Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
02/10/2019Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Economi a Threfnidiaeth, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Neil McEvoy.
And the first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy and Transport, and the first question is from Neil McEvoy.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddarpariaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghaerdydd? OAQ54424
1. Will the Minister make a statement on public transport provision in Cardiff? OAQ54424
Yes, of course. We continue to invest in a modern and integrated public transport system in Cardiff, which includes local bus services, active travel and the transformational south Wales metro. Integrated public transport is, of course, key to promoting a modal shift from the personal car to more sustainable modes of transport.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs. Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fodern ac integredig yng Nghaerdydd, sy'n cynnwys gwasanaethau bysiau lleol, teithio llesol a metro trawsnewidiol de Cymru. Mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig, wrth gwrs, yn allweddol er mwyn hyrwyddo newid moddol o'r car personol i ddulliau trafnidiaeth mwy cynaliadwy.
Minister, in the last week, we've seen extreme flooding in areas of Cardiff, no doubt made worse by the concreting of fields for Labour's disastrous local development plan, and the culling of trees and woodland also. Over the summer, roads were closed for building work for Labour's local destruction plan—because that's the correct term really—and the first of thousands of very expensive houses are already being built. But there's no sign of the metro—no sign of it—and there's no extra public transport provision at all, it seems. But there is an extraordinary level of congestion and resulting air pollution right now. Does your party regret giving over our countryside to corporate developers to make a packet, and do you accept that it was highly irresponsible to give the go-ahead to build these houses without any—any—public transport infrastructure in place?
Weinidog, yn yr wythnos ddiwethaf, rydym wedi gweld llifogydd eithafol mewn ardaloedd o Gaerdydd, a waethygwyd heb os gan y concrit a osodwyd ar gaeau ar gyfer cynllun datblygu lleol trychinebus Llafur, a thorri coed a choetiroedd hefyd. Dros yr haf, caewyd ffyrdd ar gyfer gwaith adeiladu ar gyfer cynllun dinistr lleol Llafur—gan mai dyna'r term cywir mewn gwirionedd—ac mae'r cyntaf o filoedd o dai drud iawn eisoes yn cael eu hadeiladu. Ond nid oes unrhyw arwydd o'r metro—dim arwydd ohono—ac nid ymddengys bod unrhyw ddarpariaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ychwanegol o gwbl. Ond mae lefel anhygoel o dagfeydd a llygredd aer yn sgil hynny ar hyn o bryd. A yw eich plaid yn difaru ildio ein cefn gwlad i ddatblygwyr corfforaethol allu gwneud elw mawr ohono, ac a ydych yn derbyn ei bod yn anghyfrifol iawn rhoi caniatâd i adeiladu'r tai hyn heb sicrhau bod unrhyw—unrhyw—seilwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar waith?
Can I thank the Member for his question, and just correct him on the assertion that no provision has been made for active travel and integrated travel within the Cardiff area? The metro programme is already being advanced. Rolling stock is on order. Plans are being pursued, with the latest Welsh transport appraisal guidance study concerning the north-west corridor. And, in terms of active travel, I'm pleased to say that we as a Government have awarded £5.5 million to Cardiff Council in the current financial year to help deliver active travel improvements across the city. This includes £2.9 million for eight strategic schemes, and an expansion of the incredibly successful Nextbike scheme.
In addition, we are taking action to combat what I call the 'carbon canyon', which is the concentrated air pollution area in this city. We are identifying means, with Cardiff Council, of reducing the use of the private vehicle within the city, and just this week I have been in discussions with my officials about how we can embark on an unprecedented campaign to replant trees as we face the ash dieback problems. It's my belief that more trees—I'm sure that we would agree entirely—do have to be planted across Wales, and in particular in our urban areas. Now, I'm a passionate believer in careful land management within urban environments that sees more green spaces created, and more trees planted, and that's a key component of 'Planning Policy Wales', which is being adjusted, and I think it's absolutely essential as well that local authorities pay due regard to the need for green spaces. It's not just good for the environment, it's also good for mental health and well-being.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn, a'i gywiro ar yr honiad na wnaed unrhyw ddarpariaeth ar gyfer teithio llesol a theithio integredig yn ardal Caerdydd? Mae rhaglen y metro eisoes yn cael ei datblygu. Mae’r cerbydau wedi’u harchebu. Mae cynlluniau ar y gweill, gydag astudiaeth arweiniad ar arfarnu trafnidiaeth ddiweddaraf Cymru yn canolbwyntio ar goridor y gogledd-orllewin. Ac o ran teithio llesol, rwy'n falch o ddweud ein bod ni fel Llywodraeth wedi dyfarnu £5.5 miliwn i Gyngor Caerdydd yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol i’w cynorthwyo i sicrhau gwelliannau teithio llesol ledled y ddinas. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £2.9 miliwn ar gyfer wyth cynllun strategol, ac ehangu cynllun hynod lwyddiannus Nextbike.
Yn ogystal â hynny, rydym yn cymryd camau i fynd i'r afael â'r hyn a alwaf yn 'hafn garbon', sef yr ardal o lygredd aer crynodedig yn y ddinas hon. Rydym yn nodi ffyrdd, gyda Chyngor Caerdydd, o leihau’r defnydd o gerbydau preifat yn y ddinas, a’r wythnos hon, cefais drafodaethau gyda fy swyddogion ynghylch sut y gallwn gychwyn ar ymgyrch ddigynsail i ailblannu coed wrth inni wynebu problemau clefyd coed ynn. Credaf fod yn rhaid plannu mwy o goed—rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn cytuno'n llwyr—ledled Cymru, ac yn benodol, yn ein hardaloedd trefol. Nawr, rwy'n gredwr cryf mewn rheoli tir yn ofalus mewn amgylcheddau trefol, gan greu mwy o fannau gwyrdd, plannu mwy o goed, ac mae hynny'n rhan allweddol o 'Bolisi Cynllunio Cymru', sy'n cael ei addasu, a chredaf ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol hefyd fod awdurdodau lleol yn rhoi sylw dyledus i'r angen am fannau gwyrdd. Mae'n dda i'r amgylchedd, ac mae hefyd yn dda i iechyd meddwl a lles.
Minister, I hear what you say about public transport, and it's very important that we invest in good models of public transport, especially the experience that people get to make that change from the car on to buses. I was in the village of Creigiau recently, and whilst there are bus stops in the village, it was raised with me that they cannot get bus shelters or dropped kerbs for disability access. Now, I appreciate a lot of that work is undertaken by the local authority, but when you make grants available to local authorities, do you make checks on the overall experience that's available to users of public transport when issuing those grants? It's one thing having a nice new bus that might look nice and shiny on the road, but if there's no disability access at the bus shelter, or if people are expected to stay out in the elements when it's raining and pouring down, people will revert back to their car. So, do you not agree with me that it's important that we look at the overall experience that passengers get, and, where money can be invested, it needs to be invested in bus shelters and dropped kerbs to make disability access the norm rather than an exception?
Weinidog, clywaf yr hyn a ddywedwch am drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac mae’n bwysig iawn ein bod yn buddsoddi mewn modelau da o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, yn enwedig y profiad y mae pobl yn ei gael i wneud y newid hwnnw o gar i fysiau. Roeddwn ym mhentref Creigiau yn ddiweddar, ac er bod safleoedd bws yn y pentref, dywedwyd wrthyf na allant gael llochesi bysiau na chyrbau is y gall pobl anabl eu defnyddio. Nawr, rwy'n deall mai’r awdurdod lleol sy’n gyfrifol am lawer o'r gwaith hwnnw, ond pan fyddwch yn darparu grantiau i awdurdodau lleol, a ydych yn gwirio’r profiad i holl ddefnyddwyr trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus wrth ddarparu’r grantiau hynny? Mae cael bws newydd sbon sy’n edrych yn dda ac yn sgleiniog ar y ffordd yn un peth, ond os nad oes mynediad ar gyfer pobl anabl yn y lloches fysiau, neu os oes disgwyl i bobl aros allan pan fydd hi'n arllwys y glaw, bydd pobl yn mynd yn ôl i'w ceir. Felly, onid ydych yn cytuno â mi ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod yn edrych ar brofiad pob teithiwr, a bod angen buddsoddi arian, lle y gellir ei fuddsoddi, mewn llochesi bysiau a chyrbau is fel bod mynediad ar gyfer pobl anabl yn arferol yn hytrach na’n eithriad?
I'd agree entirely with the Member. The experience that a member of the public has at a bus stop is just as important as the experience that they have on the actual bus. And I'm pleased that we've been able to support local government in Wales, in this financial year, with enhanced bus-related infrastructure that includes modern, fit-for-purpose bus stops. The Member will also be aware of the White Paper that was published recently concerning the future of public transport in Wales, specifically bus services and the creation of quality partnerships that will lead to enhanced service provision, and enhanced provision within bus stops and along routes, including, for example, free Wi-Fi not just on buses but potentially at bus stops.
Cytunaf yn llwyr â'r Aelod. Mae profiad aelod o'r cyhoedd mewn safle bws yr un mor bwysig â'r profiad a gânt ar y bws ei hun. Ac rwy'n falch ein bod wedi gallu cefnogi llywodraeth leol yng Nghymru, yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, gyda gwell seilwaith bysiau sy'n cynnwys safleoedd bws modern sy’n addas i’r diben. Bydd yr Aelod hefyd yn ymwybodol o'r Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar ynghylch dyfodol trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru, a gwasanaethau bysiau yn benodol a’r gwaith o greu partneriaethau o safon a fydd yn arwain at well darpariaeth gwasanaeth, a darpariaeth well mewn safleoedd bws ac ar lwybrau bysiau, gan gynnwys, er enghraifft, Wi-Fi am ddim, nid yn unig ar fysiau ond mewn safleoedd bws o bosibl.
2. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i helpu twf busnesau bach yng Nghymru? OAQ54430
2. What plans does the Welsh Government have to assist small business growth in Wales? OAQ54430
Thank you. In line with our economic action plan, we remain committed to supporting small businesses throughout Wales. And the development bank is assisting with its bilingual advice service and financial support for businesses to start and grow. Furthermore, the Business Wales accelerated growth programme provides specialist tailored support for businesses with significant growth potential.
Diolch. Yn unol â'n cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi, rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i gefnogi busnesau bach ledled Cymru. Ac mae'r banc datblygu yn cynorthwyo gyda'i wasanaeth cyngor dwyieithog a'i gefnogaeth ariannol i fusnesau allu dechrau a thyfu. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, mae rhaglen cyflymu twf Busnes Cymru yn darparu cefnogaeth arbenigol wedi'i theilwra i fusnesau sydd â photensial sylweddol i dyfu.
Thank you for that. And I do understand your drive and ambition to help small businesses in Wales. But, of course, last week, the shadow Chancellor, for the shadow bench, stated at your conference that he'd introduce a 32-hour week within a decade if Labour come into power. Now, how does this equate with your desire to encourage small business growth, as employers will have limited capacity to employ more staff, but their working hours will reduce? I've been in receipt of a number of telephone calls on this issue, so clarification on what the Welsh Government would do, or how you might manage the situation, will be something that I think small business owners will be raising more and more in the future.
Diolch am hynny. Ac rwy'n deall eich dyhead a'ch uchelgais i helpu busnesau bach yng Nghymru. Ond wrth gwrs, yr wythnos diwethaf, nododd Canghellor yr wrthblaid ar ran meinciau'r wrthblaid yn eich cynhadledd y byddai'n cyflwyno wythnos 32 awr, o fewn degawd, pe bai Llafur yn dod i rym. Nawr, sut y mae hyn yn cymharu â'ch awydd i annog twf busnesau bach, gan mai gallu cyfyngedig a fydd gan gyflogwyr i gyflogi mwy o staff, ond bydd eu horiau gwaith yn lleihau? Rwyf wedi derbyn sawl galwad ffôn ynglŷn a’r mater hwn, felly bydd eglurhad ynghylch yr hyn y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud, neu sut y gallech reoli'r sefyllfa, yn rhywbeth y credaf y bydd perchnogion busnesau bach yn ei godi’n amlach yn y dyfodol.
Well, I'd say, first and foremost, the proposals are ambitious. They are right as well, in my view, but they're not without challenge, which is why a 10-year period has been presented as a transition for a reduction in the working week. What is most important within the UK economy right now is the twin challenge of a lack of inclusive growth—i.e. a lack of fair growth, and regions, therefore, being left behind—and a lack of productivity. And it appears to me, based on international expertise, that the productivity challenge can be addressed through reducing the working week, as we have seen in France, where productivity improved as a consequence of reducing the working week to four days. I believe that we can apply the same model within the UK and we can achieve the same outcomes as France has enjoyed.
Wel, buaswn yn dweud, yn anad dim, fod y cynigion yn uchelgeisiol. Maent yn iawn hefyd, yn fy marn i, ond nid ydynt heb eu heriau, a dyna pam fod cyfnod o 10 mlynedd wedi'i gynnig fel cyfnod pontio ar gyfer cwtogi’r wythnos waith. Yr hyn sydd bwysicaf yn economi'r DU ar hyn o bryd yw her ddeublyg diffyg twf cynhwysol—h.y. diffyg twf teg, a rhanbarthau, felly, yn cael eu gadael ar ôl—a diffyg cynhyrchiant. Ac ymddengys i mi, yn seiliedig ar arbenigedd rhyngwladol, y gellir mynd i'r afael â her cynhyrchiant drwy gwtogi'r wythnos waith, fel y gwelsom yn Ffrainc, lle y gwellodd cynhyrchiant o ganlyniad i gwtogi’r wythnos waith i bedwar diwrnod. Credaf y gallwn ddefnyddio’r un model yn y DU ac y gallwn gyflawni'r un canlyniadau â Ffrainc.
Minister, small business is the backbone of our economy and needs a low tax, red-tape-free environment in order to thrive. However, the biggest barrier to growth currently is poor infrastructure. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, a majority of businesses in Wales have found they're affected by Government making decisions on infrastructure. It's not just the Government's failure to deliver the promised M4 relief road, but it's the state of the road network and poor public transport links. So, Minister, how does your Government plan to address the FSB's concerns over the next 12 months?
Weinidog, busnesau bach yw asgwrn cefn ein heconomi, ac mae arnynt angen amgylchedd treth isel heb fiwrocratiaeth i allu ffynnu. Fodd bynnag, y rhwystr mwyaf i dwf ar hyn o bryd yw seilwaith gwael. Yn ôl y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach, mae’r mwyafrif o fusnesau Cymru wedi cael eu heffeithio o ganlyniad i’r Llywodraeth yn gwneud penderfyniadau ynglŷn â seilwaith. Mae'n ymwneud nid yn unig â methiant y Llywodraeth i ddarparu ffordd liniaru’r M4 fel yr addawyd, ond â chyflwr y rhwydwaith ffyrdd, a chysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus gwael. Felly, Weinidog, sut y mae eich Llywodraeth yn bwriadu mynd i'r afael â phryderon y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach dros y 12 mis nesaf?
Well, the FSB report, I think, was incredibly helpful and we'll be considering it very carefully. I would say, in terms of ambitious programmes for infrastructure, the £5 billion rail franchise, the transformational south Wales metro, the north Wales metro, which is making great strides, the development of a south-west Wales metro as well, all demonstrate that this Welsh Government has huge ambition for public transport and the infrastructure that's required to underpin it.
Wel, credaf fod adroddiad y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach yn hynod ddefnyddiol a byddwn yn ei ystyried yn ofalus iawn. O ran rhaglenni uchelgeisiol ar gyfer seilwaith, buaswn yn dweud bod y fasnachfraint reilffyrdd gwerth £5 biliwn, metro trawsnewidiol de Cymru, metro gogledd Cymru, sy'n gwneud cryn dipyn o gynnydd, datblygu metro de-orllewin Cymru hefyd, i gyd yn dangos bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru uchelgais enfawr ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a'r seilwaith sydd ei angen yn sail i hynny.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Russell George.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can the Minister tell me when Wales can expect to have a reliable rail service?
Diolch, Lywydd. A all y Gweinidog ddweud wrthyf pryd y gall Cymru ddisgwyl gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd dibynadwy?
Wales has a reliable—[Interruption.] Wales has a reliable rail service. However, that service is not without faults, and that is something that Transport for Wales have admitted to. I think if we look at, historically, the problems associated with underinvestment by the UK Government, we'll understand that the lack of decent signalling and the lack of major infrastructure improvements have contributed to a lack of reliability not just today but in many years previous.
Mae gan Gymru wasanaeth—[Torri ar draws.] Mae gan Gymru wasanaeth rheilffyrdd dibynadwy. Fodd bynnag, nid yw'r gwasanaeth hwnnw heb ei feiau, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi’i gyfaddef. Os edrychwn, yn hanesyddol, ar y problemau sy'n gysylltiedig â thanfuddsoddi gan Lywodraeth y DU, credaf y byddwn yn deall bod y diffyg signalau addas a'r diffyg gwelliannau seilwaith mawr wedi cyfrannu at ddiffyg dibynadwyedd, nid yn unig heddiw ond ers blynyddoedd lawer.
Minister, there'll be many people across Wales who will not agree with you that we have a reliable rail service. You have great aspirations, which I would welcome and agree with, but passengers want to know when they can expect a rail service that is reliable now. Passengers want to see improvements now, not just in the future. But this is what you told the people of Wales last year, and I'm quoting you here,
'Let me be absolutely clear: in the coming months and years, we will deliver groundbreaking transformation of transport across the country'.
I'm sure that you will agree that we are not seeing that transformation and we're not seeing an acceptable level of service. This summer, we saw an unacceptable level of delays, cancellations, short-form trains. On the Cambrian line, which serves my own constituency, only 61 per cent of trains arrived on time between June and July, with many others being cancelled. There is a shortage of drivers, resulting in further cancellations, and, according to Transport for Wales's own website, 2019 was going to see an increased capacity on the Valleys lines. However, according to their own statistics, only 81 per cent of trains arrived on time between June and July. Is this the groundbreaking transformation that you had in mind?
Weinidog, bydd llawer o bobl ledled Cymru yn anghytuno â chi fod gennym wasanaeth rheilffyrdd dibynadwy. Mae gennych ddyheadau gwych y buaswn yn eu croesawu ac yn cytuno â hwy, ond mae teithwyr am wybod pryd y gallant ddisgwyl gwasanaeth rheilffyrdd sy'n ddibynadwy yn awr. Mae teithwyr am weld gwelliannau yn awr, nid yn y dyfodol yn unig. Ond dyma a ddywedoch wrth bobl Cymru y llynedd, ac rwy'n eich dyfynnu chi:
Gadewch i mi fod yn gwbl glir: dros y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf, byddwn yn cyflawni trawsnewid arloesol ym maes trafnidiaeth ledled y wlad.
Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno nad ydym yn gweld y trawsnewid hwnnw ac nad ydym yn gweld lefel dderbyniol o wasanaeth. Yr haf hwn, cawsom lefel annerbyniol o oedi, canslo, trenau rhy fach. Ar reilffordd y Cambrian, sy'n gwasanaethu fy etholaeth i, 61 y cant o drenau yn unig a gyrhaeddodd ar amser rhwng mis Mehefin a mis Gorffennaf, gyda llawer o rai eraill wedi cael eu canslo. Mae prinder gyrwyr yn arwain at ganslo rhagor o drenau, ac yn ôl gwefan Trafnidiaeth Cymru ei hun, roedd capasiti rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd i fod i gynyddu yn 2019. Fodd bynnag, yn ôl eu hystadegau eu hunain, 81 y cant o drenau yn unig a gyrhaeddodd ar amser rhwng mis Mehefin a mis Gorffennaf. Ai hwn yw'r trawsnewid arloesol a oedd gennych mewn golwg?
Well, let me just repeat some of the groundbreaking measures we've already undertaken as a consequence of us letting this franchise agreement. We have put in orders for £800 million of new trains—more than 130 trains and light rail tram units. Last week, or the week before, I announced £194 million of improvements for stations. Compare that to £600,000 that was spent in the previous 15 years. Halton curve services have begun in the north, and I'm delighted to be able to tell Members today that, next week, I will be detailing how we will be achieving a 10 per cent increase in capacity at the end of this year on the rail franchise network. Members will be interested as well to hear more about the four-carriage trains that are going to be introduced on peak Valleys lines services, which will provide more space for commuters every week. We're going to be introducing—and I'll detail this next week, again—more modern trains with more space and onboard passenger information systems, accessible toilets and free Wi-Fi, and I'll be detailing improved long-distance services between north Wales and Manchester, as well as a much improved journey time between south Wales and north Wales.
But I would add that this has not been a journey without challenge, but much of the challenge relates to the infrastructure that is outdated or is not fit for purpose, and that is not a responsibility of Transport for Wales or the Welsh Government; that remains a responsibility of UK Government. If we are to address that problem, we need to have responsibility for infrastructure and funding devolved to the Welsh Government.
And the Member does pick up on the important point of reliability on the Cambrian line over the summer. Well, of course, much of the problem with the Cambrian line over the summer relates to the signalling equipment that is utilised on the Cambrian line. That is the responsibility not of Transport for Wales but of Network Rail—i.e. UK Government. We are hoping that this will be overcome, but, of course, it's been a challenge not of our making.
Wel, gadewch i mi ailadrodd rhai o'r mesurau arloesol rydym eisoes wedi'u rhoi ar waith o ganlyniad i osod cytundeb y fasnachfraint hon. Rydym wedi archebu gwerth £800 miliwn o drenau newydd—mwy na 130 o drenau ac unedau tram ysgafn. Yr wythnos diwethaf, neu'r wythnos cyn hynny, cyhoeddais werth £194 miliwn o welliannau i orsafoedd. Cymharwch hynny â'r £600,000 a wariwyd dros y 15 mlynedd flaenorol. Mae gwasanaethau troad Halton wedi cychwyn yn y gogledd, ac rwy'n falch iawn o allu dweud wrth yr Aelodau heddiw y byddaf, yr wythnos nesaf, yn manylu ar sut y byddwn yn sicrhau cynnydd o 10 y cant yn y capasiti erbyn diwedd eleni ar rwydwaith y fasnachfraint rheilffyrdd. Bydd yr Aelodau hefyd yn awyddus i glywed mwy am y trenau pedwar cerbyd a fydd yn cael eu cyflwyno ar wasanaethau brig rheilffyrdd y Cymoedd, ac a fydd yn darparu mwy o le i gymudwyr bob wythnos. Byddwn yn cyflwyno—ac unwaith eto, byddaf yn manylu ar hyn yr wythnos nesaf—trenau mwy modern gyda mwy o le a chanddynt systemau gwybodaeth i deithwyr, toiledau hwylus a Wi-Fi am ddim, a byddaf yn manylu ar wasanaethau pellter hir gwell rhwng gogledd Cymru a Manceinion, yn ogystal ag amser teithio llawer gwell rhwng de Cymru a gogledd Cymru.
Ond hoffwn ychwanegu nad yw hon wedi bod yn siwrnai heb ei heriau, ond mae llawer o'r her yn ymwneud â'r seilwaith sydd wedi dyddio neu nad yw'n addas i'r diben, ac nid yw hynny'n gyfrifoldeb i Trafnidiaeth Cymru na Llywodraeth Cymru; mae hynny'n parhau i fod yn gyfrifoldeb i Lywodraeth y DU. Os ydym am fynd i'r afael â'r broblem honno, mae arnom angen i'r cyfrifoldeb am seilwaith a chyllid gael ei ddatganoli i Lywodraeth Cymru.
Ac mae'r Aelod yn nodi'r pwynt pwysig ynghylch dibynadwyedd ar reilffordd y Cambrian dros yr haf. Wel, wrth gwrs, mae llawer o'r broblem gyda rheilffordd y Cambrian dros yr haf yn ymwneud â'r offer signalau a ddefnyddir ar reilffordd y Cambrian. Nid cyfrifoldeb Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw hynny, ond Network Rail—h.y. Llywodraeth y DU. Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd y broblem hon yn cael ei datrys, ond wrth gwrs, nid ni sydd ar fai am yr her honno.
Well, thank you, Minister. You've referred to the Cambrian line. Well, trains are being pulled off the Cambrian line to be used in other parts of Wales. That isn't the responsibility of Network Rail; that's the responsibility of Transport for Wales and yourself.
Now, last autumn, we saw huge disruption across the rail network, and we saw at one point the fleet reduced from 127 trains to just 86. Now, we know that we expect autumn weather every year in the way it comes to us, but I would have thought that our rail services would have been reliable enough during the warm and dry period this summer, which hasn't been the case. So, that does bring, of course, the concern for where passengers are going to be left this autumn. So, considering the appalling delays and cancellations over the summer, can you assure the people of Wales, and commuters, that this autumn will not be anywhere near the level of disruption that they saw last year?
Wel, diolch, Weinidog. Rydych wedi cyfeirio at reilffordd y Cambrian. Wel, mae trenau'n cael eu tynnu oddi ar reilffordd y Cambrian i'w defnyddio mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru. Nid cyfrifoldeb Network Rail yw hynny; eich cyfrifoldeb chi a Trafnidiaeth Cymru ydyw.
Nawr, yn yr hydref y llynedd, gwelsom gryn dipyn o darfu ar rwydwaith y rheilffyrdd, ac ar un adeg, gwelsom y fflyd yn lleihau o 127 o drenau i 86 trên yn unig. Nawr, gwyddom ein bod yn disgwyl tywydd hydrefol bob blwyddyn yn y ffordd y daw, ond buaswn wedi disgwyl i'n gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd fod yn ddigon dibynadwy yn ystod cyfnod cynnes a sych yr haf eleni, ac ni ddigwyddodd hynny. Felly, mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn peri pryder ynghylch sefyllfa'r teithwyr yr hydref hwn. Felly, o ystyried yr achosion gwarthus o oedi a chanslo dros yr haf, a allwch roi sicrwydd i bobl Cymru, a chymudwyr, na fydd lefel y tarfu yr hydref hwn yn agos i'r hyn a welsant y llynedd?
Can I thank Russell George for giving me an opportunity to address this very serious issue? If we go back to the autumn of last year, we'll all recall that there was a very serious problem with what are called 'wheel flats' caused by the lack of wheel-slide protection on trains. It was a unique problem for the rolling stock fleet that we adopted from Arriva Trains Wales. Now, the Member identifies, rightly, that trains were withdrawn from the Cambrian line and many other lines over the summer holiday period, in order to have wheel-slide protection kits fitted to them. Scores of trains over the summer had wheel-slide protection kits applied to them as part of our £40 million upgrade of the existing fleet, which will be in operation while we await the new trains, which will be delivered from 2022 onward. So, I'm pleased to be able to say to Members today that those trains that were not fitted with wheel-slide protection kits last year, which were not operating as a consequence of that or which did suffer from wheel slide, now have that vital kit applied to them.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Russell George am roi cyfle imi sôn am y mater difrifol iawn hwn? Os meddyliwn am hydref y llynedd, bydd pob un ohonom yn cofio'r broblem ddifrifol iawn gyda'r hyn a elwir yn 'fannau fflat ar olwynion' a achoswyd gan ddiffyg amddiffyniadau ar drenau i atal olwynion rhag llithro. Roedd yn broblem unigryw i'r fflyd o gerbydau a etifeddwyd gennym gan Arriva Trains Wales. Nawr, mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le wrth nodi bod trenau wedi'u tynnu oddi ar reilffordd y Cambrian a llawer o reilffyrdd eraill dros gyfnod gwyliau'r haf, er mwyn gosod citiau amddiffyniadau i atal olwynion rhag llithro. Gosodwyd citiau amddiffyniadau i atal olwynion rhag llithro ar lu o drenau dros yr haf fel rhan o'n hymdrech gwerth £40 miliwn i uwchraddio'r fflyd bresennol, a fydd yn weithredol wrth i ni aros am y trenau newydd, a fydd yn cael eu cyflenwi o 2022 ymlaen. Felly, rwy'n falch o allu dweud wrth yr Aelodau heddiw fod y trenau hynny nad oedd ganddynt amddiffyniadau i atal olwynion rhag llithro y llynedd, ac nad oeddent yn weithredol o ganlyniad i hynny, neu drenau â mannau fflat ar eu holwynion, bellach wedi cael y cit hanfodol hwnnw wedi'i osod.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu paratoadau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer diwydiant 4.0?
Thank you very much, Llywydd. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's preparations for industry 4.0?
Can I thank the Member for his question? He'll be aware of the report that Professor Brown conducted for us on this, which we have now published and we will be responding to it accordingly. But alongside this work, the implementation of the economic action plan continues with the economic contract driving inclusive, fair growth and behavioural change within business settings, and the calls to action designed to futureproof businesses. And as part of the calls to action, we're investing heavily in the industries of tomorrow and in the components of those industries, such as automation and artificial intelligence, which will drive productivity and jobs growth.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn? Fe fydd yn ymwybodol o'r adroddiad a gyflawnodd yr Athro Brown ar hyn ar ein cyfer, ac rydym bellach wedi'i gyhoeddi a byddwn yn ymateb iddo yn unol â hynny. Ond ochr yn ochr â'r gwaith hwn, mae'r broses o roi'r cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi ar waith yn parhau, gyda'r contract economaidd yn hybu twf cynhwysol, teg a newid ymddygiad mewn lleoliadau busnes, a'r galwadau i weithredu a gynlluniwyd i sicrhau bod busnesau'n cael eu diogelu at y dyfodol. Ac fel rhan o'r galwadau i weithredu, rydym yn buddsoddi'n helaeth yn niwydiannau'r dyfodol ac yng nghydrannau'r diwydiannau hynny, fel awtomatiaeth a deallusrwydd artiffisial, a fydd yn hybu cynhyrchiant a thwf swyddi.
I look forward to the full response on Professor Brown's report. What he saw was that too many Welsh companies are locked into low-value parts of worldwide chains and, actually, that there's little scope for higher value roles in areas like research and development and international procurement.
Now Professor Brown further argues that the Welsh workforce, as a result, will be exposed to quality-cost competition as companies seek to automate less valuable parts of their chains. We know that automation is happening and that it will accelerate, so the window for taking action to prepare for that is narrowing. So, what preparations are Welsh Government making to provide retraining opportunities, for example, for those who are and will increasingly be affected by automation?
Edrychaf ymlaen at yr ymateb llawn i adroddiad yr Athro Brown. Yr hyn a welodd ef oedd fod gormod o gwmnïau yn Nghymru wedi'u cloi i mewn i rannau isel eu gwerth o gadwyni byd-eang, ac mewn gwirionedd, nad oes llawer o le i rolau uwch eu gwerth mewn meysydd fel ymchwil a datblygu a chaffael rhyngwladol.
Nawr, mae'r Athro Brown yn dadlau ymhellach y bydd gweithlu Cymru, o ganlyniad, yn agored i gystadleuaeth cost ac ansawdd wrth i gwmnïau geisio awtomeiddio rhannau llai gwerthfawr o'u cadwyni. Gwyddom fod awtomatiaeth yn digwydd ac y bydd yn cyflymu, felly mae'r amser i weithredu er mwyn paratoi ar gyfer hynny'n lleihau. Felly, pa baratoadau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu gwneud i ddarparu cyfleoedd ailhyfforddi, er enghraifft, i'r rheini yr effeithir arnynt yn awr ac yn gynyddol yn y dyfodol gan awtomatiaeth?
I'm pleased to be able to tell Members today that the implementation of our plans for individual learning accounts has been commenced and this programme is now being rolled out. What it enables individuals in work to do is to have financial support in order to undergo training and retraining specifically to address the challenges that industry 4.0 will present, and the need to ensure that they are fully equipped to take full advantage of the new jobs that will be created in the transition to an automated society.
Rwy'n falch o allu dweud wrth yr Aelodau heddiw fod y broses o roi ein cynlluniau ar gyfer cyfrifon dysgu unigol ar waith wedi cychwyn ac mae'r rhaglen hon bellach yn cael ei chyflwyno. Yr hyn y mae'n galluogi unigolion mewn gwaith i'w wneud yw cael cymorth ariannol er mwyn cael hyfforddiant ac ailhyfforddi yn benodol er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r heriau y bydd diwydiant 4.0 yn eu cyflwyno, a'r angen i sicrhau eu bod yn barod i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y swyddi newydd a gaiff eu creu wrth drawsnewid i gymdeithas awtomataidd.
One thing that Professor Brown identifies is that gross value added measures are a very good indication of how prepared an economy is for automation. And the report highlights the sheer scale of the challenge for Wales in particular in preparing the workforce for advances in automation because of a failure to increase our GVA. And if we look at GVA figures by region, then it's very, very uncomfortable reading for you, as Welsh Government, I'm sure.
London produces 33 per cent more than the UK average. You've been in your role now since 2016. It's very fair now, after that amount of time, to assess how successful the steps you have taken have been in increasing GVA. It's not a good story to tell. So, how prepared can we be for automation when our GVA under your leadership, as economy Minister, is still lagging so far behind?
Un peth y mae'r Athro Brown yn ei nodi yw bod mesurau gwerth ychwanegol gros yn arwydd da iawn o ba mor barod yw economi ar gyfer awtomatiaeth. Ac mae'r adroddiad yn tynnu sylw at faint yr her i Gymru, yn enwedig o ran paratoi'r gweithlu ar gyfer datblygiadau mewn awtomatiaeth yn sgil methiant i gynyddu ein gwerth ychwanegol gros. Ac os edrychwn ar ffigurau gwerth ychwanegol gros yn ôl rhanbarth, maent yn eich gwneud yn anghyfforddus tu hwnt fel Llywodraeth Cymru, rwy'n siŵr.
Mae Llundain yn cynhyrchu 33 y cant yn fwy na chyfartaledd y DU. Rydych wedi bod yn eich swydd ers 2016. Ar ôl cymaint o amser, mae'n deg iawn asesu bellach pa mor llwyddiannus y bu'r camau a gymerwyd gennych o ran cynyddu gwerth ychwanegol gros. Nid yw'n edrych yn dda. Felly, pa mor barod y gallwn fod ar gyfer awtomatiaeth pan fydd ein gwerth ychwanegol gros o dan eich arweinyddiaeth fel Gweinidog yr economi mor bell ar ei hôl hi o hyd?
Well, let's just look at the facts, the figures. Since 2004, Welsh productivity growth has been fourth highest of all the UK regions and nations. The fourth highest. We are coming from an incredibly low base, I would admit that, but since devolution we've performed incredibly well, especially in recent times. If you look at some of the other measurements supplied to the economy, such as gross domestic product, which recently showed Wales outpacing the UK average, we are performing very well indeed. But, of course, we have Brexit looming and that could lead to a contraction in the economy.
Against this backdrop of uncertainty, we are investing in facilities that are designed to drive productivity, such as the advanced manufacturing research centre, which will open in November in Deeside. That facility alone will have a GVA contribution of something in the region of £3 billion and will drive innovation and the diffusion of innovation across the aerospace and automotive sectors in particular. But we're also investing very heavily elsewhere, for example, in the National Digital Exploitation Centre, which, again, is designed to drive innovation and skills development across the Welsh economy. There are a plethora of enterprise hubs and facilities similar to enterprise hubs that we've been able to fund across Wales, designed to encourage and support entrepreneurs to grow their own businesses and to share experience with other entrepreneurs.
I'm confident that with a record number of businesses in existence, with unemployment at a near-record low, with employment at a record high, and inactivity at a record low, the Welsh economy and the Welsh workforce are well placed to meet future challenges. But that's not to say that Brexit will assist. If anything, Brexit is going to be a major challenge that we are going to struggle to overcome, unless we get the financial support through the Kingfisher fund and other funding resources from UK Government.
Wel, gadewch i ni edrych ar y ffeithiau, y ffigurau. Ers 2004, twf cynhyrchiant Cymru oedd y pedwerydd uchaf o holl ranbarthau a gwledydd y DU. Y pedwerydd uchaf. Rydym yn dod o sylfaen anhygoel o isel, rwy'n cyfaddef hynny, ond ers datganoli, rydym wedi perfformio'n anhygoel o dda, yn enwedig yn ddiweddar. Os edrychwch ar rai o'r mesuriadau eraill a ddarparwyd i'r economi, fel cynnyrch domestig gros, a ddangosodd yn ddiweddar fod Cymru'n gwneud yn well na chyfartaledd y DU, rydym yn perfformio'n dda iawn yn wir. Ond wrth gwrs, mae Brexit ar y gorwel a gallai hynny arwain at grebachu'r economi.
Yn erbyn y cefndir hwn o ansicrwydd, rydym yn buddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau sydd wedi'u cynllunio i hybu cynhyrchiant, fel y ganolfan ymchwil gweithgynhyrchu uwch, a fydd yn agor ym mis Tachwedd yng Nglannau Dyfrdwy. Bydd gan y cyfleuster hwnnw yn unig gyfraniad gwerth ychwanegol gros o oddeutu £3 biliwn a bydd yn sbarduno arloesedd ac yn lledaenu arloesedd ar draws y sectorau awyrofod a modurol yn enwedig. Ond rydym hefyd yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn mannau eraill, er enghraifft yn y Ganolfan Ecsbloetio Ddigidol Genedlaethol, sydd unwaith eto wedi'i chynllunio i hybu arloesedd a datblygu sgiliau ar draws economi Cymru. Rydym wedi gallu ariannu llu o ganolfannau menter a chyfleusterau tebyg i ganolfannau menter ledled Cymru a gynlluniwyd i annog a chefnogi entrepreneuriaid i dyfu eu busnesau eu hunain ac i rannu eu profiadau ag entrepreneuriaid eraill.
Gyda'r nifer uchaf erioed o fusnesau'n bodoli, gyda diweithdra bron â bod ar y lefel isaf erioed, gyda chyflogaeth ar lefel uwch nag erioed, ac anweithgarwch ar y lefel isaf erioed, rwy'n hyderus fod economi Cymru a gweithlu Cymru mewn sefyllfa dda i wynebu heriau'r dyfodol. Ond nid yw hynny'n golygu y bydd Brexit yn gymorth. Os rhywbeth, bydd Brexit yn her fawr anodd ei goresgyn, oni bai ein bod yn cael cefnogaeth ariannol drwy gronfa Kingfisher ac adnoddau cyllido eraill gan Lywodraeth y DU.
Llefarydd Plaid Brexit, David Rowlands.
Brexit Party spokesperson, David Rowlands.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, outside of the UK, the European Union is now officially a low-growth economic region. Even the once-mighty German economy is now stagnating because, unlike the UK, where a large percentage of our business base is taken up by small and medium-sized enterprises, Germany's economy is dominated by large multinational corporations and it is heavily dependent on its export markets. Does the Minister not agree with me that should a ludicrous tariff war follow a 'no deal' Brexit the German economy will be far more damaged than that of the UK?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, y tu allan i'r DU, mae'n swyddogol bellach fod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn rhanbarth economaidd twf isel. Mae hyd yn oed economi'r Almaen, a fu unwaith mor gryf, bellach yn aros yn ei hunfan oherwydd, yn wahanol i'r DU, lle mae canran fawr o'n sylfaen fusnes yn fentrau bach a chanolig, mae economi'r Almaen wedi'i ddominyddu gan gorfforaethau rhyngwladol mawr ac mae'n ddibynnol iawn ar ei marchnadoedd allforio. Onid yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi, pe ceid rhyfel tariff gwarthus ar ôl Brexit heb gytundeb, y byddai economi'r Almaen yn waeth ei byd o lawer nag economi'r DU?
I'm more concerned with the UK economy rather than the German economy. The German economy has been referred to as a low-growth economy. I always struggle with the idea of a low-growth economy being a poorly performing economy if that low growth is sustainable. It's my firm belief that we shouldn't be chasing, as Greta Thunberg recently put it, this fairytale of eternal high growth. Growth has to be sustainable. And if you look at the market of the EU, it's still a market to which we send the majority of our exports; it is a sustainable market for the UK to be part of. So, whilst we can become obsessed with other economies around the globe, let's just look at our own and focus on what we can do to improve the UK economy and the Welsh economy. We have certain levers here in Wales to improve the Welsh economy, but, ultimately, the UK Government must decide on a course of action that will benefit the economy of Wales and the UK, and that course of action will not lead to any net benefits if the UK Government decide to drive us off a cliff at the end of October.
Rwy'n fwy pryderus ynghylch economi'r DU nag economi'r Almaen. Cyfeiriwyd at economi’r Almaen fel economi twf isel. Rwyf bob amser yn ei chael hi'n anodd deall y syniad fod economi twf isel yn economi sy'n perfformio'n wael os yw'r twf isel hwnnw'n gynaliadwy. Credaf yn gryf na ddylem fod yn dyheu, fel y nododd Greta Thunberg yn ddiweddar, am y chwedl hon o dwf uchel tragwyddol. Mae'n rhaid i dwf fod yn gynaliadwy. Ac os edrychwch ar farchnad yr UE, mae'n dal i fod yn farchnad rydym yn anfon mwyafrif ein hallforion iddi; mae'n farchnad gynaliadwy i'r DU fod yn rhan ohoni. Felly, er y gallwn fod yn obsesiynol ynghylch economïau eraill ledled y byd, gadewch inni edrych ar ein heconomi ein hunain a chanolbwyntio ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i wella economi'r DU ac economi Cymru. Mae gennym ysgogiadau penodol yma yng Nghymru i wella economi Cymru, ond yn y pen draw, mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU benderfynu ar lwybr gweithredu a fydd o fudd i economi Cymru a'r DU, ac ni fydd y llwybr gweithredu hwnnw'n arwain at unrhyw fuddion net os bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn penderfynu ein gyrru oddi ar glogwyn ddiwedd mis Hydref.
I thank the Minister for his answer although, of course, I wouldn't particularly agree with his conclusions. Yesterday evening, Minister, I had a very interesting conversation with an Italian bartender. [Interruption.] I shall say at this moment that I was quite sober when I had this conversation—well, at least I wasn't inebriated. But having holidayed many times and being a lover of the Italian way of life, I expressed my surprise at the fact that, for a country that always seemed in economic turmoil, no more so than now, the way of life seemed far superior to that enjoyed in the UK.
I was extremely surprised by his answer, Minister. He told me that far from being a contented and happy population, there was a huge underbelly of discontent, based mainly on a lack of well-paid jobs and commercial opportunity. This contrasted with the UK where, when he arrived some five years earlier, he said he could not believe the job opportunities and pay levels enjoyed by most of the population. He was talking here of Wales, actually, Minister. By the way, having looked at the continued residency regulations, he had no fears about deportation. He went on to say that a growing number of Italians were completely disillusioned with the EU, and applauded the UK's Brexit vote. They now saw the EU as a stifling influence on the Italian economy and resented the EU's political interventions in the country's affairs.
Whilst I acknowledge that this is just one individual's opinion and experience, does the Minister not think it is time we cut the shackles of the Brussels political ambitions and looked out to a world of high economic growth, where some countries' growth levels are five times that of the EU, and where we already enjoy £300 billion-worth of exports?
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ateb er na fuaswn, wrth gwrs, yn cytuno â'i gasgliadau fel y cyfryw. Neithiwr, Weinidog, cefais sgwrs ddiddorol iawn gyda barman o’r Eidal. [Torri ar draws.] Dylwn ddweud fy mod yn eithaf sobr pan gefais y sgwrs hon—wel, nid oeddwn wedi meddwi, o leiaf. Ond a minnau wedi bod ar wyliau yno sawl gwaith a'n hoff o ffordd o fyw yr Eidal, mynegais syndod at y ffaith, am wlad sydd i'w gweld bob amser mewn helynt economaidd, yn enwedig ar hyn o bryd, fod eu ffordd o fyw'n edrych yn llawer gwell na'r hyn sydd gennym yn y DU.
Cefais fy synnu’n fawr gan ei ateb, Weinidog. Dywedodd wrthyf, ymhell o fod yn boblogaeth hapus a bodlon, fod yno gryn dipyn o anfodlonrwydd, yn bennaf oherwydd diffyg swyddi â chyflog da a chyfleoedd masnachol. Roedd hyn yn cyferbynnu â'r DU lle y dywedodd na allai gredu, pan gyrhaeddodd yma tua phum mlynedd yn ôl, y cyfleoedd gwaith a'r lefelau cyflog roedd mwyafrif y boblogaeth yn eu mwynhau. Roedd yn siarad yma am Gymru, mewn gwirionedd, Weinidog. Gyda llaw, ar ôl edrych ar y rheoliadau preswylio parhaus, nid oedd ganddo unrhyw ofnau ynghylch allgludo. Aeth yn ei flaen i ddweud bod nifer cynyddol o Eidalwyr yn siomedig iawn gyda’r UE, ac yn cymeradwyo pleidlais Brexit y DU. Maent bellach yn ystyried yr UE yn ddylanwad cyfyngol ar economi’r Eidal ac yn casáu ymyriadau gwleidyddol yr UE ym materion y wlad.
Er fy mod yn cydnabod mai barn a phrofiad un unigolyn yn unig yw hyn, onid yw'r Gweinidog yn credu ei bod yn bryd inni dorri'n rhydd o hualau uchelgeisiau gwleidyddol Brwsel ac edrych allan tuag at fyd o dwf economaidd uchel, lle mae lefelau twf rhai gwledydd bum gwaith yn uwch na'r UE, a lle rydym eisoes yn mwynhau gwerth £300 biliwn o allforion?
I'm delighted that you've been engaging with the Italians of Cardiff Bay. I imagine, given you're a Brexit member, he only thanked you when you left his bar if you gave him a very big tip. If we look at the Italian economy, we'll see similar trends there as in the UK. You have some high-performing regions within Italy, primarily in the north, and then you have parts of Italy that are really struggling, where young, talented people feel that they have no choice but to leave, and they're primarily in the south. I don't know where your Italian bartender came from in Italy, but of course he chose Wales and he's happy here, and I'm glad that he is here, and long may he stay here because he sounds—based on the experience you had—a very good member of the community and a hard-working person, which is not the way that the Brexit Party portrays foreign nationals on a normal basis.
I think what's important is that we recognise that Wales should be and always has been a very welcoming place to foreign nationals. Whilst we enjoy the company of Italians and many other European citizens here in Wales, many European countries enjoy the presence of British people, and I'm really concerned that the rhetoric that we hear now across the UK, but primarily from some of the right-wing elements of the media, give the impression to the outside world that we are looking inward, that we are no longer welcoming and that we resent the presence of foreign nationals in the UK. That is a very, very dangerous position to be in. And we alone as a Welsh Government cannot combat the impression that I'm afraid is emerging across the globe of the United Kingdom as a little England. We need the UK Government to behave far more responsibly in the messages that it sends out about what sort of country we want to be in the twenty-first century, and I want us to be an internationalist country.
Rwy'n falch iawn eich bod wedi bod yn ymgysylltu ag Eidalwyr Bae Caerdydd. O gofio eich bod yn aelod o Blaid Brexit, rwy'n cymryd na ddiolchodd i chi pan adawoch chi ei far oni bai eich bod wedi rhoi tip mawr iawn iddo. Os edrychwn ar economi’r Eidal, gwelwn dueddiadau tebyg yno ag yn y DU. Mae gennych rai rhanbarthau sy'n perfformio'n dda yn yr Eidal, yn y gogledd yn bennaf, ac yna mae gennych rannau o'r Eidal sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn, lle mae pobl ifanc, dalentog yn teimlo nad oes dewis ganddynt ond gadael, yn y de yn bennaf. Nid wyf yn gwybod o ba ran o'r Eidal y daw eich barman Eidalaidd, ond wrth gwrs, dewisodd Gymru ac mae'n hapus yma, ac rwy'n falch ei fod yma, a boed iddo aros yma am amser maith gan ei fod yn swnio—yn seiliedig ar y profiad a gawsoch—fel aelod da iawn o'r gymuned ac unigolyn gweithgar, ac nid felly y mae Plaid Brexit yn portreadu gwladolion tramor fel arfer.
Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod yn cydnabod y dylai Cymru fod, a'i bod bob amser wedi bod, yn lle croesawgar iawn i wladolion tramor. Er ein bod yn mwynhau cwmni Eidalwyr a llawer o ddinasyddion Ewropeaidd eraill yma yng Nghymru, mae llawer o wledydd Ewropeaidd yn mwynhau presenoldeb pobl Prydain, ac rwy'n bryderus iawn fod y rhethreg a glywn yn awr ledled y DU, ond yn bennaf gan elfennau asgell dde o'r cyfryngau, yn rhoi'r argraff i'r byd y tu allan ein bod yn fewnblyg, nad ydym yn groesawgar mwyach a'n bod yn gresynu at bresenoldeb gwladolion tramor yn y DU. Mae honno'n sefyllfa beryglus iawn i fod ynddi. Ac mae arnaf ofn na allwn ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru frwydro yn erbyn y canfyddiad sy'n datblygu ledled y byd mai Lloegr fechan yw'r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU ymddwyn yn llawer mwy cyfrifol o ran y negeseuon y mae'n eu cyfleu ynghylch pa fath o wlad y dymunwn fod yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, ac rwyf am inni fod yn wlad ryngwladolaidd.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gyflwyno trenau newydd ar gyfer y Rhondda fel rhan o'r fasnachfraint reilffyrdd newydd? OAQ54419
3. Will the Minister provide an update on the roll-out of new trains for the Rhondda as part of the new rail franchise? OAQ54419
Yes, delighted to do so, because Transport for Wales will introduce new light-rail metro vehicles, or tram trains, on the Rhondda line from 2022. These will include free onboard Wi-Fi, power sockets, electronic passenger information, and they'll include air conditioning and increased storage capacity for bikes.
Gwnaf, rwy'n falch iawn o wneud hynny, gan y bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn cyflwyno cerbydau metro rheilffordd ysgafn newydd, neu drenau tram, ar reilffordd y Rhondda o 2022. Bydd y rhain yn cynnwys Wi-Fi am ddim, socedi trydan, gwybodaeth electronig i deithwyr, a byddant yn cynnwys systemau aerdymheru a mwy o gapasiti storio ar gyfer beiciau.
But, so far, no toilets. Minister, I wish I didn't have to keep raising the train service in Wales with you, but things are getting worse. Services are being taken off the timetable; carriages are being taken off peak-time services on the Valleys lines. Now, I catch the train regularly and the peak-time experience is more often than not uncomfortable and bordering on unsafe. This is not just my view; it's the view of the train guards that are tasked with placating angry passengers and trying to maintain safety. It's an unacceptable situation that shows no sign of being solved within the next two months either, as rolling stock will not come on stream until early December.
I had a message just this morning from a mother whose child was left stranded on a station and ended up being late for school because of the overcrowding. Minister, someone is going to get hurt unless this situation is resolved. Do you share my concerns about these overcrowding issues, and if not, why not? And what do you have to say to those passengers who have to continue to endure these appalling conditions for at least another two months? And can you note, Minister, I'm asking you here about trains and not stations?
Ond hyd yn hyn, dim toiledau. Weinidog, hoffwn pe na bai’n rhaid i mi barhau i godi’r gwasanaeth trenau yng Nghymru gyda chi, ond mae pethau’n gwaethygu. Mae gwasanaethau'n cael eu tynnu oddi ar yr amserlen; mae cerbydau'n cael eu tynnu oddi ar wasanaethau brig ar reilffyrdd y Cymoedd. Nawr, rwy'n dal y trên yn rheolaidd ac mae'r profiad ar adegau brig, yn amlach na pheidio, yn anghyfforddus ac yn ymylu ar fod yn anniogel. Nid fy marn i yn unig yw hon; dyna farn gweithwyr trenau sydd â'r dasg o ostegu teithwyr blin a cheisio cynnal diogelwch. Mae'n sefyllfa annerbyniol nad yw'n dangos unrhyw arwydd o gael ei datrys o fewn y deufis nesaf chwaith, gan na fydd cerbydau newydd ar waith tan ddechrau mis Rhagfyr.
Cefais neges y bore yma gan fam a ddywedodd fod ei phlentyn wedi'u gadael mewn gorsaf ac yn hwyr i'r ysgol oherwydd gorlenwi. Weinidog, bydd rhywun yn cael eu brifo oni bai fod y sefyllfa hon yn cael ei datrys. A ydych yn rhannu fy mhryderon ynglŷn â'r materion gorlenwi hyn, ac os nad ydych, pam? A beth sydd gennych i'w ddweud wrth y teithwyr sy'n gorfod parhau i ddioddef yr amodau gwarthus hyn am ddeufis arall o leiaf? Ac a wnewch chi nodi, Weinidog, fy mod yn eich holi ynglŷn â threnau yn y fan hon, nid gorsafoedd?
Of course I share the concerns of passengers, of course I do, but let me give the Member just some detail about what's going to be coming very soon—yes, in December, but that's the soonest that we can get the new rolling stock on the lines with the December timetable change.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n rhannu pryderon y teithwyr, wrth gwrs fy mod, ond gadewch i mi roi rhywfaint o fanylion i'r Aelod am yr hyn a fydd yn dod yn fuan iawn—ie, ym mis Rhagfyr, ond dyna'r cynharaf y gallwn roi'r cerbydau newydd ar y rheilffyrdd wrth i'r amserlen newid ym mis Rhagfyr.
You've been in charge of the railways a long time now.
Rydych wedi bod yn gyfrifol am y rheilffyrdd ers tro bellach.
Let me give some facts and figures to the Member that she can no doubt, and will no doubt, promote to the media and champion. First of all, by the end of 2022, there are going to be 400 more seats on services from Treherbert to Cardiff in the morning peak, and 300 more seats from Cardiff to Treherbert in the evening peak. Journey times are going to reduce from one hour to 50 minutes, and by December—the end of December—we will have increased capacity by 10 per cent through the introduction of additional rolling stock, which is incredibly hard to source right now, given the state of the industry across the UK and, indeed, further afield.
But the Member raises the important question of toilets on tram trains. You know, you as leader of Plaid Cymru made a statement in support of tram trains. You said that,
'Plaid Cymru has put forward an exciting vision for the future of Wales’ transport infrastructure, that includes investing in new light rail networks'.
Your economy and transport spokesperson has done so.
Gadewch i mi roi rhai ffeithiau a ffigurau i'r Aelod y gall ac y bydd, heb os, yn eu cyfleu i'r cyfryngau ac yn eu hyrwyddo. Yn gyntaf oll, erbyn diwedd 2022, bydd 400 o seddi ychwanegol ar wasanaethau o Dreherbert i Gaerdydd yn ystod oriau brig y bore, a 300 o seddi ychwanegol o Gaerdydd i Dreherbert yn ystod yr oriau brig gyda'r nos. Bydd y siwrneiau'n lleihau o un awr i 50 munud, ac erbyn mis Rhagfyr—diwedd mis Rhagfyr—byddwn wedi cynyddu capasiti 10 y cant drwy gyflwyno cerbydau ychwanegol, sy'n anodd iawn cael gafael arnynt ar hyn o bryd, o ystyried cyflwr y diwydiant ledled y DU, ac yn wir, ymhellach i ffwrdd.
Ond mae'r Aelod yn codi cwestiwn pwysig ynghylch toiledau ar drenau tram. Wyddoch chi, fe wnaethoch chi fel arweinydd Plaid Cymru ddatganiad yn cefnogi trenau tram. Fe ddywedoch chi fod,
'Plaid Cymru wedi cyflwyno gweledigaeth gyffrous i ddyfodol isadeiledd trafnidiaeth Cymru, sy’n cynnwys buddsoddi mewn rhwydweithiau rheilffordd ysgafn'.
Mae eich llefarydd ar yr economi a thrafnidiaeth wedi gwneud hynny.
Not without toilets though. You've still got to have toilets on them.
Ond nid heb doiledau. Mae'n rhaid i chi gael toiledau arnynt.
Your current leader has talked about the need for light-rail tram trains. Can you identify—? Leanne Wood, can you identify a single light-rail tram-train on-street system on the planet that has accessible—?
Mae eich arweinydd presennol wedi siarad am yr angen am drenau tram rheilffordd ysgafn. A allwch enwi—? Leanne Wood, a allwch enwi unrhyw system drenau tram rheilffordd ysgafn ar y stryd yn y byd sydd â—?
Germany. Munich.
Yr Almaen. Munich.
Germany and Munich. Yes, right, Germany and Munich—
Yr Almaen a Munich. Ie, iawn, yr Almaen a Munich—
I've got photographs on my phone. Do you want to see them?
Mae gennyf luniau ar fy ffôn. A hoffech chi eu gweld?
Their trams would not be legal here because of the persons with reduced mobility compliance. They have to have toilets that can be accessible by disabled people. Are you saying that you would run tram-trains in Wales that disabled people could not access? Because that is shameful, if that's your position.
Ni fyddai eu tramiau'n gyfreithlon yma oherwydd y gydymffurfiaeth ar gyfer pobl â phroblemau symud. Mae'n rhaid iddynt gael toiledau sy'n hygyrch i bobl anabl. A ydych yn dweud y byddech yn darparu trenau tramiau yng Nghymru na allai pobl anabl eu defnyddio? Oherwydd mae hynny'n gywilyddus, os mai dyna yw eich safbwynt.
They're not going to have toilets, full stop, though. Disabled—
Ond nid ydynt yn mynd i gael toiledau o gwbl. Anabl—
Surely, when you said that tram-trains should be operating in Wales, you didn't understand what they actually were. That is surely the position, because no single tram-train is currently available with disabled access toilets on board.
We are introducing significant investment so that disabled people are able to access, step-free, every single station on the metro network—every single one. And we are introducing a huge amount of investment to ensure that we have universally accessible toilets at stations within the metro area. Furthermore, Llywydd, it should be noted, because I think Mark Barry got it absolutely right this morning in the Western Mail when he said that there is misrepresentation of this situation concerning toilets. It should be noted that every single new train—more than a 110 of them—every single train on the Wales and borders franchise, and on those metro lines that won't be operating tram-trains, will have fully compliant accessible toilets.
Felly, pan ddywedoch y dylai trenau tram fod yn gweithredu yng Nghymru, mae'n rhaid nad oeddech yn deall beth oeddent mewn gwirionedd. Mae'n rhaid mai dyna'ch safbwynt, gan nad oes unrhyw drên tram ar gael ar hyn o bryd sydd â thoiledau hygyrch i bobl anabl.
Rydym yn cyflwyno buddsoddiad sylweddol fel y gall pobl anabl ddefnyddio, heb risiau, pob un gorsaf ar rwydwaith y metro—pob un. Ac rydym yn cyflwyno llawer iawn o fuddsoddiad i sicrhau bod gennym doiledau sy'n hygyrch i bawb mewn gorsafoedd yn ardal y metro. Yn ychwanegol at hynny, Lywydd, mae'n rhaid nodi, gan y credaf fod Mark Barry yn llygad ei le y bore yma yn y Western Mail pan ddywedodd fod y sefyllfa hon o ran toiledau wedi'i chamgyfleu. Dylid nodi y bydd gan bob trên newydd—mwy na 110 ohonynt—pob un o drenau masnachfraint Cymru a'r gororau, ac ar y llinellau metro na fyddant yn defnyddio trenau tram, doiledau hygyrch sy'n cydymffurfio'n llawn.
What's important, again, in a follow-up to my first question to you about buses, is the overall experience when it comes to the rail network. When I was in an earlier mode of a transport spokesman for the Conservative group, I always remember speaking to Network Rail, saying that a lot of the CCTV cameras that sit in stations are not court compatible, i.e. they cannot be used as evidence against vandalism or any other anti-social behaviour. Can you give a commitment today, Minister, that any CCTV upgrades—and I hope there'll be many CCTV upgrades on stations—will be court compatible, so that if vandalism or anti-social activity does happen at our stations, people will feel the full force of the law and have the consequences?
Yr hyn sy'n bwysig, unwaith eto, i ategu fy nghwestiwn cyntaf i chi ynglŷn â bysiau, yw'r profiad cyffredinol o ran y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd. Yn fy rôl flaenorol fel llefarydd trafnidiaeth ar gyfer grŵp y Ceidwadwyr, rwyf bob amser yn cofio siarad â Network Rail, gan ddweud na ellir defnyddio llawer o'r camerâu teledu cylch cyfyng mewn gorsafoedd yn y llys, h.y. ni ellir eu defnyddio fel tystiolaeth yn erbyn fandaliaeth neu unrhyw ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol arall. A allwch roi ymrwymiad heddiw, Weinidog, y bydd unrhyw uwchraddiadau i deledu cylch cyfyng—a gobeithiaf weld llawer o uwchraddiadau teledu cylch cyfyng mewn gorsafoedd—yn golygu y gellir eu defnyddio yn y llys, er mwyn sicrhau, os bydd fandaliaeth neu ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol yn digwydd yn ein gorsafoedd, y bydd pobl yn wynebu grym llawn y gyfraith a'r canlyniadau?
I'll give that undertaking, as part of the £194 million station upgrade. We are keenly looking at improved security, and as part of that we're going to be introducing more CCTV facilities that can be utilised by the police and court prosecutions. But I'll happily provide more information to the Member.
Rwy'n rhoi'r ymrwymiad hwnnw, fel rhan o'r gwaith gwerth £194 miliwn ar uwchraddio gorsafoedd. Rydym yn awyddus iawn i wella diogelwch, ac fel rhan o hynny, byddwn yn cyflwyno mwy o gyfleusterau teledu cylch cyfyng y gellir eu defnyddio gan yr heddlu ac mewn erlyniadau yn y llys. Ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i ddarparu mwy o wybodaeth i'r Aelod.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am wella mynediad i'r anabl i'r rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru? OAQ54423
4. Will the Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government will improve disabled access to railways in Wales? OAQ54423
Well, as part of our plans for a fully integrated public transport network across Wales, we are fully committed to public transport for disabled people that removes barriers to travel, that empowers people and that promotes rather than inhibits independent living.
Wel, fel rhan o'n cynlluniau ar gyfer rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus cwbl integredig ledled Cymru, rydym wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar gyfer pobl anabl sy'n cael gwared ar rwystrau i deithio, sy'n grymuso pobl ac sy'n hyrwyddo yn hytrach na chyfyngu ar fyw'n annibynnol.
Tachwedd y flwyddyn ddiwethaf oedd hi pan welwyd llun ohonoch chi yn y papur lleol, The Leader, yn cyhoeddi buddsoddiad i wella mynediad anabl i orsaf Rhiwabon, yn eich etholaeth chi, wrth gwrs. Mae bron i 12 mis ers hynny, a dyw’r buddsoddiad ddim wedi digwydd. Mae etholwyr yn dweud wrthyf i eu bod nhw’n teimlo eu bod nhw wedi cael eu camarwain yn hynny o beth. Felly, gaf i ofyn a ydych chi’n difaru clochdar yn y papurau lleol fod yna fuddsoddiad yn mynd i ddod, pan dyw hwnnw’n amlwg ddim wedi digwydd? Ac a ydych chi yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am y methiant i weithredu ar eich addewid?
It was November of last year when there was a picture of you in the local paper, The Leader, announcing investment to improve disabled access to Ruabon station, in your constituency, of course. It’s almost 12 months since then, and that investment hasn’t yet happened. Constituents tell me that they feel that they’ve been misled in that regard. So, can I ask you whether you regret being vocal in the local papers that there was going to be investment, when that clearly hasn’t happened? And do you take responsibility for the failure to implement your pledge?
Well, quite the opposite. We've made available £10 million as match funding for the UK Government's Access for All programme. We nominated 15 stations for the Access for All programme. We were pleased, of course, that seven of our 15 were accepted, but eight were not—Ruabon was one of them. However, I can tell the Member today that we will be progressing, again, with the latest round of Access for All nominations, and those stations that were not included in the last priority list by the UK Government will be put forward again. But in addition to this, we've also announced that there'll be £15 million of funding available for stations across the Wales and borders franchise to improve accessibility, and we'll be looking at those stations where disabled passengers at the moment face the biggest barriers in terms of accessing services.
Ruabon station I'm more than familiar with because it's my local station, and I was bitterly disappointed, therefore, that the UK Government decided not to utilise the money that we, as a Welsh Government, were putting forward for improved facilities. But I do hope that in the spring, when they put out the call for additional nominations, that they will accept Ruabon station.
Wel, i'r gwrthwyneb. Rydym wedi darparu £10 miliwn fel arian cyfatebol ar gyfer rhaglen Mynediad i Bawb Llywodraeth y DU. Enwebwyd 15 gorsaf gennym ar gyfer rhaglen Mynediad i Bawb. Roeddem yn falch, wrth gwrs, fod saith o'n 15 wedi cael eu derbyn, ond ni dderbyniwyd wyth ohonynt—roedd Rhiwabon yn un ohonynt. Fodd bynnag, gallaf ddweud wrth yr Aelod heddiw y byddwn yn bwrw ymlaen, unwaith eto, gyda’r rownd ddiweddaraf o enwebiadau Mynediad i Bawb, ac y bydd y gorsafoedd na chawsant eu cynnwys ar y rhestr flaenoriaeth ddiwethaf gan Lywodraeth y DU yn cael eu cyflwyno eto. Ond yn ychwanegol at hyn, rydym hefyd wedi cyhoeddi y bydd £15 miliwn o gyllid ar gael i holl orsafoedd masnachfraint Cymru a'r gororau er mwyn gwella hygyrchedd, a byddwn yn edrych ar y gorsafoedd hynny lle mae teithwyr anabl yn wynebu'r rhwystrau mwyaf ar hyn o bryd o ran mynediad at wasanaethau.
Rwy'n fwy na chyfarwydd â gorsaf Rhiwabon gan mai honno yw fy ngorsaf leol, ac roeddwn yn siomedig iawn, felly, fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi penderfynu peidio â defnyddio'r arian roeddem ni, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, yn ei gynnig er mwyn gwella cyfleusterau. Ond yn y gwanwyn, pan fyddant yn galw am enwebiadau ychwanegol, rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn derbyn gorsaf Rhiwabon.
Minister, many of our railway stations have been inadequate when it comes to disabled access for a considerable length of time now. I know, as you've said, you've been trying to address this. You've just mentioned the list of Access for All stations. Abergavenny station was on the list, I believe, that was put forward by the Welsh Government, and I think was successful following discussions that you had with the UK Government Department for Transport and the hard work of local campaigners, including the local county councillor Maureen Powell—I know all have been in touch with you. I wonder if you could update us on the current status of Abergavenny station. It's clearly an important station locally, for me as the local Assembly Member, but also an important part of the network in Wales as a whole. So, where are we with the upgrade of that station and the implementation of disabled access?
Weinidog, mae llawer o'n gorsafoedd trenau wedi bod yn annigonol o ran mynediad ar gyfer pobl anabl ers peth amser bellach. Fel rydych wedi'i ddweud, rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi bod yn ceisio mynd i'r afael â hyn. Rydych newydd grybwyll y rhestr o orsafoedd Mynediad i Bawb. Credaf fod gorsaf y Fenni ar y rhestr a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a chredaf iddi fod yn llwyddiannus yn dilyn trafodaethau a gawsoch gydag Adran Drafnidiaeth Llywodraeth y DU a gwaith caled ymgyrchwyr lleol, gan gynnwys y cynghorydd sir lleol Maureen Powell—gwn fod pob un ohonynt wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â chi. Tybed a allech roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni am statws gorsaf y Fenni ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n amlwg yn orsaf bwysig yn lleol, i mi fel yr Aelod Cynulliad lleol, ond mae hefyd yn rhan bwysig o'r rhwydwaith yng Nghymru yn gyffredinol. Felly, beth yw'r sefyllfa o ran uwchraddio'r orsaf honno a darparu mynediad ar gyfer pobl anabl?
Well, I'd happily write to the Member with details of the work that's been undertaken as we develop plans to make it step-free, and it will be a wholly step-free station. But I'll also happily update Members on the other six stations and the work that's been undertaken to draw down UK Government funding, through the Access for All programme, as soon as progress can be made and I can report back.FootnoteLink
Wel, rwy'n fwy na pharod i ysgrifennu at yr Aelod gyda manylion y gwaith a wnaed wrth i ni ddatblygu cynlluniau i ddarparu mynediad heb risiau, a bydd yn orsaf heb risiau o gwbl. Ond rwyf hefyd yn fwy na pharod i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am y chwe gorsaf arall a'r gwaith a wnaed i sicrhau cyllid gan Lywodraeth y DU, drwy raglen Mynediad i Bawb, cyn gynted ag y gellir gwneud cynnydd, i mi allu adrodd yn ôl.FootnoteLink
Minister, I've been contacted, obviously, by a number of disabled people for whom access to railways does relate to, often, the availability of toilets, and I'm aware of the comments you made in the answer to the last question. Where the issue seems to arise now is that what you seem to be saying is that, certainly on heavy rail, there will be toilets, but that, as with buses, on light rail, it would be effectively contrary to regulations. It would be illegal to actually do that, therefore it is not legally possible to do. Could I ask, then, that what we actually have is a briefing that sets out clearly what the regulatory framework is and why it is, because at the moment my understanding until now, and I'm sure of others, was that this was a matter of cost or whatever, whereas in actual fact it seems there are other reasons? It's very important that we have an understanding of the basis of the decision making.
Weinidog, mae nifer o bobl anabl wedi cysylltu â mi, yn amlwg, i ddweud bod mynediad i reilffyrdd ar eu cyfer hwy yn ymwneud, yn aml, ag argaeledd toiledau, ac rwy'n ymwybodol o'r sylwadau a wnaethoch wrth ateb y cwestiwn diwethaf. Ymddengys mai'r broblem bellach yw mai'r hyn a ddywedwch, yn ôl pob golwg, yn sicr ar reilffyrdd trwm, yw y bydd toiledau ar gael, ond fel gyda bysiau, ar reilffyrdd ysgafn, byddai hynny i bob pwrpas yn groes i'r rheoliadau. Byddai'n anghyfreithlon gwneud hynny, felly nid yw'n gyfreithiol bosibl gwneud hynny. A gaf fi ofyn, felly, ein bod yn cael briff sy'n nodi'n glir beth yw'r fframwaith rheoleiddio a pham ei fod ar waith, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd fy nealltwriaeth i hyd yn hyn, fel eraill rwy'n siŵr, oedd bod hyn yn fater o gost neu beth bynnag, ond mewn gwirionedd, ymddengys bod rhesymau eraill? Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn deall beth yw sail y broses o wneud penderfyniadau.
There are numerous reasons why toilets can't be fitted to light-rail tram-trains. One of the reasons, of course, is the additional weight and lack of manoeuvrability if you install such facilities. Another includes the risk of discharge on streets from those toilets if you don't carry enough tank capacity. There are also issues with manoeuvrability—the whole point of having those light-rail solutions is you can accelerate and decelerate quicker, that you can go around sharp bends and that you can go up and down steeper inclines. Having somebody in a toilet when you do that can be very dangerous indeed.
But, of course, there's also the challenge of compliance, as Mick Antoniw says, with PRM legislation, and by the end of this year, all of our trains, all of our rolling stock, have to be PRM compliant. We have not been able to identify a single system on the planet that is PRM compatible—not a single system. If one becomes available, if science can be defied and it's possible to put a disabled access toilet into a tram-train, and have it operate safely on-street, i.e. so that the driver can see through the carriageway, then, of course, we would adopt that technical solution. But as of today, there are no such solutions available.
Mae sawl rheswm pam na ellir gosod toiledau ar drenau tram rheilffordd ysgafn. Un o'r rhesymau, wrth gwrs, yw'r pwysau ychwanegol a'r diffyg symudadwyedd os ydych yn gosod cyfleusterau o'r fath. Rheswm arall yw'r risg y bydd y toiledau hynny'n gollwng ar strydoedd os nad oes gennych ddigon o gapasiti yn y tanciau. Ceir problemau hefyd o ran symudadwyedd—holl bwynt cael y rheilffyrdd ysgafn hynny yw y gallwch gyflymu ac arafu yn gynt, gallwch fynd o amgylch troadau cyfyng a gallwch fynd i fyny ac i lawr llethrau mwy serth. Gall fod yn beryglus iawn os oes rhywun mewn toiled pan fyddwch yn gwneud hynny.
Ond wrth gwrs, ceir her hefyd, fel y dywed Mick Antoniw, o ran cydymffurfio â deddfwriaeth pobl â phroblemau symud, ac erbyn diwedd eleni, mae'n rhaid i'n holl drenau, pob un o'n cerbydau, gydymffurfio â deddfwriaeth pobl â phroblemau symud. Nid ydym wedi gallu nodi un system ar y blaned sy'n cydymffurfio â deddfwriaeth pobl â phroblemau symud—dim un system. Os daw un ar gael, os gellir goresgyn gwyddoniaeth a'i bod yn bosibl gosod toiled sy'n hygyrch i bobl anabl mewn trên tram, a sicrhau ei fod yn gweithredu'n ddiogel ar y stryd, h.y. fel y gall y gyrrwr weld drwy'r cerbyd, byddem yn defnyddio'r ateb technegol hwnnw wrth gwrs. Ond ar hyn o bryd, nid oes atebion o'r fath ar gael.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael ynghylch manteisio'n llawn ar adeiladu adrannau 5 a 6 o ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd, yr A465? OAQ54410
5. What discussions has the Minister had about maximising the benefits of the construction of sections 5 and 6 of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road? OAQ54410
We're working with the Valleys taskforce to maximise the economic benefits resulting from the dualling. This includes challenging targets during construction of sections 5 and 6 for training and employment, work packages for local businesses, spend with Welsh companies and engagement with local schools.
Rydym yn gweithio gyda thasglu'r Cymoedd i sicrhau'r buddion economaidd mwyaf posibl o ganlyniad i'r gwaith deuoli. Mae hyn yn cynnwys targedau heriol wrth adeiladu adrannau 5 a 6 ar gyfer hyfforddiant a chyflogaeth, pecynnau gwaith ar gyfer busnesau lleol, gwariant gyda chwmnïau o Gymru ac ymgysylltu ag ysgolion lleol.
Thank you, Minister. My question follows on from a question that I asked the Deputy Minister on this topic in Plenary just before recess. My constituency contains two villages that border the Heads of the Valleys road, both of which suffer from terrible broadband. In fact, I had an e-mail from a constituent in one of those villages just last night saying that the 3MB connection is what they could get on a good day. Those villages are Penderyn and Croesbychan, a hamlet of Llwydcoed. It's my understanding that when the construction process goes ahead, Openreach will be laying new cables alongside the road. And so, what I would ask of you is: would you be willing to have a dialogue with Openreach to see if community benefits can be brought? It seems like the ideal time to actually finally lay good infrastructure to those villages and a cost-effective way of doing so.
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae fy nghwestiwn yn dilyn cwestiwn a ofynnais i'r Dirprwy Weinidog ar y pwnc hwn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ychydig cyn y toriad. Mae fy etholaeth yn cynnwys dau bentref sy'n ffinio â ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd, ac mae'r ddarpariaeth band eang yn ofnadwy yn y ddau ohonynt. Mewn gwirionedd, cefais e-bost gan etholwr o un o'r pentrefi hynny neithiwr a ddywedai mai cysylltiad 3MB yw'r hyn y gallent ei gael ar ddiwrnod da. Penderyn a Chroesbychan, pentrefan ger Llwydcoed, yw'r pentrefi hynny. Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, pan fydd y gwaith adeiladu'n mynd rhagddo, bydd Openreach yn gosod ceblau newydd ar hyd ochr y ffordd. Ac felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ofyn i chi yw: a fyddech yn barod i gael trafodaeth gydag Openreach i weld a ellir darparu buddion i'r gymuned? Ymddengys mai dyna'r amser delfrydol i osod seilwaith da ar gyfer y pentrefi hynny o'r diwedd, a ffordd gosteffeithiol o wneud hynny.
I think the Member is absolutely right. Vikki Howells identifies two villages where broadband connectivity is currently poor. We will take up this matter with Openreach on her behalf, but I can assure the Member that, as we progress the A465 supplementary infrastructure along the route, we'll include spare ducts across the A465 that could be utilised for improved broadband services. If I may say so, could I also thank Dawn Bowden for chairing the sub-committee of the Valleys taskforce that is looking specifically at the benefits of the investment in this transport infrastructure?
Credaf fod yr Aelod yn llygad ei lle. Mae Vikki Howells yn nodi dau bentref lle mae cysylltedd band eang yn wael ar hyn o bryd. Byddwn yn trafod y mater hwn gydag Openreach ar ei rhan, ond gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod, wrth inni fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o osod seilwaith atodol yr A465 ar hyd y llwybr, y byddwn yn cynnwys pibelli sbâr ar hyd yr A465 y gellid eu defnyddio ar gyfer gwell gwasanaethau band eang. Os caf ddweud, a gaf fi ddiolch i Dawn Bowden hefyd am gadeirio is-bwyllgor o dasglu'r Cymoedd sy'n edrych yn benodol ar fuddion y buddsoddiad yn y seilwaith trafnidiaeth hwn?
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gefnogaeth i fusnesau bach yn Sir Benfro? OAQ54404
6. Will the Minister make a statement on support for small businesses in Pembrokeshire? OAQ54404
Absolutely. In line with our economic action plan, we remain committed to supporting small businesses across Wales. Our Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales both offer bilingual advice, support and financial support.
Yn sicr. Yn unol â'n cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi, rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i gefnogi busnesau bach ledled Cymru. Mae Busnes Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru yn cynnig cyngor dwyieithog, cefnogaeth a chymorth ariannol.
Minister, one way that the Welsh Government could better support small businesses in Pembrokeshire is by tackling the various infrastructure issues that they face, including roads, public transport and digital infrastructure. I'm sure you're aware of the recent report by FSB Wales that found that 63 per cent of Welsh businesses have been affected by poor infrastructure. That same report went on to call for greater cross-party working to address those problems. Can you therefore tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to better tackle some of the infrastructure issues in Pembrokeshire, so that small businesses in my constituency can actually compete on a level playing field with other businesses across Wales?
Weinidog, un ffordd y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru gefnogi busnesau bach yn sir Benfro yn well yw drwy fynd i'r afael â'r amryw broblemau seilwaith sy'n eu hwynebu, gan gynnwys ffyrdd, trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a seilwaith digidol. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn ymwybodol o'r adroddiad diweddar gan Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru, a ganfu fod seilwaith gwael wedi effeithio ar 63 y cant o fusnesau Cymru. Roedd yr un adroddiad yn galw am fwy o waith trawsbleidiol i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau hynny. A allwch ddweud wrthym, felly, beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i fynd i’r afael yn well â rhai o’r problemau seilwaith yn sir Benfro, er mwyn rhoi chwarae teg i fusnesau bach yn fy etholaeth wrth gystadlu â busnesau eraill ledled Cymru?
The Welsh Government is investing very heavily in infrastructure within the Member's region, including investment in the upgrades to the A40—crucially important—with the proposed bypass around the northern side of Llanddewi Velfrey. In addition, the Deputy Minister has already outlined proposals for dealing with some of the hard-to-reach areas concerning digital connectivity. I think it's fair to say that it's our view that there should be a public service obligation pursued for broadband provision, similar to that which exists for the Royal Mail. It's appalling that we live in the twenty-first century and there is no such obligation to provide a basic minimum broadband speed to all premises across the United Kingdom.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n buddsoddi'n helaeth iawn mewn seilwaith yn rhanbarth yr Aelod, gan gynnwys buddsoddi yn y gwaith o uwchraddio'r A40—sy'n hanfodol bwysig—gyda'r ffordd osgoi arfaethedig o amgylch ochr ogleddol Llanddewi Felffre. Yn ogystal, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog eisoes wedi amlinellu argymhellion ar gyfer ymdrin â rhai o'r ardaloedd anodd eu cyrraedd mewn perthynas â chysylltedd digidol. Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud mai ein barn ni yw y dylid sicrhau rhwymedigaeth gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ar gyfer darparu band eang, yn debyg i'r hyn sy'n bodoli ar gyfer y Post Brenhinol. Mae'n warthus ein bod yn byw yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain ac nad oes rhwymedigaeth o'r fath i ddarparu isafswm cyflymder band eang sylfaenol i bob adeilad yn y Deyrnas Unedig.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud i ehangu amlder y gwasanaethau rheilffordd ar lein Maesteg? OAQ54441
7. Will the Minister provide an update on the work being carried out to extend the frequency of rail services on the Maesteg line? OAQ54441
Yes. A study commissioned by Transport for Wales into enhancing the frequency of rail services along the Maesteg rail line was submitted to the Welsh Government in the summer and officials are currently considering the proposals.
Gwnaf. Cyflwynwyd astudiaeth a gomisiynwyd gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru i wella amlder gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd ar reilffordd Maesteg i Lywodraeth Cymru yn yr haf, ac mae swyddogion yn ystyried yr argymhellion ar hyn o bryd.
That is really good news to hear, because he knows how keen local campaigners have been, and I've been, to chase progress on this. We recognise that this will not be an overnight fix, but to increase the frequency will not only be good for passengers along the north-of-Bridgend line, but actually along the whole of the main line, because it could actually relieve pressure. We're very much looking forward, I have to say, to the introduction of a Sunday service—sometime in the autumn, in December, I understand. This itself will be the reintroduction of a service that we lost probably four or five decades ago, and we've been cut off on Sundays ever since. So, that will be a huge impact as well.
