Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
19/01/2021Cynnwys
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 drwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:29 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met by video-conference at 13:29 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Dwi eisiau nodi ychydig o bwyntiau cyn cychwyn. 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 yma, ac mae'r rhain wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda. Dwi eisiau atgoff Aelodau fod y Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn berthnasol i'r cyfarfod.
Welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. A Plenary meeting held by 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 Plenary 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.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar yr agenda fydd y cwestiwn brys dwi wedi cytuno iddo, i'w ofyn i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac mae'r cwestiwn i'w ofyn gan Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The first item on our agenda is the emergency question. It will be asked to the Minister for Health and Social Services, and the question is to be asked by Rhun ap Iorwerth.
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y cynllun brechu yn erbyn COVID-19 yng Nghymru yn dilyn adroddiadau mai polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yw dosbarthu’r cyflenwad presennol o frechiadau yn raddol yn hytrach nag anelu i frechu cymaint o bobl â phosib yn y cyfnod byrraf posib? (EQ0008)
Will the Minister make a statement on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Wales following reports that the Welsh Government’s policy is to gradually distribute vaccinations rather than to vaccinate as many people as possible in the shortest time possible? (EQ0008)
Thank you. Every vaccine is going to people who need them. Vaccines are not being held back in Wales. Every week, we are vaccinating more people. This week, we will provide a further 60,000 Pfizer vaccines in mass vaccination centres, almost double the number last week. Today's figure shows that at least 161,900 people have now had their first dose, and an average of 10,000 people a day are being vaccinated. I expect to see that increase further during the rest of this week. We're on track to meet the milestones in the vaccination plan that I published last week.
Diolch. Bydd pob brechlyn yn cael ei roi i bobl sydd ei angen. Nid yw brechlynnau'n cael eu dal yn ôl yng Nghymru. Bob wythnos, rydym ni'n brechu mwy o bobl. Yr wythnos hon, byddwn yn darparu 60,000 yn rhagor o frechlynnau Pfizer mewn canolfannau brechu torfol, bron i ddwywaith nifer wythnos diwethaf. Mae'r ffigur heddiw yn dangos bod o leiaf 161,900 o bobl wedi cael eu dos cyntaf erbyn hyn, a bod 10,000 o bobl ar gyfartaledd yn cael eu brechu bob dydd. Rwy'n disgwyl gweld hynny'n cynyddu ymhellach yn ystod gweddill yr wythnos hon. Rydym ni ar y trywydd iawn i gyrraedd y cerrig milltir yn y cynllun brechu a gyhoeddais yr wythnos diwethaf.
Diolch, Weinidog. Getting vaccination right is very, very important. It is the light at the end of the tunnel, the hope so many people have been clinging to. There has to be real confidence among the population that things are on track. People waiting for the vaccine for themselves or their loved ones are being told, 'Don't call us, we'll call you.' If people are being asked to be patient, they must be given reason to have faith that their turn will come soon. Unfortunately, Welsh Government has severely dented that confidence. Firstly, figures showing we're lagging behind other parts of the UK. The First Minister has tried to brush this off saying it's just small fractions, but while 6.6 per cent of the population vaccinated in England may not sound much bigger than 4.8 per cent vaccinated in Wales or in Scotland, that's a 30 per cent difference in the number of people vaccinated, and that needs to be addressed right now.
We had those figures about how many vaccines had been received in Wales—hundreds of thousands received—and, at that time, just tens of thousands actually put in people's arms, where we want them. And then we had those astonishing statements from the First Minister saying stocks would be spread out over the next few weeks—repeated statements—rather than getting them out as soon as possible. If they were all given out, we were told, vaccinators would be standing around, doing nothing. The British Medical Association called it 'bewildering.' I haven't seen any clinical reason why that would make sense, and what makes sense to me and, more importantly, what makes sense to the Welsh public, I think, is to get it out as quickly as possible. Now, a Welsh Government statement yesterday was completely at odds with the First Minister, as were the Minister's comments now. We were told in that statement that there would be no holding back of vaccine. So, which is it—that statement, or what we heard repeatedly from the First Minister?
We need to be able to measure exactly what's going on. So, again, I ask today: give us regular updates on how much of each kind of vaccine has been given to each UK nation. That is crucial. We need to be absolutely sure that we are getting our share of the easier-to-use AstraZeneca vaccine for example. We need to know how much of each has been given to each health board, and how many of each have been put in people's arms.
I began by saying how important it is to get vaccination right, and I'll finish if I can by quoting a comment by esteemed poet, Gwyneth Lewis, on social media. She says, 'I will never forgive this administration if my vulnerable husband, having been shielded since March, catches COVID between now and vaccination so that staff aren't hanging about, doing nothing. We've abided by all the guidelines', she says, 'and are angry and baffled by this approach to vaccination in Wales.' Llywydd, many people are angry and baffled. We in Plaid Cymru want Welsh Government to get this right. We know we have brilliant vaccines and vaccinating teams already at work, all poised ready to go. Government has to now get the strategy right, be absolutely transparent in what's going on, including about where any problems are in the system, and, crucially, they must build the confidence we need in this all-important vaccination programme.
Diolch, Gweinidog. Mae cael y broses frechu yn iawn yn bwysig iawn, iawn. Dyma'r golau ym mhen draw'r twnnel, y gobaith y mae cymaint o bobl wedi bod yn glynu wrtho. Mae'n rhaid bod ffydd wirioneddol ymhlith y boblogaeth bod pethau ar y trywydd iawn. Dywedir wrth y bobl sy'n aros am y brechlyn ar gyfer eu hunain neu eu hanwyliaid, 'Peidiwch â'n ffonio ni, fe wnawn ni eich ffonio chi.' Os gofynnir i bobl fod yn amyneddgar, mae'n rhaid rhoi rheswm iddyn nhw fod â ffydd y daw eu tro nhw yn fuan. Yn anffodus, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ysgwyd y ffydd honno yn ddifrifol. Yn gyntaf, ffigurau sy'n dangos ein bod ni ar ei hôl hi o gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r DU. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ceisio wfftio hyn gan ddweud mai ffracsiynau bach yn unig ydyn nhw, ond er efallai nad yw 6.6 y cant o'r boblogaeth a frechwyd yn Lloegr yn swnio'n llawer mwy na 4.8 y cant wedi'u brechu yng Nghymru neu yn yr Alban, mae hynny'n wahaniaeth o 30 y cant yn nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu brechu, ac mae angen mynd i'r afael â hynny nawr.
Cawsom y ffigurau hynny ynglŷn â faint o frechlynnau a gafwyd yng Nghymru—cafwyd cannoedd o filoedd—a, bryd hynny, dim ond degau o filoedd a oedd wedi eu rhoi ym mreichiau pobl, lle yr ydym ni eisiau iddyn nhw fynd. Ac yna cawsom y datganiadau syfrdanol hwnnw gan y Prif Weinidog yn dweud y cai stociau eu gwasgaru dros yr wythnosau nesaf—datganiadau a ailadroddwyd—yn hytrach na'u dosbarthu cyn gynted â phosibl. Pe byddai nhw i gyd yn cael eu dosbarthu, dywedwyd wrthym ni, byddai brechwyr yn segur, yn gwneud dim byd. Galwodd Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain hynny yn 'ddryslyd'. Dydw i ddim wedi gweld unrhyw reswm clinigol pam y byddai hynny'n gwneud synnwyr, a'r hyn sy'n gwneud synnwyr i mi ac, yn bwysicach, yr hyn sy'n gwneud synnwyr i'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru, rwy'n credu, yw dosbarthu cyn gynted â phosibl. Nawr, roedd datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddoe yn gwbl groes i'r hyn a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog, felly hefyd sylwadau'r Gweinidog nawr. Dywedwyd wrthym ni yn y datganiad hwnnw na fyddai'r brechlyn yn cael ei ddal yn ôl. Felly, pa un sy'n wir—y datganiad hwnnw, neu'r hyn a glywsom ni dro ar ôl tro gan y Prif Weinidog?
Mae angen i ni allu mesur yn union beth sy'n digwydd. Felly, unwaith eto, gofynnaf heddiw: rhowch ddiweddariadau rheolaidd i ni ar faint o bob math o frechlyn sydd wedi ei roi i bob gwlad yn y DU. Mae hynny'n hollbwysig. Mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn gwbl sicr ein bod yn cael ein cyfran o'r brechlyn AstraZeneca, sy'n haws ei ddefnyddio, er enghraifft. Mae angen i ni wybod faint o bob un sydd wedi ei roi i bob bwrdd iechyd, a faint o bob un sydd wedi ei roi ym mreichiau pobl.
Dechreuais drwy ddweud pa mor bwysig yw cael y broses frechu yn iawn, ac fe orffennaf os caf, drwy ddyfynnu sylw gan y bardd uchel ei pharch, Gwyneth Lewis, ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. Meddai hi, 'Wna i byth faddau i'r weinyddiaeth hon os bydd fy ngŵr sy'n agored i niwed, sydd wedi cael ei warchod ers mis Mawrth, yn dal COVID rhwng nawr a chael ei frechu fel nad yw staff yn segur, yn gwneud dim byd. Rydym ni wedi cadw at yr holl ganllawiau,' meddai, 'ac rydym ni yn ddig ac wedi'n drysu gan y dull hwn o frechu yng Nghymru.' Llywydd, mae llawer o bobl yn ddig ac yn ddryslyd. Rydym ni ym Mhlaid Cymru eisiau i Lywodraeth Cymru gael hyn yn iawn. Gwyddom fod gennym ni frechlynnau a thimau brechu gwych eisoes yn gweithio, i gyd yn barod i ddechrau arni. Mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth nawr sicrhau bod y strategaeth yn gywir, bod yn gwbl dryloyw ynghylch yr hyn sy'n digwydd, gan gynnwys ynghylch ble mae unrhyw broblemau yn y system, ac, yn hollbwysig, mae'n rhaid iddi adeiladu'r ffydd sydd ei hangen arnom ni yn y rhaglen frechu hollbwysig hon.
Thank you. I think, in terms of the comments, I'll try to be as direct and as brief as possible, Llywydd. The First Minister has clarified the remarks, as you're aware—we're all really clear that every vaccine is being used and no vaccines are being held back. I don't think we can be any clearer. It's also worth reminding everybody who's not in the virtual meeting, but those watching outside as well, the Pfizer stocks are being held, stored and then released for use in every UK country. Every one of the four UK nations had a Pfizer delivery at the end of December, and those are the stocks we're working through as fast as our system can deliver them. And we've built up our infrastructure to deliver a great many more Pfizer vaccines. That's why over 60,000 Pfizer jabs have been released this week into NHS Wales, to make sure they're then delivered into people's arms, to provide the protection that we all want our citizens to have.
On the request for yet more information to be put into the public domain, we're being as open as possible. I've issued a written statement, setting out our approach to providing information about supplies and delivery as well. So, every Thursday there'll be a dashboard with more information, and every Tuesday from next week we'll provide more information still about what we're achieving, together with the daily figures.
On the detailed information the Member requests for the amount of supply we're receiving—what's coming in and what's going out—I'd say two things. The first is that I'm very clear we're getting our population share of all of the vaccine supply available. As long as the supply comes in, we'll deliver those vaccines. The second point is that the level of detail the Member asks for in every aspect may not be possible to give. The Member will have noted that, in Scotland, they had to remove the plan that they'd published online and then publish a new version because some potentially commercially sensitive information about vaccine supply was contained within that initial strategy. So, we do have to be careful about providing as much information as we can, and that may not meet all of the Member's demands for additional daily information.
I can say, though, on the confidence about where we are, the daily figures are being published, and you will see an increase of delivery through this week and into next week as well. And it's worth reflecting that, as we stand now, I am confident that seven in 10 over-80s in Wales by the end of this week will have had their first shot, and seven in 10 of our care home residents and staff by the end of this week will have had their first vaccine as well. That is an increasing level of pace and confidence, increasing protection, exactly as the Member asked for, exactly as I and every member of this Government want to see, because I recognise the crucial importance of this vaccination programme. There'll be no lack of effort or urgency in doing the right thing on our part to keep Wales safe.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu, o ran y sylwadau, y ceisiaf fod mor uniongyrchol ac mor fyr â phosib, Llywydd. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi egluro'r sylwadau, fel y gwyddoch chi—rydym ni i gyd yn glir iawn y caiff pob brechlyn ei ddefnyddio ac nad oes unrhyw frechlynnau'n cael eu dal yn ôl. Dydw i ddim yn credu y gallwn ni fod yn gliriach. Mae hi hefyd yn werth atgoffa pawb nad ydyn nhw yn y cyfarfod rhithwir, ond y rhai sy'n gwylio ar lawr gwlad hefyd, bod stociau Pfizer yn cael eu cadw, eu storio ac yna eu rhyddhau i'w defnyddio ym mhob gwlad yn y DU. Cafodd pob un o bedair gwlad y DU gyflenwad o frechlynnau Pfizer ddiwedd mis Rhagfyr, a dyna'r stociau yr ydym ni'n gweithio drwyddyn nhw cyn gynted ag y gall ein system eu darparu. Ac rydym ni wedi adeiladu ein seilwaith i ddarparu llawer mwy o frechlynnau Pfizer. Dyna pam mae dros 60,000 o bigiadau Pfizer wedi'u rhyddhau yr wythnos hon i GIG Cymru, er mwyn sicrhau y rhoddir nhw ym mreichiau pobl, er mwyn darparu'r amddiffyniad yr ydym ni i gyd eisiau i'n dinasyddion ei gael.
O ran y cais i roi mwy o wybodaeth i'r cyhoedd, rydym ni mor agored â phosib. Rwyf wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig, yn nodi ein dull o ddarparu gwybodaeth am gyflenwadau ac am eu cyflenwi hefyd. Felly, bob dydd Iau bydd dangosfwrdd gyda mwy o wybodaeth, a phob dydd Mawrth o'r wythnos nesaf byddwn yn darparu mwy o wybodaeth fyth am yr hyn yr ydym ni yn ei gyflawni, ynghyd â'r ffigurau beunyddiol.
O ran yr wybodaeth fanwl y mae'r Aelod yn gofyn amdani am faint o gyflenwad yr ydym ni'n ei dderbyn—beth sy'n cyrraedd a beth sy'n cael ei ddosbarthu—byddwn yn dweud dau beth. Y cyntaf yw fy mod yn glir iawn ein bod yn cael ein cyfran o'r boblogaeth o'r holl gyflenwad o frechlynnau sydd ar gael. Cyn belled â bod y cyflenwad yn cyrraedd, byddwn yn darparu'r brechlynnau hynny. Yr ail sylw yw efallai na fydd yn bosib rhoi'r manylder y mae'r Aelod yn gofyn amdano ym mhob agwedd. Bydd yr Aelod wedi sylwi, yn yr Alban, y bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddileu'r cynllun yr oedden nhw wedi'i gyhoeddi ar-lein ac yna cyhoeddi fersiwn newydd oherwydd bod rhywfaint o wybodaeth a allai fod yn fasnachol sensitif am y cyflenwad o frechlynnau wedi'i chynnwys yn y strategaeth gychwynnol honno. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni fod yn ofalus ynghylch darparu cymaint o wybodaeth ag y gallwn ni, ac efallai na fydd hynny'n bodloni holl alwadau'r Aelod am wybodaeth feunyddiol ychwanegol.
Gallaf ddweud, serch hynny, am y ffydd ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi, fod y ffigurau beunyddiol yn cael eu cyhoeddi, a byddwch yn gweld cynnydd yn y ddarpariaeth drwy'r wythnos hon a'r wythnos nesaf hefyd. Ac mae'n werth nodi, fel y mae pethau ar hyn o bryd, fy mod yn ffyddiog y bydd saith o bob 10 o bobl dros 80 oed yng Nghymru erbyn diwedd yr wythnos hon wedi cael eu pigiad cyntaf, a bydd saith o bob 10 o breswylwyr a staff ein cartrefi gofal erbyn diwedd yr wythnos hon wedi cael eu pigiad cyntaf hefyd. Mae pethau'n cyflymu a phobl yn fwy ffyddiog, gan gynyddu diogelwch, yn union fel y gofynnodd yr Aelod amdano, yn union fel yr wyf fi a phob aelod o'r Llywodraeth hon eisiau ei weld, oherwydd rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd hanfodol y rhaglen frechu hon. Ni fydd diffyg ymdrech na brys wrth wneud y peth priodol ar ein rhan i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
[Inaudible.]—for the answer, and also some of the points that you've made already. But the fact of the matter is that, on a population share, we are 40,000 people behind where England is. That's the equivalent of a town the size of Caerphilly being completely vaccinated. These numbers are getting bigger as the days and weeks go by, because, two weeks ago, that gap between where England is and Wales is was 15,000 citizens—the difference between where England is and Wales is at the moment. So, can you tell me what confidence have you got that you will be in a position to be closing that gap and getting more Welsh citizens vaccinated, despite the comments of the First Minister yesterday in saying that vaccinators were struggling to keep up with demand because they didn't have enough vaccines so we needed to ration the vaccine being made available? That really sends, as David Bailey said, a bewildering message—David Bailey from the British Medical Association—to people, wherever they live in Wales, who want to see this genuine success story unfolded here in Wales, because it is the light at the end of the tunnel that we're all hanging on to. But what we're seeing as each day goes by is an increasing gap opening up between where other parts of the UK are vaccinating and where Wales is vaccinating, a poor communication strategy from the Welsh Government, typified by yesterday's comments from the First Minister in particular, and a lack of detail in being able to understand exactly how this programme is progressing in some of our vulnerable communities.
Twice last week I asked you, Minister, could you give us a figure for the number of over-80s that had been vaccinated here in Wales, and, on both occasions, you were unable to provide that information. I hear what you said in response to Rhun ap Iorwerth, when you said that, at the end of the week, you hope seven in 10 of over-80s will have been vaccinated here in Wales with their first shot. Can you confirm today how many over-80s, as a percentage of the population, will have been vaccinated? Because on Sunday I could tell that in England, because it was across the news bulletins that over 50 per cent of over-80s had been vaccinated. We want to see the Government succeed in its programme of vaccination across Wales, because if this programme succeeds, Wales succeeds. But it is not unreasonable, when you hear comments like yesterday's, to have doubts as to the efficiency and the effectiveness of the campaign that the Welsh Government has put in place. So, if you could respond to the points I've put to you, I'd be most grateful.
[Anghlywadwy.]—am yr ateb, a hefyd am rai o'r sylwadau yr ydych chi wedi'u gwneud eisoes. Ond y gwir amdani yw ein bod ni, o ran y gyfran o'r boblogaeth, 40,000 o bobl ar ei hôl hi o'i gymharu â Lloegr. Mae hynny'n cyfateb i dref o faint Caerffili yn cael ei brechu'n llwyr. Mae'r niferoedd hyn yn cynyddu wrth i'r dyddiau a'r wythnosau fynd heibio, oherwydd, bythefnos yn ôl, y bwlch hwnnw rhwng lle mae Lloegr a Chymru arni oedd 15,000 o ddinasyddion—y gwahaniaeth rhwng lle mae Lloegr a Chymru arni ar hyn o bryd. Felly, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthyf i pa mor ffyddiog ydych chi y byddwch mewn sefyllfa i gau'r bwlch hwnnw a sicrhau y caiff mwy o ddinasyddion Cymru eu brechu, er gwaethaf sylwadau'r Prif Weinidog ddoe wrth ddweud bod brechwyr yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi â'r galw am nad oedd ganddyn nhw ddigon o frechlynnau felly bod angen i ni ddogni'r brechlyn? Mae hynny yn wir, fel y dywedodd David Bailey, yn anfon neges ddryslyd,—David Bailey o Gymdeithas Feddygol Prydain—at bobl, lle bynnag y maen nhw'n byw yng Nghymru, sydd eisiau gweld y llwyddiant gwirioneddol hwn yn datblygu yma yng Nghymru, oherwydd dyma'r golau ym mhen draw'r twnnel yr ydym ni i gyd yn glynu wrtho. Ond yr hyn yr ydym ni yn ei weld wrth i bob diwrnod fynd heibio yw bwlch cynyddol yn ymagor rhwng ble mae rhannau eraill o'r DU arni o ran brechu a lle mae Cymru arni o ran brechu, strategaeth gyfathrebu wael gan Lywodraeth Cymru, gyda sylwadau'r Prif Weinidog ddoe yn nodweddiadol o hynny, a diffyg manylion o ran gallu deall sut yn union y mae'r rhaglen hon yn mynd rhagddi yn rhai o'n cymunedau sy'n agored i niwed.
Ddwywaith yr wythnos diwethaf gofynnais ichi, Gweinidog, a allech chi roi ffigur inni ar gyfer nifer y rhai dros 80 oed a frechwyd yma yng Nghymru, ac, ar y ddau achlysur, nid oeddech yn gallu darparu'r wybodaeth honno. Clywais yr hyn a ddywedsoch chi wrth ymateb i Rhun ap Iorwerth, pan ddywedsoch chi eich bod chi, ddiwedd yr wythnos, yn gobeithio y bydd saith o bob 10 o bobl dros 80 oed wedi cael eu brechu yma yng Nghymru gyda'u pigiad cyntaf. A allwch chi gadarnhau heddiw faint o bobl dros 80 oed, fel canran o'r boblogaeth, a fydd wedi cael eu brechu? Oherwydd dydd Sul fe allwn i ddweud, yn Lloegr, oherwydd ei fod ar draws y bwletinau newyddion, fod dros 50 y cant o bobl dros 80 oed wedi cael eu brechu. Rydym ni eisiau gweld y Llywodraeth yn llwyddo yn ei rhaglen frechu ledled Cymru, oherwydd os bydd y rhaglen hon yn llwyddo, mae Cymru'n llwyddo. Ond nid yw hi'n afresymol, pan glywch chi sylwadau fel rhai ddoe, i fod ag amheuon ynghylch effeithlonrwydd ac effeithiolrwydd yr ymgyrch y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i rhoi ar waith. Felly, pe gallech chi ymateb i'r sylwadau yr wyf i wedi'u cyflwyno i chi, byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn.
Thank you for those comments. When it comes to our delivery, you will have noticed that we have made real progress on increasing the number of mass vaccination centres. That now means that we can increase the delivery of the Pfizer vaccine. That's why we're able to confidently predict we'll be able to not just deliver 60,000 doses to our NHS, but they will then be able to put them into the arms of people and to give them protection. We are making progress. The pace is increasing week on week and the figures demonstrate that. And I hope the Member is genuine in his comments, because we all want this programme to succeed, and I hope that, from the concerns he is expressing now and, to be fair, has regularly done so, he'll then give some credit to the Government and our national health service if we do, as I expect, achieve the milestone of having protected the first four priority groups by the middle of February, as will other UK nations expect to do as well.
When it comes to where we are, I don't just hope we'll have reached seven in 10 care home residents and staff by the weekend, I don't just hope we'll have reached 70 per cent of the over-80s by the end of the weekend, I expect us to do so. And I can say that my current understanding is that we have already managed to do so for the majority of our over-80s population. I'll have more figures available later this week that I'd be happy to provide to Members and the public to provide the confidence that the Member says he wants to understand and to be able to provide to the wider public. This is a programme that is gathering in pace. We recognise the importance, and I certainly understand the urgency of this for all of us, regardless of our views on politics, to provide a different future for the rest of this year, because the vaccination programme is absolutely protecting our most vulnerable and helping to save lives.
Diolch ichi am y sylwadau yna. O ran ein darpariaeth, byddwch wedi sylwi ein bod ni wedi gwneud cynnydd gwirioneddol o ran cynyddu nifer y canolfannau brechu torfol. Mae hynny'n golygu nawr y gallwn ni gynyddu'r modd y darperir brechlyn Pfizer. Dyna pam y gallwn ni ragweld yn ffyddiog y byddwn ni nid yn unig yn gallu darparu 60,000 dos i'n GIG, ond y byddan nhw wedyn yn gallu eu rhoi ym mreichiau pobl a'u diogelu. Rydym ni yn gwneud cynnydd. Mae'r cyflymder yn cynyddu o wythnos i wythnos ac mae'r ffigurau'n dangos hynny. A gobeithio bod yr Aelod yn ddiffuant yn ei sylwadau, oherwydd rydym ni i gyd eisiau i'r rhaglen hon lwyddo, a gobeithio, o'r pryderon y mae'n eu mynegi nawr ac, a bod yn deg, y mae wedi eu mynegi yn rheolaidd, y bydd wedyn yn rhoi rhywfaint o glod i'r Llywodraeth a'n gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol os byddwn, fel y disgwyliaf, yn cyflawni'r garreg filltir o fod wedi diogelu'r pedwar grŵp blaenoriaeth cyntaf erbyn canol mis Chwefror, fel y bydd disgwyl i wledydd eraill y DU ei wneud hefyd.
O ran ein sefyllfa ni, nid wyf yn unig yn gobeithio y byddwn ni wedi brechu saith o bob 10 preswylydd ac aelod staff cartref gofal erbyn y penwythnos, nid wyf yn unig yn gobeithio y byddwn ni wedi brechu 70 y cant o'r rhai dros 80 oed erbyn diwedd y penwythnos, rwy'n disgwyl i ni wneud hynny. A gallaf ddweud mai fy nealltwriaeth i ar hyn o bryd yw ein bod ni eisoes wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o'n poblogaeth dros 80 oed. Bydd gennyf i fwy o ffigurau ar gael yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon y byddwn yn hapus i'w darparu i Aelodau a'r cyhoedd i roi'r ffydd y mae'r Aelod yn dweud yr hoffai er mwyn deall ac i allu ei roi i'r cyhoedd yn ehangach. Mae hon yn rhaglen sy'n magu stêm. Rydym ni'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd, ac rwyf yn sicr yn deall bod bob un ohonom ni eisiau gweld hyn yn mynd rhagddo ar fyrder, beth bynnag fo ein barn am wleidyddiaeth, darparu dyfodol gwahanol am weddill y flwyddyn hon, oherwydd mae'r rhaglen frechu yn amddiffyn ein pobl fwyaf agored i niwed ac yn helpu i achub bywydau.
Very briefly, as we're all aware, people are concerned regarding the wait for the vaccine. Will the Minister unequivocally commit that vaccines will be provided as fast as is possible?
Yn fyr iawn, fel y gwyddom ni i gyd, mae pobl yn pryderu am yr amser aros am y brechlyn. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo'n ddiamwys y caiff brechlynnau eu darparu cyn gynted â phosib?
Yes. Vaccines are being provided as fast as is possible and will continue to be provided as fast as is possible. It's worth pointing out that if there are any anxious over-80s watching this, not only have we already got to the majority of over-80s here in Wales, it is not the case that England have completed their over-80s programme. There are still gaps and there will still be people in England waiting for their vaccines too. In Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, we're all working through as fast as possible in those priority groups, and there will be no let up from the Welsh Government or our hard-working staff within our national health service, who I think are doing a fantastic job and are a credit to our country.
Gwnaf. Caiff brechlynnau eu darparu cyn gynted â phosib a byddant yn parhau i gael eu darparu cyn gynted â phosib. Mae'n werth nodi, os oes unrhyw bobl bryderus dros 80 oed yn gwylio hyn, nid yn unig ein bod ni eisoes wedi brechu y rhan fwyaf o bobl dros 80 oed yma yng Nghymru, nid yw'n wir fod Lloegr wedi cwblhau eu rhaglen i bobl dros 80 oed. Mae bylchau o hyd a bydd pobl yn Lloegr yn aros am eu brechlynnau hefyd. Yng Nghymru, Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, rydym ni i gyd yn gweithio mor gyflym ag y gallwn ni yn y grwpiau blaenoriaeth hynny, ac ni fydd llaesu dwylo o ran Llywodraeth Cymru na'n staff diwyd yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, sydd, yn fy marn i, yn gwneud gwaith gwych ac yn glod i'n gwlad.
Minister, despite whether the First Minister misspoke on the Radio 4 interview or not, the reality is that Wales is the worst home nation when it comes to vaccine roll-out. We are well behind both Northern Ireland and England, and if the smallest nation in our nation can get its act together, why can't we? It's vital that we vastly accelerate the vaccine roll-out when you consider that Wales has one of the highest death rates in the world. We're losing more people per capita than even the US, who have totally bungled their coronavirus response. So, facing this huge death toll, why are GPs in my region only receiving a third of the vaccine supplies they were promised and forced to cancel vaccinations at the last minute? Minister, when will Wales get its act together, considering that we have clearly demonstrated that vaccination is the only way out of this pandemic? Diolch.
Gweinidog, er gwaethaf pa un a lithrodd y Prif Weinidog wrth siarad ar gyfweliad Radio 4 ai peidio, y gwir amdani yw mai Cymru yw'r wlad waethaf yn y DU o ran cyflwyno'r brechlyn. Rydym ni ymhell y tu ôl i Ogledd Iwerddon a Lloegr, ac os gall y genedl leiaf yn ein cenedl lwyddo i wneud hyn, pam na allwn ni? Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cyflymu'r broses o gyflwyno'r brechlyn yn sylweddol pan ystyriwch fod gan Gymru un o'r cyfraddau marwolaethau mwyaf yn y byd. Rydym yn colli mwy o bobl y pen na hyd yn oed yr Unol Daleithiau, sydd wedi gwneud traed moch llwyr o'u hymateb i'r coronafeirws. Felly, yn wyneb y gyfradd farwolaeth enfawr hon, pam nad yw meddygon teulu yn fy rhanbarth i ond yn cael traean o'r cyflenwadau brechlynnau a addawyd iddyn nhw ac yn cael eu gorfodi i ganslo brechiadau ar y funud olaf? Gweinidog, pryd fydd Cymru'n cael trefn ar bethau, o ystyried ein bod ni wedi dangos yn glir mai brechu yw'r unig ffordd allan o'r pandemig hwn? Diolch.
As a matter of fact, we're not the worst home nation. We've now caught up with and are tracking the progress in Scotland, and I expect us to go even faster during the rest of this week, as I've said repeatedly not just this afternoon, but also in other statements and interviews that I've given over the last couple of days. We are accelerating the roll-out, and, as I say, look at the figures, not just in the last few weeks where we've seen a week-on-week increase in the roll-out, but by the end of this week, when you'll see a further increase in the roll-out in Wales. I believe our NHS staff deserve praise for that increasing roll-out, and you'll see more of that moving forward.
When it comes to international comparisons, of course, Wales is the fifth best country in the world at present, but we want to compare well with every other part of the UK. That's the commitment of our staff. That's the commitment of this Government. More people will be protected. The limiting step, as every other health Minister has acknowledged when being questioned about this, is supply. Those general practices that have not had all of the AstraZeneca supply they would have expected, it's simply a matter of delivery to them. But I am confident that the assurances we have had in every single UK nation about vaccine supply increasing will be met, and if they are, we will continue to increase our delivery. That means more people being protected at a faster rate in every community right across Wales.
I ddweud y gwir, nid ni yw'r genedl waethaf yn y DU. Rydym ni bellach wedi dal i fyny ac yn olrhain y cynnydd yn yr Alban, ac rwy'n disgwyl i ni fynd hyd yn oed yn gyflymach yn ystod gweddill yr wythnos hon, fel rwyf wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro nid yn unig y prynhawn yma, ond hefyd mewn datganiadau a chyfweliadau eraill yr wyf wedi'u rhoi dros yr ychydig ddyddiau diwethaf. Rydym ni yn cyflymu'r broses gyflwyno, ac, fel y dywedais, edrychwch ar y ffigurau, nid yn unig yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf lle rydym ni wedi gweld cynnydd o wythnos i wythnos yn y broses o'i gyflwyno, ond erbyn diwedd yr wythnos hon, pan welwch chi gynnydd pellach yn y cyflwyno yng Nghymru. Credaf fod staff y GIG yn haeddu canmoliaeth am y cynnydd hwnnw, a byddwch yn gweld mwy o hynny yn y dyfodol.
O ran cymariaethau rhyngwladol, wrth gwrs, Cymru yw'r bumed wlad orau yn y byd ar hyn o bryd, ond rydym ni eisiau cymharu'n dda â phob rhan arall o'r DU. Dyna ymrwymiad ein staff. Dyna ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon. Caiff mwy o bobl eu hamddiffyn. Yr hyn sy'n ein llesteirio, fel mae pob Gweinidog iechyd arall wedi cydnabod wrth gael ei holi am hyn, yw'r cyflenwad. O ran y meddygfeydd hynny nad ydyn nhw wedi cael yr holl gyflenwad o AstraZeneca y bydden nhw wedi'i ddisgwyl, nid yw ond mater o'i gyflenwi iddyn nhw. Ond rwy'n ffyddiog y bydd y sicrwydd a gawsom ni ym mhob un o wledydd y DU ynghylch cynyddu'r cyflenwad brechlynnau yn cael ei fodloni, ac os byddan nhw, byddwn yn parhau i gynyddu ein darpariaeth. Mae hynny'n golygu bod mwy o bobl yn cael eu hamddiffyn yn gyflymach ym mhob cymuned ledled Cymru.
My inbox on vaccine roll-out is full of anger, and our wonderful staff are chomping at the bit to deliver the vaccine. Now, we know Welsh Government has bought into the UK Government procurement for various vaccines, as we've heard. Can I ask what flexibility is there in the agreed provision of the Pfizer vaccine versus the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine? Is there flexibility to change as the situation potentially changes, or as the challenges change? Is there flexibility in the procurement agreement? Is Wales getting its fair share of the Oxford-AZ vaccine, which is easier to roll out within GP surgeries and community pharmacies and all the rest?
My final point is: with high circulating levels of COVID still, though the lockdown is working and the figures are coming down, there remains high probability of new mutant strains developing, which is why you must vaccinate as a matter of urgency—pull out all the stops. The Welsh Government must be braver in its roll-out and go for broke and press for more vaccines if we're in danger of running out. Minister, would you agree, and also would you agree we must be flexible? If there's vaccine available anywhere, we must go for it. No administrative straitjacket should hold up this urgent vaccination programme.
