Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

04/12/2024

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

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

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

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

Datganiad gan y Llywydd
Statement by the Llywydd

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Wrth inni gychwyn y prynhawn yma, fe wnaf i gychwyn trwy longyfarch ein tîm pêl-droed menywod ni neithiwr wrth iddyn nhw gael buddugoliaeth ardderchog yn Nulyn a sicrhau eu lle, wrth gwrs, yn Euro 2025, y flwyddyn nesaf. Fe fyddwn ni i gyd yna yn eu cefnogi nhw ar hyd y daith hanesyddol yma y maen nhw wedi’i chyflawni yn ystod y cyfnod diweddaraf yma.

A chyn imi symud ymlaen at yr eitem gyntaf o fusnes, dwi hefyd eisiau croesawu y prynhawn yma i'r Cyfarfod Llawn, ac mae'n bleser i wneud hynny, ddirprwyaeth o Senedd Catalunya i'r Senedd heddiw. Croeso i lywydd y Senedd hynny, Josep Rull, ac i bum aelod etholedig arall o Senedd Catalunya sydd yn rhan o’r ddirprwyaeth heddiw.

Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. As we begin our proceedings this afternoon, I will start by congratulating the Wales women's football team as they had an excellent victory in Dublin and secured their place, of course, in Euro 2025, next year. We will all be there supporting them on the historic journey that they have brought about through their achievements recently.

And before I move on to the first item of business, I also want to welcome to Plenary this afternoon, and it's a pleasure to do so, a delegation from the Parliament of Catalunya to the Senedd today. We welcome the president of the Parliament, Josep Rull, and five other elected members of the Catalan Parliament who are part of the delegation.

És un plaer donar la benvinguda al president del Parlament de Catalunya i als membres de la Mesa que l'acompanyen. Per nosaltres és un orgull mantenir aquesta relació de solidaritat entre el Parlament de Gal·les i el Parlament de Catalunya. [Applause.]

És un plaer donar la benvinguda al president del Parlament de Catalunya i als membres de la Mesa que l'acompanyen. Per nosaltres és un orgull mantenir aquesta relació de solidaritat entre el Parlament de Gal·les i el Parlament de Catalunya. [Cymeradwyaeth.]

Catalaneg—tic.

Catalan—tick.

1. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai
1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government

Eitem gyntaf ein busnes ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau, felly, i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Julie Morgan.

The first item of business this afternoon is questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, and the first question is from Julie Morgan.

Y Sector Rhentu Preifat
Private Rental Sector

1. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi tenantiaid yn y sector rhentu preifat? OQ61982

1. What is the Welsh Government doing to support tenants in the private rental sector? OQ61982

The Welsh Government supports tenants in the private rented sector through a range of measures. This includes offering grants for tenants experiencing hardship, delivering legislative changes to improve standards and tenants' rights, and offering increased security and affordability through Leasing Scheme Wales.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi tenantiaid yn y sector rhentu preifat drwy amrywiaeth o fesurau. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cynnig grantiau i denantiaid sy'n wynebu caledi, cyflawni newidiadau deddfwriaethol i wella safonau a hawliau tenantiaid, a chynnig mwy o sicrwydd a fforddiadwyedd drwy Gynllun Lesio Cymru.

Diolch am yr ateb.

Thank you for that response.

Clause 2 of the Renters' Rights Bill, currently before the UK Parliament, abolishes shorthold tenancies and ends no-fault evictions in England. Information from Shelter Cymru shows that no-fault evictions are still frequently happening in Wales, albeit with a six-month notice needed and the landlord having to ensure that certain conditions are in place. When no-fault evictions were being originally discussed in Wales, there was concern that if they were scrapped here, landlords would migrate to England. Has the Minister been able to make any analysis of the interaction between the law as it will be in England and as it is now in Wales?

Mae Cymal 2 yn y Bil Hawliau Rhentwyr, sydd gerbron Senedd y DU ar hyn o bryd, yn diddymu tenantiaethau byrddaliadol ac yn gwahardd troi allan heb fai yn Lloegr. Mae gwybodaeth gan Shelter Cymru yn dangos bod troi allan heb fai yn dal i ddigwydd yn aml yng Nghymru, er bod angen rhybudd o chwe mis a bod yn rhaid i'r landlord sicrhau bod amodau penodol wedi'u bodloni. Pan oedd troi allan heb fai yn cael ei drafod yng Nghymru gyntaf, roedd yna bryder, pe bai'n cael ei wahardd yma, y byddai landlordiaid yn mudo i Loegr. A yw’r Gweinidog wedi gallu gwneud unrhyw ddadansoddiad o’r rhyngweithio rhwng y gyfraith fel y bydd yn Lloegr ac fel y mae yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd?

Diolch yn fawr. Thank you for the question, Julie. As the provisions in the Renters' Rights Bill are subject to amendments as the Bill passes through the UK Parliament, it would be premature to undertake an analysis of the interaction of the law between England and Wales until those final stages have concluded. However, at present, the Bill sets out certain grounds available to a landlord who wishes to regain possession of a property. The period of notice will vary dependent on the grounds used—from four months to as little as two weeks. 

As I previously said, I think we've got the right approach here in Wales, as, in all systems, landlords will still be able to serve notice in circumstances where the tenant is not at fault. We've focused on extended notice periods to enable more time for tenants to plan. And I think, within that, that is what we know that tenants want in terms of what matters to them, which is having the time to plan, and I think we've got that right here in Wales.

Diolch am y cwestiwn, Julie. Gan fod y darpariaethau yn y Bil Hawliau Rhentwyr yn destun gwelliannau wrth i’r Bil fynd drwy Senedd y DU, byddai'n gynamserol cynnal dadansoddiad o’r rhyngweithio rhwng y gyfraith yng Nghymru a Lloegr hyd nes y bydd y cyfnodau olaf hynny wedi dod i ben. Fodd bynnag, ar hyn o bryd, mae’r Bil yn nodi seiliau penodol sydd ar gael i landlord sy’n dymuno adennill meddiant o eiddo. Bydd y cyfnod rhybudd yn amrywio yn dibynnu ar y seiliau a ddefnyddir—o bedwar mis i gyn lleied â phythefnos.

Fel rwyf wedi'i ddweud o'r blaen, credaf fod gennym y dull gweithredu cywir yma yng Nghymru, oherwydd, ym mhob system, bydd landlordiaid yn dal i allu cyflwyno hysbysiad mewn amgylchiadau lle nad yw’r tenant ar fai. Rydym wedi canolbwyntio ar gyfnodau rhybudd estynedig i alluogi mwy o amser i denantiaid gynllunio. Ac o fewn hynny, dyna y gwyddom fod tenantiaid am ei weld o ran yr hyn sy'n bwysig iddynt, sef cael amser i gynllunio, a chredaf fod hynny'n iawn gennym ni yma yng Nghymru.

I'm grateful to the Member for raising this important question in the Chamber today, because, of course, that security of tenancy is really important for tenants up and down Wales. But time and time again, surveys show that the greatest security that people desire is the ability to own their own home. That's the way we can ensure that people have the security of calling a place their home—by having their own home that they can own. So, I wonder, Cabinet Secretary, whether you could outline your plans to ensure that more people in Wales are able to own their own home, seeing houses being built so that people have the ability to do that sooner rather than later.

Rwy’n ddiolchgar i’r Aelod am godi’r cwestiwn pwysig hwn yn y Siambr heddiw, oherwydd wrth gwrs, mae sicrwydd tenantiaeth yn wirioneddol bwysig i denantiaid ledled Cymru. Ond dro ar ôl tro, mae arolygon yn dangos mai'r sicrwydd mwyaf y mae pobl yn dymuno ei gael yw'r gallu i fod yn berchen ar eu cartref eu hunain. Dyna'r ffordd y gallwn sicrhau bod gan bobl y sicrwydd o alw rhywle'n gartref—drwy gael eu cartref eu hunain y gallant fod yn berchen arno. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi amlinellu eich cynlluniau i sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yng Nghymru yn gallu bod yn berchen ar eu cartref eu hunain, gan sicrhau bod tai'n cael eu hadeiladu fel bod pobl yn gallu gwneud hynny'n gynt yn lle'n hwyrach.

Thank you for the question, Sam. I think we have a strong focus on social housing here in Wales, and we're obviously working hard towards that. And we also have—I know that it often comes up in the Chamber—co-operative housing, and issues such as that. But, absolutely, it's important that we're also building houses here in Wales. We know that that's an option and that that's what lots of people do want to have. And we've also tried to encourage that through schemes such as Help to Buy, and, indeed, our other scheme, which is Help to Stay, when people have difficulties with their mortgage payments. So, we've got two schemes there to encourage that. But, certainly, it's something that I'm looking at, and I look forward to meeting developers here in Wales as well in due course.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Sam. Credaf fod gennym ffocws cryf ar dai cymdeithasol yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym yn amlwg yn gweithio'n galed tuag at hynny. Ac mae gennym—gwn ei fod yn codi'n aml yn y Siambr—dai cydweithredol hefyd, a phethau o'r fath. Ond yn sicr, mae'n bwysig ein bod hefyd yn adeiladu tai yma yng Nghymru. Gwyddom fod hynny'n opsiwn ac mai dyna y mae llawer o bobl yn dymuno ei weld. Ac rydym hefyd wedi ceisio annog hynny drwy gynlluniau fel Cymorth i Brynu, ac yn wir, ein cynllun arall, sef Cymorth i Aros, pan fo pobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd talu eu taliadau morgais. Felly, mae gennym ddau gynllun yno i annog hynny. Ond yn sicr, mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n edrych arno, ac edrychaf ymlaen at gyfarfod â datblygwyr yma yng Nghymru hefyd maes o law.

13:35

O'r diwedd, fe ddaeth y Papur Gwyn hirddisgwyliedig ar yr hawl i dŷ digonol. Ond, mae o'n un hynod siomedig a gwan, nid yn unig am nad oes yna gynigion i ddeddfu yng Nghymru i greu hawl sylfaenol i gartref digonol, ond am nad oes yna chwaith gynigion i greu system ar gyfer rhentu fforddiadwy yn y sector breifat, er bod pobl ar incwm isel yng Nghymru yn gwario cyfran fwy o'u cyflog ar rent nag yn unman arall yng ngwledydd y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, wrth i chi ymgynghori ar y Papur Gwyn, a wnewch chi hefyd archwilio rheoli rhentu yn y sector preifat? Mae o'n digwydd ar draws Ewrop, ac ar draws y byd, ac mae o'n digwydd yn y sector tai cymdeithasol yn barod yng Nghymru, wrth gwrs.

Finally, we have seen the arrival of the long-awaited White Paper on the right to adequate housing. But it is an extremely disappointing and weak document, not only because there are no proposals to legislate in Wales to create a basic right to adequate housing, but because there are also no proposals to create a system for affordable renting in the private sector, even though people on low incomes in Wales spend a larger proportion of their pay on rent than anywhere else in the countries of the UK. So, as you consult on the White Paper, will you also examine rent controls in the private sector? It is happening across Europe, and across the world, and it's already happening in the social housing sector in Wales, of course.

Diolch, Siân. Thank you for that question. As you mentioned, we have our White Paper. And I just want to put on record once again that I'm fully supportive of the general principle that everyone should be able to access adequate housing; it's a fundamental human necessity that people are adequately housed. The issue we're dealing with is how we deliver that adequate housing for all, and we need to put those practical steps in place that get us to that goal, which is adequate housing for everyone, and that's something I'm sure we all share here. We need to develop that housing system so that we're in a position where we can ensure that everyone has that access to adequate housing, and that will take time.

In terms of rent control, available evidence on rent control in the private rented sector indicates that such measures would likely be ineffective or may even have negative impacts on affordability. But, as such, and as set out in our White Paper published, we're not currently proposing to take forward national rent control measures.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Siân. Fel y dywedoch chi, mae gennym ein Papur Gwyn. A hoffwn nodi unwaith eto fy mod yn gwbl gefnogol i'r egwyddor gyffredinol y dylai pawb allu cael mynediad at dai digonol; mae'n anghenraid dynol sylfaenol fod gan bobl gartref digonol. Y mater rydym yn ymdrin ag ef yw sut rydym yn darparu’r tai digonol hynny i bawb, ac mae angen inni roi’r camau ymarferol hynny ar waith sy’n ein harwain at y nod hwnnw, sef tai digonol i bawb, ac mae hynny’n rhywbeth rwy’n siŵr fod pob un ohonom yma yn ei rannu. Mae angen inni ddatblygu’r system dai honno fel ein bod mewn sefyllfa lle gallwn sicrhau bod gan bawb fynediad at dai digonol, a bydd hynny’n cymryd amser.

O ran rheoli rhenti, mae'r dystiolaeth sydd ar gael ar reoli rhenti yn y sector rhentu preifat yn dangos y byddai mesurau o'r fath yn debygol o fod yn aneffeithiol neu hyd yn oed yn cael effeithiau negyddol ar fforddiadwyedd. Ond fel y cyfryw, ac fel y nodir yn y Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd gennym, nid ydym yn bwriadu cyflwyno mesurau rheoli rhenti cenedlaethol ar hyn o bryd.

Cabinet Secretary, earlier this year, I asked your predecessor about the issue of pet-friendly rental properties. Half of households have pets, yet just 7 per cent of rentals are advertised as pet friendly, so it's no surprise that it's one of the most common reasons people in Wales are forced to hand their pets over to rescue centres, which are full to, and over, capacity. The emotional toll that this takes on both the owners and the pets is huge, and yet another example of how those who cannot afford to buy their own home are put at a significant disadvantage in life. So, is the Cabinet Secretary willing to work with organisations such as RSPCA Cymru, Dogs Trust, Cats Protection to ensure that the right legislation is in place to support current and prospective pet owners?

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn gynharach eleni, holais eich rhagflaenydd ynglŷn â mater eiddo rhent sy'n croesawu anifeiliaid anwes. Mae gan hanner ein haelwydydd anifeiliaid anwes, ac eto dim ond 7 y cant o eiddo rhent sy'n cael eu hysbysebu fel rhai sy'n croesawu anifeiliaid anwes, felly nid yw'n syndod mai dyma un o'r rhesymau mwyaf cyffredin y mae pobl yng Nghymru yn cael eu gorfodi i roi eu hanifeiliaid anwes i ganolfannau achub, sy'n llawn a thros gapasiti. Mae’r effaith emosiynol y mae hyn yn ei chael ar y perchnogion a’r anifeiliaid anwes yn enfawr, ac yn enghraifft arall eto o sut y mae pobl na allant fforddio prynu eu cartref eu hunain yn cael eu rhoi dan anfantais sylweddol mewn bywyd. Felly, a yw Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn fodlon gweithio gyda sefydliadau fel RSPCA Cymru, Dogs Trust a Cats Protection i sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth briodol ar waith i gefnogi perchnogion a darpar berchnogion anifeiliaid anwes?

Diolch yn fawr, Carolyn. I know this is something that you've raised over many months, and probably years now, around this issue. I know how passionately you feel about this. We've set out our proposals in the White Paper on adequate housing to improve accessibility to the private rented sector for those wishing to rent with a pet. I recently was very pleased to meet with Cats Protection, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA to discuss both the proposals in our White Paper and the provisions in the Renters' Rights Bill regarding pet insurance. I was really pleased to hear from them directly. They've welcomed our proposals in our White Paper, and I've encouraged them to respond to the White Paper consultation, and that will inform our next steps.

Diolch, Carolyn. Gwn fod hyn yn rhywbeth a godwyd gennych dros fisoedd lawer, a blynyddoedd bellach, mwy na thebyg. Gwn pa mor angerddol y teimlwch ynglŷn â hyn. Rydym wedi nodi ein cynigion yn y Papur Gwyn ar dai digonol i wella hygyrchedd i'r sector rhentu preifat i'r rhai sy'n dymuno rhentu gydag anifail anwes. Yn ddiweddar, roeddwn yn falch iawn o gyfarfod â Cats Protection, Dogs Trust a’r RSPCA i drafod y cynigion yn ein Papur Gwyn a’r darpariaethau yn y Bil Hawliau Rhentwyr ynghylch yswiriant anifeiliaid anwes. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o glywed yn uniongyrchol ganddynt. Maent wedi croesawu'r cynigion yn ein Papur Gwyn, ac rwyf wedi eu hannog i ymateb i’r ymgynghoriad ar y Papur Gwyn, a bydd hynny’n llywio ein camau nesaf.

Tai Cydweithredol yn Abertawe
Co-operative Housing in Swansea

2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am adeiladu tai cydweithredol yn Abertawe? OQ61960

2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the building of co-operative housing in Swansea? OQ61960

Diolch, Mike. We are committed to supporting the development of co-operative and community-led development and housing in Wales. Our programme of support, delivered by Cwmpas, is working with community-led housing groups across Wales, including Dream Home Swansea, Swansea Co-Housing and Gŵyr Community Land Trust.

Diolch, Mike. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi datblygiad tai cydweithredol a thai a datblygiadau a arweinir gan y gymuned yng Nghymru. Mae ein rhaglen gymorth, a ddarperir gan Cwmpas, yn gweithio gyda grwpiau tai a arweinir gan y gymuned ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys Dream Home Swansea, Cyd-drigo Abertawe ac Ymddiriedolaeth Tir Cymunedol Gŵyr.

I want to talk about Swansea Co-Housing, whose mission is to provide multigenerational, sustainable and inclusive co-housing. They recognise that people are happier and healthier when they feel a sense of belonging. This, in turn, promotes care for neighbourhoods and active participation by communities in their local environment. They have a community benefit society and a community land trust, with a multiskilled team, whose varied experience encompasses housing projects and businesses, including other co-housing schemes, building design, renovation and project management. This is something I feel very strongly about and am very supportive of. Can the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on further support for projects like this, and will the Cabinet Secretary welcome this project?

Hoffwn sôn am Cyd-drigo Abertawe, a’u cenhadaeth yw darparu cyd-drigfannau amlgenhedlaeth, cynaliadwy a chynhwysol. Maent yn cydnabod bod pobl yn hapusach ac yn iachach pan fydd ganddynt ymdeimlad o berthyn. Mae hyn, yn ei dro, yn hybu gofal am gymdogaethau a chyfranogiad gweithredol gan gymunedau yn eu hamgylchedd lleol. Mae ganddynt gymdeithas budd cymunedol ac ymddiriedolaeth tir cymunedol, gyda thîm amlsgiliau, y mae eu profiad amrywiol yn cwmpasu prosiectau tai a busnesau, gan gynnwys cynlluniau cyd-drigo eraill, dylunio ac adnewyddu adeiladau a rheoli prosiectau. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth rwy’n teimlo’n gryf iawn yn ei gylch ac rwy’n gefnogol iawn iddo. A all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gymorth pellach i brosiectau fel hyn, ac a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet groesawu’r prosiect hwn?

13:40

Diolch yn fawr, Mike, and, again, thank you for raising this issue, which I know is something very close to your heart. Social housing must be our main priority for housing provision in Wales, but we have always been clear that co-operative and community-led housing really does have its part to play in the housing solution in Wales. One of the most effective way to grow community-led housing and co-operative-led housing is to provide support to those who are interested in starting those up. And our support is through Cwmpas, designed to do just that. And I’m pleased that the Communities Creating Homes programme is currently supporting 49 active groups across Wales, with a pipeline to deliver 314 affordable community-led homes. In my initial answer, I touched on some of those projects that are happening in Swansea, Mike, and I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish them every success within that as well.

We continue to support co-operative and community-led housing groups wishing to develop new homes to access our social housing grant programme, where they partner with a registered social landlord. Currently, four groups are working with RSLs to access social housing grants. Community-led housing groups can also access the empty homes grant programme.

Diolch yn fawr, Mike, ac unwaith eto, diolch am godi’r mater hwn, y gwn ei fod yn rhywbeth sy’n agos iawn at eich calon. Mae’n rhaid i dai cymdeithasol fod yn brif flaenoriaeth i ni ar gyfer darpariaeth tai yng Nghymru, ond rydym bob amser wedi dweud yn glir fod gan dai cydweithredol a thai a arweinir gan y gymuned ran bwysig i’w chwarae yn yr ateb tai yng Nghymru. Un o’r ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol o gynyddu'r nifer o brosiectau tai a arweinir gan y gymuned a thai cydweithredol yw darparu cymorth i bobl a chanddynt ddiddordeb mewn sefydlu’r mentrau hynny. Ac rydym yn darparu cymorth drwy Cwmpas, sydd wedi'i gynllunio i wneud yn union hynny. Ac rwy’n falch fod rhaglen Cymunedau'n Creu Cartrefi yn cefnogi 49 o grwpiau gweithredol ledled Cymru ar hyn o bryd, gyda bwriad i ddarparu 314 o gartrefi fforddiadwy a arweinir gan y gymuned. Yn fy ateb cychwynnol, cyfeiriais at rai o’r prosiectau sydd ar y gweill yn Abertawe, Mike, a hoffwn achub ar y cyfle i ddymuno pob llwyddiant iddynt yn hynny o beth.

Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi grwpiau tai cydweithredol a grwpiau tai a arweinir gan y gymuned sy’n dymuno datblygu cartrefi newydd i gael mynediad at ein rhaglen grant tai cymdeithasol, lle maent yn partneru â landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig. Ar hyn o bryd, mae pedwar grŵp yn gweithio gyda landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i gael mynediad at grantiau tai cymdeithasol. Gall grwpiau tai a arweinir gan y gymuned gael mynediad at y rhaglen grant cartrefi gwag yn ogystal.

Can I join with Mike Hedges in praising some of the co-operative housing projects going on in Swansea at the moment? Mike and I, this afternoon, talked about some of them, which are very exciting, including Bon-y-maen in Swansea East, in Mike’s patch. I think co-operative housing is an important part of the housing mix that we need here in Wales, and we should be doing all we can to promote that. I’m curious what you think of this. You mentioned the benefits in your answer to Mike of co-operative housing, but what you didn’t mention was how you to intend to grow this particular sector. You mentioned 49 ongoing projects across Wales, but what we didn’t hear—on the scale, if you like, of the projects going on in Wales, it’s a fairly small proportion—was the plan for growth in this area, so that more community-led projects can take place in different areas across Wales. So, I’d be keen to know how you intend to grow this sector.

A gaf i ymuno â Mike Hedges i ganmol rhai o’r prosiectau tai cydweithredol sydd ar waith yn Abertawe ar hyn o bryd? Y prynhawn yma, siaradodd Mike a minnau am rai ohonynt sy’n gyffrous iawn, gan gynnwys Bôn-y-maen yn Nwyrain Abertawe, yn ardal Mike. Rwy'n credu bod tai cydweithredol yn rhan bwysig o’r cymysgedd o dai sydd ei angen arnom yma yng Nghymru, a dylem wneud popeth a allwn i hyrwyddo hynny. Rwy'n awyddus i wybod beth yw eich barn am hyn. Fe sonioch chi am fanteision tai cydweithredol yn eich ateb i Mike, ond yr hyn na sonioch chi amdano oedd sut y bwriadwch dyfu’r sector penodol hwn. Fe sonioch chi am 49 o brosiectau cyfredol ledled Cymru, ond yr hyn na chlywsom—ar raddfa, os mynnwch, y prosiectau sydd ar waith yng Nghymru, mae'n gyfran eithaf bach—oedd y cynllun ar gyfer twf yn y maes hwn, fel y gellir cynnal mwy o brosiectau a arweinir gan y gymuned mewn gwahanol ardaloedd ledled Cymru. Felly, hoffwn wybod sut y bwriadwch dyfu’r sector hwn.

Diolch, Tom, and thank you for that. And, as I said, there are some really exciting projects that are happening within Swansea and across Wales. We’ve had a long history as the Welsh Government of supporting co-operative housing in Wales—and not just us, as the Government, actually, but the Senedd as a whole. And that support stems back to 2010, with the successful community project that is near my own constituency—it’s in John Griffiths’s constituency—of Loftus Garden, and it’s been really interesting to see how that’s developed over those years.

As I say, one of the best ways and, I think, the strongest ways that we can create that, and encourage that growth, is by developing and supporting those community-led projects to come to fruition. So, that’s why we invest and support Cwmpas in that role, and we encourage people who are interested to contact Cwmpas, because they have been supporting those projects—the ones that I’ve mentioned. For example, I know that they’ve been supporting Dream Home Swansea, which is a really interesting project, and they are in discussion with the local authority, and a potential RSL partner, with young people, and I think they are holding their launch event on 10 December. So, lots of things are happening, and, I think, when we can shine a light on those really successful projects that we see, that will encourage more of that development. But we invest through Cwmpas to support community-led housing.

Diolch am hynny, Tom. Ac fel y dywedais, mae prosiectau gwirioneddol gyffrous ar y gweill yn Abertawe a ledled Cymru. Mae gennym hanes fel Llywodraeth Cymru o gefnogi tai cydweithredol yng Nghymru—ac nid yn unig ni fel y Llywodraeth, ond y Senedd gyfan. Ac mae’r gefnogaeth honno’n dyddio’n ôl i 2010, gyda phrosiect cymunedol llwyddiannus ger fy etholaeth i—mae yn etholaeth John Griffiths—o'r enw Gardd Loftus, ac mae wedi bod yn ddiddorol iawn gweld sut y mae'r prosiect hwnnw wedi datblygu dros y blynyddoedd hynny.

Fel y dywedaf, un o’r ffyrdd gorau, a'r ffyrdd cryfaf y gallwn greu hynny, ac annog y twf hwnnw, yw drwy ddatblygu a chefnogi prosiectau a arweinir gan y gymuned i ddwyn ffrwyth. Felly, dyna pam ein bod yn buddsoddi ac yn cefnogi Cwmpas yn y rôl honno, ac rydym yn annog pobl sydd â diddordeb i gysylltu â Cwmpas, gan eu bod wedi bod yn cefnogi’r prosiectau hynny—y rhai rwyf wedi sôn amdanynt. Er enghraifft, gwn eu bod wedi bod yn cefnogi Dream Home Swansea, sy’n brosiect hynod ddiddorol, ac maent wrthi’n trafod gyda’r awdurdod lleol, a phartner landlord cymdeithasol cofrestredig posibl, gyda phobl ifanc, ac rwy'n credu eu bod yn cynnal eu digwyddiad lansio ar 10 Rhagfyr. Felly, mae llawer o bethau'n digwydd, a phan allwn daflu goleuni ar y prosiectau gwirioneddol lwyddiannus a welwn, bydd hynny'n annog mwy o'r datblygu hwnnw. Ond rydym yn buddsoddi drwy Cwmpas i gefnogi tai a arweinir gan y gymuned.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr heddiw, Darren Millar. 

Questions now from the party spokespeople. The Conservative spokesperson, Darren Millar. 

Diolch, Llywydd. Cabinet Secretary, one of the challenges faced by local government has been the appallingly poor settlements, frankly, that the Welsh Government has given local councils in recent years. And that’s led, of course, to massive, inflation-busting increases in council tax for many ratepayers. What action are you taking, with your Cabinet colleague the Cabinet Minister for finance, to keep council tax down next year?

Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, un o’r heriau a wynebir gan lywodraeth leol yw’r setliadau echrydus o wael, a dweud y gwir, y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’u rhoi i gynghorau lleol yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Ac mae hynny wedi arwain, wrth gwrs, at gynnydd aruthrol sy’n fwy na chwyddiant yn y dreth gyngor i lawer o drethdalwyr. Pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd, gyda’ch cyd-Aelod o'r Cabinet, Gweinidog y Cabinet dros gyllid, i gadw’r dreth gyngor i lawr y flwyddyn nesaf?

13:45

Diolch, Darren. Thank you for that question. I think this is obviously a timely question, when we’re all talking and looking at budgets, not just here in the Senedd, but also, obviously, local government are very firmly focused on that. One of the things that I would say is, since coming in to this post, I’ve been really keen to meet regularly with local government cabinet members, but also leaders and chief executives to local authorities—that’s one-on-one and within groups. I think hearing from them directly is really important. I hear about the difficulties over 14 years of austerity.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Darren. Mae hwn, yn amlwg, yn gwestiwn amserol, a ninnau'n siarad ac yn edrych ar gyllidebau, nid yma yn y Senedd yn unig, mae llywodraeth leol yn canolbwyntio’n agos iawn ar hynny yn amlwg. Un o’r pethau yr hoffwn ddweud yw fy mod wedi bod yn awyddus iawn ers dechrau yn y swydd hon i gyfarfod yn rheolaidd ag aelodau cabinet llywodraeth leol, ond hefyd arweinwyr a phrif weithredwyr awdurdodau lleol—yn bersonol ac mewn grwpiau. Credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn clywed ganddynt yn uniongyrchol. Rwy'n clywed am yr anawsterau dros 14 mlynedd o gyni.

I know you like to blame these things on austerity, but you're responsible for the Welsh Government budget, nobody else. It's up to you how you carve that pie up in terms of the funding that comes to you. And I would remind you that, this year, your settlement was still at record levels. I know you don't like to admit that or say that, but it is the truth. We know that the Welsh Government's budget will increase quite significantly from next year. I'm sure we'd all welcome some additional finance, but what assessment have you made of the impact of the employer national insurance increases on local authority budgets, and what proportion of that will you be able to offset with increases, because you can't give with one hand and take with the other?

Gwn eich bod yn hoffi beio'r pethau hyn ar gyni, ond chi sy'n gyfrifol am gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, neb arall. Chi sydd i benderfynu sut rydych chi'n torri'r gacen o ran y cyllid a ddaw i chi. A hoffwn eich atgoffa, eleni, fod eich setliad chi yn dal i fod ar y lefelau uchaf erioed. Gwn nad ydych yn hoffi cyfaddef hynny na dweud hynny, ond dyna'r gwir. Gwyddom y bydd cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynyddu’n eithaf sylweddol o’r flwyddyn nesaf ymlaen. Rwy’n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn croesawu rhywfaint o gyllid ychwanegol, ond pa asesiad a wnaethoch o effaith y cynnydd yng nghyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ar gyllidebau awdurdodau lleol, a pha gyfran o hynny y byddwch chi'n gallu ei gwrthbwyso â chynnydd, gan na allwch roi ag un llaw a chymryd gyda'r llall?

Thank you. Obviously, we would say that we have had a good settlement from UK Government, with the £1.7 billion over two years, but involved in that are obviously pay issues as well. So, one budget is not going to change everything; we’ve heard the finance Cabinet Secretary say that. But, obviously, I think that our message to local authorities is very much that we hope this is the start of a direction, because we know that, after 14 years of austerity—and I think local authorities know well that, in Wales, we’ve done as much as we can to protect them over that time of austerity—they’ve had to make really difficult decisions because of that. And like I say, I hear—because I talk to them regularly, because here we work in partnership with local government—very much the challenges there.

In terms of national insurance, this is something that is raised with me in my meetings with local authorities, and I can assure you, as I’ve assured the council leaders and chief executives, that the Cabinet Secretary for finance is having close discussions with Treasury officials as well, and officials in Welsh Government, around the national insurance issue, because, obviously, you’ll know it’s a non-devolved tax.

Diolch. Yn amlwg, byddem yn dweud ein bod wedi cael setliad da gan Lywodraeth y DU, gyda’r £1.7 biliwn dros ddwy flynedd, ond mae materion cyflog ynghlwm wrth hynny hefyd, yn amlwg. Felly, nid yw un gyllideb yn mynd i newid popeth; rydym wedi clywed Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid yn dweud hynny. Ond yn amlwg, credaf mai ein neges i awdurdodau lleol yw ein bod yn gobeithio bod hyn yn ddechrau ar gyfeiriad, gan y gwyddom, ar ôl 14 mlynedd o gyni—a chredaf fod awdurdodau lleol yn gwybod yn iawn ein bod ni, yng Nghymru, wedi gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i'w hamddiffyn drwy'r cyfnod hwnnw o gyni—eu bod wedi gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn oherwydd hynny. Ac fel y dywedaf, rwy'n clywed—gan fy mod yn siarad â hwy'n rheolaidd, gan ein bod yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â llywodraeth leol yma—am yr heriau y maent yn eu hwynebu.

Ar yswiriant gwladol, mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n cael ei godi gyda mi yn fy nghyfarfodydd gydag awdurdodau lleol, a gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi, fel rwyf wedi'i roi i arweinwyr y cynghorau a’r prif weithredwyr, fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid yn cael trafodaethau agos â swyddogion y Trysorlys hefyd, a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru, ynghylch y mater yswiriant gwladol, oherwydd yn amlwg, fe fyddwch yn gwybod ei bod yn dreth sydd heb ei datganoli.

Look, Cabinet Secretary, ratepayers across Wales have seen double-digit increases in their council tax in recent years, and yet they’ve seen bin services cut—I mean, the situation in Denbighshire is they’ve seen rubbish piling up like the 1970s winter of discontent, frankly—we’ve seen libraries closing and hours being cut, we’ve seen public conveniences closing their doors, we’ve seen car parking charges increase, we’ve seen local authorities not able to invest in the infrastructure to protect their communities from flooding either. So, something needs to change.

You clearly have no idea how much it’s going to cost local authorities in terms of the increases in employers’ national insurance and haven’t got a solution to be able to put before the Senedd on that. But one mechanism that people in England have to be able to ensure that their local authorities are held to account for the council tax that they pay is that there’s a requirement for local referendums to take place when excessive council tax increases are proposed. Is that something that you will give Welsh voters the opportunity to have when excessive council tax increases are proposed here in Wales in the future? Because, frankly, the public feel cheated at the moment, and it isn’t good enough.

Edrychwch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae trethdalwyr ledled Cymru wedi gweld cynnydd dau ddigid yn eu treth gyngor yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac eto, mae eu gwasanaethau biniau wedi'u torri—yn sir Ddinbych, maent wedi gweld sbwriel yn pentyrru fel y gaeaf o anniddigrwydd yn y 1970au—rydym wedi gweld llyfrgelloedd yn cau ac oriau’n cael eu torri, rydym wedi gweld cyfleusterau cyhoeddus yn cau eu drysau, rydym wedi gweld taliadau parcio ceir yn cynyddu, rydym wedi gweld awdurdodau lleol yn methu buddsoddi yn y seilwaith i ddiogelu eu cymunedau rhag llifogydd ychwaith. Felly, mae angen i rywbeth newid.

Mae’n amlwg nad oes gennych unrhyw syniad faint y bydd yn ei gostio i awdurdodau lleol o ran y cynnydd yng nghyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr ac nad oes gennych ateb i’w roi i'r Senedd ar hynny. Ond un mecanwaith sydd gan bobl yn Lloegr i allu sicrhau bod eu hawdurdodau lleol yn cael eu dwyn i gyfrif am y dreth gyngor y maent yn ei thalu yw ei bod yn ofynnol cynnal refferenda lleol pan gynigir cynnydd gormodol yn y dreth gyngor. A yw hynny’n rhywbeth y byddwch yn rhoi’r cyfle i bleidleiswyr Cymru ei gael pan gynigir cynnydd gormodol yn y dreth gyngor yma yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol? Oherwydd a dweud y gwir, mae'r cyhoedd yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu twyllo ar hyn o bryd, ac nid yw'n ddigon da.

Thank you for that. Each local authority in Wales, as you know, has the freedom to set its own council tax to meet local needs and its priorities, and it’s accountable to the local electorate for the decision it makes. It’s one part of the budget-setting process for each local authority. Council tax referenda don’t apply in Wales. Such arrangements do not allow the degree of discretion that exists in the current system for Wales, which provides local authorities with the maximum flexibility to plan and manage their budgets more effectively. The complexity and cost of holding a referendum places an additional burden on local authority resources, which I believe would further exacerbate the final pressures that are faced by them. I do understand that any increase in council tax is unwelcome for local communities. It's an important source of funding for local authorities to enable them to deliver those services that we absolutely rely on them to do. So, I continue to urge local authorities to consider hard-pressed households when making those decisions.

Diolch am hynny. Fel y gwyddoch, mae pob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru yn rhydd i osod ei dreth gyngor ei hun i ddiwallu anghenion lleol a’i flaenoriaethau, ac mae’n atebol i’r etholwyr lleol am y penderfyniad y mae’n ei wneud. Mae’n rhan o’r broses o osod y gyllideb ar gyfer pob awdurdod lleol. Nid oes gennym refferenda ar y dreth gyngor yng Nghymru. Nid yw trefniadau o’r fath yn caniatáu’r graddau o ddisgresiwn sy’n bodoli yn y system bresennol ar gyfer Cymru, sy’n rhoi’r hyblygrwydd mwyaf posibl i awdurdodau lleol gynllunio a rheoli eu cyllidebau’n fwy effeithiol. Mae cymhlethdod a chost cynnal refferenda yn rhoi baich ychwanegol ar adnoddau awdurdodau lleol, a fyddai, yn fy marn i, yn gwaethygu'r pwysau a wynebir ganddynt yn y pen draw. Rwy’n deall bod unrhyw gynnydd yn y dreth gyngor yn annerbyniol i gymunedau lleol. Mae'n ffynhonnell bwysig o gyllid i awdurdodau lleol i'w galluogi i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau yr ydym yn dibynnu'n llwyr arnynt i'w darparu. Felly, rwy’n parhau i annog awdurdodau lleol i ystyried aelwydydd sydd dan bwysau wrth wneud y penderfyniadau hynny.

13:50

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru nawr—Siân Gwenllian.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson now—Siân Gwenllian.

Mae'r cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol a gyhoeddwyd yng nghyllideb yr hydref yn San Steffan yn fygythiad difrifol i ddyfodol gwasanaethau digartrefedd yng Nghymru y flwyddyn nesaf yma. Mae'r gwasanaethau yma dan bwysau sylweddol yn barod, efo ansicrwydd mawr o gwmpas y grant cymorth tai, yr housing support grant, sy'n gwneud y sefyllfa hyd yn oed yn waeth. Mae Cymorth Cymru a Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru yn amcangyfrif bod 81 y cant o ddarparwyr yn rhedeg ar golled, a heb fwy o gyllid, bydd rhaid i rai ddiddymu eu cytundebau, a fyddai'n gadael rhai o bobl fwyaf bregus ein cymunedau ni heb unrhyw fath o gefnogaeth. Os nad ydy'r Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan yn eithrio'r sector dim elw o'r cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, sut bydd eich Llywodraeth chi yn sicrhau bod gan y darparwyr gyllid digonol?

The increase in national insurance contributions announced in the autumn budget in Westminster is a serious threat to the future of homelessness services in Wales in this next year. These services are under significant pressure already, with great uncertainty around the housing support grant, which makes the situation even worse. Cymorth Cymru and Community Housing Cymru assess that 81 per cent of providers are running at a loss, and without enhanced funding, some will have to cancel their contracts, which will leave some of the most vulnerable people in our communities without any support at all. If the Labour Government in Westminster doesn’t exempt the not-for-profit sector from the increase in national insurance contributions, how will your Government ensure that these providers have adequate funding?

Diolch, Siân, for that question. As I said in my response to Darren Millar, I do understand the concerns, the genuine concerns, of people within the sector around this at the moment. As I said, I can assure you that the Cabinet Secretary for finance and his officials are in discussions with UK colleagues, because, as you'll know, this is something that is very much within their gift. I think one of the things that—. I've been aware of the letter that has come, obviously, informing us of the pressures in terms of housing that you've mentioned. I've seen that myself, and I know the Cabinet Secretary for finance has as well. All I can do is assure you that those discussions are ongoing.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Siân. Fel y dywedais yn fy ymateb i Darren Millar, rwy'n deall pryderon, pryderon gwirioneddol, pobl yn y sector ynghylch hyn ar hyn o bryd. Fel y dywedais, gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid a’i swyddogion yn cael trafodaethau gyda swyddogion cyfatebol ar lefel y DU, oherwydd, fel y byddwch yn gwybod, mae hyn yn rhywbeth sydd yn eu gallu. Credaf mai un o’r pethau sydd—. Yn amlwg, rwy'n ymwybodol o’r llythyr a anfonwyd, yn ein hysbysu o’r pwysau a grybwylloch chi mewn perthynas â thai. Rwyf wedi'i weld fy hun, a gwn fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid wedi'i weld hefyd. Y cyfan y gallaf ei wneud yw rhoi sicrwydd i chi fod y trafodaethau hynny’n parhau.

Yn y pen draw, wrth gwrs, er mwyn taclo digartrefedd, mae'n rhaid adeiladu mwy o dai cymdeithasol er mwyn symud pobl allan o lety dros dro yn gyflym. Mi fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai y Senedd wedi cyhoeddi adroddiad ar gyflenwad tai cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, sy'n cynnwys nifer o argymhellion allweddol ynglŷn â datrys yr argyfwng tai. Un o'r argymhellion hynny ydy'r angen i sefydlu corfforaeth datblygu genedlaethol, gyda'r grymoedd i yrru'r gwaith o adeiladu tai cymdeithasol yn ei flaen. Mae hyn yn bolisi gan Blaid Cymru ers tro, ac mae'r cam cyntaf wedi dechrau drwy sefydlu Unnos drwy'r cytundeb cydweithio, ond mae angen grymuso Unnos a'i droi'n gorfforaeth datblygu efo dannedd i daclo'r argyfwng anferth yma sydd yn y maes tai. A wnewch chi ymrwymo y byddwch chi'n rhoi ystyriaeth fanwl i hyn, a rhoi ateb llawn a manwl i'r argymhelliad gan y pwyllgor tai—argymhelliad sydd wedi cael ei gefnogi gan bob plaid—yn adroddiad y pwyllgor yma?

Ultimately, of course, to tackle homelessness, we have to build more social housing in order to move people out of temporary accommodation quickly. You will be aware that the Senedd’s Local Government and Housing Committee has published a report on the supply of social housing in Wales, which includes a number of key recommendations on resolving the housing crisis. One of those recommendations is the need to establish a development corporation on a national basis with the powers to drive the work of building social housing. This is a Plaid Cymru policy for some time, and the first step was taken by the establishment of Unnos through the co-operation agreement, but we do need to empower Unnos and to turn it into a development corporation with real teeth in order to tackle this huge crisis in housing. Will you commit to giving detailed consideration to this, and will you give a full and detailed response to that committee recommendation—a recommendation that’s been supported by all parties—in the report of that committee?

Diolch, Siân. I'd like to put on record my thanks for the work the committee has done in this area, and I know that the committee has a long-standing interest as well in it. So, thank you for the work that's gone into that report. Obviously, I'll be taking very careful consideration of the recommendations through that, and I can assure you of that, and I will, obviously, be responding accordingly.

Diolch, Siân. Hoffwn ddiolch am y gwaith y mae’r pwyllgor wedi’i wneud yn y maes hwn, a gwn fod gan y pwyllgor ddiddordeb hirsefydlog ynddo hefyd. Felly, diolch am y gwaith a wnaed ar yr adroddiad hwnnw. Yn amlwg, gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y byddaf yn ystyried yr argymhellion yn ofalus iawn, ac y byddaf yn ymateb yn unol â hynny.

Toriadau Ariannol i Awdurdodau Lleol
Funding Cuts to Local Authorities

3. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu awdurdodau lleol yng Ngorllewin De Cymru rhag toriadau ariannol? OQ61994

3. What action is the Welsh Government taking to protect local authorities in South Wales West from funding cuts? OQ61994

Diolch, Altaf. We continue to prioritise front-line public services in our budget decisions. We are committed to continuing to use and maintain a fair and transparent funding formula for the local government settlement, which is agreed with local government.

Diolch, Altaf. Rydym yn parhau i flaenoriaethu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus rheng flaen yn ein penderfyniadau cyllidebol. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i barhau i ddefnyddio a chynnal fformiwla ariannu deg a thryloyw ar gyfer y setliad llywodraeth leol, y cytunir arno gyda llywodraeth leol.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The pressures that local authority budgets will now face as a result of an increase in national insurance contributions, an increase in the national minimum wage, and to say nothing on the impact of an increased demand for social care, will leave councils across my region little choice but to make cuts to other essential services. Unless you can pull a rabbit out of the hat and properly fund local authorities in next week's budget, the reality is that councils will have to make tough choices on top of the decisions they have already taken, such as cuts to teaching staff, the axing of school transport and the closure of a range of public services. Cabinet Secretary, what steps are you taking to ensure that more funding gets to front-line services and that increased salary costs do not impact the essential services of our constituents?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Bydd y pwysau y bydd cyllidebau awdurdodau lleol yn ei wynebu nawr o ganlyniad i'r cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, cynnydd yn yr isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol, heb sôn am effaith y galw cynyddol am ofal cymdeithasol, yn gadael fawr o ddewis i gynghorau ar draws fy rhanbarth ond gwneud toriadau i wasanaethau hanfodol eraill. Oni allwch dynnu cwningen o'r het ac ariannu awdurdodau lleol yn briodol yng nghyllideb yr wythnos nesaf, y gwir amdani yw y bydd yn rhaid i gynghorau wneud dewisiadau anodd ar ben y penderfyniadau y maent eisoes wedi'u gwneud, megis toriadau i staff addysgu, torri cludiant i'r ysgol a chau ystod o wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, pa gamau rydych chi'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod mwy o gyllid yn cyrraedd gwasanaethau rheng flaen ac nad yw cost cyflogau uwch yn effeithio ar wasanaethau hanfodol ein hetholwyr?

13:55

Diolch, Altaf. I very much understand that local authorities have been making difficult choices over the last 14 years in particular through those difficult times of austerity, and so I think this budget will be an opportunity to hopefully reset some of those difficulties that have happened over the last few years. Again, you've raised the issue of national insurance and I do hear that. As I said, Welsh Government officials are not currently in a position to be able to provide a full analysis of the impact of these changes until we're clear on that financial position. But, as I said, I can assure you that I speak with local authority leaders regularly. I've visited nearly all of them since I've come into post and I know that they are having to make those, and have been making, difficult decisions, and I think that they'll be looking very closely at the draft budget that will be coming on 10 December.

Diolch, Altaf. Rwy’n deall yn iawn fod awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn gwneud dewisiadau anodd dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf, yn enwedig drwy'r cyfnod anodd o gyni, ac felly credaf y bydd y gyllideb hon yn gyfle, gobeithio, i unioni rhywfaint o’r anawsterau sydd wedi codi dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf. Unwaith eto, rydych chi wedi codi mater yswiriant gwladol, ac rwy'n clywed hynny. Fel y dywedais, nid yw swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru mewn sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd i allu darparu dadansoddiad llawn o effaith y newidiadau hyn hyd nes ein bod yn deall y sefyllfa ariannol honno'n llawn. Ond fel y dywedais, gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi fy mod yn siarad ag arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol yn rheolaidd. Rwyf wedi ymweld â phob un ohonynt, bron, ers imi ddechrau yn y swydd, a gwn eu bod yn gorfod gwneud ac wedi bod yn gwneud y penderfyniadau anodd hynny, ac rwy'n credu y byddant yn edrych yn fanwl iawn ar y gyllideb ddrafft a ddaw ar 10 Rhagfyr.

Bues i mewn cyfarfod ag arweinwyr Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn ddiweddar. Dros y ddwy flynedd diwethaf maen nhw wedi gorfod gwneud gwerth £45 miliwn o doriadau, ac mae’r cyngor nawr, fel pob un arall ledled Cymru, yn cynllunio ar gyfer rhagor o doriadau dwfn ac anghynaliadwy. Mae eu costau nhw wedi cynyddu dros £20 miliwn ers y llynedd. Maen nhw hefyd yn delio, wrth gwrs, yn ein hardal ni, â’r angen i ddarparu cymorth a chefnogaeth ychwanegol ar gyfer miloedd o drigolion sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio gan golli miloedd o swyddi yn Tata Steel a’r gadwyn gyflenwi, a’r gymuned ehangach.

Mae angen i’r cyngor, wrth gwrs, nawr barhau i allu buddsoddi a defnyddio adnoddau i helpu ailadeiladu’r economi leol. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau bod cyllid penodol ar gael i sicrhau bod Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, ac, efallai, awdurdodau lleol cyfagos sydd hefyd yn cael eu heffeithio, yn cael cymorth ychwanegol a digonol yn y grant refeniw i gwrdd â’r costau ychwanegol penodol yma?

I attended a meeting with leaders of Neath Port Talbot Council recently. Over the past two years they have had to make £45 million-worth of cuts, and the council, like every other one across Wales, is now planning for further deep and unsustainable cuts. Their costs have increased by over £20 million since last year. They are also dealing, of course, in our area, with a need to provide additional assistance and support for thousands of residents who've been impacted by the loss of thousands of jobs at Tata Steel and the supply chain, and the broader community.

Now the council, of course, needs to continue to be able to invest and use resources to help rebuild the local economy. So, will the Welsh Government ensure that specific funding is available to ensure that Neath Port Talbot Council, and, perhaps, neighbouring authorities that are also affected, are given additional and adequate support in the revenue grant to meet these specific additional costs?

Diolch, Sioned. I met with the leader of Neath Port Talbot local authority about a month ago, actually, and he raised some of the challenges and the issues that they're facing there. Just to say as well that local government leaders have discussed their pressures with the Cabinet Secretary for finance, as well as myself, at the finance sub-group last month and at the leaders’ meeting on 11 November. So, there are opportunities to raise some of those issues there. One of the other things that has come up—you've talked about a specific pressure within Neath Port Talbot, but there are also general pressures in terms of social care and education, which I know local authorities have been facing. In terms of the specifics of Neath Port Talbot, I'd be happy to write to you further on that.

Diolch, Sioned. Cyfarfûm ag arweinydd awdurdod lleol Castell-nedd Port Talbot oddeutu mis yn ôl mewn gwirionedd, a chododd rai o'r heriau a'r materion y maent yn eu hwynebu yno. Hoffwn ddweud hefyd fod arweinwyr llywodraeth leol wedi trafod eu pwysau gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid a minnau yn yr is-grŵp cyllid fis diwethaf ac yng nghyfarfod yr arweinwyr ar 11 Tachwedd. Felly, mae cyfleoedd i godi rhai o’r materion hynny yno. Un o'r pethau eraill sydd wedi codi—rydych chi wedi sôn am bwysau penodol yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, ond mae pwysau cyffredinol hefyd y gwn fod awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn ei wynebu o ran gofal cymdeithasol ac addysg. O ran manylion achos Castell-nedd Port Talbot, rwy'n fwy na pharod i ysgrifennu atoch ymhellach ynglŷn â hynny.

Cyllid ar gyfer Cymdeithasau Tai
Funding for Housing Associations

4. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am ddarparu cyllid y Llywodraeth ar gyfer cymdeithasau tai? OQ61981

4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the provision of Government funding for housing associations? OQ61981

Diolch, Mabon. Welsh Government provides significant financial support to registered social landlords through grant and low-cost loans. This funding supports delivery of policy objectives, including increasing housing supply, maintenance and improvement of existing stock, decarbonisation and building safety. This year we will support the sector with estimated funding in excess of £450 million.

Diolch, Mabon. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu cymorth ariannol sylweddol i landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig drwy grantiau a benthyciadau cost isel. Mae’r cyllid hwn yn cefnogi'r gwaith o gyflawni amcanion polisi, gan gynnwys cynyddu’r cyflenwad tai, cynnal a chadw a gwella’r stoc bresennol, datgarboneiddio a diogelwch adeiladau. Eleni, byddwn yn cefnogi'r sector gyda chyllid amcangyfrifedig o fwy na £450 miliwn.

Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am yr ateb yna, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Dŷch chi wedi sôn am y gwaith sydd yn ddisgwyliedig gan y cymdeithasau tai. Wrth gwrs, mae safon ansawdd tai Cymru 2 yn dod i mewn rŵan, sydd yn llawer iawn mwy uchelgeisiol, ac mae'r disgwyliadau i gyrraedd yr ansawdd yna mewn amser llawer llai na beth oedd safon ansawdd tai Cymru 1. Ond ar ben hynny, wrth gwrs, mae yna ofynion i gymdeithasau tai adeiladu mwy o dai cymdeithasol. Mae yna darged o 20,000 yma ar hyn o bryd, sy'n ymddangos fel na fydd yn cael ei gyrraedd, ac mae yna chwyddiant ar ben bob dim, heb sôn am yr hyn ddaru i Siân Gwenllian sôn amdano ynghynt, sef y national insurance contributions, sy'n mynd i roi mwy o bwysau arnyn nhw. Hynny ydy, mae'r gofynion ar y cymdeithasau tai i gyrraedd yr holl uchelgeisiau yma yn fawr, a dydy'r gyllideb sy'n cael ei rhoi iddyn nhw ddim yn ddigon. Felly, beth ydy'r flaenoriaeth iddyn nhw? A ydych chi'n gallu dweud mai'r flaenoriaeth ydy safon ansawdd y tai, neu ai'r flaenoriaeth ddylai fod adeiladu tai, neu a ydym ni'n gallu disgwyl mwy o gyllideb i fynd er mwyn helpu cymdeithasau tai i gyrraedd y nod yn y gyllideb yma sy'n dod wythnos nesaf? Diolch.

Thank you very much for that response, Cabinet Secretary. You've mentioned the work expected of the housing associations. Of course, the Welsh housing quality standard 2 comes into force now, which is far more ambitious, and the expectation to reach that quality standard in a far briefer period is in place now, which wasn’t the case with the first iteration. But in addition to that, of course, there are requirements for housing associations to build more social housing. There is a target of 20,000 here currently, which it appears won't be delivered, and there is inflation on top of all this, never mind what Siân Gwenllian mentioned earlier in relation to the national insurance contributions, which will place even more pressure on them. Now, the requirements on the housing associations to meet all of these ambitions are very great, and the budget provided to them is insufficient. So, what is the priority for them? Can you state that the priority is the quality standard of the housing, or should the priority be the building of housing, or could we expect an enhanced budget to help housing associations to reach their objectives in the upcoming budget next week? Thank you. 

14:00

Diolch, Mabon, and obviously I know there's a keen interest in budgets and everybody's, obviously, looking closely at it. Obviously, you know the draft budget will be published on 10 December. This year alone, we're investing £330 million in the social housing grant programme and over £100 million in our transitional accommodation programme. Across 2023-24 and 2024-25, over £79 million of loan funding has been invested through the registered social landlord development loan scheme. The scheme increases long-term funding options available to RSLs to bring forward those much-needed homes for social rent, to unblock those existing sites and to also fund decarbonisation works.

Our land for housing scheme provides loan funding to RSLs to support housing delivery through securing land supply, and we've invested about £90 million across Wales in loan funding for land acquisition through the scheme. To date, including recycled funding, over £287 million of loans have been made. So, there are lots of things going on in this area and, obviously, we've got a real focus on making sure that we're going towards our target of 20,000 homes.

Diolch, Mabon, ac yn amlwg rwy'n gwybod bod diddordeb brwd mewn cyllidebau ac mae pawb yn edrych yn fanwl arno. Rydych chi'n gwybod y bydd y gyllideb ddrafft yn cael ei chyhoeddi ar 10 Rhagfyr. Eleni yn unig, rydym yn buddsoddi £330 miliwn yn y rhaglen grantiau tai cymdeithasol a thros £100 miliwn yn ein rhaglen llety trosiannol. Ar draws 2023-24 a 2024-25, buddsoddwyd dros £79 miliwn o gyllid benthyciad drwy'r cynllun benthyciadau datblygu i landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig. Mae'r cynllun yn cynyddu'r opsiynau ariannu hirdymor sydd ar gael i landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig gyflwyno cartrefi mawr eu hangen ar gyfer eu gosod ar rent cymdeithasol, i ddadflocio safleoedd presennol ac i ariannu gwaith datgarboneiddio.

Mae ein cynllun tir ar gyfer tai yn darparu cyllid benthyciadau i landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i gefnogi'r ddarpariaeth dai drwy sicrhau cyflenwad tir, ac rydym wedi buddsoddi tua £90 miliwn ledled Cymru mewn cyllid benthyciadau ar gyfer caffael tir drwy'r cynllun. Hyd yma, o gynnwys cyllid wedi'i ailgylchu, mae dros £287 miliwn o fenthyciadau wedi'u gwneud. Felly, mae llawer o bethau'n digwydd yn y maes ac yn amlwg, mae gennym ffocws gwirioneddol ar sicrhau ein bod yn anelu tuag at ein targed o 20,000 o gartrefi.

Sefydlogrwydd Ariannol Awdurdodau Lleol
Financial Stability of Local Authorities

5. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau sefydlogrwydd ariannol awdurdodau lleol? OQ61963

5. How is the Welsh Government ensuring the financial stability of local authorities? OQ61963

Diolch, Mark. There is a robust framework for financial decision making and accountability for local government, including internal and external audit and local scrutiny.

Diolch, Mark. Mae fframwaith cadarn ar gyfer atebolrwydd a gwneud penderfyniadau ariannol gan lywodraeth leol, gan gynnwys archwilio mewnol ac allanol a chraffu lleol.

Well, for more than two decades I've been highlighting the unfair financial impact of the Labour Welsh Government's local government funding formula on local authorities always left near the bottom, including Flintshire. Speaking here nearly five years ago, I noted that Flintshire was again amongst the councils facing the largest cuts, despite Flintshire councillors' Back the Ask campaign, calling for a fair share of funds. Speaking here in March, I raised concern that four north Wales councils were again amongst the six receiving the lowest settlements in Wales. In September, an Audit Wales report concluded that Flintshire council's external financial sustainability was at serious risk. How, therefore, would you respond to the statement last week by Flintshire's cabinet member for transformation and assets that:

'It's a very odd situation when Audit Wales are asking us to look into the medium to long-term when Welsh Government can't even provide us with a three-year estimate of what we are supposed to receive',

and to the statement by the council's chief executive that:

'In Flintshire a consistently low-funded council is a contributory factor in relation to where we are today'?

Wel, ers dros ddau ddegawd rwyf wedi bod yn tynnu sylw at effaith ariannol annheg fformiwla ariannu llywodraeth leol Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru ar awdurdodau lleol sydd bob amser yn cael eu gadael yn agos i'r gwaelod, gan gynnwys sir y Fflint. Wrth siarad yma bron i bum mlynedd yn ôl, nodais fod sir y Fflint eto ymhlith y cynghorau a oedd yn wynebu'r toriadau mwyaf, er gwaethaf ymgyrch Back the Ask gan gynghorwyr sir y Fflint yn galw am gyfran deg o arian. Wrth siarad yma ym mis Mawrth, fe wneuthum nodi pryder fod pedwar cyngor yng ngogledd Cymru unwaith eto ymhlith y chwech a oedd yn cael y setliadau isaf yng Nghymru. Ym mis Medi, daeth adroddiad Archwilio Cymru i'r casgliad fod cynaliadwyedd ariannol allanol cyngor sir y Fflint yn wynebu risg ddifrifol. Felly, sut y byddech chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad yr wythnos diwethaf gan aelod cabinet sir y Fflint dros drawsnewid ac asedau:

'Mae'n sefyllfa od iawn pan fo Archwilio Cymru yn gofyn i ni edrych ar y tymor canolig a'r tymor hir pan na all Llywodraeth Cymru roi amcangyfrif tair blynedd i ni hyd yn oed o'r hyn rydym i fod i'w gael',

ac i'r datganiad gan brif weithredwr y cyngor:

'Yn sir y Fflint, mae cyngor sy'n cael ei ariannu'n isel yn gyson yn ffactor sy'n cyfrannu at ble rydym ni heddiw'?

Diolch, Mark, and I had the pleasure of meeting the leader and chief executive of Flintshire council last week as well to discuss specific issues around budgets, but also more generally around what's happening in Flintshire. In terms of the funding formula, over three quarters of the funding formula distributed through the local government settlement formula relies on data that is updated annually. I've discussed the formula with a number of local authority leaders over recent weeks, and I'm committed to working with local government in partnership with them on this. 

Each year, some authorities experience smaller increases than others due to relative changes in, for example, population and pupil numbers, but it's important to remember that the formula operates on relative change. An authority may be showing reduced population but the important factor for the formula is how those changes compare with other local authorities. But, as I said, this is something that we do with local government, rather than to local government.

Diolch, Mark, a chefais y pleser o gyfarfod ag arweinydd a phrif weithredwr cyngor sir y Fflint yr wythnos diwethaf i drafod materion penodol yn ymwneud â chyllidebau, ond hefyd yn fwy cyffredinol ynghylch yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn sir y Fflint. O ran y fformiwla ariannu, mae dros dri chwarter y fformiwla ariannu a ddosberthir drwy fformiwla setliad llywodraeth leol yn dibynnu ar ddata sy'n cael ei ddiweddaru'n flynyddol. Rwyf wedi trafod y fformiwla gyda nifer o arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda llywodraeth leol mewn partneriaeth â hwy ar hyn. 

Bob blwyddyn, mae rhai awdurdodau'n cael cynnydd llai nag eraill oherwydd newidiadau cymharol yn niferoedd y boblogaeth a disgyblion, er enghraifft, ond mae'n bwysig cofio bod y fformiwla'n gweithredu ar newid cymharol. Efallai fod awdurdod yn dangos llai o boblogaeth ond y ffactor pwysig ar gyfer y fformiwla yw sut y mae'r newidiadau hynny'n cymharu ag awdurdodau lleol eraill. Ond fel y dywedais, mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr ydym yn ei wneud gyda llywodraeth leol, yn hytrach nag i lywodraeth leol.

14:05

Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. I just wanted to draw the question out to look at support for unpaid carers specifically, and the connection with the local government funding as well. I had the privilege of sponsoring an event here in the Senedd held by the Carers Trust, who do incredible work to improve support and services for unpaid carers. Their payments, their support financially, is completely reliant on local authority support. The event there highlighted the important work that so many organisations do to ensure that unpaid carers get the help that they really need. Through direct grants and local support services, the carers support fund has reached over 22,000 unpaid carers since 2022.

So, I just really wanted to ask you, if I may—. There is concern, from the Carers Trust, about the consistency of local authority funding across all of our local authorities—it really is very inconsistent. So, may I ask you what discussions you've had with the Carers Trust, and other organisations, to help local authorities consistently fund support to the Carers Trust and those organisations supporting unpaid carers? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Prynhawn da, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Roeddwn i eisiau ymestyn y cwestiwn i edrych ar gefnogaeth i ofalwyr di-dâl yn benodol, a'r cysylltiad â chyllid llywodraeth leol hefyd. Cefais y fraint o noddi digwyddiad yma yn y Senedd a gynhaliwyd gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr, sy'n gwneud gwaith anhygoel i wella cefnogaeth a gwasanaethau i ofalwyr di-dâl. Mae eu taliadau, eu cefnogaeth ariannol, yn gwbl ddibynnol ar gefnogaeth awdurdodau lleol. Amlygodd y digwyddiad y gwaith pwysig y mae cymaint o sefydliadau'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod gofalwyr di-dâl yn cael yr help sydd ei angen arnynt yn fawr. Drwy grantiau uniongyrchol a gwasanaethau cymorth lleol, mae'r gronfa cymorth i ofalwyr wedi cyrraedd dros 22,000 o ofalwyr di-dâl ers 2022.

Felly, roeddwn i eisiau gofyn i chi, os caf—. Mae'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr yn pryderu am gysondeb cyllid awdurdodau lleol ar draws ein holl awdurdodau lleol—mae'n anghyson iawn mewn gwirionedd. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr, a sefydliadau eraill, i helpu awdurdodau lleol i ariannu cefnogaeth gyson i'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr a'r sefydliadau sy'n cefnogi gofalwyr di-dâl? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Jane, and thank you for raising that important question, because we all know how important unpaid carers are. We all know many unpaid carers, some of us may be unpaid carers, and I think that we hold them in such a high regard, and I think we owe them a huge debt of gratitude for what they do.

I'm very happy to say—. I've been going around all local authorities recently, and one of the issues that comes up regularly is around social care more generally, but I'm very happy to have more discussions specifically on the issue that you raise, and perhaps you could write to me on the points that you've had those discussions with Carers Trust on.

Diolch, Jane, a diolch i chi am godi'r cwestiwn pwysig hwn, oherwydd rydym i gyd yn gwybod pa mor bwysig yw gofalwyr di-dâl. Rydym i gyd yn adnabod llawer o ofalwyr di-dâl, efallai y bydd rhai ohonom yn ofalwyr di-dâl, ac rwy'n credu ein bod yn eu parchu cymaint, ac mae ein diolch iddynt am yr hyn a wnânt yn enfawr.

Rwy'n hapus iawn i ddweud—. Rwyf wedi bod yn mynd o gwmpas pob awdurdod lleol yn ddiweddar, ac un o'r materion sy'n codi'n rheolaidd yw gofal cymdeithasol yn fwy cyffredinol, ond rwy'n hapus iawn i gael mwy o drafodaethau ar y mater a nodwyd gennych yn benodol, ac efallai y gallech chi ysgrifennu ataf ar y pwyntiau y cawsoch drafodaethau gyda'r Ymddiriedolaeth Gofalwyr yn eu cylch.

Briciau Gwenoliaid mewn Adeiladau Tal
Swift Bricks in Tall Buildings

6. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod briciau gwenoliaid yn cael eu gosod ar bob adeilad tal? OQ61996

6. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that swift bricks are installed on all tall buildings? OQ61996

Diolch, Jenny. I am aware of the current Senedd petition and recognise the seriousness of the issue. I've been pleased to see for myself new social housing developments incorporating biodiversity innovation into their design and build, including a great example last week on a visit to Glasdir in Denbighshire.

Diolch, Jenny. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r ddeiseb Senedd bresennol ac yn cydnabod difrifoldeb y mater. Rwyf wedi bod yn falch o weld datblygiadau tai cymdeithasol newydd yn ymgorffori arloesedd bioamrywiaeth wrth gynllunio ac adeiladu, gan gynnwys enghraifft wych yr wythnos diwethaf ar ymweliad â Glasdir yn sir Ddinbych.

Well, excellent to hear that some benefit has arisen from the promise by your predecessor, Julie James, to incorporate swift bricks into innovative housing. It would be useful to know how many swift bricks have been installed as a result of that initiative in the last three years. In any case, this will not be sufficient to tackle the disappearance of the iconic swifts from our summer skies. Of all the species in decline, almost none has been as steep as that for the noble swift and, to date, no recovery on the two-thirds reduction in their numbers in less than 30 years. It's really quite frightening and it means our children and grandchildren will never get to hear their iconic cries. So, what progress can be made on mandating the installation of swift bricks in every new tall building constructed in future, and incentivising the owners of existing tall buildings, e.g. the all-purpose built student accommodation that's mushroomed across Cardiff, to provide house room for swifts to nest to help reverse this terrifying decline?

Wel, mae'n wych clywed bod rhywfaint o fudd wedi codi o'r addewid gan eich rhagflaenydd, Julie James, i ymgorffori briciau gwenoliaid mewn tai arloesol. Byddai'n ddefnyddiol gwybod faint o friciau gwenoliaid sydd wedi'u gosod o ganlyniad i'r fenter honno yn ystod y tair blynedd diwethaf. Beth bynnag, ni fydd hyn yn ddigon i fynd i'r afael â diflaniad y gwenoliaid eiconig o awyr yr haf. O'r holl rywogaethau sy'n dirywio, nid oes nemor un wedi gweld dirywiad mor serth â'r dirywiad yn niferoedd gwenoliaid a hyd yma, ni welwyd unrhyw adferiad yn sgil y gostyngiad o ddwy ran o dair yn eu niferoedd mewn llai na 30 mlynedd. Mae'n eithaf brawychus ac mae'n golygu na fydd ein plant a'n hwyrion byth yn clywed eu trydar eiconig. Felly, pa gynnydd y gellir ei wneud ar orfodaeth i osod briciau gwenoliaid ym mhob adeilad tal newydd a adeiladir yn y dyfodol, a chymell perchnogion adeiladau tal presennol, er enghraifft y darpariaethau llety hollbwrpasol i fyfyrwyr sy'n tyfu fel madarch ledled Caerdydd, i ddarparu lle i wenoliaid nythu i helpu i wrthdroi'r dirywiad brawychus hwn?

Diolch, Jenny, and I recognise the worrying decline in the swift population over the last few decades. I'd just like to take the opportunity to put on record my thanks to Jenny for the work she does as a swift species champion, so thank you for that. I can confirm that swift bricks were included in the developments funded under the innovative housing programme, from the date the previous Minister agreed to do so until that programme came to an end. The Glasdir development in Denbighshire that I visited last week does use swift bricks, bat boxes and hedgehog tunnels. It's a great example of how social landlords are supporting nature. Our social housing new-build standard, the Welsh development quality requirement, requires developments to consider biodiversity, which has meant swift bricks are being used by many social landlords in their new developments. The Welsh development quality requirement is due for review in 2025, and we will consider the mandated use of swift bricks as part of this review.

Diolch, Jenny, ac rwy'n cydnabod y dirywiad pryderus ym mhoblogaeth gwenoliaid dros y degawdau diwethaf. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle i gofnodi fy niolch i Jenny am ei gwaith fel hyrwyddwr rhywogaeth y wennol, felly diolch am hynny. Gallaf gadarnhau bod briciau gwenoliaid wedi'u cynnwys yn y datblygiadau a ariannwyd o dan y rhaglen dai arloesol, o'r dyddiad y cytunodd y Gweinidog blaenorol i wneud hynny nes i'r rhaglen honno ddod i ben. Mae datblygiad Glasdir yn sir Ddinbych yr ymwelais ag ef yr wythnos diwethaf yn defnyddio briciau gwenoliaid, blychau ystlumod a thwneli draenogod. Mae'n enghraifft wych o sut y mae landlordiaid cymdeithasol yn cefnogi natur. Mae ein safon adeiladu tai cymdeithasol newydd, gofynion ansawdd datblygu Cymru, yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ddatblygiadau ystyried bioamrywiaeth, sydd wedi golygu bod briciau gwenoliaid yn cael eu defnyddio gan lawer o landlordiaid cymdeithasol yn eu datblygiadau newydd. Mae disgwyl i ofynion ansawdd datblygu Cymru gael eu hadolygu yn 2025, a byddwn yn ystyried y defnydd gorfodol o friciau gwenoliaid fel rhan o'r adolygiad hwn.

14:10
Cartrefi Gwag yn Aberconwy
Empty Homes in Aberconwy

7. Beth y mae yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ei wneud i leihau nifer y cartrefi gwag yn Aberconwy? OQ61964

7. What is the Cabinet Secretary doing to reduce the number of empty homes in Aberconwy? OQ61964

Diolch, Janet. Increasing the number of homes across the whole of Wales continues to be a priority for this Government. Through our funding programmes, we are working with local authorities to reduce the number of empty properties, including empty homes, across Wales.

Diolch, Janet. Mae cynyddu nifer y cartrefi ar draws Cymru gyfan yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth hon. Drwy ein rhaglenni ariannu, rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i leihau nifer yr eiddo gwag, gan gynnwys cartrefi gwag, ledled Cymru.

Okay, thank you. Well, currently, there are 918 chargeable empty properties in Conwy. This is up from 828 in 2023-24, and up from 686 in 2022-23. They're just not going anywhere, these properties, and my biggest concern is that we have a number of dilapidated empty properties, and some of these are actually in need of enforcement and section 215s to be served, because not only are they empty and not being turned into homes, they're actually causing problems for residents living nearby and businesses. I've got some shocking examples where the local authority will not take any enforcement action. How will you now go forward, working with the local authorities in the new year, to ensure that (a) all empty properties are recorded adequately, and (b) that probate matters, that you work with the UK Government about trying to speed up the probate process, because too often that excuse is used, and also that enforcement is carried out regularly? These could be good homes for all those people who are languishing and lingering on our homeless lists. So, please, Minister, this is long overdue to be done. Thank you.

Iawn, diolch. Wel, ar hyn o bryd, mae 918 eiddo gwag trethadwy yng Nghonwy. Mae hyn i fyny o 828 yn 2023-24, ac i fyny o 686 yn 2022-23. Nid yw'n mynd i unman, yr eiddo hwn, a fy mhryder mwyaf yw bod gennym lawer o eiddo gwag adfeiliedig, ac mae angen gorfodaeth a gorfodi adran 215 ar rai o'r rhain mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd nid yn unig eu bod yn wag ac nad yn cael eu troi'n gartrefi, maent yn achosi problemau i drigolion sy'n byw gerllaw ac i fusnesau. Mae gennyf enghreifftiau brawychus lle nad yw'r awdurdod lleol yn rhoi unrhyw gamau gorfodi ar waith. Sut y byddwch chi'n symud ymlaen, gan weithio gyda'r awdurdodau lleol yn y flwyddyn newydd, i sicrhau (a) fod pob eiddo gwag yn cael ei gofnodi'n ddigonol, a (b) materion profiant, eich bod yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i geisio cyflymu'r broses brofiant, oherwydd yn rhy aml defnyddir hynny fel esgus, a hefyd fod gorfodaeth yn cael ei wneud yn rheolaidd? Gallai'r rhain fod yn gartrefi da i'r holl bobl sydd ar ein rhestri digartrefedd. Felly, Weinidog, mae'n hen bryd gwneud hyn. Diolch.

Diolch, Janet. I absolutely agree with you in terms of how people feel about seeing empty properties and empty land around that people have to walk past when these could be, actually, homes for people. So, I understand the frustration there. But there are things that we are doing here in the Welsh Government. Conwy were awarded £200,000 of placemaking grant in 2024-25 to help secure the acquisition of the land and buildings on the Plas yn Dre site in Llanrwst, which was to unlock the potential of the full site for future commercial use or housing use. We've also got programmes through our social housing grant programme and our transitional accommodation capital funding programme. We've provided over £500 million to support the purchase and refurbishment of 35 empty properties. And from April 2023, local authorities have been able to apply for a council tax premium, as you know, of up to 300 per cent on either or both second homes or long-term empty properties. So, we also have an empty homes grant, which will accelerate our work to bring those empty properties back into use and complement our existing schemes. There have been 942 valid applications for the scheme to date, as well as 143 properties completed. But there is more to do, and I can assure you that this is something that I've raised on those visits that I've had with local authorities across Wales, and I'll continue to do so.

Diolch, Janet. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ynglŷn â sut y mae pobl yn teimlo am weld eiddo gwag a thir gwag o'u cwmpas y mae'n rhaid i bobl gerdded heibio iddo pan allai'r rhain fod yn gartrefi i bobl mewn gwirionedd. Felly, rwy'n deall y rhwystredigaeth. Ond mae yna bethau yr ydym yn eu gwneud yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyfarnwyd £200,000 o grant creu lleoedd i Gonwy yn 2024-25 i helpu i brynu tir ac adeiladau ar safle Plas yn Dre yn Llanrwst, i ddatgloi potensial y safle llawn at ddefnydd masnachol neu dai yn y dyfodol. Mae gennym raglenni hefyd drwy ein rhaglen grant tai cymdeithasol a'n rhaglen ariannu cyfalaf llety trosiannol. Rydym wedi darparu dros £500 miliwn i gefnogi prynu ac adnewyddu 35 eiddo gwag. O fis Ebrill 2023, fel y gwyddoch, mae awdurdodau lleol wedi gallu gwneud cais am bremiwm treth gyngor o hyd at 300 y cant ar naill ai ail gartrefi neu eiddo gwag hirdymor. Mae gennym grant tai gwag hefyd a fydd yn cyflymu ein gwaith i ddod ag eiddo gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd ac i ategu ein cynlluniau presennol. Cafwyd 942 o geisiadau dilys ar gyfer y cynllun hyd yma, a chwblhawyd 143 eiddo. Ond mae mwy i'w wneud, a gallaf eich sicrhau bod hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf wedi'i godi ar ymweliadau ag awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru, a byddaf yn parhau i wneud hynny.

