Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
02/07/2025Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. A gaf i gymryd y cyfle, gan taw hwn fydd y cyfarfod diwethaf cyn i fenywod Cymru chwarae pêl-droed yn yr Ewros, wrth i'r Ewros gychwyn, i ddymuno, ar ein rhan ni, fel Senedd, i gyd, bob llwyddiant i'n tîm cenedlaethol ni wrth iddyn nhw ymgymryd â'u tasg o gystadlu yn yr Ewros a'n cynrychioli ni ar blatfform rhyngwladol fel tîm cenedlaethol pêl-droed am y tro cyntaf. Felly, pob llwyddiant iddyn nhw i gyd. Rŷn ni i gyd yn falch iawn o'r hyn y maen nhw eisoes wedi'i gyflawni ar ein rhan ni. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. And may I take this opportunity, as this will be the last meeting before the Welsh women play in the 2025 women's Euros, on behalf of the Senedd, to wish our national time every success as they undertake the task of competing at the Euros, representing us on the international stage, as the national football team, for the very first time. So, we wish them every success, and we're all very proud of what they have already achieved on our behalf. [Applause.]
Fe symudaf i ymlaen nawr at gwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Natasha Asghar.
We will now move to questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, and the first question is from Natasha Asghar.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar gwblhau ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd yr A465? OQ62948
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the completion of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road? OQ62948
Yes, of course. I was delighted to open the final improvement sections of the Heads of Valleys road on 12 June. This development will support economic growth by generating jobs, fostering prosperity, providing opportunities, and enhancing connectivity and benefits for communities throughout the region.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs. Roeddwn wrth fy modd yn agor y rhannau olaf o ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd i gael eu gwella ar 12 Mehefin. Bydd y datblygiad hwn yn cefnogi twf economaidd drwy gynhyrchu swyddi, meithrin ffyniant, darparu cyfleoedd, a gwella cysylltedd a buddion i gymunedau ledled y rhanbarth.
Thank you for your response, Cabinet Secretary. I've been helping a couple living close to the A465 in relation to damage caused to their house during the construction process. In one instance, many of the double-glazed windows at my constituents' property had indeed been blown, which have now been replaced by Future Valleys Construction. Prior to the construction work, a survey was carried out of the property, which, as far as I can see, did not show any cracks in the building. But if we fast forward a year, my constituents started noticing significant cracks in the property. The couple commissioned a private survey, which highlighted many C1 cracks and, more worryingly, a crack in their garage elevation, which posed a danger to the structural integrity of the garage's front wall.
My constituents have suffered immeasurably, Cabinet Secretary. The worry and stress as a result of the noise, dust and disruption have indeed taken a toll on them. They understand the need for a new road, but I'm afraid to say that they have been treated appallingly. All my constituents are asking for is that the damage due to this work, which has indeed been caused to their property, is fixed. FVC have received a copy of my constituents' privately commissioned survey and FVC have confirmed that they will be carrying out a post-construction survey to the property. So, Cabinet Secretary, given the road is now open, can you please put pressure on FVC to carry out this survey and urgently carry out the work that my constituents need to have done to their property to resolve this matter once and for all?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rwyf wedi bod yn helpu cwpl sy'n byw'n agos at yr A465 mewn perthynas â difrod a achoswyd i'w tŷ yn ystod y gwaith adeiladu. Mewn un achos, cafodd llawer o'r ffenestri gwydr dwbl yn eiddo fy etholwyr eu difrodi, ac mae Future Valleys Construction bellach wedi gosod rhai newydd. Cyn y gwaith adeiladu, cynhaliwyd arolwg o'r eiddo, a hyd y gwelaf, ni nododd unrhyw graciau yn yr adeilad. Ond flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, dechreuodd fy etholwyr sylwi ar graciau sylweddol yn yr eiddo. Comisiynodd y cwpl arolwg preifat, a nododd lawer o graciau C1, ac yn waeth na hynny, crac yn wal eu garej, a oedd yn peryglu cadernid wal flaen y garej.
Mae fy etholwyr wedi dioddef yn drwm, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae'r pryder a'r straen o ganlyniad i'r sŵn, y llwch a'r tarfu wedi cael effaith fawr arnynt. Maent yn deall yr angen am ffordd newydd, ond mae arnaf ofn eu bod wedi cael eu trin yn ofnadwy. Y cyfan y mae fy etholwyr yn gofyn amdano yw bod y difrod o ganlyniad i'r gwaith hwn a achoswyd i'w heiddo yn cael ei atgyweirio. Mae FVC wedi derbyn copi o arolwg preifat fy etholwyr ac mae FVC wedi cadarnhau y byddant yn cynnal arolwg ôl-adeiladu o'r eiddo. Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o ystyried bod y ffordd bellach ar agor, a wnewch chi roi pwysau ar FVC i gynnal yr arolwg a chwblhau'r gwaith sydd angen ei wneud ar eiddo fy etholwyr ar frys er mwyn datrys y mater unwaith ac am byth?
Yes, absolutely, and my thanks to the Member and, indeed, also to ITV Wales, which recently highlighted the challenge that many people have faced. As Natasha Asghar has identified, people do recognise the value of this road, but it has caused disruption, and I do apologise for any disruption caused to home owners.
The Member is absolutely right that Future Valleys Construction are undertaking assessments of individual properties and the entire stretch of the upgraded route, and any claims should, obviously, be sent to their claims department. It's not for Ministers to get individually involved in any claims that are forthcoming. But there will be a post-construction noise assessment undertaken, and that will be completed in full, with results available later this summer—in September I believe it will be. And in terms of compensation claims, they can be made for up to a year and a day after the completion of the works.
Wrth gwrs, yn sicr, a diolch i'r Aelod, ac yn wir, i ITV Cymru hefyd, a dynnodd sylw yn ddiweddar at yr heriau y mae llawer o bobl wedi'u hwynebu. Fel y mae Natasha Asghar wedi'i nodi, mae pobl yn cydnabod gwerth y ffordd hon, ond mae wedi achosi tarfu, ac rwy'n ymddiheuro am unrhyw darfu ar berchnogion tai.
Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei lle fod Future Valleys Construction yn cynnal asesiadau o eiddo unigol a'r darn o'r llwybr sydd wedi'i uwchraddio i gyd, ac yn amlwg, dylid anfon unrhyw hawliadau at eu hadran hawliadau. Nid yw'n ddyletswydd ar Weinidogion i ymhél ag unrhyw hawliadau unigol a wneir. Ond bydd asesiad sŵn ôl-adeiladu yn cael ei gynnal, a bydd hwnnw'n cael ei gwblhau'n llawn, gyda chanlyniadau ar gael yn nes ymlaen yn yr haf—ym mis Medi, rwy'n credu. Ac o ran hawliadau iawndal, gellir eu gwneud hyd at flwyddyn a diwrnod ar ôl cwblhau'r gwaith.
2. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wneud y strydoedd yn fwy diogel i fenywod gerdded a beicio? OQ62962
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to make streets safer for women to walk and cycle? OQ62962
We're already taking action to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more inclusive, particularly for women and girls. And we'll continue to prioritise investment, local empowerment and evidence-led interventions that remove the barriers and help ensure everyone can feel safer on our streets when walking, wheeling and cycling.
Rydym eisoes yn cymryd camau i sicrhau bod cerdded, olwyno a beicio yn fwy diogel ac yn fwy cynhwysol, yn enwedig i fenywod a merched. A byddwn yn parhau i flaenoriaethu buddsoddiad, grymuso lleol ac ymyriadau'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth sy'n cael gwared ar y rhwystrau ac sy'n helpu i sicrhau y gall pawb deimlo'n fwy diogel ar ein strydoedd wrth gerdded, olwyno a beicio.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for that respone.
The Cabinet Secretary may be aware of Cycling UK's latest campaign, My ride. Our right, which seeks to highlight the particular issues that women face when cycling. I think the Cabinet Secretary will be aware that women are 50 per cent less likely to cycle than men and that the main reason is because women don't feel safe. They suffer from a lack of lighting, intimidation, sometimes by drivers, and the infrastructure isn't up to what it should be, and half of women say that their cycle journeys are limited by safety concerns. So, I think it's great what the Welsh Government has done on active travel, taking things forward, but could he ensure that any future developments and existing developments take into account the fact that women do not, on the whole, feel safe when cycling and in other forms of active travel?
Efallai fod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol o ymgyrch ddiweddaraf Cycling UK, 'My ride. Our right', sy'n ceisio tynnu sylw at y problemau penodol y mae menywod yn eu hwynebu wrth feicio. Credaf y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol fod menywod 50 y cant yn llai tebygol o feicio na dynion ac mai'r prif reswm pam yw nad yw menywod yn teimlo'n ddiogel. Maent yn dioddef o ddiffyg goleuo, bygythiadau, weithiau gan yrwyr, ac nid yw'r seilwaith cystal ag y dylai fod, ac mae hanner y menywod yn dweud eu bod yn beicio llai oherwydd eu pryderon ynghylch diogelwch. Felly, credaf fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud pethau gwych ar deithio llesol, gan symud pethau yn eu blaen, ond a allai sicrhau bod unrhyw ddatblygiadau yn y dyfodol a datblygiadau presennol yn rhoi ystyriaeth i'r ffaith nad yw menywod, ar y cyfan, yn teimlo'n ddiogel wrth feicio ac wrth deithio'n llesol mewn ffyrdd eraill?
Absolutely, and I think Julie Morgan made a valuable point right at the end of her contribution then, to say that safety applies to all modes of movement. The fear of travel by cycling applies equally to walking and wheeling, as well, in many areas. This is something that Delyth Jewell has raised with me on a number of occasions, and we've had very good, constructive discussions about how we can improve safety right across all modes of transport. We don't just want safer streets; we want people to feel safer in their streets as well.
I do fully recognise the barriers that many women face when it comes to walking, wheeling and cycling, particularly, of course, around safety and infrastructure, and confidence as well. I don't think it's just a transport issue that we face; it's an equalities issue, it's a fairness issue. That's why we're working together to strengthen how we and local authorities embed equality considerations much earlier in the design process when it comes to investment in walking, wheeling and cycling schemes. We also have the access and inclusion panel as well, right at the heart of Transport for Wales. That is proving to be an incredibly valuable voice for people who are often the most vulnerable and who often express the deepest fear of leaving their homes and accessing public transport or engaging in active travel.
So, we're also building the skills, I should say, Llywydd, and providing support to local authorities and other delivery partners on equality impact assessments, inclusive designs and meaningful community engagement, because women's voices have to be heard from the outset, at the planning and prioritisation stage. This is something that we are insisting on at a local level. We're working with Transport for Wales. We're working with their access and inclusion panel, and, through the agenda that we have described as 'travel for all', we are ensuring that the most vulnerable, including women, are at the forefront of our considerations whenever investment in transport infrastructure is made.
Yn sicr, a chredaf fod Julie Morgan wedi gwneud pwynt gwerthfawr ar ddiwedd ei chyfraniad drwy ddweud bod diogelwch yn berthnasol i bob dull o symud. Mae bod ag ofn beicio yn berthnasol hefyd i gerdded ac i olwyno mewn sawl ardal. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Delyth Jewell wedi'i godi gyda mi ar sawl achlysur, ac rydym wedi cael trafodaethau adeiladol da iawn ynghylch sut y gallwn wella diogelwch ar draws pob dull teithio. Nid yn unig ein bod ni eisiau strydoedd mwy diogel; rydym eisiau i bobl deimlo'n fwy diogel ar eu strydoedd hefyd.
Rwy'n llwyr gydnabod y rhwystrau y mae llawer o fenywod yn eu hwynebu o ran cerdded, olwyno a beicio, yn enwedig o ran diogelwch a seilwaith, a hyder hefyd. Nid wyf yn credu mai mater trafnidiaeth yn unig a wynebwn; mae'n fater cydraddoldeb, mae'n fater tegwch. Dyna pam ein bod yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i gryfhau sut rydym ni ac awdurdodau lleol yn ymgorffori ystyriaethau cydraddoldeb yn llawer cynharach yn y broses gynllunio o ran buddsoddi mewn cynlluniau cerdded, olwyno a beicio. Mae gennym y panel mynediad a chynhwysiant hefyd, sy'n ganolog yn Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Mae hwnnw'n llais hynod werthfawr i'r bobl sy'n aml yn fwy agored i niwed ac sy'n aml yn ofni gadael eu tai a defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus neu deithio'n llesol.
Felly, rydym hefyd yn meithrin y sgiliau, dylwn ddweud, Lywydd, ac yn darparu cymorth i awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid cyflenwi eraill ar asesiadau o'r effaith ar gydraddoldeb, cynlluniau cynhwysol ac ymgysylltu cymunedol ystyrlon, gan fod yn rhaid gwrando ar leisiau menywod o'r cychwyn cyntaf, yn y cyfnod cynllunio a blaenoriaethu. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth rydym yn ei fynnu ar lefel leol. Rydym yn gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Rydym yn gweithio gyda'u panel mynediad a chynhwysiant, a thrwy'r agenda a ddisgrifiwyd gennym yn 'teithio i bawb', rydym yn sicrhau bod y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed, gan gynnwys menywod, ar flaen ein hystyriaethau bob amser wrth fuddsoddi yn y seilwaith trafnidiaeth.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your answer to Julie Morgan.
I want to talk about the visually impaired, if that's OK, Cabinet Secretary, because, in my constituency, in Llandrindod Wells, you're well aware of the active travel scheme that was designed by the Welsh Government. That scheme now is so wide it's actually forcing HGVs to mount the pavement, which is actually creating a real safety hazard for people who are visually impaired, parents pushing prams, and also people who are cycling. I would say that whoever designed the scheme doesn't really have an ounce of common sense, because, if you go there and actually see it, you would actually understand the problems that it is causing pedestrians and HGV drivers, and the risks that it is posing. So, will you commit today to reviewing that scheme, to make sure it is safe for pedestrians, and, if we are going to have any future active travel schemes, that, actually, consideration is taken to the movement of HGVs around narrow roads?
Diolch am eich ateb i Julie Morgan, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Rwyf am siarad am bobl ag amhariad ar y golwg, os yw hynny'n iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, oherwydd yn fy etholaeth i, yn Llandrindod, rydych chi'n ymwybodol iawn o'r cynllun teithio llesol a gynlluniwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r cynllun hwnnw mor eang bellach fel ei fod yn gorfodi cerbydau nwyddau trwm i yrru ar y palmant, sy'n creu perygl gwirioneddol i bobl ag amhariad ar y golwg, rhieni sy'n gwthio pramiau, a phobl sy'n beicio. Byddwn yn dweud nad oes gan bwy bynnag a gynlluniodd y cynllun owns o synnwyr cyffredin, oherwydd pe baech chi'n mynd yno ac yn ei weld â'ch llygaid eich hun, byddech yn deall y problemau y mae'n eu hachosi i gerddwyr a gyrwyr cerbydau nwyddau trwm, a'r risgiau y mae'n eu hachosi. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo heddiw i adolygu'r cynllun hwnnw, i sicrhau ei fod yn ddiogel i gerddwyr, ac os ydym yn mynd i gael unrhyw gynlluniau teithio llesol yn y dyfodol, fod ystyriaeth yn cael ei rhoi i gerbydau nwyddau trwm sy'n gyrru ar ffyrdd cul?
It's a very timely question that James Evans asks because I actually met with haulage companies and representative bodies on Monday, where this concern was raised. At the weekend, I also met with the Royal National Institute of Blind People, where similar concerns were raised as well. So, of course, we will audit that particular project as we move forward with revising the design guidance for active travel, which a number of organisations have now said is urgently needed, to protect the most vulnerable on our streets.
Mae James Evans yn gofyn cwestiwn amserol iawn gan imi gyfarfod â chwmnïau cludo nwyddau a chyrff cynrychiadol ddydd Llun, lle codwyd y pryder hwn. Dros y penwythnos, cyfarfûm hefyd â Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol Pobl Ddall, lle codwyd pryderon tebyg hefyd. Felly, wrth gwrs, byddwn yn archwilio'r prosiect penodol hwnnw wrth inni fynd ati i adolygu'r canllawiau cynllunio ar gyfer teithio llesol, cam y mae nifer o sefydliadau bellach wedi dweud bod angen ei gymryd ar frys, i ddiogelu'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed ar ein strydoedd.
Gaf fi ddiolch i Julie Morgan am godi'r mater pwysig dros ben yma? Mi fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, fod newidiadau ar waith o ran polisi trafnidiaeth ysgol Rhondda Cynon Taf i ddarparu'r hyn sy'n statudol, sef pellter o 3 milltir ar gyfer ysgol uwchradd, yn hytrach na 2 filltir fel sy'n cael ei ddarparu ar y funud. Mae diogelwch yn fater y mae nifer o rieni a disgyblion wedi ei godi gyda mi fel rhywbeth sy'n eu pryderu nhw'n fawr, yn arbennig merched, a hynny yn y gaeaf, pan fydd hi'n dywyll wrth iddyn nhw ddechrau cerdded neu seiclo i'r ysgol, ac ar y ffordd adref. Mae o hefyd yn fater sy'n dod drosodd yn glir yn y ddogfen hon, sef adroddiad gan rieni Rhondda Cynon Taf, sy'n seiliedig ar sylwadau'r gymuned. Pa ddisgwyliadau sydd gennych chi fel Llywodraeth o ran yr hyn y dylai awdurdodau lleol ei wneud i sicrhau bod polisïau trafnidiaeth ysgol yn sicrhau diogelwch dysgwyr a bod eu lleisiau nhw yn cael eu clywed pan fydd yna ymgynghoriadau? Mi ddylai pawb allu teimlo'n ddiogel wrth deithio i'r ysgol.
I'd like to thank Julie Morgan for raising this very important issue. You'll be aware, Cabinet Secretary, that changes are in the pipeline in terms of the Rhondda Cynon Taf school transport policy to offer the statutory level of provision, namely a distance of 3 miles for secondary schools, rather than the current 2 miles. Safety is a matter that a number of parents and pupils have raised with me as a cause of great concern, particularly girls, and particularly in winter, when it's dark, when they set off for school on foot or by bike, and on the way home. It's also a matter that comes through clearly in this document, which is a report by parents in Rhondda Cynon Taf, based on comments from the community. What expectations do you have as a Government in terms of what local authorities should do to ensure that school transport policies ensure the safety of learners and that their voices are heard when there are consultations on these issues? Everyone should be able to feel safe as they travel to school.
Can I thank Heledd Fychan for her question and say that, as far as my experience informs me, every local authority is concerned with the welfare and the safety of young people whenever they make decisions around transport matters? We, of course, held recently the learner transport summit, which was a very successful event in discussing the challenges that we face. There are many challenges in regard to learner travel and learner transport, and also some practical solutions. Of course, we're taking forward some in the immediate term, including the £1 fare cap for young people on buses. And, of course, the bus Bill, as well, will enable us to take back control of the network and better integrate bus services—scheduled bus services—with learner travel. But this is a major problem that we are working very closely with all local authorities on.
And when it comes to the mileage threshold, that is a matter for local authorities. We do recognise that, after 14 years of austerity, finances are stretched, but the taps have been turned on. And I hope that, in the future, as a result of the numerous interventions that we’re going to be making, the situation in regard to learner travel will improve considerably.
A gaf i ddiolch i Heledd Fychan am ei chwestiwn a dweud, yn fy mhrofiad i, fod pob awdurdod lleol yn poeni am les a diogelwch pobl ifanc pryd bynnag y maent yn gwneud penderfyniadau ynghylch materion trafnidiaeth? Wrth gwrs, cynhaliwyd yr uwchgynhadledd teithio gan ddysgwyr yn ddiweddar, a oedd yn ddigwyddiad llwyddiannus iawn o ran trafod yr heriau a wynebwn. Mae llawer o heriau o ran teithio gan ddysgwyr a chludiant dysgwyr, yn ogystal â rhai atebion ymarferol. Wrth gwrs, rydym yn bwrw ymlaen â rhai yn y tymor byr, gan gynnwys y cap o £1 ar docynnau i bobl ifanc ar fysiau. Ac wrth gwrs, bydd y Bil bysiau hefyd yn ein galluogi i adfer rheolaeth dros y rhwydwaith ac integreiddio gwasanaethau bysiau—gwasanaethau bysiau rheolaidd—â theithio gan ddysgwyr yn well. Ond mae hon yn broblem fawr yr ydym yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda phob awdurdod lleol arni.
Ac o ran y trothwy milltiredd, mater i awdurdodau lleol yw hynny. Rydym yn cydnabod, ar ôl 14 mlynedd o gyni, fod cyllid yn brin, ond mae'r tapiau wedi'u hagor. Ac rwy'n gobeithio, yn y dyfodol, o ganlyniad i'r ymyriadau niferus y byddwn yn eu gwneud, y bydd y sefyllfa o ran teithio gan ddysgwyr yn gwella'n sylweddol.
Cwestiynau'r llefarwyr fydd nesaf, ond, cyn i mi alw ar Gareth Davies i ofyn ei gwestiwn, mae’n bleser gen i groesawu Llywydd Senedd Deddfwriaethol De Cymru Newydd, sydd yn yr oriel gyhoeddus.
Questions from spokespeople will be next, but, before I call on Gareth Davies to ask his question, it's my pleasure to welcome the President of the New South Wales Legislative Council, who is in the public gallery.
It's a real pleasure to welcome to our oriel, and to our Senedd, the President of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Ben Franklin, and your delegation. And as we had the opportunity to discuss this morning, we are in our temporary home here, not in our permanent home, which is being refurbished for the purposes of the next Senedd. But we have taken with us our Senedd mace, which is placed in front of us here, and was given as a very generous gift to us by the Parliament of New South Wales to the new Parliament of Wales, over 20 years ago. So, we're very grateful for that gift, and we treasure it well, and we move it with us wherever we may roam.
Mae'n bleser mawr croesawu i'n horiel, ac i'n Senedd, Llywydd Cyngor Deddfwriaethol De Cymru Newydd, Ben Franklin, a'ch dirprwyaeth. Ac fel y cawsom gyfle i'w drafod y bore yma, rydym yn ein cartref dros dro yma, nid yn ein cartref parhaol, sy'n cael ei adnewyddu ar gyfer y Senedd nesaf. Ond rydym wedi dod â byrllysg y Senedd gyda ni, sydd wedi'i osod o'n blaenau yma, a chawsom hwnnw yn rhodd hael iawn gan Senedd De Cymru Newydd i Senedd newydd Cymru, dros 20 mlynedd yn ôl. Felly, rydym yn ddiolchgar iawn am y rhodd hwnnw, ac rydym yn ei drysori'n fawr, ac yn dod ag ef gyda ni lle bynnag yr awn.
Felly, diolch yn fawr, a chroeso i chi i Gymru. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
So, thank you very much, and a very warm welcome to Wales. [Applause.]
Welcome to Wales. [Applause.]
Croeso i Gymru. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Felly, Gareth Davies—cwestiynau'r llefarwyr.
So, Gareth Davies—spokespeople's questions.
Diolch, Llywydd. North Wales is at the heart of our nation’s tourism economy. We welcome millions of visitors each year, and it’s vital to sustain our regional economy, directly contributing £1.8 billion to the north Wales economy each year. The visitor levy will undoubtedly have a big impact on our regional economy. This, with the Welsh Government’s own estimates projecting up to £576 million in economic damage, risks undermining one of our most successful industries. This tax sends the wrong signal at the worst possible time for the industry, with overnight stays in Wales down 29 per cent on 2022, and the latest world economic forum travel and tourism index ranking Britain one hundred and thirteenth out of 119 countries for price competitiveness. Making it even more expensive will deter visitors and, thus, revenue for our region.
But given the tax will be coming into force, I’m interested to know how the Cabinet Secretary will be supporting small businesses in the north Wales tourism sector who will be battling this additional tax on their industry, on top of the rise in national insurance, business rates and the second home council tax rate. So, can the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales tell us what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary for the economy about the potential economic impact of this tax on the north Wales economy and how this will be mitigated by the Welsh Government?
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae Gogledd Cymru yn ganolog i economi twristiaeth ein gwlad. Rydym yn croesawu miliynau o ymwelwyr bob blwyddyn, ac mae'n hanfodol i'n heconomi ranbarthol, gan gyfrannu £1.8 biliwn yn uniongyrchol at economi gogledd Cymru bob blwyddyn. Heb os, bydd yr ardoll ymwelwyr yn cael effaith fawr ar ein heconomi ranbarthol. Mae hyn, gydag amcangyfrifon Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun yn rhagweld hyd at £576 miliwn o niwed i'r economi, yn mentro tanseilio un o'n diwydiannau mwyaf llwyddiannus. Mae'r dreth hon yn anfon y neges anghywir ar yr adeg waethaf sy'n bosibl i'r diwydiant, gyda nifer yr arosiadau dros nos yng Nghymru i lawr 29 y cant o gymharu â 2022, a mynegai teithio a thwristiaeth diweddaraf fforwm economaidd y byd yn gosod Prydain yn safle 113 allan o 119 o wledydd o ran cystadleurwydd prisiau. Bydd ei gwneud hyd yn oed yn ddrytach yn atal ymwelwyr, ac felly, refeniw i'n rhanbarth.
Ond o ystyried y bydd y dreth yn dod i rym, hoffwn wybod sut y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cefnogi busnesau bach yn sector twristiaeth y gogledd a fydd yn gorfod ymdopi â'r dreth ychwanegol hon ar eu diwydiant, ar ben y cynnydd mewn yswiriant gwladol, ardrethi busnes a chyfradd y dreth gyngor ar ail gartrefi. Felly, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru ddweud wrthym pa drafodaethau y mae wedi'u cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi ynglŷn ag effaith economaidd bosibl y dreth hon ar economi'r gogledd a sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn lliniaru hyn?
Well, can I thank Gareth Davies for his question? At the weekend, I and many others from the Labour Party were over in Llandudno, a fabulous tourist destination—a magnificent place. We are very fortunate to represent north Wales constituencies, are we not? And, at the end of the conference, rather than rush back to Ruabon, I thought I’d just spend a little more time in the area, investing a little more time in the area. And I actually went over to Conwy as well, which is a fabulous place too. And you’ll be aware that it has the smallest house in the world on the seafront there. And I was told that your party is going to be holding your post-election conference in the porchway, in that particular tourist attraction next year. [Laughter.]
In direct answer to your question, I think it’s really essential—and I’ll be discussing this matter with the north Wales business council on Friday—absolutely essential that we see the visitor levy, I believe, as an opportunity, which is what many other places, like Greater Manchester, have seen it as. It was business led there, and the businesses have embraced it. Why? Because businesses realise that if you were to draw in more tourists, if you are going to add value to the sector, you have to make a place worth coming to. That means getting more investment into events, new installations, new attractions, new experiences, new cultural icons, and you can only do that if you’ve got the investment. So, I would say to the tourist sector, 'Please, please, work with your local authorities, work with us, as much as possible, to develop ideas, to ensure that we can draw in more visitors in the future, through better infrastructure for tourism, through better investment in businesses, through better investment in promotional activity, and, crucially as well, more investment in major events. Major events are a major pull, obviously. We've got the Tour de France, which I think will demonstrate huge value in having major events come to Wales. We can only get them if we have the money to invest in them. I think the tourism levy can do just that. It can provide us with the additional resource to draw in more major events.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Gareth Davies am ei gwestiwn? Ar y penwythnos, bûm i a llawer o aelodau eraill o'r Blaid Lafur draw yn Llandudno, cyrchfan wych i dwristiaid—lle godidog. Rydym yn ffodus iawn i gynrychioli etholaethau'r gogledd, onid ydym? Ac ar ddiwedd y gynhadledd, yn hytrach na rhuthro'n ôl i Riwabon, roeddwn yn meddwl y byddwn yn treulio ychydig bach mwy o amser yn yr ardal, yn buddsoddi ychydig bach mwy o amser yn yr ardal. A bûm draw yng Nghonwy hefyd, sydd hefyd yn lle gwych. Ac fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fod ganddynt y tŷ lleiaf yn y byd ar lan y môr yno. A dywedwyd wrthyf y bydd eich plaid yn cynnal eich cynhadledd chi yng nghyntedd yr atyniad twristaidd penodol hwnnw ar ôl yr etholiad y flwyddyn nesaf. [Chwerthin.]
Mewn ymateb uniongyrchol i'ch cwestiwn, credaf ei bod yn hollbwysig—a byddaf yn trafod y mater hwn gyda chyngor busnes gogledd Cymru ddydd Gwener—yn wirioneddol hanfodol ein bod yn ystyried yr ardoll ymwelwyr yn gyfle, yn yr un modd â llawer o leoedd eraill, fel Manceinion Fwyaf. Cafodd ei arwain gan fusnes yno, ac mae'r busnesau wedi'i groesawu. Pam? Am fod busnesau'n sylweddoli, os ydych chi am ddenu mwy o dwristiaid, os ydych am ychwanegu gwerth at y sector, fod yn rhaid ichi wneud lle yn werth dod iddo. Mae hynny'n golygu cael mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn digwyddiadau, safleoedd newydd, atyniadau newydd, profiadau newydd, eiconau diwylliannol newydd, a dim ond os oes gennych y buddsoddiad y gallwch chi wneud hynny. Felly, rwy'n dweud wrth y sector twristiaeth, 'Os gwelwch yn dda, gweithiwch gyda'ch awdurdodau lleol, gweithiwch gyda ni, cymaint â phosibl, i ddatblygu syniadau, i sicrhau y gallwn ddenu mwy o ymwelwyr yn y dyfodol, drwy well seilwaith ar gyfer twristiaeth, drwy well buddsoddiad mewn busnesau, drwy well buddsoddiad mewn gweithgarwch hyrwyddo, ac yn hollbwysig hefyd, mwy o fuddsoddiad mewn digwyddiadau mawr. Mae digwyddiadau mawr yn atyniad mawr, yn amlwg. Mae gennym y Tour de France, a fydd, yn fy marn i, yn dangos gwerth enfawr o ran denu digwyddiadau mawr i Gymru. Dim ond os oes gennym yr arian i fuddsoddi ynddynt y gallwn eu denu. Gall yr ardoll dwristiaeth wneud hynny. Gall roi'r adnoddau ychwanegol i ni fel y gallwn ddenu mwy o ddigwyddiadau mawr i mewn.
I appreciate the sharpness and the wit of the Cabinet Secretary this afternoon. But if you take that small cottage in Conwy, for example, and quote the figure I gave you of a 29 per cent decrease in overnight stays in Wales, how is that going to help that cottage and the staff and the owners of that property and give them confidence for the future?
I'd like to also raise how this levy has been received by local authorities. Wrexham, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly councils have already come forward to rule themselves out of imposing the visitor levy, with only Cardiff Council so far indicating they would impose the tax. We don't know, as of yet, whether the local authorities in north Wales plan on imposing the visitor levy.
Local authorities have been lumbered with more and more responsibilities by the Welsh Government, with council tax rises significantly higher in Wales than in England, with north Wales suffering with some of the highest rises. Conwy, which you quoted, Minister, had the highest at a whopping 10 per cent. So, can the Cabinet Secretary outline what discussions he has had with north Wales local authorities regarding their views on this tax and whether they plan to introduce it? And will he receive confirmation from them that, if they do introduce it, the money raised will be ring-fenced and spent only on maintaining infrastructure?
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi craffter a ffraethineb Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet y prynhawn yma. Ond os ystyriwch y bwthyn bach yng Nghonwy, er enghraifft, a dyfynnu'r ffigur a roddais i chi o ostyngiad o 29 y cant mewn arosiadau dros nos yng Nghymru, sut y mae hynny'n mynd i helpu'r bwthyn hwnnw a staff a pherchnogion yr eiddo hwnnw a rhoi hyder iddynt ar gyfer y dyfodol?
Hoffwn godi hefyd sut y mae awdurdodau lleol wedi ymateb i'r ardoll hon. Mae cynghorau Wrecsam, sir Benfro, Rhondda Cynon Taf a Chaerffili eisoes wedi dweud na fyddant yn codi'r ardoll ymwelwyr, gyda dim ond Cyngor Caerdydd hyd yn hyn wedi nodi y byddent yn codi'r dreth. Nid ydym yn gwybod eto a yw awdurdodau lleol gogledd Cymru'n bwriadu codi'r ardoll ymwelwyr.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gorfodi mwy a mwy o gyfrifoldebau ar awdurdodau lleol, gyda chodiadau yn y dreth gyngor yn sylweddol uwch yng Nghymru nag yn Lloegr, gyda gogledd Cymru'n dioddef rhai o'r codiadau uchaf. Conwy, fel y crybwyllwyd gennych, Weinidog, a welodd y codiad uchaf, codiad anferthol o 10 y cant. Felly, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet amlinellu pa drafodaethau y mae wedi'u cael gydag awdurdodau lleol y gogledd ynghylch eu barn ar y dreth hon ac a ydynt yn bwriadu ei chyflwyno? Ac a wnaiff ofyn am gadarnhad ganddynt, os byddant yn ei chyflwyno, y bydd yr arian a godir yn cael ei glustnodi a'i wario ar gynnal a chadw seilwaith yn unig?
This is a matter primarily for the Minister with responsibility for the economy, and the finance Minister as well. But I do speak regularly with local authorities in north Wales about this particular initiative, and I will support the decisions that local authorities make across the region, whether it is to implement the levy, or, if they choose not to, to refuse to.
That's the beauty of devolving responsibilities to the regions of Wales and to local authorities. I think it's absolutely right that it's the councils themselves that make this decision, because in some parts of north Wales tourism is far greater in terms of the proportion that contributes to the economy than in other areas, so there's greater potential to raise revenue from the levy, and in so doing there's greater potential to be able to invest in places that attract tourists.
And just talking again about the smallest house in the world, the way that we get more people to visit that is to promote it more, is to make sure that the streets are clean and attractive around it, and we can do that by utilising the resource available through the levy, if local authorities so choose to introduce it.
Mater i'r Gweinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros yr economi yw hwn yn bennaf, a'r Gweinidog cyllid hefyd. Ond rwy'n siarad yn rheolaidd gydag awdurdodau lleol yn y gogledd ynglŷn â'r fenter benodol hon, a byddaf yn cefnogi'r penderfyniadau y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu gwneud ar draws y rhanbarth, boed hynny i gyflwyno'r ardoll, neu os ydynt yn dewis peidio â gwneud hynny, i wrthod gwneud hynny.
Dyna brydferthwch datganoli cyfrifoldebau i ranbarthau Cymru ac i awdurdodau lleol. Credaf ei bod yn gwbl deg mai'r cynghorau eu hunain sydd i wneud y penderfyniad hwn, oherwydd mewn rhai rhannau o'r gogledd, mae twristiaeth yn cyfrannu llawer mwy at yr economi nag mewn ardaloedd eraill, felly mae mwy o botensial i godi refeniw drwy'r ardoll, a thrwy wneud hynny, mae mwy o botensial i allu buddsoddi mewn lleoedd sy'n denu twristiaid.
Ac i sôn eto am y tŷ lleiaf yn y byd, y ffordd y cawn fwy o bobl i ymweld ag ef yw ei hyrwyddo'n well, sicrhau bod y strydoedd o'i amgylch yn lân ac yn ddeniadol, a gallwn wneud hynny drwy ddefnyddio'r adnodd sydd ar gael drwy'r ardoll, os yw awdurdodau lleol yn dewis ei gyflwyno.
The tourism tax, whilst having the potential to deter visitors, does nothing to help the housing crisis, which is particularly severe in north Wales. This tax will not help solve north Wales's housing crisis. In Gwynedd alone, 3,800 people are on a social housing waiting list, of course. Yet, council tax premiums on second homes, up to 300 per cent, have not translated into affordable homes for young people in the region, with the premiums in Pembrokeshire largely failing to deliver local housing. So, while this Government is piling new burdens on tourists, who are doing us a favour by visiting and spending more money here, we achieve nothing for north Wales's families locked out of the market. We need affordable homes, built at lightning speed, incentives for year-round rentals, and support for local landlords, not symbolic taxes that bite the very businesses and jobs our communities depend on.
Wales needs 12,000 new homes every year. Yet, over the last decade, that has never been met. We have called to establish a dedicated taskforce of planners to tackle the backlog in the slowest performing councils, and create a planning apprentice for every council. So, can the Cabinet Secretary outline, given the tourism tax won't help the housing crisis, what concrete action is the Welsh Government taking today in north Wales to focus house-building efforts in the areas most affected by the housing shortage, to ensure the next generation are able to continue residing within their own communities?
Er bod gan y dreth dwristiaeth botensial i atal ymwelwyr rhag ymweld, nid yw'n gwneud dim i gynorthwyo gyda'r argyfwng tai, sy'n arbennig o ddifrifol yn y gogledd. Ni fydd y dreth hon yn helpu i ddatrys argyfwng tai gogledd Cymru. Yng Ngwynedd yn unig, mae 3,800 o bobl ar restr aros am dai cymdeithasol. Ac eto, nid yw premiymau'r dreth gyngor ar ail gartrefi, hyd at 300 y cant, wedi trosi'n gartrefi fforddiadwy i bobl ifanc yn y rhanbarth, gyda'r premiymau yn sir Benfro at ei gilydd yn methu darparu tai lleol. Felly, er bod y Llywodraeth hon yn pentyrru beichiau newydd ar dwristiaid, sy'n gwneud cymwynas â ni drwy ymweld a gwario mwy o arian yma, nid ydym yn cyflawni unrhyw beth ar ran teuluoedd y gogledd sydd wedi'u cloi allan o'r farchnad. Mae angen cartrefi fforddiadwy arnom, wedi'u hadeiladu'n gyflym, cymhellion ar gyfer eiddo sydd ar gael i'w rentu drwy gydol y flwyddyn, a chymorth i landlordiaid lleol, nid trethi symbolaidd sy'n cosbi'r busnesau a'r swyddi y mae ein cymunedau'n dibynnu arnynt.
Mae angen 12,000 o gartrefi newydd ar Gymru bob blwyddyn. Ac eto, dros y degawd diwethaf, nid yw hynny erioed wedi'i gyflawni. Rydym wedi galw am sefydlu tasglu pwrpasol o gynllunwyr i fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad yn y cynghorau sy'n perfformio arafaf, a chreu prentis cynllunio ar gyfer pob cyngor. Felly, o ystyried na fydd y dreth dwristiaeth yn helpu'r argyfwng tai, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nodi pa gamau pendant y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd heddiw yng ngogledd Cymru i ganolbwyntio'r ymdrechion adeiladu tai yn yr ardaloedd yr effeithir arnynt fwyaf gan y prinder tai, er mwyn sicrhau bod y genhedlaeth nesaf yn gallu parhau i fyw yn eu cymunedau eu hunain?
I think it's a really important question the Member raises. It goes to the heart of what a Government needs to do to provide security for the people that it serves, and providing the security of a roof over one's head is fundamental to that. But you can't see one policy in isolation from other complementary policy areas. Yes, we've got huge targets, really ambitious targets for building new affordable homes, but you can't do that unless you actually resolve the planning challenge that we face, and Gareth Davies actually highlighted it, the need for more planners. With 14 years of austerity, when the Tories were calling it savings, actually, what it was was job cuts. And we need to recruit, train and secure more planners, if we are to build more affordable homes for people.
I'd also say that a huge part of the solution to the challenge that is faced right across communities, rural and urban, is the need to ensure that we get better jobs for people, that we free people to be able to acquire the home that they wish. And then we'll be able to deal with not just homelessness, but we'll be able to deal with a lack of churn within the housing chain as well, which is often so important to a prosperous economy.
Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gofyn cwestiwn pwysig iawn. Mae'n mynd at wraidd yr hyn sydd angen i Lywodraeth ei wneud i ddarparu sicrwydd i'r bobl y mae'n eu gwasanaethu, ac mae darparu'r sicrwydd o do uwch eich pen yn hanfodol i hynny. Ond ni allwch ystyried un polisi ar wahân i feysydd polisi cysylltiedig. Oes, mae gennym dargedau enfawr, targedau uchelgeisiol iawn ar gyfer adeiladu tai fforddiadwy newydd, ond ni allwch wneud hynny oni bai eich bod yn datrys yr her gynllunio sy'n ein hwynebu, ac fel y nododd Gareth Davies, yr angen am fwy o gynllunwyr. Gyda 14 mlynedd o gyni, pan oedd y Torïaid yn ei alw'n arbedion, mewn gwirionedd, yr hyn ydoedd oedd torri swyddi. Ac mae angen inni recriwtio, hyfforddi a sicrhau mwy o gynllunwyr os ydym am adeiladu tai mwy fforddiadwy i bobl.
Hefyd, rhan enfawr o'r ateb i'r her sy'n wynebu cymunedau gwledig a threfol fel ei gilydd yw'r angen i sicrhau swyddi gwell i bobl, ein bod yn rhyddhau pobl i allu caffael y cartref y maent ei eisiau. Ac yna gallwn fynd i'r afael â digartrefedd, a hefyd gallwn fynd i'r afael â'r diffyg symud o fewn y gadwyn dai hefyd, sy'n aml mor bwysig i economi ffyniannus.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths.
Diolch, Llywydd. Back in 2020, the Welsh Government published its assessment of UK historical investment in rail infrastructure enhancements. This confirmed what we had long suspected, that Wales has suffered chronic and systemic underinvestment in this area over several decades. It estimated a shortfall in funding of at least £2.4 billion to £5.1 billion over the period of 2001-29, which is in addition to the £4.6 billion-worth of HS2 consequential funding that has been unjustly withheld from Wales by successive UK Governments. Unfortunately, based on independent analysis of the recent spending review, it appears that this issue shows no sign of abating, and, if anything, the gulf that already exists is growing into a chasm.
Professor Mark Barry has estimated that to place Wales on an even footing with England, we would need at least £250 million per annum for enhancements on both the core Valleys lines and the Network Rail network over the next 15 years, a figure that dwarfs the £445 million that has been committed over the next decade by your party in Westminster. It comes as little surprise, therefore, that the Wales Governance Centre has deemed the Chancellor's plans as underwhelming, leaving the systemic problems with how Welsh rail infrastructure spending is funded in place. So, will you commit to publishing a revised assessment of the historical investment in rail infrastructure enhancements in Wales, and do you believe it will show a reduction in the shortfall that you originally estimated by 2029?
Diolch, Lywydd. Yn ôl yn 2020, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei hasesiad o fuddsoddiad hanesyddol y DU mewn gwelliannau i'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd. Cadarnhaodd yr hyn yr oeddem wedi'i amau ers tro, sef bod Cymru wedi dioddef tanfuddsoddi cronig a systemig yn y maes hwn ers sawl degawd. Amcangyfrifodd ddiffyg mewn cyllid o o leiaf £2.4 biliwn i £5.1 biliwn dros gyfnod 2001-29, sy'n ychwanegol at y gwerth £4.6 biliwn o gyllid canlyniadol HS2 sydd wedi'i wrthod i Gymru yn annheg gan Lywodraethau olynol y DU. Yn anffodus, yn seiliedig ar ddadansoddiad annibynnol o'r adolygiad o wariant diweddar, ymddengys nad yw'r broblem hon yn dangos unrhyw arwydd o wella, ac os o gwbl, mae'r bwlch sydd eisoes yn bodoli yn tyfu'n agendor.
Er mwyn rhoi Cymru ar sail gyfartal â Lloegr, mae'r Athro Mark Barry wedi amcangyfrif y byddai angen o leiaf £250 miliwn y flwyddyn arnom ar gyfer gwelliannau i linellau craidd y Cymoedd a rhwydwaith Network Rail dros y 15 mlynedd nesaf, ffigur sy'n llawer mwy na'r £445 miliwn a neilltuwyd dros y degawd nesaf gan eich plaid yn San Steffan. Nid yw'n syndod, felly, fod Canolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru wedi dweud bod cynlluniau'r Canghellor yn siomedig, ac nad ydynt yn mynd i'r afael â'r problemau systemig gyda sut y caiff gwariant seilwaith rheilffyrdd Cymru ei ariannu. Felly, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gyhoeddi asesiad diwygiedig o'r buddsoddiad hanesyddol mewn gwelliannau i'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru, ac a ydych chi'n credu y bydd yn dangos gostyngiad yn y diffyg a amcangyfrifwyd gennych yn wreiddiol erbyn 2029?
Well, can I thank the Member for his question? There's nothing really new in anything that's been raised today on this matter. The UK Labour Government, however, has, for the first time, acknowledged that there is significant underinvestment—historic underinvestment—in our railway network, and the £445 million extra was a down payment on that. Now, the reason that the Government was able to assign that level of funding to Welsh rail infrastructure was because over the years, in spite of austerity, we were able to fund and take forward numerous schemes around what Lord Burns had recommended, to ensure that they were shovel ready, to ensure that we could proceed with the planning consents, that we could proceed with the detailed plans, and then get them either delivered within a single spending period, or enable them to draw down additional funds through future spending periods. And that's what we've been hearing from the Chancellor, that's what we've heard from the Secretary of State for Wales, from our own First Minister, that this is only the beginning in addressing that historic underfunding.
Why do I say it's only the beginning? Because the projects that are contained within the agreed pipeline, an agreed pipeline between us and the Department for Transport, amount to, in the short term, £1 billion, and the £445 million will unlock the first major components of that investment, and then the longer term pipeline amounts to more than £4 billion at today's prices. I should just add, though, that when it comes to HS2, essentially you get Barnett consequentials once the money has been spent or allocated, and so the consequential that we should have expected to date is in the region of £350 million. By the end of this financial year, the Welsh Treasury estimates it to be around £431 million. So, it is very clear that the new UK Government is investing where other Governments refused to, making good the promise to address that historic underinvestment in the Welsh rail network.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn? Nid oes unrhyw beth newydd, mewn gwirionedd, yn unrhyw beth a godwyd heddiw ar y mater hwn. Fodd bynnag, mae Llywodraeth Lafur y DU wedi cydnabod, am y tro cyntaf, y bu tanfuddsoddi sylweddol—tanfuddsoddi hanesyddol—yn ein rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd, ac roedd y £445 miliwn ychwanegol yn flaendal ar hynny. Nawr, y rheswm pam y llwyddodd y Llywodraeth i neilltuo'r lefel honno o gyllid ar gyfer seilwaith rheilffyrdd Cymru oedd oherwydd dros y blynyddoedd, er gwaethaf cyni, rydym wedi gallu ariannu a bwrw ymlaen â nifer o gynlluniau yn seiliedig yr hyn a argymhellodd yr Arglwydd Burns, i sicrhau eu bod yn barod i'w rhoi ar waith, i sicrhau y gallem fwrw ymlaen â'r caniatâd cynllunio, y gallem fwrw ymlaen â'r cynlluniau manwl, ac yna naill ai sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu cyflwyno o fewn un cyfnod o wariant, neu eu galluogi i dynnu arian ychwanegol i lawr drwy gyfnodau gwariant y dyfodol. A dyna a glywsom gan y Canghellor, dyna a glywsom gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, gan ein Prif Weinidog ein hunain, mai dim ond y dechrau yw hyn o ran mynd i'r afael â'r tanfuddsoddi hanesyddol hwnnw.
Pam fy mod yn dweud mai dim ond y dechrau yw hyn? Am fod y prosiectau sydd wedi'u cynnwys o fewn y ffrwd y cytunwyd arni, ffrwd brosiectau a gytunwyd rhyngom ni a'r Adran Drafnidiaeth, yn y tymor byr yn werth cyfanswm o £1 biliwn, a bydd y £445 miliwn yn datgloi cydrannau mawr cyntaf y buddsoddiad hwnnw, ac yna mae'r ffrwd brosiectau fwy hirdymor yn werth mwy na £4 biliwn ar brisiau heddiw. Dylwn ychwanegu, serch hynny, o ran HS2, yn y bôn, rydych chi'n cael cyllid canlyniadol Barnett ar ôl i'r arian gael ei wario neu ei ddyrannu, ac felly mae'r cyllid canlyniadol y dylem fod wedi'i ddisgwyl hyd yma oddeutu £350 miliwn. Erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon, mae Trysorlys Cymru yn amcangyfrif y bydd oddeutu £431 miliwn. Felly, mae'n amlwg iawn fod Llywodraeth newydd y DU yn buddsoddi lle gwrthododd Llywodraethau eraill wneud hynny, gan gyflawni'r addewid i fynd i'r afael â'r tanfuddsoddi hanesyddol yn rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd Cymru.
Diolch am yr ateb yna.
Thank you for that response.
But I would urge you to re-look and revise that plan to get us the clarity that we need, and to see if that underinvestment is continuing, or, as you explained there, that you believe that it will narrow. But being able to get that information in the public domain, that would be really useful.
The arbitrary nature of rail funding arrangements have, of course, been brought into sharp relief by the East West Rail fiasco. During Plaid Cymru's debate last week, the Cabinet Secretary for finance suggested that even though the comparability factor on the project had been altered, apparently without the prior knowledge of the Welsh Government, Wales would nevertheless receive some consequential funding through the spending review. Could you confirm the date on which you were made aware of the change of the comparability factor? Can you also say what is the precise amount of consequential funding, above the £1.2 million that the Welsh Government had already received prior to the change, that Wales has now received as a direct result of this project? And finally, can you confirm what the likely full amount of the consequential funding will be for this project over its lifespan?
Ond byddwn yn eich annog i edrych eto ar y cynllun hwnnw a'i ddiwygio er mwyn rhoi'r eglurder sydd ei angen arnom, ac i weld a yw'r tanfuddsoddi hwnnw'n parhau, neu fel yr egluroch chi, eich bod yn credu y bydd yn lleihau. Ond byddai gallu gwneud y wybodaeth honno'n gyhoeddus yn ddefnyddiol iawn.