Mae fy mewnflwch ynglŷn â chyflwyno brechlynnau yn llawn negesau blin, ac mae ein staff gwych yn gweithio nerth eu deng ewin i ddarparu'r brechlyn. Nawr, rydym yn gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i'r modd y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn caffael brechlynnau amrywiol, fel y clywsom ni. A gaf i ofyn pa hyblygrwydd sydd yn y ddarpariaeth y cytunwyd arni o'r brechlyn Pfizer o'i gymharu â brechlyn Rhydychen-AstraZeneca? A oes hyblygrwydd i newid wrth i'r sefyllfa newid o bosib, neu wrth i'r heriau newid? A oes hyblygrwydd yn y cytundeb caffael? A yw Cymru'n cael ei chyfran deg o frechlyn Rhydychen-AZ, sy'n haws ei gyflwyno mewn meddygfeydd teulu a fferyllfeydd cymunedol ac ati?
Fy sylw olaf yw: gyda lefelau cylchredeg uchel o COVID yn dal i fodoli, er bod y cyfyngiadau symud yn gweithio a'r ffigurau'n gostwng, mae tebygolrwydd mawr o hyd y bydd mathau newydd o'r feirws yn datblygu, a dyna pam y mae'n rhaid i chi frechu fel mater o frys—hyd eithaf eich gallu. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru fod yn ddewr wrth gyflwyno'r brechlyn gan fentro popeth a phwyso am fwy o frechlynnau os yw ein cyflenwad mewn peryg o ddarfod. Gweinidog, a fyddech yn cytuno, a hefyd a fyddech yn cytuno bod yn rhaid inni fod yn hyblyg? Os oes brechlyn ar gael yn unrhyw le, rhaid i ni geisio ei sicrhau. Ni ddylai unrhyw lyffetheiriau gweinyddol lesteirio'r rhaglen frechu frys hon.
I'm happy to confirm that I don't believe there is an administrative straitjacket holding up the vaccination programme here in Wales. I understand the frustration of our staff who want to be out vaccinating more. I understand not just general practice, but community pharmacy too. As the supplies of AstraZeneca increase as we expect them to—that's not just from conversations with the UK Government, but also from direct engagement between the Welsh Government and AstraZeneca themselves—we expect to have much greater supplies progressively through the rest of the spring. That means we'll be able to deliver at an even faster rate.
I've had direct conversations with Nadhim Zahawi, the UK vaccines Minister, about the supply to Wales, because part of my concern about the Prime Minister's surprise announcement on the first four groups being resolved by the middle of February was that, of course, we have a higher portion as a population of those first four groups than England does, and we need to make sure that we're not going to be artificially held back by a lack of supply in going as fast as possible. In those conversations, there has been a direct assurance that we will have all of the supply we need to be able to achieve that milestone at the same time as other UK nations. We're receiving at least our population share, as we've agreed. So, yes, we're getting a fair share and we're making good use of that fair share of all the vaccines that we're receiving.
I do think it's helpful to reiterate the point you make, though, that lockdowns work on the terms on which they're introduced. They help to slow down the rate of transmission, to reduce the amount of harm being caused, to ensure our NHS is not being overwhelmed, to allow us to limit the rate of transmission, to see it reduced, and to allow different choices to be made as vaccination protects more of our most vulnerable citizens. There is no let-up from this Government, no lack of understanding of the need for urgency, pace and delivery, and I'm very proud—as I've said more than once—of the job that our NHS staff are doing to protect as many of our vulnerable people as quickly as possible in every single community right across Wales.
Rwy'n fodlon cadarnhau nad wyf yn credu bod llyffetheiriau gweinyddol yn llesteirio'r rhaglen frechu yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n deall rhwystredigaeth ein staff sydd eisiau bod allan yn brechu mwy. Rwy'n deall sefyllfa nid dim ond practis cyffredinol, ond fferylliaeth gymunedol hefyd. Wrth i gyflenwadau AstraZeneca gynyddu fel y disgwyliwn iddyn nhw—nid dim ond drwy sgyrsiau â Llywodraeth y DU y mae hynny, ond hefyd o drafod uniongyrchol rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru ac AstraZeneca eu hunain—rydym yn disgwyl cael llawer mwy o gyflenwadau'n raddol drwy weddill y gwanwyn. Mae hynny'n golygu y byddwn yn gallu cyflawni'n gyflymach fyth.
Rwyf wedi cael sgyrsiau uniongyrchol gyda Nadhim Zahawi, Gweinidog brechlynnau'r DU, am y cyflenwad i Gymru, oherwydd rhan o'm pryder am gyhoeddiad annisgwyl y Prif Weinidog ar y pedwar grŵp cyntaf yn cael eu datrys erbyn canol mis Chwefror oedd bod gennym ni, wrth gwrs, gyfran uwch fel poblogaeth o'r pedwar grŵp cyntaf hynny na Lloegr, ac mae angen i ni sicrhau na fyddwn yn cael ein dal yn ôl yn artiffisial gan ddiffyg cyflenwad drwy fynd ati mor gyflym â phosib. Yn y sgyrsiau hynny, cafwyd sicrwydd uniongyrchol y bydd gennym ni yr holl gyflenwad sydd ei angen arnom ni i allu cyflawni'r garreg filltir honno ar yr un pryd â chenhedloedd eraill y DU. Rydym yn derbyn o leiaf ein cyfran o'r boblogaeth, fel yr ydym ni wedi cytuno. Felly, ydym, rydym yn cael cyfran deg ac rydym yn gwneud defnydd da o'r gyfran deg honno o'r holl frechlynnau yr ydym yn eu derbyn.
Rwyf yn credu ei bod hi'n ddefnyddiol ailadrodd y sylw yr ydych chi'n ei wneud, serch hynny, fod cyfyngiadau symud yn gweithio ar y telerau y cânt eu cyflwyno. Maen nhw'n helpu i arafu'r gyfradd drosglwyddo, i leihau faint o niwed sy'n cael ei achosi, i sicrhau nad yw ein GIG yn cael ei lethu, i ganiatáu inni gyfyngu ar y gyfradd drosglwyddo, i'w weld yn gostwng, ac i ganiatáu gwneud gwahanol ddewisiadau wrth i frechiad ddiogelu mwy o'n dinasyddion mwyaf agored i niwed. Does dim llaesu dwylo gan y Llywodraeth hon, dim diffyg dealltwriaeth o'r angen am frys, cyflymder a darpariaeth, ac rwy'n falch iawn—fel yr wyf wedi dweud fwy nag unwaith—o'r gwaith y mae staff ein GIG yn ei wneud i amddiffyn cymaint o'n pobl sy'n agored i niwed cyn gynted â phosib ym mhob cymuned ledled Cymru.
Minister, the First Minister, in making the statements he did yesterday, has caused a lot of anxiety, concern and upset. Actually, he's leading vulnerable people to believe that they are now at an increased risk of contracting the virus, and no more so than in Aberconwy.
Do you agree with the First Minister that all available Pfizer vaccines should not be made available as quickly as possible? You claimed that the challenge was having enough infrastructure to deliver the Pfizer jab without wasting it, but how can you stand by what you've said when locations down the road from me here at Venue Cymru have only been working three days a week, instead of the agreed six days, because they can't get enough vaccines? How do you respond to GPs working in my constituency who are absolutely furious because some have agreed to issue 100 doses a day for six days a week, yet in the last two weeks, have only managed to complete 100 a week? That's due to them not being able to obtain the supplies. Why are you not listening to the health professionals and all those hard-working health staff delivering these vaccines? As has been pointed out, Dr David Bailey, chair of the British Medical Association in Wales, is asking you—and I quote—
'to stop sitting on supplies and get on with it.'
And as a GP said to me yesterday, 'Will you please tell Mr Vaughan Gething from me that I want those vaccinations in the arms of our people here in Aberconwy? They are no use to anyone sitting on a shelf and all that's going to succeed if that happens is that the virus is going to be harder to defeat and patients will lose lives.' It doesn't get any more serious than that, Minister, so please listen to what you are being told. Diolch, Llywydd.
Gweinidog, mae'r Prif Weinidog, o wneud y datganiadau a wnaeth ddoe, wedi achosi llawer o boen meddwl, pryder a gofid. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n arwain pobl agored i niwed i gredu eu bod nhw mewn mwy o berygl o ddal y feirws erbyn hyn, a hynny ddim mwy nag yn Aberconwy.
A ydych chi'n cytuno â'r Prif Weinidog na ddylai'r holl frechlynnau Pfizer sydd ar gael fod ar gael cyn gynted â phosibl? Fe wnaethoch chi honni mai'r her oedd cael digon o seilwaith i ddarparu pigiad Pfizer heb ei wastraffu, ond sut gallwch chi sefyll wrth yr hyn yr ydych chi wedi ei ddweud pan mai dim ond tri diwrnod yr wythnos y mae lleoliadau i lawr y ffordd o ble'r wyf i yma yn Venue Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio, yn hytrach na'r chwe diwrnod a gytunwyd, gan nad ydyn nhw'n gallu cael digon o frechlynnau? Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i feddygon teulu sy'n gweithio yn fy etholaeth i sy'n gandryll gan fod rhai wedi cytuno i roi 100 dos y dydd am chwe diwrnod yr wythnos, ac eto yn ystod y pythefnos diwethaf, dim ond 100 yr wythnos y maen nhw wedi llwyddo i'w cwblhau? Mae hynny oherwydd nad ydyn nhw'n gallu cael gafael ar y cyflenwadau. Pam nad ydych chi'n gwrando ar y gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol a'r holl staff iechyd hynny sy'n gweithio'n galed yn rhoi'r brechlynnau hyn? Fel y soniwyd, mae Dr David Bailey, cadeirydd Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain yng Nghymru, yn gofyn i chi—a dyfynnaf—
roi'r gorau i eistedd ar gyflenwadau a bwrw ati.
Ac fel y dywedodd meddyg teulu wrthyf i ddoe, 'A wnewch chi ddweud wrth Mr Vaughan Gething oddi wrthyf i fy mod i eisiau cael y brechiadau hynny ym mreichiau ein pobl yma yn Aberconwy? Dydyn nhw'n dda i ddim yn eistedd ar silff a'r cwbl sy'n mynd i lwyddo os bydd hynny'n digwydd yw y bydd y feirws yn anoddach i'w drechu a bydd cleifion yn colli bywydau.' Ni all fod yn fwy difrifol na hynny, Gweinidog, felly gwrandewch ar yr hyn sy'n cael ei ddweud wrthych chi. Diolch, Llywydd.
With respect, I think the Member should listen to the answers that are being given on information. When it comes to the Pfizer supply, we're putting out much more Pfizer supply this week—nearly double what went out last week—and that'll make sure that the increasing number of mass vaccination centres—. We currently have 28 operating and over 90 per cent of those were open this weekend. We're going to move up to 45 vaccination centres within the next week or two. So, actually, that will make sure that we make good use of the Pfizer vaccination supply that we have and we should continue to get into the future.
I understand the concerns of general practitioners, and this was a point that I've dealt with in several other questions, including Dr Lloyd's question immediately before your own. The Oxford-AstraZeneca supply is the one that we're providing to primary care. I know that some people have been frustrated that they haven't received as much as expected, but that's simply a matter of supply into Wales. As we see significant increases take place this week, those supplies will go out very quickly to general practice; they won't be sitting on shelves, they won't be kept somewhere away from practitioners who need to be able to deliver them to protect our citizens. That's exactly what we are doing and exactly what you will see our NHS do.
I hope that the clarity in the information that we're providing today and the clarity in the numbers that you will see increase through the rest of this week will provide the level of confidence that the Member claims she wants to have in this programme and the significant difference it will make to people in every single community up and down the country, as our NHS plays its part in helping to keep Wales safe.
Gyda phob parch, rwy'n credu y dylai'r Aelod wrando ar yr atebion sy'n cael eu rhoi am wybodaeth. O ran y cyflenwad Pfizer, rydym ni'n dosbarthu llawer mwy o gyflenwad Pfizer yr wythnos hon—bron i ddwbl yr hyn a aeth allan yr wythnos diwethaf—a bydd hynny yn gwneud yn siŵr bod y nifer gynyddol o ganolfannau brechu torfol—. Mae gennym ni 28 yn weithredol ar hyn o bryd ac roedd dros 90 y cant o'r rheini ar agor y penwythnos hwn. Rydym ni'n mynd i symud i fyny i hyd at 45 o ganolfannau brechu o fewn yr wythnos neu ddwy nesaf. Felly, mewn gwirionedd, bydd hynny yn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gwneud defnydd da o'r cyflenwad brechu Pfizer sydd gennym ni ac dylem ni barhau i'w gael yn y dyfodol.
Rwy'n deall pryderon meddygon teulu, ac roedd hwn yn bwynt yr wyf i wedi rhoi sylw iddo mewn sawl cwestiwn arall, gan gynnwys cwestiwn Dr Lloyd yn union o flaen eich cwestiwn chi. Cyflenwad Rhydychen-AstraZeneca yw'r un yr ydym ni'n ei ddarparu i faes gofal sylfaenol. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhai pobl wedi teimlo'n rhwystredig nad ydyn nhw wedi cael cymaint â'r disgwyl, ond mater syml o gyflenwad i mewn i Gymru yw hynny. Wrth i ni weld cynnydd sylweddol yn digwydd yr wythnos hon, bydd y cyflenwadau hynny yn mynd allan yn gyflym iawn i feddygfeydd teulu; ni fyddan nhw'n eistedd ar silffoedd, ni fyddan nhw'n cael eu cadw yn rhywle i ffwrdd oddi wrth ymarferwyr sydd angen gallu eu rhoi nhw i amddiffyn ein dinasyddion. Dyna'n union yr ydym ni'n ei wneud a dyna'r union beth y byddwch chi'n gweld ein GIG yn ei wneud.
Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr eglurder yn yr wybodaeth yr ydym ni'n ei darparu heddiw a'r eglurder yn y niferoedd y byddwch chi'n eu gweld yn cynyddu drwy weddill yr wythnos hon yn rhoi'r lefel o ffydd y mae'r Aelod yn honni ei bod hi eisiau ei chael yn y rhaglen hon a'r gwahaniaeth sylweddol y bydd yn ei wneud i bobl ym mhob un cymuned ar hyd a lled y wlad, wrth i'n GIG chwarae ei ran i helpu i gadw Cymru yn ddiogel.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Huw Irranca-Davies.
The next item is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Huw Irranca-Davies.
1. Pa sylwadau y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'u cyflwyno i Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch darparu cymorth ariannol ychwanegol i gynorthwyo swyddi y mae COVID-19 wedi cael effaith arnynt yng Nghymru? OQ56126
1. What representations has the First Minister made to the UK Government regarding the provision of additional financial support to assist jobs affected by COVID-19 in Wales? OQ56126
We take all opportunities to make such representations. The Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales met the UK small business Minister on Thursday and the Secretary of State for Wales yesterday. A quadrilateral of UK Governments takes place tomorrow, where further representations will be made.
Rydym ni'n manteisio ar bob cyfle i gyflwyno sylwadau o'r fath. Cafodd Gweinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru gyfarfod gyda Gweinidog busnesau bach y DU ddydd Iau ac Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ddoe. Mae cyfarfod pedairochrog rhwng Llywodraethau'r DU yn cael ei gynnal yfory, pryd y bydd sylwadau pellach yn cael eu cyflwyno.
First Minister, I'm glad to hear about the frequency of those meetings, because when I first laid this question, I thought to ask you to push the UK Government to provide more support for the self-employed and others who still fall outside the job support schemes available, and to push them to guarantee to protect, which they shamefully failed to do in a vote in the House of Commons this week, the £20 uplift to universal credit, which, as we know, goes to some of the poorest working families in Wales. But I did not foresee, First Minister, that, in the course of last weekend, the Conservatives would bring forward proposals for a bonfire of workers' rights and terms and conditions, so that, in the teeth of a jobs insecurity crisis, which is flowing from both leaving the EU and the global pandemic, the UK Government rips away hard-won protections for ordinary working people. So, First Minister, when you next meet Boris Johnson, would you ask him why working people in Ogmore and Wales should ever vote for his party, when he plans to make them work longer for less pay and strip away their employment rights?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n falch o glywed am amlder y cyfarfodydd hynny, oherwydd pan osodais i y cwestiwn hwn am y tro cyntaf, fy mwriad oedd gofyn i chi bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i roi mwy o gefnogaeth i'r hunangyflogedig ac eraill sy'n dal i fod y tu allan i'r cynlluniau cymorth swyddi sydd ar gael, ac i bwyso arnyn nhw i sicrhau y byddan nhw'n gwarchod, y gwnaethon nhw fethu yn gywilyddus â'i wneud mewn pleidlais yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin yr wythnos hon, y cynnydd o £20 i gredyd cynhwysol, sydd, fel y gwyddom, yn mynd i rai o'r teuluoedd sy'n gweithio tlotaf yng Nghymru. Ond ni wnes i ragweld, Prif Weinidog, y byddai'r Ceidwadwyr, yn ystod y penwythnos diwethaf, yn cyflwyno cynigion ar gyfer coelcerth o hawliau a thelerau ac amodau gweithwyr, fel bod Llywodraeth y DU, yn nannedd argyfwng ansicrwydd swyddi, sy'n llifo o adael yr UE a'r pandemig byd-eang, yn rhwygo ymaith amddiffyniadau y gweithiwyd yn galed i'w hennill i bobl gyffredin sy'n gweithio. Felly, Prif Weinidog, pan fyddwch chi'n cyfarfod â Boris Johnson nesaf, a wnewch chi ofyn iddo pam y dylai pobl sy'n gweithio yn Ogwr a Chymru fyth bleidleisio dros ei blaid, pan ei fod yn bwriadu gwneud iddyn nhw weithio yn hwy am lai o gyflog a chymryd eu hawliau cyflogaeth oddi arnyn nhw?
I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that supplementary question. When I next get an opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister, I will certainly put those points to him. People in Wales have a right to know why promises that were made are so rapidly torn up by this Government. We were provided with a promise that workers' rights would be protected as we left the European Union. We see how shallow that promise was. We were promised that Wales would not be a penny worse off through leaving the European Union. That promise has been shredded time and time again just in recent weeks. We're promised that we will get protections that other parts of the United Kingdom get, yet when, at the weekend, the UK Government made a very great deal of fuss about the support it was going to give to airports, having decided that travel corridors could no longer be sustained, it turned out that while Bristol will get £8 million, Cardiff Airport is to get nothing from them. Time and time again, this Government fulfills that well-known saying, known everywhere in Wales, 'You can't trust the Tories'.
Diolchaf i Huw Irranca-Davies am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Y tro nesaf y caf i gyfle i gyfarfod â Phrif Weinidog y DU, byddaf yn sicr yn rhannu'r pwyntiau hynny gydag ef. Mae gan bobl yng Nghymru hawl i wybod pam mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn cefnu mor gyflym ar addewidion a wnaed. Cawsom addewid y byddai hawliau gweithwyr yn cael eu diogelu wrth i ni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Rydym ni'n gweld pa mor ddi-sail oedd yr addewid hwnnw. Addawyd i ni na fyddai Cymru geiniog yn waeth ei byd o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae'r addewid hwnnw wedi cael ei rwygo'n ddarnau dro ar ôl tro yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf. Addewir i ni y byddwn ni'n cael amddiffyniadau y mae rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig yn eu cael, ac eto pan wnaeth Llywodraeth y DU lawer iawn o stŵr dros y penwythnos am y cymorth yr oedd yn mynd i'w roi i feysydd awyr, ar ôl penderfynu na ellid cynnal coridorau teithio mwyach, daeth i'r amlwg er y bydd Bryste yn cael £8 miliwn, ni fydd Maes Awyr Caerdydd yn cael dim ganddyn nhw. Dro ar ôl tro, mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn gwireddu'r dywediad adnabyddus hwnnw, a adwaenir ym mhobman yng Nghymru, 'Allwch chi ddim ymddiried yn y Torïaid'.
First Minister, I've had a number of concerns raised with me from those businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector. The issue seems to be that the criteria for the economic resilience fund are that they have to employ staff on the pay-as-you-earn system. Many in that industry, of course, would point out that that's the very nature of the industry, where they do employ people on a self-employed basis, whether they're cleaners or on a short-term basis. Can you agree, First Minister, to have a look at this particular issue in terms of the next round of the economic resilience fund? Because the hospitality and tourism sector needs urgent support, and these criteria, which could be helping them through the economic resilience fund, are preventing them from actually being able to access the support.
Prif Weinidog, codwyd nifer o bryderon gyda mi gan y busnesau hynny yn y sector lletygarwch a thwristiaeth. Mae'n ymddangos mai'r broblem yw mai'r meini prawf ar gyfer y gronfa cadernid economaidd yw bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw gyflogi staff ar y system talu wrth ennill. Byddai llawer yn y diwydiant hwnnw, wrth gwrs, yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith mai dyna union natur y diwydiant, lle maen nhw'n cyflogi pobl ar sail hunangyflogedig, pa un a ydyn nhw'n lanhawyr neu ar sail fyrdymor. A allwch chi gytuno, Prif Weinidog, i edrych ar y mater penodol hwn o ran cylch nesaf y gronfa cadernid economaidd? Oherwydd mae'r sector lletygarwch a thwristiaeth angen cymorth brys, ac mae'r meini prawf hyn, a allai fod yn eu helpu drwy'r gronfa cadernid economaidd, yn eu hatal rhag gallu cael gafael ar y cymorth mewn gwirionedd.
The tourist and hospitality industry in Wales has the most generous package of support anywhere in the United Kingdom, and millions and millions of pounds have been paid out to those industries and those businesses in order to assist them through the enormous difficulties that the pandemic has created for them. I'm happy, of course, to look at the specific point that the Member has raised. We hope, here in Wales, to be able to announce further support to industries affected by the current state of the pandemic. We'll be assisted in that when it is clear from the UK Government how much money we have in order to be able to make those further announcements. The Member will know that the Treasury announced that we were getting £227 million coming to Wales as a result of further support in England, only the following day to withdraw that announcement and to tell us that we had the money already. When we do have genuine clarity, then we will be in a position to make those further announcements to which we are committed. I'm happy to say that we'll take up the point that the Member has raised in those discussions.
Y diwydiant twristiaeth a lletygarwch yng Nghymru sydd â'r pecyn cymorth mwyaf hael yn unman yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mae miliynau ar filiynau o bunnoedd wedi cael eu talu i'r diwydiannau hynny a'r busnesau hynny er mwyn eu cynorthwyo drwy'r anawsterau enfawr y mae'r pandemig wedi eu creu iddyn nhw. Rwy'n hapus, wrth gwrs, i edrych ar y pwynt penodol y mae'r Aelod wedi ei godi. Rydym ni'n gobeithio, yma yng Nghymru, gallu cyhoeddi cymorth pellach i ddiwydiannau sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan sefyllfa bresennol y pandemig. Byddwn yn cael cymorth yn hynny o beth pan fydd yn eglur gan Lywodraeth y DU faint o arian sydd gennym ni er mwyn gallu gwneud y cyhoeddiadau pellach hynny. Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod bod y Trysorlys wedi cyhoeddi ein bod ni'n cael £227 miliwn yn dod i Gymru o ganlyniad i gymorth pellach yn Lloegr, dim ond iddyn nhw dynnu'r cyhoeddiad hwnnw yn ôl y diwrnod canlynol a dweud wrthym ni fod yr arian gennym ni eisoes. Pan fydd gennym ni eglurder gwirioneddol, yna byddwn ni mewn sefyllfa i wneud y cyhoeddiadau pellach hynny yr ydym ni wedi ymrwymo iddyn nhw. Rwy'n hapus i ddweud y byddwn ni'n codi'r pwynt y mae'r Aelod wedi ei godi yn y trafodaethau hynny.
First Minister, do you agree with me that the best way to secure jobs during this pandemic is to ensure that all employers affected by measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 receive support? I have been contacted by two such affected companies in my region, both of which operate amusement arcades and both of which have been refused support because they're classed as gambling businesses. First Minister, these are legal businesses, their taxes are taken and they are suffering the same as any other leisure business, so shouldn't they receive the same support as other leisure businesses? Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi mai'r ffordd orau o sicrhau swyddi yn ystod y pandemig hwn yw sicrhau bod pob cyflogwr sy'n cael ei effeithio gan fesurau i leihau lledaeniad COVID-19 yn cael cymorth? Mae dau gwmni o'r fath sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio yn fy rhanbarth i wedi cysylltu â mi, ac mae'r ddau ohonyn nhw yn gweithredu arcedau difyrion a gwrthodwyd cymorth i'r ddau ohonyn nhw gan eu bod nhw'n cael eu hystyried yn fusnesau gamblo. Prif Weinidog, mae'r rhain yn fusnesau cyfreithiol, cymerir eu trethi ac maen nhw'n dioddef yr un fath ag unrhyw fusnes hamdden arall, felly oni ddylen nhw gael yr un cymorth â busnesau hamdden eraill? Diolch.
More than £1.7 billion is already in the accounts of businesses here in Wales as a result of the assistance that they have received from the Welsh Government. There is more still to be claimed and there are more announcements, as I said, to come, with further support. In the end, as Members will understand, this is public money. There have to be rules about how claims can be made and who can claim them. It's for business who think they have a legitimate claim and can bring themselves within those rules to do so. And provided they can, then those payments will be made. But when you are dispersing public money on the scale that has been necessary during this public health crisis, it has to be done on the basis that that money can be properly accounted for, and when payments are made, there is confidence that they are being made to legitimate businesses for legitimate purposes, and those are the rules that we have here in Wales.
Mae mwy nag £1.7 biliwn eisoes yng nghyfrifon busnesau yma yng Nghymru o ganlyniad i'r cymorth y maen nhw wedi ei gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae mwy i'w hawlio o hyd ac mae mwy o gyhoeddiadau, fel y dywedais, i ddod, gyda chymorth pellach. Yn y pen draw, fel y bydd yr Aelodau yn deall, arian cyhoeddus yw hwn. Mae'n rhaid cael rheolau ynghylch sut y gellir gwneud hawliadau a phwy gaiff eu hawlio. Mater i fusnesau sy'n credu bod ganddyn nhw hawliad dilys ac sy'n gallu dod â'u hunain o fewn y rheolau hynny yw gwneud hynny. Ac ar yr amod eu bod yn gallu, yna bydd y taliadau hynny yn cael eu gwneud. Ond pan eich bod chi'n dosbarthu arian cyhoeddus ar y raddfa sydd wedi bod yn angenrheidiol yn ystod yr argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus hwn, mae'n rhaid gwneud hynny ar y sail y gellir rhoi cyfrif priodol am yr arian hwnnw, a phan fydd taliadau yn cael eu gwneud, bod ffydd eu bod nhw'n cael eu gwneud i fusnesau cyfreithlon at ddibenion cyfreithlon, a dyna'r rheolau sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru.
Cwestiwn 2, Neil Hamilton. Cwestiwn 2, Neil Hamilton.
Question 2, Neil Hamilton. Question 2, Neil Hamilton.
Ni ofynnwyd cwestiwn 2 [OQ56158].
Question 2 [OQ56158] not asked.
I can't see Neil Hamilton on the screen in front of me, so I'll move on to questions by party leaders, and the first leader this afternoon is the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies.
Nid wyf i'n gallu gweld Neil Hamilton ar y sgrin o'm blaen, felly symudaf ymlaen at gwestiynau gan arweinyddion y pleidiau, a'r arweinydd cyntaf y prynhawn yma yw arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, in November, the Welsh Government held six Cabinet meetings, and yet in the published minutes a range of issues were discussed, such as the Welsh Government's transport strategy, the building safety White Paper and even broadening the role of firefighters. However, there's not one single item on vaccines or vaccinations tabled or raised for discussion. Given the importance of developing a vaccine strategy in readiness for the deployment of vaccines, why did the Welsh Government not even discuss the matter during the entire month of November? And can you tell us when, as a Cabinet, you did discuss the deployment of vaccines?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ym mis Tachwedd, cynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru chwe chyfarfod Cabinet, ac eto yn y cofnodion cyhoeddedig trafodwyd amrywiaeth o faterion, fel strategaeth drafnidiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, y Papur Gwyn ar ddiogelwch adeiladau a hyd yn oed ehangu swyddogaeth diffoddwyr tân. Fodd bynnag, nid oes yr un eitem ar frechlynnau na brechiadau wedi'i gyflwyno na'i godi i'w thrafod. O ystyried pwysigrwydd datblygu strategaeth frechu yn barod ar gyfer defnyddio brechlynnau, pam na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru hyd yn oed drafod y mater yn ystod mis Tachwedd i gyd? Ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni pryd, fel Cabinet, y gwnaethoch chi drafod y defnydd o frechlynnau?
Llywydd, I'm grateful for the opportunity to put on record, in front of the Senedd, what my colleague the health Minister has already said. The very top priority for this Government and the very top priority for the NHS in Wales is to vaccinate as many people in Wales as quickly and as safely as possible, and the plan that we set out for doing so is being fulfilled, and we are on track to do what we have promised the people of Wales to do. Because the Member doesn't read in the minutes every detail of what is discussed at the Cabinet does not, of course, mean that matters are not discussed. Vaccination, and all other aspects of the coronavirus crisis, were discussed inside the Welsh Government with senior officials and between Ministers right through the month of November, as they have been ever since the first meeting of our group to plan for vaccination took place in June of this year.
Llywydd, rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i gofnodi, o flaen y Senedd, yr hyn y mae fy nghyd-Weinidog, y Gweinidog iechyd, eisoes wedi ei ddweud. Y brif flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon a'r brif flaenoriaeth i'r GIG yng Nghymru yw brechu cynifer o bobl yng Nghymru cyn gynted ac mor ddiogel â phosibl, ac mae'r cynllun a gyflwynwyd gennym ni ar gyfer gwneud hynny yn cael ei gyflawni, ac rydym ni ar y trywydd iawn i wneud yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi addo i bobl Cymru y byddwn ni'n ei wneud. Nid yw'r ffaith nad yw'r Aelod yn darllen yn y cofnodion holl fanylion yr hyn a drafodir yn y Cabinet yn golygu, wrth gwrs, nad yw materion yn cael eu trafod. Trafodwyd brechu, a phob agwedd arall ar yr argyfwng coronafeirws, y tu mewn i Lywodraeth Cymru gydag uwch swyddogion a rhwng Gweinidogion drwy gydol mis Tachwedd i gyd, fel y'u trafodwyd ers cynnal cyfarfod cyntaf ein grŵp i gynllunio ar gyfer brechu ym mis Mehefin eleni.
Well, I put it to you, First Minister, something as important as the roll-out of the vaccinations should have been discussed at Cabinet level and should have been minuted, I would have thought. The Welsh Government has had months to develop a strategy that ensures people in priority groups all over Wales receive their vaccination. And instead, what we've seen is patchy and inconsistent provision with different levels of progress in different parts of the country. And it's deeply concerning to hear that you defend your go-slow policy to prevent vaccinators standing around with nothing to do when a Welsh Government should be significantly accelerating the administration of vaccines across Wales, and those concerns, of course, have been echoed by BMA Cymru, who, as we've already heard earlier this afternoon, have said to stop sitting on supplies and to get on with it. Now, whilst other parts of the UK have started vaccinating people in the over-70 category, here in Wales, people in their 80s and some even in their 90s in my constituency are still waiting for their vaccines. So, First Minister, can you tell us whether the Welsh Government intends to continue with its go-slow approach for the duration of the vaccine period? And if so, how confident are you that people in priority groups will actually receive their first vaccine by mid February?
Wel, rwy'n awgrymu i chi, Prif Weinidog, y dylai rhywbeth mor bwysig â chyflwyno'r brechiadau fod wedi cael ei drafod ar lefel y Cabinet ac y dylai fod wedi cael ei gofnodi, byddwn i wedi meddwl. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael misoedd i ddatblygu strategaeth sy'n sicrhau bod pobl mewn grwpiau blaenoriaeth ledled Cymru yn cael eu brechu. Ac yn hytrach, yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei weld yw darpariaeth afreolaidd ac anghyson gyda gwahanol lefelau o gynnydd mewn gwahanol rannau o'r wlad. Ac mae'n destun pryder mawr clywed eich bod chi'n amddiffyn eich polisi o wneud pethau yn araf i atal brechwyr rhag sefyll o gwmpas heb ddim i'w wneud pan ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod yn cyflymu'r broses o roi brechlynnau ledled Cymru yn sylweddol, ac mae'r pryderon hynny, wrth gwrs, wedi cael eu hadleisio gan BMA Cymru, sydd, fel yr ydym ni eisoes wedi clywed yn gynharach y prynhawn yma, wedi dweud y dylid rhoi'r gorau i gadw cyflenwadau yn ôl a bwrw ati. Nawr, tra bod rhannau eraill o'r DU wedi dechrau brechu pobl yn y categori dros 70 oed, yma yng Nghymru, mae pobl yn eu 80au a rhai hyd yn oed yn eu 90au yn fy etholaeth i yn dal i aros am eu brechlynnau. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu parhau â'i dull o wneud pethau yn araf drwy gydol y cyfnod brechu? Ac os felly, pa mor ffyddiog ydych chi y bydd pobl mewn grwpiau blaenoriaeth yn cael eu brechlyn cyntaf erbyn canol mis Chwefror?