Awdurdodau Lleol yn Cyflawni Gwasanaethau
Local Authorities Delivering Services

8. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i gyflawni gwasanaethau? OQ61990

8. How is the Welsh Government supporting local authorities to deliver services? OQ61990

Diolch, Sam. We continue to prioritise front-line public services in our budget decisions. We are committed to continuing to use and maintain a fair and transparent funding formula for the local government settlement, which is agreed with local government.

Diolch, Sam. Rydym yn parhau i flaenoriaethu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus rheng flaen yn ein penderfyniadau cyllidebol. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i barhau i ddefnyddio a chynnal fformiwla ariannu deg a thryloyw ar gyfer y setliad llywodraeth leol, y cytunwyd arni gyda llywodraeth leol.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. We know that local authorities deliver key services in our communities, but this Government continues to ask local authorities to do more and more. The registration of holiday lets, the collection of the tourism tax, and the inclusion of local authorities in the new 50-day rule, given the influence of social care on our NHS, is asking our local authorities to do more, and those three things will impact rural local authorities more so than urban local authorities. So, what conversations are you having with your Cabinet colleague the Cabinet Secretary for finance to ensure, as you mentioned in your opening reply, that fair funding is being delivered across the 22 local authorities in Wales, and those rural authorities, that I represent in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, are reimbursed accordingly for the services that this Government is asking them to deliver?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Gwyddom fod awdurdodau lleol yn darparu gwasanaethau allweddol yn ein cymunedau, ond mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn parhau i ofyn i awdurdodau lleol wneud mwy a mwy. Mae cofrestru llety gwyliau, casglu'r dreth dwristiaeth, a chynnwys awdurdodau lleol yn y rheol 50 diwrnod newydd, o ystyried dylanwad gofal cymdeithasol ar ein GIG, yn gofyn i'n hawdurdodau lleol wneud mwy, a bydd y tri pheth hynny'n effeithio ar awdurdodau lleol gwledig yn fwy nag awdurdodau lleol trefol. Felly, pa sgyrsiau rydych chi'n eu cael gyda'ch cyd-aelod o'r Cabinet, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, i sicrhau, fel y sonioch chi yn eich ateb agoriadol, fod cyllid teg yn cael ei ddarparu ar draws y 22 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru, a bod yr awdurdodau gwledig a gynrychiolir gennyf yn sir Gaerfyrddin a sir Benfro, yn cael eu had-dalu'n unol â hynny am y gwasanaethau y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn gofyn iddynt eu darparu?

Diolch, Sam. Thank you for that. As I say, I've been going across Wales, speaking to all local authorities, rural and urban, so I do understand the differences that local authorities face. We know that local authorities are managing in-year pressures from inflation and service demand increases and they're also reporting future year pressures. So, we're working closely with the sector to understand these pressures as we prepare for our draft budget. Obviously, I've had many discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for finance, as I'm sure my colleagues have, in the build up to the draft budget, and that draft budget will be published on 10 December.

Diolch am hynny, Sam. Fel y dywedaf, rwyf wedi bod yn mynd ar hyd a lled Cymru, yn siarad â phob awdurdod lleol, gwledig a threfol, felly rwy'n deall y gwahaniaethau y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu hwynebu. Rydym yn gwybod bod awdurdodau lleol yn rheoli pwysau yn ystod y flwyddyn o ganlyniad i chwyddiant a chynnydd yn y galw am wasanaethau ac maent hefyd yn adrodd am bwysau yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Felly, rydym yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r sector i ddeall y pwysau hwn wrth inni baratoi ar gyfer ein cyllideb ddrafft. Yn amlwg, rwyf wedi cael llawer o drafodaethau gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, fel y mae fy nghyd-Aelodau, rwy'n siŵr, yn y cyfnod cyn y gyllideb ddrafft, ac fe gyhoeddir y gyllideb ddrafft honno ar 10 Rhagfyr.

14:15

Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary.

2. Cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg
2. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education

Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch, ac i'w ofyn gan Mark Isherwood.

The next item will be questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education. The first question is to be answered by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, and is to be asked by Mark Isherwood.

Cynyddu'r Set Sgiliau
Increasing the Skill Set

1. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r sector addysg bellach i gynyddu'r set sgiliau yng Nghymru? OQ61962

1. How is the Welsh Government working with the further education sector to increase the skill set in Wales? OQ61962

Medr collaborates with further education through a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the skill sets in Wales. This partnership focuses on developing tailored skills programmes that align with the needs of the local economy, ensuring that our learners are equipped with the relevant skills required by employers.

Mae Medr yn cydweithio ag addysg bellach drwy amrywiaeth o fentrau gyda'r nod o wella'r setiau sgiliau yng Nghymru. Mae'r bartneriaeth hon yn canolbwyntio ar ddatblygu rhaglenni sgiliau wedi'u teilwra sy'n cyd-fynd ag anghenion yr economi leol, gan sicrhau bod gan ein dysgwyr y sgiliau perthnasol sy'n ofynnol gan gyflogwyr.

Last week’s ColegauCymru CollegesWales report, 'The Impact of Apprenticeship Funding Cuts in Wales', found nearly 6,000 fewer apprenticeship starts in Wales this year, with the cost to the economy of £50.3 million impacting the health, social care and construction sectors the most, and disproportionately affecting the most deprived. CollegesWales have also highlighted concern that, although an independent study has found that junior apprenticeship programmes will save the economy £0.75 million per person in preventative spend, in addition to providing numerous additional benefits to learners, roll-out of junior apprenticeships is patchy across Wales, demand is exceeding supply, and their future funding is uncertain. How, therefore, do you respond to the statement made during my recent visit to a further education college group in north Wales that they had to cut 300 apprenticeship starts and 23 out of 35 planned degree apprenticeship starts this year, and the statement by CollegesWales that we need a national strategy for vocational education and training, and dedicated funding for junior apprenticeships?

Canfu adroddiad ColegauCymru yr wythnos diwethaf, 'Effaith Toriadau Cyllid Prentisiaethau yng Nghymru', fod bron i 6,000 yn llai o brentisiaethau yn dechrau yng Nghymru eleni, gyda'r gost i'r economi o £50.3 miliwn yn effeithio fwyaf ar y sectorau iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol ac adeiladu, ac yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar y rhai mwyaf difreintiedig. Er bod astudiaeth annibynnol wedi canfod y bydd rhaglenni prentisiaeth iau yn arbed £0.75 miliwn y pen i'r economi mewn gwariant ataliol, yn ogystal â darparu nifer o fanteision ychwanegol i ddysgwyr, mae ColegauCymru hefyd wedi tynnu sylw at y pryder fod cyflwyno prentisiaethau iau yn digwydd mewn modd anghyson ledled Cymru, mae'r galw'n fwy na'r cyflenwad, ac mae eu cyllid yn y dyfodol yn ansicr. Felly, sut rydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad a wnaed yn ystod fy ymweliad diweddar â grŵp colegau addysg bellach yng ngogledd Cymru fod yn rhaid iddynt dorri 300 o brentisiaethau newydd a 23 o'r 35 o radd-brentisiaethau y cynlluniwyd iddynt ddechrau eleni, a'r datganiad gan Colegau Cymru fod angen strategaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol, a chyllid penodol ar gyfer prentisiaethau iau?

Thank you, Mark, for your supplementary question and for your continued passion in this area. It's an area that is cross-cutting between myself and the Minister for skills, and also the Cabinet Secretary for Education. So, some of the themes that you questioned me about there would sit under the Minister for skills. But if I start by talking broadly about apprenticeships in Wales, since 2020-21, annual funding for apprenticeships in Wales has increased from £128 million to over £143 million this year. So, I hope that that shows that we are fully committed to the role that apprenticeships play within the mix of learning that's offered within the tertiary system, and we are on target to meet that goal of 100,000 apprenticeships during this Senedd term.

I'm particularly interested in the point you raised about junior apprenticeships, because I agree with you that they have got huge value for many of our learners, aged 14 to 16. This is something that I am working closely with the Cabinet Secretary for Education on, and we hope to have something to announce in the not-too-distant future.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Mark, ac am eich angerdd parhaus yn y maes hwn. Mae'n faes a rannaf gyda'r Gweinidog sgiliau, a hefyd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg. Felly, byddai rhai o'r themâu y gwnaethoch fy holi amdanynt yno yn perthyn i bortffolio'r Gweinidog sgiliau. Ond os caf ddechrau drwy siarad yn fras am brentisiaethau yng Nghymru, ers 2020-21, mae cyllid blynyddol ar gyfer prentisiaethau yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu o £128 miliwn i dros £143 miliwn eleni. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny'n dangos ein bod wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i'r rôl y mae prentisiaethau'n ei chwarae yn y cymysgedd dysgu a gynigir o fewn y system drydyddol, ac rydym ar y trywydd iawn i gyrraedd y nod o 100,000 o brentisiaethau yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon.

Mae gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig yn y pwynt a godwyd gennych am brentisiaethau iau, oherwydd rwy'n cytuno â chi eu bod yn werthfawr iawn i lawer o'n dysgwyr rhwng 14 ac 16 oed. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth yr wyf yn gweithio'n agos gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg arno, ac rydym yn gobeithio cael rhywbeth i'w gyhoeddi yn y dyfodol agos.

Addysg Dinasyddiaeth a Gwleidyddol
Citizenship and Political Education

2. Pa newidiadau i addysg dinasyddiaeth a gwleidyddol sydd wedi'u gwneud ers cyflwyno pleidleisiau i bobl 16 oed? OQ61967

2. What changes to citizenship and political education have been made since votes for 16 year-olds were introduced? OQ61967

Citizenship and supporting learners to exercise their democratic rights is a mandatory part of the Curriculum for Wales. We've worked with a range of partners to provide resources and support to schools for learning about citizenship and political education.

Mae dinasyddiaeth a chefnogi dysgwyr i arfer eu hawliau democrataidd yn rhan orfodol o'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru. Rydym wedi gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o bartneriaid i ddarparu adnoddau a chymorth i ysgolion ar gyfer dysgu am ddinasyddiaeth ac addysg wleidyddol.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. A report out last week by the Open University said that the Curriculum for Wales would benefit from a more specific focus on political education and active citizenship, and this is not the first report to conclude that giving people the right to vote is not enough to increase engagement in the political process.

It's been some three years now since the excellent Democracy Box project report spelt out quite starkly how little basic understanding there is. Yvonne Murphy’s work with young people between the ages of 16 and 26 found that 62 per cent either do not understand or need more information on the basics of our UK democracy. As one of the participants put it, 'We can only challenge the current status quo if we understand it.' And the report made the critical point that focusing our political education on the mechanics of how to vote is 

'at best ineffective and, at worst, and rather ironically, may actually be contributing to our record low levels of voter turn-out.'

People want simple information about what political parties stand for, and they want to know about issues, not about processes. And the research concluded that all citizens need year-round information and education. So, Cabinet Secretary, would you take action on their recommendation by raising with the BBC and the Electoral Commission that they have a role to work together to give citizens more confidence to take part in the democratic process?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Dywedodd adroddiad yr wythnos diwethaf gan y Brifysgol Agored y byddai'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru yn elwa o ffocws mwy penodol ar addysg wleidyddol a dinasyddiaeth weithgar, ac nid dyma'r adroddiad cyntaf i ddod i'r casgliad nad yw rhoi'r hawl i bobl bleidleisio yn ddigon i gynyddu ymgysylltiad yn y broses wleidyddol.

Mae oddeutu tair blynedd bellach ers i adroddiad prosiect rhagorol y Blwch Democratiaeth ddangos yn eithaf clir cyn lleied o ddealltwriaeth sylfaenol sydd yna. Canfu gwaith Yvonne Murphy gyda phobl ifanc rhwng 16 a 26 oed fod 62 y cant naill ai ddim yn deall neu angen mwy o wybodaeth am hanfodion ein democratiaeth yn y DU. Fel y dywedodd un o'r cyfranogwyr, 'Ni allwn herio'r status quo presennol heb ein bod yn ei ddeall.' Ac fe wnaeth yr adroddiad y pwynt allweddol fod canolbwyntio ein haddysg wleidyddol ar fecaneg sut i bleidleisio 

'ar y gorau yn aneffeithiol ac ar y gwaethaf, yn eironig, gall fod yn cyfrannu at ein lefelau isel erioed o bleidleiswyr.'

Mae pobl eisiau gwybodaeth syml am yr hyn y mae pleidiau gwleidyddol yn sefyll drosto, ac maent eisiau gwybod am bynciau, nid am brosesau. A daeth yr ymchwil i'r casgliad fod angen gwybodaeth ac addysg drwy gydol y flwyddyn ar bob dinesydd. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi weithredu ar eu hargymhelliad drwy sôn wrth y BBC a'r Comisiwn Etholiadol fod ganddynt rôl i gydweithio er mwyn rhoi mwy o hyder i ddinasyddion gymryd rhan yn y broses ddemocrataidd?

14:20

Can I thank Lee Waters for that supplementary question, which raises some very important issues? And I agree, it shouldn't just be about the mechanics of voting, and we do have a purpose-led curriculum in Wales, and for me that should be about young people understanding why it is important that they exercise their vote at the ballot box. The Curriculum for Wales already includes learning and teaching about politics and citizenship, and that's reflected in statutory guidance, with an expectation that learners up to 16 develop an understanding of how systems of Government in Wales operate and affect people's lives, and how they compare with other systems. We're also currently funding democracy-themed projects in schools and at higher education level, providing learners with an opportunity to create a participatory culture.

There are great examples of this work in action, including in your own constituency, and I'm sure you're aware of the work that Llanelli Town Council has been doing, to produce materials and to run sessions with schools focusing on good citizenship, the role of the mayor in Llanelli, why we vote, and the history of voting. And Aberystwyth students union are also engaging with the UK and foreign national students on the importance of engaging with democratic processes.

I'm aware of the Democracy Box report, and we have done some work with Democracy Box and their materials are used in schools. I haven't seen the Open University report, but I will take a look at it, and although obviously the Electoral Commission has an independent role, we do ask that they do work for us in promoting democracy in schools, and I'm very happy to pick up a discussion with officials about what more could be done in this space.

A gaf i ddiolch i Lee Waters am y cwestiwn atodol hwnnw, sy'n codi rhai materion pwysig iawn? Ac rwy'n cytuno, ni ddylai ymwneud â mecaneg pleidleisio'n unig, ac mae gennym gwricwlwm pwrpasol yng Nghymru, ac i mi, dylai hwnnw ymwneud â phobl ifanc yn deall pam ei bod yn bwysig iddynt arfer eu hawl i bleidlais yn y blwch pleidleisio. Mae'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru eisoes yn cynnwys dysgu ac addysgu am wleidyddiaeth a dinasyddiaeth, ac mae hynny'n cael ei adlewyrchu mewn canllawiau statudol, gyda disgwyliad fod dysgwyr hyd at 16 oed yn datblygu dealltwriaeth o sut y mae systemau Llywodraeth yng Nghymru yn gweithredu ac yn effeithio ar fywydau pobl, a sut y maent yn cymharu â systemau eraill. Ar hyn o bryd rydym hefyd yn ariannu prosiectau ar thema democratiaeth mewn ysgolion ac ar lefel addysg uwch, gan roi cyfle i ddysgwyr greu diwylliant cyfranogol.

Ceir enghreifftiau gwych o'r gwaith hwn, gan gynnwys yn eich etholaeth eich hun, ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn ymwybodol o'r gwaith y mae Cyngor Tref Llanelli wedi bod yn ei wneud, yn cynhyrchu deunyddiau ac yn cynnal sesiynau gydag ysgolion yn canolbwyntio ar ddinasyddiaeth dda, rôl y maer yn Llanelli, pam ein bod yn pleidleisio, a hanes pleidleisio. Ac mae undeb myfyrwyr Aberystwyth hefyd yn ymgysylltu â myfyrwyr y DU a myfyrwyr o wledydd tramor am bwysigrwydd ymgysylltu â phrosesau democrataidd.

Rwy'n ymwybodol o adroddiad y Blwch Democratiaeth, ac rydym wedi gwneud gwaith gyda hwy ac mae eu deunyddiau'n cael eu defnyddio mewn ysgolion. Nid wyf wedi gweld adroddiad y Brifysgol Agored, ond fe edrychaf arno, ac er bod gan y Comisiwn Etholiadol rôl annibynnol yn amlwg, rydym yn gofyn iddynt wneud gwaith i ni ar hyrwyddo democratiaeth mewn ysgolion, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i gael trafodaeth gyda swyddogion ynglŷn â beth arall y gellid ei wneud yn y maes hwn.

Cabinet Secretary, many Members of this Senedd will have engaged with schools through the Politics Project and the digital dialogue programme. I recently enjoyed a fantastic session with pupils in Ysgol Cynfran in Llysfaen in my constituency. I was interrupted by my dog, by the way, Blue the rescue whippet, who is 15 years old today. It's his very happy birthday. But of course, those sessions give the opportunity for those young people to understand better the Senedd, understand what we do in this place and the decisions that we make that impact them, and I was really impressed at the way that they engaged. They asked very sensible questions—some light-hearted questions as well, of course, but sensible questions—on education funding, on climate change, and a whole host of other subjects. What funding is the Welsh Government making available to support those projects on an ongoing basis? These were primary school children, so some time to go before they get to voting age, but clearly the sooner we can engage people, the better.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, bydd llawer o Aelodau'r Senedd hon wedi ymgysylltu ag ysgolion drwy'r Prosiect Gwleidyddiaeth a'r rhaglen deialog ddigidol. Yn ddiweddar, mwynheais sesiwn wych gyda disgyblion Ysgol Cynfran yn Llysfaen yn fy etholaeth. Fe wnaeth fy nghi dorri ar fy nhraws, gyda llaw, Blue y milgi bach achub, sy'n 15 oed heddiw. Mae'n ben-blwydd hapus iawn arno. Ond wrth gwrs, mae'r sesiynau hynny'n rhoi cyfle i'r bobl ifanc ddeall y Senedd yn well, deall yr hyn a wnawn yn y lle hwn a'r penderfyniadau a wnawn sy'n effeithio arnynt, ac roedd y ffordd y gwnaethant gymryd rhan greu argraff fawr arnaf. Fe wnaethant ofyn cwestiynau synhwyrol iawn—rhai cwestiynau ysgafn hefyd, wrth gwrs, ond cwestiynau synhwyrol—ynglŷn ag ariannu addysg, ar newid hinsawdd, a llu o bynciau eraill. Pa gyllid y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ddarparu i gefnogi'r prosiectau ar sail barhaus? Plant ysgol gynradd oedd y rhain, felly peth amser i fynd cyn iddynt gyrraedd oedran pleidleisio, ond yn amlwg, gorau po gynharaf y gallwn ennyn diddordeb pobl.

Thank you, Darren, and I agree with you that the sooner we can engage people the better, and thank you for your positive words about the Politics Project and the digital dialogue programme. I too have taken part in that, in both the constituency, and I'm going to be discussing with learners in north Wales as part of my Cabinet Secretary role. We do support the organisation with £20,000-worth of funding at the moment. You'll be aware that budget discussions are ongoing and so we can't make any commitments today, but I do recognise the importance of this, of engaging young people early. I have to say that whenever I have gone to talk to a school group, I'm just really inspired by how fantastic the young people are, what great values they've got, and it gives me great hope for the future, and we definitely need to do more to channel those opportunities for young people.

Diolch, Darren, ac rwy'n cytuno â chi mai gorau po gyntaf y gallwn ymgysylltu â phobl, a diolch am eich geiriau cadarnhaol am y Prosiect Gwleidyddiaeth a'r rhaglen deialog ddigidol. Rwyf innau hefyd wedi cymryd rhan yn hwnnw, yn yr etholaeth, ac rwy'n mynd i fod yn trafod gyda dysgwyr yng ngogledd Cymru fel rhan o fy rôl Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Rydym yn cefnogi'r sefydliad gyda gwerth £20,000 o gyllid ar hyn o bryd. Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod trafodaethau cyllidebol yn parhau ac felly ni allwn wneud unrhyw ymrwymiadau heddiw, ond rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd hyn, ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc yn gynnar. Pryd bynnag yr af i siarad â grŵp ysgol, rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn cael fy ysbrydoli gan ba mor wych yw'r bobl ifanc, y gwerthoedd gwych sydd ganddynt, ac mae'n rhoi gobaith mawr i mi ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac yn bendant mae angen inni wneud mwy i sianelu'r cyfleoedd hynny i bobl ifanc.

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

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Tom Giffard, i'w ateb gan y Gweinidog Addysg Bellach ac Uwch. Tom Giffard.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Tom Giffard, to be answered by the Minister for Further and Higher Education. Tom Giffard.

Good afternoon, Minister. How much will the UK Government's decision to increase employers' national insurance contributions cost Welsh universities?

Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Faint fydd penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i gynyddu cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr yn ei gostio i brifysgolion Cymru?

I thank Tom Giffard for that opening question. We are still working through the cost of that, but we estimate it to be in the region of £21 million. The announcement that I've made today to raise the tuition fee cap in Wales to £9,535 per student is estimated to just about cover those costs to universities, so I am pleased that I've been able to help out with the financial situation in that regard.

Diolch i Tom Giffard am y cwestiwn agoriadol hwnnw. Rydym yn dal i weithio drwy gost hynny, ond rydym yn amcangyfrif ei fod oddeutu £21 miliwn. Amcangyfrifir bod y cyhoeddiad a wneuthum heddiw i godi'r cap ffioedd dysgu yng Nghymru i £9,535 y myfyriwr yn ddigon i dalu'r costau hynny i brifysgolion, felly rwy'n falch fy mod wedi gallu helpu gyda'r sefyllfa ariannol yn hynny o beth.

14:25

Thank you. Well, what you've done, Minister, is offset the cost of a Labour UK policy by increasing tuition fees for students to pay for it. You're right, that cost was £20 million. Now, before that announcement about employer national insurance, universities estimated that they were running a deficit cumulatively of about £100 million, and yet nothing that has happened so far will address that black hole, that shortfall. You promised not so long ago in this Chamber to look at the UK Government model of, quote, an emergency fund that they're bringing into play, and that Medr would have its own fund to support our institutions here in Wales. You obviously later clarified that that was at a very exploratory stage and that you're still working through what, if any, a potential support mechanism may look like in partnership with Medr and institutions. Has that work developed at all? 

Diolch. Wel, yr hyn rydych chi wedi'i wneud, Weinidog, yw gwrthbwyso cost polisi Llafur yn y DU drwy gynyddu ffioedd dysgu i fyfyrwyr dalu amdano. Rydych chi'n iawn, y gost oedd £20 miliwn. Nawr, cyn y cyhoeddiad am yswiriant gwladol cyflogwyr, roedd prifysgolion yn amcangyfrif bod ganddynt ddiffyg cronnol o tua £100 miliwn, ac eto ni fydd unrhyw beth sydd wedi digwydd hyd yma'n llenwi'r twll du, y diffyg hwnnw. Fe wnaethoch chi addo heb fod mor bell yn ôl yn y Siambr hon y byddech chi'n edrych ar fodel Llywodraeth y DU, ac rwy'n dyfynnu, o gronfa frys y maent yn ei rhoi ar waith, ac y byddai gan Medr ei chronfa ei hun i gefnogi ein sefydliadau yma yng Nghymru. Yn amlwg, fe wnaethoch chi egluro'n ddiweddarach fod hynny ar gam archwiliadol iawn a'ch bod yn dal i weithio drwy'r hyn a allai fod, os o gwbl, yn fecanwaith cymorth posibl mewn partneriaeth â Medr a sefydliadau. A yw'r gwaith wedi datblygu o gwbl? 

Thank you, Tom, for your follow-up question there. I'd just like to pick up on the first part of what you said there, when you looked at my motivations for raising the tuition fee cap. It really is quite a complicated area, and it's an area where I need to balance the needs of our students in Wales with the needs of our universities as well. And obviously, we operate within a UK model, a UK market, and if the tuition fee cap was not raised in Wales, then it would definitely put our Welsh universities at a disadvantage. But the decision that I've taken will not affect the amount of money available to students while they study, nor will it result in graduates repaying more each month. Only those who go on to be the higher earning graduates will likely pay back this increased fee, because we've retained the more progressive plan 2 repayment system for student loans here in Wales. So, I am absolutely committed to supporting a sustainable higher education sector. We want strong institutions here in Wales that are able to deliver on our ambitions for students and research, and for driving economic growth in Wales. 

Then you went on to ask a broader question about the financial sustainability of the higher education sector as a whole. As you know, I am continuing to visit each higher education institution in Wales, and that brings with it many benefits for me in the conversations that I'm able to have with vice-chancellors, with staff and with students about the particular circumstances of those universities. And it is really important that we remember that those universities are autonomous institutions and that 90 per cent of their funding streams come from outside of Welsh Government. Therefore, there is a role for myself and for Medr to assist them in exploring those other funding opportunities, so that they can partake of lots of different opportunities to increase their financial resilience. And the £10 million that I've announced to go to higher education via Medr today is designed to do just that.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn dilynol, Tom. Hoffwn fynd ar ôl rhan gyntaf yr hyn a ddywedoch chi yno, pan edrychoch chi ar fy nghymhellion dros godi'r cap ffioedd dysgu. Mae'n faes eithaf cymhleth mewn gwirionedd, ac mae'n faes lle mae angen i mi gydbwyso anghenion ein myfyrwyr yng Nghymru ag anghenion ein prifysgolion hefyd. Ac yn amlwg, rydym yn gweithredu o fewn model y DU, marchnad y DU, a phe na bai'r cap ffioedd dysgu yn cael ei godi yng Nghymru, byddai'n sicr yn rhoi ein prifysgolion yng Nghymru dan anfantais. Ond ni fydd y penderfyniad a wneuthum yn effeithio ar faint o arian sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr wrth iddynt astudio, ac ni fydd ychwaith yn arwain at raddedigion yn ad-dalu mwy bob mis. Dim ond y rhai sy'n mynd i fod yn raddedigion sy'n ennill cyflogau uwch fydd yn debygol o dalu'r ffi uwch hon yn ôl, oherwydd rydym wedi cadw'r system ad-dalu cynllun 2 fwy blaengar ar gyfer benthyciadau myfyrwyr yma yng Nghymru. Felly, rwyf wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i gefnogi sector addysg uwch cynaliadwy. Rydym eisiau sefydliadau cryf yma yng Nghymru sy'n gallu cyflawni ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer myfyrwyr ac ymchwil, ac ar gyfer sbarduno twf economaidd yng Nghymru. 

Fe aethoch ymlaen wedyn i ofyn cwestiwn mwy cyffredinol am gynaliadwyedd ariannol y sector addysg uwch yn ei gyfanrwydd. Fel y gwyddoch, rwy'n parhau i ymweld â phob sefydliad addysg uwch yng Nghymru, a daw hynny â llawer o fanteision i mi yn y sgyrsiau y gallaf eu cael gydag is-gangellorion, gyda staff a myfyrwyr am amgylchiadau penodol y prifysgolion hynny. Ac mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cofio bod y prifysgolion yn sefydliadau ymreolaethol a bod 90 y cant o'u ffrydiau cyllid yn dod o'r tu allan i Lywodraeth Cymru. Felly, mae rôl i mi ac i Medr eu cynorthwyo i archwilio'r cyfleoedd ariannu eraill hynny, iddynt allu bachu ar lawer o wahanol gyfleoedd i gynyddu eu cadernid ariannol. Ac mae'r £10 miliwn a gyhoeddais ar gyfer addysg uwch trwy Medr heddiw wedi'i gynllunio i wneud hynny.

Thank you. Just to pick you up on the first point, I think that it was in answer to my first question that you said that your decision today would only offset the cost increase in national insurance contributions. Therefore, taking those two policies in combination, it's a zero-sum game. It's one tool, if you like, taken off the table that can be used to address that wider black hole. And I think the thing that students and universities have in common is that they were promised greater support from you, as Minister, from this Welsh Government, from the Labour Party at a UK-wide level, and they've only received greater bills, whether that be through their employer national insurance contributions or the increase that we've seen in fees today. And clearly, that is not what both those groups thought they were voting for in the general election. 

On the wider point you made about university funding, we've heard about that £100 million black hole that Universities Wales said—. Actually, I've got the press release that they sent out in response to the announcement that you made today, where they say pretty clearly that the current financial position for universities is not sustainable—they’re very clear about that. They put it down to a third successive year of reductions in HE funding grants, including an additional £20 million for 2024-25, which continues to mean significantly lower funding for universities in Wales than in other parts of the UK.

When is this Government going to get a grip on this? Because we've heard from you now that you're speaking to universities, we've heard previously that there was a support package, which was rowed back. This crisis is real. The university funding crisis is very real and it's immediate. So, what are you going to do about it?

Diolch. Os caf fynd ar ôl y pwynt cyntaf, credaf mai wrth ateb fy nghwestiwn cyntaf y dywedoch chi y byddai eich penderfyniad heddiw ond yn gwrthbwyso'r cynnydd yng nghost cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol. Felly, gan gymryd y ddau bolisi gyda'i gilydd, nid oes unrhyw fudd ychwanegol. Mae'n un offeryn, os mynnwch, sydd wedi'i dynnu oddi ar y bwrdd y gellir ei ddefnyddio i fynd i'r afael â'r twll du mwy o faint. Ac rwy'n credu mai'r peth sydd gan fyfyrwyr a phrifysgolion yn gyffredin yw eich bod chi, fel Gweinidog, a Llywodraeth Cymru, a'r Blaid Lafur ar lefel y DU wedi addo mwy o gefnogaeth iddynt, a dim ond biliau uwch a gawsant, boed hynny drwy gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol cyflogwr neu'r cynnydd a welsom yn y ffioedd heddiw. Ac yn amlwg, nid dyna y credai myfyrwyr na phrifysgolion eu bod yn pleidleisio drosto yn yr etholiad cyffredinol. 

Ar y pwynt ehangach a wnaethoch am gyllid prifysgolion, rydym wedi clywed am y twll du o £100 miliwn y dywedodd Prifysgolion Cymru—. A dweud y gwir, mae gennyf y datganiad i'r wasg a anfonwyd ganddynt mewn ymateb i'r cyhoeddiad a wnaethoch chi heddiw, lle maent yn dweud yn eithaf clir nad yw'r sefyllfa ariannol bresennol i brifysgolion yn gynaliadwy—maent yn glir iawn ynglŷn â hynny. Roeddent yn dweud mai'r rheswm am hynny yw trydedd flwyddyn yn olynol o ostyngiadau i grantiau cyllid addysg uwch, gan gynnwys £20 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer 2024-25, sy'n parhau i olygu cyllid sylweddol is i brifysgolion yng Nghymru na mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU.

Pryd yr aiff y Llywodraeth hon i'r afael â hyn? Oherwydd fe glywsom gennych chi nawr eich bod chi'n siarad â phrifysgolion, clywsom o'r blaen fod pecyn cymorth ar gael, ac fe gafodd ei dynnu'n ôl. Mae'r argyfwng hwn yn real. Mae argyfwng ariannu prifysgolion yn real iawn ac mae'n digwydd nawr. Felly, beth rydych chi'n mynd i'w wneud am y peth?

14:30

Thanks, Tom. I'm picking up three themes there. Firstly, around the support for students, I am really proud that we do have here in Wales the most generous offer of support to our higher education students. And you don't need to just take my word for that, because an examination of higher education fees and funding across the UK by the London Economics Nuffield Foundation found that Wales does offer the most generous student maintenance support available to Welsh domiciled students irrespective of household income, compared to the rest of the UK.

I'm particularly proud that we have a maintenance grant here that is available to ensure that those who come from the least advantaged backgrounds when entering HE leave with the least amount of debt. That is diametrically opposed to the system that was put in place by the Tory Government in England, where it is those who come from the least advantaged backgrounds who leave university with the most amount of debt.

In terms of your question around support for universities themselves, we do have that additional £10 million that I have announced today. That takes the grant funding for the higher education sector in this last financial year to over £200 million. In all of my conversations with vice-chancellors, they are looking at how they can tweak and change their own models of balancing the books. They are autonomous institutions and we have only a small role to play within that.

I think probably the most important point you raised there is about the sustainability of the funding model for HE overall, and that is definitely something that does need to be looked at again, not just here in Wales, but across the UK. I can tell you two things that we are doing there. Firstly, I had a meeting this week to look at how we will begin our evaluation of the Diamond reforms. It is absolutely essential that we look at how that is able to be maintained and enhanced in the current climate and how it will be able to be implemented in the future. But also, as I've said, this is a UK market that we're operating in, and also, the Welsh Government are, to an extent, in the hands of the UK Treasury in terms of the funding model that we have. So, it's really important that we do work together with the Westminster Government to look at a more sustainable long-term funding model for HE.

Diolch, Tom. Rwy'n nodi tair thema yno. Yn gyntaf, ar y gefnogaeth i fyfyrwyr, rwy'n falch iawn fod gennym yma yng Nghymru y cynnig mwyaf hael o gymorth i'n myfyrwyr addysg uwch. Ac nid oes angen ichi gymryd fy ngair i ar hynny, oherwydd canfu archwiliad o ffioedd addysg uwch a chyllid ledled y DU gan London Economics, Sefydliad Nuffield fod Cymru'n cynnig y cymorth cynhaliaeth myfyrwyr mwyaf hael sydd ar gael i fyfyrwyr sy'n hanu o Gymru ni waeth beth yw incwm y cartref, o'i gymharu â gweddill y DU.

Rwy'n arbennig o falch fod gennym grant cynhaliaeth yma sydd ar gael i sicrhau bod y rhai sy'n dod o'r cefndiroedd lleiaf breintiedig wrth fynd i mewn i addysg uwch yn gadael gyda'r swm lleiaf o ddyled. Mae hynny'n gwbl groes i'r system a roddwyd ar waith gan y Llywodraeth Dorïaidd yn Lloegr, lle mae'r rhai sy'n dod o'r cefndiroedd lleiaf breintiedig yn gadael y brifysgol gyda'r swm mwyaf o ddyled.

Ar eich cwestiwn ynghylch cefnogaeth i'r prifysgolion eu hunain, mae gennym y £10 miliwn ychwanegol a gyhoeddais heddiw. Mae hwnnw'n mynd â'r cyllid grant ar gyfer y sector addysg uwch yn y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf hon i dros £200 miliwn. Ym mhob un o fy sgyrsiau gydag is-gangellorion, maent yn edrych ar sut y gallant addasu a newid eu modelau eu hunain ar gyfer mantoli'r cyfrifon. Maent yn sefydliadau ymreolaethol a dim ond rôl fach sydd gennym ni i'w chwarae yn hynny.

Rwy'n credu mai'r pwynt pwysicaf a godwyd gennych yw'r un am gynaliadwyedd y model cyllido ar gyfer addysg uwch yn gyffredinol, ac mae hynny'n bendant yn rhywbeth y mae angen edrych arno eto, nid yn unig yma yng Nghymru, ond ledled y DU. Gallaf nodi dau beth yr ydym yn eu gwneud ar hynny. Yn gyntaf, cefais gyfarfod yr wythnos hon i edrych ar sut y byddwn yn dechrau ein gwerthusiad o ddiwygiadau Diamond. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn edrych ar sut y gellir cynnal a gwella hynny yn yr hinsawdd bresennol a sut y bydd modd ei weithredu yn y dyfodol. Ond hefyd, fel y dywedais, rydym yn gweithredu ym marchnad y DU, a hefyd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, i raddau, yn nwylo Trysorlys y DU o ran y model cyllido sydd gennym. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cydweithio â Llywodraeth San Steffan i edrych ar fodel cyllido hirdymor mwy cynaliadwy ar gyfer addysg uwch.

Llefarydd Plaid Cymru nesaf. Cefin Campbell.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson next. Cefin Campbell.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. Minister, following your statement this morning, increasing tuition fees in Wales will undoubtedly burden students with even greater debt, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—and I'm not talking here about maintenance costs, just the tuition fees. But this decision today from the Welsh Government became inevitable, of course, once fees were increased by Labour in England. Welsh universities, of course, must not be disadvantaged. On these benches, Plaid Cymru believe in the principle of universal access to higher education, but to do this, we must secure the financial sustainability of our higher education institutions.

The Minister has already mentioned £20 million in her statement of support via Medr for this financial year, which could simply be swallowed up straight away by next year's rises to national insurance contributions. It doesn't even touch the sides, as we heard from Tom, of the collective £100 million deficit facing our universities. So, the current funding model for higher education is unsustainable. As it stands, £2 out of every £5 the Welsh Government spends in student fees goes to subsidise universities in England. So, as a result of today's announcement, even more Welsh taxpayers' money will flow over the border to universities outside of Wales. Does that worry you, Minister?

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Lywydd. Weinidog, yn dilyn eich datganiad y bore yma, heb os, bydd cynyddu ffioedd dysgu yng Nghymru yn faich ar fyfyrwyr â hyd yn oed mwy o ddyled, yn enwedig i'r rhai o gefndiroedd difreintiedig—ac nid wyf yn siarad yma am gostau cynhaliaeth, dim ond y ffioedd dysgu. Ond daeth y penderfyniad yma heddiw gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn anochel, wrth gwrs, ar ôl i'r blaid Lafur yn Lloegr gynyddu ffioedd. Rhaid i brifysgolion Cymru beidio â bod dan anfantais. Ar y meinciau hyn, mae Plaid Cymru yn credu yn yr egwyddor o fynediad i bawb at addysg uwch, ond er mwyn gwneud hyn, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau cynaliadwyedd ariannol ein sefydliadau addysg uwch.

Mae'r Gweinidog eisoes wedi sôn am £20 miliwn yn ei datganiad o gefnogaeth drwy Medr ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol hon, a allai gael ei lyncu i gyd yn syth gan godiadau y flwyddyn nesaf i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol. Nid yw hyd yn oed yn cyffwrdd yr ochrau, fel y clywsom gan Tom, o ran y diffyg cyfunol o £100 miliwn sy'n wynebu ein prifysgolion. Felly, mae'r model cyllido presennol ar gyfer addysg uwch yn anghynaliadwy. Ar hyn o bryd, mae £2 o bob £5 y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wario ar ffioedd myfyrwyr yn mynd tuag at sybsideiddio prifysgolion yn Lloegr. Felly, o ganlyniad i'r cyhoeddiad heddiw, bydd hyd yn oed mwy o arian trethdalwyr Cymru yn llifo dros y ffin i brifysgolion y tu allan i Gymru. A yw hynny'n eich poeni, Weinidog?

14:35

Thank you, Cefin, for your questions there. I'll start with your first point, where you say that we will, apparently, burden students with more debt. I'd just like to repeat some of the points that I made there to Tom, because I think it's really important that, here in this Chamber, we all unite around the shared goal—because I believe it is your goal as much as mine—of increasing participation in post-16 education. It is really crucial that we get the facts out here—that our Welsh students still benefit from the most generous funding model in the UK, and a model that is geared towards supporting those from the least advantaged backgrounds to have the least amount of debt when they leave university, so that they can go on to have prosperous lives and contribute to our economy.

In terms of your view there that we are merely subsidising universities in England, I would refute that. I would say speak to young people in Wales, speak to people who wish to embark upon a degree, and ask them whether they would like to be constrained by a financial system that only supported them to go to universities in Wales. Our goal, of course, is to bring those graduates back to Wales, but it's really important that they have equity of access wherever they wish to study—we shouldn't be limiting their horizons. Many of our young people do choose to study in Wales, at our excellent institutions here, but others, for a variety of reasons, might choose to study elsewhere, and I and my Welsh Labour Government certainly would not support a system that constrained the ambitions of those young people in Wales.

Diolch am eich cwestiynau, Cefin. Fe ddechreuaf gyda'ch pwynt cyntaf, lle rydych chi'n dweud y byddwn, mae'n debyg, yn rhoi mwy o ddyled i fyfyrwyr. Hoffwn ailadrodd rhai o'r pwyntiau a wneuthum i Tom, oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn, yma yn y Siambr, ein bod i gyd yn uno o amgylch y nod cyffredin—oherwydd credaf fod hwn yn nod i chi lawn cymaint ag y mae i mi—sef cynyddu cyfranogiad mewn addysg ôl-16. Mae'n hanfodol iawn ein bod yn cael y ffeithiau allan—fod ein myfyrwyr o Gymru yn dal i elwa o'r model cyllido mwyaf hael yn y DU, a model sydd â'r bwriad o gefnogi'r rhai o'r cefndiroedd lleiaf breintiedig i gael y swm lleiaf o ddyled pan fyddant yn gadael y brifysgol, fel y gallant fynd ymlaen i gael bywydau llewyrchus a chyfrannu at ein heconomi.

Ar eich safbwynt mai dim ond sybsideiddio prifysgolion yn Lloegr a wnawn, rwy'n gwrthod hynny. Rwy'n dweud wrthych am siarad â phobl ifanc yng Nghymru, siaradwch â phobl sy'n dymuno dechrau ar radd, a gofyn iddynt a hoffent gael eu cyfyngu gan system ariannol a oedd ond yn eu cefnogi i fynd i brifysgolion yng Nghymru. Ein nod, wrth gwrs, yw dod â'r graddedigion hynny yn ôl i Gymru, ond mae'n bwysig iawn fod ganddynt fynediad teg i ble bynnag y maent yn dymuno astudio—ni ddylem gyfyngu eu gorwelion. Mae llawer o'n pobl ifanc yn dewis astudio yng Nghymru, yn ein sefydliadau rhagorol yma, ond gallai eraill, am amryw o resymau, ddewis astudio mewn mannau eraill, ac yn sicr, ni fuaswn i na Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn cefnogi system a fyddai'n cyfyngu ar uchelgeisiau pobl ifanc Cymru.

Gaf i ddilyn ymlaen ar hwnna, Weinidog? Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnes i noddi digwyddiad gan Dyfodol i'r Iaith yn y Senedd a oedd yn trafod sut y gallwn ni sicrhau sector addysg uwch mwy cynhaliol yng Nghymru, sy'n gallu cynnig cyfleoedd addysgol a phrofiadau bywyd a safonau uchel i fyfyrwyr o Gymru. Os edrychwn ni ar yr ystadegau, dim ond 5 y cant o fyfyrwyr yr Alban sy'n gadael yr Alban ar gyfer eu haddysg uwch; yn Lloegr, y ffigur yw 9 y cant. Yma yng Nghymru, mae 40 y cant o fyfyrwyr yn gadael Cymru er mwyn derbyn eu haddysg uwch. Ar hyn o bryd, mae miliynau o bunnoedd o'n harian ni yn cael ei wario ar Academi Seren, cynllun sy'n annog miloedd o ddarpar fyfyrwyr i fynd â'u sgiliau, eu talent a'u cyfraniad y tu hwnt i Gymru. Ac ar ben hynny eto, mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n gwario dros £0.5 biliwn y flwyddyn ar gyllido myfyrwyr i astudio y tu fas i Gymru.

Could I follow up on that, Minister? Last week, I sponsored an event by Dyfodol i'r Iaith here in the Senedd that discussed how we can ensure a more sustainable higher education sector here in Wales, which can offer high-quality educational opportunities and life experiences and high standards for Welsh students. If we look at the statistics, only 5 per cent of students from Scotland leave Scotland to receive their higher education; in England, the figure is 9 per cent. Here in Wales, 40 per cent of students leave Wales in order to receive their higher education. At present, millions of pounds of our money are spent every year on the Seren Academy, a scheme that encourages thousands of prospective students to take their skills, their talents and their contribution outside Wales. And on top of that again, the Welsh Government spends over £0.5 billion a year on funding students to study outside Wales.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this is not sustainable. Can the Minister name any other country in the world that pays so much of its own taxpayers' money to export so many of their best and brightest students to universities beyond its own border?

Rwyf wedi dweud hyn o'r blaen, ac fe'i dywedaf eto: nid yw hyn yn gynaliadwy. A all y Gweinidog enwi unrhyw wlad arall yn y byd sy'n talu cymaint o arian ei threthdalwyr ei hun i allforio cymaint o'u myfyrwyr gorau a disgleiriaf i brifysgolion y tu hwnt i'w ffin ei hun?

I have to say, Cefin, I think that the arguments you've put forward there are really reductionist. I go back to what I said to you in answer to my earlier question: it is absolutely imperative that we support our young people to study wherever they wish to. We need to empower our young people to make the best decisions that they can. I'm proud that we have a regime here in Wales that encourages our FE and our HE students to participate in study abroad, through Taith; I think that is a huge advantage, which broadens their outlook and provides them with a range of skills that they can bring back here to their home country, to Wales. And also, we've heard these accusations about the Seren Academy from you before. They are without any foundation. The Seren project works really hard for our most able and talented students, to enable them to have the ambition and the knowledge to access courses, wherever they may be, that will allow them to pursue those particular skills and talents. It might be a fine art degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University, which I visited recently, and has outstanding facilities there. It might be the veterinary school in Aberystwyth, which is world leading. Or it just might be that it is a leading course in a university somewhere else in the UK, or somewhere else in the world. I certainly don’t think that we should be restricting our young people from those opportunities. 

Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, Cefin, rwy'n credu bod y dadleuon a gyflwynwch yn wirioneddol leihaol. Rwy'n mynd yn ôl at yr hyn a ddywedais wrthych mewn ateb i gwestiwn cynharach: mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn cefnogi ein pobl ifanc i astudio ble bynnag y dymunant. Mae angen inni rymuso ein pobl ifanc i wneud y penderfyniadau gorau y gallant eu gwneud. Rwy'n falch fod gennym drefn yma yng Nghymru sy'n annog ein myfyrwyr addysg bellach a'n myfyrwyr addysg uwch i gymryd rhan mewn astudio dramor, drwy Taith; rwy'n credu bod hynny'n fantais enfawr, sy'n ehangu eu rhagolygon ac yn rhoi amrywiaeth o sgiliau iddynt y gallant ddod â hwy yn ôl yma i'w mamwlad, i Gymru. A hefyd, rydym wedi clywed y cyhuddiadau hyn am Academi Seren gennych chi o'r blaen. Nid oes sylfaen iddynt. Mae prosiect Seren yn gweithio'n galed iawn ar ran ein myfyrwyr mwyaf galluog a thalentog, i'w galluogi i fod â'r uchelgais a'r wybodaeth i gael mynediad at gyrsiau, ble bynnag y bônt, a fydd yn eu galluogi i fynd ar drywydd y sgiliau a'r doniau penodol hynny. Gallai fod yn radd celfyddyd gain ym Mhrifysgol Metropolitan Caerdydd, yr ymwelais â hi yn ddiweddar, ac mae ganddi gyfleusterau rhagorol yno. Gallai fod yr ysgol filfeddygol yn Aberystwyth, sydd ymhlith y gorau yn y byd. Neu gallai fod yn gwrs blaenllaw mewn prifysgol yn rhywle arall yn y DU, neu rywle arall yn y byd. Yn sicr, nid wyf yn credu y dylem gyfyngu ar ein pobl ifanc rhag cael y cyfleoedd hynny. 

14:40

I can’t believe that you’re showing so little confidence in the universities that we have here in Wales. Those universities would love to have a tranche of that 40 per cent that are leaving Wales at the moment. And I note that you couldn’t name any other country that was transporting its young people away from its borders. But it is unbelievable—we are encouraging the exodus of skills and talent from Wales, whilst we’re trying to build the future economy of this country.

Our own universities here in Wales support thousands of jobs in the regions in which they are based, as well as contributing over £10 billion in economic impact. We need to retain this young talent, which will help us grow the economy of the future. Sadly, from my own conversations recently with vice-chancellors, it’s clear to me that these positive contributions are at risk if the Welsh Government can’t get to grips with the problems facing the sector.

So, could you tell me, Minister, which of these most pressing issues is the most important? Is it the unbudgeted £20 million hike to national insurance contributions, the £100 million collective deficit facing Welsh universities, the fact that over £0.5 billion is spent each year on student fees for students in universities outside of Wales, or a Welsh Labour Government that has taken its eye of the ball over the past 25 years and compounded all of these issues, and more, with no coherent strategy for the sector, a lack of funding, investment and support, and cuts to research and innovation?

Ni allaf gredu eich bod yn dangos cyn lleied o hyder yn y prifysgolion sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru. Byddai'r prifysgolion hynny wrth eu bodd yn cael cyfran o'r 40 y cant hwnnw sy'n gadael Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Ac rwy'n nodi na allech enwi unrhyw wlad arall a oedd yn cludo ei phobl ifanc dros ei ffiniau. Ond mae'n anghredadwy—rydym yn annog ecsodus o sgiliau a thalent o Gymru, wrth inni geisio adeiladu economi'r wlad hon yn y dyfodol.

Mae ein prifysgolion ein hunain yma yng Nghymru yn cefnogi miloedd o swyddi yn y rhanbarthau y maent wedi'u lleoli ynddynt, yn ogystal â chyfrannu dros £10 biliwn mewn effaith economaidd. Mae angen inni gadw'r dalent ifanc hon, a fydd yn ein helpu i dyfu economi'r dyfodol. Yn anffodus, o fy sgyrsiau fy hun yn ddiweddar gydag is-gangellorion, mae'n amlwg i mi fod y cyfraniadau cadarnhaol hyn mewn perygl os na all Llywodraeth Cymru fynd i'r afael â'r problemau sy'n wynebu'r sector.

Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf, Weinidog, pa un o'r materion dybryd hyn yw'r pwysicaf? Ai'r codiad heb ei gyllidebu o £20 miliwn i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, y diffyg cyfunol o £100 miliwn sy'n wynebu prifysgolion Cymru, y ffaith bod dros £0.5 biliwn yn cael ei wario bob blwyddyn ar ffioedd myfyrwyr mewn prifysgolion y tu allan i Gymru, neu Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru sydd heb fod yn talu sylw dros y 25 mlynedd diwethaf ac wedi gwaethygu'r holl faterion hyn, ac ar ben hynny, heb unrhyw strategaeth gydlynol i'r sector, diffyg cyllid, buddsoddiad a chefnogaeth, a thoriadau i ymchwil ac arloesi?

I’ll try and pick the questions out of that, Cefin. Firstly, I noticed that even though I’d just given two really good examples of excellent higher education institutions and courses here in Wales, you started by claiming that I didn’t have confidence in our institutions and the courses that they deliver. I could stand here all afternoon citing the different courses in institutions across Wales that are absolutely excellent. But I think that that would be a waste of this Senedd’s time, when I’ve already given you two examples. It would be really good to see if you also had that kind of depth of knowledge that I have gained since taking on this role.

Just some basic numerical points there. Sixty per cent of the students that study at our Welsh universities come from outside Wales. So, by running down the fact that we’ve got 40 per cent of those students from Wales, and you wish to increase that number, that’s suggesting you wish to remove the 60 per cent that come from outside, who, of course, bring with them many skills—international students in very highly skilled degrees, people from across the rest of the UK. It’s really important that we have those people come to study in Wales, to contribute to our research, to contribute to the innovation, and, hopefully, to stay here as well, and they then become Welsh citizens. So, I don’t think that you can say that it’s a diametric argument in the way that you’ve put forward there.

Fe geisiaf nodi'r cwestiynau o hynny, Cefin. Yn gyntaf, er fy mod newydd roi dwy enghraifft dda iawn o sefydliadau a chyrsiau addysg uwch rhagorol yma yng Nghymru, sylwais eich bod wedi dechrau drwy honni nad oedd gennyf hyder yn ein sefydliadau a'r cyrsiau y maent yn eu darparu. Gallwn sefyll yma drwy'r prynhawn yn nodi'r gwahanol gyrsiau mewn sefydliadau ledled Cymru sy'n gwbl ardderchog. Ond rwy'n credu y byddai hynny'n wastraff o amser y Senedd hon, pan wyf eisoes wedi rhoi dwy enghraifft i chi. Byddai'n dda iawn gweld a oes gennych chi'r dyfnder o wybodaeth a gefais i ers imi ymgymryd â'r rôl hon.

Rhai pwyntiau sylfaenol ynglŷn â niferoedd. Mae 60 y cant o'r myfyrwyr sy'n astudio yn ein prifysgolion yng Nghymru yn dod o'r tu allan i Gymru. Felly, trwy ladd ar y ffaith bod 40 y cant o'r myfyrwyr hynny o Gymru, a'ch bod am gynyddu'r nifer hwnnw, mae hynny'n awgrymu eich bod am gael gwared ar y 60 y cant sy'n dod o'r tu allan, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn dod â llawer o sgiliau gyda hwy—myfyrwyr rhyngwladol mewn graddau medrus iawn, pobl o bob rhan o'r DU. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael y bobl hynny i ddod i astudio yng Nghymru, i gyfrannu at ein hymchwil, i gyfrannu at ein harloesedd, ac i aros yma hefyd, gobeithio, ac yna dônt yn ddinasyddion Cymreig. Felly, nid wyf yn credu y gallwch ddweud ei bod yn ddadl gwbl groes yn y ffordd y gwnaethoch ei chyflwyno.

Helpu gyda Chostau Ysgol
Help with School Costs

3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad ar yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu teuluoedd gyda chostau ysgol? OQ61984

3. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on what the Welsh Government is doing to help families with school costs? OQ61984

Our school essentials grant has made a huge difference to lower-income families, reducing worries about uniform and equipment. Funding of £13.1 million is available for the grant this year. We also make available resources for schools to address the cost of the school day and remove barriers caused by poverty.

Mae ein grant hanfodion ysgol wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i deuluoedd incwm is, gan leihau pryderon am wisg ysgol ac offer. Mae cyllid o £13.1 miliwn ar gael ar gyfer y grant eleni. Rydym hefyd yn sicrhau bod adnoddau ar gael i ysgolion fynd i'r afael â chost y diwrnod ysgol a chael gwared ar rwystrau a achosir gan dlodi.

The school essentials grant has provided, as you say, invaluable help with school costs to many families, particularly those on low incomes. Up to £200 is available to eligible families to help with things like school uniforms. But as well as that, I’m aware of a number of schools who’ve set up initiatives that aim to keep the cost of uniforms down and prevent uniforms ending up in landfill. In these schemes, uniforms are donated and then given to families who want them for free. I was lucky to see a real excellent example of this for myself in Priory Church in Wales Primary School in Brecon, and the swap shop was set up by Councillor Matthew Dorrance and Town Councillor Michaela Davies, working with the Labour action team. But, thanks to funding from the Green Man Trust, they now have a permanent site at that school, instead of trying to access the use of halls, et cetera. Cabinet Secretary, could you join me in urging families to check their eligibility for the school essentials grant and in thanking schools and individuals for setting up initiatives that help families with reducing the cost of school uniforms?

Mae'r grant hanfodion ysgol wedi darparu help amhrisiadwy, fel y dywedwch, gyda chostau ysgol i lawer o deuluoedd, yn enwedig y rhai ar incwm isel. Mae hyd at £200 ar gael i deuluoedd cymwys i helpu gyda phethau fel gwisg ysgol. Ond yn ogystal â hynny, rwy'n ymwybodol o nifer o ysgolion sydd wedi sefydlu mentrau gyda'r nod o gadw cost gwisgoedd ysgol i lawr ac atal gwisgoedd ysgol rhag mynd i safleoedd tirlenwi. Yn y cynlluniau hyn, mae gwisgoedd ysgol yn cael eu rhoi gan unigolion ac yna'n cael eu darparu i deuluoedd sydd eu heisiau am ddim. Roeddwn yn ffodus o weld enghraifft wych o hyn fy hun yn Ysgol yr Eglwys yng Nghymru Priordy yn Aberhonddu, a sefydlwyd y siop gyfnewid gan y Cynghorydd Matthew Dorrance a'r Cynghorydd Tref Michaela Davies, gan weithio gyda'r tîm gweithredu Llafur. Ond diolch i gyllid gan Ymddiriedolaeth y Dyn Gwyrdd, mae ganddynt safle parhaol yn yr ysgol honno erbyn hyn, yn hytrach na cheisio cael mynediad at y defnydd o neuaddau, ac ati. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi i annog teuluoedd i wirio eu cymhwysedd ar gyfer y grant hanfodion ysgol ac i ddiolch i ysgolion ac unigolion am sefydlu mentrau sy'n helpu teuluoedd i leihau cost gwisgoedd ysgol?

14:45

Thank you very much, Joyce, and can I commend Councillor Matthew Dorrance and Councillor Michaela Davies for the work that they’ve done on the swap shop in Brecon? These are really important initiatives. Obviously, the school essentials grant is a big help to families, but we also encourage schools to encourage recycling schemes as well. You'll probably be aware that we revised our statutory guidance for governing bodies on school uniform and appearance policies back in May 2023, and changes to the guidance, as well as including covering things about not having compulsory branded school uniform, also covers the issue of encouraging uniform recycling schemes to be established and avoiding single-supplier arrangements, which can also reduce costs for families. It is absolutely vital that we reduce the cost of the school day because we know that stigma of poverty doesn't just have an impact on attainment, but it can affect things like attendance, and it's something that we all need to work together on to tackle. So, I'm very happy to thank the organisations that are doing the good work that you've highlighted.

Diolch yn fawr, Joyce, ac a gaf i ganmol y Cynghorydd Matthew Dorrance a'r Cynghorydd Michaela Davies am y gwaith y maent wedi'i wneud ar y siop gyfnewid yn Aberhonddu? Mae'r rhain yn fentrau pwysig iawn. Yn amlwg, mae'r grant hanfodion ysgol yn help mawr i deuluoedd, ond rydym hefyd yn annog ysgolion i annog cynlluniau ailgylchu hefyd. Mae'n debyg y byddwch yn ymwybodol ein bod wedi diwygio ein canllawiau statudol i gyrff llywodraethu ar bolisïau gwisg ysgol ac edrychiad yn ôl ym mis Mai 2023, ac mae newidiadau i'r canllawiau, yn ogystal â chynnwys pethau ynghylch peidio â chael gwisg ysgol â brand gorfodol, hefyd yn cynnwys annog sefydlu cynlluniau ailgylchu gwisgoedd ysgol ac osgoi trefniadau un cyflenwr, a allai leihau'r gost i deuluoedd. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod yn lleihau cost y diwrnod ysgol gan ein bod yn gwybod bod stigma tlodi nid yn unig yn cael effaith ar gyrhaeddiad, gall effeithio ar bethau fel presenoldeb, ac mae'n rhywbeth y mae angen i bawb ohonom weithio arno gyda'n gilydd i fynd i'r afael ag ef. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn i ddiolch i'r sefydliadau sy'n gwneud y gwaith da a nodwyd gennych.

Knowing that Luke Fletcher and Jack Sargeant aren’t in their places, I can safely say that I’m the youngest Member in this Chamber, and I can remember my time in school very well. What I noticed was that there was a great number of organisations helping students going overseas for additional learning. The Holocaust Educational Trust, which I’ve mentioned in the Chamber before, arranged visits to Auschwitz that I undertook as a student, and going to Mametz Wood with the Urdd when I was a student as well. So, how is the Welsh Government working with organisations such as the Urdd and the Holocaust Educational Trust, and others that are out there, supporting students to be able to go overseas for additional learning, broadening their horizons and learning more about what this world has to offer?

Gan wybod nad yw Luke Fletcher a Jack Sargeant yn eu lle, gallaf ddweud yn sicr mai fi yw'r Aelod ieuengaf yn y Siambr hon, a gallaf gofio fy amser yn yr ysgol yn dda iawn. Yr hyn a nodais oedd bod nifer fawr o sefydliadau'n helpu myfyrwyr i fynd dramor ar gyfer dysgu ychwanegol. Trefnodd Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost, y soniais amdani yn y Siambr o'r blaen, ymweliadau ag Auschwitz yr euthum arnynt fel myfyriwr, a mynd i Goedwig Mametz gyda'r Urdd pan oeddwn yn fyfyriwr hefyd. Felly, sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda sefydliadau fel yr Urdd ac Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost, ac eraill sydd ar gael, i gefnogi myfyrwyr i allu mynd dramor ar gyfer dysgu ychwanegol, gan ehangu eu gorwelion a dysgu mwy am yr hyn sydd gan y byd hwn i'w gynnig?

Thank you very much for that important question. It is really vital for young people to have those opportunities in different places overseas. My colleague Vikki Howells has just referred to the Taith programme, which we’re providing around £65 million-worth of funding to, which is benefiting not just older learners, but primary school children as well. You’ll be aware that the Government made this commitment to this programme when the decision was taken entirely unnecessarily to leave the Erasmus programme after we left the EU. So, this Government has invested in continuing to support young people going overseas. I’m not aware whether we fund the Holocaust Educational Trust. I do think those visits are important and I will follow that up and check. Darren tells me that we do, so that’s very good news. [Laughter.]

Diolch am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw. Mae'n hanfodol i bobl ifanc gael y cyfleoedd hynny mewn gwahanol leoedd dramor. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod Vikki Howells newydd gyfeirio at raglen Taith, yr ydym yn darparu gwerth tua £65 miliwn o gyllid iddo, sydd o fudd nid yn unig i ddysgwyr hŷn, ond i blant ysgolion cynradd hefyd. Fe wyddoch fod y Llywodraeth wedi gwneud ymrwymiad i'r rhaglen pan wnaed y penderfyniad yn gwbl ddiangen i adael rhaglen Erasmus ar ôl inni adael yr UE. Felly, mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi buddsoddi er mwyn parhau i gefnogi pobl ifanc sy'n mynd dramor. Nid wyf yn gwybod a ydym yn ariannu Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost. Rwy'n credu bod yr ymweliadau hynny'n bwysig ac fe af ar drywydd hynny ac edrych i weld. Mae Darren yn dweud wrthyf ein bod, felly mae hynny'n newyddion da iawn. [Chwerthin.]

The Auschwitz programme, you do.

Rhaglen Auschwitz, ydych.

Gwasanaethau Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol
Additional Learning Needs Services

4. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu gwasanaethau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol? OQ61999

4. How is the Welsh Government supporting local authorities to provide additional learning needs services? OQ61999

The Welsh Government continues to support local authorities to deliver ALN reform and, since 2020, has invested extra funding of over £170 million to local authorities and schools. There is regular engagement with local authorities, including through our ALN reform steering group and a series of effective practice events.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol i gyflawni diwygiadau anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ac ers 2020, mae wedi buddsoddi cyllid ychwanegol o dros £170 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol ac ysgolion. Ceir ymgysylltu rheolaidd ag awdurdodau lleol, gan gynnwys drwy ein grŵp llywio diwygio ADY a chyfres o ddigwyddiadau ymarfer effeithiol.

Mae hwn yn faes sy'n amlwg yn mynd yn fwy a mwy problematig. Mae yna gynnydd sylweddol wedi bod yn nifer yr etholwyr sy'n cysylltu efo fi i siarad am yr heriau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu wrth drio cael cefnogaeth i'w plant—rhai yn sôn am blant wedi cael eu heithrio, lle maen nhw fod yn cael eu hintegreiddio, eraill yn dweud eu bod nhw'n methu cael cefnogaeth oherwydd eu bod nhw'n methu cael diagnosis, ac eraill sydd wedi cael diagnosis yn dal yn methu cael cefnogaeth. Rŵan, mae awdurdodau lleol, fel Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn, yn eiddgar, wrth gwrs, i wella'r ddarpariaeth anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, ond maen nhw angen Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, i chwarae eu rhan. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddau gwestiwn? Pa drafodaethau mae hi yn eu cael efo'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros iechyd er mwyn cryfhau a phrysuro a chyflymu'r broses ddiagnosis? Ac wedyn, sut mae hi am fynd ati i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol yn uniongyrchol i wella darpariaeth drwy ragor o adnoddau a rhagor o gyllid? 

This is an area that is clearly getting more and more problematic. There’s been a significant increase in the number of constituents who are contacting me to discuss the challenges that they face in trying to access support for their children—some talking about children being exempted, where they should be integrated, others saying that they can't get support because they can't get a diagnosis, and others who've had a diagnosis still unable to access support. Now, local authorities, such as Anglesey council, are keen, of course, to improve ALN provision, but they need the Welsh Government to play its part. So, can I ask the Cabinet Secretary two questions? What discussions is she having with the Cabinet Secretary for health in order to strengthen and hasten the diagnosis process? And then, how is she going to support local authorities directly to improve provision by providing additional resources and additional funding? 

14:50

Can I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for that very important question? He'll be aware, I'm sure, that I'd only been in the post several weeks when I identified this as an area of priority and one where we needed to make more progress. I announced a legal review of the ALN code and Act, and that is running parallel with our own efforts to work in partnership with local authorities to deliver implementation on the ground. I should say as well that that is against a really challenging backdrop of rising numbers of learners that are presenting with really complex needs, and that's something that we've discussed in the Chamber before.

You referred to the interface with health. You will have heard me say in the Chamber before that neurodevelopmental waiting times are too long, and my colleague, Sarah Murphy, has announced additional funding to tackle ND waiting times, and there's a whole piece of work underpinning how we tackle that issue generally. There's also work around allied health professionals. But you are right to highlight the need for there to be a strong partnership. We are working with our health colleagues to make sure that there is that seamless support for children and young people. We have a multi-agency collaboration group that is tackling some of the issues around referrals to health. That's developing new performance indicators to make sure that we can track whether children are getting timely support. But the legal review will also look at that. 

In terms of local authorities, we've got a really close partnership with local authorities in terms of implementing the ALN legislation. And I want to thank local authorities and schools for all the work that they're doing to implement what is a major reform. You'll be aware as well that we have announced considerable sums of funding to support our ALN reforms. That has included lots of capital funding not just to support units attached to schools, but also to fund new special schools in Wales, and there is, I think, £750 million set aside in the next nine-year rolling programme to support that work on ALN capital. But we continue to work in partnership with local authorities. Officials meet with individual local authorities now monthly, and we're all committed to driving forward that work, which has been underpinned by very significant funding against a backdrop of very significant rising need.

A gaf i ddiolch i Rhun ap Iorwerth am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw? Bydd yn ymwybodol, rwy'n siŵr, mai dim ond ers rhai wythnosau yr oeddwn wedi bod yn y swydd pan nodais hyn fel maes blaenoriaeth ac un lle roedd angen inni wneud mwy o gynnydd. Cyhoeddais adolygiad cyfreithiol o'r cod ADY a'r Ddeddf, ac mae hynny'n cydredeg ochr yn ochr â'n hymdrechion ein hunain i weithio mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol i weithredu ar lawr gwlad. Dylwn ddweud hefyd fod hynny yn erbyn cefndir heriol iawn gyda niferoedd cynyddol o ddysgwyr ag anghenion cymhleth iawn, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym wedi'i drafod yn y Siambr o'r blaen.

Rydych chi'n cyfeirio at y rhyngwyneb gydag iechyd. Byddwch wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud yn y Siambr o'r blaen fod amseroedd aros niwroddatblygiadol yn rhy hir, ac mae fy nghyd-Aelod, Sarah Murphy, wedi cyhoeddi cyllid ychwanegol i fynd i'r afael ag amseroedd aros niwroddatblygiadol, ac mae yna ddarn cyfan o waith sy'n sail i'r ffordd yr awn i'r afael â'r mater hwnnw'n gyffredinol. Mae yna waith hefyd sy'n ymwneud â gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd. Ond rydych chi'n iawn i dynnu sylw at yr angen am bartneriaeth gref. Rydym yn gweithio gyda'n cydweithwyr iechyd i sicrhau bod cefnogaeth ddi-dor i blant a phobl ifanc. Mae gennym grŵp cydweithio amlasiantaethol sy'n mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r materion yn ymwneud ag atgyfeiriadau at iechyd. Mae hwnnw'n datblygu dangosyddion perfformiad newydd i sicrhau y gallwn olrhain a yw plant yn cael cefnogaeth amserol. Ond bydd yr adolygiad cyfreithiol yn edrych ar hynny yn ogystal. 

O ran awdurdodau lleol, mae gennym bartneriaeth agos iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer gweithredu'r ddeddfwriaeth ADY. Ac rwyf am ddiolch i awdurdodau lleol ac ysgolion am yr holl waith y maent yn ei wneud ar weithredu'r hyn sy'n ddiwygiad mawr. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod hefyd ein bod wedi cyhoeddi symiau sylweddol o gyllid i gefnogi ein diwygiadau ADY. Mae hynny wedi cynnwys llawer o gyllid cyfalaf nid yn unig i gefnogi unedau sydd ynghlwm wrth ysgolion, ond hefyd i ariannu ysgolion arbennig newydd yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n credu bod yna £750 miliwn wedi'i neilltuo yn y rhaglen dreigl naw mlynedd nesaf i gefnogi'r gwaith hwnnw ar gyfalaf ADY. Ond rydym yn parhau i weithio mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol. Mae swyddogion yn cyfarfod ag awdurdodau lleol unigol bob mis bellach, ac rydym i gyd wedi ymrwymo i yrru'r gwaith hwnnw yn ei flaen, gwaith sydd wedi'i ategu gan gyllid sylweddol iawn yn erbyn cefndir o angen cynyddol sylweddol.

Cabinet Secretary, I also share the concerns of the leader of Plaid Cymru. But I also want to ask you how you're working with Cabinet colleagues and local authorities in terms of training drivers of taxis, minibuses and cars that take learners with ALN to and from school, so that they are fully equipped and able to deal with the specific needs that those learners with ALN have and to prevent anything negative happening on that important school journey, to ensure that they have the very best start to the day as possible. I'd just like to say that I'd go as far as making that training compulsory for them. Of course, I know the difficulties around that, but can you assure me that that training is there and it will be adequate to equip those drivers with those skills? Thank you.

Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf innau hefyd yn rhannu pryderon arweinydd Plaid Cymru. Ond rwyf am ofyn ichi sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda chyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet ac awdurdodau lleol ar hyfforddi gyrwyr tacsis, bysiau mini a cheir sy'n mynd â dysgwyr ag ADY i'r ysgol ac yn ôl, fel eu bod yn gwbl barod ac yn gallu ymdrin â'r anghenion penodol sydd gan ddysgwyr ag ADY ac i atal unrhyw beth negyddol rhag digwydd ar y daith bwysig honno i'r ysgol ac yn ôl, er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn cael y dechrau gorau posibl i'r diwrnod. Hoffwn ddweud yr awn i cyn belled â gwneud yr hyfforddiant hwnnw'n orfodol iddynt. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n ymwybodol o'r anawsterau sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny, ond a allwch chi fy sicrhau bod hyfforddiant ar gael ac y bydd yn ddigonol i arfogi gyrwyr â'r sgiliau hynny? Diolch.

Well, of course, we want all learners to have a good, positive journey to school. Local authorities are responsible for that home-to-school transport provision and they put the contracts in place that transport learners, and they will have mechanisms in place to make sure that learners have a satisfactory experience. We’re also acutely aware of the rising costs of that transport, which is adding to our ALN funding pressures.

Wel, wrth gwrs, rydym am i bob dysgwr gael taith dda a chadarnhaol i'r ysgol. Awdurdodau lleol sy'n gyfrifol am ddarparu cludiant rhwng y cartref a'r ysgol a hwy sy'n rhoi'r contractau ar waith ar gyfer cludo dysgwyr, a bydd ganddynt fecanweithiau ar waith i sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael profiad boddhaol. Rydym hefyd yn ymwybodol iawn o gostau cynyddol y drafnidiaeth honno, sy'n ychwanegu at bwysau cyllido ADY.

14:55
Ieithoedd Modern
Modern Languages

5. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'r afael a'r cwymp yn nifer y dysgwyr sy'n astudio iaith fodern mewn ysgolion? OQ61980

5. How is the Welsh Government addressing the fall in the number of learners who study a modern language in schools? OQ61980

We have a clear strategy to support international language learning, set out in our Global Futures 2022-25 plan. The plan outlines how we and our Global Futures partners will continue to support our schools. I have recently agreed to extend this plan for a further year.

Mae gennym strategaeth glir i gefnogi dysgu ieithoedd rhyngwladol, a nodir yn ein cynllun Dyfodol Byd-eang 2022-25. Mae'r cynllun yn amlinellu sut y byddwn ni a'n partneriaid Dyfodol Byd-eang yn parhau i gefnogi ein hysgolion. Yn ddiweddar, rwyf wedi cytuno i ymestyn y cynllun hwn am flwyddyn arall.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Dwi'n gwerthfawrogi bod yna gynllun yn ei le, ond, yn anffodus, dydy o ddim yn gweithio. Mae ymchwil gan Mentora ITM yn amlygu, er bod gan fyfyrwyr ddiddordeb mewn dysgu ieithoedd, fod eu llwybrau dysgu yn aml yn cael eu rhwystro gan ffactorau eraill, megis toriadau i adrannau ieithoedd a sut mae pynciau’n cael eu grwpio yn ystod dewisiadau TGAU. Mi wyddom ni hefyd fod yna leihad o ran nid yn unig nifer y dysgwyr, ond hefyd athrawon. Mae nifer o etholwyr wedi cysylltu efo fi yn dweud bod rhai ysgolion ddim hyd yn oed yn cynnig TGAU neu lefel-A mewn ieithoedd modern bellach, neu ddim yn rhedeg y cyrsiau os ydy niferoedd o dan ryw drothwy arbennig. Felly, pa waith sy'n cael ei wneud gan y Llywodraeth i ddeall beth ydy maint y broblem, a sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gydag ysgolion i fynd i'r afael â'r rhwystrau penodol hyn?

Thank you very much. I appreciate that there is a plan in place, but, unfortunately, it’s not working. Research by MFL Mentoring highlights the fact that although students have an interest in learning languages, their learning pathways are blocked by other factors, such as cuts to language departments and how subjects are grouped during the process of choosing GCSEs. We also know that there is a reduction not only in the number of learners, but also teachers. A number of constituents have contacted me saying that some schools don’t even offer a GCSE or A-level in modern languages any more, or that they don’t run the courses if numbers fall below a certain threshold. So, what work is being done by the Government to understand the extent of this problem, and how is the Welsh Government working with schools to tackle these specific barriers?

Thank you very much, Heledd, and I know you’re sponsoring the event this evening, which I’m attending, and very happy to do so. Obviously, the decline in modern foreign languages is part of a general picture across the UK. It’s not unique to Wales, and the aims and actions within the Global Futures plans are designed to address the challenges to international languages. I’m very keen for schools to all engage with our Global Futures partners, as the support they offer is for the benefit of all schools in Wales. I think the introduction of international languages at primary school as part of the Curriculum for Wales, which is obviously very early on, will make a difference. It means more learners than ever in Wales are learning to speak a modern foreign language, and I believe it’s best that they do start that journey in primary school rather than leaving it to secondary school.

We have seen some encouraging signs as well, with things like the increase of 27.6 per cent in the number of German entries in 2024, compared to 2023, which is a positive sign. But we do have more work to do, and you’ve highlighted some of the issues around timetabling. I think you were in the Chamber when I talked about how I had launched the e-sgol partnership in Monmouthshire, where they were bringing schools together to offer virtual Spanish lessons. I think initiatives like that are very important. Obviously, it is for schools to plan their curriculum and to decide what subjects they offer, but I’m really keen that there is a strong focus on modern foreign languages. It’s what I did at university myself; I’m very keen on it.

