Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
20/09/2023Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da i bawb. Cyn i ni gychwyn, dwi'n moyn gwneud un datganiad byr.
Good afternoon, all. Before we begin, I want to make a brief statement.
Before we begin today's proceedings, I'd like to make some points concerning the debate surrounding the 20 mph regulations that came into force over the weekend. Overnight, I've become aware of several Members—myself included—receiving abusive and threatening messages on social media, e-mail and telephone, due to their stance on this topic. Our staff have had to deal with much of this this morning. Whilst it's encouraging to see unprecedented interest in our Petitions Committee and its work, we all have a duty to ensure that public debate in Wales is measured, dignified and respectful. For us in this Chamber, that means setting the tone for how we expect others to express their views, whatever their stance on this matter or any other matter, and that we do that in a way that does not demean or undermine any individual. I've received representations from one Member about the conduct of another Member during yesterday's proceedings, and have corresponded with both individuals accordingly. I will conclude by urging Members to bear all of this in mind when articulating their views in the Chamber, and, in turn, influencing how others behave outside this Chamber.
Cyn inni ddechrau trafodion heddiw, hoffwn wneud rhai pwyntiau ynglŷn â'r ddadl ynghylch y rheoliadau 20 mya a ddaeth i rym dros y penwythnos. Dros nos, deuthum yn ymwybodol fod sawl Aelod—gan fy nghynnwys i—wedi cael negeseuon sarhaus a bygythiol ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, dros e-bost a thros y ffôn, oherwydd eu safbwynt mewn perthynas â'r pwnc hwn. Mae ein staff wedi gorfod ymdrin â llawer o hyn y bore yma. Er ei bod yn galonogol gweld diddordeb digynsail yn ein Pwyllgor Deisebau a’i waith, mae gan bob un ohonom ddyletswydd i sicrhau bod y drafodaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru yn bwyllog, yn urddasol ac yn barchus. I ni yn y Siambr hon, mae hynny’n golygu gosod y cywair ar gyfer sut rydym yn disgwyl i eraill fynegi eu barn, ni waeth beth fo’u safbwynt ar y mater hwn neu unrhyw fater arall, a’n bod yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd nad yw’n diraddio nac yn tanseilio unrhyw unigolyn. Rwyf wedi cael sylwadau gan un Aelod ynglŷn ag ymddygiad Aelod arall yn ystod trafodion ddoe, ac wedi gohebu â’r ddau unigolyn yn unol â hynny. Rwyf am gloi drwy annog yr Aelodau i gadw hyn oll mewn cof wrth fynegi eu barn yn y Siambr, a thrwy hynny, i ddylanwadu ar sut mae eraill yn ymddwyn y tu allan i’r Siambr hon.
I'll move on now to the first item of business today, and that's the questions to the economy Minister. The first question is to be answered by the Deputy Minister and to be asked by Sam Rowlands.
Symudaf ymlaen yn awr at yr eitem gyntaf o fusnes heddiw, sef cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi. Mae’r cwestiwn cyntaf i’w ateb gan y Dirprwy Weinidog, a Sam Rowlands sydd i'w ofyn.
1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau cyflenwadau glo addas ar gyfer sector rheilffyrdd treftadaeth gogledd Cymru? OQ59933
1. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure suitable coal supplies for north Wales’s heritage rail sector? OQ59933
Can I thank Sam Rowlands for that question, and say that we do greatly value our heritage railways? But, all sectors of our society must play their part in addressing the climate emergency. We would encourage the industry to work with the Welsh Government to develop transition plans in line with the net-zero targets.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Sam Rowlands am ei gwestiwn, a dweud ein bod yn gwerthfawrogi ein rheilffyrdd treftadaeth yn fawr? Fodd bynnag, mae’n rhaid i bob sector yn ein cymdeithas chwarae eu rhan wrth fynd i’r afael â’r argyfwng hinsawdd. Byddem yn annog y diwydiant i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i ddatblygu cynlluniau pontio yn unol â’r targedau sero net.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, for that initial response. As you say, the support for the heritage rail sector is welcome, because, of course, across the United Kingdom, the heritage railways are worth around £0.5 billion to the economy. You'll be aware of some significant heritage railways in my patch, in north Wales—the Ffestiniog and Welsh highland railway partially running through the region, attracting around 200,000 visitors a year. And there is, of course, also the Llangollen to Corwen railway, which generates around £8.5 million for the local economy. I must declare a personal interest there—my father volunteers from time to time on that particular railway and, I must say, always does a fantastic job, I'm sure. Wales, of course, is rich with coal that would be perfect for use in the heritage rail sector. It's high quality and burns more efficiently than other types of coal, and, of course, does not need to be transported very far at all. Instead, at the moment, the sector is now having to look at importing coal from other countries—from the other side of the world, at times—with some of them having questionable human rights. And I want to stress to you, Deputy Minister, the money generated and the jobs supported by the heritage rail sector, but all of this relies on the use of coal at the moment. So, I wonder what you can do to ensure that coal from the United Kingdom can be used for this purpose, instead of having to import it from overseas, which will risk having a much worse environmental impact.
Diolch am eich ymateb cychwynnol, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Fel y dywedwch, mae’r gefnogaeth i’r sector rheilffyrdd treftadaeth i’w chroesawu, oherwydd wrth gwrs, ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, mae’r rheilffyrdd treftadaeth yn werth oddeutu £0.5 biliwn i’r economi. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o rai rheilffyrdd treftadaeth pwysig yn fy ardal i, yng ngogledd Cymru—mae rheilffordd Ffestiniog a rheilffordd ucheldir Cymru yn rhedeg drwy'r rhanbarth yn rhannol, ac yn denu oddeutu 200,000 o ymwelwyr y flwyddyn. Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r rheilffordd rhwng Llangollen a Chorwen hefyd yn cynhyrchu oddeutu £8.5 miliwn i'r economi leol. Mae'n rhaid imi ddatgan buddiant personol yn hyn—mae fy nhad yn gwirfoddoli ar y rheilffordd honno o bryd i'w gilydd, ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud ei fod bob amser yn gwneud gwaith gwych, rwy'n siŵr. Wrth gwrs, mae gan Gymru lawer o lo a fyddai’n berffaith i’w ddefnyddio yn y sector rheilffyrdd treftadaeth. Mae o ansawdd uchel ac yn llosgi'n fwy effeithlon na mathau eraill o lo, ac wrth gwrs, nid oes angen ei gludo'n bell iawn o gwbl. Yn hytrach, mae’r sector ar hyn o bryd yn gorfod edrych ar fewnforio glo o wledydd eraill—o'r ochr arall i'r byd, weithiau—gan gynnwys gwledydd y ceir amheuon ynglŷn â'u hawliau dynol. Ac rwyf am bwysleisio i chi, Ddirprwy Weinidog, cymaint o arian a gynhyrchir a’r swyddi a gefnogir gan y sector rheilffyrdd treftadaeth, ond mae hyn oll yn dibynnu ar y defnydd o lo ar hyn o bryd. Felly, tybed beth y gallwch ei wneud i sicrhau y gellir defnyddio glo o’r Deyrnas Unedig at y diben hwn, yn lle gorfod ei fewnforio o dramor, a allai greu perygl o effaith amgylcheddol lawer gwaeth.
Can I thank Sam Rowlands for those very important points in his supplementary question? And, again, can I reiterate that we have long been supportive of our heritage railways, and we do absolutely understand the economic value of these important cultural and heritage assets? We've invested in many of them, in supporting their presence and their ability to continue. In fact, I was on the Llangollen railway not so long ago—I had a journey along the Llangollen railway. And I'm very pleased that the local volunteers—maybe your dad's one of them—keep me regularly informed on the development and the work that's going on there. And in fact, I've got one in my own constituency, of course—the Brecon mountain railway. So, I do know the value of them, absolutely. But we are aware of the challenges that the sector faces, for all the reasons that you've set out, and that they do currently rely on the extraction and consumption of coal products. So, our efforts as a Government now are focused on making the transition to net-zero emissions a just transition. So, we are looking to get the heritage railways to move away from the use of coal. Because one of the things that I would have to say is that the heritage sector alone can't sustain the remaining coal mines that we have in Britain, including in my own constituency—the opencast mine of Ffos-y-frân. So, what we want to do is encourage the heritage rail industry to work with Government to develop those transition plans. And there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that the sector could reduce its reliance on fossil fuels through continued efforts to trial alternative renewable fuels, and we've got examples of biomass logs, wood briquettes, biodiesel and, of course, the use of hydrogen fuel cell engines. So, what I would say, in conclusion, is that Welsh Government absolutely stands ready to support the sector through this transition, and I would encourage heritage railways to engage with my officials, to discuss this and to identify what funding might be available to help them into that transition.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Sam Rowlands am y pwyntiau pwysig hynny yn ei gwestiwn atodol? Ac unwaith eto, a gaf fi ailadrodd ein bod wedi bod yn gefnogol ers amser hir i'n rheilffyrdd treftadaeth, a'n bod yn llwyr ddeall beth yw gwerth economaidd yr asedau diwylliannol a threftadaeth pwysig hyn? Rydym wedi buddsoddi mewn llawer ohonynt, i gefnogi eu presenoldeb a'u gallu i barhau. Yn wir, roeddwn ar reilffordd Llangollen heb fod mor bell yn ôl â hynny—euthum ar daith ar reilffordd Llangollen. Ac rwy'n falch iawn fod y gwirfoddolwyr lleol—efallai fod eich tad yn un ohonynt—yn rhoi gwybod i mi'n rheolaidd am y datblygiad a'r gwaith sy'n mynd rhagddo yno. Ac mewn gwirionedd, mae gennyf un yn fy etholaeth fy hun, wrth gwrs—rheilffordd mynydd Brycheiniog. Felly, rwy'n sicr yn ymwybodol o'u gwerth. Ond rydym yn ymwybodol o'r heriau y mae'r sector yn eu hwynebu, am yr holl resymau a nodwyd gennych, a'u bod ar hyn o bryd yn dibynnu ar echdynnu a defnyddio cynhyrchion glo. Felly, mae ein hymdrechion fel Llywodraeth yn canolbwyntio ar sicrhau bod y pontio i allyriadau sero net yn bontio teg. Felly, rydym yn gobeithio annog y rheilffyrdd treftadaeth i roi'r gorau i ddefnyddio glo. Oherwydd un o'r pethau y byddai'n rhaid i mi eu dweud yw na all y sector treftadaeth ar ei ben ei hun gynnal y pyllau glo sy'n weddill gennym ym Mhrydain, gan gynnwys yn fy etholaeth fy hun—mwynglawdd glo brig Ffos-y-frân. Felly, yr hyn rydym am ei wneud yw annog y diwydiant rheilffyrdd treftadaeth i weithio gyda'r Llywodraeth i ddatblygu'r cynlluniau pontio hynny. Ac mae corff cynyddol o dystiolaeth yn awgrymu y gallai’r sector leihau ei ddibyniaeth ar danwydd ffosil drwy ymdrechion parhaus i dreialu tanwyddau adnewyddadwy amgen, ac mae gennym enghreifftiau ar ffurf plociau biomas, brics pren, biodiesel, ac wrth gwrs, y defnydd o beiriannau celloedd tanwydd hydrogen. Felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn ei ddweud i gloi yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwbl barod i gefnogi’r sector drwy’r cyfnod pontio hwn, a hoffwn annog y rheilffyrdd treftadaeth i ymgysylltu â fy swyddogion i drafod hyn ac i nodi pa gyllid a allai fod ar gael i'w helpu i mewn i'r cyfnod pontio hwnnw.
2. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i ddarparu rhaglenni cymorth rhanbarthol ar ôl Brexit? OQ59911
2. How is the Welsh Government working with the UK Government to deliver post-Brexit regional aid programmes? OQ59911
Thank you. Despite these programmes operating in devolved areas, the Welsh Government was denied a meaningful role in their design and implementation by the UK Government. We are working with our stakeholders in Wales to minimise the impact of what is now a fragmented and vastly reduced funding landscape.
Diolch. Er bod y rhaglenni hyn yn gweithredu mewn meysydd datganoledig, gwrthodwyd rôl ystyrlon i Lywodraeth Cymru yn y broses o'u cynllunio a’u rhoi ar waith gan Lywodraeth y DU. Rydym yn gweithio gyda’n rhanddeiliaid yng Nghymru i leihau effaith yr hyn sydd bellach yn dirlun ariannu tameidiog a llawer llai o faint.
Thank you, Minister. And I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was extremely concerned to read the recent Senedd committee report that stated that Wales's future economic success will be jeopardised if the UK Government doesn't engage and work with the Welsh Government in this area. And the UK Government's so-called levelling-up process has left Wales with less say over crucial funds, and it's also undermined, as you said, the devolution settlement by centralising decisions in Westminster, and we're now more than £1 billion worse off as a result of the UK Government's failure to meet its promise to replace previous EU funds in full. Minister, would you be able to tell the Senedd whether you find the UK Government any more co-operative today than when you became economy Minister in 2021?
Diolch, Weinidog. Ac rwy'n siŵr nad fi oedd yr unig un oedd yn bryderus iawn wrth ddarllen adroddiad diweddar gan un o bwyllgorau’r Senedd a ddywedai y bydd llwyddiant economaidd Cymru yn y dyfodol mewn perygl os nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn ymgysylltu ac yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn y maes hwn. Ac mae proses ffyniant bro honedig Lywodraeth y DU wedi rhoi llai o lais i Gymru dros gronfeydd hollbwysig, ac mae hefyd wedi tanseilio, fel y dywedoch chi, y setliad datganoli drwy ganoli penderfyniadau yn San Steffan, ac rydym bellach dros £1 biliwn yn waeth ein byd o ganlyniad i fethiant Llywodraeth y DU i gadw at ei haddewid i ddarparu cyllid yn lle cronfeydd yr UE. Weinidog, a allwch chi ddweud wrth y Senedd p'un a ydych chi'n credu bod Llywodraeth y DU yn fwy cydweithredol heddiw na phan ddaethoch yn Weinidog yr Economi yn 2021?
The picture is varied. From the time when I became the economy Minister to now, in some areas, we have reached pragmatic conclusions where we've been able to strike agreement. Free ports is one example. However, in others, we've been met with indifference, and, in some areas, outright hostility. And the challenge for this approach is that, actually, in seeking to have a fight and not to seek an answer, we will, I think, end up with poor value for public money, and we will, as the Senedd committee has said, jeopardise the economic future for Wales.
We have always recognised that there is an area for us to co-operate and take pragmatic choices with the UK Government. What we won't do, though, is willingly accept a future determined by the UK Government in areas that are devolved to the Welsh Government and to this Senedd, and we'll continue to stand up and make the case that Wales should have not been left over £1 billion short, the Conservative manifesto should not have been breached in the flagrant way it has been, and we'll continue to stand up for Wales and argue for a better future, which I believe will come if there is a UK Labour Government after the next election.
Mae'r darlun yn amrywiol. Rhwng yr adeg pan ddeuthum yn Weinidog yr Economi a nawr, mewn rhai meysydd, rydym wedi dod i gasgliadau pragmatig lle rydym wedi gallu dod i gytundeb. Mae porthladdoedd rhydd yn un enghraifft. Fodd bynnag, mewn meysydd eraill, rydym wedi wynebu difaterwch, a gelyniaeth mewn rhai meysydd. A'r her gyda'r ymagwedd hon o geisio ymladd yn hytrach na dod o hyd i ateb yw y credaf y byddwn yn cael gwerth gwael am arian cyhoeddus yn y pen draw, ac y byddwn, fel y mae pwyllgor y Senedd wedi'i ddweud, yn peryglu dyfodol economaidd Cymru.
Rydym bob amser wedi cydnabod bod lle inni gydweithredu a gwneud dewisiadau pragmatig gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Yr hyn na fyddwn yn ei wneud, fodd bynnag, yw bodloni ar dderbyn dyfodol wedi'i bennu gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn meysydd sydd wedi’u datganoli i Lywodraeth Cymru ac i’r Senedd hon, a byddwn yn parhau i ddadlau’r achos na ddylai Cymru fod dros £1 biliwn ar ei cholled, na ddylai addewid maniffesto’r Ceidwadwyr fod wedi’i dorri yn y ffordd amlwg y'i torrwyd, a byddwn yn parhau i sefyll dros Gymru a dadlau dros ddyfodol gwell, a ddaw, yn fy marn i, os cawn Lywodraeth Lafur y DU ar ôl yr etholiad nesaf.
As has already been mentioned, the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee published a report last week following our inquiry into post-EU regional development funding. And the committee has made it very clear that for development funding to work for the people of Wales, the UK and Welsh Governments have to work together much more effectively. Now, the committee has recommended that the Welsh and UK Governments should undertake a review of whether the different elements of the shared prosperity fund should be delivered at a local, regional or at an all-Wales level, based on what works best. So, Minister, do you share this view, and, if so, what representations have you made to the UK Government regarding this specific matter?
Fel y crybwyllwyd eisoes, cyhoeddodd Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig adroddiad yr wythnos diwethaf yn dilyn ein hymchwiliad i gyllid datblygu rhanbarthol ar ôl gadael yr UE. Ac mae’r pwyllgor wedi nodi'n glir iawn, er mwyn i gyllid datblygu weithio i bobl Cymru, fod yn rhaid i Lywodraethau’r DU a Chymru gydweithio’n llawer mwy effeithiol. Nawr, mae’r pwyllgor wedi argymell y dylai Llywodraethau Cymru a’r DU gynnal adolygiad i weld a ddylai gwahanol elfennau’r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin gael eu darparu ar lefel leol, ar lefel ranbarthol neu ar lefel Cymru gyfan, yn seiliedig ar yr hyn sy’n gweithio orau. Felly, Weinidog, a ydych yn rhannu’r farn hon, ac os felly, pa sylwadau a wnaethoch i Lywodraeth y DU ynghylch y mater penodol hwn?
Well, the starting point is the UK Government need to acknowledge this is a devolved area. They need to acknowledge we're not simply supplicants. They need to acknowledge that we have a decision-making role in the Welsh Government, as indeed does this Parliament, and that simply has not happened. And the challenge for us is: are the UK Government prepared to be serious and willing partners in the future of Wales, or are they determined to do things to Wales that don't respect the mandate of every one of the 60 Members in this place, not just those people that stand in the Government?
I would like to see something where there can be a pragmatic approach, where UK Government levers add to what we're able to do, where we carry on with the agenda we already set out in our regional investment framework, and working with UK-wide frameworks, and also, at the same time, having regional partners where there is a sharing of power and responsibility to improve the economy of Wales. But that requires a fundamental change in the UK Government that will not happen with this current version of the UK Government, and that's why—and it's one of the many reasons—I look forward to the election of a UK Labour Government that will restore powers and resources to this Parliament and this Government.
Wel, y man cychwyn yw bod angen i Lywodraeth y DU gydnabod bod hwn yn faes datganoledig. Mae angen iddynt gydnabod nad erfynwyr mohonom. Mae angen iddynt gydnabod bod gennym rôl lle rydym yn gwneud penderfyniadau yn Llywodraeth Cymru, fel sydd gan y Senedd hon, yn wir, ac yn syml iawn, nid yw hynny wedi digwydd. A’r her i ni yw: a yw Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i fod yn bartneriaid difrifol a pharod yn nyfodol Cymru, neu a ydynt yn benderfynol o wneud pethau i Gymru nad ydynt yn parchu mandad pob un o’r 60 Aelod yn y lle hwn, nid y bobl hynny sy’n rhan o'r Llywodraeth yn unig?
Hoffwn weld rhywbeth lle gellir cael ymagwedd bragmatig, lle mae ysgogiadau Llywodraeth y DU yn ychwanegu at yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud, lle rydym yn parhau â'r agenda a nodwyd gennym eisoes yn ein fframwaith ar gyfer buddsoddi rhanbarthol, a gweithio gyda'r fframweithiau ar gyfer y DU gyfan, a hefyd, ar yr un pryd, cael partneriaid rhanbarthol lle mae pŵer a chyfrifoldeb yn cael eu rhannu er mwyn gwella economi Cymru. Ond mae hynny'n galw am newid sylfaenol yn Llywodraeth y DU na fydd yn digwydd gyda'r fersiwn gyfredol o Lywodraeth y DU, a dyna pam—ac mae'n un o'r nifer o resymau—rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weld Llywodraeth Lafur y DU yn cael ei hethol a fydd yn adfer pwerau ac adnoddau i'r Senedd hon a'r Llywodraeth hon.
I'm grateful to the Chair of the committee for the report. Paul Davies has always led the committee with a determination to hold governments to account and he should be congratulated on his leadership there. But the fundamental issue here, of course, is the collapse of Brexit, and the collapse of Brexit has already meant that we've seen European standards adopted for manufacturing here; UK standards dropped. The UK Government can't even implement its own agreement in terms of border checks and we've seen that the UK Government now associates itself with Horizon, which means that the European Union now will be determining the future of research capacity and research priorities in Wales. And all of that I welcome, and I welcome the approach that the Welsh Government has taken over the years to this.
Now, I will be joining the national rejoin the EU march on Saturday. Now, I won't expect to see the Minister on the other end of my banner, but what I will say—[Interruption.] You're very welcome to join me, you're very welcome to join me—both you Sams, were there last time. I know Paul was there as well—[Laughter.] But the point I was looking to make, Minister, was that the great Brexit robbery of Wales has fundamentally undermined our economy at a time when Brexit itself has undermined our productivity and our competitivity. Minister, will you and the Welsh Government continue to work towards ensuring that investment takes place in constituencies such as mine—one of the poorest in the country, and which has benefited enormously from European funding in the past—to ensure that we continue to prioritise some of the poorest and most deprived people in this country?
Rwy’n ddiolchgar i Gadeirydd y pwyllgor am yr adroddiad. Mae Paul Davies bob amser wedi bod yn benderfynol wrth arwain y pwyllgor i ddwyn llywodraethau i gyfrif, a dylid ei longyfarch ar ei arweinyddiaeth yn hynny o beth. Ond y mater sylfaenol yma, wrth gwrs, yw methiant Brexit, ac mae methiant Brexit eisoes wedi golygu ein bod wedi gweld safonau Ewropeaidd yn cael eu mabwysiadu yma ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu; cafodd safonau DU eu hanghofio. Ni all Llywodraeth y DU weithredu ei chytundeb ei hun hyd yn oed ar gyfer archwiliadau ar y ffin, ac rydym wedi gweld bod Llywodraeth y DU bellach yn cysylltu ei hun â Horizon, sy’n golygu mai’r Undeb Ewropeaidd a fydd bellach yn pennu dyfodol capasiti ymchwil a blaenoriaethau ymchwil yng Nghymru. Ac rwy’n croesawu hyn oll, ac rwy’n croesawu’r ymagwedd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i mabwysiadu at hyn dros y blynyddoedd.
Nawr, byddaf yn ymuno â'r orymdaith genedlaethol i ailymuno â'r UE ddydd Sadwrn. Nawr, ni fyddaf yn disgwyl gweld y Gweinidog y tu draw i fy maner, ond yr hyn a ddywedaf—[Torri ar draws.] Mae croeso mawr ichi ymuno â mi, mae croeso mawr ichi ymuno â mi—roedd y ddau ohonoch yno, y ddau Sam, y tro diwethaf. Gwn fod Paul yno hefyd—[Chwerthin.] Ond y pwynt roeddwn yn bwriadu ei wneud, Weinidog, oedd bod y modd yr ysbeiliodd Brexit Gymru wedi tanseilio ein heconomi yn llwyr ar adeg pan fo Brexit ei hun wedi tanseilio ein cynhyrchiant a’n cystadleurwydd. Weinidog, a wnewch chi a Llywodraeth Cymru barhau i weithio tuag at sicrhau y gwneir buddsoddiad mewn etholaethau fel fy etholaeth i—un o’r tlotaf yn y wlad, ac un sydd wedi elwa’n aruthrol o arian Ewropeaidd yn y gorffennol—i sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i flaenoriaethu rhai o'r bobl dlotaf a mwyaf difreintiedig yn y wlad hon?
I thank the Member for his question. As he knows, I have previously been on marches in London when the question was very alive about an alternative to having the actual deal put before people. [Inaudible.]—helped people to get to London for that. I won't be joining him on Saturday. I have pre-existing commitments, both being a touchline dad, as my son takes the great and glorious path with Inter Penarth, and, indeed, with other colleagues in this room, I look forward to taking part in the UK Co-operative Party conference online as well.
On your broader point, I think it's important to recognise that the Horizon association deal is good. It's good news for Wales, good news for the UK, good news for our institutions. I was with the board of UK Research and Innovation, who were having the board meeting in Cardiff last night and today, and they've been visiting both Cardiff and Swansea universities and what they're already doing in the research field, and everybody welcomes the association with Horizon. If it hadn't happened at this point, it may not have happened, actually, given the length of time of the programme.
And on your point around Brexit, it's pretty bewildering to have Lord Frost, the chief negotiator, at one point saying it's the greatest deal ever, then to say it's a terrible deal and it's all the Europeans' fault, and then to say we never expected to keep our version of the deal, and they intended to collapse it. Now, that's terrible, and regardless of the party that you stand in, actually, from the UK's point of view and our place within it, if you're going to highlight that you're not going to negotiate in good faith in international agreements, that is no basis for the certainty we need and the investment we want to see come into our economy, as well as seeing Welsh and UK firms having opportunities in other parts of the world. So, we need to do what we say we have signed up to, and that includes your point around investing in Valleys communities and other parts of Wales. We're committed to doing that. In fact, it's part of the work I've actually been undertaking with the capital region, and I know I've an outstanding commitment to the Member for the Cynon Valley and the group that she chairs to have a further conversation on what exactly we are doing, because I am determined that happens in all of the work that we do in the Government not just to see growth, but to see growth that actually levels up our country with the fairer, greener Wales we actually want to be.
Diolch i’r Aelod am ei gwestiwn. Fel y gŵyr, rwyf wedi bod ar orymdeithiau yn Llundain yn y gorffennol pan oedd y cwestiwn yn fyw iawn ynghylch dewis arall yn lle rhoi'r fargen ei hun ger bron pobl. [Anghlywadwy.]—wedi helpu pobl i gyrraedd Llundain ar gyfer hynny. Ni fyddaf yn ymuno ag ef ddydd Sadwrn. Mae gennyf ymrwymiadau blaenorol, gan y byddaf yn sefyll ar yr ystlys wrth i fy mab chwarae i Inter Penarth, ac yn wir, gyda chyd-Aelodau eraill yn yr ystafell hon, edrychaf ymlaen at gymryd rhan yng nghynhadledd ar-lein Plaid Gydweithredol y DU hefyd.
Ar eich pwynt mwy cyffredinol, credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod bod cytundeb y cysylltiad â Horizon yn beth da. Mae’n newyddion da i Gymru, yn newyddion da i’r DU, yn newyddion da i’n sefydliadau. Roeddwn gyda bwrdd Ymchwil ac Arloesi yn y DU, a gynhaliodd gyfarfod y bwrdd yng Nghaerdydd neithiwr a heddiw, ac maent wedi ymweld â phrifysgolion Caerdydd ac Abertawe a'r hyn y maent eisoes yn ei wneud ym maes ymchwil, ac mae pawb yn croesawu'r cysylltiad â Horizon. Pe na bai wedi digwydd ar yr adeg hon, efallai na fyddai wedi digwydd, mewn gwirionedd, o ystyried hyd amser y rhaglen.
Ac ar eich pwynt ynghylch Brexit, mae'n destun dryswch fod yr Arglwydd Frost, y prif negodwr, yn dweud ar un adeg mai dyma'r fargen orau erioed, yna'n dweud ei bod yn fargen ofnadwy ac mai bai'r Ewropeaid yw'r cyfan, ac yna'n dweud nad oeddem byth yn disgwyl cadw ein fersiwn ni o'r fargen, a'u bod yn bwriadu ei chwalu. Nawr, mae hynny'n ofnadwy, ac ni waeth pa blaid rydych yn ei chynrychioli, mewn gwirionedd, o safbwynt y DU a'n lle oddi mewn iddi, os ydych yn mynd i dynnu sylw at y ffaith nad ydych yn mynd i negodi'n ddidwyll mewn cytundebau rhyngwladol, nid yw hynny’n unrhyw sail i’r sicrwydd sydd ei angen arnom a’r buddsoddiad rydym am ei weld yn ein heconomi, yn ogystal â gweld cwmnïau o Gymru a’r DU yn cael cyfleoedd mewn rhannau eraill o’r byd. Felly, mae angen inni wneud yr hyn rydym yn dweud ein bod wedi ymrwymo iddo, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys eich pwynt ynghylch buddsoddi yng nghymunedau'r Cymoedd a rhannau eraill o Gymru. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i wneud hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n rhan o'r gwaith rwyf wedi bod yn ei wneud gyda'r brifddinas-ranbarth, a gwn fy mod wedi ymrwymo i gael sgwrs bellach gyda'r Aelod dros Gwm Cynon a'r grŵp y mae'n ei gadeirio ynglŷn â beth yn union rydym yn ei wneud, gan fy mod yn benderfynol fod hynny'n digwydd yn yr holl waith a wnawn yn y Llywodraeth, nid yn unig i sicrhau twf, ond i sicrhau twf sy'n codi'r gwastad go iawn yn ein gwlad gyda'r Gymru decach, wyrddach rydym am ei gweld.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Mae'r cyntaf y prynhawn yma i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Weinidog. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Tom Giffard.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The first this afternoon is to be answered by the Deputy Minister. I call the Welsh Conservatives' spokesperson, Tom Giffard.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Deputy Minister, the most recent statistics on visitor numbers here in Wales present great cause for concern. According to the international passenger survey data released by Visit Britain, there were 33 per cent fewer inbound visitors in Wales in 2022 than in 2019. The amount international visitors spent also dropped by 24 per cent, from £515 million in 2019 to £391 million in 2022. That's extremely concerning for a sector that provides one in seven jobs in Wales—that’s over 150,000 livelihoods at stake. So, do you share my concerns about the decline in Welsh visitor numbers and what actions are the Welsh Government taking to address that decline?