Llywydd, the policy of the Welsh Government is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible here in Wales. There is no other policy. It is our top priority and it is the top priority of those very hard-working people in our health service who, on top of everything else that we ask of them, are putting in those long hours to make sure that 1,000 people in care homes are being vaccinated every day here in Wales, and that by the end of this week, as a minimum, 70 per cent of the over-80s and people living and working in care homes will have been vaccinated in Wales. When I spoke in First Minister's questions last week, Llywydd, I said that our hope was that we would have 100 GP practices vaccinating by the end of last week—we exceeded that; that we were to have 250 GP practices by the end of the month—we will exceed that; that we would have 35 mass vaccination centres—we're going to have 45. Not only is the Welsh NHS doing everything that we have asked of it, it is doing even more every day, and that means we can be confident that we will deliver vaccination to those top four priority groups, in line with our plan, by the middle of February. It's thanks to those enormous efforts, which I think everybody in this Senedd will want to support.
Llywydd, polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yw brechu cymaint o bobl â phosibl cyn gynted a phosibl yma yng Nghymru. Nid oes polisi arall. Dyma ein prif flaenoriaeth a dyma brif flaenoriaeth y bobl hynny sy'n gweithio'n galed iawn yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd sydd, ar ben popeth arall yr ydym ni'n ei ofyn ganddyn nhw, yn gweithio'r oriau maith hynny i wneud yn siŵr bod 1,000 o bobl mewn cartrefi gofal yn cael eu brechu bob dydd yma yng Nghymru, ac y bydd erbyn diwedd yr wythnos hon, 70 y cant, o leiaf, o bobl dros 80 oed a phobl sy'n byw ac yn gweithio mewn cartrefi gofal wedi cael eu brechu yng Nghymru. Pan siaradais yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf, Llywydd, dywedais mai ein gobaith oedd y byddai gennym ni 100 o feddygfeydd teulu yn brechu erbyn diwedd yr wythnos diwethaf—rhagorwyd ar hynny; y byddai gennym ni 250 o feddygfeydd teulu erbyn diwedd y mis—byddwn yn rhagori ar hynny; y byddai gennym ni 35 o ganolfannau brechu torfol—bydd gennym ni 45. Nid yn unig y mae GIG Cymru yn gwneud popeth yr ydym ni wedi ei ofyn ganddo, mae'n gwneud hyd yn oed mwy bob dydd, ac mae hynny yn golygu y gallwn ni fod yn ffyddiog y byddwn ni'n darparu brechiad i'r pedwar grŵp blaenoriaeth uchaf hynny, yn unol â'n cynllun, erbyn canol mis Chwefror. Mae hynny yn wir diolch i'r ymdrechion enfawr hynny, yr wyf i'n credu y bydd pawb yn y Senedd hon eisiau eu cefnogi.
Well, First Minister, if it's your policy to get the vaccines into people's arms as quickly as possible, why on earth did you actually say that you wanted to roll out the vaccines over a period of time? Because that is just a confusing message. And, Llywydd, whilst the Welsh Government may be happy with its go-slow approach, the people of Wales are far from happy; they want to see action and they want to see it now. In the meantime, people across Wales are being held prisoner to this virus. People can't meet up with their loved ones, children are without face-to-face learning and parents are struggling to manage the competing demands of working from home and home schooling their children. The Welsh Government's slow progress in vaccinating people just increases people's frustration and anger at a time when the Welsh Government should be providing them with hope and doing everything possible to expedite its vaccine delivery.
First Minister, will you tell us why Wales has been lagging behind the rest of the UK in rolling out the vaccine to those who actually need it most here in Wales? And can you tell us what urgent action the Welsh Government is taking to seriously accelerate its vaccine delivery to priority groups in Wales, so that those who need it the most can receive their vaccine as soon as possible?
Wel, Prif Weinidog, os mai eich polisi chi yw cael y brechlynnau i freichiau pobl cyn gynted â phosibl, pam ar y ddaear y dywedasoch chi eich bod chi eisiau cyflwyno'r brechlynnau dros gyfnod o amser? Oherwydd mae honno yn neges sy'n achosi dryswch. A, Llywydd, er efallai fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn hapus gyda'i dull o wneud pethau'n araf, mae pobl Cymru ymhell o fod yn hapus; maen nhw eisiau gweld gweithredu ac maen nhw eisiau ei weld nawr. Yn y cyfamser, mae pobl ledled Cymru yn cael eu dal yn garcharorion i'r feirws hwn. Ni chaiff pobl gyfarfod â'u hanwyliaid, mae plant yn gorfod bod heb ddysgu wyneb yn wyneb ac mae rhieni yn ei chael hi'n anodd rheoli'r gofynion sy'n cystadlu â'i gilydd o weithio gartref ac addysgu eu plant gartref. Y cwbl y mae cynnydd araf Llywodraeth Cymru o ran brechu pobl yn ei wneud yw cynyddu rhwystredigaeth a dicter pobl ar adeg pan ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod yn rhoi gobaith iddyn nhw a gwneud popeth posibl i hwyluso'r broses o ddarparu'r brechlyn.
Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym ni pam mae Cymru wedi bod ar ei hôl hi o'i chymharu â gweddill y DU o ran cyflwyno'r brechlyn i'r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf yma yng Nghymru? Ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni pa gamau brys y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gyflymu o ddifrif y broses o ddarparu brechlynnau i grwpiau blaenoriaeth yng Nghymru, fel y gall y rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf gael eu brechlyn cyn gynted â phosibl?
Well, Llywydd, the health spokesperson of the Conservative Party said earlier this afternoon that he wanted to see the vaccine programme succeed. It does not help to make it succeed when the leader of the opposition deliberately and knowingly runs down the efforts of those people who are working so hard to accelerate vaccine here in Wales by describing it all the time as a go-slow policy.
Let me just say again, because he said he might be confused; he needn't be confused if he'd listened to the first two answers I've given him. Let me give him the answer again and then he need not be confused again in the future: the policy of the Welsh Government is to vaccinate as many people in Wales as quickly and as safely as possible. That is how we have had 162,000 people vaccinated already here in Wales. That is why the pace of vaccination will accelerate again this week. The rate-limiting factor in Welsh vaccination is the one that the health Minister explained, in answering the emergency question. It is the rate of supply of the vaccine. We've had 25,000 doses of the Oxford vaccine available to us over each of the last two weeks. We expect to have 80,000 doses available to us this week, and we will use all of them. And we will use every drop of the Pfizer vaccine as well before the next delivery of that vaccine arrives here in Wales. That is our determination, that is what people in the NHS are working so hard to achieve, and I know that they would like to have the support of the leader of the opposition rather than his continual criticism of them.
Wel, Llywydd, dywedodd llefarydd iechyd y Blaid Geidwadol yn gynharach y prynhawn yma ei fod eisiau gweld y rhaglen frechu yn llwyddo. Nid yw'n helpu i sicrhau ei bod yn llwyddo pan fydd arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn bychanu ymdrechion y bobl hynny sy'n gweithio mor galed i gyflymu'r brechlyn yma yng Nghymru, a hynny yn ymwybodol ac yn fwriadol, trwy ei ddisgrifio drwy'r amser fel polisi gwneud pethau'n araf.
Gadewch i mi ddweud eto, oherwydd dywedodd y gallai fod yn ddryslyd; ni fyddai angen iddo fod yn ddryslyd pe byddai wedi gwrando ar y ddau ateb cyntaf yr wyf i wedi eu rhoi iddo. Gadewch i mi roi'r ateb iddo unwaith eto ac yna ni fydd angen iddo fod yn ddryslyd eto yn y dyfodol: polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yw brechu cynifer o bobl yng Nghymru cyn gynted ac mor ddiogel â phosibl. Dyna sut yr ydym ni wedi brechu 162,000 o bobl eisoes yma yng Nghymru. Dyna pam y bydd cyflymder y brechiad yn cyflymu unwaith eto yr wythnos hon. Y ffactor sy'n cyfyngu ar y gyfradd o ran brechu yng Nghymru yw'r un a esboniwyd gan y Gweinidog iechyd, wrth ateb y cwestiwn brys. Cyfradd cyflenwi'r brechlyn yw hwnnw. Rydym ni wedi cael 25,000 dos o frechlyn Rhydychen ar gael i ni dros bob un o'r ddwy wythnos ddiwethaf. Rydym ni'n disgwyl bod ag 80,000 dos ar gael i ni yr wythnos hon, a byddwn yn defnyddio pob un ohonyn nhw. A byddwn ni'n defnyddio pob diferyn o frechlyn Pfizer hefyd cyn i'r dosbarthiad nesaf o'r brechlyn hwnnw gyrraedd yma yng Nghymru. Dyna yw ein penderfyniad, dyna y mae pobl yn y GIG yn gweithio mor galed i'w gyflawni, a gwn yr hoffen nhw gael cefnogaeth arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn hytrach na'i feirniadaeth barhaus ohonyn nhw.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
First Minister, if the rate-limiting factor is supply—and the health Minister just said that that was true across all of the nations—what it then explains is the differential rate of vaccination in Wales compared to, as we've heard, the UK as a whole, England and Northern Ireland in particular. If it's the same rate of supply across these nations, then why are we seeing a differential rate, a gap between the rate of vaccination in Wales? We haven't really heard, to my mind, a coherent, clear answer to that question. So, can you give it to us now?
Prif Weinidog, os mai cyflenwad yw'r ffactor sy'n cyfyngu ar y gyfradd—ac mae'r Gweinidog iechyd newydd ddweud bod hynny yn wir ar draws yr holl wledydd—yr hyn y mae'n ei esbonio wedyn yw'r gyfradd wahaniaethol o frechu yng Nghymru o'i chymharu, fel yr ydym ni wedi ei glywed, â'r DU yn ei chyfanrwydd, Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon yn arbennig. Os yw'r un gyfradd gyflenwi yn bodoli ar draws y gwledydd hyn, pam ydym ni felly yn gweld cyfradd wahaniaethol, bwlch rhwng y gyfradd frechu yng Nghymru? Nid ydym ni wir wedi clywed, yn fy marn i, ateb cydlynol, eglur i'r cwestiwn hwnnw. Felly, a allwch chi ei roi i ni nawr?
Well, Llywydd, the race we are in in Wales is the race with the virus. The race is between infection and injection; it is not a race with other countries. We are doing our very best to vaccinate as many people as fast as we can, with the supply of vaccine that we have, and that is what we are focused on. The figures between different parts of the United Kingdom will vary over time, as they do with every other aspect of coronavirus. The figures that matter to people in Wales are the figures of vaccination that are going on here, and our determination and our confidence in the plan that we have, which is the same plan as in any other part of the United Kingdom, is to complete the vaccination of the top four priority groups by the middle of February. We are on course to do that, and that is where our efforts are focused.
Wel, Llywydd, y ras yn erbyn y feirws yw'r ras yr ydym ni ynddi yng Nghymru. Mae'r ras rhwng heintiad a chwistrelliad; nid yw'n ras gyda gwledydd eraill. Rydym ni'n gwneud ein gorau glas i frechu cynifer o bobl mor gyflym ag y gallwn ni, gyda'r cyflenwad o frechlynnau sydd gennym ni, a dyna yr ydym ni'n canolbwyntio arno. Bydd y ffigurau rhwng gwahanol rannau o'r Deyrnas Unedig yn amrywio dros amser, fel y maen nhw o ran pob agwedd arall ar y coronafeirws. Y ffigurau sy'n bwysig i bobl yng Nghymru yw'r ffigurau brechu sy'n digwydd yma, a'n penderfyniad a'n ffydd yn y cynllun sydd gennym ni, sydd yr un cynllun ag mewn unrhyw ran arall o'r Deyrnas Unedig, yw cwblhau'r broses o frechu'r pedwar prif grŵp blaenoriaeth erbyn canol mis Chwefror. Rydym ni ar y trywydd iawn i wneud hynny, a dyna lle'r ydym ni'n canolbwyntio ein hymdrechion.
First Minister, you haven't addressed my question, and it's a reasonable question for me to put to you, and, indeed, it's a question that my own elderly parents ask me, because they're in the position—they haven't had a date at all; both of them in their 80s. My father, an 85 year old ex-miner, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; he in a clinically vulnerable group, and yet he has had no communication yet to explain to him when he's going to get a vaccination. We have family, like many people in Wales, across different parts of the UK; many of them have been vaccinated, and they have had a date for a vaccination. So, a reasonable question for me to put to you again, First Minister, is: what explains the gap? It's important for us to know, because if there's a problem there, then we can solve it. Is it the case that—? We heard the Minister referring to the fact that Wales has higher shares of population in some of the priority groups—absolutely. We've got higher numbers of people in the over 80s. We've got a significantly higher share of people in the over 65s. So, isn't there a case to return to the question of whether we should be getting a share that is greater than our population because of this higher level of need?
Prif Weinidog, nid ydych chi wedi rhoi sylw i fy nghwestiwn i, ac mae'n gwestiwn rhesymol i mi ei ofyn i chi, ac, yn wir, mae'n gwestiwn y mae fy rhieni oedrannus fy hun yn ei ofyn i mi, oherwydd maen nhw yn y sefyllfa—dydyn nhw ddim wedi cael dyddiad o gwbl; y ddau ohonyn nhw yn eu 80au. Mae gan fy nhad, cyn-löwr 85 oed, glefyd rhwystrol cronig yr ysgyfaint; mae mewn grŵp sy'n agored i niwed yn glinigol, ac eto nid yw wedi cael unrhyw gyfathrebiad hyd yma i esbonio iddo pryd y bydd yn cael brechiad. Mae gennym ni deulu, fel llawer o bobl yng Nghymru, ar draws gwahanol rannau o'r DU; mae llawer ohonyn nhw wedi cael eu brechu, ac maen nhw wedi cael dyddiad ar gyfer brechiad. Felly, cwestiwn rhesymol i mi ei ofyn i chi unwaith eto, Prif Weinidog, yw: beth sy'n esbonio'r bwlch? Mae'n bwysig i ni wybod, oherwydd os oes problem yn y fan honno, yna gallwn ni ei datrys. A yw'n wir—? Clywsom y Gweinidog yn cyfeirio at y ffaith bod gan Gymru gyfrannau uwch o boblogaeth yn rhai o'r grwpiau blaenoriaeth—yn sicr. Mae gennym ni niferoedd uwch o bobl sy'n hŷn na 80 oed. Mae gennym ni gyfran sylweddol uwch o bobl sy'n hŷn na 65 oed. Felly, onid oes dadl dros ddychwelyd at y cwestiwn a ddylem ni fod yn cael cyfran sy'n fwy na'n poblogaeth oherwydd y lefel uwch hon o angen?
Well, Llywydd, I discussed that very issue with the First Ministers of Scotland, Northern Ireland and with Michael Gove at the Cabinet Office in our meeting on Wednesday of last week. We explored it with the most senior civil servant who is responsible for securing and dispersing supplies of vaccines across the United Kingdom. The point about our age structure was recognised in that conversation, and actions are being taken to make sure that it is taken into account in the supplies of vaccine, which will ramp up here in Wales and across the whole of the United Kingdom.
The figures of what happens elsewhere in the United Kingdom and what happens in Wales will, as I say, change week by week. What we are focused on is making the fastest and most efficient use of every drop of vaccine that comes here in Wales. We've used the Oxford vaccine that's come to us over the last two weeks; we will use the 80,000 doses that we have this week, and accelerating numbers beyond. And we will use all the Pfizer vaccine that we have before there's another delivery of it here in Wales. And the figures that will matter most to people—and I absolutely understand that there are people who are still waiting to be contacted. Our programme sets out that we would offer the vaccine to everybody by the middle of February; inevitably, there are some people who will still be waiting. I absolutely understand that they will be anxious and waiting to be contacted. The figures that will matter to them are the figures of how the vaccine is being deployed here in Wales, and the figures that have been provided this afternoon, by the health Minister and by myself, demonstrate that we are on track to deliver what we promised, in line with what is happening across the whole of the United Kingdom.
Wel, Llywydd, trafodais yr union fater hwnnw gyda Phrif Weinidogion yr Alban, Gogledd Iwerddon a chyda Michael Gove yn Swyddfa'r Cabinet yn ein cyfarfod ddydd Mercher yr wythnos diwethaf. Fe'i harchwiliwyd gennym gyda'r gwas sifil uchaf sy'n gyfrifol am sicrhau a dosbarthu cyflenwadau o frechlynnau ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Cydnabuwyd y pwynt am ein strwythur oedran yn y sgwrs honno, ac mae camau yn cael eu cymryd i wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn cael ei gymryd i ystyriaeth yn y cyflenwadau o frechlyn, a fydd yn cynyddu yma yng Nghymru ac ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan.
Bydd ffigurau yr hyn sy'n digwydd mewn mannau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig a'r hyn sy'n digwydd yng Nghymru, fel y dywedais, yn newid o wythnos i wythnos. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n canolbwyntio arno yw gwneud y defnydd cyflymaf a mwyaf effeithlon o bob diferyn o frechlyn sy'n dod yma i Gymru. Rydym ni wedi defnyddio'r brechlyn Rhydychen sydd wedi dod i ni dros y pythefnos diwethaf; byddwn ni'n defnyddio'r 80,000 dos sydd gennym ni yr wythnos hon, ac yn cyflymu niferoedd y tu hwnt i hynny. A byddwn ni'n defnyddio'r holl frechlyn Pfizer sydd gennym ni cyn i ni gael dosbarthiad arall ohono yma yng Nghymru. A'r ffigurau a fydd bwysicaf i bobl—ac rwy'n deall yn iawn fod pobl sy'n dal i aros i rywun gysylltu â nhw. Mae ein rhaglen yn nodi y byddem ni'n cynnig y brechlyn i bawb erbyn canol mis Chwefror; yn anochel, mae rhai pobl a fydd yn dal i aros. Rwy'n deall yn iawn y byddan nhw'n bryderus ac yn aros i rywun gysylltu â nhw. Y ffigurau a fydd bwysicaf iddyn nhw yw'r ffigurau ynghylch sut y mae'r brechlyn yn cael ei ddefnyddio yma yng Nghymru, ac mae'r ffigurau a ddarparwyd y prynhawn yma, gan y Gweinidog iechyd a minnau, yn dangos ein bod ni ar y trywydd iawn i gyflawni'r hyn a addawyd gennym, yn unol â'r hyn sy'n digwydd ledled y Deyrnas Unedig.
It's right, of course, for us not to be just parochial, if you like, and comparing ourselves to other nations in these islands, but comparing ourselves to some of the best in the world. We know, of course, by Sunday, Israel had vaccinated 20 per cent of its population—I think it's now up to 28 per cent. It was initially expected that their programme would also suffer a slow down with Pfizer doses running low, but the Israeli Government secured a commitment from the company to bring forward deliveries on the grounds that they would share statistical data, in return giving scientists a case study to which to analyse the impact of the vaccine roll-out. That means that they're on target to meet a complete vaccination of their citizens over 16 within two months. First Minister, would you commit to contacting Pfizer to explore avenues for Wales to reach a similar agreement, or failing this, would you make representations to the UK Prime Minister to pursue a similar path, so that we can make this lockdown that we're going through now the last lockdown?
Mae'n iawn, wrth gwrs, i ni beidio â bod yn blwyfol yn unig, os hoffech chi, a chymharu ein hunain gyda gwledydd eraill yn yr ynysoedd hyn, ond cymharu ein hunain â rhai o'r goreuon yn y byd. Rydym ni'n gwybod, wrth gwrs, erbyn dydd Sul, bod Israel wedi brechu 20 y cant o'i phoblogaeth—rwy'n credu ei fod wedi cyrraedd 28 y cant erbyn hyn. Disgwylid yn wreiddiol y byddai eu rhaglen hwythau yn arafu hefyd wrth i ddosau Pfizer redeg yn isel, ond sicrhaodd Llywodraeth Israel ymrwymiad gan y cwmni i wneud danfoniadau cynharach ar y sail y bydden nhw'n rhannu data ystadegol, yn gyfnewid am roi astudiaeth achos i wyddonwyr i ddadansoddi effaith cyflwyniad y brechlyn. Mae hynny'n golygu eu bod nhw ar y trywydd iawn i frechu eu holl ddinasyddion dros 16 oed o fewn dau fis. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gysylltu â Pfizer i archwilio llwybrau i Gymru ddod i gytundeb tebyg, neu os na ellir gwneud hynny, a wnewch chi gyflwyno sylwadau i Brif Weinidog y DU i ddilyn llwybr tebyg, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau mai'r cyfyngiadau symud hyn yr ydym ni'n mynd drwyddyn nhw nawr yw'r cyfyngiadau symud olaf?
Well, Llywydd, as the health Minister explained, we do have direct contact with suppliers of the vaccine, but that is not about the contract that is struck with them—that is done by the UK Government on behalf of all four nations. I'll raise the points the Member has made at my next meeting with the UK Government tomorrow, but the negotiations that they carry out on our behalf have succeeded in securing for the United Kingdom, and therefore for Wales, supplies of vaccine that mean that the United Kingdom, and Wales as part of it, is, as you heard the health Minister explain, at the leading edge of vaccination on the world stage. The confidence that we have in those supplies comes from our ability to pool our needs and our resources and to have that then dispersed across the United Kingdom in a way that reflects both our population and the structure of that population.
Wel, Llywydd, fel yr esboniodd y Gweinidog iechyd, rydym ni mewn cysylltiad uniongyrchol â chyflenwyr y brechlyn, ond nid yw hynny'n ymwneud â'r contract sy'n cael ei gytuno a nhw—mae hynny'n cael ei wneud gan Lywodraeth y DU ar ran y pedair gwlad. Byddaf yn codi'r pwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi eu gwneud yn fy nghyfarfod nesaf gyda Llywodraeth y DU yfory, ond mae'r trafodaethau y maen nhw'n eu cynnal ar ein rhan wedi llwyddo i sicrhau ar gyfer y Deyrnas Unedig, ac felly ar gyfer Cymru, cyflenwadau o frechlyn sy'n golygu bod y Deyrnas Unedig, a Chymru fel rhan ohoni, fel y clywsoch y Gweinidog iechyd yn esbonio, ar flaen y gad o ran brechu ar lwyfan y byd. Daw'r ffydd sydd gennym ni yn y cyflenwadau hynny o'n gallu i gyfuno ein hanghenion a'n hadnoddau a chael y rheini wedi eu dosbarthu wedyn ledled y Deyrnas Unedig mewn ffordd sy'n adlewyrchu ein poblogaeth a strwythur y boblogaeth honno.
3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gyflymu cyfradd brechiadau COVID-19 yng Nghymru? OQ56159
3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to speed up the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations in Wales? OQ56159
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y cynnydd o ran cyflwyno brechiadau COVID-19 yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ56127
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the progress of the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations in north Wales? OQ56127
I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. With GPs and pharmacies now delivering COVID vaccinations in Wales, we will step up the contribution of optometrists and dentistry to provide additional resource and capacity as volumes of available vaccine increase.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Gan fod meddygon teulu a fferyllfeydd erbyn hyn yn darparu brechiadau COVID yng Nghymru, byddwn yn cynyddu cyfraniad optometryddion a deintyddiaeth i ddarparu adnoddau a chapasiti ychwanegol wrth i nifer y brechlynnau sydd ar gael gynyddu.
Thank you. First Minister, you just had the audacity to say earlier in the questioning that, 'You can't trust the Tories', yet the people of Wales have trusted you to deliver this roll-out of the vaccine at speed to try and save the lives of the people of Wales, and you have let them down in some fashion. I welcome the comments by the health Minister earlier, but, quite frankly, your comments over the last couple of days to the media are bewildering, and I think that's a good use of word by the medical association. Like in England, this whole system in Wales needs to be more transparent. We are in a sprint to save lives, so what is the problem? If you're not holding the vaccines back, Minister, is the system the problem? Why are we so behind? If everyone got the vaccine in December, why are we so different? Why are we so behind? An excuse just now was delivery is a problem. Well, what are you doing to increase delivery, to speed up the delivery of the vaccine? People already are waiting, as Janet Finch-Saunders said, to deliver and to vaccinate people. They are wanting to vaccinate more people, and yet Community Pharmacy Wales has expressed concern at the lack of engagement they've had from your Government to expand the vaccine roll-out programme. What's going on, Minister? How can you justify us being so far behind everyone else?
Diolch. Prif Weinidog, rydych chi newydd fod â'r haerllugrwydd i ddweud yn gynharach yn y cwestiynau, 'Allwch chi ddim ymddiried yn y Torïaid', ac eto mae pobl Cymru wedi ymddiried ynoch chi i gyflwyno'r brechlyn yn gyflym i geisio achub bywydau pobl Cymru, ac rydych chi wedi eu siomi yn dra helaeth. Croesawaf sylwadau'r Gweinidog iechyd yn gynharach, ond, a dweud y gwir, mae eich sylwadau chi dros yr ychydig ddiwrnodau diwethaf i'r cyfryngau yn peri dryswch, ac rwy'n credu bod hwnna'n ddefnydd da o air gan y gymdeithas feddygol. Fel yn Lloegr, mae angen i'r system gyfan hon yng Nghymru fod yn fwy tryloyw. Rydym ni mewn sbrint i achub bywydau, felly beth yw'r broblem? Os nad ydych chi'n cadw'r brechlynnau yn ôl, Gweinidog, ai'r system yw'r broblem? Pam ydym ni gymaint ar ei hôl hi? Os cafodd pawb y brechlyn ym mis Rhagfyr, pam ydym ni mor wahanol? Pam ydym ni gymaint ar ei hôl hi? Yr esgus ychydig funudau yn ôl oedd bod danfoniadau yn broblem. Wel, beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i gynyddu'r danfoniadau, er mwyn cyflymu'r broses o ddarparu'r brechlyn? Mae pobl eisoes yn aros, fel y dywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders, i gyflawni ac i frechu pobl. Maen nhw eisiau brechu mwy o bobl, ac eto mae Fferylliaeth Gymunedol Cymru wedi mynegi pryder am y diffyg ymgysylltu y maen nhw wedi ei gael gan eich Llywodraeth i ehangu'r rhaglen cyflwyno brechlynnau. Beth sy'n digwydd, Gweinidog? Sut gallwch chi gyfiawnhau'r ffaith ein bod ni mor bell y tu ôl i bawb arall?
Well, Llywydd, as I've explained and as the health Minister has explained, we set out our plans to vaccinate the whole of the top four priority groups here in Wales on a common timetable with the rest of the United Kingdom. We are on track to deliver on that promise. We will vaccinate the four priority groups by the middle of February. Letters are going out in Wales this week to people aged over 70 and in the previously shielding group to make sure that they are ready to receive the vaccine, which will be available to them in all parts of Wales at the accelerating pace that the figures for the last three weeks continue to demonstrate. All of those plans are there; what we need to make sure that we can deliver them is a supply of vaccine that matches our capacity on the ground to deliver it. The delivery mechanisms are there and ready, and will be expanded in the way that I explained to the Member. We need the supply of vaccine to match that, and then we will make sure that, as we set out in our plan, those four top priority groups will all receive the vaccine in line with everywhere else by the middle of February.
Wel, Llywydd, fel yr wyf i wedi esbonio ac fel y mae'r Gweinidog iechyd wedi esbonio, cyflwynwyd ein cynlluniau i frechu'r pedwar prif grŵp blaenoriaeth yma yng Nghymru ar amserlen gyffredin â gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig. Rydym ni ar y trywydd iawn i gyflawni'r addewid hwnnw. Byddwn yn brechu'r pedwar grŵp blaenoriaeth erbyn canol mis Chwefror. Mae llythyrau yn cael eu hanfon yng Nghymru yr wythnos hon at bobl dros 70 oed ac yn y grŵp a oedd yn gwarchod o'r blaen i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n barod i dderbyn y brechlyn, a fydd ar gael iddyn nhw ym mhob rhan o Gymru ar y cyflymder cynyddol y mae'r ffigurau ar gyfer y tair wythnos diwethaf yn parhau i'w ddangos. Mae'r holl gynlluniau hynny yno; yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom i wneud yn siŵr y gallwn ni eu darparu yw cyflenwad o frechlyn sy'n cyfateb i'n capasiti ar lawr gwlad i'w roi. Mae'r dulliau cyflawni yno ac yn barod, a byddan nhw'n cael eu hehangu yn y ffordd yr esboniais i i'r Aelod. Rydym ni angen y cyflenwad o frechlyn i gyd-fynd â hynny, ac yna byddwn ni'n gwneud yn siŵr, fel y nodwyd gennym yn ein cynllun, y bydd y pedwar prif grŵp blaenoriaeth hynny i gyd yn cael y brechlyn yn yr un modd ag ym mhobman arall erbyn canol mis Chwefror.
I received a request to group questions 3 and 7, and therefore I'll call Darren Millar to ask his supplementary on question 7. Darren Millar.
Cefais gais i grwpio cwestiynau 3 a 7, ac felly galwaf ar Darren Millar i ofyn ei gwestiwn atodol ar gwestiwn 7. Darren Millar.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the Betsi Cadwaladr health board, according to a written answer from your own health Minister, received just 17.3 per cent of the vaccine stock distributed by the Welsh Government to 8 January, in spite of having over 22 per cent of the Welsh population to look after. And just last week, GPs in north Wales who were part of the vaccine roll-out programme were told to postpone appointments because of delays in delivering vaccine stock. Now, this is coupled with what appears to be a slower roll-out of the vaccination programme in north Wales. Can you tell us why north Wales isn't getting its fair share of vaccine stocks, or certainly wasn't up until 8 January, and also why GPs can't use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, given that it has a five-day shelf life even after being taken out of deep cold storage, because, as I understand it, that's one of the reasons why the ramp-up hasn't been quicker than it currently is in north Wales?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, dim ond 17.3 y cant o'r stoc frechiadau a ddosbarthwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru hyd at 8 Ionawr a gafodd bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, yn ôl ateb ysgrifenedig gan eich Gweinidog iechyd eich hun, er bod ganddo dros 22 y cant o boblogaeth Cymru i ofalu amdano. A dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedwyd wrth feddygon teulu yn y gogledd a oedd yn rhan o'r rhaglen cyflwyno brechlynnau i ohirio apwyntiadau oherwydd oediadau wrth ddarparu stoc frechlynnau. Nawr, mae hyn yn ogystal â'r hyn sy'n ymddangos fel bod yn broses arafach o gyflwyno'r rhaglen frechu yn y gogledd. A allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni pam nad yw'r gogledd yn cael ei gyfran deg o stociau brechlynnau, neu'n sicr nid oedd tan 8 Ionawr, a hefyd pam na all meddygon teulu ddefnyddio brechlyn Pfizer-BioNTech, o gofio bod ganddo fywyd silff o bum diwrnod hyd yn oed ar ôl cael ei dynnu allan o storfa oer dwfn, oherwydd, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, dyna un o'r rhesymau pam nad yw'r cynnydd wedi bod yn gyflymach nag y mae ar hyn o bryd yn y gogledd?
Llywydd, the Member is quite wrong in his description of the position in north Wales. By 8 a.m. yesterday, 31,095 citizens in north Wales had been vaccinated, and that is by some way the highest number of any health board anywhere in Wales. So, far from being held back, actually, the actions of the Betsi Cadwaladr health board are putting them in the lead of vaccination here in Wales. And that is because of the amazing response that we have had from the GP community and the community pharmacy community in north Wales. All 98 primary care practices in Betsi Cadwaladr have indicated that they wish to engage and deliver the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Now, Darren Millar is right that we had hoped to receive 26,000 more doses of the Oxford vaccine than will come our way this week. And that has meant that some plans that were there in north Wales to accelerate still further vaccination have had to be held back. The good news is that the UK Government assure us that we will get that supply next week, in addition to what we were already expecting next week. So that will be a very temporary downturn in the vaccine that we would otherwise expect.
GPs in their own surgeries are much better equipped to deliver the Oxford vaccine than the Pfizer vaccine, for reasons that many Members will know. The Pfizer vaccine has to be stored in very particular conditions, not simply of temperature but in other conditions as well. It means the Pfizer vaccines are suited for the mass vaccination centres—three of them already in north Wales—and for the hospital-based vaccination centres—three of those in north Wales—and the GP community will focus on the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. The success of that strategy lies behind the very considerable success that we are seeing in north Wales and which I know the Member will want to recognise and to celebrate.
Llywydd, mae'r Aelod yn hollol anghywir yn ei ddisgrifiad o'r sefyllfa yn y gogledd. Erbyn 8 a.m. ddoe, roedd 31,095 o ddinasyddion yn y gogledd wedi cael eu brechu, a dyna'r nifer uchaf o gryn dipyn o unrhyw fwrdd iechyd yn unman yng Nghymru. Felly, ymhell o gael eu dal yn ôl, mewn gwirionedd, mae gweithredoedd bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr yn eu rhoi ar y blaen o ran brechu yma yng Nghymru. Ac mae hynny oherwydd yr ymateb anhygoel yr ydym ni wedi ei gael gan y gymuned meddygon teulu a'r gymuned fferylliaeth gymunedol yn y gogledd. Mae pob un o'r 98 practis gofal sylfaenol yn Betsi Cadwaladr wedi nodi eu bod nhw'n dymuno cymryd rhan a darparu brechlyn AstraZeneca.
Nawr, mae Darren Millar yn iawn ein bod ni wedi gobeithio cael 26,000 yn fwy o ddosau o frechlyn Rhydychen nag y byddwn ni'n eu derbyn yr wythnos hon. Ac mae hynny wedi golygu bod rhai cynlluniau a oedd yno yn y gogledd i gyflymu brechu ymhellach fyth wedi gorfod cael eu dal yn ôl. Y newyddion da yw bod Llywodraeth y DU yn ein sicrhau y byddwn ni'n cael y cyflenwad hwnnw yr wythnos nesaf, yn ogystal â'r hyn yr oeddem ni eisoes yn ei ddisgwyl yr wythnos nesaf. Felly, bydd hynny'n ostyngiad dros dro iawn i'r brechlyn y byddem ni'n ei ddisgwyl fel arall.