But I wonder: does he have any idea how he will take these studies forward, how he will engage with the local authority, with me and other campaigners on the increased frequency? Because whilst we are looking forward, I have to say, to the new carriages coming in, because all those refurbished carriages—. All those people who know anything about railways have been telling me that those refurbished carriages will not only introduce new and extended capacity, but the quality of them will be quite something, compared to what we've currently got. But having, particularly at peak times, better frequency will be not only good for people in Maesteg, but in Pontyclun, Llanharan, Pencoed and everywhere along the main line.
Mae hynny'n newyddion da iawn, gan ei fod yn gwybod pa mor awyddus y mae ymgyrchwyr lleol wedi bod, ac rwyf innau wedi bod, i sicrhau cynnydd ar hyn. Rydym yn cydnabod na fydd hyn yn digwydd dros nos, ond bydd cynyddu'r amlder nid yn unig yn dda i deithwyr ar hyd y rheilffordd i'r gogledd o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr, ond mewn gwirionedd, ar hyd y brif reilffordd gyfan, gan y gallai hynny leddfu pwysau mewn gwirionedd. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, at gyflwyno gwasanaeth ar y Sul—rywbryd yn yr hydref, ym mis Rhagfyr, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf. Bydd hyn ynddo'i hun yn ailgyflwyno gwasanaeth a gollwyd gennym bedwar neu bum degawd yn ôl, mae'n debyg, ac rydym wedi cael ein hynysu dros y Sul ers hynny. Felly, bydd hynny'n cael effaith enfawr hefyd.
Ond tybed: a oes ganddo unrhyw syniad sut y bydd yn bwrw ymlaen â'r astudiaethau hyn, sut y bydd yn ymgysylltu â'r awdurdod lleol, gyda mi ac ymgyrchwyr eraill ar gynyddu'r amlder? Oherwydd er ein bod yn edrych ymlaen, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, at gael y cerbydau newydd, gan fod yr holl gerbydau hynny sydd wedi'u hadnewyddu—. Mae'r holl bobl sy'n gwybod unrhyw beth am reilffyrdd wedi bod yn dweud wrthyf y bydd y cerbydau a adnewyddir nid yn unig yn cyflwyno mwy o gapasiti a chapasiti newydd, ond bydd eu hansawdd yn dda iawn o gymharu â'r hyn sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd. Ond bydd gwella amlder, yn enwedig yn ystod oriau brig, nid yn unig yn dda i bobl ym Maesteg, ond ym Mhont-y-clun, Llanharan, Pencoed ac ym mhobman ar hyd y brif reilffordd.
Huw Irranca-Davies is a fantastic, strong and passionate advocate for improved services on the Maesteg line; of that, there is absolutely no doubt. I'd happily meet with him and the leader of the local authority to discuss how we take forward the study that's been received by my officials. They're working already with the local authority, with Bridgend council, to discuss the findings before proceeding further with this work. But I am delighted to say that the first Sunday service will coincide with the national timetable change, which is 15 December. I can inform Members today that the sale of tickets will begin around eight weeks before journeys, which means that tickets will be available near the end of October for that new Sunday service.
Mae Huw Irranca-Davies yn hyrwyddwr gwych, cadarn ac angerddol dros well gwasanaethau ar reilffordd Maesteg; nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl ynglŷn â hynny. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod ag ef ac arweinydd yr awdurdod lleol i drafod sut i fwrw ymlaen â'r astudiaeth a gyflwynwyd i fy swyddogion. Maent eisoes yn gweithio gyda'r awdurdod lleol, gyda chyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, i drafod y canfyddiadau cyn bwrw ymlaen ymhellach â'r gwaith hwn. Ond rwy’n falch iawn o ddweud y bydd y gwasanaeth dydd Sul cyntaf yn cyd-fynd â’r newid cenedlaethol i'r amserlen, sef 15 Rhagfyr. Gallaf roi gwybod i'r Aelodau heddiw y bydd tocynnau ar werth oddeutu wyth wythnos cyn y siwrneiau, sy’n golygu y bydd tocynnau ar gael tua diwedd mis Hydref ar gyfer y gwasanaeth dydd Sul newydd hwnnw.
Minister, you may also recall previous correspondence between us regarding delayed prioritisation of a passing loop for the Maesteg-Bridgend line. The last time that I looked at this, you explained that it was going to be deferred to the 2018-19 budget from the previous year's budget. This has been put back for several years already, so perhaps you can explain the delay. But you may also remember my disappointment about the low priority for the Valleys in my region, including the Llynfi, in the transport proposals they're getting through the Cardiff city deal. I don't think the Government and the city deal working separately convinces me of any strategic vision or delivery plan for this part of my region, and so I'm asking who's responsible for bringing these strands, including on the Valleys taskforce, together so that we get a clear picture for this part of my region.
Weinidog, efallai y byddwch hefyd yn cofio gohebiaeth flaenorol rhyngom ynghylch yr oedi cyn blaenoriaethu dolen basio ar gyfer rheilffordd Maesteg i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr. Y tro diwethaf i mi edrych ar hyn, fe egluroch chi y byddai'n cael ei ohirio tan gyllideb 2018-19 o gyllideb y flwyddyn flaenorol. Mae hyn wedi'i ohirio ers sawl blwyddyn eisoes, felly efallai y gallwch esbonio'r oedi. Ond efallai y cofiwch hefyd fy siom ynghylch y flaenoriaeth isel i'r Cymoedd yn fy rhanbarth, gan gynnwys rheilffordd Llynfi, yn y cynigion trafnidiaeth a gânt drwy fargen ddinesig Caerdydd. Nid wyf yn credu bod y ffaith bod y Llywodraeth a'r fargen ddinesig yn gweithio ar wahân yn fy argyhoeddi ynghylch unrhyw weledigaeth strategol neu gynllun cyflawni ar gyfer y rhan hon o fy rhanbarth, ac felly rwy'n gofyn pwy sy'n gyfrifol am ddod â'r elfennau hyn, gan gynnwys tasglu'r Cymoedd, ynghyd fel ein bod yn cael darlun clir ar gyfer y rhan hon o fy rhanbarth.
Well, that sort of responsibility should rest in the hands of TfW as delivery partner, but I'm pleased to say that TfW are, with regard to the Llynfi passing loop, already carrying out an early technical assessment of the re-use of that particular loop, and, in addition, improvements at Tondu station. But I'd happily meet with the Member to look at additional services and infrastructure improvements that could be made in her area.
Wel, dylai'r math hwnnw o gyfrifoldeb fod yn nwylo Trafnidiaeth Cymru fel partner cyflenwi, ond rwy'n falch o ddweud bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru, o ran dolen basio rheilffordd Llynfi, eisoes yn cynnal asesiad technegol cynnar ynghylch ailddefnyddio'r ddolen basio benodol honno, ac yn ychwanegol at hynny, gwelliannau yng ngorsaf Ton-du. Ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â'r Aelod i ystyried gwasanaethau ychwanegol a gwelliannau seilwaith y gellid eu gwneud yn ei hardal.
Finally, question 8, Russell George.
Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Russell George.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y gwelliannau arfaethedig i'r seilwaith trafnidiaeth yng nghanolbarth Cymru? OAQ54414
8. Will the Minister make a statement on the planned improvements to transport infrastructure in mid-Wales? OAQ54414
Yes. Our national transport finance plan, which was last updated in May of this year, sets out our transport investment proposals here in Wales.
Gwnaf. Mae ein cynllun cyllid trafnidiaeth cenedlaethol, a gafodd ei ddiweddaru ddiwethaf ym mis Mai eleni, yn nodi ein cynigion ar gyfer buddsoddi mewn trafnidiaeth yma yng Nghymru.
Thank you, Minister. You'll be aware of the real issues around Dyfi bridge in Machynlleth. It's a real pinchpoint on the A487, and you'll be aware, when the bridge is closed, there's a 30-mile round trip for commuters on a diversion. The bridge has been closed again during the recent bad weather, and there is concern that there's not sufficient monitoring taking place. There is CCTV in the area, and I'm also told the flood barrier gates on the trunk road should have been open much earlier than they were. So, there are some real practical issues, I think, that need to be resolved. But also you wrote to me last month to say that the Dyfi bridge project had seen a number of changes to its scope on the development phase, and that you required the final costs before being able to make a decision. I wonder if you could update me on that—because this is particularly exercising people that live in that area of my constituency—in terms of the current situation and the new bridge moving forward.
Diolch, Weinidog. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r problemau difrifol ger Pont ar Ddyfi ym Machynlleth. Mae'n fan gwirioneddol gyfyng ar yr A487, ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, pan fo'r bont ar gau, fod cymudwyr yn wynebu dargyfeiriad o 30 milltir. Bu'r bont ar gau eto yn ystod y tywydd gwael diweddar, ac mae pryder nad oes digon o fonitro'n digwydd. Mae teledu cylch cyfyng yn yr ardal, a dywedir wrthyf hefyd y dylai'r llifddorau ar y gefnffordd fod wedi cael eu hagor yn gynt o lawer. Felly, ceir rhai materion ymarferol go iawn, yn fy marn i, sy'n galw am eu datrys. Ond fe ysgrifennoch ataf hefyd y mis diwethaf i ddweud bod nifer o newidiadau wedi'u gwneud i gwmpas prosiect Pont ar Ddyfi ar y cam datblygu, a'ch bod wedi dweud bod angen nodi'r costau terfynol cyn gallu gwneud penderfyniad. Tybed a allech roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i mi ynglŷn â hynny—gan fod hyn yn peri pryder mawr i bobl sy'n byw yn yr ardal honno o fy etholaeth—o ran y sefyllfa bresennol a'r bont newydd yn y dyfodol.
I do wish to move forward with this project at maximum speed. Can I thank the Member for attending a recent meeting where the Dyfi bridge was discussed and where my officials were able to provide a briefing to Members and also to the local authority? I'll certainly ask officials to examine the potential of improved monitoring at the bridge, and a revised cost estimate for the construction scheme will need to be agreed with the early contractor, as the project has seen a number of changes to scope in the development phase. But once I've received an indication of final costs I will be in a position to determine whether or not to publish the orders for this scheme. I wish that work to be undertaken as swiftly as possible, and I anticipate that I'll be in a position to be able to make a decision by the end of this year.
Hoffwn fwrw ymlaen â'r prosiect hwn cyn gynted â phosibl. A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am fynychu cyfarfod diweddar lle y trafodwyd Pont ar Ddyfi a lle y gallodd fy swyddogion ddarparu sesiwn friffio i'r Aelodau ac i'r awdurdod lleol? Byddaf yn sicr yn gofyn i swyddogion archwilio potensial monitro gwell ar y bont, a bydd angen cytuno ar amcangyfrif cost diwygiedig ar gyfer y cynllun adeiladu gyda'r contractwr cynnar, gan y gwnaed sawl newid i gwmpas y prosiect yn ystod y cyfnod datblygu. Ond pan fyddaf wedi cael syniad o'r costau terfynol, byddaf mewn sefyllfa i benderfynu a ddylid cyhoeddi'r gorchmynion ar gyfer y cynllun hwn ai peidio. Hoffwn pe bai'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo cyn gynted â phosibl, ac rwy'n rhagweld y byddaf mewn sefyllfa i allu gwneud penderfyniad erbyn diwedd eleni.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Brexit, a dwi'n galw ar Russell George i ofyn y cwestiwn cyntaf. Russell George.
The next item, therefore, is questions to the Brexit Minister, and I call on Russell George to ask the first question.
1. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am faint o fusnesau sydd wedi ceisio cymorth a chyngor gan borth Brexit Llywodraeth Cymru? OAQ54438
1. Will the Counsel General make a statement on how many businesses have sought support and advice from the Welsh Government's Brexit portal? OAQ54438
To date, there have been over 37,000 users of the Business Wales Brexit portal, with over 52,500 page views.
Hyd yma, mae dros 37,000 o ddefnyddwyr wedi defnyddio porth Brexit Busnes Cymru, gyda mwy na 52,500 o ymweliadau â’r tudalennau.
Can I thank the Counsel General for his answer? In a response from the economy and transport Minister yesterday, there does appear to be relatively few businesses that have sought business advice from the Welsh Government's official Brexit portal. In what ways is the Welsh Government looking to engage with small and medium-sized businesses particularly, particularly businesses who may not be members of other bodies as well, to help them realise the challenges and opportunities that Brexit brings? I wonder how many people are aware—or rather small and medium-sized businesses are aware—that the Brexit portal actually exists also.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ateb? Mewn ymateb gan y Gweinidog economi a thrafnidiaeth ddoe, ymddengys mai cymharol ychydig o fusnesau sydd wedi ceisio cyngor busnes gan borth Brexit swyddogol Llywodraeth Cymru. Ym mha ffyrdd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio ymgysylltu â busnesau bach a chanolig yn arbennig, yn enwedig busnesau nad ydynt efallai'n aelodau o gyrff eraill hefyd, i'w helpu i ddeall yr heriau a'r cyfleoedd a ddaw yn sgil Brexit? Tybed faint o bobl sy'n ymwybodol—neu yn hytrach faint o fusnesau bach a chanolig sy'n ymwybodol—fod porth Brexit yn bodoli mewn gwirionedd.
I thank the Member for that question. We do all that we can, clearly, to communicate the advice and guidance that is available. As I think the Member's question implicitly acknowledges, there are many businesses, because they don't have full active membership, if you like, of trade associations and so on, that may be harder to reach. We have taken every opportunity, I think, when we meet with the stakeholders with whom we have relationships who are themselves parts of broader business networks—to take the opportunity to make sure they are highlighting the availability of advice in their networks. Clearly, we meet regularly with the representative bodies, but, equally, we’ve met with professional business advisers like lawyers and accountants, to whom perhaps smaller businesses may be quicker to turn for advice. So, we’ve sought to cascade information out through those networks as well, and also, in addition to that, looking at the networks that we have through arm's-length bodies, such as the Development Bank of Wales, Careers Wales and so on, to make sure that they are communicating information to their network of businesses. But I would say that any Members who are happy and keen to disseminate those sources of advice, I would urge you to do so in your own networks and in your own constituencies as well. I thank the Member for the question.
Diolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn. Rydym yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu, yn amlwg, i gyfleu'r cyngor a'r canllawiau sydd ar gael. Fel y cydnabu cwestiwn yr Aelod, rwy'n credu, ceir llawer o fusnesau y gallai fod yn anos eu cyrraedd gan nad ydynt yn aelodau gweithredol llawn, os mynnwch, o gymdeithasau masnach ac ati. Credaf ein bod wedi manteisio ar bob cyfle, pan fyddwn yn cyfarfod â'r rhanddeiliaid y mae gennym berthynas â hwy ac sydd eu hunain yn rhan o rwydweithiau busnes ehangach—i achub ar y cyfle i sicrhau eu bod yn tynnu sylw at argaeledd cyngor yn eu rhwydweithiau. Yn amlwg, rydym yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â'r cyrff cynrychiadol, ond yn yr un modd, rydym wedi cyfarfod â chynghorwyr busnes proffesiynol fel cyfreithwyr a chyfrifwyr, y gallai busnesau llai droi atynt yn gyflymach, efallai, am gyngor. Felly, rydym wedi ceisio rhaeadru gwybodaeth drwy'r rhwydweithiau hynny hefyd, ac yn ychwanegol at hynny, edrych ar y rhwydweithiau sydd gennym drwy gyrff hyd braich, fel Banc Datblygu Cymru, Gyrfa Cymru ac ati, i sicrhau eu bod yn cyfleu gwybodaeth i'w rhwydwaith o fusnesau. Ond buaswn yn dweud y byddai unrhyw Aelodau sy'n barod ac yn awyddus i ledaenu'r ffynonellau cyngor hynny, buaswn yn eich annog i wneud hynny yn eich rhwydweithiau eich hun ac yn eich etholaethau eich hun hefyd. Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn.
2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda swyddogion yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ynghylch Brexit? OAQ54436
2. What discussions has the Counsel General had with European Union officials regarding Brexit? OAQ54436
I plan to visit Brussels in the coming weeks for various meetings with the EU institutions, which will build on the meeting with Michel Barnier that the First Minister had in June, and meetings I held in Strasbourg in March. Our Brussels office also maintains good relationships across the EU institutions.
Rwy’n bwriadu ymweld â Brwsel yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf i gael cyfarfodydd amrywiol â sefydliadau’r UE, a fydd yn adeiladu ar y cyfarfod a gafodd y Prif Weinidog â Michel Barnier ym mis Mehefin, a chyfarfodydd a gynhaliais yn Strasbwrg ym mis Mawrth. Hefyd, mae gan ein swyddfa ym Mrwsel berthynas dda â sefydliadau'r UE.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. I noticed yesterday that you said that we needed a referendum before we had a general election. Do you not believe that European officials would appreciate a general election so that we can have a Government that will deliver on the referendum of 2016, and any muddying of the water by yourself or other Welsh Government Ministers when they meet European officials merely clouds the situation and makes it more challenging?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Sylwais ddoe eich bod wedi dweud bod angen refferendwm arnom cyn inni gael etholiad cyffredinol. Onid ydych yn credu y byddai swyddogion Ewropeaidd yn gwerthfawrogi etholiad cyffredinol fel y gallwn gael Llywodraeth a fydd yn gwireddu canlyniad refferendwm 2016, a bod unrhyw beth a wnewch chi neu Weinidogion eraill Llywodraeth Cymru i gymhlethu pethau pan fyddwch yn cyfarfod â swyddogion Ewropeaidd yn cymylu’r sefyllfa ac yn ei gwneud yn fwy heriol?
Well, I’m sure the Member doesn’t seek to imply that Welsh Government shouldn’t take any opportunities to stand up for the people of Wales and represent their interests in any context in which they can. There is a real advantage to us in going to Brussels and representing the views of the Welsh Government and Wales. He will know that the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) mechanism exists to provide devolved Governments with the ability to have some oversight over the negotiation process. He will also know, from following the proceedings in the Assembly last week, that the UK Government have decided they won’t share with us the technical papers that they’re sharing with EU institutions, which means that we don’t have as much information about those negotiations as I’m sure he would wish us to have, so we can discuss that in the Chamber here to the extent that’s appropriate. It’s also important to go so we can hear from EU institutions direct what their concerns are, but I will just say very clearly to the Member that we take great care not to undermine the UK Government’s position in any way, but we will always take the opportunity of standing up for the people of Wales and their best interests.
Wel, rwy'n siŵr nad yw'r Aelod yn ceisio awgrymu na ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru fanteisio ar unrhyw gyfleoedd i ddadlau dros bobl Cymru a chynrychioli eu buddiannau mewn unrhyw gyd-destun y gallant. Mae mynd i Frwsel a chynrychioli barn Llywodraeth Cymru a Chymru yn rhoi mantais wirioneddol i ni. Fe fydd yn gwybod bod mecanwaith Cyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion (Negodiadau’r UE) yn bodoli i roi’r gallu i Lywodraethau datganoledig gael rhywfaint o oruchwyliaeth dros y broses negodi. Fe fydd hefyd yn gwybod, o ddilyn y trafodion yn y Cynulliad yr wythnos diwethaf, fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi penderfynu na fyddant yn rhannu'r papurau technegol y maent yn eu rhannu â sefydliadau'r UE gyda ni, sy'n golygu nad oes gennym gymaint o wybodaeth am y trafodaethau hynny ag y byddai'n dymuno, rwy'n siŵr, fel y gallwn drafod hynny yn y Siambr yma i'r graddau priodol. Mae hefyd yn bwysig mynd yno er mwyn i ni glywed gan sefydliadau'r UE yn uniongyrchol beth yw eu pryderon, ond rwyf am ddweud yn glir iawn wrth yr Aelod ein bod yn ofalus iawn nad ydym yn tanseilio safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU mewn unrhyw ffordd, ond byddwn bob amser yn achub ar y cyfle i ddadlau dros bobl Cymru a'u buddiannau.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, why does your newly published Brexit White Paper, ‘A brighter future for Wales', make reference to national identification cards? The document states, and I quote:
‘Some have argued that a national ID card might be a price worth paying to address concerns about so-called "uncontrolled" migration from the EEA.’
Is this the Welsh Government’s view—that you want billions of pounds to be spent on documentation that presumably people will have to pay for, and that would curtail their civil liberties simply to address what you admit are unfounded concerns? If this is not the Welsh Government’s view, and I hope it isn’t, why make reference to ID cards in this document at all?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, pam fod eich Papur Gwyn sydd newydd gael ei gyhoeddi ar Brexit, ‘Dyfodol mwy disglair i Gymru’, yn cyfeirio at gardiau adnabod cenedlaethol? Mae'r ddogfen yn nodi, a dyfynnaf:
'Mae rhai wedi dadlau y gallai cerdyn adnabod cenedlaethol fod yn bris gwerth ei dalu i fynd i’r afael â phryderon am fudo ‘heb reolaeth’ o’r AEE.'
Ai dyma farn Llywodraeth Cymru—eich bod am wario biliynau o bunnoedd ar ddogfennaeth y bydd yn rhaid i bobl dalu amdani yn ôl pob tebyg, ac a fyddai’n cyfyngu ar eu hawliau sifil er mwyn mynd i’r afael â’r hyn y cyfaddefwch eu bod yn bryderon di-sail? Os nad dyma farn Llywodraeth Cymru, a gobeithiaf nad dyna yw eich barn, pam cyfeirio at gardiau adnabod yn y ddogfen hon o gwbl?
Well, the Member has raised this point before, as have Members of her party, and I will just say that, in relation to a matter as sensitive as this, I think it's—you know, we shouldn’t go out of our way to look for points of division where none exist. The document to which she refers really builds on the principles of 'Securing Wales’ Future', which, obviously, was co-authored with Plaid Cymru, and indeed it further builds on the paper ‘Brexit and Fair Movement of People’, which her party also welcomed. The document does not say that ID cards are the Welsh Government’s policy—it simply says that some have argued that there are benefits to it. But I think she must see that in the context of a broader discussion in that paper, which establishes very clearly that the policy we advocate is within the boundaries, within the parameters, of freedom of movement as exercised by other EU member states.
Wel, mae'r Aelod wedi codi'r pwynt hwn o'r blaen, yn ogystal ag Aelodau eraill o'i phlaid, ac mewn perthynas â mater mor sensitif â hyn, rwy'n credu—ni ddylem fynd allan o'n ffordd i chwilio am bwyntiau i'n rhannu lle nad oes rhai'n bodoli. Mae'r ddogfen y cyfeiria ati yn adeiladu ar egwyddorion 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru', a luniwyd, yn amlwg, ar y cyd â Phlaid Cymru, ac yn wir, mae'n adeiladu ymhellach ar y papur 'Brexit a Thegwch o ran Symudiad Pobl', a groesawyd gan ei phlaid hefyd. Nid yw'r ddogfen yn dweud mai cardiau adnabod yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru—dim ond dweud bod rhai wedi dadlau bod manteision i hynny. Ond credaf fod yn rhaid iddi weld hynny yng nghyd-destun trafodaeth ehangach yn y papur hwnnw, sy'n sefydlu'n glir iawn fod y polisi rydym yn ei argymell o fewn terfynau, o fewn paramedrau, rhyddid i symud fel y'i rhoddir ar waith gan aelod-wladwriaethau eraill yr UE.
Thank you, Minister. There are many things in the document that we do agree with, but I would urge the Minister to see that language in the context of the Home Office's hostile environment policy. The introduction, or—. Talking about national ID cards isn't the only aspect of this document that would also cause concern to non-UK EU citizens in Wales who are already feeling threatened. The document advocates tracking migrants using national insurance so that their economic activity could be monitored—with a view, I presume, to make it easier to collect evidence that could lead to deportations. The Trefnydd yesterday denied that the document advocated forced deportations. I would ask you how this squares with the inclusion of sentences making reference to the legitimate removal of migrants and benefit tourism. Given that your Government has published a plan to make Wales a nation of sanctuary, which we welcome, and that you've in the past criticised the UK Government for their disgraceful hostile environment policy, do you now believe it was a mistake to include language in this document that has the potential to cause further distress for EU migrants living in Wales?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae llawer o bethau yn y ddogfen rydym yn cytuno â hwy, ond buaswn yn annog y Gweinidog i weld yr iaith honno yng nghyd-destun polisi amgylchedd gelyniaethus y Swyddfa Gartref. Mae cyflwyno, neu—. Nid siarad am gardiau adnabod cenedlaethol yw'r unig agwedd ar y ddogfen hon a fyddai hefyd yn peri pryder i ddinasyddion yr UE yng Nghymru nad ydynt yn dod o'r DU sydd eisoes yn teimlo dan fygythiad. Mae'r ddogfen yn argymell olrhain mudwyr gan ddefnyddio yswiriant gwladol fel y gellir monitro eu gweithgarwch economaidd—gyda'r bwriad, rwy'n tybio, o'i gwneud yn haws casglu tystiolaeth a allai arwain at allgludo. Ddoe, gwadodd y Trefnydd fod y ddogfen yn argymell allgludo gorfodol. Buaswn yn gofyn i chi sut y mae hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r ffaith bod brawddegau sy'n cyfeirio at alltudio mudwyr yn gyfreithlon a thwristiaeth budd-daliadau wedi'u cynnwys. O gofio bod eich Llywodraeth wedi cyhoeddi cynllun i wneud Cymru'n genedl noddfa, rhywbeth a groesewir gennym, a'ch bod wedi beirniadu Llywodraeth y DU yn y gorffennol am eu polisi amgylchedd gelyniaethus gwarthus, a ydych bellach yn credu mai camgymeriad oedd cynnwys iaith yn y ddogfen hon sydd â'r potensial i achosi trallod pellach i fudwyr o'r UE sy'n byw yng Nghymru?
Well, I know the Member has a party conference at the end of the week, but I do think that this is not an appropriate line of questioning to be pursuing. I refer her to the point that I made—[Interruption.] I refer her to the point I made earlier, which is that this policy document builds on the language that we used in 'Brexit and Fair Movement of People', which says, in effect, that jobseekers would be asked to register in order to ensure that people seeking to work do so in a reasonable amount of time, which is what happens in other European countries, and, where that is not the case, or if they don't have a genuine prospect of employment, we should be able to ask them to leave the UK. That is the language in 'Brexit and Fair Movement of People', which your Brexit spokesperson agreed was a pragmatic approach. So, I think it's very important that we shouldn't seek to look for divisions in relation to this issue.
She will also know that, in relation to EU citizens living in Wales, the Government has taken a number of steps in order to support them in seeking to register for settled status within the UK Government scheme, including funding Citizens Advice to provide advice to them, funding a specialist immigration law service, Newfields Law, to deal with complex cases, seeking the extension of digital assistance centres across Wales so that it facilitates EU citizens seeking support, and also working with a range of charities and third sector organisations to raise awareness.
Wel, gwn fod gan yr Aelod gynhadledd plaid ddiwedd yr wythnos, ond nid yw'r rhain yn gwestiynau priodol i'w holi yn fy marn i. Fe'i cyfeiriaf at y pwynt a wneuthum—[Torri ar draws.] Fe'i cyfeiriaf at y pwynt a wneuthum yn gynharach, sef bod y ddogfen bolisi hon yn adeiladu ar yr iaith a ddefnyddiwyd gennym yn 'Brexit a Thegwch o ran Symudiad Pobl', sy'n dweud, i bob pwrpas, y byddai angen i geiswyr gwaith gofrestru er mwyn sicrhau bod pobl sy'n ceisio gwaith yn gwneud hynny mewn cyfnod rhesymol o amser, sef yr hyn sy'n digwydd mewn gwledydd Ewropeaidd eraill, a lle nad yw hynny'n digwydd, neu os nad oes ganddynt obaith gwirioneddol o gael gwaith, dylem allu gofyn iddynt adael y DU. Dyna'r iaith yn 'Brexit a Thegwch o ran Symudiad Pobl', y cytunodd eich llefarydd Brexit ei bod yn ymagwedd bragmataidd. Felly, credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn peidio â cheisio chwilio am raniadau mewn perthynas â'r mater hwn.
Fe fydd hi'n gwybod hefyd fod y Llywodraeth wedi rhoi nifer o gamau ar waith i gynorthwyo dinasyddion yr UE sy'n byw yng Nghymru i geisio cofrestru ar gyfer statws sefydlog yng nghynllun Llywodraeth y DU, gan gynnwys ariannu Cyngor ar Bopeth i ddarparu cyngor iddynt, ariannu gwasanaeth cyfraith fewnfudo arbenigol, Newfields Law, i ymdrin ag achosion cymhleth, ceisio ymestyn canolfannau cymorth digidol ledled Cymru er mwyn helpu dinasyddion yr UE i chwilio am gymorth, a gweithio hefyd gydag ystod o elusennau a sefydliadau'r trydydd sector i godi ymwybyddiaeth.
Thank you, Minister, and those things are all things that we do welcome, which is why I would really urge you to remove the references to legitimately removing migrants, benefit tourism and ID cards from this document. And, if you were to do that, then my party would be very willing to discuss it further with you and to look at voting for it, if you intend to hold a vote.
I'd like to turn finally to something we have in common. We both want a second referendum with 'remain' on the ballot, and I also have noted, with reverence, that you agree with Plaid Cymru rather than elements of your own party that there should be a referendum before an election. I would welcome that.
We've said we'd be willing to support Jeremy Corbyn to have a first shot at being caretaker Prime Minister to secure an article 50 extension and deliver a referendum—that's only fair, but it doesn't look like he'll have the numbers for that at present. So, Minister, I'd ask you, in these circumstances, would you then support someone else to be caretaker Prime Minister, an elder statesperson perhaps, to go to Brussels to secure that extension—[Interruption.]—or indeed yourself—and then to immediately call a general election? Or would you rather risk no deal than support anyone but Corbyn to be a caretaker PM?
I realise, from comments that are being made from sedentary positions by your colleagues, that this is a Westminster issue, but I'm sure you'll have an opinion on this matter, given your strongly held views that 'no deal' would be a disaster that must be averted at all costs.
Diolch, Weinidog, ac mae'r holl bethau hynny'n bethau rydym yn eu croesawu, a dyna pam y buaswn o ddifrif yn eich annog i ddileu'r cyfeiriadau at alltudio mudwyr yn gyfreithlon, twristiaeth budd-daliadau a chardiau adnabod o'r ddogfen hon. A phe baech yn gwneud hynny, byddai fy mhlaid yn barod iawn i'w thrafod ymhellach gyda chi ac i ystyried pleidleisio drosti, os ydych yn bwriadu cynnal pleidlais.
Yn olaf, hoffwn droi at rywbeth sydd gennym yn gyffredin. Mae'r ddau ohonom yn awyddus i gael ail refferendwm gydag 'aros' ar y papur pleidleisio, ac rwyf hefyd wedi nodi, gyda pharch, eich bod yn cytuno â Phlaid Cymru yn hytrach nag elfennau o'ch plaid eich hun y dylid cael refferendwm cyn etholiad. Buaswn yn croesawu hynny.
Rydym wedi dweud y byddem yn barod i gefnogi Jeremy Corbyn i gael y cyfle cyntaf i fod yn Brif Weinidog dros dro i sicrhau estyniad i erthygl 50 a refferendwm—mae hynny'n deg, ond nid ymddengys y bydd ganddo'r niferoedd ar gyfer hynny ar hyn o bryd. Felly, Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn ichi, o dan yr amgylchiadau hyn, a fyddech chi felly'n cefnogi rhywun arall i fod yn Brif Weinidog dros dro, gwladweinydd hŷn efallai, i fynd i Frwsel i sicrhau’r estyniad hwnnw—[Torri ar draws.]—neu chithau, yn wir—ac yna i alw etholiad cyffredinol ar unwaith? Neu a fyddai’n well gennych fentro Brexit heb gytundeb na chefnogi unrhyw un ond Corbyn i fod yn Brif Weinidog dros dro?
O sylwadau a wneir gan gyd-Aelodau o'ch plaid yn eu seddau, rwy'n sylweddoli mai mater i San Steffan yw hwn, ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd gennych farn ar y mater, o ystyried eich barn gref y byddai Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yn drychineb y mae'n rhaid ei osgoi ar bob cyfrif.
Well, firstly, relating to the points that she raised on the document, I wish that she had raised those points before the document had been published; we would have been happy to engage in detail in relation to those in order to seek an agreed position with Plaid Cymru. But, on the broader point that she makes about parliamentary arrangements, I'm not going to be answering questions here about the Welsh Labour position in Parliament. Those are questions for Parliament. I'm happy to answer questions in relation to Welsh Government policy here in Wales.
Wel, yn gyntaf, o ran y pwyntiau a gododd ynglŷn â'r ddogfen, hoffwn pe bai wedi codi'r pwyntiau hynny cyn i'r ddogfen gael ei chyhoeddi; byddem wedi bod yn fwy na pharod i ymgysylltu'n fanwl mewn perthynas â'r pwyntiau hynny er mwyn ceisio cytuno ar safbwynt gyda Phlaid Cymru. Ond ar y pwynt ehangach y mae'n ei wneud ynglŷn â threfniadau seneddol, nid wyf am ateb cwestiynau yma ynglŷn â safbwynt Llafur Cymru yn Senedd y DU. Mae'r rheini'n gwestiynau ar gyfer Senedd y DU. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i ateb cwestiynau mewn perthynas â pholisi Llywodraeth Cymru yma yng Nghymru.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Darren Millar.
Conservative spokesperson, Darren Millar.
Minister, can you clarify what your policy is on Brexit?
Weinidog, a allwch egluro beth yw eich polisi ar Brexit?
I'm very, very happy to do that. I'm normally—. We are normally criticised for providing so much opportunity in the Chamber for describing our Brexit policy, but I'm very happy to do so. Our position here is that we seek to remain—that Wales should remain part of the European Union, and we think the matter should be put back to the people in a referendum so the people can give their opinion, and in that referendum the Welsh Government will advocate they vote to remain members of the European Union.
Rwy'n hapus iawn i wneud hynny. Rwyf i fel arfer—. Rydym fel arfer yn cael ein beirniadu am ddarparu cymaint o gyfle yn y Siambr i ddisgrifio ein polisi Brexit, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. Ein safbwynt yma yw ein bod yn awyddus i aros—y dylai Cymru barhau i fod yn rhan o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, a chredwn y dylid rhoi'r mater yn ôl i'r bobl mewn refferendwm fel y gall y bobl roi eu barn, ac yn y refferendwm hwnnw, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn argymell y dylent bleidleisio dros barhau i fod yn aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
I'm very grateful for that response. Of course, you could have outlined three potential responses, because the Labour Party has adopted, it seems to me, three policies. Of course, we all know that Jeremy Corbyn did, and then didn't, want a general election, and then he wants to hold conversations with the EU in order to get a deal that he might or might not support in a second referendum. The Welsh Government's position seems to be that it also wants a general election, but not quite yet, and then it wants to hold a second referendum, and no matter what deal comes back, including if that deal is supported by a Labour Prime Minister, you will campaign against it and to remain in the EU. And then, of course, there's you, as the Brexit Minister for the Welsh Government, who said just yesterday, in contradiction to both the UK Labour line and the Welsh Labour line, that you thought it would be ideal to have a second referendum before a general election, in spite of the fact that, earlier this year, at the Welsh Labour conference, you said that a second referendum isn't the best solution. What a complete and utter shambles your policy actually is. Given the fact that you have a menu of choices that you appear to be putting before the British electorate, how on earth can anybody trust you to deliver anything on Brexit?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am eich ymateb. Wrth gwrs, gallech fod wedi amlinellu tri ymateb posibl, gan ei bod yn ymddangos i mi fod y Blaid Lafur wedi mabwysiadu tri pholisi. Wrth gwrs, gŵyr pob un ohonom yr oedd Jeremy Corbyn yn awyddus, ac yna nid oedd yn awyddus, i gael etholiad cyffredinol, a'i fod yn awyddus i gynnal trafodaethau gyda’r UE er mwyn cael cytundeb y gallai ei gefnogi neu beidio â'i gefnogi mewn ail refferendwm. Ymddengys mai safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru yw eu bod hwythau'n awyddus i gael etholiad cyffredinol, ond nid ar hyn o bryd, ac yna maent am gynnal ail refferendwm, ac ni waeth pa gytundeb a ddaw'n ôl, ni waeth a fyddai Prif Weinidog Llafur y DU yn cefnogi'r cytundeb hwnnw, fe fyddwch yn ymgyrchu yn ei erbyn ac o blaid aros yn yr UE. Ac yna, wrth gwrs, ddoe fe ddywedoch chi, fel Gweinidog Brexit Llywodraeth Cymru, yn groes i safbwynt Llafur y DU a safbwynt Llafur Cymru, eich bod yn meddwl y byddai'n ddelfrydol cael ail refferendwm cyn etholiad cyffredinol, er i chi ddweud yn gynharach eleni, yng nghynhadledd Llafur Cymru, nad ail refferendwm fyddai'r ateb gorau. Mae eich polisi'n llanast llwyr. O ystyried bod gennych ddewislen o ddewisiadau yr ymddengys eich bod yn ei rhoi gerbron etholwyr Prydain, sut ar y ddaear y gall unrhyw un ymddiried ynoch chi i gyflawni unrhyw beth mewn perthynas â Brexit?
Well, I'm always happy to provide a platform for the Conservative association of Clwyd West to assess their potential candidate for the next general election, but I would just remind him that I'm not going to engage with the political badinage that he so enjoys. I would just invite him to recall that Boris Johnson was against a referendum and against an election, and is now in favour of an election and voted both for and against Theresa May's deal. So, I think, when he wants to look for confusions and a menu of options, he should look somewhat nearer to home.
Wel, rwyf bob amser yn fwy na pharod i ddarparu platfform i gymdeithas Ceidwadwyr Gorllewin Clwyd asesu eu darpar ymgeisydd ar gyfer yr etholiad cyffredinol nesaf, ond hoffwn ei atgoffa nad wyf am gymryd rhan yn yr herian gwleidyddol y mae mor hoff ohono. Hoffwn ei wahodd i gofio yr oedd Boris Johnson yn erbyn refferendwm ac yn erbyn etholiad, a'i fod bellach o blaid etholiad ac wedi pleidleisio o blaid ac yn erbyn cytundeb Theresa May. Felly, os yw'n chwilio am ddryswch a dewislen o ddewisiadau, credaf y dylai edrych ychydig yn nes at adref.
I didn't quite catch what position you're taking today, in contrast to the position you had yesterday and the position of the Welsh Government and the UK Labour Party. What I will say is that, unlike the Labour Party, at least my party's got a very clear position, and that is that we want to get Brexit done. We want to deliver Brexit without any more dithering or delay, by 31 October, so that we can move on and focus on people's priorities across the country, like sorting out the mess that you've left in terms of our national health service here in Wales, raising standards in education after a decade of stagnation, and putting more police on our streets. The people of Wales have already voted, of course, on this matter, in June 2016, and, in fact, they already had a second vote as well, because they endorsed that position and the position of party manifestos, both in your party and my party, which said that they would deliver on the Brexit referendum and deliver Brexit. So, they've already had two opportunities to express a view. So, instead of being like a beast with three heads, I think it's about time that the Labour Party got behind the efforts of the UK Government to deliver a Brexit that works for the UK and works for Wales. Will you therefore adopt the position that I think your party needs to take, and that is to work collaboratively with the UK Government to deliver Brexit rather than trying to thwart it?
Ni ddeallais yn iawn beth yw eich safbwynt heddiw, mewn cyferbyniad â'ch safbwynt ddoe a safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru a Phlaid Lafur y DU. Yr hyn a ddywedaf yw, yn wahanol i'r Blaid Lafur, o leiaf mae gan fy mhlaid safbwynt clir iawn, sef ein bod am gyflawni Brexit. Rydym am gyflawni Brexit heb ragor o betruso neu oedi, erbyn 31 Hydref, fel y gallwn symud ymlaen a chanolbwyntio ar flaenoriaethau pobl ledled y wlad, fel datrys y llanast rydych wedi'i wneud o'n gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yma yng Nghymru, codi safonau addysg ar ôl degawd o ddiffyg cynnydd, a rhoi mwy o heddlu ar ein strydoedd. Mae pobl Cymru eisoes wedi pleidleisio ar y mater hwn ym mis Mehefin 2016 wrth gwrs, ac mewn gwirionedd, maent eisoes wedi cael ail bleidlais hefyd, gan iddynt gymeradwyo'r safbwynt hwnnw a safbwynt maniffestos y pleidiau, yn eich plaid chi ac yn fy mhlaid innau, a ddywedodd y byddent yn cyflawni canlyniad refferendwm Brexit ac yn cyflawni Brexit. Felly, maent eisoes wedi cael dau gyfle i fynegi barn. Felly, yn lle bod fel bwystfil â thri phen, credaf ei bod yn hen bryd i'r Blaid Lafur gefnogi ymdrechion Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni Brexit sy'n gweithio i'r DU ac sy'n gweithio i Gymru. A wnewch chi, felly, fabwysiadu’r safbwynt y credaf fod angen i’ch plaid ei fabwysiadu, sef gweithio ar y cyd â Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni Brexit yn hytrach na cheisio'i rwystro?
Might I just gently suggest that I think at the heart of his party's problem is the confusion between a slogan and a policy? Simply repeating 'Get Brexit done' is not going to get anyone anywhere, and if he thinks there is going to be money left to invest in the health service, in schools and in the police service after a 'hard deal' Brexit, I think he's living in cloud-cuckoo-land.
A gaf fi awgrymu'n garedig fy mod yn meddwl mai'r hyn sydd wrth wraidd problem ei blaid yw'r dryswch rhwng slogan a pholisi? Nid yw ailadrodd 'Cyflawnwch Brexit' yn mynd i wneud unrhyw beth, ac os yw'n credu y bydd arian ar ôl i'w fuddsoddi yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, mewn ysgolion ac yn y gwasanaeth heddlu ar ôl Brexit caled, credaf fod ei ben yn y cymylau.
3. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cynnal ynghylch Brexit yn dilyn dyfarniad diweddar Goruchaf Lys y DU ynghylch addoediad? OAQ54426
3. What discussions has the Counsel General held regarding Brexit following the UK Supreme Court's recent prorogation judgment? OAQ54426
Parliament has resumed sitting, as it should have been all along. Meanwhile, I continue to take every opportunity to speak up to protect Wales's interests, which are best served by remaining in the European Union. Later on today, I expect to be speaking to the Brexit Secretary, and I will also be attending the Joint Ministerial Council on European negotiations in the coming days.
Mae Senedd y DU wedi mynd yn ôl i eistedd, fel y dylai fod wedi'i wneud drwy'r adeg. Yn y cyfamser, rwy'n parhau i achub ar bob cyfle i godi fy llais i amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru, sy'n cael eu diogelu orau drwy aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Yn nes ymlaen heddiw, rwy’n disgwyl siarad â'r Ysgrifennydd Brexit, a byddaf hefyd yn mynychu Cyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion ar negodiadau Ewropeaidd yn y dyddiau nesaf.
This Brexit-created failure in the constitution suggests that when the courts need to intervene, the constitution isn't working, and the truth is it hasn't been working for some time. Therefore, would the Minister agree that we need a written constitution, a reinvigorated federal state that is the United Kingdom, with Wales as an equal partner within that state, with a protected role, and the principle of subsidiarity being core to the new constitution, that meaning decisions made at the relevant level for the nature of that decision being made? Will he support that view, and will the Welsh Government support that view?
Mae'r methiant hwn yn y cyfansoddiad a grëwyd gan Brexit yn awgrymu, pan fo angen i'r llysoedd ymyrryd, nad yw'r cyfansoddiad yn gweithio, a'r gwir yw nad yw wedi gweithio ers peth amser. Felly, a fyddai’r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod angen cyfansoddiad ysgrifenedig arnom, gwladwriaeth ffederal wedi’i hadfywio, sef y Deyrnas Unedig gyda Chymru yn bartner cyfartal o fewn y wladwriaeth honno, gyda rôl warchodedig ac egwyddor sybsidiaredd yn graidd i'r cyfansoddiad newydd, sy'n golygu gwneud penderfyniadau ar lefel sy'n berthnasol i natur y penderfyniadau a wneir? A wnaiff gefnogi’r farn honno, ac a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru gefnogi’r farn honno?
My personal view is that I agree with much of what the Member has said in his response. It goes to the heart of the fragility of the existing constitutional settlement, I think, when you can see the reliance it has on political parties in Westminster, and the UK Government currently, abiding by unwritten conventions. And in fact, the failure to do so—so frequently in the course of the last few weeks—has exposed significant weaknesses in our constitutional arrangements. It ought not to be the case that the Supreme Court should have to intervene on such a basic matter of constitutional propriety. It should never be the case that any Government should call the rule of law into question, like Boris Johnson has done in relation to the attempted prorogation of Parliament. It really lowers our standing, actually not just within the UK, but internationally, to see that sort of proceeding arrive at the Supreme Court. I absolutely endorse the principles that his question implies, that the constitution of the United Kingdom should be based on two principles—one of equality between the nations of the UK, and the principle of subsidiarity. It it those two principles, by the way, that have secured support within the European Union for membership broadly across the continent, and we would do well to be inspired by those principles here in the UK as well.
Fy marn bersonol yw fy mod yn cytuno â llawer o'r hyn a ddywed yr Aelod yn ei ymateb. Mae'n mynd at wraidd breuder y setliad cyfansoddiadol presennol, yn fy marn i, pan allwch weld sut y mae'n dibynnu ar bleidiau gwleidyddol yn San Steffan, a Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd, i gadw at gonfensiynau anysgrifenedig. Ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r methiant i wneud hynny—mor aml dros yr wythnosau diwethaf—wedi datgelu gwendidau sylweddol yn ein trefniadau cyfansoddiadol. Ni ddylai fod wedi bod angen i'r Goruchaf Lys ymyrryd ar fater mor sylfaenol o briodoldeb cyfansoddiadol. Ni ddylai unrhyw Lywodraeth gwestiynu rheolaeth y gyfraith, fel y gwnaeth Boris Johnson mewn perthynas â'r ymgais i addoedi Senedd y DU. Mae gweld achos o'r fath yn mynd i'r Goruchaf Lys yn effeithio ar ein henw da, nid yn unig yn y DU, ond yn rhyngwladol. Rwy’n llwyr gymeradwyo’r egwyddorion y mae ei gwestiwn yn eu hawgrymu, y dylai cyfansoddiad y Deyrnas Unedig fod yn seiliedig ar ddwy egwyddor—cydraddoldeb rhwng gwledydd y DU, ac egwyddor sybsidiaredd. Y ddwy egwyddor hynny, gyda llaw, sydd wedi sicrhau cefnogaeth o fewn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd i aelodaeth yn gyffredinol ar draws y cyfandir, a byddai'n dda pe gallem gael ein hysbrydoli gan yr egwyddorion hynny yma yn y DU hefyd.
4. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o effaith Brexit heb gytundeb ar sefydliadau'r trydydd sector yng Nghymru? OAQ54420
4. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact of a no-deal Brexit on third sector organisations in Wales? OAQ54420
We are working closely with the third sector. We commissioned the Wales Council for Voluntary Action to undertake research into the impact of Brexit on the sector, and this has culminated in the 'Empowering Communities in the Context of Brexit' report, which was published by the WCVA on 20 September.
Rydym yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r trydydd sector. Comisiynwyd Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru gennym i gynnal ymchwil i effaith Brexit ar y sector, ac mae hyn wedi arwain at adroddiad 'Grymuso Cymunedau yng Nghyd-destun Brexit', a gyhoeddwyd gan Gyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru ar 20 Medi.
Thank you. I'm sure, Minister, that like me you've seen the letter that was sent by numerous third sector organisations, including very many from Wales, to the Prime Minister, warning of the grave concerns about a 'no deal' Brexit. The letter says a 'no deal' Brexit would be detrimental to civil society and the communities that we work with. The uncertainty, the predicted economic shock, the prospect of legal uncertainty, as well as the regression in rights and standards, present a profound risk to the values civil society stands for. Do you recognise the description in that letter? Do you recognise there is a particular risk to our most deprived communities arising from a 'no deal' Brexit? And what more can you do as a Welsh Government to ensure that, should the Tory Government proceed on this reckless course of action, we are as well prepared as we possibly can be?
Diolch. Weinidog, rwy'n siŵr eich bod chi, fel finnau, wedi gweld y llythyr a anfonwyd gan nifer o sefydliadau'r trydydd sector, gan gynnwys llawer iawn o Gymru, at Brif Weinidog y DU, yn rhybuddio am y pryderon dybryd ynghylch Brexit heb gytundeb. Mae'r llythyr yn dweud y byddai Brexit heb gytundeb yn niweidiol i gymdeithas sifil a'r cymunedau y gweithiwn gyda hwy. Mae'r ansicrwydd, y sioc economaidd a ragwelir, y perygl o ansicrwydd cyfreithiol, yn ogystal â'r atchweliad mewn hawliau a safonau, yn creu risg ddifrifol i'r gwerthoedd y mae cymdeithas sifil yn eu harddel. A ydych yn cydnabod y disgrifiad yn y llythyr hwnnw? A ydych yn cydnabod bod Brexit heb gytundeb yn creu risg arbennig i'n cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig? A beth arall y gallwch ei wneud fel Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau, pe bai'r Llywodraeth Dorïaidd yn bwrw ymlaen â'r cam byrbwyll hwn, ein bod mor barod ag y gallwn fod?
I thank the Member for that important supplementary question. When you have organisations like Tenovus, Children in Wales, the Migrants' Rights Network, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions—when you've got bodies like that raising the alarm, which is what they do in that letter, I think it's incumbent on us all to sit up and listen to that. I was in an event organised by Charles Whitmore, who I think was party to the letter, a few months ago, in Belfast, actually. I think the impact of Brexit on civic society, and the role of the third sector, hasn't sufficiently been on the agenda across the UK. We have done what we can here to support third sector organisations, partly through the European transition fund. But I think the reason the letter is so powerful is because these are organisations working on the front line in people's lives, often working with vulnerable people—and we are absolutely concerned about the cumulative effect of a number of detrimental impacts that would flow and impact on them in the context of Brexit. One of the things we are trying to do in relation to securing the resilience of the third sector in the event of leaving the European Union is to include them very directly in the work of designing the replacement for structural funds here. There's a steering group, which is convened by Huw Irranca-Davies, and they have a central role in that. That principle of partnership between the third sector and other sectors, which has underpinned the work we've done during our membership of the European Union, needs to survive as and when we leave.
Diolch i'r Aelod am ei chwestiwn atodol pwysig. Pan fydd sefydliadau fel Tenovus, Plant yng Nghymru, y Migrants' Rights Network, Cyngres Undebau Llafur Iwerddon—pan fydd cyrff o'r fath yn mynegi pryderon, a dyna a wnânt yn y llythyr hwnnw, credaf ei bod yn ddyletswydd ar bob un ohonom i wrando ar hynny. Roeddwn mewn digwyddiad a drefnwyd gan Charles Whitmore, a oedd â rhan yn llunio'r llythyr rwy'n credu, yn Belfast ychydig fisoedd yn ôl. Ni chredaf fod effaith Brexit ar gymdeithas ddinesig, a rôl y trydydd sector, wedi cael digon o sylw ar yr agenda ar draws y DU. Rydym wedi gwneud yr hyn a allwn yma i gefnogi sefydliadau'r trydydd sector, yn rhannol drwy gronfa bontio'r UE. Ond credaf mai'r rheswm pam fod y llythyr mor bwerus yw fod y rhain yn sefydliadau sy'n gweithio ar y rheng flaen ym mywydau pobl, ac sy'n aml yn gweithio gyda phobl agored i niwed—ac rydym yn pryderu'n ddirfawr am effaith gronnol nifer o ganlyniadau niweidiol a fyddai'n deillio iddynt yng nghyd-destun Brexit. Un o'r pethau rydym yn ceisio'u gwneud mewn perthynas â sicrhau cydnerthedd y trydydd sector pe baem yn gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yw eu cynnwys yn uniongyrchol iawn yn y gwaith o gynllunio'r hyn a ddaw yn lle'r cronfeydd strwythurol yma. Mae grŵp llywio ar waith, sy'n cael ei gynnull gan Huw Irranca-Davies, ac mae ganddynt rôl ganolog yn y grŵp hwnnw. Mae angen i'r egwyddor o bartneriaeth rhwng y trydydd sector a sectorau eraill a fu'n sail i'r gwaith a wnaethom fel aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd oroesi wrth i ni adael.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda'r gwrthbleidiau mewn perthynas â safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar Brexit? OAQ54434
5. What discussions has the Counsel General had with opposition parties in relation to the Welsh Government’s position on Brexit? OAQ54434
The Welsh Government has been working tirelessly on a cross-party basis since 2016 to protect Wales’s interests. As a result, the National Assembly has passed motions that rule out a 'no deal' exit, support the UK remaining in the EU, and support a second referendum to achieve that aim.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio’n ddiflino ar sail drawsbleidiol ers 2016 i amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru. O ganlyniad, mae'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol wedi derbyn cynigion sy'n diystyru Brexit heb gytundeb, yn cefnogi parhad aelodaeth y DU o'r UE, ac yn cefnogi ail refferendwm i gyflawni'r nod hwnnw.
Thank you, Counsel General, for that reply. Does he not recognise the potential dangers of using Wales as a political pawn in the games that he's playing with Plaid Cymru? There's a great deal of suspicion about the way in which the Welsh Labour Party is cosying up to Plaid Cymru in advance of the 2021 election, which I think they're anticipating losing and, therefore, are now looking for support from Plaid Cymru. He recently said that
'the UK is a voluntary association of nations'
and that if Brexit goes ahead,
'any sensible government would have to reassess Wales's place in a changed UK',
clearly doffing his cap in the direction of independence. The First Minister has recently said that Wales's support for the union's not unconditional, and, at the Welsh Labour conference this year, there was a fringe meeting called 'Labour for independence' and the former First Minister graced it with his presence and spoke at it. And Vaughan Roderick from the BBC said recently that fringe meeting would never have been allowed a few years ago, and Welsh Labour would not have accepted the invitation to a YesCymru meeting a couple of years ago. Will he commit Labour unambiguously to continuing within the United Kingdom and breaking off this dalliance with Plaid Cymru, which is giving an unnecessary credence to the possibility of independence?
Diolch am eich ateb, Gwnsler Cyffredinol. Onid yw'n cydnabod peryglon posibl defnyddio Cymru fel gwystl gwleidyddol yn y gemau y mae'n eu chwarae gyda Phlaid Cymru? Mae llawer iawn o amheuaeth ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae Plaid Lafur Cymru yn cwtsho lan at Blaid Cymru cyn etholiad 2021, etholiad y credaf eu bod yn rhagweld y byddant yn ei cholli, ac felly maent bellach yn chwilio am gefnogaeth gan Blaid Cymru. Dywedodd yn ddiweddar mai
'cymdeithas wirfoddol o genhedloedd yw’r DU'
ac os yw Brexit yn mynd rhagddo, y
'byddai’n rhaid i unrhyw lywodraeth synhwyrol ailasesu safle Cymru yn y DU newydd',
gan gyfeirio, yn amlwg, at annibyniaeth. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud yn ddiweddar nad yw cefnogaeth Cymru i'r undeb yn ddiamod, ac yng nghynhadledd Llafur Cymru eleni, cynhaliwyd cyfarfod ymylol o'r enw 'Llafur dros annibyniaeth' a fynychwyd gan y cyn Brif Weinidog a fu'n siarad yno. A dywedodd Vaughan Roderick o’r BBC yn ddiweddar na fyddai cyfarfod ymylol o'r fath erioed wedi cael ei ganiatáu ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl, ac na fyddai Llafur Cymru wedi derbyn gwahoddiad i gyfarfod YesCymru ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl. A wnaiff ymrwymo Llafur yn ddiamwys i barhau i fod yn rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig a rhoi'r gorau i'r fflyrtian hwn â Phlaid Cymru, sy'n rhoi hygrededd diangen i'r posibilrwydd o annibyniaeth?
Well, I'm not sure where this fits in to discussions with the opposition parties. These are debates that all mature parties would expect to have in a devolved context. I've been absolutely categorical: I believe, the Welsh Government believes, that the best future for Wales is as part of a UK that is flourishing and reformed. The pressures that have come from Brexit have exposed fault lines in the UK constitution that my reply to Hefin David's question earlier attempted to draw out. I would just say to him that the biggest threat to the union is the kind of 'no deal' Brexit that he himself is an advocate of. He and others are taking a wrecking ball to the constitution, and those of us who have a much greater commitment to the future of Wales are seeking to do what we can to strengthen the constitution to deal with some of those consequences.
Wel, nid wyf yn siŵr ble mae hyn yn ffitio i'r trafodaethau gyda'r gwrthbleidiau. Mae'r rhain yn ddadleuon y byddai pob plaid aeddfed yn disgwyl eu cael mewn cyd-destun datganoledig. Rwyf wedi dweud yn gwbl glir: rwy'n credu, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn credu, mai'r dyfodol gorau i Gymru yw fel rhan o DU ddiwygiedig a ffyniannus. Mae'r pwysau yn sgil Brexit wedi datgelu ffawtiau yng nghyfansoddiad y DU y ceisiais eu nodi yn fy ateb i gwestiwn Hefin David yn gynharach. Buaswn yn dweud wrtho mai'r bygythiad mwyaf i'r undeb yw'r math o Brexit heb gytundeb y mae ef ei hun o'i blaid. Mae ef ac eraill yn ceisio dinistrio'r cyfansoddiad, ac mae'r rhai ohonom sydd ag ymrwymiad mwy o lawer i ddyfodol Cymru yn ceisio gwneud popeth a allwn i gryfhau'r cyfansoddiad er mwyn ymdopi â rhai o'r canlyniadau hynny.
6. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am gynlluniau paratoadau Brexit Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Sir Benfro? OAQ54405
6. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the Welsh Government’s Brexit preparation plans for Pembrokeshire? OAQ54405
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio i gynllunio a pharatoi ar gyfer effeithiau a goblygiadau niweidiol Brexit, ac yn arbennig Brexit heb gytundeb, ar yr economi, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a chymunedau Cymru, gan gynnwys gweithio gyda'r fforwm cydnerthedd lleol i asesu goblygiadau oedi ym mhorthladdoedd sir Benfro.
The Welsh Government has been working to plan and prepare for the harmful impacts and implications of Brexit, and in particular a 'no deal' Brexit, on the economy, public services and communities of Wales, including working with the local resilience forum to assess the implications of delays at ports in Pembrokeshire.
Weinidog, fel byddwch chi'n ymwybodol mae yna ddau borthladd yn fy etholaeth i—porthladd Abergwaun a phorthladd Aberdaugleddau—y ddau ohonynt yn strategol bwysig i'r economi leol ac, yn wir, i'r economi genedlaethol. Dangosodd adroddiad Pwyllgor Materion Allanol a Deddfwriaeth Ychwanegol y Cynulliad i mewn i effeithiau Brexit ar borthladdoedd Cymru fod Cymru ddim wedi cymryd mantais ar y cyllid oedd ar gael yn y gorffennol, a oedd yn gysylltiedig â'r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth draws-Ewropeaidd. Yn wir, dywedodd Ian Davies o Stena wrth y pwyllgor mai dim ond mân gyllid a gafwyd, ond dim byd o unrhyw arwyddocad gwirioneddol dros y 15 mlynedd diwethaf. O ystyried bod cysylltedd â phorthladdoedd Cymru yn hanfodol i'w llwyddiant, a allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gwrdd ag argymhelliad 12 y pwyllgor, a wnaeth yn glir y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud ymrwymiadau clir ar ddatblygu seilwaith yn y dyfodol, gan gynnwys priffyrdd?
Well, Minister, as you will be aware, there are two ports in my constituency—Fishguard and Milford Haven—and both of them are strategically important for the local economy, and, indeed, for the national economy. A report by the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in the Assembly into the effects of Brexit on Welsh ports showed that Wales hasn’t taken advantage of the funds available in the past that were linked to the trans-European transport network. Indeed, Ian Davies from Stena told the committee that little in terms of funds had been accessed, and nothing of great significance over the past 15 years. Now, given that connectivity with Welsh ports is crucially important for their success, can you give us the latest updates as to what the Welsh Government is doing to meet recommendation 12 made by that committee that made it clear that the Welsh Government should make clear commitments on developing infrastructure for the future, including highways?
Rŷm ni, wrth gwrs, yn cydweithio gyda'r porthladdoedd yn sir Benfro yng nghyd-destun penodol Brexit i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cadw trosolwg o'r impact ar y porthladdoedd o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Rydym ni wedi bod yn cydweithio, fel y gwnes i sôn yn y cwestiwn, gyda'r fforwm cydnerthedd lleol sydd wedi bod yn trafod cynlluniau i sicrhau llefydd i oedi petasai angen trefniadau gwahanol yn y dyfodol ar gyfer y porthladdoedd hynny. Ond o safbwynt cwestiwn penodol yr Aelod ynglŷn â'r argymhelliad penodol hwnnw, fe wnaf i sicrhau fy mod yn ysgrifennu ato fe gydag ateb.FootnoteLink
We, of course, are collaborating with the ports in Pembrokeshire in the specific context of Brexit to ensure that we keep an overview on the impact on the ports of Brexit. We’ve been collaborating, as I mentioned previously, with the local resilience forum that has been discussing plans for waiting areas if alternative arrangements were required in the future for those ports. But, as regards the Member’s specific question about that specific recommendation, I will ensure that I write to him with an answer.FootnoteLink
7. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o waith cynllunio awdurdodau lleol a pharatoadau ar gyfer y posibilrwydd o Brexit heb gytundeb? OAQ54417
7. What assessment has the Counsel General made of local authority planning and preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit? OAQ54417
Fe'ch cyfeiriaf at y datganiad llafar a gyflwynwyd ddoe gan y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar baratoi ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru ar gyfer Brexit heb gytundeb. Fe wnes i, a Gweinidogion eraill, hefyd ddatganiadau llafar ar baratoi rhag ofn na fydd cytundeb.
I refer you to the oral statement given by the Minister for Housing and Local Government yesterday on preparing our public services in Wales for a 'no deal' Brexit. Other Ministers and I also gave oral statements on 'no deal' preparedness.
Back in February, the Wales Audit Office reported that specific and detailed political scrutiny of Brexit preparedness has generally been limited within local authorities in Wales. Unfortunately, in many councils, that still holds true today, with elected members having had very little in terms of Brexit discussions. Is this not something that worries you, particularly as we could be facing a 'no deal' scenario in the not too distant future, as I'm sure you're aware? If so, what guidance is the Welsh Government giving to local authorities to ensure that elected members are having these discussions on the potential local implications within their respective areas and responding accordingly?
Yn ôl ym mis Chwefror, adroddodd Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru mai ychydig o waith craffu gwleidyddol penodol a manwl a wnaed ar barodrwydd ar gyfer Brexit gan awdurdodau lleol Cymru at ei gilydd. Yn anffodus, mewn llawer o gynghorau, mae hynny'n wir o hyd, gydag aelodau etholedig ond wedi cael ychydig iawn o drafodaethau ynghylch Brexit. Onid yw hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n eich poeni, yn enwedig gan y gallem fod yn wynebu senario Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yn y dyfodol agos, fel y gwyddoch, rwy'n siŵr? Os felly, pa ganllawiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu rhoi i awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod aelodau etholedig yn cael y trafodaethau hyn ar y goblygiadau lleol posibl yn eu hardaloedd ac yn ymateb yn unol â hynny?
Well, I thank the Member for that important question. I was with the Minister for Housing and Local Government this morning at the Partnership Council for Wales, at which the Welsh Local Government Association and several individual councils were represented. He refers to the report in February from the auditor general, which related to a period of research, which somewhat, necessarily, predated that report.
I think it is fair to say that the quality of scrutiny amongst local councils generally in relation to matters related to Brexit has improved markedly over that period, and he will, perhaps, have seen the follow-up report that the auditor general published on Friday of last week, which commended public services in Wales, local government, Welsh Government and others for continuing to step up the preparation work. And I think it referred specifically to matters relating to the scrutiny of Brexit appearing more frequently in the intervening period on the agendas of cabinet and other scrutiny committees in local councils.
He'll also perhaps recall that, in March, Grant Thornton commissioned a diagnostic review in relation to preparedness and that an update of that review has been requested. And some of the work that we have funded in relation to local government has had a specific focus on scrutiny for the reason that his question implied, because it's an important aspect of democratic accountability in relation to this vital issue.
Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw. Roeddwn gyda’r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol y bore yma yng Nghyngor Partneriaeth Cymru, lle y cynrychiolwyd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru a sawl cyngor unigol. Cyfeiria at yr adroddiad ym mis Chwefror gan yr archwilydd cyffredinol, a oedd yn trafod cyfnod o ymchwil, a oedd, o reidrwydd, yn rhagflaenu'r adroddiad hwnnw.
Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud bod ansawdd y gwaith craffu ymhlith cynghorau lleol at ei gilydd mewn perthynas â materion sy'n ymwneud â Brexit wedi gwella’n sylweddol dros y cyfnod hwnnw, ac efallai y bydd wedi gweld yr adroddiad dilynol a gyhoeddwyd gan yr archwilydd cyffredinol ddydd Gwener yr wythnos diwethaf, a oedd yn canmol gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, llywodraeth leol, Llywodraeth Cymru ac eraill am barhau i gynyddu'r gwaith paratoi. A chredaf iddo gyfeirio'n benodol at faterion yn ymwneud â chraffu ar Brexit yn ymddangos yn amlach yn y cyfamser ar agendâu cabinetau a phwyllgorau craffu eraill mewn cynghorau lleol.
Efallai y bydd hefyd yn cofio bod Grant Thornton wedi comisiynu adolygiad diagnostig ym mis Mawrth mewn perthynas â pharodrwydd a bod cais wedi'i wneud am ddiweddariad i'r adolygiad hwnnw. Ac mae peth o'r gwaith a ariannwyd gennym mewn perthynas â llywodraeth leol wedi canolbwyntio'n benodol ar graffu am y rheswm a awgrymwyd yn ei gwestiwn, sef ei bod yn agwedd bwysig ar atebolrwydd democrataidd mewn perthynas â'r mater hanfodol hwn.
8. Pa drafodaeth y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi ei chynnal gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynglŷn ag amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru yn y broses Brexit wedi 31 Hydref 2019? OAQ54443
8. What discussion has the Counsel General held with the UK Government regarding safeguarding Wales's interests in the Brexit process after 31 October 2019? OAQ54443
Er ein bod yn credu mai aros yn yr UE fyddai'n gwarchod buddiannau Cymru orau, rwy'n parhau i bwysleisio pwysigrwydd cynnwys Llywodraeth Cymru yn llawn wrth ddatblygu safbwyntiau negodi'r Deyrnas Unedig mewn perthynas â'i hymadawiad ac unrhyw berthynas â'r UE yn y dyfodol.
While we believe Wales’s interests are best protected by remaining in the EU, I continue to highlight the vital importance of the full involvement of the Welsh Government in the development of UK negotiating positions on withdrawal issues and any future relationship with the EU.
Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol, rwy'n siŵr, o'r rhybuddion—ac mi glywon ni rhai gan y sector amaeth dros yr haf—am y posibilrwydd o aflonyddwch sifil yn sgil set benodol o amgylchiadau a fyddai'n codi yn dilyn gadael heb gytundeb. Gaf i ofyn pa baratoadau a pha drafodaethau ŷch chi wedi eu cael gyda'r awdurdodau perthnasol yng ngoleuni'r fath bosibilrwydd, achos po agosaf ŷn ni'n dod at Brexit heb gytundeb, yna, byddwn i'n tybio, po agosaf ŷn ni'n dod at y posibilrwydd o hynna'n cael ei wireddu?
You’ll be aware, of course, of the warnings—and we heard some from the agricultural sector over the summer—of the possibility of civil unrest as a result of the circumstances arising from a ‘no deal’ Brexit. So, can I ask you what preparations and discussions you’ve had with the relevant authorities in light of those possibilities, because the closer we come to a ‘no deal’ Brexit, then the closer, I would think, we come to that possibility?
Wel, mae'r cwestiwn yn gwestiwn pwysig iawn. Wrth gwrs, mae angen sicrhau bod trafodaethau yn eu lle i ddelio gyda'r math yma o bethau, ble bynnag ac ym mha bynnag gyd-destun wnawn nhw godi. Rwy'n cydnabod y cyfeiriad y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud.
O ran enghreifftiau penodol, sbesiffig does gyda ni ddim gwybodaeth am hynny ar hyn o bryd, ond mae'r broses civil contingencies o gydweithio ar draws y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn ei le, ac mae hwnnw'n un o'r enghreifftiau lle mae'r rhyngweithio ar ei gryfaf gyda'r awdurdodau ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig. Ac fe wnaeth e efallai weld yn ddiweddar ein bod ni wedi cyfeirio at y rheini yn ein papur ar baratoadau cyffredinol, wnaethon ni ei gyhoeddi. Ond rwy'n sicrhau'r Aelod bod hyn wastad yn un o'n blaenoriaethau, i sicrhau bod trefniadau ar y cyd gyda'r local resilience forums a gyda'r gwasanaethau eraill i sicrhau ein bod ni'n cadw llygad ar hyn ac yn barod i ymateb pan fydd y galw yn codi.
That is a very important question. Of course, we must ensure that arrangements are in place to deal with such occurrences, wherever they occur and in whichever context. But I acknowledge the reference that the Member makes.
As regards specific examples, we have no information on that at present, but the civil contingencies process collaborating across the whole of the United Kingdom is in place, and that is one of the examples where the networking is at its strongest across the UK. And he may have seen that we referred to those recently on the general preparedness, which we published in that paper. But I assure the Member that this is always one of the priorities, to ensure that joint arrangements with local resilience forums and the other services are in place to ensure that we monitor this and are ready to respond as the need arises.
9. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch cynnal ail refferendwm ar Brexit? OAQ54422
9. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the UK Government about holding a second referendum on Brexit? OAQ54422
In 'A brighter future for Wales', we set out in detail the evidence that shows that Wales’s best interests are protected by remaining in the European Union. I continue to take every opportunity to call on the UK Government to legislate for a second referendum to achieve that aim.
Yn 'Dyfodol mwy disglair i Gymru', nodwyd yn fanwl y dystiolaeth sy'n dangos y byddai buddiannau Cymru yn cael eu gwarchod orau drwy aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Rwy’n parhau i achub ar bob cyfle i alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ddeddfu ar gyfer ail refferendwm er mwyn cyflawni’r nod hwnnw.
Counsel General, in the light of what we now know about everything that has happened on Brexit, what the implications would be for the Welsh economy, do you agree with Jeremy Corbyn's position that it is absolutely right that that choice should now be given back to the people to take a decision in the form of a second referendum?
Gwnsler Cyffredinol, yng ngoleuni'r hyn a wyddom bellach am bopeth sydd wedi digwydd mewn perthynas â Brexit, y goblygiadau i economi Cymru, a ydych yn cytuno â safbwynt Jeremy Corbyn ei bod yn gwbl iawn y dylid rhoi'r dewis hwnnw yn ôl i'r bobl wneud penderfyniad ar ffurf ail refferendwm?
Absolutely. We've been very clear, haven't we, as a party that our position is this matter should be put back to the people. When we speak to Welsh voters here in Wales, we will be advocating that they vote to remain. We advocated that position in 2016. We didn't manage to persuade people then, but I think it is clear in what's happened in the three years since then and the cavalier way in which those people who voted for leave have broken the promises made to the people of Wales in the referendum, that we will continue to advocate the position for 'remain'. We think, as I know that he also feels passionately, that Wales's interests are best served as part of the European Union.
Yn sicr. Rydym wedi dweud yn glir iawn fel plaid, oni wnaethom, mai ein safbwynt ni yw y dylid rhoi'r mater hwn yn ôl i'r bobl. Pan fyddwn yn siarad â phleidleiswyr Cymreig yma yng Nghymru, byddwn yn argymell eu bod yn pleidleisio dros aros. Dyna y gwnaethom ei argymell yn 2016. Ni lwyddasom i berswadio pobl bryd hynny, ond credaf ei bod yn amlwg drwy'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd dros y tair blynedd ers hynny a'r ffordd ddi-hid y mae'r bobl a oedd o blaid gadael wedi torri'r addewidion a wnaed i bobl Cymru yn y refferendwm, y byddwn yn parhau i ddadlau dros 'aros'. Rydym yn credu, fel y gwn y mae yntau hefyd yn credu'n gryf, y byddai buddiannau Cymru'n cael eu gwasanaethu orau fel rhan o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
10. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am ganlyniad achos addoediad y Goruchaf Lys yn dilyn y dyfarniad a basiwyd ar 24 Medi 2019? OAQ54444
10. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the outcome of the Supreme Court prorogation case following the judgment passed on 24 September 2019? OAQ54444
I welcome the unanimous, clear and unambiguous judgment of the Supreme Court. It's only right that Parliament is sitting at such a crucial time for Wales and the United Kingdom and its constitution.
Rwy'n croesawu dyfarniad unfrydol, clir a diamwys y Goruchaf Lys. Mae'n iawn fod Senedd y DU yn eistedd ar adeg mor dyngedfennol i Gymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig a'i chyfansoddiad.
Thank you, Minister. Following the Supreme Court's ruling, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has apologised to Her Majesty the Queen, but has still not apologised to Parliament or the people of Wales or the United Kingdom. Minister, may I applaud the decisive action of the Welsh Government to act as an intervener in this case, and can the Minister outline the consequences and implications that the judgment will have on the National Assembly for Wales and how it operates within the legal framework of the United Kingdom?
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn dilyn dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys, mae Prif Weinidog y DU, Boris Johnson, wedi ymddiheuro i’w Mawrhydi y Frenhines, ond nid yw wedi ymddiheuro eto i Senedd y DU na phobl Cymru a’r Deyrnas Unedig. Weinidog, a gaf fi gymeradwyo camau pendant Llywodraeth Cymru i ymyrryd yn yr achos hwn, ac a wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu canlyniadau a goblygiadau'r dyfarniad i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru a sut y mae'n gweithredu o fewn fframwaith cyfreithiol y Deyrnas Unedig?
Well, I thank the Member for highlighting that particular aspect, because the judgment of the Supreme Court expressly refers to the work of the National Assembly in the reasoning that Lady Hale gave in what is an important judgment. It amazes me that some Members in this Chamber still seem to think that intervening in the Supreme Court proceedings was not an appropriate action. The rationale for doing so, I would remind Members, is because we in this Chamber and in committees of this Assembly have spent time passing motions, debating, passing secondary legislation that are predicated on the ability of Parliament to legislate in relation to Brexit, and the Prime Minister's attempt to suspend Parliament had the effect of preventing it from sitting to complete its work. So, we had a very direct interest in the outcome of that judgment, and so I absolutely welcome the clarity of an unanimous 11-justice decision and the beneficial impact that has on our work here in the Assembly. She will know, I know, that the prorogation of Parliament, had it actually taken effect, would have had the effect of causing primary legislation that we required to be passed to protect the interests of Wales to fall. We know now as a consequence of that judgment that not only was the action unlawful but that, in effect, Parliament was never, in fact, prorogued.
Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at yr agwedd benodol honno, gan fod dyfarniad y Goruchaf Lys yn cyfeirio'n benodol at waith y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn yr ymresymiad a roddodd yr Arglwyddes Hale yn yr hyn a oedd yn ddyfarniad pwysig. Mae'n fy synnu bod rhai Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn dal i ymddangos fel pe baent o'r farn nad oedd ymyrryd yn achos y Goruchaf Lys yn weithred briodol. Buaswn yn atgoffa Aelodau mai'r rhesymeg dros wneud hynny yw ein bod ni yn y Siambr hon ac ar bwyllgorau'r Cynulliad hwn wedi treulio amser yn derbyn cynigion, yn dadlau, yn pasio is-ddeddfwriaeth sy'n dibynnu ar allu Senedd y DU i ddeddfu mewn perthynas â Brexit, ac effaith ymgais Prif Weinidog y DU i ohirio'r Senedd oedd ei hatal rhag eistedd i gwblhau ei gwaith. Felly, roedd gennym ddiddordeb uniongyrchol iawn yng nghanlyniad y dyfarniad hwnnw, ac felly rwy'n bendant yn croesawu eglurder penderfyniad unfrydol yr 11 ustus a'r effaith fuddiol a gaiff hynny ar ein gwaith yma yn y Cynulliad. Fe fydd hi'n gwybod y byddai addoedi Senedd y DU, pe bai hynny wedi digwydd mewn gwirionedd, wedi achosi methiant deddfwriaeth sylfaenol yr oedd yn ofynnol inni ei phasio er mwyn amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru. O ganlyniad i'r dyfarniad hwnnw, gwyddom bellach nid yn unig fod y weithred yn anghyfreithlon, ond i bob pwrpas, na chafodd Senedd y DU ei haddoedi mewn gwirionedd.
11. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cynnal gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch y cynigion sy'n dod i'r amlwg ar gyfer dewis amgen i'r trefniadau wrth gefn, 'backstop', ar gyfer ymadawiad y DU â'r UE? OAQ54440
11. What discussions has the Counsel General held with the UK Government on emerging proposals for an alternative to the backstop arrangements relating to the UK's exit from the EU? OAQ54440
Despite a meeting of the JMC(EN) on 12 September and a meeting with James Duddridge MP on 23 September, we've not received any details of the proposals, including the non-papers that have been discussed with the EU. I continue to call for these to be shared with Welsh Ministers, but I plan to have a conversation later today with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, I hope, on this topic.
Er bod Cyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion (Negodiadau'r UE) wedi cyfarfod ar 12 Medi a chyfarfod â James Duddridge AS ar 23 Medi, nid ydym wedi derbyn unrhyw fanylion ynglŷn â'r cynigion, gan gynnwys y papurau trafod answyddogol a drafodwyd gyda'r UE. Rwy’n parhau i alw am i'r rhain gael eu rhannu â Gweinidogion Cymru, ond rwy’n bwriadu cael sgwrs yn ddiweddarach heddiw gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, gobeithio, ynglŷn â'r pwnc hwn.
I thank the Minister for that response. Indeed, James Duddridge appeared in front of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee only last week, and he was very courteous and tried to give as much information as he could, but it was clear from his responses that the level of engagement on these critical issues with the Welsh Government—. It was simply not a matter that he deemed important enough to actually pick up the phone, come to a meeting or discuss this with the Welsh Government, and yet, at that time, one of the options that was being mooted, that was being rumoured, was indeed the reintroduction of some sort of customs barrier, some sort of line down the middle of the North sea that would affect not only Liverpool, but places like Milford Haven, and so on. Now we hear that what's on the table is the idea of possible customs posts that are not right on the border but within a few kilometres of the border in Northern Ireland, which goes to the heart, I have to say, of the Belfast agreement and the peace process. So, does it disturb him and the Welsh Government that the UK Government does not take it upon itself to discuss these matters in detail with its devolved partners within the United Kingdom, because the implications are not only for the UK Government; the implications, whether it's on the peace dividend that we currently enjoy, or whether it's on trade and tariff borders and where those impact particularly on ports, will impact all of the devolved nations and regions, not just England?
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ymateb. Yn wir, bu James Duddridge gerbron y Pwyllgor Materion Allanol a Deddfwriaeth Ychwanegol yr wythnos diwethaf, ac roedd yn gwrtais iawn a cheisiodd roi cymaint o wybodaeth ag y gallai, ond roedd hi'n amlwg o'i ymatebion fod lefel yr ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth Cymru ar y materion hollbwysig hyn—. Yn syml iawn, nid oedd yn fater yr ystyriai ei fod yn ddigon pwysig i godi'r ffôn, dod i gyfarfod neu drafod hyn gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, ac eto, ar yr adeg honno, un o'r opsiynau a oedd yn cael eu crybwyll, y bu sôn amdanynt, oedd ailgyflwyno rhyw fath o rwystr tollau, rhyw fath o linell drwy ganol môr y Gogledd a fyddai’n effeithio nid yn unig ar Lerpwl, ond ar leoedd fel Aberdaugleddau, ac ati. Clywn yn awr mai'r hyn sy'n cael ei drafod yw'r syniad o orsafoedd tollau posibl nad ydynt ar y ffin ei hun ond o fewn ychydig gilometrau i'r ffin yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, sy'n mynd i wraidd cytundeb Belfast a'r broses heddwch, rhaid i mi ddweud. Felly, a yw'n peri pryder iddo ef a Llywodraeth Cymru nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn ymroi i drafod y materion hyn yn fanwl gyda'i phartneriaid datganoledig yn y Deyrnas Unedig, oherwydd nid ar Lywodraeth y DU yn unig y mae'r goblygiadau'n effeithio; bydd y goblygiadau i'r difidend heddwch yr ydym yn ei fwynhau ar hyn o bryd, neu i ffiniau masnach a thariffau a lle yr effeithiant yn benodol ar borthladdoedd, yn effeithio ar yr holl wledydd a rhanbarthau datganoledig, nid Lloegr yn unig?
The Member makes a very, very important point in his supplementary question. The JMC(EN) exists to provide the UK Government and the devolved Governments an opportunity to come together to seek to agree some aspects of the oversight of these negotiations. It seems to us, fundamental to that, that that should involve, at the very least, a process of sharing sufficient information for that process to be meaningful rather than apparent. And I think the failure to agree to share those non-papers is very, very disappointing in the context of those terms of reference. I can assure the Member that that is a point I made in exactly those terms directly to James Duddridge at the meeting I had with him, and I've subsequently made that point to the Secretary of State himself as well.
