Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

08/12/2021

Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) yn y Gadair. 

The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) in the Chair.

Datganiad gan y Dirprwy Lywydd
Statement by the Deputy Presiding Officer

Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn i ni ddechrau, hoffwn 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 y Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw. Nodir y rhain ar yr agenda. 

Welcome, everyone, to the Plenary session. Before we begin, I want to set out a few points. This meeting will be held in a 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. These are noted on the agenda.

1. Cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd
1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change

Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma yw cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, ac mae'r cwestiwn gyntaf gan Samuel Kurtz.

The first item this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Climate Change, and the first question is from Samuel Kurtz.

Ansawdd Dŵr Mewndirol
Inland Water Quality

1. Pa fesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i wella ansawdd dŵr mewndirol yng Nghymru? OQ57333

1. What measures is the Welsh Government taking to improve inland water quality in Wales? OQ57333

Investment, legislative drivers and a robust regulatory framework has led to 42 per cent of our inland waters achieving good ecological status. We are committed to improving water quality but we cannot do this alone. We need to take an integrated catchment approach, focusing on multisector co-operation and nature-based solutions.

Mae buddsoddiad, sbardunau deddfwriaethol a fframwaith rheoleiddio cadarn wedi arwain at 42 y cant o'n dyfroedd mewndirol yn cyflawni statws ecolegol da. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i wella ansawdd dŵr ond ni allwn wneud hyn ar ein pen ein hunain. Mae angen inni ddefnyddio dull dalgylch integredig, gan ganolbwyntio ar gydweithredu amlsectoraidd ac atebion ar sail natur.

Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog, and good afternoon. I'm sure you'll join me in welcoming the recent improvements that were adopted in the UK Environment Bill to improve inland water quality in England, in particular the legal duty that is placed on water companies to progressively reduce the impact of permitted and non-permitted discharges from combined sewage overflows, known more commonly as CSOs. Had I been fortunate enough to have been drawn in the Member's legislative proposal ballot, I was intending to bring forward an inland waterways Bill—a draft piece of legislation that strives for cleaner rivers, seas and lakes here in Wales. With that in mind, what action is the Welsh Government taking to place a duty on water companies to take all reasonable steps to ensure that sewage is not being discharged into our streams and rivers and to also increase the number of Welsh inland bathing waters classified as 'good' or 'excellent'?

Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog, a phrynhawn da. Rwy'n siŵr y gwnewch chi ymuno â mi i groesawu'r gwelliannau diweddar a fabwysiadwyd ym Mil Amgylchedd y DU i wella ansawdd dŵr mewndirol yn Lloegr, yn enwedig y ddyletswydd gyfreithiol a osodir ar gwmnïau dŵr i leihau'n gynyddol effaith gollyngiadau a ganiateir ac nas caniateir o orlifoedd carthffosiaeth cyfunol, a elwir hefyd yn CSOs. Pe bawn i wedi bod yn ddigon ffodus i gael fy newis ym mhleidlais cynnig deddfwriaethol yr Aelodau, roeddwn yn bwriadu cyflwyno Bil dyfrffyrdd mewndirol—deddfwriaeth ddrafft sy'n ymdrechu i gael afonydd, moroedd a llynnoedd glanach yma yng Nghymru. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i osod dyletswydd ar gwmnïau dŵr i gymryd pob cam rhesymol i sicrhau nad yw carthffosiaeth yn cael ei gollwng i'n nentydd a'n hafonydd ac i gynyddu nifer y dyfroedd ymdrochi mewndirol yng Nghymru sy'n cyflawni statws 'da' neu 'ragorol'?

Well, I think there are a couple of misconceptions there. The first is confusing England for Wales, which is a very common problem on the benches opposite. The UK Government has legislated to set targets for water companies in England to reduce sewage discharges and water quality. The assumption and the widespread perception on the opposite benches that that's the main cause of poor water quality in Wales is just not borne out by the evidence. 

We've done a series of pieces of work, including the phosphates compliance assessments, which I notice the Member opposed and, indeed, accused Plaid Cymru of betraying Welsh farmers by dropping their opposition to them. So, his sudden interest in inland water quality is quite an interesting one. I think he would be better off having a seriously good look at what we are doing to improve the entire catchment area water quality to make sure that we understand the causes of the pollution and that we are able to stop them at source rather than making the kind of generalised remarks that are very unhelpful.

Wel, credaf fod un neu ddau o gamdybiaethau yn y fan honno. Y gyntaf yw drysu Lloegr a Chymru, sy'n broblem gyffredin iawn ar y meinciau gyferbyn. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi deddfu i osod targedau i gwmnïau dŵr yn Lloegr leihau gollyngiadau carthffosiaeth ac ansawdd dŵr. Nid yw'r dystiolaeth yn cynnal y rhagdybiaeth a'r canfyddiad cyffredin ar y meinciau gyferbyn mai dyna yw prif achos ansawdd dŵr gwael yng Nghymru.

Rydym wedi gwneud cyfres o ddarnau o waith, gan gynnwys yr asesiadau o gydymffurfiaeth â thargedau ffosffadau, y sylwaf fod yr Aelod wedi'i wrthwynebu, ac yn wir, fe gyhuddodd Blaid Cymru o fradychu ffermwyr Cymru drwy roi'r gorau i'w gwrthwynebiad iddynt. Felly, mae ei ddiddordeb sydyn mewn ansawdd dŵr mewndirol yn eithaf diddorol. Credaf y byddai'n well iddo pe bai'n edrych o ddifrif ar yr hyn a wnawn i wella ansawdd dŵr y dalgylch cyfan i sicrhau ein bod yn deall achosion y llygredd a'n bod yn gallu eu hatal yn y ffynhonnell yn hytrach na gwneud sylwadau cyffredinol nad ydynt o unrhyw gymorth.

One of the major problems regarding inland water quality is discharge into rivers, which then goes into lakes. A serious concern raised with me by my constituents is Welsh water discharge into the River Tawe at the Trebanos treatment works in the Neath constituency, which affects water in my constituency, because the water from Trebanos comes down until it hits the sea in your constituency, Minister. What discussions has the Minister had with Welsh water regarding discharge into rivers?

Un o'r problemau mawr mewn perthynas ag ansawdd dŵr mewndirol yw gollyngiadau i afonydd, sydd wedyn yn mynd i mewn i lynnoedd. Pryder difrifol a godwyd gyda mi gan fy etholwyr yw gollyngiadau Dŵr Cymru i mewn i afon Tawe yng ngwaith trin dŵr gwastraff Trebannws yn etholaeth Castell-nedd, sy'n effeithio ar ddŵr yn fy etholaeth innau, gan fod y dŵr o Drebannws yn llifo i lawr ac i mewn i'r môr yn eich etholaeth chi, Weinidog. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Dŵr Cymru ynghylch gollyngiadau i afonydd?

Yes, thank you, Mike Hedges. As Mike Hedges will know, we've got a very good overflow scheme, which is a natural solution in his constituency, I think it is, at the top, which benefits my constituency. And that's a very good example of catchment area approaches, because obviously the river flows through a large number of different areas of Wales. It's very important therefore to make sure that we have sustainable nature-based solutions to divert, as he says, as much surface water as possible away from the sewerage systems in the first place to avoid the overflow that he speaks of.

We've taken a number of steps to tackle discharges from overflows. This includes making sustainable drainage systems, or SuDS, mandatory on almost all new building developments. The purpose of this is to relieve pressure on the network by redirecting and slowing down the speed at which such surface water enters the sewage system and it will help ensure that our storm overflows are used only as a very last resort.

As we speak, the water companies are preparing drainage and waste water management plans, which will be published for public consultation at the beginning of next year. The plans will provide a mechanism for water companies, local authorities and landowners to work together to develop a resilient and affordable waste water network to identify evidence-based priorities for investment.

I have had a number of meetings with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. I understand that they have investigated high-spilling combined overflows in the River Tawe as part of their storm overflow assessment framework investigations. Natural Resources Wales is working with the water companies to ensure investment is targeted appropriately. They also ensure that using nature-based solutions, which will reduce discharges from overflows and deliver wider environmental and social benefits, are taken into account when planning the network.

Ie, diolch, Mike Hedges. Fel y gŵyr Mike Hedges, mae gennym gynllun gorlifiant da iawn, sy'n ateb naturiol yn ei etholaeth ef, rwy'n credu, ar y pen uchaf, sydd o fudd i fy etholaeth innau. Ac mae honno'n enghraifft dda iawn o ddulliau dalgylch, gan fod yr afon, yn amlwg, yn llifo drwy nifer fawr o wahanol ardaloedd yng Nghymru. Mae'n bwysig iawn sicrhau felly fod gennym atebion cynaliadwy ar sail natur i ddargyfeirio, fel y dywed, cymaint o ddŵr wyneb â phosibl o'r systemau carthffosiaeth yn y lle cyntaf er mwyn osgoi'r gorlifo y mae'n sôn amdano.

Rydym wedi rhoi nifer o gamau i fynd i'r afael â gollyngiadau o ganlyniad i orlifiant. Mae hyn yn cynnwys gwneud systemau draenio cynaliadwy, neu SuDS, yn orfodol ar bron i bob datblygiad adeiladu newydd. Diben hyn yw lleddfu pwysau ar y rhwydwaith drwy ddargyfeirio ac arafu pa mor gyflym y mae dŵr wyneb o'r fath yn mynd i mewn i'r system garthffosiaeth a bydd yn helpu i sicrhau bod ein systemau gorlifiant stormydd yn cael eu defnyddio fel dewis olaf yn unig.

Wrth inni siarad, mae'r cwmnïau dŵr yn paratoi cynlluniau draenio a rheoli dŵr gwastraff, a fydd yn cael eu cyhoeddi ar gyfer ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus yn gynnar y flwyddyn nesaf. Bydd y cynlluniau'n darparu mecanwaith i gwmnïau dŵr, awdurdodau lleol a pherchnogion tir weithio gyda'i gilydd i ddatblygu rhwydwaith dŵr gwastraff gwydn a fforddiadwy i nodi blaenoriaethau ar sail tystiolaeth gyfer buddsoddi.

Rwyf wedi cael nifer o gyfarfodydd gyda Dŵr Cymru. Deallaf eu bod wedi ymchwilio i orlifiant cyfunol sy'n gollwng yn sylweddol i Afon Tawe fel rhan o'u hymchwiliadau i'r fframwaith asesu gorlifiant stormydd. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r cwmnïau dŵr i sicrhau bod buddsoddiad yn cael ei dargedu'n briodol. Maent hefyd yn sicrhau bod atebion ar sail natur, a fydd yn lleihau gollyngiadau o ganlyniad i orlifiant ac yn sicrhau buddion amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol ehangach, yn cael eu hystyried wrth gynllunio'r rhwydwaith.

13:35
Tyrbinau Gwynt
Wind Turbines

2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ardaloedd a aseswyd ymlaen llaw ar gyfer tyrbinau gwynt yng Nghymru? OQ57313

2. Will the Minister provide an update on pre-assessed areas for wind turbines in Wales? OQ57313

'Future Wales' identifies 10 pre-assessed areas for wind energy developments of national significance. There are currently 10 developments of national significance in progress within or partly within the pre-assessed areas. Eight are at the pre-application stage, one is at the notification stage, and one is at the report stage.

Mae 'Cymru'r Dyfodol' yn nodi 10 ardal sydd wedi'u rhag-asesu ar gyfer datblygiadau ynni gwynt o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol. Ar hyn o bryd, mae 10 datblygiad o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol ar y gweill o fewn neu'n rhannol o fewn yr ardaloedd a rag-aseswyd. Mae wyth ar y cam cyn ymgeisio, mae un ar y cam hysbysu, ac mae un ar y cam adrodd.

Thank you, Minister. A RenewableUK Cymru analysis report has recently highlighted that, when spatial limitations are applied, such as proximity to housing, Ministry of Defence training areas, main river corridors, and even proximity to other windfarm developments, which would be applied during any planning application process, then the actual usable land that's available for windfarm developments within these pre-assessed areas drastically decreases to only 5 per cent, reducing the capacity to generate electricity from wind to only 20 per cent of what is predicted. This is, in effect, a major shortcoming of your renewable generation strategy, and, given that the Welsh Government's target is to generate 70 per cent renewable energy by 2030, it will no doubt seriously hinder the ability of that target to be met. With this in mind, can the Minister confirm whether or not she knows of these limitations, and whether or not the pre-assessed areas will need to be re-evaluated as a result? Thank you.

Diolch, Weinidog. Yn ddiweddar, mae adroddiad dadansoddi gan RenewableUK Cymru wedi nodi, pan fo cyfyngiadau gofodol yn cael eu cymhwyso, megis agosrwydd at dai, ardaloedd hyfforddi’r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn, prif goridorau afonydd, a hyd yn oed agosrwydd at ddatblygiadau ffermydd gwynt eraill, a fyddai’n cael eu cymhwyso yn ystod unrhyw broses cais cynllunio, mae'r tir y gellir ei ddefnyddio sydd ar gael ar gyfer datblygiadau ffermydd gwynt yn yr ardaloedd hyn a rag-aseswyd yn gostwng yn sylweddol i 5 y cant yn unig, gan leihau'r capasiti i gynhyrchu trydan o wynt i 20 y cant yn unig o'r hyn a ragwelir. Mae hyn, i bob pwrpas, yn ddiffyg mawr yn eich strategaeth gynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy, ac o gofio mai targed Llywodraeth Cymru yw cynhyrchu 70 y cant o ynni adnewyddadwy erbyn 2030, nid oes amheuaeth y bydd yn llesteirio'r gallu i gyrraedd y targed hwnnw. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a all y Gweinidog gadarnhau a yw'n gwybod am y cyfyngiadau hyn ai peidio, ac a fydd angen ailwerthuso'r ardaloedd a rag-aseswyd o ganlyniad? Diolch.

Well, I set out in my initial response to you that we have 10 developments of national significance in progress, which is very good news, considering the length of time that 'Future Wales' has been in place. So, I appreciate the point you're making, but it's not borne out by the number of applications we currently have inside the system. I'd just like to also point out that the pre-assessed areas are not necessarily the only place you can build a windfarm or any other renewable in Wales; there are just slightly different planning assumptions made in those areas. So, there's nothing at all to stop anyone bringing forward a solution elsewhere in Wales, but they will of course have to go through the process.

Wel, nodais yn fy ymateb cychwynnol i chi fod gennym 10 datblygiad o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol ar y gweill, sy'n newyddion da iawn, o ystyried pa mor hir y mae 'Cymru'r Dyfodol' wedi bod ar waith. Felly, rwy'n deall y pwynt a wnewch, ond nid yw'n cael ei adlewyrchu yn nifer y ceisiadau sydd gennym yn y system ar hyn o bryd. Hoffwn nodi hefyd nad yr ardaloedd a rag-aseswyd yw'r unig le o reidrwydd y gallwch adeiladu fferm wynt, neu unrhyw fath arall o ynni adnewyddadwy yng Nghymru; mae rhagdybiaethau cynllunio ychydig yn wahanol yn yr ardaloedd hynny, dyna'i gyd. Felly, nid oes unrhyw beth i atal unrhyw un rhag cyflwyno ateb mewn man arall yng Nghymru, ond wrth gwrs, bydd yn rhaid iddynt fynd drwy'r broses.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr yn gyntaf, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson first, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Good afternoon, Minister. Now, in a recent virtual round-table I held with Propertymark, it was predicted that there's going to be a huge increase in people looking for rental properties. And I would like to refer Members and members of the public to my own register of interests. This is causing immense pressure for front-line staff in the sales and letting sector, because there are very few properties to rent or buy. Holmans recommend that up to 12,000 homes a year need to be built in Wales by 2031, yet the figures for dwellings completed in 2018-19 was 30.6 per cent less than at the start of devolution. Now, this is a downward decline. Yet, in your letter to the leaders and chief executives, to local authorities, on 17 November, you stated,

'It appears that we are already building the number of market homes we need'.

So, how can this be the case, when only 5,138 new homes were started in 2019? And with this in mind, Minister, do you accept that the appropriate way to respond to the property crisis in Wales would be through empowering existing businesses to build new market homes, rather than wasting time and resources on creating your own national construction company?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Nawr, mewn cyfarfod bord gron rhithwir diweddar a gynhaliais gyda Propertymark, rhagwelwyd cynnydd enfawr yn nifer y bobl a fydd yn chwilio am eiddo rhent. A hoffwn gyfeirio'r Aelodau ac aelodau'r cyhoedd at fy nghofrestr buddiannau fy hun. Mae hyn yn achosi pwysau aruthrol ar staff rheng flaen yn y sector gwerthu a gosod, gan mai ychydig iawn o eiddo sydd ar gael i'w rentu neu brynu. Mae Holmans yn argymell bod angen adeiladu hyd at 12,000 o gartrefi y flwyddyn yng Nghymru erbyn 2031, ond roedd y ffigurau ar gyfer anheddau a gwblhawyd yn 2018-19 30.6 y cant yn is nag ar ddechrau datganoli. Nawr, mae hyn yn ddirywiad. Fodd bynnag, yn eich llythyr at yr arweinwyr a’r prif weithredwyr, at awdurdodau lleol, ar 17 Tachwedd, fe ddywedoch chi,

'Ymddengys ein bod eisoes yn adeiladu'r nifer o gartrefi ar gyfer y farchnad sydd eu hangen arnom'.

Felly, sut y gall hyn fod yn wir, er mai 5,138 yn unig o gartrefi newydd a gychwynnwyd yn 2019? A chyda hyn mewn golwg, Weinidog, a ydych yn derbyn mai'r ffordd briodol o ymateb i'r argyfwng eiddo yng Nghymru fyddai drwy rymuso busnesau presennol i adeiladu cartrefi newydd ar gyfer y farchnad, yn hytrach na gwastraffu amser ac adnoddau ar greu eich cwmni adeiladu cenedlaethol eich hun?

Well, the juxtaposition of the two things at the end is quite startling, so I'll deal with that first. The idea that a national construction company would somehow get in the way of building new homes is quite extraordinary. We have yet, as part of the co-operation agreement, to explore with our Plaid Cymru partners exactly how we're going to use the construction company. But we have had a large number of conversations with our registered social landlords and our councils about the shortage of skilled labour, the difficulty of getting good apprentices in place, and the paucity of very good advice about bringing forward developments in good time. So, we will have a very productive conversation with Plaid Cymru about how to fill in gaps where there has been market failure, and other issues where we can bring forward housing in an appropriate way.

The evidence is really interesting, actually, from the Labour Government after the second world war, elected by the returning troops, that an enormous increase in social house building actually stimulated the private market and didn't depress it in any way. The graphs are very interesting, and we are absolutely certain that we will be doing the same thing with our ambitious 20,000 social homes programme. 

Wel, mae cyfosodiad y ddau beth hynny ar y diwedd yn eithaf syfrdanol, felly rwyf am ymdrin â hynny yn gyntaf. Mae'r syniad y byddai cwmni adeiladu cenedlaethol rywsut yn atal y gwaith o adeiladu cartrefi newydd yn eithaf rhyfeddol. Nid ydym wedi archwilio eto, fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio gyda'n partneriaid ym Mhlaid Cymru, sut yn union y byddwn yn defnyddio'r cwmni adeiladu. Ond rydym wedi cael nifer fawr o sgyrsiau gyda'n landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a'n cynghorau ynglŷn â phrinder llafur medrus, anhawster i gael prentisiaid da, a phrinder cyngor da iawn ynghylch cyflwyno datblygiadau mewn da bryd. Felly, byddwn yn cael sgwrs gynhyrchiol iawn gyda Phlaid Cymru ynglŷn â sut i lenwi bylchau lle bu methiant yn y farchnad, a materion eraill lle gallwn wneud cynnydd ym maes tai mewn ffordd briodol.

Mae'r dystiolaeth yn ddiddorol iawn, a dweud y gwir, gan y Llywodraeth Lafur ar ôl yr ail ryfel byd, a etholwyd gan y milwyr a ddaeth yn eu holau, fod y cynnydd aruthrol mewn adeiladu tai cymdeithasol wedi ysgogi'r farchnad breifat, yn hytrach nag amharu arni mewn unrhyw ffordd. Mae'r graffiau'n ddiddorol iawn, ac rydym yn hollol sicr y byddwn yn gwneud yr un peth gyda'n rhaglen uchelgeisiol ar gyfer 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol.

13:40

Thank you. Minister, on the one hand, you see yourself capable of going into competition with some of our finest builders using taxpayers' money, but, on the other hand, you are actually holding back on the number of homes that we are able to build due to your own or NRW's phosphate guidance. Attendees at the phosphate stakeholders group that I chair made clear that NRW are essentially blocking as many as 10,000 new homes across Wales, including 1,700 of those affordable homes. The cabinet member for planning in Pembrokeshire County Council has reported that the number of applications refused due to NRW guidance will rise sharply in the next few months. Last month, you told this Senedd, and I quote,

'I've got absolutely no problem with NRW's'—

[Interruption.] I'm talking to the Minister, not the Deputy. 

—'with NRW's guidance on the subject.' 

So, will you now retract that statement, and block, or unblock the block, unlock the block—[Laughter.]—of thousands of new homes by authorising exceptions to this guidance, and empower planning authorities to accept phosphate stripping technology in waste water treatment assets as reasonable solutions? 

Diolch. Weinidog, ar y naill law, rydych yn credu y gallwch gystadlu gyda rhai o'n hadeiladwyr gorau gan ddefnyddio arian trethdalwyr, ond ar y llaw arall, rydych yn gwrthod dweud faint o gartrefi y mae modd i ni eu hadeiladu o ganlyniad i'ch canllawiau eich hun, neu CNC, ar ffosffadau. Nododd mynychwyr y grŵp rhanddeiliaid ar ffosffadau rwy'n ei gadeirio fod CNC, i bob pwrpas, yn rhwystro cymaint â 10,000 o gartrefi newydd ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys 1,700 o'r cartrefi fforddiadwy hynny. Mae'r aelod o'r cabinet ar gyfer cynllunio yng Nghyngor Sir Penfro wedi nodi y bydd nifer y ceisiadau a wrthodir oherwydd canllawiau CNC yn codi'n sylweddol dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf. Y mis diwethaf, fe ddywedoch chi wrth y Senedd hon, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,

'Does gen i ddim problem o gwbl gyda chanllawiau CNC—'

[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n siarad â'r Gweinidog, nid y Dirprwy.

—'gyda chanllawiau CNC ar y pwnc.'

Felly, a wnewch chi dynnu’r datganiad hwnnw yn ôl, a rhwystro, neu ddadflocio’r rhwystr, datgloi’r rhwystr—[Chwerthin.]—rhag codi miloedd o gartrefi newydd, drwy awdurdodi eithriadau i’r canllaw hwn, a galluogi awdurdodau cynllunio i dderbyn technoleg tynnu ffosffad mewn asedau trin dŵr gwastraff fel atebion rhesymol?

Well, Janet, I just don't know where to start. First of all, you started with an assessment of the national construction company, which clearly indicated you weren't listening to the answer I had just given you. Quite clearly, I did not say anything about setting up in competition with any of our SME builders, who we have an extremely good relationship with, and who I have a consultative forum with, which I attended extremely recently to discuss it with them. So, let me just put that one to bed. There is absolutely no suggestion of any sort that any public company will be set up as a competitor in the construction market for our SMEs. So, I think you should have listened to that, and be very assured that that's not the case. What I did say very vehemently was that there are a number of market failures, gaps in skills, and things that have been brought to our attention by both council and RSL house builders and by the SME building forum, where it is profitable to have a conversation about a national construction company filling in the gaps. It's a conversation we have yet to have with Plaid Cymru, following the co-operation agreement, and I'll be sure, Deputy Presiding Officer, to bring it forward to the Senedd when we are able to bring the Senedd up to speed on that. 

On the other point, Janet Finch-Saunders has often said that she is in favour of the climate emergency and the solutions that come forward to it, and yet she blocks at every turn every single solution put forward. I will just leave the Welsh public to reach their own conclusions about her sincerity on this point. 

Wel, Janet, nid wyf yn gwybod ble i ddechrau. Yn gyntaf, fe ddechreuoch chi gydag asesiad o'r cwmni adeiladu cenedlaethol, sy'n dangos yn glir nad oeddech yn gwrando ar yr ateb roeddwn newydd ei roi i chi. Yn sicr, ni ddywedais unrhyw beth am sefydlu cwmni i gystadlu ag unrhyw un o'n hadeiladwyr bach a chanolig y mae gennym berthynas dda iawn â hwy, ac y mae gennyf fforwm ymgynghorol gyda hwy, fforwm a fynychais yn ddiweddar iawn i drafod y peth gyda hwy. Felly, dyna ateb hynny. Nid oes unrhyw awgrym o unrhyw fath y bydd unrhyw gwmni cyhoeddus yn cael ei sefydlu i gystadlu â'n busnesau bach a chanolig yn y farchnad adeiladu. Felly, credaf y dylech fod wedi gwrando ar hynny, a chael rhywfaint o sicrwydd nad yw hynny'n wir. Yr hyn a ddywedais yn gadarn iawn oedd bod nifer o fethiannau yn y farchnad, bylchau sgiliau, a phethau sydd wedi'u dwyn i'n sylw gan adeiladwyr tai cyngor a thai landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig a chan y fforwm cwmnïau adeiladu bach a chanolig, lle mae'n fuddiol cael sgwrs am gwmni adeiladu cenedlaethol i lenwi'r bylchau. Mae'n sgwrs nad ydym wedi'i chael eto gyda Phlaid Cymru, yn dilyn y cytundeb cydweithio, a byddaf yn siŵr, Ddirprwy Lywydd, o gyflwyno'r mater i'r Senedd pan fyddwn yn gallu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd.

Ar y pwynt arall, mae Janet Finch-Saunders wedi dweud yn aml ei bod o blaid datgan argyfwng hinsawdd a’r atebion a gyflwynir i fynd i'r afael ag ef, ond mae’n atal pob ateb a gyflwynir ar bob cyfle. Rwyf am adael i'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru ddod i'w casgliadau eu hunain am ei diffuantrwydd ar y pwynt hwn.

Minister, it is abundantly clear from your responses that, alongside failing to facilitate a much needed house building boom in Wales, you are actively supporting guidance that is holding the sector back. The urgent need to see more new homes delivered is clear when considering the financial black hole that is the temporary home crisis facing our local authorities. I've written to 22 local authorities—FOIs. And the figures—I've yet more to come out on this—are a scandal, and they're startling. For example, Caerphilly County Borough Council have seen their spend on temporary accommodation increase from £174,000 in 2018-19 to just over £1.2 million in 2020-21, and that is not an isolated incident. Gwynedd's spend on temporary accommodation has similarly increased by 265 per cent from 2018-19 to 2020-21, hitting almost £1.7 million. Minister, given that your statement on homelessness last week said you wish to strengthen links between local authorities and the private sector, will you commit to undertaking a deep-dive with local authorities to review how to more effectively provide long-term homes for our much needed residents? Diolch. 

Weinidog, mae'n amlwg iawn o'ch ymatebion eich bod, yn ogystal â methu hwyluso cynnydd mawr ei angen yn y nifer o dai a adeiladir yng Nghymru, yn cefnogi canllawiau sy'n llesteirio'r sector. Mae'r angen brys i ddarparu mwy o gartrefi newydd yn glir wrth ystyried twll du ariannol yr argyfwng cartrefi dros dro sy'n wynebu ein hawdurdodau lleol. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at 22 awdurdod lleol—ceisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth. Ac mae'r ffigurau—ac mae gennyf fwy i ddod ar hyn—yn sgandal, ac maent yn frawychus. Er enghraifft, mae gwariant Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili ar lety dros dro wedi cynyddu o £174,000 yn 2018-19 i ychydig dros £1.2 miliwn yn 2020-21, ac nid dyna'r unig enghraifft. Yn yr un modd, mae gwariant Gwynedd ar lety dros dro wedi cynyddu 265 y cant rhwng 2018-19 a 2020-21, gan gyrraedd bron i £1.7 miliwn. Weinidog, o gofio bod eich datganiad ar ddigartrefedd yr wythnos diwethaf wedi dweud eich bod am gryfhau cysylltiadau rhwng awdurdodau lleol a’r sector preifat, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i fynd at wraidd y mater gydag awdurdodau lleol i adolygu sut i ddarparu cartrefi hirdymor yn fwy effeithiol i’n preswylwyr sydd cymaint o'u hangen? Diolch.

So, again, Janet, I almost admire your ability to put two facts together and make three completely different ones with no relation to the original two. So, we have an ambitious social home building programme of 20,000 low-carbon social homes in the next Senedd term. This is now possible because, after 40 years of preventing councils from building houses, the Tory Government eventually saw sense and took off the caps from the housing revenue accounts. So, I applaud you for having seen sense after only 40 years of ploughing the same furrow.

The next bit of sense you need to see is that the social homes programme and the zero-carbon homes programme is the thing that stimulates the housing market, and that we need to build the right houses of the right standard in the right place, and not just put up any old nonsense all across the countryside, as is proposed across the border. I absolutely applaud all of the agencies working here, including our SME builders, who have been working very hard with us to bring forward that programme. My colleague the Deputy Minister has launched a pipeline for construction across Wales, which has allowed them to fill in the cash flow problems that they have, and we have a very good relationship with them.

