Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

09/06/2021

Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.

In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.

Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair. 

The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.

Datganiad gan y Llywydd
Statement by the Llywydd

Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn inni ddechrau, dwi angen nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Cynhelir y cyfarfod hwn ar ffurf hybrid, gyda rhai Aelodau yn Siambr y Senedd ac eraill yn ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo. Bydd yr Aelodau sy'n cymryd rhan yn nhrafodion y Senedd, ble bynnag y bônt, yn cael eu trin yn gyfartal. Mae Cyfarfod Llawn a gynhelir drwy gynhadledd fideo, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog Senedd Cymru, yn gyfystyr â thrafodion y Senedd at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y cyfarfod yma, ac mae'r rheini wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda chi. Hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau fod y Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn berthnasol i'r cyfarfod yma, ac yr un mor berthnasol i'r Aelodau sydd yn y Siambr ag i'r rhai sy'n ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo.

Welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. This meeting will be held in hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference. All Members participating in proceedings of the Senedd, wherever they may be, will be treated equally. A Plenary meeting held using video-conference, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitutes Senedd proceedings for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's meeting, and these are set out on your agenda. I would remind Members that Standing Orders relating to order in Plenary meetings apply to this meeting, and apply equally to Members in the Chamber as to those joining virtually.

1. Cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi
1. Questions to the Minister for Economy

Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni'r prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Heledd Fychan.

The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy, and the first question is from Heledd Fychan.

What Next? Cymru
What Next? Cymru

1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad yn ymateb i’r addunedau amlinellwyd yn y maniffesto diwylliannol ar gyfer adferiad gan What Next? Cymru? OQ56564

1. Will the Minister make a statement responding to the pledges outlined in the cultural manifesto for recovery by What Next? Cymru? OQ56564

Member
Dawn Bowden 13:31:14
Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip

Can I thank Heledd Fychan for my first ministerial question? Thank you very much. The Welsh Government is committed to creating a cultural strategy setting out our priorities and ambitions for the arts, culture and sport. This will sit alongside the statements of priorities already created for Creative Wales, Visit Wales and the historic environment.

A gaf fi ddiolch i Heledd Fychan am fy nghwestiwn cyntaf fel Gweinidog? Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i greu strategaeth ddiwylliannol sy'n nodi ein blaenoriaethau a'n huchelgeisiau ar gyfer y celfyddydau, diwylliant a chwaraeon. Bydd hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r datganiadau o flaenoriaethau a grëwyd eisoes ar gyfer Cymru Greadigol, Croeso Cymru a'r amgylchedd hanesyddol.

Diolch o galon i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei hymateb, a hoffwn gymryd y cyfle i'ch llongyfarch ar eich rôl newydd, a dwi'n edrych ymlaen i gydweithio'n adeiladol efo chi fel llefarydd y blaid ar ddiwylliant.

Yn ganolog i ymgyrch What Next? Cymru oedd yr angen i gryfhau y dimensiwn diwylliannol ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, a dwi'n croesawu'n fawr y bydd yna strategaeth ddiwylliannol. Ond roedden nhw eisiau gweld cyfrifoldeb am ddiwylliant a chreadigrwydd i aelod llawn o’r Cabinet a sicrhau bod holl adrannau’r Llywodraeth yn cefnogi, yn ariannu ac yn galw am elfen ddiwylliannol gref yn eu gwaith. A chithau, yn anffodus, yn Ddirprwy Weinidog yn hytrach na Gweinidog, sut ydych yn bwriadu sicrhau lle mwy canolog i’r celfyddydau a diwylliant yn Llywodraeth y chweched Senedd, o’i chymharu â'r bumed a'r bedwaredd Senedd, a thaclo’r tanfuddsoddi sydd wedi bod ers dros ddegawd? Fyddwch chi a’r Gweinidog dros yr Economi yn cydweithio’n agos i sicrhau hynny?

I thank the Deputy Minister for her answer, and I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your new role, and I look forward to working with you constructively as the party's spokesperson on culture.

A central element of the What Next? Cymru campaign was the need to strengthen the cultural dimension across the Welsh Government, and I very much welcome the fact that there will be a cultural strategy. But they wanted to see responsibility for culture and creativity being given to a full member of the Cabinet and ensuring that all Government departments support, fund and demand a strong cultural element in their work. With you, unfortunately, a Deputy Minister as opposed to a Minister, how do you intend to ensure a more central role for the arts and culture in the Government of the sixth Senedd, as compared to the fourth Senedd and fifth Senedd, and tackle the underinvestment that has been seen for over a decade? Will you and the Minister for Economy work closely together to ensure that?

Thank you, again, for that supplementary question. What I would say in terms of the position of the Minister with responsibility for culture, I think it's more important that the Minister delivers on what is being asked rather than the position in the hierarchy of Government. And I'm very clear about my role in that and my role with the Minister for Economy in making sure that the cultural sector plays a key part in economic recovery. And as part of developing the cultural strategy, the Welsh Government is going to be engaging with a whole range of stakeholders, including What Next? Cymru. We've got a meeting with them scheduled shortly. In fact, I met with a representative from What Next? Cymru in my constituency just prior to the election, and she went through the cultural manifesto with me. You and I have got a meeting scheduled at the end of the month, and I'm also meeting with the Conservative spokesperson on culture and sport, and I hope that everybody will be contributing to the work that we'll be doing around that area.

And I think that it's important to set out that, throughout the pandemic, the cultural sector has worked hard to produce opportunities for people to engage with culture and heritage, particularly through digital services, and I want to ensure that that continues and that we have a sustainable development for the sector. We will continue to invest in projects to deliver new and improved cultural organisations, increasing access to our collections and cultural assets from across Wales, including digitising the National Museum Wales collections of contemporary art and the creation of a new football museum and developing Theatr Clwyd. We're also looking to create a memorandum of understanding with the Arts Council of Wales, to ensure alignment between the creative sectors and the arts sector. Through the freelancer and public sector pledges, we're working with the sector to ensure a more co-ordinated approach, moving forward. Events are also a vital part of the visitor economy, and we fully recognise the importance of those to the sector.

So, to answer your question directly, a key part of my work is to work with the economy Minister in making sure that the cultural sector is adequately funded and is part of the key elements of the economic recovery in Wales, and they will play a key part in that.

Diolch unwaith eto am eich cwestiwn atodol. Byddwn yn dweud o ran swydd y Gweinidog sy’n gyfrifol am ddiwylliant fy mod yn credu ei bod yn bwysicach fod y Gweinidog yn cyflawni'r hyn sy'n ofynnol yn hytrach na'r rôl o fewn hierarchaeth y Llywodraeth. Ac rwy'n deall yn glir beth yw fy rôl yn hynny a fy rôl gyda Gweinidog yr Economi i sicrhau bod y sector diwylliannol yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn yr adferiad economaidd. Ac fel rhan o’r gwaith o ddatblygu'r strategaeth ddiwylliannol, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru’n ymgysylltu ag ystod eang o randdeiliaid, gan gynnwys Beth Nesaf? Cymru. Mae gennym gyfarfod wedi'i drefnu gyda hwy cyn bo hir. Mewn gwirionedd, cyfarfûm â chynrychiolydd o Beth Nesaf? Cymru yn fy etholaeth ychydig cyn yr etholiad, ac aeth drwy'r maniffesto diwylliannol gyda mi. Mae gennych chi a minnau gyfarfod wedi'i drefnu ar ddiwedd y mis, ac rwyf hefyd yn cyfarfod â llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr ar ddiwylliant a chwaraeon, a gobeithiaf y bydd pawb yn cyfrannu at y gwaith y byddwn yn ei wneud o gwmpas hynny.

A chredaf ei bod yn bwysig nodi bod y sector diwylliannol, drwy gydol y pandemig, wedi gweithio'n galed i gynhyrchu cyfleoedd i bobl ymgysylltu â diwylliant a threftadaeth, yn enwedig drwy wasanaethau digidol, a hoffwn sicrhau bod hynny'n parhau a bod gennym ddatblygiad cynaliadwy ar gyfer y sector. Byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn prosiectau i ddarparu sefydliadau diwylliannol newydd a gwell, gan gynyddu mynediad at ein casgliadau a'n hasedau diwylliannol o bob rhan o Gymru, gan gynnwys digideiddio casgliadau celf gyfoes Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru a chreu amgueddfa bêl-droed newydd a datblygu Theatr Clwyd. Rydym hefyd yn awyddus i greu memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth gyda Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, i sicrhau bod y sectorau creadigol a’r sector celfyddydau wedi’u halinio. Drwy’r addunedau gweithwyr llawrydd a sector cyhoeddus, rydym yn gweithio gyda'r sector i sicrhau dull mwy cydgysylltiedig wrth symud ymlaen. Mae digwyddiadau hefyd yn rhan hanfodol o'r economi ymwelwyr, ac rydym yn llwyr gydnabod eu pwysigrwydd i'r sector.

Felly, i ateb eich cwestiwn yn uniongyrchol, rhan allweddol o fy ngwaith yw gweithio gyda Gweinidog yr Economi i sicrhau bod y sector diwylliannol yn cael ei ariannu'n ddigonol a'i fod yn rhan o elfennau allweddol yr adferiad economaidd yng Nghymru, a byddant yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn hynny o beth.

13:35

Minister, there is no denying that Wales's cultural sector has taken a hammering as a result of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Many theatres dropped the final curtain for the last time 15 months ago and, sadly, far too many will never see the footlights switched back on. Music venues and comedy spots also face an uncertain future. I welcome the easing of restrictions, but, for many venues, the damage done may be too great. 

Minister, we need an arts revival to bolster the sector. Will you join me in congratulating the Rhyl Little Theatre in my constituency, the Vale of Clwyd, who, through a crowdfunding scheme, raised moneys to improve their facilities so that they can continue to provide a first-class setting for budding artists? Do you also agree that venues like the Rhyl Little Theatre are vital to ensuring not only the success of future performing artists, but also to the revival of Wales's cultural arts economy?

Weinidog, ni ellir gwadu bod y mesurau i atal lledaeniad COVID-19 wedi amharu'n fawr ar sector diwylliannol Cymru. Caeodd y llen mewn nifer o theatrau am y tro olaf 15 mis yn ôl, ac yn anffodus, mae'r goleuadau wedi diffodd am byth mewn gormod lawer ohonynt. Mae lleoliadau cerddoriaeth a chlybiau comedi hefyd yn wynebu dyfodol ansicr. Rwy’n croesawu llacio’r cyfyngiadau, ond i lawer o leoliadau, efallai fod y niwed a wnaed yn ormod.

Weinidog, mae angen adfywiad celfyddydol arnom i gryfhau'r sector. A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i longyfarch Theatr Fach y Rhyl yn fy etholaeth i, Dyffryn Clwyd, a gododd arian drwy gynllun cyllido torfol i wella eu cyfleusterau fel y gallant barhau i ddarparu lleoliad o'r radd flaenaf i artistiaid newydd? A ydych hefyd yn cytuno bod lleoliadau fel Theatr Fach y Rhyl yn hanfodol nid yn unig i sicrhau llwyddiant perfformwyr yn y dyfodol, ond hefyd i adfywio economi celfyddydau diwylliannol Cymru?

Yes, and can I thank the Member for that question also and agree with him? And I will certainly offer my congratulations to the facility in his constituency and region, in the Vale of Clwyd. These small organisations are a key element of the cultural sector and we need to support them, and we want them to thrive in the post-pandemic world as well. The cultural recovery fund, of course, has been a significant assistance to a number of the organisations in that sector, and I hope that will continue. And, as I said in response to Heledd Fychan's question, these organisations will be an integral part of the post-COVID recovery.

Ydw, ac a gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn hefyd, a chytuno ag ef? Ac rwy’n sicr yn llongyfarch y cyfleuster yn ei etholaeth a'i ranbarth yn Nyffryn Clwyd. Mae'r sefydliadau bach hyn yn elfen allweddol o'r sector diwylliannol ac mae angen inni eu cefnogi ac rydym am iddynt ffynnu yn y byd ôl-bandemig hefyd. Mae'r gronfa adferiad diwylliannol, wrth gwrs, wedi bod o gymorth sylweddol i nifer o'r sefydliadau yn y sector hwnnw, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny'n parhau. Ac fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i gwestiwn Heledd Fychan, bydd y sefydliadau hyn yn rhan annatod o'r broses o adfer ar ôl COVID.

The creative sectors across Wales and the UK have undoubtedly been devastated and traumatised by the ongoing COVID pandemic, as has already been referenced. The Welsh Labour Government is to be commended on its election pledge to establish a national music service to make sure that a lack of money is no barrier in Wales to young people learning to play an instrument or study voice. Members will know that I have campaigned across the fifth Senedd for such a commitment. So, it has never been more critical for Wales and our creatives, and for the survival of a creative Wales, that this occurs alongside a vibrant cultural strategy. Deputy Minister, can you clarify the importance of a national music service within the Welsh Government's culture strategy, going forward, and how will you advance that?

Heb os, mae'r sectorau creadigol ledled Cymru a'r DU wedi cael eu llesteirio a'u trawmateiddio gan bandemig parhaus COVID, fel y nodwyd eisoes. Dylid canmol Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru am ei haddewid etholiadol i sefydlu gwasanaeth cerddoriaeth cenedlaethol i sicrhau nad yw diffyg arian yn rhwystr i bobl ifanc yng Nghymru rhag dysgu chwarae offeryn neu gael gwersi llais. Bydd yr Aelodau’n ymwybodol fy mod wedi ymgyrchu drwy gydol y bumed Senedd am ymrwymiad o’r fath. Felly, ni fu erioed yn fwy hanfodol i Gymru a’n bobl greadigol, ac er parhad Cymru greadigol, fod hyn yn digwydd ochr yn ochr â strategaeth ddiwylliannol fywiog. Ddirprwy Weinidog, a allwch egluro pwysigrwydd gwasanaeth cerddoriaeth cenedlaethol yn strategaeth ddiwylliannol Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol, a sut y byddwch yn symud hynny yn ei flaen?

Well, can I thank Rhianon Passmore for that supplementary question? And I think it is, at this point, worth just saying a little bit about the work that the last Government did on the cultural strategy. My predecessor, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, commissioned strategies across his portfolio, and that included the cultural priorities strategy, and that work was significantly progressed, involving a steering group of key stakeholders, and I believe Heledd Fychan was a member of that key stakeholder group. But the manifesto pledge particularly on establishing the national music service is a key commitment that is being processed through joint working between myself and the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and work has already commenced on developing a range of options to create a sustainable pathway for music education in Wales, working with a range of stakeholders.

The focus is to develop a way forward that builds on the excellent work already being delivered across music education organisations, and ensure that children and young people's well-being is enhanced through access to music. The Welsh Government education directorate has made funding of £1.5 million available for 2021-22 to support music education and music services, and can I thank the Member particularly for her work in this area? She's been a great champion of the national music service, and her support for this initiative has been greatly welcomed, and I look forward to continue working with her, and other Members across the Chamber, and stakeholders, to ensure that this service is developed and delivered. 

Wel, a gaf fi ddiolch i Rhianon Passmore am ei chwestiwn atodol? Ac ar y pwynt hwn, credaf ei bod yn werth sôn ychydig am y gwaith a wnaeth y Llywodraeth ddiwethaf ar y strategaeth ddiwylliannol. Comisiynodd fy rhagflaenydd, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, strategaethau ar draws ei bortffolio, ac roedd hynny’n cynnwys y strategaeth blaenoriaethau diwylliannol, a gwnaed cryn dipyn o gynnydd ar y gwaith hwnnw gyda grŵp llywio o randdeiliaid allweddol, a chredaf fod Heledd Fychan yn aelod o'r grŵp hwnnw o randdeiliaid allweddol. Ond mae'r addewid penodol yn y maniffesto ynglŷn â sefydlu'r gwasanaeth cerddoriaeth cenedlaethol yn ymrwymiad allweddol sy'n cael ei brosesu drwy waith ar y cyd rhyngof fi a Gweinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, ac mae gwaith eisoes yn mynd rhagddo ar ddatblygu ystod o opsiynau i greu llwybr cynaliadwy ar gyfer addysg cerddoriaeth yng Nghymru, gan weithio gydag ystod o randdeiliaid.

Y ffocws yw datblygu ffordd ymlaen sy'n adeiladu ar y gwaith rhagorol sydd eisoes yn cael ei wneud ar draws sefydliadau addysg cerddoriaeth, a sicrhau bod llesiant plant a phobl ifanc yn gwella drwy fynediad at gerddoriaeth. Mae cyfarwyddiaeth addysg Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sicrhau bod cyllid o £1.5 miliwn ar gael ar gyfer 2021-22 i gefnogi addysg cerddoriaeth a gwasanaethau cerddoriaeth, ac a gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod yn arbennig am ei gwaith yn y maes hwn? Mae hi wedi bod yn hyrwyddwr gwych ar ran y gwasanaeth cerddoriaeth cenedlaethol, ac mae ei chefnogaeth i'r fenter hon wedi cael cryn dipyn o groeso, ac edrychaf ymlaen at barhau i weithio gyda hi, ac Aelodau eraill ar draws y Siambr, a rhanddeiliaid, i sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth hwn yn cael ei ddatblygu a'i ddarparu.

Dyfodol Economi Cymru
The Future of the Welsh Economy

2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer dyfodol economi Cymru? OQ56533

2. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's priorities for the future of the Welsh economy? OQ56533

Yes, thank you. A new programme for government will be laid before the Senedd within the coming weeks. This will outline how we plan to take forward our economic resilience and reconstruction mission for Wales and reiterate our commitment to develop a new young person’s guarantee, giving everyone under the age of 25 the offer of work, education or training.

Ie, diolch. Bydd rhaglen lywodraethu newydd yn cael ei gosod gerbron y Senedd yn yr wythnosau nesaf. Bydd yn amlinellu sut rydym yn bwriadu bwrw ymlaen â'n cenhadaeth i gryfhau ac ailadeiladu’r economi yng Nghymru ac yn ailadrodd ein hymrwymiad i ddatblygu gwarant newydd i bobl ifanc, gan roi'r cynnig o waith, addysg neu hyfforddiant i bawb o dan 25 oed.

Thank you for that response, Minister. One of the things that has been devastating in Wales in recent months as a result of the pandemic is the impact on our coastal communities, in particular our seaside towns. We've seen university studies that have demonstrated that communities like Colwyn Bay, Towyn and Kinmel Bay, and other parts of the north Wales coast, in terms of the towns there, are amongst those that have been worst hit by COVID. I was wondering what consideration the Welsh Government has given to the establishment of a seaside towns fund, specifically to ameliorate the impacts of COVID on those communities and to help them rebound from the pandemic economically. 

Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Un o'r pethau sydd wedi bod yn ddinistriol yng Nghymru dros y misoedd diwethaf o ganlyniad i'r pandemig yw'r effaith ar gymunedau arfordirol, yn enwedig ein trefi glan môr. Rydym wedi gweld astudiaethau prifysgol sydd wedi dangos bod cymunedau fel Bae Colwyn, Tywyn a Bae Cinmel, a rhannau eraill o arfordir gogledd Cymru, o ran y trefi yno, ymhlith y rheini sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio waethaf gan COVID. Tybed pa ystyriaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i rhoi i sefydlu cronfa trefi glan môr, yn benodol i liniaru effeithiau COVID ar y cymunedau hynny ac i’w helpu i wella’n economaidd ar ôl y pandemig.

13:40

Well, I'm still open to ideas about how we successfully see the economy of Wales and all its parts rebound. I had the pleasure to be in the Llŷn peninsula visiting a range of seaside towns with my family during half term, and I can see that there are lots of people returning to those areas and, broadly, being very respectful of the need to behave sensibly. We do need to understand what's returning, the amount of support we still need to provide, and we're still in an emergency position, so there are still not the old normal trading provisions, and that's what we're going to need to work through with a range of stakeholders in the future. But, of course, our 'town centre first' approach, I think, will be important for seaside towns as well, as we look to drive more footfall into our towns to make sure that they do have as bright and prosperous a future as possible, and that will, of course, require us to work not just with local partners, local authorities, but also to see how we can, if possible, work rather more constructively with the UK Government.  

Wel, rwy'n dal i fod yn agored i syniadau ynglŷn â sut rydym yn sicrhau bod economi Cymru a'i holl rannau’n gwella. Cefais y pleser o fod ym Mhen Llŷn yn ymweld ag amryw o drefi glan môr gyda fy nheulu yn ystod y gwyliau hanner tymor, a gallaf weld bod llawer o bobl yn dychwelyd i'r ardaloedd hynny, ac ar y cyfan, yn parchu’r angen i ymddwyn yn synhwyrol. Mae angen inni ddeall beth sy'n dychwelyd, faint o gymorth y mae'n rhaid inni ei roi o hyd, ac rydym yn dal i fod mewn sefyllfa o argyfwng, felly nid yw'r hen ddarpariaethau masnachu arferol yn ôl ar waith, a bydd angen inni weithio drwy hynny gydag ystod o randdeiliaid yn y dyfodol. Ond wrth gwrs, bydd ein dull 'canol y dref yn gyntaf', rwy’n credu, yn bwysig i drefi glan môr hefyd, wrth inni geisio denu mwy o ymwelwyr i'n trefi i sicrhau bod ganddynt ddyfodol mor ddisglair a llewyrchus â phosibl, a bydd hynny, wrth gwrs, yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol inni weithio nid yn unig gyda phartneriaid lleol, awdurdodau lleol, ond gweld hefyd sut y gallwn weithio, os oes modd, mewn ffordd ychydig yn fwy adeiladol gyda Llywodraeth y DU.

Minister, the economy of north-east Wales is driven by manufacturing. On Friday, I had the pleasure and the opportunity to meet with eXcent UK and hear about their plans for growth based on employing well-paid, highly skilled, local engineers. Their message was clear: given the right support, the advanced manufacturing sector in north Wales can compete for work globally and provide jobs for future generations. Now, I believe employers like this can—

Weinidog, mae economi gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru yn cael ei gyrru gan weithgynhyrchu. Ddydd Gwener, cefais y pleser a’r cyfle i gyfarfod ag eXcent UK a chlywed am eu cynlluniau ar gyfer twf sy’n seiliedig ar gyflogi peirianwyr lleol hyfedr ar gyflogau da. Roedd eu neges yn glir: gyda’r cymorth cywir, gall y sector gweithgynhyrchu uwch yng ngogledd Cymru gystadlu am waith yn fyd-eang a darparu swyddi ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Nawr, credaf y gall cyflogwyr fel hyn—

We seem to have lost the connection to Jack Sargeant. I'll call John Griffiths, and I'll come back to Jack Sargeant, if the technology allows us. John Griffiths to ask his supplementary question. 

Ymddengys ein bod wedi colli'r cysylltiad â Jack Sargeant. Galwaf ar John Griffiths, a deuaf yn ôl at Jack Sargeant os bydd y dechnoleg yn caniatáu inni wneud hynny. John Griffiths i ofyn ei gwestiwn atodol.

Diolch, Llywydd. The steel industry continues to be a real strength for Wales and is, of course, a strategic industry, so important to manufacturing and construction, for example. I would like the Minister's reassurance, which I'm sure will be forthcoming, that it will be a continuing priority for Welsh Government to support the steel industry in Wales, and to make sure that we have the high-tech, value added, sustainable steel industry that will really support our economy into the future, and, also, that Welsh Government will continue to be in close dialogue with UK Government and Liberty Steel, because that's an important employer in my constituency and we need to ensure that it has a strong future also. 

Diolch, Lywydd. Mae'r diwydiant dur yn parhau i fod yn gryfder gwirioneddol i Gymru, ac wrth gwrs, mae'n ddiwydiant strategol, felly mae’n bwysig i weithgynhyrchu ac adeiladu, er enghraifft. Hoffwn gael sicrwydd gan y Gweinidog, ac rwy’n siŵr y bydd yn barod i’w roi, y bydd cefnogi’r diwydiant dur yng Nghymru yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru, yn ogystal â sicrhau bod gennym ddiwydiant dur cynaliadwy ac uwch-dechnoleg sy'n ychwanegu gwerth, a fydd yn cefnogi ein heconomi'n dda yn y dyfodol, a hefyd, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gynnal trafodaethau agos â Llywodraeth y DU a Liberty Steel, gan eu bod yn gyflogwr pwysig yn fy etholaeth ac mae angen inni sicrhau bod ganddynt hwythau ddyfodol cryf hefyd.

Thank you for the question. I can reiterate that this Government places a high value on the future of the steel industry as it moves to transition to become a decarbonised steel industry. One of my first external ministerial engagements was the UK Steel Council, engaging with the UK Government and other Governments within the United Kingdom, together with the industry, represented by UK Steel, and the trade union side as well, and there was a recognition of the high value that steel provides, and I welcome the change in tone from the UK Government. If we were having this conversation just a few years ago, we would have been talking in rather more critical terms about the view of the UK Government. The current view from the UK Government is it sees a real value in sustaining the steel industry across the United Kingdom, and I recognise the Member's interest with Liberty, but also other providers and manufacturers here in Wales, and I look forward to continuing to meet those individual employers, as well as meeting them collectively. And I also have in my diary a meeting date with the trade union side to understand how we take forward the steel industry, not if we do so here in Wales. 

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Gallaf ailddatgan bod y Llywodraeth hon yn gosod gwerth uchel ar ddyfodol y diwydiant dur wrth iddo newid i fod yn ddiwydiant dur wedi'i ddatgarboneiddio. Un o fy ymrwymiadau gweinidogol allanol cyntaf oedd Cyngor Dur y DU, gan ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU a Llywodraethau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ynghyd â'r diwydiant, a gynrychiolwyd gan UK Steel, ac ochr yr undebau llafur hefyd, a chafwyd cydnabyddiaeth o’r gwerth uchel y mae dur yn ei gynnig, ac rwy'n croesawu'r newid yng nghywair Llywodraeth y DU. Pe baem wedi cael y sgwrs hon ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl, byddem wedi siarad mewn termau ychydig yn fwy beirniadol am safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU. Safbwynt cyfredol Llywodraeth y DU yw ei bod yn gweld gwerth gwirioneddol mewn cynnal y diwydiant dur ledled y Deyrnas Unedig, ac rwy’n cydnabod diddordeb yr Aelod yn Liberty, a darparwyr a gweithgynhyrchwyr eraill hefyd yma yng Nghymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at barhau i gyfarfod â’r cyflogwyr unigol hynny, yn ogystal â'u cyfarfod gyda’i gilydd. Ac mae gennyf gyfarfod yn fy nyddiadur gydag ochr yr undebau llafur i ddeall sut rydym yn datblygu’r diwydiant dur, nid os ydym yn gwneud hynny yma yng Nghymru.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.  

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Paul Davies.  

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, can I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your new appointment, and say from the outset that I look forward to working constructively with you, where I can, to protect, support and transform our economy as we move out of this pandemic? 

Now, Minister, the Welsh Government has laid claim to offering the most comprehensive package of business support in the UK throughout the COVID pandemic, and whilst many businesses have been given support to stay afloat, there have also been businesses and, indeed, individuals that missed out completely. Some have felt that they've slipped through the gaps in business support packages and others have felt that local authorities have used their discretion not to pass on financial support. Therefore, given some of the evidence, on what basis do you believe the Welsh Government has provided businesses in Wales with the most comprehensive support package in the UK? In light of the persistent impact of COVID-19 on businesses and jobs, what will be your first action in your new post to secure a strong labour market recovery?

Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, a gaf fi achub ar y cyfle hwn i'ch llongyfarch ar eich penodiad newydd, a dweud o'r cychwyn fy mod yn edrych ymlaen at weithio'n adeiladol gyda chi lle gallaf wneud hynny, i amddiffyn, cefnogi a thrawsnewid ein heconomi wrth inni gefnu ar y pandemig hwn?

Nawr, Weinidog, honnodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei bod hi wedi cynnig y pecyn cymorth mwyaf cynhwysfawr yn y DU i fusnesau drwy gydol pandemig COVID, ac er bod llawer o fusnesau wedi cael cymorth i oroesi, mae rhai busnesau, ac yn wir, rhai unigolion wedi bod ar eu colled yn gyfan gwbl. Mae rhai wedi teimlo eu bod wedi llithro drwy'r bylchau mewn pecynnau cymorth i fusnesau ac eraill yn teimlo bod awdurdodau lleol wedi defnyddio eu disgresiwn i beidio â darparu cymorth ariannol. Felly, o ystyried peth o'r dystiolaeth, ar ba sail y credwch fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu’r pecyn cymorth mwyaf cynhwysfawr yn y DU i fusnesau yng Nghymru? Yng ngoleuni effaith barhaus COVID-19 ar fusnesau a swyddi, beth fydd eich gweithred gyntaf yn eich swydd newydd i sicrhau adferiad cryf yn y farchnad lafur?

13:45

It's a matter of fact, not opinion, that we have provided £2.3 billion of support for business and the economy here in Wales, following a consequential of £1.9 billion from the UK Government. The additional £400 million is a choice that we have made to further support businesses here in Wales. The Member will know that, for example, small business rate relief is carrying on for a full year here in Wales; it's one quarter of full relief in England, before being reduced successively after that. 

The Member will also have heard in this Chamber the First Minister highlighting the example of different hospitality businesses and what they would receive over the border. For a 10-employee business since December in Wales, you could have received £52,500; the equivalent business in England would have received £26,000. It is plainly and undeniably a more generous scheme here in Wales.

I'm looking forward to building on the conversations I've already had with business organisations about how we provide greater certainty in our trading environment in the future. Not all of those are matters within the hands of the Welsh Government. I attended the partnership council today between the UK Government and the European Commission and the uncertainty is a key factor in the relationship that we have. But I'm looking forward to the next stage of business support to look at both what we need to do to support those businesses that can't trade normally, as well as investing in the future and especially the ability to invest in improving skills within the workforce and indeed within leadership and management.

