 is the lead amendment in this group, and I call on David Melding to move and speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group—David Melding.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 6 (David Melding).
Amendment 6 (David Melding) moved.
Thanks, Llywydd, and I move amendment 6. I'll speak to the other amendments.
Amendment 6 has been submitted with the intention of limiting the Act's operation to 10 years, following which the Welsh Ministers may lay regulations proposing that the abolition is made permanent. These regulations would be made subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, and so would require a vote by the Assembly.
Both amendments 13 and 2 are consequential to the lead amendment and its implementation.
Llywydd, the Welsh Conservatives have submitted several alternative and constructive options to the abolition of the right to buy, because we recognise the opportunities that right to buy has provided, and still provides, for hundreds of families throughout Wales. But, as I hinted earlier, we're not deaf to some of the concerns people have had about aspects of the right-to-buy policy. Such alternative options have included reforming the receipts system so that it operates on a like-for-like basis, or the amending of the right to buy so that new builds are exempt from the policy until they have been socially rented tenancies for a minimum period of time.
Alas, I've not been able to persuade the Government of these alternatives, which I very much regret. As I said earlier, we have to concede that the principle has been accepted. So, the purpose of this amendment is at least to urge the Government to reflect on the policy after a 10-year period. This amendment would also complement recent announcements in regard to an increased investment in the supply of social housing, which we've heard is so important. The Prime Minister has recently promised to invest an additional £2 billion in affordable housing over two years from 2019, and most of that is expected to be in council housing. I very much hope we are going to see that sort of ambition and policy emerge in Wales with the Welsh Government also.
So, an increased investment in social housing and the option of a reformed right to buy becomes more viable, in my view, even in the minds of critics. After all, the Welsh Government, as I understand, do not oppose the right to buy in principle. If this is so—and it was stated by the Cabinet Secretary in Stage 1 and 2 proceedings—this amendment should cause the Government no difficulty. It does not go against their fundamental intention in the Bill. After all, if the situation, in their view, is no better in 10 years' time, then they could persuade this Chamber to abolish the right to buy permanently. That would be permissible under the amendment I am making.
Can I say, Llywydd, that in political debates across the world there's been a whole shift to post-legislative scrutiny? In many ways, this amendment encompasses those principles. The House of Lords Constitution Committee stated that Parliament's responsibility for legislation should not end once a Bill has become an Act, and I think the Assembly can reflect that by having this sort of provision of going back and looking at a Bill after 10 years, and then having a vote on whether it should continue.
I would say that this type of approach—of another affirmative vote after a period of time—has firm precedence on fundamental pieces of legislation that involve people's rights. Parliament has used that mechanism, and therefore I think it is a logical thing for us to do. So, I do hope that the Chamber will accept this innovative way of getting to some sort of compromise, and perhaps holding out the hope to those who really do believe it's a supply issue, and that fundamentally the right to buy can exist in a reasonable housing policy that has social housing and the excellence of social housing at its heart. I so move the amendment.
Diolch, Llywydd, ac rwy'n cynnig gwelliant 6. Byddaf yn siarad am y gwelliannau eraill.
Cyflwynwyd gwelliant 6 gyda'r bwriad o gyfyngu ar weithrediad y Ddeddf i 10 mlynedd, pryd y caiff Gweinidogion Cymru wedyn osod rheoliadau yn cynnig bod y diddymu yn cael ei wneud yn barhaol. Byddai'r Rheoliadau hyn yn cael eu gwneud yn amodol ar y weithdrefn penderfyniad cadarnhaol, ac felly byddai angen pleidlais gan y Cynulliad.
Mae'r ddau welliant 13 a 2 yn ganlyniadol i'r prif welliant a'i weithredu.
Llywydd, mae Ceidwadwyr Cymru wedi cyflwyno nifer o ddewisiadau amgen ac adeiladol i ddiddymu'r hawl i brynu, oherwydd rydym yn cydnabod y cyfleoedd y mae'r hawl i brynu wedi'u rhoi, ac yn dal i'w rhoi, i gannoedd o deuluoedd ledled Cymru. Ond, fel yr awgrymais yn gynharach, nid ydym yn fyddar i rai o'r pryderon y mae pobl wedi'u mynegi am agweddau ar y polisi hawl i brynu. Mae dewisiadau amgen o'r fath wedi cynnwys diwygio system y derbynebau fel ei bod yn gweithredu ar sail gyfatebol, neu ddiwygio'r hawl i brynu fel bod adeiladau newydd wedi'u heithrio rhag y polisi hyd nes eu bod wedi bod yn denantiaethau wedi'u rhentu'n gymdeithasol am gyfnod penodol o amser.
Yn anffodus, nid wyf wedi llwyddo i berswadio'r Llywodraeth o'r dewisiadau amgen hyn, ac rwyf yn gresynu hynny'n fawr. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, rhaid inni gyfaddef bod yr egwyddor wedi'i derbyn. Felly, diben y gwelliant hwn yw annog y Llywodraeth i fyfyrio ar y polisi ar ôl cyfnod o 10 mlynedd o leiaf. Byddai'r gwelliant hwn hefyd yn ategu cyhoeddiadau diweddar o ran mwy o fuddsoddi yn y cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol, yr ydym wedi clywed sydd mor bwysig. Addawodd y Prif Weinidog yn ddiweddar i fuddsoddi £2 biliwn ychwanegol mewn tai fforddiadwy dros ddwy flynedd o 2019, a disgwylir i'r rhan fwyaf o hynny fod yn dai cyngor. Rwy'n mawr obeithio y byddwn yn gweld y math hwnnw o uchelgais a pholisi yn dod i'r amlwg yng Nghymru gyda Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd.
Felly, mwy o fuddsoddi mewn tai cymdeithasol ac mae'r opsiwn o hawl diwygiedig i brynu yn dod yn fwy hyfyw, yn fy marn i, hyd yn oed ym meddyliau'r beirniaid. Wedi'r cyfan, ni wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, fel y deallaf, wrthwynebu'r hawl i brynu mewn egwyddor. Os felly—a dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hynny yn nhrafodion Cyfnod 1 a 2—ni ddylai'r gwelliant hwn achosi unrhyw anhawster i'r Llywodraeth. Nid yw'n mynd yn erbyn eu bwriad sylfaenol yn y Bil. Wedi'r cyfan, os yw'r sefyllfa, yn eu barn nhw, yn ddim gwell ymhen 10 mlynedd, yna gallant ddarbwyllo'r Siambr hon i ddiddymu'r hawl i brynu yn barhaol. Byddai hynny'n cael ei ganiatáu dan y gwelliant yr wyf yn ei wneud.
A gaf i ddweud, Llywydd, y bu symudiad cyfan i'r gwaith craffu ar ôl deddfu mewn dadleuon gwleidyddol ar draws y byd? Mewn sawl ffordd, mae'r gwelliant hwn yn cwmpasu'r egwyddorion hynny. Dywedodd Pwyllgor Cyfansoddiad Tŷ'r Arglwyddi na ddylai cyfrifoldeb y Senedd ar gyfer deddfwriaeth ddod i ben ar ôl i'r Bil ddod yn Ddeddf. Credaf y gall y Cynulliad adlewyrchu hynny drwy gael y math hwn o ddarpariaeth, sef mynd yn ôl ac edrych ar Fil ar ôl 10 mlynedd, ac yna cael pleidlais ar p'un a ddylai barhau.
Byddwn yn dweud bod gan dull o'r math hwn—o bleidlais gadarnhaol arall ar ôl cyfnod o amser—flaenoriaeth gadarn ar ddarnau sylfaenol o ddeddfwriaeth sy'n ymwneud â hawliau pobl. Mae'r Senedd wedi defnyddio'r mecanwaith hwnnw, a chredaf felly ei fod y peth rhesymegol inni ei wneud. Felly, gobeithio y bydd y Siambr yn derbyn y ffordd arloesol hon o ddod i ryw fath o gyfaddawd, ac efallai gynnal y gobaith i'r rhai sydd mewn gwirionedd yn credu ei fod yn fater cyflenwad, ac yn y bôn y gall yr hawl i brynu fodoli mewn polisi tai rhesymol sydd â thai cymdeithasol a rhagoriaeth tai cymdeithasol wrth ei wraidd. Felly, cynigiaf y gwelliant.
Rydw i'n meddwl ei bod yn reit amlwg beth yw bwriad y gwelliannau yma. Mi fyddai'r gwelliannau, o'u pasio, yn cyfyngu gweithrediad y Ddeddf i 10 mlynedd, ac ar ôl hynny, mi allai Gweinidogion Cymru osod rheoliadau sydd yn cynnig gwneud y dileu yn barhaol. Rŵan, buaswn i'n dadlau nad oes dim angen y gwelliannau yma o gwbl. Ymhen 10 mlynedd, neu unrhyw bryd yn y dyfodol, gallai unrhyw Lywodraeth ddeddfu i ailgyflwyno'r hawl i brynu, a byddai deddfwriaeth newydd yn destun llawer mwy o graffu nag unrhyw reoliadau. Felly, beth bynnag ydy eich barn chi am egwyddor y Ddeddf yma, os ydych chi o blaid craffu ar ddeddfwriaeth yn llawn, pleidleisiwch yn erbyn y grŵp yma o welliannau.
I think it’s quite apparent what the intention of these amendments is. The amendments, were they to be passed, would restrict the implementation of the Act to 10 years, and following that, Welsh Ministers could bring forward regulations that would make the abolition permanent. Now, I would argue that these amendments are entirely unnecessary. In 10 years’ time, or at any point in the future, any Government could legislate in order to re-introduce the right to buy, and new legislation would be the subject of far more scrutiny that any regulations would be. So, whatever your view of the principle underpinning this Bill, if you are in favour of full legislative scrutiny, then vote against this group of amendments.