On the homelessness point, we provide £1.8 million a month to councils in Wales to combat homelessness brought on by the COVID pandemic. I would that her Government across the border would do anything of the sort and solve the appalling scandal of rough-sleeping that you get under a Conservative Government. 

Felly, unwaith eto, Janet, rwyf bron yn edmygu eich gallu i roi dwy ffaith at ei gilydd a gwneud tair ffaith hollol wahanol, heb unrhyw berthynas â'r ddwy ffaith wreiddiol. Felly, mae gennym raglen adeiladu cartrefi cymdeithasol uchelgeisiol ar gyfer 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol carbon isel yn nhymor nesaf y Senedd. Mae hyn yn bosibl bellach oherwydd, ar ôl 40 mlynedd o atal cynghorau rhag adeiladu tai, daeth y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd at ei choed yn y pen draw a chael gwared ar y capiau ar gyfrifon refeniw tai. Felly, rwy’n eich canmol am ddod at eich coed ar ôl cwta 40 mlynedd yn yr un rhigol.

Y peth nesaf y mae'n rhaid i chi ei weld yw mai'r rhaglen cartrefi cymdeithasol a'r rhaglen cartrefi di-garbon yw'r peth sy'n ysgogi'r farchnad dai, a bod angen inni adeiladu'r tai cywir o'r safon gywir yn y lle cywir, yn hytrach na chodi unrhyw hen nonsens ledled cefn gwlad, fel sy'n cael ei gynnig dros y ffin. Rwy’n canmol yr holl asiantaethau sy’n gweithio yma, gan gynnwys ein hadeiladwyr bach a chanolig, sydd wedi bod yn gweithio’n galed iawn gyda ni i gyflwyno’r rhaglen honno. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod, y Dirprwy Weinidog, wedi lansio piblinell ar gyfer adeiladu ledled Cymru, sydd wedi caniatáu iddynt fynd i'r afael â'r problemau llif arian sydd ganddynt, ac mae gennym berthynas dda iawn â hwy.

O ran digartrefedd, rydym yn darparu £1.8 miliwn y mis i gynghorau yng Nghymru allu mynd i'r afael â digartrefedd a achoswyd gan y pandemig COVID. Hoffwn weld ei Llywodraeth dros y ffin yn gwneud rhywbeth o'r fath a datrys y sgandal gysgu allan echrydus a gewch o dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol.

13:45

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Delyth Jewell. 

Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Delyth Jewell. 

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Last week, the head of Transport for Wales said that travelling on their trains was fundamentally safe. Welsh Government guidance states that the following measures need to be followed to ensure COVID safety: keeping distance from other people, avoiding crowded spaces, good ventilation when in close proximity to others, and wearing face coverings. So, are these measures being followed on trains? I asked commuters for their experiences over social media, and these are some of the phrases from the responses I received: 'Crammed carriages, nobody wearing masks'; 'People crammed like sardines'; 'Impossible to ensure COVID safety'; 'Like a cattle cart and little mask wearing'; '90 per cent not wearing masks on the Rhymney line'; and 'Windows shut with no ventilation'. One person said they thought they'd caught COVID on an overcrowded TfW train between Chester and Bangor a few weeks ago. Another said she had a panic attack on the train during the last rugby game day because so many people were stood and crammed on the train. I was also sent pictures, Minister, of crammed carriages with little or no mask wearing. So, Minister, do you agree with the head of Transport for Wales that travelling on trains in Wales is fundamentally safe?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd pennaeth Trafnidiaeth Cymru fod teithio ar eu trenau yn sylfaenol ddiogel. Mae canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru yn nodi bod angen cadw at y mesurau canlynol i sicrhau diogelwch COVID: cadw pellter oddi wrth bobl eraill, osgoi lleoedd gorlawn, awyru da pan fyddwch yn agos at eraill, a gwisgo gorchuddion wyneb. Felly, a yw'r mesurau hyn yn cael eu dilyn ar drenau? Gofynnais i gymudwyr am eu profiadau dros y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, a dyma rai o'r ymatebion a gefais: 'Cerbydau gorlawn, neb yn gwisgo masgiau'; 'Pobl wedi eu gwasgu fel sardîns'; 'Amhosibl sicrhau diogelwch COVID'; 'Fel trol wartheg a fawr neb yn gwisgo masgiau'; '90 y cant ddim yn gwisgo masgiau ar linell Rhymni'; a 'Ffenestri ar gau heb unrhyw awyru'. Dywedodd un unigolyn eu bod yn credu eu bod wedi dal COVID ar drên Trafnidiaeth Cymru gorlawn rhwng Caer a Bangor ychydig wythnosau yn ôl. Dywedodd un arall iddi gael pwl o banig ar y trên ar ddiwrnod y gêm rygbi ddiwethaf am fod cymaint o bobl yn sefyll ac wedi'u gwasgu i mewn i'r trên. Anfonwyd lluniau ataf hefyd, Weinidog, o gerbydau gorlawn a fawr neb yn gwisgo masgiau. Felly, Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno â phennaeth Trafnidiaeth Cymru fod teithio ar drenau yng Nghymru yn sylfaenol ddiogel?

Thank you. I think the full quote, to give him fairness, was to acknowledge that there were considerable challenges of overcrowding, and some passengers were refusing to wear masks despite the very clear guidelines, but fundamentally, the trains are safe, given the cleaning regimes put in place, and given all the other things that Transport for Wales are doing to follow the guidelines. They're making extraordinary efforts, but there is no doubt that there are challenges, and there are a number of reasons for that.

You quoted the issue of the rugby matches that were held by the Welsh Rugby Union late in the evening when they knew full well that there would be limited train services following the game, which would create, clearly, a pressure on the system. There are also other problems hitting the rail industry at the moment, where trains are being cancelled and carriages being damaged because of the storms and because of the weather. In fact, on the train I caught up to Glasgow, one was taken out of service because it hit a pheasant on the line. Now, that is not TfW's fault. There's also a challenge around staff absences because of self-isolation, so there's no doubt that the public transport system is under great pressure at the moment. 

The issue of mask wearing is ultimately one of personal responsibility. There are people claiming to be exempt from mask wearing when, clearly, that is not the case. But it is almost impossible to prove that. We have, working with British Transport Police, measures in place to enforce mask wearing, and a number of people have been removed from services when challenged and not able to provide a valid excuse. I think there are a confluence of conditions all converging to make things very challenging, but public transport remains a safe mode of transport. But there's no doubt that, sometimes in the day, services are crowded.  

Diolch. Credaf fod y dyfyniad llawn, a bod yn deg, yn cydnabod bod heriau sylweddol gyda gorlenwi, a bod rhai teithwyr yn gwrthod gwisgo masgiau er gwaethaf y canllawiau clir iawn, ond fod y trenau'n sylfaenol ddiogel, o ystyried y cyfundrefnau glanhau sydd ar waith, ac o ystyried yr holl bethau eraill y mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn eu gwneud i ddilyn y canllawiau. Maent yn gwneud ymdrechion eithriadol, ond nid oes amheuaeth fod heriau i'w cael, ac mae nifer o resymau dros hynny.

Fe sonioch chi am y gemau rygbi a gynhaliwyd gan Undeb Rygbi Cymru yn hwyr yn y nos pan oeddent yn gwybod yn iawn mai cyfyngedig fyddai'r gwasanaethau trên yn dilyn y gêm, a fyddai’n creu pwysau ar y system, yn amlwg. Mae problemau eraill hefyd yn taro'r diwydiant rheilffyrdd ar hyn o bryd, lle mae trenau’n cael eu canslo a cherbydau’n cael eu difrodi oherwydd y stormydd ac oherwydd y tywydd. Mewn gwirionedd, pan oeddwn ar y trên i Glasgow, tynnwyd un allan o wasanaeth gan iddo daro ffesant ar y rheilffordd. Nawr, nid bai Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw hynny. Mae her hefyd mewn perthynas ag absenoldebau staff oherwydd hunanynysu, felly nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod y system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus dan bwysau sylweddol ar hyn o bryd.

Yn y pen draw, mater o gyfrifoldeb personol yw gwisgo masgiau. Mae rhai pobl yn honni eu bod wedi'u heithrio rhag gwisgo masgiau pan nad yw hynny'n wir, yn amlwg. Ond mae bron yn amhosibl profi hynny. Gan weithio gyda'r Heddlu Trafnidiaeth Prydeinig, mae gennym fesurau ar waith i orfodi mesurau gwisgo masgiau, ac mae nifer o bobl wedi cael eu tynnu oddi ar drenau ar ôl iddynt gael eu herio a methu darparu esgus dilys. Credaf fod nifer o amodau'n dod ynghyd i wneud pethau'n heriol iawn, ond mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn parhau i fod yn ddull teithio diogel. Ond nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod gwasanaethau'n orlawn weithiau yn ystod y dydd.

Minister, I fully agree that we need to be cognisant of the various challenges that the transport sector is facing. Regardless of whose fault these risks are, I struggle to see how it can be said that trains are fundamentally safe, but, maybe, at some times of the day, they're not. I saw last night that someone was quoting George Orwell on Twitter, but it was in relation to No. 10's insistence that the now infamous COVID party didn't happen. Orwell said:

'The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.'

I know we need to move on, Minister, but if the health Minister is in the Chamber, I'd urge her to look at this as well, because I really think there is a mountain of evidence that taking a train in Wales can mean taking a significant COVID risk. 

But to move on, Minister, clearly the root cause of this terrible state of our train services is the continual underfunding of Welsh rail. The Wales Governance Centre has calculated that we've been underfunded to the tune of around £500 million over the past 10 years. But it does also seem that the Welsh Government has underdelivered on its promises, or perhaps previous Welsh Governments. When the franchise was awarded to KeolisAmey in 2018, it said that the railway would be unrecognisable in five years, thanks to the vision of the Welsh Government. So, Minister, could you give us an update on how the railway will look in two years' time, now that it's in public ownership? Are we really going to see transformative improvements? And could you give us your view on how much agency the Government truly has over rail and how much is simply out of its hands because it doesn't control the funding?

Weinidog, cytunaf yn llwyr fod angen inni fod yn ymwybodol o'r heriau amrywiol y mae'r sector trafnidiaeth yn eu hwynebu. Ni waeth pwy sydd ar fai am y risgiau hyn, rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd gweld sut y gellir dweud bod trenau'n sylfaenol ddiogel, ond efallai nad ydynt yn ddiogel ar rai adegau o'r dydd. Gwelais neithiwr fod rhywun yn dyfynnu George Orwell ar Twitter, ond mewn perthynas â thaerineb Rhif 10 na ddigwyddodd y parti COVID drwgenwog hwnnw. Dywedodd Orwell:

'Dywedodd y blaid wrthych am wrthod tystiolaeth eich llygaid a'ch clustiau. Hwn oedd eu gorchymyn olaf, mwyaf hanfodol.'

Gwn fod angen inni symud ymlaen, Weinidog, ond os yw'r Gweinidog iechyd yn y Siambr, hoffwn ei hannog i edrych ar hyn hefyd, gan y credaf fod mynydd o dystiolaeth y gall mynd ar drên yng Nghymru arwain at risg sylweddol o ddal COVID.

Ond i symud ymlaen, Weinidog, mae'n amlwg mai'r hyn sydd wrth wraidd cyflwr ofnadwy ein gwasanaethau trên yw'r tanwariant parhaus ar reilffyrdd Cymru. Mae Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru wedi cyfrifo bod y tanwariant oddeutu £500 miliwn dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf. Ond ymddengys hefyd fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi tangyflawni ar ei haddewidion, neu efallai ar addewidion Llywodraethau blaenorol Cymru. Pan ddyfarnwyd y fasnachfraint i KeolisAmey yn 2018, dywedasant na fyddech yn adnabod y rheilffordd ymhen pum mlynedd, diolch i weledigaeth Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, Weinidog, a allwch roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni sut y bydd y rheilffordd yn edrych ymhen dwy flynedd, gan ei bod bellach mewn perchnogaeth gyhoeddus? A ydym o ddifrif yn mynd i weld gwelliannau trawsnewidiol? Ac a allwch roi eich barn ar faint o reolaeth sydd gan y Llywodraeth dros reilffyrdd mewn gwirionedd a faint sydd allan o'i dwylo gan nad yw'n rheoli'r cyllid?

13:50

There certainly are significant changes taking place for the better. Last week, we unveiled a new fleet of trains to replace the Pacers, and once you have the chance to go on them yourself, you'll see that it is a transformative passenger experience. We're also developing the south Wales metro programme, which is a huge civil engineering project—the largest infrastructure project that south Wales will have seen for many decades. So, there is no doubt that there is significant change at the agency of the Welsh Government. But also, we must acknowledge that COVID has disrupted plans in terms of collapsing the franchise—and certainly, the Welsh franchise wasn't the only franchise to fall apart under the strain of the disappearing farebox and the increasing cost pressures—and that has knocked back the delivery schedule that we had for increasing the timetable and for bringing new services forward. So, that is an inevitable fact for which we are deeply sorry, but that is out of our hands.

In terms of the underinvestment, the Member makes an absolutely bang-on point. The UK Government has consistently underinvested, and in the next programme of funding we are some £5 billion short of where we ought to be. As the First Minister touched upon in First Minister's questions again yesterday, the refusal of the UK Government to class high speed 2 as an England-only project, despite the fact that not a single mile of track is in Wales, is clearly having a massive effect on our ability to invest in the rail infrastructure. And I would say to Conservative Members in the Chamber that I remember full well the alliance that was forged in this Chamber on electrification some 10 years ago, when there was a genuine cross-party effort to bang the drum for Wales. I took part in the delegation before becoming a Senedd Member with Members of the Conservative Party to make that case to UK Ministers. It was effective, and we are strongest when we are united. I'd like to see a similar alliance to make the case, on fairness grounds, that Wales needs to be treated differently when it comes to the categorisation of high-speed rail. Otherwise, we're not going to be able to fulfil our joint ambitions to achieve net zero by 2050.

Yn sicr, mae newidiadau sylweddol yn digwydd er gwell. Yr wythnos diwethaf, gwnaethom ddatgelu fflyd newydd o drenau i gymryd lle'r Pacers, a phan gewch chi gyfle i fynd arnynt eich hun, fe welwch ei fod yn brofiad trawsnewidiol i deithwyr. Rydym hefyd yn datblygu rhaglen metro de Cymru, sy'n brosiect peirianneg sifil enfawr—y prosiect seilwaith mwyaf y bydd de Cymru wedi'i weld ers degawdau lawer. Felly, nid oes amheuaeth fod newid sylweddol yn digwydd dan law Llywodraeth Cymru. Ond mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod hefyd fod COVID wedi tarfu ar gynlluniau o ran cwymp y fasnachfraint—ac yn sicr, nid masnachfraint Cymru oedd yr unig fasnachfraint i gwympo o ganlyniad i bwysau llai o arian a chostau cynyddol—ac mae hynny wedi cael effaith ar y llinell amser a oedd gennym ar gyfer ychwanegu at yr amserlen a chyflwyno gwasanaethau newydd. Felly, mae honno'n ffaith anochel y mae'n ddrwg iawn gennym amdani, ond mae hynny allan o'n dwylo.

O ran tanfuddsoddi, mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt gwych. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi tanfuddsoddi’n gyson, ac yn y rhaglen gyllido nesaf, rydym yn cael oddeutu £5 biliwn yn llai na'r hyn y dylem ei gael. Fel y soniodd y Prif Weinidog yn y cwestiynau i’r Prif Weinidog eto ddoe, mae'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth y DU yn gwrthod dosbarthu HS2 fel prosiect ar gyfer Lloegr yn unig, er nad oes yr un filltir o drac yng Nghymru, yn amlwg yn cael effaith enfawr ar ein gallu i fuddsoddi yn y seilwaith rheilffyrdd. A byddwn yn dweud wrth yr Aelodau Ceidwadol yn y Siambr fy mod yn cofio'r gynghrair a ffurfiwyd yn y Siambr hon ar drydaneiddio oddeutu 10 mlynedd yn ôl, pan gafwyd ymdrech drawsbleidiol wirioneddol i ddadlau'r achos dros Gymru. Cymerais ran yn y ddirprwyaeth cyn dod yn Aelod o'r Senedd gydag Aelodau o'r Blaid Geidwadol i gyflwyno'r achos hwnnw i Weinidogion y DU. Roedd yn effeithiol, ac rydym ar ein cryfaf pan ydym yn unedig. Hoffwn weld cynghrair debyg i ddadlau, ar sail tegwch, fod angen trin Cymru'n wahanol wrth gategoreiddio rheilffyrdd cyflym. Fel arall, ni fydd modd inni gyflawni'r uchelgeisiau a rannwn i gyflawni sero net erbyn 2050.

Minister, taking up that exact point, Wales could lose out on £5 billion due to being excluded from Barnett consequentials for HS2 spending. This, as you'll obviously know, represents around 5 per cent of the total expended expenditure of the project. It could, of course, be much higher if the cost spirals, which is likely. In the words of the Western Mail's Will Hayward, 

'The decision to count HS2, a once in a century investment, as England and Wales spend has condemned Wales to another century of a second class rail network.'

Even though the decision to exclude Wales from this funding, as you've been setting out, Minister, was made by a Conservative UK Government, past Labour Welsh Governments have also contributed to this mess. There was a decision in 2005 to refuse the devolution of rail, described as the worst decision in the history of devolution. And there was the inability, in the past, to understand Plaid Cymru's argument on HS2 a decade later, with Carwyn Jones insisting that Wales was receiving its HS2 consequential, even though setting the HS2 comparability factor for Wales at 0 per cent would see our comparability factor for Department for Transport spending plummet in the future, which is what we're seeing now. I'm sure that the current Labour Welsh Government is keen to—

Weinidog, ar yr union bwynt hwnnw, gallai Cymru fod £5 biliwn ar ei cholled heb swm canlyniadol Barnett yn sgil y gwariant ar HS2. Fel y gwyddoch yn amlwg, mae hynny oddeutu 5 y cant o gyfanswm gwariant y prosiect. Gallai fod yn llawer uwch, wrth gwrs, pe bai'r costau'n cynyddu, sy'n debygol. Yng ngeiriau Will Hayward o'r Western Mail,

'Mae'r penderfyniad i gyfrif HS2, buddsoddiad unwaith mewn canrif, fel gwariant Cymru a Lloegr wedi condemnio Cymru i ganrif arall o rwydwaith rheilffyrdd ail ddosbarth.'

Er bod y penderfyniad i eithrio Cymru o'r cyllid hwn, fel y nodwyd gennych, Weinidog, wedi'i wneud gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU, mae Llywodraethau Llafur y gorffennol yng Nghymru hefyd wedi cyfrannu at y llanastr hwn. Cafwyd penderfyniad yn 2005 i wrthod datganoli rheilffyrdd, a ddisgrifiwyd fel y penderfyniad gwaethaf yn hanes datganoli. A'r anallu, yn y gorffennol, i ddeall dadl Plaid Cymru ar HS2 ddegawd yn ddiweddarach, gyda Carwyn Jones yn mynnu bod Cymru’n cael ei swm canlyniadol yn sgil HS2, er y byddai gosod ffactor cymharedd HS2 i Gymru ar 0 y cant yn golygu y byddai ein ffactor cymharedd ar gyfer gwariant yr Adran Drafnidiaeth yn plymio yn y dyfodol, sef yr hyn a welwn yn awr. Rwy'n siŵr fod Llywodraeth Lafur bresennol Cymru yn awyddus i—

You need to ask your question now.

Mae angen i chi ofyn eich cwestiwn nawr.

Could you confirm, Minister, that the Welsh Government has received confirmation from Keir Starmer that a future Labour UK Government would provide Wales with the full Barnett share of HS2 expenditure, backdated to the first pound spent?

A allwch gadarnhau, Weinidog, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael cadarnhad gan Keir Starmer y byddai Llywodraeth Lafur y DU yn y dyfodol yn darparu'r swm canlyniadol Barnett llawn i Gymru yn sgil gwariant HS2, wedi'i ôl-ddyddio i'r bunt gyntaf a wariwyd?

I've certainly, personally, consistently made the argument for the Barnett formula to reflect the spending in England and in Wales. In fact, I led a coalition of organisations to have the Holtham commission set up, using this as one of the examples. And when I was director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, I consistently made the case, so I'll take no lectures from the Member on that. But she is absolutely right that Westminster Governments of different parties have not recognised that Wales deserves more investment, and that's why I repeat my call to the Conservatives for all in this Chamber to come together to see if we can agree a cross-party call to the UK Government to think again on the way Wales is treated when it comes to rail investment.

Yn sicr, yn bersonol, rwyf wedi dadlau y dylai fformiwla Barnett adlewyrchu'r gwariant yn Lloegr ac yng Nghymru. Mewn gwirionedd, arweiniais gynghrair o sefydliadau i sefydlu comisiwn Holtham, gan ddefnyddio hyn fel un o'r enghreifftiau. A phan oeddwn yn gyfarwyddwr y Sefydliad Materion Cymreig, bûm yn dadlau'r achos yn gyson, felly nid wyf am wrando ar wersi gan yr Aelod ar hynny. Ond mae’n llygad ei lle nad yw Llywodraethau gwahanol bleidiau yn San Steffan wedi cydnabod bod Cymru’n haeddu mwy o fuddsoddiad, a dyna pam fy mod yn ailadrodd fy ngalwad ar y Ceidwadwyr i bawb yn y Siambr hon ddod ynghyd i weld a allwn gytuno ar alwad drawsbleidiol ar Lywodraeth y DU i feddwl eto am y ffordd y mae Cymru'n cael ei thrin mewn perthynas â buddsoddi mewn rheilffyrdd.

13:55
Erydiad a Achosir gan Lifogydd
Erosion Caused By Flooding

3. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi cymunedau i fynd i'r afael â chanlyniadau erydiad a achosir gan lifogydd? OQ57318

3. How does the Welsh Government support communities to tackle the consequences of erosion caused by flooding? OQ57318

The Welsh Government funds local authorities to reduce the risk posed to communities by coastal erosion. However, addressing the consequences of river erosion is the responsibility of the riparian landowners whose property adjoins or contains the watercourse. This is a principle that has been long established in common law. 

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ariannu awdurdodau lleol i leihau'r perygl y mae erydu arfordirol yn ei beri i gymunedau. Fodd bynnag, cyfrifoldeb perchnogion glannau afonydd y mae eu heiddo'n ffinio â neu'n cynnwys y cwrs dŵr yw mynd i'r afael â chanlyniadau erydiad afonydd. Mae hon yn egwyddor sydd wedi'i hen sefydlu mewn cyfraith gyffredin.

I wrote to you, Minister, on 7 October asking for a meeting to discuss a problem faced by residents in Caerphilly who face potential damage to their homes due to the problem of river erosion. Notwithstanding your answer, I'd just like to go through the scenario with you and ask for a response. One group of residents at Celyn Avenue in Caerphilly have experienced an increase in incidents of erosion and subsequent flooding in their gardens, which back on to the banks of the Nant yr Aber river. Natural Resources Wales have advised the residents that they can't access any funding or support for flooding because it's their gardens, as opposed to their homes, that are affected, so these properties are not accorded a high priority according to the flood risk management model. However, residents are concerned that their homes will be flooded eventually, because Nant yr Aber is rising and its banks are wearing away, not just on their property but below their property, which isn't part of their property, due to climate change and increased rainfall. Natural Resources Wales say they cannot legally spend public money on mitigating and preventing river erosion, only on flooding, and they don't have statutory powers to do so and can only work within the remit set for them by the Welsh Government. A key issue here is that the cost of repairing and putting this right for those properties in Celyn Avenue goes beyond the means—way beyond the means—of those residents who live there; they simply cannot afford it. They're elderly residents, they haven't got the money—

Ysgrifennais atoch ar 7 Hydref, Weinidog, yn gofyn am gyfarfod i drafod problem preswylwyr yng Nghaerffili sy'n wynebu difrod posibl i'w cartrefi oherwydd erydiad afonydd. Er gwaethaf eich ateb, hoffwn drafod y senario gyda chi a gofyn am ymateb. Mae un grŵp o breswylwyr ar Celyn Avenue yng Nghaerffili wedi dioddef cynnydd mewn digwyddiadau erydu a llifogydd dilynol yn eu gerddi, sy'n cefnu ar lannau Nant yr Aber. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi dweud wrth y preswylwyr na allant gael unrhyw gyllid na chymorth llifogydd am mai eu gerddi, yn hytrach na'u cartrefi, sy'n cael eu heffeithio, felly ni roddir blaenoriaeth uchel i'r eiddo hyn yn ôl y model rheoli perygl llifogydd. Fodd bynnag, mae preswylwyr yn poeni y bydd llifogydd yn effeithio ar eu cartrefi yn y pen draw, gan fod Nant yr Aber yn codi a'i glannau'n erydu, nid yn unig ar eu heiddo ond o dan eu heiddo, nad yw'n rhan o'u heiddo, oherwydd y newid hinsawdd a chynnydd mewn glawiad. Dywed Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru na allant wario arian cyhoeddus yn gyfreithiol ar liniaru ac atal erydiad afonydd, dim ond ar lifogydd, ac nad oes ganddynt bwerau statudol i wneud hynny ac mai dim ond o fewn y cylch gwaith a bennwyd ar eu cyfer gan Lywodraeth Cymru y gallant weithio. Mater allweddol yma yw bod cost atgyweirio ac adfer yr eiddo hynny ar Celyn Avenue yn uwch—yn llawer uwch—na'r hyn y gall y preswylwyr sy'n byw yno ei fforddio. Maent yn breswylwyr oedrannus, nid oes ganddynt arian—

—to pay for it. So, I'd really welcome a meeting with you, Minister, to discuss this issue, particularly that of long-term erosion and consequences for properties. It's an issue we didn't have some time ago.

—i dalu amdano. Felly, byddwn yn croesawu cyfarfod â chi, Weinidog, i drafod y mater hwn, yn enwedig mewn perthynas ag erydiad hirdymor a chanlyniadau hynny i eiddo. Mae'n broblem nad oedd gennym beth amser yn ôl.

Well, Hefin David, I'm really sorry to hear of the impact that river erosion is having on your constituents. I understand that Natural Resources Wales has met with you and the affected residents, and you've just outlined the advice. Unfortunately, you are absolutely right; the riparian landowner is responsible. The riparian landowner is somebody whose property contains the watercourse or whose property is adjacent to or above the watercourse. That's been an established common law principle in England and Wales for over 200 years, so this isn't new law by any means. There is a guide published by Natural Resources Wales, titled 'A guide to your rights and responsibilities of riverside ownership in Wales'. We do invest money in alleviation of flood risk from rivers, but flood risk to properties—you're right—and not to gardens. So, you're quite right. I'm quite happy to meet with you to go through it, but I fear that you're correct in your assumption. Your constituents will have to take advice on whether their insurances or their lenders can help them. Otherwise, I really am afraid that we're at a bit of a loss as to how to help them, but I'm more than happy to meet with you and explore whether there is something that could be done.

Wel, Hefin David, mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf glywed am yr effaith y mae erydiad afonydd yn ei chael ar eich etholwyr. Rwy'n deall bod Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi cyfarfod â chi a'r preswylwyr yr effeithiwyd arnynt, ac rydych newydd amlinellu'r cyngor. Yn anffodus, rydych yn llygad eich lle; perchennog glannau'r afon sy'n gyfrifol. Perchennog glannau'r afon yw'r unigolyn y mae eu heiddo'n cynnwys y cwrs dŵr, neu y mae eu heiddo'n ffinio â'r cwrs dŵr neu uwchlaw'r cwrs dŵr. Mae honno wedi bod yn egwyddor sefydledig mewn cyfraith gyffredin yng Nghymru a Lloegr ers dros 200 mlynedd, felly nid yw hon yn gyfraith newydd mewn unrhyw ffordd. Mae canllaw wedi'i gyhoeddi gan Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, o'r enw 'Canllaw i’ch hawliau a’ch cyfrifoldebau fel perchennog glannau afon yng Nghymru'. Rydym yn buddsoddi arian i liniaru perygl llifogydd o afonydd, ond perygl llifogydd i eiddo yw hynny—rydych yn iawn—ac nid i erddi. Felly, rydych yn llygad eich lle. Rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â chi i drafod y mater, ond mae arnaf ofn fod eich rhagdybiaeth yn gywir. Bydd yn rhaid i'ch etholwyr ofyn am gyngor i weld a all eu hyswiriant neu eu benthycwyr eu cynorthwyo. Fel arall, mae arnaf ofn nad ydym yn siŵr sut i'w helpu, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i gyfarfod â chi ac i archwilio a oes rhywbeth y gellid ei wneud.

I'd like to start by declaring an interest, as I'm a Denbighshire councillor until May 2022. I'm afraid I'm going to keep banging on about this and sound a bit like a broken record, because, you know, I've mentioned this question a couple of times in the past. The communities of Trefnant and Tremeirchion are still dealing with the consequences of the terrible flooding that resulted from storm Christoph at the start of the year. The vital link between these two communities in my constituency was eroded and washed away. It will be years before the historic Llanerch bridge is replaced, and only if Denbighshire County Council can secure the millions of pounds needed to fund the rebuilding efforts. So, Minister, will you commit your Government to providing the funding and work with the council in replacing this vital community link and essential active travel route as soon as possible?

Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddatgan buddiant, gan fy mod yn gynghorydd yn sir Ddinbych tan fis Mai 2022. Mae arnaf ofn y byddaf yn parhau i rygnu ymlaen am hyn ac yn swnio fel record wedi torri gan fy mod wedi crybwyll y cwestiwn hwn unwaith neu ddwy yn barod. Mae cymunedau Trefnant a Thremeirchion yn dal i ymdrin â chanlyniadau'r llifogydd ofnadwy yn sgil storm Christoph ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn. Cafodd y cysylltiad hanfodol rhwng y ddwy gymuned yn fy etholaeth ei erydu a'i olchi ymaith. Ni fydd pont hanesyddol Llannerch yn cael ei hailgodi am flynyddoedd, a dim ond os gall Cyngor Sir Dinbych sicrhau'r miliynau o bunnoedd sydd ei angen i ariannu'r gwaith ailadeiladu. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo eich Llywodraeth i ddarparu'r cyllid a gweithio gyda'r cyngor i ail-greu'r cyswllt cymunedol allweddol a'r llwybr teithio llesol hanfodol hwn cyn gynted â phosibl?

I'm not entirely certain what that's got to do with erosion in riparian watercourses, but if the Member wants to write to me again and ask for a meeting, I'm happy to do so.

Nid wyf yn hollol sicr sut y mae hynny'n gysylltiedig ag erydiad cyrsiau dŵr ar lannau afonydd, ond os hoffai'r Aelod ysgrifennu ataf eto a gofyn am gyfarfod, rwy'n fwy na pharod i wneud hynny.

Mae nifer o gymunedau ar lannau Llŷn wedi gweld tirlithriadau sylweddol dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf. Y mwyaf amlwg oedd y tirlithriad mawr yn Nefyn yn ôl ym mis Ebrill, ond mae eraill wedi bod yno ac ar draws yr arfordir ers hynny. Yn wir, mae'r British Geological Survey wedi clustnodi Nefyn fel parth perygl tirlithriad. Mae'r tirlithriadau yma yn bygwth bywydau ac eiddo, ac yn achos poen meddwl sylweddol i drigolion cymunedau glan morol. Pa sicrwydd felly fedrwch chi ei roi i drigolion Nefyn a'r glannau yno sydd o dan fygythiad o dirlithriadau fod y Llywodraeth a'r cyrff perthnasol yn ymgymryd â gwaith angenrheidiol i ddiogelu eiddo a bywyd yn y mannau o dan fygythiad fel Nefyn a chymunedau eraill Llŷn? Diolch.

A number of communities on the shores of Llŷn have seen significant landslides over the past weeks and months. The most obvious was a landslide in Nefyn back in April, but there have been other cases across the region. Indeed, the British Geological Survey has allocated Nefyn as a landslide danger zone. These landslides are a threat to property and life, and cause real anxiety to residents of seaside communities. So, what assurances can you give the residents of Nefyn and the surrounding areas that are at threat of landslide that the Government and relevant bodies are undertaking the necessary work to safeguard life and property in the areas that are under threat such as Nefyn and other communities in Llŷn? Thank you.

14:00

Diolch am y cwestiwn.

Thank you for the question.

This is a really complicated area of law. So, sometimes, the river course is owned by someone, so sometimes the whole river course is owned by it. It's a fact of common law, though, that the edges of the river are owned by the properties adjacent to and containing the watercourse, unless there is an ability to show that the whole of the watercourse is owned by someone. So, it rather depends on how those ownerships pan out and what the infrastructure looks like above them. So, we have flood protection risks for properties and for infrastructure, but not unfortunately for gardens and for others types of land. So, I'm afraid it's a more complex question than that. I'd be happy to explore with the Member exactly what we're looking at.

Unfortunately, this is a consequence of the climate change emergency that we're all looking at. We're all experiencing greater amounts of rainfall, higher winds, really big problems with storms. So, again, my sympathies go out to the people who are suffering this. Our current system of flood protection extends, as I say, to flooding on properties and infrastructure of the sort, but not to the kind of erosion that Hefin David's constituencies are experiencing. I'd be very happy to explore further with you what can be done in certain circumstances, but I'm afraid it's very dependent on ownership patterns and other issues around the area.FootnoteLink

Mae hwn yn faes cyfreithiol cymhleth iawn. Felly, weithiau, mae cwrs afon yn eiddo i rywun, weithiau mae cwrs yr afon gyfan yn eiddo iddo. Mae'n un o ffeithiau cyfraith gyffredin, serch hynny, fod glannau afon yn eiddo i'r adeiladau sydd wrth ymyl ac yn cynnwys y cwrs dŵr ei hun, oni bai ei bod yn bosibl dangos bod y cwrs dŵr cyfan yn eiddo i rywun. Felly, mae'n dibynnu ar y sefyllfa o ran perchnogaeth a sut beth yw'r seilwaith uwch eu pennau. Mae gennym risgiau amddiffyn rhag llifogydd ar gyfer eiddo ac ar gyfer seilwaith, ond nid ar gyfer gerddi a mathau eraill o dir, yn anffodus. Felly, mae arnaf ofn ei fod yn gwestiwn mwy cymhleth na hynny. Byddwn yn hapus i archwilio gyda'r Aelod beth yn union rydym yn edrych arno.

Yn anffodus, mae hwn yn ganlyniad i'r argyfwng newid hinsawdd rydym i gyd yn edrych arno. Rydym i gyd yn profi mwy o lawiad, gwyntoedd cryfach, problemau mawr iawn gyda stormydd. Felly, unwaith eto, rwy'n cydymdeimlo â'r bobl sy'n dioddef hyn. Mae ein system bresennol o amddiffyn rhag llifogydd, fel y dywedaf, yn cynnwys llifogydd i eiddo a seilwaith o'r fath, ond nid i'r math o erydiad y mae etholaethau Hefin David yn ei brofi. Byddwn yn hapus iawn i archwilio ymhellach gyda chi beth y gellir ei wneud mewn rhai amgylchiadau, ond mae arnaf ofn ei fod yn ddibynnol iawn ar batrymau perchnogaeth a materion eraill yn yr ardal.FootnoteLink

Trawsnewid Canol Trefi
Town Centre Transformation

4. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi trawsnewidiad canol trefi yng Nghanol De Cymru? OQ57335

4. How is the Welsh Government supporting town centre transformation in South Wales Central? OQ57335

Diolch am y cwestiwn.

Thank you for the question.

Our Transforming Towns programme is supporting the long-term sustainability of our town and city centres by increasing footfall and making them attractive places to be. Town and city centres across the South Wales Central region have benefited from £13.8 million worth of Transforming Towns funding since January 2020.

Mae ein rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi yn cefnogi cynaliadwyedd hirdymor canol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd drwy gynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr a'u gwneud yn lleoedd deniadol i fod ynddynt. Mae canol trefi a dinasoedd ar draws rhanbarth Canol De Cymru wedi elwa o £13.8 miliwn o gyllid Trawsnewid Trefi ers mis Ionawr 2020.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Last Saturday, I met with two of Wales's youth climate ambassadors, Leo and Alfred, who live in the Pontypridd area. Amongst the issues we discussed were town centres and how some current and planned developments seem to be missing opportunities to make our town centres greener and play a greater role in being part of our response to the climate and nature emergency, as well as improving air quality. They cited some innovative international examples such as vertical gardens, which go beyond tree planting and flower pots, and asked why Wales isn't doing more in this regard. They cited not only the benefits but also how communities can shape and take ownership of such projects to inspire residents and activism. I'm aware that you launched the ministerial town centre action group and sub-groups, which of course is welcomed to address the challenges faced by our town centres, but how will you ensure that responding to the climate and nature emergency is central to this group's work and that local authorities are supported and actively encouraged to be innovative and green in their own town centre developments?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf, cyfarfûm â dau o lysgenhadon hinsawdd ieuenctid Cymru, Leo ac Alfred, sy'n byw yn ardal Pontypridd. Ymhlith y materion a drafodwyd gennym oedd canol trefi a sut y mae'n ymddangos bod rhai datblygiadau cyfredol ac arfaethedig yn colli cyfleoedd i wneud canol ein trefi'n wyrddach a chwarae mwy o ran yn ein hymateb i'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur, yn ogystal â gwella ansawdd aer. Roeddent yn cyfeirio at rai enghreifftiau rhyngwladol arloesol megis gerddi fertigol, sy'n mynd y tu hwnt i blannu coed a photiau blodau, ac yn gofyn pam nad yw Cymru'n gwneud mwy yn hyn o beth. Roeddent yn cyfeirio nid yn unig at y manteision ond hefyd at sut y gall cymunedau lunio a chymryd perchnogaeth ar brosiectau o'r fath i ysbrydoli trigolion a gweithgarwch. Rwy'n ymwybodol eich bod wedi lansio grŵp gweithredu gweinidogol ar ganol trefi ac is-grwpiau, rhywbeth sydd i'w groesawu wrth gwrs i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau sy'n wynebu canol trefi, ond sut y byddwch yn sicrhau bod ymateb i'r argyfwng hinsawdd a natur yn ganolog i waith y grŵp hwn a bod awdurdodau lleol yn cael eu cefnogi a'u hannog yn weithredol i fod yn arloesol ac yn wyrdd yn eu datblygiadau canol trefi?

I certainly agree with the challenge—and I thought the Member dealt brilliantly well with the heckling that she was getting from behind her and deserves points for that. [Laughter.]

I certainly think there are examples in regeneration projects of biophilic houses, there's certainly one in Swansea that looks very promising, and I certainly think that the youth climate ambassadors she's met with have a very strong argument, and I'd be keen to discuss with them and with her what more can be done. We have set up a ministerial town centre taskforce that I've asked to take forward the report by Professor Karel Williams and by Audit Wales into regenerating town centres, and I'd be very happy to ask them to look in particular at the points she makes and how they can build that into their work and recommendations. 

Rwy'n sicr yn cytuno â'r her—ac roeddwn yn meddwl bod yr Aelod wedi ymdrin yn wych â'r heclo y tu ôl iddi ac mae'n haeddu pwyntiau am hynny. [Chwerthin.]

Yn sicr, credaf fod enghreifftiau mewn prosiectau adfywio o dai bioffilig, yn sicr mae yna un yn Abertawe sy'n edrych yn addawol iawn, ac rwy'n sicr yn credu bod gan y llysgenhadon hinsawdd ifanc y mae wedi cyfarfod â hwy ddadl gref iawn, a byddwn yn awyddus i drafod gyda hwy a chyda hi beth arall y gellir ei wneud. Rydym wedi sefydlu tasglu gweinidogol ar gyfer canol trefi ac rwyf wedi gofyn i hwnnw fwrw ymlaen â'r adroddiad gan yr Athro Karel Williams a chan Archwilio Cymru i adfywio canol trefi, a byddwn yn hapus iawn i ofyn iddynt edrych yn benodol ar y pwyntiau y mae'n eu gwneud a sut y gallant blethu'r rheini i mewn i'w gwaith a'u hargymhellion.

Deputy Minister, what assistance are you giving to partners to try and get energy charging points in town centres? Because if you go to out-of-town shopping centres, many of the private companies that occupy those shopping centres are installing charging points for electric vehicles. We know that Wales sadly lags behind in the installation of these charging points to other parts of the United Kingdom. It will require a joined-up approach; so, Government working with either local authorities or other business partners to see that town centres have these charging points so that they are attractive to people who have electric cars, as we know they're going to be increasingly used in the future. What actions are you taking to engage with partners to make sure there are more charging points in town centres across South Wales Central?

Ddirprwy Weinidog, pa gymorth rydych yn ei roi i bartneriaid i geisio cael mannau gwefru ynni yng nghanol trefi? Oherwydd os ewch i ganolfannau siopa y tu allan i'r dref, mae llawer o'r cwmnïau preifat sy'n meddiannu'r canolfannau siopa hynny yn gosod mannau gwefru ar gyfer cerbydau trydan. Gwyddom fod Cymru ar ei hôl hi, yn anffodus, mewn perthynas â gosod y mannau gwefru hyn o gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig. Bydd angen dull cydgysylltiedig; felly, bydd angen i'r Llywodraeth weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol neu bartneriaid busnes eraill i sicrhau bod gan ganol trefi y mannau gwefru hyn fel eu bod yn ddeniadol i bobl sydd â cheir trydan, gan y gwyddom y bydd mwyfwy o ddefnydd arnynt yn y dyfodol. Pa gamau rydych yn eu cymryd i ymgysylltu â phartneriaid i sicrhau bod mwy o fannau gwefru yng nghanol trefi ledled Canol De Cymru?

14:05

Well, I think we already are doing that. We’ve recently launched our action plan on electric charging, and we currently have a programme, this financial year, of investing in town centre charging points. And far from lagging behind England, as you suggest, in terms of the proportion of the electric cars we have in Wales, we have a roughly similar proportion of chargers available for the cars there are. Though, clearly, as the number of electric cars increases, as we all wish to see, then we need to keep pace with that and increase the investment. I agree with the point he makes, but I do think we are making reasonable progress.

Wel, credaf ein bod eisoes yn gwneud hynny. Rydym wedi lansio ein cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer gwefru cerbydau trydan yn ddiweddar, ac ar hyn o bryd mae gennym raglen, y flwyddyn ariannol hon, o fuddsoddiad mewn mannau gwefru yng nghanol trefi. Ac ymhell o fod ar ei hôl hi o gymharu â Lloegr, fel yr awgrymwch, o ran cyfran y ceir trydan sydd gennym yng Nghymru, mae gennym gyfran debyg o fannau gwefru ar gael ar gyfer y ceir sydd gennym. Er hynny, yn amlwg, wrth i nifer y ceir trydan gynyddu, fel rydym i gyd yn dymuno ei weld, mae angen inni gadw i fyny â hynny a chynyddu'r buddsoddiad. Rwy'n cytuno â'r pwynt y mae'n ei wneud, ond rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwneud cynnydd rhesymol.

Gwasanaethau Rheilffyrdd
Rail Services

5. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o ansawdd gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru? OQ57338

5. What assessment has the Minister made of the quality of rail services in Wales? OQ57338

Diolch. Transport for Wales monitor on a monthly basis the customer satisfaction with their services along with all other train operators. TfW are currently mid table and are continually striving to improve services for passengers during what has been a challenging time with COVID and adverse weather events.

Diolch. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn monitro boddhad cwsmeriaid â'u gwasanaethau yn fisol fel yr holl weithredwyr trenau eraill. Ar hyn o bryd mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar ganol y tabl ac yn ymdrechu'n barhaus i wella gwasanaethau i deithwyr yn ystod cyfnod heriol gyda COVID a thywydd garw.

Diolch ichi am eich ateb. Dwi’n ddefnyddiwr pybyr iawn o wasanaethau trên. Yn fy 10 mlynedd i fan hyn yn y Senedd, dwi wedi gyrru i lawr efallai rhyw ddwywaith y flwyddyn. Dwi’n defnyddio’r trên bron yn ddieithriad os medra i, a dwi wedi defnyddio’r trên dair gwaith yn y tair wythnos diwethaf. Tair wythnos yn ôl, mi oeddwn i ddwy awr yn hwyr yn cyrraedd yn ôl i’r gogledd. Pythefnos yn ôl, mi ges i fy nal i fyny yn nhrafferthion a shambles, os caf i ddweud, gwasanaethau trên penwythnos rygbi—roeddwn i dros awr yn hwyr yn cyrraedd adre. Ac yr wythnos diwethaf hefyd, mi oeddwn i awr yn hwyr yn cyrraedd Caerdydd. Nawr, dwi’n rhywun sydd eisiau defnyddio trenau, ond mae’n rhaid i mi ddweud, dwi yn colli ffydd yn y gwasanaeth ac yng ngallu Trafnidiaeth Cymru i redeg y gwasanaeth. Felly, rydych chi’n addo gwelliant ers blynyddoedd, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed yn barod y prynhawn yma, ond pa mor amyneddgar ydych chi’n disgwyl i bobl fod, oherwydd erbyn ichi gael y gwasanaeth lan i lle rŷn ni i gyd eisiau ei weld, mi fydd y rhan fwyaf o bobl wedi rhoi lan?

Thank you for that response. I'm a very regular user of train services. In my 10 years here in the Senedd, I've driven down some twice a year. I use the train almost without exception, but I have used the train three times in the last three weeks. Three weeks ago, I was two hours late getting back to north Wales. A fortnight ago, I was caught up in the difficulty and shambles of train services on a rugby weekend—I was over an hour late getting home. And last week, I was an hour late in getting to Cardiff. Now, I am one who wants to use trains, but I have to say that I am losing faith in the service and in the ability of Transport for Wales to run the service. So, you've promised improvements over years, as we've heard this afternoon, but how patient do you expect passengers to be, because by the time you get the service up and running to where we want it, most people will have already given up?

I'm sorry to hear what Llyr Gruffydd said about his own experience travelling on the train, and how it is shaking his confidence. Clearly, if that starts to happen, then we do have significant problems. I think we do need to be understanding about the range of pressures facing the train system in Wales, and across the UK at the moment. I don’t think Transport for Wales is particularly different in some of the things it has to cope with. There has been damage to a number of trains, which has reduced the rolling stock available, and the fact that Avanti West Coast are not reinstating services across north Wales has also had an impact and created some overcrowding. I think TfW are acutely conscious of it and are working hard on it. We can’t, as Llyr Gruffydd fairly mentioned in his question, run away from the long-term impact of underinvestment that we have had, and that is now showing itself. But there's no doubt that there are, in some services, particularly acute pressures at the moment, and TfW are working hard to resolve them.

Mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed yr hyn a ddywedodd Llyr Gruffydd am ei brofiad yn teithio ar y trên, a sut y mae'n ysgwyd ei hyder. Yn amlwg, os yw hynny'n dechrau digwydd, mae gennym broblemau sylweddol. Credaf fod angen inni ddeall yr ystod o wahanol bwysau sy'n wynebu'r system drenau yng Nghymru, ac ar draws y DU ar hyn o bryd. Nid wyf yn credu bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn arbennig o wahanol gyda rhai o'r pethau y mae'n rhaid iddynt ymdopi â hwy. Mae difrod wedi cael ei wneud i nifer o drenau, sydd wedi lleihau nifer y cerbydau sydd ar gael, ac mae'r ffaith nad yw Avanti West Coast yn adfer gwasanaethau ar draws gogledd Cymru hefyd wedi cael effaith ac wedi creu rhywfaint o orlenwi. Rwy'n credu bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny ac yn gweithio'n galed arno. Fel y soniodd Llyr Gruffydd yn deg yn ei gwestiwn, ni allwn osgoi effaith hirdymor y tanfuddsoddiad a gawsom, ac mae hynny'n amlygu ei hun yn awr. Ond nid oes amheuaeth fod pwysau arbennig o drwm ar rai gwasanaethau ar hyn o bryd ac mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru'n gweithio'n galed i'w datrys.

Minister, will you join me in welcoming the news of the reintroduction of direct rail services from Crosskeys to Newport, from this Sunday, 12 December, in time for Christmas? This is no mean achievement, and will be the first direct passenger rail service from the communities of Islwyn to Newport in almost 60 years. I’ve campaigned since my election to reconnect rail services in Islwyn to Newport—the proud city of Gwent—and I’m delighted that the Welsh Labour Government is delivering on that promise it made to the people of Islwyn. Minister, what actions will Welsh Labour take to deliver on our promise of the new passenger rail service from Ebbw Vale to Newport, to ensure that citizens of Newbridge can directly be reconnected to Newport, our roads decongested, our valleys further greened, and our air cleaned?

Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi a chroesawu'r newyddion am ailgyflwyno gwasanaethau rheilffordd uniongyrchol o Crosskeys i Gasnewydd, o ddydd Sul, 12 Rhagfyr, mewn pryd ar gyfer y Nadolig? Nid camp fach mo hon a dyma fydd y gwasanaeth rheilffordd uniongyrchol cyntaf i deithwyr o gymunedau Islwyn i Gasnewydd mewn bron i 60 mlynedd. Ers fy ethol, rwyf wedi ymgyrchu dros ailgysylltu gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd yn Islwyn i Gasnewydd—dinas falch Gwent—ac rwyf wrth fy modd fod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn cyflawni'r addewid hwnnw a wnaeth i bobl Islwyn. Weinidog, pa gamau y bydd Llafur Cymru yn eu cymryd i gyflawni ein haddewid o sicrhau gwasanaeth trenau newydd i deithwyr o Lynebwy i Gasnewydd, er mwyn sicrhau y gellir ailgysylltu dinasyddion Trecelyn yn uniongyrchol â Chasnewydd, lleihau'r tagfeydd ar ein ffyrdd, gwyrddu ein cymoedd ymhellach, a glanhau ein hawyr?

Well, not only will I join you in welcoming the Crosskeys service, but, in fact, I am getting up at 6 o'clock on Monday morning in order to catch the Crosskeys railway service and to see it come into Newport, so I don’t think my commitment can be questioned by anyone in the Chamber. It is a perfect example of what we’ve been able to do, even though rail infrastructure is not devolved to Wales—to step in where the UK Government has failed to make sure that the people of our communities are given the service they deserve.

We were able to make a significant amount of money available this year to put investment forward into the extension towards Ebbw Vale. It does require action from the UK Government and Network Rail, and we are talking to them about speeding that up. I was very pleased to read in the report by Sir Peter Hendy in the 'Union Connectivity Review' the other week his recommendation: the UK Government do more to improve rail services into Wales and within Wales. He also significantly embraced the recommendations of the Burns review, to deal with congestion around Newport, and part of that involves investing in the Ebbw Vale rail link, and comprehensively rejected the suggestion of the Prime Minister that the UK Government should build an M4 over and above the heads of devolution, completely ignoring the democratic will of the people, and explicitly said that the public transport solution set out by the Welsh Government, through the South East Wales Transport Commission, was the right way ahead. So, I think the Welsh Conservatives should show a little humility in recognising that their own Government's report has rejected a call they've been loudly making in this Chamber, and I hope, together, we can move on and focus on public transport investment and looking at the UK Government playing its part in that.

Wel, nid yn unig y byddaf yn ymuno â chi i groesawu gwasanaeth Crosskeys, ond mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n codi am 6 o'r gloch fore Llun er mwyn dal gwasanaeth rheilffordd Crosskeys a'i weld yn dod i mewn i Gasnewydd, felly nid wyf yn credu y gall unrhyw un yn y Siambr gwestiynu fy ymrwymiad. Mae'n enghraifft berffaith o'r hyn rydym wedi gallu ei wneud, er nad yw seilwaith rheilffyrdd wedi'i ddatganoli i Gymru—i gamu i'r adwy lle mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi methu sicrhau bod pobl ein cymunedau yn cael y gwasanaeth y maent yn ei haeddu.

Rydym wedi gallu sicrhau bod swm sylweddol o arian ar gael eleni i fuddsoddi yn yr estyniad tuag at Lynebwy. Mae angen camau gweithredu gan Lywodraeth y DU a Network Rail, ac rydym yn siarad â hwy ynglŷn â chyflymu'r gwaith hwnnw. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o ddarllen argymhelliad Syr Peter Hendy yn ei adroddiad yn yr 'Adolygiad o Gysylltedd yr Undeb' yr wythnos o'r blaen: mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gwneud mwy i wella gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd i mewn i Gymru ac yng Nghymru. Roedd hefyd yn llwyr groesawu argymhellion adolygiad Burns, i ymdrin â thagfeydd o amgylch Casnewydd, ac mae rhan o hynny'n golygu buddsoddi yng nghyswllt rheilffordd Glynebwy, a gwrthododd awgrym y Prif Weinidog y dylai Llywodraeth y DU adeiladu M4 a diystyru datganoli, gan anwybyddu ewyllys ddemocrataidd y bobl yn llwyr, a dywedodd yn benodol mai'r ateb i drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a nodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, drwy Gomisiwn Trafnidiaeth De-ddwyrain Cymru, oedd y ffordd gywir ymlaen. Felly, credaf y dylai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ddangos ychydig o wyleidd-dra wrth gydnabod bod adroddiad eu Llywodraeth eu hunain wedi gwrthod galwad y maent wedi bod yn ei gwneud yn y Siambr hon, ac rwy'n gobeithio, gyda'n gilydd, y gallwn symud ymlaen a chanolbwyntio ar fuddsoddi mewn trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a disgwyl i Lywodraeth y DU chwarae ei rhan yn hynny.

14:10

At the weekend, I was contacted by a constituent who said, 'I took the train from Cardiff about 3.23 and arrived in Chester after midnight on a train that should've arrived at 6.23 p.m. Passengers and I think Transport for Wales were aware of the problem before we left Cardiff Central. This was 17 November.'

Last Monday, like Llyr, on the twenty-ninth, I pre-booked my ticket from Wrexham General down here, but I knew there were problems. I rang Transport for Wales, they confirmed my train had been cancelled but the next one was running as scheduled. When I arrived, myself and other passengers saw, on the overhead signage, right up until the time of arrival, that the train was on time. But, bang on the minute when the train was due, tannoy said, 'train cancelled'. We had to wait until another hour and a half for the next train in freezing cold weather, with the waiting room locked, because now Transport for Wales locks Wrexham waiting room from 6 p.m. The issue here is—I clearly understand that problems occur with track, and that has to be dealt with, but there was a failure of passenger care, a failure of passenger information, which could have prevented people having to stay on the platform for so long in such inclement circumstances. So, how can you propose to address that information issue, so that passengers are protected from similar situations occurring?

Dros y penwythnos, cysylltodd etholwr â mi a ddywedodd, 'Euthum ar y trên o Gaerdydd tua 3.23 a chyrhaeddais Gaer ar ôl hanner nos ar drên a ddylai fod wedi cyrraedd am 6.23 p.m. Mae teithwyr eraill a minnau'n credu bod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ymwybodol o'r broblem cyn inni adael gorsaf Caerdydd Canolog. Digwyddodd hyn ar 17 Tachwedd.'

Ddydd Llun diwethaf, fel Llyr, ar y nawfed ar hugain, archebais fy nhocyn o Wrecsam i lawr yma, ond gwyddwn fod yna broblemau. Ffoniais Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac fe wnaethant gadarnhau bod fy nhrên wedi'i ganslo ond dywedasant fod yr un nesaf ar amser. Pan gyrhaeddais, roedd yr arwyddion uwchben, hyd at yr amser cyrraedd, yn dangos i mi a'r teithwyr eraill fod y trên ar amser. Ond yr eiliad roedd y trên i fod i gyrraedd, dywedodd yr uchelseinydd fod 'y trên wedi'i ganslo'. Bu'n rhaid inni aros awr a hanner arall am y trên nesaf mewn tywydd rhewllyd, gyda'r ystafell aros dan glo am fod Trafnidiaeth Cymru bellach yn cloi ystafell aros Wrecsam am 6 p.m. Y broblem yma yw—rwy'n deall yn amlwg fod problemau'n digwydd gyda'r trac, ac mae'n rhaid ymdrin â hwy, ond cafwyd methiant o ran gofal teithwyr, methiant o ran darparu gwybodaeth i deithwyr, a allai fod wedi atal pobl rhag gorfod aros ar y platfform cyhyd mewn amgylchiadau mor arw. Felly, sut rydych yn cynnig mynd i'r afael â'r broblem wybodaeth honno, fel bod teithwyr yn cael eu diogelu rhag sefyllfaoedd tebyg?

Well, I really am sorry to hear about that experience that the Member and his fellow passengers had, and that clearly isn't good enough. There are acute operational challenges being faced by Transport for Wales at the moment, and I think they need to reflect on his experience, and I will ask them to look into the circumstances in particular and take the point on board that he made, and the understanding he showed that when difficulties do occur, the communication is more important than at any other time. So, I think there are lessons to be learned from that, and I will speak to them and write to him about it.

Wel, mae'n ddrwg iawn gennyf glywed am y profiad a gafodd yr Aelod a'i gyd-deithwyr, ac mae'n amlwg nad yw hynny'n ddigon da. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn wynebu heriau gweithredol difrifol ar hyn o bryd, a chredaf fod angen iddynt ystyried ei brofiad, a gofynnaf iddynt ymchwilio i'r amgylchiadau penodol hyn ac ystyried y pwynt a wnaeth, a'r ddealltwriaeth y mae wedi'i dangos pan fo anawsterau'n digwydd, fod cyfathrebu'n bwysicach nag ar unrhyw adeg arall. Felly, credaf fod gwersi i'w dysgu o hynny, a byddaf yn siarad â hwy ac yn ysgrifennu ato yn ei gylch.

Adfywio Canol Trefi
Town Centre Regeneration

6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am flaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer adfywio canol trefi? OQ57321

6. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's priorities for town centre regeneration? OQ57321

Thank you. Our Transforming Towns programme continues to deliver our priorities for town centres, which include repurposing empty buildings, improving the diversity of services, increasing flexible living and work spaces, and creating more community green space. The programme has provided £136 million across Wales specifically for town centre regeneration. 

Diolch. Mae ein rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi yn parhau i gyflawni ein blaenoriaethau ar gyfer canol trefi, sy'n cynnwys addasu adeiladau gwag at ddibenion gwahanol, gwella amrywiaeth gwasanaethau, cynyddu mannau gwaith a byw hyblyg, a chreu mwy o fannau gwyrdd cymunedol. Mae'r rhaglen wedi darparu £136 miliwn ledled Cymru yn benodol ar gyfer adfywio canol trefi.