Mae'n ffaith, nid mater o farn, ein bod wedi darparu £2.3 biliwn o gymorth i fusnesau a'r economi yma yng Nghymru, yn dilyn cyllid canlyniadol o £1.9 biliwn gan Lywodraeth y DU. Mae'r £400 miliwn ychwanegol yn ddewis rydym wedi'i wneud i roi rhagor o gymorth i fusnesau yma yng Nghymru. Bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, er enghraifft, fod rhyddhad ardrethi busnesau bach yn parhau am flwyddyn lawn yma yng Nghymru; un chwarter o ryddhad llawn a geir yn Lloegr, ac mae’n lleihau yn raddol ar ôl hynny.

Bydd yr Aelod hefyd wedi clywed y Prif Weinidog yn y Siambr hon yn tynnu sylw at enghraifft y gwahanol fusnesau lletygarwch a'r hyn y byddent yn ei dderbyn dros y ffin. Ar gyfer busnes â 10 gweithiwr ers mis Rhagfyr yng Nghymru, gallech fod wedi derbyn £52,500; byddai'r busnes cyfatebol yn Lloegr wedi derbyn £26,000. Mae'n amlwg a heb amheuaeth yn gynllun mwy hael yma yng Nghymru.

Edrychaf ymlaen at adeiladu ar y sgyrsiau rwyf eisoes wedi'u cael gyda sefydliadau busnes ynglŷn â sut rydym yn darparu mwy o sicrwydd yn ein hamgylchedd masnachu yn y dyfodol. Nid yw pob un o’r materion hynny yn nwylo Llywodraeth Cymru. Mynychais y cyngor partneriaeth heddiw rhwng Llywodraeth y DU a'r Comisiwn Ewropeaidd ac mae'r ansicrwydd yn ffactor allweddol yn y berthynas rhyngom. Ond edrychaf ymlaen at gam nesaf y cymorth i fusnesau i edrych ar yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud i gefnogi busnesau na allant fasnachu fel arfer, yn ogystal â buddsoddi yn y dyfodol ac yn enwedig y gallu i fuddsoddi mewn gwella sgiliau yn y gweithlu, ac yn wir, mewn rolau arwain a rheoli.

Minister, I put it to you that the only way that we can judge whether you are providing the most generous support package is if we see actual figures for the businesses you've supported. The First Minister has recently confirmed to the Member for Blaenau Gwent some weeks ago that the Welsh Government intends to publish a breakdown of the level of support provided to businesses affected by COVID-19 by sector, by geography and by strand within the economic recovery programme. This data is absolutely vital in understanding where support has been given and perhaps where it has not. In the spirit of openness and transparency, that information must be made available as soon as possible. Minister, can you categorically confirm when that data will be published? Given the First Minister's recent comments about recalibrating business support going forward, can you tell us, and indeed businesses across Wales, what the Welsh Government's plans are to support businesses going forward?

Weinidog, awgrymaf wrthych mai'r unig ffordd y gallwn farnu a ydych yn darparu'r pecyn cymorth mwyaf hael yw os gwelwn ffigurau gwirioneddol ar gyfer y busnesau rydych wedi'u cefnogi. Yn ddiweddar, cafodd yr Aelod dros Flaenau Gwent gadarnhad gan y Prif Weinidog rai wythnosau yn ôl fod Llywodraeth Cymru’n bwriadu cyhoeddi dadansoddiad o lefel y cymorth a ddarparwyd i fusnesau yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan COVID-19 yn ôl sector, yn ôl daearyddiaeth ac yn ôl elfen yn rhaglen yr adferiad economaidd. Mae'r data hwn yn gwbl hanfodol er mwyn deall lle mae cymorth wedi'i roi ac efallai lle na chafodd ei roi. Mewn ysbryd o ddidwylledd a thryloywder, mae’n rhaid sicrhau bod y wybodaeth honno ar gael cyn gynted â phosibl. Weinidog, a allwch gadarnhau'n bendant pa bryd y bydd y data hwnnw'n cael ei gyhoeddi? O ystyried sylwadau diweddar y Prif Weinidog ynglŷn ag ailraddnodi cymorth i fusnesau wrth symud ymlaen, a allwch ddweud wrthym, ac yn wir wrth fusnesau ledled Cymru, beth yw cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi busnesau wrth symud ymlaen?

There are two particular parts to that question. The first is the publication of business support already provided. We've already published some of that information on previous support we provided earlier in the pandemic. I won't give an indication now, because I need to check, but I'm happy to make sure that all Members are aware when we will, not if we will, publish that. So, there is entire openness and transparency, because there is certainly no attempt to hide the amounts that have been provided. That's part of the conditions upon which the support has been provided. Every business receiving support knows that we will publish the amounts that have been provided.

On your latter point about how we'll support businesses going forward, I expect to come back to this place to outline the next stages of business support. And in recalibrating what we're doing, that has to take account of the position we find ourselves in, both with the path of easements that are being unlocked—and we're in a good position, having announced the phased move to go fully into alert level 1 over the next few weeks. That still means there will be some restrictions in place. We then need to think about the next stage of support for businesses, as I indicated in my first answer, because we're still in an emergency situation—we're not back to the old normal. Social distancing, hand-washing, mask-wearing and those base measures are still with us, as well as restrictions on the numbers of people that can attend a variety of businesses. Alongside that, I want to look at investing in the future—to invest in the further recovery—and I think we'll be able to do that over the next few months, but crucially when the UK Government provide a future comprehensive spending review and we have more certainty on our ability to invest on a multi-year basis.

Mae dwy ran benodol i'r cwestiwn hwnnw. Y cyntaf yw cyhoeddi pa gymorth i fusnesau a ddarparwyd eisoes. Rydym eisoes wedi cyhoeddi peth o'r wybodaeth honno ynglŷn â chymorth blaenorol a ddarparwyd gennym yn gynharach yn y pandemig. Nid wyf am ddweud unrhyw beth ar hyn o bryd, gan fod angen imi wirio, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i sicrhau bod yr holl Aelodau'n ymwybodol o ba bryd y byddwn, nid os byddwn, yn cyhoeddi’r wybodaeth honno. Felly, mae'n gwbl agored a thryloyw, oherwydd yn sicr, nid oes unrhyw ymdrech i guddio'r symiau a ddarparwyd. Roedd hynny’n rhan o'r amodau ar gyfer darparu’r cymorth. Mae pob busnes sy'n derbyn cymorth yn gwybod y byddwn yn cyhoeddi'r symiau a ddarparwyd.

Ar eich pwynt olaf ynglŷn â sut y byddwn yn cefnogi busnesau wrth symud ymlaen, rwy'n disgwyl dychwelyd i'r lle hwn i amlinellu camau nesaf y cymorth i fusnesau. Ac wrth ailraddnodi'r hyn a wnawn, mae'n rhaid i hynny roi ystyriaeth i'r sefyllfa rydym ynddi, gyda’r llwybr i lacio’r cyfyngiadau—ac rydym mewn sefyllfa dda, ar ôl cyhoeddi'r newid graddol i lefel rhybudd 1 yn llawn dros yr wythnosau nesaf. Mae hynny'n dal i olygu y bydd rhai cyfyngiadau ar waith. Yna, mae angen inni feddwl am gam nesaf y cymorth i fusnesau, fel y nodais yn fy ateb cyntaf, gan ein bod mewn sefyllfa o argyfwng o hyd—nid ydym yn ôl i’r hen normal. Mae cadw pellter cymdeithasol, golchi dwylo, gwisgo masgiau a'r mesurau sylfaenol hynny gyda ni o hyd, yn ogystal â chyfyngiadau ar nifer y bobl sy'n gallu mynychu amrywiaeth o fusnesau. Ochr yn ochr â hynny, rwyf am edrych ar fuddsoddi yn y dyfodol—buddsoddi yn yr adferiad pellach—a chredaf y byddwn yn gallu gwneud hynny dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf, ond yn hollbwysig, pan fydd Llywodraeth y DU yn darparu adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant yn y dyfodol gan roi mwy o sicrwydd i ni ynghylch ein gallu i fuddsoddi ar sail amlflwydd.

Minister, whatever changes you actually make in the future in terms of business support, they must be made clearly and businesses must be engaged and understand the Welsh Government's direction of travel, so I look forward to further statements from you in due course. I think the publication of data is also crucial in actually understanding the Welsh Government's approach and to learn lessons for the future. So, I hope very much that you will listen to the First Minister. The First Minister's made it absolutely clear that he wants that information published, so I look forward to that information being published in due course.

You'll also be aware of the recent Public Health Wales report that showed that young workers aged 16 to 24 were much more likely to be employed in shut-down sectors, compared to other age groups. That same report also showed that younger workers felt more uncertain about the future, especially when Government schemes come to an end and what that might mean in terms of job prospects. Your party's Senedd manifesto promised a young person's guarantee that guarantees everyone under the age of 25 an offer of work, education, training or self-employment. Minister, what is your message to young workers in Wales today about their fears over job prospects in the future? And can you spell out exactly when the young person's guarantee is going to be brought forward so that Wales can move forward from the pandemic with an economy that works and supports young people? Because that's what it says in your manifesto. 

Weinidog, pa newidiadau bynnag a wnewch yn y dyfodol i gymorth i fusnesau, mae’n rhaid eu gwneud mewn modd clir, ac mae’n rhaid ymgysylltu â busnesau a sicrhau eu bod yn deall cyfeiriad teithio Llywodraeth Cymru, felly edrychaf ymlaen at ddatganiadau pellach gennych maes o law. Credaf fod cyhoeddi data hefyd yn hanfodol er mwyn gallu deall dull Llywodraeth Cymru o weithredu a dysgu gwersi ar gyfer y dyfodol. Felly, gobeithio'n wir y byddwch yn gwrando ar y Prif Weinidog. Mae’r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud yn gwbl glir ei fod am i'r wybodaeth honno gael ei chyhoeddi, felly edrychaf ymlaen at weld y wybodaeth honno wedi'i chyhoeddi maes o law.

Fe fyddwch hefyd yn ymwybodol o adroddiad diweddar Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru a ddangosodd fod gweithwyr ifanc rhwng 16 a 24 oed yn llawer mwy tebygol o fod wedi'u cyflogi mewn sectorau sydd ar gau, o gymharu â grwpiau oedran eraill. Dangosodd yr un adroddiad hefyd fod gweithwyr iau yn teimlo’n fwy ansicr am y dyfodol, yn enwedig pan ddaw cynlluniau’r Llywodraeth i ben, a’r hyn y gallai hynny ei olygu o ran rhagolygon swyddi. Addawodd maniffesto Senedd eich plaid warant i bobl ifanc sy’n gwarantu cynnig o waith, addysg, hyfforddiant neu hunangyflogaeth i bawb o dan 25 oed. Weinidog, beth yw eich neges i weithwyr ifanc yng Nghymru heddiw ynglŷn â’u hofnau ynghylch rhagolygon swyddi yn y dyfodol? Ac a allwch nodi pryd yn union y bydd y warant i bobl ifanc yn cael ei chyflwyno fel y gall Cymru symud ymlaen o'r pandemig gydag economi sy'n gweithio ac sy’n cefnogi pobl ifanc? Oherwydd dyna mae'n ei ddweud yn eich maniffesto.

13:50

That's exactly what we will do. I look forward to providing a statement to Members and the public on how we are taking forward the youth guarantee. I note what the Member had to say about the withdrawal of support for industry. As the furlough scheme starts to phase out, businesses will make choices in advance of that and there is a risk that, as the UK Government support is phased down, some businesses will choose not to continue with the same headcount currently available. That's a challenge and it's a particular challenge for younger workers. We know they've been particularly affected in sectors of the economy where they're more likely to be employed. I'd say to any young workers or young people looking to go into the world of work that we do understand that this is an uncertain time and that's exactly why we are going to provide a youth guarantee to make sure that there is no lost generation as a result of the pandemic. I look forward to providing a statement and answering questions here in this Chamber as we look to do that—not just the initial announcement, but how we take forward that work, including, crucially, working with businesses, our advisory services and young people themselves to understand how we'll have the most successful and practical offer available in Wales.

Dyna'n union y byddwn yn ei wneud. Edrychaf ymlaen at roi datganiad i'r Aelodau a'r cyhoedd ynglŷn â sut rydym yn bwrw ymlaen â'r warant i bobl ifanc. Nodaf yr hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod ynglŷn â diddymu cymorth i ddiwydiant. Wrth i'r cynllun ffyrlo ddechrau dod i ben yn raddol, bydd busnesau'n gwneud dewisiadau cyn hynny ac wrth i gymorth Llywodraeth y DU ddirwyn i ben yn raddol, mae perygl y bydd rhai busnesau’n dewis peidio â pharhau gyda'r un nifer o weithwyr ag sydd ganddynt ar hyn o bryd. Mae honno'n her, ac mae'n her benodol i weithwyr iau. Gwyddom eu bod wedi cael eu heffeithio'n arbennig mewn sectorau o'r economi lle maent yn fwy tebygol o fod wedi eu cyflogi. Byddwn yn dweud wrth unrhyw weithwyr ifanc neu bobl ifanc sy'n awyddus i fynd i fyd gwaith ein bod yn deall bod hwn yn gyfnod ansicr a dyna'n union pam ein bod yn mynd i ddarparu gwarant i bobl ifanc i sicrhau nad oes cenhedlaeth goll o ganlyniad i'r pandemig. Edrychaf ymlaen at roi datganiad ac ateb cwestiynau yma yn y Siambr hon wrth inni geisio gwneud hynny—nid yn unig y cyhoeddiad cychwynnol, ond sut rydym yn bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith hwnnw, gan gynnwys, yn hanfodol, gweithio gyda busnesau, ein gwasanaethau cynghori a'r bobl ifanc eu hunain er mwyn deall sut y bydd gennym y cynnig mwyaf llwyddiannus ac ymarferol ar gael yng Nghymru.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.

Diolch, Llywydd. I'd like to begin by saying congratulations to the Minister on his new post. I haven't had a chance to say it to him in person yet, but I'm sure that he's as excited as I am to have a constructive relationship going forward.

Since the establishment of devolution in 1999 and full law-making powers in 2011, no Welsh Government has undertaken legislation aimed specifically at addressing the Welsh economy and business. With the democratic institutions in Wales by now well established, we think now is the right time. Small and medium-sized enterprises need clear and long-term proposals to help them provide a strong footing for economic development in Wales. So, I'd like to ask the Minister: what legislative options will the Welsh Government consider over the next Senedd term that would help underpin the measures and the architecture needed to support economic development in Wales that can ensure that our business advice and support services have longevity and stability and are able to react in supporting businesses when crises arise, as has been the case through COVID-19?

Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy longyfarch y Gweinidog ar ei swydd newydd. Nid wyf wedi cael cyfle i ddweud hynny wrtho wyneb yn wyneb eto, ond rwy'n siŵr ei fod mor gyffrous â minnau i gael perthynas adeiladol wrth symud ymlaen.

Ers cychwyn datganoli ym 1999 a phwerau deddfu llawn yn 2011, nid oes unrhyw Lywodraeth yng Nghymru wedi llunio deddfwriaeth wedi'i hanelu'n benodol at fynd i'r afael ag economi a busnesau Cymru. Gyda'r sefydliadau democrataidd yng Nghymru wedi hen ennill eu plwyf bellach, credwn mai nawr yw'r amser iawn. Mae angen cynigion clir a hirdymor ar fentrau bach a chanolig i'w helpu i ddarparu sylfaen gref ar gyfer datblygiad economaidd yng Nghymru. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog: pa opsiynau deddfwriaethol y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu hystyried dros dymor nesaf y Senedd a fyddai'n helpu i gynnal y mesurau a'r bensaernïaeth sydd eu hangen i gefnogi datblygiad economaidd yng Nghymru a all sicrhau hirhoedledd a sefydlogrwydd ein gwasanaethau cymorth a chyngor i fusnesau, ac ymateb i gefnogi busnesau pan fydd argyfyngau'n digwydd, fel y gwelwyd gyda COVID-19?

Thank you for the kind words of introduction. I look forward to working with him across the Chamber, in the Chamber and outside it as well.

In terms of your point about legislation, I think the challenge is whether legislation will make a difference. That's the real test, surely; not just that we have the powers, but that the powers to legislate can be used in a meaningful way. If you look at the way that this place has reacted to events in the past, for example, when the previous Deputy First Minister from your own party was in post, in response to the 2007-08 crisis, at that time, the significant response of the Welsh Government led by Rhodri Morgan at the time was with the ReAct and ProAct schemes that didn't require a change in legislation. It was actually about how the powers already here and budgets were used in a creative way that involved stakeholders from the world of business—the Confederation of British Industry in particular, and also the Wales Trades Union Congress. We came together in an agreed way to protect as much work as possible. Through the COVID pandemic, we've been able to do something similar, using our powers, working with stakeholders and with our approach on social partnership. We are going to legislate the social partnership for the future. I also think it's important to recognise that social partnership and procurement legislation, because improving the amount of procurement spend that is retained in Wales will make a real difference. That's not the same as legislating to essentially try to legislate for jobs; it's how we get the greatest return on money and improve relationships.

You mentioned business support; it's one of my key concerns and why I mentioned wanting to have a more constructive relationship with the UK Government in answer to Paul Davies. Business Wales is a single brand for business support, a single door to go through at present. That has been largely funded by the former European Union funds that are coming to an end. The replacement funds, if they're administered in the way that the UK Government is currently indicating, could undermine our ability to carry on funding that service as effectively as we have been and a range of other areas. So, there is work to be done here, with the responsibilities we have, and if the Member has key proposals that would mean that legislation can be effective, I'll happily talk to him about those. But, our relationship, our powers and the existence of this place, and the responsibilities that the people of Wales have chosen to give us, are a key factor in how we work with the UK Government, I hope, rather than a more confrontational approach, which is the current path we're headed on.

Diolch am eich cyflwyniad caredig. Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gydag ef ar draws y Siambr, yn y Siambr a thu allan iddi hefyd.

O ran eich pwynt ynglŷn â deddfwriaeth, credaf mai'r her yw a fydd deddfwriaeth yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Dyna'r prawf gwirioneddol, does bosibl; nid yn unig fod gennym y pwerau, ond y gellir defnyddio'r pwerau i ddeddfu mewn ffordd ystyrlon. Os edrychwch ar y ffordd y mae'r lle hwn wedi ymateb i ddigwyddiadau yn y gorffennol, er enghraifft, pan oedd y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog blaenorol o'ch plaid eich hun yn ei swydd, mewn ymateb i argyfwng 2007-08 ar y pryd, yr ymateb arwyddocaol a gafwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru dan arweiniad Rhodri Morgan oedd drwy gynlluniau ReAct a ProAct, nad oedd yn galw am newid i'r ddeddfwriaeth. Roedd yn ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â sut roedd y pwerau a oedd yma eisoes a’r cyllidebau'n cael eu defnyddio mewn ffordd greadigol a oedd yn cynnwys rhanddeiliaid o fyd busnes—Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain yn benodol, a Chyngres Undebau Llafur Cymru hefyd. Daethom at ein gilydd mewn ffordd y cytunwyd arni i ddiogelu cymaint o waith â phosibl. Drwy gydol y pandemig COVID, rydym wedi gallu gwneud rhywbeth tebyg, a defnyddio ein pwerau, gan weithio gyda rhanddeiliaid a chyda'n dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol. Rydym yn mynd i ddeddfu’r bartneriaeth gymdeithasol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Credaf hefyd ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod y ddeddfwriaeth gaffael a phartneriaeth gymdeithasol, gan y bydd gwella faint o wariant caffael a gedwir yng Nghymru yn gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol. Nid yw hynny yr un peth â deddfu, i bob pwrpas, i geisio deddfu ar gyfer swyddi; dyna sut y cawn yr enillion ariannol mwyaf a gwella cysylltiadau.

Fe sonioch chi am gymorth i fusnesau; dyna un o fy mhryderon allweddol a dyna pam y soniais fy mod yn dymuno cael perthynas fwy adeiladol â Llywodraeth y DU yn fy ateb i Paul Davies. Mae Busnes Cymru yn un brand ar gyfer cymorth i fusnesau, un drws i fynd drwyddo ar hyn o bryd. Cafodd ei ariannu i raddau helaeth o gronfeydd blaenorol yr Undeb Ewropeaidd sy'n dod i ben. Gallai'r cronfeydd newydd i gymryd eu lle, os cânt eu gweinyddu yn y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei nodi ar hyn o bryd, danseilio ein gallu i barhau i ariannu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw mor effeithiol ag y buom yn ei wneud, ac ystod o feysydd eraill. Felly, mae gwaith i'w wneud yma, gyda'r cyfrifoldebau sydd gennym, ac os oes gan yr Aelod gynigion allweddol a fyddai'n golygu y gall deddfwriaeth fod yn effeithiol, rwy’n fwy na pharod i’w trafod gydag ef. Ond mae ein perthynas, ein pwerau a bodolaeth y lle hwn, a'r cyfrifoldebau y mae pobl Cymru wedi dewis eu rhoi i ni, yn ffactor allweddol yn y ffordd y gweithiwn gyda Llywodraeth y DU, rwy'n gobeithio, yn hytrach na dull mwy gwrthdrawiadol, sef y llwybr rydym arno ar hyn o bryd.

13:55

I thank you for that answer, Minister, and I'm encouraged to hear about the social partnership Act. As he knows, Plaid Cymru has been very supportive of that throughout the process, and I'm looking forward to working with him on that point and, as well, to working on, potentially, looking at some legislative options going forward.

If I can turn to a confidence issue that we are seeing with SMEs at the moment, it was good to have the opportunity to meet with the Federation of Small Businesses Cymru last week and to discuss how the Senedd and Welsh Government can work together over the next five years to support small businesses. Their recent support, 'What We Value', outlines how SMEs can be the key to rebuilding Wales's economy and communities. Small businesses, as well as contributing to community resilience and provision of vital services, are vital employers. SMEs are 99.4 per cent of businesses in Wales, contributing 62.4 per cent of private sector employment and 37.9 per cent of turnover. As with so many other sectors, SMEs have been hit hard by the pandemic and they needed significant Government support.

Looking forward, there are significantly differing views about the outlook for business and the wider economy in Wales over the next five years. Although 63 per cent of small business owners are very or fairly optimistic about their own enterprise, optimism falls away when a wider perspective of the economy is taken into account. Optimism, in fact, falls to 57 per cent when considering the relevant sector or industry, while even fewer small business owners are optimistic about the small business sector in Wales or the Welsh economy over the next five years. How does the Minister, therefore, intend to engage with SMEs to reduce this confidence gap and provide the necessary clarity on practical long-term goals to help SMEs contribute to the economic recovery in Wales?  

Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog, ac rwy’n falch o glywed am y Ddeddf partneriaeth gymdeithasol. Fel y gŵyr, mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn gefnogol iawn i hynny drwy gydol y broses, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio gydag ef ar y pwynt hwnnw, a hefyd, at edrych, o bosibl, ar rai opsiynau deddfwriaethol wrth symud ymlaen.

Os caf droi at broblem hyder rydym yn ei gweld gyda busnesau bach a chanolig ar hyn o bryd, roedd yn dda cael cyfle i gyfarfod â Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf a thrafod sut y gall y Senedd a Llywodraeth Cymru weithio gyda'i gilydd dros y pum mlynedd nesaf i gefnogi busnesau bach. Mae eu cymorth diweddar, ‘Yr Hyn Ydym Yn Rhoi Gwerth Arno’, yn amlinellu sut y gall busnesau bach a chanolig fod yn allweddol i’r gwaith o ailadeiladu economi a chymunedau Cymru. Yn ogystal â chyfrannu at gadernid cymunedau a darparu gwasanaethau hanfodol, mae busnesau bach yn gyflogwyr hanfodol. Mae 99.4 y cant o fusnesau yng Nghymru yn fusnesau bach a chanolig, ac yn cyfrannu 62.4 y cant o gyflogaeth y sector preifat a 37.9 y cant o'r trosiant. Fel cymaint o sectorau eraill, mae’r pandemig wedi effeithio’n andwyol ar fusnesau bach a chanolig ac roedd arnynt angen cymorth sylweddol gan y Llywodraeth.

Wrth edrych ymlaen, ceir safbwyntiau gwahanol iawn am y rhagolygon ar gyfer busnes a'r economi ehangach yng Nghymru dros y pum mlynedd nesaf. Er bod 63 y cant o berchnogion busnesau bach yn obeithiol iawn neu'n weddol obeithiol am eu menter eu hunain, mae optimistiaeth yn lleihau wrth ystyried yr economi ehangach. Mae optimistiaeth, mewn gwirionedd, yn cwympo i 57 y cant wrth ystyried y sector neu'r diwydiant perthnasol, tra bo hyd yn oed llai o berchnogion busnesau bach yn obeithiol am y sector busnesau bach yng Nghymru neu economi Cymru dros y pum mlynedd nesaf. Sut y mae'r Gweinidog, felly, yn bwriadu ymgysylltu â busnesau bach a chanolig i leihau'r diffyg hyder hwn a darparu'r eglurder angenrheidiol ar amcanion hirdymor ymarferol i helpu busnesau bach a chanolig i gyfrannu at yr adferiad economaidd yng Nghymru?

The Member highlights one of the conundra: that when people are asked about their business, they're confident, but when they're asked more generally, they have less confidence. It's exactly the same in a number of other areas: where people have personal experience, they feel they have more control, and less confidence when they think about a broader perspective. So, some of this is, actually, about matching up what people are seeing on the ground. When I've met a range of business organisations, including the FSB, I've had an initial conversation about what we can do and I look forward to continuing to work with them, because I think the only way to generate that confidence is in the conversations that we have, but also in the decisions that we make, and whether those businesses can, actually, provide a future for themselves that is both about maintaining businesses that exist and helping some businesses to grow. Some businesses will always be small businesses; others can grow to medium and larger sized ones. We do need to be more successful in Wales in seeing more medium and larger sized businesses developing here in Wales, together with the point about business start-up. We recognise that we do need to have a greater rate of business start-up as well, so I'm looking forward to working with them on what I think is a positive agenda, where we recognise that we're in broadly the same place in understanding the challenges that we have, and then the need to understand how we successfully work together, with the convening power of Government and the levers that are currently available to us.  

Mae'r Aelod yn tynnu sylw at un o'r problemau: pan ofynnir i bobl am eu busnes, maent yn hyderus, ond pan ofynnir iddynt yn fwy cyffredinol, mae ganddynt lai o hyder. Mae'r un peth yn wir mewn nifer o feysydd eraill: lle mae gan bobl brofiad personol, maent yn teimlo bod ganddynt fwy o reolaeth, a llai o hyder wrth feddwl am bersbectif ehangach. Felly, mae rhywfaint o hyn yn ymwneud â chydweddu’r hyn y mae pobl yn ei weld ar lawr gwlad. Wrth gyfarfod ag ystod o sefydliadau busnes, gan gynnwys y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach, cefais sgwrs gychwynnol ynglŷn â’r hyn y gallwn ei wneud ac edrychaf ymlaen at barhau i weithio gyda hwy, gan y credaf mai'r unig ffordd i greu'r hyder hwnnw yw drwy’r sgyrsiau a gawn, ond hefyd yn y penderfyniadau a wnawn, ac a all y busnesau hynny ddarparu dyfodol iddynt eu hunain sy'n ymwneud â chynnal busnesau sy'n bodoli yn ogystal â helpu rhai busnesau i dyfu. Bydd rhai busnesau bob amser yn fusnesau bach; gall eraill dyfu i fod yn fusnesau canolig a busnesau mwy o faint. Mae angen inni fod yn fwy llwyddiannus yng Nghymru a gweld mwy o fusnesau canolig a mwy o faint yn datblygu yma yng Nghymru, ynghyd â'r pwynt am fusnesau newydd. Rydym yn cydnabod bod angen inni gael cyfradd uwch o fusnesau newydd hefyd, felly edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda hwy ar agenda sy’n gadarnhaol yn fy marn i, lle rydym yn cydnabod ein bod fwy neu lai yn yr un lle o ran deall yr heriau sy’n ein hwynebu, ac yna'r angen i ddeall sut rydym yn cydweithio'n llwyddiannus, gyda phŵer cynnull y Llywodraeth a'r ysgogiadau sydd ar gael inni ar hyn o bryd.

Thank you, Minister. The reality is in Wales, of course, that the one institution that can give the confidence to SMEs is the Government. We know that the SMEs themselves bring the drive and entrepreneurship; they're a vital resource for their drive, their passion and their expertise in their relative fields. However, to secure this drive and investment, SMEs need certainty. Long-term business plans created prior to the pandemic have likely been scrapped, or at least need to be reviewed as a matter of urgency, and it's understandable why. Is the Welsh Government prepared to go further than their current support and be ready to invest in Welsh SMEs to provide that certainty, instil that confidence in the sector and create the conditions necessary for growth that will drive the Welsh economy forward?

Diolch, Weinidog. Y gwir amdani yng Nghymru, wrth gwrs, yw mai'r un sefydliad a all roi hyder i fusnesau bach a chanolig yw'r Llywodraeth. Gwyddom fod gan y busnesau bach a chanolig eu hunain ysfa ac entrepreneuriaeth; maent yn adnodd hanfodol oherwydd eu hysfa, eu hangerdd a'u harbenigedd yn eu priod feysydd. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn diogelu’r ysfa a'r buddsoddiad hwn, mae angen sicrwydd ar fusnesau bach a chanolig. Mae'n debygol fod cynlluniau busnes hirdymor a grëwyd cyn y pandemig wedi'u diddymu, neu o leiaf fod angen eu hadolygu ar frys, ac mae'n ddealladwy pam. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i fynd ymhellach na’u cymorth cyfredol a bod yn barod i fuddsoddi ym musnesau bach a chanolig Cymru er mwyn darparu sicrwydd, ennyn hyder yn y sector a chreu’r amodau sy’n angenrheidiol ar gyfer twf a fydd yn hybu economi Cymru?

