Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
06/10/2021Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd 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.
Croeso, bawb, y prynhawn yma i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn i ni 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 holl 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 Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw, ac mae'r rheini wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda chi. Dwi eisiau atgoffa'r Aelodau fod y Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yn berthnasol i'r cyfarfod, ac yr un mor berthnasol i'r Aelodau yn y Siambr ag i'r rhai sy'n ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo.
Welcome to this afternoon's Plenary session. Before we begin, I need 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 Plenary meeting, and those 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.
Yr eitem gyntaf, felly, y prynhawn yma yw cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf, sydd i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Weinidog, gan Natasha Asghar.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Climate Change, and the first question, to be answered by the Deputy Minister, is to be asked by Natasha Asghar.
1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i annog trafnidiaeth fwy gwyrdd? OQ56949
1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage greener transport? OQ56949
Thank you for the question. Our strategy for encouraging greener transport is clearly set out in 'Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021', which reiterates our determination to achieve more active travel, greater use of public transport and low-emission vehicles, and creating closer links between land-use planning and transport in line with the clean air plan for Wales.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Mae ein strategaeth ar gyfer annog trafnidiaeth fwy gwyrdd wedi'i nodi'n glir yn 'Llwybr Newydd: Strategaeth Drafnidiaeth Cymru 2021', sy'n ailadrodd ein hymrwymiad i gyflawni mwy o deithio llesol, mwy o ddefnydd o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a cherbydau allyriadau isel, a chreu cysylltiadau agosach rhwng cynlluniau defnydd tir a thrafnidiaeth yn unol â'r cynllun aer glân i Gymru.
Thanks, Deputy Minister. I have a feeling you enjoyed that question. Surveys by the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales show that many firms are looking to adopt electric vehicles in the next five to 10 years, which is great news. However, at present, the cost of electric vehicles and the lack of charging infrastructure are key barriers to businesses wishing to decarbonise transport. This cost runs the risk of leaving small businesses out of the EV system, whereas larger organisations may have greater resources to include this new technology in their working environments. What plan do you have, Deputy Minister, to incentivise the shift to electric vehicles by introducing tax incentives or scrappage schemes as has happened previously?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Mae gennyf deimlad eich bod wedi mwynhau'r cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae arolygon gan y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach yng Nghymru yn dangos bod llawer o gwmnïau'n awyddus i ddefnyddio cerbydau trydan yn ystod y pump i 10 mlynedd nesaf, sy'n newyddion gwych. Fodd bynnag, ar hyn o bryd, mae cost cerbydau trydan a diffyg seilwaith gwefru yn rhwystrau allweddol i fusnesau sy'n dymuno datgarboneiddio trafnidiaeth. Golyga'r gost hon fod busnesau bach mewn perygl o gael eu gadael allan o'r system gerbydau trydan, tra bo gan sefydliadau mwy o faint fwy o adnoddau, o bosibl, i gyflwyno'r dechnoleg newydd hon yn eu hamgylcheddau gwaith. Pa gynllun sydd gennych, Ddirprwy Weinidog, i gymell y newid i gerbydau trydan drwy gyflwyno cymhelliadau treth neu gynlluniau sgrapio fel sydd wedi digwydd yn y gorffennol?
Thank you for the important question, and clearly we’re in a transition from the internal combustion engine to electric cars, and the UK Government have said that, by the end of the decade, you won’t be able to buy petrol or diesel cars. So, this is a scheme that we’ll need to work closely with the UK Government on, because as to your question on scrappage schemes and tax incentives, that is clearly something that the UK Government needs to be doing. It’s not something that we have the ability to do. But there are a range of things that we can do and, working with local authorities, we’re about to publish our electric vehicle charging action plan in the coming weeks, and that sets out a series of practical things that we are doing.
In terms of the point about the affordability of the vehicles and the availability currently of the infrastructure, clearly, we’re at the first wave of development. They’re expensive because they’re brand-new cars. There is yet not a second-hand car market developed, so, over time, that clearly will change. In terms of the charging infrastructure, Wales has got about 2 per cent of electric vehicles and we’ve got about 3.5 per cent of the public charging infrastructure. So, as that demand curve sharpens, as it is showing increasing signs of doing, we clearly need to increase the charging infrastructure. That’s something that’s going to be led by the private sector. The Government doesn’t provide petrol stations; I don’t expect it to be providing electric charging at scale. What we should be focusing on is looking at where the market is going to be failing, particularly for rural areas, just as we have with broadband, and taking an outside-in approach. So, we absolutely have a role to play, but it’s a role to play with many others.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn pwysig, ac yn amlwg, rydym mewn cyfnod o newid o'r motor tanio mewnol i geir trydan, ac mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi dweud na fyddwch yn gallu prynu ceir petrol neu ddiesel erbyn diwedd y degawd. Felly, mae hwn yn gynllun y bydd angen inni weithio'n agos arno gyda Llywodraeth y DU, oherwydd ar eich cwestiwn ynglŷn â chynlluniau sgrapio a chymelliadau treth, mae hynny'n amlwg yn rhywbeth y mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU fod yn ei wneud. Nid yw'n rhywbeth y mae gennym allu i'w wneud. Ond mae ystod o bethau y gallwn eu gwneud, a chan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, rydym ar fin cyhoeddi ein cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer gwefru cerbydau trydan yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, ac mae hwnnw'n nodi cyfres o bethau ymarferol yr ydym yn eu gwneud.
Ar y pwynt ynghylch fforddiadwyedd y cerbydau ac argaeledd y seilwaith ar hyn o bryd, yn amlwg, rydym ar y don gyntaf o ddatblygu. Maent yn ddrud am eu bod yn geir newydd sbon. Nid oes marchnad wedi datblygu eto ar gyfer ceir ail-law, felly, dros amser, bydd hynny'n newid, yn amlwg. O ran y seilwaith gwefru, mae gan Gymru oddeutu 2 y cant o gerbydau trydan ac mae gennym oddeutu 3.5 y cant o'r seilwaith gwefru cyhoeddus. Felly, wrth i gromlin y galw godi, fel y mae'n dangos arwyddion cynyddol o wneud, mae'n amlwg fod angen inni gynyddu'r seilwaith gwefru. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth a gaiff ei arwain gan y sector preifat. Nid yw'r Llywodraeth yn darparu gorsafoedd petrol; nid wyf yn disgwyl iddi ddarparu cyfleusterau gwefru ar raddfa fawr. Dylem ganolbwyntio ar edrych ar ble fydd y farchnad yn methu, yn enwedig ar gyfer ardaloedd gwledig, fel sy'n digwydd gyda band eang, a mabwysiadu ymagwedd 'o'r tu allan i mewn'. Felly, mae gennym rôl i'w chwarae yn sicr, ond mae'n rôl i'w chwarae gyda llawer o rai eraill.
Could I first of all welcome the investment in that charging infrastructure that we’re now going to see within the Bridgend area, which is £450,000 being invested in kerbside parking charging facilities? That is really welcome. But would the Minister agree with me that, actually, greener transport is also tied up with what we do with moving people into active transport as well? And would he welcome the fact that the cross-party group, which I have the privilege of chairing and which many Members here are on, with the active travel group, will be launching next Tuesday in Penyrheol school in Gorseinon, with the headteacher and with the pupils there, the toolkit for schools to move to active travel? Because that's the secret not only to children moving to cycling and walking to school, but also their parents not driving their children to school as well, and choosing to walk with them and to find alternative means. So, it's lifting cars off the road as well as moving to electric cars.
Yn gyntaf, a gaf fi groesawu'r buddsoddiad y byddwn yn ei weld yn y seilwaith gwefru yn ardal Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, sef y £450,000 a fuddsoddir mewn cyfleusterau gwefru ar gyfer lleoedd parcio ar ymyl y palmant? Mae hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr. Ond a fyddai'r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod trafnidiaeth fwy gwyrdd hefyd yn cysylltu â'r hyn a wnawn gydag annog pobl i ddewis teithio llesol hefyd? Ac a fyddai’n croesawu’r ffaith y bydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol, y caf y fraint o’i gadeirio ac y mae llawer o'r Aelodau yma'n aelodau ohono, yn lansio'r pecyn cymorth i ysgolion newid i deithio llesol gyda’r grŵp teithio llesol ddydd Mawrth nesaf yn ysgol Penyrheol yng Ngorseinon, gyda’r pennaeth a'r disgyblion yno? Oherwydd dyna'r gyfrinach nid yn unig i sicrhau bod plant yn newid i feicio a cherdded i'r ysgol, ond hefyd i sicrhau nad yw rhieni'n gyrru eu plant i'r ysgol, ac yn dewis cerdded gyda hwy a dod o hyd i ddulliau amgen. Felly, mae a wnelo hyn â dod â cheir oddi ar y ffordd yn ogystal â newid i geir trydan.
I think that's an absolutely central point—we don't want simply to transfer the existing fleet of cars from petrol and diesel over to electric; we want fewer cars on the road, for all sorts of reasons that cars cause harm. But we want to give people choice, and we can do that by providing electric car clubs—something I'm very keen on—with communities having easy access to a car club so they don't need to own multiple cars in the family. But also, we're looking at shifting—. This is what modal shift is about—moving from cars to others, public transport and, for local journeys, active travel.
And I must commend Huw Irranca-Davies for the work and leadership he's shown through the active travel group. For newer Members, who are still getting to grips with cross-party groups, I would say the cross-party group on active travel is among the most effective, and that is in large part because of the cross-party buy-in, the fact that it brings groups from around Wales together, and then for the close relationship Huw Irranca-Davies has with the Government, feeding that challenge through to Ministers to try and get change. And I'm very pleased that you are launching the toolkit for schools, because, clearly, disrupting the current pattern of journeys to school is an essential part of achieving modal shift, and I wish him luck with that launch.
Credaf fod hwnnw'n bwynt hollbwysig—rydym am wneud mwy na newid y fflyd bresennol o geir o fod yn geir petrol a diesel i fod yn geir trydan; rydym yn awyddus i weld llai o geir ar y ffordd, am bob math o resymau fod ceir yn achosi niwed. Ond rydym am roi dewis i bobl, a gallwn wneud hynny drwy ddarparu clybiau ceir trydan—rhywbeth rwy'n awyddus iawn i'w weld—gyda chymunedau'n cael mynediad hawdd at glwb ceir fel nad oes angen iddynt fod yn berchen ar fwy nag un car yn y teulu. Ond hefyd, rydym yn edrych ar newid—. Dyma yw hanfod newid dulliau teithio—newid o geir i ddulliau eraill, trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, a theithio llesol ar gyfer teithiau lleol.
Ac mae'n rhaid imi ganmol Huw Irranca-Davies am y gwaith a'r arweinyddiaeth y mae wedi'i dangos drwy'r grŵp teithio llesol. I'r Aelodau mwy newydd, sy'n dal i ymgynefino â grwpiau trawsbleidiol, byddwn yn dweud bod y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar deithio llesol ymhlith y mwyaf effeithiol, ac mae hynny i raddau helaeth oherwydd y cyfranogiad trawsbleidiol, y ffaith ei fod yn dod â grwpiau o bob rhan o Gymru ynghyd, ac oherwydd y berthynas agos sydd gan Huw Irranca-Davies â'r Llywodraeth, wrth iddo fwydo'r her honno i Weinidogion er mwyn ceisio sicrhau newid. Ac rwy'n falch iawn eich bod yn lansio'r pecyn cymorth i ysgolion, oherwydd yn amlwg, mae addasu'r patrwm presennol o deithiau i'r ysgol yn rhan hanfodol o newid dulliau teithio, a phob lwc iddo gyda'r lansiad hwnnw.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynnydd metro gogledd Cymru? OQ56973
2. Will the Minister provide an update on the progress of the north Wales metro? OQ56973
Yes. I recently agreed a further £9.3 million of funding to local authorities and Transport for Wales for projects supporting the development and delivery of the north Wales metro, including enhancements to active travel, bus and rail infrastructure across the north.
Gwnaf. Yn ddiweddar, cytunais i roi £9.3 miliwn yn ychwanegol o gyllid i awdurdodau lleol a Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar gyfer prosiectau sy'n cefnogi'r gwaith o ddatblygu a darparu metro gogledd Cymru, gan gynnwys gwelliannau i'r seilwaith bysiau, rheilffyrdd a theithio llesol ar draws y gogledd.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your updates on the progress of the north Wales metro. And I'm sure Members from across the Chamber will welcome the speeding up of this project, actually, and the benefits it could have for the people of north Wales. Initially, these plans were proposed in 2016, for delivery in around 2035—so, a nearly 20-year timescale to see a north Wales metro take place. I'm not sure that's acceptable any more, and certainly in times of a climate emergency and encouraging more people onto public transport. So, I'd ask the Deputy Minister what he will do to speed up this programme of work and see this programme of work expand in north Wales.
Diolch am eich diweddariadau ar gynnydd metro gogledd Cymru, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr yn falch o weld y gwaith ar y prosiect hwn yn cyflymu, a'r buddion y gallai eu darparu i bobl gogledd Cymru. Cynigiwyd y cynlluniau hyn gyntaf yn 2016, i'w cyflawni oddeutu 2035—felly amserlen o bron i 20 mlynedd ar gyfer cyflawni metro gogledd Cymru. Nid wyf yn siŵr a yw hynny'n dderbyniol mwyach, yn sicr, a ninnau mewn argyfwng hinsawdd ac yn ceisio annog mwy o bobl i ddefnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog beth y bydd yn ei wneud i gyflymu'r rhaglen waith ac i sicrhau ei bod yn ehangu yng ngogledd Cymru.
Thank you. Well, the metros in different parts of Wales are at different ranges of development. The south Wales metro, for example, is more advanced, and it's a massively complex project. The one in north Wales is a different mix of modes—there are fewer train lines than you have in the south Wales Valleys, for example, and so bus has a far greater role to play, as does active travel. I think one of the challenges we have is the capacity of local authorities. I had a meeting with local authority leaders this morning, along with the rest of my Cabinet colleagues, and we discussed this—how we can use the corporate joint committees to pool knowledge and know-how and people to try and create extra capacity, working alongside Transport for Wales.
Again, we have an example in Newport, where the Burns delivery unit has created a model where Transport for Wales, the local authority and the Welsh Government are working cheek by jowl to deliver the schemes set out in the Burns report. And that, I think, could be a model for the north. I had a meeting with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board transport sub-group—that's a mouthful, isn't it—on Friday morning, in which I discussed this very challenge, and I asked them to think about how they'd be willing to pool resources together and how we could help them, both to fund that and to make sure it's operationalised. But the north Wales metro, I think, has got huge potential. It will happen in phases, but, given the imperative of acting on climate change and achieving modal shift, it is a key development for the region.
Diolch. Wel, mae'r metros, mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, ar wahanol gamau datblygu. Mae metro de Cymru, er enghraifft, wedi datblygu ymhellach, ac mae'n brosiect hynod gymhleth. Mae'r un yng ngogledd Cymru yn gymysgedd gwahanol o ddulliau teithio—mae llai o reilffyrdd nag sydd gennych yng Nghymoedd de Cymru, er enghraifft, felly mae gan fysiau rôl fwy o lawer i'w chwarae, fel sydd gan deithio llesol. Credaf mai un o'r heriau sydd gennym yw capasiti awdurdodau lleol. Cefais gyfarfod ag arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol y bore yma, ynghyd â gweddill fy nghyd-aelodau o'r Cabinet, a buom yn trafod hyn—sut y gallwn ddefnyddio’r cyd-bwyllgorau corfforedig i ddod â gwybodaeth ac arbenigedd a phobl at ei gilydd i geisio creu capasiti ychwanegol, gan weithio ochr yn ochr â Trafnidiaeth Cymru.
Unwaith eto, mae gennym enghraifft yng Nghasnewydd, lle mae uned gyflawni Burns wedi creu model lle mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru, yr awdurdod lleol a Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydweithio'n agos iawn i gyflawni'r cynlluniau a nodwyd yn adroddiad Burns. A chredaf y gallai hynny fod yn fodel ar gyfer y gogledd. Cefais gyfarfod ag is-grŵp trafnidiaeth Bwrdd Uchelgais Economaidd Gogledd Cymru—dyna i chi lond ceg—fore dydd Gwener, lle bûm yn trafod yr union her hon, a gofynnais iddynt feddwl sut y byddent yn barod i gyfuno eu hadnoddau a sut y gallem eu helpu i ariannu hynny ac i sicrhau ei fod yn cael ei weithredu. Ond credaf fod gan fetro gogledd Cymru botensial enfawr. Bydd yn digwydd fesul cam, ond o ystyried pa mor hanfodol yw gweithredu ar newid hinsawdd a newid dulliau teithio, mae'n ddatblygiad allweddol ar gyfer y rhanbarth.
As a Flintshire councillor, and previous streetscene and highways cabinet member, and also a member of the committee you mentioned earlier, I'm aware of the significant funding across the region—metro funding. However, to raise awareness and increase engagement across north Wales, we need to have delivery of the distinctive metro branding linking the stations, bus transport, cycle routes and park-and-rides that Welsh Government have funded, working with local authorities. Also, artists' impressions of proposed new stations would be really good as well. It would just help raise awareness and increase engagement with our communities of the work that's taking place and is due to take place in the future. Would the Deputy Minister provide an update regarding the metro branding and signage that I believe Transport for Wales were to lead on in 2021? Thank you.
Fel cynghorydd yn sir y Fflint, a chyn-aelod o'r cabinet dros wasanaethau stryd a phriffyrdd, ac aelod hefyd o'r pwyllgor y sonioch chi amdano yn gynharach, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r cyllid sylweddol ledled y rhanbarth—cyllid ar gyfer y metro. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn codi ymwybyddiaeth a chynyddu ymgysylltiad ar draws gogledd Cymru, mae angen inni sicrhau bod gennym frand arbennig i gysylltu gorsafoedd y metro, trafnidiaeth ar fysiau, llwybrau beicio, a'r gwasanaethau parcio a theithio y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u hariannu, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol. Byddai argraff arlunydd o'r gorsafoedd newydd arfaethedig yn dda iawn hefyd. Byddai'n helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth a chynyddu ymgysylltiad â'n cymunedau ynghylch y gwaith sydd ar y gweill a'r gwaith a fydd yn mynd rhagddo yn y dyfodol. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog roi diweddariad ynglŷn ag arwyddion a brand y metro, gwaith yr oedd Trafnidiaeth Cymru i fod i arwain arno yn 2021? Diolch.
Well, thank you for the question, and I certainly agree with you that branding imagery is really important to generate an excitement amongst people that change is coming, and to give people faith that change is coming too. So, I take the point on board. I am discussing this with TfW around the south Wales metro, so I promise to add that to the conversations I'm having and keep the Member updated; I think it's a strong point she makes.
Wel, diolch am eich cwestiwn, ac rwy'n sicr yn cytuno â chi fod delweddau brand yn bwysig iawn i ennyn cynnwrf ymysg pobl fod newid yn dod, ac i roi ffydd i bobl fod newid yn dod hefyd. Felly, rwy'n derbyn y pwynt. Rwy'n trafod hyn gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru yng nghyswllt metro de Cymru, felly rwy'n addo ychwanegu hynny at y sgyrsiau rwy'n eu cael ac i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelod; credaf fod ei phwynt yn un cryf.
I thank my colleague from across the Chamber, Mr Rowlands, for tabling this important question, and I do agree with my colleague Carolyn Thomas as well because it is an important question. It's important that the north Wales metro delivers for generations to come, and it is that transport network, as the Minister agrees, that north Wales does deserve.
For residents in Alyn and Deeside, this is about delivering the Flintshire corridor to act as a spine of the north Wales metro, but it's also about creating key transport hubs to achieve a fully integrated, multimodal system. Does the Minister agree with me that delivering the Flintshire corridor is essential to ensure residents in my community of Alyn and Deeside will benefit from the north Wales metro, a very important project?
Diolch i fy nghyd-Aelod ar ochr arall y Siambr, Mr Rowlands, am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn pwysig hwn, ac rwy'n cytuno hefyd â fy nghyd-Aelod, Carolyn Thomas, oherwydd mae'n gwestiwn pwysig. Mae'n bwysig fod metro gogledd Cymru yn darparu ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, a dyma'r rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth y mae gogledd Cymru yn ei haeddu, fel y cytuna'r Gweinidog.
I drigolion Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy, mae hyn yn ymwneud â sicrhau bod coridor sir y Fflint yn gweithredu fel asgwrn cefn i fetro gogledd Cymru, ond mae hefyd yn ymwneud â chreu canolfannau trafnidiaeth allweddol i gyflawni system aml-ddull a chwbl integredig. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno bod creu coridor sir y Fflint yn hanfodol i sicrhau y bydd trigolion fy nghymuned, Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy, yn elwa o fetro gogledd Cymru, sy'n brosiect pwysig iawn?
Well, I ought to commend the Member on his ingenuity of trying to present this in this way. Of course, the Flintshire corridor is a 13 km, two-lane dual carriageway, so it's not immediately apparent to me that it's an integral part of the north Wales metro, and also it is covered by the roads review scheme, and I couldn't pre-empt what decisions they make, because, obviously, as part of the review, new road schemes do have a role. We're not ruling out any new road building, but it should not be the default solution to any transport problems. I think that needs to be the big change. So, I anticipate seeing far fewer road schemes, and that those road schemes that are taken forward have a very clear criteria and reason for them. Whether or not the Flintshire corridor meets those tests is something that the roads review scheme will be looking at over the next year.
Wel, dylwn ganmol yr Aelod am ei ddyfeisgarwch yn ceisio cyflwyno'r mater yn y ffordd hon. Wrth gwrs, ffordd ddeuol ddwy lôn 13 cilometr yw coridor sir y Fflint, felly nid yw'n gwbl amlwg i mi ei bod yn rhan annatod o fetro gogledd Cymru, ac mae hefyd wedi'i chynnwys yng nghynllun yr adolygiad ffyrdd, ac ni allaf ragweld pa benderfyniadau y byddant yn eu gwneud, oherwydd yn amlwg, fel rhan o'r adolygiad, mae rôl gan gynlluniau ffyrdd newydd. Nid ydym yn diystyru adeiladu ffyrdd newydd, ond ni ddylai fod yn ateb diofyn i unrhyw broblem drafnidiaeth. Credaf mai dyna'r newid mawr sydd ei angen. Felly, rwy'n rhagweld gweld llai o lawer o gynlluniau ffyrdd, ac y bydd meini prawf a rhesymau clir iawn dros y cynlluniau ffyrdd a gaiff eu datblygu. Bydd cynllun yr adolygiad ffyrdd yn edrych i weld a yw coridor sir y Fflint yn bodloni'r profion hynny dros y flwyddyn nesaf.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, as you'll know, over recent months I've been extremely concerned about the number of river pollution incidents. I know I'm not alone in this, as many pollution incidents have been raised with me on a regular basis. Now, let me be clear, and for avoidance of doubt, I am certainly not pointing the finger of blame at our farmers. Now, having undertaken research, I am concerned about the number of releases by Dŵr Cymru made through each combined sewer overflow over the last four years. The findings are actually very startling. The number of spills recorded by Welsh Water using the 12/24 block counting method in 2018 were 48,158; 2019—73,517; 2020—104,482, and to date this year, 59,275. As I have repeatedly said, and many in our group have echoed, one pollution incident is one too many. Now, whilst the data for this year needs to be quality assured, the figures indicate that the total duration of all spills prior to processing through the 12/24-hour counting method is 516,270.5 hours. So, if you divide that by 24, we reach the startling fact that Wales has seen 21,511 days' worth of non-stop spills this year alone. So, would you agree with me, Minister, that the combined overflow situation in Wales can now be considered as a crisis? Thank you.
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, dros y misoedd diwethaf, rwyf wedi bod yn hynod bryderus ynghylch nifer yr achosion o lygredd afon. Gwn nad fi yw'r unig un, gan fod nifer o achosion o lygredd wedi'u dwyn i fy sylw'n rheolaidd. Nawr, gadewch imi ddweud yn glir, ac er mwyn osgoi unrhyw amheuaeth, yn sicr, nid wyf yn pwyntio bys at ein ffermwyr. Nawr, ar ôl gwneud gwaith ymchwil, rwy’n poeni am nifer y gollyngiadau gan Dŵr Cymru a wnaed drwy bob gorlif carthffosiaeth cyfunol dros y pedair blynedd diwethaf. Mae'r canfyddiadau'n frawychus iawn. Nifer y gollyngiadau a gofnodwyd gan Dŵr Cymru gan ddefnyddio'r dull cyfrif blociau 12/24 yn 2018 oedd 48,158; 2019—73,517; 2020—104,482, a hyd yn hyn eleni, 59,275. Fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud dro ar ôl tro, ac fel y mae nifer yn ein grŵp wedi adleisio, mae un achos o lygredd yn un yn ormod. Nawr, er bod angen sicrhau ansawdd y data ar gyfer eleni, mae'r ffigurau'n dangos bod cyfanswm yr holl ollyngiadau cyn prosesu drwy'r dull cyfrif 12/24 awr yn 516,270.5 awr. Felly, os rhannwch hynny â 24, down at y ffaith syfrdanol fod Cymru wedi cael gwerth 21,511 diwrnod o ollyngiadau di-stop eleni yn unig. Felly, a fyddech yn cytuno, Weinidog, y gellir ystyried y sefyllfa mewn perthynas â gorlifoedd cyfunol yng Nghymru yn argyfwng bellach? Diolch.
Well, Janet, you make a very good point, which is that there are a number of reasons why we need to look at water pollution incidents across Wales, and, of course, they're not all attributed to a single source. So, we all need to work together in Team Wales to make sure that we reduce any kind of pollution incidents that affect our water tables, our river waters, our inland waters or, indeed, our coastal waters, and we need to do that together. So, all sectors need to work hard to do that. Our agriculture and farming sectors need to work just as hard as, obviously, the water companies, sewage companies, industrial polluters along the river banks, and a large number of other people who both rely on the water courses and, of course, require the water courses to be clean and in good conservation order.
There are a number of things to say about that. First of all, we're working very hard with the water companies at the moment to make sure that the pricing mechanisms that are put in place allow them to make the right kinds of investments for the future, so that we can invest in the network and make sure that it is efficient, effective and works very hard.
We're also doing a review of a number of regulatory areas to make sure that the current breakdown of who does what in regulation terms, and the Welsh Government, companies like Welsh Water, utilities companies and so on, NRW, local authorities—who all have skin in the game, as the expression goes, on this—have the right level of regulatory and delivery mechanisms inside their particular bits, and, more importantly, that they fit seamlessly together as a whole and people can understand who's responsible for delivering what and for regulating what. So, that's part of it as well.
And, then, you'll know as well as I do, that we all have some responsibility personally for this as well, because a lot of the sewage spills in particular are as a result of people putting completely inappropriate things into the sewer. So, I had a conversation only this week about what we can do at UK level particularly, actually, and you can help with this—I know you feel the same as I do—to make sure that the labelling on products is actually accurate, so that we don't have things like wet wipes and cotton buds and things like that, that say 'biodegradable' when they really aren't, or say 'flushable'—even worse—when they really aren't, and we can make sure that people are not causing blockages in the system that then cause incidents. So, we all have a responsibility to do this, but I can assure you that we're very happy to work with you and a range of other people right across Wales, in a team approach, to make sure that we have the right kinds of responses to these sorts of incidents.
Wel, Janet, rydych yn gwneud pwynt da iawn, sef bod nifer o resymau pam fod angen inni edrych ar achosion o lygredd dŵr ledled Cymru, ac wrth gwrs, ni ellir priodoli'r cyfan i'r un ffynhonnell. Felly, mae angen i bob un ohonom weithio gyda'n gilydd yn Nhîm Cymru i sicrhau ein bod yn lleihau unrhyw fath o ddigwyddiad llygredd sy'n effeithio ar ein lefelau trwythiad, dyfroedd ein hafonydd, ein dyfroedd mewndirol, neu yn wir, ein dyfroedd arfordirol, ac mae angen inni wneud hynny gyda'n gilydd. Felly, mae angen i bob sector weithio'n galed i wneud hynny. Mae angen i'n sectorau amaeth a ffermio weithio yr un mor galed â'r cwmnïau dŵr, yn amlwg, a'r cwmnïau carthffosiaeth, llygryddion diwydiannol ar lannau afonydd, a nifer fawr o bobl eraill sy'n dibynnu ar y cyrsiau dŵr, ac sydd angen i'r cyrsiau dŵr fod yn lân ac mewn cyflwr da.
Mae nifer o bethau i'w dweud am hynny. Yn gyntaf, rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda'r cwmnïau dŵr ar hyn o bryd i sicrhau bod y mecanweithiau prisio a roddir ar waith yn caniatáu iddynt wneud y mathau cywir o fuddsoddiadau ar gyfer y dyfodol, fel y gallwn fuddsoddi yn y rhwydwaith a sicrhau ei fod yn effeithlon, yn effeithiol ac yn gweithio'n galed iawn.
Rydym hefyd yn cynnal adolygiad o nifer o feysydd rheoleiddiol i sicrhau bod y dadansoddiad presennol o bwy sy'n gwneud beth yn nhermau rheoleiddio, a bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru, cwmnïau fel Dŵr Cymru, cwmnïau cyfleustodau ac ati, CNC, awdurdodau lleol—gan fod buddiant gan bob un ohonynt—fod ganddynt y lefel gywir o fecanweithiau rheoleiddio a chyflenwi yn eu priod leoedd, ac yn bwysicach fyth, eu bod yn ffitio gyda'i gilydd yn ddi-dor a gall pobl ddeall pwy sy'n gyfrifol am gyflawni beth ac am reoleiddio beth. Felly, mae hynny'n rhan ohono hefyd.