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Ddirprwy Weinidog, mae’r ystadegau diweddaraf ar niferoedd ymwelwyr yma yng Nghymru yn peri cryn bryder. Yn ôl data'r arolwg teithwyr rhyngwladol a gyhoeddwyd gan Visit Britain, roedd 33 y cant yn llai o ymwelwyr â Chymru yn 2022 nag yn 2019. Gostyngodd y swm a wariwyd gan ymwelwyr rhyngwladol 24 y cant hefyd, o £515 miliwn yn 2019 i £391 miliwn yn 2022. Mae hynny'n peri cryn bryder i sector sy'n darparu un o bob saith swydd yng Nghymru—sef dros 150,000 o bobl â'u bywoliaeth yn y fantol. Felly, a ydych yn rhannu fy mhryderon am y gostyngiad yn nifer yr ymwelwyr â Chymru, a pha gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r gostyngiad hwnnw?
Well, I think—and thank you, Tom, for that question—you've been quite selective, actually, in your assessment of the situation. We had a debate on this not so long ago in this Chamber and we went through all of these statistics and I explained in some detail then that the vast majority of Welsh tourism is domestic tourism and it accounts for 90 per cent of visitors to Wales.
And, actually, what Visit Wales is now doing is looking at how we can attract more inward visitors. So, we are well aware that our inward visitors—our international visitors into Wales—is something we need to do more work on. We are doing that and, as I said in the debate last week with Janet Finch-Saunders, Visit Wales, as a result of their campaign to do just that, actually won the World Media Awards' grand prix prize, beating other major brands into a cocked hat around the development of that campaign to attract more inward visitors. So, I would like to think that, as time goes on, that campaign will bear some fruit. We're also working with our colleagues in Manchester to ensure that we get some linkages across from the north-west of England as well. So, we're not sat on our hands doing nothing about that, but I do think we need to be very, very clear about what these figures tell us, and they don't tell us that Wales's tourism industry is going down the pan.
Wel, diolch am eich cwestiwn, Tom, ac rwy'n credu eich bod wedi bod yn eithaf detholus yn eich asesiad o'r sefyllfa. Cawsom ddadl ar hyn yn y Siambr heb fod mor bell yn ôl â hynny, ac aethom drwy’r holl ystadegau hyn, ac esboniais yn eithaf manwl bryd hynny mai twristiaeth ddomestig yw’r rhan helaethaf o dwristiaeth Cymru ac mai dyna yw 90 y cant o'r ymwelwyr â Chymru.
Ac mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn y mae Croeso Cymru yn ei wneud ar hyn o bryd yw edrych ar sut y gallwn ddenu mwy o ymwelwyr. Felly, rydym yn ymwybodol iawn fod ein hymwelwyr—ymwelwyr rhyngwladol â Chymru—yn rhywbeth y mae angen inni wneud mwy o waith arno. Rydym yn gwneud hynny, ac fel y dywedais yn y ddadl yr wythnos diwethaf gyda Janet Finch-Saunders, mae Croeso Cymru, o ganlyniad i’w hymgyrch i wneud yn union hynny wedi ennill prif wobr y World Media Awards, gan guro brandiau mawr eraill yn rhacs gyda datblygiad yr ymgyrch i ddenu mwy o ymwelwyr. Felly, wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen, hoffwn feddwl y bydd yr ymgyrch honno’n dwyn ffrwyth. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio gyda'n cymheiriaid ym Manceinion i sicrhau ein bod yn ffurfio cysylltiadau gyda gogledd-orllewin Lloegr hefyd. Felly, nid ydym yn segur ar hynny, ond credaf fod angen inni fod yn glir iawn ynglŷn â’r hyn y mae’r ffigurau hyn yn ei ddweud wrthym, ac nid ydynt yn dweud wrthym fod diwydiant twristiaeth Cymru ar ei waered.
What they do tell us, Deputy Minister, is that there are fewer people visiting Wales. The statistics are very clear about that, and I'm worried that we've got a Welsh Government that's more concerned about the awards it wins than the people it brings through the door to enjoy their time staying here in Wales. And obviously, cost will be one of those factors, but one of the costs the Welsh Government can control is the introduction of a tourism tax.
We know that there are areas in Wales that struggle with lots of tourists on busy days, but most are very often, at least in my part of the world, filled with day visitors rather then people staying overnight. The problem with the tourism tax, as proposed by the Welsh Government, is that it only targets those overnight visitors, when they spend up to 14 times more in the local economy and the tax does nothing for day visitors. So, what the Welsh Government is proposing here is actively undermining the very people who we want to be staying in Wales.
But if you're going to bring in a new tax like this, it's important that you bring the industry along with you, but that doesn't seem to have happened either. Important stakeholder groups, like the Professional Association of Self-Caterers and the Wales Tourism Alliance have opposed the tax. I know, Minister, that you even visited Bluestone, one of the premier tourism destinations in Wales, and I was lucky to go there over the summer with my colleague Sam Kurtz MS. But just a few days after your visit in May, Bluestone itself came out against the tourism tax, arguing that it would harm business. So, I'm concerned, Minister, and do you share my concerns that you've now lost the confidence of the tourism sector in Wales about the value that this tourism tax could provide?
Yr hyn y maent yn ei ddweud wrthym, Ddirprwy Weinidog, yw bod llai o bobl yn ymweld â Chymru. Mae'r ystadegau'n glir iawn am hynny, ac rwy'n poeni bod gennym Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n poeni mwy am y gwobrau y mae'n eu hennill na'r bobl y mae'n eu denu i fwynhau eu hamser yn aros yma yng Nghymru. Ac yn amlwg, bydd cost yn un o’r ffactorau hynny, ond un o’r costau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu rheoli yw cyflwyno treth dwristiaeth.
Gwyddom fod yna ardaloedd yng Nghymru sy’n ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi gyda llawer o dwristiaid ar ddiwrnodau prysur, ond mae’r rhan fwyaf, yn fy rhan i o’r byd o leiaf, yn aml iawn yn llawn ymwelwyr dydd yn hytrach na phobl sy'n aros dros nos. Y broblem gyda’r dreth dwristiaeth, fel y'i cynigir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, yw ei bod ond yn targedu ymwelwyr dros nos, pan fyddant yn gwario hyd at 14 gwaith yn fwy yn yr economi leol, ac nid yw’r dreth yn gwneud unrhyw beth i ymwelwyr dydd. Felly, mae’r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig yma yn tanseilio’r union bobl rydym am iddynt fod yn aros yng Nghymru.
Ond os ydych chi'n mynd i gyflwyno treth newydd fel hon, mae'n bwysig eich bod yn dod â'r diwydiant gyda chi, ond nid yw'n ymddangos bod hynny wedi digwydd ychwaith. Mae grwpiau rhanddeiliaid pwysig, fel Cymdeithas Broffesiynol Hunanddarparwyr y DU a Chynghrair Twristiaeth Cymru, wedi gwrthwynebu’r dreth. Weinidog, rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi ymweld â Bluestone, un o'r cyrchfannau twristiaeth blaenllaw yng Nghymru, ac roeddwn yn ffodus i fynd yno dros yr haf gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, Sam Kurtz AS. Ond ychydig ddyddiau yn unig ar ôl eich ymweliad ym mis Mai, dywedodd Bluestone eu bod yn gwrthwynebu’r dreth dwristiaeth, gan ddadlau y byddai’n niweidio busnes. Felly, rwy’n bryderus, Weinidog, ac a ydych yn rhannu fy mhryderon eich bod bellach wedi colli hyder y sector twristiaeth yng Nghymru o ran y gwerth y gallai’r dreth dwristiaeth hon ei ddarparu?
Well, I thank you, Tom, for that second question, and I did wonder how long it would take you to get to the tourism levy, but let me just rewind and revisit your assumption about visitor figures. Between April and December 2021 and April and December 2022, there was an increase of 13 per cent in the volume of trips taken in Wales, and an increase of 35 per cent in that same period in 2022. There's been an increase in spend per trip across all of the GB nations and we saw an increase from January to March 2023, with estimated figures showing that there was something in the region of 1.74 million trips taken and a spend of £341 million in Wales in the first three months of 2023. So, far from being a problem for us at the moment, I think we are seeing some very positive figures.
I met with the Visitor Economy Forum just yesterday in fact, and they were far more upbeat and positive about what is happening in Wales, I'm afraid, than you are, Tom, and than your party is. And I would reiterate what I said to you in the debate last week: if you are going to continue to talk Wales down, what you will continue to do is drive visitors away from Wales and we're doing the complete opposite.
Now, in terms of the tourism levy, you can keep banging on about the tourism levy as much as you like, but I will keep repeating what I've said to you previously: the tourism levy was a manifesto commitment of ours and we're applying that manifesto commitment. We are talking regularly with the visitor economy sector, who by and large are now accepting of the position, and are working with us to develop it. And for you to keep going on about the tourism levy as harming tourism in Wales is really nonsense; it hasn't even been introduced yet, so it can't be having any impact on tourism in Wales.
And again I will say as I've said before, and I know that other colleagues in the Chamber have said the same: like many colleagues, I was fortunate enough to have a European holiday over the summer, and I paid a tourism tax. I paid a tourism tax for every night I stayed in Italy. I was at the Rugby World Cup the weekend before last: I paid a tourism tax in Bordeaux; I paid a tourism tax in Paris. Not once did I say, 'I'm never going to go to these places again because they're levying a tourism tax.'
The question of daytime levies is not currently on our agenda; we are looking at overnight visitors, which is the most popular model, but these things are always open for consideration at any given point in time.
Wel, diolch am eich ail gwestiwn, Tom, ac roeddwn wedi meddwl tybed pa mor hir y byddai'n ei gymryd i chi ddod at yr ardoll dwristiaeth, ond gadewch imi fynd yn ôl ac ailedrych ar eich rhagdybiaeth ynglŷn â ffigurau ymwelwyr. Rhwng mis Ebrill a mis Rhagfyr 2021 a mis Ebrill a mis Rhagfyr 2022, bu cynnydd o 13 y cant yn nifer y teithiau a wnaed yng Nghymru, a chynnydd o 35 y cant yn yr un cyfnod yn 2022. Bu cynnydd yn y gwariant fesul taith ar draws holl wledydd Prydain, a gwelsom gynnydd rhwng mis Ionawr a mis Mawrth 2023, gyda ffigurau amcangyfrifedig yn dangos bod oddeutu 1.74 miliwn o deithiau wedi’u gwneud, ynghyd â gwariant o £341 miliwn yng Nghymru, yn ystod tri mis cyntaf 2023. Felly, ymhell o fod yn broblem i ni ar hyn o bryd, credaf ein bod yn gweld ffigurau cadarnhaol iawn.
Cyfarfûm â'r Fforwm Economi Ymwelwyr ddoe a dweud y gwir, ac mae arnaf ofn eu bod yn llawer mwy calonogol a chadarnhaol am yr hyn sy'n digwydd yng Nghymru na chi a'ch plaid, Tom. A hoffwn ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedais wrthych yn y ddadl yr wythnos diwethaf: os ydych yn mynd i barhau i ladd ar Gymru, yr hyn y byddwch yn parhau i'w wneud yw gyrru ymwelwyr ymaith o Gymru, ac rydym ni'n gwneud y gwrthwyneb.
Nawr, o ran yr ardoll dwristiaeth, gallwch ddal i rygnu ymlaen am yr ardoll dwristiaeth gymaint ag y dymunwch, ond byddaf yn parhau i ailadrodd yr hyn rwyf wedi'i ddweud wrthych eisoes: roedd yr ardoll dwristiaeth yn ymrwymiad maniffesto gennym, ac rydym yn rhoi'r ymrwymiad maniffesto hwnnw ar waith. Rydym yn siarad yn rheolaidd â sector yr economi ymwelwyr, sydd bellach yn derbyn y sefyllfa at ei gilydd ac yn gweithio gyda ni i’w datblygu. Ac mae eich honiadau cyson fod yr ardoll dwristiaeth yn niweidio twristiaeth yng Nghymru yn nonsens llwyr; nid yw wedi’i chyflwyno eto hyd yn oed, felly ni all fod yn cael unrhyw effaith ar dwristiaeth yng Nghymru.
Ac unwaith eto, dywedaf yr hyn rwyf wedi'i ddweud eisoes, a gwn fod cyd-Aelodau eraill yn y Siambr wedi dweud yr un peth: fel llawer o gyd-Aelodau, roeddwn yn ddigon ffodus i gael gwyliau yn Ewrop dros yr haf, a thalais dreth dwristiaeth. Talais treth dwristiaeth am bob noson yr arhosais yn yr Eidal. Roeddwn yng Nghwpan Rygbi’r Byd y penwythnos cyn y diwethaf: talais dreth dwristiaeth yn Bordeaux; talais dreth dwristiaeth ym Mharis. Ni wneuthum ddweud, 'Nid wyf byth yn mynd i fynd i'r lleoedd hyn eto am eu bod yn codi treth dwristiaeth.'
Nid yw ardollau i ymwelwyr dydd ar ein hagenda ar hyn o bryd; rydym yn edrych ar ymwelwyr dros nos, sef y model mwyaf poblogaidd, ond mae’r pethau hyn bob amser yn agored i’w hystyried ar unrhyw adeg.
Doesn't it say it all about the ambition of this Government that they're bragging about an increase compared to the early stages of 2021, a time where they closed down the tourism economy here in Wales, and what we've seen since then is a modest increase since that time? [Interruption.] Now, listen: I understand the need for COVID—. I understand the need for COVID—[Interruption.] I understand the need for COVID restrictions, and it's very unbecoming of the Minister—[Interruption.] I understand the need for COVID restrictions, as many of us did, but to compare those figures to a time when the tourism economy in Wales was literally shut down by the Government shows the lack of ambition that this Government's got for our tourism economy in Wales.
We already know that there is widespread opposition to this tax. We're nearly two and a half years now into this Senedd term and we still don't have any clarity on exactly how this tourism tax is set to be used. We've heard comrades in Plaid Cymru call for this money to be spent on free school meals. Now, the merits of that are for another day, but they don't exactly match up with your stated aim that the money would be spent in the tourism sector alone. I know the First Minister yesterday enjoyed giving me a one-word 'yes' or 'no' answer, so I'm happy if you want to give me the same clarity. Will you give a cast-iron guarantee that when this tax is introduced, councils will have to spend it on improving their tourism offer, and they won't be able to replace their existing tourism budgets with the proceeds of this tax?
Onid yw’n dweud y cyfan am uchelgais y Llywodraeth hon eu bod yn brolio am gynnydd o gymharu â misoedd cyntaf 2021, cyfnod pan wnaethant gau'r economi twristiaeth yma yng Nghymru, a’r hyn rydym wedi’i weld ers hynny yw cynnydd cymedrol ers yr amser hwnnw? [Torri ar draws.] Nawr, gwrandewch: rwy’n deall yr angen am gyfyngiadau COVID—. Rwy’n deall yr angen am gyfyngiadau COVID—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy’n deall yr angen am gyfyngiadau COVID, ac mae’n amhriodol iawn fod y Gweinidog—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy’n deall yr angen am gyfyngiadau COVID, fel roedd llawer ohonom, ond mae cymharu’r ffigurau hynny ag amser pan oedd economi twristiaeth Cymru wedi'i chau, yn llythrennol, gan y Llywodraeth yn dangos y diffyg uchelgais sydd gan y Llywodraeth hon ar gyfer ein heconomi dwristiaeth yng Nghymru.
Gwyddom eisoes fod gwrthwynebiad eang i’r dreth hon. Rydym bellach bron i ddwy flynedd a hanner i mewn i dymor y Senedd hon, ac nid yw'n glir o gwbl o hyd sut yn union y caiff y dreth dwristiaeth ei defnyddio. Rydym wedi clywed cyfeillion o Blaid Cymru yn galw am wario’r arian ar brydau ysgol am ddim. Nawr, mae rhinweddau hynny yn ddadl at adeg arall, ond nid ydynt yn cyd-fynd â'ch nod datganedig y byddai'r arian yn cael ei wario yn y sector twristiaeth yn unig. Gwn fod y Prif Weinidog wedi mwynhau rhoi atebion un gair 'ie' neu 'na' i mi ddoe, felly rwy'n hapus os ydych chi am roi'r un eglurder i mi. A wnewch chi roi addewid cadarn, pan fydd y dreth hon yn cael ei chyflwyno, y bydd yn rhaid i gynghorau ei gwario ar wella eu cynnig twristiaeth, ac na fyddant yn gallu defnyddio enillion o'r dreth hon yn lle eu cyllidebau twristiaeth presennol?
I think the point is—. Let's deal with your first point first: the first point first is that some of these figures are compared to 2019, not 2020, the visitor figures, and they're comparing with 2021 and 2022, and 2023, which is after lockdown, and it's a year-on-year comparison. So, it generally helps if you get your facts right before you stand on your feet and talk about stuff like that.
But in terms of the tourism levy and how it will be spent, what we have said is that absolutely we will be working with the sector to develop how best that levy is spent, and part of the discussion that we are having with them is how we could look at ring-fencing the levy to do the kinds of things that you were talking about. I see no circumstances whereby a tourism levy would not be used for anything other than improving the tourism offer that is available in any particular area, and mitigating the impact on communities where those are there. But those decisions are still yet to be taken because we are still having the discussion with the tourism sector, as you consistently tell us that we should be doing, and that is what we are doing. And when we have reached an agreement with the tourism sector on exactly how this is going to play out, then of course, there will be a statement brought to this Chamber and you will hear about it first.
Credaf mai'r pwynt yw—. Gadewch inni drafod eich pwynt cyntaf i gychwyn: y pwynt cyntaf i gychwyn yw bod rhai o'r ffigurau hyn i'w cymharu â 2019, nid 2020, y ffigurau ymwelwyr, ac maent yn cymharu â 2021 a 2022, a 2023, sydd ar ôl y cyfyngiadau symud, ac mae'n gymhariaeth o un flwyddyn i'r llall. Felly, yn gyffredinol, mae'n werth i chi wneud yn siŵr fod eich ffeithiau'n gywir cyn i chi godi ar eich traed a sôn am bethau felly.
Ond o ran yr ardoll dwristiaeth a sut y caiff ei gwario, yr hyn rydym wedi'i ddweud yw y byddwn yn sicr yn gweithio gyda'r sector i ddatblygu'r ffordd orau o wario'r ardoll honno, a rhan o'r drafodaeth rydym yn ei chael gyda nhw yw sut y gallem edrych ar glustnodi’r ardoll i wneud y mathau o bethau roeddech yn sôn amdanynt. Ni welaf unrhyw amgylchiadau lle na fyddai ardoll dwristiaeth yn cael ei defnyddio ar gyfer unrhyw beth heblaw gwella’r cynnig twristiaeth sydd ar gael mewn unrhyw ardal benodol, a lliniaru’r effaith ar gymunedau lle mae'n bodoli. Ond mae’r penderfyniadau hynny eto i’w gwneud gan ein bod yn dal i gael y drafodaeth gyda’r sector twristiaeth, fel y dywedwch yn gyson wrthym y dylem fod yn ei wneud, a dyna rydym yn ei wneud. A phan fyddwn wedi dod i gytundeb gyda'r sector twristiaeth ar sut yn union y mae hyn yn mynd i ddigwydd, yna wrth gwrs, bydd datganiad yn dod i'r Siambr hon, a chi fydd y cyntaf i glywed am hynny.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
I think it's fair to say that 2023 has been a fairly tough one in terms of news for the economy Minister. We had the announcement at Tata on Friday, roughly 3,000 jobs potentially at risk; 2 Sisters in Llangefni, over 700 jobs lost; Avara Foods, Abergavenny, 400 jobs lost; Tillery Valley Foods, 250 jobs lost; and Biomet in Bridgend, 540 jobs at risk. This, of course, against a backdrop of the longest squeeze on wages since the Napoleonic wars, according to the Trades Union Congress, with young people unable to buy their own homes, unable to afford rent, and families unable to put food on the table or heat their homes. I've raised several times with the economy Minister my concerns, my very real concerns, about young people considering a future elsewhere, and I genuinely believe that we are facing large numbers of young people leaving Wales or ditching ambitions altogether. We know, for example, that both the Australian and New Zealand Governments are targeting ads at young people. I've seen those ads pop up on my own social media over the summer. Has the Government woken up to this, and where does he see things going in the next six months?
Credaf ei bod yn deg dweud bod 2023 wedi bod yn un eithaf anodd o ran newyddion i Weinidog yr Economi. Cawsom y cyhoeddiad yn Tata ddydd Gwener, gyda'r posibilrwydd y bydd oddeutu 3,000 o swyddi mewn perygl; 2 Sisters yn Llangefni, dros 700 o swyddi wedi'u colli; Avara Foods, y Fenni, 400 o swyddi wedi'u colli; Tillery Valley Foods, 250 o swyddi wedi'u colli; a Biomet ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, 540 o swyddi mewn perygl. Mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn ystod y wasgfa hiraf ar gyflogau ers rhyfeloedd Napoleon yn ôl Cyngres yr Undebau Llafur, gyda phobl ifanc yn methu prynu eu cartrefi eu hunain, yn methu fforddio rhent, a theuluoedd yn methu rhoi bwyd ar y bwrdd neu wresogi eu cartrefi. Rwyf wedi codi fy mhryderon sawl tro gyda Gweinidog yr Economi, fy mhryderon gwirioneddol am bobl ifanc yn ystyried dyfodol yn rhywle arall, ac rwy'n credu o ddifrif ein bod yn wynebu nifer fawr o bobl ifanc yn gadael Cymru neu’n rhoi’r gorau i'w huchelgeisiau yn gyfan gwbl. Gwyddom, er enghraifft, fod Llywodraethau Awstralia a Seland Newydd yn targedu hysbysebion at bobl ifanc. Rwyf wedi gweld yr hysbysebion hynny ar fy nghyfryngau cymdeithasol fy hun dros yr haf. A yw’r Llywodraeth yn effro i hyn, ac i ble mae’n gweld pethau’n mynd yn y chwe mis nesaf?
We haven't needed to be woken up, because it's been very clear since I became the economy Minister that it's part of the economic mission about young people planning a successful future here in Wales, both young people from Wales and those people who want to come to Wales. If you think about where we are now, it's a city that is a younger city than London, overall. It's got a significant graduate population. That's part of the reason why lots of businesses are looking to locate here in Cardiff, and it's also part of the reason why there is a higher business growth for new businesses in Cardiff than in other parts of the UK.
And that story is one that I want to see not just told in the Cardiff region, but across Wales as well. That's why I made the points I was making in earlier questions about a partnership with regions across Wales, to understand where there are distinct opportunities and how we get behind those opportunities with partners in those regions. Those are both businesses and wider stakeholders as well, and of course local authorities with their regional partners. So, you'll see different opportunities in north-west and north-east Wales to what you'll see in south-east Wales or, indeed, west Wales as well. That's what I'm keen that we do.
And, actually, the more recent data does show that there has been some tightening and a slight rise in unemployment in Wales. But, actually, we still do well compared to UK figures. I know there have been really difficult events. I'm very well aware of the challenges of a number of the firms that the Member has raised, but we are still facing a position where there are still jobs within the economy looking for people to fill them. My concern is how we get not just more jobs, but better jobs for our people, and that's why I want to equip people with the skills that they need for the future.
Ni fu angen inni gael ein deffro, gan ei bod wedi bod yn glir iawn ers imi ddod yn Weinidog yr Economi fod sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn cynllunio dyfodol llwyddiannus yma yng Nghymru yn rhan o’r genhadaeth economaidd, gan gynnwys pobl ifanc o Gymru a’r bobl hynny sydd am ddod i Gymru. Os meddyliwch am ble rydym ar hyn o bryd, mae’n ddinas sy’n iau na Llundain at ei gilydd. Mae ganddi boblogaeth sylweddol o raddedigion. Dyna ran o'r rheswm pam fod llawer o fusnesau'n awyddus i leoli yma yng Nghaerdydd, ac mae hefyd yn rhan o'r rheswm pam fod twf busnes uwch i fusnesau newydd yng Nghaerdydd nag mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU.
Ac mae’r stori honno’n un rwyf am ei gweld yn cael ei hadrodd nid yn unig yn rhanbarth Caerdydd, ond ledled Cymru hefyd. Dyna pam y gwneuthum y pwyntiau a wneuthum mewn cwestiynau cynharach am bartneriaeth â rhanbarthau ledled Cymru, i ddeall ble mae cyfleoedd penodol i'w cael a sut rydym yn cefnogi’r cyfleoedd hynny gyda phartneriaid yn y rhanbarthau hynny. Mae'n cynnwys busnesau a rhanddeiliaid ehangach hefyd, ac wrth gwrs, awdurdodau lleol gyda’u partneriaid rhanbarthol. Felly, fe welwch gyfleoedd gwahanol yn y gogledd-orllewin a’r gogledd-ddwyrain i’r hyn a welwch yn y de-ddwyrain neu'n wir, yng ngorllewin Cymru hefyd. Dyna rwy'n awyddus i ni ei wneud.
Ac mae'r data mwy diweddar yn dangos y bu rhywfaint o dynhau a chynnydd bach mewn diweithdra yng Nghymru. Ond mewn gwirionedd, rydym yn dal i wneud yn dda o gymharu â ffigurau’r DU. Gwn fod digwyddiadau anodd iawn wedi bod. Rwy’n ymwybodol iawn o heriau nifer o'r cwmnïau y mae’r Aelod wedi’u crybwyll, ond rydym yn dal i wynebu sefyllfa lle mae swyddi o hyd yn yr economi yn chwilio am bobl i’w llenwi. Rwy'n awyddus nid yn unig i gael mwy o swyddi, ond swyddi gwell i’n pobl, a dyna pam fy mod eisiau rhoi’r sgiliau angenrheidiol i bobl ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Of course, he mentions Cardiff; there's more to Wales than just Cardiff, and I recall a Welsh Government publication highlighting low wages in Cardiff as a reason to invest in Cardiff.
Now, on keeping young people here, there's no better place to start than with the green economy. If we think about the need to transition to a greener economy, the need for green skills will only grow. Now, where there are job losses, the ReAct programme is understandably the go-to for the Minister, but I would be interested in the success rate of ReAct in finding new jobs for those using the programme at the same level of wages and workplace conditions as the jobs that they left. And how is the programme reacting to the challenge of net zero? Of those new jobs found, how many are actually in the green economy?
Beyond ReAct, it's proving difficult to fully understand the Government's strategy for embedding green skills within the Welsh workforce. Further education institutions still remain unsure as to what the Government means when it talks about green skills. Tata has shown us, hasn't it? It has shown us that a just transition is no longer a concept. It's here now, and Tata is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wrth gwrs, mae’n sôn am Gaerdydd; mae mwy i Gymru na Chaerdydd yn unig, ac rwy'n cofio cyhoeddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn tynnu sylw at gyflogau isel yng Nghaerdydd fel rheswm i fuddsoddi yng Nghaerdydd.
Nawr, ar gadw pobl ifanc yma, nid oes lle gwell i ddechrau na gyda'r economi werdd. Os meddyliwn am yr angen i bontio i economi wyrddach, bydd yr angen am sgiliau gwyrdd yn cynyddu. Nawr, lle mae swyddi’n cael eu colli, mae'n ddealladwy fod y Gweinidog am dynnu sylw at raglen ReAct, ond hoffwn weld beth yw cyfradd llwyddiant ReAct o ran dod o hyd i swyddi newydd i’r rheini sy’n defnyddio’r rhaglen ar yr un lefelau cyflog ac amodau gweithle â'r swyddi y maent wedi'u gadael. A sut mae'r rhaglen yn ymateb i her sero net? O'r swyddi newydd hynny a ganfuwyd, faint sydd yn yr economi werdd mewn gwirionedd?
Y tu hwnt i ReAct, mae'n anodd deall strategaeth y Llywodraeth ar gyfer gwreiddio sgiliau gwyrdd o fewn gweithlu Cymru. Mae sefydliadau addysg bellach yn parhau i fod yn ansicr ynghylch yr hyn y mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei olygu pan fydd yn sôn am sgiliau gwyrdd. Mae Tata wedi dangos i ni, onid ydyw? Mae wedi dangos i ni nad yw pontio teg yn gysyniad bellach. Mae yma nawr, a dim ond crib y mynydd iâ yw Tata.
Well, let's start with the first point the Member made in response. I don't think beating up Cardiff is a sensible way to go about trying to grow the economy. And actually, in my response, I didn't just talk about Cardiff. There are challenges and opportunities in the north-east, north-west, south-east Wales and west Wales as well, and we're keen to work with partners to see those realised.
On the challenge about how we provide greater and more effective employability support, you'll know from the employability and skills plan that we're looking to gather together the different interventions we have. That requires us, again, to work with different partners to look at what we're doing directly here in the Government, what local authorities are doing and, indeed, to try to understand if there's going to be a change in direction from the Department for Work and Pensions. We want as coherent an offer as possible for people who are needing to reskill.