Mae meddygon teulu yn eu meddygfeydd eu hunain mewn sefyllfa well o lawer i ddarparu brechlyn Rhydychen na'r brechlyn Pfizer, am resymau y bydd llawer o Aelodau yn ymwybodol ohonynt. Mae'n rhaid storio'r brechlyn Pfizer mewn amodau penodol iawn, nid yn unig o ran tymheredd ond o ran amodau eraill hefyd. Mae'n golygu bod brechlynnau Pfizer yn addas ar gyfer y canolfannau brechu torfol—mae tri ohonyn nhw yn y gogledd eisoes—ac ar gyfer y canolfannau brechu mewn ysbytai—tri o'r rheini yn y gogledd—a bydd y gymuned meddygon teulu yn canolbwyntio ar frechlyn AstraZeneca-Rhydychen. Llwyddiant y strategaeth honno yw sail y llwyddiant sylweddol iawn yr ydym ni'n ei weld yn y gogledd ac y gwn y bydd yr Aelod eisiau ei gydnabod a'i ddathlu.
First Minister, I was very pleased to visit the mass vaccination centre at Rainbow Hospital in Deeside last week and see at first hand the mammoth efforts being undertaken to roll out the vaccination programme. And I want to take this time today to put on record my thanks and to pay tribute to all of the staff and all of the volunteers in Betsi for their hard work.
We have heard some worrying news this weekend about the delays in the supply of vaccines. First Minister, will these affect the Welsh Government's ambitious target to offer everyone in the first priority groups a vaccine by mid February? And can the First Minister reassure me that every community pharmacy that expresses interest will be administering the vaccine across north-east Wales and, in particular, in Flintshire?
Prif Weinidog, roeddwn i'n falch iawn o ymweld â'r ganolfan frechu torfol yn Ysbyty Enfys Glannau Dyfrdwy yr wythnos diwethaf a gweld drosof fy hun yr ymdrechion aruthrol sy'n cael eu gwneud i gyflwyno'r rhaglen frechu. A hoffwn fanteisio ar yr amser hwn heddiw i gofnodi fy niolch ac i dalu teyrnged i'r holl staff a'r holl wirfoddolwyr yn Betsi am eu gwaith caled.
Rydym ni wedi clywed newyddion pryderus y penwythnos hwn am yr oedi wrth gyflenwi brechlynnau. Prif Weinidog, a fydd y rhain yn effeithio ar darged uchelgeisiol Llywodraeth Cymru i gynnig brechlyn i bawb yn y grwpiau blaenoriaeth cyntaf erbyn canol mis Chwefror? Ac a all y Prif Weinidog fy sicrhau i y bydd pob fferyllfa gymunedol sy'n mynegi diddordeb yn rhoi'r brechlyn ar draws y gogledd-ddwyrain ac, yn arbennig, yn sir y Fflint?
Well, I thank Jack Sargeant for that supplementary question, Llywydd, and for what he said about the efforts that he has seen himself on the ground by people going far beyond what their contract would expect, working in the evenings, working at weekends, doing everything they can to make sure that as many people as quickly as possible are vaccinated here in Wales.
The problems that have been reported with the vaccine supply are just a warning to us that that supply chain does have fragilities in it. We were due four batches of the Oxford vaccine to Wales this week. One of those batches, very late in the process, was identified as needing some further attention and therefore couldn't come to us this week. Members will have read some of the concerns that have been expressed elsewhere in Europe about issues at the Belgian factory of the Pfizer company. I think Pfizer has since confirmed that there are some issues at that factory and that will have some impact on its ability to ramp up supplies in the way that it had anticipated. These are problems, however, that do not simply affect Wales. They affect all those places that are relying on the vaccine coming through in the way that we would all wish, and the impact of the Oxford vaccine issues wasn't just felt in Wales, it was felt in other parts of the United Kingdom as well. We remain confident—to go to Jack's point, we remain confident that we will deliver the promise we made, that those top four priority groups will be vaccinated by mid February, and the contribution of community pharmacy will not simply be in pharmacies themselves, but will be made by community pharmacists helping at mass vaccination centres, where the skills and the abilities that they have built up, through, for example, the flu vaccination programme, will be put to very good use in making sure that those vaccines are delivered as quickly as they possibly can be to people here in Wales.
Wel, diolchaf i Jack Sargeant am y cwestiwn atodol yna, Llywydd, ac am yr hyn a ddywedodd am yr ymdrechion y mae wedi eu gweld ei hun ar lawr gwlad gan bobl sy'n mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i'r hyn y byddai eu contractau yn ei ddisgwyl, gan weithio fin nos, gweithio ar benwythnosau, gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i wneud yn siŵr bod cynifer o bobl yn cael eu brechu cyn gynted â phosibl yma yng Nghymru.
Mae'r problemau a adroddwyd gyda'r cyflenwad brechlynnau yn rhybudd i ni bod mannau gwan yn y gadwyn gyflenwi honno. Roeddem ni i fod i gael pedwar cyflenwad o frechlyn Rhydychen i Gymru yr wythnos hon. Nodwyd, yn hwyr iawn yn y broses, bod angen rhoi sylw pellach i un o'r cyflenwadau hynny ac felly na allai ein cyrraedd ni yr wythnos hon. Bydd yr Aelodau wedi darllen rhai o'r pryderon a fynegwyd mewn mannau eraill yn Ewrop am broblemau yn ffatri cwmni Pfizer yng Nghwlad Belg. Rwy'n credu bod Pfizer wedi cadarnhau ers hynny bod rhai problemau yn y ffatri honno ac y bydd hynny yn cael rhywfaint o effaith ar ei gallu i gynyddu cyflenwadau yn y ffordd yr oedd wedi ei rhagweld. Mae'r rhain yn broblemau, fodd bynnag, nad ydyn nhw'n effeithio ar Gymru yn unig. Maen nhw'n effeithio ar yr holl leoedd hynny sy'n dibynnu ar i'r brechlyn gyrraedd yn y modd y byddem ni i gyd yn ei ddymuno, ac nid yng Nghymru yn unig y teimlwyd effaith problemau brechlyn Rhydychen, fe'i teimlwyd mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig hefyd. Rydym ni'n dal yn ffyddiog—i ymateb i bwynt Jack, rydym ni'n dal yn ffyddiog y byddwn ni'n cyflawni'r addewid a wnaed gennym, y bydd y pedwar prif grŵp blaenoriaeth hynny yn cael eu brechu erbyn canol mis Chwefror, ac ni fydd cyfraniad fferylliaeth gymunedol yn y fferyllfeydd eu hunain yn unig, ond yn cael ei wneud gan fferyllwyr cymunedol yn helpu mewn canolfannau brechu torfol, lle mae'r sgiliau a'r galluoedd y maen nhw wedi eu datblygu, drwy, er enghraifft, y rhaglen brechu rhag y ffliw, yn cael eu defnyddio yn dda iawn i wneud yn siŵr bod y brechlynnau hynny yn cael eu darparu cyn gynted â phosibl i bobl yma yng Nghymru.
I've had quite a lot of communication from people who are anxious because they don't feel that the Government has been proactive enough in telling them who is eligible and when they will get that information through. I've even had some comments and some phone calls to my office, as we've been speaking here, from over-80-year-olds saying they've had to chase appointments with the GP. I hear what you're saying—that they will find out in February—but I think people need to know loud and clear exactly when they will be having that information to allay any anxieties they may have. I've also been concerned with a lady who contacted me in my region who is over 80, but was told to go to a centre over 30 miles away. That simply is not acceptable. What can you do to allay her fears, that she will get another vaccine opportunity at a closer place, so that she can be protected from this most terrible virus?
Rwyf i wedi cael cryn dipyn o ohebiaeth gan bobl sy'n bryderus oherwydd nad ydyn nhw'n teimlo bod y Llywodraeth wedi bod yn ddigon rhagweithiol o ran dweud wrthyn nhw pwy sy'n gymwys a phryd y byddan nhw'n cael yr wybodaeth honno drwodd. Rwyf i hyd yn oed wedi cael rhai sylwadau a rhai galwadau ffôn i'm swyddfa, wrth i ni fod yn siarad yma, gan bobl dros 80 oed yn dweud y bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw fynd ar drywydd apwyntiadau gyda'r meddyg teulu. Clywaf yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud—y byddan nhw'n cael gwybod ym mis Chwefror—ond rwy'n credu bod pobl angen cael gwybod yn gwbl eglur pryd yn union y byddan nhw'n cael yr wybodaeth honno i leddfu unrhyw bryderon sydd ganddyn nhw. Rwyf i hefyd wedi bod yn pryderu am wraig a gysylltodd â mi yn fy rhanbarth sydd dros 80 oed, ond y dywedwyd wrthi am fynd i ganolfan dros 30 milltir i ffwrdd. Nid yw hynny'n dderbyniol o gwbl. Beth allwch chi ei wneud i dawelu ei hofnau, y bydd hi'n cael cyfle arall i gael brechlyn mewn man agosach, fel y gall hi gael ei diogelu rhag y feirws mwyaf ofnadwy hwn?
Llywydd, can I thank the Member for those important points? I believe that all health boards have written directly to all residents in their area setting out the plans at a health board level for the delivery of the vaccine, and the Welsh Government's plan was, of course, published over a week ago; we've rehearsed that extensively here this afternoon. At the very local level, where GPs are vaccinating, then the information has to come from the practice, because of the way in which it is able to organise delivery of the vaccine in the most rapid way that it can. The individual that the Member mentioned who was offered a vaccine 30 miles away will have been offered it because that was the first possible opportunity to get vaccine to that individual. But, of course, if you are aged over 80, travel will not always be possible for you, and, in those circumstances, that individual will definitely get an offer from a much more local provider, whether it's her GP or whether it's in a community pharmacy setting. But the offer will have been made because of everything we have heard and the other people that the Member mentioned—people wanting to know, and wanting, of course, to get the vaccine as fast as possible—and the offer will have been made because that would have been the first possible opportunity to allow that person to get the vaccine that they will want. When it isn't possible for them to take up that offer, then a different offer will be made to them by the Welsh NHS, and one that they will in a position to take up.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am y pwyntiau pwysig yna? Rwy'n credu bod pob bwrdd iechyd wedi ysgrifennu yn uniongyrchol at yr holl drigolion yn eu hardal yn nodi'r cynlluniau ar lefel bwrdd iechyd ar gyfer darparu'r brechlyn, a chyhoeddwyd cynllun Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, dros wythnos yn ôl; rydym ni wedi trafod hynny yn helaeth yma y prynhawn yma. Ar y lefel leol iawn, lle mae meddygon teulu yn brechu, yna mae'n rhaid i'r wybodaeth ddod gan y feddygfa, oherwydd y ffordd y mae'n gallu trefnu i'r brechlyn gael ei ddarparu yn y ffordd gyflymaf bosibl. Bydd yr unigolyn y soniodd yr Aelod amdani y cynigiwyd brechlyn iddi 30 milltir i ffwrdd wedi cael ei gynnig gan mai dyna oedd y cyfle cyntaf posibl i gael brechlyn i'r unigolyn hwnnw. Ond, wrth gwrs, os ydych chi dros 80 oed, ni fydd teithio bob amser yn bosibl i chi, ac, o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny, bydd yr unigolyn hwnnw yn sicr yn cael cynnig gan ddarparwr llawer mwy lleol, boed hynny gan ei meddyg teulu neu mewn fferyllfa gymunedol. Ond bydd y cynnig wedi cael ei wneud oherwydd popeth yr ydym ni wedi ei glywed a'r bobl eraill y soniodd yr Aelod amdanyn nhw—pobl sydd eisiau gwybod, ac eisiau, wrth gwrs, cael y brechlyn cyn gynted a phosibl—a bydd y cynnig wedi ei wneud oherwydd mai dyna fyddai'r cyfle cyntaf posibl i ganiatáu i'r person hwnnw gael y brechlyn y bydd ei eisiau. Pan nad yw'n bosibl iddyn nhw fanteisio ar y cynnig hwnnw, yna bydd GIG Cymru yn gwneud gwahanol gynnig iddyn nhw, ac un y byddan nhw mewn sefyllfa i fanteisio arno.
Alun Davies.
Alun Davies.
I'm grateful, Presiding Officer, and thank you for your answers on this, First Minister. I visited the mass vaccination centre that opened in Ebbw Vale last Thursday, and I have to say it was an inspiring and uplifting experience to see the enthusiasm of the nursing staff, of the health service workers, working alongside the RAF personnel who were there managing the process—it was something that was really uplifting to see, together with the people, overwhelmingly over 80 years old, who had been vaccinated, and the sense of purpose of those people walking into the general offices to receive their vaccination and then feeling so confident walking out.
And do you know, First Minister, what people in Blaenau Gwent want is to see politicians working together to put people first, and not playing politics with their lives? That's what people want and that's what they tell me, and what they want to see is how we can expand and quicken the pace of the vaccination programme, when GPs and pharmacies are able to deliver the vaccine in their own community close to home. Can you, this afternoon, guarantee that GPs and pharmacies will be having doses of a vaccine, and will be able to supplement mass vaccination centres, to ensure that the people we want to take care of have a vaccine and are able to feel safe?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar, Llywydd, a diolch am eich atebion ar hyn, Prif Weinidog. Ymwelais â'r ganolfan frechu torfol a agorodd yng Nglynebwy ddydd Iau diwethaf, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud ei fod yn brofiad i ysbrydoli a chodi calon gweld brwdfrydedd y staff nyrsio, gweithwyr y gwasanaeth iechyd, yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â phersonél yr RAF a oedd yno yn rheoli'r broses—roedd yn rhywbeth a oedd yn wirioneddol galonogol ei weld, ynghyd â'r bobl, dros 80 mlwydd oed i raddau helaeth iawn, a oedd wedi cael eu brechu, a synnwyr o bwrpas y bobl hynny sy'n cerdded i mewn i'r swyddfeydd cyffredinol i gael eu brechu ac yna'n teimlo mor hyderus yn cerdded allan.
Ac a wyddoch chi, Prif Weinidog, mai'r hyn y mae pobl ym Mlaenau Gwent ei eisiau yw gweld gwleidyddion yn cydweithio i roi pobl yn gyntaf, ac nid chwarae gwleidyddiaeth gyda'u bywydau? Dyna beth mae pobl ei eisiau a dyna maen nhw'n ei ddweud wrthyf i, a'r hyn y maen nhw eisiau ei weld yw sut y gallwn ni ehangu a chyflymu'r rhaglen frechu, lle mae meddygon teulu a fferyllfeydd yn gallu darparu'r brechlyn yn eu cymunedau eu hunain yn agos at eu cartrefi. A allwch chi, y prynhawn yma, roi sicrwydd y bydd meddygon teulu a fferyllfeydd yn cael dosau o frechlyn, ac y byddan nhw'n gallu ategu canolfannau brechu torfol, i sicrhau bod y bobl yr ydym ni eisiau gofalu amdanyn nhw yn cael brechlyn ac yn gallu teimlo'n ddiogel?
Llywydd, I thank Alun Davies very much for that supplementary question, and I agree with him completely. What people in Wales expect is a genuine team Wales effort to get this enormous vaccination programme done as fast and as effectively as we can. And it is inspiring when you talk to and hear from those front-line staff who are going far beyond what could reasonably be expected of them to make sure that the programme is a success.
And let me just give the Member just a couple of figures to bear out what he asked, because in Gwent, this week just gone, 14 GP practices had already commenced clinics using the Oxford vaccine. By the end of this week, 70 of the 74 Gwent practices will have received vaccine and will be carrying out immunisations in their local communities. Fourteen last week, 70 this week, and 72 next week. I think that just demonstrates the amazing commitment of our GP and primary care community, the speed at which that is being mobilised locally, and I think that will speak louder to people in Wales who want to see this succeed than anything that I am likely to say, and certainly louder than any of those who seek to run their efforts down.
Llywydd, diolchaf yn fawr iawn i Alun Davies am y cwestiwn atodol yna, ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef yn llwyr. Yr hyn y mae pobl yng Nghymru yn ei ddisgwyl yw ymdrech tîm Cymru wirioneddol i gyflawni'r rhaglen frechu enfawr hon mor gyflym ac mor effeithiol ag y gallwn. Ac mae'n eich ysbrydoli pan fyddwch chi'n siarad ac yn clywed gan y staff rheng flaen hynny sy'n mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i'r hyn y gellid ei ddisgwyl yn rhesymol ganddyn nhw i wneud yn siŵr bod y rhaglen yn llwyddiant.
A gadewch i mi roi dim ond ychydig o ffigurau i'r Aelod i gynnig tystiolaeth o'r hyn a ofynnodd, oherwydd yng Ngwent, yr wythnos hon sydd newydd fod, roedd 14 o feddygfeydd teulu eisoes wedi dechrau clinigau yn defnyddio brechlyn Rhydychen. Erbyn diwedd yr wythnos hon, bydd 70 o'r 74 meddygfa yng Ngwent wedi cael brechlyn a byddan nhw'n rhoi brechiadau yn eu cymunedau lleol. Pedwar ar ddeg yr wythnos diwethaf, 70 yr wythnos hon, a 72 yr wythnos nesaf. Rwy'n credu bod hynny yn dangos ymrwymiad rhyfeddol ein meddygon teulu a'n cymuned gofal sylfaenol, pa mor gyflym y mae hynny yn cael ei roi ar waith yn lleol, ac rwy'n credu y bydd hynny yn cyfleu neges gryfach i bobl yng Nghymru sydd eisiau gweld hyn yn llwyddo nag unrhyw beth yr wyf i'n debygol o'i ddweud, ac yn sicr yn gryfach nag unrhyw un o'r rheini sy'n ceisio bychanu eu hymdrechion.
First Minister, you've talked about the need to go slow with vaccinating people, but nobody else seems able to understand this, including the BMA. And three other Ministers, rather than explaining the thinking behind the go slow, have simply come out and decided that this is what is happening. Vaughan Gething, Kirsty Williams and Jeremy Miles are all saying that the vaccine is being rolled out as fast as possible. In other words, they are, all of them, totally contradicting your publicly stated policy. I wonder if you can explain why this is happening. We now understand from your response earlier today that the vaccination programme has not even been discussed at Cabinet level. Does your Cabinet understand your policy on vaccinating the Welsh people? Does anyone understand it?
Prif Weinidog, rydych chi wedi sôn am yr angen i fynd yn araf o ran brechu pobl, ond nid yw'n ymddangos bod neb arall yn gallu deall hyn, gan gynnwys Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain. Ac mae tri Gweinidog arall, yn hytrach nag esbonio'r meddylfryd sy'n sail i'r penderfyniad i wneud pethau yn araf, wedi dod allan a phenderfynu mai dyma sy'n digwydd. Mae Vaughan Gething, Kirsty Williams a Jeremy Miles i gyd yn dweud bod y brechlyn yn cael ei gyflwyno cyn gynted â phosibl. Mewn geiriau eraill, maen nhw, bob un ohonynt, yn gwrthddweud yn llwyr eich polisi a ddatganwyd yn gyhoeddus. Tybed a allwch chi egluro pam mae hyn yn digwydd. Rydym ni'n deall erbyn hyn o'ch ymateb yn gynharach heddiw nad yw'r rhaglen frechu hyd yn oed wedi cael ei thrafod ar lefel y Cabinet. A yw eich Cabinet yn deall eich polisi ar frechu pobl Cymru? A oes unrhyw un yn ei ddeall?
Well, Llywydd, it would no doubt improve the quality of discussion here in the Senedd if the Member were to just listen to what has been said already. The Cabinet discusses all aspects of our coronavirus response throughout the coronavirus period, including vaccination. Let me put that point clearly to him so that he need not make that mistake another time.
As to the pace of the roll-out, let me just say it again: the policy of the Welsh Government is to deliver vaccination as fast as we can, for as many people as we can, as safely as we can, in all parts of Wales. Next time he quotes our policy, I look forward to him quoting that because he's heard it from me, and he's heard it from me repeatedly during the afternoon. There really is no excuse for the Member's confusion.
Wel, Llywydd, byddai'n sicr yn gwella ansawdd y drafodaeth yma yn y Senedd pe byddai'r Aelod ddim ond yn gwrando ar yr hyn a ddywedwyd eisoes. Mae'r Cabinet yn trafod pob agwedd ar ein hymateb coronafeirws drwy gydol cyfnod y coronafeirws, gan gynnwys brechu. Gadewch i mi gyfleu'r pwynt hwnnw yn eglur iddo fel nad oes angen iddo wneud y camgymeriad hwnnw rhyw dro eto.
O ran cyflymder y cyflwyniad, gadewch i mi ei ddweud unwaith eto: polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yw darparu brechiadau mor gyflym ag y gallwn ni, i gynifer o bobl ag y gallwn ni, mor ddiogel ag y gallwn ni, ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Y tro nesaf y bydd yn dyfynnu ein polisi, edrychaf ymlaen at iddo ddyfynnu hynny oherwydd ei fod wedi ei glywed gennyf i, ac mae wedi ei glywed gennyf i dro ar ôl tro yn ystod y prynhawn. Nid oes esgus dros ddryswch yr Aelod mewn gwirionedd.
Yesterday, the Aneurin—. Sorry, can you hear me?
Ddoe, fe wnaeth Bwrdd Iechyd Aneurin —. Mae'n ddrwg gen i, ydych chi'n gallu fy nghlywed i?
We can hear you. You can carry on.
Rydym ni'n gallu eich clywed. Cewch barhau.
Okay. Sorry, there was a technical issue there.
Yesterday, the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board confirmed that all GPs in my constituency will be in receipt of the vaccine today and tomorrow. That's up from 13 in the whole board area last week. The vaccine centre at Ystrad Mynach is open indefinitely to help hit the four priority targets by mid February, and last week, nearly 11,000 people in our area were vaccinated.
I've had some concerns raised with me by residents who have relations in England about what they perceive to be a postcode lottery happening there, and it's in all of our interests to ensure that the whole of the UK is vaccinated as soon as possible. I want to recognise, after this past few days, the progress that's been made in the Aneurin Bevan health board area, and would the First Minister therefore recognise that, and the progress being made in Caerphilly?
Iawn. Mae'n ddrwg gen i, roedd problem dechnegol yn y fan yna.
Ddoe, cadarnhaodd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan y bydd pob meddyg teulu yn fy etholaeth i yn cael y brechlyn heddiw ac yfory. Mae hynny i fyny o 13 yn ardal y bwrdd cyfan yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae'r ganolfan frechu yn Ystrad Mynach ar agor am gyfnod amhenodol i helpu i gyrraedd y pedwar targed blaenoriaeth erbyn canol mis Chwefror, a'r wythnos diwethaf, cafodd bron i 11,000 o bobl yn ein hardal ni eu brechu.
Codwyd rhai pryderon gyda mi gan drigolion sydd â pherthnasau yn Lloegr ynglŷn â'r hyn y maen nhw'n ei ystyried yn loteri cod post sy'n digwydd yno, ac mae er lles bob un ohonom ni i sicrhau bod y DU gyfan yn cael ei brechu cyn gynted â phosibl. Hoffwn gydnabod, ar ôl y diwrnodau diwethaf, y cynnydd sydd wedi ei wneud yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, ac a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog gydnabod hynny felly, a'r cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud yng Nghaerffili?
Llywydd, I absolutely recognise the astonishing efforts that have been made in the Aneurin Bevan area, by staff of the health board and by people who are at the front line. That's particularly commendable, Llywydd, I think, given that only weeks ago the level of coronavirus in the Aneurin Bevan health board area was amongst the highest in the whole of Wales, and the health board has had to deal not simply with vaccination, but with all those people who have fallen ill with this virus, and the demand that that has placed on health services and hospital services, particularly in the Aneurin Bevan health board area. As of today, Llywydd, I'm very pleased to say that numbers in the Aneurin Bevan health board area continue to decline, because of the efforts that residents, particularly residents of the Caerphilly area, as we've discussed here in the Senedd previously, the enormous efforts they have made during the lockdown to help us to get those numbers heading in the right direction. The health board has taken every advantage of the opportunities it now has to mobilise its primary care community, to deliver vaccination in the way that the Member has already described, and at the scale that will be evident in the Aneurin Bevan area over the week ahead.
Now, I repeat what I said earlier, Llywydd: I am focused on what happens here in Wales, I'm delivering on the promise that we made. But, everywhere in the United Kingdom, you will find people raising concerns that people who are younger than themselves have been offered vaccination while they themselves are still waiting for it. You will have seen what Thérèse Coffey, the Cabinet Minister in London, has said yesterday about the part of England that she represents not having had a fair share of the vaccine available in England. All communities are anxious to make sure that they are getting everything that can be done. That is true here in Wales, and people in the Aneurin Bevan area can be very proud indeed of everything that their health service is doing on their behalf.
Llywydd, rwy'n llwyr gydnabod yr ymdrechion syfrdanol sydd wedi eu gwneud yn ardal Aneurin Bevan, gan staff y bwrdd iechyd a chan bobl sydd ar y rheng flaen. Mae hynny'n arbennig o glodwiw, Llywydd, rwy'n meddwl, o gofio mai dim ond wythnosau yn ôl yr oedd lefel y coronafeirws yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan ymhlith yr uchaf yng Nghymru gyfan, a bu'n rhaid i'r bwrdd iechyd ymdrin nid yn unig â brechu, ond â'r holl bobl hynny sydd wedi mynd yn sâl gyda'r feirws hwn, a'r galw y mae hynny wedi ei achosi ar wasanaethau iechyd a gwasanaethau ysbyty, yn enwedig yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan. O heddiw ymlaen, Llywydd, rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud bod y niferoedd yn ardal bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan yn parhau i ostwng, oherwydd yr ymdrechion y mae trigolion, yn enwedig trigolion ardal Caerffili, fel yr ydym ni wedi ei drafod yma yn y Senedd yn y gorffennol, yr ymdrechion enfawr y maen nhw wedi eu gwneud yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud i'n helpu i gael y niferoedd hynny i symud i'r cyfeiriad iawn. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd wedi manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd sydd ganddo erbyn hyn i roi ei gymuned gofal sylfaenol ar waith, i frechu yn y ffordd y mae'r Aelod eisoes wedi ei ddisgrifio, ac ar y raddfa a fydd yn amlwg yn ardal Aneurin Bevan dros yr wythnos nesaf.
Nawr, ailadroddaf yr hyn a ddywedais yn gynharach, Llywydd: rwy'n canolbwyntio ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd yma yng Nghymru, rwy'n cyflawni'r addewid a wnaed gennym ni. Ond, ym mhob man yn y Deyrnas Unedig, byddwch yn canfod pobl yn codi pryderon bod pobl sy'n iau na nhw eu hunain wedi cael cynnig brechiad tra eu bod hwy eu hunain yn dal i aros amdano. Byddwch wedi gweld yr hyn y mae Thérèse Coffey, Gweinidog y Cabinet yn Llundain, wedi ei ddweud ddoe nad yw'r rhan o Loegr y mae hi'n ei chynrychioli wedi cael cyfran deg o'r brechlyn sydd ar gael yn Lloegr. Mae pob cymuned yn awyddus i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n cael popeth y gellir ei wneud. Mae hynny'n wir yma yng Nghymru, a gall pobl yn ardal Aneurin Bevan fod yn falch dros ben o bopeth y mae eu gwasanaeth iechyd yn ei wneud ar eu rhan.
4. Beth yw asesiad cyfredol y Prif Weinidog o COVID-19 yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan? OQ56155
4. What is the First Minister’s current assessment of COVID-19 in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area? OQ56155
Llywydd, we continue to see a trend of reducing incidence rates and test positivity rates across all local authority areas within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. However, numbers do remain high and our NHS capacity is still very stretched. All efforts must continue to continue to drive those rates down further.
Llywydd, rydym ni'n parhau i weld tueddiad o gyfraddau mynychder a chyfraddau profion positif yn gostwng ar draws pob ardal awdurdod lleol yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan. Fodd bynnag, mae'r niferoedd yn dal i fod yn uchel ac mae capasiti ein GIG yn dal i fod o dan bwysau mawr. Mae'n rhaid i'r holl ymdrechion barhau i ostwng y cyfraddau hynny ymhellach.
First Minister, the vaccination programme is crucial in saving lives, in reducing pressure on our national health service, with all the benefits that brings for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 health services, and in allowing restrictions to be eased for a return of economic activity, our schools and more normal living. Understandably, expectations of the roll-out are very high, and my constituents want to see every effort made to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. I know, First Minister, from what you've said today and previously, that you are very committed to this, so is the Welsh Government collectively, and of course, so is our NHS. First Minister, will you reassure my constituents who have contacted me here in Newport East that vaccination will proceed with the utmost urgency, with the top 4 priority groups offered a vaccine by mid February, and the other groups following as quickly as possible, to get us out of this terrible crisis in the shortest possible time?
Prif Weinidog, mae'r rhaglen frechu yn hanfodol i achub bywydau, i leihau'r pwysau ar ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, gyda'r holl fanteision sy'n dod yn sgil hynny i wasanaethau iechyd COVID-19 a gwasanaethau iechyd nad ydynt yn rhai COVID-19, ac o ran caniatáu i gyfyngiadau gael eu lleddfu er mwyn gweld dychweliad gweithgarwch economaidd, ein hysgolion a byw yn fwy normal. Yn ddealladwy, mae disgwyliadau o gyflwyniad y rhaglen yn uchel iawn, ac mae fy etholwyr eisiau gweld pob ymdrech yn cael ei gwneud i frechu cynifer o bobl â phosibl, cyn gynted â phosibl. Gwn, Prif Weinidog, o'r hyn yr ydych chi wedi ei ddweud heddiw ac yn y gorffennol, eich bod chi wedi ymrwymo yn llwyr i hyn, ac felly hefyd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyfunol, ac wrth gwrs, felly hefyd ein GIG. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi roi sicrwydd i'm hetholwyr sydd wedi cysylltu â mi yma yn Nwyrain Casnewydd y bydd brechu yn mynd rhagddo gyda'r brys mwyaf, gyda'r 4 grŵp blaenoriaeth uchaf yn cael cynnig brechlyn erbyn canol mis Chwefror, a'r grwpiau eraill yn dilyn cyn gynted â phosibl, i'n cael ni allan o'r argyfwng ofnadwy hwn yn yr amser byrraf posibl?
Llywydd, I can do no better than to echo exactly what John Griffiths said in his supplementary question. The policy of the Welsh Government is to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. And the efforts we've already discussed here this afternoon amongst healthcare staff in Gwent just demonstrate the commitment that they have to exactly that policy. Now, I've set out already, Llywydd, the very rapid increase in the number of GP practices in the Member's constituency who will be delivering the vaccine this week. But that is on top of the four mass vaccination centres that are currently operating in the Gwent area, and, as I know John Griffiths will be aware, a large mass vaccination centre opened in Newport yesterday, ahead of schedule, and that is typical of what is happening across Wales.
As I said in an earlier answer, Llywydd, when I was here last week, I was setting out our ambitions for mass vaccination centres, GP practices, and we're exceeding those ambitions, as we are in Newport, because of all the efforts that are being made. And, because of that, the local population in the Member's constituency can have confidence that the plans we set out will be delivered, that they will be delivered with urgency and with determination, and that when we complete the first four priority groups, those efforts will continue and expand further as we drive our way down the nine top priority groups and then move on to the rest of the population.
Llywydd, ni allaf wneud dim gwell nag adleisio yn union yr hyn a ddywedodd John Griffiths yn ei gwestiwn atodol. Polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yw brechu cymaint o bobl â phosibl, cyn gynted â phosibl. Ac mae'r ymdrechion yr ydym ni eisoes wedi eu trafod yma y prynhawn yma ymhlith staff gofal iechyd yng Ngwent yn dangos yr ymrwymiad sydd ganddyn nhw i'r union bolisi hwnnw. Nawr, rwyf i eisoes wedi nodi, Llywydd, y cynnydd cyflym iawn i nifer y meddygfeydd teulu yn etholaeth yr Aelod a fydd yn darparu'r brechlyn yr wythnos hon. Ond mae hynny yn ogystal â'r pedair canolfan frechu torfol sy'n gweithredu yn ardal Gwent ar hyn o bryd, ac, fel y gwn y bydd John Griffiths yn ymwybodol, agorodd canolfan frechu torfol fawr yng Nghasnewydd ddoe, yn gynharach na'r disgwyl, ac mae hynny yn nodweddiadol o'r hyn sy'n digwydd ledled Cymru.
Fel y dywedais mewn ateb cynharach, Llywydd, pan roeddwn i yma yr wythnos diwethaf, roeddwn i'n cyflwyno ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer canolfannau brechu torfol, meddygfeydd teulu, ac rydym ni'n rhagori ar yr uchelgeisiau hynny, fel yr ydym ni yn ei wneud yng Nghasnewydd, oherwydd yr holl ymdrechion sy'n cael eu gwneud. Ac, oherwydd hynny, gall y boblogaeth leol yn etholaeth yr Aelod fod yn ffyddiog y bydd y cynlluniau yr ydym ni'n eu cyflwyno yn cael eu cyflawni, y byddan nhw'n cael eu cyflawni ar frys a chyda phenderfyniad, a phan fyddwn ni'n cwblhau'r pedwar grŵp blaenoriaeth cyntaf, y bydd yr ymdrechion hynny yn parhau ac yn ehangu ymhellach wrth i ni yrru ein ffordd i lawr y naw prif grŵp blaenoriaeth ac yna symud ymlaen i weddill y boblogaeth.
5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith cynnydd yn y dreth gyngor ar gyllid pobl yn Nwyrain De Cymru sy'n wynebu anawsterau ariannol? OQ56164
5. What assessment has the First Minister made of the impact of an increase in council tax on the finances of people in South Wales East who are facing financial difficulties? OQ56164
Llywydd, in recognition of the financial difficulties facing individuals and public services, the Welsh Government’s draft budget provides an uplift of 3.8 per cent in revenue funding for local authorities, at a time when inflation is rising at 0.6 per cent, and when our own budget in 2021-22 will be more than 3 per cent lower in real terms than a decade ago.