I absolutely agree with what Siân Gwenllian has just said. It seems to me that it's perfectly possible for the Assembly to reverse this Act were the situation to change. But I do not think there's anything innovative about what David Melding is proposing. Had you come forward with a proposal to allow a local authority that has no housing waiting list and that is having difficulty filling those homes—that would be a proposal that I would look on with great interest, because I think that is a situation where it would be perfectly possible to let that housing go from the social sector. But whilst we have the huge numbers of people awaiting a decent home that have accumulated over the last 36 years, where we've allowed all these properties to leave the social housing sector, and they've not been replaced in the 36 years since Mrs Thatcher introduced it—that is what has created the tragedy that we have today.
I do not think that the proposals proposed by the UK Government last week to build 300,000 homes a year, when they have done so little in the last seven years, are anything other than a chimera. There's not a single one of these illusory new homes being built, as far as I am aware—as council housing, in any case. When did the market ever provide the homes that ordinary families on average income actually need? I remember the squalor of the 1960s and the 1970s when some Labour local authorities had to buy up whole streets of decaying inner-city properties from private landlords and turn them into council homes—a tangible and potent demonstration of state power making up for market failure. So, what action would David Melding propose that we should be taking against the major house builders who are already sitting on land banks with planning permission for housing that they choose not to build on? I do not see a transformation of the acute housing need in the next decade, and therefore I do not think that we are posing the solution to the problem in the right way by simply making it a 10-year project. We have to ensure that we abolish the right to buy until such time as we don't have a problem, with those who need social housing able to be accommodated in appropriate homes.
Cytunaf yn llwyr â'r hyn y mae Siân Gwenllian newydd ei ddweud. Mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod yn gwbl bosibl i'r Cynulliad wyrdroi'r Ddeddf hon pe bai'r sefyllfa'n newid. Ond nid wyf yn credu bod unrhyw beth arloesol am yr hyn y mae David Melding yn ei gynnig. Pe byddech wedi cyflwyno cynnig i ganiatáu i awdurdod lleol nad oes ganddo restr aros am dai ac sy'n cael trafferth llenwi'r cartrefi hynny— byddai hwnnw'n gynnig y byddwn yn edrych arno gyda diddordeb mawr, oherwydd credaf fod honno'n sefyllfa lle byddai'n berffaith bosibl i adael i'r tai hynny fynd o'r sector cymdeithasol. Ond er bod y niferoedd mawr o bobl sy'n aros i gael cartrefi gweddus wedi cronni dros y 36 mlynedd diwethaf, lle'r ydym wedi caniatáu i'r eiddo hyn fynd o'r sector tai cymdeithasol, ac ni ddaeth dim yn eu lle mewn 36 o flynyddoedd ers i Mrs Thatcher ei gyflwyno—dyna sydd wedi creu'r drasiedi sydd gennym heddiw.
Nid wyf yn credu bod y cynigion arfaethedig gan Lywodraeth y DU yr wythnos diwethaf i adeiladu 300,000 o gartrefi y flwyddyn, ar ôl gwneud cyn lleied yn y saith mlynedd diwethaf, yn unrhyw beth heblaw rhith. Nid oes un o'r cartrefi newydd lledrithiol hyn yn cael eu hadeiladu, cyn belled ag yr wyf i'n ymwybodol ohonynt—fel tai cyngor, beth bynnag. Pryd wnaeth y farchnad erioed ddarparu cartrefi sydd eu hangen ar deuluoedd cyffredin ar incwm cyfartalog mewn gwirionedd? Cofiaf y budreddi o'r 1960au a'r 1970au pan oedd rhai awdurdodau lleol Llafur yn gorfod prynu strydoedd cyfan o dai canol dinas a oedd yn pydru oddi wrth landlordiaid preifat a'u troi'n gartrefi cyngor—roedd hyn yn dangos yn ddiriaethol ac yn rymus bŵer gwladwriaeth yn gwneud yn iawn am fethiant yn y farchnad. Felly, pa gamau fyddai David Melding yn cynnig y dylem eu cymryd yn erbyn y prif adeiladwyr tai sydd eisoes yn eistedd ar fanciau tir sydd â chaniatâd cynllunio ar gyfer tai y maent yn dewis peidio ag adeiladu arnynt? Nid wyf yn gweld trawsnewid o'r angen brys am dai yn y ddegawd nesaf, ac felly ni chredaf ein bod yn creu ateb i'r broblem yn y ffordd gywir drwy ei gwneud yn syml yn brosiect 10 mlynedd. Rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn diddymu'r hawl i brynu hyd nes na fydd gennym broblem, gyda'r rhai sydd angen tai cymdeithasol yn gallu cael eu lletya mewn cartrefi priodol.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans.
Thank you, Llywydd. The aim of this Bill is to abolish permanently the right to buy and the right to acquire in Wales. I'm afraid this amendment does cause the Government difficulty because it is complete abolition that provides a significant incentive for social landlords to invest in new properties, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be lost through the right to buy after a relatively short period of time. Temporary abolition, sought by amendment 6, provides no such certainty for social landlords to invest in building new houses. Indeed, evidence from the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee stakeholder sessions noted that local authorities are seeking assurance beyond that provided by temporary suspension that their future investments will be protected.
The existing housing Measure enables local authorities to apply for the right to buy to be suspended for five years, and that can be extended to 10 years upon application and the provision of supporting evidence. Therefore, it has to be said that this amendment provides little advance on the current legislation. The temporary period would introduce confusion in the sector and not provide the long-term incentive for landlords to invest in new stock. As Siân Gwenllian said, if a future Government wishes to reintroduce the right to buy, well that would be a matter for them, but it was a manifesto commitment for this Government—and, as outlined by Siân Gwenllian, it was a manifesto commitment for Plaid Cymru too—to abolish the right to buy to safeguard the stock for use by people in the greatest housing need. Therefore, I urge Members to vote against amendment 6 and the related amendments.
Diolch ichi, Llywydd. Nod y Bil hwn yw diddymu'r hawl i brynu a'r hawl i gaffael yng Nghymru yn barhaol. Rwy'n ofni bod y gwelliant hwn yn achosi anhawster i'r Llywodraeth oherwydd mae'n ddiddymiad llwyr sy'n rhoi hwb sylweddol i landlordiaid cymdeithasol i fuddsoddi mewn eiddo newydd, gan wybod na fyddant yn colli drwy'r cynllun hawl i brynu ar ôl cyfnod cymharol fyr o amser. Nid yw diddymu dros dro, a geisir gan welliant 6, yn rhoi unrhyw sicrwydd o'r fath i landlordiaid cymdeithasol i fuddsoddi mewn adeiladu tai newydd. Yn wir, nododd y dystiolaeth o sesiynau rhanddeiliaid y Pwyllgor Cymunedau, Cydraddoldeb a Llywodraeth Leol fod awdurdodau lleol yn chwilio am sicrwydd y tu hwnt i'r hyn a ddarperir gan atal dros dro y bydd eu buddsoddiadau yn y dyfodol yn cael eu diogelu.
Mae'r Mesur tai sy'n bodoli eisoes yn galluogi awdurdodau lleol i wneud cais i'r hawl i brynu gael ei atal dros dro am bum mlynedd, ac y gellir ei ymestyn i 10 mlynedd ar gais ac wrth ddarparu tystiolaeth ategol. Felly, mae'n rhaid dweud nad yw'r gwelliant hwn yn darparu llawer mwy na'r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol. Byddai'r cyfnod dros dro yn cyflwyno dryswch yn y sector ac ni fyddai'n darparu cymhelliant hirdymor i landlordiaid fuddsoddi mewn stoc newydd. Fel y dywedodd Siân Gwenllian, os dymuna'r Llywodraeth yn y dyfodol ailgyflwyno'r hawl i brynu, wel, byddai hynny'n fater iddynt hwy, ond roedd yn ymrwymiad maniffesto ar gyfer y Llywodraeth hon—ac, fel yr amlinellwyd gan Siân Gwenllian, roedd yn ymrwymiad maniffesto Plaid Cymru hefyd—i ddiddymu'r hawl i brynu er mwyn diogelu stoc i'w ddefnyddio gan bobl â'r angen mwyaf am dai. Felly, anogaf yr Aelodau i bleidleisio yn erbyn gwelliant 6 a gwelliannau cysylltiedig.
Galwaf ar David Melding i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on David Melding to reply to the debate.
Thank you, Llywydd. I'm a little surprised by the Minister's response because, in fairness to the Cabinet Secretary, during the committee proceedings, he did concede that some form of sunset clause could be reasonably considered. He thought a far longer period than 10 years would be most appropriate, if the Government went down that road. But we now hear from the Minister that complete abolishment is the intention. I have to say that there was a different emphasis in the Government's evidence as we went through Stages 1 and 2—that the right to buy was not something that was opposed in principle and that even something like a sunset clause could get looked at.
On your other argument about how somehow a sunset clause deters new build in terms of housing associations, or if we have a new age of council housing, one way around that would be, as I previously mentioned, ensuring that new builds have to be socially rented for a period of 15 or 20 years or whatever. There are other mechanisms, rather than completely abolishing a cherished right that has been exercised by so many people. If someone in 1980 said that getting on for 150,000 people in Wales would exercise a particular right, you would have thought, 'Wow, that is offering the citizenry something that is highly desirable.' So, I do urge the Chamber to think that some nuance could be brought into the Bill that is in front of us.
I do agree that the issue of supply is at the heart of this. Therefore, I think it's reasonable, after 10 years, to examine the issue again and to ask ourselves, 'The evidence that some people have found convincing: does that still have the strength that it has today?' And I don't think that is, in any way, weakening the Bill before us. After all, it would only take a resolution in this house or regulation. We're not talking about the Bill expiring and then you'd have to start the whole process again; it would just require an affirmative vote here.
Can I also say at this point that the Welsh Government has consistently mentioned the alternative of homeownership assistance schemes such as Help to Buy? But what I think you consistently fail to acknowledge is that most people on the lowest incomes would fail to qualify for such schemes as their income would be below the threshold, and many of these people have taken advantage of the Right to Buy and the discounts that it has given them.