In relation to the speculation, I think, that we've seen so far in relation to the possible proposal with regard to Northern Ireland, the Government's position is very clear: if we are going to leave, it is better for us to leave with a deal. So, we wish the UK Government success in seeking to negotiate a deal because that is better than a 'no deal' situation, but what I would say is that it feels to me very late in the day to be making an initial proposal of this sort. I would also say that it's not likely to be productive to do that in the context of setting an ultimatum on a matter that is so important. And so, we would have made those observations had we had an opportunity to engage, as the Joint Ministerial Committee structures suggest we should have.
Mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt pwysig tu hwnt yn ei gwestiwn atodol. Mae Cyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion (Negodiadau'r UE) yn bodoli i roi cyfle i Lywodraeth y DU a'r Llywodraethau datganoledig ddod ynghyd i geisio cytuno ar rai agweddau ar drosolwg ar y trafodaethau hyn. Ymddengys i ni ei bod yn hanfodol fod hynny fan lleiaf yn cynnwys proses o rannu gwybodaeth ddigonol er mwyn i'r broses honno fod yn ystyrlon yn hytrach nag yn ymddangosiadol. A chredaf fod y methiant i gytuno i rannu'r papurau trafod answyddogol hynny yn siomedig tu hwnt yng nghyd-destun y cylch gorchwyl hwnnw. Gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod fod hwnnw'n bwynt a wneuthum yn yr union dermau hynny yn uniongyrchol i James Duddridge yn y cyfarfod a gefais gydag ef, ac rwyf wedi gwneud y pwynt hwnnw wedi hynny i'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol ei hun hefyd.
Mewn perthynas â'r dyfalu a welsom hyd yma ynglŷn â'r cynnig posibl o ran Gogledd Iwerddon, mae safbwynt y Llywodraeth yn glir iawn: os ydym yn mynd i adael, mae'n well inni adael gyda chytundeb. Felly, rydym yn dymuno pob llwyddiant i Lywodraeth y DU wrth geisio negodi cytundeb gan fod hynny'n well na sefyllfa heb gytundeb, ond yr hyn y buaswn yn ei ddweud yw ei bod yn teimlo'n hwyr iawn i fod yn gwneud cynnig cychwynnol o'r math hwn. Buaswn hefyd yn dweud nad yw gwneud hynny'n debygol o fod yn gynhyrchiol yng nghyd-destun gosod wltimatwm ar fater mor bwysig. Ac felly, byddem wedi gwneud y sylwadau hynny pe baem wedi cael cyfle i gymryd rhan, fel y mae strwythurau Cyd-bwyllgor y Gweinidogion yn awgrymu y dylem fod wedi'i gael.
12. Pa baratoadau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u gwneud ar gyfer ymadawiad y DU â'r UE? OAQ54409
12. What preparations has the Welsh Government made for the UK’s exit from the EU? OAQ54409
The Welsh Government has worked continuously since 2016 to plan and prepare for Brexit, and to achieve the best possible outcome for Wales. We've particularly focused on preparations for 'no deal', and we published our action plan on 16 September.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithio’n barhaus ers 2016 i gynllunio a pharatoi ar gyfer Brexit, ac i sicrhau’r canlyniad gorau posibl i Gymru. Rydym wedi canolbwyntio'n benodol ar baratoadau ar gyfer Brexit heb gytundeb, a chyhoeddwyd ein cynllun gweithredu ar 16 Medi.
Of course, the UK Government's requirement to seek an alternative deal is only because Labour voted down the previous deal three times in the House of Commons. How do you respond to the statements made earlier this month by the Irish sea south trade director for Stena Line, the port authority at Holyhead, a Mr Davies, who, when asked if there'll be disruption, said, 'Yes, I think there will be for the first day or two just because of uncertainty, but this will be very short term. The traffic flow through Holyhead as it stands, and with the plans in place, I don't foresee any problems. There is the Welsh Government emergency plan on the A55—I don't see it being used myself'?
Wrth gwrs, mae'r angen i Lywodraeth y DU geisio cytundeb amgen yn deillio o'r ffaith bod Llafur wedi pleidleisio yn erbyn y cytundeb blaenorol dair gwaith yn Nhŷ’r Cyffredin. Sut yr ymatebwch i'r datganiadau a wnaed yn gynharach y mis hwn gan gyfarwyddwr masnach de môr Iwerddon ar ran Stena Line, awdurdod porthladd Caergybi, sef Mr Davies, a ddywedodd, pan ofynnwyd iddo a fydd tarfu, 'Bydd, credaf y bydd tarfu am y diwrnod neu ddau cyntaf oherwydd ansicrwydd, ond cyfnod byr iawn fydd hwnnw. Nid wyf yn gweld unrhyw broblemau o ran llif y traffig drwy Gaergybi fel y mae pethau, a chyda'r cynlluniau ar waith. Mae cynllun argyfwng gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar yr A55—ni chredaf y bydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio.'?
I thank the Member for that point. I don't think I heard a question, but—
Diolch i'r Aelod am y pwynt hwnnw. Ni chredaf i mi glywed cwestiwn, ond—
'How do you respond to the statement by—?'
'Sut yr ymatebwch i'r datganiad gan—?'
Oh, forgive me. Yes. Well, just to make the obvious point, the initial response is that many people voted against the deal, including Boris Johnson and half the parliamentary Conservative Party, so I think the prospect that we had a deal in the bag that the Labour Party is responsible for scuppering I think is particularly risible. The question needs to be asked what the proposed renegotiation is of the deal that the Prime Minister proposes, because he will find that he has a hardcore rump of European Research Group members who are going to be hard to placate in any version of this agreement.
But I think, on the point about the port of Holyhead, he will know from the statement that the Minister for transport made in the Chamber yesterday that we've been working with the port to ensure that we have plans in place in order to manage disruption as best we can in the event that there are tailbacks. He will also know that we are looking at those in the context of information that has been provided more recently from the UK Government to ascertain that we have arrangements in place. But I would just say to the Member, obviously, we very much hope that the arrangements are not required and that, if they are required, they work effectively, but I think the broader point, which his question misses, is that a huge amount of resource, energy and financial resource is being committed across this Government and other Governments across the UK to prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit, which is perfectly within the gift of his own Prime Minister to rule out.
O, maddeuwch i mi. Iawn. Wel, i wneud y pwynt amlwg, yr ymateb cyntaf yw bod llawer o bobl wedi pleidleisio yn erbyn y cytundeb, gan gynnwys Boris Johnson a hanner y Blaid Geidwadol seneddol, felly credaf fod y syniad ein bod wedi sicrhau cytundeb a bod y Blaid Lafur yn gyfrifol am ei ddifetha yn chwerthinllyd tu hwnt. Mae angen gofyn y cwestiwn beth yw'r ailnegodi arfaethedig y mae Prif Weinidog y DU yn ei argymell i'r cytundeb, gan y gwêl fod ganddo griw ystyfnig o aelodau o'r Grŵp Ymchwil Ewropeaidd a fydd yn anodd eu plesio ag unrhyw fersiwn o'r cytundeb hwn.
Ond o ran y pwynt ynglŷn â phorthladd Caergybi, rwy'n credu y bydd yn gwybod o’r datganiad a wnaeth y Gweinidog trafnidiaeth yn y Siambr ddoe ein bod wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’r porthladd i sicrhau bod gennym gynlluniau ar waith er mwyn rheoli tarfu hyd eithaf ein gallu os bydd tagfeydd. Bydd hefyd yn gwybod ein bod yn edrych arnynt yng nghyd-destun gwybodaeth a ddarparwyd yn fwy diweddar gan Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod gennym drefniadau ar waith. Ond buaswn yn dweud wrth yr Aelod, yn amlwg, ein bod yn mawr obeithio na fydd angen y trefniadau, ac os bydd eu hangen, eu bod yn gweithio'n effeithiol, ond credaf mai'r pwynt ehangach y mae ei gwestiwn yn ei fethu, yw bod llawer iawn o adnoddau, ynni ac adnoddau ariannol yn cael eu hymrwymo ar draws y Llywodraeth hon a Llywodraethau eraill ledled y DU i baratoi am Brexit heb gytundeb, sy'n rhywbeth y gallai ei Brif Weinidog ei hun ei ddiystyru'n berffaith hawdd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ateb ei holl gwestiynau y prynhawn yma.
Thank you to the Minister for answering all of the questions this afternoon.
Yr eitem nesaf fyddai cwestiynau amserol, ond ni chafwyd unrhyw gwestiynau amserol heddiw.
The next item would have been the topical questions, but no topical questions were received today.
Felly, yr eitem nesaf yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad, a'r datganiad cyntaf gan Vaughan Gething.
So, the next item is the 90-second statements, and the first statement is from Vaughan Gething.
Thank you, Llywydd. October is Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate the achievements of black people and people of colour for our contribution to our country.
We recognise remarkable people from our past and our present who have made a real difference, sometimes without the recognition that they deserve. In Cardiff South and Penarth, we are lucky to have a number of role models to recognise and celebrate. Two such people are from Butetown: Billy Boston and Betty Campbell. Billy Boston is the son of a west African father and an Irish mother. He was overlooked by the union game. I have no doubt that his colour explains why. He is, however, recognised as one of the greatest ever British rugby league players. There's a statue of him on Wembley Way and in Wigan where he played most of his rugby. Sadly, his home city has not yet provided him the same recognition.
Betty Campbell was the first black headteacher in Wales. I knew her; I didn't always agree with her. But despite our well-advertised differences, her historic achievements are undeniable. Following a public vote on hidden heroines, Betty will be the first woman to be honoured with a statue in the capital city. There are many more figures to learn about and celebrate from across our country. I hope that Members across the Chamber take the opportunity to promote Black History Month, to remember our difficulties and our struggles, because this is not just black history, it is an essential part of the history of Wales and the wider world.
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Mis Hydref yw Mis Hanes Pobl Dduon. Mae'n amser i ddathlu cyflawniadau pobl dduon a phobl o liw am ein cyfraniad i'n gwlad.
Rydym yn cydnabod pobl hynod o'n gorffennol a'n presennol sydd wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn, weithiau heb y gydnabyddiaeth y maent yn ei haeddu. Yn Ne Caerdydd a Phenarth, rydym yn ffodus i gael nifer o fodelau rôl i'w cydnabod a'u dathlu. Daw dau unigolyn o'r fath o Butetown: Billy Boston a Betty Campbell. Mae Billy Boston yn fab i dad o orllewin Affrica a mam Wyddelig. Cafodd ei anwybyddu gan gêm yr undeb. Nid oes gennyf unrhyw amheuaeth mai ei liw yw'r rheswm dros hynny. Fodd bynnag, mae'n cael ei gydnabod fel un o'r chwaraewyr rygbi'r gynghrair gorau erioed ym Mhrydain. Mae cerflun ohono ar Wembley Way ac yn Wigan lle y chwaraeodd y rhan fwyaf o'i rygbi. Yn anffodus, nid yw ei ddinas enedigol wedi rhoi'r un gydnabyddiaeth iddo eto.
Betty Campbell oedd y pennaeth ysgol du cyntaf yng Nghymru. Roeddwn i'n ei hadnabod; nid oeddwn bob amser yn cytuno â hi. Ond er gwaethaf ein gwahaniaethau, sydd wedi cael cryn gyhoeddusrwydd, mae ei chyflawniadau hanesyddol yn ddiymwad. Yn dilyn pleidlais gyhoeddus ar arwresau cudd, Betty fydd y fenyw gyntaf i gael ei hanrhydeddu â cherflun yn y brifddinas. Mae yna lawer mwy o bobl i ddysgu amdanynt a'u dathlu ym mhob rhan o'n gwlad. Gobeithio y bydd Aelodau ar draws y Siambr yn manteisio ar y cyfle i hyrwyddo Mis Hanes Pobl Dduon, i gofio am ein hanawsterau a'n brwydrau, oherwydd nid hanes du yn unig mo hwn, mae'n rhan hanfodol o hanes Cymru a'r byd ehangach.
This week has seen the forty-fifth anniversary of the opening of Swansea Sound, Swansea's independent local radio station. I would, first of all, like to congratulate them on their forty-fifth anniversary. For those people living in the area, it's well-known just how important that institution is for our part of south-west Wales, which is Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire.
It began broadcasting on 30 September 1974, as the first commercial radio station in Wales, the seventh in the United Kingdom, but the first to broadcast in both English and Welsh. In 1995, the station was split into two separate services because of battles over frequencies, and the two stations are Swansea Sound, which continued as it was previously, and The Wave, aiming at a younger listenership, which probably left me out.
Swansea Sound has had a large number of presenters over the last 45 years, many of whom have gone on to national broadcasting, both in Wales and in London. It has also had some very long-serving broadcasters, such as Kevin Johns and Steve Dewitt, both of whom are incredibly well-known in the Swansea area.
It's been involved in organising events and campaigns, such as, every Christmas it raises money for charity and it organised an event at the Liberty Stadium for veterans, which was attended by several other Assembly Members from Swansea. The highlight of the Swansea Sound week for politicians is the Sunday morning phone-in with Kevin Johns. I don't think there's any local Member representing that part of south-west Wales who hasn't been on Swansea Sound, and one or two from outside the area. With the opportunity to answer questions from the public as they phone in, it's been a huge success, and I'm looking forward to the next 45 years, but I think somebody else might be making this speech. [Laughter.]
Yr wythnos hon mae’n 45 o flynyddoedd ers agor Sain Abertawe, gorsaf radio leol annibynnol Abertawe. Yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn eu llongyfarch ar eu pen-blwydd yn 45 mlwydd oed. Mae'r bobl sy'n byw yn yr ardal yn gwybod yn iawn pa mor bwysig yw'r sefydliad hwnnw i'n rhan ni o dde-orllewin Cymru, sef Castell-nedd Port Talbot, Abertawe a sir Gaerfyrddin.
Dechreuodd ddarlledu ar 30 Medi 1974, fel yr orsaf radio fasnachol gyntaf yng Nghymru, y seithfed yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ond y gyntaf i ddarlledu yn Saesneg ac yn Gymraeg. Yn 1995, rhannwyd yr orsaf yn ddau wasanaeth ar wahân oherwydd brwydrau dros amleddau, a'r ddwy orsaf yw Sain Abertawe, a barhaodd fel cynt, a The Wave, a anelai at wrandawyr iau, nad oedd yn fy nghynnwys i, yn ôl pob tebyg.
Bu gan Sain Abertawe nifer fawr o gyflwynwyr dros y 45 mlynedd diwethaf, gyda llawer ohonynt wedi mynd ymlaen i ddarlledu’n genedlaethol, yng Nghymru ac yn Llundain. Bu ganddi rai darlledwyr a fu wrthi ers amser maith hefyd, fel Kevin Johns a Steve Dewitt, y ddau ohonynt yn hynod o adnabyddus yn ardal Abertawe.
Mae'r orsaf wedi bod yn rhan o’r gwaith o drefnu digwyddiadau ac ymgyrchoedd, a phob Nadolig er enghraifft, mae'n codi arian i elusen ac fe drefnodd ddigwyddiad yn Stadiwm Liberty ar gyfer cyn-filwyr, a fynychwyd gan sawl Aelod Cynulliad arall o Abertawe. Uchafbwynt wythnos Sain Abertawe i wleidyddion yw'r rhaglen ffonio i mewn ar fore Sul gyda Kevin Johns. Credaf fod pob Aelod lleol sy’n cynrychioli'r rhan honno o dde-orllewin Cymru wedi bod ar Sain Abertawe, ac un neu ddau o'r tu allan i'r ardal hefyd. Gyda'r cyfle i ateb cwestiynau gan y cyhoedd wrth iddynt ffonio i mewn, mae wedi bod yn llwyddiant ysgubol, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at y 45 mlynedd nesaf, ond rwy'n credu efallai mai rhywun arall fydd yn gwneud yr araith hon bryd hynny. [Chwerthin.]
This Thursday, on 3 October, we will celebrate the one-hundred-and-sixtieth anniversary of the Pryce-Jones mail order store and the one-hundred-and-fortieth anniversary of the opening of the Pryce-Jones Royal Welsh Warehouse. A celebration organised by the heritage hub for mid Wales at the grade II listed Pryce-Jones Royal Welsh Warehouse in Newtown will mark the life of Sir Pryce Pryce-Jones, who was the pioneer of mail order home shopping.
Pryce-Jones had a draper's shop in Newtown and came up with the idea of dispatching goods to his customers by post using the railway. His drapery business was so popular, he dreamt up the mail order catalogue so that those who couldn't travel to his Newtown shop could buy his goods. I'm told that Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale were amongst the patrons, and his Welsh flannel was sold to customers around the world.
He is also credited with the invention of the sleeping bag and was the MP for Montgomeryshire on two occasions. Tomorrow we will see two plaques unveiled by the entrepreneur's great-great-grandson, David Pryce-Jones, and the High Sheriff of Powys, David Lloyd Peate, to mark the pioneer's contribution to the heritage of Montgomeryshire and the world birthplace of mail order.
Y dydd Iau hwn, ar 3 Hydref, byddwn yn dathlu 160 mlynedd ers sefydlu siop archebion post Pryce-Jones a 140 mlynedd ers agor Warws Brenhinol Cymru Pryce-Jones. Bydd dathliad a drefnwyd gan y ganolfan treftadaeth ar gyfer canolbarth Cymru yn Warws Brenhinol Cymru Pryce-Jones, sy'n adeilad rhestredig gradd II yn y Drenewydd, i nodi bywyd Syr Pryce Pryce-Jones, a oedd yn arloeswr siopa archebu trwy'r post.
Roedd gan Pryce-Jones siop ddillad yn y Drenewydd a chafodd y syniad o anfon nwyddau i'w gwsmeriaid trwy'r post gan ddefnyddio'r rheilffordd. Roedd ei fusnes dillad mor boblogaidd nes iddo lunio’r catalog archebion post er mwyn i’r rhai na allent deithio i'w siop yn y Drenewydd allu prynu ei nwyddau. Dywedir wrthyf fod y Frenhines Victoria a Florence Nightingale ymhlith ei gwsmeriaid, a châi ei wlanen Gymreig ei gwerthu i gwsmeriaid ledled y byd.
Ef hefyd sy’n cael y clod am ddyfeisio’r cwdyn cysgu a bu’n Aelod Seneddol dros sir Drefaldwyn ar ddau achlysur. Yfory, bydd dau blac yn cael eu dadorchuddio gan or-or-ŵyr yr entrepreneur, David Pryce-Jones, ac Uwch Siryf Powys, David Lloyd Peate, i nodi cyfraniad yr arloeswr i dreftadaeth sir Drefaldwyn a man geni archebu trwy’r post yn fyd-eang.
Today, over 200 people took part in the annual Cycle on the Senedd, and they were joined by cross-party Assembly Members and, indeed, a couple of Ministers too. They did so because they believe that the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, that groundbreaking law passed by this Senedd, can help solve many of the most pressing problems facing Wales. But they also did so because they want to see the ambition of that groundbreaking legislation to make walking and cycling the most natural ways to travel in Wales a reality. And yet, the sad truth is that since we passed that Act, the number of people walking and cycling in Wales has actually declined. They believe that when the active travel Act is really properly funded and backed by a comprehensive evidence-based strategy, we'll see that breakthrough that we need. And these outcomes are vitally important.
More people getting about on foot or bike instead of in cars would help us to achieve all seven of our national goals set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It's all about displacing car journeys with walking and cycling, cutting carbon emissions, reducing air pollution, improving health, and promoting equality by providing a much more affordable form of transport. And it helps our economy by reducing congestion and it aids community cohesion by increasing social interaction.
It was inspiring today to see people from all over Wales take part in the ride from the wonderful Pedal Power centre in Pontcanna. I'm delighted that so many Assembly Members of all parties joined us on the steps of the Senedd today, and some on the cycle across Cardiff too, to demonstrate their support for more and better active travel.
This is a real demonstration of their faith that this institution will deliver on the promises made when passing this world-leading piece of legislation, and we look forward to next year's event being even bigger and better and hearing of the progress made on making Wales the best country in which to cycle and to walk too.
Heddiw, cymerodd dros 200 o bobl ran yn nigwyddiad blynyddol Beicio i’r Senedd, ac ymunodd Aelodau Cynulliad trawsbleidiol â hwy, ynghyd ag ambell Weinidog hefyd. Fe wnaethant hynny oherwydd eu bod yn credu y gall Deddf Teithio Llesol (Cymru) 2013, y ddeddf arloesol a basiwyd gan y Senedd hon, helpu i ddatrys llawer o'r problemau mwyaf dybryd sy'n wynebu Cymru. Ond gwnaethant hynny hefyd oherwydd eu bod am weld uchelgais y ddeddfwriaeth arloesol honno i wneud cerdded a beicio yn ffyrdd mwyaf naturiol o deithio yng Nghymru yn cael ei wireddu. Ac eto, ers inni basio'r Ddeddf honno, y gwir trist yw bod nifer y bobl sy'n cerdded a beicio yng Nghymru wedi gostwng mewn gwirionedd. Pan gaiff y Ddeddf teithio llesol ei hariannu'n briodol a'i chefnogi gan strategaeth gynhwysfawr sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth, maent yn credu y gwelwn y llwyddiant sydd ei angen arnom. Ac mae'r canlyniadau hyn yn hanfodol bwysig.
Byddai i fwy o bobl symud o gwmpas ar droed neu ar feic yn lle mewn ceir yn ein helpu i gyflawni pob un o'n saith nod cenedlaethol a nodir yn Neddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015. Mae'n ymwneud â cherdded a beicio yn cymryd lle teithiau ceir, gan dorri allyriadau carbon, lleihau llygredd aer, gwella iechyd, a hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb trwy ddarparu math llawer mwy fforddiadwy o drafnidiaeth. Ac mae'n helpu ein heconomi trwy leihau tagfeydd ac yn cynorthwyo cydlyniant cymunedol trwy gynyddu rhyngweithio cymdeithasol.
Roedd gweld pobl o bob rhan o Gymru yn cymryd rhan yn y daith o ganolfan hyfryd Pedal Power ym Mhontcanna yn brofiad ysbrydoledig heddiw. Rwy'n falch iawn fod cymaint o Aelodau'r Cynulliad o bob plaid wedi ymuno â ni ar risiau'r Senedd heddiw, a rhai ohonynt ar y daith ar draws Caerdydd hefyd, i ddangos eu cefnogaeth i fwy o deithio llesol gwell.
Dyma arddangosiad go iawn o’u ffydd y bydd y sefydliad hwn yn cyflawni’r addewidion a wnaed wrth basio’r ddeddfwriaeth hon sy’n arwain y byd, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weld digwyddiad hyd yn oed yn fwy ac yn well y flwyddyn nesaf, a chlywed am y cynnydd a wnaed ar wneud Cymru y wlad orau ar gyfer beicio a cherdded.
Cynnig nawr i ethol Aelodau i'r Pwyllgor ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol. Galwaf ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol. Caroline Jones.
Now, a motion to elect Members to the Committee on Assembly Electoral Reform. I call for a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion. Caroline Jones.
Cynnig NDM7157 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.3, yn ethol:
Huw Irranca-Davies (Llafur Cymru), Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru), a David Rowlands (Plaid Brexit) yn aelodau o'r Pwyllgor ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad.
Motion NDM7157 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects:
Huw Irranca-Davies (Welsh Labour), Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru), and David Rowlands (Brexit Party) as members of the Committee on Assembly Electoral Reform.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Formally.
Yn ffurfiol.
A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu'r cynnig? Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw addroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, adroddiad 02-19. Dwi'n galw ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Jayne Bryant.
The next item, therefore, is the Standards of Conduct Committee report, report 02-19. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Jayne Bryant.
Cynnig NDM7148 Jayne Bryant
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn ystyried Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad—Adroddiad 02-19 a osodwyd gerbron y Cynulliad ar 18 Medi 2019 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 22.9
2. Yn cymeradwyo’r argymhelliad yn yr adroddiad.
Motion NDM7148 Jayne Bryant
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee—Report 02-19 laid before the Assembly on 18 September 2019 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9
2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. As Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion.
The committee considered the report from the National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards in relation to a complaint made against Leanne Wood AM regarding the use of unparliamentary language. The Standards of Conduct Committee gave the commissioner's report careful consideration, and our report sets out the committee's judgment as to the sanction that is appropriate to this case.
The facts related to the complaint and the committee's reasons for its recommendation are set out in full in the committee's report. The motion tabled invites the Assembly to endorse the committee's recommendations.
Diolch, Lywydd. Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, rwy’n gwneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol.
Ystyriodd y pwyllgor yr adroddiad gan Gomisiynydd Safonau Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru mewn perthynas â chŵyn a wnaed yn erbyn Leanne Wood AC ynghylch y defnydd o iaith anseneddol. Rhoddodd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad ystyriaeth ofalus i adroddiad y comisiynydd, ac mae ein hadroddiad yn nodi dyfarniad y pwyllgor ynghylch y sancsiwn sy'n briodol i'r achos hwn.
Mae'r ffeithiau a oedd yn ymwneud â'r gŵyn a rhesymau'r pwyllgor dros ei argymhelliad wedi'u nodi'n llawn yn adroddiad y pwyllgor. Mae'r cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn gwahodd y Cynulliad i gymeradwyo argymhellion y pwyllgor.
Leanne Wood.
Leanne Wood.
I may have a reputation for being robust in my response to trolls and bullies online, but I don't normally engage in language that some may consider to be unparliamentary. This is the first time that I've called someone 'an arsehole' on social media, and whilst I can't promise that I won't swear on social media ever again, I can understand why, on receiving a complaint, the standards commissioner felt unable to be seen to be condoning the use by an Assembly Member of what he considers to be an offensive word.
However, this case raises a number of questions. The case that follows this one is arguably similar if you just take this question as an Assembly Member's use of unparliamentary language on social media. But because the Member in that case has chosen to issue an apology to the Llywydd, there is no censure for him. I, too, was offered a chance to apologise in order to avoid a censure, and the committee, in fairness, had a lot of sympathy with my position on this when I addressed them. But it would not be honest or right for me to issue an apology, because this is much more than a case of just swearing on Twitter. I, along with countless other women who are active in politics, regularly receive trolling, abusive tweets and general nastiness on social media on a daily basis. Sometimes, it's co-ordinated; undoubtedly, it's rooted in misogyny.
Efallai fod gennyf enw am fod yn gadarn yn fy ymateb i droliau a bwlis ar-lein, ond nid wyf fel arfer yn ymroi i iaith y gallai rhai ei hystyried yn anseneddol. Dyma'r tro cyntaf i mi alw rhywun yn ‘arsehole’ ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol, ac er na allaf addo na fyddaf yn rhegi ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol byth eto, gallaf ddeall pam, wrth dderbyn cwyn, fod y comisiynydd safonau’n teimlo na allai gael ei weld yn goddef i Aelod Cynulliad ddefnyddio'r hyn y mae'n ei ystyried yn air sarhaus.
Fodd bynnag, mae'r achos hwn yn codi nifer o gwestiynau. Gellir dadlau bod yr achos sy'n dilyn yr un hwn yn debyg os ystyriwch nad yw'r cwestiwn yn ddim mwy na defnydd Aelod Cynulliad o iaith anseneddol ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Ond oherwydd bod yr Aelod yn yr achos hwnnw wedi dewis cyhoeddi ymddiheuriad i'r Llywydd, nid yw’n wynebu unrhyw gerydd. Cynigiwyd cyfle i minnau ymddiheuro hefyd er mwyn osgoi cerydd, ac roedd gan y pwyllgor, er tegwch, lawer o gydymdeimlad â fy safbwynt ar hyn pan siaradais â hwy. Ond ni fyddai’n onest nac yn iawn i mi gyhoeddi ymddiheuriad, oherwydd mae hyn yn llawer mwy nag achos o regi ar Twitter yn unig. Ynghyd â menywod di-rif eraill sy'n weithgar mewn gwleidyddiaeth, rwy’n aml yn dioddef trolio, trydariadau ymosodol a chasineb cyffredinol ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn ddyddiol. Weithiau, caiff ei gydlynu; heb os, mae wedi'i wreiddio mewn gwreig-gasineb.
The context, therefore, where a well-known online misogynist bully, who describes himself as a blogger, issued a snide passive-aggressive tweet, a thinly veiled attack on my colleague Delyth Jewell before she'd even started in her role and before she was in a position to properly defend herself, after I had seen this person issue attack after attack on mostly women, but others, including disabled people, gay people, trans people and so on, usually from a right or far-right perspective, calling people names like feminazi, socialist handmaids, woke, Nietzscheists, virtue-signalling snowflakes—terms that those who pay attention to such matters will know are straight out of the far-right play book.
These types of attacks are personal, but they are also political, and the timing, after our group had experienced such a horrific loss just that week, well, enough was enough. I decided that the best way to stand up to that bully was to use language that he was sure to understand. It's not language that I would normally use, but sometimes, when standing up to bullies, you have to deploy whatever strategies you deem necessary.
There is something very wrong with an organisation's complaints procedures when the people standing up to a bully, and so often we are women, people of colour or LGBT people calling them out, and then we are the people who get the complaints, and we are the people who get censured.
Take the case of Naga Munchetty. Just last week, Naga was censured by the BBC for questioning Donald Trump's racism. People have to be able to call out and robustly challenge this growing scourge that comes with increased support for far-right parties. Sometimes, panels and procedures don't get it right, and as at the BBC, there are mechanisms in place to reverse poor or wrong decisions, and we have an opportunity to do something similar here. The mechanism exists here through Members' votes. Will we do the same?
I feel I have to make Members aware that this is the third complaint made to the standards commissioner that I'm aware of about me in the last year. Prior to this, I'm only aware of one complaint ever since my election to this place in 2003. Thankfully, the commissioner has deemed that the other two complaints do not warrant any further action.
For one of those complaints, there were 37 separate complainants, all about the same thing, coincidentally after a far-right politician had tweeted the complaints procedure information and encouraged his followers to complain. Well, that little ruse seems to have been seen through and dismissed as vexatious, and I am grateful to the standards commissioner for that. It is dangerous to have far-right politicians in the mainstream almost directing their bands of followers to bully, troll and intimidate people online and to make official complaints, yet that seems to be what's happening.
I don't need to outline the impact of online bullying and trolling, or how it is used to silence women and minorities, because the support statements in the report from Women's Aid and GlitchUK, the charity that's been set up to tackle online abuse, outline all that very well, and I'm grateful to those organisations and everyone else who has written in support on this.
A lot has been said about Members being almost obliged to support the committee's recommendations for a censure, that somehow the committee, the commissioner or the process will be undermined were Members to disagree with the censure recommendation. What is the point of AMs having a vote on this if all we can do is rubber-stamp what a committee has already decided?
I am grateful to the Plaid Cymru group for backing me and the principle that we have to differentiate between those who bully and those who stand up to bullies. I know that there's solidarity from other benches in this Chamber for me as well and I'm very grateful for that. I hope this afternoon that Members will feel able to vote in line with what they honestly believe to be right on this question. Diolch yn fawr.
Y cyd-destun, felly, oedd fod bwli ar-lein adnabyddus sy’n wreig-gasäwr ac sy'n disgrifio'i hun fel blogiwr wedi cyhoeddi trydariad dichellgar, goddefol-ymosodol, a oedd yn ymosod yn eithaf amlwg ar fy nghyd-Aelod Delyth Jewell cyn iddi ddechrau yn ei rôl hyd yn oed a chyn iddi fod mewn sefyllfa i amddiffyn ei hun yn iawn, ar ôl i mi weld y person hwn yn ymosod dro ar ôl tro ar fenywod yn bennaf, ond ar eraill hefyd, gan gynnwys pobl anabl, pobl hoyw, pobl draws ac ati, fel arfer o safbwynt asgell dde neu asgell dde eithafol, gan alw enwau ar bobl fel ‘feminazi’, ‘socialist handmaids’, ‘woke’, ‘Nietzscheists’, ‘virtue-signalling snowflakes’—termau y bydd y rhai sy'n cymryd sylw o faterion o'r fath yn gwybod eu bod yn dod yn syth o eirfa'r asgell dde eithaf.
Mae'r mathau hyn o ymosodiadau yn bersonol, ond maent hefyd yn wleidyddol, ac roedd yr amseru, ar ôl i'n grŵp brofi colled mor erchyll yr wythnos honno, wel, digon oedd digon. Penderfynais mai'r ffordd orau o wrthsefyll y bwli oedd defnyddio iaith yr oedd yn sicr o'i deall. Nid yw'n iaith y buaswn fel arfer yn ei defnyddio, ond weithiau, wrth wynebu bwlis, mae'n rhaid i chi ddefnyddio pa strategaethau bynnag y bernwch eu bod yn angenrheidiol.
Mae rhywbeth o'i le'n fawr ar weithdrefnau cwyno sefydliad pan fo'r bobl sy'n gwrthsefyll bwli, ac mor aml, menywod, pobl o liw neu bobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, deurywiol, trawsryweddol yw’r rheini ohonom sy’n tynnu sylw atynt, a ni wedyn yw'r bobl sy'n cael y cwynion, a ni yw'r bobl sy'n cael ein ceryddu.
Ystyriwch achos Naga Munchetty. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cafodd Naga ei cheryddu gan y BBC am gwestiynu hiliaeth Donald Trump. Mae’n rhaid i bobl allu tynnu sylw at y malltod cynyddol hwn a ddaw drwy’r cynnydd yn y gefnogaeth i bleidiau asgell dde, a’i herio’n gadarn. Weithiau, nid yw paneli a gweithdrefnau yn ei gael yn iawn, ac fel yn y BBC, mae mecanweithiau ar waith i wyrdroi penderfyniadau gwael neu anghywir, ac mae gennym gyfle i wneud rhywbeth tebyg yma. Mae’r mecanwaith yn bodoli yma drwy bleidleisiau Aelodau. A wnawn ni yr un peth?
Rwy'n teimlo bod yn rhaid i mi wneud yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol mai dyma'r drydedd gŵyn y gwn i amdani a wnaed i'r comisiynydd safonau amdanaf yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Cyn hynny, nid wyf ond yn ymwybodol o un gŵyn a wnaed ers fy ethol i'r lle hwn yn 2003. Diolch byth, mae'r comisiynydd wedi barnu nad yw'r ddwy gŵyn arall yn gwarantu unrhyw gamau pellach.
Cafwyd 37 o achwynwyr unigol yn achos un o'r cwynion hynny, pob un yn ymwneud â'r un peth, a thrwy gyd-ddigwyddiadol, wedi i wleidydd asgell dde eithafol drydar gwybodaeth am y weithdrefn gwynion ac annog ei ddilynwyr i gwyno. Wel, mae'n ymddangos bod yr ystryw bach hwnnw wedi'i ganfod a'i ddiystyru fel un blinderus, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r comisiynydd safonau am hynny. Mae'n beryglus cael gwleidyddion asgell dde eithafol yn y brif ffrwd yn cyfarwyddo eu criwiau o ddilynwyr fwy neu lai i fwlio, trolio a dychryn pobl ar-lein ac i wneud cwynion swyddogol, ac eto mae'n ymddangos mai dyna sy'n digwydd.
Nid oes angen i mi amlinellu effaith bwlio a throlio ar-lein, na sut y caiff ei ddefnyddio i dawelu menywod a lleiafrifoedd, oherwydd mae'r datganiadau cymorth yn yr adroddiad gan Cymorth i Fenywod a GlitchUK, yr elusen a sefydlwyd i fynd i'r afael â cham-drin ar-lein, yn amlinellu hynny i gyd yn dda iawn, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r sefydliadau hynny a phawb arall sydd wedi ysgrifennu i ddangos cefnogaeth ar hyn.
Mae llawer wedi cael ei ddweud am yr Aelodau bron yn gorfod cefnogi argymhellion y pwyllgor ar gerydd, y bydd y pwyllgor, y comisiynydd, neu'r broses yn cael eu tanseilio rywsut pe bai'r Aelodau’n anghytuno â'r argymhelliad i geryddu. Beth yw pwynt rhoi pleidlais i ACau ar hyn os mai'r cyfan y gallwn ei wneud yw amenio’r hyn y mae pwyllgor wedi'i benderfynu eisoes?
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i grŵp Plaid Cymru am fy nghefnogi a’r egwyddor fod yn rhaid i ni wahaniaethu rhwng y rhai sy’n bwlio a’r rhai sy’n gwrthsefyll bwlis. Gwn fod rhai ar feinciau eraill yn y Siambr hon yn fy nghefnogi hefyd ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am hynny. Gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau’n teimlo y gallant bleidleisio yn unol â’r hyn y maent yn credu’n onest sy’n iawn ar y cwestiwn hwn y prynhawn yma. Diolch yn fawr.
I have very many speakers who've asked to contribute to this 15-minute debate. I have enough speakers to last an hour. Most of you can expect not to be called in this debate, which was scheduled for only 15 minutes. Andrew R.T. Davies.
Mae gennyf lawer iawn o siaradwyr sydd wedi gofyn am gael cyfrannu at y ddadl 15 munud hon. Mae gennyf ddigon o siaradwyr i bara awr. Gall y mwyafrif ohonoch ddisgwyl peidio â chael eich galw yn y ddadl hon, a drefnwyd i bara 15 munud yn unig. Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I rise as a member of the standards committee and speak to the report, obviously, that's laid before the Assembly this afternoon. It is, without question, unparliamentary language that the report refers to. I have a huge amount of sympathy for the situation that Leanne presented to the committee—that she and other Members across all parties face here. Only this week, for example, in the renaming of this institution, I've been told to go back to England, the place where I'll feel more at home than Wales, because I'm not Welsh because I don't speak Welsh. There's a mute button on my social media. I can mute people. I do not use unparliamentary language on social media. That's not to say it might not happen in the future, because that spark might go on and, one night, one day, something might be said that will really enrage me.
But it is a fact that this report, and I think the Member agrees with this fact—that none of the facts are contested in the report, and the report is accurate. Each Member in this process is afforded that opportunity. It is a fact that it is a cross-party committee that has brought this report to the Chamber, and Plaid Cymru's Member on that committee supported wholeheartedly the report. So, it is a little surprising to see that, as a group, now, you are dissenting from the Member's position, which she took in that committee meeting. That is a statement of fact. [Interruption.] Well, if I could just finish, I'd be grateful, as I didn't interrupt when you were standing.
I think the points you made on the wider issues of trolling, and also the abuse that politicians and members of society across the board face, is something that is a phenomenon in the modern age. Twenty or 25 years ago, there wasn't social media, there wasn't the intrusion into our homes, where you can switch your phone on and get that abuse in your home. No-one should have to put up with that. But it is a fact that this institution set up a standards procedure that is clearly defined and that has a commissioner at its heart, who presents a report. That report then comes to the committee with the outcome of the standards commissioner's investigation. That's what we're discussing here this afternoon. I appreciate the Member used the term that is in question here—the word—and I am trying to avoid using it because I do not believe that it is right to use it in this Chamber. Frankly, if it isn't right to be used in this Chamber, then clearly it's not right to be used on a platform when engaging with members of the public.
It is a fact that the complainant in this particular case is not the blogger that you referred to—I don't know whether there is an association with the blogger—but a third party. The Member cited the blogger in this particular instance, whom the word was used against, but the complainant was a third party—it was not that individual. I don't know who the complainant was because we weren't privy to the name; it was not released.
Diolch, Lywydd. Rwy'n codi fel aelod o'r pwyllgor safonau ac yn siarad wrth gwrs am yr adroddiad sydd wedi'i osod gerbron y Cynulliad y prynhawn yma. Yn ddiau, mae'r adroddiad yn cyfeirio at iaith anseneddol. Mae gennyf lawer iawn o gydymdeimlad â'r sefyllfa a gyflwynodd Leanne i'r pwyllgor—sefyllfa y mae hi ac Aelodau eraill o bob plaid yn ei hwynebu yma. Yr wythnos hon, er enghraifft, gydag ailenwi'r sefydliad hwn, dywedwyd wrthyf am fynd yn ôl i Loegr, lle byddaf yn teimlo'n fwy cartrefol nag yng Nghymru, gan nad wyf yn Gymro am nad wyf yn siarad Cymraeg. Mae botwm distewi ar fy nghyfryngau cymdeithasol. Rwy'n gallu distewi pobl. Nid wyf yn defnyddio iaith anseneddol ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Nid yw hynny'n dweud na allai ddigwydd yn y dyfodol, oherwydd efallai y bydd y fflach honno'n digwydd a rhyw noson, rhyw ddydd, efallai y caiff rhywbeth ei ddweud a fydd yn fy ngwylltio go iawn.
Ond mae'n ffaith bod yr adroddiad hwn, a chredaf fod yr Aelod yn cytuno â'r ffaith hon—nad oes yr un o'r ffeithiau'n cael eu cwestiynu yn yr adroddiad, a bod yr adroddiad yn gywir. Rhoddir y cyfle hwnnw i bob Aelod yn y broses hon. Mae'n ffaith mai pwyllgor trawsbleidiol a ddaeth â'r adroddiad hwn i'r Siambr, ac roedd Aelod Plaid Cymru ar y pwyllgor hwnnw'n cefnogi'r adroddiad yn llwyr. Felly, mae'n syndod braidd eich bod chi, fel grŵp yn awr, yn anghydweld â safbwynt yr Aelod, y safbwynt yr oedd hi'n ei arddel yn y cyfarfod pwyllgor hwnnw. Datganiad o ffaith yw hwnnw. [Torri ar draws.] Wel, buaswn yn ddiolchgar, os caf fi orffen, gan na wneuthum dorri ar draws pan oeddech chi'n siarad.
Rwy'n credu bod y pwyntiau a wnaethoch ar faterion ehangach yn ymwneud â throlio, a hefyd y cam-drin y mae gwleidyddion ac aelodau o'r gymdeithas yn eu hwynebu yn gyffredinol, yn rhywbeth sy'n ffenomen yn yr oes fodern. Ugain neu 25 mlynedd yn ôl, nid oedd cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn bodoli, ni cheid y fath ymyriad yn ein cartrefi, lle y gallwch roi eich ffôn ymlaen a chael camdriniaeth o'r fath yn eich cartref. Ni ddylai fod yn rhaid i neb ddioddef hynny. Ond mae'n ffaith bod y sefydliad hwn wedi sefydlu gweithdrefn safonau sydd wedi'i diffinio'n glir ac sydd â chomisiynydd yn ganolog iddi, comisiynydd sy'n cyflwyno adroddiad. Daw'r adroddiad hwnnw gerbron y pwyllgor wedyn gyda chanlyniad ymchwiliad y comisiynydd safonau. Dyna'r hyn a drafodir gennym yn y fan hon y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n derbyn bod yr Aelod wedi defnyddio'r term sydd dan sylw yma—y gair—ac rwy'n ceisio osgoi ei ddefnyddio am nad wyf yn credu ei bod hi'n iawn i'w ddefnyddio yn y Siambr hon. A bod yn onest, os nad yw'n iawn i'w ddefnyddio yn y Siambr hon, yna mae'n amlwg nad yw'n iawn ei ddefnyddio ar blatfform wrth ymgysylltu ag aelodau o'r cyhoedd.
Mae'n ffaith nad yr achwynydd yn yr achos penodol hwn yw'r blogiwr y cyfeirioch chi ato—nid wyf yn gwybod a oes cysylltiad â'r blogiwr—ond trydydd parti. Dyfynnodd yr Aelod y blogiwr yn yr achos arbennig hwn, y blogiwr y defnyddiwyd y gair yn ei erbyn, ond trydydd parti oedd yr achwynydd—nid yr unigolyn hwnnw. Nid wyf yn gwybod pwy oedd yr achwynydd oherwydd ni chawsom wybod ei enw; ni chafodd ei ryddhau.
Don't you think they've got mates?
Onid ydych chi'n credu bod ganddynt ffrindiau?
I'm just making the point that it was a third party. [Interruption.] Well, I don't know whether the person was a mate or not, but it could have been someone not associated at all. But that's an important consideration that this Chamber needs to reflect on.
There are three things that need to be reflected on with this report that's before us today. One: is the report contested for its accuracy? No, it's not. Two: is that word, associated with this report, suitable to be used in this context, in the Chamber or on a public platform that is Twitter? I would suggest not. The third and final outcome is: do we need to do more about trolling and social media activity in general? Of course we do. But we shouldn't mix the two together with the report that is before the Senedd this afternoon, and the wider issues that this report and publicity around issues that are raised in this report, which are raised on a time-by-time basis and that come up virtually every day of the week now.
I do hope that the Senedd will have the confidence to endorse this report, which has gone through full scrutiny, cross-party support and the rigour of the standards commissioner's office and investigation—which this Assembly itself, and the Members within this Chamber, elected to establish—and the rules that govern his investigations.
Rwy'n gwneud y pwynt mai trydydd parti ydoedd. [Torri ar draws.] Wel, nid wyf yn gwybod ai ffrind ydoedd ai peidio, ond gallai fod wedi bod yn rhywun nad oedd yn gysylltiedig o gwbl. Ond mae honno'n ystyriaeth bwysig y mae angen i'r Siambr hon ei hystyried.
Ceir tri pheth y mae angen eu hystyried gyda'r adroddiad hwn sydd ger ein bron heddiw. Un: a oes her i gywirdeb yr adroddiad? Nac oes. Dau: a yw'r gair, sy'n gysylltiedig â'r adroddiad hwn, yn addas i'w ddefnyddio yn y cyd-destun hwn, yn y Siambr neu ar blatfform cyhoeddus sef Twitter? Buaswn i'n awgrymu nad ydyw. Y trydydd canlyniad, a'r un terfynol, yw: a oes angen i ni wneud mwy ynglŷn â throlio a gweithgaredd cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn gyffredinol? Wrth gwrs fod angen gwneud hynny. Ond ni ddylem gymysgu'r ddau gyda'i gilydd gyda'r adroddiad sydd gerbron y Senedd y prynhawn yma, a'r materion ehangach y mae'r adroddiad hwn a chyhoeddusrwydd ynghylch materion a godir yn yr adroddiad hwn, a godir ar sail achosion unigol ac sy'n codi bron bob dydd o'r wythnos bellach.
Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Senedd yn ddigon hyderus i gymeradwyo'r adroddiad hwn, a aeth drwy broses graffu lawn, cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol a thrylwyredd swyddfa ac ymchwiliad y comisiynydd safonau—y pleidleisiodd y Cynulliad hwn ei hun, a'r Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, o blaid ei sefydlu—a'r rheolau sy'n rheoli ei ymchwiliadau.
The refusal of any Assembly Member to accept the findings of the standards committee is completely reprehensible, because it means that the code of conduct becomes obsolete. We would, in fact, practice being a ruleless Assembly. We must remember that the whole of the Assembly voted to introduce this code of conduct. I also find the comments on social media with regard to the standards commissioner totally unacceptable. Sir Roderick simply gathers evidence and decides whether he believes the behaviour of a Member breaks the rules contained in the code of conduct guide. It is the standards committee—
Mae i unrhyw Aelod Cynulliad wrthod derbyn canfyddiadau'r pwyllgor safonau yn gwbl wrthun, oherwydd mae'n golygu bod y cod ymddygiad yn darfod amdano. Mewn gwirionedd, byddem yn Gynulliad di-reol. Rhaid inni gofio bod y Cynulliad cyfan wedi pleidleisio o blaid cyflwyno'r cod ymddygiad hwn. Mae'r sylwadau ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ynglŷn â'r comisiynydd safonau yn gwbl annerbyniol i mi hefyd. Casglu tystiolaeth a wna Syr Roderick a phenderfynu a yw'n credu bod ymddygiad Aelod yn torri'r rheolau sydd wedi'u cynnwys yng nghanllawiau'r cod ymddygiad. Y pwyllgor safonau—
Will the Member take an intervention?
A wnaiff y Aelod dderbyn ymyriad?
—that decides whether to agree with this finding. Yes, of course.
—sy'n penderfynu a ddylid cytuno â'r casgliad hwn. Iawn, wrth gwrs.
The only question I have is, procedurally, the committee brings a report to this Assembly in the same way as any other committee would do, so that the Assembly as a whole can come to a decision. Surely you have to recognise that we're all within our right to vote whichever way we wish to vote on this.
Mae'r unig gwestiwn sydd gennyf yn ymwneud â'r ffaith bod y pwyllgor, o ran y weithdrefn, yn cyflwyno adroddiad i'r Cynulliad hwn yn yr un modd ag y byddai unrhyw bwyllgor arall yn ei wneud, er mwyn i'r Cynulliad cyfan ddod i benderfyniad. Does bosibl nad oes yn rhaid i chi gydnabod bod gan bob un ohonom hawl i bleidleisio pa ffordd bynnag y dymunwn bleidleisio ar hyn.
Well, of course. There was an opportunity for the Assembly Member to talk to the committee and to explain her views, and we took those views into account before we made a decision. But it's the standards committee that decides whether to agree with his findings and, if so, set the level of sanctions that it feels are appropriate. It is also important to note that the Member agreed with the factual content of Sir Roderick's report. By refusing to accept these sanctions, a Member is ignoring the decision of a cross-party committee—in this case, a committee that included a Plaid Cymru Member who agreed to the sanctions being imposed. Whilst I am willing to accept that there was a level of provocation from the person who was subject of the comments, and there is no doubt that there was extreme provocation from that person, provocation cannot be a defence for breaking the Assembly's code of conduct, particularly on social media. The committee was satisfied that the language used was inappropriate conduct for an Assembly Member, and it took into account the provocation aspect of the case in setting the level of sanction imposed. Refusal to accept such sanctions leads to anarchy in the Assembly procedural rules. I urge the Assembly to endorse the report.
Wel, wrth gwrs. Roedd cyfle i'r Aelod Cynulliad siarad â'r pwyllgor ac egluro ei barn, ac ystyriasom y sylwadau hynny cyn inni wneud penderfyniad. Ond y pwyllgor safonau sy'n penderfynu a ddylid cytuno â'i ganfyddiadau ac os gwneir hynny, hwy sy'n pennu lefel y sancsiynau sy'n briodol. Mae hefyd yn bwysig nodi bod yr Aelod wedi cytuno â chynnwys ffeithiol adroddiad Syr Roderick. Drwy wrthod derbyn y sancsiynau hyn, mae Aelod yn anwybyddu penderfyniad pwyllgor trawsbleidiol—yn yr achos hwn, pwyllgor a oedd yn cynnwys Aelod o Blaid Cymru a gytunodd y dylid gosod y sancsiynau. Er fy mod yn barod i dderbyn bod lefel o gythruddo ar ran y sawl a oedd yn destun y sylwadau, ac nid oes amheuaeth bod y person hwnnw wedi cythruddo'n eithafol, ni all cythrudd fod yn amddiffyniad am dorri cod ymddygiad y Cynulliad, yn enwedig ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Roedd y pwyllgor yn cytuno bod yr iaith a ddefnyddiwyd yn ymddygiad amhriodol gan Aelod Cynulliad, ac fe ystyriodd gythrudd fel ffactor yn yr achos wrth bennu lefel y sancsiwn. Mae gwrthod derbyn sancsiynau o'r fath yn arwain at anarchiaeth yn rheolau gweithdrefnol y Cynulliad. Rwy'n annog y Cynulliad i gymeradwyo'r adroddiad.
There is an attempt to make this debate about one word used by Leanne Wood. It is, after all, the simplest thing to do, but then it is simpler to arrest someone who steals a loaf of bread than ask why they are hungry. It is simpler to jail a woman moved to violence than address decades of coercive control. It is simpler to censure a woman of colour than listen to her call out everyday racism on tv. And that is what happens every day, because it is simpler not to rock the boat, not to lift the lid, to say that the system must be respected. It would be simpler to just say that Leanne should not have used that word, give her a slap on the wrist and then move on. That's what most people want to happen. It would be simple and wrong. When you are dealing with people, prejudice and politics, systems don't always fit. You need to inject a bit of judgment and humanity. You also need to be able to take the long view. So, it isn't Leanne's choice of words that I want to focus on today, it's the double standards at play, the context of the situation and the words, the attitudes and the actions that prompted her anger.
'"Women's rights and international development". God help @Plaid_Cymru".
These are the words that really give context to today's debate. This is the ancient, entitled, misogynistic attitude that runs like a torrent through the heart of this discussion, and through the heart of Welsh politics. The world view has not shifted as much as we would like to pretend in this place. It has not shifted in this place as much as we often pretend. As recently as last year, an Assembly Member, not a blogger or a commentator, but an elected Member, produced a sexist, deeply insulting video about a woman he works with. A councillor in my own borough, who actually chaired the safer communities committee at the time, repeatedly referred to refugees as 'rapefugees' on Facebook; 5,000 refugees died in the Mediterranean the same year he made those remarks, hundreds of women and children fleeing persecution. The friends and colleagues of the Prime Minister say he has a woman problem. He refers to Muslim women as 'letterboxes', an intervention that preceded a 375 per cent rise in Islamophobic incidents. The Prime Minister used the death of Jo Cox to make a flippant point about Brexit, an outburst that moved MPs to tears, not because they are women or weak, but because they mourn their friend and feel genuine fear for their own safety. The Prime Minister's own words are being used in death threats against women MPs.
Can I tell you the two things that connect the Prime Minister, the councillor and that Assembly Member? They are all men and none of them were censured. And are we really getting ready to censure Leanne Wood for a one-word outburst—a politician whose opinions on gender issues and immigration have earned her death threats and daily abuse that require police intervention? Really? She’s the bad guy in all this? Here’s the third difference between Leanne’s one-word offence and that of the three men I mentioned: hers was an entirely instinctive response, a human response to someone known for sexist views who is attacking a new, young, female colleague shortly after the death of a much-loved friend and colleague. It was not a planned intervention designed to provoke outrage, hatred or division.
The lesson here seems to be that as long as you invest money and focus-group your intolerant language, and choose a message carrier in trousers, then you’re free to say what you like, unchecked by the authorities. It simply does not make sense, measured against anything and everything we claim to hold dear in this Assembly. If the result of the policy is nonsensical, then surely we should not shrug and blame the process—we should change the policy and the process to match the reality being faced by too many women. And can I say to Andrew R.T. Davies: most of the abuse I get online is not even repeatable here or—[Interruption.] No, I haven’t got time. Here or any anywhere else.
Ceir ymgais i wneud y ddadl hon yn ddadl ynglŷn ag un gair a ddefnyddiwyd gan Leanne Wood. Wedi'r cyfan, dyna'r peth symlaf i'w wneud, ond wedyn mae'n haws arestio rhywun sy'n dwyn torth o fara na gofyn pam eu bod yn llwglyd. Mae'n symlach carcharu dynes a gafodd ei gwthio i gyflawni trais yn hytrach na mynd i'r afael â degawdau o reolaeth drwy orfodaeth. Mae'n haws ceryddu dynes o liw na gwrando arni'n cwyno am hiliaeth feunyddiol ar y teledu. A dyna sy'n digwydd bob dydd, oherwydd mae'n haws peidio â siglo'r cwch, peidio â chodi'r caead, a dweud bod yn rhaid parchu'r system. Byddai'n symlach dweud yn unig na ddylai Leanne fod wedi defnyddio'r gair hwnnw, rhoi slap ar ei llaw a symud ymlaen. Dyna beth y mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl eisiau ei weld yn digwydd. Byddai'n syml ac yn anghywir. Pan fyddwch chi'n ymdrin â phobl, rhagfarn a gwleidyddiaeth, nid yw systemau bob amser yn addas. Mae angen i chi chwistrellu ychydig o farn a dyngarwch. Mae angen hefyd i chi allu edrych yn eang ar y mater. Felly, nid ar ddewis Leanne o eiriau yr hoffwn ganolbwyntio heddiw, ond y safonau dwbl sydd ar waith, cyd-destun y sefyllfa a'r geiriau, yr agweddau a'r gweithredoedd a ysgogodd ei dicter.
"Hawliau menywod a datblygiad rhyngwladol". Duw a helpo @Plaid_Cymru".
Dyma'r geiriau sy'n rhoi cyd-destun go iawn i'r ddadl heddiw. Dyma'r hen ymagwedd wreig-gasäol gan rai sy'n teimlo bod ganddynt hawl i'w lleisio, ac sy'n rhedeg fel cenllif drwy galon y drafodaeth hon, a thrwy galon gwleidyddiaeth Cymru. Nid yw'r farn fyd-eang wedi symud cymaint ag yr hoffem esgus ei bod yn y lle hwn. Nid yw wedi symud yn y lle hwn gymaint ag yr ydym yn esgus ei bod yn aml. Mor ddiweddar â'r llynedd, cynhyrchodd Aelod Cynulliad, nid blogiwr na sylwebydd, ond Aelod etholedig, fideo rhywiaethol, hynod o sarhaus am un o'r menywod y mae'n gweithio gyda hi. Cyfeiriodd cynghorydd yn fy mwrdeistref i, a oedd yn gadeirydd y pwyllgor cymunedau diogelach ar y pryd, dro ar ôl tro at ffoaduriaid fel 'rapefugees' ar Facebook; bu farw 5,000 o ffoaduriaid ym môr y Canoldir yn yr un flwyddyn ag y gwnaeth y sylwadau hynny, cannoedd o fenywod a phlant yn ffoi rhag erledigaeth. Mae ffrindiau a chydweithwyr Prif Weinidog y DU yn dweud bod ganddo broblem menywod. Mae'n cyfeirio at fenywod Mwslimaidd fel 'blychau post', ymyriad a ragflaenodd gynnydd o 375 y cant yn y nifer o ddigwyddiadau Islamoffobig. Defnyddiodd Prif Weinidog y DU farwolaeth Jo Cox i wneud pwynt gwamal am Brexit, ffrwydrad a achosodd i ASau golli dagrau, nid oherwydd eu bod yn fenywod neu'n wan, ond am eu bod yn galaru dros eu ffrind ac yn teimlo ofn gwirioneddol am eu diogelwch eu hunain. Mae geiriau'r Prif Weinidog ei hun yn cael eu defnyddio mewn bygythiadau i fywydau Aelodau Seneddol benywaidd.
A gaf fi ddweud pa ddau beth sy'n cysylltu'r Prif Weinidog, y cynghorydd a'r Aelod Cynulliad hwnnw? Dynion ydynt i gyd ac ni chafodd yr un ohonynt eu ceryddu. Ac a ydym o ddifrif yn paratoi i geryddu Leanne Wood am ffrwydrad un gair—gwleidydd y mae ei barn ar faterion rhyw a mewnfudo wedi peri iddi gael bygythiadau i'w bywyd a chael ei cham-drin yn feunyddiol gan alw am ymyrraeth yr heddlu? O ddifrif? Hi yw'r drwg yn hyn i gyd? Dyma'r trydydd gwahaniaeth rhwng trosedd un gair Leanne a'r tri dyn y soniais amdanynt: ymateb cwbl reddfol oedd ei hun hi, ymateb dynol i rywun sy'n adnabyddus am ei safbwyntiau rhywiaethol ac sy'n ymosod ar gyd-Aelod newydd, ifanc, benywaidd yn fuan ar ôl marwolaeth ffrind a chyd-Aelod annwyl iawn. Nid oedd yn ymyriad wedi'i gynllunio ar gyfer ysgogi dicter, casineb neu raniadau.
Mae'n ymddangos mai'r wers yma yw, cyhyd â'ch bod yn buddsoddi arian ac yn rhoi eich iaith anoddefgar gerbron grŵp ffocws, ac yn dewis negesydd mewn trowsus, rydych chi'n rhydd i ddweud beth bynnag y dymunwch, heb ei rwystro gan yr awdurdodau. Yn syml, nid yw'n gwneud synnwyr, o'i fesur yn erbyn unrhyw beth a phopeth yr honnwn ei fod yn annwyl i ni yn y Cynulliad hwn. Os nad yw canlyniad y polisi yn gwneud synnwyr, ni ddylem godi ysgwyddau a beio'r broses—dylem newid y polisi a'r broses i gyd-fynd â'r realiti y mae gormod o fenywod yn ei wynebu. Ac a gaf fi ddweud wrth Andrew R.T. Davies: nid yw'r rhan fwyaf o'r gamdriniaeth a gaf ar-lein yn rhywbeth y gallaf ei ailadrodd yma hyd yn oed, nac—[Torri ar draws.] Na, nid oes gennyf amser. Yma nac yn unman arall.
I've asked twice for an intervention.
Rwyf wedi gofyn am ymyriad ddwywaith.
And we should not ignore the backdrop to this inconsistency, and that is the tone set by journalists and commentators of a certain age, gender and class. They are wonderfully quick to claim that equality’s a done deal, despite all evidence to the contrary. There is a belief amongst this class that feminism in the UK is anachronistic, and as for women’s rights, well, ‘God help us all’, to misquote a certain blogger.
Next week we welcome Julia Gillard to Wales, the former Australian Prime Minister. Most of the people in this Chamber won’t need reminding about her famous speech on misogyny, sexism and double standards in 2012, a speech that helped rewrite the dictionary definition of misogyny to include ‘entrenched prejudice against women’. Men and women from this Assembly will be queuing to meet her when she’s here, rightly so—she’s a brilliant politician. But ask yourself before you meet here whether you’ve met the challenge she set in 2012, that there should be no place for sexism, no place for misogyny, no place for double standards.
Now, Leanne Wood is not a political ally of mine, but I have never felt closer to her than throughout this episode. Her reaction was human, instinctive and protective, and it is those three characteristics that continue to bind women from all parties together in this Chamber in the face of dehumanising threats and abuse. I know that we won’t all vote the same way today, but I cannot believe that we don’t at least feel the same way. I commend Leanne for standing her ground. This is no time to be punishing women who, when they are abused, threatened and insulted, say ‘No more’, no matter how impolitely they may say it.
Ac ni ddylem anwybyddu'r cefndir i'r anghysondeb hwn, sef y cywair a osodir gan newyddiadurwyr a sylwebyddion o oedran, rhyw a dosbarth penodol. Maent yn rhyfeddol o gyflym i honni bod cydraddoldeb wedi'i gyflawni, er gwaethaf yr holl dystiolaeth i'r gwrthwyneb. Ceir cred ymhlith y dosbarth hwn fod ffeministiaeth yn y DU yn anacronistaidd, ac am hawliau menywod, wel, 'Duw a'n helpo ni i gyd', i gamddyfynnu blogiwr penodol.
Yr wythnos nesaf, byddwn yn croesawu Julia Gillard i Gymru, cyn Brif Weinidog Awstralia. Ni fydd angen atgoffa'r rhan fwyaf o'r bobl yn y Siambr hon am ei haraith enwog ar wreig-gasineb, rhywiaeth a safonau dwbl yn 2012, araith a helpodd i ailysgrifennu diffiniad y geiriadur o wreig-gasineb i gynnwys 'rhagfarn sefydledig yn erbyn menywod'. Bydd dynion a menywod o'r Cynulliad hwn yn ciwio i gyfarfod â hi pan fydd hi yma, a hynny'n briodol—mae'n wleidydd gwych. Ond gofynnwch i chi'ch hun cyn i chi gyfarfod yma a ydych chi wedi wynebu'r her a osododd hi yn 2012, na ddylai fod unrhyw le i rywiaeth, i wreig-gasineb, na safonau dwbl.
Nawr, nid yw Leanne Wood yn gyfaill gwleidyddol i mi, ond nid wyf erioed wedi teimlo'n agosach ati na thrwy gydol y digwyddiad hwn. Roedd ei hymateb yn ddynol, yn reddfol ac yn amddiffynnol, a'r tair nodwedd hynny sy'n parhau i glymu menywod o bob plaid gyda'i gilydd yn y Siambr hon yn wyneb bygythiadau a chamdriniaeth sy'n dad-ddyneiddio. Rwy'n gwybod na fydd pawb ohonom yn pleidleisio'r un ffordd heddiw, ond ni allaf gredu nad ydym o leiaf yn teimlo'r un fath. Rwy'n cymeradwyo Leanne am ddal ei thir. Nid dyma'r amser i gosbi menywod sy'n dweud 'Dim rhagor' pan gânt eu bygwth a'u sarhau a'u cam-drin, ni waeth pa mor anghwrtais fydd eu ffordd o'i ddweud.
I want to remind Members of the context surrounding all of this. Context is everything in a case like this. When our friend and colleague Steffan had passed away in January, nobody, including me, wanted to think about what would come next. We wanted to grieve for our friend. And I had decided that I wouldn’t say anything in public, on social media or otherwise, until after his funeral. Events meant that I had to be returned quite swiftly, but I did not want to take the oath until the funeral had passed. So, when my name was announced on Twitter, I didn’t say anything about it. I was already feeling tremendous guilt and grief. A few very vocal accounts on Twitter immediately responded to, I think, the BBC's short article, making assumptions about what a disappointment of an AM I was already going to be, and that was because the first line of my personal Twitter biography noted that I worked in women’s rights and international development. My job at the time had been to be a women’s rights campaigner for ActionAid. It was a job I was very proud of having. But that one line was enough to infuriate some people, and to assume that that was all I was going to be interested in. I didn’t feel like I could answer and speak up for myself in the circumstances. Leanne did what she did, in large part, to support me. Leanne was also grieving for her friend, and she could see how ill-judged, insensitive and cruel the timing and the tone of those messages about me were. So, I was incredibly grateful to her then, and I'm still grateful to her now, for sticking up for me when I couldn't do that for myself. So, I will be voting against this censure. I hope other Members will do the same.
Hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau o'r cyd-destun sy'n gysylltiedig â hyn i gyd. Cyd-destun yw popeth mewn achos fel hwn. Pan fu farw ein cyfaill a'n cyd-Aelod, Steffan, ym mis Ionawr, nid oedd neb, yn fy nghynnwys i, eisiau meddwl am beth fyddai'n dod nesaf. Roeddem eisiau galaru am ein ffrind. Ac roeddwn wedi penderfynu na fyddwn yn dweud dim byd yn gyhoeddus, ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol neu fel arall, tan ar ôl ei angladd. Golygodd digwyddiadau fod yn rhaid i mi gael fy ethol yn eithaf cyflym, ond nid oeddwn am gymryd y llw nes ar ôl yr angladd. Felly, pan gyhoeddwyd fy enw ar Twitter, ni ddywedais ddim am y peth. Roeddwn eisoes yn teimlo euogrwydd a galar aruthrol. Ymatebodd ychydig o leisiau swnllyd iawn ar Twitter yn syth, rwy'n credu, i erthygl fer gan y BBC, gan ragdybio eisoes cymaint o fethiant y byddwn fel AC, a hynny am fod llinell gyntaf fy mywgraffiad personol ar Twitter yn nodi fy mod yn gweithio ym maes hawliau menywod a datblygu rhyngwladol. Fy swydd ar y pryd oedd ymgyrchydd dros hawliau menywod ar ran ActionAid. Roedd hi'n swydd yr ymfalchïwn yn fawr ynddi. Ond roedd yr un linell honno'n ddigon i gythruddo rhai pobl, ac i dybio mai dyna'r cyfan y byddai gennyf ddiddordeb ynddo. Nid oeddwn yn teimlo y gallwn i ateb a siarad drosof fy hun o dan yr amgylchiadau. Fe wnaeth Leanne yr hyn a wnaeth, i raddau helaeth, er mwyn fy nghefnogi i. Roedd Leanne hefyd yn galaru am ei ffrind, ac roedd hi'n gallu gweld pa mor annoeth, ansensitif a chreulon oedd amseriad a chywair y negeseuon hynny amdanaf. Felly, roeddwn i'n hynod o ddiolchgar iddi ar y pryd, ac rwy'n dal i fod yn ddiolchgar iddi nawr, am fy nghefnogi pan na allwn wneud hynny drosof fy hun. Felly, byddaf yn pleidleisio yn erbyn y cerydd hwn. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau eraill yn gwneud yr un fath.
Jayne Bryant, y Cadeirydd, i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Jayne Bryant, the Chair, to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd first like to start by thanking all Members who've contributed to this debate today, and I'd particularly like to thank Leanne for saying her words as well. I think some of the complexities around implementing a standards regime are apparent from some of the views that we've heard today. So, I think it might be worth setting out a few facts on the system to start with. An independent standards commissioner is appointed through an open and transparent appointment process. The commissioner uses the code of conduct and supporting guidance, including the dignity and respect policy, voted on by the whole Assembly, to investigate the complaints. If he finds that a complaint has breached the code, that complaint, and the commissioner's report on why he found a breach, is brought before a cross-party committee. The committee's role is to take into account the report of the commissioner and decide if a—and, if so, what—sanction is to be given.
The committee's role is quasi-judicial. We cannot, and do not, make decisions on party political lines. We've been given the responsibility by this Assembly to uphold the highest of standards, and we're all incredibly mindful of that. I, and the committee, have a huge amount of sympathy with the Member in this instance. The trolling, bullying, misogyny, racism, homophobia and so on that happen on social media platforms are reprehensible. Politicians and other public figures are often seen as fair game. We have more to do to support Members on this. I have a great deal of respect for the Member, and there's no doubt in my mind that the Member will continue to call out misogyny, racism, homophobia, bullying and trolling, as she always does, and she always does in a robust way. This is not a problem with the complaint. The committee are united in considering the level of abuse that the Member has faced as completely unacceptable. The rules we have ensure that we maintain those high standards around language we use. The committee's decision was based on the use of a word—however minor the Member or others see it—which breaches the code of conduct and the dignity and respect policy. Just to draw attention—I think Lynne mentioned in her contribution the issue of a Member here, Gareth Bennett, who had a complaint before us. And, in that instance, we suspended the Member for a week without pay. The debate and language about politics at the moment is toxic. We have to maintain our own standards so we don't descend ourselves. These are the high standards that we have set ourselves in our rules.
Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl hon heddiw, a hoffwn ddiolch yn arbennig i Leanne am ei geiriau hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod rhai o'r cymhlethdodau sydd ynghlwm wrth weithredu cyfundrefn safonau yn amlwg o rai o'r safbwyntiau a glywsom heddiw. Felly, rwy'n credu y gallai fod yn werth nodi ychydig o ffeithiau am y system i ddechrau. Penodir comisiynydd safonau annibynnol drwy broses benodi agored a thryloyw. Mae'r comisiynydd yn defnyddio'r cod ymddygiad a'r canllawiau ategol, gan gynnwys y polisi urddas a pharch y pleidleisiodd y Cynulliad cyfan arno, i ymchwilio i'r cwynion. Os yw'n canfod bod cwyn wedi torri'r cod, mae'r gŵyn honno, ac adroddiad y comisiynydd ar pam y canfu fod y cod wedi'i dorri, yn cael ei ddwyn gerbron pwyllgor trawsbleidiol. Rôl y pwyllgor yw ystyried adroddiad y comisiynydd a phenderfynu os dylid gosod sancsiwn, ac os felly, pa sancsiwn i'w osod.
Mae rôl y pwyllgor yn un led-farnwrol. Ni allwn, ac ni wnawn, wneud penderfyniadau pleidiol-wleidyddol eu natur. Rydym wedi cael y cyfrifoldeb gan y Cynulliad hwn i gynnal y safonau uchaf, ac rydym i gyd yn hynod ymwybodol o hynny. Mae gennyf fi, a'r pwyllgor, lawer iawn o gydymdeimlad â'r Aelod yn yr achos hwn. Mae'r trolio, bwlio, gwreig-gasineb, hiliaeth, homoffobia ac ati sy'n digwydd ar blatfformau cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn resynus. Mae gwleidyddion a ffigurau cyhoeddus eraill yn aml yn cael eu gweld fel rhai y mae'n iawn eu targedu. Mae gennym fwy i'w wneud i gefnogi'r Aelodau yn hyn o beth. Mae gennyf barch mawr tuag at yr Aelod, ac nid oes amheuaeth yn fy meddwl i y bydd yr Aelod yn parhau i wrthwynebu gwreig-gasineb, hiliaeth, homoffobia, bwlio a throlio, fel y gwnaiff bob amser, ac mae bob amser yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd gadarn. Nid problem gyda'r gŵyn yw hon. Mae'r pwyllgor yn unfryd fod lefel y gamdriniaeth y mae'r Aelod wedi'i hwynebu yn hollol annerbyniol. Mae'r rheolau sydd gennym yn sicrhau ein bod yn cynnal y safonau uchel hynny mewn perthynas â'r iaith a ddefnyddiwn. Roedd penderfyniad y pwyllgor yn seiliedig ar ddefnyddio gair—ni waeth pa mor fach ydyw yn llygaid yr Aelod neu bobl eraill—sy'n torri'r cod ymddygiad a'r polisi urddas a pharch. Os caf dynnu sylw—credaf fod Lynne wedi crybwyll mater yn ei chyfraniad yn ymwneud ag un o'r Aelodau yma, Gareth Bennett, a fu'n destun cwyn. Ac yn yr achos hwnnw, ataliwyd yr Aelod am wythnos heb dâl. Mae'r iaith a'r dadlau yn y byd gwleidyddol yn wenwynig ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n rhaid i ni gynnal ein safonau ein hunain fel nad ydym yn gostwng ein hunain. Dyma'r safonau uchel rydym wedi'u gosod i ni'n hunain yn ein rheolau.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Dwi'n gohirio'r bleidlais, felly, tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? [Objection.] I will defer voting until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Yr eitem nesaf yw adroddiad Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad eto, a'r adroddiad hwnnw yw adroddiad 03-19. Dwi'n galw ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Jayne Bryant.
The next item is a report by the Standards of Conduct Committee, and that report is report 03-19. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Jayne Bryant.
Cynnig NDM7149 Jayne Bryant
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn ystyried Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad—Adroddiad 03-19 a osodwyd gerbron y Cynulliad ar 19 Medi 2019 yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 22.9
2. Yn cymeradwyo’r argymhelliad yn yr adroddiad.
Motion NDM7149 Jayne Bryant
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee—Report 03-19 laid before the Assembly on 19 September 2019 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9
2. Endorses the recommendation in the report.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. As Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion. The committee considered the report from the commissioner for standards in relation to a complaint made against Hefin David AM, regarding use of unparliamentary language. The Standards of Conduct Committee gave the commissioner's report careful consideration, and our report sets out the committee's judgment as to the sanction that is appropriate to this case. The facts relating to the complaint, and the committee's reasons for its recommendation, are set out in full in the committee's report. The motion tabled invites the Assembly to endorse this committee's recommendation.
Diolch, Lywydd. Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad, rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol. Mae'r pwyllgor wedi ystyried adroddiad y comisiynydd safonau ynghylch cwyn a wnaed yn erbyn Hefin David AC mewn perthynas â defnyddio iaith anseneddol. Rhoddodd y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad ystyriaeth ofalus i adroddiad y comisiynydd, ac mae ein hadroddiad yn nodi barn y pwyllgor ynglŷn â'r sancsiwn sy'n briodol i'r achos hwn. Mae'r ffeithiau sy'n ymwneud â'r gŵyn, a rhesymau'r pwyllgor dros ei argymhelliad, wedi'u nodi'n llawn yn adroddiad y pwyllgor. Mae'r cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn gwahodd y Cynulliad i gymeradwyo argymhelliad y pwyllgor hwn.
I feel like I've been existing in a parallel universe for the past 15 minutes, Llywydd. What I would say—. What I'm about to say has no bearing on the previous debate, in my mind. I'm reflecting upon my experience and what I would like to say with regard to my views and this particular standards commissioner's report. It is my view—and I know, from what's just been said, that it's not the view of some people in the Chamber—that, when you are found in breach of the rules, it is right to apologise for breaching those rules. And I endorse therefore what, particularly, Andrew R.T. Davies said when he was speaking in his position as a member of the standards committee. The decision of the standards committee should be respected, and, if you don't respect it, it can have the effect, and will have the effect, of undermining the standards process in this place, and one which was set up by this Assembly in order to manage and measure standards that we would expect to meet. [Interruption.] No, I'd rather not give way, thank you; I'd rather complete what I'd like to say.
Before I get to my response, I'd like to reflect upon what it is like to be on social media as a politician. And I can only speak from the point of view of being a male on social media. I expressed a view, and what has caused the abuse I received—I expressed a view about independence for Wales. And it wasn't a particularly massively anti-view, it was a skeptical view, but a view that was open to future debate in this Chamber and other places. I received a torrent of abuse, from people of both genders, some anonymous, some not, and some of it was horrific—some of it was horrific. I received a direct message—and I gave my word to Adam Price I wouldn't name the person, but I received a direct message from a young Plaid member that drew attention to my appearance and was in the strongest possible language that you could imagine. And it was dealt with properly and appropriately by Adam Price, quickly, and I received a direct apology the next day. But it was an awful thing to receive. I've also had my mental health questioned, and my appearance questioned, on Twitter, and my friends at home have remarked upon the abuse that I've received.
It's an incredibly difficult thing to do, when you're receiving a torrent of abuse simply for expressing a view—and seeing a constituent being abused for expressing a view—not to respond. I responded in the heat of the moment. I responded in the language that you've seen. I even managed to try out my Welsh in my response. And I was then reported for doing so. What I do regret is responding in that moment. And that is why, Llywydd, I've issued that apology to you for unparliamentary language. That apology is issued only to you and only for that breach of the rules, and only because I believe it is appropriate to do so with respect to the standards committee.
Rwy'n teimlo fel pe bawn wedi bod yn bodoli mewn bydysawd cyfochrog am y 15 munud diwethaf, Lywydd. Yr hyn y buaswn yn ei ddweud—. Nid yw'r hyn rwyf ar fin ei ddweud yn berthnasol i'r ddadl flaenorol, yn fy marn i. Rwy'n myfyrio ar fy mhrofiad a'r hyn yr hoffwn ei ddweud am fy safbwyntiau ac am yr adroddiad penodol hwn gan y comisiynydd safonau. Yn fy marn i—a gwn, o'r hyn sydd newydd gael ei ddweud, nad dyma farn rhai o'r bobl yn y Siambr—pan fyddwch yn torri'r rheolau, y peth cywir i'w wneud yw ymddiheuro am dorri'r rheolau hynny. Ac rwy'n cymeradwyo, felly, yr hyn a ddywedodd Andrew R.T. Davies, yn arbennig, pan oedd yn siarad yn rhinwedd ei swydd fel aelod o'r pwyllgor safonau. Dylid parchu penderfyniad y pwyllgor safonau, ac os na fyddwch yn ei barchu, fe all, ac fe fydd, yn tanseilio'r broses safonau yn y lle hwn, ac un a sefydlwyd gan y Cynulliad hwn er mwyn rheoli a mesur safonau y byddem yn disgwyl eu cyrraedd. [Torri ar draws.] Na, byddai'n well gennyf beidio ag ildio, diolch; byddai'n well gennyf orffen yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ddweud.
Cyn i mi ymateb, hoffwn fyfyrio ar sut deimlad yw bod yn wleidydd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Ac ni allaf ond siarad o safbwynt bod yn wryw ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Mynegais farn, a'r hyn sydd wedi achosi'r gamdriniaeth a brofais—mynegais farn ynglŷn ag annibyniaeth i Gymru. Ac nid oedd yn farn arbennig o wrthwynebus, roedd yn farn amheus, ond yn farn a oedd yn agored i ddadl yn y Siambr hon a lleoedd eraill yn y dyfodol. Profais lif o gam-drin geiriol, gan bobl o'r ddau ryw, rhai yn ddienw, rhai heb fod yn ddienw, ac roedd peth ohono'n erchyll—roedd peth ohono'n erchyll. Cefais neges uniongyrchol—a rhoddais fy ngair i Adam Price na fyddwn yn enwi'r person, ond derbyniais neges uniongyrchol gan aelod ifanc o Blaid Cymru a dynnodd sylw at fy ymddangosiad a gwneud hynny yn yr iaith gryfaf bosibl y gallech ei dychmygu. Ac aeth Adam Price i'r afael â'r mater yn briodol, yn gyflym, a chefais ymddiheuriad uniongyrchol y diwrnod wedyn. Ond roedd yn beth ofnadwy i'w dderbyn. Cwestiynwyd fy iechyd meddwl hefyd, a chwestiynwyd fy ymddangosiad ar Twitter, ac mae fy ffrindiau gartref wedi gwneud sylwadau am y cam-drin a gefais.
Mae'n beth anhygoel o anodd i'w wneud, pan fyddwch yn cael llif o gam-drin geiriol am fynegi barn—a gweld etholwr yn cael ei gam-drin am fynegi barn—i beidio ag ymateb. Ymatebais yn fyrbwyll. Ymatebais yn yr iaith a welsoch. Llwyddais i roi cynnig ar fy Nghymraeg yn fy ymateb hyd yn oed. Ac fe gafodd cwyn ei wneud yn fy erbyn wedyn am wneud hynny. Yr hyn rwy'n edifar amdano yw ymateb yn y foment honno. A dyna pam, Lywydd, fy mod wedi ymddiheuro i chi am ddefnyddio iaith anseneddol. I chi yn unig y gwneuthum yr ymddiheuriad hwnnw, a hynny am dorri'r rheolau'n unig, a dim ond am fy mod yn credu ei bod yn briodol gwneud hynny o barch i'r pwyllgor safonau.
Cadeirydd y pwyllgor i ymateb. Jayne Bryant.