Ac yna, fe fyddwch yn gwybod cystal â minnau fod gan bob un ohonom rywfaint o gyfrifoldeb personol am hyn hefyd, gan fod llawer o'r gollyngiadau carthion yn enwedig yn digwydd am fod pobl yn rhoi pethau cwbl amhriodol mewn carthffosydd. Felly, cefais sgwrs yr wythnos hon ynglŷn â'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud ar lefel y DU yn enwedig, a gallwch helpu gyda hyn—gwn eich bod yn teimlo yr un peth â mi—i sicrhau bod y labelu ar gynhyrchion yn gywir, fel nad oes gennym bethau fel cadachau gwlyb a ffyn cotwm a phethau felly, sy'n dweud 'bioddiraddadwy' pan nad ydynt yn fioddiraddiadwy mewn gwirionedd, neu'n dweud eu bod yn 'iawn i fflysio'—hyd yn oed yn waeth—pan nad ydynt, a gallwn sicrhau nad yw pobl yn tagu'r system gan achosi digwyddiadau. Felly, mae gan bob un ohonom gyfrifoldeb i wneud hyn, ond gallaf eich sicrhau ein bod yn fwy na pharod i gydweithio gyda chi a nifer o bobl eraill ledled Cymru, fel tîm, i sicrhau bod gennym y mathau cywir o ymatebion i'r mathau hyn o ddigwyddiadau.
Thank you. And I'm really glad that I've succeeded in getting that on the record, that you actually do understand that there is an issue there.
But going specifically back to our water companies, during this year, 23 different locations have seen over 2,000 hours' worth of spills each, five locations over 3,000 hours' worth and four over 4,000 hours. So, such has been my concern that I have written to you, and you responded to me stating, and I quote, 'The Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales are working with Wales's water companies to develop drainage and waste water management plans, otherwise known as DWMPs, for the next 25 years. The plans will help ensure that our water companies invest strategically and transparently for a waste water treatment network that is resilient and affordable in the long and short term.'
Now, only recently, in our Deganwy estuary, in my constituency, a large number of residents complained about floating raw sewage and a horrendous odour, and this went on for quite some time. So, having then brought this to the attention of Dŵr Cymru, action was not taken immediately and this persuaded me then to report the situation directly to NRW. And, I'm sorry, but in a number of these instances, Minister, enforcement action taken by NRW cannot be considered to be anywhere near robust enough. Only a few weeks ago, the finger of blame for pollution in our rivers was pointed towards our farmers, and the draconian system of nitrate vulnerable zones was implemented. So, Minister, what steps are you taking to ensure that our water companies—[Interruption.]—play a more responsible role themselves in not allowing—? Do you want to make an intervention? [Interruption.]
Diolch. Ac rwy'n falch iawn fy mod wedi llwyddo i sicrhau bod hynny wedi'i gofnodi, eich bod yn deall bod yna broblem gyda hynny.
Ond i ddychwelyd yn benodol at ein cwmnïau dŵr, eleni mae 23 o wahanol leoliadau wedi cael gwerth dros 2,000 awr o ollyngiadau yr un, pum lleoliad wedi cael gwerth dros 3,000 awr a phedwar wedi cael gwerth dros 4,000 awr. Felly, roeddwn yn ddigon pryderus i ysgrifennu atoch, ac fe wnaethoch ymateb gan nodi, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, 'Mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gweithio gyda chwmnïau dŵr Cymru i ddatblygu cynlluniau rheoli draenio a dŵr gwastraff, a elwir hefyd yn DWMPs, ar gyfer y 25 mlynedd nesaf. Bydd y cynlluniau'n helpu i sicrhau bod ein cwmnïau dŵr yn buddsoddi'n strategol ac yn dryloyw mewn rhwydwaith trin dŵr gwastraff sy'n gadarn ac yn fforddiadwy yn hirdymor ac yn y tymor byr.'
Nawr, yn ddiweddar, yn ein haber ger Deganwy, yn fy etholaeth, mae nifer fawr o drigolion wedi bod yn cwyno am garthffosiaeth amrwd yn arnofio ac arogl erchyll, ac fe wnaeth hyn barhau am beth amser. Felly, ar ôl tynnu sylw Dŵr Cymru at y broblem, ni chymerwyd camau ar unwaith, a chefais fy mherswadio oherwydd hynny i roi gwybod yn uniongyrchol i CNC am y sefyllfa. Ac mae'n ddrwg gennyf, ond mewn nifer o'r achosion hyn, Weinidog, ni ellir honni bod y camau gorfodi a gymerir gan CNC yn hanner digon cadarn. Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, roedd ein ffermwyr yn cael eu beio am lygredd yn ein hafonydd, a chafodd system ormesol y parthau perygl nitradau ei rhoi ar waith. Felly, Weinidog, pa gamau sydd ar y gweill gennych i sicrhau bod ein cwmnïau dŵr—[Torri ar draws.]—yn chwarae rhan fwy cyfrifol eu hunain drwy beidio â chaniatáu—? A hoffech chi ymyrryd? [Torri ar draws.]
There are no interventions in questions.
Nid oes unrhyw ymyriadau mewn cwestiynau.
And, when they occur, that more robust action is taken by the companies and NRW as the regulator.
A phan fyddant yn digwydd, fod y cwmnïau a CNC fel y rheoleiddiwr yn rhoi camau llymach ar waith.
So, again, I think the conclusion you're coming to is a bit of a stretch from the set of facts that you're presenting, basically. So, as I said in my first answer, I'll just reiterate it: there are, of course, a number of players that affect the watercourses and water quality across Wales. They go from every single one of us to our communities, to our industries, to the people who use the water, and who discharge it into our river systems. That includes, of course, the water companies, but it also includes farmers and agri-businesses, and everybody must play their part. Everybody must reduce their emissions, everybody has to go ahead with a greener, cleaner way of using our watercourses, or we will not get them back into good conservation order and increase our biodiversity and, indeed, our water quality.
So, of course, we will need to work together, and, as I said, we're undertaking a review of where the regulation sits, where the delivery sits, whether it's in exactly the right place, whether it's effective, whether it's not effective, and how we can increase both our regulation and our delivery partners' ability to improve our watercourses. So, we're all trying to get to the same place. But it's not a question of pointing a finger of blame, everyone must do their part and that absolutely does include the farmers.
Felly, unwaith eto, credaf fod eich casgliad yn ymestyn pethau braidd o'r set o ffeithiau a gyflwynwch. Felly, fel y dywedais yn fy ateb cyntaf, fe wnaf ei ailadrodd: mae llawer iawn o bobl, wrth gwrs, yn effeithio ar gyrsiau dŵr ac ansawdd dŵr ledled Cymru. Mae hynny'n cynnwys pob un ohonom, ein cymunedau, ein diwydiannau, a'r bobl sy'n defnyddio'r dŵr, ac sy'n ei ollwng i'n hafonydd. Mae'n cynnwys, wrth gwrs, y cwmnïau dŵr, ond mae hefyd yn cynnwys ffermwyr a busnesau amaeth, ac mae'n rhaid i bawb chwarae eu rhan. Mae'n rhaid i bawb leihau eu hallyriadau, mae'n rhaid i bawb fwrw ymlaen â ffordd fwy gwyrdd a glanach o ddefnyddio ein cyrsiau dŵr, neu ni fydd modd inni wella eu cyflwr a chynyddu ein bioamrywiaeth, ac ansawdd ein dŵr yn wir.
Felly, wrth gwrs, bydd angen inni weithio gyda'n gilydd, ac fel y dywedais, rydym yn cynnal adolygiad o'n trefn reoleiddiol, y gwaith cyflawni, ac a yw lle dylai fod, a yw'n effeithiol ai peidio, a sut y gallwn gynyddu ein rheoleiddio a gallu ein partneriaid cyflenwi i wella ein cyrsiau dŵr. Felly, mae pawb ohonom yn ceisio cyrraedd yr un lle. Ond nid yw'n fater o bwyntio bys, mae'n rhaid i bawb chwarae eu rhan, ac mae hynny'n sicr yn cynnwys y ffermwyr.
Thank you, Minister. Now, on another topic, I am concerned that planning applications are at a standstill due to the new targets for phosphate pollution in rivers. The Home Builders Federation have informed me that the delivery of all new homes, both affordable and private, is being affected in numerous authorities, including Monmouth, Newport, Carmarthenshire, Wrexham, Flintshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Brecon Beacons national park and Powys. In fact, the Welsh Government's written response to Monmouth council's preferred strategy for its replacement local development plan states that:
'The Deposit Plan and associated HRA must demonstrate nutrient neutrality or betterment in order to be considered sound.'
Whilst I am familiar with the special areas of conservation management oversight group, the planning sub-group and the NRW project board with its several work streams, could you just clarify to me how an LPA is to demonstrate nutrient neutrality when there is no agreed solution or guidance as yet offered by your Welsh Government? Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog. Nawr, ar bwnc arall, rwy'n pryderu bod ceisiadau cynllunio wedi dod i stop oherwydd y targedau newydd ar gyfer llygredd ffosffad mewn afonydd. Mae'r Ffederasiwn Adeiladwyr Cartrefi wedi dweud wrthyf fod y gwaith o gyflenwi pob cartref newydd, rhai fforddiadwy a rhai preifat, yn cael ei effeithio mewn nifer o awdurdodau, gan gynnwys Mynwy, Casnewydd, sir Gaerfyrddin, Wrecsam, sir y Fflint, Ceredigion, sir Benfro, parc cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog a Phowys. Mewn gwirionedd, mae ymateb ysgrifenedig Llywodraeth Cymru i'r strategaeth a ffefrir gan gyngor Mynwy ar gyfer eu cynllun datblygu lleol newydd yn nodi:
'Rhaid i'r Cynllun Adnau a'r Asesiad Rheoliadau Cynefinoedd cysylltiedig ddangos niwtraliaeth maethynnau neu welliant er mwyn cael eu hystyried yn gadarn.'
Er fy mod yn gyfarwydd â'r grŵp goruchwylio rheoli ardaloedd cadwraeth arbennig, yr is-grŵp cynllunio a bwrdd prosiect CNC gyda'i nifer o ffrydiau gwaith, a allwch chi egluro i mi sut y gall awdurdod cynllunio lleol ddangos niwtraliaeth maethynnau pan nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cytuno ar ddatrysiad neu gynnig unrhyw ganllawiau eto? Diolch.
Yes, so again, this is about not being able to have your cake and eat it. So, you can't both say that you're in favour of doing something to mitigate climate change and then complain about every single measure that we put in place in order to do that. So, we have to do things differently. Councils have to step up to this, alongside all the other partners. We cannot continue to just build willy-nilly all over our floodplains, regardless of the pollution, regardless of the sewerage systems that you have just been telling me about, regardless of the ability of the infrastructure to cope with that and keep our watercourses clean. So, we absolutely have to do things differently.
So, this is about getting a group of people together to make sure that we work together across all players—and we've already listed them numerous times today—all players in Wales, to make sure that, when we do build things, we build them to the right quality with the right systems in place, that they do not overburden the current sewerage systems, that they do not burden the treatment plants to the point where we have the spillages that you've just been telling me about, and that we do that so that we enhance and increase both the water quality and the biodiversity. There isn't any other way forward. We cannot just complain that we can't build on the one hand and say that we love the planet and want to do something about it on the other. Those two things are just not compatible.
Ie, felly, unwaith eto, mae a wnelo hyn â methu cael y gorau o ddau fyd. Felly, ni allwch ddweud eich bod o blaid gwneud rhywbeth i liniaru newid hinsawdd ac yna cwyno am bob mesur a roddwn ar waith er mwyn gwneud hynny. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni wneud pethau'n wahanol. Mae'n rhaid i gynghorau wneud ymdrech, ochr yn ochr â'r holl bartneriaid eraill. Ni allwn barhau i adeiladu'n ddifeddwl ar ein gorlifdiroedd, heb ystyried y llygredd, heb ystyried y systemau carthffosiaeth rydych newydd fod yn sôn amdanynt, heb ystyried gallu'r seilwaith i ymdopi â hynny a chadw ein cyrsiau dŵr yn lân. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni wneud pethau'n wahanol.
Felly, mae a wnelo hyn â dod â grŵp o bobl ynghyd i sicrhau bod yr holl sefydliadau sydd ynghlwm wrth hyn—ac rydym eisoes wedi'u rhestru sawl gwaith heddiw—yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd yng Nghymru i sicrhau ein bod, pan fyddwn yn adeiladu pethau, yn eu hadeiladu i'r safonau cywir gyda'r systemau cywir ar waith, nad ydynt yn gorlwytho'r systemau carthffosiaeth cyfredol, nad ydynt yn rhoi pwysau ar y gweithfeydd trin gwastraff i'r graddau ein bod yn gweld y gollyngiadau rydych newydd fod yn sôn amdanynt, a'n bod yn gwneud hynny fel ein bod yn gwella ac yn cynyddu ansawdd y dŵr a bioamrywiaeth. Nid oes unrhyw ffordd arall ymlaen. Ni allwn gwyno na allwn adeiladu ar y naill law a dweud ar y llaw arall ein bod yn caru’r blaned ac eisiau gwneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch. Nid yw'r ddau beth yn gydnaws.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell.
Minister, I'd like to ask you firstly about environmental governance. Environmental Standards Scotland has commenced its statutory role as an independent environmental governance body. Scotland has also put in place core environmental principles, with associated duties and guidance, and the Westminster Environment Bill is expected to pass this autumn with the office for environmental protection set to provide independent oversight in England and Northern Ireland. There's a pattern emerging everywhere else. Welsh stakeholders recommended equivalent actions for Wales in spring 2020, yet we still don't have a firm commitment to a time frame for legislation, leaving Wales with this indefinite governance gap. Citizens' access to justice for breaches of environmental law have been diminished and the environment is being less well protected. So, Minister, will you commit firmly please to bringing forward the promised legislation on environmental governance and principles in the second year of this Senedd?
Weinidog, hoffwn eich holi yn gyntaf ynglŷn â llywodraethu amgylcheddol. Mae Environmental Standards Scotland wedi cychwyn ar eu rôl statudol fel corff llywodraethu amgylcheddol annibynnol. Mae'r Alban hefyd wedi rhoi egwyddorion amgylcheddol craidd ar waith, gyda dyletswyddau a chanllawiau cysylltiedig, a disgwylir i Fil Amgylchedd San Steffan gael ei basio yn yr hydref gyda swyddfa diogelu'r amgylchedd i ddarparu trosolwg annibynnol yn Lloegr a Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae patrwm yn dod i'r amlwg ym mhobman arall. Argymhellodd rhanddeiliaid yng Nghymru gamau cyfatebol ar gyfer Cymru yng ngwanwyn 2020, ond ni chawsom ymrwymiad cadarn o hyd i amserlen ar gyfer deddfu, sy'n golygu bod gan Gymru fwlch llywodraethu amhenodol. Mae mynediad dinasyddion at gyfiawnder yn sgil torri deddfau amgylcheddol wedi'i leihau, ac nid yw'r amgylchedd yn cael ei amddiffyn cystal. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo'n gadarn os gwelwch yn dda i gyflwyno'r ddeddfwriaeth a addawyd ar egwyddorion a threfniadau llywodraethu amgylcheddol yn ail flwyddyn y Senedd hon?
Thank you, Delyth. You and I have discussed this matter a number of times, and I absolutely appreciate what you say. We could, of course, have looked at going in with the UK Government on their arrangements, but we considered, and I'm sure you agree, that they do not suit the situation that we have here in Wales and we'd be far better off to have our own system in place.
We have, as you know, an interim arrangement in place, and we are committed to bringing forward suitable-for-Wales governance arrangements. The First Minister will be making—well, I'm not sure if it's the First Minister or the Counsel General, but one of them will be making a statement to the Senedd shortly about the next years of the legislative programme, and it's for them to do that and not for me. But we are working very hard behind the scenes to make sure that we have both the ability and the skill and talent to bring together all the separate strands to make sure that, when we present the governance arrangements through the committees for scrutiny and to the floor of the Senedd, they will be fit for purpose. So, I absolutely accept what you say, but we are in the process of working to make sure that we have all of the arrangements in place so that we can get the best possible governance arrangements for Wales. I didn't think it was appropriate to join in with the English system in this instance because we wanted to do that. I'm afraid that has meant there is a delay, but I do think in the end that's the better course.
Diolch, Delyth. Rydych chi a minnau wedi trafod y mater hwn sawl gwaith, ac rwy'n llwyr ddeall yr hyn a ddywedwch. Wrth gwrs, gallem fod wedi ystyried ymuno â Llywodraeth y DU gyda'u trefniadau, ond roeddem o'r farn, ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn cytuno, nad yw'r trefniadau hynny'n gweddu i'r sefyllfa sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru, ac y byddai'n well o lawer pe bai gennym ein system ein hunain ar waith.
Mae gennym drefniant dros dro yn ei le, fel y gwyddoch, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i gyflwyno trefniadau llywodraethu sy'n addas i Gymru. Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn rhoi—wel, nid wyf yn siŵr ai’r Prif Weinidog neu’r Cwnsler Cyffredinol fydd yn gwneud hynny, ond bydd un ohonynt yn gwneud datganiad i’r Senedd cyn bo hir ynglŷn â blynyddoedd nesaf y rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol, a mater iddynt hwy yw gwneud hynny, nid i mi. Ond rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn y tu ôl i'r llen i sicrhau bod gennym y gallu a'r sgil a'r ddawn i ddod â'r holl linynnau unigol ynghyd i sicrhau, pan fyddwn yn cyflwyno'r trefniadau llywodraethu drwy'r pwyllgorau craffu ac ar lawr y Senedd, eu bod yn addas at y diben. Felly, rwy’n derbyn yr hyn a ddywedwch yn llwyr, ond rydym yn y broses o weithio i sicrhau bod gennym yr holl drefniadau ar waith fel y gallwn gael y trefniadau llywodraethu gorau posibl ar gyfer Cymru. Oherwydd ein bod yn dymuno gwneud hynny, nid oeddwn yn credu ei bod yn briodol ymuno â system Lloegr yn yr achos hwn. Mae arnaf ofn fod hynny wedi arwain at oedi, ond credaf yn y pen draw mai dyna'r llwybr gorau.
Okay. I look forward to hearing that statement when it comes.
Iawn. Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed y datganiad hwnnw pan ddaw.
Byddaf i'n gofyn y cwestiwn nesaf yn Gymraeg, Weinidog. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, rŷn ni wedi gweld ymrwymiadau pwysig ar gyfer natur ar lefel y Deyrnas Unedig trwy addewid yr arweinwyr dros natur, y Glymblaid Uchelgais Uchel dros Natur a Phobl, a chompact natur G7 2030. Mae'r ymrwymiad i amddiffyn 30 y cant o dir a môr ar gyfer natur erbyn y flwyddyn 2030. Mae hynny'n garreg filltir allweddol. Mae'n cael ei gyfeirio ato fel 30 erbyn 30, ac mae'n cael ei gefnogi gan Lywodraethau'r Deyrnas Unedig a'r Alban ac mae wedi cael ei gymeradwyo yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Os ydyn ni'n gweithredu nawr, gall hyn gael ei gyflawni. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi gwneud hynny'n glir hefyd, ond does dim datganiad o gefnogaeth i 30 erbyn 30 wedi dod eto gan Lywodraeth Cymru. A fyddech chi, Weinidog, plis yn gallu ymrwymo nawr i sicrhau amddiffyniad effeithiol o 30 y cant o dir a 30 y cant o'r môr yng Nghymru erbyn y flwyddyn yna, sef 2030?
I'll be asking the next question in Welsh, Minister. Over the past year, we've seen important commitments for nature on the UK level through the leaders' pledge for nature, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, and the G7 2030 nature compact. The commitment is to safeguard 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by the year 2030. It's a key milestone. It's referred to as 30x30, and it's supported by the UK and Scottish Governments and has been approved in Northern Ireland. If we take action now, then this could be achieved. Natural Resources Wales has made that clear, too, but there's no declaration of support for 30x30 from the Welsh Government yet. Would you, Minister, now be able to commit to effective safeguarding of 30 per cent of land and sea in Wales by that year, namely 2030?
Diolch, Delyth. Thank you very much. I really do admire your attempts to make me declare Government policy as part of questions, but I'm going to resist the temptation.
Of course we're very interested in being able to join with such a scheme; we are looking to see whether that's something we want to do very formally in that way here in Wales or whether there are other routes for Wales to do that. We are very determined to protect our natural landscapes and very, very determined to put them back into good conservation order. So, I've had a range of meetings with concerned groups all over Wales in different types of landscapes. It's been an education and a privilege to talk to them all. So, diverse areas such as wooded landscapes, the Gwent levels, the long grass where the curlew calls, the blanket bogs, the wetlands; we have a range of landscapes that require both investment and, I have to say, help for the laudable numbers of people who are already working across Wales to both protect and enhance our landscapes.
We will be in position to say something to the Senedd, Llywydd, in due course, but I'm going to resist, I'm afraid, Delyth, the temptation that you're offering me, the dangling jewel of just doing it now. So, I won't be doing that just now, but I look forward to being able to announce something in due course.
Diolch, Delyth. Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n edmygu eich ymdrechion i wneud i mi ddatgan polisi Llywodraeth fel rhan o'r cwestiynau, ond rwyf am wrthsefyll y demtasiwn.
Wrth gwrs, mae gennym gryn ddiddordeb mewn gallu ymuno â chynllun o'r fath; rydym yn edrych i weld a yw hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym am ei wneud yn ffurfiol iawn yn y ffordd honno yma yng Nghymru, neu a oes llwybrau eraill i Gymru wneud hynny. Rydym yn benderfynol iawn o ddiogelu ein tirweddau naturiol ac yn benderfynol iawn, iawn o wella eu cyflwr. Felly, rwyf wedi cael amryw o gyfarfodydd gyda grwpiau ledled Cymru a chanddynt bryderon mewn perthynas â gwahanol fathau o dirweddau. Mae wedi bod yn addysg ac yn fraint siarad â phob un ohonynt. Felly, ardaloedd amrywiol fel tirweddau coediog, gwastadeddau Gwent, y gwair hir lle clywir cri'r gylfinir, y gorgorsydd, y gwlyptiroedd; mae gennym ystod o dirweddau sy'n galw am fuddsoddiad yn ogystal â chymorth, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, i'r nifer canmoladwy o bobl sydd eisoes yn gweithio ledled Cymru i ddiogelu a gwella ein tirweddau.
Byddwn mewn sefyllfa i ddweud rhywbeth wrth y Senedd maes o law, Lywydd, ond mae arnaf ofn, Delyth, fy mod am wrthsefyll y demtasiwn a gynigiwch i mi, y trysor a ddaliwch o fy mlaen i fy nghymell i'w wneud yn awr. Felly, nid wyf am wneud hynny yn awr, ond edrychaf ymlaen at allu cyhoeddi rhywbeth maes o law.
Thank you, Minister. Obviously, making commitments of this nature, they're symbolic, and so many of these principles that underpin the commitments are fundamentally important, so I won't make any apology for calling on you to make another commitment in my final question, in fact, which is about the declaration of the nature emergency that we as a Senedd made in June, which we were all so pleased to have seen as another milestone. That was a vital element of this motion that was carried, which called on the Welsh Government to introduce legally binding requirements to reverse biodiversity loss through statutory targets. I know again that I'm asking you about targets and so on, but these things—as I'm sure you'll agree—are hugely important in driving how these policies are put into place.
A Bill on environmental governance and principles would offer the ideal vehicle to do this, but, Minister, in your recent correspondence with the climate change committee when you were referring to the legislative consent memorandum on the UK Environment Bill, you declined to commit to taking this vital opportunity. You said that we have to wait for the conclusion of COP15 in May 2022 before taking that decision. Now I understand, of course, why in many ways you would wish to see the outcome of that, but waiting might not be a luxury that we can afford. Wales is among the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Surely we could lead the way by setting high ambitions ahead of COP15, forge ahead with vital primary legislation to set headlines, so that we can, yes, halt and start to reverse biodiversity loss in Wales by 2030, and achieve recovery by 2050. So, Minister, the final commitment that I will call on you to make is: will you commit to using the environmental principles and governance Bill to introduce a legally binding requirement to reverse biodiversity loss through statutory targets?
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn amlwg, mae gwneud ymrwymiadau o'r natur hon, maent yn symbolaidd, felly mae cymaint o'r egwyddorion hyn sy'n sail i'r ymrwymiadau'n hanfodol bwysig, felly nid wyf am ymddiheuro am alw arnoch i wneud ymrwymiad arall yn fy nghwestiwn olaf, sy’n ymwneud, mewn gwirionedd, â'r datganiad o argyfwng natur a wnaethom fel Senedd ym mis Mehefin, rhywbeth yr oedd pob un ohonom mor falch ohono fel carreg filltir arall. Roedd hynny'n elfen hanfodol o'r cynnig hwn a basiwyd, a alwai ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno gofynion sy'n rhwymo mewn cyfraith i wrthdroi colli bioamrywiaeth drwy dargedau statudol. Gwn eto fy mod yn gofyn i chi am dargedau ac ati, ond mae'r pethau hyn—fel y byddwch yn cytuno rwy'n siŵr—yn hynod bwysig wrth lywio'r ffordd y caiff y polisïau hyn eu rhoi ar waith.
Byddai Bil ar egwyddorion a threfniadau llywodraethu amgylcheddol yn cynnig cyfrwng delfrydol i wneud hyn, ond Weinidog, yn eich gohebiaeth ddiweddar â'r pwyllgor newid hinsawdd pan oeddech yn cyfeirio at y cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol ar Fil Amgylchedd y DU, fe wnaethoch wrthod ymrwymo i achub ar y cyfle hanfodol hwn. Fe ddywedoch chi fod yn rhaid aros tan ar ôl y COP15 ym mis Mai 2022 cyn gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw. Nawr, rwy'n deall, wrth gwrs, pam y byddech chi mewn sawl ffordd yn dymuno gweld canlyniad hynny, ond efallai nad yw aros yn rhywbeth y gallwn fforddio ei wneud. Mae Cymru ymhlith y gwledydd lle mae natur wedi teneuo fwyaf yn y byd. Does bosibl na allem arwain drwy osod nodau uchelgeisiol cyn COP15, a bwrw ymlaen â deddfwriaeth sylfaenol hanfodol i greu penawdau, fel y gallwn, ie, atal a dechrau gwrthdroi colli bioamrywiaeth yng Nghymru erbyn 2030, a sicrhau adferiad erbyn 2050. Felly, Weinidog, yr ymrwymiad olaf rwyf am alw arnoch i’w wneud yw: a wnewch chi ymrwymo i ddefnyddio’r Bil egwyddorion a threfniadau llywodraethu amgylcheddol i gyflwyno gofyniad sy'n rhwymo mewn cyfraith i wrthdroi colli bioamrywiaeth drwy dargedau statudol?
Again, Delyth, I'm going to resist, I'm afraid, the clarion call that you are offering me, but I do understand it, of course. What we want to do is we want to make sure that—. We've declared the nature emergency; we all agree with what you're saying about biodiversity loss and the need to protect our landscapes, of course we do. What we want to do is make sure that we have the measures in place to protect and enhance those landscapes. Of course we will set targets—that's how you hold our feet to the fire—but the targets themselves don't do anything, they just measure whether we succeed or fail. What we need is the action plans in place to make sure that we actually do the work, and I want to do that together with Members of the Senedd and the committees and with external scientific advisers. We're assembling a sort of TAG team, technical advisory group, that will help us do that and with the many groups of amateur experts across the country who have worked so very hard in their particular spheres, to understand and know what needs to be done in their particular landscapes. So, I'm not going to rush it; we will put the targets in place for our feet to be held to that fire, but much more importantly, we will work very hard on making sure we have the right set of action plans across Wales to put in place that protection and enhancement that we need, and that's not something we can do quickly. I want to make sure that those plans are correct, that they don't have unintended consequences, and that we protect all of the right landscapes in the right places. So, that's not a quick fix, but it is a fix, and I absolutely understand the need to put targets in place once we've agreed those actions, to make sure that we then do what we say.
Unwaith eto, Delyth, rwyf am wrthsefyll eich galwad, mae arnaf ofn, ond rwyf yn ei deall, wrth gwrs. Rydym am sicrhau bod—. Rydym wedi datgan yr argyfwng natur; mae pob un ohonom yn cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedwch am golli bioamrywiaeth a'r angen i amddiffyn ein tirweddau, wrth gwrs ein bod. Yr hyn rydym am ei wneud yw sicrhau bod gennym y camau ar waith i ddiogelu a gwella'r tirweddau hynny. Wrth gwrs, byddwn yn gosod targedau—dyna sut y byddwch yn ein dwyn i gyfrif—ond nid yw'r targedau eu hunain yn gwneud unrhyw beth ond mesur a ydym yn llwyddo neu'n methu. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw cynlluniau gweithredu i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud y gwaith, ac rwyf am wneud hynny gydag Aelodau o'r Senedd a'r pwyllgorau a chyda chynghorwyr gwyddonol allanol. Rydym yn cynnull grŵp cyngor technegol a fydd yn ein helpu i wneud hynny a chyda'r nifer fawr o grwpiau o arbenigwyr amatur ledled y wlad sydd wedi gweithio mor galed yn eu meysydd penodol, i ddeall a gwybod beth sydd angen ei wneud yn eu tirweddau penodol. Felly, nid wyf yn mynd i ruthro pethau; byddwn yn rhoi’r targedau ar waith fel y gellir ein dwyn i gyfrif, ond yn bwysicach fyth, byddwn yn gweithio’n galed iawn i sicrhau bod gennym y set gywir o gynlluniau gweithredu ledled Cymru i roi’r diogelwch a’r gwelliannau sydd eu hangen arnom ar waith, ac nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn ei wneud yn gyflym. Rwyf am sicrhau bod y cynlluniau hynny'n gywir, nad ydynt yn arwain at ganlyniadau anfwriadol, a'n bod yn diogelu'r holl dirweddau iawn yn y lleoedd iawn. Felly, nid yw hwnnw'n ateb cyflym, ond mae'n ateb, ac rwy'n deall yn llwyr yr angen i roi targedau ar waith ar ôl inni gytuno ar y camau hynny, er mwyn sicrhau wedyn ein bod yn gwneud yr hyn a ddywedwn.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i ddynodi Bryniau Clwyd a Dyffryn Dyfrdwy yn barc cenedlaethol? OQ56955
3. Will the Minister provide an update on Welsh Government plans to designate the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley as a national park? OQ56955
Thank you for the question, Carolyn. We are committed to creating a new national park for Wales covering the breathtaking Clwydian range and Dee valley. Work is under way with Natural Resources Wales to develop a comprehensive designation programme that will include all the necessary assessment, engagement and consultation.