I’ve looked at the British Council report with interest, and, as you know, we’re supporting things like the modern foreign languages mentoring scheme from Cardiff University, which will be celebrated this evening. I was able to go and see that in action, and that was absolutely brilliant, because what that does is work with year 9 learners who are unsure whether they want to take a modern foreign language, because there are confidence issues often with modern foreign languages, and it’s having a really good impact.

So, there is lots that is going on, but more work to do. We’ve had the year-long extension of the Global Futures programme, and I’ll be working with officials and partners to consider how we take this work further in future. But I’m also hopeful that the fact that we are teaching this now in the curriculum in primary schools will be a big help in terms of the enthusiasm and participation in modern foreign languages in schools.

Diolch, Heledd, ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn noddi'r digwyddiad heno, y byddaf yn ei fynychu, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i wneud hynny. Yn amlwg, mae'r dirywiad mewn ieithoedd tramor modern yn rhan o ddarlun cyffredinol ledled y DU. Nid yw'n unigryw i Gymru, ac mae'r nodau a'r camau gweithredu o fewn y cynlluniau Dyfodol Byd-eang wedi'u cynllunio i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau i ieithoedd rhyngwladol. Rwy'n awyddus iawn i'r ysgolion i gyd ymgysylltu â'n partneriaid Dyfodol Byd-eang, gan fod y gefnogaeth y maent yn ei chynnig o fudd i bob ysgol yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu y bydd cyflwyno ieithoedd rhyngwladol yn yr ysgol gynradd fel rhan o'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru, sy'n amlwg yn gynnar iawn, yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Mae'n golygu bod mwy o ddysgwyr nag erioed yng Nghymru yn dysgu siarad iaith dramor fodern, a chredaf ei bod yn well iddynt ddechrau'r daith honno yn yr ysgol gynradd yn hytrach na'i gadael i'r ysgol uwchradd.

Rydym wedi gweld rhai arwyddion calonogol hefyd, gyda phethau fel cynnydd o 27.6 y cant yn nifer y cofrestriadau Almaeneg yn 2024, o'i gymharu â 2023, sy'n arwydd cadarnhaol. Ond mae gennym fwy o waith i'w wneud, ac rydych wedi tynnu sylw at rai o'r materion sy'n ymwneud ag amserlennu. Rwy'n credu eich bod yn y Siambr pan soniais sut y gwneuthum lansio'r bartneriaeth e-sgol yn sir Fynwy, lle roeddent yn dod ag ysgolion at ei gilydd i gynnig gwersi Sbaeneg rhithwir. Rwy'n credu bod mentrau fel hyn yn bwysig iawn. Yn amlwg, mater i ysgolion yw cynllunio eu cwricwlwm a phenderfynu pa bynciau y maent yn eu cynnig, ond rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld ffocws cryf ar ieithoedd tramor modern. Dyna a astudiais i yn y brifysgol; rwy'n awyddus iawn i weld hynny.

Rwyf wedi edrych ar adroddiad y British Council gyda diddordeb, ac fel y gwyddoch, rydym yn cefnogi pethau fel y cynllun mentora ieithoedd tramor modern gan Brifysgol Caerdydd, a fydd yn cael ei ddathlu heno. Gallais fynd i weld hynny ar waith, ac roedd yn hollol wych, oherwydd yr hyn y mae'n ei wneud yw gweithio gyda dysgwyr blwyddyn 9 sy'n ansicr a ydynt am ddewis iaith dramor fodern, am fod problemau hyder yn aml gydag ieithoedd tramor modern, ac mae'n cael effaith dda iawn.

Felly, mae llawer yn digwydd, ond mae mwy o waith i'w wneud. Rydym wedi cael estyniad blwyddyn o hyd i'r rhaglen Dyfodol Byd-eang, a byddaf yn gweithio gyda swyddogion a phartneriaid i ystyried sut y datblygwn y gwaith hwn ymhellach yn y dyfodol. Ond rwy'n obeithiol hefyd y bydd y ffaith ein bod yn dysgu hyn yn y cwricwlwm mewn ysgolion cynradd bellach yn help mawr i hybu brwdfrydedd a chyfranogiad mewn ieithoedd tramor modern mewn ysgolion.

Coming to mentoring, MFL Mentoring estimates that only around one in 10 learners choose to study a language at GCSE. Of those that do, they predominantly pick French, though this number has halved in the past decade. However, decades-high levels of exam entries into non-traditional languages, those other than German, French and Spanish, which, while remaining relatively small, suggests trends towards preferring greater diversity. Wales's Global Futures strategic plan mentions supporting schools in setting and planning their international language provision. Cabinet Secretary, with this in mind, how is Welsh Government ensuring a broader-based selection and supporting students to take languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Arabic? 

I droi at fentora, mae MFL Mentoring yn amcangyfrif mai dim ond tua un o bob 10 dysgwr sy'n dewis astudio iaith ar lefel TGAU. O'r rhai sy'n gwneud hynny, maent yn dewis Ffrangeg yn bennaf, er bod y nifer hwn wedi haneru yn ystod y degawd diwethaf. Fodd bynnag, mae'r lefelau uchaf ers degawdau o gofrestriadau arholiad ieithoedd annhraddodiadol, heblaw Almaeneg, Ffrangeg a Sbaeneg, er eu bod yn parhau i fod yn gymharol fach, yn awgrymu tueddiadau tuag at ffafrio mwy o amrywiaeth. Mae cynllun strategol Dyfodol Byd-eang Cymru yn sôn am gefnogi ysgolion i osod a chynllunio eu darpariaeth ieithoedd rhyngwladol. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gyda hyn mewn golwg, sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau dewis ehangach ac yn cefnogi myfyrwyr i astudio ieithoedd fel Tsieineeg, Japaneeg, Koreeg neu Arabeg? 

15:00

Thanks, Altaf. I think those are very important points. We have discussed the challenges that we've got in delivering modern foreign languages generally, and I should have said in response to Heledd that, obviously, we've got incentives to encourage people to come into the profession to teach modern foreign languages. But, as you highlight, the offer is on those traditional subjects like French, Spanish and German. We've got a lot of work to do; it's not something that's going to be done overnight. The Curriculum for Wales having international languages at primary school will help. There are examples of where we've supported a scheme for students from China to come and teach Mandarin in schools in Wales. I'm really keen on initiatives like that.

Obviously, things like that do cost money, but I'm very keen to look at how we can promote them, because I'm conscious that, in the public school sector, they do get this opportunity to learn those more unusual languages. So, we are grappling with some challenges in terms of the traditional subjects, which I hope that we'll be able to progress, but I'm also keen to look at how we build on things like the work that we've done with the teaching of Mandarin to teach more unusual languages. The more languages that young people can have access to, the better.

Diolch, Altaf. Credaf fod y rheini’n bwyntiau pwysig iawn. Rydym wedi trafod yr heriau sydd gennym o ran darpariaeth ieithoedd tramor modern yn gyffredinol, a dylwn fod wedi dweud mewn ymateb i Heledd fod gennym, yn amlwg, gymelliadau i annog pobl i ddod i mewn i'r proffesiwn i addysgu ieithoedd tramor modern. Ond fel y dywedwch, mae'r cynnig ar gyfer pynciau traddodiadol fel Ffrangeg, Sbaeneg ac Almaeneg. Mae gennym lawer o waith i'w wneud; nid yw'n rhywbeth sy'n mynd i ddigwydd dros nos. Bydd cael ieithoedd rhyngwladol yn yr ysgol gynradd drwy'r Cwricwlwm i Gymru o gymorth. Ceir enghreifftiau o ble rydym wedi cefnogi cynllun i fyfyrwyr o Tsieina ddod i addysgu Mandarin mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru. Rwy'n hoff iawn o fentrau fel hynny.

Yn amlwg, mae pethau fel hyn yn costio arian, ond rwy’n awyddus iawn i edrych ar sut y gallwn eu hyrwyddo, gan fy mod yn ymwybodol, yn y sector ysgolion preifat, eu bod yn cael cyfle i ddysgu’r ieithoedd mwy anarferol hynny. Felly, rydym yn mynd i’r afael â heriau o ran y pynciau traddodiadol, y gobeithiaf y byddwn yn gallu gwneud cynnydd arnynt, ond rwyf hefyd yn awyddus i edrych ar sut i adeiladu ar bethau fel y gwaith a wnaethom ar addysgu Mandarin er mwyn addysgu ieithoedd mwy anarferol. Gorau po fwyaf o ieithoedd y gall pobl ifanc gael mynediad atynt.

Addysg Uwch
Higher Education

6. Sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn cefnogi'r sector addysg uwch yng Nghymru? OQ61978

6. How is the Government supporting the higher education sector in Wales? OQ61978

The Welsh Government continues to invest substantial funds into the higher education sector in Wales, and today I have announced that we will increase the full-time undergraduate tuition fee limit by inflation to £9,535. We are also allocating an additional £10 million to Medr to support HE in the current financial year.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fuddsoddi arian sylweddol yn y sector addysg uwch yng Nghymru, a heddiw, cyhoeddais y byddwn yn cynyddu’r terfyn ar ffioedd dysgu israddedig amser llawn yn unol â chwyddiant i £9,535. Rydym hefyd yn dyrannu £10 miliwn ychwanegol i Medr i gefnogi addysg uwch yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol.

Diolch. Mae gan ein prifysgolion, fel rŷn ni wedi clywed yn gynharach, effaith economaidd flynyddol o bron i £11 biliwn, ond maen nhw'n wynebu'r argyfwng ariannol mwyaf mewn cof. Dyna beth rŷch chi’n ei glywed pan ŷch chi’n siarad gyda phobl sy’n gweithio mewn prifysgolion—a dylwn i ddatgan, Llywydd, fod fy ngŵr yn athro ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Dyw ffioedd a chyllid bellach ddim yn cwrdd â chostau addysgu israddedigion, heb sôn am y gwaith ymchwil ac arloesi, ac roedd hi’n anhygoel, a dweud y gwir, eich clywed chi’n dweud yn gynharach mewn ateb eich bod chi’n teimlo bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddim ond rôl fach i’w chwarae yn sicrhau llewyrch i’r sector hollbwysig yma.

Un o'r ffactorau sy'n chwarae rhan yn yr argyfwng yw cwymp mewn ceisiadau. Mae gostyngiad o tua 50 y cant yn nifer y myfyrwyr tramor, diolch i bolisïau annoeth ac adweithiol Llywodraeth San Steffan ar amodau fisa myfyrwyr. Mae cyfran y ceisiadau gan ddysgwyr o Gymru ar gyfer prifysgolion ar lefel argyfyngus o isel. Dim ond traean o'n dysgwyr sydd nawr yn cymryd arholiadau safon uwch, o gymharu â bron i 50 y cant yn Lloegr. Mae'r ffigur yn ddim ond 11 y cant o ddysgwyr sy'n gymwys am brydau ysgol am ddim. Tra bod nifer o lwybrau i astudio am radd, dylai eich cefndir economaidd-gymdeithasol ddim pennu’r llwybr honno, na chwaith os ydych chi yn medru cymryd cam ar y llwybr o gwbl.

Felly, pa gamau ydych chi’n eu cymryd i gefnogi prifysgolion Cymru i gynyddu nifer eu myfyrwyr? Fyddech chi’n ystyried addasu’r cynllun Seren i ffocysu'n llwyr ar wella cyfranogiad dysgwyr, ac a fyddech chi'n ystyried gosod targed ar gyfer nifer y dysgwyr sy'n astudio arholiadau safon uwch? Wnewch chi siarad hefyd gyda Llywodraeth newydd San Steffan ynglŷn ag ehangu’r amodau ar gyfer fisa myfyrwyr tramor?

Thank you. Our universities, as we've already heard, have an annual economic impact of almost £11 billion, but they are facing the biggest financial crisis in living memory. That's what you hear when you talk to people who work in universities—and I should state, Llywydd, that my husband is a professor at Swansea University. Student fees and finance don't meet the cost of teaching undergraduates, let alone research and innovation, anymore, and it was shocking, truth be told, to hear you say earlier that the Welsh Government only had a small role to play in ensuring that this crucially important sector prospers.

One of the factors that play a part in the crisis is a decline in applications. There's been a reduction of around 50 per cent in the number of foreign students, thanks to the unwise and reactionary policies of the Westminster Government on student visa conditions. The proportion of applications by learners from Wales for universities is at a critically low level. Only a third of our learners now take A-level examinations, compared with almost 50 per cent in England. The figure is just 11 per cent for learners who are eligible for free school meals. Whilst there are many pathways to study for a degree, your socioeconomic background should not determine that pathway, nor whether you can take a step on that pathway at all.

So, what steps are you taking to support Welsh universities to increase their number of students? Will you consider adapting the Seren programme to focus entirely on increasing the participation of learners, and will you consider setting a target for the number of learners studying A-level examinations? Will you also speak to the new Westminster Government on expanding the conditions on visas for foreign students?

15:05

Can I thank you, Sioned, for that supplementary question? It was very long, but you got lots of very important points into it, so I'm happy with that. Firstly, I need to start off by saying that I'm absolutely committed to supporting a sustainable higher education sector, and to have strong institutions here in Wales that are able to deliver on our ambitions for students and research, and to drive economic growth in Wales. I recognise the financial pressure that our HE institutions in Wales, and across the UK and even wider afield, are under. It is a significant period of painful adjustment, following the recent sudden decrease in international student enrolments, and I absolutely agree with the weight that you attributed to that in your question to me. Some of those universities are undertaking a fundamental re-examination of their institutional business models and seeking greater efficiencies and opportunities for collaboration between institutions. And, as you know, I'm meeting regularly with university and college leaders, as well as Universities Wales, to understand the pressures they are facing. You're absolutely right to identify the need for us to work closely with the UK Government on that international student issue, and also, as I've alluded to already this afternoon in the Chamber, to look at a more sustainable funding model for higher education in the long term.

Finally, you talked there about participation rates. That is something that is of great concern to myself and the Cabinet Secretary for Education, and it is where we are funnelling both our economic resources and the wider resources of Government, to really focus in on that. Yes, it would be really important to see more learners undertaking A-levels, but let's not forget as well the role that BTECs can play in accessing universities, and we need to make sure that everyone is aware of that—it's not a tiered model; BTECs are widely accepted by universities across Wales and further afield.

The point you mentioned there about the Seren programme is one that we are looking at and I hope to have some news on that soon. And finally, just to say that that £10 million that I've announced today for Medr—there will be a big focus within that on widening participation.

A gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich cwestiwn atodol, Sioned? Roedd yn hir iawn, ond roedd yn cynnwys llawer o bwyntiau pwysig iawn, felly rwy'n fodlon ar hynny. Yn gyntaf, mae angen imi ddechrau drwy ddweud fy mod wedi llwyr ymrwymo i gefnogi sector addysg uwch cynaliadwy, ac i gael sefydliadau cryf yma yng Nghymru sy’n gallu cyflawni ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer myfyrwyr ac ymchwil, ac i ysgogi twf economaidd yng Nghymru. Rwy’n cydnabod y pwysau ariannol sydd ar ein sefydliadau addysg uwch yng Nghymru, a ledled y DU a thu hwnt hyd yn oed. Mae’n gyfnod poenus iawn o addasu, yn dilyn y gostyngiad sydyn diweddar yn nifer y myfyrwyr rhyngwladol sy’n cofrestru, ac rwy’n cytuno’n llwyr â’r pwysau a briodolwyd gennych i hynny yn eich cwestiwn i mi. Mae rhai o'r prifysgolion hynny yn cynnal ail archwiliad sylfaenol o'u modelau busnes sefydliadol ac yn ceisio sicrhau mwy o arbedion effeithlonrwydd a chyfleoedd ar gyfer cydweithio rhwng sefydliadau. Ac fel y gwyddoch, rwy’n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd ag arweinwyr prifysgolion a cholegau, yn ogystal â Prifysgolion Cymru, i ddeall y pwysau y maent yn ei wynebu. Rydych yn llygad eich lle i nodi'r angen inni weithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar fater myfyrwyr rhyngwladol, a hefyd, fel rwyf eisoes wedi'i grybwyll y prynhawn yma yn y Siambr, i edrych ar fodel ariannu mwy cynaliadwy ar gyfer addysg uwch yn y tymor hir.

Yn olaf, fe sonioch chi am gyfraddau cyfranogiad. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth sy'n peri cryn bryder i mi ac i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg, a dyma ble rydym yn sianelu ein hadnoddau economaidd ac adnoddau ehangach y Llywodraeth, er mwyn canolbwyntio'n agos ar hynny. Byddai wirioneddol bwysig gweld mwy o ddysgwyr yn ymgymryd â chyrsiau Safon Uwch, ond gadewch inni beidio ag anghofio ychwaith y rôl y gall cymwysterau BTEC ei chwarae o ran mynediad i brifysgolion, ac mae angen inni sicrhau bod pawb yn ymwybodol o hynny—nid yw’n fodel haenog; mae llawer o brifysgolion ledled Cymru a thu hwnt yn derbyn cymwysterau BTEC.

Mae eich pwynt ynglŷn â rhaglen Seren yn un yr ydym yn edrych arno, a gobeithiaf gael rhywfaint o newyddion ynglŷn â hynny cyn bo hir. Ac yn olaf, hoffwn ddweud y bydd y £10 miliwn a gyhoeddais heddiw ar gyfer Medr—bydd ffocws mawr o'i fewn ar ehangu cyfranogiad.

I think if we look at higher education in Wales—and Cefin and I have talked about this at length with you today—we see a dashboard with many of the lights going off, and one of the biggest lights going off, I think, on the dashboard of Welsh universities is, in fact, the participation rates of younger people. So, in Wales we've seen 33 per cent of 18-year-olds go on to university, compared to 42 per cent in the UK as a whole. That's the biggest, most stark gap in modern times, and that is a hugely concerning statistic, not only for our universities, but for the life chances of those young people as well. So, can you tell me what work both you and the education Minister will have commissioned to understand the underlying reasons as to why that is happening in Wales, and whether it is to do with the overall educational performance in Wales, which is obviously much worse than the rest of the United Kingdom, or whether there are other factors at play here as well?

Os edrychwn ar addysg uwch yng Nghymru—ac mae Cefin a minnau wedi trafod hyn yn helaeth gyda chi heddiw—gwelwn ddangosfwrdd gyda llawer o’r goleuadau’n diffodd, a chredaf mai un o’r goleuadau mwyaf sy'n diffodd ar ddangosfwrdd prifysgolion Cymru mewn gwirionedd yw cyfraddau cyfranogiad pobl iau. Felly, yng Nghymru rydym wedi gweld 33 y cant o bobl ifanc 18 oed yn camu ymlaen i brifysgol, o gymharu â 42 y cant yn y DU gyfan. Dyna’r bwlch mwyaf amlwg yn y cyfnod modern, ac mae hwnnw’n ystadegyn sy’n peri cryn bryder, nid yn unig i’n prifysgolion, ond i gyfleoedd bywyd y bobl ifanc hynny hefyd. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf pa waith y byddwch chi a'r Gweinidog addysg wedi'i gomisiynu i ddeall y rhesymau sylfaenol pam fod hynny'n digwydd yng Nghymru, ac a yw'n ymwneud â pherfformiad addysgol cyffredinol Cymru, sy'n amlwg yn waeth o lawer na gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig, neu a oes ffactorau eraill ar waith yma hefyd?

Thank you, Tom, for that follow-up question. I certainly agree with you that we do need to increase the participation rate of our young people in university here in Wales. In fact, one really startling statistic is that, by 2035, 95 per cent of new jobs here in Wales will be graduate positions. So, it really is imperative that we equip our young people with the skills that they need for the future. But as well as that, let's also recognise the role of apprenticeships, which can be undertaken outside of the higher education sphere as well, and also bring important skills that we need for our economy.

I'm just trying to remember the last part of your question now, because—

Diolch am eich cwestiwn dilynol, Tom. Rwy’n sicr yn cytuno â chi fod angen inni gynyddu cyfraddau cyfranogiad ein pobl ifanc yn y brifysgol yma yng Nghymru. A dweud y gwir, un ystadegyn gwirioneddol syfrdanol yw y bydd 95 y cant o swyddi newydd yma yng Nghymru, erbyn 2035, yn swyddi i raddedigion. Felly, mae'n hollbwysig ein bod yn arfogi ein pobl ifanc â'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnynt ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ond yn ogystal â hynny, gadewch inni gydnabod rôl prentisiaethau, y gellir eu cyflawni y tu allan i'r byd addysg uwch hefyd, ac sy'n creu'r sgiliau pwysig sydd eu hangen arnom ar gyfer ein heconomi.

Rwy'n ceisio cofio rhan olaf eich cwestiwn, oherwydd—

What are you doing about it? [Laughter.]

Beth rydych chi'n ei wneud am y peth? [Chwerthin.]

Yes. That's very important, isn’t it? [Laughter.] So, yes, my officials are very busy working on this area, and they will be reporting back to me in the coming months about the research that they have undertaken. Having data to support our work is really important to myself and the Cabinet Secretary, so that is one of the changes in focus that we've both brought into the education department. And I look forward, within the new year, to being able to update the Senedd on the work and the data that we have collected there.

Iawn. Mae hynny'n bwysig iawn, onid yw? [Chwerthin.] Felly, mae fy swyddogion yn brysur iawn yn gweithio ar y maes hwn, a byddant yn adrodd yn ôl i mi yn y misoedd nesaf ar yr ymchwil y maent wedi’i wneud. Mae cael data i gefnogi ein gwaith yn bwysig iawn i mi ac i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, felly dyna un o'r newidiadau o ran ffocws yr ydym ein dau wedi'u cyflwyno i'r adran addysg. Ac edrychaf ymlaen, yn y flwyddyn newydd, at allu rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Senedd am y gwaith a’r data yr ydym wedi’i gasglu yno.

15:10

Good afternoon, Minister. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David is Wales's oldest degree-awarding institution, and there is growing concern around the campus at Lampeter, a place that many of us have visited and really regard as such a beating heart of mid Wales. Residents, students and businesses, both from Lampeter and further afield in Ceredigion, are really seriously concerned about the future of their communities. I recognise that you have said—the Government has said—that this is a matter for the university, but the consequences of the devastating blow of the closure of that campus extend far beyond those individuals to the local community and beyond. So, I wondered if I could ask you, in the light of these concerns, what assurances the Welsh Government can give to the residents, staff members and the wider community during this period of real, deep uncertainty. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Prynhawn da, Weinidog. Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant yw sefydliad dyfarnu graddau hynaf Cymru, ac mae pryder cynyddol ynghylch y campws yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan, lle y mae llawer ohonom wedi ymweld ag ef ac yn ei ystyried yn galon i ganolbarth Cymru. Mae trigolion, myfyrwyr a busnesau, o Lanbedr Pont Steffan a thu hwnt yng Ngheredigion, yn wirioneddol bryderus am ddyfodol eu cymunedau. Rwy'n cydnabod eich bod wedi dweud—mae’r Llywodraeth wedi dweud—mai mater i’r brifysgol yw hwn, ond mae canlyniadau ergyd ddinistriol cau’r campws hwnnw yn ymestyn ymhell y tu hwnt i’r unigolion hynny i’r gymuned leol a thu hwnt. Felly, tybed a gaf i ofyn i chi, yng ngoleuni'r pryderon hyn, pa sicrwydd y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei roi i'r trigolion, aelodau staff a'r gymuned ehangach yn y cyfnod hwn o ansicrwydd gwirioneddol. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you, Jane, for that question. I'd like to begin by saying that I absolutely understand the historic and cultural significance of that university there at Lampeter. I've got a number of friends who actually went to university there, and I know that it has a really special place in people's hearts, especially that iconic, historic building there as well. But it won't come as a surprise to you to hear me say that universities in Wales are autonomous institutions, and it wouldn't be appropriate for Welsh Ministers to intervene in their academic matters, such as course delivery and campus location. I recognise the concern that this announcement may have a negative impact on the local economy, particularly the town centre of Lampeter, and Welsh Ministers, including myself, will remain in regular contact with the university as plans progress.

Whereas across the UK we see humanities courses under threat, I'd just like to say that that is not the case with the proposal by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. This is a proposal about the university responding strategically to challenges to safeguard the study of humanities at their institution by enabling humanities to be co-located with other disciplines and offering a more vibrant student experience. I'm sure you'll be aware that the number of full-time undergraduates at Lampeter now stands at 92, which is smaller than most primary schools in Wales, so we need to be realistic, really, about the situation facing the university. I want to ensure that staff and students are supported, and I would expect to see the principles of social partnership applied as well in providing support for students currently based at Lampeter to continue their studies with the minimum of disruption, should these proposals be enacted.

Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Jane. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddweud fy mod yn deall arwyddocâd hanesyddol a diwylliannol y brifysgol honno yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan yn llwyr. Mae gennyf nifer o ffrindiau a aeth i'r brifysgol yno, a gwn fod ganddi le arbennig iawn yng nghalonnau pobl, yn enwedig yr adeilad hanesyddol, eiconig yno hefyd. Ond ni fydd yn syndod i chi fy nghlywed yn dweud bod prifysgolion yng Nghymru yn sefydliadau ymreolaethol, ac ni fyddai'n briodol i Weinidogion Cymru ymyrryd yn eu materion academaidd, megis darpariaeth cyrsiau a lleoliad eu campws. Rwy’n cydnabod y pryder y gallai’r cyhoeddiad hwn gael effaith negyddol ar yr economi leol, yn enwedig canol y dref yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan, a bydd Gweinidogion Cymru, gan fy nghynnwys i, yn parhau i fod mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â’r brifysgol wrth i gynlluniau ddatblygu.

Er ein bod yn gweld cyrsiau dyniaethau dan fygythiad ledled y DU, hoffwn ddweud nad yw hynny’n wir gyda’r cynnig gan Brifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant. Cynnig yw hwn sy'n ymwneud â'r brifysgol yn ymateb yn strategol i heriau i ddiogelu cyrsiau dyniaethau yn eu sefydliad drwy alluogi'r dyniaethau i gael eu cydleoli â disgyblaethau eraill a chynnig profiad mwy bywiog i fyfyrwyr. Rwy’n siŵr y byddwch yn ymwybodol mai dim ond 92 o israddedigion amser llawn sydd yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan bellach, sy’n llai na’r rhan fwyaf o ysgolion cynradd Cymru, felly mae angen inni fod yn realistig am y sefyllfa y mae'r brifysgol yn ei hwynebu. Hoffwn sicrhau bod staff a myfyrwyr yn cael eu cefnogi, a buaswn yn disgwyl gweld egwyddorion partneriaeth gymdeithasol yn cael eu defnyddio hefyd wrth ddarparu cymorth i fyfyrwyr sydd wedi’u lleoli yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan ar hyn o bryd i barhau â’u hastudiaethau gyda chyn lleied o darfu â phosibl, os caiff y cynigion hyn eu rhoi ar waith.

Buddsoddiad yn Ysgolion Pontypridd
Investment in Pontypridd Schools

7. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru yn ysgolion Pontypridd fel rhan o'r rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain? OQ61968

7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government investment in Pontypridd schools as part of the twenty-first century schools programme? OQ61968

Fifty-two million pounds of Welsh Government capital funding has been invested in schools in the Pontypridd area through the sustainable communities for learning programme and associated capital funding grants since 2014. Rhondda Cynon Taf's nine-year investment plan identifies a further £84 million investment in years 1-6, subject to business case approval and future budget availability.

Buddsoddwyd £52 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf Llywodraeth Cymru mewn ysgolion yn ardal Pontypridd drwy raglen cymunedau dysgu cynaliadwy a grantiau cyllid cyfalaf cysylltiedig ers 2014. Mae cynllun buddsoddi naw mlynedd Rhondda Cynon Taf yn nodi buddsoddiad pellach o £84 miliwn ym mlynyddoedd 1-6, yn amodol ar gymeradwyo achos busnes ac argaeledd cyllideb yn y dyfodol.

Can I thank you for that answer? I'd like to ask a little bit more about the twenty-first century schools programme. Certainly, in my constituency, in the Pontypridd constituency, we've had Y Pant and Hawthorn schools—£100 million; Bryn Celynnog's sixth form, £21 million; Ffynnon Taf, Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Gymraeg Llantrisant, Llwyncrwn and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tonyrefail, £7.2 million; Pontyclun, Penygawsi and Llanilltud Faerdref, £53 million—you attended the recent openings—and Tonyrefail comprehensive, £43 million. There's more than this, but I estimate it at around £0.25 billion that has been invested over the past decade. It's an absolutely transformative programme for education, unlike anything else in the United Kingdom. What guarantees can you give us that there will be a continuation of this programme so that we really do have, throughout the whole of Wales, twenty-first century schools that our children deserve?

A gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich ateb? Hoffwn ofyn mwy am raglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Yn sicr, yn fy etholaeth i, yn etholaeth Pontypridd, rydym wedi cael ysgol Y Pant ac ysgol y Ddraenen Wen—£100 miliwn; chweched dosbarth ysgol Bryn Celynnog, £21 miliwn; ysgol Ffynnon Taf, Ysgol Gynradd Gymunedol Gymraeg Llantrisant, ysgol Llwyncrwn ac Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tonyrefail, £7.2 miliwn; ysgol Pont-y-clun, ysgol Penygawsi ac ysgol Llanilltud Faerdref, £53 miliwn—roeddech yn yr agoriadau diweddar—ac ysgol gyfun Tonyrefail, £43 miliwn. Mae mwy na hyn, ond rwy'n amcangyfrif bod oddeutu £0.25 biliwn wedi'i fuddsoddi dros y degawd diwethaf. Mae’n rhaglen gwbl drawsnewidiol ar gyfer addysg, yn wahanol i unrhyw beth arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Pa warantau y gallwch eu rhoi i ni y bydd y rhaglen hon yn parhau fel bod gennym, ledled Cymru gyfan, yr ysgolion ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain y mae ein plant yn eu haeddu?

Thank you very much, Mick. I think you're very right to highlight the phenomenal amounts of funding that we are investing in school capital, which, of course, is very different to the approach taken over the border. RCT has benefited from £184 million of Welsh Government investment in schools and colleges since the current sustainable communities for learning programme began in 2014. As you’ve highlighted, I came to the opening of the Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School and of Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School’s sixth-form block quite recently, and I’ve also visited Tonyrefail school, which is also a fantastic building. We are committed as a Government to investing in school capital. We want our young people to be educated in twenty-first century buildings. You heard, when we were in Bryn Celynnog, the young people talking with such positivity about their fantastic facilities, and how valued that makes them feel as learners.

You’ll be aware that the budget will be announced next week. There was £20 million of additional in-year capital funding announced yesterday by the First Minister for school repairs, and we do have the nine-year rolling programme of the sustainable communities for learning programme, which I’ve signed off, and local authorities are submitting the bids on that. So, more positive capital expenditure is planned, and, obviously, we await the budget next week as well. Thank you.

Diolch, Mick. Rwy'n credu eich bod yn gwbl iawn i dynnu sylw at y cyllid aruthrol a fuddsoddir gennym mewn cyfalaf ysgolion, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn wahanol iawn i'r dull a fabwysiadwyd dros y ffin. Mae RhCT wedi elwa o £184 miliwn o fuddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn ysgolion a cholegau ers i’r rhaglen cymunedau dysgu cynaliadwy bresennol ddechrau yn 2014. Fel rydych wedi'i nodi, mynychais agoriad Ysgol Gynradd Llanilltud Faerdref a bloc chweched dosbarth Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Celynnog yn eithaf diweddar, ac rwyf hefyd wedi ymweld ag ysgol Tonyrefail, sydd hefyd yn adeilad gwych. Rydym wedi ymrwymo fel Llywodraeth i fuddsoddi mewn cyfalaf ysgolion. Rydym am i’n pobl ifanc gael eu haddysgu mewn adeiladau sy'n addas ar gyfer yr unfed ganrif ar hugain. Pan oeddem yn ysgol Bryn Celynnog, fe glywsoch chi'r bobl ifanc yn siarad mor angerddol am eu cyfleusterau gwych, a pha mor werthfawr y mae hynny’n gwneud iddynt deimlo fel dysgwyr.

Fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol y bydd y gyllideb yn cael ei chyhoeddi yr wythnos nesaf. Cyhoeddwyd £20 miliwn o gyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol yn ystod y flwyddyn ddoe gan y Prif Weinidog ar gyfer atgyweirio ysgolion, ac mae gennym raglen dreigl naw mlynedd y cymunedau dysgu cynaliadwy, a gymeradwywyd gennyf, ac mae awdurdodau lleol yn cyflwyno'r cynigion ar hynny. Felly, mae rhagor o wariant cyfalaf yn yr arfaeth, ac yn amlwg, rydym yn aros am y gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf hefyd. Diolch.

15:15

Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Adam Price.

Finally, question 8, Adam Price.

Addysg Bellach yn Rhydaman
Further Education in Ammanford

8. Ydy'r Llywodraeth yn cefnogi'r nod o barhad addysg bellach yn Rhydaman? OQ61987

8. Does the Government support the goal of continuing further education in Ammanford? OQ61987

Colleges are responsible for the strategic management of their estate, and decisions around any campus or facilities are taken locally. Coleg Sir Gâr has undertaken an extensive review of its overall estate to ensure it meets the needs of learners across the area it serves.

Y colegau sy'n gyfrifol am reolaeth strategol eu hystad, a gwneir penderfyniadau ynghylch unrhyw gampws neu gyfleusterau yn lleol. Mae Coleg Sir Gâr wedi cynnal adolygiad helaeth o'i ystad gyffredinol i sicrhau ei bod yn bodloni anghenion dysgwyr ar draws yr ardal y mae'n ei gwasanaethu.

Ie, ond ydy'r Llywodraeth yn cefnogi darparu addysg bellach yn Rhydaman? O gau'r campws—dyna'r cynlluniau ar hyn o bryd, wrth gwrs, gan y coleg—mi fydd Rhydaman un o'r ychydig drefi o'i faint heb gampws, heb ddarpariaeth addysg bellach o gwbl. Mi fydd e'n cymryd dros awr ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus i gyrraedd safleoedd addysg bellach cyfagos. Does bosib nad yw hynny'n ddarpariaeth ddigonol ar gyfer y dref, a hefyd yr ardal o'i chwmpas. Dwi'n croesawu'r sgwrs gawson ni'n ddiweddar, Gweinidog, a'ch parodrwydd chi i drafod gyda phartneriaid, fel Addysg Oedolion Cymru. Fyddech chi'n fodlon cael cyfarfod pellach gyda fi ac Aelodau eraill yn y rhanbarth i drafod ffordd o sicrhau bod yna ddarpariaeth yn dal i fodoli i Rydaman, ar y cyd â'r coleg, i weld a oes yna gynlluniau amgen maen nhw'n gallu rhoi ar y ford sydd ddim yn golygu mynd o sefyllfa lle mae'r coleg wedi bod yno ers bron i 100 mlynedd a'n bod ni'n cyrraedd sefyllfa lle does yna ddim darpariaeth o gwbl? Fyddai hwnna ddim yn ddigonol, na fyddai?

Yes, but does the Government support the provision of further education in Ammanford? In closing the campus—and those are the plans at the moment by the college—then Ammanford will be one of the few towns of its size without a campus, and without FE provision at all. It will take over an hour on public transport to get to nearby FE sites. Surely that isn’t adequate provision for the town, and also the surrounding area. I welcome the conversation that we had recently, Minister, and your willingness to have discussions with partners, such as Adult Learning Wales. Would you willing to have a further meeting with myself and other Members in the region to discuss a means of ensuring that there is continued provision in Ammanford, jointly with the college, in order to see if there are alternative plans that they could put on the table that wouldn’t mean that we go from a position where the college has been there for almost 100 years and we reach a position where there is no provision whatsoever? Because that wouldn't be adequate, would it?

Thank you, Adam. I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with yourself and Cefin Campbell and Joyce Watson last month to discuss this issue, and I appreciate the passion that all three of you have on this matter too. You know that the decision to close Ammanford campus is one for the college, not for Welsh Ministers. Coleg Sir Gâr's leadership team and governors agreed that rationalising the existing estate to relocate provision from Ammanford and its Job's Well campus to the Pibwrlwyd campus with a £90 million state-of-the-art facility to serve the whole area would be the best option for the college and the learners across the region. 

The review that Coleg Sir Gâr has undertaken of its estate identified that rationalisation of the estate would be required to improve its financial stability also, and to allow the college to invest in those state-of-the-art facilities to enhance the curriculum offer and learner experience. And I know that you are aware, as I am, that the facilities at the Ammanford campus are, unfortunately, either in a poor or very poor condition, which means that they are costly to maintain and inefficient. The college has informed us that significant support will be in place for learners and staff throughout the transition, and that transport will be provided for learners from Ammanford to the campus.

And in terms of your final question, I'm always willing to keep up dialogue with Members with such passion in these areas, but I would also urge you, as I did in that meeting, to have that dialogue direct with the college, because that is where the decision itself is being taken.

Diolch, Adam. Roeddwn yn falch o gael y cyfle i gyfarfod â chi a Cefin Campbell a Joyce Watson fis diwethaf i drafod y mater hwn, ac rwy’n deall angerdd y tri ohonoch dros y mater hwn hefyd. Fe wyddoch mai penderfyniad i’r coleg, nid i Weinidogion Cymru, yw cau campws Rhydaman. Cytunodd tîm arweinyddiaeth a llywodraethwyr Coleg Sir Gâr mai ad-drefnu’r ystad bresennol i adleoli’r ddarpariaeth o Rydaman a’i gampws yn Ffynnon Job i gampws Pibwrlwyd gyda chyfleuster blaengar gwerth £90 miliwn i wasanaethu’r ardal gyfan fyddai’r opsiwn gorau ar gyfer y coleg a'r dysgwyr ar draws y rhanbarth.

Nododd yr adolygiad y mae Coleg Sir Gâr wedi’i gynnal o’i ystad y byddai angen ad-drefnu’r ystad er mwyn gwella ei sefydlogrwydd ariannol hefyd, ac i ganiatáu i’r coleg fuddsoddi yn y cyfleusterau blaengar hynny i wella arlwy’r cwricwlwm a phrofiad y dysgwyr. A gwn eich bod yn ymwybodol, fel finnau, fod y cyfleusterau ar gampws Rhydaman naill ai mewn cyflwr gwael neu wael iawn, yn anffodus, sy'n golygu eu bod yn ddrud i'w cynnal ac yn aneffeithlon. Mae’r coleg wedi rhoi gwybod i ni y bydd cymorth sylweddol ar gael i ddysgwyr a staff drwy gydol y cyfnod pontio, ac y bydd cludiant yn cael ei ddarparu i ddysgwyr o Rydaman i’r campws.

Ac ar eich cwestiwn olaf, rwyf bob amser yn barod i gynnal deialog gydag Aelodau sydd mor angerddol yn y meysydd hyn, ond buaswn hefyd yn eich annog, fel y gwneuthum innau yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, i gael y ddeialog honno'n uniongyrchol â'r coleg, gan mai dyna ble y gwneir y penderfyniad ei hun.

15:20

Diolch i'r Gweinidog.

Thank you, Minister.

If I was marking my own scorecard on that question session I'd have given myself zero out of 10. I allowed some questions to go on for far too long, I called two spokespeople for supplementaries, which I never do, and I cut Plaid Cymru's spokespeople questions down to two from three, so I did particularly badly. No precedents were set in that session and I will revert to my usual practice next week. 

Pe bawn yn marcio fy ngherdyn sgorio fy hun ar y sesiwn gwestiynau honno, buaswn wedi rhoi sero allan o 10 i mi fy hun. Fe ganiateais i rai cwestiynau fynd ymlaen yn rhy hir o lawer, gelwais ddau lefarydd i ofyn cwestiynau atodol, rhywbeth nad wyf i byth yn ei wneud, a thorrais gwestiynau llefarwyr Plaid Cymru i lawr o dri i ddau, felly fe wneuthum yn arbennig o wael. Ni osodwyd unrhyw gynseiliau yn y sesiwn honno, a byddaf yn dychwelyd i fy nhrefn arferol yr wythnos nesaf.

3. Cwestiynau Amserol
3. Topical Questions

Y cwestiynau amserol sydd nesaf. Cwestiwn amserol i'w ateb gan y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, i'w ofyn gan Delyth Jewell.

The topical questions are next. A topical question to be answered by the Deputy First Minister, and to be asked by Delyth Jewell.

Y Llyncdwll ym Merthyr Tudful
The Sinkhole in Merthyr Tydfil

1. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol a phreswylwyr yr effeithir arnynt gan y llyncdwll ym Merthyr Tudful, yn enwedig wrth fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon diogelwch uniongyrchol a'r goblygiadau hirdymor ar gyfer cartrefi yr effeithir arnynt? TQ1266

1. How is the Welsh Government supporting local authorities and residents impacted by the sinkhole in Merthyr Tydfil, particularly in addressing the immediate safety concerns and long-term implications for affected homes? TQ1266

Member
Huw Irranca-Davies 15:21:13
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

Diolch, Delyth. The emergency financial assistance scheme, EFAS, is available to local authorities facing excessive costs when responding to emergencies. So, my officials are working with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to establish the costs associated with storm Bert, and support will be available for response costs to landslips, coal tip slips and sinkholes.

Diolch, Delyth. Mae’r cynllun cymorth ariannol brys ar gael i awdurdodau lleol sy’n wynebu costau gormodol wrth ymateb i argyfyngau. Felly, mae fy swyddogion yn gweithio gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful i gyfrifo'r costau sy’n gysylltiedig â storm Bert, a bydd cymorth ar gael ar gyfer costau'n ymwneud ag ymateb i dirlithriadau, llithriadau tomenni glo a llyncdyllau.

Diolch am hynna. Rwyf i'n gwerthfawrogi popeth dŷch chi'n ei wneud. 

Thanks for that. I appreciate everything you're doing. 

In case anyone isn't aware of what had happened, over the weekend a sinkhole opened in the Nant Morlais area of Pant in Merthyr Tydfil, and it resulted in over 30 homes being evacuated. It's a deeply unsettling situation for residents. Many of them are now in temporary accommodation just weeks before Christmas, and there is no certainty about when they'll be able to return to their homes. And the sinkhole is growing—cracks are spreading into roads, gardens and nearby properties.

Now, early investigations suggest it was probably caused by heavy rain damaging a culvert, which was compounded by two landslides. Now, it is worrying for residents of that street, but it also raises serious concerns about the resilience of our infrastructure in communities like Merthyr, where ageing drainage systems are struggling to cope with increasingly severe storms. The council has said the damage could take months to repair, and that would leave families in this prolonged state of uncertainty. I'm worried about the financial effects. I'm also worried about the emotional effects that could have on residents. I'd be grateful to know what longer term support can be made available to them in the run-up to Christmas, as well as after it, please.

But this sinkhole has appeared, as you've alluded to, Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, alongside landslips in villages across the Valleys and a coal tip landslide in Cwmtillery. Surely these underscore how vulnerable our ageing infrastructure is to these fierce storms. For communities across Wales the risk isn't just hypothetical, it's a reality. It threatens homes, livelihoods and public safety as well. Now, I welcome what you've said, because surely the Welsh Government does have a vital role in supporting local authorities in tackling these vulnerabilities. We do need that adequate resource for emergency response, for comprehensive reviews of drainage and land stability systems and improved risk mapping to make sure, when these incidents could happen again, that we are prepared for them.

Rhag ofn fod unrhyw un heb glywed beth a ddigwyddodd, dros y penwythnos, agorodd llyncdwll yn ardal Nant Morlais yn Pant ym Merthyr Tudful, a arweiniodd at wacáu dros 30 o gartrefi. Mae'n sefyllfa hynod gythryblus i drigolion. Mae llawer ohonynt bellach mewn llety dros dro ychydig wythnosau'n unig cyn y Nadolig, ac nid oes sicrwydd pryd y byddant yn gallu dychwelyd i'w cartrefi. Ac mae'r llyncdwll yn tyfu—mae holltau'n ymledu i ffyrdd, gerddi ac eiddo cyfagos.

Nawr, mae ymchwiliadau cynnar yn awgrymu ei fod wedi'i achosi, yn ôl pob tebyg, gan law trwm yn difrodi cwlfert, a waethygwyd gan ddau dirlithriad. Nawr, mae’n peri pryder i drigolion y stryd honno, ond mae hefyd yn codi pryderon difrifol am gydnerthedd ein seilwaith mewn cymunedau fel Merthyr Tudful, lle mae systemau draenio sy’n heneiddio yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi â stormydd cynyddol ddifrifol. Mae'r cyngor wedi dweud y gallai'r difrod gymryd misoedd i'w atgyweirio, a byddai hynny'n gadael teuluoedd mewn ansicrwydd am amser maith. Rwy'n poeni am yr effeithiau ariannol. Rwyf hefyd yn poeni am yr effeithiau emosiynol y gallai hynny ei chael ar drigolion. Hoffwn wybod pa gymorth mwy hirdymor y gellir ei ddarparu iddynt yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig, ac ar ôl hynny, os gwelwch yn dda.

Ond mae'r llyncdwll hwn wedi agor, fel y nodoch chi, Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog, ochr yn ochr â thirlithriadau mewn pentrefi ar draws y Cymoedd a llithriad tomen lo yng Nghwmtyleri. Mae’r digwyddiadau hyn yn tanlinellu pa mor agored i niwed yw ein seilwaith sy’n heneiddio i’r stormydd ffyrnig hyn. I gymunedau ledled Cymru, nid damcaniaethol yn unig yw'r risg, mae'n realiti. Mae'n bygwth cartrefi, bywoliaeth pobl a diogelwch y cyhoedd hefyd. Nawr, rwy'n croesawu'r yr hyn rydych chi wedi'i ddweud, oherwydd mae'n siŵr fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru rôl allweddol yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i fynd i'r afael â'r gwendidau hyn. Mae angen adnoddau digonol ar gyfer ymateb brys, ar gyfer adolygiadau cynhwysfawr o systemau draenio a sefydlogrwydd tir a gwell trefniadau mapio risg i sicrhau, pan allai pethau fel hyn ddigwydd eto, ein bod yn barod ar eu cyfer.

Nawr, maen nhw hefyd angen cael sicrwydd, rwyf i'n meddwl, ac rydyn ni angen cael sicrwydd, am fel bydd popeth sydd angen digwydd yn cael ei wneud i sicrhau na fydd hyn yn digwydd eto. Buaswn i'n hoffi gwybod, yn gyntaf, ar gyfer y teuluoedd ym Merthyr sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio, pa gefnogaeth, fel dwi'n ei ddweud, sy'n mynd i gael ei rhoi iddyn nhw ar gyfer yr wythnosau yma sy'n rhedeg ymlaen at y Nadolig. Os oes rhai teuluoedd gyda phlant ifanc, dwi'n meddwl, byddan nhw'n gallu bod yn eithriadol o fregus ar hyn o bryd. Felly, byddai hynna'n bwysig.

Buaswn i hefyd yn gofyn pa gamau mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd ymhellach at yr hyn dŷch chi newydd ei ddweud, ac rwyf i yn croesawu beth dŷch chi newydd ei ddweud am yr arian, i wneud yn siŵr bod cymorth llety, fod cymorth ariannol, ar gyfer nid dim ond y cyfnod yma o rai wythnosau, a hefyd cefnogaeth emosiynol ar gyfer y teuluoedd. O ran asesiadau risg, a fydd yr arian yna ar gyfer asesiadau trylwyr, fel yr oeddech chi'n ei ddweud, nid dim ond ar gyfer ffosydd, ond ar gyfer ein systemau draenio, ar gyfer tomenni glo hefyd? Ac yn olaf, pa gamau fydd yn cael eu cymryd i gryfhau ein ffosydd ni, sefydlogi'r tir yn y lleoedd hyn sydd efallai fwyaf bregus i'r newidiadau yma?

Now, they also need an assurance, I think, and we need an assurance, as to how everything that needs to be done will be done in order to ensure that this doesn't happen again. I would like to know, first of all, for the families in Merthyr that have been affected, what support will be provided to them for these weeks in the run-up to Christmas. If there are some families with young children they could be particularly vulnerable at the moment. So, that's very important.

I would also ask what steps the Government is taking in addition to what you've just said, and I do welcome what you said about the funding, but what will be done to ensure that accommodation support and financial support is available not just for this period of a few weeks, but also that there is emotional support for the families. In terms of risk assessments, will there be funding there for thorough assessments, as you said, not just for culverts, but also for our drainage systems and coal tips? Finally, what steps are being taken or will be taken to strengthen our culverts, to stabiise the land in these areas that are most vulnerable to these changes?

15:25

Diolch yn fawr, Delyth, and thank you for the way you've raised this question. Our thoughts do go out to those that have been affected by this just before Christmas, having to move out of their homes, 30 families. We do understand, by the way, that, as of the council's update of 3 December—so, their most recent update—they are hopeful that some residents—we have to go with caution on this, because it needs to be fully safe, properly assessed—will be able to move back into their homes before the end of the week. But we've got to make sure that things for everybody are right as well. I suspect that that won't be the case for all of the residents affected and displaced at the moment.

So, of those near 30 homes that have been evacuated, those who need it are being supported by the council's housing team as well, so there's a real joined-up piece here. I'm glad to see the Cabinet Secretary colleague next to us, because, in all of the after effects of storm Bert, there's been really close engagement and support from Welsh Government as well, and that ask to councils to say, 'Tell us what the impacts are, tell us what the scale of it is', both in terms of infrastructure costs but also in terms of residents, and, in other contexts, businesses as well. So, we're keeping that live engagement going. I actually met this morning, by the way, in the aftermath of storm Bert, for an initial overview, with all of the resilience partners—so, local authorities, emergency responders, Natural Resources Wales, Met Office, everybody—to get an initial feel for what the scale of the impact was and how we could also learn those lessons going forward to mitigate against.

But, specifically on this, what we understand is that, indeed, it is thought that this is a culvert that has given way because of the sheer force of the water going through it. There are some things that have been done already. So, emergency works on Monday and Tuesday—just to reassure the residents—because of the work with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, engineers onsite and others, they formed a dam on Nant Morlais stream so they can install pumps to overpump the water, stop it flowing through the culvert, to take it away. They're continuing with a drone inspection of the culvert, but they're also doing deep-ground penetration radar surveys to identify if there are any other further voids, because what we don't want is people moving back if we suspect there's something else. So, they're applying all the technological solutions to see what the extent of the problem is.

What they're trying to do is stop the flow of water going into the culvert, and then getting on with stabilisation works to stop it expanding further, for those residents who can to be able then to move back in, but with caution, I have to say—it has to be absolutely safe. But they will be doing a full inspection then once they've reduced the water flow through there so that they can do permanent repairs, and then people can get back into their homes.

You mentioned, quite rightly, the issue of what we are doing in terms of the wider infrastructure assets throughout Wales. I'm pleased to say we're slightly ahead of the game. It looks like it is likely to be a collapsed culvert probably linked to the sheer pressure of the storm water coming through and so on. But, back in 2020, when we took through proposals about a national strategy on our asset database, that led us to introducing a national asset database in Wales. We worked with Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Local Government Association, local authorities, to produce this. It's available on NRW's website. It's a live document, because it isn't only a database of those underground assets and coastal flood assets and so on—it's the whole list of them—but it's also the condition of them as well. So, it's not good enough simply to say, 'We know where this stuff is.' We want an assessment of what the condition of them is as well. So, I think we can give that reassurance in that way as well.

Now, in terms of further support for residents and also for the local authority, as I say, we have the EFAS scheme in place. I think we've tried as Welsh Government as well, when we've seen there is a real impact on other residents and businesses that have been affected by things related to the recent storm Bert, to step in where we can to help, in addition to the support being given by local authorities themselves. So, we stand ready. We need an assessment of the impact but, most importantly, there are people on the ground now who are making it safe, trying to do the right inspections and, hopefully, then making it safe so people can move back into their homes. I understand how frustrating this is for residents, but the right people are on the ground doing the right stuff.

Diolch, Delyth, a diolch am y ffordd rydych wedi codi’r cwestiwn hwn. Rydym yn cydymdeimlo â'r rheini sydd wedi'u heffeithio gan hyn ychydig cyn y Nadolig, yn gorfod symud allan o'u cartrefi, 30 o deuluoedd. Rydym yn deall, gyda llaw, o ddiweddariad y cyngor ar 3 Rhagfyr—felly, eu diweddariad diweddaraf—eu bod yn obeithiol y bydd rhai trigolion—mae'n rhaid inni fod yn ofalus gyda hyn, gan fod angen iddo fod yn gwbl ddiogel, wedi'u asesu'n briodol—yn gallu symud yn ôl i'w cartrefi cyn diwedd yr wythnos. Ond mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod pethau'n iawn i bawb hefyd. Rwy’n tybio na fydd hynny’n wir i'r holl drigolion yr effeithiwyd arnynt ac sydd wedi’u dadleoli ar hyn o bryd.

Felly, o'r bron i 30 o gartrefi sydd wedi'u gwacáu, mae'r rhai sydd angen cymorth yn cael eu cefnogi gan dîm tai'r cyngor hefyd, felly mae gwaith gwirioneddol gydgysylltiedig yn digwydd yma. Rwy'n falch o weld bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gyda ni, oherwydd, ym mhob un o sgil-effeithiau storm Bert, cafwyd ymgysylltu agos a chefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd, a'r cais hwnnw i gynghorau, 'Dywedwch wrthym beth yw’r effeithiau, dywedwch wrthym beth yw hyd a lled y difrod’, o ran costau seilwaith ond hefyd o ran trigolion, ac mewn cyd-destunau eraill, busnesau hefyd. Felly, rydym yn parhau â'r ymgysylltu byw hwnnw. Cyfarfûm y bore yma, gyda llaw, yn dilyn storm Bert, i gael trosolwg cychwynnol, â’r holl bartneriaid cydnerthedd—felly, awdurdodau lleol, ymatebwyr brys, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, y Swyddfa Dywydd, pawb—i gael syniad cychwynnol o hyd a lled yr effaith a sut y gallem ddysgu gwersi hefyd wrth symud ymlaen, er mwyn lliniaru'r effeithiau.

Ond yn benodol ar hyn, yr hyn a ddeallwn yw y credir bod cwlfert wedi chwalu oherwydd grym y dŵr a oedd yn llifo drwyddo. Mae rhai pethau wedi'u gwneud yn barod. Gwnaed gwaith brys ddydd Llun a dydd Mawrth—i dawelu meddyliau'r trigolion—oherwydd y gwaith gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful, fe wnaeth peirianwyr ar y safle ac eraill greu argae yn Nant Morlais iddynt allu gosod pympiau i bwmpio’r dŵr drosodd, ei atal rhag llifo drwy'r cwlfert, a'i ddargyfeirio. Maent yn parhau i archwilio'r cwlfert gyda drôn, ond maent hefyd yn cynnal arolygon radar treiddiad dwfn i nodi a oes unrhyw wagleoedd eraill, gan mai'r hyn nad ydym am ei weld yw pobl yn dychwelyd os ydym yn amau bod perygl arall. Felly, maent yn defnyddio'r holl atebion technolegol i ganfod hyd a lled y broblem.

Yr hyn y maent yn ceisio ei wneud yw atal y dŵr rhag llifo i mewn i'r cwlfert, a bwrw ymlaen â gwaith sefydlogi wedyn i'w atal rhag lledu ymhellach, er mwyn i'r trigolion sy'n gallu gwneud hynny symud yn ôl i mewn, ond yn ofalus, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud—mae'n rhaid iddi fod yn gwbl ddiogel iddynt wneud hynny. Ond byddant yn cynnal archwiliad llawn wedyn pan fyddant wedi lleihau llif y dŵr fel y gallant wneud atgyweiriadau parhaol, ac yna, gall pobl ddychwelyd i'w cartrefi.

Fe sonioch chi, yn gwbl briodol, am yr hyn a wnawn o ran yr asedau seilwaith ehangach ledled Cymru. Rwy'n falch o ddweud ein bod ychydig ar y blaen yn hyn o beth. Mae'n debygol mai cwlfert yn chwalu oedd wrth wraidd y broblem, yn gysylltiedig, yn ôl pob tebyg, â phwysau aruthrol y dŵr storm a oedd yn dod drwodd ac ati. Ond yn ôl yn 2020, pan wnaethom fwrw ymlaen â chynigion am strategaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer ein cronfa ddata asedau, arweiniodd hynny at gyflwyno cronfa ddata asedau genedlaethol yng Nghymru. Fe wnaethom weithio gyda Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol i gynhyrchu'r gronfa ddata hon. Mae ar gael ar wefan CNC. Mae'n ddogfen fyw, oherwydd nid yn unig ei bod yn gronfa ddata o'r asedau tanddaearol hynny a'r asedau llifogydd o'r môr ac ati—mae'n rhestr gyfan o bethau—ond mae a wnelo â chyflwr y rhain hefyd. Felly, nid yw'n ddigon da dweud, 'Rydym yn gwybod ble mae'r pethau hyn.' Mae arnom angen asesiad o'u cyflwr hefyd. Felly, credaf y gallwn roi sicrwydd yn y ffordd honno hefyd.

Nawr, o ran cymorth pellach i drigolion ac i'r awdurdod lleol hefyd, fel y dywedaf, mae gennym gynllun cymorth ariannol brys ar waith. Wrth weld yr effaith wirioneddol ar drigolion a busnesau eraill yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn ddiweddar gan bethau sy'n gysylltiedig â storm Bert, rwy'n credu ein bod fel Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd wedi ceisio camu i'r adwy lle gallwn helpu, yn ychwanegol at y cymorth a roddir gan yr awdurdodau lleol eu hunain. Felly, rydym yn barod. Mae arnom angen asesiad o’r effaith, ond yn bwysicaf oll, mae yna bobl ar lawr gwlad sy’n ei gwneud yn ddiogel, yn ceisio cynnal yr arolygiadau cywir, ac rwy'n gobeithio, yn ei gwneud yn ddiogel wedyn i bobl allu dychwelyd i’w cartrefi. Rwy’n deall pa mor rhwystredig yw hyn i drigolion, ond mae’r bobl iawn ar lawr gwlad yn gwneud y pethau cywir.

Deputy First Minister, first and foremost I would like to express my sympathies to the residents of Nant Morlais and Pant following the sudden appearance of a sinkhole near their properties. From my understanding, and having spoken to some of the residents, they actually stated that it began as the size of a pillow and it's still increasing in size. It's due to go up to 50 ft in depth and 16 ft in width. I'd like to also express my thanks to the staff of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and, as you mentioned, the housing team for their swift action in evacuating and rehousing the residents from 30 properties across the area.

As my colleague Delyth Jewell mentioned, we all are aware that Christmas is upon us, 2025 is literally around the corner, and therefore it's crucial that the affected residents are indeed able to return to their homes before the festive season. So, I'd be grateful to know, and I know my colleague mentioned this, but is there going to be any additional financial support that you will be able to provide to the residents via the council for this?

I understand that the sinkhole, as you mentioned previously as well, was caused by the collapse of the culvert, which the council had indeed been aware of and had been monitoring on a bi-annual basis due to concerns raised. So, you mentioned that there will be an assessment and that's absolutely fine, but in relation to regular monitoring, what's the plan? Given the fact that the estate is 35 years of age, what assessments have the authorities made, or are they going to be making, of similar issues in the area? As I say, I'm sure we can all accept that it's a relatively new estate and we have many like this and particularly of that age group across Wales, so I'd be interested to know what the plans are. And I'd finally like to know what remedial action is going to be taken to prevent further sinkholes from emerging, potentially causing more disruption and posing a risk to public safety in the future. Thank you.

Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog, yn gyntaf ac yn bennaf, hoffwn fynegi fy nghydymdeimlad â thrigolion Nant Morlais a Pant yn dilyn ymddangosiad sydyn llyncdwll ger eu heiddo. O'r hyn a ddeallaf, ac ar ôl siarad â rhai o'r trigolion, roeddent yn dweud mai maint gobennydd oedd y twll i ddechrau a'i fod yn dal i chwyddo yn ei faint. Mae'n mynd i fod yn 50 troedfedd o ddyfnder a 16 troedfedd o led. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i staff Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful, ac fel y sonioch chi, y tîm tai am eu camau cyflym yn gwacáu ac ailgartrefu preswylwyr y 30 eiddo ar draws yr ardal.

Fel y soniodd fy nghyd-Aelod Delyth Jewell, gŵyr pob un ohonom fod y Nadolig ar y gorwel, fod 2025 rownd y gornel yn llythrennol, a'i bod yn hollbwysig felly fod y trigolion yr effeithir arnynt yn gallu dychwelyd i'w cartrefi cyn yr ŵyl. Felly, hoffwn wybod, a gwn fod fy nghyd-Aelod wedi sôn am hyn, ond a fyddwch chi'n gallu rhoi unrhyw gymorth ariannol ychwanegol i'r trigolion drwy'r cyngor ar gyfer hyn?

Deallaf fod y llyncdwll, fel y dywedoch chi'n flaenorol, wedi’i achosi gan gwlfert yn chwalu, rhywbeth roedd y cyngor, yn wir, yn ymwybodol ohono ac wedi bod yn ei fonitro ddwywaith y flwyddyn oherwydd pryderon a godwyd. Felly, fe sonioch chi y bydd asesiad yn cael ei gynnal, ac mae hynny'n hollol iawn, ond o ran monitro rheolaidd, beth yw'r cynllun? O ystyried bod yr ystad yn 35 oed, pa asesiadau y mae’r awdurdodau wedi’u gwneud, neu y byddant yn eu gwneud, o broblemau tebyg yn yr ardal? Fel y dywedais, rwy'n siŵr y gall pob un ohonom dderbyn ei bod yn ystad gymharol newydd a bod gennym lawer o rai tebyg, ac o'r oedran hwnnw'n arbennig, ledled Cymru, felly hoffwn wybod beth yw'r cynlluniau. Ac yn olaf, hoffwn wybod pa gamau unioni sy'n mynd i gael eu cymryd i atal rhagor o lyncdyllau rhag ymddangos gan achosi mwy o darfu a chan beri risg i ddiogelwch y cyhoedd yn y dyfodol. Diolch.

15:30

Thank you very much, Natasha, and just to say, in terms of funding, there is funding already available for things like culvert repair and so on, through the flood and coastal erosion risk management programme, so that can be used to fix failed assets such as culverts. But if there is call, because of the scale of the impact, either in Merthyr or in other local authorities dealing with the aftermath of storm Bert, we have demonstrated already that we stand ready to help. What we need then, and they're doing it, is the information from those local authorities; they won't have it immediately, although we've got some working idea already. But we need the detail on the impact, authority by authority by authority, to see whether we can offer any additional support. 

And as I say, in terms of residents and businesses, not businesses in terms of this particular instance, but wider impacts from storm Bert, we've already shown that where we can, we've been willing to step up with additional support, including, for example, for homes that didn't have insurance. But fair play to both Merthyr council and Rhondda Cynon Taf council as well, they've also stepped up with their own support by going to their own reserves as well.

You mentioned there in terms of the asset, can I refer you back to the answer I gave earlier on the asset register? We were ahead of the game here in Wales. We can't prevent every incidence like this, particularly where we have weather like this that may impact. Now we don't know for certain yet that this is a result of storm Bert, but there is a working assumption that the collapse of this culvert and the widening of this hole is related to the sheer weight of discharge through that culvert. The good thing is that we have the database—we're ahead of the game here—but that database, again to reflect on my previous answer, is not simply there to map where the assets are, it's actually the condition of them as well.

In terms of whether there are any wider problems within this locality, one of the things that the engineers are doing is using deep-penetration radar, which can identify any other problems that there might be, such as voids or sinkholes as well. So, I'm sure that they will not be wanting to allow anybody back into homes that may be in jeopardy, but they'll also want to make sure that the wider locality is safe as well. So, we need to let them get on with their work and come up with the right decisions to reassure, then, the residents.

Diolch yn fawr, Natasha, ac os caf ddweud, o ran cyllid, mae cyllid eisoes ar gael ar gyfer pethau fel atgyweirio cwlfertau ac yn y blaen, drwy'r rhaglen rheoli risg llifogydd ac erydu arfordirol, felly gellir defnyddio hwnnw i drwsio asedau diffygiol fel cwlfertau. Ond os oes galw, oherwydd maint yr effaith, naill ai ym Merthyr Tudful neu mewn awdurdodau lleol eraill sy'n ymdopi â chanlyniadau storm Bert, rydym eisoes wedi dangos ein bod yn barod i helpu. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom wedyn, ac maent yn ei wneud, yw'r wybodaeth gan yr awdurdodau lleol hynny; ni fydd hi ganddynt ar unwaith, er bod gennym syniad eisoes. Ond mae angen y manylion arnom am yr effaith, o un awdurdod i'r llall, i weld a allwn gynnig unrhyw gymorth ychwanegol. 

Ac fel y dywedais, o ran trigolion a busnesau, nid busnesau yn yr achos penodol hwn, ond effeithiau ehangach storm Bert, rydym eisoes wedi dangos, lle gallwn, ein bod wedi bod yn barod i gamu i'r adwy gyda chymorth ychwanegol, gan gynnwys, er enghraifft, ar gyfer cartrefi nad oedd ganddynt yswiriant. Ond chwarae teg i gyngor Merthyr Tudful a chyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf, maent hwythau hefyd wedi camu i'r adwy gyda'u cymorth eu hunain trwy fynd i'w cronfeydd wrth gefn eu hunain.

Fe wnaethoch chi grybwyll yr ased, a gaf i eich cyfeirio yn ôl at yr ateb a roddais yn gynharach ar y gofrestr asedau? Roeddem ar y blaen yma yng Nghymru. Ni allwn atal pob ddigwyddiad o'r fath, yn enwedig lle mae gennym dywydd fel hyn a allai effeithio. Nawr nid ydym yn gwybod i sicrwydd eto fod hyn wedi digwydd o ganlyniad i storm Bert, ond ceir rhagdybiaeth fod cwymp y cwlfert a'r twll yn lledu yn gysylltiedig â phwysau'r dŵr sy'n gollwng drwy'r cwlfert hwnnw. Y peth da yw bod gennym y gronfa ddata—rydym ar y blaen gyda hyn—ond i ategu fy ateb blaenorol, mae'r gronfa ddata honno yno i fapio cyflwr asedau yn ogystal â'u lleoliad.

O ran unrhyw broblemau ehangach yn yr ardal, un o'r pethau y mae'r peirianwyr yn ei wneud yw defnyddio radar treiddiad dwfn, a all nodi unrhyw broblemau eraill a allai fodoli, fel gwagleoedd neu lyncdyllau. Felly, rwy'n siŵr na fyddant am ganiatáu i unrhyw un ddychwelyd i gartrefi a allai fod mewn perygl, ond byddant am sicrhau bod yr ardal ehangach yn ddiogel hefyd. Felly, mae angen inni adael iddynt fwrw ymlaen â'u gwaith a meddwl am y penderfyniadau cywir i dawelu meddyliau'r trigolion.

Thank you for the answers that you've given so far and thanks to Delyth for raising this question. And I echo what Natasha was saying about the work that's been done by officials to try and alleviate what's happened. But what’s happened in Pant has been horrendous, and my heart goes out to every family that's affected. Safety must come first, but I hope that there is a way for the residents to have—. As you intimated, some of them might be back in before Christmas, so I'm hopeful for that. 

But this isn't just a Merthyr issue; there are other sinkholes opening up in other parts of Wales as a result of storm Bert. And the coal tip in Cwmtillery, I know you went up there, but did you also see the sinkhole near the cafe there—the Pentref Tyleri cafe? That, again, is causing concern. It's not as close to houses, but is still a real concern, and I'm aware of other smaller sinkholes in my region that are causing concern for people. The overriding message to take, I think, from these events is that it's happening in several areas that were once safe, but don't seem to be so any longer.

So, the question then is that we desperately need this futureproofing of the infrastructure against the more frequent freak weather events that we are experiencing. So, do you agree that more needs to be done—and you seem to be saying that—and how are you planning for that futureproofing? So, how are you planning to look at the drainage network and the infrastructure, to cope better with these sheer weights of water? The question would be: if this culvert was inspected, would it have been picked up? That's one of the questions. If it should have been picked up, why wasn't it? If it wasn't picked up, how could it be? And how do you use that technology, that deep-radar technology, to actually look through this? Is that a one-off because it's happened, or is that happening across our coalfields and across the area? So, basically, how often is that happening, and how are we getting to grips with what's underground, and how are we making sure that this isn't happening to other families?

Diolch am yr atebion a roesoch hyd yma a diolch i Delyth am ofyn y cwestiwn. Ac rwy'n adleisio'r hyn a ddywedodd Natasha am y gwaith a wnaed gan swyddogion i geisio lleddfu'r hyn a ddigwyddodd. Ond mae'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn Pant wedi bod yn erchyll, ac rwy'n cydymdeimlo â phob teulu yr effeithiwyd arnynt. Rhaid i ddiogelwch ddod yn gyntaf, ond gobeithio bod ffordd i'r trigolion gael—. Fel y dywedoch chi, efallai y bydd rhai ohonynt yn ôl i mewn cyn y Nadolig, felly rwy'n gobeithio hynny. 

Ond nid problem ym Merthyr Tudful yn unig yw hi; mae llyncdyllau eraill yn agor mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru o ganlyniad i storm Bert. A'r domen lo yng Nghwmtyleri, gwn eich bod wedi bod yno, ond a welsoch chi hefyd y llyncdwll ger y caffi yno—caffi Pentref Tyleri? Unwaith eto, mae hynny'n peri pryder. Nid yw mor agos at dai, ond mae'n dal i beri pryder gwirioneddol, ac rwy'n ymwybodol o lyncdyllau llai eraill yn fy rhanbarth sy'n peri pryder i bobl. Y neges hollbwysig i'w dysgu o'r digwyddiadau hyn yw ei fod yn digwydd mewn sawl ardal a oedd unwaith yn ddiogel, ond nad yw'n ymddangos eu bod yn ddiogel mwyach.

Felly, y cwestiwn wedyn yw bod gwir angen diogelu'r seilwaith ar gyfer y dyfodol yn erbyn y digwyddiadau tywydd garw mwy mynych a gawn. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod angen gwneud mwy—ac mae'n ymddangos eich bod chi'n dweud hynny—a sut rydych chi'n cynllunio ar gyfer diogelu at y dyfodol? Sut rydych chi'n bwriadu edrych ar y rhwydwaith draenio a'r seilwaith, er mwyn ymdopi'n well â'r pwysau dŵr? Y cwestiwn fyddai: os cafodd y cwlfert hwn ei archwilio, a fyddai wedi cael ei nodi? Dyna un o'r cwestiynau. Os dylai fod wedi cael ei nodi, pam na chafodd? Os na chafodd ei nodi, sut y gallai hynny fod? A sut rydych chi'n defnyddio'r dechnoleg honno, y dechnoleg radar dwfn, i edrych ar hyn mewn gwirionedd? A yw hynny'n digwydd unwaith am ei fod wedi digwydd, neu a yw'n digwydd ar draws ein meysydd glo ac ar draws yr ardal? Felly, yn y bôn, pa mor aml y mae hynny'n digwydd, a sut yr awn i'r afael â'r hyn sydd o dan y ddaear, a sut y gallwn ni sicrhau nad yw hyn yn digwydd i deuluoedd eraill?

15:35

Thank you, Peredur. Local authorities, now that we have the national database, so we know where the assets are—. And these assets can vary, by the way, between culverts and things that actually protect our coastline. There is a range of assets to do with flood and the movement of water, the increasing movement of volumes of water that we see throughout Wales. So, the purpose of that database is, as I mentioned before, not only to map them, but to monitor them. So, local authorities need to be getting on doing that, and they are.

The challenge will be when we're faced with weather incidents like we've just had. If it does turn out, the working assumption, that this was related to those discharges flowing through, the volumes flowing through that culvert, then it could well be that this or other culverts would not show a problem in advance of that, but they've been overwhelmed. But that is exactly why we need to keep on with the regular monitoring of the condition of these assets, not simply knowing where they are.

Just to say as well, Peredur, this is a piece across Government as well, in terms of the way that we respond. It's not only the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, sitting next to me, but my colleague Jayne Bryant—housing and local government—met with the leader, discussed this amongst other things, and the impact of storm Bert, on Monday, I think it was. I've discussed it with him briefly today as part of a bigger meeting with local authority leaders, and others as well. And I'm hopeful that, on the back of an invitation he extended to me, I'll go up and have a look at this myself as well, and learn more, because I always find I learn more by being actually out there looking at it directly, and speaking with residents affected, and so on.

So, what I would say is, though, I think that the piece that we did on the back of the—kicking this off with the national strategy in 2020, to say, 'We must have this database, we need to know where these things are, and we need to know the condition that they're in', has put us on the right footing now. But that doesn't mean we're not going to have eventualities like this again.

Diolch, Peredur. Awdurdodau lleol, gan fod gennym y gronfa ddata genedlaethol bellach, fel ein bod yn gwybod ble mae'r asedau—. A gall yr asedau hyn amrywio, gyda llaw, rhwng cwlfertau a phethau sy'n diogelu ein harfordir. Ceir amrywiaeth o asedau sy'n ymwneud â llifogydd a symudiad dŵr, symudiad cynyddol y cyfeintiau o ddŵr a welwn ledled Cymru. Felly, pwrpas y gronfa ddata honno, fel y soniais o'r blaen, yw monitro yn ogystal â mapio. Felly, mae angen i awdurdodau lleol fwrw ati i wneud hynny, ac maent yn gwneud hynny.

Daw'r her pan gawn ddigwyddiadau tywydd fel rydym newydd eu cael. Os yw'n wir, fel y rhagdybir, fod hyn yn gysylltiedig â dŵr yn llifo drwodd, y cyfeintiau a lifai drwy'r cwlfert, mae'n ddigon posibl na fyddai'r cwlfertau hyn neu rai eraill wedi dangos problem cyn hynny, ond cawsant eu gorlwytho. Ond dyna'n union pam y mae angen inni barhau i fonitro cyflwr yr asedau hyn yn rheolaidd, nid dim ond gwybod ble y maent.

Os caf ddweud hefyd, Peredur, mae hwn yn waith ar draws y Llywodraeth, o ran y ffordd yr ydym yn ymateb. Nid Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg yn unig, sy'n eistedd wrth fy ymyl, ond fe wnaeth fy nghyd-Aelod, Jayne Bryant—tai a llywodraeth leol—gyfarfod â'r arweinydd, i drafod hyn ymysg pethau eraill, ac effaith storm Bert, ddydd Llun, rwy'n credu. Rwyf wedi trafod hyn gydag ef yn fyr heddiw fel rhan o gyfarfod mwy gydag arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol, ac eraill hefyd. Ac rwy'n gobeithio, ar sail gwahoddiad a roddodd i mi, y byddaf yn mynd i fyny ac yn edrych ar hyn fy hun hefyd, ac yn dysgu mwy, oherwydd rwyf bob amser yn teimlo fy mod yn dysgu mwy drwy fod allan yno'n edrych arno'n uniongyrchol, a siarad â thrigolion yr effeithir arnynt, ac yn y blaen.