There is a range of factors, as I indicated to Paul Davies, where the Welsh Government certainly has a role in creating those conditions, and others where we need to work alongside the UK Government. The continuing trading relationships with the European Union are a key factor for us. If we were talking about ports, we'd have a particular challenge about ports in Pembrokeshire and in Holyhead, and the changed relationship, with the way that trade is being diverted. We have some of those challenges to work through, where there's a mix of reserved responsibilities and responsibilities we have here.

So, that's part of the mix. It's also, then, the choices we can make here. That's why we're not just talking about the youth guarantee, but we want to about skills and about business support. Having clarity on our ability to deliver those will be hugely important, to help those smaller businesses to invest in the skills of their workforces, their leaders and their managers. It's one of the key factors in helping businesses to grow and, obviously, we have a successful base to build on, with a successful apprenticeship programme, a key commitment to do more on that, and how we work alongside small businesses to understand how we best meet their needs.

The other key factor, though, in terms of confidence for small businesses is, actually, the behaviour of customers. And you will recall the retail consortium talking about the fact that customer behaviour is still a changing matter, where we're still understanding how customers will behave. It's both about those people who want to return to an office environment and how long for, what that means for businesses where their model is that they rely on those people, as well as on the retailer on the high street, whether we're going to see numbers coming through in sufficient number, that those businesses have a more confident outlook on their own future. And part of the challenge and the honesty is that we want to provide certainty in a world that is still slightly uncertain. I say 'slightly uncertain', and I hope, over the coming weeks, we'll develop more certainty about that as we carry on with the measures that my colleague Eluned Morgan will no doubt talk about in a short period of time, on rolling out our vaccination programme and the protection that should give. So, the continuing route out of the pandemic is a key factor in providing the conditions for certainty for businesses and the wider public to make their own choices.

Ceir ystod o ffactorau, fel y dywedais wrth Paul Davies, lle mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru rôl, yn sicr, yn y broses o greu'r amodau hynny, ac eraill lle mae angen inni weithio ochr yn ochr â Llywodraeth y DU. Mae'r cysylltiadau masnachu parhaus gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn ffactor allweddol i ni. Pe baem yn siarad am borthladdoedd, byddem yn wynebu her benodol gyda’r porthladdoedd yn sir Benfro ac yng Nghaergybi, a'r berthynas newydd, gyda'r ffordd y mae masnach yn cael ei dargyfeirio. Mae gennym rai o'r heriau hynny i weithio drwyddynt, lle ceir cymysgedd o gyfrifoldebau a gedwir yn ôl a chyfrifoldebau sydd gennym yma.

Felly, mae hynny'n rhan o'r gymysgedd. Mae a wnelo hefyd â’r dewisiadau y gallwn eu gwneud yma. Dyna pam nad ydym yn sôn yn unig am y warant i bobl ifanc, ond rydym yn awyddus i sôn am sgiliau ac am gymorth i fusnesau. Bydd cael eglurder ynglŷn â’n gallu i ddarparu hynny yn hynod bwysig, er mwyn helpu busnesau llai i fuddsoddi yn sgiliau eu gweithluoedd, eu harweinwyr a'u rheolwyr. Mae'n un o'r ffactorau allweddol wrth helpu busnesau i dyfu, ac yn amlwg, mae gennym sylfaen lwyddiannus i adeiladu arni, gyda rhaglen brentisiaethau lwyddiannus, ymrwymiad allweddol i wneud mwy ar hynny, a sut rydym yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â busnesau bach i ddeall y ffordd orau o ddiwallu eu hanghenion.

Y ffactor allweddol arall, serch hynny, o ran hyder i fusnesau bach, yw ymddygiad cwsmeriaid. Ac fe fyddwch yn cofio’r consortiwm manwerthu yn sôn am y ffaith bod ymddygiad cwsmeriaid yn dal i fod yn fater sy'n newid, lle rydym yn dal i ddeall sut y bydd cwsmeriaid yn ymddwyn. Mae'n ymwneud â'r bobl sy’n awyddus i ddychwelyd i amgylchedd swyddfa ac am ba hyd, beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu i fusnesau lle mae eu model yn golygu eu bod yn dibynnu ar y bobl hynny, yn ogystal ag ar y manwerthwr ar y stryd fawr, ac a ydym yn mynd i weld niferoedd digonol i sicrhau bod gan y busnesau hynny ragolygon mwy hyderus ar gyfer eu dyfodol eu hunain. A rhan o'r her a'r gonestrwydd yw ein bod am ddarparu sicrwydd mewn byd sydd ychydig yn ansicr o hyd. Rwy'n dweud 'ychydig yn ansicr', ac rwy'n gobeithio, dros yr wythnosau nesaf, y byddwn yn datblygu mwy o sicrwydd ynglŷn â hynny wrth inni barhau â'r mesurau y bydd fy nghyd-Aelod Eluned Morgan yn siŵr o sôn amdanynt yn y man, ynglŷn â chyflwyno ein rhaglen frechu a'r diogelwch y dylai hynny ei roi. Felly, mae'r llwybr parhaus allan o'r pandemig yn ffactor allweddol o ran darparu'r amodau ar gyfer sicrwydd i fusnesau a'r cyhoedd yn ehangach wneud eu dewisiadau eu hunain.

14:00
Arferion Diswyddo ac Ailgyflogi
Fire-and-rehire Practices

3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y defnydd o arferion diswyddo ac ailgyflogi gan gwmnïau sy'n cael cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru? OQ56538

3. Will the Minister make a statement on the use of fire-and-rehire practices by companies in receipt of Welsh Government funding? OQ56538

I want to be clear, as the First Minister was yesterday, that the Welsh Government condemns the use of fire and rehire as a negotiating tactic and employment practice. The threat of redundancy to impose inferior pay, terms and conditions on workers does not accord our fair work and social partnership values, and is inconsistent with the ethos of the economic contract. 

Hoffwn ddweud yn glir, fel y gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn condemnio’r defnydd o ddiswyddo ac ailgyflogi fel tacteg negodi ac arfer cyflogaeth. Nid yw'r bygythiad o ddileu swydd i orfodi tâl, telerau ac amodau israddol ar weithwyr yn cyd-fynd â'n gwerthoedd gwaith teg a phartneriaeth gymdeithasol, ac mae'n anghyson ag ethos y contract economaidd.

I think many of us in the Chamber will welcome that clarity. And, Minister, unfortunately, the repugnant use of fire and rehire is growing. Only a month ago, 140 MPs and Lords joined a campaign, led by the TUC and around 20 major unions in this country, including Unite, GMB, community, the FSB—most of the major unions—to stop employers raiding wages, cutting sick pay terms and conditions and undermining workers' rights at work. They called on the UK Government to use the Queen's Speech in May to stop this practice of fire and rehire, but those calls were ignored.

Now, employment law, of course, is not devolved to Wales, but we do have some powerful tools to hand, including the social partnership approach and ethical procurement, which turned the spotlight previously on companies who had used construction blacklists to absolutely beggar the lives of workers within the construction industry. So, Minister, what more can we do to stamp out the use of hire and fire in Wales, where companies are in receipt of public funds, and is there anything we could look at in the social partnership legislation going forward, too?

Credaf y bydd llawer ohonom yn y Siambr yn croesawu'r eglurder hwnnw. Weinidog, yn anffodus, mae'r defnydd gwrthun o ddiswyddo ac ailgyflogi ar gynnydd. Fis yn ôl yn unig, ymunodd 140 o ASau ac Arglwyddi ag ymgyrch dan arweiniad Cyngres yr Undebau Llafur ac oddeutu 20 o undebau mawr yn y wlad hon, gan gynnwys undebau Unite, GMB, Community, y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach—y rhan fwyaf o'r prif undebau—i atal cyflogwyr rhag ysbeilio cyflogau, torri telerau ac amodau tâl salwch a thanseilio hawliau gweithwyr yn y gwaith. Fe wnaethant alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ddefnyddio Araith y Frenhines ym mis Mai i atal arferion diswyddo ac ailgyflogi, ond anwybyddwyd y galwadau hynny.

Nawr, nid yw cyfraith cyflogaeth, wrth gwrs, wedi'i datganoli i Gymru, ond mae gennym rai arfau pwerus wrth law, gan gynnwys y dull partneriaeth gymdeithasol a chaffael moesegol, sydd wedi tynnu sylw yn y gorffennol at gwmnïau a oedd yn defnyddio cosbrestrau adeiladu i wneud bywydau gweithwyr yn y diwydiant adeiladu yn dlotach. Felly, Weinidog, beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i gael gwared ar arferion diswyddo ac ailgyflogi yng Nghymru, lle mae cwmnïau'n derbyn arian cyhoeddus, ac a oes unrhyw beth y gallem edrych arno yn y ddeddfwriaeth partneriaeth gymdeithasol wrth symud ymlaen hefyd?

Yes, and I recognise the point the Member makes. I remember as a backbencher raising issues about the construction workers' blacklist and the direct impact that had on the lives of workers in Wales and beyond. So, we are going to look to use the levers, both practical that we have and influential, to try to move employers in Wales to a position where they understand the view of the Welsh Government and what that means for their engagement with us. So, the economic contract, it's very clear about committing to fair work principles, and if people want continuing support, they're going to need to take account of that. And this goes back to the point about, even though we don't have the legislative powers, we have practical levers that should help to move us forward. And I do look forward to making progress on procurement and social partnership, because that will involve us taking forward the fair work agenda, and Members will have the opportunity to scrutinise the approach in legislation about those fair work principles and what it will mean. So, I look forward to Members getting involved and engaging in that to make sure we have the best piece of legislation that should then make a practical difference about how the Welsh Government engages in financial, loan support and practical support for companies and businesses, and I believe that will really improve the world of work here in Wales.

Ie, ac rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud. Pan oeddwn ar y meinciau cefn, rwy'n cofio codi materion yn ymwneud â chosbrestr gweithwyr adeiladu a’r effaith uniongyrchol roedd hynny’n ei chael ar fywydau gweithwyr yng Nghymru a thu hwnt. Felly, byddwn yn ceisio defnyddio'r ysgogiadau ymarferol a dylanwadol sydd gennym i geisio sicrhau bod cyflogwyr yng Nghymru yn deall safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru a beth y mae hynny'n ei olygu i'w hymgysylltiad â ni. Felly, y contract economaidd, mae'n glir iawn mewn perthynas ag ymrwymo i egwyddorion gwaith teg, ac os yw pobl yn dymuno cael cymorth parhaus, bydd angen iddynt gadw hynny mewn cof. Ac er nad oes gennym bwerau deddfwriaethol, mae hyn yn mynd yn ôl at y pwynt fod gennym ysgogiadau ymarferol a ddylai ein helpu i wneud cynnydd. Ac edrychaf ymlaen at wneud cynnydd ar gaffael a phartneriaeth gymdeithasol, gan y bydd hynny'n golygu ein bod yn bwrw ymlaen â'r agenda gwaith teg, a bydd yr Aelodau'n cael cyfle i graffu ar y dull o weithredu mewn deddfwriaeth ar yr egwyddorion gwaith teg hynny a'r hyn y bydd yn ei olygu. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen at weld yr Aelodau’n cymryd rhan ac yn ymgysylltu â hynny i sicrhau bod gennym y ddeddfwriaeth orau a ddylai wneud gwahaniaeth ymarferol o ran sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn trefnu cymorth ariannol, cymorth benthyciad a chymorth ymarferol i gwmnïau a busnesau, a chredaf y bydd hynny'n gwella’r byd gwaith yma yng Nghymru yn fawr.

Let me first of all congratulate you, Minister, on your appointment. I don't think I've had an opportunity to do that yet, so congratulations to you.

Of course, this item was raised yesterday in FMQs, and it is an important issue. We had some positive contributions from Mr Hedges and Mr Davies, my colleague here, and the First Minister obviously responded yesterday, but this was before further commitments and proposals made by UK Government in Parliament yesterday afternoon. And I'm sure you were encouraged to hear the UK Government's continued commitment to stamp out these unscrupulous practices. And, indeed, yesterday, the First Minister referred to the hope that the UK Government would take account of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service's review and lead to legislative action, which the UK Government yesterday confirmed their commitment to the employment Bill, and also to the single enforcement body as well. I'm sure you'd welcome that action by the UK Government. So, in light of that, and in light of the statements yesterday by the UK Government, what further discussions will you be having with the UK Government to continue this good work in seeing this legislation over the line?

Yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn eich llongyfarch ar eich penodiad, Weinidog. Ni chredaf fy mod wedi cael cyfle i wneud hynny eto, felly llongyfarchiadau i chi.

Wrth gwrs, codwyd y mater hwn ddoe yn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'n fater pwysig. Cawsom gyfraniadau cadarnhaol gan Mr Hedges a Mr Davies, fy nghyd-Aelodau yma, ac yn amlwg, fe ymatebodd y Prif Weinidog ddoe, ond roedd hyn cyn i Lywodraeth y DU wneud ymrwymiadau a chynigion pellach yn y Senedd brynhawn ddoe. Ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn falch o glywed ymrwymiad parhaus Llywodraeth y DU i gael gwared ar yr arferion diegwyddor hyn. Ac yn wir, ddoe, cyfeiriodd Prif Weinidog Cymru at y gobaith y byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn ystyried adolygiad y Gwasanaeth Cynghori, Cymodi a Chyflafareddu gan arwain at gamau deddfwriaethol, a chadarnhaodd Llywodraeth y DU eu hymrwymiad i’r Bil cyflogaeth ddoe, ac i un corff gorfodi hefyd. Rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn croesawu'r camau hynny gan Lywodraeth y DU. Felly, yng ngoleuni hynny, ac yng ngoleuni'r datganiadau ddoe gan Lywodraeth y DU, pa drafodaethau pellach y byddwch yn eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU i barhau â'r gwaith da hwn er mwyn sicrhau y daw y ddeddfwriaeth hon i rym?

14:05

I think there is—. It's often the case that there are positive signals given, as in this case—and I welcome the Member to the Chamber and to questions; I look forward to working with him in this role, as indeed moving on from his time as the leader of Conwy County Borough Council. Look, I welcome the fact that if the single enforcement body is going to be effective, that will be a good thing. That would help not just in this area, but a range of others too. An employment Bill that helps to move things forward—that, again, would be a good thing, and depending on the measures, there could be support from the Welsh Government for those measures. The challenge though is that the ACAS report did set out that there were legislative options available, and today, the Prime Minister has confirmed again that whilst he believes that hire and fire can be an unscrupulous practice, there is no commitment at present to specific legislative proposals. And the danger is, in asking ACAS to review the guidance, that won't necessarily change what happens as a matter of practice. Because employment law, as Huw Irranca-Davies said, is not devolved, if it's not unlawful, then even matters of good practice don't necessarily stop those employers that even now have gone ahead making really difficult choices that are, in plain sight, all about driving down terms and conditions. So, there are some points that we can welcome and I'm happy to do so, there are other points where we still think the UK Government needs to go further, including legislation to outlaw unscrupulous hire-and-fire practices.

Credaf fod—. Yn aml, rhoddir arwyddion cadarnhaol, fel yn yr achos hwn—a chroesawaf yr Aelod i'r Siambr ac i’r cwestiynau; edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gydag ef yn y rôl hon, yn dilyn ei gyfnod fel arweinydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy. Edrychwch, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith, os daw’r un corff gorfodi yn weithredol, y bydd hynny'n beth da. Byddai hynny'n helpu nid yn unig yn y maes hwn, ond mewn ystod o rai eraill hefyd. Bil cyflogaeth sy'n helpu i symud pethau ymlaen—byddai hynny, unwaith eto, yn beth da, ac yn dibynnu ar y mesurau, gallai fod cefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'r mesurau hynny. Yr her, serch hynny, yw bod adroddiad y Gwasanaeth Cynghori, Cymodi a Chyflafareddu wedi nodi bod opsiynau deddfwriaethol ar gael, a heddiw, mae Prif Weinidog y DU wedi cadarnhau unwaith eto, er ei fod yn credu y gall diswyddo ac ailgyflogi fod yn arfer diegwyddor, nad oes ymrwymiad ar hyn o bryd i gynigion deddfwriaethol penodol. A'r perygl yw, wrth ofyn i’r Gwasanaeth Cynghori, Cymodi a Chyflafareddu adolygu'r canllawiau, na fydd hynny o reidrwydd yn newid yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn ymarferol. Fel y dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies, gan nad yw cyfraith cyflogaeth wedi'i datganoli, os nad yw'n anghyfreithlon, nid yw hyd yn oed materion sy'n gysylltiedig ag arferion da o reidrwydd yn mynd i atal cyflogwyr sydd hyd yn oed yn awr wedi bwrw ymlaen a gwneud dewisiadau anodd iawn sy'n amlwg yn ymwneud â gwanhau telerau ac amodau. Felly, mae rhai pwyntiau y gallwn eu croesawu ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny, mae pwyntiau eraill lle rydym yn dal i feddwl bod angen i Lywodraeth y DU fynd ymhellach, gan gynnwys deddfu i wahardd arferion diegwyddor diswyddo ac ailgyflogi.

Busnesau Canol Trefi
Town Centre Businesses

Minister, can I also congratulate you on your appointment? I look forward to working with you in both our new roles.

Weinidog, a gaf innau hefyd eich llongyfarch ar eich penodiad? Edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gyda chi yn ein rolau newydd.

4. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi busnesau canol trefi yn etholaeth Mynwy? OQ56566

4. What is the Welsh Government doing to support town centre businesses in the Monmouth constituency? OQ56566

I welcome Peter Fox to his new role, and, again, I have seen him in his former role; now he is a bright young man here in the Senedd.

Since April 2020, Monmouthshire businesses have received over £50 million in grant support, safeguarding over 1,300 jobs. This is in addition to the year-long non-domestic business rates holiday for retail, leisure and hospitality, and the Member will of course be aware that similar businesses in England will not enjoy the same relief over the same period of time.

Rwy'n croesawu Peter Fox i’w rôl newydd, ac unwaith eto, rwyf wedi ei weld yn ei rôl flaenorol; bellach, mae'n ddyn ifanc disglair yma yn y Senedd.

Ers mis Ebrill 2020, mae busnesau sir Fynwy wedi derbyn dros £50 miliwn mewn cymorth grant, gan ddiogelu dros 1,300 o swyddi. Mae hyn yn ychwanegol at y seibiant blwyddyn o hyd mewn ardrethi busnesau annomestig ar gyfer busnesau manwerthu, hamdden a lletygarwch, a bydd yr Aelod wrth gwrs yn ymwybodol na fydd busnesau cyffelyb yn Lloegr yn mwynhau'r un rhyddhad ardrethi dros yr un cyfnod o amser.

Thank you for the response, Minister. Minister, data shows that Wales's town centres have experienced the deepest decline in footfall out of the UK nations, and this is being felt in my constituency, as with many others represented here today. Short-term incentives need to be considered to help our struggling towns at a time when they most need it—things that could easily be delivered to support consumer spend and footfall. Simple but effective incentives such as Welsh Government-funded free parking in town centres, perhaps together with a street voucher scheme similar to that which is being operated in Northern Ireland, would be a really good start, and I believe the latter was something that featured in the Scottish Labour manifesto, so something that should be acceptable. These incentives would have a massively beneficial effect on our high streets and town centres at a time where they are in desperate need of our support. So, can I ask you, Minister, that you and the Government give these things some serious consideration? Thank you.

Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Weinidog, mae’r data’n dangos mai canol trefi Cymru sydd wedi wynebu’r gostyngiad mwyaf o holl wledydd y DU yn nifer yr ymwelwyr, ac mae’r effaith hon i'w theimlo yn fy etholaeth, fel llawer o etholaethau eraill a gynrychiolir yma heddiw. Mae angen ystyried cymhellion tymor byr i helpu ein trefi sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd ar yr adeg pan fo fwyaf o angen cymorth arnynt—pethau y byddai'n hawdd eu cyflawni i gefnogi gwariant cwsmeriaid a nifer ymwelwyr. Byddai cymhellion syml ond effeithiol fel parcio am ddim a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru yng nghanol trefi, gyda chynllun talebau stryd tebyg i'r un sydd ar waith yng Ngogledd Iwerddon o bosibl, yn ddechrau da iawn, a chredaf fod hynny’n rhywbeth a gafodd ei gynnwys ym maniffesto Plaid Lafur yr Alban, felly rhywbeth a ddylai fod yn dderbyniol. Byddai'r cymhellion hyn yn cael effaith hynod fuddiol ar y stryd fawr a chanol ein trefi ar adeg lle mae taer angen ein cymorth arnynt. Felly, Weinidog, a gaf fi ofyn i chi a'r Llywodraeth ystyried y pethau hyn o ddifrif? Diolch.

I'll be happy to consider all ideas, as well as the approach we're already taking. And the Member will know, from his time when he was still the leader of Monmouthshire, the over £0.5 million in Transforming Towns placemaking grant that's been made to Monmouthshire County Council for this year. So, there are practical steps that are being taken to help support businesses in the here and now, as well as, of course, the approach that we've indicated we're going to take in a town-centre-first approach, and the way we look at future developments and the choices that go across Government. So, in my former role, I was very keen to continue investing in community pharmacy for a variety of reasons, but I certainly had in mind that maintaining a community pharmacy on a high street is important from a footfall point of view for a range of other businesses too, and how we drive more—. So, to make them more accessible from a healthcare point of view also has an impact on the economic future for town centres as well. So, I look forward to working with him, and I'd be more than happy, if he wants to write to me with a range of initiatives we may be able to take, to openly engage with him, not just for Monmouthshire, but of course for every citizen across the country.

Rwy’n fwy na pharod i ystyried pob syniad, yn ogystal â'r dull rydym eisoes yn ei weithredu. A bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol, o’i gyfnod pan oedd yn dal i fod yn arweinydd sir Fynwy, o’r mwy na £0.5 miliwn a roddwyd i Gyngor Sir Fynwy ar gyfer y flwyddyn hon ar ffurf grant creu lleoedd Trawsnewid Trefi. Felly, mae camau ymarferol yn cael eu cymryd i helpu i gefnogi busnesau ar hyn o bryd, yn ogystal, wrth gwrs, â’r dull rydym wedi nodi y byddwn yn ei ddilyn o roi canol y dref yn gyntaf, a’r ffordd rydym yn edrych ar ddatblygiadau yn y dyfodol a'r dewisiadau sy'n mynd ar draws y Llywodraeth. Felly, yn fy rôl flaenorol, roeddwn yn awyddus iawn i barhau i fuddsoddi mewn fferylliaeth gymunedol am amryw resymau, ond yn sicr, roeddwn yn ymwybodol fod cynnal fferyllfa gymunedol ar stryd fawr yn bwysig o safbwynt nifer yr ymwelwyr ar gyfer ystod o fusnesau eraill hefyd, a sut rydym yn sicrhau mwy o—. Felly, mae eu gwneud yn fwy hygyrch o safbwynt gofal iechyd hefyd yn effeithio ar ddyfodol economaidd canol trefi hefyd. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen at weithio gydag ef, ac rwy’n fwy na pharod, os yw eisiau ysgrifennu ataf gydag ystod o fentrau y gallem eu rhoi ar waith, i ymgysylltu'n agored ag ef, nid yn unig er lles sir Fynwy, ond wrth gwrs, er lles pob dinesydd ledled y wlad.

Twristiaeth Hygyrch
Accessible Tourism

Can I welcome the Minister and the Deputy Minister to their new roles? I really look forward to working with them. I recently met up with constituents in Caswell Bay to view Surfs Up, a newly built changing places facility. Changing places are larger, accessible toilets with equipment such as hoists, curtains and adult-sized—[Interruption.] Oh, I'm sorry I've done that. [Laughter.] Sorry.

A gaf fi groesawu'r Gweinidog a'r Dirprwy Weinidog i'w rolau newydd? Edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda hwy. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm ag etholwyr ym Mae Caswell i weld Surfs Up, cyfleuster lleoedd newid sydd newydd gael ei adeiladu. Mae’r lleoedd newid yn fwy, toiledau hygyrch gydag offer fel teclynnau codi, llenni a—[Torri ar draws.] O, mae'n ddrwg gennyf am wneud hynny. [Chwerthin.] Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.

14:10

I realised my mistake.

Fe welais fy nghamgymeriad.

—you need to ask the question on the order paper. Don't worry, it wasn't just your mistake, I failed to notice it as well. [Laughter.]

—mae angen ichi ofyn y cwestiwn ar y papur trefn. Peidiwch â phoeni, nid eich camgymeriad chi yn unig ydoedd, methais innau sylwi arno hefyd. [Chwerthin.]

Just go back to the question on the order paper.

Ewch yn ôl at y cwestiwn ar y papur trefn.

5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am dwristiaeth hygyrch yng Nghymru? OQ56552

5. Will the Minister make a statement on accessible tourism in Wales? OQ56552

Yes, I'd be very happy to do so—[Laughter.]—and welcome the Member to the Chamber. Our strategy, 'Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the Visitor Economy 2020-2025', published in January, emphasises accessibility and inclusivity in all our activities. We will continue to engage and work closely with Disability Wales to support the delivery of our work, and I look forward to the Member's supplementary. [Laughter.]

Gwnaf, rwy’n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny—[Chwerthin.]—a chroesawu'r Aelod i'r Siambr. Mae ein strategaeth, 'Croeso i Gymru: Blaenoriaethau i'r Economi Ymwelwyr 2020-2025’, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Ionawr, yn pwysleisio hygyrchedd a chynwysoldeb yn ein holl weithgareddau. Byddwn yn parhau i ymgysylltu'n agos ag Anabledd Cymru i gefnogi’r broses o gyflawni ein gwaith, ac edrychaf ymlaen at gwestiwn atodol yr Aelod. [Chwerthin.]

I think he's got a small idea of what it might be. I recently met with constituents in Caswell Bay to view Surfs Up, a newly built changing places facility. Changing places are larger, accessible toilets with equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers. These help make tourism in Wales inclusive to everybody, as disabled toilets have proven to not be enough on their own. Whilst this has been a welcome change, I was shocked to find that this is one of the first places on Gower, a very popular tourism destination, to have such a facility. Now, the provision has been made compulsory in certain new buildings in England by the UK Government; therefore, what will the Welsh Government do to ensure that tourism is accessible to all?

Credaf fod ganddo syniad bach o'r hyn y gallai fod. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm ag etholwyr ym Mae Caswell i weld Surfs Up, cyfleuster lleoedd newid sydd newydd gael ei adeiladu. Mae’r lleoedd newid yn fwy, toiledau hygyrch gydag offer fel teclynnau codi, llenni a meinciau newid digon mawr i oedolion a lle i ofalwyr. Mae'r rhain yn helpu i wneud twristiaeth yng Nghymru yn gynhwysol i bawb, gan nad yw toiledau i’r anabl ar eu pennau eu hunain wedi bod yn ddigon. Er bod hwn wedi bod yn newid i'w groesawu, cefais syndod wrth ddarganfod mai hwn yw un o'r lleoedd cyntaf yn y Gŵyr, cyrchfan boblogaidd iawn i dwristiaid, i gael cyfleuster o'r fath. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwneud y ddarpariaeth honno’n orfodol mewn rhai adeiladau newydd yn Lloegr; beth, felly, fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod twristiaeth yn hygyrch i bawb?

Thank you for the question. I'm familiar with the Caswell Bay project that the Member references, because the Welsh Government provided £68,000 of the £85,000 project cost to enable the change he refers to. And there's more, of course, within Caswell Bay in particular, but we are looking at how we make it easier for people to understand how they can have genuinely accessible engagement in holidays, and the Visit Wales website allows visitors to filter for accommodation that has provision for disabled visitors and has a number of areas where you can look at accessibility. Again, I'm more than happy to look at how we may be able to consider how we actually provide not just duties, because, again, I know the Member, being still a current councillor, but in your former role and indeed the two previous council leaders who have spoken—there's a regular concern that if we impose duties without resources for them, then it creates an additional pressure that means the fulfilment of those is rather more difficult. So, I'm happy to consider duties, what that might mean, together with the Minister for Social Justice and to understand how we may then make a practical difference to make sure there are more accessible venues for families with a person who needs that access requirement to ensure that they enjoy holidays, as, indeed, the rest of us can do as well.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rwy'n gyfarwydd â’r prosiect y cyfeiria’r Aelod ato ym Mae Caswell, gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu £68,000 o gyfanswm cost y prosiect o £85,000 i alluogi'r newid y cyfeiria ato. Ac mae mwy, wrth gwrs, ym Mae Caswell yn benodol, ond rydym yn edrych ar sut rydym yn ei gwneud yn haws i bobl ddeall sut y gallant gael gwyliau gwirioneddol hygyrch, ac mae gwefan Croeso Cymru’n caniatáu i ymwelwyr hidlo am lety gyda darpariaeth ar gyfer ymwelwyr anabl, ac mae nifer o fannau lle gallwch edrych ar hygyrchedd. Unwaith eto, rwy'n fwy na pharod i edrych ar sut y gallwn ystyried sut rydym yn darparu nid yn unig dyletswyddau, oherwydd, unwaith eto, gwn fod yr Aelod, gan ei fod yn gynghorydd cyfredol o hyd, ond yn eich rôl flaenorol, ac yn wir, y ddau arweinydd cyngor blaenorol sydd wedi siarad—os ydym yn gosod dyletswyddau heb adnoddau ar eu cyfer, ceir pryder cyson fod hynny'n creu pwysau ychwanegol sy'n golygu ei bod yn anoddach cyflawni'r rheini. Felly, rwy'n fwy na pharod i ystyried dyletswyddau, yr hyn y gallai hynny ei olygu, gyda'r Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol a deall sut y gallwn wneud gwahaniaeth ymarferol wedyn i sicrhau bod mwy o leoliadau hygyrch ar gael ar gyfer teuluoedd ag unigolyn sydd angen mynediad o'r fath i sicrhau eu bod yn mwynhau gwyliau, fel yn wir y gall y gweddill ohonom ei wneud.