And on your challenge about whether further education colleges understand what we're doing, I don't think that's an accurate reflection of where FE colleges are. It's certainly not the conversation I've had with them. But, actually, in the net-zero skills plan, we set out that we're going to need to have a clearer understanding for different sectors about what the skills needs are going to be, how much of that we can anticipate now, how much of that we need to build, and to do that across sectors that have significant emissions challenges but also areas where there are opportunities. And as that goes through, you can expect to see more of the detail in that work through the rest of this year and into the next one.
I mean what I say about the future of our economy: more jobs and better jobs to take advantage of the opportunities that arise and not to wait for things to happen to us. That's why I'm keen on areas where Wales really can be strong, whether that's offshore wind technology, advanced manufacturing, compound semiconductors, or even new nuclear technology in the future as well. I want to see us take advantage of those and have real priorities to give people that realistic hope that you can plan a really positive future here in Wales, and we want young people to stay here as well as to come here to be part of our future story.
Wel, gadewch i mi ddechrau drwy ymateb i’r pwynt cyntaf a wnaeth yr Aelod. Ni chredaf fod lladd ar Gaerdydd yn ffordd synhwyrol o fynd ati i geisio tyfu'r economi. Ac mewn gwirionedd, yn fy ymateb, nid am Gaerdydd yn unig y soniais. Mae heriau a chyfleoedd yn y gogledd-ddwyrain, y gogledd-orllewin, y de-ddwyrain a gorllewin Cymru hefyd, ac rydym yn awyddus i weithio gyda phartneriaid i sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu gwireddu.
Ar yr her o ddarparu rhagor o gymorth cyflogadwyedd a chymorth mwy effeithiol, fe fyddwch yn gwybod o'r cynllun cyflogadwyedd a sgiliau ein bod yn ceisio dod â'r gwahanol ymyriadau sydd gennym ynghyd. Unwaith eto, mae hynny'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol inni weithio gyda gwahanol bartneriaid i edrych ar yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud yn uniongyrchol yma yn y Llywodraeth, yr hyn y mae awdurdodau lleol yn ei wneud, ac yn wir, i geisio deall a fydd yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn newid cyfeiriad. Rydym am gael cynnig mor gydlynol â phosibl i bobl sydd angen ailsgilio.
Ac ar eich her ynglŷn ag a yw colegau addysg bellach yn deall yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud, ni chredaf fod hynny'n adlewyrchiad cywir o ble mae colegau addysg bellach arni. Yn sicr, nid dyna'r sgwrs rwyf wedi'i chael gyda nhw. Ond mewn gwirionedd, yn y cynllun sgiliau sero net, fe wnaethom nodi y bydd angen inni gael dealltwriaeth gliriach ar gyfer gwahanol sectorau o beth fydd yr anghenion sgiliau, faint o hynny y gallwn ei ragweld ar hyn o bryd, faint o hynny y bydd angen i ni ei adeiladu, a gwneud hynny ar draws sectorau sy'n wynebu heriau sylweddol o ran allyriadau ond hefyd meysydd lle ceir cyfleoedd. Ac wrth i hynny fynd rhagddo, gallwch ddisgwyl gweld mwy o fanylion y gwaith hwnnw drwy weddill y flwyddyn hon a'r flwyddyn nesaf.
Rwy’n golygu’r hyn a ddywedaf am ddyfodol ein heconomi: mwy o swyddi a swyddi gwell i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd sy’n codi a pheidio ag aros i bethau ddigwydd i ni. Dyna pam fy mod yn hoff o feysydd lle gall Cymru fod yn wirioneddol gryf, boed hynny'n dechnoleg ynni gwynt ar y môr, gweithgynhyrchu uwch, lled-ddargludyddion cyfansawdd, neu hyd yn oed dechnoleg niwclear newydd yn y dyfodol hefyd. Hoffwn ein gweld yn manteisio ar y rheini a chael blaenoriaethau go iawn i roi gobaith realistig i bobl y gallwch gynllunio dyfodol cadarnhaol iawn yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym am i bobl ifanc aros yma yn ogystal â dod yma i fod yn rhan o’n dyfodol.
Mae cwestiwn 3 [OQ59927] wedi ei dynnu yn ôl.
Question 3 [OQ59927] is withdrawn.
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi bywiogrwydd economaidd y stryd fawr yn Islwyn? OQ59925
4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the economic vitality of high streets in Islwyn? OQ59925
Thank you. We're working hard to deliver our programmes and initiatives to support high streets, including in Islwyn. For example, our Transforming Towns programme is providing £125 million to local authorities over three years and is targeted at addressing the decline in some of our town and city centres.
Diolch. Rydym yn gweithio'n galed i ddarparu ein rhaglenni a'n mentrau i gefnogi'r stryd fawr, gan gynnwys yn Islwyn. Er enghraifft, mae ein rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi yn darparu £125 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol dros dair blynedd ac mae wedi'i thargedu at fynd i'r afael â'r dirywiad yng nghanol rhai o'n trefi a'n dinasoedd.
Thank you, Minister. On Sunday, Wilko's Blackwood store closed its doors for the final time, following the company's financial collapse. In a capitalist economy, ultimately it is private business and the marketplace that dictate how business is transacted and which businesses succeed. Paul Butterworth, chief executive officer of Chambers Wales, was recently quoted as saying:
'The retail picture...reflects the state of high street challenges in every region of Wales and the UK...one in six high street businesses in Wales have ceased trading, equating to a drop in 16% of Welsh high street businesses no longer trading.'
Minister, this is often coupled with high-visibility landmarks, such as our national banks, building societies and post offices, closing down their physical branches and doors on the British high street. This is a fact, and it's from our experts, and obviously the party opposite are allergic to some of that.
Minister, Blackwood is one of Gwent's major towns, and BBC Wales Today came to the town to analyse the impact of the COVID pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis on retail. Labour's Caerphilly County Borough Council continues to do all it can to support Blackwood high street, recently supporting a family summer festival in Blackwood, aimed to help high-street trade, and on just one day of this initiative, 8,000 people packed out Blackwood high street—a direct result. Minister, what further actions and representations can this Welsh Government take, and what is the Welsh Government's ambition to fulfil the people's desire for our high streets to remain a vibrant, living, sustainable marketplace for communities across Wales?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Ddydd Sul, caeodd siop Wilko Coed-duon ei drysau am y tro olaf, wedi i'r cwmni fynd i'r wal. Mewn economi gyfalafol, yn y pen draw, busnes preifat a'r farchnad sy'n pennu sut y caiff busnes ei gyflawni a pha fusnesau sy'n llwyddo. Yn ddiweddar, dywedodd Paul Butterworth, prif swyddog gweithredol Siambrau Cymru:
'Mae'r darlun manwerthu...yn adlewyrchu cyflwr heriau'r stryd fawr ym mhob rhanbarth o Gymru a'r DU....mae un o bob chwech o fusnesau'r stryd fawr yng Nghymru wedi rhoi'r gorau i fasnachu, sy'n golygu bod 16 y cant o fusnesau'r stryd fawr yng Nghymru wedi rhoi'r gorau i fasnachu.'
Weinidog, mae hyn yn aml yn cael ei gyplysu â sefydliadau amlwg, fel ein banciau cenedlaethol, cymdeithasau adeiladu a swyddfeydd post, yn cau eu drysau a'u canghennau ffisegol ar strydoedd mawr Prydain. Mae hon yn ffaith, a'n harbenigwyr sy'n dweud hynny, ac yn amlwg mae gan y blaid gyferbyn alergedd i beth o hynny.
Weinidog, Coed-duon yw un o brif drefi Gwent, a daeth BBC Wales Today i'r dref i ddadansoddi effaith pandemig COVID a'r argyfwng costau byw ar fanwerthu. Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili, dan arweiniad y Blaid Lafur, yn parhau i wneud popeth yn ei allu i gefnogi stryd fawr Coed-duon, gan gefnogi gŵyl haf i deuluoedd yng Nghoed-duon yn ddiweddar, gyda'r nod o helpu masnach ar y stryd fawr, ac ar un diwrnod yn unig o'r fenter hon, fe wnaeth 8,000 o bobl heidio i stryd fawr Coed-duon—canlyniad uniongyrchol. Weinidog, pa sylwadau a gweithredu pellach y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu gwneud, a beth yw uchelgais Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflawni awydd y bobl i'n strydoedd mawr barhau i fod yn farchnadoedd ffyniannus, byw a chynaliadwy i gymunedau ledled Cymru?
Thank you for the follow-up question. Our ambitions for high streets in Wales are set out both in our retail action plan and in the town centre position statement. What should give us more positivity about what is possible is that in a number of areas that are analogous to Blackwood, you can see high streets and town centres that have been revitalised. That's both about understanding what the mission of that town centre is, the size and the scale of it, and how to have a balance between chains but also independent retailers, and that mix of housing, retail, planning and local transport, to enable all of that to happen. That's why I'm proud that we have put the money in that we have into 'town centre first', and it's also why, alongside our Transforming Towns programme, we continue to provide a rates support package over the next two financial years, which means we're investing £460 million into those businesses.
The challenge, then, is about how we persuade people about the changes that have been made to their lives, and how people have made permanent changes in their world of work. This actually could be a good thing for a number of our smaller town centres, with a balance between home work and hybrid work with people undertaking more of their lives in their local centre and not constantly travelling to much larger population centres. There's much that's still there in flux, but we'll carry on working with businesses, their organisations and, indeed, local authorities. I think Caerphilly have a good track record in wanting to support their local businesses, and we'll work alongside them to do just that.
Diolch am y cwestiwn dilynol. Mae ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer y stryd fawr yng Nghymru wedi'u nodi yn ein cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer manwerthu ac yn y datganiad sefyllfa ar ganol trefi. Yr hyn a ddylai wneud i ni deimlo'n fwy gobeithiol o ran yr hyn sy'n bosibl yw'r ffaith bod nifer o ardaloedd sy'n debyg i Goed-duon wedi adfywio eu strydoedd mawr a chanol eu trefi. Mae hynny'n ymwneud â deall beth yw cenhadaeth canol y dref honno, ei maint a'i graddfa, a sut mae sicrhau cydbwysedd rhwng cadwyni ond hefyd manwerthwyr annibynnol, a'r cymysgedd tai, manwerthu, cynllunio a thrafnidiaeth leol, i alluogi hynny i gyd ddigwydd. Dyna pam rwy'n falch ein bod wedi buddsoddi'r arian a wnaethom yn yr egwyddor o roi canol trefi yn gyntaf, a dyna pam ein bod ni hefyd, ochr yn ochr â'n rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi, yn parhau i ddarparu pecyn cymorth ardrethi dros y ddwy flynedd ariannol nesaf, sy'n golygu ein bod yn buddsoddi £460 miliwn yn y busnesau hynny.
Mae'r her, felly, yn ymwneud â sut rydym yn perswadio pobl am y newidiadau sydd wedi cael eu gwneud i'w bywydau, a sut mae pobl wedi gwneud newidiadau parhaol yn eu byd gwaith. Gallai hyn fod yn beth da i nifer o'n trefi llai, gyda chydbwysedd rhwng gweithio gartref a gweithio hybrid a phobl yn byw mwy o'u bywydau yng nghanol y dref leol yn hytrach na theithio i ganolfannau poblogaeth llawer mwy drwy'r amser. Mae'r sefyllfa yn newid o hyd, ond byddwn yn parhau i weithio gyda busnesau, eu sefydliadau, ac awdurdodau lleol yn wir. Rwy'n credu bod gan Gaerffili hanes da o fod eisiau cefnogi eu busnesau lleol, a byddwn yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â nhw i wneud hynny.
Minister, in May this year, as you just mentioned to my colleague Rhianon Passmore, you published the Welsh Government's retail action plan. Some of its aims, as you mentioned, include reducing town centre vacant premises and boosting footfall in high streets and town centres. Earlier this month it was revealed that one in six shops on Welsh high streets are indeed empty. Figures show that the rate of empty shops in Wales rose from 16.5 per cent to 17 per cent in the second quarter of 2023. It was also revealed that Newport, my home town and part of my region of south-east Wales, actually had more empty units than any other city in the United Kingdom. So, Minister, given what I've just outlined, just how successful has this action plan been so far? Has it hit its KPIs, also known as key performance indicators? And are you confident that this plan is actually going to work? Thank you.
Weinidog, ym mis Mai eleni, fel y sonioch chi wrth fy nghyd-Aelod Rhianon Passmore, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer manwerthu. Mae rhai o'i nodau, fel y sonioch chi, yn cynnwys lleihau safleoedd gwag yng nghanol trefi a rhoi hwb i nifer yr ymwelwyr â'r stryd fawr a chanol y dref. Yn gynharach y mis hwn datgelwyd bod un o bob chwe siop ar strydoedd mawr Cymru yn wag. Mae ffigurau'n dangos bod cyfradd siopau gwag yng Nghymru wedi codi o 16.5 y cant i 17 y cant yn ystod ail chwarter 2023. Datgelwyd hefyd fod gan Gasnewydd, fy nhref enedigol a rhan o fy rhanbarth yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, fwy o unedau gwag nag unrhyw ddinas arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, Weinidog, o ystyried yr hyn rwyf newydd ei amlinellu, pa mor llwyddiannus y mae'r cynllun gweithredu hwn wedi bod hyd yn hyn? A yw wedi cyrraedd ei ddangosyddion perfformiad allweddol? A ydych chi'n hyderus y bydd y cynllun hwn yn gweithio mewn gwirionedd? Diolch.
I think the retail action plan will make a difference. It's been designed together with the industry and the Welsh Retail Consortium, together with trade unions, led by USDAW, and that's meant that we've got a shared view on what the future could and should look like. I think trying to pronounce on the success of the plan months after it's been launched is not a sensible exercise if you want to be serious about the future of our town centres. We do know that the challenges around the cost of living and the cost of doing business, and the challenges around inflation, have led to a number of businesses not being able to survive and others that are not as optimistic as they would have been at the start of the year. But it also reinforces why we need to carry on with that partnership approach and to recognise, as indeed Rhianon Passmore did, that local authorities have a key role and a key interest in seeing those town centres continue to be successful. That will involve, for some of them, remodelling what they do, the size and the scale of them, to make sure they're still vibrant. Because I think it also goes into a sense of place—a sense of place about where you're from and what you're proud of. And it's also why, for example, a range of other services will continue to be important. For example, the continued investment that my colleague the health Minister makes in high-street optometry will be really important for maintaining footfall in our town and city centres. So, it's more than just one department—it's a whole-Government approach, and we look forward to working with our partners to see that success in towns right across Wales.
Rwy'n credu y bydd y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer manwerthu yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Fe'i cynlluniwyd ar y cyd â'r diwydiant a Chonsortiwm Manwerthu Cymru, ynghyd ag undebau llafur, dan arweiniad yr Undeb Gweithwyr Siopau, Dosbarthu a Gwaith Perthynol, ac mae hynny wedi golygu bod gennym farn a rannwn ar beth a allai a beth a ddylai ddigwydd yn y dyfodol. Nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn synhwyrol ceisio darogan llwyddiant y cynllun fisoedd ar ôl iddo gael ei lansio os ydych chi eisiau bod o ddifrif ynglŷn â dyfodol canol ein trefi. Gwyddom fod yr heriau sy'n ymwneud â chostau byw a chostau gwneud busnes, a'r heriau sy'n ymwneud â chwyddiant, wedi golygu bod nifer o fusnesau wedi methu goroesi ac mae rhai eraill nad ydynt mor optimistaidd ag y byddent wedi bod ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn. Ond mae hefyd yn cadarnhau pam mae angen inni barhau â'r dull partneriaeth hwnnw a chydnabod, fel y gwnaeth Rhianon Passmore, fod gan awdurdodau lleol rôl allweddol a diddordeb allweddol mewn gweld canol y trefi hynny'n parhau i fod yn llwyddiannus. Bydd hynny'n cynnwys, i rai ohonynt, ailfodelu'r hyn y maent yn ei wneud, eu maint a'u graddfa, i sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i fod yn ffyniannus. Oherwydd rwy'n credu ei fod hefyd yn ymwneud ag ymdeimlad o le—ymdeimlad o le ynglŷn ag o ble rydych chi'n dod a beth rydych chi'n falch ohono. A dyna pam, er enghraifft, y bydd ystod o wasanaethau eraill yn parhau i fod yn bwysig. Er enghraifft, bydd y buddsoddiad parhaus y mae fy nghyd-Aelod y Gweinidog iechyd yn ei wneud mewn optometreg ar y stryd fawr yn bwysig iawn ar gyfer cynnal nifer yr ymwelwyr yng nghanol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd. Felly, mae'n fwy nag un adran yn unig—mae'n ddull Llywodraeth gyfan, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda'n partneriaid i weld y llwyddiant hwnnw mewn trefi ledled Cymru.
5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am drafodaethau prydles Fferm Gilestone? OQ59915
5. Will the Minister provide an update on the Gilestone Farm lease negotiations? OQ59915
Lease negotiations regarding the future of Gilestone Farm are ongoing. The Welsh Government does not disclose the details of confidential commercial discussions whilst they are ongoing.
Mae trafodaethau prydles ynghylch dyfodol Fferm Gilestone yn parhau. Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn datgelu manylion trafodaethau masnachol cyfrinachol tra'u bod yn mynd rhagddynt.
Thank you, Minister, for your answer. As part of the ongoing negotiations, you've said on a number of occasions in the Chamber that you will be consulting with the community. I held a public meeting on 8 June, which you and your officials declined to attend. I subsequently wrote to you on 13 June with a list of questions from members of my community with genuine concerns about the proposals. I chased up for a reply to that letter on 12 July, and I'm yet, to date, to receive a reply to that letter. Minister, it's not good enough waiting three months and a week to get a reply from your department on a matter that you have promised proactive engagement on. So, can you please tell me today when am I going to receive a reply to that letter? Or shall I go and tell my constituents this is yet again another broken promise by the economy Minister on his offer of proactive engagement with my communities? Diolch, Llywydd.
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Fel rhan o'r trafodaethau parhaus, rydych wedi dweud sawl tro yn y Siambr y byddwch chi'n ymgynghori â'r gymuned. Cynhaliais gyfarfod cyhoeddus ar 8 Mehefin, ond ni wnaethoch chi na'ch swyddogion ei fynychu. Yn dilyn hynny, ysgrifennais atoch ar 13 Mehefin gyda rhestr o gwestiynau gan aelodau o fy nghymuned sydd â phryderon gwirioneddol am y cynigion. Gofynnais am ateb i'r llythyr hwnnw ar 12 Gorffennaf, ac nid wyf eto, hyd yma, wedi cael ateb i'r llythyr hwnnw. Weinidog, nid yw'n ddigon da fy mod wedi aros tri mis ac wythnos i gael ateb gan eich adran ar fater rydych chi wedi addo ymgysylltu'n rhagweithiol arno. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf heddiw pryd y byddaf yn cael ateb i'r llythyr hwnnw? Neu a af fi i ddweud wrth fy etholwyr fod hwn yn addewid toredig arall gan Weinidog yr Economi ar ei gynnig i ymgysylltu'n rhagweithiol â fy nghymunedau? Diolch, Lywydd.
Actually, my officials have continued to engage with both the community council and the local community. It's simply not true to claim that there has been no engagement with the local community.
When it comes to the public meeting you held, of course, I was extraordinarily disappointed that claims were made at that meeting that you were only aware that Welsh Government officials and I would not be attending on the day of the meeting. It was very clear in the answer the First Minister gave in the Chamber to you, and in the conversation we had outside the Chamber, that I would not be attending. There's a point here that goes back to comments made by the Llywydd at the start of this session about the nature of the debate we have, conducting it with respect, but also with some integrity. And I hope that you correct the misleading and inaccurate impression that was given.
We will carry on engaging with the local community. We'll carry on being honest with the community about what those plans mean. We'll carry on having a negotiation, because I think this is another example of—. If we can have a successful agreement with a company that is a strong brand—Green Man has a value of over £10 million with its annual event—and if we can secure more of their operation of a different type at this site, then I believe it will be part, again, in this part of Wales, of giving people the opportunity to plan a successful economic future within their local community that works with people in that community, and gets away from some of the scaremongering that has gone on about the potential proposal. I look forward to what I hope will be a successful conclusion to those negotiations.
Mae fy swyddogion wedi parhau i ymgysylltu â'r cyngor cymuned a'r gymuned leol. Nid yw'r honiad na fu unrhyw ymgysylltiad â'r gymuned leol yn wir.
O ran y cyfarfod cyhoeddus a gynhaliwyd gennych, wrth gwrs, roeddwn yn hynod siomedig fod honiadau wedi'u gwneud yn y cyfarfod hwnnw mai ar ddiwrnod y cyfarfod y cawsoch wybod na fyddai swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a minnau yn bresennol yn y cyfarfod hwnnw. Roedd yn glir iawn yn yr ateb a roddodd y Prif Weinidog i chi yn y Siambr, ac yn y sgwrs a gawsom y tu allan i'r Siambr, na fyddwn yn mynychu. Mae yna bwynt yma sy'n mynd yn ôl at sylwadau a wnaed gan y Llywydd ar ddechrau'r sesiwn hon am natur y ddadl rydym yn ei chael, ynglŷn â'i chyflawni gyda pharch, ond hefyd gyda gonestrwydd. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch yn cywiro'r argraff gamarweiniol ac anghywir a roddwyd.
Byddwn yn parhau i ymgysylltu â'r gymuned leol. Byddwn yn parhau i fod yn onest â'r gymuned ynghylch yr hyn y mae'r cynlluniau hynny'n ei olygu. Byddwn yn parhau i negodi, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod hon yn enghraifft arall o—. Os gallwn gael cytundeb llwyddiannus gyda chwmni sy'n frand cryf—mae Green Man yn werth dros £10 miliwn gyda'i ddigwyddiad blynyddol—ac os gallwn sicrhau mwy o weithrediad o fath gwahanol ar y safle hwn, yna credaf y bydd yn rhan o rywbeth, unwaith eto, yn y rhan hon o Gymru, a fydd yn rhoi cyfle i bobl gynllunio dyfodol economaidd llwyddiannus o fewn eu cymuned leol sy'n gweithio gyda phobl yn y gymuned honno, a throi cefn ar beth o'r codi bwganod sydd wedi digwydd ynglŷn â'r cynnig posibl. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen gyda gobaith at ganlyniad llwyddiannus i'r trafodaethau hynny.
6. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud ynghylch a yw cronfeydd ar ôl ymadael â'r UE yn diwallu anghenion cymunedau Cymru? OQ59928
6. What assessment has the Minister made of whether post-EU funds are meeting the needs of Welsh communities? OQ59928
Thank you. Post-EU funding schemes are underfunded by at least £1.1 billion, and have been beset by UK Government delays and chaotic implementation. This has put local authorities under huge pressure. This is now damaging key sectors of our economy, resulting in the closure of vital business, innovation and skills programmes, and directly costing jobs for Wales.
Diolch. Mae cynlluniau cyllido ar ôl ymadael â'r UE wedi'u tanariannu o fwy na £1.1 biliwn, ac maent wedi bod yn destun oedi a gweithredu anhrefnus ar ran Llywodraeth y DU. Mae hyn wedi rhoi pwysau mawr ar awdurdodau lleol. Mae hyn bellach yn niweidio sectorau allweddol o'n heconomi, gan arwain at gau rhaglenni busnes, arloesi a sgiliau hanfodol, ac mae swyddi'n cael eu colli yng Nghymru o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i hyn.
Thank you for your answer, Minister. You'll be aware that the economy committee has just completed our inquiry into post-EU funding, and found that Wales's economic success is at risk if a new approach to allocating these resources isn't adopted. We've called for greater involvement from the Welsh Government in their planning and roll-out, but, as you will be only too aware, this is something that the UK Government seem hellbent on preventing. Keir Starmer has promised that an incoming Westminster Labour Government would return powers over this funding to Wales. Do you agree with me that that's the best way of ensuring this funding is used to meet the needs of communities, such as the one that I represent in Cynon Valley?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod pwyllgor yr economi newydd gwblhau ein hymchwiliad i gyllid ar ôl ymadael â'r UE, ac wedi canfod bod llwyddiant economaidd Cymru mewn perygl os na fabwysiadir dull newydd o ddyrannu'r adnoddau hyn. Rydym wedi galw am fwy o gyfranogiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y gwaith o'u cynllunio a'u chyflwyno, ond fel y byddwch yn gwybod, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ymddangos fel pe bai'n benderfynol o'i atal. Mae Keir Starmer wedi addo y byddai Llywodraeth Lafur newydd yn San Steffan yn dychwelyd pwerau dros y cyllid hwn i Gymru. A ydych yn cytuno â mi mai dyna'r ffordd orau o sicrhau bod y cyllid hwn yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau, fel yr un rwy'n ei chynrychioli yng Nghwm Cynon?
It's absolutely the right approach to take. Those powers should never have been stolen from Wales in the first place. We should never have received the funding cut that directly broke Conservative manifesto promises. And that is in line with what the cross-party committee has reported here, and, indeed, cross-party committees within the House of Commons itself. We want to have a partnership with a responsible UK Government where devolved powers are exercised here, and, where we can, in partnership with UK Government levers as well. We want a partnership with the regions here in Wales to make sure we carry on delivering real economic benefit and investment in a landscape that is coherent, and not deliberately splintered and undermining in the way that it has been so far. That would actually provide not just responsibilities for the Government here, but also make sure that scrutiny rests where it should do within this Parliament for the Wales-wide programmes that we should have a say in, and indeed working alongside our partners in local government.
Yn bendant, dyna'r ffordd gywir o'i wneud. Ni ddylai'r pwerau hynny fyth fod wedi cael eu dwyn oddi ar Gymru yn y lle cyntaf. Ni ddylem fyth fod wedi cael y toriad cyllid a dorrodd addewidion maniffesto'r Ceidwadwyr yn uniongyrchol. Ac mae hynny'n cyd-fynd â'r hyn y mae'r pwyllgor trawsbleidiol wedi ei adrodd yma, a phwyllgorau trawsbleidiol yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin ei hun yn wir. Rydym eisiau partneriaeth â Llywodraeth gyfrifol yn y DU lle mae pwerau datganoledig yn cael eu harfer yma, a lle gallwn wneud hynny, mewn partneriaeth ag ysgogiadau Llywodraeth y DU hefyd. Rydym eisiau partneriaeth â'r rhanbarthau yma yng Nghymru i sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i ddarparu budd economaidd gwirioneddol a buddsoddiad mewn tirwedd sy'n gydlynol, ac nad yw'n cael ei hollti'n fwriadol na'i thanseilio yn y ffordd a welsom hyd yma. Byddai hynny'n darparu cyfrifoldebau i'r Llywodraeth yma, yn ogystal â sicrhau mai'r Senedd hon sy'n gyfrifol am graffu ar raglenni Cymru y dylem gael llais ynddynt, a gweithio ochr yn ochr â'n partneriaid llywodraeth leol yn wir.
Minister, we need to be cautious not to look back on the days of EU funding through rose-tinted glasses. Funding streams such as the rural development programme were no guarantee of money being spent efficiently or in the right place. This can be evidenced through the Wales Audit Office findings from 2020 that the Welsh Government had not taken appropriate action to ensure value for money on nearly half of the awards made. Whilst there is scope for improving the shared prosperity fund, would you agree that there is a positive future ahead for post-EU funding, as demonstrated by the evidence gathered by the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee's inquiry? For example, Labour's Monmouthshire council stated, and I quote, that UK Government officials were 'very supportive', and had 'good lines of communication', and Plaid-run Gwynedd Council stated that they had developed a relationship that is 'quite good' with the UK Government. Diolch, Llywydd.
Weinidog, mae angen i ni fod yn ofalus nad ydym yn edrych yn ôl ar ddyddiau cyllid yr UE drwy sbectol binc. Nid oedd ffrydiau ariannu fel y rhaglen datblygu gwledig yn gwarantu bod arian yn cael ei wario'n effeithlon nac yn y lle cywir. Gellir gweld hyn yng nghanfyddiadau Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru yn 2020 nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd camau priodol i sicrhau gwerth am arian ar bron i hanner y dyfarniadau a wnaed. Er bod lle i wella'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, a fyddech chi'n cytuno bod dyfodol cadarnhaol o'n blaenau ar gyfer cyllid ar ôl ymadael â'r UE, fel y dangosir yn y dystiolaeth a gasglwyd gan ymchwiliad Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig? Er enghraifft, dywedodd cyngor Llafur sir Fynwy, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, fod swyddogion Llywodraeth y DU yn 'gefnogol iawn', a bod ganddynt 'linellau cyfathrebu da', a dywedodd Cyngor Gwynedd sy'n cael ei arwain gan Blaid Cymru eu bod wedi datblygu perthynas sy'n 'eithaf da' gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Diolch, Lywydd.
I think you'll find, if you read the whole view from local government, they're certainly not supportive of the UK Government coming in and running programmes directly, circumventing the Welsh Government, and, indeed, reducing the funds available. There's always a challenge here when Conservative Members say they want to celebrate the shared prosperity fund. They never acknowledge the fact that Wales has been short-changed by over £1 billion, and I refuse to join the Welsh Tories in celebrating that money being taken away from Wales. When you look at lessons that have been learnt, and if you go and look at some of the work that Paul Davies has done in the past as well, we have learnt from the different iterations of European funds. What's actually happened is, rather than going towards a more strategic approach that we chose to take in the last round of European funds, the shared prosperity fund is actually an annualised pepper-pot approach that undoes all of the work that we had done through learning from the first round of Objective 1, as it then was. This will lead to a poorer spend of a smaller sum of money. I actually think that when you come back to look at this objectively, there will not be a great deal for you to be proud of in the way that the money has not just been taken away from us, but then been respent in a much poorer way, for much poorer value for your community as well as mine.