During Stage 1, Steve Clarke stated:
'In our consultation of 2015, and our joint statement with TPAS Cymru, 100% of tenants agreed that Welsh Government needed to do more to increase social housing supply. In those consultations, 60% of tenants stated they did not want to see an end to RTB but supported restrictions on discounts and temporary suspension where there was a demonstrated need.'
So, I think this amendment is much more in tune with what the tenants, when they're consulted, are saying and the type of flexibility and sophistication they would expect in the policy and its architecture that we are constructing this afternoon. So, I really think that we could be innovative and do something that would be a first for this Assembly, and also acknowledge that there clearly is divided opinion.
I have to say, you know, in this Chamber there is a clear majority for this measure, probably, in its most robust form from your point of view, but when it comes to public opinion, I think you'll find that the arguments that we're making on this side—and we are supported, I acknowledge, by members of the UKIP group—have far greater resonance with the electorate out there, and I think that ought to be a concern during this period of what some people think is unresponsive or jaded democracy. So, I do hope Members will think carefully about how they're going to vote on this amendment.
Diolch ichi, Lywydd. Rwy'n synnu braidd gan ymateb y Gweinidog oherwydd, er tegwch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn ystod trafodion y Pwyllgor, cyfaddefodd y gellid ystyried rhyw fath o gymal machlud rhesymol. Roedd yn credu y byddai cyfnod hwy o lawer na 10 mlynedd yn fwy priodol, pe bai'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i lawr y ffordd honno. Ond bellach rydym yn clywed gan y Gweinidog mai'r bwriad yw diddymiad llwyr. Rhaid imi ddweud bod pwyslais gwahanol yn nhystiolaeth y Llywodraeth wrth inni fynd trwy Gyfnod 1 a 2—nad oedd yr hawl i brynu yn rhywbeth a oedd yn cael ei wrthwynebu mewn egwyddor ac y byddai hyd yn oed rhywbeth fel cymal machlud yn cael ei ystyried.
O ran eich dadl arall am sut, rywsut, y mae cymal machlud yn atal adeiladu newydd o ran cymdeithasau tai, neu os cawn oes newydd o dai cyngor, un ffordd o amgylch hynny, fel y soniais o'r blaen, fyddai sicrhau bod yn rhaid i adeiladau newydd fod ar rent yn gymdeithasol am gyfnod o 15 neu 20 mlynedd neu beth bynnag. Mae mecanweithiau eraill ar gael, yn hytrach na llwyr ddiddymu hawl a drysorir ac a gafodd ei harfer gan gynifer o bobl. Pe dywedai rhywun ym 1980 y byddai rhywbeth tebyg i 150,000 o bobl yng Nghymru yn arfer hawl benodol, byddech wedi meddwl, 'Hei, mae hynny'n cynnig rhywbeth dymunol iawn i ddinasyddion.' Felly, rwy'n annog y Siambr i feddwl y gellid dod â newid pwyslais yn y Bil sydd ger ein bron.
Ac rwy'n cytuno bod y mater o gyflenwi wrth wraidd hyn. Felly, onid yw'n rhesymol, ar ôl 10 mlynedd, i ystyried y mater eto ac i ofyn i ni'n hunain, 'Y dystiolaeth y mae rhai pobl yn ei hystyried yn argyhoeddiadol: a yw honno'n dal mor gryf heddiw?' Ac ni chredaf fod hynny, mewn unrhyw ffordd, yn gwanhau'r Bil ger ein bron. Wedi'r cyfan, ni fyddai ond yn cymryd penderfyniad yn y tŷ hwn neu reoliad. Nid ydym yn sôn am y Bil yn dod i ben ac yna byddai'n rhaid ddechrau ar y broses gyfan unwaith eto; ni fyddai ond angen pleidlais gadarnhaol yma.
A gaf i hefyd ddweud ar y pwynt hwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyson wedi crybwyll y dewis o gynlluniau cymorth perchentyaeth amgen fel Cymorth i Brynu? Ond yr hyn y credaf yr ydych yn methu â'i gydnabod yn gyson yw y byddai'r rhan fwyaf o bobl ar yr incwm isaf ddim yn gymwys am gynlluniau o'r fath gan y byddai eu hincwm yn is na'r trothwy, ac mae llawer o'r bobl hyn wedi manteisio ar yr Hawl i Brynu a'r gostyngiadau a roddwyd iddynt.
Yn ystod Cyfnod 1, dywedodd Steve Clarke:
Yn ein hymgynghoriad yn 2015, a'n datganiad ar y cyd â TPAS Cymru, cytunodd 100% o'r tenantiaid fod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru wneud mwy i gynyddu'r cyflenwad o dai cymdeithasol. Yn yr ymgynghoriadau hynny, dywedodd 60% o'r tenantiaid nad oeddent am weld diwedd ar yr hawl i brynu ond roeddent yn cefnogi cyfyngiadau ar ostyngiadau ac atal dros dro lle'r oedd angen wedi ei ddangos.
Felly, credaf fod y gwelliant hwn mewn mwy o gytgord â'r hyn y mae'r tenantiaid, pan ymgynghorir â nhw, yn ei ddweud a'r math o hyblygrwydd a soffistigeiddrwydd a ddisgwylir ganddynt yn y polisi a'i bensaernïaeth yr ydym yn ei greu y prynhawn yma. Felly, credaf mewn gwirionedd y gallem fod yn arloesol a bod y Cynulliad hwn yn gwneud rhywbeth na ddigwyddodd o'r blaen, gan gydnabod hefyd yn amlwg fod gwahaniaeth barn.
Rhaid imi ddweud, wyddoch chi, yn y Siambr hon mae mwyafrif clir o blaid y Mesur hwn, fwy na thebyg, yn ei ffurf gadarnaf o'ch safbwynt chi, ond pan ddaw i farn y cyhoedd, credaf y cewch fod y dadleuon yr ydym yn eu gwneud ar yr ochr hon—ac rydym yn cael ein cefnogi, rwy'n cydnabod, gan aelodau o'r grŵp UKIP—wedi plesio'r etholwyr yn llawer mwy. Credaf y dylai hynny fod yn destun pryder yn ystod y cyfnod hwn o ddemocratiaeth sydd, ym marn rhai pobl yn anymatebol neu'n ddiflas. Felly, gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau yn meddwl yn ofalus am sut y maen nhw'n mynd i bleidleisio ar y gwelliant hwn.
Os na dderbynnir gwelliant 6, bydd gwelliant 2 yn methu. Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 6? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Symudwn i bleidlais electronig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 15, neb yn ymatal, 35 yn erbyn, ac felly gwrthodwyd gwelliant 6.
If amendment 6 is not agreed to, amendment 2 falls. The question is that amendment 6 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We’ll proceed to an electronic vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 15, no abstentions, 35 against. Therefore amendment 6 is not agreed.
Gwelliant 6: O blaid: 15, Yn erbyn: 35, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Methodd gwelliant 2.
Amendment 2 fell.
David Melding, gwelliant 13.
David Melding, amendment 13.
I'll withdraw it; there's no point now.
Byddaf yn ei dynnu'n ôl; does dim pwynt bellach.
Ni chynigiwyd gwelliant 13 (David Melding).
Amendment 13 (David Melding) not moved.
David Melding, gwelliant 14.
David Melding, amendment 14.
Likewise, I withdraw.
Rwy'n ei dynnu'n ôl yn yr un modd.
Ni chynigiwyd gwelliant 14 (David Melding).
Amendment 14 (David Melding) not moved.
Y grŵp nesaf, felly, o welliannau yw grŵp 3, sy'n ymwneud â gwybodaeth i denantiaid a darpar denantiaid a gofynion ar Weinidogion Cymru. Gwelliant 7 yw'r prif welliant. Rydw i'n galw ar David Melding i gynnig y prif welliant ac i siarad am y gwelliant yma ac am y gwelliannau eraill yn y grŵp. David Melding.
The next group of amendments, therefore is the group 3, which relates to requirements on Welsh Ministers in relation to information for tenants and prospective tenants. Amendment 7 is the lead amendment, and I call on David Melding to move and speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group. David Melding.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 7 (David Melding).
Amendment 7 (David Melding) moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Amendment 7's purpose—and I'd like to move amendment 7—is to incorporate the recommendations made in the report of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, namely that section 8 of the Bill makes provision for information to be provided to landlords and tenants about the effects of this Bill. This amendment imposes an absolute duty on the Welsh Ministers to notify all qualifying landlords in Wales. As currently drafted, the duty to do so is only a qualified one. Amendment 8 is a consequential amendment of amendment 7, which ensures that the substantive amendment is effective.
Llywydd, the purpose of this lead amendment is simple, and, I hope, less controversial—although perhaps that's a vain hope, we will have to see. I do believe that if there was one aspect throughout Stage 1 that got universal agreement with the committee, it was that information for tenants and prospective tenants needed to be in-depth and widely circulated. This was also the view of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, as shown in its recommendation, which I'm putting forward in this grouping. It's also the reason that I'll be supporting Bethan Jenkins's amendments in the next group.
I think it's crucially important that all tenants are made aware of the options that are available to them, along with the significant dates in the policy and the financial considerations that they need to be aware of, should they wish to purchase their property. I note in the Cabinet Secretary's evidence to the CLAC committee that he was unwilling to commit an absolute duty because there may be some landlords who are England based, and therefore operating with one or two tenancies in Wales that we're not aware of. This was an argument that indeed was reiterated at Stage 2 of the Bill.
But this argument is simply not convincing. This amendment proposes that an absolute duty is placed on the Welsh Government to inform all qualified landlords in Wales. The duty on Welsh Ministers for landlords outside Wales remains qualified, meaning that the Welsh Government must take all reasonable action to inform them. This means that if a couple of landlords outside Wales could not be found despite all reasonable measures, the Welsh Government cannot be deemed to have failed in its duty to inform under this amendment.
The lack of a duty in this respect reduces any pressure on the Government to make it their absolute priority to ensure that all tenants in Wales are informed of the abolition and informed of the details within it. There's clearly an aim to water down any statutory duty with regard to their own responsibilities with regard to informing all of those tenants in Wales who will be affected by this Bill. This is a point that's been picked up by CLAC and it's something we echo on this side of the Chamber, and I do hope that Members will support this amendment. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Diben gwelliant 7—a hoffwn gynnig gwelliant 7—yw ymgorffori'r argymhellion a wneir yn adroddiad y Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol, sef bod adran 8 o'r Bil yn gwneud darpariaeth ar gyfer gwybodaeth sydd i'w darparu i landlordiaid a thenantiaid am effeithiau'r Bil hwn. Mae'r gwelliant hwn yn gosod dyletswydd absoliwt ar Weinidogion Cymru i hysbysu'r holl landlordiaid cymwys yng Nghymru. Fel y'i drafftiwyd ar hyn o bryd, mae'r ddyletswydd i wneud hynny yn un gymwysedig yn unig. Mae gwelliant 8 yn welliant canlyniadol ar welliant 7, sy'n sicrhau bod y prif welliant yn effeithiol.
Llywydd, mae diben y prif welliant hwn yn syml, a, gobeithio, yn llai dadleuol—er efallai mai gobaith ofer yw hwnnw, bydd yn rhaid inni weld. Rwy'n credu os oedd un agwedd drwy gydol Cyfnod 1 a gafodd gytundeb cyffredinol y Pwyllgor, honno oedd bod angen i'r wybodaeth i denantiaid a darpar denantiaid fod yn fanwl ac wedi'i dosbarthu'n eang. Dyma hefyd farn y Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol, fel y dangosir yn ei argymhelliad, yr wyf yn ei gyflwyno yn y grŵp hwn. Dyma hefyd pam y byddaf i'n cefnogi gwelliant Bethan Jenkins yn y grŵp nesaf.
Credaf ei bod yn hanfodol bwysig bod yr holl denantiaid yn ymwybodol o'r opsiynau sydd ar gael iddynt, ynghyd â dyddiadau arwyddocaol yn y polisi a'r ystyriaethau ariannol y mae angen iddynt fod yn ymwybodol ohonynt, os ydynt yn dymuno prynu eu heiddo. Nodaf yn nhystiolaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol ei fod yn amharod i ymrwymo dyletswydd absoliwt oherwydd efallai y bydd rhai landlordiaid yn Lloegr, ac felly'n gweithredu gydag un neu ddau o denantiaethau yng Nghymru nad ydym yn ymwybodol ohonynt. Roedd hon yn ddadl a ategwyd yn wir yng Nghyfnod 2 y Bil.
Ond nid yw'r ddadl hon yn argyhoeddi. Mae'r gwelliant hwn yn cynnig y rhoddir dyletswydd absoliwt ar Lywodraeth Cymru i hysbysu'r holl landlordiaid cymwysedig yng Nghymru. Mae'r ddyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru i landlordiaid y tu allan i Gymru yn parhau i fod yn gymwysedig, sy'n golygu bod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gymryd pob cam rhesymol i'w hysbysu. Mae hyn yn golygu, pe na ellid dod o hyd i gwpl o landlordiaid y tu allan i Gymru er gwaethaf pob cam rhesymol, na ellir ystyried bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu yn ei dyletswydd i hysbysu dan y gwelliant hwn.
Mae diffyg dyletswydd yn y cyswllt hwn yn lleihau unrhyw bwysau ar y Llywodraeth iddynt ei gwneud yn flaenoriaeth absoliwt i sicrhau bod holl denantiaid Cymru yn cael eu hysbysu o'r diddymiad a'u hysbysu o'r manylion ynddo. Mae'n amlwg bod nod i wanhau unrhyw ddyletswydd statudol o ran eu cyfrifoldebau eu hunain o ran hysbysu'r tenantiaid hynny yng Nghymru a gaiff eu heffeithio gan y Bil hwn. Mae CLAC wedi codi'r pwynt hwn ac mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn ei adleisio ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cefnogi'r gwelliant hwn. Diolch i chi.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans.
Thank you, Llywydd. This group of amendments relates to section 8, concerning the Welsh Ministers' duties to provide information to landlords. Of course I share David Melding’s wish to ensure that all relevant parties are aware of abolition, and I commit to make every effort to ensure all landlords are aware of their duty in this respect.
Indeed, Government amendments at Stage 2 revised the Bill following the Equalities, Local Government and Communities Committee recommendation to place a duty on the Welsh Ministers to provide bodies representing tenants with a copy of the relevant information, and to prescribe the minimum information qualifying landlords must provide to tenants regarding abolition. So, the Bill was strengthened at Stage 2.
Amendment 7 seeks to place an absolute duty on Welsh Ministers to send the information to landlords in Wales, and amendment 8 places a qualified duty for the Welsh Ministers to send the information to landlords outside Wales. However, I would ask Members to reject these amendments. We consider there is no need for an absolute duty on the Welsh Ministers to provide the information to social landlords in Wales. This is because we are fully aware of all the qualifying landlords based in Wales and will be contacting them accordingly.
In addition, we do not consider that the Bill should be amended so that the existing qualified duty to inform landlords only applies to landlords based outside Wales. The current drafting recognises that the Welsh Government is reliant on a third party, namely the Homes and Communities Agency, to provide us with details of social landlords based outside Wales who own homes for rent in Wales.
I therefore ask Members to reject these amendments.
Diolch i chi, Llywydd. Mae'r grŵp hwn o welliannau yn ymwneud ag adran 8, sef dyletswyddau Gweinidogion Cymru i ddarparu gwybodaeth i landlordiaid. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n rhannu dymuniad David Melding i sicrhau bod pob parti perthnasol yn ymwybodol o'r diddymu, ac rwy'n ymrwymo i wneud pob ymdrech i sicrhau bod pob landlord yn ymwybodol o'i ddyletswydd yn hyn o beth.
Yn wir, fe wnaeth gwelliannau'r Llywodraeth yng Nghyfnod 2 ddiwygio'r Bil yn dilyn argymhelliad y Pwyllgor Cymunedau, Cydraddoldeb a Llywodraeth Leol i osod dyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru i ddarparu copi o'r wybodaeth berthnasol i gyrff sy'n cynrychioli tenantiaid, ac i bennu gwybodaeth ofynnol y mae'n ofynnol i landlordiaid cymwys ei darparu i denantiaid ynghylch diddymu. Felly, cryfhawyd y Bil yng Nghyfnod 2.
Mae gwelliant 7 yn ceisio rhoi dyletswydd absoliwt ar Weinidogion Cymru i anfon yr wybodaeth at landlordiaid yng Nghymru, ac mae gwelliant 8 yn gosod dyletswydd cymwysedig ar Weinidogion Cymru i anfon yr wybodaeth at landlordiaid y tu allan i Gymru. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n gofyn i'r Aelodau wrthod y gwelliannau hyn. Rydym ni o'r farn nad oes angen dyletswydd absoliwt ar Weinidogion Cymru i ddarparu'r wybodaeth i landlordiaid cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Mae hyn oherwydd ein bod ni'n gwbl ymwybodol o'r holl landlordiaid cymwys yng Nghymru a byddwn yn cysylltu â nhw yn unol â hynny.
Hefyd, nid ydym ni o'r farn y dylid diwygio'r Bil fel bod y ddyletswydd gymwysedig bresennol i hysbysu landlordiaid yn berthnasol i landlordiaid y tu allan i Gymru yn unig. Mae'r drafft presennol yn cydnabod bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn dibynnu ar drydydd parti, sef yr Asiantaeth Cartrefi a Chymunedau, i roi i ni fanylion y landlordiaid cymdeithasol o'r tu allan i Gymru sy'n berchen ar gartrefi i'w rhentu yng Nghymru.
Felly, gofynnaf i'r Aelodau wrthod y gwelliannau hyn.
David Melding i ymateb.
David Melding to reply.
Llywydd, you will have probably seen by now that I'm fairly resigned to my fate. But I have to say it is a new one that we don't need an absolute duty because we already know who they are. Well, you know, that's going to be rigorous over the years, isn't it, if you have a similar approach in other areas? I really think it's important that you have an absolute duty, because even if you are aware and you are right that you know all the landlords at the moment, I think it should be absolutely clearly stated so that tenants' rights are fully protected that this is a duty. There's no good reason not to do it, and that's why CLAC have urged you to do it. You should, even at this late hour, concede the point.
Llywydd, mae'n debyg y byddwch wedi gweld erbyn hyn fy mod yn eithaf parod i dderbyn fy nhynged. Ond mae'n rhaid imi ddweud ei bod yn gysyniad newydd nad oes angen dyletswydd absoliwt arnom oherwydd ein bod eisoes yn gwybod pwy ydyn nhw. Wel, wyddoch chi, mae hynny'n mynd i fod yn drylwyr dros y blynyddoedd, onid yw, os bydd gennych chi ddull tebyg mewn meysydd eraill? Rwy'n credu'n gryf ei bod yn bwysig bod gennych chi ddyletswydd absoliwt, oherwydd hyd yn oed os ydych chi'n ymwybodol, a'ch bod yn iawn eich bod yn gwybod am yr holl landlordiaid ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n credu y dylid ei nodi'n gwbl glir er mwyn diogelu hawliau tenantiaid yn llwyr a bod hyn yn ddyletswydd. Nid oes unrhyw reswm da dros beidio â gwneud hynny, a dyna pam mae'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol wedi eich annog i wneud hynny. Dylech, hyd yn oed mor ddiweddar â hyn, dderbyn y pwynt.
Os na dderbynnir gwelliant 7, bydd gwelliant 8 yn methu. Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 7? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Symudwn i bleidlais electronig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 15, neb yn ymatal, 35 yn erbyn. Felly, gwrthodwyd gwelliant 7.
If amendment 7 is not agreed to, amendment 8 falls. The question is that amendment 7 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We’ll proceed to an electronic vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 15, no abstentions, 35 against. Therefore, amendment 7 is not agreed.
Gwelliant 7: O blaid: 15, Yn erbyn: 35, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Methodd gwelliant 8.
Amendment 8 fell.
Grŵp 4, felly, yw’r grŵp nesaf, ynglŷn â gwybodaeth i denantiaid a darpar denantiaid: gofynion ar landlordiaid. Gwelliant 15 yw’r prif welliant nawr, ac rydw i’n galw ar Siân Gwenllian i gynnig y prif welliant ac i siarad i’r gwelliant.
Group 4, therefore, is the next group, which relates to information for tenants and prospective tenants and the requirements on landlords. Amendment 15 is the lead amendment, and I call on Siân Gwenllian to move and speak to the amendment and the other amendment in the group.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 15 (Bethan Jenkins).
Amendment 15 (Bethan Jenkins) moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae’r gwelliannau yma, wedi’u cyflwyno yn enw Bethan Jenkins, yn adlewyrchu’r angen am i wybodaeth am y Bil gael ei darparu mewn dull hygyrch sy’n adlewyrchu argymhelliad 4 adroddiad y pwyllgor cydraddoldeb a fu’n edrych ar hyn. Rydym ni wedi gweithio efo’r Llywodraeth ar y gwelliannau yma, ac mae angen y gwelliannau i sicrhau bod cyfathrebu efo’r tenantiaid yn digwydd mewn dull hygyrch.
Gair byr cyffredinol, gan mai dyma’r tro olaf imi godi ar fy nhraed ar y pwnc y prynhawn yma: rydym ni wedi colli 46 y cant o dai o’r sector tai cymdeithasol yn sgil hawl i brynu. Mae bron i hanner y tai ddim bellach ar gael i’w rhentu gan bobl sydd methu fforddio unrhyw ffordd arall o gael to uwch eu pennau. Rhestrau aros hir, mwy o ddigartrefedd, gofid a phoen meddwl—dyna mae’r hawl i brynu wedi’i olygu yng Nghymru. O’r diwedd, mae’n cael ei ddiddymu—gobeithio—y prynhawn yma. Diwrnod hanesyddol yn wir.
Thank you, Llywydd. These amendments are tabled in the name of Bethan Jenkins and reflect the need for information about the Bill to be provided in an accessible manner that reflects recommendation 4 made by the equality committee, which looked at this. We've worked with the Government on these amendments, and these are necessary in order to ensure that communication with tenants happens in an acceptable manner.
A few general words, because this will be my last contribution on this Bill this afternoon: we have lost 46 per cent of housing from the social housing sector as a result of the right to buy. Almost half of the homes are no longer available for rent by people who can't afford any other way of putting a roof over their heads. Lengthy waiting lists, more homelessness, concern and anxiety—that's what the right to buy has meant in Wales. At last, it is to be abolished—hopefully—this afternoon. It's a historic day indeed.
I think that, in terms of the information that should be given, these are sensible amendments and we will support them. I don't need to make any more general remarks at this stage, as there are two groups left in which we will be fully engaging, but we would support these amendments.
Rwy'n credu, o ran yr wybodaeth y dylid ei rhoi, bod y rhain yn welliannau call a byddwn yn eu cefnogi. Nid oes angen imi wneud unrhyw sylwadau mwy cyffredinol ar hyn o bryd, gan fod dau grŵp ar ôl y byddwn yn ymgysylltu'n llawn â nhw, ond byddwn yn cefnogi'r gwelliannau hyn.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans.
Thank you. This group of amendments relates to the requirements of landlords in respect of the provision of information for tenants and prospective tenants. These amendments ensure that landlords, in giving the information to their tenants, have regard to their needs and provide information in an appropriate way.
I share Bethan Jenkins’s wish to ensure that tenants receive clear and appropriate information, and I would like to thank Bethan for bringing forward these amendments. I know that she's been highly engaged with this Bill throughout and will be disappointed not to be able to be here today.
Whilst there are a number of equality and well-being duties that apply in this area, the extent to which they apply will depend on the nature of the landlord, and potentially the tenants. I'm keen to do all we can to ensure that all tenants affected by the legislation have appropriate information that meets their needs. I'm therefore happy to see this extra reassurance on the face of the Bill and ask Members to support amendments 15 and 16.
Diolch. Mae'r grŵp hwn o welliannau yn ymwneud â gofynion landlordiaid yn gysylltiedig â darparu gwybodaeth i denantiaid a darpar denantiaid. Mae'r gwelliannau hyn yn sicrhau bod landlordiaid, wrth roi'r wybodaeth i'w tenantiaid, yn rhoi sylw i'w hanghenion a darparu gwybodaeth mewn modd priodol.
Rwy'n rhannu dymuniad Bethan Jenkins i sicrhau bod tenantiaid yn cael gwybodaeth glir a phriodol, a hoffwn ddiolch i Bethan am gyflwyno'r gwelliannau hyn. Rwy'n gwybod ei bod hi wedi bod yn weithgar iawn gyda'r Bil hwn drwy gydol ei hynt a bydd hi'n siomedig nad yw'n gallu bod yma heddiw.
Er bod nifer o ddyletswyddau cydraddoldeb a llesiant sy'n berthnasol yn y maes hwn, bydd y graddau y maen nhw'n berthnasol yn dibynnu ar natur y landlord, ac o bosibl y tenantiaid. Rwy'n awyddus i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i sicrhau bod yr holl denantiaid y mae'r ddeddfwriaeth hon yn effeithio arnyn nhw yn cael gwybodaeth briodol sy'n diwallu eu hanghenion. Rwyf i felly yn falch o weld y sicrwydd ychwanegol hwn ar wyneb y Bil ac yn gofyn i'r Aelodau gefnogi gwelliannau 15 ac 16.
Siân Gwenllian i ymateb i’r ddadl. Na. Gan hynny, y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 15? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? Derbyniwyd gwelliant 15.
Siân Gwenllian to reply to the debate. No. With that, the question is that amendment 15 be agreed to. Does any Member object? Amendment 15 is agreed.
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Siân Gwenllian, gwelliant 16.
Siân Gwenllian, amendment 16.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 16 (Bethan Jenkins).
Amendment 16 (Bethan Jenkins) moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 16? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? Derbyniwyd gwelliant 16.
The question is that amendment 16 be agreed to. Does any Member object? Amendment 16 is agreed.
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Amendment agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Grŵp 5, felly, yw’r grŵp nesaf o welliannau, sy’n ymwneud â’r pŵer drwy reoliadau i wneud diwygiadau canlyniadol. Gwelliant 10 yw’r prif welliant a’r unig welliant yn y grŵp. Rwy’n galw ar David Melding i gynnig y gwelliant ac i siarad iddo. David Melding.
Group 5, therefore, is the next group of amendments, which relate to the power by regulations to make consequential amendments. Amendment 10 is the lead and only amendment in this group, and I call on David Melding to move and speak to the amendment. David Melding.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 10 (David Melding).
Amendment 10 (David Melding) moved.
Llywydd, I move amendment 10. The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee noted their concern that section 9, as drafted, gave very wide powers to make consequential amendments. This amendment narrows that power by deleting the words 'or expedient'. As part of the CLAC committee—and I'm sure that I have a certain reputation for these issues and their importance, even if they're not always widely shared—I share the concerns of other committee members on the CLAC committee about the broad nature of the regulation-making powers that are prescribed in section 9 of the Bill.
It was an agreed and consistent view that the Welsh Ministers should adopt a more targeted approach, rather than taking the widest possible powers available to them. At Stage 2, the Cabinet Secretary stated that he would wish to ensure that 'or expedient' remains within the Bill in order to give Welsh Ministers the flexibility that they need. However, this amendment would still leave the Welsh Ministers with powers to, by regulation, make any supplemental, incidental, consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision they considered necessary, in consequence of, or for the purpose of giving full effect to, any provisions of this Act, or any provisions made under this Act.
I don't know how much more flexibility they need than those powers, but 'or expedient' is not a welcome addition and therefore I hope Members will support this amendment.
Llywydd, rwyf i'n cynnig gwelliant 10. Nododd y Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol ei bryder bod adran 9, fel y'i drafftiwyd, yn rhoi pwerau eang iawn i wneud diwygiadau canlyniadol. Mae'r gwelliant hwn yn culhau'r pŵer hwnnw drwy ddileu'r geiriau 'neu'n hwylus'. Yn rhan o'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol—ac rwy'n siŵr bod gennyf ryw fath o enw am ymdrin â'r materion hyn a'u pwysigrwydd, hyd yn oed os nad ydyn nhw bob amser yn cael eu rhannu'n eang—rwy'n rhannu pryderon aelodau eraill o'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol am natur eang y pŵer i wneud rheoliadau a bennir yn adran 9 o'r Bil.
Y farn gyson y cytunwyd arni oedd y dylai Gweinidogion Cymru fabwysiadu dull gweithredu mwy penodol, yn hytrach na chymryd y pwerau ehangaf posibl sydd ar gael iddyn nhw. Yng Nghyfnod 2, dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ei fod ef yn dymuno sicrhau bod 'neu'n hwylus' yn parhau i fod yn y Bil er mwyn rhoi i Weinidogion Cymru yr hyblygrwydd sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Fodd bynnag, byddai'r gwelliant hwn yn dal i adael Gweinidogion Cymru â phwerau, drwy reoleiddio, i wneud unrhyw ddarpariaeth atodol, gysylltiedig, ganlyniadol, ddarfodol, drosiannol neu arbed y maen nhw'n ei hystyried yn angenrheidiol, o ganlyniad i, neu at y diben o weithredu'n llawn unrhyw ddarpariaethau yn y Ddeddf hon, neu unrhyw ddarpariaethau a wneir o dan y Ddeddf hon.
Nid wyf yn gwybod faint mwy o hyblygrwydd sydd ei angen arnyn nhw na'r pwerau hynny, ond nid yw 'neu'n hwylus' yn ychwanegiad i'w groesawu ac felly rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cefnogi'r gwelliant hwn.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans.
As we've heard, amendment 10 seeks to leave out the words 'or expedient' from section 9, which provides for the power to make consequential amendments.
Section 9 confers powers on the Welsh Ministers to make consequential provision if they consider it necessary or expedient to do so, in consequence of a provision made by the Bill, or made under it.
The word 'expedient' has its own meaning in law and allows for amendments that may be desirable, useful or have a practical benefit, but which may fail a strict necessity test.
It must also be remembered that the scope of this power is limited, as any consequential amendments made under this power must be closely connected to the provisions made by the Bill. Therefore, I consider it to be important that the word 'expedient' remains, in order to allow appropriate flexibility to implement the Bill in the most effective way.
I'm aware that Carl Sargeant had correspondence with CLAC and he gave an example as to where the word 'expedient' might be necessary, and he said, for instance, if the power to make consequential amendments was used to streamline an administrative procedure that was proving difficult to apply or impractical for tenants to deal with, it might be arguable that this did not meet the necessity test, in that the tenants could simply live with the difficulty, undesirable though this might be. This approach, he said, would be unduly inflexible and restrictive and could prevent beneficial changes being made.
So, I ask Members, therefore, to reject amendment 10 as it could result in the section 9 provisions being unduly restrictive and prevent beneficial changes from being made.
Fel yr ydym ni wedi clywed, mae gwelliant 10 yn ceisio hepgor y geiriau 'neu'n hwylus' o adran 9, sy'n darparu ar gyfer y pŵer i wneud gwelliannau canlyniadol.
Mae adran 9 yn rhoi pwerau i Weinidogion Cymru i wneud darpariaeth ganlyniadol os ydynt o'r farn ei bod yn angenrheidiol neu'n hwylus i wneud hynny, o ganlyniad i ddarpariaeth a wneir gan y Bil, neu o dan y Bil.
Mae gan y gair 'hwylus' ei ystyr ei hun yn y gyfraith ac mae'n caniatáu ar gyfer gwelliannau a all fod yn ddymunol, yn ddefnyddiol, neu o fudd ymarferol, ond a allai fethu prawf angenrheidrwydd llym.
Mae'n rhaid cofio hefyd bod cwmpas y pŵer hwn yn gyfyngedig, gan ei bod yn ofynnol i unrhyw ddiwygiadau canlyniadol a wneir o dan y pŵer hwn berthyn yn agos i'r darpariaethau a wneir gan y Bil. Felly, rwyf i o'r farn ei bod yn bwysig bod y gair 'hwylus' yn parhau, er mwyn caniatáu hyblygrwydd priodol i weithredu'r Bil yn y modd mwyaf effeithiol.
Rwy'n ymwybodol bod Carl Sargeant wedi bod yn gohebu â'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol a rhoddodd enghraifft o sut y gallai'r gair 'hwylus' fod yn angenrheidiol, a dywedodd, er enghraifft, pe byddai'r pŵer i wneud gwelliannau canlyniadol yn cael ei ddefnyddio i symleiddio gweithdrefn weinyddol a oedd yn profi'n anodd ei chymhwyso neu'n anymarferol i denantiaid ymdopi â hi, gellid dadlau nad oedd hyn yn bodloni'r prawf angenrheidrwydd, o ran y gallai'r tenantiaid fyw gyda'r anhawster, er y gallai hynny fod yn annymunol. Byddai'r dull hwn, dywedodd, yn rhy anhyblyg a chyfyngol a gallai atal newidiadau buddiol rhag cael eu gwneud
Felly, gofynnaf i'r Aelodau, felly, wrthod gwelliant 10 gan y gallai olygu bod darpariaethau adran 9 yn rhy gaeth a gallent atal newidiadau buddiol rhag cael eu gwneud.
Llywydd, the weakness of the example reflects the weakness of the Government's position. I urge Members to support my amendment.
Llywydd, mae gwendid yr enghraifft yn adlewyrchu'r gwendid yn safbwynt y Llywodraeth. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi fy ngwelliant.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 10? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Symudwn i bleidlais electronig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 16, neb yn ymatal, 34 yn erbyn. Felly, gwrthodwyd gwelliant 10.
The question is that amendment 10 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We'll proceed to an electronic vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 16, no abstentions and 34 against. Therefore, amendment 10 is not agreed.
Gwelliant 10: O blaid: 16, Yn erbyn: 34, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Amendment 10: For: 16, Against: 34, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
Y grŵp nesaf o welliannau yw'r grŵp sy'n ymwneud â'r darpariaethau diddymu yn dod i rym. Gwelliant 12 yw'r prif welliant yn y grŵp, ac rydw i'n galw ar David Melding i gynnig y prif welliant ac i siarad am y gwelliant yma a'r gwelliannau eraill. David Melding.
The next group of amendments is the group relating to the coming into force of the abolition provisions. Amendment 12 is the lead amendment in this group, and I call on David Melding to move and speak to the lead amendment and the other amendments in the group. David Melding.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 12 (David Melding).
Amendment 12 (David Melding) moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. As you said, this is the final group and I move the lead amendment—amendment 12.
This amendment will ensure that the abolition of the right to buy and associated rights may not come into effect until at least two years after the Bill receives Royal Assent. As currently drafted, abolition would come into effect after one year. Additionally, amendment 4 is a consequence of amendment 12.
I believe that there is considerable scope for the right to buy grace period to be extended for two years, as it was in Scotland. During our Stage 1 committee proceedings, it was pointed out that the 2011 Measure provided that, where the right to buy was suspended for the maximum duration of 10 years, local authorities were required to wait two years before submitting a further application. According to the Welsh Government's guidance for local authorities on applications to suspend the right to buy and related rights, this was to allow, and I quote, 'a reasonable amount of time' for tenants to consider whether to exercise the right to buy before the authority could apply for another suspension, creating a very clear precedent, in my view.
Given this, Mr Clarke of Welsh Tenants questioned why a shorter time period of 12 months was provided in the Bill for the purpose of enabling tenants to undertake the same considerations ahead of abolition. Additionally, concerns were raised about a potential spike in sales ahead of abolition, which some respondents linked to the 12-month notice period.
Llywydd, these are all significant reasons, in my view, why the grace period should be extended from one year to two. The abolition of the right to buy will have a huge impact on the lives of many aspirational home owners living in the social sector. I have received lots of correspondence on this issue, and I'm sure that other Members have had a similar experience.
Some committee members at Stage 2 raised the objection that this potential law we're considering this afternoon is already in the public domain, so people are already aware of it and its timescale. I have to say I do find this a fairly idealised view of how the public engage with the legislature, but, anyway, I simply don't accept the argument. We cannot implement a piece of fundamental legislation like this with a timescale that is based on the assumption that people will probably be aware of what we're discussing here in the Assembly. During Stage 1, and I reflect on my own constituents' cases, I heard from tenants who weren't even aware that suspension was going ahead in their area, and they were meant to have been consulted. So, I think we must realise this is going to land like a bombshell on the mats of some people when they get that information that the Minister's assured us, despite the lack of a duty to inform, they will get, and I'm pretty sure they will. I don't think the Government is playing fast and loose there, even if I don't think they've chosen the best method to inform tenants and landlords.
So, what we don't want, I think, following the Bill's implementation, is a situation where tenants are taking decisions too quickly. A two-year period will provide reassurance to tenants that they still have a significant amount of time left, should they wish to proceed with the purchase of their homes. That's a second and powerful argument to have a two-year period. Also, a two-year grace period should dampen any expected spike in sales. It is more likely that tenants will take their time and this will lead to a spread of applications, rather than an immediate surge. This was, indeed, the case in Scotland, where a two-year grace period was given to tenants following the abolition of the right to buy in Scotland, and there wasn't any immediate influx of purchases. If you look at their sales, they stayed in a fairly similar pattern.
So, I think there are very clear, practical reasons for extending the grace period from one to two years, and I urge the Assembly to support this amendment.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Fel y dywedasoch, hwn yw'r grŵp olaf ac rwy'n cynnig y prif welliant—gwelliant 12.
Bydd y gwelliant hwn yn sicrhau na chaiff diddymu'r hawl i brynu a hawliau cysylltiedig ddod i rym tan o leiaf ddwy flynedd ar ôl i'r Bil gael Cydsyniad Brenhinol. Ar hyn o bryd fel y'i drafftiwyd, byddai'r diddymu yn dod i rym ar ôl un flwyddyn. Hefyd, mae gwelliant 4 yn ganlyniadol i welliant 12.
Rwy'n credu bod cwmpas sylweddol i ymestyn cyfnod gras hawl i brynu i ddwy flynedd, fel yr oedd yn yr Alban. Yn ystod ein trafodion pwyllgor Cyfnod 1, nodwyd bod Mesur 2011 yn darparu, pan fyddai'r hawl i brynu yn cael ei atal am y cyfnod hwyaf o 10 mlynedd, y byddai'n ofynnol i awdurdodau lleol aros dwy flynedd cyn cyflwyno cais arall. Yn ôl canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol ar geisiadau i atal yr hawl i brynu a hawliau cysylltiedig, roedd hyn er mwyn caniatáu, a dyfynnaf, 'cyfnod rhesymol o amser' i denantiaid ystyried pa un a fydden nhw'n arfer yr hawl i brynu cyn y gallai'r awdurdod wneud cais am ataliad arall, gan greu cynsail clir iawn, yn fy marn i.
O gofio hyn, gofynnodd Mr Clarke o Tenantiaid Cymru pam mae'r Bil yn darparu cyfnod byrrach o amser, sef 12 mis, i'r diben o alluogi tenantiaid i ystyried yr un ystyriaethau cyn diddymu. Hefyd, codwyd pryderon ynghylch cynnydd sydyn posibl mewn gwerthiannau cyn y diddymu, yr oedd rhai o'r ymatebwyr yn ei gysylltu â'r cyfnod 12 mis o rybudd.
Llywydd, mae'r rhain i gyd yn rhesymau pwysig, yn fy marn i, pam y dylid ymestyn y cyfnod gras o un flwyddyn i ddwy. Bydd diddymu'r hawl i brynu yn cael effaith enfawr ar fywydau llawer o berchnogion cartrefi uchelgeisiol sy'n byw yn y sector cymdeithasol. Rwyf wedi cael llawer o ohebiaeth ar y mater hwn, ac rwy'n siŵr bod Aelodau eraill wedi cael profiad tebyg.
Cododd rhai aelodau'r pwyllgor yng Nghyfnod 2 y gwrthwynebiad bod y gyfraith bosibl hon yr ydym yn ei hystyried y prynhawn yma eisoes yn gyhoeddus, ac felly bod pobl eisoes yn ymwybodol ohoni a'i hamserlen. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn ystyried hon yn farn weddol ddelfrydol o sut y mae'r cyhoedd yn ymgysylltu â'r ddeddfwrfa, ond, beth bynnag, nid wyf yn derbyn y ddadl. Ni allwn weithredu darn o ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol fel hyn gydag amserlen sy'n seiliedig ar y dybiaeth y bydd pobl yn debygol o fod yn ymwybodol o'r hyn yr ydym yn ei drafod yma yn y Cynulliad. Yn ystod Cyfnod 1, ac rwy'n ystyried achosion fy etholwyr fy hun, clywais i gan denantiaid nad oedden nhw'n ymwybodol hyd yn oed fod atal yn mynd rhagddo yn eu hardal nhw, ac roedden nhw i fod yn rhan o'r ymgynghoriad. Credaf felly, fod yn rhaid inni sylweddoli bod hyn yn mynd i fod yn ergyd fawr i rai pobl pan fyddan nhw'n cael y wybodaeth honno y gwnaeth y Gweinidog ein sicrhau ni, er gwaethaf y diffyg dyletswydd i hysbysu, y byddan nhw'n ei chael, ac rwy'n eithaf siŵr y byddan nhw yn ei chael. Nid wyf yn credu bod y Llywodraeth yn bod yn anghyfrifol yn y fan yma, hyd yn oed os nad wyf i o'r farn ei bod wedi dewis y dull gorau o hysbysu tenantiaid a landlordiaid.
Felly, yr hyn nad ydym ni ei eisiau, rwy'n credu, yn dilyn gweithredu'r Bil, yw sefyllfa lle mae tenantiaid yn gwneud penderfyniadau yn rhy gyflym. Bydd cyfnod o ddwy flynedd yn rhoi sicrwydd i denantiaid bod ganddyn nhw ddigon o amser ar ô o hyd, pe bydden nhw'n dymuno bwrw ymlaen â phrynu eu cartrefi. Mae honno'n ail ddadl bwerus i fod â chyfnod o ddwy flynedd. Hefyd, dylai'r cyfnod gras o ddwy flynedd leihau unrhyw gynnydd sydyn a ddisgwylir mewn gwerthiant. Mae'n fwy tebygol y bydd tenantiaid yn cymryd eu hamser ac y bydd hyn yn arwain at wasgaru ceisiadau, yn hytrach na chynnydd ar unwaith. Dyma'n wir a ddigwyddodd yn yr Alban, pan roddwyd cyfnod gras o ddwy flynedd i denantiaid yn dilyn diddymu'r hawl i brynu yn yr Alban, ac ni fu unrhyw gynnydd ar unwaith yn nifer y cartrefi a brynwyd. Os edrychwch chi ar eu gwerthiannau, fe wnaethon nhw aros mewn patrwm eithaf tebyg.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod rhesymau ymarferol, eglur iawn dros ymestyn y cyfnod gras o un i ddwy flynedd, ac rwy'n annog y Cynulliad i gefnogi'r gwelliant hwn.
Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, Rebecca Evans.
I call on the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Rebecca Evans.
Thank you. The notice period between Royal Assent and final abolition strikes the right balance between protecting social housing stock and giving tenants reasonable notice that the rights are ending. Provisions within the Bill ensure that tenants will receive information within two months of Royal Assent. This gives them a further 10 months before final abolition to submit an application to buy their property.
Twelve months is a fair and reasonable amount of time. It gives tenants sufficient time to take proper financial and legal advice on the implications of home ownership. The case in Scotland has been mentioned, and the Scottish Parliament agreed a notice period of two years between Royal Assent and final abolition, although the committee that scrutinised the Bill in Scotland recommended a minimum period of a year. The Scottish legislation also didn't contain any detailed provisions to ensure that information was provided to all relevant tenants as soon as possible following Royal Assent, which is a key provision for our Bill. The right to buy ended in Scotland on 31 July 2016, and, throughout the year to the end of September 2016, there were 37 per cent more applications during the year than the previous year. So, there certainly was a spike in Scotland, despite the fact that they had a two-year period.
So, in Wales, tenants will be able to exercise the right to buy at any time up until the date of abolition, and this process does not have to be completed before abolition takes place. The report from the ELGC committee stated that the majority of stakeholders were content with a 12-month notice period. The ELGC report concluded that
'the minimum 12 month notice period strikes an appropriate balance between
the need to provide tenants with adequate time to exercise their rights, and the need to prevent the further loss of social housing stock as swiftly as possible.'
I therefore ask Members to reject amendment 12 and related amendment 4.
Diolch. Mae'r cyfnod o rybudd rhwng y Cydsyniad Brenhinol a'r diddymu terfynol yn taro'r cydbwysedd cywir rhwng diogelu stoc tai cymdeithasol a rhoi hysbysiad rhesymol i denantiaid bod yr hawliau yn dod i ben. Mae'r darpariaethau yn y Bil yn sicrhau y bydd tenantiaid yn cael gwybodaeth o fewn dau fis ar ôl y Cydsyniad Brenhinol. Mae hyn yn rhoi 10 mis arall cyn y diddymu terfynol i gyflwyno cais i brynu eu heiddo.
Mae deuddeg mis yn swm teg a rhesymol o amser. Mae'n rhoi digon o amser i denantiaid i gael cyngor cyfreithiol ac ariannol priodol ar oblygiadau perchentyaeth. Cyfeiriwyd at yr achos yn yr Alban, a chytunodd Senedd yr Alban ar gyfnod rhybudd o ddwy flynedd rhwng y Cydsyniad Brenhinol a'r diddymu terfynol, er i'r Pwyllgor a oedd yn craffu ar y Bil yn yr Alban argymell cyfnod o flwyddyn o leiaf. Nid oedd y ddeddfwriaeth yn yr Alban yn cynnwys unrhyw ddarpariaethau manwl i sicrhau bod gwybodaeth yn cael ei darparu i'r holl denantiaid perthnasol cyn gynted â phosibl ar ôl y Cydsyniad Brenhinol ychwaith, sy'n ddarpariaeth allweddol yn ein Bil ni. Daeth yr hawl i brynu yn yr Alban i ben ar 31 Gorffennaf 2016, a thrwy gydol y flwyddyn hyd at ddiwedd mis Medi 2016, cafwyd 37 y cant yn fwy o geisiadau yn ystod y flwyddyn nag yn y flwyddyn flaenorol. Felly, cafwyd cynnydd sydyn yn sicr yn yr Alban, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod ganddyn nhw gyfnod o ddwy flynedd.
Felly, yng Nghymru, bydd tenantiaid yn gallu arfer yr hawl i brynu ar unrhyw adeg hyd at y dyddiad diddymu, ac nid oes rhaid cwblhau'r broses hon cyn i'r diddymu ddigwydd. Roedd yr adroddiad gan y Pwyllgor Cymunedau, Cydraddoldeb a Llywodraeth Leol yn nodi bod y rhan fwyaf o'r rhanddeiliaid yn fodlon ar gyfnod o 12 mis o rybudd. Daeth adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cymunedau, Cydraddoldeb a Llywodraeth Leol i'r casgliad bod
yr isafswm o 12 mis o gyfnod rhybudd yn taro cydbwysedd priodol rhwng yr angen i roi digon o amser i denantiaid ymarfer eu hawliau, a'r angen i atal colli rhagor o stoc tai cymdeithasol mor gyflym â phosibl.
Felly, gofynnaf i'r Aelodau wrthod gwelliant 12 a gwelliant 4 sy'n gysylltiedig.
Can I just concede one point, that the 12 months, in effect, is more than that? Because it's during those 12 months you've got to express your intention to exercise the right to buy, and then if that intention is expressed, then it could actually formally then be exercised during the period after 12 months. So, that is a help, and I was pleased that the Government made that clear in committee, and I'm grateful that the Minister has reaffirmed that this afternoon. So, I'll at least give you a cheer for that.
But, in general, I have to say that I think a two-year period on such a fundamental change in the rights people have, and have had for many, many decades, is appropriate. It is what happened in Scotland, and obviously there's the big difference between what the Welsh Government intends to do, compared to the Scottish Government. You may be right, they may have been wrong, but I think we needed some sort of justification why you don't think that two years is more appropriate. Given all that you've heard about the popularity of this policy, the strong evidence we've heard from tenants—and they wanted much more flexibility and nuance in this approach, in the way the Bill would operate—and we've just had an obdurate response, frankly.
I have to say, Llywydd, that on this side of Chamber we were very disappointed that the right to buy was going to be abolished. We argued—and we would still argue, if we could go back to this—that the right to buy should be reformed. That's what's going to happen in England, and that is the direction we should have taken. But the decision was made, and we genuinely attempted to offer ways of strengthening this Bill from the point of view of reflecting the rights and needs of tenants to the maximum, without undermining the central intent. But obviously, we have failed in that, and I think that will now stand on record. Obviously, this issue is not going to go away. It will remain, I think, primarily a question of housing supply, and if we don't build enough houses, particularly family homes, where we could be short of 50,000 or 60,000 by 2030 on current projections, then we're going to have real, real issues. That does remain the most important thing we have to sort out.
A gaf i ildio ar un pwynt, bod y 12 mis, mewn gwirionedd, yn fwy na hynny? Oherwydd yn ystod y 12 mis hynny mae'n rhaid i chi fynegi eich bwriad i arfer yr hawl i brynu, ac yna os mynegir y bwriad hwnnw, yna gellid ei arfer yn ffurfiol mewn gwirionedd yn ystod y cyfnod ar ôl y 12 mis. Felly, mae hynny o gymorth, ac roeddwn i'n falch bod y Llywodraeth wedi gwneud hynny'n glir yn y pwyllgor, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar bod y Gweinidog wedi cadarnhau hynny y prynhawn yma. Felly, fe roddaf gymeradwyaeth i chi am hynny o leiaf.
Ond, yn gyffredinol, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod cyfnod o ddwy flynedd ar newid mor sylfaenol yn yr hawliau sydd gan bobl, ac sydd wedi bod ganddynt am ddegawdau lawer, yn briodol, yn fy marn i. Dyna ddigwyddodd yn yr Alban, ac yn amlwg mae gwahaniaeth mawr rhwng yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu ei wneud, o'i gymharu â Llywodraeth yr Alban. Efallai eich bod chi'n iawn, efallai eu bod nhw'n anghywir, ond rwy'n credu bod angen rhyw fath o gyfiawnhad arnom ynghylch pam nad ydych chi'n credu bod dwy flynedd yn fwy priodol. O ystyried popeth yr ydych chi wedi'i glywed am boblogrwydd y polisi hwn, y dystiolaeth gref a glywsom gan denantiaid—ac roedden nhw eisiau llawer mwy o hyblygrwydd ac arlliw yn y dull hwn, yn y ffordd y byddai'r Bil yn gweithredu—ac rydym ni wedi cael ymateb calon-galed, a dweud y gwir.
Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, Llywydd, yr oeddem yn siomedig iawn ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr bod yr hawl i brynu am gael ei ddiddymu. Rydym ni wedi dadlau—a byddem yn dal i ddadlau, pe gallem fynd yn ôl at hyn—y dylai'r hawl i brynu gael ei ddiwygio. Dyna beth sy'n mynd i ddigwydd yn Lloegr, a dyna'r cyfeiriad y dylem ni fod wedi'i gymryd. Ond gwnaethpwyd y penderfyniad, ac fe wnaethom ymdrechu'n galed i gynnig ffyrdd o gryfhau'r Bil hwn o safbwynt adlewyrchu hawliau ac anghenion tenantiaid i'r eithaf, heb danseilio'r bwriad canolog. Ond yn amlwg, rydym ni wedi methu yn hynny o beth, ac rwy'n credu y bydd hynny'n aros ar y cofnod. Yn amlwg, nid yw'r mater hwn yn mynd i ddiflannu. Bydd yn parhau, rwy'n credu, yn bennaf yn gwestiwn o gyflenwad tai, ac os na fyddwn yn adeiladu digon o dai, cartrefi teuluol yn arbennig, lle gallem fod yn brin o 50,000 neu 60,000 erbyn 2030 ar sail rhagamcaniadau presennol, yna bydd gennym broblemau gwirioneddol. Mae hynny'n parhau i fod y peth pwysicaf y mae'n rhaid i ni ei ddatrys.
Do you not accept that the problem could be solved overnight if the Treasury allowed local authorities to borrow against the value of their housing stock in order to build houses, which they did in the 1950s and the 1960s, but the Treasury and the Tories don't let them do now?
Onid ydych chi'n derbyn y gellid datrys y broblem dros nos pe byddai'r Trysorlys yn caniatáu i awdurdodau lleol fenthyca yn erbyn gwerth eu stoc tai er mwyn adeiladu tai, fel y gwnaethant yn y 1950au a'r 1960au, ond nad yw'r Trysorlys a'r Torïaid yn caniatáu iddyn nhw ei wneud nawr?
Okay. Well, you know, Mike, I've said that we need to build more houses. I've said that I'm happy with councils building houses now. In fact, I said that, I think, before colleagues in Westminster, in my party, came round to this. We just need to build. Whatever the necessary mechanisms or the help that would allow us to do that, I'm going to be very pragmatic. That's all I can say.
So, it will remain, principally, an issue of supply. I have to say, on that issue, that certainly during the life of the fifth Assembly, in the housing debates and all the interventions I've been able to make, I have consistently challenged the housing projections, asked the Government to accept the alternative projection that they commissioned Professor Holmans to come up with, and pushed and pushed on this issue. Now we are seeing some intimations of change. I notice the sector out there is getting a bit more demanding about the number of social homes we should have, and I think that that is a good thing. We do need to build many, many more homes.
But I believe, as do my colleagues, that the right to buy was a liberating and expansive policy for many, many people. How many? Well, 150,000 or so took this opportunity. It's become less popular because now it's perhaps not as attractive to as many people that remain in social housing. Given the price of houses, we are probably going to see the need for greater social housing provision anyway, but it was a fantastically successful policy. It remains a popular policy, as we saw in the evidence in the committee, and from views expressed by tenants and polling evidence out there. I do tell you this: I don't think we've seen the last of the right to buy. I think it is going to be an issue that will return, and there will always be its champions on this side, who will sing that song of a method of great home ownership that many people aspire to.
Iawn. Wel, wyddoch chi, Mike, rwyf wedi dweud bod angen i ni adeiladu mwy o dai. Rwyf wedi dweud fy mod yn fodlon i gynghorau adeiladu tai nawr. Mewn gwirionedd, dywedais i hynny, rwy'n credu, cyn i gydweithwyr yn San Steffan, yn fy mhlaid i, gael eu hargyhoeddi o hyn. Mae angen inni adeiladu. Beth bynnag yw'r dulliau angenrheidiol neu'r cymorth a fyddai'n caniatáu inni wneud hynny, rwyf yn mynd i fod yn ymarferol iawn. Dyna'r cyfan y gallaf ei ddweud.
Felly, bydd yn parhau, yn bennaf, yn fater o gyflenwad. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, ar y mater hwnnw, yn sicr yn ystod bywyd y pumed Cynulliad, yn y dadleuon am dai a'r holl ymyraethau yr wyf i wedi gallu eu gwneud, rwyf i wedi herio'r amcanestyniadau ar gyfer tai yn gyson, wedi gofyn i'r Llywodraeth dderbyn yr amcanestyniad amgen y gwnaeth gomisiynu yr Athro Holmans i'w lunio, ac wedi gwthio a gwthio ar y mater hwn. Rydym yn gweld rhai arwyddion o newid erbyn hyn. Rwy'n sylwi bod y sector allan yn y fan yna ychydig yn fwy taer o ran nifer y cartrefi cymdeithasol a ddylai fod gennym, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n beth da. Mae angen i ni adeiladu llawer iawn mwy o gartrefi.
Ond rwyf i o'r farn, fel fy nghyd-Aelodau, fod y polisi hawl i brynu wedi bod yn un rhyddhaol a helaeth i nifer fawr iawn o bobl. Faint? Wel, cymerodd tua 150,000 y cyfle hwn. Mae wedi mynd yn llai poblogaidd oherwydd nad yw efallai mor ddeniadol nawr i faint bynnag o bobl sy'n dal i fod mewn tai cymdeithasol. O ystyried pris tai, byddwn yn gweld, mwy na thebyg, bod angen mwy o ddarpariaeth tai cymdeithasol beth bynnag, ond roedd yn bolisi anhygoel o lwyddiannus. Mae'n dal i fod yn bolisi poblogaidd, fel y gwelsom yn y dystiolaeth yn y Pwyllgor, ac o'r safbwyntiau a fynegwyd gan denantiaid a thystiolaeth o arolygon allan yn y fan yna. Rwy'n dweud hyn wrthych chi: dydw i ddim yn meddwl ein bod wedi gweld diwedd yr hawl i brynu. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn fater a fydd yn dychwelyd, a bydd ganddo hyrwyddwyr bob amser ar yr ochr hon, a fydd yn dweud ei fod yn ddull gwych o berchentyaeth y mae llawer o bobl yn dyheu amdano.
Os na dderbynnir gwelliant 12, bydd gwelliant 4 yn methu. Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn gwelliant 12? A oes unrhyw wrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Symudwn i bleidlais electronig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 14, neb yn ymatal, 35 yn erbyn. Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant—gwelliant 12.
If amendment 12 is not agreed to, amendment 4 falls. The question is that amendment 12 be agreed to. Does any Member object? [Objection.] We’ll proceed to an electronic vote. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 14, no abstentions, 35 against. Therefore, the amendment is not agreed—amendment 12, that is.
Gwelliant 12: O blaid: 14, Yn erbyn: 35, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
Amendment 12: For: 14, Against: 35, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been rejected
Methodd gwelliant 4.
Amendment 4 fell.
Rydym felly wedi dod i ddiwedd ystyriaeth Cyfnod 3 o'r Bil Diddymu'r Hawl i Brynu a'r Hawliau Cysylltiedig (Cymru). Rwyf yn datgan felly y bernir pob adran o'r Bil a phob Atodlen iddo wedi'u derbyn. Daw hynny, felly, â'n trafodion yng Nghyfnod 3 heddiw i ben.
We have therefore reached the end of our Stage 3 consideration of the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights (Wales) Bill. I declare that all sections and Schedules to the Bill are deemed agreed. And that, therefore, concludes our Stage 3 proceedings.
Barnwyd y cytunwyd ar bob adran o’r Bil.
All sections of the Bill deemed agreed.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:01.
The meeting ended at 18:01.