Wrth gwrs, mae natur fympwyol trefniadau ariannu rheilffyrdd o dan y chwyddwydr yn fwyaf sydyn oherwydd ffiasgo East West Rail. Yn ystod dadl Plaid Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf, awgrymodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, er bod y ffactor cymharedd ar y prosiect wedi’i addasu, heb i Lywodraeth Cymru gael gwybod ymlaen llaw yn ôl pob golwg, y byddai Cymru serch hynny’n derbyn rhywfaint o gyllid canlyniadol drwy’r adolygiad o wariant. A allech chi gadarnhau’r dyddiad y cawsoch wybod am y newid yn y ffactor cymharedd? A allwch chi ddweud hefyd beth yw union swm y cyllid canlyniadol, uwchlaw’r £1.2 miliwn yr oedd Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi’i dderbyn cyn y newid ac y mae Cymru bellach wedi’i dderbyn o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i’r prosiect hwn? Ac yn olaf, a allwch chi gadarnhau beth fydd cyfanswm tebygol y cyllid canlyniadol ar gyfer y prosiect hwn dros ei oes?
This is an incredibly complicated area and, through rail reform, we wish to see it simplified and for greater transparency to emerge. Effectively, what happens with England and Wales is a lot of projects are taken forward through utilising local transport grants. That happens in Wales, it happens in England. In England, for the city regions, those grants are called 'the city region sustainable transport settlements'. So, when Members have been describing the £2.5 billion for greater Manchester over five years, that is, effectively, the city region sustainable transport settlement for that particular region. Here, it's devolved. So, we class our allocations as regional transport grants. They're going to be devolved from the start of the next financial year.
But as a result of the very positive news from UK Government—they've turned on the taps on investment in infrastructure for the first time in goodness knows how long—Wales will receive, as a direct result of those allocations, an additional £202 million. Now, of course, it will go into the block grant, but that consequential is enormous, and that's as a result of having a UK Government that is, once again, investing in infrastructure, and Wales is getting the benefit from it too in the form of those consequentials.
Mae hwn yn faes hynod gymhleth, a thrwy ddiwygio'r rheilffyrdd, rydym am ei weld yn cael ei symleiddio a mwy o dryloywder. I bob pwrpas, yr hyn sy'n digwydd gyda Chymru a Lloegr yw bod llawer o brosiectau'n cael eu cyflawni drwy ddefnyddio grantiau trafnidiaeth lleol. Mae hynny'n digwydd yng Nghymru, mae'n digwydd yn Lloegr. Yn Lloegr, ar gyfer y dinas-ranbarthau, gelwir y grantiau hynny'n 'setliadau trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy'r dinas-ranbarthau'. Felly, pan fydd Aelodau wedi bod yn disgrifio'r £2.5 biliwn ar gyfer Manceinion Fwyaf dros bum mlynedd, dyna, i bob pwrpas, yw'r setliad trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy ar gyfer y dinas-ranbarth penodol hwnnw. Yma, mae wedi'i ddatganoli. Felly, rydym yn dosbarthu ein dyraniadau fel grantiau trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol. Byddant yn cael eu datganoli o ddechrau'r flwyddyn ariannol nesaf.
Ond o ganlyniad i'r newyddion cadarnhaol iawn gan Lywodraeth y DU—maent wedi agor y tapiau ar fuddsoddiad mewn seilwaith am y tro cyntaf ers dyn a ŵyr pryd—o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i'r dyraniadau hynny, bydd Cymru'n cael £202 miliwn ychwanegol. Nawr, wrth gwrs, bydd yn mynd i mewn i'r grant bloc, ond mae'r cyllid canlyniadol hwnnw'n enfawr, ac mae hynny o ganlyniad i gael Llywodraeth y DU sydd, unwaith eto, yn buddsoddi mewn seilwaith, ac mae Cymru'n cael y budd o hynny hefyd ar ffurf y cyllid canlyniadol hwnnw.
Thank you for that clarification. I'd like to turn now to the planned roll-out of the £1 bus fare for 16 to 21-year-olds. While we welcome the underlying principle of this scheme, there is a flaw with the current design in so far that it currently makes no provision for under-16-year-olds, who would be facing disproportionately higher fares compared to their peers. When I raised this with you a few weeks ago, you agreed to undertake a review of this matter ahead of the implementation of the scheme in September. Could you confirm whether this remains the case? And can you provide a guarantee that, as a result of the review, the scheme will be extended to under-16-year-olds in time for that roll-out? And can you also shed any light on why under-16s weren't considered within the original scope?
Diolch am yr eglurhad. Hoffwn droi nawr at y cynllun i gyflwyno tocynnau bws am £1 i bobl 16 i 21 oed. Er ein bod yn croesawu egwyddor sylfaenol y cynllun, mae ei gynllun presennol yn ddiffygiol am nad yw'n darparu ar gyfer pobl o dan 16 oed ar hyn o bryd, a fyddai'n wynebu prisiau anghymesur o uchel o gymharu â'u cyfoedion. Pan godais hyn gyda chi ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, fe wnaethoch chi gytuno i gynnal adolygiad o'r mater cyn i'r cynllun gael ei roi ar waith ym mis Medi. A allech chi gadarnhau bod hynny'n dal i fod yn wir? Ac a allwch chi warantu, o ganlyniad i'r adolygiad, y bydd y cynllun yn cael ei ymestyn i gynnwys pobl o dan 16 oed mewn pryd ar gyfer ei gyflwyno? Ac a allwch chi hefyd daflu rhywfaint o oleuni ar y rheswm pam na chafodd pobl o dan 16 oed eu hystyried o fewn y cwmpas gwreiddiol?
Well, can I thank the Member for his question? A lot of work has taken place in the past few weeks since this issue was last discussed, but I'd like to put on record my thanks to the Liberal Democrat Member of the Senedd, Jane Dodds, for bringing forward this proposal. I think it will make an enormous difference to young people across Wales. I was at Ysgol Dinas Brân recently, in Llangollen, and I was chatting with sixth formers there about their main concerns and their challenges in life, and one of them said, 'You know, effectively, our life chances could be locked into this valley unless we can gain affordable access to public transport, and unless we can have frequent and reliable and safe services.' Well, as a result of the £1 fare cap, we are going to provide that affordable public transport. And as a result of the bus Bill, we're going to provide reliable, safe and frequent services. So, we are addressing one of the major inhibitors for young people when they strive to reach their potential.
Now, in terms of the discussions with the bus operators, they have been pretty intense. There are many, many operators. The challenge around young people aged under 16 has been confined though to a comparatively small number of operators that we've been in discussions with. I'm pleased to say that the First Minister herself will be making an announcement about the fare-cap scheme later this month, and I'm hoping that all Members will welcome it.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn? Mae llawer o waith wedi mynd rhagddo yn yr wythnosau diwethaf ers i'r mater gael ei drafod ddiwethaf, ond hoffwn ddiolch ar goedd i Aelod y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol o'r Senedd, Jane Dodds, am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn. Credaf y bydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i bobl ifanc ledled Cymru. Roeddwn yn Ysgol Dinas Brân yn Llangollen yn ddiweddar, ac wrth sgwrsio â myfyrwyr y chweched dosbarth yno ynglŷn â'u prif bryderon a'u heriau mewn bywyd, dywedodd un ohonynt, 'Wyddoch chi, i bob pwrpas, gallai ein cyfleoedd bywyd fod yn gyfyngedig i'r dyffryn hwn oni bai ein bod yn cael mynediad fforddiadwy at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ac oni bai y gallwn gael gwasanaethau mynych a dibynadwy a diogel.' Wel, o ganlyniad i'r cap o £1 ar bris tocynnau, rydym yn mynd i ddarparu'r drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus fforddiadwy honno. Ac o ganlyniad i'r Bil bysiau, rydym yn mynd i ddarparu gwasanaethau dibynadwy, diogel a mynych. Felly, rydym yn mynd i'r afael ag un o'r prif rwystrau i bobl ifanc wrth iddynt ymdrechu i gyrraedd eu potensial.
Nawr, o ran y trafodaethau gyda'r gweithredwyr bysiau, maent wedi bod yn eithaf dwys. Mae llawer iawn o weithredwyr. Mae'r her o ran pobl ifanc o dan 16 oed wedi'i chyfyngu, serch hynny, i nifer gymharol fach o weithredwyr yr ydym wedi bod yn trafod â hwy. Rwy'n falch o ddweud y bydd y Prif Weinidog ei hun yn gwneud cyhoeddiad am y cynllun cap prisiau yn nes ymlaen y mis hwn, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr holl Aelodau yn ei groesawu.
3. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar fuddsoddiad mewn rheilffyrdd yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru? OQ62932
3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on investment in railways in mid and west Wales? OQ62932
Yes. We've invested £800 million in rolling stock, with brand-new and newly refurbished trains benefiting passengers across mid and west Wales, as the whole of Wales. And our investment has enabled Transport for Wales to operate more services, boost capacity, and deliver sustained performance improvements for passengers.
Iawn. Rydym wedi buddsoddi £800 miliwn mewn cerbydau trên, gyda threnau newydd sbon a threnau wedi'u hadnewyddu'n ddiweddar ar gael i deithwyr ledled canolbarth a gorllewin Cymru, fel Cymru gyfan. Ac mae ein buddsoddiad wedi galluogi Trafnidiaeth Cymru i gyflwyno mwy o wasanaethau, cynyddu capasiti, a chyflawni gwelliannau perfformiad cynaliadwy i deithwyr.
Cabinet Secretary, following the spending review, Rachel Reeves said that the Welsh Government had got everything it asked for, including when it comes to rail investment. My question to you today is simple: is this true? And if it is true, why did you ask for nothing, literally nothing at all, to invest in the railways west of Cardiff? Because the truth is that not only did the spending review deliver painfully little for Welsh rail, it delivered literally nothing for the railways in the region that I represent. Nothing to fix chronic delays and cancellations on the Heart of Wales line, which has some of the worst customer satisfaction ratings across the whole of Wales; nothing to improve the Cambrian line; nothing for a new station in St Clears, something that this Welsh Government has committed to but has shown no intention of ever delivering. I could go on, but we'd be here for a very long time. Are you of the view, Cabinet Secretary, that the people of mid and west Wales deserve less, and if not, why did the Welsh Government not even ask, never mind fight, for the kind of investment our railways so desperately need?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn dilyn yr adolygiad o wariant, dywedodd Rachel Reeves fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael popeth y gofynnodd amdano, gan gynnwys buddsoddiad mewn rheilffyrdd. Mae fy nghwestiwn i chi heddiw'n syml: a yw hyn yn wir? Ac os yw'n wir, pam na ofynnoch chi am ddim byd, dim byd o gwbl, i'w fuddsoddi yn y rheilffyrdd i'r gorllewin o Gaerdydd? Oherwydd y gwir amdani yw nid yn unig fod yr adolygiad o wariant wedi darparu fawr iawn i reilffyrdd Cymru, ni ddarparodd unrhyw beth o gwbl i'r rheilffyrdd yn y rhanbarth rwy'n ei gynrychioli. Dim byd i fynd i'r afael ag oedi a chanslo cronig ar reilffordd Calon Cymru, sydd â rhai o'r sgoriau boddhad cwsmeriaid gwaethaf ledled Cymru gyfan; dim byd i wella lein y Cambrian; dim byd ar gyfer gorsaf newydd yn Sanclêr, rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo iddo ond nad yw byth wedi dangos unrhyw fwriad i'w gyflawni. Gallwn fynd ymlaen, ond byddem yma am amser hir iawn. A ydych chi o'r farn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, fod pobl canolbarth a gorllewin Cymru yn haeddu llai, ac os nad ydych, pam na wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru hyd yn oed ofyn, heb sôn am ymladd, am y math o fuddsoddiad y mae ei angen mor daer ar ein rheilffyrdd?
I think the question is wholly unfair. First of all, it's a comprehensive spending review that covers a three-year period. If you can't deliver within that time, you can't build within that time, then it's a struggle to get the money to build something that you're going to have to send the money back for because you won't complete it. Instead, we have now, for the first time, development money. For years, we haven't been able to progress schemes, not just in south-west Wales, mid Wales, but also across the whole of Wales. We haven't been able to pursue them unless we have funded them. But funding rail development when it's not devolved is extremely difficult when you're comparing that sort of investment against the need to invest in hospitals.
Investment in seven new stations will be taken forward once we are able to get them to that detailed design space with the full business case available, and we will be seeking to draw down funding in future spending rounds. But the most advanced projects were agreed between DfT and the Welsh Government because they are the projects that can be taken forward within this spending period. And I'm not going to play regions off against each other. It's absolutely right that we take forward the projects that are most advanced, that we can draw down the funding for. Otherwise we could be promised the money, but it would never be spent. We will spend that money. We will deliver the relief lines in south Wales. We will be building five stations along those relief lines in the years to come. We will be resolving capacity constraints on the Wrexham to Liverpool line. And I know you don't like that line, but we're going to be doing the job in the next three years. We're going to be resolving difficulties on the north Wales main line, which is holding back frequencies.
As a result of all of this investment, we're going to be seeing a 50 per cent increase in rail services across north Wales from next May. We will double rail services between Wrexham and Chester. We will see improved services. We will have two trains an hour on the Wrexham to Liverpool line in the next three years as a result of this funding. We'll see additional services in south Wales as well as a result of being able to deal with the Cardiff west junction. We want to make sure that investment takes place across Wales, but you have to make sure that you build up an investment pipeline. That's what we've done. In total it's valued at over £4 billion for the longer term, and that includes huge projects in your region.
Rwy'n credu bod y cwestiwn yn gwbl annheg. Yn gyntaf oll, mae'n adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant dros gyfnod o dair blynedd. Os na allwch gyflawni o fewn yr amser hwnnw, ni allwch adeiladu o fewn yr amser hwnnw, ac mae'n frwydr i gael yr arian i adeiladu rhywbeth y bydd yn rhaid i chi anfon yr arian yn ôl amdano am na fyddwch chi'n ei gwblhau. Yn hytrach, am y tro cyntaf nawr, mae gennym arian datblygu. Ers blynyddoedd, nid ydym wedi gallu bwrw ymlaen â chynlluniau, nid yn unig yn ne-orllewin Cymru, canolbarth Cymru, ond hefyd ar draws Cymru gyfan. Nid ydym wedi gallu mynd ar eu trywydd oni bai ein bod ni wedi eu hariannu. Ond mae ariannu datblygu rheilffyrdd pan nad yw wedi ei ddatganoli'n anodd tu hwnt pan fyddwch chi'n cymharu'r math hwnnw o fuddsoddiad yn erbyn yr angen i fuddsoddi mewn ysbytai.
Bydd buddsoddi'n digwydd ar gyfer saith gorsaf newydd pan fyddwn yn gallu eu cael i gam cynllunio manwl gyda'r achos busnes llawn ar gael, a byddwn yn ceisio tynnu cyllid i lawr mewn rowndiau gwariant yn y dyfodol. Ond cytunwyd ar y prosiectau mwyaf datblygedig rhwng yr Adran Drafnidiaeth a Llywodraeth Cymru oherwydd mai dyna'r prosiectau y gellir bwrw ymlaen â hwy yn ystod y cyfnod gwariant hwn. Ac nid wyf yn mynd i chwarae rhanbarthau yn erbyn ei gilydd. Mae'n hollol iawn ein bod ni'n bwrw ymlaen â'r prosiectau mwyaf datblygedig, y gallwn dynnu'r cyllid i lawr ar eu cyfer. Fel arall, gallai'r arian gael ei addo i ni, ond ni fyddai byth yn cael ei wario. Byddwn yn gwario'r arian hwnnw. Byddwn yn cyflwyno'r llinellau lliniaru yn ne Cymru. Byddwn yn adeiladu pum gorsaf ar hyd y llinellau lliniaru hynny yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Byddwn yn datrys cyfyngiadau capasiti ar y llinell Wrecsam i Lerpwl. Ac rwy'n gwybod nad ydych chi'n hoffi'r llinell honno, ond rydym yn mynd i wneud y gwaith yn y tair blynedd nesaf. Rydym yn mynd i ddatrys anawsterau ar brif linell gogledd Cymru sy'n llesteirio'r gallu i gynyddu amlder gwasanaethau.
O ganlyniad i'r holl fuddsoddiad hwn, rydym yn mynd i weld cynnydd o 50 y cant mewn gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd ledled gogledd Cymru o fis Mai nesaf. Byddwn yn dyblu gwasanaethau rheilffordd rhwng Wrecsam a Chaer. Byddwn yn gweld gwasanaethau gwell. Bydd gennym ddau drên yr awr ar y llinell Wrecsam i Lerpwl yn y tair blynedd nesaf o ganlyniad i'r cyllid hwn. Byddwn yn gweld gwasanaethau ychwanegol yn ne Cymru yn ogystal â gallu delio â chyffordd orllewinol Caerdydd. Rydym am wneud yn siŵr fod buddsoddiad yn digwydd ledled Cymru, ond mae'n rhaid ichi wneud yn siŵr eich bod chi'n adeiladu ffrwd fuddsoddi. Dyna beth rydym ni wedi'i wneud. Gyda'i gilydd, mae'n werth dros £4 biliwn dros y tymor hwy, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys prosiectau enfawr yn eich rhanbarth chi.
Can I thank Cefin Campbell for this question? It's quite disingenuous when you're saying that you're not pitting regions of Wales off against each other when there was a project ready to go at St Clears, I'd met with TfW and DfT officials on the site, there was a project ready to go, yet five stations within 13 miles of each other in Cardiff and Newport get the green light before a project in west Wales that is ready to be delivered. So, tell me, Cabinet Secretary, if that's not playing off areas of Wales against each other, what is? Because I've got a community that supports this railway station being reopened at St Clears, it supports the investment that should be coming, that was guaranteed by the previous Government, but your predecessor had said could not be delivered. So, why has St Clears fallen foul, when five stations get built in the east of Wales?
A gaf i ddiolch i Cefin Campbell am y cwestiwn hwn? Mae hi braidd yn anonest pan fyddwch chi'n dweud nad ydych chi'n gosod rhanbarthau yng Nghymru yn erbyn ei gilydd pan oedd prosiect yn barod i fynd yn Sanclêr, roeddwn wedi cyfarfod â swyddogion Trafnidiaeth Cymru a'r Adran Drafnidiaeth ar y safle, roedd prosiect yn barod i fynd, ac eto mae pum gorsaf o fewn 13 milltir i'w gilydd yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd yn cael y golau gwyrdd o flaen prosiect yng ngorllewin Cymru sy'n barod i'w gyflawni. Felly, dywedwch wrthyf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, os nad yw hynny'n chwarae ardaloedd o Gymru yn erbyn ei gilydd, beth ydyw? Oherwydd mae gennyf gymuned sy'n cefnogi ailagor yr orsaf reilffordd hon yn Sanclêr, mae'n cefnogi'r buddsoddiad a ddylai fod yn dod, a warantwyd gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol, ond roedd eich rhagflaenydd wedi dweud na ellid ei gyflawni. Felly, pam y mae Sanclêr wedi methu, pan fo pum gorsaf yn cael eu hadeiladu yn nwyrain Cymru?
Again, I don't think it's a fair question to ask. We are actually working with the region on this particular proposal. We've been working with the UK Government as well to develop plans for a station there. That's all part of the pipeline of longer term enhancements that I've just outlined to Cefin Campbell.
We're working as well with the local authority and the corporate joint committee as they put together their regional transport plan. It will be for the region to be able to advise the Welsh Government on what it thinks is a priority in that area, not just in terms of responsibilities that the region holds itself, but also responsibilities that Welsh Ministers and UK Government Ministers have. We will work collectively to deliver this scheme. We'll work with Transport for Wales as well to deliver detailed designs for that scheme.
The problem with rail, as Lord Hendy himself has identified, is it often takes longer to deliver, costs more than one would hope, but once you've built it, no-one regrets doing it.
Unwaith eto, nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn gwestiwn teg i'w ofyn. Rydym yn gweithio gyda'r rhanbarth ar y cynnig penodol hwn. Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd i ddatblygu cynlluniau ar gyfer gorsaf yno. Mae hynny'n rhan o'r ffrwd o welliannau mwy hirdymor rwyf newydd ei hamlinellu i Cefin Campbell.
Rydym yn gweithio hefyd gyda'r awdurdod lleol a'r cyd-bwyllgor corfforedig wrth iddynt lunio eu cynllun trafnidiaeth ranbarthol. Mater i'r rhanbarth fydd gallu cynghori Llywodraeth Cymru ar yr hyn y mae'n ei feddwl sy'n flaenoriaeth yn yr ardal honno, nid yn unig o ran cyfrifoldebau sydd gan y rhanbarth ei hun, ond hefyd cyfrifoldebau sydd gan Weinidogion Cymru a Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU. Byddwn yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i gyflawni'r cynllun hwn. Byddwn yn gweithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru hefyd i gyflwyno dyluniadau manwl ar gyfer y cynllun hwnnw.
Y broblem gyda rheilffyrdd, fel y nododd yr Arglwydd Hendy ei hun, yw ei bod yn aml yn cymryd mwy o amser i'w gyflawni, mae'n costio mwy nag y byddai rhywun yn ei obeithio, ond pan fyddwch wedi ei adeiladu, nid oes neb yn difaru ei wneud.
Good afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. Just to follow through on some of those issues, I'd like to specifically ask you about two of the lines that are in mid and west Wales. There's the Heart of Wales line, and there's the Cambrian line as well. On the Heart of Wales line, we had a promise for the restoration of the fifth service, which was taken away. I'd like to ask you for a progress update on that, and on the new trains that were promised for that line. It's absolutely essential for tourism and hospitality in that region, but people rely on it too.
On the Cambrian line, we were promised an hourly service, and we still have a two-hourly service. You talked about north Wales having two trains an hour; we dream of that. It's important to us to look at those specific lines. We'd like the Cambrian line to be hourly throughout the year, not just in the summer months. Throughout the year, we want multiple carriages and we want them to be hourly. Could you please outline what your plans are, your commitment, and the absolute timelines that we want to see for the restoration of those services? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. I ddilyn rhai o'r materion hynny, hoffwn ofyn yn benodol i chi am ddwy o'r llinellau sydd yng nghanolbarth a gorllewin Cymru. Mae llinell Calon Cymru, ac mae llinell y Cambrian hefyd. Ar linell Calon Cymru, cawsom addewid ar gyfer adfer y pumed gwasanaeth, a gafodd ei dynnu'n ôl. Hoffwn ofyn i chi am ddiweddariad o'r cynnydd ar hynny, ac ar y trenau newydd a addawyd ar gyfer y llinell honno. Mae'n hollol hanfodol ar gyfer twristiaeth a lletygarwch yn y rhanbarth, ond mae pobl yn dibynnu arno hefyd.
Ar linell y Cambrian, addawyd gwasanaeth bob awr i ni, a gwasanaeth dwy awr sydd gennym o hyd. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am ogledd Cymru yn cael dau drên yr awr; breuddwyd yw hynny i ni. Mae'n bwysig inni edrych ar y llinellau penodol hynny. Hoffem i linell y Cambrian fod bob awr trwy gydol y flwyddyn, nid yn ystod misoedd yr haf yn unig. Drwy gydol y flwyddyn, rydym eisiau cerbydau lluosog ac rydym eisiau iddynt fod bob awr. A allech chi amlinellu beth yw eich cynlluniau, eich ymrwymiad, a'r amserlenni pendant yr hoffem eu gweld ar gyfer adfer y gwasanaethau hynny? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Can I thank Jane Dodds for her question, and, again, for the help that she gave in securing the new fifth service on the Heart of Wales line? That's planned to be delivered by Transport for Wales this year in the December timetable change. That service is planned to be better than the service that it replaces, the one that was removed due to low passenger usage.
Low passenger usage is a major issue to contend with. If we're going to put on more services across the network, we have to drive up the farebox. To drive up the farebox, we have to ensure that capacity is where demand is highest. That secures the maximum amount of resource to then cross-subsidise those services that have a higher cost-per-passenger price. So, getting more people onto rail services in other parts of Wales will be of benefit to the rail network in mid Wales as well.
In terms of the rolling stock, Transport for Wales is operating its active travel trains on the route, and it's my understanding that they are proving very popular with the travelling public. On the Cambrian line, Transport for Wales are now operating more services following the May timetable change: a new 16:30 service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth has now been initiated, along with more Sunday services.
I just want to say something about performance, because we've heard claims that performance is abysmal on the network. Actually, performance of services on both the Heart of Wales line and the Cambrian line has improved. There have been more services on time, with fewer cancellations compared with last year. I'm pleased to say that the very latest statistics for rail performance for the whole of the UK place Transport for Wales firmly in the top half of the league table.
It wasn't long ago that we did have problems, we were struggling, but they're now well into the top half of the of the table. I'm pleased to say that they are still the best operator in and out of Wales, with 85 per cent of their trains on time to within three minutes, compared with 60 per cent for Avanti West Coast, 67 per cent for CrossCountry and 81 per cent for Great Western.
In terms of on-the-day cancellations, again, I'm pleased to say that Transport for Wales is the best operator in and out of Wales again for the latest period, with just 3.8 per cent cancelled on the day, compared to 3.9 per cent for Great Western, 4.2 per cent for Avanti West Coast, and more than double Transport for Wales's rate for CrossCountry—they're on 8.7 per cent. So, I think it's worth just reflecting and recognising the fact that Transport for Wales is the best operator in and out of Wales.
A gaf i ddiolch i Jane Dodds am ei chwestiwn, ac unwaith eto, am y cymorth a roddodd i sicrhau'r pumed gwasanaeth newydd ar linell Calon Cymru? Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn bwriadu cyflawni hynny eleni yn y newid i'r amserlen ym mis Rhagfyr. Mae'r gwasanaeth hwnnw wedi'i gynllunio i fod yn well na'r gwasanaeth y mae'n cymryd ei le, yr un a gafodd ei ddileu oherwydd defnydd isel gan deithwyr.
Mae defnydd isel gan deithwyr yn fater mawr i ymdopi ag ef. Os ydym yn mynd i roi mwy o wasanaethau ar draws y rhwydwaith, rhaid inni gynyddu'r arian a gawn o docynnau. Er mwyn cynyddu'r arian a gawn o docynnau, rhaid inni sicrhau capasiti lle mae'r galw ar ei uchaf. Mae hynny'n sicrhau'r uchafswm o adnoddau i allu sybsideiddio'r gwasanaethau sydd â chost-y-teithiwr uwch. Felly, bydd cael mwy o bobl ar wasanaethau rheilffyrdd mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru o fudd i'r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd yng nghanolbarth Cymru hefyd.
Ar y cerbydau trên, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gweithredu ei drenau teithio llesol ar y llwybr, ac rwy'n deall eu bod yn boblogaidd iawn gyda'r cyhoedd sy'n teithio. Ar linell y Cambrian, mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru bellach yn gweithredu mwy o wasanaethau yn dilyn newid amserlen mis Mai: mae gwasanaeth newydd 16:30 o Amwythig i Aberystwyth wedi dechrau bellach, ynghyd â mwy o wasanaethau ar y Sul.
Rwyf eisiau dweud rhywbeth am berfformiad, oherwydd fe glywsom honiadau fod perfformiad yn warthus ar y rhwydwaith. Mewn gwirionedd, mae perfformiad gwasanaethau ar linell Calon Cymru a llinell y Cambrian wedi gwella. Mae mwy o wasanaethau wedi bod ar amser, gyda llai o ganslo o'i gymharu â'r llynedd. Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod yr ystadegau diweddaraf ar gyfer perfformiad rheilffyrdd y DU gyfan yn gosod Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn gadarn yn hanner uchaf y tabl.
Nid oes cymaint â hynny o amser er pan oedd gennym broblemau, roeddem yn ei chael hi'n anodd, ond maent bellach yn ddiogel yn hanner uchaf y tabl. Rwy'n falch o ddweud mai hwy yw'r gweithredwr gorau i mewn ac allan o Gymru o hyd, gydag 85 y cant o'u trenau o fewn tri munud i fod ar amser, o'i gymharu â 60 y cant ar gyfer Avanti West Coast, 67 y cant ar gyfer CrossCountry ac 81 y cant ar gyfer Great Western.
O ran canslo ar y dydd, unwaith eto, rwy'n falch o ddweud mai Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw'r gweithredwr gorau i mewn ac allan o Gymru eto ar gyfer y cyfnod diweddaraf, gyda dim ond 3.8 y cant wedi'u canslo ar y diwrnod, o'i gymharu â 3.9 y cant gan Great Western, 4.2 y cant gan Avanti West Coast, a mwy na dwbl cyfradd Trafnidiaeth Cymru gan CrossCountry—maent hwy ar 8.7 y cant. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth ystyried a chydnabod y ffaith mai Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw'r gweithredwr gorau i mewn ac allan o Gymru.
4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael â chydweithwyr yn y Cabinet ynghylch y sector ynni yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ62941
4. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with Cabinet colleagues regarding the energy sector in north Wales? OQ62941
Across the Cabinet, we are committed to maximising the economic and decarbonisation opportunities available through deploying renewable and low-carbon energy generation in north Wales. We are working across all industries to ensure we attract the investment to create thousands of green jobs and growth across Wales.
Ar draws y Cabinet, rydym wedi ymrwymo i wneud y mwyaf o'r cyfleoedd economaidd a'r cyfleoedd datgarboneiddio sydd ar gael drwy ddefnyddio cynhyrchiant ynni adnewyddadwy a charbon isel yng ngogledd Cymru. Rydym yn gweithio ar draws pob diwydiant i sicrhau ein bod yn denu'r buddsoddiad i greu miloedd o swyddi a thwf gwyrdd ledled Cymru.
Thank you. A new report by Oxford Economics evaluating the economic contributions of the civil nuclear sector across the UK, commissioned by the Nuclear Industry Association, highlights the sector's continued growth and the significant benefits it delivers, particularly where support is needed the most. The Welsh civil nuclear sector generated £850 million in gross value added in 2024, up 20 per cent since 2021, largely driven by Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C developments in England, with 830 direct jobs in the civil nuclear sector in Wales and 13,400 jobs in Wales supported by the sector. The report highlights that if a new nuclear power station is built at Wylfa, north Wales could see an economic contribution comparable to that experienced in the south-west of England, where Hinkley Point C is located. Nuclear GVA reached £4 billion in 2024, up 50 per cent since 2021. Given this potential, what specific steps is the Welsh Government taking to secure the development of a new nuclear facility at Wylfa and how is it working with the UK Government and industry stakeholders to ensure that north Wales benefits from the economic and employment opportunities that this could bring?
Diolch. Mae adroddiad newydd gan Oxford Economics sy'n gwerthuso cyfraniadau economaidd y sector niwclear sifil ledled y DU, a gomisiynwyd gan Gymdeithas y Diwydiant Niwclear, yn tynnu sylw at dwf parhaus y sector a'r manteision sylweddol y mae'n eu darparu, yn enwedig lle mae fwyaf o angen cymorth. Cynhyrchodd sector niwclear sifil Cymru £850 miliwn mewn gwerth ychwanegol gros yn 2024, cynnydd o 20 y cant ers 2021, wedi'i yrru'n bennaf gan ddatblygiadau Hinkley Point C a Sizewell C yn Lloegr, gydag 830 o swyddi uniongyrchol yn y sector niwclear sifil yng Nghymru a 13,400 o swyddi yng Nghymru wedi'u cefnogi gan y sector. Mae'r adroddiad yn nodi y gallai gogledd Cymru weld cyfraniad economaidd tebyg i'r hyn a brofwyd yn ne-orllewin Lloegr, lle mae Hinkley Point C wedi'i leoli. Cyrhaeddodd gwerth ychwanegol gros niwclear £4 biliwn yn 2024, i fyny 50 y cant ers 2021. O ystyried y potensial hwn, pa gamau penodol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau datblygiad cyfleuster niwclear newydd yn Wylfa a sut y mae'n gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU a rhanddeiliaid y diwydiant i sicrhau bod gogledd Cymru'n elwa o'r cyfleoedd economaidd a'r swyddi y gallai hyn eu cynnig?
Can I thank Mark Isherwood for his question? It’s an excellent question. There is no doubt that the opportunities are immense in terms of the civil nuclear sector for north Wales. It’s part of that nuclear arc, which is one of the most vibrant arcs with regard to civil nuclear anywhere in Europe. I know that the Minister for Economy, Energy and Planning, who is leading in this area, is engaged with the sector, with representative bodies, with individual organisations and companies. There is excitement that I’ve rarely felt in terms of opportunities for the nuclear sector in Wales. Rolls-Royce have announced their intention to invest huge sums in the Welsh workforce and in the supply chain, and I know that the Minister for economy is incredibly keen to secure every penny of investment that this great initiative could bring.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mark Isherwood am ei gwestiwn? Mae'n gwestiwn ardderchog. Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod y cyfleoedd yn enfawr yn y sector niwclear sifil ar gyfer gogledd Cymru. Mae'n rhan o'r bwa niwclear, sy'n un o'r bwâu mwyaf bywiog o ran niwclear sifil yn unrhyw le yn Ewrop. Gwn fod Gweinidog yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, sy'n arwain yn y maes hwn, yn ymgysylltu â'r sector, gyda chyrff cynrychioladol, gyda sefydliadau a chwmnïau unigol. Mae yna gyffro nad wyf yn aml yn ei deimlo o ran cyfleoedd i'r sector niwclear yng Nghymru. Mae Rolls-Royce wedi cyhoeddi eu bwriad i fuddsoddi symiau enfawr yn y gweithlu yng Nghymru ac yn y gadwyn gyflenwi, ac rwy'n gwybod bod Gweinidog yr Economi yn hynod awyddus i ddenu pob ceiniog o fuddsoddiad y gallai'r fenter wych hon ei gynnig.
Bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ymwybodol bod y defnydd o drydan yn cynyddu’n aruthrol ar hyn o bryd. Rydyn ni’n gweld mwy o bobl yn cael eu hannog i gynhyrchu eu trydan eu hunain, a phobl yn prynu mwy o geir trydan ac yn eu tsiarjo nhw adref. Ond, ar yr un pryd, mae capasiti’r grid yng ngogledd Cymru yn gyfyngedig iawn, yn enwedig yn ardaloedd Llŷn ac Eifionydd, lle mae pobl yn pryderu nad oes capasiti’n mynd i fod yna ar gyfer cynhyrchu trydan neu ar gyfer defnydd mawr o drydan yn symud ymlaen i’r dyfodol agos. Felly, pa drafodaethau mae’r Llywodraeth yn eu cael efo’r grid cenedlaethol er mwyn cynyddu capasiti yn yr ardal yna a sicrhau ei fod o’n addas i’r dyfodol?
The Cabinet Secretary will be aware that the use of electricity is increasing hugely at the moment. We are seeing more people being encouraged to generate electricity themselves, and people buying more electric vehicles and charging them at home. But, at the same time, the capacity of the grid in north Wales is very limited, particularly in the Llŷn and Eifionydd areas, where people are concerned that there isn't going to be capacity there for electricity generation or huge use of electricity, moving forward into the near future. So, what discussions is the Government having with the national grid to increase the capacity in that area and ensure that it is appropriate for the future?
Can I thank Mabon ap Gwynfor for his question? This is something, again, that the Minister for Economy, Energy and Planning is leading on. But there is huge potential for off-the-grid generation, as the Member has identified, both in terms of smaller scale generation programmes, and also, potentially, the roll-out of small modular reactors. The Member is absolutely right that the grid is stretched to capacity. A lot of discussion is taking place with the UK Government over this particular challenge, which isn’t just facing householders, as the Member rightly identifies, it’s affecting many business ambitions as well. It needs to be resolved and I know that the Minister is well on top of her brief when it comes to this particular challenge.
A gaf i ddiolch i Mabon ap Gwynfor am ei gwestiwn? Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Gweinidog yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio yn arwain arno. Ond mae potensial enfawr ar gyfer cynhyrchu oddi ar y grid, fel y mae'r Aelod wedi nodi, o ran rhaglenni cynhyrchu ar raddfa lai, a hefyd o bosibl, cyflwyno adweithyddion modiwlar bach. Mae'r Aelod yn hollol gywir fod capasiti'r grid o dan bwysau. Mae llawer o drafodaeth yn digwydd gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch yr her benodol hon, sydd nid yn unig yn wynebu deiliaid tai, fel y mae'r Aelod yn gywir i'w nodi, mae'n effeithio ar lawer o uchelgeisiau busnes hefyd. Mae angen ei ddatrys ac rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog yn cyflawni mwy na'r disgwyl ar yr her benodol hon.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi'u cael gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio ynghylch cefnogi busnesau y mae cau porthladd Caergybi wedi effeithio arnynt? OQ62965
5. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning about supporting businesses that have been affected by the closure of Holyhead port? OQ62965
The Cabinet Secretary and I, along with our respective teams, have worked hand in glove since the port’s closure to align our respective portfolio responsibilities. Ynys Môn county council, with their local intelligence, play an integral part in those discussions and informing proposals relating to support for businesses affected.
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a minnau, gyda'n timau, wedi gweithio law yn llaw ers cau'r porthladd i alinio ein cyfrifoldebau portffolio. Mae Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn, gyda'u gwybodaeth leol, yn chwarae rhan ganolog yn y trafodaethau hynny ac yn llywio cynigion sy'n ymwneud â chymorth i fusnesau yr effeithir arnynt.
Thanks for the response. The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the deep economic impact that the closing of Holyhead port had, and continues to have, of course, on the town. We're talking about a fall of almost £0.5 billion pounds in trade through the port in December last year, compared with the year previously—footfall down 36 per cent, businesses reporting a 90 per cent drop in trade, some of them, and one hotel operator alone losing out on almost £15,000-worth of bookings overnight. And that's in one of the busiest trading months of the year.
The impact assessment was carried out by Ynys Môn county council back in January, and in April the council formally outlined to the Welsh Government their proposed package for business support. But now, we're many months on from the port's closure and from the submission of that report by the council, and both local businesses and the local authority are being left in the dark still about the support that might be made available. So, can the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether he is making the case to his Cabinet colleagues for an urgent support package, and whether businesses can expect that support to come sooner rather than later?
Diolch am yr ymateb. Bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ymwybodol o'r effaith economaidd ddofn a gafodd cau porthladd Caergybi, ac y mae'n parhau i'w chael ar y dref wrth gwrs. Rydym yn siarad am ostyngiad o bron i £0.5 biliwn o bunnoedd mewn masnach drwy'r porthladd ym mis Rhagfyr y llynedd, o'i gymharu â'r flwyddyn flaenorol—nifer yr ymwelwyr i lawr 36 y cant, busnesau yn adrodd gostyngiad o 90 y cant mewn masnach, rai ohonynt, ac un gweithredwr gwesty'n unig yn colli gwerth bron i £15,000 o archebion dros nos. A hynny yn un o fisoedd masnachu prysuraf y flwyddyn.
Cynhaliwyd yr asesiad effaith gan Gyngor Sir Ynys Môn yn ôl ym mis Ionawr, ac ym mis Ebrill amlinellodd y cyngor eu pecyn arfaethedig ar gyfer cymorth busnes i Lywodraeth Cymru yn ffurfiol. Ond nawr, mae misoedd lawer wedi mynd heibio ers cau'r porthladd ac ers cyflwyno'r adroddiad gan y cyngor, ac mae busnesau lleol a'r awdurdod lleol wedi eu gadael yn y tywyllwch o hyd ynghylch y cymorth y gellid ei gael. Felly, a all Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gadarnhau a yw'n gwneud yr achos i'w gyd-Weinidogion yn y Cabinet dros becyn cymorth brys, ac a all busnesau ddisgwyl i'r cymorth hwnnw ddod yn gynt yn hytrach nag yn hwyrach?
Can I thank Rhun ap Iorwerth for his question? I do agree that the closure had a significant impact on Holyhead in particular, and communities further away as well. I'd also like to thank the Member for attending last week's taskforce meeting. I can say that the local authority last week submitted a funding request for a package of support for Holyhead. This is being appraised as swiftly as possible by the Cabinet Secretary for economy, who is considering the proposals and will respond very soon. That package contains two elements. I'm not sure whether I am yet allowed to disclose what they are. I can say, I think, that they regard the potential of the cruise sector to benefit Holyhead. There is also another element that regards business support, such as partnering with Business Wales, expanding the Smart Towns Cymru initiative, various initiatives around marketing, communications, placemaking and capacity funding for the council. But I don't wish to give too much detail that is really in the hands of the Cabinet Secretary for economy to provide.
Diolch i Rhun ap Iorwerth am ei gwestiwn. Rwy'n cytuno bod y cau wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar Gaergybi yn arbennig, a chymunedau ymhellach i ffwrdd hefyd. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am fynychu cyfarfod y tasglu yr wythnos diwethaf. Gallaf ddweud bod yr awdurdod lleol wedi cyflwyno cais am gyllid yr wythnos diwethaf ar gyfer pecyn cymorth i Gaergybi. Mae hyn yn cael ei werthuso cyn gynted â phosibl gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi, sy'n ystyried y cynigion a bydd yn ymateb yn fuan iawn. Mae'r pecyn hwnnw'n cynnwys dwy elfen. Nid wyf yn siŵr a wyf i fod i ddatgelu beth ydynt eto. Gallaf ddweud, rwy'n credu, eu bod yn ystyried potensial y sector mordeithio i fod o fudd i Gaergybi. Mae yna elfen arall hefyd sy'n ymwneud â chymorth busnes, megis partneru â Busnes Cymru, ehangu menter Trefi Smart Cymru, mentrau amrywiol yn ymwneud â marchnata, cyfathrebu, creu lleoedd a chyllid capasiti i'r cyngor. Ond nid wyf am roi gormod o fanylion gan mai lle Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi yw eu darparu.
6. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu capasiti ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus? OQ62947
6. What plans does the Welsh Government have to increase capacity on public transport? OQ62947
Bus grants to local authorities have increased in 2025-26, stabilising services and supporting the transition to franchising. We are increasing capacity on the busiest rail services, and when all the new trains are delivered, Transport for Wales will have 485 carriages, compared to the 270 that we inherited back in 2018.
Mae grantiau bysiau i awdurdodau lleol wedi cynyddu yn 2025-26, gan sefydlogi gwasanaethau a chefnogi'r newid i fasnachfraint. Rydym yn cynyddu capasiti ar y gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd prysuraf, a phan fydd yr holl drenau newydd wedi'u cyflwyno, bydd gan Drafnidiaeth Cymru 485 o gerbydau, o'i gymharu â'r 270 a etifeddwyd gennym yn ôl yn 2018.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Rhag ofn bod rhai Aelodau yma'n bresennol yn meddwl bod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghaerdydd yn wych, dyw e ddim. Mae ystadegau Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn dangos mai trenau Caerdydd yw’r ail fwyaf gorlawn yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Mae’r un peth yn wir am fysus. Dwi wedi dweud wrthych chi o’r blaen fy mod yn aml yn cael fy ngwrthod i fynd ar fws oherwydd bod pram gen i ar gyfer fy mhlentyn, sy’n 22 mis oed. Mae’r bws arall sy’n dod wedyn—. Rwy'n gorfod aros yn hir iawn. Yn wir, mae’n llawer haws defnyddio’r car.
Ond mae yna siawns wirioneddol nawr y bydd y galw am drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghaerdydd yn cynyddu yn ddifrifol. Fe welon ni, gydag ymosodiad Rwsia ar Wcráin, bris tanwydd yn cynyddu i’r lefelau uchaf erioed. Rŷn ni wedi gweld, yn yr ansefydlogrwydd yn y dwyrain canol yn ddiweddar, brisiau olew crude yn cynyddu’n sylweddol iawn yn y mis diwethaf.
Wrth gwrs, does gennych chi ddim rheolaeth ar ynni a thanwydd, ond mae gennych chi reolaeth dros sicrhau bod yna drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus sy’n ddibynadwy ac yn fforddiadwy i bobl Cymru. Sut ydych chi’n bwriadu ymateb i’r hyn sy’n digwydd yn rhyngwladol, ar frys, ac a ydy hyn yn newid unrhyw gynlluniau sydd gennych chi? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary. Some Members in the Chamber may think that public transport in Cardiff is excellent, but it isn't. The UK Government's statistics show that trains in Cardiff are the second most crowded in Wales and England, and the same is true for buses, truth be told. I've told you before that I often can't get on a bus because I have a pram with my child, who is 22 months old. Then, the next bus that comes—. I have to wait for a very long time for that next bus. Indeed, it's far easier to use the car on occasion.
But there is a genuine opportunity now that the demand for public transport in Cardiff will increase significantly. We saw, with the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, that prices of fuel are increasing hugely to the highest ever levels. We've seen with the instability in the middle east recently, crude oil prices increasing significantly in the past month.
Of course, you have no control over energy and fuel, but you do have levers over public transport that is affordable and dependable for the people of Wales. How do you intend to respond to what is happening on the international stage, as a matter of urgency, and does this change any plans that you currently have? Thank you very much.
Well, can I thank the Member for his questions? This relates, in part, to questions raised already by Cefin Campbell and Jane Dodds, in that there are capacity issues in some parts of Wales, and we do need to meet that demand in order to ensure that the travelling public are not left stranded, but also to make sure that we're maximising the farebox, which, in turn, can be reinvested in areas of Wales that do not have the sort of frequent services that more urban areas often benefit from. So, we are trying our utmost, through the acquisition of new trains, to deal with capacity issues on the rail network, and in so doing, drive up the amount of revenue that we're raising through rail.
With regard to bus services, the bus Bill will address some of the concerns around capacity. It will also address concerns around networks not meeting the public's needs. Also, we have schemes such as the £1 fare cap that will come in soon, which I think will be of significant benefit for those who are often furthest from the workplace—literally the furthest from the workplace, and furthest in terms of being able to access decent job interviews, never mind the jobs themselves.
The mantra of the new chair of Transport for Wales is to offer safe, reliable and regular services, whether that be by bus or by rail. I know that he will be working with the board and with the executive to ensure that we provide that, not just on our rail services, but also on our bus services.
In terms of energy, the Member is absolutely right. Geopolitical instability has contributed to rising costs. That's having to be absorbed by operators at this moment in time. It's why the £600 million that the Welsh Government is investing over this Senedd term in bus services is so vitally important, because it provides a degree of protection against those fluctuations in energy prices and fuel prices.
The move towards electrification is an exciting move because it has the potential to decarbonise, quite considerably, the transport fleet. But it also means that we have to embrace the most advanced technology. And there are huge technological strides that are taking place at the moment. I think that it's important that we take stock of which are most futureproofed. But Transport for Wales is looking at being a purchaser of new electric buses, and it can then act as the organisation that will lease them to operators across Wales under the new legislation.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiynau? Mae hyn yn ymwneud yn rhannol â chwestiynau a godwyd eisoes gan Cefin Campbell a Jane Dodds, gan fod problemau capasiti mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, ac mae angen inni ateb y galw hwnnw er mwyn sicrhau nad yw'r cyhoedd sy'n teithio yn cael eu gadael heb gludiant, ond hefyd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn gwneud y mwyaf o'r arian a wneir o docynnau, y gellir ei ailfuddsoddi yn ei dro mewn ardaloedd o Gymru heb y math o wasanaethau mynych y mae ardaloedd mwy trefol yn aml yn elwa ohonynt. Felly, rydym yn gwneud ein gorau, trwy gaffael trenau newydd, i ddelio â materion capasiti ar y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd, a chynyddu'r refeniw a godir ar y rheilffyrdd trwy wneud hynny.
O ran gwasanaethau bysiau, bydd y Bil bysiau'n mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r pryderon ynghylch capasiti. Bydd hefyd yn mynd i'r afael â phryderon ynghylch rhwydweithiau nad ydynt yn diwallu anghenion y cyhoedd. Hefyd, mae gennym gynlluniau fel y cap o £1 ar bris tocynnau a gyflwynir cyn bo hir, a fydd o fudd sylweddol i'r rhai sy'n aml yn bell o'r gweithle—yn llythrennol y bobl bellaf o'r gweithle, a'r bobl sydd bellaf o allu cael mynediad at gyfweliadau swyddi gweddus, heb sôn am y swyddi eu hunain.
Mantra cadeirydd newydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yw cynnig gwasanaethau diogel, dibynadwy a rheolaidd, boed hynny ar fws neu ar drên. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd yn gweithio gyda'r bwrdd a'r weithrediaeth i sicrhau ein bod yn darparu hynny, nid yn unig ar ein gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd, ond ar ein gwasanaethau bysiau yn ogystal.
Ar ynni, mae'r Aelod yn hollol gywir. Mae ansefydlogrwydd geowleidyddol wedi cyfrannu at godi costau. Rhaid i'r gweithredwr ysgwyddo hynny ar hyn o bryd. Dyna pam y mae'r £600 miliwn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei fuddsoddi dros dymor y Senedd hon mewn gwasanaethau bysiau mor hanfodol bwysig, oherwydd mae'n darparu rhywfaint o amddiffyniad rhag yr amrywiadau ym mhrisiau ynni a phrisiau tanwydd.