Deputy Minister, you may be aware that I recently joined the Minister for Climate Change for the official opening of the new Cynon Linc in Aberdare. Managed by Age Connects Morgannwg, and funded through the Welsh Government's integrated care fund, this has turned a tired community building into a modern, fit-for-purpose facility at the heart of the community, and in a prominent town-centre location. So, how else is the Welsh Government working with the public sector, specifically, and other stakeholders, to deliver schemes to regenerate our town centres?

Ddirprwy Weinidog, efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi ymuno â'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yn ddiweddar ar gyfer agoriad swyddogol y Cynon Linc newydd yn Aberdâr. Wedi'i reoli gan Age Connects Morgannwg, a'i ariannu drwy gronfa gofal integredig Llywodraeth Cymru, mae hwn wedi troi adeilad cymunedol blinedig yn gyfleuster modern, addas i'r diben yng nghanol y gymuned, ac mewn lleoliad amlwg yng nghanol y dref. Felly, ym mha ffordd arall y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r sector cyhoeddus, yn benodol, a rhanddeiliaid eraill, i gyflwyno cynlluniau i adfywio canol ein trefi?

Thank you. Yes, and I know the Minister enjoyed a visit to the Cynon Linc and was very impressed by the project and the work they'd done there to bring services together. And I think that does give us an example of the way we need to rethink town centres—not simply as shopping spaces, because the nature of retail has changed beyond recognition in the last 30 years, with out-of-town developments, with the growth of supermarkets and with the shift online. We need to think of town centres afresh as spaces where people meet and where services are provided.

We do have a 'town centre first' policy now for the provision of public services, and we encourage all service providers to look first as to whether or not a town-centre location can be provided, and I think that is the way forward. As I mentioned earlier, we've published reports in July this year, from Professor Karel Williams, into the future of town centres, and in September, Audit Wales published their own report that echoed many of the recommendations, and we have specifically asked the ministerial town centre taskforce to look at both of those. And involving the public sector and service providers to see town centres as a place where they do their business is one of the things that I'm asking them to look at.

Diolch. Ie, a gwn fod y Gweinidog wedi mwynhau ymweld â'r Cynon Linc a chafodd y prosiect a'r gwaith roeddent wedi'i wneud yno i ddod â gwasanaethau at ei gilydd argraff fawr arni. A chredaf fod hynny'n enghraifft o'r ffordd y mae angen inni ailystyried canol trefi—nid fel mannau siopa yn unig, oherwydd mae natur manwerthu wedi newid y tu hwnt i adnabyddiaeth yn ystod y 30 mlynedd diwethaf, gyda datblygiadau y tu allan i'r dref, gyda thwf archfarchnadoedd a chyda'r newid i siopa ar-lein. Mae angen inni feddwl am ganol trefi o'r newydd fel mannau lle mae pobl yn cyfarfod a lle darperir gwasanaethau.

Mae gennym bolisi 'canol trefi yn gyntaf' yn awr ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ac rydym yn annog pob darparwr gwasanaeth i edrych yn gyntaf a ellir darparu lleoliad yng nghanol y dref ai peidio, a chredaf mai dyna'r ffordd ymlaen. Fel y soniais yn gynharach, rydym wedi cyhoeddi adroddiadau ym mis Gorffennaf eleni, gan yr Athro Karel Williams, i ddyfodol canol trefi, ac ym mis Medi, cyhoeddodd Archwilio Cymru eu hadroddiad eu hunain a oedd yn adleisio llawer o'r argymhellion, ac rydym wedi gofyn yn benodol i'r tasglu gweinidogol ar ganol trefi edrych ar y ddau adroddiad. Ac un o'r pethau rwy'n gofyn iddynt edrych arnynt yw annog y sector cyhoeddus a darparwyr gwasanaethau i feddwl am ganol trefi fel mannau lle maent yn cyflawni eu gwaith.

14:15
Mannau Gwyrdd
Green Spaces

7. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i wella mannau gwyrdd? OQ57320

7. How is the Welsh Government working with local authorities to enhance green spaces? OQ57320

We are actively working with all local authorities across Wales to improve green spaces through a number of initiatives, such as our Transforming Towns placemaking grant, supporting the Valleys regional park, funding local nature partnerships and our 'Building Better Places', which further encourages the creation of accessible green spaces.

Rydym wrthi'n gweithio gyda phob awdurdod lleol ledled Cymru i wella mannau gwyrdd drwy nifer o fentrau, megis ein grant creu lleoedd Trawsnewid Trefi, cefnogi parc rhanbarthol y Cymoedd, ariannu partneriaethau natur lleol a'n 'Adeiladu Lleoedd Gwell', sy'n anogaeth bellach i greu mannau gwyrdd hygyrch.

I want to thank the Ministers for their commitment to enhancing green spaces across Wales. In Bridgend and Porthcawl, constituents from all ages and backgrounds express the need for more green spaces within their communities and to protect and enhance existing spaces. I recently received ideas from students at West Park Primary School, Porthcawl Primary School and Nottage Primary School for their dream park. A combination of nature and well-being were the overwhelming themes for so many of the pupils, with ideas including wild flowers for biodiversity, therapy gardens and tree planting. So, I also really welcome the £580,000 Welsh Government grant secured by Bridgend County Borough Council for the Cwm Taf nature network project, which will see so many spaces undergo improvement. And in light of the students' ideas, could I ask the Minister to ensure that both mental and physical well-being will be part of the ongoing strategies to enhance our green spaces?

Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Gweinidogion am eu hymrwymiad i wella mannau gwyrdd ledled Cymru. Ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl, mae etholwyr o bob oed a chefndir yn mynegi'r angen am fwy o fannau gwyrdd yn eu cymunedau ac i ddiogelu a gwella'r mannau presennol. Yn ddiweddar, cefais syniadau gan ddisgyblion yn Ysgol Gynradd West Park, Ysgol Gynradd Porthcawl ac Ysgol Gynradd Nottage ynglŷn â'u parc delfrydol. Cyfuniad o natur a llesiant oedd y themâu pwysicaf i gynifer o'r disgyblion, gyda syniadau'n cynnwys blodau gwyllt ar gyfer bioamrywiaeth, gerddi therapi a phlannu coed. Felly, rwyf hefyd yn croesawu'r grant o £580,000 gan Lywodraeth Cymru a gafodd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar gyfer prosiect rhwydwaith natur Cwm Taf, a fydd yn gweld cynifer o leoedd yn cael eu gwella. Ac yng ngoleuni syniadau'r myfyrwyr, a gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog sicrhau y bydd llesiant meddyliol a chorfforol yn rhan o'r strategaethau parhaus i wella ein mannau gwyrdd?

Yes, indeed. The principles of sustainable management of natural resources puts multiple benefits, particularly mental and physical well-being, at the heart of any strategic plan to create or improve Wales's green spaces. In fact, as I think you know, Sarah, the Cwm Taf network project you mentioned is developing new practices for managing green spaces in the Cwm Taf health board region, in line with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, using the public services board's well-being plan—so, a really integrated plan that nicely matches the dream park that I hope will be a reality as a result. The plan identifies a connected network of 20 green spaces to be managed as a nature-based solution for improving the health and well-being of local residents. Highlights of the project include increasing access for parents with early years children, increasing access for older people, increasing access for partially sighted people and providing spaces for mindfulness. 

We're also delivering similar health and well-being objectives through the enabling natural resources and well-being scheme under way or about to start across Wales, and I'm really just delighted to hear about the enthusiasm and resource of the pupils there. One of the real pleasures of these jobs—there are many downsides, but one of the real pleasures—is meeting young people, listening to their hopes and dreams and actually knowing that you've got the ability to put some of those, at least, into practice. So, I very much welcome it, and I'm delighted that we'll be able to turn that dream park into a reality really soon.

Yn sicr. Mae egwyddorion rheoli adnoddau naturiol yn gynaliadwy yn rhoi nifer o fanteision, yn enwedig llesiant meddyliol a chorfforol, wrth wraidd unrhyw gynllun strategol i greu neu wella mannau gwyrdd yng Nghymru. Yn wir, fel y gwyddoch, Sarah, mae prosiect rhwydwaith Cwm Taf y sonioch chi amdano yn datblygu arferion newydd ar gyfer rheoli mannau gwyrdd yn rhanbarth bwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf, yn unol â Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015, gan ddefnyddio cynllun llesiant y bwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus—felly, cynllun integredig iawn sy'n cyfateb yn dda i'r parc delfrydol a gaiff ei wireddu o ganlyniad, gobeithio. Mae'r cynllun yn nodi rhwydwaith cysylltiedig o 20 o fannau gwyrdd i'w rheoli fel ateb ar sail natur ar gyfer gwella iechyd a llesiant trigolion lleol. Mae uchafbwyntiau'r prosiect yn cynnwys cynyddu mynediad i rieni â phlant blynyddoedd cynnar, cynyddu mynediad i bobl hŷn, cynyddu mynediad i bobl sy'n rhannol ddall a darparu mannau ar gyfer ymwybyddiaeth ofalgar.

Rydym hefyd yn cyflawni amcanion iechyd a llesiant tebyg drwy'r cynllun galluogi adnoddau naturiol a lles sydd ar y gweill neu ar fin dechrau ledled Cymru, ac rwy'n falch iawn o glywed am frwdfrydedd a dyfeisgarwch y disgyblion yno. Un o bleserau gwirioneddol y swyddi hyn—mae llawer o anfanteision, ond un o'r pleserau gwirioneddol—yw cyfarfod â phobl ifanc, gwrando ar eu gobeithion a'u breuddwydion a gwybod bod gennych allu i roi rhai o'r rheini, o leiaf, ar waith. Felly, rwy'n ei groesawu'n fawr, ac rwy'n falch iawn y byddwn yn gallu gwireddu'r parc delfrydol hwnnw'n fuan iawn.

Busnesau a Chynaliadwyedd Amgylcheddol
Businesses and Environmental Sustainability

8. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Gweinidog yr Economi ynghylch cefnogi busnesau i ddod yn amgylcheddol gynaliadwy? OQ57310

8. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Economy about supporting businesses to become environmentally sustainable? OQ57310

Thank you. I have regular discussions with the economy Minister on how Business Wales can reflect the need to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. This morning, I met with him to discuss the results of the deep dive, which we published earlier this afternoon, into how we can deploy more renewable energy and the economic opportunities that flow from that, both for the supply chain, but also in capturing more wealth in Wales so that prosperity from our natural resources can be kept here in our communities.

Diolch. Rwy'n cael trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda Gweinidog yr economi ar sut y gall Busnes Cymru adlewyrchu'r angen i fynd i'r afael â'r argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur. Y bore yma, cyfarfûm ag ef i drafod canlyniadau'r astudiaeth fanwl, a gyhoeddwyd gennym yn gynharach y prynhawn yma, o sut y gallwn sicrhau mwy o ynni adnewyddadwy a'r cyfleoedd economaidd sy'n deillio o hynny, ar gyfer y gadwyn gyflenwi, ond hefyd i grynhoi mwy o gyfoeth yng Nghymru fel y gellir cadw ffyniant o'n hadnoddau naturiol yma yn ein cymunedau.

Thank you, Deputy Minister. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants recently surveyed small and medium enterprises in Wales on their plans to make themselves more environmentally sustainable. Small business owners said that the No. 1 issue holding businesses back from making their operations more sustainable was the lack of time and resources to implement environmental strategies. Company bosses also highlighted their own lack of expertise on where to start with sustainability plans, whilst reporting challenges in obtaining the right financial backing from traditional outlets. Deputy Minister, in light of these findings, will you undertake to discuss, with the Minister for Economy, ways to give SMEs in Wales the practical guidance and funding that they need to address this important issue? Thank you.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Yn ddiweddar, cynhaliodd Cymdeithas y Cyfrifwyr Ardystiedig Siartredig arolwg o fentrau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru ar eu cynlluniau i wneud eu hunain yn fwy cynaliadwy yn amgylcheddol. Dywedodd perchnogion busnesau bach mai'r prif beth sy'n rhwystro busnesau rhag gwneud eu gweithrediadau'n fwy cynaliadwy oedd diffyg amser ac adnoddau i weithredu strategaethau amgylcheddol. Tynnodd penaethiaid cwmnïau sylw hefyd at eu diffyg arbenigedd eu hunain ar ble i ddechrau gyda chynlluniau cynaliadwyedd, tra'n adrodd am heriau wrth gael y gefnogaeth ariannol gywir o ffynonellau traddodiadol. Ddirprwy Weinidog, yng ngoleuni'r canfyddiadau hyn, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i drafod, gyda Gweinidog yr Economi, ffyrdd o ddarparu'r arweiniad ymarferol a'r cyllid y mae busnesau bach a chanolig yng Nghymru eu hangen i fynd i'r afael â'r mater pwysig hwn? Diolch.

Well, I certainly recognise the challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises face to look beyond the short-term pressures of running a busy business in challenging times, and, of course, they've had particularly acute challenging times over the last two years. Of course, dealing with environmental sustainability is not even only the right thing to do, it is of short-term self-interest for businesses as well in terms of reducing costs from their energy output, as well as being in tune with their customers and the growing concern there is around climate change. Over the coming months, Business Wales will strengthen their outreach work with the micro and the SME community to help realise the benefits of operating differently, and they will focus on the key actions of the green growth pledge to ensure that they are aware of regulatory changes, good practice in product and service design and are connected with the support that is available to drive forward their green ambitions.

Wel, rwy'n sicr yn cydnabod yr heriau y mae busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint yn eu hwynebu wrth edrych y tu hwnt i bwysau tymor byr rhedeg busnes prysur mewn cyfnod heriol, ac wrth gwrs, maent wedi cael cyfnod arbennig o heriol dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Wrth gwrs, nid yn unig ei bod hi'n briodol ymdrin â chynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol, mae'n gwneud lles yn y tymor byr i'r busnesau eu hunain hefyd o ran lleihau costau eu hallbwn ynni, yn ogystal â bod mewn cytgord â'u cwsmeriaid a'r pryder cynyddol mewn perthynas â newid hinsawdd. Dros y misoedd nesaf, bydd Busnes Cymru yn cryfhau eu gwaith allgymorth gyda'r gymuned micro a BBaCh i helpu i wireddu manteision gweithredu'n wahanol, a byddant yn canolbwyntio ar gamau allweddol yr addewid twf gwyrdd i sicrhau eu bod yn ymwybodol o newidiadau rheoleiddiol, arferion da o ran dylunio cynnyrch a gwasanaethau ac wedi'u cysylltu â'r cymorth sydd ar gael i fwrw ymlaen â'u huchelgeisiau gwyrdd.

14:20

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Sioned Williams.

Finally, question 9, Sioned Williams.

Ystadau Tai
Housing Estates

9. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod adeiladwyr yn cwblhau ystadau tai i safon foddhaol? OQ57327

9. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that builders complete housing estates to a satisfactory standard? OQ57327

Builders are responsible for ensuring that new homes comply with the building regulations. The Building Safety Bill will set out clear responsibilities for compliance and provide a means of redress where things go wrong.

Mae adeiladwyr yn gyfrifol am sicrhau bod cartrefi newydd yn cydymffurfio â'r rheoliadau adeiladu. Bydd y Bil Diogelwch Adeiladau yn nodi cyfrifoldebau clir dros gydymffurfio ac yn darparu ffordd o wneud iawn pan fo pethau'n mynd o chwith.

Diolch, Weinidog. Mae wedi dod i'r amlwg i mi nad oes mesurau digonol mewn lle i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem enfawr sy'n bodoli wrth i rai adeiladwyr fethu â chwblhau ystadau tai i safon foddhaol. Mae nifer o achosion ble mae rhywun yn prynu tŷ dan yr argraff gamarweiniol y bydd isadeiledd fel lonydd, palmentydd, goleuadau stryd ac yn y blaen yn cael eu cwblhau unwaith y bydd yr holl dai yn yr ystad yn cael eu gwerthu cyn cael eu gadael ar ôl i fyw mewn amodau byw peryglus am flynyddoedd os nad am byth. Mae awdurdodau lleol yn dweud nad oes ganddyn nhw'r grymoedd i weithredu ar hyn, tra bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn honni mai mater i'r awdurdodau cynllunio lleol ydyw, ac mae'r anghyfiawnder hwn hyd yn oed yn waeth mewn achosion ble mae rheolaeth dros adeiladu wedi ei allanoli i gwmnïau preifat. Yn yr achosion hyn, nid yw'r awdurdodau cynllunio lleol yn gwneud unrhyw waith ymchwilio na gorfodi pan fo gwaith diffygiol clir. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru gynnal ymchwiliad i mewn i hyn er mwyn sicrhau nad oes unrhyw un yn gorfod byw mewn amodau anniogel? Diolch.

Thank you, Minister. It's become apparent to me that there aren't adequate measures in place to tackle the huge problem that exists as some builders fail to complete housing estates to a satisfactory standard. In a number of cases, where someone buys a house under the mistaken impression that infrastructure such as pavements, streetlights and roads will be completed once all the houses in the estate have been built, they are being left to live in dangerous living conditions for years, if not forever. Local authorities say that they don't have the power to take action in this area, whilst the Welsh Government claims that it's a matter for local planning authorities, and this injustice is even worse in cases where management for building is outsourced to private companies. In these cases, the local planning authorities don't do any research or enforcement work when clearly deficient work is done. So, will the Welsh Government hold an inquiry into this issue in order to ensure that nobody has to live in unsafe conditions? Thank you.

Thank you, That's a mix of a couple of things. My colleague Hefin David has been talking about the issue of connecting estates and the estate management charges that sometimes are left with home owners as a result for quite some time. This continues to be a real problem, because it's something that's negotiated between the developer and the local authority, through either a highways agreement, a section—I forget; 328, I think it is, but don't quote me—one of the sections of the Highways Act 1980 that connects the highway together, or indeed a section 106 planning agreement, which puts obligations on the developers. Local authorities then often adopt those roads and take them over as part of their statutory network, but they don't have to do that, and it's a matter of negotiation between the local authority and the developer as to what, if any, connection is made to that estate.

We've already held a number of task and finish groups into both the issue about unadopted roads and uncompleted estates, and we've had a look at some of the outcomes of those. They are incredibly complex. Unadopted roads come in all shapes and sizes across Wales. Many house owners live on an unadopted road. I should declare an interest, Deputy Presiding Officer, and say I live on one myself and am very happy to do so. I don't want the road to be adopted by anybody and it's not causing a problem. Other householders live on unadopted roads and estates where they have to pay a management fee for that and there are very draconic terms and conditions when they buy those houses for what happens if you don't pay the fees. As I say, Hefin David has brought this to my attention on a number of occasions.

We are working very hard as part of our Building Safety Bill to put a series of very specific obligations on both constructors, developers and management companies for who will have responsibility for what going forward. That doesn't solve the problem of right now. We've been working very hard with local authorities to ensure that they do negotiate the 106 agreements so that the responsibility transfers and that the developer puts the right sort of what's called a commuted sum into the pot to pay for the ongoing maintenance of that, but there's no doubt that it's a problem, and it's an ongoing one. We are working very hard, and I'm very happy to discuss with any Member the problems with this. As I say, I've discussed them many times with Hefin David. We are working very hard with the UK Government at the moment on the leasehold reform Bill, but these houses fall between, so they are freehold houses, but they have almost leasehold-like provisions on the estate management. So, we hope that that will be part of the reform that we bring forward; if it isn't, then we will legislate here in Wales to do it.

Diolch, dyna gymysgedd o un neu ddau o bethau. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod, Hefin David, wedi bod yn sôn ers cryn dipyn o amser am gysylltu ystadau a'r taliadau rheoli ystadau sydd weithiau'n cael eu gadael gyda pherchnogion cartrefi yn sgil hynny. Mae hon yn parhau i fod yn broblem wirioneddol, oherwydd mae'n rhywbeth a negodwyd rhwng y datblygwr a'r awdurdod lleol, naill ai drwy gytundeb priffyrdd, adran—rwy'n anghofio; 328, rwy'n credu, ond peidiwch â'm dyfynnu—un o adrannau Deddf Priffyrdd 1980 sy'n cysylltu'r briffordd, neu'n wir, cytundeb cynllunio adran 106, sy'n rhoi rhwymedigaethau ar y datblygwyr. Yna, mae awdurdodau lleol yn aml yn mabwysiadu'r ffyrdd hynny ac yn cymryd rheolaeth drostynt fel rhan o'u rhwydwaith statudol, ond nid oes rhaid iddynt wneud hynny, ac mae'n fater o negodi rhwng yr awdurdod lleol a'r datblygwr ynghylch pa gysylltiad, os o gwbl, a wneir i'r ystâd honno.

Rydym eisoes wedi cynnal nifer o grwpiau gorchwyl a gorffen ar ffyrdd heb eu mabwysiadu ac ystadau heb eu cwblhau, ac rydym wedi cael golwg ar rai o ganlyniadau'r rheini. Maent yn hynod gymhleth. Mae ffyrdd heb eu mabwysiadu o bob siâp a maint ledled Cymru. Mae llawer o berchnogion tai yn byw ar ffordd heb ei mabwysiadu. Dylwn ddatgan buddiant, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a dweud fy mod yn byw ar un fy hun ac yn hapus iawn i wneud hynny. Nid wyf eisiau i'r ffordd gael ei mabwysiadu gan neb ac nid yw'n achosi problem. Mae deiliaid tai eraill yn byw ar ffyrdd ac ystadau heb eu mabwysiadu lle mae'n rhaid iddynt dalu ffi reoli am hynny ac mae yna delerau ac amodau didostur iawn pan fyddant yn prynu'r tai hynny ar gyfer yr hyn sy'n digwydd os nad ydych yn talu'r ffioedd. Fel y dywedais, mae Hefin David wedi tynnu fy sylw at hyn droeon.

Rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn fel rhan o'n Bil Diogelwch Adeiladau i roi cyfres o rwymedigaethau penodol iawn ar adeiladwyr, datblygwyr a chwmnïau rheoli ar gyfer pwy fydd yn gyfrifol am beth wrth fwrw ymlaen. Nid yw hynny'n datrys y broblem ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau eu bod yn negodi'r 106 o gytundebau fel bod y cyfrifoldeb yn trosglwyddo a bod y datblygwr yn rhoi'r math cywir o'r hyn a elwir yn swm gohiriedig i'r gronfa i dalu am waith cynnal a chadw parhaus, ond nid oes amheuaeth ei bod yn broblem, ac mae'n un barhaus. Rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i drafod y problemau gyda hyn gydag unrhyw Aelod. Fel y dywedais, rwyf wedi eu trafod droeon gyda Hefin David. Rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd ar y Bil diwygio cyfraith lesddaliad, ond mae'r tai hyn yn y canol rhyngddynt, felly maent yn dai rhydd-ddaliad, ond mae ganddynt ddarpariaethau tebyg i dai lesddaliad bron o ran rheolaeth yr ystâd. Felly, rydym yn gobeithio y bydd hynny'n rhan o'r diwygiadau a gyflwynwn; os nad ydyw, byddwn yn deddfu yma yng Nghymru i wneud hynny.

Diolch i'r Gweinidog ac i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.

Thank you, Minister and Deputy Minister.

2. Cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg
2. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language

Yr eitem nesaf yw cwestiynau i Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg, ac yn gyntaf, Sam Rowlands.

The next item is the questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, and the first question is from Sam Rowlands.

Colli Amser Ysgol
Lost School Time

1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i leihau'r amser ysgol a gaiff ei golli yn ystod pandemig COVID-19 yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ57329

1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to minimise lost school time during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Wales? OQ57329

I have introduced the local infection control framework and supporting toolkit to support schools to introduce additional measures based on local community transmission; for example, in Gwynedd, we have recently increased the offer of testing for a limited period of time in response to local need. We're in constant dialogue with directors of education across Wales around a range of issues, including, at the moment, end-of-term arrangements. Because of our commitment to maintaining children's ability to learn in school, all local authorities across Wales are prioritising keeping their schools open until the end of term and planning on that basis. 

Rwyf wedi cyflwyno'r fframwaith rheoli heintiau lleol a'r pecyn cymorth ategol i gynorthwyo ysgolion i gyflwyno mesurau ychwanegol yn seiliedig ar drosglwyddiad cymunedol lleol; er enghraifft, yng Ngwynedd, rydym wedi cynyddu'r cynnig o brofi yn ddiweddar am gyfnod cyfyngedig mewn ymateb i angen lleol. Rydym yn trafod yn gyson â chyfarwyddwyr addysg ledled Cymru ynglŷn ag amrywiaeth o faterion, gan gynnwys, ar hyn o bryd, trefniadau diwedd tymor. Oherwydd ein hymrwymiad i gynnal gallu plant i ddysgu yn yr ysgol, mae pob awdurdod lleol ledled Cymru yn blaenoriaethu cadw eu hysgolion ar agor tan ddiwedd y tymor a chynllunio ar y sail honno.

14:25

Thank you, Minister. It's pleasing to hear the engagement you're having with schools and with those directors of education in local authorities as well because, of course, pupils in Wales have, sadly, had less face-to-face time in schools than counterparts across the United Kingdom during the pandemic. And I'm sure you'd acknowledge that online learning—whilst it has its place, there is nothing quite like pupils coming together and the benefits that come from face-to-face learning, allowing teachers to provide proper observation and support. And, of course, this face-to-face interaction allows schools to support many of our, especially, younger learners with important developments, one of those being speech. And I noted your statement in the Chamber last month on children's oracy and reading, and your comments that, of course, speaking, listening and reading skills are fundamental to every aspect of our lives, and it's really welcome to hear those things being said. But I would like to just push a little further on this—and perhaps I do need to declare an interest, with having three children in primary school. But, Minister, what assessment have you made of the effects to children's speech that lost school time has caused? What conversations are you having with the Minister for Health and Social Services to improve the situation and make sure that access is available to those who may need that additional support?

Diolch ichi, Weinidog. Mae'n braf clywed yr ymgysylltiad rydych yn ei gael gydag ysgolion a chyda'r cyfarwyddwyr addysg mewn awdurdodau lleol hefyd oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae disgyblion yng Nghymru, yn anffodus, wedi cael llai o amser wyneb yn wyneb mewn ysgolion na chymheiriaid ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig yn ystod y pandemig. Ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn cydnabod bod dysgu ar-lein—er bod ganddo ei le, nid oes dim byd tebyg i ddisgyblion yn dod at ei gilydd a'r manteision sy'n deillio o ddysgu wyneb yn wyneb, gan ganiatáu i athrawon ddarparu arsylwi a chymorth priodol. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r rhyngweithio wyneb yn wyneb hwn yn caniatáu i ysgolion gefnogi llawer o'n dysgwyr iau, yn enwedig, gyda datblygiadau pwysig, ac mae lleferydd yn un o'r rheini. A nodais eich datganiad yn y Siambr fis diwethaf ar lafaredd a darllen plant, a'ch sylwadau fod sgiliau siarad, gwrando a darllen, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol i bob agwedd ar ein bywydau, ac roeddwn yn croesawu clywed y pethau hynny'n cael eu dweud. Ond hoffwn fynd gam ymhellach ar hyn—ac efallai fod angen imi ddatgan buddiant, gyda thri phlentyn yn yr ysgol gynradd. Ond Weinidog, pa asesiad a wnaethoch o effeithiau colli amser yn yr ysgol ar leferydd plant? Pa sgyrsiau a gawsoch gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i wella'r sefyllfa a sicrhau bod mynediad ar gael at rai a allai fod angen y cymorth ychwanegol hwnnw?

Well, I thank the Member for that supplementary question. He is, of course, right to say that children learn best when they're in a classroom setting with their peers and with their teachers learning face to face. Of course, there have been times when that hasn't been possible and, of course, in certain part of Wales that remains challenging on a week-to-week basis at the moment. But it's everybody's intention across the entire education system in Wales to maximise the opportunities for children to be safely learning in classrooms with their peers, as I say. I think it is true to say that we have made significant progress in the difficult circumstances over the last 18 months to develop the remote learning and blended learning offer very substantially from where we were able to be at the start of the pandemic, naturally, but I think it probably goes without saying that that is not as satisfactory as being in school. 

He mentioned the statement that I made a number of weeks ago. I am in regular discussions with the health Minister in relation to that matter. It was based on our understanding that there had been challenges for younger pupils in particular around oracy and the early developmental stages, which motivated that statement being made. And you will see, over the course of the coming weeks, further developments in that area, which, hopefully, you'll be able to welcome. 

Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw. Wrth gwrs, mae'n gywir i ddweud bod plant yn dysgu orau pan fyddant mewn ystafell ddosbarth gyda'u cyfoedion a chyda'u hathrawon yn dysgu wyneb yn wyneb. Wrth gwrs, cafwyd adegau pan na fu hynny'n bosibl ac wrth gwrs, mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru mae hynny'n parhau i fod yn heriol o wythnos i wythnos ar hyn o bryd. Ond mae'n fwriad gan bawb ar draws y system addysg gyfan yng Nghymru i sicrhau cymaint o gyfleoedd â phosibl i blant fod yn dysgu'n ddiogel mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth gyda'u cyfoedion, fel y dywedaf. Credaf ei bod yn wir dweud ein bod wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol yn yr amgylchiadau anodd dros y 18 mis diwethaf ar ddatblygu'r cynnig dysgu o bell a dysgu cyfunol yn sylweddol iawn o gymharu â'n sefyllfa ar ddechrau'r pandemig, yn naturiol, ond prin fod angen dweud mae'n debyg nad yw hynny mor foddhaol â bod yn yr ysgol.