Rwy'n credu y byddech yn gweld, pe byddech yn darllen barn llywodraeth leol yn ei chyfanrwydd, nad ydynt yn gefnogol i weld Llywodraeth y DU yn dod i mewn a rhedeg rhaglenni'n uniongyrchol, gan osgoi Llywodraeth Cymru, a lleihau'r arian sydd ar gael yn wir. Mae her yma bob amser pan fo Aelodau Ceidwadol yn dweud eu bod eisiau dathlu'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Nid ydynt byth yn cydnabod y ffaith bod Cymru dros £1 biliwn ar ei cholled, ac rwy'n gwrthod ymuno â'r Torïaid Cymreig i ddathlu bod arian yn cael ei gymryd oddi ar Gymru. Pan edrychwch ar wersi sydd wedi'u dysgu, ac os ewch chi i edrych ar rywfaint o'r gwaith mae Paul Davies wedi'i wneud yn y gorffennol hefyd, rydym wedi dysgu o wahanol iteriadau y cronfeydd Ewropeaidd. Yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd mewn gwirionedd yw bod y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, yn hytrach na mabwysiadu dull mwy strategol y gwnaethom ddewis ei fabwysiadu yn y rownd olaf o gronfeydd Ewropeaidd, yn ddull 'pot pupur' blynyddol mewn gwirionedd sy'n dadwneud yr holl waith roeddem wedi'i wneud drwy'r gwersi a ddysgwyd o rownd gyntaf Amcan 1, fel yr oedd bryd hynny. Bydd hyn yn arwain at wario swm llai o arian mewn ffordd waeth. Pan ddowch yn ôl i edrych ar hyn yn wrthrychol, rwy'n credu na fydd gennych lawer iawn i fod yn falch ohono yn y ffordd y mae'r arian nid yn unig wedi'i gymryd oddi arnom, ond wedi cael ei ailwario wedyn mewn ffordd lawer gwaeth, am werth llawer gwaeth i'ch cymuned chi yn ogystal â fy un i.
7. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o'r effaith y bydd terfynau cyflymder 20mya yn ei chael ar economi Cymru? OQ59914
7. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact that 20mph speed limits will have on the Welsh economy? OQ59914
The largest economic benefit is that there will be fewer people killed or seriously injured from road collisions. The change is also expected to strengthen local economies through increased footfall and could lead to higher land values and retail spending.
Y budd economaidd mwyaf yw y bydd llai o bobl yn cael eu lladd neu eu hanafu'n ddifrifol o ganlyniad i wrthdrawiadau ar y ffyrdd. Mae disgwyl i'r newid gryfhau economïau lleol hefyd drwy gynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr a gallai arwain at werth tir uwch a gwariant manwerthu uwch.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. This week, Labour's money-making blanket 20 mph speed limit scheme has come into force, and the public's concerns firmly remain, with nearly 270,000 people signing a petition to have the policy reversed. I've heard from many businesses over the last few weeks and days in the run-up to the scheme's introduction, including a parcel delivery firm. They have been looking into the extra costs they face as a result of this Government's unwanted 20 mph—
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Yr wythnos hon, mae cynllun gwneud arian terfyn cyflymder cyffredinol 20 mya y Blaid Lafur wedi dod i rym, ac mae pryderon y cyhoedd yn parhau, gyda bron i 270,000 o bobl wedi arwyddo deiseb i wrthdroi'r polisi. Rwyf wedi clywed gan lawer o fusnesau dros yr wythnosau a'r dyddiau diwethaf yn y cyfnod cyn cyflwyno'r cynllun, gan gynnwys cwmni dosbarthu parseli. Maent wedi bod yn edrych ar y costau ychwanegol y maent yn eu hwynebu o ganlyniad i gynllun 20 mya diangen y Llywodraeth hon—
I can't hear the Member, so the Minister may be struggling as well. I do need to hear the Member's point.
Ni allaf glywed yr Aelod, felly efallai fod y Gweinidog yn ei chael hi'n anodd hefyd. Mae angen i mi glywed pwynt yr Aelod.
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
You'd love that, wouldn't you, Alun Davies?
Byddech chi wrth eich bodd â hynny, oni fyddech chi, Alun Davies?
Can the Member carry on—thank you—and be allowed to carry on?
A wnaiff yr Aelod barhau—diolch—ac a all pawb ganiatáu iddi wneud hynny?
Thank you so much. Minister, I've heard from many businesses over the last few weeks and days in the run-up to the scheme's introduction, including a parcel delivery firm. They've been looking into the extra costs that they face as a result of this Government's unwanted 20 mph speed limit project. Taking into account things like extra maintenance costs and the impact slower speeds will have, the total for this one company comes to £1.6 million. And this business is not alone; taxi drivers are extremely fearful for the loss of income, as they expect to see a drop in the number of trips that they can make in a day. If the Welsh Government continues to ignore residents' calls and refuses to reverse this disastrous policy, will you look at creating a hardship fund to compensate businesses for the loss of income and to cover their extra costs? It is incredibly unfair that hard-working businesses are being made to suffer as a result of this policy, which they did not want, do not want, and are being forced into by Labour Ministers here in Cardiff Bay.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Weinidog, rwyf wedi clywed gan lawer o fusnesau dros yr wythnosau a'r dyddiau diwethaf yn y cyfnod cyn cyflwyno'r cynllun, gan gynnwys cwmni dosbarthu parseli. Maent wedi bod yn edrych ar y costau ychwanegol y maent yn eu hwynebu o ganlyniad i brosiect terfyn cyflymder 20 mya diangen y Llywodraeth hon. Gan ystyried pethau fel costau cynnal a chadw ychwanegol a'r effaith y bydd cyflymder arafach yn ei chael, mae'r cyfanswm i'r un cwmni hwn yn £1.6 miliwn. Ac nid yw'r busnes hwn ar ei ben ei hun; mae gyrwyr tacsi yn pryderu'n fawr y byddant yn colli incwm, gan eu bod yn disgwyl gweld gostyngiad yn nifer y teithiau y gallant eu gwneud mewn diwrnod. Os bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i anwybyddu galwadau trigolion ac yn gwrthod gwrthdroi'r polisi trychinebus hwn, a wnewch chi edrych ar greu cronfa galedi i ddigolledu busnesau am golli incwm ac i dalu eu costau ychwanegol? Mae'n hynod annheg fod busnesau sy'n gweithio'n galed yn cael eu gorfodi i ddioddef o ganlyniad i'r polisi hwn, nad oeddent mo'i eisiau, nad ydynt mo'i eisiau, ac yn cael eu gorfodi i'w dderbyn gan Weinidogion Llafur yma ym Mae Caerdydd.
As the Member knows, this is not a blanket ban. It's always unfortunate when people make knowingly untruthful statements. It is not a blanket ban. It is also the delivery of a manifesto commitment that people in Wales did vote for. People voted for this in our manifesto. I note that the Conservative leader's poll, on his own Twitter account, actually demonstrated that some people are actually quite pleased with this policy. I don't accept the veracity of the figures for a policy that has been implemented for just a handful of days now. I look forward to a longer term review and, of course, we are committed to reviewing the impact of the new proposals that have been introduced. Local authorities will review what's happened; I look forward to the input. And I can honestly say, as a parent, I'm much happier for my son to be out and about on his bike and moving around our roads with a change in speed limit. I think it'll make a big difference to how all of us see the future, and, actually, not just the health outcomes that we have been able to assess, but to think about what it means, if you listen to a range of our teachers, who have said, 'The children walking or cycling to school—they're more likely to be alert and active, ready to learn at the start of the day.' There are longer term health benefits, and, actually, those health benefits have a real impact on our economic future as well. I think we're doing the right thing, and I think, in a year or two's time, people will look back and wonder who on earth thought this was a bad idea.
Fel y gŵyr yr Aelod, nid gwaharddiad cyffredinol yw hwn. Mae bob amser yn anffodus pan fo pobl yn gwneud datganiadau anwir yn fwriadol. Nid yw'n waharddiad cyffredinol. Mae hefyd yn cyflawni ymrwymiad maniffesto y gwnaeth pobl yng Nghymru bleidleisio drosto. Pleidleisiodd pobl dros hyn yn ein maniffesto. Nodaf fod arolwg barn arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, ar ei gyfrif Twitter ei hun, wedi dangos mewn gwirionedd fod rhai pobl yn eithaf bodlon gyda'r polisi hwn. Nid wyf yn derbyn cywirdeb y ffigurau ar gyfer polisi sydd ond wedi'i weithredu ers llond llaw o ddyddiau yn unig. Edrychaf ymlaen at adolygiad mwy hirdymor, ac wrth gwrs, rydym wedi ymrwymo i adolygu effaith y cynigion newydd a gyflwynwyd. Bydd awdurdodau lleol yn adolygu'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd; rwy'n edrych ymlaen at y mewnbwn. A gallaf ddweud yn onest, fel rhiant, rwy'n llawer hapusach i fy mab fod allan ar ei feic ac ar ein ffyrdd gyda newid i'r terfyn cyflymder. Rwy'n credu y bydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth mawr i sut mae pob un ohonom yn meddwl am y dyfodol, ac mewn gwirionedd, nid yn unig y canlyniadau iechyd rydym wedi gallu eu hasesu, ond i feddwl am yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu, os ydych chi'n gwrando ar ystod o'n hathrawon, sydd wedi dweud, 'Y plant sy'n cerdded neu'n beicio i'r ysgol—maent yn fwy tebygol o fod yn effro ac yn egnïol, yn barod i ddysgu ar ddechrau'r diwrnod.' Mae yna fanteision iechyd mwy hirdymor, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae'r manteision iechyd hynny'n cael effaith wirioneddol ar ein dyfodol economaidd hefyd. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n gwneud y peth iawn, ac rwy'n credu, ymhen blwyddyn neu ddwy, y bydd pobl yn edrych yn ôl ac yn meddwl pwy ar y ddaear oedd yn meddwl bod hwn yn syniad gwael.
8. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella cynhyrchiant yn y sector busnes yng Nghymru? OQ59930
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve productivity within the Welsh business sector? OQ59930
Our Business Wales service provides businesses with access to a range of information, guidance and support, both financial and non-financial, to consider their productivity and skills. This is supported through a range of our skills and employability programmes that can offer direct support to businesses.
Mae ein gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru yn darparu mynediad i fusnesau at amrywiaeth o wybodaeth, arweiniad a chefnogaeth, ariannol a heb fod yn ariannol, i ystyried eu cynhyrchiant a'u sgiliau. Cefnogir hyn drwy ystod o'n rhaglenni sgiliau a chyflogadwyedd a all gynnig cymorth uniongyrchol i fusnesau.
Thank you, Minister. Minister, the NatWest business activity index paints a very concerning picture for Wales, as the number of outstanding businesses in private firms is on a downward trajectory. Despite the data highlighting an increase in output, the devil really is in the detail, with this increase being a result of backlog clearing, as opposed to increasing new work. However, to get to the root cause of this issue of productivity, we need to look no further than this year's business barometer, which highlights that 75 per cent of Welsh business leaders are experiencing skills shortages, which is directly impacting on productivity. Minister, you touched on skills, but what urgent action is being taken to improve that skills shortage in Wales, to prevent things getting worse here?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Weinidog, mae mynegai gweithgarwch busnes NatWest yn disgrifio darlun gofidus iawn i Gymru, gan fod nifer y busnesau rhagorol mewn cwmnïau preifat yn gostwng. Er bod y data'n tynnu sylw at gynnydd mewn allbwn, wrth edrych yn fanwl gellir gweld bod y cynnydd hwn o ganlyniad i glirio ôl-groniadau, yn hytrach na chynnydd mewn gwaith newydd. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn cyrraedd gwraidd y broblem gyda chynhyrchiant, nid oes angen i ni edrych ymhellach na'r baromedr busnes eleni, sy'n tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod 75 y cant o arweinwyr busnes Cymru yn profi prinder sgiliau, sy'n effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar gynhyrchiant. Weinidog, fe wnaethoch chi grybwyll sgiliau, ond pa gamau brys sy'n cael eu cymryd i wella'r prinder sgiliau yng Nghymru, er mwyn atal pethau rhag gwaethygu yma?
Well, actually, it's partly about the take-up of the programmes we already have, as well as going back to earlier questions about areas for future growth as well. And it's why a partnership with businesses really does matter, both between local authorities and the individual businesses within their area, as well as larger organisations bringing different business groups together. So, the challenge on skills is something that we understand. It's also why the confused landscape, with the policy intervention from the UK Government, has undermined what was a much clearer picture. It's made it less strategic as well. I want to see that knitted back together in a way that is genuinely strategic and gives greater certainty to businesses about what we're doing.
We do of course have good examples of where productivity has increased, and, indeed, people who live in the Member's constituency will have benefited from that. There's the business productivity enhancement programme that's taking place within the south-east Wales region, and in particular centred around Tech Valleys, there are at least 12 firms in Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen and Caerphilly that have had investments to help reskill their workforce, and a number of those firms will have, as I say, people living in the Member's constituency. The challenge is always the scale of what we're able to do, broader confidence in the economy, and the certainty of what we're able to do and not having a confused picture for businesses to actually be able to select from and understand the support that is available to them.
Wel, mae'n ymwneud yn rhannol â'r nifer sy'n manteisio ar y rhaglenni sydd gennym eisoes, yn ogystal â mynd yn ôl at gwestiynau cynharach am feysydd ar gyfer twf yn y dyfodol hefyd. A dyna pam mae partneriaeth â busnesau yn wirioneddol bwysig, rhwng awdurdodau lleol a'r busnesau unigol yn eu hardal, yn ogystal â sefydliadau mwy sy'n dod â gwahanol grwpiau busnes at ei gilydd. Felly, mae'r her mewn perthynas â sgiliau yn rhywbeth rydym yn ei ddeall. Dyna pam hefyd mae'r dirwedd ddryslyd, gyda'r ymyrraeth polisi gan Lywodraeth y DU, wedi tanseilio'r hyn a arferai fod yn ddarlun llawer cliriach. Mae hefyd wedi'i wneud yn llai strategol. Rwyf eisiau ei weld yn cael ei wau yn ôl at ei gilydd mewn ffordd sy'n wirioneddol strategol ac sy'n rhoi mwy o sicrwydd i fusnesau am yr hyn a wnawn.
Wrth gwrs, mae gennym enghreifftiau da o ardaloedd lle mae cynhyrchiant wedi cynyddu, ac yn wir, bydd pobl sy'n byw yn etholaeth yr Aelod wedi elwa o hynny. Mae gennym y rhaglen gwella cynhyrchiant busnes sy'n digwydd yn rhanbarth de-ddwyrain Cymru, ac sy'n canolbwyntio'n benodol ar y Cymoedd Technoleg, mae o leiaf 12 cwmni ym Mlaenau Gwent, Torfaen a Chaerffili wedi cael buddsoddiadau i helpu i ailsgilio eu gweithlu, ac fel y dywedais, bydd gan nifer o'r cwmnïau hynny bobl sy'n byw yn etholaeth yr Aelod. Yr her bob amser yw graddfa'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud, hyder ehangach yn yr economi, a'r sicrwydd o ran yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud a pheidio â rhoi darlun dryslyd i fusnesau, a'u galluogi i ddeall a dewis o'r cymorth sydd ar gael iddynt.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 9, Llyr Gruffydd.
And finally, question 9, Llyr Gruffydd.
9. Pa gefnogaeth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i weithwyr yn sgil cau canghennau Wilko yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ59939
9. What support is the Welsh Government providing for workers following the closure of Wilko branches in North Wales? OQ59939
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
This is of course extremely disappointing news, which will be extraordinarily concerning for staff at Wilko. We're working with a range of partners, including Working Wales and Jobcentre Plus, to support those affected, through programmes like ReAct+.
Mae hwn, wrth gwrs, yn newyddion siomedig dros ben, a fydd yn hynod ofidus i staff Wilko. Rydym yn gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o bartneriaid, gan gynnwys Cymru'n Gweithio a'r Ganolfan Byd Gwaith, i gefnogi'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt, drwy raglenni fel ReAct+.
Wel, diolch ichi am yr hyn rŷch chi newydd ei ddweud. Yn amlwg, mae trefi fel Caergybi, Llandudno, Wrecsam a Rhyl yn mynd i wynebu naill ai wedi cau neu ar fin cau o safbwynt Wilko yn y trefi hynny. Clywon ni yn gynharach sut mae hynny'n gadael bwlch ar y stryd fawr, ac yn amlwg mae hynny yn tanseilio hyfywedd ehangach, efallai, rhai o'r canolfannau trefol hynny. Ond o safbwynt y gweithwyr yn benodol, mi gyfeirioch chi at y gefnogaeth a'r rhaglenni sydd ar gael. Pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi, er mor anodd yw hi, y bydd cyllidebau'r rhaglenni hynny yn cael eu gwarchod yn y cyfnod sydd i ddod oherwydd, yn amlwg, rŷn ni'n clywed am y toriadau sydd yn digwydd o fewn y Llywodraeth, ond rŷn ni'n clywed wythnos ar ôl wythnos, sesiwn ar ôl sesiwn fan hyn am y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen pan fo Tata, Wilko ac enghreifftiau a restrodd Luke Fletcher yn gynharach yn ei gwestiynau fe yn codi? Mae yna berygl, wrth gwrs, o leihau'r ddarpariaeth gefnogol yna, y bydd yr effaith gymaint, gymaint yn waeth. Felly, pa sicrwydd allwch chi roi y bydd y cyllidebau yna'n cael eu hamddiffyn, lle gallwch chi?
Thank you for what you have just said. Clearly, towns like Holyhead, Llandudno, Wrexham and Rhyl are facing losing Wilko stores that have either closed or are about to close. We heard earlier how that leaves a gap on the high street, and that undermines the broader viability of some of those urban centres. But from the perspective of the workers particularly, you referred to the programmes and support available. What assurance can you give, despite how difficult it is, that the budgets for those programmes will be safeguarded in the coming years, because we hear of the cuts happening within Government, but we hear week on week, session after session here about the support that is needed when Tata, Wilko and the list provided by Luke Fletcher do arise? There is a risk, of course, that, in reducing that support, the impact will be so much worse. So, what assurances can you give that those budgets will be protected wherever possible?
I think I can give the Member the assurance that in areas where we'll need to support workers, we'll have the means to do so. The Wilko example is particularly difficult, as Poundland and B&M between them bought around 120 stores, but we're not sure where all those locations are yet. So, that's real uncertainty for lots of workers in Wales and across the rest of the UK and, indeed, the distribution centre in John Griffiths's constituency, which is closing.
So, I can give the Member the assurance that on that demand-led programme of the support required, I think we're able to support workers who need it. And for the future, as the economy Minister, I must be prepared to move budgets across my department to make sure workers are properly supported. Some workers in trade union-organised workplaces may well be able to secure arrangements, if that business is closing or shrinking, that provides them with a package that gives them a better cushion and access to skills support. Wilko workers—lower paid workers, typically—but also to think about the scale of the trade union organisation, there may be a greater call on Welsh Government support for them. That's the commitment I'd like to give the Member and, indeed, constituents across the country that I think we have the support available now, and I'm prepared to act to make sure that support is available in the future if we see larger unemployment events.
Rwy'n credu y gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod, mewn ardaloedd lle bydd angen i ni gefnogi gweithwyr, y bydd gennym fodd i wneud hynny. Mae enghraifft Wilko yn arbennig o anodd, gan fod Poundland a B&M rhyngddynt wedi prynu tua 120 o siopau, ond nid ydym yn siŵr lle mae'r holl leoliadau hynny eto. Felly, mae hwnnw'n ansicrwydd gwirioneddol i lawer o weithwyr yng Nghymru ac ar draws gweddill y DU, ac yn wir, y ganolfan ddosbarthu yn etholaeth John Griffiths, sy'n cau.
Felly, gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod, gyda'r rhaglen sy'n seiliedig ar alw o gymorth angenrheidiol, rwy'n credu y gallwn ddarparu cymorth i weithwyr sydd ei angen. Ac ar gyfer y dyfodol, fel Gweinidog yr Economi, mae'n rhaid i mi fod yn barod i symud cyllidebau ar draws fy adran i sicrhau bod gweithwyr yn cael eu cefnogi'n briodol. Mae'n ddigon posibl y bydd rhai gweithwyr mewn gweithleoedd dan drefniadaeth undebau llafur yn gallu sicrhau trefniadau, os yw'r busnes hwnnw'n cau neu'n lleihau, sy'n darparu pecyn iddynt sy'n rhoi gwell cefnogaeth iddynt a mynediad at gymorth sgiliau. Gweithwyr Wilko—gweithwyr ar gyflogau is, fel arfer—ond hefyd wrth ystyried graddfa'r sefydliad undebau llafur, efallai y bydd mwy o alw am gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru ar eu cyfer. Dyna'r ymrwymiad yr hoffwn ei roi i'r Aelod, ac yn wir, i etholwyr ledled y wlad, fy mod yn credu bod y cymorth ar gael nawr, ac rwy'n barod i weithredu i sicrhau bod cymorth ar gael yn y dyfodol os gwelwn ddigwyddiadau diweithdra mwy.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog a'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you, Minister and Deputy Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Janet Finch-Saunders.
The next item will be the questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services, and the first question is from Janet Finch-Saunders.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gyflawni strategaeth cathetr ar gyfer pob ysbyty sy'n gwasanaethu pobl Aberconwy? OQ59917
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the delivery of a catheter strategy for all hospitals that serve the people of Aberconwy? OQ59917
Yes, thanks. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is responsible for its own catheter strategy. I expect them to follow guidance, such as the unplanned admissions consensus committee’s Welsh best practice guide. They are supported with national initiatives, including procurement contracts, and the development of standardised catheter care bundles and an all-Wales catheter passport.
Gwnaf, diolch. Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr sy'n gyfrifol am ei strategaeth cathetr ei hun. Rwy'n disgwyl iddynt ddilyn canllawiau, megis canllaw arfer gorau Cymru y pwyllgor consensws derbyniadau heb eu cynllunio. Cânt eu cefnogi gan gynlluniau cenedlaethol, gan gynnwys contractau caffael, a datblygiad bwndeli gofal cathetr safonol a phasbort cathetr Cymru gyfan.
Thank you, Minister. I'd be really grateful if you could possibly write out again, pointing them to this particular initiative, because I've had many concerns raised with me recently about families attending hospital and seeing catheter bags almost overflowing. You've rightly pointed out in January 2018 that BCHU launched the Safe Clean Care campaign and at that time, again, it was a request to the late and lovely chairman, Peter Higson, who actually raised it with hospitals that they had to be really meticulous in their handling of catheter bags. In 2021 the health board went further by offering a special passport to enhance communication and catheter care for almost 2,000 people who rely on these things. To this day, though, there remains massive stigma about catheter use, concerns that drainage bags are not always emptied promptly, and more recently it's been raised with me that catheters are not changed—the pipes—within the recommended four to 12-week time frame, often several weeks later. So, what steps will you take, Minister, to ensure that catheters are changed according to those very guidelines, that bags are emptied promptly, and that there is more work undertaken on tackling stigma in north Wales? Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn pe gallech ysgrifennu eto, gan eu cyfeirio at y cynllun penodol hwn, oherwydd mae etholwyr wedi dwyn llawer o bryderon i fy sylw yn ddiweddar am deuluoedd yn mynd i'r ysbyty ac yn gweld bagiau cathetr bron â gorlifo. Ym mis Ionawr 2018, fe wnaethoch dynnu sylw yn briodol at y ffaith bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi lansio'r ymgyrch Gofal Glân Diogel ac ar yr adeg honno, unwaith eto, cais ydoedd i'r cadeirydd hyfryd, y diweddar Peter Higson, a ddywedodd wrth ysbytai fod yn rhaid iddynt fod yn ofalus iawn wrth drin bagiau cathetr. Yn 2021, aeth y bwrdd iechyd gam ymhellach drwy gynnig pasbort arbennig i wella cyfathrebu a gofal cathetr i bron i 2,000 o bobl sy'n dibynnu ar y pethau hyn. Hyd heddiw, serch hynny, mae stigma enfawr o hyd ynghylch defnyddio cathetr, pryderon nad yw bagiau draenio bob amser yn cael eu gwagio'n brydlon, ac yn fwy diweddar clywais nad yw cathetrau yn cael eu newid—y pibellau—o fewn y ffrâm amser a argymhellir, sef rhwng pedair a 12 wythnos, a sawl wythnos yn ddiweddarach yn aml. Felly, pa gamau y byddwch chi'n eu cymryd, Weinidog, i sicrhau bod cathetrau'n cael eu newid yn unol â'r canllawiau hynny, fod bagiau'n cael eu gwagio'n brydlon, a bod mwy o waith yn cael ei wneud ar fynd i'r afael â stigma yng ngogledd Cymru? Diolch.
Thanks very much. I will remind the health board of the Welsh best practice in relation to catheters and what we're looking at, and what is expected of them. What I can tell you is that one in five patients in the NHS have a catheter, and that costs about £145 million in terms of community care. So, we're talking about a lot of people here who are in this situation. I understand that Betsi Cadwaladr has had a Getting It Right First Time review on their urology services, and all relevant units within Betsi Cadwaladr will be now developing a trial without catheter pathway for more expeditious assessments of patients with urinary retention.
Diolch yn fawr. Byddaf yn atgoffa'r bwrdd iechyd o arferion gorau Cymru mewn perthynas â chathetrau a'r hyn rydym yn edrych arno, a'r hyn a ddisgwylir ohonynt. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw bod gan un o bob pum claf yn y GIG gathetr, ac mae hynny'n costio tua £145 miliwn mewn gofal cymunedol. Felly, rydym yn siarad am lawer o bobl sydd yn y sefyllfa hon. Rwy'n deall bod gwasanaethau wroleg Betsi Cadwaladr wedi bod yn destun adolygiad Gwneud Pethau'n Iawn y Tro Cyntaf, a bydd yr holl unedau perthnasol o fewn Betsi Cadwaladr yn datblygu llwybr treialu heb gathetr nawr er mwyn sicrhau bod cleifion ag ataliad dŵr yn cael eu hasesu'n fwy hwylus.
2. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ymdrin ag anghydraddoldebau canser ledled Cymru? OQ59938
2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to address cancer inequalities across Wales? OQ59938
Rŷn ni’n gweithio ar draws adrannau i ymdrin ag anghydraddoldeb o ran risg canser, mynediad at wasanaethau canser a’r canlyniad i bobl sydd â chanser. Rŷn ni hefyd yn gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth ar y pethau sy’n dylanwadu ar iechyd pobl, fel tlodi ac amgylchedd iach.
We have a cross-departmental approach to addressing inequalities in cancer risk, inequalities in access to cancer services and inequalities in cancer outcome. As well as a cross-Government approach to addressing the determinants of health, such as poverty and a healthy environment.
Diolch, Gweinidog. In the valleys where I'm from a lung cancer diagnosis is something many people dread, and it's more prevalent in my area because of the long shadow that coal mining and heavy industry still casts over our communities. Now, cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage and people are at greater risk of dying as a result. In Caerphilly 101 people died from the disease in 2021, which is 6.3 per cent higher than the national average. Now, tools like lung screening can help diagnose cancer earlier, improving the chances for people living in areas not just in Caerphilly, but across the south-east of Wales, that are so often referred to as deprived, which is a word I really dislike, but it means that people are denied so many opportunities—in this context, denied the chance of living longer if they get this disease. Would you give an update, please, on plans to roll out a full lung screening programme in Wales, and will you commit to rolling out a fully funded programme to ensure that lung cancer can be diagnosed as early as possible?
Diolch, Weinidog. O ble rwy'n dod, yn y cymoedd, mae diagnosis canser yr ysgyfaint yn rhywbeth y mae llawer o bobl yn arswydo rhagddo, ac mae'n fwy cyffredin yn fy ardal oherwydd y cysgod hir y mae gwaith glo a diwydiant trwm yn dal i'w daflu dros ein cymunedau. Nawr, mae canser yn aml yn cael ei ganfod ar gam diweddarach ac mae pobl mewn mwy o berygl o farw o ganlyniad. Yng Nghaerffili, bu farw 101 o bobl o'r clefyd yn 2021, sydd 6.3 y cant yn uwch na'r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol. Nawr, gall pethau fel sgrinio canser yr ysgyfaint helpu i wneud diagnosis o ganser yn gynharach, gan wella gobaith i bobl sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd nid yn unig yng Nghaerffili, ond ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru, y cyfeirir atynt mor aml fel ardaloedd difreintiedig, gair nad wyf yn ei hoffi o gwbl, ond mae'n golygu bod pobl yn cael eu hamddifadu o gymaint o gyfleoedd—yn y cyd-destun hwn, yn cael eu hamddifadu o'r cyfle i fyw'n hwy os cânt y clefyd hwn. A wnewch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gynlluniau i gyflwyno rhaglen sgrinio lawn ar gyfer canser yr ysgyfaint yng Nghymru, ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gyflwyno rhaglen wedi'i hariannu'n llawn i sicrhau y gellir gwneud diagnosis o ganser yr ysgyfaint cyn gynted â phosibl?
Thanks very much. Well, what we do know is that around four in 10 cancers are potentially preventable, and lung cancer is definitely one of those. The incidence of smoking, we know, is higher in those communities that you talk about. So, there's a stage before that that we need to get to. We do need to concentrate and focus our efforts on trying to stop people from smoking in the first place so they don't develop cancer. So, I think it's really important, when we talk about cancer, to look at the whole system and make sure we don't forget about the prevention side of things.