Busnesau yn Sir Benfro
Businesses in Pembrokeshire

6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog amlinellu blaenoriaethau economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer busnesau yn Sir Benfro dros y 12 mis nesaf? OQ56544

6. Will the Minister outline the Welsh Government's economic priorities for businesses in Pembrokeshire over the next 12 months? OQ56544

Yes. Our economic resilience and reconstruction mission sets out our plan for the economy and will be vital to support individuals, businesses and communities to succeed, flourish and recover. We continue to support new and existing businesses in Pembrokeshire through Business Wales and our regional team. We have provided extensive support through the pandemic and the post-Brexit reality that I'm afraid has already seen an impact on Pembrokeshire businesses. We have, though, provided over £109 million in support through the economic resilience fund to Pembrokeshire businesses.

Gwnaf. Mae ein cenhadaeth i gryfhau ac ailadeiladu’r economi yn nodi ein cynllun ar gyfer yr economi a bydd yn hanfodol er mwyn cynorthwyo unigolion, busnesau a chymunedau i lwyddo, ffynnu ac adfer. Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi busnesau newydd a busnesau sy’n bodoli eisoes yn sir Benfro drwy Busnes Cymru a'n tîm rhanbarthol. Rydym wedi darparu cymorth helaeth drwy gydol y pandemig a'r realiti ôl-Brexit sydd eisoes wedi effeithio ar fusnesau sir Benfro, mae arnaf ofn. Er hynny, rydym wedi darparu dros £109 miliwn mewn cymorth drwy'r gronfa cadernid economaidd i fusnesau sir Benfro.

Of course, the next 12 months are crucial in developing new business opportunities, and you have committed today to creating secure and lasting jobs across Wales, and creating the conditions for businesses to grow. Now, in my own constituency, it's great to see the port of Milford Haven move forward in its plans to strengthen its Milford waterfront proposition with construction beginning on the 100-bed Tŷ hotel, which will have a positive impact on the local community and provide local jobs. Minister, I hope you will join me in welcoming the progress made on the project, and could you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to support and maximise the opportunities from developments like this in Pembrokeshire?

Wrth gwrs, mae'r 12 mis nesaf yn allweddol i ddatblygu cyfleoedd busnes newydd, ac rydych wedi ymrwymo heddiw i greu swyddi diogel a pharhaol ledled Cymru, a chreu'r amodau i fusnesau dyfu. Nawr, yn fy etholaeth i, mae'n wych gweld porthladd Aberdaugleddau’n bwrw ymlaen gyda’i gynlluniau i gryfhau ei gynnig ar gyfer glannau Aberdaugleddau, gyda’r gwaith adeiladu’n dechrau ar westy 100 gwely Tŷ, a fydd yn effeithio'n gadarnhaol ar y gymuned leol ac yn darparu swyddi lleol. Weinidog, rwy'n gobeithio y gwnewch chi ymuno â mi i groesawu’r cynnydd a wnaed ar y prosiect, ac a allwch ddweud wrthym beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi a sicrhau cymaint â phosibl o gyfleoedd yn sgil datblygiadau fel hyn yn sir Benfro?

We have a constructive relationship with not just the council, but with a range of stakeholders in Pembrokeshire, and, in fact, the development you speak of is something I know that Joyce Watson the regional Member for Mid and West Wales has mentioned to me in the past as well. So, I'm very keen to look at what we can do to work alongside businesses in Pembrokeshire and beyond to see that there is a realistic and positive future, and I do come back to the point that our challenge in our trading relationship within the United Kingdom, but crucially with the island of Ireland, is a key factor in an area like Milford Haven and the progress that we want to see it make in the future. So, I'm happy to work constructively, as I said, on all sides to see that vision realised.

Mae gennym berthynas adeiladol nid yn unig â'r cyngor, ond gydag ystod o randdeiliaid yn sir Benfro, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r datblygiad y soniwch amdano’n rhywbeth y gwn fod Joyce Watson, yr Aelod rhanbarthol dros Ganolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, wedi sôn wrthyf amdano yn y gorffennol hefyd. Felly, rwy'n awyddus iawn i edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i weithio ochr yn ochr â busnesau yn sir Benfro a thu hwnt i sicrhau dyfodol realistig a chadarnhaol, a deuaf yn ôl at y pwynt fod yr her sy'n ei hwynebu yn ein perthynas fasnachu o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig, ond yn hollbwysig gydag ynys Iwerddon, yn ffactor allweddol mewn ardal fel Aberdaugleddau a'r cynnydd rydym am iddi ei wneud yn y dyfodol. Felly, rwy'n fwy na pharod i weithio'n adeiladol, fel y dywedais, ar bob ochr i sicrhau y caiff y weledigaeth honno ei gwireddu.

Busnesau Cynhyrchu Bwyd Bob Dydd
Everyday Food Production Businesses

7. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ysgogi twf busnesau cynhyrchu bwyd bob dydd yng Nghymru? OQ56543

7. What plans does the Welsh Government have to stimulate the growth of everyday food production businesses in Wales? OQ56543

14:15

Thank you for the question. We have a comprehensive programme to support businesses through Brexit and COVID disruption. That includes technical advice, financial support and promotional work. This support and leadership will help to sustain the sector through challenging times to stay on the long-term path of success and growth that it has achieved in recent years.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Mae gennym raglen gynhwysfawr i gefnogi busnesau drwy gydol y tarfu a achoswyd gan Brexit a COVID. Mae hynny'n cynnwys cyngor technegol, cymorth ariannol a gwaith hyrwyddo. Bydd y gefnogaeth a'r arweinyddiaeth hon yn helpu i gynnal y sector drwy gyfnod heriol i aros ar y llwybr hirdymor o lwyddiant a thwf y mae wedi'i gyflawni mewn blynyddoedd diweddar.

Thank you. This week we've been reminded about the fragility of our post-Brexit trading relationships and the possible implications for our food security. This goes well beyond a spat about sausages and chicken nuggets, and yet the UK continues to import most of its vegetables and fruit, particularly in the winter months, from mainland Europe. Two years ago, the Welsh Government invested over £400,000 in three controlled-environment agriculture projects through the foundational economy challenge fund. What has been the outcome of that investment in Wrexham, Treherbert and Cwmbran? And, given that most of us won't want to eat salads coming from Australia, what plans does the Government now have to mainstream controlled-environment agriculture across Wales so that we can enjoy more local, locally produced and grown products and be less vulnerable to the disrupted relationship that we now face with our partners in mainland Europe?

Diolch. Yr wythnos hon, rydym wedi cael ein hatgoffa o freuder ein perthynas fasnachu ôl-Brexit a'r goblygiadau posibl i ddiogelwch ein cyflenwad bwyd. Mae hyn yn mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i ffrae ynghylch selsig a nygets cyw iâr, ac eto mae'r DU yn parhau i fewnforio'r rhan fwyaf o'i llysiau a'i ffrwythau, yn enwedig dros fisoedd y gaeaf, o dir mawr Ewrop. Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, buddsoddodd Llywodraeth Cymru dros £400,000 mewn tri phrosiect amaethyddiaeth amgylchedd rheoledig drwy gronfa her yr economi sylfaenol. Beth oedd canlyniad y buddsoddiad hwnnw yn Wrecsam, Treherbert a Chwmbrân? Ac o gofio na fydd y rhan fwyaf ohonom yn dymuno bwyta saladau sy'n dod o Awstralia, pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth bellach i brif ffrydio amaethyddiaeth amgylchedd rheoledig ledled Cymru fel y gallwn fwynhau cynhyrchion mwy lleol, wedi'u cynhyrchu a'u tyfu’n lleol, a bod yn llai agored i'r berthynas fregus rydym yn ei hwynebu yn awr gyda'n partneriaid ar dir mawr Ewrop?

The Member is quite right to highlight the key challenges of the customs reality that faces a range of goods going in and out of Great Britain and the island of Ireland. I've mentioned several times before the impact that is having on our ports, but it's going to have a significant and continuing impact on producers themselves. And this is an area where Wales has done particularly well. We had a target of increasing the value of our food and drink sector to £7 billion in sales terms by 2020; we got to nearly £7.5 billion. So, a successful sector that is now facing the reality of the new arrangements in place. 

On the point the Member makes about controlled-environment agriculture pilots, we've only just received the results of those pilots and we're still evaluating the results at present. The initial results are encouraging, but it's too early to say if we'll roll that initiative out more widely, but I'll make sure that Members are informed. And of course, my colleague, Lesley Griffiths, will take a keen interest in the outcome of the pilots and the choices we make here within the Government. 

Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei lle yn tynnu sylw at heriau allweddol y realiti tollau sy'n wynebu ystod o nwyddau a ddaw i mewn ac allan o Brydain ac ynys Iwerddon. Rwyf eisoes wedi sôn sawl tro am yr effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael ar ein porthladdoedd, ond bydd yn cael effaith sylweddol a pharhaus ar y cynhyrchwyr eu hunain. Ac mae hwn yn faes lle mae Cymru wedi gwneud yn arbennig o dda. Roedd gennym darged i gynyddu gwerth ein sector bwyd a diod i £7 biliwn yn nhermau gwerthiant erbyn 2020; cyraeddasom bron i £7.5 biliwn. Felly, sector llwyddiannus sydd bellach yn wynebu realiti’r trefniadau newydd sydd ar waith.

Ar y pwynt y mae’r Aelod yn ei wneud am gynlluniau peilot amaethyddiaeth amgylchedd rheoledig, rydym newydd dderbyn canlyniadau'r cynlluniau peilot hynny ac rydym yn dal i'w gwerthuso ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r canlyniadau cychwynnol yn galonogol, ond mae'n rhy gynnar i ddweud a fyddwn yn cyflwyno'r fenter honno yn ehangach, ond byddaf yn sicrhau bod yr Aelodau'n cael gwybod. Ac wrth gwrs, bydd fy nghyd-Aelod, Lesley Griffiths, yn cadw llygad agos ar ganlyniad y cynlluniau peilot a'r dewisiadau a wnawn yma yn y Llywodraeth.

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Vikki Howells. 

And finally question 8, Vikki Howells. 

Economi Cymoedd y De
The Economy of the South Wales Valleys

8. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cryfhau economi Cymoedd y de yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon? OQ56537

8. How does the Welsh Government intend to strengthen the economy of the south Wales Valleys during this Senedd term? OQ56537

Thank you for the question. We are currently considering how best to further develop economic, social and environmental action within this area, particularly in the Heads of the Valleys area. Over £19 million has already been approved for projects benefiting our south Wales Valleys towns through the Transforming Towns programme, which includes an allocation of over £1.5 million for each local authority.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn ystyried y ffordd orau o ddatblygu gweithgarwch economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol ymhellach yn yr ardal hon, yn enwedig yn ardal Blaenau’r Cymoedd. Mae dros £19 miliwn eisoes wedi'i gymeradwyo ar gyfer prosiectau sydd o fudd i'n trefi yng Nghymoedd de Cymru drwy'r rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi, sy'n cynnwys dyraniad o dros £1.5 miliwn ar gyfer pob awdurdod lleol.

Thank you, Minister, and welcome to your new role. 

The Valleys taskforce was a very welcome intervention by the Welsh Government during the fifth Senedd term, and delivered many tangible benefits to my constituency of Cynon Valley, including £1.5 million for the Dare Valley Country Park, the creation of a remote-working hub in Mountain Ash, and a very exciting zero-waste food project in Aberdare. What plans do you have, Minister, to build on the work of the Valleys taskforce across the area? And will you commit to working closely with those Members of the Senedd who represent Valleys communities so that you can best shape your response? 

Diolch, Weinidog, a chroeso i'ch rôl newydd.

Roedd tasglu'r Cymoedd yn ymyrraeth galonogol iawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ystod pumed tymor y Senedd, ac arweiniodd at lawer o fanteision gwirioneddol i fy etholaeth yng Nghwm Cynon, gan gynnwys £1.5 miliwn i Barc Gwledig Cwm Dâr, creu hyb gweithio o bell yn Aberpennar, a phrosiect bwyd dim gwastraff cyffrous iawn yn Aberdâr. Pa gynlluniau sydd gennych, Weinidog, i adeiladu ar waith tasglu'r Cymoedd ar draws yr ardal? Ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo i weithio'n agos gyda'r Aelodau o'r Senedd sy'n cynrychioli cymunedau'r Cymoedd fel y gallwch lunio eich ymateb yn y ffordd orau?

Yes, I'm happy to say that we're very positive about a range of areas in the Valleys taskforce work. I've recently spoken with the leader of RCT about continuing our work on the empty homes scheme, where bringing those homes back into beneficial use has proven to be more effective and cheaper than building new properties. So, we're looking to see what's worked already in the legacy report and the programme for action as the Valleys taskforce was wound up, and I'm happy to confirm and agree to the commitment to meet with Valleys representatives to have a conversation about how we are taking that forward to make sure we continue to invest in the future of the Valleys.

Ie, rwy'n falch o ddweud ein bod yn obeithiol iawn am ystod o feysydd yng ngwaith tasglu'r Cymoedd. Yn ddiweddar, siaradais ag arweinydd Rhondda Cynon Taf ynglŷn â pharhau â'n gwaith ar y cynllun cartrefi gwag, lle mae dod â'r cartrefi hynny yn ôl i ddefnydd buddiol wedi bod yn fwy effeithiol ac yn rhatach nag adeiladu eiddo newydd. Felly, rydym yn edrych i weld beth sydd wedi gweithio eisoes yn yr adroddiad etifeddiaeth a'r rhaglen weithredu wrth i dasglu'r Cymoedd gael ei ddirwyn i ben, ac rwy'n falch o gadarnhau a chytuno i'r ymrwymiad i gyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr o’r Cymoedd i gael sgwrs ynglŷn â sut i fwrw ymlaen â hynny er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i fuddsoddi yn nyfodol y Cymoedd.

Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Fe fyddwn ni nawr yn cymryd toriad byr wrth inni wneud ychydig o newidiadau yn y Siambr. Felly, y toriad nesaf.

I thank the Minister. We will now suspend proceedings briefly to allow for some changeovers in the Siambr. 

Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 14:19.

Plenary was suspended at 14:19.

14:25

Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 14:28, gyda'r Llywydd yn y Gadair.

The Senedd reconvened at 14:28, with the Llywydd in the Chair.

2. Cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Yr eitem nawr yw'r cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Delyth Jewell.

The next item is questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services, and the first question is from Delyth Jewell.

Cymorth Seibiant i Ofalwyr Di-dâl
Respite Support for Unpaid Carers

1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gymorth seibiant i ofalwyr di-dâl yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ56572

1. Will the Minister make a statement on respite support for unpaid carers in South Wales East? OQ56572

We recognise the vital importance of respite and taking a break for maintaining the mental health and well-being of unpaid carers. On Monday, at the start of national Carers Week, I announced £3 million of new funding in 2021-22 to support emergency respite provision and development of a short-breaks fund.

Rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd hanfodol seibiant a hoe i gynnal iechyd meddwl a lles gofalwyr di-dâl. Ddydd Llun, ar ddechrau'r Wythnos Gofalwyr genedlaethol, cyhoeddais £3 miliwn o gyllid newydd yn 2021-22 i gefnogi darpariaeth seibiant brys a datblygu cronfa er mwyn galluogi pobl i gael seibiant byr.

Thank you, Minister. As you've noted, it is Carers Week, and I welcome your respite support package for unpaid carers, but I'm afraid that that doesn't tally with the delay in reopening day-care services. These services are one of the principal means of respite for unpaid carers, and some councils have yet to fully reopen them. I understand that Caerphilly have said that they will open facilities only on a phased basis, and they've requested advice from the Welsh Government about what process to follow to allow them to do this safely. Now, neighbouring councils like Newport have already provided day services, so I'd firstly like to know why the same guidance isn't being given to all councils. But, moreover, Minister, I'd like to stress—and I know that you'll appreciate this—the deeply draining toll that this is all taking on hundreds of families, families of people with learning disabilities or complex needs, many of whom have already had the vaccine and who rely on these services to cope and to see their friends. And their families need this respite—their role is physically and emotionally demanding. If some councils can offer this respite, how is it that some other councils are waiting on Welsh Government guidance? I just fear that the needs of carers and the harm being done to these families is getting lost somewhere.

Diolch, Weinidog. Fel y dywedoch, mae'n Wythnos Gofalwyr, ac rwy'n croesawu eich pecyn cymorth seibiant ar gyfer gofalwyr di-dâl, ond mae arnaf ofn nad yw hynny'n cyd-fynd â'r oedi cyn ailagor gwasanaethau gofal dydd. Y gwasanaethau hyn yw un o'r prif ffyrdd i ofalwyr di-dâl gael seibiant, ac mae rhai cynghorau eto i'w hailagor yn llawn. Deallaf fod Caerffili wedi dweud y byddant yn agor cyfleusterau fesul cam yn unig, ac maent wedi gofyn am gyngor gan Lywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â pha broses i'w dilyn i ganiatáu iddynt wneud hyn yn ddiogel. Nawr, mae cynghorau cyfagos fel Casnewydd eisoes wedi darparu gwasanaethau dydd, felly yn gyntaf, hoffwn wybod pam nad yw'r un canllawiau'n cael eu rhoi i bob cyngor. Ond yn ychwanegol at hynny, Weinidog, hoffwn bwysleisio—a gwn y byddwch yn deall hyn—yr effaith sylweddol y mae hyn oll yn ei chael ar gannoedd o deuluoedd, teuluoedd pobl ag anableddau dysgu neu anghenion cymhleth, gyda llawer ohonynt eisoes wedi cael y brechlyn ac yn dibynnu ar y gwasanaethau hyn i ymdopi ac i weld eu ffrindiau. Ac mae angen y seibiant hwn ar eu teuluoedd—mae eu rôl yn anodd iawn, yn gorfforol ac yn emosiynol. Os gall rhai cynghorau gynnig y seibiant hwn, pam fod cynghorau eraill yn aros am ganllawiau gan Lywodraeth Cymru? Rwy'n poeni bod anghenion gofalwyr a'r niwed sy'n cael ei wneud i'r teuluoedd hyn yn mynd ar goll yn rhywle.

14:30

I thank Delyth Jewell for that very important question, and I am very aware of the strain that carers have been under during this really difficult time. And I'm certainly aware of those people who are caring for people with a learning disability or people with Alzheimer's, that there is a great stress. And so I'm absolutely in sympathy with her in the point that she's trying to make.

We have been encouraging local authorities to reopen day centres, and in fact I'm aware of the situation in Caerphilly, and we have been in discussion—the officials have been in discussion with Caerphilly council—in order to try to hurry up the process. I'm also aware that the provision of day services that have opened are spasmodic—are scattered throughout Wales. And so we are well aware of this situation, we know how important it is, and we're working hard to try to get day services up and running, as they should now be able to do so.

Diolch i Delyth Jewell am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r straen y mae gofalwyr wedi ei deimlo yn ystod y cyfnod hynod anodd hwn. Ac rwy'n sicr yn ymwybodol o'r bobl sy'n gofalu am bobl ag anabledd dysgu neu bobl â chlefyd Alzheimer, fod straen mawr arnynt hwy. Ac felly rwy'n cydymdeimlo'n llwyr â'r pwynt y mae'n ceisio ei wneud.

Rydym wedi bod yn annog awdurdodau lleol i ailagor canolfannau dydd, ac mewn gwirionedd rwy'n ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa yng Nghaerffili, ac rydym wedi bod yn trafod—mae'r swyddogion wedi bod yn trafod gyda chyngor Caerffili—er mwyn ceisio cyflymu'r broses. Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol fod y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau dydd sydd wedi agor yn ddarniog—wedi'i gwasgaru ledled Cymru. Ac felly rydym yn ymwybodol iawn o'r sefyllfa hon, rydym yn gwybod pa mor bwysig yw hyn, ac rydym yn gweithio'n galed i geisio cael gwasanaethau dydd yn weithredol, fel y dylent fod bellach.

Minister, there are more than 22,000 young carers aged between 14 and 25 in Wales. The pressure faced by these young people because of their caring duties can have a negative impact on their own physical health, mental health, education and employment opportunities. The pressure on these young people has been increased by the pandemic—there's no doubt about it. Looking after a family member or friend is highly rewarding, but also incredibly demanding. Just knowing that you're able to escape for a break is a great incentive, particularly where you are confident the person you care for will be looked after in your absence. You did mention the £3 million that you provided to local authorities earlier in Wales, but I would like to know how you will monitor this and the actual progress that that £3 million is going to be spent on the rightful purpose.

Weinidog, mae dros 22,000 o ofalwyr ifanc rhwng 14 a 25 oed yng Nghymru. Gall y pwysau a wynebir gan y bobl ifanc hyn oherwydd eu dyletswyddau gofalu gael effaith negyddol ar eu hiechyd corfforol, eu hiechyd meddwl, eu haddysg a'u cyfleoedd cyflogaeth eu hunain. Mae'r pwysau ar y bobl ifanc hyn wedi gwaethygu yn sgil y pandemig—nid oes amheuaeth ynglŷn â hynny. Mae gofalu am aelod o'r teulu neu ffrind yn waith gwerth chweil, ond mae hefyd yn anhygoel o anodd. Mae gwybod eich bod yn gallu dianc am seibiant yn gymhelliant mawr, yn enwedig lle rydych yn hyderus y bydd y person rydych yn gofalu amdano yn derbyn gofal yn eich absenoldeb. Fe sonioch chi am y £3 miliwn a ddarparwyd gennych i awdurdodau lleol yn gynharach yng Nghymru, ond hoffwn wybod sut y byddwch yn monitro hyn a'r cynnydd go iawn fod y £3 miliwn hwnnw'n mynd i gael ei wario at ddibenion priodol.

I thank you for that, again, very important question, because the needs of young carers are absolutely a high priority in the Government's planning, and we know what an enormous amount they do to care for their loved ones. On the £3 million, £1.75 million has already been given to the local authorities to support the existing respite schemes that they do provide already. The other £1.25 million, there is a research project that is looking at the best way of providing short breaks, and looking at what you have to do in order to qualify for those short breaks. For example, do you need to have had a carer's assessment? I think it may be not necessary to have had a carer's assessment. So, we're trying to make respite more flexible and easier for carers, including young carers, to access. So, these respite projects that we're putting forward are going to be available for young carers and carers of all ages, and we're particularly anxious that young carers should benefit from them. So, thank you again for that very important question.

Diolch ichi am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw, unwaith eto, oherwydd yn bendant, mae anghenion gofalwyr ifanc yn flaenoriaeth uchel yng nghynlluniau'r Llywodraeth, a gwyddom cymaint y maent yn ei wneud wrth ofalu am eu hanwyliaid. Ar y £3 miliwn, mae £1.75 miliwn eisoes wedi'i roi i'r awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi'r cynlluniau seibiant presennol y maent yn eu darparu eisoes. Y £1.25 miliwn arall, ceir prosiect ymchwil sy'n edrych ar y ffordd orau o ddarparu seibiant byr, ac edrych ar yr hyn y mae'n rhaid ichi ei wneud er mwyn bod yn gymwys ar gyfer seibiant byr. Er enghraifft, a oes angen i chi fod wedi cael asesiad gofalwr? Rwy'n credu efallai nad oes angen bod wedi cael asesiad gofalwr. Felly, rydym yn ceisio gwneud gofal seibiant yn fwy hyblyg ac yn haws i ofalwyr ei gael, gan gynnwys gofalwyr ifanc. Felly, bydd y prosiectau seibiant hyn rydym yn eu cyflwyno ar gael i ofalwyr ifanc a gofalwyr o bob oed, ac rydym yn arbennig o awyddus i ofalwyr ifanc elwa arnynt. Felly, diolch eto am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw.

Cyfleusterau Meddygol Cymunedol
Community Medical Facilities

2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar y rôl y mae cyfleusterau meddygol cymunedol wedi'i chwarae yn ystod pandemig y coronafeirws? OQ56565

2. Will the Minister make a statement on the role that community medical facilities have played during the coronavirus pandemic? OQ56565

Diolch, Joel, am y cwestiwn.

Thank you, Joel, for the question.

Community medical facilities have played and continue to play a vital role throughout the pandemic. Officials are continuing to work with health boards to inform planning for booster vaccines and to ensure that access to wider primary care services is balanced to ensure the population is protected from COVID.

Mae cyfleusterau meddygol cymunedol wedi chwarae ac yn parhau i chwarae rhan hanfodol drwy gydol y pandemig. Mae swyddogion yn parhau i weithio gyda byrddau iechyd i lywio'r gwaith o gynllunio ar gyfer brechlynnau atgyfnerthu ac i sicrhau bod mynediad at wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol ehangach yn gytbwys er mwyn sicrhau bod y boblogaeth yn cael ei hamddiffyn rhag COVID.

Thank you, Minister. And I'd like to take this opportunity to put on record my thanks and appreciation for all those who work within this field and have gone above and beyond to help protect and serve their communities during this terrible pandemic.

As highlighted yesterday in the Chamber, and in a recent briefing by the British Medical Association, some GP surgeries in Wales were in the position to adapt during the pandemic and ensure that they continued to provide safe and effective services to patients. These have not only included the continuation of face-to-face appointments, but also an element of online and blended consultation. However, not all surgeries have been able to adapt, and the Taff Vale practice in Cilfynydd has been closed since the start of the pandemic, leaving many residents in the village without adequate provision and the need to make alternative arrangements elsewhere. The intervention of the health board and community health council has sadly not been able to change the situation, and I would ask if the Minister could intervene on behalf of the residents, liaise with the practice managers, and try to get this surgery back up and running as soon as possible.

Diolch i chi, Weinidog. A hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i gofnodi fy niolch a fy ngwerthfawrogiad i bawb sy'n gweithio yn y maes hwn ac sydd wedi mynd y tu hwnt i'r galw i helpu i ddiogelu a gwasanaethu eu cymunedau yn ystod y pandemig ofnadwy hwn.

Fel yr amlygwyd ddoe yn y Siambr, ac mewn sesiwn friffio ddiweddar gan Gymdeithas Feddygol Prydain, roedd rhai meddygfeydd yng Nghymru mewn sefyllfa i addasu yn ystod y pandemig a sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i ddarparu gwasanaethau diogel ac effeithiol i gleifion. Mae'r rhain nid yn unig wedi cynnwys parhau ag apwyntiadau wyneb yn wyneb, ond hefyd elfen o ymgynghori ar-lein a chyfunol. Fodd bynnag, nid yw pob meddygfa wedi gallu addasu, ac mae'r practis Cwm Taf yng Nghilfynydd wedi'i gau ers dechrau'r pandemig, gan adael llawer o drigolion y pentref heb ddarpariaeth ddigonol a'r angen i wneud trefniadau amgen mewn mannau eraill. Yn anffodus, nid yw ymyrraeth y bwrdd iechyd a'r cyngor iechyd cymuned wedi gallu newid y sefyllfa, a hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog ymyrryd ar ran y trigolion, cysylltu â rheolwyr y practis, a cheisio sicrhau bod y feddygfa hon yn weithredol cyn gynted â phosibl.

14:35

Thanks very much, Joel, and I join with you in thanking the tremendous efforts of our NHS workers during the pandemic. I think patients understand that everything needed to change and adapt in light of the pandemic, and, of course, the number of patients physically that were allowed inside premises was quite important in order to minimise the risk to all. I think the roll-out of new technology has been actually quite beneficial in certain circumstances, and certainly some patients have found that the eConsult approach and the triaging on telephones has been quite helpful. But you're absolutely right: it is important that when people need face-to-face consultation, we need to facilitate that as well.

We are hearing about various cases throughout Wales, and we're keeping an eye on that situation. I think we do have to take on board the learning, the positive learning we've had from the pandemic, but I will look specifically at the Taff Vale practice. If there is no opportunity at all to see a GP, then I think that obviously does raise some questions. So, I'll ask my officials specifically to look at that case.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Joel, ac rwy'n ategu eich diolch am ymdrechion aruthrol ein gweithwyr GIG yn ystod y pandemig. Credaf fod cleifion yn deall bod angen i bopeth newid ac addasu yng ngoleuni'r pandemig, ac wrth gwrs, roedd nifer y cleifion a gâi eu caniatáu y tu mewn i safleoedd yn bwysig er mwyn lleihau'r risg i bawb. Credaf fod cyflwyno technoleg newydd wedi bod yn fuddiol mewn rhai amgylchiadau, ac yn sicr roedd rhai cleifion yn teimlo bod y defnydd o eConsult a brysbennu ar y ffôn yn eithaf defnyddiol. Ond rydych chi'n llygad eich lle: pan fydd pobl angen ymgynghori wyneb yn wyneb, mae'n bwysig ein bod yn hwyluso hynny hefyd.

Rydym yn clywed am wahanol achosion ledled Cymru, ac rydym yn cadw llygad ar y sefyllfa honno. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni ystyried y dysgu, y gwersi cadarnhaol rydym wedi'u dysgu o'r pandemig, ond byddaf yn edrych yn benodol ar y practis Cwm Taf. Os nad oes cyfle o gwbl i weld meddyg teulu,  credaf fod hynny'n amlwg yn codi rhai cwestiynau. Felly, fe ofynnaf i fy swyddogion edrych ar yr achos hwnnw yn benodol.

Following on from the question just made, I wonder if she can update us on whether there has been a big take-up of the additional £9.2 million funding for improving both telephone and video responsiveness. Now, we understand that during the pandemic the pressures on our community medical facilities were massive, but what we want to see is them coming out of this and patients being able to get a phone, an e-consultation or a video e-consultation, or simply to have the phone answered as well.

So, it would be good to know in my own area what's been happening with that, and whether there has been a good take-up, but I think every Member here would like to know as well whether their own GP practices and community medical facilities have made use of this, because getting back to some new normality, where people know they can get a response, they can get an appointment, even if that appointment is using the new eConsult messages, and they can have it done promptly. So, what has the take-up been like for that £9.2 million?