Llywydd, gan gydnabod yr anawsterau ariannol sy'n wynebu unigolion a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, mae cyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu cynnydd o 3.8 y cant mewn cyllid refeniw i awdurdodau lleol, ar adeg pan fo chwyddiant yn codi ar lefel o 0.6 y cant, a phan fydd ein cyllideb ein hunain yn 2021-22 yn fwy na 3 y cant yn is mewn termau real nag yr oedd ddegawd yn ôl.
I thank the First Minister for that answer and for those points. However, many families and individuals in my region have faced real financial hardships even though they don't qualify for council tax support as it is available. A recent report by the Bevan Foundation found that nearly a quarter of households have seen their incomes fall since the start of the pandemic, while at the same time they've seen their living costs increase. It found that one in five households with incomes of less than £20,000 a year have had to cut back on food, on heating, electricity and water. We know that council tax is the most regressive tax we have, because it places the biggest burden on low-income households and we've had confirmation that councils, including one in my region, in Caerphilly, intend to raise council tax by 4 per cent. The Labour Party leader in England, Keir Starmer, said it is absurd to expect hard-pressed families to pay more and called on the UK Government to cover the proposed increases in England. Will the Welsh Government do that in Wales?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna ac am y pwyntiau yna. Fodd bynnag, mae llawer o deuluoedd ac unigolion yn fy rhanbarth i wedi wynebu caledi ariannol gwirioneddol er nad ydyn nhw'n gymwys i gael cymorth gyda'r dreth gyngor yn y modd y mae ar gael. Canfu adroddiad diweddar gan Sefydliad Bevan fod incwm bron i chwarter aelwydydd wedi gostwng ers dechrau'r pandemig, ac ar yr un pryd mae eu costau byw wedi cynyddu. Canfu y bu'n rhaid i un o bob pum aelwyd gydag incwm o lai nag £20,000 y flwyddyn wneud toriadau o ran bwyd, gwres, trydan a dŵr. Rydym ni'n gwybod mai'r dreth gyngor yw'r dreth fwyaf atchweliadol sydd gennym ni, oherwydd ei bod yn rhoi'r baich mwyaf ar aelwydydd incwm isel ac rydym ni wedi cael cadarnhad bod cynghorau, gan gynnwys un yn fy rhanbarth i, yng Nghaerffili, yn bwriadu codi'r dreth gyngor gan 4 y cant. Dywedodd arweinydd y Blaid Lafur yn Lloegr, Keir Starmer, ei bod hi'n hurt disgwyl i deuluoedd sydd o dan bwysau dalu mwy a galwodd ar Lywodraeth y DU i dalu am y cynnydd arfaethedig yn Lloegr. A fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud hynny yng Nghymru?
Well, Llywydd, if the UK Government provides funding to allow that to happen, then we will get, we assume—although that's an assumption that becomes more questionable these days—a Barnett consequential of that decision and that would allow us to do more to help families here in Wales. The Member will know that, unlike in England, our council tax benefit system operates across the whole of Wales, that the Welsh Government put £22 million over and above the money that came from the UK Government when that benefit was devolved to us, and that hundreds of thousands of households in Wales benefit from that provision. Because of a take-up campaign that the Welsh Government with local authorities mounted earlier last year, we've had 10,000 more additional households apply since the end of March to benefit from the council tax benefit, and that is because of the pressures on household incomes that the Member quite rightly sets out.
We use every opportunity we have to provide services and financial help that leaves money in the pockets of families who otherwise would have to pay for things themselves. Where more help comes from the UK Government, we will deploy that to help those families further. In the meantime, I go back to a point that Huw Irranca-Davies made, Llywydd, in the very first question this afternoon, that the biggest help that the UK Government can provide, and the most urgent help it needs to provide, is to guarantee that the £20 a week that the poorest families in the land now get when they are on universal credit continues beyond 31 March this year. Without that, the hard-pressed families that Delyth Jewell has referred to will be £1,000 a year worse off, and there's no family in Wales living on those sorts of incomes that can possibly afford to be in that position.
Wel, Llywydd, os bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn darparu cyllid i ganiatáu i hynny ddigwydd, yna byddwn ni'n cael, rydym ni'n tybio—er bod honno'n dybiaeth sy'n dod yn fwy amheus y dyddiau hyn—swm canlyniadol Barnett o'r penderfyniad hwnnw a byddai hwnnw yn caniatáu i ni wneud mwy i helpu teuluoedd yma yng Nghymru. Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, yn wahanol i Loegr, bod ein system budd-dal y dreth gyngor yn gweithredu ledled Cymru gyfan, bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi £22 miliwn yn ychwanegol at yr arian a ddaeth gan Lywodraeth y DU pan ddatganolwyd y budd-dal hwnnw i ni, a bod cannoedd o filoedd o aelwydydd yng Nghymru yn elwa ar y ddarpariaeth honno. Oherwydd ymgyrch hyrwyddo a gynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru gydag awdurdodau lleol yn gynharach y llynedd, rydym ni wedi cael 10,000 yn fwy o aelwydydd ychwanegol yn gwneud cais ers diwedd mis Mawrth i elwa ar fudd-dal y dreth gyngor, ac mae hynny oherwydd y pwysau ar incwm aelwydydd y mae'r Aelod yn ei nodi yn gwbl briodol.
Rydym ni'n manteision ar bob cyfle sydd gennym ni i ddarparu gwasanaethau a chymorth ariannol sy'n gadael arian ym mhocedi teuluoedd a fyddai fel arall yn gorfod talu am bethau eu hunain. Pan ddaw mwy o gymorth gan Lywodraeth y DU, byddwn yn defnyddio hwnnw i helpu'r teuluoedd hynny ymhellach. Yn y cyfamser, dychwelaf at bwynt a wnaeth Huw Irranca-Davies, Llywydd, yn y cwestiwn cyntaf un y prynhawn yma, mai'r cymorth mwyaf y gall Llywodraeth y DU ei ddarparu, a'r cymorth mwyaf brys y mae angen iddi ei ddarparu, yw sicrhau bod yr £20 yr wythnos y mae'r teuluoedd tlotaf yn y wlad yn ei gael nawr pan fyddan nhw'n derbyn credyd cynhwysol yn parhau y tu hwnt i 31 Mawrth eleni. Heb hwnnw, bydd y teuluoedd sydd o dan bwysau y mae Delyth Jewell wedi cyfeirio atyn nhw £1,000 y flwyddyn yn waeth eu byd, ac nid oes yr un teulu yng Nghymru sy'n byw ar y mathau hynny o incwm a all fforddio ar unrhyw gyfrif bod yn y sefyllfa honno.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am lefel y tlodi plant yn Llanelli? OQ56147
6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the level of child poverty in Llanelli? OQ56147
I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. The pandemic is predicted to increase child poverty in Llanelli and across Wales. That impact would be made worse by premature withdrawal of the job retention scheme and any refusal to maintain the £20 universal credit weekly uplift beyond the end of March.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Rhagwelir y bydd y pandemig yn cynyddu tlodi plant yn Llanelli a ledled Cymru. Byddai'r effaith honno yn cael ei gwaethygu drwy ddiddymu'r cynllun cadw swyddi yn gynamserol ac unrhyw wrthodiad i gynnal y cynnydd wythnosol o £20 i gredyd cynhwysol y tu hwnt i ddiwedd mis Mawrth.
I'm grateful to the First Minister for his answer. In an earlier answer, he told us, and I would not disagree, that we can't trust the Tories, and when it comes to providing support for our poorest families and our poorest children, I don't believe we can trust them either. The First Minister makes reference to the threat of the withdrawal of the £20 uplift for universal credit, but given what he said to us about not trusting the Tories, can I ask him again to reconsider his decision not to seek the devolution of benefits, as has been recommended by a committee of this Senedd and by independent research and think tanks, because that would enable us, despite the financial challenges, to develop a system of our own that would be fairer when it came to supporting families in these positions? In the meantime, further to exchanges that we had last week, will he consider the practicality of extending free school meals to all those children whose families are in receipt of universal credit? If we can't get the devolution of the main part of the benefits system, is it not time for his Government to support those families in ways that are within this Senedd's current competence?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb. Mewn ateb cynharach, dywedodd wrthym, ac ni fyddwn i'n anghytuno, na allwn ni ymddiried yn y Torïaid, a phan ddaw'n fater o ddarparu cymorth i'n teuluoedd tlotaf a'n plant tlotaf, nid wyf innau'n credu y gallwn ni ymddiried ynddyn nhw ychwaith. Mae'r Prif Weinidog yn cyfeirio at y bygythiad o dynnu'r cynnydd o £20 i gredyd cynhwysol yn ôl, ond o gofio'r hyn a ddywedodd wrthym ni am beidio ag ymddiried yn y Torïaid, a gaf i ofyn iddo unwaith eto ailystyried ei benderfyniad i beidio â cheisio datganoli budd-daliadau, fel yr argymhellwyd gan un o bwyllgorau'r Senedd hon a chan waith ymchwil a melinau trafod annibynnol, oherwydd byddai hynny yn ein galluogi, er gwaethaf yr heriau ariannol, i ddatblygu system ein hunain a fyddai'n decach o ran cynorthwyo teuluoedd yn y sefyllfaoedd hyn? Yn y cyfamser, yn dilyn y trafodaethau a gawsom yr wythnos diwethaf, a wnaiff ef ystyried ymarferoldeb ymestyn prydau ysgol am ddim i'r holl blant hynny y mae eu teuluoedd yn derbyn credyd cynhwysol? Os na allwn ni ddatganoli prif ran y system fudd-daliadau, onid yw'n bryd i'w Lywodraeth ef gynorthwyo'r teuluoedd hynny mewn ffyrdd sydd o fewn cymhwysedd presennol y Senedd hon?
Llywydd, I thank Helen Mary Jones for those further questions. I am persuaded by much of what was said in the report provided by the committee of the Senedd chaired by John Griffiths about exploring the devolution of the administration of aspects of the benefits system. It was a very helpful report, and it helps to shape the thinking of the Welsh Government, and I'm very happy to go on exploring that with Members who are of a similar persuasion.
As to the point the Member makes about free school meals, the changes that we have made to free school meals entitlement during this term will extend eligibility to thousands more children over the next couple of years. Plaid Cymru's policy is to provide free school meals to every child in a family where universal credit is being claimed. I set out for the Member last week that, if those families have two children per family, that's a cost of £67 million a year, and that would rise to over £100 million a year. Those other costings I have been provided by officials in the Welsh Government whose job it is to help us administer the help we currently provide to families receiving free school meals. Those are choices that Governments can make.
But the last questioner, Llywydd, asked me to find Welsh Government money to help families who struggle because of the council tax. Plaid Cymru has a policy of providing £35 a week for free-school-meals children, again at a cost of many millions of pounds. It has a policy of providing free childcare from 12 months of age, at a cost of £950 million. It has a policy of free social care for everyone in Wales. When parties put forward policies, they have to be able to credibly explain to people not why something is desirable, but why it is also achievable within the resources that the Welsh Government has, and I'm afraid when you begin to add up that long list of no doubt desirable things, I think very many question marks begin to emerge about their deliverability.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Helen Mary Jones am y cwestiynau ychwanegol hynny. Rwy'n cael fy mherswadio gan lawer o'r hyn a ddywedwyd yn yr adroddiad a ddarparwyd gan bwyllgor y Senedd o dan gadeiryddiaeth John Griffiths ynghylch archwilio datganoli'r gwaith o weinyddu agweddau ar y system fudd-daliadau. Roedd yn adroddiad defnyddiol iawn, ac mae'n helpu i lywio meddylfryd Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i barhau i archwilio hynny gydag Aelodau sydd o'r un farn.
O ran y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am brydau ysgol am ddim, bydd y newidiadau yr ydym ni wedi eu gwneud i'r hawl i gael prydau ysgol am ddim yn ystod y tymor hwn yn ymestyn cymhwysedd i filoedd yn fwy o blant dros y flwyddyn neu ddwy nesaf. Polisi Plaid Cymru yw darparu prydau ysgol am ddim i bob plentyn mewn teulu lle mae credyd cynhwysol yn cael ei hawlio. Esboniais i'r Aelod yr wythnos diwethaf, os oes gan y teuluoedd hynny ddau blentyn fesul teulu, bod hynny yn gost o £67 miliwn y flwyddyn, a byddai hynny yn codi i dros £100 miliwn y flwyddyn. Darparwyd y costau eraill hynny i mi gan swyddogion yn Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am ein helpu i weinyddu'r cymorth yr ydym ni'n ei ddarparu ar hyn o bryd i deuluoedd sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim. Mae'r rheini yn ddewisiadau y gall Llywodraethau eu gwneud.
Ond gofynnodd y holwr diwethaf, Llywydd, i mi ddod o hyd i arian Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu teuluoedd sydd mewn trafferthion oherwydd y dreth gyngor. Mae gan Blaid Cymru bolisi o ddarparu £35 yr wythnos i blant sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim, unwaith eto am gost o filiynau lawer o bunnoedd. Mae ganddi bolisi o ddarparu gofal plant am ddim o 12 mis oed, am gost o £950 miliwn. Mae ganddi bolisi o ofal cymdeithasol am ddim i bawb yng Nghymru. Pan fo pleidiau yn cynnig polisïau, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw allu egluro yn gredadwy i bobl nid pam mae rhywbeth yn ddymunol, ond pam y gellir ei gyflawni hefyd gyda'r adnoddau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae arnaf i ofn pan fyddwch chi'n dechrau adio'r rhestr faith honno o bethau dymunol, rwy'n credu bod llawer iawn o farciau cwestiwn yn dechrau dod i'r amlwg ynglŷn â'r gallu i'w cyflawni.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gynigion Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer datblygiadau cyfansoddiadol yng Nghymru? OQ56160
8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's proposals for constitutional developments in Wales? OQ56160
Llywydd, I set out our proposals for Wales’s constitutional arrangements in the 'Reforming our Union' paper published at the end of last year. We have been clear that Wales’s future is best secured through a powerful and entrenched devolution settlement, within a successful United Kingdom.
Llywydd, nodais ein cynigion ar gyfer trefniadau cyfansoddiadol Cymru yn y papur 'Diwygio ein Undeb' a gyhoeddwyd ddiwedd y llynedd. Rydym ni wedi bod yn eglur mai'r ffordd orau o sicrhau dyfodol Cymru yw drwy setliad datganoli grymus a sefydledig, o fewn Teyrnas Unedig lwyddiannus.
It's a fascinating document, but, First Minister, we're currently seeing the impact of vaccinations being devolved. What would it be like if, as you want, you also get your hands on justice or can borrow money with no restraint? When devolution is a process that only ever moves in one direction—towards independence—how can people become comfortable with it? If there is no devolution settlement, if it's not stable, won't we sooner or later have to choose between abolishing this place or sleepwalking to independence?
Mae'n ddogfen ddiddorol iawn, ond, Prif Weinidog, rydym ni'n gweld ar hyn o bryd effaith datganoli brechiadau. Sut byddai pethau pe byddech chi, fel yr ydych chi eisiau, hefyd yn cael eich dwylo ar gyfiawnder neu'n gallu benthyg arian heb unrhyw ataliad? Pan fydd datganoli yn broses nad yw ond byth yn symud i un cyfeiriad—tuag at annibyniaeth—sut gall pobl ddod yn gyfforddus gydag ef? Os nad oes setliad datganoli, os nad yw'n sefydlog, oni fydd yn rhaid i ni ddewis yn hwyr neu'n hwyrach rhwng diddymu'r lle hwn neu gerdded yn ein cwsg i annibyniaeth?
Llywydd, from a Member who I believe is now in the fifth political party that he's joined since the last election, lectures on stability seem a little far-fetched. The way to debate Wales's constitutional future is to set out different propositions, to put them to the public, to make arguments in favour of them. The Welsh Labour Party and the Government that I represent will go on arguing that Wales's constitutional future is best secured through a form of radical federalism, in which the dispersal of sovereignty to four different, directly elected Parliaments in the United Kingdom is recognised, but where we choose to pool that sovereignty in order to more effectively secure common goals—an entrenched devolution settlement for a successful United Kingdom.
That is the ground that the Welsh Labour Party occupies, not the increasingly strident English nationalism of the Conservative Party here in Wales, and those candidates it appears willing to select on the basis that they will, to quote one of them, 'take a sledgehammer to the Senedd', and come here to campaign for the destruction of devolution. That appears to be the viewpoint of the modern Conservative Party in Wales, but nor will we support the idea of independence—a nineteenth-century idea to a twenty-first century problem. The real future, the constitutional future that the bulk of people in Wales want to see is proper, powerful, entrenched devolution with the advantages that continued membership of the United Kingdom brings to Wales.
Llywydd, gan Aelod sydd, rwy'n credu, yn y bumed blaid wleidyddol y mae wedi ymuno â hi ers yr etholiad diwethaf erbyn hyn, mae pregethau ar sefydlogrwydd yn ymddangos braidd yn annhebygol. Y ffordd i drafod dyfodol cyfansoddiadol Cymru yw gwneud gwahanol gynigion, eu cyflwyno i'r cyhoedd, gwneud dadleuon o'u plaid. Bydd Plaid Lafur Cymru a'r Llywodraeth yr wyf i'n ei chynrychioli yn parhau i ddadlau mai'r ffordd orau o sicrhau dyfodol cyfansoddiadol Cymru yw drwy ffurf ar ffederaliaeth radical, lle y cydnabyddir dosbarthiad sofraniaeth i bedair gwahanol Senedd, a etholir yn uniongyrchol yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ond lle'r ydym ni'n dewis cyfuno'r sofraniaeth honno er mwyn sicrhau nodau cyffredin yn fwy effeithiol—setliad datganoli sefydledig ar gyfer Teyrnas Unedig lwyddiannus.
Dyna'r tir y mae Plaid Lafur Cymru yn ei feddiannu, nid cenedlaetholdeb Seisnig gynyddol y Blaid Geidwadol yma yng Nghymru, a'r ymgeiswyr hynny y mae'n ymddangos eu bod hi'n barod i'w dewis ar y sail y byddan nhw, i ddyfynnu un ohonyn nhw, yn 'defnyddio gordd ar y Senedd', ac yn dod yma i ymgyrchu dros ddinistrio datganoli. Mae'n ymddangos mai dyna safbwynt y Blaid Geidwadol fodern yng Nghymru, ond ni fyddwn ychwaith yn cefnogi'r syniad o annibyniaeth—syniad o'r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg ar gyfer problem yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Y dyfodol gwirioneddol, y dyfodol cyfansoddiadol y mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yng Nghymru eisiau ei weld yw datganoli priodol, grymus, sefydledig gyda'r manteision y mae aelodaeth barhaus o'r Deyrnas Unedig yn eu cynnig i Gymru.
9. Beth yw'r goblygiadau i Gymru yn sgil penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i ganslo cyfranogiad y DU yn rhaglen Erasmus Ewrop? OQ56157
9. What are the implications for Wales of the UK Government's decision to cancel UK participation in the European Erasmus programme? OQ56157
Llywydd, the decision by the Westminster Government not to participate in Erasmus+ means that the benefits of a highly valued programme are being denied to our young people. For the first time this year, organisations and institutions in Wales will no longer be able to submit new applications to Erasmus+, in an act of cultural vandalism.
Llywydd, mae penderfyniad Llywodraeth San Steffan i beidio â chymryd rhan yn Erasmus+ yn golygu bod manteision rhaglen werthfawr iawn yn cael eu gwrthod i'n pobl ifanc. Am y tro cyntaf eleni, ni fydd sefydliadau yng Nghymru yn gallu gwneud ceisiadau newydd i Erasmus+ mwyach, mewn gweithred o fandaliaeth ddiwylliannol.
Thank you, First Minister. I would agree with you—it is indeed an act of cultural vandalism. One of the most disappointing aspects of the UK Government's decision to turn its back on Europe and the opportunities that Erasmus offered for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged families, is that my understanding is that the Turing scheme, which they hope to replace it with, does not allow youth services to nominate people who may not be taking the academic path in their future career path, but those who need to, nevertheless, broaden their horizons, understand what the innovations are that already exist in Europe and which could be strengthening their capacity to run successful businesses here in Wales. So, what options are now open to young people to engage with their global responsibilities in an informed way?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Byddwn i'n cytuno â chi—mae wir yn weithred o fandaliaeth ddiwylliannol. Un o'r agweddau mwyaf siomedig ar benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i droi ei chefn ar Ewrop a'r cyfleoedd yr oedd Erasmus yn eu cynnig i bobl ifanc, yn enwedig y rhai o deuluoedd difreintiedig, yw mai fy nealltwriaeth i yw nad yw'r cynllun Turing, y maen nhw'n gobeithio ei ddisodli gydag ef, yn caniatáu i wasanaethau ieuenctid enwebu pobl nad ydyn nhw efallai yn dilyn y llwybr academaidd yn eu llwybr gyrfaol yn y dyfodol, ond mae'r rhai sydd angen gwneud hynny, serch hynny, yn ehangu eu gorwelion, yn deall beth yw'r newyddbethau sydd eisoes yn bodoli yn Ewrop ac a allai fod yn cryfhau eu gallu i redeg busnesau llwyddiannus yma yng Nghymru. Felly, pa ddewisiadau sydd ar gael erbyn hyn i bobl ifanc ymgysylltu â'u cyfrifoldebau byd-eang mewn ffordd wybodus?
Llywydd, I think it's a very good question from Jenny Rathbone. Let me repeat what I said here once before, Llywydd. The Turing scheme is an English scheme being imposed on the rest of the United Kingdom. It is an early example of the way in which the Conservative Party intends to use the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, because instead of providing money to Wales for us to discharge our devolved responsibilities for higher and further education and the youth service, this is to be a scheme imposed on us, funded directly from Whitehall with no reference at all to the particular needs, circumstances and democratic preferences of people here in Wales. Jenny Rathbone is absolutely right—we have made greater use of the Erasmus programme for young people through the youth service than any other part of the United Kingdom. It's been a distinctively Welsh feature of the use that we have made of it, and that's now going to be denied to us. That is part of the disgrace of the UK Government's failure to negotiate proper participation in the scheme, and then to compound that by imposing on us a scheme that simply doesn't meet the needs and preferences of people here in Wales.
We will now have to build up, in answer to the Member's final part of the question, those schemes that we already have in operation in Wales: the Seren programme, which sends young people to Yale, Harvard, Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the scholarships that we promote through Global Wales; the MIT global teaching laboratories, in which 25,000 learners in Wales participated in 2020. Llywydd, when I met the German ambassador a week ago, he very positively put to me the prospects for bilateral arrangements between young people in Wales and young people in Germany outside the arrangements that the UK Government is contemplating imposing on us. We will pursue those bilateral opportunities—those opportunities we've already invested in—to try and make good the fact that young people in Wales are now to be denied opportunities that generations of young people have been able to enjoy up until now and were quite certainly promised to them by the UK Government, and have failed to be delivered in the deal that they have struck with the European Union.
Llywydd, rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwestiwn da iawn gan Jenny Rathbone. Gadewch i mi ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedais yn y fan yma unwaith o'r blaen, Llywydd. Cynllun Seisnig sy'n cael ei orfodi ar weddill y Deyrnas Unedig yw cynllun Turing. Mae'n enghraifft gynnar o'r ffordd y mae'r Blaid Geidwadol yn bwriadu defnyddio Deddf Marchnad Fewnol y Deyrnas Unedig 2020, oherwydd yn hytrach na darparu arian i Gymru i ni gyflawni ein cyfrifoldebau datganoledig dros addysg uwch ac addysg bellach a'r gwasanaeth ieuenctid, bydd hwn yn gynllun sy'n cael ei orfodi arnom ni, wedi'i ariannu yn uniongyrchol o Whitehall heb unrhyw gyfeiriad o gwbl at anghenion, amgylchiadau a dewisiadau democrataidd penodol pobl yma yng Nghymru. Mae Jenny Rathbone yn llygad ei lle—rydym ni wedi gwneud mwy o ddefnydd o'r rhaglen Erasmus ar gyfer pobl ifanc drwy'r gwasanaeth ieuenctid nag unrhyw ran arall o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae wedi bod yn nodwedd arbennig i Gymru o'r defnydd yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud ohono, ac mae hynny yn mynd i gael ei wrthod i ni erbyn hyn. Mae hynny yn rhan o warth methiant Llywodraeth y DU i gytuno ar gyfranogiad priodol yn y cynllun, ac yna dwysáu hynny drwy orfodi cynllun arnom ni nad yw'n diwallu anghenion a dewisiadau pobl yma yng Nghymru.
Bydd yn rhaid i ni ddatblygu nawr, i ateb rhan olaf cwestiwn yr Aelod, y cynlluniau hynny sydd gennym ni ar waith yng Nghymru eisoes: rhaglen Seren, sy'n anfon pobl ifanc i Yale, Harvard, Chicago a Sefydliad Technoleg Massachusetts; yr ysgoloriaethau yr ydym ni'n eu hyrwyddo drwy Cymru Fyd-eang; labordai addysgu byd-eang MIT, ble cymerodd 25,000 o ddysgwyr yng Nghymru ran yn 2020. Llywydd, pan gyfarfûm â llysgennad yr Almaen wythnos yn ôl, cyflwynodd yn gadarnhaol iawn i mi y rhagolygon ar gyfer trefniadau dwyochrog rhwng pobl ifanc yng Nghymru a phobl ifanc yn yr Almaen y tu allan i'r trefniadau y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ystyried eu gorfodi arnom ni. Byddwn yn mynd ar drywydd y cyfleoedd dwyochrog hynny—y cyfleoedd hynny yr ydym ni eisoes wedi buddsoddi ynddyn nhw—i geisio gwneud iawn am y ffaith na fydd pobl ifanc yng Nghymru bellach yn cael cyfleoedd y mae cenedlaethau o bobl ifanc wedi gallu eu mwynhau hyd yn hyn ac a addawyd iddyn nhw yn sicr gan Lywodraeth y DU, ac y methwyd â'u sicrhau yn y fargen y maen nhw wedi ei tharo gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hynny—Rebecca Evans.
The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement—Rebecca Evans.
Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to this week's business. The statement on the Welsh Government's response to the recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission will be made by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport. 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 un newid i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Bydd y datganiad ar ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i argymhellion Comisiwn Trafnidiaeth De-ddwyrain Cymru yn cael ei wneud gan Ddirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.
I call for a Welsh Government statement on COVID-19 vaccination for police officers. Responding to you last week, I referred to calls by the North Wales Police Federation for policing to be considered for some priority on the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Instead, the health Minister, Vaughan Gething, subsequently told me, quote,
'There is a real impact to moving occupational staff groups around',
and referred to lateral flow testing trials for the police. Yesterday, North Wales Police Federation told me they had been contacted over the weekend by, quote, 'Very reliable sources working within the vaccination centres', who advised that hospital secretaries and even social workers who are working from home are receiving the vaccine, yet front-line policing is still not considered to be a risk, nor even being allowed to use up any spare or unused vaccines. They added, 'Even if we could get front-line police officers on a stand-by list, like is happening in some parts of England, it would be a start.' An e-mail from a front-line north Wales police officer today stated, 'There is always a sense of shock and bewilderment when I speak to people and inform them that police are not considered a priority group for the vaccine. I ask that the Welsh Government commit to giving policing some priority', she said, 'where we need to protect the protectors who ultimately protect us all.' I call for a statement accordingly.
Rwy'n galw am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar frechiad COVID-19 i swyddogion yr heddlu. Wrth ymateb i chi yr wythnos diwethaf, cyfeiriais at alwadau gan Ffederasiwn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru i blismona gael ei ystyried am rywfaint o flaenoriaeth ar raglen frechu COVID-19. Yn hytrach, dywedodd y Gweinidog iechyd, Vaughan Gething, wrthyf wedyn, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
Mae yna effaith wirioneddol o ran symud grwpiau staff galwedigaethol o gwmpas
a chyfeiriodd at dreialon profi llif unffordd ar gyfer yr heddlu. Ddoe, dywedodd Ffederasiwn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru wrthyf, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, bod 'ffynonellau dibynadwy iawn sy'n gweithio yn y canolfannau brechu' wedi cysylltu â nhw dros y penwythnos, ac fe wnaethon nhw ddweud fod ysgrifenyddion ysbytai a hyd yn oed weithwyr cymdeithasol sy'n gweithio gartref yn cael y brechlyn, ac eto i gyd nid yw plismyn rheng flaen yn cael eu hystyried yn risg, na hyd yn oed yn cael defnyddio unrhyw frechlynnau sbâr neu rai sydd heb eu defnyddio. Ychwanegodd, 'Hyd yn oed pe byddai modd rhoi swyddogion heddlu rheng flaen ar restr wrth gefn, fel sy'n digwydd mewn rhai rhannau o Loegr, byddai hynny'n ddechrau.' Mewn e-bost gan un o swyddogion heddlu rheng flaen y gogledd heddiw dywedwyd 'Mae ymdeimlad o sioc a dryswch bob amser pan fyddaf i'n siarad â phobl a rhoi gwybod iddyn nhw nad yw'r heddlu'n cael eu hystyried yn grŵp blaenoriaeth ar gyfer y brechlyn. Rwy'n gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i roi rhywfaint o flaenoriaeth i blismon', meddai, 'lle mae angen i ni ddiogelu'r amddiffynwyr sydd, yn y pen draw, yn ein hamddiffyn ni i gyd.' Rwy'n galw am ddatganiad yn unol â hynny.
Thank you to Mark Isherwood for raising that issue this afternoon, and of course I very much understand everybody's anxiousness in terms of being able to access the vaccine as soon as humanly possible. There are several questions to the health Minister on the order paper tomorrow afternoon in relation to the COVID-19 vaccines, so there may be opportunities there to raise this directly with the Minister, but I'm sure the Minister's response would be along the lines of Welsh Government very much taking the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in terms of the priority schedule because this very much should be something that is clinician led, taking on board all of the evidence available to them, rather than for politicians to decide the order of vaccination. Because it's such a sensitive and serious undertaking, given that we're talking about saving as many lives as we possibly can. But there are several opportunities, I think, within the next 24 hours to raise this, and, of course, the health Minister has just had an emergency question on vaccination this afternoon.
Diolch i Mark Isherwood am godi'r mater hwnnw y prynhawn yma, ac wrth gwrs, rwy'n deall yn iawn awydd pawb o ran gallu cael gafael ar y brechlyn cyn gynted ag y bo modd. Mae sawl cwestiwn i'r Gweinidog iechyd ar bapur trefn prynhawn yfory o ran brechlynnau COVID-19, felly efallai y bydd cyfle yno i godi hyn yn uniongyrchol gyda'r Gweinidog. Ond rwy'n siŵr y byddai ymateb y Gweinidog yn debyg iawn i Lywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd cyngor gan y Cydbwyllgor ar Frechu ac Imiwneiddio o ran yr amserlen flaenoriaeth oherwydd dylai hyn fod yn rhywbeth sy'n cael ei arwain gan glinigwyr, gan ystyried yr holl dystiolaeth sydd ar gael iddyn nhw, yn hytrach na gwleidyddion yn penderfynu ar drefn y brechu. Mae'n fater mor sensitif a difrifol, o ystyried ein bod yn sôn am achub cymaint o fywydau ag y gallwn ni. Ond mae sawl cyfle, rwy'n credu, o fewn y 24 awr nesaf i godi hyn, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r Gweinidog iechyd newydd gael cwestiwn brys ar frechu y prynhawn yma.
Could we have a statement, please, on perinatal mental health support, which includes ways in which the Welsh Government will implement a whole-family approach and recognise the fact that many new parents currently don't have the support they need? I'm asking this because my office has conducted a survey with over 300 responses, which clearly shows that over 80 per cent have felt that they weren't getting enough support during giving birth last year, and that, despite tweaks in the health service to those who can attend a birth, they are still finding that they are very much alone during that process. Over two thirds said that they haven't had contact with a health visitor and a staggering 68 per cent of those with mild to moderate perinatal mental health symptoms said that they had not received any support. So, a statement on that would be good.
My second request is a statement on the provision of free school meals. In Wales, some councils are still providing parcels, and we've seen that being scrapped in England, much to the joy of many of your Labour colleagues. But here in Wales, Bridgend County Borough Council are still administering food parcels and are currently refusing to allow any direct payments or any food vouchers, despite the fact that much of the food has gone off, or they're not receiving the food that's appropriate for the dietary requirements of their young people. I think it's time, now, that Welsh Government intervened on this considering that three of these councils are simply not budging on the food parcels agenda and are not allowing parents to make decisions for their own children that would allow them to spend the money as they so wish.
A gawn ni ddatganiad, os gwelwch chi'n dda, ar gymorth iechyd meddwl amenedigol, sy'n cynnwys ffyrdd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu dull teulu cyfan ac yn cydnabod y ffaith nad oes gan lawer o rieni newydd y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw ar hyn o bryd? Rwy'n gofyn hyn oherwydd bod fy swyddfa wedi cynnal arolwg a gafodd dros 300 o ymatebion, sy'n dangos yn glir bod dros 80 y cant wedi teimlo nad oedden nhw'n cael digon o gefnogaeth wrth roi genedigaeth y llynedd, a'u bod, er gwaethaf mân newidiadau yn y gwasanaeth iechyd i'r rhai sy'n gallu bod yn bresennol yn ystod yr enedigaeth, yn dal i ganfod eu bod i raddau helaeth ar eu pennau eu hunain yn ystod y broses honno. Dywedodd dros ddwy ran o dair nad ydyn nhw wedi cael cyswllt ag ymwelydd iechyd. Ac yn syfrdanol, dywedodd 68 y cant o'r rhai â symptomau iechyd meddwl amenedigol ysgafn i gymedrol, nad oedden nhw wedi cael unrhyw gymorth o gwbl. Felly, byddai datganiad ynghylch hynny'n dda.
