Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
22/11/2023Cynnwys
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 a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn o'r Senedd y prynhawn yma. Yr eitem gyntaf fydd y cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi, ac mae'r cwestiwn gyntaf gan Samuel Kurtz.
Good afternoon and welcome to the Senedd Plenary meeting. The first item will be questions to the Minister for Economy, and the first question is from Samuel Kurtz.
1. Pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi datblygiad sgiliau yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro? OQ60278
1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support the development of skills in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire? OQ60278
Thank you for the question. We're working in collaboration with industry, businesses, learning providers and key stakeholders to increase our skills capacity across Wales. This will help us to grow a skilled and diverse workforce to meet our future economy needs, and I look forward to doing so right across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rydym yn gweithio ar y cyd â diwydiant, busnesau, darparwyr dysgu a rhanddeiliaid allweddol i gynyddu ein capasiti sgiliau ledled Cymru. Bydd hyn yn ein helpu i dyfu gweithlu medrus ac amrywiol i ddiwallu anghenion ein heconomi yn y dyfodol ac edrychaf ymlaen at wneud hynny ar draws sir Gaerfyrddin a sir Benfro.
Thank you, Minister. You may have heard yesterday in my question to the First Minister that I was recently part of a round-table discussion at RWE's power station in Pembroke in my constituency, where industry and stakeholders fed in their wants when it comes to maximising the opportunity in the renewable sector and decarbonising the South Wales Industrial Cluster, which stretches from Gwent to Pembrokeshire. You’ll be aware of SWIC’s vision and the opportunities, nay, the necessity in decarbonising our industries, our major employers in south Wales. However, Minister, what was really pressed home at the round-table was the need for futureproofing skills and, if we’re to maximise the benefits of the projects in the Celtic sea and across south Wales, we really need to work with our colleges and training sectors to prepare for the number of skilled workforce we will need in the future. So, would you agree with me that it’s now time to look at the SWIC not just as an industrial cluster, but as an opportunity for a centre of skills excellence, stretching right across the south Wales corridor, supporting the future skills necessary in these sectors? Diolch, Llywydd.
Diolch, Weinidog. Efallai eich bod wedi clywed ddoe yn fy nghwestiwn i’r Prif Weinidog imi gymryd rhan mewn trafodaeth bord gron yn ddiweddar yng ngorsaf bŵer RWE ym Mhenfro yn fy etholaeth, lle bu'r diwydiant a rhanddeiliaid yn nodi eu dymuniadau mewn perthynas â gwneud y mwyaf o’r cyfle yn y sector ynni adnewyddadwy a datgarboneiddio Clwstwr Diwydiannol De Cymru, sy'n ymestyn o Went i sir Benfro. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o weledigaeth Clwstwr Diwydiannol De Cymru a’r cyfleoedd, na, yr angen i ddatgarboneiddio ein diwydiannau, ein cyflogwyr mawr yn ne Cymru. Fodd bynnag, Weinidog, yr hyn a bwysleisiwyd yn y drafodaeth bord gron oedd yr angen i ddiogelu sgiliau at y dyfodol, ac os ydym am wneud y mwyaf o fanteision y prosiectau yn y môr Celtaidd ac ar draws y de, mae gwir angen inni weithio gyda’n colegau a'n sectorau hyfforddi i baratoi ar gyfer y gweithlu medrus y bydd ei angen arnom yn y dyfodol. Felly, a fyddech yn cytuno â mi ei bod yn bryd edrych ar Glwstwr Diwydiannol De Cymru, nid yn unig fel clwstwr diwydiannol, ond fel cyfle ar gyfer canolfan ragoriaeth sgiliau, sy'n ymestyn ar draws coridor de Cymru, i gefnogi’r sgiliau y bydd eu hangen yn y dyfodol yn y sectorau hyn? Diolch, Lywydd.
Yes. We continue to have really constructive conversations with RWE and the wider cluster. It’s why we created Net Zero Industry Wales—to help us to make progress on the journey to decarbonisation in a manner that we think is a just transition. Because there are opportunities for jobs in the future as well as the disruption that the transition will create. I met with RWE when I was in Germany last week and we had a conversation about a range of their plans, obviously focused on what they’re looking to do in Pembrokeshire and its broader impact as well. The challenge will be how we manage to get different arms of Government here, local government and the regions of the Swansea bay city deal area, and not just the individual local authorities, but also to see that we have a supporting environment with the UK Government, to take advantage of all of those opportunities. It’s another area where I think a pragmatic approach can lever in significant opportunities for Wales and what we can do.
And I should point out, as the Member has asked questions about future skills in this area, that not only are we in the right place in terms of our policy and what we want to do, but, of course, Pembrokeshire College is a key part of that. And it’s worth while noting that, on the skills front, in the skills competition that takes place, Wales continues to punch above its weight. There have been five medallists from Pembrokeshire College in the recent UK foundation skills competition. So, it shows that the talent is there; we need to ensure that the pathways are there for those people to go into work that will have a long-term future and will benefit all of us.
Iawn. Rydym yn parhau i gael sgyrsiau adeiladol iawn gydag RWE a’r clwstwr ehangach. Dyna pam y gwnaethom greu Diwydiant Sero Net Cymru—i’n helpu i wneud cynnydd ar y daith tuag at ddatgarboneiddio mewn ffordd sy’n sicrhau pontio teg yn ein barn ni. Oherwydd mae yna gyfleoedd ar gyfer swyddi yn y dyfodol yn ogystal â’r tarfu y bydd y cyfnod pontio yn ei greu. Cyfarfûm ag RWE pan oeddwn yn yr Almaen yr wythnos diwethaf, a chawsom sgwrs am ystod o’u cynlluniau, gan ganolbwyntio, yn amlwg, ar yr hyn y maent yn bwriadu ei wneud yn sir Benfro a’i effaith ehangach hefyd. Yr her fydd sut y llwyddwn i gael gwahanol ganghennau o Lywodraeth yma, llywodraeth leol a rhanbarthau ardal bargen ddinesig bae Abertawe, ac nid yn unig yr awdurdodau lleol unigol, ond hefyd i sicrhau bod gennym amgylchedd cefnogol gyda Llywodraeth y DU i fanteisio ar yr holl gyfleoedd hynny. Mae’n faes arall lle credaf y gall ymagwedd bragmatig ysgogi cyfleoedd sylweddol i Gymru a’r hyn y gallwn ei wneud.
A dylwn nodi, gan fod yr Aelod wedi gofyn cwestiynau am sgiliau yn y dyfodol yn yr ardal hon, nid yn unig ein bod yn y lle iawn gyda'n polisi a'r hyn y dymunwn ei wneud, ond wrth gwrs, mae Coleg Sir Benfro yn rhan allweddol o hynny. Ac mae’n werth nodi, o ran sgiliau, yn y gystadleuaeth sy'n bodoli o ran sgiliau, fod Cymru’n parhau i wneud yn well na’r disgwyl. Enillwyd pum medal gan fyfyrwyr yng Ngholeg Sir Benfro yng nghystadleuaeth sgiliau sylfaenol y DU yn ddiweddar. Felly, mae'n dangos bod y dalent yno; mae angen inni sicrhau bod y llwybrau yno i’r bobl hynny gael swyddi ag iddynt dyfodol hirdymor ac a fydd o fudd i bob un ohonom.
2. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith hawliau datblygu a ganiateir ar y sector twristiaeth? OQ60273
2. What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of permitted development rights on the tourism sector? OQ60273
Can I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for that question? I regularly engage with the visitor economy stakeholders in relation to tourism and wider matters, including permitted development rights.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am ei chwestiwn? Rwy’n ymgysylltu’n rheolaidd â rhanddeiliaid yr economi ymwelwyr mewn perthynas â thwristiaeth a materion ehangach, gan gynnwys hawliau datblygu a ganiateir.
Thank you. As you and I both know, tourism is the backbone of our economy not just in north Wales, but across the whole of Wales, but, in north Wales, it generates £1.8 billion annually. According to the latest tourism barometer, only the attractions sector has seen visitor levels rise. All other sectors report being down, on balance, especially activity providers, where 62 per cent are down, and caravan and campsites, 48 per cent are down. Now, some landowners have been using and exercising their permitted development rights to run those pop-up sites for tents, caravans, camper vans and motor homes for up to 28 days a year, without needing to apply for extra planning. But a large number of those have told me that they want us brought more in line with England, where you can do that exact same initiative for 60 days. So, the UK Government is backing landowners and the tourism sector by extending these permitted development rights from 28 days to 60. Will you do the same here in Wales, please?
Diolch. Fel y gwyddoch chi a minnau, twristiaeth yw asgwrn cefn ein heconomi, nid yn unig yn y gogledd, ond ledled Cymru, ond yn y gogledd, mae’n cynhyrchu £1.8 biliwn yn flynyddol. Yn ôl y baromedr twristiaeth diweddaraf, dim ond yn y sector atyniadau y mae lefelau ymwelwyr wedi codi. Mae pob sector arall yn nodi niferoedd is, at ei gilydd, yn enwedig darparwyr gweithgareddau, lle mae 62 y cant yn nodi niferoedd is, a 48 y cant o feysydd carafanau a gwersylla yn nodi niferoedd is. Nawr, mae rhai tirfeddianwyr wedi bod yn defnyddio ac yn arfer eu hawliau datblygu a ganiateir i redeg y safleoedd dros dro hynny ar gyfer pebyll, carafanau, faniau gwersylla a chartrefi modur am hyd at 28 diwrnod y flwyddyn, heb fod angen gwneud cais cynllunio ychwanegol. Ond mae nifer fawr o'r rheini wedi dweud wrthyf eu bod am weld rheolau tebycach i Loegr, lle gallwch wneud yr un fenter yn union am 60 diwrnod. Felly, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn cefnogi tirfeddianwyr a’r sector twristiaeth drwy ymestyn yr hawliau datblygu a ganiateir o 28 diwrnod i 60. A wnewch chi roi'r un peth ar waith yma yng Nghymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
Well, thank you for that supplementary question, Janet. And you're quite right, extending the time limit for temporary use of land for campsites was part of the measures around the COVID-19 pandemic. We had restrictions on foreign travel, so we were trying to help both the tourism industry and people that needed to have a holiday, by allowing these permitted developments on campsites. So, we are now considering the long-term impacts of extended development rights for temporary campsites, and, actually, we did run a consultation on this. That consultation has now closed and no decision has yet been made on those proposals. And that consultation was about whether we should extend from the current 28 days, which we reverted to, as you quite rightly say, and England didn't. But, in the meantime, while we are considering that, it is fair to say that landowners can still apply for planning permission. So, if they are on a site and they've got their permitted development up to 28 days, if they want to extend that, they can apply for planning consent in the normal way. And then, of course, the local authority will look at all of the issues around planning, as they would in the normal course of events, about the proximity to residents, and traffic, and so on. But we are aware, and I think it is important to say this, through the consultation process, we identified concerns from local residents, as well as benefits to the tourism industry. You've got to strike that balance—
Wel, diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Janet. Ac rydych yn llygad eich lle, roedd ymestyn y terfyn amser ar gyfer defnyddio tir dros dro ar gyfer meysydd gwersylla yn rhan o'r mesurau mewn perthynas â phandemig COVID-19. Roedd gennym gyfyngiadau ar deithio tramor, felly roeddem yn ceisio helpu’r diwydiant twristiaeth a phobl yr oedd angen gwyliau arnynt drwy ganiatáu datblygu a ganiateir ar safleoedd gwersylla. Felly, rydym bellach yn ystyried effeithiau hirdymor hawliau datblygu estynedig ar gyfer meysydd gwersylla dros dro, ac mewn gwirionedd, fe wnaethom gynnal ymgynghoriad ar hyn. Mae’r ymgynghoriad hwnnw bellach ar ben, ac nid oes penderfyniad wedi’i wneud ar y cynigion hynny eto. Ac roedd yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw'n gofyn a ddylem ymestyn o'r cyfnod 28 diwrnod presennol, rhywbeth y gwnaethom ddychwelyd ato, fel y dywedwch, yn gwbl gywir, ac ni wnaeth Lloegr. Ond yn y cyfamser, wrth inni ystyried hynny, mae’n deg dweud y gall tirfeddianwyr wneud cais am ganiatâd cynllunio o hyd. Felly, os ydynt ar safle, a bod ganddynt eu datblygiad a ganiateir am hyd at 28 diwrnod, os hoffent ymestyn hynny, gallant wneud cais am ganiatâd cynllunio yn y ffordd arferol. Ac yna, wrth gwrs, bydd yr awdurdod lleol yn edrych ar yr holl faterion sy'n ymwneud â chynllunio, fel y byddent yn ei wneud fel arfer, o ran agosrwydd at drigolion a thraffig ac ati. Ond fe wyddom, a chredaf ei bod yn bwysig dweud hyn, drwy’r broses ymgynghori, ein bod wedi nodi pryderon gan drigolion lleol, yn ogystal â’r manteision i’r diwydiant twristiaeth. Mae'n rhaid ichi sicrhau'r cydbwysedd hwnnw—
Absolutely right, yes.
Yn sicr, oes.
You have to strike that balance between what is right for tourism and what is right for local residents. And we did hear concerns from residents living close to pop-up campsites, who've complained about noise and disruption. And, obviously, we've got issues of campsite traffic using narrow lanes, and so on. So, it is a balancing act, but we will listen to all the arguments that have been outlined in the consultation, and we will carefully consider them in light of our planning and tourism policies. I would just say that, obviously, issues related to permitted development are of course the responsibility of the Minister for Climate Change, who I know is taking a close interest in this matter, and I'm sure she'll be interested to hear the views expressed on this today, as well as those from the formal consultation.
Mae’n rhaid ichi sicrhau'r cydbwysedd hwnnw rhwng yr hyn sy’n iawn ar gyfer twristiaeth a’r hyn sy’n iawn ar gyfer trigolion lleol. A chlywsom bryderon gan drigolion sy'n byw'n agos at feysydd gwersylla dros dro ac sydd wedi cwyno am sŵn a tharfu. Ac yn amlwg, mae gennym broblemau o ran traffig meysydd gwersylla yn defnyddio lonydd cul, ac yn y blaen. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau'r cydbwysedd, ond byddwn yn gwrando ar yr holl ddadleuon a amlinellwyd yn yr ymgynghoriad, a byddwn yn eu hystyried yn ofalus yng ngoleuni ein polisïau cynllunio a thwristiaeth. Dylwn ddweud, yn amlwg, mai cyfrifoldeb y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd yw materion yn ymwneud â datblygu a ganiateir wrth gwrs, a gwn fod ganddi gryn ddiddordeb yn y mater hwn, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd ganddi ddiddordeb mewn clywed y safbwyntiau a fynegwyd ar hyn heddiw, yn ogystal â'r rheini o'r ymgynghoriad ffurfiol.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Tom Giffard.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Tom Giffard.
Diolch yn fawr. Good afternoon, Deputy Minister. You'll be aware of the Arts Council of Wales's recent decision to controversially de-fund National Theatre Wales, which has caused a great deal of concern for those in the industry. The decision potentially jeopardises the future financial viability of the national theatre, and the future of English-language theatre in Wales more generally. What's also notable is that ACW's impact assessment doesn't include a single number. After undertaking the decision, though, the arts council also indicated they'd undertake a review of English-language theatre in Wales. But do you share my concern, Deputy Minister, that deciding to embark on such a review after a decision to de-fund an organisation has been taken, which reaches tens of thousands of people every year, doing theatre in the English language, puts the cart before the horse?
Diolch yn fawr. Prynhawn da, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o benderfyniad dadleuol diweddar Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru i ddadariannu National Theatre Wales, sydd wedi achosi llawer iawn o bryder i’r bobl yn y diwydiant. Mae’r penderfyniad, o bosibl, yn peryglu hyfywedd ariannol y theatr genedlaethol yn y dyfodol, a dyfodol theatr Saesneg yng Nghymru yn fwy cyffredinol. Yr hyn sydd hefyd yn nodedig yw nad yw asesiad effaith CCC yn cynnwys unrhyw ffigurau. Fodd bynnag, ar ôl gwneud y penderfyniad, dywedodd cyngor y celfyddydau y byddent yn cynnal adolygiad o theatr Saesneg yng Nghymru. Ond a ydych yn rhannu fy mhryder, Ddirprwy Weinidog, fod penderfynu cynnal adolygiad o’r fath ar ôl gwneud penderfyniad i ddadariannu sefydliad, sy’n cyrraedd degau o filoedd o bobl bob blwyddyn drwy theatr Saesneg ei hiaith, yn rhoi’r drol o flaen y ceffyl?
Can I thank Tom Giffard for that question? As you know, all Welsh Government funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales, and they operate on an arm's-length principle. And under that principle, the investment review, which is what you're talking about, which has led to the decision on the National Theatre for Wales, is a decision for the Arts Council of Wales. Now, what I'm pleased to see is that their first review following the pandemic has now been completed, and I look forward to seeing how the arts council's decisions will support and benefit the communities of Wales. The outcomes of the investment review, as I've said, are a matter for the Arts Council of Wales, and I recognise that they've been through a very robust process, and they've had to make some very difficult decisions, as required, going through that process. There is, of course, an independent appeals process that is currently ongoing, and so it wouldn't be appropriate while an independent appeals process is ongoing for me to comment further. But I do welcome the announcement of the Arts Council of Wales and their commitment to undertake strategic interventions across a number of disciplines, across next year.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Tom Giffard am ei gwestiwn? Fel y gwyddoch, mae holl gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y celfyddydau yn cael ei sianelu drwy Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, ac maent yn gweithredu ar egwyddor hyd braich. Ac o dan yr egwyddor honno, penderfyniad Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru yw'r adolygiad buddsoddi, sef yr hyn y soniwch amdano, ac sydd wedi arwain at y penderfyniad ar National Theatre Wales. Nawr, yr hyn rwy'n falch o'i weld yw bod eu hadolygiad cyntaf wedi'r pandemig bellach wedi'i gwblhau, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld sut y bydd penderfyniadau cyngor y celfyddydau yn cefnogi ac o fudd i gymunedau Cymru. Mater i Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, fel y dywedais, yw canlyniadau’r adolygiad buddsoddi, ac rwy’n cydnabod eu bod wedi bod drwy broses drylwyr iawn, a’u bod wedi gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn yn ôl y gofyn wrth fynd drwy'r broses honno. Wrth gwrs, mae proses apelio annibynnol ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd, ac felly ni fyddai'n briodol imi wneud sylwadau pellach tra bo proses apelio annibynnol yn mynd rhagddi. Ond rwy'n croesawu cyhoeddiad Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a’u hymrwymiad i ymgymryd ag ymyriadau strategol ar draws nifer o ddisgyblaethau dros y flwyddyn nesaf.
Thank you, Minister, for the answer. Obviously, I understand that you refer quite heavily there to the arm's-length principle of the role, which I understand and I respect, but I'm not sure that the Welsh Government can completely wash its hands of that decision. At the end of the day, this is taxpayers' money, and, as the Deputy Minister for arts in the Welsh Government, you have a responsibility to ensure that that money is spent effectively, efficiently, as well as making sure of the wider health of the arts sector in Wales. But, on top of that, the decision to de-fund the national theatre may not be one for the arts council at all, and might actually relate back to the Welsh Government, and, therefore, becomes your responsibility, Deputy Minister. And I refer to the 2007 'One Wales' agreement, which pledged to, and I quote,
'establish a National English-language Theatre',
in order to widen
'access...so that low income should not be a barrier to participation.'
I haven't seen a subsequent announcement from yourself, or any of your predecessors, to suggest that's no longer Government policy. So, can you confirm whether the Welsh Government has given up on its 2007 pledge of establishing an English-language theatre in Wales?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Yn amlwg, rwy’n deall eich bod newydd gyfeirio’n eithaf clir at egwyddor hyd braich y rôl, yr wyf yn ei deall ac yn ei pharchu, ond nid wyf yn siŵr a all Llywodraeth Cymru olchi ei dwylo o’r penderfyniad hwnnw’n llwyr. Yn y pen draw, arian trethdalwyr yw hwn, ac fel Dirprwy Weinidog y celfyddydau yn Llywodraeth Cymru, mae gennych gyfrifoldeb i sicrhau bod yr arian hwnnw’n cael ei wario’n effeithiol, yn effeithlon, yn ogystal â diogelu iechyd ehangach sector y celfyddydau yng Nghymru. Ond yn ychwanegol at hynny, efallai nad penderfyniad i'r cyngor celfyddydau yw'r penderfyniad i ddadariannu'r theatr genedlaethol o gwbl, ac efallai ei fod yn dod yn ôl at Lywodraeth Cymru, ac felly, yn gyfrifoldeb i chi, Ddirprwy Weinidog. A chyfeiriaf at gytundeb 'Cymru’n Un’ yn 2007, a oedd yn addo
'sefydlu Theatr Genedlaethol Saesneg ei hiaith',
er mwyn ehangu
'cyfle…er mwyn sicrhau nad yw incwm isel yn rhwystro pobl rhag cymryd rhan.'
Nid wyf wedi gweld cyhoeddiad dilynol gennych chi, nac unrhyw un o'ch rhagflaenwyr, i awgrymu nad dyna yw polisi'r Llywodraeth mwyach. Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau p'un a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi’r gorau i’w haddewid yn 2007 i sefydlu theatr Saesneg ei hiaith yng Nghymru?
No, absolutely not, but I can't pick and choose as the arts Minister. I can't pick and choose where the Arts Council of Wales carries out its responsibilities as an arm's-length body. The very nature of an arm's-length body means that that is exactly what they do. They make their own decisions, and they distribute their funding based on the principles that we set out in our remit letter to them, so that they're not acting completely out of kilter with what we expect as a Welsh Government. But the way in which their funding is distributed, and the way in which they've undertaken their investment review, is absolutely a matter for the Arts Council of Wales, because that is what the arm's-length principle means.
Na, ddim o gwbl, ond ni allaf ddewis a dethol fel Gweinidog y celfyddydau. Ni allaf ddewis a dethol lle mae Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru yn cyflawni ei gyfrifoldebau fel corff hyd braich. Mae union natur corff hyd braich yn golygu mai dyna'n union y maent yn ei wneud. Maent yn gwneud eu penderfyniadau eu hunain, ac maent yn dosbarthu eu cyllid yn seiliedig ar yr egwyddorion a nodwyd gennym yn ein llythyr cylch gwaith atynt, fel nad ydynt yn gweithredu'n gwbl groes i'r hyn yr ydym yn ei ddisgwyl fel Llywodraeth Cymru. Ond yn sicr, mater i Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru yw’r ffordd y caiff eu cyllid ei ddosbarthu, a’r ffordd y maent wedi cynnal eu hadolygiad buddsoddi, gan mai dyna yw ystyr yr egwyddor hyd braich.
Thank you. The Welsh Labour Government were very keen to take the credit in 2007 when this was set up—as I say, it was in the 'One Wales' agreement to establish it. But now it's been de-funded, the Minister washes her hands of it. The national theatre here has been completely de-funded. If, as you say, everything is their responsibility and public bodies are nothing to do with you, people will wonder exactly what the point of having a Deputy Minister in the Welsh Government responsible for the arts is. It's no surprise, therefore, that, this past week, even your own co-operation partners have turned on you, with Heledd Fychan remarkably saying that there's no champion for the arts in the Welsh Government. Indeed, in a rare intervention this week on the Politics Wales programme, the artistic director for the Wales Millennium Centre, Graeme Farrow, said that the arts sector in Wales was 'in a crisis', but, on the same show, they said that the Deputy Minister was unavailable for comment. Doesn't it say it all about the priorities of the Deputy Minister, one who we know enjoys foreign trips, clocking up a total of 175 domestic journeys in a ministerial car in a year—the most of any Deputy Minister—whilst jetting off across the world following sports teams, including a £30,000 trip to New Zealand, but yet, when the arts is in a crisis in Wales, the Deputy Minister is unavailable for comment and nowhere to be seen. Your role is about far more than just photo opps and ribbon cutting; it's about being a champion for the industry. So, when will you get a grip on the situation, step up and get on with the job?
Diolch. Roedd Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn awyddus iawn i dderbyn y clod yn 2007 pan gafodd hyn ei sefydlu—fel y dywedaf, roedd ei sefydlu'n rhan o gytundeb 'Cymru’n Un’. Ond nawr ei fod wedi cael ei ddadariannu, mae'r Gweinidog yn golchi ei dwylo ohono. Mae'r theatr genedlaethol yma wedi’i dadariannu’n llwyr. Os mai eu cyfrifoldeb nhw yw popeth, fel y dywedwch, ac nad yw cyrff cyhoeddus yn ddim i'w wneud â chi, bydd pobl yn meddwl beth yn union yw pwynt cael Dirprwy Weinidog yn Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am y celfyddydau. Nid yw’n syndod, felly, fod hyd yn oed eich partneriaid cydweithio eich hun wedi troi arnoch yr wythnos ddiwethaf hon, gyda Heledd Fychan yn dweud, yn rhyfeddol, nad oes hyrwyddwr dros y celfyddydau yn Llywodraeth Cymru. Yn wir, mewn ymyriad prin yr wythnos hon ar raglen Politics Wales, dywedodd cyfarwyddwr artistig Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, Graeme Farrow, fod sector y celfyddydau yng Nghymru 'mewn argyfwng', ond ar yr un rhaglen, roeddent yn dweud nad oedd y Dirprwy Weinidog ar gael i roi sylwadau. Onid yw’n dweud y cyfan am flaenoriaethau’r Dirprwy Weinidog, un y gwyddom ei bod yn mwynhau teithiau tramor, gan wneud cyfanswm o 175 o deithiau domestig mewn car gweinidogol mewn un flwyddyn—y mwyaf o blith yr holl Ddirprwy Weinidogion—a hedfan ar draws y byd yn dilyn timau chwaraeon, gan gynnwys taith gwerth £30,000 i Seland Newydd, ond eto, pan fo’r celfyddydau mewn argyfwng yng Nghymru, nid yw’r Dirprwy Weinidog ar gael i roi sylwadau, ac nid oes golwg ohonoch. Mae eich rôl yn ymwneud â llawer mwy na dim ond cyfleoedd i dynnu lluniau a thorri rhubanau; mae'n ymwneud â bod yn hyrwyddwr ar ran y diwydiant. Felly, pryd ydych chi am fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa, derbyn y cyfrifoldeb a bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith?
I'm not even sure that that tirade warrants a response, Llywydd.
Nid wyf hyd yn oed yn siŵr fod yr ymosodiad hwnnw'n haeddu ymateb, Lywydd.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Luke Fletcher.
The Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Luke Fletcher.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ahead of the Welsh Government's most recent budget, the further education sector was briefed by the Government to expect a 3 per cent reduction in apprenticeship funding next year. However, many in the sector contacted me to express their shock to find that the reduction was actually 24.5 per cent. Now, one of the justifications for a reduction was made on the basis that the apprenticeship funding was demand led, and that the demand wasn't there. Again, colleagues in the FE sector have contacted me to say that that isn't the case. So, for the sake of clarity, who's right, and who's wrong?
Diolch, Lywydd. Cyn cyllideb ddiweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru, cafodd y sector addysg bellach ei friffio gan y Llywodraeth i ddisgwyl gostyngiad o 3 y cant mewn cyllid prentisiaethau y flwyddyn nesaf. Fodd bynnag, cysylltodd llawer yn y sector â mi i fynegi eu syndod wrth ganfod bod y gostyngiad, mewn gwirionedd, yn 24.5 y cant. Nawr, un o'r rhesymau a grybwyllwyd i gyfiawnhau'r gostyngiad oedd bod cyllid prentisiaethau'n seiliedig ar alw, ac nad oedd y galw yno. Unwaith eto, mae cymheiriaid yn y sector addysg bellach wedi cysylltu â mi i ddweud nad yw hynny'n wir. Felly, er eglurder, pwy sy'n gywir, a phwy sy'n anghywir?
Choices around the Welsh Government budget have not been finalised. We continue to have trusted conversations across all sectors about the extraordinarily difficult budgetary position that we face—a combination of low growth, high inflation and the reality that our budgets are worth significantly less than at the time of the spending review. And there is no hiding from the fact that all Ministers will have to make incredibly difficult choices.
This also, of course, has been exacerbated by the loss of former EU funds. And there is only so much that the Welsh Government can do to cover over all of the holes that have been created. I look forward to having further constructive conversations with colleagues across Government, and the wider sectors, about the reality of all our choices. I recognise there'll be concern in every sector when we have to make choices. And it's fair enough for Members to wish to scrutinise and ask questions around that, of course. If people want to put forward alternatives, then that will require moving money from one part of the Government to another, with the additional difficulty that that would cause.
Nid yw'r dewisiadau ynghylch cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u pennu'n derfynol. Rydym yn parhau i gael sgyrsiau gonest ar draws pob sector am y sefyllfa gyllidebol hynod anodd sy’n ein hwynebu—cyfuniad o dwf isel, chwyddiant uchel a’r realiti fod ein cyllidebau yn werth llawer llai na phan gynhaliwyd yr adolygiad o wariant. Ac ni ellir gwadu'r ffaith y bydd yn rhaid i bob Gweinidog wneud dewisiadau anhygoel o anodd.
Mae hyn hefyd, wrth gwrs, wedi’i waethygu am ein bod wedi colli cronfeydd blaenorol yr UE. A dim ond hyn a hyn y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i lenwi pob un o'r bylchau sydd wedi'u creu. Edrychaf ymlaen at gael sgyrsiau adeiladol pellach gyda chyd-Aelodau ar draws y Llywodraeth, a’r sectorau ehangach, am realiti ein holl ddewisiadau. Rwy'n cydnabod y bydd pryder ym mhob sector pan fydd yn rhaid inni wneud dewisiadau. Ac mae'n ddigon teg fod yr Aelodau'n dymuno craffu a gofyn cwestiynau ynghylch hynny, wrth gwrs. Os yw pobl am gynnig dewisiadau eraill, bydd hynny’n golygu symud arian o un rhan o’r Llywodraeth i’r llall, gyda’r anawsterau ychwanegol y byddai hynny’n eu hachosi.
I accept, of course, the budget isn't finalised, but I think there are multiple things here that are quite alarming. In the first instance, given the scale of the challenge we face when it comes to the skills gap, why wasn't take-up within the fund far greater in the first instance? On its justification, the Government said in the budget process that take-up and, therefore, demand was low, but its own figures seem to suggest that take-up is increasing. And figures for the second quarter of 2022 and 2023 saw a 25 per cent increase for apprenticeship level 3 starts. Now, if an increase is seen in the next release of data tomorrow, where does that leave the Government and colleges?
And, secondly, it is clear that, despite the Welsh Government's briefing to the sector, the Government has failed to communicate with the sector about what was coming in this budget. Modelling was done on the figures that the Government provided. This has done nothing but cause anxiety within the further education sector. Now, of course, we hear time and time again from colleges that they are unsure as to exactly what the Government expects of them in delivering courses that will address the skills gap and contribute to a transition to a green economy. So, is this just another example of Government unsuccessfully communicating with the sector and being clear on its strategy?