Yn dilyn y cwestiwn a ofynnwyd yn awr, tybed a all roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni ynglŷn ag a wnaeth nifer fawr fanteisio ar y £9.2 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid ar gyfer gwella ymateb dros y ffôn a fideo. Nawr, deallwn fod y pwysau ar ein cyfleusterau meddygol cymunedol yn enfawr yn ystod y pandemig, ond rydym am eu gweld yn dod allan o hyn a bod cleifion yn gallu cael ymgynghoriad dros y ffôn, e-ymgynghoriad neu e-ymgynghoriad fideo, neu'n syml i gael eu galwad wedi'i hateb hefyd.

Felly, byddai'n dda gwybod yn fy ardal fy hun beth sydd wedi bod yn digwydd gyda hynny, ac a wnaeth nifer fawr fanteisio ar hyn, ond credaf y byddai pob Aelod yma yn hoffi gwybod hefyd a yw eu practisau meddygon teulu a'u cyfleusterau meddygol cymunedol eu hunain wedi gwneud defnydd ohono wrth ddychwelyd at ryw normalrwydd newydd, lle mae pobl yn gwybod y gallant gael ymateb, y gallant gael apwyntiad, hyd yn oed os mai defnyddio'r negeseuon eConsult newydd yw'r apwyntiad hwnnw, ac y gallant wneud hynny'n gyflym. Felly, faint sydd wedi manteisio ar y £9.2 miliwn?

Diolch yn fawr iawn. I think the Member was absolutely right to talk about the new normal, because I don't think it's right that we go back to the old ways of working. We need to take advantage of new technology, and I'm pleased to say that there has been a tremendous take-up of that £9.2 million funding that was made available up until March this year. I really welcome the Member's interest in this topic. He'll be aware that we also had some access standards that were announced by the previous Minister for health, and they were about making sure that people knew what the expectation was. So, when they contacted the GP, they knew the standards of delivery that were expected, and there was an incentive there for GPs, and if they reach the standards, then they are given additional payments. Now, we are waiting to hear the results of that, and so, those results will be coming out in June, and if they've reached the standards, then they will be getting that top-up of financial support. So, I will write to Members with the information on access standards, and the achievement of those services around Wales, when that data becomes available at the end of June. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn llygad ei le wrth siarad am y normal newydd, oherwydd nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn iawn inni ddychwelyd at yr hen ffyrdd o weithio. Mae angen inni fanteisio ar dechnoleg newydd, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod llawer iawn wedi manteisio ar y cyllid o £9.2 miliwn a oedd ar gael hyd at fis Mawrth eleni. Rwy'n croesawu diddordeb yr Aelod yn y pwnc hwn. Fe fydd yn ymwybodol fod gennym rai safonau mynediad hefyd a gyhoeddwyd gan y Gweinidog iechyd blaenorol, ac roeddent yn ymwneud â sicrhau bod pobl yn gwybod beth oedd y disgwyliad. Felly, pan fyddent yn cysylltu â'r meddyg teulu, roeddent yn gwybod am y safonau darparu gwasanaeth a ddisgwylid, ac roedd cymhelliad yno i feddygon teulu, ac os ydynt yn cyrraedd y safonau, rhoddir taliadau ychwanegol iddynt. Nawr, rydym yn aros i glywed canlyniadau hynny, ac felly, bydd y canlyniadau hynny'n cael eu cyhoeddi ym mis Mehefin, ac os ydynt wedi cyrraedd y safonau, byddant yn cael y cymorth ariannol ychwanegol hwnnw. Felly, byddaf yn ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau gyda'r wybodaeth am safonau mynediad, a chyflawni'r gwasanaethau hynny ledled Cymru, pan fydd y data hwnnw ar gael ddiwedd mis Mehefin.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George. 

Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Russell George. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, in my new role, I would like to first of all just say congratulations on your appointment, and I hope to work constructively with you, particularly with regards to the challenges ahead, which we have to face together as a country.

My colleagues and I have very much welcomed the announcement of £1 billion to help the NHS recover from the pandemic, and the first tranche of £100 million announced for new technology and staff. It's been several months now since the publication of the Welsh Government's NHS recovery framework and we're still waiting to see where the other £900 million is due to be spent. Can you tell us today how and where this money is going to be targeted in Welsh primary and secondary care?

Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, yn fy rôl newydd, yn gyntaf hoffwn ddweud llongyfarchiadau ar eich penodiad, ac rwy'n gobeithio gweithio'n adeiladol gyda chi, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â'r heriau sydd o'n blaenau, heriau y mae'n rhaid inni eu hwynebu gyda'n gilydd fel gwlad.

Mae fy nghyd-Aelodau a minnau wedi croesawu'r cyhoeddiad o £1 biliwn i helpu'r GIG i adfer o'r pandemig, a'r gyfran gyntaf o £100 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer technoleg a staff newydd. Mae sawl mis wedi mynd heibio bellach ers cyhoeddi fframwaith Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer adferiad y GIG ac rydym yn dal i aros i weld ble y caiff y £900 miliwn arall ei wario. A allwch ddweud wrthym heddiw sut a ble y caiff yr arian hwn ei dargedu o fewn gofal sylfaenol ac eilaidd yng Nghymru?

Well, thanks very much, and can I also congratulate Russell George once again? I think I congratulated prematurely last time. First of all, I'm sure you, like me, welcome that £1 billion extra that we are going to be putting in specifically to try and tackle the issues that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. There is, as the Member knows, a significant backlog of work that needs to be tackled, and, let's face it, we're still not out of the COVID pandemic at the moment. So, there are still some severe restrictions on our ability to get back to a normal service.

We have already announced that £100 million. That has been distributed throughout all the health boards in Wales. I have asked the health authorities now to come forward with their proposals for how they think we should be addressing the backlog. So, those proposals are being analysed by my officials at the moment. We'll be drawing up annual plans with them, and, on the back of that, we will be making a request to the finance Minister for the additional funding to be released. So, we've got to get the balance right between being very specific about what it is we're going to do, how we're going to make sure that there's a geographic coverage, but also that we're actually getting to the most difficult and clinical priority cases as soon as we can as well. So, that additional funding, I'm very keen to get spending, as you can imagine, but we have to work in partnership with the health boards and make sure we understand what their priorities are as well.

Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn, ac a gaf innau hefyd longyfarch Russell George unwaith eto? Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi llongyfarch yn gynamserol y tro diwethaf. Yn gyntaf oll, rwy'n siŵr eich bod chi, fel fi, yn croesawu'r £1 biliwn ychwanegol y byddwn yn ei ddarparu yn benodol ar gyfer ceisio mynd i'r afael â'r materion sydd wedi codi o ganlyniad i'r pandemig. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae ôl-groniad sylweddol o waith y bydd angen mynd i'r afael ag ef, a gadewch i ni ei wynebu, nid ydym wedi cefnu ar y pandemig COVID ar hyn o bryd. Felly, mae cyfyngiadau difrifol o hyd ar ein gallu i ddychwelyd at wasanaeth arferol.

Rydym eisoes wedi cyhoeddi'r £100 miliwn. Mae hwnnw wedi'i ddosbarthu i bob un o'r byrddau iechyd yng Nghymru. Rwyf wedi gofyn yn awr i'r awdurdodau iechyd gyflwyno eu cynigion ar gyfer sut y credant y dylem fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad. Felly, mae'r cynigion hynny'n cael eu dadansoddi gan fy swyddogion ar hyn o bryd. Byddwn yn llunio cynlluniau blynyddol gyda hwy, ac yn sgil hynny, byddwn yn gwneud cais i'r Gweinidog cyllid i ryddhau'r cyllid ychwanegol. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau cydbwysedd cywir rhwng bod yn benodol iawn ynglŷn â'r hyn y byddwn yn ei wneud, sut rydym yn mynd i sicrhau darpariaeth yn ddaearyddol, ond hefyd ein bod yn cyrraedd yr achosion anoddaf a'r achosion clinigol blaenoriaethol cyn gynted ag y gallwn hefyd. Felly, y cyllid ychwanegol hwnnw, rwy'n awyddus iawn i ddechrau gwario, fel y gallwch ddychmygu, ond mae'n rhaid inni weithio mewn partneriaeth â'r byrddau iechyd a sicrhau ein bod yn deall beth yw eu blaenoriaethau hwy hefyd.

14:40

Thank you, Minister. I appreciate your answer. I suppose it's not just health authorities, but it's other health professionals that you need to work with as well, and many of those I've spoken to over the last couple of weeks just feel disappointed that they haven't yet had that funding allocated and announced. I appreciate the process that you've mentioned and outlined, but I think their concern is that as time ticks on, waiting lists continue to spiral. As I mentioned to you yesterday, Wales is now looking at a waiting list of one in three waiting over a year, compared to one in 11 in England, and this is not just COVID-19 at play here: before the pandemic, the number of those waiting over a year for treatment was triple that of the whole of England.

So, whilst I appreciate what you said, Minister—I understand, to a part, what you said—you'll obviously be aware of your predecessor's commitments as well that it would take a full parliamentary term to clear the backlog of patients. You mentioned in your first response to me that it's going take time to do this, and I think we all acknowledge and understand that. So, can you give any timescales for the NHS providers to know when they will receive this financial support, so that they can plan where to target it? I appreciate the process you've outlined, but can we have some dates potentially attached to that?

Diolch i chi, Weinidog. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich ateb. Rwy'n tybio nad yw'n fater o'r awdurdodau iechyd yn unig, ond gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol eraill y mae angen i chi weithio gyda hwy yn ogystal, ac mae llawer o'r rhai y siaradais â hwy dros yr wythnosau diwethaf yn teimlo'n siomedig nad ydynt eto wedi cael y cyllid hwnnw wedi'i ddyrannu a'i gyhoeddi. Rwy'n derbyn y broses rydych wedi'i chrybwyll a'i hamlinellu, ond rwy'n credu mai eu pryder yw bod rhestrau aros yn parhau i dyfu wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen. Fel y soniais wrthych ddoe, mae Cymru bellach yn edrych ar restr aros o un o bob tri yn aros dros flwyddyn, o'i gymharu ag un o bob 11 yn Lloegr, ac nid COVID-19 yn unig sydd ar fai yma: cyn y pandemig, roedd nifer y rhai a oedd yn aros dros flwyddyn am driniaeth yn deirgwaith y nifer ar gyfer Lloegr gyfan.

Felly, er fy mod yn gwerthfawrogi yr hyn a ddywedoch chi, Weinidog—rwy'n deall i raddau yr hyn a ddywedoch chi—fe fyddwch yn amlwg yn ymwybodol o ymrwymiadau eich rhagflaenydd hefyd y byddai'n cymryd tymor seneddol llawn i glirio'r ôl-groniad o gleifion. Fe sonioch chi yn eich ateb cyntaf i mi ei bod yn mynd i gymryd amser i wneud hyn, a chredaf ein bod i gyd yn cydnabod ac yn deall hynny. Felly, a allwch roi unrhyw amserlenni i ddarparwyr y GIG allu gwybod pryd y byddant yn cael y cymorth ariannol hwn, fel y gallant gynllunio ble i'w dargedu? Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r broses rydych wedi'i hamlinellu, ond a allwn gael dyddiadau ynghlwm wrth hynny o bosibl?

Thanks very much. Well, the process is this: the health boards put forward their annual plans, we're not expecting to receive those annual plans until the end of this week, and as soon as that's been done we'll obviously be analysing those. We'll be looking at where we think the priorities should be and then we will be making a submission to the finance Minister to see if it may be possible, perhaps, even to get it into a supplementary budget later this year, so that we can start that process of spending money. We're very aware that if we want to clear the backlog that we need to get things in place, and the best way to do that is to spend the money upfront at the beginning of the year. Also, of course, one of the things that they're anxious to know is whether this is going to be one-off funding or multi-annual funding, and that makes a big difference as to whether and to what extent they're willing to commit. So, all of those conversations are ongoing.

Diolch yn fawr. Wel, dyma'r broses: mae'r byrddau iechyd yn cyflwyno eu cynlluniau blynyddol, nid ydym yn disgwyl derbyn y cynlluniau blynyddol hynny tan ddiwedd yr wythnos hon, a chyn gynted ag y bydd hynny wedi'i wneud, yn amlwg byddwn yn dadansoddi'r rheini. Byddwn yn edrych ar ble y credwn y dylai'r blaenoriaethau fod ac yna byddwn yn gwneud cyflwyniad i'r Gweinidog cyllid i weld a allai fod yn bosibl, efallai, ei gael mewn cyllideb atodol yn ddiweddarach eleni hyd yn oed, fel y gallwn ddechrau'r broses o wario arian. Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn os ydym am glirio'r ôl-groniad fod angen inni roi pethau ar waith, a'r ffordd orau o wneud hynny yw gwario'r arian ymlaen llaw ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn. Hefyd, wrth gwrs, un o'r pethau y maent yn awyddus i'w wybod yw a fydd hwn yn gyllid untro neu'n gyllid amlflwydd, ac mae hynny'n gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr o ran eu parodrwydd i ymrwymo ac i ba raddau. Felly, mae'r holl sgyrsiau hynny'n parhau.

Thank you, Minister. I appreciate that you've given a little bit more detail about the timescale. You referred to having that information back from the health boards by, I think you said, next week. And I suppose the question then is timescales about the process of when you'll be making those commitments, bringing forward those proposals to the finance Minister, and when you believe the finance Minister will be in a position to tell the Chamber how that £900 million is going to be allocated.

I also raised concerns yesterday about the workforce, and how it's vital to have a workforce strategy to underpin the critical shortages in our NHS workforce, so we don't face burnout whilst trying to tackle the mounting treatment backlog, and I know you appreciate and agree with that concern. Now, I know in the Labour Party manifesto that you referred to 12,000 doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals, but what it didn't say in the manifesto, so I'm hoping you can tell us this today, it didn't give us much detail about the breakdown of who you were intending to recruit to tackle the backlog. So, I think it is critical for the very safety of patients and, of course, for legal requirements as well under the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016 that we have adequate staffing on our wards, of course, as well. I know you'll agree with that.

So, can you outline today, Minister, how many doctors and nurses you will recruit, how long you believe it will take to achieve, and how much of the £900 million you will specifically be spending on recruitment? Now, I appreciate that some of this answer might relate to that information that you're waiting to receive, but if you can give us any insight into that, that would be appreciated, Minister.

Diolch, Weinidog. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich bod wedi rhoi ychydig mwy o fanylion am yr amserlen. Fe gyfeirioch chi at gael y wybodaeth yn ôl gan y byrddau iechyd erbyn wythnos nesaf, rwy'n credu ichi ddweud. Ac mae'n debyg mai'r cwestiwn wedyn yw amserlenni ynghylch y broses o pryd y byddwch yn gwneud yr ymrwymiadau hynny, a chyflwyno'r cynigion hynny i'r Gweinidog cyllid, a phryd y credwch y bydd y Gweinidog cyllid mewn sefyllfa i ddweud wrth y Siambr sut y bydd y £900 miliwn hwnnw'n cael ei ddyrannu.

Nodais bryderon ddoe hefyd am y gweithlu, a sut y mae'n hanfodol cael strategaeth y gweithlu i wrthsefyll y prinder difrifol yn ein gweithlu GIG, fel nad ydym yn wynebu problem staff wedi ymlâdd wrth geisio mynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad cynyddol o driniaethau, a gwn eich bod yn deall ac yn cytuno â'r pryder hwnnw. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod ym maniffesto'r Blaid Lafur eich bod wedi cyfeirio at 12,000 o feddygon, nyrsys a gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol perthynol, ond yr hyn na ddywedai'r maniffesto, felly rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch ddweud wrthym heddiw, ni roddai lawer o fanylion inni ynglŷn â'r dadansoddiad o bwy y bwriadech ei recriwtio i fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn hanfodol o ran diogelwch cleifion ac o ran y gofynion cyfreithiol hefyd o dan Ddeddf Lefelau Staff Nyrsio (Cymru) 2016 fod gennym ddigon o staff ar ein wardiau hefyd wrth gwrs. Rwy'n gwybod y byddwch yn cytuno â hynny.

Felly, a allwch amlinellu heddiw, Weinidog, faint o feddygon a nyrsys y byddwch yn eu recriwtio, faint o amser y credwch y bydd yn ei gymryd i'w gyflawni, a faint o'r £900 miliwn y byddwch yn ei wario'n benodol ar recriwtio? Nawr, rwy'n sylweddoli y gallai rhywfaint o'r ateb hwn ymwneud â'r wybodaeth rydych yn aros i'w chael, ond byddem yn ddiolchgar os gallwch roi unrhyw oleuni ar hynny i ni, Weinidog.

14:45

Well, I'm sure the Member will be aware that the Welsh Government has already produced a workforce strategy on health, working closely with Health Education and Improvement Wales to identify where the gaps are in relation to where we really need to focus our efforts, and there's been a huge amount of work done with that organisation over recent months. On the 12,000 people that we will be recruiting in terms of training, some of that work is already in place and I'm happy to write to the Member with a further breakdown of precisely where we think those are going to be held.FootnoteLink There's a big difference—. There's no point in saying we're going to appoint x number of new doctors—if you haven't got them in the training process, it's all a bit of a waste of time. So, the first thing to happen is that you've got to get them trained and then make the financial commitment to make sure that they can be given a job at the end of that process. 

Obviously, we're very concerned about making sure that we stick to the staffing levels that we've set down in law, of course, and you will be aware that we have done a lot in this Government to ensure that we are doing all we can to produce our own local people. So, the nurse bursary, for example, is something that we kept in the Labour Party in Wales, and I'm afraid that the Westminster Parliament under, I'm afraid, your Government, the Conservative Party, decided to withdraw that support.

Wel, rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fod Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi cynhyrchu strategaeth y gweithlu iechyd, gan weithio'n agos gydag Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru i nodi lle mae'r bylchau mewn perthynas â lle mae gwir angen inni ganolbwyntio ein hymdrechion, a gwnaed llawer iawn o waith gyda'r sefydliad hwnnw dros y misoedd diwethaf. Ar y 12,000 o bobl y byddwn yn eu recriwtio ar gyfer hyfforddiant, mae rhywfaint o'r gwaith hwnnw eisoes ar y gweill ac rwy'n hapus i ysgrifennu at yr Aelod gyda dadansoddiad pellach o ble yn union y credwn y bydd y rheini.FootnoteLink Mae gwahaniaeth mawr—. Nid oes unrhyw bwynt dweud ein bod yn mynd i benodi x o feddygon newydd os nad ydynt yn y broses o hyfforddi, mae'r cyfan yn wastraff amser. Felly, y peth cyntaf i ddigwydd yw bod yn rhaid i chi eu hyfforddi ac yna gwneud yr ymrwymiad ariannol i sicrhau y gellir rhoi swydd iddynt ar ddiwedd y broses honno.

Yn amlwg, rydym yn pryderu'n fawr ynglŷn â sicrhau ein bod yn cadw at y lefelau staffio rydym wedi'u pennu yn y gyfraith wrth gwrs, ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol ein bod wedi gwneud llawer yn y Llywodraeth hon i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i gynhyrchu ein pobl leol ein hunain. Felly, mae'r fwrsariaeth i nyrsys, er enghraifft, yn rhywbeth y gwnaethom ei gadw yn y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru, ac mae arnaf ofn fod Senedd San Steffan, eich Llywodraeth chi, y Blaid Geidwadol, wedi penderfynu tynnu'r gefnogaeth honno yn ôl.

Llefaryd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Weinidog, mi wnes i ofyn i chi ddoe wrth ymateb i’r datganiad ar y diweddaraf ar y coronafeirws ba gynlluniau oedd yna ar y gweill ar gyfer cyflymu brechu neu surge vaccination mewn ardaloedd haint uchel, ac yn enwedig ardaloedd, wrth gwrs, lle mae'r amrywiolyn delta yn achosi pryder. Dwi ddim yn teimlo fy mod wedi cael ateb fel yr oeddwn i eisiau i'r cwestiwn hwnnw, felly gadewch i mi ofyn yn y ffordd yma: os ydy bwrdd iechyd mewn ardal lle mae yna bryder—ac rydym yn sôn am Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ar hyn o bryd—yn gallu dangos bod ganddyn nhw'r capasiti i wneud mwy o frechu, a fyddwch chi fel Llywodraeth yn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n gallu cael cynnydd mewn cyflenwad o'r brechiad er mwyn gallu cyflymu'r broses?

Thank you very much, Llywydd. Minister, I asked you yesterday in responding to the statement on the coronavirus update what plans were in the pipeline in order to hasten vaccination or provide surge vaccination in high-infection areas, particularly where the delta variant is a cause for concern. I don't feel that I got the response I wanted to that question, so let me put it in this way: if a health board in an area where there is concern—we're talking here about Betsti Cadwaladr University Health Board at the moment—can demonstrate that they have the capacity to do more in terms of vaccination, would you as a Government ensure that they can get an increased supply of vaccines in order to hasten the process?

Wel, diolch yn fawr. Wrth gwrs, beth rŷn ni wedi'i wneud yw rhoi lot fwy o ryddid i'r byrddau iechyd gael yr hyblygrwydd sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i wneud rhai o'r penderfyniadau yna os oes angen. Felly, rŷn ni eisoes wedi rhoi caniatâd iddyn nhw os ydyn nhw'n gweld bod angen iddyn nhw gynyddu faint maen nhw'n brechu a ble maen nhw'n brechu. Wedyn, mae'r hyblygrwydd gyda nhw i ymateb yn y ffordd yna. Ar hyn o bryd, does dim problem o ran cyflenwad. Dwi newydd ddod o gyfarfod gyda'r Gweinidog yn Llundain sy'n gyfrifol am gyflenwad y brechlyn a does yna ddim problem ar hyn o bryd rŷn ni'n ei rhagweld. Felly, rŷn ni'n hyderus ein bod ni mewn sefyllfa lle, os oes angen i'r bwrdd iechyd gyflymu'r broses—. Ac, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni mewn sefyllfa anhygoel yma yng Nghymru lle mae bron bob un dros 18 oed wedi cael cynnig y brechlyn cyntaf. Wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n golygu y gallwn ni nawr ganolbwyntio ar yr ail frechlyn yna, sydd mor bwysig i ddiogelu pobl rhag yr amrywiolyn newydd delta yma.

Thank you very much. Of course, what we've done is given much more freedom to the health boards to have the flexibility that they need to make some of those decisions if they need to make them. We've already given consent to them if they see that they do need to increase their vaccinations and where they vaccinate, and so they have the flexibility to respond in that way. At present, there's no supply problem. I've just come from a meeting with the Minister in London who's responsible for vaccine supply, and we foresee no problem at present. So, we are confident that we are in a situation where, if the health board needs to accelerate that process—. And, of course, we're in a very extraordinary situation in Wales where nearly everyone over 18 has been offered the first vaccine, which means that we can focus on the second vaccine, which is so important to protect people from the new delta variant.

Diolch am yr ateb. Dwi'n meddwl eich bod chi'n dal i fethu'r pwynt rhywfaint. Gofyn ydw i nid sut rydym yn cyflymu'r ail frechiad yn gyffredinol—mae pethau'n mynd yn grêt o ran y brechiad—ond sut mae canolbwyntio mwy o gyflenwad yn yr ardaloedd lle mae angen surge vaccination. Ac os daw'r cais yna gan fwrdd iechyd, dwi'n gobeithio y gallwch chi, fel Llywodraeth, sicrhau cyflenwad pellach iddyn nhw. Mae'r twf yr amrywiolyn delta yn ein hatgoffa ni wrth gwrs fod hwn yn bandemig sydd yn dal efo ni. Mae'n rhaid cario mlaen i chwilio am ffyrdd i ymateb iddo fo a diogelu bywyd.

Rŵan, mi wnes i grybwyll efo chi bythefnos yn ôl y potensial o fuddsoddi mewn mesurau diheintio yn defnyddio golau uwchfioled—UVC—fel rhan o'r frwydr yn erbyn COVID. Dwi'n deall bod Llywodraeth Iwerddon bellach wedi cytuno i ddarparu a sicrhau awyr glân mewn ysgolion yn Iwerddon trwy UVC a hidlo awyr. Yma yng Nghymru, dwi'n deall fod sir Gaerfyrddin yn barod i beilota hyn mewn ysgolion. Mae Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn hefyd, dwi'n gwybod, yn eiddgar iawn i dreialu hyn—llawer o waith wedi bod yn cael ei wneud yno—ond mi fydd angen cefnogaeth Llywodraeth. A wnewch chi edrych, felly, ar gymeradwyo cynlluniau peilot fel hyn i ddechrau ar frys, ac wedyn sicrhau, wrth gwrs, fod yr arian yn cael ei glustnodi fel y gallwn ni edrych tuag at ddefnyddio UVC, sydd ddim yn dechnoleg newydd o gwbl ond sydd â defnydd newydd pwysig iddo fo yn sgil y pandemig?  

Thank you for that response. I think you're still missing the point somewhat. I'm asking not how we accelerate the second vaccination generally—things are going very well in terms of that—but how we can focus more supply in those areas where we need surge vaccination. And if that request is made by a health board, I hope that you, as a Government, can ensure additional supplies to them. The growth of the delta variant reminds us that this is a pandemic that is still very much with us. We must continue to find ways of responding to it and of protecting lives.

Now, I mentioned to you a fortnight ago the potential of investing in the use of ultraviolet-C light—UVC—in order to disinfect against COVID. I understand that the Irish Government has now agreed to provide and ensure clean air in schools in Ireland through UVC and air filtering. Here in Wales, I know that Carmarthenshire is prepared to pilot this in schools. I know also that Anglesey council are very eager to trial this—a great deal of work has been done there—but they will need the support of Government. So, will you look at approving such pilot schemes urgently, and then ensure that the funding is allocated so that we can look towards using UVC, which isn't new technology but has a new usage that has been very important in terms of the pandemic? 

14:50

Diolch. Rŷm ni eisoes wedi rhoi arian tuag at ysbytai sydd angen mwy o help o ran ventilation. Felly, er enghraifft, yn ysbyty Llandochau, rŷm ni wedi buddsoddi £830,000 yn ychwanegol i'w helpu nhw gyda'u systemau nhw, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n bwysig bod ni'n deall y pwysigrwydd yna o ventilation. Nawr, o ran y syniadau yma am UVC, dwi ddim yn ymwybodol ein bod ni wedi edrych mewn iddyn nhw mewn unrhyw fanylder eto, ond dwi'n hapus i fynd i ffwrdd ac i edrych ar hynny.

Mae hefyd yn bwysig, dwi'n meddwl, ein bod ni'n ystyried ysgolion. Nawr yw'r amser i ni sicrhau bod yr ysgolion yn agor eu ffenestri ac yn defnyddio'r cyfle yna. Bydd pethau'n wahanol iawn erbyn y gaeaf, a phwy â wŷr ba sefyllfa fyddwn ni ynddi ar yr adeg yna. Felly, mae'n rhywbeth, dwi'n meddwl, sy'n werth edrych mewn iddo o ran sut rŷm ni'n mynd i helpu'r sefyllfa, achos mae'n rhaid i ni ddysgu byw gyda'r feirws yma, fel rŷch chi'n dweud.  

Thank you very much. We've already given funding to hospitals that need more help in terms of ventilation. So, for example, in Llandough hospital, we have invested £830,000 of additional funding to help them with their systems, and, of course, it's important that we do understand the importance of ventilation. Now, as to this idea of UVC, I'm not aware that we've looked into it in any detail yet, but I'm happy to go away and look at that.

It's also important that we consider schools. Now is the time to ensure that schools open their windows and use those opportunities. Things will be very different by the winter, and who knows what situation we will be in at that time. So, it is something that is worth looking at in terms of how we're going to improve the situation, because we have to learn to live with this virus, as you said.  

Dwi'n ddiolchgar am yr ymrwymiad positif yna, ac, er gwybodaeth i chi, edrych mae Ynys Môn ar gyflwyno UVC mewn ystafelloedd lle mae hi'n anodd sicrhau llif da o awyr drwy agor ffenestri.

Yn olaf, mae'r wythnos yma yn Wythnos Gofalwyr, a dwi am gymryd y cyfle yma i dalu teyrnged a diolch i ofalwyr ar hyd a lled Cymru sy'n gweithio'n ddygn yn dawel i ofalu am anwyliaid a theulu, a, drwy eu gwaith, sicrhau bod yr NHS yn gallu gweithredu o gwbl ac arbed biliynau o bunnau. Rhywbeth mae gofalwyr wedi sôn wrthyf i maen nhw eisiau ei gael ydy un pwynt cyswllt. Mae gofalwyr yn gorfod siarad efo'r bwrdd iechyd, gwahanol adrannau o'r bwrdd iechyd, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, y trydydd sector hyd yn oed, ac mae hynny'n rhoi straen ychwanegol arnyn nhw. Allaf i ofyn i chi ba gamau y gallwch chi, mewn cydweithrediad efo'r Dirprwy Weinidog dros ofal, eu cymryd i drio cydlynu gwasanaethau a datblygu un pwynt cyswllt er mwyn rhoi cymorth i bobl sydd wir, wir yn ei haeddu fo? 

I'm grateful for that positive commitment, and, for information, Anglesey is looking at introducing UVC in rooms where it's difficult to provide adequate ventilation by opening windows. 

Finally, this week is Carers Week, and I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute and to thank carers the length and breadth of Wales who work so hard quietly to care for loved ones and family members, and, through their work, ensure that the NHS can operate and, in so doing, save billions of pounds. Something carers have mentioned to me is that they want one point of contact. Carers have to speak to health boards, different departments within those boards, social services, the third sector even, and that places additional stresses upon them. Can I ask you what steps you, working with the Deputy Minister, can take in order to co-ordinate services and to create one point of contact in order to support those people who truly deserve that support?