Felly, yr hyn rwy'n ei ddweud, serch hynny, yw bod y gwaith a wnaethom ar—roedd dechrau hyn gyda'r strategaeth genedlaethol yn 2020, a dweud, 'Mae'n rhaid inni gael y gronfa ddata hon, mae angen inni wybod ble mae'r pethau hyn, ac mae angen inni wybod beth yw eu cyflwr', wedi ein rhoi ar y sylfaen gywir nawr. Ond nid yw hynny'n golygu na fyddwn yn cael digwyddiadau fel hyn eto.

Diolch, Llywydd. Not to detract from what happened in Pant, but I recall a sinkhole appearing by a school field in north Wales. And when we were doing some highway maintenance work, we lifted a concrete plinth up and there was a void underneath it. So, if it had cracked, it would have been really dangerous for drivers. We need landowners and utility companies to take responsibility, with a programme of maintenance of culverts, pipes and ditches—I've asked for this before—and we need to retain upstream. I know the local authority have been asking Natural Resources Wales to also maintain their culverts and ditches, and they've not been responding to that ask. So, we need to make sure that that does happen.

I wanted to ask you as well about the national underground asset register, which is being proposed by UK Government, and Welsh Government have been in talks about it, which we definitely need. I know it's going to be a massive undertaking, but we need this, more than ever. So, I wanted to ask about an update on that. But I also propose—I don't think I can do it from this—that we take it to our Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee—I know the Chair's just gone—regarding what happened with storm Bert, and any other flooding eventualities, and what we can do more of, and then bring that to you as well in the future. I think it's something that we need to really look into.

Diolch, Lywydd. Nid wyf am dynnu oddi wrth yr hyn a ddigwyddodd yn Pant, ond rwy'n cofio llyncdwll yn ymddangos ger cae ysgol yng ngogledd Cymru. A phan oeddem yn gwneud gwaith cynnal a chadw priffyrdd, fe wnaethom godi plinth concrit i ac roedd gwagle oddi tano. Felly, pe bai wedi cracio, byddai wedi bod yn beryglus iawn i yrwyr. Mae angen i dirfeddianwyr a chwmnïau cyfleustodau gymryd cyfrifoldeb, gyda rhaglen gynnal cwlfertau, pibellau a ffosydd—rwyf wedi gofyn am hyn o'r blaen—ac mae angen inni gynnal i fyny'r afon. Rwy'n gwybod bod yr awdurdod lleol wedi bod yn gofyn i Gyfoeth Naturiol Cymru gynnal eu cwlfertau a'u ffosydd hefyd, ac nid ydynt wedi bod yn ymateb i'r cais hwnnw. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd.

Roeddwn eisiau gofyn i chi hefyd am y gofrestr asedau tanddaearol genedlaethol, sy'n cael ei hargymell gan Lywodraeth y DU, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod mewn trafodaethau yn ei chylch, ac mae arnom ei hangen yn bendant. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd yn dasg enfawr, ond mae angen hyn arnom, yn fwy nag erioed. Felly, roeddwn eisiau gofyn am y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am hynny. Ond rwy'n argymell hefyd—nid wyf yn credu y gallaf ei wneud o hyn—ein bod yn mynd ag ef at ein Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith—rwy'n gwybod bod y Cadeirydd newydd fynd—ynglŷn â'r hyn a ddigwyddodd gyda storm Bert, ac unrhyw ddigwyddiadau llifogydd eraill, a'r hyn y gallwn wneud mwy ohono, a dod â hynny atoch chi hefyd yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid inni edrych arno'n iawn.

Carolyn, thank you very much. I'm loath, Llywydd, to trespass into the work programme of the committee, which I used to be a member of, proudly, but it may well be of interest to look at this issue of assets, where they are, and so on. And you are right: earlier on, I was referring to the database that we’ve put in place already in Wales, that maps those flood and coastal inundation assets, but there’s a separate piece of work, and that separate piece of work is a UK-wide piece of work on an asset register, which really focuses on the utility companies and their underground assets as well, which is part of this picture. Now, the latest we understand—and we are closely engaged with the UK Government on this—is that the intention is that that will be up and running by the end of 2025. So, that’s another piece of the jigsaw—it's starting to come together. So, I hope that’s useful for you, but if the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee want to look at this, then I think that might be a good piece of work.

Carolyn, diolch yn fawr. Lywydd, rwy'n gyndyn i dresmasu ar raglen waith y pwyllgor, yr arferwn fod yn aelod balch ohono, ond mae'n ddigon posibl y bydd yn ddiddorol edrych ar fater asedau, lle maent ac yn y blaen. Ac rydych chi'n iawn: yn gynharach, cyfeiriais at y gronfa ddata a roddwyd ar waith eisoes yng Nghymru, sy'n mapio'r asedau llifogydd a llifogydd o'r môr, ond mae yna waith arall yn mynd rhagddo ar draws y DU ar gofrestr asedau, sy'n canolbwyntio ar y cwmnïau cyfleustodau a'u hasedau tanddaearol hefyd, sy'n rhan o'r darlun hwn. Nawr, y diweddaraf a ddeallwn—ac rydym yn ymwneud yn agos â Llywodraeth y DU ar hyn—yw mai'r bwriad yw iddo fod ar waith erbyn diwedd 2025. Felly, dyna ddarn arall o'r jig-so—mae'n dechrau dod at ei gilydd. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny'n ddefnyddiol i chi, ond os yw'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith am edrych ar hyn, rwy'n credu y gallai fod yn waith da.

15:40

Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Peter Fox sy'n gofyn y cwestiwn nesaf i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet cyllid. Peter Fox. 

I thank the Cabinet Secretary. The next question is from Peter Fox to the Cabinet Secretary for finance. Peter Fox. 

Cyllid
Funding

2. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad am y cyllid diweddar a ddyrannwyd ar gyfer cyflawni blaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth? TQ1268

2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the recent funding allocated for the delivery of the Government’s priorities? TQ1268

Llywydd, after addressing the additional funding provided to Wales by the UK Government in its autumn budget, £157 million has been allocated to support the First Minister’s priorities in this financial year.  

Lywydd, ar ôl mynd i'r afael â'r cyllid ychwanegol a ddarparwyd i Gymru gan Lywodraeth y DU yng nghyllideb yr hydref, dyrannwyd £157 miliwn i gefnogi blaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon.  

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and, yes, it would be helpful to get some more clarity around the £157 million. It was announced as if it was a new lump of money yesterday, but, clearly, this is £150 million over the course of several months. And I understand that about £122.5 million of that is allocated, and another £34.5 million to be spent. However, I stand corrected if that has been updated.

I note there was no additional funding for social care, a major factor contributing to growing NHS waiting lists, which we know are spiralling out of control. I do welcome the £21 million for diagnostic equipment, which certainly will be helpful, but we can’t get away from the fact that when we're putting money continually into the NHS, the problems don’t seem to be getting much less. I’ve maintained that we need a root-and-branch assessment of NHS funding, because, whilst we see increasing moneys allocated, little seems to be improving, certainly from the public perspective.

So, Cabinet Secretary, can you outline again how the Government assesses the effectiveness of the increased funding that you are putting into certainly things like health? And how did you determine the levels of funding needed for the recent allocations? And would this be the same process you’ll be using for the budget next week?

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac fe fyddai'n ddefnyddiol cael mwy o eglurder ynghylch y £157 miliwn. Fe'i cyhoeddwyd fel pe bai'n dalp newydd o arian ddoe, ond yn amlwg, £150 miliwn dros gyfnod o sawl mis yw hwn. Ac rwy'n deall bod tua £122.5 miliwn ohono wedi'i ddyrannu, a £34.5 miliwn arall i'w wario. Fodd bynnag, rwy'n hapus i gael fy nghywiro os yw hynny wedi'i ddiweddaru.

Rwy'n nodi nad oedd cyllid ychwanegol ar gael ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol, ffactor pwysig sy'n cyfrannu at restrau aros cynyddol y GIG y gwyddom eu bod yn tyfu allan o bob rheolaeth. Rwy'n croesawu'r £21 miliwn ar gyfer offer diagnostig, a fydd yn sicr yn ddefnyddiol, ond ni allwn ddianc rhag y ffaith pan fyddwn yn rhoi arian yn barhaus i'r GIG, nad yw'n ymddangos bod y problemau'n mynd yn llawer llai. Rwyf wedi honni bod angen asesiad trylwyr o gyllid y GIG, oherwydd, er ein bod yn gweld mwy o arian yn cael ei ddyrannu, ymddengys nad oes fawr o ddim yn gwella, o safbwynt y cyhoedd yn sicr.

Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a allwch chi amlinellu eto sut y mae'r Llywodraeth yn asesu effeithiolrwydd y cyllid cynyddol a roddwch i bethau fel iechyd? A sut y gwnaethoch chi benderfynu ar y lefelau cyllid sydd eu hangen ar gyfer y dyraniadau diweddar? Ac a fyddwch chi'n defnyddio'r un broses ar gyfer y gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf?

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

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

Dirprwy Lywydd, the £157 million is the first tranche of expenditure that I’m able to allocate from the additional funding that came to Wales for the current financial year in the Chancellor’s budget on 30 October. There will be further allocations to be made, and the relevant portfolio Ministers will make those announcements.

This is money that needs to be spent in the current financial year, so part of my assessment is the extent to which different expenditure headings are able to absorb money in the remaining months of this financial year, and I paid particular priority to those examples of expenditure that did not require recurrent funding in the following financial year. So, the way in which these priority allocations have been made is shaped by the point in the year in which the money has become available, the capacity of services to make good use of it, and those considerations will be part of the plan that will be announced on the floor of the Senedd next week. Next year’s budget will be shaped by a wider set of considerations.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, y £157 miliwn yw'r gyfran gyntaf o wariant y gallaf ei dyrannu o'r cyllid ychwanegol a ddaeth i Gymru ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol yng nghyllideb y Canghellor ar 30 Hydref. Bydd dyraniadau pellach i'w gwneud, a bydd y Gweinidogion portffolio perthnasol yn gwneud y cyhoeddiadau hynny.

Mae hwn yn arian y mae angen ei wario yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol, felly rhan o fy asesiad yw i ba raddau y gall gwahanol benawdau gwariant amsugno arian yn ystod y misoedd sy'n weddill o'r flwyddyn ariannol hon, ac fe roddais flaenoriaeth arbennig i enghreifftiau o wariant nad oedd angen cyllid rheolaidd arno yn y flwyddyn ariannol ganlynol. Felly, mae'r ffordd y gwnaed y dyraniadau blaenoriaethol hyn wedi ei siapio gan y pwynt yn y flwyddyn y daeth yr arian ar gael, gallu gwasanaethau i wneud defnydd da ohono, a bydd yr ystyriaethau hynny'n rhan o'r cynllun a gyhoeddir ar lawr y Senedd yr wythnos nesaf. Bydd cyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf wedi ei siapio gan set ehangach o ystyriaethau.

Diolch i Peter Fox am osod y cwestiwn hwn. Mi oeddwn i wedi codi ddoe yn ystod y datganiad busnes fod jest angen eglurder, efallai, o ran sut mae’r arian yma yn cael ei rannu. Yn amlwg, mae’r datganiad i’r wasg yn sôn ei fod o’n gymysgedd o refeniw a chyfalaf. Mi fyddai’n fuddiol gwybod beth ydy’r toriad hwnnw, o ran faint sydd yn arian refeniw, faint sy’n gyfalaf, oherwydd fel rydych chi wedi sôn, pedwar mis sydd yna i bobl wario’r arian ac mae’n rhaid i chi gael y sicrwydd eu bod nhw’n gallu gwneud. Mae yna heriau efo arian cyfalaf yn aml o ran hynny.

Hefyd, jest er mwyn deall, os caf i adeiladu ar y pwyntiau gan Peter Fox, dim ond o ran sut mae’r pres yma wedi cael ei ddyfarnu a mesur yr effaith, oherwydd yn amlwg o ran amseroedd aros, rydyn ni wedi gweld y cyllid yn mynd o £28 miliwn i £50 miliwn i £71 miliwn mewn cyfnod o rai wythnosau, felly faint o arian sydd ei angen i fynd i’r afael â’r rhestrau aros? Mae’n dda inni gael tryloywder o ran hyn.

Hefyd, pryd fydd yna ddatganiad sydd yn sôn ynglŷn a sut yn union mae’r arian yma yn cael ei rannu? Yn amlwg, mae’n anodd ar y funud cael y trosolwg hwnnw o gael cyhoeddiadau unigol gan Weinidogion. Felly, ydy o’n fwriad gan Llywodraeth Cymru i gyhoeddi yn union lle mae’r arian yma’n mynd a beth fydd ei effaith o?

I thank Peter Fox for tabling this question. I raised yesterday during the business statement that we just need clarity, perhaps, in terms of how this money is to be allocated. Clearly, the press release mentioned that it’s a mix of revenue and capital. It would be good to know what that breakdown is, in terms of how much is revenue and how much is capital, because as you’ve mentioned, there are four months for people to spend this money and you need an assurance that they’re able to do that. There are often challenges with capital funding in that sense.

Also, just to understand, if I can build on Peter Fox's point, in terms of how this money is to be allocated and measuring the impact, because clearly in terms of waiting times, we have seen funding going from £28 million to £50 million to £71 million in a period of just weeks, so how much money is needed to tackle waiting lists? It would be good if we could have transparency in this area.

Also, when will there be a statement that covers how exactly this money is to be spent and allocated? Because it's difficult to get that overview at the moment in seeing individual statements made by Ministers. So, is it the Welsh Government's intention to publish exactly where this funding will go and what its impact will be?

15:45

Diolch yn fawr i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiynau ychwanegol. 

I thank Heledd Fychan for those supplementary questions.

Once I had made provision for the pay uplifts announced by the UK Government and the consequentials for us here in Wales in this financial year, the money that was left to allocate was capable of being allocated as either revenue or capital. There were no constraints in the way the money came to Wales. That allowed us to have a free hand in that, and the announcements that the First Minister made yesterday are a mixture of those. The extra £1 million for the arts is essentially revenue. The £20 million for school and college repairs is primarily capital. So, there is a mixture in that.

As far as NHS waiting lists are concerned, £50 million has already been made available and announced for the current financial year to bring down those lists. All the funding that has been announced has particular outcomes associated with it. The extra £1 million for the arts, for example, means that 60 organisations will be funded through the additional funding—not just the £1 million but the £1.5 million already announced for the arts council in the current financial year. The same will be true for the £21 million for diagnostic equipment. There will be specific figures on the additional amount of activity in diagnostics that can be generated by that investment. But those are all for the spending Ministers to account for here, rather than me. All I do is try and make sure they have the resources that can be supplied to them.

In terms of the trosolwg, the oversight of it all, my intention will be to report the entire package of in-year investments in the second supplementary budget so that Members will have a view right across all the different allocations that have been able to be made.

Ar ôl imi ddarparu ar gyfer y codiadau cyflog a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU a'r symiau canlyniadol i ni yma yng Nghymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, roedd modd dyrannu'r arian a oedd ar ôl i'w ddyrannu fel naill ai refeniw neu gyfalaf. Nid oedd unrhyw gyfyngiadau yn y ffordd y daeth yr arian i Gymru. Roedd hynny'n caniatáu inni gael rhwydd hynt yn hynny, ac mae'r cyhoeddiadau a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog ddoe yn gymysgedd o'r rheini. Refeniw yw'r £1 filiwn ychwanegol i'r celfyddydau yn y bôn. Cyfalaf yn bennaf yw'r £20 miliwn ar gyfer atgyweirio ysgolion a cholegau. Felly, mae cymysgedd yn hynny.

Ar restrau aros y GIG, mae £50 miliwn eisoes wedi'i ryddhau a'i gyhoeddi ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol i leihau'r rhestrau hynny. Mae gan yr holl gyllid a gyhoeddwyd ganlyniadau penodol yn gysylltiedig ag ef. Mae'r £1 filiwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y celfyddydau, er enghraifft, yn golygu y bydd 60 o sefydliadau yn cael eu hariannu drwy'r cyllid ychwanegol—nid yn unig yr £1 filiwn ond yr £1.5 miliwn sydd eisoes wedi'i gyhoeddi ar gyfer cyngor y celfyddydau yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol. Bydd yr un peth yn wir am y £21 miliwn ar gyfer offer diagnostig. Bydd ffigurau penodol ar faint o weithgarwch ychwanegol mewn diagnosteg y gellir ei gynhyrchu gan y buddsoddiad hwnnw. Ond mae'r rheini i gyd yn bethau i'r Gweinidogion sy'n gwario, yn hytrach na myfi, roi cyfrif amdanynt yma. Y cyfan rwy'n ei wneud yw ceisio sicrhau bod ganddynt yr adnoddau y gellir eu darparu iddynt.

O ran y trosolwg ar y cyfan, fy mwriad fydd rhoi adroddiad ar y pecyn cyfan o fuddsoddiadau yn ystod y flwyddyn yn yr ail gyllideb atodol fel bod yr Aelodau'n gallu gweld yr holl ddyraniadau gwahanol y bu modd eu gwneud.

Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, I too was going to ask you whether this money had to be spent in the next three months, or whether in fact public sector bodies will be able to keep back some of that money to plug some of the significant gaps that obviously will be formed by the huge increases in national insurance contributions that are happening next April. Or will they have to wait for that next tranche that you talk about?

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, roeddwn innau hefyd yn mynd i ofyn i chi a oedd yn rhaid gwario'r arian hwn yn ystod y tri mis nesaf, neu a fydd cyrff y sector cyhoeddus yn gallu cadw rhywfaint o'r arian yn ôl i lenwi rhai o'r bylchau sylweddol a fydd yn amlwg yn cael eu ffurfio gan y cynnydd enfawr i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol sy'n digwydd fis Ebrill nesaf. Neu a fydd yn rhaid iddynt aros am y gyfran nesaf yr ydych chi'n sôn amdani?

The answer is it’s a mixture of both. The money must leave the Welsh Government account in this financial year. Sometimes, that goes to organisations who also are under restrictions in the way their finances are organised, so they must spend it in the current financial year. Some organisations will have an ability to use the money we provide to them this year over a longer period of time. I’m sorry to be making it sound complicated, but the truth is it depends upon the financial governance arrangements of the organisations who are being funded. But all the money must be spent by the Welsh Government in the current financial year.

Mae'r ateb yn gyfuniad o'r ddau. Rhaid i'r arian adael cyfrif Llywodraeth Cymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Weithiau, mae'n mynd i sefydliadau sydd hefyd o dan gyfyngiadau yn y ffordd y caiff eu cyllid ei drefnu, felly mae'n rhaid iddynt ei wario yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol. Bydd rhai sefydliadau yn gallu defnyddio'r arian a roddwn iddynt eleni dros gyfnod hwy o amser. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf am wneud iddo swnio'n gymhleth, ond y gwir amdani yw ei fod yn dibynnu ar drefniadau llywodraethu ariannol y sefydliadau sy'n cael eu hariannu. Ond mae'n rhaid i'r holl arian gael ei wario gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol.

4. Datganiadau 90 Eiliad
4. 90-second Statements

Eitem 4 yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Bydd y datganiad cyntaf gan Julie Morgan.

Item 4 is the 90-second statements. The first statement will be by Julie Morgan.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thirty-five years ago, in 1989, a group of parents had a dream of opening a centre in Cardiff for children with cerebral palsy. At the time, children and their families would have to travel to London to specialty therapy services, often having to stay for weeks at a time. A centre in Cardiff would allow children to access this therapy closer to home. After securing agreement with the local health board and the Bobath centre in London, premises were secured in Whitchurch in north Cardiff. This became the home of Bobath in Cardiff from 1992 until 2020, when they moved into a purpose-built centre in Llanishen under the new name of Cerebral Palsy Cymru. 

One of the founding parents was Glenys Evans. Glenys wanted the best possible therapy for her son, Thomas, as well as other children with cerebral palsy in a similar situation. Glenys even paid the first rent on the building with £30 from her own money before any of the fundraising started. Glenys has continued to work and to be involved with Bobath—now Cerebral Palsy Cymru—in various roles, but she is now retiring after 35 years. Thanks to Glenys, thousands of children with cerebral palsy across south Wales have accessed specialist therapy, the majority referred to them now by local health boards. The Better Start, Better Future programme allows for vital early intervention to give the best possible start for children aged nought to two and a half. 

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Ym 1989, 35 o flynyddoedd yn ôl, gwireddodd grŵp o rieni eu breuddwyd i agor canolfan yng Nghaerdydd i blant â pharlys yr ymennydd. Ar y pryd, byddai'n rhaid i blant a'u teuluoedd deithio i Lundain i gael gwasanaethau therapi arbenigol, gan orfod aros am wythnosau ar y tro yn aml. Byddai canolfan yng Nghaerdydd yn caniatáu i blant gael mynediad at y therapi yn nes at adref. Ar ôl sicrhau cytundeb gyda'r bwrdd iechyd lleol a chanolfan Bobath yn Llundain, cafwyd hyd i safle yn yr Eglwys Newydd yng ngogledd Caerdydd. Daeth yn gartref Bobath yng Nghaerdydd o 1992 tan 2020, pan wnaethant symud i ganolfan bwrpasol yn Llanisien dan yr enw newydd Cerebral Palsy Cymru. 

Un o'r rhai a sefydlodd y ganolfan oedd Glenys Evans. Roedd Glenys eisiau'r therapi gorau posib i'w mab, Thomas, yn ogystal â phlant eraill â pharlys yr ymennydd mewn sefyllfa debyg. Fe dalodd Glenys y rhent cyntaf ar yr adeilad gyda £30 o'i harian ei hun cyn i unrhyw ymdrechion codi arian ddechrau. Mae Glenys wedi parhau i weithio ac i fod yn rhan o Bobath—Cerebral Palsy Cymru erbyn hyn—mewn rolau amrywiol, ond mae hi bellach yn ymddeol ar ôl 35 mlynedd. Diolch i Glenys, mae miloedd o blant â pharlys yr ymennydd ar draws de Cymru wedi cael therapi arbenigol, gyda'r mwyafrif yn cael eu hatgyfeirio atynt gan fyrddau iechyd lleol erbyn hyn. Mae'r rhaglen Dechrau Gwell, Dyfodol Gwell yn caniatáu ymyrraeth gynnar hanfodol i roi'r dechrau gorau posibl i blant o ddim i ddwy a hanner oed. 

Llongyfarchiadau, Glenys, a diolch am bopeth rydych chi wedi ei wneud dros blant yng Nghymru. Mwynhewch eich ymddeoliad. 

Congratulations, Glenys, and thank you for everything you have done for children in Wales. Enjoy your retirement. 

15:50

It was with great sadness that we heard the news over the weekend that Terry Griffiths, one of Wales's sporting greats, had passed at the age of 77 after suffering from dementia. For those of us who watched that epic final of the World Snooker Championship in 1979, it was the stuff of dreams. Here was a Llanelli lad, who had previously worked as a miner, a postman and an insurance salesman, who'd only turned professional the year before, now beating some of the world's elite players and winning the biggest prize in the sport at his first attempt. As a result of this incredible success, he was, that year, named BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year. 

In the early 1980s, he would go on to win snooker's triple crown, by also winning the UK and Masters titles. He would consistently feature in the closing stages of most high-profile competitions until the mid 1990s, reaching a world ranking of number three. In 1997, he was part of the Welsh team who won the inaugural World Cup of Snooker, playing alongside other legends like Ray Reardon and Doug Mountjoy. Griffiths retired as a tour competitor in 1997 to become the director of coaching for the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. In addition to his snooker success, he will also fondly be remembered as a modest, popular and genial character, well liked by everyone, and for his dry wit. 

Gyda thristwch mawr y clywsom y newyddion dros y penwythnos fod Terry Griffiths, un o fawrion chwaraeon Cymru, wedi marw yn 77 oed ar ôl dioddef o ddementia. I'r rhai ohonom a wyliodd y rownd derfynol epig honno ym Mhencampwriaeth Snwcer y Byd ym 1979, roedd yn anhygoel. Dyma fachgen o Lanelli, a oedd wedi gweithio fel glöwr, postmon a gwerthwr yswiriant, ac a oedd ond wedi troi'n broffesiynol yn y flwyddyn flaenorol, bellach yn curo rhai o chwaraewyr elitaidd y byd i ennill gwobr fwyaf y gamp ar ei ymgais gyntaf. O ganlyniad i'r llwyddiant anhygoel hwn, cafodd ei enwi'n Bersonoliaeth Chwaraeon y Flwyddyn BBC Cymru y flwyddyn honno. 

Yn gynnar yn yr 1980au, aeth ymlaen i ennill coron driphlyg y byd snwcer, trwy ennill pencampwriaeth y DU a chystadleuaeth y Meistri hefyd. Byddai'n ymddangos yn gyson yng nghamau olaf y rhan fwyaf o gystadlaethau proffil uchel tan ganol y 1990au, gan gyrraedd safle rhif tri yn y byd. Ym 1997, roedd yn rhan o dîm Cymru a enillodd gystadleuaeth gyntaf Cwpan Snwcer y Byd, gan chwarae ochr yn ochr ag arwyr eraill fel Ray Reardon a Doug Mountjoy. Ymddeolodd Griffiths fel cystadleuydd teithiol ym 1997 i ddod yn gyfarwyddwr hyfforddi Cymdeithas Biliards a Snwcer Proffesiynol y Byd. Yn ogystal â'i lwyddiant yn y byd snwcer, bydd hefyd yn cael ei gofio fel cymeriad gwylaidd, poblogaidd ac addfwyn, hoff iawn gan bawb, ac am ei hiwmor ffraeth. 

Coffa da am un o arwyr y gamp ac un o fois y Sosban a Chymru i'r carn.  

We remember one of the heroes of the sport and a Sosban boy and a Welshman to his core. 

Wel, pwy sy’n mynd i’r Swistir haf nesaf? Heb os, bydd mwy o Gymry yn gwneud y siwrnai yn dilyn buddugoliaeth hanesyddol tîm pêl-droed merched Cymru neithiwr yn Nulyn, ac am gêm oedd hi. Mi fyddwn ni'n cofio am ddegawdau cic o’r smotyn perffaith Hannah Cain a gôl ysgubol Carrie Jones gydag un o’i chyffyrddiadau cyntaf yn y gêm. A dwi’n siŵr nad fi oedd yr unig un yn teimlo’n swp sâl wedi iddi ddod yn ddwy gôl i un a gweld bod wyth munud o amser ychwanegol i’w chwarae. Ond er dod dan bwysau am y munudau olaf hynny, Cymru aeth â hi, a dwi’n siŵr fy mod i’n siarad ar ran holl Aelodau’r Senedd hon wrth ddymuno llongyfarchiadau anferthol i’r tîm ar eu buddugoliaeth a dymuno’n dda iddyn nhw wrth baratoi dros y misoedd i ddod at Ewro 2025. 

Ond hir yw pob ymaros, ac mae hi wedi bod yn siwrnai hir i dîm pêl-droed merched Cymru i gyrraedd pencampwriaeth fawr am y tro cyntaf. Mae yna gymaint o ferched wedi gorfod brwydro am ddegawdau i wneud hyn yn bosib, ac mae yna benodau du iawn wedi bod yn hanes y gêm yng Nghymru a sut mae’r merched wedi cael eu trin yn hanesyddol gan Gymdeithas Bêl-Droed Cymru, gan gynnwys gwahardd pêl-droed merched yn 1922, ac yna, yn fwy llym, yn 1939. Dim ond yn 1970 ddaeth y gwaharddiad hwn i ben ac yn 1973 y sefydlwyd tîm cenedlaethol. Mae buddugoliaeth neithiwr wedi ei gwreiddio, felly, yn y brwydro fu am ddegawdau. Bydd haf nesaf yn gyfle euraidd nid yn unig i bêl-droed a chwaraeon yng Nghymru, ond i’r genedl gyfan o ran hyrwyddo Cymru i’r byd. Amdani, ferched. Bydd y wal goch yn gadarn a gyda chi bob cam.

Well, who is going to Switzerland next summer? Without doubt, more Welsh people will make the trip following the historic victory of the Welsh women's football team last night in Dublin, and what a game it was. We will remember for decades the perfect penalty struck by Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones's sweeping goal with one of her first touches in the game. And I'm sure that I wasn't the only one who felt sick when it went to 2:1 and there were eight minutes of extra time to play. But although we were under pressure for those last few minutes, Wales won, and I'm sure that I speak for every Member of this Senedd in wishing the team a huge congratulations on their victory and wishing them well as they prepare over the coming months for the 2025 Euros. 

But good things come to those who wait, and it has been a long journey for Welsh women's football in terms of reaching a major championship for the first time. So many women have had to fight for decades to make this possible, and there have been some very dark chapters in the history of the game in Wales, and how the women have been treated by the Football Association of Wales historically, including banning women's football in 1922 and more strictly in 1939. It was only in 1970 that this ban ended and in 1973 the national team was established. Last night's victory, therefore, is rooted in the battles that have been fought for decades. Certainly, next summer will be a golden opportunity not only for football and sport in Wales, but for the whole nation in terms of promoting Wales to the world. Go for it, girls. The red wall will stand firm and will be with you every step of the way.

15:55
5. Dadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv): Lleoliadau gofal ar gyfer awtistiaeth ac anabledd dysgu
5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Care settings for autism and learning disability

Eitem 5 sydd nesaf, dadl Aelodau o dan Reol Sefydlog 11.21(iv), lleoliadau gofal ar gyfer awtistiaeth ac anabledd dysgu. Galwaf ar Hefin David i wneud y cynnig.

Item 5 is next, Member debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv), care settings for autism and learning disability. I call on Hefin David to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM8659 Hefin David, Mark Isherwood, Sioned Williams

Cefnogwyd gan Cefin Campbell, Mabon ap Gwynfor, Mike Hedges, Peredur Owen Griffiths, Rhys ab Owen

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi bod dros 40 mlynedd wedi mynd heibio ers cyhoeddi Strategaeth Cymru Gyfan, a oedd â'r nod o dynnu pobl awtistig a/neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu allan o leoliadau ysbyty hirdymor a'u cefnogi i fyw yn eu cymunedau lleol.

2. Yn gresynu bod rhai pobl awtistig a/neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu yng Nghymru yn dal i gael eu secsiynu o dan y Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl neu'n cael eu cadw o dan Ddeddf Galluedd Meddyliol 2005 mewn ysbytai diogel, sy'n amhriodol o ran eu llesiant ac yn achosi trawma hirdymor sylweddol, yn ogystal â gofid iddynt hwy a'u hanwyliaid.

3. Yn credu bod hyn yn parhau i ddigwydd i bobl awtistig a/neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu oherwydd diffyg cymorth yn eu hardaloedd lleol, a bod secsiynu’n cael ei ddefnyddio fel opsiwn diofyn gan awdurdodau perthnasol o dan rai amgylchiadau.

4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru:

a) i nodi'n fanwl sut y bydd yn ymateb i bryderon ac amcanion ymgyrch 'Cartrefi Nid Ysbytai' Bywydau Wedi'u Dwyn;

b) i gasglu a chyhoeddi data cywir a chyfredol ar:

i) nifer y bobl awtistig a/neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu yng Nghymru sy'n cael eu lleoli mewn ysbytai;

ii) y math o ysbytai mewn achosion o'r fath e.e. ysbytai iechyd meddwl neu unedau asesu a thrin;

iii) darparwyr yr ysbytai mewn achosion o'r fath e.e. y sector preifat, y sector cyhoeddus neu’r sector gwirfoddol; a

iv) nifer a natur y lleoliadau byw â chymorth neu leoliadau preswyl sydd wedi methu, gan arwain at symud unigolion i ysbytai e.e. enw'r darparwr a'r math o ddarparwr;

c) i roi diweddariad ar y cynnydd a wnaed o ran sefydlu grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen pwrpasol i weithio gyda rhanddeiliaid i helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r materion a'r pryderon a godwyd gan Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn, ac sydd o fewn ei chyfrifoldebau datganoledig; a

d) i weithredu argymhellion ei hadolygiad gofal cenedlaethol yn 2020, a nododd yn glir mai dim ond os nad oes ffyrdd eraill o'u trin yn ddiogel y dylai pobl aros mewn ysbytai.

Motion NDM8659 Hefin David, Mark Isherwood, Sioned Williams

Supported by Cefin Campbell, Mabon ap Gwynfor, Mike Hedges, Peredur Owen Griffiths, Rhys ab Owen

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes that it is over 40 years since the publication of the All-Wales Strategy, which aimed to remove autistic people and/or people with a learning disability from long-term hospital placements and support them to live in their local communities.

2. Regrets that in Wales, some autistic people and/or people with a learning disability are still being sectioned under the MHA or detained under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in secure hospital settings, which is inappropriate to their wellbeing and causes considerable longer-term trauma, as well as distress to themselves and their loved ones.

3. Believes that this continues to happen to autistic people and/or people with a learning disability because of a lack of support being available in their local areas, with sectioning in some circumstances being used as a default option by relevant authorities.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) set out in detail how it will respond to the concerns and objectives of the Stolen Lives’ ‘Homes Not Hospitals’ campaign;

b) collect and publish accurate and up-to-date data on:

i) the number of autistic people and/or people with a learning disability in Wales who are placed in hospital settings;

ii) the type of such hospital placements e.g. mental health hospitals or assessment and treatment units;

iii) the providers of such hospital placements e.g. private, public or voluntary sector; and

iv) the number and nature of supported living or residential placement breakdowns resulting in hospital detention e.g. name of provider and type of provider;

c) provide a progress update on the establishment of a dedicated Task and Finish Group to work with stakeholders to help address the issues and concerns that Stolen Lives have raised, and which fall within its devolved responsibilities; and

d) implement the recommendations of its 2020 National Care Review, which stated clearly that people should only stay in hospitals if there are no other ways to treat them safely.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to start by saying a heartfelt 'thank you' to Sioned Williams and Mark Isherwood for the advocacy that they do on behalf of learning disabled and autistic people across this Chamber, and the work that they've done in the past. We have worked together on this debate today and we've met with the Stolen Lives group to develop our ask of the Welsh Government. I'd also like to thank the Minister for ensuring that the Welsh Government will support our debate in this motion today. The subject matter is, as set out in the motion, the inappropriate detention of some autistic people and/or people with a learning disability in secure hospital settings.

Anyone with an autistic family member, particularly with an autistic child, will be looking at the pathway that some of the people we'll be talking about today have trodden, and saying, 'There but for the grace of God go us'. I'm also drawn to the story of Kirsty Davies-Warner, who is the chief executive of the advocacy charity Mirus, who herself was sectioned twice when misdiagnosed with postnatal depression. When her son was diagnosed with autism, it was a lightbulb moment for her, and she discovered that she herself was autistic and with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. She was sectioned because that was not recognised. Those of us who have autistic family members, or are parents of autistic children, look to ourselves and sometimes recognise that those traits exist and explain some of our historic behaviours when we were growing up, and some of the things that we found difficult relating to the world.

I want to talk about Dawn Cavanagh, who is leading the Stolen Lives campaign. I want to also mention Professor David Abbott and Janis Griffiths who've been instrumental in bringing this to the Senedd. There was a protest earlier this year that 200 people attended, which demonstrates this is a very real problem that exists across Wales and has also been identified in England and in Scotland. Dawn gave me permission to tell the story of her son Jack, and I'm going to do that now. Jack has a learning disability, autism, epilepsy and ADHD. He left the family home in 2019, after the school could no longer meet his needs at the age of 16. The local authority stated there was no suitable local provision for him and he was moved to a secure residential unit over 100 miles away. The provision was totally unsuitable for his needs. It was a noisy institution, and his living space was a corridor for staff and other residents to get to other parts of the facility, which caused much distress. We know that people who have autism—sorry, I should not say that; it's autistic people—have strong reactions to their environments, and Jack had what is common to autistic people, which is a meltdown in reaction to what happened. That was misunderstood as harming himself or maybe ending up harming others. That was a wrong understanding of his condition.

In the weeks then that led up to his sectioning from the residential unit, trips outside had stopped and he was stuck in a small flat during the hottest period of the year. Three days after the decision to section him, he was woken in the night and taken to an assessment treatment unit in Wales. The unit was entirely unsuitable for Jack, and having been taken off section for a short period, the local health board had no alternative provision, and his parents then had to look after him 24/7 for some time until he was resectioned as a result of the continued lack of access to any appropriate provision. Jack was then sent to live in a high dependency unit within a psychiatric intensive care unit in Wales, despite not having a mental health condition.

This is very similar to Kirsty Davies-Warner's experience. The environment and approach were completely unsuited, and after some months, he was moved to the step-down part of the PICU, which was slightly better, but still amounted to little more than containment. Imagine you, as the mother or father of that young man, seeing him experience what is effectively a prison experience, simply because he's autistic. Jack lived there for over two years. The health board ultimately decided to move Jack to a more distant hospital, still under sectioning, and following a challenge by his parents, the decision to section him was overturned, and he had transitioned to a more appropriate environment. He's now thriving in his new home and doing things many professionals thought he could never do. He's baking cakes, planting bulbs, going for walks, and having a life, but his parents still have to travel a five-hour trip, each way, to see him. Here are some of the things that he said to his mother following this change in his life: 'I can see the moon and the stars', 'I have grass', 'I can hear birds', 'Thank you for my new home', 'Mummy, I'm a free man.' But there are still many others who exist in this condition.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch o galon i Sioned Williams a Mark Isherwood am y modd y maent yn dadlau dros bobl ag anableddau dysgu ac awtistiaeth ar draws y Siambr hon, a'r gwaith y maent wedi'i wneud yn y gorffennol. Rydym wedi gweithio gyda'n gilydd ar y ddadl hon heddiw ac rydym wedi cyfarfod â'r grŵp Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn i ddatblygu'r hyn y gofynnwn i Lywodraeth Cymru amdano. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i'r Gweinidog am sicrhau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi ein dadl yn y cynnig hwn heddiw. Y pwnc, fel y nodir yn y cynnig, yw'r modd amhriodol y cedwir rhai pobl awtistig a/neu bobl ag anabledd dysgu mewn ysbytai diogel.

Bydd unrhyw un sydd ag aelod o'r teulu sy'n awtistig, yn enwedig plentyn awtistig, yn edrych ar y llwybr y mae rhai o'r bobl y byddwn yn siarad amdanynt heddiw wedi ei ddilyn, a dweud, 'Diolch byth na fu'n rhaid i ni ddioddef hynny'. Rwyf hefyd yn cael fy nenu at stori Kirsty Davies-Warner, sef prif weithredwr yr elusen eiriolaeth, Mirus, a gafodd ei secsiynu ddwywaith pan gafodd gamddiagnosis o iselder ôl-enedigol. Pan gafodd ei mab ddiagnosis o awtistiaeth, roedd yn foment o ddatguddiad iddi wrth iddi ddarganfod ei bod hi ei hun yn awtistig a chanddi anhwylder diffyg canolbwyntio a gorfywiogrwydd, ADHD. Cafodd ei secsiynu am nad oedd hynny wedi cael ei gydnabod. Mae'r rhai ohonom sydd ag aelodau o'r teulu sy'n awtistig, neu sy'n rhieni plant awtistig, yn edrych arnom ein hunain a weithiau'n gweld bod y nodweddion hynny'n bodoli ac yn egluro rhai o'n hymddygiadau yn y gorffennol wrth inni dyfu i fyny, a rhai o'r pethau yr oeddem yn ei chael hi'n anodd wrth ymwneud â'r byd.

Rwyf am siarad am Dawn Cavanagh, sy'n arwain ymgyrch Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn. Rwyf hefyd eisiau sôn am yr Athro David Abbott a Janis Griffiths sydd wedi bod yn allweddol wrth ddod â hyn i'r Senedd. Roedd protest yn gynharach eleni a fynychwyd gan 200 o bobl, yn dangos bod hon yn broblem real iawn sy'n bodoli ledled Cymru ac sydd hefyd wedi ei nodi yn Lloegr ac yn yr Alban. Rhoddodd Dawn ganiatâd i mi adrodd hanes ei mab Jack, ac rwy'n mynd i wneud hynny nawr. Mae gan Jack anabledd dysgu, awtistiaeth, epilepsi ac ADHD. Gadawodd gartref y teulu yn 2019, ar ôl i'r ysgol fethu diwallu ei anghenion mwyach pan oedd yn 16 oed. Dywedodd yr awdurdod lleol nad oedd darpariaeth leol addas iddo ac fe'i symudwyd i uned ddiogel breswyl dros 100 milltir i ffwrdd. Roedd y ddarpariaeth yn gwbl anaddas ar gyfer ei anghenion. Roedd yn sefydliad swnllyd, ac roedd ei le byw yn goridor i staff a thrigolion eraill allu cyrraedd rhannau eraill o'r cyfleuster ar hyd-ddo, ac achosai hynny lawer o ofid. Fe wyddom fod pobl sydd ag awtistiaeth—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, ni ddylwn ddweud hynny; pobl awtistig—yn adweithio'n gryf i'w hamgylcheddau, ac fe gafodd Jack rywbeth sy'n gyffredin i bobl awtistig, sef chwalfa mewn ymateb i'r hyn a ddigwyddodd. Cafodd hynny ei gamddeall fel niweidio ei hun neu niweidio eraill efallai yn y pen draw. Dangosai hynny ddiffyg dealltwriaeth o'i gyflwr.

Yn yr wythnosau wedyn arweiniodd hynny at ei secsiynu o'r uned breswyl, rhoddodd ddiwedd ar dripiau allan a chafodd ei gaethiwo mewn fflat fach dros adeg boethaf y flwyddyn. Dridiau wedi'r penderfyniad i'w secsiynu, cafodd ei ddeffro yn y nos a'i gludo i uned asesu a thrin yng Nghymru. Roedd yr uned yn gwbl anaddas i Jack, ac ar ôl cael ei dynnu oddi ar y trefniant secsiynu am gyfnod byr, nid oedd gan y bwrdd iechyd lleol unrhyw ddarpariaeth amgen, a bu'n rhaid i'w rieni ofalu amdano 24/7 am beth amser nes iddo gael ei secsiynu eilwaith o ganlyniad i'r diffyg mynediad parhaus at unrhyw ddarpariaeth briodol. Yna cafodd Jack ei anfon i fyw mewn uned dibyniaeth uchel mewn uned gofal dwys seiciatryddol yng Nghymru, er nad oedd ganddo gyflwr iechyd meddwl.

Mae'n debyg iawn i brofiad Kirsty Davies-Warner. Roedd yr amgylchedd a'r dull gweithredu yn gwbl anaddas, ac ar ôl rhai misoedd, cafodd ei symud i ran cam-i-lawr yr uned gofal dwys seiciatryddol, a oedd ychydig yn well, ond a oedd yn dal i fod yn fawr mwy nag ynysu. Dychmygwch fod yn fam neu dad y dyn ifanc hwnnw, yn ei weld yn dioddef yr hyn sydd i bob pwrpas yn brofiad carchar, ddim ond oherwydd ei fod yn awtistig. Bu Jack yn byw yno am dros ddwy flynedd. Yn y pen draw, penderfynodd y bwrdd iechyd symud Jack i ysbyty pellach i ffwrdd, yn dal i fod wedi ei secsiynu, ac yn dilyn her gan ei rieni, cafodd y penderfyniad i'w secsiynu ei wrthdroi, a chafodd ei drosglwyddo i amgylchedd mwy priodol. Mae bellach yn ffynnu yn ei gartref newydd ac yn gwneud pethau yr oedd llawer o weithwyr proffesiynol yn meddwl na allai byth mo'u gwneud. Mae'n pobi cacennau, yn plannu bylbiau, yn mynd am dro, ac yn byw bywyd, ond mae ei rieni'n dal i orfod teithio am bum awr bob ffordd i'w weld. Dyma rai o'r pethau a ddywedodd wrth ei fam yn dilyn y newid hwn yn ei fywyd: 'Gallaf weld y lleuad a'r sêr', 'Mae gennyf laswellt', 'Gallaf glywed adar', 'Diolch am fy nghartref newydd', 'Mam, rwy'n ddyn rhydd.' Ond mae llawer o bobl eraill yn dal i fodoli yn yr amgylchiadau hyn.

Some local health boards have closed specialist in-patient provision so that people who are autistic and/or learning disabled are now placed within mainstream mental health services, which is not appropriate. We've got further case studies that are to follow in this debate. But I'd also say, I met with a constituent of mine who had spent time in a mental health unit in a local hospital, but in 2023-24, he ended up in prison, where staff and psychologists remarked on how well he reacted to the structure and routine of prison life. He actually said to his parents, 'This is the place I want to be, in prison, because there's routine and there's structure.' How can we live in a society where this is something an autistic person says is acceptable? He needs appropriate care.

Since meeting Dawn, David, Janice, and working with Sioned and Mark, we've been able to open doors with the Minister and we've been able to have those conversations about how we can resolve this, though there is still a long way to go.

The UK Government's Mental Health Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on 6 November 2024, and aspects of that Bill will have implications for Wales. However, where powers are devolved, the Welsh Government can and should act, and the Minister has told me that it is her policy to get people out of secure hospitals and into local communities, but in too many instances, this is still not happening in practice.

So, let me be clear about what the Stolen Lives campaign are asking for: detailed and scrupulous data as a tool of ensuring laws are followed—we need to know who is being held, where they are being held, why they are being held there; increased accountability for failures of care and supervision, which will prevent sectioning; and that those who commission mental health services are active in overseeing the quality of those services; and that existing laws protecting people with autism and/or learning disabilities are applied scrupulously, so that failure to do so results in censure for those who do not follow laws. But let's be clear: this, at its heart, is a human rights issue. We cannot risk in Wales being in continual breach of the Human Rights Act 1998: the right to be safe from harm, the right to liberty, and the respect for private and family life. The inappropriate use of deprivation of liberty orders must stop.

The debate today gives us a chance to ask the Welsh Government for action and see how they will act. As I've said, it's encouraging that the Welsh Government is supporting our motion, and that the Minister is so willing to engage. Since we first drafted and submitted this motion, the Stolen Lives representatives have joined a dedicated task and finish group with other stakeholders to look at the issues we've discussed in this debate. I've raised with the Minister the fact that the task and finish group must not be the end of the journey, but a continuation of dialogue, but also those members from Stolen Lives need to understand their role within that group. They need to stop being told that things are already happening in the areas they're suggesting, and they need that dialogue ongoing with the Minister alongside it to ensure that she has oversight of what that task and finish group is achieving.

The purpose of the task and finish group can't just be to rubber-stamp what the Welsh Government's already doing, it must be there to challenge and interrogate it. It must produce a report that is robust, evidence based, and also work at pace, but at the same time allow enough time for sufficient evidence to be gathered so that we can see change. We come back to the 'no wrong door' approach advocated by the Children's Commissioner for Wales that services should wrap themselves around individuals and families, rather than having to fit what is already out there, and help should be provided as early as possible to prevent more serious problems developing.

Just in closing my introduction to this debate, I found, at Caerphilly County Borough Council, the head of inclusion, Dr Sarah Ellis, as an incredible first point of contact when it comes to matters relating to autism and young people with a learning disability at school age or under school age. It's that early intervention that matters, and I think that model could be rolled out across Wales to ensure that elected members and members of the public have a single point of contact where they feel that their children and young people are in that grey area where they may not have a solid diagnosis, but at the same time have a very clear developmental need through the behaviours they're presenting. I think that's a further action that can add to mitigation of this Stolen Lives issue.

And as the father of an autistic daughter, I have, of course, got an interest in this. I feel passionately that we can make things better in Wales, and I know that the speakers in this debate will outline, through the course of their contributions, how that can happen.

Mae rhai byrddau iechyd lleol wedi cau darpariaeth cleifion mewnol arbenigol fel bod pobl sy’n awtistig a/neu ag anableddau dysgu bellach yn cael eu lleoli mewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl prif ffrwd, ac nid yw hynny’n briodol. Mae gennym astudiaethau achos pellach i ddilyn yn y ddadl hon. Ond rwyf am ddweud imi gyfarfod ag etholwr a oedd wedi treulio amser mewn uned iechyd meddwl mewn ysbyty lleol, ond yn 2023-24, aeth i'r carchar, lle dywedodd staff a seicolegwyr ei fod wedi ymateb yn dda i strwythur a threfn bywyd yn y carchar. Dywedodd wrth ei rieni, 'Dyma ble rwyf am fod, yn y carchar, gan fod yma drefn a strwythur.' Sut y gallwn fyw mewn cymdeithas lle mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae unigolyn awtistig yn dweud ei fod yn dderbyniol? Mae angen gofal priodol arno.

Ers cyfarfod â Dawn, David, Janice, a gweithio gyda Sioned a Mark, rydym wedi gallu agor drysau gyda’r Gweinidog, ac wedi gallu cael sgyrsiau ynglŷn â sut y gallwn ddatrys hyn, er bod cryn dipyn o ffordd i fynd o hyd.

Cyflwynwyd Bil Iechyd Meddwl Llywodraeth y DU i Dŷ’r Arglwyddi ar 6 Tachwedd 2024, a bydd gan agweddau ar y Bil hwnnw oblygiadau i Gymru. Fodd bynnag, lle mae pwerau wedi’u datganoli, fe all ac fe ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru weithredu, ac mae’r Gweinidog wedi dweud wrthyf mai ei pholisi yw cael pobl allan o ysbytai diogel ac i mewn i gymunedau lleol, ond mewn gormod o achosion, nid yw hyn yn digwydd o hyd.

Felly, gadewch imi fod yn glir ynglŷn â’r hyn y mae ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi'u Dwyn yn gofyn amdano: data manwl, gofalus iawn fel dull o sicrhau bod cyfreithiau’n cael eu dilyn—mae angen inni wybod pwy sy’n cael eu cadw, ble maent yn cael eu cadw, pam eu bod yn cael eu cadw yno; mwy o atebolrwydd am fethiannau gofal a goruchwyliaeth, a fydd yn atal secsiynu; a bod y rheini sy'n comisiynu gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn mynd ati'n weithredol i oruchwylio ansawdd y gwasanaethau hynny; a bod y deddfau presennol sy'n diogelu pobl ag awtistiaeth a/neu anableddau dysgu yn cael eu gweithredu'n ofalus, fel bod peidio â gwneud hynny'n arwain at gosb i'r rhai nad ydynt yn dilyn cyfreithiau. Ond gadewch inni fod yn glir: mater hawliau dynol yw hwn yn y bôn. Ni allwn fentro mynd yn groes i Ddeddf Hawliau Dynol 1998 yn barhaus yng Nghymru: yr hawl i fod yn ddiogel rhag niwed, yr hawl i ryddid, a pharch at fywyd preifat a theuluol. Mae'n rhaid rhoi'r gorau i ddefnyddio gorchmynion amddifadu o ryddid yn amhriodol.

Mae’r ddadl heddiw'n rhoi cyfle inni ofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu a gweld sut y byddant yn gweithredu. Fel y dywedais, mae'n galonogol fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi ein cynnig, a bod y Gweinidog mor barod i ymgysylltu. Ers inni ddrafftio a chyflwyno’r cynnig hwn gyntaf, mae cynrychiolwyr Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn wedi ymuno â grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen pwrpasol gyda rhanddeiliaid eraill i edrych ar y materion rydym wedi’u trafod yn y ddadl hon. Rwyf wedi codi gyda’r Gweinidog y ffaith nad diwedd y daith yw'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen, ond parhad o'r ddeialog, ond hefyd mae angen i’r aelodau hynny o Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn ddeall eu rôl o fewn y grŵp hwnnw. Mae angen rhoi'r gorau i ddweud wrthynt fod pethau eisoes yn digwydd yn y meysydd y maent yn eu hawgrymu, ac mae angen iddynt gael deialog barhaus gyda'r Gweinidog ochr yn ochr â gwaith y grŵp i sicrhau bod ganddi drosolwg ar yr hyn y mae'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen yn ei gyflawni.

Mae'n rhaid i bwrpas y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen fod yn fwy na rhoi sêl bendith ar yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes yn ei wneud, mae'n rhaid iddo fod yno i'w herio a'i chwestiynu. Mae'n rhaid iddo lunio adroddiad sy’n gadarn, yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth, ac mae'n rhaid iddo hefyd weithio’n gyflym, ond gan ganiatáu digon o amser i gasglu digon o dystiolaeth fel y gallwn weld newid. Dychwelwn at y dull 'dim drws anghywir' a argymhellir gan Gomisiynydd Plant Cymru, sef y dylai gwasanaethau gofleidio unigolion a theuluoedd, yn hytrach na'u bod yn gorfod ffitio i’r hyn sydd eisoes ar gael, a dylid darparu cymorth cyn gynted â phosibl i atal problemau mwy difrifol rhag datblygu.

I gloi fy nghyflwyniad i’r ddadl hon, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod y pennaeth cynhwysiant yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili, Dr Sarah Ellis, yn bwynt cyswllt cyntaf anhygoel ar gyfer materion yn ymwneud ag awtistiaeth a phobl ifanc o oedran ysgol neu o dan oedran ysgol ag anableddau dysgu. Yr ymyrraeth gynnar honno sy’n bwysig, a chredaf y gellid cyflwyno’r model hwnnw ledled Cymru i sicrhau bod gan aelodau etholedig ac aelodau’r cyhoedd un pwynt cyswllt os ydynt yn teimlo bod eu plant a’u pobl ifanc yn y tir canol lle nad ydynt wedi cael diagnosis cadarn o bosibl, ond ar yr un pryd, fod ganddynt angen datblygiadol clir iawn drwy eu hymddygiadau. Credaf fod hwnnw'n gam gweithredu pellach a all ychwanegu at liniaru'r mater y mae Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn yn ei drafod.

Ac fel tad i ferch awtistig, mae gennyf fuddiant yn hyn, wrth gwrs. Rwy’n teimlo’n angerddol y gallwn wneud pethau’n well yng Nghymru, a gwn y bydd y siaradwyr yn y ddadl hon yn amlinellu, drwy eu cyfraniadau, sut y gall hynny ddigwydd.

16:05

I'm very glad to have co-submitted this motion with you, Hefin David, and Mark Isherwood, and to be working with you, cross party, to get answers and to get action for people who often have no voice, and for their loved ones who are hoarse from being made to repeatedly raise theirs.

I don't have many posters up in my Senedd office, but there is one that reads 'Homes not hospitals', and it's the poster I held up during one of the most powerful protests I have witnessed outside this Senedd. That protest in April this year was organised by the Stolen Lives campaign, and brought together hundreds of people calling for the release of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people from secure hospital settings in Wales.

As chair of the cross-party group on learning disabilities, I'd already heard from Dr Dawn Cavanagh and the Stolen Lives campaign about the harrowing and completely unacceptable treatment of people with learning disabilities and autistic people, who are inappropriately detained in secure mental health settings because they are disabled. The sheer number of people who had travelled from all over Wales and beyond to support the protest was so powerful, as, of course, was the testimony we heard from speakers. One case we heard about was Will's. I want you to hear about his treatment, because it demonstrates, I think, how people with a learning disability or autism can be denied their voice, their liberty and given no redress, how they can be denied their human rights.

Will is autistic and has learning disabilities. He has difficulty in processing information, especially speech, but otherwise is intelligent and literate. If his care plan is followed, he is relatively easy to manage. In 2018 he was living in supported living. His family became increasingly aware of mismanagement and mistreatment by care workers and began trying to raise concerns. They were told all was well by the care company and the social worker, despite them having evidence of mistreatment. They were so concerned they initiated a legal process so they could care for Will at home. But then their son was sectioned, without their foreknowledge, over an Easter holiday when they couldn't challenge what was happening. And the sectioning was traumatic. Will was told he was going on holiday and then admitted to a mental health unit, although it was determined later the issue leading to the section was not related to his mental health.

Will's family said:

'The unit had nothing that our son could use for self-regulation and noise levels were high',

and there were other distressed residents causing him anxiety.

'He was frightened constantly by the unit and confused as to why he was there.

'We took our son out from the horribly inappropriate unit daily and in July, against the wishes of the Social Worker...refused to return him after a trip out. He stayed with us in our home and we nursed him. He was in poor physical health and unable to eat properly...all were identified as reactions to stress and anxiety.

'He was constantly worried he would be sectioned again.

'We believe that we and our son have been the victims of a grave injustice. Will has been...harmed and it still impacts on his behaviours today. Equally, we as his loving...family have experienced health issues and stress'.

They've been campaigning for the injustice their son has suffered to be acknowledged and addressed. But there is, of course, a broader issue of inequality. There's a human rights scandal here, because this isn't an isolated case, and lives like those of Will are being stolen. It's a fact that the human rights of people with a learning disability and/or autism are being breached by them being wrongly placed in these units because the services are not there for them in their communities. So, it really saddens me today that we’re having this debate, because what the motion asks for should already be happening. It saddens me that letter after letter has to be written, meeting after meeting has to be arranged, with no change to the situation of some of our most vulnerable citizens. And families just find themselves in what feels like a maddening, frustrating, baffling nightmare of process, bureaucracy and, crucially, unaccountability.

I've no doubt the Minister will list well-meaning actions in her response, and we appreciate your engagement with this issue, such as setting up the task and finish group as part of the learning disability ministerial advisory group. What we really need also is a recognition that there is a problem, no defensiveness, and a recognition that there's a solution also with the right political will, a commitment to listen and act, and ensure that the rights-based approach is taken here, and not allow the stated policy aims of the Government to be undermined. We must have a system in place to gather accurate data on the number of people with a learning disability living in Wales, and the number placed in hospital settings, so support can be properly planned. We really need to know—[Interruption.] Yes, I'm coming to the end—a couple of sentences left.

We need to know that urgent action is going to be taken, and direction given, so that the task and finish group can be bold in their suggestions about what that response looks like. It saddens me that people had to come to the Senedd steps to get the Government's attention. So, that poster will remain on my wall, because for as long as I am here, I'm not going to let this rest. People who are currently in terribly unsuitable and distressing settings can live happy lives with the right support, because if we continue to allow this injustice to happen, we are not living in a civilised country.

Rwy’n falch iawn o fod wedi cyd-gyflwyno’r cynnig hwn gyda chi, Hefin David, a Mark Isherwood, ac i fod yn gweithio gyda chi, yn drawsbleidiol, i gael atebion ac i sicrhau camau gweithredu ar gyfer pobl nad oes ganddynt lais yn aml, ac ar gyfer eu hanwyliaid sy'n gryg ar ôl gorfod codi eu lleisiau hwythau dro ar ôl tro.

Nid oes gennyf lawer o bosteri yn fy swyddfa yn y Senedd, ond mae gennyf un sy'n dweud 'Cartrefi nid ysbytai', a dyma'r poster roeddwn yn ei ddal yn ystod un o'r protestiadau mwyaf pwerus i mi eu gweld y tu allan i'r Senedd hon. Trefnwyd y brotest honno ym mis Ebrill eleni gan ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn, a daeth â channoedd o bobl ynghyd i alw am ryddhau pobl ag anableddau dysgu a/neu bobl awtistig mewn lleoliadau ysbytai diogel yng Nghymru.

Fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar anableddau dysgu, roeddwn eisoes wedi clywed gan Dr Dawn Cavanagh ac ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn am driniaeth ofnadwy a chwbl annerbyniol pobl ag anableddau dysgu a phobl awtistig, sy’n cael eu cadw’n amhriodol mewn lleoliadau iechyd meddwl diogel am eu bod yn anabl. Roedd nifer y bobl a oedd wedi teithio o bob rhan o Gymru a thu hwnt i gefnogi’r brotest mor bwerus, fel roedd y dystiolaeth a glywsom gan siaradwyr. Un achos y clywsom amdano oedd achos Will. Rwyf am ichi glywed am ei driniaeth, gan y credaf ei bod yn dangos sut y gall pobl ag anabledd dysgu neu awtistiaeth gael eu hamddifadu o lais, o'u rhyddid, heb iddynt allu unioni hynny, a sut y cânt eu hamddifadu o'u hawliau dynol.

Mae Will yn awtistig ac mae ganddo anableddau dysgu. Mae'n ei chael hi'n anodd prosesu gwybodaeth, yn enwedig lleferydd, ond fel arall, mae'n ddeallus ac yn llythrennog. Os dilynir ei gynllun gofal, mae'n gymharol hawdd ei reoli. Yn 2018, roedd yn byw mewn lleoliad byw â chymorth. Daeth ei deulu'n fwyfwy ymwybodol o gamreoli a chamdriniaeth gan weithwyr gofal, ac fe wnaethant geisio codi pryderon. Dywedwyd wrthynt gan y cwmni gofal a'r gweithiwr cymdeithasol fod popeth yn iawn, er bod ganddynt dystiolaeth o gamdriniaeth. Roeddent mor bryderus fel eu bod wedi cychwyn proses gyfreithiol fel y gallent ofalu am Will gartref. Ond cafodd eu mab ei secsiynu, heb iddynt gael gwybod ymlaen llaw, dros wyliau'r Pasg pan na allent herio'r hyn oedd yn digwydd. Ac roedd secsiynu'n drawmatig. Dywedwyd wrth Will ei fod yn mynd ar wyliau ac yna cafodd ei roi mewn uned iechyd meddwl, er y penderfynwyd yn ddiweddarach nad oedd y mater a arweiniodd at ei secsiynu'n ymwneud â'i iechyd meddwl.

Dywedodd teulu Will:

'Nid oedd gan yr uned unrhyw beth y gallai ein mab ei ddefnyddio i hunanreoli ac roedd y lefelau sŵn yn uchel',

ac roedd preswylwyr trallodus eraill yn peri gofid iddo.

'Roedd yr uned yn codi ofn arno, ac roedd yn ddryslyd ynghylch pam ei fod yno.

'Roeddem yn mynd â'n mab o'r uned ofnadwy o amhriodol hon bob dydd, ac ym mis Gorffennaf, yn groes i ddymuniadau'r Gweithiwr Cymdeithasol… fe wnaethom wrthod dod ag ef yn ôl ar ôl trip allan. Arhosodd gyda ni yn ein cartref ac fe wnaethom ofalu amdano. Roedd mewn iechyd corfforol gwael ac nid oedd yn gallu bwyta'n iawn... cafodd pob un o'r pethau hyn eu nodi fel ymatebion i straen a phryder.

'Roedd yn poeni'n barhaus y byddai'n cael ei secsiynu eto.

'Rydym yn credu ein bod ni a'n mab wedi dioddef anghyfiawnder difrifol. Mae Will wedi cael ei niweidio, ac mae'n dal i effeithio ar ei ymddygiad heddiw. Yn yr un modd, rydym ni fel ei deulu cariadus wedi dioddef problemau iechyd a straen'.

Maent wedi bod yn ymgyrchu dros gydnabod a mynd i'r afael â'r anghyfiawnder y mae eu mab wedi'i ddioddef. Ond wrth gwrs, mae mater ehangach yn codi o ran anghydraddoldeb. Mae sgandal hawliau dynol yma, gan nad yw hwn yn achos neilltuol, ac mae bywydau fel rhai Will yn cael eu dwyn. Mae'n ffaith bod hawliau dynol pobl ag anableddau dysgu a/neu awtistiaeth yn cael eu niweidio drwy eu rhoi yn yr unedau hyn heb fod angen gan nad yw'r gwasanaethau yno ar eu cyfer yn eu cymunedau. Felly, mae'n peri cryn dristwch i mi ein bod yn cael y ddadl hon heddiw, gan y dylai'r hyn y mae'r cynnig yn gofyn amdano fod yn digwydd eisoes. Mae’n fy nhristáu bod yn rhaid ysgrifennu llythyr ar ôl llythyr, fod yn rhaid trefnu cyfarfod ar ôl cyfarfod, heb unrhyw newid i sefyllfa rhai o’n dinasyddion mwyaf agored i niwed. Ac mae teuluoedd wedi'u dal mewn hunllef wallgof, rwystredig, ddryslyd o brosesau, biwrocratiaeth, ac yn hollbwysig, diffyg atebolrwydd.

Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth gennyf y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhestru camau gweithredu yn llawn bwriadau da yn ei hymateb, ac rydym yn gwerthfawrogi eich ymgysylltiad â’r mater hwn, megis sefydlu’r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen fel rhan o grŵp cynghori’r gweinidog ar anableddau dysgu. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom hefyd yw cydnabyddiaeth fod yna broblem, dim agwedd amddiffynnol, a chydnabyddiaeth fod ateb hefyd, gyda'r ewyllys wleidyddol briodol, ymrwymiad i wrando a gweithredu, a sicrhau bod y dull gweithredu sy'n seiliedig ar hawliau yn cael ei ddefnyddio yma, a pheidio â chaniatáu i amcanion polisi datganedig y Llywodraeth gael eu tanseilio. Mae’n rhaid inni gael system ar waith i gasglu data cywir ar nifer y bobl ag anableddau dysgu sy’n byw yng Nghymru, a’r nifer sy’n cael eu rhoi mewn lleoliadau ysbyty, fel y gellir cynllunio cymorth yn briodol. Mae gwir angen inni wybod—[Torri ar draws.] Iawn, rwy'n dod at y diwedd—cwpl o frawddegau ar ôl.

Mae angen inni wybod bod camau brys yn mynd i gael eu cymryd a chyfarwyddyd yn cael ei roi fel y gall y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen fod yn feiddgar yn eu hawgrymiadau ynghylch sut beth fydd yr ymateb hwnnw. Mae’n fy nhristáu bod yn rhaid i bobl ddod at risiau’r Senedd i gael sylw’r Llywodraeth. Felly, bydd y poster hwnnw’n aros ar fy wal, oherwydd cyhyd ag y byddaf yma, nid wyf am roi'r gorau i hyn. Gall pobl sydd mewn lleoliadau ofnadwy o anaddas a thrallodus ar hyn o bryd fyw bywydau hapus gyda’r cymorth cywir, oherwydd os ydym yn parhau i ganiatáu’r anghyfiawnder hwn, nid ydym yn byw mewn gwlad wâr.

16:10

Speaking here in April, ahead of the Stolen Lives 'homes not hospitals' protest outside the Senedd, I highlighted the lack of progress made in reducing the numbers of autistic people or people with a learning disability still locked up in assessment and treatment centres in Wales and England. The protest was supported by Learning Disability Wales and 13 other organisations, including Mencap Cymru, to raise awareness of the lack of movement by the Welsh Government on this issue.

After I wrote to the former Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, as chair of the cross-party autism group, jointly with Hefin David as a group member, regarding the sectioning and detention of autistic people due to placements breaking down rather than any specific mental health issue, her reply confirmed that data on this is not centrally held by the Welsh Government, which questions how they can make informed decisions about service delivery.

There's been a learning disability strategy in place in Wales since 2018, I said, which seeks to ensure that autistic people or people with a learning disability who are in long-term placements are discharged and able to live their lives in the community. However, Learning Disability Wales states that approximately 150 autistic people or people with a learning disability are known to be in a hospital setting, over two thirds for over 10 years, although numbers do not include all people and all settings. We therefore need to know, they said, why such a high number are still in long-term hospital placements.

As Learning Disability Wales said, over 40 years ago Wales was one of the first countries in the world to launch a strategy to get people with a learning disability out of long-stay hospitals and back into the community. Yet we seem to be going backwards and slipping towards re-institutionalisation.

After the Minister for Mental Health and Early Years wrote to the Stolen Lives campaigners in August, they expressed concern that a letter they had sent to the previous Minister in May, which was detailed and asked some important questions, had still not received a reply, and that they had not had an opportunity to meet with the new Minister to put their case forward. The Minister's letter also stated that everyone has a care and support plan in place, which is regularly reviewed to ensure that ongoing care is appropriate. However, I am regularly battling with local authorities on behalf of constituents, where their care and support plan reviews have been drafted in breach of both the timescale specified by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and of the Act's requirement for the individual and/or their carer, family member or advocate, to be an active participant in the review.

All Wales People First is the united voice of self-advocacy groups and people with learning disabilities in Wales, for and led by people with a learning disability. On Monday, I opened their first Through Our Eyes touring exhibition at Pontio at Bangor University, at which their chief executive stated that the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act is not being complied with. Without robust Welsh Government monitoring and evaluation, its legislation is effectively redundant.

At the cross-party autism group meeting in September, the Stolen Lives campaign told us that they feel sidelined as being too difficult and that existing legislation is ignored by local authorities and care companies. They also noted that the Welsh Government did not contact them about the statement issued in August regarding in-patient provision for learning disability, which ignored autism. As one parent of an autistic son with severe learning disabilities told Hefin, Sioned and me, they had a phone call from a senior member of staff at the health board telling them that their only option now was to put their son in hospital. Another stated, 'My child was stolen and put into emergency support care because carers could not be found.' Another stated, 'A best-interest meeting stated it was not in my son's best interests to be in the assessment and treatment unit, but, as there was nothing else available, he'd have to stay there.'

Autism is not a mental health condition; it is a lifelong developmental condition that shapes how people see the world and how they connect with others. Many autistic people have meltdowns. This is not the same as a temper tantrum. You tell that to those local authority officers who are torturing my constituents. It is not bad or naughty behaviour. When a person is completely overwhelmed and their condition means it's difficult to express that in another way, it is understandable that the result is a meltdown. It does not justify mental health sectioning. Locking these people up should not be happening. Transformative change is needed to remedy these human rights abuses. Diolch yn fawr.

Wrth siarad yma ym mis Ebrill, cyn protest ‘cartrefi nid ysbytai’ Bywydau Wedi'u Dwyn y tu allan i’r Senedd, tynnais sylw at y diffyg cynnydd a wnaed ar leihau nifer y bobl awtistig neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu sy'n dal i fod dan glo mewn canolfannau asesu a thriniaeth yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Cefnogwyd y brotest gan Anabledd Dysgu Cymru a 13 o sefydliadau eraill, gan gynnwys Mencap Cymru, i godi ymwybyddiaeth o ddiffyg cynnydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y mater hwn.

Wedi imi ysgrifennu at y cyn Ddirprwy Weinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar awtistiaeth, ar y cyd â Hefin David fel aelod o’r grŵp, ynglŷn â secsiynu a chadw pobl awtistig oherwydd problemau gyda lleoliadau yn hytrach nag unrhyw fater iechyd meddwl penodol, cadarnhaodd ei hateb nad yw'r data ar hyn yn cael ei gadw’n ganolog gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sy’n peri rhywun i feddwl sut y gallant wneud penderfyniadau gwybodus am ddarparu gwasanaethau.

Dywedais fod strategaeth anableddau dysgu wedi bod ar waith yng Nghymru ers 2018 sy’n ceisio sicrhau bod pobl awtistig neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu sydd mewn lleoliadau hirdymor yn cael eu rhyddhau ac yn gallu byw eu bywydau yn y gymuned. Fodd bynnag, mae Anabledd Dysgu Cymru yn datgan ei bod yn hysbys fod oddeutu 150 o bobl awtistig neu bobl ag anableddau dysgu mewn lleoliad ysbyty, dros ddwy ran o dair ers dros 10 mlynedd, er nad yw’r niferoedd yn cynnwys pawb a phob lleoliad. Mae angen inni wybod felly, dywedant, pam fod nifer mor uchel yn dal i fod mewn lleoliadau ysbyty hirdymor.

Fel y dywedodd Anabledd Dysgu Cymru, dros 40 mlynedd yn ôl, Cymru oedd un o’r gwledydd cyntaf yn y byd i lansio strategaeth i gael pobl ag anabledd dysgu allan o ysbytai arhosiad hir ac yn ôl i’r gymuned. Ac eto, ymddengys ein bod yn mynd tuag yn ôl ac yn llithro tuag at ailsefydliadu.

Ar ôl i’r Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a’r Blynyddoedd Cynnar ysgrifennu at ymgyrchwyr Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn ym mis Awst, fe wnaethant fynegi pryder nad oedd llythyr roeddent wedi’i anfon at y Gweinidog blaenorol ym mis Mai, a oedd yn fanwl ac yn gofyn cwestiynau pwysig, wedi cael ateb o hyd, ac nad oeddent wedi cael cyfle i gyfarfod â'r Gweinidog newydd i ddadlau eu hachos. Roedd llythyr y Gweinidog hefyd yn nodi bod gan bawb gynllun gofal a chymorth ar waith, sy’n cael ei adolygu’n rheolaidd i sicrhau bod gofal parhaus yn briodol. Fodd bynnag, rwy’n brwydro’n rheolaidd ag awdurdodau lleol ar ran etholwyr, lle mae eu hadolygiadau o gynlluniau gofal a chymorth wedi’u drafftio’n groes i’r amserlen a nodir gan Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, a gofyniad y Ddeddf i’r unigolyn a/neu eu gofalwr, aelod o’r teulu neu eiriolwr, fod yn gyfranogwr gweithredol yn yr adolygiad.

Pobl yn Gyntaf Cymru yw llais unedig grwpiau hunaneiriolaeth a phobl ag anableddau dysgu yng Nghymru, ar ran ac o dan arweiniad pobl ag anableddau dysgu. Ddydd Llun, agorais eu harddangosfa deithiol Trwy Ein Llygaid gyntaf yn Pontio ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, lle dywedodd eu prif weithredwr nad oes digon o gydymffurfiaeth â Deddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru). Heb waith monitro a gwerthuso cadarn gan Lywodraeth Cymru, mae ei deddfwriaeth, i bob pwrpas, yn ddiwerth.

Yng nghyfarfod y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar awtistiaeth ym mis Medi, dywedodd ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn wrthym eu bod yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu hanwybyddu am fod yn anodd a bod awdurdodau lleol a chwmnïau gofal yn anwybyddu’r ddeddfwriaeth bresennol. Fe wnaethant nodi hefyd nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cysylltu â hwy ynghylch y datganiad a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Awst ynglŷn â darpariaeth cleifion mewnol ar gyfer anableddau dysgu, a oedd yn anwybyddu awtistiaeth. Fel y dywedodd rhiant bachgen awtistig ag anableddau dysgu difrifol wrth Hefin, Sioned a minnau, cawsant alwad ffôn gan uwch aelod o staff y bwrdd iechyd yn dweud wrthynt mai eu hunig opsiwn bellach oedd rhoi eu mab yn yr ysbyty. Dywedodd un arall, 'Cafodd fy mhlentyn ei ddwyn a'i roi mewn gofal cymorth brys am na ellid dod o hyd i ofalwyr.' Dywedodd un arall, 'Dywedodd cyfarfod budd pennaf nad oedd bod yn yr uned asesu a thriniaeth o'r budd pennaf i fy mab, ond gan nad oedd unrhyw beth arall ar gael, y byddai'n rhaid iddo aros yno.'

Nid cyflwr iechyd meddwl yw awtistiaeth; mae'n gyflwr datblygiadol gydol oes sy'n siapio sut y mae pobl yn gweld y byd a sut y maent yn cysylltu ag eraill. Mae llawer o bobl awtistig yn cael chwalfa. Nid yw hynny yr un peth â strancio. Dywedwch hynny wrth swyddogion awdurdodau lleol sy’n arteithio fy etholwyr. Nid ymddygiad drwg mohono. Pan fydd unigolyn wedi'u gorlethu'n llwyr a'u cyflwr yn golygu ei bod hi'n anodd mynegi hynny mewn ffordd arall, mae'n ddealladwy mai'r canlyniad yw chwalfa. Nid yw'n cyfiawnhau eu secsiynu mewn uned iechyd meddwl. Ni ddylai'r bobl hyn gael eu cadw dan glo. Mae angen newid sylfaenol i unioni'r camweddau hawliau dynol hyn. Diolch yn fawr.