Mae'r symudiad tuag at drydaneiddio yn gyffrous oherwydd mae iddo botensial i ddatgarboneiddio'r fflyd drafnidiaeth yn go sylweddol. Ond mae hefyd yn golygu bod yn rhaid inni gofleidio'r dechnoleg fwyaf datblygedig. Ac mae yna gamau technolegol enfawr sy'n digwydd ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig inni ystyried pa rai sydd wedi'u diogelu fwyaf ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ond mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn edrych ar fod yn brynwr bysiau trydan newydd, er mwyn gallu gweithredu fel y sefydliad a fydd yn eu gosod ar brydles i weithredwyr ledled Cymru o dan y ddeddfwriaeth newydd.
7. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro? OQ62959
7. How is the Welsh Government improving public transport in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire? OQ62959
We're continuing to invest in a range of improvements to public transport services across south-west Wales. This includes the deployment of new trains, improvements to the accessibility of stations, and our plans for bus franchising, which will begin first in south-west Wales.
Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn ystod o welliannau i wasanaethau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ar draws de-orllewin Cymru. Mae hyn yn cynnwys defnyddio trenau newydd, gwelliannau i hygyrchedd gorsafoedd, a'n cynlluniau ar gyfer masnachfreinio bysiau, a fydd yn dechrau yn gyntaf yn ne-orllewin Cymru.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that answer. You'll be aware that I've written and corresponded with you with regard to the South Pembrokeshire Rail Action Group—SPRAG, as they're known—who are campaigning for hourly services between Pembroke Dock, the end of the line, and Whitland, where the line splits, to increase the capacity on the rail line, but to improve the facilities there as well, making it more attractive for people to use the rail network across south Pembrokeshire. Now, I've met with them a number of times and support them in their calls. Would you join me in meeting with South Pembrokeshire Rail Action Group, in south Pembrokeshire, to discuss through their plans and how we can work collaboratively to develop a better strategic plan for rail users in south Pembrokeshire?
Diolch am eich ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod fy mod wedi ysgrifennu a gohebu gyda chi mewn perthynas â Grŵp Gweithredu Rheilffyrdd De Sir Benfro sy'n ymgyrchu am wasanaethau bob awr rhwng Doc Penfro, pen draw'r llinell, a Hendy-gwyn ar Daf, lle mae'r llinell yn rhannu, i gynyddu'r capasiti ar y rheilffordd, ond i wella'r cyfleusterau yno hefyd, gan ei gwneud hi'n fwy deniadol i bobl ddefnyddio'r rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd ar draws de sir Benfro. Nawr, rwyf wedi cyfarfod â hwy sawl gwaith ac yn eu cefnogi yn eu galwadau. A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i gyfarfod â Grŵp Gweithredu Rheilffyrdd De Sir Benfro, yn ne sir Benfro, i drafod eu cynlluniau a sut y gallwn weithio ar y cyd i ddatblygu cynllun strategol gwell ar gyfer defnyddwyr rheilffyrdd yn ne sir Benfro?
Yes, absolutely. It would be a delight to meet with the members of SPRAG to discuss the opportunities that could come through further investment. I think, if I may, would it be possible also to invite whoever is the lead official for transport within the corporate joint committee, because I think it's really important that we capture this proposal within the regional transport plan, and I think it's worth the region actually considering where it should sit in that list of priorities?
Gwnaf, yn sicr. Byddai'n bleser cyfarfod ag aelodau Grŵp Gweithredu Rheilffyrdd De Sir Benfro i drafod y cyfleoedd a allai ddod trwy fuddsoddiad pellach. Os caf, a fyddai'n bosibl gwahodd pwy bynnag sy'n brif swyddog trafnidiaeth o fewn y cyd-bwyllgor corfforedig, oherwydd rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn cynnwys y cynnig hwn yn y cynllun trafnidiaeth rhanbarthol, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth i'r rhanbarth ystyried ble i'w osod yn y rhestr honno o flaenoriaethau?
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn—
And finally, question—
Wyth.
Eight.
Cwestiwn 8. Diolch. Carolyn Thomas.
Question 8. Thank you. Carolyn Thomas.
8. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio i wella darpariaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng ngogledd Cymru? OQ62951
8. How is the Welsh Government working to improve public transport provision in north Wales? OQ62951
North Wales metro is go, thanks to the exciting vision and the proposals of network north Wales. We're doubling rail services between Wrexham and Chester, delivering 50 per cent more services on the north Wales main line, and piloting a new T13 bus service connecting Rhyl, Ruthin and Denbigh.
Mae metro Gogledd Cymru ar y ffordd, diolch i'r weledigaeth gyffrous a chynigion rhwydwaith gogledd Cymru. Rydym yn dyblu gwasanaethau rheilffordd rhwng Wrecsam a Chaer, yn darparu 50 y cant yn fwy o wasanaethau ar brif linell gogledd Cymru, ac yn treialu gwasanaeth bws T13 newydd sy'n cysylltu'r Rhyl, Rhuthun a Dinbych.
I am pleased that the focus is now on north Wales. Reliable, accessible and affordable public transport is a huge priority for young, old and disabled people in north Wales. Public bus transport is also an important employee in north Wales.
At the weekend, I met with representatives from Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and can I just welcome—? We've got Cathy here, who's here watching the proceedings today, along with her guide dog, Spencer. So, I'd just like to welcome her to the gallery and to this session.
I met with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, who have raised issues regarding accessibility, such as new bus stops being moved to a more difficult area, so they have to cross a car park, the dangers of cycle lanes as well, dividing pavements from bus stops. Do you agree that consultation with operators and disability organisations is really important when putting in these bus stops, shelters and other highway infrastructure, to ensure that passenger safety is taken care of and accounted for? And will you include this in the face of the Bill or under guidance going forward?
Rwy'n falch fod y ffocws bellach ar ogledd Cymru. Mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ddibynadwy, hygyrch a fforddiadwy yn flaenoriaeth enfawr i bobl hen ac ifanc a phobl anabl yng ngogledd Cymru. Mae trafnidiaeth bysiau cyhoeddus hefyd yn gyflogwr pwysig yng ngogledd Cymru.
Ar y penwythnos, cyfarfûm â chynrychiolwyr o Gymdeithas Cŵn Tywys y Deillion, ac a gaf i groesawu—? Mae gennym Cathy yma, yn gwylio'r trafodion heddiw gyda'i chi tywys, Spencer. Felly, hoffwn ei chroesawu i'r oriel ac i'r sesiwn hon.
Cyfarfûm â Chymdeithas Cŵn Tywys y Deillion, sydd wedi codi materion yn ymwneud â hygyrchedd, megis safleoedd bysiau newydd yn cael eu symud i fan mwy heriol, fel bod rhaid iddynt groesi maes parcio, a pheryglon lonydd beicio hefyd, sy'n gwahanu palmentydd oddi wrth safleoedd bysiau. A ydych chi'n cytuno bod ymgynghori â gweithredwyr a sefydliadau anabledd yn bwysig iawn wrth osod safleoedd bysiau, cysgodfannau a seilwaith priffyrdd arall, er mwyn sicrhau bod diogelwch teithwyr yn cael sylw? Ac a wnewch chi gynnwys hyn ar wyneb y Bil neu o dan arweiniad yn y dyfodol?
Can I thank Carolyn Thomas for her question, and also welcome Cathy and Spencer to the Senedd? I met with representatives of the RNIB at the weekend who conveyed similar concerns, and I've asked Transport for Wales to ensure that the access and inclusion panel are able to feed in their views, concerns and ideas at an early stage when it comes to the new standards that we're going to be introducing for bus stops.
The national bus stop standards work is already under way. The framework will guide the design, the installation, the maintenance of bus stop infrastructure across the country—a huge piece of work to ensure that we have a consistently high standard of bus stop provision across Wales. Transport for Wales is also currently auditing all bus stops on a regional basis across Wales. I believe we have in excess of 24,000 bus stops at this moment in time. TfW are auditing the entire lot as they're developing a forward work programme to prioritise bus stops for improvement, and we've asked them to ensure—to ensure—that they involve user groups in the location and the design of these improved facilities, particularly that they engage with people who have lived experience of accessibility barriers.
A gaf i ddiolch i Carolyn Thomas am ei chwestiwn, a chroesawu Cathy a Spencer i'r Senedd? Cyfarfûm â chynrychiolwyr o'r RNIB ar y penwythnos ac fe wnaethant gyfleu pryderon tebyg, ac rwyf wedi gofyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru sicrhau bod y panel mynediad a chynhwysiant yn gallu cyfrannu eu barn, eu pryderon a'u syniadau yn gynnar yn y safonau newydd a gyflwynir gennym ar gyfer safleoedd bysiau.
Mae'r gwaith ar safonau safleoedd bysiau cenedlaethol eisoes ar y gweill. Bydd y fframwaith yn llywio'r gwaith o gynllunio, gosod, cynnal a chadw seilwaith safleoedd bysiau ledled y wlad—gwaith enfawr i sicrhau bod gennym ddarpariaeth safon uchel o safleoedd bysiau ledled Cymru. Ar hyn o bryd mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru hefyd yn archwilio'r holl safleoedd bysiau ar sail ranbarthol ledled Cymru. Rwy'n credu bod gennym dros 24,000 o safleoedd bysiau ar hyn o bryd. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru'n archwilio'r cyfan wrth iddynt ddatblygu blaenraglen waith i flaenoriaethu safleoedd bysiau er mwyn eu gwella, ac rydym wedi gofyn iddynt sicrhau—sicrhau—eu bod yn cynnwys grwpiau defnyddwyr wrth benderfynu ar leoliad a chynllun y cyfleusterau gwell hyn, ac yn arbennig, eu bod yn ymgysylltu â phobl sydd â phrofiad bywyd o rwystrau mynediad.
Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary.
Yr eitem nesaf fydd y cwestiynau i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, y Trefnydd a’r Prif Chwip. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Janet Finch-Saunders.
The next item will be the questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip. The first question is from Janet Finch-Saunders.
1. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar effeithiolrwydd y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid wrth atal troseddau ieuenctid? OQ62939
1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the effectiveness of the youth justice system in deterring youth crime? OQ62939
Diolch yn fawr, Janet Finch-Saunders. The 'Youth Justice Blueprint for Wales' sets out our vision for youth justice in Wales, taking a children-first rights approach, working in a child-centred rather than service-focused way, and meeting the individual needs of children in the justice system or those who are at risk of coming into contact with it.
Diolch yn fawr, Janet Finch-Saunders. Mae'r 'Glasbrint Cyfiawnder Ieuenctid i Gymru' yn nodi ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer cyfiawnder ieuenctid yng Nghymru, gan fabwysiadu dull hawliau plant yn gyntaf, gweithio mewn ffordd sy'n canolbwyntio ar blant yn hytrach nag mewn ffordd sy'n canolbwyntio ar wasanaethau, a diwallu anghenion unigol plant yn y system gyfiawnder neu'r rhai sydd mewn perygl o ddod i gysylltiad â hi.
Diolch. Across England and Wales, in the year ending March 2024, the number of proven offences committed by children saw a year-on-year increase, rising to around 35,600, with the number of custodial sentences increasing by 21 per cent to 660. Now, this was the first year-on-year increase in over a decade. Many areas across Wales, to include my own constituency of Aberconwy, have experienced a huge increase in anti-social behaviour by young people and criminal activity. This can affect our residents, our business owners and their customers, and it's an issue that needs to be urgently addressed.
Now, at a time when there has been an increase in violence in schools and shocking abuse directed at teachers, it is obvious that tougher action isn't just needed, it is now well overdue. So, will you, Cabinet Secretary, liaise with your colleagues in the UK Government, the youth justice system and probation services in Wales to ensure that those youths who are committing serious anti-social behaviour and criminal activity on a regular basis are apprehended and dealt with accordingly?
Diolch. Ledled Cymru a Lloegr, yn y flwyddyn a ddaeth i ben ym mis Mawrth 2024, gwelwyd cynnydd o un flwyddyn i'r llall yn nifer y troseddau profedig a gyflawnwyd gan blant, gan godi i oddeutu 35,600, gyda nifer y dedfrydau gwarchodol yn cynyddu 21 y cant i 660. Nawr, dyma'r cynnydd cyntaf o un flwyddyn i'r llall mewn dros ddegawd. Mae llawer o ardaloedd ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys fy etholaeth fy hun yn Aberconwy, wedi profi cynnydd enfawr o ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol gan bobl ifanc a gweithgarwch troseddol. Gall hyn effeithio ar ein preswylwyr, ein perchnogion busnes a'u cwsmeriaid, ac mae'n fater y mae angen mynd i'r afael ag ef ar frys.
Nawr, ar adeg pan welwyd cynnydd mewn trais mewn ysgolion a cham-drin syfrdanol wedi'i gyfeirio at athrawon, mae'n amlwg fod angen gweithredu llymach a hynny ar frys. Felly, a wnewch chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gysylltu â'ch cymheiriaid yn Llywodraeth y DU, y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid a'r gwasanaethau prawf yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod ieuenctid sy'n cyflawni ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol difrifol a gweithgarwch troseddol yn rheolaidd yn cael eu dal a'u trin yn unol â hynny?
Thank you very much, Janet Finch-Saunders. You will recall that I made a statement last week about an update on the youth justice blueprint, and that's a blueprint which has a main aim, a single prevention framework for youth justice activity, which was published on 17 June. And we have such a wide range of evidence about what works to prevent children and young people coming into contact with the justice system, and a wide range of activity being delivered now in areas like youth work, education, substance misuse, health and support for families. It's good to see our youth service and youth work now restarting with support from Welsh Government.
But I just want to give you the facts, actually, Janet Finch-Saunders. Over the last 15 years, there's been a dramatic and sustained decline in the number of children offending and being brought into the formal criminal justice system in Wales. There's also been a significant reduction in the number of children receiving custodial outcomes, and I think that's a testament to the preventative and diversionary approaches well established by the youth justice services, and that growing adoption of what I described in answer to your question of child-first, evidence-based, effective partnership work.
Yes, of course, youth justice is not devolved, although we were seeking for its devolution, but only on Monday, I was able to meet the UK Government Minister for youth justice, Sir Nic Dakin, and talk about ways in which we can progress with the devolution of youth justice and learning from each other. Indeed, he is going to engage in the next meeting of our youth justice advisory board.
Diolch, Janet Finch-Saunders. Fe fyddwch yn cofio fy mod wedi gwneud datganiad yr wythnos diwethaf am ddiweddaru'r glasbrint cyfiawnder ieuenctid, sef glasbrint sydd â phrif nod, fframwaith atal unigol ar gyfer gweithgarwch cyfiawnder ieuenctid, a gyhoeddwyd ar 17 Mehefin. Ac mae gennym ystod mor eang o dystiolaeth am yr hyn sy'n gweithio i atal plant a phobl ifanc rhag dod i gysylltiad â'r system gyfiawnder, ac ystod eang o weithgarwch sy'n cael ei gyflwyno nawr mewn meysydd fel gwaith ieuenctid, addysg, camddefnyddio sylweddau, iechyd a chefnogaeth i deuluoedd. Mae'n braf gweld ein gwasanaeth ieuenctid a'n gwaith ieuenctid yn ailddechrau nawr gyda chefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Ond rwyf eisiau rhoi'r ffeithiau i chi, Janet Finch-Saunders. Dros y 15 mlynedd diwethaf, bu gostyngiad dramatig a pharhaus yn nifer y plant sy'n troseddu ac yn cael eu dwyn i mewn i'r system cyfiawnder troseddol ffurfiol yng Nghymru. Bu gostyngiad sylweddol hefyd yn nifer y plant sy'n mynd i ofal gwarchodol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n dyst i'r dulliau ataliol a gwrthdyniadol sydd wedi'u sefydlu'n dda gan y gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid, a mabwysiadu cynyddol o'r hyn a ddisgrifiais i ateb eich cwestiwn sef gwaith partneriaeth effeithiol yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth.
Nid yw cyfiawnder ieuenctid wedi'i ddatganoli wrth gwrs, er ein bod yn galw am ei ddatganoli, ond ddydd Llun diwethaf, llwyddais i gyfarfod â Gweinidog Cyfiawnder Ieuenctid Llywodraeth y DU, Syr Nic Dakin, a siarad am ffyrdd y gallwn symud ymlaen gyda datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid a dysgu gan ein gilydd. Yn wir, mae'n mynd i gymryd rhan yng nghyfarfod nesaf ein bwrdd cynghori cyfiawnder ieuenctid.
Cabinet Secretary, in that meeting with Sir Nic Dakin, did you seek the commitment, or was the commitment given, that youth justice would be delivered in this current Westminster term? Are you planning, as a Government, on that basis? Should political parties who are preparing their manifestos for the next Senedd election be doing so on the basis that youth justice and probation are going to be devolved by 2030, during the next Senedd term?
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn y cyfarfod gyda Syr Nic Dakin, a wnaethoch chi ofyn am ymrwymiad, neu a roddwyd ymrwymiad, y byddai cyfiawnder ieuenctid yn cael ei ddarparu yn y tymor San Steffan cyfredol? A ydych chi'n cynllunio ar y sail honno, fel Llywodraeth? A ddylai pleidiau gwleidyddol sy'n paratoi eu maniffestos ar gyfer etholiad nesaf y Senedd wneud hynny ar y sail fod cyfiawnder ieuenctid a phrawf yn mynd i gael eu datganoli erbyn 2030, yn ystod tymor nesaf y Senedd?
Thank you very much, Adam Price. Of course, you will know that it was in the UK Government's manifesto. Now, we're a year on from the new Government coming into force in terms of youth justice. We've had several positive conversations with the UK Government on taking forward their manifesto commitments. It clearly was in our manifesto commitment as a Welsh Labour Government.
Our Deputy First Minister met the Lord Chancellor only last month. I met Sir Nic Dakin yesterday, and I discussed the devolution of youth justice, and we agreed that I would now engage with him—we're going to meet shortly—about the way forward. Because so much work has been done, it's not about making the case, it's preparing for the devolution of youth justice. We've now got a youth justice research programme, building on what we already know in terms of youth justice, the devolution of youth justice. So, I'm confident that we're going to see that this is going to be taken forward by the UK Government.
Diolch, Adam Price. Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwch chi'n gwybod ei fod ym maniffesto Llywodraeth y DU. Nawr, mae blwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers i'r Llywodraeth newydd ddod i rym o ran cyfiawnder ieuenctid. Rydym wedi cael sawl sgwrs gadarnhaol gyda Llywodraeth y DU ar fwrw ymlaen â'u hymrwymiadau maniffesto. Roedd yn amlwg yn ein hymrwymiad maniffesto fel Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru.
Y mis diwethaf y cyfarfu ein Dirprwy Brif Weinidog â'r Arglwydd Ganghellor. Cyfarfûm â Syr Nic Dakin ddoe, a thrafodais ddatganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid, a chytunwyd y byddwn yn ymgysylltu ag ef nawr—byddwn yn cyfarfod yn fuan—ynglŷn â'r ffordd ymlaen. Oherwydd bod cymaint o waith wedi'i wneud, nid yw'n fater o wneud yr achos, mae'n fater o baratoi ar gyfer datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid. Mae gennym bellach raglen ymchwil cyfiawnder ieuenctid, sy'n adeiladu ar yr hyn a wyddom eisoes am gyfiawnder ieuenctid, datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid. Felly, rwy'n hyderus y gwelwn Lywodraeth y DU yn bwrw ymlaen â hyn.
I'm grateful to you, and grateful for that response. It is, of course, a matter of absolute social justice that we move ahead quickly with the devolution of youth justice and other aspects of the criminal justice system and policing. This has been a part of the Welsh Government's programme for government for many years now. In fact, even as far back as my time in Government, we supported this.
Is it now time, Cabinet Secretary, that we set out clearly a programme for work that delivers the devolution of these matters and also, crucially, the programme for work where Welsh Government will deliver social justice for some of the most vulnerable people in Wales, and also justice for people who are suffering as a consequence of the failures of the current system? That now must be a priority, both for this Government and the UK Government: to move quickly to deliver on the ambitions that we have for Wales.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, ac yn ddiolchgar am eich ymateb. Wrth gwrs, mae'n fater o gyfiawnder cymdeithasol llwyr ein bod yn symud ymlaen yn gyflym gyda datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid ac agweddau eraill ar y system cyfiawnder troseddol a phlismona. Mae hyn wedi bod yn rhan o raglen lywodraethu Llywodraeth Cymru ers blynyddoedd lawer bellach. Rydym wedi cefnogi hyn ers mor bell yn ôl â'm cyfnod i yn y Llywodraeth mewn gwirionedd.
A yw'n bryd nawr, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, inni nodi rhaglen waith glir sy'n datganoli'r materion hyn a hefyd, yn hollbwysig, y rhaglen waith lle bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflawni cyfiawnder cymdeithasol i rai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru, a chyfiawnder hefyd i bobl sy'n dioddef o ganlyniad i fethiannau'r system bresennol? Mae'n rhaid i hynny fod yn flaenoriaeth nawr i'r Llywodraeth hon a Llywodraeth y DU: symud yn gyflym i gyflawni'r uchelgeisiau sydd gennym ar gyfer Cymru.
Thank you very much, Alun Davies, and thank you for your consistent support, based on evidence, and that's where it started—based on evidence that we know that devolving youth justice makes sense operationally, as well as the fact that we know it is powers for a purpose, isn't it? Because it will prove to be the best way in which we can deliver justice, and it is justice for our communities as well as for our young people. And I think that's where we return to the work that's been very well laid out in our youth justice blueprint, which was, actually, working with the Ministry of Justice and Welsh Government, a distinct approach in Wales to justice services, recognised by UK Government already, but actually UK Government can learn from the way that we've worked in Wales. So, it's not a matter of exploring; it's a matter of preparing for that devolution of youth justice.
Diolch, Alun Davies, a diolch am eich cefnogaeth gyson, yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth, a dyna ble y dechreuodd hyn—yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth y gwyddom fod datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid yn gwneud synnwyr yn weithredol, yn ogystal â'r ffaith ein bod yn gwybod eu bod yn bwerau at ddiben, onid ydynt? Oherwydd bydd yn profi i fod y ffordd orau y gallwn ddarparu cyfiawnder, ac mae'n gyfiawnder i'n cymunedau yn ogystal ag i'n pobl ifanc. Ac rwy'n credu mai dyna lle rydym yn dychwelyd at y gwaith a gynlluniwyd yn dda iawn yn ein glasbrint cyfiawnder ieuenctid, sef gweithio gyda'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder a Llywodraeth Cymru, dull penodol yng Nghymru o ymdrin â gwasanaethau cyfiawnder, a gydnabyddir eisoes gan Lywodraeth y DU, ond mewn gwirionedd, gall Llywodraeth y DU ddysgu o'r ffordd yr ydym ni wedi gweithio yng Nghymru. Felly, nid yw'n fater o archwilio; mae'n fater o baratoi ar gyfer datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid.
2. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael ag effaith gymunedol barhaus y camweddiad cyfiawnder a gaiff ei adnabod yn gyffredinol fel 'pump Caerdydd'? OQ62946
2. What is the Welsh Government doing to address the continuing community impact of the miscarriage of justice commonly known as 'the Cardiff five'? OQ62946
Diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much, Vaughan Gething. This is a dreadful miscarriage of justice, and we've got every sympathy—I have every sympathy—with those wrongly accused. The 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', launched in 2022, calls for zero tolerance of all racial inequality and describes how we are working together with partners to tackle racism across the justice system.
Diolch yn fawr, Vaughan Gething. Dyma achos ofnadwy o gamweinyddu cyfiawnder, ac rydym yn cydymdeimlo'n llwyr—rwy'n cydymdeimlo'n llwyr—â'r rhai a gyhuddwyd ar gam. Mae 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol', a lansiwyd yn 2022, yn galw am ddim goddefgarwch yn wyneb pob anghydraddoldeb hiliol ac yn disgrifio sut rydym yn cydweithio â phartneriaid i fynd i'r afael â hiliaeth ar draws y system gyfiawnder.
Thank you. The 'Cardiff five' miscarriage of justice is a notorious case. It saw three innocent men convicted of the horrific murder of Lynette White in 1988, whilst two other men also had their lives blighted, despite not being convicted. Two women and one man, who were coerced by the police into lying to help secure the convictions, were later convicted of perjury. No police officer has ever been disciplined, and the trial of former officers collapsed in 2011. All five men who were charged were black, but the real killer, Jeffrey Gafoor, is white.
The case still has meaning, especially within Butetown, which I was privileged to represent as a councillor before being elected to serve Butetown in this Senedd. This, though, has been re-highlighted by the not-too-distant decision of the Parole Board to release the convicted murderer without briefing the 'Cardiff five' families or the local community in Butetown in advance.
Next Thursday, I'll host a book signing event in the Senedd for the book The Boy from Tiger Bay with the author Ceri Jackson and John Actie, one of the 'Cardiff five'. The book largely describes events through John's eyes. I will write to you, but my question is whether you'd support the call for a judge-led process to review the events leading up to, and the continuing impact beyond, this miscarriage of justice, including the lasting impact upon the community that I represent.
Diolch. Mae camweinyddiad cyfiawnder 'pump Caerdydd' yn achos drwg-enwog. Cafwyd tri dyn diniwed yn euog o lofruddiaeth erchyll Lynette White ym 1988, a difethwyd bywydau dau ddyn arall, er na chawsant eu heuogfarnu. Cafwyd dwy fenyw ac un dyn, a orfodwyd gan yr heddlu i ddweud celwydd i helpu i sicrhau'r euogfarnau, yn euog yn ddiweddarach o dyngu anudon. Nid oes unrhyw swyddog heddlu erioed wedi'i ddisgyblu, a chwalodd achos llys cyn-swyddogion heddlu yn 2011. Roedd pob un o'r pum dyn a gyhuddwyd yn ddu, ond mae'r llofrudd go iawn, Jeffrey Gafoor, yn wyn.
Mae ystyr i'r achos o hyd, yn enwedig yn Butetown, lle cefais y fraint o'u cynrychioli fel cynghorydd cyn cael fy ethol i wasanaethu Butetown yn y Senedd hon. Mae hyn, fodd bynnag, wedi'i amlygu eto gan benderfyniad diweddar y Bwrdd Parôl i ryddhau'r llofrudd a gafwyd yn euog heb roi gwybod ymlaen llaw i deuluoedd 'pump Caerdydd' na'r gymuned leol yn Butetown.
Ddydd Iau nesaf, byddaf yn cynnal digwyddiad llofnodi llyfrau yn y Senedd ar gyfer llyfr The Boy from Tiger Bay gyda'r awdur Ceri Jackson a John Actie, un o 'bump Caerdydd'. Mae'r llyfr yn disgrifio digwyddiadau drwy lygaid John. Byddaf yn ysgrifennu atoch, ond fy nghwestiwn yw a fyddech chi'n cefnogi'r alwad am broses dan arweiniad barnwr i adolygu'r digwyddiadau a arweiniodd at y camweinyddu cyfiawnder, a'i effaith barhaus, gan gynnwys yr effaith barhaol ar y gymuned rwy'n ei chynrychioli.
Thank you very much, Vaughan Gething, and thank you for reminding us again today of this dreadful miscarriage of justice, and I'm sure and I hope that Members from across the Senedd will be able to attend and join in and support that book launch next week, The Boy from Tiger Bay, and also just recognising, I think, as the falsely accused, the wrongly accused, those five black men who were wrongly accused and falsely accused, despite, as you say, that, in fact, the real killer, Jeffrey Gafoor, was caught. I also, just to say, pay tribute to John Actie for the way that he has come forward and said this is something that's still living with him. And you've mentioned the still very strong meaning in Butetown, in the community that you've represented for so many years, as a councillor and Senedd Member. So, I look forward to receiving your letter.
I think it's really important, the fact that we need to look at the criminal justice system now, and recognise that we have a criminal justice anti-racism action plan for Wales. Criminal justice isn't devolved—it's reserved—although we have a case for devolution of criminal justice clearly made. I look forward to receiving your letter, and, of course, again, adding my support to the launch of that book next week.
Diolch, Vaughan Gething, a diolch am ein hatgoffa eto heddiw o'r achos ofnadwy hwn o gamweinyddu cyfiawnder, ac rwy'n siŵr ac yn gobeithio y bydd Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Senedd yn gallu mynychu ac ymuno a chefnogi lansiad y llyfr yr wythnos nesaf, The Boy from Tiger Bay, a chydnabod hefyd, rwy'n credu, fel y rhai a gyhuddwyd yn anghywir ar gam, y pump a gyhuddwyd ar gam, y pum dyn du a gafodd eu cyhuddo'n anghywir ac ar gam, er gwaethaf y ffaith, fel y dywedwch, fod y llofrudd go iawn, Jeffrey Gafoor, wedi'i ddal. Rwyf hefyd, dylwn ddweud, yn talu teyrnged i John Actie am y ffordd y mae wedi codi ei lais a dweud bod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'n dal i fyw gydag ef. Ac rydych chi wedi sôn am y teimlad sy'n dal yn gryf iawn yn Butetown, yn y gymuned rydych chi wedi'i chynrychioli ers cymaint o flynyddoedd, fel cynghorydd ac fel Aelod o'r Senedd. Felly, edrychaf ymlaen at gael eich llythyr.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn wirioneddol bwysig, y ffaith bod angen inni edrych ar y system cyfiawnder troseddol nawr, a chydnabod bod gennym gynllun gweithredu gwrth-hiliaeth cyfiawnder troseddol i Gymru. Nid yw cyfiawnder troseddol wedi'i ddatganoli—mae'n fater a gedwir yn ôl—er bod gennym achos clir dros ddatganoli cyfiawnder troseddol. Edrychaf ymlaen at gael eich llythyr, ac wrth gwrs, unwaith eto, at ychwanegu fy nghefnogaeth i lansiad y llyfr hwnnw yr wythnos nesaf.
I'm grateful for Vaughan Gething's very important question. It's important we hear this in the Senedd—something that happened not far from this very building. Unfortunately, this wasn't the only miscarriage of justice involving people of colour in Cardiff. Mahmood Mattan lost his life. In another case, known as the 'Cardiff newsagent three', Michael O'Brien spent 11 years and 43 days behind bars for a murder he never committed—nine years longer even than the 'Cardiff five'. Following his release, the Ministry of Justice deducted £37,500 from his compensation for bed and board. During his time in prison, Trefnydd, his father died, his daughter died; he went to their funerals with a police armed escort and wearing double handcuffs. That's what happened to him. A Labour Government at Westminster, headed by Michael O'Brien's former barrister, is still refusing to return that money. A man who used to fight for justice is now refusing to deliver justice once he's gained power. Will you agree with me, Trefnydd, that the refusal to return money rightfully owed to people like Michael O'Brien is a real disgrace, and what representation will you give to your partners in power in Westminster for the return of that money? Diolch yn fawr.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am gwestiwn pwysig iawn Vaughan Gething. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn clywed hyn yn y Senedd—rhywbeth a ddigwyddodd heb fod ymhell o'r adeilad hwn. Yn anffodus, nid dyma'r unig achos o gamweinyddu cyfiawnder yn gysylltiedig â phobl o liw yng Nghaerdydd. Collodd Mahmood Mattan ei fywyd. Mewn achos arall, achos y tri a gafodd eu cyhuddo ar gam o lofruddio gwerthwr papurau newydd yng Nghaerdydd, treuliodd Michael O'Brien 11 mlynedd a 43 diwrnod mewn carchar am lofruddiaeth na wnaeth ei chyflawni—naw mlynedd yn hirach na 'phump Caerdydd' hyd yn oed. Ar ôl ei ryddhau, didynnodd y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder £37,500 o'i iawndal am wely a phrydau bwyd. Yn ystod ei gyfnod yn y carchar, Drefnydd, bu farw ei dad, bu farw ei ferch; aeth i'w hangladdau wedi'i hebrwng gan swyddog heddlu arfog gyda gefynnau dwbl am ei ddwylo. Dyna a ddigwyddodd iddo. Mae Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan, dan arweiniad cyn-fargyfreithiwr Michael O'Brien, yn dal i wrthod talu'r arian hwnnw yn ôl. Mae dyn a arferai ymladd dros gyfiawnder bellach yn gwrthod darparu cyfiawnder wedi iddo ddod i rym. A wnewch chi gytuno â mi, Drefnydd, fod gwrthod dychwelyd arian sy'n briodol ddyledus i bobl fel Michael O'Brien yn gwbl warthus, a pha sylwadau y byddwch chi'n eu gwneud i'ch partneriaid mewn grym yn San Steffan i gael yr arian hwnnw yn ôl? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you again. It is important that, here, we have aired further, and you've also brought to our attention and well understood, other miscarriages of justice. Again, I would urge you to write to me, particularly in relation to Michael O'Brien. I do—. As I said, it's not devolved, but we do have a Criminal Justice Board for Wales, which does provide oversight of the delivery, for example, of our criminal justice anti-racism action plan, and we need to see that progress is being made and outcomes improve. But this has to be about historical injustices as well, so thank you for raising that, and please draw that further, in writing, to my attention.
Diolch eto. Mae'n bwysig, yma, ein bod wedi trafod ymhellach, ac rydych chi hefyd wedi deall a thynnu ein sylw at achosion eraill o gamweinyddu cyfiawnder. Unwaith eto, carwn eich annog i ysgrifennu ataf, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â Michael O'Brien. Rwy'n—. Fel y dywedais, nid yw'n fater sydd wedi'i ddatganoli, ond mae gennym Fwrdd Cyfiawnder Troseddol Cymru, sy'n goruchwylio, er enghraifft, ein cynllun gweithredu gwrth-hiliaeth cyfiawnder troseddol, ac mae angen inni weld bod cynnydd yn cael ei wneud a bod canlyniadau'n gwella. Ond mae'n rhaid i hyn ymwneud ag anghyfiawnderau hanesyddol hefyd, felly diolch am godi hynny, a chroeso i chi dynnu fy sylw ymhellach at hynny, yn ysgrifenedig.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Altaf Hussain.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservatives spokesperson, Altaf Hussain.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Cabinet Secretary, last week, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children reported that they had received a record level of calls about children at risk of domestic abuse. The NSPCC said around a third of child welfare contacts about domestic abuse ended in a referral to authorities, such as police and children's social services. I welcome the work of the NSPCC. However, it is concerning that a charity is doing more to protect children from domestic abuse than the statutory services whose job it is. Cabinet Secretary, how will the Welsh Government ensure that children's social services are protecting children from domestic abuse?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yr wythnos diwethaf, adroddodd y Gymdeithas Genedlaethol er Atal Creulondeb i Blant, NSPCC, eu bod wedi cael y lefel uchaf erioed o alwadau am blant sydd mewn perygl o gam-drin domestig. Dywedodd yr NSPCC fod oddeutu traean o gysylltiadau lles plant ynghylch cam-drin domestig wedi arwain at atgyfeirio at awdurdodau, fel yr heddlu a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol plant. Rwy'n croesawu gwaith yr NSPCC. Fodd bynnag, mae'n destun pryder fod elusen yn gwneud mwy i ddiogelu plant rhag cam-drin domestig na'r gwasanaethau statudol sy'n gyfrifol am hynny. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau bod gwasanaethau cymdeithasol plant yn diogelu plant rhag cam-drin domestig?
Thank you very much for that question, Altaf Hussain. In fact, last week, we had a meeting of the violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence national partnership board, and, indeed, the main subject, the main theme, of that meeting was children at risk of domestic abuse, or the impact of violence on children in relation to domestic abuse. It was very fortunate on that occasion that we had Jess Phillips, the Minister from the UK Government, who joined us, and indeed, the domestic abuse commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, for England and Wales, joined us as well.
But the work stream—. We have a work stream on children and young people as part of the national strategy. We had feedback on the work that’s been undertaken. So, it’s been driven by the Welsh Government, at a national level, to ensure delivery at a local level as well. And that is done regionally, locally, and with our specialist services, not just NSPCC, which plays a vital role, but alongside specialist services from Welsh Women’s Aid, the Black Association of Women Step Out, Llamau and other organisations.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn, Altaf Hussain. Mewn gwirionedd, yr wythnos diwethaf, cyfarfu'r bwrdd partneriaeth cenedlaethol trais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol, ac yn wir, prif bwnc, prif thema, y cyfarfod hwnnw oedd plant sydd mewn perygl o gam-drin domestig, neu effaith trais ar blant mewn perthynas â cham-drin domestig. Roedd yn ffodus iawn ar yr achlysur hwnnw fod Jess Phillips, Gweinidog Llywodraeth y DU, wedi ymuno â ni, ac yn wir, ymunodd y comisiynydd cam-drin domestig dros Gymru a Lloegr, Nicole Jacobs, â ni hefyd.
Ond y ffrwd waith—. Mae gennym ffrwd waith ar blant a phobl ifanc yn rhan o'r strategaeth genedlaethol. Cawsom adborth ar y gwaith a wnaed. Felly, mae wedi'i lywio gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ar lefel genedlaethol, i sicrhau darpariaeth ar lefel leol hefyd. Ac mae hynny'n digwydd yn rhanbarthol, yn lleol, a chyda'n gwasanaethau arbenigol, nid yn unig NSPCC, sy'n chwarae rhan hanfodol, ond ochr yn ochr â gwasanaethau arbenigol gan Cymorth i Fenywod Cymru, Black Association of Women Step Out, Llamau a sefydliadau eraill.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Of course, it's not just local authorities who are failing domestic abuse victims. Last week, we also saw the release of a police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy inspection report on Gwent Police. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services found that the force needs to improve how promptly it attends 999 calls, in particular those involving domestic abuse victims, and make sure it updates callers on delays to officers attending. The inspectorate stated that Gwent Police do not have a clear understanding of why it takes the force longer to attend domestic abuse-related incidents than other incidents. Cabinet Secretary, I'm sure you're as concerned as I am over the force's failings. Therefore, what discussions have you had with the police and crime commissioner, and the Home Secretary, about the steps needed to ensure Gwent Police can protect domestic abuse victims?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Wrth gwrs, nid awdurdodau lleol yn unig sy'n methu ar ran dioddefwyr cam-drin domestig. Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddwyd adroddiad arolygu effeithiolrwydd, effeithlonrwydd a chyfreithlondeb yr heddlu ar Heddlu Gwent. Canfu Arolygiaeth Cwnstabliaeth a Gwasanaethau Tân ac Achub Ei Fawrhydi fod angen i'r llu wella pa mor brydlon y mae'n mynychu galwadau 999, yn enwedig y rhai sy'n ymwneud â dioddefwyr cam-drin domestig, a sicrhau eu bod yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r rhai sy'n ffonio am unrhyw oedi cyn i swyddogion gyrraedd. Dywedodd yr arolygiaeth nad oes gan Heddlu Gwent ddealltwriaeth glir o pam ei bod yn cymryd mwy o amser i'r heddlu fynychu digwyddiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â cham-drin domestig nag unrhyw ddigwyddiadau eraill. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n siŵr eich bod yr un mor bryderus â minnau ynghylch methiannau'r llu. Felly, pa drafodaethau a gawsoch gyda'r comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu, a'r Ysgrifennydd Cartref, ynghylch y camau y mae angen eu cymryd i sicrhau y gall Heddlu Gwent ddiogelu dioddefwyr cam-drin domestig?
Diolch yn fawr, Altaf Hussain. You raise a really important point in terms of the partnership, the partnership to tackle violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. It has to be a partnership of emergency services. I co-chair the national partnership board with PCC Emma Wools, but also the Gwent PCC, Jane Mudd, and indeed her deputy, Eleri Thomas, who is actually the senior responsible officer for delivering on our partnership strategy—all part of our national drive to tackle these issues. So, yes, concern about the inspector’s report. This is where I work cross-Government with Jayne Bryant, who is responsible for fire and rescue services particularly. But this is something that I’m grateful you’ve brought attention to today, to air and share that public concern that we have for making sure that all our emergency services respond as they have to do in terms of statutory duty, as well as clear responsibilities.
Diolch yn fawr, Altaf Hussain. Rydych chi'n codi pwynt pwysig iawn o ran y bartneriaeth, y bartneriaeth i fynd i'r afael â thrais yn erbyn menywod, cam-drin domestig a thrais rhywiol. Mae'n rhaid iddi fod yn bartneriaeth o wasanaethau brys. Rwy'n cyd-gadeirio'r bwrdd partneriaeth cenedlaethol gyda'r comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu Emma Wools, ond hefyd comisiynydd heddlu a throseddu Gwent, Jane Mudd, a'i dirprwy, Eleri Thomas, sef yr uwch swyddog sydd â chyfrifoldeb am gyflawni strategaeth ein partneriaeth—i gyd yn rhan o'n hymgyrch genedlaethol i fynd i'r afael â'r pethau hyn. Felly, oes, mae pryder ynghylch adroddiad yr arolygydd. Dyma ble rwy'n gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth gyda Jayne Bryant, sy'n gyfrifol am wasanaethau tân ac achub yn benodol. Ond mae hyn yn rhywbeth rwy'n ddiolchgar eich bod wedi tynnu sylw ato heddiw, i wyntyllu a rhannu'r pryder cyhoeddus sydd gennym am sicrhau bod ein holl wasanaethau brys yn ymateb fel y mae'n rhaid iddynt fel dyletswydd statudol, yn ogystal â chyfrifoldebau clir.
Thank you again, Cabinet Secretary. While sticking to the topic of domestic abuse, I want to pivot slightly to focus on male adults fleeing domestic violence. I have spoken to you previously about Jonathan’s House Ministries, and the work they’re doing with male victims. They raised with me concerns about the rail to refuge and road to rescue schemes. Currently, the schemes require a referral from a domestic abuse helpline. Cabinet Secretary, will you look at ways of ensuring that everyone who needs it has access to free public transport to a refuge, and allow the refuge to refer victims to the schemes, rather than relying on national helplines?
Diolch eto, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Gan aros gyda cham-drin domestig, rwyf am symud ychydig i ganolbwyntio ar oedolion gwrywaidd sy'n ffoi rhag trais domestig. Rwyf wedi siarad â chi o'r blaen am Jonathan’s House Ministries, a'r gwaith a wnânt gyda dioddefwyr gwrywaidd. Fe wnaethant godi pryderon gyda mi ynglŷn â chynlluniau 'rail to refuge' a 'road to rescue'. Ar hyn o bryd, mae angen atgyfeiriad gan linell gymorth cam-drin domestig er mwyn cael mynediad at y cynlluniau. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi edrych ar ffyrdd o sicrhau bod gan bawb sydd ei angen fynediad at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus am ddim i gyrraedd lloches, a chaniatáu i'r lloches atgyfeirio dioddefwyr at y cynlluniau, yn hytrach na dibynnu ar linellau cymorth cenedlaethol?
Thank you for raising that important point, and I have answered questions before. I’ve also responded to queries about the support we give to services like the Dyn helpline, for example. But Jonathan’s House is something where we need to look at the evidence and understand barriers to providing support. So, thank you again, and I will follow that up.
Diolch am godi'r pwynt pwysig hwnnw, ac rwyf wedi ateb cwestiynau o'r blaen. Rwyf hefyd wedi ymateb i ymholiadau am y cymorth a roddwn i wasanaethau fel llinell gymorth Dyn, er enghraifft. Ond mae Jonathan’s House yn rhywbeth lle mae angen inni edrych ar y dystiolaeth a deall y rhwystrau rhag darparu cymorth. Felly, diolch eto, a byddaf yn mynd i'r afael â hynny.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Sioned Williams.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Sioned Williams.
The disrespect shown for disabled people in Wales throughout the UK Labour Government's shambolic, incoherent, chaotic, immoral approach to welfare reform has been breathtaking and unforgivable. Does the Welsh Government agree with Disability Rights UK that the UK Government passing this disastrous Bill shows deep disdain for disabled people, and also with Disability Wales's view that this Bill is unsafe?
Mae'r diffyg parch a ddangoswyd at bobl anabl yng Nghymru drwy ddull anhrefnus, anghyson, dryslyd ac anfoesol Llywodraeth Lafur y DU o ddiwygio lles wedi bod yn warthus ac yn anfaddeuol. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cytuno â Disability Rights UK fod Llywodraeth y DU yn dangos dirmyg dwfn tuag at bobl anabl drwy basio'r Bil trychinebus hwn, a hefyd barn Anabledd Cymru fod y Bil hwn yn anniogel?
Thank you very much for raising that question, Sioned Williams. You know and you will have seen the letter that I wrote last week to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to Liz Kendall, outlining our concerns, concerns based on the evidence of how disabled people in Wales would be affected—nearly 200,000 would be affected by those PIP changes that had been proposed. I think one of the most important points I made in that letter was that there should be no changes made before a review of the personal independence payment regime, including the criteria for access to personal independence payments. That came about as a result of our engagement with disabled people in Wales, as a result of meeting with the disability equality forum, the chairs of the disability rights taskforce, which helped give evidence in terms of case studies that came forward on the concerns and adverse impacts of the proposals as they were shaped at that time by the UK Government. So, I welcome the fact now that we have concessions, which were reflected in the Bill that finally went through last night. They did reflect on our call in my letter last Tuesday for the PIP review to take place before any changes were made. That's now laid down in statute, and a commitment to co-production with disabled people. I met with Stephen Timms on Sunday and invited him to Wales to meet our disabled people, to meet our disability equality forum representatives, and taskforce representatives, to engage with us here in Wales, with disabled people, to work on the co-production of this review.
Diolch am godi'r cwestiwn hwnnw, Sioned Williams. Rydych chi'n gwybod a byddwch wedi gweld y llythyr a ysgrifennais yr wythnos diwethaf at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Waith a Phensiynau, at Liz Kendall, yn amlinellu ein pryderon, pryderon sy'n seiliedig ar y dystiolaeth ynglŷn â sut y byddai pobl anabl yng Nghymru yn cael eu heffeithio—byddai bron i 200,000 yn cael eu heffeithio gan y newidiadau a argymhellwyd i'r taliad annibyniaeth personol. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pwyntiau pwysicaf a wneuthum yn y llythyr hwnnw oedd na ddylid gwneud unrhyw newidiadau cyn cynnal adolygiad o drefn y taliadau annibyniaeth personol, gan gynnwys y meini prawf ar gyfer mynediad at daliadau annibyniaeth personol. Daeth hynny o ganlyniad i'n hymgysylltiad â phobl anabl yng Nghymru, o ganlyniad i gyfarfod â'r fforwm cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl, cadeiryddion y tasglu hawliau pobl anabl, a helpodd i roi tystiolaeth o astudiaethau achos a gyflwynwyd ar bryderon ac effeithiau andwyol y cynigion fel y'u lluniwyd ar y pryd gan Lywodraeth y DU. Felly, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod gennym gonsesiynau bellach, a adlewyrchwyd yn y Bil a basiwyd neithiwr. Fe wnaethant fyfyrio ar ein galwad yn fy llythyr ddydd Mawrth diwethaf i gynnal yr adolygiad o daliadau annibyniaeth personol cyn gwneud unrhyw newidiadau. Mae hynny bellach wedi'i nodi mewn statud, ynghyd ag ymrwymiad i gyd-gynhyrchu gyda phobl anabl. Cyfarfûm â Stephen Timms ddydd Sul a'i wahodd i Gymru i gyfarfod â'n pobl anabl, i gyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr ein fforwm cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl, a chynrychiolwyr y tasglu, i ymgysylltu â ni yma yng Nghymru, gyda phobl anabl, i weithio ar gyd-gynhyrchu'r adolygiad hwn.
Yes, you said in that letter to Liz Kendall that you believed a review of PIP should take place, co-produced, as you say, with disabled people, before any changes to support are introduced. So, do you support the cuts for new claimants of the universal credit health payment, which are still included in the Bill passed last night and have not been consulted on? For new claims from next April, the rate of the universal credit health element will be reduced by more than £2,400 a year, with nearly all new claimants hit, and new claimants under the age of 22 also may not be eligible. An estimated 0.75 million people are expected to be impacted by these changes to the health element of universal credit. You've repeatedly insisted the UK Government has listened to your concerns, which included the lack of an impact assessment on these reforms. So, what assessment have you received or carried out on the impact of the universal credit cuts on Wales?
Do, fe ddywedoch chi yn y llythyr at Liz Kendall eich bod yn credu y dylid cynnal adolygiad o daliadau annibyniaeth personol, wedi'i gyd-gynhyrchu, fel y dywedwch, gyda phobl anabl, cyn cyflwyno unrhyw newidiadau i gymorth. Felly, a ydych chi'n cefnogi'r toriadau i hawlwyr newydd y taliad iechyd credyd cynhwysol, sy'n dal i fod wedi'u cynnwys yn y Bil a basiwyd neithiwr ac nad ymgynghorwyd arnynt? Ar gyfer hawliadau newydd o fis Ebrill nesaf, bydd cyfradd yr elfen iechyd o gredyd cynhwysol yn cael ei gostwng fwy na £2,400 y flwyddyn, gyda bron i bob hawlydd newydd yn cael eu heffeithio, ac efallai na fydd hawlwyr newydd o dan 22 oed yn gymwys ychwaith. Disgwylir i oddeutu 0.75 miliwn o bobl gael eu heffeithio gan y newidiadau hyn i elfen iechyd y credyd cynhwysol. Rydych chi wedi mynnu dro ar ôl tro fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwrando ar eich pryderon, a oedd yn cynnwys diffyg asesiad o effaith y diwygiadau hyn. Felly, pa asesiad a gawsoch neu a gynhaliwyd gennych ar effaith y toriadau i gredyd cynhwysol ar Gymru?