Diolch yn fawr, a dwi eisiau diolch hefyd am y gwaith anhygoel mae gofalwyr yn ei wneud ar draws ein gwlad ni yn diogelu ein henoed, ond hefyd pobl ifanc sydd â phroblemau difrifol. Dwi'n deall mai beth mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud yw gwneud popeth rŷm ni'n gallu i helpu i wneud bywydau'r gofalwyr yma yn haws. A dwi'n deall y pwynt, os oes rhaid iddyn nhw gysylltu gyda llu o fudiadau gwahanol, fod hynny'n cymhlethu pethau. Dwi'n hapus i siarad ac i gael gair gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog i weld a oes yna unrhyw gamau y gallwn ni eu gwneud yn y maes yna. Dwi'n siŵr ei bod hi lot yn fwy ymwybodol o'r hyn sydd ar gael eisoes, ond hefyd i weld a oes yna ffordd o symlhau'r system. 

Thank you very much, and I also want to thank carers for the extraordinary work that they do across the country, in safeguarding our elderly people, and also young people who have serious problems. I do understand that what we need to do is do everything that we can to make the lives of these carers easier. I do understand the point that having to contact a range of different institutions or organisations can make things complicated. I'm happy to have a word with the Deputy Minister to see whether there are any steps we can take in that area. I'm sure that she is far more aware of what's already available, but also to see whether we can simplify the system. 

Cefnogi Menywod sy'n Profi'r Menopos
Supporting Women who are Experiencing the Menopause

3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi menywod yng Nghymru sy'n profi'r menopos? OQ56536

3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support women in Wales who are experiencing the menopause? OQ56536

Diolch yn fawr, Vikki. The Welsh Government takes women’s health, including menopausal concerns, very seriously and expects all health boards to provide a full range of services to women experiencing the menopause in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

Diolch yn fawr, Vikki. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru o ddifrif ynglŷn ag iechyd menywod, gan gynnwys materion yn ymwneud â'r menopos, ac yn disgwyl i bob bwrdd iechyd ddarparu ystod lawn o wasanaethau i fenywod sy'n profi'r menopos yn unol â chanllawiau'r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal.

Thank you, Minister, and welcome to your new role. Menopause is, of course, a condition that will affect half the population of Wales at some point in their lives, with symptoms including problems sleeping, issues with concentration, digestive problems and stiff, aching joints. Recent research has shown that seven out of 10 women say that menopause significantly affects their mental well-being, and eight out of 10 women say that the side effects of menopause have had a significant negative impact on their ability to carry out their employment roles effectively. There are almost 100 menopause clinics throughout the UK, yet only three of these are in Wales. Minister, with menopause having such a significant impact on the health, well-being and, indeed, the economy of Wales, what plans does Welsh Government have to improve current service provision and ensure that all women affected by menopause are adequately supported? 

Diolch, Weinidog, a chroeso i'ch rôl newydd. Mae'r menopos, wrth gwrs, yn gyflwr a fydd yn effeithio ar hanner poblogaeth Cymru ar ryw adeg yn eu bywydau, gyda symptomau'n cynnwys problemau cysgu, problemau gyda chanolbwyntio, problemau treulio a chymalau stiff a phoenus. Mae ymchwil ddiweddar wedi dangos bod saith o bob 10 menyw yn dweud bod y menopos yn effeithio'n sylweddol ar eu lles meddyliol, ac mae wyth o bob 10 menyw yn dweud bod sgil-effeithiau'r menopos wedi cael effaith negyddol sylweddol ar eu gallu i gyflawni eu swyddi'n effeithiol. Mae bron i 100 o glinigau menopos ledled y DU, ond dim ond tri o'r rhain sydd yng Nghymru. Weinidog, gyda'r menopos yn cael effaith mor sylweddol ar iechyd, llesiant, ac yn wir ar economi Cymru, pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i wella'r gwasanaethau a ddarperir ar hyn o bryd a sicrhau bod yr holl fenywod y mae'r menopos yn effeithio arnynt yn cael eu cefnogi'n ddigonol?

Thanks very much, Vikki, and I know I'm at that age now where I have to deal with some of these issues and, certainly, what I do know is that every individual has different symptoms and has to deal with this in their own way. What we've done in Wales is to make sure that every individual—. There's a need to tailor the advice to that particular individual. We have four recognised clinics in Wales that are recognised by the British Menopause Society: one in Llantrisant, one in Caerleon, one in Wrexham, and one in Deeside. And what we try and do is to make sure that we have this entry point through the GP, and that is generally the system that I think makes a lot of sense. And then the idea is that the GPs, who should have been through some training that has been set by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, can stick to the advice given by NICE, and then, if necessary, they will refer on to those clinics that you mentioned. So, that's the system that we have in Wales, but I have asked my officials to conduct a review of the current menopause provision to assess delivery in line with those NICE guidelines, just to make sure that we are doing what we expect people to be delivering.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Vikki, ac rwy'n gwybod fy mod i yn yr oedran hwnnw yn awr lle mae'n rhaid i mi wynebu rhai o'r problemau hyn ac yn sicr, rwy'n gwybod bod gan bob unigolyn symptomau gwahanol ac yn gorfod ymdrin â hyn yn ei ffordd ei hun. Yng Nghymru rydym yn sicrhau bod pob unigolyn—. Mae angen teilwra'r cyngor i'r unigolyn penodol. Mae gennym bedwar clinig cydnabyddedig yng Nghymru sy'n cael eu cydnabod gan Gymdeithas Menopos Prydain: un yn Llantrisant, un yng Nghaerllion, un yn Wrecsam, ac un yng Nglannau Dyfrdwy. A'r hyn rydym yn ceisio'i wneud yw sicrhau bod gennym bwynt mynediad drwy'r meddyg teulu, a dyna'r system sy'n gwneud llawer o synnwyr yn fy marn i. Wedyn y syniad yw y gall y meddygon teulu, a ddylai fod wedi cael rhywfaint o hyfforddiant a osodwyd gan Goleg Brenhinol yr Obstetryddion a'r Gynaecolegwyr, ddilyn y cyngor a roddwyd gan NICE, ac os oes angen, byddant yn atgyfeirio at y clinigau hynny y sonioch chi amdanynt. Felly, dyna'r system sydd gennym yng Nghymru, ond rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion gynnal adolygiad o'r ddarpariaeth bresennol mewn perthynas â'r menopos i asesu'r ddarpariaeth yn unol â chanllawiau NICE, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud yr hyn rydym yn disgwyl i bobl fod yn ei ddarparu.

14:55

Firstly, can I congratulate the Minister on her new role, the Deputy Minister for mental health on hers, and you on the continuation of yours, Julie?

As someone who has the delights of menopause that Vikki just outlined to come, sooner rather than later, unfortunately, I do also believe that this is an issue that is vitally important to talk about and address, and not just for women, but for men to understand and talk about as well. As my former colleague, Suzy Davies, quite rightly campaigned for and successfully campaigned for, it's something that we now should all talk about. It's no longer a taboo subject and it now will be included in the delivery of the new curriculum. Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales and their Not Just Hot Flushes campaign estimate that one in 10 menopausal women in the UK leave employment, as Vikki outlined, as a result of unmanageable symptoms, lack of appropriate treatment, employers' lack of understanding, and poor access to services. The impact that menopause can have, as you know, on a workforce can be debilitating, and there should be more treatment available and greater understanding of the issues faced. At present, as you said, there are four clinics available. One of them is an excellent nurse-led clinic in the Aneurin Bevan health board facility, but there is a four-and-a-half month waiting list to access it. It's very successful, so maybe that's also a clinic, nurse-led idea, that you should look into and maybe roll out, because that has been successful. It's just the wait that's a problem on that one.

Will the Minister commit to ensuring that specialist clinics like these are easily accessible across Wales, and that you work with relevant charities and employers organisations to ensure that women going through these struggles related to the menopause get the understanding and the help that they need? Thank you.

Yn gyntaf, a gaf fi longyfarch y Gweinidog ar ei rôl newydd, y Dirprwy Weinidog iechyd meddwl ar ei rôl hithau, a chithau am barhad eich rôl chi, Julie?

Fel rhywun sydd â phleserau'r menopos y mae Vikki newydd eu hamlinellu i ddod, yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach, yn anffodus, rwyf innau hefyd o'r farn fod hwn yn fater hanfodol bwysig i siarad amdano a mynd i'r afael ag ef, ac nid i fenywod yn unig, ond i ddynion ddeall a siarad amdano hefyd. Fel yr ymgyrchodd fy nghyn gyd-Aelod, Suzy Davies, a hynny'n gwbl briodol a llwyddiannus, mae'n rhywbeth y dylem i gyd siarad amdano yn awr. Nid yw'n bwnc tabŵ mwyach a bydd yn cael ei gynnwys yn awr wrth gyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd. Mae Triniaeth Deg i Fenywod Cymru a'u hymgyrch Not Just Hot Flushes yn amcangyfrif bod un o bob 10 menyw sy'n profi'r menopos yn y DU yn gadael eu swyddi, fel yr amlinellodd Vikki, o ganlyniad i symptomau na ellir eu rheoli, diffyg triniaeth briodol, diffyg dealltwriaeth cyflogwyr, a mynediad gwael at wasanaethau. Gall yr effaith y gall y menopos ei chael ar y gweithlu fod yn wanychol fel y gwyddoch, a dylai fod mwy o driniaeth ar gael a gwell dealltwriaeth o'r problemau a wynebir. Ar hyn o bryd, fel y dywedoch chi, mae pedwar clinig ar gael. Un ohonynt yw clinig rhagorol dan arweiniad nyrsys yng nghyfleuster bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, ond mae rhestr aros o bedwar mis a hanner i'w ddefnyddio. Mae'n llwyddiannus iawn, felly efallai fod hwnnw hefyd yn syniad am glinig dan arweiniad nyrsys y dylech ymchwilio iddo ac efallai ei gyflwyno am ei fod yn llwyddiannus. Yr amser aros yw'r broblem gyda hwnnw.

A wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo i sicrhau bod clinigau arbenigol fel y rhain ar gael yn rhwydd ledled Cymru, a'ch bod yn gweithio gydag elusennau a sefydliadau cyflogwyr perthnasol i sicrhau bod menywod sy'n mynd drwy'r trafferthion hyn sy'n gysylltiedig â'r menopos yn cael y ddealltwriaeth a'r cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt? Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr. I'd like to pay tribute as well to Suzy Davies for the great work that she did to put this onto the agenda. I was really pleased that one of the last things that the education Minister did was to make that commitment that, in the curriculum, women's health issues are going to be a part of what everybody learns about in school, because you're absolutely right: this is not just an issue for women; men have to understand it as well. And I'm really pleased that a lot of unions in Wales have also championed this cause and made sure there's heightened awareness of this issue throughout Wales.

I was listening to Woman's Hour today on the way in, and it was very interesting, talking about the whole issue of women's health and the need to really focus on it and to make sure that we take this seriously. Certainly, in the Welsh Government, we do take it seriously. We have a women's health reference group that really looks at these things in detail, just to make sure it's getting the attention that these issues deserve, and I look forward to hearing more about that as I continue in this role. But, certainly, we're obviously concerned about accessibility at the moment. The pandemic has pushed everything back. But I think you're absolutely right: there are some nurse experts who can actually help a great deal in these spaces, and I think we have to try and condition people to get people to understand that, actually, an expert can be somebody who's been doing the job and has absolute specialist information about it, who is not necessarily a consultant or a GP, and they can be very, very useful at times.

Diolch yn fawr. Hoffwn innau hefyd dalu teyrnged i Suzy Davies am y gwaith gwych a wnaeth i roi hyn ar yr agenda. Roeddwn yn falch iawn mai un o'r pethau olaf a wnaeth y Gweinidog addysg oedd ymrwymo y byddai materion iechyd menywod yn y cwricwlwm yn rhan o'r hyn y mae pawb yn dysgu amdano yn yr ysgol, oherwydd rydych yn llygad eich lle: nid mater i fenywod yn unig yw hwn; mae'n rhaid i ddynion ei ddeall hefyd. Ac rwy'n falch iawn fod llawer o undebau yng Nghymru hefyd wedi hyrwyddo'r achos hwn ac wedi sicrhau bod mwy o ymwybyddiaeth o'r mater ledled Cymru.

Roeddwn yn gwrando ar Woman's Hour heddiw ar y ffordd i mewn, ac roedd yn ddiddorol iawn, yn sôn am holl fater iechyd menywod a'r angen i ganolbwyntio'n wirioneddol arno a sicrhau ein bod o ddifrif yn ei gylch. Yn sicr, yn Llywodraeth Cymru, rydym o ddifrif yn ei gylch. Mae gennym grŵp cyfeirio iechyd menywod sy'n edrych yn fanwl iawn ar y pethau hyn, er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn cael y sylw y mae'r materion hyn yn ei haeddu, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed mwy am hynny wrth i mi barhau yn y rôl hon. Ond yn sicr, rydym yn amlwg yn pryderu am hygyrchedd ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r pandemig wedi gwthio popeth yn ôl. Ond rwy'n credu eich bod yn llygad eich lle: gall rhai arbenigwyr nyrsio helpu llawer iawn yn y pethau hyn, ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni geisio cyflyru pobl i gael pobl i ddeall mewn gwirionedd y gall arbenigwr fod yn rhywun sydd wedi bod yn gwneud y gwaith ac sydd â gwybodaeth arbenigol absoliwt amdano, rhywun nad yw o reidrwydd yn feddyg ymgynghorol neu'n feddyg teulu, a gallant fod yn ddefnyddiol tu hwnt ar adegau.

15:00
Rhagnodi Cymdeithasol
Social Prescribing

4. Beth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo defnyddio mwy o ragnodi cymdeithasol mewn practisau meddygon teulu? OQ56570

4. What will the Welsh Government do to promote greater use of social prescribing in GP practices? OQ56570

Thank you, Huw. The principles of social prescribing are consistent with broader Welsh Government policy, such as the primary care model for Wales and 'A Healthier Wales'. Our recently established social prescribing task and finish group is looking to understand how social prescribing could aid Wales in its recovery from COVID-19, and includes, amongst others, representation from the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Diolch, Huw. Mae egwyddorion presgripsiynu cymdeithasol yn gyson â pholisi ehangach Llywodraeth Cymru, megis y model gofal sylfaenol ar gyfer Cymru a 'Cymru Iachach'. Mae ein grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol a sefydlwyd yn ddiweddar yn ceisio deall sut y gallai presgripsiynu cymdeithasol helpu Cymru i adfer yn sgil COVID-19, ac mae'n cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o Goleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol, ymhlith eraill.

I really welcome that response, Minister, because I know that when I was a lot, lot younger, decades ago, when I was a sports centre assistant and manager—I know that's hard to believe—I was one of the first to introduce exercise on prescription and GP referral schemes in our centres across England and Wales at the time. But, of course, things have moved on, we've innovated. Social prescribing and getting people into the outdoors, walking and cycling and being part of social contact groups will tackle loneliness and isolation as well. We know that this pays dividends in so many ways, but there are obstacles for GPs—the time, the explanation and so on. So, I wonder, Minister, what you think the taskforce will throw up about the main obstacles to social prescribing. How can we get social prescribing to be in every part of Wales, in every GP surgery, in every primary care facility that there is, so that we can give people the option of doing something quite differently for their mental health and physical well-being as well?

Rwy'n croesawu'r ymateb hwnnw'n fawr, Weinidog, oherwydd pan oeddwn yn llawer iau, ddegawdau'n ôl, pan oeddwn yn gynorthwyydd a rheolwr canolfan chwaraeon—gwn ei bod yn anodd credu hynny—fi oedd un o'r rhai cyntaf i gyflwyno ymarfer corff ar bresgripsiwn a chynlluniau atgyfeirio gan feddygon teulu yn ein canolfannau ledled Cymru a Lloegr ar y pryd. Ond wrth gwrs, mae pethau wedi symud ymlaen, rydym wedi arloesi. Bydd presgripsiynu cymdeithasol a chael pobl allan i'r awyr agored, a cherdded a beicio a bod yn rhan o grwpiau cyswllt cymdeithasol yn trechu unigrwydd ac arwahanrwydd hefyd. Gwyddom fod hyn yn talu ar ei ganfed mewn cynifer o ffyrdd, ond mae rhwystrau i feddygon teulu—yr amser, yr esbonio ac yn y blaen. Felly, Weinidog, beth yn eich barn chi y bydd y tasglu'n ei ddangos yw'r prif rwystrau i bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol. Sut y gallwn gael presgripsiynu cymdeithasol ym mhob rhan o Gymru, ym mhob meddygfa, ym mhob cyfleuster gofal sylfaenol, fel y gallwn roi'r dewis i bobl wneud rhywbeth hollol wahanol er mwyn eu hiechyd meddwl a'u lles corfforol hefyd?

Thank you, Huw, for that supplementary. A key role of the task and finish group is to develop a national framework for social prescribing, which will include general practice. It will also be exploring the barriers to progressing social prescribing in Wales. However, we already know that one of the biggest obstacles that GPs encounter is actually knowing what activities are available to them locally. And there is a commitment within our 'Connected Communities' strategy to embed the use of Dewis, our national well-being directory of services and activities, with both service providers and the communities.

You'll be pleased to know, I'm sure, that all regional partnership boards are taking forward work in this area, including Cwm Taf Morgannwg, who are supporting a number of social prescribing projects, particularly the Connecting Communities project in Bridgend. This project aims to support older adults, people with learning disabilities and carers of vulnerable people to develop support networks within their communities and strengthen the capacity of the third sector to meet needs. At the end of March 2021, some 4,444 people had benefited from the project. There are also community development hubs being developed across Rhondda Cynon Taf, which involves the development of hubs across the borough to develop better public services, efficient, co-ordinated and located close to the point of need. As of 21 March, community co-ordinators had responded to nearly 4,000 requests for assistance, diverting the need away from adult or other statutory service interventions and providing early help for people in the community.

Diolch am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, Huw. Un o rolau allweddol y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen yw datblygu fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer presgripsiynu cymdeithasol a fydd yn cynnwys ymarfer cyffredinol. Bydd hefyd yn archwilio'r rhwystrau i ddatblygu presgripsiynu cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, gwyddom eisoes mai un o'r rhwystrau mwyaf y mae meddygon teulu yn eu hwynebu yw gwybod pa weithgareddau sydd ar gael iddynt yn lleol. Ac mae ymrwymiad yn ein strategaeth 'Cysylltu Cymunedau' i ymgorffori'r defnydd o Dewis, ein cyfeiriadur llesiant cenedlaethol o wasanaethau a gweithgareddau, gyda darparwyr gwasanaethau a'r cymunedau.

Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn falch o wybod fod pob bwrdd partneriaeth rhanbarthol yn bwrw ymlaen â gwaith yn y maes hwn, gan gynnwys Cwm Taf Morgannwg, sy'n cefnogi nifer o brosiectau presgripsiynu cymdeithasol, yn enwedig y prosiect Cysylltu Cymunedau ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Nod y prosiect hwn yw cefnogi oedolion hŷn, pobl ag anableddau dysgu a gofalwyr pobl sy'n agored i niwed i ddatblygu rhwydweithiau cymorth yn eu cymunedau a chryfhau gallu'r trydydd sector i ddiwallu anghenion. Ar ddiwedd mis Mawrth 2021, roedd 4,444 o bobl wedi elwa o'r prosiect. Mae hybiau datblygu cymunedol hefyd yn cael eu datblygu ar draws Rhondda Cynon Taf, sy'n cynnwys datblygu hybiau ar draws y fwrdeistref i ddatblygu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gwell, effeithlon, cydgysylltiedig ac wedi'u lleoli'n agos at ble mae eu hangen. Ar 21 Mawrth, roedd cydgysylltwyr cymunedol wedi ymateb i bron i 4,000 o geisiadau am gymorth, gan ddargyfeirio'r angen oddi wrth ymyriadau gwasanaeth statudol i oedolion neu ymyriadau eraill a darparu cymorth cynnar i bobl yn y gymuned.

Minister, social prescribing has a unique role to play in prevention as a whole, particularly when it comes to social care. Keeping the body active can prevent falls, and keeping the mind active can stave off the onset of dementia. I welcome the actions taken by Betsi Cadwaladr and the local authorities in north Wales in developing Made in North Wales, which helps co-ordinate social prescribing across the north. How will your Government work with Made in North Wales and the third sector across the region in order to maximise social prescribing opportunities? Thank you.

Weinidog, mae gan bresgripsiynu cymdeithasol rôl unigryw i'w chwarae yn atal yn gyffredinol, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â gofal cymdeithasol. Gall cadw'r corff yn egnïol atal cwympiadau, a gall cadw'r meddwl yn egnïol ymladd camau cyntaf dementia. Rwy'n croesawu'r camau a gymerwyd gan Betsi Cadwaladr a'r awdurdodau lleol yng ngogledd Cymru i ddatblygu Gwnaed yng Ngogledd Cymru, sy'n helpu i gydlynu presgripsiynu cymdeithasol ar draws y gogledd. Sut y bydd eich Llywodraeth yn gweithio gyda Gwnaed yng Ngogledd Cymru a'r trydydd sector ar draws y rhanbarth er mwyn manteisio i'r eithaf ar gyfleoedd presgripsiynu cymdeithasol? Diolch.

Thank you for that question. Clearly, a key role of the task and finish group will be to draw on the good practice that is taking place in some parts of Wales and ensure that that good practice is rolled out across Wales. There is input from the health boards into the task and finish group, and I'm really keen that we take forward the need for a national framework so that people in Wales can have a consistent social prescribing offer. I think it is important to recognise too, though, that social prescribing is just one part of what we need to do to ensure early intervention for people who are either in distress or who have extra support needs. But it clearly has a really important part to play.

Diolch ichi am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Yn amlwg, un o rolau allweddol y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen fydd defnyddio'r arferion da sy'n digwydd mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru a sicrhau bod yr arferion da hynny'n cael eu cyflwyno ledled Cymru. Mae mewnbwn gan y byrddau iechyd i'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen, ac rwy'n awyddus iawn ein bod yn bwrw ymlaen â'r angen am fframwaith cenedlaethol fel y gellir sicrhau cysondeb yn y cynnig presgripsiynu cymdeithasol i bobl yng Nghymru. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod hefyd, serch hynny, mai dim ond un rhan o'r hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud yw presgripsiynu cymdeithasol er mwyn sicrhau ymyrraeth gynnar i bobl sydd naill ai mewn trallod neu sydd ag anghenion cymorth ychwanegol. Ond mae'n amlwg fod ganddo ran bwysig iawn i'w chwarae.

15:05
Iechyd Meddwl Menywod
Women's Mental Health

5. Pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi iechyd meddwl menywod yn dilyn pandemig COVID-19? OQ56569

5. What action will the Welsh Government take to support women's mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ56569

Thank you very much for that question, Jane. In October 2020, we reissued the 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan 2019-22, which has been strengthened in key areas as a result of the pandemic impact. We understand that women have been impacted by COVID and its socioeconomic impact. Importantly, while the plan retains a key focus in areas such as improving perinatal mental health support, this is within the context of sustained improvements to wider mental health support services.

Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Jane. Ym mis Hydref 2020, gwnaethom ailgyhoeddi cynllun cyflawni 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl' 2019-22, sydd wedi'i gryfhau mewn meysydd allweddol o ganlyniad i effaith y pandemig. Rydym yn deall bod COVID wedi effeithio ar fenywod a'i effaith economaidd-gymdeithasol. Yn bwysig, er bod y cynllun yn parhau i ganolbwyntio'n allweddol ar feysydd fel gwella cymorth iechyd meddwl amenedigol, mae'n gwneud hynny yng nghyd-destun gwelliannau parhaus i wasanaethau cymorth iechyd meddwl ehangach.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Can I extend my congratulations to you on your role as well? Llongyfarchiadau. The Welsh Women's Aid 'State of the Sector' report focuses on the situation for women who've been affected by domestic violence. They catalogue a patchwork of support services in this sector, both for women who are making decisions about leaving a relationship and those who've been affected and are survivors. Could I ask the Minister to give an assurance that there will be a continued focus on the mental health of women affected by domestic violence, including those from black and minority ethnic groups, particularly looking at this being a long-term commitment to services to help the recovery of victims, staff and volunteers? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn. A gaf fi eich llongyfarch ar eich rôl hefyd? Llongyfarchiadau. Mae adroddiad 'Cyflwr y Sector' Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru yn canolbwyntio ar y sefyllfa i fenywod yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan drais domestig. Maent yn catalogio amrywiaeth o wasanaethau cymorth yn y sector hwn, ar gyfer menywod sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau am adael perthynas a'r rhai yr effeithiwyd arnynt ac sy'n oroeswyr. A gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog roi sicrwydd y bydd ffocws parhaus ar iechyd meddwl menywod yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan drais domestig, gan gynnwys menywod o grwpiau pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, yn enwedig o ystyried bod hwn yn ymrwymiad hirdymor i wasanaethau i helpu adferiad dioddefwyr, staff a gwirfoddolwyr? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Can I thank Jane Dodds for that important question and for her congratulations?

We have, of course, all been spending more time at home in the past year, and I am acutely aware that for too many people home is not a refuge. That's why the Welsh Government has invested significant funds in this area. The sector has received over £4 million of additional funding to deal with the impact of COVID-19; that's an extra 67 per cent compared with last year. We've also focused our communication campaigns on helping people to stay safe. Our Live Fear Free helpline is a free 24/7 service for all victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and those close to them, and it has remained open, offering a full service, throughout the pandemic.

In addition to that, we've provided open access to the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence e-learning module to community members, and over 50,000 people have taken that course, which enables people to have a better understanding in order to help and ensure that support is available. In our budget this year, we've committed £42 million to mental health provision, a significant additional and recurrent level of funding for mental health services that will increase health boards' baseline funding in order to support changing mental health needs as a result of COVID. 

I'd just like to assure the Member that we are committed to making services accessible and responsive to individual needs, and that includes the needs of women and those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. What I do recognise, though, is that responding to the broad range of social issues that are often the cause of poor mental health needs a multi-agency and cross-Government approach, and I am committed to driving that approach forward both with partners and the rest of the Welsh Government.

A gaf fi ddiolch i Jane Dodds am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw ac am ei chyfarchion?

Wrth gwrs, mae pawb ohonom wedi bod yn treulio mwy o amser gartref yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn nad lloches yw cartref i ormod o bobl. Dyna pam y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi arian sylweddol yn y maes hwn. Mae'r sector wedi derbyn dros £4 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol i ymdrin ag effaith COVID-19; dyna 67 y cant ychwanegol o'i gymharu â'r llynedd. Rydym hefyd wedi canolbwyntio ein hymgyrchoedd cyfathrebu ar helpu pobl i gadw'n ddiogel. Mae ein llinell gymorth Byw Heb Ofn yn wasanaeth 24/7 am ddim i bob dioddefwr a goroeswr cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol, a'r rhai sy'n agos atynt, ac mae wedi aros ar agor gan gynnig gwasanaeth llawn drwy gydol y pandemig.

Yn ogystal â hynny, rydym wedi darparu mynediad agored i'r modiwl e-ddysgu trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol i aelodau'r gymuned, ac mae dros 50,000 o bobl wedi dilyn y cwrs hwnnw, sy'n galluogi pobl i gael gwell dealltwriaeth er mwyn helpu i sicrhau bod cymorth ar gael. Yn ein cyllideb eleni, rydym wedi ymrwymo £42 miliwn ar gyfer darpariaeth iechyd meddwl, lefel ychwanegol a rheolaidd sylweddol o gyllid ar gyfer gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl a fydd yn cynyddu cyllid sylfaenol byrddau iechyd er mwyn cefnogi anghenion iechyd meddwl sy'n newid o ganlyniad i COVID. 

Hoffwn sicrhau'r Aelod ein bod wedi ymrwymo i wneud gwasanaethau'n hygyrch ac yn ymatebol i anghenion unigolion, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys anghenion menywod a'r rhai o gefndir du, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Yr hyn rwy'n ei gydnabod, serch hynny, yw bod ymateb i'r ystod eang o broblemau cymdeithasol sy'n aml yn achosi iechyd meddwl gwael yn galw am ddull amlasiantaethol a thrawslywodraethol, ac rwy'n ymrwymedig i yrru'r dull hwnnw yn ei flaen gyda phartneriaid a gweddill Llywodraeth Cymru.

More than half of the population is expected to be living with a long-standing illness by 2023. That is serious, especially as it has been found that over two thirds of people with a long-term physical health condition also suffer with poor mental health. Professor Adrian Edwards, director of Wales's COVID-19 evidence centre, has warned that the mental health side effects of living with chronic conditions will be a huge problem as Wales emerges from the pandemic, so we do need positive action across the nation.

We have a key opportunity to see the Welsh NHS reach out to residents via GP practices, and I know that many constituents have concerns that are coming in at the moment about a lack of face-to-face consultations, especially when raising mental health issues for the first time. In fact, the Royal College of General Practitioners Cymru have called for a dedicated mental health worker at each GP practice across Wales. Will you work with the Minister and our GPs across Wales to make this become a reality? Diolch. 

Disgwylir y bydd mwy na hanner y boblogaeth yn byw gyda salwch hirdymor erbyn 2023. Mae hynny'n ddifrifol, yn enwedig gan y canfuwyd bod dros ddwy ran o dair o'r bobl sy'n dioddef o gyflwr iechyd corfforol hirdymor hefyd yn dioddef o iechyd meddwl gwael. Mae'r Athro Adrian Edwards, cyfarwyddwr canolfan dystiolaeth COVID-19 Cymru, wedi rhybuddio y bydd sgil-effeithiau byw gyda chyflyrau cronig ar iechyd meddwl yn broblem enfawr wrth i Gymru gefnu ar y pandemig, felly mae angen gweithredu cadarnhaol ar draws y wlad.