Soniodd am y datganiad a wneuthum nifer o wythnosau'n ôl. Rwyf mewn trafodaethau rheolaidd gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd mewn perthynas â'r mater hwnnw. Roedd yn seiliedig ar ein dealltwriaeth fod heriau wedi bod i ddisgyblion iau yn enwedig o ran llafaredd a'r camau datblygiadol cynnar, a dyna a ysgogodd y datganiad hwnnw. Ac fe welwch ddatblygiadau pellach yn y maes hwnnw dros yr wythnosau nesaf, a gobeithio y gallwch eu croesawu.

Mi ddylai popeth, wrth gwrs, gael ei wneud i atal colli mwy o ysgol, ond, efo nifer yr achosion mor uchel, mae yna broblemau ymarferol mewn ysgolion o sicrhau bod yna ddigon o staff ar gael i gadw dosbarthiadau ar agor ac, wrth gwrs, mae yna bryder go iawn a dealladwy iawn am drosglwyddiad o fewn ysgolion gan staff a rhieni sy'n cysylltu efo fi, yn cynnwys pryderon am effaith posib hynny ar allu teuluoedd i ddod at ei gilydd yn ddiogel dros y Nadolig. Felly, o gofio bod risg yr amrywiolyn omicron newydd yn dal i gael ei asesu, beth ydy neges y Gweinidog i'r rheini sy'n bryderus iawn ac y byddai'n ffafrio symud i ddysgu arlein, efallai dim ond am ychydig ddyddiau'n ychwanegol, yn y cyfnod yn arwain at y Nadolig?

Everything, of course, should be done to prevent the loss of more school time, but, with the number of cases so high, there are practical problems in schools in ensuring that there are adequate numbers of staff available to keep classrooms open, and there is real concern, and very understandable concern, about transmission within schools. Staff and parents have been in touch with me expressing concerns about the effect of that on the ability of families to come together safely over Christmas. So, bearing in mind that the risk of the omicron variant is still being assessed, what is the Minister's message to those people who are very concerned and would favour moving to online learning, perhaps just for a few days, in the period in the run-up to Christmas?

Wel, mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud, wrth gwrs, fod amgylchiadau omicron yn golygu ein bod ni'n gorfod cadw golwg gofalus iawn ar ddatblygiadau. Mae'r Cabinet wedi cwrdd heddiw a bydd yn cwrdd eto yfory. Mae'r peth o dan drosolwg dyddiol ar hyn o bryd oherwydd bod y darlun yn newid ac mae mwy o ddata'n cael eu cyflwyno a'r dystiolaeth yn dod yn amlycach fesul diwrnod. Felly, mae wir yn bwysig yn y cyfnod hwn nawr ein bod ni'n gwneud popeth y gallwn ni i sicrhau ein bod ni'n glynu wrth y rheoliadau sydd wedi bod mor bwysig i'n cadw ni'n ddiogel. Gwnes i ddatganiad ar ddechrau'r mis i sicrhau bod gennym ni approach cenedlaethol ar gyfer gwisgo mygydau mewn dosbarthiadau, ynghyd â mewn ardaloedd eraill yn ein hysgolion ni, oherwydd dydyn ni ddim eto yn gwybod yn union beth yw impact omicron, felly, dŷn ni eisiau sicrhau ein bod ni'n ofalus, yn sicr dros dro. 

O ran y galwadau oddi wrth rai i edrych ar ddiwrnodau olaf y tymor, mae rhai awdurdodau'n gorffen, wrth gwrs, ddiwedd wythnos nesaf, ac mae rhyw naw neu 10 yn gorffen yn agosach at y Nadolig. Rydyn ni wedi bod yn trafod hyn gyda swyddogion yn fewnol, wrth gwrs, a chydag awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru, yn cynnwys y rheini sy'n mynd yn hwyrach tuag at y Nadolig. Fel rwy'n ei ddweud, mae awydd gan bawb ar hyn o bryd i sicrhau bod ein plant ni'n gallu bod yn eu hystafelloedd dosbarth. Fe gawn ni weld beth ddaw yn sgil omicron, fel rwy'n ei ddweud. Dyw'r sefyllfa ddim cweit mor straightforward efallai â jest dweud gan fod plant ddim yn yr ystafell ddosbarth bod hynny'n rhywbeth sydd yn diogelu o ran trosglwyddiad. Mae impact yn gallu dod ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill ac yn ehangach na hynny. Mae, wrth gwrs, impact ar ddysgu a hefyd dyw e efallai ddim yn cymryd mewn i ystyriaeth bod cyfle i blant gymysgu y tu allan i'r ystafell ddosbarth beth bynnag. Felly, mae plant wedi colli cymaint o ddysgu dros y flwyddyn i 18 mis diwethaf, rŷn ni am sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael pob cyfle posibl yn cynnwys yn ystod y diwrnodau hynny. Dyna'r sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd, ond fel rwy'n ei ddweud, rŷn ni'n cadw'r pethau yma o dan drosolwg cyson.

The Member is right to say, of course, that the omicron situation means that we have to keep a very close watching brief on developments, and the Cabinet has met today and it will meet again tomorrow. We're looking at this daily, because the picture is changing and more data is being presented and evidence is emerging every day. So, it is very important during this period that we do everything that we can to ensure that we stick to the regulations that have been so important in terms of keeping us safe. I made a statement at the start of the month to ensure that we have a national approach in terms of wearing face masks in classrooms, as well as in other parts of the school premises, because we don't know the exact impact of omicron, so we want to ensure that we are taking great care in this period.

In terms of calls by some to look at the last few days of the term, some authorities do finish at the end of next week, and about nine or 10 finish closer to Christmas. And we've been discussing this with officials internally and authorities across Wales, including those that close later, closer to Christmas. And as I say, everyone is very eager to ensure that children can be in their classrooms. We'll see what comes in the wake of omicron, as I say. The situation isn't quite as straightforward as just saying that if children are not in the classroom, then that safeguards against transmission. There can be an impact on other public services and more broadly than that. And, of course, there is an impact on learning and it possibly doesn't take into consideration the fact that there is an opportunity for children to mix outside the classroom in any case. So, children have lost so much learning over the last year to 18 months, we want to ensure that they have every possible opportunity, including in those days. That's the situation at present, but, as I said, we're keeping this under a watching brief.

14:30
Cyfraddau Presenoldeb
Attendance Rates

2. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu ysgolion i gynyddu cyfraddau presenoldeb ymhlith y disgyblion mwyaf difreintiedig yn dilyn cyhoeddi adroddiad diweddaraf Estyn? OQ57323

2. What is the Welsh Government doing to help schools drive up attendance rates amongst the most disadvantaged pupils following the publication of the latest Estyn report? OQ57323

It is important that we have a comprehensive understanding of what is happening on the ground across all cohorts of learners. A review of attendance patterns is under way and I expect interim findings shortly, with the report in February of next year, and the findings of that review will help us inform the development of targeted policy interventions.

Mae'n bwysig fod gennym ddealltwriaeth gynhwysfawr o'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad ar draws pob carfan o ddysgwyr. Mae adolygiad o batrymau presenoldeb ar y gweill ac rwy'n disgwyl canfyddiadau interim yn fuan, gyda'r adroddiad ym mis Chwefror y flwyddyn nesaf, a bydd canfyddiadau'r adolygiad hwnnw yn ein helpu i lywio datblygiad yr ymyriadau polisi wedi'u targedu.

Thank you, Minister. I found one of the most significant statements in Estyn’s annual report was that nearly all school leaders have prioritised the well-being of their staff and pupils over their own. And I fully understand that headteachers and staff with safeguarding responsibilities are carrying a very heavy burden about the well-being of pupils, particularly those who have yet to return to school following the lockdown. And in some respects, schools feel they’re like the fourth emergency service, because while they have vulnerable children in front of them or at the front of their minds, most of the other support services that schools can normally draw on are actually still operating online and from home. So, they really are challenging situations that teachers are having to deal with. I think this is particularly true of those students who have yet to return to school. These are not children who are self-isolating, quite rightly; these are children who simply have not turned up in school and despite the best endeavours of schools, they are still absent. And we know—

Diolch, Weinidog. Un o'r datganiadau mwyaf arwyddocaol yn adroddiad blynyddol Estyn oedd bod bron bob arweinydd ysgol wedi rhoi blaenoriaeth i les eu staff a'u disgyblion yn hytrach na'u lles eu hunain. A deallaf yn iawn fod penaethiaid a staff sydd â chyfrifoldebau diogelu yn ysgwyddo baich trwm iawn mewn perthynas â lles disgyblion, yn enwedig y rhai nad ydynt eto wedi dychwelyd i'r ysgol yn dilyn y cyfyngiadau symud. Ac mewn rhai ffyrdd, mae ysgolion yn teimlo mai hwy yw'r pedwerydd gwasanaeth brys, oherwydd er bod ganddynt blant agored i niwed o'u blaenau neu ar flaen eu meddyliau, mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r gwasanaethau cymorth eraill y gall ysgolion droi atynt fel arfer yn dal i weithredu ar-lein ac o adref. Felly, mae athrawon yn gorfod ymdrin â sefyllfaoedd heriol iawn. Credaf fod hyn yn arbennig o wir am fyfyrwyr nad ydynt wedi dychwelyd i'r ysgol eto. Nid plant sy'n hunanynysu'n briodol yw'r rhain; plant yw'r rhain nad ydynt wedi dod i'r ysgol ac er gwaethaf ymdrechion gorau ysgolion, maent yn dal i fod yn absennol. A gwyddom—

Can you ask a question now, please?

A wnewch chi ofyn cwestiwn yn awr, os gwelwch yn dda?

—from the police that there's been a huge rise in domestic violence, a huge rise in the number of children being pulled into county lines or other forms of exploitation, which were exacerbated by lockdown. So, do you agree with me that, whilst numerically small, every unexplained absence from school, particularly if they've not been in school since lockdown, constitutes a major cause for concern for every pupil's well-being, and getting them back into school has to be a priority for all the agencies involved?

—gan yr heddlu fod cynnydd enfawr wedi bod mewn achosion o drais yn y cartref, cynnydd enfawr yn nifer y plant sy'n cael eu tynnu i mewn i linellau cyffuriau neu fathau eraill o gamfanteisio, a waethygwyd gan y cyfyngiadau symud. Felly, a ydych yn cytuno â mi, er eu bod yn fach o ran eu nifer, fod pob absenoldeb heb esboniad o'r ysgol, yn enwedig os nad ydynt wedi bod yn yr ysgol ers y cyfyngiadau symud, yn peri pryder mawr ynglŷn â lles pob disgybl, a bod yn rhaid i'r holl asiantaethau dan sylw roi blaenoriaeth i'w cael yn ôl i'r ysgol?

Well, I couldn't agree more with the Member on the first point that she made, which is that teaching and school staff have put the well-being of their learners very often ahead of their own. And I think I just want to put on the record again today my gratitude to the entire education workforce for the incredible efforts they’ve made over the last 18 months, but with, I think, particular recognition of how challenging the last term has been in our schools.

And the other point that she made that I want to underscore is that these are individuals and not just, as you acknowledged in your question, a question of numbers—each individual case is important. That’s why, actually, as well as looking at the patterns of attendance and non-attendance, I wanted to commission a piece of work to understand what's actually happening on the ground in terms of school leaders' views about why this is happening in particular.

And so, I’m hoping to be able to announce some particular support, before the end of this term, for pupils who have had a pattern of non-attendance and to support schools to engage more with those families. There is a particular issue in terms of those who are eligible for free school meals. There’s been a tendency for there to be lower attendance rates amongst those pupils. And there’s also an issue in relation to year 11 pupils, who have tended to be less likely to attend as well. So, those are two of the cohorts, but also the ones that she mentioned in her question. It is very important for us to understand individual circumstances and work with those families and learners.

Wel, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r Aelod ar y pwynt cyntaf a wnaeth, sef bod staff addysgu a staff ysgol yn aml iawn wedi rhoi lles eu dysgwyr o flaen eu lles eu hunain. A hoffwn gofnodi eto heddiw fy niolch i'r holl weithlu addysg am yr ymdrechion anhygoel y maent wedi'u gwneud dros y 18 mis diwethaf, ond gan gydnabod yn benodol, rwy'n credu, pa mor heriol y mae'r tymor diwethaf wedi bod yn ein hysgolion.

A'r pwynt arall a wnaeth rwy'n awyddus i'w danlinellu yw mai unigolion yw'r rhain ac nid mater o rifau'n unig, fel y gwnaethoch chi gydnabod yn eich cwestiwn—mae pob achos unigol yn bwysig. Dyna pam, yn ogystal ag edrych ar batrymau presenoldeb ac absenoldeb, rwyf am gomisiynu gwaith i ddeall beth sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad a chael safbwyntiau arweinwyr ysgolion ynglŷn â pham y mae hyn yn digwydd yn benodol.

Ac felly, rwy'n gobeithio gallu cyhoeddi cymorth penodol, cyn diwedd y tymor hwn, i ddisgyblion sydd wedi dangos patrwm o absenoldeb ac i gynorthwyo ysgolion i ymgysylltu mwy â'r teuluoedd hynny. Ceir problem benodol mewn perthynas â rhai sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Tueddai'r cyfraddau presenoldeb i fod yn is ymhlith y disgyblion hynny. Ac mae problem hefyd gyda disgyblion blwyddyn 11, sydd wedi tueddu i fod yn llai tebygol o fod yn bresennol. Felly, dyna ddwy o'r carfanau, ond hefyd y rhai y soniodd amdanynt yn ei chwestiwn. Mae'n bwysig iawn inni ddeall amgylchiadau unigol a gweithio gyda'r teuluoedd a'r dysgwyr hynny.

Minister, my constituency is home to one of the most deprived communities in Wales and maybe even in the whole of the UK. Sadly, poverty is so often linked to poor educational achievement, and it can be a really vicious cycle, with children of poorly educated parents less likely to achieve a good education. As the Estyn report highlights, this will have been exacerbated by the pandemic, as home schooling will have been very challenging for those households. While Rhyl, thankfully, has good broadband coverage, poorer households may be unable to afford broadband or the devices needed to access online learning. Minister, will you join me in welcoming the Vodafone Great British Tech Appeal, which is asking us to donate our old devices, such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, which they can refurbish and supply to needy families, along with free data, calls and texts? Minister, will you commit to working with the likes of Vodafone to ensure that the scheme benefits families in the Vale of Clwyd and across Wales?

Weinidog, mae fy etholaeth yn gartref i un o'r cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru ac efallai yn y DU gyfan hyd yn oed. Yn anffodus, mae tlodi mor aml yn gysylltiedig â chyflawniad addysgol gwael, a gall fod yn gylch dieflig, gyda phlant rhieni sydd heb gael addysg dda yn llai tebygol o gael addysg dda. Fel y mae adroddiad Estyn yn ei nodi, bydd hyn wedi'i waethygu gan y pandemig, gan y bydd addysg gartref wedi bod yn heriol iawn i'r aelwydydd hynny. Er bod gan y Rhyl ddarpariaeth band eang dda, diolch byth, efallai na fydd aelwydydd tlotach yn gallu fforddio band eang na'r dyfeisiau sydd eu hangen i gael mynediad at ddysgu ar-lein. Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i groesawu Great British Tech Appeal Vodafone, sy'n gofyn inni gyfrannu ein hen ddyfeisiau, megis ffonau clyfar, cyfrifiaduron llechen a gliniaduron, iddynt hwy allu eu hadnewyddu a'u darparu i deuluoedd anghenus, ynghyd â data, galwadau a negeseuon testun am ddim? Weinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i weithio gyda rhai fel Vodafone i sicrhau bod y cynllun o fudd i deuluoedd yn Nyffryn Clwyd ac ar draws Cymru?

14:35

I certainly agree with him that we need to ensure that those families who are least able to afford access to broadband and the kind of computer equipment that many of us will take for granted are able to access that in order for those opportunities to be available to learners, regardless of their circumstances. In the last year, the Welsh Government has funded around £150 million-worth of both equipment and also connectivity to support exactly that kind of learner, to take full advantage of the blended learning and remote learning opportunities, which, unfortunately, we've had to be able to provide over the course of the last 18 months. I think that provides a very good platform for us, actually, in the future to enable that technology to become perhaps more mainstream in how we take forward learning in our schools, including in the new curriculum, to the advantage of all our learners, regardless of their circumstances.

Rwy'n sicr yn cytuno ag ef fod angen inni sicrhau bod y teuluoedd sy'n lleiaf abl i fforddio mynediad at fand eang a'r math o offer cyfrifiadurol y bydd llawer ohonom yn ei gymryd yn ganiataol yn gallu cael gafael arnynt er mwyn i'r cyfleoedd hynny fod ar gael i ddysgwyr, ni waeth beth fo'u hamgylchiadau. Yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ariannu gwerth tua £150 miliwn o gyfarpar a chysylltedd hefyd i gefnogi'r mathau hynny o ddysgwyr, er mwyn manteisio'n llawn ar y cyfleoedd dysgu cyfunol a dysgu o bell, y bu'n rhaid inni allu eu darparu dros y 18 mis diwethaf, yn anffodus. Credaf fod hynny'n rhoi llwyfan da iawn i ni yn y dyfodol mewn gwirionedd i alluogi'r dechnoleg honno i ddod yn fwy prif ffrwd efallai yn y ffordd rydym yn datblygu dysgu yn ein hysgolion, gan gynnwys yn y cwricwlwm newydd, er budd ein holl ddysgwyr, ni waeth beth fo'u hamgylchiadau.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Laura Anne Jones.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Laura Anne Jones.

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, you'll be aware of the awful case that occurred in Solihull in the west midlands, where six-year-old Arthur Hughes lost his life after a cruel and callous series of abuse. Despite concerns being raised, young Arthur's life was cut short, due to significant failings across the board. From an educational perspective, Minister, we are now acutely aware from the experience that we've had during the pandemic that school is for children far more than just education—it provides a very important, wider social role, with a safe place for children, ensuring that they get food and support. It's also somewhere that behaviours and physical abuse can be picked up. And as we've seen from Arthur's harrowing case, if he had been in school, potentially, this abuse could have been picked up sooner.

Parents are understandably concerned, Minister, about this harrowing case, and are looking to you and the Government now for reassurance that the robustness of safeguarding procedures in schools, and the standards for safeguarding for vulnerable children across Wales, are now being met. Minister, we also need to ensure that we have—

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Weinidog, fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r achos ofnadwy a ddigwyddodd yn Solihull yng ngorllewin canolbarth Lloegr, lle bu farw Arthur Hughes, a oedd yn chwech oed, ar ôl cael ei gam-drin yn greulon a ffiaidd. Er i bryderon gael eu lleisio, collodd Arthur ei fywyd oherwydd methiannau sylweddol a chyffredinol. O safbwynt addysgol, Weinidog, rydym yn ymwybodol iawn yn awr o'r profiad a gawsom yn ystod y pandemig fod yr ysgol ar gyfer plant yn llawer mwy nag ar gyfer addysg yn unig—mae'n darparu rôl gymdeithasol bwysig, ehangach, gyda lle diogel i blant, gan sicrhau eu bod yn cael bwyd a chymorth. Mae hefyd yn rhywle y gellir nodi patrymau ymddygiad a chamdriniaeth gorfforol. Ac fel y gwelsom o achos dirdynnol Arthur, pe bai wedi bod yn yr ysgol, mae'n bosibl y gellid bod wedi sylwi ar y gamdriniaeth yn gynt.

Mae'n ddealladwy fod rhieni'n pryderu am yr achos dirdynnol hwn, Weinidog, ac yn gofyn am sicrwydd gennych chi a'r Llywodraeth yn awr fod cadernid gweithdrefnau diogelu mewn ysgolion, a'r safonau ar gyfer diogelu plant sy'n agored i niwed ledled Cymru, wedi eu sicrhau. Weinidog, mae angen inni hefyd sicrhau bod gennym—

Can you ask the question now, please?

A wnewch chi ofyn y cwestiwn yn awr, os gwelwch yn dda?

—additional training for teachers to identify potential signs of abuse. So, can you reassure us, Minister, today that lessons will be learnt from this case, including the severe impact that lockdowns and no school have on our children, particularly vulnerable children?

—hyfforddiant ychwanegol i athrawon allu nodi arwyddion posibl o gamdriniaeth. Felly, a allwch ein sicrhau heddiw, Weinidog, y bydd gwersi'n cael eu dysgu o'r achos hwn, gan gynnwys yr effaith ddifrifol y mae'r cyfyngiadau symud a dim ysgol yn ei chael ar ein plant, yn enwedig plant sy'n agored i niwed?

Well, can I first associate myself with her comments in relation to the tragic case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, which she started her question with, which is, I think, a very, very sad and very sobering lesson for all parts of the UK? All education settings in Wales have a legal duty to ensure that children have access to a safe learning environment, and I expect and understand, of course, across the system, that these responsibilities are taken seriously. The Welsh Government has issued statutory guidance, 'Keeping learners safe', to support schools in creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for children. Each school must identify a designated safeguarding person, who will ensure that staff, learners and parents feel confident that they can raise issues or concerns about the safety or well-being of learners, and that they will be taken seriously. And anyone in an education setting, employed by the local authority, must report to the authority where there is a reasonable cause to believe that a child is at risk of abuse, neglect or any other kind of harm. All authorities in Wales have a designated lead officer for safeguarding in education, and the Hwb hosts a series of e-learning modules, which have been developed by the Welsh Government, to support staff in education settings to understand those safeguarding responsibilities and how best to deploy them.

Wel, a gaf fi ategu ei sylwadau ynglŷn ag achos trasig Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, y cyfeiriodd ato ar ddechrau ei chwestiwn, sy'n wers drist a sobreiddiol iawn i bob rhan o'r DU yn fy marn i? Mae gan bob lleoliad addysg yng Nghymru ddyletswydd gyfreithiol i sicrhau bod plant yn cael mynediad at amgylchedd dysgu diogel, ac rwy'n disgwyl ac yn deall, wrth gwrs, ar draws y system, fod ystyriaeth ddifrifol yn cael ei rhoi i'r cyfrifoldebau hyn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau statudol, 'Cadw dysgwyr yn ddiogel', i gynorthwyo ysgolion i greu a chynnal amgylchedd dysgu diogel i blant. Rhaid i bob ysgol nodi person diogelu dynodedig, a fydd yn sicrhau bod staff, dysgwyr a rhieni yn teimlo'n hyderus y gallant godi materion neu bryderon am ddiogelwch neu les dysgwyr, ac y byddant yn cael ystyriaeth ddifrifol. A rhaid i unrhyw un mewn lleoliad addysg, a gyflogir gan yr awdurdod lleol, adrodd wrth yr awdurdod lle mae achos rhesymol dros gredu bod plentyn mewn perygl o fod yn cael ei gam-drin, ei esgeuluso neu unrhyw fath arall o niwed. Mae gan bob awdurdod yng Nghymru swyddog arweiniol dynodedig ar gyfer diogelu mewn addysg, ac mae'r Hwb yn cynnal cyfres o fodiwlau e-ddysgu, a ddatblygwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, i gynorthwyo staff mewn lleoliadau addysg i ddeall y cyfrifoldebau diogelu hynny a'r ffordd orau o'u gweithredu.

Thank you, Minister. Minister, the Estyn report released earlier this week is quite damning, I'm sure you'll agree. It was hard enough when we were at school, socially, but now for young people they have far more to cope with, with the added pressures of phones and social media, and it makes me glad not to be in school anymore, but, as a parent, it does worry me daily.

The Estyn report that has just been released is hugely distressing and has highlighted the tragic situation that students find themselves in with a prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment in schools. With it being reported that children as young as 11 are being pressurised for explicit pictures, with the incidence of sexual harassment in schools going up, and the increase in the number of people not reporting it going up, serious questions have to be asked, Minister, and of this Government's abject failure to tackle this. These findings are nothing new, but they are getting worse. So, why don't young people feel that they can report it? We need proactive measures in place, Minister, across all schools in Wales to ensure that instances such as these are dealt with with respect, and that our young people can feel that they've been listened to, as well as to drive out these behaviours in schools through our new curriculum in the future. What urgent action are you taking now, Minister, to address this, so that young people who experience abuse of this kind right now are getting the help that they need?

Diolch. Weinidog, mae adroddiad Estyn a ryddhawyd yn gynharach yr wythnos hon yn eithaf damniol, rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn cytuno. Roedd yn ddigon anodd pan oeddem ni yn yr ysgol, yn gymdeithasol, ond yn awr i bobl ifanc mae ganddynt lawer mwy i ymdopi ag ef, gyda phwysau ychwanegol ffonau a chyfryngau cymdeithasol, ac mae'n fy ngwneud yn falch nad wyf fi yn yr ysgol mwyach, ond fel rhiant, mae'n fy mhoeni'n ddyddiol.

Mae adroddiad Estyn sydd newydd gael ei ryddhau yn peri gofid mawr ac mae wedi tynnu sylw at y sefyllfa drasig y mae myfyrwyr ynddi gyda chymaint o aflonyddu rhywiol gan gyfoedion yn digwydd mewn ysgolion. Gydag adroddiadau fod plant mor ifanc ag 11 oed dan bwysau i ddarparu lluniau amhriodol, a nifer yr achosion o aflonyddu rhywiol mewn ysgolion yn codi, a'r cynnydd yn nifer y bobl nad ydynt yn rhoi gwybod am yr achosion hyn yn codi, rhaid gofyn cwestiynau difrifol, Weinidog, ac ynglŷn â methiant truenus y Llywodraeth hon i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Nid yw'r canfyddiadau hyn yn newydd, ond maent yn gwaethygu. Felly, pam nad yw pobl ifanc yn teimlo y gallant roi gwybod ynglŷn â hyn? Mae angen rhoi mesurau rhagweithiol ar waith, Weinidog, ar draws pob ysgol yng Nghymru i sicrhau yr ymdrinnir ag achosion fel y rhain gyda pharch, ac y gall ein pobl ifanc deimlo eu bod yn cael eu clywed, yn ogystal â chael gwared ar yr ymddygiadau hyn mewn ysgolion drwy ein cwricwlwm newydd yn y dyfodol. Pa gamau brys rydych yn eu rhoi ar waith yn awr i fynd i'r afael â hyn, Weinidog, fel bod pobl ifanc sy'n cael eu cam-drin yn y ffordd hon yr eiliad hon yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt?

14:40

I agree with the Member about how serious the matter is, and I agree with her that the Estyn report makes very distressing reading indeed, and I want to thank all children and young people who took part in that report. It will not have been an easy thing for them to do, but their doing so is brave, and they've, in those honest conversations, enabled us to understand better the situation in many of our schools. The report makes a number of recommendations of which three fall to the Welsh Government, and we will be accepting each of the recommendations. I was pleased to have commissioned this report, because I recognised that we needed to understand better the situation on the ground. I wouldn't agree with her characterisation of the Government's position; I think the Government has acted throughout expeditiously and in a very full way. And she will recall the discussion we had at the point when I commissioned the report, which listed the work already under way at that point, both in working with our schools, working with our local education authorities, and providing additional resources to support our schools. 

One of the key findings in the Estyn report in relation to the Welsh Government's responsibilities relates to the new relationships and sexuality education code, and encourages the Government to take full account of the Estyn report in designing and devising that code, which I can confirm that we have. The Chamber will have an opportunity to consider this, of course, next week. But one of the points I want to make absolutely clear is that we can't, as it were, simply rely on the new curriculum, which will be rolled out over many years, to be the solution here. I want to make sure that the thinking and the learning and the resources, which are available as part of the RSE code in the new curriculum, also help us in the existing curriculum, as that will be with us for some time. So, there is already work under way in that space. 

Finally, in relation to the recommendation around capturing data about bullying and harassment in schools, we're already looking at what we can do to amend our anti-bullying and harassment guidelines to take account of what Estyn recommends today. 

Rwy'n cytuno â'r Aelod ynglŷn â difrifoldeb y mater, a chytunaf â hi fod adroddiad Estyn yn peri gofid mawr, ac rwyf am ddiolch i bob plentyn a pherson ifanc a gymerodd ran yn yr adroddiad hwnnw. Ni fydd wedi bod yn beth hawdd iddynt ei wneud, ond maent wedi bod yn ddewr, ac yn y sgyrsiau gonest hynny, maent wedi ein galluogi i ddeall yn well beth yw'r sefyllfa yn llawer o'n hysgolion. Mae'r adroddiad yn gwneud nifer o argymhellion ac mae tri ohonynt wedi'u cyfeirio at Lywodraeth Cymru, a byddwn yn derbyn pob un o'r argymhellion. Roeddwn yn falch o fod wedi comisiynu'r adroddiad hwn, am fy mod yn cydnabod bod angen inni ddeall y sefyllfa ar lawr gwlad yn well. Ni fyddwn yn cytuno â'i disgrifiad o safbwynt y Llywodraeth; credaf fod y Llywodraeth wedi gweithredu'n gyflym ac mewn ffordd drylwyr iawn. A bydd yn cofio'r drafodaeth a gawsom ar y pwynt pan gomisiynais yr adroddiad, a oedd yn rhestru'r gwaith a oedd eisoes ar y gweill ar y pryd, gyda'n hysgolion, gyda'n hawdurdodau addysg lleol, a darparu adnoddau ychwanegol i gefnogi ein hysgolion. 