Rwy'n derbyn, wrth gwrs, nad yw'r gyllideb yn derfynol, ond credaf fod sawl peth yma sy'n eithaf brawychus. I gychwyn, o ystyried maint yr her sy’n ein hwynebu gyda'r bwlch sgiliau, pam na fanteisiodd llawer mwy o bobl ar y gronfa yn y lle cyntaf? Ar y cyfiawnhad drosti, dywedodd y Llywodraeth ym mhroses y gyllideb fod y nifer sy'n manteisio arni, ac felly, y galw, yn isel, ond mae ei ffigurau ei hun i'w gweld yn awgrymu bod y nifer sy’n manteisio arni'n cynyddu. Ac yn y ffigurau ar gyfer ail chwarter 2022 a 2023, roedd cynnydd o 25 y cant yn nifer y rhai a gychwynnodd brentisiaethau lefel 3. Nawr, os bydd y data a gaiff ei ryddhau yfory yn dangos cynnydd, ble mae hynny’n gadael y Llywodraeth a cholegau?
Ac yn ail, er gwaethaf sesiwn friffio Llywodraeth Cymru i'r sector, mae'n amlwg fod y Llywodraeth wedi methu cyfleu'r hyn a oedd yn dod yn y gyllideb hon i'r sector. Gwnaed gwaith modelu ar y ffigurau a ddarparwyd gan y Llywodraeth. Ni wnaeth hynny ond achosi pryder o fewn y sector addysg bellach. Nawr, wrth gwrs, rydym yn clywed dro ar ôl tro gan golegau eu bod yn ansicr ynghylch beth yn union y mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei ddisgwyl ganddynt o ran darparu cyrsiau a fydd yn mynd i’r afael â’r bwlch sgiliau a chyfrannu at y broses o bontio i economi werdd. Felly, a yw hon yn enghraifft arall o’r Llywodraeth yn methu cyfathrebu â’r sector a bod yn glir ynghylch ei strategaeth?
I need to be clear: I'm not going to get drawn into commenting on partial leaks. I haven't seen what the Member refers to. But it is important that we're able to have trusted conversations with stakeholders as we go through a budget process. The alternative is that the Welsh Government makes all the choices without any engagement, and then it's a surprise at the point at which the budget is announced, and we need to understand and work through the real terms impact of any choices that we make as well as our unavoidable responsibility to lay a budget that balances. The Government must do that and will do that when the finance Minister lays that budget on behalf of the entire Government.
So, there are really difficult choices. I've indicated previously, when we've gone through the in-year budget choices we had to make, that we didn't have uptake at that point. And I indicated both here and, I think, in scrutiny committee that were we not in the budget position we find ourselves in, then I would be making more efforts to actually want more people to take up those opportunities for skills and apprenticeships. I am doing what is responsible, as an individual Minister and as part of the whole Government, in making sure that we both balance the budget but still maintain the priorities we have.
And so, actually, the choices that we make with the resources we still have will matter even more. And so, my commitment is to carry on investing in the future, even if we're not able to do everything we would have wanted to have done at the start of this Senedd term when, let's remind ourselves, some people said the Welsh Labour offer was modest and not ambitious enough in spending terms, and yet, actually, we find ourselves in a position where those spending choices are even more challenging. So, the supposedly more generous offers made by other parties are simply not achievable.
We will carry on having conversations with the sector. We will talk about how and why this is on the floor today. But, more importantly, we'll talk about how and why we need to be able to have a budget, and we'll carry on investing in parts of our economy and the skills for the future that really can drive the Wales that we want and a modern, fairer, greener, stronger Wales that we all want to see.
Mae angen imi ddweud yn glir: nid wyf am gael fy nenu i wneud sylwadau ar wybodaeth a ddatgelwyd yn answyddogol. Nid wyf wedi gweld yr hyn y cyfeiria'r Aelod ato. Ond mae'n bwysig ein bod yn gallu cael sgyrsiau gonest gyda rhanddeiliaid wrth inni fynd drwy broses gyllidebol. Y dewis arall yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud yr holl ddewisiadau heb unrhyw ymgysylltu, gan beri syndod pan gyhoeddir y gyllideb, ac mae angen inni ddeall a gweithio drwy effaith wirioneddol unrhyw ddewisiadau a wnawn yn ogystal â'n cyfrifoldeb anosgoadwy i osod cyllideb wedi'i mantoli. Mae'n rhaid i’r Llywodraeth wneud hynny a bydd yn gwneud hynny pan fydd y Gweinidog cyllid yn gosod y gyllideb honno ar ran y Llywodraeth gyfan.
Felly, mae yna ddewisiadau anodd iawn. Rwyf wedi nodi o'r blaen, wedi inni fynd drwy'r dewisiadau cyllidebol yn ystod y flwyddyn y bu'n rhaid i ni eu gwneud, nad oedd digon o niferoedd ar y pryd. A nodais yma ac yn y pwyllgor craffu, rwy'n credu, pe na baem yn y sefyllfa gyllidebol rydym ynddi, buaswn yn gwneud mwy o ymdrech i fod eisiau i fwy o bobl fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny am sgiliau a phrentisiaethau. Rwy'n gwneud yr hyn sy’n gyfrifol, fel Gweinidog unigol ac fel rhan o’r Llywodraeth gyfan, i sicrhau ein bod yn mantoli’r gyllideb yn ogystal â chynnal y blaenoriaethau sydd gennym.
Ac felly, mewn gwirionedd, bydd y dewisiadau a wnawn gyda'r adnoddau sydd gennym ar ôl yn bwysicach fyth. Ac felly, fy ymrwymiad yw parhau i fuddsoddi yn y dyfodol, hyd yn oed os nad ydym yn gallu gwneud popeth y byddem wedi dymuno'i wneud ar ddechrau tymor y Senedd hon pan ddywedodd rhai pobl, gadewch inni atgoffa ein hunain, fod cynnig Llafur Cymru yn annigonol ac nad oedd yn ddigon uchelgeisiol o ran gwariant, ac eto, rydym mewn sefyllfa bellach lle mae’r dewisiadau gwariant hynny hyd yn oed yn fwy heriol. Felly, yn syml iawn, nid yw'r cynigion mwy hael a wnaed gan bleidiau eraill yn gyflawnadwy.
Byddwn yn parhau i gael sgyrsiau gyda’r sector. Byddwn yn siarad ynglŷn â sut a pham fod hyn yn cael ei drafod heddiw. Ond yn bwysicach fyth, byddwn yn siarad ynglŷn â sut a pham fod angen inni allu cael cyllideb, a byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn rhannau o'n heconomi a'r sgiliau ar gyfer y dyfodol a all helpu go iawn i greu'r Gymru fodern, decach, wyrddach a chryfach yr hoffai pob un ohonom ei gweld.
3. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i geiswyr gwaith nad ydynt yn gallu cael mynediad at Gynllun Ailgychwyn Llywodraeth y DU gan nad ydynt wedi bod yn ddi-waith ers naw mis neu fwy? OQ60290
3. What support is the Welsh Government providing to jobseekers who are unable to access the UK Government's Restart Scheme because they have not been unemployed for nine months or more? OQ60290
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
Together with Jobcentre Plus, the Welsh Government has a range of measures in place to support unemployed people into work. For example, the Welsh Government funds both ReAct+ and Communities for Work+ that is delivered by colleagues in local government. Both of these programmes can support people who have been unemployed for less than nine months.
Ynghyd â'r Ganolfan Byd Gwaith, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ystod o fesurau ar waith i helpu pobl ddi-waith i gael swyddi. Er enghraifft, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu ReAct+ a Cymunedau am Waith a Mwy a gyflwynir gan gymheiriaid llywodraeth leol. Gall y ddwy raglen gefnogi pobl sydd wedi bod yn ddi-waith am lai na naw mis.
Thank you very much for that response. Obviously, when you launched the new plan for employability and skills last year, a key part of that plan was the commitment to introduce ReAct+. And one of the things that has been quite striking then is that £5.3 million has been cut from the budget in this year for ReAct+. So, can I ask, therefore, what assessment have you made of the impact that might have in terms of young people's ability to access ReAct+, so that they're not reliant on the UK Government's flawed Restart scheme? Because I'm sure you'd agree with me that the reason that you have put forward ReAct+ is that it does seem nonsensical that people have to be unemployed for nine months before they can access help.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich ymateb. Yn amlwg, pan lansiwyd y cynllun cyflogadwyedd a sgiliau newydd gennych y llynedd, rhan allweddol o’r cynllun hwnnw oedd yr ymrwymiad i gyflwyno ReAct+. Ac un o'r pethau sydd wedi peri syndod, felly, yw bod £5.3 miliwn wedi'i dorri o'r gyllideb ar gyfer ReAct+ eleni. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn pa asesiad a wnaethoch o'r effaith y gallai hynny ei chael ar allu pobl ifanc i gael mynediad at ReAct+, fel nad ydynt yn ddibynnol ar gynllun diffygiol Ailgychwyn Llywodraeth y DU? Oherwydd rwy'n siŵr y byddech yn cytuno â mi mai'r rheswm pam eich bod wedi cyflwyno ReAct+ yw am nad yw'n gwneud unrhyw synnwyr fod yn rhaid i bobl fod yn ddi-waith am naw mis cyn y gallant gael cymorth.
So, ReAct+ covers a range of areas. It's designed to support jobseekers, unemployed people and people who are either at risk of redundancy or have recently been made redundant. For jobseekers and unemployed people, the target is for people aged 16 to 24, so it helps people by trying to deliver more tailored solutions. We’ve had a conversation with the Member for the Rhondda about the work that ReAct+ has been able to do following the closure of UK Windows & Doors.
ReAct+ is, though, a demand-led budget, and part of the reason why there’s been extra room in that budget to help meet the in-year pressures is that we haven’t had the call on the demand budget in terms of the number of people we expected to have to help at the start of the year. Now, that in itself is good news. The danger and the risk is, of course, that if we have significant unemployment events through the rest of this financial year, then that demand-led budget, some of that money has gone into making sure that we can balance our books within this year, and planning ahead for next year. I still think that we’re in a position where, if people are at risk of losing their job, or if they require additional support through ReAct+, we can still help those people, wherever they may be in Wales, within this year.
The challenge comes about the state of the economy as we move forward, and in today’s autumn statement, which I haven’t heard all of, but the Office for Budget Responsibility have downgraded growth assessments across the UK, so that will both mean the economy is likely to still stay flat, and some businesses will grow and others will not succeed. So, we’re still in a very difficult and challenging period and, again, going back to the questions being asked by Luke Fletcher, we still have to live within our means and balance the budget, but the priorities we do then choose will be even more important because there are some things the Government isn’t going to be able to do moving forward. We’ll continue to focus our support in line with our employability plan to help people where there are gaps in Department for Work and Pensions' provision.
Felly, mae ReAct+ yn cwmpasu ystod o feysydd. Fe'i cynlluniwyd i gefnogi ceiswyr gwaith, pobl ddi-waith a phobl sydd naill ai mewn perygl o gael eu diswyddo neu sydd wedi cael eu diswyddo'n ddiweddar. Ar gyfer ceiswyr gwaith a phobl ddi-waith, mae'r targed ar gyfer pobl rhwng 16 a 24 oed, felly mae’n cynorthwyo pobl drwy geisio darparu atebion mwy pwrpasol. Rydym wedi cael sgwrs gyda’r Aelod dros y Rhondda am y gwaith y mae ReAct+ wedi gallu ei wneud yn dilyn cau grŵp UK Windows & Doors.
Mae ReAct+, serch hynny, yn gyllideb seiliedig ar alw, a rhan o’r rheswm pam y bu lle ychwanegol yn y gyllideb honno i helpu i ymdopi â’r pwysau yn ystod y flwyddyn yw am nad ydym wedi cael y galw ar y gyllideb seiliedig ar alw o ran y nifer o bobl yr oeddem yn disgwyl y byddai'n rhaid inni eu helpu ar ddechrau'r flwyddyn. Nawr, mae hynny ynddo'i hun yn newyddion da. Y perygl a’r risg, wrth gwrs, yw, os ydym yn cael digwyddiadau diweithdra sylweddol drwy weddill y flwyddyn ariannol hon, mae rhywfaint o arian y gyllideb seiliedig ar alw honno wedi'i wario ar sicrhau ein bod yn gallu mantoli ein cyfrifon o fewn y flwyddyn hon, a chynllunio ymlaen ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Rwy'n dal i feddwl ein bod mewn sefyllfa lle, os yw pobl mewn perygl o golli eu swyddi, neu os oes angen cymorth ychwanegol arnynt drwy ReAct+, gallwn barhau i helpu'r bobl hynny, lle bynnag y bônt yng Nghymru, o fewn y flwyddyn hon.
Daw’r her mewn perthynas â chyflwr yr economi wrth inni symud ymlaen, ac yn natganiad yr hydref heddiw, nad wyf wedi'i glywed yn ei gyfanrwydd, ond mae’r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol wedi israddio asesiadau twf ledled y DU, felly bydd hynny’n golygu bod yr economi’n debygol o aros yn wastad, ac y bydd rhai busnesau'n tyfu ac eraill yn methu. Felly, rydym yn dal i fod mewn cyfnod anodd a heriol iawn, ac i fynd yn ôl at y cwestiynau a ofynnwyd gan Luke Fletcher eto, bydd yn rhaid inni barhau i fyw'n ddarbodus a mantoli'r cyfrifon, ond bydd y blaenoriaethau a ddewiswn wedyn hyd yn oed yn bwysicach gan fod rhai pethau na fydd y Llywodraeth yn gallu eu gwneud wrth symud ymlaen. Byddwn yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ein cymorth yn unol â’n cynllun cyflogadwyedd i helpu pobl lle ceir bylchau yn narpariaeth yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau.
Sadly, Minister, ageism within employment is still very much prevalent, with employers often bypassing those with considerable experience in favour of much younger people. This situation is worsened by the fact that people over the age of 50 are more likely to have caring responsibilities, with 12 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women aged 55 to 64 providing informal care that further limits their ability to work. In response to this, the UK Government has announced a £22 million investment in new measures to tackle unemployment amongst the over-50s, and I was delighted to see that this increased support will also see the creation of new 50-plus champions who will work directly with employers to encourage and promote the benefits of employing older workers. All this will dovetail with the midlife MOTs the UK Government has also announced. With this in mind, how is the Welsh Government making the best use of this opportunity and working with business to make sure those jobseekers over the age of 50 are fully aware of the range of positions and opportunities that are available to them? Thank you.
Yn anffodus, Weinidog, mae rhagfarn ar sail oedran yn dal i fod yn gyffredin iawn mewn cyflogaeth, gyda chyflogwyr yn aml yn anwybyddu'r rheini sydd â phrofiad sylweddol gan ffafrio pobl iau o lawer. Mae’r sefyllfa hon yn cael ei gwaethygu gan y ffaith bod pobl dros 50 oed yn fwy tebygol o fod â chyfrifoldebau gofalu, gyda 12 y cant o ddynion ac 16 y cant o fenywod 55 i 64 oed yn darparu gofal anffurfiol sy’n cyfyngu ymhellach ar eu gallu i weithio. Mewn ymateb i hyn, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi buddsoddiad o £22 miliwn mewn mesurau newydd i fynd i’r afael â diweithdra ymhlith pobl dros 50 oed, ac roeddwn yn falch iawn o weld y bydd y cymorth ychwanegol hwn hefyd yn arwain at greu hyrwyddwyr 50+ newydd a fydd yn gweithio'n uniongyrchol gyda chyflogwyr i annog a hyrwyddo manteision cyflogi gweithwyr hŷn. Bydd hyn oll yn plethu â'r MOT canol oes y mae Llywodraeth y DU hefyd wedi'i gyhoeddi. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud y defnydd gorau o’r cyfle hwn ac yn gweithio gyda'r byd busnes i sicrhau bod ceiswyr gwaith sydd dros 50 oed yn gwbl ymwybodol o’r ystod o swyddi a chyfleoedd sydd ar gael iddynt? Diolch.
I recognise that in different parts of the labour market it can be more challenging if you’re a young person seeking work, and in other parts of the labour market people can find the alternative, that if you’re an older worker seeking work, it can be more difficult. I should say I’m not quite in the over-50s category, but that is not far in the distance.
When it comes to the design of support from the UK Government, on the one hand it is positive that there is a recognition of the need to focus support for people who are over 50, but still have a lot of their working life ahead of them, and that’s a positive. Actually, between our officials and the way that Jobcentre Plus is managed locally, there are really good relationships. I know Peter Fox isn’t in the Chamber, but when we talked about issues in his constituency or in Blaenau Gwent or indeed in the Rhondda or Ynys Môn recently, we’ve found, actually, a really constructive local relationship.
We still continue to have disagreements with the Government on the design of how some of that support works, because some of the support is mandatory. For example, if someone is referred to the Restart scheme, it is mandatory that they participate and they’ll be sanctioned if they don't. And whilst I understand the politics of why people talk about conditionality and requiring people to do things, there’s very little evidence that it has a net benefit in getting people into real work opportunities that are suitable for them and their skills. We continue to believe that it is better to recognise that people who are out of work, the great majority of them are very keen to return to the world of work, to understand how we can address the barriers that they have, whether that’s skills, whether it’s travel, whether it’s childcare, to help them into work in a more supportive rather than a more punitive environment. Where we can work with the UK Government we’ll continue to do so.
Rwy’n cydnabod y gall fod yn fwy heriol mewn gwahanol rannau o’r farchnad lafur os ydych yn berson ifanc sy’n chwilio am waith, ac y gall fod i'r gwrthwyneb mewn rhannau eraill o’r farchnad lafur, lle gall fod yn fwy anodd os ydych yn weithiwr hŷn sy’n chwilio am waith. Dylwn ddweud nad wyf yn y categori dros 50 oed eto, er nad wyf yn rhy bell ohono.
O ran cynllun y cymorth gan Lywodraeth y DU, ar y naill law, mae’n gadarnhaol gweld cydnabyddiaeth o’r angen i ganolbwyntio cymorth ar bobl dros 50 oed ond sydd â llawer o’u bywyd gwaith yn dal o’u blaenau, ac mae hynny'n gadarnhaol. A dweud y gwir, mae'n amlwg fod perthynas dda iawn rhwng ein swyddogion a'r ffordd y caiff y Ganolfan Byd Gwaith ei rheoli'n lleol. Gwn nad yw Peter Fox yn y Siambr, ond pan fuom yn trafod materion yn ei etholaeth ef yn ddiweddar, neu ym Mlaenau Gwent, neu'n wir, yn y Rhondda neu Ynys Môn, fe welsom berthynas leol adeiladol iawn.
Rydym yn parhau i anghytuno â’r Llywodraeth ynglŷn â chynllun peth o’r cymorth hwnnw, gan fod rhywfaint o’r cymorth yn orfodol. Er enghraifft, os caiff rhywun eu hatgyfeirio at gynllun Ailgychwyn, mae’n orfodol iddynt gymryd rhan, a byddant yn cael eu cosbi os nad ydynt yn gwneud hynny. Ac er fy mod yn deall y rhesymau gwleidyddol pam fod pobl yn sôn am amodoldeb a'i gwneud yn ofynnol i bobl wneud pethau, ychydig iawn o dystiolaeth sydd yna fod hynny'n arwain at fudd net o ran sicrhau cyfleoedd gwaith go iawn i bobl sy'n addas ar eu cyfer nhw a'u sgiliau. Rydym yn parhau i fod o'r farn ei bod yn well cydnabod bod y rhan fwyaf o bobl sy'n ddi-waith yn awyddus iawn i ddychwelyd i’r byd gwaith, i ddeall sut y gallwn fynd i’r afael â’r rhwystrau y maent yn eu hwynebu, boed yn sgiliau, teithio neu ofal plant, i'w helpu i gael swyddi mewn amgylchedd mwy cefnogol yn hytrach na chosbol. Lle gallwn weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU, byddwn yn parhau i wneud hynny.
4. Beth yw blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer cefnogi busnesau bach dros y deuddeg mis nesaf? OQ60267
4. What are the Welsh Government's priorities for supporting small businesses over the next twelve months? OQ60267
Thank you. I welcome the Member to the Chamber. Small businesses are an essential part of the Welsh economy, and we are committed to supporting them to start, grow and prosper with dedicated support available through our Business Wales service, Social Business Wales, and the Development Bank of Wales. I look forward to highlighting the role of small businesses in Wales with Members from all parties, I trust, on Small Business Saturday on 2 December.
Diolch. Rwy'n croesawu'r Aelod i’r Siambr. Mae busnesau bach yn rhan hanfodol o economi Cymru, ac rydym wedi ymrwymo i’w cefnogi i ddechrau, tyfu a ffynnu gyda chymorth penodol sydd ar gael drwy ein gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru, Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru a Banc Datblygu Cymru. Edrychaf ymlaen at gydnabod rôl busnesau bach yng Nghymru gydag Aelodau o bob plaid, rwy'n gobeithio, ar Ddydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach ar 2 Rhagfyr.
Just in case you haven't noticed, Minister, I do turn up to this Chamber on a very regular basis.
Rhag ofn nad ydych wedi sylwi, Weinidog, rwy’n mynychu'r Siambr hon yn rheolaidd iawn.
Indeed you do.
Ydych, yn wir.
Now, this morning, Minister, I had the privilege of sponsoring the Federation of Small Businesses Wales’s small business breakfast briefing and there were several issues that were highlighted to Members about the challenges facing small businesses.
One of the issues that was raised was skills, and you'll be aware of the FSB’s new report, which shows that small employers are less likely to seek advice on skills or recruitment challenges, and that many businesses have limited and often informal links with educational institutions, which results in small businesses developing the skills they need on an ad hoc and fragmented basis. Now, the report calls for better alignment between businesses and skills providers. So, can you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to build better links between education providers and small businesses in order to create more opportunities for small businesses and indeed their employees?
Nawr, y bore yma, Weinidog, cefais y fraint o noddi sesiwn briffio brecwast i fusnesau bach Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru, a thynnwyd sylw'r Aelodau at sawl mater mewn perthynas â'r heriau sy’n wynebu busnesau bach.
Un o’r materion a godwyd oedd sgiliau, ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o adroddiad newydd y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach, sy’n dangos bod cyflogwyr bach yn llai tebygol o ofyn am gyngor ar sgiliau neu heriau recriwtio, ac mai cysylltiadau cyfyngedig ac anffurfiol sydd gan lawer o fusnesau â sefydliadau addysgol yn aml, sy'n arwain at fusnesau bach yn datblygu'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt ar sail ad hoc a thameidiog. Nawr, mae'r adroddiad yn galw am alinio gwell rhwng busnesau a darparwyr sgiliau. Felly, a allwch ddweud wrthym beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i adeiladu gwell cysylltiadau rhwng darparwyr addysg a busnesau bach er mwyn creu mwy o gyfleoedd i fusnesau bach, a'u gweithwyr yn wir?
Thank you for the additional question and I recognise the Member’s regular contributions in the Chamber. I do, though. On the point he raises, we have recently looked at investing in employment bureaus—they’re called different things in different colleges—where there are deliberate links drawn between local businesses and those college students. So, we're then looking at making sure the right skills are there and that they're relevant to the world of work. That also follows on the work that we do with Careers Wales as well.
Part of our challenge is where small businesses have the headspace to be able to look up and think of what they can do in investing in the skills of their own workforce, and looking at where that skills advice is housed and provided. Any business that is looking for where to get advice can go to Business Wales as a one-stop shop to help them navigate through the system. Rather than saying, 'There are a 100 choices, choose the right one', the Business Wales service and Business Wales advice can help people to get to the right point.
We all recognise that investing in the future of your workforce is one of the reasons why other more productive economies or sectors are more successful. So, it's a cultural change, as well as an understanding of how practical support and advice can be provided. So, if any small business is looking at this, then I hope they'll take up the offer of support that is there through Business Wales, including links they can have with local, further education providers and others. And I look forward to talking more about small businesses over the next week, when I launch our reshaping of the economic mission, which will, of course, address matters around skills and indeed small businesses.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn ychwanegol, ac rwy’n cydnabod cyfraniadau rheolaidd yr Aelod yn y Siambr. O ddifrif. Ar y pwynt y mae'n ei godi, rydym wedi edrych yn ddiweddar ar fuddsoddi mewn biwroau cyflogaeth—fe'u gelwir yn bethau gwahanol mewn colegau gwahanol—lle gwneir cysylltiadau bwriadol rhwng busnesau lleol a myfyrwyr y colegau hynny. Felly, rydym yn edrych wedyn ar sicrhau bod y sgiliau cywir yno a'u bod yn berthnasol i fyd gwaith. Mae hynny hefyd yn dilyn y gwaith a wnawn gyda Gyrfa Cymru yn ogystal.
Rhan o'n her yw lle mae gan fusnesau bach allu i feddwl am yr hyn y gallant ei wneud i fuddsoddi yn sgiliau eu gweithlu eu hunain, ac edrych ar ble y caiff y cyngor sgiliau hwnnw ei leoli a'i ddarparu. Gall unrhyw fusnes sy’n chwilio am gyngor fynd at Busnes Cymru fel siop un stop i’w helpu i lywio drwy’r system. Yn hytrach na dweud, 'Mae 100 o ddewisiadau, dewiswch yr un iawn', gall gwasanaeth Busnes Cymru a chyngor Busnes Cymru helpu pobl i gyrraedd y pwynt iawn.
Mae pob un ohonom yn cydnabod bod buddsoddi yn nyfodol eich gweithlu yn un o’r rhesymau pam fod economïau neu sectorau eraill mwy cynhyrchiol yn fwy llwyddiannus. Felly, mae a wnelo hyn â newid diwylliannol, yn ogystal â dealltwriaeth o sut y gellir darparu cymorth a chyngor ymarferol. Felly, os oes unrhyw fusnes bach yn edrych ar hyn, rwy'n gobeithio y byddant yn manteisio ar y cynnig o gymorth sydd ar gael drwy Busnes Cymru, gan gynnwys cysylltiadau y gallant eu cael â darparwyr addysg bellach lleol ac eraill. Ac edrychaf ymlaen at siarad mwy am fusnesau bach dros yr wythnos nesaf, pan fyddaf yn lansio ein cenhadaeth economaidd ar ei newydd wedd, a fydd, wrth gwrs, yn mynd i’r afael â materion yn ymwneud â sgiliau, a busnesau bach yn wir.
As the Minister knows, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete has been found in the roof of Bridgend indoor market, which then had to close immediately, and has hugely impacted many of the small businesses there. Bridgend County Borough Council has been working with the traders and the National Market Traders Federation to support the market traders and help them get up and running again as soon as possible.
I'm pleased to say that Bakestones bakery—the best Welsh cakes in Bridgend—[Interruption.] They are. It has gone into a new unit and is very happy. Financial settlements have been offered to all the traders now and 90 per cent have now been accepted. And the council has also rented a unit in the adjacent Rhiw shopping centre and is setting up for about nine traders to operate from there, and be fully operational by the end of the week.
The council has also appointed WSP to provide the next level of surveys and next steps, and I'm sorry to say that it is likely that a full roof replacement programme will be recommended. So, what help can the Welsh Government give to BCBC with this unexpected and unwelcome burden, particularly at a time when council budgets are stretched and service demand is increasing? Diolch.
Fel y gŵyr y Gweinidog, daethpwyd o hyd i goncrit awyredig awtoclafiedig cyfnerth yn nho marchnad dan do Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, gan olygu y bu’n rhaid iddi gau ar unwaith, ac mae hynny wedi cael effaith aruthrol ar lawer o’r busnesau bach yno. Mae Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr wedi bod yn gweithio gyda’r masnachwyr a’r Ffederasiwn Masnachwyr Marchnad Cenedlaethol i gefnogi masnachwyr y farchnad a’u helpu i barhau i fasnachu cyn gynted â phosibl.
Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod siop fara Bakestones—y cacenni cri gorau ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n wir. Maent wedi symud i uned newydd, ac maent yn hapus iawn. Mae setliadau ariannol wedi'u cynnig i'r holl fasnachwyr nawr ac mae 90 y cant bellach wedi cael eu derbyn. Ac mae’r cyngor hefyd wedi rhentu uned yng nghanolfan siopa gyfagos y Rhiw ac yn ei pharatoi fel y gall oddeutu naw o fasnachwyr weithredu oddi yno, a bod yn gwbl weithredol erbyn diwedd yr wythnos.
Mae'r cyngor hefyd wedi penodi WSP i ddarparu'r lefel nesaf o arolygon a'r camau nesaf, ac mae'n ddrwg gennyf ddweud ei bod yn debygol y bydd rhaglen lawn i osod to newydd yn cael ei hargymell. Felly, pa gymorth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei roi i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr gyda'r baich annisgwyl ac annerbyniol hwn, yn enwedig ar adeg pan fo cyllidebau cynghorau dan bwysau a'r galw am wasanaethau ar gynnydd? Diolch.
I had a very constructive meeting on 23 October with the leader of Bridgend council and his officials. And it was a joint meeting with your office, as you'd both requested a meeting at the same time, so we were able to set out what we're doing then. And I'm happy to confirm publicly that we're looking to carry on working with the council. I think they've been really proactive in wanting to make sure that businesses can survive, and the additional relief they provided. Having somewhere that is nearby, so you're not interrupting shoppers’ patterns, but then understanding the future of the building. And so, if a full roof replacement is recommended, there are real questions about what the freeholder of the building is prepared to do, what the council is prepared to do, and then with a practical plan of how the Welsh Government can carry on supporting.
Because I recognise this is part of the balance of what makes a successful town centre. How do you have enough footfall with retail operating as part of that, with residential operating as part of that, to make sure that you have life in the town centre that keeps on attracting people to it? And that will be especially important for the market traders. I can see one of the Members for Newport in front of you, and actually a successful market redevelopment can really add to the life of a town and city centre. So, there are opportunities with what market traders provide. And I look forward to carrying on that constructive and hopefully positive conversation with the leadership of Bridgend council, and, indeed, with your own engagement as the constituency Member.
Cefais gyfarfod adeiladol iawn ar 23 Hydref gydag arweinydd cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a’i swyddogion. Ac roedd yn gyfarfod ar y cyd â'ch swyddfa chithau, gan fod y ddau ohonoch wedi gofyn am gyfarfod ar yr un pryd, felly bu modd inni nodi'r hyn a wnawn bryd hynny. Ac rwy'n falch o gadarnhau'n gyhoeddus ein bod yn bwriadu parhau i weithio gyda'r cyngor. Credaf eu bod wedi bod yn wirioneddol rhagweithiol o ran ceisio sicrhau y gall busnesau oroesi, a'r rhyddhad ychwanegol a ddarparwyd ganddynt. Cael rhywle cyfagos, fel nad ydych yn tarfu ar batrymau siopwyr, ond wedyn, deall dyfodol yr adeilad. Ac felly, os argymhellir gosod to newydd, mae cwestiynau gwirioneddol ynghylch yr hyn y mae rhydd-ddeiliad yr adeilad yn barod i'w wneud, yr hyn y mae'r cyngor yn barod i'w wneud, gyda chynllun ymarferol wedyn ar gyfer sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru barhau i ddarparu cymorth.