Mae gennym gyfle allweddol i weld GIG Cymru yn estyn allan at drigolion drwy bractisau meddygon teulu, a gwn fod gan lawer o etholwyr bryderon sy'n dod i'r amlwg ar hyn o bryd am ddiffyg ymgynghoriadau wyneb yn wyneb, yn enwedig wrth godi problemau iechyd meddwl am y tro cyntaf. Yn wir, mae Coleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol Cymru wedi galw am weithiwr iechyd meddwl penodedig ym mhob practis meddyg teulu ledled Cymru. A wnewch chi weithio gyda'r Gweinidog a'n meddygon teulu ledled Cymru i wireddu hyn? Diolch.

Thank you, Janet, for that question. I would just to like to assure you that GPs are continuing, as they have done throughout the pandemic, to deliver their services, including their services under the mental health measure. As you'll understand, there have had to be changes to service delivery because of the pandemic, but people who need to be seen face to face are having face-to-face appointments. That said, I know that this is something myself and the health Minister are very much focused on. We're going to be meeting the BMA shortly and will be discussing this, because we have to make sure that nobody falls through the cracks because of the changed models of service delivery.

Diolch am y cwestiwn, Janet. Hoffwn eich sicrhau bod meddygon teulu'n parhau i ddarparu eu gwasanaethau, fel y gwnaethant drwy gydol y pandemig, gan gynnwys eu gwasanaethau dan y mesur iechyd meddwl. Fel y byddwch yn deall, bu'n rhaid newid dulliau o ddarparu gwasanaethau oherwydd y pandemig, ond mae pobl sydd angen cael eu gweld wyneb yn wyneb yn cael apwyntiadau wyneb yn wyneb. Wedi dweud hynny, gwn fod hyn yn rhywbeth rwyf fi a'r Gweinidog iechyd yn canolbwyntio'n fawr iawn arno. Byddwn yn cyfarfod â Chymdeithas Feddygol Prydain cyn bo hir a byddwn yn trafod hyn, oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau nad oes neb yn syrthio drwy'r craciau oherwydd newidiadau i fodelau darparu gwasanaethau.

15:10
Rhoi'r Brechlyn COVID-19 i Blant
Giving Children the COVID-19 Vaccine

6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynigion i roi'r brechlyn COVID-19 i blant? OQ56562

6. Will the Minister provide an update on proposals to give the COVID-19 vaccine to children? OQ56562

On 4 June, following a rigorous review, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency approved as safe and effective the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children aged 12 to 15. This is just a first step in the process, and like other UK nations, we now await the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Ar 4 Mehefin, yn dilyn adolygiad trylwyr, cymeradwyodd yr Asiantaeth Rheoleiddio Meddyginiaethau a Chynhyrchion Gofal Iechyd y defnydd o'r brechlyn Pfizer-BioNTech yn ddiogel ac yn effeithlon mewn plant rhwng 12 a 15 oed. Cam cyntaf yn y broses yn unig yw hwn, ac fel gwledydd eraill y DU, rydym yn aros yn awr am gyngor y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu.

Thank you for that answer. We have now vaccinated a greater share of our population than any other country with more than 1 million people, and that extraordinary success means that Wales might be able to start vaccinating children, pending the evidence and advice that you have just mentioned. But leading the world means that we can't follow by example, and extending the vaccine to children will be a new challenge. One of those challenges will be that other people will make those decisions for those children, and that, of course, is right. Parents and guardians will decide whether they receive it or whether they don't. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to prepare for that new challenge as we enter the next crucial stage of the vaccine roll-out?

Diolch ichi am eich ateb. Rydym bellach wedi brechu cyfran fwy o'n poblogaeth nag unrhyw wlad arall sydd â mwy nag 1 filiwn o bobl, ac mae'r llwyddiant eithriadol hwn yn golygu y gallai Cymru ddechrau brechu plant, tra'n aros am y dystiolaeth a'r cyngor rydych newydd eu crybwyll. Ond mae arwain y byd yn golygu na allwn ddilyn drwy esiampl, a bydd cynnig y brechlyn i blant yn her newydd. Un o'r heriau hynny yw y bydd pobl eraill yn gwneud y penderfyniadau ar ran y plant hynny, ac mae hynny'n iawn wrth gwrs. Bydd rhieni a gwarcheidwaid yn penderfynu a ydynt yn ei gael ai peidio. Felly, beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i baratoi ar gyfer yr her newydd hon wrth inni ddechrau ar y cam hollbwysig nesaf o gyflwyno'r brechlyn?

Thanks very much, Joyce. As you say, we do have to wait for that JCVI advice before moving forward and there are lots of ethical and moral issues that we need to work through. It may be that we want to consider children who are clinically extremely vulnerable or children who live with extremely vulnerable people first; we need to think about how and if we want to do this. Because what we do know is that children, generally, if they contract COVID, don't suffer that much, but they can pass it on. So, we'll wait for that advice, but in the meantime, we are preparing just in case, to an extent. I think, certainly, what we would want to do, if we were to go down that route, would be to make sure that we fine tune our communications, to make sure that we give the advice and the information to parents, as much as they can, so that they can make an informed choice, of course, on behalf of their children. And I think, probably, if we're talking about the older cohort of children—16 to 18-year-olds—that's a slightly different group again, and I think, probably, we'd want them to consider making their own decisions in this space, and we would have to communicate with them in a very different way, maybe directly using social media outlets. So, there's still a lot for us to consider in this space. We've already started discussing these issues, obviously, amongst ourselves, but we can't do anything until we've had that JCVI advice.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Joyce. Fel y dywedwch, mae'n rhaid inni aros am gyngor y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu cyn symud ymlaen ac mae llawer o faterion moesegol a moesol y mae angen inni weithio drwyddynt. Efallai ein bod am ystyried plant sy'n agored iawn i niwed yn glinigol neu blant sy'n byw gyda phobl sy'n agored iawn i niwed yn gyntaf; mae angen inni feddwl sut ac os ydym am wneud hyn. Oherwydd yr hyn a wyddom yw nad yw plant yn gyffredinol yn dioddef cymaint â hynny os ydynt yn dal COVID, ond fe allant ei drosglwyddo. Felly, byddwn yn aros am y cyngor hwnnw, ond yn y cyfamser rydym yn paratoi rhag ofn, i raddau. Yn sicr, credaf mai'r hyn y byddem am ei wneud, pe baem yn dewis y llwybr hwnnw, fyddai sicrhau ein bod yn mireinio ein cyfathrebiadau, i sicrhau ein bod yn rhoi'r cyngor a'r wybodaeth i rieni, cymaint ag y gallwn, fel y gallant wneud dewis gwybodus ar ran eu plant. Ac yn ôl pob tebyg, os ydym yn sôn am y garfan hŷn o blant—pobl ifanc 16 i 18 oed—mae hwnnw'n grŵp ychydig yn wahanol eto, ac rwy'n meddwl, mae'n debyg, y byddem am iddynt ystyried gwneud eu penderfyniadau eu hunain yn hyn o beth, a byddai'n rhaid inni gyfathrebu â hwy mewn ffordd wahanol iawn, gan ddefnyddio cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn uniongyrchol efallai. Felly, mae llawer i ni ei ystyried o hyd yn y maes hwn. Rydym eisoes wedi dechrau trafod y materion hyn ymysg ein gilydd wrth gwrs, ond ni allwn wneud dim hyd nes ein bod wedi cael cyngor gan y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu.

I'm very pleased to hear that you have referred to the need for JCVI advice on this, because, of course, some parents are concerned that mandating or requiring the use of the vaccine could be something that individual schools will insist upon around Wales. What assurances can you give to parents that children will not be vaccinated without their permission? And what discussions have you had with your Cabinet colleague for education regarding the role that vaccination will play in terms of being able to lift restrictions in our schools, which, of course, are still requiring many children—even though they're extremely unlikely to get ill, and we've got a growing percentage of the adult population that's been vaccinated—to wear masks every day in school?

Rwy'n falch iawn o glywed eich bod wedi cyfeirio at yr angen am gyngor y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu ar hyn, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae rhai rhieni'n pryderu y gallai ysgolion unigol ledled Cymru fynnu bod y defnydd o'r brechlyn yn ofynnol neu'n orfodol. Pa sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi i rieni na fydd plant yn cael eu brechu heb eu caniatâd? A pha drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda'ch cyd-Aelod yn y Cabinet dros addysg ynglŷn â'r rôl y bydd brechu'n ei chwarae o ran gallu codi cyfyngiadau yn ein hysgolion, sydd wrth gwrs yn dal i fynnu bod llawer o blant—er eu bod yn annhebygol tu hwnt o fynd yn sâl, ac mae gennym ganran gynyddol o'r boblogaeth oedolion wedi'u brechu—i wisgo mygydau bob dydd yn yr ysgol?

Thanks very much, Darren. You'll be aware that we haven't mandated the vaccine to anybody within this nation, and despite that, we've had an incredible uptake amongst the population as a whole. If we can, we certainly want to keep with that route with persuasion. I think that has been extremely successful, and we'd like to continue in that vein, and certainly, when it comes to children, I think that will be very important.

We are very keen, of course, to work with the education authorities, with the education unions about that conversation that is ongoing in terms of masks in schools, so that—. I know the education Minister has been in intense discussions and negotiations on that. Our ambition throughout this crisis has been to try and keep schools open, and we have to, of course, balance the issue of giving the vaccine to children with the need to keep schools open as well. So, that's another factor we need to consider when we are making the very difficult, I think, finely balanced judgment. And, of course, that's really what the JCVI will be considering as well.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Darren. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol nad ydym wedi gorfodi neb yn y wlad i gael y brechlyn, ac er hynny, rydym wedi gweld niferoedd anhygoel o bobl yn manteisio arno. Os gallwn, rydym yn sicr am gadw at y llwybr hwnnw drwy berswâd. Rwy'n credu bod hynny wedi bod yn hynod lwyddiannus, a hoffem barhau yn yr un modd, ac yn sicr, mewn perthynas â phlant, rwy'n credu y bydd hynny'n bwysig iawn.

Rydym yn awyddus iawn, wrth gwrs, i weithio gyda'r awdurdodau addysg, gyda'r undebau addysg ynglŷn â'r sgwrs honno sy'n mynd rhagddi ar fasgiau mewn ysgolion, fel bod—. Gwn fod y Gweinidog addysg wedi bod mewn trafodaethau dwys ar hynny. Ein huchelgais drwy gydol yr argyfwng hwn fu ceisio cadw ysgolion ar agor, a rhaid inni gydbwyso'r cwestiwn o roi'r brechlyn i blant gyda'r angen i gadw ysgolion ar agor hefyd. Felly, dyna ffactor arall sydd angen inni ei ystyried pan fyddwn yn gwneud y penderfyniad eithriadol o anodd hwn. Ac wrth gwrs, dyna fydd y Cyd-bwyllgor ar Imiwneiddio a Brechu yn ei ystyried hefyd.

15:15
Buddsoddi Mewn Cyfleusterau Iechyd
Investment in Health Facilities

7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am fuddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau iechyd yn Ne Clwyd? OQ56550

7. Will the Minister make a statement on investment in health facilities in Clwyd South? OQ56550

Any potential investment to improve health facilities in Clwyd South would need to be considered by the health board and align with its service and estate strategies. The main scheme close to Clwyd South is the Wrexham Maelor Hospital redevelopment, and this is being progressed with the Welsh Government.

Byddai angen i unrhyw fuddsoddiad posibl i wella cyfleusterau iechyd yn Ne Clwyd gael ei ystyried gan y bwrdd iechyd a'i alinio â'i strategaethau ar gyfer gwasanaethau ac ystadau. Y prif gynllun sy'n agos at Dde Clwyd yw'r gwaith ailddatblygu ar Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam, ac mae hwnnw'n cael ei ddatblygu gyda Llywodraeth Cymru.

Well, thank you, Minister; that's fantastic to hear. Previous Welsh Labour Governments have invested very heavily in health facilities in Clwyd South, with new facilities in particular in Chirk and Llangollen, and the Minister will be aware of the phenomenal workforce in the health sector in Clwyd South and across Wales. But, unfortunately, there are still some facilities in Clwyd South that are not of the high standard of the workforce that operates from them, in particular in Cefn Mawr and in Hanmer, and I'd be very grateful of the Minister's support in progressing new health facilities for these communities.

Wel, diolch, Weinidog; mae hynny'n wych i'w glywed. Mae Llywodraethau Llafur Cymru blaenorol wedi buddsoddi'n helaeth iawn mewn cyfleusterau iechyd yn Ne Clwyd, gyda chyfleusterau newydd yn enwedig yn y Waun a Llangollen, a bydd y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol o'r gweithlu rhagorol yn y sector iechyd yn Ne Clwyd a ledled Cymru. Ond yn anffodus, mae rhai cyfleusterau o hyd yn Ne Clwyd nad ydynt yn cyrraedd safon uchel y gweithlu sy'n gweithredu ynddynt, yn enwedig yng Nghefn Mawr ac yn Hanmer, a byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn am gefnogaeth y Gweinidog i ddatblygu cyfleusterau iechyd newydd ar gyfer y cymunedau hyn.

Diolch yn fawr, Ken. You'll be aware that Labour proposed in our manifesto that we will be charging onwards with our commitment to development twenty-first century surgeries, which hopefully will go beyond a GP offer, it will reach—making sure that we reach out to care and mental health facilities and lots of other facilities, hopefully working with local authorities as well. That's the kind of model we're hoping to promote, and certainly I know that the health board is aware of that. So, it will be up to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to determine the priority for its programme in terms of primary and community care estate developments. So, obviously, there's a big decision to make there for them. We know that about a third of our GP premises across Wales need improvement, so there are going to be some very, very difficult choices to be made in the future years. I spoke to the chief operating officer and the chair of Betsi yesterday, and I will be visiting hospitals in your area next week, and I'm very much looking forward to that.

Diolch yn fawr, Ken. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod Llafur wedi cynnig yn ein maniffesto y byddwn yn bwrw ymlaen gyda'n hymrwymiad i ddatblygu meddygfeydd ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, a fydd, gobeithio, yn mynd y tu hwnt i gynnig meddyg teulu, fe fydd yn cyrraedd—gan sicrhau ein bod yn estyn allan at gyfleusterau gofal ac iechyd meddwl a llawer o gyfleusterau eraill, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol hefyd gobeithio. Dyna'r math o fodel rydym yn gobeithio ei hyrwyddo, ac yn sicr gwn fod y bwrdd iechyd yn ymwybodol o hynny. Felly, mater i Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr fydd pennu'r flaenoriaeth ar gyfer ei raglen o ddatblygiadau ystadau gofal sylfaenol a chymunedol. Felly, yn amlwg, mae penderfyniad mawr i'w wneud yno. Gwyddom fod angen gwella tua thraean o'n hadeiladau meddygon teulu ledled Cymru, felly bydd dewisiadau anodd iawn i'w gwneud mewn blynyddoedd i ddod. Siaradais â'r prif swyddog gweithredu a chadeirydd Betsi Cadwaladr ddoe, a byddaf yn ymweld ag ysbytai yn eich ardal yr wythnos nesaf, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at hynny.

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Buffy Williams.

And lastly, question 8, Buffy Williams.

Y Niferoedd sydd wedi Manteisio ar y Brechlyn COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Rates

Diolch, Llywydd. I'd also like to congratulate the Minister on her new appointment.

Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn innau hefyd longyfarch y Gweinidog ar ei swydd newydd.

8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y niferoedd sydd wedi manteisio ar y brechlyn COVID-19? OQ56542

8. Will the Minister provide an update on COVID-19 vaccine uptake rates? OQ56542

Wel, diolch yn fawr. Llongyfarchiadau mawr i Buffy hefyd, a chroeso mawr ichi i'r Senedd.

Well, thank you very much. Congratulations to Buffy, and welcome to the Senedd.

The take-up so far has been incredibly high, with over 85 per cent of the adult population having taken up their offer of a first dose. But it's vitally important that vaccine take-up levels are maximised, and we're closely monitoring to make sure that there are no barriers to take-up.

Mae'r nifer sydd wedi manteisio ar y cynllun hyd yma wedi bod yn anhygoel o uchel, gyda dros 85 y cant o'r boblogaeth oedolion wedi manteisio ar y cynnig o ddos cyntaf. Ond mae'n hanfodol bwysig fod cymaint ag sy'n bosibl o bobl yn manteisio ar y brechlyn, ac rydym yn monitro'r niferoedd yn ofalus i sicrhau nad oes unrhyw rwystrau.

Thank you, Minister. In my constituency, Rhondda, the majority of residents are attending their vaccine appointments, which is amazing news, but we have a higher than average number of no-shows, for a variety of reasons. I know Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board are working with residents across our communities to delve into these reasons, trying to find them solutions. So, working with health boards across Wales, what plans does the Welsh Government have to increase vaccine uptake rates in challenging areas?

Diolch, Weinidog. Yn fy etholaeth i, Rhondda, mae'r rhan fwyaf o drigolion yn mynychu eu hapwyntiadau brechu, sy'n newyddion anhygoel, ond mae gennym nifer uwch na'r cyfartaledd o bobl nad ydynt yn mynychu, a hynny am amryw o resymau. Rwy'n gwybod bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg yn gweithio gyda thrigolion ar draws ein cymunedau i ymchwilio i'r rhesymau hyn, gan geisio dod o hyd i atebion. Felly, gan weithio gyda byrddau iechyd ledled Cymru, pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu cyfraddau brechu mewn ardaloedd heriol?

Thanks very much, and I know, Buffy, you will be a champion for your area, and you will know that it's very important for people in your area to take up that opportunity. The last thing we want to see are those disparities, in particular in perhaps the more challenging places economically. We don't want to see those being emphasised because of a low take-up of the vaccine. So, you're absolutely right, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board—they're taking very much a community-led and co-production approach to improving access, and I know that a task and finish group has been set up to address the gap in 40 to 49-year-olds in particular. That seems to be a place where there seems to be a problem. And I'm very pleased that a 'vaxi taxi' has been developed in the area to improve also access for black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. There's also an opportunity for people to use an online form so that they can change the date and time of their appointments if that's necessary. So, there's some great work being done, but if you could help us with trying to bang the drum in that area to get people to come forward for their vaccines, that would be a huge help.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, ac rwy'n gwybod, Buffy, y byddwch chi'n hyrwyddo'r brechlyn yn eich ardal, ac fe fyddwch yn gwybod ei bod yn bwysig iawn fod pobl yn eich ardal yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwnnw. Y peth olaf rydym am ei weld yw'r gwahaniaethau hynny, yn enwedig yn y lleoedd mwy heriol yn economaidd efallai. Nid ydym am weld y rheini'n cael eu gwaethygu am nad oes niferoedd digonol yn cael y brechlyn. Felly, rydych chi'n llygad eich lle, bwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf Morgannwg—maent yn mabwysiadu dull cydgynhyrchu wedi'i arwain gan y gymuned o wella mynediad, a gwn fod grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen wedi'i sefydlu i fynd i'r afael â'r bwlch ymysg pobl rhwng 40 a 49 oed yn benodol. Mae'n ymddangos bod problem yn y fan honno. Ac rwy'n falch iawn fod 'vaxi taxi' wedi'i ddatblygu yn yr ardal i wella mynediad hefyd i grwpiau o bobl dduon, Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Mae cyfle hefyd i bobl ddefnyddio ffurflen ar-lein fel y gallant newid dyddiad ac amser eu hapwyntiadau os oes angen. Felly, mae gwaith gwych yn cael ei wneud, ond byddai'n help enfawr os gallwch ein helpu i hyrwyddo'r brechlyn yn yr ardal honno a chael pobl i ddod i gael eu brechlyn.

15:20

Diolch i'r Gweinidog a'r ddwy ddirprwy.

Thank you, Minister, and the deputies.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Ac felly'r eitem nesaf yw'r cwestiwn amserol. Mae'r cwestiwn yna i'w ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ac i'w ofyn gan Laura Jones.

The next item is the topical question. The question is to be asked to the Deputy Minister for Social Services, and be posed by Laura Jones.

Cartref Plant Tŷ Coryton
Tŷ Coryton Children's Home

Thank you, Presiding Officer, for this opportunity.

Diolch am y cyfle hwn, Lywydd.

1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am honiadau gan chwythwyr chwiban bod plant ag awtistiaeth wedi cael eu cam-drin yng nghartref Tŷ Coryton yng Nghaerdydd? TQ553

1. Will the Minister make a statement on allegations by whistleblowers that children with autism have been subject to abuse at the Tŷ Coryton home in Cardiff? TQ553

Care Inspectorate Wales was made aware of concerns relating to the service and undertook an inspection as a result. Areas for improvement have been brought to the providers' attention, but not in relation to restrictive practices. Investigations by Cardiff social services on safeguarding concerns are ongoing.

Rhoddwyd gwybod i Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru am bryderon yn ymwneud â'r gwasanaeth a chynhaliodd arolygiad yn sgil hynny. Tynnwyd sylw'r darparwyr at feysydd i'w gwella, ond nid mewn perthynas ag arferion cyfyngol. Mae ymchwiliadau gan wasanaethau cymdeithasol Caerdydd i bryderon yn ymwneud â diogelu yn parhau.

Thank you, Minister, for that statement. Some of our most vulnerable people in our society, children with autism, should be protected and cared for, not made to suffer in such vile circumstances as alleged in this case. There are some serious questions, and this must be now fully investigated by relevant authorities. There are a litany of shocking and troubling allegations against the staff at Tŷ Coryton, some of which I can't repeat, but on one occasion and most seriously, the restraint of a child was so badly managed that it provoked very serious concerns that that child might die. Whistleblowers report that all of these allegations were directly a result of staff interventions and point to a culture of mismanagement provoking challenging behaviour that falls way short of the high standards we expect for staff charged with such an important job. Are these allegations reflective of a systematic problem in Wales? Could other young children be suffering in similar ways? Action needs to be taken now, Minister, to resolve this.

I'm pleased to hear that the Minister will be publishing the long-awaited reducing restrictive practice framework, but this is far too late for these children's and, I fear, others. Can I impress upon her that that needs to be published now to prevent more young children suffering in this way? And can she also tell us what steps she's taking to provide advice and guidance for centres such as Tŷ Coryton, to ensure that they are providing a therapeutic environment as recommended by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities? Will the Minister also make sure that centres like this have the necessary resources that they need to ensure basic human decency and human rights can be maintained, such as providing sanitary items, a claim that was alleged that I found particularly disturbing?

I understand that the care inspectorate are about to publish a review into practices at Tŷ Coryton, but these alleged allegations certainly now call the veracity of that report into question. Is the Minister confident that these reports are conducted with sufficient rigour to highlight issues such as these, to ensure that they are addressed promptly? Will the centre and others owned by Orbis now be re-inspected to ensure that children in their care are properly protected?

Lastly, if there is a systematic issue here, what steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the culture of reporting exists in the care sector in Wales and to ensure that staff have the support network in place and are comfortable enough with that to raise concerns and these reports are taken seriously and acted on, rather than them having to resort to the media, as in this case? Thank you.

Diolch am y datganiad hwnnw, Weinidog. Dylid diogelu a gofalu am rai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas, plant ag awtistiaeth, nid eu gwneud i ddioddef mewn amgylchiadau erchyll fel y rhai a honnir yn yr achos hwn. Mae cwestiynau difrifol i'w hateb, a rhaid i awdurdodau perthnasol ymchwilio'n llawn i hyn yn awr. Mae cyfres o honiadau brawychus a thrallodus wedi'u gwneud yn erbyn staff Tŷ Coryton, a rhai ohonynt yn bethau na allaf mo'u hailadrodd, ond ar un achlysur ac yn fwyaf difrifol, cafodd arferion cyfyngol ar blentyn eu rheoli mor wael fel eu bod wedi ysgogi pryderon difrifol iawn y gallai'r plentyn hwnnw farw. Dywed chwythwyr chwiban fod yr holl honiadau hyn yn deillio'n uniongyrchol o ymyriadau staff ac yn dynodi diwylliant o gamreoli'n ysgogi ymddygiad heriol sy'n brin iawn o'r safonau uchel a ddisgwyliwn ar gyfer staff sy'n gwneud swydd mor bwysig. A yw'r honiadau hyn yn adlewyrchu problem systematig yng Nghymru? A allai plant ifanc eraill fod yn dioddef mewn ffyrdd tebyg? Mae angen rhoi camau ar waith yn awr i ddatrys hyn, Weinidog.

Rwy'n falch o glywed y bydd y Gweinidog yn cyhoeddi'r fframwaith hirddisgwyliedig ar leihau arferion cyfyngol, ond mae'n llawer rhy hwyr i'r plant hyn, ac i blant eraill hefyd, mae arnaf ofn. A gaf fi bwysleisio wrthi fod angen cyhoeddi'r fframwaith yn awr i atal mwy o blant ifanc rhag dioddef fel hyn? Ac a all ddweud wrthym hefyd pa gamau y mae'n eu cymryd i roi cyngor ac arweiniad i ganolfannau fel Tŷ Coryton, i sicrhau eu bod yn darparu amgylchedd therapiwtig fel yr argymhellwyd gan Sefydliad Anableddau Dysgu Prydain? A wnaiff y Gweinidog hefyd sicrhau bod gan ganolfannau fel hyn yr adnoddau angenrheidiol sydd eu hangen arnynt i sicrhau y gellir cynnal parch dynol sylfaenol a hawliau dynol, megis darparu eitemau misglwyf, un o'r honiadau mwyaf annymunol yn fy marn i?

Deallaf fod yr arolygiaeth gofal ar fin cyhoeddi adolygiad o arferion yn Nhŷ Coryton, ond mae'r honiadau hyn bellach yn sicr yn codi cwestiynau ynglŷn â dilysrwydd yr adroddiad hwnnw. A yw'r Gweinidog yn hyderus fod yr adroddiadau hyn yn cael eu cyflawni'n ddigon trylwyr i dynnu sylw at faterion fel y rhain, er mwyn sicrhau yr eir i'r afael â hwy'n gyflym? A fydd y ganolfan ac eraill sy'n eiddo i Orbis bellach yn cael eu hail-arolygu i sicrhau bod plant yn eu gofal yn cael eu diogelu'n briodol?

Yn olaf, os oes problem systematig yma, pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod y diwylliant o adrodd am bryderon yn bodoli yn y sector gofal yng Nghymru ac i sicrhau bod gan staff rwydwaith cymorth ar waith a'u bod yn ddigon cyfforddus gyda hynny i godi pryderon a bod yr adroddiadau hyn yn cael eu hystyried yn ddifrifol a chamau gweithredu'n cael eu rhoi ar waith, yn hytrach na gorfod troi at y cyfryngau fel yn yr achos hwn? Diolch.

Thank you, Laura Anne Jones, for those comments, and I absolutely agree that the children we're talking about are some of the most vulnerable children who need care and support, and should not suffer. The Welsh Government is committed to those vulnerable children having the best standards of care possible.

As I said in my statement, these allegations are being investigated, so we're not in a position to make any comment yet, because an investigation is ongoing at the moment. But I can reiterate that the Welsh Government will be publishing the reducing restrictive practices framework, and that'll be in July—next month—2021. So, that's coming very soon, and that will promote measures to appropriately reduce restrictive practices in childcare, education, health and social care settings. And we will support work to promote implementation across all those sectors. And the guidance is intended to ensure that those who work with children and adults across services share a common framework of principles and expectations, informed by an approach that actively promotes human rights and person-centred support. There has been a consultation about the restrictive practices, and I'm looking forward to that being published in July 2021. 

So, obviously, CIW does report regularly on these settings, including Tŷ Coryton. We do have a culture of encouraging whistleblowers, and I think it's very important that that is reiterated and that allegations that are made are taken very seriously. I can absolutely assure her that these allegations are being looked into very seriously. They're being looked into by Cardiff safeguarding scheme, and CIW is working very closely with the local authority, with the commissioning and safeguarding teams, and the service is now in Children's Commissioning Consortium Cymru's—known as '4Cs'—escalating concerns process. So that is the position at the moment, and Orbis is not admitting any further children to the service at the moment. But I don't think I can really go much further as this is all being investigated at the moment. 

Diolch am y sylwadau hynny, Laura Anne Jones, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod y plant rydym yn sôn amdanynt yn rhai o'r plant mwyaf agored i niwed sydd angen gofal a chymorth, ac na ddylent ddioddef. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod y plant agored i niwed hyn yn cael gofal o'r safon uchaf un.

Fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad, mae'r honiadau hyn yn destun ymchwiliad, felly nid ydym mewn sefyllfa i wneud unrhyw sylw eto, oherwydd mae ymchwiliad yn mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd. Ond gallaf ailadrodd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi'r fframwaith ar leihau arferion cyfyngol, a bydd hynny'n digwydd ym mis Gorffennaf—mis nesaf—2021. Felly, mae hynny'n dod yn fuan iawn, a bydd hwnnw'n hyrwyddo mesurau i leihau arferion cyfyngol yn briodol mewn lleoliadau gofal plant, addysg, iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. A byddwn yn cefnogi gwaith i hyrwyddo'i weithrediad ar draws yr holl sectorau hynny. A bwriad y canllawiau yw sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n gweithio gyda phlant ac oedolion ar draws y gwasanaethau'n rhannu fframwaith cyffredin o egwyddorion a disgwyliadau, wedi'u llywio gan ddull o weithredu sy'n mynd ati i hyrwyddo hawliau dynol a chymorth sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn. Cafwyd ymgynghoriad ynglŷn â'r arferion cyfyngol, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld hwnnw'n cael ei gyhoeddi ym mis Gorffennaf 2021. 