Mae un o'r prif ganfyddiadau yn adroddiad Estyn mewn perthynas â chyfrifoldebau Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwneud â'r cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb newydd, ac yn annog y Llywodraeth i roi ystyriaeth lawn i adroddiad Estyn wrth gynllunio a dyfeisio'r cod hwnnw, a gallaf gadarnhau ein bod wedi gwneud hynny. Bydd y Siambr yn cael cyfle i'w ystyried yr wythnos nesaf wrth gwrs. Ond un o'r pwyntiau rwyf am ei wneud yn gwbl glir yw na allwn ddibynnu'n unig ar y cwricwlwm newydd, a fydd yn cael ei gyflwyno dros flynyddoedd lawer, i fod yn ateb yma. Rwyf am sicrhau bod y meddylfryd a'r dysgu a'r adnoddau, sydd ar gael fel rhan o'r cod addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb yn y cwricwlwm newydd, hefyd yn ein helpu yn y cwricwlwm presennol, gan y bydd hwnnw gyda ni am beth amser. Felly, mae gwaith eisoes ar y gweill yn y gofod hwnnw. 

Yn olaf, mewn perthynas â'r argymhelliad ynghylch casglu data am fwlio ac aflonyddu mewn ysgolion, rydym eisoes yn edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i ddiwygio ein canllawiau gwrth-fwlio ac aflonyddu i ystyried yr hyn y mae Estyn yn ei argymell heddiw. 

Thank you, Minister. Questions have already been asked on this today, but I would like to press you further, if I may, on whether schools are going to close early for the Christmas break. Some schools are preparing by having their Christmas activities this week rather than next week; some schools have said they're going to close; some schools have said they're definitely not going to close. It's different all over Wales. Surely there needs to be an all-Wales approach to this, Minister? And we need some sort of clarity today, because parents need to prepare childcare, teachers need to prepare lessons. It's absolutely urgent that you give a line on this as soon as possible on what is happening. I understand that these are fine margins, and it's a difficult decision to make, but this has to come to a head now, Minister. We need to know today or by Friday what's happening so that people can prepare. Please, can you outline what you're doing today?

Diolch, Weinidog. Gofynnwyd cwestiynau eisoes am hyn heddiw, ond hoffwn bwyso arnoch ymhellach, os caf, ynglŷn ag a fydd ysgolion yn cau'n gynnar ar gyfer gwyliau'r Nadolig. Mae rhai ysgolion yn paratoi drwy gael eu gweithgareddau Nadolig yr wythnos hon yn hytrach na'r wythnos nesaf; mae rhai ysgolion wedi dweud eu bod yn mynd i gau; mae rhai ysgolion wedi dweud eu bod yn bendant na fyddant yn cau. Mae'n wahanol ledled Cymru. Onid oes angen dull Cymru gyfan o ymdrin â hyn, Weinidog? Ac mae angen rhyw fath o eglurder arnom heddiw, oherwydd mae angen i rieni baratoi gofal plant, mae angen i athrawon baratoi gwersi. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol eich bod yn rhoi cyfarwyddyd cyn gynted â phosibl ar yr hyn sy'n digwydd. Deallaf fod hyn yn gymhleth iawn, ac mae'n benderfyniad anodd i'w wneud, ond rhaid i hyn ddod i ben yn awr, Weinidog. Mae angen inni wybod heddiw neu erbyn dydd Gwener beth sy'n digwydd fel y gall pobl baratoi. A wnewch chi amlinellu'r hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud heddiw?

Well, I don't think that the Member asserting a lack of clarity when I've spelled out the position a few moments ago is especially helpful, if I can put it like that. As I've said—[Interruption.] As I've said, as a consequence of the variant, we are all looking across Government at what actions need to be taken on a daily basis. I know that she shares with me the importance of making sure that children can remain in school as far as possible, as long as possible and as safely as possible. I know that she shares that view. The consequence of that is that right across the 10 authorities that will be going beyond the end of next week, that is time that has been planned in for teaching to take account of the lost teaching time so far. So, those authorities, authorities right across Wales, and the Welsh Government, share that ambition of making sure that young people can remain in class doing that. And that is the basis upon which we are planning now. 

Wel, nid wyf yn credu bod clywed yr Aelod yn honni bod yna ddiffyg eglurder a minnau wedi nodi'r sefyllfa ychydig funudau'n ôl yn arbennig o ddefnyddiol, os caf ei roi felly. Fel y dywedais—[Torri ar draws.] Fel y dywedais, o ganlyniad i'r amrywiolyn, rydym i gyd yn edrych ar draws y Llywodraeth ar ba gamau y mae angen eu cymryd yn ddyddiol. Gwn ei bod yn cytuno bod angen sicrhau y gall plant aros yn yr ysgol cyn belled ag y bo modd, cyn hired ag y bo modd ac mor ddiogel â phosibl. Gwn ei bod yn rhannu'r farn honno. Canlyniad hynny ar draws y 10 awdurdod a fydd yn mynd y tu hwnt i'r wythnos nesaf, yw mai amser a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer addysgu i wneud iawn am yr amser addysgu a gollwyd hyd yma yw hwnnw. Felly, mae'r awdurdodau hynny, awdurdodau ledled Cymru, a Llywodraeth Cymru, yn rhannu uchelgais i sicrhau y gall pobl ifanc aros yn y dosbarth i wneud hynny. Ac ar y sail honno rydym yn cynllunio yn awr.

14:45

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Cefin Campbell. 

The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Cefin Campbell. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ddoe, bues i'n cwrdd â phwyllgor Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Caerdydd, sydd ers blynyddoedd bellach wedi bod yn ymgyrchu dros gael swyddog i'r Gymraeg llawn amser yn yr undeb. Mae gan brifysgolion Aberystwyth, Abertawe a Bangor swyddog tebyg ers blynyddoedd. Ond, yma yng Nghaerdydd, lle mae dros 3,000 o siaradwyr Cymraeg a dysgwyr yr iaith—y nifer mwyaf o siaradwyr Cymraeg yn unrhyw un o'n prifysgolion ni—does yna ddim swyddog sabothol gyda nhw. Yn ôl llywydd undeb y myfyrwyr Cymraeg, byddai swyddog o'r fath yn gallu darparu gwasanaethau pwysig i fyfyrwyr yn y Gymraeg, trefnu digwyddiadau i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r iaith, sicrhau bod llais i siaradwyr Cymraeg yng ngweithredoedd yr undeb, a rhoi gofod i bobl ifanc, wrth gwrs, i ddod at ei gilydd i ddefnyddio'r iaith yn gymdeithasol. Hefyd, mae'n sicrhau bod democratiaeth yn cael ei pharchu gan fod y myfyrwyr wedi pleidleisio fwy nag unwaith yn y gorffennol o blaid y math hwn o gynnig. Felly, a yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi ei bod hi'n hen bryd i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg gael chwarae teg yma yn y brifysgol yn ein prifddinas ni, ac a fyddai fe'n fodlon ysgrifennu at fwrdd yr ymddiriedolwyr, sy'n cwrdd ddydd Iau nesaf mae'n debyg, er mwyn cefnogi ymgyrch y myfyrwyr Cymraeg?

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Yesterday, I met with the committee of Cardiff University Welsh Students' Union, which have been campaigning for many years to have a full-time sabbatical Welsh language officer within the union. Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth universities have had similar positions in place for many years, but here in Cardiff, where there are over 3,000 Welsh speakers and Welsh learners—the highest number of Welsh speakers in any of our universities—there is no sabbatical position. According to the president of the Welsh student union, such an officer could provide important services to students through the medium of Welsh, arrange events to raise awareness of the language, ensure that the voice of Welsh speakers could be heard within the union, and also provide a space for young people to come together to use the language on a social level. It also ensures that democracy is respected because the students had voted more than once in the past in favour of having this kind of sabbatical officer. So, does the Minister agree with me that it is about time that Welsh students were given fair play here in the university of our capital city, and would he be willing to write to the board of trustees, who will meet next Thursday apparently, in order to support the Welsh students' campaign?

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwn. Mewn prifysgol sydd â'r niferoedd uchaf o siaradwyr Cymraeg o holl brifysgolion Cymru, mae'n briodol bod gan myfyrwyr gynrychiolaeth gyflogedig yn eu hundeb. Byddai hyn yn cyfateb i'r gynrychiolaeth rŷn ni'n gweld mewn undebau ym mhrifysgolion eraill Cymru, fel gwnaeth yr Aelod grybwyll yn ei gwestiwn. Mater, wrth gwrs, i fwrdd ymddiriedolwyr yr undeb ei hunan yw hyn. Fodd bynnag, os yw'r cynnig i sefydlu swydd lawn amser i'r Gymraeg wedi ei basio yn unfrydol, fel rwy'n deall ei fod e wedi, byddai'n rhesymol i ddisgwyl bod y penderfyniad hwn yn cael ei wireddu. 

I thank the Member for that important question. In a university that has the highest number of Welsh speakers of all the Welsh universities, it is appropriate that students have employed representation in the union, and that would correspond to the representation that we see in other universities in Wales, as the Member mentioned in his contribution. This is a matter for the union's board of trustees. However, if the motion to establish a full-time post for the Welsh language is passed unanimously, as I understand it has been, it would be reasonable to expect that that decision is realised. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Gyda chwricwlwm newydd ar y ffordd, a'r targed i gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050 a'r Bil addysg Gymraeg ar y gorwel, mae'n amlwg bod newidiadau mawr ar droed i'r sector addysg o ran darpariaeth y Gymraeg. Fel rŷn ni eisoes wedi'ch clywed chi'n sôn yn y Siambr, Weinidog, mae plant wedi colli llawer o'u haddysg yn ystod y pandemig, ac mae rhieni wedi gorfod chwarae rhan fwy canolog yn eu haddysg o ganlyniad. Er mwyn hybu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg yn ystod y pandemig, sydd, yn anffodus, yn parhau, ac ymlaen felly i 2050, bydd angen sicrhau, wrth gwrs, fod gan rhieni y sgiliau cywir i sicrhau bod plant yn gallu gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r iaith Gymraeg ar yr aelwyd. Felly, hoffwn i ofyn i chi pa gymorth penodol fydd yn cael ei ddarparu i rieni i'w galluogi i chwarae rhan wrth gefnogi addysg Gymraeg a hybu defnydd o'r Gymraeg gartref?

Thank you very much. With the new curriculum in the pipeline, and the target to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050 and the Welsh education Bill on the horizon, it's clear that there are major changes afoot in the education sector in terms of Welsh-medium provision. As we've already heard you mention in the Chamber, Minister, children have lost out on a great deal of their education during the pandemic, and parents have had to play a more central role in their education as a result of that. In order to promote the use of the Welsh language during the pandemic, which, unfortunately, is ongoing, and through then until 2050, we will need to ensure that parents have the right skills to ensure that children are able to make the best use of the Welsh language at home. So, I would like to ask you what specific support will be provided to parents to enable them to play their part in supporting Welsh-medium education and in promoting the use of the Welsh language at home?

Wel, mae'r cwestiwn hwn yn un pwysig iawn, ac, mewn amryw ffyrdd, mae'r Llywodraeth eisoes yn darparu cefnogaeth. Un o'r blaenoriaethau sydd gyda ni yw sicrhau bod trosglwyddiad y Gymraeg yn digwydd ar yr aelwyd. Mae hynny, efallai, yn fwy o her na byddwn i'n gobeithio ac yn disgwyl ei bod hi. Felly, mae cefnogaeth benodol ar gael yn y cyd-destun hwnnw. Hefyd, fel rŷch chi'n gwybod, o ran y blynyddoedd cynnar, mae amryw gynlluniau eisoes gyda ni sydd yn cefnogi rhieni i siarad yn Gymraeg â'u plant a, phan fydd gyda ni rieni sydd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael mynediad a chyfle i ymwneud a chael profiad o gylchoedd meithrin ac ati yn y Gymraeg. Felly, mae amryw o'r pethau yna eisoes ar y gweill.

Ond, hefyd, beth rŷn ni wedi gweld yw mynediad ar draws Cymru at gyrsiau ar-lein y ganolfan dysgu genedlaethol. Mae'r ffigurau hynny wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol, a'r ddarpariaeth wedi'i hehangu hefyd yn sgil hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu, fel mae byrdwn y cwestiwn yn awgrymu, fod gwersi gyda ni y gallwn ni eu dysgu ar gyfer y dyfodol o'r hyn rŷn ni wedi gweld dros y flwyddyn, 18 mis diwethaf, i weld sut y gellir ehangu'r ddarpariaeth hynny ymhellach. 

This is a very important question, and, in a variety of ways, the Government is already providing support. One of the priorities that we have is ensuring that Welsh language transmission happens at home. And that is more of a challenge than we'd hoped and expected. So, specific support is available in that context. Also, as you know, in terms of the early years, we have a variety of schemes supporting parents to speak Welsh with their children and, when we have non-Welsh speaking parents, to ensure that they have access and opportunities to be involved and have experience of cylchoedd meithrin and so forth through the medium of Welsh. So, a variety of things are already in the pipeline. 

But what we've also seen is access across Wales to online courses from the National Centre for Learning Welsh. Those figures have increased significantly, and the provision has been broadened as well in the wake of that. So, as the question suggests, we have lessons that we can learn for the future in terms of what we've seen over the last year to 18 months, to see how we can expand the provision further. 

Iawn, diolch yn fawr iawn. Dros yr haf, bu'r pwyllgor diwylliant presennol, sy'n gyfrifol am y Gymraeg, ymhlith pethau eraill, yn ymgynghori ynghylch beth ddylai ei flaenoriaethau fod ar gyfer y chweched Senedd yma. Un o'r blaenoriaethau oedd cydnabod bod plant ysgol yn ystod y pandemig wedi wynebu cyfnodau estynedig i ffwrdd o'r ysgol, fel rôn i'n sôn amdano yn y cwestiwn blaenorol, ac, oherwydd hynny, mae eu haddysg nhw wedi dioddef. Prin, oherwydd y broblem o safbwynt y Gymraeg yn benodol, y bu'r rhyngweithio rhwng plant a'u rhieni o safbwynt defnydd y Gymraeg, yn arbennig plant, wrth gwrs, sy'n dod o gartrefi di-Gymraeg. Felly, yn dilyn galwadau am ragor o fuddsoddiad yn y ddarpariaeth drochi hwyr yn y Gymraeg, cafwyd cyhoeddiad gan y Llywodraeth ynghylch cynnig o £2.2 miliwn i ehangu'r ddarpariaeth, ac fe gafodd hynny groeso mawr, gennym ni yn sicr yma ym Mhlaid Cymru. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog sut mae'r cyllid hwn wedi cael ei ddefnyddio a pha effaith mae'r cyllid wedi'i chael ar adfer addysg, yn bennaf addysg trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Hefyd, wrth feddwl am y dyfodol, pa gynlluniau pellach sydd gan y Gweinidog i gefnogi'r Gymraeg trwy gynlluniau adfer addysg?

Thank you very much. Over the summer, the culture committee, which is responsible for the Welsh language, among other things, consulted on what its priorities should be for the sixth Senedd. One of those priorities was to recognise that schoolchildren during the pandemic had faced extended periods away from school, as I mentioned in my previous question, and, as a result of that, their education has suffered. Because of the problem in terms of the Welsh language specifically, there was little interaction between children and their parents in terms of the use of the Welsh language, particularly those children from non-Welsh-speaking households. So, following calls for further investment in the late immersion provision in Welsh, there was an announcement made by the Government on a proposal of £2.2 million to expand that provision and that was warmly welcomed, certainly by us here in Plaid Cymru. So, I would like to ask the Minister how this funding has been used, and what impact it has had on education recovery, particularly Welsh-medium education. Also, in looking to the future, what further plans does the Minister have to support the Welsh language through education recovery programmes?

14:50

O ran buddsoddi i gefnogi’r rheini oedd wedi colli'r cyfle i ddefnyddio’u Cymraeg, efallai lle nad yw'r Gymraeg yn cael ei defnyddio ar yr aelwyd, mae'r arian o ran adnewyddu a diwygio y gwnaethom ni ei ddatgan ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, mae elfen o hynny wedi’i flaenoriaethu ar gyfer dysgwyr a siaradwyr Cymraeg er mwyn sicrhau bod cefnogaeth bellach iddyn nhw allu ailfeithrin ac ailgydio, efallai, mewn rhai enghreifftiau, yn eu Cymraeg. Felly, mae'r ffynhonnell arian honno eisoes ar waith yn sicrhau cefnogaeth bellach i ddisgyblion.

O ran yr arian trochi, cawsom ni gynigion o bob rhan o Gymru ar gyfer y gyllideb honno, ac mae'n cael ei defnyddio mewn ardaloedd newydd i greu darpariaeth sydd ddim wedi bod yno o'r blaen, neu ddim wedi bod yno am flynyddoedd. Mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru, mae'n estyn yr hyn sydd eisoes yn cael ei ddarparu, ac mewn awdurdodau lle efallai dŷn nhw ddim cweit eto wedi cyrraedd y pwynt ar eu siwrnai ieithyddol lle mae darparu trochi efallai yn gweithio o'u safbwynt nhw, maen nhw'n bwriadu defnyddio'r arian hynny i ddatblygu sgiliau ac arbenigedd er mwyn gallu symud ymhellach ar y siwrnai. Rwy'n angerddol iawn dros beth allwn ni ei wneud trwy drochi i sicrhau mynediad i bob plentyn sydd eisiau hynny ar draws Cymru, ac rwy'n gobeithio cael perswâd ar y Gweinidog cyllid i sicrhau bod buddsoddiad yn gallu parhau yn y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod.

In terms of investing to support those who had missed opportunities to use the Welsh language, perhaps where Welsh is not used in the home, an element of the recovery funding announced for next year has been prioritised for learners and Welsh speakers in order to ensure that further support is available to them to start speaking Welsh again. So, that funding stream is already in place to ensure further support for pupils.

In terms of the immersion funding, we had bids from all parts of Wales for that funding, and it's being used in new areas to expand and create provision that hasn't existed previously, or hasn't been there for many years. In other parts of Wales, it is being used to extend what is already provided, and in authorities where they haven't quite reached the point on their linguistic journey where providing immersion works for them, they intend to use that funding to develop skills and expertise to move further along that journey. I'm very passionate about what we can do to ensure access for all children across Wales who require it, and I hope to be able to persuade the finance Minister as regards ensuring that the investment can continue in the years to come.

Targedau Carbon Sero Net
Net-zero Carbon Targets

3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y targedau carbon sero net ar gyfer adeiladau ysgolion a cholegau newydd yng Nghymru? OQ57312

3. Will the Minister provide an update on the net-zero carbon targets for new school and college buildings in Wales? OQ57312

I have mandated net-zero carbon under the new banner of 'sustainable communities for learning' for the twenty-first century schools and colleges investment programme from 1 January next year. All new–build, major refurbishment and extension projects will need to demonstrate delivery of net-zero carbon in operation plus a 20 per cent reduction on the amount of embodied carbon.

Rwyf wedi mandadu carbon sero net o dan faner newydd 'cymunedau cynaliadwy ar gyfer dysgu' ar gyfer rhaglen fuddsoddi ysgolion a cholegau'r unfed ganrif ar hugain o 1 Ionawr y flwyddyn nesaf. Bydd angen i bob prosiect adeiladu o'r newydd, adnewyddu mawr ac ymestyn ddangos bod carbon sero net yn cael ei gyflawni yn y gwaith ynghyd â gostyngiad o 20 y cant yn y carbon a gaiff ei allyrru wrth gynhyrchu deunyddiau adeiladu.

Diolch, and I want to say a huge thank you to the Minister for his commitment to ensuring that net zero is a priority for our twenty-first century schools. It's an absolutely fantastic development commitment. As our climate change Minister said earlier, it is a wonderful part of our roles to be able to speak to pupils of all ages across our constituencies, and I'm constantly inspired by how much they care about protecting our environment and are just so committed to doing so. A great example of this is that, in my constituency of Bridgend, as of this year, Litchard Primary School have had solar panels installed to become more efficient and consume less energy, and pupils and staff on their eco-committee have been at the forefront of managing the energy-saving measures. So, therefore, could I ask you, Minister, whether you would be able to visit Litchard Primary School and the eco-committee so that they can ask you about other ideas that they have, and show you what they've been doing and talking about how Welsh Government can further support them in their efforts to meet their ambitious environmental leader ambitions?

Diolch, a hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr iawn i'r Gweinidog am ei ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod sero net yn flaenoriaeth i ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Mae'n ymrwymiad datblygu hollol wych. Fel y dywedodd ein Gweinidog newid hinsawdd yn gynharach, mae gallu siarad â disgyblion o bob oed ar draws ein hetholaethau yn rhan wych o'n swyddi, a chaf fy ysbrydoli'n gyson gan eu hawydd i ddiogelu ein hamgylchedd ac maent mor ymrwymedig i wneud hynny. Enghraifft wych o hyn yw bod Ysgol Gynradd Llidiard, yn fy etholaeth ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, wedi gosod paneli solar eleni er mwyn dod yn fwy effeithlon a defnyddio llai o ynni, ac mae disgyblion a staff ar eu heco-bwyllgor wedi bod yn flaenllaw yn y gwaith o reoli'r mesurau arbed ynni. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i chi, Weinidog, a fyddech yn gallu ymweld ag Ysgol Gynradd Llidiard a'r eco-bwyllgor fel y cânt ofyn i chi ynglŷn â syniadau eraill sydd ganddynt, a dangos i chi beth y maent wedi bod yn ei wneud a siarad ynglŷn â sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu cefnogi ymhellach yn eu hymdrechion i gyflawni eu dyheadau uchelgeisiol fel arweinwyr amgylcheddol?

I would certainly be happy to do that and I thank the Member for bringing that important point to the Chamber. I was listening to her exchange with the climate change Minister earlier, and I think it is really inspiring, looking at the kind of scale of some of the challenges that lie ahead of us, to see how far ahead many of our younger pupils are, maybe than even some of us who've reflected for longer periods of time on these questions from a policy point of view, if I can put it like that.

I think there's an opportunity for us here as well to make sure that, in the new curriculum, with its emphasis on making sure our children and young people are ethically informed citizens, with that focus on sustainability, we do everything we can to listen to their voices in how we design both the curriculum and also the education infrastructure through which the curriculum is delivered. I remember as well the fantastic visit I made with her to Nottage primary in her constituency, and seeing the excitement of the young children there about these issues was very inspiring as well.

Byddwn yn sicr yn fodlon gwneud hynny a diolch i'r Aelod am ddod â'r pwynt pwysig hwnnw i'r Siambr. Roeddwn yn gwrando ar ei chwestiwn i'r Gweinidog newid hinsawdd yn gynharach, ac wrth edrych ar faint rhai o'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu, credaf fod gweld pa mor bell y mae llawer o'n disgyblion iau wedi mynd yn wirioneddol ysbrydoledig, ymhellach efallai na hyd yn oed rhai ohonom sydd wedi myfyrio am gyfnodau hirach ar y cwestiynau hyn o safbwynt polisi, os caf ei roi felly.

Credaf fod cyfle yma i ni sicrhau hefyd, yn y cwricwlwm newydd, gyda'i bwyslais ar wneud yn siŵr fod ein plant a'n pobl ifanc yn ddinasyddion sy'n wybodus yn foesegol, gyda'r ffocws ar gynaliadwyedd, ein bod yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i wrando ar eu lleisiau yn y ffordd rydym yn cynllunio'r cwricwlwm a hefyd y seilwaith addysg y cyflwynir y cwricwlwm drwyddo. Cofiaf hefyd yr ymweliad gwych a gefais gyda hi ag ysgol gynradd Nottage yn ei hetholaeth, ac roedd gweld cyffro'r plant ifanc yno ynglŷn â'r materion hyn yn ysbrydoli'n fawr hefyd.

14:55

Minister, since you will be in Bridgend, I would recommend you also to see a school in my ward, Pen-y-fai. Minister, it is relatively straightforward to set targets for our new school and college buildings, and ensuring that they contribute to our net-zero carbon target is not something that ought to cause many problems. The bigger challenge is that many of our school buildings were built in the late Victorian and early Edwardian period—impressive, solid, red-brick buildings that are likely to be more problematic as we move away from gas heating. What assessment has he undertaken of the budget that will need to be allocated for these schools to meet our obligation? Thank you. 

Weinidog, gan y byddwch ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, byddwn yn argymell eich bod hefyd yn gweld ysgol yn fy ward, Pen-y-fai. Weinidog, mae gosod targedau ar gyfer ein hadeiladau ysgol a cholegau newydd yn gymharol syml, ac nid yw sicrhau eu bod yn cyfrannu at ein targed carbon sero net yn rhywbeth a ddylai achosi llawer o broblemau. Yr her fwy yw bod llawer o'n hadeiladau ysgol wedi'u codi ar ddiwedd oes Fictoria a dechrau'r cyfnod Edwardaidd—adeiladau brics coch trawiadol, solet sy'n debygol o fod yn fwy problemus wrth inni newid o wresogi nwy. Pa asesiad y mae wedi'i wneud o'r gyllideb y bydd angen ei dyrannu ar gyfer yr ysgolion hyn i gyflawni ein rhwymedigaeth? Diolch.

I thank the Member for the question. I think the scale of the challenge that lies ahead of us, and which I think we're all aware of, means that we need to make every contribution we can. So, I do think that the sustainable communities for learning programme in the future will make a significant contribution, certainly in the area of new build and major refurbishment and extension projects, and the criteria for the first wave will become progressively more taxing, if I can put it like that, as the Welsh Government's own targets become more stringent in the years ahead, taking us on our path to a net-zero Wales. But he is right to say, of course, that we need to make sure that all our public estate makes a contribution to that target as well. He will probably have noted, when the First Minister and the Minister for Climate Change made their announcements in the week before COP, that part of the objective there is to understand better the state of play and the state of condition for the education stock across Wales, and to understand in detail what needs to be done in order to make sure, as far as we can, that they make their contribution as well to our net-zero targets. It is not straightforward, it is certainly not short term, and it will have a significant funding challenge attached to it, because many of the new technologies require not simply the installation of an air-source heat pump, for example, but significant insulation challenges, and also distribution challenges. So, that work will be commencing with our partners, and then we will have a better understanding of what we need to do in order to take forward our ambition right across the education stock.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Credaf fod maint yr her sydd o'n blaenau, ac rydym i gyd yn ymwybodol ohoni, rwy'n credu, yn golygu bod angen inni wneud pob cyfraniad y gallwn ei wneud. Felly, credaf y bydd y rhaglen cymunedau cynaliadwy ar gyfer dysgu yn y dyfodol yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol, yn sicr ym maes prosiectau adeiladu o'r newydd, adnewyddu mawr ac ymestyn, a bydd y meini prawf ar gyfer y don gyntaf yn mynd yn fwyfwy heriol, os caf ei roi felly, wrth i dargedau Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun ddod yn fwy llym yn y blynyddoedd i ddod, gan fynd â ni ar ein llwybr tuag at Gymru sero net. Ond mae'n iawn i ddweud, wrth gwrs, fod angen inni sicrhau bod ein holl ystâd gyhoeddus yn gwneud cyfraniad tuag at y targed hwnnw hefyd. Pan wnaeth y Prif Weinidog a'r Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd eu cyhoeddiadau yn yr wythnos cyn y COP, mae'n debyg y bydd wedi nodi mai rhan o'r amcan yw deall y sefyllfa'n well a beth yw cyflwr y stoc addysg ledled Cymru, a deall yn fanwl yr hyn sydd angen ei wneud er mwyn sicrhau, cyn belled ag y gallwn, eu bod yn gwneud eu cyfraniad hefyd tuag at ein targedau sero net. Nid yw'n syml, yn sicr ni ellir ei wneud yn y tymor byr, a bydd her ariannu sylweddol ynghlwm wrtho, oherwydd mae llawer o'r technolegau newydd yn galw nid yn unig am osod pwmp gwres ffynhonnell aer, er enghraifft, ond heriau inswleiddio sylweddol, a heriau dosbarthu hefyd. Felly, bydd y gwaith hwnnw'n dechrau gyda'n partneriaid, ac yna bydd gennym well dealltwriaeth o'r hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud er mwyn bwrw ymlaen â'n huchelgais ar draws y stoc addysg.

Canllawiau COVID-19
COVID-19 Guidelines

4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y canllawiau COVID-19 diweddaraf ar gyfer ysgolion? OQ57324

4. Will the Minister make a statement on the updated COVID-19 guidelines for schools? OQ57324

The local infection control decision framework sets out actions schools should take to reduce transmission of COVID-19. While we learn more about omicron, staff in all education settings and secondary-aged learners and above should now wear face coverings in classrooms and in communal areas.

Mae'r fframwaith penderfyniadau rheoli heintiau lleol yn nodi'r camau y dylai ysgolion eu cymryd i leihau trosglwyddiad COVID-19. Tra byddwn yn dysgu mwy am omicron, dylai staff ym mhob lleoliad addysg a dysgwyr oedran uwchradd ac uwch wisgo gorchuddion wyneb mewn ystafelloedd dosbarth ac mewn mannau cymunedol yn awr.