Oherwydd rwy'n cydnabod bod hyn yn rhan o'r cydbwysedd ynghylch yr hyn sy'n gwneud canol tref yn llwyddiannus. Sut ydych chi'n sicrhau digon o ymwelwyr, gydag siopau'n gweithredu yn rhan o hynny, gydag adeiladau preswyl yn rhan o hynny, i sicrhau bod gennych fywyd yng nghanol y dref sy'n dal i ddenu pobl? A bydd hynny'n arbennig o bwysig i fasnachwyr y farchnad. Gallaf weld un o'r Aelodau dros Gasnewydd o'ch blaen, ac mewn gwirionedd, gall gwaith llwyddiannus ar ailddatblygu marchnad ychwanegu at fywyd canol trefi a dinasoedd. Felly, mae cyfleoedd i'w cael gyda'r hyn y mae masnachwyr marchnadoedd yn ei ddarparu. Ac edrychaf ymlaen at barhau â’r sgwrs adeiladol a chadarnhaol honno, rwy'n gobeithio, gydag arweinwyr cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac yn wir, gyda chi fel yr Aelod etholaeth.
5. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am gysylltiad Llywodraeth Cymru â bargen ddinesig prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd? OQ60270
5. Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's involvement in the Cardiff city deal? OQ60270
Yes, and I welcome the Member to the Chamber this afternoon. The Welsh Government investment—
Iawn, ac rwy'n croesawu'r Aelod i'r Siambr y prynhawn yma. Mae buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru—
I just need to point out that it's for me to welcome Members to the Chamber. Many Members here are frequent visitors and do not need to be welcomed every time they're in the—.
Mae angen i mi nodi mai fy lle i yw croesawu'r Aelodau i'r Siambr. Mae llawer o Aelodau yma yn ymwelwyr cyson ac nid oes angen eu croesawu bob tro y byddant yn y—.
Indeed, it's great to see the Member in the Chamber this afternoon. Welsh Government investment underpins the Cardiff capital region city deal and our shared priorities with local government in the region; one example is our investment in the south Wales metro. We will carry on actively exploring opportunities to co-invest in our economic future.
Yn wir, mae'n wych gweld yr Aelod yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma. Mae buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn sail i fargen ddinesig prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd a'n blaenoriaethau cyffredin gyda llywodraeth leol yn y rhanbarth; un enghraifft yw ein buddsoddiad ym metro de Cymru. Byddwn yn parhau i archwilio cyfleoedd i gydfuddsoddi yn ein dyfodol economaidd.
I genuinely don't have a vote in the Labour leadership bid that's coming up, Minister—[Laughter.]—but it is nice to see you here today, because I didn't see you yesterday. Minister, I recently visited the Aberthaw power station, or the former power station at Aberthaw, which has, obviously, just been recently acquired by Cardiff city deal. This wasn't part of the business case that was put forward by the bid team to secure the city deal that, obviously, the Welsh Government and UK Government, along with local authorities, sponsor. The ambition for the site is great, and it was good to see that, but there is a need to bring that ambition forward and make it jump off the screens and the slides that are shown in the presentation to become a reality. What assessment have you, along with your officials, made, given the considerable investment that's going to be required to bring that site back into beneficial use, that the ambition that the city deal has for that site will become a reality?
Nid oes gennyf bleidlais yn y ras am arweinyddiaeth Llafur sydd ar y gorwel, Weinidog—[Chwerthin.]—ond mae'n braf eich gweld chi yma heddiw, oherwydd ni wneuthum eich gweld chi ddoe. Weinidog, yn ddiweddar ymwelais â gorsaf bŵer Aberddawan, neu'r hen orsaf bŵer yn Aberddawan, sydd, yn amlwg, newydd gael ei chaffael gan fargen ddinesig Caerdydd yn ddiweddar. Nid oedd hyn yn rhan o'r achos busnes a gyflwynwyd gan y tîm ceisiadau i sicrhau'r fargen ddinesig y mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Llywodraeth y DU, ynghyd ag awdurdodau lleol, yn ei noddi. Mae'r uchelgais ar gyfer y safle yn wych, ac roedd yn dda gweld hynny, ond mae angen defnyddio'r uchelgais hwnnw a sicrhau ei fod yn neidio oddi ar y sgrin a'r sleidiau a ddangosir yn y cyflwyniad iddo gael ei wireddu. O ystyried y buddsoddiad sylweddol y bydd ei angen i wneud defnydd buddiol o'r safle hwnnw unwaith eto, pa asesiad rydych chi, ynghyd â'ch swyddogion, wedi'i wneud, y bydd yr uchelgais sydd gan y fargen ddinesig ar gyfer y safle hwnnw'n dod yn realiti?
I think part of the point about the reason why the region invested in purchasing Aberthaw was a bet not just on the immediate term but on the future, because of the significance of the power connections that exist there and the opportunities for energy deployment on and around the site. So, there's a significant development opportunity. What we need to see is the amount of investment that will come in. Some of that will involve UK Government choices, of whatever colour the current or future UK Government is. It will also involve engagement with the private sector about how to develop around there, and the ongoing choices about not just energy generation but then transmission as well.
I do think it's understandable why leaders of different shades have agreed that this is the right choice to make. Of course, when the region were talking about this, your group colleague Peter Fox was still part of the region, when they started talking about whether they wanted to do this. So, I and, indeed, the UK Government, because we co-fund the city deal, are looking at what they're likely to do, as well as the other projects within the city deal, and making sure that those other investments that are now starting to be made at an increasing pace deliver against the objectives of generating additional return to the economy with additional jobs on a long-term basis. So, we will carry on assessing not just the purchase but then the plans around it, about what could be a significant investment in the future of our economy.
Rwy'n credu mai rhan o'r rheswm pam fod y rhanbarth wedi penderfynu buddsoddi yn Aberddawan yw oherwydd ei fod yn fet, nid yn unig ar y tymor uniongyrchol, ond ar y dyfodol hefyd, oherwydd arwyddocâd y cysylltiadau pŵer sy'n bodoli yno a'r cyfleoedd ar gyfer defnyddio ynni ar y safle ac o amgylch y safle. Felly, mae yna gyfle datblygu sylweddol. Yr hyn y mae angen inni ei weld yw faint o fuddsoddiad a ddaw i mewn. Bydd rhywfaint o hynny'n cynnwys dewisiadau Llywodraeth y DU, pa liw bynnag yw Llywodraeth bresennol y DU neu pa liw bynnag fydd hi yn y dyfodol. Bydd hefyd yn cynnwys ymgysylltu â'r sector preifat ynglŷn â sut i ddatblygu yno, a'r dewisiadau parhaus ynghylch nid yn unig cynhyrchu ynni ond trosglwyddo ynni wedyn hefyd.
Credaf ei bod yn ddealladwy pam fod arweinwyr o wahanol liwiau wedi cytuno mai dyma'r dewis cywir i'w wneud. Wrth gwrs, pan oedd y rhanbarth yn siarad am hyn, roedd eich cyd-Aelod grŵp Peter Fox yn dal i fod yn rhan o'r rhanbarth, pan wnaethant ddechrau siarad ynglŷn ag a oeddent am wneud hyn. Felly, rwyf i a Llywodraeth y DU yn wir, oherwydd ein bod yn cydariannu'r fargen ddinesig, yn edrych ar yr hyn y maent yn debygol o'i wneud, yn ogystal â'r prosiectau eraill o fewn y fargen ddinesig, ac rydym yn sicrhau bod y buddsoddiadau eraill sydd bellach yn dechrau cael eu gwneud ar gyflymder cynyddol yn cyflawni yn erbyn amcanion cynhyrchu enillion ychwanegol i'r economi gyda swyddi ychwanegol yn hirdymor. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i asesu'r pryniant yn ogystal â'r cynlluniau o gwmpas hynny, ynghylch yr hyn a allai fod yn fuddsoddiad sylweddol yn nyfodol ein heconomi.
Jenny Rathbone. Don't feel obliged, just because I've called your name—you don't have to take the opportunity.
Jenny Rathbone. Peidiwch â theimlo rheidrwydd oherwydd fy mod wedi galw eich enw—nid oes rhaid i chi fanteisio ar y cyfle.
Apologies.
Ymddiheuriadau.
I'll move on to question 6, Jayne Bryant.
Symudaf ymlaen at gwestiwn 6, Jayne Bryant.
6. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r effaith y mae'r argyfwng costau byw yn ei chael ar glybiau chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad? OQ60289
6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on grass-roots sports clubs? OQ60289
I thank Jayne Bryant for that question. The impact of the cost-of-living crisis continues to be felt in the sport sector. The Welsh Government is providing additional financial support through Sport Wales to our national governing bodies to assist with their bespoke interventions.
Diolch i Jayne Bryant am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae'r argyfwng costau byw yn parhau i gael effaith ar y sector chwaraeon. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu cymorth ariannol ychwanegol drwy Chwaraeon Cymru i'n cyrff llywodraethu cenedlaethol i gynorthwyo gyda'u hymyriadau pwrpasol.
Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. Last week, I was contacted by a local rugby club in my constituency, who have just been hit with a huge increase in their energy bills. They've told me that their energy bills will rise from £900 a month to £1,750 a month. For comparison, this club have said that the energy bills will have increased from £5,000 in 2022 to just over £19,000 in 2024. This is absolutely eye-watering, and this is an incredible difference. As a smaller grass-roots sports club, they just don't have the resources to find the difference, and they've told me that this price increase could see the club cease to exist by August 2024, which would be an incredible shame, because this club really does hold a bright future.
Deputy Minister, we all know the positive benefits local clubs have within our communities. What conversations have the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding energy price tariffs, and what more can the Welsh Government do to help support clubs through these really difficult times to ensure their continued presence?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Yr wythnos diwethaf, bûm mewn cysylltiad â chlwb rygbi lleol yn fy etholaeth, clwb sydd newydd gael eu taro gan gynnydd enfawr yn eu biliau ynni. Maent wedi dweud wrthyf y bydd eu biliau ynni yn codi o £900 y mis i £1,750 y mis. Mewn cymhariaeth, mae'r clwb hwn wedi dweud y bydd y biliau ynni wedi cynyddu o £5,000 yn 2022 i ychydig dros £19,000 yn 2024. Mae hyn yn gynnydd syfrdanol, ac mae'n wahaniaeth anhygoel. Fel clwb chwaraeon llai ar lawr gwlad, nid oes ganddynt adnoddau i ddod o hyd i'r gwahaniaeth, ac maent wedi dweud wrthyf y gallai'r cynnydd hwn yn y prisiau olygu y byddai'n rhaid i'r clwb gau erbyn mis Awst 2024, a fyddai'n drueni mawr, oherwydd mae gan y clwb hwn ddyfodol disglair.
Ddirprwy Weinidog, rydym i gyd yn gwybod am yr effaith gadarnhaol y mae clybiau lleol yn ei chael yn ein cymunedau. Pa sgyrsiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch tariffau prisiau ynni, a beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i helpu i gefnogi clybiau drwy'r cyfnod anodd iawn hwn i sicrhau eu bod yn parhau i fodoli?
Can I thank Jayne Bryant for that supplementary and, actually, put on record my acknowledgement of the severe difficulties that increased energy costs continue to inflict across sport sectors and across our economy as a whole? It's of particular concern for our grass-roots sporting clubs that don't have access to the kinds of funds that they need, which you've very clearly set out in your question. Again, I don't want this to be a glib answer, but I think we need to be very clear about where the responsibility for these things lies. As we know and has been said many times, the main policy levers around energy pricing lie with the UK Government when it comes to responding to issues like that. And they really do need to use those levers that are at their disposal to take further urgent steps to target gaps in support, particularly for boosting organisations and businesses such as grass-roots sports clubs, for all the reasons that you've set out.
Welsh Ministers, including the Minister for Economy, and officials have made repeated representations to UK Government Ministers regarding the impact of high energy costs on businesses, on the public and on the third sector. I haven't had the chance to catch up with the budget yet, but I hope that the Chancellor will be using his autumn statement today to help alleviate many of those pressures on households and businesses. Whilst we're unable to support with energy costs, we do have support available to help with energy-saving measures. The Welsh Government's energy service provides technical support and guidance for public sector and community organisations to help them become more energy efficient, and that's all part of our decarbonisation programme as well. We provide interest-free loans to public sector organisations throughout Wales through the funding programme to help with those energy efficiency measures. We've also advocated for greater incentives for business to invest in energy-efficient measures, and to that end, we're supporting the Development Bank of Wales's green business loan scheme.
I think, just going back to sport, it's probably important, again, to put on the record that Sport Wales this year made the unusual move to support energy costs via their energy savings grant in recognition of the difficulties that grass-roots sports clubs are experiencing, and that has allowed clubs to access up to £25,000 for energy efficiency upgrades such as solar panel installations, and so on. That funding for this year has ended, but I'm hopeful that it will reopen again in the next financial year. Of course, there is also the Welsh Government-funded Be Active fund, which is there to support grass-roots sport. So, I'm hoping that we will get some good news from the Chancellor today, and once we have a better perspective on our own financial position in response to all of that, then we will be in a better position to talk more longer term about the kind of support that we can get, within our devolved competence, to more grass-roots organisations.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Jayne Bryant am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, ac mewn gwirionedd, a gaf fi gofnodi fy nghydnabyddiaeth o'r anawsterau difrifol y mae cynnydd yn y costau ynni yn parhau i'w hachosi ar draws sectorau chwaraeon ac ar draws ein heconomi gyfan? Mae'n peri pryder arbennig i'n clybiau chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad nad oes ganddynt fynediad at y math o arian y maent ei angen, fel rydych chi wedi'i nodi'n glir iawn yn eich cwestiwn. Unwaith eto, nid wyf eisiau i hwn fod yn ateb parod, ond rwy'n credu bod angen inni fod yn glir iawn ynglŷn â phwy sy'n gyfrifol am y pethau hyn. Fel y gwyddom ac fel sydd wedi cael ei ddweud sawl gwaith, Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am y prif ysgogiadau polisi mewn perthynas â phrisiau ynni pan ddaw'n fater o ymateb i faterion fel hynny. Ac mae gwir angen iddynt ddefnyddio'r ysgogiadau sydd ar gael iddynt i gymryd camau brys pellach i dargedu bylchau mewn cymorth, yn enwedig ar gyfer hybu sefydliadau a busnesau fel clybiau chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad, am yr holl resymau rydych wedi'u nodi.
Mae Gweinidogion Cymru, gan gynnwys Gweinidog yr Economi, a swyddogion wedi cyflwyno nifer o sylwadau i Weinidogion Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch effaith costau ynni uchel ar fusnesau, ar y cyhoedd ac ar y trydydd sector. Nid wyf wedi cael cyfle i ddal i fyny â'r gyllideb eto, ond rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Canghellor yn defnyddio datganiad yr hydref heddiw i helpu i leddfu llawer o'r pwysau ar aelwydydd a busnesau. Er nad ydym yn gallu cefnogi gyda chostau ynni, mae cymorth ar gael gennym i helpu gyda mesurau arbed ynni. Mae gwasanaeth ynni Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu cymorth technegol ac arweiniad i sefydliadau cymunedol a sector cyhoeddus i'w helpu i fod yn fwy effeithlon o ran eu defnydd o ynni, ac mae hynny i gyd yn rhan o'n rhaglen ddatgarboneiddio hefyd. Rydym yn darparu benthyciadau di-log i sefydliadau'r sector cyhoeddus ledled Cymru drwy'r rhaglen gyllido i helpu gyda'r mesurau effeithlonrwydd ynni hynny. Rydym hefyd wedi dadlau dros fwy o gymhellion i fusnesau fuddsoddi mewn mesurau effeithlon o ran ynni, ac i'r perwyl hwnnw, rydym yn cefnogi cynllun benthyciadau busnes gwyrdd Banc Datblygu Cymru.
I droi'n ôl at chwaraeon, credaf ei bod yn bwysig cofnodi'r ffaith bod Chwaraeon Cymru wedi gwneud y cam anarferol eleni i gefnogi costau ynni drwy eu grant arbed ynni i gydnabod yr anawsterau y mae clybiau chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad yn eu profi, ac mae hynny wedi caniatáu i glybiau gael mynediad at hyd at £25,000 ar gyfer gwelliannau effeithlonrwydd ynni fel gosod paneli solar, ac yn y blaen. Mae'r cyllid hwnnw ar gyfer eleni wedi dod i ben, ond rwy'n obeithiol y bydd yn ailagor eto yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf. Wrth gwrs, yn ogystal, ceir cronfa Cymru Actif a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sydd yno i gefnogi chwaraeon ar lawr gwlad. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn cael newyddion da gan y Canghellor heddiw, a phan fydd gennym bersbectif gwell ar ein sefyllfa ariannol ein hunain mewn ymateb i hynny i gyd, byddwn mewn sefyllfa well i siarad yn fwy hirdymor am y math o gymorth y gallwn ei gael, o fewn ein cymhwysedd datganoledig, i fwy o sefydliadau ar lawr gwlad.
7. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi gweithwyr ar ôl cau ffatrïoedd UK Windows & Doors Group yn Rhondda? OQ60262
7. How is the Welsh Government supporting workers following the closure of UK Windows & Doors Group factories in Rhondda? OQ60262
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
Since I heard the devastating news about UK Windows & Doors, I and my officials have been working closely with key partners to achieve the best possible outcome for all those concerned. This includes the local authority, the Department for Work and Pension, Jobcentre Plus, Business Wales and others, and, indeed, the engagement we've had with both of the constituency Members. This includes ensuring that the workers can access the full range of support that is available to them to try to secure alternative work.
Ers i mi glywed y newyddion trychinebus am UK Windows & Doors, mae fy swyddogion a minnau wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos gyda phartneriaid allweddol i sicrhau'r canlyniad gorau posibl i bawb dan sylw. Mae hyn yn cynnwys yr awdurdod lleol, yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau, y Ganolfan Byd Gwaith, Busnes Cymru ac eraill, ac yn wir, yr ymgysylltiad a gawsom gyda'r ddau Aelod etholaethol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys sicrhau bod y gweithwyr yn gallu cael yr ystod lawn o gymorth sydd ar gael iddynt i geisio dod o hyd i waith arall.
Thank you, Minister. Job losses are always met with fear and anxiety, especially on this occasion, with the sheer number of employees affected and with such little notice provided. Luckily, the Welsh Government's ReAct+ scheme and the advice day hosted by partners in the Welsh Government, the UK Government, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and local employers shortened that window of fear and anxiety, with over 250 live job vacancies filled. From conversations with workers and Teneo, it's my understanding that redundancies are being received with no hiccups or delays. I'd like to ask the Minister if he's received any further information regarding the welfare fund promised to workers and if there is any further update regarding the future of the sites across Rhondda.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Mae colli swyddi bob amser yn arwain at ofn a phryder, yn enwedig ar yr achlysur hwn, gyda nifer fawr o weithwyr yn cael eu heffeithio a hynny heb lawer o rybudd. Yn ffodus, mae cynllun ReAct+ Llywodraeth Cymru a'r diwrnod cynghori a gynhaliwyd gan bartneriaid yn Llywodraeth Cymru, Llywodraeth y DU, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf a chyflogwyr lleol wedi lleihau'r ofn a'r pryder hwnnw, gyda dros 250 o swyddi gwag wedi'u llenwi. O sgyrsiau gyda gweithwyr a Teneo, fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod diswyddiadau'n cael eu derbyn heb unrhyw oedi. Hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog a yw wedi derbyn unrhyw wybodaeth bellach am y gronfa les a addawyd i weithwyr ac a oes unrhyw ddiweddariad pellach ynghylch dyfodol y safleoedd ledled y Rhondda.
Thank you for those two questions. On the legacy fund, as you know, it's something that we've discussed with administrators. There's been an ask, and my understanding is that the shareholders have asked the administrators to consider distributing a legacy fund. We're not, as yet, in a position to understand whether administrators will do that, or their willingness to do that, because they need to complete the process of the administration to understand whether there are assets to be able to distribute.
That does come back to your second point about the sites. Unfortunately, the administrators have not received a bid to purchase one or more of the sites as a going concern. That means they're therefore looking to sell off plant and machinery, and it also means they're looking at the future of the sites. We think that these are sites that should have employment use in the future. They're marked in the development plan for that purpose, and we think there are opportunities for new businesses to come into those sites. So, we remain interested in working with the council and, indeed, those that have now got responsibility for working to sell those sites to understand what the possible future might mean. That then would come back to whether there are assets to distribute in a legacy fund as well.
We're also continuing to work with the council, because the jobs fair that was undertaken was led by the council, and over 300 former UK Windows & Doors people attended. There were more than 250 vacancies from a range of employers. So, we're looking again to see if there is another opportunity to either have a significant individual event to try to draw people together who have not secured alternative work, or whether, actually, more distributive means of information in the community are a better way forward. But we'll continue to maintain an interest in those sites and what it means for current and potential future employees in the Rhondda.
Diolch am y ddau gwestiwn. Ar y gronfa waddol, fel y gwyddoch, mae'n rhywbeth rydym wedi'i drafod gyda gweinyddwyr. Mae rhai wedi gofyn, a fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod y cyfranddalwyr wedi gofyn i'r gweinyddwyr ystyried dosbarthu cronfa waddol. Hyd yn hyn, nid ydym mewn sefyllfa i ddeall a fydd gweinyddwyr yn gwneud hynny, neu i ddeall eu parodrwydd i wneud hynny, oherwydd mae angen iddynt gwblhau'r broses weinyddol i ddeall a oes asedau i'w dosbarthu.
Mae hynny'n fy arwain yn ôl at eich ail bwynt am y safleoedd. Yn anffodus, nid yw'r gweinyddwyr wedi derbyn cais i brynu un neu fwy o'r safleoedd fel busnes gweithredol. Mae hynny'n golygu eu bod felly yn edrych ar werthu cyfarpar a pheiriannau, ac mae hefyd yn golygu eu bod yn edrych ar ddyfodol y safleoedd. Rydym yn credu bod y rhain yn safleoedd a ddylai gael eu defnyddio ar gyfer cyflogaeth yn y dyfodol. Maent wedi'u nodi yn y cynllun datblygu at y diben hwnnw, ac rydym yn credu bod yna gyfleoedd i fusnesau newydd ddod i'r safleoedd hynny. Felly, mae gennym ddiddordeb o hyd mewn gweithio gyda'r cyngor, ac yn wir, gyda'r rheini sydd bellach â chyfrifoldeb dros weithio i werthu'r safleoedd hynny i ddeall beth allai ddigwydd yn y dyfodol. Byddai'n dibynnu wedyn a oes asedau i'w dosbarthu mewn cronfa waddol hefyd.
Rydym hefyd yn parhau i weithio gyda'r cyngor, oherwydd cafodd y ffair swyddi a gynhaliwyd ei harwain gan y cyngor, a mynychodd dros 300 o gyn weithwyr UK Windows & Doors. Roedd dros 250 o swyddi gwag ar gael gan amrywiaeth o gyflogwyr. Felly, rydym yn edrych eto i weld a oes cyfle arall naill ai i gael digwyddiad unigol sylweddol i geisio cysylltu pobl nad ydynt wedi cael gwaith arall, neu a yw dulliau mwy gwasgarol o ledaenu gwybodaeth yn y gymuned yn ffordd well ymlaen mewn gwirionedd. Ond byddwn yn parhau i fod â diddordeb yn y safleoedd hynny a'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu i weithwyr presennol a darpar weithwyr yn y Rhondda.
Mae cwestiwn 8 [OQ60295] wedi ei dynnu nôl.
Question 8 [OQ60295] is withdrawn.
9. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ynghylch y gefnogaeth sy'n cael ei rhoi i'r rhai sydd â stondin ym marchnad dan do Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr? OQ60301
9. What discussions has the Minister had with Bridgend County Borough Council regarding the support being provided to stall holders at Bridgend indoor market? OQ60301
Thank you. I met, at their request, with the leader of Bridgend County Borough Council and the constituency Member for Bridgend and Porthcawl on 23 October to understand what more the Welsh Government can do to support the council on this matter. My officials have also been engaging with the council and traders since the closure to offer further advice and support.
Diolch. Cyfarfûm ag arweinydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a'r Aelod etholaethol dros Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr a Phorthcawl ar 23 Hydref i ddeall beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i gefnogi'r cyngor ar y mater hwn. Mae fy swyddogion hefyd wedi bod yn ymgysylltu â'r cyngor a'r masnachwyr ers cau'r safle i gynnig cyngor a chymorth pellach.
Diolch am yr ateb, Gweinidog. I've been speaking with stall holders now since the initial announcement of the closure two months ago, and the response to the level of support from BCBC and the Welsh Government has been very mixed. Some, of course, are very grateful; others are feeling left to find their own way. We've heard mention of Bakestones today; well, Anne, the owner of Bakestones, said that she was practically left to it. Another stall holder, who wished to remain anonymous, said, 'I feel let down and pushed aside. They don't care about us. This was our livelihood, our business—gone in minutes'. So, in response to stall holders, and, of course, taking note of your response to Sarah Murphy, what exactly is the Government's intervention in this? Because that wasn't clear from the Minister's response, past conversations with BCBC, who, ultimately, will need financial support to deal with this.
Diolch am yr ateb, Weinidog. Rwyf wedi bod yn siarad â stondinwyr nawr ers y cyhoeddiad cychwynnol am y penderfyniad i gau'r safle ddau fis yn ôl, ac mae'r ymateb i lefel y gefnogaeth gan Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gymysg iawn. Mae rhai, wrth gwrs, yn ddiolchgar iawn; mae eraill yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu gadael i ddod o hyd i'w ffordd eu hunain. Rydym wedi clywed sôn am Bakestones heddiw; wel, dywedodd Anne, perchennog Bakestones, iddi gael ei gadael ar ei phen ei hun. Dywedodd deiliad stondin arall, a oedd eisiau aros yn ddienw, 'Rwy'n teimlo fy mod wedi cael cam ac wedi fy ngwthio o'r neilltu. Nid ydynt yn poeni amdanom ni. Dyma oedd ein bywoliaeth, ein busnes—wedi mynd mewn munudau'. Felly, mewn ymateb i stondinwyr, ac wrth gwrs, gan nodi eich ymateb i Sarah Murphy, beth yn union yw ymyrraeth y Llywodraeth yn hyn? Oherwydd nid oedd hynny'n glir o ymateb y Gweinidog, a sgyrsiau gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn y gorffennol, a fydd, yn y pen draw, angen cymorth ariannol i ymdrin â hyn.
Part of the issue here, in all honesty, is that because the council get advice that means they need to close the building, that produces an immediate event for businesses. They won't all have insurance to cover them adequately for their losses. So you're left in a position where the council can either say, 'We don't have a responsibility, we're only a landlord in this endeavour', and then you know that businesses and jobs will go. The council have chosen not to do that, and they've been proactive in looking for alternative premises and, indeed, in providing rates relief and the hiring of commercial fridges and freezers, for example. What we then need to do, and as we have done, is to make sure that business advice is available for each of those individual businesses in their circumstances to understand that there is additional support, and those are, understandably, bespoke conversations. As the council come forward to look at the current position with the current venue for the market that is closed, we will understand more about what it would cost to resolve that building, or whether that is, in fact, an option, and we could then have a longer term conversation about what additional support we may or may not be able to provide.
We're working, though, in an environment where the reliefs that we have available are being deployed by the council. We're working in an environment where business support and advice is being provided, including advice on potential grant or skills investment support, as well. We'll then need to understand: is there more that we can do with the council, when, as you indicated in your earlier question, the Welsh Government budget is not in a position where there is additional money that is free and looking for a home? We have real pressure on our budgets. I'm committed to working with the council to understand what we can do together in a way that makes it easy for those business owners and the jobs that are attached to them to try to make sure we provide as unified an answer where it is as simple as possible to access any support, and recognising, as I said earlier, that a thriving market stall environment can be a really positive aspect of what a thriving town centre could and should look like. So, we'll carry on having a conversation with the council and we'll then make decisions on the back of that.
Rhan o'r broblem yma, a bod yn onest, oherwydd bod y cyngor yn cael cyngor sy'n golygu bod angen iddynt gau'r adeilad, yw bod hynny'n creu digwyddiad ar unwaith i fusnesau. Ni fydd gan bob un ohonynt yswiriant i'w talu'n ddigonol am eu colledion. Felly rydych chi'n cael eich gadael mewn sefyllfa lle gall y cyngor naill ai ddweud, 'Nid oes gennym gyfrifoldeb, dim ond landlord ydym ni yn y sefyllfa hon', ac yna rydych chi'n gwybod y bydd busnesau a swyddi'n mynd. Mae'r cyngor wedi dewis peidio â gwneud hynny, ac maent wedi bod yn rhagweithiol wrth chwilio am safleoedd amgen, ac yn wir, maent wedi darparu rhyddhad ardrethi ac wedi llogi oergelloedd a rhewgelloedd masnachol, er enghraifft. Yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud wedyn, ac rydym wedi gwneud hyn, yw sicrhau bod cyngor busnes ar gael i bob un o'r busnesau unigol sydd dan yr amgylchiadau hynny i ddeall bod yna gefnogaeth ychwanegol, ac mae'r rheini, yn ddealladwy, yn sgyrsiau at ofynion unigol. Wrth i'r cyngor edrych ar y sefyllfa bresennol gyda'r safle presennol ar gyfer y farchnad sydd ar gau, byddwn yn deall mwy ynglŷn â faint y byddai'n ei gostio i atgyweirio'r adeilad hwnnw, neu a yw hynny'n opsiwn mewn gwirionedd, ac yna gallem gael sgwrs fwy hirdymor am ba gymorth ychwanegol y gallem neu na allem ei ddarparu.
Fodd bynnag, rydym yn gweithio mewn amgylchedd lle mae'r rhyddhad sydd gennym ar gael yn cael eu darparu gan y cyngor. Rydym yn gweithio mewn amgylchedd lle mae cymorth a chyngor busnes yn cael eu darparu, gan gynnwys cyngor ar gymorth grant neu gymorth buddsoddi mewn sgiliau, o bosibl. Yna, bydd angen inni ddeall a oes mwy y gallwn ei wneud gyda'r cyngor, pan nad oes arian ychwanegol yng nghyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn chwilio am gartref, fel y dynodwyd gennych yn eich cwestiwn cynharach. Mae yna bwysau gwirioneddol ar ein cyllidebau. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda'r cyngor i ddeall yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud gyda'n gilydd mewn ffordd sy'n ei gwneud hi'n hawdd i'r perchnogion busnes hynny a'r swyddi sydd ynghlwm wrthynt i geisio sicrhau ein bod yn darparu ateb mor unedig â phosibl, sy'n sicrhau bod cael mynediad at unrhyw gymorth mor hawdd â phosibl, a chydnabod, fel y dywedais yn gynharach, y gall amgylchedd stondinau marchnad ffyniannus fod yn agwedd gadarnhaol iawn ar sut olwg y gallai a sut olwg y dylai fod ar ganol tref ffyniannus. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i gael trafodaethau gyda'r cyngor ac yna byddwn yn gwneud penderfyniadau yn sgil hynny.
10. Pa asesiad mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o gyfraniad cwmnïau o Japan i economi Cymru dros y 50 mlynedd diwethaf? OQ60266
10. What assessment has the Minister made of the contribution of Japanese companies to the Welsh economy over the last 50 years? OQ60266
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
Wales enjoys a strong relationship with Japan, with many significant economic and cultural ties. The relationship is important for Wales on all levels—economic, social and cultural. Japan is our second-highest investing market—thousands of Welsh jobs that are reliant on Japanese-headquartered companies located in Wales, including, of course, in the Member's constituency.