Felly, yn amlwg, mae AGC yn adrodd yn rheolaidd ar y lleoliadau hyn, gan gynnwys Tŷ Coryton. Mae gennym ddiwylliant o annog chwythwyr chwiban, a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn ailadrodd hynny a bod honiadau a wneir yn cael sylw difrifol iawn. Gallaf ei sicrhau'n llwyr fod yr honiadau hyn yn cael eu hystyried o ddifrif. Maent yn cael eu hystyried gan gynllun diogelu Caerdydd, ac mae AGC yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r awdurdod lleol, gyda'r timau comisiynu a diogelu, ac mae'r gwasanaeth bellach yn rhan o broses uwchgyfeirio pryderon Consortiwm Comisiynu Plant Cymru. Felly dyna'r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, ac nid yw Orbis yn derbyn unrhyw blant pellach i'r gwasanaeth ar hyn o bryd. Ond nid wyf yn meddwl y gallaf fynd lawer ymhellach gan fod hyn i gyd yn destun ymchwiliad ar hyn o bryd. 

15:25

According to the reports, whistleblowers state that children were punished for engaging in autistic behaviour and the health and safety of staff and children were absolutely shocking, and young people were mismanaged, so behaved in challenging ways, which led to them being locked away. But this is symptomatic of so much of the casework that I have on behalf of autistic constituents and/or their families, where highly paid people in power, so-called experts, fail to understand their autism, fail to identify their communication, sensory and processing needs in order to communicate with them in an effective, respectful way and pushes them into crisis and then punishes them for not responding in a neurotypical or predominantly neurotypical way, affecting their care, their social care, their health services, access to housing, and many other things. How on earth are we finally going to tackle this endemic and deep-rooted problem raised so often through the cross-party autism group in previous Senedd terms without putting in place statutory duties for local authorities and health boards and giving autism and neurodevelopmental conditions in Wales a statutory identity at last? 

Yn ôl yr adroddiadau, mae chwythwyr chwiban yn dweud bod plant yn cael eu cosbi am ymddwyn yn awtistig a bod iechyd a diogelwch staff a phlant yn gwbl frawychus, a bod pobl ifanc yn cael eu camreoli, ac felly'n ymddwyn mewn ffyrdd heriol, gan arwain at eu cadw dan glo. Ond mae hyn yn nodweddiadol o gymaint o'r gwaith achos sydd gennyf ar ran etholwyr awtistig a/neu eu teuluoedd, lle mae pobl ar gyflogau uchel mewn grym, arbenigwyr honedig, yn methu deall eu hawtistiaeth, yn methu nodi eu hanghenion cyfathrebu, synhwyraidd a phrosesu er mwyn gallu cyfathrebu â hwy mewn ffordd effeithiol, barchus ac yn eu gwthio i argyfwng ac yna'n eu cosbi am beidio ag ymateb mewn ffordd niwroarferol neu niwroarferol yn bennaf, gan effeithio ar eu gofal, eu gofal cymdeithasol, eu gwasanaethau iechyd, mynediad at dai, a llawer o bethau eraill. Sut ar y ddaear y gallwn fynd i'r afael yn derfynol â'r broblem endemig a dwfn hon a godwyd mor fynych drwy'r grŵp awtistiaeth trawsbleidiol yn nhymhorau blaenorol y Senedd heb roi dyletswyddau statudol ar waith ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd a rhoi hunaniaeth statudol i awtistiaeth a chyflyrau niwroddatblygiadol yng Nghymru o'r diwedd?

Thank you, Mark, for those comments, and certainly the behaviour that he described at the beginning of his contribution, about children being punished for engaging in behaviour that is due to their autism, is certainly not acceptable. And I think that we have all, as constituency MSs, experienced the difficulties that families have in trying to get the best services for their children who are on the autistic spectrum. So, I think we all understand those difficulties. But, as I said in response to Laura, investigations are going on at the moment into this particular situation, and we will be able to see what happens as a result of those investigations.  

Diolch am y sylwadau hynny, Mark, ac yn sicr nid yw'r ymddygiad a ddisgrifiodd ar ddechrau ei gyfraniad, am blant yn cael eu cosbi am ymddygiad sy'n deillio o'u hawtistiaeth, yn dderbyniol o gwbl. A chredaf ein bod i gyd, fel Aelodau etholaethol o'r Senedd, wedi profi'r anawsterau y mae teuluoedd yn eu hwynebu wrth geisio cael y gwasanaethau gorau i'w plant sydd ar y sbectrwm awtistig. Felly, credaf ein bod i gyd yn deall yr anawsterau hynny. Ond fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Laura, mae ymchwiliadau'n mynd rhagddynt ar hyn o bryd i'r sefyllfa benodol hon, a byddwn yn gallu gweld beth sy'n digwydd o ganlyniad i'r ymchwiliadau hynny.

Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog. 

Thank you, Deputy Minister. 

4. Datganiadau 90 eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad, ac mae'r datganiad cyntaf y prynhawn yma gan Vikki Howells. 

The next item is the 90-second statements, the first of which is from Vikki Howells. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Go back just a few weeks and class 143 trains, the Pacers, would have been part of that long list of temporary measures that never went away. The Pacers, described as a byword for commuter discomfort and chronic lateness, were introduced as a temporary replacement for older diesel trains. The Leyland bus body—yes, they really were made from old buses—bench seating and freight wagon chassis, built by British Rail in the 1980s never suggested that passenger comfort was the prime objective. Indeed, the nodding donkeys, as they were known, were an iniquitous part of the rail commuter experience in Wales and elsewhere in the UK since. However, on Saturday 29 May, Pacers made their final journeys on the Transport for Wales network. Transport for Wales have committed, of course, to deliver brand-new trains, providing enhanced capacity and faster, greener journeys. Key also is customer experience on the modern train, providing better facilities, improved accessibility, and a more comfortable ride.

Some Pacer trains will have new leases of life via donation to heritage railways and other community projects. But, as their journey on commuter passenger services comes to an end, it is important to remember the years of service that saw class 143s make the equivalent of over five trips to the moon and back. And if the Pacer could bid us a fond farewell, it would be of course with that unique and ear-piercing brake squeal so familiar to commuters across Wales.

Diolch, Lywydd. Ewch yn ôl ychydig wythnosau'n unig a byddai trenau dosbarth 143, y Pacers, wedi bod yn rhan o'r rhestr hir honno o weithredoedd dros dro sydd wedi aros gyda ni. Cyflwynwyd y Pacers, enw a ddaeth i gyfleu anghysur cymudo a gwasanaethau hwyr cronig, fel ateb dros dro yn lle trenau diesel hŷn. Nid oedd y corff bws Leyland—mae'n wir mai o hen fysiau y cawsant eu llunio—seddau mainc a'r siasis wagen lwytho a adeiladwyd gan British Rail yn y 1980au, yn awgrymu erioed mai cysur teithwyr oedd y prif amcan. Yn wir, roedd yr asynnod siglog, fel y'u gelwid, yn rhan anfad o brofiad cymudwyr y rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru ac mewn mannau eraill yn y DU ers hynny. Fodd bynnag, ddydd Sadwrn 29 Mai, gwnaeth y Pacers eu teithiau terfynol ar rwydwaith Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo, wrth gwrs, i ddarparu trenau newydd sbon sy'n darparu mwy o gapasiti a theithiau cyflymach a gwyrddach. Mae profiad cwsmeriaid ar y trên modern sy'n darparu gwell cyfleusterau, gwell hygyrchedd, a theithio mwy cyfforddus yn allweddol hefyd.

Bydd rhai o'r trenau Pacer yn cael ail fywyd drwy gael eu rhoi i reilffyrdd treftadaeth a phrosiectau cymunedol eraill. Ond wrth i'w taith ar wasanaethau teithwyr cymudo ddod i ben, mae'n bwysig cofio'r blynyddoedd o wasanaeth a welodd drenau dosbarth 143 yn gwneud yr hyn sy'n cyfateb i dros bum taith i'r lleuad ac yn ôl. Ac phe bai'r Pacer yn gallu dweud ffarwel wrthym, byddai'n gwneud hynny gyda'r wich brêc fyddarol ac unigryw honno sydd mor gyfarwydd i gymudwyr ledled Cymru.

15:30

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. The constituency of Islwyn, which I represent, is made up of very strong communities of, in the main, working-class men and women, who continue to dream of a better tomorrow, even though our todays have never, ever been more challenging. So, that the Hollywood movie giants Warner Brothers Pictures recently portrayed Islwyn and Wales on the silver screen with the wonderful and iconic film Dream Horse, which premiered in sunny Blackwood—now playing across the UK at cinemas open—is a moment of both joy and excitement. And that positive portrayal of Wales in film, and the story of Jan and Brian Vokes and the syndicate who bred a Welsh Grand National-winning horse on an allotment in Cefn Fforest, has won great reviews. And it also adds to our home-made renaissance in Welsh film and television. So, if you're yet to see it, it is a positive tale of strong community spirit in Islwyn, with an A-list cast, including Oscar-nominated Toni Collette, in Wales, and our own Owen Teale. The production of the film utilised locations throughout south Wales, including Blaenavon.

Wales—well, we are a self-confident nation, and we grow globally when we tell in film and television and arts and literature, music and theatre those positive stories of our people and our communities, as Dream Horse portrays so very effectively. And that ability to utilise Welsh creative talent in front of and behind our cameras is so critical, and vital to our cultural and economic future. Wales, our people, and our hwyl are skilfully writ large in Dream Horse, and it exemplifies our spirit and our international future. So, the Welsh Government and our cultural agencies are right to heavily support and promote productions made in Wales that tell of Wales's story to the world and also promote the Welsh creative sectors post-COVID. Dream Horse powerfully illustrates that Cefn Fforest in Islwyn is a place where dreams still come true, and I do urge all Members to watch this exciting and innovative film. Thank you.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Mae etholaeth Islwyn, a gynrychiolir gennyf, yn cynnwys cymunedau cryf iawn o ddynion a menywod dosbarth gweithiol yn bennaf, sy'n parhau i freuddwydio am well yfory, er nad yw ein heddiw erioed wedi bod yn fwy heriol. Felly, mae'r ffaith bod cewri ffilmiau Hollywood, Warner Brothers Pictures, wedi portreadu Islwyn a Chymru yn ddiweddar ar y sgrin fawr gyda'r ffilm wych ac eiconig Dream Horse, a agorodd yn y Coed-duon—ac sydd bellach i'w gweld ar draws y DU mewn sinemâu sydd ar agor—yn foment o lawenydd a chyffro. Ac mae'r portread cadarnhaol hwnnw o Gymru mewn ffilm, a stori Jan a Brian Vokes a'r syndicet a fagodd geffyl Cymreig ar randir yng Nghefn Fforest a aeth ymlaen i ennill y Grand National, wedi ennill adolygiadau gwych. Ac mae hefyd yn ychwanegu at ein dadeni ein hunain ym maes ffilm a theledu yng Nghymru. Felly, os nad ydych wedi'i gweld eto, mae'n stori gadarnhaol am ysbryd cymunedol cryf yn Islwyn, gyda chast o'r radd flaenaf, yn cynnwys Toni Collette, a enwebwyd ar gyfer Oscar, yng Nghymru, a'n Owen Teale ein hunain. Gwnaeth gwaith ar gynhyrchu'r ffilm ddefnydd o leoliadau ledled de Cymru, gan gynnwys Blaenafon.

Cymru—wel, rydym yn genedl hunanhyderus, ac rydym yn tyfu'n fyd-eang pan adroddwn mewn ffilm a theledu a chelfyddyd a llenyddiaeth, cerddoriaeth a theatr y straeon cadarnhaol hynny am ein pobl a'n cymunedau y mae Dream Horse yn eu portreadu mor effeithiol. Ac mae'r gallu hwnnw i ddefnyddio doniau creadigol o Gymru o flaen a thu ôl i'n camerâu mor hollbwysig, ac yn hanfodol i'n dyfodol diwylliannol ac economaidd. Mae Cymru, ein pobl, a'n hwyl i'w gweld yn glir yn Dream Horse, ac mae'n enghraifft o'n hysbryd a'n dyfodol rhyngwladol. Felly, mae Llywodraeth Cymru a'n hasiantaethau diwylliannol yn iawn i roi cefnogaeth hael ac i hyrwyddo cynyrchiadau a wneir yng Nghymru sy'n adrodd hanes Cymru i'r byd a hefyd yn hyrwyddo sectorau creadigol Cymru ar ôl COVID. Mae Dream Horse yn dangos yn rymus fod Cefn Fforest yn Islwyn yn fan lle mae breuddwydion yn dal i ddod yn wir, ac rwy'n annog pob Aelod i wylio'r ffilm gyffrous ac arloesol hon. Diolch.

5. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: Cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 17.2 i roi cyfarwyddiadau i bwyllgor priodol mewn perthynas â pharth perygl nitradau Cymru gyfan
5. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Motion under Standing Order 17.2 to give instructions to a relevant committee in relation to the all-Wales NVZ

Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Lesley Griffiths. 

The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths.

Yr eitem nesaf yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig—cynnig o dan Reol Sefydlog 17.2 i roi cyfarwyddiadau i bwyllgor priodol mewn perthynas â pharth perygl nitradau Cymru gyfan.

The next item is the Welsh Conservatives debate—motion under Standing Order 17.2 to give instructions to a relevant committee in relation to the all-Wales NVZ.

And before I call James Evans, I think this is the first full debate we've had in the sixth Senedd, so just a reminder of the timings, please—that you have 15 minutes to open and close, and each other speaker has five minutes, and the Minister has eight minutes. Let's keep to the times, because everyone has an opportunity to speak then.

A chyn i mi alw ar James Evans, rwy'n credu mai dyma'r ddadl lawn gyntaf a gawsom yn y chweched Senedd, felly os caf eich atgoffa am yr amseru os gwelwch yn dda—mae gennych 15 munud i agor a chau, ac mae gan bob siaradwr arall bum munud, ac mae gan y Gweinidog wyth munud. Gadewch i ni gadw at yr amseru, oherwydd mae pawb yn cael cyfle i siarad felly.

Galwaf ar James Evans i wneud y cynnig.

I call on James Evans to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM7703 Darren Millar, Siân Gwenllian

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi effaith andwyol parth perygl nitradau Cymru gyfan ar amaethyddiaeth Cymru.

2. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.2, yn galw ar bwyllgor perthnasol y Senedd i adolygu Rheoliadau Adnoddau Dŵr (Rheoli Llygredd Amaethyddol) (Cymru) 2021 ar frys a chyflwyno ei argymhellion i'r Senedd.

Motion NDM7703 Darren Millar, Siân Gwenllian

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes the adverse impact of the all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) on Welsh agriculture.

2. In accordance with Standing Order 17.2, calls on the relevant Senedd committee to urgently review The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 and present its recommendations to the Senedd.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch—thank you. And I formally move the motion in the name of Darren Millar.

Across the farming communities in Wales, from the upland areas to the coastal regions and to my own area in the heart of Wales in Brecon and Radnorshire, our agricultural communities and our farmers work tirelessly to feed the nation and ensure the environment is protected and our landscapes managed in a sustainable way. To quote the National Farmers Union, farmers are all too often seen as the problem, when in reality they are the solution to our environmental challenges. The rural landscape is not just for farmers but for us all, for future generations, to encourage diversity, thriving ecosystems and wildlife. It is also vital for our economy to attract tourists, who bring much needed-revenue to local businesses and to our communities.

Diolch. Ac rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol yn enw Darren Millar.

Ar draws y cymunedau ffermio yng Nghymru, o ardaloedd yr ucheldir i'r rhanbarthau arfordirol ac i fy ardal fy hun yng nghanol Cymru ym Mrycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed, mae ein cymunedau amaethyddol a'n ffermwyr yn gweithio'n ddiflino i fwydo'r genedl a sicrhau bod yr amgylchedd yn cael ei ddiogelu a bod ein tirweddau'n cael eu rheoli mewn ffordd gynaliadwy. I ddyfynnu Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr, caiff ffermwyr eu hystyried yn rhy aml o lawer fel y broblem, a hwy mewn gwirionedd yw'r ateb i'n heriau amgylcheddol. Nid rhywbeth i ffermwyr yn unig yw'r dirwedd wledig ond rhywbeth i bob un ohonom, i genedlaethau'r dyfodol, i annog amrywiaeth, ecosystemau ffyniannus a bywyd gwyllt. Mae hefyd yn hanfodol i'n heconomi drwy ddenu twristiaid, sy'n dod â refeniw mawr ei angen i fusnesau lleol ac i'n cymunedau.

Our farmers play a huge role, producing food to feed the nation. Farmers are passionate about their land, committed to working towards the best practices, producing top-quality products with the highest standards of animal welfare and environmental protections. However, Welsh Government's agricultural policies over the years have shown contempt for farmers and our rural communities, promising one thing and then delivering another. The recent u-turn to introduce the all-Wales nitrate vulnerable zone is an example of such. The data from elsewhere in the world shows this policy to be ineffective and is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Some areas of Wales have recorded no agricultural pollution incidents in 10 years, yet all farmers are being penalised. 

Mae ein ffermwyr yn chwarae rhan enfawr yn cynhyrchu bwyd i fwydo'r genedl. Mae ffermwyr yn angerddol am eu tir, yn ymrwymedig i weithio tuag at yr arferion gorau, gan gynhyrchu cynnyrch o'r radd flaenaf gyda'r safonau uchaf mewn perthynas â lles anifeiliaid a diogelu'r amgylchedd. Fodd bynnag, mae polisïau amaethyddol Llywodraeth Cymru dros y blynyddoedd wedi dangos dirmyg tuag at ffermwyr a'n cymunedau gwledig, gan addo un peth cyn cyflawni rhywbeth arall. Mae'r tro pedol diweddar i gyflwyno parth perygl nitradau Cymru gyfan yn enghraifft o hynny. Mae'r data o fannau eraill yn y byd yn dangos bod y polisi hwn yn aneffeithiol ac mae'n enghraifft o ddefnyddio gordd i dorri cneuen. Nid yw rhai ardaloedd yng Nghymru wedi cofnodi unrhyw achosion o lygredd amaethyddol mewn 10 mlynedd, ac eto caiff pob ffermwr ei gosbi.

15:35

Would he give way on that point?

A wnaiff ildio ar y pwynt hwnnw?

There are no interventions at this point in time because we're hybrid—[Inaudible.]

Nid oes unrhyw ymyriadau ar hyn o bryd oherwydd ein bod yn hybrid—[Anghlywadwy.]

Whilst one pollution incident is one too many, a blanket policy is hurting the industry at a time when they need support. The financial package of support provided from the Welsh Government is woefully inadequate, putting large cost burdens onto our farmers in order for them to adapt to these changes. Despite assurances—. On no less than between seven and 10 occasions, the Minister assured farmers this blanket approach would not be imposed during the pandemic. And in a blink of an eye, with no consultation with the industry, the Minister decided to plough ahead and break promises again.

All too often, agriculture gets blamed for increased nitrates in our rivers, and yet a Panorama investigation alleged that Welsh Water had been illegally dumping sewage into the River Usk in my constituency. This seems to get ignored. Recent data from Welsh Water itself also suggests that in 2020 raw sewage was dumped into Welsh rivers more than 100,000 times, for almost 900,000 hours, across more than 2,000 water treatment works and sewage outflows. Do we see any real action from Welsh Government over this? No, we don't. Furthermore, Welsh Government's own data suggests that between January and November 2020 the water industry accounted for the most pollution incidents relating to surface water in Wales, with 180 recorded during this period. But who still gets the blame for polluting our rivers? You've got it—it's farmers.

This Government claims climate change is a huge issue, and I don't disagree. Who would? But I'm afraid your track record on actually tackling climate change is questionable at best. You purchased an airport, at huge cost to the taxpayer, endorsing putting toxic fumes into the atmosphere, and then you went and spent millions of taxpayer money on a road to nowhere and refused to build the M4 relief road, ensuring that, every day, thousands of cars queue up in traffic jams along the M4, pumping poisonous toxins and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Yet again, you say one thing and then you do another. 

Throughout the pandemic our farmers have fed the nation, ensuring essential supplies are available. And, rightfully so, we clapped our NHS and our carers. And instead of going out and clapping for our farmers, the Welsh Government seemed to think a slap in the face was far more appropriate. Our farmers deserve better than this from the Welsh Government, and from a Minister who, one time, I trusted to support the industry.

An all-Wales NVZ legislation is unacceptable. It has been described as a lazy cut and paste from a 30-year-old EU directive that places more pressure on already hard-pressed farmers who are dealing with COVID-19. It is harming agricultural businesses, livelihoods, and putting a huge mental strain on farmers yet again, and for very questionable benefits. Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government's own regulator, warned you, and it's proposed in the new water rules, and I quote, that it will have a 'perverse outcome' of making water quality worse, and that they may not have sufficient resources to effectively deliver the regulatory inspection regimes associated with the regulations.

Despite the warnings, and the huge strain on people's mental health and businesses and their well-being, you pushed ahead with the NVZ regardless. We've heard the scathing reviews from all the farming unions in Wales, and I ask the Welsh Government: why do you not trust the vast majority of farmers who are responsible and do not pollute? What we need is a policy that is more flexible, evidence based and that has the support of the industry to address pollution. At a time when the Welsh Government should be working in partnership with our farmers, they slam the door shut on collaboration and instead press ahead with imposing costly plans that are woefully underfunded and could drive a number of farmers out of the industry.

We on the Conservative benches urge the Government and other Members in this Chamber and online to support our motion to have a review of this draconian legislation. Let's listen to the experts and the industry, and let the relevant committee do its work to ensure the best possible legislation is put through this Parliament. So, let's all move forward together and ensure our beautiful country not only maintains but improves our high food and environmental standards, working with our farmers and not against them. Diolch.   

Er bod un digwyddiad llygredd yn un yn ormod, mae polisi cyffredinol yn brifo'r diwydiant ar adeg pan fo angen cymorth arnynt. Mae'r pecyn cymorth ariannol a ddarperir gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn druenus o annigonol, gan roi beichiau cost mawr ar ein ffermwyr er mwyn iddynt ymaddasu i'r newidiadau hyn. Er gwaethaf sicrwydd—. Ar ddim llai na rhwng saith a 10 achlysur, sicrhawyd y ffermwyr gan y Gweinidog na fyddai'r dull cyffredinol hwn yn cael ei fabwysiadu yn ystod y pandemig. Ac o fewn dim, heb ymgynghori â'r diwydiant, penderfynodd y Gweinidog fwrw ymlaen a thorri addewidion unwaith eto.

Yn rhy aml o lawer, mae amaethyddiaeth yn cael y bai am gynnydd yn y nitradau yn ein hafonydd, ac eto honnodd ymchwiliad gan Panorama fod Dŵr Cymru wedi bod yn gwaredu carthion yn anghyfreithlon i Afon Wysg yn fy etholaeth. Mae'n ymddangos bod hyn yn cael ei anwybyddu. Mae data diweddar gan Dŵr Cymru ei hun hefyd yn awgrymu bod carthion amrwd wedi'u gollwng i afonydd Cymru dros 100,000 o weithiau yn 2020, am bron i 900,000 o oriau, ar draws mwy na 2,000 o weithfeydd trin dŵr ac all-lifoedd carthion. A ydym yn gweld unrhyw weithredu go iawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar hyn? Nac ydym. At hynny, mae data Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun yn awgrymu mai'r diwydiant dŵr, rhwng mis Ionawr a mis Tachwedd 2020, oedd yn gyfrifol am y digwyddiadau llygredd mwyaf yn ymwneud â dŵr wyneb yng Nghymru, gyda 180 wedi'u cofnodi yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. Ond pwy sy'n dal i gael y bai am lygru ein hafonydd? Rydych chi'n gywir—y ffermwyr.

Mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn honni bod newid hinsawdd yn broblem enfawr, ac nid wyf yn anghytuno. Pwy fyddai'n anghytuno? Ond mae arnaf ofn fod eich hanes o fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd yn amheus ar y gorau. Fe brynoch chi faes awyr, ar gost enfawr i'r trethdalwr, gan gymeradwyo gollwng mygdarth gwenwynig i'r atmosffer, ac yna fe warioch chi filiynau o bunnoedd o arian trethdalwyr ar ffordd i unman a gwrthod adeiladu ffordd liniaru'r M4, gan sicrhau, bob dydd, fod miloedd o geir yn ciwio mewn tagfeydd traffig ar hyd yr M4, gan bwmpio tocsinau gwenwynig a charbon deuocsid i'r atmosffer. Unwaith eto, rydych chi'n dweud un peth ac yn gwneud rhywbeth arall. 

Drwy gydol y pandemig mae ein ffermwyr wedi bwydo'r genedl, gan sicrhau bod cyflenwadau hanfodol ar gael. Ac yn gwbl briodol, gwnaethom guro ein dwylo i ddiolch i'r GIG a'n gofalwyr. Ac yn hytrach na mynd allan a churo dwylo i ddiolch i'n ffermwyr, roedd hi'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn meddwl bod slap i'r wyneb yn llawer mwy priodol. Mae ein ffermwyr yn haeddu gwell na hyn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a chan Weinidog yr oeddwn yn ymddiried ynddi ar un adeg i gefnogi'r diwydiant.

Mae deddfwriaeth parth perygl nitradau Cymru gyfan yn annerbyniol. Fe'i disgrifiwyd fel ymgais ddiog i dorri a gludo o gyfarwyddeb 30 mlwydd oed yr UE sy'n rhoi mwy o bwysau ar ffermwyr sydd eisoes dan bwysau ac sy'n ymdopi â COVID-19. Mae'n niweidio busnesau amaethyddol, bywoliaeth pobl, ac yn rhoi straen meddyliol enfawr ar ffermwyr unwaith eto, a hynny er mwyn sicrhau manteision amheus iawn. Cawsoch eich rhybuddio gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, rheoleiddiwr Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun, ac mae wedi'i gynnig yn y rheolau dŵr newydd, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, y bydd yn arwain at 'ganlyniad gwrthnysig' o wneud ansawdd dŵr yn waeth, ac efallai nad oes ganddynt ddigon o adnoddau i allu cyflawni'r cyfundrefnau arolygu rheoleiddiol sy'n gysylltiedig â'r rheoliadau mewn modd effeithiol.

Er gwaethaf y rhybuddion, a'r straen enfawr ar iechyd meddwl a busnesau pobl a'u llesiant, fe wnaethoch fwrw ymlaen â'r parth perygl nitradau beth bynnag. Rydym wedi clywed yr adolygiadau deifiol gan holl undebau'r ffermwyr yng Nghymru, a gofynnaf i Lywodraeth Cymru: pam nad ydych yn ymddiried yn y mwyafrif llethol o ffermwyr sy'n gyfrifol, ac nad ydynt yn llygru? Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw polisi mwy hyblyg sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth ac sy'n ennyn cefnogaeth y diwydiant i fynd i'r afael â llygredd. Ar adeg pan ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â'n ffermwyr, maent yn cau'r drws ar gydweithredu ac yn hytrach, yn bwrw ymlaen â chynlluniau costus sydd wedi eu tangyllido'n druenus ac a allai yrru nifer o ffermwyr allan o'r diwydiant.

Rydym ni ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr yn annog y Llywodraeth ac Aelodau eraill yn y Siambr hon ac ar-lein i gefnogi ein cynnig i gael adolygiad o'r ddeddfwriaeth ddidostur hon. Gadewch inni wrando ar yr arbenigwyr a'r diwydiant, a gadael i'r pwyllgor perthnasol wneud ei waith i sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth orau sy'n bosibl yn mynd drwy'r Senedd hon. Felly, gadewch i bawb ohonom symud ymlaen gyda'n gilydd a sicrhau bod ein gwlad brydferth nid yn unig yn cynnal ond yn gwella ein safonau bwyd ac amgylcheddol uchel, gan weithio gyda'n ffermwyr ac nid yn eu herbyn. Diolch.  

15:40

Before we move on to the next speaker, can I—? Huw Irranca-Davies reminded me that, in fact, in debates, interventions, at the moment, of course, as we normally would have intervened, are not the process, because there are so many Members who can't do so in the hybrid system. But Members are able to contact the desk here to inform us of their wish to make an intervention and we can call them at the end, before the final speaker. Just to put that clear. I appreciate the Member's desire to intervene—I've been there many times. [Interruption.] Okay.  

Cyn inni symud ymlaen at y siaradwr nesaf, a gaf fi—? Cefais fy atgoffa gan Huw Irranca-Davies nad yw ymyriadau mewn dadleuon yn rhan o'r broses ar hyn o bryd, fel y byddem fel arfer wedi ymyrryd, oherwydd bod cynifer o Aelodau nad ydynt yn gallu gwneud hynny yn y system hybrid. Ond gall Aelodau gysylltu â'r ddesg yma i roi gwybod i ni os ydynt yn dymuno gwneud ymyriad a gallwn eu galw ar y diwedd, cyn y siaradwr olaf. Dim ond i egluro hynny. Rwy'n deall awydd yr Aelod i ymyrryd—rwyf wedi bod yno droeon. [Torri ar draws.] O'r gorau.

Rwyf wedi dethol y gwelliant i'r cynnig. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Materion Gwledig a Gogledd Cymru a'r Trefnydd i gynnig yn ffurfiol y gwelliant a gyflwynwyd yn ei henw. 

I have selected the amendment to the motion. I call on the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales and the Trefnydd to move formally the amendment tabled in her name. 

Gwelliant 1—Lesley Griffiths

Dileu pwynt 1 a rhoi yn ei le:

Yn nodi pwysigrwydd hanfodol lleihau allyriadau amaethyddol er mwyn:

a) cryfhau enw da ffermio yng Nghymru;

b) gwarchod pobl a natur yng Nghymru rhag llygredd aer;

c) diogelu afonydd a moroedd Cymru ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol;

d) cyflawni uchelgais sero net Cymru.

Amendment 1—Lesley Griffiths

Delete point 1 and replace with:

Notes the critical importance of reducing agricultural emissions in order to:

a) strengthen the reputation of Welsh farming;

b) protect people and nature in Wales from air pollution;

c) safeguard Wales’ rivers and seas for future generations;

d) deliver Wales’ net zero ambition.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.

Amendment 1 moved.

Member
Lesley Griffiths 15:42:11
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd