Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
24/11/2020Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:29 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:29 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn y prynhawn yma. Cyn i ni ddechrau, dwi eisiau nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Cynhelir y cyfarfod yma ar ffurf hybrid, gyda rhai Aelodau yn Siambr y Senedd ac eraill yn ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo. Bydd yr Aelodau sy'n cymryd rhan yn nhrafodion y Senedd, ble bynnag y bônt, yn cael eu trin yn gyfartal. Mae Cyfarfod Llawn a gynhelir drwy gynhadledd fideo, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog Senedd Cymru, yn gyfystyr â thrafodion y Senedd at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw, ac mae'r rhain wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda. Dwi eisiau atgoffa Aelodau fod y Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn berthnasol i'r cyfarfod yma, ac yr un mor berthnasol i'r Aelodau sydd yn y Siambr ag i'r rhai sy'n ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo.
Welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. This meeting will be held in hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber,and others joining by video-conference. All Members participating in proceedings of the Senedd, wherever they are, will be treated equally. A Plenary meeting held using video-conference, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitutes Senedd proceedings for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's meeting, and these are noted on your agenda. I would remind Members that Standing Orders relating to order in Plenary meetings apply to this meeting, and apply equally to Members in the Chamber as to those joining virtually.
Felly, yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan John Griffiths.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from John Griffiths.
1. Beth yw dadansoddiad diweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru o nifer yr achosion o COVID-19 yn Nwyrain Casnewydd? OQ55943
1. What is the Welsh Government’s latest analysis of COVID-19 incidence in Newport East? OQ55943
Llywydd, I thank John Griffiths for that question. The Newport East constituency, as many areas of Wales, has seen a high incidence of coronavirus infection. A national firebreak was introduced to bring rates of incidence down across Wales. Some of the gains achieved are already being reversed in the post-firebreak period.
Lywydd, diolchaf i John Griffiths am y cwestiwn yna. Mae etholaeth Dwyrain Casnewydd, fel llawer o ardaloedd yng Nghymru, wedi gweld nifer fawr o achosion o haint coronafeirws. Cyflwynwyd cyfnod atal byr cenedlaethol i leihau cyfraddau digwyddedd ledled Cymru. Mae rhai o'r enillion a gyflawnwyd eisoes yn cael eu gwrthdroi yn y cyfnod ar ôl y cyfnod atal byr.
First Minister, I think there is concern at the latest statistics, and, obviously, we'll need to have a look at that—Welsh Government will need to have a close look at that. One aspect that's very concerning to my constituents is lost school time. In secondary schools. for example, whole year groups continue to self-isolate when one of the group has COVID-19, and learning at home does not make up for that lost time, and it is the most vulnerable who suffer the most. Practice seems to be different from one school and one local authority to another. So, First Minister, will Welsh Government work with local authorities, schools and unions to seek to reduce that lost school time, for example by looking at safety in schools, limiting contact between pupils so that fewer have to isolate when one has the virus, and enhanced testing at schools, to limit the damage to our children's education and the nation's future?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n credu bod pryder ynglŷn â'r ystadegau diweddaraf, ac, yn amlwg, bydd angen i ni edrych ar hynny—bydd angen i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych yn fanwl ar hynny. Un agwedd sy'n peri pryder mawr i'm hetholwyr i yw'r amser ysgol sy'n cael ei golli. Mewn ysgolion uwchradd. er enghraifft, mae grwpiau blwyddyn cyfan yn parhau i hunanynysu pan fydd gan un o'r grŵp COVID-19, ac nid yw dysgu gartref yn gwneud iawn am yr amser coll hwnnw, a'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed sy'n dioddef fwyaf. Mae'n ymddangos bod arferion yn wahanol o un ysgol ac un awdurdod lleol i'r llall. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, ysgolion ac undebau i geisio lleihau'r amser ysgol hwn a gollir, er enghraifft drwy edrych ar ddiogelwch mewn ysgolion, cyfyngu ar gyswllt rhwng disgyblion fel bod yn rhaid i lai ohonyn nhw ynysu pan fydd gan rywun y feirws, a threfn brofi well mewn ysgolion, i gyfyngu ar y niwed i addysg ein plant a dyfodol y genedl?
Well, Llywydd, let me thank John Griffiths for that. And, of course, I agree with him—the fact that we are seeing a reversal of some of the gains that we achieved through the firebreak is concerning, and it is particularly concerning because we know that the higher the incidence of coronavirus in the community, the greater the impact that has on schools, because the more coronavirus there is about, the more likely it is that adults will find themselves infected, and children as well. Now, it is right that local authorities and, indeed, headteachers and governing bodies have some flexibility to be able to respond to local circumstances, but nevertheless it is also a concern that there appears to be a disparity between the way in which some schools organise themselves to prevent the need for whole year groups to be isolated and different levels of risk are acceptable in different schools in Wales. Now, the Welsh Government has done a great deal already to make sure that front-line staff and people who are in charge of schools have access to advice through their local incidence management teams, through Public Health Wales, to try to get a more common understanding of the way in which these risks can be mitigated.
It is possible, Llywydd, that the new lateral flow tests, with their more immediate results, can be deployed in schools in future in another effort to prevent children from having to self-isolate when things could be done to prevent that from happening, for all the reasons that John Griffiths set out, which are the same set of reasons, Llywydd, why the Welsh Government has placed a priority on making sure that our children's education is protected even at this most challenging time.
Wel, Llywydd, gadewch i mi ddiolch i John Griffiths am hynna. Ac, wrth gwrs, rwy'n cytuno ag ef—mae'r ffaith ein bod ni'n gweld rhai o'r enillion a gyflawnwyd gennym ni drwy'r cyfnod atal byr yn cael eu gwrthdroi yn peri pryder, ac mae'n peri pryder arbennig gan ein bod ni'n gwybod po'r uchaf yw nifer yr achosion o coronafeirws yn y gymuned, y mwyaf yw'r effaith y mae hynny yn ei chael ar ysgolion, oherwydd y mwyaf o coronafeirws sydd o gwmpas, y mwyaf tebygol yw hi y bydd oedolion yn cael eu heintio, a phlant hefyd. Nawr, mae'n iawn bod gan awdurdodau lleol ac, yn wir, penaethiaid a chyrff llywodraethu rywfaint o hyblygrwydd i allu ymateb i amgylchiadau lleol, ond serch hynny mae hefyd yn bryder ei bod yn ymddangos bod gwahaniaeth rhwng y ffordd y mae rhai ysgolion yn trefnu eu hunain i atal yr angen i grwpiau blwyddyn gyfan fod wedi eu hynysu a bod gwahanol lefelau o risg yn dderbyniol mewn gwahanol ysgolion yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi gwneud llawer iawn i sicrhau bod staff rheng flaen a phobl sy'n gyfrifol am ysgolion yn gallu cael cyngor drwy eu timau rheoli digwyddedd lleol, drwy Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, i geisio cael dealltwriaeth fwy cyffredin o'r ffordd y gellir lliniaru'r risgiau hyn.
Mae'n bosibl, Llywydd, y gellir defnyddio'r profion llif ochrol newydd, gyda'u canlyniadau mwy uniongyrchol, mewn ysgolion yn y dyfodol mewn ymdrech arall i atal plant rhag gorfod hunanynysu pan ellid gwneud pethau i atal hynny rhag digwydd, am yr holl resymau a nodwyd gan John Griffiths, sydd yr un gyfres o resymau, Llywydd, pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi blaenoriaeth i wneud yn siŵr bod addysg ein plant yn cael ei diogelu hyd yn oed yn ystod y cyfnod anodd dros ben hwn.
First Minister, following on from John Griffiths's question, I'd like to say that I've also been contacted by a number of worried parents in the Newport constituency area, because, currently, as it stands, there are 1,000 pupils isolating from Caerleon Comprehensive School, my old school. Years 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13 are all off at the moment, which is beyond comprehension really. Obviously, year groups have to stay off if there are enough cases and there's a reason to stay off, but there are schools in other counties with just one case, as is the case in these year groups being off, where they just do the track and trace, like in Monmouthshire County Council, and just keep 15 pupils off rather than whole year groups. Parents are obviously very concerned at this, because obviously it affects their jobs, it affects the children's well-being, mental health, and their education, obviously. So, I'd be really appreciative if you could do all you can and maybe firm up the Government guidelines to schools because at the moment, as you said, there is a massive postcode lottery in education right now happening in Wales. And also, whilst you're at it, if you could also—. You've said to schools recently, about wearing masks, 'That you can wear them if you want to.' Maybe Government guidelines should be stronger so that, in everything, there's consistency right across the board in Wales in our schools; it's very confusing for them. Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, yn dilyn cwestiwn John Griffiths, hoffwn ddweud bod nifer o rieni pryderus yn ardal etholaeth Casnewydd wedi cysylltu â mi hefyd, oherwydd, ar hyn o bryd, fel y mae pethau'n sefyll, mae 1,000 o ddisgyblion yn ynysu o Ysgol Gyfun Caerllion, fy hen ysgol i. Mae Blynyddoedd 7, 8, 9, 12 a 13 i gyd i ffwrdd ar hyn o bryd, sydd y tu hwnt i ddealltwriaeth mewn gwirionedd. Yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid i grwpiau blwyddyn aros i ffwrdd os oes digon o achosion a bod rheswm dros aros i ffwrdd, ond ceir ysgolion mewn siroedd eraill sydd ag un achos yn unig, fel sy'n wir yn y grwpiau blwyddyn hyn sydd i ffwrdd, lle maen nhw'n dilyn y drefn olrhain, fel yng Nghyngor Sir Fynwy, ac yn cadw 15 disgybl yn unig i ffwrdd yn hytrach na grwpiau blwyddyn cyfan. Yn amlwg, mae rhieni yn pryderu'n fawr am hyn, oherwydd mae'n amlwg ei fod yn effeithio ar eu swyddi, mae'n effeithio ar lesiant y plant, eu hiechyd meddwl, a'u haddysg, yn amlwg. Felly, byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi'n fawr pe gallech chi wneud popeth o fewn eich gallu ac efallai gwneud canllawiau'r Llywodraeth yn fwy pendant i ysgolion oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, fel y dywedasoch, mae loteri cod post enfawr mewn addysg yn digwydd yng Nghymru nawr. A hefyd, tra byddwch chi'n gwneud hynny, pe gallech chi hefyd—. Rydych chi wedi dweud wrth ysgolion yn ddiweddar, ynglŷn â gwisgo masgiau, 'Y cewch chi eu gwisgo nhw os ydych chi'n dymuno.' Efallai y dylai canllawiau'r Llywodraeth fod yn gryfach fel bod cysondeb, ym mhopeth, yn gyffredinol yng Nghymru yn ein hysgolion; mae'n ddryslyd iawn iddyn nhw. Diolch.
Well, Llywydd, I think the guidance on mask wearing in schools has been strengthened just in the last week, and the Minister for Education provided more direction to schools, particularly secondary schools, as to how masks can be worn in corridors and in other crowded settings. But I share a lot of the concerns of the Member's question—that different decisions are being made in different parts of Wales, despite the strengthened assistance that the Welsh Government has mobilised so that headteachers and others can have advice directly from public health expertise in reaching the very difficult and challenging decisions that they make; I don't minimise the challenge that schools face.
There is a correlation between the extent to which coronavirus is in circulation in any community and the impact on schools, and that helps to explain some of the difference, but it doesn't, in my mind, explain it all. I am very keen that schools make every effort both in the way they organise themselves internally and in the decisions that they make to put a priority on keeping as many young people in schools as it is safe to do. Because otherwise, as John Griffiths said in his question, their education suffers, and those who need that assistance the most, miss it the most when it's not available to them.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod y canllawiau ar wisgo masgiau mewn ysgolion newydd gael eu cryfhau yn ystod yr wythnos ddiwethaf, a rhoddodd y Gweinidog Addysg fwy o gyfarwyddyd i ysgolion, yn enwedig ysgolion uwchradd, ynghylch sut y gellir gwisgo masgiau mewn coridorau ac mewn mannau prysur eraill. Ond rwy'n rhannu llawer o bryderon cwestiwn yr Aelod—bod gwahanol benderfyniadau yn cael eu gwneud mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, er gwaethaf y cymorth cryfach y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei ddarparu fel y gall penaethiaid ac eraill gael cyngor yn uniongyrchol gan arbenigedd iechyd y cyhoedd wrth wneud y penderfyniadau anodd a heriol iawn y maen nhw'n eu gwneud; nid wyf i'n bychanu'r her y mae ysgolion yn ei hwynebu.
Mae cydberthynas rhwng i ba raddau y mae coronafeirws mewn cylchrediad mewn unrhyw gymuned a'r effaith ar ysgolion, ac mae hynny yn helpu i esbonio rhywfaint o'r gwahaniaeth, ond nid yw'n esbonio'r cyfan, yn fy marn i. Rwy'n awyddus iawn bod ysgolion yn gwneud pob ymdrech yn y ffordd y maen nhw'n trefnu eu hunain yn fewnol ac yn y penderfyniadau y maen nhw'n eu gwneud i roi blaenoriaeth i gadw cynifer o bobl ifanc mewn ysgolion ag y mae'n ddiogel i'w wneud. Oherwydd fel arall, fel y dywedodd John Griffiths yn ei gwestiwn, mae eu haddysg yn dioddef, ac mae'r rhai sydd angen y cymorth hwnnw fwyaf, yn ei golli fwyaf pan nad yw ar gael iddyn nhw.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog lunio cynllun ar gyfer dod â chwaraeon tîm amatur yn ôl yng Nghymru? OQ55907
2. Will the First Minister produce a road map for the return of amateur team sports in Wales? OQ55907
Llywydd, the Welsh Government has published guidance for a phased return of sporting activities. National governing bodies in Wales, such as the Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union, provide specific guidance and action plans for their sports and have oversight of those organised activities.
Llywydd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau ar gyfer gweithgareddau chwaraeon i ddod yn ôl gam wrth gam. Mae cyrff llywodraethu cenedlaethol yng Nghymru, fel Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ac Undeb Rygbi Cymru, yn darparu canllawiau a chynlluniau gweithredu penodol ar gyfer eu campau ac yn goruchwylio'r gweithgareddau a drefnir hynny.
I'm speaking as someone who spends a lot of his Saturdays, normally, watching football and rugby—mainly local teams. Can I just talk about the two most popular winter team sports—football and rugby? When do the Welsh Government believe they can realistically expect to be able to commence competitive fixtures? And I realise that football will be able to start before rugby, because rugby has much more physical contact.
Rwy'n siarad fel rhywun sy'n treulio llawer o'i ddydd Sadwrn, fel rheol, yn gwylio pêl-droed a rygbi—timau lleol yn bennaf. A gaf i sôn am ddwy gamp tîm mwyaf poblogaidd y gaeaf—pêl-droed a rygbi? Pryd mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn credu y gallan nhw ddisgwyl yn realistig allu cychwyn gemau cystadleuol? Ac rwy'n sylweddoli y bydd pêl-droed yn gallu dechrau cyn rygbi, oherwydd ceir llawer mwy o gyswllt corfforol wrth chwarae rygbi.
Llywydd, I know that we all look forward—and I know Mike Hedges does, in all the things that he does locally to support teams in the Swansea area—to the day when those teams will be able to resume. We have established a national sports group, through Sports Wales, bringing the Welsh Government, the governing bodies and others together, to consider requests from the national governing bodies to allow competitive leagues to resume. The group will meet again tomorrow to consider the first batch of applications. The FAW has asked the tier 2 of the Cymru leagues—that's north and south—should return to competition first. So, we do have a mechanism now in Wales to unlock sports, when it is safe to do so. And that final clause is the most important one of all, Llywydd—that it is the state of coronavirus, it is the state of a public health emergency, that has to be the lens through which we view all the applications that there are for the reopening of amateur sport. But we have a mechanism now to make sure that those requests are properly and roundly considered.
Llywydd, gwn ein bod ni i gyd yn edrych ymlaen—a gwn fod Mike Hedges yn edrych ymlaen, yn yr holl bethau y mae'n eu gwneud yn lleol i gefnogi timau yn ardal Abertawe—i'r diwrnod y bydd y timau hynny yn gallu ailddechrau. Rydym ni wedi sefydlu grŵp chwaraeon cenedlaethol, drwy Chwaraeon Cymru, gan ddod â Llywodraeth Cymru, y cyrff llywodraethu ac eraill at ei gilydd, i ystyried ceisiadau gan y cyrff llywodraethu cenedlaethol i ganiatáu i gynghreiriau cystadleuol ailddechrau. Bydd y grŵp yn cyfarfod eto yfory i ystyried y gyfres gyntaf o geisiadau. Mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru wedi gofyn y dylai haen 2 cynghreiriau Cymru—sef y gogledd a'r de—ddychwelyd i gystadleuaeth gyntaf. Felly, mae gennym ni ddull yng Nghymru bellach i ddatgloi chwaraeon, pan ei bod yn ddiogel i wneud hynny. A'r cymal olaf hwnnw yw'r un pwysicaf oll, Llywydd—mai'r sefyllfa o ran coronafeirws, y sefyllfa o ran argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus, yw'r lens y mae'n rhaid i ni ystyried yr holl geisiadau a gyflwynir ar gyfer ailagor chwaraeon amatur drwyddi. Ond mae gennym ni ddull bellach i sicrhau bod y ceisiadau hynny yn cael eu hystyried yn briodol ac yn gytbwys.
First Minister, I was pleased to hear you just say that you're looking at ways to—I think this was the expression you used—'unlock sports' during this time of the pandemic. As we know, during lockdowns and firebreaks, physical activity and sport are all important. So, in response to Mike Hedges's initial question, and if I could follow up in two ways, first of all, what are you doing to make sure that younger people, in particular, are able to engage in sports at this time? They've been particularly hard hit, and we know that younger people are affected by mental health issues in the same way that older people are too. And secondly, I had at a recent meeting at Chepstow racecourse, in my constituency, and they were very concerned about when racecourses are going to be allowed to operate, at least in some limited fashion, in the future. So, I wonder if you could answer those two strands. Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, roeddwn i'n falch o'ch clywed chi'n dweud eich bod chi'n edrych ar ffyrdd o—rwy'n credu mai dyma'r ymadrodd a ddefnyddiwyd gennych chi—'ddatgloi chwaraeon' yn ystod y cyfnod hwn o'r pandemig. Fel y gwyddom, yn ystod cyfyngiadau symud a chyfnodau atal byr, mae gweithgarwch corfforol a chwaraeon i gyd yn bwysig. Felly, mewn ymateb i gwestiwn cychwynnol Mike Hedges, ac os gallwn i fynd ar drywydd hyn mewn dwy ffordd, yn gyntaf oll, beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod pobl iau, yn arbennig, yn gallu cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon ar hyn o bryd? Maen nhw wedi cael eu taro yn arbennig o galed, ac rydym ni'n gwybod bod materion iechyd meddwl yn effeithio ar bobl iau yn yr un modd â phobl hŷn hefyd. Ac yn ail, cefais gyfarfod diweddar yng nghwrs rasio Cas-gwent, yn fy etholaeth i, ac roedden nhw'n bryderus iawn ynghylch pryd y bydd cyrsiau rasio yn cael caniatâd i weithredu, o leiaf mewn rhyw ffordd gyfyngedig, yn y dyfodol. Felly, tybed a allech chi ateb y ddwy elfen hynny. Diolch.
Well, thank you, Llywydd, and I thank Nick Ramsay for that. Sport for children under the age of 18 has a more liberal set of rules and it's more possible for that to happen, and we've done our best to try and maximise the opportunity for youth sport to be continued, even in the most difficult periods of coronavirus.
As to racecourse reopening, there were earlier in the year, as I know Nick Ramsay will know, a small number of pilot reopenings of racecourses in England, and we will work with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, at the UK Government level, in any programme of pilots that may now resume in England. We looked carefully to see whether there was any virtue in having a Welsh pilot in the horse-racing field, but the conclusion was we probably wouldn't learn anything very different that we could not learn from the pilots that were being conducted elsewhere. So, we will continue to work closely with DCMS. There are some new pilots that are proposed and, if they find a pathway to the safe reopening of more parts of sporting life to crowds turning up who enjoy horse-racing and other sports, then we will want to be part of that, where it is safe for us to do so.
Wel, diolch, Llywydd, a diolchaf i Nick Ramsay am hynna. Mae gan chwaraeon i blant dan 18 oed gyfres fwy haelfrydig o reolau ac mae'n fwy posibl i hynny ddigwydd, ac rydym ni wedi gwneud ein gorau i geisio sicrhau cymaint o gyfleoedd â phosibl i barhau â chwaraeon ieuenctid, hyd yn oed yn y cyfnodau anoddaf o coronafeirws.
O ran ailagor cyrsiau rasio, cafwyd nifer fach o ailagoriadau arbrofol o gyrsiau rasio yn Lloegr yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn, fel y gwn y bydd Nick Ramsay yn ei wybod, a byddwn yn gweithio gyda'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon, ar lefel Llywodraeth y DU, mewn unrhyw raglen o gynlluniau arbrofol a allai ailddechrau yn Lloegr bellach. Fe wnaethom edrych yn ofalus i weld a oedd unrhyw rinwedd o gael cynllun arbrofol yng Nghymru ym maes rasio ceffylau, ond y casgliad oedd na fyddem ni, yn ôl pob tebyg, yn dysgu unrhyw beth gwahanol iawn na allem ni ei ddysgu o'r cynlluniau arbrofol a oedd yn cael eu cynnal mewn mannau eraill. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda'r Adran dros Dechnoleg Ddigidol, Diwylliant, y Cyfryngau a Chwaraeon. Ceir rhai cynlluniau arbrofol newydd sydd yn yr arfaeth ac, os byddan nhw'n dod o hyd i lwybr i ailagor mwy o rannau o fywyd chwaraeon yn ddiogel i dorfeydd sy'n dod ac yn mwynhau rasio ceffylau a chwaraeon eraill, yna byddwn ni eisiau bod yn rhan o hynny, pan fo'n ddiogel i ni wneud hynny.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Questions now from the party leaders. The Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, in what has been the toughest year in living memory for so many of us, I'm sure we all look forward to a happier new year and, before then, to spending time with friends and family over Christmas. A compassionate but responsible approach to a limited relaxation of restrictions over the holiday period seems sensible. However, it's also crucial that we don't lose the hard-gotten gains of the last few months for the sake of four or five days, and people must, therefore, know that any relaxation also comes with risks, especially in the context of the reversal, potentially, that you were referring to earlier. Can you say what scientific modelling is being used to inform the discussions on a four-nation approach to the Christmas period, and what's your understanding of the likely impact of any easing of restrictions? Given that individual behaviour will be a crucial factor in determining what follows the Christmas break, will the Welsh Government launch a public information campaign, such as the powerful campaigns we see each year on drink-driving over the festive period, encouraging people to follow the guidelines so that we can all enjoy a better 2021?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, yn y flwyddyn anoddaf mewn cof byw i gynifer ohonom ni, rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn edrych ymlaen at flwyddyn newydd hapusach a, chyn hynny, at dreulio amser gyda ffrindiau a theulu dros y Nadolig. Mae dull tosturiol ond cyfrifol o lacio cyfyngiadau ar sail gyfyngedig dros gyfnod y gwyliau yn ymddangos yn synhwyrol. Fodd bynnag, mae'n hanfodol hefyd nad ydym ni'n colli'r enillion y gweithiwyd mor galed i'w sicrhau dros y misoedd diwethaf dim ond er mwyn cael pedwar neu bum diwrnod, ac felly mae'n rhaid i bobl wybod bod risg yn gysylltiedig ag unrhyw lacio hefyd, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun y gwrthdroi, o bosibl, yr oeddech chi'n cyfeirio ato yn gynharach. A allwch chi ddweud pa fodelu gwyddonol sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio i lywio'r trafodaethau ar ddull pedair gwlad o ymdrin â chyfnod y Nadolig, a beth yw eich dealltwriaeth o effaith debygol unrhyw lacio cyfyngiadau? O gofio y bydd ymddygiad unigolion yn ffactor hollbwysig o ran penderfynu ar yr hyn fydd yn dilyn gwyliau'r Nadolig, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru lansio ymgyrch gwybodaeth i'r cyhoedd, fel yr ymgyrchoedd grymus yr ydym ni'n eu gweld bob blwyddyn ar yfed a gyrru dros gyfnod yr ŵyl, gan annog pobl i ddilyn y canllawiau fel y gallwn ni i gyd fwynhau gwell 2021?
Well, Llywydd, I thank Adam Price for that, and I think he put it very well, that, while, for many people, having an opportunity to meet with family and friends over the festive period is very important, we have to balance so many things in allowing that to happen. Now, there will be a COBRA meeting later this afternoon, which will be the latest coming together of the four nations of the United Kingdom, to fashion a common approach to Christmas, and I'm very hopeful that we will be able to make further progress on that this afternoon. The modelling that we have available to us there comes through SAGE.
When we met on Saturday, we specifically asked the four chief medical officers to meet between the Saturday meeting and the meeting later today to give us further advice on a number of aspects of potential easing over Christmas that we rehearsed in the Saturday meeting, and that will be available to us this afternoon. But, I agree with the point that Adam Price made that, whatever additional freedom we are able to offer over the Christmas period will have to be used responsibly by people. The fact that a relaxation is possible is not an instruction to go and spend the whole of that period doing risky things, and the leader of Plaid Cymru asked what the impact of any relaxation over Christmas would be, and while I don't have a quantifiable answer to that at the moment, the general answer is very clear: it will lead to more spreading of coronavirus, because coronavirus thrives when people get together, and the more people get together, the more coronavirus there will be. It's why, Llywydd, I have been arguing in the meetings we have had for a focus not just on a small number of days at Christmas itself, but on decisions we need to take in the lead-up to Christmas, and how we will deal with the aftermath, and to try to do that on a broadly common basis as well.
On the information campaign—the final question—the Welsh Government has an information campaign planned. It will do many of the things that Adam Price mentioned in trying to drive home to people the consequences of people's behaviour, and the ways in which, by doing the right things, we can all make a contribution to having a Christmas that we can enjoy without running those undue risks.
Wel, Llywydd, diolchaf i Adam Price am hynna, ac rwy'n credu ei fod wedi cyfleu yn dda iawn, er bod cael cyfle, i lawer o bobl, i gyfarfod â theulu a ffrindiau dros gyfnod yr ŵyl yn bwysig iawn, bod yn rhaid i ni gydbwyso cynifer o bethau wrth ganiatáu i hynny ddigwydd. Nawr, bydd cyfarfod COBRA yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, sef y cyfarfod diweddaraf rhwng pedair gwlad y Deyrnas Unedig, i lunio dull cyffredin o ymdrin â'r Nadolig, ac rwy'n obeithiol iawn y byddwn ni'n gallu gwneud cynnydd pellach ar hynny y prynhawn yma. Mae'r modelu sydd ar gael i ni yno yn dod drwy SAGE.
Pan gawsom ni gyfarfod ddydd Sadwrn, fe wnaethom ni ofyn yn benodol i'r pedwar prif swyddog meddygol gyfarfod rhwng y cyfarfod dydd Sadwrn a'r cyfarfod yn ddiweddarach heddiw i roi cyngor pellach i ni ar nifer o agweddau ar lacio posibl dros y Nadolig a drafodwyd gennym ni yn y cyfarfod ddydd Sadwrn, a bydd hynny ar gael i ni y prynhawn yma. Ond, rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt a wnaeth Adam Price y bydd yn rhaid i bobl ddefnyddio pa bynnag ryddid ychwanegol y gallwn ni ei gynnig dros gyfnod y Nadolig yn gyfrifol. Nid yw'r ffaith bod llacio yn bosibl yn gyfarwyddyd i fynd i dreulio'r holl gyfnod hwnnw yn gwneud pethau peryglus, a gofynnodd arweinydd Plaid Cymru beth fyddai effaith unrhyw lacio dros y Nadolig, ac er nad oes gen i ateb mesuradwy i hynny ar hyn o bryd, mae'r ateb cyffredinol yn eglur iawn: bydd yn arwain at fwy o ledaenu coronafeirws, oherwydd mae coronafeirws yn ffynnu pan fydd pobl yn dod at ei gilydd, a'r mwyaf o bobl sy'n dod at ei gilydd, y mwyaf o coronafeirws fydd yno. Dyna pam, Llywydd, yr wyf i wedi bod yn dadlau yn y cyfarfodydd yr ydym ni wedi eu cael dros bwyslais nid yn unig ar nifer fach o ddyddiau adeg y Nadolig ei hun, ond ar benderfyniadau y mae angen i ni eu gwneud yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig, a sut y byddwn ni'n ymdrin â'r canlyniadau, ac i geisio gwneud hynny ar sail gyffredin ar y cyfan hefyd.
O ran yr ymgyrch wybodaeth—y cwestiwn olaf—mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ymgyrch wybodaeth wedi'i chynllunio. Bydd yn gwneud llawer o'r pethau y soniodd Adam Price amdanyn nhw o ran ceisio gwneud pobl yn gwbl ymwybodol o ganlyniadau ymddygiad pobl, a'r ffyrdd y gallwn ni i gyd, drwy wneud y pethau iawn, wneud cyfraniad at gael Nadolig y gallwn ni ei fwynhau heb gymryd y risgiau gormodol hynny.
On Saturday, Merthyr Tydfil became the first county in Wales to pilot mass testing, but on the same day, COVID cases per 100,000 of the population in a seven-day period were higher in Blaenau Gwent and Neath Port Talbot. This highlights an inconsistency currently in the way we're dealing with areas of high COVID transmission. When we supported the firebreak, it was on the condition that the test and trace system would be upgraded, accelerated and expanded to include the testing of asymptomatic individuals.
Small independent nations, as we've referred earlier, like Slovakia, have successfully rolled out a nationwide mass testing programme. China has been conducting mass testing of three cities over the weekend. We'd like to see it rolled out in more target areas, supported by an increased £800 isolation payment. When, First Minister, will we be able to turn the Merthyr pilot into a wider programme of mass rapid testing in Wales?
Ddydd Sadwrn, Merthyr Tudful oedd y sir gyntaf yng Nghymru i dreialu profion torfol, ond ar yr un diwrnod, roedd yr achosion COVID fesul 100,000 o'r boblogaeth mewn cyfnod o saith diwrnod yn uwch ym Mlaenau Gwent a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot. Mae hyn yn tynnu sylw at anghysondeb ar hyn o bryd yn y ffordd yr ydym ni'n ymdrin ag ardaloedd lle ceir trosglwyddiad uchel o COVID. Pan wnaethom ni gefnogi'r cyfnod atal byr, roedd hynny ar yr amod y byddai'r system brofi ac olrhain yn cael ei huwchraddio, ei chyflymu a'i hehangu i gynnwys profi unigolion asymptomatig.
Mae gwledydd annibynnol bach, fel yr ydym ni wedi sôn yn gynharach, fel Slofacia, wedi llwyddo i gyflwyno rhaglen profion torfol genedlaethol. Mae Tsieina wedi bod yn cynnal profion torfol mewn tair dinas dros y penwythnos. Hoffem ni ei weld yn cael ei gyflwyno mewn mwy o ardaloedd targed, wedi'i ategu gan daliad ynysu uwch o £800. Pryd, Prif Weinidog, fyddwn ni'n gallu troi cynllun arbrofol Merthyr yn rhaglen ehangach o brofion cyflym torfol yng Nghymru?
Well, Llywydd, I think it's just important to remind Members that when Merthyr was identified as the first place where we would carry out a mass testing experiment in Wales, it was—as it was for a number of days—by far the largest area of incidence of coronavirus. Others have overtaken it in the meantime but, in the planning, you've got to start with the figures that are in front of you at that time.
I know there will be a question later this afternoon, Llywydd, but just to say that the early days of mass testing in Merthyr have gone very well and are a tribute to the actions of local organisations, but also citizens, in that area. We will learn a lot from doing it; we can be sure of that. We are already learning things from these very early days. There are already proposals for expanding mass testing into other areas. There will be choices to be made, Llywydd, and they won't be easy choices either.
I referred in my answer to the first question to the fact that we might be able to use lateral flow tests to assist in preventing children from being asked to self-isolate in the school setting. We talked, I think, last week on the floor of the Senedd about using lateral flow devices to allow visits to care homes, and we could use lateral flow devices to have a greater scope of mass testing in Wales.
But there is a finite number of them. We expect to have around 90,000 of them a day available to us here in Wales, but they would very soon be used up from a number of the purposes that I have just outlined. So, it will be a balancing act. It'll be trying to prioritise where we use them. There will be some more opportunities for further mass testing, but there will be other important purposes for which that finite supply of such tests can also be deployed in Wales.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig atgoffa'r Aelodau, pan nodwyd Merthyr fel y man cyntaf lle byddem ni'n cynnal arbrawf profi torfol yng Nghymru, dyna oedd yr ardal â'r mwyaf o achosion o coronafeirws o bell ffordd—ac roedd hynny yn wir am fifer o ddyddiau. Mae eraill wedi ei goddiweddyd yn y cyfamser ond, wrth gynllunio, mae'n rhaid i chi ddechrau gyda'r ffigurau sydd o'ch blaen chi ar yr adeg honno.
Gwn y bydd cwestiwn yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, Llywydd, ond dim ond i ddweud bod dyddiau cynnar profion torfol ym Merthyr wedi mynd yn dda iawn a'u bod nhw'n deyrnged i weithredoedd sefydliadau lleol, ond hefyd dinasyddion, yn yr ardal honno. Byddwn ni'n dysgu llawer o'i wneud; gallwn fod yn siŵr o hynny. Rydym ni eisoes yn dysgu pethau o'r dyddiau cynnar iawn hyn. Ceir cynigion eisoes ar gyfer ehangu profion torfol i ardaloedd eraill. Bydd dewisiadau i'w gwneud, Llywydd, ac ni fyddan nhw'n ddewisiadau hawdd ychwaith.
Cyfeiriais yn fy ateb i'r cwestiwn cyntaf at y ffaith y gallem ni efallai ddefnyddio profion llif ochrol i gynorthwyo i atal plant rhag cael cais i hunanynysu yn yr ysgol. Buom yn siarad, rwy'n credu, yr wythnos diwethaf ar lawr y Senedd am ddefnyddio dyfeisiau llif ochrol i ganiatáu ymweliadau â chartrefi gofal, a gallem ni ddefnyddio dyfeisiau llif ochrol i gael mwy o gyfle i gynnal profion torfol yng Nghymru.
Ond nifer cyfyngedig sydd gennym ohonynt. Rydym ni'n disgwyl y bydd gennym ni tua 90,000 ohonyn nhw y dydd ar gael i ni yma yng Nghymru, ond bydden nhw'n cael eu defnyddio yn fuan iawn o nifer o'r dibenion yr wyf i newydd eu hamlinellu. Felly, bydd yn fater o gydbwyso. Bydd yn fater o geisio blaenoriaethu lle'r ydym ni'n eu defnyddio. Bydd mwy o gyfleoedd ar gyfer profion torfol pellach, ond bydd dibenion pwysig eraill y gellir defnyddio'r cyflenwad cyfyngedig hwnnw o brofion o'r fath ar eu cyfer yng Nghymru hefyd.
Turning to matters vaccine-related, where we've had some further good news recently, just 10 days after we heard the first bit of encouraging news in relation to the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine proving to be 90 per cent effective in trials, the Scottish Government's health Secretary presented a comprehensive roll-out plan to the Holyrood Parliament. In that statement, they confirmed the first vaccinations would be available to health and social care staff, older care home residents, and those over 80 years old who live in the community. The next phase then would be for those over 65 and those under 65 who are at additional clinical risk, followed by the wider population over the age of 18.
They hope to have 320,000 doses of that vaccine to deploy in the first two weeks of December, subject to regulatory approval, with an ambition to vaccinate 1 million citizens by the end of the January. The health Secretary there said Scotland is ready for December. December is only a week away. Can the First Minister confirm that Wales, too, is ready, and if so, when can we expect to see details of the Welsh Government's vaccination roll-out programme, including a timeline of who will be vaccinated when?
Gan droi at faterion sy'n gysylltiedig â brechlynnau, lle'r ydym ni wedi cael rhagor o newyddion da yn ddiweddar, dim ond 10 diwrnod ar ôl i ni glywed y darn cyntaf o newyddion calonogol o ran y ffaith fod brechlyn Pfizer a BioNTech 90 y cant yn effeithiol mewn treialon, cyflwynodd Ysgrifennydd Iechyd Llywodraeth yr Alban gynllun cyflwyno cynhwysfawr i Senedd Holyrood. Yn y datganiad hwnnw, cadarnhawyd y byddai'r brechiadau cyntaf ar gael i staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, preswylwyr cartrefi gofal hŷn, a'r rhai dros 80 oed sy'n byw yn y gymuned. Y cam nesaf wedyn fyddai ar gyfer y rhai dros 65 oed a'r rhai o dan 65 oed sydd mewn perygl clinigol ychwanegol, ac yna'r boblogaeth ehangach dros 18 oed.
Maen nhw'n gobeithio cael 320,000 dos o'r brechlyn hwnnw i'w defnyddio yn ystod pythefnos cyntaf mis Rhagfyr, yn amodol ar gymeradwyaeth reoleiddiol, gydag uchelgais i frechu 1 filiwn o ddinasyddion erbyn diwedd mis Ionawr. Dywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd iechyd yno bod yr Alban yn barod ar gyfer mis Rhagfyr. Dim ond wythnos i ffwrdd yw mis Rhagfyr. A all y Prif Weinidog gadarnhau bod Cymru hefyd yn barod, ac os felly, pryd gallwn ni ddisgwyl gweld manylion rhaglen cyflwyno brechiadau Llywodraeth Cymru, gan gynnwys llinell amser o bwy fydd yn cael eu brechu a phryd?
Llywydd, on the who will be vaccinated and when, we have already said that we will follow the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advice in relation to prioritisation. That advice is still being refined on the basis of the emerging evidence of which of the vaccines that are being reported are most suitable for different groups within the population. We have a very active planning group that began work back in May of this year and has met regularly throughout the crisis to make sure that we are well equipped for deploying the vaccines as they become available to us in Wales. We have tried, during the whole crisis, Llywydd, to follow this basic premise in Wales, that we plan first and when we have a plan that we think is useable and workable, then we publish it for people to see, rather than a series of ambitions that then turn out not to be deliverable because the ambitions are inevitably founded on information that is not as reliable as you need for a purposeful plan that you can deliver in practice.
When it comes to it, I doubt very much that the JCVI prioritisation list will be very different to the one that Mr Price recounted from the Scottish Government, but we will wait for a short while—it will only be a short while—until we have that further and reliable information about the numbers of vaccines that we will have available to us, the nature of those vaccines, the priority groups to which they will be deployed, and then, of course, we will make sure that that is made public as soon as we're able to so that people in Wales have, as I say, not a series of ambitions but a practical plan that they can rely on.
Llywydd, o ran pwy fydd yn cael eu brechu a phryd, rydym ni eisoes wedi dweud y byddwn ni'n dilyn cyngor y Cydbwyllgor ar Frechu ac Imiwneiddio o ran blaenoriaethu. Mae'r cyngor hwnnw yn dal i gael ei fireinio ar sail y dystiolaeth sy'n dod i'r amlwg o ba rai o'r brechlynnau sy'n cael eu hadrodd sydd fwyaf addas ar gyfer gwahanol grwpiau o fewn y boblogaeth. Mae gennym ni grŵp cynllunio gweithgar iawn a ddechreuodd weithio yn ôl ym mis Mai eleni ac mae wedi cyfarfod yn rheolaidd drwy gydol yr argyfwng i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni mewn sefyllfa dda i ddefnyddio'r brechlynnau wrth iddyn nhw ddod ar gael i ni yng Nghymru. Rydym ni wedi ceisio, yn ystod yr holl argyfwng, Llywydd, dilyn y rhagosodiad sylfaenol hwn yng Nghymru, ein bod ni'n cynllunio yn gyntaf a phan fydd gennym ni gynllun yr ydym ni'n credu sy'n ddefnyddiol ac yn ymarferol, yna rydym ni'n ei gyhoeddi i bobl ei weld, yn hytrach na chyfres o uchelgeisiau nad oes modd eu cyflawni wedyn gan fod yr uchelgeisiau wedi eu seilio yn anochel ar wybodaeth nad yw mor ddibynadwy ag y mae ei hangen arnoch ar gyfer cynllun pwrpasol y gallwch chi ei gyflawni yn ymarferol.
Yn y pen draw, rwy'n amau'n fawr y bydd rhestr flaenoriaethu'r Cydbwyllgor ar Frechu ac Imiwneiddio yn wahanol iawn i'r un y cyfeiriodd Mr Price ato gan Lywodraeth yr Alban, ond byddwn yn aros am gyfnod byr—dim ond am gyfnod byr—tan i ni gael yr wybodaeth bellach a dibynadwy honno am nifer y brechlynnau fydd ar gael i ni, natur y brechlynnau hynny, y grwpiau blaenoriaeth y byddan nhw'n cael eu darparu ar eu cyfer, ac yna, wrth gwrs, byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr bod hynny yn cael ei gyhoeddi cyn gynted ag y gallwn ni fel nad yw pobl yng Nghymru, fel y dywedais, yn cael cyfres o uchelgeisiau ond cynllun ymarferol y gallan nhw ddibynnu arno.
Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.
The leader of the Conservatives, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, yesterday the health Minister confirmed that the Welsh Government is considering tighter COVID restrictions in the run-up to Christmas. Can you confirm what restrictions you are now considering, given that you have already introduced local authority based restrictions, hyperlocal lockdown restrictions, and now national restrictions?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, cadarnhaodd y Gweinidog iechyd ddoe bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried cyfyngiadau COVID llymach yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig. A allwch chi gadarnhau pa gyfyngiadau yr ydych chi'n eu hystyried nawr, o gofio eich bod chi eisoes wedi cyflwyno cyfyngiadau ar sail awdurdodau lleol, cyfyngiadau o ran cyfyngiadau symud hyperleol, a chyfyngiadau cenedlaethol erbyn hyn?
Well, Llywydd, the basis for what the health Minister said yesterday is to be found in the figures, and I'm sure that the leader of the opposition has been following them, as I do every day. Following two weeks and more of figures falling on a Wales-wide basis, we've now had three days in a row where the Wales-wide figure has risen, and in today's figures, 17 of the 22 local authorities are reporting rises in the under 25-year-old age range. Now, numbers continue to fall in the over 60 age range, and that's good news, because in terms of impact on the health service we know that that is where people are most likely to be most badly affected by the virus. But we also know, from earlier in the autumn, that the rapid rise we saw in the month of September and into October started with a rise in the younger population. So, it's that background that was there when the health Minister said what he said yesterday, and it's part of what I said to Adam Price, that I have been making the case in the meetings we've had with the other nations of the United Kingdom for a broadly aligned approach not just for the narrow period of Christmas but in the run-up to Christmas and in the post-Christmas period.
So, we have followed carefully what the UK Government has said so far this week about a return to a recalibrated tier system in England. We will wait to have further information on that, possibly this afternoon, and again on Thursday, and then, this week, the Cabinet will meet pretty regularly. We met yesterday. We met this morning. We'll meet again before the end of the week to see whether there are further measures that we need to introduce in Wales, to focus on the nature of the rise we are seeing and which would provide us with that broad alignment with the approach being taken by other parts of the United Kingdom as part of creating that headroom we all need to allow a relaxation over the Christmas period.
Wel, Llywydd, mae'r sail ar gyfer yr hyn a ddywedodd y Gweinidog iechyd ddoe i'w chanfod yn y ffigurau, ac rwy'n siŵr bod arweinydd yr wrthblaid wedi bod yn eu dilyn, fel yr wyf innau'n ei wneud bob dydd. Yn dilyn pythefnos a mwy o ffigurau yn gostwng ledled Cymru, rydym ni bellach wedi cael tri diwrnod yn olynol lle mae'r ffigur ar gyfer Cymru gyfan wedi codi, ac yn ffigurau heddiw, mae 17 o'r 22 awdurdod lleol yn adrodd cynnydd yn yr ystod oedran o dan 25 oed. Nawr, mae'r niferoedd yn parhau i ostwng yn yr ystod oedran dros 60 oed, ac mae hynny yn newyddion da, oherwydd o ran effaith ar y gwasanaeth iechyd gwyddom mai dyna lle mae pobl yn fwyaf tebygol o gael eu heffeithio waethaf gan y feirws. Ond rydym ni hefyd yn gwybod, o adeg gynharach yn yr hydref, bod y cynnydd cyflym a welsom ym mis Medi ac i fis Hydref wedi dechrau gyda chynnydd yn y boblogaeth iau. Felly, y cefndir hwnnw a oedd yno pan ddywedodd y Gweinidog iechyd yr hyn a ddywedodd ddoe, ac mae'n rhan o'r hyn a ddywedais wrth Adam Price, fy mod i wedi bod yn dadlau'r achos yn y cyfarfodydd yr ydym ni wedi eu cael gyda gwledydd eraill y Deyrnas Unedig am ddull gweithredu sydd wedi'i gyfochri yn fras nid yn unig ar gyfer cyfnod byr y Nadolig ond yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig ac yn y cyfnod ar ôl y Nadolig.
Felly, rydym ni wedi dilyn yn ofalus yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ei ddweud hyd yma yr wythnos hon am ddychwelyd at system haenau wedi'i had-drefnu yn Lloegr. Byddwn yn aros i gael rhagor o wybodaeth am hynny, y prynhawn yma o bosibl, ac eto ddydd Iau, ac yna, yr wythnos hon, bydd y Cabinet yn cyfarfod yn eithaf rheolaidd. Cawsom gyfarfod ddoe. Cawsom gyfarfod y bore yma. Byddwn yn cyfarfod eto cyn diwedd yr wythnos i weld a oes mesurau ychwanegol y mae angen i ni eu cyflwyno yng Nghymru, i ganolbwyntio ar natur y cynnydd yr ydym ni'n ei weld ac a fyddai'n rhoi'r aliniad bras hwnnw i ni â'r dull sy'n cael ei ddilyn gan rannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig yn rhan o greu'r lle hwnnw sydd ei angen ar bob un ohonom ni i ganiatáu llacio dros gyfnod y Nadolig.
I take it from that answer, then, First Minister, that you are perhaps looking at the possibility of introducing some sort of tiered system here in Wales. Of course, the tiered approaches in Scotland and England do have a few differences and it's important that the Welsh Government therefore looks at the impact of both sets of tier based restrictions before confirming its approach for Wales.
Now, this year has been so difficult for so many, as has just been said earlier, and that's why it's important that the Welsh Government makes it clear to the people of Wales exactly what a new approach will look like and how those restrictions will impact people's day-to-day lives. So, perhaps you can give us an indication, First Minister, when you will be bringing forward these new measures. Can you also tell us what additional resources you'll be making available to actually support these new measures and new restrictions?
Rwy'n cymryd o'r ateb yna, felly, Prif Weinidog, eich bod chi efallai'n edrych ar y posibilrwydd o gyflwyno rhyw fath o system haenau yma yng Nghymru. Wrth gwrs, ceir rhai gwahaniaethau rhwng y dulliau haenau yn yr Alban a Lloegr ac mae'n bwysig felly bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn edrych ar effaith y ddwy gyfres o gyfyngiadau seiliedig ar haenau cyn cadarnhau ei dull gweithredu ar gyfer Cymru.
Nawr, mae eleni wedi bod mor anodd i gymaint o bobl, fel sydd newydd gael ei ddweud yn gynharach, a dyna pam mae hi'n bwysig bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gwneud yn eglur i bobl Cymru sut yn union y bydd dull gweithredu newydd yn edrych a sut y bydd y cyfyngiadau hynny yn effeithio ar fywydau pobl o ddydd i ddydd. Felly, efallai y gallwch chi roi syniad i ni, Prif Weinidog, pryd y byddwch chi'n cyflwyno'r mesurau newydd hyn. A allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni hefyd pa adnoddau ychwanegol y byddwch chi'n eu darparu i gefnogi'r mesurau newydd a'r cyfyngiadau newydd hyn?
Well, Llywydd, I think I've given some indication, as best I can, to the leader of the opposition already of the decision-making path that we see in front of us. There is a COBRA meeting this afternoon. I agree with the point that Paul Davies made about taking account of the different approaches in Scotland as well as in England. I spoke with the First Minister of Scotland again yesterday. After today's meeting, there are further announcements that we will expect in the English context on Thursday of this week, we are told, which will give us a further insight into the operation of their tiered approach. I wouldn't move immediately, as the leader of the opposition did, to a conclusion that, because we are interested in the measures that are being taken elsewhere that that necessarily means that we will be adopting a tiered approach here in Wales. It is the content of the measures, not simply the organisation of them, that we will be interested in.
The Cabinet will meet again before the end of this week to see whether there are lessons for us to draw from what is happening elsewhere and a common approach across the United Kingdom in the lead up to the Christmas period, and importantly as well, in the way in which we will all have to deal with the inevitable consequences of a relaxation, which will drive the rise of coronavirus. That is inevitable, and we need to prepare together to cope with the consequences.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi rhoi rhyw syniad, gystal ag y gallaf, i arweinydd yr wrthblaid eisoes am y llwybr gwneud penderfyniadau yr ydym ni'n ei weld o'n blaenau. Mae cyfarfod COBRA y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt a wnaeth Paul Davies ynglŷn â chymryd i ystyriaeth y gwahanol ddulliau yn yr Alban yn ogystal ag yn Lloegr. Siaradais â Phrif Weinidog yr Alban unwaith eto ddoe. Ar ôl y cyfarfod heddiw, ceir cyhoeddiadau pellach y byddwn ni'n eu disgwyl yng nghyd-destun Lloegr ddydd Iau yr wythnos hon, dywedir wrthym, a fydd yn cynnig rhagor o wybodaeth i ni am weithrediad eu dull haenau. Ni fyddwn yn neidio ar unwaith, fel y gwnaeth arweinydd yr wrthblaid, i gasgliad, oherwydd bod gennym ni ddiddordeb yn y mesurau sy'n cael eu cymryd mewn mannau eraill, bod hynny o reidrwydd yn golygu y byddwn ni'n mabwysiadu dull haenau yma yng Nghymru. Cynnwys y mesurau, nid dim ond eu trefn, y bydd gennym ddiddordeb ynddo.
Bydd y Cabinet yn cyfarfod unwaith eto cyn diwedd yr wythnos hon i weld a oes gwersi i ni eu dysgu o'r hyn sy'n digwydd mewn mannau eraill a dull cyffredin ledled y Deyrnas Unedig yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig, ac yn bwysig hefyd, yn y modd y bydd yn rhaid i bob un ohonom ni ymdrin â chanlyniadau anochel llacio, a fydd yn sbarduno cynnydd yn y coronafeirws. Mae hynny'n anochel, ac mae angen i ni baratoi gyda'n gilydd i ymdopi â'r canlyniadau.
Of course, it's not just individuals and families who are keen to know whether there will be any changes in restrictions in Wales. Businesses across Wales will also undoubtedly be anxious at the prospect of further restrictions. The run-up to Christmas is a busy time, of course, for businesses in all sectors, and in the wake of a very difficult year, it's understandable that many will be concerned, perhaps, to hear of further restrictions.
It's therefore absolutely critical that resources and support are put in place in advance of any changes so that businesses are able to plan and adjust their operations accordingly. Will you therefore confirm, First Minister, that the Welsh Government will, of course, notify businesses across Wales in advance of any new restrictions in Wales so that they have time to plan for any changes? And, can you also update us on the discussions that you've had with local authorities in Wales about introducing new restrictions and what feedback you've received from local authorities so far with any potential restrictions?
Wrth gwrs, nid unigolion a theuluoedd yn unig sy'n awyddus i gael gwybod a fydd unrhyw newidiadau i'r cyfyngiadau yng Nghymru. Mae'n sicr y bydd busnesau ledled Cymru hefyd yn bryderus ynghylch y posibilrwydd o gyfyngiadau pellach. Mae'r cyfnod cyn y Nadolig yn gyfnod prysur, wrth gwrs, i fusnesau ym mhob sector, ac yn sgil blwyddyn anodd iawn, mae'n ddealladwy y bydd llawer yn pryderu, efallai, o glywed am gyfyngiadau pellach.
Felly, mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod adnoddau a chymorth yn cael eu rhoi ar waith o flaen unrhyw newidiadau fel bod busnesau yn gallu cynllunio ac addasu eu gweithrediadau yn unol â hynny. A wnewch chi gadarnhau felly, Prif Weinidog, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, yn hysbysu busnesau ledled Cymru cyn bod unrhyw gyfyngiadau newydd yng Nghymru fel bod ganddyn nhw amser i gynllunio ar gyfer unrhyw newidiadau? Ac, a allwch chi hefyd roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni am y trafodaethau yr ydych chi wedi eu cael gydag awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru ynglŷn â chyflwyno cyfyngiadau newydd a pha adborth yr ydych chi wedi ei gael gan awdurdodau lleol hyd yn hyn gydag unrhyw gyfyngiadau posibl?
Well, Llywydd, I'm very conscious of the impact of the decisions that we make on businesses in Wales and on people's livelihoods. The Welsh Government has put together a very considerable sum of money that we have invested in trying to protect businesses in Wales from the impact of coronavirus—that is over and above any help that has come from the UK Government. And the UK Government, with the comprehensive spending review tomorrow, needs to make sure that it is doing everything it can to make sure that businesses in Wales and across the United Kingdom are in a position to withstand the ongoing impact of coronavirus, and it needs to do it in a more wholehearted way. The repeated re-announcements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the package of assistance that comes from the UK Government has not been helpful, I think. We are doing the most we can in Wales to help businesses; I think the Chancellor's approach is to do the least he can get away with, and that is the real contrast between us.
Discussions with local authorities, of course, go on all the time. There'll be meetings today involving the health Minister, the local government Minister, the education Minister, the Welsh Local Government Association and other leaders of local authorities in Wales, and that partnership approach is the one that we think has managed to sustain us through the crisis to date, and we will be certain that, in Wales, we will go on being committed to it.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o effaith y penderfyniadau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud ar fusnesau yng Nghymru ac ar fywoliaeth pobl. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi swm sylweddol iawn o arian at ei gilydd yr ydym ni wedi ei fuddsoddi i geisio amddiffyn busnesau yng Nghymru rhag effaith coronafeirws—mae hynny yn ychwanegol at unrhyw gymorth sydd wedi dod gan Lywodraeth y DU. Ac mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU, gyda'r adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant yfory, wneud yn siŵr ei bod yn gwneud popeth o fewn ei gallu i wneud yn siŵr bod busnesau yng Nghymru a ledled y Deyrnas Unedig mewn sefyllfa i wrthsefyll effaith barhaus coronafeirws, ac mae angen iddi wneud hynny mewn modd mwy brwdfrydig. Nid yw'r ail-gyhoeddiadau mynych gan Ganghellor y Trysorlys o'r pecyn cymorth sy'n dod gan Lywodraeth y DU wedi bod o gymorth, yn fy marn i. Rydym ni'n gwneud y gorau y gallwn ni yng Nghymru i helpu busnesau; rwy'n credu mai dull gweithredu'r Canghellor yw gwneud y lleiaf posibl y gall ei wneud heb gael ei feirniadu, a dyna'r gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol rhyngom ni.
Mae trafodaethau gydag awdurdodau lleol, wrth gwrs, yn cael eu cynnal drwy'r amser. Bydd cyfarfodydd heddiw yn cynnwys y Gweinidog iechyd, y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, y Gweinidog addysg, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac arweinyddion eraill awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru, a'r dull partneriaeth hwnnw yw'r un sydd, yn ein barn ni, wedi llwyddo i'n cynnal ni drwy'r argyfwng hyd yma, a byddwn yn sicr, yng Nghymru, y byddwn ni'n parhau i fod wedi ymrwymo iddo.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am effaith COVID-19 ar yr economi ym Mhontypridd a Thaf-Elái? OQ55944
3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact of COVID-19 on the economy in Pontypridd and Taff-Ely? OQ55944
Llywydd, I thank Mick Antoniw for that. The latest employment and growth forecasts clearly show the damaging impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the Welsh economy and beyond. To date, our lockdown business fund has provided over £7 million in support to 2,379 businesses, spanning over 22,000 jobs in Rhondda Cynon Taf alone.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Mick Antoniw am hynna. Mae'r rhagolygon cyflogaeth a thwf diweddaraf yn dangos yn eglur yr effaith niweidiol y mae pandemig y coronafeirws yn ei chael ar economi Cymru a thu hwnt. Hyd yma, mae ein cronfa i fusnesau dan gyfyngiadau wedi darparu dros £7 miliwn o gymorth i 2,379 o fusnesau, sy'n cwmpasu dros 22,000 o swyddi yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yn unig.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. In my constituency of Pontypridd, we have battled with flooding, which hit our economy and our infrastructure hard, and, of course, we battle with COVID, with some of the highest infection rates in Wales. And, like many thousands of others, I've stood outside my home and clapped and applauded our public sector workers as a community, and we've recognised the vital contribution that they've made during the pandemic. Many of them have suffered from COVID; some have died. Our thoughts are with the family of Mark Simons, a healthcare assistant at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and a Unite health and safety representative. He died on 10 November after contracting coronavirus. First Minister, all our public sector workers have gone the extra distance to keep us safe and to protect us and our families. Now, on Wednesday, whilst the Tory Government's mates make millions of pounds of profit out of dodgy personal protective equipment contracts, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is planning to tell our public sector workers that their reward for their sacrifice will be three years of pay freeze for tens of thousands of Welsh workers—a return to Tory austerity.
First Minister, it is not too late to ask the UK Government to do a u-turn. So, will you make contact with the Prime Minister as a matter of urgency and do all you can to urge him to honour and recognise the contribution of all—and I emphasise 'all'—our public sector workers during this pandemic?
Diolch am yr ateb yna,Prif Weinidog. Yn fy etholaeth i ym Mhontypridd, rydym ni wedi brwydro gyda llifogydd, sy'n taro ein heconomi a'n seilwaith yn galed, ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n brwydro gyda COVID, gyda rhai o'r cyfraddau uchaf o'r haint yng Nghymru. Ac, fel miloedd lawer o bobl eraill, rwyf i wedi sefyll y tu allan i'm cartref ac wedi clapio a chymeradwyo ein gweithwyr sector cyhoeddus fel cymuned, ac rydym ni wedi cydnabod y cyfraniad hanfodol y maen nhw wedi ei wneud yn ystod y pandemig. Mae llawer ohonyn nhw wedi dioddef COVID; mae rhai wedi marw. Mae ein meddyliau gyda theulu Mark Simons, cynorthwy-ydd gofal iechyd yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg a chynrychiolydd iechyd a diogelwch Unite. Bu farw ar 10 Tachwedd ar ôl dal coronafeirws. Prif Weinidog, mae ein holl weithwyr sector cyhoeddus wedi mynd y tu hwnt i'r disgwyliad i'n cadw ni'n ddiogel ac i'n hamddiffyn ni a'n teuluoedd. Nawr, ddydd Mercher, tra bod ffrindiau'r Llywodraeth Dorïaidd yn gwneud miliynau o bunnoedd o elw o gontractau cyfarpar diogelu personol amheus, mae'r Canghellor, Rishi Sunak, yn bwriadu dweud wrth ein gweithwyr sector cyhoeddus mai eu gwobr am eu haberth fydd tair blynedd o rewi cyflogau degau o filoedd o weithwyr Cymru—dychweliad i gyni cyllidol y Torïaid.
Prif Weinidog, nid yw'n rhy hwyr i ofyn i Lywodraeth y DU wneud tro pedol. Felly, a wnewch chi gysylltu â Phrif Weinidog y DU fel mater o frys a gwneud popeth o fewn eich gallu i'w annog i anrhydeddu a chydnabod cyfraniad ein holl—a phwysleisiaf 'holl'—weithwyr sector cyhoeddus yn ystod y pandemig hwn?
Well, I thank Mick Antoniw for that, Llywydd. I thank him for reminding us—I know Members here don't forget at all, but just for reminding us—that behind everything that we talk about here are actual people's lives. Over 3,300 deaths reported in Wales by the Office for National Statistics today, and many of those people have been front-line workers in our health and social care services and elsewhere. So, of course it is not too late to urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to rule out a public sector pay freeze and to deliver the funding, across the United Kingdom, that we need to protect our health, jobs, and to support a fair recovery. Workers across our public services have continued to play their crucial roles in the midst of a global pandemic, helping to save lives and to keep services running. They should be recognised for this effort and not forced to pick up the bill.
The Chancellor says that there is no return to austerity. Well, I certainly hope that that is true of public sector workers who've been at the forefront of this crisis and who deserve to be recognised for that. Unfortunately, Llywydd, I'm told that the Prime Minister will once again not attend the COBRA meeting this afternoon. You might think that, given the significance of the decisions that we are having to take there, the Prime Minister might think that that was a conversation in which he would choose to be engaged. But, if an opportunity arises—there will be other Ministers of the UK Government there, and, if that opportunity arises, I will certainly make the points that the Member has made here this afternoon.
Wel, diolchaf i Mick Antoniw am hynna, Llywydd. Diolch iddo am ein hatgoffa—gwn nad yw'r Aelodau yma yn anghofio o gwbl, ond dim ond am ein hatgoffa—bod bywydau pobl go iawn y tu ôl i bopeth yr ydym ni'n ei drafod yn y fan yma. Adroddwyd dros 3,300 o farwolaethau yng Nghymru gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol heddiw, ac mae llawer o'r bobl hynny wedi bod yn weithwyr rheng flaen yn ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ac mewn mannau eraill. Felly, wrth gwrs, nid yw'n rhy hwyr i annog Canghellor y Trysorlys i ddiystyru rhewi cyflogau sector cyhoeddus a darparu'r cyllid, ledled y Deyrnas Unedig, sydd ei angen arnom i ddiogelu ein hiechyd, ein swyddi, ac i gynorthwyo adferiad teg. Mae gweithwyr ar draws ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus wedi parhau i chwarae eu rhan hanfodol yng nghanol pandemig byd-eang, gan helpu i achub bywydau a chadw gwasanaethau i fynd. Dylid eu cydnabod am yr ymdrech hon ac nid eu gorfodi i dalu'r bil.
Mae'r Canghellor yn dweud nad oes unrhyw ddychweliad i gyni cyllidol. Wel, rwy'n sicr yn gobeithio bod hynny'n wir o ran gweithwyr sector cyhoeddus sydd wedi bod ar flaen y gad yn yr argyfwng hwn ac sy'n haeddu cael eu cydnabod am hynny. Yn anffodus, Llywydd, dywedir wrthyf na fydd Prif Weinidog y DU yn mynychu'r cyfarfod COBRA eto y prynhawn yma. Efallai y byddech chi'n meddwl, o ystyried arwyddocâd y penderfyniadau y mae'n rhaid i ni eu gwneud yno, y gallai Prif Weinidog y DU feddwl bod honno yn sgwrs y byddai'n dewis cymryd rhan ynddi. Ond, os bydd cyfle yn codi—bydd Gweinidogion eraill Llywodraeth y DU yno, ac, os bydd y cyfle hwnnw yn codi, byddaf yn sicr yn gwneud y pwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi eu gwneud yn y fan hon y prynhawn yma.
First Minister, I'm particularly concerned about young people in South Wales Central, including Pontypridd, who are entering or attempting to enter the labour market during this period, and I think we have very harsh past experience of young people entering the labour market during a period of economic distress. And I would urge you to look at the training packages and also the funds available for postgraduate study, for instance, in the next few years, because I think these sorts of programmes, which are largely under the control of the Welsh Government, will need to be used to a greater extent than perhaps we had planned, but this will also help our further education colleges and the university sector. But young people really need to be supported as much as we can during this period.
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n pryderu yn arbennig am bobl ifanc yng Nghanol De Cymru, gan gynnwys Pontypridd, sy'n ymuno â'r farchnad lafur neu'n ceisio ymuno â hi yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, ac rwy'n credu bod gennym ni brofiad gwael iawn yn y gorffennol o bobl ifanc yn ymuno â'r farchnad lafur yn ystod cyfnod o adfyd economaidd. A byddwn yn eich annog i edrych ar y pecynnau hyfforddi a hefyd y cyllid sydd ar gael ar gyfer astudio ôl-raddedig, er enghraifft, yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf, oherwydd rwy'n credu y bydd angen defnyddio'r mathau hyn o raglenni, sydd o dan reolaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i raddau mwy helaeth nag yr oeddem ni wedi ei gynllunio efallai, ond bydd hyn hefyd yn helpu ein colegau addysg bellach a'r sector prifysgolion. Ond mae gwir angen cynorthwyo pobl ifanc gymaint ag y gallwn yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.
Well, Llywydd, I agree with the point that David Melding is making. We have very difficult experience in Wales of generations of young people without a future mapped out in front of them, and we absolutely do not want to go back to that in this crisis. I agree with what the Member said—that there will be young people who will choose to use this period to invest further in developing their own skills and education, so that, when an upturn comes, they are better equipped to take advantage of it, and we will want to help them to make sure that that happens.
I know that the Member will have seen the announcement on 11 November, where we provided further detail of the help that businesses can have—and further education colleges, of course, as a result—to promote apprenticeships here in Wales. Businesses are now able to claim £3,000 for each new apprentice under the age of 25 when employed for at least 30 hours, and I know that David Melding will particularly welcome the fact that there is an additional £1,500 for any business who is able to take on a new disabled young person as an apprentice. On 18 November, we announced the business start-up barriers fund, a sum of £1.2 million, particularly aimed at those young people who left college and university in 2019 and 2020 who may have ideas of their own about businesses they would wish to try and get off the ground, but need that extra help and support from Government in order to be able to do so, and that business start-up barrier fund will particularly be aimed at the sort of young people to whom David Melding has drawn attention this afternoon.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt y mae David Melding yn ei wneud. Mae gennym ni brofiad anodd iawn yng Nghymru o genedlaethau o bobl ifanc heb ddyfodol wedi'i fapio o'u blaenau, ac yn sicr nid ydym ni eisiau dychwelyd i hynny yn yr argyfwng hwn. Rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod—y bydd pobl ifanc a fydd yn dewis defnyddio'r cyfnod hwn i fuddsoddi ymhellach mewn datblygu eu sgiliau a'u haddysg eu hunain, fel eu bod, pan fydd pethau'n gwella, yn fwy parod i fanteisio ar hynny, a byddwn ni eisiau eu helpu nhw i wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n digwydd.
Gwn y bydd yr Aelod wedi gweld y cyhoeddiad ar 11 Tachwedd, pan ddarparwyd rhagor o fanylion gennym am y cymorth y gall busnesau ei gael—a cholegau addysg bellach, wrth gwrs, o ganlyniad—i hyrwyddo prentisiaethau yma yng Nghymru. Mae busnesau yn gallu hawlio £3,000 erbyn hyn ar gyfer pob prentis newydd o dan 25 oed pan ei fod yn cael ei gyflogi am o leiaf 30 awr, a gwn y bydd David Melding yn croesawu yn arbennig y ffaith bod £1,500 ychwanegol ar gyfer unrhyw fusnes sy'n gallu cyflogi person ifanc anabl newydd fel prentis. Ar 18 Tachwedd, cyhoeddwyd y gronfa rhwystrau dechrau busnes gennym, swm o £1.2 filiwn, wedi ei thargedu yn benodol ar gyfer y bobl ifanc hynny a adawodd y coleg a'r brifysgol yn 2019 a 2020 y gallai fod ganddyn nhw syniadau eu hunain am fusnesau yr hoffen nhw geisio eu cychwyn, ond sydd angen y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth ychwanegol hynny gan y Llywodraeth er mwyn gallu gwneud hynny, a bydd y gronfa rhwystrau dechrau busnes honno wedi'i thargedu yn arbennig at y math o bobl ifanc y mae David Melding wedi tynnu sylw atyn nhw y prynhawn yma.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynllun peilot ar gyfer profion torfol COVID-19 ym mwrdeistref sirol Merthyr Tudful? OQ55945
4. Will the First Minister provide an update on the COVID-19 mass testing pilot in Merthyr Tydfil county borough? OQ55945
I thank the Member for that, Llywydd. The pilot started on Saturday 21 November. It involves everyone living, working or studying in the area and that they are all to be offered a COVID-19 test as part of the first mass testing of a whole area in Wales.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna, Llywydd. Dechreuodd y cynllun arbrofol ddydd Sadwrn 21 Tachwedd. Mae'n cynnwys pawb sy'n byw, yn gweithio neu'n astudio yn yr ardal a'u bod i gyd i gael cynnig prawf COVID-19 yn rhan o'r profion torfol cyntaf o ardal gyfan yng Nghymru.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister, and I'm sure you'd want to join with me in thanking everyone involved in the logistics, delivery and the analysis of this mass testing programme. I went myself, thankfully for a negative test, on Saturday, and I can say that everybody involved in it has been absolutely outstanding in working to ensure that the pilot is a success, and that includes quickly updating frequently asked questions, making sure that shielding people and people with non-shielding disabilities, the elderly, frail and so on have been specially catered for throughout this process, although we probably do still need to give a bit of thought to managing testing for those with learning disabilities. I'd also urge you to consider probably testing in the larger workplaces as well. But, in these first few days, we've seen thousands of tests taken by people who are keen to help the process, and those people with good reason to attend. About 1 per cent, so far, have been positive results from people who are asymptomatic. Over the course of that pilot, that will be several hundred people who would otherwise be unknowingly spreading the virus in the community. Now, you've already answered earlier questions about what happens after this pilot and beyond, so I won't go into those points again, but, as you know, First Minister, my constituency has significant areas of poverty and deprivation, often linked to insecure work and zero-hours contracts, which, as we know, have been a deterrent to many in coming forward for testing. So, can I seek your assurance that the Welsh Government will be working with local partners to ensure that mass testing is also delivered amongst these harder-to-reach communities, as this will be a critical factor in ensuring the success of the pilot?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog, ac rwy'n siŵr yr hoffech chi ymuno â mi i ddiolch i bawb sy'n gysylltiedig â logisteg, darparu a dadansoddi'r rhaglen profion torfol hon. Euthum fy hun, am brawf negyddol diolch byth, ddydd Sadwrn, a gallaf ddweud bod pawb sy'n ymwneud ag ef wedi bod yn gwbl eithriadol wrth weithio i sicrhau bod y cynllun arbrofol yn llwyddiant, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys diweddaru cwestiynau cyffredin yn gyflym, gan wneud yn siŵr y gwnaed darpariaeth arbennig ar gyfer pobl sy'n amddiffyn a phobl ag anableddau nad ydynt yn eu hamddiffyn, yr henoed, pobl fregus ac yn y blaen drwy gydol y broses hon, er ei bod yn debyg bod angen i ni roi ychydig o ystyriaeth o hyd i reoli profion ar gyfer y rhai sydd ag anableddau dysgu. Byddwn hefyd yn eich annog i ystyried profi yn y gweithleoedd mwy o faint hefyd, mae'n debyg. Ond, yn ystod y dyddiau cyntaf hyn, rydym ni wedi gweld miloedd o brofion yn cael eu cymryd gan bobl sy'n awyddus i helpu'r broses, a'r bobl hynny sydd â rheswm da dros ddod. Hyd yma, mae tua 1 y cant wedi bod yn ganlyniadau positif gan bobl sy'n asymptomatig. Yn ystod y cynllun arbrofol hwnnw, bydd hynny yn rai cannoedd o bobl a fyddai fel arall yn lledaenu'r feirws heb wybod yn y gymuned. Nawr, rydych chi eisoes wedi ateb cwestiynau cynharach am yr hyn sy'n digwydd ar ôl y cynllun arbrofol hwn a thu hwnt, felly nid wyf i'n mynd i drafod y pwyntiau hynny eto, ond, fel y gwyddoch, Prif Weinidog, mae gan fy etholaeth i ardaloedd sylweddol o dlodi ac amddifadedd, sy'n aml yn gysylltiedig â gwaith ansicr a chontractau dim oriau, sydd, fel y gwyddom, wedi bod yn rhwystr i lawer rhag dod ymlaen i gael profion. Felly, a gaf i ofyn am sicrwydd gennych chi y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda phartneriaid lleol i sicrhau bod profion torfol hefyd yn cael eu cynnal ymhlith y cymunedau anos eu cyrraedd hyn, gan y bydd hwn yn ffactor hollbwysig o ran sicrhau llwyddiant y cynllun arbrofol?
Llywydd, I thank Dawn Bowden for that. I heard a very informative interview that she gave at the weekend, reporting from the front line of testing in Merthyr, and I absolutely agree with her about the huge team effort there has been from the local authority, from the local health board and public health services, the assistance we've had through the armed forces. It really has been a remarkable effort, and, in these early days, it has met with a remarkable response from residents in Merthyr Tydfil as well. Llywydd, Dawn Bowden raised a number of points, first of all about workplaces and the importance of making sure that employers are aligned with all of this. There is an offer of a test for anybody who works in the county borough—whether they live elsewhere but work in Merthyr, a test is available for them. I'll be discussing this at the social partnership council, which is next due to meet on Thursday of this week.
Dawn Bowden made an important point, Llywydd, about those people who are frail or vulnerable, shielding or with learning disabilities, and how we make sure that they are included in the programme. I'm pleased to say that I believe that the local authority has written out to everybody on the shielding list today offering them a home test, which means they don't need to leave home and go to a mass testing centre. So, I think that's another very strong sign of the progressive way that the testing regime is being delivered in the area, and of course, Llywydd, Dawn Bowden makes the very important point about reaching those communities where, conventionally, services struggle the most to have the impact that we want them to make. We're going to be using waste water surveillance methods in Merthyr, as they did in Liverpool—waste water surveillance, Members will recall, led by Bangor University during its creation. We will have seven different testing points in the Merthyr county borough area, and that will allow us to see that we are getting a response in different parts of the borough, and make additional efforts in places if we're not getting the response that's needed. As I know the local Member will know, it is part of the way in which the mass testing is being provided that, if someone does have a positive test, then they are being actively advised about the help that is available to them either through the self-isolation payment or through the discretionary assistance fund, where we've put £5 million more in to help in this way so that people are able to do the right thing, as they want to do, and don't find themselves with barriers in their way that we can help them to solve.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Dawn Bowden am hynna. Clywais gyfweliad llawn gwybodaeth a roddodd hi yn ystod y penwythnos, yn adrodd o reng flaen y profion ym Merthyr, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â hi am yr ymdrech tîm enfawr a gafwyd gan yr awdurdod lleol, gan y bwrdd iechyd lleol a gwasanaethau iechyd cyhoeddus, y cymorth yr ydym ni wedi ei gael drwy'r lluoedd arfog. Bu'n ymdrech ryfeddol mewn gwirionedd, ac, yn y dyddiau cynnar hyn, mae wedi cael ymateb rhyfeddol gan drigolion Merthyr Tudful hefyd.
Llywydd, cododd Dawn Bowden nifer o bwyntiau, yn gyntaf oll am weithleoedd a phwysigrwydd gwneud yn siŵr bod cyflogwyr yn cyd-fynd â hyn i gyd. Mae cynnig o brawf ar gael i unrhyw un sy'n gweithio yn y fwrdeistref sirol—pa un a ydyn nhw'n byw yn rhywle arall ond yn gweithio ym Merthyr, mae prawf ar gael iddyn nhw. Byddaf yn trafod hyn yn y cyngor partneriaeth gymdeithasol, sydd i fod i gyfarfod nesaf ddydd Iau yr wythnos hon. Gwnaeth Dawn Bowden bwynt pwysig, Llywydd, am y bobl hynny sy'n fregus neu'n agored i niwed, yn amddiffyn neu sydd ag anableddau dysgu, a sut yr ydym ni'n gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n cael eu cynnwys yn y rhaglen. Rwy'n falch o ddweud fy mod i'n credu bod yr awdurdod lleol wedi ysgrifennu at bawb ar y rhestr amddiffyn heddiw yn cynnig prawf cartref iddyn nhw, sy'n golygu nad oes angen iddyn nhw adael eu cartrefi a mynd i ganolfan profi torfol. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hynny yn arwydd cryf iawn arall o'r ffordd flaengar y mae'r drefn brofi yn cael ei darparu yn yr ardal, ac wrth gwrs, Llywydd, mae Dawn Bowden yn gwneud y pwynt pwysig iawn am gyrraedd y cymunedau hynny lle mae gwasanaethau, yn gonfensiynol, yn cael yr anhawster mwyaf i gael yr effaith yr ydym ni eisiau iddyn nhw ei chael. Rydym ni'n mynd i fod yn defnyddio dulliau gwyliadwriaeth dŵr gwastraff ym Merthyr, fel y gwnaethon nhw yn Lerpwl—gwyliadwriaeth dŵr gwastraff, y bydd yr Aelodau yn cofio, a arweiniwyd gan Brifysgol Bangor wrth ei chreu. Bydd gennym ni saith gwahanol bwynt profi yn ardal bwrdeistref sirol Merthyr, a bydd hynny yn caniatáu i ni weld ein bod ni'n cael ymateb mewn gwahanol rannau o'r fwrdeistref, ac yn gwneud ymdrechion ychwanegol mewn mannau os nad ydym ni'n cael yr ymateb sydd ei angen. Fel y gwn y bydd yr Aelod lleol yn gwybod, mae'n rhan o'r ffordd y mae'r profion torfol yn cael eu darparu, os bydd rhywun yn cael prawf cadarnhaol, yna maen nhw'n cael cyngor gweithredol am y cymorth sydd ar gael iddyn nhw naill ai drwy'r taliad hunanynysu neu drwy'r gronfa cymorth dewisol, lle'r ydym ni wedi cyfrannu £5 miliwn yn fwy i helpu yn y modd hwn fel bod pobl yn gallu gwneud y peth iawn, fel y maen nhw eisiau ei wneud, a ddim yn canfod eu hunain â rhwystrau yn eu ffordd y gallwn ni eu helpu i'w datrys.
Thank you, First Minister, for the answers so far in the leaders' questions and also on this particular question around the trial in Merthyr. Are you in a position to confirm when the analysis can be made that, if this trial is successful—and initial indications are that it has been successful—this will rolled out across the rest of Wales, and, in particular, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, an area I represent here that I think would benefit greatly from this testing regime?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am yr atebion hyd yn hyn i gwestiynau’r arweinyddion a hefyd i'r cwestiwn penodol hwn am y treial ym Merthyr. A ydych chi mewn sefyllfa i gadarnhau pryd y gellir gwneud y dadansoddiad, os bydd y treial hwn yn llwyddiannus—a'r arwyddion cychwynnol yw ei fod wedi bod yn llwyddiannus—y bydd hyn yn cael ei gyflwyno ledled gweddill Cymru, ac, yn arbennig, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, ardal yr wyf i'n ei chynrychioli yn y fan yma yr wyf i'n credu y byddai'n elwa'n fawr ar y drefn brofi hon?
I know Andrew R.T. Davies will be interested to know that RCT council has already made a proposal for the expansion of the Merthyr testing regime into the Cynon Valley area of that local authority, and that there are meetings, I think, scheduled for tomorrow to explore that proposition and to see how it might be delivered. This is a huge logistical exercise, as I know that he will recognise, and it's why we are so very grateful to have the support of the armed forces in it, because local services have to try and manage to keep everything else they do all the time going, and releasing people to be part of a mass testing effort requires quite a lot of thinking through. So, if we are to be able to expand the Merthyr scheme into the RCT area, that will require some careful preparation, releasing local staff from local services. We have further assistance from the armed forces joining us in Merthyr over the next couple of days, and we may need to see whether there is any further help that could be forthcoming in order to assist with the sheer practicalities that go with mounting a mass testing exercise of this sort.
Gwn y bydd gan Andrew R.T. Davies ddiddordeb mewn gwybod bod cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf eisoes wedi gwneud cynnig i gael ehangu trefn brofi Merthyr i ardal Cwm Cynon yr awdurdod lleol hwnnw, a bod cyfarfodydd, rwy'n credu, wedi'u trefnu ar gyfer yfory i archwilio'r cynnig hwnnw ac i weld sut y gellid ei gyflawni. Mae hwn yn ymarfer logistaidd enfawr, fel y gwn y bydd ef yn ei gydnabod, a dyna pam yr ydym ni mor ddiolchgar o gael cymorth y lluoedd arfog yn hynny o beth, oherwydd mae'n rhaid i wasanaethau lleol geisio cadw popeth arall y maen nhw'n ei wneud drwy'r amser i fynd, ac mae rhyddhau pobl i fod yn rhan o ymdrech profi torfol yn gofyn am gryn dipyn o baratoi. Felly, os ydym ni'n mynd i allu ehangu cynllun Merthyr i ardal Rhondda Cynon Taf, bydd angen gwneud paratoadau gofalus, gan ryddhau staff lleol o wasanaethau lleol. Mae gennym ni gymorth pellach gan y lluoedd arfog sy'n ymuno â ni ym Merthyr dros yr ychydig ddyddiau nesaf, ac efallai y bydd angen i ni weld a oes unrhyw gymorth pellach a allai fod ar gael er mwyn cynorthwyo gyda'r agweddau ymarferol pur sy'n gysylltiedig â chynnal ymarfer profi torfol o'r math hwn.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â chamwybodaeth am frechlynnau? OQ55947
5. Will the First Minister provide an update on what the Welsh Government is doing to tackle vaccine misinformation? OQ55947
Llywydd, can I thank Joyce Watson for that important question? The Welsh Government will continue to support health boards and Public Health Wales to ensure that immunisation information is accurate and accessible and that all those delivering vaccinations are well trained and confident when providing immunisation information.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Joyce Watson am y cwestiwn pwysig yna? Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gynorthwyo byrddau iechyd ac Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i sicrhau bod gwybodaeth am imiwneiddio yn gywir ac yn hygyrch a bod pawb sy'n darparu brechiadau wedi'u hyfforddi'n dda ac yn hyderus wrth ddarparu gwybodaeth am imiwneiddio.
I thank you for that, First Minister. Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that they had developed a vaccine for COVID-19 and that it was showing promising results, but almost immediately there were messages circulating on social media channels suggesting that the vaccine would be harmful, without any substantiated evidence. I understand that it's natural that people will have concerns and questions about the safety of new and existing vaccines, but I do believe that the misinformation that we've seen on social media platforms has the potential to do a significant amount of harm. First Minister, what discussions has the Welsh Government had with social media channels regarding vaccine misinformation and how we can tackle that? And what steps are being taken to encourage people to access information in a reliable format?
Diolchaf i chi am hynna, Prif Weinidog. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Pfizer a BioNTech eu bod nhw wedi datblygu brechlyn ar gyfer COVID-19 a'i fod yn dangos canlyniadau addawol, ond bron ar unwaith roedd negeseuon yn cylchredeg ar sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn awgrymu y byddai'r brechlyn yn niweidiol, heb unrhyw dystiolaeth a brofwyd. Rwy'n deall ei bod hi'n naturiol y bydd gan bobl bryderon a chwestiynau am ddiogelwch brechlynnau newydd a chyfredol, ond rwy'n credu bod gan y gamwybodaeth yr ydym ni wedi ei gweld ar blatfformau cyfryngau cymdeithasol y potensial i wneud niwed sylweddol. Prif Weinidog, pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu cael gyda sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasol ynghylch camwybodaeth am frechlynnau a sut y gallwn ni fynd i'r afael â hynny? A pha gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd i annog pobl i gael gafael ar wybodaeth mewn fformat dibynadwy?
Well, Llywydd, I thank Joyce Watson for those follow-up questions. She's right to point to the danger of vaccine misinformation—deliberate, malicious misinformation. It's part of a group of attitudes that, unfortunately, have been given credence in other parts of the world. These attitudes emanate from the same group of people who are coronavirus deniers, who try to persuade people to distrust election results, and, as a result, they have a reach into places through social media that could, if things went wrong, do what Joyce Watson said and discourage people who would benefit from vaccination from coming forward. We work with the Cabinet Office in London. They have a rapid response unit, which is expressly there to respond to coronavirus misinformation. And, working with social media platforms, there has been some success, which I'm keen to recognise, in persuading those social media platforms to remove misinformation where it can clearly be identified as such.
I think we have to take some comfort, though, Llywydd, from the actual evidence of what has happened in vaccination programmes over the last period. We have actually gained ground in childhood immunisation programmes during the period of the pandemic. The uptake of the first dose of MMR increased in the first quarter of this year, despite all the difficulties that parents would have experienced in trying to present the child for vaccination. The third scheduled dose of meningococcal group B vaccination is at the highest ever level in Wales. And, of course, we are reaching more people with flu vaccination than ever before, and 70 per cent of people in the over-60 age group have now been vaccinated. It was under 60 per cent this time last year. Thirty seven per cent of under-65s at risk have been vaccinated, and it was 27 per cent this time last year. Seventy three per cent of children aged between four and 10 have been vaccinated. So, while I share the Member's anxieties, the actual behaviour of people in Wales suggests that, when a vaccine is available to them and they have confidence in it, they are coming forward in large numbers, and that's what we will want to encourage when there are vaccines available for coronavirus as well.
Wel, Llywydd, diolchaf i Joyce Watson am y cwestiynau dilynol yna. Mae hi'n iawn i dynnu sylw at y perygl o gamwybodaeth am frechlynnau—camwybodaeth fwriadol, faleisus. Mae'n rhan o grŵp o agweddau sydd, yn anffodus, wedi cael hygrededd mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd. Mae'r agweddau hyn yn deillio o'r un grŵp o bobl sy'n gwadu coronafeirws, sy'n ceisio perswadio pobl i amau canlyniadau etholiadau, ac, o ganlyniad, mae ganddyn nhw gyrhaeddiad i leoedd trwy gyfryngau cymdeithasol a allai, pe byddai pethau'n mynd o chwith, wneud yr hyn a ddywedodd Joyce Watson ac annog pobl a fyddai'n elwa ar gael eu brechu rhag dod ymlaen. Rydym ni'n gweithio gyda Swyddfa'r Cabinet yn Llundain. Mae ganddyn nhw uned ymateb cyflym, sydd yno yn benodol i ymateb i gamwybodaeth am y coronafeirws. A, chan weithio gyda phlatfformau cyfryngau cymdeithasol, cafwyd rhywfaint o lwyddiant, ac rwy'n awyddus i'w gydnabod, o ran perswadio'r platfformau cyfryngau cymdeithasol hynny i ddileu camwybodaeth lle gellir nodi'n eglur mai dyna ydyw.
Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni gymryd rhywfaint o gysur, fodd bynnag, Llywydd, o'r dystiolaeth wirioneddol o'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd mewn rhaglenni brechu dros y cyfnod diwethaf. Rydym ni wedi ennill tir mewn rhaglenni imiwneiddio plant yn ystod cyfnod y pandemig. Cynyddodd nifer y bobl a fanteisiodd ar y dos cyntaf o MMR yn ystod chwarter cyntaf eleni, er gwaethaf yr holl anawsterau y byddai rhieni wedi eu cael yn ceisio cyflwyno'r plentyn i gael ei frechu. Mae'r trydydd dos a drefnwyd o frechiad grŵp B meningococaidd ar y lefel uchaf erioed yng Nghymru. Ac, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n cyrraedd mwy o bobl gyda'r brechiad rhag y ffliw nag erioed o'r blaen, ac mae 70 y cant o bobl yn y grŵp oedran dros 60 oed wedi cael eu brechu erbyn hyn. Roedd yn llai na 60 y cant yr adeg hon y llynedd. Mae tri deg saith y cant o bobl dan 65 oed sydd mewn perygl wedi cael eu brechu, ac roedd yn 27 y cant yr adeg hon y llynedd. Mae saith deg tri y cant o blant rhwng pedair a 10 oed wedi cael eu brechu. Felly, er fy mod i'n rhannu pryderon yr Aelod, mae ymddygiad gwirioneddol pobl yng Nghymru yn awgrymu, pan fydd brechlyn ar gael iddyn nhw a bod ganddyn nhw ffydd ynddo, eu bod yn dod ymlaen mewn niferoedd mawr, a dyna y byddwn ni eisiau ei annog pan fydd brechlynnau ar gael ar gyfer coronafeirws hefyd.
First Minister, I do agree with you that there have been improvements in vaccine uptake, but I'd also like to point out that, according to the most recent seasonal influenza Wales 2019-20 annual report, the uptake of the flu vaccine amongst NHS staff was only 56 per cent this year, and you'd think that NHS staff, more than almost anybody else, would surely really understand the value of a vaccine and what benefits we can all get from it. We've also got our very hard-to-reach people, the people who speak neither Welsh nor English, people who are new to our country, people in very, very marginalised areas, or people in very rural areas, where, again, that whole notion of coming out and getting vaccinated—. Plus the vaccine for COVID needs to be a two-vaccine stop, where you might have a situation where someone has one and just thinks, 'Oh well, that's it, I'm done', when in fact they need that second one to make sure that they are really taken care of. So I wonder what plans the Government will be putting together, either as Wales itself or as a UK entity, in trying to really get a strong message out that, actually, there is nothing to be fearful of.
And may I just very quickly also say that we must be very careful how we do that messaging? I speak as a parent whose first child had all the MMRs individually because Andrew Wakefield was at the height of his scare fest, and my second child had just the MMR, because just normal, ordinary people can take fright very easily when all the wrong messages go out. So, I think it's incredibly important that we put together a really cohesive and coherent communication policy, and I would be very interested to know what your Government is doing to put that together and, indeed, how all of us might be able to help to spread that message.
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n cytuno â chi y bu gwelliannau i'r niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar frechlynnau, ond hoffwn nodi hefyd, yn ôl adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf ffliw tymhorol Cymru 2019-20, mai dim ond 56 y cant oedd nifer y bobl a fanteisiodd ar y brechlyn ffliw ymhlith staff y GIG eleni, a byddech chi'n meddwl y byddai staff y GIG, yn fwy na bron neb arall, yn sicr o ddeall gwerth brechlyn a pha fanteision y gallwn ni i gyd eu cael ohono. Mae gennym ni hefyd ein pobl anodd iawn eu cyrraedd, y bobl nad ydyn nhw'n siarad Cymraeg na Saesneg, pobl sy'n newydd i'n gwlad, pobl mewn ardaloedd ymylol dros ben, neu bobl mewn ardaloedd gwledig iawn, lle, eto, mae'r holl syniad hwnnw o ddod allan a chael eu brechu—. Hefyd, mae angen i'r brechlyn ar gyfer COVID fod yn stop dau frechlyn, lle efallai y bydd gennych chi sefyllfa lle mae rhywun yn cael un ac yn meddwl, 'O wel, dyna ni, rwyf i wedi gorffen', pan mewn gwirionedd mae angen yr ail un hwnnw arnynt i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cael gofal gwirioneddol. Felly tybed pa gynlluniau y bydd y Llywodraeth yn eu llunio, naill ai fel Cymru ei hun neu fel endid yn y DU, i geisio cyfleu neges gref nad oes dim i'w ofni mewn gwirionedd.
Ac a gaf i ddweud yn gyflym iawn hefyd bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus iawn sut yr ydym ni'n cyfleu'r negeseuon hynny? Rwy'n siarad fel rhiant y cafodd ei phlentyn cyntaf yr holl MMRs yn unigol gan fod Andrew Wakefield ar anterth ei ŵyl frawychu, a dim ond yr MMR a gafodd fy ail blentyn, oherwydd gall pobl normal, gyffredin gael eu dychryn yn hawdd iawn pan fydd yr holl negeseuon anghywir yn cael eu cyfleu. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n eithriadol o bwysig ein bod ni'n llunio polisi cyfathrebu cydlynol a rhesymegol iawn, a byddai gen i ddiddordeb mawr cael gwybod beth mae eich Llywodraeth yn ei wneud i sicrhau hynny ac, yn wir, sut y gallai pob un ohonom ni helpu i ledaenu'r neges honno.
I thank the Member for that. Llywydd, I agree with Angela Burns that the percentage of NHS staff taking up a flu vaccination last year was not good enough. It was better than previous years, and I remember many discussions with Darren Millar here in this Chamber, when I was the health Minister and he was the health spokesperson, about the extent to which we could insist and require that staff take up vaccination.
The good news is that the numbers are well above where they were last year at this point, so the improvements that we've seen in the general population are reflected in healthcare staff as well. But I believe they have a professional obligation to protect themselves from the risks that they otherwise pose to those people who use their service. So, for those staff, it is not just a matter of protecting yourself; it is a professional obligation, I always argued, to make sure that you avoid a risk that otherwise you may pose to others, and we need to do more. We need to do it with the royal collages and with the trade unions in that field to drive that figure up even further.
I was reminded in Angela Burns's supplementary, Llywydd, that when we saw the measles outbreak in Swansea some years ago, the families we failed to reach were not families, in fact, who were avoiding vaccination. They were the families that Angela Burns referred to—people whose first language is neither Welsh nor English, who are mobile and whose addresses change rapidly, and where conventional ways of reaching them don't work. But I do think Public Health Wales learned a lot from that experience, and we're better equipped now to make sure that we can respond to those difficulties.
And finally, can I just agree with the final point that Angela Burns made, Llywydd, that we need the effort that can be made by all of us? Every Member of this Senedd has some standing in their local communities. We all speak with some authority to groups within our own areas, and it's adding our own voices, as well as those of public services, to that global effort we will need when a vaccine becomes available to persuade people of its safety, of its efficacy, and of the very many good reasons there will be why people should come forward to receive it.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna. Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno ag Angela Burns nad oedd canran staff y GIG a fanteisiodd ar frechiad rhag y ffliw y llynedd yn ddigon da. Roedd yn well nag mewn blynyddoedd blaenorol, ac rwy'n cofio llawer o drafodaethau gyda Darren Millar yma yn y Siambr hon, pan oeddwn i'n Weinidog iechyd ac yntau yn llefarydd ar iechyd, ynglŷn â'r graddau y gallem ni fynnu a'i gwneud yn ofynnol bod staff yn manteisio ar frechiadau.
Y newyddion da yw bod y niferoedd yn llawer uwch nag yr oedden nhw y llynedd ar yr adeg hon, felly mae'r gwelliannau yr ydym ni wedi eu gweld yn y boblogaeth gyffredinol yn cael eu hadlewyrchu ymhlith staff gofal iechyd hefyd. Ond rwy'n credu bod ganddyn nhw rwymedigaeth broffesiynol i amddiffyn eu hunain rhag y risgiau y maen nhw'n eu peri fel arall i'r bobl hynny sy'n defnyddio eu gwasanaeth. Felly, i'r staff hynny, nid mater o amddiffyn eich hun yn unig ydyw; mae'n ddyletswydd broffesiynol, rwyf i wedi dadlau erioed, i sicrhau eich bod chi'n osgoi risg y gallech chi ei pheri i bobl eraill fel arall, ac mae angen i ni wneud mwy. Mae angen i ni wneud hynny gyda'r colegau brenhinol a chyda'r undebau llafur yn y maes hwnnw i godi'r ffigur hwnnw ymhellach fyth.
Fe'm hatgoffwyd yng nghwestiwn atodol Angela Burns, Llywydd, pan welsom yr achosion o'r frech goch yn Abertawe rai blynyddoedd yn ôl, nad oedd y teuluoedd y gwnaethom fethu â'u cyrraedd, mewn gwirionedd, yn deuluoedd a oedd yn osgoi brechu. Nhw oedd y teuluoedd y cyfeiriodd Angela Burns atyn nhw—pobl nad Cymraeg na Saesneg yw eu hiaith gyntaf, sy'n symudol ac y mae eu cyfeiriadau yn newid yn gyflym, ac nad yw ffyrdd confensiynol o'u cyrraedd yn gweithio. Ond rwy'n credu bod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi dysgu llawer o'r profiad hwnnw, ac rydym ni mewn sefyllfa well erbyn hyn i wneud yn siŵr y gallwn ni ymateb i'r anawsterau hynny.
Ac yn olaf, a gaf i gytuno â'r pwynt olaf a wnaeth Angela Burns, Llywydd, ein bod ni angen yr ymdrech y gall pob un ohonom ni ei gwneud? Mae gan bob Aelod o'r Senedd hon rywfaint o statws yn eu cymunedau lleol. Rydym ni i gyd yn siarad â chryn awdurdodau â grwpiau yn ein hardaloedd ein hunain, ac ychwanegu ein lleisiau ein hunain, yn ogystal â rhai gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, at yr ymdrech gyffredinol honno y bydd ei angen arnom ni pan fydd brechlyn ar gael i berswadio pobl o'i ddiogelwch, o'i effeithiolrwydd, ac o'r rhesymau da niferus iawn pam y dylai pobl ddod ymlaen i'w dderbyn.
I'm grateful to Joyce for tabling this very important question. First Minister, it's not only online that misinformation about COVID is being shared. It was drawn to my attention last week, a particularly pernicious leaflet being put through people's doors. It was in Pembrokeshire, but I was also made aware that it was happening in Caerphilly. It had an official look about it—you could have mistaken it for an official Government communication. Misinformation, I think, First Minister, online is bad enough, but at least people have got some sort of choice about what Facebook groups they join and what Twitter feeds they follow. This leaflet was coming through everybody's doors without them having any right to reject it. I think that we all in this Chamber support freedom of speech, but freedom of speech needs to be exercised responsibly. Is there anything further the Welsh Government can do, working with the police service in the areas that have been affected by this leaflet and with local authorities, to try and counteract this message? And is there any legal redress against people who are deliberately sharing information that could be very frightening to people and very, very damaging, as we've already touched on around areas like persuading people to take up the vaccination?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Joyce am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn pwysig iawn hwn. Prif Weinidog, nid ar-lein yn unig y mae camwybodaeth am COVID yn cael ei rhannu. Tynnwyd fy sylw yr wythnos diwethaf, at daflen arbennig o niweidiol a oedd yn cael ei rhoi drwy ddrysau pobl. Roedd hyn yn sir Benfro, ond cefais wybod hefyd ei fod yn digwydd yng Nghaerffili. Roedd olwg swyddogol iddi—gallech chi fod wedi ei chamgymryd am ohebiaeth swyddogol gan y Llywodraeth. Mae camwybodaeth, yn fy marn i, Prif Weinidog, ar-lein yn ddigon drwg, ond o leiaf mae gan bobl ryw fath o ddewis ynglŷn â'r grwpiau Facebook y maen nhw'n ymuno â nhw a pha ffrydiau Twitter y maen nhw'n eu dilyn. Roedd y daflen hon yn dod trwy ddrysau pawb heb fod ganddyn nhw unrhyw hawl i'w gwrthod. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn y Siambr hon yn cefnogi rhyddid i siarad, ond mae angen arfer rhyddid i siarad yn gyfrifol. A oes unrhyw beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud, gan weithio gyda gwasanaeth yr heddlu yn yr ardaloedd y mae'r daflen hon wedi effeithio arnyn nhw a chydag awdurdodau lleol, i geisio gwrthwynebu'r neges hon? Ac a oes unrhyw gamau unioni cyfreithiol yn erbyn pobl sy'n rhannu gwybodaeth yn fwriadol a allai fod yn frawychus iawn i bobl ac yn niweidiol dros ben, gan ein bod ni eisoes wedi trafod meysydd fel perswadio pobl i fanteisio ar y brechiad?
Llywydd, I think Helen Mary Jones is right: there's something particularly insidious about something being put through your own door and that deliberate and, as I would say, malicious attempt to mislead people with inaccurate information. I know that local people who've received that leaflet in Pembrokeshire have informed the police and looked to see whether there is any redress. It's the same leaflet, as I understand it, that has been in circulation in many parts, not just of Wales, but more widely. Amongst the things we can do are the things that Angela Burns referred to, which is to mobilise voices that will carry some weight in local communities. And I know that tomorrow evening, Steve Moore, as the chief executive of Hywel Dda health board, and the police and crime commissioner for the area are jointly holding a Facebook live session, partly in response to the circulation of that leaflet, so that they can be together in providing authoritative information to the local population and to do it directly in that way.
Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod Helen Mary Jones yn iawn: mae rhywbeth arbennig o ddichellgar am rywbeth yn cael ei roi trwy eich drws eich hun a'r ymgais fwriadol ac, fel y byddwn i'n dweud, maleisus honno i gamarwain pobl gyda gwybodaeth anghywir. Gwn fod pobl leol sydd wedi derbyn y daflen honno yn Sir Benfro wedi hysbysu'r heddlu ac wedi edrych i weld a oes unrhyw bosibilrwydd o wneud iawn. Dyma'r un daflen, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, sydd wedi bod yn cael ei dosbarthu mewn sawl rhan, nid yn unig o Gymru, ond yn ehangach. Ymhlith y pethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud y mae'r pethau y cyfeiriodd Angela Burns atyn nhw, sef ymgasglu lleisiau a fydd yn cael rhywfaint o barch mewn cymunedau lleol. A gwn, nos yfory, fod Steve Moore, sy'n brif weithredwr bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda, a'r comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu ar gyfer yr ardal, yn cynnal sesiwn fyw ar Facebook ar y cyd, yn rhannol mewn ymateb i gylchrediad y daflen honno, fel y gallan nhw fod gyda'i gilydd i ddarparu gwybodaeth awdurdodol i'r boblogaeth leol a'i wneud yn uniongyrchol yn y modd hwnnw.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am yr amcangyfrif o nifer y bobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd yng Nghymru? OQ55919
6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the estimated number of rough sleepers in Wales? OQ55919
Latest estimates suggest that during the month of August, 974 people presenting as homeless were found immediate accommodation; 476 homeless people were provided with suitable long-term accommodation; and 101 homeless people were rough-sleeping. Monthly data of that sort will be published for the remainder of this Senedd term.
Mae'r amcangyfrifon diweddaraf yn awgrymu y daethpwyd o hyd i lety ar unwaith i 974 o bobl a gyflwynodd eu hunain yn ddigartref yn ystod mis Awst; Darparwyd llety hirdymor addas i 476 o bobl ddigartref; ac roedd 101 o bobl ddigartref yn cysgu ar y stryd. Bydd data misol o'r math hwnnw yn cael eu cyhoeddi ar gyfer gweddill tymor y Senedd hon.
Can I thank the First Minister for his answer? And he would have also heard the exchange in the Chamber last week with the housing Minister, and the number of 100 or 101 rough-sleepers who are now on the streets of the towns and cities of Wales is very distressing. I know that over 3,000 or 3,500, I think, people have been helped during COVID into emergency accommodation of one kind or another, and that is a real achievement, but part of the problem is that, for many years, we've not had a very reliable estimate of the number of rough-sleepers, and this has been a problem across the United Kingdom, but we do need to know the level of the problem, so that we can take appropriate action to meet the scale of it. But can you give us the assurance immediately that the assertive outreach to help those 101 people who are rough-sleeping at the moment is being effective?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb? A byddai ef hefyd wedi clywed y drafodaeth yn y Siambr yr wythnos diwethaf gyda'r Gweinidog tai, ac mae'r o 100 neu 101 o bobl sy'n cysgu ar strydoedd trefi a dinasoedd Cymru erbyn hyn yn peri gofid mawr. Gwn fod mwy na 3,000 neu 3,500, rwy'n credu, wedi cael cymorth yn ystod COVID i gael llety brys o ryw fath neu'i gilydd, ac mae hynny'n gyflawniad gwirioneddol, ond rhan o'r broblem yw na fu gennym, ers blynyddoedd lawer, amcangyfrif dibynadwy iawn o nifer y bobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd, ac mae hyn wedi bod yn broblem ledled y Deyrnas Unedig, ond mae angen i ni wybod beth yw lefel y broblem, fel y gallwn ni gymryd camau priodol i ymateb i'w maint. Ond a allwch chi roi'r sicrwydd i ni ar unwaith bod yr allgymorth pendant i helpu'r 101 o bobl hynny sy'n cysgu ar y stryd ar hyn o bryd yn cael effaith?
Llywydd, I think we can give that assurance. It's two things together, it seems to me. It is assertive outreach and then it's a proper level of support for those people after they have been reached and after they have been placed in accommodation. We know that amongst the 101 people who were sleeping rough in August, there will be some people whose level of addiction to alcohol or to drugs has taken them back onto the streets again. We will know that in some settings, where people who were previously homeless have been temporarily housed, there is a level of anti-social behaviour that has an impact on staff and on other tenants alike and which some people find they're just not able to deal with. So, as well as reaching people through assertive outreach services, we also have to make sure that we have the help that is then necessary to sustain people in temporary accommodation to begin with, and then into permanent accommodation in the way that we wish to see. I know that David Melding will be aware of the fact that in the £50 million next phase of our homelessness response, nearly £10 million of that is for that wraparound support in mental health and substance misuse, to try and make sure that people do not feel that the answer that's right for them is a return to rough-sleeping from which they otherwise would have been relieved.
Llywydd, rwy'n credu y gallwn ni roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw. Mae'n ddau beth gyda'i gilydd, mae'n ymddangos i mi. Allgymorth grymusol ac yna lefel briodol o gefnogaeth i'r bobl hynny ar ôl iddyn nhw gael eu cyrraedd ac ar ôl iddyn nhw gael eu rhoi mewn llety. Rydym ni'n gwybod, ymhlith y 101 o bobl a oedd yn cysgu ar y stryd ym mis Awst, y bydd rhai pobl y mae eu lefel o ddibyniaeth ar alcohol neu ar gyffuriau wedi mynd â nhw yn ôl i'r strydoedd unwaith eto. Byddwn yn gwybod, mewn rhai lleoliadau, lle mae pobl a oedd yn ddigartref gynt wedi cael eu cartrefu dros dro, bod lefel o ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol sy'n cael effaith ar staff ac ar denantiaid eraill hefyd ac y mae rhai pobl yn canfod nad ydyn nhw'n gallu ymdopi ag ef. Felly, yn ogystal â chyrraedd pobl trwy wasanaethau allgymorth pendant, mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd wneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni'r cymorth sy'n angenrheidiol wedyn i gadw pobl mewn llety dros dro i ddechrau, ac yna i lety parhaol yn y ffordd yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei weld. Gwn y bydd David Melding yn ymwybodol o'r ffaith bod bron i £10 miliwn o gam nesaf gwerth £50 miliwn ein hymateb i ddigartrefedd ar gyfer y cymorth cofleidiol hwnnw ym maes iechyd meddwl a chamddefnyddio sylweddau, i geisio gwneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl yn teimlo mai'r ateb sy'n iawn iddyn nhw yw dychwelyd i gysgu ar y stryd y bydden nhw wedi cael eu rhyddhau ohono fel arall.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau y gall greu swyddi a chyfleoedd hyfforddi i bobl o bob oed yn Ogwr yng nghyd-destun dirywiad economaidd? OQ55900
7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that it can create jobs and training opportunities for people of all ages in Ogmore in the context of an economic downturn? OQ55900
In July, we announced a £40 million package to help employers across Wales to take on and train new workers. Earlier this month, as part of that package, we launched specific assistance to encourage the recruitment of apprentices, as well as a barriers fund to help individuals who are considering self-employment.
Ym mis Gorffennaf, fe wnaethom gyhoeddi pecyn gwerth £40 miliwn i helpu cyflogwyr ledled Cymru i gyflogi a hyfforddi gweithwyr newydd. Yn gynharach y mis hwn, yn rhan o'r pecyn hwnnw, lansiwyd cymorth penodol gennym i annog recriwtio prentisiaid, yn ogystal â chronfa rwystrau i helpu unigolion sy'n ystyried hunangyflogaeth.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. And, First Minister, you'll know that Centrica began talks with the GMB union earlier this year about terms and conditions changes to jobs, but they kicked off those talks in the middle of the pandemic with the threat to fire and rehire its 20,000 strong UK workforce, and the biggest proportion of these jobs per head of population is right here in Wales, and many indeed are in my constituency. This is a company, First Minister, that has benefited from a £200 million contract to run the Nest energy efficiency programme in Wales. So, do you agree with me that this is not what we should expect from an organisation with which we do business here in Wales and that it's not the way we expect them to treat their workers? Will he, therefore, call on them to take their threats off the table, come back from the brink, and work for a sensible, negotiated deal that is in the shared interests of the reputation of Centrica plc and their shareholders, and, most importantly, in the interests of their highly skilled and loyal workforce and their families?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. A, Prif Weinidog, byddwch yn gwybod bod Centrica wedi dechrau trafodaethau gydag undeb y GMB yn gynharach eleni am newidiadau i delerau ac amodau swyddi, ond fe wnaethon nhw ddechrau'r trafodaethau hynny yng nghanol y pandemig gyda'r bygythiad i ddiswyddo ac ailgyflogi ei weithlu o 20,000 yn y DU, ac mae'r gyfran fwyaf o'r swyddi hyn fesul pen o'r boblogaeth yma yng Nghymru, ac mae llawer yn fy etholaeth i, mewn gwirionedd. Cwmni yw hwn, Prif Weinidog, sydd wedi elwa ar gontract gwerth £200 miliwn i redeg rhaglen effeithlonrwydd ynni Nyth yng Nghymru. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi nad dyma'r hyn y dylem ni ei ddisgwyl gan sefydliad yr ydym ni'n cyflawni busnes gydag ef yma yng Nghymru ac nad dyma'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n disgwyl iddyn nhw drin eu gweithwyr? A wnaiff ef, felly, alw arnyn nhw i dynnu eu bygythiadau oddi ar y bwrdd, camu yn ôl o'r dibyn, a gweithio i sicrhau cytundeb synhwyrol, wedi'i negodi sydd er budd cyffredin enw da Centrica plc a'u cyfranddalwyr, ac, yn bwysicaf oll, er budd eu gweithlu medrus a ffyddlon iawn a'u teuluoedd?
I certainly am aware of the Centrica issue, having had discussions directly with leaders of the GMB about it. My colleague Ken Skates wrote to Centrica back in August when we were last discussing this with the union. Let me be clear, Llywydd: there is no excuse for any organisation or company using the coronavirus crisis to erode the rights and the entitlements of its workforce. And I echo very much the final point that Huw Irranca-Davies made; I think the company would be very well advised to take the threat off the table, to get back around the table, and to work with the GMB to a negotiated deal.
Rwy'n sicr yn ymwybodol o fater Centrica, ar ôl cael trafodaethau'n uniongyrchol gydag arweinwyr y GMB yn ei gylch. Ysgrifennodd fy nghyd-Aelod Ken Skates at Centrica yn ôl ym mis Awst pan oeddem yn trafod hyn ddiwethaf gyda'r undeb. Gadewch imi fod yn glir, Llywydd: nid oes esgus i unrhyw sefydliad neu gwmni ddefnyddio argyfwng y coronafeirws i erydu hawliau a breiniau ei weithlu. Ac ategaf yn fawr iawn y sylw olaf a wnaeth Huw Irranca-Davies; rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddoeth iawn i'r cwmni dynnu'r bygythiad yn ôl, i ailddechrau trafod ac i weithio gyda'r GMB i negodi cytundeb.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Siân Gwenllian.
Finally, question 8, Siân Gwenllian.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am wasanaethau deintyddol yn Arfon? OQ55946
8. Will the First Minister make a statement on dental services in Arfon? OQ55946
Diolch yn fawr i Siân Gwenllian am y cwestiwn. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn gweithio i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn gallu cael gafael ar wasanaethau deintyddol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cynlluniau i gynnig darpariaeth newydd yn lle’r hyn sydd wedi ei golli, a hynny ar frys.
Thank you very much, Siân Gwenllian, for that question. The health board is working to improve access to dental services. This includes plans to urgently replace lost provision.
Dwi'n deall hefyd bod yna uned hyfforddi deintyddion yn mynd i gael ei sefydlu yn y gogledd, ac mae hynny yn newyddion da, wrth gwrs, ond mae o ddwy neu dair blynedd i ffwrdd, ac yn y cyfamser, mae yna argyfwng gwirioneddol yn digwydd yn fy etholaeth i. Mae rhan o'r broblem yn codi o'r ffordd mae'r cytundebau yn gweithio rhwng deintyddion a'r byrddau iechyd, ac mae yna addewid wedi bod ers tro y byddai'r Llywodraeth yma yn edrych yn fanwl ar beth sydd angen ei wneud er mwyn gwella'r sefyllfa yna. Fedrwch chi symud ymlaen efo'r gwaith yna rŵan os gwelwch yn dda? Ar y funud, mae pobl yn fy etholaeth i yn cael eu gadael i lawr. Mae yna ddeintyddfa arall yn cau y flwyddyn nesaf, ac mae yna wirioneddol angen gweithredu buan yn y maes yma.
I understand that there will be a training centre for dentistry opening in north Wales, and that's very good news, but it is two or three years away, and in the meantime, there is a very real crisis developing in my constituency. Part of the problem arises from the way in which the contracts work between dentists and the health board, and there has been a pledge for some time that this Government would look in detail at what needs to be done in order to improve that situation. Can you make progress with that work now please? At the moment, people in my constituency are being let down. There is another dental surgery to close next year, and we truly require urgent action in this area.
Diolch yn fawr i Siân Gwenllian. Dwi wedi gweld y ffigurau o ran beth sydd wedi digwydd yn ei hardal hi. Dŷn ni ddim wedi sôn am Brexit eto heddiw, ond mae Brexit wedi cael effaith negyddol ar wasanaethau deintyddol. Mae 17 y cant o'r deintyddion sy'n cael eu cyflogi gan y cwmnïau mawr—a'r cwmnïau mawr sy'n cwympo mas o ardaloedd fel y gogledd-orllewin—yn cael eu recriwtio o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac mae Brexit yn tanseilio hynny. Fel roedd Siân Gwenllian yn ei ddweud, bydd yr uned addysgu deintyddol newydd ym Mangor yn helpu. Bydd ymdrech y bwrdd iechyd i gynyddu mynediad i ofal deintyddol brys yn helpu. Mae'r Athro Paul Brocklehurst, y dirprwy brif swyddog deintyddol, wedi ei leoli yng ngogledd Cymru, a bydd yn cynnig cymorth arbennig wrth ymateb i'r her a wynebir yn etholaeth yr Aelod.
Can I thank Siân Gwenllian very much? I've seen the figures in terms of what has been occurring in her area. We haven't mentioned Brexit yet today, but Brexit has had a negative impact on dental services. Seventeen per cent of dentists employed by the major companies—and the major companies are the ones that are withdrawing from areas such as the north-west—are recruited from the European Union, and Brexit undermines that. As Siân Gwenllian was saying, the new dentistry unit in Bangor will assist, and the health board's efforts to increase access to emergency dental services will help. Professor Paul Brocklehurst, the deputy chief dental officer, is based in north Wales, and he will be offering special support in responding to the challenge that is being faced in the Member's constituency.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol ar ei gyfrifoldebau fel swyddog cyfreithiol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Helen Mary Jones.
The next item is questions to the Counsel General on his law officer responsibilities. The first question is from Helen Mary Jones.
1. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ohebiaeth rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch achos ymgyrch Menywod yn erbyn Anghyfiawnder Pensiwn y Wladwriaeth i fenywod a anwyd yn y 1950au y gwrthodwyd eu pensiynau iddynt? OQ55902
1. Will the Counsel General provide an update on correspondence between the Welsh Government and the UK Government regarding the case of the Women Against State Pension Injustice campaign for 1950s-born women denied their pensions? OQ55902
We have, as a Government, repeatedly expressed concerns to the UK Government about women who have had their state pension age raised without effective or sufficient notification. The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip recently wrote again to the UK Government to press for a just and fair solution for the women.
Rydym ni, y Llywodraeth, wedi mynegi pryderon dro ar ôl tro i Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch menywod y cynyddwyd eu hoedran pensiwn gwladol heb hysbysiad effeithiol na digonol. Ysgrifennodd y Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip yn ddiweddar at Lywodraeth y DU i bwyso am ateb teg a chlir i'r menywod.
I'm grateful to the Counsel General for his reply. Does he agree with me that in the COVID context there are particular reasons why the UK Government should address this injustice as a matter of urgency? Official advice to the over-60s suggests that people should minimise their contact with others, and yet, many of the 1950s women are working in public-facing roles such as social care, NHS and retail. They tell me that they're frightened to go to work, but they can't afford not to do so. And there are potentially 1.5 million jobs that could be released if those women were allowed access to their pensions now and given some compensation for what they have lost. There are over 5,000 women affected in Llanelli in my region alone. The UK Government has found itself able to find resources when it's needed to, to respond to the COVID crisis, and I'm sure we all appreciate that. But does the Counsel General agree with me that they should look again in this context where women are being asked to work in situations where they may not be safe, and where we have young people, as we've heard in response to earlier questions, desperately looking for work—is it not time that the UK Government should act? And can the Counsel General consider further correspondence with the UK Government in this post-COVID context on the women's behalf?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ateb. A yw'n cytuno â mi fod rhesymau penodol yng nghyd-destun COVID pam y dylai Llywodraeth y DU fynd i'r afael â'r anghyfiawnder hwn fel mater o frys? Mae cyngor swyddogol i bobl dros 60 oed yn awgrymu y dylai pobl leihau eu cysylltiad ag eraill, ac eto, mae llawer o fenywod y 1950au yn gweithio mewn swyddogaethau sy'n gofyn am ymwneud â'r cyhoedd megis gofal cymdeithasol, y GIG a manwerthu. Maen nhw'n dweud wrthyf eu bod yn ofni mynd i'r gwaith, ond na allan nhw fforddio peidio â gwneud hynny. Ac mae'n bosib y gellid rhyddhau 1.5 miliwn o swyddi pe caniateid i'r menywod hynny godi eu pensiynau nawr a chael rhywfaint o iawndal am yr hyn y maen nhw wedi'i golli. Effeithir ar dros 5,000 o fenywod yn Llanelli yn fy rhanbarth i yn unig. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gallu darganfod adnoddau pan fo angen, i ymateb i argyfwng COVID, ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod i gyd yn gwerthfawrogi hynny. Ond a yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno â mi y dylen nhw edrych eto yn y cyd-destun hwn lle gofynnir i fenywod weithio mewn sefyllfaoedd lle nad ydyn nhw efallai'n ddiogel, a lle mae gennym ni bobl ifanc, fel y clywsom ni mewn ymateb i gwestiynau cynharach, yn chwilio'n daer am waith—onid yw'n bryd i Lywodraeth y DU weithredu? Ac a wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ystyried gohebu ymhellach â Llywodraeth y DU, yn y cyd-destun ar ôl COVID hwn, ar ran y menywod?
I thank the Member for that important supplementary. I think it casts a very significant light on the situation. I think she's right to say, of course, that women are over-represented, if you like, in sectors that have been particularly badly hit during the COVID crisis, which I think illustrates very starkly the challenge that many of these women face. Many of them have been working in roles that may have not been well paid for many, many years before facing the financial pressure that they face anew as a consequence of the actions of the UK Government. I know that she will share with me the dismay that the litigation strategy that the campaign groups were pursuing hasn't been able to bear fruit. But that does now, I think, impose on the UK Government a particular and special responsibility to engage with the groups that have been advocating on behalf of women affected. I, and I imagine many other Members in the Chamber, have received correspondence with women affected putting forward very sensible and pragmatic proposals for how this challenge and injustice could be addressed. And it's in that light that my colleague Jane Hutt has written to the UK Government, to encourage them to engage with these groups and negotiate a solution.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol pwysig yna. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn taflu goleuni sylweddol iawn ar y sefyllfa. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n briodol dweud, wrth gwrs, fod menywod yn cael eu gorgynrychioli, os mynnwch chi, mewn sectorau sydd wedi cael eu taro'n arbennig o galed yn ystod argyfwng COVID, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn dangos yn glir iawn yr her y mae llawer o'r menywod hyn yn ei hwynebu. Mae llawer ohonyn nhw wedi bod yn gweithio mewn swyddogaethau nad oedden nhw efallai yn talu'n dda ers blynyddoedd lawer cyn wynebu'r pwysau ariannol y maen nhw yn ei wynebu o'r newydd o ganlyniad i weithredoedd Llywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd yr un mor siomedig â minnau nad yw'r strategaeth ymgyfreitha yr oedd y grwpiau ymgyrchu yn ei dilyn wedi gallu dwyn ffrwyth. Ond mae hynny bellach, rwy'n credu, yn rhoi cyfrifoldeb penodol ac arbennig ar Lywodraeth y DU i ymgysylltu â'r grwpiau sydd wedi bod yn dadlau ar ran menywod yr effeithir arnyn nhw. Rwyf i, a dychmygaf fod llawer o Aelodau eraill yn y Siambr, wedi cael gohebiaeth gan fenywod yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw yn cyflwyno cynigion synhwyrol a phragmatig iawn ar gyfer sut y gellid mynd i'r afael â'r her a'r anghyfiawnder hwn. Ac yn y goleuni hwnnw y mae fy nghyd-Aelod Jane Hutt wedi ysgrifennu at Lywodraeth y DU, i'w hannog i ymgysylltu â'r grwpiau hyn a thrafod datrysiad.
2. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o gymal 49 o Fil Marchnad Fewnol y DU? OQ55917
2. What assessment has the Counsel General made of clause 49 of the UK Internal Market Bill? OQ55917
Clause 49 of the Bill as introduced would make the entire UK Internal Market Act a protected enactment. Protected enactment status should only be used where it can be justified. We have proposed that this provision is omitted; it is for the UK Government now to make the case for its inclusion.
Byddai cymal 49 o'r Bil fel y'i cyflwynwyd yn gwneud Deddf Marchnad Fewnol gyfan y DU yn ddeddfiad gwarchodedig. Dim ond pan ellir cyfiawnhau hynny y dylid defnyddio statws deddfiad gwarchodedig. Rydym ni wedi cynnig hepgor y ddarpariaeth hon; mater i Lywodraeth y DU nawr yw cyflwyno'r achos dros ei chynnwys.
Diolch, Counsel General. The Welsh public voted in favour of devolution in 1997. After that initial mandate, we've had 12 further democratic events that have allowed the Welsh people to confirm that view—in the form of a further referendum in 2011, five Senedd elections, and six general elections. The referenda and all the elections returned clear pro-devolution majorities. Now, you'll know that clause 46 of the internal market Bill will enable the UK Government to spend money in devolved areas in Wales. That would allow them, for example, to spend money on transport plans that could have a detrimental effect on areas that are devolved, such as public health, the environment and conservation. As you've been setting out, Counsel General, clause 49 of the Bill prevents the Senedd from being able to bring forward a legal challenge to such plans, even though they affect devolved areas. We've known from the beginning that Boris Johnson was hostile to devolution, which has since been confirmed through the horse's mouth. This power grab is a substantiation of that hostility. So, do you agree with me that the Tory UK Government has zero democratic mandate to pass such provisions, especially given that a majority of Welsh MPs voted against them and that this Senedd is opposed?
Diolch, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. Pleidleisiodd y cyhoedd yng Nghymru o blaid datganoli yn 1997. Ar ôl y mandad cychwynnol hwnnw, rydym ni wedi cael 12 digwyddiad democrataidd pellach sydd wedi caniatáu i bobl Cymru gadarnhau'r farn honno—ar ffurf refferendwm pellach yn 2011, pum etholiad yn y Senedd, a chwe etholiad cyffredinol. Yn y refferenda a'r holl etholiadau cafwyd mwyafrif clir o blaid datganoli. Nawr, byddwch yn gwybod y bydd cymal 46 o Fil y farchnad fewnol yn galluogi Llywodraeth y DU i wario arian mewn meysydd datganoledig yng Nghymru. Byddai hynny'n caniatáu iddyn nhw, er enghraifft, wario arian ar gynlluniau trafnidiaeth a allai gael effaith andwyol ar feysydd sydd wedi'u datganoli, megis iechyd y cyhoedd, yr amgylchedd a chadwraeth. Fel yr ydych chi wedi bod yn ei nodi, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, mae cymal 49 o'r Bil yn atal y Senedd rhag gallu cyflwyno her gyfreithiol i gynlluniau o'r fath, er eu bod yn effeithio ar feysydd datganoledig. Rydym ni wedi gwybod o'r dechrau bod Boris Johnson yn elyniaethus i ddatganoli, sydd bellach wedi'i gadarnhau o lygad y ffynnon. Mae'r cipio grym hwn yn cadarnhau'r elyniaeth honno. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi nad oes gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU fandad democrataidd i basio darpariaethau o'r fath, yn enwedig o gofio bod y mwyafrif o Aelodau Seneddol Cymru wedi pleidleisio yn eu herbyn a bod y Senedd hon yn gwrthwynebu?
I think the Member is right to point to the effect of the protected enactment designation on the Bill, in that it does prevent the effects of the Act from being modified by this Senedd. But she points as well to a much broader provision in the Bill, which is equally iniquitous—if I can put it in those terms—which is the provisions that give UK Government Ministers powers from devolved areas to spend in Wales. Now, we heard the contributions in the House of Commons during the debates on the Bill earlier in the year and it was evident from those contributions that I think what motivates some of these judgements is the UK Government not being content with the priorities that the Welsh Government, elected by the people of Wales, have set for themselves as part of a democratic mandate. I think what's important at this point is for the UK Government to recognise it isn't too late for it to change its mind in relation to this provision. We would certainly invite it to do that. When we've discussed it with the UK Government, obviously, it's described as an opportunity to work in partnership. Well, if that is the case, it seems to me to be an opportunity to work around the Welsh Government, rather than work with the Welsh Government. But, as I say, it's not too late for the UK Government to change its position in relation to that and recognise the democratic devolution settlement.
Credaf fod yr Aelod yn gywir i dynnu sylw at effaith dynodi'r Bil yn ddeddfiad gwarchodedig, gan ei fod yn atal y Senedd hon rhag addasu effeithiau'r Ddeddf. Ond mae'n cyfeirio hefyd at ddarpariaeth lawer ehangach yn y Bil, sydd yr un mor anghyfiawn—os gallaf ei fynegi yn y termau hynny—sef y darpariaethau sy'n rhoi pwerau o feysydd datganoledig i Weinidogion Llywodraeth y DU i wario yng Nghymru. Nawr, clywsom y cyfraniadau yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin yn ystod y dadleuon ar y Bil yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn ac roedd hi'n amlwg o'r cyfraniadau hynny mai'r hyn rwy'n credu sy'n ysgogi rhai o'r penderfyniadau hyn yw nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn fodlon ar y blaenoriaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru, a etholwyd gan bobl Cymru, wedi eu gosod drosti eu hun yn rhan o fandad democrataidd. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig ar hyn o bryd yw i Lywodraeth y DU gydnabod nad yw hi'n rhy hwyr iddi newid ei meddwl o ran y ddarpariaeth hon. Byddem yn sicr yn ei gwahodd i wneud hynny. Pan ydym yn trafod hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU, yn amlwg, caiff ei ddisgrifio fel cyfle i gydweithio. Wel, os yw hynny'n wir, mae'n ymddangos i mi ei fod yn gyfle i weithio o amgylch Llywodraeth Cymru, yn hytrach na gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru. Ond, fel y dywedais, nid yw hi'n rhy hwyr i Lywodraeth y DU newid ei safbwynt yn hynny o beth a chydnabod y setliad datganoli democrataidd.
I'm particularly concerned about this, because, having been told that leaving the EU is about taking back control, I don't think many of us realised that that meant the UK Government clawing back both control and the money that goes with it for the centre to be able to target seats for their own political purposes. And just leaving aside the incompetence of the UK Government over test, trace and protect and their appetite for giving money to their mates, the whole point of devolved government is that the Welsh Government understands the difference between Cardiff, Caernarfon and Caersws, as well as the granular detail of communities like mine, like Adamsdown and parts of Pentwyn, which are super-output areas of deprivation, and whose needs are completely different from those of, say, Cyncoed or Penylan, even though they're only a few miles apart. So, what can be done do stop the Tory UK Government from hijacking this money for their own ends, rather than tackling poverty and deprivation in our communities?
Rwy'n pryderu'n benodol am hyn, oherwydd, ar ôl cael gwybod bod gadael yr UE yn ymwneud ag adfer rheolaeth, nid wyf yn credu bod llawer ohonom ni wedi sylweddoli bod hynny'n golygu Llywodraeth y DU yn adfachu rheolaeth a'r arian sy'n mynd gyda hynny er mwyn i'r canol allu targedu seddi at eu dibenion gwleidyddol eu hunain. Ac o roi anallu Llywodraeth y DU dros brofi, olrhain a diogelu a'u hawydd i roi arian i'w ffrindiau o'r neilltu, holl ddiben y llywodraeth ddatganoledig yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall y gwahaniaeth rhwng Caerdydd, Caernarfon a Chaersws, yn ogystal â nodweddion unigryw cymunedau fel fy un i, fel Adamsdown a rhannau o Bentwyn, sy'n ardaloedd o amddifadedd sylweddol, ac y mae eu hanghenion yn gwbl wahanol i anghenion Cyncoed neu Ben-y-lan, dyweder, er nad ydyn nhw ond ychydig filltiroedd ar wahân. Felly, beth ellir ei wneud i atal Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU rhag herwgipio'r arian hwn at eu dibenion eu hunain, yn hytrach na mynd i'r afael â thlodi ac amddifadedd yn ein cymunedau?
The Member is, of course, right to say that the purpose behind the Bill—the intent of the Bill, certainly—is to limit the capacity of the Senedd and Welsh Ministers to act in accordance with the devolution settlement. It didn't have to be this way, and it still doesn't have to be this way. We've proposed an alternative to the Bill that respects the devolution settlement, but also delivers the high standards across a range of areas, which I know that she feels very passionately about and is a very ardent campaigner for. As I say, we've pursued a strategy of putting forward constructive alternatives, and have had significant support in the House of Lords, as I know that she is aware, for many of those positions, from a range of political voices and non-political voices, and from a range of different walks of life. And there has been a very, very strong theme that the devolution settlement needs to be respected and that if the UK Government is proceeding on the basis that this Bill is intended to strengthen the union, it will find that it is mistaken, because the best way of doing that is by defending and extending devolution, rather than trying to ride roughshod over it.
Mae'r Aelod, wrth gwrs, yn gywir i ddweud mai bwriad y Bil—mai diben y Bil, yn sicr—yw cyfyngu ar allu'r Senedd a Gweinidogion Cymru i weithredu yn unol â'r setliad datganoli. Nid oedd yn rhaid iddo fod fel hyn, ac nid oes rhaid iddo fod fel hyn o hyd. Rydym ni wedi cynnig dewis amgen i'r Bil sy'n parchu'r setliad datganoli, ond sydd hefyd yn cyflawni'r safonau uchel mewn ystod o feysydd, y gwn i ei bod yn teimlo'n angerddol iawn yn eu cylch ac yn ymgyrchydd brwd iawn drostynt. Fel y dywedais, rydym ni wedi dilyn strategaeth o gyflwyno dewisiadau adeiladol amgen, ac wedi cael cefnogaeth sylweddol yn Nhŷ'r Arglwyddi, fel rwy'n gwybod ei bod yn ymwybodol, i lawer o'r safbwyntiau hynny, o amrywiaeth o leisiau gwleidyddol a lleisiau anwleidyddol, ac o amrywiaeth o wahanol gefndiroedd. A chafwyd thema gref iawn, iawn bod angen parchu'r setliad datganoli ac os yw Llywodraeth y DU yn bwrw ymlaen ar y sail mai bwriad y Bil hwn yw cryfhau'r undeb, bydd yn canfod ei bod yn camgymryd, oherwydd y ffordd orau o wneud hynny yw drwy amddiffyn ac ymestyn datganoli, yn hytrach na cheisio ei sathru dan draed.
3. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda swyddogion eraill y gyfraith ynghylch goblygiadau cyfreithiol Brexit heb gytundeb? OQ55903
3. What discussions has the Counsel General had with other law officers regarding the legal implications of a 'no deal' Brexit? OQ55903
The Welsh Government has made clear to the UK Government that an EU trade deal is of vital importance for Welsh citizens and businesses. However, as a responsible Government we are planning for the possibility. This includes making all necessary Welsh legislation to deliver a 'no trade deal' outcome by 31 December.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei gwneud hi'n glir i Lywodraeth y DU fod cytundeb masnach gyda'r UE yn hanfodol bwysig i ddinasyddion a busnesau Cymru. Fodd bynnag, gan ein bod yn Llywodraeth gyfrifol rydym yn cynllunio ar gyfer y posibilrwydd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys gwneud yr holl ddeddfwriaeth angenrheidiol yng Nghymru i allu gweithredu canlyniad o 'dim cytundeb masnach' erbyn 31 Rhagfyr.
I'm grateful to the Counsel General for his reply. Can I ask how confident he is that we will have a functioning, workable legal framework in important fields, like the environment and agriculture, that were previously derived from European law? He speaks, in his response to Delyth Jewell, about a constructive alternative to the internal market Bill, and, of course, that's the right approach to take, but what considerations are being given by the Welsh Government as to what steps might be taken to protect the devolution settlement if this legislation is passed unamended? Does he share my concern, and a concern that was expressed recently by Professor Emyr Lewis at Swansea University, that we may, if this Bill is passed unamended, be faced with a UK Government that is developing a taste for legislating in a way that puts itself beyond the usual reach of law? Has the Counsel General had any discussions with law officers in the other devolved administrations about what legal steps, if any, might be taken should this Bill be passed unamended? I hope that he would agree with me that it would be very dangerous indeed for the UK Government to get a taste for passing legislation that puts itself beyond the reach of the law.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ateb. A gaf i ofyn pa mor ffyddiog ydyw y bydd gennym ni fframwaith cyfreithiol ymarferol, y bydd modd gweithio ag ef, mewn meysydd pwysig, fel yr amgylchedd ac amaethyddiaeth, a oedd gynt yn deillio o gyfraith Ewrop? Mae'n siarad, yn ei ymateb i Delyth Jewell, am ddewis adeiladol arall yn lle Bil y farchnad fewnol, ac, wrth gwrs, dyna'r ffordd gywir o fynd ati, ond sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried y dylid gweithredu i ddiogelu'r setliad datganoli os caiff y ddeddfwriaeth hon ei phasio heb ei diwygio? A yw'n rhannu fy mhryder, a phryder a fynegwyd yn ddiweddar gan yr Athro Emyr Lewis ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe, y gallwn ni, os caiff y Bil hwn ei basio heb ei ddiwygio, wynebu Llywodraeth y DU sy'n cael blas ar ddeddfu mewn ffordd sy'n rhoi ei hun y tu hwnt i gwmpas arferol y gyfraith? A yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi cael unrhyw drafodaethau gyda swyddogion y gyfraith yn y gweinyddiaethau datganoledig eraill ynghylch pa gamau cyfreithiol, os o gwbl, y gellid eu cymryd pe cai'r Bil hwn ei basio heb ei ddiwygio? Gobeithio y byddai'n cytuno â mi y byddai'n beryglus iawn yn wir i Lywodraeth y DU gael blas ar basio deddfwriaeth sy'n rhoi ei hun y tu hwnt i gwmpas y gyfraith.
It would be not only dangerous, but it would be profoundly wrong in the context of the devolution settlement. So, I endorse the comment the Member makes in her question in relation to that. I think the point that Delyth Jewell was making in her question around the protected enactment is an extension of the usual principle. So, we have accepted that there may be occasions when enactments become protected, but in relation to this Bill, there is effectively a blanket prohibition on modification, which you would expect to see in very significant constitutional legislation, not one that, on the face of it, deals with matters to do with the economy and trade. So, I think that gives you the clue that you need about the extent of the trespass on the devolution settlement that this Bill represents. And I agree with her that it would be very dangerous to see that becoming a pattern and, indeed, it would be completely unacceptable, even in this Bill.
In relation to the question of a functioning statute book at the end of the transition period, I will say that a huge amount of work has been under way in relation to aligning the Welsh statute book, through secondary legislation, to take account of the changes that will need to happen after the end of the transition period. It's been really rather a mammoth task, and there are further statutory instruments coming forward to the Senedd over the coming weeks. We don't yet know what the outcome will be of the negotiations between the UK Government and the European Commission, obviously, but if that concludes in a deal, there will probably be the need for implementing legislation, and that will quite possibly—probably, I would suggest—require the Senedd's consent if it deals with matters that are otherwise devolved. We don't yet know what that legislation will look like. We don't yet know the scale of the task of grappling with it. We don't yet know the volume of implementing secondary legislation that that will entail. It will probably all need to be done by the end of this year. So, the challenge, I think, is obvious when I lay it out in that way. Whilst there has been good progress and, I would say, very good levels of joint working with the UK Government and other devolved Governments in relation to the programme of work so far, it's obvious when I say it that there's a significant challenge that lies very immediately ahead of us. And I think that that tells you a little about the scale of the challenge that we all face in the coming months.
Byddai nid yn unig yn beryglus, ond byddai'n gwbl anghywir yng nghyd-destun y setliad datganoli. Felly, ategaf y sylw y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud yn ei chwestiwn ynglŷn â hynny. Credaf fod y sylw yr oedd Delyth Jewell yn ei wneud yn ei chwestiwn ynghylch y deddfiad gwarchodedig yn estyniad o'r egwyddor arferol. Felly, rydym ni wedi derbyn y gall fod adegau pan gaiff deddfiadau eu diogelu, ond o ran y Bil hwn, mae gwaharddiad cyffredinol ar addasu i bob pwrpas, y byddech yn disgwyl ei weld mewn deddfwriaeth gyfansoddiadol sylweddol iawn, nid un sydd, ar yr wyneb, yn ymdrin â materion sy'n ymwneud â'r economi a masnach. Felly, credaf fod hynny'n rhoi'r syniad sydd ei angen arnoch chi am faint y tresmasu ar y setliad datganoli y mae'r Bil hwn yn ei gynrychioli. A chytunaf â hi y byddai'n beryglus iawn gweld hynny'n dod yn batrwm ac, yn wir, byddai'n gwbl annerbyniol, hyd yn oed yn y Bil hwn.
Ynghylch y cwestiwn o fod â llyfr statud gweithredol ar ddiwedd y cyfnod pontio, yr hyn y gwnaf i ei ddweud yw y bu llawer iawn o waith ar y gweill o ran cael cysondeb yn llyfr statud Cymru, drwy is-ddeddfwriaeth, i ystyried y newidiadau y bydd angen eu gwneud ar ôl diwedd y cyfnod pontio. Mae wedi bod yn dasg enfawr, a chaiff offerynnau statudol pellach eu cyflwyno i'r Senedd dros yr wythnosau nesaf. Nid ydym yn gwybod eto beth fydd canlyniad y trafodaethau rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a'r Comisiwn Ewropeaidd, yn amlwg, ond os cytundeb fydd y canlyniad, mae'n debyg y bydd angen gweithredu deddfwriaeth, ac mae'n debyg y bydd hynny—mae'n debyg, byddwn yn awgrymu—yn gofyn am gydsyniad y Senedd hon os yw'n ymwneud â materion sydd fel arall wedi'u datganoli. Ni wyddom ni eto sut olwg fydd ar y ddeddfwriaeth honno. Ni wyddom ni faint y dasg o fynd i'r afael â hi eto. Ni wyddom ni eto faint o weithredu is-ddeddfwriaeth y bydd hynny'n ei olygu. Mae'n debyg y bydd angen gwneud y cyfan erbyn diwedd eleni. Felly, mae'r her, rwy'n credu, yn amlwg pan fyddaf yn ei chyflwyno felly. Er y bu cynnydd da a, byddwn yn dweud, cydweithio da iawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraethau datganoledig eraill o ran y rhaglen waith hyd yma, mae'n amlwg pan ddywedaf fod her sylweddol yn union o'n blaenau. A chredaf fod hynny'n dweud ychydig wrthych chi am faint yr her yr ydym ni i gyd yn ei hwynebu yn ystod y misoedd nesaf.
4. Pa asesiad y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o'r ddeddfwriaeth sy'n sail i fabwysiadu ffyrdd o fewn datblygiadau tai newydd yng Nghymru? OQ55915
4. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the legislation underpinning road adoption within new housing developments in Wales? OQ55915
Welsh Ministers established a taskforce evaluating potential solutions regarding unadopted roads. It concluded that legislative changes were not required, but a good-practice guide was published, reducing the risk of further unadopted roads being created. We will shortly publish findings from our call for evidence on estate charges on new developments.
Sefydlodd Gweinidogion Cymru dasglu yn gwerthuso atebion posibl o ran ffyrdd heb eu mabwysiadu. Daeth i'r casgliad nad oedd angen newidiadau deddfwriaethol, ond cyhoeddwyd canllaw arfer da, gan leihau'r risg o greu ffyrdd pellach heb eu mabwysiadu. Cyn bo hir, byddwn yn cyhoeddi canfyddiadau o'n galwad am dystiolaeth ynglŷn â thaliadau ystadau ar ddatblygiadau newydd.
Following the Member debate, which I proposed in Plenary on 14 February 2018, I was pleased to see the report from the unadopted roads taskforce. However, one element disappoints me, and that relates to the lack of legal weight behind some of the recommendations. In particular, the taskforce's road adoption model guide states that if five or more properties are served by a road in a new housing development, highways authorities should serve an advanced payment code notice on developers, which essentially ensures a financial bond is in place to meet any future costs of bringing the road up to adoptable standard, as you will be aware. However, guidance and recommendation, I would suggest, is not strong enough, in my opinion, in this case. Will you, therefore, commit to holding further discussions with the Minister for transport to explore whether legislation should be introduced in this area so as to place a duty on local authorities to serve a notice on developers in such circumstances?
Yn dilyn y ddadl gan Aelodau, a gynigiais yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ar 14 Chwefror 2018, roeddwn yn falch o weld yr adroddiad gan y tasglu ffyrdd sydd heb eu mabwysiadu. Fodd bynnag, mae un elfen yn fy siomi, ac mae hynny'n ymwneud â'r diffyg pwysau cyfreithiol y tu ôl i rai o'r argymhellion. Yn benodol, mae canllaw model mabwysiadu ffyrdd y tasglu yn nodi, os caiff pum eiddo neu fwy eu gwasanaethu gan ffordd mewn datblygiad tai newydd, y dylai awdurdodau priffyrdd gyflwyno hysbysiad cod talu uwch i ddatblygwyr, sydd yn ei hanfod yn sicrhau bod bond ariannol ar waith i dalu unrhyw gostau yn y dyfodol o godi'r ffordd i safon y gellir ei mabwysiadu, fel y gwyddoch chi. Fodd bynnag, nid yw canllawiau ac argymhelliad, byddwn yn awgrymu, yn ddigon cryf, yn fy marn i, yn yr achos hwn. A wnewch chi, felly, ymrwymo i gynnal trafodaethau pellach gyda'r Gweinidog trafnidiaeth i archwilio a ddylid cyflwyno deddfwriaeth yn y maes hwn er mwyn gosod dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol i gyflwyno hysbysiad i ddatblygwyr mewn amgylchiadau o'r fath?
I thank Dai Lloyd for his further question in relation to that. I think the Minister for the economy, who commissioned the work of the taskforce, last made a statement on this topic only a few weeks ago at the end of October. The recommendations from the taskforce, which is, obviously, constituted in order to give advice, took the view that the better route at this stage certainly relates to the use of the Highways Act 1980, and the powers under section 38 in particular, and that the rest of its recommendations could be achieved, indeed, without primary legislation. As I say, there is a further call for evidence in relation to matters related to estate charges. The point he makes about the payment obligations are, obviously, particularly concerning. Whether or not there'll be any legislative considerations that arise in the context of estate charges will have to remain to be seen when we have the recommendations and the output of the call for evidence.
Diolch i Dai Lloyd am ei gwestiwn pellach ynglŷn â hynny. Credaf y gwnaeth Gweinidog yr economi, a gomisiynodd waith y tasglu, ddatganiad ynglŷn â hyn ddiwethaf ychydig wythnosau'n ôl, ddiwedd mis Hydref. Roedd argymhellion y tasglu, sydd, yn amlwg, wedi'i gyfansoddi er mwyn rhoi cyngor, o'r farn bod y ffordd orau ar hyn o bryd yn sicr yn ymwneud â defnyddio Deddf Priffyrdd 1980, a'r pwerau o dan adran 38 yn benodol, ac y gellid cyflawni gweddill ei argymhellion, yn wir, heb ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol. Fel y dywedais, mae galw pellach am dystiolaeth ynglŷn â materion sy'n ymwneud â thaliadau ystadau. Mae'r sylw y mae'n ei wneud am y rhwymedigaethau talu, yn amlwg, yn peri pryder arbennig. Bydd yn rhaid parhau i weld a fydd unrhyw ystyriaethau deddfwriaethol yn codi yng nghyd-destun taliadau ystadau pan fydd gennym ni'r argymhellion a chanlyniad yr alwad am dystiolaeth.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda swyddogion eraill y gyfraith yn y Deyrnas Unedig ynghylch cefnogi pysgodfeydd Cymru ar ôl i'r cyfnod pontio'r UE ddod i ben? OQ55911
5. What discussions has the Counsel General had with other law officers in the United Kingdom about supporting Welsh fisheries after the end of the EU transition period? OQ55911
The Welsh Government has worked closely with UK Government and the other devolved Governments on the UK Fisheries Bill and on EU exit secondary legislation to secure a suite of powers that will enable us to support Welsh fisheries after the end of the EU transition period.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU a'r Llywodraethau datganoledig eraill ar Fil Pysgodfeydd y DU ac ar is-ddeddfwriaeth ymadael â'r UE i sicrhau cyfres o bwerau a fydd yn ein galluogi i gefnogi pysgodfeydd Cymru ar ôl diwedd cyfnod pontio'r UE.
Thank you. Whilst I'm certainly hopefully for a deal, especially in light of Ursula von der Leyen's talk of progress last Saturday, it is, however, incumbent on the Welsh Government to prepare for a worst-case scenario. We have just 37 days of transition left, so it is essential that everyone in Wales prepares to the best of their ability, including all Welsh fisheries. Undoubtedly, there has been some excellent news, as the agreement with Canada will mean that fish can be exported tariff free. But, of course, we cannot forget the importance of the EU market. For example, over 60 per cent of Welsh seafood exports are destined for Spain. Whilst fisheries support is a Welsh Government responsibility, I do welcome the fact that you are striving for a UK-wide intervention scheme. According to the end of transition action plan, the latest position was that you were in communication with the UK Government. Can you update the Senedd and its Members today as to when you hope to have this support in place in case it should ever be needed?
Diolch. Er fy mod yn sicr yn gobeithio am gytundeb, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni y sôn gan Ursula von der Leyen am gynnydd ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf, fodd bynnag, mae'n ddyletswydd ar Lywodraeth Cymru i baratoi ar gyfer y sefyllfa waethaf. Dim ond 37 diwrnod o bontio sydd gennym ni ar ôl, felly mae'n hanfodol bod pawb yng Nghymru yn paratoi hyd eithaf eu gallu, gan gynnwys holl bysgodfeydd Cymru. Yn ddiau, cafwyd newyddion rhagorol, gan y bydd y cytundeb â Chanada yn golygu y gellir allforio pysgod yn rhad ac am ddim. Ond, wrth gwrs, ni allwn ni anghofio pwysigrwydd marchnad yr UE. Er enghraifft, aiff dros 60 y cant o allforion bwyd môr Cymru i Sbaen. Er mai cyfrifoldeb Llywodraeth Cymru yw cymorth pysgodfeydd, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith eich bod yn ymdrechu i gael cynllun ymyrraeth ledled y DU. Yn ôl cynllun gweithredu diwedd y cyfnod pontio, y sefyllfa ddiweddaraf oedd eich bod yn cyfathrebu â Llywodraeth y DU. Allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd a'i Haelodau heddiw ynglŷn â phryd yr ydych chi'n gobeithio y bydd y cymorth hwn ar gael rhag ofn y gallai fod ei angen?
I almost had to check to see which benches that submission was coming from for a moment. I will always welcome growing recognition from benches on all parts of this Chamber about the impact of the challenge that lies ahead. I will say that it is a very significant set of challenges that this Government has been trying to wrestle with, and I'm glad that there's a recognition of the risks that lie in the period ahead as a consequence of leaving the European Union potentially without a deal.
What I will say from a policy point of view—. I'm sure that my colleague, the Minister who is responsible for fisheries, will bring forward further information in due course. I will refer Janet Finch-Saunders to Lesley Griffiths's statement of only a few weeks ago in relation to future plans for supporting fisheries in relation to the 'Brexit and our Seas' consultation, which outlined some of our proposals. But, I will just say to her that there has been very close working with other parts of the UK in relation to this, so that we have the tools available in order to be able to look after the interests of fishers in Wales, both in terms of legislation, preparation for future financial support from the beginning of next year, and plans in due course for a Welsh fisheries Bill.
Bu bron imi wirio i weld o ba feinciau yr oedd y cyflwyniad yna'n dod am eiliad. Byddaf bob amser yn croesawu cydnabyddiaeth gynyddol gan feinciau ar bob rhan o'r Siambr hon o effaith yr her sydd o'n blaenau. Dywedaf ei bod yn gyfres sylweddol iawn o heriau y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi bod yn ceisio ymgodymu â hwy, ac rwy'n falch bod cydnabyddiaeth o'r risgiau sydd yn y cyfnod i ddod o ganlyniad i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd o bosib heb gytundeb.
Yr hyn a ddywedaf o safbwynt polisi—. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd fy nghydweithiwr, y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am bysgodfeydd, yn cyflwyno rhagor o wybodaeth maes o law. Cyfeiriaf Janet Finch-Saunders at ddatganiad Lesley Griffiths ychydig wythnosau'n ôl ynglŷn â chynlluniau ar gyfer cefnogi pysgodfeydd yn y dyfodol o ran yr ymgynghoriad 'Brexit a'n Moroedd', a amlinellodd rai o'n cynigion. Ond, hoffwn ddweud wrthi y bu cydweithio agos iawn â rhannau eraill o'r DU yn hyn o beth, fel bod gennym ni yr offer ar gael er mwyn gallu gofalu am fuddiannau pysgotwyr yng Nghymru, o ran deddfwriaeth, paratoi ar gyfer cymorth ariannol yn y dyfodol o ddechrau'r flwyddyn nesaf, a chynlluniau maes o law ar gyfer Bil pysgodfeydd i Gymru.
Cwestiwn 6, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Question 6, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Thank you, Llywydd, and just for clarity, I wasn't being a doom-monger there—
Diolch, Llywydd, a dim ond er mwyn eglurder, nid proffwyd gwae oeddwn i yn y fan yna—
No, you don't get a second chance at question 5. You, in fact, get a chance at question 6 now. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Na, dydych chi ddim yn cael ail gyfle gyda chwestiwn 5. Rydych chi, mewn gwirionedd, yn cael cyfle gyda chwestiwn 6 nawr. Janet Finch-Saunders.
6. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda swyddogion eraill y gyfraith yn y Deyrnas Unedig ynghylch darparu cymorth i'r sector cig coch ar ôl i'r cyfnod pontio'r UE ddod i ben? OQ55912
6. What discussions has the Counsel General had with other law officers in the United Kingdom with regard to the provision of support for the red meat sector after the end of the EU transition period? OQ55912
The Welsh Government continues to work closely with the UK Government and devolved Governments to make the case for funding from Her Majesty's Treasury to support the red meat sector in the event of a 'no trade deal' exit.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraethau datganoledig i gyflwyno'r achos dros gyllid gan Drysorlys Ei Mawrhydi i gefnogi'r sector cig coch os na fydd cytundeb masnach ar gyfer ymadael â'r UE.
Thank you. You'll be aware, of course, that the end of transition action plan does acknowledge that, in the best scenario, we would have a deal, and I want to see a trade deal. But, we have to prepare, and, let's be honest, as a Welsh Government you have had a long time since that vote to make these preparations. You have been working with the UK Government, I hope, to develop a UK-wide contingency plan in response to the potential impacts on the sheep sector. According to the end of transition plan, the operational design was yet to be completed as of 11 November 2020. Has there now been this agreement and, if so, will you outline to us as Members how the crisis intervention scheme is going to work?
NFU Cymru has raised concerns about the Welsh milk sector being vulnerable as a consequence of its size and its ability to process milk, and a dependence on a dairy commodity market that does not pay too well, as we all know. What steps are you taking as the Counsel General to safeguard our dairy industry ahead of next year also?
Diolch. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, fod cynllun gweithredu diwedd y cyfnod pontio yn cydnabod y byddai gennym ni gytundeb yn y sefyllfa orau, ac rwyf eisiau gweld cytundeb masnach. Ond, mae'n rhaid i ni baratoi, a, gadewch i ni fod yn onest, rydych chi Lywodraeth Cymru, wedi cael amser hir ers y bleidlais honno i wneud y paratoadau hyn. Rydych chi wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU, gobeithio, i ddatblygu cynllun wrth gefn ledled y DU mewn ymateb i'r effeithiau posibl ar y sector defaid. Yn ôl y cynllun ar gyfer diwedd y cyfnod pontio, roedd y dyluniad gweithredol eto i'w gwblhau ar 11 Tachwedd 2020. A gafwyd y cytundeb hwn bellach ac, os felly, a wnewch chi amlinellu inni fel Aelodau sut y bydd y cynllun ymyrryd mewn argyfwng yn gweithio?
Mae NFU Cymru wedi codi pryderon bod sector llaeth Cymru yn agored i niwed o ganlyniad i'w faint a'i allu i brosesu llaeth, a dibyniaeth ar farchnad nwyddau llaeth nad yw'n talu'n rhy dda, fel y gwyddom ni i gyd. Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud, Gwnsler Cyffredinol, i ddiogelu ein diwydiant llaeth cyn y flwyddyn nesaf hefyd?
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint Janet Finch-Saunders, but I think that those questions are largely focused on the policy response of the Government in relation to supporting the red meat sector, and I do think that those questions are probably more appropriately put to Lesley Griffiths as the Minister responsible. But, from a legal perspective, she will be aware that, in the Agriculture Act 2020, for example, Welsh Ministers took powers specifically to deal with exceptional market conditions, which these conditions obviously would represent, and provide powers for us to support the sector in those circumstances.
As she herself makes clear, it is vitally important for the red meat sector that an agreement should be reached. Thirty-five per cent of our lamb crop is exported, and 90 per cent of that is exported to the EU market. So, if we do not secure a deal that protects the interests of Welsh farmers in that respect, there will certainly be the need for UK-wide intervention, and we will look to the Treasury to fund that intervention. But, as I say, we have the legal framework in place to enable that to happen.
Wel, mae'n ddrwg gennyf siomi Janet Finch-Saunders, ond credaf fod y cwestiynau hynny'n canolbwyntio'n bennaf ar ymateb polisi'r Llywodraeth o ran cefnogi'r sector cig coch, ac rwy'n credu mai mwy priodol mae'n debyg fyddai cyflwyno'r cwestiynau hynny i Lesley Griffiths y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol. Ond, o safbwynt cyfreithiol, bydd yn ymwybodol, yn Neddf Amaethyddiaeth 2020, er enghraifft, fod Gweinidogion Cymru wedi cymryd pwerau'n benodol i ymdrin ag amodau marchnad eithriadol, y byddai'r amodau hyn yn amlwg yn eu cynrychioli, ac yn rhoi pwerau i ni gefnogi'r sector o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny.
Fel y mae hi ei hun yn ei gwneud yn glir, mae'n hanfodol bwysig i'r sector cig coch y dylid dod i gytundeb. Allforir 35 y cant o'n cig oen, ac allforir 90 y cant o hynny i farchnad yr UE. Felly, os na sicrhawn ni gytundeb sy'n diogelu buddiannau ffermwyr Cymru yn hynny o beth, yn sicr bydd angen ymyrraeth ledled y DU, a byddwn yn gofyn i'r Trysorlys ariannu'r ymyriad hwnnw. Ond, fel y dywedais, mae gennym ni'r fframwaith cyfreithiol ar waith i alluogi hynny i ddigwydd.
Diolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol.
I thank the Counsel General.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes. Dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hynny—Rebecca Evans.
The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd to make the statement—Rebecca Evans.
Diolch, Llywydd. I have three changes to this week's business. The Minister for Health and Social Services will make a statement today on the update on special measures arrangements at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Consequently, the statement on the Valleys taskforce has been postponed until 8 December. Finally, the debate on the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Regulations 2020 has been moved to the last item on today's agenda. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae gennyf dri newid i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Bydd y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn gwneud datganiad heddiw ar yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am drefniadau mesurau arbennig ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. O ganlyniad, mae'r datganiad am dasglu'r Cymoedd wedi'i ohirio tan 8 Rhagfyr. Yn olaf, mae'r ddadl ar Reoliadau Deddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019 (Diwygio Atodlen 1) 2020 wedi'i symud i'r eitem olaf ar yr agenda heddiw. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.
Trefnydd, can I call for a statement from an appropriate Government Minister regarding restrictions on singing in Welsh churches and other places of worship? Obviously, we've got the Christmas season that is about to be upon us. Many people enjoy going to carol services and participating in worship services at this particular time of the year, and the UK Government has recently made an announcement on principles for safer singing, including in places of worship, which will enable people to get together, provided they are cognisant of social distancing and take other precautions, in order to gather for such worship. I would really like the opportunity for people in Wales to enjoy the same privileges, and I wonder whether we could have a statement on this as soon as possible. Thank you.
Trefnydd, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog priodol yn y Llywodraeth ynghylch cyfyngiadau ar ganu yn eglwysi Cymru a mannau addoli eraill? Yn amlwg, mae gennym ni dymor y Nadolig ar ein gwarthaf. Mae llawer o bobl yn mwynhau mynd i wasanaethau carolau a chymryd rhan mewn gwasanaethau addoli yr adeg benodol hon o'r flwyddyn, ac mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwneud cyhoeddiad yn ddiweddar am egwyddorion ar gyfer canu mwy diogel, gan gynnwys mewn addoldai, a fydd yn galluogi pobl i ddod at ei gilydd, ar yr amod eu bod yn ymwybodol o reolau cadw pellter cymdeithasol ac yn cymryd rhagofalon eraill, er mwyn ymgynnull ar gyfer addoliad o'r fath. Hoffwn gael y cyfle i bobl yng Nghymru fwynhau'r un breintiau, a tybed a allem ni gael datganiad am hyn cyn gynted ag y bo modd. Diolch.
Thank you to Darren Millar for raising this issue this afternoon, and of course we keep all aspects of our regulations and our guidance under constant review. I do understand the challenges that the restrictions on singing in places of worship does place on churches and other places of faith within our communities, and I understand the disappointment that many people feel in not being able to sing at the moment. I will ask the Minister for Mental Health, Well-being and Welsh Language—as is her new title—to consider the points that you've made, and obviously, as we continue to keep these things under review, your points will be taken into due account.
Diolch i Darren Millar am godi'r mater hwn y prynhawn yma, ac wrth gwrs rydym wrthi'n gyson yn adolygu pob agwedd ar ein rheoliadau a'n canllawiau. Rwyf yn deall yr heriau y mae'r cyfyngiadau ar ganu mewn addoldai yn eu gosod ar eglwysi a mannau ffydd eraill yn ein cymunedau, a deallaf y siom y mae llawer o bobl yn ei theimlo wrth beidio â chael canu ar hyn o bryd. Gofynnaf i'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl, Llesiant a'r Gymraeg—i arddel ei theitl newydd—ystyried y sylwadau yr ydych chi wedi'u gwneud, ac yn amlwg, wrth inni barhau i adolygu'r pethau hyn, fe gaiff eich sylwadau eu hystyried yn briodol.
I'd like to highlight the frustrations of Rhondda businesses that have been left without any financial help since the beginning of the pandemic. We know businesses across Wales that have lost out after applying for the economic resilience fund. A new business in the Rhondda tell me that they've not received any support, despite losing a majority of their takings. They applied for a lockdown discretionary grant administered through the local authority and received a response saying that their application to another fund, which they hadn't applied to, had been unsuccessful. Taxi drivers are another group that haven't been catered for, and there was a Unite trade union organised demonstration today in Cardiff city centre, calling for support, and I back this campaign. Now, I acknowledge that we live in unprecedented times and that schemes have been drawn up quickly, but unless lessons are learned from what has gone wrong so far, then mistakes will be repeated and targeted support will continue not to reach the businesses that need it. So, can we have a Government statement outlining how you can review the grant system so that those cases that I've raised today can be helped and that we can ensure that businesses and people don't miss out on a financial lifeline when they really, really need it now?
Hoffwn dynnu sylw at rwystredigaethau busnesau'r Rhondda sydd wedi'u gadael heb unrhyw gymorth ariannol ers dechrau'r pandemig. Gwyddom am fusnesau ledled Cymru a esgeuluswyd ar ôl gwneud cais i'r gronfa cadernid economaidd. Mae busnes newydd yn y Rhondda yn dweud wrthyf nad ydyn nhw wedi cael unrhyw gefnogaeth, er iddyn nhw golli'r mwyafrif o'u derbyniadau gwerthiant. Fe wnaethon nhw gais am grant dewisol cyfyngiadau symud a weinyddir drwy'r awdurdod lleol, a chafwyd ymateb yn dweud y bu eu cais i gronfa arall, nad oedden nhw wedi gwneud cais iddi, yn aflwyddiannus. Mae gyrwyr tacsis yn grŵp arall nad oes darparu ar ei gyfer, a threfnwyd gwrthdystiad gan undeb llafur Unite heddiw yng nghanol dinas Caerdydd, yn galw am gefnogaeth, ac rwy'n cefnogi'r ymgyrch hon. Nawr, rwy'n cydnabod ein bod yn byw mewn cyfnod na welwyd ei debyg o'r blaen a bod cynlluniau wedi'u llunio'n gyflym, ond oni ddysgir gwersi o'r hyn sydd wedi mynd o'i le hyd yn hyn, yna caiff camgymeriadau eu hailadrodd a bydd cymorth wedi'i dargedu yn parhau i esgeuluso'r busnesau sydd ei angen. Felly, a allwn ni gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth yn amlinellu sut y gallwch chi adolygu'r system grantiau fel y gellir helpu'r achosion hynny yr wyf wedi eu crybwyll heddiw ac y gallwn ni sicrhau nad yw busnesau a phobl yn methu hawlio cymorth ariannol angenrheidiol pan fo gwir angen hynny arnyn nhw nawr?
I'm grateful, again, to Leanne Wood for raising this issue this afternoon, and I know that she'll be taking up that first specific case with the council in RCT in order to establish what has happened with that particular grant application. It is the case, of course, that Wales does continue to have the most generous package of support for businesses anywhere in the UK, and the third phase of the ERF has already seen over 35,000 businesses offered over £106 million to date, and, in addition, more than £20 million has reached tourism, hospitality and retail businesses with a retail value of between £12,000 and £50,000, in the form of that emergency funding. So, that funding is absolutely getting to businesses, although inevitably we're not going to be able to support every single business in Wales. But we are absolutely keen to learn from the experiences of the third phase of the economic resilience fund as we develop our future support for business.
And I absolutely share the concerns about taxi drivers in particular. I think that there is a social justice element here. I had a good discussion with Professor Ogbonna, who has been doing some work for Welsh Government on how the black, Asian and minority ethnic community in particular has been badly affected by the coronavirus. And taxi drivers are eligible to apply for that discretionary element of the ERF, and I'm really keen that we get that message out to taxi drivers. But I know that Ken Skates has also been having some discussion on specific issues affecting taxi drivers and others, with Unite and others who are affected.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar, unwaith eto, i Leanne Wood am godi'r mater hwn y prynhawn yma, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd hi'n codi'r achos penodol cyntaf hwnnw gyda'r cyngor yn Rhondda Cynon Taf er mwyn sefydlu beth sydd wedi digwydd gyda'r cais grant penodol hwnnw. Mae'n wir, wrth gwrs, mai gan Gymru o hyd y mae'r pecyn cymorth mwyaf hael i fusnesau yn unrhyw le yn y DU, ac mae trydydd cam y gronfa cadernid economaidd eisoes wedi gweld dros 35,000 o fusnesau'n cael cynnig dros £106 miliwn hyd yma, ac, yn ogystal, mae dros £20 miliwn wedi cyrraedd busnesau twristiaeth, lletygarwch a manwerthu sydd â gwerth manwerthu o rhwng £12,000 a £50,000, ar ffurf y cyllid brys hwnnw. Felly, mae busnesau yn bendant yn cael y cyllid yna, er yn anochel ni fyddwn yn gallu cefnogi pob busnes unigol yng Nghymru. Ond rydym yn awyddus iawn i ddysgu o brofiadau trydydd cam y gronfa cadernid economaidd wrth i ni ddatblygu ein cefnogaeth i fusnesau yn y dyfodol.
Ac rwyf yr un mor bryderus ynghylch gyrwyr tacsis yn benodol. Credaf fod elfen cyfiawnder cymdeithasol yn y fan yma. Cefais drafodaeth dda gyda'r Athro Ogbonna, sydd wedi bod yn gwneud rhywfaint o waith i Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â sut y mae'r coronafeirws wedi effeithio'n wael ar bobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yn arbennig. Ac mae gyrwyr tacsis yn gymwys i wneud cais am yr elfen ddewisol honno o'r gronfa cadernid economaidd, ac rwy'n awyddus iawn i ni gyfleu'r neges honno i yrwyr tacsi. Ond rwy'n gwybod y bu Ken Skates hefyd yn trafod materion penodol sy'n effeithio ar yrwyr tacsis ac eraill, gydag Unite ac eraill yr effeithir arnyn nhw.
If I could, I would like to ask the Government for a statement on the availability of crisis services, including financial assistance programmes, throughout Christmas and the new year period.
Presiding Officer, we're all, on all sides of the Chamber, aware of how people have suffered over this year, and we also know that there are many families facing a real crisis at this time of year. We have a debate about Christmas and the need for people to come together and enjoy the festive period, but sometimes, I think, we forget that, for many families, they will fear Christmas and they will not be looking forward to the holiday period because of the financial pressures that they're facing as a family. And we know that there are groups of people, or volunteers and communities coming together to support and sustain families in this period, as there have been throughout the last year in my own constituency. But it is important that the Welsh Government, I feel, make a real statement on how they will be seeking to support crisis services through this period.
I would also like to ask for a debate on the shared prosperity fund. We understand from the Sunday papers that the UK Government will be making a statement on this tomorrow. There has been, to my knowledge, no consultation on this, and it appears—again through reading reports in newspapers—that the UK Government intends to not learn the lessons of European funding, but to repeat some of the mistakes that were made. As European funding programmes Minister, I led a review of how we did allocate funding and funding streams nearly a decade ago, and we learnt a lot of lessons at that time, all of which are being undone now by a Government that is intent on playing politics with our country's future. I hope that we will be able to have an urgent debate on this matter before the Christmas recess to ensure that this place is able to discuss these matters and to put its own views on the table.
Os caf i, fe hoffwn i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth am ddatganiad am argaeledd gwasanaethau argyfwng, gan gynnwys rhaglenni cymorth ariannol, drwy gydol y Nadolig a chyfnod y flwyddyn newydd.
Llywydd, rydym ni i gyd, ar bob ochr i'r Siambr, yn ymwybodol o'r ffordd y mae pobl wedi dioddef eleni, a gwyddom hefyd fod llawer o deuluoedd yn wynebu argyfwng gwirioneddol yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn. Mae gennym ni ddadl am y Nadolig a'r angen i bobl ddod at ei gilydd a mwynhau cyfnod yr ŵyl, ond weithiau, rwy'n credu, rydym yn anghofio, i lawer o deuluoedd, y byddant yn ofni'r Nadolig ac na fyddant yn edrych ymlaen at gyfnod y gwyliau oherwydd y pwysau ariannol y maen nhw yn ei hwynebu fel teulu. A gwyddom fod grwpiau o bobl, neu wirfoddolwyr a chymunedau yn dod at ei gilydd i gefnogi a chynnal teuluoedd yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, fel y buont yn ei wneud drwy gydol y flwyddyn ddiwethaf yn fy etholaeth i. Ond mae'n bwysig bod Llywodraeth Cymru, rwy'n teimlo, yn gwneud datganiad gwirioneddol ynglŷn â sut y byddant yn ceisio cefnogi gwasanaethau argyfwng drwy'r cyfnod hwn.
Hoffwn ofyn hefyd am ddadl ar y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Deallwn o'r papurau Sul y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn gwneud datganiad ar hyn yfory. Hyd y gwn i, ni fu ymgynghori ar hyn, ac mae'n ymddangos—unwaith eto drwy ddarllen adroddiadau mewn papurau newydd—fod Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu peidio â dysgu gwersi cyllid Ewropeaidd, ond ailadrodd rhai o'r camgymeriadau a wnaethpwyd. Pan oeddwn yn Weinidog rhaglenni ariannu Ewropeaidd, arweiniais adolygiad o sut y gwnaethom ni ddyrannu ffrydiau ariannu bron i ddegawd yn ôl, ac fe wnaethom ni ddysgu llawer o wersi bryd hynny, y mae pob un ohonyn nhw yn cael eu dadwneud yn awr gan Lywodraeth sy'n benderfynol o chwarae gwleidyddiaeth gyda dyfodol ein gwlad. Gobeithio y gallwn ni gael dadl frys ar y mater hwn cyn toriad y Nadolig er mwyn sicrhau y gall y lle hwn drafod y materion hyn a chyflwyno ei farn ei hun.
Thank you to Alun Davies for giving me the opportunity to put on record the Welsh Government's thanks for those individuals and volunteers who have worked so hard throughout the coronavirus pandemic to offer that kind of crisis support to families and individuals who really are on the sharp end of things as a result of the crisis and as a result of 10 years of austerity.
Welsh Government has put significant funding into the single advice fund, and that fund has had a specific and impressive record, I think, in terms of ensuring that families and individuals are claiming the benefits to which they're entitled—millions of pounds back into the pockets of people who quite rightly deserve that in Wales. So, I think that's been very successful. And, as part of the response to the pandemic, we've also increased our support for the discretionary assistance fund by over £10 million, and again, that's a really important opportunity for people who are really struggling and find themselves in a desperate situation, to access some very quick funding. So, we're very pleased with the way in which that fund is being operated, and of course, I would encourage Members to signpost any constituents who need that support to that fund.
I share Alun Davies's real concerns about the shared prosperity fund. Engagement from the UK Government has been absolutely woeful—non-existent, in fact—on this particular issue. To what extent we will know anything of use tomorrow in the spending review is as yet unknown, but it is my intention, early after the spending review announcement, to be able to provide an early statement—in the first instance, a written statement—to colleagues with our initial reactions, and then, obviously, we'll find the right opportunity to provide more information on any news that may or may not be forthcoming on the shared prosperity fund.
Diolch i Alun Davies am roi'r cyfle i mi fynegi diolch Llywodraeth Cymru i'r unigolion a'r gwirfoddolwyr hynny sydd wedi gweithio mor galed drwy gydol pandemig y coronafeirws i gynnig y math hwnnw o gymorth argyfwng i deuluoedd ac unigolion sydd wirioneddol yn ei chael hi'n anodd o ganlyniad i'r argyfwng ac o ganlyniad i 10 mlynedd o gyni.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi cyllid sylweddol i'r Gronfa Gynghori Sengl, ac mae gan y gronfa honno record benodol a thrawiadol, rwy'n credu, o ran sicrhau bod teuluoedd ac unigolion yn hawlio'r budd-daliadau y mae ganddynt yr hawl iddynt—miliynau o bunnoedd yn ôl i bocedi pobl sy'n haeddu hynny yng Nghymru, a hynny'n gwbl briodol. Felly, rwy'n credu y bu hynny yn llwyddiannus iawn. Ac, yn rhan o'r ymateb i'r pandemig, rydym ni hefyd wedi rhoi £10 miliwn yn fwy o gefnogaeth i'r gronfa cymorth dewisol, ac eto, mae hynny'n gyfle pwysig iawn i bobl sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn ac sydd mewn sefyllfa enbyd, i allu cael gafael ar gyllid yn gyflym iawn. Felly, rydym yn falch iawn o'r ffordd y caiff y gronfa honno ei gweithredu, ac wrth gwrs, byddwn yn annog Aelodau i gyfeirio unrhyw etholwyr y mae angen y cymorth hwnnw arnyn nhw at y gronfa honno.
Rwyf yr un mor bryderus ag Alun Davies am y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Mae ymgysylltiad Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn gwbl druenus—ni fu unrhyw ymgynghori, mewn gwirionedd—ar y mater penodol hwn. Nid ydym yn gwybod eto i ba raddau y byddwn yn gwybod unrhyw beth defnyddiol yfory yn yr adolygiad o wariant, ond fy mwriad, yn gynnar ar ôl cyhoeddi'r adolygiad o wariant, yw gallu darparu datganiad cynnar—yn y lle cyntaf, datganiad ysgrifenedig—i gyd-Aelodau gyda'n hymatebion cychwynnol, ac yna, yn amlwg, byddwn yn dod o hyd i'r cyfle priodol i ddarparu mwy o wybodaeth am unrhyw newyddion a allai fod ar gael neu beidio ynglŷn â'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin.
I call for an urgent statement on support for small bed-and-breakfast businesses. When I asked you for a statement on this six weeks ago, I said the Welsh Government again excluded them from financial support to help them survive the pandemic, this time barred from a third round of the economic resilience fund. They were also deemed ineligible in previous rounds and have been denied small business grants, unlike their counterparts in England and Scotland. In reply, you said they should speak to Business Wales advisers to explore whether they can point them in the direction of other forms of support. Having tried this, they told me that only loans were available, and these would push them into unmanageable debt.
They've since told me that they are also ineligible for your lockdown discretionary grant and ask if the Welsh Government were going to help them before we go into this winter, stating, 'Our sector cannot possibly survive without additional help'. They therefore need a statement from you, detailing the support you will now give them, or explaining why on earth you've abandoned this key sector and its support for our local economies.
Rwy'n galw am ddatganiad brys ar gefnogaeth i fusnesau gwely a brecwast bach. Pan ofynnais i chi am ddatganiad ar hyn chwe wythnos yn ôl, dywedais fod Llywodraeth Cymru unwaith eto wedi'u heithrio rhag cymorth ariannol i'w helpu i oroesi'r pandemig, y tro hwn wedi eu gwahardd o drydedd rownd y gronfa cadernid economaidd. Fe'u barnwyd hefyd yn anghymwys mewn camau blaenorol ac fe wrthodwyd grantiau busnesau bach iddyn nhw, yn wahanol i'w cymheiriaid yn Lloegr a'r Alban. Mewn ymateb, fe ddywedsoch chi y dylen nhw siarad â chynghorwyr Busnes Cymru i weld a allant eu cyfeirio at fathau eraill o gymorth. Ar ôl rhoi cynnig ar hyn, maen nhw wedi dweud wrthyf mai dim ond benthyciadau oedd ar gael, a byddai'r rhain yn eu gwthio i ddyled na ellir ei rheoli.
Ers hynny maen nhw wedi dweud wrthyf nad ydyn nhw ychwaith yn gymwys i gael eich grant dewisol cyfyngiadau symud ac yn gofyn a oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w helpu cyn i'r gaeaf hwn gyrraedd, gan ddweud, 'Ni all ein sector oroesi heb gymorth ychwanegol'. Felly, mae angen datganiad gennych chi, yn manylu ar y gefnogaeth y byddwch yn ei rhoi iddyn nhw nawr, neu'n esbonio pam ar y ddaear eich bod wedi cefnu ar y sector allweddol hwn a'i gefnogaeth i'n heconomïau lleol.
Well, I'd be really grateful if Mark Isherwood could send me some more details of the reasons as to why the B&B owners to whom he refers were not eligible for the discretionary fund. He says that he has, but it hasn't arrived with me yet. So, I'd be keen to understand the reasons behind that, because we are, as I've mentioned in response to Leanne Wood, we are looking to explore what we can learn from this current ERF phase 3 in terms of our package of support as we move forward for business. So, I'd be keen to understand why they were unable to access funding through the discretionary fund, which is deliberately very wide and broad in order to meet the needs of those businesses that have not yet been able to access support.
Wel, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn pe byddai Mark Isherwood yn anfon rhagor o fanylion ataf am y rhesymau pam nad oedd y perchnogion gwely a brecwast y mae'n cyfeirio atyn nhw yn gymwys i elwa ar y gronfa ddewisol. Mae'n dweud ei fod wedi gwneud hynny, ond nid oes dim wedi fy nghyrraedd eto. Felly, byddwn yn awyddus i ddeall y rhesymau am hynny, oherwydd rydym ni, fel yr wyf wedi sôn mewn ymateb i Leanne Wood, yn ceisio archwilio'r hyn y gallwn ni ei ddysgu o'r cam 3 presennol hwn o ran ein pecyn cymorth wrth inni symud ymlaen ar gyfer busnes. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i ddeall pam nad oedden nhw'n gallu cael gafael ar gyllid drwy'r gronfa ddewisol, sy'n fwriadol yn hyblyg ac yn eang iawn er mwyn diwallu anghenion y busnesau hynny nad ydyn nhw eto wedi gallu cael cymorth.
Hoffwn i wybod efo pwy yn union o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru mae'r sector theatrau angen bod yn trafod ynglŷn ag ailagor mewn ffordd ddiogel? Efo neuaddau bingo, sinemâu a chasinos ac yn y blaen yn cael ailagor, mae'r rhai sydd yn gweithio mewn theatrau, a'r rhai ohonom ni sydd yn hoffi mynychu theatrau, angen gwybod pryd gallan nhw ailagor yn ddiogel. Y broblem ydy nad ydyn nhw ddim yn gwybod efo pwy yn union o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru maen nhw angen bod yn trafod. Mae'n debyg eu bod nhw mewn trafodaethau sy'n cael eu cynnal gan yr uned digwyddiadau mawr, ond nid dyna'r lle priodol ar gyfer y drafodaeth achos rydych chi'n medru sôn am ddigwyddiadau bychain iawn yn gallu digwydd o fewn theatrau. Felly, a fedrwch chi roi eglurder: efo pwy yn union maen nhw angen bod yn trafod?
I would like to know with whom exactly within Welsh Government the theatre sector should be having discussions about reopening in a safe manner. With bingo halls, cinemas and casinos and so on being able to reopen, those working in theatres, and some of us who enjoy attending theatres, do need to know when they will be able to reopen safely. The problem is that they don't know with whom within Welsh Government they should be discussing the issue. It seems that they are in discussions held by the major events unit, but that isn't the appropriate place for this discussion because you could be talking about very small-scale events within theatres. So, can you give us some clarity: with whom exactly should they be having these discussions?
Well, in the light of the wider public health context, theatres and concert halls, as Siân Gwenllian says, are required to remain closed to the general public. And, of course, they are however integral to our approach to testing events, which, unfortunately, won't now be able to resume until February at the earliest. So, it will be, at the earliest, February in terms of when we look at those tests. We have started to reopen in a limited way. So, we've been exploring opening up to rehearsals and to online performances, for example, and our £63 million cultural recovery fund is there to support theatres and concert halls in the meantime.
In terms of who they should explore further conversations with, it would be Eluned Morgan or Dafydd Elis-Thomas who would be the appropriate person to have those discussions.
Wel, yng ngoleuni'r cyd-destun iechyd cyhoeddus ehangach, mae'n ofynnol i theatrau a neuaddau cyngerdd, fel y dywed Siân Gwenllian, aros ar gau i'r cyhoedd. Ac, wrth gwrs, maen nhw, fodd bynnag, yn rhan annatod o'n dull o brofi digwyddiadau, na fyddan nhw, yn anffodus, bellach yn gallu ailddechrau tan fis Chwefror ar y cynharaf. Felly, mis Chwefror fydd hi, ar y cynharaf, o ran pryd y byddwn ni'n cloriannu'r profion hynny. Rydym ni wedi dechrau ailagor mewn ffordd gyfyngedig. Felly, rydym ni wedi bod yn ystyried caniatáu cynnal ymarferion a pherfformiadau ar-lein, er enghraifft, ac mae ein cronfa adfer diwylliannol gwerth £63 miliwn yno i gefnogi theatrau a neuaddau cyngerdd yn y cyfamser.
O ran gyda phwy y dylen nhw sgwrsio ymhellach, Eluned Morgan neu Dafydd Elis-Thomas fyddai'r person priodol i gael y trafodaethau hynny.
I have two brief requests, Trefnydd: first, could we have time in the Chamber to discuss the annual report of the national advisers on domestic violence and abuse, please? Tomorrow is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children, and last year, there were the deaths of 1,300 women, and five of those in Wales. Normally, I would be requesting Members to support the White Ribbon fund. So, can I take this opportunity to ask colleagues to consider support to their local projects in their constituencies? Because they are potential life savers, especially now when, for many women, staying at home does not mean staying safe.
And secondly, I would be pleased to have an update from the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales on the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Wales. The GCRE is a fantastic opportunity for Powys and the upper Swansea valley that's been brought forward by the Welsh Government. It would be really good to have some clarity on where things stand, particularly because the Conservative Member of Parliament for Brecon and Radnorshire has muddied the waters by incorrectly claiming that it is the Welsh Government that needs to give it the green light, whereas my understanding is that the hold-up is because the UK Government has not made a decision between the Powys site and the rival Siemens site in Scunthorpe.
Mae gennyf ddau gais byr, Trefnydd: yn gyntaf, a gawn ni amser yn y Siambr i drafod adroddiad blynyddol y cynghorwyr cenedlaethol ar drais a cham-drin domestig, os gwelwch yn dda? Yfory yw'r Diwrnod Rhyngwladol ar gyfer Dileu Trais yn erbyn Menywod a Phlant, a'r llynedd, bu marwolaethau 1,300 o fenywod, a phump o'r rheini yng Nghymru. Fel arfer, byddwn yn gofyn i Aelodau gefnogi cronfa'r Rhuban Gwyn. Felly, a gaf i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ofyn i gyd-Aelodau ystyried cefnogi eu prosiectau lleol yn eu hetholaethau? Oherwydd mae modd iddyn nhw achub bywydau yn enwedig nawr pan nad yw aros gartref, i lawer o fenywod, yn golygu aros yn ddiogel.
Ac yn ail, byddwn yn falch o gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gan Weinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru am y Ganolfan Fyd-eang Rhagoriaeth Rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru. Dyma gyfle gwych i Bowys a chwm Tawe uchaf sydd wedi'i gyflwyno gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Byddai'n dda iawn cael rhywfaint o eglurder ynghylch y sefyllfa sydd ohoni, yn enwedig gan fod yr Aelod Seneddol Ceidwadol dros Frycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed wedi creu dryswch drwy honni'n anghywir mai Llywodraeth Cymru sydd i fod i roi sêl ei bendith, ond fy nealltwriaeth i yw mai'r rheswm dros yr oedi yw nad yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwneud penderfyniad rhwng safle Powys a'r safle Siemens yn Scunthorpe sy'n cystadlu am y ganolfan.
Llywydd, can I take this opportunity to thank Joyce Watson for the incredible work that she does, year after year, in terms of the White Ribbon campaign and in terms of being a voice for women and girls who are experiencing or are in danger of experiencing violence? I think that she's an inspiration to all of us, and I'm really grateful to Joyce for the vigil that she organised yesterday. It was an online vigil, but no less powerful for it, and also the event that I attended in the morning, which was specifically focused on women and girls facing domestic violence in rural communities, whose voices aren't always heard and who often find it more difficult to reach out for the help that they need. So, I thought that was an incredibly powerful event.
The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip will be issuing a statement tomorrow that announces the publication of the national advisers' plan, and their priorities over the next year include embedding a public health approach to violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence and also working with the honour-based abuse leadership group as two of the things that they'll be focusing on over the next 12 months.
In terms of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, it was, of course, the Welsh Government that developed the innovative proposals for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence after identifying the need for such a facility, and we've shown the leadership that was required to bring it to this point. It's very much a made-in-Wales initiative, creating the new facility for the entire UK rail industry, and we intend it to be an attraction for jobs, skills and growth in the area. It is the case that in early July we submitted a business case to the UK Government outlining the next steps to make that centre a reality, and we do await formal endorsement by the UK Government of the business case, and, clearly, we hope for a positive announcement on that in the comprehensive spending review tomorrow.
Llywydd, a gaf i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i Joyce Watson am y gwaith anhygoel y mae'n ei wneud, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, o ran ymgyrch y Rhuban Gwyn ac o ran bod yn llais i fenywod a merched sy'n dioddef trais neu sydd mewn perygl o ddioddef trais? Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n ysbrydoliaeth i bob un ohonom ni, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Joyce am yr wylnos a drefnodd ddoe. Roedd yr wylnos ar-lein, ond ddim yn llai grymus oherwydd hynny, a hefyd y digwyddiad y bûm yn rhan ohono yn y bore, a oedd yn canolbwyntio'n benodol ar fenywod a merched sy'n wynebu trais domestig mewn cymunedau gwledig, nad yw eu lleisiau bob amser yn cael eu clywed ac sy'n aml yn ei chael hi'n anoddach estyn allan am y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Felly, roeddwn yn credu bod hwnnw'n ddigwyddiad hynod o rymus.
Bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip yn cyhoeddi datganiad yfory sy'n sôn am gyhoeddi cynllun y cynghorwyr cenedlaethol, ac mae eu blaenoriaethau dros y flwyddyn nesaf yn cynnwys sefydlu dull iechyd cyhoeddus o ymdrin â thrais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol; a hefyd gweithio gyda'r grŵp sy'n arwain ar gam-drin ar sail anrhydedd fel dau o'r pethau y byddant yn canolbwyntio arnynt dros y 12 mis nesaf.
O ran y Ganolfan Ragoriaeth Fyd-eang ar gyfer Rheilffyrdd, Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, a ddatblygodd y cynigion arloesol ar gyfer y Ganolfan Ragoriaeth Fyd-eang ar gyfer Rheilffyrdd ar ôl gweld fod angen am gyfleuster o'r fath, ac rydym ni wedi dangos yr arweiniad yr oedd ei angen i'w ddatblygu i'r cam yma. Mae'n fenter a luniwyd yn gadarn iawn yma yng Nghymru, gan greu'r cyfleuster newydd ar gyfer holl ddiwydiant rheilffyrdd y DU, ac rydym yn bwriadu iddo fod yn atyniad ar gyfer swyddi, sgiliau a thwf yn yr ardal. Mae'n wir ein bod, ddechrau mis Gorffennaf, wedi cyflwyno achos busnes i Lywodraeth y DU yn amlinellu'r camau nesaf i wireddu'r ganolfan honno, ac rydym yn aros am gymeradwyaeth ffurfiol gan Lywodraeth y DU i'r achos busnes, ac, yn amlwg, gobeithiwn gael cyhoeddiad cadarnhaol am hynny yn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant yfory.
Business Minister, could I please ask for a statement from the education Minister clarifying the Welsh Government's position on keeping children in schools as much as possible right up until the end of this term? It was encouraging to hear the First Minister share my concerns over year groups in some schools in some authorities being arguably off unnecessarily because of not using the track and trace system properly. I'm just wondering how—within that statement, if it could be incorporated—this Government intends to work with our schools and local authorities to ensure that there is consistency across Wales in our schools' approach to the coronavirus.
Also, the First Minister mentioned lateral flow tests, if that could be also incorporated within the statement, timescales, amounts, that sort of thing. And lastly, Llywydd, also, I've been hearing that some schools in south-east Wales may now be closing a week early this Christmas term, so I'm just wondering if the Government can provide some clarity on that, because, from the understanding I have, schools were wanting to close a week early because that would mean a two-week isolation period for Christmas Eve, obviously. So, I was just wondering if it could provide some clarity on that and what the actual Government position is, considering that it is the Government's priority to keep our children in school as much as possible. Thank you.
Trefnydd, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog addysg yn egluro safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar gadw plant mewn ysgolion gymaint â phosibl hyd at ddiwedd y tymor hwn? Roedd yn galonogol clywed y Prif Weinidog yn rhannu fy mhryderon ynghylch grwpiau blwyddyn mewn rhai ysgolion mewn rhai awdurdodau y gellid dadlau eu bod gartref yn ddiangen oherwydd nad oedden nhw'n defnyddio'r system profi ac olrhain yn iawn. Tybed sut—o fewn y datganiad hwnnw, pe gellid ei ymgorffori—y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn bwriadu gweithio gyda'n hysgolion a'n awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod cysondeb ledled Cymru yn ymagwedd ein hysgolion tuag at y coronafeirws.
Hefyd, soniodd y Prif Weinidog am brofion llif ochrol, pe gellid ymgorffori hynny hefyd yn y datganiad, yr amserlenni, y symiau, y math hwnnw o beth. Ac yn olaf, Llywydd, hefyd, rwyf wedi bod yn clywed y gallai rhai ysgolion yn y de-ddwyrain fod yn cau wythnos yn gynnar yn nhymor y Nadolig, felly tybed a all y Llywodraeth roi rhywfaint o eglurder ar hynny, oherwydd, o'r ddealltwriaeth sydd gennyf, roedd ysgolion am gau wythnos yn gynnar oherwydd byddai hynny'n golygu cyfnod ynysu o bythefnos ar gyfer Noswyl Nadolig, yn amlwg. Felly, tybed a allai roi rhywfaint o eglurder ynglŷn â hynny a beth yw safbwynt gwirioneddol y Llywodraeth, o ystyried mai blaenoriaeth y Llywodraeth yw cadw ein plant yn yr ysgol gymaint ag sy'n bosibl. Diolch.
Thank you to Laura Anne Jones for raising that important issue. The Minister for Education does have questions in the Chamber tomorrow, so that might be an opportunity to explore some of this in more detail, but, alongside that, I will ask her to write to you with some further information about the plan for testing children in school, and also the advice that is being provided to schools specifically in terms of sending children home for self-isolation and so forth, and also the kind of thinking that's going on in terms of the approach to Christmas and ensuring that we keep children and their families as safe as we possibly can.
Diolch i Laura Anne Jones am godi'r mater pwysig yna. Mae gan y Gweinidog Addysg gwestiynau yn y Siambr yfory, felly gallai hynny fod yn gyfle i ystyried rhywfaint o hyn yn fanylach, ond, ochr yn ochr â hynny, gofynnaf iddi ysgrifennu atoch gyda rhywfaint o wybodaeth bellach am y cynllun ar gyfer profi plant yn yr ysgol, a hefyd y cyngor sy'n cael ei roi i ysgolion yn benodol o ran anfon plant adref i hunanynysu ac ati, a hefyd y math o feddylfryd o ran y dull o ymdrin â'r Nadolig a sicrhau ein bod yn cadw plant a'u teuluoedd mor ddiogel ag y gallwn ni.
Minister, I'm asking for a debate to be held urgently on the end of the Brexit transition period and what it means specifically for Welsh ports. We're now at the eleventh hour, and warnings raised by myself and others around the lack of preparation in Holyhead are sounding with ever louder urgency. Now, with the need for customs declarations and checks on outbound freight from 1 January, there still hasn't been, I understand, a trial run of the new electronic customs system that's to be used. The Minister will have read about concerns expressed today by Irish hauliers about mayhem at the port. I've spoken to Nick Bosanquet, professor of health policy at Imperial College, who's worried that ports delays could even increase the COVID risk.
Now, yesterday the Irish Taoiseach visited the pretty impressive infrastructure that's been developed at Dublin port. There's nothing in Holyhead for when those checks are needed in July next year on inbound freight. A site in Warrington has been identified for Holyhead's imported goods checkpoint, at least temporarily. You couldn't make it up. That site clearly has to be in or near Holyhead. Now, UK Government has messed up royally here, but we also need to hear exactly what else Welsh Government has tried, and is trying to do, to salvage things, given that Welsh Government is responsible for developing a border point in the south-west of Wales, and UK Government for the one relating to Holyhead. Now, my fear, as I've warned time and time again, is that anything that affects the free flow of trade through Holyhead will undermine the ports and undermine jobs related to the ports, so can we please bring all these issues before the Senedd again, at this late hour even, so we can hammer home just what's at stake?
Gweinidog, rwy'n gofyn am gynnal dadl ar frys ar ddiwedd cyfnod pontio Brexit a'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu'n benodol i borthladdoedd Cymru. Rydym bellach ar yr unfed awr ar ddeg, ac mae rhybuddion a godwyd gennyf fi ac eraill ynghylch y diffyg paratoi yng Nghaergybi yn swnio'n uwch byth. Nawr, gyda'r angen am ddatganiadau a gwiriadau'r tollau ar gludo nwyddau allan o 1 Ionawr, nid yw'r system tollau electronig newydd sydd i'w defnyddio wedi ei threialu hyd yn hyn, rwy'n deall. Bydd y Gweinidog wedi darllen am bryderon a fynegwyd heddiw gan gludwyr o Iwerddon am anhrefn yn y porthladd. Rwyf wedi siarad â Nick Bosanquet, athro polisi iechyd yn y Coleg Imperial, sy'n poeni y gallai oedi ym maes porthladdoedd hyd yn oed gynyddu'r risg o COVID.
Nawr, ddoe ymwelodd Taoiseach Iwerddon â'r seilwaith eithaf trawiadol sydd wedi'i ddatblygu ym mhorthladd Dulyn. Does dim byd yng Nghaergybi ar gyfer y cyfnod pan fydd angen y gwiriadau hynny ym mis Gorffennaf y flwyddyn nesaf ar gludo nwyddau yn dod i mewn. Mae safle yn Warrington wedi'i ddynodi ar gyfer man gwirio nwyddau a fewnforiwyd yng Nghaergybi, o leiaf dros dro. Allech chi ddim dyfeisio'r fath stori. Mae'n amlwg bod yn rhaid i'r safle hwnnw fod yng Nghaergybi neu gerllaw. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwneud traed moch go iawn yma, ond mae angen inni hefyd glywed yn union beth arall y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ceisio ei wneud, ac yn ceisio ei wneud i achub pethau, o gofio mai Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am ddatblygu canolfan ar gyfer y ffin yn ne-orllewin Cymru, a Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer yr un sy'n ymwneud â Chaergybi. Nawr, fy ofn i, fel yr wyf wedi rhybuddio dro ar ôl tro, yw y bydd unrhyw beth sy'n effeithio ar lif rhydd masnach drwy Gaergybi yn tanseilio'r porthladdoedd ac yn tanseilio swyddi sy'n gysylltiedig â'r porthladdoedd, felly a allwn ni ddod â'r holl faterion hyn gerbron y Senedd eto, ar yr awr hwyr hon hyd yn oed, fel y gallwn ni bwysleisio beth yn union sydd yn y fantol?
Thank you to Rhun ap Iorwerth for raising what are serious and significant concerns. I will make a point of speaking to the Minister for Economy and Transport about your request for that urgent statement. If that's not able to be accommodated in the very near future, I will certainly ask him to write to you on those issues in the meantime.
Diolch i Rhun ap Iorwerth am grybwyll yr hyn sy'n bryderon difrifol a sylweddol. Gwnaf yn sicr fy mod yn siarad â Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth am eich cais am y datganiad brys hwnnw. Os na ellir gwneud hynny yn y dyfodol agos iawn, byddaf yn sicr yn gofyn iddo ysgrifennu atoch chi ynghylch y materion hynny yn y cyfamser.
I wish to request a statement from the Welsh Government on the planning process, timescales and approach towards a limited and phased restart strategy for performance and arts venues across Wales, but to note that scientific research and critical safe operating mitigating frameworks are now in place across the UK and internationally, that we in Wales have opened and are operating cinemas and bingo halls, that safe rehearsal of orchestra and opera is operating across Wales, and that English venues' restart has been now announced and that some smaller venues, theatres and arts centres are now ready to volunteer as pilots to be able to open safely now with similar appropriate strict mitigations in place. So, Minister, these smaller venues are not only critical to well-being for our communities in terms of engagement and participation, but, if they don't open soon, they may have to close, and many cannot claim now from the COVID-19 economic resilience fund. So, can this Welsh Government statement set out a clear pathway forward for the sector and outline the measures to support our arts and performance venues so they can open in a planned, limited and safe manner, as clearly advised by the live music report to the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee for Welsh Government response? Thank you.
Hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y broses gynllunio, yr amserlenni a'r ffordd o fynd ati i lunio strategaeth ailgychwyn gyfyngedig a graddol ar gyfer lleoliadau perfformiad a chelfyddydau ledled Cymru, ond i nodi bod ymchwil wyddonol a fframweithiau lliniaru gweithredu diogel hanfodol bellach ar waith ledled y DU ac yn rhyngwladol, ein bod ni yng Nghymru wedi agor ac yn gweithredu sinemâu a neuaddau bingo, y cynhelir ymarferion cerddorfa ac opera diogel ledled Cymru, ac y cyhoeddwyd pryd y bydd lleoliadau Lloegr yn ailagor a bod rhai lleoliadau, theatrau a chanolfannau celfyddydol llai bellach yn barod i wirfoddoli fel cynlluniau arbrofol i allu agor yn ddiogel nawr gyda mesurau lliniaru llym priodol tebyg ar waith. Felly, Gweinidog, mae'r lleoliadau llai hyn nid yn unig yn hanfodol i les ein cymunedau o ran ymgysylltu a chyfranogi, ond, os nad ydyn nhw yn agor yn fuan, efallai y bydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw gau, ac ni all llawer ohonyn nhw hawlio nawr o gronfa cadernid economaidd COVID-19. Felly, a all y datganiad hwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru nodi llwybr clir ymlaen i'r sector ac amlinellu'r mesurau i gefnogi ein lleoliadau celfyddydol a pherfformio fel y gallan nhw agor mewn modd cynlluniedig, cyfyngedig a diogel, fel y cynghorir yn glir gan yr adroddiad ynglŷn â cherddoriaeth fyw i ymateb Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu Llywodraeth Cymru? Diolch.
Again, thank you to Rhianon Passmore for raising this issue this afternoon. I know that she's had the opportunity to make those strong representations on behalf of smaller venues in particular directly to the Minister for Welsh Language, Well-being and Mental Health earlier on today. It is the case, certainly in terms of the test events—and I appreciate that these are probably larger events than those that Rhianon Passmore is thinking about—that they wouldn't be resuming until February at the earliest, but I do appreciate that we're probably talking in this case about smaller venues. I'll be sure again to make sure that the Minister does consider that and updates you appropriately.
Unwaith eto, diolch i Rhianon Passmore am grybwyll y mater hwn y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n gwybod ei bod wedi cael cyfle i gyflwyno'r sylwadau cryf hynny ar ran lleoliadau llai, yn enwedig yn uniongyrchol i'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl, Llesiant a'r Gymraeg yn gynharach heddiw. Mae'n wir, yn sicr o ran y digwyddiadau prawf—ac rwy'n sylweddoli bod y rhain fwy na thebyg yn ddigwyddiadau mwy na'r rhai y mae Rhianon Passmore yn meddwl amdanyn nhw—na fydden nhw'n ailddechrau tan fis Chwefror ar y cynharaf, ond rwy'n sylweddoli ein bod fwy na thebyg yn siarad yn yr achos hwn am leoliadau llai. Byddaf yn siŵr eto o sicrhau bod y Gweinidog yn ystyried hynny ac yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi fel bo'n briodol.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd. Egwyl fydd nesaf nawr, er mwyn gwneud rhai o'r newidiadau sy'n angenrheidiol yn y Siambr. Felly, egwyl fer.
I thank the Trefnydd. There will now be a break to allow changeovers in the Siambr. So, a short break.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:19.
Plenary was suspended at 15:19.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:26, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 15:26, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) in the Chair.
So, we reconvene on item 4 on the agenda, which is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: update on special measures arrangements at Besti Cadwaladr University Health Board. And I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething.
Felly, rydym ni'n ailymgynnull gydag eitem 4 ar yr agenda, sef datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am Fesurau Arbennig ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Besti Cadwaladr. Ac rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Vaughan Gething.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Members will be aware that health boards and trusts in Wales have their escalation and intervention status considered as part of our joint escalation and intervention arrangements. This involves Welsh Government officials meeting with Audit Wales and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales twice a year to discuss the overall position of NHS Wales organisations in respect of quality, service performance and financial management. A wide range of information and intelligence is considered to identify any issues to inform their assessment and advice to me as the health Minister. There is also an opportunity to hold additional meetings, if the group deem it necessary.
At the last full tripartite meeting held in September, it was agreed to hold a further meeting before the end of the calendar year, specifically on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. I am pleased to say that a special tripartite meeting took place earlier this month. The clear advice and recommendation to me was that the escalation status of the health board should change. I have accepted that advice. I have decided that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will come out of special measures with immediate effect. The escalation status of the health board has now moved to targeted intervention.
The tripartite group reviewed further evidence submitted by the health board that demonstrated progress over recent years, including on the areas that had originally been designated as special measures concerns. The group noted that the health board has demonstrated improved engagement with partners, particularly during the current pandemic. It also recognised the level of insight shown by the health board into the challenges that it still faces, together with the determination demonstrated by the board and the incoming chief executive to make further progress.
The tripartite group noted the detrimental impact the special measures designation was having on the health board’s ability to recruit and retain staff, particularly at senior level. This has led to a number of the executive director roles currently being filled on an interim basis. This is, obviously, not helpful for the health board in moving forward. Special measures was also having an impact on the health board’s ability to make the necessary further progress.
There continue to be concerns on some aspects of performance, particularly in mental health services and the ability of the health board to prepare an approvable medium-term plan. Going forward, to provide the clarity and assurance of the necessary focus, a maturity matrix approach will be used, similar to the processes that have been in place in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
On 3 November, I announced a package of support for the health board. This support amounts to a further £82 million per year over three and a half years to support the health board as it enters a new phase under targeted intervention, and continues its ongoing work to improve. The chair of the health board has already responded outlining how this support will be utilised to improve unscheduled care, to build sustainable planned care, including orthopaedics, to deliver improvements in mental health services and, of course, to benefit the health of the population of north Wales.
It should be remembered that targeted intervention is still a heightened level of escalation. This requires significant action on the part of the organisation, and will be accompanied by a level of continued oversight from my officials. However, the move out of special measures marks an undeniably positive step forward for the staff of the health board who have made and sustained the progress to end special measures. This is also of course a positive step forward for every community in north Wales that is served by the health board.
I hope that Members across the Senedd will join me in congratulating staff at the health board as they move into the next phase of their improvement journey.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, caiff ystyriaeth ei rhoi i statws uwchgyfeirio ac ymyriad y byrddau iechyd a'r ymddiriedolaethau yng Nghymru fel rhan o'r trefniadau uwchgyfeirio ac ymyrryd sydd gennym ni ar y cyd. Mae hyn yn golygu bod swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyfarfod ag Archwilio Cymru ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ddwywaith y flwyddyn i drafod sefyllfa gyffredinol sefydliadau GIG Cymru o ran ansawdd, perfformiad gwasanaethau a rheolaeth ariannol. Rhoddir ystyriaeth i ystod eang o wybodaeth a hysbysrwydd ar gyfer nodi unrhyw faterion i lywio eu hasesiad a'u cyngor i mi fel Gweinidog Iechyd. Mae cyfle hefyd i gynnal cyfarfodydd ychwanegol, pe byddai'r grŵp o'r farn bod angen hynny.
Yn y cyfarfod tairochrog llawn diwethaf a gynhaliwyd ym mis Medi, fe gytunwyd i gynnal cyfarfod pellach cyn diwedd y flwyddyn galendr, yn benodol ynglŷn â Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Rwy'n falch o gael dweud y cynhaliwyd cyfarfod tairochrog arbennig yn gynharach y mis hwn. Y cyngor a'r argymhelliad clir i mi oedd y dylid newid statws uwchgyfeirio'r bwrdd iechyd. Rwyf wedi derbyn y cyngor hwnnw. Rwyf wedi penderfynu y bydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn dod allan o fesurau arbennig a hynny ar unwaith. Mae statws uwchgyfeirio'r bwrdd iechyd bellach wedi newid i ymyriad wedi'i dargedu.
Fe adolygodd y grŵp tairochrog dystiolaeth ychwanegol a gyflwynwyd gan y bwrdd iechyd a oedd yn dangos cynnydd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gan gynnwys mewn meysydd a nodwyd yn wreiddiol yn bryderon a oedd yn teilyngu mesurau arbennig. Fe nododd y grŵp fod y bwrdd iechyd wedi dangos ymgysylltiad gwell gyda phartneriaid, yn enwedig yn ystod y pandemig presennol. Roedd hefyd yn cydnabod dealltwriaeth y bwrdd iechyd o'r heriau y mae'n eu hwynebu o hyd, ynghyd â'r penderfyniad a ddangoswyd gan y bwrdd a'r prif weithredwr newydd i sicrhau cynnydd pellach.
Nododd y grŵp tairochrog yr effaith andwyol yr oedd bod mewn mesurau arbennig wedi'i chael ar allu'r bwrdd iechyd i recriwtio a chadw staff, yn enwedig ar lefel uwch. Mae hyn wedi arwain at lenwi nifer o swyddi cyfarwyddwyr gweithredol dros dro ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n amlwg nad yw hyn yn fuddiol iawn i'r bwrdd iechyd wrth symud ymlaen. Roedd mesurau arbennig yn cael effaith hefyd ar allu'r bwrdd iechyd i wneud y cynnydd pellach sy'n angenrheidiol.
Mae pryderon o hyd ynghylch rhai agweddau ar berfformiad, yn enwedig mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a gallu'r bwrdd iechyd i baratoi cynllun tymor canolig y gellir ei gymeradwyo. Wrth symud ymlaen, er mwyn darparu eglurder a sicrwydd o'r pwysigrwydd angenrheidiol, fe ddefnyddir dull matrics aeddfedrwydd, sy'n debyg i'r prosesau a fu ar waith ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg.
Ar 3 Tachwedd, fe gyhoeddais i becyn cymorth i'r bwrdd iechyd. Mae'r cymorth hwn yn gyfanswm o £82 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn dros dair blynedd a hanner i gefnogi'r bwrdd iechyd wrth iddo ddechrau ar gyfnod newydd o dan ymyriad wedi'i dargedu, ac mae'n dal ati â'i waith parhaus i wireddu gwelliannau. Mae cadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd wedi ymateb eisoes gan amlinellu sut y defnyddir y cymorth hwn i wella gofal heb ei gynllunio, i feithrin gofal a drefnir mewn modd cynaliadwy, gan gynnwys orthopedeg, i sicrhau y bydd gwelliannau mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl ac, wrth gwrs, er lles iechyd poblogaeth y gogledd.
Fe ddylid cofio bod ymyriad wedi'i dargedu yn parhau i fod yn lefel fwy dwys o uwchgyfeirio. Mae hyn yn gofyn am weithredu sylweddol gan y sefydliad, ac fe fydd yna lefel o oruchwyliaeth barhaus gan fy swyddogion i sy'n cyd-fynd â hyn. Er hynny, mae symud allan o fesurau arbennig heb os nac oni bai yn gam ymlaen i staff y bwrdd iechyd sydd wedi gwireddu a chynnal y cynnydd i ddod â'r mesurau arbennig i ben. Mae hwn yn gam cadarnhaol ymlaen hefyd i bob cymuned yn y gogledd sy'n cael ei gwasanaethu gan y bwrdd iechyd.
Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau ar draws y Senedd yn ymuno â mi i longyfarch staff yn y bwrdd iechyd wrth iddyn nhw symud i gam nesaf eu taith nhw o ran gwelliant.
Can I take the opportunity to put on record the thanks of everybody on the Welsh Conservative benches to those front-line members of NHS staff in north Wales who've been working so hard, particularly during this pandemic?
It's a great shame, Minister, that you didn't have the courtesy to brief any Members on opposition benches today about your decision, and in fact, you even gave the great discourtesy of not even sharing your statement until a moment before it was actually read from your lips. The reality is that today's announcement appears to have more to do with the prospects of the Labour Party in north Wales at next year's Senedd elections than it does with any evidence of real improvement on the ground in north Wales. Your decision to remove special measures cannot be justified and you cannot fool or hoodwink the people of north Wales into thinking that everything is hunky-dory. Your description of improvement bears absolutely no resemblance to the reality of patient experiences across the region.
Let's look at the facts. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was in its sixth year of special measures. In that time, it's had a revolving door in terms of its senior leadership team, with a number of chief executives, a number of finance directors, and a number of directors of mental health. In fact, the current director of mental health departs his role at the end of this month, another notch on Betsi's bedpost.
Since 2015, A&E performance has gotten worse, waiting lists and waiting times have deteriorated and gotten longer, and the financial position of the health board has also deteriorated. The recent figures show that Betsi still has the worst emergency department performance in the whole of Wales, with one in 10 people waiting more than 12 hours before they're able to be discharged after arriving in A&E, and over half, almost half the population who turn up not being able to be released within four hours.
We know that GP services are still fragile in the region, with more managed practices than any other health board area in Wales. And, of course, we now know that dentistry services are fragile across north Wales as well, with 20,000 patients being given notice that their NHS services are going to stop early next year. This is not a health board that is fit to come out of the special measures arrangements.
You referred to a number of reasons when this health board was put into special measures, and governance, leadership and oversight was one. We know that there are still weaknesses there because there's been a recent outbreak of coronavirus in two of the hospitals in north Wales, none of which came to light because of the situation in the health board, but because local Members of the Senedd had written raising concerns.
Mental health services are still not out of the woods. In spite of the promises of new, shiny buildings, the culture in those departments is still the same. We've got 1,600 patients who, earlier this year, were discharged from services without their knowledge, or being made aware. Bed capacity is still a huge problem. Child and adolescent and mental health services are still not adequate, with patients still being sent hundreds of miles for in-patient treatment. And a quarter—a quarter—of all mental health safety incidents in the Welsh NHS are incidents in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This is not a health board that is fit to come out of special measures.
Just a few weeks ago, last month, you said that there were still big challenges in north Wales. Just a few weeks ago, you said, and I quote,
'Specifically, the group wanted some further assurance from the health board in respect of progress in mental health services.'
This is just a few weeks ago. Now, either this really is the most miraculous recovery since Lazarus was raised from the dead or you're trying to hoodwink the people of north Wales into thinking that services are better, when the reality is that they're not.
So I ask you, Minister, how can you justify your position given that many of the issues on that original list—and I quote one, for example: reconnecting with the public and regaining the public confidence. That's one of the reasons it was put into special measures. I can tell you what, the public in north Wales have no confidence whatsoever in your ability to improve their services. They've only seen them deteriorate, as I've just pointed out to you, in terms of some of those facts on the ground. So how can you say that that item has been dealt with?
How can you say, when there are so many GP services that are fragile, and so many health board intervened and managed services, that the concerns about GP and primary care services have been dealt with, especially with the looming crisis now in dentistry care as well? And how on earth can you say that governance has been addressed when the health board itself didn't know the rate of hospital-acquired infections in relation to COVID until I pointed it out to them? And how on earth can you say that mental health services are better when, frankly, they're just as bad now as they were back in 2015?
A gaf i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch ar goedd ar ran pawb ar feinciau Ceidwadwyr Cymru i'r aelodau hynny o staff rheng flaen y GIG yn y gogledd sydd wedi bod yn gweithio mor galed, yn enwedig yn ystod y pandemig hwn?
Trueni mawr, Gweinidog, na fuoch chi mor gwrtais â briffio unrhyw Aelodau ar feinciau'r gwrthbleidiau heddiw ynglŷn â'ch penderfyniad, ac mewn gwirionedd, fe fuoch chi mor anghwrtais, hyd yn oed, â pheidio â rhannu eich datganiad nes yn union cyn ichi ei ddarllen yn gyhoeddus. Y gwir amdani yw ei bod hi'n ymddangos bod gan y cyhoeddiad heddiw fwy i'w wneud â rhagolygon y Blaid Lafur yn y gogledd yn etholiadau'r Senedd y flwyddyn nesaf nag ydyw ag unrhyw dystiolaeth o welliant gwirioneddol ar lawr gwlad yn y gogledd. Ni ellir cyfiawnhau eich penderfyniad i ddiddymu mesurau arbennig ac ni allwch dwyllo na chamarwain pobl y gogledd i feddwl bod popeth yn iawn. Nid yw eich disgrifiad chi o welliant yn debyg o gwbl i realiti profiadau cleifion ledled y rhanbarth.
Gadewch inni edrych ar y ffeithiau. Roedd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn ei chweched flwyddyn o fesurau arbennig. Yn y cyfnod hwn, mae'r bwrdd wedi gweld newidiadau parhaus o ran ei uwch dîm arwain, gyda nifer fawr o brif weithredwyr, nifer fawr o gyfarwyddwyr cyllid, a nifer fawr o gyfarwyddwyr iechyd meddwl. Yn wir, mae'r cyfarwyddwr iechyd meddwl presennol yn gadael ei swydd ddiwedd y mis hwn, rhicyn arall ym mhostyn gwely Betsi.
Ers 2015, mae perfformiad adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys wedi gwaethygu, mae rhestrau aros ac amseroedd aros wedi dirywio ac wedi mynd yn hwy, ac mae sefyllfa ariannol y bwrdd iechyd wedi dirywio hefyd. Mae'r ffigurau diweddar yn dangos mai gan Betsi y mae'r adrannau achosion brys sy'n perfformio waethaf o hyd yng Nghymru gyfan, gydag un o bob 10 o bobl yn aros mwy na 12 awr cyn y gellir eu rhyddhau nhw ar ôl cyrraedd yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys, ac ni ellir rhyddhau dros hanner, bron hanner y boblogaeth sy'n cyrraedd yno o fewn pedair awr.
Fe wyddom fod gwasanaethau meddygon teulu yn parhau i fod yn fregus yn y rhanbarth, gyda mwy o bractisau a reolir yn unrhyw ardal bwrdd iechyd arall yng Nghymru. Ac, wrth gwrs, fe wyddom ni bellach fod gwasanaethau deintyddiaeth yn fregus ledled y gogledd hefyd, gydag 20,000 o gleifion wedi cael rhybudd y bydd eu gwasanaethau GIG nhw'n dod i ben ddechrau'r flwyddyn nesaf. Nid yw hwn yn fwrdd iechyd sy'n barod ar gyfer dod allan o'r trefniadau mesurau arbennig.
Roeddech chi'n cyfeirio at nifer o resymau pam aeth y bwrdd iechyd hwn i fesurau arbennig, ac roedd llywodraethu, arweinyddiaeth a goruchwyliaeth yn un ohonyn nhw. Fe wyddom fod gwendidau yno o hyd oherwydd fe gafwyd achosion diweddar o'r coronafeirws yn torri allan mewn dau o'r ysbytai yn y gogledd, ac ni ddaeth yr un ohonyn nhw i'r amlwg oherwydd sefyllfa'r bwrdd iechyd, ond oherwydd bod Aelodau lleol o'r Senedd wedi ysgrifennu i godi pryderon.
Nid yw gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl wedi dod trwy'r gwaethaf eto chwaith. Er gwaethaf addewidion o adeiladau newydd a gwych, mae'r diwylliant yn yr adrannau hynny'n parhau i fod yr un peth. Mae gennym 1,600 o gleifion a gafodd eu rhyddhau o wasanaethau yn gynharach eleni yn ddiarwybod iddyn nhw, heb i neb eu hysbysu nhw. Mae nifer y gwelyau yn parhau i fod yn broblem aruthrol. Nid yw gwasanaethau plant a'r glasoed na'r gwasanaeth iechyd meddwl byth yn ddigonol, gyda chleifion yn parhau i gael eu hanfon gannoedd o filltiroedd i ffwrdd i gael triniaethau fel cleifion mewnol. Ac mae chwarter—chwarter—yr holl achosion diogelwch iechyd meddwl yn GIG Cymru yn achosion ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Nid yw hwn yn fwrdd iechyd sy'n addas i ddod allan o fesurau arbennig.
Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, y mis diwethaf, roeddech chi'n dweud bod yna heriau mawr yn parhau yn y gogledd. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, roeddech chi'n dweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
Yn benodol, roedd y grŵp yn dymuno cael rhywfaint o sicrwydd pellach gan y bwrdd iechyd o ran y cynnydd mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl.
Dim ond ychydig wythnosau yn ôl yr oedd hyn. Nawr, ai dyma'r adferiad mwyaf gwyrthiol ers i Lasarus gael ei gyfodi o blith y meirw neu a ydych chi'n ceisio twyllo pobl gogledd Cymru i feddwl bod gwasanaethau wedi gwella, a'r gwirionedd yw nad ydyn nhw wedi gwella?
Felly, rwy'n gofyn i chi, Gweinidog, sut allwch chi gyfiawnhau eich safbwynt chi o gofio bod llawer o'r materion ar y rhestr wreiddiol honno—ac rwy'n dyfynnu un, er enghraifft: ailgysylltu â'r cyhoedd ac adennill hyder y cyhoedd. Dyna un o'r rhesymau y cafodd y bwrdd ei roi mewn mesurau arbennig. Fe allaf i ddweud wrthych chi nad oes gan y cyhoedd yn y gogledd hyder o gwbl yn eich gallu chi i wella eu gwasanaethau. Dim ond dirywiad a welwyd ganddyn nhw yno, fel y dywedais i wrthych chi nawr, o ran rhai o'r ffeithiau hynny ar lawr gwlad. Felly sut y gallwch chi ddweud eich bod wedi ymdrin â'r mater hwnnw?
Sut allwch chi ddweud, pan mae cynifer o wasanaethau meddygon teulu yn fregus, a chymaint o wasanaethau yn destun ymyriad a rheolaeth gan y bwrdd iechyd, yr ymdriniwyd â'r pryderon hyn am wasanaethau meddygon teulu a gofal sylfaenol, yn arbennig gyda'r argyfwng sydd ar y gorwel nawr ym maes gofal deintyddol hefyd? A sut ar y ddaear allwch chi ddweud yr ymdriniwyd â llywodraethu pan nad oedd y bwrdd iechyd ei hun yn gwybod beth oedd cyfradd yr heintiau a welwyd mewn ysbytai o ran COVID nes i mi dynnu eu sylw nhw at hynny? A sut ar y ddaear allwch chi ddweud bod gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn well pan maen nhw, a dweud y gwir, gyn waethed nawr ag yr oedden nhw nôl yn 2015?
Well, it's disappointing, but perhaps not unusual, to have a predictably unreasonable response from Mr Millar. The refusal to give any credit to staff for progress made over the last few years that has led to special measures being lifted is unfortunate. In particular, I remind Members, both in this Chamber but also externally, of not just the progress that has been assured by the tripartite process, which I'll come back to, but in particular the response to the pandemic, a once-in-a-century healthcare crisis. I think that Betsi Cadwaladr and its staff deserve huge credit for the response. It would be unusual to say that there has been a first-class response to the pandemic and yet the organisation must remain in special measures, because that would suit the perspective of Mr Millar.
When it simply comes to the basis for this organisation to come out of special measures, I referred to it very plainly and clearly in the statement, just as we have done on previous occasions when referring to special measures updates about the advice from the objective tripartite advisory process. The chief executive of NHS Wales, together with Welsh Government officials, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Audit Wales, provide advice to me as the Minister. Their clear advice was that this is no longer a special measures organisation. And I should say that the NHS Wales chief executive, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Audit Wales do not make choices on their advice to me on the basis of party politics. The suggestion from Mr Millar to the contrary is a slur on their integrity and a matter that he should withdraw and reconsider.
The tripartite advice is the advice; it is my decision. Targeted intervention is not a free pass; more progress is required, as I have made plain. I think reasonable people will recognise that, but they will also recognise that this is a positive day for healthcare in north Wales, a real credit to the staff of the health board, and I look forward to further progress being made.
Wel, siomedig, ond nid anarferol efallai, yw'r ymateb afresymol a oedd i'w ddisgwyl gan Mr Millar. Mae'n anffodus ei fod yn gwrthod rhoi unrhyw glod i'r staff am y cynnydd a wnaed yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf sydd wedi arwain at ddod â'r mesurau arbennig i ben. Yn benodol, rwy'n atgoffa'r Aelodau, yn y Siambr hon ond yn allanol hefyd, nid yn unig o'r cynnydd a enillwyd yn sgil y broses dairochrog, y byddaf i'n dod yn ôl ati, ond yn benodol yr ymateb i'r pandemig, sef argyfwng gofal iechyd a ddaw unwaith mewn can mlynedd. Rwyf i o'r farn fod Betsi Cadwaladr a'i staff yn haeddu clod enfawr am yr ymateb. Rhyfedd iawn fyddai dweud y cafwyd ymateb o'r radd flaenaf i'r pandemig ac eto mae'n rhaid i'r sefydliad aros mewn mesurau arbennig, oherwydd byddai hynny'n cyd-fynd â safbwynt Mr Millar.
O ran sail y penderfyniad i ddiddymu mesurau arbennig ar gyfer y sefydliad hwn, fe gyfeiriais i'n amlwg iawn ac yn eglur iawn at hyn yn y datganiad, yn union fel y gwnaethom ni o'r blaen wrth gyfeirio at ddiweddariadau ynglŷn â mesurau arbennig, am y cyngor o'r broses gynghori wrthrychol dairochrog. Mae prif weithredwr GIG Cymru, ynghyd â swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru, Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ac Archwilio Cymru, yn rhoi cyngor imi yn rhinwedd fy swydd fel Gweinidog. Eu cyngor amlwg nhw oedd nad yw hwn bellach yn sefydliad sy'n teilyngu mesurau arbennig. Ac fe ddylwn i ddweud nad yw prif weithredwr GIG Cymru, Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru nac Archwilio Cymru yn gwneud dewisiadau o ran eu cyngor nhw i mi ar sail gwleidyddiaeth y pleidiau. Mae'r awgrym gan Mr Millar i'r gwrthwyneb yn sen ar eu cywirdeb nhw ac mae'n fater y dylai ei dynnu'n ôl a'i ailystyried.
Y cyngor tairochrog yw'r cyngor; ond fi sy'n gwneud y penderfyniad. Nid yw ymyrryd wedi'i dargedu yn gyfystyr â dihangfa lwyr; mae angen mwy o gynnydd, fel yr eglurais i. Rwy'n credu y bydd pobl resymol yn cydnabod hynny, ond fe fyddan nhw hefyd yn cydnabod mai rhywbeth cadarnhaol o ran gofal iechyd yn y gogledd yw hyn, sy'n glod gwirioneddol i staff y bwrdd iechyd, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld cynnydd pellach yn digwydd.
Diolch, Weinidog. Thank you for a statement that confirms that Betsi Cadwaladr is staying at a level of intervention for another period at the hands of Welsh Government, which has failed in five and a half years to turn around the problems that put it in special measures.
I always praise the front-line staff in the NHS, in the north of Wales, as I do in the rest of Wales. Their response to this pandemic has been second to none. I'm proud to know many of them, and I'm proud of the work that each one of them has done, tirelessly. Your invitation for us to praise them specifically for bringing the board out of special measures, are you saying that they didn't do their bit to bring the board out of special measures over the past five and a half years? What I've seen is the Welsh Government failing to take the adequate steps, and steps that you could have taken previously. The statement, to me, basically says, 'You know what? We can't make progress, it seems, whilst we are in special measures.' Has it really taken you five and a half years to get to that point?
And how did you reach this point in a matter of weeks? We're now—where are we? 24 November. You told us on 7 October that there were big problems that needed to be faced still, in mental health in particular. But it's not today that you're deciding; apparently earlier this month, by that point, the tripartite meeting had told you, 'All is good'. So, in a matter of three or four weeks things had been turned around. And that, to me, seems very, very odd.
You say that special measures were having an impact on the health board's ability to recruit and retain staff. Again, are you only just realising that now, after an extended period of jobs being unable to be filled, both on the clinical side as well as on the management side? Are you only now realising that special measures are affecting negatively the ability that we have to attract the best people to work in health in the north of Wales?
Of course, on one level, I'm pleased to see a moving forward from special measures to another level of intervention. But I'm still of the opinion, as are many patients and staff members within Betsi Cadwaladr, that the north of Wales needs a fresh start. It has taken too long to get to this point and there is very little faith in how we are going to get to the next point, where we can really say that we have, in the north of Wales, a health service that works and that is designed in a way that staff and patients deserve. We need new health boards for the north of Wales, a fresh start, and today does not convince me that the Welsh Government has a handle on the real problems, not least in mental health, which was at the root of putting the board into special measures in the first place, to the extent that I can say that the problem is anywhere near resolved.
Diolch, Gweinidog. Diolch am ddatganiad sy'n cadarnhau bod Betsi Cadwaladr am aros ar lefel o ymyrraeth am gyfnod arall yn nwylo Llywodraeth Cymru, sydd wedi methu, yn ystod cyfnod o bum mlynedd a hanner, â datrys y problemau a'i rhoddodd mewn mesurau arbennig.
Rwy'n awyddus bob amser i ganmol staff rheng flaen y GIG, yng ngogledd Cymru, fel y gwnaf i yng ngweddill Cymru. Mae eu hymateb nhw i'r pandemig hwn wedi bod heb ei ail. Rwy'n falch o ddweud fy mod i'n adnabod llawer ohonyn nhw, ac rwy'n falch o'r gwaith a wnaeth pob un ohonyn nhw, a hynny'n ddiflino. Wrth ein gwahodd ni i'w canmol nhw'n benodol am ddod â'r bwrdd allan o fesurau arbennig, a ydych chi'n dweud wrthym ni nad oedd ganddyn nhw ran i'w chwarae wrth ddod â'r mesurau arbennig yn y bwrdd i ben yn ystod y pum mlynedd a hanner diwethaf? Yr hyn a welais i yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn methu â chymryd camau digonol, a chamau y gallech chi fod wedi eu cymryd nhw o'r blaen. Mae'r datganiad hwn, y fy marn i, yn dweud yn y bôn, 'Wyddoch chi beth? Ni allwn gael cynnydd, fe ymddengys, wrth inni aros mewn mesurau arbennig.' A yw wedi cymryd pum mlynedd a hanner i chi ddod i'r safbwynt hwnnw?
A sut wnaethoch chi gyrraedd y pwynt hwn ymhen ychydig wythnosau? Rydym ni nawr—ble rydym ni? 24 o fis Tachwedd. Roeddech chi'n dweud wrthym ar 7 Hydref fod yna broblemau mawr i'w hwynebu o hyd, ym maes iechyd meddwl yn arbennig. Ond nid heddiw yr oeddech chi'n penderfynu; yn gynharach y mis hwn, fe ymddengys, erbyn hynny, roedd y cyfarfod tairochrog wedi dweud wrthych chi, 'Mae popeth yn iawn'. Felly, mewn mater o dair neu bedair wythnos roedd pethau wedi trawsnewid yn llwyr. Ac mae hynny, i mi, yn ymddangos yn rhyfedd iawn, iawn.
Rydych chi'n dweud bod mesurau arbennig yn effeithio ar allu'r bwrdd iechyd i recriwtio a chadw staff. Unwaith eto, ai dim ond nawr yr ydych chi'n sylweddoli hynny, ar ôl cyfnod estynedig o fod â swyddi na ellir eu llenwi'n niweidiol ar y gallu sydd gennym i ddenu'r bobl orau i weithio ym maes iechyd yng ngogledd Cymru?
Wrth gwrs, ar ryw ystyr, rwy'n falch o weld symud ymlaen oddi wrth fesurau arbennig i gyfradd arall o ymyrryd. Ond rwyf i o'r farn o hyd, fel llawer o gleifion ac aelodau staff ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr, fod angen dechrau newydd ar Ogledd Cymru. Mae wedi cymryd gormod o amser i gyrraedd y pwynt hwn ac ychydig iawn o ffydd sydd yn y ffordd y byddwn ni'n cyrraedd y pwynt nesaf, pryd y gallwn ni ddweud mewn gwirionedd fod gennym ni, yng ngogledd Cymru, wasanaeth iechyd sy'n gweithio ac a gynlluniwyd mewn ffordd y mae'r staff a'r cleifion yn ei haeddu. Mae angen byrddau iechyd newydd ar gyfer gogledd Cymru, cychwyn newydd, ac ni chefais i fy argyhoeddi heddiw fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall y problemau gwirioneddol, yn enwedig ym maes iechyd meddwl, a oedd wrth wraidd rhoi'r bwrdd mewn mesurau arbennig yn y lle cyntaf, i'r graddau y gallaf i ddweud bod y broblem yn agos at gael ei datrys.
Thank you for the questions and the comments. I particularly welcome the recognition from the Member that the pandemic response from staff and organisations in north Wales has been second to none. It has been a very positive and impressive response. And, again, that underpins an organisation where others would have been concerned about the ability of the organisation to work effectively in the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic, and yet, actually, they have risen to the challenge significantly, with not just the creation of the rainbow hospitals, but the way they've worked across their whole healthcare system. And I think it should give more people more confidence for the rest of the unfinished pandemic that we are all still facing.
And, again, to go back to the point about the advice that is given and the assurance from the previous update I gave from the regular tripartite meeting, at that meeting, in the discussion around north Wales, they recognised that further progress had been made and they asked for a further meeting because they sought further assurance on areas of progress. They've considered the extra information that has been provided, and that group of people—the chief exec of NHS Wales, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Audit Wales—have given clear advice that Betsi Cadwaladr should move out of special measures, and that is the basis for my decision.
I don't think it's difficult or complicated to understand, and, of course, other people are entitled to say that they reject the advice of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Audit Wales and the chief executive of NHS Wales. They're entitled to say that, and I think people are entitled to judge whether they think that is the right thing to do, for me to base my choice on, as a Minister, or for rather more partisan reasons not to change the status of the organisation, but to keep it in special measures when the clear objective advice is that it is no longer the right thing to do for the organisation and the people it serves.
I recognise that—. The Member has a clear view that he has set out on more than one occasion, that he believes a reorganisation with more than one health board in north Wales will provide a better future. That is not a view I share. I think the loss of focus, the money you'd spend, the upheaval, would have a real cost within it and you'd then have to remake all those partner arrangements that have definitely moved forward over the last few months and the last few years. So, I don't share his view, but I recognise he's perfectly entitled to put it to people. Members will decide, but as I say, this is an undeniably positive step forward for all the staff of the health board and indeed for every community in north Wales that is served by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Diolch am y cwestiynau a'r sylwadau. Rwy'n croesawu yn arbennig gydnabyddiaeth yr Aelod fod yr ymateb i'r pandemig gan staff a sefydliadau yn y gogledd wedi bod heb ei ail. Fe fu hwn yn ymateb cadarnhaol a thrawiadol iawn. Ac, unwaith eto, mae honno'n sylfaen i sefydliad lle byddai eraill wedi bod yn pryderu am allu'r sefydliad i weithio yn effeithiol yn wyneb pandemig unwaith mewn can mlynedd. Ac eto i gyd, mewn gwirionedd, maen nhw wedi ymateb yn sylweddol i'r her, nid yn unig gyda chreu ysbytai enfys, ond y ffordd y maen nhw wedi gweithio ar draws eu system gofal iechyd yn ei chyfanrwydd. Ac rwy'n credu y dylai hynny roi mwy o hyder i fwy o bobl yn ystod gweddill y pandemig sy'n parhau y mae pob un ohonom ni'n dal i'w wynebu.
Ac, unwaith eto, i fynd yn ôl at y pwynt ynglŷn â'r cyngor a roddir a'r sicrwydd o'r diweddariad blaenorol a roddais i o'r cyfarfod tairochrog rheolaidd, yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, yn y drafodaeth ynghylch y gogledd, roedden nhw'n cydnabod bod cynnydd pellach wedi digwydd ac fe ofynnwyd am gyfarfod pellach am eu bod nhw'n ceisio cael sicrwydd pellach ar feysydd y cynnydd. Maen nhw wedi ystyried yr wybodaeth ychwanegol a roddwyd, ac mae'r grŵp hwnnw o bobl—prif weithredwr GIG Cymru, Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ac Archwilio Cymru—wedi rhoi cyngor clir y dylai mesurau arbennig Betsi Cadwaladr ddod i ben, a dyna sail fy mhenderfyniad i.
Nid wyf i o'r farn ei bod yn anodd nac yn gymhleth deall hyn, ac, wrth gwrs, mae gan bobl eraill yr hawl i ddweud eu bod nhw'n diystyru cyngor Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru, Archwilio Cymru a phrif weithredwr GIG Cymru. Mae ganddyn nhw yr hawl i ddweud hynny. Ac rwy'n credu bod gan bobl yr hawl i farnu ai dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud yn eu barn nhw, fy mod i'n gwneud fy newis ar sail hynny, fel Gweinidog, neu am resymau mwy pleidiol i beidio â newid statws y sefydliad, ond ei gadw mewn mesurau arbennig pan mai'r cyngor gwrthrychol clir yw nad hwnnw yw'r peth iawn i'w wneud mwyach ar gyfer y sefydliad na'r bobl y mae hwnnw'n eu gwasanaethu.
Rwy'n cydnabod mai—. Mae gan yr Aelod farn glir a fynegodd ar fwy nag un achlysur, sef ei fod o'r farn y byddai ad-drefnu gyda mwy nag un bwrdd iechyd yn y gogledd yn cynnig dyfodol gwell. Nid wyf i o'r un farn ag ef. Rwyf i o'r farn y byddai'r colli'r ffocws, yr arian y byddech chi'n ei wario, a'r ffwdan, yn golygu cost wirioneddol ac yna fe fyddai'n rhaid ichi ail-wneud yr holl drefniadau partner hynny sydd wedi symud ymlaen yn bendant dros y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd diwethaf. Felly, nid wyf i o'r un farn ag ef, ond rwy'n cydnabod bod ganddo berffaith hawl i fynegi ei farn i'r bobl. Fe fydd yr Aelodau yn penderfynu, ond fel y dywedais i, mae hwn yn gam cadarnhaol ymlaen i holl staff y bwrdd iechyd ac yn wir i bob cymuned yn y gogledd a wasanaethir gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I massively welcome the significant investment and the news today that the health board is now out of special measures. I do still, however, have some concerns that I'd like to raise today, and I'd be grateful for your comments on those. I am still concerned particularly about mental health services and I'd welcome your thoughts on how the service is improving. Secondly, can you also outline how you feel the health board is performing with regard to elective surgery? And finally, parts of Alyn and Deeside in particular do need better GP provision; particularly places like Saltney are underserved. So how confident are you, Minister, that the health board will properly address this? And if I may, in closing, Deputy Llywydd, can I put on record my thanks to all the staff across north Wales in the NHS, and across the whole of Wales, not for just what they're doing now and continue to do, but for what they always have done in supporting us through the healthcare system in Wales? Thank you.
Diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad chi. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr iawn y buddsoddiad sylweddol a'r newyddion heddiw fod y bwrdd iechyd allan o fesurau arbennig erbyn hyn. Er hynny, mae rhai pryderon yn dal gennyf yr hoffwn i eu codi nhw heddiw, ac fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar am eich sylwadau chi ar y rhain. Rwy'n dal i bryderu am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn benodol, ac fe fyddwn i'n croesawu eich barn chi ynglŷn â'r gwelliant sy'n digwydd yn y gwasanaeth. Yn ail, a wnewch chi amlinellu hefyd sut rydych chi'n teimlo y mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn perfformio o ran llawdriniaethau dewisol? Ac yn olaf, mae angen gwell darpariaeth o feddygon teulu ar rannau o Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy yn benodol; mae lleoedd fel Saltney, yn enwedig, heb wasanaeth digonol. Felly pa mor hyderus ydych chi, Gweinidog, y bydd y bwrdd iechyd yn mynd i'r afael â hyn yn iawn? Ac os caf i, wrth gloi, Dirprwy Lywydd, ddiolch ar goedd i'r holl staff ledled y gogledd yn y GIG, a ledled Cymru, nid am yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud nawr yn unig ac yn parhau i'w wneud, ond am yr hyn y maen nhw wedi ei wneud bob amser i'n cynorthwyo ni drwy gyfrwng y system gofal iechyd yng Nghymru? Diolch.
I'd like to thank the Member for the three specific areas of questions. I'll deal with them in reverse order. On general practice, and Saltney that he mentioned in particular, there's good news in that every scheme in north Wales for GP training has recruited or over-recruited to its capacity, so we're attracting people to work right across the whole country. It's good news for the whole of Wales, including north Wales. We did have some particular challenges at the start of our work on ‘Train. Work. Live.’ to get people to take up the training places in north Wales. We're now in a position where we've got this surplus, which is a really good position to be in in terms of our normal places, but we want to keep all of those people that do their training in north Wales, because we do want to see people seeing north Wales as an attractive place to train, work and live. And if the Member wants a specific conversation on Saltney or other areas in his constituency, then I can happily arrange that both with the health board and/or myself, and I'll look forward to hearing from his office further to see how he wants to take that forward.
On elective capacity, as with the whole of Wales, there has been a particular challenge. North Wales has a bigger challenge than other parts of Wales on elective and planned care, partly because of the way in which normal healthcare takes place, and he will know this, having a border constituency. A number of people are used to, as part of their healthcare, travelling over the border. In the future, we can be confident that the English system will have a huge catch-up in terms of its elective capacity as well. We're unlikely to see lots of planned care capacity within the English system. That's why the orthopaedic challenge that I set out and the funding we're providing is even more important, to have a more sustained position for planned surgery—orthopaedic and others—within north Wales as far as possible, as well as the conversation we need to have about regular healthcare across the border.
And on mental health, there is a particular concern that I've highlighted in my statement—again, because there has been progress on mental health, but there's definitely more to go. And so the 'Together for Mental Health in North Wales' strategy that has been designed with service users in north Wales—it's really important to see that transformation continue, and that will be a particular concern that we'll be looking for further reassurance and progress on in the targeted intervention arrangements that are in place. So, I want to reassure the Member and everyone else watching that mental health is very much in our minds—again, about the unfinished improvement journey that is still required. But undeniably, mental health services in north Wales are in a better place now than when the organisation was placed into special measures five years ago.
Fe hoffwn i ddiolch i'r Aelod am y tri maes penodol hyn o gwestiynau. Rwyf am ymdrin â nhw o'r tu ôl ymlaen. O ran practis cyffredinol, a Saltney yn benodol, fel y crybwyllodd ef, mae newyddion da gan fod pob cynllun yn y gogledd ar gyfer hyfforddi meddygon teulu wedi recriwtio neu or-recriwtio i'w gapasiti, felly rydym yn denu pobl i weithio ledled y wlad. Mae hyn yn newyddion da i Gymru gyfan, gan gynnwys y gogledd. Fe welsom ni rai heriau penodol ar ddechrau ein gwaith ni ar 'Hyfforddi. Gwaith. Byw.' i gael pobl i fanteisio ar y lleoedd hyfforddi sydd yn y gogledd. Rydym mewn sefyllfa erbyn hyn lle mae gennym nifer dros ben, sy'n sefyllfa dda iawn i fod ynddi o ran ein lleoedd arferol, ond rydym yn awyddus i gadw'r holl bobl hyn sy'n cael eu hyfforddi yn y gogledd, oherwydd rydym yn awyddus i annog pobl i ystyried y gogledd yn lle deniadol i hyfforddi, gweithio a byw ynddo. Ac os yw'r Aelod yn dymuno cael sgwrs benodol ynglŷn â Saltney neu ardaloedd eraill yn ei etholaeth ef, yna fe fyddaf i'n hapus i drefnu hynny gyda'r bwrdd iechyd a/neu rhyngddo ef a minnau, ac fe edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy gan ei swyddfa i gael gwybod sut yr hoffai fwrw ymlaen â hynny.
O ran capasiti dewisol, fel yn achos Cymru gyfan, cafwyd her arbennig. Mae'r gogledd yn wynebu mwy o her na rhannau eraill o Gymru o ran gofal dewisol a gofal wedi ei gynllunio, yn rhannol oherwydd y ffordd y mae gofal iechyd arferol yn digwydd, ac fe fydd ef yn gwybod hyn, am fod ei etholaeth ef ar y ffin. Mae llawer o bobl yn gyfarwydd â theithio dros y ffin i dderbyn peth o'u gofal iechyd nhw. Yn y dyfodol, fe allwn ni fod yn hyderus y bydd system Lloegr yn dal i fyny'n aruthrol o ran ei chapasiti dewisol hefyd. Rydym yn annhebygol o weld llawer iawn o gapasiti gofal wedi ei gynllunio yn system Lloegr. Dyna pam mae'r her orthopedig a nodais i a'r cyllid yr ydym ni'n ei ddarparu yn bwysicach byth, i weld sefyllfa â mwy o gysondeb ynddi ar gyfer llawdriniaethau wedi eu cynllunio—orthopedig ac eraill—yn y gogledd cyn belled ag y bo modd cael hynny, yn ogystal â'r sgwrs y mae angen inni ei chael am ofal iechyd rheolaidd dros y ffin.
Ac o ran iechyd meddwl, mae yna bryder penodol y tynnais sylw ato yn fy natganiad i—unwaith eto, oherwydd y cynnydd o ran iechyd meddwl, ond yn sicr mae rhagor i'w wneud eto. Ac felly mae'r strategaeth 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl yng Ngogledd Cymru' a gynlluniwyd gyda defnyddwyr gwasanaethau yn y gogledd—mae'n bwysig iawn gweld y trawsnewid hwnnw'n parhau, ac fe fydd hwnnw'n bryder arbennig y byddwn yn ceisio sicrwydd a chynnydd pellach arno yn y trefniadau ymyrryd wedi'i dargedu sydd ar waith. Felly, fe hoffwn i sicrhau'r Aelod a phawb arall sy'n gwylio fod iechyd meddwl yn bwysig iawn yn ein golwg ni—unwaith eto, o ran y daith anorffenedig tuag at welliant sy'n ofynnol o hyd. Ond yn ddiamau, mae gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y gogledd mewn gwell cyflwr nawr nag yr oeddent pan gafodd y sefydliad ei roi mewn mesurau arbennig bum mlynedd yn ôl.
Betsi Cadwaladr, according to you, is now out of special measures. Okay. I agree exactly with what Rhun and Darren have said, but we will see going down the line how it works out, and my contribution today will still stand. I've had a look, Minister, at my previous statement when it was in special measures, and my responses, and they're all along the same lines. So, I could, if I wanted to, basically present exactly the same speech I gave in June 2019. However, considering the year that we've all had, where the NHS and associated services are very much on the front line, I feel it more appropriate to be as constructive as possible.
Firstly, I'd like to place on record my thanks to all of those in the NHS who have contributed to keeping services going in the face of fear, pressure, illness and death. It does appear that we are winning the COVID battle. As world case numbers have risen over the last couple of months, deaths have not risen relative to those numbers. Minister, I can only imagine how massive the weight is on your shoulders. The fact that you are still standing is testimony to your own tenacity. While any party in opposition can differ as to the approach taken, I doubt anybody in this Chamber would actually swap places with you—at least during 2020. We know that Betsi Cadwaladr has been in special measures for a record amount of time and, as I said, fingers crossed that your approach now works. And the increased funding from last month was very, very welcome.
In your estimation, Minister, what difference does being in special measures make to the level of service afforded to our constituents, and how will it change now? What I'm trying to tease out is whether special measures meant longer waiting times, more difficulty in getting a GP appointment and harder-to-access dental services? Because it seems to me that, in our COVID-recovery world, every citizen in Wales will have difficulty in all of these areas due to the impact of the pandemic. Having asked that question, I must put on record that I, for one, am sick of the health service being used as a political football, as it continues to be. I think we've all realised that health is more important than anything else. We know that the health service takes up over 50 per cent of the budget allocation for all of the devolved services, and the COVID response across the UK has been driven by the NHS—its capacity, its funding—at the expense, it seems, of every other area of civil society.
I mentioned in my remarks to your statement on strategic support for Betsi Cadwaladr that a fundamentally different approach might be needed to solve what I see as a structural problem with the north Wales health board. It is the largest in Wales, so perhaps that needs to be looked at—the structure. Perhaps it's time for the health service to stop being that political football. It is now time to consider what sort of cross-party commission can take responsibility for the health of the nation and the Welsh NHS. There is, after all, no monopoly on good ideas and collective political responsibility, and an element of consensus has got to be better than the type of debate that we have had, or that we will have today. Thank you, Minister.
Mae Betsi Cadwaladr, yn ôl yr hyn a ddywedwch chi, allan o fesurau arbennig erbyn hyn. Iawn. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn a ddywedodd Rhun a Darren, ond fe fyddwn ni'n gweld yn y dyfodol sut y bydd hyn yn gweithio, ac fe fydd fy nghyfraniad i heddiw'n dal i sefyll. Rwyf i wedi bwrw golwg, Gweinidog, ar fy natganiad blaenorol i pan oedd y bwrdd mewn mesurau arbennig, ac ar fy ymatebion i, ac maen nhw i gyd ar yr un trywydd. Felly, fe allwn i, pe byddwn i'n dymuno gwneud hynny, gyflwyno'r union araith a roddais i ym mis Mehefin 2019. Er hynny, o ystyried y flwyddyn yr ydym ni i gyd wedi ei chael, lle mae'r GIG a gwasanaethau cysylltiedig ar y rheng flaen i raddau mawr iawn, credaf ei bod yn fwy priodol i fod mor adeiladol â phosibl.
Yn gyntaf, fe hoffwn i ddiolch ar goedd i bawb yn y GIG sydd wedi cyfrannu at gadw gwasanaethau ar waith yn wyneb ofn, pwysau, salwch a marwolaeth. Mae'n ymddangos ein bod ni'n ennill brwydr COVID. Wrth i nifer yr achosion trwy'r byd godi yn ystod yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf, nid yw marwolaethau wedi codi o'u cymharu â'r niferoedd hyn. Gweinidog, ni allaf i ond dychmygu pa mor aruthrol o fawr yw'r pwysau ar eich ysgwyddau chi. Mae'r ffaith eich bod chi'n dal i sefyll yn dystiolaeth i'ch dycnwch unigol chi. Er y gall unrhyw un o'r gwrthbleidiau anghytuno â'r dull a gymerir, rwy'n amau a fyddai unrhyw un yn y Siambr hon yn awyddus i gyfnewid lle â chi mewn gwirionedd—o leiaf yn ystod 2020. Fe wyddom ni fod Betsi Cadwaladr wedi bod mewn mesurau arbennig am y cyfnod hwyaf erioed ac, fel y dywedais i, a chan groesi bysedd, fe fydd eich dull chi o weithredu yn gweithio nawr. Ac roedd y cynnydd yn y cyllid o'r mis diwethaf i'w groesawu yn fawr iawn.
Yn eich tŷb chi, Gweinidog, pa wahaniaeth y mae bod mewn mesurau arbennig yn ei wneud i lefel y gwasanaeth a gynigir i'n hetholwyr ni, a sut fydd hynny'n newid nawr? Rwy'n ceisio cael gwybod a oedd mesurau arbennig yn golygu amseroedd aros hwy, mwy o anhawster i gael apwyntiad gyda meddyg teulu a gwasanaethau deintyddol sy'n fwy anodd cael atyn nhw? Oherwydd mae'n ymddangos i mi, yn ein byd ni sy'n adfer wedi COVID, y bydd pob dinesydd yng Nghymru yn cael anhawster ym mhob un o'r meysydd hyn oherwydd effaith y pandemig. Wedi gofyn y cwestiwn hwn, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod i, am un, wedi syrffedu ar y defnydd o'r gwasanaeth iechyd fel cocyn hitio gwleidyddol, sy'n digwydd o hyd. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd wedi sylweddoli bod iechyd yn bwysicach na dim byd arall. Fe wyddom fod y gwasanaeth iechyd yn cymryd dros 50 y cant o ddyraniad y gyllideb ar gyfer yr holl wasanaethau datganoledig, ac fe gafodd ymateb COVID ledled y DU ei yrru gan y GIG—ei gapasiti, ei gyllid—ar draul pob maes arall o gymdeithas sifil, mae'n debyg.
Yn fy sylwadau i'ch datganiad chi am gefnogaeth strategol i Betsi Cadwaladr, fe soniais y gallai fod angen dull hollol wahanol i ddatrys yr hyn a welaf i yn broblem strwythurol gyda bwrdd iechyd y gogledd. Dyma'r bwrdd mwyaf yng Nghymru, felly efallai fod angen edrych ar hynny—y strwythur. Efallai ei bod hi'n bryd rhoi'r gorau i ddefnyddio'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn gocyn hitio gwleidyddol. Mae'n bryd nawr ystyried pa fath o gomisiwn trawsbleidiol all gymryd cyfrifoldeb am iechyd y genedl a GIG Cymru. Wedi'r cyfan, ni cheir monopoli ar syniadau da na chyfrifoldeb gwleidyddol ar y cyd, ac mae'n siŵr bod elfen o gytundeb yn well na'r ddadl yr ydym ni wedi ei chael, neu y byddwn ni'n ei chael heddiw. Diolch, Gweinidog.
Thank you for the comments and questions. I should say, in terms of your final point, that of course we did start this Assembly term, as it was then, now a Senedd term, with a parliamentary review. The UKIP group at the time supported the creation of that group and, indeed, the membership of it as well. So, we had an independent group of experts who came up with a report on the significant challenges we faced and ideas about the future for health and social care, and that has led to 'A Healthier Wales', which is our long-term plan for health and social care.
So, we're trying to undertake the transformation that we were plainly and clearly advised would need to happen, and that involves both some concentration of specialist services within hospitals, as well as a further move to more services being provided in the community. And that move around and reform for a purpose in healthcare is really important, together with the deliberate steps that we know we need to take to create a more integrated health and social care system. That's why we've provided updates on the transformation fund and building that new service. And actually the pandemic has reinforced the need to do that. It's also reinforced the progress we have already made in improving relationships between health and social care.
Again, I recognise the point the Member makes about the potential to reorganise healthcare in north Wales. I don't think that achieving the vision in 'A Healthier Wales' requires a reorganisation of the health board in north Wales, but it's a view that Members are entitled to have. It's not one that I share, but I'm looking for the results and the progress that we are looking to make. I hope the Member will see that in the action, because she started off by welcoming the move and recognising that she'll want to see the results on the ground, and as someone who lives in north Wales, that's an entirely reasonable place to be.
When it comes to special measures, the reason for going into special measures was—. Our assessment on the delivery, the quality and the sustained status of special measures was about our assessment on the progress that the organisation had made against those challenges, but also the confidence for the future about sustaining improvement. Because I have regularly reported that some improvement has been made, but it's the confidence about that being sustained and continued in the future. We are now at a point today where, with the tripartite advice, they themselves have confidence that this is no longer the right place for the organisation. That's why I've moved it out of special measures, based upon that clear and objective advice.
There will continue to be an extra focus and scrutiny of the health board in targeted intervention. I have already announced the financial support that will go with that as well to help them in their improvement journey. I think that it's a good thing for everybody who lives in north Wales that the health board is now in this position to move out of special measures, and I hope that people see it in those terms. Finally, I'd like to thank the Member for her kind words about the reality of dealing with the pandemic. There are many more difficult days ahead for all of us.
Diolch am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau. Fe ddylwn i ddweud, o ran eich pwynt olaf chi, y gwnaethom ni, wrth gwrs, ar ddechrau'r tymor Cynulliad hwn, fel yr oedd hi bryd hynny, y tymor Seneddol hwn bellach, ddechrau gydag adolygiad seneddol. Rhoddodd y grŵp UKIP ar y pryd gefnogaeth i greu'r grŵp hwnnw ac, yn wir, i'w aelodaeth hefyd. Felly, roedd gennym ni grŵp annibynnol o arbenigwyr a gyflwynodd adroddiad ar yr heriau sylweddol yr oeddem ni'n eu hwynebu a syniadau am ddyfodol iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, ac fe arweiniodd hynny at 'Cymru Iachach', sef ein cynllun hirdymor ni ar gyfer iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.
Felly, rydym yn ceisio cyflawni'r trawsnewid y cawsom yn amlwg ein cynghori y byddai angen iddo ddigwydd, ac mae hynny'n golygu rhywfaint o grynhoad o wasanaethau arbenigol mewn ysbytai, yn ogystal â symudiad pellach tuag at ddarparu mwy o wasanaethau yn y gymuned. Ac mae'r symudiad hwnnw a'r diwygio at ddiben ym maes gofal iechyd yn bwysig iawn, ynghyd â'r camau bwriadol y gwyddom fod angen inni eu cymryd i greu system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol sy'n fwy integredig. Dyna pam rydym wedi rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y gronfa drawsnewid ac adeiladu'r gwasanaeth newydd hwnnw. Ac mewn gwirionedd mae'r pandemig wedi atgyfnerthu'r angen i wneud hynny. Mae wedi atgyfnerthu'r cynnydd a wnaethom eisoes hefyd o ran gwella'r berthynas rhwng iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol.
Unwaith eto, rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud ynglŷn â'r posibilrwydd o ad-drefnu gofal iechyd yn y gogledd. Nid wyf i'n credu bod cyflawni'r weledigaeth yn 'Cymru Iachach' yn gofyn am ad-drefnu'r bwrdd iechyd yn y gogledd, ond mae honno'n farn y mae gan yr Aelodau yr hawl iddi. Nid honno yw fy marn i, ond rwy'n edrych am y canlyniadau a'r cynnydd yr ydym ni'n bwriadu eu cael. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelod yn gweld hynny yn y camau gweithredu, oherwydd fe wnaeth hi ddechrau trwy groesawu'r symudiad a chydnabod y byddai'n dymuno gweld y canlyniadau ar lawr gwlad. Ac i rywun sy'n byw yn y gogledd, mae hwnnw'n safbwynt cwbl resymol.
O ran mesurau arbennig, y rheswm dros fynd i fesurau arbennig oedd—. Roedd ein hasesiad ni o'r ddarpariaeth, yr ansawdd a statws parhaus mesurau arbennig yn ymwneud â'n hasesiad ni o'r cynnydd a wnaeth y sefydliad yn erbyn yr heriau hynny, ond hefyd yr hyder i'r dyfodol ynglŷn â chynnal y gwelliant. Oherwydd rwyf wedi adrodd yn rheolaidd bod rhywfaint o welliant wedi bod, ond rhaid cael hyder y bydd hwnnw'n cael ei gynnal a'i barhau yn y dyfodol. Rydym ni heddiw nawr wedi cyrraedd y pwynt lle maen nhw'n hyderus, ynghyd â'r cyngor tairochrog, nad hwn yw'r lle iawn i'r sefydliad erbyn hyn. Dyna pam y symudais i'r bwrdd allan o fesurau arbennig, ar sail y cyngor clir a gwrthrychol hwnnw.
Fe fydd canolbwyntio a chraffu ychwanegol yn parhau o hyd ar y bwrdd iechyd drwy ymyrryd wedi'i dargedu. Rwyf eisoes wedi cyhoeddi'r cymorth ariannol fydd yn cyd-fynd â hynny i'w helpu nhw ar eu taith tuag at welliant. Rwy'n credu mai da o beth i bawb sy'n byw yn y gogledd yw bod y bwrdd iechyd bellach yn y sefyllfa hon o symud allan o fesurau arbennig, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pobl yn gweld hyn yn y ffordd honno. Yn olaf, fe hoffwn i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei geiriau caredig am realiti ymdrin â'r pandemig. Mae llawer mwy o ddiwrnodau anodd o'n blaenau ni bob un.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement. Ordinarily, of course, I would have been extremely delighted to learn that you were bringing the Betsi Cadwaladr health board out of special measures. Indeed, in a north Wales meeting recently with MSs and MPs, the chairman himself was looking forward to being taken out of special measures because, as has been rightly pointed out here today, recruitment—you know, it's almost like a toxic brand now, isn't it, the Betsi board, which is really sad. But, I would like to put on record and endorse the comments by my colleague Darren Millar, who expressively said of his thanks, his gratitude, his appreciation to everybody working in the NHS in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board across all levels, not only for their work under the tensions of special measures, but also their heroic efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, again, for you to dismiss that, Minister, was pretty low.
Now, this health board has been in special measures longer than any other health board in Britain. Since June 2015, nearly £100 million has been spent by the Welsh Government under your directorship on intervention and improvement support, which simply hasn't materialised. Now, £1.7 million was spent on securing sustainable musculoskeletal and orthopaedic services last year. Yet, earlier this month, you announced £30 million to improve unscheduled care and to build a sustainable planned care programme, including for orthopaedics. Now, while I fully understand and appreciate that the crisis in orthopaedics has worsened as a result of COVID-19, how is it that we still do not have a sustainable plan after the £1.7 million investment?
Only a few weeks ago, you mentioned some of the challenges facing us. Well, I can tell you that, on 3 November of this year, which is actually 15 working days, you stated that a number of actions were required on the need to further improve leadership and governance: that you needed to develop a long-term integrated clinical services strategy, that we needed further strengthening in leadership capacity within mental health to enhance stability and resilience, that the development of a robust three-year financial plan was needed to meet financial duties as part of the integrated medium-term plan, that there was a need to finalise and implement a revised accountability and performance framework, and that there was a need to deliver improvements in performance, particularly in the acute sector. That was—
Diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad chi. Fel arfer, wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn i wedi bod wrth fy modd o glywed eich bod chi'n cymryd bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr allan o fesurau arbennig. Yn wir, mewn cyfarfod diweddar yn y gogledd gydag Aelodau'r ddwy Senedd, roedd y cadeirydd ei hun yn edrych ymlaen at gael symud allan o fesurau arbennig oherwydd, fel y nodwyd yn gywir yma heddiw, recriwtio—wyddoch chi, mae hwn bron fel brand gwenwynig nawr, onid yw e, bwrdd Betsi, sy'n drist iawn. Ond, fe hoffwn gymeradwyo ar goedd sylwadau fy nghyd-Aelod Darren Millar a fynegodd ei ddiolch, ei ddiolchgarwch, ei werthfawrogiad yn huawdl i bawb sy'n gweithio yn y GIG ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr ar draws pob lefel, nid yn unig am eu gwaith nhw dan densiynau mesurau arbennig, ond am eu hymdrechion arwrol hefyd yn ystod pandemig COVID-19. Felly, unwaith eto, roedd yn gywilyddus iawn, Gweinidog, eich bod yn diystyru hynny.
Nawr, mae'r bwrdd iechyd hwn wedi bod mewn mesurau arbennig yn hwy nag unrhyw fwrdd iechyd arall ym Mhrydain. Ers mis Mehefin 2015, mae bron i £100 miliwn wedi cael ei wario gan Lywodraeth Cymru dan eich cyfarwyddwyd chi ar gymorth ymyrryd a gwella, ond ni chyflawnwyd hynny. Nawr, fe wariwyd £1.7 miliwn ar sicrhau gwasanaethau cyhyrysgerbydol ac orthopedig cynaliadwy y llynedd. Ac eto i gyd, yn gynharach y mis hwn, fe gyhoeddwyd £30 miliwn gennych ar gyfer gwella gofal heb ei drefnu ac adeiladu rhaglen gofal wedi ei gynllunio sy'n gynaliadwy, gan gynnwys ar gyfer orthopedeg. Nawr, er fy mod i'n deall ac yn gwerthfawrogi'n fawr fod yr argyfwng mewn orthopedeg wedi gwaethygu o ganlyniad i COVID-19, pan nad oes gennym gynllun cynaliadwy o hyd ar ôl buddsoddiad o £1.7 miliwn?
Ychydig wythnosau nôl, roeddech chi'n sôn am rai o'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu ni. Wel, fe allaf i ddweud wrthych, ar 3 Tachwedd eleni, sef 15 diwrnod gwaith mewn gwirionedd, fe wnaethoch ddatgan bod angen nifer o gamau gweithredu i wella arweinyddiaeth a llywodraethu ymhellach: bod angen datblygu strategaeth gwasanaethau clinigol integredig hirdymor, bod angen inni gryfhau ymhellach y capasiti i arwain o fewn iechyd meddwl i wella sefydlogrwydd a chydnerthedd, bod angen datblygu cynllun ariannol cadarn am dair blynedd i gyflawni dyletswyddau ariannol yn rhan o'r cynllun tymor canolig integredig, bod angen cwblhau a gweithredu fframwaith atebolrwydd a pherfformiad diwygiedig, a bod angen cyflawni gwelliannau mewn perfformiad, yn enwedig yn y sector acíwt. Dyna oedd—
Can you wind up please?
A wnewch chi roi pen ar y mwdwl, os gwelwch chi'n dda?
—on 3 November, Deputy Llywydd. So, how have you, in 15 days, managed to overcome all of those things that needed improving? Now, given that you are pulling the health board out of special measures—
—ar 3 Tachwedd, Dirprwy Lywydd. Felly, sut ydych chi, mewn 15 diwrnod, wedi llwyddo i oresgyn yr holl bethau hynny yr oedd angen eu gwella? Nawr, gan eich bod chi'n tynnu'r bwrdd iechyd allan o fesurau arbennig—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi roi pen ar y mwdwl, os gwelwch chi'n dda?
Yes, I am doing—
Gwnaf, rwyf i'n gwneud hynny—
You have had well over your minute.
Rydych chi wedi cael ymhell dros eich munud.
So have many other Members.
Fel y cafodd llawer Aelod arall.
Excuse me. I decide who asks what and I'm asking you to wind up, please.
Mae'n flin gen i. Fi sy'n penderfynu pwy sy'n cael gofyn beth, ac rwy'n gofyn ichi roi pen ar y mwdwl, os gwelwch chi'n dda.
Okay, I am doing that. Can you confirm that the health board has addressed all of those areas? And will you promise this Chamber that this move today isn't politically motivated, is in the general interests of the patients of north Wales, and not in the interests—
Iawn, rwy'n gwneud hynny. A wnewch chi gadarnhau bod y bwrdd iechyd wedi ymateb i bob un o'r meysydd hynny? Ac a wnewch chi addo i'r Siambr hon nad oes cymhelliad gwleidyddol i'r symudiad hwn heddiw, a'i fod er budd cleifon y gogledd, ac nid er budd—
No. I'm sorry. Thank you. The Minister to respond. Before you do, can I just remind subsequent Members of parties that they have one minute, and that your business managers should enforce that for you for the safe running of this Chamber? Minister.
Na. Mae'n flin gen i. Diolch i chi. Y Gweinidog i ymateb. Cyn ichi wneud hynny, a gaf i atgoffa'r Aelodau o bleidiau sydd i ddilyn mai munud sydd ganddyn nhw, ac y dylai eich rheolwyr busnes orfodi hynny arnoch er mwyn i'r Siambr hon gael ei rhedeg yn ddiogel? Gweinidog.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I will deal with the specific points, and then I will come back to the accusation at the end. It's worth pointing out for—. I think that there's an element of misunderstanding in terms of the comments about the musculoskeletal service and its link with orthopaedics. This was actually north Wales that took a lead in the 'physio first' approach and looked at having an approach that rolled out and actually lessened the demand within the orthopaedic service. Where planned, elective operations were then required, it's been good news, and actually, north Wales have led on some of that work and the rest of Wales has benefited from that experience. So, in investing around that service, we have avoided the need for some operations that were unnecessary, and it's also about helping people to manage if they do still nevertheless need to have an operation in the future.
However, the orthopaedic plan that I've referenced, that is about investment for the continuing need for a range of people to nevertheless have surgery. So, this is about how we have a plan that all the centres in north Wales buy into, because at the start of this year I received comments from Members in different parties who had talked to clinicians in different parts of north Wales, who all had a competing plan that they wanted to promote. We're now in a position where we have got some unity in the clinical group. They're prepared to sign up to a common plan, and this is about getting behind that plan. It will not just be about how we make the service more efficient; it will require some capital investment, too, along the way, I think. So, I'm looking forward to a finalised, unified business case that allows us to help north Wales to move on with an orthopaedic plan to deal with the real nature of the need and demand. The musculoskeletal service that's been invested in is a really good example of north Wales taking a lead and looking at how it positively reforms its service.
And then the broader accusations that have been made. I know the Member started by saying that she would 'ordinarily' be 'extremely delighted' with progress out of special measures, and I think there is an issue here that I don't think won't just be recognised within this Chamber, but outside as well, about the refusal to acknowledge good news and progress here. The direct accusation made by the first Conservative speaker was that this was somehow an exercise in straight party politics. That is not the way that the chief exec of NHS Wales gives advice. That is not the way that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales or Audit Wales provide their advice—through the tripartite escalation and intervention arrangements. And Members in this Chamber know that very well. The suggestion otherwise, that this is really nothing more than an exercise in party politics, does not reflect well on any of the Conservative Members who have tried to do so. This is my decision on the basis of clear advice. I'm very pleased to have made this choice, and welcome the progress being made in north Wales.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf am ymdrin â'r pwyntiau penodol, ac yna fe fyddaf i'n dod nôl at y cyhuddiad ar y diwedd. Mae'n werth nodi ar gyfer—. Rwy'n credu bod elfen o gamddealltwriaeth yma o ran y sylwadau am y gwasanaeth cyhyrysgerbydol a'i gysylltiad ag orthopedeg. Mewn gwirionedd, y Gogledd gymerodd yr awenau o ran y dull gweithredu 'ffisio yn gyntaf' gan edrych ar ddull a oedd yn cael ei gyflwyno ac yn lleihau'r galw o fewn y gwasanaeth orthopedig. Lle'r oedd angen llawdriniaethau dewisol wedi eu cynllunio, mae hyn wedi bod o fudd mawr, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r gogledd wedi arwain ar rywfaint o'r gwaith hwnnw ac mae gweddill Cymru wedi elwa ar y profiad hwnnw. Felly, trwy fuddsoddi o amgylch y gwasanaeth hwn, rydym wedi osgoi'r angen am rai llawdriniaethau diangen, ac mae'n ymwneud hefyd â helpu pobl i ymdopi os oes angen iddyn nhw gael llawdriniaeth yn y dyfodol.
Fodd bynnag, mae'r cynllun orthopedig y cyfeiriais ato, mae hwnnw'n ymwneud â buddsoddi ar gyfer yr angen parhaol i amrywiaeth o bobl gael llawdriniaeth serch hynny. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â sut mae gennym ni gynllun y mae'r holl ganolfannau yn y gogledd yn ei dderbyn. Oherwydd ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn hon fe gefais i sylwadau gan Aelodau mewn gwahanol bleidiau a oedd wedi siarad â chlinigwyr mewn gwahanol rannau o'r gogledd, ac roedd gan bob un ohonyn nhw gynllun cystadleuol yr oedden nhw'n dymuno ei hyrwyddo. Rydym mewn sefyllfa erbyn hyn lle y gwelwn ni rywfaint o undod yn y grŵp clinigol. Maen nhw'n barod i ymrwymo i gynllun cyffredin, ac mae hyn yn ymwneud â chydymffurfio â'r cynllun hwnnw. Nid yw'n ymwneud yn unig â sut y byddwn yn gwneud y gwasanaeth yn fwy effeithlon; fe fydd angen rhywfaint o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf arno hefyd, ar hyd y daith, yn fy marn i. Felly, rwy'n edrych ymlaen at achos busnes unedig, terfynol sy'n ein galluogi ni i helpu'r gogledd i symud ymlaen gyda chynllun orthopedig i ymdrin â natur wirioneddol yr angen a'r galw. Mae'r gwasanaeth cyhyrysgerbydol y buddsoddwyd ynddo yn enghraifft dda iawn o'r gogledd yn cymryd yr awenau ac yn edrych ar sut y bydd yn diwygio ei wasanaeth mewn ffordd gadarnhaol.
Ac yna'r cyhuddiadau ehangach a wnaed. Rwy'n gwybod bod yr Aelod wedi dechrau trwy ddweud y byddai hi 'fel arfer' 'wrth ei bodd' gyda chynnydd y tu allan i fesurau arbennig, ac rwy'n credu bod yna fater yma, na chaiff ei gydnabod yn y Siambr hon yn unig, ond y tu allan hefyd, o wrthod cydnabod newyddion da a chynnydd da. Y cyhuddiad uniongyrchol a wnaeth y siaradwr Ceidwadol cyntaf oedd bod hyn rywsut yn ymarfer gwleidyddiaeth bleidiol. Nid yw prif weithredwr GIG Cymru yn rhoi cyngor trwy'r dull hwn. Nid yw Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru nac Archwilio Cymru yn darparu eu cyngor nhw trwy'r dull hwn—drwy drefniadau uwchgyfeirio ac ymyriad tairochrog. Ac mae Aelodau yn y Siambr hon yn gwybod hynny'n dda iawn. Nid yw'r awgrym fel arall, nad yw hyn yn ddim mwy nag ymarfer gwleidyddiaeth bleidiol, yn adlewyrchu'n dda ar unrhyw un o'r Aelodau Ceidwadol sydd wedi ceisio gwneud hynny. Fy mhenderfyniad i ar sail cyngor clir yw hwn. Rwy'n falch iawn o fod wedi gwneud y dewis hwn, ac rwy'n croesawu'r cynnydd sy'n digwydd yn y gogledd.
I have nothing but praise for the heroic, hard-working medical staff working in our north Wales hospitals. Concerns lie elsewhere. In January, the north Wales community health council wrote to you, attaching the independent review of psychological therapies in north Wales, which described the service failing in many areas, and stating that after nearly five years in special measures, much of it related to mental health issues, these findings are deeply disappointing. North Wales community health council does not recognise the picture painted in the special measures improvement framework report. This is not reflected in our complaints and advocacy caseload or the reports of the community health council visiting teams. Last Friday, they announced that they will be hosting a series of events on Zoom, inviting NHS staff, patients, carers and families to talk about mental health services. As they said,
'It is vital that we present the experiences and suggestions of all those who use mental health services to those who make decisions and policies.'
Today, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board stated that they will consider arrangements for the leadership of mental health and learning disabilities with their incoming chief executive Jo Whitehead when she takes up her post in the new year. Why aren't you waiting for these things to happen, putting patients before politics, rather than leaping into the dark?
Ni allaf ond canmol y staff meddygol arwrol, sy'n gweithio'n galed yn ein hysbytai yn y gogledd. Mae'r pryderon mewn mannau eraill. Ym mis Ionawr, ysgrifennodd cyngor iechyd cymuned gogledd Cymru atoch, gan atodi'r adolygiad annibynnol o therapïau seicolegol yn y gogledd, a ddisgrifiodd sut roedd y gwasanaeth yn methu mewn sawl ardal, a dweud, ar ôl bron i bum mlynedd yn destun mesurau arbennig, gyda llawer o hynny ymwneud â materion iechyd meddwl, fod y canfyddiadau hyn yn siomedig iawn. Nid yw cyngor iechyd cymuned gogledd Cymru yn cydnabod y darlun a geir yn adroddiad y fframwaith gwella mesurau arbennig. Nid yw hyn yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn ein llwyth achosion o gwynion ac eiriolaeth nac yn adroddiadau timau ymweld y cyngor iechyd cymuned. Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, fe wnaethant gyhoeddi y byddant yn cynnal cyfres o ddigwyddiadau ar Zoom, gan wahodd staff y GIG, cleifion, gofalwyr a theuluoedd i siarad am wasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Fel y dywedont,
Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cyflwyno profiadau ac awgrymiadau pawb sy'n defnyddio gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl i'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau a pholisïau.
Heddiw, dywedodd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr y byddant yn ystyried trefniadau ar gyfer arwain iechyd meddwl ac anableddau dysgu gyda'u prif weithredwr newydd Jo Whitehead pan fydd yn dechrau yn ei swydd yn y flwyddyn newydd. Pam nad ydych chi'n aros i'r pethau hyn ddigwydd, gan roi cleifion o flaen gwleidyddiaeth, yn hytrach na chamu i'r tywyllwch?
This decision today puts patients before politics in making what is always a difficult choice, but a choice that is driven by the very clear advice we have had in the tripartite process. I recognise that Conservative speakers are predetermined not to accept or recognise this good faith decision. That is a matter for them, and people watching will make their own judgments about whether they should trust the views of north Wales Conservative politicians, or the clear, objective advice from the chief exec of NHS Wales, Audit Wales and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales that underpins my decision to lift Betsi out of special measures.FootnoteLink
Mae'r penderfyniad hwn heddiw yn rhoi cleifion o flaen gwleidyddiaeth wrth wneud yr hyn sydd bob amser yn ddewis anodd, ond yn ddewis sy'n cael ei yrru gan y cyngor clir iawn a gawsom ni yn y broses driphlyg. Rwy'n cydnabod bod siaradwyr Ceidwadol wedi rhagbenderfynu peidio â derbyn na chydnabod y penderfyniad didwyll hwn. Mater iddyn nhw yw hynny, a bydd pobl sy'n gwylio yn gwneud eu penderfyniadau eu hunain ynghylch a ddylen nhw ymddiried ym marn gwleidyddion Ceidwadol y gogledd, neu'r cyngor clir, gwrthrychol gan brif weithredwr GIG Cymru, Archwilio Cymru ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru sy'n sail i'm penderfyniad i dynnu Betsi allan o fesurau arbennig.FootnoteLink
Thank you very much, Minister.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog.
Item 5 on the agenda is the statement by the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales on taxi and private hire vehicle reform. I call on the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales—Ken Skates.
Eitem 5 ar yr agenda yw datganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru ar ddiwygio'r drefn ar gyfer tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat. Galwaf ar Weinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru—Ken Skates.
Dirprwy Llywydd, I would first of all like to recognise the vitally important role that the taxi and private hire vehicle industry is playing during the COVID pandemic. Many have continued to work throughout and have provided transportation for key workers, as well as obviously providing services that have enabled the delivery of vital goods, food and medical supplies. We acknowledge that this is a financially difficult time for the industry, with restrictions meaning usual customer demand is extraordinarily low.
Dirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn yn gyntaf gydnabod y rhan hollbwysig y mae'r diwydiant tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn ei chwarae yn ystod pandemig COVID. Mae llawer wedi parhau i weithio drwyddi draw ac wedi darparu cludiant i weithwyr allweddol, yn ogystal â darparu gwasanaethau sy'n amlwg wedi galluogi darparu nwyddau, bwyd a chyflenwadau meddygol hanfodol. Rydym yn cydnabod bod hwn yn gyfnod anodd yn ariannol i'r diwydiant, gyda chyfyngiadau'n golygu bod y galw arferol gan gwsmeriaid yn eithriadol o isel.
Last week, I met with trade unions who updated me on the current challenges faced by the taxi and private hire vehicle industry due to the pandemic. We've endeavoured to provide assistance throughout this period where possible. In addition to the UK Government's financial support schemes, I've made available funding through phase 3 of our £200 million economic resilience fund, which includes a £25 million lockdown discretionary grant scheme administered by local authorities.
A number of the taxi and private higher vehicle industries have already benefited from the lockdown business fund and also the discretionary assistance fund. In addition, I can say that officials are urgently exploring options to provide high-quality PPE to assist the industry in protecting themselves and their passengers from COVID-19. We've also set up a dedicated page on our website to provide advice to the industry on ways to reduce the transmission of coronavirus and the available financial support.
Officials, Dirprwy Llywydd, are currently developing a number of pilot schemes with local authorities that will allow drivers to try zero-emission vehicles before they buy, so that they can better understand the potential financial and environmental benefits. And they're also exploring options for incentive schemes to assist those drivers interested in using these vehicles in the longer term.
Taxi and private hire vehicles are undoubtedly a vital form of public transport. They deliver a practical, direct transport solution and they provide an essential service to people living in rural communities where other forms of public transport may be insufficient or indeed absent; to the night-time economy, supporting many of our hospitality businesses; and, of course, to passengers with disabilities, as well as playing an important role in facilitating social inclusion. It is for these reasons that our Llwybr Newydd, the new Wales transport strategy, which was launched just last week, includes a supporting plan for taxis and private hire vehicles.
The current taxi and private hire vehicle legislation, though, is outdated, with the main framework dating back to 1847 and 1976. This framework has resulted in inconsistent policies, standards and licence conditions across local authorities in England and Wales. Taxi and private hire vehicle regulation, of course, is now a devolved matter under the Wales Act 2017. We currently have accountability, but until such time that we legislate, we are unable to mandate any change. Now, there are a number of problems associated with the current licensing legislation, which include safety concerns for both drivers and passengers, inconsistent licensing standards, which contribute to problems of cross-border hire, poor customer service and public confusion around vehicle types and fare structures. And the existing problems, I'm afraid, are going to continue to increase as the industry continues to evolve.
The UK Government first identified that reform was required back in 2011 when the Law Commission undertook a review of the current regime. And then, in addition, in 2018, a task and finish group reported recommendations for improving the taxi and private hire vehicle licensing regime. These reviews have created, I think it's fair to say, very high expectations with both regulators and the taxi and private hire vehicle industry that change will happen. However, apart from a few small amendments and the recent publication of the Department for Transport's statutory taxi and private hire vehicle standards, the UK Government has not actually reformed taxi legislation.
Since taxi and private hire vehicle regulation was devolved to Welsh Government, we have undertaken two major consultations. In response to the 'Improving public transport' White Paper, we recognised that there was general support for the proposals relating to national standards, to improved enforcement powers and information sharing. But, we also accepted, as a result of the consultation, that there was a strong feeling that the proposals did not go far enough to effectively address the current challenges faced by the industry and regulators.
So, in light of this, I made a commitment that the taxi and private hire vehicle proposals would be further developed and work has already begun on drafting policy proposals that build on the work undertaken in the White Paper. We focused these proposals around improving four areas: first of all, safety, secondly, equality, thirdly, environmental standards and then, fourthly, customer service. And we aim to introduce primary legislation that supports passengers as well as supporting the industry itself. New legislation is required to make taxis and private hire vehicles safe and part of an integrated transport system right across Wales and to professionalise the industry and ensure that drivers can make a decent, fair living. We seek to achieve this through developing and consulting upon new legislative proposals and will replace the confusing two-tier hackney carriage and private hire vehicle regimes with a single taxi regime.
We'll continue to work with local government to explore the merits of changes to licensing authorities where vehicles can operate nationally, except in restricted zones where there's evidence of oversupply, for example, here in Cardiff, and we'll create national licensing standards for drivers, vehicles and operators, with an emphasis on maximising public safety and professionalising the industry. In addition, enforcement powers will be increased and assisted by a national database and register.
As a starting point, ahead of legislative change, officials have undertaken work with the Welsh Local Government Association and representatives of local authorities right across Wales to identify areas of licensing policy that can be improved and made more consistent. This has resulted in agreement on a set of recommendations for taxi policy alignment. There are limitations to this work, as licensing policies vary greatly across Wales, and officials were mindful to ensure that adoption of the recommendations would not incur any significant cost to local authorities or, indeed, the industry ahead of broader legislative change. Nonetheless, these recommendations will be a stepping stone towards national licensing standards and the professionalisation of the industry, and I will keep Members updated on progress.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyfarfûm ag undebau llafur a roddodd yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i mi am yr heriau presennol a wynebir gan y diwydiant tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn sgil y pandemig. Rydym wedi ceisio darparu cymorth drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn lle bo hynny'n bosibl. Yn ogystal â chynlluniau cymorth ariannol Llywodraeth y DU, rwyf wedi darparu cyllid drwy gam 3 ein cronfa cadernid economaidd gwerth £200 miliwn, sy'n cynnwys cynllun grant dewisol o £25 miliwn wedi ei weinyddu gan awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer cyfyngiadau symud.
Mae nifer o'r diwydiannau tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat eisoes wedi elwa ar gronfa fusnes y cyfyngiadau symud a hefyd y gronfa cymorth dewisol. Hefyd, gallaf ddweud bod swyddogion yn archwilio dewisiadau ar frys i ddarparu cyfarpar diogelu personol o ansawdd uchel i gynorthwyo'r diwydiant i ddiogelu'r gyrwyr eu hunain a'u teithwyr rhag COVID-19. Rydym ni hefyd wedi sefydlu tudalen bwrpasol ar ein gwefan i roi cyngor i'r diwydiant ar ffyrdd o leihau trosglwyddiad y coronafeirws a'r cymorth ariannol sydd ar gael.
Mae swyddogion, Dirprwy Lywydd, wrthi'n datblygu nifer o gynlluniau treialu gydag awdurdodau lleol a fydd yn caniatáu i yrwyr brofi cerbydau dim allyriadau cyn eu prynu, fel y gallan nhw ddeall yn well y manteision ariannol ac amgylcheddol posibl. Ac maen nhw hefyd yn archwilio dewisiadau ar gyfer cynlluniau cymhelliant i gynorthwyo'r gyrwyr hynny sydd â diddordeb mewn defnyddio'r cerbydau hyn yn y tymor hwy.
Heb os, mae cerbydau tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn fath hanfodol o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Maen nhw'n cynnig ateb ar gyfer trafnidiaeth ymarferol ac uniongyrchol ac maen nhw'n darparu gwasanaeth hanfodol i bobl sy'n byw mewn cymunedau gwledig lle gall mathau eraill o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fod yn annigonol neu'n absennol yn wir; i economi'r nos, gan gefnogi llawer o'n busnesau lletygarwch; ac, wrth gwrs, i deithwyr ag anableddau, yn ogystal â chwarae rhan bwysig yn y gwaith o hwyluso cynhwysiant cymdeithasol. Am y rhesymau hyn mae ein Llwybr Newydd, strategaeth drafnidiaeth newydd Cymru, a lansiwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, yn cynnwys cynllun ategol ar gyfer tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat.
Er hynny, mae'r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol ar dacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat wedi dyddio, gyda'r prif fframwaith yn dyddio'n ôl i 1847 a 1976. Mae'r fframwaith hwn wedi arwain at bolisïau, safonau ac amodau trwydded anghyson ar draws awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Mae rheoleiddio tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat, wrth gwrs, bellach yn fater datganoledig o dan Ddeddf Cymru 2017. Rydym yn atebol ar hyn o bryd, ond hyd nes y byddwn yn deddfu, ni allwn orfodi unrhyw newid. Nawr, mae nifer o broblemau'n gysylltiedig â'r ddeddfwriaeth drwyddedu bresennol, sy'n cynnwys pryderon diogelwch i yrwyr a theithwyr, safonau trwyddedu anghyson, sy'n cyfrannu at broblemau llogi trawsffiniol, gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid gwael a dryswch cyhoeddus ynghylch mathau o gerbydau a strwythurau tocynnau. Ac mae'r problemau presennol, mae arnaf ofn, yn mynd i barhau i gynyddu wrth i'r diwydiant barhau i esblygu.
Nododd Llywodraeth y DU am y tro cyntaf fod angen diwygio yn ôl yn 2011 pan gynhaliodd Comisiwn y Gyfraith adolygiad o'r drefn bresennol. Ac yna hefyd, yn 2018, adroddodd grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen argymhellion ar gyfer gwella'r drefn trwyddedu tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat. Mae'r adolygiadau hyn wedi creu, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n deg dweud, disgwyliadau uchel iawn ymhlith rheoleiddwyr a'r diwydiant tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat y bydd newid. Fodd bynnag, ar wahân i ychydig o welliannau bach a chyhoeddi safonau tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat statudol yr Adran Drafnidiaeth yn ddiweddar, nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi diwygio deddfwriaeth tacsis mewn gwirionedd.
Ers datganoli rheoleiddio tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat i Lywodraeth Cymru, rydym ni wedi cynnal dau ymgynghoriad mawr. Mewn ymateb i'r Papur Gwyn 'Gwella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus', roeddem yn cydnabod bod cefnogaeth gyffredinol i'r cynigion yn ymwneud â safonau cenedlaethol, i bwerau gorfodi a rhannu gwybodaeth gwell. Ond, roeddem hefyd yn derbyn, o ganlyniad i'r ymgynghoriad, fod teimlad cryf nad oedd y cynigion yn mynd yn ddigon pell i fynd i'r afael yn effeithiol â'r heriau presennol a wynebir gan y diwydiant a rheoleiddwyr.
Felly, yn sgil hyn, fe wnes i ymrwymiad y byddai'r cynigion ar gyfer tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn cael eu datblygu ymhellach ac mae gwaith eisoes wedi dechrau ar ddrafftio cynigion polisi sy'n adeiladu ar y gwaith a wnaed yn y Papur Gwyn. Canolbwyntiwyd y cynigion hyn ar wella pedwar maes: yn gyntaf oll, diogelwch, yn ail, cydraddoldeb, yn drydydd, safonau amgylcheddol ac yna, yn bedwerydd, gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid. A'n nod yw cyflwyno deddfwriaeth sylfaenol sy'n cefnogi teithwyr yn ogystal â chefnogi'r diwydiant ei hun. Mae angen deddfwriaeth newydd i wneud tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn ddiogel ac yn rhan o system drafnidiaeth integredig ledled Cymru ac i broffesiynoli'r diwydiant a sicrhau y gall gyrwyr wneud bywoliaeth dda a theg. Rydym yn ceisio cyflawni hyn drwy ddatblygu ac ymgynghori ar gynigion deddfwriaethol newydd a byddwn yn disodli'r cyfundrefnau cerbydau hacni a cherbydau hurio preifat dwy haen dryslyd gydag un gyfundrefn dacsis.
Byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda llywodraeth leol i archwilio rhinweddau newidiadau i awdurdodau trwyddedu pan gaiff cerbydau weithredu'n genedlaethol, ac eithrio mewn parthau cyfyngedig lle mae tystiolaeth o orgyflenwad, er enghraifft, yma yng Nghaerdydd, a byddwn yn creu safonau trwyddedu cenedlaethol ar gyfer gyrwyr, cerbydau a gweithredwyr, gyda phwyslais ar sicrhau'r diogelwch cyhoeddus mwyaf posibl a phroffesiynoli'r diwydiant. Yn ogystal, bydd pwerau gorfodi yn cael eu cynyddu a'u cynorthwyo gan gronfa ddata a chofrestr genedlaethol.
Fel man cychwyn, cyn newid deddfwriaethol, mae swyddogion wedi gwneud gwaith gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru a chynrychiolwyr awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru i nodi meysydd polisi trwyddedu y gellir eu gwella a'u gwneud yn fwy cyson. Mae hyn wedi arwain at gytundeb ar gyfres o argymhellion ar gyfer alinio polisi tacsis. Mae cyfyngiadau ar y gwaith hwn, gan fod polisïau trwyddedu'n amrywio'n fawr ledled Cymru, ac roedd swyddogion yn ofalus i sicrhau na fyddai mabwysiadu'r argymhellion yn golygu unrhyw gost sylweddol i awdurdodau lleol nac, yn wir, i'r diwydiant cyn newid deddfwriaethol ehangach. Serch hynny, bydd yr argymhellion hyn yn gam tuag at safonau trwyddedu cenedlaethol a phroffesiynoli'r diwydiant, a byddaf yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am gynnydd.
Minister, can I thank you for your statement today? I'm broadly in favour of the reforms and your approach, if they prove to be, of course, successful in terms of simplifying and modifying the taxi and private hire regulation systems. Generally, I'm not supportive of Welsh Government centralising powers away from local authorities, but in this regard, I think that there is a case for this, for a number of reasons, but many of which you pointed out in your statement yourself.
I wonder what feedback, both positive and negative, you did receive from local authorities, drivers, operators and passengers in terms of your proposals to centralise licensing in Wales. It would be useful to hear those views that you received. While the creation of the joint transport authority is preferred, you've gone further than the recommendation of the Law Commission and the task and finish group in consulting on introducing national standards. So, why have you chosen to go beyond the recommendations of the Law Commission and the task and finish group in this regard?
The Welsh Government's consultation paper proposed abolishing this distinction between hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, but this proposal appears to have been dropped. I'm given to understand that 45 per cent of respondents expressed a view that agreed with the Law Commission recommendations, saying that the distinction between hackney and private hire vehicles should be retained. The Law Commission also did not support the introduction of record-keeping requirements for taxi drivers, except in respect of taxis picking up passengers outside their licensing area. However, in principle, the Welsh Government supports the maintenance of accurate record keeping for taxi drivers, and I wonder why you have diverged from the Law Commission's view, and what practical difficulties you envisage in recording this data.
There's also the issue of taxi and private hire vehicles working along the border with England; you and I will be familiar with that, representing border constituencies. And the issues there are the same as why you want to take a centralised approach across Wales, which I also agree with, but then there is that border issue. So, I wonder if you could expand, in that regard, in terms of what discussions you've had with the UK Government and the Department for Transport.
And finally, I understand that you have proposed the setting of private hire licensing fees nationally but that taxi licensing fees will continue to be set locally. This was an unpopular proposal during the consultation process and there was a preference for local licensing authorities to be able to set fees for licensing taxis and private hire vehicles locally, but, in exercising the function, having due regard to guidance issued by the Welsh Government. I wonder what your response is in regards to this particular feedback.
Gweinidog, a gaf i ddiolch ichi am eich datganiad heddiw? Rwy'n gyffredinol o blaid y diwygiadau a'ch dull gweithredu, os ydyn nhw, wrth gwrs, yn llwyddiannus o ran symleiddio ac addasu'r systemau rheoleiddio tacsis a hurio preifat. Yn gyffredinol, nid wyf yn cefnogi Llywodraeth Cymru pan fydd yn canoli pwerau a'u tynnu oddi wrth awdurdodau lleol, ond yn hyn o beth, credaf fod achos dros hyn, am nifer o resymau, ond fe wnaethoch chi nodi llawer ohonyn nhw yn eich datganiad eich hun.
Tybed pa adborth, cadarnhaol a negyddol, a gawsoch chi gan awdurdodau lleol, gyrwyr, gweithredwyr a theithwyr o ran eich cynigion i ganoli trwyddedu yng Nghymru. Byddai'n ddefnyddiol clywed y safbwyntiau hynny a gawsoch chi. Er bod creu'r awdurdod trafnidiaeth ar y cyd yn welliant, rydych wedi mynd ymhellach nag argymhelliad Comisiwn y Gyfraith a'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen wrth ymgynghori ar gyflwyno safonau cenedlaethol. Felly, pam ydych chi wedi dewis mynd y tu hwnt i argymhellion Comisiwn y Gyfraith a'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen yn hyn o beth?
Roedd papur ymgynghori Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnig diddymu'r gwahaniaeth hwn rhwng cerbydau hacni a cherbydau hurio preifat, ond mae'n ymddangos bod y cynnig hwn wedi ei dynnu'n ôl. Rwy'n deall bod 45 y cant o'r ymatebwyr wedi mynegi barn a oedd yn cytuno ag argymhellion Comisiwn y Gyfraith, gan ddweud y dylid cadw'r gwahaniaeth rhwng cerbydau hacni a cherbydau hurio preifat. Nid oedd Comisiwn y Gyfraith ychwaith yn cefnogi cyflwyno gofynion cadw cofnodion ar gyfer gyrwyr tacsis, ac eithrio mewn cysylltiad â thacsis yn casglu teithwyr y tu allan i'w hardal drwyddedu. Fodd bynnag, mewn egwyddor, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r gwaith o gadw cofnodion cywir ar gyfer gyrwyr tacsis, a tybed pam ydych chi wedi gwyro oddi wrth farn Comisiwn y Gyfraith, a pha anawsterau ymarferol ydych chi'n eu rhagweld wrth gofnodi'r data.
Mae yna hefyd fater ynghylch tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn gweithio ar hyd y ffin â Lloegr; byddwch chi a fi'n gyfarwydd â hynny, drwy gynrychioli etholaethau ar y ffin. Ac mae'r materion yno yr un fath â'r rheswm pam rydych chi eisiau cymryd ymagwedd ganolog ledled Cymru, rwyf hefyd yn cytuno â'r ymagwedd honno, ond wedyn dyna fater y ffin. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ehangu, yn hynny o beth, o ran pa drafodaethau yr ydych wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU a'r Adran Drafnidiaeth.
Ac yn olaf, deallaf eich bod wedi cynnig pennu ffioedd trwyddedu llogi preifat yn genedlaethol ond y bydd ffioedd trwyddedu tacsis yn parhau i gael eu pennu'n lleol. Roedd hwn yn gynnig amhoblogaidd yn ystod y broses ymgynghori ac roedd yn well gan awdurdodau trwyddedu lleol allu pennu ffioedd ar gyfer trwyddedu tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn lleol, ond, gan arfer y swyddogaeth, i roi sylw dyledus i ganllawiau a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Tybed beth yw eich ymateb o ran yr adborth penodol hwn.
Can I thank Russell George for his comments, his questions and say that I think his contribution points to the fact that there is general agreement across the Chamber that reform is required, that modernisation is required and that legislation is required? The framework currently is more than 150 years old; it was updated 44 years ago. It's high time that new legislation was introduced that recognises the age that we now live in, the new technologies that are being embraced and the different ways that people operate.
With regard to the proposals, they have generally been welcomed, and specifically with regard to national standards. I think they make sense and they address concerns that have been raised through the consultation process on the White Paper. Eliminating the two-tier system I think is necessary for Wales. Obviously, the situation might be different elsewhere. In London, there is a very different environment for hackney cabs to operate in, but, here in Wales, I think most people that we serve would struggle to identify the differences between hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, and having a one-tier system makes perfect sense for the passenger. It also makes perfect sense for the industry itself. We'd be able to then apply consistent sets of regimes across all forms of vehicles and services.
Of course, we'll need to address border issues between England and Wales. We're working very closely with the Department for Transport regarding this matter, and I'd agree with Russell George that there are many people who work on the English side of the border that bring people into Wales and vice versa. There are people who live in Wales who are registered as taxi drivers, private hire vehicle drivers, across the border in England, and, therefore, as part of the work on the legislation, we'll be liaising with the Department for Transport, and, indeed, local stakeholders across the border in England, to ensure that the introduction of legislation here in Wales is compatible with the operation of taxi and private hire vehicle services across the border.
And then in terms of the question of fees, I think it's essential that the fees regime is transparent, it's as consistent as possible, and that it is fair—that it doesn't lead to skewing of applications away from one particular area in favour of another area because the fees are lower, or, indeed, because the standards are lower. Many of the current problems that we see with the system as it operates right now concern those local authority discrepancies, those differences. The licensing requirements across Wales differ for various reasons, including the maximum age that a licensed vehicle can be, the frequency of vehicle testing, the vehicle testing standards, the driver knowledge tests and the driver medical standards, to name but a few different inconsistent approaches across Wales. Therefore, having consistency as much as possible across Wales makes perfect sense, especially for those areas where there is a significant amount of market activity, such as in Cardiff and Newport, also Swansea and in and around Wrexham as well.
A gaf i ddiolch i Russell George am ei sylwadau, ei gwestiynau a dweud fy mod yn credu bod ei gyfraniad yn cyfeirio at y ffaith bod cytundeb cyffredinol ar draws y Siambr bod angen diwygio, bod angen moderneiddio a bod angen deddfwriaeth? Mae'r fframwaith presennol yn fwy na 150 mlwydd oed; fe'i diweddarwyd 44 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae'n hen bryd cyflwyno deddfwriaeth newydd sy'n cydnabod yr oes yr ydym bellach yn byw ynddi, y technolegau newydd sy'n cael eu cynnwys a'r gwahanol ffyrdd y mae pobl yn gweithredu.
O ran y cynigion, fe'u croesawyd yn gyffredinol, ac yn benodol o ran safonau cenedlaethol. Credaf eu bod yn gwneud synnwyr ac maen nhw'n mynd i'r afael â phryderon a godwyd drwy'r broses ymgynghori ar y Papur Gwyn. Mae dileu'r system ddwy haen yn angenrheidiol i Gymru yn fy marn i. Yn amlwg, gallai'r sefyllfa fod yn wahanol mewn mannau eraill. Yn Llundain, mae amgylchedd gwahanol iawn i gerbydau hacni weithredu ynddo, ond, yma yng Nghymru, credaf y byddai'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yr ydym yn eu gwasanaethu yn ei chael yn anodd nodi'r gwahaniaethau rhwng cerbydau hacni a cherbydau hurio preifat, ac mae cael system un haen yn gwneud synnwyr perffaith i'r teithiwr. Mae hefyd yn gwneud synnwyr perffaith i'r diwydiant ei hun. Byddem wedyn yn gallu defnyddio setiau cyson o gyfundrefnau ar draws pob math o gerbydau a gwasanaethau.
Wrth gwrs, bydd angen i ni fynd i'r afael â materion yn ymwneud â'r ffin rhwng Cymru a Lloegr. Rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth ynglŷn â'r mater hwn, a byddwn yn cytuno â Russell George fod llawer o bobl sy'n gweithio ar ochr Lloegr i'r ffin sy'n dod â phobl i Gymru ac i'r gwrthwyneb. Mae yna bobl sy'n byw yng Nghymru sydd wedi'u cofrestru fel gyrwyr tacsis, gyrwyr cerbydau hurio preifat, dros y ffin yn Lloegr, ac, felly, fel rhan o'r gwaith ar y ddeddfwriaeth, byddwn yn cysylltu â'r Adran Drafnidiaeth, ac, yn wir, â rhanddeiliaid lleol dros y ffin yn Lloegr, i sicrhau bod cyflwyno deddfwriaeth yma yng Nghymru yn gydnaws â sut mae gwasanaethau tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn gweithredu dros y ffin.
Ac yna o ran ffioedd, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n hanfodol bod y gyfundrefn ffioedd yn dryloyw, ei bod mor gyson â phosibl, a'i bod yn deg—sef nad yw'n arwain at ystumio ceisiadau i ffwrdd o un ardal benodol a ffafrio ardal arall oherwydd bod y ffioedd yn is, neu, yn wir, oherwydd bod y safonau'n is. Mae llawer o'r problemau presennol a welwn gyda'r system fel y mae'n gweithredu ar hyn o bryd yn ymwneud â'r anghysondebau hynny ymysg awdurdodau lleol, y gwahaniaethau hynny. Mae'r gofynion trwyddedu ledled Cymru yn wahanol am wahanol resymau, gan gynnwys yr hynaf y gall cerbyd trwyddedig fod, amlder profion cerbydau, y safonau profi cerbydau, y profion gwybodaeth gyrwyr a safonau meddygol gyrwyr, i enwi ond ychydig o wahanol ddulliau anghyson ledled Cymru. Felly, mae cael cymaint â phosib o gysondeb ledled Cymru yn gwneud synnwyr perffaith, yn enwedig i'r ardaloedd hynny lle mae cryn dipyn o weithgarwch yn y farchnad, megis yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd, hefyd Abertawe ac yn Wrecsam a'r cyffiniau hefyd.
I'd like to thank the Minister for his statement, and, as always, for the advanced copy, and to give him Plaid Cymru's overall support for the direction of travel of the statement. To make my opening remarks, I just would like to associate myself with what the Minister has said about the importance of taxis and private vehicles. There are some communities where they're the only form of public transport, actually, and people couldn't manage without them, and I know that many taxi and private hire vehicle providers have done extra work during the lockdown. I know the Drive taxi co-operative in Cardiff was picking up prescriptions and delivering food for people, and I know that was reflected across Wales.
I hope the Minister would agree with me that it's very important that he has the co-operation and support of the sector in order to be able to deliver the ambitions set out in his statement. He will, of course, be aware of the demonstation today, the trade union demonstration today—one of the signs referring to themselves, the taxi industry, as sometimes a forgotten trade, particularly through the pandemic. Now, the Minister has mentioned that there was financial support available through the economic resilience fund, lockdown business discretionary assistance fund, but I wonder if he can say a bit more about his perception of how much of that has actually reached people working in the taxi and private hire industry. There may be issues, for example, in terms of access to information. A lot of the people who work in the industry, for example, in Cardiff and Newport, are people from other countries who may not have English or Welsh as their first language; they may not know where to go to look for this kind of support. I welcome what the Minister said today about PPE for taxi drivers, but of course we know, for a lot of people who work in that sector, it is literally too late. This has been a sector where very many people who work in the sector have become ill, so can he please give us a timescale on that work around protective equipment? Because I think that's absolutely crucial for, as he said himself, those people to be able to work safely and for the safety, of course, of their passengers.
I firmly agree that legislation is needed, and, as the Minister has said, the current framework is very outdated. In my discussions with representatives of the sector, I think they do, overall, appreciate the need for reform, but there are some concerns. I'm not quite sure if I'd agree with the Minister when he says that people don't know the distinction between taxis and private hire vehicles. I know, for example, many women who will always use a taxi rather than a private hire vehicle because the perception, whether it's true or not, is that the standards of vetting mean that a taxi is a safer place for a woman to be if she's travelling alone. I have to say that it's something that I always recommend that my daughter does. So, there is a concern that, by removing the distinction between taxis and private hire vehicles—. Can the Minister assure me today that that's not going to lead to a reduction in standards, and that we're actually going to see the private hire vehicles raised up to the same standards as are required now of what we think of as proper taxis—that's probably not the right way to describe it—because we would certainly not want to see standards going down? So, I hope the Minister can say a bit more today about the justification for the single-tier changes. I think simplicity is clearly one of them, but can he be sure that standards will not be reduced?
Now, the idea of a national database and register is something that we would welcome in Plaid Cymru, and the strengthening of enforcement powers in the interests of public safety and standards is important. There are a minority of people working in this field who don't keep their vehicles clean, who don't meet the standards that we would expect, and that of course is bad for everybody who works in the industry. But I have had concerns put to me about the removal altogether of any local element. Local authorities surely need to know how many vehicles are on the road in their area, and if taxis and private hire vehicles are to form part of our overall public transport planning, we need to know where they are at a local level as well. In his response to Russell George, I think the Minister mentioned the risk of oversupply in certain areas, but I would also suggest to the Minister that there's also a risk of undersupply—that, if taxis are registered nationally, they will go to work where the work is, and that may mean that there are some communities that are left without a service. So, I wonder if the Minister can say a little bit more about how he intends to ensure that a service continues to be available nationwide. One advantage of registering county by county is that that's the county in which you have to work.
So, finally, to come to the zero-carbon issues, in the transport strategy last week you mentioned the need for a transition to zero-emission taxis, and I welcomed what you had to say about enabling people to try that out, but can you tell us a little bit more, Minister? I'd be grateful if you can say a bit more about the incentives scheme that's under consideration. Would it, for example, potentially provide support to enable drivers to be able to purchase zero-emissions vehicles, which are of course more expensive at present? Thank you.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad, ac, fel bob amser, am y copi ymlaen llaw, ac i roi cefnogaeth gyffredinol iddo gan Blaid Cymru am sylwedd y datganiad. I wneud fy sylwadau agoriadol, hoffwn gefnogi'r hyn y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i ddweud am bwysigrwydd tacsis a cherbydau preifat. Mewn rhai cymunedau nhw yw'r unig fath o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, mewn gwirionedd, ac ni allai pobl ymdopi hebddyn nhw, ac rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o ddarparwyr tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat wedi gwneud gwaith ychwanegol yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud. Gwn fod cwmni tacsis cydweithredol Drive yng Nghaerdydd yn casglu presgripsiynau ac yn dosbarthu bwyd i bobl, a gwn fod hynny wedi'i adlewyrchu ledled Cymru.
Rwy'n gobeithio y byddai'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi ei bod yn bwysig iawn iddo gael cydweithrediad a chefnogaeth y sector er mwyn gallu cyflawni'r uchelgeisiau a nodir yn ei ddatganiad. Bydd, wrth gwrs, yn ymwybodol o'r gwrthdystiad heddiw, y gwrthdystiad gan undebau llafur heddiw—ac un o'r arwyddion yn cyfeirio atyn nhw eu hunain, y diwydiant tacsis, yn fasnach anghofiedig weithiau, yn enwedig drwy'r pandemig. Nawr, mae'r Gweinidog wedi crybwyll bod cymorth ariannol ar gael drwy'r gronfa cadernid economaidd, y gronfa cymorth dewisol i fusnesau yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud, ond tybed a all ddweud ychydig mwy am ei dybiaeth ynghylch faint o hynny sydd wedi cyrraedd pobl sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant tacsis a hurio preifat. Efallai y bydd problemau, er enghraifft, o ran cael gafael ar wybodaeth. Mae llawer o'r bobl sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant, er enghraifft, yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd, yn bobl o wledydd eraill nad oes ganddyn nhw'r Gymraeg na'r Saesneg fel eu hiaith gyntaf o bosibl; efallai nad ydyn nhw'n gwybod ble i fynd i chwilio am y math hwn o gymorth. Croesawaf yr hyn a ddywedodd y Gweinidog heddiw am gyfarpar diogelu personol ar gyfer gyrwyr tacsis, ond wrth gwrs gwyddom, i lawer o bobl sy'n gweithio yn y sector hwnnw, ei bod yn llythrennol yn rhy hwyr. Mae hwn wedi bod yn sector lle mae llawer iawn o bobl sy'n gweithio ynddo wedi mynd yn sâl, felly a wnaiff roi amserlen inni ynghylch y gwaith hwnnw o ran cyfarpar diogelu? Oherwydd rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gwbl hanfodol i'r bobl hynny, fel y dywedodd ei hun, allu gweithio'n ddiogel ac er diogelwch eu teithwyr, wrth gwrs.
Cytunaf yn bendant fod angen deddfwriaeth, ac, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, mae'r fframwaith presennol yn hen ffasiwn iawn. Yn fy nhrafodaethau â chynrychiolwyr y sector, credaf eu bod, yn gyffredinol, yn gwerthfawrogi'r angen i ddiwygio, ond mae rhai pryderon. Dydw i ddim yn hollol siŵr a fyddwn i'n cytuno â'r Gweinidog pan ddywed nad yw pobl yn gwybod y gwahaniaeth rhwng tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat. Rwy'n adnabod, er enghraifft, llawer o fenywod a fydd bob amser yn defnyddio tacsi yn hytrach na cherbyd hurio preifat oherwydd y canfyddiad, boed yn wir ai peidio, bod y safonau fetio yn golygu bod tacsi yn lle mwy diogel i fenyw os yw'n teithio ar ei phen ei hun. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud ei fod yn rhywbeth yr wyf bob amser yn argymell bod fy merch i yn ei wneud. Felly, mae pryder, drwy ddileu'r gwahaniaeth rhwng tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat—. A all y Gweinidog fy sicrhau heddiw nad yw hynny'n mynd i arwain at leihad mewn safonau, a'n bod mewn gwirionedd yn mynd i weld y cerbydau hurio preifat yn cael eu codi i'r un safonau ag sy'n ofynnol yn awr i'r hyn yr ydym yn eu hystyried yn dacsis go iawn—mae'n debyg nad dyna'r ffordd gywir o'i ddisgrifio—oherwydd yn sicr ni fyddem am weld safonau'n gostwng? Felly, gobeithio y gwnaiff y Gweinidog ddweud ychydig mwy heddiw am y cyfiawnhad dros y newidiadau un haen. Credaf fod symlrwydd yn amlwg yn un ohonyn nhw, ond a all fod yn siŵr na chaiff safonau eu gostwng?
Nawr, mae'r syniad o gronfa ddata a chofrestr genedlaethol yn rhywbeth y byddem yn ei groesawu ym Mhlaid Cymru, ac mae cryfhau pwerau gorfodi er budd diogelwch a safonau'r cyhoedd yn bwysig. Mae lleiafrif o bobl yn gweithio yn y maes hwn nad ydyn nhw'n cadw eu cerbydau'n lân, nad ydyn nhw'n bodloni'r safonau y byddem yn eu disgwyl, ac mae hynny wrth gwrs yn ddrwg i bawb sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant. Ond rwyf wedi clywed pryderon ynghylch dileu unrhyw elfen leol yn gyfan gwbl. Siawns nad oes angen i awdurdodau lleol wybod faint o gerbydau sydd ar y ffordd yn eu hardal, ac os yw tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat i fod yn rhan o'n cynlluniau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus cyffredinol, mae angen inni wybod ble maen nhw ar lefel leol hefyd. Yn ei ymateb i Russell George, credaf fod y Gweinidog wedi sôn am y risg o orgyflenwi mewn rhai ardaloedd, ond byddwn hefyd yn awgrymu i'r Gweinidog fod perygl hefyd o dangyflenwi—sef os caiff tacsis eu cofrestru'n genedlaethol, byddant yn mynd i weithio lle mae'r gwaith, a gallai hynny olygu bod rhai cymunedau'n cael eu hamddifadu o wasanaeth. Felly, tybed a all y Gweinidog ddweud ychydig mwy am sut y mae'n bwriadu sicrhau bod gwasanaeth yn parhau i fod ar gael ledled y wlad. Un fantais o gofrestru fesul sir yw mai dyna'r sir y mae'n rhaid i chi weithio ynddi.
Felly, yn olaf, i ddod at y materion di-garbon, yn y strategaeth drafnidiaeth yr wythnos diwethaf fe wnaethoch chi sôn am yr angen i drosglwyddo i dacsis dim allyriadau, a chroesawais yr hyn a oedd gennych i'w ddweud am alluogi pobl i roi cynnig ar hynny, ond a wnewch chi ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym, Gweinidog? Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe baech yn dweud ychydig mwy am y cynllun cymhellion sy'n cael ei ystyried. A fyddai, er enghraifft, o bosibl yn rhoi cymorth i alluogi gyrwyr i brynu cerbydau dim allyriadau, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn ddrutach ar hyn o bryd? Diolch.
Can I thank Helen Mary Jones for her contribution, which, as always, was extremely constructive? I'm very pleased to answer the questions that she raised.
I'll begin with that final question about the support that may be available for green taxis in the future. Of course, this is a pilot, first and foremost, that will enable taxi drivers, operators, to test green vehicles before they buy them. Ultra-low emission vehicle funding is going to be provided for a number of green taxi pilot schemes in this financial year. We are proposing that the pilots will take place in the Cardiff capital region, in Denbighshire, in Pembrokeshire and in Ceredigion, and then incorporate many of the priority areas that are included in the transforming towns initiative as well. So, we're trying to align quite a few policy areas in this regard.
Longer term schemes for incentivising the uptake of zero-emission taxis and vehicles are going to be investigated, such as options for grants, options for improving the terms of leasing schemes, but it's going to depend very much on the evaluation of the pilots, and, of course, I have to say that the degree to which we're able to offer support will depend on the availability of financial resource. But I am excited by this particular area of work, and I think that those pilot schemes can offer some valuable information and intelligence that will then shape the scale of the intervention that's required.
A gaf i ddiolch i Helen Mary Jones am ei chyfraniad, a oedd, fel arfer, yn adeiladol? Rwy'n falch iawn o ateb y cwestiynau a gododd.
Byddaf yn dechrau gyda'r cwestiwn olaf hwnnw am y cymorth a allai fod ar gael ar gyfer tacsis gwyrdd yn y dyfodol. Wrth gwrs, cynllun treialu yw hwn, yn bennaf oll, a fydd yn galluogi gyrwyr tacsis, gweithredwyr, i brofi cerbydau gwyrdd cyn iddyn nhw eu prynu. Bydd cyllid cerbydau allyriadau isel iawn yn cael ei ddarparu ar gyfer nifer o gynlluniau treialu tacsis gwyrdd yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Rydym yn cynnig y bydd y cynlluniau treialu yn cael eu cynnal ym mhrifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd, yn sir Ddinbych, yn sir Benfro ac yng Ngheredigion, ac yna'n ymgorffori llawer o'r meysydd blaenoriaeth sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn y fenter trawsnewid trefi hefyd. Felly, rydym yn ceisio cysoni cryn dipyn o feysydd polisi yn hyn o beth.
Bydd cynlluniau tymor hwy ar gyfer cymell pobl i ddefnyddio tacsis a cherbydau dim allyriadau yn cael eu hymchwilio, megis cyfleoedd i gael grantiau, cyfleoedd ar gyfer gwella telerau cynlluniau prydlesu, ond mae'n mynd i ddibynnu'n fawr ar werthuso'r cynlluniau treialu, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud y bydd y graddau y gallwn gynnig cymorth yn dibynnu ar yr adnoddau ariannol sydd ar gael. Ond rwy'n frwd iawn o ran y maes gwaith penodol hwn, a chredaf y gall y cynlluniau treialu hynny gynnig rhywfaint o wybodaeth werthfawr a fydd wedyn yn llywio maint yr ymyriad sydd ei angen.
I'd agree entirely with Helen Mary Jones that many people rely incredibly heavily on taxis and private hire vehicles, particularly people who either don't have access to other forms of public transport in, for example, rural areas, and also, crucially, people who face disabling barriers in society. And yet also, alongside this, we know that, in some local authority areas, there are as few as 5 per cent of taxis and private hire vehicles that can accommodate wheelchair users. And often, we know from the reports back that have been commissioned by Welsh Government, people who face disabling barriers in society often face additional challenges in terms of being overcharged, and the customer service experience can sometimes not be what we would certainly expect. And so there are many barriers that we have to either bring down or overcome in order to make sure that the taxi and private hire vehicle industry is meeting the needs of disabled people.
In terms of the sector itself and our engagement, as I said a little earlier, I met with the Wales TUC, with Unite, with the GMB last week to discuss the challenges that taxi drivers are facing right now during the pandemic. And, as a result of that meeting, I asked for a number of pieces of urgent work to be undertaken—one to gather the data concerning the third phase of the economic resilience fund, because the third phase was developed very much with taxi drivers in mind. That's why we developed that £25 million discretionary grant element. And so I've asked for feedback from local authorities as to how many grants have been applied for by taxi drivers, and for the unions themselves to ensure that their members are getting information about the various support schemes that are on offer—those discretionary schemes, the discretionary assistance fund scheme, for example, the self-employment support scheme, which is still not being accessed by thousands and thousands of self-employed people in Wales. So that data is going to be gathered. I've also asked for various other pieces of work to be undertaken, including of course how we may be able to supply valuable PPE to taxi drivers. The big challenge in regard to PPE is not so much how we go about securing sufficient PPE for the industry and drivers, but actually how we make sure we get it to the drivers—how they're receiving that PPE, that it's being utilised by taxi operators.
And it's an interesting point that Helen Mary Jones makes about the difference and the distinction between private hire vehicles and taxis. I think Helen Mary Jones makes an important point—that some people will obviously know what the distinctions are and that standards for taxis are considered higher than for private hire vehicles, and in particular around public safety. There are serious concerns that flow from some of the reports that were commissioned regarding the way that certain people have been treated. For example, both the Jay and the Casey reports on child sex exploitation in Rotherham highlighted that there were examples of taxi drivers being directly linked with children that were being abused, including instances where children were picked up from schools, children's homes or from family homes and abused or sexually exploited in exchange for free taxi rides. And so I can assure Helen Mary Jones and every Member today that the standards are only going to go one way—they will be improved. And that is absolutely essential in the interests of public safety, especially for the most vulnerable people in our society.
Helen Mary Jones also raised the question about the national database and national standards. I think it's absolutely vital that standards are maintained at the highest possible level on a national basis so that we don't get the sort of cross-border issues that we experience now. And I think there will be a very strong local element to the operation of the regime as we propose it, particularly at a local authority but also at a corporate joint committee level. And local authorities are fully engaged in our consultations and in shaping the legislation, and of course they've been fully involved. They've been co-writing the recommendations, those quick wins that I outlined. And I think that, in terms of maintaining taxi and private hire operations in rural areas, well there is of course already, right now, some market failure in many parts of rural Wales, and that's why community transport schemes have proven to be so important in those areas. And we will go on with our commitment to community transport in rural areas as a vital means of enabling people to access work and access vital services.
Byddwn yn cytuno'n llwyr â Helen Mary Jones fod llawer o bobl yn dibynnu'n eithriadol o drwm ar dacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat, yn enwedig pobl nad oes mathau eraill o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar gael iddyn nhw mewn ardaloedd gwledig, er enghraifft, a hefyd, yn hollbwysig, pobl sy'n wynebu rhwystrau anablu mewn cymdeithas. Ac eto hefyd, ochr yn ochr â hyn, gwyddom, mewn rhai ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol, fod cyn lleied â 5 y cant o dacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat sy'n gallu cynnig mynediad i ddefnyddwyr cadeiriau olwyn. Ac yn aml, gwyddom o'r adroddiadau a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, fod pobl sy'n wynebu rhwystrau oherwydd anableddau mewn cymdeithas yn aml yn wynebu heriau ychwanegol o ran gordalu, ac weithiau nid yw'r profiad gwasanaeth cwsmeriaid yr hyn y byddem yn sicr yn ei ddisgwyl. Ac felly mae llawer o rwystrau y mae'n rhaid i ni naill ai eu dileu neu eu goresgyn er mwyn sicrhau bod y diwydiant tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn diwallu anghenion pobl anabl.
O ran y sector ei hun a'n hymgysylltiad ni, fel y dywedais ychydig yn gynharach, cyfarfûm â TUC Cymru, ag Unite, â'r GMB yr wythnos diwethaf i drafod yr heriau y mae gyrwyr tacsis yn eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd yn ystod y pandemig. Ac, o ganlyniad i'r cyfarfod hwnnw, gofynnais i nifer o ddarnau o waith brys gael eu gwneud—un i gasglu'r data ynghylch trydydd cam y gronfa cadernid economaidd, oherwydd datblygwyd y trydydd cam gyda gyrwyr tacsis mewn golwg yn fwy na dim. Dyna pam wnaethom ni ddatblygu'r elfen grant dewisol honno o £25 miliwn. Ac felly rwyf wedi gofyn am adborth gan awdurdodau lleol ynghylch faint o grantiau y gwnaed cais amdanyn nhw gan yrwyr tacsis, ac i'r undebau eu hunain sicrhau bod eu haelodau'n cael gwybodaeth am y gwahanol gynlluniau cymorth sydd ar gael—y cynlluniau dewisol hynny, cynllun y gronfa cymorth dewisol, er enghraifft, y cynllun cymorth hunangyflogaeth, nad yw miloedd a miloedd o bobl hunangyflogedig yng Nghymru yn ei ddefnyddio o hyd. Felly fe gaiff y data hynny ei gasglu. Rwyf hefyd wedi gofyn i wahanol ddarnau eraill o waith gael eu gwneud, gan gynnwys wrth gwrs sut y gallwn ni gyflenwi cyfarpar diogelu personol gwerthfawr i yrwyr tacsi. Yr her fawr o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol yw nid yn gymaint sut yr awn ati i sicrhau digon ohono i'r diwydiant a gyrwyr, ond mewn gwirionedd sut ydym ni'n sicrhau bod y gyrwyr yn derbyn y cyfarpar yna—sut y maen nhw yn cael y cyfarpar diogelu personol hwnnw, y caiff ei ddefnyddio gan weithredwyr tacsis.
Ac mae'n bwynt diddorol y mae Helen Mary Jones yn ei wneud am y gwahaniaeth rhwng cerbydau hurio preifat a thacsis. Credaf fod Helen Mary Jones yn gwneud pwynt pwysig—y bydd rhai pobl yn amlwg yn gwybod beth yw'r gwahaniaethau ac y caiff safonau ar gyfer tacsis eu hystyried yn uwch nag ar gyfer cerbydau hurio preifat, ac yn enwedig o ran diogelwch y cyhoedd. Mae pryderon difrifol sy'n deillio o rai o'r adroddiadau a gomisiynwyd ynglŷn â'r ffordd y mae rhai pobl wedi cael eu trin. Er enghraifft, amlygodd adroddiadau Jay a Casey ar gamfanteisio ar blant yn rhywiol yn Rotherham bod enghreifftiau o yrwyr tacsis yn cael eu cysylltu'n uniongyrchol â phlant a oedd yn cael eu cam-drin, gan gynnwys achosion lle yr oedd plant yn cael eu casglu o ysgolion, cartrefi plant neu o gartrefi teuluol a'u cam-drin neu eu hecsbloetio'n rhywiol yn gyfnewid am deithiau tacsis am ddim. Ac felly gallaf sicrhau Helen Mary Jones a phob Aelod heddiw mai dim ond un ffordd y bydd y safonau'n mynd—cânt eu gwella. Ac mae hynny'n gwbl hanfodol er budd diogelwch y cyhoedd, yn enwedig y bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas.
Cododd Helen Mary Jones y cwestiwn hefyd am y gronfa ddata genedlaethol a'r safonau cenedlaethol. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol y caiff safonau eu cynnal ar y lefel uchaf bosibl ar sail genedlaethol fel nad ydym yn cael y math o broblemau trawsffiniol a brofwn yn awr. A chredaf y bydd elfen leol gref iawn i weithrediad y gyfundrefn fel yr ydym yn ei chynnig, yn enwedig ar lefel awdurdod lleol ond hefyd ar lefel cydbwyllgor corfforaethol. Ac mae awdurdodau lleol yn ymgysylltu'n llawn â'n hymgynghoriadau ac wrth lunio'r ddeddfwriaeth, ac wrth gwrs maen nhw wedi cymryd rhan lawn. Maen nhw wedi bod yn cyd-ysgrifennu'r argymhellion, yr enillion cyflym hynny a amlinellais. A chredaf, o ran cynnal gweithrediadau tacsis a hurio preifat mewn ardaloedd gwledig, fod rhywfaint o fethiant yn y farchnad eisoes mewn sawl rhan o'r Gymru wledig, a dyna pam mae cynlluniau trafnidiaeth gymunedol yn sicr wedi bod mor bwysig yn yr ardaloedd hynny. A byddwn yn parhau â'n hymrwymiad i drafnidiaeth gymunedol mewn ardaloedd gwledig fel ffordd hanfodol o alluogi pobl i gael gwaith a chael mynediad at wasanaethau hanfodol.
I very much welcome the statement from the Minister this afternoon and welcome very much the proposals that he's discussing for reform of the sector. I think many people are looking forward to this, and I know that many taxi drivers want to see that sort of certainty as well—they want the framework within which they can plan their businesses over the coming years.
This has been an enormously difficult year for taxi drivers. It's been an enormously difficult year for the whole industry, and we’ve seen many people walk away from it because they simply cannot afford to carry on through this pandemic. I very much welcome what you said, Minister, about the discretionary fund and the economic resilience fund, and I hope that as much of that funding as possible can reach taxi drivers who are having, probably, the worst year of their professional careers.
In terms of taking this forward, I think there are two things we need to do in order to ensure that taxis form a part of the transport picture in the future. First of all, I think Government needs to do more to recognise taxis as a part of the overall public transport networks around different communities. You've spoken about rural areas and rural communities in the previous answer, but this is also true in urban Wales as well. For example, we've had the opening of the Grange hospital in Cwmbran over the last week, and it would be useful if taxis, for example, were a part of the recognised public transport network connecting our communities and patients with that hospital, and I'd like to see some more about how the Government will make that happen.
And secondly, and perhaps more importantly in terms of the long term, I would like to see a taxi development fund established by the Welsh Government to enable local taxi drivers to compete with the technologically driven giants that are becoming dominant in the industry. It's going to be impossible for local taxi drivers to compete with Uber in the future unless they have help and support, and that means a development fund that enables taxi drivers to invest in their vehicles, but also to invest in the sort of technology that will connect them to their customers of the future as well.
So, I hope that we can take both these things forward and ensure that we have the regulatory environment, the funding available to ensure that taxi drivers are able to survive the pandemic, and then also the development that will enable them to form a part of the public transport networks of the future. Thank you.
Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y datganiad gan y Gweinidog y prynhawn yma a chroesawaf yn fawr y cynigion y mae'n eu trafod ar gyfer diwygio'r sector. Credaf fod llawer o bobl yn edrych ymlaen at hyn, a gwn fod llawer o yrwyr tacsis eisiau gweld y math hwnnw o sicrwydd hefyd—maen nhw eisiau cael y fframwaith y gallant gynllunio eu busnesau oddi mewn iddo dros y blynyddoedd nesaf.
Mae hon wedi bod yn flwyddyn eithriadol o anodd i yrwyr tacsis. Mae wedi bod yn flwyddyn eithriadol o anodd i'r diwydiant cyfan, ac rydym ni wedi gweld llawer o bobl yn gadael gan na allan nhw fforddio parhau drwy'r pandemig hwn. Croesawaf yn fawr yr hyn a ddywedsoch chi, Gweinidog, am y gronfa ddewisol a'r gronfa cadernid economaidd, a gobeithiaf y gall cymaint o'r cyllid hwnnw ag sy'n bosibl gyrraedd gyrwyr tacsis sy'n cael, mae'n debyg, flwyddyn waethaf eu gyrfaoedd proffesiynol.
O ran bwrw ymlaen â hyn, credaf fod dau beth y mae angen inni eu gwneud er mwyn sicrhau bod tacsis yn rhan o'r darlun trafnidiaeth yn y dyfodol. Yn gyntaf oll, credaf fod angen i'r Llywodraeth wneud mwy i gydnabod tacsis fel rhan o'r rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus cyffredinol o amgylch gwahanol gymunedau. Rydych chi wedi siarad am ardaloedd gwledig a chymunedau gwledig yn yr ateb blaenorol, ond mae hyn yn wir yn y Gymru drefol hefyd. Er enghraifft, rydym ni wedi agor Ysbytu Athrofaol y Faenor yng Nghwmbrân dros yr wythnos ddiwethaf, a byddai'n ddefnyddiol pe bai tacsis, er enghraifft, yn rhan o'r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus cydnabyddedig sy'n cysylltu ein cymunedau a'n cleifion â'r ysbyty hwnnw, a hoffwn weld mwy ynghylch sut y bydd y Llywodraeth yn gwneud i hynny ddigwydd.
Ac yn ail, ac efallai'n bwysicach o ran y tymor hir, hoffwn weld cronfa datblygu tacsis yn cael ei sefydlu gan Lywodraeth Cymru i alluogi gyrwyr tacsis lleol i gystadlu â'r cewri technolegol sy'n dod yn flaenllaw yn y diwydiant. Mae'n mynd i fod yn amhosibl i yrwyr tacsi lleol gystadlu ag Uber yn y dyfodol oni bai bod ganddyn nhw gymorth a chefnogaeth, ac mae hynny'n golygu cronfa ddatblygu sy'n galluogi gyrwyr tacsis i fuddsoddi yn eu cerbydau, ond hefyd i fuddsoddi yn y math o dechnoleg a fydd yn eu cysylltu â'u cwsmeriaid yn y dyfodol hefyd.
Felly, gobeithiaf y gallwn ni ddatblygu'r ddau beth hyn a sicrhau bod gennym ni'r amgylchedd rheoleiddio, yr arian ar gael i sicrhau bod gyrwyr tacsis yn gallu goroesi'r pandemig, ac yna hefyd y datblygiad a fydd yn eu galluogi i ffurfio rhan o rwydweithiau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus y dyfodol. Diolch.
Can I thank Alun Davies for his contribution? Again, incredibly constructive—there is nothing I could disagree with with what Alun Davies has outlined. He made three really strong points. One, there is the need for short-term support to get the sector through the pandemic. Secondly, there's the need for transition support to make sure that we futureproof the industry, to make it competitive, to make sure that it can transition and compete with industry disrupters. And then, thirdly, Alun makes this powerful point that we have to recognise that taxis and private hire vehicle services are an integral part of the public transport network here in Wales, and I would agree entirely that that needs to be demonstrated, and it will be demonstrated through the legislation that we will bring forward in the second year of the next term of the Senedd.
And in terms of the immediate support to the industry, well, so far, we've secured more than 100,000 jobs through the economic resilience fund, and that's in addition to the support from the UK Government for the self-employment support scheme and the job retention scheme, which I know has been helping the sector, but which it appears, in many instances, particularly here in Wales, is actually not getting through to individual drivers for one reason or another. Based on the discussions that we've had with the TUC and with unions, we believe that a lack of access to information may be a critical factor in appropriate support not getting through to drivers. And so, as I said in response to Helen Mary Jones, we're working with the unions to ensure that appropriate information can be distributed and disseminated right across the industry, and that the unions are working with local authorities, and of course with Welsh Government, in sharing appropriate information. Because, as I said, we set up that third phase of the ERF, particularly the £25 million discretionary grant fund element, to support sole traders such as taxi drivers, in order to survive the recent firebreak. Taxi drivers have been able to access support from that discretionary grant scheme even if they've accessed the self-employment income support scheme. So, the money has been there, it just appears that it hasn't been accessed on a sufficient scale by individuals within the sector, and that's why I have asked for answers as to why that is the case.
And then, in the longer term, I think Alun Davies makes a hugely important point that we face multiple disrupting factors: the transition to electric vehicles; the transition towards potentially fully autonomous vehicles; different models of public transport—so, shared car use and the uberisation of public transport; the need to decarbonise; and different ways of working as well in a post-COVID environment, with remote working hubs. We established, through the economic action plan, the calls to action. So, businesses seeking funding from the economy futures fund must do so on the basis of one of the five points within the calls to action, and two of those concern decarbonisation and rising to the challenge of technological disruption. It is a perfect means by which the sector could access funding in order to overcome and to challenge those disruptive technologies and the transition to a net-zero economy. Again, I'd very much urge the sector to look at that particular fund as an appropriate vehicle for drawing down financial support in order to get the vehicles that they're going to need for the future.
A gaf i ddiolch i Alun Davies am ei gyfraniad? Unwaith eto, yn anhygoel o adeiladol—ni allwn anghytuno â dim o'r hyn y mae Alun Davies wedi'i amlinellu. Gwnaeth dri phwynt cryf iawn. Un, mae angen cymorth tymor byr i gael y sector drwy'r pandemig. Yn ail, mae angen cymorth pontio i sicrhau ein bod yn diogelu'r diwydiant yn y dyfodol, i'w wneud yn gystadleuol, er mwyn sicrhau y gall bontio a chystadlu ag elfennau sy'n amharu ar y diwydiant. Ac yna, yn drydydd, mae Alun yn gwneud y pwynt pwerus hwn, fod yn rhaid inni gydnabod bod tacsis a gwasanaethau cerbydau hurio preifat yn rhan annatod o'r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru, a byddwn yn cytuno'n llwyr fod angen dangos hynny, a chaiff ei ddangos drwy'r ddeddfwriaeth y byddwn yn ei chyflwyno yn ail flwyddyn tymor nesaf y Senedd.
Ac o ran y gefnogaeth uniongyrchol i'r diwydiant, wel, hyd yma, rydym wedi sicrhau mwy na 100,000 o swyddi drwy'r gronfa cadernid economaidd, ac mae hynny'n ychwanegol at gefnogaeth Llywodraeth y DU i'r cynllun cymorth hunangyflogaeth a'r cynllun cadw swyddi, y gwn y bu o gymorth i'r sector, ond mae'n ymddangos, mewn llawer o achosion, yn enwedig yma yng Nghymru, mewn gwirionedd, nad yw gyrwyr unigol yn elwa ar hynny am ryw reswm neu'i gilydd. Yn seiliedig ar y trafodaethau yr ydym ni wedi'u cael gyda'r TUC a chydag undebau, credwn y gallai methu cael gafael ar wybodaeth fod yn ffactor allweddol o ran gyrrwyr ddim yn elwa ar gymorth priodol. Ac felly, fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Helen Mary Jones, rydym yn gweithio gyda'r undebau i sicrhau y gellir dosbarthu a lledaenu gwybodaeth briodol ar draws y diwydiant, a bod yr undebau'n gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, ac wrth gwrs gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, i rannu gwybodaeth briodol. Oherwydd, fel y dywedais, fe wnaethom ni sefydlu'r trydydd cam hwnnw o'r Fframwaith, yn enwedig yr elfen gronfa grant dewisol o £25 miliwn, i gefnogi unig fasnachwyr megis gyrwyr tacsis, er mwyn goroesi'r cyfnod atal byr diweddar. Mae gyrwyr tacsis wedi gallu cael cymorth gan y cynllun grant dewisol hwnnw hyd yn oed os ydyn nhw wedi defnyddio'r cynllun cymhorthdal incwm hunangyflogaeth. Felly, mae'r arian wedi bod ar gael, mae'n ymddangos nad yw unigolion o fewn y sector wedi manteisio arno ar raddfa ddigonol, a dyna pam yr wyf wedi gofyn am atebion ynghylch pam mae hynny'n wir.
Ac yna, yn y tymor hwy, credaf fod Alun Davies yn gwneud pwynt eithriadol o bwysig sef ein bod yn wynebu nifer o ffactorau tarfu: y newid i gerbydau trydan; y newid tuag at gerbydau cwbl annibynnol o bosibl; gwahanol fodelau o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus—felly, defnyddio ceir a rennir ac ubereiddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus; yr angen i ddatgarboneiddio; a gwahanol ffyrdd o weithio yn ogystal â mewn amgylchedd ôl-COVID, gyda chanolfannau gweithio o bell. Fe wnaethom ni sefydlu, drwy'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd, y galwadau i weithredu. Felly, rhaid i fusnesau sy'n ceisio cyllid o gronfa dyfodol yr economi wneud hynny ar sail un o'r pum pwynt yn y galwadau i weithredu, ac mae dau o'r rheini'n ymwneud â datgarboneiddio ac ymateb i her tarfu technolegol. Mae'n ffordd berffaith i'r sector allu cael gafael ar gyllid er mwyn goresgyn a herio'r technolegau aflonyddgar hynny a'r newid i economi sero-net. Unwaith eto, byddwn yn annog y sector i edrych ar y gronfa benodol honno fel cyfrwng priodol ar gyfer defnyddio cymorth ariannol er mwyn cael y cerbydau y bydd eu hangen arnyn nhw ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon? And I'm absolutely certain that we are all in agreement that reform of taxi and private hire vehicles is long overdue.
The main point I wish to make is that there should be a uniform system across the 22 local authorities of Wales. This would ensure that passengers would have a better understanding of the charges and the rules governing taxis if they were uniform across Wales. Could the Minister confirm this is also uppermost in his thinking?
I'm convinced that moving to a single-tier system would be of benefit to both passengers and local authorities alike. Each vehicle should be fitted with a meter with correct and uniform tariffs, and it needs to be clear that the meter can only operate from pick-up to drop-off. This should prevent over-charging. At present, companies and individuals running private hire charge what they see fit, as long as the customer accepts, but I'm sure the Minister knows that, in reality, it's a fait accompli as far as the passenger is concerned, in that he or she is committed as soon as they enter the taxi.
The new rules should include that all journeys should be recorded. Keeping a record of journeys has, in the past, been a benefit for bona fide drivers, local authorities and the police. It's also important, Minister, that companies who handle details of passengers should be subject to some form of scrutiny on how they take, give and store information. This would mean that there would be a much reduced risk of such data being misused. Will you make this part of your legislation?
The fit-and-proper test should be more strictly adhered to and, possibly, all convictions should be disclosed, even moving outside the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is our duty to ensure that all passengers who get into a taxi can feel that they will arrive at their destination safely. Those who choose to travel by taxi must be able to travel without fear of being at risk from any individual who provides that service.
In addition to the nationwide tariff system, there should also be a nationwide vehicle quality test. You mentioned this earlier on, Minister. It is good to read in the statement that the Minister has all these aspects in mind, and I look forward to the time when the new regulations are implemented by legislation. So, can I thank the Minister for his work on this important transport matter? And I wish to add that much of the content of my comments come from within the industry itself.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad y prynhawn yma? Ac rwy'n gwbl sicr ein bod i gyd yn cytuno ei bod yn hen bryd diwygio tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat.
Y prif bwynt yr hoffwn i ei wneud yw y dylid cael system unffurf ar draws y 22 o awdurdodau lleol Cymru. Byddai hyn yn sicrhau y byddai gan deithwyr well dealltwriaeth o'r taliadau a'r rheolau sy'n rheoli tacsis pe baen nhw'n unffurf ledled Cymru. A wnaiff y Gweinidog gadarnhau mai hyn hefyd sydd bwysicaf yn ei feddwl?
Rwy'n argyhoeddedig y byddai symud i system un haen o fudd i deithwyr ac awdurdodau lleol fel ei gilydd. Dylid gosod mesurydd gyda thariffau cywir ac unffurf ar bob cerbyd, ac mae angen iddi fod yn glir mai dim ond o'r man codi i'r man gollwng y caiff y mesurydd weithredu. Dylai hyn atal gordaliadau. Ar hyn o bryd, mae cwmnïau ac unigolion sy'n rhedeg busnesau hurio preifat yn codi'r hyn a fynnant, cyn belled â bod y cwsmer yn derbyn hynny, ond rwy'n siŵr bod y Gweinidog yn gwybod, mewn gwirionedd, ei fod yn 'fait accompli' o ran y teithiwr, gan ei fod ef neu hi wedi ymrwymo cyn gynted ag y mae'n mynd i mewn i'r tacsi.
Dylai'r rheolau newydd gynnwys y rheol y dylid cofnodi pob taith. Mae cadw cofnod o deithiau, yn y gorffennol, wedi bod o fudd i yrwyr dilys, awdurdodau lleol a'r heddlu. Mae hefyd yn bwysig, Gweinidog, y dylai cwmnïau sy'n ymdrin â manylion teithwyr fod yn destun rhyw fath o graffu o ran sut maen nhw'n casglu, rhoi a chadw gwybodaeth. Byddai hyn yn golygu y byddai llawer llai o berygl y cai data o'r fath ei gamddefnyddio. A wnewch chi gynnwys hyn yn y rhan hon o'ch deddfwriaeth?
Dylid glynu'n llymach wrth y prawf cymwys a phriodol ac, o bosibl, dylid datgelu pob euogfarn, gan hyd yn oed symud y tu allan i Ddeddf Adsefydlu Troseddwyr 1974. Ein dyletswydd ni yw sicrhau bod pob teithiwr sy'n mynd i dacsi yn teimlo y bydd yn cyrraedd ei gyrchfan yn ddiogel. Rhaid i'r rhai sy'n dewis teithio mewn tacsi allu teithio heb ofni y byddant mewn perygl oherwydd unrhyw unigolyn sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw.
Yn ogystal â'r system tariff genedlaethol, dylid cael prawf ansawdd cerbydau cenedlaethol hefyd. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am hyn yn gynharach, Gweinidog. Mae'n dda darllen yn y datganiad fod gan y Gweinidog yr holl agweddau hyn mewn golwg, ac edrychaf ymlaen at yr adeg pan weithredir y rheoliadau newydd drwy ddeddfwriaeth. Felly, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei waith ar y mater trafnidiaeth pwysig hwn? A hoffwn ychwanegu bod llawer o gynnwys fy sylwadau yn dod o'r diwydiant ei hun.
Can I also thank David Rowlands for his observations and recommendations in his constructive contribution today?
Under the current legislation, as I've already outlined, we have 22 local authorities operating different licensing policies across Wales, and that includes, as I've outlined, in terms of the maximum age of the licensed vehicle, the licence duration, the licence insurance checks, and also the driving licence checks. Having a consistent national approach, I think, makes perfect sense both for the industry and for passengers, and many of the points that David Rowlands has raised today relate not just to the new legislation proposals, but also to the recommendations that came from our work with the Welsh Local Government Association, and the recommendations are aiming to improve standards and consistency of licensing policies without incurring unreasonable costs to the taxi industry or local authorities.
So, the recommendations include—and I think David Rowlands would welcome this—standard driver and operator conditions; enforcement protocols for cross-border authorisations; crucially, driver safeguarding training and a driver code of conduct; and also standardised driver application criteria. So, as adoption of the recommendations will achieve compliance with many of the Department for Transport standards, the Welsh Government is going to be monitoring local authority compliance to both documents, and this approach has been agreed, obviously, by the Secretary of State for Transport.
But then going on to the longer term, the taxi Bill is currently projected to be introduced in year 2 of the next Senedd and, as I've said, work has already begun on drafting policy proposals that build on the responses to the 'Improving public transport' White Paper. More detail is being developed around national standards, which David Rowlands pointed to as being absolutely vital, a national register and improved enforcement, which is proposed under the White Paper, and, in addition, new proposals include introducing a simplified one-tier licensing system to remove that distinction that I talked of earlier, and to create the single licensing authority and to allow taxis to operate across Wales.
I've just got to reinforce the point that I made earlier that new legislation is absolutely vital to effectively address the issues raised by the industry and regulators. Effective change, I'm afraid, cannot occur using the existing legislation or adopting voluntary measures.
A gaf i ddiolch hefyd i David Rowlands am ei sylwadau a'i argymhellion yn ei gyfraniad adeiladol heddiw?
O dan y ddeddfwriaeth bresennol, fel yr amlinellais eisoes, mae gennym ni 22 o awdurdodau lleol sy'n gweithredu gwahanol bolisïau trwyddedu ledled Cymru, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys, fel yr amlinellais, uchafswm oedran y cerbyd trwyddedig, hyd y drwydded, gwiriadau yswiriant y drwydded, a hefyd archwiliadau'r drwydded yrru. Credaf fod cael dull cenedlaethol cyson yn gwneud synnwyr perffaith i'r diwydiant ac i deithwyr, ac mae llawer o'r pwyntiau y mae David Rowlands wedi'u codi heddiw yn ymwneud nid yn unig â'r cynigion deddfwriaeth newydd, ond hefyd â'r argymhellion a ddaeth o'n gwaith gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, ac mae'r argymhellion yn anelu at wella safonau a chysondeb polisïau trwyddedu heb orfod creu costau afresymol i'r diwydiant tacsis nac awdurdodau lleol.
Felly, mae'r argymhellion yn cynnwys—a chredaf y byddai David Rowlands yn croesawu hyn—amodau gyrwyr a gweithredwyr safonol; protocolau gorfodi ar gyfer awdurdodiadau trawsffiniol; yn hollbwysig, hyfforddiant diogelu gyrwyr a chod ymddygiad gyrwyr; a hefyd meini prawf cymhwyso gyrwyr wedi'u safoni. Felly, gan y bydd mabwysiadu'r argymhellion yn sicrhau cydymffurfiaeth â llawer o safonau'r Adran Drafnidiaeth, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn monitro cydymffurfiaeth awdurdodau lleol â'r ddwy ddogfen, a chytunwyd ar y dull hwn, yn amlwg, gan yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Drafnidiaeth.
Ond yna wrth fynd ymlaen i'r tymor hwy, rhagwelir y bydd y Bil tacsis yn cael ei gyflwyno ym mlwyddyn 2 y Senedd nesaf ar hyn o bryd ac, fel y dywedais, mae gwaith eisoes wedi dechrau ar ddrafftio cynigion polisi sy'n adeiladu ar yr ymatebion i'r Papur Gwyn 'Gwella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus'. Mae mwy o fanylion yn cael eu datblygu ynghylch safonau cenedlaethol, y cyfeiriodd David Rowlands atynt gan ddweud eu bod yn gwbl hanfodol, cofrestr genedlaethol a gwell gorfodaeth, a gynigir o dan y Papur Gwyn, ac, yn ogystal, mae cynigion newydd yn cynnwys cyflwyno system drwyddedu un haen symlach i ddileu'r gwahaniaeth hwnnw y soniais amdano'n gynharach, ac i greu'r awdurdod trwyddedu sengl ac i ganiatáu i dacsis weithredu ledled Cymru.
Mae'n rhaid i mi atgyfnerthu'r pwynt a wnes yn gynharach fod deddfwriaeth newydd yn gwbl hanfodol er mwyn mynd i'r afael yn effeithiol â'r materion a godwyd gan y diwydiant a rheoleiddwyr. Mae arnaf ofn na all newid effeithiol ddigwydd drwy ddefnyddio'r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol na thrwy fabwysiadu mesurau gwirfoddol.
First of all, I'd like to thank the Minister for reaching out to the unions to make sure that they were aware of the lockdown discretionary grant scheme, because this is something that I'd raised with the Deputy Minister with responsibility for ethnic minorities and equalities before the end of the lockdown, and, as mentioned by Helen Mary, many of these taxi drivers don't have Welsh or English as their first language. And so, at the very end of last week, I know that Unite submitted 1,000 applications that they'd helped taxi drivers complete because they were struggling to do it on their own; they really were. And unfortunately, there is a huge amount of need. It's been drastically oversubscribed in Cardiff, so I hope there's something we can do about ensuring that the inverse care law doesn't apply to taxi drivers, and that those most in need, who need most help getting the documentation together, are not going to be locked out, having no assistance whatsoever.
I enthusiastically support your efforts to encourage taxi drivers to embrace zero-carbon vehicles, so that they can understand that this is actually a much cleaner and, at the end of it, a more cost-effective way of running their business. But, clearly, there's going to be a need for some very carefully constructed loan schemes that are affordable, given that most taxi drivers have seen their income this year fall off a cliff. But, clearly, we need to move towards that, given that petrol vehicles and diesel vehicles are going to be phased out anyway.
Yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am estyn allan at yr undebau i sicrhau eu bod yn ymwybodol o'r cynllun grant dewisol ar gyfer cyfyngiadau symud, oherwydd mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr oeddwn wedi'i godi gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog sy'n gyfrifol am leiafrifoedd ethnig a chydraddoldeb cyn diwedd y cyfyngiadau symud, ac, fel y crybwyllodd Helen Mary, nid oes gan lawer o'r gyrwyr tacsi hyn y Gymraeg na'r Saesneg fel eu hiaith gyntaf. Ac felly, ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf, gwn fod Unite wedi cyflwyno 1,000 o geisiadau y buon nhw'n helpu gyrwyr tacsis i'w cwblhau am eu bod yn ei chael hi'n anodd gwneud hynny ar eu pennau eu hunain; oeddent yn wir. Ac yn anffodus, mae llawer iawn o angen. Yng Nghaerdydd, bu llawer mwy o alw ar y gronfa nac o arian a oedd ynddi, felly rwy'n gobeithio bod rhywbeth y gallwn ei wneud ynglŷn â sicrhau nad yw'r ddeddf gofal gwrthgyfartal yn berthnasol i yrwyr tacsis, ac na fydd y rhai mwyaf anghenus, sydd angen y rhan fwyaf o gymorth i gael y dogfennau gyda'i gilydd, yn cael eu heithrio, heb unrhyw gymorth o gwbl.
Rwy'n cefnogi'n frwd eich ymdrechion i annog gyrwyr tacsis i fanteisio ar gerbydau di-garbon, fel y gallan nhw ddeall bod hyn mewn gwirionedd yn ffordd lawer glanach ac, yn y diwedd, yn ffordd fwy cost-effeithiol o redeg eu busnes. Ond, yn amlwg, bydd angen rhai cynlluniau benthyca wedi'u llunio'n ofalus iawn sy'n fforddiadwy, o ystyried bod y rhan fwyaf o yrwyr tacsis wedi gweld eu hincwm eleni yn plymio. Ond, yn amlwg, mae angen inni symud tuag at hynny, o gofio y bydd cerbydau petrol a cherbydau diesel yn cael eu dileu'n raddol beth bynnag.
Can you—? Can you close, please?
A wnewch chi—? A wnewch chi derfynu, os gwelwch yn dda?
Yes. The uniformity of standards can't mean a free-for-all for every taxi driver in some areas and a dearth of taxi drivers in others, and there's already an over-supply in Cardiff. So, how does the Government propose to regulate the numbers of taxis operating in any given area, possibly using mobile phones—
Gwnaf. Ni chaiff unffurfiaeth safonau olygu sefyllfa afreolus a dilywodraeth i bob gyrrwr tacsi mewn rhai ardaloedd a phrinder gyrwyr tacsis mewn ardaloedd eraill, ac mae gor-gyflenwad eisoes yng Nghaerdydd. Felly, sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu rheoleiddio nifer y tacsis sy'n gweithredu mewn unrhyw ardal benodol, gan ddefnyddio ffonau symudol o bosibl—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
—to ensure that we're just not getting this free-for-all, which is causing this massive oversupply?
—i sicrhau nad ydym yn cael y sefyllfa afreolus hon sy'n achosi'r gorgyflenwad enfawr hwn?
Can I thank Jenny Rathbone for the questions she's raised, and also for her wider contribution in terms of flagging up the disproportionate impact that coronavirus has had on some of the most vulnerable people in society, including, in terms of the taxi and private hire vehicle industry, members of the BAME community? We recognise that the industry has been severely impacted by the pandemic, in particular the BAME community in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea primarily, which represents a high proportion of the industry.
As I've said to other contributors this afternoon, the information that's available, in terms of support, is there online. We've asked the WLGA to share that information with taxi drivers; we've also asked trade unions to do so likewise. Officials have worked very closely, I think, with the WLGA and local authorities in providing solutions to issues such as the suitability of temporary vehicle safety screens. And, as I've already said, we're investigating the possibility of providing high-quality PPE to taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
And, of course, we've got the advisory group, which was established and has been meeting since April of this year, to consider the disproportionate number of COVID-19 related deaths within BAME communities. Work is going to continue on developing recommendations to ensure that the safety of workers is of paramount significance, and that we help reduce the number of deaths, particularly within key sectors where the BAME community is highly represented. So, obviously, the taxi and private hire vehicle industry is going to be a key concern of ours.
I'd say again to Jenny Rathbone that she is absolutely right that the issue of cross-bordering is perhaps the most pressing issue that we need to overcome, that we need to challenge. Because it's as a direct result of cross-bordering that many taxi drivers, particularly in Cardiff where there is oversupply, experienced poor levels of remuneration—low wages—before the pandemic, and as a consequence, even if they were able to secure funding through the self-employment support scheme, at only 80 per cent, it was barely enough to live on. That's why the discretionary assistance fund has been so important. That's why the discretionary grant scheme has been so important—the £25 million. But we want to go on looking at how we can help the sector in any way possible.
And finally, in terms of green taxis, I've already outlined the pilots that are taking place and how those pilots will then inform the scale of the support that's going to be required in order to transition the industry towards our net-zero ambitions. And, of course, there will a role, obviously, for the UK Government in this regard. They've announced that the date has been brought forward to 2030 for no new internal combustion engine vehicles to be produced, so we await as well—potentially tomorrow—any additional funding that may be announced from the UK Government to help ensure that that ambition, that target, can be met.
A gaf i ddiolch i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiynau y mae wedi'u codi, a hefyd am ei chyfraniad ehangach o ran tynnu sylw at yr effaith anghymesur y mae'r coronafeirws wedi'i chael ar rai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas, gan gynnwys, o ran y diwydiant tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat, pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig? Rydym yn cydnabod bod y pandemig wedi effeithio'n ddifrifol ar y diwydiant, yn enwedig pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yng Nghaerdydd, Casnewydd ac Abertawe yn bennaf, sy'n cynrychioli cyfran uchel o'r diwydiant.
Fel yr wyf wedi'i ddweud wrth gyfranwyr eraill y prynhawn yma, mae'r wybodaeth sydd ar gael, o ran cymorth, yna ar-lein. Rydym wedi gofyn i Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru rannu'r wybodaeth honno â gyrwyr tacsis; rydym ni hefyd wedi gofyn i undebau llafur wneud hynny yn yr un modd. Credaf fod swyddogion wedi gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu atebion i faterion fel addasrwydd sgriniau diogelwch dros dro ar gyfer cerbydau. Ac, fel y dywedais eisoes, rydym yn ymchwilio i'r posibilrwydd o ddarparu cyfarpar diogelu personol o ansawdd uchel i yrwyr tacsi a cherbydau hurio preifat.
Ac, wrth gwrs, mae gennym y grŵp cynghori, a sefydlwyd ac sydd wedi bod yn cyfarfod ers mis Ebrill eleni, i ystyried y nifer anghymesur o farwolaethau sy'n gysylltiedig â COVID-19 ymhlith pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Mae gwaith yn mynd i barhau i ddatblygu argymhellion i sicrhau bod diogelwch gweithwyr o'r pwys mwyaf, a'n bod yn helpu i leihau nifer y marwolaethau, yn enwedig o fewn sectorau allweddol lle mae pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig wedi eu cynrychioli'n fawr. Felly, yn amlwg, bydd y diwydiant tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn un o'n pryderon allweddol ni.
Byddwn yn dweud eto wrth Jenny Rathbone ei bod yn llygad ei lle wrth ddweud mai mater trawsffiniol yw'r mater pwysicaf y mae angen inni ei oresgyn efallai, y mae angen inni ei herio. Oherwydd o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i faterion trawsffiniol roedd llawer o yrwyr tacsis, yn enwedig yng Nghaerdydd lle mae gorgyflenwi, yn cael taliadau isel—cyflogau isel—cyn y pandemig, ac o ganlyniad, hyd yn oed os oedden nhw'n gallu sicrhau cyllid drwy'r cynllun cymorth hunangyflogaeth, ar 80 y cant yn unig, prin ei fod yn ddigon i fyw arno. Dyna pam y mae'r gronfa cymorth dewisol wedi bod mor bwysig. Dyna pam y mae'r cynllun grant dewisol wedi bod mor bwysig—y £25 miliwn. Ond rydym ni eisiau parhau i edrych i weld sut y gallwn ni helpu'r sector mewn unrhyw ffordd bosibl.
Ac yn olaf, o ran tacsis gwyrdd, rwyf eisoes wedi amlinellu'r cynlluniau treialu sy'n cael eu cynnal a sut y bydd y cynlluniau treialu hynny wedyn yn llywio maint y cymorth y bydd ei angen er mwyn trawsnewid y diwydiant tuag at ein huchelgeisiau sero-net. Ac, wrth gwrs, bydd rhan i'w chwarae, yn amlwg, gan Lywodraeth y DU yn hyn o beth. Mae wedi cyhoeddi bod y dyddiad ar gyfer dod â chynhyrchu cerbydau motor tanio mewnol i ben wedi'i ddwyn ymlaen i 2030, felly rydym yn aros hefyd—yfory o bosibl—am unrhyw arian ychwanegol y gellir ei gyhoeddi gan Lywodraeth y DU i helpu i sicrhau y gellir bodloni'r uchelgais hwnnw, y targed hwnnw.
Finally, Mick Antoniw.
Yn olaf, Mick Antoniw.
Minister, I agree with many of the comments that have already been made, and I won't repeat those. Can I just put on record, firstly, that I recognise that the taxi service, particularly in the Valleys, has made such an important contribution to dealing with the COVID pandemic, in getting, for example, NHS staff to work in areas where bus services are poor in any event? I think it's important that that's recognised—and very much the comment that Alun Davies made about the taxi service being a really important part of an integrated transport service. The point he made about operational boundaries is important, particularly, for example, to Valleys communities, because to some extent the oversupply, as you mentioned, in places like Cardiff actually undermines the development of a taxi service in some of the Valleys communities, because taxi drivers are forced to go to one area and undermine the economic basis on which the taxi service can actually be supplied.
There are two aspects to standards and safety. One standard, obviously, involves training as well. Safety is for passengers, but it is also for taxi drivers, many of whom experience assaults during the course of their work. If there were other public sector workers who had that level of assault, we would be taking it as a very serious issue. So, I think that it's about recognising that situation and the role. One of the issues that the taxi companies have raised with me is the issue of the number of plates and the need for a cap on plates to ensure that there isn't an oversupply. That obviously overlaps with the boundaries issue as well. Can I then also raise the issue of—
Gweinidog, cytunaf â llawer o'r sylwadau sydd eisoes wedi'u gwneud, ac nid ailadroddaf y rheini. A gaf i ddweud ar goedd, yn gyntaf, fy mod yn cydnabod bod y gwasanaeth tacsis, yn enwedig yn y Cymoedd, wedi gwneud cyfraniad mor bwysig wrth ymdrin â phandemig COVID, wrth gludo, er enghraifft, staff y GIG i'r gwaith mewn ardaloedd lle mae gwasanaethau bysiau'n wael beth bynnag? Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod hynny—a'r sylw a wnaeth Alun Davies am y gwasanaeth tacsis yn rhan bwysig iawn o wasanaeth trafnidiaeth integredig. Mae'r pwynt a wnaeth am ffiniau gweithredu yn bwysig, yn enwedig, er enghraifft, i gymunedau'r Cymoedd, oherwydd i ryw raddau mae'r gorgyflenwad, fel y gwnaethoch chi grybwyll, mewn lleoedd fel Caerdydd mewn gwirionedd yn tanseilio datblygiad gwasanaeth tacsis yn rhai o gymunedau'r Cymoedd, oherwydd gorfodir gyrwyr tacsis i fynd i un ardal a thanseilio'r sail economaidd y mae'r gallu i ddarparu'r gwasanaeth tacsis wedi ei seilio arni mewn gwirionedd.
Mae dwy agwedd ar safonau a diogelwch. Mae un safon, yn amlwg, yn cynnwys hyfforddiant hefyd. Mae diogelwch ar gyfer teithwyr, ond mae hefyd ar gyfer gyrwyr tacsis, y mae llawer ohonyn nhw'n dioddef ymosodiadau yn ystod eu gwaith. Pe bai gweithwyr eraill yn y sector cyhoeddus yn profi ymosodiadau i'r fath raddau, byddem yn ei ystyried yn fater difrifol iawn. Felly, rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â chydnabod y sefyllfa honno a'r swyddogaeth. Un o'r materion y mae'r cwmnïau tacsis wedi'i godi gyda mi yw nifer y platiau a'r angen i roi cap ar blatiau i sicrhau nad oes gorgyflenwad. Mae hynny'n amlwg yn gorgyffwrdd â'r mater ffiniau hefyd. A gaf i wedyn godi mater—
No. Can you wind up, please?
Na. Allwch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch chi'n dda?
I'll wind up—in respect of Uber, which basically has developed a race to the bottom in taxi services. It's important in any development that we don't allow the uberisation of the taxi service—that it has to have a firm commercial basis to survive and to be part of an integrated transport service.
Byddaf i'n ddirwyn i ben—o ran Uber, sydd, yn y bôn, wedi datblygu ras i'r gwaelod o ran y gwasanaethau tacsi. Mae'n bwysig mewn unrhyw ddatblygiad nad ydym yn caniatáu i'r gwasanaeth tacsis ddilyn yr un drefn ag Uber—bod yn rhaid iddo gael sail fasnachol gadarn i oroesi a bod yn rhan o wasanaeth trafnidiaeth integredig.
Can I thank Mick Antoniw for the points that he has raised and the questions that he's asked? He's absolutely right that we need to avoid any race to the bottom. In so doing, we have to ensure that those standards that I talked of earlier are of the highest quality, and ensure that we can compete with those new disruptive entrants into the market on the basis of standards and safety. It has to be said that oversupply has been suppressing wages. So, in terms of cross-bordering, there is no doubt that the legislation that will be introduced in the next term is vitally important in raising wage levels for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.
Of course, Mick Antoniw points to the essential role that taxis and private hire vehicle drivers have played during the whole of the pandemic, ensuring that key workers and NHS equipment have been able to be transported safely and reliably. I am incredibly grateful to the industry for playing its part in rising to the national effort. I know that the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport was due today to make a statement on activities within the Valleys taskforce. That will now take place on 8 December, and I'm sure that he will have something to say then about some of the pilots that have been taking place regarding public transport. Recognising the vital role that taxis and private hire vehicles play in the Valleys, I'm sure that he'll have something to say regarding the services that they operate in those communities that Mick Antoniw and other Members represent so well.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mick Antoniw am y pwyntiau y mae wedi'u codi a'r cwestiynau y mae wedi'u gofyn? Mae'n hollol iawn i ddweud bod angen inni osgoi unrhyw ras i'r gwaelod. Wrth wneud hynny, rhaid inni sicrhau bod y safonau hynny y soniais amdanyn nhw'n gynharach o'r ansawdd uchaf, a sicrhau y gallwn ni gystadlu â'r newydd-ddyfodiaid hynny i'r farchnad ar sail safonau a diogelwch. Rhaid dweud bod gormod o gyflenwyr tacsis wedi achosi cyflogau is. Felly, o ran gweithredu'n groesffiniol, nid oes amheuaeth nad yw'r ddeddfwriaeth a fydd yn cael ei chyflwyno yn y tymor nesaf, yn hanfodol bwysig o ran codi lefelau cyflog gyrwyr tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat.
Wrth gwrs, mae Mick Antoniw yn tynnu sylw at y rhan hanfodol y mae tacsis a gyrwyr cerbydau hurio preifat wedi'i chwarae yn ystod y pandemig cyfan, gan sicrhau bod modd i weithwyr allweddol ac offer y GIG gael eu cludo'n ddiogel ac yn ddibynadwy. Rwyf i'n hynod ddiolchgar i'r diwydiant am chwarae ei ran wrth ymateb i'r ymdrech genedlaethol. Rwy'n gwybod bod Dirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth i fod i wneud datganiad heddiw ynghylch gweithgareddau o fewn tasglu'r Cymoedd. Bydd hynny'n digwydd ar 8 Rhagfyr, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd ganddo rywbeth i'w ddweud bryd hynny am rai o'r cynlluniau peilot sydd wedi bod yn digwydd o ran trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Gan gydnabod y rhan hanfodol y mae tacsis a cherbydau hurio preifat yn ei chwarae yn y Cymoedd, rwy'n siŵr y bydd ganddo rywbeth i'w ddweud am y gwasanaethau y maen nhw'n eu gweithredu yn y cymunedau hynny y mae Mick Antoniw ac Aelodau eraill yn eu cynrychioli mor dda.
Thank you very much, Minister.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog.
Item 6 on the agenda has been postponed until 8 December.
Mae eitem 6 ar yr agenda wedi'i gohirio tan 8 Rhagfyr.
Item 7 is the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020. It's really exciting. I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services—Vaughan Gething.
Eitem 7 yw Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Coronafeirws, Teithio a Chyfyngiadau Rhyngwladol) (Diwygio) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) 2020. Mae'n gyffrous iawn. Rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol—Vaughan Gething.
Cynnig NDM7484 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Coronafeirws, Teithio Rhyngwladol a Chyfyngiadau) (Diwygio) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) 2020 a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 13 Tachwedd 2020.
Motion NDM7484 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Restrictions) (Amendment) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 laid in the Table Office on 13 November 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I move the motion before us. The regulations before us today provide that passenger planes and ships travelling directly from Denmark, and accompanied freight, will no longer be able to land or dock at Welsh ports. They came into force on Saturday 14 November. The regulations follow the urgent action that had been taken across the UK by all four Governments following reports from health authorities in Denmark that outbreaks of a new variant of COVID had been found in mink farms, with some human transmission events.
Previous amendments to the travel restrictions introduced restrictions on Denmark. From 7 November, anyone arriving in the UK from Denmark overnight was required to isolate for 14 days. This applied to individuals and their households too. This coincided with the UK Government's implementation of immigration powers. That means that all non-British national or resident travellers who have been in, or transited through, Denmark in the last 14 days have been denied entry into the UK. These were precautionary measures based on early evidence from health authorities in Denmark. By taking action, we aim to prevent risk to Wales and the UK from this new strain of COVID. Public Health Wales has been contacting Welsh residents who have been in Denmark, to explain that we will require them and their households to isolate as an extra precautionary measure.
Clearly, the situation in Denmark remains an evolving situation that we will continue to closely monitor, and, of course, we'll work with other Governments within the UK and Europe as we do so. The Senedd has not previously debated amendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020, which are usually made under the negative procedure. Because these regulations amend both the international travel restrictions and the separate and more general Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations 2020, they are, in this instance, subject to the affirmative procedure.
There have been encouraging signs that the firebreak in Wales has worked, leading to a sharp fall in the numbers of positive cases. This is particularly clear in areas of high incidence such as Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil. It has also seen a levelling off and potential fall in hospital admissions. However, the situation in Wales remains very serious. As the First Minister set out last week, following our review of the regulations, it is too early to ease any of the restrictions. This is in keeping with the careful and gradual approach that we have always taken. It is worth reflecting, when doing so, on the recent rises in new positive cases over the last few days. The regulations here in Wales following the firebreak are designed to be clear, stable and simple to understand. We are therefore not making substantial changes at this time.
As we approach the December festive period, families and loved ones will naturally wish to be together. Members will be aware that the Welsh Government is engaging with other UK administrations to seek a joined-up approach to planning for the festive period. The First Minister is meeting this afternoon, if not as we speak, as part of a COBRA meeting to discuss what might be possible across all four nations over the Christmas period. And obviously I can't pre-empt the outcome of those conversations.
As I set out in the Welsh Government conference yesterday, adopting a common approach across the UK may unfortunately still require some tightening of restrictions in Wales in the weeks leading up to the festive period. This might be the only way we can achieve the headroom necessary to provide for the extra freedoms that many of us hope to enjoy over a limited festive period. I should stress that no decision on any new restrictions has yet been made. The law in Wales requires that the restrictions must be reviewed again by 3 December. As part of that review, I expect us to consider whether additional requirements in Wales are necessary, and this will include the new tier arrangements in England and Scotland, as, indeed, raised during First Minister's questions by the leader of the opposition earlier today.
I'm sure that, like me, Members will be encouraged by the positive news on the development of vaccines, with the further news yesterday of the Oxford vaccine. I would, though, again remind everyone that a vaccine is not a magic bullet. Coronavirus is still with us. It is still highly infectious, and still likely to cause major harm in the months ahead, including, I'm afraid, a further loss of life. The restrictions are sadly still very necessary. We are months away from the realistic prospect of population coverage with a combination of vaccines. We all need to think about what we should do to take care of ourselves and each other. Once again, though, I would like to express my thanks to people in every part of Wales for their continued efforts, at some cost to all of us, to help keep Wales safe. I ask Members to support the motion before us.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cynigiaf y cynnig ger ein bron. Mae'r rheoliadau sydd ger ein bron heddiw yn darparu na fydd awyrennau a llongau teithwyr sy'n teithio'n uniongyrchol o Ddenmarc, a nwyddau sy'n cael eu cludo gan bobl, yn gallu glanio na docio ym mhorthladdoedd Cymru mwyach. Fe ddaethant i rym ddydd Sadwrn 14 Tachwedd. Mae'r rheoliadau'n dilyn y camau brys a gafodd eu cymryd ledled y DU gan bob un o'r pedair Llywodraeth yn dilyn adroddiadau gan awdurdodau iechyd yn Nenmarc bod achosion o amrywiolyn newydd o COVID wedi'u canfod ar ffermydd mincod, gyda rhai achosion o drosglwyddo dynol.
Cyflwynodd diwygiadau blaenorol i'r cyfyngiadau teithio gyfyngiadau ar Ddenmarc. O 7 Tachwedd, roedd yn ofynnol i unrhyw un a oedd yn cyrraedd y DU o Ddenmarc dros nos ynysu am 14 diwrnod. Roedd hyn yn berthnasol i unigolion a'u haelwydydd hefyd. Roedd hyn yn cyd-fynd â Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithredu pwerau mewnfudo. Mae hynny'n golygu bod holl deithwyr cenedlaethol neu breswyl nad ydyn nhw'n Brydeinig sydd wedi bod yn Nenmarc, neu sydd wedi teithio drwodd, yn ystod y 14 diwrnod diwethaf wedi cael gwrthod mynediad i'r DU. Roedd y rhain yn fesurau rhagofalus yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth gynnar gan awdurdodau iechyd yn Nenmarc. Drwy weithredu, ein nod yw atal risg i Gymru a'r DU rhag y math newydd hwn o COVID. Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi bod yn cysylltu â thrigolion Cymru sydd wedi bod yn Nenmarc, i egluro y byddwn ni'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol iddyn nhw a'u haelwydydd ynysu fel mesur rhagofalus ychwanegol.
Yn amlwg, mae'r sefyllfa yn Nenmarc yn parhau i fod yn sefyllfa sy'n esblygu y byddwn i'n parhau i'w monitro'n ofalus, ac, wrth gwrs, byddwn ni'n gweithio gyda Llywodraethau eraill yn y DU ac Ewrop wrth inni wneud hynny. Nid yw'r Senedd wedi trafod diwygiadau i Reoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Coronafeirws, Teithio Rhyngwladol) (Cymru) 2020 o'r blaen, a gaiff ei wneud, fel arfer, o dan y weithdrefn negyddol. Gan fod y rheoliadau hyn yn diwygio'r cyfyngiadau teithio rhyngwladol a Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 4) (Cymru) 2020 ar wahân ac yn fwy cyffredinol, maen nhw, yn yr achos hwn, o dan y weithdrefn gadarnhaol.
Mae arwyddion calonogol bod y cyfnod atal byr yng Nghymru wedi gweithio, gan arwain at ostyngiad sydyn yn nifer yr achosion cadarnhaol. Mae hyn yn arbennig o glir mewn ardaloedd lle mae nifer fawr o achosion fel Rhondda Cynon Taf a Merthyr Tudful. Rydyn ni hefyd yn gweld bod nifer y derbyniadau i ysbytai yn lefelu, ac o bosibl yn gostwng. Fodd bynnag, mae'r sefyllfa yng Nghymru yn parhau'n ddifrifol iawn. Fel y nododd y Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf, yn dilyn ein hadolygiad o'r rheoliadau, mae'n rhy gynnar i lacio unrhyw un o'r cyfyngiadau. Mae hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r dull gofalus a graddol yr ydym ni wedi'i gymryd erioed. Mae'n werth ystyried, wrth wneud hynny, y cynnydd diweddar mewn achosion cadarnhaol newydd yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf. Mae'r rheoliadau yma yng Nghymru yn dilyn y cyfnod atal byr wedi'u cynllunio i fod yn glir, yn sefydlog ac yn syml i'w deall. Felly, nid ydym yn gwneud newidiadau sylweddol ar hyn o bryd.
Wrth inni nesáu at gyfnod yr ŵyl ym mis Rhagfyr, bydd teuluoedd ac anwyliaid yn naturiol yn dymuno bod gyda'i gilydd. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgysylltu â gweinyddiaethau eraill y DU i geisio dull cydgysylltiedig o gynllunio ar gyfer cyfnod yr ŵyl. Mae'r Prif Weinidog yn cyfarfod y prynhawn yma, os nad wrth inni siarad, fel rhan o gyfarfod COBRA i drafod yr hyn a allai fod yn bosibl ledled y pedair gwlad dros gyfnod y Nadolig. Ac yn amlwg ni allaf i achub y blaen ar ganlyniad y sgyrsiau hynny.
Fel y nodais i yng nghynhadledd Llywodraeth Cymru ddoe, yn anffodus efallai y bydd mabwysiadu dull cyffredin ledled y DU yn dal i olygu bod angen tynhau'r cyfyngiadau yng Nghymru yn ystod yr wythnosau cyn cyfnod yr ŵyl. Efallai mai dyma'r unig ffordd y gallwn ni gyflawni'r hyblygrwydd sydd ei angen i ddarparu ar gyfer y rhyddid ychwanegol y mae llawer ohonom ni'n gobeithio ei fwynhau dros gyfnod cyfyngedig yr Ŵyl. Dylwn i bwysleisio nad oes penderfyniad wedi'i wneud eto ar unrhyw gyfyngiadau newydd. Mae'r gyfraith yng Nghymru yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i'r cyfyngiadau gael eu hadolygu eto erbyn 3 Rhagfyr. Fel rhan o'r adolygiad hwnnw, rwy'n disgwyl inni ystyried a oes angen gofynion ychwanegol yng Nghymru, a bydd hyn yn cynnwys y trefniadau haen newydd yn Lloegr a'r Alban, fel y cafodd ei godi yn ystod cwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog gan arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn gynharach heddiw.
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelodau, fel minnau, wedi'u calonogi gan y newyddion cadarnhaol ynghylch datblygu brechlynnau, gyda'r newyddion ychwanegol ddoe am frechlyn Rhydychen. Er hynny, hoffwn i atgoffa pawb unwaith eto nad yw'r brechlyn yn ateb syml. Mae'r coronafeirws yn dal gyda ni. Mae'n dal yn heintus iawn, ac yn dal i fod yn debygol o achosi niwed mawr yn y misoedd i ddod, gan gynnwys, mae arnaf ofn, ragor o farwolaethau. Yn anffodus, mae'r cyfyngiadau'n dal yn angenrheidiol iawn. Rydym fisoedd i ffwrdd o'r posibilrwydd realistig o ddiogelu'r boblogaeth gyda chyfuniad o frechlynnau. Mae angen i bob un ohonom feddwl am yr hyn y dylem ei wneud i ofalu amdanom ni ein hunain a'n gilydd. Unwaith eto, fodd bynnag, hoffwn i ddiolch i bobl ym mhob rhan o Gymru am eu hymdrechion parhaus, ar dipyn o gost i bob un ohonom ni, i helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel. Rwy'n gofyn i'r Aelodau gefnogi'r cynnig sydd ger ein bron.
Thank you. I now call on the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Consitution Committee, Mick Antoniw.
Diolch. Rwy'n galw nawr ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deddfau, Cyfiawnder a Chyfansoddiad, Mick Antoniw.
Thank you, Dirpwy Lywydd. Being half Danish, I have a particular interest in this particular set of regulations. We reported as a committee on these regulations yesterday. As Members will know, they came into force at 4 a.m. on Saturday 14 November 2020. As the Minister has explained, the regulations amend the original coronavirus, international travel and restrictions regulations, including by adding a new measure prohibiting aircraft and maritime vessels whose last departure point was in Denmark from arriving in Wales. This restriction is subject to limited exceptions.
The regulations also amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 4) (Wales) Regulations, as the Minister has mentioned. We as a committee identified one technical reporting point regarding a difference between the English and Welsh texts as to the meaning of 'arrive in Wales' as regards a vessel coming directly from Denmark. We also identified three merits points. The first point notes the justification for any political interference with human rights, and the second that there has been no formal consultation on these regulations. Our final reporting point welcomes the fact that these regulations correct issues in the No. 4 regulations and the original coronavirus, international travel and restrictions regulations that our committee raised in previous reports. Thank you, Llywydd.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gan fy mod yn hanner Danaidd, mae gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig yn y set benodol hon o reoliadau. Fe wnaethom ni adrodd fel pwyllgor ar y rheoliadau hyn ddoe. Fel y gwŷr yr Aelodau, daethon nhw i rym am 4 a.m. ddydd Sadwrn 14 Tachwedd 2020. Fel yr eglurodd y Gweinidog, mae'r rheoliadau'n diwygio'r rheoliadau coronafeirws, teithio rhyngwladol a chyfyngiadau gwreiddiol, gan gynnwys drwy ychwanegu mesur newydd yn gwahardd llongau awyrennau a llongau morwrol, mai Denmarc oedd eu man gadael olaf, rhag cyrraedd Cymru. Mae'r cyfyngiad hwn yn amodol ar eithriadau cyfyngedig.
Mae'r rheoliadau hefyd yn diwygio Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 4) (Cymru), fel y soniodd y Gweinidog. Fe wnaethom ni fel pwyllgor nodi un pwynt adrodd technegol ynglŷn â gwahaniaeth rhwng y testunau Cymraeg a Saesneg o ran ystyr 'cyrraedd Cymru', o ran llong yn dod yn uniongyrchol o Ddenmarc. Roeddem ni hefyd wedi nodi tri phwynt teilyngdod. Mae'r pwynt cyntaf yn nodi'r cyfiawnhad dros unrhyw ymyrraeth wleidyddol â hawliau dynol, a'r ail nid oes ymgynghoriad ffurfiol wedi bod ar y rheoliadau hyn. Mae ein pwynt adrodd terfynol yn croesawu'r ffaith bod y rheoliadau hyn yn cywiro materion yn rheoliadau Rhif 4 a'r rheoliadau coronafeirws, teithio rhyngwladol a chyfyngiadau gwreiddiol y mae ein pwyllgor wedi'u codi mewn adroddiadau blaenorol. Diolch, Llywydd.
We'll be supporting the regulations that are tabled this afternoon. I'd just seek two points of clarification from the Minister, if I may. On the Denmark part of the regulations that have been moved by the Government, can the Minister, whilst he did give us an update to a point, indicate is there any knowledge about the transmission rate outside of Denmark? I notice that there's press speculation that has picked up the new variant of the COVID infection as now appearing in other countries in Europe.
I do not think I've heard of any transmission within the United Kingdom, or, indeed, Wales, but it would be helpful to understand. Can the Minister confirm that that is the case, and, in particular, the regular dialogue that officials from Public Health Wales and the Danish authorities are having to make sure that that information is shared? Because, again, as I understand it, this outbreak in Denmark has led to Government resignations as well, so, the update he gave us last week of a good relationship was pleasing to hear, but there are obviously some political considerations domestically in Denmark, and we must make sure that those corridors of communication are maintained.
Secondly, when it comes to the international regulations on travel restrictions that have been placed on returning visitors from Greece, today we've had the news about possible testing—the ability to test on return that would shorten the isolation period. Is the Minister in a position to confirm whether such testing opportunities will be available here at points of entry for Wales, or is this just an England-only initiative at the moment and potentially could become available here in Wales?
Byddwn ni'n cefnogi'r rheoliadau sy'n cael eu cyflwyno y prynhawn yma. Hoffwn ofyn am ddau bwynt o eglurhad gan y Gweinidog, os caf i. Ynghylch rhan Denmarc o'r rheoliadau sydd wedi'u symud gan y Llywodraeth, a wnaiff y Gweinidog, er iddo roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni at ryw bwynt, nodi a oes unrhyw wybodaeth am y gyfradd drosglwyddo y tu allan i Ddenmarc? Rwy'n nodi bod damcaniaethu yn y wasg sydd wedi sylwi ar yr amrywiolyn newydd o haint COVID fel sy'n ymddangos nawr mewn gwledydd eraill yn Ewrop.
Nid wyf yn credu fy mod i wedi clywed am unrhyw drosglwyddo o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig, nac, yn wir, yng Nghymru, ond byddai'n ddefnyddiol deall. A all y Gweinidog gadarnhau bod hynny'n wir ac, yn benodol, y ddeialog reolaidd y mae swyddogion Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ac awdurdodau Denmarc yn ei chael i sicrhau bod yr wybodaeth honno'n cael ei rhannu? Oherwydd, unwaith eto, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae'r achosion hyn yn Nenmarc wedi arwain at ymddiswyddiadau yn y Llywodraeth hefyd. Felly, roedd yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf a roddodd inni yr wythnos diwethaf o ran perthynas dda yn braf i'w chlywed, ond mae'n amlwg bod rhai ystyriaethau gwleidyddol domestig yn Nenmarc, a rhaid inni sicrhau bod y llwybrau cyfathrebu hynny'n cael eu cynnal.
Yn ail, o ran y rheoliadau rhyngwladol ar gyfyngiadau teithio a osodwyd ar ymwelwyr sy'n dychwelyd o Wlad Groeg, heddiw rydym ni wedi cael y newyddion am brofion posibl—y gallu i brofi ar ôl dychwelyd a fyddai'n byrhau'r cyfnod ynysu. A yw'r Gweinidog mewn sefyllfa i gadarnhau a fydd cyfleoedd profi o'r fath ar gael yma mewn pwyntiau mynediad i Gymru, neu ai menter i Loegr yn unig yw hon ar hyn o bryd, ac a allai fod ar gael, o bosibl, yma yng Nghymru?
Mi fyddem ninnau hefyd yn cefnogi'r rheoliadau yma heddiw. Mae'r sefyllfa yn Nenmarc yn bryderus, wrth gwrs, ac mae'n synhwyrol i gymryd camau i ddiogelu'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru yn sgil y datblygiadau hynny. Mae'r rheoliadau yma hefyd yn tynnu nifer o wledydd oddi ar y rhestr o diriogaethau sy'n esempt o waharddiadau ac yn y blaen, ac yn ychwanegu gwledydd eraill ati. Mae hynny'n dweud wrthym ni, onid ydy, fod stori'r feirws yn stori o feirws sy'n ddeinamig o hyd ar hyd a lled y byd, ac mae hynny'n ein hatgoffa ni nad ydy pethau drosodd o bell ffordd eto.
Mae o'n ddeinamig yma yng Nghymru hefyd, wrth gwrs, ac mi wnaf i ychydig o sylwadau ynglŷn â hynny. Do, mi gawsom ni'r cyfnod clo dros dro ac roeddwn innau, ynghyd ag Aelodau Plaid Cymru, wedi galw am hynny. Mi oedd hi'n amser am y cyfnod hwnnw. Ond rydym ni'n gallu gweld, onid ydym, fod yna arwyddion pryderus mewn sawl rhan o Gymru—mewn llawer o rannau o Gymru, a dweud a gwir—ynglŷn â'r ffordd mae patrwm y feirws yn mynd. Ac mi ddywedaf i yn fan hyn ein bod ni'n barod i weithio efo'r Llywodraeth ar reoliadau newydd gallai fod angen eu cyflwyno, a'r rheoliadau hynny efo pwyslais ar gefnogi.
Mi drafodon ni yma yn y Senedd brynhawn dydd Mercher diwethaf y pwysigrwydd o gefnogi pobl i helpu cymunedau i'w helpu eu hunain i reoli'r feirws yma. Mi glywson ni yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon yr wythnos diwethaf mor bwysig ydy cefnogi cymunedau, cefnogi pobl i hunan-ynysu ac yn y blaen, fel un o'r prif arfau yn erbyn y feirws yma. Felly, gadewch i ni edrych yn enwedig ar yr ardaloedd hynny o Gymru lle mae'r feirws ar gynnydd a gweld sut y gallen ni drio newid ymddygiad pobl ac arferion pobl drwy eu helpu nhw. Mae yna lawer rhy ychydig o bobl, nid dim ond yng Nghymru, ond yn yr ynysoedd yma, sydd yn methu â gwneud yr hyn sydd ei angen er mwyn hunan-ynysu yn llym. Mae gwledydd eraill yn llawer gwell am gael pobl i hunan-ynysu, a'r rheswm ydy bod yna fwy o gefnogaeth yn y gwledydd hynny—nid dim ond cefnogaeth ariannol, fel rydym ni wedi pwysleisio sydd ei angen, ond cefnogaeth ymarferol, cefnogaeth emosiynol hefyd, i bobl allu gwneud y penderfyniadau iawn.
Dwi'n annog y Llywodraeth i ystyried y mathau yna o gamau yng Nghymru dros yr wythnosau nesaf—meddwl amdanyn nhw fel cefnogaeth yn hytrach na chyfyngiadau. Mae pawb wedi cael llond bol ar gyfyngiadau. Ond mae yna ardaloedd sydd angen mwy o help nag eraill, a rydym ni'n barod i gefnogi'r Llywodraeth os ydyn nhw am ystyried hynny wrth inni symud ymlaen i'r cyfnod nesaf.
We too will be supporting these regulations today. The situation in Denmark is a cause for concern, and it's sensible to take steps to safeguard the public in Wales given those developments. These regulations also take a number of nations off the list of exempt countries and do add others to that list. That tells us, of course, that the story of the virus is one that continues to be dynamic across the globe, and that reminds us that things are by no means over.
It's dynamic here in Wales too, and I will make a few comments on that. Yes, we did have the firebreak lockdown and I and fellow Members of Plaid Cymru had called for that. It was time for that step to be taken. But we can see that there are concerning signs in many parts of Wales, if truth be told, in terms of how the pattern of the virus is developing. And I will say here that we are willing to work with Government on new regulations that may need to be introduced, and those regulations should have an emphasis on support.
We discussed here in the Senedd last Wednesday afternoon the importance of supporting people to help communities to help themselves to manage the virus. We heard at the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee last week how important it is to support communities and to support individuals to self-isolate, as one of the main tools in the fight against this virus. So, let us look particularly at those areas of Wales where the virus is increasing and see how we can seek to change behaviour, to change people's habits, in fact, by supporting them and helping them. There are far too few people, not just in Wales, but in these isles, who can't do what is necessary in order to follow strict self-isolation. Other nations are far more effective in getting people to self-isolate, and the reason for that is that there is more support available—not just financial support, as we've emphasised, but also practical support and emotional support too, so that people can make the right decisions.
I encourage the Government to consider those kinds of steps in Wales over the next few weeks—to think of them as support, rather than restrictions. Everyone's had enough of restrictions. But there are areas that need more help than others, and we are willing to support the Government if they will consider that as we move to the next phase.
Thank you. I have nobody who has requested to make an intervention. Therefore, I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services to reply to the debate.
Diolch. Nid oes gennyf i unrhyw un sydd wedi gofyn am wneud ymyriad. Felly, rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Thank you, and thank you to Members for their comments. I'm not half Danish, unlike the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, but I do have family in Denmark—I have a brother, a sister in-law and two nephews. I don't think that that materially affects my decision making in this regard, particularly as these are additional restrictions that we're debating. I should also say the original restrictions were signed off after 3 a.m. in the morning, before coming into force at 4 a.m. That was an early morning or a late night for myself, but also I want to thank officials, who I don't think are always appreciated, who are up til very late in the evening, working through the detail of the regulations and transmitting the genuinely very fast-moving emergency measures that we had to take, at some cost to themselves and their families for working up to that point in time.
In terms of the questions from Andrew R.T. Davies and some of the points, well, we're not clear about the other variant in other European countries, because other European countries do have some commercial mink farming. We're not sure if there's transmission from Denmark or novel variants in other countries. We're meeting, again, across other UK administrations on Thursday, when I expect to get an update. I'll also have a conversation with our own chief medical officer in advance of that, and, as we have a more developed picture, we'll continue to update. But this is, again—for all the difference at various points in time between the four Governments in the UK during the pandemic, this is an area where there is genuine and open conversation between the Governments and a sharing of information and evidence, and, as soon we have another proper update, I'll be happy to provide that to Members, including, if it's outside of Plenary time, then to do so in a written statement.
We are in the position, though, that we still have very good relationships with not just the Danish Government but with the Danish healthcare system, and there have been no concerns raised with me about the level of co-operation and information sharing from Denmark. We do, though, expect, on the second point that the Member asked—it's not strictly part of the regulations for us today, but, about the international travel arrangements that the transport Secretary's announced for England today, we've not ruled out doing something similar. However, we want to be able to understand more of the detailed information that apparently underpins the choice made by Ministers for England. So, I'm pleased to say that they've agreed to share that information and work with our own chief medical officer and our technical advisory cell to give advice to Welsh Ministers. Given that implementation within England isn't until the middle of December, we may be able to move at a similar point in time, if we choose to do so, but, as I say, we'll get those papers, we'll have that advice from our technical advisory cell, and then, in the normal course of events, we'd expect to not just be able to make a decision but also to publish a summary of that advice in the regular technical advisory cell publications that come out each week.
I think that moves into the points made by Rhun ap Iorwerth about supporting people and self-isolation in particular. SAGE papers were referenced in last week's technical advisory cell report, and that talks again not just about financial support, which there is some already in place for, but also about the non-financial support and the broader point about encouraging people to do the right thing for other people as well as themselves. So, there's a challenge here in messaging, reinforcing why it's the right thing to do, and supporting people to do so. From the comprehensive spending review tomorrow, we'll hear where we are in terms of whether there is to be any additional resource for the Government here to use, and, if so, at what point.
We do, though, already have regular support calls, which are a feature of our test, trace and protect service. I've had constituents, and people from across Wales outside my constituency, contact me to say how useful they've found those regular support calls from the test, trace and protect service to see how they are and how they're coping in the isolation they would need to undertake following a period of isolation, either as an index case or, indeed, as a contact. So, there's more that we would of course want to learn from other parts of the UK, to think about the advice that we get, and to practically help people to do the right thing. This is still very much part of doing the right thing to take care of ourselves and each other. I want to thank all Members for their contributions today and ask that Members continue to support the regulations to help keep Wales safe. Many thanks.
Diolch, a diolch i'r Aelodau am eu sylwadau. Yn wahanol i Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a Chyfansoddiad, nid wyf i'n hanner Danaidd, ond mae gennyf i deulu yn Nenmarc—mae gennyf frawd, chwaer yng nghyfraith a dau nai. Nid wyf yn credu bod hynny'n effeithio'n sylweddol ar fy mhenderfyniadau yn hyn o beth, yn enwedig gan fod y rhain yn gyfyngiadau ychwanegol yr ydym ni'n eu trafod. Fe ddylwn i ddweud hefyd fod y cyfyngiadau gwreiddiol wedi'u llofnodi ar ôl 3 a.m. y bore, cyn dod i rym am 4 a.m. Roedd hynny'n fore cynnar, neu'n noson hwyr i mi, ond hefyd hoffwn i ddiolch i'r swyddogion, yr wyf i o'r farn nad ydyn nhw bob amser yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi. Maen nhw yn aros i fyny'n hwyr iawn gyda'r nos, yn gweithio drwy fanylion y rheoliadau ac yn trosglwyddo'r mesurau brys, y bu'n rhaid i ni eu cymryd ac sy'n symud yn wirioneddol gyflym iawn, a hynny ar gryn gost iddyn nhw eu hunain a'u teuluoedd am weithio hyd at yr amser hwnnw.
O ran y cwestiynau gan Andrew R.T. Davies a rhai o'r pwyntiau, wel, nid ydym yn hollol glir am yr amrywiolyn arall mewn gwledydd eraill yn Ewrop, oherwydd mae gan wledydd eraill Ewrop rywfaint o ffermio mincod masnachol. Nid ydym yn siŵr a oes trosglwyddo o Ddenmarc neu amrywiolion newydd mewn gwledydd eraill. Byddwn yn cyfarfod unwaith eto ledled gweinyddiaethau eraill y DU ddydd Iau, pan fyddaf yn disgwyl cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf. Byddaf i hefyd yn cael sgwrs gyda'n prif swyddog meddygol ni cyn hynny, ac wrth inni gael y darlun mwy datblygedig, byddwn yn parhau i'ch diweddaru. Ond mae hwn, unwaith eto—er gwaethaf yr holl wahaniaeth ar wahanol adegau rhwng y pedair Llywodraeth yn y DU yn ystod y pandemig, mae hwn yn faes lle cawn sgwrs ddilys ac agored rhwng y Llywodraethau, gan rannu gwybodaeth a thystiolaeth. A phan gawn ni ddiweddariad priodol arall, byddaf i'n hapus i ddarparu hynny i'r Aelodau, gan gynnwys, os yw hynny y tu allan i amser y Cyfarfod Llawn, wneud hynny mewn datganiad ysgrifenedig.
Rydym ni yn y sefyllfa, serch hynny, o fod â pherthynas dda iawn nid yn unig â Llywodraeth Denmarc ond â system gofal iechyd Denmarc, ac nid oes unrhyw bryderon wedi'u codi gyda mi ynglŷn â lefel y cydweithredu a rhannu gwybodaeth o Ddenmarc. Er hynny, rydym yn disgwyl, ar yr ail bwynt a ofynnodd yr Aelod—nid yw'n fanwl gywir yn rhan o'r rheoliadau i ni heddiw, ond, o ran y trefniadau teithio rhyngwladol a gyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Trafnidiaeth ar gyfer Lloegr heddiw, nid ydym wedi diystyru gwneud rhywbeth tebyg. Fodd bynnag, rydym eisiau gallu deall mwy o'r wybodaeth fanwl sydd, mae'n debyg, yn sail i'r dewis sy'n cael ei wneud gan Weinidogion Lloegr. Felly, rwy'n falch o ddweud eu bod wedi cytuno i rannu'r wybodaeth honno a gweithio gyda'n prif swyddog meddygol ni a'n cell cyngor technegol i roi cyngor i Weinidogion Cymru. O ystyried na fydd y gweithredu yn Lloegr yn digwydd tan ganol mis Rhagfyr, efallai y gallwn ni symud tua'r un amser, os dewiswn wneud hynny. Ond, fel y dywedais, byddwn ni'n cael y papurau hynny, byddwn ni'n cael y cyngor hwnnw gan ein cell cyngor technegol, ac yna, yn ôl y drefn arferol, byddem ni'n disgwyl nid yn unig allu gwneud penderfyniad ond hefyd gyhoeddi crynodeb o'r cyngor hwnnw yng nghyhoeddiadau rheolaidd y gell cyngor technegol sy'n ymddangos bob wythnos.
Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n symud at y pwyntiau a wnaed gan Rhun ap Iorwerth ar gefnogi pobl a hunanynysu yn benodol. Cyfeiriwyd at bapurau SAGE yn adroddiad y gell cyngor technegol yr wythnos diwethaf, ac mae'n sôn eto nid yn unig am gymorth ariannol, y mae peth eisoes yn ei le, ond hefyd am gymorth anariannol a'r pwynt ehangach ynghylch annog pobl i wneud y peth cywir i eraill yn ogystal ag iddyn nhw eu hunain. Felly, mae yna her yma, drwy anfon negeseuon, drwy bwysleisio pam mai hwn yw'r peth iawn i'w wneud, a chefnogi pobl i wneud hynny. O'r adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant yfory, fe fyddwn yn clywed am ein sefyllfa o ran a fydd unrhyw adnodd ychwanegol i'r Llywodraeth yma ei ddefnyddio, ac, os felly, ar ba bwynt.
Fodd bynnag, mae gennym eisoes alwadau cymorth rheolaidd, sy'n nodwedd o'n gwasanaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu. Rwyf wedi cael etholwyr, a phobl o bob rhan o Gymru y tu allan i'm hetholaeth i, yn cysylltu â mi i ddweud pa mor ddefnyddiol y mae'r galwadau cymorth rheolaidd hynny o'r gwasanaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu wedi bod iddyn nhw, o ran gweld sut y maen nhw a sut maen nhw'n ymdopi â theimlo'n unig yn dilyn cyfnod o ynysu, naill ai fel achos cyfeirio neu, yn wir, fel cyswllt. Felly, mae yna ragor o bethau y byddem eisiau eu dysgu o rannau eraill o'r DU, meddwl am y cyngor yr ydym ni'n ei gael, a helpu pobl i wneud y peth iawn yn ymarferol. Mae hyn yn rhan fawr o wneud y peth iawn wrth ofalu amdanom ni ein hunain a'n gilydd. Hoffwn i ddiolch i'r holl Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau heddiw a gofyn i'r Aelodau barhau i gefnogi'r rheoliadau i helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel. Llawer o ddiolch.
Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Diolch. Y cynnig yw ein bod yn derbyn y cynnig. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Na. Felly, derbynnir 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.
We will now suspend proceedings to allow changeovers in the Chamber. If you're leaving the Chamber, please do so promptly, and the bell will be rung two minutes before proceedings are to restart. Members should wait outside of the Chamber until the bell is rung. Thank you.
Byddwn ni nawr yn atal y trafodion i ganiatáu newid yn y Siambr. Os ydych yn gadael y Siambr, gwnewch hynny'n brydlon, a bydd y gloch yn cael ei chanu ddwy funud cyn i'r trafodion ailgychwyn. Dylai'r Aelodau aros y tu allan i'r Siambr nes i'r gloch gael ei chanu. Diolch.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 17:09.
Plenary was suspended at 17:09.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 17:15, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 17:15, with the Deputy Presiding Officer in the Chair.
So, we reconvene on item 8, which is the Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (Wales) Regulations 2020, and I call on the Minister for Education to move the motion. Kirsty Williams.
Felly, rydym ni'n ailymgynnull ar eitem 8, sef Rheoliadau Cydlynydd Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol (Cymru) 2020, a galwaf ar y Gweinidog Addysg i wneud y cynnig. Kirsty Williams.
Cynnig NDM7482 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Cydlynydd Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol (Cymru) 2020 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 3 Tachwedd 2020.
Motion NDM7482 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (Wales) Regulations 2020 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 3 November 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Members will be aware that, in response to numerous reports into the shortfalls of the current system, this Government introduced new legislation in 2016 that paved the way for a much-improved system for supporting children and young people with additional learning needs. This ambitious legislation was co-constructed with key stakeholders and tested through the Bill scrutiny process by Members of the Senedd. The Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, otherwise known as the ALN Act, became an Act of law in January 2018 and is the centrepiece of the wider ALN transformation programme.
Since 2018, I've been working with stakeholders to help shape the ALN code and draft regulations setting out how the new system will work in practice. In September, I announced that the timeline for starting roll-out of the new ALN system remains unchanged, and that the statutory roles of the additional learning needs co-ordinator—the ALNCO; the designated educational clinical lead officer—the DECLO; and the early years additional learning needs lead officers—the EYALNCOs—will still commence in January 2021. This will enable the rest of the new system to proceed on a phased basis from September 2021.
Earlier this month, I approved the Order that will allow for the commencement of these statutory roles from 4 January 2021, and to support this I'm pleased to present an important set of regulations that mark a key milestone in the ALN reforms in Wales, the draft ALNCO regulations. These regulations will help raise standards and the co-ordination of education provision, and promote a whole-school approach to those with ALN by prescribing the qualifications and experience an ALNCO must have. They set out clear tasks that an ALNCO must undertake, which will ensure that our statutory bodies take a consistent approach in designating the role, as well as enabling the delivery of improved educational provision for children and young people with ALN.
To support ALNCOs, I'm providing funding for additional training as part of an ALN national professional training programme. Work is under way to develop a specific professional learning offer for ALNCOs to enable them to provide a strategic leadership role, acting as the first port of call for professional advice and guidance for others.
The draft ALNCO regulations were laid in the Senedd on 3 November and with the support of Members today will come into force at the same time as the ALNCO role commences on 4 January 2021. Passing these regulations will represent a significant step forward in the delivery of our new ALN system in Wales and will go some way towards improving the life chances of our learners with additional learning needs. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Bydd yr Aelodau yn ymwybodol bod y Llywodraeth hon, mewn ymateb i nifer o adroddiadau ar ddiffygion y system bresennol, wedi cyflwyno deddfwriaeth newydd yn 2016 a oedd yn paratoi y ffordd ar gyfer system lawer gwell i gefnogi plant a phobl ifanc ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Cafodd y ddeddfwriaeth uchelgeisiol hon ei chyd-ddatblygu â rhanddeiliaid allweddol a'i phrofi drwy broses graffu'r Bil gan Aelodau'r Senedd. Daeth Deddf Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a Thribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) 2018, a elwir fel arall yn Ddeddf ADY, yn Ddeddf Cyfraith ym mis Ionawr 2018 ac mae'n ganolbwynt i'r rhaglen drawsnewid ADY ehangach.
Ers 2018, rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid i helpu i lunio'r cod ADY a'r rheoliadau drafft sy'n nodi sut y bydd y system newydd yn gweithio'n ymarferol. Ym mis Medi, cyhoeddais fod yr amserlen ar gyfer dechrau cyflwyno'r system ADY newydd yn aros yr un peth, a bod swyddogaethau statudol y cydlynydd anghenion dysgu ychwanegol—y CADY; y swyddog arweiniol clinigol addysgol dynodedig—y SACDA; a swyddogion arweiniol anghenion dysgu ychwanegol y blynyddoedd cynnar—y CADY blynyddoedd cynnar—yn dal i ddechrau ym mis Ionawr 2021. Bydd hyn yn galluogi gweddill y system newydd i fynd rhagddi fesul cam o fis Medi 2021.
Yn gynharach y mis hwn, cymeradwyais y Gorchymyn a fydd yn caniatáu ar gyfer cychwyn y swyddogaethau statudol hyn o 4 Ionawr 2021, ac i gefnogi hyn rwy'n falch o gyflwyno cyfres bwysig o reoliadau sy'n nodi carreg filltir allweddol yn y gwaith o ddiwygio'r ADY yng Nghymru, y rheoliadau ADY drafft. Bydd y rheoliadau hyn yn helpu i godi safonau a chydgysylltu darpariaeth addysg, ac yn hyrwyddo dull ysgol gyfan o ymdrin â'r rhai ag ADY drwy ragnodi'r cymwysterau a phrofiad y mae'n rhaid i ADY eu cael. Maen nhw'n nodi tasgau clir y mae'n rhaid i ADY ymgymryd â nhw. Bydd y rhain yn sicrhau bod ein cyrff statudol yn defnyddio dull cyson o ddynodi'r swyddogaeth, yn ogystal â galluogi darparu gwell darpariaeth addysgol i blant a phobl ifanc ag ADY.
I gefnogi'r swyddogion CADY, rwy'n darparu cyllid ar gyfer hyfforddiant ychwanegol fel rhan o raglen hyfforddi broffesiynol genedlaethol ADY. Mae gwaith ar y gweill i ddatblygu cynnig dysgu proffesiynol penodol ar gyfer CADYau i'w galluogi i ddarparu swyddogaeth arwain strategol, gan weithredu fel y pwynt cyswllt cyntaf ar gyfer cyngor ac arweiniad proffesiynol i eraill.
Cafodd y rheoliadau ADY drafft eu gosod yn y Senedd ar 3 Tachwedd. Gyda chefnogaeth yr Aelodau heddiw daw i rym ar yr un pryd ag y bydd swyddogaeth y CADY yn dechrau, sef ar 4 Ionawr 2021. Bydd pasio'r rheoliadau hyn yn gam sylweddol ymlaen o ran darparu ein system ADY newydd yng Nghymru a bydd yn cyfrannu rhywfaint at wella cyfleoedd bywyd ein dysgwyr sydd ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Mae Plaid Cymru yn croesawu'r bwriad i wella'r gefnogaeth i ddisgyblion gydag anghenion ychwanegol, ond dwi'n nodi, fodd bynnag, fod yna nifer o heriau yn codi efo cyflwyno'r newidiadau, yn enwedig yn sgil COVID ac o gofio'r diwygiadau cwricwlwm pellgyrhaeddol sydd ar y gorwel hefyd.
Mae'r newidiadau i addysg disgyblion anghenion ychwanegol yn cario pris efo nhw, ond dydy hi ddim yn glir faint fydd hyn i gyd yn ei gostio—ddim yn glir faint fydd o'n gostio mewn termau staffio na mewn termau hyfforddiant. Ond dwi'n meddwl bod yna gytundeb yn gyffredinol y bydd o'n golygu pwysau ariannol ychwanegol ar ein hysgolion ni er bod cyllidebau yn crebachu. Mae cryn waith i'w wneud i uwch-sgilio staff, hefyd. Felly, tra'n croesawu'r rheoliadau newydd yma, mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth gydnabod bod yna gryn heriau wrth gyflwyno'r newidiadau mewn ffordd ystyrlon a fydd wir yn gwneud gwahaniaeth i'r cohort arbennig yma o blant.
Plaid Cymru welcomes the intention to improve support for pupils with additional learning needs, but I do note, however, that there are a number of challenges arising in introducing these changes, particularly in light of COVID and bearing in mind the far-reaching curricular reforms that are also in the pipeline.
The changes to ALN education have a cost to them, but it is not clear exactly how much all of this will cost—it's not clear what it will cost in staffing terms or in terms of training. But I do think that there is general agreement that it will mean additional financial pressures on our schools even though budgets are shrinking. There is also some work to be done to upskill staff, too. So, whilst welcoming these new regulations, the Government must acknowledge that there are significant challenges in introducing these changes in a meaningful way that will truly make a difference to this special cohort of children.
Thank you. There are no Members who have indicated that they want to make an intervention, therefore, can I call on the Minister for Education to reply to the debate? Kirsty Williams. You need to be unmuted.
Diolch. Nid oes unrhyw Aelodau wedi dweud eu bod eisiau ymyrryd, felly, a gaf i alw ar y Gweinidog Addysg i ymateb i'r ddadl? Kirsty Williams. Mae angen ichi gael eich dad-dawelu.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Can I thank Siân Gwenllian for her comments? She is absolutely right to talk about the not insignificant challenges of making real the promise of the ALN Act. And certainly, the impact of COVID-19 on the work of the Government and, indeed, on the work of schools is not insignificant. However, I'm sure she would agree with me that we must make progress and the regulations before us today allow us to do that.
With regard to financial resources, the Member will be aware that we have set aside a £20 million programme to support the implementation of the Act. The vast majority of that will be spent on providing the necessary professional learning and upskilling opportunities that will be demanded by the legislation. But I'm grateful for her comments and her continued commitment to this important area of reform.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch i Siân Gwenllian am ei sylwadau? Mae hi yn llygad ei lle wrth siarad am yr heriau sylweddol o wireddu addewid y Ddeddf ADY. Ac yn sicr, nid yw effaith COVID-19 ar waith y Llywodraeth ac, yn wir, ar waith ysgolion yn ddibwys. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n siŵr y byddai hi'n cytuno â mi bod yn rhaid inni wneud cynnydd ac mae'r rheoliadau sydd ger ein bron heddiw yn caniatáu inni wneud hynny.
O ran adnoddau ariannol, bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol ein bod ni wedi neilltuo rhaglen gwerth £20 miliwn i gefnogi'r gwaith o weithredu'r Ddeddf. Bydd y rhan fwyaf o hynny'n cael ei wario ar ddarparu'r cyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol ac uwchsgilio angenrheidiol y bydd y ddeddfwriaeth yn gofyn amdanyn nhw. Ond rwy'n ddiolchgar am ei sylwadau a'i hymrwymiad parhaus i'r maes diwygio pwysig hwn.
Thank you very much. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? I don't see any objections. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Y cynnig yw ein bod yn derbyn y cynnig. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nid wyf i'n gweld unrhyw wrthwynebiadau. Felly, derbynnir 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.
Item 9 on our agenda is a debate, and it's the Welsh Government's annual report for 'Cymraeg 2050' for 2019-20, and the Welsh Language Commissioner's annual report of 2019-20. I call on the Minister for Mental Health, Well-being and the Welsh Language to move the motion. Is the Minister there? Right, we'll have a couple of minutes' break until the Minister can join us virtually.
Mae eitem 9 ar ein hagenda yn ddadl, a dyma adroddiad blynyddol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 'Cymraeg 2050' ar gyfer 2019-20, ac adroddiad blynyddol Comisiynydd y Gymraeg yn 2019-20. Rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl, Lles a'r Gymraeg i wneud y cynnig. A yw'r Gweinidog yno? Iawn, cawn rai munudau o seibiant nes y gall y Gweinidog ymuno â ni yn rhithiol.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 17:22.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 17:23, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd yn y Gadair.
Plenary was suspended at 17:22.
The Senedd reconvened at 17:23, with the Deputy Presiding Officer in the Chair.
As I was saying, we're on the debate on the Welsh Government's annual report for 'Cymraeg 2050' and the Welsh Language Commissioner's annual report, and I will ask, now, the Minister for Mental Health, Well-being and the Welsh Language to move the motion. Eluned Morgan.
Fel y dywedais, rydym ni ar y ddadl ar adroddiad blynyddol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 'Cymraeg 2050' ac adroddiad blynyddol Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, ac rwy'n gofyn nawr i'r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl, Lles a'r Gymraeg gynnig y cynnig. Eluned Morgan.
Cynnig NDM7485 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi:
a) Adroddiad Blynyddol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Cymraeg 2050 (2019-20);
b) Adroddiad Blynyddol Comisiynydd y Gymraeg (2019-20).
Motion NDM7485 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes:
a) the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 Annual Report (2019-20);
b) the Welsh Language Commissioner's Annual Report (2019-20).
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, ac ymddiheuriadau fy mod i wedi cyrraedd yn hwyr. Dwi yma heddiw i gyflwyno dau adroddiad blynyddol gerbron y Senedd sydd, gyda'i gilydd, yn dangos y camau a gafodd eu cymryd yn 2019-20 i gyrraedd ein nod llesiant cenedlaethol o weld y Gymraeg yn ffynnu. Yr adroddiadau sydd dan sylw yw adroddiad blynyddol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 'Cymraeg 2050' ac adroddiad blynyddol Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, eto ar gyfer 2019-20.
Dwi am ddechrau trwy drafod ein hadroddiad blynyddol ni ar ein strategaeth iaith, sef 'Cymraeg 2050'. Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn canolbwyntio ar flwyddyn ariannol 2019-20, ac mae'n dangos y cynnydd rydym ni wedi ei wneud wrth weithredu 'Cymraeg 2050' yn ystod y flwyddyn.
Thank you very much, and apologies for my late arrival. I am here today to present two annual reports before the Senedd, which taken together show the steps that were taken in 2019-20 to reach our national well-being goal of seeing the Welsh language prosper. The reports covered are the Welsh Government's annual report for 'Cymraeg 2050' and the Welsh Language Commissioner's annual report, again for 2019-20.
I want to start by looking at our annual report on our language strategy, namely 'Cymraeg 2050'. This report focuses on the financial year 2019-20 and shows the progress that we have made in implementing 'Cymraeg 2050' during those 12 months.
Fe gofiwch fod 'Cymraeg 2050' yn cynnwys dau brif nod, sef cynyddu nifer y siaradwyr a chynyddu'r defnydd a wneir o'r iaith hefyd. Mae'r adroddiad hwn, felly, yn dangos y gwaith sydd wedi'i wneud mewn ymateb i'r nodau hyn yng nghalon ein cymunedau, gan ein partneriaid grant, a gennym ni fel Llywodraeth. Fe welwch fod yr adroddiad yn dangos ein gwaith o'r blynyddoedd cynnar, trwy ddarpariaeth addysg statudol, i addysg ôl-orfodol a Chymraeg i oedolion. Mae hefyd yn sôn am brosiectau i gynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn ein cymunedau.
Mae'r adroddiad yn un amrywiol iawn am fod y gwaith yn perthyn i bob un o feysydd gwaith y Llywodraeth, gan adlewyrchu pwysigrwydd prif ffrydio a gwreiddio 'Cymraeg 2050' yn eang. Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn arddangos tystiolaeth dda iawn o hynny.
Does dim amser gyda fi i fynd drwy bopeth heddiw, felly dwi am sôn am rai o uchafbwyntiau'r flwyddyn cyn troi at beth sydd wedi digwydd ers hynny yn sgil COVID-19. Un o uchafbwyntiau'r llynedd oedd cymryd rhan ym Mlwyddyn Ryngwladol UNESCO ar gyfer Ieithoedd Brodorol. Roedd yn gyfle gwych i ni godi proffeil Cymru yn rhyngwladol, fel gwlad ddwyieithog a gwlad sy'n arwain yn y maes adfywio ieithyddol.
Yn ystod yn flwyddyn adrodd, mi wnes i gyhoeddi ein bwriad i sefydlu Prosiect 2050. Uned newydd sbon yw hon sy'n cydlynu ein gwaith o gynllunio ein llwybr tuag at yr 1 filiwn. Bydd hefyd yn creu mentrau newydd i ddyblu defnydd o'r iaith ac yn cefnogi adrannau polisi ar draws y Llywodraeth i weithredu 'Cymraeg 2050'. Bydd yn gweithio gydag amrywiol bartneriaid ledled Cymru a thu hwnt, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen at weld y gwaith arloesol y bydd y prosiect yma yn ei gyflawni.
Mae annog teuluoedd i ddewis defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn un o'r pethau pwysicaf y gallwn ni ei wneud ar ein taith tua'r 1 filiwn, felly roeddwn i'n falch dros ben o lansio ymgynghoriad ar y polisi drafft cenedlaethol ar drosglwyddo'r Gymraeg a'i defnydd mewn teuluoedd. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r polisi terfynol yma yn y Senedd ar 15 Rhagfyr.
Hefyd, rydym wedi lansio'r gwasanaeth Helo Blod, sef gwasanaeth cymorth a chyfieithu sydd ar gael ar-lein a dros y ffôn i fusnesau bach a'r trydydd sector. Rhaid cofio hefyd am y gwaith bara menyn fel cynyddu nifer y cylchoedd meithrin, cynyddu'r lleoedd sydd ar gael mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg a'r niferoedd sy'n eu mynychu, cynnig darpariaeth i hwyrddyfodiaid, cryfhau'r gweithlu addysg, cynnal defnydd iaith yn y sector ôl-16 a datblygu adnoddau addysgol o safon, hefyd, cynyddu nifer yr oedolion sy'n dysgu, a chynnig dewis da o brentisiaethau cyfrwng Cymraeg, a chreu cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r iaith mewn gweithleoedd, cefnogi partneriaid grant, rhaglen Arfor, rôl y cyfryngau, treftadaeth, diwylliant, twristiaeth, seilwaith ieithyddol a manteisio i'r eithaf ar dechnoleg.
Fe welwch chi fod y data yn yr adroddiad yn dangos ein bod ni'n dal i wynebu heriau mewn rhai meysydd, er enghraifft, recriwtio athrawon a sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn parhau i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ar ôl 16 oed. Ond, rŷn ni'n gweithio'n galed ar draws y Llywodraeth a gyda phartneriaid ac yn parhau i gadw llygad ar y data er mwyn addasu ein cynlluniau os bydd gofyn.
Mae'n bwysig cofio mai ciplun ar y cyfnod penodol a ddaeth i ben ddiwedd mis Mawrth eleni sydd yn yr adroddiad hwn a rhaid ystyried, wrth gwrs, fod y byd wedi newid yn llwyr ers hynny. Mae'r Gymraeg, fel pob un o feysydd polisi eraill y Llywodraeth, wedi wynebu heriau mawr yn sgil COVID-19, ond gyda phob her, daw cyfleoedd cyffrous. Mae arloesedd, agwedd benderfynol a chreadigrwydd ein partneriaid wedi creu argraff fawr arnaf i. Roedd hi'n bleser gwylio Eisteddfod T, Eisteddfod Amgen a chlywed am waith gwirfoddol gwych y ffermwyr ifanc a Merched y Wawr, yn ogystal â gweld pob math o ddigwyddiadau yn cael eu cynnal ar-lein gan y mentrau iaith. Mae mwy o ddysgwyr wedi manteisio ar gyrsiau blasu ar-lein y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol ers mis Mawrth eleni na chyfanswm dysgwyr y tair blynedd flaenorol gyda'i gilydd. Ac mae'r mwyafrif o'n partneriaid wedi llwyddo i barhau i weithredu amcanion 'Cymraeg 2050' yn ystod cyfnod mor anodd. Dwi am ddiolch iddyn nhw am eu hymdrechion aruthrol.
Fel Llywodraeth, rŷn ni wedi ymateb i'r pandemig trwy gefnogi partneriaid, gan geisio rhagweld sefyllfaoedd ac ymateb iddyn nhw, a byddwn yn parhau i wneud hynny. Er enghraifft, mae ymgyrch Llond Haf o Gymraeg wedi ei lansio i gefnogi rhieni plant sy'n mynychu ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg. Rŷn ni hefyd wedi cynnal awdit o ddefnydd iaith yn ein cymunedau, er mwyn deall effaith COVID ac adnabod cyfleoedd newydd i bobl ddefnyddio eu Cymraeg. Bellach, mae pecyn Cysgliad ar gael am ddim i ysgolion a sefydliadau bach, ac mae hyn yn ei gwneud hi'n haws i fwy o bobl ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg.
Rŷn ni hefyd wedi bod yn ystyried beth fydd effaith COVID-19 a hefyd Brexit ar y canlynol: defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn y gweithleoedd; yr economi wledig, gan gynnwys y sector amaeth; a sefyllfa ail gartrefi a thai fforddiadwy. Bydd ein hadroddiad blwyddyn nesaf yn cynnwys mwy o fanylion am y materion hyn ac unrhyw ganfyddiadau am effaith y pandemig ar y Gymraeg, a bydd hyn oll yn cael ei ystyried hefyd wrth inni baratoi ar gyfer rhaglen waith nesaf 'Cymraeg 2050' ar gyfer y Llywodraeth nesaf.
Dwi am droi nawr at adroddiad blynyddol Comisiynydd y Gymraeg ar gyfer 2019-20, sef blwyddyn lawn gyntaf Aled Roberts fel comisiynydd. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch eto am ei waith. Dwi eisiau nodi fy mod i'n gwerthfawrogi parodrwydd y comisiynydd a'i staff i addasu'r ffordd maen nhw wedi gweithio, yn arbennig wrth ystyried goblygiadau COVID-19 ar gyrff sy'n darparu gwasanaethau Cymraeg.
Cychwynnodd y comisiynydd ar ei waith drwy gwrdd â thrawstoriad o bobl mewn cymunedau a sefydliadau ar draws Cymru, a hynny er mwyn iddo gael deall sefyllfa'r Gymraeg ar hyd a lled y wlad yn well. Bu'r daith yn sail i weledigaeth y comisiynydd ar gyfer y ffordd ymlaen. Dwi'n falch bod Aled yn rhannu'n gweledigaeth ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru, sef bod rheoleiddio a chreu cyfleoedd i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg yn mynd law yn llaw. Mae angen gwneud y ddau beth er mwyn llwyddo gyda'n gilydd i weithredu 'Cymraeg 2050'.
Mae'r adroddiad blynyddol yn cyfeirio at waith sydd wedi'i wneud yn unol â blaenoriaethau'r comisiynydd, sef parhau i reoleiddio'n effeithiol, tra hefyd yn cydweithio â phartneriaid i hybu'r Gymraeg. Mae'r comisiynydd yn parhau i weithredu safonau'r Gymraeg. Daeth y safonau i'r sector iechyd i rym yn ystod y cyfnod adrodd, ac mae'r comisiynydd hefyd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda chyrff i'w cefnogi i roi safonau ar waith. Dwi'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r comisiynydd am ei barodrwydd i gydweithio gyda fy swyddogion i i adolygu'r broses o wneud safonau yn dilyn argymhellion Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu.
Dwi'n awyddus i gydweithio i wthio cyrff yn eu blaenau i ddarparu gwasanaethau Cymraeg. Rŷn ni hefyd am greu sefyllfa lle mae hawliau siaradwyr Cymraeg yn glir er mwyn cynyddu'r defnydd o wasanaeth. Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn amlygu rôl y comisiynydd wrth sicrhau bod y Gymraeg wrth galon gwaith y Llywodraeth gyfan. Eleni, mwy nag erioed o'r blaen, mae'r her allanol yn hollbwysig wrth i ni ystyried effeithiau hirdymor COVID-19 a'r ansicrwydd i'r Gymraeg yn sgil ymadael â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
A dyna ni. Dau adroddiad cynhwysfawr iawn yn cyflwyno llawer o wybodaeth am y gwaith hollbwysig sy'n cael ei wneud o dan faner 'Cymraeg 2050'. Diolch yn fawr.
You will recall that 'Cymraeg 2050' includes two main objectives: increasing the number of Welsh speakers and increasing the use made of the Welsh language too. This report, therefore, demonstrates the work that has been done in response to these goals at the heart of our communities, by our grant partners, and steps taken by us as a Government. You will see that the report shows our work from early years, through statutory education provision into post-statutory education and Welsh for adults. It also covers projects to increase the use of the Welsh language in our communities.
The report is very diverse and varied because this work belongs to all parts of the Government’s work, identifying the importance of mainstreaming and rooting 'Cymraeg 2050' more broadly, and this report demonstrates very strong evidence of that.
I have no time to cover everything today, so I want to mention some highlights of the year before turning to what has happened since then in light of COVID-19. One of the highlights of last year was participation in the UNESCO International Year of Indigenous Languages. It was an excellent opportunity to raise Wales’s profile internationally as a bilingual nation and a nation that is in the vanguard in terms of linguistic regeneration.
During the reporting year, I reported on our intention to establish Prosiect 2050—a brand new unit co-ordinating the work of planning our route towards the 1 million. It will also create new initiatives to double the use of the Welsh language and will support policy departments across Government in implementing 'Cymraeg 2050'. It will work with various partners across Wales and beyond, and I look forward to seeing this innovative work carried out by the project.
Encouraging families to choose to use the Welsh language is one of the most important things that we can do on our journey towards the 1 million. So, I was very pleased to launch a consultation on the draft national policy on language transmission and its use in families. We will be publishing our final policy in the Senedd on 15 December.
Also, we have launched the Helo Blod service, which is a support and translation service available online and over the phone to small businesses and the third sector. We must also bear in mind the bread and butter work, such as increasing the number of cylchoedd meithrin, increasing the places available in Welsh-medium schools and the numbers attending those schools, making provisions for late arrivals, strengthening the education workforce, maintaining language use in the post-16 sector and developing quality educational resources, also increasing the number of adults learning, and providing a good range of Welsh-medium apprenticeships, and providing opportunities to use the Welsh language in workplaces, supporting grant partners, the Arfor programme, the role of the media, heritage, culture, tourism, language infrastructure and taking full advantage of technology.
You will see that the data contained within the report shows that we continue to face challenges in certain areas, for example, the recruitment of teachers and ensuring that young people continue to use the Welsh language once they pass 16 years of age. But, we are working hard across Government and with other partners and continue to keep a close eye on the data in order to adapt our plans if necessary.
It’s important to bear in mind that this is a snapshot of a particular period that came to an end at the end of March this year. That’s what’s contained within the report and we must bear in mind that the world has been entirely transformed since then. The Welsh language, like all other policy areas within Government, has faced major challenges as a result of COVID-19, but with all challenges, there also come opportunities. The innovation, determination and creativity of our partners have made a great impression on me. It was a pleasure to watch Eisteddfod T, Eisteddfod Amgen and to hear of the excellent voluntary work done by the young farmers and Merched y Wawr, as well as seeing all sorts of other events being staged online by the mentrau iaith. More learners have taken advantage of Welsh taster sessions at the National Centre for Learning Welsh since March of this year than the total number of learners in the previous three years taken together. And most of our partners have managed to continue to operate to the objectives of 'Cymraeg 2050' during this difficult period. I want to thank them for their great efforts in this area.
As a Government, we have responded to the pandemic by supporting partners, trying to anticipate situations and responding to them and we will continue to do that. For example, the Llond Haf o Gymraeg campaign was launched to support the parents of children who attend Welsh-medium schools. We have also held an audit of language use in our communities in order to understand the impact of COVID and to identify new opportunities for people to use the Welsh language. Now, the Cysgliad package is available free of charge to schools and small organisations. This makes it easier for more people to use the Welsh language.
We have also been considering the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit on the following: the use of the Welsh language in workplaces; the rural economy, including the agriculture sector; and the position of second homes and affordable homes. So, next year’s report will include more details on these issues and any findings on the impact of the pandemic on the Welsh language. This will all be considered as we prepare for the next 'Cymraeg 2050' work programme for the next Government.
I want to turn now to the Welsh Language Commissioner’s annual report for 2019-20, which is Aled Roberts's first full year in post. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him, once again, for his work. I do want to note that I appreciate the commissioner’s willingness, as well as his staff's willingness, to adapt the way that they have been working, particularly given the implications of COVID-19 on bodies providing Welsh language services.
The commissioner started in post by meeting a range of people in communities and organisations across Wales. He did that in order to understand the situation of the Welsh language across the nation. The journey was the basis for the commissioner’s vision for the way forward. I'm pleased that Aled shares our vision, as a Welsh Government, that regulation and creating opportunities to use the Welsh language go hand in hand. We need to do both things in order to succeed together in implementing 'Cymraeg 2050'.
The annual report refers to work that has been done in accordance with the commissioner's priorities, namely to continue to effectively regulate whilst also working with partners to promote the Welsh language. The commissioner continues to implement Welsh language standards. These standards were implemented into the health sector during the reporting period and the commissioner has also been working with bodies in supporting them to implement standards. I'm very grateful to the commissioner for his willingness to work with my officials to review the process of making the standards following recommendations made by the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee.
I'm eager to collaborate in order to push bodies forward in providing Welsh language services. We also want to create a situation where the rights of Welsh speakers are clear in order to increase the use of those services. The report also highlights the role of the commissioner in ensuring that the Welsh language is at the heart of the work of the Government as a whole. This year, more than ever before, the external challenge is crucial as we consider the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and the uncertainty posed to the Welsh language as we depart the European Union.
So, there we are. Two very comprehensive reports presenting a great deal of information about this crucially important work that is being done under the 'Cymraeg 2050' banner. Thank you.
Diolch, Weinidog. A gaf i ddechrau trwy fynegi fy siom ein bod ni'n trafod y ddau adroddiad hyn gyda'i gilydd? Pum munud i graffu ar y ddau. Does dim digon o amser i graffu ar eich llwyddiant i gymharu â'ch gweithgaredd. Does dim amser i fynd drwy'r byd gwaith, y gymuned, y maes addysg, ac yn y blaen, a does dim digon o amser i edrych ar swyddogaethau a chyfrifon y comisiynydd, i archwilio a oes ganddo ddigon o adnoddau, i archwilio ymhellach pam ei fod wedi gorfod gwario mwy ar ffioedd cyfreithiol a phroffesiynol na'r disgwyl. Ac mae yn bwysig, achos i mi, mae hyn yn awgrymu bod y broses gwynion yn dal yn rhy gymhleth ar gyfer rhai cwynion. Mae llawer ohonynt heb eu profi, fel y gwelwn. Ac mae'n lleihau'r arian sydd ar gael ar gyfer y gwaith arall y mae'n rhaid i'r comisiynydd ei wneud, sef helpu i greu mwy o siaradwyr Cymraeg a mwy o ddefnydd o'r Gymraeg.
Gaf i groesawu'r cod ymarfer a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Chwefror, sy'n helpu sefydliadau i ddeall sut i gydymffurfio â safonau? Dylai, wrth gwrs, fod mwy o safonau i gydymffurfio â nhw erbyn hyn. Dywedasom yr un peth llynedd, ac roedd diffyg brwdfrydedd dros safonau yn amlwg iawn cyn COVID. Ni allwn feio'r feirws am hyn. Ond mae gen i, hefyd, fwy o frwdfrydedd dros weld gwelliant ar y gwaith ar hyrwyddo a pherswadio a llwybrau eraill i gyflawni'r targed o filiwn o siaradwyr. Gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn benderfynol o ddod â mwy o gyfrifoldeb am hyn yn ôl yn fewnol, gawn ni weld faint o amser bydd gan y Gweinidog i gyflawni ar hyn, o ystyried ei chyfrifoldebau heriol a phwysig newydd.
Rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld beth sy'n digwydd i ganfyddiadau arolwg y comisiynydd o awdurdodau cynllunio, achos, mae'n debyg i fi, bod gorfodaeth y sylw dyledus ar effaith y Gymraeg yn cael ei ddehongli fel blwch ticio yn hytrach na meddwl am gyfleoedd cytundebau—section 106, er enghraifft—fel ffordd o gynyddu'r galw am addysg Gymraeg. Ac rwy'n falch iawn o weld y comisiynydd yn cyflwyno'r achos dros god ymarfer o dan y cwricwlwm newydd. Ni fydd prif-ffrydio'r Gymraeg mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Saesneg yn hawdd, ond dyma'r ffordd orau ymlaen, yn fy marn i, i greu cenedlaethau mwy dwyieithog. Mae'n llawer gwell na chynigion lletchwith ar drosi ysgolion dwy ffrwd yn ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, pan nad oes mynediad i ddewis arall am ddegau o filltiroedd. Nid yw rhannu cymunedau a chwarae gwleidyddiaeth hunaniaeth yn dda i'r iaith. Ar ben hynny, rydym yn dal i gael trafferth recriwtio athrawon, fel y dywedoch, yn enwedig ar y lefel uwchradd. Felly, anogaf Llywodraeth Cymru i ystyried cod ymarfer continwwm o ddifri, a chadw ffocws ar ddarpariaeth blynyddoedd cynnar, i'w gwneud hi'n hawdd i ddewis Cymraeg, ac rwy'n golygu dewis er hwylustod a gyda hyder.
Efallai y gallwch chi ddweud wrthym ni, Weinidog, a yw COVID wedi torri ar draws eich cynlluniau i gael 40 o feithrinfeydd newydd erbyn 2021, a sut y byddwch chi'n dal lan. A allwch hefyd ddweud a yw'r 800 o blant ychwanegol mewn meithrinfeydd cyfrwng Cymraeg wedi eu gwasgaru ledled Cymru, neu ydyn nhw mewn ardaloedd Saesneg eu hiaith neu Gymraeg eu hiaith yn bennaf? Neu dim ond yn adlewyrchiad o'r cynnydd yn niferoedd y boblogaeth ar gyfer y grŵp oedran hwn yw hyn? A gofynnaf yr un peth am y cynnydd yng nghanran y plant sy'n symud i ysgolion cynradd Cymraeg. A allaf i ofyn hefyd: pam niferoedd ar gyfer un, a chanrannau ar gyfer y llall? Dydy hynny ddim yn dryloyw o gwbl. Ac er fy mod yn credu bod rhaglen Camau yn syniad gwych, a allwch ddweud a oes gan bob lleoliad Dechrau'n Deg erbyn hyn un person, o leiaf, â sgiliau trosglwyddo'r iaith Gymraeg ar lefel briodol?
Jest i ddod i ben, mae yna, fel y dywedais i, ormod o gwestiynau i mi eu cyfro heddiw, ond rwyf eisiau troi at y ffigurau TGAU. Mae'n gynnydd cymedrol, ac rwy'n croesawu unrhyw gynnydd, fel rydych chi'n gwybod, ond efallai y byddai gweld graddau disgyblion wedi ein helpu i ddeall rhywbeth arall—a ddylid eu croesawu ymhellach, neu a oes unrhyw broblem gyda chyrhaeddiad yn y pwnc gorfodol hwn. Ac, ie, dylai fod yn orfodol, achos mae dal angen inni ddangos i nifer o bobl, sy'n crebachu, fod hwn yn gymhwyster gwerthfawr. Mae'n hanfodol, hefyd, i wrthdroi'r cwymp yn y galw am safon uwch os oes unrhyw obaith o gael yr athrawon sydd eu hangen arnom. Diolch.
Thank you, Minister. May I begin by expressing my disappointment that we are discussing both of these reports together? Five minutes to scrutinise both. There isn't sufficient time to scrutinise your success in relation to your activities. We can't go through the world of work, the field of education and the community, et cetera, and there's not enough time to look at the functions and the responsibilities of the commissioner and to work out whether he has sufficient resources and work out why he's had to spend more on legal and professional fees than expected. And it is important, because, for me, this suggests that the complaints procedure is still overly complex. Many of them have not actually been proven, as we see. It reduces the amount of money available for the other work that the commissioner should do, namely to assist to create more Welsh speakers and increase language usage.
May I welcome the code of practice that was published in February, which supports institutions to understand how to conform to the standards? Of course, there should be more standards to conform with by now. We said this last year as well, and the lack of enthusiasm for standards was most evident pre COVID. We can't blame the virus for that. But I have more enthusiasm for seeing an improvement on the work of promoting and persuading others, to attain the target of a million speakers. And as the Welsh Government is determined to bring more responsibilities for this back in house, we'll see how much time the Minister will have to accomplish this, considering her other new challenging and important responsibilities.
I'm very keen to see what will happen to the conclusions of this work with the planning authorities, because it appears to me that the impact on the Welsh language is just interpreted as a tick box, rather than thinking for opportunities under section 106 agreements, et cetera, as a way of increasing the demand for Welsh-medium education. I'm very pleased to see the commissioner presenting the case for a code of practice under the new curriculum. Mainstreaming the Welsh language in English-medium schools won't be easy, but this is the best way forward, in my view, to create more bilingual generations to come. It is much better than the very awkward proposals on trying to change two-stream schools into bilingual schools. That is not a good way of proceeding. In addition to that, we're still having difficulty in recruiting teachers, as the Minister said, especially on secondary level. Therefore, I encourage Welsh Government to consider the continuum code of practice seriously, and also to focus on early years provision, to make it easier to choose Welsh with confidence.
Could you tell us, Minister, whether COVID has interrupted your plans to have 40 new nurseries by 2021, and how you are going to catch up? And could you tell me where the additional 800 children in nurseries across Wales—are these children scattered across the whole of Wales, or are they in English-medium placements? And I would ask the same about the increase in the percentage of children that move into Welsh-medium primary schools. Can I ask why you have actual figures for one, and then a percentage for the other? That's not at all transparent. Although I believe that the Camau programme is a wonderful idea, can you tell me whether every Flying Start setting has the appropriate staffing for Welsh language transmission?
As I said, there are too many questions for me to cover today, but I wish to turn to the GCSE figures. It's a moderate success, and I welcome any kind of success, but perhaps seeing the grades of pupils would help me to understand something else—whether we should welcome this further, or whether there's a problem with attainment in this mandatory subject. And yes, it should be mandatory, because we still need to demonstrate that this remains a valuable qualification. We also need to reverse the fall in the demand for the A-level if we have any hope of getting the teachers we need. Thank you.
'Ymlaen tua'r dyfodol y mae edrych, nid am yn ôl'
meddai'r Gweinidog yn ei rhagair i'w hadroddiad blynyddol ar strategaeth 'Cymraeg 2050'. A'n gwaith ni yn y Senedd heddiw ydy adolygu gweithgarwch y 12 mis o 1 Ebrill 2019 i 30 Mawrth eleni, sef yr hyn sy'n cael ei gofnodi a'i grisialu yn y ddau adroddiad sydd o'n blaenau ni heddiw—cyfnod bron yn gyfan gwbl cyn yr argyfwng COVID, wrth gwrs. Mae'r comisiynydd a'i dîm eisoes wedi ymddangos o flaen pwyllgor y Gymraeg i ymateb i'r adroddiad blynyddol ac adroddiad sicrwydd y comisiynydd, felly dwi am ganolbwyntio fy ngyfraniad y prynhawn yma ar gyfrifoldebau'r Gweinidog.
'We need to look towards the future not the past'
according to the Minister in her foreword to her annual report on the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy. And our work in the Senedd today is to review the activities of the 12 months between 1 April 2019 to 30 March of this year, which is what is reported on and encapsulated in the two reports before us today—a period that was almost entirely prior to the COVID crisis, of course. The commissioner and his team have already appeared before the Welsh language committee to answer questions on the annual report and the assurance report of the commissioner, so I will focus today on the Minister's responsibilities.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Mae'n gywir i ddweud bod COVID wedi newid ein cymdeithas dros nos, ond dim ond erbyn pythefnos olaf cyfnod adrodd yr adroddiad, felly fedrith COVID ddim esgusodi na chuddio'r diffyg cynnydd amlwg sydd i'w weld yn record y Llywodraeth. Ac un enghraifft wnaeth neidio allan ataf fi'n syth oedd datganiad ysgubol yn yr adroddiad, wrth gyfeirio at prosiect 2050, fod pennaeth prosiect 2050 bellach wedi'i benodi ac yn ei swydd, yn dilyn oedi yn sgil COVID-19. Ond nid COVID oedd y bai am yr oedi. Cyhoeddi'r un swydd newydd yma yn y gwasanaeth sifil oedd cyhoeddiad mawr y Gweinidog yn ôl yn Eisteddfod Llanrwst yn Awst 2019, a oedd i fod i hoelio sylw ar weithredu'r strategaeth. Roeddwn i'n gweld pethau'n mynd yn araf deg, ac ysgrifennais i at yr Ysgrifennydd Parhaol ym mis Ionawr 2020 yn gofyn am ddiweddariad. Siomedig iawn, iawn oedd yr arafwch hwn—nodweddiadol, efallai—a collwyd llawer gormod o amser efo'r penodiad ac felly efo'r strategaeth.
Mae strategaethau hirdymor yn bwysig, ond mae'r prawf o'u gweithrediad o flwyddyn i flwyddyn yn bwysicach fyth, a'r prawf pennaf bod dim lot o gynnydd yn digwydd ydy pan fo Gweinidog yn bodloni ar wneud cyhoeddiadau yn hytrach na gallu tystio cyflawniad go iawn. Un fenter o'r fath a gyhoeddwyd oedd Helo Blod, gwasanaeth cymorth a chyfieithu i fusnesau bach a'r trydydd sector—cyhoeddiad sy'n swnio'n dda a menter digon clodwiw mor belled ag y mae hi'n mynd, ond cwbl, cwbl annigonol os ydyn ni o ddifri am gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg. Dim ond camau breision yn y gweithlu, y gyfraith a'r gyfundrefn addysg fydd yn sicrhau hynny. Mae gan addysg rôl hollol allweddol wrth greu'r miliwn, ond mae'r adroddiad yn dweud bod llai o athrawon cynradd Cymraeg yn y cyfnod dan sylw nag oedd hyd yn oed yn 2015-16—llai. Mae hynny'n anhygoel. Hyfforddwyd 11 o athrawon uwchradd cyfrwng Cymraeg—11—sydd 367 o athrawon yn brin o'r targed. Mae hi'n argyfyngus, ac wrth edrych ymlaen, mae COVID yn bygwth yr hyn sydd gennym ni yn barod. Ond beth rydym ni'n ei gael? Helo Blod, ta-ta rhaglen cyflwyno safonau. Helo Blod, ond ta-ta i'r Urdd. Helo Blod, ond ta-ta cymunedau hyfyw Cymraeg lle mae ail gartrefi allan o reolaeth. Dwi'n siwr eich bod chi'n clywed y coegni a'r rhwystredigaeth yn fy llais i, a dydw i ddim yn mynd i ymddiheuro am hynny.
Mae yna le i gydnabod ambell lygedyn o obaith. Diolch i bwyllgorau cyfrifon cyhoeddus a diwylliant y Senedd, fe lwyddwyd i ddal traed yr Ysgrifennydd Parhaol i'r tân, ac fe gafwyd ymrwymiad a chynllun gweithredu i wneud y Gymraeg yn iaith weinyddol gweithlu'r Llywodraeth dros amser. Cafwyd dyfarniad y Barnwr Fraser yn y llys gweinyddol yn ddiweddar, sy'n cadarnhau, i bob pwrpas, hawl pawb i barhau ar lwybr addysg Cymraeg. A llygedyn arall o obaith ydy gwaith manwl Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, sy'n dangos lle mae deddfwriaeth ar y cwricwlwm yn rhoi cyfle gwirioneddol i wneud cynnydd go iawn ar y continwwm ieithyddol, os ddown ni â chod statudol i symud y sefyllfa ymlaen. A dwi'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog yn fodlon manteisio ar y cyfle, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl, i roi ei chefnogaeth i waith ardderchog y comisiynydd o ran Bil y cwricwlwm. Ond beth sy'n bwysig am y llygedyn o obaith yma, y tri pheth yma dwi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw, ydy nid y Llywodraeth sydd wedi bod yn gyfrifol am ddod â nhw ymlaen. Mae'r pethau yma wedi digwydd er gwaethaf y Llywodraeth, nid o'i herwydd o. Mae angen symud ymlaen.
'Ymlaen tua'r dyfodol y mae edrych, nid am yn ôl'
meddai'r Gweinidog, a fydd hi ddim yn syndod ichi fy mod i'n hapus iawn i edrych ymlaen at ddyfodol newydd i'r gwaith o adfywio'r Gymraeg, ac mae gen i a Phlaid Cymru syniadau clir iawn am y cyfeiriad newydd, yr arweiniad newydd a'r egni newydd sydd eu hangen ar gyfer yr ymdrechion hynny. Mi fyddai Llywodraeth Plaid Cymru yn dyrchafu statws uned y Gymraeg yn gyfarwyddiaeth drawslywodraethol bwerus. Mi fyddem ni'n cyflwyno Deddf addysg Gymraeg i'w gwneud yn wirioneddol iaith i bawb. Mi fyddem ni'n achub ein sefydliadau cenedlaethol sy'n gwneud cymaint dros yr iaith ac yn creu dyfodol cynaliadwy i holl gymunedau Cymru. Diolch.
It is right to say that COVID has changed society overnight, but it was only having an impact during the final fortnight of this reporting period, so COVID cannot excuse or hide the lack of progress that is so apparent in the Government's record. And one example that jumped out at me was the sweeping statement in the report that the head of the 2050 project had now been appointed and was in post, following delays as a result of COVID-19. But COVID wasn't to blame for that delay. The announcement of this single new post in the civil service was the major announcement made by the Minister in the Eisteddfod in Llanrwst in August 2019, which was to focus attention on the strategy. I saw that things were sluggish and I wrote to the Permanent Secretary in January 2020, asking for an update. It's very disappointing to see this lack of progress. It was characteristic, perhaps. Far too much time was lost with the appointment and therefore with the strategy itself.
Long-term strategies are important, but their implementation on an annual basis is even more important, and the main test of this, where you can identify lack of progress, is when Ministers are content just to make announcements rather than to identify real achievements. One of those was the launch of Helo Blod, a translation service for small businesses and the third sector—which sounds great, and is praiseworthy as far as it goes, but is entirely inadequate if we are serious about reaching a million Welsh speakers. Only major steps in the workplace, in law and in the education system will secure that aim. Education has a crucial role in creating that million Welsh speakers, but the report states that there are fewer Welsh-medium primary teachers in this period than there were even in 2015-16—fewer teachers. That is quite staggering. Eleven secondary Welsh medium teachers were trained—11—which is 367 teachers short of the target. The situation is critical, and in looking forward, COVID threatens what we already have. But what do we hear? Helo Blod, goodbye introduction of a standards program. Helo Blod, but goodbye to the Urdd. Helo Blod, but goodbye to viable Welsh speaking communities where second homes are entirely out of control. I'm sure you can hear the sarcasm and frustration in my voice, and I make no apology for that.
There is room to acknowledge a few glimmers of hope. Thank you to the Public Accounts Committee and the culture committee of the Senedd. The Permanent Secretary's feet were held to the fire, and there was a commitment and an action plan to make the Welsh language an administrative language within Welsh Government over a period of time. Judge Fraser's adjudication in the administrative court was made recently, which provides everyone with the right to continue in Welsh-medium education. Another glimmer of hope is the detailed work done by the Welsh Language Commissioner, which demonstrates where legislation on the curriculum provides us with a real opportunity to make progress on the linguistic continuum, if we bring a statutory code in order to move this situation onwards. And I do very much hope that the Minister will take that opportunity in responding to the debate, to give her support to the excellent work done by the commissioner in terms of the curriculum Bill. But what's important about these glimmers of hope that I've mentioned is it's not the Government that's been responsible for bringing them forward. These things have happened despite the Government, not because of the Government. We need to make progress.
'We need to look towards the future not the past'
according to the Minister, and it will come as no surprise that I am more than happy to look to the future, a new future for the work of regenerating the Welsh language, and myself and Plaid Cymru have very clear ideas on the new direction, the new leadership and the new energy required for these efforts. A Plaid Cymru Government would promote the status of the Welsh language unit as a powerful cross-governmental directorate. We would introduce a Welsh langauge education Act to make it truly a language for all. We would save our national institutions that do so much for the language and provide a sustainable future for all of the communities of Wales. Thank you.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am ddod â'r adroddiad hyn.
Thank you to the Minister for bringing the report forward.
When a Government tries to implement a policy, there are different methods that can be used in that cause. These can sometimes be divided into two basic elements, namely the carrot and the stick. I think that the Minister has been quite consistent in advocating the carrot rather than the stick in furthering the campaign of boosting the use of the Welsh language, and I am encouraged, after reading the 'Cymraeg 2050' report, that that appears to still be her basic approach.
I think the encouragement of groups and organisations to grow the use of Welsh is a far better measure than methods of compulsion, so I would generally endorse the methods that the Minister is pursuing, as outlined in this year's 'Cymraeg 2050' report, by supporting the various initiatives that are documented. The view of the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party is that, generally, we support these positive measures to encourage the growth of Welsh. Sometimes, making something compulsory does not really work. We did have the Welsh Government taking a decision a few years ago to make the teaching of Welsh in schools compulsory up to the age of 16. That decision has proved to be contentious and I wonder if it has actually worked in increasing to any meaningful level the usage of Welsh, by which I mean increasing the number of people in Wales who use Welsh on a daily basis.
My own observation, based on the experience of various relatives and relatives of friends who have gone through the school system in recent years is that we still have a sizeable section of young people who are fairly indifferent to the Welsh language and also fairly ignorant of it, despite having theoretically studied it up to the age of 16. So, in a sense, little has changed since I was at school 30 years ago. Having seen the stated figures, I'm not sure that the proportion of young people who significantly use Welsh has increased as a result of forcing more people to take it at school for three extra years. Can I refer to the lack of increase in the uptake of A-level Welsh at school, which is documented in the report? There has been no significant lasting increase in the numbers of school students taking A-level Welsh, so this, in itself, does indicate that, to a large extent, the policy of compelling school pupils to take Welsh up to the age of 16 has failed. I think that promoting parents' evenings to encourage more uptake of A-level Welsh is a good idea. We could take the same approach with GCSE Welsh in my view, but that is perhaps a discussion for another day. My main contention is that learning Welsh can be a very positive experience, but it has to be done with the consent and active input of the learner. The learner must want to learn, so the main thing is to encourage more young people to take up the subject as far as possible. Parents' evenings are fine, but, even there, we must ensure that the young students themselves are also involved in discussions on what A-levels they take.
There are related problems to the A-level uptake issue, such as the shortfall in primary school teachers and the bigger shortfall in secondary school teachers—issues that have already been raised today by earlier speakers. There is a conversion scheme, which is outlined in the report, the difficulty being that many primary school teachers may not want to convert to secondary school and also you already have a shortfall in primary school teachers, anyway. So, there are difficulties in moving forward towards the very good aspiration of improving the usage of the Welsh language. I do, though, commend the Minister for her overall approach.
Pan fydd Llywodraeth yn ceisio gweithredu polisi, mae gwahanol ddulliau y mae modd eu defnyddio yn yr achos hwnnw. Weithiau mae'n bosibl rhannu'r rhain yn ddwy elfen sylfaenol, sef y foronen a'r ffon. Rwy'n credu bod y Gweinidog wedi bod yn eithaf cyson yn argymell y foronen yn hytrach na'r ffon wrth hyrwyddo'r ymgyrch o hybu defnydd y Gymraeg, ac rwyf wedi fy nghalonogi, ar ôl darllen adroddiad 'Cymraeg 2050', ei bod yn ymddangos mai dyna yw ei dull sylfaenol o hyd.
Rwy'n credu bod annog grwpiau a sefydliadau i dyfu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn fesur llawer gwell na dulliau gorfodi, felly byddwn i'n gyffredinol yn cymeradwyo'r dulliau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu dilyn, sydd wedi'u hamlinellu yn adroddiad 'Cymraeg 2050' eleni, drwy gefnogi'r gwahanol fentrau a nodwyd. Barn Plaid Diddymu Cynulliad Cymru yw ein bod ni, yn gyffredinol, yn cefnogi'r mesurau cadarnhaol hyn i annog twf y Gymraeg. Weithiau, nid yw gwneud rhywbeth yn orfodol yn gweithio mewn gwirionedd. Fe wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru benderfynu ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl i wneud addysgu'r Gymraeg mewn ysgolion yn orfodol hyd at 16 oed. Mae'r penderfyniad hwnnw wedi bod yn ddadleuol. Tybed a yw'n wirioneddol wedi llwyddo i gynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg i unrhyw lefel ystyrlon? Gan hynny, rwy'n golygu cynyddu nifer y bobl yng Nghymru sy'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg bob dydd.
Fy sylw i fy hun, yn seiliedig ar brofiad amrywiol berthnasau a pherthnasau ffrindiau sydd wedi mynd drwy'r system ysgolion yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf yw bod gennym ni garfan sylweddol o bobl ifanc o hyd sy'n weddol ddifater am y Gymraeg a hefyd yn weddol anwybodus ohoni, er iddyn nhw ei hastudio mewn theori hyd at 16 oed. Felly, ar un ystyr, ychydig sydd wedi newid ers i mi fod yn yr ysgol 30 mlynedd yn ôl. Ar ôl gweld y ffigurau a nodwyd, nid wyf yn siŵr a yw cyfran y bobl ifanc sy'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn sylweddol wedi cynyddu o ganlyniad i orfodi mwy o bobl i astudio'r iaith yn yr ysgol am dair blynedd ychwanegol. A gaf i gyfeirio at y diffyg cynnydd yn nifer y bobl sy'n manteisio ar Gymraeg Safon Uwch yn yr ysgol, a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad? Nid oes cynnydd parhaol sylweddol wedi bod yn nifer y myfyrwyr ysgol sy'n dilyn Cymraeg Safon Uwch, felly mae hyn, ynddo'i hun, yn dangos, i raddau helaeth, fod y polisi o orfodi disgyblion ysgol i gymryd y Gymraeg hyd at 16 oed wedi methu. Rwy'n credu bod hyrwyddo nosweithiau rhieni i annog mwy o bobl i fanteisio ar Gymraeg Safon Uwch yn syniad da. Byddai modd defnyddio'r un dull gyda TGAU Cymraeg yn fy marn i, ond efallai fod hynny'n drafodaeth ar gyfer diwrnod arall. Fy mhrif ddadl yw y gall dysgu Cymraeg fod yn brofiad cadarnhaol iawn, ond rhaid ei wneud gyda chydsyniad a mewnbwn gweithredol y dysgwr. Rhaid i'r dysgwr fod eisiau dysgu, felly'r prif beth yw annog mwy o bobl ifanc i gymryd y pwnc cyn belled ag y bo modd. Mae nosweithiau rhieni'n iawn, ond, hyd yn oed yno, rhaid inni sicrhau bod y myfyrwyr ifanc eu hunain hefyd yn cymryd rhan yn y trafodaethau ar ba Safon Uwch y maen nhw’n eu cymryd.
Mae yna broblemau cysylltiedig â'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar gymryd Safon Uwch, megis y prinder athrawon ysgol gynradd a'r prinder mwy o ran athrawon ysgol uwchradd—materion a godwyd eisoes heddiw gan siaradwyr cynharach. Mae yna gynllun trosi, a ddisgrifir yn yr adroddiad, ond yr anhawster yw nad yw llawer o athrawon ysgol gynradd o bosibl eisiau troi at yr ysgol uwchradd a hefyd mae gennych chi brinder athrawon ysgol gynradd beth bynnag. Felly, mae anawsterau wrth symud ymlaen tuag at y dyhead da iawn o wella'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg. Er hynny, rwy'n cymeradwyo'r Gweinidog am ei dull cyffredinol o weithredu.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog eto am ei hadroddiad.
I thank the Minister again for her report.
Y Gweinidog, nawr, i ymateb i'r ddadl—Eluned Morgan.
The Minister, now, to reply to the debate—Eluned Morgan.
Diolch yn fawr, a diolch am yr ymatebion hynny. I ddechrau gyda Suzy, wrth gwrs, ers i ni benderfynu peidio â bwrw ymlaen gyda Deddf yr iaith Gymraeg, mi roeddem ni wedi dechrau symud ymlaen gyda rhai safonau newydd, ond, wrth gwrs, roedd COVID, wedyn, wedi torri ar draws. Ond, rŷn ni yn gobeithio cael o leiaf un grŵp newydd o safonau i mewn cyn diwedd y sesiwn yma.
Thank you very much, and thank you for those responses. To start with Suzy, of course, since we decided not to proceed with new Welsh language legislation, we had started to make progress with some new Welsh language standards, but then COVID interrupted that work. However, we do hope to have at least one further group of standards in place before the end of this parliamentary session.
Dwi'n meddwl bod y ffaith bod gen i swydd newydd, mewn ffordd, yn fy helpu i roi tamaid bach o oleuni ar y maes yna o ran iechyd meddwl a’r Gymraeg, ac eisoes dwi wedi mynd ati i ofyn am waith i gael ei wneud ar y mater yma. Felly, dwi ddim yn gweld eu bod nhw’n cystadlu; dwi’n meddwl bod yna le i ni gydweithio ar y pynciau yna.
O ran prif-ffrydio’r Gymraeg,i fod yn glir, does dim diddordeb gen i i weld tensiwn rhwng yr ieithoedd sydd yn ein cymunedau ni. Mae’n bwysig ein bod ni’n cydweithredu a’n bod ni’n deall bod yna gyfrifoldeb nid jest ar y bobl sy’n mynd i ysgolion Cymraeg ond ar y rheini sydd ddim yn mynd i ysgolion Cymraeg—bod cyfrifoldeb arnyn nhw hefyd i ddysgu digon o iaith y wlad hefyd. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae’n bwysig ein bod ni’n gwneud mwy o waith ar hynny, ac rŷn ni eisoes wedi bod yn siarad â llefydd fel y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol i weld sut maen nhw’n gallu, efallai, helpu, gyda’u profiad newydd nhw o weithio ar-lein.
O ran meithrinfeydd, rŷn ni’n dal ar darged i gyrraedd y 40 o feithrinfeydd roedden ni wedi gobeithio eu rhoi mewn lle, a, jest i fod yn glir, rŷn ni wedi gofyn iddyn nhw roi’r ffocws ar yr ardaloedd lle nad oes yn draddodiadol gyfleusterau yn yr ardal. Mae’r Gymraeg yn gymhwyster a hefyd o werth o ran beth mae’n rhaid inni gael pobl i’w ddeall—ei bod hi’n gymhwyster ar ben yn ffordd o gyfathrebu. Wrth gwrs, rŷn ni wedi ceisio rhoi arian ar y bwrdd—mae £150,000 wedi cael ei roi ar y bwrdd—i geisio annog mwy o bobl i ymgymryd â lefel A ac, fel roedd Gareth Bennett yn nodi, mae angen mwy o waith arnom ni yn yr ardal yna. Rŷn ni’n gwneud ein gorau yn fan hyn. Mae lot o ysgogiadau gyda ni mewn lle, ac, felly, os oes syniadau eraill gan bobl, rŷn ni’n fwy na hapus i wrando arnyn nhw. Ond yn arbennig pan fo’n dod i geisio cael mwy o athrawon i ddysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, mae o leiaf 10 o fesurau mewn lle sydd eisoes yn ceisio cael mwy o bobl i ymgymryd â’r gwaith yma. Dwi’n gwybod bod hwn yn rhywbeth mae Siân Gwenllian â diddordeb mawr ynddo.
Dwi ddim yn derbyn nad ydym wedi symud pethau ymlaen yn ystod y cyfnod yna. Mae pennaeth Prosiect 2050 nawr mewn lle. Roedd y gwaith oedd yn cael ei wneud yn waith sydd yn cario ymlaen nawr, oedd yn dechrau cyn i’r penodiad yna ddigwydd. Felly, doedd e ddim fel petai'r gwaith ddim yn digwydd. Er enghraifft, ar drosglwyddo Cymraeg yn y teulu, roedd lot o waith yn cael ei wneud ar hwnna. Roedd lot o waith yn cael ei wneud ar y Gymraeg a thechnoleg. Felly, roedd y pethau yna sydd mor bwysig, dwi’n meddwl, i sicrhau bod y mesurau mewn lle i sicrhau bod yna gyfle i bobl ddefnyddio’r iaith, eisoes wedi symud ymlaen cyn bod y pennaeth yna wedi cael ei benodi.
O ran Cymraeg Gwaith, dwi’n meddwl bod gwaith aruthrol wedi cael ei wneud yn fan hyn, ond, wrth gwrs, roedd lot o hwnna wedi dod i ben gyda COVID. Ond mae’n bwysig ein bod ni’n ailgydio yn hynny unwaith fod cyfle, fel bod cyfle i bobl fynd mewn i’r gweithle eto i sicrhau bod mwy yn ymgymryd â dysgu’r iaith Gymraeg a defnyddio’r iaith Gymraeg yn y gweithle.
Rŷch chi’n dweud nad ydym wedi rhoi cefnogaeth i’r Urdd. My goodness, rŷn ni wedi sefyll ar bwys yr Urdd mewn ffordd aruthrol, dwi’n meddwl. Wrth gwrs mae angen gwneud mwy i gefnogi’r Urdd, ond rŷn ni’n gwneud ein gorau glas gyda nhw, o bob mudiad, achos rŷn ni’n gwerthfawrogi’r gwaith aruthrol a phwysig maen nhw’n ei wneud o ran cynnal y Gymraeg gyda’n hieuenctid ni. Dwi wedi cadw mewn cysylltiad agos gyda’r comisiynydd a’r Gweinidog Addysg i sicrhau bod y cwricwlwm yn y lle iawn o ran y Gymraeg, ac, wrth gwrs, mae’n drueni nad oedd Siân wedi clywed beth wnes i gyfeirio ati ynglŷn â’r gwaith rŷn ni’n ei wneud gydag ail gartrefi.
Dwi’n falch o glywed bod Gareth Bennett, fel rhan o’r Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, yn cefnogi’r syniad o gefnogi’r Gymraeg. Beth rŷn ni’n ceisio ei wneud—jest i edrych ar ychydig o bwyntiau a wnaeth e—o ran defnyddio’r iaith ar ôl i bobl gadael ysgol, mae'n rhaid inni roi'r cyfleoedd i wneud hynny, a dyna pam mae’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol wedi cael ei sefydlu. Dyna pam mae mwy o brentisiaethau mewn lle trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, a dyna pam mae modiwlau nawr o ran cyrsiau addysg bellach yn rhannol trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg i’r rheini sydd wedi mynychu ysgolion Cymraeg.
Jest i orffen, felly, mae’n debyg y bydd adroddiad y flwyddyn nesaf yn wahanol iawn o ystyried faint mae'r byd o'n cwmpas ni wedi newid. Ac er bod y cyd-destun i'n gwaith ni wedi newid yn ddramatig ers lansio 'Cymraeg 2050', mae'n blaenoriaethau ni wedi aros yn yr un lle. Ein bwriad ni o hyd yw cynyddu nifer y siaradwyr a chynyddu defnydd yr iaith a gwella'r seilwaith, a dyna pam dwi wedi nodi rhai o'r pethau hynny. Mae lot o waith eisoes wedi ei wneud ac mae sylfaen gref yno i sicrhau bod y Llywodraeth nesaf yn parhau â'r weledigaeth yna o gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr erbyn 2050. Diolch.
I think the fact that I have a new role, in a way, helps me to shine some light in terms of that area of mental health and the Welsh language, and I've already asked for some work to be done on that very issue. So, I don't see them as being in competition with each other; I think there is room for us to work together on those issues.
In terms of mainstreaming the Welsh language, let me be clear that I have no interest in seeing any tensions between languages in our communities. It is important that we work together and that we understand that there is a responsibility not just on those attending Welsh-medium schools, but also on those not attending Welsh-medium schools—that they too should learn enough of the language. And, of course, it is important that we do more work in that area. We've already been speaking to organisations such as the National Centre for Learning Welsh to see how they can help, given their new experience of working online.
In terms of nurseries, we're still on target to deliver the 40 nurseries that we had hoped to put in place, and, to just be clear, we have asked them to focus on those areas where such facilities haven't traditionally been available. Welsh language as a qualification is also valuable, and people need to understand that it is a qualification as well as a means of communication. Of course, we have sought to put money on the table—£150,000 has been put on the table—to encourage more people to study A-level, and, as Gareth Bennett noted, more work needs to be done in that particular area. We are doing our best here. We have a number of incentives in place, and if anyone has any further ideas, we'd be more than happy to listen to them, particularly when it comes to attracting more teachers to teach through the medium of Welsh. There are at least 10 measures already in place to try to encourage more people to undertake this work, and I know that this is something that Siân Gwenllian is very interested in.
I don't accept that we haven't made progress during that period. The head of Prosiect 2050 is now in place, and the work that was done is work that will now continue. It was only just starting before that appointment was made, so it wasn't that the work wasn't happening. For example, on language transmission within families, a great deal of work was being done there. A great deal of work was also being done on Welsh language and technology. So, those things that are so important in ensuring that the steps are in place to secure opportunities for people to use the Welsh language, they were already in train before that appointment was made.
In terms of Work Welsh, I think excellent work has been done here, but, of course, much of that came to an end with COVID. But it is important that we recommence that work once the opportunity arises, so that people can once again go into the workplace and learn the Welsh language there and use the Welsh language in the workplace too.
You said that we haven't provided support to the Urdd. My goodness, we have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Urdd in an exceptional way. Of course, we need to do more to support the Urdd, but we are doing our level best with them, of all organisations, because we appreciate the excellent and important work that they do in supporting the Welsh language with our young people. I have kept in touch with the commissioner and the Minister for Education to ensure that the curriculum is moving in the right direction in terms of the Welsh language, and it's a shame that Siân didn't hear what I mentioned in terms of the work that we are doing on second homes.
I'm pleased to hear that Gareth Bennett, as part of the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, does support the idea of supporting the Welsh language. What we're endeavouring to do—if I could just look at a few of the points that he raised—in terms of language use once pupils leave school, is to provide the opportunities to do that, and that's why the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has been established. That's why there are more apprenticeships in place and available through the medium of Welsh, and that's why there are now modules as part of FE courses partly through the medium of Welsh for those who attended Welsh-medium schools.
So, just to conclude, it's likely that next year's report will be very different, given the changes in the world around us. And although the context of our work has changed dramatically since 'Cymraeg 2050' was launched, our priorities have remained the same. Our intention is still to increase the number of Welsh speakers, to increase the use of the Welsh language and to improve infrastructure, and that's why I've noted some of those issues this afternoon. Much work has already been done and we have a strong foundation in place in order to ensure that the next Government can continue with that vision of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Thank you.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, does neb yn gwrthwynebu. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No objections, and 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'r Rheoliadau Deddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019 (Diwygio Atodlen 1) 2020. Dwi'n galw ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol i wneud y cynnig—Jeremy Miles.
The next item is the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Regulations 2020. I call on the Counsel General to move the motion—Jeremy Miles.
Cynnig NDM7483 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Deddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019 (Diwygio Atodlen 1) 2020 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 3 Tachwedd 2020.
Motion NDM7483 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Regulations 2020 are made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 3 November 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwy'n cynnig yn ffurfiol y rheoliadau sydd ger ein bron ni heddiw. Rwy'n argymell bod y Senedd yn cefnogi'r Rheoliadau Deddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019 (Diwygio Atodlen 1) 2020, ac rwy'n gofyn yn ffurfiol i Aelodau gefnogi'r rheoliadau ger eu bron. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn diwygio Atodlen 1 i Ddeddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019, sydd, fel y dywedais i mewn dadl yr wythnos diwethaf, yn cyflwyno diffiniadau cyffredinol ar gyfer termau a ddefnyddir yn Neddfau Senedd Cymru ac offerynnau statudol Cymru.
Thank you, Llywydd. I formally move the regulations before us today. I urge the Senedd to support the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 (Amendment of Schedule 1) Regulations 2020, and I ask formally that Members support the regulations. These regulations amend Schedule 1 to the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019, which, as I said in a debate last week, set out general definitions that apply to terms used in Acts of Senedd Cymru and Welsh statutory instruments.
These regulations insert definitions into the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019 for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, National Trust, Public Accounts Committee and sentencing code. They also amend the definition of the standard scale of fines for summary offences as a consequence of the sentencing code to allow for Welsh legislation referring to the scale to continue to operate correctly. The sentencing code is the end of a lengthy project undertaken on behalf of the UK Government by the Law Commission that sought to create a single statute containing all of the law on sentencing procedure. By bringing together the existing legislation into a single sentencing code with a clear and logical structure, the law has been made more accessible for the public and for the judiciary and practitioners. The code does not introduce any new substantive laws or alter the maximum or minimum penalties for offences, and the code has been passed by the UK Parliament, received Royal Assent on 22 October, and it will come into force on 1 December. It represents an important consolidation and modernisation exercise, and serves as an example of the type of action that Governments across the UK need to take to improve the accessibility of our laws. I am pleased we've already embarked upon similar consolidation and modernisation exercises for Wales and laid the foundations for such work to be undertaken through the Legislation (Wales) Act 2019.
Members will recall that the 2019 Act fulfils two key functions. Firstly, it provides that foundation for us to improve the accessibility of Welsh law, and, secondly, provides an interpretation Act for Wales.
Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn mewnosod diffiniadau yn Neddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019 ar gyfer y Comisiwn Cydraddoldeb a Hawliau Dynol, yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol, y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus a'r cod dedfrydu. Maen nhw hefyd yn diwygio diffiniad y raddfa ddirwyon safonol ar gyfer troseddau diannod o ganlyniad i'r cod dedfrydu er mwyn caniatáu i ddeddfwriaeth Cymru sy'n cyfeirio at y raddfa barhau i weithredu'n gywir. Mae'r cod dedfrydu yn ben y daith i brosiect hirfaith a gafodd ei gynnal ar ran Llywodraeth y DU gan Gomisiwn y Gyfraith a geisiodd greu un statud yn cynnwys yr holl gyfraith ar weithdrefn ddedfrydu. Drwy ddwyn ynghyd y ddeddfwriaeth bresennol mewn un cod dedfrydu gyda strwythur clir a rhesymegol, mae'r gyfraith wedi'i gwneud yn fwy hygyrch i'r cyhoedd ac i'r farnwriaeth ac ymarferwyr. Nid yw'r cod yn cyflwyno unrhyw gyfreithiau sylweddol newydd nac yn newid uchafswm neu isafswm cosbau am droseddau, ac mae'r cod wedi'i gymeradwyo gan Senedd y DU, wedi cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol ar 22 Hydref, a daw i rym ar 1 Rhagfyr. Mae'n cynrychioli ymarfer cydgrynhoi a moderneiddio pwysig, ac mae'n enghraifft o'r math o gamau y mae angen i Lywodraethau ledled y DU eu cymryd i wella hygyrchedd ein cyfreithiau. Rwy'n falch ein bod ni eisoes wedi cychwyn ar ymarferion cydgrynhoi a moderneiddio tebyg i Gymru ac wedi gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer gwneud gwaith o'r fath drwy Ddeddf Deddfwriaeth (Cymru) 2019.
Bydd yr Aelodau yn cofio bod Deddf 2019 yn cyflawni dwy swyddogaeth allweddol. Yn gyntaf, mae'n darparu'r sylfaen honno i ni wella hygyrchedd cyfraith Cymru, ac, yn ail, mae'n darparu Deddf ddehongli i Gymru.
Er mwyn i'r ddarpariaeth ddehongli weithio'n gywir, mae'n bwysig sicrhau bod pob term a diffiniad perthnasol wedi eu cynnwys. Dyna pam y cytunodd y Senedd hon roi pwerau i Weinidogion yn adran 6(2) o'r Ddeddf i'w galluogi i ddiweddaru'r Ddeddf drwy ddeddfwriaeth eilradd. Y rheoliadau hyn yw'r tro cyntaf rydyn ni'n defnyddio'r pwerau hynny. Mae deddfwriaeth ambell waith yn cael ei phasio, fel yn yr achos hwn, gan Senedd San Steffan, ac mae angen wedyn cysoni'r diffiniadau mewn deddfwriaeth Gymreig. Yn yr achos hwn, daeth yn amlwg bod angen diwygio'r diffiniadau yn y ddeddfwriaeth ar ôl i'r Mesur Dedfrydu gwblhau'r camau gwelliannau yn San Steffan, ond mae'n anorfod y bydd hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n digwydd o bryd i'w gilydd ar brosiectau cymhleth fel y cod dedfrydu.
Wrth gloi, Llywydd, rwy'n diolch i'r Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad am ei waith yn craffu ar y rheoliadau a'r memorandwm esboniadol yn ddiweddar. Mae wastad yn bleser i gael adroddiad sy'n cymeradwyo.
In order for the interpretation provision to work properly, it's important that we ensure that every term and definition that is relevant is included. That's why this Senedd agreed to provide powers to Ministers in section 6(2) of the Act to allow them to update the legislation through secondary legislation. These regulations represent the first time that we've made use of those powers. Legislation is occasionally passed, as in this case, by the Westminster Parliament, and we then need to standardise definitions in Welsh legislation. In this case, it became apparent that we needed to amend the definitions in the legislation Act once the amendments to the Sentencing Bill had been dealt with in Westminster, but it's inevitable that this will be something that happens from time to time on complex projects such as the sentencing code.
In conclusion, Llywydd, I thank the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee for its work in scrutinising these regulations and the explanatory memorandum. It's always a pleasure to receive approval in a report from the committee.
Diolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol. Does gyda fi ddim siaradwyr, ac felly dwi'n cymryd nad yw'r Cwnsler eisiau ymateb i'r diffyg sylwadau wnaethpwyd. Ac felly, gwnaf i ofyn y cwestiwn: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, does yna ddim, felly mae'r cynnig yna wedi ei dderbyn o dan Reol Sefydlog 12.36.
I thank the Counsel General. I have no speakers, and therefore I assume that the Counsel General doesn't want to reply to the lack of debate had. So, I will therefore pose the question as to whether the motion should be agreed. Does any Member object? No, there are no objections, therefore the motion is 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.
Mae hynny'n golygu ein bod ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio, ond heb fod angen pleidleisio y prynhawn yma. Does yna ddim pleidlais, felly, a dyna ddiwedd y cyfarfod. Prynhawn da ichi.
That brings us to voting time, but there are no votes to be taken this afternoon, and so I bring today's proceedings to a close. Good afternoon to you.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:00.
The meeting ended at 18:00.