Now, of course, what we need to do then is to make sure that, if that develops, and the outcomes for lung cancer—. It's very difficult, because you seem to find it quite late, and once you get to that point it's more difficult to treat. So, early diagnosis is really important. One of the programmes we've got at the moment is a really interesting initiative that focuses on lung cancer, and we've chosen lung cancer as the first cancer to go after because of the poor rates of people who actually can recover from it, and that's in relation to liquid biopsies. So, we've specifically gone after liquid biopsies in relation to cancer treatment and just trying to identify who has it, how early you get it, if you get it back after you've contracted it. So, there's a lot of work being done in that space. It's quite a cutting-edge technology that we're looking at here. What I'm interested in is just to wait until we see the outcomes of that pilot, because what that would mean is that we're looking at a much less invasive mechanism of working out whether people have lung cancer. So, I hope that that kind of initiative is something that, once we know whether it has worked properly, we can roll out.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, fe wyddom y gellir atal tua phedwar o bob 10 canser, ac mae canser yr ysgyfaint yn bendant yn un o'r rheini. Fe wyddom fod y nifer o bobl sy'n ysmygu yn uwch yn y cymunedau y soniwch amdanynt. Felly, mae yna gam cyn hynny y mae angen inni ei gyrraedd. Mae angen inni ganolbwyntio ein hymdrechion ar geisio atal pobl rhag ysmygu yn y lle cyntaf fel nad ydynt yn datblygu canser. Felly, pan fyddwn yn siarad am ganser, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn edrych ar y system gyfan a sicrhau nad ydym yn anghofio am yr ochr atal i bethau.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, yr hyn sydd angen inni ei wneud wedyn yw sicrhau, os yw hwnnw'n datblygu, a'r canlyniadau ar gyfer canser yr ysgyfaint—. Mae'n anodd iawn, oherwydd ymddengys bod pobl yn ei ganfod yn eithaf hwyr, a phan fyddwch chi'n cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw, mae'n anos i'w drin. Felly, mae diagnosis cynnar yn bwysig iawn. Un o'r rhaglenni sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd yw menter ddiddorol iawn sy'n canolbwyntio ar ganser yr ysgyfaint, ac rydym wedi dewis canser yr ysgyfaint fel y canser cyntaf i fynd ar ei ôl oherwydd y cyfraddau isel o bobl sy'n gallu gwella ohono, sef biopsïau hylif. Felly, rydym wedi mynd ar drywydd biopsïau hylif yn benodol mewn perthynas â thriniaeth canser a cheisio nodi pwy sydd â'r canser, pa mor gynnar rydych chi'n ei gael, os yw'n dychwelyd ar ôl i chi ei gael. Felly, mae llawer o waith yn cael ei wneud yn y maes hwnnw. Rydym yn edrych ar dechnoleg eithaf arloesol yma. Rwyf eisiau aros nes y gwelwn ganlyniadau'r cynllun peilot hwnnw, oherwydd byddai hynny'n golygu ein bod yn edrych ar fecanwaith llawer llai mewnwthiol i ddarganfod a oes gan bobl ganser yr ysgyfaint. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod y math hwnnw o fenter yn rhywbeth y gallwn ei gyflwyno pan fyddwn yn gwybod a yw wedi gweithio'n iawn.
Minister, one of the greatest inequalities in cancer care is the revelation that we are not collecting data on the ethnicity of cancer patients. Many might say, 'Why does that matter—it is just data?', but when it comes to treatment that data is vital. How do we know that treatments developed for white northern Europeans are effective in treating cancers in patients of African or Indo-Asian descent? Assumptions are being made about how patients will respond, despite there being clear differences in how certain cancers affect different racial groups. Minister, what steps are the Welsh Government taking to ensure ethnicity data is included in all patient records, particularly as we move toward personalised medicine?
Weinidog, un o'r anghydraddoldebau mwyaf ym maes gofal canser yw'r datgeliad nad ydym yn casglu data ar ethnigrwydd cleifion canser. Gallai llawer ddweud, 'Pam mae hynny'n bwysig—data'n unig ydyw?', ond pan ddaw'n fater o driniaeth mae'r data hwnnw'n hanfodol. Sut y gwyddom fod triniaethau a ddatblygwyd ar gyfer pobl wyn o ogledd Ewrop yn effeithiol wrth drin canserau mewn cleifion o dras Affricanaidd neu Indo-Asiaidd? Mae rhagdybiaethau'n cael eu gwneud ynglŷn â sut y bydd cleifion yn ymateb, er bod gwahaniaethau clir yn y ffordd y mae rhai mathau o ganser yn effeithio ar wahanol grwpiau hil. Weinidog, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod data ethnigrwydd yn cael ei gynnwys yng nghofnodion pob claf, yn enwedig wrth inni symud tuag at feddygaeth wedi'i phersonoli?
Thanks very much. I was very interested to read some of the findings of the cross-party group on cancer and on the inequalities of cancer, and certainly data is absolutely key. That's certainly something that we're always trying to improve—how we manage our data, how we monitor our data—and ethnicity is something, certainly, we'll need to consider. What interests me, as we get into this new, more individualised response to how we deal with cancer, so responding to the particular cancer in that particular individual—. We're right on the threshold of something very, very different I think, in terms of the way we deal with cancer in future. I read recently, for example, that the way that some people respond to chemotherapy changes due to the different biomes in their stomach; everybody's got a different biome. So, this individualised approach will be developing in future years, and, obviously, ethnicity, all of those kinds of things, hopefully, will be a consideration when we move to the next phase of how we deal with cancer. And let's not forget that this is all going to be very challenging. You know the financial situation we're in, we know that one in two people develop cancer, and that, as people get older, their chances of getting cancer is going to increase, so none of this is going to be cheap, so we have some really serious challenges ahead of us.
Diolch yn fawr. Roedd gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn darllen am anghydraddoldebau canser a rhai o ganfyddiadau'r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ganser, ac yn sicr mae data yn gwbl allweddol. Mae'n sicr yn rhywbeth rydym bob amser yn ceisio ei wella—sut rydym yn rheoli ein data, sut rydym yn monitro ein data—ac yn sicr, mae ethnigrwydd yn rhywbeth y bydd angen inni ei ystyried. Yr hyn sydd o ddiddordeb i mi, wrth inni fynd ar drywydd yr ymateb newydd, mwy personol yn y ffordd rydym yn ymdrin â chanser, felly ymateb i'r canser penodol yn yr unigolyn penodol hwnnw—. Rydym ar drothwy rhywbeth gwahanol iawn, rwy'n credu, o ran y ffordd y byddwn yn ymdrin â chanser yn y dyfodol. Darllenais yn ddiweddar, er enghraifft, fod y ffordd y mae rhai pobl yn ymateb i gemotherapi yn newid oherwydd y bïomau gwahanol yn eu stumogau; mae gan bawb fïom gwahanol. Felly, bydd y dull personol hwn yn datblygu yn y blynyddoedd i ddod, ac yn amlwg, bydd ethnigrwydd, a'r holl fathau hynny o bethau, gobeithio, yn ystyriaeth pan fyddwn yn symud i'r cam nesaf o sut rydym yn ymdrin â chanser. A gadewch inni beidio ag anghofio y bydd hyn i gyd yn heriol iawn. Rydych yn ymwybodol o'r sefyllfa ariannol rydym ynddi, rydym yn gwybod bod un o bob dau o bobl yn datblygu canser, ac wrth i bobl heneiddio, mae eu perygl o gael canser yn mynd i gynyddu, felly ni fydd dim o hyn yn rhad, felly mae gennym heriau difrifol iawn o'n blaenau.
Minister, in our more deprived communities in Wales, the rates of obesity are still too high. Overweight and obesity prevalence is higher in the most deprived quintile compared to the least deprived quintile in Wales, by the 2021-22 figures. And in findings by Cancer Research UK, in their cancer inequalities report, it states that, if current trends continue, the projections are that there will be almost as many obese people as people of a healthy weight in Wales by the 2040s. We know that maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best ways to minimise the risk of developing cancer. So, Minister, what more can Welsh Government do to tackle obesity levels and the related incidence of cancer in our more deprived communities?
Weinidog, yn ein cymunedau mwy difreintiedig yng Nghymru, mae cyfraddau gordewdra yn dal i fod yn rhy uchel. Mae nifer y bobl sydd dros bwysau neu'n ordew yn uwch yn y cwintel mwyaf difreintiedig o gymharu â'r cwintel lleiaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru yn ôl ffigurau 2021-22. Ac mae canfyddiadau Cancer Research UK, yn eu hadroddiad ar anghydraddoldebau canser, yn nodi, os bydd y tueddiadau presennol yn parhau, y rhagwelir y bydd bron cymaint o bobl ordew â phobl o bwysau iach yng Nghymru erbyn y 2040au. Gwyddom mai cadw at bwysau iach yw un o'r ffyrdd gorau o leihau'r risg o ddatblygu canser. Felly, Weinidog, beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â lefelau gordewdra a nifer yr achosion cysylltiedig o ganser yn ein cymunedau mwy difreintiedig?
Well, thanks very much. This is very much something that my colleague Lynne Neagle leads on, and, certainly, the work that the Welsh Government is doing to try and set out a vision for a smoke-free Wales, making sure that we get a better result in terms of increasing the proportion of children and young people who have a smoke-free childhood. And there's some work being done on e-cigarettes, and of course we had that announcement recently in terms of what we're hoping to do in relation to that.
But you're quite right. I'm particularly concerned about obesity. I think we've got to start talking about this in a really serious way. We're nearing a crisis in relation to this. And this is not something that is going to happen in 2040—60 per cent of people in Wales are overweight or obese now. So, this can't wait any longer. I think there's a whole strategy that has been published, which has all been tested in terms of how we best connect with people. Because if you just go and knock them on the head, and say, 'Don't be so ridiculous, you need to lose weight', that's not going to work. We have to do this in a way that looks at the behavioural science, what is it that changes this.
And the other issue that I've been reading a lot about over the summer is in relation to ultra-processed foods. And I seriously think that this is an area—. It's very difficult for us as just the Welsh Government to deal with this. That's why I'm very saddened to see that the UK Government is not taking this as seriously as I think it should do, because, ideally, we need to do this across the United Kingdom—it would be much, much easier. But there's a whole raft of work that my colleague Lynne Neagle is working on at the moment in relation to making sure we look at those broader issues, making sure, for example, that it's less easy to get access to the kinds of foods that are harmful. It's been very interesting; recently, I've been doing a lot of school visits around Wales, junior school visits. And I've read that 20 per cent of our pupils go into school at the age of five overweight—go into school. But what's been really interesting for me is the contrast between what I've heard and what I've seen in Mid and West Wales schools, where I'm not seeing that pattern in quite the same way. And I think we've got to ask questions about is that because of the availability of food on every street corner. So, we've got to consider all those kinds of things, and that's certainly something that Lynne Neagle, I know, is working on.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae fy nghyd-Aelod Lynne Neagle yn arwain arno, ac yn sicr, y gwaith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i geisio gosod gweledigaeth ar gyfer Cymru ddi-fwg, a sicrhau ein bod yn cael canlyniad gwell o ran cynyddu cyfran y plant a'r bobl ifanc sy'n cael plentyndod di-fwg. Ac mae gwaith yn cael ei wneud ar e-sigaréts, ac wrth gwrs cawsom y cyhoeddiad yn ddiweddar ar yr hyn y gobeithiwn ei wneud mewn perthynas â hynny.
Ond rydych chi'n hollol gywir. Rwy'n arbennig o bryderus ynglŷn â gordewdra. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ddechrau siarad am hyn mewn ffordd wirioneddol ddifrifol. Rydym yn agosáu at argyfwng mewn perthynas â hyn. Ac nid yw'n rhywbeth sy'n mynd i ddigwydd yn 2040—mae 60 y cant o bobl Cymru dros bwysau neu'n ordew nawr. Felly, ni all hyn aros mwyach. Rwy'n credu bod strategaeth gyfan wedi'i chyhoeddi, sydd wedi'i phrofi o ran y ffordd orau o gysylltu â phobl. Oherwydd os na wnewch chi ddim byd mwy na lladd arnynt a dweud, 'Peidiwch â bod mor hurt, mae angen i chi golli pwysau', nid yw hynny'n mynd i weithio. Mae'n rhaid inni wneud hyn mewn ffordd sy'n edrych ar y wyddoniaeth ymddygiadol, beth sy'n mynd i newid hyn?
A'r mater arall y bûm yn darllen llawer amdano dros yr haf yw bwydydd wedi'u prosesu'n helaeth. Ac rwy'n credu o ddifrif fod hwn yn faes—. Mae'n anodd iawn i ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru ymdrin â hyn ar ein pen ein hunain. Dyna pam rwy'n drist iawn o weld nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yr un mor o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn ag y credaf y dylai fod, oherwydd, yn ddelfrydol, mae angen inni wneud hyn ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig—byddai'n llawer iawn haws. Ond mae llwyth o waith y mae fy nghyd-Aelod Lynne Neagle yn gweithio arno ar hyn o bryd mewn perthynas â sicrhau ein bod yn edrych ar y materion ehangach hynny, gan wneud yn siŵr, er enghraifft, ei bod yn llai hawdd cael mynediad at y mathau o fwydydd sy'n niweidiol. Mae wedi bod yn ddiddorol iawn; yn ddiweddar, gwneuthum lawer o ymweliadau ysgol o amgylch Cymru, ymweliadau ag ysgolion iau. A darllenais fod 20 y cant o'n disgyblion yn dechrau'r ysgol yn bump oed dros bwysau—yn dechrau'r ysgol. Ond yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn ddiddorol iawn i mi yw'r cyferbyniad rhwng yr hyn a glywais a'r hyn a welais yn ysgolion Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, lle nad wyf yn gweld y patrwm yn yr un ffordd yn union. Ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ofyn cwestiynau a yw hynny oherwydd argaeledd bwyd ar bob cornel stryd. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni ystyried yr holl bethau hynny, ac rwy'n gwybod bod hynny'n sicr yn rhywbeth y mae Lynne Neagle yn gweithio arno.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr heddiw—Gareth Davies.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Gareth Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd, and good afternoon, Ministers. Most people in Wales will be acutely aware of the horrific serial killer who took the lives of infants just over the border from north-east Wales in the Countess of Chester. Lucy Letby, from a position of responsibility and care, abused her position to gain access to vulnerable infants, trying to kill 18 babies, succeeding in the murder of eight of them. People across Wales will be concerned as to whether this could happen here. The UK Government are carrying out a review, but what about Wales? Are there lessons that we can learn?
I note the written statement by the Welsh Government this lunch time on the speaking up safely process, but are the procedures in place in our Welsh NHS, and does the Minister think they are robust enough to deal with a similar situation were it to happen here in Wales?
Diolch, Lywydd, a phrynhawn da, Weinidogion. Bydd y rhan fwyaf o bobl yng Nghymru yn ymwybodol iawn o'r llofrudd cyfresol dieflig a fu'n lladd babanod ychydig dros y ffin yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru yn ysbyty Iarlles Caer. Fe wnaeth Lucy Letby, a oedd mewn swydd ofalu gyfrifol, gamddefnyddio ei statws i gael mynediad at fabanod bregus, a cheisio lladd 18 o fabanod, gan lwyddo i lofruddio wyth ohonynt. Bydd pobl ledled Cymru yn poeni a allai hyn ddigwydd yma. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn cynnal adolygiad, ond beth am Gymru? A oes gwersi y gallwn ni eu dysgu?
Rwy'n nodi'r datganiad ysgrifenedig gan Lywodraeth Cymru amser cinio heddiw ar y broses o godi llais yn ddiogel, ond a yw'r gweithdrefnau sydd ar waith yn ein GIG yng Nghymru, ac a yw'r Gweinidog yn credu eu bod yn ddigon cadarn i ymdrin â sefyllfa debyg pe bai'n digwydd yma yng Nghymru?
Well, thanks very much. I think we were all very troubled by the Lucy Letby situation, and, certainly, what I know is that our officials—. The director general of the NHS has written out to all of the health boards to make sure that they understand that there is now a duty of candour that was introduced as a result of the Health and Social Care (Quality and Engagement) (Wales) Act in 2020, and that we make sure that we strengthen the 'Putting Things Right' process. So, that duty applies to all NHS organisations, to make sure that quality-driven decisions improve the quality of health services in Wales. So, we have issued that framework for speaking up safely earlier than planned, but, as soon as we heard about the Lucy Letby incidents, then a letter was sent out to health boards.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd wedi ein cythryblu'n fawr gan achos Lucy Letby, ac yn sicr, rwy'n gwybod bod ein swyddogion—. Mae cyfarwyddwr cyffredinol y GIG wedi ysgrifennu at bob un o'r byrddau iechyd i sicrhau eu bod yn deall bod dyletswydd gonestrwydd yn bodoli bellach, dyletswydd a gyflwynwyd o ganlyniad i Ddeddf Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol (Ansawdd ac Ymgysylltu) (Cymru) yn 2020, a'n bod yn sicrhau ein bod yn cryfhau'r broses 'Unioni Pethau'. Felly, mae'r ddyletswydd honno'n berthnasol i holl sefydliadau'r GIG, i sicrhau bod penderfyniadau ynghylch ansawdd yn gwella ansawdd gwasanaethau iechyd yng Nghymru. Felly, rydym wedi cyhoeddi'r fframwaith hwnnw ar gyfer codi llais yn ddiogel yn gynt na'r disgwyl, ond cyn gynted ag y clywsom am ddigwyddiadau Lucy Letby, anfonwyd llythyr at y byrddau iechyd.
Thank you for that response, Minister, and I appreciate it's a difficult situation to talk about, but one that shouldn't be ignored in ensuring the safety of people in the future in Wales, and I appreciate the response to my written question over the summer recess, to the same tune as your response.
Now, I understand and accept that, following the UK Government's inquiry into the Lucy Letby situation, you have expressed an interest in taking the findings and making changes as appropriate, as you've mentioned. This is welcome, but it is likely to be years down the line before you even begin to analyse the findings and make those changes. Is the Welsh Government considering any immediate lessons to be learned, in addition to your response, that apply here in Wales? My view is that the clear lesson is one of greater protections and more respect for whistleblowers. As many people in the profession will know—and as I know coming from that working background—there can be a culture of ostracisation and embarrassment for those who dare to speak up.
So, with that in mind, Minister, do you believe it's necessary, acceptable or right that third sector charities, such as Protect in this instance, should be administering internal NHS complaints on their behalf, rather than the NHS itself, which makes reference to that fact on page 16 of the report?
Diolch am yr ymateb hwnnw, Weinidog, ac rwy'n derbyn ei bod yn sefyllfa anodd i siarad amdani, ond mae'n un na ddylid ei hanwybyddu er mwyn sicrhau diogelwch pobl yn y dyfodol yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r ymateb i fy nghwestiwn ysgrifenedig dros doriad yr haf, yn debyg i'ch ymateb.
Nawr, yn dilyn ymchwiliad Llywodraeth y DU i achos Lucy Letby, rwy'n deall ac yn derbyn eich bod wedi mynegi diddordeb mewn edrych ar y canfyddiadau a gwneud newidiadau fel y bo'n briodol, fel rydych chi wedi sôn. Mae hyn i'w groesawu, ond mae'n debygol o fod yn flynyddoedd eto cyn i chi hyd yn oed ddechrau dadansoddi'r canfyddiadau a gwneud y newidiadau hynny. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried unrhyw wersi uniongyrchol i'w dysgu, yn ogystal â'ch ymateb, sy'n berthnasol yma yng Nghymru? Fy marn i yw mai'r wers glir i'w dysgu yw'r angen am fwy o amddiffyniadau a mwy o barch i chwythwyr chwiban. Fel y bydd llawer o bobl yn y proffesiwn yn gwybod—ac fel y gwn innau o fod yn dod o'r cefndir gweithio hwnnw—gall fod diwylliant yn bodoli o embaras a throi cefn ar y rhai sy'n meiddio codi llais.
Felly, gyda hynny mewn golwg, Weinidog, a ydych chi'n credu ei bod yn angenrheidiol, yn dderbyniol neu'n iawn y dylai elusennau trydydd sector, fel Protect yn yr achos hwn, fod yn gweinyddu cwynion mewnol y GIG ar eu rhan, yn hytrach na'r GIG ei hun, sy'n cyfeirio at y ffaith honno ar dudalen 16 yr adroddiad?
Well, thanks very much. We have been working on the speaking up safely framework for a number of months. So, this was way pre the Lucy Letby case coming to court. And that's been developed in partnership with the trade unions, and making sure that people who work in the NHS know that that is going to be a framework that works for them, where they feel safe, that they can come forward and that they know there will be protection for them. So, what we've done is we've published that, and what we will do is to keep that under active review for the next 12 months, to ensure it remains fit for purpose. And, obviously, if something comes out of lessons learnt during the inquiry into the Lucy Letby case, then, obviously, we will consider those in that review.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio ar y fframwaith codi llais yn ddiogel ers sawl mis. Felly, roedd hyn ymhell cyn i achos Lucy Letby ddod i'r llys. Ac mae wedi cael ei ddatblygu mewn partneriaeth â'r undebau llafur, a sicrhau bod pobl sy'n gweithio yn y GIG yn gwybod bod hwnnw'n mynd i fod yn fframwaith sy'n gweithio iddynt hwy, lle maent yn teimlo'n ddigon diogel i allu codi llais a gwybod y byddant yn cael eu hamddiffyn. Felly, rydym wedi cyhoeddi hynny, a byddwn yn ei adolygu'n weithredol am y 12 mis nesaf, er mwyn sicrhau ei fod yn parhau i fod yn addas i'r diben. Ac yn amlwg, os daw rhywbeth o'r gwersi i'w dysgu yn ystod yr ymchwiliad i achos Lucy Letby, yna, yn amlwg, byddwn yn ystyried y rheini yn yr adolygiad hwnnw.
Thank you again, Minister, and I do appreciate the Welsh Government's ambition in dealing with this situation. But I think the key thing to achieve is for that to permeate onto the front line, so it's not just an ambition that's spoken about, obviously, in the Senedd and in Government circles, but something that's felt throughout the entire Welsh NHS system.
Finally, my final question is a steer away from my initial line of questioning. It's the Welsh Conservatives' view that we need to work with all 22 councils here in Wales to ensure that no child slips through the net and all children obtain the maximum level of care, as the people of Wales rightly expect. Does the Minister agree with me that Wales is the nation of the UK most at risk of serious failings, like we saw with Logan Mwangi and like we saw with Kaylea Titford, because we are the only part of the UK to have not undertaken a children's services review across the 22 local authorities? Why should Wales accept your word that the system is robust? We need clarity. And does the Minister, finally, agree with me that it's about time for a Wales-wide children's services review?
Diolch unwaith eto, Weinidog, ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi uchelgais Llywodraeth Cymru wrth ymdrin â'r sefyllfa hon. Ond rwy'n credu mai'r peth allweddol i'w gyflawni yw i hynny dreiddio i'r rheng flaen, felly nid uchelgais y siaredir amdani'n unig yn y Senedd ac yng nghylchoedd y Llywodraeth ydyw, ond rhywbeth a deimlir trwy holl system y GIG yng Nghymru.
I orffen, mae fy nghwestiwn olaf yn gwyro oddi wrth fy nghwestiynau cychwynnol. Barn y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yw bod angen inni weithio gyda'r 22 cyngor yma yng Nghymru i sicrhau nad oes unrhyw blentyn yn llithro drwy'r rhwyd a bod pob plentyn yn cael y lefel uchaf o ofal, fel y mae pobl Cymru yn ei ddisgwyl yn briodol. A yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi mai Cymru yw'r wlad yn y DU sydd fwyaf mewn perygl o brofi methiannau difrifol, fel y gwelsom gyda Logan Mwangi ac fel y gwelsom gyda Kaylea Titford, oherwydd ni yw'r unig ran o'r DU sydd heb gynnal adolygiad o wasanaethau plant ar draws y 22 awdurdod lleol? Pam y dylai Cymru dderbyn eich gair fod y system yn gadarn? Mae angen eglurder arnom. Ac yn olaf, a yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi ei bod yn hen bryd cael adolygiad o wasanaethau plant ledled Cymru?
The Minister will have to take the question. She's started now.
Bydd yn rhaid i'r Gweinidog gymryd y cwestiwn. Mae hi wedi dechrau nawr.
Thank you.
Diolch.
Just for the record, both myself and the Ministers were expecting the question to be in a subject area for the Deputy Minister to answer. That wasn't the case, and the Minister, thankfully, stood, so—[Inaudible.]
Ar gyfer y cofnod, roeddwn i a'r Gweinidogion yn disgwyl i'r cwestiwn fod mewn maes pwnc i'r Dirprwy Weinidog ei ateb. Nid felly roedd hi, ac yn ffodus, fe gododd y Gweinidog, felly—[Anghlywadwy.]
I had health and social services—.
Roedd gennyf iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol—.
So, the Minister will continue with the answer to the final question.
Felly, fe wnaiff y Gweinidog barhau â'r ateb i'r cwestiwn olaf.
Thanks very much. Well, Julie Morgan is very much the expert in this area, so it would be more appropriate for her to answer this. What I can tell you is that we are very aware of the tragic cases that have happened in Wales, that we're learning lessons from those. There are lots of lessons to be learnt and what we're trying to do is to implement those lessons. That's the priority: to make sure that we implement them and embed them. Rather than have another review, let's get on with the work that we know has to be done.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, Julie Morgan yw'r arbenigwr yn y maes hwn yn sicr, felly byddai'n fwy priodol iddi ateb hyn. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw ein bod yn ymwybodol iawn o'r achosion trasig sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghymru, ein bod yn dysgu gwersi o'r rheini. Mae llawer o wersi i'w dysgu ac rydym yn ceisio rhoi'r gwersi hynny ar waith. Dyna'r flaenoriaeth: sicrhau ein bod yn eu gweithredu ac yn eu gwreiddio. Yn hytrach na chael adolygiad arall, gadewch inni fwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith y gwyddom fod yn rhaid ei wneud.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf, mae gwariant ar staff asiantaeth wedi cynyddu yn aruthrol. Erbyn hyn, mae byrddau iechyd Cymru yn gwario £325 miliwn, dros 7 y cant o gost y gweithlu, gyda £225 miliwn o hwnnw o ganlyniad i swyddi gwag yn methu â chael eu llenwi. Yn y gogledd, roedd y bwrdd iechyd yno yn gwario £30 miliwn ar staff asiantaeth yn ôl y 2018, ond, erbyn heddiw, mae'r ffigwr yna wedi mwy na dyblu i £72 miliwn. Mewn gwirionedd, mae hyn yn adlewyrchu methiant i roi telerau ac amodau gwaith ffafriol i'r gweithlu. Bydd y Gweinidog yn ymwybodol bod Plaid Cymru wedi galw ar i'r Llywodraeth gyflwyno cynllun gweithlu sydd yn ymrwymo i gael gwared ar staff asiantaeth preifat dros bedair blynedd, oherwydd ein bod ni'n tynnu pres o'r gwasanaeth iechyd a'i roi i gwmni preifat, a hynny ar gefn llafur caled gweithlu ymroddedig a bod hynny yn anghyfiawn. Mewn ymateb i gwestiwn gen i yr wythnos diwethaf, fe ddywedodd y Gweinidog y byddwn ni'n gweld y gwariant ar asiantaethau yn disgyn eleni, gan roi sicrwydd, yn ôl ei geiriau hi, y byddwn ni'n gweld cwymp yn y niferoedd o staff asiantaeth eleni. Hwyrach bod y Gweinidog wedi gweld rhai ffigurau eisoes. Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ymhelaethu ar y sicrwydd yma? Beth ydy'r amserlen ar gyfer hyn? A pha newidiadau mae hi am eu gorfodi er mwyn cyrraedd y pwynt yma?
Thank you, Llywydd. Over the past five years, expenditure on agency staff has increased enormously. Now, Welsh health boards spend £325 million, over 7 per cent of workforce costs, with £225 million of that as a direct result of vacant posts and failure to recruit. In north Wales, the health board spent £30 million on agency staff back in 2018, but, today, that figure has more than doubled to £72 million. In reality, this reflects the failure to provide the workforce with favourable terms and conditions. The Minister will be aware that Plaid Cymru has been calling on the Welsh Government to introduce a workforce plan that would commit to phasing out agency staff over four years, because we're taking money from the health service and giving it to private companies, and it's earned on the back of the hard work of a committed workforce and that's unjust. In a response to a question from me last week, the Minister said that we will see expenditure on agency staff falling this year, giving an assurance, in her own words, that we would see a fall in the number of agency staff this year. Now, perhaps the Minister will have already seen some figures. So, can the Minister expand on that assurance? What's the timetable for this? And what changes will she be implementing to reach that point?
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you.