16:15

I didn't meet any of these people, so I'm very interested to hear what you have to say, but I just wanted to add a positive to this debate in that, clearly, what needs to happen is that we need better provision to enable people to not end up in locked wards—that seems to me like really nineteenth- and, indeed, twentieth-century services. So, when I attended the real food and farming conference last week, I heard about an absolutely wonderful service run in north Pembrokeshire, called Clynfyw Care Farm. It's a family farm that started with the parents having adapted a cottage to make it disabled accessible, but, from that, it's really mushroomed into something that's really, really amazing. They now have four houses, with up to 10 people who can live there, with supported accommodation if they need people to live there with them. It's 9 acres—the care farm—employing 42 people, part of a 400 acre farm, so you can see that there's some synergy there. They have 40 people attending every day, and they do really important, practical things like apple juicing; they've got a commercial kitchen, so they're providing food for elsewhere; they're doing composting; they rescue battery hens; and they have a repair shop and a food mixer on the back of a bike that turns cream into butter—what's not to like?

Now, they've found that it's really, really fantastic for recovering mental health patients, but also people with learning disabilities, because they really enjoy being outdoors. We all know about the calming effect of being outdoors—we all find that—but it's particularly true, isn't it, of people who are neurodivergent, who may find noise very difficult to cope with. As I said, 40 people attend every week, and only one person with a mental illness has had to be admitted to hospital. It's one of only six care farms in Wales, compared with 240 in England, so there are clearly not enough care farms, and we have an abundance of wonderful scenery and farming businesses that may wish to have a subsidiary as a care farm, because it employs lots of people, makes very good use of the land and you can see the synergy with the animals that are on the farm. So, I just wanted to put this on the record. I was really, really impressed with the guy who spoke, Jim Bowen, with such passion and such clarity about the benefits of this. This is definitely the sort of thing that we must be thinking of as places for people who are unlikely to be able to hold down a job in the normal market environment.

Nid wyf wedi cyfarfod ag unrhyw un o'r bobl hyn, felly mae gennyf gryn ddiddordeb mewn clywed yr hyn sydd gennych i'w ddweud, ond hoffwn ychwanegu rhywbeth cadarnhaol at y ddadl hon, sef mai'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom, yn amlwg, yw gwell darpariaeth i alluogi pobl i beidio â chael eu cadw dan glo mewn wardiau—mae hynny'n swnio i mi fel gwasanaethau'r bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg, a'r ugeinfed ganrif yn wir. Felly, pan fynychais y gynhadledd bwyd a ffermio go iawn yr wythnos diwethaf, clywais am wasanaeth hollol wych a ddarperir yng ngogledd sir Benfro o’r enw Fferm Ofal Clynfyw. Mae'n fferm deuluol a ddechreuodd gyda'r rhieni'n addasu bwthyn i'w wneud yn hygyrch i bobl anabl, ond o hynny, mae wedi datblygu i fod yn rhywbeth sy'n wirioneddol anhygoel. Bellach, mae ganddynt bedwar tŷ, gyda hyd at 10 o bobl yn gallu byw yno, gyda llety â chymorth os ydynt angen pobl i fyw yno gyda hwy. Mae'n 9 erw—y fferm ofal—yn cyflogi 42 o bobl, yn rhan o fferm 400 erw, felly gallwch weld bod rhywfaint o synergedd yno. Mae ganddynt 40 o bobl yn mynychu bob dydd, ac maent yn gwneud pethau hynod bwysig, ymarferol fel gwneud sudd afal; mae ganddynt gegin fasnachol, felly maent yn darparu bwyd ar gyfer mannau eraill; maent yn compostio; maent yn achub ieir batri; ac mae ganddynt siop atgyweirio a chymysgydd bwyd ar gefn beic sy'n troi hufen yn fenyn—beth nad sydd i'w hoffi?

Nawr, maent wedi darganfod ei fod yn lle gwirioneddol wych i gleifion iechyd meddwl sy'n gwella, ond hefyd i bobl ag anableddau dysgu, gan eu bod yn mwynhau bod yn yr awyr agored. Gŵyr pob un ohonom y gall bod yn yr awyr agored dawelu ein meddyliau—mae pob un ohonom yn teimlo hynny—ond mae'n arbennig o wir, onid yw, am bobl sy'n niwrowahanol, sydd efallai'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn ymdopi â sŵn. Fel y dywedais, mae 40 o bobl yn mynychu bob wythnos, a dim ond un unigolyn â salwch meddwl sydd wedi gorfod mynd i’r ysbyty. Mae'n un o ddim ond chwe fferm ofal yng Nghymru, o gymharu â 240 yn Lloegr, felly mae'n amlwg nad oes digon o ffermydd gofal, ac mae gennym ddigonedd o olygfeydd gwych a busnesau ffermio a allai fod eisiau dechrau is-gwmni fel fferm ofal, gan eu bod yn cyflogi llawer o bobl, yn gwneud defnydd da iawn o'r tir a gallwch weld y synergedd gyda'r anifeiliaid sydd ar y fferm. Felly, roeddwn am gofnodi hynny. Gwnaeth y dyn a siaradodd, Jim Bowen, argraff fawr iawn arnaf, gyda chymaint o angerdd a chymaint o eglurder ynghylch manteision hyn. Dyma’n bendant y math o beth y mae’n rhaid inni feddwl amdano fel lleoedd i bobl sy’n annhebygol o allu cadw swydd yn yr amgylchedd gwaith arferol.

16:20

As Chair of the Petitions Committee, I would like to draw Members' attention to a petition that was considered on Monday from the Stolen Lives campaign, P-06-1479, 'Stop the detention of learning disabled and autistic children, young people and adults in hospitals'. The petition is clear: hospitals are not a home. Many hospitals are far from people's families and cases of abuse and neglect are all too common. The petitioners are calling on Welsh Government to

'tell us how they plan to stop sectioning under the Mental Health Act and how they plan to bring children, young people and adults who have been sectioned closer to home and out of hospitals, and tell us exactly how many children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and/or autism are currently away from home in mental health hospitals and so-called assessment and treatment units.'

They say that the Minister's engagement with them has been positive, but they are still a little bit concerned about the lack of a full understanding of it being a human rights issue, as opposed to an access to services issue. The Minister has provided the Petitions Committee with a response to the petition, but the Stolen Lives campaigners still have concerns about their role in the task and finish group set up to pursue this issue. They told us that it doesn't yet feel like a collective attempt to address the urgent policy issues at hand and doesn't yet have the specialism to do this. The petitioners also shared a paper on data that they were asked to provide to the ministerial advisory group, which sets out the limitations of the data available in Wales and lists 31 ways in which the quality of that data should be improved. 

The petitioners say that they've also raised concerns about the closure of specialist in-patient services, resulting in people with learning disabilities being detained in mainstream mental health provision. They say that this has happened in Hywel Dda, for example, and they say that this has led to people being looked after by staff who are not trained in learning disability and/or autism; people being placed in even more unsuitable environments and being subjected to restrictive practices, such as long-term segregation, seclusion and physical and chemical restraint; people being viewed under a mental health lens and even subjected to inappropriate forensic gateway assessments. They feel that their concerns on this issue have not yet been addressed. 

The petitioners have also raised concerns about what Welsh Government is doing to prepare for Mental Health Act reform, saying that, without the funding for good community support and provision,

'changes to the act, could have unintended negative consequences for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people, such as more people being detained...or being criminalised.'

Following Monday's meeting, I was asked again to write to the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being to highlight all of the petitioners' concerns, and we will keep the Senedd's Health and Social Care Committee and the cross-party group on learning disability sighted on the correspondence. I was also asked to raise this important issue on behalf of the petitioners today in the Chamber. 

I would also like to raise a wonderful charity based in Llay in my region of north Wales, called Your Space, which offers support for hundreds of families with autism. But they're at risk of possible closure and being made homeless, because the local authority have increased their rent to an exorbitant amount. And I just think that if we can help to support these sorts of establishments and organisations who do so much to ensure that people can remain in their homes that would be really, really helpful. 

I also visited Theatr Clwyd, who are making sure that they've got a separate viewing gallery to watch productions for people with sensory issues, which is wonderful to think about. And I support what Jenny Rathbone said about a connection to the outdoors for many people and a calm environment. And I know many people who've been working with our countryside services in Flintshire, at Wepre Park, doing some really lovely work connecting with the outdoors, which has really helped them to feel much better. So, I also wanted to end on a positive note, but, as Chair of the Petitions Committee, I wanted to speak on behalf of the petitioners. Thank you.

Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, hoffwn dynnu sylw’r Aelodau at ddeiseb a gafodd ei hystyried ddydd Llun, deiseb gan ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn, P-06-1479, ‘Stopio cadw plant, pobl ifanc ac oedolion ag anableddau dysgu ac awtistiaeth mewn ysbytai'. Mae’r ddeiseb yn glir: nid cartref yw ysbytai. Mae llawer o ysbytai ymhell o deuluoedd pobl, ac mae achosion o gamdriniaeth ac esgeulustod yn llawer rhy gyffredin. Mae'r deisebwyr yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i

'ddweud wrthym sut y mae’n bwriadu rhoi’r gorau i ddefnyddio’r Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl yn y modd hwn a sut y mae’n bwriadu dod â phlant, pobl ifanc ac oedolion sy’n cael eu dal o dan y Ddeddf yn nes adref ac allan o ysbytai, a dweud wrthym faint yn union o blant, pobl ifanc ac mae oedolion ag anableddau dysgu a/neu awtistiaeth sydd oddi cartref ar hyn o bryd mewn ysbytai iechyd meddwl ac unedau asesu a thrin fel y'u gelwir.'

Maent yn dweud bod y Gweinidog wedi ymgysylltu'n gadarnhaol â hwy, ond maent yn dal i fod braidd yn bryderus ynghylch y diffyg dealltwriaeth lawn ohono fel mater hawliau dynol, yn hytrach na mater mynediad at wasanaethau. Mae’r Gweinidog wedi darparu ymateb i’r ddeiseb i’r Pwyllgor Deisebau, ond mae ymgyrchwyr Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn yn dal i fod yn bryderus ynghylch eu rôl yn y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen a sefydlwyd i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn. Dywedasant wrthym nad yw'n teimlo fel ymgais ar y cyd eto i fynd i'r afael â'r materion polisi brys dan sylw ac nad oes ganddo'r arbenigedd i wneud hyn eto. Rhannodd y deisebwyr bapur ar ddata y gofynnwyd iddynt ei ddarparu i grŵp cynghori’r gweinidog, sy’n nodi cyfyngiadau’r data sydd ar gael yng Nghymru ac sy'n rhestru 31 o ffyrdd y dylid gwella ansawdd y data hwnnw.

Dywed y deisebwyr eu bod hefyd wedi mynegi pryderon ynghylch cau gwasanaethau cleifion mewnol arbenigol, gan arwain at bobl ag anableddau dysgu yn cael eu cadw mewn darpariaeth iechyd meddwl prif ffrwd. Dywedant fod hyn wedi digwydd ym mwrdd Hywel Dda, er enghraifft, a dywedant ei fod wedi arwain at bobl yn cael gofal gan staff nad ydynt wedi’u hyfforddi mewn anableddau dysgu a/neu awtistiaeth; pobl yn cael eu lleoli mewn amgylcheddau hyd yn oed yn fwy anaddas ac yn destun arferion cyfyngol, megis cael eu cadw ar wahân yn hirdymor, eu cadw o'r neilltu ac ataliaeth gorfforol a chemegol; pobl yn cael eu gweld drwy lens iechyd meddwl a hyd yn oed yn destun asesiadau porth fforensig amhriodol. Maent yn teimlo nad yw eu pryderon ar y mater hwn wedi cael unrhyw sylw eto.

Mae’r deisebwyr hefyd wedi codi pryderon ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i baratoi ar gyfer diwygio’r Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl, gan ddweud, heb y cyllid ar gyfer darpariaeth a chymorth cymunedol da, y gall

'newidiadau i'r ddeddf gael canlyniadau negyddol anfwriadol i bobl ag anableddau dysgu a/neu bobl awtistig, fel mwy o bobl yn cael eu cadw...neu'n cael eu troseddoli.'

Yn dilyn y cyfarfod ddydd Llun, gofynnwyd eto i mi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant i dynnu sylw at holl bryderon y deisebwyr, a byddwn yn sicrhau bod Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol y Senedd a’r grŵp trawsbleidiol ar anableddau dysgu yn cael golwg ar yr ohebiaeth. Hefyd, gofynnwyd i mi godi’r mater pwysig hwn ar ran y deisebwyr yn y Siambr heddiw.

Hoffwn nodi elusen wych sydd wedi’i lleoli yn Llai yn fy rhanbarth i yng ngogledd Cymru, elusen o'r enw Dy Le Di, sy’n cynnig cymorth i gannoedd o deuluoedd ag awtistiaeth. Ond maent mewn perygl o orfod cau a gadael eu hadeilad, gan fod yr awdurdod lleol wedi cynyddu eu rhent i swm afresymol. Ac os gallwn helpu i gefnogi'r mathau hyn o sefydliadau sy'n gwneud cymaint i sicrhau y gall pobl aros yn eu cartrefi, rwy'n credu y byddai hynny'n wirioneddol ddefnyddiol.

Ymwelais â Theatr Clwyd hefyd, sy'n sicrhau bod ganddynt oriel wylio ar wahân i bobl â phroblemau synhwyraidd allu gwylio cynyrchiadau, sy'n wych i'w glywed. Ac rwy’n cefnogi’r hyn a ddywedodd Jenny Rathbone am gysylltiad â’r awyr agored i lawer o bobl, ac amgylchedd tawel. A gwn am lawer o bobl sydd wedi bod yn gweithio gyda'n gwasanaethau cefn gwlad yn sir y Fflint, ym Mharc Gwepra, yn gwneud gwaith hyfryd iawn yn cysylltu â'r awyr agored, sydd wir wedi eu helpu i deimlo'n llawer gwell. Felly, roeddwn am orffen ar nodyn cadarnhaol hefyd, ond fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deisebau, roeddwn am siarad ar ran y deisebwyr. Diolch.

Thanks very much to Hefin, Mark and Sioned for bringing forward this very important debate today and for their very powerful contributions. The motion notes that it's over 40 years since the publication of the all-Wales strategy, which aimed to remove autistic people and people with a learning disability from long-term placements and support them to live in their local communities. And, of course, the trigger for the all-Wales strategy was the inquiry into Ely Hospital, which was a significant milestone towards developing care in the community and meant to be an end to institutionalised living for the majority of people. And I was involved with Ely Hospital, very involved with Ely Hospital, and, looking back 40 years and listening to this debate, I can still feel the sadness of some of those children who lived in Ely. And I particularly remember one little boy who had had hydrocephalus, and he sat in the window all day, every day, waiting for his mother to come to pick him up, and that went on for years. And there was another young man with a learning disability, and he was in Ely because it was alleged that his father, who was a rag and bone man, was driving his cart along Cathedral Road and was allegedly heard to say, 'I'm going to kill you when we get home.' And he was put into Ely, never saw his family again, and he was waiting to see them again all the time.

So, in this debate today, I can't help remembering those young people, and I don't feel that there's anyone else to remember them now, and I want to mark that they were there and they had feelings and emotions, and that's the sort of situation that we do not ever want to return to, and it's very distressing to hear of the individual situations of Jack and Will that have been mentioned today. And in fact, our Minister for finance has now left the Chamber, but he actually wrote a book on Ely Hospital, which I think is very important for us to read, along with Ian Butler, who was a special adviser to the Government.

And also the move into the community in Cardiff from Ely Hospital was very vividly illustrated in a play at the Sherman in 2023. I don't know if anybody actually saw that, but it was called Housemates, and it told the story of a young man with Down's syndrome who'd lived in Ely since childhood. He linked up with the Cardiff University student gym, they had a house in the community; it transformed the concept of community care, it became known all over the world, and that was the beginning of supported living and care in the community.

So, so many good things have happened in Wales; we have achieved such a lot in Wales and there has been a transformation of care, as has been known throughout the world, and so I think it's important to acknowledge that, and I have visited many settings that are absolutely excellent and where children and people with learning disabilities and autism are thriving. But there is so much more to do, and I think that's what the debate today is telling us. I certainly support this motion and I support the manifesto of Stolen Lives, because I know the people involved have lived experience. They are speaking from what they have seen and what they are experiencing. So, that's why it's so good and important that we must listen to them, and we must try and take things further, because I believe very strongly that the all-Wales strategy was transforming. I think we should be proud of it. I think we've made progress, I think the Government has made progress, but there is so much more to do, and everybody needs a home. So, I support the motion.

Diolch yn fawr i Hefin, Mark a Sioned am gyflwyno’r ddadl hynod bwysig hon heddiw ac am eu cyfraniadau pwerus iawn. Mae’r cynnig yn nodi bod dros 40 mlynedd wedi mynd heibio ers cyhoeddi strategaeth Cymru gyfan, a oedd â'r nod o dynnu pobl awtistig a phobl ag anableddau dysgu allan o leoliadau ysbyty hirdymor a'u cefnogi i fyw yn eu cymunedau lleol. Ac wrth gwrs, y sbardun ar gyfer strategaeth Cymru gyfan oedd yr ymchwiliad i Ysbyty Trelái, a oedd yn garreg filltir arwyddocaol tuag at ddatblygu gofal yn y gymuned ac a oedd i fod yn ddiwedd ar fywyd sefydliadol i’r rhan fwyaf o bobl. A bûm yn ymwneud ag Ysbyty Trelái, yn ymwneud yn agos ag Ysbyty Trelái, ac wrth edrych yn ôl 40 mlynedd a gwrando ar y ddadl hon, gallaf deimlo tristwch rhai o'r plant a oedd yn byw yn Ysbyty Trelái. Ac rwy’n cofio’n arbennig am un bachgen bach a oedd â hydroseffalws, ac eisteddai wrth y ffenestr drwy’r dydd, bob dydd, yn aros i’w fam ddod i fynd ag ef adref, ac aeth hynny yn ei flaen am flynyddoedd. Ac roedd dyn ifanc arall ag anabledd dysgu a oedd yn Ysbyty Nhrelái oherwydd honiadau fod rhywun wedi clywed ei dad, a oedd yn ddyn hel rhacs, yn dweud wrtho wrth yrru ei gert ar hyd Heol y Gadeirlan, 'Rwy'n mynd i dy ladd di pan gyrhaeddwn ni adref.' Ac fe'i gosodwyd yn Ysbyty Trelái, ni welodd ei deulu byth eto, a byddai'n aros drwy'r amser i'w gweld eto.

Felly, yn y ddadl hon heddiw, ni allaf beidio â chofio'r bobl ifanc hynny, ac nid wyf yn teimlo bod unrhyw un arall ar ôl i'w cofio bellach, ac rwyf am nodi eu bod yno a bod ganddynt deimladau ac emosiynau, a dyna'r math o sefyllfa nad ydym byth am ddychwelyd iddi, ac mae’n drallodus iawn clywed am sefyllfaoedd unigol Jack a Will y soniwyd amdanynt heddiw. Ac mae ein Gweinidog cyllid wedi gadael y Siambr bellach, ond mewn gwirionedd, fe ysgrifennodd lyfr am Ysbyty Trelái, gydag Ian Butler, a oedd yn gynghorydd arbennig i'r Llywodraeth, llyfr y credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn i ni ei ddarllen.

A hefyd, cafodd y symudiad i'r gymuned yng Nghaerdydd o Ysbyty Trelái ei bortreadu'n glir iawn mewn drama yn y Sherman yn 2023. Nid wyf yn gwybod a welodd unrhyw un y ddrama honno, ond ei henw oedd Housemates, ac roedd yn adrodd hanes dyn ifanc â syndrom Down a oedd wedi byw yn Nhrelái er pan oedd yn blentyn. Cysylltodd â champfa myfyrwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd, roedd ganddynt dŷ yn y gymuned; trawsnewidiodd y cysyniad o ofal yn y gymuned, daeth yn enwog ledled y byd, a dyna ddechrau byw â chymorth a gofal yn y gymuned.

Felly, mae cymaint o bethau da wedi digwydd yng Nghymru; rydym wedi cyflawni cymaint yng Nghymru ac mae gofal wedi’i drawsnewid, fel sydd wedi bod yn hysbys ledled y byd, ac felly credaf ei bod yn bwysig cydnabod hynny, ac rwyf wedi ymweld â llawer o leoliadau sy’n gwbl rhagorol a lle mae plant a phobl ag anableddau dysgu ac awtistiaeth yn ffynnu. Ond mae cymaint mwy i’w wneud, ac rwy'n credu mai dyna mae’r ddadl heddiw yn ei ddweud wrthym. Rwy’n sicr yn cefnogi’r cynnig hwn ac rwy’n cefnogi maniffesto Bywydau Wedi'u Dwyn, gan y gwn fod y bobl sy'n gysylltiedig ag ef â phrofiad bywyd. Maent yn siarad am yr hyn y maent wedi'i weld a'r hyn y maent yn ei brofi. Felly, dyna pam ei bod mor dda a phwysig i ni wrando arnynt, ac mae'n rhaid inni geisio mynd â phethau ymhellach, gan y credaf yn gryf iawn fod strategaeth Cymru gyfan wedi trawsnewid pethau. Credaf y dylem fod yn falch ohoni. Rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd, ac rwy'n credu bod y Llywodraeth wedi gwneud cynnydd, ond mae cymaint mwy i'w wneud, ac mae angen cartref ar bawb. Felly, rwy'n cefnogi'r cynnig.

16:25

Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, Sarah Murphy.

I call on the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy.

Dirprwy Lywydd, like to thank my colleague Hefin David for tabling this debate this afternoon, and for the contributions from Members, particularly Sioned Williams and Mark Isherwood, who have been so involved with this campaign. I'm grateful for the opportunity to provide a further update about the work that we are leading in relation to adult learning disability in-patient services, and our response to the concerns raised by the Stolen Lives campaign.

I want to start by saying that we agree that a hospital bed is not a home. We believe that people with learning disabilities and autism should be cared for in their local community, at home, or as close to home as possible wherever practical. No-one wants to see a return to the dark days where people with learning disabilities were institutionalised. We never want to return to those days that Julie Morgan just referenced. And absolutely, of course there is more that we can and are doing to ensure people with learning disabilities have a home that they can call their own.

The latest data that we have shows that, in October, there were 140 adults with a learning disability who were receiving ongoing care in an in-patient setting; 22 were in England. This is not good enough. We are working to reduce the number of people who are living away like this. This is a priority in our learning disability strategic action plan, and I want to thank the Stolen Lives campaign for the increased focus it has brought to this. I am acutely aware that there are no quick fixes. We need to make systemic, sustainable, affordable changes to services, to make sure that they are able to flex and adapt to meet the varied needs of different people, that wraparound that Hefin David talked about, not people having to fit in to a system that isn't working for them.

Many of the concerns about learning disability in-patient services were highlighted in the 2020 review 'Improving Care, Improving Lives', which the Welsh Government commissioned. It made 70 recommendations for the Welsh Government, health boards, local authorities, care providers and the third sector about how services can be improved. In early 2022, as we emerged from the pandemic, we set up the learning disability national implementation and assurance group to deliver on those recommendations. A significant amount of progress has been made, thanks to a huge amount of co-production with professionals and people with lived experience, who were at the heart of this work. I received an interim progress report from the learning disability national implementation and assurance group, and I expect a full update about progress against all 70 of the report's recommendations by April 2025. I will ensure that this is published and, of course, shared with Members of the Senedd.

This group has been instrumental in reviewing some of the key issues that impact in-patient services, including timely transition, crisis care and early intervention, and improving non-pharmaceutical intervention. Its advice—

Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i fy nghyd-Aelod Hefin David am gyflwyno’r ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, ac am y cyfraniadau gan yr Aelodau, yn enwedig Sioned Williams a Mark Isherwood, sydd wedi ymwneud cymaint â’r ymgyrch hon. Rwy’n ddiolchgar am y cyfle i roi diweddariad pellach am y gwaith yr ydym yn ei arwain mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau i gleifion mewnol ag anableddau dysgu sy'n oedolion, a’n hymateb i’r pryderon a godwyd gan ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn.

Hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddweud ein bod yn cytuno nad yw gwely ysbyty yn gartref. Credwn y dylid gofalu am bobl ag anableddau dysgu ac awtistiaeth yn eu cymuned leol, gartref, neu mor agos at eu cartrefi â phosibl lle bo hynny’n ymarferol. Nid oes unrhyw un yn dymuno dychwelyd i'r dyddiau tywyll lle roedd pobl ag anableddau dysgu yn cael eu sefydliadu. Nid ydym eisiau dychwelyd at y dyddiau hynny y cyfeiriodd Julie Morgan atynt. Ac yn sicr, mae mwy y gallwn ac yr ydym yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod gan bobl ag anableddau dysgu rywle y gallant ei alw'n gartref.

Mae'r data diweddaraf sydd gennym yn dangos, ym mis Hydref, fod 140 o oedolion ag anableddau dysgu yn cael gofal parhaus mewn lleoliad cleifion mewnol; roedd 22 ohonynt yn Lloegr. Nid yw hyn yn ddigon da. Rydym yn gweithio i leihau nifer y bobl sy'n byw oddi cartref fel hyn. Mae hon yn flaenoriaeth yn ein cynllun gweithredu strategol ar anableddau dysgu, a hoffwn ddiolch i ymgyrch Bywydau Wedi’u Dwyn am y ffocws cynyddol y mae wedi'i roi i hyn. Rwy’n ymwybodol iawn nad oes unrhyw atebion cyflym. Mae angen inni wneud newidiadau systemig, cynaliadwy, fforddiadwy i wasanaethau, i sicrhau eu bod yn gallu newid ac addasu i ddiwallu anghenion amrywiol gwahanol bobl, y gofal cofleidiol y soniodd Hefin David amdano, nid pobl yn gorfod ffitio i mewn i system nad yw'n gweithio iddynt.

Amlygwyd llawer o’r pryderon ynghylch gwasanaethau cleifion mewnol ag anableddau dysgu yn yr adolygiad yn 2020 ‘Gwella Gofal, Gwella Bywydau’, a gomisiynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Gwnaeth 70 o argymhellion i Lywodraeth Cymru, byrddau iechyd, awdurdodau lleol, darparwyr gofal a’r trydydd sector ynghylch sut y gellir gwella gwasanaethau. Yn gynnar yn 2022, wrth inni gefnu ar y pandemig, fe wnaethom sefydlu’r grŵp gweithredu a sicrwydd cenedlaethol ar gyfer anabledd dysgu i gyflawni’r argymhellion hynny. Mae cryn dipyn o gynnydd wedi’i wneud, diolch i lawer iawn o gydgynhyrchu gyda gweithwyr proffesiynol a phobl â phrofiad bywyd, a oedd yn hollbwysig i'r gwaith hwn. Cefais adroddiad cynnydd interim gan y grŵp gweithredu a sicrwydd cenedlaethol ar gyfer anabledd dysgu, ac rwy’n disgwyl diweddariad llawn ar gynnydd yn erbyn pob un o’r 70 o argymhellion yn yr adroddiad erbyn mis Ebrill 2025. Byddaf yn sicrhau bod hwn yn cael ei gyhoeddi, ac yn cael ei rannu gydag Aelodau'r Senedd wrth gwrs.

Mae’r grŵp hwn wedi bod yn allweddol wrth adolygu rhai o’r prif faterion sy’n effeithio ar wasanaethau cleifion mewnol, gan gynnwys pontio amserol, gofal argyfwng ac ymyrraeth gynnar, a gwella ymyrraeth anfferyllol. Bydd ei gyngor—

16:30

Will you take an intervention?

A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?

Can I just ask to what extent is that information being shared with the Stolen Lives group, and are they fully involved in those discussions and development of the recommendations?

A gaf i ofyn i ba raddau mae'r wybodaeth honno'n cael ei rhannu gyda'r grŵp Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn, ac a ydynt yn ymwneud yn llawn â'r trafodaethau hynny a datblygu'r argymhellion?

So, the recommendations were the ones that have already been developed, and then, in terms of them being reported back on by April 2025, they should absolutely then be part of ensuring that there is progress made against all 70 of those recommendations.

As I said, the group has been instrumental in reviewing a number of other key issues. Its advice in all these areas will help shape the development of future policy.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I now turn to some of the specific points raised in the debate. Our guiding principles for the operation of the Mental Health Act include ensuring dignity and respect, using the least restrictive options and maximising independence. These are the services that must be committed to across Wales. There are a range of safeguards to ensure the safe and effective operation of the Mental Health Act in Wales, and these include our Mental Health Act administrators, who ensure compliance with the law, and the independent mental health tribunal service.

On the occasions where people may be admitted to a mental health unit for assessment and do not have a co-occurring mental health mental disorder, I accept that there are delays in finding alternative accommodation, including learning disability facilities. We are committed to ensuring that suitable accommodation is found at the earliest opportunity. I am absolutely clear that, irrespective of the classification of any accommodation, the care provided must be person centred, appropriate and suitable, so it fully meets the needs of the individual.

Last month, I met Baroness Merron, just before the UK Mental Health Bill was introduced to Parliament, and we have agreed to work closely to ensure the legislation works for Wales. Importantly, this Bill introduces changes so that it will no longer be possible to detain a person with a learning disability or autism for longer than is needed for assessment, unless they have a co-occurring mental health disorder.

I wrote to Members in August, setting out details of the work in Wales in relation to adult learning disability services. We have set up a learning disability ministerial advisory task and finish group, which is working with Stolen Lives, and to address the specific concerns. It is mostly people made up from the Stolen Lives campaign, as it should be. The group's last meeting was this Monday, and, at its request, sufficient time will be given to fully explore all of the issues raised, and I do now expect to receive its recommendations in the summer. However, I want to ensure that people from the Stolen Lives campaign are aware that I have taken on board today the concerns raised by Hefin David and also Carolyn Thomas, and I will work on this. It is not performative. I want to hear from you, and I want to hear about your loved ones. I wish that you did not have this lived experience, but it will not be in vain. I am taking this very seriously. I am very concerned, and I am going to ensure that we do take action.

And then, finally, having accurate, up-to-date and robust data that helps to drive change and inform our policy priorities and activity is really important, as has been said many times today. Two years ago, we did start work with the NHS executive to capture and understand learning disability in-patient data through a series of audits of health board in-patient provision. While this information is not yet suitable for publication, we're exploring how we can share it in a format that meets national information governance standards, which is a key ask of the Stolen Lives campaign.

Dirprwy Lywydd, there is a lot of work and progress towards achieving the best outcomes for people with a learning disability in Wales. I am very happy that we will be supporting this motion today. I also want to end by saying that I really do appreciate the passion of everybody who has spoken today, the passion from the Stolen Lives campaign. I agree: this is a human rights issue. So, let me reiterate: one person in a bed and not in a home is one too many. Diolch.

Yr argymhellion oedd y rhai sydd eisoes wedi'u datblygu, ac yna, o ran adrodd yn ôl ar y rheini erbyn mis Ebrill 2025, dylent fod yn rhan o sicrhau bod cynnydd yn cael ei wneud yn erbyn pob un o'r 70 o'r argymhellion hynny.

Fel y dywedais, mae'r grŵp wedi bod yn allweddol wrth adolygu nifer o faterion pwysig eraill. Bydd ei gyngor yn yr holl feysydd hyn yn helpu i siapio datblygiad polisi yn y dyfodol.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n troi nawr at rai o'r pwyntiau penodol a godwyd yn y ddadl. Mae ein hegwyddorion arweiniol ar gyfer gweithredu'r Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl yn cynnwys sicrhau urddas a pharch, defnyddio'r opsiynau lleiaf cyfyngol a sicrhau cymaint o annibyniaeth â phosibl. Dyma'r gwasanaethau y mae'n rhaid ymrwymo iddynt ledled Cymru. Ceir amrywiaeth o fesurau diogelu i sicrhau bod y Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl yn cael ei gweithredu'n ddiogel ac yn effeithiol yng Nghymru, ac mae'r rhain yn cynnwys gweinyddwyr y Ddeddf Iechyd Meddwl, sy'n sicrhau cydymffurfiaeth â'r gyfraith, a'r gwasanaeth tribiwnlys iechyd meddwl annibynnol.

Ar yr achlysuron pan fydd pobl yn cael eu derbyn i uned iechyd meddwl i'w hasesu ac nad oes ganddynt anhwylder meddwl sy'n cyd-ddigwydd, rwy'n derbyn bod oedi cyn dod o hyd i lety amgen, gan gynnwys cyfleusterau anabledd dysgu. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod llety addas yn cael ei ganfod cyn gynted â phosibl. Rwy'n gwbl glir, ni waeth beth yw dosbarthiad unrhyw lety, fod yn rhaid i'r gofal a ddarperir ganolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn, a'i fod yn briodol ac yn addas, fel ei fod yn diwallu anghenion yr unigolyn yn llawn.

Fis diwethaf, cyfarfûm â'r Farwnes Merron, ychydig cyn i Fesur Iechyd Meddwl y DU gael ei gyflwyno i'r Senedd, ac rydym wedi cytuno i weithio'n agos i sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth yn gweithio i Gymru. Yn bwysig, mae'r Bil hwn yn cyflwyno newidiadau fel na fydd hi mwyach yn bosibl cadw person ag anabledd dysgu neu awtistiaeth am fwy o amser nag sydd ei angen ar gyfer asesu, oni bai bod ganddynt anhwylder iechyd meddwl sy'n cyd-ddigwydd.

Ysgrifennais at yr Aelodau ym mis Awst, yn nodi manylion y gwaith yng Nghymru mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau anabledd dysgu i oedolion. Rydym wedi sefydlu grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen i gynghori'r Gweinidog ar anabledd dysgu, sy'n gweithio gyda Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn, ac i fynd i'r afael â'r pryderon penodol. Yn bennaf, mae'n cynnwys pobl sy'n rhan o'r ymgyrch Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn, ac felly y dylai fod. Roedd cyfarfod diwethaf y grŵp ddydd Llun yma, ac ar ei gais, rhoddir digon o amser i archwilio'r holl faterion a godwyd yn llawn, ac rwyf bellach yn disgwyl derbyn ei argymhellion yn yr haf. Fodd bynnag, rwyf am sicrhau bod pobl o'r ymgyrch Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi ystyried heddiw y pryderon a godwyd gan Hefin David a Carolyn Thomas, a byddaf yn gweithio ar hyn. Rwy'n dweud hynny'n ddiffuant. Rwyf am glywed oddi wrthych, ac rwyf am glywed am eich anwyliaid. Hoffwn pe na baech wedi cael y profiad bywyd hwn, ond ni fydd yn ofer. Rwyf o ddifrif ynglŷn â hyn. Rwy'n bryderus iawn, ac rwy'n mynd i sicrhau ein bod yn gweithredu.

Ac yna, yn olaf, mae cael data cywir, cyfoes a chadarn sy'n helpu i yrru newid a llywio ein blaenoriaethau polisi a'n gweithgarwch yn bwysig iawn, fel y dywedwyd sawl gwaith heddiw. Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, fe wnaethom ddechrau gweithio gyda gweithrediaeth y GIG i gasglu a deall data cleifion mewnol anabledd dysgu trwy gyfres o archwiliadau o ddarpariaeth byrddau iechyd ar gyfer cleifion mewnol. Er nad yw'r wybodaeth hon yn addas i'w chyhoeddi eto, rydym yn archwilio sut y gallwn ei rhannu mewn fformat sy'n bodloni safonau llywodraethu gwybodaeth cenedlaethol, sy'n ofyniad allweddol gan ymgyrch Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, ceir llawer o waith a chynnydd tuag at gyflawni'r canlyniadau gorau i bobl ag anabledd dysgu yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch iawn y byddwn yn cefnogi'r cynnig hwn heddiw. Rwyf eisiau gorffen hefyd drwy ddweud fy mod i'n gwerthfawrogi angerdd pawb sydd wedi siarad heddiw, angerdd yr ymgyrch Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn. Rwy'n cytuno: mae hwn yn fater hawliau dynol. Felly, gadewch imi ailadrodd: mae un person mewn gwely yn hytrach na mewn cartref yn un yn ormod. Diolch.

16:35

Galwaf ar Hefin David i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Hefin David to reply to the debate.

I think we'll start with Sioned's contribution and what she said about misdiagnosis and the fact that a lot of these problems stem from the fact that people are being misdiagnosed with mental health issues. Now, in your contribution, Minister, you said that the Mental Health Bill will ensure that autistic people should not be detained unless they have co-occurring mental health issues. We have this pathway now in Wales to make sure that we are able to end this misdiagnosis. The misdiagnosis is so easy. Mark Isherwood talked about meltdowns. I was with my little Caitlin in the Red Kite, she's nine years old—the Red Kite pub in Caerphilly—and she pushed a table over. She smashed a beer glass on the floor and threw her food on the floor. You know, with a nine-year-old you can just about manage it; for a three-year-old, it's like naughty behaviour; a nine-year-old, you can just about manage it, and people see that there's a disability there. When you're 16 and that's happening, when you're 17 and that's happening, then people start to make associations with mental health disorders, which it is not. It is not. And it's important to remember that, unless you have that understanding as a professional, unless you have that ability to diagnose some of those behaviours, then those misconceptions can easily happen, which is why we're asking for data.

Rwy'n meddwl y gwnawn ni ddechrau gyda chyfraniad Sioned a'r hyn a ddywedodd am gamddiagnosis a'r ffaith bod llawer o'r problemau hyn yn deillio o'r ffaith bod pobl yn cael camddiagnosis o broblemau iechyd meddwl. Nawr, yn eich cyfraniad, Weinidog, fe ddywedoch chi y bydd y Bil Iechyd Meddwl yn sicrhau na ddylid cadw pobl awtistig oni bai bod ganddynt broblemau iechyd meddwl sy'n cyd-ddigwydd. Mae gennym lwybr yng Nghymru nawr i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn gallu dod â chamddiagnosis o'r fath i ben. Mae'r camddiagnosis mor hawdd. Soniodd Mark Isherwood am chwalfa. Roeddwn i gyda Caitlin fy merch fach yn y Red Kite, mae hi'n naw oed—tafarn y Red Kite yng Nghaerffili—ac fe wthiodd hi fwrdd drosodd. Torrodd wydr cwrw ar y llawr a thaflu ei bwyd ar y llawr. Gyda phlentyn naw oed fe allwch chi ei reoli o drwch blewyn; i blentyn tair oed, mae fel camymddwyn; gyda phlentyn naw oed, gallwch ei reoli o drwch blewyn, ac mae pobl yn gweld bod anabledd yno. Pan ydych chi'n 16 oed a bod hynny'n digwydd, pan ydych chi'n 17 oed a bod hynny'n digwydd, mae pobl yn dechrau gwneud cysylltiadau ag anhwylderau iechyd meddwl, ac nid yw hynny'n wir. Nid yw'n wir. Ac mae'n bwysig cofio, oni bai bod gennych chi'r ddealltwriaeth honno fel gweithiwr proffesiynol, oni bai bod gennych chi'r gallu i wneud diagnosis o rai o'r ymddygiadau hynny, gall y camsyniadau hynny ddigwydd yn hawdd, a dyna pam ein bod ni'n gofyn am ddata.

Hefin, would you agree, also—? We've heard evidence that placing people in inappropriate settings to begin with triggers this behaviour and intensifies what are then deemed to be mental health problems. It's a vicious circle then, and people find themselves on this pathway, and they've almost been pushed onto this pathway.

Hefin, a fyddech chi'n cytuno, hefyd—? Rydym wedi clywed tystiolaeth fod gosod pobl mewn lleoliadau amhriodol i ddechrau yn sbarduno'r ymddygiad hwn ac yn dwysáu'r hyn yr ystyrir eu bod wedyn yn broblemau iechyd meddwl. Mae'n gylch dieflig bryd hynny, ac mae pobl yn cael eu hunain ar y llwybr hwn, ac maent bron â bod wedi cael eu gwthio ar y llwybr hwn.

And that's Will's story, isn't it? That was Will's story that you read out. That was exactly what happened. It was very similar with Jack. They end up in these circumstances where meltdowns are almost encouraged to happen, because of bright lights, because of noises, because of confinement. So, it's almost a self-perpetuating problem. And that lack of progress, I think Sioned raised, but also the issue that Mark raised of data, and the fact that we don't know where these people are, and there may be people hidden away that we're just not aware of today. Mark said that someone told him, 'My child was stolen.' That's incredible. That's incredible. And sometimes, I think we don't know where they are, right now, and I'm glad that the Minister's committed to gathering that data.

Jenny Rathbone mentioned some positive things in the community. One thing I would say, yes, it's great to have these services, but we need to remember that not all autistic people have a learning disability, not all autistic people will have a mental health condition, and also autistic people may end up with depression, may end up with dreadful thoughts, but that's as a result of the circumstances they find themselves in, not because of an intrinsic link with autism.

And Carolyn, the Petitions Committee, I can see Dawn up in the gallery—you've put into the Petitions Committee as well, then? I think that's really good. It's a belt-and-braces approach, so we could have another debate, which would be really good. I think it's really the right thing to do. You can see that what Dawn Cavanagh is doing is getting her story out across this Chamber, using every single mechanism that is available to her. These are people in desperate circumstances. I don't think that they'll be satisfied or content with the Minister's words, because when you've seen your family treated in this way, you cannot be content, you cannot be satisfied, you will never be satisfied, but you will, eventually, hopefully, see progress and a path to helping people much like your own family.

Julie Morgan reminds us how far we've come. I almost put that in my speech, actually, because there were people in the 1970s, like my daughter, who would be in hospital permanently in those years. There's still—I've mentioned it before—there's a programme, That's Life, on YouTube, and the first ever episode highlighted exactly that: those young people who were held in hospital today would be recognised as autistic and would be living in their communities. So, yes, we've come a long way, but at the same time, we don't have the data on those young people who are still being held in those very similar circumstances against their will. So, we still need to make progress on that.

I also come back to the task and finish group, that we have, I think, as the Minister said, a clear overview of what we want to achieve, but also I think you need to recognise that the Stolen Lives campaigners are not politicians. Many of them are not used to working with civil servants, so they won't know quite whether what they're being told is the right answer. And sometimes they hear things like, 'Well, we're already doing that, we're already doing that', well, that's not good enough, and I would say to you as Minister to please keep an overview of what your officials are telling the group, because they need to understand that this isn't just them being fobbed off. And I know you get that, because we had that conversation outside the Chamber yesterday.

I'd like to massively thank everybody who's made a contribution to this debate today. We are pushing progress forward here, and I know, Sioned, you feel it should be faster—I agree. But it is progress, and I want to see the Stolen Lives team involved in that progress and driving it every step of the way. And I'd just like to say a massive thank you to them for being here today.

A dyna stori Will, ynte? Dyna oedd stori Will y gwnaethoch chi ei darllen. Dyna'n union a ddigwyddodd. Roedd yn debyg iawn i Jack. Maent yn cyrraedd amgylchiadau yn y pen draw lle mae chwalfa bron yn cael ei hannog, oherwydd goleuadau llachar, oherwydd synau, am eu bod yn cael eu cyfyngu. Felly, mae'n broblem hunanbarhaus, bron iawn. A'r diffyg cynnydd hwnnw a nododd Sioned, rwy'n credu, ond hefyd y mater a gododd Mark ynghylch data, a'r ffaith nad ydym yn gwybod ble mae'r bobl hyn, ac efallai fod pobl ynghudd nad ydym yn ymwybodol ohonynt heddiw. Dywedodd Mark fod rhywun wedi dweud wrtho, 'Cafodd fy mhlentyn ei ddwyn.' Mae hynny'n anghredadwy. Mae hynny'n anghredadwy. Weithiau, nid wyf yn credu ein bod yn gwybod ble maent, ar hyn o bryd, ac rwy'n falch fod y Gweinidog wedi ymrwymo i gasglu'r data hwnnw.

Soniodd Jenny Rathbone am rai pethau cadarnhaol yn y gymuned. Un peth y buaswn i'n ei ddweud yw ei bod hi'n wych cael y gwasanaethau hyn, ond mae angen inni gofio nad oes gan bob person awtistig anabledd dysgu, ni fydd gan bob person awtistig gyflwr iechyd meddwl, a gall pobl awtistig hefyd ddioddef iselder, dioddef meddyliau ofnadwy, ond mae hynny o ganlyniad i'r amgylchiadau y maent ynddynt, nid oherwydd unrhyw gysylltiad cynhenid ag awtistiaeth.

A Carolyn, y Pwyllgor Deisebau, gallaf weld Dawn yn yr oriel—rydych chi wedi rhoi i'r Pwyllgor Deisebau hefyd, felly? Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n wirioneddol dda. Mae'n ddull trylwyr o fynd ati, inni allu cael dadl arall, a fyddai'n dda iawn. Rwy'n credu mai dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud. Gallwch weld mai'r hyn y mae Dawn Cavanagh yn ei wneud yw cael ei stori allan ar draws y Siambr hon, gan ddefnyddio pob mecanwaith sydd ar gael iddi. Pobl mewn amgylchiadau enbyd yw'r rhain. Nid wyf yn credu y byddant yn fodlon â geiriau'r Gweinidog, oherwydd pan fyddwch wedi gweld eich teulu'n cael eu trin fel hyn, ni allwch fod yn fodlon, ni fyddwch byth yn fodlon, ond yn y pen draw, gobeithio, fe fyddwch chi'n gweld cynnydd a llwybr i helpu pobl yn debyg iawn i'ch teulu eich hun.

Mae Julie Morgan yn ein hatgoffa pa mor bell rydym wedi dod. Bu bron i mi roi hynny yn fy araith mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd roedd yna bobl yn y 1970au, fel fy merch, a fyddai yn yr ysbyty'n barhaol yn y blynyddoedd hynny. Mae'n dal i fod—rwyf wedi sôn amdano o'r blaen—mae yna raglen, That's Life, ar YouTube, ac roedd y bennod gyntaf erioed yn nodi yn union hynny: heddiw byddai'r bobl ifanc a gâi eu cadw yn yr ysbyty yn cael eu hadnabod fel pobl awtistig ac yn byw yn eu cymunedau. Felly, rydym wedi dod yn bell, ond ar yr un pryd, nid oes gennym ddata ar y bobl ifanc sy'n dal i gael eu cadw mewn amgylchiadau tebyg iawn yn erbyn eu hewyllys. Felly, mae'n dal i fod angen inni wneud cynnydd ar hynny.

Dof yn ôl hefyd at y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen sydd gennym, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog, gyda throsolwg clir o'r hyn rydym eisiau ei gyflawni, ond hefyd rwy'n credu bod angen i chi gydnabod nad gwleidyddion yw ymgyrchwyr Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn. Mae llawer ohonynt heb arfer gweithio gyda gweision sifil, felly ni fyddant yn gwybod yn iawn a yw'r hyn sy'n cael ei ddweud yn ateb cywir. Weithiau maent yn clywed pethau fel, 'Wel, rydym eisoes yn gwneud hynny, rydym eisoes yn gwneud hynny', wel, nid yw hynny'n ddigon da, a hoffwn ddweud wrthych chi fel Gweinidog am gynnal trosolwg o'r hyn y mae eich swyddogion yn ei ddweud wrth y grŵp, oherwydd mae angen iddynt ddeall nad ydynt yn cael eu twyllo. Ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn deall hynny, oherwydd cawsom y sgwrs honno y tu allan i'r Siambr ddoe.

Hoffwn ddiolch yn fawr iawn i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl hon heddiw. Rydym yn gwthio cynnydd yn ei flaen yma, ac rwy'n gwybod, Sioned, eich bod chi'n teimlo y dylai fod yn gynt—rwy'n cytuno. Ond mae'n gynnydd, ac rwyf am weld tîm Bywydau wedi'u Dwyn yn rhan o'r cynnydd hwnnw ac yn ei yrru bob cam o'r ffordd. A hoffwn ddweud diolch yn fawr iawn iddynt am fod yma heddiw.

16:40

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

6. Dadl ar Adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, 'Eu Dyfodol: Ein Blaenoriaeth? Ymchwiliad dilynol i ddarpariaeth gofal plant yng Nghymru'
6. Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee Report, 'Their Future: Our Priority? Follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales'

Eitem 6 heddiw yw dadl ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, 'Eu Dyfodol: Ein Blaenoriaeth? Ymchwiliad dilynol i ddarpariaeth gofal plant yng Nghymru'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig. Jenny Rathbone.

Item 6 today is a debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, 'Their Future: Our Priority? Follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Jenny Rathbone.

Cynnig NDM8750 Jenny Rathbone

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

Yn nodi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol: 'Eu Dyfodol: Ein Blaenoriaeth? Ymchwiliad dilynol i ddarpariaeth gofal plant yng Nghymru' a osodwyd ar 24 Gorffennaf 2024.

Motion NDM8750 Jenny Rathbone

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, 'Their Future: Our Priority? Follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales', laid on 24 July 2024.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Thank you. This year, the Equality and Social Justice Committee decided to revisit the report we published nearly three years ago, called ‘Minding the future: the childcare barrier facing working parents’, to see what progress had been made. It was a timely piece of work, as a number of important issues required the Government’s urgent attention.

I want to thank all the experts in Wales, across Britain, and in Estonia and Canada, who gave evidence to us, as well as all the early years workers who dedicate their working lives to the well-being of young children, particularly those who allowed us to visit their premises and see the good work that’s going on, as well as the committee staff and our researcher Gareth Thomas, all of whom made significant contributions to the committee’s inquiry. Given the cross-over remit with the Children, Young People and Education Committee, we were very pleased to be joined by Jayne Bryant in her role as Chair, before she joined the Government, and her successor as Chair, Buffy Williams, on this inquiry.

Child-centred, high-quality early childhood education and care is arguably the most transformative intervention that any Government can make to close the attainment gap caused by deprivation. The Education Policy Institute evidence published in the early 1990s emphasised that the die is cast by the time the child is two, unless you have comprehensive high-quality childcare to reverse the disadvantage that will otherwise remain with children for the rest of their lives. That is why Sure Start was set up by the last UK Labour Government. Here in Wales, the Flying Start programme survived the dismantling of Sure Start and the closure of huge numbers of children’s centres by the last UK Government, but there remains a lot to do to deliver the consistency and equity of provision we want to see for our Welsh children. The benefits of Flying Start, it’s very good to see, are starting to be spread out from super-output concentrations of disadvantage, and we very much welcome the announcement on 9 October by the Minister that you are now commissioning local authorities to prepare for the phase 3 expansion of Flying Start for all two-year-olds in Wales, wherever they live, in order to ensure that every child can benefit from at least 2.5 hours of free nursery education five days a week.

For now though, the childcare offer is fragmented into three separate programmes, so that many families do not understand what they’re entitled to. Indeed, the Bevan Foundation told us that this is the reason why about half the families who are entitled to it do not take up the offer of 48 weeks a year of childcare. The parents of disabled children encounter particular obstacles to identifying a local early years provider able to meet their child's needs.

Diolch. Eleni, penderfynodd y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ailedrych ar yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd gennym bron i dair blynedd yn ôl, o'r enw 'Gwarchod y dyfodol: y rhwystr gofal plant sy'n wynebu rhieni sy'n gweithio', i weld pa gynnydd a wnaed. Roedd yn waith amserol, gan fod nifer o faterion pwysig yn galw am sylw brys gan y Llywodraeth.

Hoffwn ddiolch i'r holl arbenigwyr yng Nghymru, ar draws Prydain, ac yn Estonia a Chanada, a roddodd dystiolaeth i ni, yn ogystal â'r holl weithwyr blynyddoedd cynnar sy'n cysegru eu bywydau gwaith er lles plant ifanc, yn enwedig y rhai a ganiataodd inni ymweld â'u safleoedd a gweld y gwaith da sy'n digwydd, yn ogystal â staff y pwyllgor a'n hymchwilydd Gareth Thomas, ac fe wnaeth pob un ohonynt gyfraniadau sylweddol i ymchwiliad y pwyllgor. O ystyried y cylch gwaith sy'n gorgyffwrdd â gwaith y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg, roeddem yn falch iawn o gael ymuno â Jayne Bryant yn ei rôl fel Cadeirydd, cyn iddi ymuno â'r Llywodraeth, a'i holynydd fel Cadeirydd, Buffy Williams, ar yr ymchwiliad hwn.

Gellir dadlau mai addysg a gofal plentyndod cynnar o ansawdd uchel ac sy'n canolbwyntio ar y plentyn yw'r ymyrraeth fwyaf trawsnewidiol y gall unrhyw Lywodraeth ei wneud i gau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad a achosir gan amddifadedd. Pwysleisiodd tystiolaeth y Sefydliad Polisi Addysg a gyhoeddwyd ar ddechrau'r 1990au nad oes troi nôl erbyn i'r plentyn gyrraedd ei ddwyflwydd oed, oni bai bod gennych ofal plant cynhwysfawr o ansawdd uchel i wrthdroi'r anfantais a fydd fel arall yn aros gyda phlant am weddill eu hoes. Dyna pam y cafodd Cychwyn Cadarn ei sefydlu gan Lywodraeth Lafur ddiwethaf y DU. Yma yng Nghymru, goroesodd y rhaglen Dechrau'n Deg ddatgymalu Cychwyn Cadarn a chau niferoedd enfawr o ganolfannau plant gan Lywodraeth ddiwethaf y DU, ond mae llawer i'w wneud o hyd i sicrhau'r ddarpariaeth gyson a theg rydym am ei gweld ar gyfer ein plant yng Nghymru. Mae'n dda gweld bod manteision Dechrau'n Deg yn dechrau lledaenu allan o grynoadau o ardaloedd cynnyrch ehangach difreintiedig, ac rydym yn croesawu'n fawr y cyhoeddiad ar 9 Hydref gan y Gweinidog eich bod bellach yn comisiynu awdurdodau lleol i baratoi ar gyfer ymestyn cam 3 Dechrau'n Deg i gynnwys pob plentyn dwy oed yng Nghymru, lle bynnag y mae'n byw, er mwyn sicrhau y gall pob plentyn elwa o 2.5 awr o leiaf o addysg feithrin am ddim bum niwrnod yr wythnos.

Ond am y tro, mae'r cynnig gofal plant wedi'i rannu'n dair rhaglen ar wahân, fel nad yw llawer o deuluoedd yn deall yr hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Yn wir, dywedodd Sefydliad Bevan wrthym mai dyma'r rheswm pam nad yw oddeutu hanner y teuluoedd sydd â hawl iddo yn manteisio ar y cynnig o ofal plant am 48 wythnos y flwyddyn. Mae rhieni plant anabl yn wynebu rhwystrau penodol wrth ddod o hyd i ddarparwr blynyddoedd cynnar lleol sy'n gallu diwallu anghenion eu plentyn.

Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

16:45

High-quality, comprehensive, child-centred early education and care transforms lives and delivers a more equal society. We need to look no further than Estonia, whose investment in the early years has made this country of just over 1 million people the highest-performing country in Europe as measured by the PISA test. That is some achievement. We heard compelling evidence that this child-centred approach to early years care and education is still a work in progress across the UK. Unlike in Scandinavia and Estonia, the needs of the child still take second place to the emphasis on making childcare affordable for parents to return to paid work or attend work-related education and training.

We saw excellent child-centred provision on our committee visits across Wales, like The Venture in Wrexham, situated on a housing estate where most children attending are living in flats with no safe access to outdoor play, which is so important for children's well-being whatever their age, not least the positive impact on their sleeping patterns. Carolyn Thomas, who may speak later, observed The Venture's strength in its holistic support for families, its active promotion of the wonders of nature and respect for the environment.

Enfys Fach, similarly, in Brecon, offers seamless child-led indoor and outdoor learning opportunities. Its co-location with the primary school enables children to use the school's forest school and to feel part of a wider community when they have celebrations of key moments in the year. Dylan's Den, set up by parents in Treorchy, was more of a concrete jungle, but its co-location with the primary school enabled Dylan's Den to spread their wings to the whole of the school playground for their expanded holiday provision, particularly welcome in an area where holiday care is hard to come by. It was very impressive to see how staff in this social enterprise had developed such expertise to meet the needs of children with a range of disabilities.

I saw similar dedication to the needs of a profoundly disabled child at Aberavon integrated children's centre, where staff nevertheless reported a serious shortage of places for children with additional needs. Coram Family and Childcare, which pioneered child-centred provision back in the nineteenth century, surveys all local authorities annually on their childcare sufficiency, and highlighted that the 2024 data shows that only 5 per cent of Welsh local authorities have sufficient places for children with disabilities, and this is a major cause for concern.

Turning now to our recommendations, particularly those that have financial implications in the week before the finance Cabinet Secretary reveals the Welsh Government draft budget, we welcome very much the attention that Dawn Bowden has paid to our recommendations. As the fourth Minister with responsibility for early years this year, it is good that she has spent her time in post to look at the granular detail of what we are recommending.

We acknowledge that the development of a single system for all Welsh Government-funded childcare requires a significant programme of change, which needs to be co-produced with all stakeholders, i.e. parents, providers and the local authorities, who have a responsibility to deliver sufficient provision to meet the needs of their population, and that this work needs to be aligned with the streamlining of the Welsh benefits system, so that low-income households in particular are fully aware of the support available. So, we look forward to hearing how kindly the rest of the Cabinet, particularly the Cabinet Secretary for finance, have responded to her pitch for money in next year's budget.

We very much welcome the development of Teulu Cymru as a one-stop shop for information on childcare support for families, which hopefully will prove an accessible platform for simplifying and bringing together the three separate strands of Welsh Government current provision as it evolves. We have to note that the UK has some of the highest childcare costs in the world, as confirmed by the OECD, and a Wales-wide survey by Oxfam Cymru found that nine out of 10 respondents struggled to meet childcare costs from their disposable income. So, once again, we hope that the Cabinet Secretary will look kindly on the potential capital as well as revenue required to start extending Flying Start to all two-year-olds during this coming financial year. But we must also address the inequity of denying families with disabled children what they, above all, should be getting. That is what high quality, comprehensive, inclusive provision looks like, and we need to ensure it's available where children are living. 

Lastly, we warmly welcome the seriousness with which the Minister has considered the stark evidence we heard on the challenges providers now face, having had no increase in the Welsh Government contribution to their costs since April 2022. This, during three years of a cost-of-living crisis, ballooning energy and food costs, has rocked the viability of the sector. I refer you to figure 6 of our report, which tells it all. We cannot expect providers to live off fresh air and their abundant enthusiasm and dedication for the children they serve. They must have enough to cover the costs as well as paying themselves, and they are simply unable to recruit quality staff if those people can earn more stacking shelves in a supermarket. 

We hope there will be something about an uprating of the hourly rate of the Welsh Government childcare offer in place in the last three years, because a survey that was made of all providers tells you that seven out of 10 childcare providers could sustain the current model for one year, but only 20 per cent were confident they could survive for two years. So, unless we do something pretty serious and quickly, we have to hope that next week we will give some certainty to providers that the increase in the childcare hourly rate is on the way from April 2025. I now look forward to hearing the contributions from others, including, of course, the Minister. 

Mae addysg gynnar a gofal o ansawdd uchel, cynhwysfawr, sy'n canolbwyntio ar y plentyn yn trawsnewid bywydau ac yn creu cymdeithas fwy cyfartal. Nid oes angen inni edrych ymhellach nag Estonia, y mae ei buddsoddiad yn y blynyddoedd cynnar wedi gwneud y wlad hon o ychydig dros 1 filiwn o bobl y wlad sy'n perfformio orau yn Ewrop fel y'i mesurir gan y prawf PISA. Mae'n gryn dipyn o gyflawniad. Clywsom dystiolaeth gref fod y dull hwn sy'n canolbwyntio ar y plentyn o weithredu gofal ac addysg blynyddoedd cynnar yn dal i fod yn waith ar y gweill ledled y DU. Yn wahanol i Sgandinafia ac Estonia, mae anghenion y plentyn yn dal i fod yn ail i'r pwyslais ar wneud gofal plant yn fforddiadwy i rieni ddychwelyd i waith cyflogedig neu fynychu addysg a hyfforddiant sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith.

Gwelsom ddarpariaeth ragorol sy'n canolbwyntio ar y plentyn ar ein hymweliadau pwyllgor ledled Cymru, fel Y Fenter yn Wrecsam, ar ystad o dai lle mae'r rhan fwyaf o blant sy'n mynychu yn byw mewn fflatiau heb fynediad diogel i chwarae yn yr awyr agored, sydd mor bwysig i lesiant plant o bob oedran, yn enwedig yr effaith gadarnhaol ar eu patrymau cysgu. Nododd Carolyn Thomas, a fydd yn siarad yn ddiweddarach, gryfder Y Fenter yn ei chefnogaeth gyfannol i deuluoedd, y modd y mae'n mynd ati i hyrwyddo rhyfeddodau natur a pharch at yr amgylchedd.

Yn yr un modd, mae Enfys Fach yn Aberhonddu, yn cynnig cyfleoedd dysgu di-dor dan arweiniad plant dan do ac yn yr awyr agored. Mae ei chydleoli gyda'r ysgol gynradd yn galluogi plant i ddefnyddio ysgol goedwig yr ysgol ac i deimlo'n rhan o gymuned ehangach pan fyddant yn cynnal dathliadau o adegau pwysig yn y flwyddyn. Roedd Dylan's Den, a sefydlwyd gan rieni yn Nhreorci, yn fwy o jyngl goncrit, ond roedd eu cydleoli gyda'r ysgol gynradd yn galluogi Dylan's Den i ledaenu eu hadenydd i faes chwarae cyfan yr ysgol ar gyfer eu darpariaeth wyliau estynedig, a oedd i'w groesawu'n fawr mewn ardal lle mae'n anodd dod o hyd i ofal dros y gwyliau. Roedd yn drawiadol iawn gweld sut roedd staff yn y fenter gymdeithasol hon wedi datblygu cymaint o arbenigedd i ddiwallu anghenion plant ag ystod o anableddau.

Gwelais ymroddiad tebyg i anghenion plentyn ag anabledd dwys yng nghanolfan blant integredig Aberafan, lle roedd y staff serch hynny wedi nodi prinder difrifol o leoedd i blant ag anghenion ychwanegol. Mae Coram Family and Childcare, a arloesodd gyda darpariaeth sy'n canolbwyntio ar y plentyn yn ôl yn y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg, yn arolygu pob awdurdod lleol yn flynyddol ar eu digonolrwydd gofal plant, a nododd fod data 2024 yn dangos mai dim ond 5 y cant o awdurdodau lleol Cymru sydd â digon o leoedd i blant ag anableddau, ac mae hyn yn destun pryder mawr.

Os caf droi at ein hargymhellion nawr, yn enwedig y rhai sydd â goblygiadau ariannol yn yr wythnos cyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid ddatgelu cyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym yn croesawu'n fawr y sylw y mae Dawn Bowden wedi'i roi i'n hargymhellion. Fel y pedwerydd Gweinidog gyda chyfrifoldeb am y blynyddoedd cynnar eleni, mae'n dda ei bod wedi treulio ei hamser yn ei swydd yn edrych ar fanylion yr hyn rydym yn ei argymell.

Rydym yn cydnabod bod datblygu un system ar gyfer pob gofal plant a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn gofyn am raglen sylweddol o newid, y mae angen ei gydgynhyrchu â'r holl randdeiliaid, hynny yw, rhieni, darparwyr a'r awdurdodau lleol, sydd â chyfrifoldeb i sicrhau darpariaeth ddigonol i ddiwallu anghenion eu poblogaeth, a bod angen i'r gwaith gydredeg â symleiddio system fudd-daliadau Cymru, fel bod aelwydydd incwm isel yn arbennig yn gwbl ymwybodol o'r cymorth sydd ar gael. Felly, edrychwn ymlaen at glywed pa mor garedig y mae gweddill y Cabinet, yn enwedig Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, wedi ymateb i'w chais am arian yng nghyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf.

Rydym yn croesawu datblygiad Teulu Cymru yn gynnes iawn fel siop un stop ar gyfer gwybodaeth am gymorth gofal plant i deuluoedd, ac fe fydd, gobeithio, yn blatfform hygyrch ar gyfer symleiddio a dod â thair elfen wahanol darpariaeth bresennol Llywodraeth Cymru at ei gilydd wrth iddi esblygu. Mae'n rhaid inni nodi bod gan y DU rai o'r costau gofal plant uchaf yn y byd, fel y cadarnhawyd gan y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, a chanfu arolwg ledled Cymru gan Oxfam Cymru fod naw o bob 10 ymatebydd yn ei chael hi'n anodd talu costau gofal plant o'u hincwm gwario. Felly, unwaith eto, gobeithiwn y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn edrych yn garedig ar y cyfalaf potensial yn ogystal â'r refeniw sydd ei angen i ddechrau ymestyn Dechrau'n Deg i gynnwys pob plentyn dwy oed yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol sydd i ddod. Ond rhaid inni fynd i'r afael ag annhegwch amddifadu teuluoedd â phlant anabl o'r hyn y dylent hwy, yn fwy na neb, ei gael. Dyna mae darpariaeth gynhwysfawr, gynhwysol o ansawdd uchel yn ei olygu, ac mae angen inni sicrhau ei bod ar gael lle mae plant yn byw. 

Yn olaf, rydym yn croesawu'n gynnes y sylw difrifol y mae'r Gweinidog wedi ei roi i'r dystiolaeth glir a glywsom am yr heriau y mae darparwyr bellach yn eu hwynebu, a hwythau heb gael unrhyw gynnydd yng nghyfraniad Llywodraeth Cymru i'w costau ers mis Ebrill 2022. Mae hyn, dros dair blynedd o argyfwng costau byw, costau ynni a bwyd cynyddol, wedi siglo hyfywedd y sector. Rwy'n eich cyfeirio at ffigwr 6 ein hadroddiad, sy'n dweud y cyfan. Ni allwn ddisgwyl i ddarparwyr fyw ar ddim ond eu brwdfrydedd a'u hymroddiad helaeth i'r plant y maent yn eu gwasanaethu. Mae'n rhaid iddynt gael digon i dalu'r costau yn ogystal â thalu eu hunain, ac ni allant recriwtio staff o safon os gall y bobl hynny ennill mwy yn llenwi silffoedd mewn archfarchnad. 

Rydym yn gobeithio y bydd rhywbeth ynghylch cynyddu'r gyfradd yr awr y mae cynnig gofal plant Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ei darparu dros y tair blynedd diwethaf, oherwydd mae arolwg a wnaed o'r holl ddarparwyr yn dweud wrthych y gallai saith o bob 10 darparwr gofal plant gynnal y model presennol am flwyddyn, ond dim ond 20 y cant a oedd yn hyderus y gallent oroesi am ddwy flynedd. Felly, oni bai ein bod yn gwneud rhywbeth go ddifrifol a hynny'n gyflym, mae'n rhaid inni obeithio y byddwn yn rhoi rhywfaint o sicrwydd i ddarparwyr yr wythnos nesaf fod cynnydd yng nghyfradd yr awr ar gyfer gofal plant ar y ffordd o fis Ebrill 2025. Edrychaf ymlaen nawr at glywed cyfraniadau gan eraill, gan gynnwys y Gweinidog, wrth gwrs. 

16:50

Can I also thank the committee and Chair for producing this report? One of the most striking features of this report was the uncovering of how complicated and disjointed the childcare funding system is. We all know how important early years learning and support is to the long-term educational and job prospects of a child, and yet it feels like the very system designed to help them is actually stopping some of those most in need from accessing it. 

The sad truth is that it appears that the Welsh Government has known of this for some time, and that after the initial inquiry two years ago very little has been done. I think this speaks volumes to the due regard the Welsh Government gives to childcare provision. This lack of action falls squarely on the shoulders of the Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries responsible, who have failed to prioritise reorganising childcare provision. I believe we need more accountability. 

I recognise that the Government has only accepted in principle to making a commitment to consolidating funding streams, based on the view that it is costly and complex to simplify. However, I do not accept this argument. This Government has spent 25 years systematically complicating this funding stream. You have at your disposal all the information you need and it would not be too onerous a task to redesign this funding system. I'm fearful these words are no more than an empty gesture to appease the committee and will, yet again, be followed up with a failure to act. 

This report emphasises the need for more funding into the childcare sector. I was particularly troubled that almost 80 per cent of childcare suppliers expect to close within two years if they do not receive an uplift in the hourly rate per child of between 20 per cent and 60 per cent of the current level. On top of this, 92 per cent of parents feel that childcare costs are disproportionately high compared to their salaries. The fact that the report also highlights the speed of the Welsh Government response is of great concern. 

It has been noted that early years funding was transferred in the previous budget to fund other priorities, instead of using it to support the struggling childcare sector. So, let's put this picture together. What we have is a scenario whereby childcare providers simply do not have enough money to keep going, alongside a majority of parents who are struggling to already pay childcare costs, and then a Welsh Government who has no sense of urgency in addressing this and is happy to divert funding away from early years provision. This is telling families that the Welsh Government simply doesn't care.

We know that child poverty is at a record high in Wales and that Wales has the highest levels out of all nations in the UK. In this Chamber, we talk about how to get the Welsh economy moving, to create jobs to lift families out of poverty, we talk about improving transport links, and all these other schemes to get people into work. However, it is clear that the Welsh Government doesn't recognise that people still need to look after their children, and if the costs of childcare are too high, it doesn't pay to go to work, when all they're doing is working to pay for someone else to look after their children.

Finally, I want to mention disabled children and those with additional learning needs. We have to acknowledge that provision is wholly inadequate. I'm not surprised to hear evidence that there is a culture of a fear of getting it wrong, unsuitable settings, staff shortages with skills needed, and difficulties during school holidays and providing wraparound care. I appreciate that there is likely to always be difficulty in providing care for a child, especially those with complex needs. What we need is a system that consistently builds in capacity for disabled children and those with learning needs, rather than a system that has to react. This can be done. The Welsh Government should set out a long-term funding plan, which will give confidence to the sector to train and make provision for those specific needs. We believe Wales to be a nation of sanctuary for refugees; why can it not be a nation of sanctuary for those with disabilities as well? Thank you.

A gaf innau hefyd ddiolch i'r pwyllgor a'r Cadeirydd am lunio'r adroddiad hwn? Un o nodweddion mwyaf trawiadol yr adroddiad oedd datgelu pa mor gymhleth a digyswllt yw'r system ariannu gofal plant. Rydym i gyd yn gwybod pa mor bwysig yw dysgu a chymorth blynyddoedd cynnar i ragolygon addysg a gwaith plentyn yn hirdymor, ac eto mae'n teimlo fel pe bai'r union system sydd wedi'i chynllunio i'w helpu yn atal rhai o'r plant sydd fwyaf o'i hangen rhag cael mynediad ati. 

Y gwir trist yw ei bod yn ymddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwybod hyn ers peth amser, ac ar ôl yr ymchwiliad cychwynnol ddwy flynedd yn ôl, ychydig iawn sydd wedi'i wneud. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn siarad cyfrolau am y sylw dyladwy y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i'r ddarpariaeth gofal plant. Mae'r diffyg gweithredu i'w briodoli'n llwyr i'r Gweinidogion ac Ysgrifenyddion y Cabinet sy'n gyfrifol, sydd wedi methu blaenoriaethu ad-drefnu darpariaeth gofal plant. Rwy'n credu bod angen mwy o atebolrwydd. 

Rwy'n gweld mai dim ond mewn egwyddor y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi derbyn ymrwymiad i gydgrynhoi ffrydiau cyllido, yn seiliedig ar y farn fod ei symleiddio'n gostus ac yn gymhleth. Fodd bynnag, nid wyf yn derbyn y ddadl hon. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi treulio 25 mlynedd yn cymhlethu'r ffrwd ariannu hon yn systematig. Mae gennych yr holl wybodaeth sydd ei hangen arnoch at eich defnydd ac ni fyddai'n dasg rhy feichus i ailgynllunio'r system ariannu. Rwy'n ofni nad yw hyn yn ddim mwy na geiriau gwag i dawelu'r pwyllgor, ac unwaith eto, cânt eu dilyn gan fethiant i weithredu. 

Mae'r adroddiad yn pwysleisio'r angen am fwy o arian i'r sector gofal plant. Roeddwn yn arbennig o bryderus fod bron i 80 y cant o ddarparwyr gofal plant yn disgwyl cau o fewn dwy flynedd os na cheir cynnydd o rhwng 20 y cant a 60 y cant i lefel bresennol y gyfradd yr awr fesul plentyn. Ar ben hyn, mae 92 y cant o rieni'n teimlo bod costau gofal plant yn anghymesur o uchel o'u cymharu â'u cyflogau. Mae'r ffaith bod yr adroddiad hefyd yn tynnu sylw at gyflymder ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru yn peri pryder mawr. 

Nodwyd bod cyllid y blynyddoedd cynnar wedi cael ei drosglwyddo yn y gyllideb flaenorol i ariannu blaenoriaethau eraill, yn hytrach na'i ddefnyddio i gefnogi'r sector gofal plant sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd. Gadewch inni roi'r llun hwn at ei gilydd. Yr hyn sydd gennym yw senario lle nad oes gan ddarparwyr gofal plant ddigon o arian i ddal ati, ochr yn ochr â mwyafrif o rieni sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd talu costau gofal plant eisoes, a Llywodraeth Cymru nad oes ganddi unrhyw ymdeimlad o frys i fynd i'r afael â hyn ac sy'n hapus i ddargyfeirio cyllid i ffwrdd o ddarpariaeth y blynyddoedd cynnar. Mae hyn yn dweud wrth deuluoedd nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn poeni.

Gwyddom fod tlodi plant ar ei uchaf erioed yng Nghymru a bod gan Gymru y lefelau uchaf o bob gwlad yn y DU. Yn y Siambr hon, rydym yn siarad ynglŷn â sut i gael economi Cymru i symud, i greu swyddi i godi teuluoedd allan o dlodi, rydym yn siarad am wella cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth, a'r holl gynlluniau eraill i gael pobl i mewn i waith. Fodd bynnag, mae'n amlwg nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod bod angen i bobl ofalu am eu plant, ac os yw costau gofal plant yn rhy uchel, nid yw'n talu i fynd i'r gwaith, a'r cyfan a wnânt yw gweithio i dalu i rywun arall ofalu am eu plant.

Yn olaf, hoffwn sôn am blant anabl a'r rhai ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod bod y ddarpariaeth yn gwbl annigonol. Nid wyf yn synnu clywed tystiolaeth fod yna ddiwylliant o ofn ei gael yn anghywir, lleoliadau anaddas, prinder staff â'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen, ac anawsterau yn ystod gwyliau'r ysgol a darparu gofal cofleidiol. Rwy'n sylweddoli ei bod yn debygol y bydd hi bob amser yn anodd darparu gofal i blentyn, yn enwedig plant ag anghenion cymhleth. Yr hyn sydd ei angen arnom yw system sy'n adeiladu capasiti yn gyson ar gyfer plant anabl a'r rhai ag anghenion dysgu, yn hytrach na system sy'n gorfod ymateb. Fe ellir gwneud hyn. Dylai Llywodraeth Cymru nodi cynllun cyllido hirdymor, a fydd yn rhoi hyder i'r sector hyfforddi a darparu ar gyfer yr anghenion penodol hynny. Credwn fod Cymru yn genedl noddfa i ffoaduriaid; pam na all fod yn genedl noddfa i'r rhai ag anableddau hefyd? Diolch.

16:55

Dyma ail adroddiad ein pwyllgor ar ofal plant yng Nghymru. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod e'n arwyddocaol pan fo pwyllgor yn teimlo bod angen ail ymchwiliad o fewn yr un tymor Senedd—o fewn byr o dro, a dweud y gwir—ar fater, ac, yn yr achos yma, yn sgil pryderon gwirioneddol am ddiffyg cynnydd ar faes hollbwysig i ddyfodol ein plant ac felly dyfodol ein cenedl.

Roedd Plaid Cymru wedi gosod gofal plant fel un o'i phrif bolisïau yn y cytundeb cydweithio, gan ein bod yn cefnogi'r egwyddor, sy'n cael ei chrynhoi yn natganiad cyntaf cyflwyniad y Cadeirydd i'r adroddiad, mai addysg gynnar gynhwysfawr o safon uchel yw'r ymyrraeth fwyaf drawsnewidiol y gall unrhyw Lywodraeth ei gwneud. Ond yn ystod yr ymchwiliad, tanlinellwyd canfyddiadau yr ymchwiliad cyntaf fod y system yn rhy gymhleth, yn rhy dameidiog, yn golygu, felly, nad yw llawer o deuluoedd yn ymwybodol o'r gefnogaeth sydd ar gael iddynt, a hefyd yn methu â'i chyrchu.

Yn wir, yn ôl y dystiolaeth a glywsom ni gan Sefydliad Bevan, mae'r ffaith bod rhaid i rieni sy'n ymwybodol o'r cynlluniau yma ac sy'n gymwys i'w cyrchu wedyn gyflwyno nifer o geisiadau i'w cyrchu yn gwneud y broblem yn waeth ac yn fwy cymhleth. Mae'r adroddiad drwyddo draw, felly, yn galw am weithredu brys i symleiddio'r system bresennol, sydd ddim yn ffit i bwrpas o ran sicrhau mynediad fforddiadwy i bob plentyn at ofal o'r safon uchaf ar draws Cymru, nac o ran galluogi teuluoedd, a mamau yn benodol, i elwa'n economaidd wrth fanteisio ar gyfleon gwaith.

Mae'r argymhelliad cyntaf yn cyfeirio at greu y siop un stop yma ar gyfer nid yn unig gwybodaeth am ofal plant, ond hefyd gwneud cais am gymorth. Mae e'n un hynod o ymarferol. Mae ymateb llugoer y Llywodraeth, dwi'n meddwl, o'i dderbyn mewn egwyddor yn unig, yn siomedig. Mae'r safle Teulu Cymru yna, y safle ddigidol maen nhw'n cyfeirio ati yn eu hymateb—. Cyfres o ddolenni yw e sy'n mynd â chi wedyn i'r holl rannau o'r system. Dyw e ddim yn siop un stop yn y ffordd roeddwn i eisiau ei gweld.

Roedd geiriau'r Gweinidog ar y pryd, oedd yn ymateb i'r adroddiad, yn crisialu, i fi, diffyg polisi cyfredol a'r diffyg mynd i'r afael â'r bwlch cyflawni amlwg yma. Gwnaethon nhw ddweud eu bod nhw'n ymwybodol o fanteision ac angenrheidrwydd creu y siop un stop ddigidol, ond gan y byddai'n cymryd amser a buddsoddiad, rhaid bod yn bwyllog ac ystyried defnydd o arian cyhoeddus. Ie, ond dyma enghraifft glasurol o bolisi drud yn methu â chyrraedd y nod ac amharodrwydd i gymryd y cam a allai sicrhau bod yr holl wariant ar y polisi yn fwy effeithiol.

Fe glywsom ni gan arbenigwyr yn y maes, yma yng Nghymru ac ar draws y byd, yr hyn sydd angen newid, a hefyd edrychom ar y rhwystrau presennol i hynny, yn enwedig, fel ŷn ni wedi'i glywed, sut mae pwysau ariannol wedi effeithio ar ddarparwyr gofal plant a'r gweithlu. Dyna oedd un o'n prif bryderon ni fel pwyllgor, bod y sector ar ddibyn ariannol.

Roedd arolwg gan Blynyddoedd Cynnar Cymru yn datgelu nad oedd dros chwarter o ddarparwyr yn hyderus y byddan nhw'n medru cadw eu drysau ar agor am flwyddyn arall. Mae'n rhaid inni gynnal a datblygu'r ddarpariaeth sydd gennym os oes gyda ni unrhyw obaith o'i ehangu.

Er y daeth ar ôl inni gyhoeddi ein hadroddiad ni ym mis Gorffennaf, rhaid ystyried penderfyniad Canghellor Llywodraeth San Steffan i gynyddu cyfraniadau yswiriant cenedlaethol cyflogwyr yng nghyd-destun casgliadau'r adroddiad, dwi'n meddwl, a'r hyn glywson ni am sefyllfa darparwyr gofal plant yn ein hymchwiliad.

Yn ôl Blynyddoedd Cynnar Cymru, mae'r cynnydd i'r NICs wedi effeithio'n andwyol ar nifer o'u haelodau. Sonion nhw am gwmni sydd ar fin cymryd drosodd y ddarpariaeth gofal plant yn y DVLA yn Abertawe yn y flwyddyn newydd—Little Inspirations. Mae'n ddarparwr sydd â naw lleoliad ar draws y de, ac yn cyflogi 130 o staff, ond maen nhw'n profi problem arbennig gyda'r angen i dalu'r cyfraniadau cyflogwyr ychwanegol yma ar gyfer staff rhan-amser oherwydd y gostyngiad yn y trothwy eilaidd i gyflogwyr, sy'n golygu y bydd rhaid iddyn nhw dalu nawr y NICs cyflogwyr ar enillion dros £5,000 o Ebrill nesaf, tra byddan nhw ar hyn o bryd yn gorfod talu cyfraniadau ar enillion dros £9,000. Felly, gallwch chi weld faint mae'n mynd i gostio iddyn nhw. Roedd natur annisgwyl y cynnydd hefyd yn gwneud y sefyllfa'n waeth, maen nhw'n dweud.

Mae ein hadroddiad ni'n dangos yn gwbl glir, dwi'n meddwl, fod cefnogi'r sector yn gwbl ganolog i gydraddoldeb rhywedd, i sicrhau'r dechrau gorau i bob plentyn, ac yn gonglfaen i'r strategaeth tlodi plant. Felly, hoffwn glywed gan y Gweinidog sut mae'r Llywodraeth am liniaru'r newid yma a'r cynnydd yna mewn costau i'r sector er mwyn cefnogi ein trydydd argymhelliad.

I orffen, Llywydd, hoffwn i bwysleisio pwysigrwydd sylfaenol gwella'r system gofal plant o ran dileu anghydraddoldebau. Mae tlodi plant yn sgandal cenedlaethol yng Nghymru, ac mae effaith hyn yn creithio cenedlaethau ac yn niweidio llewyrch a lles ein cenedl.

Felly, hoffwn i wybod—. Wel, mae'r syniadau yno yn ein hadroddiad, gan Oxfam Cymru, gan Sefydliad Bevan, gan arbenigwyr rhyngwladol, a gan fodelau gwledydd fel Estonia, fel clywon ni. Felly, hoffwn i glywed beth yw syniadau newydd y Gweinidog newydd i flaenoriaethu creu'r dyfodol newydd.

This is the second report from our committee on childcare in Wales. I think it is significant when a committee feels that it needs a second inquiry within the same Senedd term on a particular issue—within a short time, in fact—and, in this case, on a lack of progress on a fundamental issue for the future of our children and the future of our nation.

Plaid Cymru set childcare as one of its main policies in the co-operation agreement, as we believe in supporting the principle summarised in the first statement of the Chair's introduction to the report, namely that comprehensive early education of a high quality is the most transformative intervention that any Government can make. But during this inquiry, the findings of our first inquiry were underlined, namely that the system is too complex and fragmented, which means that many families are not aware of the support available to them and are therefore unable to access it.

Indeed, according to the evidence that we heard from the Bevan Foundation, the fact that parents who are aware of the schemes and are eligible to access them must submit numerous applications to access their rights is making the problem worse and more complex. The report, in its entirety, therefore calls for urgent action to simplify the current system, which is not fit for purpose, in terms of ensuring affordable access for all children to the highest quality care across Wales, and in terms of enabling families, and mothers specifically, to benefit economically when taking up work opportunities.

The first recommendation does refer to the creation of a one-stop shop not only for childcare information, but also applying for support. It's extremely practical. The Government's lukewarm response in accepting it in principle only is disappointing. The Teulu Cymru site, the website that they refer to in their response, is just a series of links that takes you to all different parts of the system. It's not a one-stop shop in the way that we wanted to see.

The Minister's words at the time, in responding to the report, crystallise, for me, the deficiencies of the current policy and the failure to address this very obvious delivery gap. They said that the Government was aware of the benefits and necessity of creating this digital one-stop shop, but as it would take time and investment, there was a need to be patient and consider the use of public money. Yes, but this is a classic example of an expensive policy failing to meet the objective, and a reluctance to take the step that could ensure that all spending on that policy was more effective.

We heard from experts in the field, here in Wales and across the world, about what needs to change, and we also looked at the current barriers to that, particularly, as we've heard, how financial pressures have affected childcare providers and the workforce. That was one of our main concerns as a committee, the fact that the childcare sector is on a financial precipice.

A survey by Early Years Wales revealed that over a quarter of providers were not confident that they will be able to keep their doors open for another year. We have to maintain and develop the provision that we have if we have any hope of expanding it. 

Although it came after we published our report in July, we must consider the decision of the Chancellor of the Government in Westminster to increase employer national insurance contributions in the context of the findings of the report, I think, and what we heard about the situation facing childcare providers during our inquiry.

According to Early Years Wales, the increase in the NICs has adversely affected a number of their members. They mentioned the company that is about to take over the childcare provision in the DVLA in Swansea in the new year—Little Inspirations. It is a provider that has nine settings across the south, and it employs 130 staff members, but they are experiencing a particular problem with the need to pay employer contributions for part-time staff due to the reduction in the secondary threshold for employers, which means that they will have to pay the employer NICs on earnings over £5,000 from 1 April, while currently they have to pay contributions on earnings over £9,000. So, you can see how much it's going to cost them. The unexpected nature of the increase has made the situation even worse for them, they said.  

Our report shows very clearly, I think, that supporting this sector is central to gender equality, to ensure the best start for all children, and that it is a cornerstone of the child poverty strategy. So, I would like to hear from the Minister how the Government wants to mitigate this change and this increase in costs for the sector in order to support our third recommendation.

To finish, Llywydd, I would like to emphasise the fundamental importance of improving the childcare system in terms of eliminating inequalities. Child poverty is a national scandal in Wales, and the impact of this scars generations and damages the prosperity and well-being of our nation.

So, I'd like to know—. Well, the ideas are there in our report, from Oxfam Cymru, the Bevan Foundation, international experts, and models of countries like Estonia, as we heard. So, I'd like to know what the new ideas of the new Minister are to prioritise creating that new future.

17:00

Access to childcare funding could do with simplifying, with a one-stop shop, and I'm pleased the Minister has committed to a simplified funding stream and system following engagement with stakeholders to make sure it really works for parents and those involved in the sector. It would be fantastic to offer universal childcare for all families under extended paid maternity leave, as we heard from Estonia, where they have kindergartens and the offer is very generous, but it would take years of investment and rebuilding of public service funding, which has been severely cut over the last 14 years, and we're only just seeing the change now under the UK Labour Government, and I hope there will be some positive news for you in the budget next week.

The childcare offer hourly rate increased by 11 per cent in 2022, and we've had massive inflationary pressures that were impacting, but I'm pleased that the rate the Welsh Government will pay for the childcare offer and Flying Start will now be reviewed annually rather than every three years, which will better reflect inflation. And I welcome the business rate relief as well, which is now permanent. That will help.

It does concern me that parents believe that if they live in England they will be able to access childcare for their children from nine months of age, however I know it's not the case because it takes years to build the infrastructure for the facilities and the staff, and the childcare offer in Wales and England is like comparing apples and pears, our offer places. The children and child development are at the heart of everything we do. Our plan has been developed around three themes: quality of provision, access to provision, and supporting and developing the workforce, which is different to the current English offer, which is currently very much focused just on childcare.

In 2021 £5 million was awarded to Flintshire County Council for investment in improved childcare facilities to locate the foundation phase and childcare, wherever possible, at schools, to provide wraparound care through play, and I think that's been a really good model. Ten primary schools benefited from that funding pot, and recently, St Winefride's preschool playgroup demolished an old gazebo and replaced it with a new outdoor classroom, with fitted benches. The new classroom is big enough for all children and their additional learning needs equipment to fit inside. It will also store wellies and waterproof clothing for the children to freely access the outdoors. All preschool children can now gather in one area for circle time, snacks or general play, and we see this investment repeated across our communities. Outdoor learning and playing space are also important so that children can connect with nature, and many families do not have gardens. And I know Welsh Government funding has supported the creation of those facilities under the foundation phase over many years. I believe that investing in poorer areas first, through Flying Start, is the right way, even though it would be nice to have universal free childcare, because when we have hungry children, they cannot play, they haven't got that energy to play. So, that wraparound care is really important.

Access to online training, skills and qualification is really important as well, and we need to follow that up, because that seems to be an issue.

I would like to end with a quote from Malcolm King of The Venture in Wrexham, which offers the Flying Start programme to two to three-year-old children in Caia Park, the largest housing estate in Wales. Three of the five wards have the highest rate of child poverty in Wales. Seventy per cent of the children attending The Venture live within 500 yd. The Venture’s emphasis is to provide a safe, calm and happy space for the children to play and interact with others, and Malcolm summed this up with saying, 'Creating a sense of happiness inoculates against all the challenges of life.' Thank you. Diolch.

Gallai mynediad at gyllid gofal plant wneud â chael ei symleiddio, gyda siop un stop, ac rwy'n falch fod y Gweinidog wedi ymrwymo i ffrwd a system ariannu symlach yn dilyn ymgysylltiad â rhanddeiliaid i sicrhau ei fod yn gweithio'n iawn i rieni a'r rhai sy'n ymwneud â'r sector. Byddai'n wych cynnig gofal plant cyffredinol i bob teulu dan absenoldeb mamolaeth estynedig â thâl, fel y clywsom o Estonia, lle mae ganddynt ysgolion meithrin ac mae'r cynnig yn hael iawn, ond byddai'n cymryd blynyddoedd o fuddsoddi ac ailadeiladu cyllid gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, sydd wedi'i dorri'n ddifrifol dros y 14 mlynedd diwethaf, a dim ond nawr o dan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU y gwelwn y newid, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd newyddion cadarnhaol i chi yn y gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf.

Cynyddodd cyfradd yr awr y cynnig gofal plant 11 y cant yn 2022, ac rydym wedi cael effaith pwysau chwyddiant enfawr, ond rwy'n falch y bydd y gyfradd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei thalu am y cynnig gofal plant a Dechrau'n Deg yn cael ei hadolygu'n flynyddol nawr yn hytrach na phob tair blynedd, gan adlewyrchu chwyddiant yn well. Ac rwy'n croesawu'r rhyddhad ardrethi busnes hefyd, sy'n barhaol bellach. Bydd hynny'n helpu.

Mae'n peri pryder i mi fod rhieni'n credu, os ydynt yn byw yn Lloegr, y byddant yn gallu cael gofal plant i'w plant o naw mis oed ymlaen, ond rwy'n gwybod nad yw hynny'n wir oherwydd mae'n cymryd blynyddoedd i adeiladu'r seilwaith ar gyfer y cyfleusterau a'r staff, ac mae'r cynnig gofal plant yng Nghymru a Lloegr fel cymharu dau beth hollol wahanol. Mae'r plant a datblygiad plant yn ganolog i bopeth a wnawn ni. Datblygwyd ein cynllun o amgylch tair thema: ansawdd y ddarpariaeth, mynediad at ddarpariaeth, a chefnogi a datblygu'r gweithlu, sy'n wahanol i'r cynnig presennol yn Lloegr, sy'n canolbwyntio'n fawr ar ofal plant yn unig ar hyn o bryd.

Yn 2021 dyfarnwyd £5 miliwn i Gyngor Sir y Fflint i'w fuddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau gofal plant gwell i leoli'r cyfnod sylfaen a gofal plant mewn ysgolion lle bynnag y bo modd, i ddarparu gofal cofleidiol trwy chwarae, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny wedi bod yn fodel da iawn. Elwodd 10 ysgol gynradd o'r pot arian hwnnw, ac yn ddiweddar, dymchwelodd cylch chwarae cyn-ysgol St Winefride hen gasebo a chael ystafell ddosbarth awyr agored newydd yn ei le, gyda meinciau gosod. Mae'r ystafell ddosbarth newydd yn ddigon mawr i bob plentyn a'u cyfarpar anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Bydd hefyd yn storio welintons a dillad glaw i'r plant gael mynediad rhydd i'r awyr agored. Gall pob plentyn cyn-ysgol ymgynnull mewn un ardal nawr ar gyfer amser cylch, byrbrydau neu chwarae cyffredinol, a gwelwn y buddsoddiad hwn yn cael ei ailadrodd ar draws ein cymunedau. Mae dysgu awyr agored a gofod chwarae yn bwysig i blant allu cysylltu â natur, a cheir llawer o deuluoedd nad oes ganddynt erddi. Ac rwy'n gwybod bod cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cefnogi creu'r cyfleusterau hynny o dan y cyfnod sylfaen dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Credaf mai buddsoddi mewn ardaloedd tlotach yn gyntaf, trwy Dechrau'n Deg, yw'r ffordd iawn, er y byddai'n braf cael gofal plant am ddim i bawb, oherwydd pan fydd gennym blant llwglyd, ni allant chwarae, nid oes ganddynt egni i chwarae. Felly, mae gofal cofleidiol yn bwysig iawn.

Mae mynediad at hyfforddiant, sgiliau a chymwysterau ar-lein yn bwysig iawn hefyd, ac mae angen inni fynd ar drywydd hynny, oherwydd ymddengys bod hynny'n broblem.

Hoffwn orffen gyda dyfyniad gan Malcolm King o'r Fenter yn Wrecsam, sy'n cynnig rhaglen Dechrau'n Deg i blant dwy i dair oed ym Mharc Caia, yr ystad dai fwyaf yng Nghymru. Mae'r gyfradd uchaf o dlodi plant yng Nghymru mewn tair o'r pum ward. Mae 70 y cant o'r plant sy'n mynychu'r Fenter yn byw o fewn 500 llath. Pwyslais y Fenter yw darparu lle diogel, tawel a hapus i'r plant chwarae a rhyngweithio ag eraill, a chrynhodd Malcolm hyn drwy ddweud, 'Mae creu ymdeimlad o hapusrwydd yn inocwleiddio yn erbyn holl heriau bywyd.' Diolch. 

17:05

It's a pleasure to take part in this debate this afternoon, and I think we can all agree that childcare, across the UK, is not working for parents or providers, and this report lays out some of the problems with childcare in Wales and gives the Welsh Government a basis for finding remedies for the problems.

Eighty-four per cent of Early Years Wales members disagree that the uplift in minimum wage is affordable, based on current funding models and other cost pressures. Ninety-one per cent are now considering or will increase parental fees, which is deeply concerning given the outrageous cost of childcare, which is already completely unaffordable for most parents. And just to drive that point home, in Wales the cost of nursery for a child under two-years-old is 63 per cent of one parent's weekly take-home pay—63 per cent. For a single parent, that makes childcare quite literally an impossibility, which means they are unable to work. The average household in the United Kingdom loses 25 per cent of its average monthly income to childcare, which is higher than the average mortgage or rent. For most parents, this is the single biggest expense. The United Kingdom also has the fifth highest childcare costs in the world, behind Czechia, Cyprus, New Zealand and the United States. We should also recognise that this intolerably high level of childcare inhibits productivity and consolidates gender inequalities. Research has found a strong link between unaffordable childcare and single-mother employment, with a 1 per cent increase in childcare costs being associated with a 0.3 per cent to 1 per cent rise in the rate of single-mother unemployment. Given almost all childcare providers are considering raising parental fees, the data shows that this will lead to a rise in single-mother unemployment, which is completely disheartening and wrong.

This report also highlights the struggle of childcare providers in the current climate, and if the cost for consumers is unacceptably high, the providers are also on their knees. That should tell us something about how the entire model is broken. Solutions are needed that go way beyond allocating a bit more money here and there, and I would like to hear from the Welsh Government an acknowledgement of just how big this problem is, and how they plan to fix it.

The report also calls for a simplification of the overly complex and poorly understood system. The National Day Nurseries Association Cymru said that the main concern was just how complex it is at the moment for parents and providers. The Bevan Foundation also suggested that, shockingly, half of eligible parents do not access the childcare offer, saying that, with three different schemes on offer, it is perhaps not surprising that parents are not aware of what they are entitled to. This issue is compounded by the fact that parents must submit multiple applications to access their entitlement. I think this is a huge problem, that the system is overcomplicated, and so many parents who desperately need help are not getting it, as they are struggling to navigate the system.

The disparity with England and the Flying Start scheme adds more complexity. I think the Welsh Government needs to consider reforming the Flying Start scheme, which I don't believe is working currently. The Flying Start offer is two and a half hours in the morning, which I would argue is not going to help a parent get back into work. Their child may be in a Flying Start setting in the morning and then a private setting in the afternoon. So, it's important that the Welsh Government doesn't neglect non-Flying Start childcare providers, and many working parents outside the Flying Start area, who are also really struggling to make ends meet and pay for childcare. Also, according to Barnardo's, 48 per cent of children living in disadvantaged areas are outside the Flying Start area, which is a big issue and shows that the Flying Start scheme, which was drawn up in 2007, needs urgently to be brought up to date as the economic and societal picture has changed dramatically since then. Thank you very much.

Mae'n bleser cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma, ac rwy'n credu y gallwn ni i gyd gytuno nad yw gofal plant, ar draws y DU, yn gweithio i rieni na darparwyr, ac mae'r adroddiad hwn yn nodi rhai o'r problemau gyda gofal plant yng Nghymru ac yn rhoi sylfaen i Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer dod o hyd i atebion i'r problemau.

Mae 84 y cant o aelodau Blynyddoedd Cynnar Cymru yn anghytuno bod y codiad yn yr isafswm cyflog yn fforddiadwy, yn seiliedig ar fodelau cyllido cyfredol a phwysau costau eraill. Mae 91 y cant bellach yn ystyried neu'n mynd i gynyddu ffioedd rhieni, sy'n peri pryder mawr o ystyried cost warthus gofal plant, sydd eisoes yn gwbl anfforddiadwy i'r rhan fwyaf o rieni. Ac i danlinellu'r pwynt, yng Nghymru mae cost meithrinfa i blentyn dan ddwy flwydd oed yn 63 y cant o dâl wythnosol un rhiant—63 y cant. I riant sengl, mae hynny'n gwneud gofal plant yn llythrennol amhosibl, sy'n golygu nad ydynt yn gallu gweithio. Mae'r cartref cyfartalog yn y Deyrnas Unedig yn colli 25 y cant o'i incwm misol cyfartalog i ofal plant, sy'n uwch na'r morgais neu'r rhent cyfartalog. I'r rhan fwyaf o rieni, dyma'r gost unigol fwyaf. Mae'r Deyrnas Unedig hefyd yn bumed yn y byd ar y rhestr o wledydd â'r costau gofal plant uchaf, y tu ôl i Tsiecia, Cyprus, Seland Newydd a'r Unol Daleithiau. Dylem gydnabod hefyd fod y lefel annerbyniol o uchel o gostau gofal plant yn atal cynhyrchiant ac yn atgyfnerthu anghydraddoldeb rhywedd. Mae ymchwil wedi canfod cysylltiad cryf rhwng gofal plant anfforddiadwy a chyflogaeth mamau sengl, gyda chynnydd o 1 y cant mewn costau gofal plant yn gysylltiedig â chynnydd o 0.3 y cant i 1 y cant yng nghyfradd diweithdra mamau sengl. O ystyried bod bron bob darparwr gofal plant yn ystyried codi ffioedd rhieni, mae'r data'n dangos y bydd hyn yn arwain at gynnydd yn lefelau diweithdra mamau sengl, sy'n ddigalon iawn ac yn anghywir.

Mae'r adroddiad hwn hefyd yn tynnu sylw at frwydr darparwyr gofal plant yn yr hinsawdd sydd ohoni, ac os yw'r gost i ddefnyddwyr yn annerbyniol o uchel, mae'r darparwyr hefyd ar eu gliniau. Dylai hynny ddweud rhywbeth wrthym ynglŷn â sut y mae'r model cyfan wedi torri. Mae angen atebion sy'n mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i ddyrannu ychydig mwy o arian yma ac acw, a hoffwn glywed Llywodraeth Cymru'n cydnabod maint y broblem hon mewn gwirionedd, a sut y maent yn bwriadu mynd i'r afael â hi.

Mae'r adroddiad hefyd yn galw am symleiddio system sy'n rhy gymhleth a heb ei deall yn iawn. Dywedodd Cymdeithas Genedlaethol Meithrinfeydd Dydd Cymru mai'r prif bryder oedd pa mor gymhleth yw'r system ar hyn o bryd i rieni a darparwyr. Awgrymodd Sefydliad Bevan hefyd, yn syfrdanol, nad yw hanner y rhieni cymwys yn manteisio ar y cynnig gofal plant, gan ddweud, gyda thri chynllun gwahanol ar gael, efallai nad yw'n syndod nad yw rhieni'n ymwybodol o'r hyn y mae ganddynt hawl iddo. Gwaethygir pethau gan y ffaith bod yn rhaid i rieni gyflwyno ceisiadau lluosog i hawlio'r hyn sy'n ddyledus iddynt. Rwy'n credu bod hon yn broblem enfawr, fod y system yn orgymhleth, ac mae cymaint o rieni sydd angen help yn methu ei gael am eu bod yn chael hi'n anodd llywio'r system.

Mae'r gwahaniaeth rhwng Cymru a Lloegr a'r cynllun Dechrau'n Deg yn ychwanegu mwy o gymhlethdod. Rwy'n credu bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ystyried diwygio'r cynllun Dechrau'n Deg, rhywbeth nad wyf yn credu ei fod yn gweithio ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r cynnig Dechrau'n Deg yn ddwy awr a hanner yn y bore, a buaswn i'n dadlau nad yw'n mynd i helpu rhiant i ddychwelyd i'r gwaith. Gall eu plentyn fod mewn lleoliad Dechrau'n Deg yn y bore ac mewn lleoliad preifat yn y prynhawn. Felly, mae'n bwysig nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn esgeuluso darparwyr gofal plant nad ydynt yn ddarparwyr Dechrau'n Deg, a llawer o rieni sy'n gweithio y tu allan i ardal Dechrau'n Deg, sydd hefyd yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn cael dau ben llinyn ynghyd a thalu am ofal plant. Hefyd, yn ôl Barnardo's, mae 48 y cant o blant sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig y tu allan i ardal Dechrau'n Deg, sy'n broblem fawr ac yn dangos bod angen brys i ddiweddaru'r cynllun Dechrau'n Deg, a luniwyd yn 2007, gan fod y darlun economaidd a chymdeithasol wedi newid yn ddramatig ers hynny. Diolch yn fawr.

17:10

As you've heard, this is our second report, because we can see how important childcare is to the children of Wales, but it's not just about childcare being important to the children of Wales, it is to those parents and to a healthy economy. It really doesn't make sense that we only have 161,000 children aged under four here in Wales and that we are not able to meet their needs for affordable, accessible and high-quality childcare. Because, actually, if we provide that childcare, we then give the parents the ability to spend the money, to work, to have a high self-esteem, and all of those other issues around mental health et cetera can be addressed. So, this is actually a massive invest-to-save opportunity by the Welsh Government.

It is very disappointing that the Welsh Government's response to our report—. We can see that their commitments are really not driving home their commitment to ensuring that children have that high-quality, accessible and affordable childcare. The report makes it clear that this is a fragmented system that's failing both children and parents. For example, the Bevan Foundation, as you've heard, found that nearly half of eligible parents are unable to access the childcare offer, directly tied to inconsistent availability and poor information. In fact, as a member of the committee, trying to navigate and understand the childcare available was a bit like needing an A-level in astrophysics. So, imagine how that feels to a parent that's on their own, trying to find a way of finding the adequate and local childcare. It really is such a complex system, and I'd welcome the Government's view on how this is going to be simplified.

Sadly, another critically missed opportunity is the Welsh Government's decision to reject, in the report, the universal childcare provision for three and four-year-olds. By excluding children from non-working households and maintaining restrictive eligibility thresholds, the Government is systematically disadvantaging the most vulnerable families. Evidence cited in the report overwhelmingly supports universal provision. We can't get away from this. It is necessary for us to work towards that, and for the Government to demonstrate the steps it's going to take in order to ensure that that is in place. Scotland have successfully implemented their childcare provision, and as you've heard, other countries around the world have as well. We must make sure that we are ambitious in relation to childcare and our economy here in Wales. So, I'd welcome a commitment from the Government to providing the necessary funding and resources to ensure that we have that provision in place.

But just to finish, and you've heard this time and time again, this is all part of a fundamental position here in Wales, which is that this could mean that we address child poverty. As Professor Mari Rege highlighted in the 'Calling time on child poverty' report last year, few tools are as effective as providing early childcare. The scale of child poverty, as we hear time after time, and as highlighted by my colleague Sioned, just remains so high here in Wales. According to the Bevan Foundation, in all but two of Wales's local authority areas, more than one in four children lives in poverty. Even more concerning, more than half of children living in poverty are in families where the youngest child is between nought and four. We should be absolutely shocked and horrified and ashamed that that's the country that we live in. Whilst I welcome your commitment, Minister, to the first 1,000 days and the opportunities that that brings in terms of moving things forward, we still have a massive gap here in order to ensure that those first 1,000 days are absolutely critical to families. 

So, I finish with a little note of despair, I'm afraid. I despair that I'm bookending both the beginning and the end of the year asking for more to be done on child poverty and childcare. Universal affordable childcare is not just a policy option, it is a moral imperative. It is an investment in our children, our families and the future of Wales. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

Fel y clywsoch, dyma ein hail adroddiad, oherwydd gallwn weld pa mor bwysig yw gofal plant i blant Cymru, ond mae'n ymwneud â mwy na phwysigrwydd gofal plant i blant Cymru, mae'n bwysig hefyd i'r rhieni ac i economi iach. Nid yw'n gwneud synnwyr mai dim ond 161,000 o blant o dan bedair oed sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru ac na allwn ddiwallu eu hanghenion am ofal plant fforddiadwy, hygyrch ac o ansawdd uchel. Oherwydd os ydym yn darparu'r gofal plant hwnnw, rydym wedyn yn rhoi'r gallu i'r rhieni wario arian, i weithio, i wella hunan-barch, a gellir mynd i'r afael â'r holl faterion eraill sy'n gysylltiedig ag iechyd meddwl ac yn y blaen. Felly, mae hwn yn gyfle buddsoddi i arbed enfawr i Lywodraeth Cymru.

Mae'n siomedig iawn fod ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'n hadroddiad—. Gallwn weld nad yw eu hymrwymiadau'n gyrru eu hymrwymiad i sicrhau bod plant yn cael gofal plant hygyrch, fforddiadwy, o ansawdd. Mae'r adroddiad yn ei gwneud yn glir fod hon yn system dameidiog sy'n gwneud cam â phlant a rhieni. Er enghraifft, canfu Sefydliad Bevan, fel y clywsoch, nad yw bron i hanner y rhieni cymwys yn gallu manteisio ar y cynnig gofal plant, yn uniongyrchol gysylltiedig ag argaeledd anghyson a gwybodaeth wael. Yn wir, fel aelod o'r pwyllgor, roedd ceisio llywio a deall y gofal plant a oedd ar gael ychydig fel bod angen Safon Uwch mewn astroffiseg. Felly, dychmygwch sut y mae hynny'n teimlo i riant sydd ar eu pen eu hunain, yn ceisio dod o hyd i ffordd o ddod o hyd i ofal plant digonol a lleol. Mae'n system mor gymhleth, a buaswn yn croesawu barn y Llywodraeth ar sut y caiff ei symleiddio.

Yn anffodus, cyfle arall allweddol a gollwyd yw penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru yn yr adroddiad i wrthod darpariaeth gofal plant i bob plentyn tair a phedair oed. Drwy eithrio plant o aelwydydd nad ydynt yn gweithio a chynnal trothwyon cymhwysedd cyfyngol, mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd ati'n systematig i roi'r teuluoedd mwyaf agored i niwed dan anfantais. Mae'r dystiolaeth a ddyfynnir yn yr adroddiad yn cefnogi'r ddarpariaeth gyffredinol yn fawr. Ni allwn ddianc rhag hyn. Mae'n angenrheidiol inni weithio tuag at hynny, ac i'r Llywodraeth ddangos y camau y bydd yn eu cymryd er mwyn sicrhau bod hynny yn ei le. Mae'r Alban wedi gweithredu eu darpariaeth gofal plant yn llwyddiannus, ac fel y clywsoch, mae gwledydd eraill ledled y byd wedi gwneud hynny hefyd. Rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn uchelgeisiol mewn perthynas â gofal plant a'n heconomi yma yng Nghymru. Felly, buaswn yn croesawu ymrwymiad gan y Llywodraeth i ddarparu'r cyllid a'r adnoddau angenrheidiol i sicrhau bod gennym y ddarpariaeth honno ar waith.

Ond i orffen, ac rydych chi wedi clywed hyn dro ar ôl tro, mae hyn i gyd yn rhan o safbwynt sylfaenol yma yng Nghymru, sef y gallai hyn olygu ein bod yn mynd i'r afael â thlodi plant. Fel yr amlygodd yr Athro Mari Rege yn yr adroddiad 'Amser rhoi diwedd ar dlodi plant' y llynedd, ni cheir fawr o arfau sydd mor effeithiol â darparu gofal plant cynnar. Mae tlodi plant, fel y clywn dro ar ôl tro, ac fel yr amlygwyd gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Sioned, yn parhau i fod mor uchel yma yng Nghymru. Yn ôl Sefydliad Bevan, ym mhob un ond dwy ardal awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru, mae mwy nag un o bob pedwar plentyn yn byw mewn tlodi. Hyd yn oed yn fwy pryderus, mae mwy na hanner y plant sy'n byw mewn tlodi mewn teuluoedd lle mae'r plentyn ieuengaf rhwng dim a phedair oed. Dylai beri sioc ac arswyd a chywilydd llwyr i ni mai dyma'r wlad yr ydym yn byw ynddi. Er fy mod yn croesawu eich ymrwymiad i'r 1,000 diwrnod cyntaf, Weinidog, a'r cyfleoedd a ddaw yn sgil hynny i symud pethau ymlaen, mae gennym fwlch enfawr yma o hyd er mwyn sicrhau bod y 1,000 diwrnod cyntaf hynny'n gwbl allweddol i deuluoedd. 

Felly, rwy'n gorffen gydag ychydig o anobaith, mae arnaf ofn. Rwy'n anobeithio fy mod wedi dechrau a diwedd y flwyddyn yn gofyn am i fwy gael ei wneud ar dlodi plant a gofal plant. Nid opsiwn polisi yn unig yw gofal plant fforddiadwy cyffredinol, mae'n rheidrwydd moesol. Mae'n fuddsoddiad yn ein plant, ein teuluoedd a dyfodol Cymru. Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

17:15

Y Gweinidog Plant a Gofal Cymdeithasol nawr i gyfrannu. Dawn Bowden.

The Minister for Children and Social Care to contribute. Dawn Bowden.

Diolch, Llywydd. Can I say, it's been a very interesting debate this afternoon, and I've very much welcomed the contributions from all Members? Can I start by thanking all the members of the Equality and Social Justice Committee for their work on this very important inquiry? And I know, Jenny, that this is a follow-up inquiry, and that in itself tells us a story, that we still have so much more still to do. But I want to put on record my gratitude for all of those stakeholders who met with the committee and provided such rich evidence of their experiences, because that's very important in helping us to shape our future policy direction.

Now, the committee has already received a detailed response from Welsh Government to the report recommendations and a follow-up response from me when I took over this ministerial responsibility on a number of the recommendations. So, I won't be going over all of those in my contributions today, but I do hope that I cover most of the points that have been raised in the debate this afternoon.

I want to start, however, by reassuring you that childcare is and remains a key commitment and priority of this Welsh Government. We know from the evidence that investing in early years can have a significant positive impact on the physical and mental health and well-being of children, both now and in the future. Several contributors to this afternoon's debate have made that point, and I absolutely agree with them. Children's rights in Wales are not optional, they are entitlements. That's why giving every child in Wales the best start in life is of paramount importance.

Diolch, Lywydd. A gaf i ddweud, mae wedi bod yn ddadl ddiddorol iawn y prynhawn yma, ac rwyf wedi croesawu'n fawr y cyfraniadau gan yr holl Aelodau? A gaf i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i holl aelodau'r Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol am eu gwaith ar yr ymchwiliad pwysig hwn? Ac rwy'n gwybod, Jenny, mai ymchwiliad dilynol yw hwn, a bod hynny ynddo'i hun yn adrodd stori i ni, fod gennym lawer mwy i'w wneud o hyd. Ond hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i'r holl randdeiliaid a gyfarfu â'r pwyllgor ac a roddodd dystiolaeth mor gyfoethog o'u profiadau, oherwydd mae hynny'n bwysig iawn wrth ein helpu i lunio ein cyfeiriad polisi yn y dyfodol.

Nawr, mae'r pwyllgor eisoes wedi derbyn ymateb manwl gan Lywodraeth Cymru i argymhellion yr adroddiad ac ymateb dilynol gennyf i pan gefais y cyfrifoldeb gweinidogol hwn ar nifer o'r argymhellion. Felly, nid af dros bob un o'r rheini yn fy nghyfraniadau heddiw, ond rwy'n gobeithio ymdrin â'r rhan fwyaf o'r pwyntiau a godwyd yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma.

Rwyf am ddechrau, fodd bynnag, drwy eich sicrhau bod gofal plant yn ymrwymiad a blaenoriaeth allweddol i Lywodraeth Cymru ac fe fydd yn parhau i fod. Gwyddom o'r dystiolaeth y gall buddsoddi yn y blynyddoedd cynnar gael effaith gadarnhaol sylweddol ar iechyd a lles corfforol a meddyliol plant, nawr ac yn y dyfodol. Mae sawl cyfrannwr yn y ddadl y prynhawn yma wedi gwneud y pwynt hwnnw, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr. Nid opsiwn yw hawliau plant yng Nghymru. Dyna pam y mae rhoi'r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd i bob plentyn yng Nghymru o'r pwys mwyaf.

Would you take an intervention on that?

A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad ar hynny?

Talking about the rights-based approach, one of the things we saw in our evidence—terrible, heartbreaking evidence, actually, and totally unacceptable—was that, of all the local authorities, the data that they provided, only 5 per cent of local authorities in Wales have enough childcare provision for children who are disabled.

Wrth sôn am y dull sy'n seiliedig ar hawliau, un o'r pethau a welsom yn ein tystiolaeth—tystiolaeth ofnadwy, dorcalonnus, mewn gwirionedd, a chwbl annerbyniol—o'r data a ddarparwyd gan yr holl awdurdodau lleol, oedd mai dim ond 5 y cant o awdurdodau lleol Cymru sydd â digon o ddarpariaeth gofal plant i blant sy'n anabl.

Yes, and that is something that I will come on to in my response. I'm very, very well aware of the lack of universal provision and the consistency of provision, and I'll say a bit more about that in a moment.

But, since taking up my current ministerial responsibilities, I have been keen to meet with those delivering childcare, because I want to understand what issues the sector are experiencing and how we can work together to overcome these. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Cwlwm and have seen first-hand the hard work and commitment of the childcare sector. And I most recently visited the Daisy Day Nursery, and met with Munchkinos Childminding team.

Now, coming through strongly from the committee's report, from the sector, from local authorities and from parents, and during the course of this debate today, there are three themes that I've identifed. Those are sustainability, complexity and accessibility. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to say a bit more about the action that we have taken and will be taking in those three areas.

Clearly, the sustainability of the sector is absolutely vital. And firstly, I want to put on record my sincere gratitude to all those who work in childcare and play, enabling so many parents to be able to work and also providing vital support to children's development. We recognise the dedication and the commitment of childcare staff, providing a high-quality service supporting children's earliest experiences. And it's crucial that we, as a Government, recognise that childcare work and the challenges that the staff face. The development of the childcare and playwork social partnership fair work forum will provide a platform for the future consideration of issues relating to fair work practices across the centre, and we will continue our work in developing support for workers in the play sector to make a career, a positive career.

Sioned Williams, I absolutely do acknowledge, of course, the challenging financial situation facing childcare settings, which is why we took the decision to make small business rate relief a permanent feature for registered childcare premises in Wales. I absolutely hope that that will go some way to mitigating some of the additional costs that these settings will be facing with the increase in national insurance. But what I would say is that there are also mitigations within that national insurance increase provision as well. So, we know that there was a measure to reduce the impact of those changes on small businesses, which involved increasing the employment allowance from £5,000 to £10,000 and removing the £100,000 threshold. I hope, with our decision to offer permanent business rate relief as well, that will help.

I have also accepted the committee's recommendation to move to annual childcare offer rate reviews, which others have already mentioned. I hope that that will help improve the sustainability of the sector, and I will say more on the outcome of the current rate review following the publication of the draft budget. I can say that I share the committee's concerns and those of stakeholders regarding the complexity of the current system, which is why I am absolutely committed to simplifying our funding streams and systems for funding childcare. I've tasked my officials with looking at what we can do immediately and what we can do in the longer term.

Of course, key to making meaningful progress in this area is engagement with partners and stakeholders. By understanding the issues through the eyes of the sector and through parents, we'll be better placed to identify and to put in place workable solutions. But we could also learn from the work that we've done through various early years integration transformation projects, where we've already invested significantly in simplifying and streamlining access to the childcare offer for Wales, bringing a more consistent experience for parents and childcare providers across Wales.

Llywydd, my ambition is to develop a single system for all Welsh Government-funded childcare, and this will require a significant programme of change, wide engagement and initial investment. While it's still early days, initial scoping has started and we will look to progress this work as quickly as possible.

Ie, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y byddaf yn dod ato yn fy ymateb. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r diffyg darpariaeth gyffredinol a chysondeb y ddarpariaeth, a byddaf yn dweud ychydig mwy am hynny mewn eiliad.

Ond ers dechrau ar fy nghyfrifoldebau gweinidogol presennol, rwyf wedi bod yn awyddus i gyfarfod â'r rhai sy'n darparu gofal plant, oherwydd rwyf am ddeall pa broblemau y mae'r sector yn eu profi a sut y gallwn weithio gyda'n gilydd i oresgyn y rhain. Cefais y pleser o gyfarfod â Cwlwm yn ddiweddar, a gweld gwaith caled ac ymroddiad y sector gofal plant yn uniongyrchol. Ac yn fwyaf diweddar, ymwelais â meithrinfa Daisy Day a chyfarfod â thîm Munchkinos Childminding.

Nawr, nodais dair thema sy'n dod drwodd yn gryf o adroddiad y pwyllgor, gan y sector, gan awdurdodau lleol a chan rieni, ac yn ystod y ddadl hon heddiw, sef cynaliadwyedd, cymhlethdod a hygyrchedd. Felly, hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddweud ychydig mwy am y camau yr ydym wedi'u cymryd ac y byddwn yn eu cymryd yn y tri maes hynny.

Yn amlwg, mae cynaliadwyedd y sector yn gwbl hanfodol. Ac yn gyntaf, hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch diffuant i bawb sy'n gweithio ym maes gofal plant a chwarae, gan alluogi cymaint o rieni i weithio a darparu cefnogaeth hanfodol i ddatblygiad plant. Rydym yn cydnabod ymroddiad ac ymrwymiad staff gofal plant, yn darparu gwasanaeth o ansawdd uchel sy'n cefnogi profiadau cynharaf plant. Ac mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni, fel Llywodraeth, yn cydnabod y gwaith gofal plant hwnnw a'r heriau y mae'r staff yn eu hwynebu. Bydd datblygu fforwm gwaith teg partneriaeth gymdeithasol gofal plant a gwaith chwarae yn blatfform ar gyfer ystyried materion sy'n ymwneud ag arferion gwaith teg ar draws y sector yn y dyfodol, a byddwn yn parhau â'n gwaith ar ddatblygu cefnogaeth i weithwyr yn y sector chwarae i wneud gyrfa gadarnhaol.

Sioned Williams, rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr y sefyllfa ariannol heriol sy'n wynebu lleoliadau gofal plant, a dyna pam y gwnaethom y penderfyniad i wneud rhyddhad ardrethi busnesau bach yn nodwedd barhaol ar gyfer safleoedd gofal plant cofrestredig yng Nghymru. Rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd hynny'n mynd rywfaint o'r ffordd i liniaru rhai o'r costau ychwanegol y bydd y lleoliadau hyn yn eu hwynebu gyda'r cynnydd mewn yswiriant gwladol. Ond mae yna fesurau lliniarol o fewn y ddarpariaeth i gynyddu yswiriant gwladol hefyd. Fe wyddom fod yna fesur i leihau effaith y newidiadau hynny ar fusnesau bach, yn cynnwys cynyddu'r lwfans cyflogaeth o £5,000 i £10,000 a chael gwared ar y trothwy o £100,000. Gyda'n penderfyniad i gynnig rhyddhad ardrethi busnes parhaol hefyd, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny'n helpu.

Rwyf wedi derbyn argymhelliad y pwyllgor i newid i adolygiadau blynyddol o gyfraddau'r cynnig gofal plant fel y mae eraill eisoes wedi'i grybwyll. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hynny'n helpu i wella cynaliadwyedd y sector, a byddaf yn dweud mwy am ganlyniad yr adolygiad cyfredol o'r gyfradd yn dilyn cyhoeddi'r gyllideb ddrafft. Gallaf ddweud fy mod yn rhannu pryderon y pwyllgor a phryderon rhanddeiliaid ynghylch cymhlethdod y system bresennol, a dyna pam fy mod wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i symleiddio ein ffrydiau cyllido a'n systemau ar gyfer ariannu gofal plant. Rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion edrych ar yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud ar unwaith a'r hyn y gallwn ei wneud yn fwy hirdymor.

Wrth gwrs, mae ymgysylltu â phartneriaid a rhanddeiliaid yn allweddol i wneud cynnydd ystyrlon yn y maes hwn. Drwy ddeall y problemau drwy lygaid y sector a thrwy rieni, byddwn mewn sefyllfa well i nodi ac i roi atebion ymarferol ar waith. Ond gallem hefyd ddysgu o'r gwaith a wnaethom drwy amrywiol brosiectau trawsnewid integreiddio blynyddoedd cynnar, lle rydym eisoes wedi buddsoddi'n sylweddol i symleiddio mynediad at y cynnig gofal plant i Gymru, gan sicrhau profiad mwy cyson i rieni a darparwyr gofal plant ledled Cymru.

Lywydd, fy uchelgais yw datblygu un system ar gyfer pob gofal plant a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a bydd hyn yn golygu bod angen rhaglen sylweddol o newid, ymgysylltu eang a buddsoddiad cychwynnol. Er ei bod yn ddyddiau cynnar o hyd, mae cwmpasu cychwynnol wedi dechrau a byddwn yn ceisio datblygu'r gwaith hwn cyn gynted â phosibl.

17:20

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.

Sorry, I wonder if you'd just take a very brief intervention.

Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, tybed a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad byr iawn.

Thank you so much. It's both around the offer and the funding. We have the lowest level of hourly funding, which is £5 an hour, here in Wales. The industry has asked for more, around £7 or £8 an hour. I just wonder if that particular issue is going to be within your planning, hopefully, within the short to medium term. Thank you, Minister.

Diolch yn fawr. Mae'n ymwneud â'r cynnig a'r cyllid. Gennym ni yma yng Nghymru y mae'r lefel isaf o gyllid yr awr, sef £5 yr awr. Mae'r diwydiant wedi gofyn am fwy, tua £7 neu £8 yr awr. A fydd y mater penodol hwnnw'n rhan o'ch cynlluniau, gobeithio, yn y tymor byr i'r tymor canolig. Diolch, Weinidog.

I will be coming on to that, Jane. Thank you very much.

So, if I can now turn to the third theme from the report and the debate, which is accessibility, it's hugely important that parents can access information to make informed choices. I hear what Sioned has said about the digital platform, but that new platform does provide sources of practical and financial information, which builds on each local authority's family information service. We've seen access to that platform increase month on month, and we've got almost 20,000 users of that platform at the moment, which is increasing accessibility to the support needed, as it directs them to the appropriate places to get the specific information that they need.

In listening to the sector and stakeholders, we have already invested significantly, as I've said, in streamlining access to the childcare offer for Wales. This programme of funded childcare is now delivered through a single national digital service, which replaced the various local childcare offer systems in November 2022. This fully bilingual service has brought a more consistent experience for parents and childcare providers, and officials recently met with Department for Education colleagues in England, who were keen to learn from our experience of developing and delivering a national digital childcare offer for Wales.

I'm also really pleased to be leading our approach to early childhood play, learning and care, jointly with the Cabinet Secretary for Education. Our approach focuses on promoting partnerships, consistency and join-up between schools and settings, as well as parents and carers, for the benefit of the child and their families. This work helps to support the tackling poverty agenda, which I could say so much more about, but I'm very conscious of my time.

Now, colleagues will recall that earlier this month we debated the children and young people committee's report on disabled children and young people's access to education and childcare, and, to be clear, we do know that we have much, much more to do in this area. But we also know that the early years local authority additional learning needs officers have important roles to play in improving the early identification of lower level needs in establishing referral routes and raising awareness among multi-agency partners. And through—

Fe ddof at hynny, Jane. Diolch yn fawr.

Felly, os gallaf droi nawr at y drydedd thema o'r adroddiad a'r ddadl, sef hygyrchedd, mae'n hynod bwysig fod rhieni'n gallu cael gwybodaeth i wneud dewisiadau gwybodus. Rwy'n clywed beth y mae Sioned wedi ei ddweud am y platfform digidol, ond mae'r platfform newydd hwnnw'n darparu ffynonellau o wybodaeth ymarferol ac ariannol, sy'n adeiladu ar wasanaeth gwybodaeth i deuluoedd pob awdurdod lleol. Rydym wedi gweld mynediad i'r platfform hwnnw'n cynyddu o fis i fis, ac mae gennym bron i 20,000 yn defnyddio'r platfform ar hyn o bryd, sy'n cynyddu hygyrchedd i'r cymorth sydd ei angen, gan ei fod yn eu cyfeirio i'r lleoedd priodol i gael y wybodaeth benodol sydd ei hangen arnynt.

Wrth wrando ar y sector a rhanddeiliaid, rydym eisoes wedi buddsoddi'n sylweddol, fel y dywedais, i symleiddio mynediad at y cynnig gofal plant i Gymru. Mae'r rhaglen o ofal plant a ariennir bellach yn cael ei darparu drwy un gwasanaeth digidol cenedlaethol, a ddisodlodd yr amrywiol systemau cynnig gofal plant lleol ym mis Tachwedd 2022. Mae'r gwasanaeth cwbl ddwyieithog hwn wedi dod â phrofiad mwy cyson i rieni a darparwyr gofal plant, ac yn ddiweddar cyfarfu swyddogion â chydweithwyr yr Adran Addysg yn Lloegr, a oedd yn awyddus i ddysgu o'n profiad ni o ddatblygu a darparu cynnig gofal plant digidol cenedlaethol i Gymru.

Rwyf hefyd yn falch iawn o fod yn arwain ein dull chwarae, dysgu a gofal plentyndod cynnar, ar y cyd ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg. Mae ein dull gweithredu yn canolbwyntio ar hyrwyddo partneriaethau, cysondeb a chydgysylltu rhwng ysgolion a lleoliadau, yn ogystal â rhieni a gofalwyr, er budd y plentyn a'u teulu. Mae'r gwaith hwn yn helpu i gefnogi'r agenda trechu tlodi, y gallwn ddweud cymaint mwy amdano, ond rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r amser.

Nawr, bydd cyd-Aelodau’n cofio ein bod wedi trafod adroddiad y pwyllgor plant a phobl ifanc ar fynediad plant a phobl ifanc anabl at addysg a gofal plant yn gynharach y mis hwn, ac i fod yn glir, rydym yn gwybod bod gennym lawer iawn mwy i'w wneud yn y maes hwn. Ond fe wyddom hefyd fod gan swyddogion anghenion dysgu ychwanegol blynyddoedd cynnar yr awdurdodau lleol rolau pwysig i'w chwarae yn gwella'r gwaith o nodi anghenion lefel is yn gynnar ar gyfer sefydlu llwybrau atgyfeirio a chodi ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith partneriaid amlasiantaethol. A thrwy—

17:25

You need to conclude now, please.

Mae angen i chi ddod i ben nawr, os gwelwch yn dda.

And through our capital programme, we have examples such as Flintshire County Council building a replacement outdoor classroom suitable for all children and their ALN equipment.

I'm just wondering if I can just—. Because I've got so much more to say and I'm not going to get through it all—

A thrwy ein rhaglen gyfalaf, mae gennym enghreifftiau fel Cyngor Sir y Fflint yn adeiladu ystafell ddosbarth awyr agored newydd sy'n addas ar gyfer pob plentyn a'u cyfarpar anghenion dysgu ychwanegol.

Rwy'n meddwl tybed a gaf i—. Oherwydd mae gennyf gymaint mwy i'w ddweud ac nid wyf yn mynd i allu mynd drwy'r cyfan—

No. You've gone well past your time; I've given you time for the interventions.

Na. Rydych chi wedi mynd ymhell dros eich amser; rwyf wedi rhoi amser i chi ar gyfer yr ymyriadau.

Well, I will be criticised for not responding to all the points as well, so I'm conscious of the time—

Wel, fe fyddaf yn cael fy meirniadu am beidio ymateb i'r holl bwyntiau hefyd, felly rwy'n ymwybodol o'r amser—

But you have your time limit, Minister.

Ond mae gennych derfyn amser, Weinidog.

I've got to try and—. Moving forward, local authorities across Wales have been asked to start preparing their expansion plans for the next phase of the roll-out of childcare provision to two-year-olds, and that will involve extending Flying Start provision to all two-year-olds, so that will be a universal childcare offer for all two-year-olds. I am also committed to the rate review of childcare rates and moving that to an annual rate review. Of course, again, I can't say any more about that until that review has been completed and until we know more about the budget next year. Dirprwy Lywydd, I've so much more to say, but I'll leave it there, because I know that your patience has now expired.

Mae'n rhaid i mi geisio—. I symud ymlaen, gofynnwyd i awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru ddechrau paratoi eu cynlluniau ehangu ar gyfer y cam nesaf o gyflwyno darpariaeth gofal plant i blant dwy oed, a bydd hynny'n golygu ymestyn darpariaeth Dechrau'n Deg i gynnwys pob plentyn dwy oed, felly bydd hwnnw'n gynnig gofal plant cyffredinol i bob plentyn dwy oed. Rwyf hefyd wedi ymrwymo i'r adolygiad o gyfraddau gofal plant a newid i adolygiad blynyddol o gyfraddau. Wrth gwrs, unwaith eto, ni allaf ddweud mwy am hynny nes bod yr adolygiad hwnnw wedi'i gwblhau a nes inni wybod mwy am y gyllideb ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae gennyf gymaint mwy i'w ddweud, ond rwyf am ei adael yno, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod fy mod wedi trethu eich amynedd.

Yes. Ministers, as much as anyone else, need to make sure that they plan and time their contributions.

Mae angen i Weinidogion, lawn cymaint ag unrhyw un arall, sicrhau eu bod yn cynllunio ac yn amseru eu cyfraniadau.

Galwaf ar Jenny Rathbone i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Jenny Rathbone to reply to the debate.

Thank you. Well, it's been an interesting debate, because there's quite a lot of tension across the Chamber as to what the importance of childcare is all about. Many of us would like to focus more on the child's needs, rather than the parents' need to obtain work, although both are important, because the family with somebody in employment is also going to benefit the child.

I think we should hear clearly the commitment by the Minister to simplify the system, but we can't rush into it, because we've got to have something that's going to be useful for all 22 local authorities, so that people can go onto this single national bilingual platform in order to then go to the Wrexham site, or wherever it might be. And I'm hoping that this will still enable people who find digital platforms difficult to still be able to go to their local community hub, or their Citizens Advice, to get help with filling in the form.

I think it's important that we remain focused on the importance of the needs of the child, as well as the family. And Gareth Davies is absolutely right that it can be very disruptive for a child to go to one Sure Start provision in the morning and then another provision in the afternoon. But it isn't always the case, to be honest; some children like the collective provision for two and a half hours and then they prefer to go home with a childminder or another member of the family. There isn't a one-size-fits-all here, but, clearly, if parents are going to be working, they're definitely going to need more than two and a half hours. But I think Naomi Eisenstadt had a very important thing to say, because the importance of open access is that we need to be sure that this is a service that people want to use. Parents would certainly prefer not to have to go from A to B, because they've got to make more complicated arrangements, and, clearly, in the future, we hope that we will be able to have more integrated children's centres that will be able to provide the full package of care, just as in The Venture, which Carolyn spoke about.

I think we are a very long way from where they are in Estonia, and that is going to take a change of attitude of the UK Government, as well as the Welsh Government. Because, in Estonia, they have legislated so that no parent is paying more than 20 per cent of their wages on childcare, and that is obviously something we'd all like to see, but we definitely don't need it all to be free. There's no particular reason why people can't pay according to their means; if they earn a lot of money, they can pay a bit more than those who are earning less or not at all, and that's all down to each local authority as to how they set that up. That exists now, but there's nothing stopping them cross-subsidising in an area where that would work. It won't work in an area like where The Venture is, where clearly most of the people will not be on high wages. But I think it is important that we get this digital platform right, that the application form fits in with the streamlining of the benefits system, because that enables parents who are worried about taking work that might make them worse off, and they need to be able to see that the help that's available will make it worth their while to go back to work sooner than they otherwise might, and that in itself is a good thing. I think this is a work in progress, and clearly there'll be a lot more to say once we see what the shape of the budget looks like. I thank all of you for taking part in this debate.

Diolch. Wel, mae wedi bod yn ddadl ddiddorol, oherwydd mae cryn dipyn o densiwn ar draws y Siambr ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd gofal plant. Hoffai llawer ohonom ganolbwyntio mwy ar anghenion y plentyn, yn hytrach nag angen y rhieni i gael gwaith, er bod y ddau'n bwysig, oherwydd bydd teulu sydd â rhywun mewn gwaith hefyd o fudd i'r plentyn.

Rwy'n credu y dylem glywed yn glir ymrwymiad y Gweinidog i symleiddio'r system, ond ni allwn ruthro, oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni gael rhywbeth a fydd yn ddefnyddiol i bob un o'r 22 awdurdod lleol, fel y gall pobl droi at y platfform dwyieithog cenedlaethol er mwyn mynd i safle Wrecsam, neu lle bynnag. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd hyn yn dal i alluogi pobl sy'n teimlo bod platfformau digidol yn anodd i fynd i'w hyb cymunedol lleol, neu eu Cyngor ar Bopeth, i gael help i lenwi'r ffurflen.

Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar bwysigrwydd anghenion y plentyn, yn ogystal â'r teulu. Ac mae Gareth Davies yn hollol gywir ei bod hi'n gallu bod yn aflonyddgar iawn i blentyn fynd i un ddarpariaeth Cychwyn Cadarn yn y bore a darpariaeth arall yn y prynhawn. Ond nid yw bob amser yn wir, a bod yn onest; mae rhai plant yn hoffi'r ddarpariaeth gyfunol am ddwy awr a hanner ac yna mae'n well ganddynt fynd adref gyda gwarchodwr plant neu aelod arall o'r teulu. Nid oes un ateb i bawb yma, ond yn amlwg, os yw rhieni'n mynd i fod yn gweithio, yn bendant bydd angen mwy na dwy awr a hanner arnynt. Ond rwy'n credu bod gan Naomi Eisenstadt rywbeth pwysig iawn i'w ddweud, oherwydd pwysigrwydd mynediad agored yw bod angen inni fod yn sicr fod hwn yn wasanaeth y mae pobl eisiau ei ddefnyddio. Yn sicr, byddai'n well gan rieni beidio â gorfod mynd o A i B, oherwydd mae'n rhaid iddynt wneud trefniadau mwy cymhleth, ac yn amlwg, yn y dyfodol, rydym yn gobeithio y byddwn yn gallu cael canolfannau plant mwy integredig a fydd yn gallu darparu'r pecyn gofal llawn, yn union fel Y Fenter, y soniodd Carolyn amdano.

Rwy'n credu ein bod yn bell iawn o'r sefyllfa yn Estonia, ac mae hynny'n mynd i alw am newid agwedd ar ran Llywodraeth y DU, yn ogystal â Llywodraeth Cymru. Oherwydd, yn Estonia, maent wedi deddfu fel nad oes unrhyw riant yn talu mwy nag 20 y cant o'u cyflogau ar ofal plant, ac mae hynny'n amlwg yn rhywbeth yr hoffem i gyd ei weld, ond yn bendant nid oes angen i'r cyfan fod yn rhad ac am ddim. Nid oes rheswm penodol pam na all pobl dalu yn ôl eu modd; os ydynt yn ennill llawer o arian, gallant dalu ychydig mwy na'r rhai sy'n ennill llai neu ddim o gwbl, a mater i bob awdurdod lleol fyddai penderfynu sut y byddent yn sefydlu hynny. Mae hynny'n bodoli nawr, ond nid oes unrhyw beth i'w hatal rhag traws-sybsideiddio mewn ardal lle byddai hynny'n gweithio. Ni fydd yn gweithio mewn ardal fel un Y Fenter, lle mae'n amlwg na fydd y rhan fwyaf o'r bobl ar gyflogau uchel. Ond credaf ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn cael y platfform digidol hwn yn iawn, fod y ffurflen gais yn cyd-fynd â symleiddio'r system fudd-daliadau, oherwydd mae hynny'n galluogi rhieni sy'n poeni am gymryd gwaith a allai eu gwneud yn waeth eu byd, ac mae angen iddynt allu gweld y bydd yr help sydd ar gael yn ei gwneud yn werth mynd yn ôl i'r gwaith yn gynt nag y byddent yn ei wneud fel arall, Ac mae hynny ynddo'i hun yn beth da. Rwy'n credu bod hwn yn waith sydd ar y gweill, ac yn amlwg bydd llawer mwy i'w ddweud pan welwn beth fydd yn y gyllideb. Diolch i bawb ohonoch am gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon.

17:30

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes, felly derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? No. The motion is therefore agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

7. Dadl Plaid Cymru: Diagnosis dementia
7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Dementia diagnosis

Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Jane Hutt, a gwelliant 2 yn enw Darren Millar.

The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Jane Hutt, and amendment 2 in the name of Darren Millar.

Eitem 7 ar ein hagenda ni heddiw yw dadl Plaid Cymru ar ddiagnosis dementia. Galwaf ar Mabon ap Gwynfor i wneud y cynnig.

Item 7 on our agenda today is the Plaid Cymru debate on dementia diagnosis. I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to move the motion.

Cynnig NDM8752 Heledd Fychan

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi mai dim ond 56 y cant o bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia sydd wedi cael diagnosis.

2. Yn gresynu mai Cymru sydd â’r gyfradd ddiagnosis gyhoeddedig isaf yn y DU.

3. Yn credu gall ffocws ar ddiagnosis cynnar a chywir wella opsiynau triniaeth, lleihau costau dementia i’r GIG a gwneud arbediad cost o hyd at £45,000 y pen drwy ohirio derbyniadau i gartrefi gofal.

4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnwys targedau diagnosis dementia newydd yn y cynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer dementia.

Motion NDM8752 Heledd Fychan

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes only 56 per cent of people living with dementia have a diagnosis.

2. Regrets that Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

3. Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options, reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS and make a cost saving of up to £45,000 per person by delaying admission to care homes.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new dementia action plan.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae dementia yn afiechyd sydd yn effeithio nid yn unig ar y rhai sy'n byw efo’r cyflwr, ond ar gymunedau cyfan hefyd, ac mi ydyn ni’n enwedig o ymwybodol o hyn yma yng Nghymru—wedi’r cyfan, dementia ydy un o’r achosion mwyaf o farwolaethau yn ein gwlad. Yn wir, dim ond nos Lun y clywsom ni am farwolaeth un o gewri snwcer y byd, Terry Griffiths, a fu farw ar ôl brwydr hir efo dementia, ac rwy’n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yma heddiw yn rhannu ein meddyliau efo’r teulu yn eu galar. A gan fod gan Gymru boblogaeth sydd yn heneiddio, mae’n anochel taw cynyddu bydd presenoldeb dementia yn ein cymdeithas dros y degawdau nesaf, gyda Chymdeithas Alzheimer’s Cymru yn amcangyfrif cynnydd o 37 y cant yn niferoedd y bobl sy’n byw gyda dementia erbyn 2040.

Y tu hwnt i’r achos moesol, mae yna achos cymdeithasol clir dros ein cynnig heno, gan fod dementia yn costio economi Cymru £2.3 biliwn y flwyddyn ar hyn o bryd, gyda’r disgwyl y bydd y ffigwr yma yn dyblu i £4.6 biliwn erbyn 2040, os nad ydy’r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau yn gwella yn fuan. Pwrpas ein dadl felly ydy i alw ar y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod y cynllun gweithredu dementia newydd yn medru ymateb yn gadarn i’r heriau yma, oherwydd mae’n amlwg bod pobl sy’n byw gyda'r clefyd yn cael eu gadael i lawr yn arw gan y system bresennol. Mae’r dystiolaeth yn glir bod diagnosis cynnar yn hollbwysig er mwyn sicrhau bod pobl sy'n byw â dementia yn medru dilyn bywydau mor gyfforddus â phosib a derbyn y gefnogaeth gymhleth sydd ei hangen arnyn nhw. 

Mae deall beth sy'n digwydd hefyd yn galluogi teuluoedd i gael mynediad at yr help sydd ei angen arnynt, boed yn hyfforddiant, yn gyngor ariannol neu'n gefnogaeth seicolegol. Gallan nhw baratoi, cynllunio ac eirioli dros eu hanwyliaid. Ond yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, mae tua 44 y cant o’r 42,000 o bobl sydd yn dioddef o ddementia heb dderbyn diagnosis—y ganran uchaf o wledydd y Deyrnas Gyfunol.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dementia is a disease that affects not only those who are living with the condition, but entire communities as well, and we’re particularly aware of this here in Wales—after all, dementia is one of the biggest causes of death in our country. In fact, we only heard on Monday night about the death of one of the world's snooker giants, Terry Griffiths, who died after a long battle with dementia, and I'm that sure that all our thoughts here today are with his grieving family. And as Wales has an ageing population, it is inevitable that the presence of dementia in our society will increase over the coming decades, with Alzheimer's Society Cymru estimating a 37 per cent increase in the number of people living with dementia by 2040.

Beyond the moral case, there is a clear social case for our motion tonight, as dementia currently costs the Welsh economy £2.3 billion a year, with the expectation that this figure will double to £4.6 billion by 2040, if the provision of services does not improve soon. The purpose of our debate is therefore to call on the Government to ensure that the new dementia action plan can respond robustly to these challenges, because it’s clear that people living with dementia are being let down badly by the current system. The evidence is clear that early diagnosis is crucial in order to ensure that people living with dementia can lead their lives as comfortably as possible and receive the complex support that they need.  

Understanding what is happening also enables families to access the help that they need, whether that is training, financial advice or psychological support. They can prepare, plan and advocate for their loved ones. But in Wales at present, around 44 per cent of the 42,000 people who suffer from dementia have not received a diagnosis—the highest percentage of any country in the UK.

[Inaudible.]—completely agree that early public health messaging is needed also, when we know, for example, that hearing loss and lifestyle choices contribute to the increased risk of having dementia later in your life, that we need to be intervening early with the public to help them make the right decisions sooner.

[Anghlywadwy.]—cytuno’n llwyr fod angen negeseua cynnar o ran iechyd y cyhoedd hefyd, pan wyddom, er enghraifft, fod colli clyw a dewisiadau ynglŷn â ffordd o fyw yn cyfrannu at y risg uwch o gael dementia yn ddiweddarach yn eich bywyd, fod angen inni ymyrryd yn gynnar gyda'r cyhoedd i’w helpu i wneud y penderfyniadau cywir yn gynt.

I would agree with those comments, and I will get on to the role that GPs can also play in ensuring that people understand around dementia, and people who might suffer from dementia. So, I thank you for those comments, Mark.

Rwy'n cytuno â’r sylwadau hynny, a byddaf yn sôn am y rôl y gall meddygon teulu ei chwarae hefyd i sicrhau bod pobl yn deall dementia, a phobl a allai ddioddef o ddementia. Felly, diolch am eich sylwadau, Mark.

Mae’r ystadegau yma roeddwn i’n sôn amdanyn nhw cyn yr ymyrraeth yn golygu bod tua 18,000 o bobl yn cael eu gadael i ymdopi heb y cymorth a'r driniaeth sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw. Dyna 18,000 o unigolion a 18,000 o deuluoedd yn brwydro mewn distawrwydd heb wybod beth i'w wneud na ble i droi. Mae’r sefyllfa hyd yn oed yn waeth yn yr ardaloedd gwledig, megis ym Mhowys, ble mae'r gyfradd diagnosis mor isel â 46.9 y cant. Ac mae hyn yn adlewyrchiad o’r realiti truenus nad ydy’r system iechyd yn ddigon ymatebol i anghenion ein poblogaeth. Ar gyfartaledd, mae’n cymryd tair blynedd a hanner i unigolyn gael diagnosis llawn ar gyfer dementia, gyda phob diwrnod o oedi yn culhau opsiynau ar gyfer triniaeth effeithiol.

Mae’n werth cofio hefyd fod y cynllun gweithredu dementia 2018-22 wedi gosod targedau penodol ar fyrddau iechyd i gynyddu eu graddfa o ddiagnosis o leiaf 3 y cant bob blwyddyn, ond y gwir ydy bod y lefelau diagnosis ar draws bob un bwrdd iechyd heb gyrraedd y targedau hynny. Fe wnaeth gwerthusiad annibynnol y cynllun hefyd nodi bod yr amcan am darged cenedlaethol o ddiagnosis cychwynnol o fewn 12 wythnos ymhell i ffwrdd o gael ei gyflawni. Targedau mewn enw yn unig—yr un hen stori gyfarwydd.

Dyma enghraifft nodweddiadol arall o’r datgysylltiad anferthol rhwng rhethreg y Llywodraeth a’u record o gyflawni yn ymarferol. Ac felly, mi ydym ni angen gweld parodrwydd gan y Llywodraeth i ddysgu gwersi o fethiannau'r cynllun blaenorol, ac i ddangos yn glir bod dementia yn flaenoriaeth, a dyma’r camau rydym ni angen eu gweld ar gyfer y sicrwydd yma.

Yn gyntaf, mae’n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gynyddu capasiti diagnostig, gyda phwyslais yn enwedig ar offer mwy arbenigol fel atalyddion AChE a all wella symptomau dementia a chynhyrchu arbedion cost o hyd at £45,000 y person. Gellir hefyd defnyddio biofarcwyr dementia—yn biofarcwyr niwroddelweddu ac yn biofarcwyr hylif—a fyddai yn helpu lleihau’r effaith o ddiffyg argaeledd arbenigwyr yn ein cymunedau gwledig yn enwedig. Ac mae’n angenrheidiol bod y gwaith yma yn cyd-fynd â thargedau credadwy, gyda chynllun i gyflawni ar y targedau yn alinio â'r adnoddau a’r capasiti sydd ar gael i’r sector gynradd ac eilradd. Rhowch reswm i bobl sy’n byw gyda dementia gael gobaith yn eich targedau. Dwi’n nodi’r ffaith bod gwelliant y Llywodraeth yn adnabod yr angen yma am dargedau newydd, ac mi fyddwn i’n croesawu sylwadau’r Gweinidog ar ei gweledigaeth yn y cyd-destun yma.

Yn ail, mae angen newid diwylliant o ran ein hagweddau tuag at ddementia. Yn ôl arolygiad barn diweddar gan Alzheimer’s Cymru, roedd 43 y cant o bobl â dementia yn teimlo gwarth, a 25 y cant yn teimlo cywilydd, sydd yn aml yn rhwystr iddyn nhw fynd ati i edrych am ddiagnosis. Mae’r agweddau niweidiol yma yn ymestyn hefyd i’r gweithlu. Yn ôl arolygiad barn tebyg, roedd bron i 20 y cant o feddygon teulu ddim yn credu bod budd i ddiagnosis ffurfiol o ddementia, sydd efallai yn esbonio pam bod 36 y cant o bobl sy’n cysylltu efo meddygon teulu yn gorfod aros dros chwe mis am ddiagnosis cychwynnol. Mae’n rhaid inni fynd i’r afael â'r stigma yn uniongyrchol drwy godi ymwybyddiaeth ac addysgu’r cyhoedd, yn ogystal â darparu hyfforddiant penodol i weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol am bwysigrwydd diagnosis cynnar.

Yn drydedd, mae angen mwy o gefnogaeth ar gyfer gofalwyr, yn enwedig y miloedd o ofalwyr di-dal sydd yn cyfrannu gymaint tuag at ein system iechyd. Mae’n warth o beth bod bron i 70 y cant o ofalwyr a arolygwyd fel rhan o'r gwerthusiad annibynnol o gynllun 2018-22 wedi mynegi nad oedden nhw wedi derbyn asesiad o’u hanghenion, a bod ychydig iawn wedi derbyn hyfforddiant penodol i’w galluogi i ymdopi â’r heriau sylweddol a chymhleth sy’n dod o ofal dros aelod teuluol sy’n dioddef o ddementia. Dylai hyn ddim bod yn syndod, wrth gwrs, o ystyried bod adolygiad Cymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol o'r asesiadau gofalwyr yn dangos methiannau yn y maes yma. Mae’n greiddiol, felly, fod y cynllun newydd yn ystyried yn llawn anghenion gofalwyr, ac yn rhoi’r hyder iddyn nhw fod y system yna i’w cefnogi yn llawn, yn cynnwys y gefnogaeth ariannol a’r ddarpariaeth o saib sydd yn gwbl angenrheidiol ar gyfer gofalwyr.

Yn bedwerydd, mae angen adnabod y gweithlu ac anghenion y gweithlu, yn cynnwys nifer y seiciatryddion a’r nifer sy’n medru gweithredu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Ac yn olaf, mae tryloywder yn gwbl allweddol i lwyddiant y cynllun newydd. Mae angen data arnom ni, fel y gallwn ni ddylunio gwasanaeth o'i amgylch, gan gynnwys adroddiadau misol o amseroedd aros ac asesiad clir o’r cynnydd ar dargedau perthnasol.

I’r unigolion a’r teuluoedd yr effeithir arnyn nhw, i’r economi, ac i’n system iechyd, mae’n bryd gweithredu. Mae angen i Gymru ymrwymo i wneud dementia yn flaenoriaeth, buddsoddi mewn atebion, a chreu dyfodol lle mae pobl sy’n byw gyda dementia yn cael y gofal, yr urddas, a’r cymorth y maen nhw'n eu haeddu.

These statistics that I mentioned before the intervention mean that around 18,000 people are left to cope without the support and treatment that they need. That's 18,000 individuals and 18,000 families struggling in silence, without knowing what to do or where to turn. The situation is even worse in rural areas, such as Powys, where the diagnosis rate is as low as 46.9 per cent. And this is a reflection of the unfortunate reality that the health system is not responsive enough to the needs of our population. On average, it takes three and a half years for an individual to receive a full diagnosis for dementia, with every day of delay narrowing the options for effective treatment.

It is also worth remembering that the dementia action plan 2018-22 set specific targets for health boards to increase their rate of dementia diagnosis by at least 3 per cent each year, but the truth is that the diagnosis levels across every health board have not reached those targets. The independent evaluation of the scheme also noted that the objective of a national target for an initial diagnosis within 12 weeks was a long way from being achieved. Targets in name only—the same old story. 

This is another typical example of the huge disconnect between the Government's rhetoric and its record of practical delivery. And so, we need to see a willingness from the Government to learn lessons from the failures of the previous plan, and to clearly show that dementia is a priority, and these are the steps that we need to see to receive this certainty. 

First of all, the Welsh Government must increase diagnostic capacity, with a particular emphasis on more specialist equipment such as AChE inhibitors, which can improve dementia symptoms and produce cost savings of up to £45,000 per person. Dementia biomarkers can also be used—neuroimaging biomarkers and liquid biomarkers—which would help to reduce the impact of the lack of availability of specialists in our rural communities in particular. And it is vital that this work is aligned with credible targets, with a plan to achieve the targets aligning with the resources and capacity available to the primary and secondary sectors. Give people living with dementia a reason to have hope in your targets. I note the fact that the Government's amendment recognises this need for new targets, and I would welcome the Minister's comments on her vision in this context.

Secondly, there needs to be a culture shift in terms of our attitudes towards dementia. According to a recent opinion poll by Alzheimer's Wales, 43 per cent of people with dementia felt stigmatised, and 25 per cent felt ashamed, which is often a barrier to them actively seeking a diagnosis. These harmful attitudes extend to the workforce. According to a similar opinion poll, almost 20 per cent of GPs did not believe there was any benefit to a formal diagnosis of dementia, which may explain why 36 per cent of people who contact their GPs have to wait for over six months for an initial diagnosis. We must tackle stigma directly by raising awareness and educating the public, as well as providing specific training for healthcare professionals about the importance of early diagnosis.

Thirdly, we need more support for carers, especially the thousands of unpaid carers who contribute so much to our health system. It is a disgrace that almost 70 per cent of carers surveyed as part of the independent evaluation of the 2018-22 plan said that they had not received an assessment of their needs, and that very few had received specific training to enable them to cope with the significant and complex challenges associated with caring for a family member suffering from dementia. This should not come as a surprise, of course, given that the Association of Directors of Social Services' review of carers assessments identified failures in this area. It is therefore vital that the new plan fully considers the needs of carers, and gives them confidence that the system will fully support them, and include the financial support and respite provision that are absolutely essential for carers.

Fourthly, it is necessary to identify the workforce and the needs of the workforce, including the number of psychiatrists and the number of people who can operate through the medium of Welsh. And finally, transparency is absolutely key to the success of the new plan. We need data so that we can design services around that data, including monthly reports on waiting times and a clear assessment of progress made against relevant targets.

For the individuals and families affected, for the economy, and for our health system, it is time to act. Wales needs to commit to making dementia a priority, invest in solutions, and create a future where people living with dementia receive the care, dignity and support that they deserve.

17:35

Rwyf wedi dethol y ddau welliant i'r cynnig, a galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant i gynnig yn ffurfiol welliant 1, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt.

I have selected the two amendments to the motion, and I call on the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being to formally move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt.

I'm so sorry, I couldn't hear through my—

Mae’n ddrwg gennyf, ni allwn glywed drwy fy—

Gwelliant 1—Jane Hutt

Dileu popeth ar ôl pwynt 1 a rhoi yn ei le:

Yn nodi mai Cymru sydd â’r gyfradd ddiagnosis gyhoeddedig isaf yn y DU.

Yn credu y gall ffocws ar ddiagnosis cynnar a chywir wella opsiynau triniaeth ac y gallai leihau costau dementia i’r GIG.

Yn croesawu bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru i adnewyddu’r Cynllun Gweithredu ar gyfer Dementia.

Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnwys targedau diagnosis dementia newydd yn y cynllun newydd.

Amendment 1—Jane Hutt

Delete all after point 1 and replace with:

Notes Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options and potentially reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS.

Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to refresh the Dementia Action Plan.

Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new plan.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.

Amendment 1 moved.

A galwaf ar Gareth Davies i gynnig gwelliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar.

And I call on Gareth Davies to move amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. 

17:40

Gwelliant 2—Darren Millar

Ychwanegu pwynt newydd ar ddiwedd y cynnig:

Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod y cynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer dementia yn rhoi cleifion a'u hanwyliaid yn gyntaf, a'i fod hefyd yn hyrwyddo ymchwil i'r clefyd.

Amendment 2—Darren Millar

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the new dementia action plan puts patients and their loved ones first, whilst promoting research into the disease.

Cynigiwyd gwelliant 2.

Amendment 2 moved.

Thank you very much, and it's vitally important for us to be discussing dementia, which is Britain's biggest killer, and has affected many of us, either loved ones or people we know. Both my grandfathers had dementia, unfortunately, and it costs Wales over £2 billion a year and is expected to more than double to £4.5 billion a year. 

The glimmer of hope, however, with this monumentally cruel disease is that the strides that have been taken in medical research have truly been remarkable. Over 50,000 people in Wales are known to be living with the condition. However, an estimated one in two people with dementia in Wales have not received a diagnosis, yet spending on diagnosis makes up less than 1.4 per cent of the total healthcare expenditure in the UK, which seems like a staggering oversight. This also highlights the importance of education: with many people ignorant to the early signs of dementia, people fail to recognise the onset of the disease in their partner or relative. So, I'm hoping that the dementia action plan will include education and hopefully the Cabinet Secretary can speak to this in response to the debate.

The Alzheimer's Society has raised the damage that early diagnosis is doing to families and the economy, with 63 per cent of all dementia costs believed to be shouldered by families and costs growing as the disease progresses. The average cost of caring for someone with dementia stands at £29,000, but the total having the potential to rise to £80,000 for those with severe cases of dementia. We should also recognise that dementia is a disease that disproportionately affects the elderly, and therefore the burden of care largely falls on the elderly spouse or partner. This is why the Welsh Conservatives are calling for a new dementia action plan to put patients and their loved ones first.

The Welsh Language Commissioner also called for more action be taken in dementia care for Welsh speakers, noting that little progress has been made since the initial recommendations were made in 2018. And it's vital to ensure that no-one is left behind or put at a disadvantage that care is accessible to all. So, it's disappointing that there is a shortfall when it comes to Welsh language support and I hope the Welsh Government will address this in the action plan, given the lack of progress following the publication of the last dementia action plan, as we anecdotally know that native Welsh speakers do tend to go back to their mother tongue by default in dementia, and there's good evidence to support that notion.

We're also calling for the Welsh Government to promote more research into the disease. Cardiff University play a major role in dementia research, with millions invested in their dementia research centre. It's one of six centres across the UK and it's putting Wales at the forefront of global science.

So, to conclude, can the Welsh Government outline how the new dementia action plan will properly address the unacceptably low rates of diagnosis, improve education on the disease, and work with researchers in Wales to keep NHS dementia care up to date with the most recent techniques and technology? Thank you very much, Deputy Llywydd.

Diolch yn fawr, ac mae’n hanfodol bwysig ein bod yn trafod dementia, sef y clefyd sy'n lladd fwyaf o bobl ym Mhrydain, ac sydd wedi effeithio ar lawer ohonom, naill ai ein hanwyliaid neu bobl rydym yn eu hadnabod. Roedd gan fy nau dad-cu ddementia, yn anffodus, ac mae’n costio dros £2 biliwn y flwyddyn i Gymru, a disgwylir i'r ffigur hwnnw fwy na dyblu i £4.5 biliwn y flwyddyn.

Y llygedyn o obaith, fodd bynnag, gyda’r clefyd hynod o greulon hwn yw bod y camau breision a welwyd mewn ymchwil feddygol wedi bod yn wirioneddol ryfeddol. Mae'n hysbys fod dros 50,000 o bobl yn byw gyda'r cyflwr hwn yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, amcangyfrifir nad yw un o bob dau o bobl â dementia yng Nghymru wedi cael diagnosis, ac eto mae gwariant ar ddiagnosis yn llai nag 1.4 y cant o gyfanswm gwariant gofal iechyd yn y DU, sy’n amryfusedd syfrdanol yn ôl pob golwg. Mae hyn hefyd yn amlygu pwysigrwydd addysg: gyda llawer o bobl yn anwybodus am arwyddion cynnar dementia, mae pobl yn methu nodi dechrau'r clefyd yn eu partner neu berthynas. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia yn cynnwys addysg, a gobeithio y gall Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sôn am hyn wrth ymateb i'r ddadl.

Mae Cymdeithas Alzheimer's wedi nodi’r niwed y mae diagnosis cynnar yn ei wneud i deuluoedd a’r economi, a chredir bod 63 y cant o holl gostau dementia yn cael eu hysgwyddo gan deuluoedd, gyda chostau’n cynyddu wrth i’r clefyd waethygu. Mae’r gost gyfartalog o ofalu am rywun â dementia yn £29,000, ond mae'n bosibl y byd y cyfanswm yn codi i £80,000 mewn achosion difrifol o ddementia. Dylem gydnabod hefyd fod dementia yn glefyd sy’n effeithio’n anghymesur ar yr henoed, ac felly mae’r baich gofal yn cwympo'n bennaf ar y priod neu bartner oedrannus. Dyma pam fod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn galw am gynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer dementia i roi cleifion a’u hanwyliaid yn gyntaf.

Galwodd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg hefyd am fwy o gamau ym maes gofal dementia ar ran siaradwyr Cymraeg, gan nodi mai ychydig o gynnydd a wnaed ers i’r argymhellion cyntaf gael eu gwneud yn 2018. Ac mae’n hollbwysig, er mwyn sicrhau nad oes unrhyw un yn cael eu gadael ar ôl nac o dan anfantais, fod gofal yn hygyrch i bawb. Felly, mae’n siomedig fod cymorth yn y Gymraeg yn ddiffygiol, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i’r afael â hyn yn y cynllun gweithredu, o ystyried y diffyg cynnydd yn dilyn cyhoeddi’r cynllun gweithredu diwethaf ar gyfer dementia, gan y gwyddom, yn anecdotaidd, fod siaradwyr Cymraeg iaith gyntaf sydd â dementia yn tueddu i droi'n ôl at eu mamiaith, ac mae tystiolaeth dda i gefnogi hynny.

Rydym hefyd yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i hyrwyddo mwy o ymchwil i'r clefyd. Mae Prifysgol Caerdydd yn chwarae rhan fawr mewn ymchwil dementia, gyda miliynau o bunnoedd wedi'i fuddsoddi yn eu canolfan ymchwil dementia. Mae'n un o chwe chanolfan ar draws y DU, ac mae'n rhoi Cymru ar flaen y gad mewn gwyddoniaeth fyd-eang.

Felly, i gloi, a all Llywodraeth Cymru amlinellu sut y bydd y cynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer dementia yn mynd i’r afael yn briodol â’r cyfraddau diagnosis annerbyniol o isel, yn gwella addysg ar y clefyd, ac yn gweithio gydag ymchwilwyr yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod gofal dementia’r GIG yn cadw i fyny â'r technegau a'r dechnoleg ddiweddaraf? Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.

As people get older they worry more about their health, especially when contemporaries have serious or terminal health problems. Dementia is a general terms for loss of memory, language, problem solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is not a single disease. It's an overall term to describe a collection of symptoms one may experience if they are living with a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's.

Diseases grouped under this general term 'dementia' are caused by abnormal brain changes. Dementia symptoms trigger a decline in thinking skills, known as cognitive abilities, severe enough to impair daily life and independent functions. They also affect behaviour, feelings and relationships. The early stage of memory loss or other cognitive ability loss is called 'mild cognitive impairment'. Signs of the progress of dementia can vary greatly. They include short-term memory loss, and something that most people have come across, keeping track of a phone, purse, keys, glasses or wallets. I think there are very few people in this room who haven't lost one of those at some time, and possibly some time in the last week. So, it is really difficult: 'I've lost my phone, have I got Alzheimer's?' Well, almost certainly not, but when you put it with forgetting to pay bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering appointments, travelling out of the neighbourhood—and with planning and preparing meals, starting to cook and forgetting that the cooker is on—all these things become much more serious. Dementia symptoms are progressive, which means the signs of cognitive impairment start off slowly and gradually get worse over time, leading to dementia.

I was fortunate enough to attend a dementia training session given by First Cymru, who wanted their drivers to be able to identify people with dementia. I very much thank them for inviting me to this training; I would urge any other Member here who gets an opportunity by some organisation to attend dementia training to attend it. It was described as like a bookcase: when a bookcase gets shaken, the books at the top fall off while those at the bottom remain. This explains why old memories remain and why newer events are forgotten, and why people often move back to their first language. That's why it's incredibly important for people who were brought up and their first language was Welsh to be able to talk to people in Welsh, because although they can still remember how to speak English, their first thoughts are back to their earliest language.

We know dementia is the leading cause of death in England and Wales, with one in three of us born today due to develop the condition in our lifetime—put in context, 20 people who are Members here. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing, and its impacts can be devastating. Dementia prevalence is predicted to increase rapidly over the next 15 years. New research commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society predict the number of people living with dementia in Wales will rise by 37 per cent by 2040. But this major health issue is not being made the priority it needs to be. Across the UK, less than 2 per cent of dementia health costs are spent on diagnosis and treatment, while around a third of these costs are being spent on expensive and distressing unplanned hospital admissions.

I want to talk about a member of the Thursday night quiz team I used to be a member of. He started off by being forgetful, not sure if he had taken his tablets, and not remembering things from earlier in the evening. He was still our best member for identifying people or brands from photographs. He eventually, after much persuasion from friends and family, visited his GP. Getting a diagnosis enabled him to plan for the future and get access to care, support and treatment, which has helped him stay well for longer. Following treatment, he is now capable of going about his normal daily life and is going to Benidorm for Christmas with friends. In a recent survey commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, only 1 per cent of people saw no benefit of a diagnosis. The system is complex and, once diagnosed, people need holistic support to understand their condition and navigate the system. Increasing diagnosis rates across Wales is vital to enable people who are living with dementia to take control of their condition and live independently for longer. This supports people to stay out of hospital and in their own homes, relieving pressure on our health and care system.

Dementia is the last taboo. I remember, as you may, Deputy Presiding Officer, when cancer was discussed in hushed tones, with early death certain. We have thankfully gone a long way from that, with increasing survival rates. We know with dementia that NICE-approved treatments, together with appropriate care, can slow the worsening of the symptoms and allow people to live better and more independently in their own homes for longer, which I think is what everybody wants, isn't it? The earlier the diagnosis, the better, and I think with almost anything we're talking about in health, we'd say exactly the same thing: we need to get more early diagnosis. Dementia is just one of them, but I can't think of any health issue where early diagnosis is not the most important.

Wrth i bobl heneiddio, maent yn poeni mwy am eu hiechyd, yn enwedig pan fydd gan eu cyfoedion broblemau iechyd difrifol neu angheuol. Mae dementia yn derm cyffredinol ar gyfer colli cof, iaith, gallu i ddatrys problemau a galluoedd meddyliol eraill sy'n ddigon difrifol i effeithio ar fywyd bob dydd. Clefyd Alzheimer yw achos mwyaf cyffredin dementia. Nid un clefyd yw dementia. Mae'n derm cyffredinol i ddisgrifio casgliad o symptomau y gall rhywun eu profi os ydynt yn byw gydag amrywiaeth o glefydau, gan gynnwys clefyd Alzheimer.

Caiff y clefydau sy'n cael eu grwpio o dan y term cyffredinol 'dementia' eu hachosi gan newidiadau annormal yn yr ymennydd. Mae symptomau dementia yn sbarduno dirywiad mewn sgiliau meddwl, a elwir yn alluoedd gwybyddol, sy'n ddigon difrifol i amharu ar fywyd bob dydd a gweithrediad annibynnol. Maent hefyd yn effeithio ar ymddygiad, teimladau a pherthnasoedd. Gelwir camau cynnar colli cof neu golli gallu gwybyddol arall yn 'amhariad gwybyddol ysgafn'. Gall arwyddion o ddatblygiad dementia amrywio'n fawr. Maent yn cynnwys colli cof tymor byr, a rhywbeth y mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl wedi'i brofi, colli eich ffôn, pwrs, allweddi, sbectol neu waled. Credaf mai ychydig iawn o bobl yn yr ystafell hon sydd heb golli un o’r rheini ar ryw adeg, a rywbryd yn ystod yr wythnos ddiwethaf o bosibl. Felly, mae'n anodd iawn: 'Rwyf wedi colli fy ffôn, a oes gennyf glefyd Alzheimer?' Wel, nac oes, bron yn sicr, ond pan fyddwch yn cyfuno hynny ag anghofio talu biliau, cynllunio a pharatoi prydau bwyd, cofio apwyntiadau, teithio allan o'r gymdogaeth—ac wrth gynllunio a pharatoi prydau, dechrau coginio ac anghofio bod y popty ymlaen—mae'r holl bethau hyn yn dod yn llawer mwy difrifol. Mae symptomau dementia yn gynyddol, sy'n golygu bod arwyddion o amhariadau gwybyddol yn dechrau'n araf ac yn gwaethygu'n raddol dros amser, gan arwain at ddementia.

Bûm yn ddigon ffodus i fynychu sesiwn hyfforddi ar ddementia a ddarparwyd gan First Cymru, a oedd am i’w gyrwyr allu nodi pobl â dementia. Rwy'n diolch yn fawr iawn iddynt am fy ngwahodd i’r hyfforddiant hwn; carwn annog unrhyw Aelod arall yma sy’n cael cyfle i fynychu hyfforddiant dementia gan ryw sefydliad i’w fynychu. Fe'i disgrifiwyd fel silff lyfrau: pan fydd y silff lyfrau'n cael ei hysgwyd, mae'r llyfrau ar dop y silff yn cwympo tra bo'r rhai ar y gwaelod yn aros yn eu lle. Mae hyn yn esbonio pam fod hen atgofion yn parhau a pham fod digwyddiadau mwy newydd yn cael eu hanghofio, a pham fod pobl yn aml yn troi'n ôl at eu hiaith gyntaf. Dyna pam ei bod yn hynod o bwysig i bobl a gafodd eu magu gyda'r Gymraeg yn iaith gyntaf allu siarad â phobl yn Gymraeg, oherwydd er eu bod yn dal i allu cofio sut i siarad Saesneg, mae eu meddyliau cyntaf yn eu hiaith gynharaf.

Gwyddom mai dementia yw prif achos marwolaeth yng Nghymru a Lloegr, gydag un o bob tri ohonom a aned heddiw yn mynd i ddatblygu’r cyflwr yn ystod ein hoes—i roi hynny yn ei gyd-destun, 20 o'r Aelodau yma. Nid yw dementia yn rhan arferol o heneiddio, a gall ei effeithiau fod yn ddinistriol. Rhagwelir y bydd nifer yr achosion o ddementia yn cynyddu’n gyflym dros y 15 mlynedd nesaf. Mae ymchwil newydd a gomisiynwyd gan Gymdeithas Alzheimer's yn rhagweld y bydd nifer y bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia yng Nghymru yn codi 37 y cant erbyn 2040. Ond nid yw'r mater iechyd pwysig hwn yn cael y flaenoriaeth y dylai ei chael. Ledled y DU, mae llai na 2 y cant o gostau iechyd dementia yn cael eu gwario ar ddiagnosis a thriniaeth, tra bo oddeutu traean o’r costau hyn yn cael eu gwario ar dderbyniadau heb eu cynllunio i'r ysbyty, sy'n ddrud ac yn drallodus.

Hoffwn sôn am aelod o’r tîm cwis nos Iau roeddwn yn arfer bod yn aelod ohono. Dechreuodd drwy fod yn anghofus, ddim yn siŵr a oedd wedi cymryd ei dabledi ai peidio, ac yn methu cofio pethau a ddigwyddodd yn gynharach yn y noson. Ef oedd ein haelod gorau o hyd am adnabod pobl neu frandiau o ffotograffau. Yn y pen draw, ar ôl cryn dipyn o berswadio gan ffrindiau a theulu, ymwelodd â'i feddyg teulu. Fe wnaeth cael diagnosis ei alluogi i gynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol a chael mynediad at ofal, cymorth a thriniaeth, sydd wedi ei helpu i aros yn iach am gyfnod hwy. Yn dilyn triniaeth, mae bellach yn gallu byw ei fywyd bob dydd arferol, ac mae'n mynd i Benidorm dros y Nadolig gyda'i ffrindiau. Mewn arolwg diweddar a gomisiynwyd gan Gymdeithas Alzheimer's, dim ond 1 y cant o bobl sy'n methu gweld unrhyw fudd o gael diagnosis. Mae'r system yn gymhleth, ac ar ôl cael diagnosis, mae angen cymorth cyfannol ar bobl i ddeall eu cyflwr a deall sut y mae'r system yn gweithio. Mae cynyddu cyfraddau diagnosis ledled Cymru yn hanfodol i alluogi pobl sy’n byw gyda dementia i reoli eu cyflwr a byw’n annibynnol am gyfnod hwy. Mae hyn yn cefnogi pobl i aros allan o'r ysbyty ac yn eu cartrefi eu hunain, gan leddfu'r pwysau ar ein system iechyd a gofal.

Dementia yw'r tabŵ olaf. Rwy'n cofio, ac efallai eich bod chi'n cofio, Ddirprwy Lywydd, pan gâi canser ei drafod drwy sibrwd, gyda marwolaeth gynnar yn sicr. Diolch byth, rydym wedi dod ymhell ers hynny, gyda chyfraddau goroesi'n cynyddu. Gyda dementia, gwyddom y gall triniaethau a gymeradwywyd gan y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal, ynghyd â gofal priodol, arafu’r symptomau rhag gwaethygu a chaniatáu i bobl fyw’n well ac yn fwy annibynnol yn eu cartrefi eu hunain am gyfnod hwy, sef yr hyn y mae pawb ei eisiau, onid e? Gorau po gyntaf y ceir diagnosis, a chyda bron bopeth y soniwn amdano ym maes iechyd, rwy'n credu y byddai pob un ohonom yn dweud yn union yr un peth: mae angen inni gael mwy o ddiagnosis cynnar. Dim ond un ohonynt yw dementia, ond ni allaf feddwl am unrhyw broblem iechyd lle nad yw diagnosis cynnar yn bwysicach na dim.

17:45

Yn ogystal â chlywed gan ein hetholwyr ni bob dydd, dwi'n siŵr bod gan bob un ohonom brofiad personol o effaith dementia ar deulu, cymdogion neu ffrindiau. Bu farw fy nhad o glefyd Alzheimer's, ac nid gormodiaith yw dweud nid yn unig i greulondeb y dementia a'r effeithiau ein chwalu ni, wrth weld personoliaeth, dysg a dawn tad, gŵr, brawd a thad-cu yn raddol ddiflannu, ond hefyd y frwydr barhaus am gyngor, am gefnogaeth ac am gymorth iddo fe pan oedd angen hynny arno fwyaf, ac i ninnau hefyd oedd yn gofalu ar ei ôl.

Cafodd fy nhad ddim diagnosis am lawer rhy hir, ac yna fe wnaeth y ffaith nad oedd gwasanaethau yn cydweithio, yn dilyn y person yn hytrach na'r cod post, y ffaith nad oedd ffiniau ein hawdurdodau lleol a'n byrddau iechyd yn alinio, wneud y camau nesaf ar y siwrnai o ganfod y gefnogaeth honno yn waeth. Roedd yr agwedd 'computer says no' yn digwydd yn rhy aml: 'Gallwch chi gael cefnogaeth A, ond does dim modd cael cefnogaeth B'. Ac mae'n rhaid ichi wybod am beth i'w ofyn hyd yn oed cyn cael yr ateb yna.

Mae'r rhesymau pam bod angen gwella cywirdeb a phrydlondeb diagnosis wedi eu gosod mas eisoes. Hoffwn i egluro pam bod gwybod yn gwbl bendant pwy sydd angen cymorth, pryd a ble, mor bwysig, achos ar hyn o bryd, mae'r ffigyrau diagnosis yn awgrymu bod degau o filoedd o bobl heb yr allwedd iawn i agor y drws i'r cymorth hwnnw. Felly, ar ran y teuluoedd a'r gofalwyr rwyf am siarad heddiw—pobl sydd dan straen, sy'n aml ar ben eu tennyn yn emosiynol, ac yn aml yn gorfforol hefyd, pobl sy'n blino brwydro, ac weithiau'n methu â gwneud hynny.

Mae rhai mentrau a sefydliadau gwych ar gael i'w cefnogi, ond dŷn nhw ddim yn gyson dros Gymru. Hoffwn i sôn am hanes Hannah Davies, sydd wedi sefydlu prosiect yr Hwb Dementia yn y rhanbarth dwi'n ei chynrychioli. Mae hi wedi siarad yn agored gyda'r wasg am ei phrofiad mewn cyfweliad gyda WalesOnline. Mae hi'n dweud iddi deimlo'n gwbl ar ben ei hunan pan gafodd ei mam ddiagnosis o dementia, yn sôn na chafodd hi ddim unrhyw help o ran canfod pa gefnogaeth oedd ar gael, ac yn disgrifio'r profiad fel un trawmatig.

Mae'r profiad wedi ysgogi Hannah i weithio i newid pethau. Sefydlodd hi grŵp yn Abertawe i helpu cysylltu darparwyr gwasanaethau at ei gilydd, a arweiniodd wedyn at sefydlu prosiect Dementia Hwb, siop un stop yng nghanolfan siopa'r Cwadrant, sydd nawr hefyd â changen yng nghanolfan siopa Aberafan. Mae'n rhoi cyngor heb angen am apwyntiad ar gyfer pob math o gymorth a chefnogaeth i bobl â dementia a'u teuluoedd a gofalwyr. Ac mae hi nawr wedi dechrau hybiau symudol, sy'n ymweld â chanolfannau cymunedol fel llyfrgelloedd a neuaddau pentref ar draws siroedd Abertawe a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot.

Elusen yw Dementia Hwb. Mae wedi llwyddo ennill grantiau a chefnogaeth ariannol a gweithio mewn partneriaeth gyda chyrff cyhoeddus, ond mae pobl ym mhob rhan o Gymru angen y math yma o gefnogaeth, yn llusern ar lwybr mor anodd i'w throedio. Mae'n cynnig ni'n galw am well ffocws ar ddiagnosis cynnar er mwyn helpu cynnau'r llusern gwbl hanfodol honno yn gynt, gan helpu rhai i fedru aros yn eu cartref yn hirach, i leihau'r straen.

Rwyf wedi clywed y cyn Weinidog iechyd, sydd nawr yn Brif Weinidog arnom ni, yn dweud lawer tro bod angen i bobl wneud eu siâr i leihau'r pwysau ar wasanaethau iechyd a gofal. Wel, gallwn ni ddim gofyn i ofalwyr wneud hynny heb fod yna gefnogaeth barod iddyn nhw, a bod hynny'n briodol a chyson ar draws Cymru.

Rwy'n cwrdd â gofalwyr yn rheolaidd, ac maen nhw wedi blino cael eu hanwybyddu. Pa mor rhwystredig yw hi i gwblhau arolwg ar ôl arolwg yn rhannu eich realiti, gweld adroddiad ar ôl adroddiad yn manylu ar y realiti hwnnw, ond gweld dim newid i'r realiti hwnnw, a gweld eich hawliau ddim yn cael eu cynnal? Achos heb gymorth gwell i ofalwyr di-dâl, ni fydd ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, sydd eisoes dan bwysau, ddim yn ymdopi o gwbl. Heb addewid y bydd pethau'n newid, bydd pobl yn colli gobaith ac yn colli ffydd bod y Llywodraeth hon yn eu gweld ac yn eu gwasanaethu nhw a'r rhai y maen nhw'n eu caru sy'n byw gyda chyflyrau anodd fel dementia.

Siaradais am yr union faterion yma, yr angen am well gefnogaeth i ofalwyr a'r angen am wella cyfraddau diagnosis dementia, mewn dadl nôl yn y flwyddyn gyntaf y ces i fy ethol i'r lle hwn, a dwi wedi gwneud yn gyson ers hynny. Dwi ddim eisiau siarad amdano fe eto, a dyw pobl Cymru ddim yn moyn clywed mwy o esgusodion am y ffaith mai Cymru sydd â’r gyfradd ddiagnosis isaf yn y Deyrnas Gyfunol, a'r hyn, felly, y mae hynny'n ei olygu o ran gofal a chefnogaeth i bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia a'u gofalwyr.

Os ydych chi'n cefnogi newid, yn cefnogi gofalwyr, ac yn cefnogi pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia, wedyn cefnogwch y cynnig.

As well as hearing from our constituents every day, I'm sure that we all have had personal experience of the impact of dementia on family members, neighbours or friends. My father died of Alzheimer's disease, and it's not an exaggeration to say that not only did the cruelty of  dementia and its effects shatter us, in seeing the personality, learning and talent of a beloved father, husband, brother and grandfather gradually disappear, but so did the continuous struggle for advice, support and help for him when he needed it most, and also for us, who were looking after him.

My father was undiagnosed for far too long, and then, the fact that services weren't working together, following the person rather than the postcode, the fact that the boundaries of our local authorities and health boards didn't align, made the next steps on the journey to finding that support worse. The ‘computer says no’ scenario cropped up far too often: 'You can get support A, but support B can't be provided'. And you have to know what to even ask before getting that answer.

The reasons why there is a need to improve the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis have already been set out. I would like to explain why knowing exactly who needs help, when and where, is so important, because at the moment, the low diagnosis figures suggest that tens of thousands of people don't have the right key to open the door to that support. So, it is on behalf of the families and carers that I want to speak today—people who are under stress, who are often at their wits' end emotionally, and often physically too, people who get tired of fighting and sometimes fail to do so.

There are some great initiatives and organisations that are available to support them, but they're not consistent across Wales. I would like to mention the story of Hannah Davies, who has set up the Dementia Hwb project in the region that I represent, and who has spoken openly to the press about her experiences in an interview with WalesOnline. Hannah said that she felt completely alone when her mother was diagnosed with dementia, saying that she received no help in finding out what support was available to her as a carer, and described the experience as a traumatic one.

The experience has inspired Hannah to change things. She set up a group in Swansea to help connect service providers, which led then to the establishment of the Dementia Hwb project, a one-stop shop in the Quadrant shopping centre that now also has a branch in the Aberafan shopping centre. It provides advice without the need for an appointment for all types of support for people with dementia, and their families and carers. It has also started mobile hubs that visit community centres in libraries and village halls in the counties of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Dementia Hwb is a charity. It has managed to obtain grants and financial support and it works in partnership with public bodies, but people in all parts of Wales need this kind of support, a beacon on such a difficult path to tread. Our motion calls for a better focus on early and accurate diagnosis in order to help to light up that vital beacon at an earlier stage, and help some to be able to stay in their homes for longer, to reduce the strain.

I have heard the former health Minister, now our First Minister, say many times that people need to do their part to reduce the pressure on health and care services. Well, we can't ask carers to do that unless appropriate and consistent support and assistance is readily available across Wales for them.

I meet carers often, and they're tired of being ignored. How frustrating it is to complete survey after survey, sharing your reality, and then see report after report detailing that reality, but see no change to that reality, and seeing your rights not being maintained? Because without better support for unpaid carers, our already strained health and social care services will not be able to cope at all. Without a promise that things will change, people will lose hope and will lose faith that this Government sees them and serves them and those whom they love who are living with challenging conditions such as dementia.

I spoke about these very issues, the need for better support for carers and the need to improve dementia diagnosis rates, in a debate back in the first year that I was elected to this place, and I've done so regularly thereafter. I don't want to have to talk about it again, and the people of Wales don't want to hear any more excuses about the fact that Wales has the lowest diagnosis rate in the UK, and what that means in terms of care and support for people living with dementia and their carers.

If you support change, support carers, and support people living with dementia, then support this motion.

17:50

I thank Plaid Cymru for tabling this very important debate. There are around 42,000 people living with dementia in Wales, although we don't have an accurate picture, as up-to-date dementia diagnosis rates are not currently available. We do know that Wales has consistently had a lower level of diagnosis, as was just said by Sioned, than England, Scotland and Ireland. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, and there are currently great strides being made in early diagnosis, with a pin-prick blood test being developed, as well as promising new treatments. We need to continue this research at pace, hence the Welsh Conservatives' amendment, which I hope Members will support.

However, I want to focus the remainder of my contribution upon alcohol-related dementia. At this point, I must declare an interest as a patron of Brynawel Rehab, the only rehab facility in Wales to offer specific interventions to support people with alcohol-related brain damage. Alcohol-related dementia is a type of alcohol-related brain damage. If a person has alcohol-related dementia, they will struggle with day-to-day tasks. This is because of the damage to their brain caused by regularly drinking too much alcohol. Symptoms include memory loss and difficulty thinking things through, and problems with more complex tasks, such as managing their finances. The symptoms may cause problems with daily life, such as not being able to cook a meal.

Alcohol-related dementia symptoms can vary from person to person. Someone with the condition undergoing a brain scan will show that some areas of the brain have shrunk much more than others. Alcohol particularly affects the frontal lobes of the brain. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, or vascular dementia, alcohol-related dementia is not certain to get worse over time. With the right treatment and support, there is often a good chance that it will stop getting worse and will improve. Roughly 75 per cent of these cases will get better. Abstaining from alcohol, taking high doses of thiamine supplement, and eating a balanced diet can lead to an improvement in symptoms.

However, if the person keeps drinking alcohol and does not eat well, alcohol-related dementia is very likely to get worse. It is not easy to help a person with alcohol addiction to stop drinking. However, it can be even more challenging when the person has dementia. Problems with their thinking and reasoning caused by dementia can prevent a person from understanding that they need to stop drinking. They may also find it very difficult to stay motivated if they do stop drinking, because losing motivation is a symptom of dementia.

Sadly, diagnosis of alcohol-related dementia is really difficult. If a GP is unaware of their patient's history of excessive alcohol consumption, they may not consider alcohol-related dementia as a possible diagnosis. It can also be difficult for patients to get an assessment, as some GPs will insist that they stop drinking for several weeks before they can be assessed with their memory. However, some experts believe that a person can be assessed for alcohol-related dementia while they are still drinking, as long as they are not intoxicated at the time of the assessment. I, therefore, call on the Welsh Government to include alcohol-related dementia and brain damage in the action plan, and provide guidance to primary care about assessments of the condition. Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch i Blaid Cymru am gyflwyno’r ddadl bwysig hon. Mae oddeutu 42,000 o bobl yn byw gyda dementia yng Nghymru, er nad oes gennym ddarlun cywir, gan nad oes cyfraddau cyfredol ar gael ar gyfer diagnosis dementia ar hyn o bryd. Fel y dywedodd Sioned, fe wyddom fod Cymru yn gyson wedi bod â lefel is o ddiagnosis na Lloegr, yr Alban ac Iwerddon. Clefyd Alzheimer yw’r math mwyaf cyffredin o ddementia, ac ar hyn o bryd, mae camau breision yn cael eu cymryd o ran diagnosis cynnar, gyda phrawf gwaed pigiad bys yn cael ei ddatblygu, yn ogystal â thriniaethau newydd addawol. Mae angen inni barhau â’r ymchwil hwn yn gyflym, a dyna'r rheswm dros welliant y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, y gobeithiaf y bydd yr Aelodau’n ei gefnogi.

Fodd bynnag, rwyf am ganolbwyntio gweddill fy nghyfraniad ar ddementia sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol. Ar y pwynt hwn, mae'n rhaid imi ddatgan buddiant fel un o noddwyr Brynawel Rehab, yr unig gyfleuster adsefydlu yng Nghymru i gynnig ymyriadau penodol i gefnogi pobl â niwed i’r ymennydd sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol. Mae dementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol yn fath o niwed i'r ymennydd sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol. Os oes gan unigolyn ddementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol, byddant yn ei chael hi'n anodd cyflawni tasgau bob dydd. Mae hyn oherwydd y niwed i'w hymennydd a achosir gan yfed gormod o alcohol yn rheolaidd. Mae'r symptomau'n cynnwys colli cof ac anhawster i feddwl drwy bethau, a phroblemau gyda thasgau mwy cymhleth, fel rheoli eu harian. Gall y symptomau achosi problemau gyda bywyd bob dydd, megis methu coginio pryd o fwyd.

Gall symptomau dementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol amrywio o un unigolyn i'r llall. Bydd sgan ymennydd rhywun sydd â'r cyflwr yn dangos bod rhai rhannau o'u hymennydd wedi crebachu llawer mwy nag eraill. Mae alcohol yn effeithio'n arbennig ar labedau blaen yr ymennydd. Yn wahanol i glefyd Alzheimer, neu ddementia fasgwlaidd, nid yw dementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol yn sicr o waethygu dros amser. Gyda’r driniaeth a’r cymorth cywir, yn aml, mae gobaith da na fydd yn gwaethygu ac y bydd yn gwella. Bydd oddeutu 75 y cant o'r achosion hyn yn gwella. Gall ymatal rhag alcohol, cymryd dosau uchel o atchwanegiadau thiamin, a bwyta diet cytbwys arwain at wella symptomau.

Fodd bynnag, os yw'r unigolyn yn parhau i yfed alcohol a pheidio â bwyta'n dda, mae dementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol yn debygol iawn o waethygu. Nid yw'n hawdd helpu unigolyn sy'n gaeth i alcohol i roi'r gorau i yfed. Fodd bynnag, gall fod hyd yn oed yn fwy heriol pan fydd gan yr unigolyn hwnnw ddementia. Gall problemau a achosir gan ddementia gyda’u meddwl a’u rhesymu atal unigolyn rhag deall bod angen iddynt roi’r gorau i yfed. Efallai y byddant hefyd yn ei chael hi’n anodd cynnal eu hysgogiad os ydynt yn rhoi’r gorau i yfed, gan fod colli ysgogiad yn un o symptomau dementia.

Yn anffodus, mae gwneud diagnosis o ddementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol yn anodd iawn. Os nad yw meddyg teulu yn ymwybodol o hanes eu claf o yfed gormod o alcohol, efallai na fyddant yn ystyried dementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol fel diagnosis posibl. Gall fod yn anodd hefyd i gleifion gael asesiad, gan y bydd rhai meddygon teulu yn mynnu eu bod yn rhoi’r gorau i yfed am sawl wythnos cyn y gellir asesu eu cof. Fodd bynnag, mae rhai arbenigwyr yn credu y gall unigolyn gael eu hasesu am ddementia sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol tra'u bod yn dal i yfed, oni bai eu bod yn feddw yn ystod yr asesiad. Galwaf, felly, ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnwys dementia sy’n gysylltiedig ag alcohol a niwed i’r ymennydd yn y cynllun gweithredu, a darparu canllawiau i ofal sylfaenol ynghylch asesiadau o’r cyflwr. Diolch yn fawr.

17:55

Dwi’n hynod falch ein bod ni’n cael y ddadl hon heddiw. Mae dementia yn her enfawr i'n gwasanaeth iechyd a'n cymdeithas, fel dŷn ni wedi clywed, ond yn fwy na hynny oll, mae e'n faich uffernol ar y bobl sy'n dioddef.

I'm very pleased that we're having this debate today. Dementia is a huge challenge for our health service and our society, as we've heard, but more than that, it is a terrible burden on those suffering.

Dementia is such a cruel disease. It robs people of memories, but crueller still, it can isolate a person from the ones who love them most in the world. It doesn’t so much ensnare a sufferer as estrange them, taking away that person’s sense of feeling safe with the people they've been surrounded by their entire life. And as such, dementia is so desperately difficult for the families of a person who’s going through it, because they sometimes have to grieve for someone who is still sitting in front of them, to mourn the loss of someone they see or speak to every day.

My grandma Doreen had dementia. She lived to be 100 years old, but in her final years we watched her slip away, piece by piece. First it was the recipes she'd known like the back of her hand. She'd suddenly start to leave things out. She'd make Welsh cakes, which had been her triumph—they were the best of any Welsh cakes I'd ever tasted—but all of a sudden, she’d forget to add the sugar, or she'd leave them on the baking stone a moment too long until they caught. That was one of the first signs.

And my grandma loved to walk. When my sister and I were little, we'd go for long walks over Nelson mountain or to Llanfabon to pick blackberries or to have picnics with my grandma and gransha. But towards the end, she'd go walking on uneven paths on her own, without any sense of danger that she might fall. When we'd find her, she'd tell us she couldn't say why she'd been out or where she'd been going. The cruellest thing about dementia is how bewildering it is for the person going through it. My parents would visit my grandma. They'd call her multiple times each day. But she'd forget that they'd been. She'd think that they'd forgotten her. I remember her calling my parents' house one day, and I'd answered the phone, and she'd asked me, 'Why is it that I can't do all the things I used to do?' and she wished that she could walk and walk. She'd get frustrated and she'd be lonely, and she couldn't understand why it was happening.

Now, this story of it, and versions of this story, Dirprwy Lywydd, will be affecting thousands of families this winter. People at different stages of this terrible journey, this brutal way of seeing someone you love leave you behind. The diagnosis rates for dementia, we've heard, are still stubbornly low. In Aneurin Bevan, the diagnosis rate is 60.4 per cent, and there is still no dementia plan for Gwent. That has to change. Research has to be improved into this cruel captor, this condition that causes the people we know most dearly to be strangers to us, to feel we've lost someone who is still there.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm aware that I've spoken about some of the saddest parts of my grandma's life, but I want to tell you as well how good your life was, how much her life, the lives of all those thousands of people who have dementia, are worth celebrating. Their lives, they matter. But even though my grandma was robbed so cruelly of so many things by dementia, even at the end, she loved to sing. She sang on her one hundredth birthday. She sang both of her favourite songs—'Danny Boy' and 'Mother Machree'. Now, when we last had this debate about dementia in the Senedd, I quoted a verse of 'Mother Machree' because the lyrics remind me so much of her, and I hope, Dirprwy Lywydd, you'll allow me to quote them again, because I never get to hear the song anymore:

'There's a place in my mem'ry, / My life, that you fill, / No other can take it, / No one ever will. / Sure, I love the dear silver / That shines in your hair, / And the brow that's all furrowed, / And wrinkled with care. / I kiss the dear fingers, / So toil-worn for me, / Oh, God bless you and keep you, / Mother Machree.'

Mae dementia yn glefyd mor greulon. Mae'n dwyn atgofion pobl, ond yn fwy creulon byth, gall ynysu unigolyn oddi wrth y bobl sy'n eu caru fwyaf yn y byd. Mae'n dieithrio dioddefwyr lawn cymaint â'u maglu, gan gael gwared ar ymdeimlad yr unigolyn o fod yn ddiogel gyda'r bobl sydd wedi bod o'u cwmpas drwy gydol eu bywyd. Ac fel y cyfryw, mae dementia mor ofnadwy o anodd i deuluoedd yr unigolyn â dementia, oherwydd weithiau, mae'n rhaid iddynt alaru am rywun sy'n dal i eistedd o'u blaenau, galaru colli rhywun y maent yn eu gweld neu'n siarad â hwy bob dydd.

Roedd dementia ar fy mam-gu Doreen. Fe wnaeth hi fyw i fod yn 100 oed, ond yn ei blynyddoedd olaf, fe'i gwelsom yn llithro ymaith, fesul darn. Yn gyntaf, y ryseitiau roedd hi'n eu hadnabod fel cefn ei llaw. Yn sydyn, roedd yn dechrau gadael pethau allan. Byddai’n gwneud pice ar y maen, ei champwaith—y pice ar y maen gorau i mi eu blasu erioed—ond yn sydyn iawn, byddai’n anghofio ychwanegu’r siwgr, neu byddai’n eu gadael i grasu am eiliad yn rhy hir a byddent yn llosgi. Dyna oedd un o'r arwyddion cyntaf.

Ac roedd fy mam-gu wrth ei bodd yn cerdded. Pan oedd fy chwaer a minnau'n iau, byddem yn mynd am dro hir dros fynydd Nelson neu i Lanfabon i bigo mwyar duon neu i gael picnic gyda fy mam-gu a fy nhad-cu. Ond tua'r diwedd, byddai'n mynd i gerdded ar lwybrau anwastad ar ei phen ei hun, heb unrhyw synnwyr o berygl y gallai syrthio. Pan ddoem o hyd iddi, byddai'n dweud wrthym na allai ddweud pam iddi fynd allan nac i ble yr ai. Y peth creulonaf am ddementia yw pa mor ddryslyd ydyw i’r unigolyn sy’n mynd drwyddo. Byddai fy rhieni yn ymweld â fy mam-gu. Byddent yn ei ffonio sawl gwaith bob dydd. Ond byddai'n anghofio eu bod wedi galw. Byddai'n meddwl eu bod wedi ei hanghofio. Rwy'n ei chofio'n ffonio tŷ fy rhieni un diwrnod, ac atebais y ffôn, a gofynnodd i mi, 'Pam na allaf wneud yr holl bethau roeddwn i'n arfer eu gwneud?' ac roedd hi'n ysu am allu cerdded a cherdded. Byddai'n mynd yn rhwystredig ac yn unig, ac ni allai ddeall pam fod hyn yn digwydd.

Nawr, bydd y stori hon, a fersiynau o'r stori hon, Ddirprwy Lywydd, yn effeithio ar filoedd o deuluoedd y gaeaf hwn. Pobl ar wahanol gamau o'r daith ofnadwy hon, y ffordd greulon hon o weld rhywun rydych chi'n eu caru yn eich gadael ar ôl. Mae'r cyfraddau diagnosis ar gyfer dementia, fel y clywsom, yn dal i fod yn ystyfnig o isel. Ym mwrdd Aneurin Bevan, 60.4 y cant yw’r gyfradd ddiagnosis, ac nid oes cynllun dementia ar gyfer Gwent o hyd. Mae’n rhaid i hynny newid. Mae'n rhaid gwella ymchwil i'r cyflwr caethiwus a chreulon hwn, sy'n achosi i'n hanwyliaid fod yn ddieithriaid i ni, a gwneud inni deimlo ein bod wedi colli rhywun sy'n dal i fod yno.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy’n ymwybodol fy mod wedi siarad am rai o’r rhannau tristaf o fywyd fy mam-gu, ond rwyf am ddweud wrthych chi hefyd pa mor dda oedd ei bywyd, a sut y mae ei bywyd hi, bywydau’r miloedd o bobl sydd â dementia, yn werth eu dathlu. Mae eu bywydau'n bwysig. Ond er i'r clefyd creulon hwn ddwyn cymaint o bethau oddi ar fy mam-gu, hyd yn oed ar y diwedd roedd hi wrth ei bodd yn canu. Canodd ar ei phen-blwydd yn gant oed. Canodd ddwy o'i hoff ganeuon—'Danny Boy' a 'Mother Machree'. Nawr, pan gawsom ddadl am ddementia ddiwethaf yn y Senedd, dyfynnais bennill o 'Mother Machree' am fod y geiriau yn fy atgoffa cymaint ohoni, a Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n gobeithio y gwnewch chi ganiatáu i mi eu dyfynnu eto, gan nad wyf i byth yn clywed y gân mwyach:

'Mae lle yn fy ngof, / Fy mywyd, mi wyt ti'n ei lenwi, / All neb arall ei gymryd, / Fydd neb byth yn ei wneud. / Rwy'n caru'r arian annwyl / Sydd yn disgleirio yn dy wallt, / A'r talcen sydd yn rhychog i gyd, / Ac yn grychiog â gofid. / Rwy'n cusanu'r bysedd annwyl, / Ac ôl traul arnynt er fy mwyn i, / Bendith Duw arnot a'i ofal amdanat, / Mam Machree.'

18:00

I'm very pleased to take part in this important debate today, affecting so many people. As we've heard, around one in three people are now developing dementia during their lifetime, with significant increases predicted in years to come, and with that low diagnosis rate meaning that so many people who are affected, and their families, are not getting access to the help and support they need, making it crystal clear why we need an awareness campaign that would help address those issues, and also, of course, help with the continuing problems around stigma. And data, of course, is also an issue with regard to dementia, just as it is for many other health conditions.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I recently attended a Newport dementia local voice forum and heard some very powerful first-hand testament to the problems and the issues that exist, and indeed some of the potential solutions. Prominent amongst those experiences was older people caring for partners or other family members with dementia, and just how difficult it was for those carers and the impact it had on their own health. It took a huge toll on their health and well-being. And the forum felt that there needs to be a statutory community care system in place for people and families who are in that particular situation. And they also felt that the lack of information and accessible information is such a problem for families who are supporting loved ones with the condition. And there was interest in the Dementia Connector scheme, but a lack of awareness, really, in terms of exactly how that works, what happens if a family is unable to contact a connector in their own particular area, and what alternative pathways are in place, and a need for clarity around that. And also concern that, even where training is in place for professional care workers with regard to dementia, it's not always followed up through refresher courses so that skills and knowledge are kept absolutely up to date.

But there was some appreciation, Dirprwy Lywydd, of a scheme by Gwent Police, called the Herbert Protocol, where carers, families, friends of people with dementia can complete online forms so that police have details and descriptions of people living with the condition in the locality. And then, of course, if people do go missing or are seen in an environment where they are potentially at risk, police and other services are better positioned and able to help them. So, there was interest in whether other police forces across Wales might look at the Gwent example and perhaps replicate it.

Dirprwy Lywydd, it's very important that we have this debate today because it is so cruel, as we've heard, and it does affect so many people. I know that the Welsh Government and the relevant Ministers understand this, and I look forward to hearing what new steps might be taken to deal with the issues that are common, I think, in many of the contributions that we've heard today.

Rwy'n falch iawn o gymryd rhan yn y ddadl bwysig hon heddiw, ar rywbeth sy'n effeithio ar gymaint o bobl. Fel y clywsom, mae tua un o bob tri o bobl bellach yn datblygu dementia yn ystod eu hoes, gyda chynnydd sylweddol yn y blynyddoedd i ddod, a chyda'r gyfradd isel sy'n cael diagnosis yn golygu bod cymaint o bobl yr effeithir arnynt a'u teuluoedd heb fod yn cael mynediad at y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt, gan ei gwneud yn gwbl glir pam y mae angen ymgyrch godi ymwybyddiaeth arnom a fyddai'n helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hynny, ac yn helpu hefyd, wrth gwrs, gyda'r problemau parhaus sy'n gysylltiedig â stigma. Ac mae data'n broblem mewn perthynas â dementia, yn union fel y mae ar gyfer llawer o gyflyrau iechyd eraill.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, mynychais fforwm llais dementia lleol Casnewydd yn ddiweddar a chlywais dystiolaeth uniongyrchol bwerus iawn o'r problemau a'r materion sy'n bodoli, yn ogystal â rhai o'r atebion posibl, yn wir. Yn amlwg ymhlith y profiadau hynny roedd pobl hŷn yn gofalu am bartneriaid neu aelodau eraill o'r teulu â dementia, a pha mor anodd oedd hi i'r gofalwyr hynny a'r effaith a gafodd ar eu hiechyd eu hunain. Fe gafodd effaith enfawr ar eu hiechyd a'u llesiant. Ac roedd y fforwm yn teimlo bod angen system gofal cymunedol statudol ar waith ar gyfer pobl a theuluoedd yn y sefyllfa honno. Ac roeddent yn teimlo hefyd fod diffyg gwybodaeth hygyrch yn gymaint o broblem i deuluoedd sy'n cefnogi anwyliaid sydd â'r cyflwr. Ac roedd diddordeb yn y cynllun Cysylltydd Dementia, ond diffyg ymwybyddiaeth ynglŷn â sut yn union y mae hwnnw'n gweithio, beth sy'n digwydd os nad yw teulu'n gallu cysylltu â chysylltydd yn eu hardal eu hunain, a pha lwybrau amgen sydd ar waith, a'r angen am eglurder ynghylch hynny. A phryder hefyd, hyd yn oed lle mae hyfforddiant dementia ar gael ar gyfer gweithwyr gofal proffesiynol, nad yw bob amser yn cael ei ddilyn gan gyrsiau gloywi fel bod sgiliau a gwybodaeth yn cael eu diweddaru'n drylwyr.

Ond Ddirprwy Lywydd, roedd cynllun gan Heddlu Gwent yn cael ei werthfawrogi, cynllun o'r enw Protocol Herbert, lle gall gofalwyr, teuluoedd, ffrindiau pobl â dementia lenwi ffurflenni ar-lein fel bod gan yr heddlu fanylion a disgrifiadau o bobl sy'n byw gyda'r cyflwr yn yr ardal. Ac wrth gwrs, os yw pobl yn mynd ar goll neu'n cael eu gweld mewn amgylchedd lle gallent fod mewn perygl, mae'r heddlu a gwasanaethau eraill mewn sefyllfa well ac yn gallu eu helpu. Felly, roedd diddordeb mewn gweld a allai heddluoedd eraill ledled Cymru edrych ar esiampl Gwent ac efelychu'r cynllun o bosibl.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n cael y ddadl hon heddiw oherwydd mae'n gyflwr mor greulon, fel y clywsom, ac mae'n effeithio ar gymaint o bobl. Gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru a'r Gweinidogion perthnasol yn deall hyn, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed pa gamau newydd y gellid eu cymryd i ymdrin â'r problemau sy'n gyffredin yn llawer o'r cyfraniadau a glywsom heddiw.

18:05

This evening, we've heard from a number of Members and have been reminded by a number of Members that dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK and one of the most pressing health and social care challenges facing Wales. Now, it's a condition that many people fear and, as chair of the cross-party group on dementia, we've heard a lot of evidence around the profound impact on mental health that this disease can have not just on those diagnosed, but on their families and carers. It's a condition with escalating costs and few treatment options, which makes timely and accurate diagnosis absolutely essential. Early diagnosis not only helps to identify those at greatest risk, but also ensures that they and their families can access the care and support they need to face this journey with dignity and hope. 

Each case and each type, whether that's Alzheimer's or Lewy body dementia, presents different care needs, and so the benefits of an early diagnosis are significant. For the person living with dementia, it can provide clarity, explaining the symptoms and changes they are experiencing, and an opportunity to make sense of what is happening. It ends the uncertainty and allows them to take proactive steps to manage their condition. With the right support in place following a diagnosis, people can maintain their independence and enjoy a good quality of life for longer. A diagnosis is not the end of the road. You can still have a fulfilling life.

Early diagnosis also supports families and carers. It gives them time to adjust to the changes that dementia can bring, both in terms of the condition itself and their evolving role as care givers. However, we cannot overlook the challenges in ensuring that everyone benefits from early diagnosis and support. One key issue is the lack of regularly collected and published dementia diagnosis data. Wales remains the only UK nation where this data is not routinely available. This is a significant gap. Data is critical for understanding the true scale of dementia for planning services effectively and for providing targeted support in areas where it is most needed.

Now, the Welsh Government has previously made commitments in this area, but has missed critical deadlines. For example, let me take you back to September 2021. I tabled a motion, supported by the Senedd, calling on the Welsh Government to establish a data observatory. Progress has been slow. In response to a written question I tabled in September 2023, the Government promised to provide a timeline for the publication of national dementia diagnosis data through an oral statement in November 2023. Unfortunately, this timeline has not been kept to. A written statement on the implementation of the dementia action plan promised in January 2024 was due in May, but that never materialised. These missed commitments are concerning. They raise questions about the seriousness given to dementia within the Government's broader health and care agenda. Families living with dementia cannot afford delays. They need clarity, support and an assurance that their needs are being addressed.

Dirprwy Lywydd, dementia touches us all, directly or indirectly. A number of Members today have talked about their own experiences with dementia. It has touched many people in this Chamber, myself included. It is vital that we respond with compassion, urgency and a firm commitment to do things better for everyone affected by this life-changing condition.

Heno, clywsom gan nifer o Aelodau a chawsom ein hatgoffa gan nifer o'r Aelodau mai dementia yw prif achos marwolaeth yn y DU ac un o'r heriau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol mwyaf dybryd sy'n wynebu Cymru. Nawr, mae'n gyflwr y mae llawer o bobl yn ei ofni ac fel cadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar ddementia, rydym wedi clywed llawer o dystiolaeth ynghylch yr effaith ddwys ar iechyd meddwl y gall y clefyd hwn ei chael nid yn unig ar y rhai a gafodd ddiagnosis ohono, ond ar eu teuluoedd a'u gofalwyr. Mae'n gyflwr ag iddo gostau cynyddol a fawr o opsiynau triniaeth, sy'n gwneud diagnosis amserol a chywir yn gwbl hanfodol. Mae diagnosis cynnar nid yn unig yn helpu i nodi'r rhai sydd fwyaf mewn perygl, ond hefyd yn sicrhau eu bod hwy a'u teuluoedd yn gallu cael y gofal a'r cymorth sydd eu hangen arnynt i wynebu'r daith hon gydag urddas a gobaith. 

Mae pob achos a phob math, boed yn ddementia Alzheimer neu gyrff Lewy, yn creu gwahanol anghenion gofal, ac felly mae manteision diagnosis cynnar yn sylweddol. I'r person sy'n byw gyda dementia, gall ddarparu eglurder, gan esbonio'r symptomau a'r newidiadau y maent yn eu profi, a chyfle i wneud synnwyr o'r hyn sy'n digwydd. Mae'n dod â'r ansicrwydd i ben ac yn caniatáu iddynt gymryd camau rhagweithiol i reoli eu cyflwr. Gyda'r gefnogaeth gywir ar waith yn dilyn diagnosis, gall pobl barhau i fyw'n annibynnol a mwynhau ansawdd bywyd da am gyfnod hwy. Nid diagnosis yw pen draw'r daith. Gallwch ddal i gael bywyd cyflawn.

Mae diagnosis cynnar hefyd yn cefnogi teuluoedd a gofalwyr. Mae'n rhoi amser iddynt addasu i'r newidiadau y gall dementia eu cyflwyno, o ran y cyflwr ei hun a'u rôl esblygol fel rhoddwyr gofal. Fodd bynnag, ni allwn anwybyddu'r heriau wrth sicrhau bod pawb yn elwa o ddiagnosis a chymorth cynnar. Un broblem allweddol yw'r diffyg data diagnosis dementia sy'n cael ei gasglu a'i gyhoeddi'n rheolaidd. Cymru yw'r unig wlad yn y DU o hyd lle nad yw'r data hwn ar gael fel mater o drefn. Mae'n fwlch sylweddol. Mae data'n hanfodol i ddeall gwir raddfa dementia ar gyfer cynllunio gwasanaethau'n effeithiol a darparu cymorth wedi'i dargedu yn y mannau lle mae ei angen fwyaf.

Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud ymrwymiadau yn y maes hwn o'r blaen, ond mae wedi methu terfynau amser pwysig. Er enghraifft, gadewch imi fynd â chi'n ôl i fis Medi 2021. Cyflwynais gynnig, gyda chefnogaeth y Senedd, yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sefydlu arsyllfa ddata. Mae cynnydd wedi bod yn araf. Mewn ymateb i gwestiwn ysgrifenedig a gyflwynais ym mis Medi 2023, addawodd y Llywodraeth ddarparu amserlen ar gyfer cyhoeddi data diagnosis dementia cenedlaethol trwy ddatganiad llafar ym mis Tachwedd 2023. Yn anffodus, nid yw'r amserlen hon wedi'i chadw. Roedd disgwyl datganiad ysgrifenedig ym mis Mai eleni ar weithredu'r cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia a addawyd ym mis Ionawr, ond ni ddigwyddodd. Mae'r ymrwymiadau hyn y methwyd eu gwireddu yn peri pryder. Maent yn codi cwestiynau ynglŷn â'r pwyslais a roddir ar ddementia yn agenda iechyd a gofal ehangach y Llywodraeth. Ni all teuluoedd sy'n byw gyda dementia fforddio oedi. Maent angen eglurder, cefnogaeth a sicrwydd fod eu hanghenion yn cael sylw.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae dementia yn ein cyffwrdd ni i gyd, yn uniongyrchol neu'n anuniongyrchol. Mae nifer o'r Aelodau heddiw wedi siarad am eu profiadau eu hunain o ddementia. Mae wedi cyffwrdd â llawer o bobl yn y Siambr hon, gan fy nghynnwys i. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn ymateb gyda thosturi, brys ac ymrwymiad cadarn i wneud pethau'n well i bawb y mae'r cyflwr hwn sy'n newid bywydau yn effeithio arnynt.

18:10

Many of us here today will have been impacted by Alzheimer's, and I've been listening to many of the contributions so far, and, sadly, many of our constituents as well do go through this condition, with one in three people due to develop it in their lifetime. That's a stark statistic, as we all know dementia is the UK's biggest killer, yet Wales has the lowest diagnosis rate in the United Kingdom itself. It's clear to all that something needs to be done, particularly when it comes to diagnosing dementia and making it a genuine priority here in Wales. Improving dementia diagnosis rates would not only allow those affected to plan for a future, but it would also unlock care and support. Not only that, it would also ease the pressure on our health service too. As it stands, one in six hospital beds are indeed occupied by someone with dementia, but an early diagnosis would help people live independently at home and not just in hospitals.

I had the privilege of meeting with the Alzheimer's Society last week to discuss the condition and look at what can be done to improve it. We also discussed something that I'm particularly interested in, and I know, similarly, my colleague Mike Hedges mentioned it in his contribution, and that was actually breaking down the barriers to healthcare for those whose first language is not English. Language has, indeed, been identified as a significant barrier for people from ethnic minority communities from engaging with care services. A general practice report study from 2023 identified that continuity of care was lower for all ethnic minority groups compared with their white British counterparts. For example, some older people from ethnic minority communities may be less likely to speak English, or use English, as their dementia progresses. Instead, they will, indeed, resort back to their mother tongue, so it is vital that there is equitable provision for people in their preferred language. Tackling this issue and stigma is also incredibly important, because stigma reduces the likelihood that people living with dementia will, indeed, get a diagnosis. In an Alzheimer's Society survey, when asked how people felt living with symptoms of dementia, 43 per cent of respondents said that they actually did feel stigmatised, 25 per cent said that they felt ashamed, and 44 per cent actually said that they were afraid. Not only that, but almost a third of practice nurses cited stigma and denial as a barrier to referral and diagnosis, and one in six GPs were unlikely to refer patients for diagnosis because of misperceptions about the benefits of a diagnosis, according to another survey.

Deputy Presiding Officer, all of this just reinforces the need for us to tackle the issue of stigma as a matter of urgency, and there are ways to do that. The Alzheimer's Society is calling for a public awareness campaign on the benefits of dementia diagnosis and what it can, indeed, bring to raise awareness of dementia symptoms overall for everyone out there. The charity also wants to see continuing professional development for clinicians and dementia-friendly communities, which I'm proud to say is something Newport, in my region of south-east Wales, is working towards. Those are simply my three asks and have my full, undivided support, and I can't imagine anyone here in the Chamber today would, indeed, disagree with them. I really, truly hope that the Welsh Government takes them on board and makes them work by making diagnosing dementia a priority. Thank you.

Bydd llawer ohonom yma heddiw wedi cael ein heffeithio gan glefyd Alzheimer, ac rwyf wedi bod yn gwrando ar lawer o'r cyfraniadau hyd yma, ac yn anffodus, mae llawer o'n hetholwyr hefyd yn mynd trwy'r cyflwr hwn, gydag un o bob tri o bobl yn mynd i'w ddatblygu yn ystod eu hoes. Mae hwnnw'n ystadegyn llwm, gan ein bod i gyd yn gwybod mai dementia yw'r clefyd sy'n lladd fwyaf o bobl yn y DU, ac eto Cymru sydd â'r gyfradd ddiagnosis isaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae'n amlwg i bawb fod angen gwneud rhywbeth, yn enwedig o ran diagnosis dementia a'i wneud yn flaenoriaeth wirioneddol yma yng Nghymru. Byddai gwella cyfraddau diagnosis dementia nid yn unig yn caniatáu i'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt gynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol, byddai hefyd yn datgloi gofal a chymorth. Nid yn unig hynny, byddai hefyd yn lleihau'r pwysau ar ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Fel y mae, mae un o bob chwe gwely ysbyty yn wely i rywun â dementia, ond byddai diagnosis cynnar yn helpu pobl i fyw'n annibynnol gartref ac nid mewn ysbytai'n unig.

Cefais y fraint o gyfarfod â Chymdeithas Alzheimer's yr wythnos diwethaf i drafod y cyflwr ac i edrych ar yr hyn y gellir ei wneud i'w wella. Buom yn trafod rhywbeth y mae gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig ynddo hefyd, ac rwy'n gwybod, yn yr un modd, fod fy nghyd-Aelod, Mike Hedges, wedi sôn amdano yn ei gyfraniad ef, sef chwalu'r rhwystrau i ofal iechyd i'r rhai nad yw Saesneg yn iaith gyntaf iddynt. Yn wir, nodwyd bod iaith yn rhwystr mawr i bobl o gymunedau lleiafrifol ethnig rhag ymgysylltu â gwasanaethau gofal. Nododd astudiaeth ymarfer cyffredinol yn 2023 fod parhad gofal yn is ym mhob grŵp lleiafrifol ethnig o gymharu â'u cymheiriaid gwyn Prydeinig. Er enghraifft, efallai y bydd rhai pobl hŷn o gymunedau lleiafrifol ethnig yn llai tebygol o siarad Saesneg, neu ddefnyddio'r Saesneg, wrth i'w dementia waethygu. Yn hytrach, fe fyddant yn troi'n ôl at eu mamiaith, felly mae'n hanfodol fod darpariaeth deg i bobl yn eu dewis iaith. Mae mynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn a'r stigma yn hynod o bwysig hefyd, oherwydd mae stigma'n lleihau'r tebygolrwydd y bydd pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia yn cael diagnosis. Mewn arolwg gan Gymdeithas Alzheimer's, pan ofynnwyd i bobl a oedd yn byw gyda symptomau dementia sut roeddent yn teimlo, dywedodd 43 y cant o'r ymatebwyr eu bod yn teimlo stigma, dywedodd 25 y cant eu bod yn teimlo cywilydd, a dywedodd 44 y cant eu bod yn teimlo'n ofnus. Yn ogystal, roedd bron i draean o nyrsys practis yn nodi stigma a gwadu fel rhwystr i atgyfeirio a chael diagnosis, ac yn ôl arolwg arall, roedd un o bob chwe meddyg teulu yn annhebygol o atgyfeirio cleifion i gael diagnosis oherwydd camganfyddiad ynghylch manteision diagnosis.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae hyn oll yn atgyfnerthu'r angen inni fynd i'r afael â phroblem stigma ar frys, ac mae ffyrdd o wneud hynny. Mae'r Gymdeithas Alzheimer's yn galw am ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth y cyhoedd o fanteision diagnosis dementia a'r hyn y gall ei wneud i godi ymwybyddiaeth o symptomau dementia yn gyffredinol i bawb. Mae'r elusen hefyd eisiau gweld datblygiad proffesiynol parhaus i glinigwyr a chymunedau sy'n deall dementia, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud bod hynny'n rhywbeth y mae Casnewydd, yn fy rhanbarth i yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, yn gweithio tuag ato. Dyna yw'r tri pheth rwy'n gofyn amdanynt ac rwy'n rhoi fy nghefnogaeth lawn iddynt, ac ni allaf ddychmygu y byddai unrhyw un yma yn y Siambr heddiw yn anghytuno â hwy. Rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu hystyried ac yn gwneud iddynt weithio drwy wneud diagnosis o ddementia yn flaenoriaeth. Diolch.

Diolch i bawb sydd wedi rhannu eu profiadau personol. Fel sydd wedi ei ddweud eisoes, mae pawb efo’u stori, pawb efo’u profiad, a dwi’n meddwl ei fod o’n dangos bod yna undod yn gallu bod yma ar faterion o bwys. Dwi’n meddwl mai’r peth pwysig, fel roedd Sioned Williams yn dweud, ydy gweld gweithredu a newid. Ddylen ni ddim gorfod bod yn rhannu’r straeon yma dro ar ôl tro, ac mae yna bethau sydd angen digwydd, ac mae’n angenrheidiol eu bod nhw’n digwydd.

Dwi’n falch bod Gareth Davies a Natasha Asghar wedi sôn bod Cymru yn wlad amlieithog, efo Gareth yn sôn yn benodol o ran y Gymraeg, yn amlwg, Natasha yn sôn am yr holl ystod o ieithoedd gwahanol, oherwydd mae hwnna'n rhywbeth sy'n cael ei godi dro ar ôl tro—y pwysigrwydd o ran iaith. A dwi'n siŵr y byddem ni'n gytûn yn y Senedd hon fod yn rhaid inni sicrhau, o ran y Gymraeg, fod yna gefnogaeth barhaus, ond hefyd asesiadau yn y Gymraeg ar gael. Oherwydd mae'r dystiolaeth yn dangos ei bod hi'n cymryd hyd yn oed yn hirach os dŷch chi'n siarad Cymraeg i gael y diagnosis hwnnw. Felly, mae'n eithriadol o bwysig.

Mi oeddwn i'n bryderus dros ben derbyn copi o lythyr a anfonwyd at Eluned Morgan ym mis Mai eleni, pan oedd hi'n dal yn Weinidog iechyd, gan Catrin Hedd Jones, darlithydd astudiaethau dementia, a oedd yn amlinellu ei phryder hi bod anghenion siaradwyr Cymraeg sydd yn byw efo dementia yn cael eu diystyru. Gwn i hyn gael ei ategu ganddi ddoe mewn cyflwyniad i'r grŵp trawsbleidiol, a dwi'n falch fy mod i wedi derbyn copi o'r cyflwyniad gan na allwn fod yno. Ond ynghyd â Gwerfyl Roberts, efo IAITH, fe wnaethon nhw gyflwyno gwaith ymchwil desg, 'Validation of the Welsh Language Dementia Assessment', i swyddogion y Llywodraeth, ers dros flwyddyn erbyn hyn, ac maen nhw'n dal i aros iddo gael ei gyhoeddi.

Yn fwy na hynny, mi oedd eu hymchwil nhw'n dangos yn glir nad ydyn ni'n gwybod a ydy siaradwyr Cymraeg yn cael eu hasesu yn Gymraeg, gan fod y gwaith ymchwil angenrheidiol heb gael ei gomisiynu gan y Llywodraeth eto. Mi fuaswn i, felly, yn ddiolchgar dros ben pe bai'r Gweinidog yn gallu darparu unrhyw wybodaeth bellach o ran hyn yn ei hymateb, neu ysgrifennu atom ni fel Senedd gyda'r wybodaeth. Wedi'r cyfan, mae ymchwil yn dangos yn glir fod sgiliau ieithyddol pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia yn gallu newid, ac os mai Cymraeg oedd eu hiaith gyntaf, yn aml dyma'r iaith y bydden nhw'n ei chofio fwyaf ohoni. Dŷn ni wedi clywed cymaint o bobl yn dweud eu bod nhw ddim hyd yn oed yn gwybod bod eu perthynas nhw'n gallu'r Gymraeg tan iddyn nhw fynd yn hŷn, ond bod yr iaith yna yn llifo nôl, sydd yn beth rhyfeddol, ond hefyd yn frawychus ac yn ynysig dros ben i'r unigolyn hynny, sy'n teimlo eu bod nhw'n deall dim o'u cwmpas nhw. Ac mae yna gymaint o ymchwil yna sy'n dangos beth mae hynna'n ei olygu, wedyn, o ran sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael y gofal priodol, a'u bod nhw hefyd ddim yn cael y teimlad yma o fod wedi'u hynysu, a'u bod nhw'n gallu mynd o dan y don yn ddifrifol, lle mae'r gwahaniaeth hwnnw'n gallu cael ei gwneud.

Dwi hefyd eisiau tynnu sylw at y gwaith pwysig sy'n cael ei wneud gan sefydliadau diwylliannol yn y maes hwn, ac yn benodol Amgueddfa Cymru. Byddwn i'n annog pob Aelod o'r Senedd hon, os dŷch chi heb fod yn ymwybodol o'r gwaith yma—mae yna brosiect ar y cyd rhwng Cymdeithas Alzheimers Cymru ac Amgueddfa Cymru, sef amgueddfeydd yn ysbrydoli atgofion. Mae hwn yn dangos grym ein hamgueddfeydd ni, a dwi'n gwybod, o gyfnod pan oeddwn i'n gweithio yn Amgueddfa Cymru, mai un o'r pethau mwyaf trawsnewidiol roeddwn i wedi'i weld oedd y teithiau tanddaearol cyfeillgar i ddementia yn Big Pit, a hynny ar gyfer cyn-lowyr yn benodol. Mi oedd yna bobl aeth ar y teithiau hyn oedd heb siarad yn iawn efo aelodau o'u teuluoedd am flynyddoedd, ac unwaith roedden nhw nôl dan ddaear, roedd yr atgofion yn llifo nôl am y profiad hwnnw. Mae hyn yn drawsnewidiol, a dyma'r math o waith sydd yn cael ei dorri pan fo cyllidebau sefydliadau diwylliannol yn cael eu torri. Dwi'n cofio cael dadl yn fan hyn ynglŷn â thoriadau Amgueddfa Cymru, lle'r oedd y Dirprwy Weinidog ar y pryd yn gweiddi arnaf i tra'r oeddwn i'n gwneud y pwyntiau, 'Beth am yr NHS?' Wel, mae prosiectau fel hyn yn arbed arian i'r NHS, maen nhw'n drawsnewidiol, maen nhw'n ataliol. Ddylem ni ddim fod yn edrych ar y gyllideb ddiwylliant yn erbyn cyllideb yr NHS, yn lle gwerthfawrogi grym a phŵer y math yma o brosiectau. Ac mae'n bosib i bob amgueddfa leol ledled Cymru fod yn gwneud y gwaith hwn, efo'r cyllid.

Felly, mi fyddwn i'n gofyn—ac mae'n rhaid inni edrych ar draws portffolios ar y datrysiadau hefyd—mae torri cyllidebau diwylliant yn torri prosiectau trawsnewidiol ar gyfer y math yma o waith, a dwi'n mawr obeithio y gallwn ni hefyd edrych ymlaen a chytuno ar y cynnig fel y mae o heb ei ddiwygio heddiw, a chael y newidiadau hyn sydd eu dirfawr angen.

Thank you to everyone who's shared their personal experiences. As has been said already, everyone has their own story and their own experience, and I do think it demonstrates that there can be unity here on important issues. I think the important thing, as Sioned Williams said, is that we see action and change. We shouldn't have to be sharing these stories time and time again, and there are things that need to happen; it is crucial that they do happen.

I'm pleased that Gareth Davies and Natasha Asghar mentioned Wales being a multilingual country, with Gareth making specific references to the Welsh language, and Natasha mentioned the whole range of other languages used in our country, because that is something that is raised time and time again—the importance of language. And I'm sure that we in the Senedd would be in agreement that we must ensure, in terms of the Welsh language, that there is ongoing support, but also assessments available through the medium of Welsh. Because evidence does show that it takes even longer if you're a Welsh speaker to get that diagnosis. So, it's extremely important.

I was extremely concerned to receive a copy of a letter sent to Eluned Morgan in May of this year, when she was still health Minister, from Catrin Hedd Jones, who is a lecturer in dementia studies, who outlined her concerns that the needs of Welsh speakers living with dementia were being disregarded. I know that this was echoed in a presentation to the cross-party group that she made yesterday, and I'm pleased that I received a copy of that presentation, because I wasn't able to be there. Along with Gwerfyl Roberts, with IAITH, they introduced some desk research, 'Validation of the Welsh Language Dementia Assessment' to Government officials, over a year now, and they are still waiting for it to be published.

More than that, their research demonstrated clearly that we don't know whether Welsh speakers are assessed through the medium of Welsh, because the necessary research hasn't been commissioned by Government as of yet. So, I would therefore be very grateful if the Minister could provide any further information on this in her response, or write to us as a Senedd with the information. After all, research clearly shows that people's language skills, when they live with dementia, can change, and very often, if the Welsh language was their mother tongue, this is often the language that they would remember most. We've heard so many people saying that they didn't even know that their relative spoke Welsh until they got older, but that the language flowed back to them, which is quite remarkable, but also quite frightening and very isolating for that individual, where they feel that they understand nothing of what's going on around them. And there is so much research there that demonstrates what that means, then, in terms of ensuring that they get the appropriate care, and that they don't get this feeling of isolation, and they can become overwhelmed, where that difference can be made.

I also want to draw attention to the important work done by cultural organisations in this area, and specifically Amgueddfa Cymru. I would encourage all Members of this Senedd, if you haven't been aware of this work—there is a joint project between the Alzheimers Society Cymru and Amgueddfa Cymru, which is museums inspiring memories. This shows the power of our museums, and I know, from my time working for Amgueddfa Cymru, that one of the most transformational things that I saw were these dementia-friendly underground tours in Big Pit, and those were for former miners specifically. There were people who went on those tours who hadn't spoken properly with their family members for many years, but once they were back underground, those memories flowed back through them about that experience. This is transformational, and this is the kind of work that is being cut as the cultural institutions' budgets are cut. I remember having a debate in this place on cuts to Amgueddfa Cymru, where the Deputy Minister at the time was shouting at me as I was making these points, 'Well, what about the NHS?' Well, projects like this do save money for the NHS, they are transformational, they are preventative. We shouldn't be looking at the culture budget against the NHS budget, rather than appreciating the power of these kinds of projects. And it's possible for every local museum across Wales to be doing this work, given the funding.

So, I would ask—and we do have to look cross-portfolio at the solutions too—cutting culture budgets cuts transformational projects for this kind of work, and I very much hope that we can also look forward and agree on the motion without amendment today, and to see these changes that are so desperately needed.

18:15

Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, Sarah Murphy.

I call on the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, Sarah Murphy.

Dirprwy Lywydd, thank you for the chance to respond to this debate and update Members about our work to support people living with dementia in Wales. I truly recognise the impact that a diagnosis of dementia can have on individuals' families and loved ones, and I am committed to improving the care and support available. The amendment we have tabled to today's motion reflects the work we have undertaken to date and our ambition to further strengthen dementia care through the new dementia action plan.

Ddirprwy Lywydd, diolch am y cyfle i ymateb i'r ddadl hon a rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau am ein gwaith i gefnogi pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia yng Nghymru. Rwy'n cydnabod yr effaith y gall diagnosis o ddementia ei chael ar deuluoedd ac anwyliaid unigolion, ac rwy'n ymrwymedig i wella'r gofal a'r cymorth sydd ar gael. Mae'r gwelliant a gyflwynwyd gennym i'r cynnig heddiw yn adlewyrchu'r gwaith a wnaethom hyd yma a'n huchelgais i gryfhau gofal dementia ymhellach drwy'r cynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer dementia.

Since the dementia action plan was published in 2018, we have made progress in improving dementia care and support, but there is more to do, especially in the context of new advances in treatment. Gareth Davies, you asked about the potential treatments for dementia going forward, and I just want to reassure you that we have commissioned the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee and the Royal College of Psychiatrists Wales to undertake a joint programme to address any gaps in support that specialists need to effectively diagnose people with Alzheimer's disease before they demonstrate symptoms of dementia, and deliver future treatments to those living with the condition, very much in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

We also allocate £12 million a year to support regional partnership boards to implement the action plan, and this must be considered within the wider health and social care budget in Wales, which includes the £146.2 million regional integration fund, which has a specific focus on supporting older people, including those with dementia. RPBs have been asked to consider how the six regional integration fund models of care can support people living with dementia. We have also commissioned Improvement Cymru, now part of the NHS executive, to deliver a dementia programme to support RPBs. This has included the development of the dementia care pathways of standards, which promote a person-centred and whole-systems integrated approach. And these standards were introduced in 2021 and were the product of extensive engagement with stakeholders, including people living with dementia, which is crucial. Ensuring people's lived experience is at the heart of the development of services is very important to me, and I am committed to the development of robust diagnosis data.

The Welsh Government has published guidance for health boards to assist with the recording of a diagnosis of dementia, and work is also progressing between the NHS executive and Digital Health and Care Wales, with a plan for publishing this data. At the moment, we have annual data available on prevalence, which is referenced as part of the motion today, but we want this to be available on a much more regular basis. The diagnosis rate is calculated by comparing the number of people thought to have dementia with the number of people diagnosed with dementia. And to have an accurate rate, we need to ensure all diagnoses are being recorded and that there is an effective approach to diagnosis, which can address the significant numbers of people thought to have dementia in Wales.

So, to be clear, the new dementia plan will include new targets for dementia diagnosis, and I liked what you said, Mabon ap Gwynfor, where you said to 'give hope via targets', because I'm not sure if we always think of it like that. I think sometimes there is a kind of reluctance to add in targets, in a way that we fear, 'What if we can't reach them?' But I love that line: we are going to give hope via targets for dementia.

The NHS executive is working with health boards to monitor progress against targets, supporting assessments and diagnosis in memory assessment services, and we are working towards the publication of this data from next year. And this work comes at a crucial time, both in terms of the likely increase in demand for care and support, and the opportunities to improve support for people living with dementia. Dirprwy Lywydd, we know that the way we respond to dementia is changing as research reveals new treatment options and emerging models of care, and that is why we have commissioned an independent evaluation of our current dementia action plan. This will assess the plan's impact on dementia care and support, and will inform the arrangements for the next plan. A final report is due in early 2025. This is a key area of work, and I am grateful for the ongoing engagement of stakeholders, some of whom are in the gallery this afternoon.

Discussions have started with the dementia oversight of implementation and impact group, which I learnt today is pronounced 'the DOIIG'—I think I got that right—and other key stakeholders, to develop the approach of learning from the evaluation and develop the priorities for the successor arrangements. It is vital this work is fully informed by people with lived experience and the committed professionals who work to deliver dementia care in Wales. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable in providing us with an understanding of what has worked well, what needs to be improved, and how to drive the direction of change in these years ahead.

My officials have already begun engagement work on the successor to the dementia action plan, through the recent publication of an online questionnaire. And I do hear what you say, Sioned Williams, about asking sometimes the same people to give the same views. I don't want this to be burdensome, and I want to state, really, that within my portfolio, I have been very strategic in the strategies that will be delivered over the next 18 months. We're not going to do everything and anything. It is so much more about the implementation and delivery. But one of the ones that I did feel a need to refresh, and a full evaluation, was the dementia action plan, because I think that so much has happened in this space, not only with medical advancements and what more can be done, but also just in terms of—we've had COVID, there's been huge shift within our communities, there's been a huge change within what the third sector is offering. I think that we need a new plan to really set those targets, and also incorporate all of that data. 

I wanted to say, as well, 'thank you' to Altaf Hussain, who mentioned Brynawel. He and I got to be members of the board together. And you talk about the alcohol-related dementia brain damage, which Brynawel led on with their research. It’s very prominent in Wales, and I think we can do a lot to learn from it. I’ve met people who have actually started to recover after receiving that treatment. It is astounding and something that, again, I think points to the developments in this area that we need to be incorporating.

And finally, I just wanted to touch on a number of things that some other people have mentioned. Thank you, Natasha Asghar, for talking about the need to have care within the language that you want to receive it in, and I also want to point to what Heledd Fychan asked about, specifically, though, with the Welsh language. I fully recognise the importance of the Welsh language, and in particular receiving services through the medium of Welsh. Welsh language will be considered as a priority in the successor arrangements to the dementia action plan, and we have re-established the dementia and Welsh language group to support what will be needed to make this happen. The current action plan is in the process of undergoing an evaluation, and we have worked with the evaluators to ensure there is a focus on Welsh-language provision. We acknowledge that the ‘More than just words’ advisory board will be very interested in this progress, and I will ensure that my officials keep them updated. I also want to say to John Griffiths that I completely agree with what you were saying about that additional support and needing to know where services are, and for carers to have somebody to speak to. We have an all-Wales dementia helpline. I’ve met the people who run it; they’re superb. I don’t think we do enough to promote it; I think we need to address that. And then, also, as you said, there's the need to ensure that they’re getting signposted to care that’s within their communities.

And then, finally, I want to speak to the point that was raised around the consistency, and the consistency that we need across Wales. There has been funding of £1.1 million that has been given to deliver the programme for government commitment to fund a dedicated age-friendly post in every local authority, working towards making Wales an age-friendly nation. And those local authority age-friendly officers are actively engaged with the projects on the grass-roots level to help those living with dementia and those that support them. The memory cafes are a huge part of this; I think they’re fantastic. I think that Football Association of Wales have been delivering one in my locality, so, you are right, there is definitely that cross-Government working that needs to happen. Jack Sargeant and I do that a lot, and we will continue to do this, and I will bring Jack in, and his officials, to have a look at the dementia action plan through this lens.

And then also just to say that veterans in one local authority have trained with the Gwent regional partnership board to become dementia friends, and I hope that that ends, really, with the point that we made around stigma. I don’t want anyone to feel that stigma. It does then lead to people not being diagnosed as early as they could be. So, I take on board all the comments and ideas you’ve shared today. Thank you again for the opportunity to highlight this important work. I know that we will be able to rely on your continued commitment as we start to move our focus to a long-term view of what our future priorities for dementia care should be. Diolch.

Ers cyhoeddi'r cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia yn 2018, rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd ar wella gofal a chymorth dementia, ond mae mwy i'w wneud, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun datblygiadau newydd mewn triniaeth. Gareth Davies, fe ofynnoch chi am y triniaethau posibl ar gyfer dementia wrth symud ymlaen, ac rwyf am eich sicrhau ein bod wedi comisiynu Cyd-bwyllgor Comisiynu GIG Cymru a Choleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion Cymru i ymgymryd â rhaglen ar y cyd i fynd i'r afael ag unrhyw fylchau yn y cymorth sydd ei angen ar arbenigwyr i wneud diagnosis effeithiol o bobl â chlefyd Alzheimer cyn iddynt ddangos symptomau dementia, a darparu triniaethau yn y dyfodol i'r rhai sy'n byw gyda'r cyflwr, yn unol â chanllawiau'r Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ragoriaeth mewn Iechyd a Gofal.

Rydym hefyd yn dyrannu £12 miliwn y flwyddyn i gefnogi byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol i roi'r cynllun gweithredu ar waith, a rhaid ystyried hyn o fewn y gyllideb iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ehangach yng Nghymru, sy'n cynnwys y gronfa integreiddio ranbarthol gwerth £146.2 miliwn, sy'n canolbwyntio'n benodol ar gefnogi pobl hŷn, gan gynnwys pobl â dementia. Gofynnwyd i fyrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol ystyried sut y gall chwe model gofal y gronfa integreiddio ranbarthol gefnogi pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia. Rydym hefyd wedi comisiynu Gwelliant Cymru, sydd bellach yn rhan o weithrediaeth y GIG, i gyflwyno rhaglen dementia i gefnogi byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol. Mae hyn wedi cynnwys datblygu llwybr safonau gofal dementia, sy'n hyrwyddo dull integredig system gyfan sy'n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn. Cyflwynwyd y safonau hyn yn 2021 ac roeddent yn gynnyrch ymgysylltu helaeth â rhanddeiliaid, gan gynnwys pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia, sy'n hanfodol. Mae sicrhau bod profiad bywyd pobl wrth wraidd datblygiad gwasanaethau yn bwysig iawn i mi, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu data diagnosis cadarn.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi canllawiau i fyrddau iechyd i gynorthwyo gyda chofnodi diagnosis o ddementia, ac mae gwaith hefyd yn mynd rhagddo rhwng gweithrediaeth y GIG ac Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru, gyda chynllun ar gyfer cyhoeddi'r data hwn. Ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym ddata blynyddol ar gael ar niferoedd achosion, y cyfeirir ato fel rhan o'r cynnig heddiw, ond rydym am i hyn fod ar gael yn llawer mwy rheolaidd. Cyfrifir y gyfradd ddiagnosis trwy gymharu nifer y bobl y credir bod ganddynt ddementia â nifer y bobl sy'n cael diagnosis o ddementia. Ac i gael cyfradd gywir, mae angen inni sicrhau bod pob diagnosis yn cael ei gofnodi a bod dull effeithiol o wneud diagnosis, a all fynd i'r afael â'r nifer sylweddol o bobl y credir bod ganddynt ddementia yng Nghymru.

Felly, i fod yn glir, bydd y cynllun dementia newydd yn cynnwys targedau newydd ar gyfer diagnosis dementia, ac roeddwn i'n hoffi'r hyn a ddywedoch chi, Mabon ap Gwynfor, lle sonioch chi am 'roi gobaith trwy dargedau', oherwydd nid wyf yn siŵr a ydym bob amser yn meddwl amdano fel hynny. Rwy'n credu weithiau bod yna fath o amharodrwydd i ychwanegu targedau, mewn ffordd rydym yn ei hofni, 'Beth os na allwn eu cyrraedd?' Ond rwy'n dwli ar y llinell honno: rydym yn mynd i roi gobaith trwy dargedau ar gyfer dementia.

Mae gweithrediaeth y GIG yn gweithio gyda byrddau iechyd i fonitro cynnydd yn erbyn targedau, cefnogi asesiadau a diagnosis mewn gwasanaethau asesu cof, ac rydym yn gweithio tuag at gyhoeddi'r data hwn o'r flwyddyn nesaf ymlaen. Ac mae'r gwaith hwn yn dod ar adeg dyngedfennol, o ran y cynnydd tebygol yn y galw am ofal a chymorth, a'r cyfleoedd i wella cefnogaeth i bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia. Ddirprwy Lywydd, gwyddom fod y ffordd yr ymatebwn i ddementia yn newid wrth i ymchwil ddatgelu opsiynau triniaeth newydd a modelau gofal sy'n dod i'r amlwg, a dyna pam ein bod wedi comisiynu gwerthusiad annibynnol o'n cynllun gweithredu cyfredol ar gyfer dementia. Bydd hwn yn asesu effaith y cynllun ar ofal a chymorth dementia, a bydd yn llywio'r trefniadau ar gyfer y cynllun nesaf. Disgwylir adroddiad terfynol yn gynnar yn 2025. Mae hwn yn faes gwaith allweddol, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar am ymgysylltiad parhaus rhanddeiliaid, ac mae rhai ohonynt yn yr oriel y prynhawn yma.

Mae trafodaethau wedi dechrau gyda grŵp goruchwylio gweithrediad ac effaith ym maes dementia a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill, i ddatblygu'r dull o ddysgu o'r gwerthusiad a datblygu'r blaenoriaethau ar gyfer y trefniadau olynol. Mae'n hanfodol fod y gwaith hwn yn cael ei lywio'n llawn gan bobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd a'r gweithwyr proffesiynol ymroddedig sy'n gweithio i ddarparu gofal dementia yng Nghymru. Bydd eu gwybodaeth a'u profiad yn amhrisiadwy i roi dealltwriaeth i ni o'r hyn sydd wedi gweithio'n dda, beth sydd angen ei wella, a sut i yrru cyfeiriad newid yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.

Mae fy swyddogion eisoes wedi dechrau gwaith ymgysylltu yn ddiweddar ar olynydd y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia, trwy gyhoeddi holiadur ar-lein. Ac rwy'n clywed yr hyn a ddywedwch, Sioned Williams, am y modd y gofynnir weithiau i'r un bobl roi'r un safbwyntiau. Nid wyf am i hyn fod yn feichus, ac rwyf am nodi, yn fy mhortffolio, fy mod wedi bod yn strategol iawn yn y strategaethau a fydd yn cael eu cyflawni dros y 18 mis nesaf. Nid ydym yn mynd i wneud popeth yn ddiwahân. Mae'n ymwneud lawer mwy â gweithredu a chyflawni. Ond un o'r rhai y teimlwn fod angen eu hadnewyddu, a gwerthusiad llawn, oedd y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod cymaint wedi digwydd yn y gofod hwn, nid yn unig gyda datblygiadau meddygol a beth yn fwy y gellir ei wneud, ond hefyd—rydym wedi cael COVID, cafwyd newid enfawr yn ein cymunedau, cafwyd newid mawr yn yr hyn y mae'r trydydd sector yn ei gynnig. Rwy'n credu bod angen cynllun newydd arnom i osod y targedau hynny, a hefyd i ymgorffori'r holl ddata. 

Roeddwn i eisiau diolch hefyd i Altaf Hussain, a soniodd am Frynawel. Fe ddaeth ef a minnau yn aelodau o'r bwrdd gyda'n gilydd. Ac rydych chi'n sôn am niwed i'r ymennydd dementia sy'n gysylltiedig ag alcohol, yr arweiniodd Brynawel arno gyda'u hymchwil. Mae'n amlwg iawn yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n credu y gallwn wneud llawer i ddysgu ohono. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â phobl sydd wedi dechrau gwella ar ôl derbyn y driniaeth honno. Mae'n syndod ac yn rhywbeth sydd, unwaith eto, yn tynnu sylw at y datblygiadau yn y maes y mae angen i ni eu hymgorffori.

Ac yn olaf, roeddwn eisiau cyffwrdd â nifer o bethau y mae pobl eraill wedi'u crybwyll. Diolch i chi, Natasha Asghar, am siarad am yr angen i gael gofal yn eich dewis iaith, ac rwyf am dynnu sylw hefyd at yr hyn y gofynnodd Heledd Fychan amdano'n benodol gyda'r Gymraeg. Rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd y Gymraeg yn llwyr, ac yn enwedig derbyn gwasanaethau drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Bydd y Gymraeg yn cael ei hystyried yn flaenoriaeth yn y trefniadau olynol i'r cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia, ac rydym wedi ailsefydlu'r grŵp dementia a'r Gymraeg i gefnogi'r hyn y bydd ei angen i wneud i hyn ddigwydd. Mae'r cynllun gweithredu presennol wrthi'n cael ei werthuso, ac rydym wedi gweithio gyda'r gwerthuswyr i sicrhau bod ffocws ar ddarpariaeth Gymraeg. Rydym yn cydnabod y bydd gan y bwrdd cynghori 'Mwy na geiriau' ddiddordeb mawr yn y cynnydd hwn, a byddaf yn sicrhau bod fy swyddogion yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf iddynt. Rwyf hefyd am ddweud wrth John Griffiths fy mod yn cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn roeddech chi'n ei ddweud am gymorth ychwanegol a'r angen i wybod ble mae gwasanaethau, ac i ofalwyr gael rhywun i siarad â hwy. Mae gennym linell gymorth dementia Cymru. Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â'r bobl sy'n ei rhedeg; maent yn wych. Nid wyf yn meddwl ein bod ni'n gwneud digon i'w hyrwyddo; rwy'n credu bod angen inni fynd i'r afael â hynny. Ac fel y dywedoch chi, mae angen sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu cyfeirio at y gofal sydd ar gael yn eu cymunedau.

Ac yn olaf, rwyf am siarad am y pwynt a godwyd ynghylch cysondeb, a'r cysondeb sydd ei angen arnom ledled Cymru. Cafwyd cyllid o £1.1 miliwn a roddwyd i gyflawni ymrwymiad y rhaglen lywodraethu i ariannu swydd benodedig oed-gyfeillgar ym mhob awdurdod lleol, gan weithio tuag at wneud Cymru'n genedl oed-gyfeillgar. Ac mae swyddogion oed-gyfeillgar yr awdurdodau lleol yn cymryd rhan weithredol yn y prosiectau ar lawr gwlad i helpu'r rhai sy'n byw gyda dementia a'r rhai sy'n eu cefnogi. Mae'r caffis cof yn rhan enfawr o hyn; rwy'n credu eu bod yn wych. Rwy'n credu bod Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru wedi darparu un yn fy ardal i, felly, rydych chi'n iawn, yn bendant mae angen gwaith trawslywodraethol. Mae Jack Sargeant a minnau'n gwneud llawer o hynny, a byddwn yn parhau i'w wneud, ac fe ddof â Jack i mewn, a'i swyddogion, i gael golwg ar y cynllun gweithredu ar gyfer dementia drwy'r lens hon.

Ac rwyf am ddweud hefyd fod cyn-filwyr mewn un awdurdod lleol wedi hyfforddi gyda bwrdd partneriaeth rhanbarthol Gwent i ddod yn ffrindiau dementia, ac rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny'n dod â ni at y pwynt a wnaethom ynghylch stigma. Nid wyf eisiau i unrhyw un deimlo stigma. Mae'n golygu nad yw pobl yn cael diagnosis mor gynnar ag y gallent. Felly, rwy'n derbyn yr holl sylwadau a syniadau rydych chi wedi'u rhannu heddiw. Diolch unwaith eto am y cyfle i dynnu sylw at y gwaith pwysig hwn. Rwy'n gwybod y gallwn ddibynnu ar eich ymrwymiad parhaus wrth inni ddechrau symud ein ffocws tuag at olwg hirdymor ar yr hyn y dylai ein blaenoriaethau ar gyfer gofal dementia fod yn y dyfodol. Diolch.

18:25

Rwy'n galw nawr ar Mabon ap Gwynfor i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on Mabon ap Gwynfor to reply to the debate.

Thank you, all, very much to everybody who's contributed to this debate tonight. Thank you to the Minister, initially. You accepted that there’s more to be done, you said, which is a bit of an understatement, but I appreciate the information and the greater clarity that you have provided tonight, so we will await to see some of the details in the new year and the delivery of some of what you’ve promised.

I note the Government’s amendment and appreciate that it is extremely similar to our original motion, albeit with a few changes in the wording. Therefore, whatever the result of the vote tonight, I hope that we’ll see a significant step forward. However, we can’t accept that we simply note the poor rates of diagnosis, as noted in the Government’s amendments. This doesn’t show any regret for the current state, or doesn’t show that the Government is willing to take responsibility. So, therefore, we won’t be supporting the amendment tonight. I note that Altaf and Gareth referred to research, and the importance of research, in their contributions, which is part of the Conservative amendment, and we will be supporting the Conservative amendment tonight, because it strengthens the motion.

Thank you to those that referred to their personal experiences. Very powerful stories have come out tonight—Sioned and Delyth especially, sharing your personal stories—which shows clearly the situation that people and families and friends are having to face when they have loved ones with dementia. Numerous times we heard of good experience in Wales. Sioned, you referred to the Dementia Hwb in Neath Port Talbot, and John referred to the best practice in Gwent, and that reminded me of Dementia Actif in Cyngor Gwynedd, which also gives opportunities for people living with dementia to improve their standard of life as well. So, there's a lot of good practice out there. This is, again, one of the bugbears that we have with healthcare in Wales: a lot of good practice that isn't shared. So, hopefully, the Minister and the Cabinet Secretary will have picked up on some of that best practice and ensure that it is shared.

Diagnosing dementia in Wales is not just a clinical priority, it's a social and economic necessity. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving the quality of life for those living with dementia and their families. It empowers individuals to understand their condition, make informed choices and access the right support, which helps them maintain independence for as long as possible. For families, an early diagnosis brings relief, clarity and the ability to plan for the future while accessing vital support services that can help them manage the emotional and practical challenges they face.

The economic implications of early diagnosis are significant. By identifying dementia earlier we can reduce costly emergency care visits, prevent long-term hospitalisations and delay or avoid unplanned care, all of which place immense pressure on our health system and local government budgets. With early intervention, resources can be directed more efficiently, ensuring that individuals receive the care they need while maintaining a more sustainable and responsive healthcare system.

Currently thousands of people are struggling, living with uncertainty, missing the opportunity for treatments and support that could improve their quality of life. Early and accurate diagnosis can help prevent the progression of the symptoms, reduce the need for emergency care and delay the need for social care. This not only benefits people living with dementia and their families, but also eases the pressure on the NHS and local care services. Improving awareness and access to diagnostic services is therefore key. The stigma surrounding dementia must be challenged so that people feel empowered to seek help without fear or shame. Educating the public and healthcare professionals about the importance of early diagnosis is a vital step in creating an environment where individuals can seek help with confidence.

The case for improving dementia diagnosis in Wales is therefore clear. It's a matter of compassion and justice, but it's also an economic and societal imperative. By investing in an early diagnosis we're not only enhancing the well-being of those affected but also building a healthcare system that is more sustainable, delivering the care that people deserve. Welsh Government must commit to bold and ambitious targets in the next dementia action plan to improve diagnosis and the lives of people living with dementia. The Government must commit to making dementia the priority it needs to be. That's why we're asking for you to support this motion tonight. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch i bawb sydd wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl hon heno. Diolch i'r Gweinidog i ddechrau. Fe wnaethoch chi dderbyn bod mwy i'w wneud, meddech chi, sy'n dipyn o danddatganiad, ond rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r wybodaeth a'r eglurder pellach rydych chi wedi'i roi heno, felly fe arhoswn i weld rhai o'r manylion yn y flwyddyn newydd a chyflawniad peth o'r hyn rydych chi wedi'i addo.

Nodaf welliant y Llywodraeth ac rwy'n derbyn ei fod yn hynod debyg i'n cynnig gwreiddiol, er gydag ambell newid yn y geiriad. Felly, beth bynnag fydd canlyniad y bleidlais heno, rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn gam sylweddol ymlaen. Fodd bynnag, ni allwn dderbyn mai dim ond nodi'r cyfraddau diagnosis gwael y dylem ei wneud, fel y nodwyd yng gwelliannau'r Llywodraeth. Nid yw hyn yn dangos unrhyw edifeirwch ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa bresennol, neu nid yw'n dangos bod y Llywodraeth yn barod i gymryd cyfrifoldeb. Felly, ni fyddwn yn cefnogi'r gwelliant heno. Nodaf fod Altaf a Gareth wedi cyfeirio at ymchwil, a phwysigrwydd ymchwil, yn eu cyfraniadau, sy'n rhan o welliant y Ceidwadwyr, a byddwn yn cefnogi gwelliant y Ceidwadwyr heno, am ei fod yn cryfhau'r cynnig.

Diolch i'r rhai a gyfeiriodd at eu profiadau personol. Mae straeon pwerus iawn wedi'u hadrodd heno—Sioned a Delyth, yn enwedig, yn rhannu eich straeon personol—sy'n dangos yn glir y sefyllfa y mae pobl a theuluoedd a ffrindiau yn gorfod ei hwynebu pan fo ganddynt anwyliaid â dementia. Fe glywsom sawl gwaith am brofiadau da yng Nghymru. Sioned, fe gyfeirioch chi at yr Hwb Dementia yng Nghastell-nedd Port Talbot, a chyfeiriodd John at yr arferion gorau yng Ngwent, ac fe wnaeth hynny fy atgoffa o Dementia Actif yng Nghyngor Gwynedd, sydd hefyd yn rhoi cyfleoedd i bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia wella safon eu bywydau. Felly, mae yna lawer o arferion da i'w cael. Unwaith eto, dyma un o'r pethau anffodus am ofal iechyd yng Nghymru: llawer o arferion da na chânt eu rhannu. Felly, gobeithio y bydd y Gweinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi sylwi ar rai o'r arferion gorau hynny ac am sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu rhannu.

Nid blaenoriaeth glinigol yn unig yw gwneud diagnosis o ddementia yng Nghymru, mae'n anghenraid cymdeithasol ac economaidd. Mae diagnosis cynnar yn hanfodol er mwyn gwella ansawdd bywyd y rhai sy'n byw gyda dementia a'u teuluoedd. Mae'n grymuso unigolion i ddeall eu cyflwr, i wneud dewisiadau gwybodus a chael y gefnogaeth gywir, sy'n eu helpu i gadw'n annibynnol cyhyd ag y bo modd. I deuluoedd, mae diagnosis cynnar yn dod â rhyddhad, eglurder a'r gallu i gynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol gan ddefnyddio'r gwasanaethau cymorth hanfodol a all eu helpu i reoli'r heriau emosiynol ac ymarferol y maent yn eu hwynebu.

Mae goblygiadau economaidd diagnosis cynnar yn sylweddol. Drwy nodi dementia yn gynharach gallwn leihau ymweliadau gofal brys costus, atal arosiadau hirdymor yn yr ysbyty ac oedi neu osgoi gofal heb ei gynllunio, ac mae pob un o'r rhain yn rhoi pwysau aruthrol ar ein system iechyd a chyllidebau llywodraeth leol. Gydag ymyrraeth gynnar, gellir cyfeirio adnoddau yn fwy effeithlon, gan sicrhau bod unigolion yn cael y gofal sydd ei angen arnynt gan gynnal system gofal iechyd fwy cynaliadwy ac ymatebol ar yr un pryd.

Ar hyn o bryd mae miloedd o bobl yn ei chael hi'n anodd, yn byw gydag ansicrwydd, yn colli'r cyfle am driniaethau a chymorth a allai wella ansawdd eu bywydau. Gall diagnosis cynnar a chywir helpu i atal y symptomau rhag datblygu, lleihau'r angen am ofal brys a gohirio'r angen am ofal cymdeithasol. Mae hyn nid yn unig o fudd i bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia a'u teuluoedd, mae hefyd yn lleddfu'r pwysau ar y GIG a gwasanaethau gofal lleol. Felly, mae gwella ymwybyddiaeth a mynediad at wasanaethau diagnostig yn allweddol. Rhaid herio'r stigma sy'n gysylltiedig â dementia fel bod pobl yn teimlo eu bod wedi'u grymuso i geisio cymorth heb ofn na chywilydd. Mae addysgu'r cyhoedd a gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol am bwysigrwydd diagnosis cynnar yn gam hanfodol tuag at greu amgylchedd lle gall unigolion geisio cymorth yn hyderus.

Felly mae'r achos dros wella diagnosis dementia yng Nghymru yn glir. Mae'n fater o dosturi a chyfiawnder, ond mae hefyd yn rheidrwydd economaidd a chymdeithasol. Drwy fuddsoddi mewn diagnosis cynnar, rydym nid yn unig yn gwella llesiant y rhai yr effeithir arnynt ond hefyd yn adeiladu system gofal iechyd sy'n fwy cynaliadwy, gan ddarparu'r gofal y mae pobl yn ei haeddu. Rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i dargedau beiddgar ac uchelgeisiol yn y cynllun gweithredu nesaf ar gyfer dementia i wella diagnosis a bywydau pobl sy'n byw gyda dementia. Mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth ymrwymo i wneud dementia yn flaenoriaeth fel y dylai fod. Dyna pam ein bod yn gofyn i chi gefnogi'r cynnig hwn heno. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

18:30

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, dwi'n gallu clywed gwrthwynebiad. Felly, gohiriaf y bleidlais ar yr eitem hon tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.

The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There are objections. I will therefore defer voting under this item until voting time. 

Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.

Voting deferred until voting time.

8. Cyfnod Pleidleisio
8. Voting Time

A dyma ni yn cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai fod tri Aelod yn dymuno i mi ganu'r gloch, symudaf yn syth i'r cyfnod pleidleisio. Byddwn yn pleidleisio ar eitem 7 yn unig, a galwaf am bleidlais yn gyntaf ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Heledd Fychan. Os gwrthodir y cynnig, byddwn yn pleidleisio ar y gwelliannau a gyflwynwyd i'r cynnig. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 25, neb yn ymatal, 27 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.

And that brings us to voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I will move directly to voting time. We will be voting on item 7 this evening, and I call for a vote first of all on the motion without amendment, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan. If the proposal is not agreed, we will vote on the amendments tabled to the motion. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 25, no abstentions, 27 against. Therefore, the motion is not agreed.

Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Diagnosis dementia. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 25, Yn erbyn: 27, Ymatal: 0

Gwrthodwyd y cynnig

Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Dementia diagnosis. Motion without amendment: For: 25, Against: 27, Abstain: 0

Motion has been rejected

Felly, galwaf am bleidlais ar welliant 1 nawr, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 27, roedd 11 yn ymatal, 14 yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 1 wedi ei dderbyn. 

I therefore call for a vote on amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 27, there were 11 abstentions and 14 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed.

18:35

Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Diagnosis dementia. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 27, Yn erbyn: 14, Ymatal: 11

Derbyniwyd y gwelliant

Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Dementia diagnosis. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 27, Against: 14, Abstain: 11

Amendment has been agreed

Galwaf am bleidlais nawr ar welliant 2, a gyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 52, neb yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, mae gwelliant 2 wedi ei dderbyn. 

I now call for a vote on amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 52, no abstentions and none against. And therefore amendment 2 is agreed. 

Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Diagnosis dementia. Gwelliant 2, cyflwynwyd yn enw Darren Millar: O blaid: 52, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 0

Derbyniwyd y gwelliant

Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Dementia diagnosis. Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Darren Millar: For: 52, Against: 0, Abstain: 0

Amendment has been agreed

Galwaf nawr am bleidlais ar y cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio.

I now call for a vote on the motion as amended.

Cynnig NDM8752 fel y'i diwygiwyd:

Cynnig bod y Senedd:

1. Yn nodi mai dim ond 56 y cant o bobl sy'n byw gyda dementia sydd wedi cael diagnosis.

2. Yn nodi mai Cymru sydd â’r gyfradd ddiagnosis gyhoeddedig isaf yn y DU.

3. Yn credu y gall ffocws ar ddiagnosis cynnar a chywir wella opsiynau triniaeth ac y gallai leihau costau dementia i’r GIG.

4. Yn croesawu bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru i adnewyddu’r Cynllun Gweithredu ar gyfer Dementia.

5. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnwys targedau diagnosis dementia newydd yn y cynllun newydd.

6. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sicrhau bod y cynllun gweithredu newydd ar gyfer dementia yn rhoi cleifion a'u hanwyliaid yn gyntaf, a'i fod hefyd yn hyrwyddo ymchwil i'r clefyd.

Motion NDM7990 as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes only 56 per cent of people living with dementia have a diagnosis.

2. Notes Wales has the lowest published diagnosis rate in the UK.

3. Believes a focus on early and accurate diagnosis can improve treatment options and potentially reduce the cost of dementia to the NHS.

4. Welcomes the Welsh Government’s intention to refresh the Dementia Action Plan.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to include new dementia diagnosis targets in the new plan.

6. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure the new dementia action plan puts patients and their loved ones first, whilst promoting research into the disease.

Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 52, neb yn ymatal, neb yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei ddiwygio wedi ei dderbyn. 

Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 52, no abstentions and none against. Therefore, the motion as amended is agreed. 

Eitem 7. Dadl Plaid Cymru - Diagnosis dementia. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 52, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 0

Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd

Item 7. Plaid Cymru Debate - Dementia diagnosis. Motion as amended: For: 52, Against: 0, Abstain: 0

Motion as amended has been agreed

And that closes the vote today. 

A daw hynny â'r pleidleisio i ben am heddiw.

9. Dadl Fer: Mwyngloddio copr yng Nghymru: A yw'n rhesymol dibynnu ar gopr wedi'i fewnforio?
9. Short Debate: Mining copper in Wales: Is it reasonable to rely on imported copper?

We now move on to the short debate for Janet Finch-Saunders and I call on Janet to introduce her short debate, and can Members leaving do so quietly, please? 

Symudwn ymlaen nawr i'r ddadl fer gan Janet Finch-Saunders ac rwy'n galw ar Janet i gyflwyno ei dadl fer, ac a all yr Aelodau sy'n gadael wneud hynny'n dawel, os gwelwch yn dda? 

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm very pleased to bring this new and exciting topic for discussion before the Senedd here today. I hope that, through this debate, we will be able to look at the exciting opportunities available to us and put Wales back on the map as an industrial leader in the underground world of mining. 

Copper, often referred to as man's first metal, has been utilised for over 10,000 years in applications ranging from architecture to coinage. Here in Aberconwy, we take great pride in the Great Orme, home to one of the oldest and most intricate Bronze Age copper mines, dating back over 4,000 years. Believed to be one of the world's oldest prehistoric mines, it ceased copper extraction in 1911 after significantly contributing to the establishment and growth of local settlements, including my home town of Llandudno. Fast forward a few thousand years and Michael Faraday's 1831 discovery of electromagnetic induction that has revolutionised its demand, establishing copper as the go-to material for electrical conductivity. Global copper consumption currently reaches around 28 million tonnes annually, largely due to its electrical properties.

As the world shifts to green energy, copper's importance will only grow. It is essential for manufacturing wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar panels and the electrical infrastructure needed to move away from fossil fuels, solidifying its role as a critical resource for human progress. However, in the United Kingdom, we do not currently recognise it as a critical mineral, thus relying on a staggering $2.1 billion, just over £1.5 billion-worth, of imported copper last year. 

Crucially, there are stark warnings now that the world's supply of critical minerals such as copper are becoming scarce. Indeed, the UK Government, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the International Energy Agency have all expressed alarm as to whether there will be enough copper to meet the requirements for the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. 

With power and automotive applications having to be deployed at scale by 2035 in order to meet the 2050 net-zero targets, copper demand is projected to grow from the current 28 million metric tonnes today to about 50 million by 2035, a record high level that will be sustained and continue to grow by 2050. If we do nothing, it is thought that there will be a 20 per cent shortfall from the supply level required for the net-zero emissions by the 2050 target. 

And it's important to stress today that, even with investment in expanding existing mines and improving our recycling capabilities, the supply levels will still fall short of what is needed to achieve net zero. It is fair to say there is a looming mismatch on a global basis between available copper supply and future copper demand resulting from the energy transition. Simply put, we need to develop more mining capacity. Reports indicate that meeting regular copper demand will require a 115 per cent increase in global production. Indeed, electrifying the global vehicle fleet will necessitate developing 55 per cent more capacity than currently projected.

Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n falch iawn o ddod â'r pwnc newydd a chyffrous hwn i'w drafod gerbron y Senedd yma heddiw. Rwy'n gobeithio, drwy'r ddadl hon, y gallwn edrych ar y cyfleoedd cyffrous sydd ar gael i ni a rhoi Cymru yn ôl ar y map fel arweinydd diwydiannol ym myd tanddaearol mwyngloddio. 

Mae copr, y cyfeirir ato'n aml fel metel cyntaf dyn, wedi'i ddefnyddio ers dros 10,000 o flynyddoedd ar gyfer pethau'n amrywio o bensaernïaeth i arian. Yma yn Aberconwy, rydym yn ymfalchïo'n fawr yn y Gogarth, sy'n gartref i un o fwyngloddiau copr hynaf a mwyaf datblygedig yr Oes Efydd, sy'n dyddio'n ôl dros 4,000 o flynyddoedd. Credir ei fod yn un o fwyngloddiau cynhanesyddol hynaf y byd, ac fe roddodd y gorau i gloddio am gopr ym 1911 ar ôl cyfrannu'n sylweddol at sefydliad a thwf aneddiadau lleol, gan gynnwys fy nhref enedigol, Llandudno. Ychydig filoedd o flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach, fe chwyldrowyd y galw amdano gan ddarganfyddiad Michael Faraday o anwythiad electromagnetig ym 1831, gan sefydlu copr fel y deunydd dewisol ar gyfer dargludedd trydanol. Ar hyn o bryd mae'r defnydd o gopr yn fyd-eang yn cyrraedd tua 28 miliwn tunnell y flwyddyn, yn bennaf oherwydd ei briodweddau trydanol.

Wrth i'r byd symud tuag at ynni gwyrdd, bydd pwysigrwydd copr yn tyfu. Mae'n hanfodol ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu tyrbinau gwynt, cerbydau trydan, paneli solar a'r seilwaith trydanol sydd ei angen i newid o danwydd ffosil, gan gadarnhau ei rôl fel adnodd hanfodol ar gyfer cynnydd y ddynoliaeth. Fodd bynnag, yn y Deyrnas Unedig, nid ydym yn cydnabod ei fod yn fwyn hanfodol ar hyn o bryd, sy'n golygu ein bod wedi dibynnu ar werth $2.1 biliwn, ychydig dros £1.5 biliwn, o gopr a fewnforiwyd y llynedd. 

Yn hollbwysig, mae rhybuddion amlwg nawr fod cyflenwad y byd o fwynau hanfodol fel copr yn prinhau. Yn wir, mae Llywodraeth y DU, yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, y Gronfa Ariannol Ryngwladol, Banc y Byd a'r Asiantaeth Ynni Rhyngwladol oll wedi mynegi pryder na fydd digon o gopr i fodloni'r gofynion ar gyfer y targed allyriadau sero net erbyn 2050. 

Gyda'r rheidrwydd i ddefnyddio ynni gwyrdd ar raddfa fawr ar gyfer pŵer a moduro erbyn 2035 er mwyn cyrraedd targedau sero net 2050, rhagwelir y bydd y galw am gopr yn tyfu o'r 28 miliwn tunnell fetrig heddiw i tua 50 miliwn erbyn 2035, y lefel uchaf erioed a gaiff ei chynnal ac a fydd yn parhau i dyfu erbyn 2050. Os na wnawn ni ddim byd, credir y bydd diffyg o 20 y cant yn lefel y cyflenwad angenrheidiol ar gyfer allyriadau sero net erbyn targed 2050. 

A hyd yn oed gyda buddsoddiad i ehangu mwyngloddiau presennol a gwella ein galluoedd ailgylchu, mae'n bwysig pwysleisio heddiw y bydd y lefelau cyflenwi'n dal i fod yn is na'r hyn sydd ei angen i gyflawni sero net. Mae'n deg dweud bod camgymhariad yn fyd-eang rhwng y cyflenwad copr sydd ar gael a'r galw am gopr yn y dyfodol yn deillio o'r pontio i ynni gwyrdd. Yn syml, mae angen inni ddatblygu mwy o gapasiti mwyngloddio. Mae adroddiadau'n dangos y bydd ateb y galw rheolaidd am gopr yn galw am gynnydd o 115 y cant yn y cynhyrchiant byd-eang. Yn wir, bydd trydaneiddio'r fflyd o gerbydau byd-eang yn golygu y bydd angen datblygu 55 y cant yn fwy o gapasiti na'r hyn a ragwelir ar hyn o bryd.

Sadly, developing a new mine can take, typically, up to 10 to 20 years from exploration to production, with regulatory and financial hurdles in between. However, past-producing mines, with existing infrastructure and resources, provide a quicker and more affordable way to start production. For example, Doré Copper Mining in Quebec, Canada, is using the refurbished Copper Rand mill and nearby deposits like Corner Bay. This approach lowers costs, improves efficiency and makes the most of available resources. The company's 2022 preliminary economic assessments have shown great projections for restarting operations, highlighting the approach's economic viability, increased efficiency and optimised resource extraction from known sites, showcasing the potential benefits of revitalising past-producing mines.

Other examples include Nevada's Pumpkin Hollow copper project, now set for restart under Kinterra Capital, and Spain's Aguablanca nickel copper project, which retains operational permits and a well-maintained processing plant, able to produce 5,000 megatonnes per day. Moreover, restarting past-producing mines and mills can significantly boost local economies by creating jobs from skilled mining positions to roles in supporting industry. One such project that I visited recently in my colleague Rhun ap Iorwerth's constituency of Anglesey predict—and I believe you've met with them also—that they could provide work for around 100 direct full-time employees and 500 indirect full-time jobs. Jobs like these have a ripple effect, boosting local spending, improving infrastructure, public services and overall living standards, although I'm sure I do not need to school Wales on how mining can bring huge economic and social benefits to communities—it is very much in our blood.

However, since the days of coal mining, significant advancements in mining technology have made previously uneconomic deposits profitable. Refurbishing past-producing mines enables companies to tap into these valuable resources and extend the life of existing sites, potentially adding around 7 million megatonnes of copper to the market. This is of course not without its difficulties, though; refurbishing old mines does come with challenges. Companies will have to meet stringent environmental standards, they will need to be required to invest in remediation and updated safety measures, such as managing tailings and mitigating acid mine drainage. Combining modern mining technology with existing infrastructure will be complex, will be challenging, but is doable. It will need careful planning and specialised expertise to ensure efficiency and compliance. However, with the knowledge and know-how here in Wales, I actually believe that we are well positioned to lead in this industry. Here in Wales, we have numerous mines ripe for copper mining, which could provide us with the valuable mineral that we desperately need at a far lower cost.

For every five houses planned in the UK, 1 tonne of copper is needed, primarily for plumbing and electrical wiring. With the Welsh Government aiming to build 20,000 new homes by 2026, it makes sense for us to increase domestic copper mining. We must also take into consideration that every society that mines copper must weigh the economic, the social and the environmental benefits against the associated impacts, but copper imported into the UK reflects this balance, whether positive or negative, even if it's not immediately apparent, although, similar to the coal imported to Wales from distant lands, the quality is often lower and the extraction methods used can be far more damaging to the environment, and the carbon footprint is just, in my mind—. If we are going to be moving forward in terms of the climate change emergency, then we have got to look at the potential to mine copper here in Wales. It would raise awareness of the balance, and I believe that sourcing locally, where impacts can be managed and controlled, would be far more beneficial in the medium and long term.

Finally, as I mentioned earlier, copper is not on the UK's critical minerals list. If we are to begin the journey to self-sufficiency, then we must be in a position to resist these projects as best we can. Currently, we are way behind on this. The EU, the USA, Canada, Japan, India, China and South Korea all recognise this looming problem, and it is therefore time for Wales, with all her wealth of wisdom and experience in mining, to take a stand and get digging. I hope this has been insightful for you, and I look forward to hearing other thoughts and views in this debate. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Yn anffodus, gall datblygu mwynglawdd newydd gymryd hyd at 10 i 20 mlynedd o archwilio i gynhyrchu, gyda rhwystrau rheoleiddiol ac ariannol. Fodd bynnag, mae mwyngloddiau a arferai gynhyrchu yn y gorffennol, gyda'r seilwaith ac adnoddau sy'n bodoli'n barod, yn ffordd gyflymach a mwy fforddiadwy o ddechrau cynhyrchu. Er enghraifft, mae Doré Copper Mining yn Quebec, Canada, yn defnyddio'r felin Copper Rand wedi'i hadnewyddu a dyddodion cyfagos fel yn Corner Bay. Mae'r dull hwn yn lleihau costau, yn gwella effeithlonrwydd ac yn gwneud y gorau o'r adnoddau sydd ar gael. Mae asesiadau economaidd rhagarweiniol y cwmni ar gyfer 2022 wedi dangos rhagamcanion gwych ar gyfer ailddechrau gwaith, gan dynnu sylw at hyfywedd economaidd y dull, mwy o effeithlonrwydd a dulliau wedi'u hoptimeiddio o gloddio adnoddau o safleoedd hysbys, gan arddangos y manteision posibl o adfywio mwyngloddiau a arferai gynhyrchu yn y gorffennol.

Mae enghreifftiau eraill yn cynnwys prosiect copr Pumpkin Hollow yn Nevada, sydd bellach ar fin ailgychwyn o dan Kinterra Capital, a phrosiect copr nicel Aguablanca Sbaen, sydd â thrwyddedau gweithredol a gwaith prosesu wedi'i gynnal yn dda, sy'n gallu cynhyrchu 5,000 megatunnell y dydd. Ar ben hynny, gall ailddechrau mwyngloddiau a melinau a arferai gynhyrchu yn y gorffennol roi hwb sylweddol i economïau lleol trwy greu swyddi'n amrywio o swyddi mwyngloddio medrus i rolau'n cefnogi diwydiant. Mae un prosiect o'r fath yr ymwelais ag ef yn ddiweddar yn etholaeth fy nghyd-Aelod Rhun ap Iorwerth ar Ynys Môn yn rhagweld—a chredaf eich bod wedi cyfarfod â hwy hefyd—y gallent ddarparu gwaith ar gyfer tua 100 o weithwyr llawn amser uniongyrchol a 500 o swyddi llawn amser anuniongyrchol. Mae swyddi fel y rhain yn cael effaith ganlyniadol, gan roi hwb i wariant lleol, gwella seilwaith, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a safonau byw yn gyffredinol, er fy mod yn siŵr nad oes angen imi roi gwersi i Gymru ar sut y gall mwyngloddio ddod â manteision economaidd a chymdeithasol enfawr i gymunedau—mae hynny yn ein gwaed.

Fodd bynnag, ers dyddiau mwyngloddio glo, mae datblygiadau sylweddol yn nhechnoleg mwyngloddio wedi gwneud dyddodion a arferai fod yn aneconomaidd o'r blaen yn broffidiol. Mae adnewyddu mwyngloddiau a arferai gynhyrchu yn y gorffennol yn galluogi cwmnïau i fanteisio ar yr adnoddau gwerthfawr hyn ac ymestyn oes safleoedd presennol, gan ychwanegu tua 7 miliwn megatunnell o gopr i'r farchnad. Wrth gwrs, nid yw hyn heb ei anawsterau, serch hynny; mae adnewyddu hen fwyngloddiau yn creu heriau. Bydd yn rhaid i gwmnïau fodloni safonau amgylcheddol llym, bydd angen iddynt fuddsoddi mewn gwaith adfer a mesurau diogelwch wedi'u diweddaru, megis rheoli gwaddod a lliniaru draeniad asid o fwyngloddiau. Bydd cyfuno technoleg fwyngloddio fodern â'r seilwaith presennol yn gymhleth, bydd yn heriol, ond mae'n bosibl. Bydd angen cynllunio gofalus ac arbenigedd i sicrhau effeithlonrwydd a chydymffurfiaeth. Fodd bynnag, gyda'r wybodaeth yma yng Nghymru, rwy'n credu ein bod mewn sefyllfa dda i arwain yn y diwydiant hwn. Yma yng Nghymru, mae gennym nifer o fwyngloddiau aeddfed ar gyfer cloddio copr, a allai ddarparu'r mwyn gwerthfawr sydd ei angen arnom ar gost lawer is.

Ar gyfer pob pum tŷ sydd wedi'u cynllunio yn y DU, mae angen 1 dunnell o gopr, yn bennaf ar gyfer gwaith plymio a gwifrau trydanol. Gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn anelu at adeiladu 20,000 o gartrefi newydd erbyn 2026, mae'n gwneud synnwyr inni gynyddu lefelau mwyngloddio copr domestig. Rhaid inni ystyried hefyd fod yn rhaid i bob cymdeithas sy'n cloddio copr bwyso a mesur y buddion economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol yn erbyn yr effeithiau cysylltiedig, ond mae copr sy'n cael ei fewnforio i'r DU yn adlewyrchu'r cydbwysedd hwn, boed yn gadarnhaol neu'n negyddol, hyd yn oed os nad yw'n amlwg ar unwaith, er, yn debyg i'r glo a fewnforir i Gymru o diroedd pell, mae'r ansawdd yn aml yn waeth a gall y dulliau cloddio a ddefnyddir fod yn llawer mwy niweidiol i'r amgylchedd, ac mae'r ôl troed carbon yn fy marn i—. Os ydym yn mynd i symud ymlaen ar yr argyfwng newid hinsawdd, mae'n rhaid inni edrych ar y potensial i gloddio copr yma yng Nghymru. Byddai'n codi ymwybyddiaeth o'r cydbwysedd, a chredaf y byddai ffynonellau lleol, lle gellir rheoli effeithiau, yn llawer mwy buddiol yn y tymor canolig ac yn hirdymor.

Yn olaf, fel y soniais yn gynharach, nid yw copr ar restr mwynau hanfodol y DU. Os ydym am ddechrau'r daith tuag at hunangynhaliaeth, mae'n rhaid inni fod mewn sefyllfa i wrthsefyll y prosiectau hyn cystal ag y gallwn. Ar hyn o bryd, rydym ar ei hôl hi ar hyn. Mae'r UE, UDA, Canada, Japan, India, Tsieina a De Korea i gyd yn cydnabod y broblem sydd ar y gorwel, ac felly mae'n bryd i Gymru, gyda'i chyfoeth o ddoethineb a phrofiad o fwyngloddio, godi ar ei thraed a dechrau cloddio. Rwy'n gobeithio bod hyn wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol i chi, ac edrychaf ymlaen at glywed sylwadau a safbwyntiau eraill yn y ddadl hon. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

18:45

Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, Rebecca Evans.

I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans.

Well, I'm very grateful to Janet Finch-Saunders for bringing forward this motion today, and, like her, I do understand the vital importance of copper. As with many other metals, it's become a vital component in modern life, from the electric cabling inside our walls to the coins in our pockets, which have been minted in Llantrisant. It's so important that we have accessible and sustainable supplies of metal for our needs in medical applications, in construction, and in modern technology, and copper, of course, has a long historic connection with Wales. I know that Janet Finch-Saunders has a particularly strong interest in that heritage, having visited the copper mines on Anglesey alongside Rhun ap Iorwerth.

I know that, for several years, there have been attempts to restart the copper mining industry on Anglesey in particular, and these are subject to planning applications. So, colleagues will understand that I'm not able to comment on specific proposals, so I will deliberately avoid talking about specific opportunities in my response. But it should also be noted that it's been centuries since Wales and the United Kingdom more widely have been self-sufficient in copper extraction. And I'm very proud to represent a part of Swansea, once the home of the global copper smelting industry. When the first industry began, 3 to 4 tonnes of coal was needed to smelt 1 tonne of copper ore, so south Wales was indeed the perfect place to start the industry, with its rich seams of coal and its close proximity to the copper mines in Cornwall and north Wales. When these mines were exhausted, industry had to look further afield for sources of copper—[Interruption.] Yes, of course.

Wel, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i Janet Finch-Saunders am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn heddiw, ac fel hithau, rwy'n deall pwysigrwydd hanfodol copr. Fel gyda llawer o fetelau eraill, mae wedi dod yn elfen hanfodol o fywyd modern, o'r ceblau trydan yn ein waliau i'r darnau arian yn ein pocedi, sydd wedi'u bathu yn Llantrisant. Mae mor bwysig fod gennym gyflenwadau metel hygyrch a chynaliadwy ar gyfer ein hanghenion at ddefnydd meddygol, ym maes adeiladu, ac mewn technoleg fodern, ac wrth gwrs, mae gan gopr gysylltiad hanesyddol hir â Chymru. Gwn fod gan Janet Finch-Saunders ddiddordeb arbennig o gryf yn y dreftadaeth honno, ar ôl ymweld â'r mwyngloddiau copr ar Ynys Môn gyda Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Rwy'n gwybod, ers sawl blwyddyn, fod ymdrechion wedi bod i ailddechrau'r diwydiant mwyngloddio copr ar Ynys Môn yn enwedig, ac mae'r rhain yn destun ceisiadau cynllunio. Felly, bydd cyd-Aelodau'n deall nad wyf yn gallu gwneud sylwadau ar gynigion penodol, felly rwy'n fwriadol yn osgoi siarad am gyfleoedd penodol yn fy ymateb. Ond dylid nodi hefyd ei bod wedi bod yn ganrifoedd ers i Gymru a'r Deyrnas Unedig yn ehangach fod yn hunangynhaliol wrth gloddio copr. Ac rwy'n falch iawn o gynrychioli rhan o Abertawe, a fu unwaith yn gartref i'r diwydiant mwyndoddi copr byd-eang. Pan ddechreuodd y diwydiant cyntaf, roedd angen 3 i 4 tunnell o lo i fwyndoddi 1 dunnell o fwyn copr, felly de Cymru oedd y lle perffaith i ddechrau'r diwydiant, gyda'i wythiennau cyfoethog o lo a'i agosrwydd at y mwyngloddiau copr yng Nghernyw a gogledd Cymru. Pan ddihysbyddwyd y mwyngloddiau hyn, bu'n rhaid i'r diwydiant edrych ymhellach i ffwrdd am ffynonellau o gopr—[Torri ar draws.] Wrth gwrs.

Is it not—? You mention centuries since we've had self-sufficiency, but for millennia before, the peoples of Britain did have self-sufficiency because of the mines in Kernow, Cornwall, and Afallach, the isle of apples, Ynys Môn. In fact, before the Romans conquered our island, Afallach, Ynys Môn and Cornwall were on their trade routes because of copper and apples and mead.

Onid yw—? Rydych chi'n sôn am ganrifoedd ers inni fod yn hunangynhaliol, ond am filenia cyn hynny, roedd pobloedd Prydain yn hunangynhaliol oherwydd y mwyngloddiau yn Kernow, Cernyw, ac Afallach, ynys afalau, Ynys Môn. Mewn gwirionedd, cyn i'r Rhufeiniaid goncro ein hynys, roedd Afallach, Ynys Môn a Chernyw ar eu llwybrau masnach oherwydd copr ac afalau a medd.

Yes. So, I absolutely recognise the importance of copper in our heritage and in our history of our economy and our society more widely across Wales and beyond.

Indeed, in those times, copper became such a valuable and important commodity that, once our own resources were exhausted, sailors would leave Swansea for Chile and then they'd make that arduous journey all around Cape Horn and bring back shiploads of copper ore back to Swansea, so it could be smelted there. And, of course, today, copper is back in high demand and prices have reached record highs. Most of that copper still comes from those mines in South America, Chile and Peru, and we do compete now in that global marketplace for that material. As we rely on imported copper from across the globe, it does become increasingly important to make sure that we do have access to materials on the basis of free, fair and open trade, and copper is, of course, just one of many metals that are undergoing significant price volatility in the global market.

We shouldn't, though, forget the relative importance of other critical minerals that are also really important to our industries and to consumers in Wales, for example, lithium is a key mineral in our net-zero transformation, as a vital element in battery technology, and global demand for that material is expected to increase more than tenfold by 2050.

By comparison, as we've heard in Janet Finch-Saunders’s contribution, the UK Government recently commissioned the British Geographical Survey to produce a new criticality assessment for 2024. That was published last Thursday, and it specifically identifies copper, at this stage, as being 'not critical', and the metal was also omitted from the equivalent assessment for the United States last year. And Australia's own study has also determined that copper is not critical. It is right though that we work with other nations to ensure access to this range of materials through multilateral and bilateral economic partnerships, but we do have to consider the range of metals that are vital to our economy, not just specific ones.

Yn wir. Felly, rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd copr yn ein treftadaeth ac yn hanes ein heconomi a'n cymdeithas yn ehangach ledled Cymru a thu hwnt.

Yr adeg honno, yn wir, daeth copr yn nwydd mor werthfawr a phwysig fel y byddai morwyr, wedi i'n hadnoddau ni gael eu dihysbyddu, yn gadael Abertawe i fynd i Chile ac yna byddent yn gwneud y daith anodd o amgylch Cape Horn ac yn dod â llwythi o fwyn copr yn ôl i Abertawe, fel y gellid ei fwyndoddi yno. Ac wrth gwrs, heddiw, mae galw mawr am gopr unwaith eto ac mae prisiau wedi cyrraedd lefelau uwch nag erioed. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r copr yn dal i ddod o fwyngloddiau yn Ne America, Chile a Pheriw, ac rydym yn cystadlu nawr yn y farchnad fyd-eang am y deunydd hwnnw. Wrth inni ddibynnu ar gopr wedi'i fewnforio o bob cwr o'r byd, mae'n dod yn fwyfwy pwysig sicrhau bod gennym fynediad at ddeunyddiau ar sail masnach rydd, deg ac agored, ac wrth gwrs, nid yw ond yn un o lawer o fetelau sy'n gweld anwadalrwydd sylweddol yn ei bris yn y farchnad fyd-eang.

Fodd bynnag, ni ddylem anghofio pwysigrwydd cymharol mwynau hanfodol eraill sydd hefyd yn bwysig iawn i'n diwydiannau ac i ddefnyddwyr yng Nghymru, er enghraifft, mae lithiwm yn fwyn hanfodol wrth inni bontio i sero net, fel elfen hanfodol yn nhechnoleg batri, a disgwylir i'r galw byd-eang am y deunydd hwnnw gynyddu fwy na deng gwaith erbyn 2050.

Mewn cymhariaeth, fel y clywsom yng nghyfraniad Janet Finch-Saunders, comisiynodd Llywodraeth y DU Arolwg Daearyddol Prydain yn ddiweddar i lunio asesiad hanfodolrwydd newydd ar gyfer 2024. Fe'i cyhoeddwyd ddydd Iau diwethaf, ac mae'n nodi'n benodol nad yw copr yn hanfodol ar hyn o bryd, a chafodd y metel ei hepgor hefyd o'r asesiad cyfatebol ar gyfer yr Unol Daleithiau y llynedd. Ac mae astudiaeth Awstralia ei hun wedi penderfynu nad yw copr yn hanfodol. Ond mae'n iawn ein bod yn gweithio gyda chenhedloedd eraill i sicrhau mynediad at yr ystod hon o ddeunyddiau trwy bartneriaethau economaidd amlochrog a dwyochrog, ond mae'n rhaid inni ystyried yr ystod o fetelau sy'n hanfodol i'n heconomi, nid rhai penodol yn unig.

18:50

Would the Cabinet Secretary take an intervention? Thank you. I think that that's what's important here: that Government keeps its eyes open to what the opportunities are. There is, of course, as we've heard, a very old tradition of copper mining, and other precious metals, in Ynys Môn. It is some time ago. It's fair to say that there have been announcements at regular intervals during my time as a parliamentarian here that have managed to keep the share price of the owners of the mine on Anglesey high, and I understand why they would want to give the impression that work is about to begin. There appears to have been some development recently. What I ask is that, where there are opportunities to extract in a way that is environmentally responsible, responsible in terms of workforce, that Government engages to make sure that no opportunities are lost.

A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dderbyn ymyriad? Diolch. Rwy'n credu mai dyna sy'n bwysig yma: fod y Llywodraeth yn cadw ei llygaid ar agor i'r cyfleoedd posibl. Wrth gwrs, mae traddodiad hen iawn o fwyngloddio copr, a metelau gwerthfawr eraill, yn Ynys Môn. Roedd hynny beth amser yn ôl. Mae'n deg dweud bod cyhoeddiadau wedi bod ar gamau rheolaidd yn ystod fy nghyfnod fel seneddwr yma sydd wedi llwyddo i gadw pris cyfranddaliadau perchnogion y mwynglawdd ar Ynys Môn yn uchel, ac rwy'n deall pam y byddent am roi'r argraff fod gwaith ar fin dechrau. Mae'n ymddangos bod rhywfaint o ddatblygiad wedi bod yn ddiweddar. Lle mae cyfleoedd i gloddio mewn ffordd sy'n amgylcheddol gyfrifol, ac yn gyfrifol o ran y gweithlu, yr hyn rwy'n ei ofyn yw bod y Llywodraeth yn ymgysylltu i sicrhau na chaiff unrhyw gyfleoedd eu colli.

I absolutely agree that our focus should be on environmentally responsible mining and also in respect of the fair work agenda that we are all very passionate about here in Wales, and, of course, we stand ready to engage with those businesses that might have opportunities in their sights. But as I mentioned at the start, I can't comment on a particular opportunity that there might be out there.

So, just to continue, just in terms of the range of materials, the UK Government is reliant on international supply for most of the 82 assessed materials in their most recent report on critical minerals. Forty-nine of those were predominantly imported, so I think it's those minerals in particular that we need to be concentrating our efforts on. But that's not to say that copper won't become a critical mineral under that methodology in future. But right now it doesn't meet those criteria.

There are of course, though, global headwinds that we are aware of, with the possibility of increased trade barriers, for example, and also the potential for unknown technological developments, which might increase demand for copper even further. Given the fluctuating nature of global commodity prices, many industries are already securing their access by integrating their supply chains, but as others have said, we should also be considering the environmental and social impact of our supply chains, because metal extraction is highly polluting, and its legacy still impacts on many parts of Wales. So, we must ensure that our imports are ethically sourced, and that does open new opportunities for sourcing metals like copper.

Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr y dylai ein ffocws fod ar fwyngloddio sy'n gyfrifol yn amgylcheddol a hefyd ar yr agenda gwaith teg yr ydym i gyd yn angerddol iawn yn ei chylch yma yng Nghymru, ac wrth gwrs, rydym yn barod i ymgysylltu â busnesau a allai fod â'u golwg ar gyfleoedd. Ond fel y soniais ar y dechrau, ni allaf wneud unrhyw sylw ar gyfle penodol a allai fod allan yno.

Felly, i barhau, ar yr ystod o ddeunyddiau, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn dibynnu ar gyflenwad rhyngwladol ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o'r 82 o ddeunyddiau a aseswyd yn eu hadroddiad diweddaraf ar fwynau hanfodol. Câi 49 o'r rheini eu mewnforio'n bennaf, felly rwy'n credu mai ar y mwynau hynny'n benodol y mae angen inni ganolbwyntio ein hymdrechion. Ond nid yw hynny'n golygu na fydd copr yn dod yn fwyn hanfodol o dan y fethodoleg honno yn y dyfodol. Ond ar hyn o bryd nid yw'n bodloni'r meini prawf hynny.

Wrth gwrs, mae yna anawsterau byd-eang yr ydym yn ymwybodol ohonynt, gyda'r posibilrwydd o fwy o rwystrau i fasnach, er enghraifft, a photensial hefyd ar gyfer datblygiadau technolegol na wyddys amdanynt, a allai gynyddu'r galw am gopr hyd yn oed ymhellach. O ystyried natur amrywiol prisiau nwyddau'n fyd-eang, mae llawer o ddiwydiannau eisoes yn sicrhau mynediad atynt trwy integreiddio eu cadwyni cyflenwi, ond fel y dywedodd eraill, dylem ystyried effaith amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol ein cadwyni cyflenwi yn ogystal, oherwydd mae cloddio metel yn waith sy'n llygru'n fawr, ac mae ei waddol yn dal i effeithio ar sawl rhan o Gymru. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod ein mewnforion yn dod o ffynonellau moesegol, ac mae hynny yn agor cyfleoedd newydd ar gyfer cyrchu metelau fel copr.

Will the Minister give way? Thank you very much. Yes, obviously, we're aware of the pollution in Welsh waterways from disused mines. There's a company in Carmarthenshire, Hydro Industries, who've got the technology to help in this field. Would the Cabinet Secretary commit to meeting with them to discuss how they can improve the quality of Welsh rivers in Wales?

A wnaiff y Gweinidog ildio? Diolch yn fawr. Yn amlwg, rydym yn ymwybodol o'r llygredd yn nyfrffyrdd Cymru o fwyngloddiau nas defnyddir. Mae gan gwmni yn sir Gaerfyrddin, Hydro Industries, dechnoleg i helpu yn y maes hwn. A wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ymrwymo i gyfarfod â hwy i drafod sut y gallant wella ansawdd afonydd yng Nghymru?

I'd certainly be interested in finding out in greater detail the services that they are able offer, because the quality of our waters, of course, is something that is of concern to us. Perhaps if the Member writes to me, I'll be able to make those links between ourselves and that company.

So, just moving on and thinking about opportunities to strengthen our supplies of critical minerals in newer, ingenious ways, such as through specialist recycling and extraction techniques, it's really interesting that almost 50 per cent of European copper demand is currently met by recycled material. For example, earlier this year, the Welsh Government and other UK nations held a joint public consultation, and that put forward proposals for extended producer responsibility for waste electrical and electronic equipment, and that is to encourage the recycling and reuse. And, of course, much of that will contain copper. The consultation responses will inform our programme for government commitment to introduce extended producer responsibility for those products and support our efforts to combat climate change.

So, over the coming months and years it will be important to continue to monitor the fluctuating demand for critical and non-critical minerals, including copper, as well as any representations from business. And whilst the critical minerals list isn’t a devolved matter, we do have regular discussions with the UK Government, including the Department for Business and Trade. And should copper become a critical mineral, we will of course make representations to the UK Government to ask them to consider including it on the list.

I am pleased that when the previous UK Government was developing its critical minerals strategy, we took part in the consultation and made representations on a range of metals where supplies are vital to our industries here in Wales. And now that we have a new UK Government, which is preparing its own critical minerals strategy for publication in 2025, we will, of course, seek to be engaged in that. The security of critical minerals will also be a component of the new industrial strategy, and we continue to play an active role in shaping that strategy, in line with Welsh interests, ahead of its launch in the spring.

And, of course, the question posed this evening is whether it’s reasonable to rely on imported copper. At the moment, I am satisfied that we are able to import copper in the quantities that we need, but I am reassured that the UK Government will continue to rely on the expertise of the British Geological Survey in their assessments. But I am, though, really conscious of the fact that we are continuing to undergo a rapid green transition, where demand for copper, amongst other materials, is likely to increase, and therefore it is absolutely reasonable that we continue to monitor the global marketplace, and continue to reflect on whether our basket of critical minerals is appropriate.

The Welsh Government will continue to reflect on the needs of industry, and will continue to make representations to the UK Government where appropriate. Copper has been of vital importance to Welsh industry and culture for centuries, and demand for the mineral shows no sign of diminishing. Throughout the years, industry has adapted to new ways of ensuring its supply of copper, whether by importing from across the globe or recycling what we already have.

So, as I draw my speech to a close, I just want to draw colleagues’ attention to a really interesting fact, which I think really demonstrates the impact of Wales on the global industry as the first industrial nation. Of the 550 million tonnes of copper produced since 1900, an estimated two thirds of that is still in productive use today. So, it makes us wonder, I suppose, whether some of that was originally mined in north Wales or smelted in Swansea.

Yn sicr, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn darganfod yn fanylach y gwasanaethau y gallant eu cynnig, oherwydd mae ansawdd ein dyfroedd, wrth gwrs, yn rhywbeth sy'n peri pryder i ni. Os gwnaiff yr Aelod ysgrifennu ataf, efallai y gallaf wneud y cysylltiadau hynny rhyngom ni a'r cwmni hwnnw.

Felly, i symud ymlaen a meddwl am gyfleoedd i gryfhau ein cyflenwadau o fwynau hanfodol mewn ffyrdd mwy newydd, mwy dyfeisgar, megis trwy dechnegau ailgylchu a chloddio arbenigol, mae'n ddiddorol iawn fod bron i 50 y cant o'r galw am gopr yn Ewrop yn cael ei ddiwallu ar hyn o bryd gan ddeunydd wedi'i ailgylchu. Er enghraifft, yn gynharach eleni, cynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru a gwledydd eraill y DU ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar y cyd, a chyflwynwyd cynigion ohono ar gyfer cyfrifoldeb estynedig cynhyrchwyr am wastraff offer trydanol ac electronig, a hynny er mwyn annog ailgylchu ac ailddefnyddio. Ac wrth gwrs, bydd llawer o hynny'n cynnwys copr. Bydd yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad yn llywio ymrwymiad ein rhaglen lywodraethu i gyflwyno cyfrifoldeb estynedig cynhyrchwyr ar gyfer y cynhyrchion hynny ac yn cefnogi ein hymdrechion i fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd.

Felly, dros y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf bydd yn bwysig parhau i fonitro'r galw newidiol am fwynau hanfodol a mwynau nad ydynt yn hanfodol, yn cynnwys copr, yn ogystal ag unrhyw sylwadau gan fusnesau. Ac er nad yw'r rhestr mwynau hanfodol yn fater datganoledig, rydym yn cael trafodaethau rheolaidd â Llywodraeth y DU, gan gynnwys yr Adran Busnes a Masnach. Ac os daw copr yn fwyn hanfodol, byddwn yn cyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU i ofyn iddynt ystyried ei gynnwys ar y rhestr.

Pan oedd Llywodraeth flaenorol y DU yn datblygu ei strategaeth mwynau hanfodol, rwy'n falch ein bod wedi cymryd rhan yn yr ymgynghoriad ac wedi gwneud sylwadau ar ystod o fetelau lle mae cyflenwadau yn hanfodol i'n diwydiannau yma yng Nghymru. A chan fod gennym Lywodraeth newydd yn y DU bellach, sy'n paratoi ei strategaeth mwynau hanfodol ei hun i'w chyhoeddi yn 2025, byddwn yn ceisio cymryd rhan yn hynny. Bydd diogelwch mwynau hanfodol hefyd yn rhan o'r strategaeth ddiwydiannol newydd, ac rydym yn parhau i chwarae rhan weithredol yn llunio'r strategaeth honno, yn unol â buddiannau Cymru, cyn iddi gael ei lansio yn y gwanwyn.

Ac wrth gwrs, y cwestiwn a ofynnwyd heno yw a yw'n rhesymol dibynnu ar gopr wedi'i fewnforio. Ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n fodlon ein bod yn gallu mewnforio'r copr sydd ei angen arnom, ond rwy'n dawel fy meddwl y bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn parhau i ddibynnu ar arbenigedd Arolwg Daearegol Prydain yn eu hasesiadau. Ond rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r ffaith ein bod yn dal i bontio'n gyflym i ynni gwyrdd, lle mae'r galw am gopr, ymhlith deunyddiau eraill, yn debygol o gynyddu, ac felly mae'n gwbl resymol ein bod yn parhau i fonitro'r farchnad fyd-eang, ac yn parhau i ystyried a yw ein basged o fwynau hanfodol yn briodol.

Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ystyried anghenion diwydiant, a bydd yn parhau i gyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU lle bo hynny'n briodol. Mae copr wedi bod yn hanfodol bwysig i ddiwydiant a diwylliant Cymru ers canrifoedd, ac nid yw'r galw am y mwyn yn dangos unrhyw arwydd o leihau. Dros y blynyddoedd, mae diwydiant wedi addasu i ffyrdd newydd o ddiogelu ei gyflenwad o gopr, boed hynny drwy fewnforio o rannau eraill o'r byd neu drwy ailgylchu'r hyn sydd gennym eisoes.

Felly, wrth imi ddirwyn fy araith i ben, hoffwn dynnu sylw cyd-Aelodau at ffaith ddiddorol iawn y credaf ei bod yn dangos effaith Cymru ar y diwydiant byd-eang fel y wlad ddiwydiannol gyntaf. O'r 550 miliwn tunnell o gopr a gynhyrchwyd ers 1900, amcangyfrifir bod dwy ran o dair ohono'n dal mewn defnydd cynhyrchiol heddiw. Felly, mae'n gwneud inni feddwl tybed a gafodd peth o hwnnw ei gloddio'n wreiddiol yng ngogledd Cymru neu ei fwyndoddi yn Abertawe.

18:55

Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a diolch i Janet. Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.  

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and thank you, Janet. And that brings today's proceedings to a close. 

Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:57.

The meeting ended at 18:57.