Minister, with so many teaching staff self-isolating, it has become a real struggle to maintain even the status quo in schools, let alone providing the enhanced provision for those who fell behind during the pandemic. With PISA results as low as they are—the lowest in the UK, and on a par with ex-Soviet bloc countries—it has become very apparent that our children can't miss out on any more education. So, a ready supply of teachers and teaching assistants is absolutely necessary to address the pressures that COVID presents. Minister, what are you doing to help schools mitigate the shortage of supply teachers in Wales, and do you think there needs to be an overhaul of the supply teacher system? How are you encouraging more people into the profession, and utilising the teaching assistants to ease pressures? 

Weinidog, gyda chymaint o staff addysgu yn hunanynysu, mae'n frwydr wirioneddol i gynnal hyd yn oed y status quo mewn ysgolion, heb sôn am sicrhau'r ddarpariaeth well i'r rhai sydd wedi cael eu gadael ar ôl yn ystod y pandemig. Gyda chanlyniadau PISA mor isel ag y maent—yr isaf yn y DU, ac ar yr un lefel â gwledydd a arferai fod yn y bloc Sofietaidd—mae wedi dod yn amlwg iawn na all ein plant golli rhagor o addysg. Felly, mae cyflenwad parod o athrawon a chynorthwywyr addysgu yn gwbl angenrheidiol i fynd i'r afael â'r pwysau y mae COVID yn eu hachosi. Weinidog, beth a wnewch i helpu ysgolion i liniaru'r prinder athrawon cyflenwi yng Nghymru, ac a ydych yn credu bod angen ailwampio'r system athrawon cyflenwi? Sut rydych chi'n annog mwy o bobl i ymuno â'r proffesiwn, ac yn defnyddio'r cynorthwywyr addysgu i leddfu'r pwysau?

The Member knows very well that we think there needs to be reform of the supply teacher system, because it was a programme for government commitment on which we were elected, and also it features in the agreement that we have with Plaid Cymru, to look again at the supply model in order to bring fair work and sustainability to the heart of it. That work has been progressing and will now progress further with Plaid Cymru. I'm very excited to see what we can deliver together in relation to that. 

In relation to the other challenges, she is right to say that it's not simply a funding question; it is an availability of supply staff question. That has been a significant challenge in a number of our schools. It's a variable picture across Wales, but it is absolutely a challenge in many schools. One of the sources of supply teachers each year is newly qualified teachers. This year, because of the fact that we have ensured that, I think, 400 newly qualified teachers have placements in schools, that has meant that those aren't available to the pool of potential supply teachers. But, what it has meant is that they are in fact teaching in our schools. So, I think it's a slightly more complex picture than perhaps her question presents.

Certainly, where it is a funding challenge, and that is obviously still a question for schools, we have committed as a Government that schools are able to claim against the local government hardship fund until the need expires, if I can put it like that, so that they can be supported to access supply whenever they need it and can find it. And we have also been working with local education authorities to see what we can do in terms of longer term planning to give us a slightly better understanding of needs ahead, which might help as well in making sure there's enough supply teachers available. And in certain parts of Wales, incentives have been provided where there's a particular acute shortage to encourage people back into supply teaching, to see if we can address some of the needs through that route as well.

Mae'r Aelod yn gwybod yn iawn ein bod yn credu bod angen diwygio'r system athrawon cyflenwi, oherwydd roedd yn ymrwymiad yn y rhaglen lywodraethu y cawsom ein hethol arni, a hefyd mae'n ymddangos yn y cytundeb sydd gennym gyda Phlaid Cymru, i edrych eto ar y model cyflenwi er mwyn dod â gwaith teg a chynaliadwyedd i mewn iddo. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw wedi bod yn mynd rhagddo a bydd yn mynd rhagddo ymhellach gyda Phlaid Cymru. Rwy'n gyffrous iawn i weld beth y gallwn ei gyflawni gyda'n gilydd mewn perthynas â hynny. 

Ar yr heriau eraill, mae hi'n gywir i ddweud nad cwestiwn ariannu yn unig ydyw; mae'n gwestiwn ynghylch argaeledd staff cyflenwi. Mae hynny wedi bod yn her sylweddol mewn nifer o'n hysgolion. Mae'r darlun yn amrywio ledled Cymru, ond mae'n sicr yn her mewn llawer o ysgolion. Un o'r ffynonellau o athrawon cyflenwi bob blwyddyn yw athrawon newydd gymhwyso. Eleni, oherwydd ein bod wedi sicrhau bod 400, rwy'n credu, o athrawon newydd gymhwyso wedi cael lleoliadau mewn ysgolion, mae hynny wedi golygu nad yw'r rheini ar gael i'r gronfa o athrawon cyflenwi posibl. Ond mae wedi golygu eu bod yn addysgu yn ein hysgolion. Felly, rwy'n credu ei fod yn ddarlun ychydig yn fwy cymhleth nag y mae ei chwestiwn yn ei awgrymu efallai.

Yn sicr, lle mae'n her ariannu, ac mae hynny'n amlwg yn dal i fod yn gwestiwn i ysgolion, rydym wedi ymrwymo fel Llywodraeth i sicrhau y gall ysgolion hawlio o'r gronfa caledi llywodraeth leol hyd nes y daw'r angen i ben, os caf ei roi felly, fel y gellir eu cynorthwyo i gael mynediad at ddarpariaeth gyflenwi pan fydd ei hangen arnynt a'u bod yn gallu dod o hyd iddi. Ac rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau addysg lleol i weld beth y gallwn ei wneud gyda chynlluniau mwy hirdymor i roi dealltwriaeth ychydig yn well i ni o'r anghenion yn y dyfodol, a allai helpu hefyd i sicrhau bod digon o athrawon cyflenwi ar gael. Ac mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, darparwyd cymhellion lle ceir prinder arbennig o ddifrifol i annog pobl yn ôl i addysg gyflenwi, i weld a allwn fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r anghenion drwy'r llwybr hwnnw hefyd.

15:00
Rhaglen Ysgolion yr Unfed Ganrif ar Hugain
The Twenty-first Century Schools Programme

5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am sut y mae ysgolion ym Mhowys yn elwa o raglen ysgolion yr 21ain ganrif? OQ57319

5. Will the Minister provide an update on how schools in Powys are benefiting from the 21st century schools programme? OQ57319

Powys has benefited from a £79.5 million investment during the first wave of the twenty-first century schools and colleges programme, and a further £113.5 million is planned during the current wave of investment.

Mae Powys wedi elwa o fuddsoddiad o £79.5 miliwn yn nhon gyntaf rhaglen ysgolion a cholegau'r unfed ganrif ar hugain, ac mae £113.5 miliwn arall wedi'i gynllunio yn y don fuddsoddi gyfredol.

Thank you for your answer, Minister. Of course, in rural areas of Wales such as Powys, whilst the twenty-first century schools funding has been used for new school builds, many older school buildings are being retained due to their geography or for rurality reasons. I heard the responses, Minister, to the earlier questions today, but can I ask you how you envisage twenty-first century schools funding particularly supporting school extensions or refurbishment of existing school buildings to support schools becoming carbon neutral, particularly in the context of the challenges of meeting the Building Research Establishment's environmental assessment method standards? You do seem to be in a generous mood today, Minister, so you also have an invite from me to visit a school in Powys with the cabinet member and officials to discuss this particular matter in more detail.

Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, mewn ardaloedd gwledig yng Nghymru fel Powys, er bod cyllid ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain wedi cael ei ddefnyddio i adeiladu ysgolion newydd, mae llawer o adeiladau ysgolion hŷn yn cael eu cadw oherwydd eu daearyddiaeth neu am resymau sy'n ymwneud â'u natur wledig. Clywais yr ymatebion i'r cwestiynau cynharach heddiw, Weinidog, ond a gaf fi ofyn sut rydych yn rhagweld cyllid ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain yn cefnogi'n benodol y gwaith o godi estyniadau ysgolion neu adnewyddu adeiladau ysgol presennol i gynorthwyo ysgolion i ddod yn garbon niwtral, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun yr heriau i fodloni safonau dull asesu amgylcheddol y Sefydliad Ymchwil Adeiladu? Ymddengys eich bod mewn hwyliau hael heddiw, Weinidog, felly rwyf finnau am eich gwahodd hefyd i ymweld ag ysgol ym Mhowys gyda'r aelod o'r cabinet a swyddogion i drafod y mater penodol hwn yn fwy manwl.

One of the joys of the role is the opportunity to visit schools in all parts of Wales, so I'm obviously very happy to do that. The Member makes a point about the availability of the existing twenty-first century schools and colleges programme for non-new build, if I can put it like that. It is of course available for major refurbishment and extension projects, and in fact those projects will themselves need to be net zero from 1 January 2022. But it's also the case that that programme isn't the only means by which school buildings are refurbished and capital invested in our school estate; it's also available through local government funding more directly for smaller scale work. I'm sure he'll be interested to know that over 450 schools have benefited from the small and rural schools grant to date, and in addition, a number of small and rural schools have received capital funding from the reducing infant class sizes grant, and indeed also from the twenty-first century schools and colleges programme. 

Un o bleserau'r rôl yw'r cyfle i ymweld ag ysgolion ym mhob rhan o Gymru, felly rwy'n amlwg yn fwy na pharod i wneud hynny. Mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt ynghylch argaeledd rhaglen ysgolion a cholegau'r unfed ganrif ar hugain ar gyfer adeiladau nad ydynt yn rhai newydd, os caf ei roi felly. Mae ar gael, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer prosiectau adnewyddu mawr ac estyniadau, ac mewn gwirionedd, bydd angen i'r prosiectau hynny fod yn sero net o 1 Ionawr 2022. Ond mae'n wir hefyd nad y rhaglen honno yw'r unig fodd o adnewyddu adeiladau ysgol a buddsoddi cyfalaf yn ein hystâd ysgolion; mae hefyd ar gael drwy gyllid llywodraeth leol yn fwy uniongyrchol ar gyfer gwaith ar raddfa lai. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd ganddo ddiddordeb mewn gwybod bod dros 450 o ysgolion wedi elwa o'r grant ysgolion bach a gwledig hyd yn hyn, ac yn ychwanegol at hynny, mae nifer o ysgolion bach a gwledig wedi derbyn cyllid cyfalaf o'r grant lleihau maint dosbarthiadau babanod, ac yn wir, o raglen ysgolion a cholegau'r unfed ganrif ar hugain hefyd.

Addysg Gymraeg
Welsh-medium Education

6. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r ddarpariaeth addysg Gymraeg? OQ57328

6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the provision of Welsh-medium education? OQ57328

Mae dadansoddiad cyfrifiad ysgolion blynyddol lefel dysgwyr ynghyd â chynlluniau strategol y Gymraeg mewn addysg yn rhoi darlun cynhwysfawr i ni o'r ddarpariaeth addysg Gymraeg ar draws Cymru, a gyda'i gilydd yn cyfrannu at benderfyniadau polisi a chyllido sy'n ein symud yn agosach at ein targed 'Cymraeg 2050'.

The pupil level annual school census as well as the Welsh in education strategic plans provide us with a comprehensive picture of Welsh-medium provision across Wales. Together, they contribute to policy and funding decisions that move us closer to our 'Cymraeg 2050' target. 

Diolch, Weinidog. Mae'r cytundeb cydweithio rhwng Plaid Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymrwymo i sicrhau bod y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a'r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol yn cael cyllid ychwanegol i gynyddu cyfran y prentisiaethau ac addysg bellach cyfrwng Cymraeg, a chynnig darpariaeth dysgu Cymraeg am ddim i bobl ifanc o 16 i 25 oed. Mae'r ymrwymiad hwn yn rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru, ynghyd â Chymdeithas yr Iaith ac ymgyrchwyr iaith eraill, wedi bod yn galw amdano er amser, ac fe fydd, os yw'n cael ei weithredu'n effeithiol, yn gam ymlaen pwysig at wireddu hawl sylfaenol pawb yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, i dderbyn addysg Gymraeg ac i fod â'r gallu i siarad yr iaith yn hyderus ac yn rhugl. A all y Gweinidog ddatgelu faint o arian yw'r cyllid ychwanegol hwn, ac a wnaiff y Gweinidog yn ogystal amlinellu'r camau y bydd y Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i weithredu'r polisi, a darparu amserlen o ran ei gyflawni? Diolch.

Thank you, Minister. The co-operation agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government commits to ensure that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and the National Centre for Learning Welsh are given additional funding in order to increase the number of apprenticeships and FE education available through the medium of Welsh, and to provide free Welsh lessons for young people between 16 and 25 years of age. This commitment is something that Plaid Cymru, along with Cymdeithas yr Iaith and other language campaigners, have been calling for for some time, and, if implemented effectively, it'll be an important step forward towards providing a fundamental right for everyone in Wales, including our children and young people, to receive Welsh-medium education and to have the ability to speak the language confidently and fluently. Can the Minister reveal how much additional funding is to be provided, and will the Minister also outline the steps that the Government will take to implement this policy, and also provide a timetable in terms of delivery? Thank you.

15:05

Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr pa mor bwysig yw darparu gwersi am ddim i'r rhai o dan 25, a hefyd ehangu rôl y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol a'r ganolfan ddysgu. Roedd rheini hefyd yn rhan o'r rhaglen waith 'Cymraeg 2050' wnes i ddatgan dros yr haf, felly rydyn ni'n cytuno pa mor bwysig yw hynny. O ran y cyllid pellach, wrth gwrs, mae'r coleg cenedlaethol eisoes eleni wedi cael cynnydd yn ei gyllideb er mwyn ehangu'r union math o bethau mae'r Aelod yn sôn amdanyn nhw yn ei chwestiwn. Mae wir yn bwysig ein bod ni'n cynyddu'r ddarpariaeth ôl 16 yn y Gymraeg. Mae'r Bil sydd yn mynd trwy'r Senedd ar hyn o bryd yn creu'r cyd-destun i hwnnw, ond mae angen hefyd y buddsoddiad i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad. Felly, rŷm ni'n gytûn, yn sicr, am hynny. Beth yn union fydd y symiau, bydd yn rhaid ni aros i weld beth fydd yn natganiad y Gweinidog cyllid ymhen rhyw wythnos neu 10 diwrnod.   

I agree entirely about how important it is to provide free lessons for those up to the age of 25, and expand the role of the coleg Cymraeg and the national centre. Those were also part of the work programme for 'Cymraeg 2050' that I stated over the summer, and so we do agree about how important that is. In terms of further funding, of course, the coleg Cymraeg has had an increase in its budget to expand the exact kind of provision that the Member talks about in her question. It is genuinely important that we increase the provision post 16 through the medium of Welsh. The Bill that's going through the Senedd at present does create the context for that, but we also need the investment to ensure that that does happen on the ground. So, we do agree on that. What the exact sums will be, we'll have to wait for the statement by the Minister for finance in about a week to 10 days' time.  

Ti a Fi
Ti a Fi

7. Pa gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i'r Mudiad Meithrin i ddarparu gwasanaethau Ti a Fi? OQ57307

7. What support does the Welsh Government give to Mudiad Meithrin to provide Ti a Fi services? OQ57307

Through Welsh Government grant support, Mudiad Meithrin maintains and supports Ti a Fi provision across Wales. In addition, through our programme of extending provision, cylchoedd Ti a Fi are being established to support the development of new cylchoedd meithrin.

Drwy gymorth grant Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'r Mudiad Meithrin yn cynnal ac yn cefnogi darpariaeth Ti a Fi ledled Cymru. Yn ogystal, drwy ein rhaglen i ymestyn y ddarpariaeth, mae cylchoedd Ti a Fi yn cael eu sefydlu i gefnogi'r gwaith o ddatblygu cylchoedd meithrin newydd.

Can I thank the Minister for that response? If the intention to reach a million Welsh speakers is going to be met, then getting more children being educated through the medium of Welsh is the best and easiest way of doing so. Does the Minister accept that Ti a Fi is the first step to learning Welsh for many children, especially those who come from English-speaking backgrounds? What further support can the Welsh Government provide to Ti a Fi and Mudiad Meithrin? And as everybody else is throwing out invitations, can I invite you to visit a Ti a Fi and Mudiad Meithrin within Swansea East?  

A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ymateb? Os ydym am gyflawni'r bwriad o gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, sicrhau bod mwy o blant yn cael eu haddysgu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yw'r ffordd orau a hawsaf o wneud hynny. A yw'r Gweinidog yn derbyn mai Ti a Fi yw'r cam cyntaf i ddysgu Cymraeg i lawer o blant, yn enwedig y rheini sy'n dod o gefndiroedd Saesneg eu hiaith? Pa gymorth pellach y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei ddarparu i Ti a Fi a Mudiad Meithrin? A chan fod pawb arall yn rhoi gwahoddiadau, a gaf fi eich gwahodd i ymweld â Ti a Fi a Mudiad Meithrin yn Nwyrain Abertawe?

I will be delighted to do that. I'm going to struggle to find time for anything else, I think, at the end of this session today, but I certainly will.

Byddwn wrth fy modd yn gwneud hynny. Credaf fy mod yn mynd i'w chael hi'n anodd dod o hyd i amser ar gyfer unrhyw beth arall ar ddiwedd y sesiwn hon heddiw, ond byddaf yn sicr o ddod.

Rwy'n cytuno gyda'r Aelod. Mae cylchoedd Ti a Fi yn gam pwysig iawn ar y daith i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg. Maen nhw'n darparu cyfle i blant ifanc gymdeithasu a chwarae drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, a hefyd yn rhoi cyfle i rieni gwrdd i rannu profiadau a chymdeithasu mewn amgylchedd Cymraeg. Yn Abertawe, ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn academaidd ddiwethaf, roedd 208 o blant wedi cofrestru mewn cylchoedd meithrin, a bron i hanner o'r rheini wedi bod mewn cylchoedd Ti a Fi cyn hynny, a rhyw 77 y cant o blant yn symud o'r cylchoedd meithrin hynny i addysg Gymraeg. Felly, mae'n amlwg bod hyn yn rhan bwysig iawn o gynyddu darpariaeth, a hefyd cynyddu'r galw, sydd yn elfen bwysig yn hyn. Mae'n fwy na jest diwallu'r galw; mae'n rhan hefyd o ysgogi mwy o alw. Mae darpariaeth Ti a Fi, yn anffodus, wedi cael ei effeithio'n ddifrifol yng nghyd-destun COVID-19, ond eleni mae Mudiad Meithrin yn rhoi ffocws arbennig ar ailddechrau darpariaeth Ti a Fi, gan gyflogi rhagor o swyddogion teithiol i hwyluso hyn. A thrwy gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, mae Mudiad Meithrin wedi gosod targed i ailagor dros 300 o gylchoedd Ti a Fi er mwyn cyrraedd lefelau darpariaeth oedd yn bodoli cyn y pandemig.  

I agree with the Member. The cylchoedd Ti a Fi are a very important step on the journey to Welsh-medium education. They do provide an opportunity for young children to socialise and play through the medium of Welsh, and also an opportunity for parents to meet to share experiences and socialise in a Welsh environment. In Swansea, at the start of the last academic year, 208 children had been registered in cylchoedd meithrin, and nearly half of those had been in cylchoedd Ti a Fi before that, and about 77 per cent of children moved from those cylchoedd meithrin into Welsh-medium education. So, it's evident that this is a very important part of increasing provision and increasing demand, which is an important element of that. It's more than just meeting demand; it's about driving more demand. Ti a Fi provision has been affected seriously by COVID-19, but, this year, Mudiad Meithrin is putting a particular emphasis on restarting Ti a Fi provision, employing more officials to facilitate this. And through the Welsh Government's support, Mudiad Meithrin has set a target to reopen more than 300 cylchoedd Ti a Fi in order to reach the provision levels that existed before the pandemic. 

Ysgolion Gwledig
Rural Schools

8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ariannu ysgolion gwledig? OQ57317

8. Will the Minister make a statement on the funding of rural schools? OQ57317

Over 460 schools have benefited from the small and rural schools grant, with funding of over £10 million in the previous Senedd term and £2.5 million in this financial year. In addition, a number of small and rural schools have received capital funding from the reducing infant class sizes grant and the twenty-first century schools and colleges programme.

Mae dros 460 o ysgolion wedi elwa o'r grant ysgolion bach a gwledig, gyda chyllid o dros £10 miliwn yn nhymor blaenorol y Senedd a £2.5 miliwn yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Yn ogystal, mae nifer o ysgolion bach a gwledig wedi derbyn cyllid cyfalaf drwy'r grant lleihau maint dosbarthiadau babanod a rhaglen ysgolion a cholegau'r unfed ganrif ar hugain.

Diolch, Weinidog. Minister, the UK Government has given Wales vast sums of extra funding over the past 20 months throughout the COVID pandemic. Recently, the UK Government announced a further £2.5 billion, down the M4 from Westminster to Cardiff Bay. At the same time, my council in Powys is restructuring and closing rural schools due to the fact that they can't afford to keep them open. So, Minister, will you ensure in the budget that rural schools have additional moneys to ensure that the rural schools in my constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire can stay open? Diolch.  

Diolch. Weinidog, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi rhoi symiau enfawr o arian ychwanegol i Gymru dros yr 20 mis diwethaf drwy gydol y pandemig COVID. Yn ddiweddar, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU £2.5 biliwn arall, i lawr yr M4 o San Steffan i Fae Caerdydd. Ar yr un pryd, mae fy nghyngor ym Mhowys yn ad-drefnu ac yn cau ysgolion gwledig am na allant fforddio eu cadw ar agor. Felly, Weinidog, a wnewch chi sicrhau yn y gyllideb fod gan ysgolion gwledig arian ychwanegol i sicrhau y gall yr ysgolion gwledig yn fy etholaeth ym Mrycheiniog a Sir Faesyfed aros ar agor? Diolch.

I thank the Member for that question. I don't accept the premise of the question that Wales has been given this money by the UK Government. There are taxpayers in Wales who've contributed to that resource as well, and we're perfectly entitled to our share of the overall UK-wide fund. On the point that he makes about small and rural schools' funds in particular, he will know, of course, that the funding of individual schools is ultimately allocated by local authorities, but he will have my assurance that I'm doing all that I can, as I always have, to make sure that schools in Wales have all the funds that they need in order to continue to provide the excellent education that they do to our learners.

Diolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn. Nid wyf yn derbyn rhagosodiad y cwestiwn fod Cymru wedi cael yr arian hwn gan Lywodraeth y DU. Mae trethdalwyr yng Nghymru wedi cyfrannu at yr adnodd hwnnw hefyd, ac mae gennym berffaith hawl i'n cyfran o gronfa gyffredinol y DU. Ar y pwynt a wnaeth am gronfeydd ysgolion bach a gwledig yn benodol, fe fydd yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, mai awdurdodau lleol sy'n dyrannu cyllid ysgolion unigol yn y pen draw, ond rwy'n ei sicrhau fy mod yn gwneud popeth a allaf, fel rwyf wedi'i wneud bob amser, i sicrhau bod ysgolion yng Nghymru yn cael yr holl arian sydd ei angen arnynt i barhau i ddarparu'r addysg ragorol y maent yn ei darparu i'n dysgwyr.

15:10
Y Cwricwlwm Newydd
The New Curriculum

9. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddatblygu'r cwricwlwm newydd yng Nghymru? OQ57316

9. Will the Minister make a statement on the development of the new curriculum in Wales? OQ57316

The Curriculum for Wales will be rolled out from September 2022. Schools and settings across Wales continue to progress in line with national expectations, drawing on national and regional support and professional learning. This is backed up by £7.24 million to support schools' curriculum development in this financial year.

Bydd y Cwricwlwm i Gymru'n cael ei gyflwyno o fis Medi 2022. Mae ysgolion a lleoliadau ledled Cymru yn parhau i wneud cynnydd yn unol â disgwyliadau cenedlaethol, gan fanteisio ar ddysgu proffesiynol a chymorth cenedlaethol a rhanbarthol. Ategir hyn gan £7.24 miliwn i gefnogi datblygu'r cwricwlwm yn yr ysgolion yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon.

Thank you, Minister, for that response. Minister, as I'm sure you are aware, I am very passionate about the need to strengthen the food system in Wales and to unlock socioeconomic benefits that being able to access good diet can bring. An important part of this campaign is to ensure that people are equipped with the skills and knowledge that they need to reduce the reliance on things like fast food and to help people use good-quality local produce. The old curriculum did introduce some of these issues to learners, and previous Welsh Governments did provide guidance on how food and health should be taught, but there was also the perception that food education in our schools could be strengthened and integrated throughout different areas of learning. Therefore, Minister, what consideration has the Government given to ensuring that food education is firmly part of the new curriculum, in particular through the health and well-being area of learning and experience, and how will you support schools to implement this? Diolch.

Diolch am eich ymateb. Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, rwy'n siŵr, rwy’n angerddol iawn am yr angen i gryfhau’r system fwyd yng Nghymru ac i ddatgloi'r buddion economaidd-gymdeithasol y gall mynediad at ddeiet da eu cynnig. Rhan bwysig o'r ymgyrch hon yw sicrhau bod gan bobl y sgiliau a'r wybodaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt i leihau'r ddibyniaeth ar bethau fel bwyd brys ac i helpu pobl i ddefnyddio cynnyrch lleol o ansawdd da. Roedd yr hen gwricwlwm yn cyflwyno rhai o'r pethau hyn i ddysgwyr, a bu Llywodraethau blaenorol Cymru yn darparu arweiniad ar sut y dylid dysgu am fwyd ac iechyd, ond roedd canfyddiad hefyd y gellid cryfhau addysg bwyd yn ein hysgolion a'i hintegreiddio drwy wahanol feysydd dysgu. Felly, Weinidog, pa ystyriaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi'i rhoi i sicrhau bod addysg bwyd yn rhan gadarn o'r cwricwlwm newydd, yn enwedig drwy faes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a lles, a sut y byddwch yn cynorthwyo ysgolion i roi hyn ar waith? Diolch.

He is right that the new curriculum does have this at its heart, and I'm sure that he, in visiting his local schools, as I do in schools right across Wales, sees the potential that learning about food—where it comes from, how to prepare it, how to eat healthily—meets a number of the objectives of the new curriculum. I am often struck, in going to schools where food is a significant part of the life of the school, how creatively that is used for all aspects of the curriculum. We will be continuing to support that into the new curriculum and taking advantage of the extended and expanded opportunities to make sure that our learners have an understanding of the importance of healthy eating and the contribution that food makes to that. We will be including that in the resources that we help develop over the course of the next year and beyond.

Mae'n gywir fod lle canolog i hyn yn y cwricwlwm newydd, ac rwy'n siŵr ei fod, wrth ymweld â'i ysgolion lleol, fel y gwnaf finnau mewn ysgolion ledled Cymru, yn gweld y potensial sydd gan ddysgu am fwyd—o ble y daw, sut i'w baratoi, sut i fwyta'n iach—i fodloni nifer o amcanion y cwricwlwm newydd. Rwy'n aml yn synnu, wrth fynd i ysgolion lle mae bwyd yn rhan fawr o fywyd yr ysgol, pa mor greadigol y defnyddir hynny ar gyfer pob agwedd ar y cwricwlwm. Byddwn yn parhau i gefnogi hynny yn y cwricwlwm newydd ac yn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd estynedig a mwy helaeth i sicrhau bod ein dysgwyr yn deall pwysigrwydd bwyta'n iach a'r cyfraniad y mae bwyd yn ei wneud i hynny. Byddwn yn cynnwys hynny yn yr adnoddau rydym yn helpu i'w datblygu dros y flwyddyn nesaf a thu hwnt.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Yr eitem nesaf y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau amserol. Galwaf ar Jane Dodds.

The next item this afternoon is topical questions. I call on Jane Dodds.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch am ganiatáu imi ofyn y cwestiwn yma heddiw.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Thank you for allowing me to ask this question today.

I raised yesterday the deeply upsetting case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who died in Solihull—[Interruption.] I'm sorry.

Ddoe, codais achos hynod drist Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, a fu farw yn Solihull—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.

You need to ask the topical question on the paper first.

Mae angen i chi ofyn y cwestiwn amserol ar y papur yn gyntaf.

I do apologise. Sorry. 

Rwy'n ymddiheuro. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf.

Diogelu Plant
Safeguarding Children

1. Pa adnoddau a chanllawiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu darparu i awdurdodau lleol ac asiantaethau statudol eraill i nodi pryderon posibl ynghylch diogelu plant, yn dilyn marwolaeth Arthur Labinjo-Hughes yn Solihull? TQ586

1. What resources and guidance is the Welsh Government providing to local authorities and other statutory agencies to identify potential child safeguarding concerns, following the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull? TQ586

Could I ask the Deputy Minister what steps are being taken to address recruitment challenges in child protection services and to ensure that partner agencies are properly equipped to identify possible safeguarding issues? Can I then give the background—

A gaf fi ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog pa gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â heriau recriwtio mewn gwasanaethau amddiffyn plant ac i sicrhau bod gan asiantaethau partner adnoddau priodol i nodi problemau posibl o ran diogelu? A gaf fi wedyn roi'r cefndir—

No. The Minister will answer that bit and then you can come back to it. 

Na. Bydd y Gweinidog yn ateb y rhan honno a gallwch ddychwelyd ato wedyn.

Thank you very much. In terms of the workforce, I'm sure that the Member is aware that there is extensive training for the social care workforce in Wales. The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 introduced strengthened and robust safeguarding arrangements for Wales. It established a national independent safeguarding board, and regional safeguarding children boards, to support evidence-based safeguarding practice across agencies and across Wales. These arrangements are now well established. Statutory guidance has been issued under the Act, and we do have consistent evidence-based safeguarding practice across agencies and across Wales, with opportunities for practitioners to update their skills.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. O safbwynt y gweithlu, rwy'n siŵr bod yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fod hyfforddiant helaeth yn cael ei ddarparu i'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru. Cyflwynodd Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014 drefniadau diogelu cryfach a chadarn i Gymru. Sefydlodd fwrdd diogelu annibynnol cenedlaethol, a byrddau diogelu plant rhanbarthol, i gefnogi ymarfer diogelu ar sail tystiolaeth ar draws asiantaethau a ledled Cymru. Mae'r trefniadau hyn bellach wedi'u hen sefydlu. Cyhoeddwyd canllawiau statudol o dan y Ddeddf, ac mae gennym arferion diogelu cyson ar sail tystiolaeth ar draws asiantaethau a ledled Cymru, gyda chyfleoedd i ymarferwyr ddiweddaru eu sgiliau.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I raised, yesterday, the very upsetting case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, an eight-year-old boy in Solihull, who was subjected to months of physical abuse by his father and his partner. As I said yesterday, we must not forget that they were the people who killed him. And services, as we know, are being reviewed and we're unclear of any outcomes from that.

But child protection and safeguarding has been particularly challenging during COVID-19, especially during the early lockdown period. As you'll know, Deputy Minister, the number of children in receipt of edge-of-care support on the child protection register and looked-after children has increased in recent years, at a time when local authorities are facing significant staffing challenges. I'm aware that the Government issued new all-Wales practice guidelines in July 2020 for all practitioners working with children under the age of 18.

So, may I also just finish—just thinking about any potential future COVID restrictions and some current ones on entering people's homes, what steps will you be taking to ensure that greater face-to-face contact can be maintained with those children and families who require that additional support? And may I also ask whether the Welsh Government is knowledgeable about the number of child protection vacancies in front-line posts across Wales? Thank you. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ddoe, codais achos trist iawn Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, bachgen wyth oed yn Solihull, a gafodd ei gam-drin yn gorfforol am fisoedd gan ei dad a'i bartner. Fel y dywedais ddoe, mae'n rhaid inni beidio ag anghofio mai hwy oedd y bobl a'i lladdodd. Ac mae gwasanaethau, fel y gwyddom, yn cael eu hadolygu ac nid ydym yn siŵr o ganlyniadau hynny.

Ond mae amddiffyn a diogelu plant wedi bod yn arbennig o heriol yn ystod COVID-19, yn enwedig yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud cynnar. Fel y gwyddoch, Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae nifer y plant ar y gofrestr amddiffyn plant sy'n derbyn cymorth ar gyrion gofal a phlant sy'n derbyn gofal wedi cynyddu dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ar adeg pan fo awdurdodau lleol yn wynebu heriau sylweddol o ran staffio. Rwy'n ymwybodol fod y Llywodraeth wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau ymarfer newydd ar gyfer Cymru ym mis Gorffennaf 2020 i bob ymarferydd sy'n gweithio gyda phlant o dan 18 oed.

Felly, a gaf fi orffen hefyd—wrth feddwl am unrhyw gyfyngiadau COVID posibl yn y dyfodol a rhai o'r cyfyngiadau cyfredol wrth fynd i mewn i gartrefi pobl, pa gamau y byddwch yn eu cymryd i sicrhau y gellir cynnal mwy o gyswllt wyneb yn wyneb â'r plant a'r teuluoedd sydd angen cymorth ychwanegol? Ac a gaf fi ofyn hefyd a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwybod faint o swyddi amddiffyn plant ar y rheng flaen sy'n wag ledled Cymru? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

15:15

Diolch. Thank you very much for those very important questions. We will do all that we can to ensure that there is face-to-face contact with children and with families in another potential lockdown. During the previous lockdown period, we are aware that there was not face-to-face contact with many families, although it did continue with some families. Sadly, the position, really, is that we can never be sure about—. It's unlikely that we will ever end the abuse of children by those who care for them and keep them safe, but we can do everything possible to ensure that practitioners can identify children at risk of abuse and understand their duty to report children at risk and that they're equipped with the skills and knowledge to investigate and to respond to concerns that a child is at risk of harm. And I think we do depend, in periods such as lockdown periods, even more on the ears and voices of people in the community, because, inevitably, some of the safeguards such as going to school are not there.

So, it has been a very difficult period for children and their families. The Government has done all it possibly can to help; we have certainly put additional money into the local authorities. In addition to the revenue support grant, we've given generous funding from the hardship fund to local government to help support social care, and we've also recently put in £40 million of recovery funding and an additional £42 million for the winter system and other pressures, again for the social care workforce. We've also put in money for a family intervention fund to support child and family well-being through a mixture of practical and direct support. So, we are putting funding in and the support to social workers continues. But obviously, in any lockdown period, this is a very difficult time for all families.

Diolch. Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiynau pwysig iawn. Byddwn yn gwneud popeth a allwn i sicrhau y ceir cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb â phlant a theuluoedd yn ystod unrhyw gyfyngiadau symud posibl pellach. Yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud blaenorol, rydym yn ymwybodol na chafwyd cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb â llawer o deuluoedd, er iddo barhau gyda rhai teuluoedd. Yn anffodus, y sefyllfa mewn gwirionedd yw na allwn fyth fod yn sicr ynglŷn â—. Mae'n annhebygol y byddwn ni byth yn rhoi diwedd ar gam-drin plant gan y rheini sy'n gofalu amdanynt ac yn eu cadw'n ddiogel, ond gallwn wneud popeth a allwn i sicrhau bod ymarferwyr yn gallu nodi'r plant sydd mewn perygl o gael eu cam-drin a deall eu dyletswydd i roi gwybod am blant sydd mewn perygl a bod ganddynt sgiliau a gwybodaeth i ymchwilio ac i ymateb i bryderon fod plentyn mewn perygl o niwed. Ac mewn cyfnodau fel y cyfyngiadau symud, credaf ein bod yn dibynnu hyd yn oed yn fwy ar glustiau a lleisiau pobl yn y gymuned, oherwydd, yn anochel, nid yw rhai o'r mesurau diogelwch fel mynd i'r ysgol ar gael.

Felly, mae wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd iawn i blant a'u teuluoedd. Mae'r Llywodraeth wedi gwneud popeth a all i helpu; rydym yn sicr wedi rhoi arian ychwanegol i'r awdurdodau lleol. Yn ychwanegol at y grant cynnal refeniw, rydym wedi rhoi cyllid hael o'r gronfa galedi i lywodraeth leol i helpu i gefnogi gofal cymdeithasol, ac yn ddiweddar, rydym hefyd wedi rhoi £40 miliwn o gyllid adfer a £42 miliwn yn ychwanegol ar gyfer pwysau'r gaeaf ar y system a phwysau eraill, unwaith eto, ar gyfer y gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol. Rydym hefyd wedi darparu arian ar gyfer y gronfa ymyrraeth deuluol i gefnogi llesiant plant a theuluoedd drwy gymysgedd o gymorth ymarferol ac uniongyrchol. Felly, rydym yn darparu arian ac mae'r cymorth i weithwyr cymdeithasol yn parhau. Ond yn amlwg, mewn unrhyw gyfyngiadau symud, mae hwn yn gyfnod anodd iawn i bob teulu.

I'm grateful to the Minister for her answers. One of the issues that has been troubling me for some time, as we've come through this pandemic, has been the disappearance of children from education, and the significant increase in the number of children being educated from home. We know from tragic history that, when children are taken into the home to be educated, we can lose contact with those children and that some terrible things can and have happened to children in those circumstances. Would the Government, both the social services department and the education department, consider an investigation into the growth of elective home education, and consider how contact can be maintained with children who are being educated at home, and also review the law governing home education? I have very, very significant concerns that the growth of home education is going to lead to a growth of abuse and the potential for further tragedies in future. 

Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ei hatebion. Un o'r materion sydd wedi bod yn fy mhoeni ers peth amser, wrth inni ddod drwy'r pandemig, yw plant yn diflannu o addysg, a'r cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer y plant sy'n derbyn eu haddysg gartref. O drychinebau yn y gorffennol, gwyddom y gallwn golli cysylltiad â phlant sy'n cael eu haddysg gartref ac y gall pethau ofnadwy ddigwydd i blant yn yr amgylchiadau hynny, ac mae hynny wedi digwydd. A fyddai'r Llywodraeth, yr adran gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a'r adran addysg, yn ystyried ymchwiliad i'r cynnydd mewn addysg ddewisol yn y cartref, ac yn ystyried sut y gellir cynnal cyswllt gyda phlant sy'n derbyn eu haddysg gartref, yn ogystal ag adolygu'r gyfraith sy'n llywodraethu addysg yn y cartref? Rwy'n pryderu'n fawr fod y cynnydd mewn addysg yn y cartref yn mynd i arwain at gynnydd mewn cam-drin plant a'r perygl y gwelir trychinebau pellach yn y dyfodol.

15:20

I thank Alun Davies for that very important question, and this is an issue that I have worked on closely—and am working on closely—with the Minister for education, because, obviously, it's an issue that concerns both departments. We are developing proposals that will further strengthen the existing framework around elective home education to help ensure that children who are educated at home do get a suitable education to begin with and that their well-being needs are met. So, we are developing a framework, and the proposals that we have include new statutory guidance for local authorities and a wider package of support for home-educated children to enhance the learning experience and development opportunities, and, also, a handbook that will help and give information to home educators. 

This year, we've made £1.7 million of funding available to support local authorities with administrative costs relating to home education, as well as to fund education resources and activities for home-educated learners. This is a unique fund to Wales, and I think that does answer his questions about having contact with children who are educated at home and who wish to make wider contact outside of the home. So, the Minister for education will be taking forward the proposals for the new statutory guidance in due course, but it is an issue that I'm working on very closely with him.

Diolch i Alun Davies am ei gwestiwn pwysig iawn, ac mae hwn yn fater rwyf wedi gweithio'n agos arno—ac yn dal i weithio'n agos arno—gyda'r Gweinidog addysg, oherwydd yn amlwg, mae'n fater sy'n ymwneud â'r ddwy adran. Rydym yn datblygu cynigion a fydd yn cryfhau'r fframwaith presennol ymhellach mewn perthynas ag addysg ddewisol yn y cartref i helpu i sicrhau bod plant sy'n derbyn eu haddysg yn y cartref yn cael addysg addas i ddechrau a bod eu hanghenion llesiant yn cael eu diwallu. Felly, rydym yn datblygu fframwaith, ac mae'r cynigion sydd gennym yn cynnwys canllawiau statudol newydd ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol a phecyn ehangach o gymorth i blant sy'n derbyn eu haddysg yn y cartref i wella'r profiad dysgu a'r cyfleoedd datblygu, yn ogystal â llawlyfr a fydd yn helpu ac yn rhoi gwybodaeth i bobl sy'n darparu addysg yn y cartref.

Eleni, rydym wedi darparu £1.7 miliwn o gyllid i gynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol gyda chostau gweinyddol sy'n ymwneud ag addysg yn y cartref, yn ogystal ag ariannu adnoddau a gweithgareddau addysg ar gyfer dysgwyr sy'n derbyn eu haddysg yn y cartref. Mae hon yn gronfa unigryw i Gymru, a chredaf fod hynny'n ateb ei gwestiynau ynghylch cael cyswllt â phlant sy'n cael eu haddysg yn y cartref ac sy'n dymuno cysylltu'n ehangach y tu allan i'r cartref. Felly, bydd y Gweinidog addysg yn bwrw ymlaen â'r cynigion ar gyfer y canllawiau statudol newydd maes o law, ond mae'n fater rwy'n gweithio'n agos iawn arno gydag ef.

I note in Estyn's annual report that Ceredigion had very interesting outreach work with home-educated students, which enabled a lot of those children to be reintegrated into schools.

I'm very pleased that you're giving additional money to family support services for this really, really difficult subject, but I also just wanted to highlight the fact that Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was not in school at all, and that on the day before he was killed he was taken to the hairdressers by the woman who killed him, where he was made to stand with his face to the wall for up to seven hours. Therefore, I agree with you: it is up to the ears and eyes of the community to identify and speak out when child cruelty is obviously taking place, such as in that situation, because, at the end of the day, family support services, would you agree, cannot be everywhere all of the time? It is everybody's duty to speak up for children's rights.

Sylwaf yn adroddiad blynyddol Estyn fod Ceredigion wedi gwneud gwaith allgymorth diddorol iawn gyda myfyrwyr sy'n derbyn eu haddysg yn y cartref, gwaith sydd wedi galluogi llawer o'r plant hynny i gael eu hailintegreiddio mewn ysgolion.

Rwy'n falch iawn eich bod yn rhoi arian ychwanegol i wasanaethau cymorth i deuluoedd ar gyfer y mater anodd hwn, ond roeddwn am dynnu sylw hefyd at y ffaith nad oedd Arthur Labinjo-Hughes yn yr ysgol o gwbl, ac ar y diwrnod cyn iddo gael ei ladd, aethpwyd ag ef i'r siop trin gwallt gan y ddynes a'i lladdodd, lle gwnaed iddo sefyll gyda'i wyneb at y wal am hyd at saith awr. Felly, rwy'n cytuno: mater i glustiau a llygaid y gymuned yw nodi a rhoi gwybod pan fydd creulondeb tuag at blant yn amlwg yn digwydd, megis yn y sefyllfa honno, oherwydd, yn y pen draw, ni all gwasanaethau cymorth i deuluoedd, oni fyddech yn cytuno, fod ym mhobman drwy'r amser? Mae'n ddyletswydd ar bawb i godi llais dros hawliau plant.

Absolutely right, the community have to be the eyes and ears, because it is not possible for social services officers and departments to be there and to see everything. So, it is incumbent on all of us, if we see something we're concerned about, to act on it.

Obviously, the review that has been set up by the UK Government will come forward with proposals, I'm sure, and we will look very closely at what those proposals are and see how they will help us in Wales. It is a very wide-ranging review, and for the Member's information it's led jointly by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills; the Care Quality Commission; Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services; and HM Inspectorate of Probation. So, it's looking at all of this wide range of agencies. We will look very closely at the result, but, yes, it's all of our duties to look out for any concerns and to follow up on any concerns that we may have.  

Yn sicr, mae'n rhaid i'r gymuned fod yn llygaid a chlustiau, gan nad yw'n bosibl i swyddogion ac adrannau gwasanaethau cymdeithasol fod yno a gweld popeth. Felly, mae'n ddyletswydd ar bob un ohonom i weithredu ar unrhyw beth a welwn sy'n peri pryder i ni.

Yn amlwg, bydd yr adolygiad a sefydlwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn cyflwyno cynigion, rwy’n siŵr, a byddwn yn edrych yn agos iawn ar beth yw’r cynigion hynny ac yn gweld sut y byddant yn ein helpu yng Nghymru. Mae'n adolygiad eang iawn, ac er gwybodaeth i'r Aelod, caiff ei arwain ar y cyd gan y Swyddfa Safonau mewn Addysg; y Comisiwn Ansawdd Gofal; Arolygiaeth Cwnstabliaeth Ei Mawrhydi a'r Gwasanaethau Tân ac Achub; ac Arolygiaeth Prawf Ei Mawrhydi. Felly, mae'n edrych ar yr ystod eang hon o asiantaethau. Byddwn yn edrych yn agos iawn ar y canlyniad, ond ydy, mae'n ddyletswydd ar bob un ohonom i gadw llygad am unrhyw bryderon a gweithredu ar unrhyw bryderon sydd gennym.

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Yr eitem nesaf yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Dim ond un datganiad sydd y prynhawn yma, a galwaf ar Mabon ap Gwynfor.

The next item is the 90-second statements, and I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor.

Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dwi am dalu teyrnged y prynhawn yma, os gwelwch yn dda, yn arbennig iawn i holl staff meddygfeydd Dwyfor Meirionnydd a thu hwnt am eu gwaith diflino yn rhoi'r brechlyn ym mraich cannoedd o filoedd o bobl yng Nghymru. Y staff meddygol ymroddedig yma sydd yn cadw ni oll yn ddiogel, ac mae'n dyled ni yn fawr iddyn nhw.

Dwi am longyfarch yn benodol un o'r meddygfeydd lleol yn Nwyfor Meirionnydd; yn benodol, felly, camp arwrol a wnaed dros y penwythnos diwethaf yn Nhŷ Doctor Nefyn. Tŷ Doctor oedd y feddygfa gyntaf i frechu Pfizer, a oedd yn golygu bod pobl mewn cymunedau gwledig yn medru cael y pigiad arbennig yma. A llwyddodd meddygfa Tŷ Doctor i ddosbarthu bron i 4,000 o frechlynnau dros ddeuddydd y penwythnos diwethaf, sy’n golygu bod nhw bellach wedi brechu hyd at 20,000 o bobl ers dechrau’r flwyddyn. Mae'r feddygfa yma ym Mhen Llŷn wedi arwain y ffordd wrth frechu pobl leol ers y dechrau cyntaf un—o’r meddygon, y nyrsys, y staff a’r byddin o wirfoddolwyr—pob un yn ymgymryd yn ei rôl yn llawen bob tro.

Yn ôl Dr Eilir Hughes, daeth bobl o bob cwrdd o ogledd Cymru i gael eu brechu yn Nhŷ Doctor, Nefyn. Roedd rhai yn dod am y tro cyntaf, rhai yn dod am ail ddos, a sawl un yno i gael yr hwblyn. Ond yr hyn sy’n galonogol ydy bod llawer iawn o’r rhai ddaeth i’r feddygfa dros y penwythnos yn bobl ifanc.

Y brechlyn ydy’r arf orau sydd gennym ni i fedru mynd i’r afael â’r haint erchyll yma sydd wedi lladd cynifer o’n hanwyliaid. Diolch o galon, felly, i holl feddygon a staff meddygfeydd Dwyfor Meirionnydd a Chymru gyfan am eu hymdrechion heb eu hail wrth ddosbarthu’r brechlyn yma yn effeithiol yn ein cymunedau a’n cadw ni oll yn ddiogel.

Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to pay tribute this afternoon to all of the staff in general practices in Dwyfor Meirionnydd and beyond for their tireless work in delivering the vaccine to thousands and thousands of people in Wales. These dedicated medical workers are the ones keeping us all safe, and our debt to them is a great one.

I would like to congratulate specifically one of the local surgeries in Dwyfor Meirionnydd for its heroic exploits over the last weekend, namely Tŷ Doctor in Nefyn. Tŷ Doctor in Nefyn was the first to deliver the Pfizer vaccine, which meant that people in rural communities could have this special vaccine. And the Tŷ Doctor surgery managed to deliver nearly 4,000 vaccines in a single weekend, which means that they have now vaccinated up to 20,000 people since the start of the year. This surgery on the Llŷn peninsula has taken a leading role in vaccinating local people since the very beginning. The doctors, nurses, staff, and the army of volunteers—everyone took a full part in this.

According to Dr Eilir Hughes, people from all over north Wales came to be vaccinated in Tŷ Doctor in Nefyn. Some came for the first time, some came for the second dose, and several came to get their booster. But the encouraging thing is that many of those who came to the surgery over the weekend were young people.

The vaccine is the best tool that we have to tackle this terrible infection that has killed so many people. I give my sincere thanks, therefore, to the doctors of Dwyfor Meirionnydd and doctors across Wales for their peerless efforts in distributing the vaccine effectively in our communities and keeping us all safe.

15:25

Byddwn nawr yn atal y trafodion dros dro er mwyn caniatáu newidiadau yn y Siambr. Os ydych yn gadael y Siambr, gwnewch hynny'n brydlon. Bydd y gloch yn cael ei chanu dau funud cyn i drafodion ailgychwyn. Dylai unrhyw Aelodau sy'n cyrraedd ar ôl y newid aros tan hynny cyn mynd i mewn i'r Siambr. 

We will now suspend proceedings to allow changeovers in the Chamber. If you're leaving the Chamber, please do so promptly. The bell will be rung two minutes before proceedings restart. Any Members arriving after the changeover should wait until then before entering the Chamber.

Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:26.

Plenary was suspended at 15:26.

15:30

Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:33, gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.

The Senedd reconvened at 15:33, with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.

5. Dadl ar ddeiseb P-06-1208 Deddfau newydd i amddiffyn gwiwerod coch prin rhag colli cynefinoedd sy'n achosi dirywiad yn eu poblogaeth
5. Debate on petition P-06-1208 New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline

Eitem 5 yw'r eitem nesaf. Yr eitem yma yw'r ddadl ar y ddeiseb ar ddeddfau newydd i amddiffyn gwiwerod coch prin rhag colli cynefinoedd sy'n achosi dirywiad yn eu poblogaeth. Dwi'n galw ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, Jack Sargeant, i wneud y cynnig. Jack Sargeant.

Item 5 is the next item, and it's the debate on the petition on new laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss, which causes population decline. I call on the Chair of the Petitions Committee, Jack Sargeant.

Cynnig NDM7860 Jack Sargeant

Cynnig bod y Senedd: 

Yn nodi’r ddeiseb P-06-1208 'Deddfau newydd i amddiffyn gwiwerod coch prin rhag colli cynefinoedd sy'n achosi dirywiad yn eu poblogaeth’ a gasglodd 10,553 o lofnodion.

Motion NDM7860 Jack Sargeant

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the petition P-06-1208 'New laws to protect rare red squirrels from habitat loss which causes population decline’ which received 10,553 signatures.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Ar ran y Pwyllgor Deisebau, diolch am y cyfle i gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon.

Thank you very much, Llywydd. On behalf of the Petitions Committee, thank you for the opportunity to introduce this important debate.

This petition was introduced by Craig Shuttleworth in June and reached 10,000 signatures before the end of July. Llywydd, that tells me that a lot of people in Wales, and across the world, love red squirrels. And while it isn't the focus of today’s debate, I do wish to mention petition P-06-1225, 'Make Natural Resources Wales undertake and publish annual wildlife surveys before felling woodland'. This raises wider issues about how we can protect woodland habitats for all the creatures that live there.

The red squirrel was once common throughout the UK, but they have disappeared from many areas. You can however still see them in three main areas of Wales: on Anglesey, in the Clocaenog Forest in north Wales, and in Clywedog in mid Wales. According to the Wildlife Trusts, in about 150 years red squirrels have declined from around 3.5 million to 140,000 in the UK. The main threat to the species has come from the introduction of the grey squirrel, brought over from North America in the 1870s. A larger, faster-breeding squirrel, it competes for sources of food, making life harder for the red squirrel. It can also carry squirrel pox virus, also known as parapox, which is harmless to grey squirrels, but fatal to red squirrels. Llywydd, red squirrels are also threatened by domestic cats and dogs, roads and habitat losses and fragmentation. In 2020, the Mammal Society released an official red list for British mammals, highlighting the species most at risk. The red squirrel is classified as 'endangered' and is one of the 19 species considered at risk of extinction in Britain. At an international level, it is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of threatened species.

Red squirrels are a priority species under the UK post-2010 biodiversity framework. They are protected under Schedules 5 and 6 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended. Under the Act, it is an offence to kill, injure or take a red squirrel, or to damage, destroy or obstruct access to a drey or any other structure or place that a red squirrel uses for shelter or protection. It is also an offence to disturb a red squirrel when it is occupying a structure or place for protection. This protection does not apply to areas where red squirrels only feed. Activities for social, economic and environmental reasons that might affect red squirrels can be licensed.

The petition we are debating today is calling on the Government to go further than the protections that already exist. It is asking this Senedd to do more to protect red squirrels. Specifically, it is asking that habitat loss be included in the consideration of felling licences, and that state-owned forests, which don’t require a licence, should have to annually assess the cumulative impact of felling on the red squirrel population. We know that this Government puts climate change and nature at the heart of its decision making. Earlier this year, in June 2021, this Senedd declared a nature emergency. So the question is, today. about that nature emergency: how can we protect the populations of red squirrels we have? But even further, how can we reverse the historic decline?

Llywydd, I very much look forward to the Minister's response this afternoon. I look forward to Members' contributions across the Chamber, and I'm very much looking forward to the contribution from the Senedd's own very red squirrel—the bright and bushy-tailed Darren Millar. Diolch yn fawr.

Cyflwynwyd y ddeiseb hon gan Craig Shuttleworth ym mis Mehefin ac fe gafodd 10,000 o lofnodion cyn diwedd mis Gorffennaf. Lywydd, mae hynny'n dweud wrthyf fod llawer o bobl yng Nghymru, ac ar draws y byd, yn hoff iawn o wiwerod coch. Ac er nad yw'n ganolbwynt i'r ddadl heddiw, hoffwn sôn am ddeiseb P-06-1225, 'Dylai Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru orfod cynnal a chyhoeddi arolygon bywyd gwyllt blynyddol cyn cwympo coetir'. Mae'r ddeiseb hon yn codi materion ehangach ynghylch sut y gallwn ddiogelu cynefinoedd coetir ar gyfer yr holl greaduriaid sy'n byw yno.

Roedd y wiwer goch yn gyffredin ledled y DU ar un adeg, ond maent wedi diflannu o sawl ardal. Fodd bynnag, gallwch eu gweld o hyd mewn tair prif ardal yng Nghymru: ar Ynys Môn, yng Nghoedwig Clocaenog yng ngogledd Cymru, ac yng Nghlywedog yng nghanolbarth Cymru. Yn ôl yr Ymddiriedolaethau Natur, mewn tua 150 mlynedd mae niferoedd gwiwerod coch wedi gostwng o tua 3.5 miliwn i 140,000 yn y DU. Mae'r prif fygythiad i'r rhywogaeth wedi deillio o gyflwyno'r wiwer lwyd, a ddygwyd drosodd o Ogledd America yn y 1870au. Maent yn wiwerod mwy o faint, sy'n bridio'n gyflymach, ac maent yn cystadlu am ffynonellau bwyd, gan wneud bywyd yn anos i'r wiwer goch. Gallant hefyd gario feirws brech y wiwer, a elwir hefyd yn parapox, nad yw'n gwneud niwed i wiwerod llwyd, ond sy'n angheuol i wiwerod coch. Lywydd, mae cathod a chŵn domestig, ffyrdd, colli a darnio cynefin hefyd yn fygythiad i'r wiwer goch. Yn 2020, rhyddhaodd Cymdeithas y Mamaliaid restr goch swyddogol o famaliaid Prydain, a dynnai sylw at y rhywogaethau sy'n wynebu'r perygl mwyaf. Mae'r wiwer goch yn cael ei dosbarthu fel rhywogaeth 'mewn perygl' ac mae'n un o'r 19 rhywogaeth yr ystyrir eu bod mewn perygl o ddiflannu ym Mhrydain. Ar lefel ryngwladol, mae ar restr goch yr Undeb Rhyngwladol dros Gadwraeth Natur o rywogaethau dan fygythiad.

Mae gwiwerod coch yn rhywogaeth â blaenoriaeth o dan fframwaith bioamrywiaeth ôl-2010 y DU. Fe'u diogelir o dan Atodlenni 5 a 6 i Ddeddf Bywyd Gwyllt a Chefn Gwlad 1981, fel y'i diwygiwyd. O dan y Ddeddf, mae'n drosedd lladd, anafu neu gymryd gwiwerod coch, neu ddifrodi, dinistrio neu rwystro mynediad at nyth neu unrhyw strwythur neu le arall y mae gwiwerod coch yn ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer cysgod neu ddiogelwch. Mae hefyd yn drosedd tarfu ar wiwer goch pan fydd yn defnyddio strwythur neu le ar gyfer diogelwch. Nid yw'r amddiffyniad hwn yn berthnasol i fannau lle mae gwiwerod coch ond yn bwyta'n unig. Gellir trwyddedu gweithgareddau a all effeithio ar wiwerod coch am resymau cymdeithasol, economaidd ac amgylcheddol.

Mae'r ddeiseb rydym yn ei thrafod heddiw yn galw ar y Llywodraeth i fynd gam ymhellach na'r amddiffyniad sydd eisoes yn bodoli. Mae'n gofyn i'r Senedd hon wneud mwy i ddiogelu gwiwerod coch. Yn benodol, mae'n gofyn am gynnwys colli cynefin wrth ystyried trwyddedau cwympo coed, ac y dylai coedwigoedd sy'n eiddo i'r wladwriaeth, nad oes angen trwydded arnynt, orfod asesu effaith gronnol cwympo coed ar boblogaeth y wiwer goch yn flynyddol. Gwyddom fod y Llywodraeth hon yn rhoi newid hinsawdd a natur wrth wraidd ei phenderfyniadau. Yn gynharach eleni, ym mis Mehefin 2021, fe wnaeth y Senedd hon ddatgan argyfwng natur. Felly, mae'r cwestiwn heddiw yn ymwneud â'r argyfwng natur hwnnw: sut y gallwn ddiogelu'r poblogaethau sydd gennym o wiwerod coch? Ond yn fwy na hynny hyd yn oed, sut y gallwn wrthdroi'r dirywiad hanesyddol?

Lywydd, rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at ymateb y Gweinidog y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gyfraniadau'r Aelodau ar draws y Siambr, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at gyfraniad wiwer goch y Senedd ei hun—ein Darren Millar sionc fel y wiwer. Diolch yn fawr.

15:35

I couldn't have called him better. Darren Millar. [Laughter.]

Ni fyddwn wedi gallu ei alw'n well. Darren Millar. [Chwerthin.]