Fy ail gais yw datganiad ar ddarparu prydau ysgol am ddim. Yng Nghymru, mae rhai cynghorau'n dal i ddarparu parseli, ac rydym wedi gweld hynny'n cael ei ddileu yn Lloegr, er mawr lawenydd i lawer o'ch cyd-Aelodau Llafur. Ond yma yng Nghymru, mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn dal i weinyddu parseli bwyd ac ar hyn o bryd maen nhw'n gwrthod caniatáu unrhyw daliadau uniongyrchol neu unrhyw dalebau bwyd, er bod llawer o'r bwyd wedi mynd yn ddrwg, neu nad ydyn nhw'n derbyn bwyd sy'n briodol i ofynion dietegol eu pobl ifanc. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bryd nawr i Lywodraeth Cymru ymyrryd yn hyn, o ystyried nad yw tri o'r cynghorau hyn yn fodlon ildio o ran yr agenda parseli bwyd ac nad ydyn nhw'n caniatáu i rieni wneud penderfyniadau dros eu plant eu hunain a fyddai'n caniatáu iddyn nhw wario'r arian yn ôl eu dymuniad.
Thank you for raising those two issues. In respect of perinatal mental health support, I know that the health Minister would be really interested in the findings of your survey that you've undertaken. You say you've had more than 300 responses, so I'm sure that that will provide a really useful evidence base for the Welsh Government. So, if you could share that with the health Minister, I know that he'd be keen to explore the findings of your survey.
In respect of free school meals, I will, on this occasion, invite you to take up this perhaps through writing in the first instance to the Minister for local government, who will be able to raise specific concerns with the leader, potentially, of Bridgend council in respect of what you've described in terms of food that has gone off and so on. Because clearly, that's something that we obviously wouldn't want to be taking place.
Diolch am godi'r ddau fater hynny. O ran cymorth iechyd meddwl amenedigol, rwy'n gwybod y byddai gan y Gweinidog iechyd ddiddordeb gwirioneddol yng nghanlyniadau'r arolwg a gynhaliwyd gennych. Rydych chi'n dweud eich bod wedi cael mwy na 300 o ymatebion, felly rwy'n siŵr y bydd hynny'n rhoi sylfaen dystiolaeth ddefnyddiol iawn i Lywodraeth Cymru. Os gallech chi rannu hynny gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd, rwy'n gwybod y byddai'n awyddus i archwilio canlyniadau eich arolwg.
O ran prydau ysgol am ddim, y tro hwn byddwn yn eich gwahodd chi i ymgymryd â hyn efallai drwy ysgrifennu yn y lle cyntaf at y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, a fydd yn gallu codi pryderon penodol gydag arweinydd cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr o bosibl ynglŷn â'r hyn yr ydych chi wedi'i ddisgrifio o ran bwyd sydd wedi mynd yn ddrwg ac ati. Mae hynny, yn amlwg, yn rhywbeth na fyddem eisiau ei weld yn digwydd.
Trefnydd, could we have a statement from the health Minister on whether he will ask the joint council for vaccinations to add front-line funeral workers, mortuary technicians and embalmers to the list of front-line healthcare staff in Wales for whom occupational immunisation with the COVID-19 vaccination is recommended? I understand Northern Ireland are likely to do so within the coming days, and, indeed, Scotland and England have done so in recent days.
Could we also have a statement on pay for experienced supply teachers? There's been a welcome framework put in place in Wales to ensure that all supply teachers are paid to at least M1, the entrance level salary, and it's a big improvement for many. However, for the more experienced teachers, including a constituent of mine who is on the U1 level, this is quite a bit under what they've trained for and what they've gained experience over many years for. If supply teachers are employed directly by councils, they're paid to the scale that they're on, but the fear is that supply agencies are taking over so much that schools are not using supply pools themselves any more, so experienced teachers are earning much less than they're qualified for.
A statement, Minister, could also clarify arrangements for supply teachers through furlough. There are many agencies that are still deciding whether or not to furlough their supply staff. As being a supply teacher depends entirely on day-to-day work, the supply agencies are finding the furlough process quite difficult and, of course, this impacts, then, on their supply teachers too. So, I'd welcome those two statements, please.
Trefnydd, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd ynghylch a fydd yn gofyn i'r cyd-gyngor dros frechiadau ychwanegu gweithwyr angladd rheng flaen, technegwyr corffdai a phereneinwyr at y rhestr o staff gofal iechyd rheng flaen yng Nghymru y mae imiwneiddio galwedigaethol â'r brechiad COVID-19 yn cael ei argymell iddyn nhw? Rwy'n deall bod Gogledd Iwerddon yn debygol o wneud hynny o fewn y dyddiau nesaf, ac, yn wir, mae'r Alban a Lloegr wedi gwneud hynny yn y dyddiau diwethaf.
A gawn ni hefyd ddatganiad ynghylch tâl athrawon cyflenwi profiadol? Cafwyd croeso i roi ar waith fframwaith yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod yr holl athrawon cyflenwi yn cael eu talu i o leiaf M1, y cyflog lefel mynediad, ac mae'n welliant mawr i lawer. Fodd bynnag, i'r athrawon mwy profiadol, gan gynnwys un o fy etholwyr i sydd ar y lefel U1, mae hyn gryn dipyn o dan yr hyn y maen nhw wedi hyfforddi ar ei gyfer a'r hyn y maen nhw wedi cael profiad ohono dros lawer o flynyddoedd. Os yw athrawon cyflenwi'n cael eu cyflogi'n uniongyrchol gan gynghorau, maen nhw'n cael eu talu i'r raddfa y maen nhw arni, ond yr ofn yw bod asiantaethau cyflenwi'n cymryd drosodd ac nad yw'r ysgolion yn defnyddio'r cronfeydd cyflenwi mwyach, felly mae athrawon profiadol yn ennill llawer llai nag y maen nhw'n gymwys i'w gael.
Byddai datganiad, Gweinidog, hefyd yn gallu egluro'r trefniadau ar gyfer athrawon cyflenwi ar ffyrlo. Mae yna lawer o asiantaethau sy'n dal i benderfynu a ddylen nhw roi eu staff cyflenwi ar ffyrlo ai peidio. Gan fod athro cyflenwi yn dibynnu'n llwyr ar waith o ddydd i ddydd, mae'r asiantaethau cyflenwi'n cael y broses ffyrlo yn eithaf anodd, ac wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn effeithio, felly, ar eu hathrawon cyflenwi hefyd. Byddwn i'n croesawu'r ddau ddatganiad hynny, os gwelwch chi'n dda.
Thank you for raising both of those issues this afternoon. It is the case that the JCVI guidance issued on 2 December states that front-line funeral operatives and mortuary technicians or embalmers are both at risk of exposure. It has been agreed now that those in the funeral sector who would require PPE to undertake their role would come under cohort 2 and, therefore, should be vaccinated. So, we would ask any of those working in that industry to pass their information on to the local health board to ensure that the vaccination is offered to them at the appropriate time.
On the second issue, relating to pay for supply teachers, I'll write to you on that matter, in respect of my responsibilities for procurement, to provide a detailed response.
Diolch am godi'r ddau fater hynny y prynhawn yma. Mae'n wir fod canllawiau'r Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu a gafodd eu cyhoeddi ar 2 Rhagfyr yn nodi bod gweithredwyr angladdau rheng flaen a thechnegwyr corffdai neu bereneinwyr mewn perygl o gysylltiad. Cytunwyd bellach y byddai'r rheini yn y sector angladdau, y byddai angen cyfarpar diogelu personol arnynt i ymgymryd â'u swydd, yn dod o dan garfan 2 ac, felly, y dylen nhw gael eu brechu. Felly, byddem ni'n gofyn i unrhyw un o'r rheini sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant hwnnw drosglwyddo eu gwybodaeth i'r bwrdd iechyd lleol er mwyn sicrhau bod y brechiad yn cael ei gynnig iddyn nhw ar yr adeg briodol.
O ran yr ail fater, sy'n ymwneud â thalu am athrawon cyflenwi, fel rhan o'm cyfrifoldebau dros gaffael fe fyddaf i'n ysgrifennu atoch ar y mater hwnnw gan ddarparu ymateb manwl.
Can I, firstly, concur with Bethan Sayed's call for better perinatal mental health support? I think that that's an area that has needed some work for a while, and I'm pleased to see that progressing.
Two issues, if I may, Trefnydd. First of all, I attended a meeting, along with some other representatives, with Community Pharmacy Wales yesterday, at which the pace of the vaccine roll-out was raised—it's been raised by many Members today as well, of course—and the potential role of community pharmacies across Wales in helping with the delivery of the vaccine. I know the First Minister mentioned this earlier. I wonder whether we could have a statement from the health Minister on what discussions are being had with Community Pharmacy Wales to increase their involvement in the roll-out. I think they had some interesting comments to make on the Pfizer vaccine, which, obviously, has to be stored at a very low temperature, and I know that some community pharmacies that have been delivering flu vaccines for some time are, maybe, better able to deal with a vaccine like that.
Secondly, and briefly, I wonder whether we could have a statement from the culture Minister on large events and large event venues, and the support that they're getting during the pandemic. I know that Chepstow Racecourse has been particularly affected. I've been contacted by a business that hosts annual events in Chepstow, and they're looking at signposting to more support to get them through, so that they can then build back better.
A gaf i yn gyntaf, gytuno â galwad Bethan Sayed am well cymorth iechyd meddwl amenedigol? Rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n faes sydd wedi bod angen rhywfaint o waith arno ers tro, ac rwy'n falch o weld hynny'n mynd rhagddo.
Dau fater, os caf i, Trefnydd. Yn gyntaf oll, roeddwn i'n bresennol mewn cyfarfod, ynghyd â rhai cynrychiolwyr eraill, gyda Fferylliaeth Gymunedol Cymru ddoe, lle codwyd mater cyflymder cyflwyno'r brechlyn—ac mae wedi'i godi gan lawer o Aelodau heddiw hefyd, wrth gwrs—a rhan bosibl fferyllfeydd cymunedol ledled Cymru yn helpu i ddarparu'r brechlyn. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Prif Weinidog wedi sôn am hyn yn gynharach. Tybed a oes modd inni gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd ynghylch pa drafodaethau sy'n digwydd gyda Fferylliaeth Gymunedol Cymru i gynyddu eu hymgysylltiad yn y broses o gyflwyno'r brechlyn. Rwy'n credu bod ganddyn nhw rai sylwadau diddorol i'w gwneud am y brechlyn Pfizer sydd, yn amlwg, yn gorfod cael ei storio o dan dymheredd isel iawn, a gwn fod rhai fferyllfeydd cymunedol sydd wedi bod yn darparu brechlynnau ffliw ers peth amser, efallai, yn gallu ymdrin yn well â brechlyn fel hwnnw.
Yn ail, ac yn fyr, tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog diwylliant ar ddigwyddiadau mawr a lleoliadau digwyddiadau mawr, a'r gefnogaeth y maen nhw'n ei chael yn ystod y pandemig. Gwn fod cae rasys Cas-gwent wedi cael ei effeithio'n arbennig. Mae busnes sy'n cynnal digwyddiadau blynyddol yng Nghas-gwent wedi cysylltu â mi, ac maen nhw'n ystyried cyfeirio at fwy o gefnogaeth i'w cael nhw drwy'r cyfnod hwn, fel y gallan nhw wedyn ailddatblygu'n well.
Thank you for those issues this afternoon. On the role of community pharmacists, they absolutely will play a very important role in terms of our roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine. You'll be aware, of course, that the first community pharmacy pilot has been undertaken in north Wales already, so we'll be looking to learn from that and build from that. Community pharmacists themselves will play an important role. It might not necessarily be in their local pharmacy, but they might be deployed, for example, to some of the mass vaccination centres, because not every pharmacy is necessarily of an appropriate size and scale to offer the vaccine from the pharmacy itself. I know that all of these issues have been discussed and are under continued discussion. When the Minister makes his next update on vaccination, I'm sure that he'll be keen to stress and elaborate on the role that community pharmacy and pharmacists will play, and are playing, in the vaccination programme.
On the second issue, in relation to large sporting events, spectator-sports events particularly, I do know that the Deputy Minister is currently considering what support might be available and is very keen to say something more very shortly on that.
Diolch am y materion hynny y prynhawn yma. O ran fferyllwyr cymunedol, byddan nhw'n chwarae rhan bwysig iawn wrth gyflwyno'r brechlyn coronafeirws. Byddwch chi'n ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, fod y cynllun peilot fferylliaeth gymunedol cyntaf wedi'i gynnal yn y gogledd eisoes, felly byddwn ni'n ceisio dysgu o hynny a datblygu o hynny. Bydd fferyllwyr cymunedol eu hunain yn chwarae rhan bwysig. Efallai na fydd hyn o reidrwydd yn digwydd yn eu fferyllfa leol, ond efallai y byddant yn cael eu symud, er enghraifft, i rai o'r canolfannau brechu torfol, oherwydd nid yw pob fferyllfa o'r maint a'r raddfa briodol i gynnig y brechlyn. Rwy'n gwybod bod yr holl faterion hyn wedi'u trafod a'u bod yn dal i gael eu trafod. Pan fydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi ei wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar frechu, rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn awyddus i bwysleisio ac ymhelaethu ar y rhan y bydd fferylliaeth gymunedol a fferyllwyr yn ei chwarae, ac y maent yn ei chwarae, yn y rhaglen frechu.
O ran yr ail fater, sef digwyddiadau chwaraeon mawr, a digwyddiadau chwaraeon i wylwyr yn benodol, gwn fod y Dirprwy Weinidog wrthi'n ystyried pa gymorth a allai fod ar gael a'i fod yn awyddus iawn i ddweud rhagor am hynny cyn bo hir.
Can I also, like Huw Irranca-Davies, request a ministerial statement regarding supply teachers? I believe it is fundamentally wrong that they are not directly employed by councils or groups of councils. I would like to ask specifically about financial support for supply teachers, because there's very little supply teaching available at the moment. Some have been furloughed and some have not. What financial support can the Welsh Government either give or work with the Westminster Government to achieve for these people, who are highly qualified, highly committed and incredibly badly treated? If I were asked to identify one group of workers in Wales who are treated the worst, I would choose supply teachers. I think it's abysmal, the way they're treated, and I would like a statement from the Government on that, or, preferably, a debate.
A gaf i hefyd, fel Huw Irranca-Davies, ofyn am ddatganiad gweinidogol ynghylch athrawon cyflenwi? Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl anghywir nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu cyflogi'n uniongyrchol gan gynghorau neu grwpiau o gynghorau. Hoffwn i holi'n benodol o ran cymorth ariannol i athrawon cyflenwi, oherwydd ychydig iawn o addysgu cyflenwi sydd ar gael ar hyn o bryd. Mae rhai wedi eu rhoi ar ffyrlo ac eraill ddim. Pa gymorth ariannol y gall Llywodraeth Cymru naill ai ei roi neu weithio gyda Llywodraeth San Steffan i'w gyflawni ar gyfer y bobl hyn, sydd â chymwysterau uchel, sy'n ymroddedig iawn ac yn cael eu trin yn eithriadol o wael? Os byddai gofyn i mi nodi un grŵp o weithwyr yng Nghymru sy'n cael eu trin yn wael, byddwn i'n dewis athrawon cyflenwi. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn echrydus, y ffordd y maen nhw'n cael eu trin, a hoffwn i gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar hynny, neu, os oes modd, ddadl.
Thank you to Mike Hedges for raising the concerns of supply teachers. I do know that this is a concern for several Members, so we'll explore what might be possible in terms of providing an update that is wider than the one that I've described this afternoon to Huw Irranca-Davies. In Wales, of course, we do have the national supply agency framework in place, and that does aim to ensure fair pay and conditions for supply teachers here. All agencies on that framework have confirmed that they've accessed the furlough scheme for their supply staff from March, and the majority of those framework agencies have committed to furloughing eligible staff once again from this current period of lockdown. Terms and conditions of supply staff will vary, so it's important that staff describe and discuss their personal circumstances with their agency to see if there is some further support or furloughing, particularly, available to them. But I very much recognise Mike Hedges's comment, certainly from the correspondence I've had locally from supply teachers about the difficulty that they've had in accessing support. So, I will explore what more we can do to provide that further information that Mike Hedges has requested.
Diolch i Mike Hedges am godi pryderon athrawon cyflenwi. Rwy'n gwybod bod hyn yn destun pryder i sawl Aelod, felly byddwn ni'n archwilio'r hyn a allai fod yn bosibl o ran darparu gwybodaeth ddiweddar sy'n ehangach na'r honno a ddisgrifiais y prynhawn yma i Huw Irranca-Davies. Yng Nghymru, wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni fframwaith yr asiantaeth gyflenwi genedlaethol ar waith, a nod hwnnw yw sicrhau cyflog teg ac amodau i athrawon cyflenwi yma. Mae'r holl asiantaethau ar y fframwaith hwnnw wedi cadarnhau eu bod wedi defnyddio'r cynllun ffyrlo ar gyfer eu staff cyflenwi ers mis Mawrth, ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r asiantaethau fframwaith hynny wedi ymrwymo i roi staff cymwys ar ffyrlo unwaith eto o'r cyfnod presennol hwn o gyfyngiadau symud. Bydd telerau ac amodau staff cyflenwi yn amrywio, felly mae'n bwysig bod staff yn disgrifio ac yn trafod eu hamgylchiadau personol gyda'u hasiantaeth i weld a oes rhywfaint o gefnogaeth neu ffyrlo pellach, yn enwedig, ar gael iddyn nhw. Ond rwy'n cydnabod yn fawr sylw Mike Hedges, yn sicr o'r ohebiaeth yr wyf i wedi'i chael yn lleol gan athrawon cyflenwi ynghylch yr anhawster y maen nhw wedi'i gael wrth geisio cymorth. Felly, byddaf yn ymchwilio i beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud i roi'r wybodaeth bellach honno y mae Mike Hedges wedi gofyn amdani.
Yn olaf, Alun Davies.
Finally, Alun Davies.
I'm grateful to you, Presiding Officer. Can I ask for two statements this afternoon, please? First of all on fisheries, and secondly on the shared prosperity fund.
Minister, I don't think any of us could have failed to have been moved by the reports that we're seeing from the fishing industry at the moment. I don't like to use this language, but it's difficult to say that the fishing industry have been anything except betrayed by the UK Government, not only by the deal, which they reached on Christmas eve, where they capitulated in real terms, but also in the way they've been treated since then. The fishing industry is not a huge industry in Wales, but it is an important industry, and people depend on it for their livelihoods. Those people have been treated appallingly by the UK Government and it's difficult to overstate that. So, I think it would be important that we can have either a statement on support for the fishing industry, or a debate on how we can continue to support the fishing industry.
I noticed over the weekend that Stephen Barclay, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, wrote to the Scottish finance Minister, your equivalent in the Scottish Government. I don't know if you had a copy of his letter, but he seemed to be setting out there some structures for the shared prosperity fund. What he seemed to be saying was what we'd assumed previously, I think, which is that the new funds would be controlled by Westminster, they would be controlled by Whitehall, they will be seeking deliberately, as a focus of policy, to avoid dealing with the democratically elected Governments in either Wales or Scotland.
Now, I don't want to get into an argument over powers, as it happens, but I want to get into an argument over money and how it's spent, and the structures of how it's spent. The Minister may remember, just when she was elected, I was a European programmes Minister, and I published the lessons learnt from the first round of Objective 1 in that role. And it appears to me that the UK Government today are not learning those lessons, but repeating some of the worst mistakes. What I can see is a structure that is set up for political convenience, which is going to take money away from the poorest communities in Wales as a matter of policy, and wasted elsewhere as a matter of policy. I think we really need to address those issues very urgently.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Llywydd. A gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad y prynhawn yma, os gwelwch chi'n dda? Yn gyntaf oll ar bysgodfeydd, ac yn ail ar y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin.
Gweinidog, nid wyf i'n credu y gallai'r un ohonom fod wedi methu â chael ein cyffwrdd gan yr adroddiadau yr ydym ni'n eu gweld gan y diwydiant pysgota ar hyn o bryd. Nid wyf yn hoffi defnyddio'r iaith hon, ond mae'n anodd dweud bod y diwydiant pysgota wedi cael unrhyw beth heblaw eu bradychu gan Lywodraeth y DU, nid yn unig gan y cytundeb, y daethpwyd iddo ar noswyl y Nadolig, lle'r oedden nhw wedi ildio mewn gwirionedd, ond hefyd yn y ffordd y maen nhw wedi cael eu trin ers hynny. Nid yw'r diwydiant pysgota'n ddiwydiant enfawr yng Nghymru, ond mae'n ddiwydiant pwysig, ac mae pobl yn dibynnu arno am eu bywoliaeth. Mae'r bobl hynny wedi cael eu trin yn ofnadwy gan Lywodraeth y DU ac mae'n anodd gorbwysleisio hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu y byddai'n bwysig inni gael naill ai datganiad ar gefnogaeth i'r diwydiant pysgota, neu ddadl ar sut y gallwn ni barhau i gefnogi'r diwydiant pysgota.
Sylwais i dros y penwythnos fod Stephen Barclay, Prif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys, wedi ysgrifennu at Weinidog Cyllid yr Alban, y Gweinidog sy'n cyfateb i chi yn Llywodraeth yr Alban. Nid wyf i'n gwybod a gawsoch chi gopi o'i lythyr, ond roedd yn ymddangos ei fod yn nodi rhai strwythurau ar gyfer y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Roedd yn ymddangos ei fod yn dweud yr hyn yr oeddem wedi'i dybio o'r blaen, rwy'n credu, sef y byddai'r cronfeydd newydd yn cael eu rheoli gan San Steffan, byddan nhw'n cael eu rheoli gan Whitehall, byddan nhw'n ceisio'n fwriadol, fel canolbwynt polisi, i osgoi ymwneud â'r Llywodraethau a gafodd eu hethol yn ddemocrataidd yng Nghymru neu'r Alban.
Nawr, nid wyf i eisiau mynd i ddadl dros bwerau, fel mae'n digwydd, ond rwyf i eisiau mynd i ddadl dros arian a sut mae'n cael ei wario, a'r strwythurau ar gyfer ei wario. Efallai y bydd y Gweinidog yn cofio, pan gafodd ei hethol, fy mod i'n Weinidog rhaglenni Ewropeaidd, a chyhoeddais y gwersi a ddysgwyd o gylch cyntaf Amcan 1 yn y swydd honno. Ac mae'n ymddangos i mi nad yw Llywodraeth y DU heddiw'n dysgu'r gwersi hynny, ond yn ailadrodd rhai o'r camgymeriadau gwaethaf. Yr hyn a welaf i yw strwythur sydd wedi'i sefydlu er hwylustod gwleidyddol, sy'n mynd i dynnu arian oddi ar y cymunedau tlotaf yng Nghymru fel mater o bolisi, a'i wastraffu mewn mannau eraill fel mater o bolisi. Rwy'n credu bod gwir angen inni fynd i'r afael â'r materion hynny ar frys mawr.
Thank you to Alun Davies for raising those two issues this afternoon. Both of them, I think, describe areas where the UK Government has absolutely misled, I think, the people who will be on the receiving end of the various forms of support. I know that many working in the fishing industry feel that they had been sold a future that hasn't actually materialised, and we've seen the difficulties that that's presenting for those working in the fishing industry at the moment. I will speak to the Minister with regard to your request for an update to explore how we can best demonstrate the Welsh Government's support for the fishing industry here in Wales.
I agree with that analysis in terms of the shared prosperity fund and the impact that it might have on communities such as those that Alun Davies represents, and the opportunities that they will have for future funding. You'll be aware that the UK Government has said that they will introduce a £220 million pilot scheme, starting with further information available from this month. Well, of course, the time for a pilot scheme was a long time ago, and we are actually in a situation where we have a £220 million scheme for the whole of the UK, whereas if we had retained our membership of the European Union, of course, we'd be looking at £375 million just for Wales. So, the analysis that Alun Davies describes is absolutely something that I would agree with, and I will explore with my colleague the Minister with responsibility for EU transition and our future relationships how we can best update the Senedd on these issues.
Diolch i Alun Davies am godi'r ddau fater hynny y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n credu bod y ddau ohonyn nhw'n disgrifio meysydd lle mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi camarwain yn llwyr, rwy'n credu, y bobl a fydd yn derbyn y gwahanol fathau o gymorth. Rwy'n gwybod bod llawer sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant pysgota yn teimlo bod dyfodol wedi'i werthu iddyn nhw na chafodd ei wireddu mewn gwirionedd, ac rydym wedi gweld yr anawsterau y mae hynny'n ei olygu i'r rhai sy'n gweithio yn y diwydiant pysgota ar hyn o bryd. Byddaf yn siarad â'r Gweinidog ynglŷn â'ch cais am yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i archwilio'r ffordd orau o ddangos cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i'r diwydiant pysgota yma yng Nghymru.
Rwy'n cytuno â'r dadansoddiad hwnnw o ran y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin a'r effaith y gallai ei chael ar gymunedau fel y rhai y mae Alun Davies yn eu cynrychioli, a'r cyfleoedd y bydd ganddyn nhw am gyllid yn y dyfodol. Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi dweud y byddan nhw'n cyflwyno cynllun peilot gwerth £220 miliwn, gan ddechrau gyda rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael o'r mis hwn ymlaen. Wel, wrth gwrs, yr amser ar gyfer cynllun peilot oedd amser maith yn ôl, ac rydym mewn sefyllfa lle mae gennym ni gynllun gwerth £220 miliwn ar gyfer y DU gyfan, ond os byddem wedi cadw ein haelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, wrth gwrs, byddem yn edrych ar £375 miliwn i Gymru yn unig. Felly, mae'r dadansoddiad y mae Alun Davies yn ei ddisgrifio yn rhywbeth y byddwn i'n cytuno ag ef yn llwyr, a byddaf yn ymchwilio gyda fy nghydweithiwr, y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am bontio'r UE a'n perthynas yn y dyfodol, i'r ffordd orau o roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd ynghylch y materion hyn.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
I thank the Trefnydd.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan Ddirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ar ymateb y Llywodraeth i argymhellion terfynol Comisiwn Trafnidiaeth De-ddwyrain Cymru. Yn galw ar y Dirprwy Weinidog i wneud ei ddatganiad, Lee Waters.
The next item is a statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport on the Welsh Government's response to the South East Wales Transport Commission's final recommendations. I call on the Deputy Minister to make the statement, Lee Waters.
Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to update the Senedd on our response to the recommendations made by the South East Wales Transport Commission.
Diolch, Llywydd. Fe hoffwn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd am ein hymateb ni i'r argymhellion a wnaeth Comisiwn Trafnidiaeth De-ddwyrain Cymru.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
The Welsh Government, along with Transport for Wales, have now completed an initial review of all the recommendations made by Lord Burns and his fellow commissioners. And, again, we thank them for their work. Today, we have published a line-by-line response so that we are completely clear on the status of each of the recommendations. It's a bold and practical set of recommendations, and they can only be achieved by a range of bodies working together in partnership. And in that spirit, I want to reiterate the Welsh Government's commitment to work with the local authority, local representatives, the UK Government and other key partners to deliver the Burns commission blueprint.
At its heart, the recommendations set out a vision for the modern public transport system that a city the size of Newport has a right to expect. And as we've indicated in our Wales transport strategy, it's the sort of vision we have for the whole of Wales. The difficult debate over the right solution for tackling congestion around Newport has acted as a catalyst for a broader change. The Burns report has helped to steer us onto a llwybr newydd, a new path, and for this reason I'm happy to confirm that we will accept in principle all of the recommendations.
The new Wales transport strategy sets out a powerful case for a shift towards an integrated, low-carbon and multimodal metro transport network across Wales, and the Burns commission report sets out a blueprint for implementing that vision, though a regional approach to transport and land use planning. It sets out a package of measures to tackle congestion on the M4 around Newport in a way that also helps tackle climate change, improving air quality and advancing social justice. The recommendations of the commission cover all modes of transport, and therefore the responsibility for implementing them needs to be shared. The UK Government, the Welsh Government and Newport City Council all have important roles to play, as does Transport for Wales and Network Rail.
We have, Llywydd, already signed a memorandum of understanding with Newport City Council to jointly steer forward the way for bus and active travel measures in the city, supported by Transport for Wales. The union connectivity review, led by Sir Peter Hendy, provides the vehicle for the UK Government to provide an early commitment to delivering on the recommendations in non-devolved areas. I have today written to the Secretary of State for Transport and to Network Rail, highlighting the solid reasoning why the rail network in this region needs to be levelled up to be comparable to other parts of the UK. For too long, Wales has been at the back of the queue when the UK Government has been investing in rail infrastructure, but this is a positive opportunity for the UK Government to make good on their underinvestment. And I look forward to working in partnership with them to put that right and to deliver this vision.
The commission has made recommendations across five packages: infrastructure; network policies; behaviour change; transport governance; and land use and planning. Our line-by-line response identifies where action is already being taken and where it can be taken in future to develop them further. There are a number of particular points that I would like to highlight today and to be clear on how we intend to take them forward.
The first is to enhance the south Wales main line and triple the number of stations in the region. Using the Burns report, my officials have already engaged in positive discussions with Network Rail and the UK Department for Transport on the proposals for this non-devolved asset. Our intention is to work further with Network Rail on these recommendations specifically, as well as the wider work of improving the main line, and TfW will play a vital role as our agent for this. A dedicated development unit has now been established within Transport for Wales. This unit will provide advice to a steering group and, ultimately, to Welsh Ministers on progress against all of the recommendations.
Members will have already seen, in the table published today, that many of the measures recommended by Lord Burns are in progress already in some shape or form. Where this is the case, the development unit are now tasked with monitoring progress, and reporting to the steering group if intervention is required to push things along.
Using the evidence base provided by Lord Burns and the commissioners, I'm keen to carry out a rapid prioritisation exercise to identify measures that the development unit can play an active role in progressing at pace. For example, I believe that, working with Newport council, we can select priority bus and active travel measures for the development unit to work on detailed design and consultation, so that we can move quickly to implementation decisions. Preparing for the longer term, the unit has been instructed to develop in more detail a potential delivery programme for each of the recommendations.
Finally, Dirprwy Lywydd, recognising the pivotal role of the development unit's steering group, I am keen to appoint a suitably experienced chair to lead forward progress, and I will provide further updates in due course to inform Members on this and how the wider commission's recommendations are progressing. Dirprwy Lywydd, it's been a difficult journey to get to this point, but I hope the Burns report and our response to it shows a way forward, which can both tackle congestion and tackle climate change, whilst improving the lives and life chances of the people of south-east Wales and beyond. Diolch.
Erbyn hyn, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, ynghyd â Thrafnidiaeth Cymru, wedi cwblhau adolygiad cychwynnol o'r holl argymhellion a wnaeth Arglwydd Burns a'i gyd gomisiynwyr. Ac, unwaith eto, rydym ni'n diolch iddyn nhw am eu gwaith. Heddiw, rydym wedi cyhoeddi ymateb fesul llinell er mwyn inni gael bod yn gwbl glir ynghylch statws pob un o'r argymhellion. Mae hon yn gyfres hyderus ac ymarferol o argymhellion, ac ni ellir eu cyflawni heb gael amrywiaeth o gyrff yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd mewn partneriaeth. Ac yn yr ysbryd hwnnw, rwy'n dymuno ailddatgan ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i weithio gyda'r awdurdod lleol, y cynrychiolwyr lleol, Llywodraeth y DU a phartneriaid allweddol eraill i gyflawni glasbrint comisiwn Burns.
Yn ganolog i hyn, mae'r argymhellion yn nodi gweledigaeth ar gyfer y system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fodern sy'n deilwng o ddinas o faint Casnewydd. Ac fel y nodwyd yn ein strategaeth drafnidiaeth i Gymru, gweledigaeth o'r fath sydd gennym ar gyfer Cymru gyfan. Mae'r ddadl ddyrys i chwilio am ddatrysiad priodol i fynd i'r afael â thagfeydd o amgylch Casnewydd wedi bod yn gatalydd ar gyfer newid ehangach. Mae adroddiad Burns wedi helpu i'n harwain ni ar hyd llwybr newydd, ac am y rheswm hwn rwy'n hapus i gadarnhau y byddwn ni'n derbyn yr argymhellion hyn i gyd mewn egwyddor.
Mae'r strategaeth drafnidiaeth newydd i Gymru yn nodi'r ddadl gref o blaid symud tuag at rwydwaith trafnidiaeth metro integredig, carbon isel ac aml-ddull ar draws Cymru, ac mae adroddiad comisiwn Burns yn nodi glasbrint ar gyfer gweithredu'r weledigaeth honno, er mai dull rhanbarthol a geir o ymdrin â chynllunio trafnidiaeth a defnydd tir. Mae'r strategaeth yn pennu pecyn o fesurau i fynd i'r afael â thagfeydd ar yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd mewn ffordd sy'n helpu i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd hefyd, yn ogystal â gwella ansawdd yr aer a hybu cyfiawnder cymdeithasol. Mae argymhellion y comisiwn yn cwmpasu pob dull o drafnidiaeth, ac felly mae angen rhannu'r cyfrifoldeb o'u gweithredu nhw. Mae gan Lywodraeth y DU, Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd ran bwysig i'w chwarae yma, fel sydd gan Drafnidiaeth Cymru a Network Rail.
Llywydd, rydym ni eisoes wedi llofnodi memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth gyda Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd ar gyfer arwain ar y cyd y ffordd ymlaen ar gyfer mesurau bysiau a theithio llesol yn y ddinas, gyda chefnogaeth Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Mae'r adolygiad o gysylltedd undebau, dan arweiniad Syr Peter Hendy, yn gyfrwng i Lywodraeth y DU roi ymrwymiad cynnar i gyflawni'r argymhellion mewn meysydd nad ydynt wedi eu datganoli. Fe ysgrifennais i heddiw at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Trafnidiaeth ac at Network Rail, gan dynnu sylw at y rhesymeg gadarn pam mae angen i'r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yn y rhanbarth hwn gael ei godi i'r un safon â rhannau eraill o'r DU. Ers gormod o amser mae Cymru wedi bod ar ddiwedd y ciw pan oedd Llywodraeth y DU yn buddsoddi mewn seilwaith rheilffyrdd, ond mae hwn yn gyfle cadarnhaol i Lywodraeth y DU wneud cyfiawnder am y tanfuddsoddi a fu. Ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio mewn partneriaeth â nhw i unioni'r cam hwnnw a chyflawni'r weledigaeth hon.