Diolch am y cwestiwn, Carolyn. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i greu parc cenedlaethol newydd i Gymru ar gyfer ardal syfrdanol bryniau Clwyd a dyffryn Dyfrdwy. Mae gwaith ar y gweill gyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru i ddatblygu rhaglen enwebu gynhwysfawr a fydd yn cynnwys yr holl asesiadau, a'r gwaith ymgysylltu ac ymgynghori a fydd yn angenrheidiol.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. I know many people in the local area are excited at the prospect of this designation, which will provide recognition of the park's unique natural beauty and heritage. It will provide a boost to manage tourism and help to create sustainable jobs. In 2000, the Scottish Labour Government introduced a National Parks (Scotland) Act of just 41 pages, which was a streamlined procedure to designate two national parks in Scotland, the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond, and meant that it took four years. Public consultation still went ahead in phases 1 and 2, which I think is one of the main concerns. Would the Minister provide an update on the planned timescale for achieving the national park status? I'm just worried that it might take a long time. Thank you.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Gwn fod llawer o bobl yn yr ardal leol yn gyffrous ynghylch y posibilrwydd o wneud yr enwebiad hwn, a fydd yn cydnabod harddwch a threftadaeth naturiol unigryw'r parc. Bydd yn rhoi hwb i reoli twristiaeth ac yn helpu i greu swyddi cynaliadwy. Yn 2000, cyflwynodd Llywodraeth Lafur yr Alban Ddeddf Parciau Cenedlaethol (Yr Alban) a oedd ond yn 41 tudalen o hyd, i fod yn weithdrefn symlach ar gyfer enwebu dau barc cenedlaethol yn yr Alban, y Cairngorms a Loch Lomond, a golygodd hynny mai pedair blynedd a gymerodd. Digwyddodd ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus yng nghamau 1 a 2 er hynny, sef un o'r prif gwestiynau sy'n codi, rwy'n credu. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr amserlen arfaethedig ar gyfer cyflawni statws y parc cenedlaethol? Rwy'n poeni y gallai gymryd amser hir. Diolch.
Thank you very much, Carolyn. I share your concern, actually. The First Minister and I asked officials to carry out a really rigorous exercise looking at the range of legislative and non-legislative options available to achieve the aims that we want. We got really detailed legal advice on it. You're absolutely right that the National Parks (Scotland) Act altered the designation processes in Scotland, and subsequent to that, designations did go faster—about two to three years. But the actual legislation itself took a very long time to draft and introduce, so you've got to factor in the primary legislative change as well as the designation.
I think overall in Wales, we've decided that that probably isn't the fastest way to go, although I do understand the temptation and we did look at it very carefully. We want to do the whole thing in this particular term. We don't want to put the primary legislation in place and then designate. We think we've found a way to do that. We think we've found a way to do it making sure that we have all the right engagement and consultation. We need to take into account all the views of local people, and in the end we may not do it, if that's what the consultation says. But we very much hope to be able to make the case for the national park and the protections that it offers, and actually the enhanced life opportunities for the people who live inside the national park as well. But yes, we have looked very hard at what the quickest way of doing it is, and I think we have decided to go with the current system and the processes that that entails.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Carolyn. Rwy'n rhannu eich pryder. Gofynnodd y Prif Weinidog a minnau i swyddogion gynnal ymarfer trwyadl iawn i edrych ar yr amrywiaeth o opsiynau deddfwriaethol ac anneddfwriaethol sydd ar gael i gyflawni'r nodau y dymunwn eu cyflawni. Cawsom gyngor cyfreithiol manwl iawn arno. Rydych yn llygad eich lle fod Deddf Parciau Cenedlaethol (yr Alban) wedi newid y prosesau enwebu yn yr Alban, ac yn dilyn hynny, roedd y broses enwebu'n gyflymach—oddeutu dwy i dair blynedd. Ond cymerodd y ddeddfwriaeth ei hun amser hir iawn i'w drafftio a'i chyflwyno, felly mae'n rhaid i chi ystyried y newid i'r ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol yn ogystal â'r enwebiad.
Yn gyffredinol yng Nghymru, rwy'n credu ein bod wedi penderfynu nad dyna'r ffordd gyflymaf o'i wneud, mae'n debyg, er fy mod yn deall y demtasiwn ac fe wnaethom edrych arno'n ofalus iawn. Rydym am wneud yr holl beth yn y tymor penodol hwn. Nid ydym am roi'r ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol ar waith ac enwebu wedyn. Credwn ein bod wedi dod o hyd i ffordd o wneud hynny. Credwn ein bod wedi dod o hyd i ffordd o'i wneud gan sicrhau bod yr holl waith ymgysylltu ac ymgynghori cywir yn digwydd. Mae angen inni ystyried holl safbwyntiau pobl leol, ac yn y pen draw efallai na fyddwn yn ei wneud, os mai dyna fydd yr ymgynghoriad yn ei ddweud. Ond rydym yn gobeithio'n fawr y gallwn gyflwyno'r achos dros y parc cenedlaethol a'r diogelwch y mae'n eu cynnig, a'r cyfleoedd bywyd gwell i'r bobl sy'n byw o fewn y parc cenedlaethol hefyd. Ond rydym wedi edrych yn fanwl iawn ar beth yw'r ffordd gyflymaf o'i wneud, a chredaf ein bod wedi penderfynu mynd gyda'r system bresennol a'r prosesau sydd ynghlwm wrth hynny.
After the Welsh Government announced its plans to turn the Clwydian range and Dee valley area of outstanding natural beauty into a national park, concern was raised with me by people whose living comes from the business of farming livestock and land within the area of outstanding natural beauty. What discussion and engagement did you therefore have with people whose living comes from the business of farming livestock and land within the Clwydian range and Dee valley area of outstanding natural beauty before making your announcement? If none, what plans do you have to engage with them now in order to establish and address the questions, needs and realities on the ground?
Ar ôl i Lywodraeth Cymru gyhoeddi ei chynlluniau i droi ardal o harddwch naturiol eithriadol bryniau Clwyd a dyffryn Dyfrdwy yn barc cenedlaethol, mynegwyd pryderon wrthyf gan bobl y mae eu bywoliaeth yn seiliedig ar fusnesau ffermio da byw a thir yn yr ardal o harddwch naturiol eithriadol. Pa drafodaeth ac ymgysylltiad a gawsoch felly gyda phobl y mae eu bywoliaeth yn seiliedig ar fusnesau ffermio da byw a thir yn ardal o harddwch naturiol eithriadol bryniau Clwyd a dyffryn Dyfrdwy cyn gwneud eich cyhoeddiad? Os nad ydych wedi cael y drafodaeth honno, pa gynlluniau sydd gennych i gysylltu â hwy yn awr er mwyn sefydlu a mynd i'r afael â chwestiynau, anghenion a sefyllfaoedd ar lawr gwlad?
Thank you, Mark. Obviously, what we've got here is an ambition, so what we need to do now is go through all of the processes necessary to see whether that ambition is an ambition shared with the people who live in the area that we would very much like to designate for the enhanced protection that that brings. But of course we will go through those consultation exercises carefully and make sure that we have as wide an engagement as possible with all of the people who live, work and play in the area that's encompassed by the area of the proposed national park. We will embark on that process with an absolutely open mind to make sure that we take all of those views on board, whilst at the same time hoping very much that we can persuade people that the added protection and designation that a national park can bring will both enhance the tourist offer and the lives and livelihoods of the people who live within the area. That's a process that we will embark on with a full consultation and engagement process in mind, and obviously we'll keep the Senedd informed as that process continues.
Diolch, Mark. Yn amlwg, uchelgais yw'r hyn sydd gennym yma, felly mae angen mynd drwy'r holl brosesau sydd eu hangen yn awr i weld a yw'r uchelgais yn un a rennir gyda'r bobl sy'n byw yn yr ardal y byddem yn awyddus iawn i'w gweld yn cael ei henwebu er mwyn iddi gael y diogelwch gwell a ddaw yn sgil hynny. Ond wrth gwrs, byddwn yn mynd drwy'r ymarferion ymgynghori'n ofalus ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn ymgysylltu mor eang â phosibl â'r holl bobl sy'n byw, yn gweithio ac yn chwarae yn ardal y parc cenedlaethol arfaethedig. Byddwn yn cychwyn ar y broses honno gyda meddwl hollol agored i sicrhau ein bod yn ystyried yr holl safbwyntiau, gan obeithio'n fawr ar yr un pryd y gallwn berswadio pobl y bydd y diogelwch a'r enwebiad ychwanegol y gall parc cenedlaethol eu cynnig yn gwella'r cynnig i dwristiaid a bywydau a bywoliaeth y bobl sy'n byw yn yr ardal. Mae honno'n broses y byddwn yn dechrau arni gyda phroses ymgynghori ac ymgysylltu lawn mewn golwg, ac yn amlwg byddwn yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd wrth i'r broses honno fynd rhagddi.
4. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu i gysylltu mwy o eiddo yng ngogledd Cymru â band eang cyflym iawn? OQ56945
4. What is the Welsh Government doing to help connect more properties in north Wales to superfast broadband? OQ56945
Thank you for the question. Responsibility for connectivity lies with the UK Government, but we continue to step in to provide connectivity. Seven thousand five hundred and eight premises have now been given access to full fibre in north Wales under the Welsh Government's £56 million full fibre roll-out. We continue to provide connectivity solutions through our local broadband fund and our access-to-broadband scheme.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am gysylltedd, ond rydym yn parhau i gamu i mewn i ddarparu cysylltedd. Mae 7,508 o adeiladau bellach wedi cael mynediad ffeibr llawn yng ngogledd Cymru o dan gynllun cyflwyno ffeibr llawn gwerth £56 miliwn Llywodraeth Cymru. Rydym yn parhau i ddarparu atebion cysylltedd drwy ein cronfa band eang lleol a'n cynllun mynediad band eang.
That's excellent to hear, Minister. Given the Welsh Government's commitment to combating the climate emergency, and also given the huge rise in the number of people who are working remotely and working from home as a result of coronavirus, would you agree with me that broadband should be regarded as a universal service, like the Royal Mail, and should be available to all?
Mae hynny'n wych i'w glywed, Weinidog. O ystyried ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd, a hefyd o ystyried y cynnydd enfawr yn nifer y bobl sy'n gweithio gartref neu o bell o ganlyniad i'r coronafeirws, a fyddech yn cytuno y dylid ystyried band eang yn wasanaeth cyffredinol, fel y Post Brenhinol, ac y dylai fod ar gael i bawb?
That is the key point in the debate that we need to keep emphasising. This is now an essential utility service. I hear from Members across the Chamber about difficulties their constituents have getting connected, and it is a real impediment to being able to carry out essential functions in society. But the UK Government, who have responsibility for broadband, refuse, either through ideology or through inertia, to take the action necessary to make sure everybody has a right to be connected. As a result, we see a hodgepodge of pragmatic schemes being devised to try and get round what is essentially a structural flaw. As you say, Royal Mail, a privately run company, has a legal obligation to deliver for the same cost a universal service, and the same must apply for broadband.
Dyna'r pwynt allweddol yn y ddadl sy'n rhaid inni barhau i'w bwysleisio. Mae hwn bellach yn wasanaeth cyfleustodau hanfodol. Clywaf gan Aelodau ar draws y Siambr am anawsterau y mae eu hetholwyr yn eu cael wrth geisio sicrhau cysylltedd, ac mae'n rhwystr gwirioneddol i allu cyflawni swyddogaethau hanfodol mewn cymdeithas. Ond oherwydd ideoleg neu syrthni, mae Llywodraeth y DU, sy'n gyfrifol am fand eang, yn gwrthod rhoi'r camau angenrheidiol ar waith i sicrhau bod gan bawb hawl i fod wedi'u cysylltu. O ganlyniad, gwelwn amrywiaeth o gynlluniau pragmatig yn cael eu dyfeisio i geisio datrys yr hyn sydd yn ei hanfod yn ddiffyg strwythurol. Fel y dywedwch, mae gan y Post Brenhinol, cwmni sy'n cael ei redeg yn breifat, rwymedigaeth gyfreithiol i ddarparu gwasanaeth i bawb am yr un gost, a rhaid i'r un peth ddigwydd gyda band eang.
Laura Jones. No. I'll move on.
Laura Jones. Na. Fe symudaf ymlaen.
Cwestiwn 5, Vikki Howells.
Question 5, Vikki Howells.
5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y ddarpariaeth o drafnidiaeth gymunedol yng Nghwm Cynon? OQ56960
5. Will the Minister make a statement on community transport provision in the Cynon Valley? OQ56960
Cynon Valley is currently served by a community transport scheme operated by Accessible Caring Transport. Rhondda Cynon Taf council provide financial support for this service, using the bus services support grant provided by the Welsh Government and their own funds.
Ar hyn o bryd, caiff Cwm Cynon ei wasanaethu gan gynllun trafnidiaeth gymunedol a weithredir gan Accessible Caring Transport. Mae cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf yn darparu cymorth ariannol ar gyfer y gwasanaeth hwn, gan ddefnyddio'r grant cynnal gwasanaethau bysiau a ddarperir gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'u harian eu hunain.
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Accessible Caring Transport provides a lifeline for those in need of community transport in my constituency, and it's been at the forefront of providing transport for clients to essential healthcare during the pandemic. As the Deputy Minister will know, the Wales Co-operative Party manifesto, 'Owning the Future', commits Labour and Co-operative MSs like myself to protect the indispensable role of community transport. So, will the Deputy Minister agree to meet with me and other Labour and Co-operative MSs to discuss the promotion and protection of the sector, as well as the scope for encouraging the growth of co-operative and social enterprise providers of community transport in Wales?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Mae Accessible Caring Transport yn achubiaeth i'r rhai sydd angen trafnidiaeth gymunedol yn fy etholaeth i, ac mae wedi bod ar flaen y gad yn darparu cludiant i gleientiaid at ofal iechyd hanfodol yn ystod y pandemig. Fel y gŵyr y Dirprwy Weinidog, mae maniffesto Plaid Gydweithredol Cymru, 'Owning the Future', yn ymrwymo ASau Llafur a Chydweithredol fel fi i ddiogelu rôl anhepgor trafnidiaeth gymunedol. Felly, a wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog gytuno i gyfarfod â mi ac ASau Llafur a Chydweithredol eraill i drafod hyrwyddo a diogelu'r sector, yn ogystal â chyfle i annog twf darparwyr cydweithredol a mentrau cymdeithasol ym maes trafnidiaeth gymunedol yng Nghymru?
Yes, of course, I'd be happy to meet my fellow Wales Co-operative Members of the Senedd to discuss this. Community transport has an important part to play as part of the mix of solutions we see to achieve modal shift. We are trialling, of course, with Transport for Wales, our own Fflecsi bus service, which adopts a similar principle to community transport of providing a flexibility to meet people's needs, putting the user first. I'm conscious that Accessible Caring Transport in the Member's constituency was designed specifically for those who find it difficult or impossible to use conventional buses, and provides an important gap in the market. How we are able to continue to do this and how Rhondda Cynon Taf are able to afford to continue to do it, given the budget challenges we all face, is a live question, and I'd be very happy to discuss that with her and other Members.
Wrth gwrs, byddwn yn hapus i gyfarfod â fy nghyd-Aelodau o Blaid Gydweithredol Cymru yn y Senedd i drafod hyn. Mae gan drafnidiaeth gymunedol ran bwysig i'w chwarae fel rhan o'r gymysgedd o atebion a welwn er mwyn newid dulliau teithio. Rydym yn treialu ein gwasanaeth bws Fflecsi ein hunain gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, gwasanaeth sy'n mabwysiadu egwyddor debyg i drafnidiaeth gymunedol, sef darparu hyblygrwydd er mwyn diwallu anghenion pobl, gan roi'r defnyddiwr yn gyntaf. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod Accessible Caring Transport yn etholaeth yr Aelod wedi'i gynllunio'n benodol ar gyfer y rhai sy'n ei chael yn anodd neu'n amhosibl defnyddio bysiau confensiynol, ac mae'n darparu bwlch pwysig yn y farchnad. Mae sut y gallwn barhau i wneud hyn a sut y gall Rhondda Cynon Taf fforddio parhau i'w wneud o ystyried yr heriau cyllidebol y mae pawb ohonom yn eu hwynebu, yn gwestiwn byw, a byddwn yn hapus iawn i drafod hynny gyda hi ac Aelodau eraill.
As the Deputy Minister will be aware, the Connecting Communities programme has ended earlier than planned, because the Welsh Government's invitation and selection of the project was not in accordance with requirements of European regulations. The Connecting Communities programme has been a lifeline for vulnerable people to be able to access vital services, and for them to maintain a level of freedom they would otherwise be unable to achieve. I'm sure that the Deputy Minister will agree with me that there is significant need for support to continue to grow community travel facilities, particularly in rural and semi-rural locations like the Vale of Glamorgan and RCT, where transport links can be unreliable. Can the Deputy Minister outline what discussions they have had with the community links association in order to provide a new stream of funding for community travel? Thank you.
Fel y gŵyr y Dirprwy Weinidog, daeth y rhaglen Cysylltu Cymunedau i ben yn gynharach na'r disgwyl am nad oedd dull Llywodraeth Cymru o wahodd a dethol y prosiect yn cydymffurfio â gofynion rheoliadau Ewropeaidd. Mae'r rhaglen Cysylltu Cymunedau wedi bod yn achubiaeth i bobl fregus allu defnyddio gwasanaethau hanfodol, ac i gynnal lefel o ryddid na fyddent fel arall yn gallu ei mwynhau. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn cytuno bod angen sylweddol am gymorth i barhau i dyfu cyfleusterau teithio cymunedol, yn enwedig mewn lleoliadau gwledig a lled-wledig fel Bro Morgannwg a RhCT, lle gall cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth fod yn annibynadwy. A all y Dirprwy Weinidog amlinellu pa drafodaethau y mae wedi'u cael gyda'r gymdeithas dolenni cymunedol er mwyn darparu ffrwd newydd o gyllid ar gyfer teithio cymunedol? Diolch.
I will have to write to the Member about the detail of that. It's not immediately available off the top of my head. However, the broad point he makes is a fair one, as I've just indicated, in the question, and I'd be happy to follow up.FootnoteLink
Bydd yn rhaid i mi ysgrifennu at yr Aelod ynglŷn â'r manylion hynny. Nid yw gennyf ar flaen fy mysedd yr eiliad hon. Fodd bynnag, mae'r pwynt cyffredinol y mae'n ei wneud yn un teg, fel y nodais yn awr, yn y cwestiwn, ac rwy'n hapus i fynd ar drywydd hynny.FootnoteLink
6. Pa ganllawiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu rhoi i gwmnïau sy'n defnyddio tir Cymru at ddibenion gwrthbwyso carbon? OQ56962
6. What guidance does the Welsh Government provide to companies that use Welsh land for carbon offsetting purposes? OQ56962
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
The woodland carbon code is a voluntary standard for woodland creation projects in the UK. It is backed by all four Governments and provides a mechanism for landowners to engage in the carbon market. The code's website provides guidance to projects that are interested in carbon sequestration from woodlands.
Safon wirfoddol yw'r cod carbon coetiroedd ar gyfer prosiectau creu coetiroedd yn y DU. Fe'i cefnogir gan bob un o'r pedair Llywodraeth ac mae'n darparu mecanwaith i dirfeddianwyr allu cymryd rhan yn y farchnad garbon. Mae gwefan y cod yn rhoi arweiniad i brosiectau sydd â diddordeb mewn dal a storio carbon o goetiroedd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Weinidog. Mae'n wir i ddweud bod cefnogaeth gyffredinol i amcan Llywodraeth Cymru i weld Cymru yn dod yn wlad garbon niwtral erbyn 2050, ond mae'n amlwg fod yna broblemau yn y farchnad garbon ar hyn o bryd, yn arbennig fel mae hyn yn effeithio ar ein tir amaethyddol. Mewn cyfres o atebion i gwestiynau ysgrifenedig wrthyf i, mae'r Llywodraeth wedi cadarnhau erbyn hyn fod arian cyhoeddus drwy gynllun Glastir yn mynd i gwmnïau y tu allan i Gymru er mwyn plannu coed. Mae ffermydd cyfan ar draws Cymru yn cael eu prynu at y diben hwn, gyda chwmnïau rhyngwladol yn gwerthu'r carbon ar y farchnad ryngwladol. Yn anffodus, pan fydd darn o dir fferm yn cael ei werthu fel hyn, nid yw'r tir yma ar gael bellach i ffermwyr Cymru ar gyfer gwrthbwyso carbon, a'r un mor bwysig, fydd e ddim ar gael chwaith i helpu Llywodraeth Cymru i gyrraedd yr amcan o fod yn net sero. Felly, beth yw'r ateb i'r broblem? Wel, mae'n bosib newid y system ariannu neu ddefnyddio'r system gynllunio. Felly, Weinidog, ydy Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod bod problem, ac ydych chi'n barod i gymryd camau drwy newid y system ariannu a'r system gynllunio i fynd i'r afael â hyn? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much, Minister. It's true to say that there is general support for the Welsh Government's aim of seeing Wales become a carbon-neutral nation by 2050, but it's clear that there are problems in the carbon market at the moment, particularly in terms of how this impacts our agricultural land. In a series of responses to written questions from me, the Government has now confirmed that public funds through the Glastir scheme are being provided to companies outwith Wales for them to plant trees. Whole farms across Wales are being bought for this purpose, with multinational companies selling the carbon on the international market. Unfortunately, when a piece of farmland is sold in this way, this land is no longer available for Welsh farmers for carbon offsetting, and just as importantly it won't be available either to help the Welsh Government to reach its target of being net zero. So, what's the solution to the problem? Well, we could change the funding system or use the planning system. So, Minister, does the Welsh Government recognise that there is a problem here, and are you willing to take steps by changing the funding system and the planning system in order to tackle this problem? Thank you.
We absolutely do acknowledge that there's potential for a real problem here, but at the same time we currently provide support to landowners if they want to plant trees on their land, and they have to do that in accordance with a tree planting plan. So, you can't just whack any old tree over any old land; you must actually get your tree planting plan approved. Actually, one of the things we discussed—. My colleague Lee Waters, as you know, has just done a deep dive into trees, and one of the things that came up there was the exact opposite of that, which is that sometimes the tree planting plans are a barrier to tree planting. We've obviously got to get the balance just right. Just to be really clear before we start the conversation, we don't think that offsets are the way to go. Obviously, what you should do is reduce your emissions, so it's not okay to just pollute as much as you like and plant some trees. So, we're very clear that the offsets are for companies that have already reduced their emissions to the point where they can't be reduced any more with current technologies, and therefore some offsetting is necessary.
We are part of the four-nation woodland group at the moment. The Scottish Government provides the secretariat for that. I'm very happy to speak with the Scottish Government, who will have similar problems to us. We certainly do not want to see good agricultural land bought up for this purpose and covered in trees for no good reason. What we want is to make sure that the right tree is planted in the right place on the right land in Wales, and that good agricultural land is continued to be used for food production. So, we will be looking at it. I had a very good meeting with the FUW as well, earlier, about this very point. I'm very aware of how concerned people are about this, so we will continue to monitor it. There isn't an enormous amount of it happening at the moment, but I absolutely do see the possibility for it. So, we will continue to monitor it. I'm also very keen at looking at ways that the Welsh Government can acquire land of that sort for community purposes and for young farmer schemes and so on. I'm very happy to work with you and with others to make sure that we have all of the right protections in place, whilst encouraging the planting of the right tree in the right place by the right people.
The last thing I would like to say is that there is a lot of money available for this. We would very much like to help our farmers lever that money into their farms, again to plant the right tree in the right place for the right purpose. So, it's not that we don't want the money of the trading emissions market; we just want it in the right place and for the right people and to benefit the right communities. So, there's a balance to be found here. I'm very happy to work with you and others across Wales to make sure that we get that right balance—that we both get the benefit of the money that's available and that we use it to the right effect in Wales.
Rydym yn sicr yn cydnabod bod perygl o broblem go iawn yma, ond ar yr un pryd rydym yn rhoi cymorth i dirfeddianwyr ar hyn o bryd os ydynt am blannu coed ar eu tir, ac mae'n rhaid iddynt wneud hynny yn unol â chynllun plannu coed. Felly, ni allwch dorri unrhyw hen goeden ar unrhyw hen dir; rhaid i chi gael eich cynllun plannu coed wedi'i gymeradwyo. Mewn gwirionedd, un o'r pethau a drafodwyd gennym—. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod, Lee Waters, fel y gwyddoch, newydd wneud astudiaeth ddofn o goed, ac un o'r pethau a gododd ynddi oedd y gwrthwyneb llwyr i hynny, sef bod y cynlluniau plannu coed weithiau'n rhwystr i blannu coed. Mae'n amlwg fod yn rhaid inni gael y cydbwysedd yn iawn. I fod yn glir iawn cyn inni ddechrau'r sgwrs, nid ydym yn credu mai gwrthbwyso yw'r ffordd i fynd. Yn amlwg, yr hyn y dylech ei wneud yw lleihau eich allyriadau, felly nid yw'n iawn llygru cymaint ag y mynnwch a phlannu coed. Felly, rydym yn glir iawn fod gwrthbwyso ar gyfer cwmnïau sydd eisoes wedi lleihau eu hallyriadau i'r pwynt lle na ellir eu lleihau ymhellach gyda thechnolegau cyfredol, ac felly mae angen rhywfaint o wrthbwyso.
Rydym yn rhan o grŵp y pedair gwlad ar goetiroedd ar hyn o bryd. Mae Llywodraeth yr Alban yn darparu'r ysgrifenyddiaeth ar ei gyfer. Rwy'n hapus iawn i siarad â Llywodraeth yr Alban, a fydd â phroblemau tebyg i ni. Yn sicr, nid ydym am weld tir amaethyddol da yn cael ei brynu at y diben hwn a'i orchuddio â choed heb unrhyw reswm da dros wneud hynny. Rydym am sicrhau bod y goeden gywir yn cael ei phlannu yn y lle iawn ar y tir cywir yng Nghymru, a bod tir amaethyddol da yn parhau i gael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer cynhyrchu bwyd. Felly, byddwn yn edrych arno. Cefais gyfarfod da iawn gyda Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru yn gynharach hefyd ar yr union bwynt hwn. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o bryder pobl ynglŷn â hyn, felly byddwn yn parhau i'w fonitro. Nid oes llawer iawn ohono'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd, ond rwy'n gweld y perygl y gallai ddigwydd. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i'w fonitro. Rwyf hefyd yn awyddus iawn i edrych ar ffyrdd y gall Llywodraeth Cymru gaffael tir o'r math hwnnw at ddibenion cymunedol ac ar gyfer cynlluniau ffermwyr ifanc ac yn y blaen. Rwy'n hapus iawn i weithio gyda chi a chydag eraill i sicrhau bod gennym yr holl amddiffyniadau cywir ar waith, gan annog y bobl iawn i blannu'r goeden gywir yn y lle iawn.
Y peth olaf yr hoffwn ei ddweud yw bod llawer o arian ar gael ar gyfer hyn. Hoffem helpu ein ffermwyr i ddenu'r arian hwnnw i'w ffermydd, unwaith eto er mwyn plannu'r goeden gywir yn y lle iawn at y diben cywir. Felly, nid nad ydym eisiau arian o'r farchnad masnachu allyriadau; rydym am ei gael yn y lle iawn ac i'r bobl iawn ac er budd y cymunedau cywir. Felly, mae cydbwysedd i'w daro yma. Rwy'n hapus iawn i weithio gyda chi ac eraill ledled Cymru i sicrhau ein bod yn cael y cydbwysedd cywir hwnnw—ein bod yn elwa ar arian sydd ar gael a'n bod yn ei ddefnyddio i'r perwyl cywir yng Nghymru.
I wish to declare an interest and refer Members and members of the public to category 8, land and property, on my register of interests.
Hoffwn ddatgan buddiant a chyfeirio'r Aelodau ac aelodau o'r cyhoedd at gategori 8, tir ac eiddo, ar fy nghofrestr buddiannau.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am effaith Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2021 ar gysondeb landlordiaid yn y sector rhentu preifat? OQ56950
7. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of the Renting Homes (Wales) (Amendment) Act 2021 on landlord continuity in the private let sector? OQ56950
Yes. Thank you, Janet. Implementing the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, as recently amended by the 2021 Act, will increase security of tenure and significantly streamline the legislation on renting, ensuring that all key rights and responsibilities are set out in a written contract. This will support continuity and benefit both tenants and landlords.
Ie. Diolch, Janet. Bydd gweithredu Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016, fel y'i diwygiwyd yn ddiweddar gan Ddeddf 2021, yn cynyddu diogelwch deiliadaeth ac yn symleiddio'r ddeddfwriaeth ar rentu'n sylweddol, gan sicrhau bod yr holl hawliau a chyfrifoldebau allweddol yn cael eu nodi mewn contract ysgrifenedig. Bydd hyn yn cefnogi parhad ac o fudd i denantiaid a landlordiaid fel ei gilydd.
Thank you. At the point of any home possession, a landlord can actually have amassed costs of more than around £30,000 when considering lost rent, legal fees and often damage that needs calculating. This, of course, is when tenants are not fulfilling their own due lease obligations. Now, delays are reported at every stage of the possession process, with the median time standing at 21.1 weeks by March 2020. Taken together, this results in a fundamental lack of faith in the present court system from our landlords and risks undermining the legal redress protections enacted for tenants by the renting homes Act.
Now, as Propertymark have informed me, there is a very real risk that landlords, particularly those owning a single property, will leave this sector providing these much-needed homes. Now, in October last year, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee recommended the investigation of the need for a stand-alone and specific housing tribunal in Wales. So, Minister, will you confirm what discussions you have had and undertaken to review the possibility of developing a dedicated housing tribunal for Wales? Diolch.
Diolch. Ar adeg cymryd meddiant ar unrhyw gartref, gall landlord wynebu costau o fwy nag oddeutu £30,000 wrth ystyried rhent a gollwyd, ffioedd cyfreithiol ac yn aml, difrod y bydd angen ei gyfrifo. Wrth gwrs, bydd hynny'n digwydd pan nad yw tenantiaid yn cyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau hwy yn y les. Nawr, adroddir am oedi ar bob cam o'r broses o gymryd meddiant, gyda'r amser canolrifol yn 21.1 wythnos erbyn mis Mawrth 2020. Gyda'i gilydd, mae hyn yn arwain at ddiffyg hyder sylfaenol ein landlordiaid yn system y llysoedd fel y mae ac mae perygl o danseilio'r amddiffyniadau cyfreithiol ar gyfer gwneud iawn a roddwyd mewn grym i denantiaid drwy'r Ddeddf rhentu cartrefi.
Nawr, fel y dywedodd Propertymark wrthyf, mae perygl gwirioneddol y bydd landlordiaid, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n berchen ar un eiddo, yn gadael y sector hwn sy'n darparu cartrefi mawr eu hangen. Nawr, ym mis Hydref y llynedd, argymhellodd y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad y dylid cynnal ymchwiliad i'r angen am dribiwnlys tai annibynnol a phenodol yng Nghymru. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi gadarnhau pa drafodaethau a gawsoch i adolygu'r posibilrwydd o ddatblygu tribiwnlys tai penodol i Gymru? Diolch.
Well, you know, Janet, sometimes, I feel just a little bit weary of the Conservatives always opposing measures that they say will prevent employment on the minimum wage and prevent landlords coming into the rented homes sector if there's any kind of regulation, in the teeth of all the evidence to the contrary. So, just to put the record straight, obviously, the renting homes legislation makes the process of renting fairer and more secure, but landlords still have the tools available to them to gain possession where there is a breach of contract.
And just to say that data from Rent Smart Wales shows us that the private rented sector is actually growing at the moment and not shrinking, despite all the warnings from yourself and others. So, we had 207,000 properties in December 2019 and we've got 216,000 in August of this year. The number of registered landlords has also continued to grow; we had 102,711 at the end of December 2019, 106,936 at the end of December 2020 and 107,059 at the end of August. So, you'll see a continuing rise in the number of landlords and not a decline, despite the dire predictions of people on the opposite benches. So, it just isn't true that the introduction of registration licensing and fairer systems deters landlords. And as I continually say, good landlords like good regulation, they want to be fairly compensated for the very good homes that they provide people and all we're doing is making sure that the practices that bring the sector into disrepute of a very few individuals are stamped out so that our good landlords can be rewarded. So, we're working very hard to implement the renting homes legislation, as I said. I am very keen to honour our commitment to have at least six months' prep time for both tenants, landlords and others by issuing them the key documentation they need, and this will begin to happen over the next few months.
In terms of the tribunal, I'm very happy to continue to look at that. I don't disagree, really, with the idea of a housing tribunal, but it has to be set in context, so there are a number of other things that we need to look at at the same time. But I don't really disagree with the principle of that; the devil, as always, will be in the detail.
Wel, wyddoch chi, Janet, weithiau, rwy'n teimlo ychydig yn flinedig o'r ffordd y mae'r Ceidwadwyr bob amser yn gwrthwynebu mesurau y dywedant eu bod yn mynd i atal cyflogaeth ar yr isafswm cyflog ac atal landlordiaid rhag dod i mewn i'r sector cartrefi rhent os oes unrhyw fath o reoleiddio, er gwaethaf yr holl dystiolaeth i'r gwrthwyneb. Felly, gadewch imi ddweud yn glir fod y ddeddfwriaeth rhentu cartrefi yn amlwg yn gwneud y broses o rentu'n decach ac yn fwy diogel, ond mae'n dal i fod gan landlordiaid ddulliau at eu defnydd o ennill meddiant lle caiff contract ei dorri.
A hoffwn ddweud bod data gan Rhentu Doeth Cymru yn dangos inni fod y sector rhentu preifat yn tyfu ar hyn o bryd mewn gwirionedd ac nad yw'n crebachu, er gwaethaf yr holl rybuddion gennych chi ac eraill. Felly, roedd gennym 207,000 eiddo ym mis Rhagfyr 2019 ac mae gennym 216,000 ym mis Awst eleni. Mae nifer y landlordiaid cofrestredig hefyd wedi parhau i dyfu; roedd gennym 102,711 ar ddiwedd mis Rhagfyr 2019, 106,936 ar ddiwedd mis Rhagfyr 2020 a 107,059 ar ddiwedd mis Awst. Felly, fe welwch gynnydd parhaus yn nifer y landlordiaid ac nid gostyngiad, er gwaethaf proffwydoliaethau enbyd pobl ar y meinciau gyferbyn. Felly, nid yw'n wir o gwbl fod cyflwyno trwyddedu, cofrestru a systemau tecach yn atal landlordiaid. Ac fel y dywedaf yn barhaus, mae landlordiaid da yn hoffi rheoleiddio da, maent am gael eu digolledu'n deg am y cartrefi da iawn a ddarparant i bobl a'r cyfan a wnawn ni yw sicrhau bod yr arferion sy'n dwyn anfri ar y sector yn sgil gweithredoedd nifer fach iawn o unigolion yn cael eu dileu fel y gellir gwobrwyo ein landlordiaid da. Felly, rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn i weithredu'r ddeddfwriaeth rhentu cartrefi, fel y dywedais. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i gyflawni ein hymrwymiad i gael o leiaf chwe mis o amser paratoi ar gyfer tenantiaid, landlordiaid ac eraill drwy roi'r dogfennau allweddol y byddant eu hangen iddynt, a bydd hyn yn dechrau digwydd dros y misoedd nesaf.
Ar y tribiwnlys, rwy'n hapus iawn i barhau i edrych ar hynny. Nid wyf yn anghytuno â'r syniad o dribiwnlys tai mewn gwirionedd, ond mae'n rhaid ei osod yn ei gyd-destun, felly mae nifer o bethau eraill y bydd angen inni edrych arnynt ar yr un pryd. Ond nid wyf yn anghytuno ag egwyddor hynny mewn gwirionedd; mater o edrych ar y manylion fydd hi, fel bob amser.
8. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i leihau allyriadau fel rhan o Gymru sy'n gyfrifol ar lefel fyd-eang? OQ56971
8. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to reduce emissions as part of a globally responsible Wales? OQ56971
We'll be publishing our next all-Wales delivery plan, net zero Wales, ahead of COP26. The plan sets out the action we must all take across this Senedd term and starts our decarbonisation journey towards net zero, including our circular economy approach to help deal with consumption emissions.
Byddwn yn cyhoeddi ein cynllun cyflawni nesaf ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, sero-net Cymru, cyn COP26. Mae'r cynllun yn nodi'r camau sy'n rhaid i bob un ohonom eu cymryd drwy gydol tymor y Senedd hon, ac mae'n dechrau ein taith ddatgarboneiddio tuag at sero-net, gan gynnwys ein dull economi gylchol ar gyfer helpu i fynd i'r afael ag allyriadau defnydd.
The climate and nature emergency isn't the next global crisis; it's already upon us. This isn't a problem that we can offload on our children and their children. We have to act now. As a Government, we were the first in the UK to declare a climate emergency, to ban fracking and to install energy efficiency measures in over 60,000 homes as part of the last decade of action. The next decade of action is absolutely crucial, and we all have our part to play. As a country, we’re in the lead globally when it comes to recycling, but there are real barriers for residents in our communities to play their part in the green transformation. How will the Minister not only encourage but support residents across Wales to lead a greener life?
Nid yr argyfwng byd-eang nesaf yw'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur; mae eisoes gyda ni. Nid yw'n broblem y gallwn ei gadael i'n plant a'u plant hwythau. Rhaid inni weithredu yn awr. Fel Llywodraeth, ni oedd y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i ddatgan argyfwng hinsawdd, i wahardd ffracio ac i osod mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni mewn dros 60,000 o gartrefi fel rhan o'r degawd diwethaf o weithredu. Mae'r degawd nesaf o weithredu yn gwbl allweddol, ac mae gan bob un ohonom ein rhan i'w chwarae. Fel gwlad, rydym ar y blaen yn fyd-eang ym maes ailgylchu, ond mae rhwystrau gwirioneddol i drigolion yn ein cymunedau rhag gallu chwarae eu rhan yn y trawsnewidiad gwyrdd. Sut y bydd y Gweinidog nid yn unig yn annog ond yn cynorthwyo trigolion ledled Cymru i fyw bywyd gwyrddach?
Thank you, Buffy. I couldn’t agree more. The challenge of climate change requires everyone to act and act immediately, as I’ve said repeatedly. I make no mistake for doing that, and Members may as well get used to me saying it, because we’re going to be saying it an awful lot over the next few years.
We have been absolutely clear that our net-zero Wales plan has to be an all-Wales plan. It includes pledges of action from individuals and organisations right across Wales, as well as how they can help in tackling climate change. We recognise the vital role our communities play in helping to achieve a reduction in emissions, as well as dealing with the impacts of climate change on their lives as well. So, we will continue to support several grant programmes to enable communities to take action themselves. So, we have the sustainable steps programme run by the National Lottery Community Fund, funded by the dormant account funding. I’ve had a really good meeting with them very recently about how we can lever that money for Wales. We’ve got the renew Wales programme, which provides support to communities to identify and take action on climate change, from renewable energy projects, to community growing projects and initiatives on energy efficiency that she highlighted. And also people can take action themselves through walking and cycling more, increasing energy efficiency in their homes, reducing and reusing items, buying locally and buying more sustainable products. We have a whole number of programmes focusing on supporting individuals to take that action.
And I would say this as well to the young people of Wales who are listening today—this is not a counsel of despair. We can change this, but we must do it, each and every one of us, in our own lives and in our communities and acting together. So, together we absolutely can make a difference and it’s our responsibility here in the Senedd and as a Government to put the platforms in place that enable our communities to do that right thing.
Diolch, Buffy. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Mae her newid hinsawdd yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i bawb weithredu a gweithredu ar unwaith, fel y dywedais dro ar ôl tro. Nid wyf yn ymddiheuro am wneud hynny, ac efallai ei bod hi'n werth i'r Aelodau arfer â fy nghlywed yn ei ddweud, oherwydd byddwn yn ei ddweud yn ofnadwy o aml dros y blynyddoedd nesaf.
Rydym wedi dweud yn gwbl glir fod yn rhaid i'n cynllun Cymru sero-net fod yn gynllun i Gymru gyfan. Mae'n cynnwys addewidion i weithredu gan unigolion a sefydliadau ledled Cymru, yn ogystal â sut y gallant helpu i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd. Rydym yn cydnabod y rôl hanfodol y mae ein cymunedau yn ei chwarae yn helpu i leihau allyriadau, yn ogystal ag ymdrin ag effeithiau newid hinsawdd ar eu bywydau hefyd. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i gefnogi sawl rhaglen grant i alluogi cymunedau i weithredu eu hunain. Felly, mae gennym y rhaglen camau cynaliadwy a gaiff ei rhedeg gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol, a ariannir drwy'r cyllid cyfrifon segur. Cefais gyfarfod da iawn gyda hwy yn ddiweddar iawn ynglŷn â sut y gallwn ddenu'r arian hwnnw i Gymru. Mae gennym raglen adnewyddu Cymru, sy'n rhoi cymorth i gymunedau nodi a gweithredu ar newid hinsawdd, o brosiectau ynni adnewyddadwy, i brosiectau tyfu bwyd yn y gymuned a'r mentrau effeithlonrwydd ynni a nododd hi. A hefyd gall pobl roi camau ar waith eu hunain drwy gerdded a beicio mwy, cynyddu effeithlonrwydd ynni yn eu cartrefi, lleihau defnydd ac ailddefnyddio eitemau, prynu'n lleol a phrynu cynnyrch mwy cynaliadwy. Mae gennym nifer fawr o raglenni sy'n canolbwyntio ar gefnogi unigolion i gymryd y camau hynny.
A hoffwn ddweud hyn hefyd wrth bobl ifanc Cymru sy'n gwrando heddiw—nid cyngor anobaith yw hyn. Gallwn newid hyn, ond rhaid inni wneud hynny, bob un ohonom, yn ein bywydau ein hunain ac yn ein cymunedau a gweithredu gyda'n gilydd. Felly, gyda'n gilydd gallwn yn bendant wneud gwahaniaeth a'n cyfrifoldeb ni yma yn y Senedd ac fel Llywodraeth yw rhoi'r platfformau ar waith i alluogi ein cymunedau i wneud y peth iawn.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Jayne Bryant.
The next item, therefore, is the questions to the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, and the first question comes from Jayne Bryant.
1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod disgyblion yn cael eu hamddiffyn rhag aflonyddu mewn ysgolion? OQ56975
1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that pupils are protected from harassment in schools? OQ56975
We have a range of guidance and support to ensure the safety of children and young people. I've also commissioned Estyn to conduct a review into peer-on-peer sexual harassment in education settings, and the findings will play an important role in supporting settings and in informing Welsh Government policy.
Mae gennym amrywiaeth o ganllawiau a chymorth i sicrhau diogelwch plant a phobl ifanc. Rwyf hefyd wedi comisiynu Estyn i gynnal adolygiad o aflonyddu rhywiol gan gyfoedion mewn sefydliadau addysg, a bydd y canfyddiadau'n chwarae rhan bwysig yn cefnogi sefydliadau ac yn llywio polisi Llywodraeth Cymru.
Thank you for that, Minister. The Everyone’s Invited website, where pupils are able to anonymously report abuse and harassment, has shone a light on a significant problem. More than 90 schools in Wales have been named in the online campaign, but the reality is likely to include far more. The Everyone’s Invited testimonies are deeply upsetting, with some pupils saying girls as young as 11 are being pressured into sending nudes or receiving unwanted explicit images from boys. We know that Ofsted concluded its review in England that sexual harassment has become normalised for young people, and I’m pleased, as the Minister has said and acted, with Estyn conducting their report into the matter. In preparation for the findings, what measures and resources are the Minister preparing to put in place so that the findings can be put into practice as quickly as possible?
Diolch am hynny, Weinidog. Mae gwefan Everyone's Invited, lle gall disgyblion adrodd yn ddienw am gamdriniaeth ac aflonyddu, wedi taflu goleuni ar broblem sylweddol. Mae dros 90 o ysgolion yng Nghymru wedi cael eu henwi yn yr ymgyrch ar-lein, ond mae'r realiti'n debygol o gynnwys llawer mwy. Mae tystiolaeth Everyone's Invited yn peri gofid mawr, gyda rhai disgyblion yn dweud bod merched mor ifanc ag 11 oed dan bwysau i anfon lluniau noeth neu dderbyn lluniau noeth nad ydynt mo'u heisiau gan fechgyn. Gwyddom fod Ofsted wedi casglu yn ei adolygiad yn Lloegr fod aflonyddu rhywiol wedi'i normaleiddio i bobl ifanc erbyn hyn, ac rwy'n falch ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'r ddweud a'i wneud gydag Estyn yn cynnal eu hadroddiad ar y mater. Wrth baratoi ar gyfer y canfyddiadau, pa fesurau ac adnoddau y mae'r Gweinidog yn paratoi i'w rhoi ar waith fel y gellir gweithredu ar y canfyddiadau cyn gynted â phosibl?
I thank the Member for that important supplementary, and I share with her—. I was very saddened and very concerned to read the testimony on the Everyone’s Invited website, and any form of harassment or indeed abuse is totally unacceptable. I know that we will all want that message to be really clearly sent from this Chamber.
We’ve introduced measures already in advance of the report from Estyn. A number of the items identified in the Ofsted report are interventions which are already taking place in Wales. In addition to those which were already in place, I wrote to each of the schools identified on the Everyone’s Invited website. But I want to echo the point which the Member made, and it’s a very important point—we absolutely must not assume that those schools are the only schools in which this activity may be taking place, and a letter has gone to each school in Wales to identify the steps that they're taking to safeguard their learners. In addition to that, officials in my department are working, both with local authorities and with individual schools, to identify a lead in relation to relationships and sex education in professional learning, which will help support advances in this area as we receive our report from Estyn. And in addition to that, as well as commissioning additional resources in this area to support schools and learners, we've been working to make sure that the resources that are available, and are, actually, in many cases, very widely used, are as accessible as possible, both to schools and to learners.
And, finally, there are, of course, a range of existing helplines that any victim of any harassment or abuse is able to make contact with, which provides very specific and tailored advice. But, as I say, we'll have a further body of information in the Estyn report, which will help us shape policy beyond that.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol pwysig hwnnw, ac rwy'n rhannu gyda hi—. Roeddwn yn drist ac yn bryderus iawn wrth ddarllen y dystiolaeth ar wefan Everyone's Invited, ac mae unrhyw fath o aflonyddu, neu gam-drin yn wir, yn gwbl annerbyniol. Gwn y byddwn i gyd am i'r neges honno gael ei hanfon yn glir iawn o'r Siambr hon.
Rydym wedi cyflwyno mesurau eisoes cyn yr adroddiad gan Estyn. Mae nifer o'r eitemau a nodwyd yn adroddiad Ofsted yn ymyriadau sydd eisoes yn digwydd yng Nghymru. Yn ogystal â'r rhai a oedd eisoes ar waith, ysgrifennais at bob un o'r ysgolion a nodwyd ar wefan Everyone's Invited. Ond rwyf am adleisio'r pwynt a wnaeth yr Aelod, ac mae'n bwynt pwysig iawn—rhaid inni beidio â chymryd yn ganiataol mai'r ysgolion hynny yw'r unig ysgolion lle gallai'r pethau hyn fod yn digwydd, ac mae llythyr wedi mynd at bob ysgol yng Nghymru i nodi'r camau y maent yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu eu dysgwyr. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae swyddogion yn fy adran yn gweithio, gydag awdurdodau lleol a chydag ysgolion unigol, i nodi arweinydd ar gyfer addysg rhyw a chydberthynas mewn dysgu proffesiynol a fydd yn helpu i gefnogi datblygiadau yn y maes hwn wrth inni dderbyn ein hadroddiad gan Estyn. Ac yn ychwanegol at hynny, yn ogystal â chomisiynu adnoddau ychwanegol yn y maes hwn i gefnogi ysgolion a dysgwyr, rydym wedi bod yn gweithio i sicrhau bod yr adnoddau sydd ar gael, ac sydd mewn llawer o achosion yn cael eu defnyddio'n eang iawn, mor hygyrch â phosibl i ysgolion ac i ddysgwyr.
Ac yn olaf, wrth gwrs, mae amrywiaeth o linellau cymorth yn bodoli eisoes y gall unrhyw ddioddefwr aflonyddu neu gamdriniaeth gysylltu â hwy, ac maent yn rhoi cyngor personol a phenodol iawn. Ond fel y dywedais, bydd gennym gorff pellach o wybodaeth yn adroddiad Estyn a fydd yn ein helpu i siapio polisi y tu hwnt i hynny.
Can you advise the Senedd of action being taken to promote respect and compassion in the school place, given the vital role that both play in promoting well-being amongst learners, and in shaping confident learners who are not blinded by shame later in life? And would you commit to also reporting to the Senedd any appraisals of the benefits that universal free school meals may have in terms of eliminating embarrassment and shame within the school place?
A allwch chi roi gwybod i'r Senedd am gamau sydd ar waith i hyrwyddo parch a thosturi yn yr ysgol, o ystyried y rôl hanfodol y mae'r ddau beth yn ei chwarae yn hyrwyddo lles ymhlith dysgwyr, ac yn creu dysgwyr hyderus na chânt eu dallu gan gywilydd yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd? Ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo hefyd i adrodd i'r Senedd am unrhyw arfarniadau o'r manteision y gallai prydau ysgol am ddim i bawb eu cynnig mewn perthynas â dileu embaras a chywilydd yn yr ysgol?
I thank the Member for that important question. As part of the effective delivery of the RSE part of the new curriculum, and as well as the work that schools will be doing to make a reality of the health and well-being area of learning and experience that's an integral part of the curriculum, that requires specialist expertise, time and resources to ensure that the kind of supportive environment that the Member is referring to in his question is available in school for our learners, so that their confidence and their sense of themselves is supported.
In March of this year, as the Member will know, we published statutory guidance for schools on developing the whole-school approach to the well-being of learners and, indeed, in the wider school community. Part of that is about supporting our young people to build resilience through developing trusting relationships in the school environment and beyond, and also to support teachers, so that when they encounter issues that may be beyond their immediate competency, they have the support in order to be able to deal with that. As the Member is aware, there's a piece of work already under way in relation to the extension of eligibility for free school meals. I would be very keen to share with Members in the Senedd our advances in that space in due course.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw. Fel rhan o'r gwaith o gyflwyno rhan addysg rhyw a chydberthynas y cwricwlwm newydd yn effeithiol, ac yn ogystal â'r gwaith y bydd ysgolion yn ei wneud i wireddu'r maes iechyd a lles o ddysgu a phrofiad sy'n rhan annatod o'r cwricwlwm, mae hynny'n galw am arbenigedd, amser ac adnoddau arbenigol i sicrhau bod y math o amgylchedd cefnogol y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ato yn ei gwestiwn ar gael yn yr ysgol ar gyfer ein dysgwyr, i gynnal eu hyder a'u hymdeimlad ohonynt eu hunain.
Ym mis Mawrth eleni, fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, fe wnaethom gyhoeddi canllawiau statudol i ysgolion ar ddatblygu'r dull ysgol gyfan o ymdrin â lles dysgwyr, ac yng nghymuned ehangach yr ysgol yn wir. Mae rhan o hynny'n ymwneud â chynorthwyo ein pobl ifanc i feithrin gwytnwch drwy ddatblygu perthynas ymddiriedus ag eraill yn amgylchedd yr ysgol a thu hwnt, a hefyd i gefnogi athrawon, fel eu bod yn cael cymorth i allu ymdrin â materion y byddant yn dod ar eu traws a allai fod y tu hwnt i'w cymhwysedd uniongyrchol. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, mae gwaith eisoes ar y gweill mewn perthynas ag ymestyn cymhwysedd i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i rannu ein cynnydd yn y pethau hynny gyda'r Aelodau yn y Senedd maes o law.
2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynghylch effaith ieithyddol ffermydd teulu Cymraeg yn cael eu gwerthu i gwmnïoedd er mwyn plannu coed ar gyfer rhaglenni gwrthbwyso carbon? OQ56943
2. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding the language impact of Welsh-language family farms being sold to companies in order to plant trees for carbon offsetting programmes? OQ56943
Rwy'n cynnal trafodaethau gyda'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ar sawl mater sy'n berthnasol i'n portffolios, ac wedi cael trafodaeth benodol gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog ar y cwestiwn penodol hwn. Mae cyflawni'n targedau adeiladu coetiroedd yn allweddol i'r maes newid hinsawdd ac yn creu ffynhonnell incwm newydd i ffermwyr, yn cynnwys ffermwyr sydd mewn teuluoedd sy'n siarad Cymraeg. Rŷn ni’n cydnabod na ddylai buddsoddiadau effeithio ar gymunedau, na chwaith newid y math o dirfeddianwyr.
I hold discussions on numerous issues with the Minister for Climate Change relevant to our portfolios and have had conversations with the Deputy Minister on this issue. Meeting woodland creation targets is crucial to reach our climate change commitments, as well as generating new opportunities for farmers, including Welsh-speaking farmers. We recognise that investments should not affect communities or change the type of landowners.
Roeddwn i'n synnu i glywed eich cyd-Weinidog gynnau yn dweud nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn meddwl bod hwn yn broblem anferth, achos dwi'n ymwybodol o 10 fferm yng nghyffiniau dyffryn Tywi'n unig sydd wedi cael eu prynu gan gwmnïau masnachol, a gwelon ni Undeb Amaethwyr Cymru yn dweud yr wythnos yma eu bod nhw yn gweld adroddiadau wythnosol. Dyma fersiwn amaethyddol y creisis ail gartrefi ehangach, oherwydd dyw teuluoedd fferm lleol ddim â'r capasiti ariannol i gystadlu gyda'r cwmnïoedd allanol yma, a beth dŷn ni'n ei weld ydy symudiad tuag at batrwm perchnogaeth tir sydd yn debycach i'r hyn welon ni yn y ganrif cyn y diwethaf. A dweud y gwir, mae'r potensial o ran diboblogi yn ymdebygu i'r hyn gwelon ni yn yr Alban gyda chliriadau'r ucheldiroedd yn y ddeunawfed ganrif. Ac, wrth gwrs, yn ddieithriad yn fy achos i, teuluoedd fferm Cymraeg oedd y rhain, ac mae hynny'n wir am y rhan fwyaf o'r ffermydd trwy Gymru oherwydd natur y diwydiant. Felly, colli tir, colli iaith. A allwn ni gael astudiaeth traw effaith gan yr uned gynllunio ieithyddol o fewn eich adran i weld yr effaith y gall hyn ei gael ar drosglwyddo iaith o fewn ein cymunedau Cymraeg ni?
I was surprised to hear your fellow Minister saying earlier that the Government doesn't think that this is a huge problem, because I'm aware of 10 farms in the Tywi valley area alone that have been purchased by commercial operators, and we heard the Farmers' Union of Wales saying that they see reports, on a weekly basis, of this happening. So, this is the agricultural version of the wider second-homes crisis, because local farming families don't have the financial capacity to compete with these external companies. And what we're seeing is a shift towards a pattern of land ownership that is more similar to what we saw in the previous century. The potential in terms of depopulation is similar to what we saw in Scotland with the highland clearances in the eighteenth century. And, in my case, these are Welsh-speaking farms, and this is true of the majority of farms throughout Wales because of the nature of the industry. We're losing land, we're losing a language. So, can we have an impact assessment by the linguistic planning department to see the impact that this could have on language transmission within our Welsh-speaking communities?
Wel, mae'r newid yn economi cefn gwlad wrth gwrs yn elfen cwbl greiddiol o ran cynllunio polisi iaith, felly mae'r pethau yma o dan drosolwg cyson. Nid clywed yr hyn wnaeth yr Aelod ddweud gwnes i yn ateb y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd. Dyw e ddim yn glir eto beth yw maint y broblem. Dŷn ni ddim eisiau hwn i fod yn broblem, ac rŷn ni eisiau cydweithio gyda ffermwyr i sicrhau na fydd e yn broblem. O ran y gwerthuso rŷn ni wedi'i wneud eisoes o'r polisi, prin yw'r dystiolaeth ar hyn o bryd o ran newid perchnogaeth tir i fuddsoddwyr. Allan o dros 1,100 o gwsmeriaid, mae gan 35 o gwsmeriaid gyfeiriadau y tu allan i Gymru. Rŷm ni wedi gwneud gwaith i edrych ar o ble mae'r cynigion yma'n dod, ac mae 17 o'r 35 prosiect sydd wedi cael eu hariannu trwy gynllun grant coetir Cymru o dan 6 hectar, felly mae'n anhebygol, yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, mai cynrychioli buddsoddwyr mawr sydd am droi tir cyfan yn goetiroedd yw'r rheini. Ond mae'n bwysig, fel gwnes i ddweud yn gynharach, ein bod ni'n cadw golwg ar hyn ac, os oes tystiolaeth yn datblygu ei fod yn broblem, dyna rŷm ni eisiau ei gywiro.
Well, the change in the rural economy, of course, is a crucial element in language policy development, so these things are under constant overview. Now, I didn't hear the answer of the Minister for Climate Change, but it's not clear what the scale of the problem is, and we don't want it to become a major problem; we want to work with farmers to ensure that it doesn't become a problem. In terms of the evaluation that we've already carried out of the policy, then there seems to be little evidence at the moment in terms of a change in land ownership to developers. Out of over 1,100 customers, 35 customers have addresses outwith Wales. We've looked at where these proposals are coming from, and 17 of the 35 projects funded through the Welsh woodland grant scheme are under 6 hectares, so it's unlikely, under those circumstances, that those represent large developers who are looking to turn large pieces of land into woodland. But, as I said earlier, it's important that we keep an eye on this and, if evidence develops that it is a problem, then that is where we will take action.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
Thank you for sharing that with me.
Diolch am rannu hynny gyda mi.
Cwestiynau'r llefarwyr nesaf, felly. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Samuel Kurtz.
Questions from the party spokespeople next. Conservative spokesperson, Samuel Kurtz.
Diolch, Llywydd. Weinidog, cysylltodd mudiad Mercher y Wawr â mi yn ddiweddar, yn mynegi pryder bod siaradwyr Cymraeg yn wynebu heriau o ran cynnal busnes bancio wyneb yn wyneb ac ar-lein trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Pa gamau y mae eich Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod busnesau ar draws Cymru yn gweithredu'n ddwyieithog? A pha gymorth ychwanegol sy'n cael ei gynnig i'r busnesau hynny sy'n methu â chydymffurfio â'r gofynion hyn?
Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, Merched y Wawr were in touch with me recently, outlining concerns that Welsh speakers are facing challenges in terms of face-to-face banking services and online services through the medium of Welsh. So, what steps are your Government taking to ensure that businesses across Wales operate bilingually? And what additional support is provided to those businesses that are failing to comply with these standards?
Wel, mae gyda ni amryw ffyrdd o gefnogi busnesau ar draws Cymru i ddarparu gwasanaethau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Ac rwy’n talu teyrnged i’r gwaith y mae’r mentrau iaith yn ei wneud ym mhob cymuned yng Nghymru i gefnogi’r economi leol i ddarparu gwasanaethau o'r fath, ynghyd hefyd â gwasanaeth Helo Blod, sy’n darparu gwasanaeth cyfieithu a Helo Blod Lleol, sy’n gweithredu drwy’r mentrau iaith er mwyn gwneud yn union beth y mae'r Aelod yn sôn amdano fe. Ond hefyd, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn fod darpariaeth bancio yn cael ei gyfyngu mewn ardaloedd o Gymru. Rwy'n gwybod am enghreifftiau penodol o hynny ac mae hyn yn fater i fusnesau, ond fel y mae'r cwestiwn yn ei ddweud, hefyd i fudiadau yn ehangach na hynny. Rŷm ni wedi bod yn edrych, fel y mae'r Aelod yn gwybod, ar impact, dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, o newidiadau, gan gynnwys COVID, er enghraifft, ar fudiadau Cymraeg yn ein cymunedau ni ac mae cynllun gweithredu gyda ni yn delio â'r anghenion sydd yn codi yn sgil hynny.
Well, we have several ways of supporting businesses across Wales to provide services through the medium of Welsh. I pay tribute to the work that the mentrau iaith do in every community in Wales to support the local economy to provide those kinds of services, as well as the Helo Blod service, which provides a translation service, and Helo Blod Lleol, which operates through the mentrau iaith, to do exactly what the Member is talking about. But, I’m also aware of banking provision being limited in some parts of Wales. I know of specific examples of that. And that’s an issue for businesses, but, as the question said, it’s an issue for other societies as well. We’ve been looking, as the Member knows, at the impact over the past year, of changes, including in terms of COVID, on Welsh-speaking organisations in our communities and we have an action plan to deal with the requirements that have arisen as a result.
Diolch. Rydym i gyd yn cytuno ein bod am weld cynnydd yn nifer y siaradwyr Cymraeg ym mhob cornel o'r genedl. Yn aml, mae Dinbych-y-Pysgod, sydd yng nghanol fy etholaeth, yn cael ei ystyried yn gymuned draddodiadol Gymraeg ei hiaith, ond mae'r ysgol cyfrwng Cymraeg, Ysgol Hafan y Môr, wedi cael ei disgrifio gan y cynghorydd lleol fel 'bursting at the seams', ac mae Ysgol Caer Elen yn Hwlffordd hefyd yn orlawn. Gyda'r cynnydd yn y galw gan rieni i'w plant fynychu ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, sut mae'r Gweinidog yn bwriadu cefnogi'r galw cynyddol hwn a sicrhau nad yw cyllid ar gyfer y ddarpariaeth addysg bresennol yn cael ei effeithio?
Thank you. We’re all agreed that we want to see an increase in the number of Welsh speakers in all parts of Wales. Often Tenby, in the middle of my constituency, is considered a traditionally Welsh-speaking community, but the Welsh-medium school, Ysgol Hafan y Môr, has been described by a local councillor as 'bursting at the seams', and Ysgol Caer Elen in Haverfordwest is also full. With the increase in demand from parents for their children to attend Welsh-medium schools, how does the Minister intend to support this increasing demand and to ensure that funding for current educational provision is not affected?
Wel, mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le wrth ddweud fod y galw am addysg Gymraeg mewn ysgolion mewn mannau yng Nghymru ddim yn cael ei ddiwallu, felly, yn sicr mae angen mwy o uchelgais yn y ddarpariaeth mewn amryw gymuned ar draws Cymru. Ar hyn o bryd, fel bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, mae'r awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio ar eu cynlluniau strategol er mwyn darparu addysg Gymraeg yn eu hardaloedd nhw er mwyn i'r rhain ddod i rym erbyn yr amser hyn y flwyddyn nesaf, mwy neu lai. Rwy'n disgwyl gweld y rheini ym mis Ionawr. Maen nhw wedi bod yn gweithio ar y cyd gyda swyddogion yn Llywodraeth Cymru a chyda'i fforymau iaith lleol er mwyn sicrhau yr hyn rwyf i eisiau ei weld yn y cynlluniau hynny—eu bod nhw'n uchelgeisiol, ac nid yn unig eu bod nhw'n diwallu'r galw, ond eu bod nhw hefyd yn cyfrannu at greu'r galw, a'u bod yn esbonio ac yn gwerthu, fel petai, y syniad o addysg Gymraeg. Ond fel y mae'r Aelod yn ei ddweud, mewn amryw gymunedau, mae hynny'n digwydd eisoes—mae'r galw yn ehangach na'r ddarpariaeth. Felly, ynghyd â hynny, rŷm ni wedi, wrth gwrs, eleni darparu cronfa ehangach er mwyn adeiladu ysgolion cynradd Cymraeg ac rwyf yn gobeithio y bydd cynigion diddorol a chreadigol yn dod i wario'r arian hynny.
Well, the Member is entirely right in saying that the demand for Welsh-medium education in some parts of Wales isn’t being fulfilled at the moment, so there is a need for increased ambition for provision in some communities across Wales. But, at the moment, as the Member will know, the local authorities are working on their strategic plans to provide Welsh-medium education in their areas, so that these will then come into force next year, more or less. I expect to see those plans in January. They've been working with officials in Welsh Government and with their local language fora to ensure what I want to see in those plans—that they are ambitious and that they don't just meet the demand, but also contribute to generating that demand, and that they explain and sell, as it were, that idea of Welsh-medium education. But, as the Member says, in some communities, that already happens—that demand is greater than the provision. So, on top of what we're doing, we, this year, have provided a wider fund to build Welsh-medium primary schools. I hope there will be creative ideas for spending that money.
Diolch. A phan wnaethoch eich datganiad ar 'Cymraeg 2050' cyn toriad yr haf, gofynnais y cwestiwn hwn i chi, ond yn anffodus ni chefais ateb iddo. Dywedoch chi eich bod am annog siaradwyr Cymraeg ifanc i ddychwelyd o brifysgol i helpu i ddysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn ein hysgolion. Tynnais sylw at y ffaith bod hyn yn ei wneud yn fwy anodd i recriwtio athrawon o'r tu allan i Gymru, felly yn lleihau'r cymysgedd o ddoniau a chefndiroedd y mae athrawon newydd yn dod â nhw i'n hysgolion. A allwch chi egluro nawr sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu sicrhau bod unrhyw un sy'n dymuno dysgu yng Nghymru, ond nad oes ganddo'r sgiliau iaith, yn gallu dod o hyd i swydd fel athro yng Nghymru? Diolch.
Thank you. And when you made your statement on 'Cymraeg 2050' before the summer recess, I asked this question of you, but, unfortunately, I didn't receive a response. You said that you want to encourage young Welsh speakers to return from university to help to teach through the medium of Welsh in our schools. I drew attention to the fact that this makes it more difficult to recruit teachers from outwith Wales, and therefore reduces the mix of skills and backgrounds that new teachers bring to our schools. So, can you now explain how the Welsh Government intends to ensure that anyone who wants to teach in Wales, but doesn't currently have those language skills, can find a job as a teacher in Wales? Thank you.
Wel, mae'n bosibl i bobl ddysgu yng Nghymru er nad oes gyda nhw sgiliau iaith penodol. Beth dŷn ni eisiau ei weld—. Ac mae gyda ni gynllun peilot yn cael ei ddatblygu ar hyn o bryd gyda'r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol i annog myfyrwyr yn ein prifysgolion ni i weithio fel athrawon drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg neu ddysgu'r Gymraeg yn ein hysgolion ni. Byddwn ni'n cyhoeddi manylion pellach am y peilot hwnnw maes o law, ond mae'n cael ei ddatblygu ar hyn o bryd.
Well, it is possible for people to teach in Wales even though they don't have specific language skills. What we want to see—. And we have a pilot scheme being developed at the moment with the National Centre for Learning Welsh to encourage students in our universities to work as teachers through the medium of Welsh or to teach Welsh in our schools. We'll be announcing further details of that pilot in due course, but it is being developed at the moment.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Siân Gwenllian.
Diolch, Lywydd. Mi oeddwn i'n falch iawn o weld bod niferoedd profion COVID positif mewn ysgolion wedi gostwng yn sylweddol yn ystod yr wythnos diwethaf—dwi'n siŵr eich bod chithau yn falch o weld hynny hefyd—gostyngiad o 44 y cant. Ond mae ysgolion yn parhau i fod mewn sefyllfa fregus iawn, wrth gwrs, efo rhai dosbarthiadau efo hanner y disgyblion wedi profi'n bositif am COVID. Mae prif gynghorydd gwyddonol Llywodraeth Cymru dros iechyd, Dr Rob Orford, wedi tynnu sylw at fater o bryder arall ar ben hyn, sef y gallai ail ymddangosiad afiechydon anadlol a gafodd eu hatal yn ystod y cyfnod clo diwethaf achosi problemau. Hynny yw, gall plant gael eu cyd-heintio efo COVID a salwch arall sy'n effeithio ar yr ysgyfaint ac yn y blaen—ffliw, annwyd ac ati. Mae hyn yn bryder. Fedrwch chi roi asesiad i ni, neu ydy'r Llywodraeth yn gwneud asesiad, o'r risg penodol yma, sy'n gysylltiedig efo diffyg imiwnedd ymhlith plant? Ac yn sgil hynny, pa gamau fyddwch chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn safleoedd diogel dros y gaeaf?
Thank you, Llywydd. I was very pleased to see that the number of positive COVID tests in schools had reduced significantly over the past week—and I'm sure you yourself were also pleased with that—a reduction of 44 per cent. But schools continue to be in a very vulnerable position, of course, with some classes with as many as 50 per cent having tested positive for COVID. The Welsh Government's chief scientific adviser, Dr Rob Orford, has drawn attention to another issue of concern, namely the fact that the reemergence of other respiratory conditions that were prevented during the last lockdown could cause problems in future months. That is, children could be infected by COVID and another respiratory illness—flu, colds and so on and so forth. Now, this is a concern. Can you give us an assessment, or is the Government carrying out an assessment, of this particular risk, related to a lack of immunity among children? And in light of that, what steps will you take in order to ensure that schools are safe places over the winter?
Wel, mae'r cynlluniau sydd gyda ni eisoes ar waith—y fframweithiau sy'n gweithio ym mhob rhan o Gymru—bwriad y polisi hwnnw, wrth gwrs, yw sicrhau bod ein hysgolion ni yn saff ar gyfer ein dysgwyr ni a'n hathrawon ni a'r gweithlu ehangach, a bod y mesurau sy'n cael eu cymryd yn ein hystafelloedd dosbarth ni ac yn ystâd ehangach yr ysgol yn adlewyrchu anghenion yr ysgol ei hun ond hefyd y cyd-destun iechyd lleol o ran iechyd cyhoeddus. O ran y pwynt penodol y gwnaeth yr Aelod ei godi ynglŷn â'r cyngor penodol, mi wnaf i ystyried hynny gyda'r gwyddonydd a gweld beth y gallaf i ei rannu gydag Aelodau yn ehangach am hynny.
Well, the plans that we already have in place—the frameworks that are in operation in all parts of Wales—the intention of that policy is to ensure that our schools are safe for our learners and our teachers and the wider workforce, and that the measures that are being taken in our classrooms and the wider schools estate reflect the requirements of the schools themselves, but also the local health context in terms of public health. In terms of the specific point that the Member mentioned, I will consider that, alongside the CSO, and I'll share that with the Members.
Diolch. Mi fyddai hynna'n ddefnyddiol iawn, a dwi'n siŵr eich bod chi'n cytuno efo fi bod awyru yn yr adeiladau ysgol yn hollbwysig, yn enwedig rŵan, o feddwl efallai bod yna gyd-heintio yn digwydd, sy'n gwneud y broblem yn waeth.
Mi fuaswn i'n licio gofyn i chi am broblem arall ynglŷn â diogelwch ysgolion, sef asbestos, a beth ydy'ch ymateb chi i'r canfyddiad diweddar bod asbestos mewn 60 y cant o ysgolion Cymru. Mae gwybodaeth ddiweddar wedi datgelu bod yna fwy na 900 o ysgolion yn cynnwys asbestos. Felly, hoffwn i wybod pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i helpu cynghorau sir ac ysgolion i fonitro, ac, yn bwysicach, i gael gwared ar asbestos.
Thank you. That would be very useful, and I'm sure you would agree with me that ventilation in school buildings is crucially important, particularly now, given that people are being infected with more than one illness, which can make the problem worse.
I'd like to ask you about another problem on safety in schools, namely the issue of asbestos, and what's your response to the recent finding that there is asbestos in 60 per cent of Welsh schools. Recent information has revealed that there are more than 900 schools where there is asbestos. So, I'd like to know what steps the Welsh Government is taking to help local authorities and schools to monitor, and, more importantly, to actually get rid of asbestos.
Diolch am y cwestiwn pellach hwnnw. Trwy'r arian revenue support grant dŷn ni'n ei ddarparu i awdurdodau lleol, mae'n bosib iddyn nhw ddefnyddio'r ffynhonnell arian honno i sicrhau bod eu hysgolion nhw'n mynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa hon. Ond dŷn ni hefyd yn gweithio gyda'r Health and Safety Executive a chydag Ystadau Cymru i gefnogi arfer da i ddelio ag asbestos mewn ysgolion ac mewn adeiladau coleg hefyd. A dŷn ni hefyd yn darparu canllawiau penodol i awdurdodau lleol i'w helpu nhw i fynd i'r afael â'u cyfrifoldebau nhw o ran monitro, a, phan mae angen hynny, cael gwared ar asbestos yn eu hadeiladau nhw.
Well, thank you for that further question. Through the revenue support grant funding that we provide to local authorities, it is possible to use that source of funding to ensure that their schools get to grips with this particular situation. But we're also working with the Health and Safety Executive and with Ystadau Cymru to support good practice to deal with asbestos in schools and in college buildings too. And we also provide specific guidelines for local authorities to assist them to get to grips with their responsibilities in terms of monitoring, and, where required, to get rid of asbestos in their schools.
Mi fyddwch chi'n gwerthfawrogi bod yr undebau yn benodol yn gofyn am weithredu brys ar y mater yma, ac yn gobeithio am newyddion i'r perwyl yna gennych chi yn fuan.
O ganlyniad i'r pandemig, rydym ni'n gwybod bod ysgolion, staff a disgyblion wedi bod o dan bwysau anferth. Mae yna adroddiad diweddar gan yr Academi Genedlaethol ar gyfer Arweinyddiaeth Addysgol Cymru sy'n tynnu sylw at sut mae'r pandemig wedi effeithio ar les addysgwyr, yn enwedig ar yr arweinwyr yn yr ysgolion—eu lles nhw'n cael ei effeithio gan lwyth gwaith, mesurau atebolrwydd, y broses arolygu, materion staffio a phersonél, a hefyd, wrth gwrs, ariannu a rheoli cyllidebau. Mae yna faich gwaith aruthrol ar eu hysgwyddau nhw.
Felly, a fedrwch chi amlinellu pa gamau byddwch chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau lles arweinwyr ein hysgolion ni, a sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i fod yn ymateb i'r pwysau sy'n cael ei achosi ar draws ystod o feysydd o ganlyniad i lwyth gwaith arolygiadau a rheoli cyllidebau?
You will appreciate that the unions particularly are asking for urgent action on this issue, and are hoping for some news to that end from you soon.
As a result of the pandemic, we know that schools, staff and pupils have been under huge pressures and stresses. A recent report by the National Academy for School Leadership in Wales highlights how the pandemic has affected the well-being of educators, particularly school leaders. Their well-being has been affected because of increased workload, accountability measures, staffing and personnel matters, inspection issues, and also, of course, funding and budget management. So, there's been a huge burden on them.
So, can you outline what steps you will take to ensure the well-being of our school leaders, and how will the Government respond to the pressures across a range of different areas as a result of the increased workload in terms of inspections and budget management?
Wel, mae hyn yn gwestiwn pwysig iawn, a dwi eisiau cydnabod y pwysau mae prifathrawon ac athrawon o dan ar hyn o bryd, ac wedi bod dros y cyfnod o flwyddyn a mwy yn ddiweddar. Rôn i'n trafod bore dydd Mawrth gydag awdurdodau lleol ac undebau dysgu, a'r undebau gweithlu addysg mwy eang na hynny, ac yn gofyn iddyn nhw i basio ymlaen ein diolch ni fel Llywodraeth, ac, rwy'n siŵr, ein diolch ni fel Senedd, i'w gweithleoedd am yr hyn maen nhw wedi bod yn ei wneud mewn amgylchiadau anodd dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf.
O ran darpariaeth benodol i gefnogi llesiant ac iechyd meddwl arweinwyr ysgol, rŷn ni wedi bod yn gwneud amryw o bethau. Mae'r fframwaith ysgol gyfan ar gyfer llesiant yn cynnwys ymyraethau sydd yn cefnogi athrawon a phenaethiaid hefyd, gan gynnwys darpariaeth benodol gan Education Support ac eraill, er mwyn iddyn nhw hefyd gael gofod i allu delio â'r pwysau sydd wedi bod yn realiti iddyn nhw dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf.
O ran adnoddau pellach, rŷn ni wedi, wrth gwrs, trwy renew and reform, darparu symiau sylweddol o arian er mwyn recriwtio mwy o staff er mwyn codi ychydig o'r pwysau ar benaethiaid mewn ysgolion i ddelio yn benodol ag impact COVID. Felly, mae hynny wedi cael yr effaith o gynyddu darpariaeth a chynyddu capasiti yn ein hysgolion ni, a hefyd, o ran cwestiwn atebolrwydd ac asesiadau, bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, am y camau gwnes i ddatgan yn ystod yr haf o ran codi rhai o'r gofynion hynny dros y cyfnod yma, gan ddeall yn iawn bod y pwysau sy'n dod yn sgil hynny, efallai nad oes croeso i hynny ar hyn o bryd wrth i ysgolion ddelio â sialensiau COVID hefyd.
Ac ynghyd â hynny, mae gyda ni weithgor gydag awdurdodau lleol ac undebau sydd yn gweithio ar fesurau y gallwn ni eu cymryd i leihau gofynion biwrocrataidd efallai ar ein hysgolion ni er mwyn sicrhau ein bod ni'n codi'r hyn o bwysau y gallwn ni.
Well, this is a very important point and I want to acknowledge the pressure that school leaders and teachers are facing at present, but also over the past year and beyond. I was discussing on Tuesday morning with local authorities and education unions, and the wider education workforce, and I asked them to pass on our thanks as a Government, and I'm sure, as a Senedd, to their workforces for what they've been doing in very difficult circumstances over the past year.
In terms of specific provision to support the well-being and mental health of school leaders, we have been doing a variety of things. The whole school framework for well-being includes interventions that support teachers and leaders as well, as well as specific interventions by Education Support and others, so that they have space to be able to deal with the pressures that have been a reality for them over the past year.
In terms of further resources, we have, through renew and reform, provided significant sums of funding to recruit additional staff to alleviate some of the pressure on school leaders to deal specifically with the impact of COVID. So, that has had the effect of increasing provision and increasing the capacity in our schools. And also, in terms of the question of accountability and assessment, the Member will know of the steps that I outlined over the summer in terms of lifting some of those requirements over this past period, understanding fully that the pressure that follows on as a result of that isn't welcomed at the moment as schools deal with the challenges of COVID and so on.
And, in addition to that, we have a working group with local authorities and unions that is working on the measures that we can take to decrease the bureaucratic requirements on our schools to ensure that we shoulder some of that burden.
Tynnwyd cwestiwn 3 [OQ56955] yn ôl. Cwestiwn 4, Jack Sargeant.
Question 3 [OQ56955] is withdrawn. Question 4, Jack Sargeant.
4. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n galluogi dysgwyr i ddysgu mewn lleoliadau annhraddodiadol? OQ56968
4. How is the Welsh Government enabling learners to learn in non-traditional settings? OQ56968
Our national mission sets out our commitment to the success and well-being of all learners. Education other than at school is an integrated part of the continuum of education. EOTAS is education provision for children and young people who, for whatever reason, require tailored support away from mainstream schools.
Mae ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol yn nodi ein hymrwymiad i lwyddiant a llesiant pob dysgwr. Mae addysg heblaw yn yr ysgol yn rhan integredig o'r continwwm addysg. Mae addysg heblaw yn yr ysgol yn ddarpariaeth addysg i blant a phobl ifanc sydd, am ba reswm bynnag, angen cymorth wedi'i deilwra y tu allan i ysgolion prif ffrwd.
Minister, thank you for that answer. It's two issues that come to mind, raised by Welsh residents who want to access learning but can't. One resident in Alyn and Deeside sought to do a postgraduate education qualification at Cheshire East college, an institution where learners from other parts of the United Kingdom can get funding to attend, but, unfortunately, we do not recognise the course, and, despite it being on her doorstep, she could therefore not attend.
Minister, you will also be aware of concerns raised through a Senedd petition—and, Llywydd, I want to be clear here that I'm not speaking on behalf of the committee; I'm speaking as a Member of the Senedd. But that petition raised that postgraduate funding only extends to traditional universities, excluding students who choose science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine Master's through alternative providers. Minister, do you agree with me that the best institution is often the one the learner can access, and we should not seek to place barriers in the way of people attending qualifications?
Weinidog, diolch ichi am eich ateb. Mae'n fy atgoffa o ddau fater a godwyd gan drigolion Cymru sydd eisiau cael mynediad at addysg ond na allant wneud hynny. Ceisiodd un preswylydd yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy wneud cymhwyster addysg ôl-raddedig yng ngholeg Cheshire East, sefydliad lle gall dysgwyr o rannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig gael cyllid i'w fynychu, ond yn anffodus, nid ydym yn cydnabod y cwrs, ac er ei fod ar garreg ei drws, ni allai fynychu'r cwrs oherwydd hynny.
Weinidog, fe fyddwch hefyd yn ymwybodol o bryderon a godwyd drwy un o ddeisebau'r Senedd—ac rwyf eisiau ei gwneud yn glir yma nad wyf yn siarad ar ran y pwyllgor; rwy'n siarad fel Aelod o'r Senedd. Ond nododd y ddeiseb honno nad yw cyllid ôl-raddedig ond yn gymwys ar gyfer prifysgolion traddodiadol, gan eithrio myfyrwyr sy'n dewis gwneud gradd Meistr mewn gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg, mathemateg neu feddygaeth drwy ddarparwyr amgen. Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno â mi mai'r sefydliad gorau yn aml yw'r un y gall y dysgwr gael mynediad ato, ac na ddylem osod rhwystrau yn ffordd pobl sy'n ceisio cael cymwysterau?
I thank the Member of that question. As in all parts of the UK—. Each part of the UK has a regime through which education providers are qualified for support through the respective arrangements in each of the four nations, and the fact that one institution may qualify in one of the nations doesn't automatically mean that they satisfy the criteria in each of the four nations. They would need to submit applications for recognition in any nation where funding is sought. As the Member, I know, is aware, HEFCW is responsible for much of the process in relation to these questions. There is a need at the moment for alternative providers to apply for specific designation of their courses in order for Welsh students to be able to access student support. That is obviously in place in order to protect the public purse, but also to protect the interests of students, so that we are able to ensure that the providers are able to meet the relevant criteria in the interests of students themselves. Where any individual Welsh student is concerned about the status of a course in which they may have an interest, the first step, I would recommend, is to contact the course provider to check the student support that will be available before taking up that place. That will be the point at which any potential questions then can be raised.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Fel ym mhob rhan o'r DU—. Mae gan bob rhan o'r DU drefn lle mae darparwyr addysg yn gymwys i gael cymorth drwy'r trefniadau priodol ym mhob un o'r pedair gwlad, ac nid yw'r ffaith bod un sefydliad yn gallu bod yn gymwys yn un o'r gwledydd yn golygu'n awtomatig eu bod yn bodloni'r meini prawf ym mhob un o'r pedair gwlad. Byddai angen iddynt gyflwyno ceisiadau am gydnabyddiaeth mewn unrhyw wlad lle gwneir cais am gyllid. Fel y mae'r Aelod yn gwybod, CCAUC sy'n gyfrifol am lawer o'r broses mewn perthynas â'r cwestiynau hyn. Ar hyn o bryd, mae angen i ddarparwyr amgen wneud cais am ddynodiad penodol i'w cyrsiau er mwyn i fyfyrwyr o Gymru allu cael cymorth i fyfyrwyr. Pwrpas hynny wrth gwrs yw i ddiogelu'r pwrs cyhoeddus, ond i ddiogelu buddiannau myfyrwyr hefyd, fel y gallwn sicrhau bod y darparwyr yn gallu bodloni'r meini prawf perthnasol er budd y myfyrwyr eu hunain. Os oes unrhyw fyfyriwr unigol yng Nghymru yn pryderu am statws cwrs y gallent fod â diddordeb ynddo, byddwn yn argymell mai'r cam cyntaf yw cysylltu â darparwr y cwrs i wirio y bydd cymorth i fyfyrwyr ar gael cyn derbyn y lle hwnnw. Dyna'r adeg pan fydd modd gofyn unrhyw gwestiynau a allai godi.
I'd like to thank Mr Sargeant also for raising this question this afternoon. As you acknowledged, Minister, for some learners, traditional school learning settings aren't always the best for them. Many young people often thrive in non-traditional settings, which can see them move up the educational ladder at their own speed, and perhaps focus on specific areas of interest as well that suit them better, and, indeed, from my own experience, I was somebody who was home educated up until high-school age, and I know first-hand how well some non-traditional settings can work for some families. The outcome of which may be questionable in my instance here, but, certainly the experience of my family was of benefit. But, of course, many of the opportunities presented by non-traditional settings are underpinned by parental choice. So, Minister, how will you continue to support parents in being able to choose the right setting for their children to learn most effectively?
Hoffwn ddiolch i Mr Sargeant hefyd am godi'r cwestiwn hwn y prynhawn yma. Fel y gwnaethoch ei gydnabod, Weinidog, i rai dysgwyr, nid dysgu traddodiadol mewn ysgolion yw'r dewis gorau iddynt bob amser. Mae llawer o bobl ifanc yn aml yn ffynnu mewn lleoliadau anhraddodiadol, sy'n eu galluogi i symud i fyny'r ysgol addysgol ar eu cyflymder eu hunain, a chanolbwyntio efallai ar feysydd diddordeb penodol sy'n fwy addas ar eu cyfer, ac yn wir, yn fy mhrofiad fy hun, roeddwn yn rhywun a addysgwyd gartref hyd at oedran ysgol uwchradd, a gwn o lygad y ffynnon pa mor dda y gall rhai lleoliadau anhraddodiadol weithio i rai teuluoedd. Efallai fod y canlyniad yn amheus yn fy achos i yma, ond yn sicr, roedd y profiad o fudd i fy nheulu. Ond wrth gwrs, mae llawer o'r cyfleoedd a gyflwynir gan leoliadau anhraddodiadol yn seiliedig ar ddewis rhieni. Felly, Weinidog, sut y byddwch yn parhau i gefnogi rhieni i allu dewis y lleoliad cywir i'w plant ddysgu yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol?
Well, in the context of the question that he raises about elective home education—and the diffidence with which he presents the benefits of that, I think, is acknowledged—just to remind the Member that, of all the four nations in the UK, Wales has the most generous support for the elective home educating community. The current year funding for that level of support is around £1.7 million. As he will know, in the previous Senedd, we consulted on introducing changes to the regulatory arrangements around elective home education in order to support local authorities and the work they are able to do with parents who elect to home educate. I am clear in my mind that that needs to be part of a broader offer that is able to support home educators in the way that he is describing, and I'm very pleased that Wales is leading the way across the UK in provision in that space.
Wel, yng nghyd-destun y cwestiwn y mae'n ei godi am addysg ddewisol yn y cartref—ac rydym yn cydnabod y ffordd wylaidd y mae'n cyflwyno manteision hynny, rwy'n credu—hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelod, o bob un o'r pedair gwlad yn y DU, Cymru sy'n darparu'r cymorth mwyaf hael i'r gymuned addysg ddewisol yn y cartref. Mae'r cyllid ar gyfer y lefel honno o gymorth y flwyddyn hon oddeutu £1.7 miliwn. Fel y gŵyr, yn y Senedd flaenorol, cafwyd ymgynghoriad ar gyflwyno newidiadau i'r trefniadau rheoleiddio mewn perthynas ag addysg ddewisol yn y cartref er mwyn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol a'r gwaith y gallant ei wneud gyda rhieni sy'n dewis addysgu gartref. Rwy'n glir yn fy meddwl bod angen i hynny fod yn rhan o gynnig ehangach sy'n gallu cefnogi addysgwyr yn y cartref yn y ffordd y mae'n disgrifio, ac rwy'n falch iawn fod Cymru'n arwain y ffordd ar draws y DU gyda'r ddarpariaeth honno.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol ynghylch gweithio gydag ysgolion a cholegau i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl ifanc yn cofrestru i bleidleisio? OQ56947
5. What discussions has the Minister had with the Counsel General regarding working with schools and colleges to ensure that more young people register to vote? OQ56947
Mae cefnogi pobl ifanc i arfer eu hawliau democrataidd yn flaenoriaeth, nid dim ond o ran addysg, ond er budd y Llywodraeth gyfan. Rwy'n trafod gyda’r Cwnsler Cyffredinol ffyrdd o gydweithio er mwyn cynyddu nifer y bobl ifanc 16 ac 17 oed sy’n cofrestru.
Supporting young people to exercise their democratic rights is a priority not just for education, but for the whole of Government. I'm discussing with the Counsel General ways we can work together to drive up registration of 16 and 17-year-olds.
Diolch yn fawr ichi, Weinidog, oherwydd mae e'n hollbwysig, onid yw e? Dyma pam rydym ni fan hyn—rydym ni'n trafod dyfodol y bobl ifanc yma, a siom fawr, siŵr o fod, i'r rhan fwyaf ohonom ni fan hyn heddiw, oedd cyn lleied o bobl ifanc wnaeth bleidleisio: hanner y bobl 16 ac 17. Llai na hanner wnaeth gofrestru i bleidleisio. Problem arall, wrth gwrs, yw'r hygyrchedd i bleidleisio. Dwi'n cofio siarad ag un ferch ifanc, 17 mlwydd oed, ar ôl i'r bocsys pleidleisio gau, yn dweud ei bod wedi methu â chael cyfle i bleidleisio. Aeth hi'n syth o'r ysgol i'w gwaith hi, ac, felly, heb gael cyfle i bleidleisio. Pa drafodaethau ydych chi, fel Llywodraeth, yn eu cael gydag ysgolion a cholegau er mwyn dangos i'r bobl ifanc y pwysigrwydd o bleidleisio, ond hefyd i wneud e'n fwy hygyrch iddyn nhw bleidleisio? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much, Minister, as it is crucially important, isn't it? That's why we're here—we're discussing the future of these young people, and it was a huge disappointment, I'm sure, to most of us here today how few young people did vote: about half of 16 and 17-year-olds. Less than half of 16 to 17-year-olds registered to vote. Another problem is accessibility in voting. I remember speaking to a young 17-year-old after the polling stations had closed, and she said she didn't have an opportunity to vote. She said she went straight from school to work and didn't have an opportunity to vote, therefore. What discussions are you, as a Government, having with schools and colleges in order to demonstrate how important voting is, but also to make it more accessible for them to vote? Thank you.
Wel, rwy'n rhannu diddordeb yr Aelod mewn sicrhau ein bod ni'n cynyddu lefel gofrestru pobl 16 ac 17. Rhyw 43 y cant o bobl yr oed hynny wnaeth gofrestru, o gymharu â rhyw 77 y cant o'r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol, felly mae'n sicr bod angen cefnogi'n pobl ifanc ni i allu cofrestru. Mae dwy elfen o ran y gwaith rydw i'n gallu ei wneud i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud hynny. Mae rhan ohono fe ynghlwm â'r gwaith ar y cwricwlwm, a bydd yr Aelod yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, pa mor bwysig yw ymwybyddiaeth o'r cyd-destun democrataidd a'n sefydliadau ni yma yng Nghymru i ddelifo'r cwricwlwm mewn ffordd sydd yn cefnogi ein dysgwyr ni. Ond hefyd, mae gennym ni ambell ymyrraeth benodol ar waith, yn cynnwys, yn yr etholiad diwethaf—efallai fod yr Aelod yn gwybod am hyn—yn un o'r ysgolion yn ei ranbarth ef, beilot ar gyfer sicrhau bod disgyblion yn gallu cwestiynu gwleidyddion ar-lein, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn llwyddiannus. Rŷn ni wrthi'n gwerthuso'r peilot yna'n ffurfiol ar hyn o bryd gyda'r gobaith o allu ei ymestyn mewn ffordd sydd yn cefnogi'n hysgolion ar draws Cymru. Un o'r pethau eraill rŷn ni wedi bod yn ei wneud yw darparu ffynhonnell arian i bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru i allu cefnogi recriwtio pobl i gynyddu lefel gofrestru ymhlith pobl sydd newydd gael yr hawl, yn cynnwys pobl 16 ac 17, neu bobl sydd, ar y cyfan, ddim wedi dewis cofrestru. Felly, mae ymyraethau penodol ar waith o ran y cwricwlwm, ond hefyd o ran cefnogi disgyblion yn fwy uniongyrchol.
Well, I share the Member's interest in ensuring that we increase the registration levels of 16 and 17-year-olds. It was some 43 per cent in that age group who registered, as compared to some 77 per cent of the population generally, so, certainly, we need to support our young people in registering to vote. There are two elements in terms of the work that I can do in ensuring that. Part of that is related to the work on the curriculum, and the Member will know just how important awareness of the democratic context and our institution is in delivering the curriculum in a way that supports our learners. But we also have some specific interventions in place, including, during the last election—the Member may be aware of this—in one of the schools in his region, a pilot on ensuring that pupils could question politicians online, and that has been successful. We are formally evaluating the pilot at the moment in the hope of extending it in a way that can support our schools across Wales. One of the other things that we've been doing is providing a funding source for all local authorities in Wales to support the recruitment of people to drive up registration levels among those who've just got the right to vote, including 16 and 17-year-olds, or those who've chosen not to register for any reason. So, there are interventions in terms of the curriculum, but also in supporting pupils more directly.
6. Sut mae'r Gweinidog yn sicrhau bod pob prosiect adeiladu ysgolion newydd yn ddi-garbon? OQ56953
6. How is the Minister ensuring that all new school building projects are zero carbon? OQ56953
The education sector has a fundamental role in supporting the Welsh Government's response to the climate emergency. I was discussing this in a meeting with other Members of the Cabinet and local authority leaders only this morning. That is why net-zero carbon is a key consideration under the twenty-first century schools and colleges programme investment, and why additional funding has already been made available to support net-zero-carbon school pilot projects.
Mae gan y sector addysg rôl sylfaenol yn cefnogi ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r argyfwng hinsawdd. Roeddwn yn trafod hyn mewn cyfarfod ag Aelodau eraill o'r Cabinet ac arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol y bore yma. Dyna pam y mae carbon sero-net yn ystyriaeth allweddol o dan fuddsoddiad y rhaglen ysgolion a cholegau ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, a pham y mae cyllid ychwanegol eisoes ar gael i gefnogi prosiectau peilot carbon sero-net mewn ysgolion.
I'm not quite sure whether net-zero carbon is a key consideration or an obligation in all new projects, so perhaps you could clarify that. I just wanted to highlight the fact that, in a past life, I was a lay Estyn inspector, and I was up in a school in the Valleys—over a decade ago, this is—which had a ground-source heat pump installed in its new building, but they said they didn't know how to use it, so they were still using gas. This wasn't really the subject of what we were inspecting, but I went away from it thinking, 'This is really terrible.' I'm aware of schools in Cardiff where, for example, the grey water system has never worked, or the building management digital systems are so complicated that nobody knows how to use them. So, I just wondered, Minister, what you're going to do to ensure that local authorities are really raising their game on ensuring that, when they're signing off projects, they know that all the bells and whistles on this building are working correctly and that the end user, which is going to be the school, knows how to use this equipment?
Nid wyf yn hollol siŵr a yw carbon sero-net yn ystyriaeth allweddol neu'n rhwymedigaeth ym mhob prosiect newydd, felly efallai y gallech egluro hynny. Roeddwn eisiau tynnu sylw at y ffaith fy mod, mewn bywyd blaenorol, yn arolygydd lleyg gydag Estyn, ac roeddwn mewn ysgol yn y Cymoedd—roedd hyn dros ddegawd yn ôl—a oedd wedi gosod pwmp gwres o'r ddaear yn ei adeilad newydd, ond roeddent yn dweud na wyddent sut i'w ddefnyddio, felly roeddent yn dal i ddefnyddio nwy. Nid oedd hynny'n ymwneud â'r hyn yr oeddem yn ei arolygu mewn gwirionedd, ond gadewais y lle gan feddwl, 'Mae hyn yn ofnadwy.' Rwy'n ymwybodol o ysgolion yng Nghaerdydd lle nad yw'r system ddŵr llwyd, er enghraifft, erioed wedi gweithio, neu mae'r systemau digidol ar gyfer rheoli adeiladu mor gymhleth fel nad oes neb yn gwybod sut i'w defnyddio. Felly, Weinidog, beth a wnewch i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn codi'r safon mewn gwirionedd ac yn sicrhau, pan fyddant yn cymeradwyo prosiectau, eu bod yn gwybod bod pob system yn yr adeilad yn gweithio'n iawn a bod y defnyddiwr terfynol, sef yr ysgol, yn gwybod sut i ddefnyddio'r offer hwn?
I think that's a really important point, if I may say. On the first point, in relation to net-zero carbon, we are on the journey to making sure that all schools are, but we aren't, obviously, anywhere near the destination at this point. Our task as a Government is to make progress along that path as fast as possible. The role the pilots play in that is to help us work through some of the challenges that the Member's identified in the second part of her question, which is the practical deliverability of some of those policy requirements. So, there are questions here about the maturity of some of the technology, about some supply chain capacity issues. All of those are practical limitations on the speed at which we can progress along that path. But that's the role of the pilot—to help us do that more quickly.
On the second point, about how we connect the construction of the building to the operation of the building, as her question says, in order to get full value from that investment and the full benefit in environmental terms, we need to make sure that there's an understanding between local authorities and their estate managers about how the new zero-carbon buildings work. One of the issues that is being explored in the pilot projects is how we can develop teaching and learning resources, both to support the schools themselves and also to provide technical support and training to help those staff maintain schools and to operate the schools in a way that enables them to take full advantage.
Credaf fod hwnnw'n bwynt pwysig iawn, os caf fi ddweud. Ar y pwynt cyntaf, mewn perthynas â charbon sero-net, rydym ar y daith i sicrhau bod pob ysgol yn ysgol carbon sero-net, ond yn amlwg, nid ydym yn agos at gyrraedd y lan ar hyn o bryd. Ein tasg fel Llywodraeth yw gwneud cynnydd mor gyflym â phosibl ar hyd y llwybr hwnnw. Y rôl y mae'r cynlluniau peilot yn ei chwarae yn hynny o beth yw ein helpu i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r heriau a nodwyd gan yr Aelod yn ail ran ei chwestiwn, sef sut y gellir cyflawni rhai o'r gofynion polisi hynny'n ymarferol. Felly, mae cwestiynau yma am aeddfedrwydd peth o'r dechnoleg, am rai problemau capasiti y gadwyn gyflenwi. Mae pob un o'r rheini'n gyfyngiadau ymarferol ar ba mor gyflym y gallwn symud ar hyd y llwybr hwnnw. Ond dyna rôl y cynllun peilot—ein helpu i wneud hynny'n gyflymach.
Ar yr ail bwynt, ynglŷn â sut y cysylltwn y gwaith o adeiladu'r adeilad â gweithrediad yr adeilad, fel y dywed ei chwestiwn, er mwyn cael gwerth llawn o'r buddsoddiad hwnnw a'r budd llawn yn amgylcheddol, mae angen inni sicrhau bod dealltwriaeth rhwng awdurdodau lleol a'u rheolwyr ystadau ynglŷn â sut y mae'r adeiladau di-garbon newydd yn gweithio. Un o'r materion y mae'r prosiectau peilot yn eu harchwilio yw sut y gallwn ddatblygu adnoddau addysgu a dysgu, i gefnogi'r ysgolion eu hunain a hefyd i ddarparu cymorth a hyfforddiant technegol i helpu'r staff i gynnal a gweithredu'r ysgolion mewn ffordd sy'n eu galluogi i fanteisio'n llawn ar y pethau hyn.
Minister, the Welsh Government has set out a carbon reduction target of 37 per cent by 2025, and 67 per cent by 2030. What assessments has the Minister undertaken of the current carbon output of our schools and what investment is needed by him to support all schools to reach his Government's carbon reduction targets?
Weinidog, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi nodi targed lleihau allyriadau carbon o 37 y cant erbyn 2025, a 67 y cant erbyn 2030. Pa asesiadau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u gwneud o allbwn carbon presennol ein hysgolion a pha fuddsoddiad sydd ei angen ganddo i gynorthwyo pob ysgol i gyrraedd targedau lleihau allyriadau carbon ei Lywodraeth?
Well, just to echo the point that was being raised in the discussion earlier, certainly, we can make more of a contribution than we're currently making. That's why we've set the policy for ourselves of ensuring that we are moving towards net-zero-carbon schools, but that needs to be done in a way that is deliverable, and the pilots that we've launched—there's one in the Vale of Glamorgan, there's one in Flintshire, there are three schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf being looked at under the arrangements—are helping us understand what more we need to do and how quickly we can move along the path to make sure that the school estate in all parts of Wales is taking advantage of the latest technology, the latest building methods, in order to deliver its contribution to decarbonising the public estate in Wales.
Wel, gan adleisio'r pwynt a godwyd yn y drafodaeth yn gynharach, yn sicr, gallwn wneud mwy o gyfraniad na'r hyn a wnawn ar hyn o bryd. Dyna pam ein bod wedi gosod polisi i ni ein hunain o sicrhau ein bod yn symud tuag at ysgolion carbon sero-net, ond mae angen gwneud hynny mewn ffordd y gellir ei chyflawni, ac mae'r cynlluniau peilot a lansiwyd gennym—mae un ym Mro Morgannwg, mae un yn sir y Fflint, mae tair ysgol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yn cael eu hystyried o dan y trefniadau—yn ein helpu i ddeall beth arall sydd angen inni ei wneud a pha mor gyflym y gallwn symud ar hyd y llwybr i sicrhau bod yr ystâd ysgolion ym mhob rhan o Gymru yn manteisio ar y dechnoleg ddiweddaraf, y dulliau adeiladu diweddaraf, er mwyn cyflawni ei chyfraniad tuag at ddatgarboneiddio'r ystâd gyhoeddus yng Nghymru.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddal i fyny ym maes addysg ar ôl y pandemig? OQ56966
7. Will the Minister provide an update on education catch-up post pandemic? OQ56966
The well-being and progression of our learners is my top priority. The renew and reform plan sets out how we will support those learners most affected by the pandemic. We've allocated over £160 million to this support this financial year—more spend per learner than anywhere in the UK.
Lles a chynnydd ein dysgwyr yw fy mhrif flaenoriaeth. Mae'r cynllun adnewyddu a diwygio yn nodi sut y byddwn yn cefnogi'r dysgwyr yr effeithiwyd arnynt fwyaf gan y pandemig. Rydym wedi dyrannu dros £160 miliwn tuag at y cymorth hwn y flwyddyn ariannol hon—mwy o wariant y pen i ddysgwyr nag unrhyw le arall yn y DU.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. I'm obviously very pleased that the Welsh Government does have a plan, but it's very important that we, as Members of the Senedd, should be able to monitor the implementation of that plan and monitor progress against it. Can I ask, will you be publishing key milestones and making regular reports available to Members of the Senedd to ensure that we can have a handle on getting to grips with the catch-up programme that needs to take place for those young people, for those children, across Wales who lost out so dearly on their education during the pandemic?
Diolch ichi am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Rwy'n amlwg yn falch iawn fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynllun, ond mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni, fel Aelodau o'r Senedd, yn gallu monitro gweithrediad a chynnydd y cynllun hwnnw. A gaf fi ofyn, a fyddwch yn cyhoeddi cerrig milltir allweddol ac yn sicrhau bod adroddiadau rheolaidd ar gael i Aelodau o'r Senedd er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gallu mynd i'r afael â'r rhaglen ddal i fyny y mae angen iddi ddigwydd ar gyfer y bobl ifanc a'r plant ledled Cymru sydd wedi eu gadael ar ôl i'r fath raddau gyda'u haddysg yn ystod y pandemig?
Could I encourage the Member, perhaps to reflect on the terminology 'catch-up'? I'm not sure that's the best way of motivating our learners in the context of the year/18 months that most of them have had. I know that other parts of the UK have chosen that, but I think providing our learners with a more supportive way of describing the way we're trying to help them is probably ultimately going to be more effective.
On the specific point that he makes, though, about progress against the renew and reform plan, I'll refer him, I think, to the update that I published in September around the implementation of renew and reform, which involves the commitment of additional resources in the space of Welsh language immersion, support for newly qualified teachers and support for learning recovery. So, that, I think, gives him the most recent position in terms of how the funding is being deployed in schools. I know that he will welcome the fact that the underpinning principle for this programme is to ensure that schools themselves make the best possible judgments to support the learners. They are best placed to understand the needs of their particular cohorts, and so that's the underpinning principle, if you like, of this funding stream. But I will also be evaluating—in fact, it's already under way—the impact of the scheme, and I'll be happy, of course, to share the output of that with Members in due course.
A gaf fi annog yr Aelod efallai i fyfyrio ar y term 'dal i fyny'? Nid wyf yn siŵr mai dyna'r ffordd orau o gymell ein dysgwyr yng nghyd-destun y flwyddyn/18 mis y mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonynt wedi'u cael. Gwn fod rhannau eraill o'r DU wedi dewis y term hwnnw, ond rwy'n credu y bydd cynnig ffordd fwy cefnogol i ddysgwyr o ddisgrifio'r modd yr ydym yn ceisio eu helpu yn fwy effeithiol yn y pen draw.
Ar y pwynt penodol y mae'n ei wneud serch hynny, am gynnydd yn erbyn y cynllun adnewyddu a diwygio, rwy'n credu fy mod am ei gyfeirio at y diweddariad a gyhoeddais ym mis Medi ynghylch gweithredu'r cynllun adnewyddu a diwygio, sy'n cynnwys ymrwymo adnoddau ychwanegol ar gyfer addysg drochi yn y Gymraeg, cymorth i athrawon newydd gymhwyso a chymorth ar gyfer adferiad dysgu. Felly, credaf fod hynny'n rhoi eglurhad iddo o'r sefyllfa ddiweddaraf o ran sut y mae'r cyllid yn cael ei ddefnyddio yn yr ysgolion. Gwn y bydd yn croesawu'r ffaith mai'r egwyddor sylfaenol ar gyfer y rhaglen hon yw sicrhau bod ysgolion eu hunain yn gwneud y dyfarniadau gorau posibl i gefnogi'r dysgwyr. Hwy sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i ddeall anghenion eu carfannau penodol, ac felly dyna yw egwyddor sylfaenol, os mynnwch, y ffrwd gyllido hon. Ond hefyd byddaf yn gwerthuso effaith y cynllun—mae hyn eisoes ar y gweill mewn gwirionedd—a byddaf yn hapus i rannu canlyniadau hynny gyda'r Aelodau maes o law wrth gwrs.
Minister, I've been contacted by the father of an additional learning needs pupil who's suffered months of lost education and, of course, all-important development during the pandemic, and, unlike with his other children, there's been no opportunity to continue his son's very specialist education at home. The local authority hasn't offered any coaching or training for parents to do this outside of normal working hours. Can I therefore ask what specific education recovery provisions are being made for pupils with additional learning needs, who could only receive limited home learning during lockdown? Also, can the Welsh Government make provision for free LAMP PCR non-intrusive saliva home testing kits and periodic school testing for additional learning needs children who cannot undertake intrusive swab testing? Many additional learning needs pupils are being sent home and having to isolate, missing even more school, as they are unable to use the invasive testing methods in order to return to school safely. Diolch.
Weinidog, rwyf wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â thad disgybl ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol sydd wedi colli gwerth misoedd o'i addysg a'i ddatblygiad hollbwysig yn ystod y pandemig wrth gwrs, ac yn wahanol i'w blant eraill, ni fu cyfle i barhau ag addysg arbenigol iawn ei fab gartref. Nid yw'r awdurdod lleol wedi cynnig unrhyw hyfforddiant i rieni wneud hyn y tu allan i oriau gwaith arferol. A gaf fi ofyn felly pa ddarpariaethau adfer addysg penodol a wneir ar gyfer disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, sydd ond wedi gallu cael lefel gyfyngedig o ddysgu yn y cartref yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud? Hefyd, a all Llywodraeth Cymru ddarparu pecynnau profion poer LAMP PCR anymwthiol rhad ac am ddim ar gyfer y cartref a phrofion cyfnodol ar gyfer yr ysgol i blant ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol na allant wneud profion swab ymwthiol? Mae llawer o ddisgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn cael eu hanfon adref ac yn gorfod ynysu, gan olygu eu bod yn colli mwy fyth o ysgol am na allant ddefnyddio'r dulliau profi ymwthiol er mwyn dychwelyd i'r ysgol yn ddiogel. Diolch.
I thank the Member for those two important questions. On the second point, I'll write to her specifically about that, if I may. On the first point, the renew and reform programme that I've just identified is specifically weighted to reflect the needs of additional learning needs pupils in schools, so the funding that follows that and the allocation to schools specifically reflect that and should be available to make specific provision for additional learning needs pupils. I recognise the challenges that she describes for the constituent that has written to her. That is one of the reasons why the funding is allocated in exactly that way.
Diolch i'r Aelod am ei ddau gwestiwn pwysig. Ar yr ail bwynt, byddaf yn ysgrifennu ati'n benodol ynglŷn â hynny, os caf. Ar y pwynt cyntaf, mae'r rhaglen adnewyddu a diwygio a nodais yn awr wedi'i phwysoli'n benodol i adlewyrchu anghenion disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol mewn ysgolion, felly mae'r cyllid sy'n dilyn hynny a'r dyraniad i ysgolion yn adlewyrchu hynny'n benodol a dylai fod ar gael i wneud darpariaeth benodol ar gyfer disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Rwy'n cydnabod yr heriau a ddisgrifia i'r etholwr a ysgrifennodd ati. Dyna un o'r rhesymau pam y dyrennir yr arian yn y ffordd honno.
8. Pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod safonau uchel mewn addysg yn cael eu cyflawni? OQ56951
8. What action will the Welsh Government take to ensure the delivery of high standards in education? OQ56951
Our national mission is to raise education standards for all children and young people. We will continue to do this through our wide-ranging reform programme and unprecedented investment, as well as targeted support for specific cohorts and disadvantaged and vulnerable learners.
Cenhadaeth ein cenedl yw codi safonau addysg ar gyfer ein holl blant a phobl ifanc. Byddwn yn parhau i wneud hyn drwy ein rhaglen ddiwygio eang a buddsoddiad mwy nag erioed, yn ogystal â chymorth wedi'i dargedu ar gyfer carfannau penodol a dysgwyr difreintiedig ac agored i niwed.
Thank you, Minister. Following on from Jenny Rathbone's comment about school inspections, I believe school inspections are vital to ensure that the delivery of high standards of education is available across Wales. However, figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 show that 189 schools were last inspected between seven and 10 years ago, and a further 417 schools were inspected between five and seven years ago. One school in Wales was inspected over 10 years ago, Minister. These figures show school inspections were lacking long before coronavirus hit, which means hundreds of schools across the country could have been underperforming for years. What action will the Minister now be taking in light of these figures to ensure that schools are properly inspected and that youngsters and young people are getting the education that they deserve? Thank you.
Diolch, Weinidog. Yn dilyn sylw Jenny Rathbone am arolygiadau ysgolion, credaf fod arolygiadau ysgolion yn hanfodol i sicrhau bod darpariaeth addysg o safon uchel ar gael ledled Cymru. Fodd bynnag, mae ffigurau a gafwyd o dan Ddeddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000 yn dangos bod 189 o ysgolion wedi cael eu harolygu ddiwethaf rhwng saith a 10 mlynedd yn ôl, a 417 o ysgolion eraill wedi'u harolygu rhwng pump a saith mlynedd yn ôl. Arolygwyd un ysgol yng Nghymru dros 10 mlynedd yn ôl, Weinidog. Mae'r ffigurau hyn yn dangos bod arolygiadau ysgolion yn annigonol ymhell cyn y coronafeirws, sy'n golygu y gallai cannoedd o ysgolion ledled y wlad fod wedi bod yn tangyflawni ers blynyddoedd. Pa gamau y bydd y Gweinidog yn eu cymryd yn awr yng ngoleuni'r ffigurau hyn i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn cael eu harolygu'n iawn a bod pobl ifanc yn cael yr addysg y maent yn ei haeddu? Diolch.
Well, I think I agree with the Member's point about how important it is to make sure schools are inspected regularly in order to provide us with information around school accountability more broadly. As she knows, in future, under the new curriculum, inspection will happen on a much more regular basis. At the moment, as she knows, Estyn has suspended its core inspection programme for this term, recognising the challenges that schools have been grappling with over the last 12 to 18 months. During spring term next year, Estyn is going to be starting to pilot its new inspection regime with schools who participate in that. So, that will provide a different basis, going forward, for that inspection regime. But I absolutely echo the point that she made about how important that is, as part of our accountability process overall.
Wel, credaf fy mod yn cytuno â phwynt yr Aelod ynghylch pa mor bwysig yw sicrhau bod ysgolion yn cael eu harolygu'n rheolaidd er mwyn darparu gwybodaeth i ni am atebolrwydd ysgolion yn ehangach. Fel y gŵyr, yn y dyfodol, o dan y cwricwlwm newydd, cynhelir arolygiadau'n llawer mwy rheolaidd. Ar hyn o bryd, fel y gŵyr, mae Estyn wedi atal eu rhaglen arolygu graidd ar gyfer y tymor hwn, i gydnabod yr heriau y mae ysgolion wedi eu hwynebu dros y 12 i 18 mis diwethaf. Yn ystod tymor y gwanwyn y flwyddyn nesaf, bydd Estyn yn dechrau treialu eu trefn arolygu newydd gydag ysgolion sy'n cymryd rhan yn y cynllun peilot hwnnw. Felly, bydd hynny'n darparu sylfaen wahanol, wrth symud ymlaen, ar gyfer y drefn arolygu honno. Ond yn sicr, rwy'n ategu'r pwynt a wnaeth am bwysigrwydd hynny fel rhan o’n proses atebolrwydd yn gyffredinol.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Cyn inni symud ymlaen at fusnes y Senedd, hoffwn i gyfeirio at y digwyddiadau ar yr ystad neithiwr. Dwi eisiau cadarnhau wrth Aelodau fod bygythiadau i ddiogelwch a lles Aelodau, ein staff ni a'n hymwelwyr yn gwbl annerbyniol, a bod gormod ohonoch wedi profi bygythiadau o'r math neithiwr wrth rai protestwyr. Mae yna le, wrth gwrs, i brotest di-drais—mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonon ni wedi cymryd rhan mewn protest o'r fath—ond mae protest fygythiol i les unigolion naill ai yma yn y Senedd neu unrhyw le yng Nghymru yn gwbl annerbyniol. Mi fydd yr awdurdodau perthnasol yn adolygu'r digwyddiadau neithiwr ac mi fyddaf i mewn sefyllfa i ddiweddaru Aelodau maes o law.
Before we move on to further Senedd business, I want to touch on events on the Senedd estate last night. I want to reiterate to Members that threats to the safety and welfare of Members, our staff and, indeed, our visitors are totally unacceptable, and that too many of you faced threats of that kind last night from protestors. There is, of course, a place for non-violent protest—indeed, most of us have taken part in protests of that kind—but protest that threatens individuals' safety, be it here at the Senedd or anywhere else in Wales, is entirely unacceptable. The relevant authorities will be reviewing last night's events and I will be in a position to update Members in due course.
And just as I'm on the subject of last night, I received a request from a Member to make a personal statement with regard to his absence from the vote last night. I received that request just before 1.30 p.m. today. I hadn't even had time to consider that request let alone agree to it when, just before 2.15 p.m., the content of that statement had been shared with the press and on Twitter. I consider that statement now in the public domain and that it no longer requires to be made to the Senedd.
I'll take the opportunity, however, to reiterate to all Members that it is every individual Member's responsibility to ensure they are present early enough and in time to vote wherever you may be, and especially if voting from a location for the first time.
A chan fy mod yn sôn am neithiwr, cefais gais gan Aelod i wneud datganiad personol mewn perthynas â'i absenoldeb o'r bleidlais neithiwr. Derbyniais y cais hwnnw ychydig cyn 1.30 p.m. heddiw. Nid oeddwn wedi cael amser i ystyried y cais hwnnw hyd yn oed, heb sôn am gytuno iddo, pan gafodd cynnwys y datganiad ei rannu gyda'r wasg ac ar Twitter ychydig cyn 2.15 p.m. Rwy’n ystyried y datganiad hwnnw'n wybodaeth gyhoeddus bellach ac nad oes angen ei wneud i’r Senedd mwyach.
Rwyf am achub ar y cyfle, fodd bynnag, i ailadrodd wrth yr holl Aelodau mai cyfrifoldeb pob Aelod unigol yw sicrhau eu bod yn bresennol yn ddigon cynnar ac mewn pryd i bleidleisio lle bynnag y byddwch, ac yn enwedig os ydych yn pleidleisio o leoliad am y tro cyntaf.
Dwi'n symud ymlaen nawr i'r cwestiynau amserol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf—yr unig gwestiwn—gan Sioned Williams.
I'll move on now to to the topical questions, and the only topical question is to be posed by Sioned Williams.
1. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu ei wneud i liniaru effeithiau penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i ddileu y cynnydd mewn credyd cynhwysol o heddiw ymlaen? TQ569
1. What does the Welsh Government intend to do to mitigate the effects of the UK Government's decision to remove the universal credit uplift from today? TQ569
Well, diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. Thank you for this very important question. The UK Government has committed the greatest act of levelling down by cutting the £20 universal credit uplift, condemning hundreds of thousands of hard-working families to life on the poverty line. We shall not abandon families in Wales. Our discretionary assistance fund will help them keep their homes warm and children fed.
Wel, diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams. Diolch am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyflawni'r weithred waethaf o ostwng y gwastad drwy dorri'r ychwanegiad o £20 at y credyd cynhwysol, gan gondemnio cannoedd o filoedd o deuluoedd gweithgar i fyw ar ffin tlodi. Ni fyddwn yn cefnu ar deuluoedd yng Nghymru. Bydd ein cronfa cymorth dewisol yn eu helpu i gadw eu cartrefi'n gynnes a bwydo eu plant.
Diolch, Weinidog, a diolch, Llywydd, am dderbyn y cwestiwn amserol pwysig hwn.
Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Llywydd, for accepting this important topical question.
The £20 uplift in universal credit comes to an end today. This cruel decision by a heartless Westminster Tory Government will affect over 275,000 of the poorest households in Wales. That's one in five households. According to the Bevan Foundation, the impact will be worse for Welsh families, as a higher proportion of families here claim universal credit or working tax credit. And for families with children, four in 10 will be affected; that's four in 10 families with children in Wales who will suddenly find their safety net looks a whole less safe from today onwards. Today's cut comes as living costs in Wales are rising, household energy costs are rocketing—there's a record price today for gas prices in the UK—and household debt is deepening.
The solution according to the Westminster Government: just work two more hours. Aside from the absolute callousness of this statement, it's also utterly false. Universal credit is a tapered benefit, which means for every pound you earn, your payment reduces by 63p, so for a job that pays £10 per hour, it'll take a lot more than two hours to earn £20 more. Furthermore, 38 per cent of people claiming universal credit in Wales do have a job. They rely on universal credit because their work simply does not pay enough. I was listening to a mother being interviewed on Radio Wales this morning; her and her husband work full time. They are on universal credit; they're going to be worse off. She said the cut is going to be the equivalent of four weekly shops of food.
As the duty of the Welsh Government is to the people of Wales, I'd like to know what specific new plans the Welsh Government has to mitigate the effect of this disastrous decision on our poorest families, which will of course also see £286 million taken out of our local economies. The UK Government has announced £500 million for a household support fund to help vulnerable households this winter, resulting in £25 million being made available to the Welsh Government. This money, of course, goes nowhere near to plugging the hole so cruelly torn in poorest households' income by ending the uplift, and will not meet the needs of the inevitably increasing numbers of those facing fuel poverty, which is a life-or-death issue as winter approaches. I'd therefore like to know if the Welsh Government will be using some of this money to help fuel-poor indebted energy customers in particular, many of whom will have been affected by today's decision.
And lastly, when will the Welsh Government finally back widespread calls for the devolution of welfare powers to Wales, so that we can ensure a decent life for all, rather than forever leave the most vulnerable in our society at the mercy of Westminster, which will never have the best interests of the Welsh people at heart? Westminster has never cared about the people of Wales, and it never will. Introducing this cut has been a political choice; forging a better system requires political will. When will you as a Government decide that enough is enough?
Daw’r ychwanegiad o £20 at y credyd cynhwysol i ben heddiw. Bydd y penderfyniad creulon hwn gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd ddideimlad yn San Steffan yn effeithio ar dros 275,000 o aelwydydd tlotaf Cymru. Mae hynny'n un o bob pum cartref. Yn ôl Sefydliad Bevan, bydd yr effaith yn waeth ar deuluoedd Cymru, gan fod cyfran uwch o deuluoedd yma yn hawlio credyd cynhwysol neu gredyd treth gwaith. Ac i deuluoedd â phlant, effeithir ar bedwar o bob 10 teulu; dyna bedwar o bob 10 teulu â phlant yng Nghymru a fydd yn teimlo'n sydyn fod eu rhwyd ddiogelwch i'w gweld dipyn yn llai diogel o heddiw ymlaen. Daw'r toriad heddiw wrth i gostau byw yng Nghymru a chostau ynni aelwydydd godi—mae prisiau nwy'n uwch nag erioed heddiw yn y DU—ac mae dyledion aelwydydd yn dyfnhau.
Yr ateb, yn ôl Llywodraeth San Steffan: gweithiwch ddwy awr yn ychwanegol. Ar wahân i galongaledwch llwyr y datganiad hwn, mae hefyd yn gwbl gyfeiliornus. Mae credyd cynhwysol yn fudd-dal graddedig, sy'n golygu bod eich taliad yn lleihau 63c am bob punt a enillwch, felly ar gyfer swydd sy'n talu £10 yr awr, bydd yn cymryd llawer mwy na dwy awr i ennill £20 yn ychwanegol. Ar ben hynny, mae swyddi gan 38 y cant o'r bobl sy'n hawlio credyd cynhwysol yng Nghymru. Maent yn dibynnu ar gredyd cynhwysol am nad yw eu gwaith yn talu digon. Roeddwn yn gwrando ar fam yn cael ei chyfweld ar Radio Wales y bore yma; mae hi a'i gŵr yn gweithio'n llawnamser. Maent ar gredyd cynhwysol; maent yn mynd i fod yn waeth eu byd. Dywedodd y bydd y toriad yn cyfateb i werth pedair wythnos o siopa bwyd.
Gan fod dyletswydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru tuag at bobl Cymru, hoffwn wybod pa gynlluniau newydd penodol sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i liniaru effaith y penderfyniad trychinebus hwn ar ein teuluoedd tlotaf, a fydd hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn golygu bod £286 miliwn yn cael ei dynnu o'n heconomïau lleol. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi £500 miliwn ar gyfer cronfa gymorth i aelwydydd i helpu cartrefi agored i niwed dros y gaeaf, sydd wedi golygu bod £25 miliwn ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru. Nid yw hyn, wrth gwrs, yn hanner digon o arian i lenwi'r twll creulon a grëwyd yn incwm yr aelwydydd tlotaf yn sgil dod â'r ychwanegiad at y credyd cynhwysol i ben, ac ni fydd yn diwallu anghenion y niferoedd cynyddol, yn anochel, o bobl sy'n wynebu tlodi tanwydd, sy'n fater o fywyd neu farwolaeth wrth i'r gaeaf agosáu. Felly, hoffwn wybod a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n defnyddio peth o'r arian hwn i helpu cwsmeriaid sy'n byw mewn tlodi tanwydd ac sydd mewn dyled i gwmnïau ynni yn enwedig, gan y bydd y penderfyniad heddiw wedi effeithio ar lawer ohonynt.
Ac yn olaf, pryd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru o’r diwedd yn cefnogi galwadau eang am ddatganoli pwerau lles i Gymru, fel y gallwn sicrhau bywyd gweddus i bawb, yn hytrach na gadael y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas ar drugaredd San Steffan am byth, rhywle nad yw byth yn mynd i roi blaenoriaeth i les pobl Cymru? Nid yw San Steffan erioed wedi malio am bobl Cymru, ac ni fydd byth yn gwneud hynny. Dewis gwleidyddol oedd cyflwyno'r toriad hwn; mae ffurfio system well yn galw am ewyllys wleidyddol. Pa bryd y gwnewch chi fel Llywodraeth benderfynu mai digon yw digon?
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams, and very powerful words, which are shared and echoed in terms of what you said on this side of the Senedd. I know, and you are right, this is a cruel decision, and the Chancellor's response, as you say, to end the increase is the focus must be on jobs, but over 97,000 people receiving universal credit in Wales are working, and 76,000 people on universal credit are in the no work-related requirement group. Those are people who are disabled and have caring responsibilities that the DWP have said cannot work; they're in the no work-related requirement group. How cruel is it that those people are also going to be losing that all-important £1,040 annual income, and around 275,000 low-income families who in total lose £286 million? And I have to say, yes, of course, that's taking it out of our economy as well.
The planned reduction means the biggest overnight reduction to a basic rate of social security since the modern welfare state began more than 70 years ago. And I do also thank all those, not just here in this Senedd, but across Stormont, Westminster and Holyrood, where all of the committees have met and condemned this; the children's commissioners from each nation; numerous charities and faith groups; not to say also all of those Conservatives who are against this, including former Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions.
Can I just respond to your specific questions by saying that the announcement last week of the £500 million household support fund was derisory? Twenty-five million pounds to Wales. No way will it make up for the money that's been lost by hundreds of thousands of families across Wales, so we are working out proposals to ensure that the money is spent in the most efficient way in terms of the impact of this brutal cut to their household incomes. So, I'm grateful that you have raised this point today. Because actually Trussell Trust said, as a result of this, one in four people now say they will very likely need to skip meals—64,000 people in Wales, that is. And one in five say they will very likely be unable to afford to heat their homes this winter—61,000 people in Wales—and that's before the latest fuel increase.
So, just also very quickly, you know, and I have already announced, that we are extending the discretionary assistance fund, which we have in Wales—an additional £25.4 million during the pandemic. We're extending that and we're also including the flexibilities that we built into DAF. That will continue till next spring, but we're also going to have a national—again—income maximisation benefit take-up, working with local authorities and Citizens Advice. We've got to make sure that everyone takes up their entitlements.
So again, on your final point, we must make sure that we have a social security system that is delivered with compassion and is fair in the way it treats people. You know that we're carefully assessing this in terms of our situation in Wales, and of course devolving certain powers relating to elements of social security could provide us with a wider range of tools to tackle poverty. We of course have responded to that, and to the recommendations of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee that John Griffiths formerly chaired. So, I hope that is helpful in showing how we are trying to respond to this cruel, unnecessary cut to the incomes and the lives of our poorest people in Wales, who are, as I said, contributing to our economy, to our communities, to our society.
Diolch yn fawr, Sioned Williams, a geiriau pwerus iawn, sy'n cael eu rhannu a'u hadleisio o ran yr hyn a ddywedoch ar yr ochr hon i'r Senedd. Rwy'n gwybod, ac rydych yn llygad eich lle, fod hwn yn benderfyniad creulon, ac ymateb y Canghellor, fel y dywedwch, i ddod â'r ychwanegiad i ben yw bod yn rhaid canolbwyntio ar swyddi, ond mae dros 97,000 o bobl sy'n derbyn credyd cynhwysol yng Nghymru yn gweithio, ac mae 76,000 o bobl ar gredyd cynhwysol yn y grŵp heb ofyniad i wneud unrhyw weithgaredd sy’n gysylltiedig â gwaith. Mae'r rheini'n bobl anabl a phobl a chanddynt gyfrifoldebau gofalu y mae'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau wedi dweud na allant weithio; maent yn y grŵp heb ofyniad i wneud unrhyw weithgaredd sy’n gysylltiedig â gwaith. Pa mor greulon yw hi y bydd y bobl hynny hefyd yn colli'r incwm blynyddol hollbwysig o £1,040, ac oddeutu 275,000 o deuluoedd incwm isel yn colli cyfanswm o £286 miliwn? Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, ydy, wrth gwrs, mae'n golygu ei dynnu allan o'n heconomi hefyd.
Y toriad arfaethedig fydd y gostyngiad mwyaf dros nos i gyfradd sylfaenol o nawdd cymdeithasol ers dechrau'r wladwriaeth les fodern dros 70 mlynedd yn ôl. Ac rwyf hefyd yn diolch i bawb, nid yn unig yma yn y Senedd, ond yn Stormont, San Steffan a Holyrood, lle mae pob un o'r pwyllgorau wedi cyfarfod a chondemnio hyn; comisiynwyr plant pob gwlad; nifer o elusennau a grwpiau ffydd; heb sôn am yr holl Geidwadwyr sydd yn erbyn hyn, gan gynnwys cyn Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol dros Waith a Phensiynau.
A gaf fi ymateb i'ch cwestiynau penodol drwy ddweud bod y cyhoeddiad yr wythnos diwethaf am y gronfa gymorth i aelwydydd gwerth £500 miliwn yn warthus? Pum miliwn ar hugain o bunnoedd i Gymru. Ni all byth wneud iawn am yr arian a gollwyd gan gannoedd o filoedd o deuluoedd ledled Cymru, felly rydym yn gweithio ar gynigion i sicrhau y gwerir yr arian yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithlon o ran effaith y toriad creulon hwn ar incwm eu haelwydydd. Felly, rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi am godi'r pwynt hwn heddiw. Oherwydd mewn gwirionedd, mae Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell wedi dweud, o ganlyniad i hyn, fod un o bob pedwar o bobl bellach yn dweud ei bod yn debygol iawn y bydd angen iddynt fynd heb brydau bwyd—64,000 o bobl yng Nghymru, hynny yw. Ac mae un o bob pump yn dweud ei bod yn debygol iawn na fyddant yn gallu fforddio cynhesu eu cartrefi y gaeaf hwn—61,000 o bobl yng Nghymru—a hynny cyn y codiad diweddaraf ym mhris tanwydd.
Felly, yn gyflym iawn hefyd, ac rwyf eisoes wedi cyhoeddi ein bod yn ymestyn y gronfa cymorth dewisol sydd gennym yng Nghymru—£25.4 miliwn yn ychwanegol yn ystod y pandemig. Rydym yn ei hymestyn ac rydym hefyd yn cynnwys yr hyblygrwydd a ymgorfforwyd gennym yn y gronfa cymorth dewisol. Bydd hynny'n parhau tan y gwanwyn, ond bydd gennym hefyd—unwaith eto—ymgyrch genedlaethol i sicrhau bod pobl yn hawlio budd-daliadau, gan weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol a Cyngor ar Bopeth. Mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod pawb yn cael yr hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo.
Felly, unwaith eto, ar eich pwynt olaf, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod gennym system nawdd cymdeithasol a weinyddir gyda thrugaredd ac sy'n deg o ran y ffordd y mae'n trin pobl. Fe wyddoch ein bod yn asesu hyn yn ofalus mewn perthynas â'n sefyllfa yng Nghymru, ac wrth gwrs, gallai datganoli rhai pwerau sy'n ymwneud ag elfennau o nawdd cymdeithasol ddarparu ystod ehangach o offer inni allu trechu tlodi. Rydym wedi ymateb i hynny, wrth gwrs, ac i argymhellion y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau yr arferai John Griffiths ei gadeirio. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny o ddefnydd i ddangos sut rydym yn ceisio ymateb i'r toriad creulon, diangen hwn i incwm a bywydau'r bobl dlotaf yng Nghymru, sydd, fel y dywedais, yn cyfrannu at ein heconomi, ein cymunedau, a'n cymdeithas.
In April 2020, as a one-year response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the universal credit standard allowance received a temporary uplift of £20 a week. In his March 2021 budget, the UK Chancellor announced an extension of this temporary uplift for a further six months, alongside other advances to universal credit. The temporary uplift was always time-limited and it is misleading to pretend otherwise.
As the First Minister said yesterday in regard to an NHS pay rise, Government can't just magic money out of the air. The UK Government, which delivered a £407 billion COVID support package, including a £9 billion injection into our welfare system, and an additional £2.14 billion to the Welsh Government for 2021-22, is now focused on investing in jobs and skills as we bounce back from the pandemic. Further, as we heard, the UK Government has also announced a new £500 million household support fund available to help those most in need as we enter, hopefully, the final stages of recovery, which will support millions of households. Devolved Governments will receive £79 million of this, so how will the Welsh Government ensure that its full share of this money ends up helping those most in need in Wales?
Ym mis Ebrill 2020, fel ymateb un flwyddyn i bandemig COVID-19, rhoddwyd ychwanegiad dros dro o £20 yr wythnos i lwfans safonol y credyd cynhwysol. Yn ei gyllideb ym mis Mawrth 2021, cyhoeddodd Canghellor y DU estyniad i'r ychwanegiad dros dro hwn am chwe mis arall, ochr yn ochr â thaliadau ymlaen llaw eraill o'r credyd cynhwysol. O'r cychwyn, roedd yr ychwanegiad dros dro am amser cyfyngedig ac mae'n gamarweiniol esgus fel arall.
Fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog ddoe ynglŷn â chodiad cyflog i'r GIG, ni all y Llywodraeth hudo arian o'r gwynt. Mae Llywodraeth y DU, a gyflwynodd becyn cymorth COVID gwerth £407 biliwn, gan gynnwys chwistrelliad o £9 biliwn i’n system les, a £2.14 biliwn yn ychwanegol i Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 2021-22, bellach yn canolbwyntio ar fuddsoddi mewn swyddi a sgiliau wrth inni ymadfer wedi'r pandemig. Yn ogystal â hyn, fel y clywsom, mae Llywodraeth y DU hefyd wedi cyhoeddi cronfa gymorth newydd gwerth £500 miliwn i aelwydydd sydd ar gael i helpu'r rhai mwyaf anghenus wrth inni wynebu camau olaf yr adferiad, gobeithio, a bydd hwnnw'n cefnogi miliynau o aelwydydd. Bydd y Llywodraethau datganoledig yn cael £79 miliwn ohono, felly sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n sicrhau bod ei chyfran lawn o'r arian hwn yn helpu'r rhai mwyaf anghenus yng Nghymru?
I am surprised that Mark Isherwood hasn't listened to my answers to the questions that have been put so powerfully by Sioned Williams this afternoon. I can perhaps remind him that, actually, it was Stephen Crabb, the Conservative MP, who actually pointed to the fact that the reality is that even if the £20 per week payment is maintained it will not make up for the income that our poorest households lost, because of severe cuts year on year to their benefit payments, introduced by years of welfare cuts—years of welfare cuts, Mark Isherwood. Stephen Crabb admitted that he was part of that team that pushed more workers into poverty. That is one of your colleagues in Westminster.
Also, can I just point out the fact that I'm looking at north Wales and Aberconwy, just one constituency, where 4,750 households are claiming universal credit, of which 45 per cent are working? There'll be 2,756 children in households that will lose that £20 per week. You are someone, Mark, who always stands up and always speaks in support of the third sector in your community. Are you listening to them in north Wales?
Rwy’n synnu nad yw Mark Isherwood wedi gwrando ar fy atebion i’r cwestiynau a ofynnwyd mor bwerus gan Sioned Williams y prynhawn yma. Gallaf ei atgoffa, efallai, mai Stephen Crabb, yr Aelod Seneddol Ceidwadol, a nododd mai'r gwir amdani yw, hyd yn oed pe cedwir y taliad o £20 yr wythnos, na fyddai hynny'n gwneud iawn am yr incwm y mae ein haelwydydd tlotaf wedi'i golli, oherwydd y toriadau difrifol flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn i'w budd-daliadau, a gyflwynwyd gan flynyddoedd o doriadau lles—blynyddoedd o doriadau lles, Mark Isherwood. Cyfaddefodd Stephen Crabb ei fod yn rhan o'r tîm hwnnw a wthiodd fwy o weithwyr i mewn i dlodi. Mae'n un o'ch cyd-Geidwadwyr yn San Steffan.
Hefyd, a gaf fi dynnu sylw at y ffaith fy mod yn edrych ar ogledd Cymru ac Aberconwy, un etholaeth yn unig, lle mae 4,750 o aelwydydd yn hawlio credyd cynhwysol, a 45 y cant ohonynt yn gweithio? Bydd 2,756 o blant mewn aelwydydd a fydd yn colli'r £20 yr wythnos hwnnw. Mark, rydych chi bob amser yn siarad o blaid ac yn dadlau dros y trydydd sector yn eich cymuned. A ydych chi'n gwrando arnynt yng ngogledd Cymru?
I thank the Member for putting this question forward, because it's really, really important, and this is happening today, now, to families. It is, as the Minister said, the largest single benefit cut since 1945—one of the largest ever, in fact. After more than 10 years of Tory cuts—[Interruption.] I've only just started. And you can't make an intervention anyway.
Diolch i'r Aelod am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn, gan ei fod yn bwysig tu hwnt ac mae hyn yn digwydd heddiw, yn awr, i deuluoedd. Fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, dyma'r toriad mwyaf i fudd-daliadau ers 1945—un o'r rhai mwyaf erioed, a dweud y gwir. Ar ôl mwy na 10 mlynedd o doriadau Torïaidd—[Torri ar draws.] Newydd ddechrau ydw i. Ac ni chewch wneud ymyriad beth bynnag.
Janet Finch-Saunders, if you wish to ask a question, put a request in.
Janet Finch-Saunders, os ydych am ofyn cwestiwn, rhowch gais i mewn.
Yes, please do—after more than 10 years of Tory cuts, when workers are already facing choices between eating and heating. I read the letter from the devolved administrations to the Prime Minister asking him to reverse that decision. I know he's been busy cracking jokes in Manchester, but has he actually bothered to reply to that letter? Because those families that he is making poorer today deserve answers, and not a clown routine. I heard Mark Isherwood say that Governments can't magic money. Well, I'd like him to consider how people are going to magic food on their table and money to put in their gas meters, because that's what we're really talking about here today.
Ie, gwnewch hynny a chroeso—ar ôl mwy na 10 mlynedd o doriadau Torïaidd, pan fo gweithwyr eisoes yn wynebu gorfod dewis rhwng bwyta a gwresogi. Darllenais y llythyr gan y gweinyddiaethau datganoledig at Brif Weinidog y DU yn gofyn iddo wrthdroi'r penderfyniad hwnnw. Gwn ei fod wedi bod yn brysur yn dweud jôcs ym Manceinion, ond a yw wedi trafferthu ymateb i'r llythyr hwnnw? Oherwydd mae'r teuluoedd y mae'n eu gwneud yn dlotach heddiw yn haeddu atebion, ac nid perfformiad gan glown. Clywais Mark Isherwood yn dweud na all Llywodraethau hudo arian o'r awyr. Wel, hoffwn pe bai'n ystyried sut y mae pobl yn mynd i hudo bwyd ar eu bwrdd ac arian i'w roi yn eu mesuryddion nwy, gan mai dyna rydym yn sôn amdano yma heddiw mewn gwirionedd.
Diolch yn fawr, Joyce Watson. I have responded to many of the important and valid points that you've made. I think it is important to recognise this joint letter that went from the First Minister of Scotland, the First Minister of Wales and the First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to Boris Johnson, calling on him, urging him, not to proceed with this completely unnecessary cut. In that letter, they say that
'this will increase poverty and hardship without delivering any tangible social or economic benefits. The UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights said—when calling upon you to reverse this cut—that for a healthy and well-qualified workforce to emerge, your Government must provide adequate levels of social protection. Years of a freeze on benefits means Universal Credit has not kept pace with rising living costs.'
And, of course, as I said, the £500 million fund that's been handed out on a discretionary basis is wholly inadequate to making up the £6 billion shortfall in social security expenditure that will result from this cut.
Diolch yn fawr, Joyce Watson. Rwyf wedi ymateb i lawer o'r pwyntiau pwysig a dilys a wnaethoch. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod y llythyr hwn a anfonwyd ar y cyd gan Brif Weinidog yr Alban, Prif Weinidog Cymru a Phrif Weinidog a dirprwy Brif Weinidog Gogledd Iwerddon at Boris Johnson, yn galw arno, yn ei annog, i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â'r toriad cwbl ddiangen hwn. Yn y llythyr hwnnw, maent yn dweud
'bydd hyn yn cynyddu tlodi a chaledi heb sicrhau unrhyw fuddion cymdeithasol neu economaidd gwirioneddol. Dywedodd Rapporteur Arbennig y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Dlodi Eithafol a Hawliau Dynol—wrth alw arnoch i wrthdroi’r toriad hwn—er mwyn sicrhau gweithlu iach a chymwys, fod yn rhaid i’ch Llywodraeth ddarparu lefelau digonol o ddiogelwch cymdeithasol. Mae blynyddoedd o rewi budd-daliadau yn golygu nad yw Credyd Cynhwysol wedi codi i'r un graddau â chostau byw cynyddol.'
Ac wrth gwrs, fel y dywedais, mae'r gronfa £500 miliwn a ddosbarthwyd ar sail ddewisol yn gwbl annigonol i wneud iawn am y diffyg o £6 biliwn mewn gwariant nawdd cymdeithasol a fydd yn deillio o'r toriad hwn.
It's absolutely clear that the UK Government is just turning a deaf ear even to the pleas from people within their own party and former Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions. So, I think we have to fall back on what we can do. Obviously, the increase in the discretionary assistance fund is very welcome, but I just wondered what conversations you might be able to have with your colleagues in the climate change ministry about how we could accelerate the retrofitting of social housing. Because, obviously, that is where a very large number of universal credit recipients are living, and they are therefore going to be £20 a week worse off. Also, what can we do to somehow rectify the total imbalance in the food that's rotting on the trees and is about to be culled in grotesque images on the farms, simply because we cannot get the right skills to rectify the problems that we have with our food security? So, what can we do to ensure that food that's currently not being collected reaches the people who most need it?
Mae'n gwbl amlwg fod Llywodraeth y DU yn troi clust fyddar hyd yn oed i apeliadau pobl o'u plaid eu hunain a chyn Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol dros Waith a Phensiynau. Felly, credaf fod yn rhaid inni ddibynnu ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud ein hunain. Yn amlwg, mae croeso mawr i'r cynnydd yn y gronfa cymorth dewisol, ond tybed pa sgyrsiau y gallech eu cael gyda'ch cyd-Aelodau yn y weinyddiaeth newid hinsawdd ynglŷn â sut y gallem gyflymu'r gwaith o ôl-osod tai cymdeithasol. Oherwydd yn amlwg, dyna lle mae nifer fawr iawn o'r rhai sy'n derbyn credyd cynhwysol yn byw, ac felly maent yn mynd i fod £20 yr wythnos yn waeth eu byd. Hefyd, beth y gallwn ei wneud i unioni, rywsut, yr anghydbwysedd llwyr yn y bwyd sy'n pydru ar goed ac ar fin cael ei ddifa mewn lluniau gwrthun ar y ffermydd am y rheswm syml na allwn gael y sgiliau cywir i unioni'r problemau sydd gennym gyda diogelwch ein cyflenwad bwyd? Felly, beth y gallwn ei wneud i sicrhau bod bwyd nad yw'n cael ei gasglu ar hyn o bryd yn cyrraedd y bobl sydd ei angen fwyaf?
I thank Jenny Rathbone for that important question. We've got £25 million allocated—as I said, a derisory amount—to Wales. What I have sought to do—. As soon as we heard about that allocation, I've gone across the whole of the Welsh Government to say, 'What is it?' It's a one-off sum of money; it's not recurrent. It's a one-off sum of money, which is the hardest to spend sustainably. So, all Ministers are responding in terms of how they think we can most effectively use that funding, and, of course, I'm sure that your points today will be very valuable for the Minister for Climate Change.
Diolch i Jenny Rathbone am ei chwestiwn pwysig. Mae gennym £25 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu—fel y dywedais, swm gwarthus—i Gymru. Yr hyn y ceisiais ei wneud—. Cyn gynted ag y clywsom am y dyraniad hwnnw, rwyf wedi gofyn i bawb yn Llywodraeth Cymru, 'Beth ydyw?' Mae'n swm untro o arian; nid yw'n rheolaidd. Mae'n swm untro o arian, sef yr anoddaf i'w wario mewn modd cynaliadwy. Felly, mae pob Gweinidog yn ymateb o ran sut y credant y gallwn ddefnyddio'r cyllid hwnnw yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol, ac wrth gwrs, rwy'n siŵr y bydd eich pwyntiau heddiw'n werthfawr iawn i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad, ac mae'r datganiad cyntaf y prynhawn yma gan Mike Hedges.
The next item is the 90-second statements, and the first this afternoon is from Mike Hedges.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Morriston Orpheus choir's musical director, Joy Amman Davies, has retired this year after 30 years of service with the choir. The quality of singing of the Morriston Orpheus choir is well known throughout the world. Joy was born in Glanamman and won a scholarship to have piano tuition at the Welsh College of Music and Drama before entering Bangor University. Joy joined Morriston Orpheus as an accompanist in 1991, and then in 2007 became the choir's musical director. She has travelled with the choir extensively, to venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and the Sydney Opera House. As well as the Morriston Orpheus choir, she has been a guest accompanist to other choirs and accompanied many famous Welsh singers. During the COVID pandemic, Joy hasn't stopped, working as hard as ever, running online rehearsals twice a week, and recording songs virtually, which have been viewed by over 0.25 million people online. Her love for the choir and the choristers' love for her are most obvious, and she will be deeply and sorely missed by both the choristers and those of us who are regular attendees at Morriston Orpheus concerts. I want to say thank you to Joy publicly. Thank you for your commitment, your dedication and your love of music. I do not think there's a better sound than hearing Morriston Orpheus singing 'Myfanwy'.
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae cyfarwyddwr cerdd côr Orpheus Treforys, Joy Amman Davies, wedi ymddeol eleni ar ôl 30 mlynedd o wasanaeth gyda’r côr. Mae safon canu côr Orpheus Treforys yn fyd-enwog. Ganed Joy yng Nglanaman ac enillodd ysgoloriaeth i gael hyfforddiant piano yng Ngholeg Cerdd a Drama Cymru cyn mynychu Prifysgol Bangor. Ymunodd Joy â chôr Orpheus Treforys fel cyfeilydd ym 1991, ac yna yn 2007, daeth yn gyfarwyddwr cerdd y côr. Mae hi wedi gwneud cryn dipyn o deithio gyda'r côr, i leoliadau fel Neuadd Carnegie yn Efrog Newydd a Thŷ Opera Sydney. Yn ogystal â chôr Orpheus Treforys, mae hi wedi bod yn gyfeilydd gwadd i gorau eraill ac wedi cyfeilio i lawer o gantorion enwog o Gymru. Yn ystod y pandemig COVID, nid yw Joy wedi stopio, gan weithio mor galed ag erioed, a chynnal ymarferion ar-lein ddwywaith yr wythnos, a recordio caneuon yn rhithwir, gan ddenu dros 0.25 miliwn o wylwyr ar-lein. Mae ei chariad at y côr a chariad y côr tuag ati hithau yn amlwg iawn, a bydd y cantorion a'r rhai ohonom sy'n mynychu cyngherddau côr Orpheus Treforys yn rheolaidd yn ei gweld hi'n chwith iawn ar ei hôl. Hoffwn ddiolch i Joy yn gyhoeddus. Diolch am eich ymrwymiad, eich ymroddiad a'ch cariad at gerddoriaeth. Ni chredaf fod sŵn gwell i'w gael na chlywed côr Orpheus Treforys yn canu 'Myfanwy'.
Bythefnos yn ôl, daeth y newyddion trist am farw'r gyflwynwraig a'r cynhyrchydd radio Magi Dodd yn 44 mlwydd oed. Ganed a magwyd Magi ym Mhontypridd, lle bu'n ddisgybl yn Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton ac Ysgol Rhydfelen, cyn mynd ymlaen i astudio ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth. Ar ddechrau'r ganrif hon, daeth yn llais cyfarwydd ar donfeddi Radio Cymru—ar raglenni C2 ac fel cyflwynydd Dodd Com—ac yn fwy diweddar bu'n cynhyrchu rhaglenni ac yn cyflwyno Cwis Pop ar Radio Cymru. Mae llu o bobl wedi talu teyrnged iddi, gyda phawb yn nodi ei hangerdd am Bontypridd ac am y sin roc Gymraeg, tra hefyd yn pwysleisio ei charedigrwydd a'i phersonoliaeth afieithus. Fe ysgogodd hi genhedlaeth a mwy o bobl i rannu ei chariad at gerddoriaeth Gymraeg, gan ddenu cynulleidfaoedd newydd i'r orsaf. Prin oedd y cyflwynwyr o’r Cymoedd ar Radio Cymru bryd hynny, ac fel y dywedodd Huw Meredydd Roberts:
'Fe ddaeth hi'n un o gyflwynwyr pwysicaf yr orsaf yn fy marn i—yn llais i genhedlaeth o bobl ifanc o gymoedd y de ar ein gwasanaeth cenedlaethol.'
Bûm i weld mam Magi wythnos diwethaf, a dywedodd wrthyf am y caredigrwydd a'r cariad maent wedi ei dderbyn fel teulu gan bobl Pontypridd a thu hwnt, a'i fod fel petai fod pawb ym Mhontypridd wedi nabod Magi. Dwi ddim yn amau bod hyn yn wir. Bydd Pontypridd a Chymru yn lle tlotach hebddi, a hoffwn estyn fy nghydymdeimlad dwysaf i'w phartner, Aled, ei theulu, ei chydweithwyr a'i ffrindiau heddiw. Gorffwys mewn hedd, Magi.
Two weeks ago, we heard the sad news about the death of the radio presenter and producer Magi Dodd, at the age of 44. Magi was born and raised in Pontypridd, where she attended Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Sion Norton and Ysgol Rhydfelen, before going on to study at Aberystwyth University. In the early part of this century, she became a familiar voice on Radio Cymru—on C2 programmes and as the presenter of Dodd Com—and more recently, she produced programmes and presented the Radio Cymru pop quiz. A host of people have paid tribute to Magi, with everyone noting her passion for Pontypridd and the Welsh rock scene, while also emphasising her kindness and exuberant personality. She inspired a generation and more to share her love of Welsh music, attracting new audiences to the station. There were very few presenters from the Valleys on Radio Cymru at that time, and as Huw Meredydd Roberts observed:
'She became one of the station's most important presenters—the voice of a generation of young people from the south Wales Valleys on our national service.'
I went to see Magi's mum last week, and she told me of the kindness and the love that the family has received from the people of Pontypridd and beyond, adding that everyone in Pontypridd seems to have known Magi. I have no doubt that this is the case. Pontypridd and Wales will be poorer places without her, and I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to her partner, Aled, and her family, colleagues and friends today. Rest in peace, Magi.
This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The recent death of Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding from breast cancer at the tragically young age of 39 highlighted the vital importance of doing all that we can to fight this horrible disease. The pandemic has resulted in a big drop in the number of people being referred to see a specialist with suspected breast cancer. Screening services were sadly paused, and whilst for many patients treatment continued unchanged, others saw delays and cancellations of their treatment. It is therefore critical that the Welsh Government works with the NHS cancer section and cancer charities to support the recovery of breast cancer services as well as plan their long-term future. Recently, NHS England announced it would fund a national metastatic breast cancer audit. I understand that NHS Wales is also having discussions about Wales being included in this audit too, and I sincerely hope that the decision will be forthcoming soon to include Wales in this audit to address the gaps in services for breast cancer patients. Because whether you are a grandparent, a mother, a father, a husband, a son or a daughter, breast cancer does not discriminate and we all have a responsibility to work together and support the fighters, admire the survivors, honour those sadly taken away from us, and work to detect breast cancer, treat breast cancer, and raise awareness about it going forward.
Y mis hwn yw Mis Ymwybyddiaeth o Ganser y Fron. Amlygodd marwolaeth seren Girls Aloud, Sarah Harding, o ganser y fron yn ddiweddar, a hithau ond yn 39 mlwydd oed, pa mor eithriadol o bwysig yw gwneud popeth a allwn i frwydro yn erbyn y clefyd erchyll hwn. Mae'r pandemig wedi arwain at ostyngiad mawr yn nifer y bobl yr amheuir fod ganddynt ganser y fron sy'n cael eu cyfeirio at arbenigwr. Yn anffodus, cafodd gwasanaethau sgrinio eu hatal dros dro, ac er i driniaeth llawer o gleifion barhau heb newid, cafodd triniaethau eraill eu gohirio a'u canslo. Mae'n hanfodol felly fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gydag adran ganser y GIG ac elusennau canser i gefnogi adfer gwasanaethau canser y fron yn ogystal â chynllunio eu dyfodol hirdymor. Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd GIG Lloegr y byddai'n ariannu archwiliad cenedlaethol o ganser metastatig y fron. Rwy'n deall bod GIG Cymru hefyd yn cael trafodaethau am gynnwys Cymru yn yr archwiliad, ac rwy'n mawr obeithio y gwneir penderfyniad cyn bo hir i gynnwys Cymru er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r bylchau yn y gwasanaethau i gleifion canser y fron. Oherwydd ni waeth a ydych yn dad-cu neu'n fam-gu, yn fam, yn dad, yn ŵr, yn fab neu'n ferch, nid yw canser y fron yn gwahaniaethu, ac mae gan bob un ohonom gyfrifoldeb i weithio gyda'n gilydd a chefnogi'r rheini sy'n ymladd, edmygu'r goroeswyr, anrhydeddu'r rhai sy'n ein gadael, a gweithio i ganfod canser y fron, trin canser y fron, a chodi ymwybyddiaeth ohono yn y dyfodol.
Diolch am y datganiadau yna.
Thank you for those statements.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cynnig i atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro er mwyn caniatáu cynnal dadl ar y pedair eitem nesaf. Dwi'n galw ar Aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynnig yn ffurfiol—Siân Gwenllian.
The next item is a motion to suspend Standing Orders to allow debate on the next four items. I call on a Member of the Business Committee to formally move the motion—Siân Gwenllian.
Cynnig NDM7802 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 33.6 a 33.8:
Yn atal Rheol Sefydlog 12.20(ii) a'r rhan honno o Reol Sefydlog 11.16 sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol bod y cyhoeddiad wythnosol o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.11 yn darparu'r amserlen ar gyfer busnes yn y Cyfarfod Llawn yr wythnos ganlynol, er mwyn caniatáu i NDM7798, NDM7799, NDM7800 ac NDM7801 gael ei hystyried yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ddydd Mercher, 6 Hydref 2021.
Motion NDM7802 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8:
Suspends Standing Order 12.10(ii) and that part of Standing Order 11.16 that requires the weekly announcement under Standing Order 11.11 to constitute the timetable for business in Plenary for the following week, to allow NDM7798, NDM7799, NDM7800 and NDM7801 to be considered in Plenary on Wednesday, 6 October 2021.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Cynnig yn ffurfiol.
Formally move.
Y cynnig yw i atal Rheolau Sefydlog dros dro. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu hynny? Dwi ddim yn gweld gwrthwynebiad, felly derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to suspend Standing Orders. Does any Member object? I see no objections and therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.24, oni bai fod Aelod yn gwrthwynebu, caiff y pedwar cynnig o dan eitemau 5, 6, 7 ac 8 i sefydlu pwyllgorau a chytuno ar eu haelodaeth a threfniadau pleidleisio eu grwpio i gynnal dadl arnynt, ond gyda phleidleisiau ar wahân. Oes gwrthwynebiad i hynny? Nac oes.
In accordance with Standing Order 12.24, unless a Member objects, the four motions under items 5, 6, 7 and 8 to establish committees and agree their membership and voting arrangements will be grouped for debate, but with votes taken separately. Does any Member object? There is no objection.
Galwaf yn awr, felly, ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynigion yn ffurfiol—Siân Gwenllian.
I therefore call on a member of the Business Committee to formally move the motions—Siân Gwenllian.
Cynnig NDM7798 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 16.1, yn sefydlu Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog i graffu ar waith y Prif Weinidog o safbwynt unrhyw fater sy'n berthnasol i'r gwaith o arfer swyddogaethau Llywodraeth Cymru.
Motion NDM7798 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 16.1, establishes a Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister to scrutinise the First Minister on any matter relevant to the exercise of the functions of the Welsh Government.
Cynnig NDM7799 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.2T, yn penderfynu na fydd Rheolau Sefydlog 17.2A i 17.2S (ethol cadeiryddion pwyllgorau) yn gymwys mewn perthynas â’r Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog.
2. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.3, yn ethol:
a) John Griffiths (Llafur Cymru), Jenny Rathbone (Llafur Cymru), Jack Sargeant (Llafur Cymru), Paul Davies (Ceidwadwyr Cymreig), Russell George (Ceidwadwyr Cymreig) a Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru) yn aelodau o’r Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog; a
b) David Rees (Dirprwy Lywydd) yn Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog.
Motion NDM7799 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd:
1. In accordance with Standing Order 17.2T, resolves that Standing Orders 17.2A to 17.2S (election of committee chairs) shall not apply in relation to the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister.
2. In accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects:
a) John Griffiths (Welsh Labour), Jenny Rathbone (Welsh Labour), Jack Sargeant (Welsh Labour), Paul Davies (Welsh Conservatives), Russell George (Welsh Conservatives) and Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru), as members of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister; and
b) David Rees (Deputy Presiding Officer) as Chair of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister.
Cynnig NDM7801 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 16.5:
1. Yn sefydlu Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd.
2. Yn cytuno mai cylch gwaith y Pwyllgor yw:
a) ystyried y casgliadau a wnaed yn flaenorol gan y Pwyllgor ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Senedd yn y Bumed Senedd fel y nodir yn ei adroddiad Diwygio'r Senedd: Y camau nesaf a osodwyd gerbron y Senedd ar 10 Medi 2020;
b) erbyn 31 Mai 2022, gwneud argymhellion ar gyfer cyfarwyddiadau polisi ar Fil Llywodraeth Cymru i Ddiwygio'r Senedd.
3. Yn cytuno y caiff y Pwyllgor ei ddiddymu yn dilyn dadl yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ar ei adroddiad terfynol.
Motion NDM7801 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 16.5:
1. Establishes a Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform.
2. Agrees that the remit of the Committee is:
a) to consider the conclusions previously reached by the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform in the Fifth Senedd as set out in its report Senedd reform: The next steps laid before the Senedd on 10 September 2020;
b) by 31 May 2022, to make recommendations for policy instructions for a Welsh Government Bill on Senedd Reform.
3. Agrees that the Committee will be dissolved following a Plenary debate on its final report.
Cynnig NDM7800 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.2T, yn penderfynu na fydd Rheolau Sefydlog 17.2A i 17.2S (ethol cadeiryddion pwyllgorau) yn gymwys mewn perthynas â’r Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd.
2. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.3, yn ethol:
a) Jayne Bryant (Llafur Cymru), Darren Millar (Ceidwadwyr Cymreig), Siân Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru), a Jane Dodds (Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol) yn aelodau o'r Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd;
b) Elin Jones (Llywydd) fel aelod o'r Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd;
c) Huw Irranca-Davies (Llafur Cymru) yn Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd.
3. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 33.6 a 33.8, yn penderfynu na fydd Rheolau Sefydlog 17.37 i 17.39 yn gymwys mewn perthynas â’r Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd.
4. Yn penderfynu, lle mae angen pleidlais i waredu busnes, y bydd pleidleisio yn y Pwyllgor Diben Arbennig ar Ddiwygio'r Senedd yn gweithredu fel a ganlyn:
a) dim ond wrth arfer pleidlais fwrw y caiff y cadeirydd bleidleisio;
b) ni chaiff y Llywydd bleidleisio;
c) caiff pob aelod arall o'r Pwyllgor bleidleisio ac, os ydynt yn perthyn i grŵp gwleidyddol, mae pob aelod yn cael un bleidlais ar gyfer pob aelod o'r grŵp gwleidyddol y mae’n perthyn iddo (gan gynnwys ei hun a'r Llywydd a'r Dirprwy os yw’n aelodau o'i grŵp gwleidyddol);
d) rhaid pasio penderfyniad i gytuno ar argymhellion i'r Senedd ar bleidlais lle mae'r aelodau sy'n pleidleisio o'i blaid yn cario o leiaf 40 pleidlais.
Motion NDM7800 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd:
1. In accordance with Standing Order 17.2T, resolves that Standing Orders 17.2A to 17.2S (election of committee chairs) shall not apply in relation to the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform;
2. In accordance with Standing Order 17.3, elects:
a) Jayne Bryant (Welsh Labour), Darren Millar (Welsh Conservatives), Siân Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru), and Jane Dodds (Liberal Democrat) as members of the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform;
b) Elin Jones (Llywydd) as a member of the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform;
c) Huw Irranca-Davies (Welsh Labour) as Chair of the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform.
3. In accordance with Standing Orders 33.6 and 33.8, resolves that Standing Orders 17.37 to 17.39 shall not apply in relation to the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform.
4. Resolves that, where a vote is necessary to dispose of business, voting in the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform will operate as follows:
a) the chair may vote only in the exercise of a casting vote;
b) the Llywydd may not vote;
c) all other members of the Committee may vote and, if they belong to a political group, each member carries one vote for each member of the political group to which they belong (including himself or herself and the Presiding Officer and Deputy if they are members of his or her political group);
d) a resolution to agree recommendations to the Senedd must be passed on a vote in which the members voting in favour carry at least 40 votes.
Cynigiwyd y cynigion.
Motions moved.
Cynnig yn ffurfiol.
Formally move.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynigion? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Dwi ddim yn gweld gwrthwynebiad, felly mae'r cynigion yna wedi'u derbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to agree the motions. Does any Member object? I see no objection, so those motions are agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynigion yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motions agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Mi fyddwn ni nawr yn atal y trafodion dros dro er mwyn caniatáu ambell i newid yn y Siambr. Diolch yn fawr.
We will now suspend proceedings to allow some change-overs in the Chamber. Thank you.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:25.
Plenary was suspended at 15:25.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:37, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 15:37, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) in the Chair.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Lesley Griffiths, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Siân Gwenllian. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Lesley Griffiths, and amendment 2 in the name of Siân Gwenllian. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected.
Nesaf yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig: Iechyd Meddwl. Galwaf ar Tom Giffard i wneud y cynnig.
The next item is the Welsh Conservative debate on mental health. And I call on Tom Giffard to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM7793 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi mai dydd Sul 10 Hydref yw diwrnod iechyd meddwl y byd.
2. Yn cydnabod effaith COVID-19 ar gymorth iechyd meddwl ac anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl.
3. Yn gresynu at y ffaith bod nifer y bobl ifanc sy'n dod i'r ysbyty gyda phroblemau hunan-niweidio wedi codi 39 y cant ers 2007.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnwys yn ei strategaeth iechyd meddwl 10 mlynedd newydd y flwyddyn nesaf:
a) camau i weithredu argymhellion o adroddiadau Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg y Pumed Senedd, 'Cadernid Meddwl' a 'Cadernid Meddwl: Ddwy flynedd yn ddiweddarach';
b) adroddiadau blynyddol a phennu targedau ar gyfer amseroedd aros i gael triniaeth iechyd meddwl, gan gynnwys lleihau ôl-groniadau;
c) cyflwyno canolfannau argyfwng iechyd meddwl 24 awr ar lefel genedlaethol;
d) cynllun gweithlu iechyd meddwl clir.
5. Yn galw ymhellach ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno Deddf iechyd meddwl newydd.
Motion NDM7793 Darren Millar
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes that Sunday 10 October is world mental health day.
2. Recognises the impact of COVID-19 on mental health support and mental health inequalities.
3. Regrets that the number of young people presenting at hospital with self-harming issues has risen by 39 per cent since 2007.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to include in its replacement 10-year mental health strategy next year:
a) actions to implement recommendations from the Fifth Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee’s reports, 'Mind over Matter' and 'Mind over Matter: Two years on';
b) annual reports and the establishment of targets for waiting times for mental health treatment, including the reduction of backlogs;
c) a national rollout of 24-hour mental health crisis centres;
d) a clear mental health workforce plan.
5. Further calls on the Welsh Government to introduce a new mental health Act.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to open this Welsh Conservative debate today on the topic of mental health tabled in the name of Darren Millar. This Sunday, 10 October, is World Mental Health Day. We should take this opportunity to reflect on our own mental health, and that of our friends, and of our family, and what we as Senedd Members can do to promote positive mental health across Wales. It's also a day where we all need to reflect and take time to check up on someone. It's a day when we should drop an old friend a text, have a Zoom conversation with a colleague or meet up for a coffee with a family member. You may never know the difference a small act can make on someone struggling with their mental health.
COVID-19 hasn't been kind to our mental health. And, regrettably, we've seen a sharp rise in the number of children and adults that are suffering. It would be wrong of me not to start by mentioning the work of a great number of mental health charities across Wales, and the UK, that do great work in all of our communities. Mental Health Matters provide crucial services, such as well-being hubs and anxiety and depression peer support groups, whilst the Samaritans operate a helpline service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Manned by volunteers, they are often the unsung heroes who have no doubt saved countless lives and are there for us in our hour of need, and we need to be here for them in theirs.
In Wales, COVID-19 has exposed existing mental health inequalities under the Welsh Labour Government, with many services stretched to the limit, backlogs rising and fewer people accessing the support they so desperately need. Mind Cymru in their 'Too long to wait' report outlined that even before the pandemic, thousands of people were waiting longer than ever to receive psychological therapy. They found that the target of 80 per cent of people being seen within 26 weeks was not met in any of the 17 months to August 2020. But there's no question that COVID-19 has made the problem worse, because Mind also found that when comparing August 2020 to the same period in 2019, whilst the number of people waiting to start psychological therapies fell from 7,198 to 5,208, the number of people waiting longer than 26 weeks rose by 4 per cent, and those waiting longer than a year rose by 17 per cent. And even that decline in the number of individuals on the waiting list may not be the good news that it sounds. It probably means fewer people coming forward, in the first place, to get the help they need, because of the pandemic.
And, we all, sadly, know the effect that lockdowns have had on our mental health, particularly younger people. During the first lockdown in 2020, more than half of Welsh adults and three quarters of young people said their mental health had generally worsened during the early months of the pandemic. And, although anxiety about the pandemic has generally fallen among UK adults, from 42 per cent, in February 2021, loneliness had risen, from 10 per cent in March 2020 to 26 per cent a year later. And perhaps most markedly, there were more than 10 deaths for every 100,000 of the population in 2020 caused by suicide, and that rate is often three to four times higher amongst males than it is females.
The next 10-year mental health strategy needs to reflect the significant changes we have seen in a post-COVID Wales. I'm sure we all agree that we're in a very different position today to where we were two years ago, and a new strategy needs to reflect that. So, it's in this light that today's Government amendments really are disappointing. Today, we have a real opportunity to put forward a long-term strategy, to ensure a proper review of mental health services—are fit both for today and the future. So, to see them watered down by the Government amendments are a real, real missed opportunity. What we need are targets, and we need outcomes, and for this Senedd to be able to hold the Welsh Government to account on them. And I'm afraid these Government amendments do not achieve either of those objectives.
Our motion is constructive. We don't table it today to level criticism at the Government or anybody else. Whilst there were clear problems in mental health services across Wales before the pandemic, we all recognise the last year and a half has put an incredible strain on our mental health services. The solutions to tackle it need to be updated to reflect that, and that's why I call on every Member of this Senedd to back our motion today.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Rwy'n falch iawn o agor y ddadl hon gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig heddiw ar destun iechyd meddwl a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Dydd Sul yma, 10 Hydref, yw Diwrnod Iechyd Meddwl y Byd. Dylem fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i fyfyrio ar ein hiechyd meddwl ein hunain, a iechyd meddwl ein ffrindiau a'n teulu, a'r hyn y gallwn ni fel Aelodau o'r Senedd ei wneud i hybu iechyd meddwl cadarnhaol ledled Cymru. Mae hefyd yn ddiwrnod lle mae angen i bob un ohonom ystyried a rhoi amser i ofyn i rywun sut y maent yn teimlo. Mae'n ddiwrnod pan ddylem anfon neges destun at hen ffrind, cael sgwrs Zoom gyda chydweithiwr neu gyfarfod am goffi gydag aelod o'r teulu. Efallai na fyddwch chi byth yn gwybod y gwahaniaeth y gall gweithred fach ei wneud i rywun sy'n cael trafferth gyda'u hiechyd meddwl.
Nid yw COVID-19 wedi bod yn garedig i'n hiechyd meddwl. Ac yn anffodus, rydym wedi gweld cynnydd sydyn yn nifer y plant ac oedolion sy'n dioddef. Byddai'n anghywir i mi beidio â dechrau drwy sôn am waith nifer fawr o elusennau iechyd meddwl ledled Cymru a'r DU sy'n gwneud gwaith gwych ym mhob un o'n cymunedau. Mae Mental Health Matters yn darparu gwasanaethau hanfodol, megis hybiau llesiant a grwpiau cefnogi cymheiriaid ar gyfer gorbryder ac iselder, tra bod y Samariaid yn gweithredu gwasanaeth llinell gymorth sydd ar gael 24 awr y dydd, saith diwrnod yr wythnos, 365 diwrnod y flwyddyn. Gwirfoddolwyr sy'n ateb y galwadau, a hwy yw'r arwyr di-glod sydd heb amheuaeth wedi achub bywydau di-rif ac sydd yno i ni yn ein hawr o angen, ac mae angen i ni fod yno iddynt hwy yn eu hawr hwythau o angen.
Yng Nghymru, mae COVID-19 wedi amlygu anghydraddoldebau iechyd meddwl a oedd eisoes yn bodoli o dan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, gyda llawer o wasanaethau wedi eu hymestyn i'r eithaf, ôl-groniadau cynyddol a llai o bobl yn cael cymorth mawr ei angen. Amlinellodd Mind Cymru yn eu hadroddiad 'Rhy hir i aros' fod miloedd o bobl, hyd yn oed cyn y pandemig, yn aros yn hirach nag erioed i gael therapi seicolegol. Gwelsant na chyrhaeddwyd y targed o 80 y cant o bobl yn cael eu gweld o fewn 26 wythnos yn unrhyw un o'r 17 mis hyd at fis Awst 2020. Ond nid oes amheuaeth fod COVID-19 wedi gwneud y broblem yn waeth, oherwydd wrth gymharu mis Awst 2020 â'r un cyfnod yn 2019, tra bod nifer y bobl a oedd yn aros i ddechrau therapïau seicolegol wedi gostwng o 7,198 i 5,208, canfu Mind hefyd fod nifer y bobl sy'n aros yn hwy na 26 wythnos wedi codi 4 y cant, a bod y rhai sy'n aros yn hirach na blwyddyn wedi codi 17 y cant. Ac efallai nad yw hyd yn oed y gostyngiad yn nifer yr unigolion ar y rhestr aros yn newyddion mor dda ag y mae'n swnio. Mae'n golygu, yn ôl pob tebyg, fod llai o bobl yn gofyn am gymorth yn y lle cyntaf i gael yr help sydd ei angen arnynt, oherwydd y pandemig.
Ac yn anffodus, mae pawb ohonom yn gwybod am yr effaith y mae'r cyfyngiadau symud wedi'i chael ar ein hiechyd meddwl, yn enwedig pobl iau. Yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud cyntaf yn 2020, dywedodd dros hanner oedolion Cymru a thri chwarter y bobl ifanc fod eu hiechyd meddwl wedi gwaethygu at ei gilydd yn ystod misoedd cynnar y pandemig. Ac er bod pryder am y pandemig yn gyffredinol wedi lleihau ymhlith oedolion y DU, o 42 y cant ym mis Chwefror 2021, roedd unigrwydd wedi codi o 10 y cant ym mis Mawrth 2020 i 26 y cant flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach. Ac efallai'n fwyaf amlwg, roedd mwy na 10 marwolaeth ym mhob 100,000 o'r boblogaeth yn 2020 yn hunanladdiad, ac mae'r gyfradd honno yn aml dair i bedair gwaith yn uwch ymhlith dynion nag ymhlith menywod.
Mae angen i'r strategaeth iechyd meddwl 10 mlynedd nesaf adlewyrchu'r newidiadau sylweddol a welsom yn y Gymru ôl-COVID. Rwy'n siŵr ein bod i gyd yn cytuno ein bod mewn sefyllfa wahanol iawn heddiw i ble'r oeddem ddwy flynedd yn ôl, ac mae angen i strategaeth newydd adlewyrchu hynny. Felly, yn y goleuni hwn, mae gwelliannau'r Llywodraeth heddiw yn siomedig iawn. Heddiw, mae gennym gyfle gwirioneddol i gyflwyno strategaeth hirdymor er mwyn sicrhau adolygiad priodol o wasanaethau iechyd meddwl fel eu bod yn addas ar gyfer heddiw a'r dyfodol. Felly, mae eu gweld wedi'u glastwreiddio gan welliannau'r Llywodraeth yn gyfle a gollwyd go iawn. Rydym angen targedau, ac rydym angen canlyniadau, a'r Senedd hon i allu dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif yn eu cylch. Ac mae arnaf ofn nad yw gwelliannau'r Llywodraeth yn cyflawni'r un o'r amcanion hynny.
Mae ein cynnig yn adeiladol. Nid ydym yn ei gyflwyno heddiw i daflu bai ar y Llywodraeth nac unrhyw un arall. Er bod problemau amlwg yn y gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl ledled Cymru cyn y pandemig, rydym i gyd yn cydnabod bod y flwyddyn a hanner ddiwethaf wedi rhoi straen anhygoel ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Mae angen diweddaru'r atebion i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem er mwyn adlewyrchu hynny, a dyna pam y galwaf ar bob Aelod o'r Senedd i gefnogi ein cynnig heddiw.
Rwyf wedi dethol y ddau welliant i’r cynnig. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliant 2 ei ddad-ddethol. Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, Lynne Neagle, i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1 a gyflwynwyd yn enw Lesley Griffiths.
I have selected two amendments to the motion. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendment 2 will be deselected. I call on the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, Lynne Neagle, to formally move amendment 1 tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths.
Gwelliant 1—Lesley Griffiths
Dileu’r cyfan ar ôl pwynt 2 a rhoi yn ei le:
Yn nodi’r ymrwymiad i adolygu’r dystiolaeth, y data a’r ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau bresennol ar gyfer hunan-niweidio i bobl o bob oed yng Nghymru.
Yn croesawu ymrwymiad parhaus Llywodraeth Cymru i’r canlynol:
a) gweithredu argymhellion o adroddiadau Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg y Bumed Senedd, 'Cadernid Meddwl' a 'Cadernid Meddwl: Ddwy flynedd yn ddiweddarach';
b) cryfhau a chyhoeddi data amseroedd aros iechyd meddwl a gwella perfformiad ledled Cymru;
c) cyflwyno cymorth argyfwng iechyd meddwl 24 awr ar lefel genedlaethol;
d) cynllun gweithlu iechyd meddwl clir.
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod y diwygiadau i Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl y DU yn addas ar gyfer Cymru ac yn gyson â deddfwriaeth berthnasol bresennol yng Nghymru.
Amendment 1—Lesley Griffiths
Delete all after point 2 and replace with:
Notes the commitment to review the evidence, data and current service provision around all age self-harm in Wales.
Welcomes the Welsh Government's continued commitment to:
a) implement recommendations from the Fifth Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee’s reports, 'Mind over Matter' and 'Mind over Matter: Two years on';
b) strengthen and publish mental health waiting time data and improve performance across Wales;
c) a national roll-out of 24-hour mental health crisis support;
d) a clear mental health workforce plan.
Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the reform of the UK Mental Health Act is fit for Wales and aligns with current related legislation in Wales.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.