The committee Chair to reply. Jayne Bryant.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd just like to thank the Member for his contribution and for the words that he's said today and his apology to you, Llywydd. He's accepted the standards committee's report. So, thank you, Llywydd.
Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gyfraniad ac am yr hyn a ddywedodd heddiw a'i ymddiheuriad i chi, Lywydd. Mae wedi derbyn adroddiad y pwyllgor safonau. Felly, diolch, Lywydd.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly derbynnir y cynnig, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Yr eitem nesaf yw'r ddadl gan Aelod unigol o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(v) ar seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol. Dwi'n galw ar David Rees i gyflwyno'r cynnig.
The next item is a debate by an individual Member under Standing Order 11.21(v), historic industrial infrastructure. I call on David Rees to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM7143 David Rees, Vikki Howells, Leanne Wood
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn nodi'r rhwydwaith cyfoethog ac amrywiol o seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol ledled Cymru.
2. Yn nodi'r potensial o ran yr economi, adfywio a thrafnidiaeth integredig o ail-agor hen linellau rheilffordd a thwneli segur ledled Cymru.
3. Yn cydnabod yr heriau ymarferol ac ariannol o ddod â seilwaith o'r fath yn ôl i ddefnydd.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i anelu at gael perchenogaeth ar seilwaith o'r fath a fyddai'n helpu i chwilio am gyfleoedd ariannu.
5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU i chwarae eu rhan wrth archwilio'r cyfleoedd ymarferol ar gyfer ailagor seilwaith o'r fath ledled Cymru.
Motion NDM7143 David Rees, Vikki Howells, Leanne Wood
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes the rich and diverse network of historic industrial infrastructure across Wales.
2. Notes the economic, regeneration and integrated transport potential of re-opening disused railway lines and tunnels across Wales.
3. Recognises the practical and financial challenges of bringing such infrastructure back into use.
4. Calls upon the Welsh Government to seek ownership of such infrastructure which would aid funding opportunities to be sought.
5. Calls on the UK and Welsh Governments to play its part in exploring the practical opportunities for re-opening such infrastructure across Wales.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Dangoswyd cyflwyniad clyweledol i gyd-fynd â’r drafodaeth.
An audio-visual presentation was shown to accompany the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd. And I move the motion in my name and in the names of Leanne Wood and Vikki Howells. I apologise before I start for my voice—unfortunately, as you might have guessed, I've not been so well lately, but we'll move on.
Now, Wales is a nation with a great history. And we have many buildings from medieval times that reflect that history—whether it be the many castles that remain visible, or the many religious sites across our country. But we move on a few hundred years and we also have a vast and wondrous industrial heritage, especially from a time when Wales was a driver of major exports such as coal, copper, iron, steel. But it's not only the buildings that produced those exports—the mines and the ironworks, et cetera—that remind us of that industrial past, but also the infrastructure that was put in place to allow those products to be transported. Now, some of that infrastructure is still visible. For example, in my own constituency, we can see the huge arches of the railway viaduct and those of the aqueduct, both in Pontrhydyfen, or the seven arches of the bridge in Cymmer. I'm sure many Members this afternoon, when they speak, will highlight such structures and buildings within their own constituencies. And we all know some of them, whether the Pontcysyllte aqueduct, Big Pit, or the ironworks in Merthyr. But, as well as the visible aspects of our industrial heritage, many of which have been restored and re-established for tourism or walking and cycling, there are many aspects of our industrial heritage that are invisible—mines that have been closed, disused railway lines where the rails have been removed, canals that have become overgrown, and a vast network of tunnels, as well as other infrastructure that once carried the riches of Wales to our ports of distribution across the world.
The decline of our industrial past took its toll on these across Wales, and in particular in the south Wales Valleys. Add to that the actions taken following the Beeching report in the 1960s, which saw a reduction in the route network and restructuring of the railways across the UK—and that was not popular, remember, because many protests actually resulted in saving some of those stations and lines, but the majority were closed as planned, and Beeching's name remains associated with the mass closure of railways and the loss of many local services in that period that followed. Now, a few of these routes have since reopened. Some short sections have been preserved as heritage railways—the Gwili railway, the Brecon Mountain railway, to name a few in Wales—Colwyn railway, Llangollen. Others have been incorporated into cycling and walking networks, and the remainder have either been returned to their own natural farmland or they remain derelict.
Now, one of those lines affected by the Beeching cuts was the Swansea bay to the Rhondda line. When operational, this route ran through my constituency, from Briton Ferry, which maybe people don't realise was a huge port at one point, going through Port Talbot and Aberavon up the Afan valley, where it branched off to many other routes. Now, these routes often required numerous tunnels, allowing them to travel up the valley and between valleys. The majority are now disused and closed off, including the Gelli tunnel, the Gilfach tunnel, the Cymmer to Caerau tunnel, and one of the longest tunnels in the UK, the Rhondda tunnel, running between Blaengwynfi and Blaencwm, and on the screens you will see a rolling picture of some of the aspects of that particular tunnel. Now, that railway line allowed us to join the railway lines in the Rhondda valley. And therefore it's industrial infrastructure across Wales that we need to see it as an opportunity to be ambitious for the future. We should not lose sight of what these infrastructures actually offer us.
Now, my remaining contribution this afternoon will focus upon these hidden gems, and, in particular, the Rhondda tunnel, which can offer opportunities for local communities to benefit from their regeneration. And the Rhondda tunnel is 3,443 yards long, or just under 2 miles, 1,000 feet below the ground at its deepest, with a 58 ft ventilation shaft. And it was a massive piece of work, and actually I was dropped down into the tunnel through that ventilation shaft, and you can see the actual fantastic Victorian engineering that built that. That was built between 1885 and 1890, officially opened in 1890, and a critical component of that line, connecting mines of the Rhondda to the ports and Swansea bay. It also became a route for passengers as well, later on in life. So, we had an opportunity, as time went on, not only to have an industrial line, but also a passenger line, to allow that connection between the two communities. The railway line was actually dual line—if you know much about railways—but the tunnel itself was a single line and dual at either portal.
Now, unfortunately, in 1968 the decision was taken to close the tunnel temporarily, as there was work needed to repair it. But, in December 1970, the Department for Transport made a decision to close that tunnel permanently, citing the costs of repair as prohibitive—strange how it actually coincided with the closure of both the Blaengwynfi and Blaenrhondda stations as part of the Beeching cuts. We can only assume that it just happened to be coincidental. So, that happened, and, in 1980, as a consequence, both portals were closed and blocked off to prevent unauthorised intrusions. Because we know they have to be protected, because many children tend to walk into places like tunnels as an exciting experience and we need to ensure we protect them and safeguard them.
Now, we're almost 130 years on from when that tunnel was opened. It is the longest disused tunnel in Wales, and the Rhondda Tunnel Society—I know some of the members are in the gallery this afternoon—have established themselves and have a vision—a vision, Deputy Minister, which I share with them; a vision that will see the Rhondda tunnel preserved for our children's future, which will reconnect the Afan valley and the Rhondda Fawr for pedestrians and cyclists, and not just for people in the two valleys, but for people from elsewhere and further afield.
Diolch, Lywydd. Ac rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn fy enw i ac yn enwau Leanne Wood a Vikki Howells. Cyn i mi ddechrau, rwy'n ymddiheuro am fy llais—yn anffodus, fel y gallech fod wedi'i ddyfalu, nid wyf wedi bod yn dda yn ddiweddar, ond rwyf am fwrw ymlaen.
Nawr, mae Cymru'n genedl a chanddi hanes gwych. Ac mae gennym lawer o adeiladau o'r oesoedd canol sy'n adlewyrchu'r hanes hwnnw—boed yn gestyll niferus sydd i'w gweld o hyd, neu'r nifer o safleoedd crefyddol ledled ein gwlad. Ond symudwn ymlaen ychydig gannoedd o flynyddoedd ac mae gennym dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol enfawr a rhyfeddol hefyd, yn enwedig o adeg pan oedd Cymru'n gyrru allforion pwysig fel glo, copr, haearn a dur. Ond nid yr adeiladau a gynhyrchodd yr allforion hynny yn unig—y pyllau glo a'r gwaith haearn, ac ati—sy'n ein hatgoffa o'r gorffennol diwydiannol hwnnw, ond hefyd y seilwaith a roddwyd yn ei le i ganiatáu i'r cynhyrchion hynny gael eu cludo. Nawr, mae rhywfaint o'r seilwaith hwnnw i'w weld o hyd. Er enghraifft, yn fy etholaeth i, gallwn weld bwâu enfawr traphont y rheilffordd a'r draphont ddŵr, ym Mhontrhyd-y-fen, neu saith bwa'r bont yn y Cymer. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd llawer o Aelodau, pan fyddant yn siarad y prynhawn yma, yn tynnu sylw at strwythurau ac adeiladau o'r fath yn eu hetholaethau eu hunain. Ac rydym i gyd yn adnabod rhai ohonynt, boed yn draphont Pontcysyllte, Big Pit, neu'r gwaith haearn ym Merthyr. Ond yn ogystal â'r agweddau gweladwy ar ein treftadaeth ddiwydiannol yr adferwyd llawer ohonynt a'u hailsefydlu ar gyfer twristiaeth neu gerdded a seiclo, mae llawer o agweddau ar ein treftadaeth ddiwydiannol sy'n anweledig—pyllau glo sydd wedi'u cau, llwybrau hen reilffyrdd wedi'u tynnu, camlesi sydd wedi tyfu'n wyllt, a rhwydwaith enfawr o dwneli, yn ogystal ag enghreifftiau eraill o seilwaith a fu ar un adeg yn cario cyfoeth Cymru i'n porthladdoedd i'w ddosbarthu ledled y byd.
Mae dirywiad ein gorffennol diwydiannol wedi effeithio ar y rhain ledled Cymru, ac yn enwedig yng Nghymoedd de Cymru. At hynny, mae'r camau a gymerwyd yn dilyn adroddiad Beeching yn y 1960au, gan gynnwys lleihau rhwydwaith y llwybrau ac ailstrwythuro'r rheilffyrdd ledled y DU—ac nid oedd hynny'n boblogaidd, cofiwch, oherwydd arweiniodd llawer o brotestiadau at achub rhai o'r gorsafoedd a'r rheilffyrdd hynny mewn gwirionedd, ond caewyd y mwyafrif yn ôl y bwriad, ac mae enw Beeching yn parhau i fod yn gysylltiedig â chau rheilffyrdd ar raddfa fawr a cholli llawer o wasanaethau lleol yn y cyfnod a ddilynodd. Nawr, mae rhai o'r llwybrau hyn wedi ailagor ers hynny. Mae rhai rhannau byr wedi'u cadw fel rheilffyrdd treftadaeth—rheilffordd Gwili, rheilffordd Mynydd Brycheiniog, i enwi ond ychydig ohonynt yng Nghymru—rheilffordd Colwyn, Llangollen. Mae eraill wedi'u hymgorffori mewn rhwydweithiau beicio a cherdded, ac mae'r gweddill naill ai wedi'u troi nôl yn ffermdir naturiol neu'n dal i fod yn ddiffaith.
Nawr, un o'r rheilffyrdd yr effeithiwyd arni gan doriadau Beeching oedd rheilffordd bae Abertawe i'r Rhondda. Pan oedd yn weithredol, roedd y llwybr hwn yn mynd drwy fy etholaeth, o Lansawel, ac mae'n bosib nad yw pobl yn sylweddoli ei fod yn arfer bod yn borthladd enfawr ar un adeg, yn mynd drwy Bort Talbot ac Aberafan i fyny cwm Afan, lle roedd yn rhannu'n nifer o lwybrau eraill. Nawr, roedd y llwybrau hyn angen twneli niferus yn aml, i'w galluogi i deithio i fyny'r cwm a rhwng cymoedd. Mae'r rhan fwyaf bellach yn segur ac wedi'u cau, gan gynnwys twnnel y Gelli, twnnel y Gilfach, twnnel y Cymer i Gaerau, ac un o'r twneli hiraf yn y DU, twnnel y Rhondda, sy'n rhedeg rhwng Blaengwynfi a Blaen-cwm, ac ar y sgriniau fe welwch luniau o rai o nodweddion y twnnel penodol hwnnw. Nawr, caniataodd y rheilffordd honno inni ymuno â'r rheilffyrdd yng nghwm Rhondda. Ac felly mae angen i ni edrych ar seilwaith diwydiannol ledled Cymru fel cyfle i fod yn uchelgeisiol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ni ddylem golli golwg ar yr hyn y mae'r seilweithiau hyn yn ei gynnig i ni.
Nawr, bydd gweddill fy nghyfraniad y prynhawn yma yn canolbwyntio ar y trysorau cudd hyn, ac yn arbennig, twnnel y Rhondda, sy'n gallu cynnig cyfleoedd i gymunedau lleol gael budd o'u hadfywio. Ac mae twnnel y Rhondda yn 3,443 llath o hyd, neu ychydig o dan 2 filltir, 1,000 o droedfeddi o dan y ddaear ar ei ddyfnaf, gyda siafft awyru 58 troedfedd. Ac roedd yn waith enfawr, a chefais fy ngollwng i lawr i'r twnnel drwy'r siafft awyru mewn gwirionedd, a gallwch weld y beirianneg Fictoraidd wych a'i hadeiladodd. Fe'i hadeiladwyd rhwng 1885 a 1890, a'i hagor yn swyddogol ym 1890, ac roedd yn elfen hanfodol o'r rheilffordd honno, gan gysylltu pyllau glo'r Rhondda â'r porthladdoedd a bae Abertawe. Daeth hefyd yn llwybr i deithwyr yn ddiweddarach. Felly, cawsom gyfle, wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen, nid yn unig i gael rheilffordd ddiwydiannol, ond rheilffordd i deithwyr hefyd, i ganiatáu'r cysylltiad hwnnw rhwng y ddwy gymuned. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd y rheilffordd yn llinell ddeuol—os ydych yn gwybod llawer am reilffyrdd—roedd y twnnel ei hun yn llinell sengl ond roedd yn ddeuol yn y ddau ben.
Nawr, yn anffodus, ym 1968, gwnaed penderfyniad i gau'r twnnel dros dro, gan fod angen gwaith i'w atgyweirio. Ond ym mis Rhagfyr 1970, penderfynodd yr Adran Drafnidiaeth gau'r twnnel hwnnw'n barhaol, gan ddweud bod y costau atgyweirio yn waharddol—roedd yn rhyfedd sut roedd yn cyd-daro, mewn gwirionedd, â'r cynlluniau i gau gorsafoedd Blaengwynfi a Blaenrhondda fel rhan o doriadau Beeching. Ni allwn ond tybio mai cyd-ddigwyddiad yn unig ydoedd. Felly, digwyddodd hynny, ac ym 1980, o ganlyniad, caewyd y ddau ben a'u blocio i atal pobl rhag mynd i mewn heb ganiatâd. Oherwydd gwyddom fod yn rhaid iddynt gael eu diogelu, gan fod llawer o blant yn tueddu i gerdded i mewn i lefydd fel twneli fel profiad cyffrous ac mae angen i ni sicrhau ein bod yn eu hamddifyn a'u diogelu.
Nawr, mae bron i 130 o flynyddoedd wedi bod ers agor y twnnel hwnnw. Dyma'r twnnel segur hiraf yng Nghymru, ac mae Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda—gwn fod rhai o'r aelodau yn yr oriel y prynhawn yma—wedi sefydlu eu hunain ac mae ganddynt weledigaeth—gweledigaeth, Ddirprwy Weinidog, rwy'n ei rhannu gyda hwy; gweledigaeth a fydd yn sicrhau bod twnnel y Rhondda'n cael ei gadw ar gyfer dyfodol ein plant, gan ailgysylltu cwm Afan a'r Rhondda Fawr ar gyfer cerddwyr a beicwyr, nid yn unig ar gyfer pobl yn y ddau gwm, ond ar gyfer pobl eraill o fannau eraill a thu hwnt.
Will the Member give way?
A wnaiff yr Aelod ildio?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
Can I just join him in commending the work of all those people who've put the time and effort into the Rhondda tunnel and getting that reopened? We know the progress that's been made, but how much more is still to be done. But I'd also welcome, on the back of that—and I'm sure they would, the Rhondda tunnel people themselves—in the future, the reopening of what is known in engineering circles as the Maesteg tunnel—the Cymmer to Caerau tunnel. And the fascinating thing with that tunnel is that it was done in two different ways. The Caerau end was totally different to the Cymmer end. The Cymmer end was dynamite, which cost the lives of 11 men, but the Caerau end was actually done by the sort of technology that was used then in the Channel tunnel and elsewhere, by a machine that bored the hole. So, there are good, historical reasons to actually open these tunnels as well, as well as what it could do for cycling and recreation.
A gaf fi ymuno ag ef i ganmol gwaith yr holl bobl sydd wedi rhoi o'u hamser a'u hymdrech i ailagor twnnel y Rhondda? Gwyddom am y cynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud, ond faint yn fwy sydd i'w wneud eto. Ond hoffwn groesawu'r cynlluniau, yn sgil hynny—ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai pobl twnnel y Rhondda eu hunain yn eu croesawu hefyd—yn y dyfodol, i ailagor yr hyn a adwaenir mewn cylchoedd peirianneg fel twnnel Maesteg—twnnel y Cymer i Gaerau. A'r peth diddorol am y twnnel hwnnw yw ei fod wedi'i wneud mewn dwy ffordd wahanol. Roedd pen Caerau yn hollol wahanol i ben y Cymer. Dynameit oedd pen y Cymer, a arweiniodd at farwolaeth 11 o ddynion, ond cafodd pen Caerau ei wneud gan ddefnyddio'r math o dechnoleg a ddefnyddiwyd yn nhwnnel y Sianel ac mewn mannau eraill, gan beiriant a dyllodd y twll. Felly, mae rhesymau hanesyddol da dros agor y twneli hyn hefyd, yn ogystal â'r hyn y gallai ei wneud ar gyfer beicio a hamdden.
Can I thank my colleague the Member for Ogmore for highlighting the various tunnels that exist? The Caerau to Cymmer one is one of the ones, clearly, I mentioned earlier. It is one of the tunnels in the Valleys that have been looked at very carefully. You highlighted the point that, in fact, it's not just about what we can do when we regenerate those tunnels, but it's also reminding ourselves of the history of those tunnels and the techniques and technology that were used in developing them.
Now, the ability to offer an experience that will allow people to use existing cycling and walking infrastructure—and the Member actually talked about, in his 90-second statement, cycling today—we should grab hold of that vision and opportunity. For the Afan valley, it would include encouraging cyclists to travel further down the valley—down to the fabulous 3-mile-long beach we've got, and Margam park, and if they're really adventurous, they could cycle along the Swansea bay area, all the way to Mumbles. But it provides an opportunity we need to seriously take hold of. The opportunities are endless, the possibilities are bountiful, and this project can breathe new life into a valley whose people often feel cut off and forgotten about.
I and many others envision the tunnel being the focal point of cycling events and running events, and there have been examples of these happening: Bath tunnels have been one of these cases, where we've seen them being used as a focal point for 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and full marathons. It's not just simply an opportunity to walk through them or cycle through them. They could be used for other events, which bring more into the community. The Richard Burton 10K, which I'll promote—it's on 3 November, by the way, if you want to try it—we get over 1,000 runners into my village on that day, and they stay. And this is an opportunity, again, to look at what it can bring into the Rhondda and Afan valleys. People stay for those visits. So, it's not simply about restoring a tunnel; it's about offering a new vision and a new experience for local people and visitors. I've seen the figures on Bath, and they are phenomenal. But for the wider community, the benefits of people taking part in these events could invigorate the local economy—activity that was severely impacted on following the closure of the mines, which, at that point, provided so much employment to those living in those communities.
There are always challenges to building a vision around our industrial heritage, but in this case, one of the biggest challenges is as a result of the ownership of this and other tunnels. This has currently halted any further development of the Rhondda tunnel. I've written to the Minister as well as raising the matter of ownership here in the Chamber on numerous occasions, and we're no closer to resolving the matter today than we were three years ago. I am grateful for the funding from Welsh Government, and it's already made an important impact on that project. However, without ownership of the tunnel being transferred from the Department for Transport to Wales, this may have all been in vain. Further funding from other sources—and I'm not asking for Welsh Government funding—to complete the work cannot be sought until the ownership has been addressed.
I understand that the Welsh Government is concerned about the liabilities that will be placed at their door. However, you've got to remember that, at the moment, this tunnel is closed off. There are no liabilities, hardly, if a mountain falls in on it with nobody inside it. So, there's not much really to worry about at this point in time. Now, in a letter to myself and my colleague Stephen Kinnock MP, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, who is a transport Minister in London for roads and security, states that the Under-Secretary of State for transport in 2017 wrote to the Welsh Government, stating that the Secretary of State would be willing to transfer the tunnel to Welsh Government ownership and pay the sum of £60,000 to reflect savings for future survey costs—an offer that, I am told, is still open to the Welsh Government. So, the options to explore funding to reopen the tunnel may be explored and we need to very seriously look at this.
Let us have the longest cycle tunnel in Europe—the second longest in the world—open to cyclists and pedestrians, not only for active travel and not only for tourism, but to revitalise our valleys and make Cardiff easily accessible to people in the Afan valley, because at the moment, they have to go to Maesteg and catch the Maesteg train. Wouldn't it be nice if they could cycle through the tunnel and catch a train in Treherbert? Let's be forward thinking and share the vision that I and the Rhondda Tunnel Society have, and many others. Let's have ambition. Deputy Minister, today's debate is an opportunity for you to share a vision with us, a vision to revitalise communities across Wales, to share in the desire of my community, the Afan valley, to see the tunnel open for tourism, economic development and employment. Let's be forward thinking. Let's take a little risk. Let us be ambitious. Let's talk about a gem in the Afan valley for future generations to enjoy and appreciate the history of our industrial past.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'm cyd-Aelod, yr Aelod dros Ogwr, am dynnu sylw at y twneli amrywiol sy'n bodoli? Mae'r twnnel o Caerau i'r Cymer, yn amlwg, yn un o'r rhai y soniais amdanynt yn gynharach. Mae'n un o'r twneli yn y Cymoedd sydd wedi'u hystyried yn ofalus iawn. Fe dynnoch chi sylw at y pwynt, mewn gwirionedd, ei fod yn ymwneud â mwy na'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud pan fyddwn yn adnewyddu'r twneli hynny, mae hefyd yn ein hatgoffa am hanes y twneli hynny a'r technegau a'r dechnoleg a ddefnyddiwyd i'w datblygu.
Nawr, mae'r gallu i gynnig profiad a fydd yn caniatáu i bobl ddefnyddio'r seilwaith beicio a cherdded sy'n bodoli eisoes—a siaradodd yr Aelod am feicio yn ei ddatganiad 90 eiliad heddiw mewn gwirionedd—dylem fachu ar y weledigaeth a'r cyfle hwnnw. Mewn perthynas â chwm Afan, byddai'n cynnwys annog beicwyr i deithio ymhellach i lawr y cwm—i lawr at y traeth gwych 3 milltir o hyd sydd gennym, a pharc Margam, ac os ydynt yn anturus iawn, gallent feicio ar hyd ardal bae Abertawe, yr holl ffordd i'r Mwmbwls. Ond mae'n cynnig cyfle y mae'n rhaid i ni fanteisio o ddifrif arno. Mae'r cyfleoedd yn ddiddiwedd, mae'r posibiliadau'n niferus, a gall y prosiect hwn roi bywyd newydd i gwm lle mae pobl yn aml yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u datgysylltu a'u hanghofio.
Rwyf fi a llawer o bobl eraill yn rhagweld y bydd y twnnel yn ganolbwynt i ddigwyddiadau beicio a rhedeg, a chafwyd enghreifftiau o'r rhain: mae twneli Caerfaddon yn un enghraifft, lle'r ydym wedi'u gweld yn cael eu defnyddio fel canolbwynt ar gyfer rasys 5K, 10K, hanner marathon a marathon llawn. Mae'n fwy na chyfle i gerdded neu feicio drwyddynt. Gellid eu defnyddio ar gyfer digwyddiadau eraill, sy'n denu mwy i'r gymuned. Ras 10K Richard Burton, y byddaf yn ei hyrwyddo—ar 3 Tachwedd, gyda llaw, os ydych am roi cynnig arni—daw dros 1,000 o redwyr i fy mhentref ar y diwrnod hwnnw, ac maent yn aros. Ac mae hwn yn gyfle, unwaith eto, i edrych ar yr hyn y gall ei ddenu i gwm Rhondda a chwm Afan. Mae pobl yn aros ar gyfer yr ymweliadau hynny. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â mwy nag adfer twnnel; mae'n ymwneud â chynnig gweledigaeth newydd a phrofiad newydd i bobl leol ac ymwelwyr. Rwyf wedi gweld y ffigurau ar gyfer Caerfaddon, ac maent yn anhygoel. Ond i'r gymuned ehangach, gallai'r manteision sy'n deillio o bobl yn cymryd rhan yn y digwyddiadau hyn fywiogi'r economi leol—gweithgaredd yr effeithiwyd yn ddifrifol arno ar ôl cau'r pyllau glo, a oedd ar y pryd yn darparu cymaint o waith i'r rhai oedd yn byw yn y cymunedau hynny.
Ceir heriau bob amser wrth adeiladu gweledigaeth o amgylch ein treftadaeth ddiwydiannol, ond yn yr achos hwn, mae un o'r heriau mwyaf yn deillio o berchnogaeth y twnnel hwn a thwneli eraill. Mae hyn wedi atal unrhyw ddatblygu pellach ar dwnnel y Rhondda am y tro. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog yn ogystal â chodi mater perchnogaeth yma yn y Siambr ar sawl achlysur, ac nid ydym yn nes at ddatrys y mater heddiw nag yr oeddem dair blynedd yn ôl. Rwy'n ddiolchgar am yr arian gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae eisoes wedi cael effaith bwysig ar y prosiect hwnnw. Fodd bynnag, heb drosglwyddo perchnogaeth y twnnel o ddwylo'r Adran Drafnidiaeth i Gymru, mae'n bosibl fod hyn i gyd wedi bod yn ofer. Ni ellir dod o hyd i gyllid pellach o ffynonellau eraill—ac nid wyf yn gofyn am gyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru—i gwblhau'r gwaith hyd nes y byddwn wedi mynd i'r afael â mater perchnogaeth.
Rwy'n deall bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn pryderu am faterion atebolrwydd. Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhaid i chi gofio, ar hyn o bryd, fod y twnnel wedi'i gau. Prin fod unrhyw faterion atebolrwydd yn codi pe bai mynydd yn disgyn i mewn arno a neb y tu mewn. Felly, nid oes llawer i boeni yn ei gylch ar hyn o bryd. Nawr, mewn llythyr ataf fi a'm cydweithiwr Stephen Kinnock AS, mae'r Farwnes Vere o Norbiton, sy'n Weinidog trafnidiaeth yn Llundain dros ffyrdd a diogelwch, yn datgan bod yr Is-Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros drafnidiaeth wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2017 i ddweud y byddai'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn barod i drosglwyddo'r twnnel i berchnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru a thalu'r swm o £60,000 i adlewyrchu'r arbedion ar gostau arolygon yn y dyfodol—cynnig sy'n dal yn agored i Lywodraeth Cymru yn ôl yr hyn a ddywedir wrthyf. Felly, efallai y bydd yr opsiynau i archwilio'r cyllid i ailagor y twnnel yn cael eu harchwilio ac mae angen inni edrych ar hyn o ddifrif.
Gadewch i ni gael y twnnel beicio hiraf yn Ewrop—yr ail hiraf yn y byd—yn agored i feicwyr a cherddwyr, nid yn unig ar gyfer teithio llesol ac nid yn unig ar gyfer twristiaeth, ond er mwyn adfywio ein cymoedd a sicrhau bod Caerdydd ar gael yn rhwydd i bobl yng nghwm Afan, oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, mae'n rhaid iddynt fynd i Faesteg a dal trên Maesteg. Oni fyddai'n braf pe gallent feicio drwy'r twnnel a dal trên yn Nhreherbert? Gadewch i ni fod yn flaengar a rhannu'r weledigaeth sydd gennyf fi a Chymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda, ynghyd â llawer o rai eraill. Gadewch i ni gael uchelgais. Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae'r ddadl heddiw yn gyfle i chi rannu gweledigaeth gyda ni, gweledigaeth i adfywio cymunedau ledled Cymru, i rannu awydd fy nghymuned, cwm Afan, i agor y twnnel ar gyfer twristiaeth, datblygu economaidd a chyflogaeth. Gadewch i ni feddwl am y dyfodol. Gadewch inni gymryd ychydig o risg. Gadewch inni fod yn uchelgeisiol. Gadewch i ni sôn am y trysor sydd yng nghwm Afan er mwyn i genedlaethau'r dyfodol fwynhau a gwerthfawrogi hanes ein gorffennol diwydiannol.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
North Wales is blessed with a rich and diverse network of historic industrial infrastructure. The too-often-forgotten heroes in local groups striving to maximise the economic and social regeneration this represents deserve recognition and support. They battle daily with the practical and financial challenges of bringing such infrastructure back into community use. Instead of Welsh Government ownership, they seek real partnership with Governments in exploring and delivering the practical opportunities for reopening such infrastructure.
The Pontcysyllte aqueduct is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain and the highest canal aqueduct in the world. After it was awarded world heritage status in 2009, the Welsh Government then said it was creating a working group to establish north-east Wales as a joined-up visitor destination around the aqueduct, with the third sector represented by Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal and River Trust. We're still waiting a decade later, and other third sector heritage groups tell me that they've not been engaged.
Speaking here last year, I referred to the Channel 4 screening of the final episode of the Great Rail Restorations series, promoting the wonderful railway setting between Llangollen and Carrog, but now going to Corwen as well, and the efforts of all those on the voluntary trust there involved. As I then said, we still need a joined-up tourism offer, with through ticketing enabling regional visitors to extend their stays and have the fantastic time we know they can have.
Llangollen Railway have repeatedly said they'd like to embark on joint ticketing with the bus companies and other railways in their area. Their through ticketing proposals also relate to wider destination management and to destination offers that develop visitor experience by partnering with other venues and industrial heritage attractions in the region. Llangollen Railway are one of the biggest employers in the area and the only standard gauge heritage railway in north Wales. They're extending the line to Corwen and building a new station there as their western terminus, which will help both open up Corwen town to many more visitors and help local people travel between Llangollen and Corwen. This project has been entirely volunteer led with professional support as and when required.
The Glyn valley tramway was a narrow gauge railway connecting Chirk with Glyn Ceiriog and the Glyn valley tramway trust are working towards a recreation of the tramway from Chirk. Speaking here in 2014, and again last year, I called on the Welsh Government to consider supporting the reopening of the rail line from Gaerwen to Llangefni as a heritage connection. Last month, I visited Welsh Slate in Bethesda, which dates back over 400 years. I've worked for many years with Brymbo heritage group and trust, which works to promote the industrial history of Brymbo and adjacent areas and develop the site as a visitor attraction, including the ironworks' core buildings and Brymbo fossil forest.
Shotton Point represents an important part of the heritage of Deeside, particularly in relation to steel making. The Victorian Society included the former office building of John Summers steelworks, including its iconic grade II listed clock tower, on its 2018 top 10 endangered buildings list. I recently visited the non-profit Enbarr foundation in Queensferry to discuss their exciting Shotton Point John Summers site project, bringing local people, businesses and community organisations together to plan, develop and build the future of the site.
The area between Wrexham and Mold, where I live, was once the site of many collieries. The Llay miners heritage centre is dedicated to telling the story of the coal-mining history in north-east Wales. North East Wales Heritage Forum celebrates, conserves and promotes the region's rich heritage, and I attended their Wrexham heritage fair on 27 July. The Romans mined lead at Halkyn, sandstone was quarried at Gwespyr and industrial initiatives centred on the Greenfield valley, ranging from copper to cotton, are an exemplar of the industrial revolution. I commend the guided heritage walks through Greenfield valley and visits to its heritage park. I also attended Northop Heritage Group's history day on 21 September, which ranged from coaching routes to brick making, in Buckley.
Later this month, Theatr Clwyd's performances of the Mold riots 150 years ago will remember the social unrest after two coal miners were sentenced to prison for attacking the manager of Leeswood Green colliery, which influenced the future of policing of public disturbances across Great Britain. Taking all this together, it is now time for Welsh Government to turn words into action by bringing all this people power together to unlock the potential for regional industrial heritage-led regeneration. Thank you.
Mae gogledd Cymru wedi'i bendithio â rhwydwaith cyfoethog ac amrywiol o seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol. Mae'r arwyr a anghofir yn rhy aml mewn grwpiau lleol sy'n ymdrechu i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar yr adfywio economaidd a chymdeithasol a ddaw yn sgil y seilwaith hwn yn haeddu cydnabyddiaeth a chefnogaeth. Maent yn brwydro bob dydd gyda'r heriau ymarferol ac ariannol o sicrhau y gall seilwaith o'r fath gael ei ddefnyddio gan y gymuned unwaith eto. Yn hytrach na pherchnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, maent yn chwilio am bartneriaeth wirioneddol â Llywodraethau wrth archwilio a darparu'r cyfleoedd ymarferol ar gyfer ailagor seilwaith o'r fath.
Traphont ddŵr Pontcysyllte yw'r draphont ddŵr hiraf ym Mhrydain a'r draphont ddŵr camlas uchaf yn y byd. Ar ôl ennill statws treftadaeth y byd yn 2009, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei bod yn creu gweithgor i sefydlu gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru fel cyrchfan ar gyfer ymwelwyr o gwmpas y draphont ddŵr, gyda'r trydydd sector wedi'i gynrychioli gan Glandŵr Cymru, yr ymddiriedolaeth gamlesi ac afonydd. Rydym yn dal i aros ddegawd yn ddiweddarach, ac mae grwpiau treftadaeth eraill y trydydd sector yn dweud wrthyf nad ymgysylltwyd â hwy.
Wrth siarad yma y llynedd, cyfeiriais at bennod olaf cyfres Great Rail Restorations a ymddangosodd ar Channel 4, rhaglen a hyrwyddai'r rheilffordd wych rhwng Llangollen a Charrog, ond mae bellach yn mynd i Gorwen hefyd, ac ymdrechion pawb a oedd yn rhan o'r ymddiriedolaeth wirfoddol. Fel y dywedais ar y pryd, rydym angen cynnig twristiaeth cydgysylltiedig, gyda thocynnau drwodd i alluogi ymwelwyr rhanbarthol i ymestyn eu harosiadau a chael yr amser gwych y gwyddom y gallant ei gael.
Mae Rheilffordd Llangollen wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro eu bod yn dymuno cynnig tocynnau ar y cyd â'r cwmnïau bysiau a rheilffyrdd eraill yn eu hardal. Mae eu cynigion ar gyfer tocynnau drwodd hefyd yn ymwneud â rheoli cyrchfannau yn ehangach a chyrchfannau sy'n datblygu profiad ymwelwyr drwy bartneru gyda lleoliadau eraill ac atyniadau treftadaeth ddiwydiannol yn y rhanbarth. Mae Rheilffordd Llangollen yn un o'r cyflogwyr mwyaf yn yr ardal a'r unig reilffordd dreftadaeth led safonol yng ngogledd Cymru. Maent yn ymestyn y rheilffordd i Gorwen ac yn adeiladu gorsaf newydd yno fel eu terfynfa orllewinol, a fydd yn helpu i agor tref Corwen i fwy o ymwelwyr ac yn helpu pobl leol i deithio rhwng Llangollen a Chorwen. Arweiniwyd y prosiect hwn yn gyfan gwbl gan wirfoddolwyr gyda chymorth proffesiynol yn ôl yr angen.
Roedd tramffordd dyffryn Glyn yn rheilffordd gul a gysylltai'r Waun â Glyn Ceiriog ac mae ymddiriedolaeth tramffordd dyffryn Glyn yn gweithio tuag at ailsefydlu'r dramffordd o'r Waun. Wrth siarad yma yn 2014, ac eto y llynedd, gelwais ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ystyried cefnogi cynlluniau i ailagor y rheilffordd o'r Gaerwen i Langefni fel cyswllt treftadaeth. Fis diwethaf, ymwelais â Welsh Slate ym Methesda, sy'n dyddio'n ôl dros 400 o flynyddoedd. Ers blynyddoedd lawer, rwyf wedi gweithio gydag ymddiriedolaeth a grŵp treftadaeth Brymbo, sy'n gweithio i hyrwyddo hanes diwydiannol Brymbo ac ardaloedd cyfagos a datblygu'r safle fel atyniad i ymwelwyr, gan gynnwys adeiladau craidd y gwaith haearn a choedwig ffosil Brymbo.
Mae Shotton Point yn rhan bwysig o dreftadaeth Glannau Dyfrdwy, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â chynhyrchu dur. Roedd y Gymdeithas Fictoraidd yn cynnwys hen swyddfa gwaith dur John Summers, gan gynnwys ei thŵr cloc rhestredig gradd II eiconig, ar eu rhestr 10 uchaf ar gyfer adeiladau a oedd mewn perygl yn 2018. Yn ddiweddar, ymwelais â sefydliad dielw Enbarr yn Queensferry i drafod eu prosiect safle cyffrous yn John Summers, Shotton Point, sy'n dod â phobl leol, busnesau a mudiadau cymunedol at ei gilydd i gynllunio, datblygu ac adeiladu dyfodol y safle.
Roedd yr ardal rhwng Wrecsam a'r Wyddgrug, lle rwy'n byw, yn cynnwys llawer o byllau glo ar un adeg. Mae canolfan dreftadaeth glowyr Llai wedi ymroi i adrodd hanes y diwydiant glo yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru. Mae Fforwm Treftadaeth Gogledd Ddwyrain Cymru yn dathlu, yn gwarchod ac yn hyrwyddo treftadaeth gyfoethog y rhanbarth, a mynychais eu ffair dreftadaeth yn Wrecsam ar 27 Gorffennaf. Bu'r Rhufeiniaid yn cloddio plwm yn Helygain, cloddiwyd am dywodfaen yng Ngwespyr ac mae mentrau diwydiannol yn nyffryn Maes-glas, yn amrywio o gopr i gotwm, yn darlunio'r chwyldro diwydiannol. Rwy'n cymeradwyo'r teithiau treftadaeth drwy ddyffryn Maes-glas ac ymweliadau â'i barc treftadaeth. Hefyd, mynychais ddiwrnod hanes Grŵp Treftadaeth Llaneurgain ar 21 Medi, a oedd yn amrywio o lwybrau dyddiau'r goetsh fawr i wneud brics, ym Mwcle.
Yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn, bydd perfformiadau Theatr Clwyd o derfysgoedd yr Wyddgrug 150 o flynyddoedd yn ôl yn cofio'r aflonyddwch cymdeithasol ar ôl i ddau löwr gael eu dedfrydu i garchar am ymosod ar reolwr pwll glo Leeswood Green, digwyddiad a ddylanwadodd ar ddyfodol plismona aflonyddwch cyhoeddus ar draws Prydain. Gyda'i gilydd, dengys hyn oll ei bod hi'n bryd i Lywodraeth Cymru droi geiriau'n gamau gweithredu drwy ddod â phŵer yr holl bobl hyn at ei gilydd i ddatgloi'r potensial ar gyfer adfywio rhanbarthol a arweinir gan y dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol. Diolch yn fawr.
It's not often that I agree entirely with something from Members from other political parties, but this is one of those occasions. I would also like to place on record my support for opening the Abernant tunnel in the Cynon valley, and any other tunnel in Wales that would prove beneficial for the local communities that it would serve.
As a Member for the Rhondda, I'm sure you would expect me to focus on that constituency for the rest of my contribution. There are undoubted positive impacts that the tunnel between Blaencwm and Blaengwynfi could have for the Rhondda. When the Rhondda Tunnel Society was formed in 2014, their determination, enthusiasm and momentum were admirable. I'm a member of the Rhondda Tunnel Society, so I must declare an interest as well as declare my staunch support for the society in this debate.
While much has been achieved in the time that they've been set up, their efforts have been hampered by this question of ownership. I've got letters going back more than three years, asking the Welsh Government to take responsibility for this asset so that the project can move to the next stage, and I can't tell you how frustrating it is that this matter has not been resolved as we approach 2020. I know that that frustration is shared by the very patient and forgiving members of the Rhondda Tunnel Society.
The members of the society are not looking for a blank cheque from the Welsh Government or any admission of liability. They are more than willing to accept any arrangement that absolves the Welsh Government of financial expense just so that they can have the tunnel back where it belongs, in Welsh hands. This will allow them, then, to apply for grants and funding from other sources. Without this ownership matter resolved, we remain in a deadlock.
We know that there's no obstruction coming from England over the tunnel's ownership. I established three years ago that they had no objections to giving back the tunnel to Wales. I also understand that correspondence was sent to the Welsh Government in 2017 from the UK Department for Transport offering ownership of the Rhondda tunnel and £60,000 to reflect savings to that department in survey costs. The UK Department for Transport are still waiting for a reply to that offer. So, I really hope we can end the stalling now and make some progress.
The Rhondda tunnel could be the catalyst for the cycle infrastructure that we've been crying out for in the Rhondda Fawr for years. It would help promote activity, thus tackling the obesity epidemic that we face as a society. It would also facilitate car-free local journeys, helping us to fulfil our responsibility to reduce the carbon that we emit into the atmosphere. It has the potential to be a big draw for tourists—not just cyclists, but also walkers. Just imagine the boost that this could provide for local businesses. Other countries have maximised their cycle tourism, and it's time that Wales did the same. So, whilst the last three years have been something of a wasted opportunity as far as the ownership question is concerned, it's not too late to see this project succeed. Let's grasp the opportunity that is presented to us from the legacy of our industrial past and put it to good use.
Nid yn aml y cytunaf yn llwyr â rhywbeth gan Aelodau o bleidiau gwleidyddol eraill, ond mae hwn yn un o'r achlysuron hynny. Hoffwn hefyd gofnodi fy nghefnogaeth i agor twnnel Aber-nant yng nghwm Cynon, ac unrhyw dwnnel arall yng Nghymru a fyddai'n fuddiol i'r cymunedau lleol y byddai'n eu gwasanaethu.
Fel Aelod dros y Rhondda, rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn disgwyl i mi ganolbwyntio ar yr etholaeth honno am weddill fy nghyfraniad. Gallai'r twnnel rhwng Blaen-cwm a Blaengwynfi sicrhau effeithiau cadarnhaol diamheuol ar gyfer y Rhondda. Pan ffurfiwyd Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda yn 2014, roedd eu penderfyniad, eu brwdfrydedd a'u momentwm yn ganmoladwy. Rwy'n aelod o Gymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda, felly mae'n rhaid i mi ddatgan buddiant yn ogystal â datgan fy nghefnogaeth gadarn i'r gymdeithas yn y ddadl hon.
Er bod llawer wedi'i gyflawni ers iddi gael ei sefydlu, mae'r cwestiwn o berchenogaeth wedi llesteirio'u hymdrechion. Mae gennyf lythyrau sy'n dyddio'n ôl fwy na thair blynedd yn gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru gymryd cyfrifoldeb am yr ased hwn er mwyn i'r prosiect allu symud i'r cam nesaf, ac ni allaf ddweud wrthych pa mor rhwystredig yw hi nad yw'r mater hwn wedi'i ddatrys a ninnau'n nesáu at 2020. Gwn fod aelodau tra amyneddgar a maddeugar Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda yn rhannu'r rhwystredigaeth honno.
Nid yw aelodau'r gymdeithas yn chwilio am siec wag gan Lywodraeth Cymru nac unrhyw addefiad o atebolrwydd. Maent yn fwy na pharod i dderbyn unrhyw drefniant sy'n rhyddhau Llywodraeth Cymru o gost ariannol fel y gallant sicrhau bod y twnnel yn ôl lle mae'n perthyn, mewn dwylo Cymreig. Bydd hyn yn caniatáu iddynt wneud cais wedyn am grantiau a chyllid o ffynonellau eraill. Os na chaiff y mater perchnogaeth ei ddatrys, byddwn yn parhau i fethu gwneud dim.
Gwyddom nad oes unrhyw rwystr o gyfeiriad Lloegr o ran perchnogaeth y twnnel. Dair blynedd yn ôl, sefydlais nad oedd ganddynt unrhyw wrthwynebiad i roi'r twnnel yn ôl i Gymru. Rwyf hefyd yn deall bod Adran Drafnidiaeth y DU wedi anfon gohebiaeth at Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2017 yn cynnig perchnogaeth twnnel y Rhondda a £60,000 i adlewyrchu arbedion i'r adran honno mewn costau arolygon. Mae Adran Drafnidiaeth y DU yn dal i aros am ateb i'r cynnig hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y gallwn roi terfyn ar y oedi yn awr a gwneud rhywfaint o gynnydd.
Gallai twnnel y Rhondda fod yn gatalydd i'r seilwaith beicio rydym wedi bod yn crefu amdano yn Rhondda Fawr ers blynyddoedd. Byddai'n helpu i hyrwyddo gweithgaredd, gan fynd i'r afael â'r epidemig o ordewdra a wynebwn fel cymdeithas. Byddai hefyd yn hwyluso teithiau lleol di-gar, gan ein helpu i gyflawni ein cyfrifoldeb i leihau'r carbon rydym yn ei allyrru i'r atmosffer. Mae ganddo'r potensial i fod yn atyniad mawr i dwristiaid—nid beicwyr yn unig, ond cerddwyr hefyd. Dychmygwch yr hwb y gallai ei roi i fusnesau lleol. Mae gwledydd eraill wedi manteisio i'r eithaf ar eu twristiaeth feicio, ac mae'n bryd i Gymru wneud yr un peth. Felly, er bod y tair blynedd diwethaf wedi bod yn wastraff cyfle o ran y cwestiwn perchnogaeth, nid yw'n rhy hwyr i weld y prosiect hwn yn llwyddo. Beth am fachu ar y cyfle a gyflwynir i ni o waddol ein gorffennol diwydiannol a gwneud defnydd da ohono.
I'm so pleased to have been able to have co-tabled today's motion, tabled in the name of my colleague the AM for Aberavon and also co-tabled with Leanne Wood. Both David Rees and Leanne Wood have been real champions of the Rhondda tunnel, and I thank them for their support for my call for the Abernant tunnel, and also to members of the Rhondda Tunnel Society who have offered their expertise and all sorts of advice to us in the Cynon Valley regarding that too.
Rwyf mor falch fy mod wedi gallu cyd-gyflwyno'r cynnig heddiw, a gyflwynwyd yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod yr AC dros Aberafan a'i gyd-gyflwyno hefyd gyda Leanne Wood. Bu David Rees a Leanne Wood yn hyrwyddwyr go iawn dros dwnnel y Rhondda, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iddynt am eu cefnogaeth i fy ngalwad mewn perthynas â thwnnel Aber-nant, yn ogystal ag aelodau Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda a gynigiodd eu harbenigedd a phob math o gyngor i ni ar hynny yng Nghwm Cynon.
I want to spend the bulk of my time talking about the Abernant tunnel that connects Cwmbach to Merthyr or, as it is known locally, the Merthyr tunnel. This former railway tunnel, designed by Brunel, was part of the Vale of Neath Railway and is one strand, one branch, of the rich network of historic industrial infrastructure that we enjoy in Wales. Indeed, for 110 years, the main role of this amazing structure was to export coal from the Aberdare area to meet demand further afield. This reminds us of one of the negative aspects of that heritage, and of the industrial revolutions themselves: the precious mineral deposits, the struggle and toil of working men, the natural environment, all exploited for the enrichment of the few.
However, as the second point of the motion sets out, reopening these tunnels could provide opportunities for real, lasting benefits for the many, firstly, in terms of integrated transport and active travel opportunities. The walking and cycling charity, Sustrans, did a piece of work looking at the 21 disused railway tunnels in south-east Wales. They found that the Abernant tunnel scored highest under the Sustrans route assessment and transport evaluation tool.
As the Deputy Minister knows, this is their mechanism for evaluating the potential of walking and cycling schemes. And as Sustrans noted, it could provide a direct, traffic-free active travel route from Aberdare to Merthyr, and this is something that we don’t have at present. Indeed, I know of many constituents who cycle alongside the A465 Heads of the Valleys road as there is no real alternative, partly on a cycle path and partly on a rough grass verge in order to commute to work. So, the potential is there.
It has, as the Sustrans report says, the highest potential of all the routes analysed to encourage modal shift by encouraging commuting. It was just today that my colleague, the AM for Ogmore, Huw Irranca-Davies, noted that since the advent of the active travel Act in Wales, we've actually seen a decline in people walking and cycling. I see these tunnels as really being a catalyst that could turn that around and bring the active travel Act to life.
It could boost health and well-being, as other colleagues in this debate have noted, especially amongst children and older people too. The tunnel itself connects with a series of footpaths that are very well used on the Cwmbach side already for cycling, walking and dog walking, and also on the Merthyr side the path links very closely to BikePark Wales. So, there are tourist opportunities there as well, and the practical benefits that it would bring to linking in areas of high deprivation and population density.
The Sustrans report also suggested that the tunnel was in a very viable condition, meaning that it would present a reasonable option in terms of cost-benefit analysis too. That's something that I saw for myself when I was treated to a tour of the tunnel alongside my colleague, the AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Dawn Bowden. The tunnel, which is gated at either end, as you may have seen in some of the images that were shown earlier, has been really well maintained, with over £100,000 of investment in the interior to make sure that it is in a safe and viable condition.
In this regard, it gives me the chance to pay tribute to the work of Hammond ECS Ltd. They're a specialist structural maintenance company who are actually based in the village of Cwmbach in my constituency. They have a key role to play, this family-run business, in ensuring that not only the Abernant tunnel, but also the rest of the network—which, as we know, is currently owned by Highways England—has been kept in a suitable condition, because they hold the contracts to do just that.
This, for me, is another important strand of the argument in favour of repurposing the tunnels, for not only would opening these tunnels offer transport opportunities, but they offer also chances for economic development and regeneration, as the motion mentions, and business opportunities for companies like Hammond ECS, companies employing local people in skilled jobs. Sustrans, indeed, cite a figure of 0.74 jobs for every kilometre of active travel route created. When we look at other tunnels that have been converted, such as the Two Tunnels Greenway in Somerset, people have flocked from all over to celebrate their opening.
Rwyf am dreulio'r rhan fwyaf o fy amser yn sôn am dwnnel Aber-nant sy'n cysylltu Cwm-bach â Merthyr, neu dwnnel Merthyr, fel y'i gelwir yn lleol. Roedd yr hen dwnnel rheilffordd hwn, a gynlluniwyd gan Brunel, yn rhan o Reilffordd Cwm Nedd ac mae'n un edefyn, un gangen, o'r rhwydwaith cyfoethog o seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol rydym yn ei fwynhau yng Nghymru. Yn wir, am 110 o flynyddoedd, prif swyddogaeth y strwythur rhyfeddol hwn oedd allforio glo o ardal Aberdâr i fodloni'r galw ymhellach i ffwrdd. Mae hyn yn ein hatgoffa o un o agweddau negyddol y dreftadaeth honno, ac o'r chwyldroadau diwydiannol eu hunain: y dyddodion mwynol gwerthfawr, brwydr a llafur y gweithwyr, yr amgylchedd naturiol, i gyd yn cael eu hecsbloetio er mwyn cyfoethogi'r lleiafrif.
Fodd bynnag, fel y mae ail bwynt y cynnig yn ei nodi, gallai ailagor y twneli hyn ddarparu cyfleoedd ar gyfer manteision gwirioneddol a pharhaol i'r lliaws, yn gyntaf, o ran trafnidiaeth integredig a chyfleoedd teithio llesol. Gwnaeth yr elusen cerdded a beicio, Sustrans, waith a edrychai ar yr 21 o dwneli rheilffordd nas defnyddir yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru. Canfuwyd mai twnnel Aber-nant a sgoriodd uchaf o dan offeryn asesu llwybrau a gwerthuso trafnidiaeth Sustrans.
Fel y gŵyr y Dirprwy Weinidog, dyma'u dull o werthuso potensial cynlluniau cerdded a beicio. Ac fel y nododd Sustrans, gallai ddarparu llwybr teithio llesol uniongyrchol a di-draffig o Aberdâr i Ferthyr, rhywbeth nad oes gennym ar hyn o bryd. Yn wir, gwn am lawer o etholwyr sy'n beicio ar hyd ochr ffordd A465 Blaenau'r Cymoedd gan nad oes dewis arall mewn gwirionedd, yn rhannol ar lwybr beicio ac yn rhannol ar lain o borfa arw wrth ymyl y ffordd er mwyn cymudo i'r gwaith. Felly, mae potensial yno.
Fel y dywed adroddiad Sustrans, hwn sydd â'r potensial uchaf o'r holl lwybrau a ddadansoddwyd i annog newid moddol drwy annog cymudo. Dim ond heddiw y nododd fy nghyd-Aelod, yr AC dros Ogwr, Huw Irranca-Davies, ein bod, mewn gwirionedd, ers dyfodiad y Ddeddf teithio llesol yng Nghymru, wedi gweld gostyngiad yn nifer y bobl sy'n cerdded ac yn beicio. Rwy'n ystyried y twneli hyn fel catalyddion a allai newid hynny'n llwyr a dod â'r Ddeddf teithio llesol yn fyw.
Gallai hybu iechyd a llesiant, fel y mae cyd-Aelodau eraill wedi'i nodi yn y ddadl hon, yn enwedig ymhlith plant a phobl hŷn hefyd. Mae'r twnnel ei hun yn cysylltu â chyfres o lwybrau cerdded ar ochr Cwm-bach sydd eisoes yn cael defnydd da iawn o ran beicio, cerdded a cherdded cŵn, a hefyd, ar ochr Merthyr, mae'r llwybr yn cysylltu'n agos iawn â BikePark Wales. Felly, mae cyfleoedd i dwristiaid yn y fan honno hefyd, a'r manteision ymarferol a fyddai'n dod yn sgil cysylltu ag ardaloedd difreintiedig iawn a dwysedd poblogaeth uchel.
Awgrymodd adroddiad Sustrans hefyd fod y twnnel mewn cyflwr hyfyw iawn, gan olygu y byddai'n opsiwn rhesymol o ran dadansoddiad cost a budd hefyd. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth a welais drosof fy hun pan gefais fynd ar daith i weld y twnnel gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, yr AC dros Ferthyr Tudful a Rhymni, Dawn Bowden. Mae'r twnnel, sydd â giât ar y naill ben a'r llall, fel rydych wedi'i weld mewn rhai o'r lluniau a ddangoswyd yn gynharach o bosibl, wedi'i gynnal yn dda iawn, gyda buddsoddiad o dros £100,000 ar y tu mewn i sicrhau ei fod mewn cyflwr diogel a hyfyw.
Yn hynny o beth, mae'n rhoi cyfle i mi dalu teyrnged i waith Hammond ECS Ltd, cwmni cynnal a chadw strwythurol arbenigol sydd wedi'i leoli ym mhentref Cwm-bach yn fy etholaeth. Mae ganddynt rôl allweddol i'w chwarae, y busnes teuluol hwn, yn sicrhau bod twnnel Aber-nant, a gweddill y rhwydwaith hefyd—sydd, fel y gwyddom, yn eiddo i Highways England ar hyn o bryd—wedi'i gadw mewn cyflwr addas, gan mai hwy a gafodd eu contractio i wneud hynny.
Mae hyn, i mi, yn elfen bwysig arall o'r ddadl o blaid adfer y twneli, oherwydd nid yn unig y byddai agor y twneli hyn yn cynnig cyfleoedd trafnidiaeth, ond maent hefyd yn cynnig cyfleoedd ar gyfer adfywio a datblygu economaidd, fel y mae'r cynnig yn nodi, a chyfleoedd busnes i gwmnïau fel Hammond ECS, cwmnïau sy'n cyflogi pobl leol mewn swyddi medrus. Yn wir, mae Sustrans yn nodi ffigur o 0.74 o swyddi ar gyfer pob cilometr o lwybr teithio llesol a grëir. Pan edrychwn ar dwneli eraill a addaswyd, megis Two Tunnels Greenway yng Ngwlad yr Haf, mae pobl wedi heidio o bob cwr i ddathlu eu hagoriad.
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
So, I hope that we can see progress on these ambitions and convert these symbols of nineteenth-century industrialism into one of twenty-first century sustainable prosperity.
Felly, gobeithiaf y gallwn weld cynnydd ar yr uchelgeisiau hyn a throi'r symbolau hyn o ddiwydiannaeth y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg yn symbolau o ffyniant cynaliadwy'r unfed ganrif ar hugain.
I must say, when this debate appeared on the order paper, I was intrigued by the title of the debate and I've enjoyed the opportunity we've had this afternoon to share some of our memories, in some cases, but also our ambitions and aspirations for reinventing the communities in which we live. Because when I think about the industrial architecture or the industrial infrastructure that I grew up with, it speaks to us of who we are as a people today.
I grew up and went to school in the shadows of the Sirhowy ironworks, one of the biggest ironworks in Wales, when it was established at the end of the eighteenth century. I played rugby and football on fields in the shadows of the nine arches, which, of course, carried the Heads of the Valleys railway from Tredegar to Merthyr and then down to Abergavenny. And what it did, of course, was to tell us not just of the big, massive, global economic forces that shaped the economy of south Wales, but it also taught us about how we are linked and connected to each other. I think, in all sorts of different political debates, all too often we try to focus on those things that divide us from each other, but what our industrial infrastructure tells me is how we're all linked together. We spoke in a debate earlier in the year about how the Bryn Oer tramroad links Talybont in Breconshire with Trefil and with Tredegar, but look across a couple of Valleys into Brynmawr, and you also have the Disgwylfa tramroad, which took materials from the Llangattock quarries in Breconshire, again, in the Usk valley, to Nantyglo and which Bailey used then in making iron in creating the Nantyglo ironworks. These are important linkages that exist today. I can cycle along the Bryn Oer tramroad, I've walked along the Disgwylfa tramroad, and you can understand our history and understand who we are as a people and a community.
Last Friday, I was lucky enough to join a group of residents from Llanhilleth who had reopened somewhere called Granny's Wood. Now, the granny in question's name was Margaret Griffiths and she enabled her grandchildren, who were there last week, as it happens, to play on an area of land that had previously been the Llanhilleth quarry. If you walk down—you don't find it unless you're looking for it—from the old pithead baths to where the shafts actually were, the old pitheads down the Burma road, as they described it, that the colliers would walk up, of course, at the end of the shift, and then along the pathway that miners would walk on to and from work when the Llanhilleth pits were at their height, of course, there would have been hundreds of men walking back and forth there every day. Today, it's a peaceful and tranquil and rediscovered part of our heritage and our places, and I hope that we'll be able to look towards ensuring as part of the Valleys Regional Park that these experiences, these places, these histories and these linkages become part of who we're going to be as well.
The understanding of history, I believe, is absolutely fundamental to the future of public policy. When I think about how these different tramways, railways and roads have linked us, I also think of something else, which is a much older form of transport, of course, and that is our rivers. It hasn't been mentioned in the debate this afternoon, and our rivers, particularly in south Wales, rarely are, but if you ever speak to Councillor Malcolm Cross in Tredegar, he will talk about how he believes that the rivers of south Wales are our great neglected asset. And, do you know what? I think he's right. If you look at Vale Terrace in Tredegar, it's built facing the river because the river at that time was one of the primary forms of transport, before we used canals and—. I'll take an intervention.
Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, pan ymddangosodd y ddadl hon ar y papur trefn, roedd teitl y ddadl yn ennyn fy chwilfrydedd ac rwyf wedi mwynhau'r cyfle a gawsom y prynhawn yma i rannu rhai o'n hatgofion, mewn rhai achosion, ond hefyd ein huchelgeisiau a'n dyheadau ar gyfer ailddyfeisio'r cymunedau rydym yn byw ynddynt. Oherwydd pan fyddaf yn meddwl am y bensaernïaeth ddiwydiannol a'r seilwaith diwydiannol y cefais fy magu gyda hwy, mae'n dweud cyfrolau am bwy ydym ni fel pobl heddiw.
Cefais fy magu, a mynychais yr ysgol, yng nghysgod gwaith haearn Sirhywi, un o'r gweithfeydd haearn mwyaf yng Nghymru pan gafodd ei sefydlu ar ddiwedd y ddeunawfed ganrif. Roeddwn yn chwarae rygbi a phêl-droed ar gaeau yng nghysgod y naw bwa, a oedd, wrth gwrs, yn cario rheilffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd o Dredegar i Ferthyr ac yna i lawr i'r Fenni. A'r hyn a wnaeth, wrth gwrs, oedd ein dysgu, nid yn unig am y grymoedd economaidd mawr, enfawr, byd-eang a luniodd economi de Cymru, ond hefyd fe'n dysgodd sut rydym wedi ein cysylltu â'n gilydd. Mewn llawer o wahanol ddadleuon gwleidyddol, credaf ein bod yn aml yn ceisio canolbwyntio ar y pethau sy'n ein rhannu, ond yr hyn y mae ein seilwaith diwydiannol yn ei ddweud wrthyf yw sut y mae pob un ohonom yn gysylltiedig â'n gilydd. Buom yn siarad mewn dadl yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn ynglŷn â'r modd y mae tramffordd Bryn Oer yn cysylltu Tal-y-bont yn sir Frycheiniog â Threfil a Thredegar, ond os edrychwch ar draws un neu ddau o'r Cymoedd tuag at Fryn-mawr, mae gennych dramffordd Disgwylfa hefyd, a oedd yn cario deunyddiau o chwareli Llangatwg yn sir Frycheiniog, unwaith eto, yn nyffryn Wysg, i Nant-y-glo, ac a ddefnyddiwyd wedyn gan Bailey i greu gwaith haearn Nant-y-glo. Mae'r rhain yn gysylltiadau pwysig sy'n bodoli heddiw. Rwy'n gallu beicio ar hyd tramffordd Bryn Oer, rwyf wedi cerdded ar hyd tramffordd Disgwylfa, a gallwch ddeall ein hanes a deall pwy ydym fel pobl a chymuned.
Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, roeddwn yn ddigon lwcus i ymuno â grŵp o drigolion o Lanhiledd a oedd wedi ailagor lle o'r enw Granny's Wood. Nawr, enw'r nain dan sylw oedd Margaret Griffiths ac fe alluogodd hi ei hwyrion a'i hwyresau, a oedd yno yr wythnos diwethaf, fel mae'n digwydd, i chwarae ar ddarn o dir a oedd yn arfer bod yn rhan o chwarel Llanhiledd gynt. Os cerddwch i lawr—ni allwch ddod o hyd iddo oni bai eich bod yn chwilio amdano—o'r hen olchfeydd pen pwll i ble'r oedd y siafftiau, yr hen ben pyllau i lawr ffordd Burma, fel roeddent yn ei disgrifio, lle byddai'r glowyr yn cerdded ar hyd-ddi, wrth gwrs, ar ddiwedd y sifft, ac yna ar hyd y llwybr y byddai'r glowyr yn cerdded arno i ac o'r gwaith pan oedd pyllau Llanhiledd ar eu hanterth, wrth gwrs, byddai cannoedd o ddynion wedi bod yn cerdded yn ôl ac ymlaen yno bob dydd. Heddiw, mae'n rhan heddychlon a thawel o'n treftadaeth a'n lleoedd a ail-ddarganfuwyd gennym, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn gallu sicrhau, fel rhan o Barc Rhanbarthol y Cymoedd, fod y profiadau hyn, y lleoedd hyn, yr hanesion hyn a'r cysylltiadau hyn yn dod yn rhan o bwy ydym am fod yn y dyfodol hefyd.
Mae deall hanes, yn fy marn i, yn gwbl hanfodol i ddyfodol polisi cyhoeddus. Pan fyddaf yn meddwl am y ffordd y mae'r tramffyrdd, y rheilffyrdd a'r ffyrdd hyn wedi ein cysylltu, rwyf hefyd yn meddwl am rywbeth arall, sy'n fath llawer hŷn o drafnidiaeth wrth gwrs, sef ein hafonydd. Nid ydynt wedi cael eu crybwyll yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma, ac anaml iawn y crybwyllir ein hafonydd, yn enwedig yn ne Cymru, ond os siaradwch chi byth â'r Cynghorydd Malcolm Cross yn Nhredegar, bydd yn sôn sut y mae'n credu mai afonydd de Cymru yw'r ased rydym wedi'i esgeuluso fwyaf. Ac a wyddoch chi beth? Rwy'n credu ei fod yn iawn. Os edrychwch ar Vale Terrace yn Nhredegar, mae wedi'i adeiladu i wynebu'r afon oherwydd mai'r afon honno oedd un o'r prif fathau o drafnidiaeth ar y pryd, cyn i ni ddechrau defnyddio camlesi a—. Fe dderbyniaf ymyriad.
Thank you for giving way, Alun. As you've mentioned rivers, as the chair of the cross-party Assembly group on waterways, it'd be remiss of me not to also mention the important role that canals have played in our history and industrial heritage. So, when you mention rivers, then perhaps you could give—actually, I'm not speaking in this today—perhaps you could give a word to our canals as well.
Diolch i chi am ildio, Alun. Gan eich bod wedi sôn am afonydd, fel cadeirydd grŵp trawsbleidiol y Cynulliad ar ddyfrffyrdd, buaswn yn esgeulus i beidio â sôn hefyd am y rôl bwysig y mae camlesi wedi'i chwarae yn ein hanes a'n treftadaeth ddiwydiannol. Felly, pan fyddwch yn sôn am afonydd, efallai y gallech—nid wyf yn siarad yn y ddadl hon heddiw mewn gwirionedd—efallai y gallech grybwyll ein camlesi hefyd.
But you have spoken in the debate now and you have done exactly that, and I commend the Member for Monmouthshire in doing so.
But, of course, the tramways that I've described do all link down to the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal as well, and the Disgwylfa and the Llangattock tramway do link in with the wharfs down in Govilon with which he's very familiar. But I hope that, as the Government takes forward work on the Valleys taskforce, we will look again at the rivers of south Wales.
In recent years, public policy has been targeted at cleansing the water within those rivers, and rightly so; it's important. When I was growing up in Tredegar, I always considered myself lucky that the water I played in in the Sirhowy river was always brightly coloured, and nowadays I hope my own son would take a different view. But I hope, in replying to this debate, we can look again at the rivers of south Wales because our developments have, over decades and perhaps centuries, turned us away from our rivers, turned us away from the natural environment and not understood how fully that has shaped our own histories. And I think the rivers of south Wales—Malcolm Cross will tell me, and he's right—are the great undiscovered, neglected gem of our valleys.
Ond rydych wedi siarad yn y ddadl yn awr ac rydych wedi gwneud yn union hynny, ac rwy'n cymeradwyo'r Aelod dros sir Fynwy am wneud hynny.
Ond wrth gwrs, mae'r tramffyrdd a ddisgrifiais yn cysylltu â chamlas Mynwy a Brycheiniog hefyd, ac mae tramffordd Disgwylfa a Llangatwg yn cysylltu â'r glanfeydd yng Ngofilon sy'n gyfarwydd iawn iddo. Ond wrth i'r Llywodraeth fwrw ymlaen â gwaith ar dasglu'r Cymoedd, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn edrych eto ar afonydd de Cymru.
Yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae polisi cyhoeddus wedi'i dargedu tuag at lanhau'r dŵr yn yr afonydd hynny, a hynny'n briodol; mae'n bwysig. Pan oeddwn yn tyfu i fyny yn Nhredegar, roeddwn bob amser yn ystyried fy hun yn lwcus fod lliw disglair ar y dŵr y chwaraewn ynddo yn afon Sirhywi bob amser, ac erbyn hyn rwy'n gobeithio y byddai fy mab yn meddwl fel arall. Ond wrth ymateb i'r ddadl hon, rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn edrych eto ar afonydd de Cymru gan fod ein datblygiadau, dros ddegawdau a chanrifoedd efallai, wedi gwneud i ni droi cefn ar ein hafonydd, wedi gwneud i ni droi cefn ar yr amgylchedd naturiol, heb ddeall sut y maent wedi siapio ein hanesion. Ac rwy'n credu bod afonydd de Cymru—dyma y bydd Malcolm Cross yn ei ddweud wrthyf, ac mae'n iawn—yn drysorau mawr sydd heb eu darganfod ac sy'n cael ei hesgeuluso yn ein cymoedd ni.
The first Wales-only legislation for the historic environment became law in 2016, and it is an area that is of supreme importance to Wales, to our economy as well as our culture, and I take, obviously, a particular interest in my constituency of Islwyn.
Crumlin in Islwyn sits in the heart of the Gwent valleys and is the beating heart of the Valleys taskforce geography. It is a proud community with a strong industrial heritage and a strong industrial memory. The Navigation colliery in Crumlin opened in 1907 with the sinking of the mineshafts by the private mine owners Partridge, Jones and Company Limited, and it is an example of listed outstanding industrial architecture. In 1947 it was run by the National Coal Board, following nationalisation by the Attlee Labour Government, and it finally closed its doors in 1967. In the subsequent decades, this imposing edifice—. If anybody's had the luck or joy or pleasure of travelling through Crumlin on its route to Ebbw Vale, you will see a series of almost regency-styled red-brick buildings with the landmark chimney stack, now that the viaduct has gone, slowly beginning to decline into ruin, but still remaining one of the best preserved intact colliery buildings of Wales.
I welcome hugely my colleague Dai Rees and others bringing this debate to the floor of this Chamber because Crumlin is still a proud mining community that has huge economic regenerative potential to directly benefit from investment—and that's the word: 'from investment'—in its iconic, historical, industrial infrastructure. As such, I'm delighted that the transport Minister Ken Skates has confirmed that in 2020 the Ebbw Vale line that runs directly through the communities of Newbridge, Crosskeys and Risca in my constituency will serve the important Gwent city of Newport and Islwyn. And the potential reopening of the Crumlin railway station to serve this community and its attractions must, in my view, happen. We know that the opening of new railway stations is a convoluted process that is still very badly shaped and governed by UK processes, and we urgently need an ability in Wales to increase our ability to reopen stations and reuse railway lines lost to the nation from the 1960s, when the Beeching cuts devastated transport links and weakened our local economies.
So, here in Crumlin, at the Navigation colliery, dedicated bands of local men and women are committed to sustaining and bringing new life into the Navigation colliery, built to exhibition standard. It is a registered charity, working alongside the site's owner, South Wales Building Preservation Trust, to maintain and prevent deterioration of these buildings further and deliver effective renovation planning. It is made up of iconic and beautiful grade II buildings, as I've mentioned, buildings that could form the beating heart of regeneration activity within the heart of a Valleys taskforce area because the historic industrial environment and its infrastructure tell the story of Wales and tell the story of our people. They are both our legacy and our future.
They deliver a collective memory, both fragile and precious, and we must be careful to pass on to each generation our collective memory and our cultural legacy. The reason is because we don't wish to live in the past, but because the past is part of the fabric of who we are as a people, and who we are as a nation. They tell the story of Wales, a narrative untouched in all of its glory, both good and ill, both rich and poor, of the many and of the few, and do tell the struggle of our peoples.
Crumlin, with its magnificent Navigation colliery and its famous lost viaduct and former working railway station, demands action and vision to restore them to benefit future generations, both economically, culturally, socially and for the well-being of our future generations.
Daeth y ddeddfwriaeth gyntaf i Gymru'n unig ar yr amgylchedd hanesyddol yn gyfraith yn 2016, ac mae'n faes hollbwysig i Gymru, i'n heconomi yn ogystal â'n diwylliant, ac mae'n amlwg fy mod yn ymddiddori'n arbennig yn fy etholaeth, sef Islwyn.
Mae Crymlyn yn Islwyn wedi'i leoli yng nghanol cymoedd Gwent ac mae'n ganolog i ddaearyddiaeth tasglu'r Cymoedd. Mae'n gymuned falch sydd â threftadaeth ddiwydiannol gref a chof diwydiannol cryf. Agorodd pwll glo Navigation yng Nghrymlyn yn 1907 ar ôl i'r perchnogion pyllau glo preifat, Partridge, Jones and Company Limited, dyllu yno, ac mae'n enghraifft o bensaernïaeth ddiwydiannol restredig eithriadol. Ym 1947, aeth i ddwylo'r Bwrdd Glo Cenedlaethol, yn dilyn gwladoli gan Lywodraeth Lafur Attlee, ond caewyd y drysau yn y diwedd ym 1967. Yn y degawdau dilynol, roedd yr adeiladwaith mawreddog hwn—. Os oes unrhyw un wedi bod mor ffodus neu wedi cael y pleser a'r mwynhad o deithio drwy Grymlyn ar y ffordd i Lynebwy, fe welwch gyfres o adeiladau brics coch tebyg i arddull cyfnod y rhaglywiaeth, gyda'r corn simnai nodedig, sy'n araf ddechrau dadfeilio'n adfail ers i'r draphont fynd, ond maent yn dal i fod yn rhai o'r adeiladau glofaol sydd wedi goroesi orau yng Nghymru.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i fy nghyd-Aelod, Dai Rees, ac eraill am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon i'r Siambr oherwydd mae Crymlyn yn parhau i fod yn gymuned lofaol falch sydd â photensial adfywio economaidd enfawr i elwa'n uniongyrchol o fuddsoddiad—a dyna'r gair: buddsoddiad—yn ei seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol ac eiconig. Fel y cyfryw, rwy'n falch iawn fod y Gweinidog trafnidiaeth, Ken Skates, wedi cadarnhau y bydd rheilffordd Glynebwy, sy'n rhedeg yn uniongyrchol drwy gymunedau Trecelyn, Crosskeys a'r Rhisga yn fy etholaeth, yn gwasanaethu dinas bwysig Casnewydd yng Ngwent ac Islwyn yn 2020. Ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid gwireddu'r posibilrwydd o ailagor gorsaf reilffordd Crymlyn i wasanaethu'r gymuned hon a'i hatyniadau. Gwyddom fod agor gorsafoedd rheilffordd newydd yn broses gymhleth sy'n dal i fod wedi'i llunio a'i rheoli'n wael gan brosesau'r DU, ac rydym angen cynyddu ein gallu ar fyrder yng Nghymru i ailagor gorsafoedd ac ailddefnyddio rheilffyrdd a gollwyd i'r genedl yn ystod y 1960au, ar ôl i doriadau Beeching chwalu ein cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth a gwanhau ein heconomïau lleol.
Felly, yma yng Nghrymlyn, ym mhwll glo Navigation, mae criwiau ymroddedig o ddynion a menywod lleol wedi ymrwymo i gynnal a dod â bywyd newydd i bwll glo Navigation, a adeiladwyd i safon rhagorol. Mae'n elusen gofrestredig sy'n gweithio gyda pherchennog y safle, Ymddiriedolaeth Cadwraeth Adeiladau De Cymru, i gynnal ac atal dirywiad pellach yr adeiladau hyn a darparu cynlluniau adnewyddu effeithiol. Mae'n cynnwys adeiladau gradd II eiconig a hardd fel y nodais, adeiladau a allai ffurfio calon gweithgarwch adfywio yng nghanol ardal tasglu'r Cymoedd gan fod yr amgylchedd diwydiannol hanesyddol a'i seilwaith yn adrodd stori Cymru ac yn adrodd hanes ein pobl. Y rhain yw ein hetifeddiaeth a'n dyfodol.
Maent yn cyflwyno cof cyfunol, sy'n fregus ac yn werthfawr, ac mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau ein bod yn trosglwyddo ein cof cyfunol a'n hetifeddiaeth ddiwylliannol o un genhedlaeth i'r llall. Nid ydym yn dymuno byw yn y gorffennol, ond mae'r gorffennol yn rhan o bwy ydym fel pobl, a phwy ydym fel cenedl. Maent yn adrodd hanes Cymru, naratif heb ei gyffwrdd yn ei holl ogoniant, y da a'r drwg, y cyfoethog a'r tlawd, y lliaws a'r ychydig, ac yn adrodd am ymdrechion ein pobl.
Mae Crymlyn, gyda phwll glo mawreddog Navigation a'r draphont goll enwog a hen orsaf drenau'r gwaith, yn galw am gamau gweithredu a gweledigaeth i'w hadfer er budd economaidd, diwylliannol, cymdeithasol a lles cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.
I will be brief, Deputy Presiding Officer, because the part of this resolution, which I welcome, that is most important to me is the bit that talks about regaining control over some of the industrial infrastructure that we have. I particularly refer to the network that still exists on an enormous number of old railway lines all around south Wales and certainly many other parts of Wales as well. Certainly, in the Taff-Ely part of my constituency, where there was an enormous amount of residential development taking place, we know that, in reality, public transport is the only viable solution in terms of dealing with the congestion on our roads, and that needs a form of buses, but also the reopening of railway lines, and it is the reopening of railway lines that, I think, is one of the great opportunities that we actually have.
There is an old railway line that goes from Cardiff, through Creigiau, that formerly linked up into Beddau spur and then through to Llantrisant and to Pontyclun. I'm very pleased that there is a business plan that is under way, hoping to report fairly soon, that might lead to the reopening of that railway line, one of the first of these old lines to be reopened but to provide a modern solution to our public transport needs.
The key thing that occurred most when we were looking at this, and I know it's an issue that applies all over many other parts of Wales, is that we have to actually still preserve what is there, because it is rapidly disappearing. Parts of it are being encroached upon, parts of these old railway lines are being built upon in various ways, and the opportunities that we have for new railway lines, or new, bespoke routes, whether they be for active travel, whether they be for public transport, are in danger of disappearing. So, the actual mapping of these routes and ensuring the protection and ownership of these routes is fundamental, and I believe this resolution contributes towards that task.
Fe fyddaf yn gryno, Ddirprwy Lywydd, oherwydd rwy'n croesawu'r penderfyniad hwn, a'r rhan bwysicaf ohono i mi yw'r darn sy'n sôn am adennill rheolaeth dros rywfaint o'r seilwaith diwydiannol sydd gennym. Cyfeiriaf yn benodol at y rhwydwaith sy'n dal i fodoli ar nifer enfawr o hen reilffyrdd o amgylch de Cymru i gyd ac yn sawl rhan arall o Gymru hefyd wrth gwrs. Yn sicr, yn rhan Taf-Elái o fy etholaeth, lle roedd llawer iawn o ddatblygiadau preswyl ar y gweill, gwyddom mai trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, mewn gwirionedd, yw'r unig ateb hyfyw o ran ymdrin â'r tagfeydd ar ein ffyrdd, ac mae hynny'n galw am ryw fath o fysiau, yn ogystal ag ailagor rheilffyrdd, ac rwy'n credu mai ailagor rheilffyrdd yw un o'r cyfleoedd mawr sydd gennym mewn gwirionedd.
Mae hen reilffordd sy'n mynd o Gaerdydd, drwy Creigiau, ac arferai fod yn gysylltiedig â chainc Beddau ac yna drwodd i Lantrisant a Phont-y-clun. Rwy'n falch iawn bod cynllun busnes ar y gweill, sy'n gobeithio adrodd yn weddol fuan, a allai arwain at ailagor y rheilffordd honno, un o'r hen reilffyrdd cyntaf i gael eu hailagor ond i ddarparu ateb modern i'n hanghenion trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus.
Y peth allweddol a ddigwyddodd fwyaf pan oeddem yn edrych ar hyn, ac rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn fater sy'n berthnasol i lawer rhan arall o Gymru, yw bod yn rhaid i ni gadw'r hyn sydd yno mewn gwirionedd, gan ei fod yn prysur ddiflannu. Mae rhannau ohono'n cael ei golli, mae adeiladu'n digwydd ar rannau o'r hen reilffyrdd hyn mewn gwahanol ffyrdd, ac mae'r cyfleoedd sydd gennym ar gyfer rheilffyrdd newydd, neu lwybrau pwrpasol newydd, boed ar gyfer teithio llesol, boed ar gyfer trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, mewn perygl o ddiflannu. Felly, mae mapio'r llwybrau hyn a sicrhau diogelwch a pherchnogaeth ar y llwybrau hyn yn hanfodol, a chredaf fod y cynnig hwn yn cyfrannu at y dasg honno.
Thank you very much. Can I now call the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Lee Waters?
Diolch yn fawr iawn. A gaf fi alw yn awr ar Ddirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, Lee Waters?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I congratulate David Rees, Leanne Wood and Vikki Howells for bringing forward this debate? As their motion recognises, there is significant potential in the network of historic industrial infrastructure across Wales, in particular the old railway tunnels across the south Wales Valleys, that can serve the communities that surround them once again, providing important economic and social infrastructure.
But as the motion also notes, bringing them back into use does pose very real, practical and financial challenges. There are successful examples we can point to where the legacy of our industrial past has been harnessed to bring benefits today. The Ffestiniog railway and the Pontcysyllte aqueduct are examples of outstanding heritage assets that attract tourists and generate local employment, as well as telling the story of the past. We've recently announced funding through the Valleys Regional Park for £7 million for gateways to the Valleys Regional Park that will add to that too. Of course, these were not regenerated into the jewels they are today overnight, but as we look at other opportunities to bring the legacies of our industrial heritage back to life, we need to remember that Blaenau Ffestiniog wasn't built in a day.
Members have spoken persuasively this afternoon about the potential that the network of old railway tunnels across south Wales have as transport corridors, as Mick Antoniw has just mentioned. Other former railway lines have had a new lease of life as walking and cycling routes. The Taff trail, for example, between Brecon and Cardiff, and the Ystwyth trail, which connects Aberystwyth with Tregaron, are excellent examples.
I don't need any persuading to support the principles of the motion. Indeed, I was involved some 10 years ago in the scoping exercise that looked at the potential that these tunnels have for changing the dynamics of travelling between the Valleys. The fairly direct and flat routes that visionary engineers bored through our mountains, to carry trains in the industrial age, can help re-engineer the way we think about travel in the modern era. Even an electric bike over the Merthyr mountain may be asking a lot of most people, but a quick, direct route under it is an altogether more realistic ask—but only if the tunnels are linked up to a network of paths that connect destinations that people want to travel to. After all, active travel is about replacing car journeys with cycling and walking for everyday trips. To meet the challenge of the climate emergency, we need to replace car trips with zero or low-emission alternatives as quickly as possible.
Our priority, therefore, must be to put investment where it can have the quickest and most significant payback. Often, a mundane contraflow down a one-way street or a wider pavement may change an environment to make walking and cycling a visible option. In other cases, a harder engineering intervention like a segregated cycle path on a main road, to separate bicycles and cars, is what's needed. Having recently ridden down Cardiff's Senghenydd Road, I can testify to the dramatic impact that the segregated cycle lane being constructed there can make. I'm sure that once that route is completed, we'll see a very big increase in cycling in that part of the city.
So, we need the right infrastructure in the right places. Alongside it, we need training and promotion to bring about a culture change. As we look at the suite of interventions needed to bring this about, I'm in no doubt that the network of old tunnels has its part to play. But with limited resource, we have to prioritise. Today's motion asks the Welsh Government to take into our ownership this network of tunnels, and then to seek funding opportunities. I have to say to Members that I cannot support this approach. In my view, it is the wrong way around. Taking on the massive liabilities of these old tunnels would involve a very big investment of money and capacity at a time when our focus needs to be on getting early wins for the active travel Act. In themselves, the tunnels will not bring about modal shift, which must be our focus as we look to meet our very ambitious carbon reduction targets. They can play a part, but only in an integrated approach.
The active travel Act, which was passed by this Chamber six years ago this week, sets out an approach to creating a network of routes—
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi longyfarch David Rees, Leanne Wood a Vikki Howells am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon? Fel y mae eu cynnig yn cydnabod, mae cryn botensial yn y rhwydwaith o seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol ledled Cymru, yn enwedig yr hen dwneli rheilffordd ar draws Cymoedd de Cymru, a all wasanaethu'r cymunedau o'u cwmpas unwaith eto, gan ddarparu seilwaith economaidd a chymdeithasol pwysig.
Ond fel y mae'r cynnig hefyd yn ei nodi, mae eu defnyddio eto yn creu heriau ymarferol ac ariannol real iawn. Ceir enghreifftiau llwyddiannus y gallwn eu nodi lle mae gwaddol ein gorffennol diwydiannol wedi'i harneisio er mwyn sicrhau manteision i ni heddiw. Mae rheilffordd Ffestiniog a thraphont ddŵr Pontcysyllte yn enghreifftiau o asedau treftadaeth eithriadol sy'n denu twristiaid ac yn creu gwaith yn lleol, yn ogystal ag adrodd hanes y gorffennol. Yn ddiweddar, rydym wedi cyhoeddi £7 miliwn o gyllid ar gyfer pyrth i Barc Rhanbarthol y Cymoedd a fydd yn ychwanegu at hynny hefyd. Wrth gwrs, ni chafodd y rhain eu hail-greu’n drysorau fel y maent heddiw dros nos, ond wrth inni edrych ar gyfleoedd eraill i ddod â gwaddol ein treftadaeth ddiwydiannol yn ôl yn fyw, mae angen i ni gofio na chafodd Blaenau Ffestiniog ei adeiladu mewn diwrnod.
Mae'r Aelodau wedi siarad yn llawn perswâd y prynhawn yma am y potensial sydd gan y rhwydwaith o hen dwneli rheilffordd ar draws de Cymru fel coridorau trafnidiaeth, fel y mae Mick Antoniw newydd ei grybwyll. Mae hen reilffyrdd eraill wedi cael bywyd newydd fel llwybrau cerdded a beicio. Mae llwybr Taf, er enghraifft, rhwng Aberhonddu a Chaerdydd, a llwybr Ystwyth, sy'n cysylltu Aberystwyth â Thregaron, yn enghreifftiau rhagorol.
Nid oes angen i unrhyw un fy mherswadio i gefnogi egwyddorion y cynnig. Yn wir, tua 10 mlynedd yn ôl, bûm yn rhan o'r ymarfer cwmpasu a oedd yn edrych ar botensial y twneli hyn i newid deinameg teithio rhwng y Cymoedd. Gall y llwybrau eithaf uniongyrchol a gwastad a dyllwyd drwy ein mynyddoedd gan beirianwyr â gweledigaeth i gario trenau yn yr oes ddiwydiannol helpu i ail-beiriannu'r ffordd y meddyliwn am deithio yn yr oes fodern. Efallai fod beic trydan dros fynydd Merthyr yn gofyn gormod gan y rhan fwyaf o bobl, ond mae llwybr cyflym, uniongyrchol oddi tano yn gais llawer mwy realistig—ond dim ond os yw'r twneli wedi'u cysylltu â rhwydwaith o lwybrau sy'n cysylltu cyrchfannau y mae pobl eisiau teithio iddynt. Wedi'r cyfan, mae teithio llesol yn ymwneud â beicio a cherdded yn cymryd lle ceir ar gyfer teithiau bob dydd. Er mwyn ymateb i her yr argyfwng yn yr hinsawdd, mae angen i ddewisiadau carbon isel neu ddi-garbon gymryd lle teithiau car cyn gynted â phosibl.
Mae'n rhaid i ni roi blaenoriaeth, felly, i fuddsoddi lle y gellir cael yr adenillion cyflymaf a mwyaf sylweddol. Yn aml, gallai gwrthlif dinod i lawr stryd unffordd neu balmant lletach newid amgylchedd i wneud cerdded a beicio yn opsiwn gweladwy. Mewn achosion eraill, yr hyn sydd ei angen yw ymyrraeth beirianyddol galetach fel llwybr beicio ar wahân ar brif ffordd i wahanu beiciau a cheir. Ar ôl beicio i lawr Ffordd Senghennydd yng Nghaerdydd yn ddiweddar, gallaf dystio i effaith ddramatig y lôn feicio ar wahân sy'n cael ei hadeiladu yno. Pan fydd y llwybr hwnnw wedi'i gwblhau, rwy'n siŵr y gwelwn gynnydd mawr iawn mewn beicio yn y rhan honno o'r ddinas.
Felly, mae angen y seilwaith cywir arnom yn y mannau cywir. Law yn llaw â hynny, rydym angen hyfforddiant a hyrwyddo er mwyn newid diwylliant. Wrth i ni edrych ar y gyfres o ymyriadau sydd eu hangen i gyflawni hyn, rwy'n sicr bod gan y rhwydwaith o hen dwneli ran i'w chwarae. Ond gydag adnoddau cyfyngedig, mae'n rhaid i ni flaenoriaethu. Mae'r cynnig heddiw yn gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru gael perchnogaeth ar y rhwydwaith hwn o dwneli, a chwilio wedyn am gyfleoedd ariannu. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrth yr Aelodau na allaf gefnogi'r dull hwn o weithredu. Yn fy marn i, dyna'r ffordd anghywir o fynd o'i chwmpas hi. Byddai ysgwyddo rhwymedigaethau enfawr yr hen dwneli hyn yn galw am fuddsoddiad mawr iawn o ran arian a chapasiti ar adeg pan fo angen i ni ganolbwyntio ar sicrhau llwyddiannau cynnar i'r Ddeddf teithio llesol. Ynddynt eu hunain, ni fydd y twneli'n arwain at newid moddol, ac mae'n rhaid i ni ganolbwyntio ar hynny wrth i ni geisio cyrraedd ein targedau uchelgeisiol iawn ar gyfer lleihau carbon. Gallant chwarae rhan, ond mewn dull integredig yn unig.
Mae'r Ddeddf teithio llesol, a basiwyd gan y Siambr hon chwe blynedd yn ôl i'r wythnos hon, yn nodi dull o greu rhwydwaith o lwybrau—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
—which will help make active travel a realistic option for most people. Let me just finish this section and I will.
It requires councils to consult with people on routes they'd like to appear over the next 15 years across their communities, to safely connect them by foot and by bike to everyday destinations. Councils will then enshrine their desired routes onto an integrated network map, which will form the basis of future funding bids.
I give way to Bethan Sayed.
—a fydd yn helpu i wneud teithio llesol yn ddewis realistig i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl. Gadewch i mi orffen yr adran hon ac fe wnaf.
Mae'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gynghorau ymgynghori â phobl ar lwybrau yr hoffent eu gweld dros y 15 mlynedd nesaf ar draws eu cymunedau, i'w cysylltu'n ddiogel â chyrchfannau bob dydd ar droed neu ar feic. Yna, bydd cynghorau'n ymgorffori'r llwybrau a ddymunant mewn map rhwydwaith integredig, a fydd yn sail i geisiadau am gyllid yn y dyfodol.
Fe ildiaf i Bethan Sayed.
It was just on the point you were finishing off in relation to the cost. So, I'm just wondering if you have managed to have any conversations about the tunnels with the UK Government. Of course, I appreciate that just giving the cost of insurance wouldn't be enough, and that you'd need—. It's a massive liability. So, are you able to tell us if you're pursuing those conversations?
Roedd yn ymwneud â'r pwynt roeddech yn ei orffen ynglŷn â'r gost. Felly, rwy'n meddwl tybed a ydych wedi llwyddo i gael unrhyw sgyrsiau am y twneli gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n sylweddoli na fyddai rhoi costau yswiriant yn unig yn ddigon, ac y byddai angen—. Mae'n rhwymedigaeth enfawr. Felly, a allwch dweud wrthym a ydych yn cael y sgyrsiau hynny?
I'll come to that, if I may, as I make some progress.
So, we've now got the first set of active travel maps for our larger towns and villages, and we've got a reasonable amount of capital funding to start building and improving those routes. And as the Assembly's economy committee has pointed out, these first iterations of maps are imperfect. I'm determined that the next versions of the plans, due in early 2021, will be better and will be based on genuine engagement with people who, at the moment, might not consider getting on a bike.
The tunnels need to feature on the maps if they are active travel infrastructure, and only the Abernant tunnel features currently. But even though most of the tunnels don't have significant potential for active travel, they do, nonetheless, have real value. I want to explore how the conversion, as well as the maintenance and liabilities that will come with each, can be funded. Finding a sustainable future for industrial structures can be challenging, particularly if there's heavy pollution on the site. But we are committed to playing our part, as I know are local government. I spoke last week to Councillor Andrew Morgan, the leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf, and he told me of the considerable work his authority has already done to explore the opening of the Rhondda tunnel, and his commitment to work with the Welsh Government and Neath Port Talbot Council to work through the practical obstacles.
Realising the potential of our historic industrial infrastructure will require different bodies to work together, and different agendas to align. Utilising the old railway tunnels, for example, has the potential to create a network of routes offering leisure and tourism opportunities, as well as regenerating an area. As chair of the Valleys taskforce, that's a potential I fully recognise. I've spoken with the Deputy Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, who is supportive of the plans to reopen the tunnels, which chime with his forthcoming action plan for tourism in Wales for the next five years, and he's confirmed to me that Visit Wales are keen to be part of any development, making the tourist case for the project. The Minister for Housing and Local Government is similarly supportive of the potential reopening of the tunnels for regeneration of communities, and the involvement of the community has been the most striking example in the excellent campaign to reopen the Rhondda tunnel. The ambition to create the longest walking and cycling route through a railway tunnel in Europe, which would become an attraction of its own, is one that we support, and we commend the Rhondda Tunnel Society for their work. And we've worked with them to look at the practicalities of opening the tunnel. We have funded work on a high-level business case for the project, as well as providing funding for the development of a new business case, an ecological assessment, and improving access to the tunnel for survey work to be undertaken. So, we have done quite a bit, but until now, no funding has been offered by either the UK Government or Highways England beyond the token sum of £60,000, which some Members mentioned with the implication this was significant. I must tell them, it really is not.
The UK Government currently holds the liability for the long-term maintenance of the tunnel. It's in their interest to transfer that liability, but they also have an obligation to set communities up to succeed in managing these assets in the future, and the paltry offer of £60,000 is a risible one. I hope they'll play their part with us, and their local councils, to make the project a success. We cannot take full responsibility for the full liability of the tunnel from Highways England, nor can we fully fund the project, and I want to make that clear to Members. [Interruption.] I'm afraid I have very little time. But we will do our bit.
In 2015 we commissioned Sustrans—if I can just finish, Dirprwy Lywydd; I've an announcement I want to make. We commissioned in 2015 Sustrans to do a desktop study of a number of tunnels in south-east Wales to explore the potential for their reopening, and I have asked Sustrans today to update that work, drawing on the work carried out on both the Rhondda and Abernant tunnels in the interim. They will also draw on local authorities' active travel network mapping and data from similar projects such as the Bath two-tunnels scheme, to get a better understanding of long-term operating and maintenance costs, which is essential before we address the issue of ownership.
There is an opportunity to build a close partnership with the Valleys Regional Park partners, local authorities, and tourism, heritage and leisure partners to explore the potential for reopening the structures. I'm particularly interested in the lessons we can learn from the experience of reopening the 1 mile Combe Down tunnel near Bath in 2013. That project was led by Sustrans and involved a significant amount of lottery funding to reopen it. I've had an initial conversation with the National Lottery Community Fund about funding a similar project in south Wales. The Minister for Housing and Local Government and the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism and I have jointly agreed to fund Sustrans to lead a partnership bid for assembling external funding for the reopening and running of the Rhondda and Abernant tunnels. Clearly, the funding would need to come from a wide range of sources and can only be achieved with a wide range of bodies working together, and this includes the community, who I pay tribute to again for championing this cause. I do believe there are practical things that we can do, Dirprwy Lywydd, to make this opportunity a real one, but it is not easy, and we cannot do it alone.
Dof at hynny, os caf, wrth i mi wneud rhywfaint o gynnydd.
Felly, rydym bellach wedi cael y set gyntaf o fapiau teithio llesol ar gyfer ein trefi a'n pentrefi mwyaf, ac mae gennym swm rhesymol o arian cyfalaf i ddechrau adeiladu a gwella'r llwybrau hynny. Ac fel y mae pwyllgor economi'r Cynulliad wedi'i nodi, nid yw'r fersiynau cyntaf hyn o'r mapiau yn berffaith. Rwy'n benderfynol y bydd y fersiynau nesaf o'r cynlluniau, sydd i ddod ar ddechrau 2021, yn well ac yn seiliedig ar ymgysylltiad gwirioneddol â phobl na fyddai'n ystyried mynd ar feic ar hyn o bryd o bosibl.
Mae angen i'r twneli ymddangos ar y mapiau os ydynt yn seilwaith teithio llesol, a thwnnel Aber-nant yn unig sy'n ymddangos ar hyn o bryd. Ond er nad oes gan y rhan fwyaf o'r twneli botensial sylweddol ar gyfer teithio llesol, mae iddynt werth gwirioneddol serch hynny. Rwyf eisiau archwilio sut y gellir ariannu'r gwaith o addasu, yn ogystal â chynnal a chadw a'r rhwymedigaethau a ddaw gyda phob un. Mae dod o hyd i ddyfodol cynaliadwy ar gyfer strwythurau diwydiannol yn gallu bod yn heriol, yn enwedig os oes llygredd trwm ar y safle. Ond rydym wedi ymrwymo i chwarae ein rhan, fel y gwn y mae llywodraeth leol. Yr wythnos diwethaf, siaradais â'r Cynghorydd Andrew Morgan, arweinydd Rhondda Cynon Taf, a dywedodd wrthyf am y gwaith sylweddol y mae ei awdurdod eisoes wedi'i wneud i edrych ar agor twnnel y Rhondda, a'i ymrwymiad i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot i oresgyn y rhwystrau ymarferol.
Er mwyn gwireddu potensial ein seilwaith diwydiannol hanesyddol, bydd yn rhaid i wahanol gyrff gydweithio, a bydd yn rhaid cydgysylltu agendâu gwahanol. Mae'n bosibl y byddai defnyddio'r hen dwneli rheilffordd, er enghraifft, yn gallu arwain at greu rhwydwaith o lwybrau sy'n cynnig cyfleoedd hamdden a thwristiaeth, yn ogystal ag adfywio ardal. Fel cadeirydd tasglu'r Cymoedd, mae hwnnw'n botensial rwy'n ei gydnabod yn llawn. Rwyf wedi siarad â'r Dirprwy Weinidog Diwylliant, Twristiaeth a Chwaraeon, sy'n cefnogi'r cynlluniau i ailagor y twneli, cynlluniau sy'n cyd-fynd â'i gynllun gweithredu arfaethedig ar gyfer twristiaeth yng Nghymru dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, ac mae wedi cadarnhau wrthyf fod Croeso Cymru yn awyddus i fod yn rhan o unrhyw ddatblygiad, gan wneud yr achos twristaidd ar gyfer y prosiect. Mae'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol yr un mor gefnogol i botensial ailagor y twneli ar gyfer adfywio cymunedau, ac ymwneud y gymuned oedd yr enghraifft fwyaf drawiadol yn yr ymgyrch ardderchog i ailagor twnnel y Rhondda. Mae'r uchelgais i greu'r llwybr cerdded a beicio hiraf drwy dwnnel rheilffordd yn Ewrop, a fyddai'n dod yn atyniad ynddo'i hun, yn un a gefnogwn, ac rydym yn cymeradwyo Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda am eu gwaith. Ac rydym wedi gweithio gyda hwy i edrych ar ymarferoldeb agor y twnnel. Rydym wedi ariannu gwaith ar achos busnes lefel uchel ar gyfer y prosiect, yn ogystal â darparu cyllid ar gyfer datblygu achos busnes newydd, asesiad ecolegol, a gwella mynediad at y twnnel er mwyn gallu gwneud gwaith arolygu. Felly, rydym wedi gwneud cryn dipyn, ond hyd yma, nid yw Llywodraeth y DU na Highways England wedi cynnig unrhyw gyllid y tu hwnt i'r swm symbolaidd o £60,000, y soniodd rhai o'r Aelodau amdano gan awgrymu ei fod yn sylweddol. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrthynt nad yw hynny'n wir.
Ar hyn o bryd, Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am gynnal a chadw'r twnnel yn y tymor hir. Byddai trosglwyddo'r atebolrwydd hwnnw o fudd iddynt, ond mae ganddynt rwymedigaeth hefyd i sicrhau bod cymunedau'n llwyddo i reoli'r asedau hyn yn y dyfodol, ac mae'r cynnig pitw o £60,000 yn un chwerthinllyd. Rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn chwarae eu rhan gyda ni, a'u cynghorau lleol, i sicrhau bod y prosiect yn llwyddiant. Ni allwn gymryd cyfrifoldeb llawn am rwymedigaeth lawn y twnnel oddi wrth Highways England, ac ni allwn ariannu'r prosiect yn llawn, ac rwyf eisiau gwneud hynny'n glir i'r Aelodau. [Torri ar draws.] Mae arnaf ofn mai ychydig iawn o amser sydd gennyf. Ond byddwn yn gwneud ein rhan.
Yn 2015, comisiynwyd Sustrans—os caf orffen, Ddirprwy Lywydd; mae gennyf gyhoeddiad i'w wneud. Comisiynwyd Sustrans yn 2015 i wneud astudiaeth bwrdd gwaith o nifer o dwneli yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru i archwilio'r posibilrwydd o'u hailagor, a heddiw rwyf wedi gofyn i Sustrans ddiweddaru'r gwaith hwnnw, gan ddefnyddio'r gwaith a wnaed ar dwnnel y Rhondda a thwnnel Aber-nant yn y cyfamser. Byddant hefyd yn defnyddio mapiau rhwydwaith teithio llesol a data awdurdodau lleol o brosiectau tebyg, fel cynllun dau dwnnel Caerfaddon, er mwyn cael gwell dealltwriaeth o gostau gweithredu a chynnal a chadw hirdymor, sy'n hanfodol cyn inni fynd i'r afael â mater perchnogaeth.
Mae cyfle i greu partneriaeth agos gyda phartneriaid Parc Rhanbarthol y Cymoedd, awdurdodau lleol, a phartneriaid twristiaeth, treftadaeth a hamdden i ymchwilio i'r posibilrwydd o ailagor y strwythurau. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig yn y gwersi y gallwn eu dysgu o'r profiad o ailagor twnnel Combe Down, twnnel 1 filltir o hyd, ger Caerfaddon yn 2013. Arweiniwyd y prosiect hwnnw gan Sustrans ac roedd angen swm sylweddol o arian y loteri i'w ailagor. Rwyf wedi cael sgwrs gychwynnol gyda Chronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol am ariannu prosiect tebyg yn ne Cymru. Mae'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol, y Dirprwy Weinidog Diwylliant, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth a minnau wedi cytuno ar y cyd i ariannu Sustrans i arwain cais partneriaeth ar gyfer sicrhau cyllid allanol ar gyfer ailagor a chynnal twnnel y Rhondda a thwnnel Aber-nant. Yn amlwg, byddai angen i'r cyllid ddod o ystod eang o ffynonellau a'r unig ffordd o gyflawni hynny yw drwy sicrhau bod ystod eang o gyrff yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys y gymuned, ac rwy'n talu teyrnged iddi eto am hyrwyddo'r achos hwn. Rwy'n credu bod pethau ymarferol y gallwn eu gwneud, Ddirprwy Lywydd, i wneud y cyfle hwn yn un go iawn, ond nid yw'n hawdd, ac ni allwn ei wneud ar ein pennau ein hunain.
Thank you. I call David Rees to reply to the debate.
Diolch. Galwaf ar David Rees i ymateb i'r ddadl hon.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I first of all thank all those Members who contributed, and not only those Members who contributed today, but also those who have contributed in other debates on industrial heritage as well? Because you've all played an important role in highlighting how industrial heritage is important to us, and how it can help regenerate communities across Wales. Mark highlighted the many sites in north Wales that exist, which have benefited those communities, and moving on. Leanne reminded me as well I need to declare my membership of the Rhondda Tunnel Society as well, but it shows the tunnel actually affects two valleys, and how important it can be for both valleys. It's not just about active travel purely, but it's part of a mix. Active travel can play a part of it, but it’s also—. We can explore it for tourism and walking and everything else. It’s a combination of things that that tunnel offers; I’ll come back to the Rhondda tunnel towards the end when I have time.
Vikki reminded us about one thing: when we talk about our history—and a bit of the debate was about our history as well—we must never forget the negative side of that history, which was the social impact upon our communities, where we were basically plundered for wealth going to a small number. And that is also part of the history of our heritage that we want to remind people of. It isn’t just simply a, ’Hey, look at us—look at what fantastic facilities we've had.' Look at the communities and the social life they had, and the challenges they had to face up to whilst the money went to very few people. That reminds us very much of industrial heritage across south Wales and north Wales.
Alun talked about rivers. There’s no way you’re going to float down a boat on the Afan river to start with, but what he highlighted was that there are various sets of infrastructures that exist. It’s not just old railway lines—it is also canals, rivers and other forms as well, and that’s very important. But he also reminded us of one thing that we seem to have lost sight of—that our industrial heritage actually linked our communities together, very much so. And when you listen to the debate this afternoon, I think you hear that in, actually, the contributions from Members, about how it did bring those communities together and how we see that. Because Rhianon highlighted the works in Crumlin, the Navigation mine in Crumlin, and the existence of the—. Well, she highlighted, actually, how proud that community was of that building as well. So, it’s not just about reinvigorating the economy of our communities—it’s about actually reinvigorating our communities as well, bringing them back to life.
And Mick—old railway lines—showed us that we’ve been talking about railway lines and other things for, actually, different purposes. Mick wants to go back to the original purpose: put it back to railway line so we can get public transport working. And there’s nothing wrong with that—that’s exactly what we should be looking at. Because it gives—. Again, the infrastructure gives us an opportunity to use it for purposes such as that.
Can I thank the Deputy Minister for his contribution, particularly the latter end of the contribution, when he highlighted that he is intending to put, with the Deputy Minister and the Minister for housing, together a team to look at how we can actually do that work? I’m disappointed he didn’t take ownership. I understand the arguments about liability, but I’m disappointed. I would have hoped that they would look at the ownership question. But if he has come to a conclusion that they need to look very carefully at how they can support societies like the Rhondda Tunnel Society—. Because let’s remember one thing—we’ve talked about various organisations and various sites today, mainly run by volunteers, mainly driven by volunteers in their community. And therefore it is important that we look at how we can support those volunteers and those community organisations. And I very much welcome his last comments on that and how he intends to do that. And he’s quite right—it doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over time. The Rhondda Tunnel Society has been going for a few years, so we’ve got some of that time already under our belt. He’s also right on the issue about active travel maps, but I am concerned that, when Sustrans looks at this, they don’t look at the existing active travel maps, because they’re not wonderful. In fact, if you look at the Afan valley one, a large section of the Afan valley cycle track is not on the active travel map, and it should be, because people use it for both leisure and for access down to work; it’s not solely for leisure. So, we need that. And he’s also right that we need to have a cultural change.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I thank everybody for their contributions today. This is a debate that has reminded us of our past, but the important role that past can play in our future if we have the ambition and the foresight to take it forward. Thank you very much.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi yn gyntaf ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau a gyfrannodd, ac nid yr Aelodau hynny a gyfrannodd heddiw yn unig, ond hefyd y rhai sydd wedi cyfrannu mewn dadleuon eraill ar dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol? Oherwydd rydych chi i gyd wedi chwarae rhan bwysig yn y gwaith o amlygu sut y mae treftadaeth ddiwydiannol yn bwysig i ni, a sut y gall helpu i adfywio cymunedau ledled Cymru. Tynnodd Mark sylw at y nifer fawr o safleoedd sy'n bodoli yng ngogledd Cymru, ac sydd wedi bod o fudd i'r cymunedau hynny, a symud ymlaen. Cefais fy atgoffa gan Leanne fod angen i mi ddatgan fy mod yn aelod o Gymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda hefyd, ond mae'n dangos bod y twnnel yn effeithio ar ddau gwm mewn gwirionedd, a pha mor bwysig y gall fod i'r ddau gwm. Nid yw'n ymwneud â theithio llesol yn unig, ond mae'n rhan o'r gymysgedd. Gall teithio llesol chwarae rhan ynddo, ond mae hefyd—. Gallwn ei archwilio ar gyfer twristiaeth a cherdded a phopeth arall. Mae'r twnnel hwnnw'n cynnig cyfuniad o bethau; fe ddychwelaf at dwnnel y Rhondda tuag at y diwedd pan fydd gennyf amser.
Atgoffodd Vikki ni o un peth: pan fyddwn yn sôn am ein hanes—ac roedd ychydig o'r ddadl yn ymwneud â'n hanes ni hefyd—mae'n rhaid i ni beidio ag anghofio ochr negyddol yr hanes hwnnw, sef yr effaith gymdeithasol ar ein cymunedau, lle y cawsom ein hysbeilio, yn y bôn, am gyfoeth a ai i nifer fach o bobl. Ac mae hynny hefyd yn rhan o hanes ein treftadaeth yr hoffem atgoffa pobl amdani. Nid yw'n fater syml o ddweud, 'Hei, edrychwch arnom ni—edrychwch ar y cyfleusterau gwych a gawsom.' Edrychwch ar y cymunedau a'r bywydau cymdeithasol a oedd ganddynt, a'r heriau y bu'n rhaid iddynt eu hwynebu tra bod yr arian yn mynd i ychydig iawn o bobl. Mae hynny'n ein hatgoffa'n gryf o dreftadaeth ddiwydiannol ar draws de Cymru a gogledd Cymru.
Soniodd Alun am afonydd. Nid oes unrhyw ffordd y byddech yn gallu teithio ar gwch i lawr afon Afan i ddechrau, ond tynnodd sylw at y ffaith bod amryw o seilweithiau'n bodoli. Nid hen reilffyrdd yn unig yw'r rhain—maent yn cynnwys camlesi, afonydd a mathau eraill yn ogystal, ac mae hynny'n bwysig iawn. Ond atgoffodd ni hefyd o un peth y mae'n ymddangos ein bod wedi'i anghofio—sef bod ein treftadaeth ddiwydiannol, mewn gwirionedd, yn arfer cysylltu ein cymunedau â'i gilydd i raddau helaeth iawn. A phan fyddwch yn gwrando ar y ddadl y prynhawn yma, rwy'n credu eich bod yn clywed hynny, mewn gwirionedd, yng nghyfraniadau'r Aelodau, o ran sut y daeth â'r cymunedau hynny at ei gilydd a sut y gwelwn hynny. Oherwydd tynnodd Rhianon sylw at y gwaith yng Nghrymlyn, pwll glo Navigation yng Nghrymlyn, a bodolaeth—. Wel, tynnodd sylw, mewn gwirionedd, at ba mor falch oedd y gymuned honno o'r adeilad hwnnw hefyd. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â mwy nag adfywio economi ein cymunedau—mae'n ymwneud ag adfywio ein cymunedau hefyd, a rhoi bywyd newydd iddynt.
A dangosodd Mick—hen reilffyrdd—ein bod wedi bod yn sôn am reilffyrdd a phethau eraill at ddibenion gwahanol mewn gwirionedd. Mae Mick eisiau mynd yn ôl at y diben gwreiddiol: ei droi'n rheilffordd eto fel y gallwn gael trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i weithio. Ac nid oes dim o'i le ar hynny—dyna'n union y dylem fod yn edrych arno. Oherwydd mae'n rhoi—. Unwaith eto, mae'r seilwaith yn rhoi cyfle i ni ei ddefnyddio at ddibenion fel hwnnw.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei gyfraniad, yn enwedig diwedd y cyfraniad, pan dynnodd sylw at y ffaith ei fod yn bwriadu creu tîm gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Gweinidog tai i edrych ar sut y gallwn wneud y gwaith hwnnw? Rwy'n siomedig nad yw wedi cymryd perchnogaeth. Rwy'n deall y dadleuon am atebolrwydd, ond rwy'n siomedig. Roeddwn wedi gobeithio y byddent yn edrych ar y cwestiwn perchnogaeth. Ond os yw wedi dod i'r casgliad bod angen iddynt edrych yn ofalus iawn ar sut y gallant gefnogi cymdeithasau fel Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda—. Oherwydd gadewch i ni gofio un peth—rydym wedi sôn am wahanol sefydliadau ac amryw o safleoedd heddiw, sy'n cael eu cynnal yn bennaf gan wirfoddolwyr yn eu cymuned. Ac felly mae'n bwysig ein bod yn edrych ar sut y gallwn gefnogi'r gwirfoddolwyr hynny a'r mudiadau cymunedol hynny. Ac rwy'n croesawu ei sylwadau diwethaf ar hynny a sut y mae'n bwriadu gwneud hynny. Ac mae'n hollol iawn—nid yw'n digwydd dros nos. Mae'n digwydd dros amser. Mae Cymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda wedi bod wrthi ers ychydig o flynyddoedd, felly mae gennym rywfaint o'r amser hwnnw y tu ôl i ni eisoes. Mae hefyd yn iawn ynglŷn â'r mapiau teithio llesol, ond pan fydd Sustrans yn edrych ar hyn, rwy'n awyddus iddynt beidio ag edrych ar y mapiau teithio llesol presennol, oherwydd nid ydynt yn wych. Mewn gwirionedd, os edrychwch ar un cwm Afan, mae rhan fawr o lwybr beicio cwm Afan heb ei gynnwys ar y map teithio llesol, a dylai fod wedi cael ei gynnwys, oherwydd mae pobl yn ei ddefnyddio at ddibenion hamdden ac i deithio i'r gwaith; nid yw ar gyfer dibenion hamdden yn unig. Felly, rydym angen hynny. Ac mae hefyd yn iawn i ddweud bod angen newid diwylliannol.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i bawb am eu cyfraniadau heddiw. Mae hon yn ddadl sydd wedi ein hatgoffa o'n gorffennol, yn ogystal â'r rôl bwysig y mae'r gorffennol yn gallu ei chwarae yn ein dyfodol os oes gennym uchelgais a gweledigaeth i fwrw ymlaen ag ef. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Therefore, we defer voting under this item until voting time.
Diolch. Y cynnig yw derbyn y cynnig. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Felly, gohiriwn y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
The next debate on our agenda this afternoon is the debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's report on dentistry in Wales, and I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Dai Lloyd.
Y ddadl nesaf ar ein hagenda y prynhawn yma yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon ar ddeintyddiaeth yng Nghymru, a galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Dai Lloyd.
Cynnig NDM7150 Dai Lloyd
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon: Dechrau Ffres: Ymchwiliad i ddeintyddiaeth yng Nghymru, a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 21 Mai 2019.
Motion NDM7150 Dai Lloyd
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the report of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee: A Fresh Start: Inquiry into dentistry in Wales, which was laid in the Table Office on 21 May 2019.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dwi’n falch iawn o allu cyfrannu at y ddadl yma heddiw am adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon ar ddeintyddiaeth yng Nghymru. Dyma ail adroddiad y pwyllgor mewn cyfres o ymchwiliadau sy’n taflu goleuni ar faterion iechyd sy'n hanfodol bwysig i bobl Cymru.
Cytunodd y pwyllgor i gynnal ymchwiliad undydd i daflu goleuni ar wasanaethau deintyddol ac orthodonteg yng Nghymru, ynghyd â materion gweithlu ehangach yn y proffesiwn deintyddol, gan gynnwys lleoedd hyfforddi a recriwtio. Cyhoeddwyd ein hadroddiad ym mis Mai eleni, a oedd yn gwneud chwech o argymhellion i Lywodraeth Cymru. Dwi’n falch bod y Gweinidog wedi derbyn pob un ohonyn nhw, ac rwy’n edrych ymlaen at ymateb y Gweinidog heddiw, a fydd, rwy’n siŵr, yn rhoi rhai manylion ynghylch sut y bydd yn unioni’r problemau sy’n parhau o ran mynediad gan gleifion at wasanaethau deintyddol ac anfodlonrwydd hirsefydlog y proffesiwn gyda'r system gontractau.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am very pleased to take part in today’s debate on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s report on dentistry in Wales. This is the second of the committee’s reports in a series of spotlight inquiries on health issues that are vitally important to the people of Wales.
The committee agreed to undertake a one-day inquiry to shine a light on dental and orthodontic services in Wales, along with wider workforce issues within the dental profession, including training places and recruitment. We published our report in May of this year and made six recommendations to the Welsh Government. I am pleased that the Minister has accepted all six of them, and I look forward to the Minister’s response today, which I am sure will provide some of the detail around how he will remedy the enduring problems of patient access to dental services and the profession’s long-standing dissatisfaction with the contract system.
Daeth contract gwasanaethau deintyddol cyffredinol y gwasanaeth iechyd i rym yn 2006 yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Mae'r contract yn talu swm blynyddol i ddeintyddion am eu gwaith gwasanaeth iechyd drwy system uned o weithgaredd deintyddol. Mae'r system hon yn cynnwys tri band sy'n pennu faint mae’n rhaid i glaf dalu am ei driniaeth a faint sydd wedyn yn cael ei dalu i’r practis deintyddol. Mae'r taliad yr un peth p'un ai yw deintydd yn gwneud un neu fwy o driniaethau tebyg. Clywodd y pwyllgor nad oes cymhelliant i ddeintyddion gymryd cleifion ag anghenion uchel, felly, gan y byddent yn cael yr un swm am wneud mwy o waith. Mae gan hyn oblygiadau clir o ran mynediad at ddeintyddiaeth yng Nghymru. Dŷn ni'n pryderu y gallai'r system uned o weithgaredd deintyddol fod yn annog deintyddion i beidio â chymryd cleifion ag anghenion uchel, yn enwedig lle mae mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol eisoes yn waeth yng Nghymru.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud newidiadau yn y gorffennol i'r model unedau gweithgaredd deintyddol, gan ddefnyddio cynlluniau peilot i brofi gostyngiad yn nhargedau’r unedau i roi mwy o hyblygrwydd a lle i ddeintyddion wneud gwaith ataliol. Fodd bynnag, fe wnaethon ni glywed pryderon clir gan ddeintyddion eu hunain nad yw'r newidiadau i gontractau deintyddol dros y ddegawd diwethaf wedi cael llawer o effaith. Dyna pam mai argymhelliad cyntaf y pwyllgor yw disodli system gyfredol y targedau unedau gweithgaredd deintyddol, a gosod system fwy priodol a hyblyg yn ei lle ar gyfer monitro canlyniadau. Bydd y system newydd hon yn canolbwyntio ar ansawdd triniaeth ac atal problemau. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at gael y diweddaraf gan y Gweinidog ym mis Tachwedd am y maes gwaith hwn.
Fel rhan o'r contract deintyddol, mae deintyddfeydd yn cael eu gwerthuso ar yr unedau gweithgaredd deintyddol y maen nhw’n eu cyflawni yn erbyn eu lwfans dan gontract o unedau sy’n cael eu dyrannu gan eu bwrdd iechyd. Mae'r contract yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i fyrddau iechyd dalu practisau deintyddol 100 y cant os ydynt wedi cyflawni o leiaf 95 y cant o'u gweithgaredd cytundebol, fel sy’n cael ei fynegi yn eu hunedau gweithgaredd deintyddol. Dyma ganran y gweithgaredd y mae'n rhaid ei gyflawni os nad yw’r practis am weld y bwrdd iechyd yn bachu arian yn ôl. Clywodd y pwyllgor dystiolaeth nad yw'r byrddau iechyd yn ail-fuddsoddi’r holl arian sy’n cael ei fachu yn ôl mewn gwasanaethau deintyddiaeth. Rydym yn credu bod modd gwella gwasanaethau deintyddiaeth yng Nghymru ymhellach trwy ail-fuddsoddi’r arian hwn, ac rydym yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau i sicrhau a monitro bod pob bwrdd iechyd yn ail-fuddsoddi’r arian nes bod system newydd ar waith ar gyfer monitro canlyniadau, fel y mae’r pwyllgor hwn wedi’i argymell.
Mae nifer o'r llwybrau gyrfa sydd ar gael yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys hyfforddiant deintyddol sylfaenol, hyfforddiant deintyddol craidd a hyfforddiant arbenigol, bellach yn rhan o waith recriwtio ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Roeddem yn falch o glywed nad oes unrhyw broblemau mawr o ran recriwtio i ysgolion deintyddol yng Nghymru, ond rydym yn ymwybodol bod y ffigurau hyn yn gallu bod yn isel yn achos myfyrwyr sy'n hanu o Gymru. Fe wnaeth y pwyllgor glywed tystiolaeth hefyd am yr heriau o ran cadw deintyddion yn gweithio yng Nghymru yn dilyn eu cyfnod hyfforddi. Rydym yn ymwybodol mai rhai o'r rhwystrau yw’r gwahaniaeth mewn cyflog yng Nghymru o'i gymharu â'r cyflog yn Lloegr, ynghyd â pha mor agos yw’r byrddau iechyd at yr ysgol ddeintyddol. Rydym yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i ystyried mentrau llwyddiannus sy'n cael eu defnyddio mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig i fynd i'r afael â materion recriwtio a chadw. O ganlyniad, ein trydydd argymhelliad yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwerthuso cynllun recriwtio y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan i benderfynu a yw'n effeithiol o ran cynyddu myfyrwyr sy'n hanu o Gymru a chadw myfyrwyr yn dilyn hyfforddiant. Mae ymateb ysgrifenedig y Gweinidog i'n hadroddiad yn derbyn bod angen gwerthusiad ac y bydd yn trafod gydag Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru sut i fwrw ymlaen â hyn. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at glywed mwy o fanylion am hyn heddiw.
I droi at orthodonteg, clywodd y pwyllgor fod atgyfeiriadau amhriodol at wasanaethau orthodonteg yn gallu rhoi straen ar wasanaethau ac arwain at amseroedd aros hirach. Er ein bod yn cydnabod mai materion recriwtio sy’n achosi amseroedd aros hir yn bennaf, rydym yn pryderu am y ffordd y caiff cleifion eu hatgyfeirio a’u blaenoriaethu. Fe wnaethom glywed fod rhai ymarferwyr deintyddol gofal sylfaenol yn atgyfeirio cleifion yn rhy gynnar oherwydd bod yr amseroedd aros yn hir iawn. Mae hyn yn anochel yn ychwanegu at y broblem. Rydym yn nodi bod system rheoli atgyfeiriadau electronig wedi cael ei chyflwyno, ac, er ein bod yn cydnabod ei bod yn bosibl na fydd y system yn arwain at fwy o gapasiti, rydym yn disgwyl y bydd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol o ran sicrhau atgyfeiriadau priodol, blaenoriaethu cleifion a lleihau amseroedd aros. Felly, mae'r pwyllgor yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda’r byrddau iechyd i ddatblygu strategaeth glir i sicrhau bod y system e-atgyfeirio ar gyfer gwasanaethau orthodonteg yn cael effaith gadarnhaol o safbwynt sicrhau atgyfeiriadau priodol, blaenoriaethu cleifion a gostwng amseroedd aros.
I droi yn ôl at y Cynllun Gwên, mae'r pwyllgor yn cydnabod effaith gadarnhaol y Cynllun Gwên, sef y rhaglen genedlaethol ar gyfer gwella iechyd i blant yng Nghymru. Dŷn ni’n croesawu’r ffaith bod y rhaglen yn cael ei hymestyn i gynnwys plant ifanc iawn. Fodd bynnag, clywodd y pwyllgor bryderon am y ffocws newydd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi ar y rhaglen hon, gan roi mwy o bwyslais ar blant dim i bump oed, a’r posibilrwydd y bydd yn symud i ffwrdd o blant dros yr oedran hwnnw. Felly, rydym yn argymell y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ariannu'r rhaglen Cynllun Gwên yn ddigonol i sicrhau bod plant dros bump oed yn cael budd ohoni. Mae ymateb ysgrifenedig y Gweinidog yn cyfeirio at gamdybiaethau honedig bod y ffocws newydd hwn yn golygu nad yw plant chwech neu saith oed yn gallu cael budd o’r rhaglen. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at glywed mwy ganddo ar y mater yma y prynhawn yma.
Fe wnaethon ni glywed tystiolaeth gref fod problemau o ran iechyd y geg ymhlith plant hŷn a phobl ifanc yn eu harddegau cynnar yn gallu arwain at golli dannedd parhaol. Mewn rhai achosion, caiff llawer o ddannedd eu colli, ac mae'r pwyllgor yn disgwyl gweld camau effeithiol yn cael eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Mae'r pwyllgor yn ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi comisiynu astudiaeth epidemiolegol gyda'r nod o asesu a deall anghenion y grŵp oedran 12 i 21 ac i helpu i lywio’r gwaith a fydd yn cael ei wneud yn y dyfodol i fodloni anghenion y grŵp oedran hwn. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen at glywed y diweddaraf gan y Gweinidog am y maes gwaith hwn. Diolch.
The NHS general dental services contract came into force in 2006 in England and Wales. The contract pays dentists an annual amount for their NHS work through a unit of dental activity system. Now, this system consists of three bands that determine how much a patient is charged for their treatment and how much a dental practice is then remunerated. The payment is the same whether a dentist undertakes one or more similar procedures. The committee was told that there is no incentive for dentists to take on high-needs patients, as they would be paid the same amount for doing more work. This has clear implications for access to dentistry in Wales. We are concerned that the current UDA system may be discouraging dentists from taking on high-needs patients, particularly where poorer access to dental services already exists in Wales.
The Welsh Government has previously made changes to the UDA-based model, with the use of pilot schemes to test a reduction in UDA targets to allow dentists more flexibility and space to undertake preventative work. However, we heard clear concerns from dentists themselves that the changes to dental contracts over the last decade have not had much impact. That is why the committee’s first recommendation is to replace the current UDA targets system with a new, more appropriate and more flexible system for monitoring outcomes, to include a focus on prevention and quality of treatment. As I said, this system will focus on prevention and quality of treatment. We look forward to receiving an update from the Minister in November on progress in this area.
As part of the dental contract, practices are evaluated on the UDAs they achieve against their contracted allowance of UDAs allocated by their health board. The contract requires health boards to pay a dental practice 100 per cent if it has delivered at least 95 per cent of its contractual activity as expressed in its UDA. This is the percentage of activity that must be delivered if a practice is to avoid the health board clawing back funds. The committee heard in evidence that this clawback is not universally reinvested by health boards back into dentistry services. We believe that dentistry services in Wales could be further improved through the reinvestment of this money, and we recommend that the Welsh Government takes steps to ensure and monitor that all health boards reinvest this money until a new system for monitoring outcomes is in place, as recommended by this committee
A number of the available career pathways in Wales, including dental foundation training, dental core training and specialist training, are now part of UK-wide recruitment. We were pleased to learn that there are no major issues with recruitment into dental schools in Wales, although we are aware that these figures can be low for Welsh-domiciled students. The committee also heard evidence about the challenges with retaining dentists to work in Wales following their training period. We are aware that some of the barriers are the difference in salary in Wales compared to England, along with health boards' proximity to the dental school. We urge the Welsh Government to consider successful initiatives being used elsewhere in the UK to address issues of recruitment and retention. As such, our third recommendation is that the Welsh Government undertakes an evaluation of the UK-wide recruitment scheme to determine if it is effectively supporting an increase in Welsh-domiciled students and the retention of students following training. In his written response to our report, the Minister accepts that an evaluation is required and that he will discuss with Health Education and Improvement Wales how to take this forward. I look forward to hearing more detail about this today.
Turning to orthodontic services, the committee heard that inappropriate referrals to orthodontic services can put a strain on services and exacerbate waiting times issues. While we recognise that, primarily, long waiting times are as a result of recruitment issues, we are concerned about the method of referring and prioritising patients. We heard that some primary care dental practitioners refer patients too early in order to take account of long waiting times. This inevitably adds to the problem. We note the introduction of the electronic referral management system and recognise that, while the system may not increase capacity, we would expect it to have a positive impact on ensuring appropriate referrals, prioritising patients and reducing waiting times. The committee therefore recommends that the Welsh Government works with health boards to develop a clear strategy to ensure that the e-referral system for orthodontic services has a positive impact on ensuring appropriate referrals, prioritising patients and reducing waiting times.
Turning to the Designed to Smile scheme, the committee recognises the positive impact of Designed to Smile, which is the national oral health improvement programme for children in Wales. We welcome the extension of the programme to include very young children. However, the committee heard concerns around the Welsh Government’s refocus of this programme, placing more emphasis on children aged nought to five years, and a possible shift away from children above that age. As such, we recommend that the Welsh Government should fund the Designed to Smile programme sufficiently to ensure that those over five years of age receive its benefits. In his written response, the Minister refers to apparent misconceptions that, as a result of the refocus, those aged six and seven are being denied the benefits of the programme. I look forward to hearing more from him on this matter this afternoon.
We heard strong evidence that the oral health issues in older children and young teenagers can lead to the loss of permanent teeth. In some cases, many teeth are lost, and the committee expects effective action to be taken to address this. The committee is aware that the Welsh Government has commissioned an epidemiological study with the aim of assessing and understanding the needs of the 12 to 21 age group and to help inform future approaches to meet the needs of this age group. So, I look forward to receiving an update from the Minister on this area of work. Thank you.
I'm grateful to be able to speak on the committee's report. I'm delighted, actually, we did this one-day report, because it shone a light on a part of the NHS here in Wales that is so very vital to people's long-term health and yet sometimes is really overlooked. And I'm pleased that the Government has accepted all the recommendations, although I do have commentary on that.
'Everyone should have access to good-quality NHS dental services'. This is the headline on the Government's Health in Wales website page on how to find a dentist. Now, that's quite tricky in an awful lot of Wales. About 45 per cent of the population—that's almost 1.5 million individuals—have not seen a high street NHS dentist in the last two years. And I'm concerned about the stagnation that these figures actually show up, because, nine years ago, 55 per cent of the population was being treated within the NHS dentistry service. Today, 55 per cent of the population is being treated in the NHS dentistry service. That sounds like good news, doesn't it, but, of course, our population's grown by almost 200,000, so, actually, we're beginning to reverse and, rather than reverse or stagnate, we need to improve.
So, Minister, I'd be very grateful if you could just talk us through how you think we're going to be able to address this and increase the numbers of people who are having access to NHS dentistry services. Because, in my constituency, there is no dental practice that is accepting new adult or child NHS patients whatsoever. Only 15.5 per cent of NHS practices throughout Wales are currently accepting adult NHS patients, and only 27 per cent are accepting new children, which, actually, is really bad news for a couple of reasons. One is it actually starts to negate all the positive work in Designed to Smile, because there's no encouragement to carry it on. Two, every time you go into a hospital, you're asked about the state of your teeth. It's absolutely vital and it's recognised by the medical profession. They promote the fact that, unless you have good, healthy teeth, you are liable to open yourself up to all manner of infections and tendencies for heart failure and all the rest of it. So, unless we have really, really good teeth and we keep our teeth healthy, then we are opening ourselves up to further illnesses. So, we're immediately setting ourselves up to fail if we do not give people access to good dentistry.
And it's not a snapshot in time. I noted in your response that you said this was a snapshot, but this is two different years that all this has been monitored over. So, what's the real problem? Well, the real problem is there's no new money. All the recommendations you've accepted, which is great, but none of the recommendations have any financial implication whatsoever, which means there is no new money. The value of the total dental budget in 2017-18 is worth 15 per cent less in real terms compared to the budget six years ago, but I can assure you that in the six years capital costs have increased, staff costs have increased, everything else has increased. So, of course, what's happening is that the patient is being squeezed, services to the patient are being squeezed. An expenditure of £186.7 million in 2012-13, which is what we spent, should equate to £216.57 million now, and that's just to keep pace with inflation. Our six-year shortfall for last year was over £29 million, and £29 million in a small part of the NHS sector like this actually makes for an awful lot of money that can make an awful lot of difference. So, I'm deeply concerned about the fact that we have no new money.
The other point that also concerns me, and pertains to our recommendation 1, is about the fact that there are still pilot practices—or there's still a desire by the chief dental officer to implement new pilot practices to test how we ought to relook at the unit of dental activity. What I don't understand about this is that some years ago, I had the great good fortune to go down to some pilots that were being run by the Welsh Government in Swansea, and there's been one elsewhere—very successful. It absolutely looked at people in the round, it looked at the holistic way of being able to measure their dental health. The downside was that it was highly preventative, so they saw slightly fewer patients, but in the long term the benefit to Wales, to the dental service, was absolutely outstanding. I would be very grateful, Minister, if you could just clarify why you've not gone ahead with any of those pilots that were tested and seen to be positive, but instead we are waiting and waiting and waiting, and spending yet more time in trying to redesign the wheel and come up with yet another alternative, when we seem to have some very successful ones that your Government came up with not so very long ago.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am gael siarad am adroddiad y pwyllgor. Rwyf wrth fy modd, mewn gwirionedd, ein bod wedi gwneud yr adroddiad undydd hwn, gan ei fod yn amlygu rhan o'r GIG yma yng Nghymru sydd mor hanfodol i iechyd hirdymor pobl ac eto, weithiau, caiff ei anwybyddu mewn gwirionedd. Ac rwy'n falch fod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn yr holl argymhellion, er bod gennyf sylwadau ar hynny.
'Dylai pawb gael mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol o ansawdd da yn y GIG'. Dyma'r pennawd ar dudalen gwefan Iechyd yng Nghymru y Llywodraeth ar sut i ddod o hyd i ddeintydd. Nawr, mae hynny'n eithaf anodd mewn llawer rhan o Gymru. Nid yw tua 45 y cant o'r boblogaeth—sef bron 1.5 miliwn o unigolion—wedi gweld deintydd GIG ar y stryd fawr yn y ddwy flynedd diwethaf. Ac rwy'n poeni am y ffordd y mae'r ffigurau hyn yn dynodi diffyg cynnydd mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd, naw mlynedd yn ôl, roedd 55 y cant o'r boblogaeth yn cael eu trin o fewn gwasanaeth deintyddiaeth y GIG. Heddiw, mae 55 y cant o'r boblogaeth yn cael eu trin yng ngwasanaeth deintyddiaeth y GIG. Mae hynny'n swnio fel newyddion da, onid yw, ond wrth gwrs, mae ein poblogaeth wedi tyfu bron i 200,000, felly mewn gwirionedd, rydym yn dechrau mynd tuag yn ôl, ac yn hytrach na mynd tuag yn ôl neu sefyll yn llonydd, mae angen i ni wella.
Felly, Weinidog, buaswn yn ddiolchgar iawn pe gallech ddweud wrthym sut y credwch y gallwn fynd i'r afael â hyn a chynyddu nifer y bobl sy'n cael mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol y GIG. Oherwydd, yn fy etholaeth i, nid oes unrhyw bractis deintyddol yn derbyn cleifion GIG newydd o gwbl, yn oedolion neu'n blant. Dim ond 15.5 y cant o bractisau'r GIG ledled Cymru sy'n derbyn cleifion GIG sy'n oedolion ar hyn o bryd, a dim ond 27 y cant sy'n derbyn plant newydd, ac mae hynny, mewn gwirionedd, yn newyddion drwg iawn am ddau reswm. Un rheswm yw ei fod yn dechrau negyddu holl waith cadarnhaol y Cynllun Gwên, oherwydd ni cheir anogaeth i'w barhau. Dau, bob tro y byddwch yn mynd i ysbyty, gofynnir i chi am gyflwr eich dannedd. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol a chaiff ei gydnabod gan y proffesiwn meddygol. Maent yn hyrwyddo'r ffaith eich bod yn gwneud eich hun yn agored i bob math o heintiau a thueddiadau o ran methiant y galon a'r gweddill i gyd oni bai fod gennych ddannedd da ac iach. Felly, oni bai fod gennym ddannedd gwirioneddol dda a'n bod yn cadw ein dannedd yn iach, rydym yn gwneud ein hunain yn agored i salwch pellach. Rydym yn paratoi i fethu'n syth os na allwn gynnig mynediad at ddeintyddiaeth dda i bobl.
Ac nid ciplun mewn amser yw hwn. Nodais yn eich ymateb eich bod wedi dweud mai ciplun ydoedd, ond cafodd hyn ei fonitro dros ddwy flynedd wahanol. Felly, beth yw'r broblem go iawn? Wel, y broblem go iawn yw nad oes unrhyw arian newydd. Rydych wedi derbyn yr holl argymhellion, sy'n wych, ond nid oes unrhyw oblygiadau ariannol o gwbl ynghlwm wrth yr argymhellion, sy'n golygu nad oes unrhyw arian newydd. Yn 2017-18 mae gwerth y gyllideb ddeintyddol gyfan 15 y cant yn llai mewn termau real o'i chymharu â'r gyllideb chwe blynedd yn ôl, ond gallaf eich sicrhau bod costau cyfalaf wedi cynyddu yn y chwe blynedd diwethaf, mae costau staff wedi cynyddu, mae popeth arall wedi cynyddu. Felly, wrth gwrs, yr hyn sy'n digwydd yw bod y claf yn cael ei wasgu, mae gwasanaethau i'r claf yn cael eu gwasgu. Dylai gwariant o £186.7 miliwn yn 2012-13, sef yr hyn a wariwyd gennym, gyfateb i £216.57 miliwn yn awr, a hynny i gyd-fynd â chwyddiant yn unig. Roedd ein diffyg dros chwe blynedd ar gyfer y llynedd dros £29 miliwn, ac mae £29 miliwn mewn rhan fach o'r sector GIG fel hyn yn llawer iawn o arian a allai wneud llawer iawn o wahaniaeth mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rwy'n pryderu'n fawr am y ffaith nad oes gennym unrhyw arian newydd.
Mae'r pwynt arall sydd hefyd yn peri pryder i mi, ac sy'n berthnasol i'n hargymhelliad 1, yn ymwneud â'r ffaith bod yna bractisau peilot o hyd—neu mae'r prif swyddog deintyddol yn dal i ddymuno rhoi practisau peilot newydd ar waith i brofi sut y dylem ailedrych ar yr uned gweithgarwch deintyddol. Yr hyn nad wyf yn ei ddeall am hyn yw fy mod wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus, rai blynyddoedd yn ôl, i fynd i weld cynlluniau peilot a oedd yn cael eu rhedeg gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn Abertawe, ac fe fu un mewn man arall—llwyddiannus iawn. Edrychai ar yr unigolyn cyfan, ac edrychai ar y ffordd gyfannol o allu mesur eu hiechyd deintyddol. Yr anfantais oedd ei fod yn ataliol iawn, felly byddent yn gweld ychydig llai o gleifion, ond yn y tymor hir roedd y budd i Gymru, i'r gwasanaeth deintyddol, yn gwbl eithriadol. Buaswn yn ddiolchgar iawn, Weinidog, pe gallech egluro pam nad ydych wedi bwrw ymlaen ag unrhyw un o'r cynlluniau peilot hynny a brofwyd ac y gwelwyd eu bod yn rhai cadarnhaol, ond yn lle hynny, ein bod yn aros ac yn aros ac yn aros, ac yn treulio mwy fyth o amser yn ceisio ailgynllunio'r olwyn a llunio dewis arall eto fyth, pan ymddengys bod gennym rai llwyddiannus iawn a gyflwynwyd gan eich Llywodraeth chi heb fod mor bell yn ôl â hynny.
Fe fydd Aelodau yn ymwybodol fy mod i wedi bod yn holi am y sefyllfa ddeintyddol yn fy etholaeth i yn Arfon ar sawl achlysur, ac mae hi yn sefyllfa ddifrifol iawn. Mae yna chwech ymarferwr yn yr etholaeth, ond does yr un ohonyn nhw yn derbyn cleifion ar yr NHS. Dydyn nhw ddim yn derbyn oedolion ar yr NHS, dydyn nhw ddim yn derbyn plant ar yr NHS, a dydyn nhw ddim yn derbyn plant a phobl ifanc efo anableddau ar yr NHS. Felly, mae nifer fawr ohonyn nhw'n gorfod mynd allan o'r ardal i chwilio am driniaeth ddeintyddol ar yr NHS—cyn belled â Dolgellau i rai ohonyn nhw, sydd awr a chwarter i ffwrdd mewn car, ac yn bellach, wrth gwrs, ar fws.
Beth mae hynny yn ei olygu yn ymarferol yn aml iawn ydy bod y cleifion yn disgwyl tan fod pethau wedi mynd i'r pen, ac yn gorfod mynd i glinig brys drwy NHS Direct ar ôl i'r broblem waethygu. Ac mae'r clinig hwnnw, yn aml iawn, o leiaf hanner awr mewn car i ffwrdd o lle mae pobl yn Arfon yn byw. Neu, os nad ydyn nhw yn gallu cyrraedd y clinig, beth sy'n digwydd nesaf ydy eu bod nhw'n troi fyny yn Ysbyty Gwynedd efo problemau difrifol iawn. Dwi'n clywed straeon yn rheolaidd ynglŷn â'r sefyllfaoedd yma; mae o'n digwydd yn gynyddol. Felly, dydy'r gwaith ataliol cychwynnol cymharol rhad jest ddim yn digwydd, a beth sy'n digwydd ydy ei fod o'n troi yn achos lle mae angen triniaeth aciwt a drud. Beth sy'n rhwystredig iawn i'r ymarferwyr deintyddol yn Arfon ydy bod ganddyn nhw le; mae ganddyn nhw'r amser i weld cleifion. Mae eu hanner nhw yn derbyn cleifion preifat, felly mae ganddyn nhw'r adnoddau, ond dydyn nhw ddim yn gallu cymryd cleifion NHS newydd ymlaen oherwydd bod y cytundeb yn rhoi cap ar y nifer o gleifion NHS fedran nhw eu derbyn. Dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu talu os ydyn nhw'n mynd tu hwnt i'r terfyn hwnnw.
Dydy'r sefyllfa ddim wedi newid ers dwy flynedd. Mae'n anghywir i ddweud mai snapshot ydy'r darlun dwi'n ei osod gerbron, fel sydd wedi cael ei honni pan dwi wedi codi'r mater yma o'r blaen. Mae'r sefyllfa'n debyg iawn i beth oedd o ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Felly, dwi'n siomedig ofnadwy na fydd yna unrhyw gyllid ychwanegol ar gael, a dwi'n siomedig ofnadwy bod y symudiad tuag at well cytundebau ar gyfer deintyddiaeth ar yr NHS—bod y symudiad yna'n un araf tu hwnt. Dyna beth mae'r ymarferwyr yn ei ddweud wrthyf i yn Arfon hefyd. Felly, mae'r sefyllfa sy'n wynebu cleifion newydd a phlant yn fy ardal i yn mynd i barhau, er gwaethaf ymdrechion clodwiw'r pwyllgor a'r ymchwiliad undydd yma rydych chi wedi'i gynnal. Mae'n ymddangos eich bod chi wedi bod yn gwastraffu'ch amser, achos dydy'r Llywodraeth ddim yn bwriadu gwneud fawr ddim yn wahanol i beth maen nhw'n ei wneud ar hyn o bryd, ac fe fydd yr argyfwng deintyddol yn parhau.
Dwi'n falch o glywed fod yna werthusiad yn mynd i fod o ran recriwtio a chadw deintyddion ac yn edrych ymlaen i weld beth fydd casgliadau hwnnw. Hoffwn i ofyn heddiw a fyddwch chi'n edrych yn benodol ar ddiffyg deintyddion yn y gogledd ac a oes yna achos dros hyfforddi deintyddion yn y gogledd, ym Mangor, yn union fel sydd wedi digwydd efo meddygon. Oherwydd yr un ydy'r dadleuon: os ydych chi'n hyfforddi pobl mewn ardal benodol, maen nhw'n tueddu i aros yn yr ardal yna ac yn y ffordd yna yn llenwi'r bylchau sydd yna mewn nifer o ardaloedd ar draws y gogledd. Felly, dwi'n siŵr eich bod chi wedi fy nghlywed i'n gwneud y dadleuon ynglŷn â meddygon. Wel, dwi'n credu bod yr un ddadl yn wir am ddeintyddion hefyd. Diolch.
Members will be aware that I have been asking questions about the dental situation in my constituency of Arfon on a number of occasions, and it is a very grave situation indeed. There are six practitioners in the constituency, but none of them are taking NHS patients. They’re not taking adults on the NHS, they’re not taking children on the NHS and they’re not taking children and young people with disabilities on the NHS, either. So, many of them have to go out of the area to seek dental treatment on the NHS—as far as Dolgellau in some cases, which is an hour and a quarter away in a car, and takes even longer, of course, on a bus.
What that means on a practical level very often is that the patients wait until things have gone to an extreme, and have to go to an emergency clinic through NHS Direct once the problem has worsened. And then, that clinic, very often, is at least half an hour away in a car from people’s homes in Arfon. Or, if they can’t get to the clinic, what happens next is that they turn up at Ysbyty Gwynedd with serious problems. Anecdotally, I hear regular stories about such situations; it’s increasing in how often it happens. Therefore, the relatively cheap preventative work simply isn’t happening, and what happens is that it becomes an acute emergency case, which, of course, is very expensive. What’s very frustrating for dental practitioners in Arfon is that they do have capacity; they have the time to see patients. Half of them do accept private patients, so they have the resources, but they can’t take new NHS patients because the contract places a cap on the number of NHS patients that they can accept. They won’t be paid if they go beyond that limit.
The situation hasn’t changed in the past two years. It's wrong to say that the picture I'm painting today is a snapshot, as has been claimed when I have raised this issue previously. The situation is very similar to what it was two years ago. So, I am extremely disappointed that there will be no additional funding and I’m exceptionally disappointed that the move towards better contracts for dentistry on the NHS—that that movement is so slow. That’s what the practitioners are telling me in Arfon, too. Therefore, the situation facing new patients and children in my area will continue, despite the best efforts of the committee and this one-day inquiry that you’ve held. It appears that you’ve been wasting your time, because the Government doesn’t intend to do anything that’s hugely different to what they’re doing at the moment, and the dental crisis will continue.
I am pleased to hear that there is to be an evaluation of recruitment and retention among dentists, and I look forward to seeing the conclusions of that. I would like to ask today whether you will be looking specifically at a shortage of dentists in north Wales and whether there is a case for training dentists in north Wales, in Bangor, exactly as has happened with doctors. Because the arguments are the same: if you train people in a particular area, they do tend to remain in that area, and in that way, they do fill in those gaps that exist in many areas across north Wales. So, I’m sure you will have heard me making the case about doctors. Well, I think the same arguments can be made about dentists too. Thank you.
I thank the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee for the report on dentistry in Wales. NHS dentistry in Wales is in crisis. Less than one in five practices in Wales are taking on new adult patients, and just over a quarter of practices are offering appointments to new child patients. We regularly learn of patients making round trips of 100 miles to see a dentist. It's not unusual to see practices who open up to new patients have 10-hour queues outside the door and there have also been extreme cases of people doing DIY dentistry because they can't see an NHS dentist and certainly can't afford private treatment.
As the committee quite rightly highlight, the main culprit is the dental contract, which sets unrealistic targets and quotas, preventing dentists from treating more patients. The NHS general dental services contract also discourages dentists from taking on high-needs patients, particularly in areas of deprivation where there is already poor access to the dental services. Not only is the UDA system not fit for purpose, it has also actively harmed oral health in Wales.
I am pleased, therefore, that the Welsh Government has listened to the committee and agreed to scrap the target system rather than tweaking it as they did in 2011 and 2015. I would go further and urge the Welsh Government to ensure the new UDA arrangements also prevent dental practices from insisting on six-monthly checkups and abide by NICE guidelines. The chief dental officer for England said that, in the majority of cases, check-ups are only necessary every 12 or 24 months, and this will not only ensure patients aren't forced to pay for unnecessary treatment, but will allow practices to take on extra patients because this time will now be freed up. So, hopefully, the improvements put forward by the committee will put an end to long trips, longer waits and instances of people pulling their own teeth with a pair of household pliers. Thank you.
Diolch i'r Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon am yr adroddiad ar ddeintyddiaeth yng Nghymru. Mae deintyddiaeth y GIG yng Nghymru mewn argyfwng. Mae llai nag un o bob pum practis yng Nghymru yn derbyn cleifion newydd sy'n oedolion, ac ychydig dros chwarter y practisau sy'n cynnig apwyntiadau i gleifion newydd sy'n blant. Rydym yn clywed yn rheolaidd am gleifion sy'n teithio 100 milltir i weld deintydd ac yn ôl adref. Nid yw'n anarferol gweld ciwiau 10 awr o hyd y tu allan i ddrysau practisau sy'n agor i gleifion newydd a gwelwyd achosion eithafol hefyd o bobl yn gwneud deintyddiaeth arnynt eu hunain am na allant weld deintydd GIG ac yn sicr, ni allant fforddio triniaeth breifat.
Fel y mae'r pwyllgor yn ei amlygu'n briodol iawn, y prif beth sydd ar fai yw'r contract deintyddol, sy'n gosod targedau a chwotâu afrealistig, gan atal deintyddion rhag trin mwy o gleifion. Mae contract gwasanaethau deintyddol cyffredinol y GIG hefyd yn atal deintyddion rhag derbyn cleifion sydd ag anghenion mawr, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig lle mae mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol eisoes yn wael. Nid yn unig nad yw'r system unedau gweithgarwch deintyddol yn addas i'r diben, mae hefyd wedi gwneud niwed go iawn iechyd y geg yng Nghymru.
Rwy'n falch, felly, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrando ar y pwyllgor ac wedi cytuno i roi'r gorau i'r system darged yn hytrach na'i haddasu fel y gwnaethant yn 2011 a 2015. Hoffwn fynd ymhellach ac annog Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod trefniadau unedau gweithgarwch deintyddol newydd hefyd yn atal practisau deintyddol rhag mynnu gwneud archwiliadau bob chwe mis a glynu wrth ganllawiau NICE. Dywedodd prif swyddog deintyddol Lloegr nad oes angen archwiliadau'n amlach na phob 12 neu 24 mis yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, a bydd hyn nid yn unig yn sicrhau na chaiff cleifion eu gorfodi i dalu am driniaeth ddiangen, ond bydd hefyd yn caniatáu i bractisau dderbyn cleifion ychwanegol yn sgil rhyddhau amser. Felly, gobeithio y bydd y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd gan y pwyllgor yn rhoi diwedd ar deithiau hir, arosiadau hwy a phobl yn tynnu eu dannedd eu hunain â phleiars. Diolch.
Thank you. Can I call the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething?
Diolch. A gaf fi alw ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Vaughan Gething?
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would also like to thank the committee for their report and their inquiry into dentistry in Wales and to Members who contributed to the debate today. The recommendations do broadly reflect Welsh Government policy and recognise some of the progress made to date, whilst identifying where further work is still required. We acknowledge that the current dental contract needs reform, as commented by all Members in the debate. Units of dental activity, or UDAs, should not be the sole measure of contract performance. They do not reflect or incentivise a preventative or team approach to care. However, calls to bin the UDA are too simplistic and don't offer an alternative.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i'r pwyllgor am ei adroddiad a'i ymchwiliad i ddeintyddiaeth yng Nghymru ac i'r Aelodau a gyfrannodd at y ddadl heddiw. Mae'r argymhellion yn adlewyrchu'n fras beth yw polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn cydnabod rhywfaint o'r cynnydd a wnaed hyd yma, gan nodi lle mae angen gwneud rhagor o waith. Rydym yn cydnabod bod angen diwygio'r contract deintyddol presennol, fel y nodwyd gan bob Aelod yn y ddadl. Ni ddylai unedau gweithgarwch deintyddol fod yn unig fodd o fesur perfformiad contract. Nid ydynt yn adlewyrchu nac yn cymell ymagwedd ataliol nac ymagwedd tîm tuag at ofal. Fodd bynnag, mae galwadau i gael gwared ar yr unedau gweithgarwch deintyddol yn rhy syml ac nid ydynt yn cynnig dewis arall.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Whole-system change is already under way in dentistry in Wales. We need clinical teams in health boards to collaboratively agree on what to deliver and how to measure excellence in primary care dentistry. New approaches to contracting with more meaningful measurement is already allowing patient need, practice-level quality, team workforce and access to be better understood. This is more than making a few tweaks with the contract. Dentists, dental care professionals, health boards and academics are working together to shape and deliver transformation in line with 'A Healthier Wales' by removing financial disincentives so dental teams can focus on prevention and make use of the skills of the whole team.
The dental reform programme is focused on quality, prevention and access. From this month, a further 36 practices are joining the existing 94 participating dental practices in contract reform. That represents about a third of all dental practices in Wales who are taking part. In contrast, in England, just over 1 per cent of dental practices are taking part in their contract reform programme. However, we want the pace of change to quicken even further so that more dental practices can work in new ways. I expect over half of all practices to be part of the reform programme by October 2020, leading to a full roll-out of contract reform in 2021. The broader set of monitoring measures and the removal of low-value UDAs under contract reform will help to reduce the need for health boards to recover funding from dental contractors. I have asked health boards to report on any resources recovered, and I expect them to provide year-round support to dental providers who experience difficulty in meeting targets.
We know recruitment and retention in the dental workforce causes difficulty in a number of areas of Wales. There is more to do to address the multifactorial issues involved. So, Health Education and Improvement Wales are looking at training numbers, ways to help develop the workforce, and are considering alternative workforce models to support delivery, enhance recruitment and incentivise retention following training. In addition, the All-Wales Faculty for Dental Care Professionals being established at Bangor University, which I expect to visit in the new year, will contribute to career opportunities for the dental care professional workforce.
The dental e-referral management system mentioned yesterday covers all dental specialties, including orthodontics, and has been successfully rolled out nationally. We are the first country in the UK to implement a fully electronic system for all dental referrals in all dental clinical specialties. That now means that the source, complexity, and volume of referrals for dental specialties will be known by health boards. And in turn, that supports evidence-informed workforce planning and paves the way to service redesign, with a shift out of secondary care for procedures that can, and should, be delivered within primary care. And, of course, a fortnight ago, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of Designed to Smile, our population child oral health improvement programme. This has made, and continues to make, a significant contribution to reducing dental disease levels, and we're committed to continuing our support for the programme.
There is, of course, more to be done. I'll happily respond again to the committee with a range of the points made that there isn't time to respond to today, however significant steps have already been taken in reforming dental services and improving the oral health for the most vulnerable members of our communities. I hope the clear programme of dental contract reform that I set out to be completed by 2021 will provide the assurance Members are plainly looking for. But I will continue to keep Members updated on our progress in addressing all of the recommendations made in the report.
Mae newid i'r system gyfan eisoes ar y gweill ym maes deintyddiaeth yng Nghymru. Mae arnom angen timau clinigol mewn byrddau iechyd i gytuno ar yr hyn y dylid ei gyflawni a sut i fesur rhagoriaeth ym maes deintyddiaeth gofal sylfaenol. Mae dulliau newydd o gontractio gyda ffyrdd mwy ystyrlon o fesur eisoes yn caniatáu i ni ddeall yn well beth yw anghenion cleifion, ansawdd lefel practis, gweithlu tîm a mynediad. Mae hyn yn golygu mwy na gwneud ychydig o newidiadau bach i'r contract. Mae deintyddion, gweithwyr gofal deintyddol proffesiynol, byrddau iechyd ac academyddion yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i gyflawni a sicrhau trawsnewid yn unol â 'Cymru iachach' drwy ddileu datgymhelliad ariannol fel y gall timau deintyddol ganolbwyntio ar atal a gwneud defnydd o sgiliau'r tîm cyfan.
Mae'r rhaglen ddiwygio deintyddol yn canolbwyntio ar ansawdd, atal a mynediad. O'r mis hwn ymlaen, mae 36 o bractisau eraill yn ymuno â'r 94 o bractisau deintyddol sy'n cymryd rhan yn y broses o ddiwygio contractau. Mae hynny'n golygu bod oddeutu traean o'r holl bractisau deintyddol yng Nghymru yn cymryd rhan. I gyferbynnu â hynny, yn Lloegr, ychydig dros 1 y cant o bractisau deintyddol sy'n cymryd rhan yn eu rhaglen ddiwygio contractau. Fodd bynnag, rydym am weld y newid yn cyflymu ymhellach er mwyn i fwy o bractisau deintyddol allu gweithio mewn ffyrdd newydd. Rwy'n disgwyl i dros hanner yr holl bractisau fod yn rhan o'r rhaglen ddiwygio erbyn mis Hydref 2020, gan arwain at gyflwyno'r diwygiadau contract yn llawn yn 2021. Bydd y set ehangach o fesurau monitro a dileu unedau gweithgarwch deintyddol gwerth isel o dan y diwygiadau contract yn helpu i leihau'r angen i fyrddau iechyd adennill cyllid gan gontractwyr deintyddol. Rwyf wedi gofyn i'r byrddau iechyd gyflwyno adroddiadau ar unrhyw adnoddau a adenillir, a disgwyliaf iddynt ddarparu cymorth drwy gydol y flwyddyn i ddarparwyr deintyddol sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cyrraedd targedau.
Gwyddom fod recriwtio a chadw staff yn y gweithlu deintyddol yn achosi anhawster mewn sawl ardal yng Nghymru. Mae mwy i'w wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r materion aml-ffactor dan sylw. Felly, mae Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru yn edrych ar y niferoedd sy'n hyfforddi, ffyrdd o helpu i ddatblygu'r gweithlu, ac maent yn ystyried modelau amgen ar gyfer y gweithlu i gefnogi'r ddarpariaeth, gwella recriwtio a chymell staff i aros yn y proffesiwn ar ôl hyfforddi. Yn ogystal, bydd Cyfadran Cymru Gyfan ar gyfer Gweithwyr Proffesiynol Gofal Deintyddol sy'n cael ei sefydlu ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, ac y disgwyliaf ymweld â hi yn y flwyddyn newydd, yn cyfrannu at gyfleoedd gyrfaol i'r gweithlu gofal deintyddol proffesiynol.
Mae'r system reoli e-atgyfeirio deintyddol a grybwyllwyd ddoe yn cwmpasu pob arbenigedd deintyddol, gan gynnwys orthodonteg, ac fe'i cyflwynwyd yn llwyddiannus yn genedlaethol. Ni yw'r wlad gyntaf yn y DU i weithredu system gwbl electronig ar gyfer pob atgyfeiriad deintyddol ym mhob arbenigedd clinigol deintyddol. Mae hynny'n golygu bellach y bydd y byrddau iechyd yn gwybod beth yw ffynhonnell, cymhlethdod, a nifer yr atgyfeiriadau ar gyfer arbenigeddau deintyddol. Yn ei dro, mae hynny'n cefnogi gwaith ar gynllunio'r gweithlu ar sail tystiolaeth ac yn paratoi'r ffordd ar gyfer ailgynllunio gwasanaethau, gan symud allan o ofal eilaidd ar gyfer triniaethau y gellid ac y dylid eu darparu mewn gofal sylfaenol. Ac wrth gwrs, bythefnos yn ôl, buom yn dathlu dengmlwyddiant Cynllun Gwên, ein rhaglen wella lefel poblogaeth ar iechyd y geg i blant. Mae hon wedi gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol tuag at leihau lefelau clefyd deintyddol, ac mae'n parhau i wneud hynny, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i barhau i gefnogi'r rhaglen.
Wrth gwrs, mae mwy i'w wneud. Byddaf yn falch o ymateb eto i'r pwyllgor gydag ystod o'r pwyntiau a wnaed nad oes amser i ymateb iddynt heddiw, ond cymerwyd camau sylweddol eisoes i ddiwygio gwasanaethau deintyddol a gwella iechyd y geg i'r aelodau mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y rhaglen eglur o ddiwygiadau i'r contract deintyddol y cynlluniais iddi gael ei chwblhau erbyn 2021 yn rhoi'r sicrwydd y mae'r Aelodau yn chwilio amdano. Ond byddaf yn parhau i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am ein cynnydd wrth ymdrin â'r holl argymhellion a wneir yn yr adroddiad.
Dai Lloyd i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Dai Lloyd to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank everybody for their contributions? In the short amount of time I have left, I'll briefly sum up. Obviously, this debate has provided a very welcome emphasis on dentistry and the concerns of dental colleagues, which is not something we do every day here in the Senedd. Can I thank all Members for their contributions—Angela Burns, Siân Gwenllian, Caroline Jones and the Minister?
There are significant challenges, obviously, as we found out in the evidence we took as a committee, because what was clear to the committee is that the current NHS contract arrangements for dentists simply aren't working. Paying someone the same amount to deliver a course of treatment on a patient regardless of the amount of work involved makes little sense.
It's simply not acceptable nowadays that only 14 per cent of dental practices in the old Abertawe Bro Morgannwg area are taking on new adult NHS patients. It's certainly not acceptable either that in the whole of the Hywel Dda health board area not one dental practice is taking on NHS patients. So, the Minister has started on a journey, but the Government needs to take far more action and take that action quickly. Doing nothing is simply not an option. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Lywydd. A gaf fi ddiolch i bawb am eu cyfraniadau? Rwyf am grynhoi'n fyr yn yr amser sydd gennyf ar ôl. Yn amlwg, mae'r ddadl wedi rhoi pwyslais sydd i'w groesawu'n fawr ar ddeintyddiaeth a phryderon cydweithwyr deintyddol, nad yw'n rhywbeth a wnawn bob dydd yma yn y Senedd. A gaf fi ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau—Angela Burns, Siân Gwenllian, Caroline Jones a'r Gweinidog?
Ceir heriau sylweddol, yn amlwg, fel y canfuom yn y dystiolaeth a gymerwyd gennym fel pwyllgor, oherwydd roedd hi'n glir i'r pwyllgor nad yw trefniadau contract cyfredol y GIG ar gyfer deintyddion yn gweithio. Nid yw talu'r un faint i rywun ddarparu triniaeth i glaf beth bynnag fo maint y gwaith sydd ei angen yn gwneud fawr o synnwyr.
Nid yw'n dderbyniol o gwbl y dyddiau hyn mai dim ond 14 y cant o bractisau deintyddol yn hen ardal Abertawe Bro Morgannwg sy'n derbyn cleifion GIG newydd sy'n oedolion. Yn sicr, nid yw'n dderbyniol ychwaith nad oes un practis deintyddol yn derbyn cleifion GIG yn ardal gyfan bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda. Felly, mae'r Gweinidog wedi dechrau ar daith, ond mae angen i'r Llywodraeth roi llawer mwy o gamau ar waith a gwneud hynny'n gyflym. Nid yw gwneud dim yn ddewis o gwbl. Diolch yn fawr.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to note the committee’s report. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Sy'n dod â ni yna at y ddadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu ar gefnogi a hybu'r Gymraeg. Dwi'n galw ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Bethan Sayed.
Which brings us now to the debate on the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee report on supporting and promoting the Welsh language, and I call on the committee Chair to move the motion. Bethan Sayed.
Cynnig NDM7151 Bethan Sayed
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu: Cefnogi a hybu’r Gymraeg a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 9 Gorffennaf.
Motion NDM7151 Bethan Sayed
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
Notes the report of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee: Supporting and Promoting the Welsh Language laid in the Table Office on 9 July.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Wel, mae'n bwysig inni yma yng Nghymru fod gennym y gallu i ddefnyddio ein dewis iaith wrth ymgysylltu bob dydd â gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Nid yn unig yw hon yn hawl sylfaenol, mae'n hanfodol o ran meithrin ein hymdeimlad o hunaniaeth a chymuned.
Roedd Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011, felly, yn garreg filltir bwysig yn hanes ein hiaith. Cyhoeddodd y Mesur, am y tro cyntaf, statws swyddogol i'r iaith Gymraeg yng Nghymru. Roedd hefyd yn egluro'r disgwyliadau o ran y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau Cymraeg o safbwynt siaradwyr Cymraeg a darparwyr gwasanaethau.
Felly, edrychon ni, fel rhan o'r ymchwiliad, ar lwyddiannau a chyfyngiadau'r Mesur, a gofynnon ni a yw’r Mesur yn cefnogi'r broses o hybu'r Gymraeg, sy'n fater nad yw wedi cael cymaint o sylw yn ein barn ni fel pwyllgor. Felly, gwnaethon ni glywed fel pwyllgor fod y Mesur yn welliant ar y system flaenorol o gyhoeddi cynlluniau iaith. Dywedwyd wrthym fod symud o'r drefn gynlluniau i'r drefn safonau wedi rhoi eglurder a hawliau i siaradwyr Cymraeg. Dywedodd y mwyafrif o dystion fod hwn yn gam cadarnhaol i'r cyhoedd ac i'r cyrff sy'n ein gwasanaethu.
Fodd bynnag, roedd peth rhwystredigaeth ynghylch cymhlethdod y drefn safonau. Wrth asesu a ddylid parhau â'r system gyfredol neu symleiddio agweddau ar y ddeddfwriaeth, gwnaethom gydnabod fel pwyllgor fod mwyafrif y sefydliadau sy'n gweithredu'r safonau ar hyn o bryd wedi bod yn gwneud hynny dim ond ers blwyddyn neu ddwy. Cytunodd y pwyllgor, felly, â Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg ar y pryd, a ddywedodd wrthym ni, a dwi'n dyfynnu, ei bod yn
'lot rhy gynnar i benderfynu bod angen newid y ddeddfwriaeth yn llwyr'
ar y pwynt yma. Dywedodd y bu newid cadarnhaol ar lawr gwlad mewn nifer o gynghorau sir a oedd wedi gweld y newidiadau yn newid bywydau pobl, ac felly dŷn ni fel pwyllgor eisiau gweld hynny yn cael ei ymwreiddio yn ein cymunedau cyn bod yna newid mawr ar droed.
Yn amlwg, clywodd Llywodraeth Cymru y dystiolaeth gref a gafodd ei chyflwyno i'r pwyllgor ar hyn ac ymatebodd Llywodraeth Cymru drwy dynnu ei Bil yn ôl ar y Gymraeg ym mis Chwefror.
O ran symleiddio'r safonau, serch hynny, mae'n fater amlwg bod angen inni fynd i'r afael ag ef yn absenoldeb deddfwriaeth newydd. Gwnaethom argymell symleiddio'r drefn safonau, a hynny drwy gyfuno safonau sydd ag amcanion tebyg. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn yr argymhelliad hwn, a hoffwn weld rhagor o fanylion ynghylch cynlluniau'r Gweinidog i ystyried sut y gellir gwneud y broses yma.
Dwi'n falch bod y Llywodraeth wedi derbyn ein hargymhelliad i gyflymu'r broses o gyflwyno safonau ar gyfer y sectorau hynny nad ydynt eisoes yn ddarostyngedig i'r Mesur. Unwaith eto, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog gyhoeddi manylion ac amserlen ar gyfer y gwaith hwn.
Rydym am weld y gyfres nesaf o reoliadau ar gyfer cwmnïau dŵr a rheoleiddwyr iechyd yn cael eu cyflwyno ar frys. Dwi'n siomedig na all y Llywodraeth ddweud mwy am hyn ac eithrio nodi'r ffaith bod safonau'n cael eu datblygu. Maent eisoes wedi cael eu gohirio am gyfnod sy'n llawer rhy hir yn ein tyb ni fel pwyllgor. Mae angen dyddiad pendant arnom ar gyfer cael eu cyflwyno.
Gwnaethom hefyd argymell diwygio'r weithdrefn gwynion, gan nad yw'r broses gyfredol yn caniatáu i gwynion gael eu datrys heb ymchwiliad llawn. Roedd diwygio'r fframwaith cwynion yn un o'r cynigion ym Mesur Llywodraeth Cymru a gafodd ei dynnu yn ôl. Felly, yn absenoldeb Bil newydd o'r fath, dŷn ni'n falch o weld bod y comisiynydd wedi cymryd camau i newid y weithdrefn ymchwilio yn unol â beth dŷn ni wedi rhoi gerbron fel pwyllgor. Ond pan ddaeth Comisiynydd y Gymraeg at ein pwyllgor ni yn ddiweddar, roedd diffyg manylion am sut oedd hynny'n mynd i gael ei wneud, a dwi'n credu bod angen i gyhoedd Cymru, sydd efallai'n mynd i gwyno, wybod beth yn sicr sydd yn digwydd ac i bwy y maen nhw'n cwyno. Felly, byddwn yn erfyn ar y comisiynydd a'r Llywodraeth i weithio gyda'i gilydd ar hynny.
Un mater dwi'n credu sydd o bwys inni orffen arno yma heddiw yw hyrwyddo'r iaith. Dyw hynny ddim wedi cael cymaint o sylw: sut rŷm ni'n hybu'r iaith. Ar ôl i Fwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg gael ei ddiddymu, wrth gwrs, rŷm ni'n gwybod bod lot o'r gwaith hwnnw wedi cael ei drosglwyddo i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae yna lot wedi cael ei wneud. Mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod hynny. Ond, mae nifer o bobl wedi dod atom yn dweud y dylem sefydlu corff newydd, hyd-braich i hyrwyddo'r iaith. Ond, o ystyried y pwyso a mesur a wnaed gennym ni fel pwyllgor, yn sicr, o ran adnoddau, roeddem yn meddwl efallai ei bod yn haws inni weld sut yr oeddem yn gallu defnyddio'r hyn sydd gyda ni yn awr, a sut rŷm ni'n gallu defnyddio'r prosesau sydd o fewn ein gallu.
Dwi'n deall bod memorandwm o gyd-ddealltwriaeth wedi'i gychwyn gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg. Ac eto, hoffwn gael mwy o wybodaeth ynglŷn â sut y mae hynny'n mynd i weithio. A yw'r comisiynydd, er enghraifft, yn mynd i gael mwy o arian i allu ymdrin â'r gwaith hyrwyddo sydd efallai'n mynd i adio at ei gylch gwaith? Neu, a oes disgwyl iddyn nhw wneud yr un peth gyda'r un gyllideb? Byddai gen i ddiddordeb mewn gwybod beth yw'r farn ar hynny.
Hefyd, hoffwn i wybod tamaid bach mwy ynglŷn â statws uned iaith Gymraeg Llywodraeth Cymru. Cyhoeddodd y Llywodraeth uned gyflawni newydd o'r enw Prosiect 2050, ac er ein bod yn croesawu hyn, mae'n hanfodol i'r uned yma gael yr adnoddau a'r arbenigedd sydd eu hangen arno i lwyddo. Os yw'n mynd i edrych ar yr iaith Gymraeg ar hyd a lled beth sydd yn digwydd yn y Llywodraeth, mae'n bwysig iawn fod yr uned honno'n cael ei chefnogi.
Felly, dwi'n sicr yn ystyried bod y darn o waith yma wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol iawn inni i edrych yn ôl ar y Mesur a oedd wedi cael ei gyflwyno yn 2014. Mae lot wedi newid ers hynny, ac mae lot o gyfleoedd hefyd wedi cael eu rhoi i sefydliadau i newid yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud, a lot o newid diwylliant. Dyna beth yr oeddem yn bles i glywed. Hyd yn oed mewn ardaloedd efallai ein bod ni'n meddwl sy'n ardaloedd cyfrwng Saesneg fel arfer, maen nhw wedi gwneud mwy o ymdrech i newid yr hyn sydd yn digwydd o ran eu prosesau.
Beth efallai sydd angen gwella o hyd yw defnydd a sut y mae pobl yn cael yr hyder i feddwl bod hynny yn rhan o'u bywydau bob dydd. Mae hynny nid yn unig yn sialens i'r Mesur, ond yn sialens inni oll mewn strategaethau, mewn sut rŷm ni'n gwneud ein gwaith bob dydd, a sut rŷm ni'n hybu'r iaith fel Aelodau Cynulliad. Felly, byddwn yn ennyn pobl i ymwneud â'r drafodaeth yma ac i barhau i sylweddoli pa mor bwysig yw'r elfen hon o'n gwaith ni fel Aelodau.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. It’s important for us in Wales that we have the ability to use the language of our choice in our everyday interactions with public services. Not only is it a basic right, but it’s crucial to building our sense of self and community.
The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 was an important milestone in the history of our language. The Measure, for the first time, declared the official status of the Welsh language here in Wales. It also clarified the expectations for the provision of Welsh language services for speakers and service providers.
So, our inquiry looked at the perceived successes and limitations of the Measure, and we asked whether it supports Welsh language promotion, which is an issue that we felt has not received the attention it deserves. We heard, as a committee, that the Measure is an improvement on the previous system of publishing language schemes. And we were told that moving from schemes to a standards regime has provided clarity and has established rights for Welsh speakers. The majority of witnesses told us this is a positive step for both the public and the bodies that serve them.
However, there was some frustration about the complexity of the standards. In assessing whether to continue with the current system or to simplify aspects of the legislation, we recognised as a committee that the majority of the organisations currently implementing the standards have only been doing so for a year or two. The committee therefore agreed with the Welsh Language Commissioner in post at the time who told us, and I quote, that
'it's much too early to decide that the legislation needs to be amended wholesale'
on this point. She said that there has already been a positive change on the ground in a number of county councils that had changed people’s lives. So, as a committee, we want to see that being rooted and embedded in our communities before there is great change.
Now, clearly the Welsh Government heard the weight of evidence being presented to the committee and responded by withdrawing their proposed Welsh language Bill in February.
In terms of streamlining the standards, there are, however, a few issues that still need to be addressed in the absence of new legislation. We recommended that the current standards are streamlined, by combining ones with similar aims. The Welsh Government have accepted this recommendation and I would like to see more detail on the Minister’s plans to consider how this can be done.
I'm pleased that the Government has accepted our recommendation to speed up the introduction of standards for those sectors that are not already subject to the Measure. Again, I would like to ask the Minister to publish details and a timetable for this work.
We want to see the next set of regulations for water companies and health regulators being introduced urgently. I am disappointed that the Government can't say more on this other than noting that the standards are being developed. They have already been delayed for far too long in our opinion as a committee. We need a firm date for their introduction.
We also recommended revising the complaints procedure as the current process does not allow for complaints to be resolved without a full investigation. Amending the complaints framework was one of the proposals in the Welsh Government’s withdrawn Bill, of course. So, in the absence of a new Bill, we are pleased to see that the commissioner has taken steps to alter the investigation procedure along the lines of our recommendation as a committee. But when the commissioner came to committee recently, there was a lack of detail about how that was going to be done, and I think that the public in Wales, who are perhaps going to put forward a complaint, need to know with certainty what is going to happen and who they are complaining to. So, I would urge the commissioner and the Government to collaborate on that.
One issue that I believe hasn't received the attention it deserves is the promotion of the Welsh language. That hasn't received much attention: how we promote the language. When the Welsh Language Board was abolished, the responsibility for promoting the language was transferred to the Welsh Government, and a great deal has been done. We have to acknowledge that. But many people have said to us that we need to establish a new arm's-length body to promote the language. But, bearing in mind the consideration we gave to it as a committee and certainly in terms of the resources available, we felt that perhaps it would be better to see how we can use what we already have, and how we can use those processes that we already have to do this.
I understand that work on a memorandum of understanding between the Welsh Government and the commissioner has been started, and I would like to have more information about how that is going to work. For example, is the commissioner going to receive additional resources to do that promotion work, which might perhaps add to their remit? Or will they be expected to do the same thing with the same amount of budget? I would be interested in knowing what your opinion is on that.
I would also like to know a little bit more about the status of the Welsh language unit in the Government. The Government announced a new delivery unit called Project 2050, and even though we welcome that, it is crucial for it to have the necessary resources and expertise to succeed. If it's going to look at the Welsh language across everything that happens in Government, it's very important that that unit is supported.
So, I certainly believe that this work has been very useful for us to look back at the Measure, which was put forward in 2014. A great deal has changed since then, and a lot of opportunities have been given to organisations to change what they are doing, and there's been a great deal of culture change. That was what I was pleased to hear. Even in those areas perhaps that we would believe would be traditionally English-speaking areas, they have made more of an effort to change what happens in terms of their processes.
What perhaps we need to improve still is the use of the language and how people can develop their confidence to think that that is part of their everyday lives. It's not just a challenge for the Measure, but a challenge for us all in terms of strategies and how we do our everyday work, and how we promote the language as Assembly Members. So, I would urge people to get involved in this debate and to realise how important this element of our work is as Members.
A gaf i hefyd ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith? Roedd cyhoeddi strategaeth 2050 yn uchelgeisiol, a bydd ei llwyddiant yn dibynnu ar nifer o gamau, gan gynnwys hyrwyddo. Felly, roeddwn yn falch o weld yr adroddiad hwn.
Doeddwn i ddim yma pan basiwyd y Mesur iaith. Mae wedi bod yn gyfraith ers cyfnod hir erbyn hyn, ac felly mae'n hollol briodol ei hadolygu ac ystyried ei heffaith. Yn bendant, mae'n briodol ei hadolygu oherwydd y berthynas rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r comisiynydd. Yn sicr, mae Aelodau'n gwybod y byddai'n well gennym ni, fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, petai'r comisiynydd yn atebol i'r Cynulliad hwn yn hytrach nag i Lywodraeth Cymru, a hynny am reswm da.
Bydd nifer ohonom yma yn cofio bod y comisiynydd wedi cael ei thynnu oddi ar ei dyletswyddau hyrwyddo gan gyn-Weinidog y Gymraeg, heb gydsyniad y Cynulliad a roddodd y pwerau iddi hi. Yn fwy diweddar, rydym wedi cael y Gweinidog presennol yn ceisio cael gwared ar y rôl yn llwyr, gan greu comisiwn tebyg iawn, yn ôl pob golwg, ond a oedd yn teimlo'n llai annibynnol. Rwy'n falch iawn fod y Llywodraeth wedi sylweddoli nad oedd gan ei Phapur Gwyn gefnogaeth y Cynulliad hwn.
Gan droi at yr argymhellion, mae rhai syniadau derbyniol iawn yma. Newid y weithdrefn gwynion am honiad o dorri safonau: ie. Mae sawl gradd o ddifrifoldeb mewn cwynion, ac nid yw'r system bresennol yn caniatáu ymateb cymesur. Y symleiddio a awgrymir yn argymhelliad 4: ie, wrth gwrs. Adolygiad o effeithiolrwydd safonau a dyletswyddau: ie. Er bod safonau yn benodol wedi eu fframio fel creu a diogelu hawliau siaradwyr Cymraeg, hoffwn weld barnu eu heffeithiolrwydd drwy dystiolaeth o dwf yn nefnydd y Gymraeg a thwf yn sgiliau dysgwyr neu siaradwyr swil.
Rydw i wedi dweud o'r blaen bod rhai hawliau yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi gan siaradwyr Cymraeg yn fwy na rhai eraill am fodd i fyw eu bywydau yn y Gymraeg, ac mae rhai yn fwy defnyddiol wrth hyrwyddo gwerth dwyieithrwydd na rhai eraill hefyd. Cyn ymestyn safonau i gyrff newydd, dwi'n credu bod angen inni wybod pa rai sy'n cyflawni'r nodau hynny. Dyna pam mae argymhellion 4 i 7 yn ddiddorol. Rwy'n cydnabod sylw'r pwyllgor y gallai'r Llywodraeth gyflymu'r broses o weithredu'r safonau presennol, ond un peth yw symleiddio safonau'r dyfodol i'w gwneud yn fwy blasus i sefydliadau newydd; peth arall yw eu dyfrio nhw i lawr ar gyfer cyrff newydd. Yr egwyddor graidd gyda'r ddewislen gyfredol o safonau yw eu bod yn cael eu cymhwyso yn rhesymol ac yn gymesur. Felly, gall creu safonau gwannach greu dilema. Efallai y bydd y cyrff llai a mwy o fentrau preifat yn barod i'w derbyn, ond bydd gan siaradwyr Cymraeg llai o hawliau i'w cyflawni. Mae'r system bresennol, rydym ni'n gwybod, yn ddigon dryslyd, felly anogaf ofal wrth ddehongli'r argymhellion hyn ar gyfer unrhyw safonau drafft y dyfodol.
Mae'r argymhellion eraill yn ymwneud â hyrwyddo. Pan fyddwch chi'n ceisio perswadio rhywun i wneud rhywbeth, nid yw'n helpu i gael bathodyn enfawr 'Llywodraeth Cymru' arno bob tro. Yn ôl argymhelliad 11, uned yr iaith Gymraeg yw'r lle i gasglu a dadansoddi data, comisiynu ymchwil, darparu adnoddau, cymryd cyfrifoldeb am weithredu strategaeth 2050 ar draws y Llywodraeth, a llunio strategaeth a chynllunio ar lefel uchel gyda chymorth arbenigol. Ond dwi ddim yn credu mai hwn yw'r lle gorau ar gyfer hyrwyddo'r iaith, er bod ganddo rôl allweddol wrth fonitro a gwerthuso cyflwyno gweithgareddau hyrwyddo gan bobl eraill. Dwi ddim yn siŵr bod ymateb y Llywodraeth i argymhelliad 11 yn glir lle mae'r ffin rhwng strategaeth a gweithgareddau hyrwyddo.
Dywedwn i mai'r ffordd orau o roi cyngor ar newid ymddygiad yw rhywun cwbl annibynnol y tu allan i'r Llywodraeth, sydd â chyfrifoldeb am weithio yn gyd-gynhyrchiol a gyda chynulleidfaoedd targed, i hyrwyddo caffael ystyrlon o sgiliau Cymraeg. Does dim pwrpas i was sifil ddweud wrth fentrau iaith i ddenu pobl i ddigwyddiad os nad oes gwelliant yn y defnydd o Gymraeg o ganlyniad, er enghraifft. Gellir rhoi'r cyfrifoldeb hwn i gomisiynydd neu gorff ar wahân—does dim ots mawr gen i am hynny—ond mae'n rhaid bod gan y corff hwnnw'r rhyddid i ddylunio neu ddirprwyo dilyniad mentrau i rai ar y rheng flaen fod yn dysgu oedolion neu hyfforddi swyddogion y cyngor. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw, wrth gwrs, wedi bod yn llai na chlir o ran ystyr eu dyletswydd i hyrwyddo'r Gymraeg, mewn gwirionedd. Diolch.
May I also thank the committee for their work? The publication of the 2050 strategy was ambitious and its success will depend on a number of things, including promotion, so I was pleased to see this report.
I wasn't here when the Welsh language Measure was passed. It’s been in statute for a long period of time, now, and therefore it’s entirely appropriate that we review it and consider its impact. Certainly, it is appropriate that we review the legislation because of the relationship between the Welsh Government and the commissioner. Certainly, Members know that we as Welsh Conservatives would prefer to see the commissioner accountable to this Assembly rather than to the Welsh Government, and there is good reason for that.
Many of us here will recall that the commissioner was relieved of some of her promotion duties by a previous Welsh language Minister, without the consent of the Assembly that provided those powers. More recently, we have seen the current Minister trying to abolish the role entirely and create a commission, which was very similar, to all intents and purposes, but felt less independent to my eyes. I'm very pleased that the Government has realised that its White Paper didn't have the support of this Assembly.
In turning to the recommendations, there are some very good ideas here. Changing the complaints procedures: yes. There are a number of degrees of gravity in terms of complaints and the current system doesn't allow a commensurate response. Recommendation 4 suggests that there should be simplification and, yes, we agree with that. A review of the efficiency of standards and duties: yes. Although standards are framed specifically in terms of creating and safeguarding the rights of Welsh speakers, I would want to judge their efficacy by evidence of growth in the use of the Welsh language and development in usage by Welsh learners or those who are shy in using the Welsh language.
I have said already that some rights are appreciated more by Welsh speakers than others in terms of their daily lives, and some are more useful in promoting the value of bilingualism than others. Before extending standards to new organisations and bodies, I think we need to understand which standards deliver those aims. And that’s why recommendations 4 to 7 are interesting. I recognise the committee’s comment that the Government could hasten the process of implementing the current standards, but it’s one thing to simplify standards for the future to make them more palatable for new organisations, yet it’s another thing to dilute them for new organisations. The core principle with the current menu of standards is that they should be applied reasonably and proportionately. Therefore, diluting standards could create a dilemma. Perhaps smaller organisations and more private organisations would be willing to accept them, but Welsh speakers would have fewer rights. The current system, we know, is confusing already, so we need to be guarded in interpreting these recommendations for any draft standards in the future.
The other recommendations relate to promotion. When you’re trying to persuade someone to do something, it doesn’t help to have a huge 'Welsh Government' badge on it. According to recommendation 11, the Welsh language unit is the place to collect and analyse data, to commission research, to provide resources, to take responsibility for implementing the 2050 strategy across Government, and to create high-level strategies and to plan with expert assistance. But I don’t think that this is the best place to promote the Welsh language, although it does have a key role in monitoring and evaluating the promotional activity undertaken by others. I’m not sure that the Government’s response to recommendation 11 is clear as to where the boundary lies between strategy and promotional activity.
I would say that the best way of providing advice on behavioural change is for someone entirely independent outwith Government, who has responsibility for working in a co-productive manner and with target audiences, to promote meaningful acquisition of Welsh language skills. There’s no purpose for a civil servant to tell mentrau iaith to attract people to an event unless there is an improvement in the usage of the Welsh language as a result of that. This responsibility could be given to a commissioner or a separate body—I don’t care much where the responsibility lies—but that body must have the freedom to design the activities of mentrau so that those on the front line are teaching adults or training council officers. And some of those have been less than clear in terms of their responsibilities in promoting the Welsh language. Thank you.
Fel rydym ni wedi clywed, cyd-destun yr ymchwiliad hwn gan y pwyllgor oedd bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru yn haf 2017 i ddeddfu o'r newydd ym maes y Gymraeg, a hynny gwta 18 mis wedi i Fesur y Gymraeg 2011 ddechrau bwrw gwreiddiau. Felly, roedd Plaid Cymru yn falch iawn fod synnwyr cyffredin wedi ennill y dydd, ac yn y diwedd fod y cynigion wedi cael eu gollwng. Mae'r dystiolaeth a glywodd y pwyllgor, y consensws barn sy'n cael ei gofnodi gan fudiadau iaith, academyddion ac efallai yn bwysicach gan y sefydliadau sy'n gweithredu'r ddeddfwriaeth, i gyd yn cadarnhau nad dyma'r amser i wneud newidiadau pellgyrhaeddol i gyfundrefn gymharol newydd. Er nad ydy'r gyfundrefn honno'n berffaith, fel mae'r pwyllgor yn ei ddweud, mae wedi ac yn parhau i yrru cynnydd sylweddol o ran defnydd a statws y Gymraeg.
Er fy mod i'n croesawu penderfyniad y Gweinidog i ollwng y cynigion, mae argymhelliad 3 yn yr adroddiad, sy'n argymell y dylai unrhyw gynigion yn y dyfodol i ddiwygio neu ddisodli Mesur y Gymraeg gael eu hategu gan dystiolaeth, mae hynny'n peri pryder ac yn arwydd nad oedd cynigion y Llywodraeth ar gyfer Bil y Gymraeg wedi cael eu seilio ar y dystiolaeth. Yn amlwg, nid dyna sut y dylai Llywodraeth gyfrifol fod yn gweithredu, ac mae angen dysgu gwersi o'r gwendid yma a wnaeth arwain yn anffodus iawn at golli golwg dros gyfnod ar weithredu’r strategaeth uchelgeisiol ar gyfer creu 1 miliwn o siaradwyr. Felly, fe hoffwn i ddiolch i’r pwyllgor diwylliant am gamu i mewn i gasglu’r dystiolaeth oedd ar goll yn y drafodaeth am y Bil—i wneud gwaith y Llywodraeth drosti, buasai rhai yn dweud, ac i amlygu’r blaenoriaethau wrth symud ymlaen.
Mater i’r Llywodraeth, rŵan, ydy cydio yn y blaenoriaethau, ailafael yn yr awenau ac arwain i’w gweithredu nhw. A dwi am ganolbwyntio gweddill fy nghyfraniad ar dair blaenoriaeth o bwys, hyd y gwelaf i, ac mi fuaswn i’n gwerthfawrogi petai’r Gweinidog yn manteisio ar y cyfle wrth ymateb i roi adroddiad cynnydd ar y pwyntiau yma.
Mae’r adroddiad yn cadarnhau’n glir mai yn nwylo Llywodraeth Cymru y mae’r cyfrifoldeb pennaf dros hybu’r Gymraeg a bod angen gwella statws a rôl uned y Gymraeg. Yn amlwg, mae angen endid grymus o fewn Llywodraeth, nid uned wedi’i chladdu ym mherfeddion y gwasanaeth sifil. Rŵan, roeddwn i yn yr Eisteddfod, lle cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog mai un swydd—un swydd—newydd yn gweithio o fewn yr is-adran bresennol fydd yn cael ei chreu. Ac mi glywsom ni efo achos yr agenda gwaith teg, sydd yn hollol briodol hefyd yn flaenoriaeth drawslywodraethol—fe glywsom ni efo’r achos hwnnw y bydd yna gyfarwyddiaeth yn cael ei sefydlu yn adran y Prif Weinidog ar gyfer hyn. Pam nad ydy’r Gymraeg yn cael yr un statws yn y Llywodraeth?
Mae’r adroddiad yn argymell bod y comisiynydd yn adolygu ei weithdrefnau cwyno yn gyson o ran eu heffeithiolrwydd a’u heffaith ar ddefnyddwyr gwasanaethau. Ac mae pawb, am wn i, am weld gweithdrefnau effeithiol sy’n rhoi llais i’r dinesydd a’r Gymraeg. Ond byddai pwysau ar y comisiynydd i beidio ag ymchwilio i gwynion fel mater o drefn gyfystyr â gwanhau’r gyfundrefn safonau. Allwch chi esbonio, Weinidog, pam felly eich bod chi wedi rhoi pwysau ar y comisiynydd i wneud llai o ymchwilio i gwynion? Ac a wnewch chi gadarnhau heddiw annibyniaeth y comisiynydd?
A fy mhwynt olaf i: mae Plaid Cymru—dwi wedi syrffedu galw am gyhoeddi amserlen ar gyfer symud ymlaen efo'r gwaith pwysig o gyflwyno'r safonau yn yr holl feysydd sydd yn weddill, lle mae'r comisiynydd wedi gwneud y gwaith cychwynnol yn barod. Felly, tybed, heddiw, a gawn ni'r amserlen ddiweddaraf ar gyfer cyflwyno safonau ar y cyrff dŵr a'r rheoleiddwyr iechyd, ynghyd â gweddill y sectorau yn y Mesur sydd heb gael eu cyffwrdd ganddoch chi eto? Ac a wnewch chi hefyd gadarnhau y byddwch chi am weld y comisiynydd yn dechrau gwneud gwaith paratoadol yn y sector telathrebu?
As we’ve already heard, the context of this inquiry by the committee was the Welsh Government’s intention in the summer of 2017 to legislate anew with regard to the Welsh language, and to do so barely 18 months after the 2011 Welsh language Measure had started to embed. So, Plaid Cymru was very pleased that common sense had prevailed, and ultimately the proposals were set aside. The evidence that the committee heard, the consensus of opinion that had been reported by language organisations, academics and perhaps most importantly by those organisations that implement legislation, all confirms that now is not the time to make far-reaching changes to a relatively new system. Even though that system isn’t perfect, as the committee says, it continues to drive significant progress with regard to the status of the Welsh language and its usage.
Even though I welcome the decision made by the Minister to set those proposals aside, recommendation 3 in the report, which suggests that any future proposals to amend or replace the Welsh language Measure should be supported by evidence, causes some concern and is a sign that the Welsh Government’s proposals for the language Bill weren't based on evidence in the first instance. And clearly, that isn't how a responsible Government should operate, and we need to learn lessons from these weaknesses that led to a loss of focus on the implementation of the strategy for creating 1 million Welsh speakers. So, I’d like to thank the committee for stepping into the breach and gathering the evidence that was missing in the discussion with regard to the Bill—to do the Government’s work for it, some would say, and to point to the priorities in moving forward.
It’s a matter, now, for the Government to look at these priorities, to take the reins and to implement them. And I want to focus the rest of my contribution on three important priorities, as far as I can see, and I would appreciate it if the Minister would take the opportunity to give a progress report on these points.
The report confirms that it’s in the Welsh Government’s hands that the responsibility for promoting the Welsh language lies and we need to improve the status of the Welsh language unit in the Government. Clearly, we need a powerful unit within Government, not a unit that’s buried in the civil service. I was at the Eisteddfod, where the Minister announced that there’s one new post—one new post—within the current division that will be created. And we also heard in the case of the fair work agenda, which is entirely appropriately a priority across Government—we heard in that particular case that there will be a directorate set up in the First Minister’s department to look at it. So, why doesn’t the Welsh language have the same status within Government?
The report recommends that the commissioner should review the complaints procedures regularly in terms of their effectiveness and their impact on service users. Everyone, as far as I can see it, wants to see effective procedures that give a voice to the citizen and the Welsh language. But putting additional pressure on the commissioner not to investigate complaints as a matter of course would be tantamount to weakening the standards regime. So, could you explain, Minister, why you have put pressure on the commissioner to undertake less investigation into complaints? And will you confirm today the independence of the commissioner?
My final point: Plaid Cymru—I have called many times for a timetable for introducing the standards across the whole range of areas that remain, where the commissioner has done that initial work. So, perhaps today you could share the latest timetable for introducing the timetables for the water companies and the health regulators, in addition to the remaining sectors in the Measure that haven’t been touched by you yet. Will you also confirm that you want to see the commissioner starting to do preparatory work in the telecommunications sector?
Diolch i'r Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu am eu hadroddiad ar gefnogi a hyrwyddo. Er na fyddaf yn gwneud fy holl gyfraniad yn Gymraeg, rwy'n angerddol dros yr iaith ac mae'n werth ei chadw'n fyw.
Thank you to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee for their report on supporting and promoting the Welsh language. Although I won’t make my entire contribution through the medium of Welsh, I am passionate about the value of the Welsh language; it's worth keeping alive.
I welcome the measured approach taken by the committee and the fact that the Welsh Government have accepted in full or in principle all 14 recommendations. I believe the position taken by the committee and Welsh Ministers is an acceptance that the carrot is far more effective than the stick. The Welsh language is a vital part of our shared heritage and culture. The fact that less than one in five of the population is able to speak Welsh points to past policy failings. Given that for the last 20 years it has been compulsory for all students to study Welsh, more than 19 per cent of the population should be able to speak the language. I certainly hear more of the language spoken in supermarkets and little ones engaging with their parents, and I therefore welcome the shift in focus to encouraging more people to learn rather than us forcing them to. And we must take people along with us on this journey—it’s exciting.
Rwy'n croesawu dull pwyllog y pwyllgor o weithredu a'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn pob un o'r 14 argymhelliad yn llawn neu mewn egwyddor. Credaf fod y safbwynt a gymerwyd gan y pwyllgor a chan Weinidogion Cymru yn gydnabyddiaeth fod y moron yn llawer mwy effeithiol na'r ffon. Mae'r iaith Gymraeg yn rhan hanfodol o'n treftadaeth a'n diwylliant cyffredin. Mae'r ffaith bod llai nag un o bob pump o'r boblogaeth yn gallu siarad Cymraeg yn arwydd o fethiannau polisi yn y gorffennol. O gofio ei bod yn orfodol ers 20 mlynedd i bob myfyriwr astudio'r Gymraeg, dylai dros 19 y cant o'r boblogaeth allu siarad yr iaith. Rwy'n sicr yn clywed mwy o'r iaith yn cael ei siarad mewn archfarchnadoedd a phlant bach yn ei siarad â'u rhieni, ac felly rwy'n croesawu'r newid ffocws i annog mwy o bobl i ddysgu yn hytrach na'n bod yn eu gorfodi. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni gario pobl gyda ni ar y daith hon—mae'n gyffrous.
Rydym wedi gweld camau breision yn y defnydd o'n hiaith yn y byd ehangach yn ddiweddar, yn enwedig ym maes technoleg.
We have seen major progress in the use of the Welsh language recently, particularly in terms of technology.
We have seen big strides in the use of the language in the wider world in recent times, particularly in technology, and we have Welsh language versions of many software platforms, open-source projects seeking to bring the language to voice assistance, and learning platforms such as Duolingo allowing us to learn on the go. Utilising this technological change will enable us to encourage far more people to learn. I am however concerned that cutbacks to local authority budgets will hamper the Welsh Government's ambition for 1 million Welsh speakers. Adult learning opportunities are suffering as a result of cutbacks, and this will hamper efforts to encourage more people to take up learning Welsh. So, I would therefore urge the Minister to go further than recommendation 12 and ensure adequate funding for more than just promotion—they must ensure adequate funding for adult Welsh language classes. This approach is the best way of achieving more people to be able to speak the language of our forebearers. Thank you.
Rydym wedi gweld camau breision yn y defnydd o'r iaith yn y byd ehangach yn ddiweddar, yn enwedig ym maes technoleg, ac mae gennym fersiynau Cymraeg o lawer o blatfformau meddalwedd, prosiectau ffynhonnell agored sy'n ceisio dod â'r iaith i faes cymorth llais, a phlatfformau dysgu fel Duolingo sy'n caniatáu i ni ddysgu wrth fynd. Bydd defnyddio'r newid technolegol hwn yn ein galluogi i annog llawer mwy o bobl i ddysgu. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n pryderu y bydd cwtogi ar gyllidebau awdurdodau lleol yn llesteirio uchelgais Llywodraeth Cymru i gael 1 filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg. Mae cyfleoedd dysgu i oedolion yn dioddef o ganlyniad i doriadau, a bydd hyn yn llesteirio ymdrechion i annog mwy o bobl i ddechrau dysgu Cymraeg. Felly, hoffwn annog y Gweinidog i fynd ymhellach nag argymhelliad 12 a sicrhau cyllid digonol ar gyfer mwy na hyrwyddo yn unig—rhaid iddynt sicrhau cyllid digonol ar gyfer dosbarthiadau Cymraeg i oedolion. Y dull hwn o weithredu yw'r ffordd orau o sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn gallu siarad iaith ein cyndadau. Diolch.
Gweinidog y Gymraeg a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol i gyfrannu i'r ddadl—Eluned Morgan.
The Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language to contribute to the debate—Eluned Morgan.
Diolch yn fawr. Yn y lle cyntaf, a gaf i ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith yn ystod yr ymchwiliad ac am eu hystyriaeth ofalus o'r dystiolaeth a oedd wedi cael ei chyflwyno iddyn nhw? Fel dwi eisoes wedi nodi yn ymateb ysgrifenedig y Llywodraeth i'r pwyllgor, rŷn ni'n derbyn neu'n derbyn mewn egwyddor yr holl argymhellion sydd yn yr adroddiad—gan nodi, wrth gwrs, nad yw'r holl argymhellion yn rhai i'r Llywodraeth eu gweithredu. Mae rhai ohonyn nhw i'ch pwyllgor chi, felly dwi ddim eisiau mynd drwy'r holl argymhellion hynny heddiw.
Bydd Aelodau yn ymwybodol y gwnes i ddatganiad ym mis Awst ynghylch y camau nesaf o ran y strwythurau ar gyfer gweithredu'r strategaeth Cymraeg 2050. Ein rôl ni fel Llywodraeth yw arwain, cynllunio, gosod cyd-destun a chreu'r amodau cywir ar gyfer cydweithio tuag at yr 1 filiwn. Mae'n grêt i weld bod Caroline Jones yn un o'r 1 filiwn yna a fydd gyda ni erbyn 2050. Diolch yn fawr i chi am wneud eich cyfraniad yn Gymraeg.
Rhan o'r gwaith o arwain, wrth gwrs, yw cymryd penderfyniadau strategol. Yn ein tyb ni fel Llywodraeth, mae'r pwyslais o ran polisi iaith wedi gwyro'n rhy bell i gyfeiriad rheoleiddio, ar draul ymyriadau polisi eraill dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. A dyna oedd sail y Papur Gwyn yn 2017. Ac er nad ydyn ni bellach yn mynd i ddeddfu, dwi wedi gwneud penderfyniad sydd â'r nod o weld gwell cydbwysedd rhwng creu hawliau i wasanaethau Cymraeg ar y naill law, a gwaith ymarferol, sef gwaith polisi, ar y llaw arall. Wrth gwrs, bydd hwn yn arwain at gynyddu nifer y siaradwyr i'r 1 filiwn yna erbyn 2050, dyblu defnydd dyddiol y Gymraeg a chynnal ein cymunedau Cymraeg.
Er mwyn llwyddo yn y gwaith hyn, dwi'n cytuno â'r dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd i'r pwyllgor ynghylch yr angen i sicrhau bod yna fwy o ffocws a phwyslais yn cael ei roi ar gynllunio ieithyddol a newid ymddygiad ieithyddol o fewn y Llywodraeth ac yn allanol. Dyna pam y byddwn ni'n buddsoddi mewn arbenigedd cynllunio ieithyddol wrth sefydlu'r project yma, prosiect 2050, sef uned newydd amlddisgyblaethol o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru a fydd yn gyfrifol am yrru strategaeth Cymraeg 2050. Wrth gwrs, y nod yw ein bod ni'n prif ffrydio'r Gymraeg ar draws y Llywodraeth. Dyna yw'r nod. Felly, dŷn ni ddim eisiau'r adran yma i jest fod yn un rhan fach o'r Llywodraeth. Dyna bwrpas yr adran newydd yma. Fel y cyhoeddais i ym mis Awst, bydd yr arian yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ariannu swydd gwasanaeth sifil i arwain y project yma ac i gomisiynu panel o hyd at bedwar o gynghorwyr arbenigol allanol ar gynllunio ieithyddol. Mae'n swyddogion ni'n gweithio ar hyn ar hyn o bryd.
Thank you very much. First of all, may I thank the committee for their work during this inquiry and for their careful consideration of the evidence presented? As I've already noted in the Government's written response to the committee, we accept or accept in principle all of the recommendations contained within the report—noting, of course, that not all of the recommendations are recommendations for the Government. Some of them are for your own committee, so I won't go through each and every one of them today.
Members will be aware that I made a statement in August about the next steps in terms of the structures for implementing the Cymraeg 2050 strategy. Our role as a Government is to lead, to plan, to set the context and to create the right conditions for collaboration in working towards that 1 million Welsh speakers. It's wonderful to see that Caroline Jones is one of those 1 million that we will have by 2050. Thank you very much for making your contribution in Welsh.
Part of the leadership role, of course, is to take strategic decisions. In our view as a Government, the emphasis in terms of language policy has tended too far towards regulation, at the expense of other policy interventions over the past few years. And that was what underpinned the White Paper of 2017. And although we are no longer expecting to legislate, I have made a decision that is aimed at seeing a better balance between creating rights to access Welsh services on the one hand, and practical work, which is policy work, on the other hand. Of course, this will lead to increasing the number of Welsh speakers as we strive to the 1 million by 2050, doubling the daily use of the Welsh language and maintaining our Welsh-speaking communities.
To succeed in this work, I agree with the evidence presented to the committee on the need to ensure that there is greater focus and emphasis placed on language planning and behavioural change within Government and outwith Government. That is why we will invest in language planning expertise in establishing this 2050 project, which is a new multidisciplinary unit within the Welsh Government that will be responsible for driving the Cymraeg 2050 strategy. Of course, the aim is that we mainstream the Welsh language across Government. That's the ambition. So, we don't want this department to be a small part of Government. The purpose of the department is to mainstream. As I announced in August, the funds will be used to fund a civil service post to lead this project and to commission a panel of up to four expert advisers on language planning. My officials are currently working on this.
A wnewch chi gymryd ymyriad?
Will you take an intervention?
Wrth gwrs.
Of course.
Pam fod y Llywodraeth yn creu cyfarwyddiaeth ar gyfer gwaith teg, yr agenda yna, ond ddim yn gwneud hynny ar gyfer yr iaith Gymraeg, sydd hefyd efo ffocws trawslywodraethol?
Why is the Government creating a directorate for the fair work agenda, but isn't doing that for the Welsh language, which also has a cross-governmental focus?
Wel, wrth gwrs, mae adran gyda ni eisoes. Beth rŷn ni'n ceisio ei wneud gyda'r project newydd yma yw sicrhau bod hwn yn rhywbeth sy'n mynd ar draws y Llywodraeth yn llwyr. Felly, mae hi'n ffordd wahanol o'i gwneud hi, ond rŷn ni'n ceisio cyrraedd yr un nod â'r broses yna.
Tasg project 2050 fydd i gydlynu'r gwaith o gynllunio ar ein taith tuag at 1 filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, o'r blynyddoedd cynnar, drwy addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg statudol ac ôl-16, i Gymraeg i oedolion. Byddwn ni hefyd yn dyblu defnydd y Gymraeg drwy greu projectau newydd a gwerthuso ein projectau cyfredol. Ac yn drydydd, byddwn yn cynnal cymunedau Cymraeg drwy gefnogi adrannau polisi ar draws y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod ein polisïau ymhob adran berthnasol yn cyfrannu tuag at hynny. Dyna yw pwrpas y project newydd. Bydd y project yn adrodd i mi fel y Gweinidog ac yn gweithio'n glòs gyda chyngor partneriaeth y Gymraeg, sy'n fy nghynghori i ar y Gymraeg. Dwi'n ffyddiog, drwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, y bydd profiad ac arbenigedd project 2050, y cyngor partneriaeth, y comisiynydd a'n partneriaid grant i gyd yn ein rhoi ni ar y trywydd iawn i gyrraedd y nod yna.
Mae datblygu partneriaeth well o weithio gyda Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg wedi bod yn flaenoriaeth i ni eleni. Rwy'n falch ein bod wedi cytuno memorandwm o gyd-ddealltwriaeth, rhyngof fi ac Aled Roberts, ym mis Awst. Mae'r ddau ohonon ni'n gwbl glir bod modd cydweithio ar nifer o faterion tra ein bod ni'n parchu—a dwi eisiau tanlinellu hyn—annibyniaeth y comisiynydd mewn materion sy'n ymwneud â gosod a gorfodi safonau.
Gadewch i fi fod yn glir: mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i barhau i ddatblygu safonau er mwyn ehangu hawliau pobl i wasanaethau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae hawliau yn rhan bwysig o'r ymyriadau polisi ar gyfer cyflawni Cymraeg 2050. Mae rheoliadau newydd yn cael eu datblygu ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer creu safonau i'r ddau sector newydd—cwmnïau dŵr a rheoleiddwyr gofal iechyd. Mae hi'n anodd rhoi dyddiad pendant achos bod Brexit yn cyfyngu ar ein gallu cyfreithiol yn fewnol, ond fe allaf i ddweud wrthoch chi fod yna lot o brosesau i fynd trwyddynt o ran ymgynghori. Wrth gwrs, mae'r pwyllgor eu hunain wedi dweud eu bod nhw ishe inni ymgynghori â nhw'n gynnar, a byddwn ni'n ymgymryd i wneud hynny. Mae yna sawl cam. Dwi wedi bod yn trafod hyn gyda'r comisiynydd yr wythnos yma, ond dwi yn gobeithio, y flwyddyn nesaf, y bydd hyn yn digwydd.
Mae adroddiad y pwyllgor wedi gwneud nifer o argymhellion am y ffordd y dylem ni fynd ati i symleiddio'r safonau drwy adolygu neu gyfuno safonau lluosog sydd â'r un nod neu ganlyniad. A dwi'n cytuno â hyn. Dwi ishe eich sicrhau nad yw'r amcanion polisi wedi newid. Dwi'n glir na ddylai unrhyw newidiadau a wneir i'r broses o ddatblygu safonau effeithio'n negyddol ar wasanaethau i siaradwyr Cymraeg. Dwi yr un mor gadarn bod yn rhaid i'r cyrff fod yn glir am beth mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei wneud. Ond dwi eisiau tanlinellu nad yw torri nifer y safonau yn gyfystyr â symleiddio. Dwi am osgoi sefyllfa lle rydym yn creu llai o safonau er mwyn creu safonau sy'n hirach ac yn fwy cymhleth. Dwi ddim chwaith am wneud safonau symlach a fyddai'n golygu bod yn rhaid i'r hysbysiadau cydymffurfio y mae'r comisiynydd yn eu paratoi ddod yn fwy cymhleth ac yn fwy biwrocrataidd.
Dywedodd y pwyllgor hefyd mai dim ond ar ôl ystyried yr angen i adolygu'r safonau y dylid cyflwyno'r setiau nesaf o reoliadau i reoleiddwyr iechyd a chwmnïau dŵr. Mae'n bwysig, felly, ein bod ni'n cymryd ein hamser i sicrhau bod y rheoliadau rŷn ni'n eu paratoi o hyn ymlaen yn adlewyrchu'r gwersi o'r ymgynghoriad ar y Papur Gwyn a'r dystiolaeth a dderbyniodd y pwyllgor.
Mae gyda ni fel gwlad gynllun blaengar a chyffrous i gyrraedd 1 filiwn o siaradwyr erbyn 2050 ac i ddyblu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg. Fel Llywodraeth, rŷn ni wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i'r ddau darged yma, a dwi wedi fy nghalonogi'n fawr fod yna gefnogaeth ar draws y wlad i'r uchelgais yma. Mae'r uchelgais wedi dal dychymyg y genedl, a dwi'n siŵr, gyda'n gilydd, byddwn ni'n cyrraedd y targed yna.
Well, of course, we already have a department. What we’re trying to do with this new project is to ensure that this is something that is cross-governmental. Therefore, it is a different approach, yes, but we are seeking to achieve the same aims as that process.
So, the task of the 2050 project will be to co-ordinate the work of planning on our journey towards 1 million Welsh speakers, from the early years, through Welsh-medium education in the statutory sector, through to post-16, and Welsh for adults. We will also double the use of the Welsh language by creating new projects and evaluating current projects. And, thirdly, we will be supporting Welsh-speaking communities by supporting policy departments across Government to ensure that our policies in all departments do contribute to that, where relevant. That is the purpose of the new project. The project will report to me, as Minister, and will work closely with the Welsh language partnership council, which advises me on the Welsh language. I am confident that through working together, the experience and expertise of the 2050 project, the partnership council, the commissioner and grant partners will all put us on the right path in reaching that target.
Developing a better partnership of working with the Welsh Language Commissioner has been a priority for us this year. I’m pleased that we’ve agreed a memorandum of understanding, between myself and Aled Roberts, in August. Both of us are entirely clear that we must collaborate on a number of issues whilst we respect—and I want to highlight this—the independence of the commissioner in issues related to imposing and enforcing standards.
Let me be clear that the Welsh Government is fully committed to developing standards in order to enhance the rights of people to access services through the medium of Welsh. Rights are an important role of the policy interventions for delivering Cymraeg 2050. New regulations are being drafted at the moment in order to provide standards for those two sectors—the water companies and healthcare regulators. And it is difficult to give a specific date, because Brexit does limit our ability and our legal capacity internally, but I can tell you that there are a number of processes to go through in terms of consultation. Of course, the committee themselves have said that they want us to consult with them at an early stage, and we will endeavour to do that. There are a number of steps, and I have discussed this with the commissioner this week. But I do hope that, next year, this will happen.
The committee’s report has made a number of recommendations on how we should approach simplifying standards by reviewing or merging multiple standards that have the same aim or outcome. And I agree with this. I want to reassure you that the policy objectives have not changed. I am clear that any changes made to the process of developing standards should not have a negative impact on services for Welsh speakers. I am just as firm in the view that the organisations need to be clear on what they need to deliver. But I want to underline that reducing the number of standards is not akin to simplification. I want to avoid a situation where we create fewer standards in order to create standards that are longer and more complex. And neither do I want to create simpler standards that will mean that the compliance notices that the commissioner prepares will become more complex and more onerous.
The committee also said that it’s only after considering the need to review the standards that the next set of regulations should be imposed or should be brought forward for the water companies and health regulators. It’s important that we take our time to ensure that the regulations that we provide from here on in do reflect the lessons learned from the consultation on the White Paper and from the evidence received by the committee.
We as a nation have an innovative and exciting target to reach 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050 and to double the use of the Welsh language. As a Government, we are entirely committed to both those targets, and I have been hugely encouraged that there is support across the nation for this ambition. It is an ambition that has captured the imagination of the nation, and I’m sure, together, we will reach that target.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
Thank you. I call on Bethan Sayed to reply to the debate. Bethan.
Diolch. Galwaf ar Bethan Sayed i ymateb i'r ddadl. Bethan.
Diolch i'r Aelodau Cynulliad hynny oedd wedi cyfrannu yma heddiw, a da iawn eto i Caroline Jones am ymarfer ei Chymraeg yma heddiw hefyd; mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n ceisio gwneud hynny pan fyddwn ni'n gallu.
Mae gen i amser, efallai, jest i esbonio rhai o'r pethau oedd gan rai Aelodau gonsérn ynglŷn â nhw. Hoffwn i ddechrau, felly, gyda'r cysyniad yma roedd Suzy wedi ei ddweud o ran 'dumb-io' lawr safonau os dŷn ni am eu symleiddio nhw, ac dwi'n credu bod Siân Gwenllian yn teimlo yn debyg o ran hynny. Beth roedden ni'n ceisio ei ddweud fel pwyllgor oedd, fel yr oedd y Gweinidog wedi'i ddweud, os oedd yna safonau lluosog, neu rai oedd yn debyg, bydden ni'n gallu symleiddio'r broses fel nad oes gormodedd o safonau, os oedden nhw'n debyg, a bod yn rhaid i sefydliadau gydymffurfio â nhw—nid er mwyn gwanhau'r broses. Petasen ni'n meddwl am funud byddai fe'n gwanhau'r broses, fydden ni ddim wedi argymell hynny fel pwyllgor. Felly, wrth gwrs, mae angen gweld sut mae hynny'n datblygu.
Dŷn ni'n clywed efallai fod yna concerns gweithredol gan y Gweinidog. Felly, i lawr y lein, byddwn ni angen deall beth yw hynny. Ond dwi'n erfyn ar bobl sydd yn gwylio hwn—y cyhoedd sydd yn mynd i fod yn dod â'r cwynion ger bron, efallai—nad hynny yw'r pwrpas. Beth roedden ni'n ei glywed gan gynghorau, neu beth roedden ni yn ei glywed gan sefydliadau, oedd eu bod nhw wir eisiau ymateb i'r cwynion, ond weithiau roedd y safonau mor gymhleth roedd yn anodd iddyn nhw ddeall beth yn gwmws oedd y trywydd trwyddo. Felly, dŷn ni eisiau eu helpu nhw i wella, a dŷn ni eisiau eu helpu nhw, felly plîs deallwch dŷn ni ddim eisiau tanseilio neu wanhau y safonau. Amser a ddengys o ran sut mae hynny yn cael ei chwarae mas.
Mae rhai yn yr ystafell yma—Siân Gwenllian a Suzy Davies—yn amlwg yn cytuno o ran beth oedd wedi digwydd gyda'r comisiwn ac yn y blaen. Yn amlwg, roedd y Llywodraeth wedi gwrando ac wedi gweld beth oedd y dystiolaeth yn ei ddangos pan ddaeth pobl i'r pwyllgor; doedden nhw ddim yn gefnogol. Roedd cwpwl o fudiadau, efallai, yn sicr yn gefnogol, ond ar hyn o bryd dŷn ni'n dal yn gweld sut mae'r Mesur yn gweithio ar lawr gwlad. Byddwn i'n meddwl byddai fe'n od iawn i newid system mor newydd ar hyn o bryd, ac felly dyna pam roedden ni wedi dod lawr ar yr ochr o roi amser i'r drefn weithredu, ac wedyn asesu eto yn y dyfodol.
Byddwn i yn anghytuno, yn anffodus, â'r Gweinidog am ddweud bod gormod o ffocws, efallai, neu fod gormod wedi digwydd ar reoliadau hyd at nawr. Os dŷn ni am sefydlu system newydd, mae angen inni gael y rheoliadau yna yn eu lle, dŷn ni angen sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gweithio. A nawr, dwi'n credu, dŷn ni wedi cyrraedd pwynt lle dŷn ni'n gallu edrych ar yr hyrwyddo a'r hybu, oherwydd bod y systemau yna yn eu lle. Ac dwi'n credu dyna pam nad oedd pobl, efallai, eisiau gweld Bil newydd gyda ffocws, efallai, ar reoliadau, pan fo bod ar lawr gwlad a siarad yr iaith yn rhywbeth dŷn ni i gyd eisiau ei flaenoriaethu ar hyn o bryd.
Yn sicr, dŷn ni'n hapus bod y Gweinidog wedi dweud, o ran ffocws ar gynllunio ieithyddol, am yr uned newydd yma. Dŷn ni'n mynd i asesu hynny a monitro hynny, mae'n siŵr. Dwi yn cael ryw fath o—. Dwi yn cytuno â Siân Gwenllian i raddau, oherwydd, os oes yna uned newydd, os oes yna ffocws ar greu swydd newydd, yna mae'n bach yn drist i glywed bod Brexit efallai yn mynd i danseilio peth o'r gwaith sydd angen cael ei wneud yn weddol sydyn. Os ydy e'n mynd i gael ei brif-ffrydio, os oes yna amcan i roi safonau ger bron—safonau newydd ger bron—yna dylai'r uned honno fod yn ddigon cryf, buaswn i'n meddwl, i allu gwrthsefyll yr hyn sydd yn digwydd, boed Brexit—. Mae Brexit yn digwydd, mae trafodaethau yn digwydd o ddydd i ddydd; mae angen i ni barhau gyda phethau eraill hefyd. Felly, byddwn i'n erfyn ar y Gweinidog i ystyried y ffaith bod angen inni sicrhau bod yr uned honno yn gryf ac yn cael y gefnogaeth dŷch chi wedi dweud eich bod chi'n mynd i roi iddi hi heddiw.
Dwi'n credu bod y gyfarwyddiaeth wedi cael ei siarad amdani yma heddiw. Dwi jest eisiau gorffen drwy ddweud—nawr mae'r cyfle inni fel pwyllgor a'r cyfle inni fel Aelodau Cynulliad edrych ar sut y bydden ni'n gallu edrych ar elfennau eraill o'r hyn sydd yn digwydd o ran yr iaith Gymraeg. Roedd Caroline Jones wedi dweud am dechnoleg a digidol, ac mae'n bleser gyda ni fel pwyllgor dweud y byddwn ni yn edrych i mewn i'r maes technoleg digidol yn y dyfodol, achos mae'n rhywbeth sydd wedi dod atom ni fel pwyllgor fel rhywbeth o bwys.
Felly, mae'n bwysig ein bod ni yn sylweddoli bod deddfwriaeth yn bwysig, wrth gwrs, a bod rheoliadau a safonau'n bwysig, ond dŷn ni i gyd angen gweld y defnydd yn gwella ar lawr gwlad. Ac mae syniad Suzy Davies yn dda iawn, dwi'n credu. Os ydy mentrau iaith yn cynnal digwyddiad, yna dŷn ni eisiau i rai o'u hamcanion, neu rai o'r pethau maen nhw'n adrodd yn ôl arnyn nhw i'r Llywodraeth, ddangos bod y defnydd hwnnw wedi'i esblygu, yn hytrach na dim ond eu bod nhw'n gallu cyrraedd y targed o filiwn. Wel, sut mae'r filiwn yna'n ei wneud? Ydyn nhw'n defnyddio hi i roi'r babi i'r gwely? Ydyn nhw'n defnyddio hi i fynd lawr y stryd i'r dafarn a siarad yr iaith gyda'u ffrindiau? Sut mae hynny'n mynd i esblygu i fod yn realiti pob dydd?
Felly, diolch i bawb am ymwneud â'r adroddiad pwysig yma. Dwi'n credu roedd e'n adroddiad a oedd wedi diweddu lan i fod yn weddol ddylanwadol, felly—. Dyw pob un ddim yn ddylanwadol, ond dŷn ni'n gwneud y gwaith, ond dwi'n credu roedd yr adroddiad yma'n un o'r rheini, a dwi'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Llywodraeth am wrando ac am fod yn ymatebol i rai o'r pethau hynny roedden nhw wedi eu clywed fel rhan o'r drafodaeth. Dwi'n credu roedd hi'n drafodaeth gadarnhaol wnaethon ni ei chael rhwng y Llywodraeth, y bobl oedd wedi rhoi tystiolaeth, a'r Aelodau Cynulliad. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn i bawb.
Thank you very much to those Assembly Members who contributed today, and well done to Caroline Jones, again, for practising her Welsh here today. It’s very important that we try to do so when we have the opportunity to do so.
I have time, perhaps, just to explain some of the things that some Members had concerns about. I’d like to start, therefore, with this idea that Suzy put forward about dumbing down standards if we’re going to simplify them. And I think that Siân Gwenllian felt similarly in that regard. What we were trying to say as a committee, as the Minister said, was that, if there were multiple or similar standards, then we could simplify and streamline the process so that there were too many of them, and organisations had to comply with them. It wasn’t to weaken or to dilute the process. If we thought for a second that it was going to dilute the process, we would not have recommended it as a committee. So, of course, we need to see how this develops.
We’re hearing that there are operational concerns from the Minister. So, down the line, we’ll need to understand what those concerns are. But I urge upon those people who are watching this debate—the public who are going to be bringing forward complaints, perhaps—that that wasn’t the intention. What we were hearing from councils or other organisations was that they genuinely wanted to respond to the complaints, but sometimes the standards were so complex it was difficult for them to understand what exactly the path forward was. So, we want to help to improve them, and we want to help them, so please do understand that we’re not trying to dilute the standards. Time will tell how that plays out.
Now, some in this Chamber—Siân Gwenllian and Suzy Davies—clearly agree with regard to what happened with the commission and so on. And, clearly, the Government had listened and had seen what the evidence had shown when people came to committee; they weren’t supportive. A few of the organisations, perhaps, were supportive, but at present we're still seeing how the Measure is working on the ground. I think it would be very odd to change such a new system at the moment, and so that’s why we came down on the side of giving time for the regime to embed, and then assessing again in future.
I would disagree, unfortunately, with the Minister about saying that there was too much focus, perhaps, or too much had happened on regulations to this point. If we want to establish a new system, then we need to have those regulations in place and we need to ensure that they work. And now, I think, we have reached a point where we can look at the promotion, because those systems are in place. And I think that’s why people perhaps didn’t want to see a new Bill coming forward with a focus, perhaps, on regulations, when being on the ground and speaking the language in our communities is what we all want to prioritise.
Certainly, we are content that the Minister had spoken, in terms of the focus on language planning, about the new unit. We’re going to assess that and monitor that, I’m sure. I do have some—. I agree with Siân Gwenllian to an extent, because, if there is going to be a new unit, if there is going to be a focus on creating a new post, then it’s a bit disappointing to hear that Brexit is perhaps going to undermine some of the work that needs to be done as a matter of urgency. If it’s going to be mainstreamed, if there is an objective to put forward new standards, then that unit should be sufficiently robust and resilient to be able to withstand what’s happening, whether Brexit—. Brexit is ongoing and discussions are ongoing on a daily basis; we need to continue with other work as well, and I would urge the Minister to consider the fact that we need to ensure that this unit is robust and resilient and receives the support that you’ve said that you are going to give it today.
Now, I believe that the directorate has been mentioned today already, and I just want to conclude by saying that there is now an opportunity for us as a committee and for us as Assembly Members to look at how we can consider other elements of what is happening with regard to the Welsh language. Caroline Jones talked about technology and the digital arena, and we’re pleased to say that, as a committee, we will be looking at technology and the digital arena in the future, because it’s something that has been raised with us, as a committee, as being very important.
So, it is important that we do realise that legislation is important, of course, and the regulations and standards are important as well, but we do need to see the use of the Welsh language increasing and improving on the ground. Suzy Davies’s idea is a very good one. If mentrau iaith are holding events, then we want some of their objectives, or the things that they report back to Government on, to show that the use of the Welsh language has evolved and developed, rather than just that they can reach that target of 1 million Welsh speakers. Well, how is that 1 million doing it? Are they using it to put the baby to bed? Are they using it when they go down the street to the pub and talk to their friends? How is that going to evolve to be a daily reality for people?
So, thank you to everyone for engaging with this important report. I think it was a report that ended up being quite influential. So, not every report perhaps ends up being quite as influential, but we do our work, but I think this report was one of those ones that were influential. Thank you to the Government for listening and for being willing to respond to some of the things that they heard as part of the discussion, which I believe was a positive and constructive one between the Government, those who gave evidence, and Assembly Members. Thank you to everyone.
Thank you. The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Diolch. Y cynnig yw nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Na. Felly, derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Rebecca Evans, gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4 yn enw Rhun ap Iorwerth, a gwelliant 5 yn enw Caroline Jones. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4 eu dad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Rebecca Evans, amendments 2, 3 and 4 in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth, and amendment 5 in the name of Caroline Jones. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be deselected.
We now move on to the Welsh Conservatives debate on GCSE and A-level results. I call on Suzy Davies to move the motion.
Symudwn ymlaen yn awr at ddadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar ganlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch. Galwaf ar Suzy Davies i wneud y cynnig.
Cynnig NDM7153 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn nodi canlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch yr haf hwn yng Nghymru.
2. Yn gresynu bod canlyniadau TGAU A*-C haf 2019 yn waeth na chanlyniadau haf 2007.
3. Yn gresynu ymhellach at y gostyngiad yng nghanran y dysgwyr sy'n sicrhau graddau TGAU A*-C mewn Saesneg, mathemateg a Chymraeg ail iaith.
4. Yn nodi bod ymchwil Llywodraeth Cymru wedi canfod bod perfformiad yn erbyn dangosyddion allweddol ar gyfer blynyddoedd 4-9 wedi dirywio.
5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gydnabod ei methiant i wella cyrhaeddiad TGAU a safon uwch yn sylweddol yng Nghymru ac ymddiheuro i ddisgyblion, rhieni ac ysgolion am eu siomi.
Motion NDM7153 Darren Millar
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes this summer's GCSE and A-Level results in Wales.
2. Regrets that the GCSE A*-C results in summer 2019 were worse than in summer 2007.
3. Further regrets the fall in the percentage of learners securing A*-C GCSE grades in English, maths and Welsh second language.
4. Notes that Welsh Government research has found that performance against key indicators for years 4-9 have deteriorated.
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to acknowledge its failure to significantly improve GCSE and A-Level attainment in Wales and apologise to pupils, parents and schools for letting them down.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and, of course, I move the motion. First of all—and I know you will all join me in this—can I offer my congratulations to all the students, teachers and staff for the commitment and work that they've put into this year's exams? This debate is no criticism of them. It is about holding Welsh Government to account on how they're making—sorry, and how they're making it perhaps a little more difficult for us to do that. Let me congratulate also all those who passed non-A-levels and non-GCSEs too. Time and time again, we stand up in this Chamber and we talk about parity of esteem between academic and vocational qualifications, but the focus is pretty much always on the former. So, let's begin with this as an example of uncertainty dressed up as good news.
The Welsh Government amendment to our debate abounds with whataboutery, exactly as it did in last year's debate on this subject, but there is one statistic of which it looks like we should be proud, and that's a modest increase in the number of students attaining A* to C in science subjects. Now, Members will recollect that the number of entrants for GCSE sciences is increasing, partly due to the deliberate insistence that some students move from BTEC to GCSE, as the BTEC course limited students to a maximum attainment of a GCSE grade C equivalent. Yet it's not possible to establish how many of those students who would formerly have entered a BTEC course got a C or lower at GCSE, and, conversely, Qualifications Wales tells me that it is not possible to break down the figures for those who did take the BTEC this year to see how many of them attained the C equivalent. In short, at this stage, we can't tell whether moving students from one qualification to the other has made any difference to the standard of attainment or, indeed, whether staying on a BTEC course may have been better for particular students. The reason I'm raising this particular smoke and mirrors right at the beginning of this debate is not just to highlight that obfuscation surrounding what looks like, at first instance, good news, but to challenge you, Minister, on your failure to act on the status of qualifications that bring out different strengths in pupils.
In 2014-15, 19,775 pupils obtained a BTEC qualification. In 2017-18, which is the most recent figure I can find, only 8,425 learners sat BTECs. I want to know what that says about your ministerial confidence in so-called vocational qualifications. There is no point, as you did last week, advising Nick Ramsay that all schools in his area are offering an appropriate number of vocational courses, when your decisions have done nothing to convince parents and pupils that vocational qualifications are valuable. And inflating those non-general exam figures further by including the skills challenge from the bac is something of a sleight of hand, which I think needs pointing out.
With teachers as well as parents now looking to the GCSE and the A-level as the only gold standard, there is an even greater risk that those who could reach excellence by teaching to different aptitudes will be denied routes to achieving their potential. And, anyway, let's face it: waving apparently shiny science results in our faces doesn't disguise the fact that there was again a fall in the proportion of learners securing A* to C grades in English language, maths and second-language Welsh. You can't be pleased about that, Minister. These are the gateway qualifications to just about any next step into training, work or further and higher education, and it is the very point that I raised in the debate on the motion to annul the School Performance and Absence Targets (Wales) (Amendments) Regulations 2019, back in July. These are the regulations that remove the requirement for school governors to set targets for these subjects and the need to report on the percentage of pupils who achieve these targets in the years pre GCSE. Now, unfortunately, as that piece of secondary legislation was part of a suite of changes, it wouldn't have made sense to pull out that regulation, but you've singularly failed, Minister, to answer the point about the crucial nature of those particular key skills. It's why we've tabled point 4 of the motion.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac wrth gwrs, fe gynigiaf y cynnig. Yn gyntaf oll—a gwn y byddwch i gyd yn ymuno â mi yn hyn o beth—a gaf fi longyfarch yr holl fyfyrwyr, athrawon a staff am eu hymroddiad a'u gwaith yn yr arholiadau eleni? Nid yw'r ddadl yn feirniadaeth arnynt hwy. Mae'n ymwneud â dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif ynglŷn â sut y maent yn gwneud—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, a sut y maent efallai'n ei gwneud hi ychydig yn anos i ni wneud hynny. Gadewch i mi longyfarch pawb a basiodd arholiadau nad ydynt yn rhai safon uwch na TGAU hefyd. Dro ar ôl tro, rydym yn codi yn y Siambr hon ac yn sôn am barch cydradd rhwng cymwysterau academaidd a chymwysterau galwedigaethol, ond mae'r ffocws bob amser ar y cyntaf i raddau helaeth. Felly, gadewch i ni ddechrau gyda hyn fel enghraifft o ansicrwydd wedi'i wisgo fel newyddion da.
Mae gwelliant Llywodraeth Cymru i'n dadl yn llawn o 'beth am', yn union fel y gwnaeth yn nadl y llynedd ar y pwnc, ond mae yna un ystadegyn y mae'n edrych yn debyg y dylem ymfalchïo ynddo, sef y cynnydd cymedrol yn nifer y myfyrwyr sy'n cael graddau A* i C mewn pynciau gwyddonol. Nawr, bydd yr Aelodau'n cofio bod nifer yr ymgeiswyr ar gyfer TGAU yn y gwyddorau yn cynyddu, yn rhannol oherwydd y pwysau bwriadol ar rai myfyrwyr i newid o wneud BTEC i wneud TGAU, gan fod y cwrs BTEC wedi cyfyngu myfyrwyr i gyrhaeddiad uchaf cyfwerth â gradd C yn y TGAU. Ac eto, nid yw'n bosibl sefydlu faint o'r myfyrwyr a fyddai wedi dechrau cwrs BTEC yn flaenorol a gafodd C neu is yn y TGAU, ac i'r gwrthwyneb, mae Cymwysterau Cymru yn dweud wrthyf nad yw'n bosibl dadansoddi'r ffigurau ar gyfer y rhai a geisiodd am BTEC eleni i weld faint ohonynt a gyrhaeddodd radd gyfwerth ag C. Yn fyr, ar hyn o bryd, ni allwn ddweud a yw symud myfyrwyr o un cymhwyster i'r llall wedi gwneud unrhyw wahaniaeth i'r safon cyrhaeddiad neu'n wir, a allai parhau ar gwrs BTEC fod wedi bod yn well i fyfyrwyr penodol. Rwy'n codi cwestiwn ynghylch y tuedd penodol hwn i gamarwain ar ddechrau'r ddadl nid yn unig er mwyn tynnu sylw at y modd y cymylir y dyfroedd ynghylch yr hyn sydd, ar yr olwg gyntaf, yn newyddion da, ond i'ch herio chi, Weinidog, ar eich methiant i weithredu ar statws cymwysterau sy'n amlygu cryfderau gwahanol mewn disgyblion.
Yn 2014-15, cafodd 19,775 o ddisgyblion gymhwyster BTEC. Yn 2017-18, sef y ffigur mwyaf diweddar y gallaf ddod o hyd iddo, dim ond 8,425 o ddysgwyr a oedd yn ymgeisio am BTEC. Rwyf am wybod beth y mae hynny'n ei ddweud am eich hyder fel Gweinidog mewn cymwysterau galwedigaethol fel y'u gelwir. Nid oes diben i chi ddweud wrth Nick Ramsay, fel y gwnaethoch yr wythnos diwethaf, fod pob ysgol yn ei ardal yn cynnig nifer briodol o gyrsiau galwedigaethol, pan nad yw eich penderfyniadau wedi gwneud dim i ddarbwyllo rhieni a disgyblion fod cymwysterau galwedigaethol yn werthfawr. Ac nid yw chwyddo ffigurau arholiadau nad ydynt yn rhai cyffredinol ymhellach drwy gynnwys yr her sgiliau o'r fagloriaeth fawr gwell nag ystryw, a chredaf fod angen tynnu sylw at hynny.
Gydag athrawon yn ogystal â rhieni bellach yn edrych ar TGAU a safon uwch fel yr unig safon aur, ceir mwy fyth o berygl y bydd y rhai a allai gyrraedd rhagoriaeth drwy addysg ar gyfer gwahanol alluoedd yn cael eu hamddifadu o lwybrau i gyflawni eu potensial. A beth bynnag, gadewch i ni wynebu'r peth: nid yw chwifio canlyniadau gwyddoniaeth ymddangosiadol ddisglair yn ein hwynebau yn celu'r ffaith fod gostyngiad wedi bod yng nghyfran y dysgwyr a enillodd raddau A* i C mewn Saesneg iaith, mathemateg a Chymraeg ail iaith. Ni allwch fod yn falch o hynny, Weinidog. Dyma'r cymwysterau mynediad at fwy neu lai yr holl gamau nesaf o ran hyfforddiant, gwaith neu addysg bellach ac uwch, a dyna'r union bwynt a godais yn y ddadl ar y cynnig i ddirymu Rheoliadau Perfformiad Ysgolion a Thargedau Absenoldeb (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2019, yn ôl ym mis Gorffennaf. Dyma'r rheoliadau sy'n dileu'r gofyniad i lywodraethwyr ysgolion osod targedau ar gyfer y pynciau hyn a'r angen i adrodd ar ganran y disgyblion sy'n cyflawni'r targedau hyn yn y blynyddoedd cyn TGAU. Nawr, yn anffodus, gan fod yr is-ddeddfwriaeth honno'n rhan o gyfres o newidiadau, ni fyddai wedi gwneud synnwyr i dynnu'r rheoliad hwnnw allan, ond rydych wedi methu'n lân ag ateb y pwynt am natur allweddol y sgiliau allweddol penodol hynny, Weinidog. Dyna pam ein bod wedi cyflwyno pwynt 4 y cynnig.
The assessment of pupil performance in years 4 to 9 may well be about identifying how to help each pupil improve, and I do understand that, but those scores also act as a warning. Today's year 9 pupils are not in as strong a position as this year's year 11 pupils were in two years ago—not in English, not in Welsh, not in maths, and not even in science. And let's remember that this year's year 11 results in those key skill areas, those key qualifications, are down again on last year's already grim results, the worst in 13 years. And now, as governors are able to avoid setting targets even for these key skills earlier in the pupil's journey, that link between standards and the journey towards exam results is becoming less visible, less transparent and very useful for Governments to hide bad news.
Now, Members might be wondering about point 2 of our motion and the reference to 2007. It's not just random, I promise you. I've just brought your attention to the drop in attainment in the most important GCSEs again this year. But Welsh Government has countered, in its amendment, with the claim that, overall, results have improved this year, which, actually, they have by about 1 per cent, but, as there was a fall last year of about the same amount, I guess that they're only the second worst in 13 years. 2007 was the last year when the percentage of young people attaining A* to C grades was the same, pretty much, in Wales and England. And, as we can see from the Government's amendment, they love a comparison with England. Now then, since then, pupils in England, since 2007, outperformed those in Wales every single year on A* to C grades at GCSE, although both nations did see improvements.
In 2015, a drop in the English results meant that both nations were pretty much in the same place, and, since then, both nations have reformed their GCSEs. Both felt the disruption, but guess what? England's performance is stable—actually, rising modestly. In Wales, we have dropped all the way back to our 2007 levels. You cannot get away with saying that these are different exams when England has clearly managed its changes without the damage to attainment. And incidentally, Minister, you're very brave to mention Northern Ireland in your amendment. You know as well as I do that pupils in Northern Ireland put in yet another phenomenal performance in this year at GCSE, with around 80 per cent achieving A* to C, and they've been doing it for years. Why aren't we looking more closely at their system rather than Scotland, where state schools are now offering fewer subjects and where results for Highers have fallen for the fourth year running?
Now, comparing results leads me to the point raised in Plaid's second amendment, and Qualifications Wales has urged the same caution about comparison. Can I invite Members to consider this? All exam boards, regardless of which nation they're teaching to, work hard to ensure that the standards of challenge in their exams, as evidenced by grades, are broadly in line. So, in short, a C in a WJEC exam should be as good as a C from an AQA exam. The difference in content of those exams for quality assurance purposes does not matter as between boards, as long as there is consistency in the level of challenge. And surely that has not changed. The content of our new GCSEs may be very different—they may test different knowledge, they may test different skills—but the standard of challenge should still compare, within margins of error, not just with the standards of other nations, but with the standards of our previous GCSEs. Our poorer GCSE results compared to England and Northern Ireland don't arise from our exams being harder than theirs. So, you cannot hide your failure, Minister, by claiming that you cannot compare what we have today with what has gone before. We should always be able to compare standards year on year, and attainment data is part of that process.
Just briefly, to deal with the other amendments—we will support amendment 3, if we get the chance. Just one caveat on the third point of that Plaid amendment: Welsh Conservatives have always said that we want teachers to be free to teach, and it's why we're not laying into the curriculum at this point, but school leaders will need to know that we will insist on very robust, high-level accountability structures in exchange for trusting them. That is miles away from the current invasive management, but we cannot be completely hands-off. We have a Government to hold to account on its performance, let alone the interests of learners and, indeed, staff to represent.
We also support the Brexit Party amendment, not because we believe that specific accountability measures should be readopted, but because it talks of a trend. I hope my earlier remarks make clear our concerns about upholding and improving standards in English, Welsh and maths, and, indeed, achievement as between a general and vocational qualification.
Finally, amendment 4. This deletes part of our motion, so I'm afraid we can't support it, but it does come from the same place. Half our pupils are not achieving their potential, be that at A-levels, GCSEs or other qualifications, but they're also not achieving their potential for self-fulfillment, for economic advancement, for contributing to the prosperous, confident and strong, active society on which our nation should be built.
Ultimately, it is Welsh Government that must accept responsibility for all that. After 20 years of Labour in Government and all those years of underfunding compared to England, everyone who has been through your education system can look at your amendment. They can see what you think they should be grateful for and what you urge them to call success, and I think that is a pitiful deception, I really do. They deserve an apology, as Plaid Cymru, as the Welsh Conservatives, are asking. They and their children deserve better Government.
Efallai fod asesu perfformiad disgyblion ym mlynyddoedd 4 i 9 yn ymwneud â nodi sut i helpu pob disgybl i wella, ac rwy'n deall hynny, ond mae'r sgoriau hynny hefyd yn gweithredu fel rhybudd. Nid yw disgyblion blwyddyn 9 heddiw mewn sefyllfa mor gryf ag yr oedd disgyblion blwyddyn 11 eleni ddwy flynedd yn ôl—nid yn y Saesneg, nid yn y Gymraeg, nid mewn mathemateg, ac nid mewn gwyddoniaeth hyd yn oed. A chofiwch fod canlyniadau blwyddyn 11 eleni yn y meysydd sgiliau allweddol hynny, y cymwysterau allweddol hynny, wedi gostwng eto ers canlyniadau difrifol y llynedd, y rhai gwaethaf mewn 13 mlynedd. A bellach, gan fod llywodraethwyr yn gallu osgoi gosod targedau hyd yn oed ar gyfer y sgiliau allweddol hyn yn gynharach ar daith y disgybl, mae'r cyswllt hwnnw rhwng safonau a'r daith tuag at ganlyniadau arholiadau yn dod yn llai gweladwy, yn llai tryloyw ac yn ddefnyddiol iawn i Lywodraethau allu cuddio newyddion drwg.
Nawr, efallai y bydd yr Aelodau'n pendroni ynghylch pwynt 2 yn ein cynnig a'r cyfeiriad at 2007. Nid yw wedi'i gynnwys ar hap, rwy'n addo i chi. Rwyf newydd dynnu eich sylw at y gostyngiad yn y cyrhaeddiad yn y TGAU pwysicaf eto eleni. Ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwrthddadlau yn erbyn hyn yn ei gwelliant, gyda'r honiad fod y canlyniadau yn gyffredinol wedi gwella eleni, ac maent wedi gwneud hynny mewn gwirionedd, gyda chynnydd o tua 1 y cant, ond gan y gwelwyd gostyngiad o tua'r un faint y llynedd, rwy'n tybio mai dim ond yr ail waethaf mewn 13 o flynyddoedd ydynt. Y flwyddyn ddiwethaf y gwelwyd canran yr un fath fwy neu lai yng Nghymru a Lloegr o bobl ifanc yn cyrraedd graddau A* i C oedd 2007. Ac fel y gwelwn yng ngwelliant y Llywodraeth, maent yn hoff iawn o gymharu â Lloegr. Nawr, ers 2007, mae disgyblion yn Lloegr wedi perfformio'n well na disgyblion Cymru bob blwyddyn o ran graddau A* i C yn eu TGAU, er i'r ddwy wlad weld gwelliannau.
Yn 2015, roedd gostyngiad yn y canlyniadau yn Lloegr yn golygu bod y ddwy wlad fwy neu lai yn yr un lle, ac ers hynny, mae'r ddwy wlad wedi diwygio eu TGAU. Fe deimlodd y ddwy yr ymyrraeth, ond dyfalwch beth? Mae perfformiad Lloegr yn sefydlog—mewn gwirionedd, mae'n codi'n gymedrol. Yng Nghymru, rydym wedi gostwng yr holl ffordd yn ôl i'n lefelau yn 2007. Ni allwch ddweud bod y rhain yn arholiadau gwahanol pan fo Lloegr yn amlwg wedi rheoli ei newidiadau heb y niwed i gyrhaeddiad. A gyda llaw, Weinidog, rydych chi'n ddewr iawn i sôn am Ogledd Iwerddon yn eich gwelliant. Rydych chi'n gwybod cystal â minnau fod disgyblion yng Ngogledd Iwerddon wedi perfformio'n ardderchog eto eleni yn eu TGAU, gyda thua 80 y cant yn cyflawni graddau A* i C, ac maent wedi bod yn gwneud hynny ers blynyddoedd. Pam nad ydym yn edrych yn agosach ar eu system hwy yn hytrach nag un yr Alban, lle mae ysgolion y wladwriaeth bellach yn cynnig llai o bynciau a lle mae canlyniadau'r Highers wedi gostwng am y bedwaredd flwyddyn yn olynol?
Nawr, mae cymharu canlyniadau yn fy arwain at y pwynt a godwyd yn ail welliant Plaid Cymru, ac mae Cymwysterau Cymru wedi annog yr un gofal wrth gymharu. A gaf fi wahodd yr Aelodau i ystyried hyn? Mae pob bwrdd arholi ym mhob un o'r gwledydd yn gweithio'n galed i sicrhau bod safonau'r her yn eu harholiadau, fel y'i dangosir gan y graddau, yn cyd-fynd yn fras. Felly, yn fyr, dylai C mewn arholiad CBAC fod cystal ag C mewn arholiad AQA. Nid yw'r gwahaniaeth o ran cynnwys yn yr arholiadau hynny at ddibenion sicrhau ansawdd yn bwysig rhwng byrddau, cyn belled â bod cysondeb yn lefel yr her. A does bosibl fod hynny wedi newid. Gall cynnwys ein cymwysterau TGAU newydd fod yn wahanol iawn—efallai eu bod yn profi gwybodaeth wahanol, efallai eu bod yn profi sgiliau gwahanol—ond dylai safon yr her barhau i gymharu, o fewn lwfans gwallau, nid yn unig â safonau gwledydd eraill, ond â safonau ein cymwysterau TGAU blaenorol. Nid yw ein canlyniadau TGAU salach o'u cymharu â Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon yn deillio o fod ein harholiadau'n anos na'u rhai hwy. Felly, ni allwch guddio'ch methiant, Weinidog, drwy honni na allwch gymharu'r hyn sydd gennym heddiw â'r hyn sydd wedi mynd o'r blaen. Dylem bob amser allu cymharu safonau o un flwyddyn i'r llall, ac mae data ar gyrhaeddiad yn rhan o'r broses honno.
Yn fyr iawn, i ymdrin â'r gwelliannau eraill—byddwn yn cefnogi gwelliant 3, os cawn gyfle i wneud hynny. Dim ond un cafeat ar drydydd pwynt gwelliant Plaid Cymru: mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi dweud erioed ein bod am i athrawon fod yn rhydd i addysgu, a dyna pam nad ydym yn beirniadu'r cwricwlwm ar hyn o bryd, ond bydd angen i arweinwyr ysgolion wybod y byddwn yn mynnu cael strwythurau atebolrwydd lefel uchel yn gyfnewid am ymddiried ynddynt. Mae hynny filltiroedd i ffwrdd oddi wrth y rheolaeth ymyrrol bresennol, ond ni allwn osgoi ymwneud yn llwyr. Mae gennym Lywodraeth i'w dwyn i gyfrif am ei pherfformiad, heb sôn am fuddiannau dysgwyr, a staff i'w cynrychioli.
Rydym hefyd yn cefnogi gwelliant Plaid Brexit, nid am ein bod yn credu y dylid ailfabwysiadu mesurau atebolrwydd penodol, ond am ei fod yn sôn am duedd. Rwy'n gobeithio bod fy sylwadau cynharach yn egluro ein pryderon ynghylch cynnal a gwella safonau mewn Cymraeg, Saesneg a mathemateg ac yn wir, cyrhaeddiad o ran cymhwyster cyffredinol o'i gymharu â chymhwyster galwedigaethol.
Yn olaf, gwelliant 4. Mae hwn yn dileu rhan o'n cynnig, felly mae arnaf ofn na allwn ei gefnogi, ond mae'n dod o'r un lle. Nid yw hanner ein disgyblion yn cyflawni eu potensial, ar lefel safon uwch, TGAU neu gymwysterau eraill, ond nid ydynt ychwaith yn cyflawni eu potensial o ran eu hunangyflawniad, o ran eu cynnydd economaidd, o ran cyfrannu at y gymdeithas ffyniannus, hyderus, gref a gweithredol y dylid adeiladu ein gwlad arni.
Yn y pen draw, rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru dderbyn cyfrifoldeb am hynny i gyd. Ar ôl 20 mlynedd o Lywodraeth Lafur a'r holl flynyddoedd o danariannu o gymharu â Lloegr, gall pawb sydd wedi bod drwy eich system addysg edrych ar eich gwelliant. Gallant weld beth y credwch chi y dylent fod yn ddiolchgar amdano a beth rydych chi'n eu hannog i'w alw'n llwyddiant, ac rwy'n credu o ddifrif fod hynny'n dwyll truenus. Maent yn haeddu ymddiheuriad, fel y mae Plaid Cymru a'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn gofyn amdano. Maent hwy a'u plant yn haeddu Llywodraeth well.
I have selected the five amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be deselected. I call on the Minister for Education to formally move amendment 1 in the name of—
Rwyf wedi dethol y pum gwelliant i'r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4 eu dad-ddethol. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Addysg i gynnig gwelliant 1 yn ffurfiol yn enw—
Gwelliant 1—Rebecca Evans
Ar ôl pwynt 1, dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:
Yn llongyfarch disgyblion, athrawon a staff ysgolion am eu gwaith caled ac am set gref o ganlyniadau.
Yn croesawu:
a) bod canlyniadau Safon Uwch yr haf hwn wedi parhau i fod ar y lefel uchaf yn eu hanes;
b) bod Cymru wedi gwella ei safle o ran Safon Uwch, mewn cymhariaeth â rhanbarthau Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon, ar gyfer pob gradd ac wedi’i graddio’n gyntaf ar gyfer A* am y tro cyntaf erioed;
c) bod y canlyniadau TGAU yn gyffredinol wedi dangos gwelliant yr haf hwn;
d) bod cynnydd o dros 50 y cant yn nifer yr ymgeiswyr ar gyfer TGAU gwyddoniaeth ers 2016, a bod cynnydd eleni yng nghanrannau’r disgyblion sy’n ennill graddau A*-A ac A*-C mewn pynciau gwyddonol;
e) bod nifer y disgyblion sy’n cael graddau A*-C yn y cwrs llawn Cymraeg fel Ail Iaith wedi cynyddu 12.5 y cant;
f) bod nifer y disgyblion a safodd TGAU Llenyddiaeth Saesneg wedi cynyddu 22.8 y cant, a bod 2,800 yn rhagor wedi ennill graddau A*-C o gymharu â 2018.
Amendment 1—Rebecca Evans
After point 1, delete all and replace with:
Congratulates pupils, teachers and school staff for their hard work and strong set of results.
Welcomes that:
a) A-Level results this summer remained at a historic high;
b) compared to English regions and Northern Ireland, Wales improved A-Level ranking for all grades and, for the first time ever, is rated first for A*;
c) overall GCSE results showed improvement this summer;
d) the increase of over 50 per cent in science GCSE entries since 2016, and increases this year in the percentage of pupils gaining A*-A and A*-C grades in science subjects;
e) the number of pupils achieving A*-C in Welsh second language full course increased by 12.5 per cent;
f) the number of pupils who sat GCSE English literature increased by 22.8 per cent, with over 2,800 more achieving A*-C grades compared with 2018.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Formally.
Yn ffurfiol.
Thank you. I call on Siân Gwenllian to move amendments 2, 3 and 4, tabled in the name of Rhun ap Iorwerth. Siân.
Diolch. Galwaf ar Siân Gwenllian i gynnig gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rhun ap Iorwerth. Siân.
Gwelliant 2—Rhun ap Iorwerth
Dileu pwyntiau 2 a 3 a rhoi yn eu lle:
Yn credu nad oes modd gwneud cymariaethau ystyrlon gyda chanlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch blynyddoedd blaenorol am nifer o resymau.
Amendment 2—Rhun ap Iorwerth
Delete points 2 and 3 and replace with:
Believes that it’s not possible to make meaningful comparisons with GCSE and A-level results from previous years for a number of reasons.
Gwelliant 3—Rhun ap Iorwerth
Ychwanegu pwyntiau newydd ar ôl pwynt 4 ac ail-rifo yn unol â hynny:
Yn nodi canfyddiadau Estyn fod disgyblion sy’n mynychu hanner yr ysgolion uwchradd yng Nghymru yn methu â chyrraedd eu llawn botensial erbyn yr amser iddynt adael yr ysgol.
Yn credu fod y berthynas rhwng disgybl ac athro yn allweddol i gyrhaeddiad academaidd a bod yn rhaid ariannu ysgolion yn ddigonol er mwyn codi safonau.
Yn galw am wella amodau gwaith athrawon, gan ddileu biwrocratiaeth ac ymyrraeth diangen, er mwyn cryfhau cyflawniad academaidd.
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu cyllid digonol i’n hysgolion ac i symud gwariant tuag at wasanaethau ataliol yn ei chyllideb nesaf, er mwyn creu’r amodau i’n disgyblion a’n hathrawon lwyddo.
Amendment 3—Rhun ap Iorwerth
Add new points after point 4, and re-number accordingly:
Notes the Estyn findings that pupils who attend half the secondary schools in Wales are unable to reach their full potential by the time they leave school.
Believes that the pupil-teacher relationship is key to academic attainment and that schools must be sufficiently funded in order to raise standards.
Calls for improvements to teachers’ conditions of employment, and abolish bureaucracy and unnecessary intervention, in order to strengthen academic achievement.
Calls on the Welsh Government to provide sufficient funding for our schools and move spending towards preventative services within its next budget, in order to create the conditions that will enable our pupils and teachers to succeed.
Gwelliant 4—Rhun ap Iorwerth
Ym mhwynt 5, dileu 'i gydnabod ei methiant i wella cyrhaeddiad TGAU a safon uwch yn sylweddol yng Nghymru ac ymddiheuro i ddisgyblion, rhieni ac ysgolion am eu siomi' a rhoi yn ei le 'i ymddiheuro nad yw’r gyfundrefn addysg bresennol yn caniatáu i hanner disgyblion ysgol Cymru gyrraedd eu llawn botensial'.
Amendment 4—Rhun ap Iorwerth
In point 5, delete 'to acknowledge its failure to significantly improve GCSE and A-Level attainment in Wales and apologise to pupils, parents and schools for letting them down' and replace with 'to apologise that the current education system does not allow half the pupils in Welsh schools to achieve their full potential'.
Cynigiwyd gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4.
Amendments 2, 3 and 4 moved.
Dwi'n symud y gwelliannau. Diolch. Rhaid imi ddweud roeddwn i'n hynod o siomedig o ddarllen cynnig y Torïaid sydd am ganlyniadau TGAU yr haf yma yn bennaf. Roeddwn i'n fwy siomedig byth o weld gwelliant y Llywodraeth, sydd eto yn canolbwyntio ar ganlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch. Mae cynnig y Torïaid yn rhoi sbin negyddol i'r canlyniadau, ac mae cynnig y Llywodraeth yn rhoi sbin cadarnhaol i'r un canlyniadau. Mae unrhyw un sydd yn ymwneud â'r byd addysg yn gwybod yn iawn na ellir gwneud cymariaethau credadwy, ystyrlon drwy edrych ar un set o ganlyniadau amrwd o un flwyddyn a'u gosod nhw yn erbyn set arall. Fel un sydd wedi bod yn gadeirydd llywodraethwyr, yn aelod cabinet addysg ac yn gadeirydd cyd-bwyllgor GwE, dwi'n gwybod bod hyn yn ffôl ac yn ddi-werth, ac mae pawb yn y sector yn gwybod hynny hefyd.
Mae angen edrych ar gyflawniad dros dreigl amser, ac hyd yn oed o drio gwneud cymariaethau, mae yna gymaint wedi newid ers y flwyddyn mae'r Torïaid wedi dewis, sef 2007. Mae'r manylebau eu hunain wedi newid, mae patrymau mynediad ar gyfer arholiadau wedi newid, mae pa radd sy'n cyfrif tuag at y mesurau perfformiad—ac yn y blaen, ac yn y blaen. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig ydy ein bod ni'n symud i ffwrdd oddi wrth system atebolrwydd sy'n gyrru'r system addysg i gyfeiriadau negyddol o safbwynt dysgwyr—er enghraifft, system sy'n annog canolbwyntio ar y disgyblion hynny sydd ar y ffin rhwng C a D ar draul y rheini sydd uwchlaw neu oddi tani hi, symud i ffwrdd o system sy'n rhoi pwysau ar ddysgwyr i sefyll arholiadau dro ar ôl tro er mwyn cael canlyniadau gwell, neu efallai hyd yn oed peidio â chaniatáu i rai disgyblion sefyll arholiad er mwyn osgoi cael graddau is ac yn y blaen.
Dwi'n gweld y Gweinidog yn ysgwyd ei phen. Dwi'n gwybod ei bod hi'n cytuno efo hyn; mae angen symud i ffwrdd o system sy'n trin disgyblion fel data yn hytrach na phobl ac yn gwthio ysgolion i weithredu fel ffatrïoedd yn hytrach na sefydliadau addysgol. Ond yn anffodus, dyna'n union mae'r drafodaeth yma yn ei wneud. Mae'n canolbwyntio ar y gwendidau yn y system. Mae angen symud i ffwrdd hefyd o system sydd wedi cynyddu'r llwyth gwaith a straen ar athrawon yn aruthrol ac wedi rhoi pwysau a straen ar ddisgyblion. Dwi'n croesawu'r symudiad gan y Llywodraeth at system lle mae'r pwyslais ar asesu ar gyfer dysgu—hynny yw, asesu sy'n rhoi adborth gwerthfawr i'r athro a'r dysgwr, yn hytrach nag at bwrpas atebolrwydd allanol, ac mae hynny'n gam arwyddocaol a phositif. Dyna pam roeddwn i'n siomedig o weld y trywydd y mae'r gwelliant yn mynd â ni iddo fo.
Mae ein gwelliannau ni yn tanlinellu beth sydd angen ei wneud er mwyn codi safonau. Ydyn, mae disgyblion yn gadael hanner ysgolion uwchradd Cymru heb gyrraedd eu llawn botensial. Oes, mae angen newidiadau ar frys. Dyna'r ffaith nad oes yna ddim ffordd o roi sbin arno fo. Dyna sydd eisiau inni hoelio sylw arno fo. Y newid mwyaf sydd ei angen er mwyn codi safonau yw sicrhau lefelau cyllido digonol, sy'n caniatáu lefelau staffio priodol, sy'n sicrhau y caiff disgyblion gefnogaeth ychwanegol ac ymyraethau ataliol yn ôl yr angen.
Mi ges i lythyr gan gorff llywodraethwyr un o ysgolion uwchradd Gwynedd ddoe diwethaf. Dyma ichi gri o'r galon. Dwi'n mynd i ddyfynnu o'r llythyr achos mae o'n dweud yn lot gwell na fedraf i beth yw'r broblem: 'Ysgrifennaf i fynegi ein pryderon dwfn ac anfodlonrwydd am gyllid annigonol parhaus i ysgolion. Rydym yn erfyn ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng cyllido hwn. Credwn fod yn rhaid cael newid ar fyrder a rhoi cyllid priodol sydd ei angen ar ein hysgolion, gweithwyr addysg proffesiynol a disgyblion. Mae dyfodol ein plant yn y fantol. Un cyfle sydd gan ddisgyblion i fynd drwy'r system addysg, a thrwy dorri cyllid mae'r Llywodraeth yn methu ein disgyblion. Golyga toriadau ariannol dros y blynyddoedd fod staff wedi colli eu swyddi, ac mae'n debyg y bydd angen torri mwy yn y dyfodol. Mae effaith diswyddiadau yn golygu llwyth gwaith cynyddol ar ein staff presennol, ac effeithiau eraill cyllid annigonol yw bod llai o adnoddau i'r disgyblion, llai o ddewis mewn pynciau ysgol, meintiau dosbarth mwy, llai o gefnogaeth ychwanegol i blant sydd ei hangen, llai o gefnogaeth i deuluoedd a rhieni, a llai o gyfleoedd i blant gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau cyfoethogi. Ni all hyn barhau, a ni allwn adael i hyn fynd heb ei herio.'
Mae'r llythyr yn egluro'r sefyllfa yn glir iawn. Felly, cefnogwch welliannau Plaid Cymru. Peidiwch â chael eich tynnu i mewn i drafodaeth am ganlyniadau TGAU. Wynebwch y realiti a rhowch mwy o gyllid i'n hysgolion ni.
I move the amendments. Thank you. I must say that I was extremely disappointed in reading the Conservative motion, which focuses on this year’s GCSE results mainly. I was even more disappointed in seeing the Government’s amendment, which again focuses on GCSE and A-level results. The Conservative motion gives a negative spin on the results. The Government’s amendment puts a positive spin on the same set of results. Anyone who is involved with education will know full well that meaningful, credible comparisons can’t be made by looking at one set of crude results for one year and setting them against another set from another year. As one who has been a chair of governors, a cabinet member for education and chair of GwE, I know that this is foolish and meaningless and everyone in the sector understands that too.
We need to look at attainment over a period of time, and even in trying to make comparisons, so much has changed since the year that the Conservatives have chosen, namely 2007. The specifications themselves have changed, access patterns for examinations have changed, the grades that count towards the performance measures have changed—and so on and so forth. What’s important is that we move away from a system of accountability that drives the education system in a negative direction from a pupil’s point of view—for example, a system that encourages a focus on those people who are on the boundary between C and D at the expense of those who are either above them or below them, and move away from a system that puts pressure on learners to take exams time and time again to get better results, or even doesn’t allow some pupils to take exams in order to avoid lower grades.
I see the Minister agreeing. I know that she agrees on this. We need to move away from a system that sees pupils as data rather than people and pushes schools to operate as factories rather than educational establishments, but unfortunately that’s exactly what this discussion does. It focuses on the weaknesses in the system. We also need to move away from a system that has increased the stress and workload of teachers significantly and has placed significant stress and pressure on pupils too. I welcome the move by Government towards a system where the emphasis is on assessment, namely assessment that provides valuable feedback, both to the teacher and the learner, rather than focusing on external accountability, and that is a significant and positive step forward. That’s why I was disappointed to see the direction of travel of that amendment.
Our amendments do highlight what needs to be done in order to raise standards. Yes, pupils leave half of Welsh secondary schools without reaching their full potential. Yes, we need urgent changes. That’s the fact that can’t be spun. That’s where we need to focus. And the greatest change required in order to raise standards is to ensure sufficient levels of funding that allow appropriate staffing levels that ensure that pupils receive additional support and preventative interventions when needed.
I received a letter from a governing body of a Gwynedd secondary school just yesterday. This is a cri de coeur. I will quote from the letter, because it states much better than I could what the problem is: ‘I write to express our grave concerns and dissatisfaction about the insufficient funding of schools on a continual basis. We urge the Welsh Government to address this funding crisis. We believe that there must be urgent change and that appropriate funds need to be provided to our schools and educational professionals and pupils. The future of our children is at stake. We have one opportunity to put pupils through the education system, and through cutting funds, the Government is failing our pupils. Cuts mean over the years that staff have lost their jobs and it’s likely that more will need to be cut in future. The impact of redundancies means an additional workload on current staff and the other impacts of insufficient funding is that fewer resources are available for pupils, there is less choice in subjects, classes are larger, there is less support for the children who need it, less support for parents and families, and fewer opportunities for children to take part in extra-curricular activities. This cannot continue and we cannot allow this to go without challenge.’
That letter explains the situation very clearly. So, support the Plaid Cymru amendments. Don’t be drawn into a debate about GCSE results. Face the reality that we need more funding for our schools.
Thank you. I call on Mark Reckless to move amendment 5, tabled in the name of Caroline Jones.
Diolch. Galwaf ar Mark Reckless i gynnig gwelliant 5, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Caroline Jones.
Gwelliant 5—Caroline Jones
Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:
Yn credu bod dysgwyr TGAU a safon uwch Cymru yn cael eu niweidio gan newidiadau diweddar sy'n glastwreiddio atebolrwydd ysgolion ac yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wrthdroi'r duedd hon.
Amendment 5—Caroline Jones
Add as new point at end of the motion:
Believes that Welsh GCSE and A-Level learners are being harmed by recent changes that water down school accountability and calls on the Welsh Government to reverse this trend.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 5.
Amendment 5 moved.
I formally move amendment 5, which Caroline Jones has put down. I congratulate Suzy Davies on opening this debate, and Siân on her speech just now. I agree with what Siân Gwenllian says about the need for more funding. I think that we have the finance Minister here and a budget coming up, and we have had a significant increase in education spending in England announced, and I do hope that we will be seeing that come through to Wales as well, and in particular, that we will see people who may be considering coming into the profession—that starting salaries and progression will be raised.
I sympathise also with what Siân said about the need for multi-year meaningful and credible comparisons. I think this debate really is rather difficult in terms of the motion from the Conservatives and the amendment from the Government. There is just lots of cherry-picking of very different things to either make the Government look bad or good, and I don't think it really helps us assess how the trend has been developing.
It's a shame, I think, in the Conservative motion—. Suzy did say it in her speech, and I credit that, but as well as noting the results, I think that we should congratulate the learners involved. I think it would have been good if that had been in the motion, but it was said. The regret on the GCSEs being worse than summer 2007—I though that that was just very weird when I read the motion. I didn't understand what the point was that the Conservatives were trying to make. If, as Siân says—or was it Suzy—the results are the second worst since 2007, I would have thought that that would have been the point to emphasise in the motion, rather than just the point that they are less good than those in 2007.
Rwy'n cynnig gwelliant 5, a gyflwynwyd gan Caroline Jones, yn ffurfiol. Rwyf am longyfarch Suzy Davies ar agor y ddadl hon, a Siân ar ei haraith yn awr. Rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn y mae Siân Gwenllian yn ei ddweud am yr angen am fwy o gyllid. Rwy'n credu bod y Gweinidog cyllid yma gyda ni a bod cyllideb ar y ffordd, a chawsom gynnydd sylweddol wedi'i gyhoeddi yn y gwariant ar addysg yn Lloegr, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn gweld hynny'n dod drwodd i Gymru hefyd, ac yn arbennig, y byddwn yn gweld pobl a allai fod yn ystyried dod i mewn i'r proffesiwn—y bydd cyflogau cychwynnol a chynnydd yn cael eu codi.
Cydymdeimlaf hefyd â'r hyn a ddywedodd Siân am yr angen am gymariaethau amlflwydd ystyrlon a chredadwy. Rwy'n credu bod y ddadl hon braidd yn anodd o ran y cynnig gan y Ceidwadwyr a'r gwelliant gan y Llywodraeth. Mae llawer o ddewis a dethol pethau gwahanol iawn er mwyn gwneud i'r Llywodraeth edrych yn wael neu'n dda, ac nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn ein helpu mewn gwirionedd i asesu sut y mae'r duedd wedi bod yn datblygu.
Yn fy marn i, mae'n drueni, yng nghynnig y Ceidwadwyr—. Fe wnaeth Suzy ei ddweud yn ei haraith, ac rwy'n canmol hynny, ond yn ogystal â nodi'r canlyniadau, credaf y dylem longyfarch y dysgwyr dan sylw. Rwy'n credu y byddai wedi bod yn dda pe bai hynny wedi'i gynnwys yn y cynnig, ond fe gafodd ei ddweud. Y gofid fod yr arholiadau TGAU yn waeth na haf 2007—roeddwn yn credu bod hynny'n rhyfedd iawn pan ddarllenais y cynnig. Nid oeddwn yn deall beth oedd y pwynt y ceisiai'r Ceidwadwyr ei wneud. Os mai'r canlyniadau yw'r rhai gwaethaf ond am un flwyddyn ers 2007, fel y mae Siân yn dweud—neu ai Suzy a'i dywedodd—buaswn wedi meddwl mai dyna fyddai'r pwynt i'w bwysleisio yn y cynnig, yn hytrach na dim ond y pwynt nad ydynt cystal â'r rhai yn 2007.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
I would be delighted to, Suzy.
Byddai'n bleser gennyf, Suzy.
The reason that 2007 was chosen was that it was at a time when the English and Welsh results were comparable. I went on to say in some of my contribution that, while both nations have actually improved in that time, until this year, England has done better than Wales. But this year, Wales has gone back to that starting point.
Y rheswm y dewiswyd 2007 oedd ei fod ar adeg pan oedd modd cymharu'r canlyniadau yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Euthum ymlaen i ddweud yn fy nghyfraniad, er bod y ddwy wlad wedi gwella dros y cyfnod hwnnw mewn gwirionedd, tan eleni mae Lloegr wedi gwneud yn well na Chymru. Ond eleni, mae Cymru wedi dychwelyd i'r man cychwyn hwnnw.
I think that is the core trend. I agree with you and broadly what the Conservatives have been pushing in that area—that in education in Wales, the results seem to have got significantly worse over that period, and that has been the substantial trend. If there is some improvement this year, I think that we should recognise that, but I think the trend is still the dominant matter.
With the Welsh second language, I won't ask for another intervention, but Welsh second language—is that the same as Welsh short course? Because my understanding was we're moving away from—[Interruption.] They're two different things. I will try and understand that more clearly. But we are seeing significant changes in this area that makes it harder to make the comparisons that we seek to do in this motion.
So, we note the Welsh Government research around key indicators. In some ways it's good to hear the Welsh Government's doing some research, particularly if it's being published, but there shouldn't be so much need for it, because we should have published and comparable data that we can all engage with in a consistent way. I've spoken before to the education Secretary both in the Chamber and elsewhere about my concerns about not publishing quality comparable statistics. I focused on 2014-17 when I was told that, actually, Estyn was publishing these results, and I was pleased to see that was the case, on school inspections, but that's now stopped, and I don't understand why that is. I was also disappointed to see the level 2 inclusive measure taken away as a requirement, and the schools being able to set their own targets and measures, and feared that would lead to them marking their own homework and not having the same reliability of comparison. But I do want to engage sensibly in this by making these points. I'm not arguing there should be a private market in education. I'm not saying schools shouldn't co-operate and work with each other, but I do think we need clear, published, reliable, trusted data about how well schools are doing in order to help drive improvement up.
Finally, on the Conservative motion, I thought it was slightly hopeful of them to expect the Government to be apologising to all pupils for letting them down, but I think it's right that we haven't seen significant improvements. But it's worse than that—we saw a significant deteriorating trend even if there was some improvement this year. One thing I would like to congratulate the Government for in its motion is point (b), which strikes me as very impressive, if indeed Wales is voted first for A* at A-level. That really is a significant achievement. I don't know how issues with exam boards—perhaps we have exam boards that may be different; I don't know whether that's an issue or whether there are other factors—but on the face of it, that is an impressive thing that I would like to congratulate the Government on at least in its own narrow terms. I wonder whether the Seren programme that I've also spoken about quite frequently—whether those two things may be linked in any way. I'm certainly very keen to see the top end of the attainment area being stretched and given a real opportunity to deliver. But overall, we'd like to see clearer and better comparisons available to ensure proper accountability for schools, not to deliver a market, but in order to drive up standards. I don't think it's helpful to characterise it in that type of language, and I look forward to hearing what the education Minister's got to say in response.
Credaf mai dyna'r duedd graidd. Cytunaf â chi ac, yn fras, â'r hyn y mae'r Ceidwadwyr wedi bod yn ei wthio yn y maes hwnnw—yn y maes addysg yng Nghymru, mae hi'n ymddangos bod y canlyniadau wedi gwaethygu'n sylweddol dros ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, a dyna oedd y duedd fwyaf. Os oes rhywfaint o welliant eleni, credaf y dylem gydnabod hynny, ond credaf mai'r duedd yw'r prif fater o hyd.
Gyda Chymraeg ail iaith, nid wyf am ofyn am ymyriad arall, ond Cymraeg ail iaith—a yw hwnnw yr un fath â'r cwrs byr mewn Cymraeg? Oherwydd fy nealltwriaeth i oedd ein bod yn symud oddi wrth—[Torri ar draws.] Maent yn ddau beth gwahanol. Ceisiaf ddeall hynny'n gliriach. Ond rydym yn gweld newidiadau sylweddol yn y maes hwn sy'n ei gwneud hi'n anos inni wneud y cymariaethau y ceisiwn eu gwneud yn y cynnig hwn.
Felly, rydym yn nodi ymchwil Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch dangosyddion allweddol. Mewn rhai ffyrdd mae'n dda clywed bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud rhywfaint o ymchwil, yn enwedig os yw'n cael ei chyhoeddi, ond ni ddylai fod cymaint o angen amdani, oherwydd dylem gael data cymaradwy wedi'i gyhoeddi y gall pawb ohonom ei ddeall mewn ffordd gyson. Rwyf wedi siarad o'r blaen â'r Ysgrifennydd addysg yn y Siambr ac mewn mannau eraill ynglŷn â fy mhryderon ynghylch peidio â chyhoeddi ystadegau cymaradwy o ansawdd. Canolbwyntiais ar 2014-17 pan ddywedwyd wrthyf, mewn gwirionedd, fod Estyn yn cyhoeddi'r canlyniadau hyn ar arolygiadau ysgolion, ac roeddwn yn falch o weld hynny, ond mae hynny bellach wedi dod i ben, ac nid wyf yn deall pam. Roeddwn yn siomedig hefyd o weld y mesur lefel 2 cynhwysol yn cael ei dynnu i ffwrdd fel gofyniad, a'r ysgolion yn gallu gosod eu targedau a'u mesurau eu hunain, ac yn ofni y byddai hynny'n arwain at eu gweld yn marcio eu gwaith cartref eu hunain heb allu cymharu mewn modd dibynadwy. Ond rwyf am ymwneud â hyn yn synhwyrol drwy wneud y pwyntiau hyn. Nid wyf yn dadlau y dylid cael marchnad breifat yn y maes addysg. Nid wyf yn dweud na ddylai ysgolion gydweithredu a gweithio gyda'i gilydd, ond rwy'n credu ein bod angen data clir, dibynadwy, wedi'i gyhoeddi, data y gellir ymddiried ynddo, ynglŷn â pha mor dda y mae ysgolion yn gwneud er mwyn helpu i hybu gwelliant.
Yn olaf, ar gynnig y Ceidwadwyr, roeddwn yn meddwl eu bod yn obeithiol braidd i ddisgwyl i'r Llywodraeth ymddiheuro i bob disgybl am eu siomi, ond credaf ei fod yn gywir i nodi nad ydym wedi gweld gwelliannau sylweddol. Ond mae'n waeth na hynny—gwelsom duedd waethygol sylweddol hyd yn oed os cafwyd rhywfaint o welliant eleni. Un peth yr hoffwn longyfarch y Llywodraeth arno yn ei chynnig yw pwynt (b), sy'n ymddangos yn drawiadol iawn i mi, os yw Cymru yn wir wedi dod yn gyntaf o ran canlyniadau A* yn y safon uwch. Mae hwnnw'n gryn dipyn o gyflawniad. Nid wyf yn gwybod sut y mae pethau gyda byrddau arholi—efallai fod gennym fyrddau arholi a allai fod yn wahanol; nid wyf yn gwybod a yw hynny'n digwydd neu a oes ffactorau eraill—ond ar yr wyneb, mae hyn yn drawiadol a hoffwn longyfarch y Llywodraeth arno, ar ei thelerau cul ei hun o leiaf. Tybed a yw'r rhaglen Seren y siaradais innau amdani yn eithaf aml hefyd—a ellir cysylltu'r ddau beth hynny mewn unrhyw ffordd? Rwy'n sicr yn awyddus iawn i weld pen uchaf y maes cyrhaeddiad yn cael ei ymestyn ac yn cael cyfle go iawn i gyflawni. Ond yn gyffredinol, hoffem weld cymariaethau cliriach a gwell i sicrhau atebolrwydd priodol i ysgolion, nid ar gyfer cyflwyno marchnad, ond er mwyn gwella safonau. Nid wyf yn credu ei bod o fudd i ni ei ddisgrifio yn y ffordd honno, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed beth sydd gan y Gweinidog Addysg i'w ddweud mewn ymateb.
Education is the key to success in one's life, and teachers make a lasting impact on the lives of their students. Education is the passport to the future, enabling our young people to reach and to achieve their full potential. However, the Welsh Government is failing our young people to achieve that.
In the last 10 years, GCSE results have not improved. Wales trails behind other parts of the United Kingdom in both the international PISA results and tables and the key results such as GCSE A* to C grades. It is shocking that GCSE results are worse than they were in 2007. Also, the key stage 2 and 3 results have deteriorated for the first time since 2007. This decline in educational standards places a barrier in the way of pupils, hindering their potential earnings and impacting on their lives and careers. Research shows that an investment in maths and English skills provides a substantial social and economic return. Learners who have achieved English and maths qualifications secure earning premiums ranging from 5 per cent to 8 per cent.
However, Estyn's annual report says that in half of schools, provision for the development of pupil literacy, particularly writing, and numeracy across the curriculum is inconsistent. They went on to say that there are too few opportunities for pupils to develop their skills progressively in authentic contexts. Further, teachers do not have a firm grasp of how to make sure that their provision of skills is appropriate and leads to progression. The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales has outlined that nearly 45 per cent of school leavers in Wales could not achieve five good GCSE results between 2015 and 2020. These shortcomings in education standards translate themselves into poor employment chances. Wales has the lowest take-home pay of all 12 regions of the United Kingdom. Take-home pay in Wales is £60 less than the UK average. Thirty-six per cent of employees in Wales were in the low-skilled jobs in 2018-19, compared to a UK average of 32 per cent. Over a fifth of Wales students lack the required reading skills to function in the workforce. Without sufficient progress in these areas, the Welsh Government will continue to fail to provide our young people with the support they need to have the best possible chance of a secure future.
The Welsh Government has a long-standing commitment to protect school funding, yet the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers’ latest figures estimate the funding gap between pupils in England and Wales to be a staggering £645. School funding has not been protected. Between 2010-11 and 2018-19 school funding has fallen by nearly 8 per cent in real terms. Extra funding on education in England has resulted in an extra £1.25 billion for Wales over the next three years. The Welsh Government must commit to tackling the historic underfunding of schools. The declining standard must be reversed, Deputy Presiding Officer, if future generations of pupils are not to be let down. It is a very famous saying of Benjamin Franklin, an America President, who said, ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’ It is about time for the Welsh Government to deliver this investment in Wales. Thank you.
Addysg yw'r allwedd i lwyddiant ym mywyd rhywun, ac mae athrawon yn cael effaith barhaol ar fywydau eu myfyrwyr. Addysg yw'r pasbort i'r dyfodol, sy’n galluogi ein pobl ifanc i gyrraedd ac i gyflawni eu potensial llawn. Fodd bynnag, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud cam â’n pobl ifanc o ran cyflawni hynny.
Yn ystod y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, nid yw canlyniadau TGAU wedi gwella. Mae Cymru ar ei hôl hi o gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig yng nghanlyniadau a thablau rhyngwladol PISA a'r canlyniadau allweddol megis graddau TGAU A* i C. Mae'n frawychus fod y canlyniadau TGAU yn waeth na’r hyn oeddent yn 2007. Hefyd, mae canlyniadau cyfnod allweddol 2 a 3 wedi gwaethygu am y tro cyntaf er 2007. Mae'r dirywiad hwn mewn safonau addysgol yn gosod rhwystr yn ffordd disgyblion, gan gyfyngu ar eu henillion posibl, ac effeithio ar eu bywydau a'u gyrfaoedd. Dengys ymchwil fod buddsoddiad mewn sgiliau mathemateg a Saesneg yn darparu enillion cymdeithasol ac economaidd sylweddol. Mae dysgwyr sydd wedi cyflawni cymwysterau Saesneg a mathemateg yn sicrhau premiwm enillion sy’n amrywio rhwng 5 y cant ac 8 y cant.
Fodd bynnag, dywed adroddiad blynyddol Estyn fod y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer datblygu llythrennedd disgyblion, yn enwedig ysgrifennu, a rhifedd ar draws y cwricwlwm yn anghyson yn hanner yr ysgolion. Aethant ymlaen i ddweud bod rhy ychydig o gyfleoedd i ddisgyblion ddatblygu eu sgiliau'n gynyddol mewn cyd-destunau dilys. At hynny, nid oes gan athrawon afael cadarn ar sut i sicrhau bod eu darpariaeth sgiliau'n briodol ac yn arwain at gynnydd. Mae Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol Cymru wedi nodi na allai bron i 45 y cant o’r rhai sy’n gadael ysgol yng Nghymru gyflawni pum canlyniad TGAU da rhwng 2015 a 2020. Mae’r diffygion hyn yn y safonau addysg yn trosi’n gyfleoedd cyflogaeth gwael. Cymru sydd â'r cyflog isaf o bob un o 12 rhanbarth y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae cyflogau yng Nghymru £60 yn llai na chyfartaledd y DU. Roedd 36 y cant o weithwyr yng Nghymru mewn swyddi sgiliau isel yn 2018-19, o gymharu â chyfartaledd y DU o 32 y cant. Nid oes sgiliau darllen angenrheidiol i allu gweithredu yn y gweithlu gan dros un rhan o bump o fyfyrwyr Cymru. Heb gynnydd digonol yn y meysydd hyn, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fethu rhoi’r gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen ar ein pobl i sicrhau’r gobaith gorau posibl o gael dyfodol diogel.
Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymiad hirsefydlog i ddiogelu cyllid ysgolion, ac eto mae ffigurau diweddaraf Cymdeithas Genedlaethol yr Ysgolfeistri ac Undeb yr Athrawesau yn amcangyfrif bod y bwlch cyllido rhwng disgyblion yng Nghymru a Lloegr yn £645, sy’n ffigur syfrdanol. Nid yw cyllid ysgolion wedi'i ddiogelu. Rhwng 2010-11 a 2018-19 mae cyllid ysgolion wedi gostwng bron i 8 y cant mewn termau real. Mae cyllid ychwanegol i addysg yn Lloegr wedi arwain at £1.25 biliwn yn ychwanegol i Gymru dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â thanariannu hanesyddol i ysgolion. Rhaid gwrthdroi'r safon sy'n dirywio, Ddirprwy Lywydd, os nad ydym am wneud cam â chenedlaethau'r dyfodol o ddisgyblion. Mae dywediad enwog iawn gan Benjamin Franklin, un o Arlywyddion America, yn dweud mai ‘Buddsoddi mewn gwybodaeth sy’n talu’r elw gorau.’ Mae’n hen bryd i Lywodraeth Cymru sicrhau’r buddsoddiad hwn yng Nghymru. Diolch.
We are in danger of comparing apples and pears. In my constituency, in the secondary schools serving my young people: 65 per cent of pupils at Llanishen High School got five As to Cs, including language and maths; 76 per cent at Bro Edern; 86 per cent at Cardiff High School. So, which one did better? Well, superficially, Cardiff High did, but what proportion of this school has special educational needs? How many free-school-mealers are there? Well, far below average is the answer. So, I just want to focus a little bit on the achievements of a school where I'm a governor, St Teilo’s, where 61 per cent of pupils got five GCSEs, including a language and maths, and that is only just 1 per cent below the national average. That is in a school that has over one in five pupils in receipt of free school meals, 3.5 per cent of children have a statement of special educational need, and 3.5 per cent are pupils being looked after by the local authority, which is the highest in Wales. So, comparing like with like, the school is the second highest performing in its family of schools, which is the 20 per cent to 30 per cent free-school-meal benchmarking group. And this is where we should be making these comparisons. It's about whether schools of a similar nature are doing as well as other schools who are facing some of the challenges that we know young people face that impact on their education, and, clearly, poverty is one of them.
So, I think that St Teilo's is doing brilliantly, because, for children in receipt of free school meals, they've increased their performance every year for the last five years, and they currently stand at 36 per cent, which is much higher than the average in the family of schools they’re in. And looking to the future, this summer, two thirds of the children in year 10 who are in receipt of free school meals attained a grade C or above in English literature, meaning there was no gap in performance between the most affluent and least affluent pupils. That, I think, is a real achievement, and I thank the pupils and the teachers at St Teilo’s for that fantastic performance.
Rydym mewn perygl o gymharu afalau a gellyg. Yn fy etholaeth i, yn yr ysgolion uwchradd sy'n gwasanaethu fy mhobl ifanc: cafodd 65 y cant o ddisgyblion Ysgol Uwchradd Llanisien bum gradd A i C gan gynnwys iaith a mathemateg; 76 y cant yn Ysgol Bro Edern; 86 y cant yn Ysgol Uwchradd Caerdydd. Felly, pa un a wnaeth orau? Wel, yn arwynebol, Ysgol Uwchradd Caerdydd, ond pa gyfran o'r ysgol hon sydd ag anghenion addysgol arbennig? Sawl un sy’n cael cinio ysgol am ddim? Wel, llawer is na'r cyfartaledd yw'r ateb. Felly, rwyf am ganolbwyntio ychydig ar gyflawniadau ysgol lle rwy'n llywodraethwr, sef Teilo Sant, lle cafodd 61 y cant o’r disgyblion bum TGAU gan gynnwys iaith a mathemateg, a dim ond 1 y cant yn is na’r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol yw hynny. A hyn mewn ysgol sydd â dros un o bob pum disgybl yn cael prydau ysgol am ddim, mae gan 3.5 y cant o blant ddatganiad o angen addysgol arbennig, ac mae 3.5 y cant yn ddisgyblion sy'n derbyn gofal gan yr awdurdod lleol, sef y lefel uchaf yng Nghymru. Felly, o gymharu tebyg â thebyg, mae’r ysgol yn perfformio’n well na phob ysgol arall ond un yn ei theulu ysgolion, sef y grŵp meincnodi 20 y cant i 30 y cant o brydau ysgol am ddim. A dyma lle y dylem fod yn gwneud y cymariaethau hyn. Mae'n ymwneud ag i ba raddau y mae ysgolion o natur debyg yn gwneud cystal ag ysgolion eraill sy'n wynebu rhai o'r heriau y gwyddom fod pobl ifanc yn eu hwynebu, sy'n effeithio ar eu haddysg, ac yn amlwg, mae tlodi yn un ohonynt.
Felly, credaf fod Teilo Sant yn gwneud yn wych, oherwydd eu bod wedi cynyddu eu perfformiad bob blwyddyn am y pum mlynedd diwethaf ar gyfer plant sy’n cael prydau ysgol am ddim, ac ar hyn o bryd maent ar 36 y cant, sy'n llawer uwch na'r cyfartaledd yn y teulu ysgolion y maent ynddo. Ac wrth edrych i'r dyfodol, yr haf hwn, cafodd dwy ran o dair o'r plant ym mlwyddyn 10 sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim radd C neu uwch mewn llenyddiaeth Saesneg, sy'n golygu nad oedd bwlch yn y perfformiad rhwng y disgyblion mwyaf cefnog a’r disgyblion lleiaf cefnog. Mae hynny, rwy’n meddwl, yn gyflawniad go iawn, a diolch i’r disgyblion a’r athrawon yn Teilo Sant am y perfformiad gwych hwnnw.
Will you take in intervention, Jenny?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad, Jenny?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
I think congratulations are due to St Teilo's School—that's excellent news. Can you explain then why, overall across the whole of Wales, the number of A to C grades, particularly in those key subjects, has gone down, if schools like St Teilo's are actually bringing the averages up?
Rwy'n credu bod lle i longyfarch Ysgol Teilo Sant—mae hynny'n newyddion rhagorol. A allwch chi egluro felly pam fod nifer y graddau A i C yn gyffredinol ledled Cymru, yn enwedig yn y pynciau allweddol, wedi gostwng, os yw ysgolion fel Teilo Sant yn codi’r cyfartaledd mewn gwirionedd?
I think we need to hear from the education Minister. I think it's very important that we have set what's called the level 2 plus benchmark—that we need all pupils to achieve five GCSEs where possible, including language and maths. I think that's absolutely right. You can see how, in previous years, when that wasn't the benchmark, there was less attention placed on the language and maths. I think it's absolutely right that we are now putting that emphasis. So, I think that that is one of the ways in which we ensure that young people, where possible, achieve what we think they need to make their way in the world.
But I don't understand why the Conservative Party have pitched the motion in the way they have. I don't understand what is so important about 2007. For me, it has lots of importance for all sorts of reasons, but nothing to do with the exam results. What was it that was so significant about 2007? As Siân Gwenllian has already mentioned, things have changed hugely in that period, and we are in danger, as I say, of comparing apples and pears.
So, I think that there's been some really significant achievements by Welsh pupils that we really do need to celebrate. The numbers achieving the five As to C, including language and maths, has gone up, and that's fantastic, and the A* and A pass rate has remained stable. As Suzy Davies has acknowledged, the performance in science continues to improve, and that's really, really important, because otherwise our understanding of the way the world works is going to be much more difficult.
So, just looking at the A-level results, Wales is outperforming the rest of the UK, and this doesn't seem to get mentioned by the Conservatives. So, we are now the first for A* compared to the English regions and Northern Ireland, and that's really, really good. So, why are we not celebrating that?
I think that one of the things that we need to consider is, if we're going to put more money into education, where is that money going to come from, given that we continue to have less money to spend than we did in 2010. So, is it going to come out of health? Are the opposition parties going to say, 'Yes, we need to take money out of health'—which is where we spend half the budget at the moment—'and put it into education'? Let's have that debate. I'm very happy to have that debate. But, simply saying, 'We've got to spend more money on this', without identifying what we're going to take it from, given that we do not have a rising budget, is something that we need to have an adult discussion about.
Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni glywed gan y Gweinidog Addysg. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod wedi gosod yr hyn a elwir yn feincnod lefel 2 ac uwch—fod angen i bob disgybl gyflawni pum TGAU lle bo hynny'n bosibl, gan gynnwys iaith a mathemateg. Credaf fod hynny'n hollol iawn. Yn y blynyddoedd a fu, pan nad dyna oedd y meincnod hwnnw’n bodoli, gallwch weld sut y rhoddwyd llai o sylw ar iaith a mathemateg. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n hollol iawn ein bod ni bellach yn gosod y pwyslais hwnnw. Felly, credaf mai dyna un o'r ffyrdd y sicrhawn fod pobl ifanc, lle bo hynny'n bosibl, yn cyflawni'r hyn y credwn sydd ei angen arnynt i wneud eu ffordd yn y byd.
Ond nid wyf yn deall pam y mae'r Blaid Geidwadol wedi cyflwyno'r cynnig yn y ffordd y gwnaethant. Nid wyf yn deall beth sydd mor bwysig am 2007. I mi, mae’n bwysig iawn am bob math o resymau, ond dim i'w wneud â chanlyniadau'r arholiadau. Beth oedd mor arwyddocaol am 2007? Fel y soniodd Siân Gwenllian eisoes, mae pethau wedi newid yn aruthrol yn y cyfnod hwnnw, ac rydym mewn perygl, fel rwy’n dweud, o gymharu afalau a gellyg.
Felly, credaf ein bod wedi gweld cyflawniadau gwirioneddol sylweddol gan ddisgyblion Cymru ac mae gwir angen i ni eu dathlu. Mae'r niferoedd sy'n cyflawni'r pum gradd A i C, gan gynnwys iaith a mathemateg, wedi codi, ac mae hynny'n wych, ac mae'r gyfradd sy’n cael A* ac A wedi aros yn sefydlog. Fel y mae Suzy Davies wedi cydnabod, mae'r perfformiad mewn gwyddoniaeth yn parhau i wella, ac mae hynny'n wirioneddol bwysig, oherwydd fel arall bydd ein dealltwriaeth o'r ffordd y mae'r byd yn gweithio yn llawer anos.
Felly, wrth edrych ar y canlyniadau safon uwch yn unig, mae Cymru’n perfformio'n well na gweddill y DU, ac mae'n ymddangos nad yw'r Ceidwadwyr yn crybwyll hyn. Felly, ni sydd ar y brig bellach ar gyfer A*, o gymharu â rhanbarthau Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon, ac mae hynny'n wirioneddol dda. Felly, pam nad ydym yn dathlu hynny?
Credaf mai rhai o'r pethau y mae'n rhaid i ni eu hystyried os ydym am roi mwy o arian tuag at addysg, yw o ble y daw'r arian hwnnw, o gofio ein bod yn parhau i fod â llai o arian i'w wario nag a oedd gennym yn 2010. Felly, a yw'n mynd i ddod oddi wrth iechyd? A yw'r gwrthbleidiau'n mynd i ddweud, 'Oes, mae angen i ni fynd ag arian oddi wrth iechyd'—sef lle y gwerir hanner y gyllideb ar hyn o bryd—'a'i roi i addysg'? Dewch inni gael y ddadl honno. Rwy'n hapus iawn i gael y ddadl honno. Ond mae dweud yn syml, 'Mae'n rhaid i ni wario mwy o arian ar hyn', heb nodi o lle byddwn yn ei gymryd, o gofio nad oes gennym gyllideb gynyddol, yn rhywbeth y mae angen i ni gael trafodaeth aeddfed yn ei gylch.
I'm pleased to be able to take part in this afternoon's debate. Following the summer examination results, there was justifiable praise for Welsh learners, who, under considerable pressure from poor funding settlements and significant reforms, had worked hard to achieve their grades. We've all been there ourselves as learners, the pressure can be overwhelming, and the trepidation and anxiety that come with receiving your examination results can be enormous.
In my own constituency, there was a very strong performance at Ysgol y Preseli at A* to A grades, which I'm proud to say is significantly above the national average. However, not all schools in Pembrokeshire delivered improvements, and whilst I understand that improvements have been made at several schools across the county in achieving A* to C grades, Pembrokeshire County Council have made it clear that further work is still required to support Milford Haven School and Haverfordwest high school.
Of course, at this stage, the outcomes are still provisional, at school level only and could be subject to change. However, even at this early stage, perhaps in responding to today's debate, the Minister could tell us what immediate interventions the Welsh Government is planning, to work with individual schools to explore ways in which they can improve standards. I'm sure the Minister would agree that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to improving education standards in Wales and the support needed in one school may be very different for another. Therefore, I think it's clear that the Welsh Government could do more to develop a more bespoke approach to working with schools across Wales so that the package of support offered is tailored to the individual school.
Of course, there are a whole host of reasons why some of our learners aren't quite reaching their full potential. According to the NASUWT, one of those reasons is because the Welsh Government needs to address the continued funding gap with schools in England and the spiraling workload of teachers and school leaders. We all know that the funding gap faced by schools across Wales means that there is a lack of resources for our education providers, and that, understandably, undermines the ability of schools to secure the best education standards possible. Members will be aware of the Children, Young People and Education Committee's recent inquiry into school funding, which found that the £109 million schools budget gap in 2019-20 will rise to £319 million in 2022-23 and that at least half of all secondary schools in Wales are in deficit. And that figure is rising.
Schools across Wales are right to say that there's a real difficulty in maintaining and improving standards against a backdrop of increasing pressure on resources. In giving evidence to that inquiry, the Pembrokeshire Association of Secondary Headteachers made it clear that secondary schools are reducing the number of teaching staff, reducing the breadth of the curriculum offered, partially at key stages 4 and 5. They also said there was a need to increase the number of pupils in classes to enable fewer teachers to deliver to the curriculum. They went on to say that there will be reductions in the amount of time dedicated to leadership and management, which will increase the workload of those members of staff and reduce their capacity to focus on improving school performance. I'm sure the Minister is under no illusion that it's not only Pembrokeshire's secondary schools that have to take these steps, and so it's crucial that the school funding issue is addressed in order to ensure that schools are fully resourced and best equipped to provide for our learners.
However, school funding is only one piece of the puzzle, and we know that Wales's 2019 results are set against a backdrop of significant curriculum reform. In January, before the draft curriculum was published, the previous head of Qualifications Wales admitted that the new curriculum could mean an end to GCSEs in the longer term and more reforms in the short term. How, or to what extent, those qualifications will change is still up for discussion, but needless to say that that was met with opposition from some in the education profession. For example, the Association of School and College Leaders have been quite clear that, and I quote,
'it is important to understand that these results come at a time of enormous change in the Welsh education system which has included a huge overhaul of GCSE specifications.'
They went on to say that,
'It is vital to get this right so that we are in the best position possible to implement the even more ambitious reforms which are planned to the Welsh curriculum over the next few years.'
Moving forward, the Minister has consulted on plans for the new curriculum, and perhaps she'll take the opportunity this afternoon to tell us a bit more about the Welsh Government's plans in this specific area.
Dirprwy Lywydd, at the heart of this debate is the desire to see Welsh schools flourish and its learners reach their full potential. As far as my own constituency is concerned, where schools have been given significant support, there has been improvement, and that's to be welcomed. But more can and should be done to ensure standards are improved in schools right across Wales so that our learners finish their education journey equipped with the skills they need to get on in the modern world. So, in closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, I hope the Welsh Government will reflect on some of the concerns raised by the education sector and I urge Members to support our motion.
Rwy’n falch o allu cymryd rhan yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma. Yn dilyn canlyniadau arholiadau’r haf, roedd canmoliaeth haeddiannol i ddysgwyr Cymru a oedd wedi gweithio’n galed i gyflawni eu graddau o dan bwysau sylweddol yn sgil setliadau cyllido gwael a diwygiadau pwysig. Mae pawb ohonom wedi bod yno ein hunain fel dysgwyr, gall y pwysau fod yn llethol, a gall yr ofn a'r pryder a ddaw yn sgil cael eich canlyniadau arholiadau fod yn enfawr.
Yn fy etholaeth i, gwelwyd perfformiad cryf iawn yn Ysgol y Preseli ar gyfer graddau A* i A, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud ei fod yn sylweddol uwch na'r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol. Fodd bynnag, ni welwyd gwelliannau ym mhob ysgol yn sir Benfro, ac er fy mod yn deall bod gwelliannau wedi'u gwneud mewn sawl ysgol ledled y sir o ran cyflawni graddau A* i C, mae Cyngor Sir Penfro wedi dweud yn glir fod angen gwaith pellach o hyd i gefnogi Ysgol Aberdaugleddau ac ysgol uwchradd Hwlffordd.
Wrth gwrs, ar y cam hwn, mae'r canlyniadau'n dal i fod yn rhai dros dro ar lefel ysgol yn unig, a gallent newid. Fodd bynnag, hyd yn oed ar y cam cynnar hwn, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl heddiw, efallai y gallai'r Gweinidog ddweud wrthym pa ymyriadau uniongyrchol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cynllunio, i weithio gydag ysgolion unigol er mwyn archwilio ffyrdd y gallant wella safonau. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Gweinidog yn cytuno nad oes un dull sy'n addas i bawb o wella safonau addysg yng Nghymru ac efallai y bydd y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen mewn un ysgol yn wahanol iawn i un arall. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn amlwg y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud mwy i ddatblygu dull mwy pwrpasol o weithio gydag ysgolion ledled Cymru fel bod y pecyn cymorth a gynigir wedi'i deilwra i'r ysgol unigol.
Wrth gwrs, ceir llu o resymau pam nad yw rhai o'n dysgwyr yn cyrraedd eu potensial llawn. Yn ôl NASUWT, un o'r rhesymau yw’r angen i Lywodraeth Cymru fynd i’r afael â’r bwlch cyllido parhaus rhyngddynt ag ysgolion yn Lloegr a llwyth gwaith cynyddol athrawon ac arweinwyr ysgolion. Rydym i gyd yn gwybod bod y bwlch cyllido sy'n wynebu ysgolion ledled Cymru yn golygu bod diffyg adnoddau i'n darparwyr addysg ac mae hynny, yn ddealladwy, yn tanseilio gallu ysgolion i sicrhau'r safonau addysg gorau posibl. Bydd yr Aelodau’n ymwybodol o ymchwiliad diweddar y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg i gyllid ysgolion, a ganfu y bydd y bwlch cyllideb ysgolion o £109 miliwn yn 2019-20 yn codi i £319 miliwn yn 2022-23 ac y bydd o leiaf hanner holl ysgolion uwchradd Cymru yn wynebu diffyg. Ac mae'r ffigur hwnnw'n codi.
Mae ysgolion ledled Cymru yn iawn i ddweud bod anhawster gwirioneddol i gynnal a gwella safonau yn erbyn cefndir o bwysau cynyddol ar adnoddau. Wrth roi tystiolaeth i'r ymchwiliad hwnnw, nododd Cymdeithas y Prifathrawon Uwchradd yn sir Benfro yn glir fod ysgolion uwchradd yn lleihau nifer y staff addysgu, gan leihau ehangder y cwricwlwm a gynigir, yn rhannol yng nghamau allweddol 4 a 5. Dywedasant hefyd fod angen cynyddu nifer y disgyblion mewn dosbarthiadau er mwyn galluogi llai o athrawon i gyflawni'r cwricwlwm. Aethant ymlaen i ddweud y bydd llai o amser yn cael ei neilltuo ar gyfer arweinyddiaeth a rheolaeth, a fydd yn cynyddu llwyth gwaith yr aelodau staff hynny ac yn lleihau eu capasiti i ganolbwyntio ar wella perfformiad ysgolion. Rwy'n siŵr nad yw'r Gweinidog dan unrhyw gamargraff mai dim ond ysgolion uwchradd sir Benfro sy'n gorfod cymryd y camau hyn, ac felly mae'n hanfodol fod mater cyllido ysgolion yn cael sylw er mwyn sicrhau bod gan ysgolion adnoddau llawn a'r offer gorau i ddarparu ar gyfer ein dysgwyr.
Fodd bynnag, dim ond un rhan o’r darlun yw cyllid ysgolion, a gwyddom fod canlyniadau Cymru yn 2019 wedi'u gosod yn erbyn cefndir o ddiwygiadau sylweddol i'r cwricwlwm. Ym mis Ionawr, cyn i'r cwricwlwm drafft gael ei gyhoeddi, cyfaddefodd pennaeth blaenorol Cymwysterau Cymru y gallai'r cwricwlwm newydd olygu diwedd ar TGAU yn y tymor hwy a mwy o ddiwygiadau yn y tymor byr. Mae’n dal i fod angen trafod sut, neu i ba raddau, y bydd y cymwysterau hynny'n newid, ond afraid dweud bod hynny wedi wynebu gwrthwynebiad gan rai yn y proffesiwn addysg. Er enghraifft, mae'r Gymdeithas Arweinwyr Ysgolion a Cholegau wedi dweud yn glir iawn, ac rwy’n dyfynnu,
mae’n bwysig deall bod y canlyniadau hyn yn dod ar adeg o newid enfawr yn system addysg Cymru, sydd wedi cynnwys ailwampio enfawr ar y manylebau TGAU.
Aethant ymlaen i ddweud
mae'n hanfodol cael hyn yn iawn fel ein bod yn y sefyllfa orau bosibl i weithredu’r diwygiadau hyd yn oed yn fwy uchelgeisiol sydd yn yr arfaeth ar gyfer cwricwlwm Cymru dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf.
Gan symud ymlaen, mae'r Gweinidog wedi ymgynghori ar gynlluniau ar gyfer y cwricwlwm newydd, ac efallai y gall fanteisio ar y cyfle y prynhawn yma i ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru yn y maes penodol hwn.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, wrth wraidd y ddadl hon y mae'r awydd i weld ysgolion Cymru’n ffynnu a'i dysgwyr yn cyrraedd eu potensial llawn. O ran fy etholaeth fy hun, lle mae ysgolion wedi cael cefnogaeth sylweddol, fe welwyd gwelliant ac mae hynny i'w groesawu. Ond fe ellir ac fe ddylid gwneud mwy i sicrhau bod safonau'n gwella mewn ysgolion ledled Cymru fel bod ein dysgwyr yn gorffen eu taith addysg wedi’u harfogi â'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt yn y byd modern. Felly, wrth gloi Ddirprwy Lywydd, gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi ystyriaeth i rai o'r pryderon a godwyd gan y sector addysg ac rwy’n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi ein cynnig.
I'm also pleased to contribute to this afternoon's important debate—important because what could be more important than discussing education? What could be more important than the future of our young people? The results that we've been talking about this afternoon are not the be-all and end-all of education, but they are a key indicator of where we are as a country in terms of educating our young people, and a measure along the way to where we would like to be.
Other Members have mentioned many of the things I was going to mention, so I won't go over old ground. Paul Davies has mentioned Pembrokeshire and the results there; in Monmouthshire, I'd like to congratulate the pupils across Monmouthshire, who worked so hard, and their teachers, who worked hard, and gained good results. I know that the Minister, from your previous answer, was in King Henry VIII Comprehensive in Abergavenny, I think, on the day of the results, so you could see first-hand the delight. We all cast our minds back to when we were in that position, opening our results, and it's a time in your life that is never to be repeated later, but I'm pleased that the Minister was in my constituency for that day.
I do have to say—and this was mentioned by Siân Gwenllian earlier—in terms of the Government amendment, I was disappointed by that amendment. It does highlight some interesting statistics, but it does make things seem as though everything is rosy in the garden, and I don't think it really does reflect the real desire that's out there in schools amongst the pupils, teachers and further afield to reform and to progress and to raise standards. And there's always going to be scope to raise standards, no matter how good the Government might say things are, or how good things might be perceived to be. At the end of the day, particularly as we approach leaving the European Union, Wales and the UK are going to have to compete, increasingly, on the world stage and we'll have to keep up with other countries that are seeing their educational standards rise, and we must make sure that we keep pace with that.
I would echo the earlier words of Paul Davies that, yes, some schools have done very well, but what about those schools that haven't done so well? It's important that good practice is spread from the good schools to the less-well-off schools, and it'd be good to see a restatement, a reappraisal, of the strategy of the Welsh Government on how the Minister sees that panning out and how good practice can be spread, because there's always work that can be done there.
Funding has been mentioned and we know that the recent UK Government's spending round will see an extra amount of money—£1.24 billion—coming to Wales as a result of extra investment in schools in England. I think it was Jenny Rathbone who mentioned where's this money going to come from and let's have a debate about how we divide the cake in Wales. Well, okay, it might not be everything, but it is a very good sum of money that's going to come to Wales, so we do need to have a debate about how that money is spent. And, let's make sure that that money goes to the front line of public services and doesn't get sidetracked or siphoned off into other areas. It must go to the education front line. Of course, money is not the whole answer—the Minister has made this point in the past—and I think too often we can give the impression that if we throw money at something, then that's going to solve it. But, of course, money is only half the answer, and indeed the NASUWT, as my colleague Paul Davies mentioned, has put that funding gap per pupil at £645. I know that's been disputed in some quarters, but that's the NASUWT's verdict and whatever that funding gap is then it's important that we seek to close that funding gap.
We welcome the fact that there's been an improvement in GCSE and A-level results since 2018. I was going to mention the year 2007, but it caused so much anxiety earlier. Suzy Davies explained why 2007 has been used, in that it's the last date at which there is an ability to compare the data sets. So, that's why that date was set. But, if you go back, yes, to last year, then there's been an improvement. If you go back further, then the results are less clear cut. So, I think we need to remember that behind these statistics that have been quoted this afternoon, it's more than about statistics; there are people, young people, human beings behind the statistics. The future is behind those statistics. Because when you're putting money into education and you're planning your education strategy, then what you're actually doing is you're building the future of this country. And we all want to see in this Chamber—. I think we're all united in the view that we want to see an improvement in the standards today so that, in the future, Wales can do even better on the world stage and we can all get on with the job of building a brighter future for our young people and a brighter future for Wales.
Rwyf innau hefyd yn falch o gyfrannu at y ddadl bwysig hon y prynhawn yma—pwysig, oherwydd beth allai fod yn bwysicach na thrafod addysg? Beth allai fod yn bwysicach na dyfodol ein pobl ifanc? Nid y canlyniadau y buom yn siarad amdanynt y prynhawn yma yw’r cyfan sy’n bwysig mewn addysg, ond maent yn ddangosydd allweddol o ble rydym arni fel gwlad o ran addysgu ein pobl ifanc, ac yn fodd o fesur ar hyd y ffordd i ble yr hoffem fod.
Mae Aelodau eraill wedi sôn am lawer o'r pethau yr oeddwn am sôn amdanynt, felly nid wyf am eu hailadrodd. Mae Paul Davies wedi sôn am sir Benfro a’r canlyniadau yno; yn sir Fynwy, hoffwn longyfarch y disgyblion ledled sir Fynwy a weithiodd mor galed, a'u hathrawon a weithiodd yn galed a chael canlyniadau da. Gwn fod y Gweinidog, o'ch ateb blaenorol, yn Ysgol Gyfun Brenin Harri VIII yn y Fenni ar ddiwrnod y canlyniadau, rwy'n credu, felly fe allech chi weld y llawenydd drosoch eich hun. Mae pawb ohonom yn cofio pan oeddem yn y sefyllfa honno, yn agor ein canlyniadau, ac mae'n gyfnod yn eich bywyd na ddaw byth yn ôl, ond rwy'n falch fod y Gweinidog yn fy etholaeth ar gyfer y diwrnod hwnnw.
Rhaid i mi ddweud—a soniodd Siân Gwenllian am hyn yn gynharach—o ran gwelliant y Llywodraeth, cefais fy siomi gan y gwelliant hwnnw. Mae'n tynnu sylw at ystadegau diddorol, ond mae'n gwneud i bethau ymddangos fel pe bai popeth yn fêl i gyd, ac nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn adlewyrchu'r gwir ddyhead mewn ysgolion ymhlith y disgyblion, athrawon a thu hwnt i ddiwygio a chamu ymlaen a chodi safonau. A bydd lle bob amser i godi safonau, ni waeth pa mor dda yw pethau yn ôl y Llywodraeth, neu pa mor dda yw'r canfyddiad ohonynt. Yn y pen draw, yn enwedig wrth inni nesáu at adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, mae Cymru a'r DU yn mynd i orfod cystadlu'n gynyddol ar lwyfan y byd a rhaid inni barhau i fod cystal â gwledydd eraill sy'n gweld eu safonau addysgol yn codi, a rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn mynd bob yn gam â hynny.
Hoffwn ategu geiriau Paul Davies yn gynharach fod rhai ysgolion wedi gwneud yn dda iawn, ond beth am yr ysgolion nad ydynt wedi gwneud cystal? Mae'n bwysig fod arferion da'n cael eu lledaenu o'r ysgolion da i'r ysgolion llai cefnog, a byddai'n dda gweld ailddatganiad, ailwerthusiad, o strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru o sut y mae'r Gweinidog yn gweld hynny'n datblygu a sut y gellir lledaenu arferion da, gan fod yna waith y gellir ei wneud ar hynny bob amser.
Mae cyllid wedi'i grybwyll a gwyddom y bydd cylch gwariant diweddar Llywodraeth y DU yn darparu swm ychwanegol o arian—£1.24 biliwn—i ddod i Gymru o ganlyniad i fuddsoddiad ychwanegol mewn ysgolion yn Lloegr. Credaf mai Jenny Rathbone a grybwyllodd o ble y daw'r arian hwn a gadewch inni gael dadl ynglŷn â sut y rhannwn y gacen yng Nghymru. Wel, o'r gorau, efallai nad yw'n bopeth, ond mae swm da iawn o arian yn mynd i ddod i Gymru, felly mae angen inni gael dadl ynglŷn â sut y gwerir yr arian hwnnw. A gadewch i ni sicrhau bod yr arian yn mynd i reng flaen y gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ac nad yw'n cael ei ailgyfeirio i feysydd eraill. Rhaid iddo fynd i'r rheng flaen ym maes addysg. Wrth gwrs, nid arian yw'r ateb cyfan—mae'r Gweinidog wedi gwneud y pwynt hwn yn y gorffennol—a chredaf ein bod yn rhy aml yn gallu rhoi'r argraff, os ydym yn taflu arian at rywbeth, fod hynny'n mynd i'w ddatrys. Ond dim ond hanner yr ateb yw arian wrth gwrs, ac yn wir mae NASUWT, fel y soniodd fy nghyd-Aelod Paul Davies, wedi dweud bod y bwlch ariannu'n £645 y disgybl. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhai wedi anghytuno â hynny mewn rhai cylchoedd, ond dyna farn NASUWT a beth bynnag yw'r bwlch cyllido, mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ceisio ei gau.
Rydym yn croesawu'r gwelliant a fu yn y canlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch ers 2018. Roeddwn yn mynd i sôn am y flwyddyn 2007, ond achosodd gymaint o bryder yn gynharach. Eglurodd Suzy Davies pam fod 2007 wedi'i defnyddio, sef oherwydd mai dyma'r dyddiad olaf y gellir cymharu'r setiau data. Felly, dyna pam y pennwyd y dyddiad hwnnw. Ond os ewch chi'n ôl i'r llynedd, mae gwelliant wedi bod. Os ewch chi'n ôl ymhellach, mae'r canlyniadau'n llai clir. Felly, y tu ôl i'r ystadegau a ddyfynnwyd y prynhawn yma, credaf fod rhaid i ni gofio ei fod yn ymwneud â mwy nag ystadegau; mae pobl, pobl ifanc, bodau dynol y tu ôl i'r ystadegau. Mae'r dyfodol y tu ôl i'r ystadegau hynny. Oherwydd pan fyddwch yn rhoi arian i addysg ac yn cynllunio eich strategaeth addysg, yr hyn a wnewch mewn gwirionedd yw adeiladu dyfodol y wlad hon. Ac mae pawb ohonom eisiau gweld yn y Siambr hon—. Credaf ein bod i gyd yn unfryd ein bod am weld gwelliant yn y safonau heddiw fel y gall Cymru wneud hyd yn oed yn well ar lwyfan y byd yn y dyfodol, ac fel y gall pob un ohonom fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith o adeiladu dyfodol mwy disglair i'n pobl ifanc a dyfodol mwy disglair i Gymru.
Thank you. Can I now call the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams?
Diolch. A gaf fi alw yn awr ar y Gweinidog Addysg, Kirsty Williams?
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Back in August, I had the privilege of celebrating examination results with the learners at Coleg y Cymoedd on A-level day, and, as Nick Ramsay just said, with the pupils at King Henry VIII Comprehensive School in Abergavenny on GCSE day—a day when that school was celebrating its best ever set of GCSE results. And I'm sure that all Members across the Chamber will want to congratulate learners across our nation for the tremendous achievements and take this opportunity to thank and to praise our teachers for their hard work, particularly those who have worked so tirelessly to adapt to changes in delivering new GCSE qualifications. I'm very pleased that Jenny Rathbone mentioned St Teilo's in her constituency and Ysgol y Preseli in Paul Davies's constituency—both schools that I've had the privilege to visit and it's great to see them continuing to do so well.
But I have to admit, Deputy Presiding Officer, that I had wondered whether the Conservatives were looking at the correct set of summer results when drafting their motion, because I do think they have taken the opportunity to devalue the achievements of our learners this year. Hopefully all Members will join me instead in welcoming the record achievement of the top grades at A-level, with 9 per cent of grades awarded at A*, more than a quarter awarded at A*/A, and more than three quarters awarded at A* to C. I hope they will also welcome the fact that Wales is indeed now ranked higher than any English region and Northern Ireland for the achievements at A* grades, and those results are the product of many years of hard work from learners and teachers, and should be recognised.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Yn ôl ym mis Awst, cefais y fraint o ddathlu canlyniadau arholiadau gyda'r dysgwyr yng Ngholeg y Cymoedd ar ddiwrnod safon uwch, ac fel y dywedodd Nick Ramsay gynnau, gyda'r disgyblion yn Ysgol Gyfun Brenin Harri VIII yn y Fenni ar ddiwrnod TGAU—diwrnod pan oedd yr ysgol honno'n dathlu ei set orau erioed o ganlyniadau TGAU. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd pob Aelod ar draws y Siambr yn dymuno llongyfarch dysgwyr ar draws ein gwlad am y cyflawniadau aruthrol a manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i'n hathrawon ac i'w canmol am eu gwaith caled, yn enwedig y rhai sydd wedi gweithio mor ddiflino i addasu i newidiadau wrth gyflwyno cymwysterau TGAU newydd. Rwy'n falch iawn fod Jenny Rathbone wedi sôn am Teilo Sant yn ei hetholaeth ac Ysgol y Preseli yn etholaeth Paul Davies—cefais y fraint o ymweld â'r ddwy ysgol ac mae'n wych eu gweld yn parhau i wneud mor dda.
Ond rhaid i mi gyfaddef, Ddirprwy Lywydd, fy mod wedi meddwl tybed a oedd y Ceidwadwyr yn edrych ar y set gywir o ganlyniadau'r haf wrth ddrafftio'u cynnig, oherwydd credaf eu bod wedi manteisio ar y cyfle i ddibrisio cyflawniadau ein dysgwyr eleni. Gobeithio y bydd yr holl Aelodau yn ymuno â mi yn lle hynny i groesawu cyflawniad gwell nag erioed ar y graddau uchaf yn y safon uwch, gyda 9 y cant o'r graddau a ddyfarnwyd yn A*, mwy na chwarter yn A*/A, a mwy na thri chwarter yn A* i C. Gobeithio y byddant hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith bod Cymru bellach yn uwch nag unrhyw ranbarth yn Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon o ran cyflawni graddau A*, ac mae'r canlyniadau hynny'n gynnyrch blynyddoedd lawer o waith caled gan ddysgwyr ac athrawon, a dylid eu cydnabod.
Mark Reckless asked the question about whether we can attribute some of this success to the Seren network. Of course, this is the first year that the students will have been through the entirety of the Seren programme, and I think there is definitely something there that has driven those excellent results. Alongside those results we have seen a record number of offers from Cambridge University to our Seren students for entry in 2019, an offer rate of some 30 per cent, which is significantly above other parts of the United Kingdom. And when you think of the demographics of Wales as compared to the demographics in richer parts of the United Kingdom, I think we should say 'well done' to those children and to their teachers.
With regard to GCSE, we have seen an improvement in overall summer results since last year. I have, however, been very clear that over the past few years several important changes within the system make it difficult to draw similarly meaningful comparisons, but that does not mean that there's been a drop in standards or rigour; in fact, quite the opposite. This Government is supporting all of our learners and we will never lower any of our expectations for any of our young people. It is just the reality of the changes that have been made, and not just changes to the individual specification of courses, but we have seen a radical change in entry patterns over the last couple of years. I will make no apologies for taking forward a reform programme that is determined to deliver the best for learners in Wales. And that's one of the reasons why our reforms are necessarily wide-reaching and transformative, because I believe that they will ensure that learners right across Wales are supported through the education system to reach their full potential.
For example, steps taken to end the inappropriate use of early entry are beginning to drive changes in the size and nature of cohorts, and schools have also simultaneously adapted to changes in the exams themselves that have been phased in over the past few years. Welsh second language is a prime example of this, and this was another issue that was raised by Mark Reckless. This is the first year that learners have sat the new full-course GCSE option, following the removal of the short-course option. Entries are up by a third and changes quoted for attainment rates are misleading in that context, as most of those learners would previously not have sat a full GCSE; they would have been entered for the short course. Looking at the impact of these changes, we see increases in the actual numbers of learners achieving an A* to C grade in Welsh second language, up by some 12 per cent. The new GCSE has more emphasis on speaking, listening and using the language, which means that more young people are developing the language skills that Wales needs now and in the future. The summer series also saw improvements at A* to C in maths, numeracy, Welsh, physics, biology, chemistry, double-award science, DT, geography and PE.
Now, moving on to teacher assessment, this year's results need to be considered in the light of recent policy changes. We have shifted the primary purpose of teacher assessment back to individual learners for more formative use only, to guide decisions about how best to progress people's learning and not to make school-to-school comparisons or form part of any accountability system. Therefore, this year's outcomes, I believe, should be a more accurate and a more objective reflection of learners' progress, and comparisons with previous years I do not believe are meaningful. We know that there have been unintended consequences of some of the elements of our school accountability system, but I do not accept that recent changes amount to a watering down.
Our national mission sets out our vision for an accountability system that is fair, coherent, proportionate, transparent and based on our shared values for Welsh education. There will be a clear ability for Members to be able to see capped 9 scores, literacy scores, numeracy scores, science scores, as well as a distinction between male and female learners and between FSM and non-FSM learners. The new evaluation and improvement arrangements will help bring about the cultural change that is ultimately needed to support the realisation of our new curriculum. And at the heart is robust and continuous self-evaluation for all tiers of the education system, along with professional dialogue to support learning and improvement and embed collaboration, because Nick Ramsay is right: it is that school-to-school work that really drives things forward, builds trust and drives self-improvement and raises standards for all learners. And our plans are about making sure that the way in which we assess the performance of a school represents the performance of the school in the round, not just examination results. Outside accountability will continue to be a feature of the system. Schools will continue to be inspected, and more regularly than the 13 years that we've seen highlighted across the border today. And parents and guardians will continue to receive reports on the progress of their learners.
Now, Paul Davies asked what specific actions we're taking as a result of this summer series results. We do need to work with our exam board, with Qualifications Wales, with our regional consortia and our practitioners of English teaching, because there is more work to do with regard to English, and I hope to make an announcement to the Assembly shortly on a new approach to schools that are causing concern and how we can support those schools to make more rapid improvement and rapid progress.
With regard to the funding gap, it's not some quarters that have challenged the figures that have been quoted here. The Institute for Fiscal Studies made it very clear, only a matter of weeks ago, that once you take London out of the equation, the funding gap between English and Welsh schools has been virtually eliminated. With regard to the CYPE report, I have accepted all the recommendations in that report, including the primary recommendation with regard to an investigation into education funding, and I will give Members more details of the nature of the work that I am committed to undertaking when I respond fully to the committee's report, which I believe is in the next few weeks, when it is debated here in the Chamber.
But, if you're intent on talking Wales down, like some people appear to have been in this Chamber this afternoon, then you fail to recognise the shift that is undoubtedly happening in our education system—a genuine transformation based on co-production across all tiers and with key stakeholders. It's rooted in good practice, it's rooted in research and it's rooted in evidence. Deputy Presiding Officer, I do not—of course I don't—support the Conservatives' motion, which simply misrepresents and talks down the progress of our learners and our educational professionals. I know—I know—there's no room for complacency, and I know that we can do better. But, spurred on by the OECD's view that Wales is leading the way, and working together with the sector, we will continue our national mission to raise standards and deliver an education system that is a source of national pride and enjoys the confidence of the people of Wales.
Gofynnodd Mark Reckless a allwn briodoli peth o'r llwyddiant hwnnw i rwydwaith Seren. Wrth gwrs, dyma'r flwyddyn gyntaf y bydd y myfyrwyr wedi bod trwy raglen Seren ar ei hyd, a chredaf fod rhywbeth yno’n bendant sydd wedi gyrru'r canlyniadau rhagorol hynny. Ochr yn ochr â'r canlyniadau hynny rydym wedi gweld y nifer uchaf erioed o gynigion gan Brifysgol Caergrawnt i'n myfyrwyr Seren ar gyfer mynediad yn 2019, cyfradd gynnig o oddeutu 30 y cant, sy'n sylweddol uwch na rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig, a phan feddyliwch am ddemograffeg Cymru o'i chymharu â'r ddemograffeg mewn rhannau cyfoethocach o'r Deyrnas Unedig, rwy'n credu y dylem ddweud 'da iawn' wrth y plant hynny ac wrth eu hathrawon.
O ran TGAU, rydym wedi gweld gwelliant yng nghanlyniadau cyffredinol yr haf ers y llynedd. Fodd bynnag, dywedais yn glir iawn fod sawl newid pwysig yn y system dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf yn ei gwneud hi’n anodd cymharu’n ystyrlon mewn modd tebyg, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu ein bod wedi gweld safonau’n gostwng na llai o drylwyredd; i’r gwrthwyneb, mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn cefnogi pob un o'n dysgwyr ac ni fyddwn byth yn gostwng ein disgwyliadau ar gyfer unrhyw un o'n pobl ifanc. Mater o realiti'r newidiadau a wnaed ydyw, ac nid newidiadau i fanyleb cyrsiau unigol yn unig, ond gwelsom newid radical mewn patrymau mynediad dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf. Nid wyf am ymddiheuro am ddatblygu rhaglen ddiwygio sy'n benderfynol o gyflawni'r gorau i ddysgwyr yng Nghymru. A dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y mae ein diwygiadau o reidrwydd yn bellgyrhaeddol ac yn drawsnewidiol, oherwydd credaf y byddant yn sicrhau bod dysgwyr ledled Cymru gyfan yn cael eu cefnogi trwy'r system addysg i gyrraedd eu potensial llawn.
Er enghraifft, mae'r camau a gymerwyd i roi diwedd ar y defnydd amhriodol o gofrestru disgyblion yn gynnar ar gyfer arholiadau yn dechrau ysgogi newidiadau o ran maint a natur cohortau, ac mae ysgolion wedi addasu ar yr un pryd i newidiadau yn yr arholiadau eu hunain a gyflwynwyd yn raddol dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf. Mae Cymraeg ail iaith yn enghraifft dda o hyn, ac roedd hwn yn fater arall a godwyd gan Mark Reckless. Dyma'r flwyddyn gyntaf i ddysgwyr wneud y cwrs TGAU llawn newydd, yn sgil dileu'r opsiwn cwrs byr. Mae traean yn fwy o ymgeiswyr ac mae'r newidiadau a ddyfynnwyd ar gyfer cyfraddau cyrhaeddiad yn gamarweiniol yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, gan na fyddai'r mwyafrif o'r dysgwyr hynny wedi sefyll arholiad TGAU llawn o'r blaen; byddent wedi cael eu cofrestru ar gyfer y cwrs byr. O edrych ar effaith y newidiadau hyn, gwelwn gynnydd yn y nifer wirioneddol o ddysgwyr sy'n cyflawni gradd A* i C mewn Cymraeg ail iaith, i fyny tua 12 y cant. Mae’r TGAU newydd yn rhoi mwy o bwyslais ar siarad, gwrando a defnyddio'r iaith, sy'n golygu bod mwy o bobl ifanc yn datblygu'r sgiliau iaith sydd eu hangen ar Gymru yn awr ac yn y dyfodol. Gwelodd cyfres yr haf welliannau hefyd yn y graddau A* i C mewn mathemateg, rhifedd, Cymraeg, ffiseg, bioleg, cemeg, gwyddoniaeth ddwbl, dylunio a thechnoleg, daearyddiaeth ac addysg gorfforol.
Nawr, gan symud ymlaen at asesiadau athrawon, mae angen ystyried canlyniadau eleni yng ngoleuni newidiadau polisi diweddar. Rydym wedi newid prif ddiben asesiadau athrawon yn ôl i ddysgwyr unigol ar gyfer defnydd mwy ffurfiannol yn unig, i lywio penderfyniadau ynghylch y ffordd orau o ddatblygu dysgu pobl ac i beidio â gwneud cymariaethau rhwng ysgolion neu ffurfio rhan o unrhyw system atebolrwydd. Felly, rwy'n credu y dylai canlyniadau eleni fod yn adlewyrchiad cywirach a mwy gwrthrychol o gynnydd dysgwyr, ac ni chredaf fod cymariaethau â blynyddoedd blaenorol yn ystyrlon. Gwyddom fod canlyniadau anfwriadol wedi bod i rai o elfennau ein system atebolrwydd ysgolion, ond nid wyf yn derbyn bod newidiadau diweddar yn gyfystyr â glastwreiddio.
Mae cenhadaeth ein cenedl yn nodi ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer system atebolrwydd sy'n deg, yn gydlynol, yn gymesur, yn dryloyw ac yn seiliedig ar ein gwerthoedd cyffredin ar gyfer addysg yng Nghymru. Bydd yr Aelodau'n gallu gweld sgoriau capio 9, sgoriau llythrennedd, sgoriau rhifedd, sgoriau gwyddoniaeth, yn ogystal â gwahaniaethu rhwng dysgwyr gwrywaidd a benywaidd a rhwng dysgwyr sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim a dysgwyr nad ydynt yn cael prydau ysgol am ddim. Bydd y trefniadau gwerthuso a gwella newydd yn helpu i sicrhau'r newid diwylliannol sydd ei angen yn y pen draw i gefnogi'r gwaith o gyflawni ein cwricwlwm newydd. Ac yn ganolog iddo, mae hunanwerthuso cadarn a pharhaus ar gyfer pob haen o'r system addysg, ynghyd â deialog broffesiynol i gefnogi dysgu a gwella ac ymgorffori cydweithredu, gan fod Nick Ramsay yn gywir: y gwaith rhwng ysgolion sy'n gyrru pethau yn eu blaen mewn gwirionedd, gan adeiladu ymddiriedaeth ac ysgogi hunanwella a chodi safonau ar gyfer pob dysgwr. Ac mae ein cynlluniau'n ymwneud â sicrhau bod y ffordd rydym yn asesu perfformiad ysgol yn dangos perfformiad yr ysgol yn ei holl agweddau, ac nid canlyniadau arholiadau'n unig. Bydd atebolrwydd o'r tu allan yn parhau i fod yn nodwedd o'r system. Bydd ysgolion yn parhau i gael eu harolygu, ac yn fwy rheolaidd na'r 13 blynedd a amlygwyd dros y ffin heddiw. A bydd rhieni a gwarcheidwaid yn parhau i gael adroddiadau ar gynnydd eu dysgwyr.
Nawr, gofynnodd Paul Davies pa gamau penodol rydym yn eu cymryd yn sgil canlyniadau'r haf. Mae angen inni weithio gyda'n bwrdd arholi, gyda Cymwysterau Cymru, gyda'n consortia rhanbarthol a'n haddysgwyr Saesneg, gan fod mwy o waith i'w wneud ar Saesneg, ac rwy'n gobeithio gwneud cyhoeddiad i'r Cynulliad cyn hir ar ddull newydd i ysgolion sy'n peri pryder a sut y gallwn gynorthwyo'r ysgolion hynny i sicrhau gwelliant cyflymach a chynnydd cyflym.
O ran y bwlch cyllido, heriwyd y ffigurau a ddyfynnwyd yma o sawl cyfeiriad. Dywedodd y Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid yn glir iawn ychydig wythnosau'n ôl yn unig fod y bwlch cyllido rhwng ysgolion Cymru ac ysgolion Lloegr yn diflannu bron yn llwyr pan hepgorwch Lundain o'r hafaliad. O ran adroddiad y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg, rwyf wedi derbyn yr holl argymhellion yn yr adroddiad hwnnw, gan gynnwys yr argymhelliad sylfaenol ynghylch ymchwilio i gyllid addysg, a byddaf yn rhoi mwy o fanylion i'r Aelodau am natur y gwaith yr ymrwymais i'w gyflawni wrth ymateb yn llawn i adroddiad y pwyllgor, yn yr wythnosau nesaf rwy'n credu, pan gaiff ei drafod yma yn y Siambr.
Ond os ydych chi'n benderfynol o fychanu Cymru, fel roedd rhai i'w gweld yn ei wneud yn y Siambr hon y prynhawn yma, rydych yn methu cydnabod y newid sy'n sicr yn digwydd yn ein system addysg—trawsnewid gwirioneddol sy'n seiliedig ar gydgynhyrchu ar draws yr holl haenau a chyda rhanddeiliaid allweddol. Mae wedi'i wreiddio mewn arferion da, mae wedi'i wreiddio mewn ymchwil ac mae wedi'i wreiddio mewn tystiolaeth. Ddirprwy Lywydd, nid wyf yn cefnogi cynnig y Ceidwadwyr—wrth gwrs nad wyf—cynnig sy'n camliwio ac yn bychanu cynnydd ein dysgwyr a'n gweithwyr addysgol proffesiynol. Rwy'n gwybod—rwy'n gwybod—nad oes lle i laesu dwylo, a gwn y gallwn wneud yn well. Ond wedi ein sbarduno gan farn y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd fod Cymru'n arwain y ffordd, a chan weithio gyda'r sector, byddwn yn parhau â chenhadaeth ein cenedl i godi safonau a chyflwyno system addysg sy'n destun balchder cenedlaethol ac yn ennyn hyder pobl Cymru.
Thank you. Can I call on Darren Millar to reply to the debate?
Diolch. A gaf fi alw ar Darren Millar i ymateb i'r ddadl?
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Well, Minister, I'll give you a five out of 10 for that response, because—[Interruption.] I'm trying to be charitable. Because there's no doubt that there have been some positive steps in terms of trying to address the accountability issue in Welsh schools and our education system, and that's why we, as a party, welcome some of the work that has been announced in the past.
We particularly welcomed the stopping of unnecessary and inappropriate early entry for examinations. That's absolutely the right thing to do. But of course what we haven't stopped yet is the fact that some pupils are not being entered for examinations at all, and that, of course, is why the A-level results, perhaps, may have improved. Qualifications Wales warned of this last year. They said the number of entrants for A-levels had gone down and it was because weaker students were not being appropriately entered for their exams. I'll happily take an intervention.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Wel, Weinidog, fe roddaf bump allan o 10 i chi am yr ymateb hwnnw, oherwydd—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n ceisio bod yn garedig. Oherwydd nid oes amheuaeth fod rhai camau cadarnhaol wedi bod o ran ceisio mynd i'r afael â mater atebolrwydd yn ysgolion Cymru a'n system addysg, a dyna pam ein bod ni, fel plaid, yn croesawu rhywfaint o'r gwaith a gyhoeddwyd yn y gorffennol.
Roeddem yn rhoi croeso arbennig i'r ffaith bod yr arfer diangen ac amhriodol o gofrestru ymgeiswyr yn gynnar ar gyfer arholiadau wedi dod i ben. Dyna'n bendant yw'r peth iawn i'w wneud. Ond wrth gwrs, yr hyn nad ydym wedi rhoi diwedd arno eto yw'r ffaith nad yw rhai disgyblion yn cael eu cofrestru ar gyfer arholiadau o gwbl, ac wrth gwrs, mae'n bosibl mai dyna pam y mae'r canlyniadau safon uwch wedi gwella. Rhybuddiodd Cymwysterau Cymru ynglŷn â hyn y llynedd. Dywedodd fod nifer y rhai a gâi eu cofrestru ar gyfer arholiadau safon uwch wedi gostwng ac mai'r rheswm am hynny oedd nad oedd myfyrwyr gwannach yn cael eu cofrestru'n briodol ar gyfer eu harholiadau. Rwy'n fodlon derbyn ymyriad.
The Member may be aware that there is a significant demographic change, so actually there are simply fewer of those pupils of that age in the system. And we've just heard from Suzy Davies of the need to value and have parity of esteem between academic qualifications and vocational qualifications. It is about the right students doing the right qualifications, and if those A-level students are going to do vocational qualifications, which we suspect they are, you've just undermined the very argument that your spokesperson was making earlier.
Efallai fod yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fod newid demograffig sylweddol wedi bod, felly ceir llai o ddisgyblion yr oedran hwnnw yn y system mewn gwirionedd. Ac rydym newydd glywed gan Suzy Davies ynglŷn â'r angen i werthfawrogi a sicrhau parch cydradd i gymwysterau academaidd a chymwysterau galwedigaethol fel ei gilydd. Mae'n ymwneud â'r myfyrwyr iawn yn gwneud y cymwysterau iawn, ac os yw'r myfyrwyr safon uwch hynny'n mynd i wneud cymwysterau galwedigaethol, fel y tybiwn eu bod, rydych newydd danseilio'r union ddadl yr oedd eich llefarydd yn ei gwneud yn gynharach.
Can I suggest that you take your anger out on Qualifications Wales? They're the ones I was quoting, and they're the ones who are saying that weaker pupils, weaker students, are not being entered for their examinations.
Now, when we look at the independent analysis of the Welsh education system, the best comparator we've got, of course, are the Programme for International Student Assessment results, internationally. And Wales is at the bottom of the UK league table. It's in the bottom 50 per cent of nations worldwide in terms of the quality of our education system.
We all want to see Wales reaching the top, and there are some fantastic schools in Wales that are working hard and achieving great results for their pupils. I should mention, of course, St Brigid's School in Denbigh, where my son got a decent clutch of GCSE results this summer. I want to congratulate, of course, all pupils across Wales who also achieved well. My former school in Abergele, Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, which got the best results it has ever achieved. But it doesn't take away from the fact that we still have too many pupils not leaving school with qualifications and that, frankly, is not good enough.
Now, there's been much speculation as to whether we can compare these results with those results in 2007. One of the other reasons 2007 was used, by the way, was because it clearly demonstrated the fact that the results were worse this year than in 2007—that there's been no progress. And if there's been no progress over that period I think we should, frankly, be ashamed of ourselves here in Wales for not securing any improvement for our children and young people.
The Minister tried to dismiss the funding gap between England and Wales, saying that if you take London out of the picture, then everything looks pretty rosy. But, of course, the fact remains that for every £1 spent in England—and that includes those pounds that are spent in London when you work it all out in terms of the devolved responsibilities—for every £1 that's spent over there on a child, Wales receives £1.20 to spend here. So, there ought to be a funding gap, actually, but it ought to be 20 per cent more being spent per child in Wales, instead of this funding gap of £645 less. I'll happily take the intervention.
A gaf fi awgrymu eich bod yn cyfeirio eich dicter at Cymwysterau Cymru? Dyna pwy oeddwn yn eu dyfynnu, a dyna pwy sy'n dweud nad yw disgyblion gwannach, myfyrwyr gwannach, yn cael eu cofrestru ar gyfer eu harholiadau.
Nawr, pan edrychwn ar y dadansoddiad annibynnol o system addysg Cymru, y cymharydd gorau sydd gennym yn rhyngwladol wrth gwrs yw canlyniadau'r Rhaglen Ryngwladol Asesu Myfyrwyr. Ac mae Cymru ar waelod tabl cynghrair y DU. Mae yn yr 50 y cant gwaelod o wledydd y byd o ran ansawdd ein system addysg.
Mae pawb ohonom am weld Cymru'n cyrraedd y brig, a cheir rhai ysgolion gwych yng Nghymru sy'n gweithio'n galed ac yn sicrhau canlyniadau gwych i'w disgyblion. Dylwn sôn, wrth gwrs, am Ysgol Santes Ffraid yn Ninbych, lle cafodd fy mab gasgliad gweddus o ganlyniadau TGAU yr haf hwn. Rwyf am longyfarch pob disgybl ledled Cymru hefyd sydd wedi gwneud yn dda. Fy hen ysgol yn Abergele, Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, a gafodd y canlyniadau gorau a gyflawnodd erioed. Ond nid yw'n lleihau'r ffaith bod gennym ormod o ddisgyblion o hyd yn gadael yr ysgol heb gymwysterau ac a dweud y gwir, nid yw hynny'n ddigon da.
Nawr, bu llawer o ddyfalu a allwn gymharu'r canlyniadau hyn â'r canlyniadau yn 2007. Un o'r rhesymau eraill pam y defnyddiwyd 2007, gyda llaw, oedd ei fod yn dangos yn glir fod y canlyniadau'n waeth eleni nag yn 2007—na fu unrhyw gynnydd. Ac os na fu unrhyw gynnydd dros y cyfnod hwnnw rwy'n credu'n onest y dylem fod â chywilydd ohonom ein hunain yma yng Nghymru am beidio â sicrhau unrhyw welliant i'n plant a'n pobl ifanc.
Ceisiodd y Gweinidog ddiystyru'r bwlch cyllido rhwng Cymru a Lloegr, gan ddweud bod popeth yn edrych yn eithaf addawol os hepgorwch Lundain o'r darlun. Ond wrth gwrs, am bob £1 a werir yn Lloegr—ac mae hynny'n cynnwys y punnoedd a werir yn Llundain pan fyddwch yn cyfrif y cyfan o ran y cyfrifoldebau datganoledig—am bob £1 a werir yno ar blentyn, erys y ffaith bod Cymru'n cael £1.20 i'w wario yma. Felly, fe ddylai fod bwlch ariannu'n bodoli mewn gwirionedd, ond dylai ddangos bod 20 y cant yn fwy yn cael ei wario ar blentyn yng Nghymru, yn hytrach na'r bwlch cyllido hwn o £645 yn llai. Rwy'n hapus i dderbyn yr ymyriad.
So, sticking with that argument, are you then prepared to discuss reducing the budget for health in order to put more money into education?
Felly, gan lynu wrth y ddadl honno, a ydych yn barod felly i drafod lleihau'r gyllideb iechyd er mwyn rhoi mwy o arian i addysg?
If you'd have listened earlier on, Jenny Rathbone, to the response that Nick Ramsay gave you, we have extra money coming into the system as a result of the good management by the UK Government of public finances. We've got £1.25 billion coming to Wales for education over the next three years, and that £1.25 billion could be invested to close that gap and eliminate it completely. So, you've had the money—you've had the money, so it's the way you carve it up currently that means that you cannot invest it in our schools.
So, we need to eliminate that funding gap. That then will give schools the opportunity to invest in the staff, invest in the technology and invest in their pupils to get the results that those pupils deserve. That's what I want to see, that's what we want to see on these benches, and that's why we're lamenting the fact that the results have not improved over the past 12 years in the way that we would have hoped. So, I hope that people will support the motion.
Pe baech chi wedi gwrando'n gynharach, Jenny Rathbone, ar yr ymateb a roddodd Nick Ramsay i chi, mae gennym arian ychwanegol yn dod i mewn i'r system o ganlyniad i'r rheolaeth dda sydd gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyllid cyhoeddus. Mae gennym £1.25 biliwn yn dod i Gymru ar gyfer addysg dros y tair blynedd nesaf, a gellid buddsoddi'r £1.25 biliwn hwnnw ar gyfer cau'r bwlch a'i ddileu'n llwyr. Felly, rydych chi wedi cael yr arian—rydych chi wedi cael yr arian, felly y ffordd rydych chi'n ei rannu ar hyn o bryd sy'n golygu na allwch ei fuddsoddi yn ein hysgolion.
Felly, mae angen inni ddileu'r bwlch cyllido. Bydd hynny wedyn yn rhoi cyfle i ysgolion fuddsoddi yn y staff, buddsoddi yn y dechnoleg a buddsoddi yn eu disgyblion er mwyn cael y canlyniadau y mae'r disgyblion hynny'n eu haeddu. Dyna rwyf am ei weld, dyna rydym am ei weld ar y meinciau hyn, a dyna pam ein bod yn gresynu at y ffaith nad yw'r canlyniadau wedi gwella dros y 12 mlynedd diwethaf yn y ffordd y byddem wedi gobeithio. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pobl yn cefnogi'r cynnig.
Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Object. Therefore, we defer voting under this item until voting time.
Diolch. Y cynnig yw derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Gwrthwynebiad. Felly, gohiriwn y bleidlais o dan yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
So, it is now voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I intend to proceed—[Interruption.] You want to ring the bell. Okay. Three people show me they want to ring the bell, please. Thank you. Ring the bell.
Felly, down at y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai fod tri Aelod yn dymuno i'r gloch gael ei chanu, bwriadaf symud ymlaen—[Torri ar draws.] Rydych am ganu'r gloch. O'r gorau. Os gall tri o bobl ddangos i mi eu bod eisiau canu'r gloch, os gwelwch yn dda. Diolch. Canwch y gloch.
Canwyd y gloch i alw’r Aelodau i’r Siambr.
The bell was rung to call Members to the Chamber.
We have reached the five minutes, and I would hasten a guess that you were standing outside waiting for me to call time, but I wouldn't be so cruel as to say that.
So, we now move to voting time, and the first vote this afternoon is the Standards of Conduct Committee report 02-19, and I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Jayne Bryant. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 37, four abstentions, 12 against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Rydym wedi cyrraedd y pum munud, a buaswn yn dyfalu eich bod yn sefyll tu allan yn aros i mi alw amser, ond ni fuaswn mor greulon â dweud hynny.
Felly, symudwn yn awr at y cyfnod pleidleisio, a'r bleidlais gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad 02-19, a galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jayne Bryant. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 37, roedd pedwar yn ymatal, 12 yn erbyn. Felly, derbyniwyd y cynnig.
NDM7148 - Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad - Adroddiad 02-19: O blaid: 37, Yn erbyn: 12, Ymatal: 4
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
NDM7148 - Standards of Conduct Committee report - Report 02-19: For: 37, Against: 12, Abstain: 4
Motion has been agreed
We now move to the Member debate—a motion under Standing Order 11.21. And I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of David Rees. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 39, 12 abstentions, three against. Therefore, the motion is agreed.
Symudwn ymlaen yn awr at y ddadl Aelodau—cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21. A galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw David Rees. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 39, roedd 12 yn ymatal, tri yn erbyn. Felly, derbyniwyd y cynnig.
NDM7143 - Dadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv) - Seilwaith Diwydiannol Hanesyddol: O blaid: 39, Yn erbyn: 3, Ymatal: 12
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
NDM7143 - Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Historic Industrial Infrastructure: For: 39, Against: 3, Abstain: 12
Motion has been agreed
We now move to vote on the Welsh Conservative debate on GCSE and A-level results, and I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Darren Millar. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendments tabled to that motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 11, no abstentions, 41 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Symudwn ymlaen yn awr i bleidleisio ar ddadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar ganlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch, a galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Os na dderbynnir y cynnig, byddwn yn pleidleisio ar y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig hwnnw. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 11, neb yn ymatal, 41 yn erbyn. Felly, gwrthodwyd y cynnig.
NDM7153 - Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 11, Yn erbyn: 41, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
NDM7153 - Welsh Conservatives Debate - Motion without amendment: For: 11, Against: 41, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
We go to vote on the amendments. I call for a vote on amendment 1. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3 and 4 will be deselected. So, I call for that vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. Open the vote. Close the vote. For amendment 1 28, no abstentions, 23 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed.
Fe bleidleisiwn ar y gwelliannau. Galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 1. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4 eu dad-ddethol. Felly, galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. Roedd 28 o blaid gwelliant 1, neb yn ymatal, a 23 yn erbyn. Felly, derbyniwyd gwelliant 1.
NDM7153 - Gwelliant 1: O blaid: 28, Yn erbyn: 23, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
NDM7153 - Amendment 1: For: 28, Against: 23, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Cafodd gwelliannau 2, 3 a 4 eu dad-ddethol.
Amendments 2, 3 and 4 deselected.
I now call for a vote on amendment 5, tabled in the name of Caroline Jones. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the amendment 12, two abstentions, 36 against. Therefore, amendment 5 is not agreed.
Galwaf yn awr am bleidlais ar welliant 5 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Caroline Jones. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid y gwelliant 12, roedd dau yn ymatal, 36 yn erbyn. Felly, gwrthodwyd gwelliant 5.
NDM7153 - Gwelliant 5: O blaid: 12, Yn erbyn: 36, Ymatal: 2
Gwrthodwyd y gwelliant
NDM7153 - Amendment 5: For: 12, Against: 36, Abstain: 2
Amendment has been rejected
I now call for a vote on the motion as amended.
Galwaf yn awr am bleidlais ar y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd.
Cynnig NDM7153 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn nodi canlyniadau TGAU a safon uwch yr haf hwn yng Nghymru.
Yn llongyfarch disgyblion, athrawon a staff ysgolion am eu gwaith caled ac am set gref o ganlyniadau.
Yn croesawu:
a) bod canlyniadau Safon Uwch yr haf hwn wedi parhau i fod ar y lefel uchaf yn eu hanes;
b) bod Cymru wedi gwella ei safle o ran Safon Uwch, mewn cymhariaeth â rhanbarthau Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon, ar gyfer pob gradd ac wedi’i graddio’n gyntaf ar gyfer A* am y tro cyntaf erioed;
c) bod y canlyniadau TGAU yn gyffredinol wedi dangos gwelliant yr haf hwn;
d) bod cynnydd o dros 50 y cant yn nifer yr ymgeiswyr ar gyfer TGAU gwyddoniaeth ers 2016, a bod cynnydd eleni yng nghanrannau’r disgyblion sy’n ennill graddau A*-A ac A*-C mewn pynciau gwyddonol;
e) bod nifer y disgyblion sy’n cael graddau A*-C yn y cwrs llawn Cymraeg fel Ail Iaith wedi cynyddu 12.5 y cant;
f) bod nifer y disgyblion a safodd TGAU Llenyddiaeth Saesneg wedi cynyddu 22.8 y cant, a bod 2,800 yn rhagor wedi ennill graddau A*-C o gymharu â 2018.
Motion NDM7153 as amended:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes this summer's GCSE and A-Level results in Wales.
Congratulates pupils, teachers and school staff for their hard work and strong set of results.
Welcomes that:
a) A-Level results this summer remained at a historic high;
b) compared to English regions and Northern Ireland, Wales improved A-Level ranking for all grades and, for the first time ever, is rated first for A*;
c) overall GCSE results showed improvement this summer;
d) the increase of over 50 per cent in science GCSE entries since 2016, and increases this year in the percentage of pupils gaining A*-A and A*-C grades in science subjects;
e) the number of pupils achieving A*-C in Welsh second language full course increased by 12.5 per cent;
f) the number of pupils who sat GCSE English literature increased by 22.8 per cent, with over 2,800 more achieving A*-C grades compared with 2018.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 27, eight abstentions, 15 against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 27, roedd wyth yn ymatal, 15 yn erbyn. Felly, derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd.
NDM7153 - Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 15, Ymatal: 8
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
NDM7153 - Motion as amended: For: 27, Against: 15, Abstain: 8
Motion has been agreed
We now move to the short debate—[Interruption.] If you're going out of the Chamber, please do so quickly and quietly.
We now move to the short debate, and I call on Janet Finch-Saunders to speak on the topic she's chosen. Janet.
Symudwn ymlaen yn awr at y ddadl fer—[Torri ar draws.] Os ydych chi'n gadael y Siambr, gwnewch hynny'n gyflym ac yn dawel os gwelwch yn dda.
Symudwn ymlaen yn awr at y ddadl fer, a galwaf ar Janet Finch-Saunders i siarad am y pwnc a ddewiswyd ganddi. Janet.
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. The purpose of this debate is to trigger a conversation about how we can do more to care for our care homes in Wales. And I'd like to invite Jayne Bryant AM and Angela Burns AM to speak for a minute or so.
Over 15,000 people aged 65 or over live in a care home. According to the state of the nation report launched yesterday, the average age at which an older person moves to a care home is nearly 83 years, and people tend to live in the home, on average, for around two years and four months. As you'll be aware, there are three broad categories of care homes in Wales: residential, nursing, and EMI—elderly mentally infirm. Now, unfortunately, when searching for a home of any type, sadly, too many negatives present. Now, Welsh Conservatives believe that safeguarding our residents is key and essential, and I know that none of us would stand by until this is actually implemented. I've raised concerns about care standards in Wales, but we must also—tonight's debate is about celebrating the good care and the need that we have to support our care homes.
Anyway, rather than focus on non-compliance, I would like to use this opportunity to highlight some of the excellent work that is being undertaken. The need for this is apparent when considering that the number of care homes fell by 30 in less than three years, after the publication of 'The Care Home Market in Wales: Mapping the Sector' in 2015. As we know from Care Forum Wales, this forms part of a downward decline, as it has been estimated that 16 per cent of remaining homes will close in five years' time. So, supporting the care sector needs to rank high on the agenda.
Having visited a number of care homes in Aberconwy, and across Wales, I have seen at first-hand some amazing services provided. It was magical for me dancing with an elderly resident to 'Singing in the Rain', and having an umbrella full of decorations on the ceiling within the main living room. And that was in an EMI home. I was also pleased to join with two ladies, just relaxing and chatting out in the sun, at a nursing home in Ynys Môn. And I can never forget singing, with a resident in another home, a duet—a very heartfelt duet that the lady had remembered from her childhood days, and I sang with her.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Pwrpas y ddadl hon yw sbarduno sgwrs ynglŷn â sut y gallwn wneud mwy i ofalu am ein cartrefi gofal yng Nghymru. A hoffwn wahodd Jayne Bryant AC ac Angela Burns AC i siarad am funud neu fwy.
Mae dros 15,000 o bobl 65 oed a hŷn yn byw mewn cartref gofal. Yn ôl adroddiad cyflwr y genedl a lansiwyd ddoe, yr oedran cyfartalog pan fydd person hŷn yn symud i gartref gofal yw ychydig o dan 83 oed, ac mae pobl yn tueddu i fyw yn y cartref, ar gyfartaledd, am oddeutu dwy flynedd a phedwar mis. Fel y gwyddoch, ceir tri chategori bras o gartrefi gofal yng Nghymru: preswyl, nyrsio a henoed eiddil eu meddwl. Nawr, yn anffodus, wrth chwilio am gartref o unrhyw fath, ceir gormod o elfennau negyddol. Nawr, cred y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig fod diogelu ein preswylwyr yn allweddol ac yn hanfodol, ac rwy'n gwybod na fyddai'r un ohonom yn gorffwys hyd nes y gweithredir hyn mewn gwirionedd. Rwyf wedi mynegi pryderon am safonau gofal yng Nghymru, ond mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd—mae'r ddadl heno yn ymwneud â dathlu'r gofal da a'r angen inni gefnogi ein cartrefi gofal.
Beth bynnag, yn hytrach na chanolbwyntio ar ddiffyg cydymffurfiaeth, hoffwn ddefnyddio'r cyfle hwn i dynnu sylw at rywfaint o'r gwaith rhagorol sy'n cael ei wneud. Mae'r angen am hyn yn amlwg wrth ystyried bod gostyngiad o 30 wedi bod yn nifer y cartrefi gofal mewn llai na thair blynedd, ar ôl cyhoeddi 'The Care Home Market in Wales: Mapping the Sector' yn 2015. Fel y gwyddom gan Fforwm Gofal Cymru, mae'n dynodi dirywiad, gan yr amcangyfrifwyd y bydd 16 y cant o'r cartrefi sy'n weddill yn cau ymhen pum mlynedd. Felly, mae angen gosod cefnogaeth i'r sector gofal yn uchel ar yr agenda.
Ar ôl ymweld â nifer o gartrefi gofal yn Aberconwy, a ledled Cymru, rwyf wedi gweld yn uniongyrchol rai o'r gwasanaethau rhyfeddol a ddarperir. Roedd yn wych cael dawnsio gyda phreswylydd oedrannus i 'Singing in the Rain', a chael llond ymbarél o addurniadau ar y nenfwd yn y brif ystafell fyw. Ac roedd hynny mewn cartref i henoed eiddil eu meddwl. Roeddwn hefyd yn falch o ymuno â dwy ddynes a oedd yn ymlacio ac yn sgwrsio yn yr haul mewn cartref nyrsio ar Ynys Môn. Ac ni allaf fyth anghofio canu deuawd gyda phreswylydd mewn cartref arall—deuawd o'r galon yr oedd y ddynes wedi'i chofio o ddyddiau ei phlentyndod, a minnau'n canu gyda hi.
Now, when visiting these homes, I have seen the passion that staff have for looking after their patients and residents, and have been pleased to listen how they—the people working in the sector—think we could do more to care for care homes. This brings me to the first way through which we could champion care homes: communication. Dementia is a condition that affects linguistic ability, so not providing care through the medium of Welsh can lead to frustration and the loss of dignity and respect.
I have met Welsh language staff in care homes, but the Welsh Language Commissioner and Alzheimer’s Society Cymru have highlighted that care is not often available in Welsh unless someone requests it. This cannot be right, so I would like to see you, as the Deputy Minister, putting more plans into implementation to support homes to develop a capacity to make an active offer of care in Welsh—through the medium of Welsh.
Additionally, there is a serious need to look at improving care home communication with health boards and local authorities. For example, we should look at the digitalisation of patient records. It is true that you have the Welsh community care information system, and I accept that implementing the new ICT system across local authorities and health boards could help accessibility to information, but what about care homes?
It was explained to me by one manager that they would benefit greatly from being able to access information on the health board’s system about their clients—the very same clients that they are caring for on a daily basis—wanting to meet all their needs, including their health needs. The Welsh Government does not have oversight of the content of health boards’ internet platforms, but it does have the ability to set a clearer level of expectation. This could actually result in care homes more easily accessing information, which could improve their care.
Another way through which connectivity between health and social care could be strengthened is by acting on calls by Age Cymru for a duty to co-operate in this. I agree with the organisation, and believe that a duty could go a long way in boosting quality of care for people being transferred from care home to hospital setting and vice versa. I was actually quite shocked to realise that patients can leave their care home needing to go to hospital, but actually return needing significantly more care.
The need for a stronger dialogue is apparent when considering incidents such as care home staff not being told what rehabilitation their residents have had in hospital, patients being discharged to care homes with no information at all, and care home staff not being asked for important information, such as how an individual signals their need for the toilet and whether they like drinking from a particular cup, contributing to the situation in which some patients return to homes from hospital unrecognisable from when they went in. I've heard—you know, a simple thing like false teeth going missing in hospital. So, patients return to a care home without their false teeth—something so simple and such a basic requirement, but so important, has been highlighted by Angela Burns here earlier on dental healthcare.
Care home staff have a wealth of information that could transform the care of some patients in hospital. However, as Age Cymru have stated, existing professional boundaries militate against the engagement of care home staff, and even against informing them at a very basic level of how their resident is whilst the resident is in hospital. There's a cut-off—once the resident goes to hospital, there is very little dialogue continued then with the care home. The onus is on the care home to contact the hospital. That can't be right. This has to change and steps taken to ensure that the Welsh NHS recognises the value of the contribution care home staff can make, and how much they care about their own residents.
Such a wall has been a point of concern with regard to staff training too, which brings me to another way through which we could do more to support care homes. Wales needs around 20,000 more people to work in care by 2030. Now, I recognise that you've recognised this, and it is only fair that I acknowledge the work that is being undertaken to attract, retain and recruit staff in Wales as part of the We Care Wales campaign. However, more could be achieved by looking at the training that is provided to nursing staff. Organisations have spoken to me of the need to ensure that nurse training includes experiences in both the NHS and social care sector. Too long there's been this division between the two; it needs bringing together.
For example, we should encourage nursing placements in care homes, as this could help address the lack of cross-pollination between nursing and care skills. People assume that a nurse can only train in a hospital. It's not correct. They could learn a lot of skills actually training in care homes. Also, you cannot deny that there is much that can be learnt at care homes, as many are a hive of activity. In fact, they have the potential to be even more important community hubs.
I have already had it confirmed to me in writing that health boards are allowed to organise walk-in clinics in a non-NHS setting, and know that some homes are keen to open these up to the local community where they can, such as holding intravenous therapy clinics, blood testing clinics. This idea is certainly worthy of consideration. Such co-operation could represent value for money, especially for the service user where they would otherwise have to travel considerably further than a home to see a nurse. Care homes' professionals are well trained, and, where there is a will, it should be the Welsh Government’s mission to ensure that there is a way for homes to host these clinics and undertake tasks its staff are more than capable of doing.
For example, it is ridiculous that some care home staff have had to wait hours for a GP to attend to take blood pressure and temperature readings, and it is disheartening that some homes face a long wait when someone falls. We should all be supporting staff to take readings, looking at upscaling proven models such as the Welsh ambulance service's I-Stumble toolkit for care homes. Common sense dictates that an increase in clinical interventions available in homes would reduce the need to send patients to hospital in the first place, or the need to call an ambulance or GP, so the Welsh Government should get on with it.
This brings me to my final suggestion as to how we could do more for care homes. I know of a home with a resident funded by a local authority, who, as a result of a deterioration in health, will now have responsibility for fees transferred to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Shockingly, despite providing more intensive care, the home will be paid less. In fact, the health board pays less than local authorities pay in north Wales, setting one care home on course to be £155,000 worse off this year in their budget, because of the difference between local authority and continuing healthcare fees.
Clearly, you must look at ensuring that care homes are paid the actual cost of the care, and certainly at least look to match the CHC fee to that paid by local authorities. Undoubtedly, this should be regarded as a short-term solution, as I believe that a full review of how care homes are funded is required, and it is required now. Nonetheless, such a move towards sustainable and fair funding would be a boost to private sector homes that feel as if they are being repeatedly punished. It is time, Deputy Minister, that we start to show our care for our care homes and that we take some actions, just as some of those that I have outlined today, to show our seriousness, the Welsh Government's intent, about helping to secure a positive future for the homes of over 15,000 people in Wales. Thank you.
Nawr, wrth ymweld â'r cartrefi hyn, gwelais angerdd staff ynghylch gofalu am eu cleifion a'u preswylwyr, ac roeddwn yn falch o wrando ar sut y maent hwy—y bobl sy'n gweithio yn y sector—yn meddwl y gallem wneud mwy i ofalu am gartrefi gofal. Daw hyn â mi at y ffordd gyntaf y gallem hyrwyddo cartrefi gofal: cyfathrebu. Mae dementia yn gyflwr sy'n effeithio ar allu ieithyddol, felly gall peidio â darparu gofal drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg arwain at rwystredigaeth a cholli urddas a pharch.
Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â staff Cymraeg eu hiaith mewn cartrefi gofal, ond mae Comisiynydd y Gymraeg a Chymdeithas Alzheimer Cymru wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith nad yw gofal ar gael yn Gymraeg bob amser oni bai fod rhywun yn gofyn amdano. Ni all hyn fod yn iawn, felly hoffwn eich gweld chi, fel y Dirprwy Weinidog, yn rhoi mwy o gynlluniau ar waith i gynorthwyo cartrefi i ddatblygu gallu i wneud cynnig rhagweithiol o ofal yn Gymraeg—drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.
At hynny, mae gwir angen edrych ar wella cyfathrebu rhwng cartrefi gofal a byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau lleol. Er enghraifft, dylem edrych ar ddigideiddio cofnodion cleifion. Mae'n wir fod gennych system wybodaeth gofal cymunedol Cymru, ac rwy'n derbyn y gallai gweithredu'r system TGCh newydd ar draws awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd helpu i sicrhau gwybodaeth hygyrch, ond beth am gartrefi gofal?
Eglurodd un rheolwr wrthyf y byddent yn elwa'n fawr o allu cael gwybodaeth am eu cleientiaid oddi ar system y bwrdd iechyd—yr un cleientiaid ag y maent yn gofalu amdanynt yn ddyddiol—er mwyn diwallu eu holl anghenion, gan gynnwys eu hanghenion iechyd. Nid Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n goruchwylio cynnwys platfformau rhyngrwyd y byrddau iechyd, ond mae ganddi'r gallu i osod lefel gliriach o ddisgwyliadau. Gallai hyn olygu bod cartrefi gofal yn cael gafael ar wybodaeth yn haws mewn gwirionedd, gan arwain at wella'u gofal.
Ffordd arall o gryfhau'r cysylltedd rhwng iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yw drwy weithredu ar alwadau gan Age Cymru am ddyletswydd i gydweithredu yn hyn o beth. Rwy'n cytuno â'r sefydliad, ac yn credu y gallai dyletswydd fynd gryn dipyn o'r ffordd tuag at hybu ansawdd gofal i bobl sy'n cael eu trosglwyddo o gartref gofal i leoliad ysbyty ac fel arall. Cefais fy syfrdanu mewn gwirionedd o weld y gall cleifion adael eu cartref gofal am fod rhaid iddynt fynd i'r ysbyty, a bod angen llawer mwy o ofal arnynt wedi iddynt ddychwelyd.
Mae'r angen am ddeialog gryfach yn amlwg wrth ystyried digwyddiadau fel staff cartrefi gofal nad ydynt yn cael gwybod pa drefniadau adsefydlu a roddwyd i'w preswylwyr yn yr ysbyty, cleifion sy'n cael eu rhyddhau i gartrefi gofal heb unrhyw wybodaeth o gwbl, a staff cartrefi gofal na ofynnir iddynt am wybodaeth bwysig, megis sut y mae unigolyn yn nodi eu hangen am doiled ac a ydynt yn hoffi yfed o gwpan penodol, gan gyfrannu at sefyllfa lle mae rhai cleifion yn dychwelyd i gartrefi o'r ysbyty mewn cyflwr llawer gwaeth na phan aethant yno. Clywais—wyddoch chi, peth syml fel dannedd gosod yn mynd ar goll yn yr ysbyty. Felly, mae cleifion yn dychwelyd i gartref gofal heb eu dannedd gosod—rhywbeth mor syml ac angen mor sylfaenol, ond mor bwysig, fel y nododd Angela Burns yma yn gynharach ar ofal iechyd deintyddol.
Mae gan staff cartrefi gofal gyfoeth o wybodaeth a allai drawsnewid gofal rhai cleifion yn yr ysbyty. Fodd bynnag, fel y dywedodd Age Cymru, mae ffiniau proffesiynol presennol yn milwrio yn erbyn ymwneud staff cartrefi gofal, a hyd yn oed yn erbyn rhoi gwybod iddynt ar lefel sylfaenol iawn sut mae eu preswylydd tra bydd y preswylydd yn yr ysbyty. Mae yna doriad—pan aiff preswylydd i'r ysbyty, ychydig iawn o ddeialog sy'n parhau wedyn gyda'r cartref gofal. Cyfrifoldeb y cartref gofal yw cysylltu â'r ysbyty. Ni all hynny fod yn iawn. Mae'n rhaid i hyn newid a rhoddwyd camau ar waith i sicrhau bod GIG Cymru yn cydnabod gwerth y cyfraniad y gall staff cartrefi gofal ei wneud, a chymaint y maent yn malio am eu preswylwyr eu hunain.
Mae wal o'r fath wedi bod yn destun pryder o ran hyfforddi staff hefyd, sy'n dod â mi at ffordd arall y gallem wneud mwy i gefnogi cartrefi gofal. Mae ar Gymru angen tua 20,000 yn fwy o bobl i weithio ym maes gofal erbyn 2030. Nawr, rwy'n sylweddoli eich bod wedi cydnabod hyn, ac nid yw ond yn deg fy mod yn cydnabod y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud i ddenu, cadw a recriwtio staff yng Nghymru fel rhan o ymgyrch Gofalwn Cymru. Fodd bynnag, gellid cyflawni mwy drwy edrych ar yr hyfforddiant a ddarperir i staff nyrsio. Mae sefydliadau wedi sôn wrthyf am yr angen i sicrhau bod hyfforddiant nyrsys yn cynnwys profiad yn y GIG ac yn y sector gofal cymdeithasol. Cafwyd y rhaniad hwn rhwng y ddau ers gormod o amser; mae angen eu dwyn ynghyd.
Er enghraifft, dylem annog lleoliadau nyrsio mewn cartrefi gofal, gan y gallai hynny helpu i fynd i'r afael â diffyg croesbeillio rhwng sgiliau nyrsio a sgiliau gofalu. Mae pobl yn tybio na all nyrs ond hyfforddi mewn ysbyty. Nid yw'n wir. Gallent ddysgu llawer o sgiliau drwy hyfforddi mewn cartrefi gofal mewn gwirionedd. Hefyd, ni allwch wadu nad oes llawer y gellir ei ddysgu mewn cartrefi gofal, gan fod llawer ohonynt yn fwrlwm o weithgaredd. Yn wir, mae ganddynt botensial i fod yn ganolfannau cymunedol pwysicach fyth.
Rwyf eisoes wedi cael cadarnhad ysgrifenedig fod byrddau iechyd yn cael trefnu clinigau galw i mewn mewn lleoliad heblaw lleoliadau'r GIG, a'u bod yn gwybod bod rhai cartrefi'n awyddus i agor y rhain i'r gymuned leol lle y gallant wneud hynny, megis cynnal clinigau therapi mewnwythiennol, clinigau profion gwaed. Mae'r syniad hwn yn sicr yn werth ei ystyried. Gallai cydweithrediad o'r fath sicrhau gwerth am arian, yn enwedig i'r defnyddiwr gwasanaeth lle byddai'n rhaid iddynt deithio gryn dipyn yn bellach fel arall nag i gartref i weld nyrs. Mae gweithwyr proffesiynol cartrefi gofal wedi'u hyfforddi'n dda, a lle mae ewyllys i wneud hynny, dylai fod yn rhan o genhadaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod ffordd i gartrefi gynnal y clinigau hyn a gwneud tasgau y mae eu staff yn fwy na chymwys i'w gwneud.
Er enghraifft, mae'n chwerthinllyd fod rhai aelodau o staff cartrefi gofal wedi gorfod aros am oriau i feddyg teulu fesur tymheredd a phwysedd gwaed, ac mae'n dorcalonnus fod rhai cartrefi'n gorfod aros yn hir pan fydd rhywun yn cwympo. Dylem i gyd gefnogi staff i wneud darlleniadau o'r fath, gan edrych ar uwchraddio modelau sydd wedi'u profi megis pecyn cymorth I-Stumble gwasanaeth ambiwlans Cymru ar gyfer cartrefi gofal. Mae synnwyr cyffredin yn dweud y byddai cynyddu'r ymyriadau clinigol sydd ar gael mewn cartrefi yn lleihau'r angen i anfon cleifion i'r ysbyty yn y lle cyntaf, neu'r angen i alw am ambiwlans neu feddyg teulu, felly dylai Llywodraeth Cymru fwrw ymlaen â hyn.
Daw hyn â mi at fy awgrym olaf ynglŷn â sut y gallem wneud mwy dros gartrefi gofal. Gwn am gartref lle mae'r awdurdod lleol yn talu i breswylydd gael aros yno, ac o ganlyniad i ddirywiad yn eu hiechyd, bydd y ffioedd yn cael eu talu yn awr gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae'n frawychus deall y bydd llai o arian yn cael ei dalu i'r cartref er y bydd yn darparu gofal mwy dwys. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn talu llai nag y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei dalu yng ngogledd Cymru, gan osod un cartref gofal ar y trywydd i fod £155,000 yn waeth eu byd yn eu cyllideb eleni, oherwydd y gwahaniaeth rhwng ffioedd awdurdodau lleol a ffïoedd gofal iechyd parhaus.
Mae'n amlwg fod yn rhaid i chi geisio sicrhau y telir cost wirioneddol y gofal i gartrefi gofal, ac yn bendant, dylech geisio sicrhau o leiaf fod y ffi gofal iechyd parhaus yn cyfateb i'r ffi a delir gan awdurdodau lleol. Yn ddiamau, dylid ystyried hwn yn ateb tymor byr, oherwydd credaf fod angen adolygiad llawn o'r modd y cyllidir cartrefi gofal, ac mae ei angen yn awr. Serch hynny, byddai camau o'r fath tuag at ariannu cynaliadwy a theg yn hwb i gartrefi'r sector preifat sy'n teimlo fel pe baent yn cael eu cosbi dro ar ôl tro. Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae'n bryd inni ddechrau dangos ein gofal tuag at gartrefi gofal a rhoi camau ar waith, camau fel y rhai a amlinellais heddiw, i ddangos ein bod o ddifrif, a bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu i sicrhau dyfodol cadarnhaol i gartrefi mwy na 15,000 o bobl yng Nghymru. Diolch.
I'd like to firstly thank Janet Finch-Saunders for bringing forward this important debate today and for the opportunity to speak this evening. Last week, I hosted an event to launch Live Music Now's report into the impact of live music on care homes. The report carried out by the University of Winchester presents groundbreaking evidence about how music can benefit people living and working in care. Live music in care homes must not be just seen as entertainment. There's growing evidence to show the impact on those residents in homes. Music benefits the whole care home and contributes to the person-centred care. The evidence-based report recommends that music should be essential for all care homes. Furthermore, I’d also like to commend the work of the marvellous Forget-me-not chorus. They’re a fantastic charity who work with people living with dementia and their families, bringing them together to sing, with no pressure, just fun. Many families have described the sessions as 'a happiness fix', with everyone taking part to the best of their abilities. They bring people together weekly, and I’ve seen for myself, many times, the impact their work has both had on inside and outside of care homes, one of which is Capel Grange in Pill in my constituency. The choir is a great way of supporting people with or effected by dementia, and it’s sure to warm your heart and get your feet tapping.
Hoffwn ddiolch yn gyntaf i Janet Finch-Saunders am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon heddiw ac am y cyfle i siarad heno. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cynhaliais ddigwyddiad i lansio adroddiad Live Music Now ar effaith cerddoriaeth fyw ar gartrefi gofal. Mae'r adroddiad a luniwyd gan Brifysgol Caerwynt yn cyflwyno tystiolaeth arloesol ynglŷn â sut y gall cerddoriaeth fod o fudd i bobl sy'n byw ac yn gweithio ym maes gofal. Ni ddylai cerddoriaeth fyw mewn cartrefi gofal gael ei gweld fel adloniant yn unig. Dengys tystiolaeth gynyddol yr effaith ar y preswylwyr mewn cartrefi. Mae cerddoriaeth o fudd i'r cartref gofal cyfan ac yn cyfrannu at ofal sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn. Mae'r adroddiad sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth yn argymell y dylai cerddoriaeth fod yn hanfodol i bob cartref gofal. Ar ben hynny, hoffwn ganmol gwaith gwych côr Forget-me-not. Elusen wych yw hon sy'n gweithio gyda phobl sy'n byw gyda dementia a'u teuluoedd, gan ddod â hwy at ei gilydd i ganu, heb unrhyw bwysau, dim ond hwyl. Mae llawer o deuluoedd wedi disgrifio'r sesiynau fel 'dos o hapusrwydd', gyda phawb yn cymryd rhan hyd eithaf eu gallu. Maent yn dod â phobl at ei gilydd bob wythnos, ac rwyf wedi gweld drosof fy hun, lawer gwaith, yr effaith y mae eu gwaith wedi'i chael oddi mewn a thu allan i gartrefi gofal, ac un o'r rhain yw Capel Grange ym Mhilgwenlli yn fy etholaeth. Mae'r côr yn ffordd wych o gefnogi pobl gyda dementia neu bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ddementia, ac mae'n sicr o gynhesu eich calon a gwneud i chi dapio'ch traed.
I'd like to thank Janet Finch-Saunders for bringing this very important debate forward, because we need to demonstrate that we value the staff in our care home sector. Too often, the care home sector is seen in a pejorative way, as not quite up there with nurses or the other medical professions, and yet they are absolutely vital to the continuation and the cohesion of our society, and in looking after so many vulnerable people. So, Minister, I just have a couple of really quick questions I hope that you might be able to address this evening. Would you consider, or are you considering, a national campaign to attract people to a career in the care home sector? Would you be looking at the development of continuous professional development, how could we engage and develop staff and actually give staff within a care home setting a career progression? And flexible working, of course, is extremely important for an awful lot of care home staff. What could we do to promote flexible working and to encourage care home owners to be much more elastic in their thinking about how they might be able to bring people on into working for them?
And, of course, finally, I wouldn’t be able to end my contribution without mentioning the nursing element of care homes. It’s incredibly important, but we need to improve the nursing provision in care homes because there’s a significant shortage of nurses available for the care home sector. One of the ways would be that there needs to be a real harmonisation of social care terms and conditions with the 'Agenda for Change', and I wondered if you might just be able to touch upon that. And I also would like to have your views on whether or not you think that having more nursing student clinical placements in the care home sector during their degree training might also be of benefit, not just, in fact, for care homes, but for the whole orthogeriatric/geriatric training needs that come along, because we need more nurses in the older people sector. Thank you.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon, oherwydd mae angen inni ddangos ein bod yn gwerthfawrogi'r staff yn ein sector cartrefi gofal. Yn rhy aml, caiff y sector cartrefi gofal ei weld mewn ffordd ddifrïol, heb fod cystal â nyrsys a'r proffesiynau meddygol eraill, ac eto maent yn gwbl hanfodol i barhad a chydlyniant ein cymdeithas, ac i ofalu am gynifer o bobl sy'n agored i niwed. Felly, Weinidog, mae gennyf ychydig o gwestiynau cyflym iawn y gobeithiaf y gallwch eu hateb heno. A fyddech yn ystyried, neu a ydych yn ystyried, ymgyrch genedlaethol i ddenu pobl i yrfa yn y sector cartrefi gofal? A fyddech yn ystyried datblygu datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus, sut y gallem gynnwys a datblygu staff a galluogi staff cartrefi gofal i gamu ymlaen yn eu gyrfa? Ac mae gweithio hyblyg, wrth gwrs, yn eithriadol o bwysig i lawer iawn o staff cartrefi gofal. Beth y gallem ei wneud i hyrwyddo gweithio hyblyg ac i annog perchnogion cartrefi gofal i fod yn llawer mwy hyblyg eu syniadau ynglŷn â sut y gallent ddenu pobl i weithio iddynt?
Ac wrth gwrs, yn olaf, ni fyddwn yn gallu gorffen fy nghyfraniad heb sôn am elfen nyrsio cartrefi gofal. Mae'n hynod o bwysig, ond mae angen i ni wella'r ddarpariaeth nyrsio mewn cartrefi gofal oherwydd bod prinder sylweddol o nyrsys ar gyfer y sector cartrefi gofal. Un o'r ffyrdd fyddai fod angen mynd ati o ddifrif i sicrhau bod telerau ac amodau gofal cymdeithasol yn cyd-fynd â'r 'Agenda ar gyfer Newid', ac roeddwn yn meddwl tybed a fyddai modd i chi gyffwrdd â hynny efallai. A hoffwn wybod hefyd a ydych chi'n credu y gallai cael mwy o leoliadau clinigol i fyfyrwyr nyrsio yn y sector cartrefi gofal yn ystod eu hyfforddiant gradd fod yn fuddiol, nid yn unig ar gyfer cartrefi gofal, ond ar gyfer yr holl anghenion hyfforddi orthogeriatrig/geriatrig, oherwydd mae arnom angen mwy o nyrsys yn y sector pobl hŷn. Diolch.
Can I call the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services to reply to this debate? Julie Morgan.
A gaf fi alw ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i ymateb i'r ddadl hon? Julie Morgan.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you, Janet Finch-Saunders, for bringing this debate to the Chamber tonight. I think it’s a great opportunity to recognise the importance of care homes and the social care sector as a whole, and I’m really pleased that Janet has been able to highlight some of the really good work that is done in the care sector, because I think it is behoven on us to boost that sector as much as we can. So, I’m very pleased to be able to respond to this debate tonight, because it’s absolutely clear that the care homes make a vital contribution to the lives of people who need care and support in Wales. It also allows me to share with you some of the areas that this Government and our partners are focusing on to ensure the social care sector is supported effectively and is in the best possible position to care for itself.
Obviously, the sector does not and cannot operate and thrive in isolation. We must each play our part at national, local and, indeed, at service-provider level, and we’ve got a clear role as Welsh Government to work with the sector and to understand the issue it faces, and in ensuring the quality of the services it provides. Our partners, in particular local authorities and local health boards, as commissioners of care home services, each have important responsibilities at a local level. The sector itself also has a vital role to play. Welsh Government is actively supporting care homes in a number of areas, including funding and workforce, as well as measures to support both the quality and sustainability of services.
The financial challenges faced by the sector are well known and well documented, and we fully recognise this, and are working to achieve a more sustainable model of funding for the sector over the coming years. Our national strategy, 'Prosperity for All', commits us to developing innovative funding models to ensure that funding is available to meet these challenges and the increasing demands on social care. So, to take this forward, the Minister for Health and Social Services is chairing an inter-ministerial group on paying for social care to consider the potential for a social care fund created from a possible levy or variation in income tax in Wales. This would be to raise additional funding for social care in the long term. To date, the group has considered the principle of the potential methods to raise and distribute any additional funding raised in this way and will soon be considering the principle of the priority areas to receive any funding raised.
However, that is in the longer term. Any funding raised in this way is still some time off, and so in the meantime, we have continued to invest in social care, despite the very real and known pressures on our budgets overall. We've awarded an extra £50 million to local authority social services in this financial year to help meet the growing demand for care and support services. Of this funding, £30 million was provided as a grant to support local government in delivering social care, specifically to address workforce pressures and to support the wider sustainability of services.
The care home sector is nothing without a skilled and committed workforce, and I know that there are challenges both in terms of recruitment and retention, and Angela Burns raised a number of those issues in her contribution. I remain absolutely committed to raising the status and the profile of social care workers so that social care does become a positive career choice where people are valued and supported responsibly. We've taken steps to help make the social care sector a more attractive place to work, bringing forward regulations in 2018 to improve the terms and conditions of the workforce. These regulations limit the use of zero-hours contracts and ensure that providers clearly differentiate between care and travel time.
Our drive to professionalise the workforce will ensure that we have safe social care workers who are appropriately qualified to deliver quality care and support to both adults and children in our society. To achieve this, we have extended the workforce register on a voluntary basis to domiciliary care workers, ahead of their mandatory registration from April 2020. Similarly, adult residential care workers, who we're talking about this evening, will be able to register on a voluntary basis from 2020, ahead of their mandatory registration from 2022. I think that this registration will increase the status of the care workers. And where we've seen that the sector is facing difficulties, we've taken direct action to help alleviate them—
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon i'r Siambr heno. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gyfle gwych i gydnabod pwysigrwydd cartrefi gofal a'r sector gofal cymdeithasol yn gyffredinol, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod Janet wedi gallu tynnu sylw at rywfaint o'r gwaith da iawn sy'n cael ei wneud yn y sector gofal, oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod yn ddyletswydd arnom i roi cymaint o hwb ag y gallwn i'r sector hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o allu ymateb i'r ddadl hon heno, oherwydd mae'n gwbl glir fod cartrefi gofal yn gwneud cyfraniad hanfodol i fywydau pobl sydd angen gofal a chymorth yng Nghymru. Mae hefyd yn caniatáu i mi rannu rhai o'r meysydd y mae'r Llywodraeth hon a'n partneriaid yn canolbwyntio arnynt er mwyn sicrhau bod y sector gofal cymdeithasol yn cael ei gefnogi'n effeithiol ac yn y sefyllfa orau bosibl i ofalu amdano'i hun.
Yn amlwg, nid yw, ac ni all, y sector weithredu a ffynnu ar ei ben ei hun. Rhaid i bob un ohonom chwarae ein rhan yn genedlaethol, yn lleol ac ar lefel darparwyr gwasanaethau yn wir, ac mae gennym rôl glir fel Llywodraeth Cymru i weithio gyda'r sector a deall y broblem y mae'n ei hwynebu, a sicrhau ansawdd y gwasanaethau y mae'n eu darparu. Mae gan ein partneriaid, yn enwedig awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd lleol, fel comisiynwyr gwasanaethau cartrefi gofal, gyfrifoldebau pwysig ar lefel leol. Mae gan y sector ei hun hefyd ran hanfodol i'w chwarae. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati i gefnogi cartrefi gofal mewn nifer o feysydd, gan gynnwys cyllid a'r gweithlu, yn ogystal â mesurau i gefnogi ansawdd a chynaliadwyedd gwasanaethau.
Mae'r heriau ariannol sy'n wynebu'r sector yn hysbys ac wedi'u dogfennu'n dda, ac rydym yn llwyr gydnabod hyn, ac yn gweithio i gyflawni model ariannu mwy cynaliadwy ar gyfer y sector dros y blynyddoedd nesaf. Mae ein strategaeth genedlaethol, 'Ffyniant i Bawb', yn ein hymrwymo i ddatblygu modelau ariannu arloesol er mwyn sicrhau bod cyllid ar gael i ymateb i'r heriau hyn a'r galwadau cynyddol ar ofal cymdeithasol. Felly, i fwrw ymlaen â hyn, mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn cadeirio grŵp rhyng-weinidogol ar dalu am ofal cymdeithasol i ystyried y potensial ar gyfer cronfa gofal cymdeithasol wedi'i chreu o ardoll bosibl neu amrywiadau treth incwm yng Nghymru. Byddai hyn yn codi arian ychwanegol ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol yn y tymor hir. Hyd yma, mae'r grŵp wedi ystyried egwyddor y dulliau posibl o godi a dosbarthu unrhyw arian ychwanegol a godir yn y ffordd hon ac yn fuan, fe fydd yn ystyried egwyddor y meysydd blaenoriaeth ar gyfer unrhyw gyllid a godir.
Fodd bynnag, yn y tymor hwy y mae hynny. Mae unrhyw gyllid a godir yn y modd hwn yn dal i fod beth amser i ffwrdd, ac felly, yn y cyfamser, rydym wedi parhau i fuddsoddi mewn gofal cymdeithasol, er gwaethaf y pwysau real a hysbys iawn ar ein cyllidebau yn gyffredinol. Rydym wedi dyrannu £50 miliwn ychwanegol i wasanaethau cymdeithasol awdurdodau lleol yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon i helpu i ddiwallu'r galw cynyddol am wasanaethau gofal a chymorth. O'r arian hwn, cafodd £30 miliwn ei roi fel grant i gynorthwyo llywodraeth leol i ddarparu gofal cymdeithasol, yn benodol i fynd i'r afael â phwysau ar y gweithlu ac i gynnal cynaliadwyedd ehangach gwasanaethau.
Nid yw'r sector cartrefi gofal yn ddim heb weithlu medrus ac ymroddgar, a gwn fod yna heriau o ran recriwtio a chadw staff, a nododd Angela Burns nifer o'r problemau hynny yn ei chyfraniad. Rwy'n parhau'n gwbl ymrwymedig i godi statws a phroffil gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol fel bod gofal cymdeithasol yn dod yn ddewis gyrfa cadarnhaol lle y caiff pobl eu gwerthfawrogi a'u cefnogi mewn ffordd gyfrifol. Rydym wedi cymryd camau i helpu i wneud y sector gofal cymdeithasol yn fwy deniadol i weithio ynddo, gan gyflwyno rheoliadau yn 2018 i wella telerau ac amodau'r gweithlu. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn cyfyngu ar y defnydd o gontractau dim oriau ac yn sicrhau bod darparwyr yn gwahaniaethu'n amlwg rhwng amser gofalu ac amser teithio.
Bydd ein hymgyrch i broffesiynoli'r gweithlu yn sicrhau bod gennym weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol diogel sydd â'r cymwysterau priodol i ddarparu gofal a chymorth o safon i oedolion a phlant yn ein cymdeithas. Er mwyn cyflawni hyn, rydym wedi ymestyn cofrestr y gweithlu ar sail wirfoddol i gynnwys gweithwyr gofal cartref, cyn eu cofrestru'n orfodol o Ebrill 2020 ymlaen. Yn yr un modd, bydd gweithwyr gofal preswyl i oedolion, a drafodir gennym heno, yn gallu cofrestru'n wirfoddol o 2020 ymlaen, cyn eu cofrestru'n orfodol o 2022. Credaf y bydd cofrestru'n gwella statws y gweithwyr gofal. A lle y gwelsom fod y sector yn wynebu anawsterau, rydym wedi cymryd camau uniongyrchol i helpu i'w lliniaru—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, certainly.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
Just a point of clarification, because that's really positive. Does that include all care workers, including the ones in domiciliary settings as well as care homes? I just wanted to clarify.
Dim ond pwynt o eglurhad, oherwydd mae hynny'n wirioneddol gadarnhaol. A yw hynny'n cynnwys yr holl weithwyr gofal, gan gynnwys y rhai mewn lleoliadau cartref yn ogystal â chartrefi gofal? Eisiau eglurhad ar hynny oeddwn i.
At the moment, we've extended the register on a voluntary basis to domiciliary care workers ahead of their mandatory registration. So, yes, it's going to include both—domiciliary and care workers in homes. So, as I say, this should be very positive in terms of giving them more status and recognising that they are a profession. Because what more important job could anybody be doing, really?
Where we've seen that the sector is facing difficulties, we have taken direct action to help alleviate them. One such example is the national living wage. We've invested £19 million of recurrent funding to local authorities in order that they can help service providers to manage the impact of implementing the national living wage. The Business Wales social care pilot project is another example of our commitment to support the sustainability of the care home sector. It provides a free specially designed business support package, which includes advice on a range of issues such as tendering, human resources and finance. It's a practical solution that recognises that care homes are businesses and offers the help they may need to become more resilient and grow sustainably. I'd like to thank those providers who have participated and provided very valuable feedback. And although, originally, it focused on the Valleys taskforce area, the offer is being made available across the south-east Wales business region, with a view to evaluating how to extend the offer to remaining regions in Wales. I'd encourage others to take advantage of this opportunity, recognising that care homes are businesses.
Ar hyn o bryd, rydym wedi ymestyn y gofrestr ar sail wirfoddol i gynnwys gweithwyr gofal cartref cyn iddynt orfod cofrestru. Felly, ydy, mae'n mynd i gynnwys y ddau—gweithwyr gofal cartref a gweithwyr gofal mewn cartrefi. Felly, fel y dywedaf, dylai hyn fod yn gadarnhaol iawn o ran rhoi mwy o statws iddynt a chydnabod eu bod yn broffesiwn. Oherwydd pa swydd bwysicach y gallai unrhyw un fod yn ei gwneud mewn gwirionedd?
Lle y gwelwyd bod y sector yn wynebu anawsterau, rydym wedi cymryd camau uniongyrchol i helpu i'w lliniaru. Un enghraifft yw'r cyflog byw cenedlaethol. Rydym wedi buddsoddi £19 miliwn o gyllid rheolaidd i awdurdodau lleol er mwyn iddynt allu helpu darparwyr gwasanaethau i reoli effaith gweithredu'r cyflog byw cenedlaethol. Mae prosiect peilot gofal cymdeithasol Busnes Cymru yn enghraifft arall o'n hymrwymiad i gefnogi cynaliadwyedd y sector cartrefi gofal. Mae'n darparu pecyn cymorth busnes rhad ac am ddim a luniwyd yn arbennig, sy'n cynnwys cyngor ar amrywiaeth o faterion megis tendro, adnoddau dynol a chyllid. Mae'n ateb ymarferol sy'n cydnabod bod cartrefi gofal yn fusnesau ac yn cynnig yr help y gallai fod ei angen arnynt i fod yn fwy cydnerth ac i dyfu'n gynaliadwy. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r darparwyr sydd wedi cymryd rhan ac wedi rhoi adborth gwerthfawr iawn. Ac er ei fod, yn wreiddiol, yn canolbwyntio ar ardal tasglu'r Cymoedd, mae ar gael ar draws rhanbarth busnes de-ddwyrain Cymru, gyda'r bwriad o werthuso sut i ehangu'r cynnig i ranbarthau eraill Cymru. Buaswn yn annog eraill i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn, gan gydnabod mai busnesau yw cartrefi gofal.
In terms of supporting the improvement of services' quality, we're funding the care home improvement Cymru programme over a three-year period. It's aimed at building supportive care home environments that move away from the top-down compliance approach and start with what matters to people living in, visiting, working in or managing a care home service. I was very struck by what Janet Finch-Saunders said about the lively nature of the care home, and how much actually goes on in a care home. This programme engages with all parts of the organisation, including front-line staff, residents and families, to understand each other's contribution to achieving outcomes for people.
I also think that that very important point was made by Janet Finch-Saunders about the link between the hospital and the home, because I think it is those transition periods when things happen, like false teeth get lost, and all these really important things that are so important to people's lives. That transition is vital, so I'm very pleased you made those points so strongly. Certainly, that is something that I think we have to emphasise in the support that we are giving to care homes.
So, as I say, this care home improvement Cymru programme does engage at all levels. We also intend to support care home providers by developing an online facility as part of the Dewis website, which will allow them to display real-time vacancies. We see the real benefits here in terms of time saved and engaging with commissioners and in opportunities to market their services. But this is in its early stages, and we'll be working with providers and others in its development.
I'm acutely aware that adding the prospect of the EU exit into the mix does create further uncertainty for providers. I was actually at a forum today where we were discussing the impacts of the EU exit on care home providers, and maintaining the quality and sustainability of care homes and other social care provision is a top priority throughout this unsettling process. So we are taking a range of measures in co-ordination with wider contingency planning arrangements, to support providers and to mitigate the impact of a 'no deal' EU exit. Two examples that are particularly relevant to care homes are food and medical supplies.
In terms of food, we've established arrangements to allow providers to report any local food supply disruption to local authorities quickly and easily. They in turn can escalate the matter to local resilience fora if necessary. Welsh Government is also fully engaged in UK Government planning for the import and distribution of critical goods, including medical supplies and clinical consumables. We've procured additional storage capacity, including providing a 12 to 15-week supply of these products, which will help increase resilience in both the Welsh NHS and the social care services, because these are issues that are being brought to us by the social care providers, and we think it's very important to try to address those as much as we can.
Turning now to our partners and their contribution, our regulators, Care Inspectorate Wales and Social Care Wales, have both undertaken significant work to implement the regulatory framework established by the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016. As part of the transition to the new system of regulation, the inspectorate has reregistered 1,550 services since last April, and this is a considerable achievement and is in addition to its day-to-day responsibilities and inspection activity. I'm extremely pleased with the very positive feedback that the inspectorate has received about this process, and the level of support it provided from providers themselves.
This legislation represents an exciting opportunity for us all. It recognises the role of service providers and responsible individuals as professionals with responsibility and accountability for the care and support services they provide. It deliberately doesn't seek to manage services at arm's length, but enables providers to focus on what matters to individuals, their well-being and personal outcomes. Both Care Inspectorate Wales and Social Care Wales will support improvement through their regulatory roles.
I mentioned the importance of workforce earlier, and that has been mentioned by Janet Finch-Saunders and by Angela—the importance of workforce. I think there is a consensus that we need a better understanding of the social care workforce, including in care home services. Social Care Wales and Health Education and Improvement Wales are developing a joint health and social care workforce strategy to identify current and future capacity and capability requirements and how these can be met. This will help ensure we have the right number of people in place able to deliver flexible and agile health and social care that meets the needs of the people of Wales. I know that Angela raised the importance of having a professional way of moving up in the service, and that's one of the things that we are looking at, because there is a differentiation between jobs that are done in the social care service and that are done in the health service, and other places as well. So, I think this is one of the areas that we are going to look at.
The health service, of course, has been mentioned. Local authorities and health boards also have a key role here, both in terms of their statutory responsibilities and as commissioners of care home services. I know that Janet raised that issue at the end of her contribution, and I'd be grateful if you could write to me about what happened with that individual person and how that differentiation arose. Local authorities and health boards must work with providers to ensure that there is the right care and support available to meet people's needs within the care home they have contracted to provide effective care. I also expect them to play their part in supporting care home sustainability by paying fees due to the providers quickly and efficiently in order to help avoid unnecessary cash-flow pressures, which do happen.
Last year, we issued the 'Let's agree to agree' toolkit to assist commissioners of and providers of residential care for older people in agreeing appropriate fees for placements. This was developed in collaboration with providers and commissioners. Initial feedback from local authorities is that the toolkit is being considered as part of their fee models for care homes, with some adopting it in full or in part. A more detailed review of the toolkit will be undertaken by the national commissioning board next year, and I want to encourage all local authorities to make use of this resource. Then finally, the sector itself, including those who own services and the people who work in those services, is integral to both the quality and future sustainability of care home services. I really want to recognise here at the end of my contribution the significant contribution they've made to adapt to the new regulatory framework and to making their own contribution towards meeting cost pressures and through investment in the workforce.
I hope I've been able to show that the Welsh Government is working on a number of fronts in terms of recognising the importance of the homecare services and that we have got plans about trying to further and support the workforce in what is now a very difficult and unsettled time. But I do think that we do want to end on the optimistic note that Janet started with about the great service that is provided in so many homes and the really good practice that there is. I was particularly appreciative of the comments as well made by Jayne Bryant and her reference to the work with people with dementia, and particularly her mention of the Forget-me-not choir, because I've had personal experience of the Forget-me-not choir in my constituency of Cardiff North. I do believe, as Jayne had said, it is one of the most moving experiences you'll have to listen to the Forget-me-not choir. I know that they do operate in a number of homes.
I also take into account the proposal that clinics should be able to take place in local authority homes, because I think there does need to be a degree of flexibility. And as it was said, there's absolutely no reason why that shouldn't happen. In fact, it does happen in some voluntary settings in Cardiff now. I know that the health authority does provide clinics in voluntary sector settings. I think the more that that can be done—because the nearer it provides them to homes, and to people's own homes, it makes them more likely to take advantage. So, I will finish now. We must continue to work together to ensure that this very important sector thrives and goes from strength to strength in providing the best possible care and support for people in Wales. Thank you very much.
O ran cefnogi'r gwaith o wella ansawdd gwasanaethau, rydym yn ariannu rhaglen gwella cartrefi gofal Cymru dros gyfnod o dair blynedd. Ei nod yw adeiladu amgylcheddau gofal cartref cefnogol sy'n symud oddi wrth y dull cydymffurfio o'r brig i lawr ac yn dechrau gyda'r hyn sy'n bwysig i bobl sy'n byw yn y cartrefi, pobl sy'n ymweld, neu bobl sy'n gweithio yn y cartref neu'n rheoli gwasanaeth cartref gofal. Fe'm trawyd gan yr hyn a ddywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders am natur fywiog y cartref gofal, a faint sy'n digwydd mewn cartref gofal mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r rhaglen hon yn ymwneud â phob rhan o'r sefydliad, gan gynnwys staff rheng flaen, preswylwyr a theuluoedd, i ddeall cyfraniad ei gilydd tuag at gyflawni canlyniadau i bobl.
Credaf hefyd fod y pwynt pwysig iawn hwnnw wedi'i wneud gan Janet Finch-Saunders ynghylch y cysylltiad rhwng yr ysbyty a'r cartref, oherwydd credaf mai yn ystod y cyfnodau pontio hynny y mae pethau'n digwydd, fel dannedd gosod yn mynd ar goll, a'r holl bethau hynod o bwysig sydd mor bwysig i fywydau pobl. Mae'r newid hwnnw'n hanfodol, felly rwy'n falch iawn eich bod wedi gwneud y pwyntiau hynny mor gryf. Yn sicr, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y credaf fod yn rhaid inni ei bwysleisio yn y gefnogaeth a roddwn i gartrefi gofal.
Felly, fel y dywedaf, mae rhaglen gwella cartrefi gofal Cymru yn ymgysylltu ar bob lefel. Rydym hefyd yn bwriadu cefnogi darparwyr cartrefi gofal drwy ddatblygu cyfleuster ar-lein fel rhan o wefan Dewis, a fydd yn caniatáu iddynt arddangos swyddi gwag mewn amser real. Gwelwn y manteision gwirioneddol yma o ran yr amser a arbedir ac ymgysylltiad â chomisiynwyr a chyfleoedd i farchnata eu gwasanaethau. Ond mae hyn yn ei gamau cynnar, a byddwn yn gweithio gyda darparwyr ac eraill ar ei ddatblygu.
Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn fod ychwanegu'r posibilrwydd o adael yr UE i mewn i'r gymysgedd yn creu ansicrwydd pellach i ddarparwyr. Roeddwn mewn fforwm heddiw lle roeddem yn trafod effeithiau gadael yr UE ar ddarparwyr cartrefi gofal ac mae cynnal ansawdd a chynaliadwyedd cartrefi gofal a darpariaeth gofal cymdeithasol arall yn brif flaenoriaeth drwy gydol y broses gythryblus hon. Felly, rydym yn cyflawni ystod o fesurau mewn cydweithrediad â threfniadau cynllunio wrth gefn ehangach, i gefnogi darparwyr ac i liniaru effaith gadael yr UE heb gytundeb. Dwy enghraifft sy'n arbennig o berthnasol i gartrefi gofal yw bwyd a chyflenwadau meddygol.
O ran bwyd, rydym wedi sefydlu trefniadau i ganiatáu i ddarparwyr roi gwybod yn gyflym ac yn hwylus am unrhyw darfu ar gyflenwad bwyd lleol i awdurdodau lleol. Yn eu tro, gallant hwy uwchgyfeirio'r mater i fforymau cydnerthedd lleol os oes angen. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn cymryd rhan lawn ym mhroses gynllunio Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer mewnforio a dosbarthu nwyddau hanfodol, gan gynnwys cyflenwadau meddygol a defnyddiau traul clinigol. Rydym wedi caffael capasiti storio ychwanegol, gan gynnwys darparu cyflenwad 12 i 15 wythnos o'r cynhyrchion hyn, a fydd yn helpu i gynyddu cydnerthedd yn y GIG yng Nghymru a'r gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol, gan fod y rhain yn faterion sy'n cael eu dwyn i'n sylw gan y darparwyr gofal cymdeithasol, a chredwn ei bod yn bwysig ceisio mynd i'r afael â'r materion hynny gymaint ag y gallwn.
Gan droi yn awr at ein partneriaid a'u cyfraniad, mae ein rheoleiddwyr, Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru a Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru, wedi gwneud gwaith sylweddol i weithredu'r fframwaith rheoleiddio a sefydlwyd gan Ddeddf Rheoleiddio ac Arolygu Gofal Cymdeithasol (Cymru) 2016. Fel rhan o'r broses o drosglwyddo i'r system reoleiddio newydd, mae'r arolygiaeth wedi ailgofrestru 1,550 o wasanaethau ers mis Ebrill diwethaf, ac mae hon yn gryn gamp ac yn ychwanegol at ei chyfrifoldebau a'i gweithgareddau arolygu o ddydd i ddydd. Rwy'n hynod falch o'r adborth cadarnhaol iawn a gafodd yr arolygiaeth ynglŷn â'r broses hon, a lefel y cymorth a roddodd gan ddarparwyr eu hunain.
Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth hon yn gyfle cyffrous i ni i gyd. Mae'n cydnabod rôl darparwyr gwasanaethau ac unigolion cyfrifol fel gweithwyr proffesiynol sy'n gyfrifol ac yn atebol am y gwasanaethau gofal a chymorth y maent yn eu darparu. Yn fwriadol, nid yw'n ceisio rheoli gwasanaethau hyd braich, ond mae'n galluogi darparwyr i ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn sy'n bwysig i unigolion, eu lles a'u canlyniadau personol. Bydd Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru a Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru yn cefnogi gwelliant drwy eu rolau rheoleiddio.
Crybwyllais bwysigrwydd y gweithlu'n gynharach, ac mae hynny wedi'i grybwyll gan Janet Finch-Saunders a chan Angela—pwysigrwydd y gweithlu. Rwy'n credu bod yna gonsensws fod angen i ni gael gwell dealltwriaeth o'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys mewn gwasanaethau cartrefi gofal. Mae Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru ac Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru yn datblygu strategaeth gweithlu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ar y cyd i nodi gofynion o ran capasiti a gallu ar hyn o bryd ac yn y dyfodol a sut y gellir diwallu'r rhain. Bydd hyn yn helpu i sicrhau bod gennym y nifer gywir o bobl yn gallu darparu gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol hyblyg ac ystwyth sy'n diwallu anghenion pobl Cymru. Gwn fod Angela wedi sôn am bwysigrwydd cael ffordd broffesiynol o gamu i fyny yn y gwasanaeth, ac mae hynny'n un o'r pethau rydym yn eu hystyried, oherwydd mae gwahaniaethu'n digwydd rhwng swyddi a wneir yn y gwasanaeth gofal cymdeithasol a swyddi a wneir yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, a mannau eraill hefyd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hwn yn un o'r meysydd y byddwn edrych arnynt.
Crybwyllwyd y gwasanaeth iechyd wrth gwrs. Mae gan awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd rôl allweddol yma hefyd, o ran eu cyfrifoldebau statudol ac fel comisiynwyr gwasanaethau cartrefi gofal. Gwn fod Janet wedi codi'r mater ar ddiwedd ei chyfraniad, a buaswn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech ysgrifennu ataf ynghylch yr hyn a ddigwyddodd gyda'r unigolyn a sut y digwyddodd y gwahaniaeth hwnnw. Mae'n rhaid i awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd weithio gyda darparwyr i sicrhau bod y gofal a'r cymorth cywir ar gael i ddiwallu anghenion pobl yn y cartref gofal y maent wedi'i gontractio i ddarparu gofal effeithiol. Rwyf hefyd yn disgwyl iddynt chwarae eu rhan i gefnogi cynaliadwyedd cartrefi gofal drwy dalu ffioedd sy'n ddyledus i'r darparwyr yn gyflym ac yn effeithlon er mwyn helpu i osgoi pwysau diangen ar y llif arian, sy'n gallu digwydd.
Y llynedd, cyhoeddwyd y pecyn cymorth 'Let's agree to agree' i helpu comisiynwyr a darparwyr gofal preswyl i bobl hŷn ar gyfer cytuno ar ffioedd priodol am leoliadau. Datblygwyd hyn mewn cydweithrediad â darparwyr a chomisiynwyr. Mae'r adborth cychwynnol gan awdurdodau lleol yn awgrymu bod y pecyn cymorth yn cael ei ystyried fel rhan o'u modelau ffioedd ar gyfer cartrefi gofal, gyda rhai'n ei fabwysiadu'n llawn neu'n rhannol. Cynhelir adolygiad manylach o'r pecyn cymorth gan y bwrdd comisiynu cenedlaethol y flwyddyn nesaf, ac rwyf am annog pob awdurdod lleol i ddefnyddio'r adnodd hwn. Yna, yn olaf, mae'r sector ei hun, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n berchen ar wasanaethau a'r bobl sy'n gweithio yn y gwasanaethau hynny, yn rhan annatod o ansawdd gwasanaethau cartrefi gofal yn ogystal â'u cynaliadwyedd yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i gydnabod yma ar ddiwedd fy nghyfraniad y cyfraniad sylweddol y maent wedi'i wneud i addasu i'r fframwaith rheoleiddio newydd ac i wneud eu cyfraniad eu hunain tuag at leihau pwysau costau a thrwy fuddsoddi yn y gweithlu.
Rwy'n gobeithio fy mod wedi gallu dangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio mewn sawl ffordd i gydnabod pwysigrwydd y gwasanaethau gofal cartref a bod gennym gynlluniau i geisio ehangu a chefnogi'r gweithlu ar adeg anodd ac ansicr iawn ar hyn o bryd. Ond rwy'n credu ein bod am orffen ar y nodyn optimistaidd a gafwyd gan Janet ar y cychwyn ynglŷn â'r gwasanaeth gwych a ddarperir mewn cymaint o gartrefi a'r arferion da iawn a geir. Roeddwn yn arbennig o werthfawrogol o'r sylwadau a wnaed gan Jayne Bryant hefyd a'i chyfeiriad at y gwaith gyda phobl â dementia, ac yn arbennig ei chyfeiriad at gôr Forget-me-not, oherwydd cefais brofiad personol o gôr Forget-me-not yn fy etholaeth yng Ngogledd Caerdydd. Fel y dywedodd Jayne, credaf fod gwrando ar gôr Forget-me-not yn un o'r profiadau mwyaf teimladwy a gewch. Gwn eu bod yn gweithio mewn nifer o gartrefi.
Rwyf hefyd yn ystyried yr argymhelliad y dylai fod modd cynnal clinigau yng nghartrefi awdurdodau lleol, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod angen rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd. Ac fel y dywedwyd, nid oes unrhyw reswm o gwbl pam na ddylai hynny ddigwydd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n digwydd mewn rhai lleoliadau gwirfoddol yng Nghaerdydd yn awr. Gwn fod yr awdurdod iechyd yn darparu clinigau mewn lleoliadau sector gwirfoddol. Po fwyaf o hynny y gellir ei wneud—oherwydd po agosaf y mae'n eu darparu at gartrefi, ac at gartrefi pobl eu hunain, mae'n eu gwneud yn fwy tebygol o fanteisio. Felly, rwyf am orffen yn awr. Rhaid inni barhau i gydweithio i sicrhau bod y sector hynod bwysig hwn yn ffynnu ac yn mynd o nerth i nerth wrth ddarparu'r gofal a'r cymorth gorau posibl i bobl yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you. That brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you.
Diolch. Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben. Diolch.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 19:14.
The meeting ended at 19:14.