Mae'r comisiwn wedi gwneud argymhellion ar gyfer pum pecyn: seilwaith; polisïau rhwydwaith; newid ymddygiad; llywodraethu trafnidiaeth; a defnydd a chynllunio tir. Mae ein hymateb fesul llinell ni yn nodi lle mae camau eisoes yn cael eu cymryd a lle gellir gweithredu yn y dyfodol i ddatblygu ymhellach. Mae nifer o bwyntiau penodol yr hoffwn i dynnu sylw atynt heddiw ac egluro sut y bwriadwn eu datblygu.
Y cyntaf yw gwella prif reilffordd y de a threblu nifer y gorsafoedd sydd yn y rhanbarth. Gan ddefnyddio adroddiad Burns, mae fy swyddogion i wedi cynnal trafodaethau cadarnhaol eisoes gyda Network Rail ac Adran Drafnidiaeth y DU ar y cynigion ar gyfer yr ased hwn sydd heb ei ddatganoli. Ein bwriad ni yw gweithio eto gyda Network Rail ar yr argymhellion hyn yn benodol, yn ogystal â'r gwaith ehangach o wella'r brif reilffordd, ac fe fydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn chwarae rhan hanfodol fel ein hasiant yn hyn o beth. Mae uned ddatblygu bwrpasol wedi ei sefydlu erbyn hyn o fewn Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Fe fydd yr uned hon yn rhoi cyngor i grŵp llywio ac, yn y pen draw, i Weinidogion Cymru ar y cynnydd yn erbyn yr holl argymhellion.
Bydd yr Aelodau eisoes wedi gweld, yn y tabl a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, fod llawer o'r mesurau a argymhellwyd gan Arglwydd Burns ar y gweill yn barod mewn rhyw fodd neu'i gilydd. Os felly, mae'r uned ddatblygu bellach yn gyfrifol am fonitro'r cynnydd, ac adrodd i'r grŵp llywio pe byddai angen ymyrryd i wthio'r maen i'r wal.
Gan ddefnyddio'r sylfaen dystiolaeth a ddarparodd Arglwydd Burns a'r comisiynwyr, rwy'n awyddus i gynnal ymarfer blaenoriaethu cyflym i nodi mesurau y gall yr uned ddatblygu fod â rhan weithredol yn y gwaith o'u datblygu ar fyrder. Er enghraifft, drwy weithio gyda chyngor Casnewydd, rwy'n credu y gallwn ddethol mesurau blaenoriaeth o ran bysiau a theithio llesol fel bod modd i'r uned ddatblygu weithio ar ddylunio ac ymgynghori manwl, ac yna fe allwn ni symud yn gyflym i wneud penderfyniadau ar weithredu. Gan baratoi ar gyfer y tymor hwy, mae'r uned wedi cael cyfarwyddyd i ddatblygu'n fanylach raglen gyflawni botensial ar gyfer pob un o'r argymhellion.
Yn olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, gan gydnabod swyddogaeth ganolog grŵp llywio'r uned ddatblygu, rwy'n awyddus i benodi cadeirydd â'r profiad addas i arwain y gwaith datblygu. Ac fe fyddaf i'n rhoi diweddariadau pellach maes o law i roi gwybod i'r Aelodau am hynny a sut mae argymhellion ehangach y comisiwn yn datblygu. Dirprwy Lywydd, roedd cyrraedd y pwynt hwn yn daith anodd. Ond rwy'n gobeithio y bydd adroddiad Burns a'n hymateb ni iddo yn dangos y ffordd ymlaen, gan fynd i'r afael â thagfeydd a hefyd newid hinsawdd, a gwella ansawdd a chyfleoedd bywyd i bobl y de-ddwyrain a thu hwnt. Diolch.
Can I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement today? And also my own thanks to Lord Burns and the commissioners for their recommendations also. And I should also like to thank Lord Burns and Peter McDonald from the commission secretariat for attending the EIS committee last week, which I thought was particularly helpful.
From my perspective, Deputy Minister, the volume of traffic in Wales is generally increasing year on year. I and my party welcome the recommendations set out in the commission's report; I'll put that on the table very clearly now as well. But I do believe that, of course, the recommendations are no substitute for an M4 relief road—to be clear on that also. It is my view that the recommendations, mainly, shouldn't be carried out in isolation; they should be carried out alongside the creation of an M4 relief road.
In evidence last week, the committee heard from Lord Burns, and he referred to some—when he was asked—scepticism amongst stakeholders about whether any of the recommendations would see the light of day. Now, I understand why there would be that scepticism. Do you understand why there would be that scepticism, and have you had that scepticism presented to you also? And what would you say to those who have that sceptical view?
In terms of the recommendations, you've set out in your statement today that the delivery unit will look at those in detail and come back to you in terms of priorities. That I understand clear enough, but perhaps you could set out yourself what you feel are the initial early recommendations that you think should be adopted and be worked on yourself, ahead of receiving that from the delivery unit. There was lots of mention about the delivery unit and also the steering group. I think you were quite clear on that, but I just would like you to be a bit clearer in terms of who you are charging to implement the recommendations. There is this talk of both groups; whose job will it be to liaise with the stakeholders that you've mentioned? If you could also tell us a little bit more about the governance of the delivery unit—I know you referred to the chair being appointed—a little bit more about the governance, the funding of that delivery unit and its remit—will they have a remit letter? Because, clearly, it looks like the delivery unit will be a body in place over the next five to 10 years. And also, perhaps, how you will take forward the recommendations on behavioural change in particular, alongside or in parallel with the infrastructure recommendations.
There's the Welsh Government's on home working of 30 per cent; clearly, there's been change in travelling patterns during 2020, so how do you feel that the commission has taken those into account in its work? The increase in home working during the pandemic, I don't think should be seen as an excuse for delay on putting these recommendations into practice, I'd hope you would agree with that, but I do agree with Lord Burns when he says that there is breathing space now because of the pandemic, because there isn't that pressure on the road, so it's about using that breathing space correctly, in the right way, so perhaps you could tell me if you agree with that perspective.
Increasing behavioural change is a must, and the recommendation with which I have the most concern is the parking levy that's mentioned. My concern would be, although this parking levy would be on employers, not employees, effectively, there'd be a knock-on effect that, in effect, employees would be paying for those charges themselves. I'd welcome further views on that.
And finally, in terms of the financial impacts, the First Minister previously indicated that the first call on the Welsh Government for that £1 billion would be for these kinds of improvements. A lot has happened since then, of course, and the First Minister also cited that the costs were a major factor in terms of the recommendations. The commission have said that the costs of the recommendations are going to be somewhere between £600 million and £800 million spend over 10 years. Do you think that represents good value for money? How does that take into account the other needs of the Welsh Government or a future Welsh Government in terms of dealing with the pandemic?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei ddatganiad heddiw? Ac yn ogystal â hynny hoffwn i fynegi fy niolch innau i Arglwydd Burns a'r comisiynwyr am eu hargymhellion. Ac fe hoffwn i ddiolch hefyd i Arglwydd Burns a Peter McDonald o ysgrifenyddiaeth y comisiwn am fod yn bresennol yn y pwyllgor Economi, Seilwaith, a Sgiliau yr wythnos diwethaf, a oedd, yn fy marn i, yn arbennig o fuddiol.
Fel rwyf i'n ei gweld hi, Dirprwy Weinidog, mae cyfradd y traffig yng Nghymru yn cynyddu'n flynyddol yn gyffredinol. Mae fy mhlaid i a minnau'n croesawu'r argymhellion a nodir yn adroddiad y comisiwn; rwyf am fynegi fy marn i'n glir iawn ynglŷn â hynny nawr hefyd. Ond rwy'n credu, wrth gwrs, nad yw'r argymhellion yn disodli ffordd liniaru i'r M4—i fod yn glir ynglŷn â hynny hefyd. Yn fy marn i, yn bennaf, ni ddylid cyflawni'r argymhellion hyn ar eu pen eu hun; fe ddylid eu cyflawni yn gyfochrog â llunio ffordd liniaru i'r M4.
Mewn tystiolaeth yr wythnos diwethaf, fe glywodd y pwyllgor gan Arglwydd Burns, ac fe gyfeiriodd ef—pan ofynnwyd iddo—at rywfaint o amheuaeth ymysg rhanddeiliaid ynghylch a fyddai unrhyw un o'r argymhellion yn gweld golau dydd. Nawr, rwy'n deall pam y gallai amheuaeth fodoli. A ydych chi'n deall pam mae yna amheuaeth, ac a oes yna unrhyw un wedi mynegi'r amheuaeth honno i chi hefyd? A beth fyddech chi'n ei ddweud wrth y rhai sy'n rhannu'r amheuaeth honno?
O ran yr argymhellion, rydych chi wedi nodi yn eich datganiad heddiw y bydd yr uned gyflawni yn edrych yn fanwl ar y rhain ac yn dod yn ôl atoch chi o ran y blaenoriaethau. Rwy'n deall hynny'n burion, ond efallai y gallech chithau nodi'r hyn yr ydych chi'n teimlo fydd yr argymhellion cynnar cychwynnol y credwch y dylid eu mabwysiadu a gweithio arnyn nhw eich hun, cyn cael barn gan yr uned gyflawni. Roedd yna lawer o sôn am yr uned gyflawni a'r grŵp llywio hefyd. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi wedi bod yn eithaf eglur ynglŷn â hynny, ond fe hoffwn ichi fod ychydig yn fwy eglur o ran pwy ydych chi'n ystyried sy'n gyfrifol am weithredu'r argymhellion. Mae sôn am y ddau grŵp; pwy fydd yn cysylltu â'r rhanddeiliaid yr ydych chi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw? A allwch chi ddweud ychydig mwy wrthym am lywodraethu'r uned gyflawni hefyd—fe wn ichi gyfeirio at benodi'r cadeirydd—ychydig mwy am lywodraethu, ariannu'r uned gyflawni honno a'i chylch gwaith—a fydd ganddyn nhw lythyr cylch gwaith? Oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae'n debyg y bydd yr uned gyflawni yn gorff a fydd yn weithredol am bump i 10 mlynedd eto. A hefyd, efallai, sut ydych chi am fwrw ymlaen â'r argymhellion ar newid ymddygiad yn benodol, ochr yn ochr neu'n gyfochrog â'r argymhellion ar seilwaith?
Ac yna nod Llywodraeth Cymru o 30 y cant yn gweithio o gartref; yn amlwg, fe fu yna newid mewn patrymau teithio yn ystod 2020, felly sut wnaeth y comisiwn roi ystyriaeth i'r rhain yn ei waith, yn eich barn chi? Ni ddylai'r cynnydd mewn gweithio o gartref yn ystod y pandemig gael ei ystyried yn esgus, yn fy marn i, i ohirio gweithredu'r argymhellion hyn, ac fe fyddwn i'n gobeithio y byddech chi'n cytuno â hynny. Ond rwy'n cytuno ag Arglwydd Burns pan ddywed ef fod yna amser i anadlu nawr yn sgil y pandemig, oherwydd nid yw'r ffordd mor brysur ag y bu, ac felly mae'n golygu defnyddio'r amser hwn i anadlu mewn modd priodol, mewn ffordd briodol, ac felly efallai y gwnewch chi ddweud wrthyf a ydych chi'n cytuno â'r safbwynt hwnnw.
Mae'n hanfodol cynyddu'r newid mewn ymddygiad, a'r argymhelliad sy'n peri'r pryder mwyaf i mi yw'r ardoll ar barcio sy'n cael ei grybwyll. Er mai'r cyflogwyr, nid y gweithwyr, fyddai'n gyfrifol am dalu'r ardoll hon, rwy'n pryderu am effaith ganlyniadol hyn ar y gweithwyr a fyddai, i bob pwrpas, yn talu am yr ardollau hynny eu hunain. Fe fyddwn i'n croesawu rhagor o sylwadau am hynny.
Ac yn olaf, o ran yr effeithiau ariannol, roedd y Prif Weinidog yn nodi o'r blaen mai'r alwad gyntaf ar Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y £1 biliwn hwnnw fyddai gwneud gwelliannau o'r mathau hyn. Mae llawer wedi digwydd ers hynny, wrth gwrs, ac fe nododd y Prif Weinidog hefyd fod costau yn ystyriaeth bwysig o ran yr argymhellion. Mae'r comisiwn wedi dweud y byddai costau'r argymhellion yn rhywbeth rhwng £600 miliwn a £800 miliwn o wariant dros 10 mlynedd. A ydych chi'n credu bod hynny'n cynrychioli gwerth da am arian? Sut wnaiff hynny roi ystyriaeth i anghenion eraill gan Lywodraeth Cymru neu Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol o ran ymdrin â'r pandemig?
Thank you. Well, a range of questions there. I'm glad that the Welsh Conservatives welcome the recommendations. Russell George asks about scepticism about the delivery, and, of course, I understand that, because Welsh Governments have been planning to tackle congestion in Newport for some time, and the congestion is still there, so there's certainly room for us to jump into that void and show that action will be taken. Of course, I must point out to Russell George that if we had the funding that Wales deserves for railway infrastructure, then we would be able to take action much quicker, so I think it's only fair that he recognises the shortcomings of the UK Government there, because based on the known commitments for the period of 2019 to 2029, we estimate a shortfall of investment in Wales of up to £5 billion in the next 10 years. That's from published commitments of the UK Government in England over that period, and if we had a pro rata share for Wales. Five billion pounds we're being short-changed, not to mention the failure to deliver on the electrification of the south Wales railway line, so an awful lot of delivery and scepticism could have been overcome if the UK Government was actually delivering on its rhetoric of levelling up. So, I think it's only fair that that is recognised, just as I recognise that the Welsh Government has not been quick enough to do what it said it was going to do on tackling congestion. So, I think there's room for both of us to reflect there, on things that could have been done better.
In terms of early priorities, he asks—I think, as I mentioned in the statement, we certainly think in terms of the bus network and the active travel network there are things that we can do within a period of a year or so. We all know that transport changes on the ground take time and have to go through a whole range of processes, but we do think that the changes to the south Wales main line, some infrastructure improvements for Newport bus so that people find bus a realistic alternative to the car—we've got to make buses go quicker, not be snarled up in traffic, and similarly getting people out of cars and using their bike or to travel by foot to do everyday journeys. So, there are some real, practical things that can be done there that will make a difference and be able to show people in Newport that progress is being made on the ground. That certainly is going to be an early priority for the delivery unit, which is the next question Russell George asked me about: who is in charge of delivery?
Well, we recognise, as I say, this is a shared responsibility, but we also recognise that Newport council, like all councils, have capacity constraints. So, we are creating a joint delivery unit through Transport for Wales, the Welsh Government and Newport council. That will sit within TfW primarily, but with a memorandum of understanding with Newport council, which we've already signed. The stakeholders—he asked—will be liaised with through a group and we want a dynamic chair of that to be able to push things forward and hold TfW's feet to the fire.
In terms of the funding and the remit letter, that'll be covered within TfW's existing arrangements, but, as he said, a commitment has been made by the First Minister that money will be found to implement this. He asked whether or not we thought this was value for money. Well, I will point out this is less than half the cost of the M4, without any of the damaging environmental impacts, which cannot—a price cannot be put on losing the unique Gwent levels, for example, nor, though perhaps it's easier to quantify financially, the economic harm caused by increasing climate change impacts from increasing traffic, which we would have seen through the induced demand released by building a six-mile motorway. There's plenty of evidence to show that is pretty likely. So, I think we can say this represents very good value for money.
He also asks about behaviour change, and, of course, our draft Wales transport strategy has modal shift at its heart, and behaviour change is a key component of that, although he sniffs then at the role that behavioural disincentives play in achieving behaviour change, and no doubt he spots a campaigning opportunity to make hay on any particular parking levy. But I would say that all the evidence shows that, if you are going to achieve behaviour change, you need both carrot and stick, and it's my view that we should put the carrot in before we put the stick in, but, as part of a spectrum of interventions, disincentives play their part. And it's all very well for him to welcome the recommendations and want to see the changes, but if he's not prepared to back that then those are rather hollow words. So, I hope that answers the questions that Russell George poses.
Diolch. Wel, dyna amrywiaeth o gwestiynau. Rwy'n falch fod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn croesawu'r argymhellion. Mae Russell George yn holi ynglŷn ag amheuon o ran y cyflawni, ac, wrth gwrs, rwy'n deall hynny, oherwydd mae Llywodraethau Cymru wedi bod yn bwriadu mynd i'r afael â thagfeydd yng Nghasnewydd ers cryn amser, ac mae'r tagfeydd yno o hyd, ac felly yn sicr mae angen inni neidio i mewn i'r bwlch hwnnw a dangos y bydd camau'n cael eu cymryd. Wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid imi dynnu sylw Russell George at y ffaith, pe byddai'r cyllid haeddiannol gan Gymru ar gyfer seilwaith y rheilffyrdd, yna byddem yn gallu gweithredu'n gyflymach o lawer. Felly rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddigon teg iddo yntau gydnabod diffygion Llywodraeth y DU yn hyn o beth, oherwydd yn seiliedig ar yr ymrwymiadau sy'n hysbys ar gyfer y cyfnod rhwng 2019 a 2029, rydym yn amcangyfrif diffyg o ran buddsoddiad yng Nghymru o hyd at £5 biliwn yn y 10 mlynedd nesaf. Mae hynny'n seiliedig ar ymrwymiadau a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn Lloegr dros y cyfnod hwn, a phe byddai gennym ni gyfran pro rata i Gymru. Rydym yn fyr o bum biliwn o bunnoedd, heb sôn am y methiant o ran cwblhau'r broses o drydaneiddio rheilffordd y de. Felly gellid fod wedi goresgyn llawer iawn o ran y ddarpariaeth a'r amheuaeth pe byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn cyflawni ei rhethreg am godi'r lefel. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn ddigon teg bod hynny'n cael ei gydnabod, yn union fel rwyf innau'n cydnabod nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ddigon cyflym i wneud yr hyn a addawodd o ran mynd i'r afael â thagfeydd. Felly, rwyf i o'r farn fod gan y ddau ohonom ddigon i fyfyrio yn ei gylch, o ran pethau y gellid fod wedi eu gwneud yn well.
O ran blaenoriaethau cynnar, mae e'n holi amdanynt—rwy'n credu, fel y soniais i yn y datganiad, rydym ni'n sicr yn ystyried bod y rhwydwaith bysiau a'r rhwydwaith teithio llesol yn faterion y gallwn ni eu cwblhau o fewn rhyw flwyddyn. Fe ŵyr pawb ohonom fod newidiadau trafnidiaeth ar lawr gwlad yn cymryd amser a bod rhaid iddyn nhw fynd trwy ystod eang o brosesau, ond rydym ni'n gwybod bod angen newidiadau i brif lein y de, rhai gwelliannau i'r seilwaith ar gyfer bws Casnewydd fel y gall pobl weld y bws yn ddewis amgen gwirioneddol i'r car—mae'n rhaid inni alluogi'r bysiau i deithio'n gyflymach, heb gael eu dal mewn traffig, ac felly gael pobl o'u ceir ac ar eu beiciau neu'n cerdded ar gyfer eu teithiau bob dydd. Felly, mae yna rai pethau gwirioneddol ac ymarferol y gellir eu gwneud a fydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ac yn dangos i bobl Casnewydd fod gwelliant yn digwydd ar lawr gwlad. Fe fydd honno'n sicr yn flaenoriaeth gynnar i'r uned gyflawni, sef y cwestiwn nesaf a ofynnodd Russell George i mi: pwy sy'n gyfrifol am y cyflawni?
Wel, rydym ni'n cydnabod, fel y dywedais i, mai cyfrifoldeb a rennir yw hwn, ond rydym ni'n cydnabod hefyd fod yna gyfyngiadau ar allu Cyngor Casnewydd, fel sydd ar bob cyngor. Felly, rydym yn ffurfio uned gyflawni ar y cyd gyda Thrafnidiaeth Cymru, Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyngor Casnewydd. Fe fydd honno'n gorwedd yn bennaf o fewn Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ond gyda memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth gyda chyngor Casnewydd, sydd eisoes wedi ei lofnodi. Fe fydd y rhanddeiliaid—fe ofynnodd ef am hyn—yn cael eu cysylltu drwy gyfrwng grŵp ac rydym yn awyddus i gadeirydd deinamig y grŵp hwnnw allu gwthio pethau ymlaen a galw Trafnidiaeth Cymru i gyfrif.
O ran y cyllid a'r llythyr cylch gwaith, fe fydd y rhain yn cael eu cynnwys yn nhrefniadau cyfredol Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ond, fel y dywedodd, mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ymrwymo y bydd arian yn cael ei ganfod i weithredu hynny. Fe ofynnodd a oeddem ni'n ystyried hyn yn werth am arian. Wel, rwyf am dynnu sylw at y ffaith y bydd hyn yn costio llai na hanner beth fyddai cost yr M4, a hynny heb unrhyw un o'r effeithiau amgylcheddol niweidiol, na ellir—ni ellir rhoi pris ar golli gwastadeddau unigryw Gwent, er enghraifft, nac ychwaith, er efallai ei bod yn haws ei fesur yn ariannol, y niwed economaidd a achosir gan effeithiau cynyddol newid hinsawdd oherwydd traffig cynyddol, yr hyn a fyddai wedi ei ennyn drwy adeiladu traffordd chwe milltir yn ei ennyn. Mae digon o dystiolaeth i ddangos y byddai hynny'n weddol debygol. Felly, rwy'n credu y gallwn ni ddweud y bydd hyn yn rhoi gwerth da iawn am arian.
Mae ef hefyd yn gofyn am newid mewn ymddygiad, ac, wrth gwrs, mae newid moddol wrth wraidd ein strategaeth drafnidiaeth ddrafft ni i Gymru, ac mae newid ymddygiad yn elfen allweddol o honno. Ond yna mae e'n bychanu swyddogaeth anghymhellion ymddygiadol wrth gyflawni newid mewn ymddygiad, ac mae'n siŵr ei fod yn gweld ei gyfle i ymgyrchu yn sgil unrhyw ardoll benodol ar barcio. Ond fe fyddwn i'n dweud bod yr holl dystiolaeth yn dangos, os ydych chi am newid ymddygiadau, fod angen cymell a chosbi arnoch. Fy marn i yw y dylem ni gael y cymhellion yn eu lle cyn dechrau cosbi pobl, ond, fel rhan o ystod o ymyriadau, mae gan anghymhellion eu rhan. Ac mae'n ddigon hawdd iddo ef groesawu'r argymhellion a bod yn eiddgar i weld y newidiadau ond, os nad yw'n barod i gefnogi hynny, geiriau gwag yw'r rhain. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny'n ateb y cwestiynau a ofynnodd Russell George.
I'd like to thank the Deputy Minister for his statement. As Russell George said, it was very useful indeed to have Lord Burns attend the committee so we had an opportunity as committee members to explore some of the ideas with him directly. I want to offer the Deputy Minister Plaid Cymru's support for this approach, and to say that we are pleased that he has been able to accept the recommendations. I'm looking forward to studying the line-by-line response, because the Deputy Minister knows as well as I do that accepting in principle doesn't always mean that we can actually get it done. So, we'll need to look at that a little bit carefully I think, but very much welcome the approach.
Can I just ask a little bit more about delivery of this? Now, the Deputy Minister is quite right when he talks about induced demand, and we know that, if this road had been built, it would have been filled up in a matter of a couple of years, whereas what we're talking about here is longer-term change. There will be challenges there. I think we would accept what the Deputy Minister has said about the need, when good alternatives are in place, for disincentives for people to carry on using private cars to come into play, though I am relieved to hear the Deputy Minister say that we need to start with the positive incentives by making public transport more accessible, making it feel safer, making it easier for people to use.
I'm concerned that one of the big challenges to delivery is going to be the situation of the non-devolved parts of the rail network. Now, this afternoon's conversation is not perhaps the place to have the conversation about the missed opportunity when Welsh Government could have asked for the full devolution and didn't, but, in the context of today's discussion, this does present some real challenges. The Deputy Minister is right to say that Wales has been short-changed massively in terms of capital spending by this UK Government. I think the First Minister was right when he told us earlier this afternoon that we can't trust the Tories. But, in terms of delivering this particular set of outcomes, I'd like to ask the Deputy Minister this afternoon how those initial discussions with UK Government that he and his officials have been having are progressing. It's early days to say, of course, but does he get the sense that they understand the importance, and indeed the urgency, of delivering for the people of south-east Wales, and, indeed, beyond, because, of course, that congestion in the south-east has an effect beyond the south-east itself? So, does he perceive that lack of power over rail infrastructure is going to be an issue in terms of delivering on this set of recommendations?
With regard to the shorter term work that he's talked about in terms of active travel and the bus network, is he confident that Welsh Government has got sufficient power to be able to ensure that this happens with regard to buses? Of course, with Newport Bus themselves, they are still controlled, as I understand it, by the local authority, so that will be relatively straightforward. But there are other bus services that go in and out of Newport, particularly those bus services that serve Valley communities—they're not all under direct local authority control. So, I wonder: does the Deputy Minister feel that the next Government may need to return to bus legislation, and may need to take that bus legislation perhaps further than was planned in the draft that we were looking at before COVID hit, to ensure that there are sufficient powers?
And the Deputy Minister did talk about governance in response to Russell George, and indeed mentioned that in his own statement. Has he given consideration as to how the UK Government will fit in to those governance mechanisms, as he begins to roll out the bigger infrastructure projects around rail? Because it seems to me that it's very important that there is some mechanism whereby, once agreements are reached, those agreements can be monitored. And does he see that as coming within the remit of the unit that he speaks about and the independent chair?
And finally, can he give us a sense this afternoon of when he thinks people in the Newport area will begin to see some of these changes? I'm a lot less sceptical than Russell George appears to be, and I think the intentions here are solid, and we've got good evidence from the Burns commission as to why these changes should be brought about. But I know that the Deputy Minister will understand the frustrations of people most directly affected, and indeed of the surrounding communities who get affected by the knock-on effects. So, can he give us some indication as to when he thinks people will begin to feel some changes on the ground as a result of this work, understanding, of course, that the bigger infrastructure works will take longer?
Fe hoffwn i ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei ddatganiad. Fel y dywedodd Russell George, roedd yn fuddiol iawn cael Arglwydd Burns yn bresennol yn y pwyllgor ac fe gawsom ni, aelodau'r pwyllgor, gyfle felly i archwilio rhai o'r syniadau gydag ef yn uniongyrchol. Rwy'n dymuno rhoi i'r Dirprwy Weinidog gefnogaeth Plaid Cymru i'r dull hwn, a dweud ein bod ni'n falch ei fod wedi gallu derbyn yr argymhellion. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at astudio'r ymateb fesul llinell, oherwydd mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn gwybod cystal â minnau nad yw derbyn mewn egwyddor bob amser yn golygu y gallwn ni wneud hynny mewn gwirionedd. Felly, fe fydd angen inni edrych ar hynny gyda rhywfaint o ofal rwy'n credu, ond rwyf i'n croesawu'r dull yn fawr iawn.
A gaf i ofyn ychydig mwy am gyflawni hyn? Nawr, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn llygad ei le pan fo'n sôn am annog y galw, ac fe wyddom ni, pe bai'r ffordd hon wedi cael ei hadeiladu, fe fyddai'n orlawn ymhen ychydig flynyddoedd, ond yr hyn yr ydym ni'n sôn amdano yma yw newid tymor hwy. Mae yna heriau yn hyn o beth. Rwy'n credu y byddem ni'n derbyn yr hyn a ddywedodd y Dirprwy Weinidog am yr angen, pan fydd dewisiadau amgen da ar waith, i weld anghymhellion yn dod i rym o ran pobl yn gallu parhau i ddefnyddio ceir preifat, er fy mod i'n falch o glywed y Dirprwy Weinidog yn dweud bod angen i ni ddechrau gyda'r cymhellion cadarnhaol drwy wneud trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn fwy hygyrch, gan wneud i deithio ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus deimlo'n fwy diogel, gan ei gwneud hi'n haws i bobl ei defnyddio.
Rwy'n pryderu mai un o'r heriau mawr o ran cyflawni fydd y sefyllfa gyda rhannau o'r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd nad ydyn nhw wedi eu datganoli. Nawr, efallai nad y drafodaeth y prynhawn yma yw'r cyfle priodol i gael y drafodaeth am y cyfle a gollwyd pan allai Llywodraeth Cymru fod wedi gofyn am ddatganoli llawn ond ni wnaeth felly, ond, yng nghyd-destun y drafodaeth heddiw, mae hyn yn cyflwyno rhai heriau gwirioneddol. Mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn iawn i ddweud bod Cymru wedi cael bargen wael ofnadwy o ran gwariant cyfalaf gan Lywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n credu bod y Prif Weinidog yn iawn pan ddywedodd ef wrthym yn gynharach y prynhawn yma na allwn ni ymddiried yn y Torïaid. Ond, o ran cyflawni'r gyfres benodol hon o ganlyniadau, fe hoffwn i ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog y prynhawn yma pa lwyddiant sydd wedi bod gyda'r trafodaethau cychwynnol hynny y mae ef a'i swyddogion wedi bod yn eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Mae'n gynnar iawn i ddweud, wrth gwrs, ond a yw'n teimlo eu bod nhw'n deall pwysigrwydd a gwir frys yr angen i gyflawni ar gyfer pobl y de-ddwyrain, ac, yn wir, y tu hwnt i hynny, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae tagfeydd yn y de-ddwyrain yn cael effaith y tu hwnt i'r de-ddwyrain ei hun? Felly, a yw ef yn credu y bydd diffyg pŵer dros seilwaith y rheilffyrdd yn broblem o ran cyflawni'r gyfres hon o argymhellion?
O ran gwaith yn y tymor byrrach y mae ef wedi sôn amdano o ran teithio llesol a'r rhwydwaith bysiau, a yw ef yn hyderus bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddigon o bŵer i allu sicrhau bod hyn yn digwydd gyda bysiau? Wrth gwrs, gyda Newport Bus eu hunain, maen nhw'n parhau i gael eu rheoli, yn ôl a ddeallaf i, gan yr awdurdod lleol, ac felly fe fydd hynny'n gymharol syml. Ond mae yna wasanaethau bws eraill sy'n mynd i mewn ac allan o Gasnewydd, yn enwedig y gwasanaethau bysiau hynny sy'n gwasanaethu cymunedau'r Cymoedd—nid ydyn nhw i gyd dan reolaeth uniongyrchol awdurdodau lleol. Felly, tybed: a yw'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn teimlo y gallai fod angen i'r Llywodraeth nesaf fynd yn ôl at y ddeddfwriaeth bysiau, ac efallai y bydd angen iddi fynd â'r ddeddfwriaeth bysiau honno ymhellach efallai nag a gynlluniwyd yn y drafft yr oeddem ni'n ei ystyried cyn i COVID daro, ar gyfer sicrhau fod yna ddigon o bwerau ar gael?
Ac fe soniodd y Dirprwy Weinidog am lywodraethu mewn ymateb i Russell George, ac yn wir fe soniodd am hynny yn y datganiad ei hunan. A yw ef wedi ystyried beth fydd swyddogaeth Llywodraeth y DU gyda'r mecanweithiau llywodraethu hynny, wrth iddo ddechrau cyflwyno'r prosiectau seilwaith mwy o gwmpas y rheilffyrdd? Oherwydd mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod yna ryw fecanwaith i allu monitro'r cytundebau hynny, pan fydd y cytundebau wedi eu gwneud. Ac a yw ef yn gweld hynny'n dod o fewn cylch gwaith yr uned y mae ef yn sôn amdani yn ogystal â'r cadeirydd annibynnol?
Ac yn olaf, a wnaiff ef roi ryw syniad i ni'r prynhawn yma o ba bryd y bydd pobl yn ardal Casnewydd yn dechrau gweld rhai o'r newidiadau hyn, yn ei farn ef? Rwy'n llawer llai amheus na Russell George i bob golwg, ac rwy'n credu bod y bwriadau hyn yn rhai cadarn, ac mae gennym ni dystiolaeth dda gan gomisiwn Burns o'r rhesymau pam y dylid cyflwyno'r newidiadau hyn. Ond fe wn i fod y Dirprwy Weinidog yn deall rhwystredigaethau'r bobl sy'n cael eu heffeithio'n fwyaf uniongyrchol, ac yn wir y cymunedau cyfagos y mae'r sgil-effeithiau yn effeithio arnyn nhw. Felly, a all ef roi rhyw syniad inni pryd y mae'n credu y bydd pobl yn dechrau teimlo rhai newidiadau ar lawr gwlad o ganlyniad i'r gwaith hwn, gan ddeall, wrth gwrs, y bydd y gwaith seilwaith mwy yn cymryd rhagor o amser?
Can I thank Helen Mary Jones for welcoming the approach that we've set out today, and for her constructive set of questions? We do, of course, support the devolution of rail infrastructure in Wales, and there was a debate and a vote in the Senedd back in February 2019 that called for that. So, I think I just want to make sure that point is understood by Plaid Cymru—that is something that this Government does support.
She asked, 'Do I think the UK Government gets the need to deliver on this report and the urgency of it?' Well, I suppose the jury is out on that, if I'm frank. As I've made clear, this is a shared responsibility. The fact that they have not delivered our share of rail infrastructure for some time has got to make me concerned about that. In fact, they've only set out a plan for something like £60 million-worth of railway improvements for the next 10 years, rather than the £5 billion that we would be entitled to. So, I think there is a call on them, really, to show that they do get it. And we've had constructive conversations with both the Department for Transport and, as I say, Sir Peter Hendy. So, let us be optimistic that that is indeed the case.
She also asks about the bus network and the powers necessary. Well, there is much that we can do through our bus emergency scheme. I met this week with the main local government leaders across Wales to discuss collaboration for what we're calling the bus emergency scheme 2, and sign-up for that. And that was a very consensual and very encouraging conversation. The industry is also engaging very well with us. So, we hope to be in a position where we can get all partners signed up to a framework for taking forward the funding and the organising of the bus industry that enables us to deliver many of the things that we were planning to use the legislation to achieve. Now that's no longer possible to pass that law in this Senedd term, we do think we have found another way to achieve much of it, but not all of it, and officials are drafting bus legislation should the next Welsh Government want to take that forward. And certainly, if we are in a position to form the Government, then we certainly will want to do that, because there is unfinished business, which is needed to make the system work well.
In terms of the governance mechanisms—Helen Mary Jones asks—well, as I say, it's a shared responsibility. And also her last question, 'Well, when will people see a change?'—well, we can commit to our part of that, but obviously it requires the others to commit to their parts of that as well. So, for example, the local roads in Newport are the responsibility of the local highway authority. The Welsh Government does not have power over Newport's roads. So, the bus measures and the active travel measures—we can provide funding for them, we can provide encouragement for them, we can provide help in designing them, but we can't deliver them without the co-operation of the local authority. And, of course, there has been a mixed record in recent decades in Newport council about their attitude to bus lanes. The previous Conservative administration in Newport tore up the bus lanes. So, I understand that there is scepticism amongst the public about that, but this current administration is working with us very well, is very positive, and certainly is committed to achieving the vision of this report.
So, when will people see change? Well, it's not entirely in our hands, but I certainly hope they'll see change within 18 months to two years—the start of it—but this is a 10-year project and will require—certainly the rail measures will require—a lot of work at a UK level. At the end of it, we expect to see 80 per cent of the people in the region within one mile of a high-quality public transport installation. That can be a game changer for a city the size of Newport, which has suffered for too long with poor air quality, with disadvantage for people on lower incomes because they weren't able to access transport easily, and their life chances and employment chances because of that. So, the prize of this goes way beyond a lot of transport-related gubbins. This is about people's lives and their life chances and I think it is a vision that we can all get behind.
A gaf i ddiolch i Helen Mary Jones am groesawu'r dull a nodwyd gennym ni heddiw, ac am ei chyfres adeiladol o gwestiynau? Rydym ni, wrth gwrs, yn cefnogi datganoli seilwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru, a chafwyd dadl a phleidlais yn y Senedd yn ôl ym mis Chwefror 2019 a oedd yn galw am hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu fy mod i'n awyddus i sicrhau bod Plaid Cymru yn deall y pwynt hwnnw—mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn ei gefnogi.
Fe ofynnodd hi, 'A wyf i'n credu bod Llywodraeth y DU yn deall yr angen i gyflawni yn ôl yr adroddiad hwn a'r brys i wneud hynny?' Wel, mae'n debyg bod y rheithgor yn myfyrio ar hynny, pe bawn i'n onest. Fel yr eglurais i, cyfrifoldeb a rennir yw hwn. Mae'n rhaid i'r ffaith nad ydyn nhw wedi rhoi ein cyfran deg i ni o ran buddsoddi yn y seilwaith rheilffyrdd ers peth amser yn rhoi achos imi ofidio am hynny. Yn wir, dim ond wedi nodi cynllun ar gyfer gwerth £60 miliwn o welliannau rheilffordd am y 10 mlynedd nesaf y maen nhw, yn hytrach na'r gwerth o £5 biliwn y byddai gennym ni'r hawl i'w gael. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y galw arnyn nhw, mewn gwirionedd, i ddangos eu bod nhw'n deall y sefyllfa. Ac rydym wedi cael sgyrsiau adeiladol gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth a Syr Peter Hendy, fel rwyf i'n dweud. Felly, gadewch inni fod yn obeithiol mai dyna fydd yn digwydd.
Mae hi'n holi hefyd ynglŷn â'r rhwydwaith bysiau a'r pwerau angenrheidiol. Wel, mae yna lawer y gallwn ni ei wneud drwy ein Cynllun Brys ar gyfer y Sector Bysiau. Fe wnes i gyfarfod â phrif arweinwyr llywodraeth leol ledled Cymru'r wythnos hon i drafod cydweithio ar gyfer yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei alw'n Gynllun Brys rhif 2 ar gyfer y Sector Bysiau, a chofrestru ar gyfer hwnnw. Ac roedd honno'n sgwrs gydsyniol a chalonogol tu hwnt. Mae yna ymgysylltu da iawn hefyd rhwng y diwydiant â ninnau. Felly, rydym ni'n gobeithio y byddwn mewn sefyllfa i allu sicrhau bod yr holl bartneriaid wedi ymrwymo i fframwaith ar gyfer bwrw ymlaen â'r cyllid a threfnu diwydiant bysiau sy'n ein galluogi ni i gyflawni llawer o'r pethau yr oeddem ni'n bwriadu defnyddio'r ddeddfwriaeth i'w cyflawni. Nid yw'n bosibl erbyn hyn i basio'r gyfraith honno yn y tymor Seneddol hwn. Rydym yn credu ein bod wedi dod o hyd i ffordd arall o gyflawni llawer iawn, ond nid popeth, ac mae swyddogion yn drafftio deddfwriaeth bysiau pe byddai Llywodraeth nesaf Cymru yn dymuno datblygu hynny. Ac yn sicr, pe byddem ni mewn sefyllfa i ffurfio Llywodraeth, yna fe fyddem ni'n sicr yn dymuno gwneud hynny, oherwydd mae yna fusnes heb ei orffen, sy'n angenrheidiol i gael system sy'n gweithio'n dda.
O ran y mecanweithiau llywodraethu—mae Helen Mary Jones yn gofyn—wel, fel y dywedais i, cyfrifoldeb a rennir yw hwn. A'i chwestiwn olaf hefyd, 'Pryd fydd pobl yn gweld newid?'—wel, fe allwn ni ymrwymo i'n rhan ni o hynny, ond mae'n amlwg ei bod yn ofynnol i eraill ymrwymo i'w rhan nhw hefyd. Felly, er enghraifft, cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdod priffyrdd lleol yw'r ffyrdd lleol yng Nghasnewydd. Nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru bŵer dros ffyrdd Casnewydd. Felly, y mesurau bysiau a'r mesurau teithio llesol—fe allwn ni roi cyllid ar eu cyfer nhw, fe allwn ni roi anogaeth iddyn nhw, fe allwn ni roi'r cymorth i'w cynllunio nhw, ond ni allwn eu cyflawni nhw heb gydweithrediad yr awdurdod lleol. Ac, wrth gwrs, hanes cymysg sydd wedi bod yn y degawdau diwethaf yng nghyngor Casnewydd o ran eu hagwedd nhw tuag at lonydd bysiau. Diddymwyd y lonydd bysiau'n llwyr gan y weinyddiaeth Geidwadol flaenorol yng Nghasnewydd. Felly, rwy'n deall bod amheuaeth ymysg y cyhoedd ynglŷn â hynny, ond mae'r weinyddiaeth bresennol hon yn gweithio gyda ni'n dda iawn, yn gadarnhaol iawn, ac yn sicr mae wedi ymrwymo i gyflawni gweledigaeth yr adroddiad hwn.
Felly, pryd fydd pobl yn gweld unrhyw newid? Wel, nid yn ein dwylo ni'n llwyr y mae hynny, ond rwy'n sicr yn gobeithio y bydd pobl yn gweld newid o fewn 18 mis i ddwy flynedd—dechrau'r prosiect—ond prosiect 10 mlynedd yw hwn ac fe fydd angen—yn sicr fe fydd angen—llawer o waith ar y mesurau rheilffordd ar lefel y DU. Ar ddiwedd y prosiect, rydym ni'n disgwyl gweld 80 y cant o'r bobl yn y rhanbarth o fewn milltir i safle trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus o ansawdd uchel. Fe allai hynny drawsnewid sefyllfa dinas o faint Casnewydd, sydd wedi dioddef llawer gormod oherwydd ansawdd aer gwael, gyda phobl ar incwm is dan anfantais am nad oedden nhw'n gallu defnyddio trafnidiaeth yn hawdd, a chyfleoedd bywyd a chyflogaeth a oedd ar gael iddyn nhw oherwydd hynny. Felly, mae'r wobr am hyn yn mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i lawer o fanion sy'n gysylltiedig â thrafnidiaeth. Mae hyn yn ymwneud â gwella bywydau pobl a'u cyfleoedd nhw mewn bywyd ac rwyf i o'r farn ei bod yn weledigaeth y gallwn ni i gyd ei choleddu.
It's good to hear Helen Mary Jones supporting the courageous decision by the Welsh Government to take forward this sustainable solution for tackling congestion around Newport, which has very significant impacts on people in Cardiff and particularly in my constituency. So, I very much welcome the opportunity to act as a catalyst for change that we have to seize on in order to meet our climate change obligations. In fact, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires us to take all our decisions in light of the way we tackle climate change, improve air quality and advance social justice.
So, I just want to focus on recommendation 1, which, to me, is the most important one, because upgrading the east-west rail lines between Cardiff and Newport and beyond is the spine around which the rest of the excellent Burns plan for a sustainable, joined-up transport system is built, so that, as you said, all citizens can live within one mile of a rail station or a rapid transport bus line and we can all get to work or school on public transport and not the polluting car.
So, telling us that you're going to work with Network Rail, TfW and the Department of Transport doesn't tell us very much beyond reminding us of the capacity of the Department of Transport's political masters to walk away from any commitments made, for example, on the electrification of the main line beyond Swansea. So, I appreciate that we constantly have hints that the UK Prime Minister remains enthusiastic about the out of date and ineffective idea of building a relief road around Newport, which is no solution to anything.
Roedd yn dda clywed Helen Mary Jones yn cefnogi penderfyniad dewr Llywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu'r ateb cynaliadwy hwn ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â thagfeydd o amgylch Casnewydd, sy'n cael effaith sylweddol iawn ar bobl yng Nghaerdydd ac yn fy etholaeth i yn arbennig felly. Gan hynny, rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle yn fawr iawn i fod yn gatalydd ar gyfer y newid y mae'n rhaid i ni ei gael i gyflawni ein rhwymedigaethau ni o ran newid hinsawdd. Yn wir, mae Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 yn ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol inni wneud ein holl benderfyniadau yng ngoleuni'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n mynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd, gwella ansawdd aer, a hyrwyddo cyfiawnder cymdeithasol.
Felly, fe hoffwn i ganolbwyntio ar argymhelliad 1, sef yr un pwysicaf i mi. Uwchraddio'r rheilffyrdd rhwng y dwyrain a'r gorllewin rhwng Caerdydd a Chasnewydd a thu hwnt yw'r asgwrn cefn ar gyfer gweddill cynllun rhagorol Burns ar gyfer system drafnidiaeth gynaliadwy a chydgysylltiedig, sy'n golygu y gall pob dinesydd, fel yr oeddech chi'n dweud, fyw o fewn milltir i orsaf drenau neu daith fysiau trafnidiaeth gyflym ac fe allwn ni i gyd fynd i'r gwaith neu'r ysgol ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac nid yn y car sy'n achosi llygredd.
Felly, nid yw dweud wrthym eich bod chi am weithio gyda Network Rail, Trafnidiaeth Cymru a'r Adran Drafnidiaeth yn dweud llawer mwy wrthym ni na'n hatgoffa ni o gapasiti meistri gwleidyddol yr Adran Drafnidiaeth i gerdded ymaith oddi wrth unrhyw ymrwymiadau a wneir, er enghraifft, ynglŷn â thrydaneiddio'r brif reilffordd y tu hwnt i Abertawe. Felly, rwy'n sylweddoli ein bod ni'n clywed awgrymiadau o hyd bod Prif Weinidog y DU yn parhau i fod yn frwdfrydig ynglŷn â'r hen syniad aneffeithiol o adeiladu ffordd liniaru o amgylch Casnewydd, nad yw'n cynnig unrhyw ddatrysiad o gwbl.
Can you bring your—
A wnewch chi ddod â'ch—
So, how do you think you're going to be able to, if you like, make the case for Wales to get support for upgrading its so severely neglected Welsh infrastructure in the context that we'll get absolutely nothing from the billions being showered on HS2? Surely Wales needs to get some of the UK money that's going to be spent on making the transport of the future?
Felly, sut ydych chi'n credu y byddwch chi'n gallu cyflwyno, os hoffech chi, yr achos dros gefnogaeth i Gymru ar gyfer uwchraddio ei seilwaith yng Nghymru a esgeuluswyd mor ofnadwy yn y cyd-destun na chawn ni'r un ddimai o'r biliynau sy'n cael eu tywallt ar HS2? Siawns nad oes angen i Gymru gael rhywfaint o arian y DU a fydd yn cael ei wario ar lunio trafnidiaeth y dyfodol?
Well, thank you for your supportive comments. It is absolutely the case that if the UK Government is sincere about its rhetoric about levelling up, then we need to see the proof of that in their response to this report and the investment that they're prepared to put into it, and Network Rail's willingness to prioritise these routes. As you said, recommendation 1 is the game-changer really in terms of the local railway network, to separate the local, commuting services and the inter-city services, and upgrading the relief lines so that all four tracks can operate up to 90 mph. That's clearly a significant piece of work and will need to be done in stages.
Alongside that, there is a recommendation for six new train stations. On three of those, work has begun on them in one shape or form, and there'll be a further three new ones, as well as the opportunity for two further trains on the Marches line from Magor and Maesglas. So, together, that represents a significant package of railway infrastructure, which is beyond the ability and the financial firepower of the Welsh Government to deliver. And this is something where the development unit within Transport for Wales is already working on businesses cases and talking to the UK Government about developing that, so that it is able to get through the various stage gates for funding approval. But I think Jenny Rathbone is absolutely right to point out that, without that commitment by the UK Government, then this report will not be able to achieve the potential that Lord Burns and the commissioners have identified to transform the public transport system in the city of Newport.
Wel, diolch i chi am eich sylwadau cefnogol. Mae'n hollol wir, pe byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn ddiffuant o ran ei rhethreg am godi lefel yn uwch, yna mae angen gweld y prawf am hynny yn ei hymateb i'r adroddiad hwn a'r buddsoddiad y mae'n barod i'w roi ynddo, a pharodrwydd Network Rail i flaenoriaethu'r llwybrau hyn. Fel yr oeddech chi'n dweud, argymhelliad rhif 1 yw'r un allweddol mewn gwirionedd o ran y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd lleol, i wahanu'r gwasanaethau lleol ar gyfer cymudo oddi wrth y gwasanaethau rhwng dinasoedd, ac uwchraddio'r rheilffyrdd rhyddhad fel y gall y pedwar trac gael eu defnyddio hyd at gyflymder o 90 mya. Mae hwnnw'n amlwg yn ddarn sylweddol o waith ac fe fydd angen ei wneud fesul cam.
Ochr yn ochr â hynny, mae yna argymhelliad ar gyfer chwe gorsaf drên newydd. Mae gwaith wedi dechrau ar dair o'r rhain mewn rhyw ffordd neu'i gilydd, ac fe fydd yna dair gorsaf arall newydd, yn ogystal â'r cyfle am ddau drên arall ar lein y Gororau o Fagwyr a Maesglas. Felly, gyda'i gilydd, mae hwn yn becyn sylweddol o seilwaith rheilffyrdd, sydd y tu hwnt i allu a grym ariannol Llywodraeth Cymru i'w gyflawni. Ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae'r uned ddatblygu o fewn Trafnidiaeth Cymru eisoes yn gweithio arno trwy gyfrwng achosion busnes a siarad â Llywodraeth y DU am ddatblygu hynny, fel y gall fynd drwy glwydi'r camau i gael cymeradwyaeth ariannol. Ond rwy'n credu bod Jenny Rathbone yn llygad ei lle wrth dynnu sylw at y ffaith na fydd yr adroddiad hwn, heb yr ymrwymiad hwnnw gan Lywodraeth y DU, yn gallu cyflawni'r potensial a nododd Arglwydd Burns a'r comisiynwyr ar gyfer trawsnewid y system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn ninas Casnewydd.
Can I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement? Just one small disappointment in the Deputy Minister's statement, touched on by Helen Mary Jones, and that is he uses the words, 'accept in principle'. Now, given that the Welsh Government commissioned this report and chose the chair, it's surprising that these words were used at all. However, apart from that mild criticism, it is gratifying to see that it certainly seems that the Welsh Government is fully committed to implementing many of the report's recommendations.
There is no doubt that the Burns report is a full and comprehensive assessment of the problems caused by the bottleneck at Malpas tunnel, and it wisely goes on to describe a holistic approach to solving the ongoing problems. I believe that the report is right in identifying the problem being very much exacerbated by the use of the M4 by local traffic. I also believe that Lord Burns and his team are right in advocating a number of measures that should be put in place to effect a sea change in people's attitudes to travel, which involves getting us out of the motor car and onto public transport.
The report outlines, amongst other things, the opening of new rail stations and new bus hubs. Given that buses carry a great many more passengers than trains, I believe that the Deputy Minister's first priority should be to ensure bus connectivity. Would the Deputy Minister outline what proposals are being put forward to immediately enhance bus services in and around Newport?
If we are to effect the sea change in overall car usage, it is essential that not only is public transport more accessible, it must also be cost-effective. Indeed, prices must be so low as to make it especially competitive as opposed to the use of a car. Could the Deputy Minister give us any idea as to pricing strategies, especially in the short term?
We've touched upon—
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei ddatganiad? Un siom fach yn natganiad y Dirprwy Weinidog, y cyfeiriodd Helen Mary Jones ati, yw'r defnydd o'r geiriau, 'derbyn mewn egwyddor'. Nawr, o ystyried bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi comisiynu'r adroddiad hwn ac wedi dewis y cadeirydd, mae'n syndod bod y geiriau hyn wedi eu defnyddio o gwbl. Serch hynny, ar wahân i'r feirniadaeth fechan honno, mae'n braf gweld ei bod yn sicr yn ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo yn gyfan gwbl i weithredu llawer o argymhellion yr adroddiad.
Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth nad yw adroddiad Burns yn asesiad llawn a chynhwysfawr o'r problemau sy'n cael eu hachosi gan y tagfeydd yn nhwnnel Malpas, ac mae'n mynd yn ei flaen, yn ddoeth iawn, i ddisgrifio dull cyfannol o ddatrys y problemau sy'n parhau. Rwy'n credu bod yr adroddiad yn iawn i nodi bod traffig lleol sy'n defnyddio'r M4 yn gwaethygu'r broblem yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu bod Arglwydd Burns a'i dîm yn iawn hefyd i argymell nifer o fesurau y dylid eu rhoi ar waith i sicrhau newid enfawr yn agweddau pobl tuag at deithio, sy'n golygu ein bod ni'n hepgor y car modur ac yn defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus.
Mae'r adroddiad yn amlinellu, ymhlith pethau eraill, agor gorsafoedd rheilffordd newydd a chanolfannau bysiau newydd. O gofio bod bysiau'n cario llawer mwy o deithwyr na threnau, rwyf i o'r farn mai blaenoriaeth bennaf y Dirprwy Weinidog ddylai fod sicrhau cysylltedd y bysiau. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog amlinellu pa gynigion sy'n cael eu cyflwyno i wella gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghasnewydd a'r cylch ar unwaith?
Os ydym yn awyddus i sicrhau'r newid enfawr yn y defnydd cyffredinol o geir, mae'n hanfodol nid yn unig bod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn fwy hygyrch, ond mae'n rhaid i hynny fod yn gost-effeithiol hefyd. Yn wir, mae'n rhaid i brisiau fod mor isel fel eu bod yn llawer mwy cystadleuol yn hytrach na defnyddio'r car. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog roi unrhyw syniad inni am y strategaethau prisio, yn enwedig yn y tymor byr?
Rydym wedi cyfeirio at—
Can you bring your comments to a close, please?
A wnewch chi ddod â'ch sylwadau i ben, os gwelwch chi'n dda?
Certainly. We have—[Inaudible.]—fast, efficient public transport offer. Given the extraordinary delays we have experienced with regard to action on this massively important transport project, we can only wish Welsh Government well in this—
Siŵr iawn. Mae gennym ni—[Anghlywadwy.]—gynnig trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus cyflym ac effeithlon. O ystyried yr oedi anghyffredin a welsom ni o ran gweithredu'r prosiect trafnidiaeth hynod bwysig hwn, ni allwn ni ond dymuno'n dda i Lywodraeth Cymru yn hyn o beth—
Can you come to a close, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch chi'n dda?
Yes—[Inaudible.]
Iawn—[Anghlywadwy.]
Thank you. Deputy Minister.
Diolch i chi. Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you very much. I can just reassure David Rowlands that there is no ambivalence in using the term 'accept in principle'; it's simply the fact that this is a 10-year vision and the detail of some of this may need to flex as the practicalities are explored as we go along, and not least there are statutory processes to go through, which the Welsh Government has a role in, and the lawyers need me to be careful in what I say. But I can assure you that our support is strong and significant for the vision set out, and we are committed to working through the detail, to put it into practice and to add to it as much as we can. And certainly, as I say, 'Llwybr Newydd: a new Wales transport strategy' has taken this vision and scaled it for the whole of Wales, so we certainly hope—. And certainly the question he raises about the affordability of bus use, that is a key question for achieving modal shift, for persuading people to leave their cars behind for everyday journeys and to use sustainable forms of transport, because, clearly, affordability is one of those measures. So, if we're not going to make a public transport system attractive—and there are many ways that you make it attractive, and that's certainly one of them—then the vision of this will not be achieved, that's for sure.
In terms of bus measures, I agree with him; I've already said that I see one of the first measures we take to be around bus prioritisation. Transport for Wales has been doing a series of modelling work, looking at where, for example, bus passengers lose the most time in the morning. I've had an interesting presentation from their modellers that shows quite clearly that there are three different bottlenecks for the buses in Newport in the morning, where bus passengers are sitting waiting because they're stuck in traffic, and I think an early priority would be to look at each of those three and to see how we can create some priority measures to allow buses to move freely, to encourage people to jump on the bus instead of jumping in a car.
So, that is a systematic piece of work that we are beginning with the delivery of it within TfW, and work has already started on that, but as I say, that does need the council working with us, being willing to make local decisions to make these changes possible in practice. I certainly think that, as ever, setting out the vision for these things is the easy bit; delivering it at pace, funding it, taking people with you is the hard bit. And I'm not underestimating the challenge ahead of us in taking this through, not least given the challenges that I've already outlined that we've had in the area, but it's absolutely doable and the prize is there for all to see. Given the challenges we all face in tackling climate change and in regenerating the local economy in the face of this recession, then this is a priority where there's an imperative for us all to get a move on.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Gallaf roi tawelwch meddwl i David Rowlands nad oes unrhyw amwysedd wrth ddefnyddio'r term 'derbyn mewn egwyddor'; y ffaith amdani yn syml yw mai gweledigaeth 10 mlynedd yw hon ac efallai y bydd angen ystwytho'r manylion i ryw raddau wrth i'r agweddau ymarferol gael eu harchwilio wrth fynd ymlaen, ac nid lleiaf gan fod yna brosesau statudol i fynd drwyddynt, y mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru swyddogaeth ynddynt, ac mae'r cyfreithwyr yn gofyn imi fod yn ofalus yn yr hyn a ddywedaf. Ond fe allaf i eich sicrhau chi bod ein cefnogaeth ni'n gadarn ac yn sylweddol i'r weledigaeth a nodir, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i weithio drwy'r manylion, i'w rhoi nhw ar waith ac ychwanegu cymaint ag y gallwn ni ati. Ac yn sicr, fel y dywedais i, mae 'Llwybr Newydd: strategaeth drafnidiaeth newydd i Gymru' wedi cymryd y weledigaeth hon a'i chwyddo hi ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, felly rydym ni'n sicr yn gobeithio—. A'r cwestiwn y mae ef yn ei godi am fforddiadwyedd defnyddio bysiau, mae hwnnw'n sicr yn gwestiwn allweddol ar gyfer cyflawni newid moddol, i berswadio pobl i adael eu ceir gartref a defnyddio mathau cynaliadwy o drafnidiaeth ar gyfer eu teithiau dyddiol, oherwydd, yn amlwg, fforddiadwyedd yw un o'r mesurau hynny. Felly, os na wnawn ni sicrhau bod system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn ddeniadol—ac mae yna lawer ffordd o'i gwneud yn ddeniadol, a dyna un ohonyn nhw'n sicr—yna ni chaiff y weledigaeth hon ei chyflawni, mae hynny'n sicr.
O ran mesurau bysiau, rwy'n cytuno ag ef; rwyf eisoes wedi dweud fy mod i'n rhagweld y bydd un o'r mesurau cyntaf a gymerwn ni'n ymwneud â rhoi blaenoriaeth i fysiau. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith modelu, gan ystyried, er enghraifft, yr achosion pennaf pam mae teithwyr ar fysiau yn colli amser yn y boreau. Rwyf wedi cael cyflwyniad diddorol gan y rhai fu wrthi'n gweithio ar y modelu sy'n dangos yn gwbl eglur fod yna dair tagfa wahanol ar gyfer bysiau yng Nghasnewydd yn y boreau, lle mae teithwyr bysiau'n eistedd yn aros yno am eu bod yn cael eu dal mewn traffig, ac rwy'n credu y byddai edrych ar bob un o'r tair tagfa yn flaenoriaeth yn ogystal â gweld sut y gallwn ni greu rhai mesurau ar gyfer rhoi'r flaenoriaeth ar y ffordd i ganiatáu i fysiau symud yn rhydd, i annog pobl i neidio ar y bws yn lle neidio i gar.
Felly, mae hwnnw'n ddarn systematig o waith yr ydym ni'n dechrau ei gyflawni o fewn Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac mae gwaith wedi dechrau ar hynny eisoes, ond fel y dywedais i, mae angen i'r Cyngor weithio gyda ni, gan fod yn barod i wneud penderfyniadau lleol i wneud y newidiadau hyn yn rhai sy'n bosibl yn ymarferol. Rwy'n sicr yn credu, fel bob amser, mai peth digon hawdd yw nodi'r weledigaeth ar gyfer y pethau hyn; ond y gamp yw ei darparu'n gyflym, ei hariannu, a mynd â phobl ar y daith gyda chi. Ac nid wyf yn bychanu'r her sydd o'n blaenau ni wrth fwrw ymlaen â hyn, yn enwedig o ystyried yr heriau yn yr ardal a amlinellais i eisoes, ond mae'n gwbl bosibl ac mae'r wobr yno i bawb ei gweld. O ystyried yr heriau yr ydym ni i gyd yn eu hwynebu wrth fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd ac wrth adfywio'r economi leol yn wyneb y dirwasgiad hwn, yna mae hon yn flaenoriaeth sy'n hanfodol i bob un ohonom ei symud ymlaen.
Thank you. Can I remind speakers that they have a minute to ask a question of the Deputy Minister? And I suppose then if they only have a minute, Deputy Minister, your answers will be shorter. Thank you. Rhianon Passmore.
Diolch. A gaf i atgoffa'r siaradwyr mai un funud sydd ganddyn nhw i ofyn cwestiwn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog? Ac mae'n ddigon tebyg os mai dim ond funud sydd ganddyn nhw, Dirprwy Weinidog, y bydd eich atebion chi'n fyrrach wedyn. Diolch. Rhianon Passmore.
As you will appreciate, Newport, as Gwent's only city, forms a real focal point for the Gwent Valleys communities of Islwyn that I represent, and I very much welcome the Welsh Government's positive response to the recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission and the much welcomed Newport line is now eagerly anticipated. So, it's totally imperative today that the UK does come to the table and seek out an opportunity to level up, because it's increasingly concerning that Wales is not being given its due, and it's also heartbreaking to see this trend continuing in the aviation industry where, this week, Bristol Airport received £8 million from the UK Government to support it and Cardiff received absolutely nothing.
So, the question, and I'll go straight to it: will the Deputy Minister agree that we need to see the UK Government place full and fair resources in our rail network? A figure of £5 billion has been stated today to make integrated public transport across Gwent fit for purpose in the twenty-first century. And how can the communities of Islwyn best engage with this very important process moving forward, and what are the transformational shifts that this could bring to the lives of citizens across Islwyn?
Fel rydych chi'n sylweddoli, mae Casnewydd, sef yr unig ddinas yng Ngwent, yn ganolbwynt gwirioneddol i gymunedau Cymoedd Gwent yr wyf i'n eu cynrychioli yn Islwyn, ac rwy'n croesawu'n fawr iawn ymateb cadarnhaol Llywodraeth Cymru i argymhellion Comisiwn Trafnidiaeth De-ddwyrain Cymru ac mae yna hen ddisgwyl nawr am y rheilffordd y mae croeso mawr iddi yng Nghasnewydd. Felly, mae'n gwbl hanfodol heddiw bod y DU yn dod gerbron ac yn chwilio am gyfle i godi lefel yn uwch, oherwydd mae'n peri pryder cynyddol nad yw Cymru'n cael yr hyn sy'n ddyledus iddi, ac mae'n dorcalonnus gweld y duedd hon yn parhau hefyd yn y diwydiant hedfan pan gafodd Maes Awyr Bryste, yr wythnos hon, £8 miliwn gan Lywodraeth y DU i'w gefnogi ond ni chafodd Caerdydd ddim byd o gwbl.
Felly, y cwestiwn, ac fe af i'n syth ato: a wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog gytuno bod angen inni weld Llywodraeth y DU yn buddsoddi yn llawn a theg yn rhwydwaith ein rheilffyrdd ni? Cafodd ffigur o £5 biliwn ei ddatgan heddiw i wneud trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig ledled Gwent yn addas at y diben yn yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. A sut all cymunedau Islwyn ymgysylltu â'r broses bwysig iawn hon yn y ffordd orau wrth symud ymlaen, a beth yw'r trawsnewidiadau y gallai hyn eu cyflwyno i fywydau dinasyddion ym mhob rhan o Islwyn?
Thank you for that. Rhianon Passmore is right to draw attention to again the iniquitous decision on aviation by the UK Government, which is all the more reason why they need to step up to the plate on this package to show that they are as committed to levelling up in all parts of the UK as they say they are.
To answer Rhianon Passmore's question, as I say, certainly people within the boundaries of Newport itself, 80 per cent of them will be within a mile of a high-quality public transport installation as a result of these proposals, but there'll be benefits to the hinterland as well in the Gwent Valleys as part of that. The Ebbw Vale line, which I know is an issue that she is consistently pressurising the Welsh Government to do more on, is an important part of that. We are hoping that this year we will have a new timetable with services as far as Cross Keys. We're not able to go beyond Cross Keys without investment and intervention from Network Rail and the UK Government, so that's another example where they need to 'Siapia hi', as my grandmother would say, but we are hoping to see four trains an hour on that line, and that is definitely part of the wider Burns vision.
Diolch i chi am hynny. Mae Rhianon Passmore yn iawn i dynnu sylw unwaith eto at y penderfyniad anghyfiawn gan Lywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â hedfan, sy'n rheswm ychwanegol pam mae angen iddyn nhw ddod i'r adwy o ran y pecyn hwn i ddangos eu bod nhw yr un mor ymrwymedig i godi lefel yn uwch ym mhob rhan o'r DU ag y maen nhw'n ei honni.
I ateb cwestiwn Rhianon Passmore, fel y dywedais i, yn sicr fe fydd 80 y cant o bobl o fewn ffiniau Casnewydd ei hunan o fewn milltir i safle trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus o ansawdd uchel o ganlyniad i'r cynigion hyn, ond fe fydd yna fanteision i gefnwlad yn ogystal â Chymoedd Gwent yn rhan o hynny. Mae rheilffordd Glynebwy, y gwn ei fod yn fater y mae hi'n pwyso'n gyson ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud mwy o'i herwydd, yn rhan bwysig o hynny. Rydym ni'n gobeithio y bydd gennym amserlen newydd eleni gyda gwasanaethau cyn belled â Phont-y-Cymer. Ni allwn fynd y tu hwnt i Bont-y-Cymer heb fuddsoddiad ac ymyrraeth gan Network Rail a Llywodraeth y DU, felly dyna enghraifft arall lle mae angen iddyn nhw ei 'siapo hi', chwedl fy mam-gu, ond rydym yn gobeithio gweld pedwar trên yr awr ar y lein honno, ac mae hynny'n sicr yn rhan o weledigaeth ehangach Burns.
I thank the Deputy Minister for his statement today. I welcome many of the proposals contained in this report, particularly for the people of Newport, and particularly the recommended improvements to the rail network, the new stations planned and the new rapid bus corridors across the region that will link to the rail backbone. I acknowledge that these will be beneficial in reducing the volume of traffic on the M4, however, as has already been said, it is no substitute for an M4 relief road—the M4 relief road that you've conveniently forgotten the Welsh Government has squandered millions and millions of pounds on, yet we see no solution and no road.
Welsh Labour has consistently failed to put in place a solution for the M4 congestion problem, breaking its own manifesto commitment in doing so. Despite 20 years of discussion and consultation, no practical solution has yet been delivered. While the Welsh Government have been dithering and shelving the scheme, the traffic on the M4 has been increasing rapidly. The performance of Wales's road and transport network will be a crucial enabler for sustaining productivity and competitiveness. Don't you agree with me that many of these proposals should be implemented alongside an M4 relief road in order to maximise the potential reduction in traffic and to bring maximum economic benefit to the region? Your transport infrastructure—