Mae gan Gymru berthynas gref â Japan, gyda llawer o gysylltiadau economaidd a diwylliannol arwyddocaol. Mae'r berthynas yn bwysig i Gymru ar bob lefel—economaidd, cymdeithasol a diwylliannol. Japan yw ein marchnad fuddsoddi uchaf ond un—miloedd o swyddi yng Nghymru sy'n ddibynnol ar gwmnïau sydd â'u pencadlys yn Japan, wedi'u lleoli yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, yn etholaeth yr Aelod.
Indeed. And if I can take the Minister back to a recent visit that he made there, where there were Japanese companies from all over Wales—every part of Wales: mid, west, north and south—who were gathered together to not only see the work that is going on in Sony, but actually to network together as well, and the importance of relationship building for connections between Japan and Wales is crucial.
So, what I want to ask you is: how do we build on that for the next 50 years? Because good inward investment of that type, that bases its manufacturing and design and production and its research and its innovation here in Wales, is part of the key to our economic future, alongside growing indigenous businesses, because these investors also have a supply chain that works with them as well. So, how can Welsh Government help us build on those relationships and make it even stronger over the next decade and the next 50 years?
Yn wir. Ac os caf dynnu sylw'r Gweinidog at ei ymweliad diweddar, lle'r oedd cwmnïau Japaneaidd o bob rhan o Gymru—pob rhan o Gymru: canolbarth, gorllewin, gogledd a de—wedi ymgasglu nid yn unig i weld y gwaith sy'n digwydd yn Sony ond i rwydweithio gyda'i gilydd hefyd, ac mae meithrin perthynas a chynnal cysylltiadau rhwng Japan a Chymru yn hollbwysig.
Felly, yr hyn rwyf eisiau ei ofyn i chi yw: sut rydym ni'n adeiladu ar hynny dros y 50 mlynedd nesaf? Oherwydd mae mewnfuddsoddiad da o'r math hwnnw, sy'n seilio ei weithgynhyrchu a'i gynllunio a'i gynhyrchu a'i ymchwil a'i arloesedd yma yng Nghymru, yn rhan o'r allwedd i'n dyfodol economaidd, ochr yn ochr â busnesau brodorol sy'n tyfu, oherwydd mae gan y buddsoddwyr hyn gadwyn gyflenwi sy'n gweithio gyda nhw hefyd. Felly, sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ein helpu i adeiladu ar y cysylltiadau hynny a'u gwneud yn gryfach byth dros y degawd nesaf a'r 50 mlynedd nesaf?
Thank you for the question and I well remember the recent event, with 14 different Japanese companies and the Japanese ambassador was here for the event as well, and so it is a really positive milestone, recognising the difference the Japanese investment has made, and it does show that inward investment is part of our economic past and our future as well, and you do not have to choose between either the foundation and everyday economy or searching for inward investment. And the point the Member makes is right, thinking about the significance of the supply chain. So, we will carry on investing real-time energy and effort in the relationship with Japanese companies that are here today and those that may be here in the future. We’ll carry on in our engagement with the Government of Japan and indeed some of the links we have in Oita, for example, within a specific area where there are real cultural and educational links as well.
And it’s worth pointing out the continued investment that some of those companies make: Sony, we talked about in the Member's constituency; Panasonic recently announced significant investment in how they're decarbonising their production in their facilities as well. So, there are lots of areas where Japanese investment is part of the story we want to tell. It’s very much a part of the future, and I look forward to playing my part in making sure that it's a successful one.
Diolch am y cwestiwn ac rwy'n cofio'r digwyddiad diweddar yn dda, gyda 14 o gwmnïau Japaneaidd gwahanol ac roedd llysgennad Japan draw ar gyfer y digwyddiad hefyd, ac felly mae'n garreg filltir gadarnhaol iawn, sy'n gydnabod y gwahaniaeth y mae buddsoddiad Japaneaidd wedi'i wneud, ac mae'n dangos bod mewnfuddsoddiad yn rhan o'n gorffennol economaidd a'n dyfodol hefyd, ac nid oes rhaid i chi ddewis rhwng naill ai'r economi sylfaenol a'r economi bob dydd, neu chwilio am fewnfuddsoddiad. Ac mae'r pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud yn iawn, gan feddwl am arwyddocâd y gadwyn gyflenwi. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi egni ac ymdrech amser real yn y berthynas â chwmnïau o Japan sydd yma heddiw a'r rhai a allai fod yma yn y dyfodol. Byddwn yn parhau i ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth Japan a rhai o'r cysylltiadau sydd gennym yn Oita, er enghraifft, o fewn maes penodol lle ceir cysylltiadau diwylliannol ac addysgol go iawn hefyd.
Ac mae'n werth tynnu sylw at y buddsoddiad parhaus y mae rhai o'r cwmnïau hynny yn ei wneud: Sony, y buom yn siarad amdano yn etholaeth yr Aelod; cyhoeddodd Panasonic fuddsoddiad sylweddol yn ddiweddar yn y ffordd y maent yn datgarboneiddio eu cynhyrchiant yn eu cyfleusterau hefyd. Felly, mae yna lawer o feysydd lle mae buddsoddiad Japaneaidd yn rhan o'r stori yr ydym eisiau ei hadrodd. Mae'n bendant yn rhan o'r dyfodol, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at chwarae fy rhan i i sicrhau ei fod yn un llwyddiannus.
I'm grateful to Huw Irranca-Davies for raising that question here this afternoon. Minister, you mentioned north Wales, where Japanese companies have a level of investment there, and you'll be fully aware of the significance of advanced manufacturing, particularly in my region in north Wales. And I'm sure you were pleased to hear today the Chancellor's announcement of an investment zone for north-east Wales in Wrexham and Flintshire, and I'm grateful for your support on that as well.
With that particular zone in mind, I'm keen to understand if there are any early conversations being held with perhaps Japanese companies, or any other companies from around the world to invest in that part of the world, so we can see those jobs that we're so desperate to see.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Huw Irranca-Davies am godi'r cwestiwn hwnnw y prynhawn yma. Weinidog, fe sonioch chi am ogledd Cymru, lle mae gan gwmnïau o Japan lefel o fuddsoddiad yno, ac fe fyddwch yn gwbl ymwybodol o arwyddocâd gweithgynhyrchu uwch, yn enwedig yn fy rhanbarth i yng ngogledd Cymru. Ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn falch o glywed cyhoeddiad y Canghellor heddiw am barth buddsoddi ar gyfer gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru yn Wrecsam a sir y Fflint, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich cefnogaeth chi i hynny hefyd.
Gyda'r parth penodol hwnnw mewn golwg, rwy'n awyddus i ddeall a oes unrhyw sgyrsiau cynnar yn digwydd gyda chwmnïau Japaneaidd efallai, neu unrhyw gwmnïau eraill o bob cwr o'r byd i fuddsoddi yn y rhan honno o'r byd, fel y gallwn weld y swyddi hynny yr ydym mor awyddus i'w gweld.
Well, I did hear part of the autumn statement and I did hear the Chancellor refer to a second investment zone centred on Wrexham and Flintshire. I believe there's also been agreement, following a conversation with the levelling-up Minister, to the south-east investment zone as well, following the announcement I made to the Chamber last week. So, I think that is positive news.
When we look at advanced manufacturing in north-east Wales, there are a range of players, including Japanese-owned businesses—Toyota being a very obvious example. And we've got a good relationship with Toyota, and Unite as the recognised union on that site. We've helped with investment on that site to secure further jobs and indeed decarbonise their production. We look forward to doing more with them, because Toyota don't just have an interest in, of course, car manufacturing; they're looking at alternative fuels, they're looking at electric, they're looking at the potential for fuel cells as well from hydrogen. There's a lot more for us to do with them and other companies as well. And indeed Toyota—maybe referring back to the first question—may be a future host for a networking event for Japanese companies in the future, so I look forward to carrying on a really constructive and positive relationship with them and indeed wider businesses in the north-east of Wales.
Wel, clywais ran o ddatganiad yr hydref a chlywais y Canghellor yn cyfeirio at ail barth buddsoddi sy'n canolbwyntio ar Wrecsam a sir y Fflint. Rwy'n credu bod cytundeb wedi bod mewn perthynas â pharth buddsoddi'r de-ddwyrain hefyd, yn dilyn sgwrs gyda'r Gweinidog ffyniant bro, ac yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad a wneuthum i'r Siambr yr wythnos diwethaf. Felly, rwy'n credu bod hwnnw'n newyddion cadarnhaol.
Pan edrychwn ar weithgynhyrchu uwch yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru, mae yna ystod o chwaraewyr, gan gynnwys busnesau o Japan—mae Toyota yn enghraifft amlwg iawn. Ac mae gennym berthynas dda gyda Toyota, ac Unite fel yr undeb cydnabyddedig ar y safle hwnnw. Rydym wedi helpu gyda buddsoddiad ar y safle hwnnw i sicrhau rhagor o swyddi, ac yn wir i ddatgarboneiddio eu cynhyrchiant. Rydym yn edrych ymlaen at wneud mwy gyda nhw, oherwydd mae gan Toyota ddiddordeb mewn mwy na gweithgynhyrchu ceir yn unig, wrth gwrs; maent yn edrych ar danwydd amgen, maent yn edrych ar drydan, maent hefyd yn edrych ar y potensial ar gyfer celloedd tanwydd o hydrogen. Mae llawer mwy inni ei wneud gyda nhw a chwmnïau eraill hefyd. Ac yn wir, mae'n bosibl y bydd Toyota—gan gyfeirio'n ôl at y cwestiwn cyntaf efallai—yn cynnal digwyddiad rhwydweithio ar gyfer cwmnïau Japaneaidd yn y dyfodol, felly edrychaf ymlaen at barhau perthynas adeiladol a chadarnhaol iawn gyda nhw ac yn wir gyda busnesau ehangach yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Cymru.
Diolch i’r Gweinidog a’r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you to the Minister and Deputy Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i’r Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Y cwestiwn cyntaf gan Peter Fox.
The next item will be questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services and the first question is from Peter Fox.
1. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o ddigonolrwydd gwasanaethau deintyddol? OQ60298
1. What assessment has the Minister made of the adequacy of dental services? OQ60298
I have acknowledged that access to dentistry is not where we would like it to be. The changes we are making mean NHS dentistry is becoming more accessible to those who have historically struggled to gain access. Over 250,000 new patients have received treatment since April 2022.
Rwyf wedi cydnabod nad yw mynediad at ddeintyddiaeth yn y sefyllfa yr hoffem iddo fod. Mae'r newidiadau a wnawn yn golygu bod deintyddiaeth y GIG yn dod yn fwy hygyrch i'r rhai sydd wedi cael trafferth wrth geisio mynediad yn y gorffennol. Mae dros 250,000 o gleifion newydd wedi cael triniaeth ers mis Ebrill 2022.
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Time and time again, Members raise concerns about dental services, and you often repeat that your new contracts are increasing the number of first-time NHS patients. However, this is to the detriment of both dental services and the Welsh public, and distorts the reality of a service that is on its knees. A practice in my constituency has recently reached out to highlight that, as a result of the new contract, they are forced into a position where thousands of existing patients are unable to even be considered for recall appointments. Because of this, the practice is now faced with a clawback of £155,000. This is not an exception to the rule, this is the rule, due to the lack of long-term thinking. Further, dentists now pay for their lab fees personally, but for complex lab work, like dentures, the NHS remuneration does not cover this cost, leaving the dentist out of pocket. It is no wonder, then, that practices are having to increase private work in order to carry on providing what NHS work they can. Minister, what measures are you taking to specifically address recall appointment wait times?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Dro ar ôl tro, mae'r Aelodau'n codi pryderon am wasanaethau deintyddol, ac yn aml rydych yn ailadrodd bod eich contractau newydd yn cynyddu nifer y cleifion sy'n manteisio ar wasanaeth y GIG am y tro cyntaf. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hynny'n fuddiol i wasanaethau deintyddol na'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru, ac mae'n ystumio'r realiti am wasanaeth sydd ar ei liniau. Mae practis yn fy etholaeth wedi estyn allan yn ddiweddar i dynnu sylw at y ffaith eu bod, o ganlyniad i'r contract newydd, yn cael eu gorfodi i sefyllfa lle na all miloedd o gleifion presennol gael eu hystyried hyd yn oed ar gyfer apwyntiadau ailalw. Oherwydd hyn, mae'r practis bellach yn wynebu adfachiad o £155,000. Nid eithriad i'r rheol yw hyn, dyma'r rheol, oherwydd diffyg ystyriaeth hirdymor. Ymhellach, mae deintyddion bellach yn talu am eu ffioedd labordy yn bersonol, ond ar gyfer gwaith labordy cymhleth, fel dannedd gosod, nid yw cydnabyddiaeth ariannol y GIG yn talu'r gost hon, sy'n golygu bod y deintydd ar ei golled. Nid yw'n syndod, felly, fod practisau'n gorfod gwneud mwy o waith preifat er mwyn parhau i ddarparu'r gwaith GIG y gallant ei wneud. Weinidog, pa fesurau a roddir ar waith gennych i fynd i'r afael ag amseroedd aros am apwyntiadau ailalw yn benodol?
Thanks very much. Well, I won't comment specifically on that particular case, but what I can tell you is that we have very deliberately developed contracts in terms of dental services where we are focusing attention on the most urgent, but also on the preventative aspects of dentistry, and on focusing attention on people who have had difficulty in accessing NHS dentistry in the past. Now, what that does mean is that there is likely to be an impact on those who are waiting for recall. But as I've said in this Chamber before, in that sense, I think it is important that there's recognition that we're following the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on this, and the NICE guidance suggests that, if you have healthy teeth, you don't need a recall every six months. In fact, you can go up to two years without having a recall. That is what NICE is saying, and you ask us to follow NICE most of the time, so I think it's really important that we are led by clinicians in this area. We recognise that there is only a certain amount of money and we do have to target that, and that's why we are following that particular approach.
I think it is probably worth saying, in relation to clawback just generally, it's a very different situation and agreement that we have with dentists compared to GPs, for example. The situation is that we pay dentists in terms of this contract in advance. That doesn't happen anywhere else. So, obviously, if they can't reach the contract that they agreed to, then I think you in particular, who want us to be responsible stewards of the public funds, would want us to understand that, if they are not actually providing the service that they signed up to, then it's a responsibility on us as a Government to make sure that we go and get that money back.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, nid wyf am wneud sylwadau penodol ar yr achos penodol hwnnw, ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw ein bod wedi datblygu contractau yn fwriadol iawn ar gyfer gwasanaethau deintyddol lle rydym yn canolbwyntio ar yr achosion mwyaf difrifol, ond hefyd ar agweddau ataliol deintyddiaeth, ac ar ganolbwyntio ar bobl sydd wedi cael anhawster i gael mynediad at ddeintyddiaeth y GIG yn y gorffennol. Nawr, yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu yw ei bod yn debygol y bydd effaith ar y rhai sy'n aros i gael eu hailalw. Ond fel y dywedais yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen, yn yr ystyr honno, credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod ein bod yn dilyn canllawiau'r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal ar hyn, ac mae'r canllawiau hynny'n awgrymu, os oes gennych ddannedd iach, nad oes angen apwyntiad ailalw arnoch bob chwe mis. Mewn gwirionedd, gallwch fynd hyd at ddwy flynedd heb gael apwyntiad ailalw. Dyna mae'r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal yn ei ddweud, ac rydych yn gofyn inni ddilyn eu canllawiau nhw y rhan fwyaf o'r amser, felly rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael ein harwain gan glinigwyr yn hyn o beth. Rydym yn cydnabod mai dim ond swm penodol o arian sydd ar gael ac mae'n rhaid inni ei dargedu, a dyna pam ein bod yn gweithredu yn y ffordd benodol honno.
Mewn perthynas ag adfachu yn gyffredinol, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth dweud bod y sefyllfa a'r cytundeb sydd gennym gyda deintyddion yn wahanol iawn o'i gymharu â meddygon teulu er enghraifft. Y sefyllfa yw ein bod yn talu deintyddion ymlaen llaw o dan y contract hwn. Nid yw hynny'n digwydd yn unrhyw le arall. Felly, yn amlwg, os na allant fodloni'r contract y maent wedi cytuno iddo, credaf y byddech chi yn arbennig, sydd eisiau i ni fod yn stiwardiaid cyfrifol ar arian cyhoeddus, eisiau i ni ddeall, os nad ydynt yn darparu'r gwasanaeth y gwnaethant gytuno i'w ddarparu, fod gennym ni fel Llywodraeth gyfrifoldeb i sicrhau ein bod yn cael yr arian hwnnw'n ôl.
Fis diwethaf, mi ddywedodd deintyddfa Hayden Dental yng Nghaerfyrddin eu bod nhw yn dod â'u gwasanaeth gwasanaeth iechyd genedlaethol i ben ddiwedd y flwyddyn. Mae hynny yn dilyn datblygiadau tebyg iawn i'r gorllewin yn Hendy-gwyn ar Daf, i'r dwyrain yn Llandeilo, i'r de yn Cross Hands ac ati. Ydy'r Gweinidog yn derbyn bod y ffaith bod yr holl ddeintyddion yma wedi stopio eu gwasanaeth gwasanaeth iechyd genedlaethol yn golygu nawr ein bod ni'n ei wneud e'n fwy anodd byth i ddenu rhywun i dendro ar gyfer cytundeb newydd oherwydd y prinder darpariaeth? A oes gennych chi'r data nawr? Roeddech chi wedi sôn y byddech chi'n gobeithio cael cofrestr ganolog ar lefel cenedlaethol—a oes gyda chi'r data yna sydd yn gallu edrych ar ganlyniadau'r hyn sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad? Ac os ydyw e'n cadarnhau'r hyn y mae deintyddion a defnyddwyr y gwasanaeth yn ddweud yn lleol, bod yna creisis, fyddwch chi'n fodlon cwrdd ag aelodau etholedig a'r bwrdd iechyd yn y rhanbarth er mwyn dod â datrysiad gerbron?
Last month, Hayden Dental in Carmarthen said that they would bring their NHS service to an end at the end of the year. That follows very similar developments to the west in Whitland, to the east in Llandeilo and to the south in Cross Hands and so on and so forth. So, does the Minister accept that the fact that all of these dental surgeries have ceased their NHS service means that it'll make it even more difficult to attract people to tender for a new contract because of the shortage of provision? Do you have the data now? You mentioned that you hoped to have a central register at a national level—do you have that data, which can focus on what is happening on the ground? And if it does confirm what dentists and service users are saying locally, that there is a crisis, would you be willing to meet the elected members and the health board in the area to find a solution?
Wel, dwi'n derbyn bod rhai ardaloedd o Gymru wedi rhoi mwy o gytundebau nôl nag ardaloedd eraill—mae Hywel Dda yn un o'r ardaloedd hynny, lle mae saith cytundeb wedi cael eu rhoi nôl. Ond beth sy'n digwydd wedyn, wrth gwrs, yw ein bod ni'n mynd mas, nôl allan, i ail-gontractio'r rheini. A beth dwi'n falch i gyhoeddi yw bod pedwar cytundeb eisoes wedi mynd mas a bod diddordeb ar gyfer Cross Hands, Llandeilo, de Ceredigion a gogledd sir Benfro. Felly, mae'r broses hynny o gael contractwyr newydd eisoes yn digwydd ac mae yna ddiddordeb. A beth sydd wedi digwydd yw bod yna tri chytundeb arall erbyn hyn wedi cael eu rhoi nôl—Caerfyrddin, Hendy-gwyn a Hwlffordd—ac maen nhw yn mynd i stopio rhoi'r gwasanaeth erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Ond beth rŷn ni wedi dweud yw bod y rhestr ganolog yna—mae'n rhaid i hwnna fod mewn lle erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Dŷn ni ddim wedi cyrraedd diwedd y flwyddyn eto, felly gobeithio y byddwn ni'n gallu edrych ar y manylion hynny erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Ac, wrth gwrs, byddwch chi'n ymwybodol ein bod ni hefyd yn rhoi £5,000 yn ychwanegol i geisio cael pobl i hyfforddi yn yr ardaloedd cefn gwlad hynny.
Well, I do accept that certain areas of Wales have handed back more contracts than others—Hywel Dda is one of those areas, where seven contracts have been handed back. And what happens then is that we go back out to re-contract, and what I'm pleased to announce is that four contracts have already been issued and that there is interest for Cross Hands, Llandeilo, south Ceredigion and north Pembrokeshire too. So, that process of finding new contractors is already under way and there is interest. And what has happened is that there are three contracts that have now been handed back—Carmarthen, Whitland and Haverfordwest—and they will cease providing the service by the end of the year. But what we have said is that that central register must be in place by the end of the year. We haven't reached the end of the year as of yet, so I do very much hope that we will be able to look at those details by the end of the year. And, of course, you will be aware that we also provided an additional £5,000 to encourage people to train in rural areas.
Minister, in terms of the Bridges dental practice in Caldicot, I met with the partners there this week and they do feel very strongly that their long-standing commitment as a practice to NHS provision is being put at risk by the new NHS dental services contract, and that they do not feel that they're able to provide what they consider to be a proper standard of care for existing NHS patients while meeting the requirements for new patients and what they're required to do for those new patients. They believe that this view is very widespread among NHS dentists, not just in their area, but across Wales, and they believe that that new NHS dental services contract isn't working as it was expected to and we will see a reducing level of NHS provision as a result. So, there does seem to be a groundswell of opinion from across Wales, Minister, that's very, very concerned about the sort of level of NHS provision that we're likely to see going forward, if that new contract isn't carefully assessed and perhaps adjusted.
Weinidog, o ran practis deintyddol Bridges yng Nghil-y-coed, cyfarfûm â'r partneriaid yno yr wythnos hon ac maent yn teimlo'n gryf iawn fod eu hymrwymiad hirsefydlog fel practis i ddarpariaeth GIG yn cael ei beryglu gan gontract gwasanaethau deintyddol newydd y GIG, ac nad ydynt yn teimlo eu bod yn gallu darparu'r hyn y maent yn ei ystyried yn safon briodol o ofal i gleifion presennol y GIG gan fodloni'r gofynion ar gyfer cleifion newydd ar yr un pryd, a'r hyn y mae disgwyl iddynt ei wneud ar gyfer y cleifion newydd hynny. Maent yn credu bod y farn hon yn gyffredin iawn ymhlith deintyddion y GIG, nid yn unig yn eu hardal nhw, ond ledled Cymru, ac maent yn credu nad yw contract gwasanaethau deintyddol newydd y GIG yn gweithio yn ôl y disgwyl ac y byddwn yn gweld lefel ostyngol o ddarpariaeth GIG o ganlyniad. Felly, mae'n ymddangos bod yna nifer o bobl o bob rhan o Gymru, Weinidog, sy'n bryderus iawn am y math o ddarpariaeth GIG yr ydym yn debygol o'i weld wrth symud ymlaen, os na chaiff y contract newydd hwnnw ei asesu'n ofalus, a'i addasu o bosibl.
Thanks very much, John. And as I say, I don't want to talk about any specific surgery, but what I can say is that, obviously, we're now in further negotiations about the next iteration of the contract. You know, I don't think we're going to apologise for the fact that we want to focus on urgent cases and on cases where people have had it really difficult to access dentistry for a long time, but what I can tell you is, actually, although there does seem quite a lot of noise around this, 80 per cent of dental contract values are operating under a variation arrangement that includes that requirement to see new patients for routine and urgent care. So, people are signing up to these contracts. There is a bit of noise in the system, of course, because it does mean change, and when you prioritise one group, then, obviously, a different group is going to be deprioritised. But, you know, we went into this with our eyes open, we are following NICE guidance on this, and what we're doing is changing a model that's been there for a long time. So, I understand the frustrations, but, as I say, we're continuing those discussions with people, but I think it is important to understand that, actually, perhaps people were being recalled very, very frequently when there wasn't a need for it.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, John. Ac fel y dywedais, nid wyf am siarad am unrhyw ddeintyddfa benodol, ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud yw ein bod mewn trafodaethau pellach nawr ynghylch iteriad nesaf y contract. Wyddoch chi, nid wyf yn credu ein bod ni am ymddiheuro am y ffaith ein bod ni eisiau canolbwyntio ar achosion brys ac ar achosion lle mae pobl wedi'i chael hi'n anodd iawn cael mynediad at ddeintyddiaeth ers amser maith, ond yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw, er bod cryn dipyn o sŵn o gwmpas hyn, mae 80 y cant o werthoedd contractau deintyddol yn gweithredu o dan drefniant amrywio sy'n cynnwys y gofyniad i weld cleifion newydd ar gyfer gofal rheolaidd a gofal brys. Felly, mae pobl yn ymrwymo i'r contractau hyn. Mae tipyn o sŵn yn y system, wrth gwrs, oherwydd mae'n golygu newid, a phan fyddwch yn blaenoriaethu un grŵp, yna, yn amlwg, bydd grŵp arall yn llai o flaenoriaeth. Ond wyddoch chi, fe wnaethom hyn gyda'n llygaid ar agor, rydym yn dilyn canllawiau'r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal ar hyn, a'r hyn a wnawn yw newid model sydd wedi bod yno ers amser maith. Felly, rwy'n deall y rhwystredigaethau, ond fel y dywedaf, rydym yn parhau â'r trafodaethau hynny gyda phobl, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig deall efallai fod pobl yn cael eu hailalw'n rhy aml a hynny'n ddiangen.
2. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi pobl sy'n byw gyda COVID hir? OQ60286
2. How is the Welsh Government supporting people living with long COVID? OQ60286
Mae cymorth i bobl sy’n byw gyda COVID hir yn dal i fod yn flaenoriaeth. Hyd yma, rŷn ni wedi buddsoddi £18.3 miliwn mewn datblygu ac ehangu gwasanaethau Adferiad sy’n cael eu hariannu ym mhob bwrdd iechyd yng Nghymru.
Support for people living with long COVID remains a priority. To date, we have invested £18.3 million to develop and expand Adferiad-funded services in every health board in Wales.
Diolch, Weinidog, am eich ateb.
Thank you for that response, Minister.
I believed that—. Well, it is believed that long COVID is caused by blood clotting becoming hyperactive and creating micro clots in the small blood vessels resulting in a lack of oxygen reaching organs in the body. One way of treating patients is by using a treatment known as heparin-induced extracorporeal lipoprotein apheresis, thankfully known by the far snappier acronym of HELP, which, like dialysis, removes substances from the blood. Clinics in both Cyprus and Germany are using such machines to treat long COVID and a HELP machine exists in Llandough Hospital, used to treat patients with inherited high cholesterol in the lipid department set up by my constituent, Dr Stephanie Matthews, some 30 years ago. So, will you commit to investigating the feasibility of expanding access to such a machine and support calls for larger control studies into this treatment, which could support patients with long COVID across Wales? Diolch, Llywydd.
Roeddwn yn credu—. Wel, credir mai'r hyn sy'n achosi COVID hir yw'r ffaith bod gwaed yn gor-geulo gan greu clotiau micro yn y pibellau gwaed bach sy'n golygu nad oes digon o ocsigen yn cyrraedd organau'r corff. Un ffordd o drin cleifion yw drwy ddefnyddio heparin i gyflawni triniaeth o'r enw afferesis lipoprotein allgorfforol, a gaiff ei hadnabod wrth yr acronym haws HELP, ac sydd, fel dialysis, yn tynnu sylweddau o'r gwaed. Mae clinigau yng Nghyprus a'r Almaen yn defnyddio peiriannau o'r fath i drin COVID hir ac mae peiriant HELP i'w gael yn Ysbyty Llandochau, sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio i drin cleifion â cholesterol uchel etifeddol yn yr uned lipidau a sefydlwyd gan fy etholwr, Dr Stephanie Matthews, tua 30 mlynedd yn ôl. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i ymchwilio i ddichonoldeb ehangu mynediad at beiriant o'r fath a chefnogi galwadau am astudiaethau rheoli mwy i'r driniaeth hon, a allai gefnogi cleifion â COVID hir ledled Cymru? Diolch, Lywydd.
Well, thanks very much. The fact is that we're still learning about long COVID and what causes it. So, there are lots and lots of different reasons and the way people suffer is very, very different. So, what is important is that we adapt according to the needs of the individual patient and that’s why we’ve gone down a different route here in Wales, where we are having multi-professional, multi-skills clinics where people can be sent to the most appropriate support for them. And I’m sure that would include examples like the one you gave in Llandough. The fact is that we have increased the amount of money we have given to long COVID support to £8 million. Anything that will have to be done will have to be done within the context of that £8 million, and, obviously, we’ll let clinicians determine how that should be balanced.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Y gwir amdani yw ein bod yn dal i ddysgu am COVID hir a beth sy'n ei achosi. Felly, mae yna lawer iawn o wahanol resymau ac mae'r ffordd y mae pobl yn dioddef yn wahanol iawn. Felly, yr hyn sy'n bwysig yw ein bod yn addasu yn unol ag anghenion y claf unigol a dyna pam ein bod wedi dilyn llwybr gwahanol yma yng Nghymru, lle mae gennym glinigau amlbroffesiynol, amlsgiliau lle gellir anfon pobl i gael y gefnogaeth fwyaf priodol iddyn nhw. Ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai hynny'n cynnwys enghreifftiau fel yr un a roesoch chi yn Llandochau. Y ffaith amdani yw ein bod wedi sicrhau cynnydd o £8 miliwn i'r arian a neilltuwyd gennym ar gyfer cefnogi COVID hir. Bydd yn rhaid i unrhyw beth y bydd yn rhaid ei wneud gael ei wneud yng nghyd-destun yr £8 miliwn hwnnw, ac yn amlwg, byddwn yn gadael i glinigwyr benderfynu sut y dylid ei gydbwyso.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservatives' spokesperson, Russell George.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, in November last year, ITV Wales reported evidence of a number of significant care failings within Swansea Bay University Health Board’s maternity services. Prior to the ITV documentary, the Welsh Government told Robert and Sian Channon, who first blew the whistle on serious failings, based on their own experiences, that a review of serious incidents and complaints had taken place last year. The family then received two freedom of information responses from the NHS Wales Delivery Unit, which confirmed that a review had not taken place. And the family now, as well as myself, are viewing internal e-mails between Welsh Government officials that confirm that no review was ever carried out; merely, Welsh Government sought advice from officials. Mr Channon is in the gallery today as well. So, why, Minister, did the Welsh Government mislead families involved? Why was this review never commissioned or carried out and why did Welsh Government say it had been completed when no review had been undertaken in the first place?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, nododd ITV Wales dystiolaeth ynghylch nifer o fethiannau sylweddol mewn gofal yng ngwasanaethau mamolaeth Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe. Cyn y rhaglen ddogfen gan ITV, dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru wrth Robert a Sian Channon, a chwythodd y chwiban gyntaf ar fethiannau difrifol yn seiliedig ar eu profiadau eu hunain, fod adolygiad o ddigwyddiadau difrifol a chwynion wedi digwydd y llynedd. Cafodd y teulu ddau ymateb rhyddid gwybodaeth wedyn gan Uned Gyflawni GIG Cymru, a gadarnhaodd nad oedd adolygiad wedi digwydd. A nawr mae'r teulu, a minnau hefyd, yn gweld e-byst mewnol rhwng swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n cadarnhau na chafodd unrhyw adolygiad ei gynnal erioed; y cyfan a ddigwyddodd oedd bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gofyn am gyngor gan swyddogion. Mae Mr Channon yn yr oriel heddiw hefyd. Felly, Weinidog, pam y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gamarwain y teuluoedd hyn? Pam na chafodd yr adolygiad hwn ei gomisiynu na'i gynnal erioed a pham y dywedodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei fod wedi'i gwblhau pan nad oedd adolygiad wedi'i gynnal yn y lle cyntaf?