I think it's really important to recognise that the NHS Wales will always need some flexibility when it comes to workforce capacity. That's partly because we need to make sure that we have safe services. There will be times of extreme pressure, there will be the need to cover sickness absences, maternity leave or unplanned absences. So, there will always be a need for some spend on agency. But you're quite right: the spend at the moment is not where we want it to be. So, we've agreed to work in social partnership and to work to reduce the agency spend. That's going to include a range of measures, including a revised control framework for expenditure. And what I can tell you is that agency spend is trending down month on month already for this year. It's not a significant decrease yet, but I am hoping that we will see a more significant fall by the end of this year.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn cydnabod y bydd angen rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd ar GIG Cymru bob amser mewn perthynas â chapasiti'r gweithlu. Mae hynny'n rhannol oherwydd bod angen inni sicrhau bod gennym wasanaethau diogel. Bydd yna adegau o bwysau eithafol, bydd angen staff cyflenwi ar gyfer absenoldebau salwch, absenoldeb mamolaeth neu absenoldebau heb eu cynllunio. Felly, bydd yna bob amser angen rhywfaint o wariant ar staff asiantaeth. Ond rydych chi'n hollol iawn: nid ydym eisiau'r gwariant sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd. Felly, rydym wedi cytuno i weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol a gweithio i leihau gwariant ar staff asiantaeth. Mae hynny'n mynd i gynnwys ystod o fesurau, gan gynnwys fframwaith rheoli diwygiedig ar gyfer gwariant. A'r hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw bod gwariant ar staff asiantaeth yn gostwng o un mis i'r llall eisoes ar gyfer eleni. Nid yw'n ostyngiad sylweddol eto, ond rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn ostyngiad mwy sylweddol erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn.
Thank you for that answer. We already know that three quarters of our nurses work overtime, yet 42 per cent are not paid for that work. They choose agency work because it gives them greater flexibility and they are paid for what they do, but it means that in many cases they have to work away from home. Hence why we are seeing so many nurses leaving the profession. Nurses tell me that, if they were paid overtime, then they would be more likely to stay in the profession and, in fact, some would come back to the profession. So, one solution to avoid having to go to agencies is to simply pay nurses overtime. Finance directors are allowed to pay overtime, but, for whatever reasons, they choose not to do so and instead opt for agency staff. Paying overtime is one simple solution to help with retention and keep money in the NHS. So, is the Minister willing to look at this as a viable option and instruct finance officers to use this method of payment, moving forward?
Diolch am eich ateb. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod bod tri chwarter ein nyrsys yn gweithio goramser, ac eto nid yw 42 y cant ohonynt yn cael eu talu am y gwaith hwnnw. Maent yn dewis gwaith asiantaeth oherwydd ei fod yn rhoi mwy o hyblygrwydd iddynt a chânt eu talu am yr hyn a wnânt, ond mae'n golygu bod yn rhaid iddynt weithio i ffwrdd oddi cartref mewn llawer o achosion. A dyna pam y gwelwn gymaint o nyrsys yn gadael y proffesiwn. Mae nyrsys yn dweud wrthyf, pe baent yn cael eu talu am oramser, y byddent yn fwy tebygol o aros yn y proffesiwn ac mewn gwirionedd, byddai rhai'n dod yn ôl i'r proffesiwn. Felly, un ateb i osgoi gorfod mynd at asiantaethau yw talu goramser i nyrsys. Caniateir i gyfarwyddwyr cyllid dalu goramser, ond am ba resymau bynnag, maent yn dewis peidio â gwneud hynny ac yn dewis staff asiantaeth yn lle hynny. Mae talu goramser yn un ateb syml i helpu gyda chadw staff a chadw arian yn y GIG. Felly, a yw'r Gweinidog yn barod i edrych ar hyn fel opsiwn ymarferol a chyfarwyddo swyddogion cyllid i ddefnyddio'r dull hwn o dalu yn y dyfodol?
Thanks very much. Significant work has already been undertaken within the national workforce implementation plan, which really focuses on this issue, and that plan includes the need to develop flexibility. So, it’s clear that, in the past, the rules around this have been too tight. So, we are trying to respond to what the Royal College of Nursing and other organisations have been asking us, and so there are now some examples of achievements already. Health Education and Improvement Wales has launched a refreshed and enhanced attraction and recruitment campaign for the NHS, but you’re absolutely right that what we need to look at is retention. And what we’ve said in the plan is that we are absolutely taking a holistic approach. So, we need to focus on just looking at the optimal conditions to support staff to stay in the NHS, and the detail for that will be outlined in the nursing retention plan that’s going to be launched shortly alongside a national retention programme for Wales.
Diolch yn fawr. Mae gwaith sylweddol eisoes wedi'i wneud yn y cynllun gweithredu cenedlaethol ar gyfer y gweithlu, sy'n canolbwyntio'n fanwl ar y mater, ac mae'r cynllun hwnnw'n cynnwys yr angen i ddatblygu hyblygrwydd. Felly, mae'n amlwg, yn y gorffennol, fod y rheolau ar hyn wedi bod yn rhy dynn. Felly, rydym yn ceisio ymateb i'r hyn y mae'r Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol a sefydliadau eraill wedi bod yn ei ofyn i ni, ac felly mae yna rai enghreifftiau o gyflawniadau eisoes. Mae Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru wedi lansio ymgyrch ddenu a recriwtio staff adnewyddedig a gwell ar gyfer y GIG, ond rydych chi'n hollol gywir mai'r hyn sydd angen inni edrych arno yw cadw staff. Ac rydym wedi dweud yn y cynllun ein bod yn mabwysiadu dull cyfannol o weithredu. Felly, mae angen inni ganolbwyntio ar edrych ar yr amodau gorau posibl i gynorthwyo staff i aros yn y GIG, a bydd y manylion ar gyfer hynny'n cael eu hamlinellu yn y cynllun cadw staff nyrsio a fydd yn cael ei lansio'n fuan ochr yn ochr â rhaglen gadw staff genedlaethol i Gymru.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad ar oblygiadau pwysau ariannol ar gynlluniau cyfalaf yn y sector iechyd yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ59937
3. Will the Minister make a statement on the implications of financial pressures on capital plans in the health sector in north Wales? OQ59937
Mae pwysau ariannol sylweddol ar draws yr NHS o hyd, o ran refeniw ac o ran cyfalaf. Bydd angen i Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr barhau i flaenoriaethu eu gofynion cyfalaf er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw’n canolbwyntio ar wasanaethau hanfodol. Bydd hynny’n golygu gwneud penderfyniadau anodd.
There remain significant financial pressures across the NHS for both revenue and capital. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will need to continue to prioritise capital requirements to ensure that they are focusing on essential services. As a result, difficult decisions are going to need to be made.
Mi gaewyd y Royal Alex yn y Rhyl, wrth gwrs, nôl yn 2009, gydag addewid o’i ailddatblygu e. Yn wir, fe gaewyd ysbytai cymunedol ar gefn yr addewid yna o ailddatblygu’r Royal Alex. Mi oedd yna achos busnes yn 2021 yn amlinellu’n glir yr angen i’w ailddatblygu. Bedair blynedd ar ddeg yn ddiweddarach, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni'n dal yn aros i hynny ddigwydd. Mae’r bwrdd iechyd yn aros i’r Llywodraeth i gadarnhau a fydd yna gyllid ar gael, mae’r cyngor sir, a drafododd hyn yn ddiweddar, yn dal i aros, ac mae’r trigolion a chleifion yn y gogledd yn dal i aros.
Nawr, yng ngoleuni yr heriau cyllidebol rŷch chi newydd eu hamlinellu inni, gewch chi ateb un o ddau gwestiwn—gewch chi ddewis pa un rŷch yn ei ateb. Naill ai a wnewch chi ateb pryd y gwelwn ni ailddatblygu’r Royal Alex yn y Rhyl, neu efallai fyddai'n well gyda chi ateb a fyddwn ni byth yn gweld ailddatblygu’r Royal Alex yn y Rhyl?
The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl was closed in 2009, with a pledge that it would be redeveloped. Indeed, community hospitals were closed on the back of that pledge to redevelop the Royal Alex. There was a business case in 2021, which highlighted the need to redevelop it. Fourteen years later, we are still waiting for that to happen. The health board is waiting for the Government to confirm whether funding will be available, the county council, which discussed this recently, is still waiting, and residents and patients in the north are still waiting.
Now, in light of the budgetary challenges that you have just outlined to us, you can answer one of two questions—you can choose which one to answer. Either will you answer when we will see the redevelopment of the Royal Alex in Rhyl, or perhaps you would prefer to tell us whether we will ever see the redevelopment of the Royal Alex in Rhyl?
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Roedd hwn yn rhywbeth y gwnes i godi gyda’r bwrdd yr wythnos diwethaf. Dwi'n cael cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda’r bwrdd ac roedd hwn yn rhywbeth y gwnes i bwyso arnyn nhw. Mae'n rhaid gwneud penderfyniad ar hyn; mae'n rhaid blaenoriaethu. Nawr, mae'n mynd i fod yn anodd iddyn nhw flaenoriaethu. Dwi'n keen iawn, er enghraifft, i weld gwelliant yn y niferoedd sydd yn cael triniaeth orthopedig yn y gogledd—mae’r rhestrau aros yn rhy hir. Ac felly, fe fydd angen pwyso a mesur a ydych chi eisiau canolfan orthopedig newydd neu a ydych chi eisiau datblygu'r Royal Alex? Wel, dwi ddim yn meddwl bod hwnna'n benderfyniad i mi; mae hwnna'n benderfyniad y mae’n rhaid i’r bwrdd ei bwyso a’i fesur o ran beth sydd yn fwyaf pwysig ar hyn o bryd.
Beth rŷn ni yn gwybod mewn perthynas â'r Royal Alex yw, pan wnaethpwyd y penderfyniad ein bod ni eisiau gweld y datblygiad, y byddai wedi costio tua £20 miliwn; erbyn heddiw, byddai’n costio tua £80 miliwn. A beth rŷch chi yn ymwybodol ohono yw, eleni, aeth ein cyfalaf ar draws y Llywodraeth i gyd i fyny £1 filiwn. Felly, mae’r cyfalaf yn anodd iawn inni. Ond beth allaf i ddweud wrthych chi yw, dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, fod Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cael £454 miliwn mewn cyfalaf oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru.
Well, thank you very much. This was something that I raised with the board last week. I have regular meetings with the board and this is something that I impressed on them. There needs to be a decision on this; there needs to be a prioritisation. Now, it's going to be difficult for them to prioritise. I'm very keen, for example, to see an improvement in the numbers that receive orthopaedic treatment in north Wales—the waiting lists are too long. And so, there will be a need to weigh up whether you want a new orthopaedic centre or the redevelopment of the Royal Alex. I don't think that's a decision for me; I think it's a decision that the board has to weigh up in terms of what the most important thing is at present.
What we do know in relation to the Royal Alex is that, when that decision was made that we wanted to see that development, it would have cost about £20 million; by now, it would cost approximately £80 million. And what you are aware of is that, this year, our capital funding across the entire Government went up by £1 million. So, the capital situation is very difficult for us. But what I can tell you is that, over the last 10 years, Betsi Cadwaladr has had £454 million in capital funding from the Welsh Government.
Janet Finch-Saunders.
Janet Finch-Saunders
Diolch, Llywydd. Will the Minister make a statement—? Oh, yes, sorry—
Diolch, Lywydd. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad—? O, ie, mae'n ddrwg gennyf—
Janet Finch-Saunders, you really do need to focus when you're in the Chamber—
Janet Finch-Saunders, mae gwir angen i chi ganolbwyntio pan fyddwch chi yn y Siambr—
I am focused.
Rwy'n canolbwyntio.
You were totally distracted there in e-mailing, and I would ask—
Roedd eich sylw yn rhywle arall yn llwyr wrth i chi e-bostio, a hoffwn ofyn—
I'm not the only one, with all due respect.
Nid fi yw'r unig un, gyda phob parch.
No, no. I'll—
Na, na. Fe wnaf—
Come on—
Dewch, dewch—
No, don't challenge me and don't 'come on' me, right? I'm not in the mood for it today. You were totally distracted. I was trying to look at you, to catch your attention that you were to be called next, and you were typing away. So, focus on what you're doing. Ask the Minister the question; she's here to answer what you have to ask, so ask the correct one this time.
Na, peidiwch â fy herio a pheidiwch â dweud 'dewch dewch' wrthyf fi, iawn? Nid oes gennyf amynedd ar gyfer hynny heddiw. Roedd eich sylw yn rhywle arall. Roeddwn i'n ceisio edrych arnoch chi, i ddal eich sylw er mwyn i chi wybod mai chi fyddai'n cael eich galw nesaf, ac roeddech chi wrthi'n teipio. Felly, canolbwyntiwch ar yr hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud. Gofynnwch y cwestiwn i'r Gweinidog; mae hi yma i ateb yr hyn sydd gennych i'w ofyn, felly gofynnwch yr un cywir y tro hwn.
Okay, thank you. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board estate strategy, dated 6 January 2023, highlights that £1.61 billion of capital investment—[Interruption.] It's what?
Iawn, diolch yn fawr. Mae strategaeth ystad Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, dyddiedig 6 Ionawr 2023, yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod £1.61 biliwn o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n beth?
Carry on.
Parhewch.
Sorry, what am I doing wrong now?
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, beth ydw i'n ei wneud o'i le nawr?
You're doing nothing wrong at the moment.
Nid ydych chi'n gwneud unrhyw beth o'i le ar hyn o bryd.
Okay, thank you. The priorities for the capital programme are the Wrexham Maelor Hospital infrastructure continuity programme; Ysbyty Gwynedd fire compliance programme, regional treatment centre programme and expanded orthopaedics capacity; Royal Alexandra Hospital development project; a replacement of the Ablett unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital and a medical and health sciences school. Now, there's no mention of projects in hospitals such as Bryn y Neuadd, which already has a maintenance backlog of £27.5 million and now has reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete—the concrete issue. What steps are you taking to co-operate with Betsi Cadwaladr to ensure that capital investment is being made in these small yet vitally important hospitals, such as Bryn y Neuadd? Diolch.
Iawn, diolch yn fawr. Y blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y rhaglen gyfalaf yw rhaglen parhad seilwaith Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam; rhaglen cydymffurfiaeth diogelwch tân, rhaglen canolfan driniaeth ranbarthol a chapasiti orthopedig estynedig Ysbyty Gwynedd; prosiect datblygu Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra; uned yn lle uned Ablett yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd ac ysgol feddygol a gwyddorau iechyd. Nawr, nid oes unrhyw sôn am brosiectau mewn ysbytai fel Bryn y Neuadd, sydd eisoes ag ôl-groniad cynnal a chadw o £27.5 miliwn ac sydd bellach â phroblem concrit awyredig awtoclafiedig cyfnerth—y broblem concrit. Pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i gydweithredu â Betsi Cadwaladr i sicrhau bod buddsoddiad cyfalaf yn cael ei wneud yn yr ysbytai bach ond hanfodol bwysig hyn, fel Bryn y Neuadd? Diolch.
Thanks very much. What I can tell you is that our capital budget is massively restricted, and that's thanks to the Tory Government, which has only given us £1 million in additional capital funding for the entirety of the Welsh Government additionally this year. It's not my job to prioritise what the health board—. Because these are clinical decisions, they need to work out, 'Right, what is the most urgent thing here? Is it to fix mental health or is it to put more into cancer care, or is it to put more into orthopaedics, or is it to develop the Royal Alexandra?' I don't think it's my place to determine for them where they put that money.
What I can tell you is that, actually, quite a lot of our capital money is spent on simply keeping the lights on. We have got an ageing estate, and so when you talk about the Wrexham Maelor continuity programme, that's quite a lot of money, but if we don't spend it, it will be difficult to keep that hospital open, because the electrics just won't stand up to the pressure that they're under at the moment. So, there are things that we have to spend to keep the show on the road, and then we have to think, 'Right, what are the priorities and what matters most to the people in north Wales?'
I don't think that I should be intervening in determining what the clinical priorities should be. That's why we appoint health boards, to make those decisions. They are closer to the people. They know where the safety issues are, for example. It would be wrong of me to say, 'Right, develop this', and then see that, actually, you can't keep the lights on, which means that people just are decanted from hospitals. So, it's not my call, I don't think, but I obviously keep in close touch with the health boards in terms of their determining what they want to do.
Diolch yn fawr. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw bod ein cyllideb gyfalaf wedi'i chyfyngu'n aruthrol, diolch i'r Llywodraeth Dorïaidd, sydd ond wedi rhoi £1 filiwn i ni mewn cyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei chyfanrwydd eleni. Nid fy ngwaith i yw blaenoriaethu'r hyn y mae'r bwrdd iechyd—. Gan mai penderfyniadau clinigol yw'r rhain, mae angen iddynt ystyried, 'Iawn, beth yw'r peth cyntaf i'w wneud yma? Ai datrys iechyd meddwl neu roi mwy tuag at ofal canser, neu ai rhoi mwy tuag at orthopedeg, neu ddatblygu'r Royal Alexandra?' Nid wyf yn credu mai fy lle i yw penderfynu ar eu rhan lle i roi'r arian hwnnw.
Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych chi yw bod cryn dipyn o'n harian cyfalaf yn cael ei wario ar gadw'r goleuadau ynghyn. Mae gennym ystad sy'n heneiddio, ac felly pan fyddwch yn siarad am raglen parhad Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam, mae hwnnw'n gryn dipyn o arian, ond os na fyddwn yn ei wario, bydd yn anodd cadw'r ysbyty hwnnw ar agor, oherwydd ni all y gwaith trydanol gynnal y pwysau sydd arno ar hyn o bryd. Felly, mae yna bethau y mae'n rhaid inni eu gwario i gadw pethau i fynd, ac yna mae'n rhaid inni feddwl, 'Iawn, beth yw'r blaenoriaethau a beth sydd bwysicaf i bobl gogledd Cymru?'
Nid wyf yn credu y dylwn i ymyrryd i benderfynu beth ddylai'r blaenoriaethau clinigol fod. Dyna pam ein bod yn penodi byrddau iechyd, i wneud y penderfyniadau hynny. Maent yn agosach at y bobl. Maent yn gwybod lle mae'r problemau diogelwch, er enghraifft. Byddai'n anghywir i mi ddweud, 'Iawn, datblygwch hyn', ac yna gweld na allwch gadw pethau i fynd, sy'n golygu bod pobl yn cael eu symud allan o ysbytai. Felly, nid wyf yn credu mai fi sydd i benderfynu ond rwy'n amlwg yn cadw mewn cysylltiad agos â'r byrddau iechyd a'u penderfyniadau ynglŷn â'r hyn y maent am ei wneud.
4. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y defnydd o unedau deintyddol symudol ledled Cymru? OQ59916
4. Will the Minister provide an update on the use of mobile dental units across Wales? OQ59916
There are a number of drivable and towable mobile dental units that have been commissioned in innovative ways across Wales. This includes use for the delivery of oral health initiatives such as Gwên am Byth, Designed to Smile, or to deliver additional general dental service capacity in underserved areas.
Mae nifer o unedau deintyddol symudol y gellir eu gyrru a'u tynnu wedi cael eu comisiynu mewn ffyrdd arloesol ledled Cymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys eu defnyddio ar gyfer darparu mentrau iechyd y geg fel Gwên am Byth, Cynllun Gwên, neu i ddarparu capasiti gwasanaeth deintyddol cyffredinol ychwanegol mewn ardaloedd lle nad oes gwasanaethau digonol ar gael.
I'd like to thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, we've discussed this before. As you know, these are key parts of the health service, which I think are really needed, actually, to get to the most deprived people in our society and, actually, to help our schools and our young children—getting their check-ups and getting dental care—because we do know that good oral health has good links to good overall health, and good mental health as well. So, with discussions you're having as part of the Government review with funding, I was just interested, with the pilot schemes that have been launched across the country, is there going to be longer term funding for the mobile dental units, going forward, or are we going to see some of these schemes paused due to the funding pressures currently being faced by the Welsh Government?
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei hateb. Weinidog, rydym wedi trafod hyn o'r blaen. Fel y gwyddoch, mae'r rhain yn rhannau allweddol o'r gwasanaeth iechyd y credaf fod eu hangen yn fawr i gyrraedd y bobl fwyaf difreintiedig yn ein cymdeithas ac i helpu ein hysgolion a'n plant ifanc i gael eu harchwiliadau a gofal deintyddol oherwydd fe wyddom fod gan iechyd geneuol da gysylltiadau da ag iechyd cyffredinol da, ac iechyd meddwl da hefyd. Felly, gyda'r trafodaethau rydych yn eu cael fel rhan o adolygiad y Llywodraeth o gyllid, gyda'r cynlluniau peilot sydd wedi'u lansio ledled y wlad, hoffwn wybod a fydd cyllid mwy hirdymor ar gael ar gyfer yr unedau deintyddol symudol wrth symud ymlaen, neu a ydym yn mynd i weld rhai o'r cynlluniau hyn yn cael eu gohirio oherwydd y pwysau cyllido sy'n wynebu Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd?
Thanks very much. You'll be aware that there is a pilot programme being undertaken in a school in north Wales at the moment—in Ysgol y Moelwyn—so that is up and running. It'll be interesting to see what the results of that are and whether it constitutes value for money for us, and all of that, of course, is critical in our assessments going forward.
In terms of mobile units, there's value to them, but I think we've also got to understand that they're not ideal either. You do have to consider things like whether you've got the right plumbing and the right kind of environment for them to work effectively. So, there are mobile dental units, for example, and I know that they make good use of them, in Carmarthen, and in Powys, for example, they've been using a mobile unit in Machynlleth, but I think now that they've got the new development, that's going to be moved into the new development. So, as a concept, we're going to see how it goes in Ysgol y Moelwyn, and if that works, then, obviously, we'll have to reassess and see whether that is a model we can consider rolling out further.
Diolch yn fawr. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod rhaglen beilot yn cael ei chynnal mewn ysgol yng ngogledd Cymru ar hyn o bryd—yn Ysgol y Moelwyn—felly mae honno ar y gweill. Bydd yn ddiddorol gweld beth yw canlyniadau hynny ac a yw'n dangos gwerth am arian, ac mae hynny i gyd, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol yn ein hasesiadau wrth symud ymlaen.
O ran unedau symudol, mae yna werth iddynt, ond rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ddeall hefyd nad ydynt yn ddelfrydol. Mae'n rhaid ichi ystyried pethau fel y plymio cywir a'r math cywir o amgylchedd iddynt allu gweithio'n effeithiol. Felly, mae yna unedau deintyddol symudol, er enghraifft, a gwn eu bod yn gwneud defnydd da ohonynt yng Nghaerfyrddin, ac ym Mhowys, er enghraifft, maent wedi bod yn defnyddio uned symudol ym Machynlleth, ond rwy'n credu nawr fod ganddynt ddatblygiad newydd, mae hynny'n mynd i gael ei symud i'r datblygiad newydd. Felly, fel cysyniad, rydym yn mynd i weld sut mae'n mynd yn Ysgol y Moelwyn, ac os yw hynny'n gweithio, yna yn amlwg bydd yn rhaid inni ailasesu a gweld a yw hwnnw'n fodel y gallwn ystyried ei gyflwyno ymhellach.
Llandeilo, Abergwaun, Cross Hands, Rhydaman—dyma rai ardaloedd yn fy rhanbarth i sydd wedi'u heffeithio'n fawr yn barod wrth i 24 y cant o ddeintyddfeydd yn ardal Hywel Dda ddod â'u cytundebau NHS i ben dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Ac, yn anffodus, mae'r ffigwr hwn yn mynd i godi wrth inni glywed y newyddion yn ddiweddar fod darpariaeth NHS yn mynd i ddod i ben yn Hwlffordd a Hendy-gwyn ar Daf ddiwedd mis Tachwedd.
Y llynedd, dim ond 30 y cant o'r boblogaeth yng Nghymru gafodd apwyntiad gyda deintydd dan y gwasanaeth iechyd. Ond, yn dilyn lleoli uned deintyddiaeth symudol yn Rhydaman yn ddiweddar, wrth i gontractwr newydd sefydlu yna, a yw'r Llywodraeth wedi ystyried darparu mwy o unedau deintyddol symudol—rŷch chi wedi sôn am rai ohonyn nhw'n barod—mewn cymunedau gwledig er mwyn llenwi'r bwlch? Ac, os felly, pa asesiad ŷch chi wedi'i wneud i sicrhau bod digon o weithlu ar gael i wneud unedau symudol yn opsiwn realistig?
Llandeilo, Fishguard, Cross Hands, Ammanford—these are some of the areas in my region that have been greatly impacted as 24 per cent of dentists in the Hywel Dda area brought their NHS contracts to an end over the past year. And, unfortunately, this figure is going to increase as we heard the recent news that NHS provision is going to come to end in Haverfordwest and Whitland at the end of November.
Last year, only 30 per cent of the population in Wales had an appointment with a dentist in the NHS. But, following the location of a mobile dental unit in Ammanford recently, as a new contractor established there, has the Government considered providing more mobile dental units—you've already mentioned some of them—in rural communities in order to fill the gap? And, if so, what assessment have you made to ensure that there is sufficient workforce available to make these mobile units a realistic option?
Diolch yn fawr. Dwi'n ymwybodol iawn o'r sefyllfa yng ngorllewin Cymru. Dyna un rheswm pam rŷn ni wedi cynnig £5,000 yn ychwanegol, i drial cael pobl i hyfforddi mewn llefydd fel gorllewin Cymru. Ond, os ydyn ni'n colli'r cytundeb, fel Llywodraeth, dŷch chi ddim yn colli'r arian; beth rŷch chi'n gwneud yw ailgontractio i rywun arall. Dyna sydd wedi digwydd, er enghraifft, yn Rhydaman, lle rŷn ni wedi ailgontractio, ond dyw'r ganolfan ddim yn barod eto a dyna pam maen nhw wedi rhoi mobile unit i mewn dros dro. Felly, yn amlwg, rŷch chi wedi clywed am y sefyllfa ariannol, sy'n heriol, ac felly, a bod yn realistig, dwi ddim yn meddwl ein bod ni'n mynd i weld lot yn cael eu prynu ac yn cael eu defnyddio. Ond, er enghraifft, mae lot o help ychwanegol wedi cael ei ddefnyddio yng Nghaerfyrddin o ran urgent access capacity. Mae yna lot o waith wedi cael ei wneud ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda, ac maen nhw wedi gwneud y buddsoddiad yna mewn urgent access capacity ac mae hwnna'n cael ei ddefnyddio yn y mobile unit yng Nghaerfyrddin.
Thank you very much. I'm highly aware of the situation in west Wales. That's one reason why we've offered an additional £5,000, to encourage people to train in areas such as west Wales. But, if we, as a Government, lose that contract, you don't lose the money; what you do is re-contract to someone else. That's what happened in Ammanford, where we have re-contracted, but the centre isn't yet ready and that is why they've put that mobile unit in place temporarily. Now, clearly, you've heard about the financial situation, which is very challenging, and so, being realistic, I don't think that we will see a great deal purchased and used. But, there is, for example, a lot of additional help that has been provided in Carmarthen in terms of urgent access capacity. A great deal of work has been done in Hywel Dda University Health Board, and they have made that investment in urgent access capacity and that is being used in the mobile unit in Carmarthen.
Good afternoon, Minister. Just to follow up on the question that Cefin has asked—and I do thank James Evans for raising the issue around dentistry, which is one that I know many of us here are concerned about—following on from the issue around clawbacks, as I understand it, they're contracts that are returned to the local health boards. In Powys, we know that the total amount of clawback from dental care practices undertaking NHS works amounts to £241,000, representing almost half of all the NHS dental practices in the health board, which, for Powys, is a really high number. So, I just wondered if you could tell us how we can learn how you're reinvesting, or how you expect the health board to reinvest the money that is coming back from those clawbacks, from those hand-backs of dental contracts, immediately in relation to continued dental health care. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Os caf ddilyn y cwestiwn y mae Cefin wedi ei ofyn—a diolch i James Evans am godi mater deintyddiaeth, sy'n un rwy'n gwybod bod llawer ohonom ni yma yn poeni amdano—a dilyn ymlaen o'r cwestiwn ynglŷn ag adfachiadau, fel rwy'n ei ddeall, contractau sy'n cael eu dychwelyd i'r byrddau iechyd lleol ydynt. Ym Mhowys, rydym yn gwybod bod cyfanswm yr adfachiad o bractisau gofal deintyddol sy'n gwneud gwaith GIG yn £241,000, gan bron i hanner yr holl feddygfeydd deintyddol GIG yn y bwrdd iechyd, sy'n nifer uchel iawn ar gyfer Powys. Felly, tybed a allech chi ddweud wrthym sut y gallwn ni ddysgu sut rydych chi'n ailfuddsoddi, neu sut rydych chi'n disgwyl i'r bwrdd iechyd ailfuddsoddi'r arian sy'n dod yn ôl o'r adfachiadau hynny, o'r contractau deintyddol a ddychwelir, ar unwaith mewn perthynas â gofal iechyd deintyddol parhaus. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thanks very much. The figures I've got for Powys are very different in relation to the contract hand-backs in Powys, so, it'd be interesting for us to compare notes on that later. But, what I can tell you is that, of course, the funding is not lost. As I say, it remains within the health board and then they replace it with alternative dental services. The problem is that the reprocurement takes time, and, obviously, what that means is that there's a gap in provision, and health boards have to try and make arrangements to provide urgent emergency care while those displaced patients are changed and moved to a recommissioned dentist. So, I'd be very happy to compare notes with you in terms of the contract returns, because the suggestion that I have is they're not as significant as you're suggesting there.FootnoteLink
Diolch yn fawr. Mae'r ffigurau sydd gennyf fi ar gyfer Powys yn wahanol iawn ar gyfer y contractau a ddychwelir ym Mhowys, felly byddai'n ddiddorol i ni gymharu nodiadau ar hynny yn nes ymlaen. Ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw nad yw'r cyllid yn cael ei golli. Fel y dywedais, mae'n parhau o fewn y bwrdd iechyd ac maent yn darparu gwasanaethau deintyddol amgen yn ei le. Y broblem yw bod yr ailgaffael yn cymryd amser, ac yn amlwg, mae hynny'n golygu bod bwlch yn y ddarpariaeth, ac mae'n rhaid i fyrddau iechyd geisio gwneud trefniadau i ddarparu gofal brys tra bod y cleifion sydd wedi'u dadleoli yn cael eu newid a'u symud at ddeintydd wedi'i ailgomisiynu. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn i gymharu nodiadau gyda chi ynghylch y contractau a ddychwelir, oherwydd carwn awgrymu nad ydynt mor arwyddocaol â'r hyn rydych chi newydd ei awgrymu.FootnoteLink
Diolch, Weinidog. I wanted to touch on some concerns you alluded to with regard to the mobile dental unit in your answer to James Evans. I'm sure you're aware there was an article in Nation Cymru over the summer months about mobile dental units being purchased by Cardiff and Vale health board at a cost of nearly £0.5 million, but that they were out of action for many different reasons at multiple times due to various faults. The article went further to claim that the vehicles were not properly MOT certified and that one of the units was driven illegally 16 times. Now, you're more aware than anyone here of the long waiting lists here in Cardiff to get seen by a dentist, so would you agree to a review by your officials of the use of the mobile dental units in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board due to the concerns raised in that Nation Cymru article? Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog. Roeddwn am grybwyll rhai o'r pryderon y cyfeirioch chi atynt ynghylch yr uned ddeintyddol symudol yn eich ateb i James Evans. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn ymwybodol fod erthygl ar Nation Cymru dros fisoedd yr haf am unedau deintyddol symudol yn cael eu prynu gan fwrdd iechyd Caerdydd a'r Fro ar gost o bron i £0.5 miliwn, ond eu bod yn anweithredol am lawer o wahanol resymau ar sawl achlysur oherwydd amryw o ddiffygion. Aeth yr erthygl ymlaen i honni nad oedd y cerbydau wedi cael ardystiad MOT priodol a bod un o'r unedau wedi'i gyrru'n anghyfreithlon ar 16 achlysur. Nawr, rydych yn fwy ymwybodol na neb yma o'r rhestrau aros hir yma yng Nghaerdydd i gael gweld deintydd, felly a fyddech yn cytuno i adolygiad gan eich swyddogion o'r defnydd o'r unedau deintyddol symudol yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro oherwydd y pryderon a godwyd yn yr erthygl honno gan Nation Cymru? Diolch.
Part of the reason for that expense is that some of those mobile dental units are fitted with bariatric chairs, which, obviously, need to be reinforced and which provide Cardiff with the capacity to treat bariatric patients. So that would, perhaps, explain some of the reason why they are more expensive. I think it's probably important to underline that there are limitations to the effectiveness of mobile dental units as care delivery models for the longer term, and that's partly because there may be mechanical issues that need to be considered, there are infection prevention and control requirements that need to be considered, and, of course, we have to consider travel time for the staff and for patients. The key thing, of course, in relation to dentistry always is the staff situation. You can invest in lots and lots of new mobile units, but if you don't have the staff, they're pretty pointless. So, for me, focus on staffing is absolutely critical, and I was very pleased, over the summer, to go and visit the new dental academy in Bangor, which, of course, will help to provide some of those people who will be helping us in future in this area.
Rhan o'r rheswm am y gost honno yw bod cadeiriau bariatrig wedi'u gosod yn rhai o'r unedau deintyddol symudol hynny, sydd angen eu hatgyfnerthu wrth gwrs, ac sy'n rhoi capasiti i Gaerdydd allu trin cleifion bariatrig. Felly, byddai hynny efallai yn egluro rhai o'r rhesymau pam eu bod yn ddrytach. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig pwysleisio bod cyfyngiadau i effeithiolrwydd unedau deintyddol symudol fel modelau darparu gofal yn fwy hirdymor, a hynny'n rhannol oherwydd y gallai fod materion mecanyddol y mae angen eu hystyried, mae angen ystyried gofynion atal a rheoli heintiau, ac wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid inni ystyried amser teithio i staff ac i gleifion. Y peth allweddol bob amser wrth gwrs mewn perthynas â deintyddiaeth yw'r sefyllfa staff. Gallwch fuddsoddi mewn llawer o unedau symudol newydd, ond os nad oes gennych staff, maent yn eithaf dibwrpas. Felly i mi, mae canolbwyntio ar staffio yn gwbl hanfodol, a phleser oedd ymweld â'r academi ddeintyddol newydd ym Mangor dros yr haf a fydd yn helpu i ddarparu rhai o'r bobl a fydd yn ein cynorthwyo yn y maes hwn yn y dyfodol.
5. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i wella gwasanaethau iechyd yn y gogledd? OQ59912
5. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve health services in north Wales? OQ59912
In my statement yesterday, I set out the progress that has been made since I put Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board back into special measures, and I outlined the support the health board is receiving from the Welsh Government and the NHS executive to address a range of clinical and operational issues.
Yn fy natganiad ddoe, nodais y cynnydd sydd wedi'i wneud ers imi roi Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr o dan fesurau arbennig unwaith eto, ac amlinellais y cymorth y mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn ei gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru a gweithrediaeth y GIG i fynd i'r afael ag amrywiaeth o faterion clinigol a gweithredol.
Thank you, Minister. You've already highlighted the extreme financial pressures that the NHS in Wales is facing, because of the huge real-terms reductions in funding to Wales from the UK Government and the price of inflation. Yesterday, I raised the need for a new health centre in Cefn Mawr, and also there's a need for a new GP surgery in Hanmer, and I'm very pleased with the progress that's being made by the health board with regard to both projects. Minister, will the Welsh Government commit to protecting as best it can the very precious capital funding that's available for new and improved health facilities as we navigate through these incredibly difficult times?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Rydych eisoes wedi tynnu sylw at y pwysau ariannol eithafol y mae'r GIG yng Nghymru yn ei wynebu, oherwydd y gostyngiadau cyllidol enfawr mewn termau real i Gymru gan Lywodraeth y DU a phris chwyddiant. Ddoe, codais yr angen am ganolfan iechyd newydd yng Nghefn Mawr, ac mae angen meddygfa newydd yn Hanmer, ac rwy'n falch iawn o'r cynnydd sy'n cael ei wneud gan y bwrdd iechyd mewn perthynas â'r ddau brosiect. Weinidog, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i wneud ei gorau glas i ddiogelu'r arian cyfalaf gwerthfawr sydd ar gael ar gyfer cyfleusterau iechyd newydd a gwell wrth inni wneud ein ffordd drwy'r cyfnod hynod anodd hwn?
Thanks very much. You're quite right, it is a challenging time, particularly in relation to capital in the health service, but what we have undertaken is some support in relation to that integration and rebalancing of capital funds, so there is a ring-fenced amount of money. It was launched in 2022, and that's going to reach £70 million within three years. So, there is some money there in order to do precisely what you're talking about. What we are now looking at, in particular in north Wales, is that six projects have been approved, including the next stage business case for the development of a health and well-being hub for Conwy and Llandudno Junction, and a well-being centre in Penygroes in Gwynedd. But it's good to hear that they're also progressing with those GP services that you mentioned.
Diolch yn fawr. Rydych yn llygad eich lle, mae'n gyfnod heriol, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â chyfalaf yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, ond yr hyn a wnaethom yw rhoi cymorth tuag at yr integreiddio hwnnw ac ailgydbwyso cronfeydd cyfalaf, fel bod swm o arian wedi'i glustnodi. Cafodd ei lansio yn 2022, ac mae'n mynd i gyrraedd £70 miliwn o fewn tair blynedd. Felly, mae rhywfaint o arian yno i wneud yn union yr hyn a nodwch. Yr hyn a welwn, yn enwedig yng ngogledd Cymru, yw bod chwe phrosiect wedi eu cymeradwyo, gan gynnwys y cam nesaf o'r achos busnes ar gyfer datblygu canolfan iechyd a lles i Gonwy a Chyffordd Llandudno, a chanolfan lesiant ym Mhen-y-groes yng Ngwynedd. Ond mae'n dda clywed eu bod hefyd yn bwrw ymlaen gyda'r gwasanaethau meddygon teulu y sonioch chi amdanynt.
6. Pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud i ymgysylltu â grwpiau agored i niwed mewn perthynas ag e-ragnodi? OQ59923
6. What work has the Welsh Government done to engage with vulnerable groups in relation to e-prescribing? OQ59923
We recognise the importance of ensuring that all citizens across Wales should be able to have access to their medicines and prescription information in a format that suits them, and the continuing engagement with both vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups across Wales will ensure that their voices are heard.
Rydym yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd sicrhau y dylai pob dinesydd ledled Cymru allu cael mynediad at wybodaeth am eu meddyginiaethau a'u presgripsiynau mewn fformat sy'n addas iddynt, a bydd yr ymgysylltiad parhaus â grwpiau agored i niwed a grwpiau nad ydynt yn agored i niwed ledled Cymru yn sicrhau bod eu lleisiau'n cael eu clywed.
Diolch, Minister. It is good to hear that positive news about the potential as well for e-prescribing across Wales, because there are so many benefits to it, including not having millions of pieces of prescription paper flying around Wales all of the time. And it really will help patients when they're in hospital, and they'll be able to be discharged faster. If you go into hospital and you aren't able to say what prescription you're on, it will be able to be pulled up. There really are so many benefits, so I am in favour of it.
We are investigating e-prescribing through the lens of data justice and therefore social justice in our Equality and Social Justice Committee. So, just some of the things that have been raised so far. Having spoken to survivors of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, they were saying that, at the moment, they would be quite concerned that anybody would be able to access their records. So, anybody who worked in the NHS. So, maybe if their perpetrator worked in the NHS or somebody who was known to the perpetrator. And they actually went so far as to say that they would fear for their life if there was a possibility that they would be able to access their address, and it would also probably stop them from even going to their GP because they would be so frightened. So, that was one thing I wanted to raise.
The British Medical Association as well has suggested that there is probably going to be a need for an opt-in and informed consent-based model. However, I'm concerned that, at the moment, we're hearing maybe that they're more leaning towards doing an opt-out model. So, any consideration of that—. But, Community Pharmacy Wales have then also said that they're fully behind it, but as you know, it will allow England's online distance-selling pharmacies, which do not exist in Wales and have no high street presence, to easily access Welsh prescriptions. At the moment, they've got a 5 per cent market share in England. If they were to have that market share in Wales, we would see our pharmacies close on our high streets, all impacting, as we know, the most vulnerable. So, my follow-up question is: what cross-Government work is being done in relation to this plan to move to e-prescribing, and where are the equality and economic impact assessments in particular? Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae'n dda clywed y newyddion cadarnhaol hwnnw am y potensial ar gyfer e-bresgripsiynu ledled Cymru hefyd, oherwydd mae cymaint o fanteision iddo, gan gynnwys peidio â chael miliynau o ddarnau o bapur presgripsiwn yn hedfan o amgylch Cymru drwy'r amser. A bydd yn helpu cleifion pan fyddant yn yr ysbyty, a byddant yn gallu cael eu rhyddhau yn gyflymach. Os ewch i mewn i'r ysbyty ac nad ydych yn gallu dweud pa bresgripsiwn rydych yn ei gymryd, bydd modd ei ganfod. Mae cymaint o fanteision, felly rwyf o blaid hynny.
Rydym yn ymchwilio i e-bresgripsiynu drwy lens cyfiawnder data ac felly, cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, yn ein Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol. Felly, dyma rai o'r pethau sydd wedi cael eu codi hyd yn hyn. Ar ôl siarad â goroeswyr trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol, roeddent yn dweud, ar hyn o bryd, y byddent yn eithaf pryderus pe gallai unrhyw un gael mynediad at eu cofnodion. Felly, unrhyw un sy'n gweithio yn y GIG. Felly, pe bai'r rhai sy'n cyflawni trais neu gam-drin yn gweithio yn y GIG neu rywun y mae'r cyflawnwyr yn eu hadnabod. Ac aethant mor bell â dweud y byddent yn ofni am eu bywyd pe bai unrhyw bosibilrwydd y byddent yn gallu cael mynediad at eu cyfeiriad, ac mae'n debyg y byddai hefyd yn eu hatal rhag mynd at eu meddyg teulu hyd yn oed oherwydd y byddai cymaint o ofn arnynt. Felly, roedd hynny'n rhywbeth roeddwn am ei godi.
Mae Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain hefyd wedi awgrymu ei bod yn debygol y bydd angen model optio i mewn a chydsyniad gwybodus. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n pryderu ar hyn o bryd ein bod yn clywed efallai eu bod yn gogwyddo mwy tuag at wneud model optio allan. Felly, byddai unrhyw ystyriaeth o hynny—. Ond mae Fferylliaeth Gymunedol Cymru hefyd wedi dweud eu bod yn ei gefnogi'n llwyr, ond fel y gwyddoch, bydd yn caniatáu i fferyllfeydd yn Lloegr sy'n gwerthu o bell ar-lein, nad ydynt yn bodoli yng Nghymru ac nad oes ganddynt bresenoldeb ar y stryd fawr, gael gafael ar bresgripsiynau o Gymru yn hawdd. Ar hyn o bryd, mae eu cyfran o'r farchnad yn Lloegr yn 5 y cant. Pe byddent yn cael y gyfran honno o'r farchnad yng Nghymru, byddem yn gweld ein fferyllfeydd yn cau ar ein strydoedd mawr, sy'n mynd i effeithio, fel y gwyddom, ar y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed. Felly, fy nghwestiwn atodol yw: pa waith trawslywodraethol sy'n cael ei wneud mewn perthynas â'r cynllun hwn i newid i e-bresgripsiynu, a ble mae'r asesiadau effaith ar gydraddoldeb a'r economi yn enwedig? Diolch.
Thanks very much. Well, I've spent a lot of time trying to see what we can do in relation to digital progress within the NHS. I think this is where it's at in terms of transformation. Obviously, it's very frustrating when you have the kind of financial challenges we're up against at the moment, because it perhaps will not now go as fast as I'd like it to go. But, what I can tell you is that massive progress is being made. We do have the digital medicines transformation portfolio, and what that's done is they've engaged with people across the whole of Wales. And the point of this is that it started with the user. So, it's a user-centred design. I think this is really important. What you don't want is a bunch of geeks developing something that, actually, normal people can't use. So, it's got to start with what the patients need and want and how you're going to use it. So, it's turning the whole system on its head, really.
You're quite right to set out some of the concerns. I think when they talked about this in England, they got it in the wrong place and it slowed everything down. So, we're determined to get this right. So, we are taking it slower. But I think there are huge wins for us here if we get this right. I got massively frustrated over the summer, because I went to get a new pair of glasses, and what was interesting was that they knew my prescription in Haverfordwest from a different service that I'd been to in Cardiff, and I just thought, 'Wow, that's amazing.' So, it doesn't sound like rocket science, but actually we need to get there.
I do think that the public—. It's quite interesting, isn't it, because if we're using Facebook or we're using—you know, we are putting out our information everywhere. If you do it with the NHS, and obviously you've got to protect people and I absolutely take on board what you're suggesting in terms of women who've succumbed to violence and things, we've absolutely got to protect them, but the gains in terms of data, what we can learn and what we can share could be phenomenal. So, we've got to try and navigate this very, very sensitive system. At the moment, a lot of the information is effectively owned by GPs, and patients have that relationship with GPs that they trust. But you're quite right: if 105,000 people have access to that, who work in the NHS, you're getting into a slightly different place. So, we have got to be sensitive about how we do this. We are trying to do it in a way that takes on board some of the concerns you've set out.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, rwyf wedi treulio llawer o amser yn ceisio gweld beth y gallwn ei wneud mewn perthynas â chynnydd digidol o fewn y GIG. Rwy'n meddwl mai dyma'r sefyllfa o ran trawsnewid. Yn amlwg, mae'n rhwystredig iawn pan fydd gennych y math o heriau ariannol a wynebir gennym ar hyn o bryd, oherwydd efallai na fydd yn digwydd mor gyflym ag yr hoffwn iddo ddigwydd nawr. Ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw bod cynnydd enfawr yn cael ei wneud. Mae gennym y portffolio trawsnewid meddyginiaethau digidol, ac yn rhan o hwnnw, maent wedi ymgysylltu â phobl ledled Cymru gyfan. A phwrpas hyn yw ei fod wedi dechrau gyda'r defnyddiwr. Felly, mae'n gynllun sy'n canolbwyntio ar y defnyddiwr. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn bwysig iawn. Nid ydych am gael criw o 'geeks' yn datblygu rhywbeth na all pobl normal ei ddefnyddio. Felly, mae'n rhaid iddo ddechrau gyda'r hyn y mae cleifion ei angen a'i eisiau a sut rydych yn mynd i'w ddefnyddio. Felly, mae'n troi'r system gyfan ar ei phen mewn gwirionedd.
Rydych yn iawn i nodi rhai o'r pryderon. Pan wnaethant siarad am hyn yn Lloegr, rwy'n credu eu bod wedi'i wneud yn anghywir ac fe arafodd hynny bopeth. Rydym yn benderfynol o gael hyn yn iawn. Felly, rydym yn ei wneud yn arafach. Ond rwy'n credu bod llawer iawn y gallwn elwa arno yma os cawn hyn yn iawn. Roeddwn yn rhwystredig iawn dros yr haf, oherwydd fe euthum i gael sbectol newydd, a'r hyn oedd yn ddiddorol oedd eu bod yn gwybod beth oedd fy mhresgripsiwn yn Hwlffordd o wasanaeth gwahanol y bûm ynddo yng Nghaerdydd, ac fe feddyliais, 'Waw, mae hynny'n anhygoel.' Felly, nid yw'n swnio'n gymhleth iawn, ond mae angen inni gyrraedd yno.
Rwy'n credu bod y cyhoedd—. Mae'n eithaf diddorol, onid yw, oherwydd os ydym yn defnyddio Facebook neu'n defnyddio—wyddoch chi, rydym yn rhannu ein gwybodaeth ym mhobman. Os ydych yn gwneud hynny gyda'r GIG, ac yn amlwg mae'n rhaid ichi ddiogelu pobl ac rwy'n derbyn yn llwyr yr hyn rydych yn ei awgrymu mewn perthynas â menywod sydd wedi dioddef trais ac ati, mae'n rhaid inni eu diogelu nhw, ond gallai'r enillion o ran data, yr hyn y gallwn ei ddysgu a'r hyn y gallwn ei rannu fod yn rhyfeddol. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni geisio llywio'r system sensitif hon. Ar hyn o bryd, meddygon teulu sy'n berchen ar lawer o'r wybodaeth i bob pwrpas, ac mae gan gleifion berthynas o ymddiriedaeth â meddygon teulu. Ond rydych yn hollol iawn: os oes gan 105,000 o bobl fynediad at hynny, sy'n gweithio yn y GIG, rydych yn mynd i rywle ychydig yn wahanol. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni fod yn sensitif ynglŷn â sut rydym yn gwneud hyn. Rydym yn ceisio ei wneud mewn ffordd sy'n ystyried rhai o'r pryderon rydych chi wedi'u nodi.
7. A wnaiff y Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddiwygiadau arfaethedig Llywodraeth Cymru i wasanaethau offthalmig gofal sylfaenol? OQ59919
7. Will the Minister provide an update on the Welsh Government's proposed reforms to primary care ophthalmic services? OQ59919
Work is under way through the implementation of new optometry contracted terms of service, which I announced in September last year. The emphasis is on more treatment and care delivered in the community. The Welsh Government is committed to improving healthcare services and improving the provision of eye health is a priority.
Mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo drwy weithredu telerau gwasanaeth contract optometreg newydd a gyhoeddais ym mis Medi y llynedd. Mae'r pwyslais ar ragor o driniaeth a gofal a ddarperir yn y gymuned. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i wella gwasanaethau gofal iechyd ac mae gwella darpariaeth iechyd y llygaid yn flaenoriaeth.
I’ve written to the Minister about this issue regarding concerns that have been raised with me by high-street opticians in Caerphilly. They’re concerned that the reforms, while well-intentioned, could actually end up widening inequalities in eye health. So, they support the reform proposals for significant investment in the sector and expanding the scope of practice, which is what the Government is proposing, but they also feel the voucher system could mean that some of the poorest in our community will have less to spend on the glasses that they need, and that is a concern, and I think some of the lobby groups have changed their position since the consultation closed. Some of the Optometry Wales position has changed. So, would the Minister agree to meet with Optometry Wales to discuss those ongoing concerns about the reforms, and how their position has changed in the time since the consultation opened?
Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog ynglŷn â'r mater hwn ynghylch pryderon a glywais gan optegwyr y stryd fawr yng Nghaerffili. Er bod y bwriad yn dda, maent yn pryderu y gallai'r diwygiadau ehangu anghydraddoldebau o ran iechyd y llygaid. Felly, maent yn cefnogi'r cynigion ar gyfer diwygio er mwyn cael buddsoddiad sylweddol yn y sector ac ehangu cwmpas ymarfer, sef yr hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei gynnig, ond maent hefyd yn teimlo y gallai'r system dalebau olygu y bydd gan rai o'r bobl dlotaf yn ein cymuned lai o arian i'w wario ar y sbectol sydd ei hangen arnynt, ac mae hynny'n destun pryder, ac rwy'n credu bod rhai o'r grwpiau lobïo wedi newid eu safbwynt ers i'r ymgynghoriad ddod i ben. Mae peth o safbwynt Optometreg Cymru wedi newid. Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog gytuno i gyfarfod ag Optometreg Cymru i drafod y pryderon parhaus am y diwygiadau, a sut mae eu safbwynt wedi newid yn y cyfnod ers i'r ymgynghoriad agor?
Well, thanks very much. You’ll be aware, Hefin, that there is increasing demand for eye health care, and so, if we want to see sustainability in future, we have to do things differently, and shifting that emphasis from secondary care, hospitals, into the community is fundamental for that. We have incredibly talented people working in our ophthalmology services, so why wouldn’t we want to use them? So, the question is: how do we use them in a way that works for everybody, including those professional optometrists?
What I can tell you is that we haven’t done any of this without doing it with Optometry Wales. Everything has been negotiated with them. The new NHS Wales general ophthalmic service reflects the actual cost of providing services and optical appliances, and that’s going to come into effect towards the end of next month. So, what we’re going to do is the clinical fees and the voucher values will be subject, however, to annual tripartite negotiations between Welsh Government, NHS Wales and Optometry Wales. But I am confident that the negotiation—. The UK ophthalmic voice was in a different place from the Welsh ophthalmic voice on this, and that was partly because they didn’t quite trust the UK Government, who were just starting out on the conversations around this, to put in the kind of finances that we’ve put in—an additional £30 million—to address the clinical aspects. So, that’s where I think this lack of trust has come in, Hefin, but I’m confident that we’ve got it in the right place, which will help the poorest in our community.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol, Hefin, fod galw cynyddol am ofal iechyd y llygaid, ac felly, os ydym am gael cynaliadwyedd yn y dyfodol, mae'n rhaid inni wneud pethau'n wahanol, ac mae symud y pwyslais o ofal eilaidd ac ysbytai i'r gymuned yn sylfaenol ar gyfer hynny. Mae gennym bobl hynod o dalentog yn gweithio yn ein gwasanaethau offthalmoleg, felly, pam na fyddem am eu defnyddio? Felly, y cwestiwn yw: sut rydym yn eu defnyddio mewn ffordd sy'n gweithio i bawb, gan gynnwys yr optometryddion proffesiynol hynny?
Gallaf ddweud wrthych nad ydym wedi gwneud dim o hyn heb weithio gydag Optometreg Cymru. Mae popeth wedi cael ei drafod gyda nhw. Mae gwasanaeth offthalmig cyffredinol newydd GIG Cymru yn adlewyrchu gwir gost darparu gwasanaethau ac offer optegol, a bydd hynny'n dod i rym tua diwedd y mis nesaf. Felly, rydym am sicrhau bod y ffioedd clinigol a gwerth y talebau'n ddarostyngedig i drafodaethau teirochrog blynyddol rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru, GIG Cymru ac Optometreg Cymru. Ond rwy'n hyderus bod y drafodaeth—. Roedd llais offthalmeg y DU mewn lle gwahanol i lais offthalmeg Cymru ar hyn, a hynny'n rhannol am nad oeddent yn ymddiried yn llwyr yn Llywodraeth y DU, a oedd newydd ddechrau'r sgyrsiau ynglŷn â hyn, i gyfrannu'r math o gyllid rydym ni wedi'i gyfrannu—£30 miliwn yn ychwanegol—i fynd i'r afael â'r agweddau clinigol. Felly, rwy'n credu mai dyna lle mae'r diffyg ymddiriedaeth wedi ymddangos, Hefin, ond rwy'n hyderus fod hyn yn y lle iawn gennym, a bydd hynny'n helpu'r bobl dlotaf yn ein cymuned.
8. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod pob meddygfa yn gallu cael gafael ar ap GIG Cymru a'u bod yn ei ddefnyddio? OQ59904
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure all GP surgeries are able to access, and are using, the NHS Wales app? OQ59904
Digital Health and Care Wales is actively working with each GP practice across Wales to assist them in adopting the NHS Wales app, clearly communicating the benefits to the practice. Our phased plan aims to have supported all GP surgeries to connect by the end of this financial year.
Mae Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru wrthi'n gweithio gyda phob meddygfa ar draws Cymru i'w cynorthwyo i fabwysiadu ap GIG Cymru, gan gyfleu'r manteision i'r feddygfa yn glir. Nod ein cynllun graddol yw cynorthwyo pob meddygfa i gysylltu erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon.
RNIB Cymru’s report 'Make it Make Sense. Inaccessible information: a health inequality' highlights the issue of inaccessible patient communications putting patients with sight loss at risk. The report states that
'Improvements to patient communication could go a long way towards reducing wasted appointments and maximising the capacity of the health service, delivering the dual benefit of saving NHS costs and improving outcomes for patients.'
The report also states that more than half of the people they surveyed have received information from their GP or hospital in a format they could not read, adding that this has
'serious practical, health and emotional consequences.'
How do you therefore respond to the call by RNIB Cymru for local health boards to receive support and funding to upgrade their IT systems so that patient communication requirements in GP surgeries and across primary and secondary healthcare settings can be recorded and actioned for every patient?
Mae adroddiad RNIB Cymru, 'Gwna Fe i Wneud Synnwyr. Gwybodaeth anhygyrch: mae'n anghydraddoldeb iechyd', yn tynnu sylw at broblem cyfathrebu anhygyrch â chleifion, sy'n rhoi cleifion sydd wedi colli eu golwg mewn perygl. Mae'r adroddiad yn nodi
'Gallai gwelliannau i gyfathrebu â chleifion gyfrannu llawer tuag at leihau apwyntiadau sy’n cael eu gwastraffu a gwneud y gorau o gapasiti’r gwasanaeth iechyd, gan sicrhau’r budd deuol o arbed costau’r GIG a gwella canlyniadau i gleifion.'
Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn nodi bod mwy na hanner y bobl a gafodd eu holi wedi cael gwybodaeth gan eu meddyg teulu neu ysbyty mewn fformat nad oeddent yn gallu ei ddarllen, gan ychwanegu bod hyn yn cael
'canlyniadau ymarferol, iechyd ac emosiynol difrifol.'
Sut rydych chi'n ymateb felly i'r alwad gan RNIB Cymru i fyrddau iechyd lleol gael cymorth a chyllid i uwchraddio eu systemau TG fel y gellir cofnodi a gweithredu gofynion cyfathrebu pob claf mewn meddygfeydd ac ar draws lleoliadau gofal iechyd sylfaenol ac eilaidd?
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
Thanks very much, Mark. I think the question is relevant to the question that was asked earlier by Sarah about actually how do we make sure that people, in moving to a digital age, are still able to access services if they're from a community that finds that more difficult. What we have done is we have given significant funding to GP services, for example, to upgrade their systems, and the access contract that we've got with GPs means, I think, you will have noted the significant reduction in volume when it comes to people complaining about access to GPs. That's partly because we've put in these new digital systems, and we're very keen to make sure that not only are they able to access it, but importantly when it comes to, for example, repeat prescriptions, that you will be able to do quite a lot of that on an app, or it will happen automatically. So, one of the things that's happened this summer for example, is that we've just piloted a series of tests—this happened in Rhyl—where we tried to make sure that if you got a prescription, that it could be sent directly to a pharmacy and then that you would be informed about that. So, I think there are actually real opportunities here for people across Wales, including people from communities like the blind community who will be able to access things and things will be done—for example, repeat prescriptions could be done automatically.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mark. Rwy'n credu bod y cwestiwn yn berthnasol i'r cwestiwn a ofynnwyd yn gynharach gan Sarah ynglŷn â sut rydym yn sicrhau bod pobl, wrth symud i oes ddigidol, yn parhau i allu cael mynediad at wasanaethau os ydynt yn dod o gymuned sy'n ei chael hi'n anos gwneud hynny. Rydym wedi rhoi cyllid sylweddol i wasanaethau meddygon teulu, er enghraifft, ar gyfer uwchraddio eu systemau, ac mae'r cytundeb mynediad sydd gennym gyda meddygon teulu yn golygu, rwy'n credu, y byddwch wedi nodi'r gostyngiad sylweddol yn y niferoedd o bobl sy'n cwyno am fynediad at feddygon teulu. Mae hynny'n rhannol am ein bod wedi rhoi'r systemau digidol newydd hyn ar waith, ac rydym yn awyddus iawn i sicrhau nid yn unig eu bod yn gallu cael mynediad atynt, ond yn bwysig o ran presgripsiynau rheolaidd, er enghraifft, y byddwch yn gallu gwneud cryn dipyn o hynny ar ap, neu y bydd yn digwydd yn awtomatig. Felly, un o'r pethau sydd wedi digwydd yr haf hwn er enghraifft, yw ein bod newydd dreialu cyfres o brofion—digwyddodd hyn yn y Rhyl—lle gwnaethom geisio sicrhau, pe byddech yn cael presgripsiwn, y gellid ei anfon yn uniongyrchol at fferyllfa ac y byddech yn cael gwybod am hynny. Felly, rwy'n credu bod cyfleoedd go iawn yma i bobl ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys pobl o gymunedau fel y gymuned ddall a fydd yn gallu cael mynediad at bethau a bydd pethau'n digwydd—er enghraifft, gellid trefnu presgripsiynau rheolaidd yn awtomatig.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
I thank the Minister.
Eitem 3 y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau amserol. Galwaf ar Altaf Hussain i ofyn y cwestiwn.
Item 3 this afternoon is the topical questions. I call on Altaf Hussain to ask the question.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am Chwarae Teg yn cau? TQ846
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the closure of Chwarae Teg? TQ846
We are disappointed to hear of the closure of Chwarae Teg. I would like to pay tribute to its work over many years. The charity has touched and made a difference to the lives of women across Wales and provided the Welsh Government with the insights to collectively deliver change.
Rydym yn siomedig o glywed am gau Chwarae Teg. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'w gwaith dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Mae'r elusen wedi cyffwrdd â bywydau menywod ledled Cymru ac wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth iddynt, ac mae wedi rhoi mewnwelediad i Lywodraeth Cymru er mwyn gallu cyflawni newid ar y cyd.
Thank you for your response, Deputy Minister. It is a sad day for equalities in Wales. Chwarae Teg have been fighting for gender equality since 1992 and have a strong track record of holding the Welsh Government to account. Their annual 'State of the Nation' reports provide invaluable insight to those of us seeking to create a more equal Wales. It is therefore deeply concerning and regrettable that the Welsh Government did not see fit to rescue the charity. As Sharon Williams said in her statement this morning, this is
'desperately sad news for our staff, funders and clients—but above all for the women of Wales who we have been so proud to serve over so many years.'
I would like to pay tribute to all those working for the charity, and urge the Welsh Government to assist the workforce facing redundancy. Ms Williams added that the team had recently secured a number of new contracts, which showed that the need for their work is as great as ever. Minister, do you agree that the need for their work is as great as ever? I do. Therefore, Minister, what actions are the Welsh Government taking to ensure that there continues to be an independent assessment of the Welsh Government's gender equality work, and will you ensure there continues to be an annual 'State of the Nation' report? Thank you very much.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Weinidog. Mae'n ddiwrnod trist i gydraddoldeb yng Nghymru. Mae Chwarae Teg wedi bod yn brwydro dros gydraddoldeb rhywiol ers 1992 ac mae ganddi hanes cryf o ddwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif. Mae eu hadroddiadau blynyddol, 'Cyflwr y Genedl', yn rhoi cipolwg amhrisiadwy i'r rhai ohonom sy'n ceisio creu Cymru fwy cyfartal. Felly, mae'n destun pryder a gofid mawr nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ceisio achub yr elusen. Fel y dywedodd Sharon Williams yn ei datganiad y bore yma, dyma
'newyddion trist iawn i’n staff, ein cyllidwyr a’n cleientiaid–ond yn fwy na dim i fenywod Cymru y buom mor falch o’u gwasanaethu dros gynifer o flynyddoedd.'
Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i bawb sy'n gweithio i'r elusen, ac rwy'n annog Llywodraeth Cymru i gynorthwyo'r gweithlu sy'n wynebu diswyddiadau. Ychwanegodd Ms Williams fod y tîm wedi sicrhau nifer o gytundebau newydd yn ddiweddar, a ddangosai fod angen eu gwaith cymaint ag erioed. Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod angen eu gwaith cymaint ag erioed? Rwy'n cytuno. Felly, Weinidog, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod asesiad annibynnol o waith cydraddoldeb rhywiol Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau, ac a wnewch chi sicrhau bod adroddiad blynyddol 'Cyflwr y Genedl' yn parhau? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Can I thank Altaf Hussain for his question and his interest in this area? You're absolutely right, it is regrettable. For 30 years, Chwarae Teg has provided useful insight, support and advice to Government around issues of gender equality, and their departure from the agenda is very much regrettable.
I think, first and foremost, our thoughts are with the members of staff who now face redundancy, and we're already working with Working Wales to make sure they get the support and assistance that they need. Alongside this, officials and I are working with Chwarae Teg and other partners to find the best way for the continuation of the valuable work the organisation has been doing, absolutely recognising the role there is to play there, and the need to continue some of that work and that support right across Wales.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Altaf Hussain am ei gwestiwn a'i ddiddordeb yn y maes hwn? Rydych yn hollol gywir, mae'n ofid. Ers 30 mlynedd, mae Chwarae Teg wedi darparu mewnwelediad, cymorth a chyngor defnyddiol i'r Llywodraeth ynglŷn â materion cydraddoldeb rhywiol, ac mae eu hymadawiad â'r agenda yn destun gofid mawr.
Rwy'n credu, yn gyntaf oll, fod ein meddyliau gyda'r aelodau o staff sydd bellach yn wynebu diswyddiadau, ac rydym eisoes yn gweithio gyda Cymru'n Gweithio i sicrhau eu bod yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt. Yn ogystal â hyn, mae swyddogion a minnau'n gweithio gyda Chwarae Teg a phartneriaid eraill i ddod o hyd i'r ffordd orau o barhau â'r gwaith gwerthfawr y mae'r sefydliad wedi bod yn ei wneud, gan gydnabod yn llwyr y rôl sydd i'w chwarae a'r angen i barhau â pheth o'r gwaith a'r cymorth hwnnw ledled Cymru.
The day after we discuss a long-overdue proposal to ensure the Senedd is more representative of Welsh society, we learn that this prominent gender equality charity, Chwarae Teg, is shutting down. It's deeply concerning, as you said, for the staff especially, but also because of that invaluable and important research, policy and practical work Chwarae Teg has done to promote gender equality in Wales, for example headline-making reports such as 'State of the Nation', the programmes such as LeadHerShip—I know many of us have taken part in that—to encourage young women into public life, and the Not Just for Boys programme showing young women opportunities in science, technology, engineering cand mathematics. Urgent work is needed by the Welsh Government to assess the gap that will be left in terms of an authority on the best practice in improving equality in Wales. So, will that work be done, and any impact also on women currently being supported by the charity, including those undertaking qualifications?
Deputy Minister, could a bridging loan have been considered, as there are numerous shared prosperity fund-funded projects that will now be under threat? The Welsh Government set out its ambition for Wales to be a world leader in gender equality in 2019. You now need to outline the steps you will be taking to mitigate the impact of this news and how this will be achieved without the vital and innovative work of Chwarae Teg in terms of research, policy development and campaigning. I'd also like to know what assessment has been made as regards the wider impact on the third sector in Wales. The Welsh Government has always relied on organisations like Chwarae Teg to deliver on their policy work. So, what will be in place to ensure other similar organisations are supported as they transition to post-Brexit funding streams? Diolch.
Y diwrnod ar ôl inni drafod cynnig hirddisgwyliedig i sicrhau bod y Senedd yn fwy cynrychioliadol o gymdeithas Cymru, dysgwn fod yr elusen cydraddoldeb rhywiol amlwg hon, Chwarae Teg, yn dod i ben. Mae'n peri pryder mawr, fel y dywedoch chi, i'r staff yn enwedig, ond hefyd oherwydd yr ymchwil, y polisi a'r gwaith ymarferol amhrisiadwy a phwysig y mae Chwarae Teg wedi'i wneud i hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb rhywiol yng Nghymru, er enghraifft adroddiadau sy'n cyrraedd y penawdau fel 'Cyflwr y Genedl', y rhaglenni fel LeadHerShip—rwy'n gwybod bod llawer ohonom wedi cymryd rhan yn honno—er mwyn annog menywod ifanc i gymryd rhan mewn bywyd cyhoeddus, a'r rhaglen Nid dim ond ar gyfer bechgyn, sy'n dangos cyfleoedd i fenywod ifanc mewn gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg. Mae angen gwaith brys gan Lywodraeth Cymru i asesu'r bwlch a gaiff ei adael ar ôl o ran awdurdod ar yr arferion gorau wrth wella cydraddoldeb yng Nghymru. Felly, a fydd y gwaith hwnnw'n cael ei wneud, yn ogystal ag unrhyw effaith hefyd ar fenywod sy'n cael eu cefnogi gan yr elusen ar hyn o bryd, yn cynnwys y rheini sy'n ymgymryd â chymwysterau?
Ddirprwy Weinidog, a fyddai benthyciad pontio wedi cael ei ystyried, gan fod nifer o brosiectau a ariennir gan y gronfa ffyniant cyffredin dan fygythiad nawr? Nododd Llywodraeth Cymru ei huchelgais i Gymru fod yn arweinydd byd-eang mewn cydraddoldeb rhywiol yn 2019. Mae angen ichi amlinellu'r camau y byddwch yn eu cymryd nawr i liniaru effaith y newyddion hwn a sut y caiff hyn ei gyflawni heb waith hanfodol ac arloesol Chwarae Teg o ran ymchwil, datblygu polisi ac ymgyrchu. Hoffwn wybod hefyd pa asesiad a wnaed o'r effaith ehangach ar y trydydd sector yng Nghymru. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru bob amser wedi dibynnu ar sefydliadau fel Chwarae Teg i gyflawni eu gwaith polisi. Felly, beth fydd ar waith i sicrhau bod sefydliadau eraill tebyg yn cael eu cefnogi wrth iddynt bontio i ffrydiau cyllido ôl-Brexit? Diolch.
Can I thank Sioned Williams for her question? I know this is an area you feel passionate about as well. You, like me and many others in this place, have taken part in the LeadHerShip programme provided by Chwarae Teg, and you list all the other support and projects that the organisation have pioneered and piloted over the years. So, I reiterate again that, very much, it is a regrettable situation. Inevitably, there's going to be a range of factors involved with having to take such a serious decision, and so even a package of short-term support might not have gone far enough to rescue the long-term sustainability of the organisation.
Separately, on the broader piece in terms of the voluntary sector, I know my colleague the Minister for Social Justice is working very closely with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and other organisations around those challenges facing the voluntary sector in the current economic climate, but actually the impact of post-EU funding too and Wales not receiving its fair share now post leaving the EU, and the challenges that they face because of rising costs for all organisations, recognising the role that the voluntary sector plays, like you said, in supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society and communities across Wales.
With respect to Chwarae Teg specifically, we're very much working very closely, obviously, with Working Wales, to support the people that are directly impacted, but with other partners too and other organisations to assess the best way in which that work can be continued, so it doesn't leave a gap in support in Wales, and actually how we can then also ensure that maybe some work that they were looking to do is perhaps able to be done in a different way. So, I very much give the Member and this Senedd my assurances that it is high on the Welsh Government's agenda. Of course, this is a very recent announcement and an evolving situation, and I'd be more than happy to update the Senedd in more detail in due course.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Sioned Williams am ei chwestiwn? Rwy'n gwybod bod hwn yn faes rydych chi'n teimlo'n angerddol amdano hefyd. Rydych chi, fel minnau a sawl un arall yn y lle hwn, wedi cymryd rhan yn y rhaglen LeadHerShip a ddarperir gan Chwarae Teg, ac rydych yn rhestru'r holl gymorth a phrosiectau eraill y mae'r sefydliad wedi'u rhoi ar waith a'u treialu dros y blynyddoedd. Felly, rwy'n ailadrodd eto ei bod yn sefyllfa anffodus iawn. Yn anochel, bydd amrywiaeth o ffactorau ynghlwm wrth orfod gwneud penderfyniad mor bwysig, ac efallai felly na fyddai hyd yn oed pecyn o gymorth tymor byr wedi mynd yn ddigon pell i achub cynaliadwyedd hirdymor y sefydliad.
Ar wahân i hynny, ar y darlun ehangach o ran y sector gwirfoddol, rwy'n gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda Chyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru a sefydliadau eraill ynghylch yr heriau sy'n wynebu'r sector gwirfoddol yn yr hinsawdd economaidd bresennol, ac effaith cyllid ôl-UE hefyd a'r ffaith nad yw Cymru'n cael ei chyfran deg bellach ar ôl gadael yr UE, a'r heriau sy'n eu hwynebu oherwydd y costau cynyddol i bob sefydliad, gan gydnabod y rôl y mae'r sector gwirfoddol yn ei chwarae, fel y dywedoch chi, yn cefnogi rhai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas a'n cymunedau ledled Cymru.
Mewn perthynas â Chwarae Teg yn benodol, rydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn, yn amlwg, gyda Cymru'n Gweithio, i gefnogi'r bobl yr effeithir arnynt yn uniongyrchol, ond gyda phartneriaid eraill hefyd a sefydliadau eraill i asesu'r ffordd orau o barhau â'r gwaith hwnnw, fel nad yw'n gadael bwlch mewn cymorth yng Nghymru, a sut y gallwn sicrhau hefyd efallai fod rhywfaint o'r gwaith roeddent yn bwriadu ei wneud yn gallu cael ei wneud mewn ffordd wahanol. Felly, rwy'n rhoi fy sicrwydd i'r Aelod a'r Senedd hon ei fod yn uchel ar agenda Llywodraeth Cymru. Wrth gwrs, mae hwn yn gyhoeddiad diweddar iawn ac yn sefyllfa sy'n esblygu, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i roi'r manylion diweddaraf i'r Senedd maes o law.
Ac yn olaf, Jane Dodds.
Finally, Jane Dodds.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Just following on from some of the sentiments this afternoon, I do thank Altaf Hussain for raising the issue. We know that Chwarae Teg really is part of the fabric of gender equality here in Wales. Their campaigns and strategies, particularly in tackling violence against women and girls, are well known to all of us, and, in fact, many of us have taken evidence from their staff in relation to their expert research and experiences directly with service users. So, it is of grave concern to hear that they are closing. We know that there are significant financial pressures on the Government, but in Wales the third sector does punch above its weight, and, actually, investing in the third sector actually delivers far, far more money than you put in. So, I just wondered if you could tell us what impact you think—or give us an indication—the loss of Chwarae Teg will have on progressing the Government's violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy and gender equality action plan. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I ategu rhai o'r teimladau a fynegwyd y prynhawn yma, hoffwn ddiolch i Altaf Hussain am godi'r mater. Gwyddom fod Chwarae Teg wir yn rhan o wead cydraddoldeb rhywiol yma yng Nghymru. Mae eu hymgyrchoedd a'u strategaethau, yn enwedig wrth fynd i'r afael â thrais yn erbyn menywod a merched, yn hysbys i bob un ohonom, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae llawer ohonom wedi cael tystiolaeth gan eu staff mewn perthynas â'u hymchwil arbenigol a'u profiadau uniongyrchol gyda defnyddwyr gwasanaeth. Felly, mae'n destun pryder mawr clywed eu bod yn dod i ben. Rydym yn gwybod bod pwysau ariannol sylweddol ar y Llywodraeth, ond yng Nghymru, mae'r trydydd sector yn mynd y tu hwnt i'r disgwyl, ac mewn gwirionedd, mae buddsoddi yn y trydydd sector yn darparu llawer iawn mwy o arian nag y byddwch yn ei roi i mewn. Felly, tybed a allech ddweud wrthym pa effaith y credwch chi—neu roi syniad i ni—pa effaith y bydd colli Chwarae Teg yn ei chael ar ddatblygu strategaeth trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol y Llywodraeth, yn ogystal â'i chynllun gweithredu cydraddoldeb rhywiol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch. Thank you, Jane Dodds, and thank you too for recognising the role the organisation has played for some, I think, 30 years now in the Welsh landscape, not only supporting women in organisations and across communities, supporting and helping Members of this place too, but also advising and rightly pushing the Welsh Government to go further and to set and to shape this agenda of a more gender-equal Wales.
Just to repeat the points I made to Sioned Williams, I very much give the assurance that we're working very closely to ensure that, actually, we do not leave a gap, that we're able to see ways in which some of those vital support services continue, but also the work of the major programmes that Chwarae Teg have been doing, and what options there are for them to perhaps be supported in the future, but also going back to our primary focus and our thoughts with those staff who have been affected, and the chief exec of Chwarae Teg, who hasn't actually been in post all that long and has very much inherited these challenges, and seeking to do the best by the workforce and by the organisation, and the people, the places and the communities that they have supported so successfully over the years as well.
Diolch, Jane Dodds, a diolch hefyd am gydnabod y rôl y mae'r sefydliad wedi'i chwarae ers 30 mlynedd, rwy'n credu, yn y tirlun Cymreig, nid yn unig yn cefnogi menywod mewn sefydliadau ac ar draws cymunedau, gan gefnogi a helpu Aelodau'r lle hwn hefyd, ond hefyd yn cynghori a gwthio Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd ymhellach ac i osod a llunio'r agenda ar gyfer Cymru sy'n fwy cyfartal o ran rhywedd.
Os caf ailadrodd y pwyntiau a wneuthum i Sioned Williams, rwy'n rhoi'r sicrwydd ein bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn i sicrhau nad ydym yn gadael bwlch, ein bod yn gallu gweld ffyrdd i rai o'r gwasanaethau cymorth hanfodol hynny allu parhau, ond hefyd gwaith y rhaglenni mawr y mae Chwarae Teg wedi bod yn eu gwneud, a pha opsiynau sydd yna iddynt gael eu cefnogi yn y dyfodol efallai, ond gan gyfeirio ein prif ffocws a'n meddyliau unwaith eto at y staff yr effeithir arnynt, a phrif weithredwr Chwarae Teg, nad yw wedi bod yn y swydd ers cymaint â hynny o amser ac sydd wedi etifeddu'r heriau hyn, a cheisio gwneud y gorau sy'n bosibl dros y gweithlu, y sefydliad a'r bobl, a'r lleoedd a'r cymunedau y maent wedi'u cefnogi mor llwyddiannus dros y blynyddoedd hefyd.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
I thank the Deputy Minister.
Eitem 4 y prynhawn yma yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad, a bydd y datganiad cyntaf gan John Griffiths.
Item 4 this afternoon is the 90-second statements, and the first statement will be from John Griffiths.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. This week, Learning and Work Institute are celebrating their thirty-second year of Adult Learners' Week, in partnership with the Welsh Government. The annual campaign involves a large number of organisations across Wales, and builds on a vision to make Wales a nation of second chances, where it's never too late to learn. Partners across multiple sectors have come together to contribute to a programme of activity. There are over 300 free online and in-person courses, events, tasters, outreach activities and resources on offer.
Every year, the Inspire! adult learning awards provide an opportunity to hear from a diverse set of individuals, community projects and organisations in Wales committed to lifelong learning. This year, we heard from Elinor Ridout, who has returned to the classroom to become a paediatric nurse in memory of her beloved son, Will, and from Walid Musa Albuqai, who fled war-torn Syria with his family and studied English as a second language, enabling him to find a career as a bus driver. We heard from Steven Wright, who has moved to Wales from Australia. He was initially sceptical about the Welsh language, but through a love of culture, he learnt Welsh and has broken new ground in encouraging others to use the language in their everyday lives. As Raymond Williams said,
'To be truly radical is to make hope possible, rather than despair convincing.'
There were many more winners. I congratulate them all, and encourage other Members to read their stories.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Yr wythnos hon, mae'r Sefydliad Dysgu a Gwaith yn dathlu 32 mlynedd o Wythnos Addysg Oedolion, mewn partneriaeth â Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r ymgyrch flynyddol yn cynnwys nifer fawr o sefydliadau ledled Cymru, ac yn adeiladu ar weledigaeth i wneud Cymru'n genedl o ail gyfleoedd, lle nad yw hi byth yn rhy hwyr i ddysgu. Mae partneriaid ar draws sawl sector wedi dod at ei gilydd i gyfrannu at raglen o weithgareddau. Mae dros 300 o gyrsiau, digwyddiadau, sesiynau blasu, gweithgareddau allgymorth ac adnoddau ar gael am ddim ar-lein ac wyneb yn wyneb.
Bob blwyddyn, mae gwobrau dysgu oedolion Ysbrydoli! yn rhoi cyfle i glywed gan amrywiaeth o unigolion, prosiectau cymunedol a sefydliadau yng Nghymru sydd wedi ymrwymo i ddysgu gydol oes. Eleni, clywsom gan Elinor Ridout, sydd wedi dychwelyd i'r ystafell ddosbarth i ddod yn nyrs bediatrig er cof am ei mab annwyl, Will, a chan Walid Musa Albuqai, a ffodd rhag y rhyfel yn Syria gyda'i deulu ac astudio Saesneg fel ail iaith, sydd wedi'i alluogi i ddod o hyd i yrfa fel gyrrwr bws. Clywsom gan Steven Wright, sydd wedi symud i Gymru o Awstralia. Roedd yn amheus ynglŷn â'r Gymraeg i ddechrau, ond drwy ei gariad at ddiwylliant, dysgodd Gymraeg ac mae wedi torri tir newydd yn annog eraill i ddefnyddio'r iaith yn eu bywydau bob dydd. Fel y dywedodd Raymond Williams,
'Mae bod yn wirioneddol radical yn golygu gwneud gobaith yn bosibl, yn hytrach nag anobaith yn sicr.'
Roedd yna lawer mwy o enillwyr. Rwy'n eu llongyfarch i gyd, ac yn annog Aelodau eraill i ddarllen eu straeon.
Last week, Kaleidoscope celebrated 20 years of operating in Wales. Their ethos is to offer effective and innovative treatments for substance misuse. I'm so proud to have such a compassionate and pioneering organisation based in my constituency. They really do make a huge difference in Newport.
Initially set up in 1968 in Kingston upon Thames, offering a safe space for young people, the charity's work has evolved over the years to support thousands of people with drug, alcohol and mental health issues, at key centres throughout the country. In 2003 Newport City Council approached Kaleidoscope, and they started their service in the space at the back of St Paul's church on Commercial Street, with initial funding from Welsh Government for 100 clients. Within a year, that number increased to 500, and Kaleidoscope have since been selected to deliver their innovative approach across every part of Wales. In the words of Martin Blakebrough, their inspirational chief executive officer, society must have a focus on life, that a life is worth saving, and that people who use drugs can have a worthy and happy life, a life worth living:
'People do not choose to become problematic drug users. We need to become more innovative. We campaign for the right for people who take drugs to recover, have access to treatment and to be safe'.
Kaleidoscope's mission is to protect people. They are steadfast in their view that the route to recovery is by showing love and care to those who are struggling to love themselves. They have made a huge difference, and are continuously transforming drug treatment in the areas they serve. They continue to be at the forefront of this work, so here's to the next 20 years.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, dathlodd Kaleidoscope 20 mlynedd o weithredu yng Nghymru. Eu hethos yw cynnig triniaethau effeithiol ac arloesol ar gyfer camddefnyddio sylweddau. Rwy'n falch iawn o gael sefydliad mor dosturiol ac arloesol wedi'i leoli yn fy etholaeth. Maent yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr yng Nghasnewydd.
Wedi'i sefydlu yn wreiddiol ym 1968 yn Kingston upon Thames i gynnig lle diogel i bobl ifanc, mae gwaith yr elusen wedi esblygu dros y blynyddoedd i gefnogi miloedd o bobl â phroblemau cyffuriau, alcohol ac iechyd meddwl mewn canolfannau allweddol ledled y wlad. Yn 2003, cysylltodd Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd â Kaleidoscope, a dechreuasant eu gwasanaeth yn y gofod yng nghefn eglwys St Paul ar Heol Commercial, gyda chyllid cychwynnol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer 100 o gleientiaid. O fewn blwyddyn, cynyddodd y nifer i 500, ac ers hynny mae Kaleidoscope wedi cael eu dewis i gyflawni eu dull arloesol ar draws pob rhan o Gymru. Yng ngeiriau Martin Blakebrough, eu prif swyddog gweithredol ysbrydoledig, rhaid i gymdeithas ganolbwyntio ar fywyd, fod bywyd yn werth ei achub, ac y gall pobl sy'n defnyddio cyffuriau gael bywyd cyflawn a hapus sy'n werth ei fyw:
'Nid yw pobl yn dewis dod yn ddefnyddwyr cyffuriau problemus. Mae angen inni fod yn fwy arloesol. Rydym yn ymgyrchu dros hawl pobl sy'n cymryd cyffuriau i wella, cael mynediad at driniaeth a bod yn ddiogel'.
Cenhadaeth Kaleidoscope yw diogelu pobl. Maent yn gadarn eu barn mai'r llwybr at adferiad yw dangos cariad a gofal i'r rhai sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd caru eu hunain. Maent wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr, ac maent yn trawsnewid triniaethau cyffuriau yn barhaus yn yr ardaloedd y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. Maent yn parhau i fod ar flaen y gad yn y gwaith hwn, felly, ymlaen i'r 20 mlynedd nesaf.
This September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month, various organisations work to raise awareness of the five gynaecological cancers—womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal—and promote the support that is available. I have become a Target Ovarian Cancer champion, to help raise awareness of this devastating disease, because over 300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in Wales, and it is sadly the most common cause of gynaecological cancer death, yet remains overlooked. The symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to many other common illnesses, meaning they're often missed or put down to other causes, and, as a result, the cancer can be diagnosed too late and be more difficult to treat. There are four main symptoms: persistent bloating; feeling full quickly and/or loss of appetite; pelvic or abdominal pain; and urinary symptoms. They will be frequent, persistent, and new symptoms, and, occasionally, there can be others, like changes in bowel habits, extreme fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
We have seen welcome improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer in Wales, but charities such as Target Ovarian Cancer say there's still much more to be done, as it's unacceptable that awareness of these symptoms is still so low, with just 27 per cent of women able to recognise bloating as a symptom, and that women do not feel they are given sufficient time to discuss their devastating diagnosis with healthcare professionals. Welsh Government needs to prioritise this. But we all have a role to play in encouraging women to recognise these symptoms, seek advice, so we can increase early diagnosis and save lives.
Mis Medi yw Mis Ymwybyddiaeth Canser Gynaecolegol. Drwy gydol y mis, mae amryw o sefydliadau'n gweithio i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r pum canser gynaecolegol—canser y groth, yr ofari, ceg y groth, y fwlfa a’r wain—a hyrwyddo’r cymorth sydd ar gael. Rwyf wedi dod yn un o hyrwyddwyr Target Ovarian Cancer, er mwyn helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’r clefyd dinistriol hwn, gan fod dros 300 o fenywod yn cael diagnosis o ganser yr ofari bob blwyddyn yng Nghymru, ac yn anffodus, dyma'r canser gynaecolegol sy'n fwyaf tebygol o arwain at farwolaeth, ond mae’n parhau i gael ei esgeuluso. Mae symptomau canser yr ofari yn debyg i lawer o afiechydon cyffredin eraill, sy'n golygu eu bod yn aml yn cael eu methu neu eu priodoli i achosion eraill, ac o ganlyniad, mae'n bosibl y gwneir diagnosis yn rhy hwyr o'r canser ac y bydd yn anos i'w drin. Ceir pedwar prif symptom: bol chwyddedig parhaus; teimlo'n llawn yn sydyn a/neu golli chwant bwyd; poen pelfig neu boen yn yr abdomen; a symptomau wrinol. Byddant yn symptomau mynych, parhaus a newydd, ac o bryd i'w gilydd, gall fod rhai eraill, fel newidiadau mewn arferion mynd i'r tŷ bach, blinder eithafol, a cholli pwysau heb esboniad.
Rydym wedi gweld gwelliannau sydd i’w croesawu ym maes diagnosis a thriniaeth canser yr ofari yng Nghymru, ond mae elusennau fel Target Ovarian Cancer yn dweud bod llawer mwy i’w wneud o hyd, gan ei bod yn annerbyniol fod ymwybyddiaeth o’r symptomau hyn mor isel o hyd, gyda dim ond 27 y cant o fenywod yn gallu nodi bol chwyddedig fel symptom, ac nad yw menywod yn teimlo eu bod yn cael digon o amser i drafod eu diagnosis torcalonnus gyda gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru flaenoriaethu hyn. Ond mae gan bob un ohonom ran i'w chwarae wrth annog menywod i nodi'r symptomau hyn a cheisio cyngor, fel y gallwn gynyddu cyfraddau diagnosis cynnar, ac achub bywydau.
Diolch, bawb.
Thank you, all.
Eitem 5 yw'r cynnig i nodi'r adroddiad blynyddol ar gynllun ieithoedd swyddogol Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer 2022-23. Galwaf ar Adam Price i wneud y cynnig ar ran Comisiwn y Senedd.
Item 5 is the motion to note the annual report on the Senedd Commission's official languages scheme for 2022-23. I call on Adam Price to move the motion on behalf of the Senedd Commission.
Cynnig NDM8354 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod y Senedd: Yn nodi'r Adroddiad Blynyddol ar Gynllun Ieithoedd Swyddogol Comisiwn y Senedd ar gyfer y cyfnod 2022-23, yn unol â pharagraff 8(8) o Atodlen 2 i Ddeddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006, a osodwyd gerbron y Senedd ar 29 Mehefin 2023.
Motion NDM8354 Elin Jones
To propose that the Senedd: Notes the Annual Report on the Senedd Commission's Official Languages Scheme for the period 2022-23, in accordance with paragraph 8(8) of Schedule 2 of the Government of Wales Act 2006, laid before the Senedd on 29 June 2023.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.