Well, what I can tell you is that we take any issues relating to maternity failings very, very seriously. That’s why we have looked in particular at what we could learn from some of the challenges that we saw in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. We’ve looked at that learning, we’ve had groups of experts go in to try and help us with how do we tighten up systems. There are challenges around maternity, some of them to do with the staffing areas, and we’re looking at, for example, including and introducing mechanisms whereby people are taken in and supported in two intakes during the year at universities, not just one. Because what happens is, towards the end of the year, we don’t have enough people on the wards, because some people retire and whatever. So, we need people to come out twice a year for those maternity wards. So, my understanding is that some of the issues in relation to Swansea in particular were around staff cover, but, obviously, this is an issue for the health board.
Wel, yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych yw ein bod yn rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol iawn i unrhyw faterion sy'n ymwneud â methiannau gwasanaethau mamolaeth. Dyna pam ein bod wedi edrych yn benodol ar yr hyn y gallem ei ddysgu o rai o'r heriau a welsom ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg. Rydym wedi edrych ar y gwersi hynny, rydym wedi cael grwpiau o arbenigwyr yn mynd i mewn i geisio ein helpu gyda'r ffordd yr ydym yn tynhau systemau. Mae yna heriau'n gysylltiedig â mamolaeth, gyda rhai ohonynt yn ymwneud â meysydd staffio, ac rydym yn ystyried, er enghraifft, cynnwys a chyflwyno mecanweithiau lle mae pobl yn cael eu derbyn a'u cefnogi ar ddau bwynt yn ystod y flwyddyn mewn prifysgolion, yn hytrach na dim ond un. Oherwydd yr hyn sy'n digwydd yw, tuag at ddiwedd y flwyddyn, nad oes gennym ddigon o bobl ar y wardiau am fod rhai pobl yn ymddeol a beth bynnag. Felly, mae angen cael pobl i mewn ddwywaith y flwyddyn ar gyfer y wardiau mamolaeth hynny. Felly, fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod rhai o'r problemau gydag Abertawe yn ymwneud yn benodol â chael staff digonol, ond yn amlwg, mater i'r bwrdd iechyd yw hwn.
Well, Minister, I appreciate your answer, and there was a lot in that answer that was helpful, but you didn't, of course, answer any of the questions that I put to you. And the issue here is that this is not just about the health board, because Welsh Government officials were involved in this process. That is what the results of the FOI responses demonstrate. And the concern here is that Welsh Government officials had told the Channon family, and other families and ITV Wales reporters, that a review had taken place and had been completed, when that actually was not the case at all. And that is the issue that is being raised today, which I hope that you will answer following my next question.
But what the evidence shows is that, despite serious concerns—. Senior Welsh Government officials had concerns in November of last year, but no appropriate action followed. And further to this, I have read the result of an FOI from Audit Wales, in which they, through an audit risk assessment in February of this year, identified serious problems with maternity services in Swansea. The same FOI release shows Healthcare Inspectorate Wales—shows that staff feedback from their unannounced inspection in September was some of the worst they had ever seen, which of course does, I appreciate, relate to the points that you made in your first answer to me. Both of these raise serious concerns, I would suggest, over how the Welsh Government and other bodies in Wales have dealt with the maternity services issues in Swansea Bay. In fact, the Welsh Government have previously stated that there are no concerns, based on a report, a report that was never actually carried out. So, the question is Minister: do you think that Swansea Bay maternity services are currently safe? And why, to date, has the Welsh Government done nothing to escalate intervention in this service?
Wel, Weinidog, rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich ateb, ac roedd llawer yn yr ateb a oedd yn ddefnyddiol, ond ni wnaethoch ateb unrhyw un o'r cwestiynau a ofynnais i chi. A'r broblem yma yw bod hyn yn ymwneud â mwy na'r bwrdd iechyd yn unig, oherwydd roedd swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhan o'r broses hon. Dyna mae canlyniadau'r ymatebion i'r cais rhyddid gwybodaeth yn ei ddangos. A'r pryder yma yw bod swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud wrth deulu Channon, a theuluoedd eraill a gohebwyr ITV Wales, fod adolygiad wedi digwydd a'i fod wedi ei gwblhau, pan nad oedd hynny'n wir o gwbl. A dyna sy'n cael ei godi heddiw, a gobeithio y byddwch chi'n ei ateb yn dilyn fy nghwestiwn nesaf.
Ond yr hyn mae'r dystiolaeth yn ei ddangos yw, er gwaethaf pryderon difrifol—. Roedd gan uwch swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru bryderon ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd, ond ni roddwyd unrhyw gamau priodol ar waith. Ac ymhellach, rwyf wedi darllen canlyniad cais rhyddid gwybodaeth gan Archwilio Cymru, lle maen nhw, drwy asesiad risg archwilio ym mis Chwefror eleni, yn nodi problemau difrifol gyda gwasanaethau mamolaeth yn Abertawe. Mae'r un ymateb i gais rhyddid gwybodaeth yn dangos Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru—yn dangos bod adborth staff o'u harolygiad dirybudd ym mis Medi ymhlith y gwaethaf a welsant erioed, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn berthnasol i'r pwyntiau a wnaethoch yn eich ateb cyntaf i mi. Carwn awgrymu bod y ddau beth yn codi pryderon difrifol ynglŷn â sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru a chyrff eraill yng Nghymru wedi ymdrin â'r problemau yn y gwasanaethau mamolaeth ym Mae Abertawe. Mewn gwirionedd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud o'r blaen na cheir unrhyw bryderon, yn seiliedig ar adroddiad, adroddiad na chafodd erioed mo'i gyflawni. Felly, Weinidog, dyma fy nghwestiwn: a ydych chi'n credu bod gwasanaethau mamolaeth Bae Abertawe yn ddiogel ar hyn o bryd? A pham nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud unrhyw beth hyd yma i uwchgyfeirio ymyrraeth yn y gwasanaeth hwn?
Well, I can assure you that my officials are keeping a very close eye on the situation in Swansea. We are very aware of the situation of what's gone on in this particular circumstance as well. That's why we are paying a lot of attention to what we need to do to improve in particular the staffing issue in Swansea, as we are with other maternity departments across Wales. So, my officials are in touch with the health board in particular on this issue of how we improve maternity outcomes in Swansea. We know that, if you get anything in relation to maternity issues wrong, the consequences can be devastating, and that's why it makes absolute sense for us to focus the way that we have done in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, take that learning and spread it across Wales. And I can assure you that we've actually put significant additional funding in to try and raise the standards, not just in Cwm Taf Morgannwg but also in Swansea and across the rest of Wales.
Wel, gallaf eich sicrhau bod fy swyddogion yn cadw llygad barcud ar y sefyllfa yn Abertawe. Rydym yn ymwybodol iawn o'r sefyllfa gyda'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn yr amgylchiadau hyn hefyd. Dyna pam ein bod yn talu llawer o sylw i'r hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud i wella yn enwedig y broblem staffio yn Abertawe, fel gydag adrannau mamolaeth eraill ledled Cymru. Felly, mae fy swyddogion mewn cysylltiad â'r bwrdd iechyd yn enwedig ynglŷn â sut y gallwn wella canlyniadau mamolaeth yn Abertawe. Os ydych chi'n cael unrhyw beth mewn perthynas â materion mamolaeth yn anghywir, fe wyddom y gall y canlyniadau fod yn drychinebus, a dyna pam ei bod yn gwneud synnwyr llwyr inni ganolbwyntio yn yr un modd ag y gwnaethom yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg, dysgu'r gwersi hynny a'u lledaenu ledled Cymru. A gallaf eich sicrhau ein bod wedi rhoi arian ychwanegol sylweddol i mewn i geisio codi'r safonau, nid yn unig yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg ond hefyd yn Abertawe ac ar draws gweddill Cymru.
There are around 300 incidents—300 incidents—under investigation in Swansea Bay alone at the current time. There are obviously some serious safety concerns. It is clear that the Welsh Government's response to these repeated failings coming out of the health board has been totally inadequate. It looks like to me that there has been delay, there's been dither and there's been failure to properly investigate. And I appreciate you mentioned about working with the health board, but I would suggest also that you need to investigate your own department to find out why—we still have no answers to my original questions—misinformation was presented to the families and to media in this regard. And I would say, most importantly of all, that this issue here is about getting it right now. There have been those past mistakes, they need to be investigated, but we need to make sure that these kinds of issues don't happen again. So, Minister, with all the evidence being presented, and with the heartache that has been brought upon the families affected, will you commit today to a full independent inquiry into maternity services in the Swansea Bay health board, and will you of course apologise to the Channon family and other families who have been affected and misled?
Mae tua 300 o ddigwyddiadau—300 o ddigwyddiadau—dan ymchwiliad ym Mae Abertawe yn unig ar hyn o bryd. Yn amlwg, mae yna bryderon diogelwch difrifol. Mae'n amlwg fod ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r methiannau lluosog hyn sydd i'w gweld yn y bwrdd iechyd wedi bod yn gwbl annigonol. Mae'n ymddangos bod oedi wedi bod, mae yna lusgo traed wedi bod a methiant i ymchwilio'n iawn. Ac rwy'n derbyn eich bod wedi sôn am weithio gyda'r bwrdd iechyd, ond carwn awgrymu hefyd fod angen i chi ymchwilio i'ch adran eich hun i ddarganfod pam—rydym yn dal i fod heb gael atebion i fy nghwestiynau gwreiddiol—y cyflwynwyd camwybodaeth i'r teuluoedd ac i'r cyfryngau yn hyn o beth. A hoffwn ddweud, yn bwysicaf oll, fod hyn yn ymwneud â'i gael yn iawn nawr. Cafwyd camgymeriadau yn y gorffennol, mae angen ymchwilio iddynt, ond mae angen inni sicrhau nad yw'r mathau hyn o bethau'n digwydd eto. Felly, Weinidog, gyda'r holl dystiolaeth sy'n cael ei chyflwyno, a chyda'r trallod a wynebodd y teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt, a wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw i ymchwiliad annibynnol llawn i wasanaethau mamolaeth ym mwrdd iechyd Bae Abertawe, ac a wnewch chi ymddiheuro i deulu Channon a theuluoedd eraill sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio a'u camarwain?
We delegate responsibility in relation to health to health boards, so it is their responsibility to carry out and to make sure that those services are safe. And the fact is that, obviously, we have a responsibility then as the Welsh Government to make sure that they—[Interruption.]—that they meet the standards that are expected of them. And that's why we have things like the NHS Wales Executive, to make sure that they adhere to the kinds of standards and commitments that we want them to adhere to.
Rydym yn dirprwyo cyfrifoldeb mewn perthynas ag iechyd i fyrddau iechyd, felly eu cyfrifoldeb nhw yw cyflawni a sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau hynny'n ddiogel. Ac yn amlwg, y ffaith amdani yw bod gennym gyfrifoldeb wedyn fel Llywodraeth Cymru i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw—[Torri ar draws.]—eu bod nhw'n cyrraedd y safonau a ddisgwylir ganddynt. A dyna pam mae gennym bethau fel Gweithrediaeth GIG Cymru i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cadw at y mathau o safonau ac ymrwymiadau yr ydym eisiau iddynt gadw atynt.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Sioned Williams.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Sioned Williams.
Diolch, Llywydd. One of the projects that the Children, Young People and Education Committee inquiry into services for care-experienced children looked at was the Baby and Me project, developed in partnership by Barnardo's Cymru and Newport City Council. This innovative project provides intense pre and postnatal support for families where there's a risk that the baby could be taken into care at birth, bringing together health, social services and parenting support into one holistic model that has delivered excellent results.
One of the recommendations within the committee's report was that Welsh Government should ensure universal nationwide access to successful early intervention edge of care preventative services, such as Barnardo's Baby and Me. You accepted this recommendation in part, Deputy Minister, accepting and acknowledging the positive work being undertaken by edge of care services, such as Barnardo's Baby and Me, and the benefit these programmes have for new parents, including care-experienced young people. You said you'd review the evaluation of projects like Baby and Me when deciding on next steps and future roll-out.
So, as Baby and Me has already been through a full evaluation, and you've committed to reduce the number of babies and young children entering the care system, could you outline what review has been done by the Welsh Government of Baby and Me and when a decision will be made in regard to committing to roll-out?
Diolch, Lywydd. Un o'r prosiectau yr edrychodd ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg i wasanaethau i blant â phrofiad o ofal arnynt oedd y prosiect Babi a Fi, a ddatblygwyd mewn partneriaeth â Barnardo's Cymru a Chyngor Dinas Casnewydd. Mae'r prosiect arloesol hwn yn darparu cefnogaeth ddwys cyn- ac ôl-enedigol i deuluoedd lle mae risg y gallai'r babi gael ei dderbyn i ofal adeg ei eni, gan ddod â chymorth iechyd, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a rhianta ynghyd mewn un model cyfannol sydd wedi sicrhau canlyniadau rhagorol.
Un o'r argymhellion yn adroddiad y pwyllgor oedd y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau mynediad cyffredinol ledled y wlad i wasanaethau ataliol ymyrraeth gynnar llwyddiannus ar ffiniau gofal, fel Babi a Fi Barnardo's. Fe wnaethoch chi dderbyn yr argymhelliad hwn yn rhannol, Ddirprwy Weinidog, gan dderbyn a chydnabod y gwaith cadarnhaol sy'n cael ei wneud gan wasanaethau ar ffiniau gofal, fel Babi a Fi Barnardo's, a'r budd y mae'r rhaglenni hyn yn ei gynnig i rieni newydd, gan gynnwys pobl ifanc â phrofiad o ofal. Fe ddywedoch chi y byddech yn adolygu'r gwerthusiad o brosiectau fel Babi a Fi wrth benderfynu ar y camau nesaf a'u cyflwyno yn y dyfodol.
Felly, gan fod Babi a Fi eisoes wedi bod drwy werthusiad llawn, a'ch bod wedi ymrwymo i leihau nifer y babanod a phlant ifanc sy'n mynd i mewn i'r system ofal, a wnewch chi nodi pa adolygiad a wnaed gan Lywodraeth Cymru o Babi a Fi a phryd y gwneir penderfyniad ynghylch ymrwymo i'w gyflwyno?
Thank you, Sioned Williams, for that question. And I want to put on record my acknowledgement of what a hugely important contribution Baby and Me does give in keeping young children and babies out of care. I'm hugely supportive of it, and I visited it in Newport and saw it actually operating. So, I know that it is very, very effective. And I think it's really important that third sector organisations and local government come together—and the health boards—to give a holistic and effective intervention. I'm totally in favour of partnerships working like that, and I think the model is great.
We are continuing to engage with the third sector and local authorities to support new and innovative projects and pilot ways of working together. And in respect of edge of care services, since 2017-18, the Welsh Government has provided an additional £9 million recurrent funding to local authorities, which is now in the revenue support grant. Five million pounds of this was specifically to establish or extend existing edge of care services in all local authorities across Wales. So, that provision is already in the RSG. But, in terms of a review, and how we can move forward, obviously, we are in a very difficult financial situation, as you are aware, so that is really colouring all our thinking, really, at this particular stage. But this is certainly an issue, and a very important issue, and these are the sorts of projects that we want to develop.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Sioned Williams. Ac rwyf am gofnodi fy nghydnabyddiaeth o'r cyfraniad hynod bwysig y mae Babi a Fi yn ei wneud i gadw plant ifanc a babanod allan o ofal. Rwy'n hynod gefnogol ohono, ac ymwelais â'r prosiect yng Nghasnewydd a'i weld ar waith. Felly, rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn effeithiol iawn. Ac rwy'n meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn fod sefydliadau'r trydydd sector a llywodraeth leol yn dod at ei gilydd—a'r byrddau iechyd—i roi ymyrraeth gyfannol ac effeithiol. Rwy'n llwyr o blaid gweld partneriaethau'n gweithio fel hynny, ac rwy'n credu bod y model yn wych.
Rydym yn parhau i ymgysylltu â'r trydydd sector ac awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi prosiectau newydd ac arloesol a threialu ffyrdd o gydweithio. Ac ar wasanaethau ffiniau gofal, ers 2017-18, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu £9 miliwn o gyllid rheolaidd ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol, sydd bellach yn y grant cynnal refeniw. Roedd £5 miliwn ohono yn benodol ar gyfer sefydlu neu ymestyn gwasanaethau ffiniau gofal presennol ym mhob awdurdod lleol ledled Cymru. Felly, mae'r ddarpariaeth honno eisoes yn y grant cynnal refeniw. Ond ynglŷn ag adolygiad, a sut y gallwn symud ymlaen, yn amlwg, rydym mewn sefyllfa ariannol anodd iawn, fel y gwyddoch, felly mae hynny'n lliwio ein holl ystyriaethau ar y cam hwn. Ond mae hwn yn sicr yn fater sy'n codi, ac mae'n fater pwysig iawn, a dyma'r mathau o brosiectau yr ydym yn awyddus i'w datblygu.
Diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog. It is worrying to hear that, because, obviously, preventative services and programmes like this that work are the epitome of invest-to-save, aren't they, especially when we're thinking about the cost, in both human and financial terms, of children entering the care system.
Another issue that same committee inquiry raised was concerns around when looked-after children are placed out of their home local authority area. When placing a child in care, every effort, of course, should be made to ensure the placement is in the child's home area to ensure continuity of education, services and social networks et cetera. But, of course, in some instances, it's in the child's best interests to be placed outside of their home local authority area. In their submission to the committee's inquiry, the Children's Society highlighted the fact that regulations for placing children in another local authority area are not being followed consistently across Wales, and that information-sharing practices, specifically, between local authorities are varied and inconsistent. These are the types of protocols and information that need to be shared to make sure that important information about those children is shared, so they can be properly supported. And, of course, without that happening, it can increase the risk of both unsuccessful placements and children not receiving the right support if they face risks. This was also raised seven years ago in the children's commissioner's report 'The Right Care', and the ministerial advisory group for looked-after children legacy report of 2021 states the development of practice guidance on out-of-area and cross-border placements was a priority, although this practice guidance has still not been published to date.
So, as part of its plans to reform children's social care, how will Welsh Government ensure that important information is shared more consistently between local authorities and other key partners when looked-after children need to be placed in different local authority areas? Do you envisage work on this issue resulting in practice guidance, as stated by the ministerial advisory group, or will it take shape in some other form?
Diolch, Ddirprwy Weinidog. Mae'n bryderus clywed hynny, oherwydd, yn amlwg, gwasanaethau a rhaglenni ataliol fel hyn sy'n gweithio yw hanfod buddsoddi i arbed, onid e, yn enwedig pan fyddwn yn meddwl am y gost o blant yn mynd i mewn i'r system ofal, mewn termau dynol yn ogystal ag ariannol.
Mater arall a godwyd gan ymchwiliad yr un pwyllgor oedd pryderon ynglŷn â phan fo plant sy'n derbyn gofal yn cael eu lleoli y tu hwnt i ardal awdurdod lleol eu cartref. Wrth roi plentyn mewn gofal, dylid gwneud pob ymdrech, wrth gwrs, i sicrhau bod y lleoliad yn ardal cartref y plentyn i sicrhau parhad addysg, gwasanaethau a rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol ac ati. Ond wrth gwrs, mewn rhai achosion, mae er lles gorau'r plentyn i gael ei leoli y tu allan i'w ardal awdurdod lleol. Yn eu cyflwyniad i ymchwiliad y pwyllgor, tynnodd Cymdeithas y Plant sylw at y ffaith nad yw rheoliadau ar gyfer lleoli plant mewn ardal awdurdod lleol arall yn cael eu dilyn yn gyson ledled Cymru, a bod arferion rhannu gwybodaeth, yn enwedig, rhwng awdurdodau lleol yn amrywio ac yn anghyson. Dyma'r mathau o brotocolau a gwybodaeth y mae angen eu rhannu i sicrhau bod gwybodaeth bwysig am y plant hynny'n cael ei rhannu, fel y gellir eu cefnogi'n briodol. Ac wrth gwrs, heb fod hynny'n digwydd, gall gynyddu'r risg o leoliadau aflwyddiannus a phlant yn cael eu hamddifadu o'r cymorth cywir os ydynt yn wynebu risgiau. Codwyd hyn saith mlynedd yn ôl yn adroddiad y comisiynydd plant 'Y Gofal Cywir', ac mae adroddiad etifeddiaeth 2021 grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog ar blant sy'n derbyn gofal yn nodi bod datblygu canllawiau ymarfer ar leoliadau y tu allan i'r ardal a thrawsffiniol yn flaenoriaeth, er nad yw'r canllawiau ymarfer hyn wedi'u cyhoeddi hyd yma.
Felly, fel rhan o'i chynlluniau i ddiwygio gofal cymdeithasol plant, sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod gwybodaeth bwysig yn cael ei rhannu'n fwy cyson rhwng awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid allweddol eraill pan fydd angen lleoli plant sy'n derbyn gofal mewn ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol gwahanol? A ydych chi'n rhagweld gwaith ar y mater hwn yn arwain at ganllawiau ymarfer, fel y nodwyd gan grŵp cynghori'r Gweinidog, neu a gaiff ei ddatblygu ar ryw ffurf arall?
We very strongly support children being placed as near to their home as possible, and part of the plan of the Government's transformation of children's services is, first of all, to have fewer children coming into care. That is our primary aim, except, of course, when it's absolutely essential for them to come in for safety reasons. But we do feel that children should be placed near their home for all the reasons that you've said—being close to parents, being close to education and keeping their friends—and that's what children have said to us; this is what they want. So, we hope we're going to move towards a situation where this will happen much less, but it is inevitable it will happen sometimes. And, in terms of the practice guidance, I will certainly look at that.
Rydym yn gefnogol i weld plant yn cael eu lleoli mor agos i'w cartref â phosibl, a rhan o gynllun trawsnewid gwasanaethau plant y Llywodraeth, yn gyntaf oll, yw cael llai o blant yn dod i mewn i'r system ofal. Dyna ein prif nod, heblaw pan fo'n gwbl hanfodol iddynt gael eu derbyn am resymau diogelwch wrth gwrs. Ond rydym yn teimlo y dylai plant gael eu lleoli ger eu cartref am yr holl resymau a nodwyd gennych—i fod yn agos at rieni, i fod yn agos at addysg a chadw eu ffrindiau—a dyna mae plant wedi'i ddweud wrthym; dyma maen nhw ei eisiau. Felly, rydym yn gobeithio y byddwn yn symud tuag at sefyllfa lle bydd hyn yn digwydd yn llawer llai aml, ond mae'n anochel y bydd yn digwydd weithiau. Ac ar y canllawiau ymarfer, byddaf yn sicr yn edrych ar hynny.
3. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am bwysau'r gaeaf o fewn GIG Cymru? OQ60271
3. Will the Minister make a statement on winter pressures within the Welsh NHS? OQ60271
We are anticipating a very challenging winter for key health and social care services. Health boards and partners have developed integrated plans to enable resilient services, as far as possible, and to mitigate the concurrent risks presented by changing demand as a consequence of the winter period.
Rydym yn rhagweld gaeaf heriol iawn i wasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol allweddol. Mae byrddau iechyd a phartneriaid wedi datblygu cynlluniau integredig i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau'n gadarn, cyn belled ag y bo modd, ac i liniaru'r risgiau cydamserol yn sgil newid yn y galw dros fisoedd y gaeaf.
Thank you, Minister. Two weeks ago, you gave a statement in response to a topical question around the pressures at the University Hospital of Wales's A&E department, where a 'black incident', I think it was called, which is the major escalation policy that health boards bring into play when A&E departments are under pressure— . Are you in a position to update us as to what improvements, what additional resources have been put into place so that any such further changes in the status at the A&E department, as we go further into the winter months, are able to accommodate an uptake in numbers of patients presenting at that department? It is the largest A&E department in the whole of Wales, but that doesn't make it immune from these winter pressures, and obviously it is a source of great concern to both staff and patients that the conditions that they faced two weeks ago don't end up being a common theme through the winter months.
Diolch, Weinidog. Bythefnos yn ôl, fe roesoch chi ddatganiad mewn ymateb i gwestiwn amserol ynghylch y pwysau yn adran damweiniau ac achosion brys Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru, lle cafodd 'digwyddiad du', rwy'n credu iddo gael ei alw, sef y polisi uwchgyfeirio dwys y mae byrddau iechyd yn ei roi ar waith pan fydd adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys dan bwysau— . A ydych chi mewn sefyllfa i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynghylch pa welliannau, pa adnoddau ychwanegol sydd wedi'u rhoi ar waith fel bod unrhyw newidiadau pellach o'r fath yn statws yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys, wrth inni barhau i mewn i fisoedd y gaeaf, yn gallu darparu ar gyfer cynnydd yn nifer y cleifion sy'n dod i'r adran honno? Hon yw'r adran damweiniau ac achosion brys fwyaf yng Nghymru gyfan, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu ei bod yn rhydd rhag pwysau'r gaeaf, ac yn amlwg mae'r staff a'r cleifion yn awyddus iawn i beidio â gweld yr amodau a wynebwyd bythefnos yn ôl yn dod yn thema gyffredin dros fisoedd y gaeaf.
Thanks very much. Well, we know that the main cause there was the problem of delayed transfers of care and the build-up over the weekend, and that's part of the reason why people couldn't move through the system. It's not a new problem, but it is a problem that, obviously, will perhaps become more acute as more people, in particular, are facing respiratory issues going into winter. So, that's something that we're very, very concerned about—the increase always, when it gets colder, in respiratory issues. So, a lot of work is being done on delayed transfers of care. One of the key areas is the delay in assessments. So, one of the things that Cardiff is doing, alongside other health boards across Wales, is introducing a trusted assessor system, so that, rather than just waiting for somebody from the council to come and assess, they have a system whereby people from the health board can actually make that assessment as well, instead of the council, and that has improved the situation over the course of the past few months. But we've got more to do in that space, I think, to make sure that we see people moving through the system quicker, so that when they go into hospital we can get them out as fast as we can and give them that support in the community.
The other thing that Cardiff will be taking advantage of is the fact that we've now put this Further Faster money into the system. That is about £8.5 million extra this winter to increase the support in the community around community nursing. And what that means is that it will be easier to send people home and know that that support will be there. But, even more importantly, we want to put that support in before they come into hospital, so they're not coming into hospital in the first place. That's where people want to be.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, gwyddom mai'r prif achos yno oedd problem oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal a chronni dros y penwythnos, ac mae hynny'n rhan o'r rheswm pam na allai pobl symud drwy'r system. Nid yw'n broblem newydd, ond mae'n broblem a fydd, yn amlwg, yn dod yn fwy difrifol efallai wrth i fwy o bobl wynebu problemau anadlu, yn enwedig, yn ystod y gaeaf. Felly, mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn bryderus iawn yn ei gylch—y cynnydd bob amser, pan fo'r tywydd yn oeri, mewn problemau anadlu. Felly, mae llawer o waith yn cael ei wneud ar oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal. Un o'r meysydd allweddol yw oedi wrth wneud asesiadau. Felly, un o'r pethau y mae Caerdydd yn ei wneud, ochr yn ochr â byrddau iechyd eraill ledled Cymru, yw cyflwyno system aseswyr dibynadwy, fel bod ganddynt system lle gall pobl o'r bwrdd iechyd wneud yr asesiad hefyd yn lle'r cyngor, yn hytrach nag aros i rywun o'r cyngor ddod i asesu, ac mae hynny wedi gwella'r sefyllfa dros y misoedd diwethaf. Ond mae gennym fwy i'w wneud yn y gofod hwnnw, rwy'n credu, i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn gweld pobl yn symud drwy'r system yn gyflymach, fel y gallwn eu cael allan mor gyflym ag y gallwn a'u cefnogi yn y gymuned.
Y peth arall y bydd Caerdydd yn manteisio arno yw'r ffaith ein bod bellach wedi rhoi arian Ymhellach yn Gyflymach yn y system. Dyna oddeutu £8.5 miliwn ychwanegol y gaeaf hwn i gynyddu'r gefnogaeth yn y gymuned i nyrsio cymunedol. Ac mae hynny'n golygu y bydd hi'n haws anfon pobl adref a gwybod y bydd y gefnogaeth honno yno. Ond hyd yn oed yn bwysicach, rydym eisiau rhoi'r gefnogaeth honno i mewn cyn iddynt ddod i'r ysbyty, fel nad ydynt yn dod i'r ysbyty yn y lle cyntaf. Dyna lle mae pobl eisiau bod.
Wel, dŷn ni i gyd yn cofio'r pwysau aruthrol oedd ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Yn ddiweddar, fe glywson ni Judith Paget, prif weithredwr NHS Cymru, yn dweud ei bod hi'n disgwyl y bydd pwysau gaeafol eleni yn debyg i'r hyn a brofwyd y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae angen, felly, dangos parodrwydd clir i ddysgu gwersi. Ond, wrth beidio â chyhoeddi ffigurau breach exemptions yn eich ystadegau amseroedd aros, mae'r Llywodraeth wedi dangos amharodrwydd llwyr i wrando a dysgu o beth mae'r RCN a gweithwyr yn y gwasanaethau iechyd wedi bod yn dweud ers amser maith. Yn wir, yn gynharach heddiw, fe ddywedoch chi yn eich ymateb i Peter Fox ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni yn—. Beth ddywedoch chi?
Well, we all remember the huge pressures on our health services last year. Recently, we heard Judith Paget, the chief executive of NHS Wales, saying that she expects the winter pressures this year to be similar to those experienced last year. We, therefore, need to show a clear willingness to learn lessons. But, in failing to publish breach exemption figures in your waiting times statistics, the Government's shown a complete inability to listen and to learn from what the RCN and workers in the health service have been saying for a very long time. Indeed, earlier today, you said in your response to Peter Fox that it was important that we—. What did you say?
—'important that we are led by clinicians'—
—'ei bod yn bwysig ein bod ni yn cael ein harwain gan glinigwyr'—
—ac yn gwrando ar glinigwyr. Dyna oedd eich geiriau chi. Mae'r un yn wir yn yr achos yma. Ydych chi felly'n cydnabod fod y diffyg tryloywder yma yn amharu ar allu gwasanaethau iechyd i gynllunio'n effeithiol ar gyfer y gaeaf, ac ei fod o bellach yn amser inni gael gwared ar breach exemptions?
—and that we listen to those clinicians. Those were your very words. The same is true in this case. Do you therefore acknowledge that the lack of transparency here is having an impact on the ability of health services to plan effectively for the winter, and that it's now time for us to scrap these breach exemptions?
Diolch yn fawr. We do have a programme called 'Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care', and that is led by clinicians. We're asking them what are the priorities. They've been helping us build that programme over the past couple of years. We've put considerable funding into that, following what the clinicians are advising us—so, £25 million this year and £25 million last year. What that means is that we have more same-day emergency care centres this year compared to last year. We've got 24 now across Wales. None of those existed two years ago. We have urgent primary care centres. Again, we have 30 per cent more activity happening this year compared to last year. When it comes to the situation in terms of how we count people in emergency departments, we are in dialogue with the royal college about how that should happen and what should happen. As I said before, we'd already started a discussion on what a quality statement for emergency departments should look like, and part of that is going to be looking at how we should be counting. But, let's be absolutely clear, if we count in a different way, we won't be able to compare with other parts of the United Kingdom.
Diolch yn fawr. Mae gennym raglen o'r enw 'Chwe Nod ar gyfer Gofal Brys a Gofal mewn Argyfwng', ac mae honno'n cael ei arwain gan glinigwyr. Rydym yn gofyn iddynt beth yw'r blaenoriaethau. Maent wedi bod yn ein helpu i adeiladu'r rhaglen honno dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Rydym wedi rhoi cryn dipyn o arian tuag at hynny, yn dilyn cyngor clinigwyr—felly, £25 miliwn eleni a £25 miliwn y llynedd. Golyga hynny fod gennym fwy o ganolfannau gofal argyfwng yr un diwrnod eleni o'i gymharu â'r llynedd. Mae gennym 24 ar draws Cymru bellach. Nid oedd yr un o'r rhain yn bodoli ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Mae gennym ganolfannau gofal sylfaenol brys. Unwaith eto, mae gennym 30 y cant yn fwy o weithgaredd yn digwydd eleni o'i gymharu â'r llynedd. Ar sut yr ydym yn cyfrif pobl mewn adrannau brys, rydym yn trafod gyda'r coleg brenhinol ynghylch sut y dylai hynny ddigwydd a'r hyn a ddylai ddigwydd. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, roeddem eisoes wedi dechrau trafodaeth ar sut y dylai datganiad ansawdd ar gyfer adrannau brys edrych, ac mae rhan o hynny'n golygu edrych ar sut y dylem gyfrif. Ond gadewch inni fod yn hollol glir, os ydym yn cyfrif mewn ffordd wahanol, ni fyddwn yn gallu cymharu â rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig.
Minister, one of the ways that we can reduce winter pressures on our NHS is to ensure that the people who are most susceptible to respiratory illnesses are vaccinated. It's a remarkable feat that more than 1.2 million vaccinations have been delivered so far this season in Wales, and I want to pay tribute to all involved in delivering this. But I am concerned that younger adults in clinical risk groups have been slower to come forward to be vaccinated. Minister, what interventions are being made to encourage eligible people to receive their vaccinations, to protect their health and to prevent pressure on other NHS services this winter?
Weinidog, un o'r ffyrdd y gallwn leihau pwysau'r gaeaf ar ein GIG yw sicrhau bod y bobl fwyaf agored i salwch anadlol yn cael eu brechu. Mae'n orchest ryfeddol fod mwy na 1.2 miliwn o frechiadau wedi'u darparu hyd yma yng Nghymru y tymor hwn, ac rwyf am dalu teyrnged i bawb sy'n gysylltiedig â chyflawni hyn. Ond rwy'n pryderu bod oedolion iau mewn grwpiau risg clinigol wedi bod yn arafach i ddod i gael eu brechu. Weinidog, pa ymyriadau sy'n cael eu gwneud i annog pobl gymwys i ddod i gael eu brechu, i ddiogelu eu hiechyd ac i atal pwysau ar wasanaethau eraill y GIG y gaeaf hwn?
Thanks very much, Vikki, and you're quite right—part of our preparation for this winter is making sure that people have that opportunity to be vaccinated. I'm really delighted to see that over 80 per cent of people in our care homes have been vaccinated. We've had a really good response from the over-75s, but, as you've pointed out, we've had quite a disappointing response from those people who are in a clinical risk area. That is very worrying, because obviously they're the ones who are most likely to be using the services of the NHS over winter if they do have respiratory issues. So, I would encourage them to come forward. We are doing significant amounts of work with our health boards to try and get to those people. The other group of people who are not really taking up the opportunities, and we'd like them to, is NHS workers and care staff. They are not nearly where they should be, and we would appeal for them to take up that opportunity, because this is one of the best ways that we can protect ourselves this winter. We will put support in place. We are making these vaccines available. You all know about the financial pressures we're under. But people have got to come with us on this journey, and people have also got to help themselves on this journey. We can offer it up, but really people need to step through the door and help us out.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Vikki, ac rydych chi'n hollol iawn—rhan o'n paratoadau ar gyfer y gaeaf hwn yw sicrhau bod pobl yn cael cyfle i gael eu brechu. Rwy'n falch iawn o weld bod dros 80 y cant o bobl yn ein cartrefi gofal wedi cael eu brechu. Rydym wedi cael ymateb da iawn gan bobl dros 75 oed, ond fel y nodwyd gennych, eithaf siomedig yw'r ymateb gan bobl sydd mewn categori risg clinigol. Mae hynny'n destun pryder mawr, oherwydd yn amlwg, nhw yw'r rhai mwyaf tebygol o ddefnyddio gwasanaethau'r GIG dros y gaeaf os oes ganddynt broblemau anadlu. Felly, hoffwn eu hannog i ddod. Rydym yn gwneud llawer iawn o waith gyda'n byrddau iechyd i geisio cyrraedd y bobl hynny. Y grŵp arall o bobl nad ydynt yn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd mewn gwirionedd, a hoffem iddynt wneud hynny, yw gweithwyr y GIG a staff gofal. Nid ydynt lle dylent fod o bell ffordd, ac apeliwn arnynt i fanteisio ar y cyfle, gan mai dyma un o'r ffyrdd gorau y gallwn ddiogelu ein hunain y gaeaf hwn. Fe fyddwn yn rhoi cymorth ar waith. Rydym yn sicrhau bod y brechlynnau hyn ar gael. Mae pawb ohonoch yn gwybod am y pwysau ariannol sydd arnom. Ond mae'n rhaid i bobl ddod gyda ni ar y daith hon, ac mae'n rhaid i bobl helpu eu hunain ar y daith hefyd. Gallwn ei gynnig, ond mae angen i bobl gamu drwy'r drws a'n helpu ni.
Minister, last Friday I was invited to meet with the pharmacy team at Princess of Wales Hospital in Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Wales, and I just want to say a huge 'thank you' to the whole of the team. They're absolutely incredible, dedicated, expert, skilled. There are around 70 members of staff working constantly to get the medication out to all the wards and all of the patients, and also get them ready for discharge. So, in every hospital, they're just such a vital part of making sure that winter pressures don't overwhelm all the services. The team are always innovating, looking at ways to improve their service. One of the issues that they raised with me was that, at the moment, if somebody is prescribed 40mg of a drug but they don't have 40mg tablets and they only have 20mg, they can't just give them two packs of 20mg. They have to go back to, usually, their GP and go through the whole prescribing process again, which obviously takes time and just seems daft, honestly. So, I was just wondering if there has been any communication with UK Government to encourage them to amend the Human Medicines Regulations so pharmacists can make those minor amendments that don't require a therapeutic substitution, so that prescriptions can be dispensed without the requirement to recontact the prescriber. Diolch.
Weinidog, ddydd Gwener diwethaf cefais wahoddiad i gyfarfod â'r tîm fferyllol yn Ysbyty Tywysoges Cymru ym mwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf Morgannwg gan Gymdeithas Fferyllol Frenhinol Cymru, a hoffwn ddweud 'diolch' enfawr i'r tîm cyfan. Maent yn hollol anhygoel, yn ymroddedig, yn arbenigwyr, yn fedrus. Mae tua 70 aelod o staff yn gweithio'n barhaus i gael y feddyginiaeth allan i'r holl wardiau a'r holl gleifion, a hefyd i'w paratoi ar gyfer eu rhyddhau. Felly, ym mhob ysbyty, maent yn rhan mor hanfodol o sicrhau nad yw pwysau'r gaeaf yn gorlethu'r holl wasanaethau. Mae'r tîm bob amser yn arloesi, gan edrych ar ffyrdd o wella eu gwasanaeth. Un o'r pethau y gwnaethant eu codi gyda mi oedd, ar hyn o bryd, os yw rhywun yn cael 40mg o gyffur ar bresgripsiwn ond nad oes ganddynt dabledi 40mg a dim ond tabledi 20mg, ni allant roi dau becyn 20mg iddynt. Mae'n rhaid iddynt fynd yn ôl, fel arfer at eu meddyg teulu a mynd drwy'r holl broses bresgripsiynu eto, sy'n amlwg yn cymryd amser, ac i'w gweld yn hurt, a bod yn onest. Felly, roeddwn yn meddwl tybed a fu unrhyw gyfathrebu â Llywodraeth y DU i'w hannog i ddiwygio'r Rheoliadau Meddyginiaethau Dynol er mwyn i fferyllwyr allu gwneud mân addasiadau nad ydynt yn galw am newid therapiwtig, fel y gellir dosbarthu presgripsiynau heb fod angen ailgysylltu â'r sawl sy'n presgripsiynu. Diolch.
Thanks very much. Well, as you know, most of the medicines that we procure is via the UK Government, but what we do have is a digital medicines transformation programme that we're undertaking, and that's not just for primary care, which we'll be talking about later on this afternoon, but also in secondary care. I was really pleased to see the incredible work that's being done in secondary care in relation to making sure that there is a central repository, partly, for all prescriptions, so everybody will be able to know who's had what. So, there's real progress in that area. If there is anything specific, if you could write to me on that, I'll just see if we can follow that up because it sounds like a little tweak, but any little tweak from central Government takes usually quite a long time. But, let's give it a go, if you can write to me on that.
Diolch yn fawr. Wel, fel y gwyddoch, daw'r rhan fwyaf o'r meddyginiaethau yr ydym yn eu caffael drwy Lywodraeth y DU, ond mae gennym raglen drawsnewid meddyginiaethau digidol a gyflawnir gennym, ac nid ar gyfer gofal sylfaenol yn unig, y byddwn yn siarad amdani yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, ond mewn gofal eilaidd hefyd. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o weld y gwaith anhygoel sy'n cael ei wneud mewn gofal eilaidd ar sicrhau bod cronfa wybodaeth ganolog yn bodoli, yn rhannol, ar gyfer pob presgripsiwn, fel y bydd pawb yn gallu gwybod pwy sydd wedi cael beth. Felly, mae cynnydd gwirioneddol i'w weld yn y maes hwnnw. Os oes unrhyw beth penodol, os gallwch ysgrifennu ataf ar hynny, fe edrychaf i weld a allwn fynd ar ei drywydd oherwydd mae'n swnio fel newid bach, ond mae unrhyw newid bach gan y Llywodraeth ganolog fel arfer yn cymryd cryn dipyn o amser. Ond gadewch inni weld, os gallwch ysgrifennu ataf ynglŷn â hynny.
Mae cwestiwn 4 [OQ60267] wedi'i dynnu'n ôl. Cwestiwn 5, Alun Davies.
Question 4 [OQ60267] has been withdrawn. Question 5, Alun Davies.
5. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati i ddarparu gwasanaethau gofal iechyd yn agosach at gartrefi pobl? OQ60292
5. How is the Welsh Government implementing the delivery of healthcare services closer to people's homes? OQ60292
'Cymru Iachach' yw ein strategaeth barhaus ar gyfer ailgydbwyso’r system iechyd a gofal a symud i ffwrdd oddi wrth ofal a thriniaethau sy’n cael eu darparu yn yr ysbyty tuag at wasanaethau atal a gwasanaethau yn y gymuned. Mae’r rhaglenni cenedlaethol ar gyfer gofal brys a gofal mewn argyfwng, gofal a gynlluniwyd a gofal sylfaenol a’r gronfa integreiddio rhanbarthol yn dal i gefnogi trefniadau ar gyfer cynllunio a chyflenwi’n lleol.
'A Healthier Wales' remains our strategy for rebalancing the health and care system and moving away from hospital-based care and treatment towards prevention and community-based services. The national programmes for urgent and emergency care, planned care and primary care and the regional integration fund continue to support arrangements for local planning and delivery.
I'm grateful to the Minister for that. Aneurin Bevan, of course, said that the impact of any policy is the impact it has on the person in the street. Throughout my time here, the Welsh Government has fully supported the Aneurin Bevan health board in its development of the Clinical Futures plan, and a fundamental part of that, of course, was the delivery of additional services closer to home.
Two of my constituents, both elderly people, require regular drip infusions to manage their conditions. This treatment was delivered at Nevill Hall Hospital, which was a short bus ride or drive to Abergavenny from the constituency. It has now been transferred to the Royal Gwent. The Welsh Government does not put in place the public transport systems necessary for constituents in Blaenau Gwent to access these services, and, as a result, elderly constituents are put under a great deal of stress and anxiety in accessing treatment to which they have a fundamental right. It is important, if we are delivering and changing the configuration of services, that we put in place the means by which people can access those services. Successive Welsh Governments and successive health Ministers have come here and supported Clinical Futures; I support it myself. But, part of that was delivering services closer to home, not taking services further away and making them more difficult to access. How will this Welsh Government ensure that those services will be delivered closer to home, as Welsh Governments have already promised my constituents?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am hynny. Dywedodd Aneurin Bevan, wrth gwrs, mai grym unrhyw bolisi yw'r effaith y mae'n ei chael ar yr unigolyn ar y stryd. Drwy gydol fy amser yma, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnogi bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan yn llawn wrth iddo ddatblygu'r cynllun Dyfodol Clinigol, a rhan sylfaenol o hynny, wrth gwrs, oedd darparu gwasanaethau ychwanegol yn agosach at adref.
Mae dau o fy etholwyr, y ddau'n bobl oedrannus, angen trwyth diferu rheolaidd i reoli eu cyflwr. Darparwyd y driniaeth hon yn Ysbyty Nevill Hall, a olygai daith fer mewn bws neu gar i'r Fenni o'r etholaeth. Bellach, mae'r driniaeth wedi'i throsglwyddo i Ysbyty Brenhinol Gwent. Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu'r systemau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sy'n angenrheidiol i etholwyr ym Mlaenau Gwent gael mynediad at y gwasanaethau hyn, ac o ganlyniad, mae etholwyr oedrannus yn cael eu rhoi dan lawer iawn o straen a phryder er mwyn cael triniaeth y mae ganddynt hawl sylfaenol iddi. Os ydym yn darparu ac yn newid cyfluniad gwasanaethau, mae'n bwysig ein bod yn darparu modd i bobl allu cael mynediad at y gwasanaethau hynny. Mae Llywodraethau olynol yng Nghymru a Gweinidogion iechyd olynol wedi dod yma ac wedi cefnogi Dyfodol Clinigol; rwy'n ei gefnogi fy hun. Ond rhan o hynny oedd darparu gwasanaethau yn agosach at adref, peidio â mynd â gwasanaethau ymhellach i ffwrdd a'i gwneud yn anos cael mynediad atynt. Sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau y caiff y gwasanaethau hynny eu darparu'n agosach at adref, fel y mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi ei addo i fy etholwyr?
Well, I'll tell you how: by increasing the number of hours that community nurses can provide. So, there is no reason why some infusions can't be delivered in somebody's home, and wouldn't that be the ideal situation? I do think that it's important that, where we can, we provide that support in somebody's home. I absolutely recognise that if people need to go to a centralised service, that we do have to think very seriously about transport, and I can assure you, as a rural representative, that it's something I'm very, very aware of. If we are going to centralise services for that more specialised support, which is going to happen, people may have to, because they'll get better clinical outcomes, travel further, because we will be able to get more staff in those places and it'll be concentrated. When there's sickness of those staff, there will be other people to cover. It makes sense for us to concentrate, if we can, in certain areas when we need specialised services. But, I think it's a combination of thinking through how we're going to do transport better. There are lots of provisions of services. I know that there are lots of voluntary systems up and running that help people to go to local hospitals. My auntie used it two weeks ago to go from St David's to Swansea. So, it is possible, but the voluntary system of transport also exists in Blaenau Gwent and exists in Aneurin Bevan, and I'd suggest that perhaps we can find out some information for you on how your constituents can access that volunteer transport system.
Wel, fe ddywedaf wrthych chi sut: drwy gynyddu nifer yr oriau y gall nyrsys cymunedol eu darparu. Felly, nid oes unrhyw reswm pam na ellir darparu rhai trwythiadau yng nghartref rhywun, ac oni fyddai honno'n sefyllfa ddelfrydol? Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig, lle gallwn, ein bod yn darparu'r cymorth hwnnw yng nghartref rhywun. Rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr os oes angen i bobl fynd i wasanaeth canolog, fod yn rhaid inni feddwl o ddifrif am drafnidiaeth, a gallaf eich sicrhau, fel cynrychiolydd gwledig, ei fod yn rhywbeth rwy'n ymwybodol iawn ohono. Os ydym yn mynd i ganoli gwasanaethau ar gyfer cymorth mwy arbenigol, sy'n mynd i ddigwydd, efallai y bydd yn rhaid i bobl deithio ymhellach am y byddant yn cael canlyniadau clinigol gwell, oherwydd byddwn yn gallu cael mwy o staff yn y lleoedd hynny a bydd wedi'i gydgyfeirio'n well. Pan fydd salwch ymhlith y staff hynny, bydd yna bobl eraill i wneud y gwaith. Mae'n gwneud synnwyr i ni gydgyfeirio, os gallwn, mewn rhai ardaloedd pan fydd angen gwasanaethau arbenigol arnom. Ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn gyfuniad o feddwl sut rydym am wneud trafnidiaeth yn well. Mae llawer o wasanaethau'n cael eu darparu. Rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o systemau gwirfoddol ar waith sy'n helpu pobl i fynd i ysbytai lleol. Defnyddiodd fy modryb hynny bythefnos yn ôl i fynd o Dyddewi i Abertawe. Felly, mae'n bosibl, ond mae'r system drafnidiaeth wirfoddol hefyd yn bodoli ym Mlaenau Gwent ac yn bodoli yn Aneurin Bevan, a hoffwn awgrymu efallai y gallwn ddod o hyd i wybodaeth i chi ynglŷn â sut y gall eich etholwyr gysylltu â'r system drafnidiaeth wirfoddol honno.
6. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am argaeledd therapïau modiwlaidd ar gyfer cleifion ffibrosis systig yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol? OQ60276
6. Will the Minister make a statement on the future availability of modulator therapies for cystic fibrosis patients in Wales? OQ60276
The cystic fibrosis treatments Kaftrio, Symkevi, Orkambi and Kalydeco are all routinely available in Wales, for all their licensed indications. This is in accordance with the commercial access agreements reached between the Welsh Government and the manufacturer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, in 2020.
Mae triniaethau ffeibrosis systig Kaftrio, Symkevi, Orkambi a Kalydeco i gyd ar gael fel mater o drefn yng Nghymru, ar gyfer yr holl bethau y maent yn drwyddedig i'w gwneud. Mae hyn yn unol â'r cytundebau mynediad masnachol yr ymrwymwyd iddynt rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r gwneuthurwr, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, yn 2020.
I'm grateful for that response, and I know there was an exchange on this matter yesterday in First Minister's questions. But, obviously, this is a matter of interest for the hundreds of cystic fibrosis patients who are here in Wales, and their loved ones, many of whom are paying keen attention to the ongoing consultation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on whether these drugs will be available in the future.
Now, I appreciate that those patients who are already in receipt of these medications will continue to be in receipt of them in the future, and they're enjoying the clinically proven efficacy of these drugs in, hopefully, what will be much longer life spans. But, clearly, there are people who are concerned. They want some assurances that, should there be a negative decision by NICE, and there'd be no agreement between the manufacturer, Vertex, and the NHS in order to make sure that these products are available in the future, that there are opportunities for those who could benefit from them still to access them here in Wales.
So, can you tell us the one thing that the First Minister didn't yesterday during First Minister's question time, and that is whether these medications will still potentially be available via the individual patient funding request route to accessing medications here in Wales, as has been the case for others not approved by NICE in the past?
Diolch am yr ymateb hwnnw, ac rwy'n gwybod bod trafodaeth ar y mater hwn ddoe yn ystod y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Ond yn amlwg, mae hwn yn fater o ddiddordeb i'r cannoedd o gleifion ffeibrosis systig sydd yma yng Nghymru, a'u hanwyliaid, gyda llawer ohonynt yn rhoi sylw brwd i'r ymgynghoriad parhaus gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal ar argaeledd y cyffuriau hyn yn y dyfodol.
Nawr, rwy'n derbyn y bydd y cleifion sydd eisoes yn cael y meddyginiaethau hyn yn parhau i'w cael yn y dyfodol, ac maent yn mwynhau effeithiolrwydd y cyffuriau hyn sydd wedi'i brofi'n glinigol am hyd oes a fydd, gobeithio, yn llawer hirach. Ond yn amlwg, mae yna bobl sy'n pryderu. Maent am gael sicrwydd, pe bai penderfyniad negyddol gan NICE, ac na fyddai cytundeb rhwng y gwneuthurwr, Vertex, a'r GIG i sicrhau bod y cynhyrchion hyn ar gael yn y dyfodol, fod yna gyfleoedd i'r rhai a allai elwa ohonynt barhau i allu eu cael yma yng Nghymru.
Felly, a allwch ddweud wrthym yr un peth na wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ei ddweud ddoe yn ystod y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, sef a fydd y meddyginiaethau hyn ar gael o hyd drwy lwybr y ceisiadau cyllido cleifion unigol i gael mynediad at feddyginiaethau yma yng Nghymru, fel sydd wedi digwydd i rai eraill na chawsant eu cymeradwyo gan NICE yn y gorffennol?
Well, thanks very much, and there was quite a comprehensive exchange on this yesterday, obviously, in First Minister's questions. I hope that the intervention that the First Minister made yesterday gave a certain amount of reassurance to those people who are already in receipt of these medicines. So, if you're on these medicines at the moment, they're not going to be taken away from you.
Obviously, I understand the concern of those people who perhaps haven't quite got there yet or have younger children. As the First Minister indicated yesterday, it's not unusual for a negative assessment by NICE to happen at the start of a medicines appraisal, so some of this is about a negotiating process. But just in terms of what will happen if NICE says 'no', well, in general, the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group doesn't appraise medicines where they are already scheduled for appraisal by NICE. So, the AWMSG's role is primarily to appraise medicines that would otherwise not be considered by NICE. So, we'll probably go with whatever NICE's recommendation is.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn, ac roedd trafodaeth eithaf cynhwysfawr ynghylch hyn ddoe, yn amlwg, yn ystod y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n gobeithio bod yr ymyriad a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe wedi rhoi rhywfaint o sicrwydd i'r bobl sydd eisoes yn cael y meddyginiaethau hyn. Felly, os ydych yn cael y meddyginiaethau hyn ar hyn o bryd, ni fyddwch yn eu colli.
Yn amlwg, rwy'n deall pryder y bobl nad ydynt efallai wedi cyrraedd yno eto neu sydd â phlant iau. Fel y nododd y Prif Weinidog ddoe, nid yw'n anarferol i asesiad negyddol gan NICE ddigwydd ar ddechrau arfarniad meddyginiaethau, felly mae rhywfaint o hyn yn ymwneud â phroses negodi. Ond o ran beth fydd yn digwydd pe bai NICE yn dweud 'na', wel, yn gyffredinol, nid yw Grŵp Strategaeth Feddyginiaethau Cymru yn arfarnu meddyginiaethau lle mae arfarniad gan NICE wedi'i drefnu eisoes. Felly, rôl y grŵp yn bennaf yw arfarnu meddyginiaethau na fyddai'n cael eu hystyried gan NICE fel arall. Felly, mae'n debyg y byddwn yn mynd gyda beth bynnag yw argymhelliad NICE.
Mae cwestiwn 7 [OQ60282] wedi'i dynnu yn ôl. Cwestiwn 8, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Question 7 [OQ60282] is withdrawn. Question 8, Huw Irranca-Davies.
8. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o bwysigrwydd sefydliadau cymorth canser y fron yn ne Cymru a gaiff eu rhedeg gan wirfoddolwyr? OQ60263
8. What assessment has the Minister made of the importance of volunteer-run breast cancer support organisations in south Wales? OQ60263
Third sector and volunteer-run breast cancer support groups play an important role in supporting women undergoing treatment or recovering from treatment for breast cancer. I expect cancer services to signpost people affected by breast cancer to these local support groups.
Mae grwpiau cymorth canser y fron yn y trydydd sector a grwpiau cymorth canser y fron sy'n cael eu gweithredu gan wirfoddolwyr yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn cefnogi menywod sy'n cael triniaeth neu sy'n gwella o driniaeth ar gyfer canser y fron. Rwy'n disgwyl i wasanaethau canser gyfeirio pobl sydd wedi'u heffeithio gan ganser y fron at y grwpiau cymorth lleol hyn.
Thank you, Minister, for that answer. Recently, a host of people, including many Members in this Chamber, joined the official opening of the Snowdrop Breast Centre. Alex Davies-Jones MP cut the tape, but there were a host of people there. It's a £2 million investment that brings together a state-of-the-art one-stop shop not only for treatment and diagnosis, but care as well, through all stages of the cancer treatment journey, and complementary therapies. But, as well as the £2 million investment from Welsh Government and the health board there, there was also, of course, a moment there where there was a commemoration of Clare Smart, the founder of the Giving to Pink charity, and the £300,000 that they had raised in charitable fundraising for the centre. Also there as well were representatives from Pontyclun Bosom Pals, a group that I've known for a long, long time, who do so much in a network of people to bring together those who are also on the cancer journey.
So, would she agree with me that, actually, as well as the investment that we do and the improvements in treatment, diagnosis, care, and so on, these support groups are integral to actually having a satisfactory journey through cancer treatment, and to providing that network of people who've been through it themselves, who can discuss this together and help each other through this?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Yn ddiweddar, mynychodd llu o bobl, gan gynnwys llawer o Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, agoriad swyddogol Canolfan y Fron Snowdrop. Alex Davies-Jones AS a dorrodd y tâp, ond roedd llu o bobl yno. Buddsoddiad gwerth £2 filiwn ydyw sy'n cyfuno siop un stop o'r radd flaenaf nid yn unig ar gyfer triniaeth a diagnosis, ond gofal hefyd, drwy bob cam o'r daith trin canser, a therapïau cyflenwol. Ond yn ogystal â'r buddsoddiad o £2 filiwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'r bwrdd iechyd yno, roedd yna ennyd hefyd, wrth gwrs, i gofio Clare Smart, sylfaenydd elusen Giving to Pink, a'r £300,000 o arian elusennol a godwyd ganddynt ar gyfer y ganolfan. Hefyd, roedd cynrychiolwyr o Pontyclun Bosom Pals, grŵp rwy'n gwybod amdano ers amser maith, sy'n gwneud cymaint mewn rhwydwaith o bobl i ddod â'r rhai sydd hefyd ar y daith ganser ynghyd.
Felly, yn ogystal â'r buddsoddiad a wnawn a'r gwelliannau mewn triniaeth, diagnosis, gofal, ac ati, a fyddai'n cytuno â mi fod y grwpiau cymorth hyn yn rhan annatod o gael taith foddhaol drwy driniaeth ganser, ac i ddarparu rhwydwaith o bobl sydd wedi bod drwyddi eu hunain, a all drafod hyn gyda'i gilydd a helpu ei gilydd drwy hyn?
Thanks very much, Huw, and thanks for all your work on this issue. I know you're a champion of this cause, and thank you for bringing our attention to it once again. I'm look forward to visiting the Snowdrop Breast Centre, so I'm pleased to hear that it sounds like it's a very efficient and excellent service and already has received very glowing reports. So, it's good to have that in the heart of that community.
I agree with you. I think it's absolutely crucial to have that support around you if you're going through something quite as traumatic as this. There are people who don't want that, but there are a lot of people who are frightened. If you can speak to somebody else who's gone through it, who's going through it, I think it gives a huge amount of confidence to somebody that it is possible to get through what is probably one of the most traumatic events in your life. So, I would absolutely concur with you and give thanks to Giving to Pink—and what an amazing legacy Clare has left—and also to Bosom Pals in Pontyclun. And I know that there are many, many other similar organisations dotted around the whole of Wales. We know how many women suffer from breast cancer. It is a huge, huge number, and there's a community of people who have that in common who can share that experience, and I think those third sector networks are an excellent platform for people to be able to share those experiences.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Huw, a diolch am eich holl waith ar y mater hwn. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn eiriolwr dros yr achos hwn, a diolch ichi am dynnu ein sylw ato unwaith eto. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymweld â Chanolfan y Fron Snowdrop, felly rwy'n falch o glywed ei bod yn swnio fel pe bai'n wasanaeth effeithlon a rhagorol iawn ac eisoes yn destun adroddiadau disglair iawn. Felly, mae'n dda cael hynny yng nghalon y gymuned honno.
Rwy'n cytuno â chi. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol cael y cymorth hwnnw o'ch cwmpas os ydych chi'n mynd drwy rywbeth mor drawmatig â hyn. Mae yna bobl nad ydynt eisiau hynny, ond mae llawer o bobl sy'n byw mewn ofn. Os gallwch siarad â rhywun arall sydd wedi mynd drwyddo, sy'n mynd drwyddo, rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhoi llawer iawn o hyder i rywun ei bod hi'n bosibl goresgyn yr hyn sydd yn ôl pob tebyg yn un o'r digwyddiadau mwyaf trawmatig yn eich bywyd. Felly, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ac yn diolch i Giving to Pink—ac am waddol ryfeddol mae Clare wedi ei gadael—a hefyd i Pontyclun Bosom Pals. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod yna lawer iawn o sefydliadau eraill tebyg o amgylch Cymru gyfan. Gwyddom faint o fenywod sy'n dioddef o ganser y fron. Mae'n nifer enfawr ac mae yna gymuned o bobl sydd â hynny'n gyffredin ac sy'n gallu rhannu'r profiad hwnnw, a chredaf fod y rhwydweithiau trydydd sector hynny'n llwyfannau ardderchog i bobl allu rhannu'r profiadau hynny.
9. Pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd i leihau amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OQ60291
9. What steps is the Minister taking to reduce ambulance response times in South Wales West? OQ60291
We've taken a range of actions, including allocating an additional £3 million for extra staff, investing in new technology and establishing joint health board and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust improvement plans. We have been clear with health boards in South Wales West of our expectation for improved ambulance handover performance to free up ambulance capacity.
Rydym wedi rhoi amrywiaeth o gamau ar waith, yn cynnwys dyrannu £3 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer staff ychwanegol, buddsoddi mewn technoleg newydd a sefydlu cynlluniau gwella ar y cyd y byrddau iechyd ac Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru. Rydym wedi bod yn glir gyda byrddau iechyd yng Ngorllewin De Cymru ynghylch ein disgwyliad am wella perfformiad trosglwyddo ambiwlansys i ryddhau capasiti ambiwlansys.
Thank you, Minister, for the answer. Around 18 months ago, I raised the issue of the first responder unit based at Reynoldston on the Gower peninsula, you might recall. The community raised £65,000 for a first responder vehicle that could respond to emergency calls and get trained volunteers to a scene before an ambulance might arrive from further away. But I mentioned at that time that local people were getting very frustrated that they weren't receiving those 999 calls to that first response unit. Sometimes, there would be incidents where ambulances would take hours from miles away to an incident that happened two minutes down the road from Reynoldston.
I appreciate that a first response unit manned by volunteers is not appropriate for every call, but I also understand that some of these calls really could have used that emergency first response care on the front line to get there much quicker than an ambulance perhaps would have been able to from somewhere further afield. So, this was an issue 18 months ago when I raised it; it's still an issue today. So, can I implore you, Minister, to take this issue away and understand why this first response unit in Reynoldston isn't receiving those 999 calls in the first instance?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Tua 18 mis yn ôl, efallai y byddwch yn cofio imi godi mater yr uned ymatebwyr cyntaf a leolir yn Reynoldston ar benrhyn Gŵyr. Cododd y gymuned £65,000 ar gyfer cerbyd ymatebwr cyntaf a allai ymateb i alwadau brys a chael gwirfoddolwyr hyfforddedig i'r lleoliad cyn y gallai ambiwlans gyrraedd o bell. Ond fe grybwyllais bryd hynny fod pobl leol yn mynd yn rhwystredig iawn nad oeddent yn cael galwadau 999 i'r uned ymatebwyr cyntaf. Weithiau, byddai digwyddiadau lle byddai ambiwlansys yn cymryd oriau i ddod o filltiroedd i ffwrdd i gyrraedd digwyddiad ddwy funud i lawr y ffordd o Reynoldston.
Rwy'n derbyn nad yw uned ymatebwyr cyntaf sy'n cael ei staffio gan wirfoddolwyr yn briodol ar gyfer pob galwad, ond rwy'n deall hefyd y gallai rhai o'r galwadau hyn fod wedi gwneud defnydd o'r gofal brys ymateb cyntaf ar y rheng flaen i gyrraedd yno'n llawer cyflymach nag y byddai ambiwlans efallai wedi gallu ei wneud o rywle pellach i ffwrdd. Felly, roedd hon yn broblem 18 mis yn ôl pan godais ef; mae'n dal i fod yn broblem heddiw. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn i chi, Weinidog, i ystyried y broblem hon a deall pam nad yw'r uned ymateb cyntaf yn Reynoldston yn cael y galwadau 999 hynny yn y lle cyntaf?
Thanks very much. I know that this is not an issue that is just pertinent to Reynoldston. So, I met with some people in the fire service, actually, who were a little bit frustrated that they weren't being used either. So, I have raised this issue with the Welsh ambulance service. They have a certain amount of money that they have to use. They have a certain amount of resources that they have to use, and so obviously it makes sense, where possible, to use alternatives. The fire situation is slightly different, in the sense that I think they are actually paid. If you're talking about volunteers, it's a very different proposition. So, if you allow me, I'll take that away and see if there's any reason why that is not being used more, because I recognise it's actually quite a long way away from an emergency department.
Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n gwybod nad yw hwn yn fater sy'n berthnasol i Reynoldston yn unig. Felly, cyfarfûm â phobl yn y gwasanaeth tân, a oedd ychydig yn rhwystredig nad oeddent yn cael eu defnyddio ychwaith. Felly, rwyf wedi codi'r mater gyda gwasanaeth ambiwlans Cymru. Mae ganddynt swm penodol o arian y mae'n rhaid iddynt ei ddefnyddio. Mae ganddynt rywfaint o adnoddau y mae'n rhaid iddynt eu defnyddio, ac felly, mae'n amlwg ei fod yn gwneud synnwyr, lle bo modd, i ddefnyddio opsiynau amgen. Mae'r sefyllfa gyda tân ychydig yn wahanol, yn yr ystyr fy mod yn credu eu bod yn cael eu talu. Os ydych chi'n siarad am wirfoddolwyr, mae'n her wahanol iawn. Felly, os caniatewch i mi, fe ystyriaf hynny a gweld a oes unrhyw reswm pam nad oes mwy o ddefnydd ar hynny, oherwydd rwy'n cydnabod ei fod yn eithaf pell o adran frys.
10. Pa waith mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud er mwyn datblygu system gofal teg i Gymru? OQ60294
10. What work has the Welsh Government done to develop a fair care system for Wales? OQ60294
An expert group provided us with recommended steps towards a national care service, building on creating a national framework for commissioning care and establishing a national office for care and support. We have established a fair work forum and implemented the real living wage for the social care workforce.
Rhoddodd grŵp arbenigol gamau argymelledig inni tuag at wasanaeth gofal cenedlaethol, gan adeiladu ar greu fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer comisiynu gofal a sefydlu swyddfa genedlaethol ar gyfer gofal a chymorth. Rydym wedi sefydlu fforwm gwaith teg ac wedi gweithredu'r cyflog byw gwirioneddol i'r gweithlu gofal cymdeithasol.
Diolch, Weinidog. People who are carers are often put under tremendous strain, which is why respite is so important. But in my area, day services for adults with severe learning difficulties and caring needs haven’t returned to what was available before the pandemic, certainly not in Caerphilly. And this means those adults aren’t getting the support they used to have, but it also means their carers aren’t getting respite, and these carers are often parents in advanced years, sometimes elderly, and they’re really struggling. You’ll be aware of the charter for unpaid carers, which sets out the legal rights of unpaid carers in Wales. I’ve been contacted by constituents who fear that their local authority isn’t giving due regard to individuals’ needs in how they interpret that charter. Could you tell me, please, whether the Welsh Government would consider issuing stronger guidance to councils to ensure that unpaid carers and their children get the support that they all need?
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae pobl sy'n ofalwyr yn aml yn cael eu rhoi dan straen aruthrol, a dyna pam mae seibiant mor bwysig. Ond yn fy ardal i, nid yw gwasanaethau dydd i oedolion ag anawsterau dysgu ac anghenion gofalu difrifol wedi dychwelyd i'r hyn a oedd ar gael cyn y pandemig, yn sicr nid yng Nghaerffili. Ac mae hyn yn golygu nad yw'r oedolion hynny'n cael y cymorth yr arferent ei gael, ond mae hefyd yn golygu nad yw eu gofalwyr yn cael seibiant, ac mae'r gofalwyr hyn yn aml yn rhieni hŷn, ac weithiau'n oedrannus, ac maent yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol o'r siarter ar gyfer gofalwyr di-dâl, sy'n nodi hawliau cyfreithiol gofalwyr di-dâl yng Nghymru. Mae etholwyr wedi cysylltu â mi sy'n ofni nad yw eu hawdurdod lleol yn rhoi sylw dyledus i anghenion unigolion o ran y modd y maent yn dehongli'r siarter honno. A allech ddweud wrthyf, os gwelwch yn dda, a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried cyhoeddi canllawiau cryfach i gynghorau i sicrhau bod gofalwyr di-dâl a'u plant yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt i gyd?
Thank you very much, Delyth Jewell, for that question, and I know that you’ve been very concerned about your constituents, who I believe we have discussed before, and I do appreciate how difficult it is for them with the difficulties they have in caring for their loved one. And I do accept that carers have been under strain, and certainly the pandemic was a very difficult time for carers, and she is right to say that services, day services, have not returned in every area to the way that they should be. We have commissioned the Association of Directors of Social Services to look at this, and they have prepared a report that we will be acting on when we have studied it, because we think it is very important that we do all that we can possibly do for carers. Of course you mentioned the importance of breaks, and how difficult it is to take a break for people who have got caring responsibilities of that type.
And it is of course Carers Week, and Carers Rights Day is tomorrow, so it’s a really important time to highlight the rights of unpaid carers, and I’ve been meeting unpaid carers all week, and having a break is actually one of the main things that they’ve said to me. So, I’m pleased we have been able to initiate schemes in order for unpaid carers to have breaks, but certainly we will have to look at what the ADSS report says, and see how we act after that.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Delyth Jewell, a gwn eich bod wedi bod yn bryderus iawn am eich etholwyr, y credaf inni eu trafod o'r blaen, ac rwy'n deall pa mor anodd yw hi iddynt gyda'r anawsterau y maent yn eu cael wrth ofalu am eu hanwyliaid. Ac rwy'n derbyn bod gofalwyr wedi bod dan straen, ac yn sicr, roedd y pandemig yn gyfnod anodd iawn i ofalwyr, ac mae hi'n iawn i ddweud nad yw gwasanaethau, gwasanaethau dydd, wedi dychwelyd ym mhob ardal i'r ffordd y dylent fod. Rydym wedi comisiynu'r Gymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i edrych ar hyn, ac maent wedi paratoi adroddiad y byddwn yn gweithredu arno pan fyddwn wedi ei astudio, oherwydd credwn ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn gwneud popeth a allwn dros ofalwyr. Wrth gwrs, fe sonioch chi am bwysigrwydd seibiant, a pha mor anodd yw hi i bobl sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofalu o'r fath gael seibiant.
Ac wrth gwrs, mae'n Wythnos Gofalwyr, ac mae'n Ddiwrnod Hawliau Gofalwyr yfory, felly mae'n adeg bwysig iawn i dynnu sylw at hawliau gofalwyr di-dâl, ac rwyf wedi bod yn cyfarfod â gofalwyr di-dâl drwy'r wythnos, ac mae cael seibiant yn un o'r prif bethau y maent wedi'i ddweud wrthyf. Felly, rwy'n falch ein bod wedi gallu cychwyn cynlluniau er mwyn i ofalwyr di-dâl gael seibiant, ond yn sicr bydd yn rhaid inni edrych ar yr hyn y mae adroddiad y Gymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn ei ddweud, a gweld sut y gweithredwn ar ôl hynny.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 11, Paul Davies.
And finally, question 11, Paul Davies.
11. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi cleifion canser ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro? OQ60268
11. What is the Welsh Government doing to support cancer patients in Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ60268
The Welsh Government is committed to working with health boards to meet the needs of people affected by cancer. Hywel Dda University Health Board is using key workers to develop person-centred cancer care. New support kits and books were launched last month to support families affected by cancer across west Wales.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda byrddau iechyd i ddiwallu anghenion pobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ganser. Mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda yn defnyddio gweithwyr allweddol i ddatblygu gofal canser sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn. Lansiwyd pecynnau cymorth a llyfrau newydd fis diwethaf i gefnogi teuluoedd yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ganser ar draws gorllewin Cymru.
Thank you for that response, Minister. Now, I recently visited Adam's Bucketful of Hope in Haverfordwest, a centre dedicated to supporting cancer patients along their journey. They offer a range of different therapeutic services, like massage and reflexology, as well as traditional counselling support to patients. I'm sure you'll appreciate that centres like Adam's Bucketful of Hope have such an enormous positive impact on people living with cancer, and I know from my own personal experience how important it is to have that right support. So, it's vital that they can continue to provide these much-needed services for many years. Therefore, can you tell us what support the Welsh Government offers to centres like this, so that they can continue to support cancer patients in Preseli Pembrokeshire?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Yn ddiweddar, ymwelais ag Adam's Bucketful of Hope yn Hwlffordd, canolfan sy'n ymroddedig i gefnogi cleifion canser ar hyd eu taith. Maent yn cynnig amrywiaeth o wahanol wasanaethau therapiwtig, fel tylino ac adweitheg, yn ogystal â chymorth cwnsela traddodiadol i gleifion. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn derbyn bod canolfannau fel Adam's Bucketful of Hope yn cael effaith mor gadarnhaol ar bobl sy'n byw gyda chanser, ac rwy'n gwybod o brofiad personol pa mor bwysig yw cael y cymorth cywir hwnnw. Felly, mae'n hanfodol eu bod yn gallu parhau i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau mawr eu hangen hyn am flynyddoedd lawer. Felly, a allwch ddweud wrthym pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig i ganolfannau fel hyn, fel y gallant barhau i gefnogi cleifion canser ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro?
Thanks very much. The key concern of the Welsh Government, of course, is to make sure that we provide the actual treatment of cancer. That's our prime responsibility here, and I'm very pleased to see that, actually, we have announced £86 million for new cancer diagnostic and treatment facilities. So, that has got to be our key focus, particularly in these times of very tight finances. So, it is more difficult for us then to help support those organisations. There are, of course, many organisations like Adam's Bucketful of Hope, and obviously we recognise that they play an invaluable part in people's cancer journey, but there are lots of other organisations in that space, and generally this is something where people raise funds locally and they raise funds as a charitable organisation, rather than something that is supported by Government.
Diolch yn fawr. Prif flaenoriaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, yw sicrhau ein bod yn darparu'r driniaeth canser ei hun. Dyna'n prif gyfrifoldeb yma, ac rwy'n falch iawn o weld ein bod wedi cyhoeddi £86 miliwn ar gyfer cyfleusterau diagnostig a thriniaeth canser newydd. Felly, mae'n rhaid i hynny fod yn ffocws allweddol i ni, yn enwedig yn yr amseroedd hyn pan fo cyllid yn dynn iawn. Felly, mae'n anos inni helpu i gefnogi'r sefydliadau hynny. Wrth gwrs, mae yna lawer o sefydliadau fel Adam's Bucketful of Hope, ac yn amlwg, rydym yn cydnabod eu bod yn chwarae rhan amhrisiadwy ar daith canser pobl, ond mae llawer o sefydliadau eraill yn y gofod hwnnw, ac yn gyffredinol, mae hyn yn rhywbeth lle mae pobl yn codi arian yn lleol ac maent yn codi arian fel sefydliad elusennol, yn hytrach na fel rhywbeth sy'n cael ei gefnogi gan y Llywodraeth.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog. Yr eitem nesaf fyddai'r cwestiwn amserol, ond mae'r unig gwestiwn amserol sydd wedi cael ei dderbyn heddiw'n cael ei gymryd fel eitem cyn y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Thank you, Minister. The next item would be the topical question, but the only one that has been accepted today is going to be taken as the item before voting time.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y datganiadau 90 eiliad. Mae'r datganiad cyntaf heddiw gan Jayne Bryant.
The next item will be the 90-second statements and the first one today is from Jayne Bryant.
Diolch, Llywydd. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and 16 November was World Pancreatic Cancer Day, giving us the opportunity to reflect upon all those whose lives have been affected by this devastating disease. Pancreatic cancer can affect young and old alike, with more than 10,500 people diagnosed in the UK. And a staggering half of those diagnosed do not survive beyond three months.
The one-year survival rate is just 26 per cent, with a five-year survival rate of just under 6 per cent in Wales, while all other common cancers have a 10-times improvement on survival. These are stark statistics, and although technology and treatments have improved radically in the last 45 years, these statistics have remained very much the same for pancreatic cancer, with only a slight improvement within the same period. And behind every statistic is a person and their loved ones.
Dawn Clayton from Newport is a former nurse and a nine-year pancreatic cancer survivor. Dawn was fortunate to be diagnosed early and has used her experience to influence and campaign for fairer and faster treatment. Dawn's work with Pancreatic Cancer UK is phenomenal. She decided to raise awareness by hiking from Germany to Italy across the Alps to show that people with pancreatic cancer, if treated promptly, can live a full and meaningful life despite a brutal diagnosis. I hope that today in the Senedd we can all listen to and, particularly, learn from Dawn's experience, her drive and her motivation by bringing a united approach to transform the future for all those affected by pancreatic cancer.
Diolch, Lywydd. Mis Tachwedd yw Mis Ymwybyddiaeth Canser y Pancreas, ac 16 Tachwedd oedd Diwrnod Byd-eang Canser y Pancreas, i roi cyfle inni fyfyrio ar bawb y mae'r clefyd dinistriol hwn wedi effeithio ar eu bywydau. Gall canser y pancreas effeithio ar yr hen a'r ifanc fel ei gilydd, gyda mwy na 10,500 o bobl yn cael diagnosis yn y DU. Ac nid yw hanner y rhai sy'n cael diagnosis yn goroesi y tu hwnt i dri mis, sy'n ganran syfrdanol.
Nid yw'r gyfradd sy'n goroesi am flwyddyn ond yn 26 y cant, gyda'r gyfradd sy'n goroesi am bum mlynedd ychydig o dan 6 y cant yng Nghymru, tra bod pobl ddeg gwaith yn fwy tebygol o oroesi pob canser cyffredin arall. Mae'r rhain yn ystadegau llwm, ac er bod technoleg a thriniaethau wedi gwella'n sylweddol yn ystod y 45 mlynedd diwethaf, mae'r ystadegau hyn wedi aros yr un fath i raddau helaeth ar gyfer canser y pancreas, gyda dim ond ychydig o welliant o fewn yr un cyfnod. A thu ôl i bob ystadegyn, mae yna unigolyn a'u hanwyliaid.
Mae Dawn Clayton o Gasnewydd yn gyn-nyrs ac wedi goroesi canser y pancreas a gafodd naw mlynedd yn ôl. Roedd Dawn yn ffodus i gael diagnosis cynnar ac mae wedi defnyddio ei phrofiad i ddylanwadu ac ymgyrchu dros driniaeth decach a chyflymach. Mae gwaith Dawn gyda Pancreatic Cancer UK yn anhygoel. Penderfynodd godi ymwybyddiaeth drwy gerdded o'r Almaen i'r Eidal ar draws yr Alpau i ddangos bod pobl â chanser y pancreas, os caiff ei drin yn gyflym, yn gallu byw bywyd llawn ac ystyrlon er gwaethaf diagnosis creulon. Rwy'n gobeithio heddiw yn y Senedd y gallwn i gyd wrando ar, ac yn fwyaf arbennig, dysgu o brofiad, egni a chymhelliant Dawn drwy ymuno i drawsnewid y dyfodol i bawb yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ganser y pancreas.
On 13 November 1923, Alfred Thomas Sherwood was born in North View Terrace, Aberaman. Alf, as he was known, displayed a passion and skill at sport from an early age. He represented Wales at youth level at both football and cricket, before signing at the age of 16 with his local side, Aberaman Athletic, whose grounds are just a short distance from his birthplace.
Alf was a Bevin boy during world war two and signed with Cardiff City in 1942. He stayed with the team for 14 years, making over 350 appearances and being captain when the club reclaimed their first-division status. He also made over 40 appearances playing for Wales, and was captain during the famous 2-1 victory over England in 1955.
In 1956, Alf joined Newport County, making over 200 appearances playing for that team. In 1961, he became the player-manager of Barry Town. And 1963 saw Alf retiring from football, working as a security officer for the National Coal Board. Alf passed away in 1990 and was inducted into the Welsh sports hall of fame in 2006. He is arguably remembered today as Aberaman’s favourite son, as a skilled footballer who gained the moniker ‘king of the sliding tacklers’ and as the sportsman Stanley Matthews described as the most difficult opponent he'd ever played against. Happy one-hundredth birthday, Alf.
Ar 13 Tachwedd 1923, ganed Alfred Thomas Sherwood yn North View Terrace, Aberaman. Dangosodd Alf, fel y câi ei adnabod, angerdd a sgìl mewn chwaraeon o oedran ifanc. Cynrychiolodd Gymru ar lefel ieuenctid mewn pêl-droed a chriced, cyn arwyddo yn 16 oed gyda'i dîm lleol, Aberaman Athletic, y mae ei gae chwarae yn agos i'w fan geni.
Roedd Alf yn un o'r 'Bevin boys' yn ystod yr ail ryfel byd ac arwyddodd gyda Chlwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd ym 1942. Arhosodd gyda'r tîm am 14 mlynedd, gan chwarae iddynt dros 350 o weithiau a bod yn gapten pan adenillodd y clwb eu lle yn yr adran gyntaf. Hefyd, fe chwaraeodd dros 40 o weithiau i Gymru, a bu'n gapten yn ystod y fuddugoliaeth 2-1 enwog dros Loegr ym 1955.
Ym 1956, ymunodd Alf â Chlwb Pêl-droed Casnewydd, gan chwarae i'r tîm hwnnw dros 200 o weithiau. Ym 1961, daeth yn chwaraewr-reolwr Clwb Pêl-droed y Barri. Ac ym 1963, ymddeolodd Alf o bêl-droed, gan weithio fel swyddog diogelwch i'r Bwrdd Glo Cenedlaethol. Bu farw Alf ym 1990 a chafodd ei gynnwys yn oriel anfarwolion chwaraeon Cymru yn 2006. Gellir dadlau ei fod yn cael ei gofio heddiw fel hoff fab Aberaman, fel pêl-droediwr medrus a enillodd y teitl 'brenin y taclau llithro' ac fel y gwrthwynebydd anoddaf i'r pêl-droediwr Stanley Matthews chwarae yn ei erbyn erioed, yn ôl Matthews ei hun. Pen-blwydd hapus yn 100 oed, Alf.
I think it’s right and proper that this Parliament spends a moment remembering the life of David Rowe-Beddoe, who passed away last week. Many of us will have met David Rowe-Beddoe a number of times over the years. He had a career in business, which culminated in him being appointed chairman of the Welsh Development Agency in July 1993. He is well known for the contribution he made to the Welsh economy and to developing economic policy in Wales.
In his tribute to him, Geraint Talfan Davies described David Rowe-Beddoe as a force. And he certainly was. He was a force in business, he was a force in the arts, and he was a force in our national life. There are very few people who can actually claim to have shaped the Wales that we see today. But David Rowe-Beddoe is certainly one of them.
He is synonymous, perhaps, with the early history of the Wales Millennium Centre, and served with distinction as chair from March 2001 through to May 2010. He was also the president of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His mother, of course, was a well-known opera singer. And that sort of sense of the theatre stayed with him throughout his life. It drove him into what he wanted to achieve.
He was, for many of us who had the pleasure of enjoying his company, somebody who was an inspiring figure. He inspired change in Wales; he inspired ambition in Wales; he had a vision for Wales, and it is something that he was able to realise for us all. The loss of David Rowe-Beddoe is a loss to our national life. I hope that we will all take a moment to remember his contribution to Wales and his vision for the future of Wales.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn iawn ac yn briodol fod y Senedd hon yn treulio ennyd i gofio bywyd David Rowe-Beddoe, a fu farw yr wythnos diwethaf. Bydd llawer ohonom wedi cyfarfod â David Rowe-Beddoe nifer o weithiau dros y blynyddoedd. Cafodd yrfa ym myd busnes, a arweiniodd at gael ei benodi'n gadeirydd Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru ym mis Gorffennaf 1993. Mae'n adnabyddus am y cyfraniad a wnaeth i economi Cymru ac i ddatblygu polisi economaidd yng Nghymru.
Yn ei deyrnged iddo, disgrifiwyd David Rowe-Beddoe gan Geraint Talfan Davies fel grym. A dyna ydoedd, yn sicr. Roedd yn rym ym myd busnes, roedd yn rym yn y celfyddydau, ac roedd yn rym yn ein bywyd cenedlaethol. Ychydig iawn o bobl sy'n gallu honni eu bod wedi llunio'r Gymru a welwn heddiw. Ond mae David Rowe-Beddoe yn sicr yn un ohonynt.
Efallai ei fod yn cael ei gysylltu fwyaf â hanes cynnar Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru, a gwasanaethodd gyda rhagoriaeth fel cadeirydd o fis Mawrth 2001 hyd at fis Mai 2010. Ef hefyd oedd llywydd Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru. Roedd ei fam, wrth gwrs, yn gantores opera adnabyddus. Ac arhosodd y math hwnnw o ymdeimlad o'r theatr gydag ef drwy gydol ei oes. Dyna oedd yn ei yrru tuag at yr hyn yr oedd am ei gyflawni.
I lawer ohonom a gafodd y pleser o fwynhau ei gwmni, roedd yn ffigwr ysbrydoledig. Fe ysbrydolodd newid yng Nghymru; ysbrydolodd uchelgais yng Nghymru; roedd ganddo weledigaeth ar gyfer Cymru, ac roedd hynny'n rhywbeth y gallai ei wireddu ar ein cyfer i gyd. Mae colli David Rowe-Beddoe yn golled i'n bywyd cenedlaethol. Rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn i gyd yn rhoi ennyd i gofio ei gyfraniad i Gymru a'i weledigaeth ar gyfer dyfodol Cymru.
Diolch yn fawr am y deyrnged yna.
Thank you very much for that tribute.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y ddadl ar ddeiseb i gyflwyno mesurau diogelwch cynhwysfawr ar gyffordd Mynegbost yr A477, a dwi'n galw ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig—Jack Sargeant.
The next item will be a debate on a petition to introduce comprehensive safety measures at the A477 Fingerpost junction, and I call on the committee Chair to move the motion—Jack Sargeant.
Cynnig NDM8408 Jack Sargeant
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi’r ddeiseb P-06-1356 'Cyflwyno mesurau diogelwch cynhwysfawr ar gyffordd "Mynegbost" yr A477' a gasglodd 10,310 o lofnodion.
Motion NDM8408 Jack Sargeant
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the petition P-06-1356 'Introduce comprehensive safety measures at the A477 "Fingerpost" junction’ which received 10,310 signatures.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. On behalf of the Senedd Petitions Committee, can I thank you for the opportunity to introduce this debate today, during what is Road Safety Week? Those of us who attend this Chamber are no stranger to the Nash Fingerpost junction. The junction has been the subject of numerous questions from Samuel Kurtz and his predecessor, Angela Burns, in this very Chamber. Presiding Officer, local Member of Parliament Simon Hart has also campaigned on the issue for a number of years, alongside local town and community councillors and concerned residents.
But, for the benefit of those not familiar, it’s a junction where the A4075, running east from Pembroke, meets the A477, the east-west trunk road running from Pembroke Dock to St Clears. The petition was created by Elliot Morrison. It collected over 10,300 signatures. Over 80 per cent of those signatures are from the two Pembrokeshire constituencies; it really does show the strength of feeling in that county.
Llywydd, the petition reads:
'Introduce comprehensive safety measures at the A477 "Fingerpost" junction. On Saturday 13 May 2023, Ashley Thomas Rogers tragically lost his life at the A477 "Fingerpost" junction travelling towards Pembroke. His death marked the third fatality on that stretch of road within the space of 12 years. Further, there have been innumerable near misses on what is known locally as a "black spot" for road traffic accidents. Enough is enough. This petition calls upon the Welsh Government to do the right thing and prioritise human life over trivial budgeting pressure.'
Llywydd, I should place on record that the thoughts and prayers of this Senedd are with the family and friends of Ashley Rogers and all of those who have, tragically, lost their lives on this stretch of road. At the start of the half-term recess, I travelled to the area to see the situation for myself. During that very visit, I witnessed several near misses at the junction and I saw at first hand the danger of the current situation. Having seen it with my own eyes, the surprise is not that there have been fatal incidents at this junction—it’s that they don’t happen all of the time.
Since this petition was launched, the Deputy Minister with responsibility for transport in the Welsh Government has announced that the junction is to have traffic lights. This is, of course, welcome news. Campaigners have welcomed this announcement; now they are keen to understand when the traffic lights will be installed, and I hope the Minister, responding to today's debate, will be able to provide an update in her contribution in responding.
While the installation of traffic lights will be a major road-safety improvement, campaigners would have preferred, and still would prefer, to see a roundabout. Indeed, a new petition calling for a roundabout at the junction has already received over 300 signatures since it was opened last month. The Petitions Committee will, of course, consider this petition in due course at a future meeting.
Now, I understand that traffic lights would be a faster solution—a short-term solution to improve road safety. But I would be grateful to the Minister, again, if she would use her response to this debate to commit to reviewing the effectiveness of the traffic lights proposed and the need for further improvements in the future, including the option of a roundabout. Presiding Officer, I look forward to hearing the contributions from Members in the Chamber this afternoon, and, of course, the Minister's response.
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Ar ran Pwyllgor Deisebau'r Senedd, a gaf fi ddiolch i chi am y cyfle i gyflwyno'r ddadl hon heddiw, yn ystod Wythnos Diogelwch ar y Ffyrdd? Mae cyffordd Mynegbost Nash yn gyfarwydd i'r rheini ohonom sy'n mynychu'r Siambr hon. Mae'r gyffordd wedi bod yn destun nifer o gwestiynau gan Samuel Kurtz a'i ragflaenydd, Angela Burns, yn y Siambr. Lywydd, mae'r Aelod Seneddol lleol Simon Hart hefyd wedi ymgyrchu ar y mater ers nifer o flynyddoedd, ochr yn ochr â chynghorwyr tref a chymuned lleol a thrigolion pryderus.
Ond er budd y rhai nad ydynt yn gyfarwydd â hi, mae'n gyffordd lle mae'r A4075, sy'n rhedeg i'r dwyrain o Benfro, yn cyfarfod â'r A477, y gefnffordd rhwng dwyrain a gorllewin sy'n rhedeg o Ddoc Penfro i Sanclêr. Crëwyd y ddeiseb gan Elliot Morrison. Casglodd dros 10,300 o lofnodion. Daw dros 80 y cant o'r llofnodion hynny o ddwy etholaeth sir Benfro; mae'n dangos cryfder y teimlad yn y sir honno'n glir.
Lywydd, mae'r ddeiseb yn nodi:
'Cyflwyno mesurau diogelwch cynhwysfawr ar gyffordd "Mynegbost" yr A477. Ar ddydd Sadwrn 13 Mai 2023, collodd Ashley Thomas Rogers ei fywyd yn drychinebus ar gyffordd "Mynegbost" yr A477 wrth deithio i gyfeiriad Penfro. Ei farwolaeth ef yw’r drydedd farwolaeth ar y rhan honno o'r ffordd mewn 12 mlynedd. Ar ben hynny, mae nifer ddi-rif o ddamweiniau y bu ond y dim iddynt ddigwydd ar y rhan honno a adwaenir yn lleol fel "man gwael" ar gyfer damweiniau traffig ar y ffordd. Digon yw digon. Mae’r ddeiseb hon yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud y peth iawn a blaenoriaethu bywydau pobl dros bwysau cyllidebu dibwys.'
Lywydd, dylwn gofnodi bod meddyliau a gweddïau'r Senedd hon gyda theulu a ffrindiau Ashley Rogers a phawb sydd wedi colli eu bywydau ar y darn hwn o ffordd. Ar ddechrau'r toriad hanner tymor, teithiais i'r ardal i weld y sefyllfa gyda fy llygaid fy hun. Yn ystod yr ymweliad hwnnw, gwelais sawl damwain y bu ond y dim iddynt ddigwydd ar y gyffordd a gwelais yn uniongyrchol berygl y sefyllfa bresennol. Ar ôl ei weld gyda fy llygaid fy hun, nid y syndod yw bod digwyddiadau angheuol wedi bod ar y gyffordd hon—y syndod yw nad ydynt yn digwydd drwy'r amser.
Ers lansio'r ddeiseb hon, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb am drafnidiaeth yn Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi y bydd goleuadau traffig yn cael eu gosod ar y gyffordd. Mae hynny'n newyddion i'w groesawu, wrth gwrs. Mae ymgyrchwyr wedi croesawu'r cyhoeddiad hwn; nawr, maent yn awyddus i ddeall pryd fydd y goleuadau traffig yn cael eu gosod, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog, wrth ymateb i'r ddadl heddiw, yn gallu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn ei chyfraniad wrth ymateb.
Er y bydd gosod goleuadau traffig yn welliant mawr o ran diogelwch ar y ffordd, byddai ymgyrchwyr wedi ffafrio gweld cylchfan, ac maent yn dal i ffafrio hynny. Yn wir, mae deiseb newydd yn galw am gylchfan ar y gyffordd eisoes wedi cael dros 300 o lofnodion ers iddi gael ei hagor fis diwethaf. Bydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau yn ystyried y ddeiseb hon maes o law mewn cyfarfod yn y dyfodol.
Nawr, rwy'n deall y byddai goleuadau traffig yn ateb cyflymach—yn ateb tymor byr i wella diogelwch ar y ffordd. Ond hoffwn pe bai'r Gweinidog, unwaith eto, yn defnyddio ei hymateb i'r ddadl hon i ymrwymo i adolygu effeithiolrwydd y goleuadau traffig arfaethedig a'r angen am welliannau pellach yn y dyfodol, gan gynnwys yr opsiwn o gylchfan. Lywydd, edrychaf ymlaen at glywed cyfraniadau gan Aelodau yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma, ac ymateb y Gweinidog wrth gwrs.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to today's debate on the petition calling for the introduction of comprehensive safety measures at the A477 Fingerpost junction in my Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency—timely, given that we mark Road Safety Week this week. As the local Member, this is not the first time I have spoken about this dangerous junction in this Chamber. However, I am hopeful that this could be the last time that the necessity of safety improvements at the Nash Fingerpost junction is discussed in this Chamber, and I am pleased that the Welsh Government have realised that the calls for improvements could no longer be ignored.
On Saturday 13 May this year, Ashley Thomas Rogers was involved in a road traffic collision at the Nash Fingerpost junction. The 29-year-old from Kilgetty sadly died at the scene, leaving behind a devastated fiancée, son and family. His death shook our community and our thoughts continue to be with Ashley's friends and family. Yet, sadly, this was not the first fatality at this junction. In memory of Ashley and to ensure that a tragedy such as this never happens again at this junction, his friend Elliott Morrison set up the petition stating, 'Enough is enough'. My predecessor, Angela Burns, raised the issue of Nash Fingerpost on many occasions in this Chamber and was a strong advocate for improvements to be made. Simon Hart MP too has campaigned for changes to this junction for over a decade. Thanks must also be given to the local county councillor, Tessa Hodgson, for her support for much-needed improvements; to Yvette Weblin-Grimsley, who tirelessly campaigned, helping the petition reach 10,000 signatures; and to the wider countless other county, town and community councillors and the wider constituents, who lobbied, campaigned and petitioned on the matter and who have written to me to share their concerns. Thank you to everyone who has campaigned for improvements.
Can I also extend my thanks to Petitions Committee Chair, Jack Sargeant, for visiting the site, meeting concerned residents and seeing for himself the numerous near misses that take place at this junction on a daily basis? Jack's willingness to listen and his chairmanship of the committee are to be commended, and I thank him once again. I joined Jack on his visit to the junction—just one of the countless visits I've made to Nash Fingerpost. On each and every occasion, I have seen vehicles take risks to enter the A477 trunk road from the A4075 from Pembroke, westbound lorries slamming on their brakes as they come through the dip in the road to the east of the junction, or cars not paying attention to indicating vehicles exiting the main road. The A477 is a busy, busy road, with ferry traffic and freight, refinery and heavy industry traffic, tank transporters from Castlemartin firing range and the usual commuters too. This is one of the main arterial routes in and out of the county. It has been clear for a number of years that something—anything—needed to be done at the junction to improve its safety and usability.
I must express my thanks to the Deputy Minister for his confirmation, on 11 October, that traffic signals will be installed by the end of this financial year. This is welcomed. However, I would be grateful if the Minister could confirm what, exactly, these traffic signals entail. There is confusion locally. Are they traffic lights? Are they flashing speed reduction signs? Some confirmation of what the traffic signals will be will be extremely helpful. Also, in his response to me on 11 October, the Deputy Minister made reference to a request for a roundabout and that this remains—I quote—'a long-term option'. Given that roundabouts exist along the A477 at Carew Cheriton, at Kilgetty and elsewhere, this seems to be a natural choice. I'd be grateful if, in her reply, the Minister could confirm that, following the installation of traffic lights, investigative work will continue into the possible construction of a roundabout at the junction.
The petition has shown the strength of public feeling in the area—over two thirds of those who signed it are residents of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. The debate locally has been one of frustration that calls for safety improvements have, for a decade, fallen on deaf ears. That debate has now turned to either traffic lights or a roundabout. I'm much happier that we're debating what is the solution rather than begging for any solution, because the original petition title calls for the introduction of comprehensive safety measures.
From its very inception, this junction has been dangerous. Too many lives have been lost, too many lives have been changed forever, too many near misses have left people nervous, even avoiding this junction altogether. I will close by thanking, once more, everyone who took the time to sign this petition, to all those who have campaigned relentlessly for safety improvements. I hope that today the Welsh Government have heard our calls. Diolch, Llywydd.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i gyfrannu at y ddadl heddiw ar y ddeiseb yn galw am gyflwyno mesurau diogelwch cynhwysfawr ar gyffordd Mynegbost yr A477 yn fy etholaeth, Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro—amserol, o gofio ein bod yn nodi Wythnos Diogelwch ar y Ffyrdd yr wythnos hon. Fel yr Aelod lleol, nid dyma'r tro cyntaf imi siarad am y gyffordd beryglus hon yn y Siambr. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n obeithiol y gallai fod y tro olaf y trafodir yr angen am welliannau diogelwch ar gyffordd Mynegbost Nash yn y Siambr, ac rwy'n falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sylweddoli na ellid anwybyddu'r galwadau am welliannau mwyach.
Ddydd Sadwrn 13 Mai eleni, roedd Ashley Thomas Rogers yn rhan o wrthdrawiad traffig ffordd ar gyffordd Mynegbost Nash. Yn anffodus, bu farw'r dyn 29 oed o Gilgeti yn y fan a'r lle, gan adael dyweddi, mab a theulu yn eu trallod. Ysgydwodd ei farwolaeth ein cymuned ac mae ein meddyliau yn parhau i fod gyda ffrindiau a theulu Ashley. Eto, yn anffodus, nid hon oedd y farwolaeth gyntaf ar y gyffordd hon. Er cof am Ashley ac i sicrhau nad yw trasiedi fel hon byth yn digwydd eto ar y gyffordd hon, sefydlodd ei ffrind Elliott Morrison y ddeiseb gan ddweud, 'Digon yw digon'. Cododd fy rhagflaenydd, Angela Burns, fater Mynegbost Nash sawl gwaith yn y Siambr ac roedd yn eiriolwr cryf dros wneud gwelliannau. Mae Simon Hart AS hefyd wedi ymgyrchu dros newidiadau i'r gyffordd hon ers dros ddegawd. Rhaid diolch hefyd i'r cynghorydd sir lleol, Tessa Hodgson, am ei chefnogaeth i welliannau mawr eu hangen; i Yvette Weblin-Grimsley, a ymgyrchodd yn ddiflino, gan helpu'r ddeiseb i gyrraedd 10,000 o lofnodion; ac i'r cynghorwyr sir, tref a chymuned di-rif eraill a'r etholwyr yn ehangach, a fu'n lobïo, yn ymgyrchu ac yn deisebu ar y mater ac sydd wedi ysgrifennu ataf i rannu eu pryderon. Diolch i bawb sydd wedi ymgyrchu dros welliannau.
A gaf fi ddiolch hefyd i Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, Jack Sargeant, am ymweld â'r safle, cyfarfod â thrigolion pryderus a gweld drosto'i hun y nifer o ddamweiniau y bu ond y dim iddynt ddigwydd ar y gyffordd hon yn ddyddiol? Mae parodrwydd Jack i wrando a'i gadeiryddiaeth o'r pwyllgor i'w canmol, ac rwy'n diolch iddo unwaith eto. Ymunais â Jack yn ystod ei ymweliad â'r gyffordd—dim ond un o'r ymweliadau dirifedi rwyf innau wedi'u gwneud â Mynegbost Nash. Ar bob achlysur, rwyf wedi gweld cerbydau'n cymryd risgiau wrth droi ar gefnffordd yr A477 o'r A4075 o Benfro, a lorïau sy'n mynd tua'r gorllewin yn gorfod brecio'n galed wrth iddynt ddod ar hyd y pant yn y ffordd i'r dwyrain o'r gyffordd, neu geir nad ydynt yn sylwi ar gerbydau sy'n dynodi eu bod yn gadael y brif ffordd. Mae'r A477 yn ffordd brysur iawn, gyda thraffig y fferi a thraffig cludo nwyddau, traffig y burfa a diwydiant trwm, cludwyr tanciau o faes tanio Castellmartin a'r cymudwyr arferol hefyd. Dyma un o'r prif lwybrau i mewn ac allan o'r sir. Mae wedi bod yn amlwg ers nifer o flynyddoedd fod angen gwneud rhywbeth—unrhyw beth—ar y gyffordd i wella ei diogelwch a'i defnyddioldeb.
Rhaid imi ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei gadarnhad, ar 11 Hydref, y bydd arwyddion traffig yn cael eu gosod erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae hyn i'w groesawu. Fodd bynnag, hoffwn pe gallai'r Gweinidog gadarnhau beth yn union fydd yr arwyddion traffig hyn. Mae yna ddryswch yn lleol. Ai goleuadau traffig ydynt, neu arwyddion lleihau cyflymder sy'n fflachio? Bydd cadarnhad ynglŷn â'r hyn fydd yr arwyddion traffig yn ddefnyddiol iawn. Hefyd, yn ei ymateb i mi ar 11 Hydref, cyfeiriodd y Dirprwy Weinidog at gais am gylchfan a bod hyn yn parhau—rwy'n dyfynnu—'yn opsiwn hirdymor'. O ystyried bod cylchfannau'n bodoli ar hyd yr A477 yn Carew Cheriton, yng Nghilgeti ac mewn mannau eraill, mae'n ymddangos bod hwn yn ddewis naturiol. Hoffwn pe gallai'r Gweinidog gadarnhau yn ei hymateb y bydd gwaith ymchwiliol, yn sgil gosod goleuadau traffig, yn edrych ar y posibilrwydd o adeiladu cylchfan ar y gyffordd.
Mae'r ddeiseb wedi dangos cryfder teimlad y cyhoedd yn yr ardal—mae dros ddwy ran o dair o'r rhai a'i llofnododd yn drigolion Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro. Mae'r ddadl yn lleol wedi bod yn rhwystredig wrth i alwadau am welliannau i ddiogelwch syrthio ar glustiau byddar ers degawd. Mae'r ddadl honno bellach wedi troi at oleuadau traffig neu gylchfan. Rwy'n llawer hapusach ein bod yn trafod beth yw'r datrysiad yn hytrach nag ymbil am unrhyw ddatrysiad, oherwydd mae teitl gwreiddiol y ddeiseb yn galw am gyflwyno mesurau diogelwch cynhwysfawr.
Ers ei chreu, mae'r gyffordd hon wedi bod yn beryglus. Mae gormod o fywydau wedi eu colli, gormod o fywydau wedi cael eu newid am byth, gormod o ddamweiniau y bu ond y dim iddynt ddigwydd wedi gadael pobl yn nerfus, gan beri iddynt osgoi'r gyffordd yn gyfan gwbl hyd yn oed. Rwyf am orffen drwy ddiolch, unwaith eto, i bawb a roddodd amser i lofnodi'r ddeiseb hon, i bawb sydd wedi ymgyrchu'n ddi-baid am welliannau i ddiogelwch. Rwy'n gobeithio bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi clywed ein galwadau heddiw. Diolch, Lywydd.
Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn am y cyfle i gyfrannu i’r ddadl hon, a dwi eisiau diolch i’r Pwyllgor Deisebau yn ogystal â’r gymuned leol, wrth gwrs, am hyrwyddo’r ddeiseb hon. Mae’r nifer sylweddol sydd wedi arwyddo yn destament i’r gofid mawr sydd yn yr ardal am y gyffordd beryglus hon, ac, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni'n cymryd y cyfle i gofio am yr holl fywydau sydd wedi cael eu colli yn y lleoliad hwnnw a'r bywydau sydd wedi cael eu trawsnewid hefyd oherwydd damweiniau difrifol. Mae nifer o etholwyr wedi cysylltu gyda fi dros y flwyddyn neu ddwy ddiwethaf yn nodi'r pryderon sydd gyda nhw. Ac mae nifer, gan gynnwys rhai oedrannus, yn gwrthod erbyn hyn defnyddio’r gyffordd o gwbl oherwydd y perygl.
Dwi wedi codi’r mater gyda’r Dirprwy Weinidog yn barod ac yn croesawu’r sylw bod Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi ymateb i’r pryderon ac fel rŷn ni wedi clywed yn barod, mae yna fwriad i osod goleuadau traffig yn y man yna, sydd yn gam i'r cyfeiriad cywir.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate, and I'd like to thank the Petitions Committee as well as the local community, of course, for promoting this petition. The significant number who have signed the petition is a testament to the great concern in the area about this dangerous junction, and, of course, we take the opportunity to remember all the lives that have been lost in that location and the lives that have been transformed as well, because of these very serious accidents. A number of constituents have contacted me over the last couple of years noting their concerns. And a number of people, including elderly people, are refusing to use the junction at all because of the danger.
I have raised the issue with the Deputy Minister already and I welcome the attention that the Welsh Government has already given to these concerns and as we've heard already, there is an intention to install traffic lights in that area, which is a step in the right direction.
I welcome the petition's calls in particular to introduce safety measures at this particular junction at Nash. And, as I mentioned, traffic lights are a step in the right direction, but I believe that we should support the community's calls for a consideration to building a roundabout at that point, as is already the case in many locations along the A477 and A40. I'd also like to urge the Government to consider more appropriate steps to raise awareness of motorcyclists, who also travel on this busy section of the trunk road.
As many have mentioned already, it is Road Safety Week, and I'd like to stress the need for the Welsh Government to look at the Nash junction as part of a wider package of measures to tackle road safety on trunk roads and junctions across south-west Wales.
Some facts: in Pembrokeshire and neighbouring Carmarthenshire, the number of lives that are sadly lost or transformed as a result of road accidents remains alarmingly high. Last year alone, across Pembrokeshire, Dyfed-Powys Police recorded 231 accidents, with 99 people either killed or seriously injured. As Sam Kurtz mentioned earlier on, the A477 and the nearby A40 are vital transport arteries for passengers and freight to and from Ireland, the Milford Haven energy cluster, military machinery, as well as the huge surge in visitor numbers during the holiday period. So, with this increased activity, accidents inevitably follow, and only about half-an-hour away from Nash, on the A40 between Carmarthen and St Clears, 359 accidents occurred between 2010 and 2019, again resulting in deaths and life-changing injuries.
Now, I know the roads review, carried out by the Welsh Government recently, considered changing the speed limit as one option for tackling the problem, but, surely, we need to look at more far-reaching solutions, given the danger posed by these junctions.
Rwy'n croesawu galwadau’r ddeiseb yn enwedig i gyflwyno mesurau diogelwch ar y gyffordd benodol hon yn Nash. Ac fel y soniais, mae goleuadau traffig yn gam i'r cyfeiriad cywir, ond rwy'n credu y dylem gefnogi galwadau'r gymuned am ystyriaeth i adeiladu cylchfan yn y fan honno, fel sydd eisoes i'w weld mewn llawer o leoliadau ar hyd yr A477 a'r A40. Hoffwn hefyd annog y Llywodraeth i ystyried camau mwy priodol i godi ymwybyddiaeth o feicwyr modur, sydd hefyd yn teithio ar y rhan brysur hon o’r gefnffordd.
Fel y mae llawer wedi sôn eisoes, mae’n Wythnos Diogelwch ar y Ffyrdd, a hoffwn bwysleisio’r angen i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych ar gyffordd Nash fel rhan o becyn ehangach o fesurau i fynd i’r afael â diogelwch ar gefnffyrdd a chyffyrdd ar draws de-orllewin Cymru.
Rhai ffeithiau: yn sir Benfro a sir Gaerfyrddin gerllaw, mae nifer y bywydau sy’n cael eu colli neu eu trawsnewid o ganlyniad i ddamweiniau ar y ffyrdd yn parhau i fod yn frawychus o uchel. Y llynedd yn unig, ar draws sir Benfro, cofnododd Heddlu Dyfed-Powys 231 o ddamweiniau, gyda 99 o bobl naill ai wedi'u lladd neu eu hanafu’n ddifrifol. Fel y soniodd Sam Kurtz yn gynharach, mae’r A477 a’r A40 gerllaw yn rhydwelïau trafnidiaeth hanfodol i deithwyr a nwyddau i ac o Iwerddon, clwstwr ynni Aberdaugleddau, peiriannau milwrol, yn ogystal â’r ymchwydd enfawr yn nifer yr ymwelwyr yn ystod cyfnod y gwyliau. Felly, gyda’r cynnydd hwn mewn gweithgarwch, mae’n anochel fod damweiniau’n dilyn, a dim ond oddeutu hanner awr o Nash, ar yr A40 rhwng Caerfyrddin a Sanclêr, digwyddodd 359 o ddamweiniau rhwng 2010 a 2019, gan arwain eto at farwolaethau ac anafiadau sydd wedi trawsnewid bywydau.
Nawr, gwn fod yr adolygiad ffyrdd, a gynhaliwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ddiweddar, wedi ystyried newid y terfyn cyflymder fel un opsiwn ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â'r broblem, ond mae angen inni edrych ar atebion mwy pellgyrhaeddol, does bosibl, o ystyried y perygl a achosir gan y cyffyrdd hyn.
Mae effeithlonrwydd a diogelwch y cefnffyrdd hyn o bwys creiddiol i gymunedau ac economi’r de-orllewin, a gydag ymgynghori yn parhau am ysbyty newydd o bosibl yng ngorllewin sir Gaerfyrddin, yn ogystal â’r cyhoeddiad diweddar am borthladd rhydd yn sir Benfro, mae hi’n hanfodol bod gan y gymuned leol a busnesau hyder y bydd yr isadeiledd hyn mor ddiogel â phosibl.
Rwyf felly’n croesawu’r ddeiseb hon, ac yn llwyr gefnogol i'r hyn sy'n cael ei alw amdano. Ac ar ran Plaid Cymru, hoffwn i annog y Llywodraeth i ystyried y gofynion hyn, yn ogystal â’r problemau parhaus ar gefnffyrdd de-orllewin Cymru yn gyffredinol. Diolch yn fawr.
The efficiency and safety of these trunk roads is of major importance to the communities and the economy of the south-west, and with consultation continuing on a new hospital possibly in the west of Carmarthenshire, as well as the recent announcement of a free port for Pembrokeshire, it is essential that the local community and businesses have confidence that this infrastructure will be as safe as possible.
I therefore welcome this petition, and I fully support its demands. And on behalf of Plaid Cymru, I would like to encourage the Government to consider these demands, as well as the ongoing problems on the trunk roads of south-west Wales generally. Thank you.
I want to actually thank all the petitioners that have worked so hard here, and my colleagues, who have also worked hard, to try and exact some change on what is a notoriously, sadly notoriously, recognised black spot. Like those who have said before me, lives have been lost, and lives have been tragically changed. We do need some clarity on a few things, really. What are the traffic signals? Are they traffic lights, as Sam Kurtz has said, or are they beacons? And we need, then, of course, as has been promised, to review the effectiveness of that solution. But a solution must come, and it must come pretty quickly.
Of course, tourism adds to the danger; like others here, I live in Pembrokeshire. And all too often, people change direction at the last minute—I see it all the time. And as a local, I allow for it, because I virtually know where people might change their minds. If they don't know the roads, tourists, and this is quite a fast road, the fact, then, that they make a different decision, sometimes at the last minute, only adds to the danger of these sorts of junctions. And of course we all know that, in the summer, the population of Pembrokeshire doubles, so it also increases the likelihood of things going wrong.
As has been mentioned, it is a road that leads to the ports. And with a port development very much high on the agenda at the moment, which will produce more heavy goods wagons, more potential ferry traffic as well, there is a real, real need to get this right. And I support all those calls to do just that. I also agree that we must listen to the community, in terms of what it is they want. And what they need, what everybody wants to see initially, is something being done—something to slow traffic down, to stop traffic, but to make this safer, and then to move pretty quickly into reviewing the effectiveness of perhaps a roundabout. There are, as you say, several roundabouts servicing very many holiday destinations along that road; I know because I've been to many of them on a regular basis.
So, I commend the people who've worked hard to get to this point, and I support them in what they've done.
Hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl ddeisebwyr sydd wedi gweithio mor galed yma, a fy nghyd-Aelodau, sydd hefyd wedi gweithio'n galed, i geisio sicrhau newid ar ran o'r ffordd sy'n enwog, yn anffodus, am fod yn fan gwael cydnabyddedig. Fel y rheini a'i dywedodd o'm blaen, mae bywydau wedi'u colli, a bywydau wedi'u newid yn drasig. Mae arnom angen eglurder ar rai pethau. Beth yw'r arwyddion traffig? Ai goleuadau traffig ydynt, fel y dywedodd Sam Kurtz, neu ai goleuadau croesi ydynt? Ac felly, wrth gwrs, fel yr addawyd, mae angen adolygu effeithiolrwydd yr ateb hwnnw. Ond mae'n rhaid cael ateb, ac mae'n rhaid iddo ddod yn go gyflym.
Wrth gwrs, mae twristiaeth yn ychwanegu at y perygl; fel eraill yma, rwy'n byw yn sir Benfro. Ac yn rhy aml o lawer, mae pobl yn newid cyfeiriad ar y funud olaf—rwy'n ei weld drwy'r amser. Ac fel rhywun lleol, rwy'n caniatáu ar gyfer hynny, gan fy mod yn gwybod, bron iawn, lle gallai pobl newid eu meddyliau. Os nad ydynt yn adnabod y ffyrdd, twristiaid, ac mae hon yn ffordd eithaf cyflym, nid yw’r ffaith, felly, eu bod yn gwneud penderfyniad gwahanol, weithiau ar y funud olaf, ond yn ychwanegu at berygl y mathau hyn o gyffyrdd. Ac wrth gwrs, mae pob un ohonom yn gwybod, yn ystod yr haf, fod poblogaeth sir Benfro yn dyblu, felly mae hynny hefyd yn cynyddu’r tebygolrwydd y bydd pethau’n mynd o chwith.
Fel y crybwyllwyd, mae’n ffordd sy’n arwain at y porthladdoedd. A chyda datblygiad porthladd yn uchel iawn ar yr agenda ar hyn o bryd, gan arwain at fwy o gerbydau nwyddau trwm, mwy o draffig fferi posibl hefyd, mae gwir angen sicrhau bod hyn yn iawn. Ac rwy'n cefnogi'r holl alwadau i wneud yn union hynny. Cytunaf hefyd fod yn rhaid inni wrando ar y gymuned, ynghylch yr hyn yr hoffent ei weld. A'r hyn sydd ei angen arnynt, yr hyn y mae pawb am ei weld i ddechrau, yw rhywbeth yn cael ei wneud—rhywbeth i arafu traffig, i stopio traffig, ond i wneud hyn yn fwy diogel, ac yna, symud yn go gyflym at adolygiad o effeithiolrwydd cylchfan, efallai. Fel y dywedwch, mae sawl cylchfan yn gwasanaethu llawer iawn o gyrchfannau gwyliau ar hyd y ffordd honno; rwy'n gwybod am fy mod wedi bod yn mynd i lawer ohonynt yn rheolaidd.
Felly, rwy'n cymeradwyo'r bobl sydd wedi gweithio'n galed i gyrraedd y pwynt hwn, ac rwy'n eu cefnogi yn yr hyn y maent wedi'i wneud.
I'm pleased to be able to take part in this debate this afternoon. I just want to add my voice to those who have campaigned tirelessly for comprehensive safety measures at the A477 Fingerpost junction, and I thank the Petitions Committee for their work on this important issue, and indeed to the organiser of the petition, and to everyone who have actually signed this petition.
Now, previous speakers have already referred to the very sad circumstances surrounding the origin of this petition, and I know all Members share a genuine ambition to see this stretch of road made safer for everyone. Some of you will have also seen the Motorcycle Action Group's video, which also shows just how dangerous the junction is. The video shows vehicles pulling out of the junction and waiting across the actual carriageway, which then forces the oncoming traffic to slow down or stop, and it also showed long queues of traffic waiting on the A4075 approach and cars in the central waiting area. Therefore, it's vital that a permanent solution is found to make the junction as safe as possible.
Now, the issue has generated a huge amount of support from people across Pembrokeshire. As the committee Chair said, many of the people who signed this petition are from my constituency, as well as my colleague Sam Kurtz's, which just goes to show the importance of this issue to people living right across the county. And the wording of the petition itself is very clear—'Enough is enough.' The junction continues to remain a danger to motorists until permanent safety measures are put in place, and I cannot stress that enough. It's only by installing more permanent, long-term safety measures at the Fingerpost junction that we can attempt to stop these fatalities happening in the future.
Now, I don't doubt that the Welsh Government shares the same goal as the petitioners in making this road as safe as possible, and I know in the correspondence that the Deputy Minister has sent to the Petitions Committee that he's explained some of the actions that the Government is taking. As has already been said, signing, road markings and possible minor junction layout changes for enhanced visibility have been implemented in the short term, as well as the introduction of u-turn prohibitions at the junction. Indeed, the restriction of u-turns on the road, in particular, will undoubtedly help to reduce the likelihood of collisions and traffic disruptions.
Whilst all of these are very welcome improvements that will hopefully go some way to improving the situation, I do share the petitioner's view, and the view of everyone who has taken part in this debate this afternoon, that a roundabout would be a much more effective solution that would certainly make the road permanently safer for motorists. At the very least, the Welsh Government must liaise with the local community to find a solution that works for the communities that actually use this stretch of road. Therefore, I do hope the Welsh Government will continue to engage with the local community and deliver a more permanent safety measure in the future.
The Deputy Minister has indicated that the Welsh Government and the South Wales Trunk Road Agent will assess the suitability and enforcement requirements of a speed restriction on this section, and provide a business case for the introduction of traffic signals. Therefore, perhaps the Minister, in responding to this debate this afternoon, will provide us with some timescales as to when this work will now take place.
So, in closing, Llywydd, can I thank the petitioners for their hard work in raising awareness of this important matter and for bringing this matter to the Senedd's attention? And can I also thank the committee for their consideration of this petition, and the efforts that they have gone to to better understand the situation and help find ways to make this junction safer for motorists in the future? Diolch.
Rwy’n falch o allu cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma. Hoffwn ychwanegu fy llais at y rheini sydd wedi ymgyrchu’n ddiflino dros fesurau diogelwch cynhwysfawr ar gyffordd Mynegbost yr A477, a diolch i’r Pwyllgor Deisebau am eu gwaith ar y mater pwysig hwn, ac yn wir, i drefnydd y ddeiseb, ac i bawb sydd wedi llofnodi'r ddeiseb hon.
Nawr, mae siaradwyr blaenorol eisoes wedi cyfeirio at yr amgylchiadau trist iawn a arweiniodd at y ddeiseb hon, a gwn fod pob Aelod yn rhannu uchelgais gwirioneddol i sicrhau bod y rhan hon o'r ffordd yn cael ei gwneud yn fwy diogel i bawb. Bydd rhai ohonoch hefyd wedi gweld fideo'r Grŵp Gweithredu Beiciau Modur, sydd hefyd yn dangos pa mor beryglus yw'r gyffordd. Mae'r fideo'n dangos cerbydau'n tynnu allan o'r gyffordd ac yn aros ar draws y gerbytffordd ei hun, sydd wedyn yn gorfodi'r traffig sy'n dod i mewn i arafu neu stopio, ac roedd hefyd yn dangos ciwiau hir o draffig yn aros ar lôn ddynesu'r A4075 a cheir yn y man aros canolog. Felly, mae'n hanfodol fod ateb parhaol yn cael ei ganfod i wneud y gyffordd mor ddiogel â phosibl.
Nawr, mae’r mater wedi ennyn llawer iawn o gefnogaeth gan bobl ledled sir Benfro. Fel y dywedodd Cadeirydd y pwyllgor, mae llawer o’r bobl a lofnododd y ddeiseb hon yn dod o fy etholaeth i, yn ogystal â fy nghyd-Aelod, Sam Kurtz, sy'n dangos pwysigrwydd y mater i bobl sy’n byw ar draws y sir. Ac mae geiriad y ddeiseb ei hun yn glir iawn—'Digon yw digon.' Mae’r gyffordd yn parhau i fod yn berygl i fodurwyr hyd nes y rhoddir mesurau diogelwch parhaol ar waith, ac ni allaf orbwysleisio hynny. Dim ond drwy osod mesurau diogelwch mwy parhaol, hirdymor ar gyffordd Mynegbost y gallwn geisio atal y marwolaethau hyn rhag digwydd yn y dyfodol.
Nawr, nid wyf yn amau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhannu'r un nod â'r deisebwyr ynghylch gwneud y ffordd hon mor ddiogel â phosibl, a gwn yn yr ohebiaeth y mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi'i hanfon at y Pwyllgor Deisebau ei fod wedi egluro rhai o'r camau gweithredu y mae’r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd. Fel y dywedwyd eisoes, mae arwyddion, marciau ffordd a mân newidiadau posibl i gynllun y gyffordd er mwyn gwella gwelededd wedi'u rhoi ar waith yn y tymor byr, yn ogystal â chyflwyno gwaharddiadau ar wneud troeon pedol ar y gyffordd. Yn wir, bydd cyfyngu ar droeon pedol ar y ffordd, yn enwedig, heb os yn helpu i leihau’r tebygolrwydd o wrthdrawiadau a tharfu ar draffig.
Er bod y rhain oll yn welliannau i’w croesawu’n fawr a fydd, gobeithio, yn mynd rywfaint o’r ffordd at wella’r sefyllfa, rwy’n rhannu barn y deisebydd, a barn pawb sydd wedi cymryd rhan yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma, y byddai cylchfan yn ateb llawer mwy effeithiol a fyddai’n sicr yn gwneud y ffordd yn fwy diogel i fodurwyr yn barhaol. Mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru o leiaf ymgysylltu â’r gymuned leol i ddod o hyd i ateb sy’n gweithio i’r cymunedau sy’n defnyddio’r rhan hon o'r ffordd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ymgysylltu â’r gymuned leol ac yn cyflwyno mesur diogelwch mwy parhaol yn y dyfodol.
Mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi nodi y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru ac Asiant Cefnffyrdd De Cymru yn asesu addasrwydd a gofynion gorfodi cyfyngiad cyflymder ar y rhan hon o'r ffordd, ac yn darparu achos busnes ar gyfer cyflwyno arwyddion traffig. Felly, efallai y gall y Gweinidog, wrth ymateb i’r ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, roi amserlenni i ni o ran pryd y bydd y gwaith hwn yn mynd rhagddo.
Felly, i gloi, Lywydd, a gaf fi ddiolch i'r deisebwyr am eu gwaith caled yn codi ymwybyddiaeth o'r mater pwysig hwn ac am ddod â'r mater i sylw'r Senedd? Ac a gaf fi hefyd ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am eu hystyriaeth o'r ddeiseb hon, a'u hymdrechion i ddeall y sefyllfa'n well a helpu i ddod o hyd i ffyrdd o wneud y gyffordd yn fwy diogel i fodurwyr yn y dyfodol? Diolch.
Y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd nawr i gyfrannu—Julie James.
The Minister for Climate Change to contribute to the debate—Julie James.