I think one of the main points that I raised not only in my letter, but also when I met with Sir Stephen Timms on Sunday, who is the Minister who is taking forward the PIP review, was the fact that we didn't have an impact assessment for Wales. We were dependent on—. Yes, we did have evidence of data, but we didn't have a Wales-focused impact assessment. I called for that, and asked again when I met with him that we should move towards Wales-focused impact assessments, because then, of course, we can look clearly, with that evidence, at what the impacts of all the changes would be. I hope now, because of the changes that were made by the UK Government, that this is an opportunity to look at all of the impacts of the changes proposed and that are now being taken forward in legislation.
Of course, there were some important new developments as a result of the Green Paper that really got lost—for example, the further funding that's been made available to help with return to work, the fact that that's going to be for disabled people, if that is what they wish and are able to do, to return to employment, but also, tackling things like the delays to Access to Work, and to have the opportunity for a right to try, which, of course, is something that we've been calling for for a long time—a right to try to return to work. Then, if it isn't going to work out, they will not be reassessed or not be disadvantaged, which is actually what came through as an important reassurance yesterday as a result of the change. So, I think now we have to make sure that we get that Wales focus and that we also get disabled people in Wales to take the lead, because co-production has been promised by the UK Government.
Rwy'n credu mai un o'r prif bwyntiau a godais nid yn unig yn fy llythyr, ond hefyd pan gyfarfûm â Syr Stephen Timms ddydd Sul, sef y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am yr adolygiad o daliadau annibyniaeth personol, oedd y ffaith nad oedd gennym asesiad effaith ar gyfer Cymru. Roeddem yn ddibynnol ar—. Oedd, roedd gennym dystiolaeth o ddata, ond nid oedd gennym asesiad effaith a oedd yn canolbwyntio ar Gymru. Galwais am hynny, a nodais eto pan gyfarfûm ag ef y dylem symud tuag at asesiadau effaith a oedd yn canolbwyntio ar Gymru, oherwydd wedyn, wrth gwrs, gallwn edrych yn glir, gyda'r dystiolaeth honno, ar beth fyddai effeithiau'r holl newidiadau. Rwy'n gobeithio nawr, oherwydd y newidiadau a wnaed gan Lywodraeth y DU, fod hwn yn gyfle i edrych ar holl effeithiau'r newidiadau a gynigiwyd ac sydd bellach yn cael eu hymgorffori mewn deddfwriaeth.
Wrth gwrs, cafwyd rhai datblygiadau newydd pwysig o ganlyniad i'r Papur Gwyrdd a gafodd eu colli braidd—er enghraifft, y cyllid pellach sydd wedi'i ddarparu i helpu gyda dychwelyd i'r gwaith, y ffaith y bydd hynny ar gyfer pobl anabl, os ydynt yn dymuno ac yn gallu gwneud hynny, i ddychwelyd i gyflogaeth, ond hefyd, i fynd i'r afael â phethau fel yr oedi gyda Mynediad i Waith, ac i gael cyfle i gael hawl i roi cynnig arni, sydd wrth gwrs yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni wedi galw amdano ers amser maith—yr hawl i geisio dychwelyd i'r gwaith. Yna, os nad yw'n mynd i weithio, ni fyddant yn cael eu hailasesu neu o dan anfantais, sef yr hyn a ddaeth yn amlwg fel sicrwydd pwysig ddoe o ganlyniad i'r newid. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni sicrhau nawr ein bod yn cael y ffocws hwnnw ar Gymru a'n bod hefyd yn sicrhau bod pobl anabl yng Nghymru yn cymryd yr awenau, gan fod cydgynhyrchu yn rhywbeth sydd wedi'i addo gan Lywodraeth y DU.
It's good to hear that you asked again—yet again—for that Wales impact assessment. So, did you get a commitment on that? I didn't hear you say whether you got a commitment on it or not. And there's still confusion, isn't there, about what the promise to remove that tighter PIP eligibility from the Bill really means in practice, whether MPs would get a say over any changes resulting from the Timms review, as there's been no guarantee to put the review's recommendations in primary legislation. So, can you confirm what information Stephen Timms shared with you on Sunday about the new plan for the review, which was revealed in such a chaotic and last-minute way yesterday with no consultation? Will you be seeking guarantees, for instance, that disabled people in Wales, now and in the future, won't be worse off as a result of the review?
Mae'n dda clywed eich bod wedi gofyn eto—unwaith eto—am yr asesiad effaith ar gyfer Cymru. Felly, a gawsoch chi ymrwymiad ar hynny? Ni'ch clywais yn dweud a gawsoch chi ymrwymiad ar hynny ai peidio. Ac mae dryswch o hyd, onid oes, ynghylch beth y mae'r addewid i gael gwared ar y meini prawf cymhwysedd llymach ar gyfer taliadau annibyniaeth personol o'r Bil yn ei olygu'n ymarferol mewn gwirionedd, a fyddai llais gan ASau mewn perthynas ag unrhyw newidiadau sy'n deillio o adolygiad Timms, gan na chafwyd unrhyw warant i roi argymhellion yr adolygiad ar waith mewn deddfwriaeth sylfaenol. Felly, a allwch chi gadarnhau pa wybodaeth a rannodd Stephen Timms gyda chi ddydd Sul am y cynllun newydd ar gyfer yr adolygiad, a ddatgelwyd mewn ffordd mor anhrefnus ar y funud olaf ddoe heb unrhyw ymgynghori? A fyddwch chi'n gofyn am warantau, er enghraifft, na fydd pobl anabl yng Nghymru, nawr ac yn y dyfodol, mewn sefyllfa waeth o ganlyniad i'r adolygiad?
We've got a real opportunity, haven't we, now for disabled people in Wales to influence the way forward. Clause 5 was removed, withdrawn from the Bill. It was recognised by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, that MPs from all parties raised significant concerns about the proposed changes to the PIP eligibility criteria. We now have an opportunity to influence the way forward with disabled people. I hope that's something where we can grasp that opportunity. We have that influence, in terms of Government-to-Government working, and I'm looking forward—. I've invited Sir Stephen Timms to come to Wales and to meet with disabled people, and for us to move forward in a constructive way.
Mae gennym gyfle gwirioneddol nawr, onid oes, i bobl anabl yng Nghymru ddylanwadu ar y ffordd ymlaen. Cafodd cymal 5 ei dynnu o'r Bil. Cydnabu'r Gweinidog dros Nawdd Cymdeithasol ac Anabledd, Syr Stephen Timms, fod ASau o bob plaid wedi codi pryderon sylweddol ynghylch y newidiadau arfaethedig i feini prawf cymhwysedd taliadau annibyniaeth personol. Mae gennym gyfle nawr i ddylanwadu ar y ffordd ymlaen gyda phobl anabl. Rwy'n gobeithio bod hynny'n rhywbeth lle gallwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwnnw. Mae gennym y dylanwad hwnnw i weithio rhwng Llywodraethau, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen—. Rwyf wedi gwahodd Syr Stephen Timms i ddod i Gymru ac i gyfarfod â phobl anabl, ac inni symud ymlaen mewn ffordd adeiladol.
3. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r rhesymau dros y cynnydd mewn troseddau gwledig yng Nghymru fel yr adroddwyd gan NFU Mutual? OQ62960
3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the reasons for the rise in rural crime in Wales as reported by NFU Mutual? OQ62960
Thank you for that question. We're committed to tackling rural crime effectively, and a key part of our co-ordinated approach is the new, revised Wales wildlife and rural crime strategy, which will be launched in July. This strategy aims to further enhance collaboration between the police, partner agencies and farmers to reduce rural crime.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â throseddau cefn gwlad yn effeithiol, ac mae strategaeth newydd, ddiwygiedig ar gyfer troseddau cefn gwlad a bywyd gwyllt Cymru, a fydd yn cael ei lansio ym mis Gorffennaf, yn rhan allweddol o'n dull cydgysylltiedig o weithredu. Nod y strategaeth hon yw gwella ymhellach y cydweithio rhwng yr heddlu, asiantaethau partner a ffermwyr i leihau troseddau cefn gwlad.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. You say that strategy will be launched in July. We are now in July, so an update on that would be helpful. But you'll be aware that I raised this with you in your role as Trefnydd a couple of weeks ago because of the damning statistics that show that, while rural crime has fallen in Scotland and England, here in Wales we've seen a rise. And in constituencies like mine, we've seen more than 60 stolen quad bikes through the Dyfed-Powys Police area in 2024, and one Carmarthenshire farmer lost 75 sheep in a single raid. We've seen an 18 per cent cost increase, at a cost of £2.8 million. So, some more information on the strategy that you outlined, some information as to when in this month it will be launched—. And what further work are you doing with Rob Taylor, the rural crime commissioner, to ensure that there's long-term funding for him to maintain his role in co-ordinating as the co-ordinator? Thank you very much.
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rydych chi'n dweud y bydd y strategaeth honno'n cael ei lansio ym mis Gorffennaf. Mae hi bellach yn fis Gorffennaf, felly byddai diweddariad ar hynny'n ddefnyddiol. Ond fe fyddwch yn ymwybodol fy mod wedi codi hyn gyda chi yn eich rôl fel Trefnydd ychydig wythnosau yn ôl oherwydd yr ystadegau damniol sy'n dangos, er bod lefelau troseddau cefn gwlad wedi gostwng yn yr Alban a Lloegr, yma yng Nghymru, rydym wedi gweld cynnydd. Ac mewn etholaethau fel fy un i, rydym wedi gweld mwy na 60 o feiciau cwad yn cael eu dwyn yn ardal Heddlu Dyfed-Powys yn 2024, a chollodd un ffermwr o sir Gaerfyrddin 75 o ddefaid mewn un cyrch. Rydym wedi gweld costau'n cynyddu 18 y cant, ar gost o £2.8 miliwn. Felly, byddai rhywfaint yn rhagor o wybodaeth am y strategaeth a amlinellwyd gennych, rhywfaint o wybodaeth ynghylch pryd yn ystod y mis hwn y caiff ei lansio—. A pha waith pellach ydych chi'n ei wneud gyda Rob Taylor, y comisiynydd troseddau cefn gwlad, i sicrhau bod cyllid hirdymor ar gael iddo barhau yn ei rôl o gydlynu fel y cydgysylltydd? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you very much, Sam Kurtz, for that supplementary question. You'll know that this responsibility for tackling rural crime lies within the portfolio of Huw Irranca-Davies, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs. We welcome the NFU Mutual report, and I can assure you that the Government will continue to fund the Wales wildlife and rural crime co-ordinator until the summer of 2028, and it's actually that extended support that I am sure you will welcome. The strategy is going to be launched jointly with the police on Thursday 10 July.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn atodol, Sam Kurtz. Fe fyddwch yn gwybod bod y cyfrifoldeb hwn dros fynd i'r afael â throseddau cefn gwlad ym mhortffolio Huw Irranca-Davies, y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Newid Hinsawdd a Materion Gwledig. Rydym yn croesawu adroddiad NFU Mutual, a gallaf roi sicrwydd i chi y bydd y Llywodraeth yn parhau i ariannu cydgysylltydd troseddau cefn gwlad a bywyd gwyllt Cymru tan haf 2028, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch yn croesawu'r cymorth estynedig hwnnw. Bydd y strategaeth yn cael ei lansio ar y cyd â'r heddlu ddydd Iau 10 Gorffennaf.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
4. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi banciau bwyd i helpu teuluoedd yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ62937
4. How is the Welsh Government supporting foodbanks to help families in South Wales East? OQ62937
Thank you for the question. We continue to support foodbanks across Wales. The local authorities in South Wales East have received £311,410 of funding this year to support community food organisations in overcoming barriers to accessing, storing and distributing increased quantities of food, including good food surplus, to those who need it most.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn. Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi banciau bwyd ledled Cymru. Mae'r awdurdodau lleol yn Nwyrain De Cymru wedi cael £311,410 o gyllid eleni i gefnogi sefydliadau bwyd cymunedol i oresgyn rhwystrau i fynediad at fwyd, a storio a dosbarthu mwy ohono, gan gynnwys digon o fwyd dros ben, i'r rhai sydd ei angen fwyaf.
Thank you for that. This is an issue that's so important to so many families in the area and across Wales. Foodbanks in our area are struggling. Donations have decreased in recent months because of the cost of living and, leading up to the school holidays especially, many families are worried. Risca foodbank have told me that because there are no free school meals during the holidays, lots of families in the area don't know how they're going to manage. Not all children look forward without qualification to the holidays. Not all families can cope. Now, this particular foodbank is having to purchase extra food in anticipation of those pressures. Often, foodbanks have phone calls from local schools asking for help, because children already are coming in on a Monday morning not having eaten properly all weekend. That's before the holidays start. Can more Government support be given to these foodbanks to make sure that, all through the summer, hungry children are fed?
Diolch. Mae hwn yn fater sydd mor bwysig i gynifer o deuluoedd yn yr ardal a ledled Cymru. Mae banciau bwyd yn ein hardal ni'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn. Mae rhoddion wedi lleihau yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf oherwydd costau byw, ac yn enwedig yn y cyfnod cyn gwyliau'r ysgol, mae llawer o deuluoedd yn poeni. Mae banc bwyd Rhisga wedi dweud wrthyf, gan nad oes prydau ysgol am ddim yn ystod y gwyliau, fod llawer o deuluoedd yn yr ardal nad ydynt yn gwybod sut y byddant yn ymdopi. Nid yw pob plentyn yn edrych ymlaen yn ddi-gwestiwn at y gwyliau. Nid yw pob teulu'n gallu ymdopi. Nawr, mae'n rhaid i'r banc bwyd penodol hwn brynu bwyd ychwanegol wrth ragweld pwysau o'r fath. Yn aml, mae banciau bwyd yn cael galwadau ffôn gan ysgolion lleol yn gofyn am help, gan fod plant eisoes yn dod i mewn ar fore Llun heb fwyta'n iawn drwy'r penwythnos. Mae hynny cyn i'r gwyliau ddechrau. A ellir rhoi mwy o gymorth gan y Llywodraeth i'r banciau bwyd hyn i sicrhau, drwy gydol yr haf, fod plant llwglyd yn cael eu bwydo?
Thank you for that important question. I've recently met with the Trussell Trust and I know Members are closely in touch with them. I share their vision for a Wales where foodbanks are no longer needed, and I know that's been shared across the Senedd. Of course, that links to our child poverty strategy and how we can target those in most need, and make sure that this targeting particularly supports children in or at risk of poverty. This is something where our funding going directly to local authorities and foodbanks is important in terms of supporting emergency food provision.
I just want to draw attention, in the summer holidays, to the expanded funding for our food and fitness strategy through local authorities. We make this available and it is expanded this summer. Also, I would again continue to encourage you, in terms of your contact with constituents, to point them to the 'Claim what's yours' single advice fund. We've helped, in South Wales East, more than 124,000 people from disadvantaged communities to claim an additional income of £64.5 million. We must make sure that our families across Wales, particularly families with children and families at risk, can claim every penny and pound that they're entitled to, and reach out to the food and fitness programme in the school holidays.
Diolch am eich cwestiwn pwysig. Yn ddiweddar, cyfarfûm ag Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell a gwn fod yr Aelodau mewn cysylltiad agos â hwy. Rwy'n rhannu eu gweledigaeth o Gymru lle nad oes angen banciau bwyd mwyach, a gwn fod y weledigaeth honno wedi'i rhannu ar draws y Senedd. Wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n cysylltu â'n strategaeth tlodi plant a sut y gallwn dargedu'r rhai sydd fwyaf mewn angen, a sicrhau bod hyn yn cefnogi plant sy'n byw mewn tlodi neu sydd mewn perygl o dlodi yn fwyaf arbennig. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth lle mae sicrhau bod ein cyllid yn mynd yn uniongyrchol i awdurdodau lleol a banciau bwyd yn bwysig er mwyn cefnogi darpariaeth bwyd argyfwng.
Hoffwn dynnu sylw, yn ystod gwyliau'r haf, at y cyllid estynedig ar gyfer ein strategaeth bwyd a ffitrwydd drwy awdurdodau lleol. Rydym yn sicrhau bod y cyllid hwn ar gael, ac mae'n cael ei ymestyn yr haf hwn. Unwaith eto hefyd, rwy'n parhau i'ch annog, trwy eich cysylltiad ag etholwyr, i'w cyfeirio at gronfa gynghori sengl 'Hawliwch yr hyn sy’n ddyledus i chi'. Yn Nwyrain De Cymru, rydym wedi helpu mwy na 124,000 o bobl o gymunedau difreintiedig i hawlio incwm ychwanegol o £64.5 miliwn. Rhaid inni sicrhau y gall ein teuluoedd ledled Cymru, yn enwedig teuluoedd â phlant a theuluoedd sydd mewn perygl, hawlio pob ceiniog a phunt y mae ganddynt hawl iddynt, ac elwa ar y rhaglen bwyd a ffitrwydd yn ystod gwyliau'r ysgol.
5. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddatganiad ar gymorth Llywodraeth Cymru i elusennau ym Mhreseli Sir Benfro? OQ62931
5. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on Welsh Government support for charities in Preseli Pembrokeshire? OQ62931
Thank you very much, Paul Davies. Third Sector Support Wales will receive core funding of £8.6 million in 2025-26 to provide an infrastructure of support to the third sector across Wales. Two hundred and eighteen thousand pounds of this will go to Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services to help local voluntary organisations with fundraising, good governance, safeguarding and volunteering.
Diolch, Paul Davies. Bydd Cefnogi Trydydd Sector Cymru yn cael cyllid craidd o £8.6 miliwn yn 2025-26 i ddarparu seilwaith cymorth i'r trydydd sector ledled Cymru. Bydd £218,000 ohono'n mynd i Gymdeithas Gwasanaethau Gwirfoddol Sir Benfro i helpu sefydliadau gwirfoddol lleol gyda chodi arian, llywodraethu da, diogelu a gwirfoddoli.
Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. Later this week, I'll be attending an open day at the Hope MS Therapy Centre in Neyland in my constituency. The centre offers oxygen therapy, physical rehabilitation and vital social support for people with long-term conditions like cancer, motor neurone disease and long COVID. I'm sure you can appreciate just how much of a lifeline the centre is to so many people in Pembrokeshire and, indeed, beyond. Now, the centre has been providing support and services for almost 40 years, and I want to put on record my thanks to everyone involved with the centre for the important work that they've done over the years, and still do to support service users. Therefore, will you join me, Cabinet Secretary, in recognising the exceptional work of the Hope MS Therapy Centre in Neyland, which has been transforming lives for almost 40 years? And will you tell us what the Welsh Government is doing to support charities like this, so that they can continue to provide much needed therapies and services in the community in the future?
Diolch am eich ymateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, byddaf yn mynychu diwrnod agored yng Nghanolfan Therapi Sglerosis Ymledol HOPE yn Neyland yn fy etholaeth. Mae'r ganolfan yn cynnig therapi ocsigen, adsefydlu corfforol a chymorth cymdeithasol hanfodol i bobl â chyflyrau hirdymor fel canser, clefyd niwronau motor a COVID hir. Rwy'n siŵr y gallwch ddeall faint o achubiaeth yw'r ganolfan i gynifer o bobl yn sir Benfro, a thu hwnt yn wir. Nawr, mae'r ganolfan wedi bod yn darparu cymorth a gwasanaethau ers bron i 40 mlynedd, a hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i bawb sy'n ymwneud â'r ganolfan am y gwaith pwysig y maent wedi'i wneud dros y blynyddoedd, ac yn dal i'w wneud i gefnogi defnyddwyr gwasanaethau. Felly, a wnewch chi ymuno â mi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, i gydnabod gwaith anhygoel Canolfan Therapi Sglerosis Ymledol HOPE yn Neyland, sydd wedi bod yn trawsnewid bywydau ers bron i 40 mlynedd? Ac a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i gefnogi elusennau fel hyn, fel y gallant barhau i ddarparu therapïau a gwasanaethau mawr eu hangen yn y gymuned yn y dyfodol?
Thank you very much, and can you give my good wishes to the Hope MS Therapy Centre in Neyland on Friday and thank them for their continued dedication, support and services they provide to so many in your community? And I just wanted to refer to the fact that, this morning, I was pleased to attend the gofod3 third sector conference. It was the biggest they've ever had. There were over 1,000 people there, and I was pleased to launch the new vision for volunteering in Wales, because many of those who support the Hope centre will be volunteers as well as paid workers, and to look also to reflect on our new code of practice for funding, which, of course, draws in not just Welsh Government funding for longer term three-year funding, but also local authorities, health bodies and other public bodies who support these valuable organisations.
Diolch, ac a wnewch chi roi fy nymuniadau gorau i Ganolfan Therapi Sglerosis Ymledol HOPE yn Neyland ddydd Gwener a diolch iddynt am eu hymroddiad parhaus, eu cefnogaeth a'r gwasanaethau y maent yn eu darparu i gynifer o bobl yn eich cymuned? Ac roeddwn eisiau nodi fy mod wedi cael y pleser o fynychu cynhadledd trydydd sector gofod3 y bore yma. Hon oedd y fwyaf a gawsant erioed. Roedd dros 1,000 o bobl yno, ac roeddwn yn falch o lansio'r weledigaeth newydd ar gyfer gwirfoddoli yng Nghymru, gan y bydd llawer o'r rhai sy'n cefnogi canolfan HOPE yn wirfoddolwyr yn ogystal â gweithwyr cyflogedig, ac ystyried ein cod ymarfer newydd ar gyfer cyllid, sy'n denu nid yn unig cyllid Llywodraeth Cymru a chyllido tair blynedd mwy hirdymor, ond awdurdodau lleol, cyrff iechyd a chyrff cyhoeddus eraill sy'n cefnogi'r sefydliadau gwerthfawr hyn yn ogystal.
6. A wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet roi diweddariad ar y camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â thlodi plant ym Mlaenau Gwent? OQ62943
6. Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on the action the Welsh Government is taking to address child poverty in Blaenau Gwent? OQ62943
Diolch yn fawr, Alun Davies. Tackling child poverty is a top priority for the Welsh Government. We're using all the levers available to us to do this. Since 2022, we have invested over £7 billion to support families across Wales, including Blaenau Gwent, to help maximise household income and develop pathways out of poverty.
Diolch yn fawr, Alun Davies. Mae mynd i'r afael â thlodi plant yn brif flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Rydym yn defnyddio'r holl ddulliau sydd ar gael i ni i wneud hyn. Ers 2022, rydym wedi buddsoddi dros £7 biliwn i gefnogi teuluoedd ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys Blaenau Gwent, i helpu i wneud y mwyaf o incwm aelwydydd a datblygu llwybrau allan o dlodi.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Why is it always the poorest and the most vulnerable people who have to suffer and are targeted when the Treasury needs to save money? Why is it always people who should be receiving the support of Government who are the subject of these cuts? I welcome the work that you've done, Cabinet Secretary, and I welcome the stance that's been taken by the Welsh Government in making it absolutely clear that the Welsh Government will always stand with and support people who are in poverty and people with disabilities who need the support of our whole community, and I very much welcome the statements you've made in recent days on this matter.
But it appears to me that it is time now that the Welsh Government looked at bringing together many of the programmes that we do have to address issues of poverty amongst different people in our society to provide a more comprehensive approach to dealing with poverty in some of our most fragile communities. Is it not time that the Welsh Government took control of the wider welfare agenda to ensure that we don't have the unseemly discussions that we've witnessed over recent days, but what we do have is a clear-sighted determination that, in Wales, we will always protect the poorest people, and that this Government and this Parliament will always seek to ensure that poor and vulnerable people are at the heart of what we seek to achieve?
Diolch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Pam mai'r bobl dlotaf a'r mwyaf agored i niwed bob amser sy'n gorfod dioddef ac sy'n cael eu targedu pan fydd angen i'r Trysorlys arbed arian? Pam mai pobl a ddylai fod yn cael cefnogaeth y Llywodraeth sydd bob amser yn ddarostyngedig i'r toriadau hyn? Rwy'n croesawu'r gwaith a wnaethoch chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac rwy'n croesawu'r safiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn ei gwneud hi'n gwbl glir y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru bob amser yn cefnogi ac yn sefyll dros bobl sy'n byw mewn tlodi a phobl ag anableddau sydd angen cefnogaeth ein cymuned gyfan, ac rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y datganiadau a wnaethoch yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf ar y mater.
Ond mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod hi'n bryd nawr i Lywodraeth Cymru edrych ar ddod â llawer o'r rhaglenni sydd gennym i fynd i'r afael â materion tlodi ymhlith gwahanol bobl yn ein cymdeithas at ei gilydd i ddarparu dull mwy cynhwysfawr o ddelio â thlodi yn rhai o'n cymunedau mwyaf bregus. Onid yw'n bryd i Lywodraeth Cymru gymryd rheolaeth ar yr agenda les ehangach i sicrhau nad ydym yn cael y trafodaethau amhriodol a welsom dros y dyddiau diwethaf, ond mai'r hyn sydd gennym yw penderfyniad clir y byddwn ni yng Nghymru bob amser yn diogelu'r bobl dlotaf, ac y bydd y Llywodraeth hon a'r Senedd hon bob amser yn ceisio sicrhau bod pobl dlawd a bregus yn ganolog i'r hyn y ceisiwn ei gyflawni?
Thank you very much for that very powerful question, Alun Davies. I say thank you for acknowledging the stance of Welsh Government in terms of standing up for and representing some of the poorest people in Wales. But I do think we stand a better chance of developing a compassionate social security system by influencing, working with and influencing, the UK Government. I think this is where I would say we're now exploring, for example, the devolution of the administration of welfare, because obviously this could enable us to align some of our non-devolved social security services and payments to people in Wales with more person-centred commitments, such as we have with the Welsh benefits charter.
But can I just make one point here to say again that I continue to call for a commitment to end the two-child benefit rule? This is something where I have consistently made this point, that we can bring more children out of poverty in Wales if that two-child benefit rule was stopped, and I think this is something that we continuously need to say, and I'm glad to have the chance to say it again this afternoon as a result of your question.
Diolch am y cwestiwn pwerus hwnnw, Alun Davies. Rwy'n dweud diolch am gydnabod safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru yn sefyll dros a chynrychioli rhai o bobl dlotaf Cymru. Ond rwy'n credu bod gennym well gobaith o ddatblygu system nawdd cymdeithasol dosturiol trwy ddylanwadu a gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Rwy'n credu mai dyma lle byddwn i'n dweud ein bod bellach yn archwilio, er enghraifft, datganoli gweinyddu lles, oherwydd yn amlwg, gallai hyn ein galluogi i alinio rhai o'n gwasanaethau nawdd cymdeithasol sydd heb eu datganoli a'n taliadau i bobl yng Nghymru ag ymrwymiadau sy'n canolbwyntio mwy ar yr unigolyn, fel sydd gennym yn siarter budd-daliadau Cymru.
Ond a gaf i wneud un pwynt yma i ddweud eto fy mod yn parhau i alw am ymrwymiad i roi diwedd ar y rheol budd-dal dau blentyn? Rwyf wedi gwneud y pwynt yn gyson y gallwn godi mwy o blant allan o dlodi yng Nghymru pe bai'r rheol budd-dal dau blentyn yn dod i ben, ac rwy'n credu bod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae angen inni ei ddweud yn barhaus, ac rwy'n falch o gael cyfle i'w ddweud eto y prynhawn yma o ganlyniad i'ch cwestiwn.
Cabinet Secretary, three constituencies in my region of South Wales East have some of the highest rates of child poverty in the country. They are Blaenau Gwent, Newport East, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. According to research by Loughborough University, 36 per cent of children in Blaenau Gwent, 35 per cent of children in Newport East, and 34 per cent of children in Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare are living in poverty. These are shocking figures by my standards and come after the Joseph Rowntree Foundation warned that child poverty in Wales is set to hit and reach its highest rate in 30 years by the end of the decade. The study also claims that there has been little progress in reducing poverty in Wales over the last two decades. Dr Victoria Winckler, director of the Bevan Foundation said, and I quote,
'The steps taken by the Welsh Government to alleviate poverty are welcome, but there is much more to do.'
So, Cabinet Secretary, do you accept that the steps taken by the Welsh Government so far have indeed failed? I appreciate what you said previously to the Member for Blaenau Gwent in your answer to him, however, those did indeed relate to issues concerning the UK Government. So, it's clear the Welsh Government here needs to change tack, so how will you be doing that exactly? Thank you.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, gan dair etholaeth yn fy rhanbarth i yn Nwyrain De Cymru y mae rhai o'r cyfraddau uchaf o dlodi plant yn y wlad, sef Blaenau Gwent, Dwyrain Casnewydd, Merthyr Tudful ac Aberdâr. Yn ôl ymchwil gan Brifysgol Loughborough, mae 36 y cant o blant ym Mlaenau Gwent, 35 y cant o blant yn Nwyrain Casnewydd, a 34 y cant o blant ym Merthyr Tudful ac Aberdâr yn byw mewn tlodi. Mae'r rhain yn ffigurau syfrdanol yn ôl fy safonau i a dônt ar ôl i Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree rybuddio bod tlodi plant yng Nghymru ar y trywydd i gyrraedd y gyfradd uchaf mewn 30 mlynedd erbyn diwedd y degawd. Mae'r astudiaeth hefyd yn honni nad oes llawer o gynnydd wedi bod ar leihau tlodi yng Nghymru dros y ddau ddegawd diwethaf. Meddai Dr Victoria Winckler, cyfarwyddwr Sefydliad Bevan,
'Mae'r camau a gymerwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i leddfu tlodi i'w croesawu, ond mae llawer mwy i'w wneud.'
Felly, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a ydych chi'n derbyn bod y camau a gymerwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru hyd yma wedi methu mewn gwirionedd? Rwy'n derbyn yr hyn a ddywedoch chi wrth yr Aelod dros Flaenau Gwent yn eich ateb iddo, ond roedd y camau hynny'n ymwneud â materion sy'n gysylltiedig â Llywodraeth y DU. Felly, mae'n amlwg fod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru newid trywydd, felly sut yn union y byddwch chi'n gwneud hynny? Diolch.
Well, I do find it very hard to respond to that question when the people of Wales, and particularly the most disadvantaged, have suffered 14 years of austerity. I find it very hard—
Wel, rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn ymateb i'r cwestiwn hwnnw pan fo pobl Cymru, ac yn enwedig y rhai mwyaf difreintiedig, wedi dioddef 14 mlynedd o gyni. Rwy'n ei chael hi'n anodd iawn—
And 26 years of you. That has nothing to do with that.
A 26 mlynedd ohonoch chi. Nid oes gan hyn unrhyw beth i'w wneud â hynny.
And if you speak to any organisation, any research and academic evidence, 14 years of austerity, the cuts to welfare reform—. The two-child limit came in from the Conservative Government. And actually I have heard, over the last 24 hours and previously, Conservative politicians in London saying that they're concerned about the changes that have happened, as a result of representations, on evidence, because not enough money is being saved from welfare and that they would move further to cut welfare, if they were in power. And I've heard that said by UK Government Ministers.
Now, I appreciate your concern here today to raise these issues, and I think that we're doing, as I said to Alun Davies, everything we can within our powers, but we're looking at our powers and whether we need further powers. But I do say that the child poverty strategy did set out our ambitions for the longer term and to maximise the impact of those levers that we have available. Now, I will be doing a progress report on our child poverty strategy in the autumn.
But can I finally say, 'Yes, please encourage all your constituents to claim what's theirs'? Please look at the Welsh benefits charter and see whether your local authorities are managing to bring all those routes together, simplifying access to free school meals, the council tax reduction scheme and the school essentials grant. That's what we're expecting of them. That helps our families to access the benefits they're entitled to. Also, can I again welcome the fact—and thanks to our co-operation agreement as well, with Plaid Cymru—that we're the first UK nation to offer free school meals to all primary school learners? There are 174,500 primary school children benefiting. So, we are making progress. We best make progress when we work together on these issues.
Ac os siaradwch gydag unrhyw sefydliad, unrhyw ymchwil a thystiolaeth academaidd, 14 mlynedd o gyni y toriadau i ddiwygio lles—. Cyflwynwyd y terfyn dau blentyn gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol. A dros y 24 awr ddiwethaf a chyn hynny, fe glywais wleidyddion Ceidwadol yn Llundain yn dweud eu bod yn pryderu am y newidiadau sydd wedi digwydd, o ganlyniad i sylwadau a gyflwynwyd, ar sail tystiolaeth, am nad oes digon o arian yn cael ei arbed o les ac y byddent yn symud ymhellach i dorri lles pe baent hwy mewn grym. A chlywais hynny gan Weinidogion Llywodraeth y DU.
Nawr, rwy'n deall eich awydd yma heddiw i godi'r materion hyn, ac fel y dywedais wrth Alun Davies, rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwneud popeth a allwn o fewn ein pwerau, ond rydym yn edrych ar ein pwerau ac i weld a oes angen pwerau pellach arnom. Ond rwy'n dweud bod y strategaeth tlodi plant wedi nodi ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer y tymor hwy ac i wneud y mwyaf o effaith y dulliau sydd ar gael i ni. Nawr, byddaf yn gwneud adroddiad cynnydd ar ein strategaeth tlodi plant yn yr hydref.
Ond a gaf i ddweud yn olaf, 'Anogwch eich holl etholwyr i hawlio beth sy'n ddyledus iddynt'? Edrychwch ar siarter budd-daliadau Cymru a gweld a yw eich awdurdodau lleol yn llwyddo i ddod â'r holl lwybrau hynny at ei gilydd, gan symleiddio mynediad at brydau ysgol am ddim, cynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor a'r grant hanfodion ysgolion. Dyna beth a ddisgwyliwn ganddynt. Mae hynny'n helpu ein teuluoedd i gael mynediad at y budd-daliadau y mae ganddynt hawl iddynt. Hefyd, a gaf i groesawu'r ffaith eto—a diolch i'n cytundeb cydweithio hefyd, gyda Phlaid Cymru—mai ni yw'r genedl gyntaf yn y DU i gynnig prydau ysgol am ddim i bob dysgwr ysgol gynradd? Mae 174,500 o blant ysgol gynradd yn elwa. Felly, rydym yn gwneud cynnydd. Rydym yn gwneud y cynnydd gorau pan fyddwn yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd ar y materion hyn.
7. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gefnogi cymunedau ffydd Cymru? OQ62961
7. What action is the Welsh Government taking to support Wales’s faith communities? OQ62961
Thank you, Darren Millar. The Welsh Government works closely with our faith communities through the faith communities forum. We are committed to promoting mutual understanding, supporting interfaith dialogue and fostering community cohesion as part of our broader efforts to strengthen the social fabric of Wales.
Diolch, Darren Millar. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n gweithio'n agos gyda'n cymunedau ffydd drwy'r fforwm cymunedau ffydd. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i hyrwyddo cyd-ddealltwriaeth, cefnogi deialog rhyng-ffydd a meithrin cydlyniant cymunedol fel rhan o'n hymdrechion ehangach i gryfhau gwead cymdeithasol Cymru.
I don't doubt your personal commitment to our faith communities, Cabinet Secretary, but our Jewish community at the moment in Wales is feeling very, very let down by the Welsh Government. Yesterday, I asked the First Minister whether she supported the UK Government's decision to proscribe the Palestine Action group under anti-terror laws. She failed to answer the question. I asked her whether she would condemn the artists responsible for the vile hate-filled chants and antisemitism at Glastonbury. She failed to answer that too. I asked for assurances that no further taxpayers' money would be given to the Green Man Festival unless they withdrew their invitation to the violence-inciting rap group Kneecap. She failed to answer that question too.
And yesterday, just outside this building, we saw a protest at which hate-filled chants were repeated by protesters after they were shouted and screamed down a megaphone by a speaker. And that, of course, was a protest attended by Plaid Cymru and Labour Members of this Senedd. [Interruption.] They are rightfully—[Interruption.] They are rightfully being investigated by the police.
Will you, on behalf of the Welsh Government today, Cabinet Secretary, answer the questions that the First Minister failed to answer yesterday? And what assurances can you provide to the Jewish community in Wales that you are determined to stamp out antisemitism in every part of our country?
Nid wyf yn amau eich ymrwymiad personol i'n cymunedau ffydd, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond mae ein cymuned Iddewig yng Nghymru'n teimlo nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cefnogi fel y dylent. Ddoe, gofynnais i'r Prif Weinidog a oedd hi'n cefnogi penderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i wahardd y grŵp Palestine Action o dan gyfreithiau gwrthderfysgaeth. Methodd ateb y cwestiwn. Gofynnais iddi a fyddai'n condemnio'r artistiaid a oedd yn gyfrifol am y siantio llawn casineb a gwrthsemitiaeth yn Glastonbury. Methodd ateb hynny hefyd. Gofynnais am sicrwydd na fyddai unrhyw arian trethdalwyr pellach yn cael ei roi i Ŵyl y Dyn Gwyrdd oni bai eu bod yn tynnu eu gwahoddiad i'r grŵp rap Kneecap yn ôl. Methodd ateb y cwestiwn hwnnw hefyd.
A ddoe, y tu allan i'r adeilad hwn, gwelsom brotest lle roedd protestwyr yn ailadrodd siantiau llawn casineb ar ôl iddynt gael eu gweiddi a'u sgrechian dros fegaffon gan siaradwr. A phrotest oedd honno a fynychwyd gan Aelodau Plaid Cymru a Llafur y Senedd hon. [Torri ar draws.] Mae'n hollol iawn—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n hollol iawn fod yr heddlu'n ymchwilio iddynt.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru heddiw, a wnewch chi ateb y cwestiynau y methodd y Prif Weinidog eu hateb ddoe? A pha sicrwydd y gallwch chi ei roi i'r gymuned Iddewig yng Nghymru eich bod yn benderfynol o ddileu gwrthsemitiaeth ym mhob rhan o'n gwlad?
Before you answer, Cabinet Secretary, I just want to clarify: from what I understand, there are no Members of this Senedd being investigated by the police. Thank you.
Cyn i chi ateb, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwyf am egluro: o'r hyn rwy'n ei ddeall, nid oes unrhyw Aelodau o'r Senedd hon yn destun ymchwiliad gan yr heddlu. Diolch.
No. They're investigating the chants.
Na. Maent yn ymchwilio i'r siantiau.
Thank you.
Diolch.
May I make a point of order?
A gaf i wneud pwynt o drefn?
After the Cabinet Secretary's finished her comments, okay?
Ar ôl i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet orffen ei sylwadau, iawn?
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. I mean, it's quite clear that the Welsh Government stands with Jewish and Muslim communities, and we condemn any vile hatred expressed by individuals who seek to create a climate of fear and aim to fragment our communities. That's why we have a faith communities forum, so that we can come together, and we do come together. And I think, across this Chamber, I do believe, in terms of us, you know, addressing this issue, we know that hate is divisive and it's not acceptable in any way that it is expressed. So, it is important that we're careful in the way that we speak and learn from each other on this issue.
I think it's important that we recognise that both antisemitism and Islamophobia—and I want to just bring that into the discourse as well—both are forms of unacceptable, prejudice-related bullying and have no place in any part of our society. And this is really important for our children and young people, isn't it? Because we provide guidance and support to schools.
Now, I'm very conscious of the fact that we're implementing an 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', we're a nation of sanctuary and there is a great deal of, sadly, racism still in our society that we have to address. So, let's please move on from this, enable people to express their concerns and their opinions and look to the positives of the faith communities forum and the statements that I've made over the last few days about the plight of people in the middle east, particularly those in terms of the Palestinians and what they've been suffering and experiencing. But our commitment to antisemitism is absolutely clear.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hynny yw, mae'n eithaf amlwg fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn sefyll gyda chymunedau Iddewig a Mwslimaidd, ac rydym yn condemnio unrhyw gasineb ffiaidd a fynegir gan unigolion sy'n ceisio creu hinsawdd o ofn gyda'r nod o chwalu ein cymunedau. Dyna pam y mae gennym fforwm cymunedau ffydd, fel y gallwn ddod at ein gilydd, ac rydym yn dod at ein gilydd. Ac ar draws y Siambr hon, wrth inni fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn, rwy'n credu ein bod yn gwybod bod casineb yn creu rhaniadau ac nad yw'n dderbyniol mewn unrhyw ffordd. Felly, mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n ofalus yn y ffordd y siaradwn ac y dysgwn oddi wrth ein gilydd ar y mater hwn.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn cydnabod bod gwrthsemitiaeth ac Islamoffobia—ac rwyf eisiau dod â hynny i mewn i'r drafodaeth hefyd—mae'r ddau'n ffurfiau ar fwlio annerbyniol sy'n gysylltiedig â rhagfarn ac nad oes iddynt unrhyw le mewn unrhyw ran o'n cymdeithas. Ac mae hyn yn bwysig iawn i'n plant a'n pobl ifanc, onid yw? Oherwydd rydym yn darparu arweiniad a chefnogaeth i ysgolion.
Nawr, rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r ffaith ein bod yn gweithredu 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Gwrth-hiliol', rydym yn genedl noddfa, ac yn anffodus, mae llawer iawn o hiliaeth yn dal i fodoli yn ein cymdeithas, ac mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â hynny. Felly, gadewch inni symud ymlaen o hyn, galluogi pobl i fynegi eu pryderon a'u barn ac edrych ar bethau positif y fforwm cymunedau ffydd a'r datganiadau a wneuthum dros y dyddiau diwethaf am sefyllfa pobl yn y dwyrain canol, yn enwedig y Palesteiniaid a'r hyn y maent wedi bod yn ei ddioddef ac yn ei brofi. Ond mae ein hymrwymiad i wrthsemitiaeth yn hollol glir.
Jenny Rathbone, point of order.
Jenny Rathbone, pwynt o drefn.
Thank you. On a point of order, I just want to point out to the Conservative leader that Members of all three parties of more than one Member went to talk to the demonstrators yesterday and it's absolutely right that they do so. We cannot simply exclude ourselves from talking to people because we may or may not disagree with them, and we have to recognise the appalling situation that we have in the middle east, particularly in Gaza.
Diolch. Ar bwynt o drefn, rwyf am nodi wrth arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr fod Aelodau o'r tair plaid o fwy nag un Aelod wedi mynd i siarad â'r protestwyr ddoe ac mae'n hollol iawn eu bod yn gwneud hynny. Ni allwn ymatal rhag siarad â phobl am y gallem fod yn anghytuno â hwy neu beidio, ac mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod y sefyllfa ofnadwy sydd gennym yn y dwyrain canol, yn enwedig yn Gaza.
I'm not convinced that's a point of order, but it does express a view you hold. And can I just highlight something before I take any more—? I'm aware that the matter has been referred to the police for investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment any further on this, and I would urge all Members to exercise caution in this matter.
Nid wyf yn argyhoeddedig fod hwnnw'n bwynt o drefn, ond mae'n mynegi eich barn. Ac a gaf i dynnu sylw at rywbeth cyn i mi dderbyn mwy—? Rwy'n ymwybodol fod y mater wedi'i gyfeirio at yr heddlu i'w ymchwilio ac felly byddai'n amhriodol i mi wneud sylwadau pellach ar hyn, a charwn annog pob Aelod i fod yn ofalus yn y mater hwn.
May I make a point of order? Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I would ask the leader of the opposition to correct the Record in the fact that no Member of this Senedd is being investigated by the police. We need that clarity. If you look back at the Record, it is not clear, and I would appreciate if he could retract that comment, apologise and correct the Record.
A gaf i wneud pwynt o drefn? Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ofyn i arweinydd yr wrthblaid gywiro'r Cofnod gan nad oes unrhyw Aelod o'r Senedd hon yn destun ymchwiliad gan yr heddlu. Mae angen yr eglurder hwnnw arnom. Os edrychwch yn ôl ar y Cofnod, nid yw'n glir, a byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi pe gallai dynnu'r sylw hwnnw'n ôl, ymddiheuro a chywiro'r Cofnod.
I'm sure the Member for—well, actually, the leader of the Conservatives—will actually openly confirm that there is no reference to any Member of the Senedd being investigated.
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelod dros—wel, arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr—yn cadarnhau'n agored nad oes unrhyw gyfeiriad fod unrhyw Aelod o'r Senedd yn destun ymchwiliad.
Absolutely.
Yn sicr.
And you confirm that?
Ac rydych chi'n cadarnhau hynny?
Absolutely.
Yn sicr.
Why did you say it, then?
Pam y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud, felly?
Why did you say it?
Pam y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud?
I said that the events yesterday were being investigated.
Dywedais fod y digwyddiadau ddoe yn destun ymchwiliad.
Yes, you knew exactly what you were doing.
Roeddech chi'n gwybod yn union beth oeddech chi'n ei wneud.
No, that's not what you said.
Na, nid dyna a ddywedoch chi.
The Member has made it clear that he is not referring to any Member of the Senedd being investigated.
Mae'r Aelod wedi dweud yn glir nad yw'n dweud bod unrhyw Aelod o'r Senedd yn destun ymchwiliad.
The insinuation was clear.
Roedd yr ensyniad yn glir.
Yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Julie Morgan.
Finally, question 8, Julie Morgan.
8. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i wella bywydau pobl anabl? OQ62958
8. What plans does the Welsh Government have to improve the lives of disabled people? OQ62958
Thank you, Julie Morgan. We continue to work with disabled people to make Wales a better place to live. The draft disabled people's rights plan seeks to create lasting positive change, putting the social model of disability at the heart of our ambition for Wales.
Diolch, Julie Morgan. Rydym yn parhau i weithio gyda phobl anabl i wneud Cymru'n lle gwell i fyw. Nod y cynllun drafft ar hawliau pobl anabl yw creu newid cadarnhaol a pharhaol, gan roi'r model cymdeithasol o anabledd wrth wraidd ein huchelgais ar gyfer Cymru.
Diolch am yr ateb.
Thank you for that response.
I'm very pleased that the Welsh Government are consulting on the disabled people's rights plan to create a society that is fully accessible, but to achieve that, I think it's also very important to engage with private businesses.
I've heard from one constituent, a university student, who has a hidden disability and has experienced significant problems accessing disabled toilets, especially when he's out with his friends in the city centre at night. He's had particular problems with McDonald's in Cardiff city centre, despite him showing staff a proof of disability card on his phone, and I think that this is completely unacceptable. He has also said that he's been refused access to toilets in other bars and restaurants, despite him explaining to staff that he has a disability. So, this means that my constituent is now reluctant to go out into town with his friends and enjoy himself just like any other young person as he doesn't know if he'll have access to a toilet.
So, what engagement has the Cabinet Secretary had with businesses in Wales to ensure that disabled people's needs are being met?
Rwy'n falch iawn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgynghori ar y cynllun hawliau pobl anabl i greu cymdeithas sy'n gwbl hygyrch, ond i gyflawni hynny, rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn bwysig iawn ymgysylltu â busnesau preifat.
Clywais gan un etholwr, myfyriwr prifysgol, sydd ag anabledd cudd ac wedi profi problemau sylweddol gyda mynediad at doiledau anabl, yn enwedig pan fo allan gyda'i ffrindiau yng nghanol y ddinas gyda'r nos. Mae wedi cael problemau arbennig gyda McDonald's yng nghanol dinas Caerdydd, er iddo ddangos cerdyn prawf anabledd i staff ar ei ffôn, ac rwy'n credu bod hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol. Mae hefyd wedi dweud ei fod wedi cael ei wrthod rhag cael mynediad at doiledau mewn bariau a bwytai eraill, er iddo esbonio i'r staff fod ganddo anabledd. Felly, mae hyn yn golygu bod fy etholwr bellach yn amharod i fynd allan i'r dref gyda'i ffrindiau a mwynhau ei hun fel unrhyw unigolyn ifanc arall am nad yw'n gwybod a fydd ganddo fynediad at doiled.
Felly, pa ymgysylltiad y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi'i gael gyda busnesau yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod anghenion pobl anabl yn cael eu diwallu?
Thank you very much, Julie Morgan. You drew attention to the disabled people's rights plan, as I did. I thank the disabled people who were actively involved in co-producing that plan and who are now consulting on the plan so that we can get it right, and I thank the Members who attended the consultation event last week. What you've drawn to our attention is totally unacceptable, and it just shows that the social model of disability, which is about the disabling barriers of society, it has to be said, can be in the public realm, it can be from public services, it can be statutory services, but also in the private sector. The appalling treatment at McDonald's and the lack of understanding and provision of toilets for use should be shown up, as you have done today.
Just to say, of course, that local authorities are legally required to produce local toilet strategies. McDonald's functions not just in Cardiff but across Wales and the world, so they need to take notice of what you have brought to our attention today. We need to ensure that there are accessible local toilet facilities and that disabled people, of course, are engaged, as they have been so positively and constructively, for example, in the development of Cardiff bus station. I went recently to Cardiff bus station with Guide Dogs Cymru and saw the influence they've had on the design of a new bus station with accessible toilets, and to show what can be done in terms of building regulations and changing places if they're properly implemented.
Diolch, Julie Morgan. Fe wnaethoch chi dynnu sylw at gynllun hawliau pobl anabl, fel y gwnes i. Diolch i'r bobl anabl a gymerodd ran weithredol yn cydgynhyrchu'r cynllun hwnnw ac sydd bellach yn ymgynghori ar y cynllun er mwyn inni allu ei wneud yn iawn, a diolch i'r Aelodau a fynychodd y digwyddiad ymgynghori yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae'r hyn y gwnaethoch chi dynnu ein sylw ato'n gwbl annerbyniol, ac mae'n dangos bod y model cymdeithasol o anabledd, sy'n ymwneud â rhwystrau sy'n anablu yn y gymdeithas yn gallu bod yn rhai cyhoeddus, gallant fod mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, gallant fod mewn gwasanaethau statudol, ond hefyd yn y sector preifat. Dylid tynnu sylw at y driniaeth ofnadwy yn McDonald's a'r diffyg dealltwriaeth a darpariaeth doiledau i'w defnyddio, fel y gwnaethoch chi heddiw.
Mae'n ofynnol yn gyfreithiol i awdurdodau lleol gynhyrchu strategaethau toiledau lleol. Mae McDonald's yn gweithredu nid yn unig yng Nghaerdydd ond ledled Cymru a'r byd, felly mae angen iddynt nodi'r hyn y gwnaethoch chi ei ddwyn i'n sylw heddiw. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod cyfleusterau toiled lleol hygyrch ar gael a bod pobl anabl yn ymgysylltu, fel y maent wedi bod yn ei wneud mor gadarnhaol ac adeiladol, er enghraifft, yn natblygiad gorsaf fysiau Caerdydd. Yn ddiweddar, euthum i orsaf fysiau Caerdydd gyda Cŵn Tywys Cymru a gwelais y dylanwad y maent wedi'i gael ar gynllun gorsaf fysiau newydd gyda thoiledau hygyrch, ac i ddangos beth y gellir ei wneud gyda rheoliadau adeiladu a Changing Places os cânt eu gweithredu'n iawn.
Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Eitem 3 yw'r cwestiynau i Gomisiwn y Senedd. Bydd y ddau gwestiwn yn cael eu hateb gan y Llywydd.
Item 3 is questions to the Senedd Commission. Both questions will be answered by the Llywydd.
1. Pa ystyriaeth y mae'r Comisiwn wedi'i roi i wella hygyrchedd ac amlygrwydd ar-lein gwybodaeth am waith y Senedd er mwyn cefnogi gwell ymgysylltiad cyhoeddus ar draws Cymru? OQ62955
1. What consideration has the Commission given to improving the online accessibility and visibility of information about the work of the Senedd in order to support greater public engagement across Wales? OQ62955
Nod ein strategaeth gyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu yw codi ymwybyddiaeth a gwella dealltwriaeth o'r Senedd ac annog pobl i gymryd rhan yn ein gwaith. Mae sicrhau bod gwybodaeth yn glir ac yn hygyrch ar-lein yn rhan allweddol o hyn. Rydym yn cynnig teithiau ar-lein o amgylch y Senedd, yn ogystal â sesiynau addysg rhithwir, ac mae pwyllgorau'r Senedd yn sefydlu grwpiau ffocws ar-lein i drafod eu hymchwiliadau ac i gyfrannu at eu gwaith. Rydym yn adolygu ein gwefan er mwyn paratoi ar gyfer y seithfed Senedd, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys sicrhau ei fod e'n haws i'w ddefnyddio ac yn fwy hygyrch i'r cyhoedd.
Our communications and engagement strategy aims to increase awareness and understanding of the Senedd and to encourage people to participate in our work. Ensuring that information is clear and easily accessible online is a key part of this. We offer online tours of the Senedd, as well as virtual education sessions, and Senedd committees establish online focus groups to discuss their inquiries and to inform their work. We are reviewing our website in preparation for the seventh Senedd, and this includes making it more user-friendly and more accessible for the public.
Diolch am eich ymateb, Llywydd.
Thank you for that response, Llywydd.
That's welcome news about reviewing it ahead of the seventh Senedd, because I raised this point after it had been raised with me by a constituent about making it more accessible. I think, sometimes, with the current site, you probably need to know how to navigate the system to get to where you need to be to see votes and things like that. So, I think there's a real opportunity ahead of the seventh Senedd to redevelop and enhance our online platform, whether that's around voting, what devolution is about, or how people can get more involved. Can you share any more information today about actually how that can be done in time for the seventh Senedd? Thank you.
Mae hynny'n newyddion i'w groesawu am ei adolygu cyn y seithfed Senedd, oherwydd codais y pwynt hwn ar ôl iddo gael ei godi gyda mi gan etholwr ynglŷn â'i wneud yn fwy hygyrch. Rwy'n credu, weithiau, gyda'r wefan bresennol, fod angen i chi wybod sut i lywio'r system i gyrraedd lle mae angen i chi fod i weld pleidleisiau a phethau felly. Felly, rwy'n credu bod cyfle gwirioneddol cyn y seithfed Senedd i ailddatblygu a gwella ein platfform ar-lein, boed hynny'n ymwneud â phleidleisio, beth y mae datganoli'n ei olygu, neu sut y gall pobl gymryd mwy o ran. A allwch chi rannu mwy o wybodaeth heddiw ynglŷn â sut y gellir gwneud hynny mewn pryd ar gyfer y seithfed Senedd? Diolch.
I can share no more information other than to say it's happening and we're committed to undertaking that review and putting in place improvements that quite clearly need to be there for the seventh Senedd, and to give all Members here the opportunity to share any views that they have on how they would like to see changes, and what they think in particular should be the priorities for change, so that our democracy online can be more accessible and more user-friendly for all concerned. I struggle myself, sometimes, to find exactly what I think I'm looking for online. That may be me, but sometimes we need to make sure that it's as accessible as possible. So, it's an invitation to all to contribute to that process where you identify improvements that can be made. Make sure that you let me know, and I'll let the IT people know, who are the experts, to make these things happen.
Ni allaf rannu mwy o wybodaeth heblaw dweud ei fod yn digwydd a'n bod wedi ymrwymo i gynnal yr adolygiad hwnnw a rhoi gwelliannau ar waith y mae'n amlwg fod eu hangen ar gyfer y seithfed Senedd, ac i roi cyfle i bob Aelod yma rannu unrhyw farn sydd ganddynt ar sut yr hoffent weld newidiadau, a'r hyn y credant y dylent fod yn flaenoriaethau penodol ar gyfer newid, fel y gall ein democratiaeth ar-lein fod yn fwy hygyrch ac yn haws i bawb ei defnyddio. Rwy'n cael trafferth fy hun, weithiau, i ddod o hyd i'r union beth rwy'n meddwl fy mod i'n chwilio amdano ar-lein. Efallai mai fi yw hynny, ond weithiau mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr ei fod mor hygyrch â phosibl. Felly, mae'n wahoddiad i bawb gyfrannu at y broses honno lle rydych chi'n nodi gwelliannau y gellir eu gwneud. Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod chi'n gadael i mi wybod, ac fe wnaf i adael i'r bobl TG wybod, sef yr arbenigwyr, er mwyn gwneud i'r pethau hyn ddigwydd.
2. Pa waith y mae'r Comisiwn yn ei wneud i wella hygyrchedd cofnodion pleidleisio ar wefan y Senedd? OQ62952
2. What work is the Commission doing to enhance the accessibility of voting records on the Senedd website? OQ62952
Cyhoeddir cofnod o'r holl bleidleisiau a gynhelir yn ystod trafodion y Senedd yn unol â'r gofynion a nodir yn y Rheolau Sefydlog a deddfwriaeth. Ar gyfer trafodion y Cyfarfod Llawn a phwyllgorau, cyhoeddir cofnod manwl o'r holl bleidleisiau, gan gynnwys manylion am sut y mae pob Aelod wedi pleidleisio, fel rhan o Gofnod y Trafodion. At hynny, mae crynodeb o bleidleisiau yn cael ei gyhoeddi ar y wefan gyhoeddus ar gyfer pob Cyfarfod Llawn, fel arfer o fewn hanner awr i ddiwedd pob cyfarfod. Mae hyn yn manylu ar sut y pleidleisiodd pob Aelod a'u hymlyniad gwleidyddol, yn ogystal ag unrhyw bleidleisiau drwy ddirprwy sydd ar waith.
A record of all votes held during Senedd proceedings is published in line with requirements set out in Standing Orders and relevant legislation. For both Plenary and committee proceedings, a detailed record of all votes, including details of how each Member has voted, is published as part of the Record of Proceedings. In addition, a vote summary is published on the public website for each Plenary meeting, usually within 30 minutes of the conclusion of each meeting. This details how each Member voted and their political affiliation, as well as any proxy vote in operation.
Diolch am yr ymateb, Llywydd.
Thank you for that response, Llywydd.
I've become increasingly aware that the voting record of Senedd Members is particularly hard to find navigating the Senedd website, and I've heard from constituents who weren't even aware that voting records could be accessed. To access Senedd voting records, you have to find the particular Plenary agenda for that day's proceedings, which isn't easy to find for somebody not already acquainted with the Senedd website, and there's a tiny button that allows you to download the voting summary as a rather antiquated spreadsheet, which shows how Members voted on each item. The UK Parliament, however, has a dedicated page for voting records, which allows users to search by title and date to find a particular item, whether a debate or an amendment to a Bill. They can see which Members voted 'aye' or 'no' and who abstained, and the site is very user-friendly and easy to use.
Of course, in the interests of transparency, everyone has a right to see how their elected representative votes on a particular matter, and currently the Senedd website makes this somewhat inaccessible to the public and could potentially impact the transparency of the Senedd as a legislative body. So, what discussions have the Commission had regarding the accessibility of voting records through the Senedd's website, and are there any plans to improve transparency by enhancing the accessibility of these records, similar to the UK Parliament?
Rwy'n dod yn fwyfwy ymwybodol fod hanes pleidleisio Aelodau'r Senedd yn arbennig o anodd dod o hyd iddo wrth lywio gwefan y Senedd, ac rwyf wedi clywed gan etholwyr nad oeddent hyd yn oed yn ymwybodol y gellid cyrchu cofnodion pleidleisio. I gael mynediad at gofnodion pleidleisio'r Senedd, mae'n rhaid i chi ddod o hyd i agenda'r Cyfarfod Llawn penodol ar gyfer trafodion y diwrnod hwnnw, ac nid yw'n hawdd dod o hyd iddo i rywun nad yw'n gyfarwydd â gwefan y Senedd. Mae yna fotwm bach sy'n eich galluogi i lawrlwytho'r crynodeb pleidleisio fel taenlen eithaf hynafol, sy'n dangos sut y pleidleisiodd yr Aelodau ar bob eitem. Fodd bynnag, mae gan Senedd y DU dudalen bwrpasol ar gyfer cofnodion pleidleisio, sy'n caniatáu i ddefnyddwyr chwilio yn ôl teitl a dyddiad i ddod o hyd i eitem benodol, boed yn ddadl neu'n welliant i Fil. Gallant weld pa Aelodau a bleidleisiodd 'ie' neu 'na' a phwy a ymataliodd, ac mae'r wefan yn hawdd iawn i'w defnyddio.
Wrth gwrs, er budd tryloywder, mae gan bawb hawl i weld sut y mae eu cynrychiolydd etholedig yn pleidleisio ar fater penodol, ac ar hyn o bryd mae gwefan y Senedd yn gwneud hyn braidd yn anhygyrch i'r cyhoedd a gallai effeithio ar dryloywder y Senedd fel corff deddfwriaethol. Felly, pa drafodaethau y mae'r Comisiwn wedi'u cael ynglŷn â hygyrchedd cofnodion pleidleisio trwy wefan y Senedd, ac a oes unrhyw gynlluniau i wella tryloywder trwy wella hygyrchedd y cofnodion hyn, yn debyg i Senedd y DU?
I think that we have a common theme appearing in these two questions, and that's around accessibility to our website and to information that's held there. The information is there, it's published, but it is about the accessibility and user-friendliness of that website.
As I said in my response to Hannah Blythyn, we are doing work in preparing for the seventh Senedd to make the website more user-friendly. One of the concerns that has been raised, and it was highlighted by your contribution there, Gareth, is that the search facility on our voting record is one that doesn't bear comparison with some other Parliaments, and we need to think through how we are able to allow more forensic searching of voting records of Members here. And now that Members have asked for it, I'll make sure that I ask for that in the work that is being undertaken to improve the accessibility.
I'd say, of course, Members, beware what you wish for. The search facility on voting records is a very good thing for democracy, but you might not always like what that search facility will throw up in the future on any Member's individual voting records. But that's for the people to own that information. We need, as I've said and agreed to, to make that information more readily accessible to the people of Wales and more user-friendly. So, thank you for the questions.
Rwy'n credu bod gennym thema gyffredin yn codi yn y ddau gwestiwn hyn yn ymwneud â hygyrchedd ein gwefan a gwybodaeth a gedwir arni. Mae'r wybodaeth yno, mae'n cael ei chyhoeddi, ond mae'n ymwneud â hygyrchedd a pha mor hawdd yw hi i ddefnyddio'r wefan honno.
Fel y dywedais yn fy ymateb i Hannah Blythyn, rydym yn gwneud gwaith i baratoi ar gyfer y seithfed Senedd i wneud y wefan yn haws i'w defnyddio. Un o'r pryderon sydd wedi'u codi, a thynnwyd sylw ato yn eich cyfraniad yno, Gareth, yw bod cyfleuster chwilio ein cofnod pleidleisio yn un nad yw cystal â rhai Seneddau eraill, ac mae angen i ni feddwl sut y gallwn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl chwilio cofnodion pleidleisio Aelodau yma mewn ffordd fwy fforensig. A chan fod yr Aelodau wedi gofyn am hynny, fe wnaf yn siŵr fy mod yn gofyn am hynny yn y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud ar wella hygyrchedd.
Wrth gwrs, Aelodau, byddwn i'n dweud wrthych am fod yn ofalus ynghylch yr hyn rydych chi'n ei ddymuno. Mae'r cyfleuster chwilio cofnodion pleidleisio yn beth da iawn i ddemocratiaeth, ond efallai na fyddwch chi bob amser yn hoffi'r hyn y bydd y cyfleuster chwilio hwnnw'n ei ddatgelu yn y dyfodol ynghylch cofnodion pleidleisio unigol unrhyw Aelod. Ond y bobl sydd pia'r wybodaeth honno. Fel y dywedais, ac fel y cytunais, mae angen inni wneud y wybodaeth honno'n fwy hygyrch i bobl Cymru ac yn haws ei defnyddio. Felly, diolch am y cwestiynau.
Diolch i'r Llywydd.
Thank you, Llywydd.
Ni chyflwynwyd unrhyw gwestiynau amserol heddiw.
No topical questions were received today.
Rydyn ni'n symud ymlaen at eitem 5, datganiadau 90 eiliad. Dim ond un sydd heddiw, a dwi'n galw ar Heledd Fychan.
We move immediately to item 5, the 90-second statements. There's only one today, and I call on Heledd Fychan.
Mi oedd dydd Sadwrn yn ddiwrnod gwych ym Mhontypridd wrth i dros 300 o bobl heidio yno i gystadlu yn eisteddfod leol gyntaf erioed y dref. Fe ges i fodd i fyw yn y gynulleidfa yn gwrando ar lu o berfformiadau gydol y diwrnod, a dyma gyfle heddiw felly i rannu gyda chi pa mor arbennig oedd y diwrnod, a hefyd i ddiolch i bawb fu’n rhan o’r trefnu.
Rydym ni i gyd dwi’n siŵr yn cofio llwyddiant Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Rhondda Cynon Taf ym Mhontypridd y llynedd, a braf ydy gweld bod yr eisteddfod leol hon yn adeiladu ar y llwyddiant hwnnw wrth i’r gymuned leol ddod ynghyd a dathlu’r wledd o dalent a diwylliant yn yr ardal. O’r corau i’r unawdau o’r gwaith llenyddol i frwydr y bandiau, roedd hi’n wych bod yr eisteddfod yn rhoi llwyfan i gynifer rannu eu doniau. Roedd yn wych hefyd gweld cymaint o ddysgwyr yn cystadlu, a chymaint o bobl ddi-Gymraeg yn dod i fwynhau'r arlwy.
Ni fyddai digwyddiad fel hyn yn bosib, wrth gwrs, oni bai am waith caled ac ymroddiad y trefnwyr, y gwirfoddolwyr a’r noddwyr. Diolch o galon i bawb a gyfrannodd at y digwyddiad, gan gynnwys Capel y Bont a Chlwb y Bont am y lleoliadau rhagorol. Gwych hefyd oedd bod yr holl waith wedi talu ar ei ganfed, gyda’r lleoliadau’n orlawn drwy gydol y dydd. Mi oedd nifer o’r cystadleuwyr a'r cefnogwyr hefyd wedi mwynhau arlwy caffis, marchnad, bwytai a thafarndai y dref, gan roi hwb pwysig i fusnesau lleol.
Mae eisteddfodau lleol ledled Cymru mor bwysig o ran parhad y Gymraeg fel iaith fyw yn ein cymunedau, ac fel iaith i bawb fwynhau, a gobeithio’n fawr felly y gwelwn ni Eisteddfod Pontypridd yn parhau i’r dyfodol. Does dim dwywaith bod lle a chroeso iddi ar y calendr blynyddol o eisteddfodau Cymru, ac mae yna awch am fwy ym Mhontypridd.
Saturday was a wonderful day in Pontypridd as more than 300 people converged there to compete in the town’s first ever local eisteddfod. I was delighted to be a member of the audience listening to a host of performances throughout the day, and this is also an opportunity to share with you how special the day was, and also to thank everyone who helped to organise the event.
We all, I’m sure, will remember the huge success of last year’s Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod in Pontypridd last year, and it's good to see this local eisteddfod building on that success, as the local community came together to celebrate the wealth of talent and culture in the area. From the choirs to the soloists, from the literary submissions to the battle of the bands, it was wonderful that the eisteddfod gave a platform for so many to share their talents. It was also great to see so many Welsh learners competing and so many non-Welsh speakers coming to enjoy the event.
Of course, such an event would not have been possible were it not for the hard work and dedication of the organisers, the volunteers and sponsors. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the event, including Capel y Bont and Clwb y Bont for the excellent venues they provided. It was also wonderful to see all of their hard work paying dividends, with full venues all day. Many of the competitors and supporters also enjoyed the cafes, the market, restaurants and pubs in the town, giving an important boost to local businesses.
Local eisteddfods across Wales are so important for the future of Welsh as a living language in our communities, and as a language for everyone to enjoy, and I very much hope, therefore, that we see Eisteddfod Pontypridd continuing in future. There can be no doubt that there is a place and a welcome for the eisteddfod in the annual calendar of eisteddfods in Wales, and there's an appetite for more in Pontypridd.
Diolch, Heledd.
Thank you, Heledd.
Eitem 6 yw'r ddadl ar adroddiad Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, 'Difrod a chau Porthladd Caergybi yn dilyn storm: Canfyddiadau cychwynnol'. Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i wneud y cynnig—Andrew R.T. Davies.
Item 6 is a debate on on the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee report, 'Holyhead Port storm damage and closure: Initial findings'. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion—Andrew R.T. Davies.
Cynnig NDM8946 Andrew Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn nodi adroddiad Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig ar y Difrod a Chau Porthladd Caergybi yn dilyn storm, a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 3 Ebrill 2025, ac y gosodwyd ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru iddo ar 25 Mehefin 2025.
Motion NDM8946 Andrew Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
Notes the report of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee on the Holyhead Port storm damage and closure, which was laid in the Table Office on 3 April 2025, and on which the Welsh Government laid its response on 25 June 2025.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move the motion in my name on the order paper this afternoon. As Members would be aware, on 6 and 7 December, two berthing incidents occurred at Holyhead port terminal 3, involving Irish Ferries. The damage from these incidents led to the port's full closure over the busy and important Christmas period. On 16 January, the port reopened, with both Stena and Irish Ferries sailing an amended timetable from terminal 5. However, terminal 3 is yet to open. The fact, Deputy Presiding Officer, I requested to hold this debate today was to coincide with the full reopening of the port. However, last week, we heard the full reopening had been delayed until at least 15 July.
On 6 March, the committee held a session looking at the port's closure. Specifically, we focused on the cause, communications, remediation and impact. We took evidence from a number of key witnesses, including the port operator, representatives of the port users, and the Welsh Government. The report made six recommendations and drew five conclusions. We are disappointed to say that the Welsh Government did not fully accept any of our recommendations, rejecting three and only partially accepting the other three.
Deputy Presiding Officer, we are also disappointed by the Welsh Government's immediate statement released in response to our report. As a long-standing Member of this institution, I have seen many committee reports and responses. I do not recall seeing another response that was so strongly critical of a committee in the way the Welsh Government did. I would like to remind the Cabinet Secretary that committees do not work in a vacuum. We did not sit in a dark room and consider what we should come up with. No, we took the inquiry seriously. We based our report on robust evidence. We spoke to key people from the port, people who represented the haulage industry, local businesses, the local authority, an independent expert witness, and, of course, Welsh Ministers themselves. We listened to what they had to say. We heard their experience and used this information to make important recommendations and conclusions, so that if something like this happened again Wales can be better prepared.
One of the things that surprised us whilst we were gathering evidence was that none of the witnesses asked could clearly identify who in the Welsh Government, ultimately, was leading the Welsh Government's response. A strong command-and-control structure, with clear leadership, is important when responding to an incident. This is why we recommended that, in any future instances of this scale and complexity, the Welsh Government should agree a ministerial lead who will oversee and be held accountable for the management response. We were surprised to see this recommendation rejected and the reasoning for this rejection. Welsh Government said:
'We believe very strongly that the Welsh Government response benefitted from the capabilities and sector expertise of both Cabinet Secretaries.'
Having a specific individual take a lead on and responsibility for managing an incident doesn't mean that no-one else can be involved or that they have to lose the expertise or talent of other Cabinet members. It just means that one clear individual holding the reins takes accountability. All that said, we were pleased to see the updated ministerial responsibilities document published last month did clarify each Cabinet Secretary's responsibility with regard to ports. This will help us and stakeholders better understand where responsibilities lie.
Deputy Presiding Officer, we have now discussed the leadership. I would like to move on to the detail of the Welsh Government response in itself. The report described it as highly sluggish. The Road Haulage Association told us the first contact they had had with the Welsh Government was an email on Christmas Eve. The road haulage representatives went on to say:
'By that time, not only had the issue been live for nearly two weeks, but we had also secured the relaxation of drivers' hours, and that had run out'.
We had assumed that the Road Haulage Association would have been one of the first the Welsh Government should have contacted. They can disseminate information to their members and ensure lorry drivers don't make the long journey to Holyhead just to be turned round. This is in sharp contrast to the evidence that we've heard about the Scottish Government response. The Road Haulage Association were contacted by Transport Scotland on 11 December to inform them that Holyhead was shut, and about the contingencies that the Scottish Government were putting in place at Castle Kennedy. Following this, the Road Haulage Association said that they were invited to almost daily calls with the Scottish authorities.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n gwneud y cynnig yn fy enw ar y papur trefn y prynhawn yma. Fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod, ar 6 a 7 Rhagfyr, digwyddodd dau ddigwyddiad angori yng nherfynfa 3 porthladd Caergybi, yn gysylltiedig ag Irish Ferries. Arweiniodd y difrod o'r digwyddiadau hyn at gau'r porthladd yn llawn dros gyfnod prysur a phwysig y Nadolig. Ar 16 Ionawr, ailagorodd y porthladd, gyda Stena ac Irish Ferries yn hwylio ar amserlen ddiwygiedig o derfynfa 5. Fodd bynnag, mae terfynfa 3 eto i agor. Ddirprwy Lywydd, gofynnais am gael cynnal y ddadl hon heddiw i gyd-fynd ag ailagor y porthladd yn llawn. Fodd bynnag, yr wythnos diwethaf, clywsom fod yr ailagoriad llawn wedi'i ohirio tan o leiaf 15 Gorffennaf.
Ar 6 Mawrth, cynhaliodd y pwyllgor sesiwn i edrych ar gau'r porthladd. Yn benodol, fe wnaethom ganolbwyntio ar yr achos, cyfathrebu, adferiad ac effaith. Cawsom dystiolaeth gan nifer o dystion allweddol, gan gynnwys gweithredwr y porthladd, cynrychiolwyr defnyddwyr y porthladd, a Llywodraeth Cymru. Gwnaeth yr adroddiad chwe argymhelliad a daeth i bum casgliad. Rydym yn siomedig nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn unrhyw un o'n hargymhellion yn llawn, gan wrthod tri a derbyn y tri arall yn rhannol yn unig.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rydym hefyd yn siomedig ynghylch datganiad uniongyrchol Llywodraeth Cymru a ryddhawyd mewn ymateb i'n hadroddiad. Fel Aelod hirsefydlog o'r sefydliad hwn, rwyf wedi gweld llawer o adroddiadau ac ymatebion pwyllgorau. Nid wyf yn cofio gweld unrhyw ymateb arall a oedd mor feirniadol o bwyllgor yn y ffordd yr oedd ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru. Hoffwn atgoffa Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet nad yw pwyllgorau'n gweithio mewn gwactod. Nid oeddem yn eistedd mewn ystafell dywyll ac yn ystyried beth y dylem ei ddweud. Na, roeddem o ddifrif ynghylch yr ymchwiliad. Fe wnaethom seilio ein hadroddiad ar dystiolaeth gadarn. Fe wnaethom siarad â phobl allweddol o'r porthladd, pobl a oedd yn cynrychioli'r diwydiant cludo nwyddau, busnesau lleol, yr awdurdod lleol, tyst arbenigol annibynnol, a Gweinidogion Cymru eu hunain wrth gwrs. Fe wnaethom wrando ar yr hyn a oedd ganddynt i'w ddweud. Clywsom eu profiad ac fe wnaethom ddefnyddio'r wybodaeth honno i ddod i gasgliadau pwysig ac i wneud argymhellion, fel y gall Cymru baratoi'n well pe bai rhywbeth fel hyn yn digwydd eto.
Un o'r pethau a wnaeth ein synnu wrth inni gasglu tystiolaeth oedd nad oedd yr un o'r tystion a holwyd yn gallu nodi'n glir pwy yn Llywodraeth Cymru, yn y pen draw, a oedd yn arwain ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae strwythur gorchymyn a rheoli cryf, gydag arweinyddiaeth glir, yn bwysig wrth ymateb i ddigwyddiad. Dyma pam y gwnaethom argymell y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru gytuno ar Weinidog arweiniol i oruchwylio ac i fod yn atebol am yr ymateb rheoli mewn unrhyw achosion o'r maint a'r cymhlethdod hwn yn y dyfodol. Roeddem yn synnu gweld yr argymhelliad hwn yn cael ei wrthod a'r rhesymeg dros y gwrthodiad hwn. Meddai Llywodraeth Cymru:
'Rydyn ni’n credu’n gryf bod ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru wedi elwa ar allu ac arbenigedd sector y ddau Ysgrifennydd Cabinet.'
Nid yw cael unigolyn penodol i arwain ac ysgwyddo cyfrifoldeb am reoli digwyddiad yn golygu na all neb arall fod yn rhan ohono neu fod yn rhaid iddynt golli arbenigedd neu dalent aelodau eraill o'r Cabinet. Mae'n golygu bod un unigolyn clir sy'n dal yr awenau yn atebol. Wedi dweud hynny, roeddem yn falch o weld bod y diweddariad o'r ddogfen cyfrifoldebau gweinidogol a gyhoeddwyd fis diwethaf yn egluro cyfrifoldeb pob Ysgrifennydd Cabinet mewn perthynas â phorthladdoedd. Bydd hyn yn ein helpu ni a rhanddeiliaid i ddeall yn well ble mae'r gwahanol feysydd cyfrifoldeb.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rydym bellach wedi trafod yr arweinyddiaeth. Hoffwn symud ymlaen at fanylion ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun. Roedd yr adroddiad yn ei ddisgrifio fel ymateb hynod o araf. Dywedodd y Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd wrthym mai'r cyswllt cyntaf a gawsant gyda Llywodraeth Cymru oedd e-bost ar Noswyl Nadolig. Meddai'r cynrychiolwyr cludo nwyddau:
'Erbyn hynny, roedd y mater nid yn unig wedi bod ar y gweill ers bron i bythefnos, roeddem hefyd wedi sicrhau bod oriau gyrwyr yn llacio, ac roedd hynny wedi dod i ben'.
Roeddem wedi tybio y byddai'r Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd wedi bod yn un o'r sefydliadau cyntaf y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod wedi cysylltu ag ef. Gallant rannu gwybodaeth i'w haelodau a sicrhau nad yw gyrwyr lorïau'n gwneud y siwrnai seithug hir i Gaergybi. Mae hyn yn wahanol iawn i'r dystiolaeth a glywsom am ymateb Llywodraeth yr Alban. Cysylltodd Transport Scotland â'r Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd ar 11 Rhagfyr i roi gwybod iddynt fod Caergybi ar gau, ac am y trefniadau wrth gefn yr oedd Llywodraeth yr Alban yn eu rhoi ar waith yn Castle Kennedy. Yn dilyn hyn, dywedodd y Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd eu bod wedi cael eu gwahodd i alwadau bron yn ddyddiol gydag awdurdodau'r Alban.
The Irish Road Haulage Association also criticised communications from both the port and authorities. They told us:
'There was a build-up of over 1,000 trailers in the Holyhead area, and they kept pouring in, because we weren't told to stop'.
That was their direct quote from committee evidence. We understand from the Welsh Government's response to our report that it looks like Stena were over-optimistic in their assessment around the ability to reopen the port, and that the Welsh Government encouraged Stena to issue a notice stating that the port would be closed indefinitely. However, we still feel that there was more of a role for the Welsh Government at this point. We think that had there been regular communications with the likes of the Road Haulage Association, this would have been clear to the Welsh Government as well.
We accept the Welsh Government's point that the port is a commercial operator, and that that limits the Welsh Government's role and responsibilities. However, the port is also a piece of critical infrastructure, and the closure has a large knock-on effect on other businesses and lorry drivers and members of the public. We would suggest, at a minimum, that Welsh Government has a duty to support and inform all these groups during a period of critical national infrastructure failure. As such, we think earlier action and better communication with the Welsh Government would have been most welcome.
We also found that a sluggish approach to the long-term transport policy had exacerbated the issues faced by hauliers and other users of the port. Welsh Government had previously committed to developing a Welsh ports and maritime strategy, and a Welsh national freight and logistics plan by 2024. Neither of these were in place at the time of the port's closure. Professor Andrew Potter expressed disappointment about the lack of action from the Welsh Government on a new freight plan, telling us that, given that the last one was in 2008, that seems quite remiss.
Although it was before my time as Chair of the committee, one of the first pieces of work that the committee undertook was on HGV driver shortages and supply- chain issues. That report made several recommendations, including a recommendation to expedite the development of a freight plan, incorporating the recommendations from the said report to urgently work with partners to improve HGV driver rest provision. Welsh Government accepted all those recommendations in the report. I can't help but think that if they had not just accepted but enacted those recommendations, then the impact of the port closures on lorry drivers may have been mitigated. All of this leaves me wondering where the Government was on this issue: why were such key drivers of our economy left relying on public policy that was developed in the same year as the first iPhone was released? And how did the Scottish Government seemingly respond to port closures in Wales more effectively than the Welsh Government?
However, despite the seemingly negative response to our report, we are pleased to see that many of the concerns we raised are reflected in the terms of reference for the taskforce on sea connectivity between Wales and Ireland. We note the terms of reference state that the taskforce will ascertain what Holyhead and other Welsh ports need from all stakeholders over the longer term to not just survive, but to thrive. We hope that the taskforce can meet that aspiration, as thriving ports are vital to our economy.
Whilst talking about thriving ports, we would also like to quickly mention trade diversion. This is an issue that the committee has concerns around and has been monitoring. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning told the committee that the value of trade through Holyhead in December 2024 was almost £0.5 billion less than the year before. At the time, she noted that these figures would require unpicking. We were wondering if the Welsh Government has done the unpicking and if it might have a firmer figure of the impact of the closure now.
And finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, I would like to briefly return to delays in reopening the port. Whilst the port has been coping so far, I am concerned that further delays weaken the port's resilience while the work is ongoing. I am sure that users, and particularly hauliers, will have much more confidence in the port once the two berths are up and running. I would like to ask the Cabinet Secretary what discussions he has had with Stena on the new reopening date and how confident is he that it will be met?
Before I give way, I would like to thank everyone who gave evidence to this inquiry. Their testimony and their experience allowed us to make important recommendations, which we are disappointed to say that the Government has largely rejected. However, I would like to also underline one further element of disappointment: despite considerable efforts, we were unable to take evidence from Irish Ferries. They decided not to engage with the inquiry. This is frustrating as they could have been one of the key witnesses, not just as one of the two ferry companies who use the port, but also considering their involvement in the incident.
I look forward to hearing what other Members have to say and the Cabinet Secretary’s response to our debate. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Beirniadodd Cymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd Iwerddon y cyfathrebu gan y porthladd a'r awdurdodau. Fe wnaethant ddweud wrthym:
'Roedd ôl-groniad o dros 1,000 o drelars yn ardal Caergybi, ac roeddent yn dal i lifo i mewn, gan na ddywedwyd wrthym am stopio.'
Dyna ddyfyniad uniongyrchol o dystiolaeth y pwyllgor. Rydym yn deall o ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'n hadroddiad fod Stena yn ôl pob golwg wedi bod yn rhy optimistaidd yn eu hasesiad o'r gallu i ailagor y porthladd, a bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi annog Stena i gyhoeddi hysbysiad yn nodi y byddai'r porthladd ar gau am gyfnod amhenodol. Fodd bynnag, rydym yn dal i deimlo bod mwy o rôl i Lywodraeth Cymru ar y pwynt hwn. Pe baech chi wedi cyfathrebu'n rheolaidd â chwmnïau fel y Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd, rydym yn credu y byddai hyn wedi bod yn glir i Lywodraeth Cymru hefyd.
Rydym yn derbyn pwynt Llywodraeth Cymru fod y porthladd yn weithredwr masnachol, a bod hynny'n cyfyngu ar rôl a chyfrifoldebau Llywodraeth Cymru. Fodd bynnag, mae'r porthladd hefyd yn ddarn o seilwaith hanfodol, ac mae cau'r porthladd yn cael effaith ganlyniadol fawr ar fusnesau eraill a gyrwyr lorïau ac aelodau'r cyhoedd. Byddem yn awgrymu, o leiaf, fod gan Lywodraeth Cymru ddyletswydd i gefnogi a hysbysu'r holl grwpiau hyn pan fo seilwaith cenedlaethol hanfodol yn methu. Fel y cyfryw, credwn y byddai gweithredu cynharach a chyfathrebu gwell gyda Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn fuddiol iawn.
Fe wnaethom ganfod hefyd fod dull gweithredu araf mewn perthynas â'r polisi trafnidiaeth hirdymor wedi gwaethygu'r problemau a wynebwyd gan gludwyr nwyddau a defnyddwyr eraill y porthladd. Roedd Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu strategaeth porthladdoedd a morwrol Cymru, a chynllun cludo nwyddau a logisteg genedlaethol Cymru erbyn 2024. Nid oedd yr un o'r rhain ar waith pan gaewyd y porthladd. Mynegodd yr Athro Andrew Potter siom ynghylch y diffyg gweithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gynllun cludo nwyddau newydd, gan ddweud wrthym, o ystyried bod yr un diwethaf yn 2008, fod hynny braidd yn esgeulus.
Er iddo gael ei wneud cyn fy nghyfnod i fel Cadeirydd y pwyllgor, roedd un o'r darnau cyntaf o waith a wnaed gan y pwyllgor yn ymwneud â phrinder gyrwyr cerbydau nwyddau trwm a materion yn gysylltiedig â'r gadwyn gyflenwi. Gwnaeth yr adroddiad hwnnw sawl argymhelliad, gan gynnwys argymhelliad i gyflymu datblygiad cynllun cludo nwyddau, a fyddai'n ymgorffori'r argymhellion o'r adroddiad hwnnw i weithio ar frys gyda phartneriaid i wella'r ddarpariaeth o gyfleusterau gorffwys i yrwyr cerbydau nwyddau trwm. Derbyniodd Llywodraeth Cymru yr holl argymhellion hynny yn yr adroddiad. Ni allaf ond meddwl pe baent nid yn unig wedi derbyn yr argymhellion hynny ond wedi'u rhoi ar waith hefyd, efallai y byddai effaith cau'r porthladd ar yrwyr lorïau wedi'i lliniaru. Mae hyn oll yn gwneud imi feddwl ble oedd y Llywodraeth ar y mater hwn: pam y bu'n rhaid i yrwyr sydd mor allweddol i'n heconomi ddibynnu ar bolisi cyhoeddus a ddatblygwyd yn yr un flwyddyn ag yr ymddangosodd yr iPhone cyntaf? A sut y gwnaeth Llywodraeth yr Alban ymateb yn fwy effeithiol na Llywodraeth Cymru yn ôl pob golwg i gau porthladd yng Nghymru?
Fodd bynnag, er gwaethaf ymateb sydd i'w weld yn negyddol i'n hadroddiad, rydym yn falch o weld bod llawer o'r pryderon a godwyd gennym wedi'u hadlewyrchu yng nghylch gorchwyl y tasglu ar y cysylltiad môr rhwng Cymru ac Iwerddon. Nodwn fod y cylch gorchwyl yn datgan y bydd y tasglu'n canfod beth sydd ei angen ar Gaergybi a phorthladdoedd eraill Cymru gan bob rhanddeiliad dros y tymor hwy nid yn unig er mwyn goroesi, ond i allu ffynnu. Gobeithiwn y gall y tasglu gyflawni'r dyhead hwnnw, gan fod porthladdoedd ffyniannus yn hanfodol i'n heconomi.
A sôn am borthladdoedd ffyniannus, hoffem sôn hefyd yn gyflym am ddargyfeirio masnach. Mae hwn yn fater y mae gan y pwyllgor bryderon yn ei gylch ac y mae wedi bod yn ei fonitro. Dywedodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio wrth y pwyllgor fod gwerth masnach drwy Gaergybi ym mis Rhagfyr 2024 bron i £0.5 biliwn yn llai na'r flwyddyn flaenorol. Ar y pryd, nododd y byddai angen dadansoddi'r ffigurau hyn. Roeddem yn meddwl tybed a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud y dadansoddiad ac a allai fod ganddi ffigur mwy cadarn bellach o effaith y cau.
Ac yn olaf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, hoffwn ddychwelyd yn fyr at yr oedi cyn ailagor y porthladd. Er bod y porthladd wedi bod yn ymdopi hyd yn hyn, rwy'n pryderu y bydd oedi pellach yn gwanhau gwydnwch y porthladd tra bo'r gwaith yn mynd rhagddo. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd gan ddefnyddwyr, ac yn enwedig cludwyr nwyddau, lawer mwy o hyder yn y porthladd pan fydd y ddwy ddocfa ar agor. Hoffwn ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet pa drafodaethau y mae wedi'u cael gyda Stena ynglŷn â'r dyddiad ailagor newydd a pha mor hyderus ydyw y bydd yn ailagor mewn pryd?
Cyn imi ildio, hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a roddodd dystiolaeth i'r ymchwiliad hwn. Fe wnaeth eu tystiolaeth a'u profiad ganiatáu inni wneud argymhellion pwysig, ac rydym yn siomedig i ddweud bod y Llywodraeth wedi eu gwrthod i raddau helaeth. Fodd bynnag, hoffwn hefyd danlinellu un elfen bellach o siom: er gwaethaf ymdrechion sylweddol, ni chawsom dystiolaeth gan Irish Ferries. Fe wnaethant benderfynu peidio ag ymwneud â'r ymchwiliad. Mae hyn yn rhwystredig, gan y gallent fod wedi bod yn un o'r tystion allweddol, nid yn unig fel un o'r ddau gwmni fferi sy'n defnyddio'r porthladd, ond hefyd o ystyried eu rhan yn y digwyddiad.
Edrychaf ymlaen at glywed beth sydd gan Aelodau eraill i'w ddweud ac ymateb Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i'n dadl. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Firstly, can I thank the Chair of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, Andrew R.T. Davies, and those witnesses who gave evidence to the inquiry? I hold the report in my hand. I think it's a very strong report, on what was a big disturbance at Holyhead port, not caused by storm Darragh. I think there was a perception in the press and in the general public that storm Darragh had caused the closure, but we were given the evidence by those that that wasn't the case. There were berthing incidents that predated storm Darragh's wildest impact on the seas around Holyhead.
It's a light report, because it focuses quite timely on the key issues. There are six recommendations. It is sorry that recommendation 1 is rejected; recommendation 2 is rejected; recommendation 3 only has a partial acceptance; recommendation 4, rejected; recommendation 5, partial acceptance; and recommendation 6, partial acceptance. That's quite disappointing, because, if we take recommendation 1, that's only asking for the Welsh Government to undertake a lessons-learned review. Surely that must be a priority. [Interruption.] So, why not accept? I can understand that the Cabinet Secretary there is saying that that's the taskforce, so accept the recommendation and outline what you're doing through the taskforce.
I will come on to the taskforce—[Interruption.] I will come on to the taskforce, because it was mentioned in a question by Rhun ap Iorwerth earlier today, and you thanked Rhun ap Iorwerth for taking part in the taskforce. I do remind the Cabinet Secretary that there are other ports servicing Ireland, in Pembrokeshire. There is Pembroke port in my constituency, and Fishguard port in Paul Davies's constituency—two ports that picked up the slack when Holyhead was shut, and we've not been afforded the opportunity to contribute to that Irish sea taskforce. I understand that might be an oversight, but I just wanted to put that on the record—that Holyhead isn't the only port in Wales servicing Ireland.
But what was evident through the inquiry was the importance of Holyhead port to Ireland. I think sometimes here in Wales we under-appreciate the value of that port. I think its closure has highlighted the need for us to have a long-term strategy. I've hosted the British Ports Association in the Pierhead a number of times since I've been elected. I myself am a former Stena Line employee, working on the ferry between Fishguard and Rosslare, Deputy Llywydd, when I was a student. I thoroughly enjoyed the job, but I don't really have the sea legs to do it full-time. But what I do understand is the value that it brings to the area. And I think the evidence we took from the local authority and the business community in Holyhead is the impact of the closure on that wider community, something that I'm sure the Member for Ynys Môn will touch upon in his contribution.
But when we're looking at where we're going—. We're a maritime nation. We are a maritime nation, we should understand the value of these things, not rely on its closure to re-highlight the importance of this facility, this key facility. It's the shortest crossing between the United Kingdom, or between Great Britain, and the Republic of Ireland. It's really well used. It's got the accessibility of the A55. Gosh, I know Paul Davies and I would love to have dual carriage roads on the A40 down to service our ports in south Wales. But let's understand that there are other ports that have picked up the slack. There's the importance of Holyhead—tick, yes, how important it is to our wider economy and to the local economy on the island of Ynys Môn—but also the importance of other ports that we have in Wales as well. I think that's something—. If we're looking at a more long-term strategy—and I note the Cabinet Secretary's viewpoints on the Irish sea taskforce—then I really think that we need to take into consideration the investment that's been announced by Stena Line into Fishguard harbour, in Paul Davies's constituency, and the focus around renewable energies at the port in Pembroke. I think there's a real opportunity for us to have a real dedicated focus, policy focus, policy renewal, really, on our ports and our port infrastructure in Wales. And it's just sad that it takes a closure of the magnitude that we saw at Holyhead for us to readdress this. I think what is very evident as well from this report was the strength of feeling amongst those who took part in it around the importance, the catalyst element that ports and harbours provide to their communities, not just employment, but through visitors and all the other economic interventions that ports and harbours bring to their areas.
So, Deputy Presiding Officer, I'm really pleased that I, as a committee member, was able to sit in on this, with my own personal interest in ports and harbours. I'll reiterate my disappointment as to the Government’s responses to some of the recommendations, but I do hope that this is an opportunity for us to relaunch, reaffirm and renew Welsh Government’s commitments to ports and port infrastructure in Wales.
Yn gyntaf, a gaf i ddiolch i Gadeirydd Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, Andrew R.T. Davies, a'r tystion a roddodd dystiolaeth i'r ymchwiliad? Rwy'n dal yr adroddiad yn fy llaw. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn adroddiad cryf iawn, ar darfu sylweddol ym mhorthladd Caergybi, nad achoswyd gan storm Darragh. Credaf fod canfyddiad yn y wasg ac ymhlith y cyhoedd yn gyffredinol mai storm Darragh a achosodd i'r porthladd gau, ond cawsom dystiolaeth nad oedd hynny'n wir. Cafwyd digwyddiadau angori cyn effaith fwyaf gwyllt storm Darragh ar y moroedd o amgylch Caergybi.
Mae'n adroddiad ysgafn, am ei fod yn canolbwyntio'n eithaf amserol ar y materion allweddol. Mae ynddo chwe argymhelliad. Mae'n drueni fod argymhelliad 1 wedi'i wrthod; argymhelliad 2 wedi'i wrthod; dim ond yn rhannol y cafodd argymhelliad 3 ei dderbyn; argymhelliad 4, wedi'i wrthod; argymhelliad 5, wedi'i dderbyn yn rhannol; ac argymhelliad 6, wedi'i dderbyn yn rhannol. Mae hynny'n eithaf siomedig, oherwydd os ydym yn ystyried argymhelliad 1, nid yw hwnnw ond yn gofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru gynnal adolygiad o'r gwersi a ddysgwyd. Rhaid bod hynny'n flaenoriaeth. [Torri ar draws.] Felly, pam ddim derbyn? Gallaf ddeall bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yno'n dweud mai dyna y mae'r tasglu'n ei wneud, felly derbyniwch yr argymhelliad ac amlinellwch yr hyn rydych chi'n ei wneud drwy'r tasglu.
Fe ddof at y tasglu—[Torri ar draws.] Fe ddof at y tasglu, gan iddo gael ei grybwyll mewn cwestiwn gan Rhun ap Iorwerth yn gynharach heddiw, ac fe wnaethoch chi ddiolch i Rhun ap Iorwerth am gymryd rhan yn y tasglu. Rwy'n atgoffa Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fod yna borthladdoedd eraill sy'n gwasanaethu Iwerddon, yn sir Benfro. Mae porthladd Penfro yn fy etholaeth i, a phorthladd Abergwaun yn etholaeth Paul Davies—dau borthladd a ysgwyddodd y baich gwaith ychwanegol pan oedd porthladd Caergybi ar gau, ac nid ydym wedi cael cyfle i gyfrannu at dasglu Môr Iwerddon. Rwy'n deall efallai mai camgymeriad yw hynny, ond roeddwn am gofnodi hynny—nad Caergybi yw'r unig borthladd yng Nghymru sy'n gwasanaethu Iwerddon.
Ond yr hyn a oedd yn amlwg drwy'r ymchwiliad oedd pwysigrwydd porthladd Caergybi i Iwerddon. Weithiau, yma yng Nghymru, rwy'n credu ein bod yn tanbrisio gwerth y porthladd hwnnw. Credaf fod cau'r porthladd wedi tynnu sylw at yr angen inni gael strategaeth hirdymor. Rwyf wedi croesawu Cymdeithas Porthladdoedd Prydain i'r Pierhead sawl tro ers imi gael fy ethol. Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwyf i fy hun yn gyn-weithiwr Stena Line a arferai weithio ar y fferi rhwng Abergwaun a Rosslare pan oeddwn yn fyfyriwr. Roeddwn yn mwynhau'r swydd yn fawr, ond nid oeddwn yn ddigon o forwr i'w gwneud yn llawn amser. Ond yr hyn rwy'n ei ddeall yw'r gwerth y mae'n ei ddwyn i'r ardal. A'r dystiolaeth a roddwyd i ni gan yr awdurdod lleol a'r gymuned fusnes yng Nghaergybi yw effaith cau'r porthladd ar y gymuned ehangach honno, rhywbeth y bydd yr Aelod dros Ynys Môn yn ei grybwyll yn ei gyfraniad, rwy'n siŵr.
Ond pan edrychwn ar ble rydym yn mynd—. Rydym yn genedl forwrol. Rydym yn genedl forwrol, dylem ddeall gwerth y pethau hyn, nid gorfod aros i'r porthladd gau i ail-amlygu pwysigrwydd y cyfleuster hwn, y cyfleuster allweddol hwn. Dyma'r groesfan fyrraf rhwng y Deyrnas Unedig, neu rhwng Prydain, a Gweriniaeth Iwerddon. Mae'n cael llawer iawn o ddefnydd. Mae ganddo hygyrchedd yr A55. Mam bach, gwn y byddai Paul Davies a minnau wrth ein boddau'n cael ffyrdd deuol ar yr A40 i wasanaethu ein porthladdoedd i lawr yn ne Cymru. Ond gadewch inni ddeall bod porthladdoedd eraill wedi ysgwyddo'r baich gwaith ychwanegol. Mae pwysigrwydd Caergybi—ie, pa mor bwysig ydyw i'n heconomi ehangach ac i'r economi leol ar ynys Ynys Môn—ond hefyd pwysigrwydd porthladdoedd eraill sydd gennym yng Nghymru hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth—. Os edrychwn ar strategaeth fwy hirdymor—a nodaf safbwyntiau Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar dasglu Môr Iwerddon—rwy'n credu o ddifrif fod angen inni ystyried y buddsoddiad a gyhoeddwyd gan Stena Line ym mhorthladd Abergwaun, yn etholaeth Paul Davies, a'r ffocws ar ynni adnewyddadwy yn y porthladd ym Mhenfro. Rwy'n credu bod cyfle gwirioneddol inni gael ffocws gwirioneddol bwrpasol, ffocws polisi, adnewyddiad i'r polisi mewn gwirionedd, ar ein porthladdoedd a'n seilwaith porthladdoedd yng Nghymru. Ac mae'n drist fod rhaid cau ar raddfa mor fawr yng Nghaergybi er mwyn inni fynd i'r afael â hyn eto. Rhywbeth arall sy'n amlwg iawn o'r adroddiad hwn hefyd oedd cryfder y teimlad ymhlith y rhai a gyfrannodd ato ynghylch y pwysigrwydd, y ffordd y mae porthladdoedd a harbyrau'n gatalyddion yn eu cymunedau, nid yn unig o ran cyflogaeth, ond drwy ymwelwyr a'r holl ymyriadau economaidd eraill y mae porthladdoedd a harbyrau'n eu denu i'w hardaloedd.
Felly, Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n falch iawn fy mod i, fel aelod o'r pwyllgor, wedi gallu bod yn rhan o hyn, gyda fy muddiant personol fy hun mewn porthladdoedd a harbyrau. Hoffwn ailadrodd fy siom ynghylch ymatebion y Llywodraeth i rai o'r argymhellion, ond rwy'n gobeithio bod hwn yn gyfle inni ail-lansio, ailgadarnhau ac adnewyddu ymrwymiadau Llywodraeth Cymru i borthladdoedd a'r seilwaith porthladdoedd yng Nghymru.
A gaf i ddiolch i’r pwyllgor am wneud y darn yma o waith, ac am wneud y darn yma yn brydlon wedi’r digwyddiad yma, a oedd mor niweidiol, wrth gwrs, o ran masnach drwy borthladd Caergybi, ac ar y dref ei hun a’r gymuned ehangach? Rôn i’n crybwyll yn gynharach heddiw yr effaith fawr—y gwymp mewn masnach, y gwymp yn nifer y bobl oedd yn pasio drwy’r dre a’r arian oedd yn cael ei wario yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw.
Felly, mi oedd hwn yn fater difrifol iawn, ac mae argymhelliad cyntaf y pwyllgor yn dweud wrthym ni mai’r peth cwbl allweddol ydy bod gwersi yn cael eu dysgu o hyn. Mae’r adroddiad yma, ynddo’i hun, yn ddefnyddiol yn hynny o beth, ond beth mae o’n ei ddweud wrthym ni ydy bod rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru, rŵan, barhau i gadw llygad barcud ar wytnwch y porthladd yma, i sicrhau ei fod o’n ffit am weddill y ganrif hon, a thu hwnt i hynny.
Mi wnaf i droi at argymhelliad 3 yn sydyn, a’r cyfathrebu fu ar y pryd, yn union wedi’r digwyddiad yma. Dwi’n ddiolchgar i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ei hun am y cyswllt gefais i yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw. Mi rôn i’n canfod hynny yn ddefnyddiol iawn. Ond mae’n amlwg, onid ydy hi, fod yna aneglurder mawr wedi bod ynglŷn â lle ddylai cwmnïau cludo ddargyfeirio eu lorïau. Mae’r Road Haulage Association yn nodi mai Noswyl Nadolig oedd y tro cyntaf i Lywodraeth Cymru gysylltu efo nhw. Ac ar lawr gwlad, mi oedd busnesau a theithwyr yn clywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru fod y porthladd yn mynd i fod yn ôl yn gweithio o fewn dyddiau, ac wedyn, gan Lywodraeth Iwerddon, rybuddion na fyddai’r porthladd yn ailagor cyn y Nadolig. A dyma ni yn dal heb y porthladd wedi’i agor yn llawn eto. Ond mae’r trydydd argymhelliad yna ynglŷn â’r cyfathrebu, yn dilyn y math yma o ddigwyddiad yn y dyfodol, yn bwysig iawn, iawn.
Argymhelliad 4 wedyn—hwn yn adleisio’r cwestiwn y cefais i gyfle i’w ofyn i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gynharach heddiw, ynglŷn â’r lefel o gefnogaeth sydd angen ei roi o hyd i’r gymuned a’r busnesau wnaeth golli allan oherwydd y digwyddiad yma. A dwi’n nodi, o ymateb yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, fod yr achos terfynol wedi cael ei gyflwyno gan Gyngor Sir Ynys Môn i Lywodraeth Cymru, a bod yna ystyriaeth yn cael ei roi i gamau a all gael eu rhoi mewn lle. Ond, wir, mae angen penderfyniadau buan iawn, oherwydd rŵan mae angen yr help ar lawer o’r busnesau i wneud iawn am eu colledion nhw dros y misoedd diwethaf.
Mi wnaf i droi yn olaf at argymhelliad 6. Mae’r pwyllgor yn dweud y bydd o’n monitro gwaith y tasglu sydd wedi cael ei sefydlu. Felly, gair gen i ynglŷn â’r tasglu yma: i fi, fy nghonsérn i wedi’r digwyddiad oedd porthladd Caergybi, a gwytnwch porthladd Caergybi. Mae Samuel Kurtz yn hollol iawn i nodi bod yna borthladdoedd eraill yng Nghymru, ac mi ddefnyddiwyd y cyfle yma i ehangu, drwy’r tasglu, y golygon ar wytnwch y croesiad ar draws Môr Iwerddon yn fwy eang.
Mi wnaf i’r pwynt i’r gwrthwyneb o beth ddywedodd Samuel Kurtz. Mi ges i fy ngwahodd i un cyfarfod oedd i fod i drafod yn benodol beth oedd yn digwydd ym mhorthladd Caergybi. Beth glywais i oedd y drafodaeth yn y fan honno yn troi at borthladdoedd eraill Cymru. Felly, plis, plis, allwn ni, ar yr adegau pwysig hynny lle mae yna sylw i fod ar borthladd Caergybi, sicrhau bod y sylw yn aros ar borthladd Caergybi?
Ac mi wnaf i’r pwynt ehangach wedyn fod sôn am borthladd Caergybi yn golygu mwy na dim ond beth sy’n digwydd o gwmpas y môr ei hun. Oes, mae angen sicrhau bod gwersi wedi’u dysgu ynglŷn â pham oedd yna wendid yn y doc yn ei hun. Mae angen, o’r diwedd, plis, fynd i’r afael â’r ffordd i mewn ac allan o’r porthladd. Mi adeiladwyd yr A55 at borthladd Caergybi, ond nid i mewn i’r porthladd. Siawns ein bod ni wedi dysgu rŵan fod angen rhoi’r buddsoddiad i mewn.
Ymhellach i ffwrdd ychydig o’r porthladd, mae croesiad y Fenai, wrth gwrs. Mae yna ddiffyg gweithredu dybryd gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â chroesiad y Fenai. Do, mi wnaed y penderfyniad anghywir, dwi’n credu, i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â’r gwaith o adeiladu trydydd croesiad. Nid yn unig y cafodd hynny ei ganslo, ond does yna ddim byd wedi newid i deithwyr ar draws y Fenai ers hynny. Mae'n rhaid i ni weld gweithredu. Mae'n rhaid i ni weld rhagor o wytnwch yn yr holl elfennau hynny sydd yn creu porthladd, sydd mor bwysig. Hefyd, mae'n rhaid i mi sôn am yr adnoddau parcio lorïau ac ati a gollwyd yn sgil Brexit. Mae yna gymaint o gwestiynau sydd angen mynd i'r afael â nhw. Mae'n rhaid defnyddio'r sylw sydd wedi ei roi ar hyn yn sgil y digwyddiad ym mis Rhagfyr diwethaf i sicrhau ein bod ni yn adeiladu porthladd gwydn ar gyfer y dyfodol.
May I thank the committee for doing this work, and for doing it so soon after this incident, which was so damaging in terms of trade through Holyhead port, and in terms of the town itself and the wider community? I mentioned earlier today the major impact of the drop in trade, the drop in the number of people passing through the town and the money that was spent in the town during that period.
So, this was a very serious issue, and the first recommendation of the committee tells us that the key thing is that lessons should be learnt from this. The report, in and of itself, is useful in that regard, but what it does tell us is that the Welsh Government must now continue to keep a very close eye on the resilience of this port, in order to ensure that it’s fit for the rest of this century, and beyond.
I'll turn to recommendation 3 briefly, and the communication that happened at the time, immediately after the incident. I am grateful to the Cabinet Secretary himself for the contact that I had during that period. I found that to be very useful indeed. But it is clear, isn't it, that there was a great lack of clarity as to where the haulage companies should divert their vehicles. The Road Haulage Association said that it was Christmas Eve when the Welsh Government first contacted them. And on the ground, businesses and travellers were hearing from the Welsh Government that the port would be back in operation within days, and then, from the Irish Government, warnings that the port wouldn’t reopen before Christmas. And here we are with the port still not fully reopened. But that third recommendation on communications, following this kind of incident in the future, is hugely important.
Recommendation 4—this echoes the question that I had an opportunity to ask of the Cabinet Secretary earlier today, in terms of the level of support that needs to be provided, still, to the community and the businesses who did lose out because of this incident. And I note, from the response of the Cabinet Secretary, that the final case has been presented by the local authority in Anglesey to the Welsh Government, and that consideration is being given to steps that could be put in place. But, certainly, we need decisions to be taken very soon, because the help is needed now by some of those businesses to make up the losses that they have suffered in recent months.
I'll turn, finally, to recommendation 6. The committee states that it will monitor the work of the taskforce that's been established. So, a few words on this taskforce: for me, my concern after the incident was the port of Holyhead, and the resilience of that port. Samuel Kurtz is entirely right in noting that there are other ports in Wales, and this opportunity was used to expand horizons, through the taskforce, in terms of looking at the resilience of crossings across the Irish sea more generally.
I will make the counterpoint to the point made by Samuel Kurtz. I was invited to one meeting that was meant to specifically focus on what was happening in the port of Holyhead. What I heard was the discussion there turning to the other ports in Wales. So, please, please, at those important times where we are supposed to be focused on Holyhead, can we ensure that the focus remains on Holyhead?
And I will make a broader point that talking about the port of Holyhead means more than just what happens on the seafront itself. Yes, we need to ensure that lessons are being learnt as to why there was a weakness in the dock itself. We need to please finally address the routes in and out of the port. The A55 was built to the port of Holyhead, but not into the port. Surely we’ve now learnt that we need to make that investment.
A little further from the port, you have the Menai crossing, of course. And there’s been a grave lack of action from the Welsh Government in relation to the Menai crossing. Yes, the decision was taken—the wrong decision, I believe—not to proceed with the work of building a third crossing. Not only was that cancelled, there has been nothing done to change things for travellers across the Menai since then. We have to see action. We have to see greater resilience in all of those elements that create a port, which is so very important. And I also have to mention the lorry parks and so on that were lost as a result of Brexit. There are so many questions that need to be addressed. We must use the focus that's been placed on this in light of the incident last December to ensure that we do build a resilient port for the future.
Dwi'n croesawu'r cyfle i gymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon.
I welcome this opportunity to take part in this debate this afternoon.
As a member of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, I'd like to start by thanking everyone who contributed to this short committee inquiry, which came at the request of Members and was generated by what was occurring at that time. It was both topical and timely. In fact, I think I recall that events were evolving in real time on the very morning of the evidence session.
As well as contributing as a member of the committee, I'm also contributing as a Member of the Senedd from north Wales who is very much alive to the significance of the port of Holyhead to the economy and communities of north Wales and beyond. Indeed, we know that Holyhead is Wales's busiest ferry port and the second busiest roll-on, roll-off port in the UK after Dover, directly supporting over 700 jobs on Ynys Môn and thousands more across north Wales.
I'm going to focus today on a couple of specific aspects of the report and evidence given to the committee, particularly around recommendation 6, as well as the welfare and well-being of the workforce and the potential of moving forward in meaningful partnership.
Before I do, I just want to make a broader observation that the Chair touched on in his opening remarks, and that's around the clarity around ministerial responsibility and accountability, because it really wasn't clear, even in the committee evidence session. I do recognise, note, that you rejected recommendation 1, but do note too that those ministerial changes have now been made—. I'll take an intervention.
Fel aelod o Bwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig, hoffwn ddechrau drwy ddiolch i bawb a gyfrannodd at yr ymchwiliad pwyllgor byr hwn, a ddaeth ar gais yr Aelodau ac a gynhyrchwyd gan yr hyn a oedd yn digwydd ar y pryd. Roedd yn amserol ac yn gyfredol. Mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n credu fy mod yn cofio bod digwyddiadau'n esblygu mewn amser real ar fore'r sesiwn dystiolaeth.
Yn ogystal â chyfrannu fel aelod o'r pwyllgor, rwyf hefyd yn cyfrannu fel Aelod o'r Senedd o ogledd Cymru sy'n ymwybodol iawn o arwyddocâd porthladd Caergybi i economi a chymunedau gogledd Cymru a thu hwnt. Yn wir, fe wyddom mai Caergybi yw porthladd fferïau prysuraf Cymru a'r porthladd gyrru i mewn ac allan prysuraf ond un yn y DU ar ôl Dover, a'i fod yn cefnogi dros 700 o swyddi yn uniongyrchol ar Ynys Môn a miloedd yn rhagor ar draws gogledd Cymru.
Rwy'n mynd i ganolbwyntio heddiw ar un neu ddwy agwedd benodol ar yr adroddiad a'r dystiolaeth a roddwyd i'r pwyllgor, yn enwedig mewn perthynas ag argymhelliad 6, yn ogystal â lles a ffyniant y gweithlu a'r potensial i symud ymlaen mewn partneriaeth ystyrlon.
Cyn imi wneud hynny, hoffwn wneud sylw ehangach y cyffyrddodd y Cadeirydd ag ef yn ei sylwadau agoriadol, sef yr eglurder ynghylch cyfrifoldeb ac atebolrwydd gweinidogol, gan nad oedd hynny'n glir o gwbl, hyd yn oed yn sesiwn dystiolaeth y pwyllgor. Rwy'n cydnabod eich bod wedi gwrthod argymhelliad 1, ond rwy'n nodi hefyd fod y newidiadau gweinidogol hynny bellach wedi'u gwneud—. Fe dderbyniaf ymyriad.
I'm grateful to you for taking the intervention. You're absolutely right. Wasn't it evident when the Chair opened the questioning and both Ministers looked to answer at the same time on the point of who was responsible, visually showing that there was this unclarity, this unfamiliarity as to who took the control in this situation?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Rydych chi'n llygad eich lle. Onid oedd yn amlwg pan agorodd y Cadeirydd y cwestiynau a phan geisiodd y ddau Weinidog ateb ar yr un pryd ar y pwynt ynglŷn â phwy oedd yn gyfrifol, gan ddangos yn weledol yr aneglurder, y dryswch ynghylch pwy oedd yn rheoli yn y sefyllfa hon?
Thanks. I don't think it helped that, basically, we weren't all in the same room for that committee inquiry, and two people were on different screens as well. But I very much welcome that update that's now there in the updated ministerial responsibilities, as of last month.
Turning, more substantially, to recommendation 6 and the work of the Irish sea taskforce and the committee's view that its objective should be inclusive of ensuring the future safety of the port alongside supporting the long-term viability, I believe this is fundamental both to the future of the service and infrastructure, but also to the individuals that are central to enabling this crucial service. In respect of those individuals, the taskforce's terms of reference includes things like adequate provisions for staff and workforce welfare, considerations of port workers, drivers and supply-chain workforce welfare.
After pressing the need to involve representatives of the workforce in the taskforce, I'm pleased to see the RMT are on there. They represent both workers and seafarers, as the Cabinet Secretary will be familiar with. I'd ask the Welsh Government to build on their work with the trade unions, and the committee too, in the longer term, including on the introduction of the measures of the UK Government's Employment Rights Bill for workers in Wales.
In response to conclusion 3 of the committee's report, the Welsh Government acknowledges gaps in knowledge regarding employment and supply-side issues at Holyhead. Whilst the RMT is the recognised trade union at Stena Line in Holyhead, Irish Ferries currently operate P&O-style seafarer contracts. In the inquiry session, I raised potential concerns around the impact of some of the working practices, specifically as Irish Ferries uses a low-cost employment model with no permanent employees and instead awards temporary contracts. This is not just me as a proud trade unionist, and I've raised this with colleagues in the committee too, this is about the health and well-being of that workforce and the implications it might have more broadly.
I do believe that that piece of legislation, the Employment Rights Bill, could offer an opportunity to plug the gap, as outlined in that response to conclusion 3, but also secure sector sustainability with training, more secure jobs, and support for Welsh seafarers on Irish ships' services from Holyhead, and ports right across Wales. So, can I ask the Cabinet Secretary: is this something that the Welsh Government agrees with and will pursue in proper partnership?
As Sam Kurtz said, whilst it had been reported that the Holyhead port closure was due to storm weather, the committee heard in our evidence that, on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December, two Irish Ferries vessels were involved in incidents at berth 3 of the port ahead of the conditions worsening as part of storm Darragh, and the Chair said too Irish Ferries did not provide evidence to the committee, nor did they actually respond to any correspondence from the Chair. This is, if I put it diplomatically, a matter of regret. I think, for me, that reluctance to engage raises concerns around accountability, particularly as we're trying to look at lessons learned, and also I think we should recognise that the Welsh Government's provided significant amounts of public funding, to the tune of £40 million, towards the refurbishment of the breakwater of Holyhead. Stena Line Ports may own the port, but Irish Ferries will also benefit from this important public investment.
As a committee, we also questioned who determined the regulatory activity of the port, and recognise that's a reserved responsibility. I believe Welsh Ministers have a duty to use the powers at their devolved disposal to bring about broader benefits and drive outcomes that are in the interests of people and places in Wales. So, again, can I ask, Cabinet Secretary: how does Welsh Government intend to use the power of the public purse and procurement to do just that as part of its ports strategy?
I will reach a conclusion now, Llywydd, I'm conscious I took a small intervention, but I will—
Diolch. Ni chredaf fod y ffaith nad oedd pob un ohonom yn yr un ystafell ar gyfer ymchwiliad y pwyllgor wedi helpu, yn y bôn, ac roedd dau unigolyn ar sgriniau gwahanol hefyd. Ond rwy'n croesawu'r diweddariad sydd yno nawr yn y cyfrifoldebau gweinidogol wedi'u diweddaru, ers y mis diwethaf.
Os caf droi, i raddau mwy, at argymhelliad 6 a gwaith tasglu Môr Iwerddon a barn y pwyllgor y dylai ei amcan gynnwys sicrhau diogelwch y porthladd yn y dyfodol ochr yn ochr â chefnogi'r hyfywedd hirdymor, rwy'n credu bod hyn yn hanfodol i ddyfodol y gwasanaeth a'r seilwaith, ond hefyd i'r unigolion sy'n hollbwysig i wneud y gwasanaeth hanfodol hwn yn bosibl. O ran yr unigolion hynny, mae cylch gorchwyl y tasglu'n cynnwys pethau fel darpariaethau digonol ar gyfer lles staff a'r gweithlu, ystyried gweithwyr y porthladdoedd, gyrwyr a lles gweithlu'r gadwyn gyflenwi.
Ar ôl pwysleisio'r angen i gynnwys cynrychiolwyr y gweithlu yn y tasglu, rwy'n falch o weld bod undeb cenedlaethol y gweithwyr rheilffordd, morwrol a thrafnidiaeth (RMT) yno. Maent yn cynrychioli gweithwyr a morwyr, fel y gŵyr Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Carwn ofyn i Lywodraeth Cymru adeiladu ar eu gwaith gyda'r undebau llafur, a'r pwyllgor hefyd, yn y tymor hwy, gan gynnwys cyflwyno mesurau Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer gweithwyr yng Nghymru.
Mewn ymateb i gasgliad 3 yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cydnabod bylchau gwybodaeth mewn perthynas â materion cyflogaeth a'r cyflenwyr yng Nghaergybi. Er mai'r RMT yw'r undeb llafur cydnabyddedig yn Stena Line yng Nghaergybi, mae Irish Ferries ar hyn o bryd yn gweithredu contractau mordwyo tebyg i P&O. Yn y sesiwn ymholi, codais bryderon posibl ynghylch effaith rhai o'r arferion gwaith, yn benodol am fod Irish Ferries yn defnyddio model cyflogaeth cost isel heb unrhyw weithwyr parhaol, ac yn lle hynny, yn cynnig contractau dros dro. Nid am fy mod yn undebwr llafur balch yn unig rwy'n dweud hyn, ac rwyf wedi codi hyn gyda chyd-Aelodau o'r pwyllgor hefyd, mae hyn yn ymwneud ag iechyd a lles y gweithlu hwnnw a'r goblygiadau ehangach posibl.
Rwy'n credu y gallai'r ddeddfwriaeth, y Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth, gynnig cyfle i lenwi'r bwlch, fel yr amlinellwyd yn yr ymateb i gasgliad 3, yn ogystal â sicrhau cynaliadwyedd y sector gyda hyfforddiant, swyddi mwy diogel, a chymorth i forwyr Cymru ar wasanaethau llongau Iwerddon o Gaergybi, a phorthladdoedd ledled Cymru. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet: a yw hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cytuno ag ef ac y bydd yn mynd ar ei drywydd mewn partneriaeth briodol?
Fel y dywedodd Sam Kurtz, er yr adroddwyd fod porthladd Caergybi wedi cau oherwydd tywydd stormus, clywodd y pwyllgor yn ein tystiolaeth fod dwy long Irish Ferries wedi bod yn rhan o ddigwyddiadau ddydd Gwener 6 a dydd Sadwrn 7 Rhagfyr yn nocfa 3 y porthladd cyn i'r tywydd waethygu yn sgil storm Darragh, a dywedodd y Cadeirydd hefyd nad oedd Irish Ferries wedi darparu tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor, ac nad oeddent wedi ymateb i unrhyw ohebiaeth gan y Cadeirydd. Mae hyn, a bod yn ddiplomyddol, yn destun gofid. I mi, mae'r amharodrwydd i ymgysylltu'n codi pryderon ynghylch atebolrwydd, yn enwedig gan ein bod yn ceisio edrych ar y gwersi a ddysgwyd, ac rwy'n credu y dylem gydnabod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu cyllid cyhoeddus sylweddol, hyd at £40 miliwn, tuag at adnewyddu morglawdd Caergybi. Efallai mai Stena Line Ports sy'n berchen ar y porthladd, ond bydd Irish Ferries hefyd yn elwa o'r buddsoddiad cyhoeddus pwysig hwn.
Fel pwyllgor, fe wnaethom hefyd gwestiynu pwy sy'n pennu gweithgarwch rheoleiddio'r porthladd, ac rydym yn cydnabod bod hwnnw'n gyfrifoldeb a gedwir yn ôl. Credaf fod gan Weinidogion Cymru ddyletswydd i ddefnyddio'r pwerau sydd wedi'u datganoli i sicrhau manteision ehangach a hybu canlyniadau sydd er budd pobl a lleoedd yng Nghymru. Felly, unwaith eto, a gaf i ofyn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet: sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu defnyddio pŵer y pwrs cyhoeddus a chaffael i wneud hynny yn rhan o'i strategaeth porthladdoedd?
Rwy'n dirwyn i ben nawr, Lywydd, rwy'n ymwybodol fy mod wedi derbyn ymyriad byr, ond fe fyddaf—
I accept that small intervention, as you know, but you have now reached beyond that time.
Rwy'n derbyn yr ymyriad byr hwnnw, fel y gwyddoch, ond rydych chi bellach y tu hwnt i'r amser hwnnw.
Okay, just finally then, there is work on a seafarers' charter to enhance the terms and conditions of those seafarers and help with welfare needs. So, can I ask the Cabinet Secretary, along with colleagues in Government, to press the UK Government on that and to ensure there's sustainability and support for this important workforce that supports our infrastructure moving forward? Diolch.
Iawn, i gloi, felly, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo ar siarter morwyr i wella telerau ac amodau'r morwyr hynny ac i helpu gydag anghenion lles. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ynghyd â chyd-Aelodau yn y Llywodraeth, bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU ar hynny ac i sicrhau y ceir cynaliadwyedd a chymorth i'r gweithlu pwysig hwn sy'n cefnogi ein seilwaith wrth symud ymlaen? Diolch.
Thank you to Andrew R.T. Davies for introducing this report in the manner that he did, and there have been some really good contributions since. I thank the committee for the work on this matter of national importance. The Welsh Government response, I believe, isn't good enough. It's astounding that they rejected recommendations 1 and 2. You believe that the incident was well managed, despite contact with key trade bodies representing road freight not taking place for almost a month. You believe there was strong leadership by the two Cabinet Secretaries involved, yet the BPA, Stena Line Ports and Milford Haven port did not know who was ultimately responsible.
According to the timeline of Welsh Government actions, on 12 December, the port of Holyhead closure was no longer considered a civil contingencies matter, so was moved to being under the remit of the transport divisions. So, one question: a berth wasn't reopened until 15 January, businesses across north Wales, including my own here, and, of course, in Ynys Môn, were suffering trade slumps of up to 90 per cent on some days, so why was this crisis downgraded by the Welsh Government a month earlier, on 12 December? Why was it that the Road Haulage Association members were contacted and updated by Transport Scotland every day in the run-up to Christmas, but only on Christmas Eve by the Welsh civil service? There was Scottish leadership here, rather than Welsh, and those questions are fundamental and need answering. Diolch.
Diolch i Andrew R.T. Davies am gyflwyno'r adroddiad hwn yn y modd y gwnaeth, a chafwyd cyfraniadau da iawn ers hynny. Diolch i'r pwyllgor am ei waith ar fater o bwysigrwydd cenedlaethol. Yn fy marn i, nid yw ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru'n ddigon da. Mae'n syfrdanol eu bod wedi gwrthod argymhellion 1 a 2. Rydych chi'n credu bod y digwyddiad wedi'i reoli'n dda, er na fu cysylltiad â chyrff masnach allweddol sy'n cynrychioli'r diwydiant cludo nwyddau ar y ffyrdd am bron i fis. Rydych chi'n credu bod y ddau Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dan sylw wedi dangos arweinyddiaeth gref, ond nid oedd Cymdeithas Porthladdoedd Prydain, Stena Line Ports na phorthladd Aberdaugleddau yn gwybod pwy oedd â'r cyfrifoldeb eithaf.
Yn ôl yr amserlen o gamau gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru, ar 12 Rhagfyr, nid oedd cau porthladd Caergybi yn cael ei ystyried yn fater argyfwng sifil mwyach, felly cafodd ei symud i fod yn rhan o gylch gwaith yr adrannau trafnidiaeth. Felly, un cwestiwn: nid ailagorwyd docfa tan 15 Ionawr, dioddefodd busnesau ar draws y gogledd, gan gynnwys fy un i yma, ac wrth gwrs, yn Ynys Môn, gwelwyd cwymp masnach o hyd at 90 y cant ar rai dyddiau, felly pam y gwnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru israddio'r argyfwng fis ynghynt, ar 12 Rhagfyr? Pam y cysylltodd Transport Scotland ag aelodau'r Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd a rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf iddynt bob dydd yn y cyfnod cyn y Nadolig, ond na wnaeth gwasanaeth sifil Cymru hynny tan Noswyl Nadolig? Cafwyd arweinyddiaeth gan yr Alban yma, yn hytrach na chan Gymru, ac mae'r cwestiynau hynny'n sylfaenol ac mae angen eu hateb. Diolch.
A galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru, Ken Skates.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I welcome this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the initial findings of the Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee's inquiry into the storm damage at Holyhead port. As Members will recall, the closure of the port required a cross-Government effort. I'm here today responding on behalf of all Ministers who worked collectively to respond to the impact of the port's closure, and I'd like to thank the committee for their work. As has been noted, we have submitted our response to the committee's report, and I do firmly believe that the committee delivered its work at pace. Had it had more time, it may have considered a wider range of viewpoints from all stakeholders, and its findings may have reflected the views we are hearing during taskforce meetings.
Now, the closure of Holyhead port made clear its importance as a strategic asset that we need to look after, as many Members have identified today. It's a key transport hub and a route for people, a route for freight and logistics sector operators, for all supply chains transferring essential goods in both directions across the Irish sea. Having worked closely with the Irish Minister of State for transport during the closure, I visited Dublin back in March to meet with the Irish Government and Irish exporters and hauliers. Both Governments were and remain committed to working together on our strategic access points to the Irish sea.
As Senedd Members will recall, I reiterate that ports in Wales handling Irish sea traffic are commercial entities, either privately owned and operated, or they operate on a trust basis. The actions that we took throughout the closure allowed for continuity as we worked together to find collective solutions. We got vessels diverted into different Welsh ports, we worked alongside the UK Government departments to open additional routes, we ensured that no roadworks were taking place around the key Welsh roads leading up to the ports, and we ensured that there was plenty of train capacity into our port towns.
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, the Irish Government and I worked closely to ensure that people and goods were able to cross the Irish sea ahead of the Christmas holidays. We recognise that the port is privately owned and privately operated and that the two private ferry companies that were operating from the port had to be the single point of truth when it came to communicating ferry schedules and service patterns.
Now, we have responded directly to recommendation 3 with 23 points. I believe, in combination, that they demonstrate very clearly how Welsh Government’s response to the incident and port closure unfolded. The formation of the Irish sea taskforce was a direct action that I took following the closure of the port. We’ve just concluded the third of six meetings and the number of members, who represent a plethora of stakeholders with a vested interest in Welsh ports and in travel across the Irish sea, have demonstrated their continued commitment, and I’d like to put on record my thanks for their time in sharing their expertise to date—
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle hwn i gyfrannu at y ddadl ar ganfyddiadau cychwynnol ymchwiliad Pwyllgor yr Economi, Masnach a Materion Gwledig i'r difrod storm ym mhorthladd Caergybi. Fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n cofio, bu angen ymdrech drawslywodraethol er mwyn cau'r porthladd. Rwyf yma heddiw yn ymateb ar ran yr holl Weinidogion a weithiodd gyda'i gilydd i ymateb i effaith cau'r porthladd, a hoffwn ddiolch i'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith. Fel y nodwyd, rydym wedi cyflwyno ein hymateb i adroddiad y pwyllgor, ac rwy'n credu'n gryf fod y pwyllgor wedi cyflawni ei waith yn gyflym. Pe bai wedi cael mwy o amser, efallai y byddai wedi ystyried ystod ehangach o safbwyntiau gan bob rhanddeiliad, ac efallai y byddai ei ganfyddiadau wedi adlewyrchu'r safbwyntiau rydym ni'n eu clywed yng nghyfarfodydd y tasglu.
Nawr, mae cau porthladd Caergybi wedi dangos yn glir ei bwysigrwydd fel ased strategol y mae angen inni ofalu amdano, fel y mae llawer o Aelodau wedi'i nodi heddiw. Mae'n ganolfan drafnidiaeth allweddol ac yn llwybr i bobl, yn llwybr i weithredwyr y sector cludo nwyddau a logisteg, i bob cadwyn gyflenwi sy'n trosglwyddo nwyddau hanfodol i'r ddau gyfeiriad dros Fôr Iwerddon. Ar ôl gweithio'n agos gyda Gweinidog Gwladol Iwerddon dros drafnidiaeth pan oedd y porthladd ar gau, ymwelais â Dulyn yn ôl ym mis Mawrth i gyfarfod â Llywodraeth Iwerddon ac allforwyr a chludwyr nwyddau o Iwerddon. Roedd y ddwy Lywodraeth yn ymrwymedig i gydweithio ar ein pwyntiau mynediad strategol i Fôr Iwerddon, ac maent yn parhau i fod felly.
Fel y bydd Aelodau'r Senedd yn cofio, rwy'n ailadrodd bod porthladdoedd yng Nghymru sy'n ymdrin â thraffig Môr Iwerddon yn endidau masnachol, naill ai'n eiddo preifat ac yn cael eu gweithredu'n breifat, neu maent yn gweithredu ar sail ymddiriedolaeth. Roedd y camau a gymerwyd gennym drwy gydol y cyfnod pan oedd y porthladd ar gau yn caniatáu parhad wrth inni weithio gyda'n gilydd i ddod o hyd i atebion ar y cyd. Fe wnaethom sicrhau bod llongau'n cael eu dargyfeirio i borthladdoedd eraill yng Nghymru, fe wnaethom weithio ochr yn ochr ag adrannau Llywodraeth y DU i agor llwybrau ychwanegol, fe wnaethom sicrhau nad oedd unrhyw waith ffordd yn digwydd ar y ffyrdd allweddol yng Nghymru sy'n arwain at y porthladdoedd, ac fe wnaethom sicrhau bod digon o gapasiti rheilffyrdd i mewn i'n trefi porthladd.
Bu Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Ynni a Chynllunio, Llywodraeth Iwerddon a minnau’n gweithio’n agos i sicrhau bod pobl a nwyddau’n gallu croesi Môr Iwerddon cyn gwyliau’r Nadolig. Rydym yn cydnabod bod y porthladd yn eiddo preifat ac yn cael ei weithredu’n breifat a bod yn rhaid i’r ddau gwmni fferi preifat a oedd yn gweithredu o’r porthladd fod yn un pwynt gwybodaeth ar gyfer cyfleu amserlenni fferi a phatrymau gwasanaeth.
Nawr, rydym wedi ymateb yn uniongyrchol i argymhelliad 3 gyda 23 pwynt. Gyda'i gilydd, rwy'n credu eu bod yn dangos yn glir iawn sut y datblygodd ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r digwyddiad a chau'r porthladd. Roedd ffurfio tasglu Môr Iwerddon yn gam uniongyrchol a gymerais yn dilyn cau'r porthladd. Rydym newydd orffen y trydydd o chwe chyfarfod ac mae nifer yr aelodau, sy'n cynrychioli llu o randdeiliaid sydd â buddiant ym mhorthladdoedd Cymru ac mewn teithio ar draws Môr Iwerddon, wedi dangos eu hymrwymiad parhaus, a hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch iddynt am eu hamser yn rhannu eu harbenigedd hyd yma—
Will the Minister give way?
A wnaiff y Gweinidog ildio?
Yes, of course.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
Thank you. You mentioned there the stakeholders that are involved. Given the evidence, or the lack of evidence, from Irish Ferries—a point raised by Hannah Blythyn—are Irish Ferries an active contributor to the Irish sea taskforce, given that they’re a constituent business of mine, sailing from Pembroke Dock as well?
Diolch. Fe sonioch chi am y rhanddeiliaid sy'n gysylltiedig â hyn. O ystyried y dystiolaeth, neu'r diffyg tystiolaeth, gan Irish Ferries—pwynt a godwyd gan Hannah Blythyn—a yw Irish Ferries yn gyfranwyr gweithredol yn nhasglu Môr Iwerddon, o ystyried eu bod yn fusnes yn fy etholaeth, yn hwylio o Ddoc Penfro hefyd?
Yes, indeed, they are. I can confirm that. They’re a very active participant in the work of the taskforce.
As a taskforce and as a Government, we realise that there are always lessons to be learned and things we could do to improve situations in the future. With the benefit of hindsight and shared learning, we’re in the process of identifying elements that we could do differently should we ever find ourselves in a similar port closure scenario again. The taskforce discussions that we have held to date have enabled us to recognise the people and organisations that we would need to convene in such a scenario. Within the taskforce meetings, stakeholders have shared their own lessons learned, future challenges and opportunities they may face. We've collectively discussed how collaboration between industry and Governments could lead to further improvements in any similar future incident. However, stakeholders have also emphasised that they do not want Governments telling them what to do, and we agree. We believe in subsidiarity, that decisions should be made by the most appropriate bodies, and that we, as a Welsh Government, have a convening role in bringing stakeholders together and demonstrating and helping to find solutions to problems, as we did in December, and have continued to do so since the closure.
In response to the point raised by Samuel Kurtz regarding the attendance of Rhun ap Iorwerth at the last taskforce meeting, I would again confirm that the last meeting was specific to how the closure impacted on the people and the businesses of Holyhead, and I'm pleased to say that I understand that Members from south-west Wales have been invited to the next taskforce meeting, which is a broader meeting about ports elsewhere in Wales. That meeting is on 7 July; if you haven't received details yet, I will send them again, but you have been invited, I believe.
Stena Line Ports have committed to Holyhead port's long-term future as a vital connection between Wales and Ireland, and are putting in place an investment strategy. This will ensure the resilience of the infrastructure and will safeguard the port's future. Stena Line Ports will work collaboratively with the ferry operators to ensure that future planned maintenance work on both berths can be carried out to protect the resilience of the structures, whilst also maintaining full operations and capacity at the port.
The taskforce will produce a set of recommendations setting out actions that need to be taken forward by members of the taskforce, and I'll make a written statement to the Senedd once the taskforce has concluded its work at the end of October, setting out those recommendations. We will then consider the recommendations in more depth as we work to publish a strategy for ports, freight and logistics before next May. Diolch.
Maent yn gyfranwyr gweithredol, gallaf gadarnhau hynny. Maent yn gyfranwyr gweithredol iawn yng ngwaith y tasglu.
Fel tasglu ac fel Llywodraeth, rydym yn sylweddoli bod gwersi i'w dysgu bob amser a phethau y gallem eu gwneud i wella sefyllfaoedd yn y dyfodol. Wrth edrych yn ôl a chyda rhywfaint o ddysgu ar y cyd, rydym yn y broses o nodi elfennau y gallem eu gwneud yn wahanol pe baem byth mewn senario debyg eto gyda phorthladd yn cau. Mae'r trafodaethau a gawsom hyd yma gyda'r tasglu wedi ein galluogi i gydnabod y bobl a'r sefydliadau y byddai angen i ni eu cynnull mewn senario o'r fath. Yng nghyfarfodydd y tasglu, mae rhanddeiliaid wedi rhannu'r gwersi a ddysgwyd ganddynt, heriau yn y dyfodol a chyfleoedd y gallent eu hwynebu. Rydym wedi trafod ar y cyd sut y gallai cydweithio rhwng y diwydiant a Llywodraethau arwain at welliannau pellach mewn unrhyw ddigwyddiad tebyg yn y dyfodol. Fodd bynnag, mae rhanddeiliaid hefyd wedi pwysleisio nad ydynt am i Lywodraethau ddweud wrthynt beth i'w wneud, ac rydym yn cytuno. Rydym yn credu mewn sybsidiaredd, y dylai penderfyniadau gael eu gwneud gan y cyrff mwyaf priodol, a bod gennym ni, fel Llywodraeth Cymru, rôl yn cynnull rhanddeiliaid a dangos a helpu i ddod o hyd i atebion i broblemau, fel y gwnaethom ym mis Rhagfyr, ac fel rydym wedi parhau i'w wneud ers i'r porthladd gau.
Mewn ymateb i'r pwynt a godwyd gan Samuel Kurtz ynghylch presenoldeb Rhun ap Iorwerth yng nghyfarfod diwethaf y tasglu, rwy'n cadarnhau eto fod y cyfarfod diwethaf yn ymwneud yn benodol â sut yr effeithiodd cau'r porthladd ar bobl a busnesau Caergybi, ac rwy'n falch o ddweud fy mod yn deall bod Aelodau o dde-orllewin Cymru wedi cael eu gwahodd i gyfarfod nesaf y tasglu, sef cyfarfod ehangach am borthladdoedd mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru. Mae'r cyfarfod hwnnw ar 7 Gorffennaf; os nad ydych chi wedi cael manylion eto, fe'u hanfonaf eto, ond rwy'n credu eich bod wedi cael gwahoddiad.
Mae Stena Line Ports wedi ymrwymo i ddyfodol hirdymor porthladd Caergybi fel cysylltiad hanfodol rhwng Cymru ac Iwerddon, ac maent yn rhoi strategaeth fuddsoddi ar waith. Bydd hyn yn sicrhau gwydnwch y seilwaith ac yn diogelu dyfodol y porthladd. Bydd Stena Line Ports yn cydweithio â gweithredwyr y fferïau i sicrhau y gellir gwneud y gwaith cynnal a chadw a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer y dyfodol ar y ddwy ddocfa i ddiogelu gwydnwch y strwythurau, gan gynnal gweithgarwch a chapasiti llawn yn y porthladd hefyd.
Bydd y tasglu'n cynhyrchu set o argymhellion i nodi'r camau gweithredu y mae angen i aelodau'r tasglu fwrw ymlaen â hwy, a byddaf yn gwneud datganiad ysgrifenedig i'r Senedd pan fydd y tasglu wedi cwblhau ei waith ddiwedd mis Hydref, yn nodi'r argymhellion hynny. Yna, byddwn yn ystyried yr argymhellion mewn mwy o fanylder wrth inni weithio i gyhoeddi strategaeth ar gyfer porthladdoedd, cludo nwyddau a logisteg cyn mis Mai nesaf. Diolch.
Rwy'n galw yn awr ar Gadeirydd y pwyllgor i ymateb i'r ddadl—Andrew R.T. Davies.
I call now on Andrew R.T. Davies, Chair of the committee, to reply to the debate.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you to all Members who contributed, and the Cabinet Secretary for his response. Sam Kurtz highlighted a very important part about what we were investigating, which was under the assumption that the newsreels were telling us about storm Darragh; it wasn't actually in the time of storm Darragh hitting Holyhead that the incident took place, it was prior to storm Darragh, and so there were other issues, obviously, to be considered about seamanship et cetera, and that was a very important consideration to reflect on, and he also introduced the other key ports of Pembroke Dock and obviously Fishguard to be considered in the overall strategy that the Welsh Government is adopting.
Rhun obviously brought in the points, as a constituency Member, about the chaos that ensued on the island. As we heard from the Irish Road Haulage Association, 1,000 trucks and 1,000 vehicles on the island of Anglesey at one given moment. For any place to cope with that, that's a huge ask, but when such limited infrastructure is in place, that's even a bigger ask, that is. The point that you made as well about the bridges onto the island of Anglesey and the general engineering that serves the port, I think, are things that any future Welsh Government needs to consider, especially when we hear about it being the second largest port in the UK. This isn't some backwater we're talking about. We're talking about the second largest port in the UK, which was announced several times in news media reports, and I think that informed people of the scale of the operation that was going on there.
Hannah Blythyn introduced the point about seamanship, and obviously the concerns that we had about temporary crews and obviously the ability for ships to be able to be managed and engineered in a safe way, and this is something I'm sure the committee will want to keep a watching brief on. I did note that the Cabinet Secretary didn't respond to that request from Hannah Blythyn about what more consideration the Welsh Government might be giving to what it might be able to do to look into this matter, and maybe he could write to our committee to inform us of what his ministry is doing on this particular point.
Janet Finch-Saunders touched on the impact on businesses, which is a key consideration. Some businesses reported a 90 per cent drop in their turnover. And I heard what the Minister said that there is still consideration ongoing about potential support for businesses, but we're now into July, some eight months on from their busiest period, and businesses are looking for some sort of certainty, some sort of clarity on this particular issue. So, the sooner the Minister can come forward with proposals on that, I'm sure that would be greatly received.
And then the Minister replied, and he didn't address the facts about communications that the Road Haulage Association highlighted to us, that they weren't contacted by Welsh Government until Christmas Eve, whereas the Scottish Government contacted them some four days later. He didn't highlight how the Scottish Government were able to respond in what the Road Haulage Association saw as an exemplary response, and the Welsh Government were slow to communicate with trade bodies. And, obviously, there is this confusion around responsibilities, which again I didn't think he addressed in his response to myself as Chair or other members of the committee, although I do understand that the First Minister has obviously rearranged the responsibilities within the Government with her announcements some two weeks ago.
And, as I say, I reiterate the point about support for businesses. It is vital that that support is made available, so that businesses can have confidence that they can seek some sort of redress for the losses that they experienced. But the report stands testimony to the evidence we took. It's not something we took in isolation or in a darkened room, as I said in my opening remarks: these are witness statements given, and they're all there for people to see. I very much hope that the Cabinet Secretary, along with his colleagues in the Welsh Government, will now listen and adopt the approach accordingly, and we look forward to the taskforce recommendations coming forward in October, so that we can build on that positivity and build a more sustainable and resilient port infrastructure here in Wales. I commend the report to the Senedd.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a diolch i'r holl Aelodau a gyfrannodd, ac i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ymateb. Tynnodd Sam Kurtz sylw at ran bwysig iawn o'r hyn roeddem yn ymchwilio iddo, sef y rhagdybiaeth fod y newyddion yn dweud wrthym am storm Darragh; ni ddigwyddodd y digwyddiad pan oedd storm Darragh yn taro Caergybi mewn gwirionedd, fe ddigwyddodd cyn storm Darragh, ac yn amlwg felly, roedd materion eraill i'w hystyried ynghylch morwriaeth ac ati, ac roedd hynny'n ystyriaeth bwysig iawn i fyfyrio arni, a chyflwynodd y porthladdoedd allweddol eraill, Doc Penfro, ac Abergwaun yn amlwg, i'w hystyried yn y strategaeth gyffredinol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei mabwysiadu.
Yn amlwg, cyflwynodd Rhun y pwyntiau, fel Aelod etholaeth, am yr anhrefn ar yr ynys. Fel y clywsom gan Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd Iwerddon, mae 1,000 o lorïau a 1,000 o gerbydau ar ynys Ynys Môn ar unrhyw adeg benodol. Mae'n dasg enfawr i unrhyw le allu ymdopi â hynny, ond pan fo seilwaith mor gyfyngedig ar waith, mae honno'n dasg hyd yn oed yn fwy. Rwy'n credu bod y pwynt a wnaethoch hefyd am y pontydd i ynys Ynys Môn a'r beirianneg gyffredinol sy'n gwasanaethu'r porthladd yn bethau y mae angen i unrhyw Lywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol eu hystyried, yn enwedig pan glywn mai dyma'r porthladd mwyaf ond un yn y DU. Nid ydym yn sôn am ryw fath o gilddwr. Rydym yn sôn am y porthladd mwyaf ond un yn y DU, ffaith a grybwyllwyd sawl gwaith mewn adroddiadau ar y newyddion, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny wedi dangos i bobl beth oedd maint yr hyn a oedd yn digwydd yno.
Cyflwynodd Hannah Blythyn y pwynt ynghylch morwriaeth, ac yn amlwg, y pryderon a oedd gennym am griwiau dros dro, a'r gallu i longau gael eu rheoli a'u peiriannu mewn ffordd ddiogel, ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y bydd y pwyllgor yn awyddus i gadw llygad arno, rwy'n siŵr. Nodais nad ymatebodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i'r cais gan Hannah Blythyn ynghylch pa ystyriaeth bellach y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei rhoi i'r hyn y gallai ei wneud i edrych ar y mater, ac efallai y gallai ysgrifennu at ein pwyllgor i roi gwybod i ni beth y mae ei adran yn ei wneud ar y pwynt penodol hwn.
Cyfeiriodd Janet Finch-Saunders at yr effaith ar fusnesau, sy'n ystyriaeth allweddol. Adroddodd rhai busnesau ostyngiad o 90 y cant yn eu trosiant. A chlywais yr hyn a ddywedodd y Gweinidog fod ystyriaeth barhaus yn cael ei rhoi i gymorth posibl i fusnesau, ond mae hi bellach yn fis Gorffennaf, tua wyth mis ar ôl eu cyfnod prysuraf, ac mae busnesau'n chwilio am ryw fath o sicrwydd, rhyw fath o eglurder ar y mater penodol hwn. Felly, gorau po gyntaf y gall y Gweinidog gyflwyno cynigion ar hynny, rwy'n siŵr y byddai hynny'n cael croeso mawr.
Ac yna ymatebodd y Gweinidog, ac ni soniodd am y ffeithiau y tynnodd y Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd ein sylw atynt ynglŷn â'r cyfathrebu, nad oedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cysylltu â hwy tan Noswyl Nadolig, tra bo Llywodraeth yr Alban wedi cysylltu â hwy tua phedwar diwrnod ar ôl y digwyddiad. Ni thynnodd sylw at sut y llwyddodd Llywodraeth yr Alban i ymateb gyda'r hyn a oedd yn ymateb rhagorol yn ôl y Gymdeithas Cludo ar y Ffyrdd, ac roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn araf i gyfathrebu â chyrff masnach. Ac yn amlwg, mae dryswch ynghylch cyfrifoldebau, rhywbeth unwaith eto nad aeth i'r afael ag ef yn fy marn i yn ei ymateb i mi fel Cadeirydd nac i aelodau eraill y pwyllgor, er fy mod yn deall bod y Prif Weinidog yn amlwg wedi aildrefnu cyfrifoldebau o fewn y Llywodraeth gyda'i chyhoeddiadau oddeutu pythefnos yn ôl.
Ac fel y dywedais, rwy'n ailadrodd y pwynt ynglŷn â chymorth i fusnesau. Mae'n hanfodol fod y cymorth hwnnw ar gael, fel y gall busnesau fod yn hyderus y gallant geisio rhyw fath o iawndal am golledion. Ond mae'r adroddiad yn dyst i'r dystiolaeth a gasglwyd gennym. Nid yw'n rhywbeth a gasglwyd gennym ar ein pen ein hunain neu mewn ystafell dywyll, fel y dywedais yn fy sylwadau agoriadol: maent yn ddatganiadau gan dystion, ac mae pob un ohonynt yno i bobl eu gweld. Rwy'n mawr obeithio y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ynghyd â'i gyd-Aelodau yn Llywodraeth Cymru, yn gwrando ac yn mabwysiadu dull o weithredu yn unol â hynny, ac edrychwn ymlaen at argymhellion y tasglu ym mis Hydref, fel y gallwn adeiladu ar yr ymagwedd gadarnhaol honno ac adeiladu seilwaith porthladdoedd mwy cynaliadwy a gwydn yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n cymeradwyo'r adroddiad i'r Senedd.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi adroddiad y pwyllgor? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? There is no objection, therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Eitem 7 heddiw yw'r ddadl ar gynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod: Bil ar gyfer cyfraith Owain. Galwaf ar Hefin David i wneud y cynnig.
Item 7 today is a debate on a Member's legislative proposal: a Bill for Owain's law. I call on Hefin David to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8940 Hefin David
Cefnogwyd gan Altaf Hussain, Janet Finch-Saunders, Joyce Watson, Natasha Asghar, Rhianon Passmore, Rhys ab Owen
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn nodi cynnig ar gyfer Bil ar Gyfraith Owain, sydd wedi'i enwi ar ôl Owain James o Gaerffili, a fu farw yn 2024 o diwmor ar yr ymennydd.
2. Yn nodi mai pwrpas y Bil hwn fyddai sicrhau:
a) bod yn rhaid cael cydsyniad gan y claf, neu'r perthynas agosaf lle bo'n briodol, i drin a storio meinwe tiwmor, a hynny cyn y llawdriniaeth;
i) dylai'r broses gydsyniad gynnwys esboniad ysgrifenedig clir o sut y bydd meinwe a dorrwyd allan yn cael ei storio ar ôl llawdriniaeth, ac archwiliad patholegol a histolegol; a
ii) dylai'r cydsyniad amlinellu y bydd yr holl feinwe sy'n weddill yn eiddo i'r claf, a dim ond caniatâd gan y claf, neu'r perthynas agosaf lle bo'n briodol, all benderfynu ar ei ddefnydd;
b) y bydd y swm lleiaf posibl o feinwe tiwmor a dorrwyd allan yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer dadansoddiad patholegol a histolegol, gan sicrhau cywirdeb diagnostig;
c) bod yn rhaid i'r meinwe tiwmor a dorrwyd allan sy'n weddill gael ei rhewi'n gyflym neu ei rhewi'n ffres, ar -80 gradd canradd, heb unrhyw gemegau na chadwolion (gan gynnwys halwynog neu baraffin). Dylid storio meinwe mewn sawl cyfnifer (aliquot), lle bo modd, er mwyn gwneud y defnydd mwyaf posibl o feinwe yn y dyfodol at wahanol ddibenion; a
d) pan fydd sefyllfaoedd brys yn codi ac nad yw cydsyniad yn bosibl cyn llawdriniaeth, rhaid dilyn yr un protocol ar gyfer storio meinwe a rhaid cwblhau'r broses o gael cydsyniad o fewn 48 awr.
Motion NDM8940 Hefin David
Supported by Altaf Hussain, Janet Finch-Saunders, Joyce Watson, Natasha Asghar, Rhianon Passmore, Rhys ab Owen
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes a proposal for a Bill on Owain’s Law, named after Owain James of Caerphilly, who passed away from a brain tumour in 2024.
2. Notes that the purpose of this Bill would be to ensure that:
a) consent for the handling and storage of tumour tissue must be obtained from the patient, or next of kin where appropriate, prior to surgery;
i) the consent process shall include a clear written explanation of how excised tissue will be stored following surgery, and pathological and histological examination; and
ii) the consent will outline that all remaining tissue will be owned by the patient and only consent from the patient, or next of kin where appropriate, can determine its use;
b) the minimal amount of excised tumour tissue will be used for pathological and histological analysis, ensuring diagnostic accuracy;
c) the remaining excised tumour tissue must be flash or fresh frozen, at -80 degrees centigrade, without any chemicals or preservatives (including saline or paraffin). Tissue should be stored in multiple aliquots, where possible, to maximise the future use of tissue for various purposes; and
d) where emergency situations arise and consent is not possible prior to surgery, the same protocol for tissue storage must be followed and consent must be completed within 48 hours.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to thank you for the opportunity to debate this Member's legislative proposal today. I'm grateful to those Members from across the different parties represented in this Senedd who have registered their support for this motion. It really does mean a lot. We've just finished an interview with the BBC, who are going to carry this debate on Politics Wales on Sunday.
Members may have seen the motion on the order paper today and wondered why I'd tabled it. They may have wondered what it was about, being unsure of the subject matter, or curious to see what it seeks to achieve. I would like now to give Members a little bit of background, and explain why this motion calls for the establishment of Owain's law.
Owain's law is named after my constituent, Owain James of Caerphilly, who sadly passed away last year. Owain was only 34 years old when he was diagnosed with a 14 cm, malignant, grade 4 brain tumour in his right frontal lobe. His neurosurgeon said it was one of the biggest tumours she'd ever come across in her professional career. It was an absolutely devastating blow to Owain, his wife Ellie, who is in the public gallery today, and his daughter Amelia, who at the time was only 18 months old. Until then, Owain had always been a fit and healthy young man.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf am ddiolch i chi am y cyfle i drafod y cynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod heddiw. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelodau o'r gwahanol bleidiau a gynrychiolir yn y Senedd sydd wedi nodi eu cefnogaeth i'r cynnig. Mae'n golygu llawer. Rydym newydd orffen cyfweliad gyda'r BBC, sy'n mynd i gynnwys y ddadl hon ar Politics Wales ddydd Sul.
Efallai fod yr Aelodau wedi gweld y cynnig ar y papur trefn heddiw ac wedi meddwl tybed pam fy mod wedi ei gyflwyno. Efallai eu bod wedi meddwl tybed beth a olygai, am eu bod yn ansicr ynglŷn â'r pwnc, neu'n chwilfrydig i weld beth y mae'n ceisio ei gyflawni. Rwyf am roi ychydig o gefndir i'r Aelodau nawr, ac esbonio pam y mae'r cynnig yn galw am sefydlu cyfraith Owain.
Mae cyfraith Owain wedi'i henwi ar ôl fy etholwr, Owain James o Gaerffili a fu farw y llynedd. Dim ond 34 oed oedd Owain pan gafodd ddiagnosis o diwmor ar yr ymennydd malaen gradd 4 a oedd yn 14 cm o faint yn y llabed flaen ar yr ochr dde. Dywedodd ei niwrolawfeddyg ei fod yn un o'r tiwmorau mwyaf y daeth ar ei draws erioed yn ei gyrfa broffesiynol. Roedd yn ergyd hollol ddinistriol i Owain, ei wraig Ellie, sydd yn yr oriel gyhoeddus heddiw, a'i ferch Amelia, a oedd ond yn 18 mis oed ar y pryd. Tan hynny, roedd Owain bob amser wedi bod yn ddyn ifanc ffit ac iach.
From the outset, Owain's prognosis was not good. He was told that if he did nothing, he would have just weeks to live. He underwent surgery at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales, and 50 per cent of the tumour, 7 cm in size, was removed. He was told by his oncologist that radiotherapy and chemotherapy were the only options available to him on the NHS—that remains the case—and that this would not reduce the remaining tumour in size. He was advised that his best hope was that the treatment would hold back the tumour for a period of time before it started growing again.
Owain's family could not accept this, and so looked for private treatment outside the NHS. They found a personalised vaccine that used the patient's tumour tissue to educate the immune system to recognise the cancerous cells. The problem here, however, was that Owain needed fresh frozen tumour tissue to develop a sufficient dose of the vaccine. Owen had had 7 cm of tissue surgically removed but, unfortunately, only 1 cm of this was fresh frozen and could be used. The remaining tumour tissue was wrapped in a chemical—some used for histology and the remaining tissue of no use to anyone. Owain's family have since been told by an external pathologist that there was no need to use this amount of tissue for diagnosis, and that more could have been saved.
This meant that Owain only had three doses of a vaccine, when it should have been more like 30 doses. However, he went ahead with his treatment, as this was still his best chance. Owain had a scan six months following his surgery. He completed radiotherapy, three cycles of chemotherapy, three doses of vaccine and a small number of other immune-boosting natural therapies. This produced a clear scan. The remaining 7 cm tumour had completely regressed in size, to the extent that it could not be detected.
His recovery was so remarkable that his case was later the focus of a study published by a peer-reviewed scientific journal, the Journal of Neuroscience. Owain continued to have clear scans for nine whole months, and a very normal quality of life. I remember taking a call from Ellie, telling me that the tumour had completely disappeared, and how happy she and the family were, and how delighted I and my team were that this had happened.
Unfortunately, metastasis caused his tumour to recur elsewhere. This time, the tumour was too aggressive and Owain sadly passed away in June 2024. Ellie, 35 years of age, now lives with the regret that they were only able to develop and obtain enough doses for those three vaccines. Had there been more, we feel that Owain would still be alive today.
So, that is the very sad background to why we're here today, debating my proposal for Owain's law. The use of fresh frozen tissue is not just for the vaccine with which Owain was treated. It can be used for other vaccines, therapies, research and full genome sequencing. It's regarded as the gold standard approach to preserving human tissue—a view that is shared by many of those familiar with the field, such as medical professionals, pathologists and respected charities, like the Brain Tumour Charity and Brain Tumour Research.
This kind of use, though, can only be done when the tumour is fresh frozen, which, as we've already heard, it wasn't in Owain's case. Owain's law seeks to address this. It seeks to make this the default process for storing surgically removed tissue in Wales—fresh freezing—along with improving histological and pathological processes, so that less tissue is required, and all with the patient's explicit consent.
In February 2023, the all-party parliamentary group on brain tumours published a report on breaking down the barriers to finding a cure for brain tumours. They said that we must ensure that robust tissue collection storage infrastructure is in place across the United Kingdom. In addition, the British Neuro-oncology Society published a position statement entitled 'Guideline for Tissue Sampling of Brain Tumours'. It was signed by eight respected medics with extensive clinical expertise, and it recognises the need to have tissue fresh frozen.
In Wales, we can lead the way, and if we're not going to, why are we not going to? That is my question to the Cabinet Secretary. I wrote to you, Cabinet Secretary, on 25 April and asked if it was something that you could support. While you didn't commit to that, I am grateful for your response. In your letter, you said that the proposal for Owain's law raises important issues regarding tissue preservation and the volume of tissue required for diagnostic purposes.
But you went on to say that a universal mandate to freeze all brain tumour tissue may not take sufficient account of the fact that the tissue volume required to secure an accurate diagnosis can vary significantly in each individual patient's case. You said that, while the submission of fresh unfixed tissue may be preferable to enable fresh freezing, this must be balanced with the need to achieve an accurate and timely diagnosis. But, as I've said, Ellie James sought advice from an external pathologist who said that it was an unnecessary amount of tissue. We could have kept more tissue for the purposes of saving Owain's life, or at least prolonging it.
Owain's family sent over a couple of slides of his tissue—probably about 5 mm—to scientists in Germany. They were able to analyse and confirm Owain's diagnosis, and test for thousands of mutations, just with that small amount of minimal tissue. Your letter to me did not comment on the need to fresh freeze tissue following histology. Owain's grandfather was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumour in the early 1990s. He was offered the identical treatment pathway as Owain had 30 years later. We should recognise that with the discovery of glioblastoma, a grade 4 brain tumour, in 1926, the medium length of survival was 12 months. Today, a century later, it's 12 months.
So, what I'd like to do with my Member's legislative proposal today, Llywydd, is I'd like the Cabinet Secretary to answer some questions that I addressed in the letter. Is there any prospect—? Would the chief deputy medical officer for Wales be willing to meet with me and Ellie James to discuss how we can work together to find a way forward?
This is a very human story of my constituent who passed away from a brain tumour far too young. Ellie is the person who came up with the idea of Owain's law, and she asked me to bring it to the Senedd Chamber today. I look forward to the debate. I look forward to the Cabinet Secretary's response. But, most of all, I look forward to progress in this matter.
O'r dechrau un, nid oedd prognosis Owain yn dda. Dywedwyd wrtho, pe bai'n gwneud dim, y byddai ganddo wythnosau i fyw. Cafodd lawdriniaeth yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru Caerdydd, a chafodd 50 y cant o'r tiwmor, 7 cm ohono, ei dynnu. Dywedwyd wrtho gan ei oncolegydd mai radiotherapi a chemotherapi oedd yr unig opsiynau a oedd ar gael iddo ar y GIG—mae hynny'n dal i fod yn wir—ac na fyddai hynny'n lleihau maint y tiwmor a oedd ar ôl. Cafodd ei gynghori mai ei obaith gorau oedd y byddai'r driniaeth yn cadw'r tiwmor rhag aildyfu am gyfnod o amser cyn iddo ddechrau tyfu eto.
Ni allai teulu Owain dderbyn hyn, ac felly fe wnaethant chwilio am driniaeth breifat y tu allan i'r GIG. Fe ddaethant o hyd i frechlyn wedi'i bersonoli a oedd yn defnyddio meinwe tiwmor y claf i addysgu'r system imiwnedd i adnabod y celloedd canser. Y broblem yma, fodd bynnag, oedd bod angen meinwe tiwmor wedi'i rewi'n ffres ar Owain i ddatblygu dos digonol o'r brechlyn. Roedd Owain wedi cael 7 cm o feinwe wedi'i dynnu drwy lawdriniaeth ond yn anffodus, dim ond 1 cm o hwn a gafodd ei rewi'n ffres ac y gellid ei ddefnyddio. Roedd gweddill y meinwe tiwmor wedi'i gadw mewn cemegyn—gyda pheth ohono wedi'i ddefnyddio ar gyfer histoleg a gweddill y meinwe heb fod o unrhyw ddefnydd i unrhyw un. Ers hynny, mae patholegydd allanol wedi dweud wrth deulu Owain nad oedd angen defnyddio cymaint â hynny o feinwe ar gyfer gwneud diagnosis, ac y gellid bod wedi arbed mwy ohono.
Golygodd hyn mai dim ond tri dos o frechlyn a gafodd Owain, pan ddylai fod wedi cael rhywbeth yn debycach i 30 dos. Fodd bynnag, bwriodd ymlaen â'i driniaeth, gan mai dyma oedd ei obaith gorau o hyd. Cafodd Owain sgan chwe mis ar ôl ei lawdriniaeth. Cwblhaodd y radiotherapi, tri chylch o gemotherapi, tri dos o frechlyn a nifer fach o therapïau naturiol eraill i roi hwb i'w imiwnedd. Cynhyrchodd hyn sgan clir. Roedd y tiwmor 7 cm a oedd yn weddill wedi lleihau'n llwyr o ran ei faint, i'r graddau na ellid ei ganfod.
Roedd ei adferiad mor rhyfeddol nes bod ei achos yn ffocws astudiaeth ddiweddarach a gyhoeddwyd mewn cyfnodolyn gwyddonol a adolygwyd gan gymheiriaid, y Journal of Neuroscience. Parhaodd Owain i gael sganiau clir am naw mis cyfan, ac ansawdd bywyd normal iawn. Rwy'n cofio cael galwad gan Ellie, yn dweud wrthyf fod y tiwmor wedi diflannu'n llwyr, a pha mor hapus oedd hi a'r teulu, a pha mor falch oeddwn i a fy nhîm fod hyn wedi digwydd.
Yn anffodus, achosodd metastasis i'w diwmor ailymddangos mewn man arall. Y tro hwn, roedd y tiwmor yn rhy ymosodol a bu farw Owain ym mis Mehefin 2024. Mae Ellie, sy'n 35 oed, bellach yn byw gyda'r edifeirwch na fu modd iddynt ddatblygu a chael digon o ddosau ar gyfer mwy na'r tri brechlyn. Pe bai mwy ohonynt wedi bod, rydym yn teimlo y byddai Owain yn dal yn fyw heddiw.
Felly, dyna'r cefndir trist iawn i'r rheswm pam ein bod ni yma heddiw yn trafod fy nghynnig ar gyfer cyfraith Owain. Nid ar gyfer y brechlyn a ddefnyddiwyd i drin Owain yn unig y gellir defnyddio meinwe wedi'i rewi'n ffres. Gellir ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer brechlynnau a therapïau eraill, ac at ddibenion ymchwil ac i greu dilyniant genom llawn. Mae'n cael ei ystyried yn ddull safon aur o gadw meinwe dynol—barn a rennir gan lawer o'r rhai sy'n gyfarwydd â'r maes, fel gweithwyr proffesiynol meddygol, patholegwyr ac elusennau uchel eu parch, fel yr Elusen Tiwmor yr Ymennydd ac Ymchwil Tiwmor yr Ymennydd.
Fodd bynnag, dim ond pan fydd y tiwmor wedi'i rewi'n ffres y gellir ei ddefnyddio yn y ffordd hon, ac fel y clywsom eisoes, ni wnaed hynny yn achos Owain. Nod cyfraith Owain yw mynd i'r afael â hyn. Mae'n ceisio gwneud hon yn broses ddiofyn ar gyfer storio meinwe wedi'i dynnu drwy lawdriniaeth yng Nghymru—rhewi ffres—ynghyd â gwella prosesau histolegol a phatholegol, fel bod angen llai o feinwe, a'r cyfan gyda chaniatâd penodol y claf.
Ym mis Chwefror 2023, cyhoeddodd y grŵp seneddol hollbleidiol ar diwmorau'r ymennydd adroddiad ar chwalu'r rhwystrau i ddod o hyd i iachâd ar gyfer tiwmorau'r ymennydd. Roeddent yn dweud bod yn rhaid inni sicrhau bod seilwaith cadarn ar gyfer storio a chasglu meinwe ar waith ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Yn ogystal, cyhoeddodd Cymdeithas Niwro-oncoleg Prydain ddatganiad sefyllfa o'r enw 'Guideline for Tissue Sampling of Brain Tumours'. Fe'i llofnodwyd gan wyth meddyg uchel eu parch gydag arbenigedd clinigol helaeth, ac mae'n cydnabod yr angen i gael meinwe wedi'i rewi'n ffres.
Yng Nghymru, fe allwn arwain y ffordd, ac os na wnawn hynny, pam ddim? Dyna fy nghwestiwn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ysgrifennais atoch, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ar 25 Ebrill a gofynnais a oedd yn rhywbeth y gallech ei gefnogi. Er na wnaethoch chi ymrwymo i hynny, rwy'n ddiolchgar am eich ymateb. Yn eich llythyr, fe ddywedoch chi fod y cynnig ar gyfer cyfraith Owain yn codi cwestiynau pwysig ynghylch cadw meinwe a faint o feinwe sydd ei angen at ddibenion diagnostig.
Ond fe wnaethoch chi ddweud hefyd efallai na fydd gorfodaeth gyffredinol i rewi holl feinwe tiwmor ar yr ymennydd yn rhoi digon o ystyriaeth i'r ffaith y gall y cyfaint o feinwe sydd ei angen i sicrhau diagnosis cywir amrywio'n sylweddol yn achos pob claf unigol. Er y gall cyflwyno meinwe ffres heb ei gadw mewn cemegyn fod yn well i'w gwneud hi'n bosibl ei rewi'n ffres, fe ddywedoch chi fod rhaid cydbwyso hyn â'r angen i gael diagnosis cywir ac amserol. Ond fel y dywedais, gofynnodd Ellie James am gyngor gan batholegydd allanol a ddywedodd ei fod yn gyfaint diangen o feinwe. Gallem fod wedi cadw mwy o feinwe at ddibenion achub bywyd Owain, neu o leiaf ei ymestyn.
Anfonodd teulu Owain un neu ddau o sleidiau o'i feinwe—tua 5 mm yn ôl pob tebyg—at wyddonwyr yn yr Almaen. Roeddent yn gallu dadansoddi a chadarnhau diagnosis Owain, a phrofi am filoedd o fwtaniadau gyda'r cyfaint bach hwnnw o feinwe. Nid oedd eich llythyr ataf yn cyfeirio at yr angen i rewi meinwe'n ffres ar ôl histoleg. Cafodd taid Owain ddiagnosis o diwmor yr ymennydd gradd 4 ar ddechrau'r 1990au. Cynigiwyd yr un llwybr triniaeth yn union iddo ag i Owain 30 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach. Dylem gydnabod, gyda darganfyddiad glioblastoma, sy'n diwmor yr ymennydd gradd 4, ym 1926, fod hyd canolig goroesiad yn 12 mis. Heddiw, ganrif yn ddiweddarach, mae'n 12 mis.
Felly, yr hyn yr hoffwn ei wneud gyda fy nghynnig deddfwriaethol gan Aelod heddiw, Lywydd, yw y byddwn yn hoffi i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ateb rhai o'r cwestiynau a ofynnais yn y llythyr. A oes unrhyw arwydd—? A fyddai dirprwy brif swyddog meddygol Cymru yn fodlon cyfarfod â mi ac Ellie James i drafod sut y gallwn weithio gyda'n gilydd i ddod o hyd i ffordd ymlaen?
Dyma stori ddynol iawn am fy etholwr a fu farw o diwmor yr ymennydd yn llawer rhy ifanc. Ellie a gafodd y syniad o gyfraith Owain, a gofynnodd i mi ei gyflwyno ger bron Siambr y Senedd heddiw. Edrychaf ymlaen at y ddadl. Edrychaf ymlaen at ymateb Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ond yn bennaf oll, edrychaf ymlaen at weld cynnydd ar y mater hwn.
I thank Hefin for bringing forward his legislative proposal, one I fully support. I do, however, have some suggestions of things that need to be considered when drafting Owain's law. My concern surrounds how tissues belonging to those with deeply held religious beliefs are dealt with. For example, it is Islamic belief that the entire body, including all organs, limbs, body parts and tissues, are considered sacred and should be treated with respect. Islam honours human beings, alive or dead. This applies to their body parts as well as to their persons. Therefore, if a body part is cut from a human being, or tissue removed, they are to be buried and not to be thrown away as waste or incinerated. The organ cut off is not to be washed before burial and no funeral prayer is to be offered for it. It is just to be wrapped in a piece of cloth and buried. I would like to see Owain's law consider these facts and make accommodations within the legislation—
Diolch i Hefin am gyflwyno ei gynnig deddfwriaethol, un rwy'n ei gefnogi'n llawn. Fodd bynnag, mae gennyf rai awgrymiadau am bethau y mae angen eu hystyried wrth ddrafftio cyfraith Owain. Mae fy mhryder yn ymwneud â sut y mae meinweoedd sy'n perthyn i'r rhai sydd â chredoau crefyddol dwfn yn cael eu trin. Er enghraifft, mae'n gred Islamaidd fod y corff cyfan, gan gynnwys yr holl organau, aelodau, rhannau o'r corff a meinweoedd, yn cael eu hystyried yn sanctaidd ac y dylid eu trin â pharch. Mae Islam yn parchu bodau dynol, yn fyw neu'n farw. Mae hyn yn berthnasol i rannau o'u cyrff yn ogystal â'u cyrff eu hunain. Felly, os yw rhan o'r corff yn cael ei dorri oddi ar fod dynol, neu os caiff meinwe ei dynnu, rhaid iddynt gael eu claddu a pheidio â chael eu taflu ymaith fel gwastraff neu eu llosgi. Ni ddylid golchi'r organ a dorrir cyn ei gladdu ac nid oes gweddi angladdol i'w chynnig amdano, dim ond ei lapio mewn darn o ddefnydd a'i gladdu. Hoffwn weld cyfraith Owain yn ystyried y ffeithiau hyn a gwneud addasiadau yn y ddeddfwriaeth—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
Just to say, we've considered that to be an item in section 2(a)(ii) of the law. So, what we've asked for is consent that will outline that all remaining tissue will be owned by the patient, and only consent from the patient or next of kin, where appropriate, can determine its use. So, the idea of the law is to actually give that. That right currently does not exist because, at the moment, if a piece of tissue is taken, its destination is not decided by the patient. So, this law actually helps with that and helps address that concern.
Dim ond i ddweud ein bod wedi ystyried hynny'n eitem yn adran 2(a)(ii) o'r ddeddfwriaeth. Felly, yr hyn y gwnaethom ofyn amdano yw cydsyniad a fydd yn nodi y bydd yr holl feinwe sy'n weddill yn eiddo i'r claf, a dim ond caniatâd gan y claf neu'r perthynas agosaf, lle bo hynny'n briodol, a all bennu ei ddefnydd. Felly, syniad y gyfraith yw galluogi hynny mewn gwirionedd. Nid yw'r hawl honno'n bodoli nawr oherwydd, ar hyn o bryd, os cymerir darn o feinwe, nid y claf sy'n penderfynu i ble mae'n mynd. Felly, mae'r gyfraith hon yn helpu gyda hynny ac yn helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r pryder hwnnw.
Absolutely, yes. Thank you very much, and let me finish this all.
I would like to see Owain's law consider these facts, as you suggested, and make accommodations within the legislation that should include, as a bare minimum, a means for capturing religious preferences as part of the consent form. I hope that Hefin will agree with these, as he has already changed as necessary, and I look forward to his legislation proposal becoming a reality. Diolch yn fawr.
Yn hollol, ydy. Diolch, a gadewch imi orffen hyn i gyd.
Hoffwn weld cyfraith Owain yn ystyried y ffeithiau hyn, fel yr awgrymoch chi, ac yn gwneud addasiadau yn y ddeddfwriaeth a ddylai gynnwys, fan lleiaf, ffordd o gynnwys dewisiadau crefyddol yn rhan o'r ffurflen gydsynio. Gobeithio y bydd Hefin yn cytuno â'r rhain, gan ei fod eisoes wedi newid yn ôl yr angen, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weld ei gynnig deddfwriaethol yn cael ei wireddu. Diolch yn fawr.
Dwi am ddechrau drwy ddiolch i Hefin am gyflwyno'r cynnig deddfwriaethol yma heddiw. Mi allaf gadarnhau y byddwn ni fel plaid yn ei gefnogi'n llawn. Mae'n briodol ein bod ni'n dechrau drwy estyn ein cydymdeimladau dwysaf a mwyaf diffuant i deulu Owain James. Mae'n anodd dychmygu'r boen a'r golled y maen nhw wedi gorfod ei ddioddef. Mae'n amlwg iddo frwydro'n ddewr, ac mae'n gwbl briodol, felly, ein bod ni'n dangos y parch teilwng yma iddo drwy feddwl sut gallwn ni wella'r sefyllfa i eraill yma yng Nghymru.
Mae'r cynnig hwn yn adlewyrchu dwy egwyddor greiddiol sydd wrth galon ein gwasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol. Y cyntaf ydy bod yr NHS yn eiddo i’r cyhoedd, ein gwasanaeth ni i gyd, ac mai ei brif ddiben ydy gwasanaethu’r bobl. Yn ail, llais y claf, ei farn, ei ofnau a’i ddymuniadau a ddylai fod yn ganolog i bob penderfyniad. Dylai hynny fod yn wir bob tro, heb eithriad, heb esgus.
Mae’r ddadl yma heddiw yn rhoi cyfle i ni nodi rhai o’r heriau sydd yn wynebu cleifion tiwmor yr ymennydd yma yng Nghymru, yn benodol y broses boenus a hir cyn cael diagnosis, a’r problemau er mwyn cael y diagnosis hwnnw, ynghyd â phrinder teclynnau diagnosis hanfodol, megis peiriannau sganio. Hyd yn oed ar ôl derbyn diagnosis, mae gennym ni brinder canolfannau triniaeth arbenigol, gyda llawer gormod o’n cleifion yn gorfod teithio pellteroedd maith ar adegau o wendid er mwyn derbyn eu triniaeth.
Wythnos diwethaf, fe wnes i gyflwyno cynnig yn galw am wella cynllunio gweithlu’r allied health professionals, ac mae cyd-destun y ddadl yma heddiw yn crisialu pam fod angen hyn, oherwydd bod cynifer o’r therapyddion yma yn hanfodol ar gyfer cynorthwyo taith cleifion tiwmor yr ymennydd.
Mae canser yr ymenydd yn lladd mwy o blant a phobl ifanc na'r un canser arall, ond eto mae’n dioddef o’r ffaith nad oes yna lawer o bres ymchwil yn cael ei neilltuo i’r math arbennig yma o ganser.
I want to start by thanking Hefin for introducing this legislative proposal today. I can confirm that we as a party will be supporting it in full. It's appropriate that we start by extending our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Owain James. It's difficult to imagine the pain and the loss that they have had to face. It's clear that he battled bravely, and it's entirely appropriate, therefore, that we demonstrate all due respect by thinking about how we can improve the situation for others here in Wales.
This proposal does reflect two core principles at the heart of our national health service. The first is that the NHS belongs to the public. It's the service that belongs to all of us, and its primary objective is to serve the people. Second, it's the voice of the patient, their concerns, their views, that should be at the heart of every decision made. That should be true in every case, without exception, without excuse.
This debate today provides an opportunity for us to note some of the challenges that face patients with brain tumours in Wales, specifically the painful long process before receiving a diagnosis and the problems in receiving that diagnosis, as well as the lack of diagnostic machines such as scanners. Even after receiving a diagnosis, we have a lack of specialist treatment centres, with far too many of our patients having to travel very long distances at times of weakness to receive their treatment.
Last week, I introduced a motion to include workforce planning for allied health professionals, and the context of today's debate crystallises why this is needed, because so many of these therapists are vital to support the journey for brain tumour patients.
Brain cancer kills more young people and children than any other cancer, but again, it suffers from the fact that there isn't a great deal of research funding allocated to the specific kind of cancer.
It's important that we take this opportunity to remind ourselves of the contexts facing patients and their families as they battle this cruel disease. This proposed Bill in front of us today raises a specific issue around the consent and use of tumour tissues, matters that we don't normally have the opportunity to discuss in this Chamber, but matters of huge significance, which must be considered and worked through. So once again, I thank Hefin for this debate. But it raises some questions, and in the spirit of compassion I'd like to raise a few questions around the practicalities of the proposed legislation in the hope of supporting its aims as strongly and sensitively as possible.
Firstly, Hefin outlined situations in which obtaining consent prior to surgery may not be feasible, and you propose a 48-hour period post operation to ensure that consent can be confirmed. Could I ask how you arrived at that 48-hour figure? Do you feel confident that this allows for a fair balance between confirming consent as soon as possible while also ensuring that patients are given sufficient time to recover enough to meaningfully participate in that consent? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i atgoffa ein hunain o'r cyd-destunau sy'n wynebu cleifion a'u teuluoedd wrth iddynt frwydro yn erbyn y clefyd creulon hwn. Mae'r Bil arfaethedig sydd o'n blaenau heddiw yn codi mater penodol ynglŷn â chydsyniad a defnyddio meinweoedd tiwmor, materion nad ydym fel arfer yn cael cyfle i'w trafod yn y Siambr hon, ond materion o bwys enfawr y mae'n rhaid eu hystyried a gweithio drwyddynt. Felly unwaith eto, diolch i Hefin am y ddadl hon. Ond mae'n codi rhai cwestiynau, ac mewn ysbryd tosturiol hoffwn godi ambell gwestiwn ynghylch ymarferoldeb y ddeddfwriaeth arfaethedig yn y gobaith o gefnogi ei nodau mor gryf a sensitif â phosibl.
Yn gyntaf, amlinellodd Hefin sefyllfaoedd lle na fydd cael cydsyniad cyn llawdriniaeth yn ymarferol o bosibl, ac rydych chi'n argymell cyfnod o 48 awr ar ôl llawdriniaeth i sicrhau bod modd cadarnhau cydsyniad. A gaf i ofyn sut y gwnaethoch chi gyrraedd y ffigur o 48 awr? A ydych chi'n teimlo'n hyderus fod hyn yn caniatáu cydbwysedd teg rhwng cadarnhau cydsyniad cyn gynted â phosibl gan sicrhau hefyd fod cleifion yn cael digon o amser i wella digon i gyfrannu'r cydsyniad hwnnw'n ystyrlon? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
I offer my deepest condolences to Owain's family, and diolch to Hefin for bringing this forward and to Owain's family for this legislative proposal and bringing it to this Senedd today. I support the motion on this proposed Bill in the memory of Owain James and inspired by the urgent need for change to how brain tumour tissue is handled. My mother also died from a brain tumour, so it's an issue that is deeply personal for me.
Brain tumours remain the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40, yet they receive just 1 per cent of national cancer research funding. Families like mine and Owain's are let down not only by research, but also by how precious tumour tissue is managed. Owain's law will enshrine a vital principle that patients and families must be fully informed and able to consent before any tumour tissue is stored or used. It guarantees that tumour samples are preserved without damaging chemicals, frozen at -80 degrees centigrade in multiple samples, ensuring the viability for future life-saving research. This is more than a technical protocol. This is a matter of dignity, respect and hope for families facing devastating diagnoses.
By supporting this motion we honour those who we have lost and commit to building a better future for those still fighting. I stand firmly behind Owain's law and urge Members to do the same. Diolch.
Rwy'n cydymdeimlo'n ddwys â theulu Owain, a diolch i Hefin am gyflwyno hyn ac i deulu Owain am y cynnig deddfwriaethol ac am ei ddwyn gerbron y Senedd hon heddiw. Rwy'n cefnogi'r cynnig ar gyfer y Bil arfaethedig hwn er cof am Owain James, cynnig sydd wedi'i ysbrydoli gan yr angen brys am newid i'r ffordd y caiff meinwe tiwmor yr ymennydd ei drin. Bu farw fy mam hefyd o diwmor ar yr ymennydd, felly mae'n fater sy'n hynod bersonol i mi.
Tiwmorau'r ymennydd yw'r canser sy'n lladd y nifer fwyaf o blant ac oedolion o dan 40 oed, ond dim ond 1 y cant o'r cyllid ymchwil canser cenedlaethol y maent yn ei gael. Mae teuluoedd fel fy un i ac Owain yn cael cam nid yn unig gan ymchwil, ond hefyd gan y ffordd y caiff meinwe tiwmor gwerthfawr ei reoli. Bydd cyfraith Owain yn ymgorffori'r egwyddor allweddol fod yn rhaid i gleifion a theuluoedd gael gwybodaeth lawn a gallu cydsynio cyn i unrhyw feinwe tiwmor gael ei storio neu ei ddefnyddio. Mae'n gwarantu bod samplau tiwmor yn cael eu cadw heb gemegau niweidiol, a'u rhewi ar -80 gradd canradd mewn samplau lluosog, gan sicrhau hyfywedd ar gyfer ymchwil a all achub bywydau yn y dyfodol. Mae hyn yn fwy na phrotocol technegol. Mae'n fater o urddas, parch a gobaith i deuluoedd sy'n wynebu diagnosis dinistriol.
Drwy gefnogi'r cynnig hwn rydym yn dangos parch at y rhai rydym wedi'u colli ac yn ymrwymo i adeiladu dyfodol gwell i'r rhai sy'n dal i ymladd. Rwy'n sefyll yn gadarn o blaid cyfraith Owain ac yn annog yr Aelodau i wneud yr un peth. Diolch.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, Jeremy Miles.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I want to start my response, if I may, by extending my condolences to Mrs Ellie James and my gratitude to her for her determination to improve outcomes for other people who face similar circumstances.
My commitment, Dirprwy Lywydd, is to be guided in all that we do by clinical evidence and best practice for all patients when considering changes to legislation or policy. NHS pathology practices are efficient in using the smallest amounts of tissue possible to establish diagnosis and full molecular profile. Fresh frozen tissue is indeed valuable for certain research applications and emerging molecular technologies, but currently it cannot replace formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue for a timely and accurate diagnosis.
The neuropathology department at the University Hospital of Wales routinely stores fresh frozen diagnostic tissue, and Wales was an early adopter of the collection and freezing of fresh tumour tissue—in fact, well ahead of many neuropathology departments in the UK, leading the way, in the words of the Member. This was made possible through close collaboration with the all-Wales medical genomics laboratory, which expanded its molecular testing capabilities for solid tumours, including brain tumours, following increased funding that we made available in 2019. As a result, Mr James's fresh tumour sample was retained at the time of diagnosis, which was in advance of the Royal College of Pathologists' guidelines issued in October 2024.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf am ddechrau fy ymateb, os caf, drwy gydymdeimlo â Mrs Ellie James a diolch iddi am ei phenderfyniad i wella canlyniadau i bobl eraill sy'n wynebu amgylchiadau tebyg.
Fy ymrwymiad, Ddirprwy Lywydd, yw inni gael ein llywio ym mhopeth a wnawn gan dystiolaeth glinigol ac ymarfer gorau i bob claf wrth ystyried newidiadau i ddeddfwriaeth neu bolisi. Mae ymarfer patholeg y GIG yn effeithlon wrth ddefnyddio'r cyfeintiau lleiaf o feinwe sy'n bosibl i sefydlu diagnosis a phroffil moleciwlaidd llawn. Mae meinwe wedi'i rewi'n ffres yn wirioneddol werthfawr ar gyfer rhai cymwysiadau ymchwil a thechnolegau moleciwlaidd sy'n datblygu, ond ar hyn o bryd ni all gymryd lle meinwe wedi'i sefydlogi â fformalin mewn paraffin ar gyfer cael diagnosis amserol a chywir.
Mae'r adran niwropatholeg yn Ysbyty Athrofaol Cymru yn storio meinwe diagnostig wedi'i rewi'n ffres yn rheolaidd, ac roedd Cymru yn un o'r rhai a aeth ati'n gynnar i fabwysiadu casglu a rhewi meinwe tiwmor ffres—ymhell o flaen llawer o adrannau niwropatholeg yn y DU mewn gwirionedd, gan arwain y ffordd, yng ngeiriau'r Aelod. Gwnaed hyn yn bosibl drwy gydweithio'n agos â labordy genomeg feddygol Cymru gyfan, a ehangodd ei alluoedd profi moleciwlaidd ar gyfer tiwmorau solet, gan gynnwys tiwmorau'r ymennydd, yn dilyn cyllid ychwanegol a ddarparwyd gennym yn 2019. O ganlyniad, cafodd sampl tiwmor ffres Mr James ei gadw ar adeg y diagnosis, a hynny cyn i ganllawiau Coleg Brenhinol y Patholegwyr gael eu cyhoeddi ym mis Hydref 2024.
The infrastructure and standard operating procedures for collecting and freezing CNS tumour tissue were established specifically to support emerging molecular technologies, as well as research, particularly within the context of clinical trials. And clinical trials play an important role in the management of aggressive brain tumours, offering access to experimental therapies where prognosis can otherwise be poor. Most trials require a confirmed tissue diagnosis, and patients are often ineligible without that.
Under current legal and ethical frameworks, including the Human Tissue Act 2004, everyone undergoing surgery in Wales or the rest of the UK must provide valid consent, including permission to retain tissue for diagnostic purposes. While the Act does not define tissue as, so to speak, the legal property of the patient, it places consent at the heart of all decisions beyond diagnosis, ensuring that patients retain full control over its use. This would have been the case when Mr James was undergoing treatment.
For reasons that I'm sure Members will appreciate, initial consent is necessarily broad, as it is not possible to predict entirely in advance which diagnostic molecular tests or clinical trials a patient may require or benefit from. This approach is robust and it is also, importantly, patient centred. It protects patients from potentially being overwhelmed at the time of surgery, whilst acknowledging the evolving use of tissue in modern medicine, which we've heard about in today's debate. Where research or external testing is considered, further consent is always sought after diagnosis, and patients may, of course, withdraw or withhold consent at any time.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I am committed to supporting national efforts to enhance tissue archiving and equitable access to genomic testing. My officials are working in partnership with the all-Wales medical genomics service, Genomics England and other stakeholders to ensure our practices remain future facing, and in the best interests of our patients. The Welsh neuro-oncology network comprises a highly motivated and highly specialised group of clinicians committed to work together to improve outcomes for people with brain tumours. Their dedication was recognised recently with the award of the Tessa Jowell centre of excellence status for the management of brain tumour patients. I think this achievement reflects the exceptional commitment of that team. The neuropathology service has also recently achieved UCAS accreditation, further demonstrating the high standards maintained in diagnostic care. These are, as I'm sure Members will want to acknowledge, significant accomplishments for Wales.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I recognise that advances in cancer treatment depend on continuous learning and development. It is precisely because of that commitment to evidence and best practice that we must proceed with care. The introduction of a statutory requirement to fresh freeze all brain tumour tissue, in the Government's view, risks unintended consequences. Clinical teams already use their expert judgment to balance diagnostic needs with the potential for research and novel therapies. Overriding that clinical discretion through legislation could compromise timely diagnosis or create conflict where tissue volume is limited, which is why the Government does not believe that the case is made for legislation.
The Member asked me to confirm the advice on which the Welsh Government's position is based. I can confirm that, following receiving the letter from him, I sought further advice from the Welsh scientific advisory committee, which is the relevant statutory advisory committee, and it is their advice that informs the position that I'm setting out in this response today.
Dirprwy Lywydd, it is absolutely correct that on such an important matter, people, in particular those directly affected, have the opportunity to challenge the rationale for policy, to test perspectives and, indeed, argue for change where they feel it is needed. And I want to reiterate my thanks to Mrs James for her advocacy on these important issues, both through the Member and his proposal for a Bill today and more broadly.
Sefydlwyd y seilwaith a'r gweithdrefnau gweithredu safonol ar gyfer casglu a rhewi meinwe tiwmor y system nerfol ganolog yn benodol er mwyn cefnogi technolegau moleciwlaidd sy'n datblygu, yn ogystal ag ymchwil, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun treialon clinigol. Ac mae treialon clinigol yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn y broses o reoli tiwmorau'r ymennydd ymosodol, gan gynnig mynediad at therapïau arbrofol lle gall prognosis fod yn wael fel arall. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o dreialon yn galw am ddiagnosis meinwe wedi'i gadarnhau, ac mae cleifion yn aml yn anghymwys heb hynny.
O dan fframweithiau cyfreithiol a moesegol cyfredol, gan gynnwys Deddf Meinweoedd Dynol 2004, rhaid i bawb sy'n cael llawdriniaeth yng Nghymru neu weddill y DU ddarparu cydsyniad dilys, gan gynnwys caniatâd i gadw meinwe at ddibenion diagnostig. Er nad yw'r Ddeddf yn diffinio meinwe fel rhywbeth sy'n eiddo cyfreithiol, fel petai, i'r claf, mae'n rhoi cydsyniad wrth wraidd pob penderfyniad y tu hwnt i ddiagnosis, gan sicrhau bod cleifion yn cadw rheolaeth lawn dros ei ddefnydd. Byddai hyn wedi bod yn wir pan oedd Mr James yn cael triniaeth.
Am resymau yr wyf yn siŵr y bydd Aelodau yn eu deall, mae cydsyniad cychwynnol o reidrwydd yn eang, gan nad yw'n bosibl rhagweld yn gyfan gwbl ymlaen llaw pa brofion moleciwlaidd diagnostig neu dreialon clinigol y gallai fod ar y claf eu hangen neu y gallai elwa ohonynt. Mae'r dull hwn yn gadarn ac mae hefyd yn canolbwyntio ar y claf, sy'n bwysig. Mae'n diogelu cleifion rhag cael eu llethu o bosibl ar adeg y llawdriniaeth, gan gydnabod y defnydd esblygol o feinwe mewn meddygaeth fodern, rhywbeth y clywsom amdano yn y ddadl heddiw. Pan ystyrir ymchwil neu brofion allanol, gofynnir am gydsyniad pellach bob amser ar ôl diagnosis, a gall cleifion dynnu cydsyniad yn ôl neu wrthod rhoi cydsyniad ar unrhyw adeg.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n ymrwymedig i gefnogi ymdrechion cenedlaethol i wella prosesau archifo meinweoedd a mynediad cyfartal at brofion genomig. Mae fy swyddogion yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â gwasanaeth genomeg feddygol Cymru gyfan, Genomics England a rhanddeiliaid eraill i sicrhau bod ein harferion yn parhau i fod yn flaengar, ac er budd gorau ein cleifion. Mae rhwydwaith niwro-oncoleg Cymru yn cynnwys grŵp ymroddgar ac arbenigol iawn o glinigwyr sydd wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda'i gilydd i wella canlyniadau i bobl â thiwmorau'r ymennydd. Cydnabuwyd eu hymroddiad yn ddiweddar wrth iddynt ennill statws canolfan ragoriaeth Tessa Jowell ar gyfer rheoli cleifion tiwmor yr ymennydd. Rwy'n credu bod y llwyddiant hwn yn adlewyrchu ymrwymiad eithriadol y tîm hwnnw. Mae'r gwasanaeth niwropatholeg hefyd wedi ennill achrediad UCAS yn ddiweddar, gan ddangos ymhellach y safonau uchel a geir mewn gofal diagnostig. Fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n cydnabod rwy'n siŵr, mae'r rhain yn gyflawniadau arwyddocaol i Gymru.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n cydnabod bod datblygiadau mewn triniaeth ganser yn dibynnu ar ddysgu a datblygiad parhaus. Oherwydd yr union ymrwymiad hwnnw i dystiolaeth ac ymarfer gorau, mae'n rhaid inni fwrw ymlaen gyda gofal. Ym marn y Llywodraeth, mae cyflwyno gofyniad statudol i rewi holl feinwe tiwmor yr ymennydd yn ffres yn creu perygl o ganlyniadau anfwriadol. Mae timau clinigol eisoes yn defnyddio eu crebwyll arbenigol i gydbwyso anghenion diagnostig gyda'r potensial ar gyfer ymchwil a therapi newydd. Gallai diystyru'r disgresiwn clinigol hwnnw trwy ddeddfwriaeth beryglu'r gallu i wneud diagnosis amserol neu greu gwrthdaro lle mae cyfaint y meinwe'n gyfyngedig, a dyna pam nad yw'r Llywodraeth yn credu bod yr achos wedi'i wneud o blaid deddfwriaeth.
Gofynnodd yr Aelod i mi gadarnhau'r cyngor y seiliwyd safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru arno. Gallaf gadarnhau, ar ôl cael y llythyr ganddo, fy mod wedi ceisio cyngor pellach gan bwyllgor cynghori gwyddonol Cymru, sef y pwyllgor cynghori statudol perthnasol, ac mai eu cyngor hwy sy'n llywio'r safbwynt a nodaf yn yr ymateb hwn heddiw.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae'n gwbl gywir mewn mater mor bwysig fod pobl, yn enwedig y rhai yr effeithir arnynt yn uniongyrchol, yn cael cyfle i herio'r sail resymegol dros bolisi, i brofi safbwyntiau, ac yn wir, i ddadlau dros newid lle teimlant ei fod yn angenrheidiol. Ac rwyf am ailadrodd fy niolch i Mrs James am y modd y mae'n hyrwyddo'r materion pwysig hyn, drwy'r Aelod a'i gynnig ar gyfer Bil heddiw, ac yn fwy eang.
Dwi'n galw ar Hefin David i gloi'r ddadl.
I call on Hefin David to conclude the debate.
I'll just go through three key points, first of all, in response to Mabon and Altaf. The tissue will be owned by the patient. The national health service is owned by the public. The tissue remains owned by patient, which answers Altaf's question. Regarding the decision on 48 hours that Mabon raised, you could extend to 72 hours, but the longer you leave consent, the harder it is to get it. And also, consent belongs to the patient. The critical point is you can't do this without the patient giving that consent. You could get consent from next of kin if the patient delegates that, but it's an issue. Forty-eight hours is considered to be an optimal time to make those decisions. Brain tumour patients are often up and about after that period of time, generally.
With regard to the Cabinet Secretary's answer, I do take the point that expert clinical judgment is required, of course. That was our golden rule during COVID. I'm just highlighting that, in Owain's case, that expert clinical judgment was later proven to be wrong, and therefore we must find a way to be able to challenge and appeal that. We believe that as the cost of vaccines starts to fall, the availability of vaccines starts to fall, and immunotherapy treatments become more widely available, turning cancer from a terminal illness to a life-limiting one, then the availability of tissue will become key, and I think, eventually, the UK and other countries will start moving down the route towards this kind of law anyway. I just want to say one last thing: let's remember Owain for everything he's done today. Even in his passing, he's contributed to the debate on keeping patients alive for longer.
Fe af drwy dri phwynt allweddol, yn gyntaf oll, mewn ymateb i Mabon ac Altaf. Bydd y meinwe yn eiddo i'r claf. Mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yn eiddo i'r cyhoedd. Mae'r meinwe'n parhau i fod yn eiddo i'r claf, sy'n ateb cwestiwn Altaf. O ran penderfynu ar 48 awr a godwyd gan Mabon, gallech ei ymestyn i 72 awr, ond po hiraf y byddwch chi'n gadael cydsyniad, yr anoddaf fydd hi i'w gael. A hefyd, y claf sydd piau cydsynio. Y pwynt allweddol yw na allwch wneud hyn heb i'r claf roi'r cydsyniad hwnnw. Gallech gael cydsyniad gan berthynas agosaf os yw'r claf yn ei ddirprwyo, ond mae'n gwestiwn. Ystyrir bod 48 awr yn amser optimaidd i wneud y penderfyniadau hynny. At ei gilydd, mae cleifion tiwmor yr ymennydd yn aml yn ôl ar eu traed wedi'r amser hwnnw.
Mewn perthynas ag ateb Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy'n derbyn y pwynt fod angen barn glinigol arbenigol wrth gwrs. Dyna oedd ein rheol aur yn ystod COVID. Rwy'n nodi'n unig, yn achos Owain, fod y farn glinigol arbenigol honno wedi'i phrofi'n anghywir yn ddiweddarach, ac felly mae'n rhaid inni ddod o hyd i ffordd o allu herio ac apelio yn erbyn hynny. Wrth i gost brechlynnau ddechrau gostwng, a thriniaethau imiwnotherapi'n dod ar gael yn ehangach, gan droi canser o fod yn salwch angheuol i fod yn un sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd, daw argaeledd meinwe'n allweddol, ac rwy'n credu, yn y pen draw, y bydd y DU a gwledydd eraill yn dechrau symud ar hyd y llwybr tuag at gyfraith o'r fath beth bynnag. Rwyf eisiau dweud un peth olaf: gadewch inni gofio Owain am bopeth y mae wedi'i wneud heddiw. Er ei fod wedi ein gadael, mae wedi cyfrannu at y ddadl ar gadw cleifion yn fyw am amser hirach.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid nodi'r cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
The proposal is to note the motion. Does any Member object? There is no objection. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Jane Hutt.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Jane Hutt.
Eitem 8 heddiw yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar argyfwng iechyd. Galwaf ar James Evans i wneud y cynnig.
Item 8 today is the Welsh Conservatives debate on health emergency. I call on James Evans to move the motion.
Cynnig NDM8944 Paul Davies
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatgan argyfwng iechyd.
Motion NDM8944 Paul Davies
To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the Welsh Government to declare a health emergency.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague Paul Davies. I open this debate today with a simple but urgent truth: Wales is facing a health emergency, and it is time that the Welsh Labour Government finally admitted it.
The NHS in Wales is in the worst state it has ever been. Today, nearly one in five people in Wales are waiting for treatment. Almost 800,000 patient pathways are open, and over a quarter of a million people have been waiting for more than nine months for care. Thousands are still waiting over two years, something that has been almost eradicated in England. And if that's not an emergency, I do not know what is. Labour will tell us about their £120 million fund to cut waiting lists. They will tell us about Wales becoming a Marmot nation. But patients in Brecon, Bridgend and Blaenau Gwent don't need hashtags or slogans; they need treatment and they need it now.
We have the worst A&E waiting times in the United Kingdom. In April, just 67 per cent of patients in A&E were seen within four hours here in Wales, while in England, the figures, despite challenges, are consistently better across the board. Every month, over 100,000 people in Wales wait more than 12 hours in A&E. While they wait, ambulances queue outside, unable to offload patients, tying up paramedics who should be on the road saving lives. The Welsh ambulance service has not hit its target for eight-minute response times for life-threatening calls for four years straight. And it is reaching fewer than half of those calls within the time.
Deputy Presiding Officer, let us remember the human reality. In Bridgend, an 84-year-old grandmother waited 30 hours for an ambulance after breaking her hip. In another case, a patient lay on the floor for 46 hours waiting for help. And a coroner in Wales has said that patients are dying because of ambulance delays. If that's not an emergency, Cabinet Secretary, I don't know what is.
But the crisis does not stop at the hospital doors. GP services in Wales are overwhelmed. We have nearly lost 20 per cent of our GP practices in a decade and we now have over 2,200 patients per GP in Wales—double the European average. Is it no wonder why people give up trying to get a GP appointment and end up in an accident and emergency department, just adding to the pressure in our emergency departments?
NHS dentistry in Wales is collapsing. One in three people cannot find an NHS dentist and many parents are forced to drive their children to England for dental care. I've heard from constituents in my own part who are using, you know, the shop-bought filling kits for their teeth because they live in pain daily and they just cannot get a dentist appointment. One of my constituents even decided to rip out their tooth with a pliers because they couldn't get an NHS appointment. It is absolutely shocking.
Mental health services are also in crisis. Children in Wales have waited up to 99 weeks for a follow-up appointment with child and adolescent mental health services. One young person from Cardiff waited 14 months for just an initial assessment. These are not just delays, they're not just numbers, they are the lives of people that are being put at risk.
Labour will say that they are tackling health inequalities, but how can you tackle inequalities if you cannot get people the treatment that they need in time? Yes, I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary will point to the Marmot nation plan, but I think this has become a distraction from the immediate crisis facing our health service here in Wales. As I said, they'll point to the £122 million waiting list fund, but none of that money has been allocated to cross-border care. Spending of £1.5 billion on health since 2021 by the Welsh Government and waiting lists are still at record highs. That money is not delivering for patients and we don't have a clear plan of how it's going to get any better.
And while this demand for care has risen, the Labour Government has cut more than 4,000 hospital beds since devolution and it's also closed community hospitals right the way across Wales. And if you listen to the previous First Minister, he believes we need to go further, cutting more beds and cutting more hospitals, removing that local capacity that communities really rely upon. Now we see the consequences, don't we? Hospitals running at full, elective surgeries cancelled, ambulances unable to offload and patients waiting in corridors with a crisis in corridor care that's becoming the norm.
Deputy Presiding Officer, we cannot fix this if we will not face it. Our NHS needs a clear recovery plan with accountability, not slogans. It needs a proper workforce plan to recruit and retain staff across Wales, and that needs to happen in every community. But it also needs investment in social care so that patients can be discharged safely, freeing up hospital beds and reducing ambulance delays. And it needs the political will, the political will in here, to cut waste across our NHS and focus every single pound on delivering for patients.
Declaring a health emergency is not about headlines, it's about honesty and it's about urgency and it's about doing what is right. It's about telling that mother who has waited three years for surgery that we see you and we'll act. It's about telling the paramedic that spent 12 hours outside A&E with a patient that help is coming. And it's about telling that young person who's waiting for mental health support that they will not be forgotten by the system.
Labour has been in charge of our NHS in Wales for 26 years. They've had every opportunity to plan, to deliver and protect our health service, yet what we see today is a system on its knees, patients suffering and staff exhausted. Many people say, 'Let's try something different. Let's look to other political parties to solve the problem.' But that isn't going to work either because, under them, the NHS simply will not exist. Replaced by a French-style, insurance-based system that will mean people paying upfront, having higher costs and some people not even getting insurance altogether, suffering in pain while our NHS gets dismembered. And that is not something I want and not something the Conservative Party will ever subscribe to.
If it is not time today, then, to declare a health emergency, when is? Deputy Presiding Officer, we owe it to the people of Wales to be honest about the state of our health service. We owe it to them to act. We owe it to them to protect our NHS, protect lives. Because if we cannot do that and if we deny the scale of the crisis, people will die and suffer unnecessarily. So, that's why I urge all Members across this Chamber today to support this motion. Let us declare a health emergency in Wales and let us begin the hard and necessary work of putting our NHS back on the right foot, to deliver for taxpayers who pay for it and to deliver for the patients who need it. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd, ac rwy'n gwneud y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw fy nghyd-Aelod Paul Davies. Rwy'n agor y ddadl hon heddiw gyda gwirionedd syml ond pwysig: mae Cymru'n wynebu argyfwng iechyd, ac mae'n bryd i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru gyfaddef hynny o'r diwedd.
Mae'r GIG yng Nghymru yn y cyflwr gwaethaf erioed. Heddiw, mae bron i un o bob pump o bobl yng Nghymru yn aros am driniaeth. Mae bron i 800,000 o lwybrau cleifion ar agor, ac mae dros chwarter miliwn o bobl wedi bod yn aros am fwy na naw mis am ofal. Mae miloedd yn dal i aros dros ddwy flynedd, rhywbeth sydd bron wedi'i ddileu yn Lloegr. Ac os nad yw hynny'n argyfwng, nid wyf yn gwybod beth sydd. Bydd Llafur yn dweud wrthym am eu cronfa o £120 miliwn i dorri rhestrau aros. Byddant yn dweud wrthym am Gymru'n dod yn genedl Marmot. Ond nid hashnodau a sloganau sydd eu hangen ar gleifion yn Aberhonddu, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Blaenau Gwent; maent angen triniaeth ac maent ei angen nawr.
Gennym ni y mae'r amseroedd aros damweiniau ac achosion brys gwaethaf yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Ym mis Ebrill, dim ond 67 y cant o gleifion damweiniau ac achosion brys a welwyd o fewn pedair awr yma yng Nghymru, tra yn Lloegr, mae'r ffigurau, er yn heriol, yn gyson yn well ym mhob man. Bob mis, mae dros 100,000 o bobl yng Nghymru yn aros mwy na 12 awr mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Tra byddant yn aros, mae ambiwlansys yn ciwio tu allan, heb allu dadlwytho cleifion, gan fynd ag amser parafeddygon a ddylai fod ar y ffordd yn achub bywydau. Nid yw gwasanaeth ambiwlans Cymru wedi cyrraedd ei darged amseroedd ymateb wyth munud ar gyfer galwadau sy'n peryglu bywyd ers pedair blynedd yn olynol. Ac mae'n cyrraedd llai na hanner y galwadau hynny o fewn yr amser.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, gadewch inni gofio'r realiti dynol. Ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, arhosodd mam-gu 84 oed am 30 awr am ambiwlans ar ôl torri ei chlun. Mewn achos arall, gorweddodd claf ar y llawr am 46 awr yn aros am help. Ac mae crwner yng Nghymru wedi dweud bod cleifion yn marw am nad yw ambiwlansys yn cyrraedd mewn pryd. Os nad yw hynny'n argyfwng, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, nid wyf yn gwybod beth sydd.
Ond nid yw'r argyfwng yn gorffen wrth ddrysau'r ysbyty. Mae gwasanaethau meddygon teulu yng Nghymru wedi'u llethu. Rydym wedi colli bron 20 y cant o'n practisau meddygon teulu mewn degawd ac erbyn hyn mae gennym dros 2,200 o gleifion i bob meddyg teulu yng Nghymru—dwbl y cyfartaledd Ewropeaidd. A yw'n syndod pam y mae pobl yn rhoi'r gorau i geisio cael apwyntiad meddyg teulu ac yn mynd i adrannau ddamweiniau ac achosion brys yn lle hynny, gan ychwanegu at y pwysau ar ein hadrannau brys?
Mae deintyddiaeth y GIG yng Nghymru ar chwâl. Ni all un o bob tri o bobl ddod o hyd i ddeintydd GIG a chaiff llawer o rieni eu gorfodi i yrru eu plant i Loegr am ofal deintyddol. Clywais gan etholwyr yn fy ardal sy'n defnyddio'r pecynnau llenwi dannedd o'r siop ar eu dannedd am eu bod yn byw mewn poen bob dydd ac am na allant gael apwyntiad deintydd. Penderfynodd un o fy etholwyr dynnu eu dant eu hunain â gefel am na allent gael apwyntiad GIG. Mae'n echrydus.
Mae'n argyfwng ar wasanaethau iechyd meddwl hefyd. Mae plant yng Nghymru wedi aros hyd at 99 wythnos am apwyntiad dilynol gyda gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl plant a phobl ifanc. Arhosodd un person ifanc o Gaerdydd am 14 mis i gael asesiad cychwynnol yn unig. Nid oedi'n unig yw hyn, nid niferoedd yn unig, ond bywydau pobl yn cael eu rhoi mewn perygl.
Bydd Llafur yn dweud eu bod yn mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd, ond sut y gallwch chi fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau os na allwch gael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen i bobl mewn pryd? Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn tynnu sylw at gynllun cenedl Marmot, ond tynnu sylw oddi ar yr argyfwng uniongyrchol sy'n wynebu ein gwasanaeth iechyd yma yng Nghymru a wna hynny. Fel y dywedais, byddant yn nodi'r gronfa rhestrau aros o £122 miliwn, ond nid oes dim o'r arian hwnnw wedi'i ddyrannu i ofal trawsffiniol. Gwariwyd £1.5 biliwn ar iechyd ers 2021 gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac mae'r rhestrau aros yn dal i fod yn fwy nag erioed. Nid yw'r arian hwnnw'n cyflawni i gleifion ac nid oes gennym gynllun clir o sut y mae'n mynd i wella.
Ac er bod y galw am ofal wedi cynyddu, mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur wedi torri mwy na 4,000 o welyau ysbyty ers datganoli ac mae hefyd wedi cau ysbytai cymunedol ledled Cymru. Ac os gwrandewch ar y Prif Weinidog blaenorol, mae'n credu bod angen inni fynd ymhellach, a thorri mwy o welyau a thorri mwy o ysbytai, gan ddileu capasiti lleol y mae cymunedau'n dibynnu arno. Rydym yn gweld y canlyniadau nawr, onid ydym? Ysbytai llawn, canslo llawdriniaethau dewisol, ambiwlansys yn methu dadlwytho a chleifion yn aros mewn coridorau gydag argyfwng gofal coridor yn dod yn norm.
Ddirprwy Lywydd, ni allwn wella hyn os na wnawn ei wynebu. Mae angen cynllun adfer clir ar ein GIG gydag atebolrwydd, nid sloganau. Mae angen cynllun gweithlu priodol arno i recriwtio a chadw staff ledled Cymru, ac mae angen i hynny ddigwydd ym mhob cymuned. Ond mae angen buddsoddi mewn gofal cymdeithasol hefyd fel y gellir rhyddhau cleifion yn ddiogel, gan ryddhau gwelyau ysbyty a lleihau oedi ambiwlansys. Ac mae angen yr ewyllys wleidyddol, yr ewyllys wleidyddol yma, i dorri gwastraff ar draws ein GIG a ffocysu pob punt ar ddarparu ar gyfer cleifion.
Nid er mwyn bachu penawdau y caiff argyfwng iechyd ei ddatgan, mae a wnelo â gonestrwydd a brys ac mae a wnelo â gwneud yr hyn sy'n iawn. Mae a wnelo â dweud wrth y fam sydd wedi aros tair blynedd am lawdriniaeth ein bod ni'n eich gweld ac y byddwn yn gweithredu. Mae a wnelo â dweud wrth y parafeddyg a dreuliodd 12 awr y tu allan i adran damweiniau ac achosion brys gyda chlaf fod help yn dod. Ac mae a wnelo â dweud wrth yr unigolyn ifanc sy'n aros am gymorth iechyd meddwl na fydd y system yn eu hanghofio.
Mae Llafur wedi bod yn gyfrifol am ein GIG yng Nghymru ers 26 mlynedd. Maent wedi cael pob cyfle i gynllunio, darparu a diogelu ein gwasanaeth iechyd, ond yr hyn a welwn heddiw yw system ar ei gliniau, cleifion yn dioddef a staff wedi gorflino. Mae llawer o bobl yn dweud, 'Gadewch inni roi cynnig ar rywbeth gwahanol. Gadewch inni droi at bleidiau gwleidyddol eraill i ddatrys y broblem.' Ond nid yw hynny'n mynd i weithio ychwaith, oherwydd, oddi tanynt hwy, ni fydd y GIG yn bodoli. Caiff ei ddisodli gan system Ffrengig yn seiliedig ar yswiriant a fydd yn golygu bod pobl yn talu ymlaen llaw, gyda chostau uwch a rhai pobl heb yswiriant o gwbl hyd yn oed, yn dioddef mewn poen tra bod ein GIG yn cael ei chwalu. Ac nid yw hynny'n rhywbeth rwyf i ei eisiau ac nid yw'n rhywbeth y bydd y Blaid Geidwadol yn ei gefnogi byth.
Os nad heddiw yw'r amser i ddatgan argyfwng iechyd, pryd fydd hi'n amser? Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae arnom ddyletswydd i bobl Cymru i fod yn onest ynglŷn â chyflwr ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae arnom ddyletswydd iddynt i weithredu. Mae arnom ddyletswydd iddynt i ddiogelu ein GIG, i ddiogelu bywydau. Oherwydd os na allwn ni wneud hynny ac os ydym yn gwadu maint yr argyfwng, bydd pobl yn marw ac yn dioddef yn ddiangen. Felly, dyna pam rwy'n annog pob Aelod ar draws y Siambr hon heddiw i gefnogi'r cynnig hwn. Gadewch inni ddatgan argyfwng iechyd yng Nghymru a gadewch inni ddechrau'r gwaith caled ac angenrheidiol o roi ein GIG yn ôl ar ei draed, i gyflawni ar ran y trethdalwyr sy'n talu amdano ac i gyflawni er mwyn y cleifion sydd ei angen. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Rwyf wedi dethol y gwelliant i'r cynnig, a galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i gynnig gwelliant 1, yn enw Jane Hutt.
I have selected the amendment to the motion, and I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to move amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt.
Gwelliant 1—Jane Hutt
Dileu popeth a rhoi yn ei le:
Cynnig bod y Senedd
1. Yn cydnabod bod y GIG yng Nghymru yn wynebu cynnydd yn y galw yn sgil newidiadau demograffig a goblygiadau lefelau gordewdra cynyddol a phroblemau iechyd cronig hirdymor, ond nid yw hyn yn golygu bod argyfwng iechyd.
2. Yn nodi'r camau gweithredu y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn ac i wella iechyd pobl a gwella mynediad at ofal iechyd gan gynnwys:
a) £120m i leihau amseroedd aros a maint cyffredinol y rhestr aros;
b) newidiadau i'r contract meddygon teulu i ddarparu parhad yn y gofal i bobl â chyflyrau hirdymor; ac
c) Cymru yn dod yn Genedl Marmot i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd.
Amendment 1—Jane Hutt
Delete all and replace with:
To propose that the Senedd
1. Recognises the NHS in Wales faces increased demand from demographic changes and the consequences from rising obesity and long-term, chronic health problems but this does not mean this is a health emergency.
2. Notes the action the Welsh Government is taking to address these issues and improve people’s health and access to healthcare including:
a) £120m to cut waiting times and the overall size of the waiting list;
b) changes to the GP contract to provide continuity of care for people with long-term conditions; and
c) Wales becoming a Marmot Nation to tackle health inequalities.
Cynigiwyd gwelliant 1.
Amendment 1 moved.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally.
Dwi am ddiolch i'r Ceidwadwyr am sicrhau y ddadl yma heddiw. Mi fyddwn ni ym Mhlaid Cymru yn pleidleisio o blaid y cynnig. Wedi'r cyfan, Plaid Cymru oedd y cyntaf i alw ar y Llywodraeth i ddatgan argyfwng iechyd, nôl ym mis Chwefror 2024, felly mae'n galonogol gweld y gwrthbleidiau eraill yn dilyn arweiniad y blaid.
Ar adeg ein dadl bryd hynny, roedd y rhestrau aros yn yr NHS yn cynnwys dros 762,000 o lwybrau triniaeth, gan effeithio ar 582,000 o unigolion. Roedd bron i 58,000 ohonyn nhw yn aros dros flwyddyn am apwyntiad cleifion allanol cyntaf. Roedd y rhestrau aros yn codi a chodi, gan gyrraedd record newydd bedair gwaith mewn blwyddyn.
Ers hynny, dros 15 mis yn ddiweddarach, mae'r sefyllfa wedi gwaethygu eto fyth. Mae'r ffigurau bellach yn sefyll ar 789,929 o lwybrau triniaeth a 611,100 o unigolion yn disgwyl triniaeth. Mae hyn yn gyfystyr â chynnydd cyfartalog o 56 o bobl bob dydd ers ein dadl ni nôl ym mis Chwefror 2024.
Dros yr un cyfnod, mae rhestrau aros wedi torri record naw gwaith arall, ac mae pob un o'r saith bwrdd iechyd rhanbarthol wedi aros dan fesurau arbennig o ryw fath neu'i gilydd. Yn waeth byth, mae'r nifer sy'n aros dros flwyddyn am eu hapwyntiad cyntaf wedi cynyddu i 73,200, er gwaethaf y targed diwygiedig i ddileu'r holl achosion hyn erbyn y gwanwyn eleni.
Felly, er gwaethaf ein bod ni ar ein trydydd Prif Weinidog a thrydydd Gweinidog iechyd, a thargedau sy'n newid fel y gwynt, mae record methiant y Llywodraeth Lafur yma yn gyson, yn barhaus ac yn annerbyniol.
I want to thank the Conservatives for bringing forward this debate today. We in Plaid Cymru will be supporting the motion. After all, Plaid Cymru was the first Government to call a health emergency, back in February 2024, so it's encouraging to see the other opposition parties following suit.
At the time of our debate at that point, waiting lists in the NHS included over 762,000 care pathways, affecting 582,000 individuals. Almost 58,000 of those were waiting over a year for the first out-patient appointment. The waiting lists were getting longer and longer, creating new records four times in a year.
Since then, 15 months later, the situation has deteriorated even more. The figures now stand at 789,929 care pathways and 611,100 individuals awaiting treatment. This equates to an average increase of 56 people every day since our debate back in February 2024.
Over the same period, waiting lists have broken records another nine times, and every one of the seven regional health boards has stayed in special measures of one kind or another. Even worse, the number waiting over a year for their first appointment has increased to 73,200 people, despite the reformed target to remove all of these cases by the spring of this year.
So, despite the fact that we're on our third First Minister and third health Minister, and targets that change on a whim, the record of failure of the Labour Government here is consistent, ongoing and unacceptable.
And what makes it worse? Their utter refusal to admit failure, let alone change course. Take this: back in our original debate in February 2024, the then health Minister, now First Minister, dismissed the idea of a health emergency altogether. She couldn't see the point of it, even while over the border, her soon-to-be political bedfellows in England were pushing for the same declaration. That wasn't leadership. That was denial. That was spin. That was the tired, broken routine of a party that's been in charge of the NHS in Wales for a quarter of a century and run it into the ground. And if the First Minister truly believes that the Welsh public are only now losing patience with waiting lists, then I'd suggest that she starts a new listening exercise.
Eleven months ago, it was nothing but a public relations exercise, with no real listening taking place. Now she should spend the summer really listening to the stories of those still waiting in pain, in fear and in despair, because claiming that this Government is making progress in the very same week that waiting lists rose and two-year waits topped 9,000 is not just misleading, it's insulting. Her Government set a target of 8,000 by spring and missed it. That was already a back-pedal from the original goal to eliminate these waits by March 2023. This isn't progress, this is abdication.
So, who's going to step up where Labour have fallen short? It won't be the Tories, too busy finding new ways of being on the wrong side of history while their austerity legacy continues to haunt our services. And it certainly won't be the populist vultures of the far right, who don't even hide their ambition to sell our NHS to their mates and flog expensive insurance covers to the most vulnerable and those least able to afford it. It's Plaid Cymru, with real plans, real ambition and a real vision to tackle the backlog, to rebuild primary care, to shift towards prevention, to reform governance and to finally deliver a national care service. This is what leadership looks like, and it can't come soon enough.
A beth sy'n ei wneud yn waeth? Y ffordd y maent yn gwrthod cyfaddef methiant, heb sôn am newid cwrs. Cymerwch hyn: yn ôl yn ein dadl wreiddiol ym mis Chwefror 2024, gwrthododd y Gweinidog iechyd ar y pryd, sydd bellach yn Brif Weinidog, y syniad o argyfwng iechyd yn gyfan gwbl. Ni allai weld ei bwynt, er bod y rhai a ddôi'n gymheiriaid gwleidyddol iddi dros y ffin yn Lloegr yn gwthio am yr un datganiad. Nid arweinyddiaeth oedd hynny. Gwadu realiti ydoedd, sbin. Yr un hen drefn dreuliedig, doredig gan blaid sydd wedi bod yn gyfrifol am y GIG yng Nghymru ers chwarter canrif, ac sydd wedi ei ddifa. Ac os yw'r Prif Weinidog o ddifrif yn credu mai dim ond nawr y mae'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru yn colli amynedd gyda rhestrau aros, carwn awgrymu ei bod hi'n dechrau ymarfer gwrando newydd.
Un mis ar ddeg yn ôl, nid oedd yn ddim ond ymarfer cysylltiadau cyhoeddus, heb unrhyw wrando go iawn yn digwydd. Nawr dylai dreulio'r haf yn gwrando ar straeon y rhai sy'n dal i aros mewn poen, mewn ofn ac mewn anobaith, oherwydd mae honni bod y Llywodraeth hon yn gwneud cynnydd yn yr un wythnos ag y tyfodd y rhestrau aros ac y cyrhaeddodd y nifer sy'n aros dwy flynedd 9,000 nid yn unig yn gamarweiniol, mae'n sarhaus. Gosododd ei Llywodraeth darged o 8,000 erbyn y gwanwyn a'i fethu. Roedd eisoes wedi cefnu ar y nod gwreiddiol i ddileu'r amseroedd aros hyn erbyn mis Mawrth 2023. Nid cynnydd yw hyn, ond ymwrthod â chyfrifoldeb.
Felly, pwy sy'n mynd i gamu i'r adwy lle mae Llafur wedi methu? Nid y Torïaid, sy'n rhy brysur yn dod o hyd i ffyrdd newydd o fod ar yr ochr anghywir i hanes tra bo'u gwaddol o gyni'n parhau i aflonyddu ar ein gwasanaethau. Ac yn sicr nid fwlturiaid poblyddol y dde eithafol, nad ydynt hyd yn oed yn cuddio eu huchelgais i werthu ein GIG i'w ffrindiau a gwerthu yswiriant drud i'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed a'r rhai lleiaf abl i allu ei fforddio. Plaid Cymru sy'n mynd i allu gwneud hynny, gyda chynlluniau go iawn, uchelgais go iawn a gweledigaeth go iawn i fynd i'r afael â'r ôl-groniad, i ailadeiladu gofal sylfaenol, i symud tuag at atal, i ddiwygio llywodraethiant a darparu gwasanaeth gofal gwladol o'r diwedd. Dyma sut beth yw arweinyddiaeth, ac ni all ddod yn ddigon buan.
I don't think we have a health emergency. We do definitely have a public health emergency, but I think that we should be proud of the work that our consultants in the hospitals are doing to become more efficient and to deal with the backlogs that have been accumulated as a result of COVID. But neither the Conservative nor the Plaid spokesperson seemed to want to talk about anything other than the waiting lists and the suffering. I absolutely accept some people are having to wait—
Nid wyf yn credu bod gennym argyfwng iechyd. Mae gennym argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus yn bendant, ond rwy'n credu y dylem fod yn falch o'r gwaith y mae ein meddygon ymgynghorol yn yr ysbytai yn ei wneud i ddod yn fwy effeithlon ac i ddelio â'r ôl-groniadau sydd wedi cronni o ganlyniad i COVID. Ond nid oedd y Ceidwadwyr na llefarydd Plaid Cymru eisiau siarad am unrhyw beth heblaw'r rhestrau aros a'r dioddefaint. Rwy'n derbyn yn llwyr fod rhai pobl yn gorfod aros—
Jenny, will you take an intervention?
Jenny, a wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes.
Gwnaf.
I think it's a bit of a misrepresentation there, because I talked about dentistry, I talked about mental health, I talked about a number of different elements in my opening, so I hope you'll just acknowledge that on the record, please.
Rwy'n credu eich bod yn camddarlunio yno braidd, oherwydd fe siaradais i am ddeintyddiaeth, fe siaradais am iechyd meddwl, siaradais am nifer o elfennau gwahanol yn fy agoriad, felly rwy'n gobeithio y gwnewch chi gofnodi eich bod yn cydnabod hynny, os gwelwch yn dda.
Okay. I'm about to get on to some of these other issues, I just think that you both are very, very comfortable talking about waiting lists and the problems it causes for individual patients, and I absolutely acknowledge that, we have to deal with that, but we also have to look at the underlying causes that are much more troubling—long-term issues that we need to start dealing with and that you guys just don't seem to want to talk about.
O'r gorau. Rwy'n mynd i symud ymlaen at rai o'r materion eraill hyn, rwy'n credu bod y ddau ohonoch chi'n gyfforddus iawn yn siarad am restrau aros a'r problemau y mae'n eu hachosi i gleifion unigol, ac rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr fod yn rhaid inni ddelio â hynny, ond mae'n rhaid inni edrych ar yr achosion sylfaenol hefyd sy'n llawer mwy pryderus—problemau hirdymor y mae angen inni ddechrau ymdrin â hwy ac nad ydych chi fel pe baech chi eisiau siarad amdanynt.
Thanks for giving way. I accept that the waiting list scandal is a symptom of a deeper problem in the health service, and that's to do with looking at the preventative agenda, looking at social care, looking at primary care. All of these things, we've put debates forward about them. You haven't supported all of them; we accept that, but your Government isn't getting to grips with that. Do you accept that?
Diolch am ildio. Rwy'n derbyn bod y sgandal rhestrau aros yn symptom o broblem ddyfnach yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, a bod hynny'n ymwneud ag edrych ar yr agenda ataliol, edrych ar ofal cymdeithasol, edrych ar ofal sylfaenol. Rydym wedi cynnig dadleuon ynghylch yr holl bethau hyn. Nid ydych chi wedi cefnogi pob un ohonynt; rydym yn derbyn hynny, ond nid yw eich Llywodraeth yn mynd i'r afael â hynny. A ydych chi'n derbyn hynny?
I accept that, so far, nobody has wanted to debate in the long-form debates the prevention and early intervention issues that I want to debate in the long term. But it's good to hear that you do accept that there is a problem there, too.
So, we have to acknowledge that both the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and the Auditor General for Wales are highlighting really clearly that we need to do more about prevention. We're never going to arrive—and nor do we want to sit on our laurels and say, 'Oh, we'll deal with the waiting lists', we have to have a much healthier nation. And that means that we need to start at the beginning.
Yesterday, we heard about the progress that we've made on children's oral health. It is a really clear example of how early intervention has led to a massive reduction in the percentage of primary school children who have decayed, missing or filled teeth. This is a really important statistic. This is one of the most accurate ways in which we understand where the deprivation is and also where we need to put in extra support. But it is really significant if we are reducing by one third the number of pupils overall who no longer have decay.
Rwy'n derbyn, hyd yn hyn, nad oes neb wedi bod eisiau dadlau yn y dadleuon hir y materion atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar yr wyf i am eu trafod yn y tymor hir. Ond mae'n dda clywed eich bod chi'n derbyn bod problem yno hefyd.
Felly, mae'n rhaid inni gydnabod bod Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol Cymru ac Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru yn tynnu sylw'n glir iawn at y ffaith bod angen inni wneud mwy am atal. Nid ydym byth mynd i gyrraedd—ac nid ydym ychwaith eisiau gorffwys ar ein rhwyfau a dweud, 'O, fe awn i'r afael â'r rhestrau aros', mae'n rhaid inni gael cenedl lawer iachach. Ac mae hynny'n golygu bod angen inni ddechrau o'r dechrau.
Ddoe, clywsom am y cynnydd a wnaethom ar iechyd y geg ymhlith plant. Mae'n enghraifft glir iawn o sut y mae ymyrraeth gynnar wedi arwain at ostyngiad enfawr yng nghanran y plant ysgol gynradd sydd wedi colli dannedd, neu sydd â dannedd coll neu lenwadau yn eu dannedd. Mae'n ystadegyn pwysig iawn. Dyma un o'r ffyrdd mwyaf cywir o ddeall lle mae'r amddifadedd a hefyd lle mae angen inni roi cymorth ychwanegol. Ond mae'n wirioneddol arwyddocaol os ydym yn gweld gostyngiad o draean yn nifer y disgyblion yn gyffredinol nad oes ganddynt bydredd dannedd mwyach.
Janet Finch-Saunders has her hand up wishing to make an intervention. Do you wish to accept it?
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders wedi codi ei llaw i ofyn am gael gwneud ymyriad. A ydych chi'n dymuno ei dderbyn?
Yes, I accept the intervention. I didn't see you.
Iawn, fe wnaf dderbyn yr ymyriad. Ni wnes eich gweld.
Janet, the intervention.
Janet, yr ymyriad.
Yes, sorry, my mike hadn't come on. Just if I could ask the Member, Jenny Rathbone, that considering that she represents all of her constituents how she cannot see, just in her own constituency, the fact that we do have a health emergency. And also, she has cited the future generations commissioner. Only last week, I think it was, or the week before, I cited my concerns regarding his role. Does she not agree with me that the money that is spent on the future generations commissioner and the office—that money actually might help us better if that was actually going into the health service, instead of funding a future generations commissioner?
Ie, mae'n ddrwg gennyf, nid oedd fy meicroffon wedi'i agor. Os caf ofyn i'r Aelod, Jenny Rathbone, o ystyried ei bod yn cynrychioli ei holl etholwyr, sut na all hi weld, yn ei hetholaeth ei hun, fod gennym argyfwng iechyd. A hefyd, mae hi wedi dyfynnu comisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Yr wythnos diwethaf, rwy'n credu, neu'r wythnos cynt, mynegais fy mhryderon ynglŷn â'i rôl. Onid yw hi'n cytuno â mi y gallai'r arian sy'n cael ei wario ar gomisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol a'r swydd—y gallai'r arian hwnnw ein helpu ni'n well pe bai hwnnw'n mynd i mewn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd, yn hytrach na chyllido comisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol?
Thank you for putting forward that proposition. I fundamentally disagree with that. Fundamentally.
But we can't just wait until children get into school, we have to intervene a lot earlier, and that does involve the health service. We need to support people better antenatally, we need to support people better postnatally, and as I mentioned yesterday in my intervention, it's not just about measuring children's teeth once they've got teeth, what are we doing to protect children's teeth before they emerge from the gums? So, I hope that the health Secretary in his response will be able to tell us what the role of health visitors is in advising parents to put only water or milk into a bottle and to never put these fizzy drinks into a bottle, because that is guaranteed to give a child tooth decay.
I also want to talk about the fact that the reason that we are so sick is a deliberate attempt—well, a deliberate action, by the food industry, who are acting just like the tobacco industry, to constantly be flogging food that is killing us. Wes Streeting, I'm glad to say, has started to talk about the cost that this is burdening the health service with, and if we don't take firm action to not just ask nicely of the food industry to change the way in which they are promoting foods that are killing us, but to—. Also, I think there should be some fiscal incentives on them to change.
People in all our communities, particularly our poorest communities, need access to clean, fresh food, unadulterated by additives, because we know that this is rapidly becoming the main cause of early death, as it presents itself in diabetes, it presents itself in heart disease and it presents itself in other conditions—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—as well. We absolutely have to grip this one, and we need to start having to ensure that every community has access to fresh food—
Diolch am gynnig yr awgrym hwnnw. Rwy'n anghytuno â hynny'n sylfaenol.
Ond ni allwn aros nes bod plant yn mynd i'r ysgol, mae'n rhaid inni ymyrryd yn llawer cynharach, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae angen inni gefnogi pobl yn well cyn geni, mae angen inni gefnogi pobl yn well ar ôl geni, ac fel y soniais ddoe yn fy ymyriad, nid mater o fesur dannedd plant ar ôl iddynt gael dannedd ydyw, beth a wnawn i ddiogelu dannedd plant cyn iddynt ddod allan o'r deintgig? Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Ysgrifennydd iechyd yn ei ymateb yn gallu dweud wrthym beth yw rôl ymwelwyr iechyd o ran cynghori rhieni i roi dim byd ond dŵr neu laeth mewn potel a pheidio byth â rhoi diodydd pop mewn potel, oherwydd mae hynny'n sicr o roi pydredd dannedd i blentyn.
Rwyf hefyd eisiau sôn mai'r rheswm pam ein bod mor sâl yw'r ymgais fwriadol—wel, gweithred fwriadol, gan y diwydiant bwyd, sy'n gweithredu'n union fel y diwydiant tybaco, i werthu bwyd i ni sy'n ein lladd. Rwy'n falch o ddweud bod Wes Streeting wedi dechrau siarad am gost hyn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd, ac os na chymerwn gamau pendant nid yn unig i ofyn yn garedig i'r diwydiant bwyd newid y ffordd y maent yn hyrwyddo bwydydd sy'n ein lladd, ond i—. Hefyd, rwy'n credu y dylid cael cymhellion cyllidol i wneud iddynt newid.
Mae pobl yn ein holl gymunedau, yn enwedig ein cymunedau tlotaf, angen mynediad at fwyd glân, ffres, heb ei halogi gan ychwanegion, oherwydd fe wyddom fod hyn yn prysur ddod yn brif achos marwolaeth gynnar, wrth iddo arwain at ddiabetes, at glefyd y galon ac at gyflyrau eraill—clefyd rhwystrol cronig yr ysgyfaint—hefyd. Mae'n rhaid inni gael rheolaeth ar hyn, ac mae angen inni ddechrau sicrhau bod gan bob cymuned fynediad at fwyd ffres—
Jenny, I've given you additional time.
Jenny, rwyf wedi rhoi amser ychwanegol i chi.
—and a healthy diet. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
—a deiet iach. Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd.
Health is one of the top issues that constituents get in touch with me about, and I'm afraid to say it's for all the wrong reasons. It is clear that successive Labour Governments have failed to address the challenges within our health service over the years. If anything, things continue to go from bad to worse under Labour's watch, and, perhaps more worryingly, failure within the Welsh Government to turn things around seems to end in promotion. Mark Drakeford, Vaughan Gething and Eluned Morgan all presided over the health brief, failed to deliver successful results, and ended up being First Minister, albeit as a brief stint for one of them. Perhaps that's why the current postholder might have jumped at the chance to be health Minister. Second time lucky, eh, Cabinet Secretary?
NHS treatment lists remain shamefully high, with just shy of 780,000 patient pathways open, and that's the equivalent of nearly one in four people. In my view, the Welsh Government should hang its head in shame over that statistic. The latest figures show that two-year waits for treatments are up in Wales again to 9,600, whereas across the board in England it's just 171.
Just 50 per cent of red calls, the most serious, received an emergency ambulance response within the eight-minute target time, down from the previous month, and we are still nowhere near hitting the target of 95 per cent of patients waiting fewer than four hours in Welsh A&E departments.
That's the grim picture nationally, and, locally, I'm afraid it's no better. In my region of south-east Wales, we have more than 141,000 patient pathways within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, with 14,716 patients waiting over a year for the first appointment. A staggering 24,666 patients have been waiting longer than a year for treatment in April 2025, and nearly one in five patients are waiting longer than a year. Not only that, 374 patients were waiting more than two years for treatment in April 2025.
The Grange hospital has 57.5 per cent of patients waiting fewer than four hours in its emergency department, the fourth worst in Wales. Shockingly, 1,115 patients were waiting more than 12 hours at the Grange in May this year, which works out to be 15 per cent of the total patients seen at the department. These aren't just statistics. These are my constituents languishing in pain in the waiting room, on the waiting list, for treatment, and this is utterly unacceptable.
As I said, issues relating to our health service—and I must stress, they are not at all aimed in any way, shape or form at the dedicated staff who work under immense pressure and in challenging conditions—are indeed the most common topic of discussions that constituents get in touch with me about. I want to share some examples of the abhorrent situations real people are facing here in Wales. This is just a simple snapshot of some of the cases I've come across since becoming an MS in 2021.
A constituent forced to wait eight hours at the back of an ambulance after having a stroke. An 86-year-old constituent having to wait eight hours in the cold and rain, having suffered a nasty fall in a retail park. A 65-year-old constituent forced to wait for 37 hours at the Grange A&E department with a suspected bleed on the brain. Twice, the Grange hospital has released the wrong body to families. One family had to hold a second funeral after cremating the body of a different person. A constituent suffering a heart attack facing a five-hour wait for an ambulance.
Constituents being treated in unacceptable locations within hospitals, such as armchairs, corridors and cupboards, are increasingly common in my inbox. Perhaps one of the most upsetting cases I have dealt with is one that I mentioned here in this Chamber before, and I feel that I should mention it again, that of a 98-year-old constituent who faced a 14-hour wait for an ambulance after falling at home. Two days after initial contact, her condition deteriorated, an ambulance arrived at her home and took her to the Grange, where she faced a nine and a half hour wait in an ambulance before being admitted to hospital. She was transferred then to the Royal Gwent, where a doctor phoned my constituent’s son, who happened to be just outside in the car park, to tell him to hurry to the hospital because his mother didn’t have much time to live. After entering the hospital a short while after the call, he was informed that, in actual fact, his mother had died four hours prior to making the call.
If horrifying and tragic accounts like these aren’t enough for the Welsh Government to realise that something is horribly wrong and declare a health emergency, then I really don’t know what else it’s going to take. I sincerely hope that the Cabinet Secretary takes on board all of the contributions made here today in the debate and acts accordingly. Thank you.
Iechyd yw un o'r prif bethau y mae etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi yn ei gylch, ac rwy'n ofni dweud ei fod am yr holl resymau anghywir. Mae'n amlwg fod Llywodraethau Llafur olynol wedi methu mynd i'r afael â'r heriau yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd dros y blynyddoedd. Os rhywbeth, mae pethau'n parhau i fynd o ddrwg i waeth o dan oruchwyliaeth Llafur, ac efallai'n fwy pryderus, mae'n ymddangos bod methiant o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru i newid pethau'n arwain at ddyrchafiad. Llywyddodd Mark Drakeford, Vaughan Gething ac Eluned Morgan i gyd dros y briff iechyd, gan fethu cyflawni canlyniadau llwyddiannus, a dod yn Brif Weinidogion yn y pen draw, er mai am gyfnod byr yn achos un ohonynt. Efallai mai dyna pam y gallai deiliad presennol y swydd fod wedi neidio ar y cyfle i fod yn Weinidog iechyd. Gwell lwc tro nesaf, ie, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet?
Mae rhestrau triniaeth y GIG yn parhau i fod yn gywilyddus o uchel, gydag ychydig llai na 780,000 o lwybrau cleifion ar agor, ac mae hynny bron yn un o bob pedwar o bobl. Yn fy marn i, dylai Llywodraeth Cymru fod â chywilydd ynghylch yr ystadegyn hwnnw. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos bod amseroedd aros o ddwy flynedd am driniaethau wedi codi yng Nghymru eto i 9,600, er mai dim ond 171 yw'r ffigur yn Lloegr.
Dim ond 50 y cant o'r galwadau coch, y mwyaf difrifol, a gafodd ymateb ambiwlans brys o fewn yr amser targed o wyth munud, i lawr o'r mis blaenorol, ac rydym yn dal i fod ymhell iawn o'r targed o 95 y cant o gleifion i aros llai na phedair awr yn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys Cymru.
Dyna'r darlun llwm yn genedlaethol, ac rwy'n ofni nad yw'n ddim gwell yn lleol. Yn fy rhanbarth i yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, mae gennym fwy na 141,000 o lwybrau cleifion ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan, gyda 14,716 o gleifion yn aros dros flwyddyn am apwyntiad cyntaf. Ym mis Ebrill 2025, roedd 24,666 o gleifion wedi bod yn aros mwy na blwyddyn am driniaeth, ac mae bron i un o bob pump o gleifion yn aros mwy na blwyddyn. Nid yn unig hynny, roedd 374 o gleifion yn aros mwy na dwy flynedd am driniaeth ym mis Ebrill 2025.
Mae 57.5 y cant o gleifion ysbyty'r Faenor yn aros llai na phedair awr yn ei adran frys, y pedwerydd gwaethaf yng Nghymru. Yn syfrdanol, roedd 1,115 o gleifion yn aros mwy na 12 awr yn y Faenor ym mis Mai eleni, sy'n 15 y cant o gyfanswm y cleifion a welir yn yr adran. Nid ystadegau'n unig yw'r rhain. Maent yn etholwyr i mi, sy'n dihoeni mewn poen yn yr ystafell aros, ar y rhestrau aros i gael triniaeth, ac mae hyn yn gwbl annerbyniol.
Fel y dywedais, pethau'n ymwneud â'n gwasanaeth iechyd—ac mae'n rhaid imi bwysleisio, nid ydynt wedi'u hanelu o gwbl at y staff ymroddedig sy'n gweithio o dan bwysau aruthrol ac mewn amodau heriol—yw'r pwnc trafod mwyaf cyffredin y mae etholwyr yn cysylltu â mi yn ei gylch. Rwyf am rannu rhai enghreifftiau o'r sefyllfaoedd ffiaidd y mae pobl go iawn yn eu hwynebu yma yng Nghymru. Dim ond ciplun syml yw hwn o rai o'r achosion y deuthum ar eu traws ers dod yn Aelod o'r Senedd yn 2021.
Etholwr a orfodwyd i aros wyth awr yng nghefn ambiwlans ar ôl cael strôc. Etholwr 86 oed yn gorfod aros wyth awr yn yr oerfel a'r glaw, ar ôl dioddef cwymp cas mewn parc manwerthu. Etholwr 65 oed yn cael ei orfodi i aros am 37 awr yn adran damweiniau ac achosion brys y Faenor gydag amheuaeth o waedu ar yr ymennydd. Ddwywaith, mae ysbyty'r Faenor wedi rhyddhau'r corff anghywir i deuluoedd. Bu'n rhaid i un teulu gynnal ail angladd ar ôl amlosgi corff person gwahanol. Etholwr yn dioddef trawiad ar y galon yn wynebu amser aros o bum awr am ambiwlans.
Mae etholwyr sy'n cael eu trin mewn lleoliadau annerbyniol mewn ysbytai, fel cadeiriau breichiau, coridorau a chypyrddau, yn fwyfwy cyffredin yn fy mewnflwch. Efallai mai un o'r achosion mwyaf emosiynol y deliais ag ef yw un y soniais amdano yma yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen, ac rwy'n teimlo y dylwn sôn amdano eto, etholwr 98 oed a wynebai amser aros o 14 awr am ambiwlans ar ôl cwympo yn ei chartref. Ddau ddiwrnod ar ôl y cyswllt cychwynnol, gwaethygodd ei chyflwr, cyrhaeddodd ambiwlans ei chartref a mynd â hi i'r Faenor, lle wynebodd amser aros o naw awr a hanner mewn ambiwlans cyn cael ei derbyn i'r ysbyty. Cafodd ei throsglwyddo wedyn i Ysbyty Brenhinol Gwent, lle ffoniodd meddyg fab fy etholwr, a oedd yn digwydd bod y tu allan yn y maes parcio, i ddweud wrtho am frysio i'r ysbyty am nad oedd gan ei fam lawer o amser i fyw. Ar ôl mynd i mewn i'r ysbyty'n fuan ar ôl yr alwad, cafodd wybod bod ei fam wedi marw bedair awr cyn i'r alwad gael ei gwneud.
Os nad yw hanesion erchyll a thrasig fel hyn yn ddigon i Lywodraeth Cymru sylweddoli bod rhywbeth o'i le'n ofnadwy a datgan argyfwng iechyd, nid wyf yn gwybod beth arall y mae'n mynd i'w gymryd. Rwy'n gobeithio'n ddiffuant y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ystyried yr holl gyfraniadau a wnaed yma heddiw yn y ddadl ac yn gweithredu'n unol â hynny. Diolch.
I’ll be supporting the motion that calls on the Welsh Government to declare a health emergency. Our health services have been in crisis for many years, and recognising the position that we’re in is the first step to addressing the situation. Of course, each time that we see the waiting list statistics published, the Welsh Government, each time, attempts to put a positive spin on those figures. But the reality is that the Welsh Government continue to miss their own targets each time they are published and there is no prospect, sadly, of them hitting their own targets.
Further frustrating is when the Welsh Government publish misleading information about Powys patients' waiting times. The Welsh Government, only in May, declared that Powys Teaching Health Board have no patients waiting more than two years for treatment. That is untrue and the Government know it’s untrue, yet they continue to peddle that misinformation. The Welsh Government, when talking about Powys patients, should do so reporting the situation correctly. Of course the Welsh Government know that most patients in Powys receive their treatment over the border in England, or in other hospitals in other parts of Wales. Of course it’s true that no patient in Powys is waiting for treatment in a district general hospital in the county, because there aren’t any. So, this shows—this shows—the fundamental misunderstanding of how health services are commissioned and patients receive healthcare services in Powys.
I want to talk to the Labour Government’s amendment today. The Government claim that they are addressing the issue of improving waiting times. If the Government were serious about cutting waiting times in Wales, they would be making use of the available spare capacity in England—spare capacity just over the border. There is spare capacity in Hereford, in Oswestry, in Shrewsbury and Telford—[Interruption.] Do you want to make an intervention?
Byddaf yn cefnogi'r cynnig sy'n galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ddatgan argyfwng iechyd. Mae ein gwasanaethau iechyd wedi bod mewn argyfwng ers blynyddoedd lawer, a chydnabod y sefyllfa yr ydym ynddi yw'r cam cyntaf i fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa. Wrth gwrs, bob tro y gwelwn yr ystadegau rhestrau aros yn cael eu cyhoeddi, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, bob tro, yn ceisio rhoi sbin cadarnhaol ar y ffigurau hynny. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru'n parhau i fethu cyflawni eu targedau eu hunain bob tro y cânt eu cyhoeddi ac yn anffodus, nid oes ganddynt unrhyw obaith o gyrraedd eu targedau eu hunain.
Testun rhwystredigaeth pellach yw'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n cyhoeddi gwybodaeth gamarweiniol am amseroedd aros cleifion Powys. Ym mis Mai, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru nad oes gan Fwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys unrhyw gleifion sy'n aros mwy na dwy flynedd am driniaeth. Mae hynny'n anghywir ac mae'r Llywodraeth yn gwybod ei fod yn anghywir, ond maent yn parhau i gyhoeddi'r gamwybodaeth honno. Wrth siarad am gleifion Powys, dylai Llywodraeth Cymru wneud hynny gan adrodd ar y sefyllfa'n gywir. Wrth gwrs, mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n gwybod bod y rhan fwyaf o gleifion ym Mhowys yn cael eu triniaeth dros y ffin yn Lloegr, neu mewn ysbytai eraill mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru. Wrth gwrs mae'n wir nad oes unrhyw glaf ym Mhowys yn aros am driniaeth mewn ysbyty cyffredinol dosbarth yn y sir, gan nad oes un i'w gael. Felly, mae hyn yn dangos—mae hyn yn dangos—camddealltwriaeth sylfaenol o sut y mae gwasanaethau iechyd yn cael eu comisiynu a chleifion yn cael gwasanaethau gofal iechyd ym Mhowys.
Rwyf am siarad am welliant y Llywodraeth Lafur heddiw. Mae'r Llywodraeth yn honni eu bod yn mynd i'r afael â mater gwella amseroedd aros. Pe bai'r Llywodraeth o ddifrif ynglŷn â lleihau amseroedd aros yng Nghymru, byddent yn defnyddio'r capasiti dros ben sydd ar gael yn Lloegr—capasiti dros ben ychydig dros y ffin. Mae capasiti dros ben yn Henffordd, yng Nghroesoswallt, yn Amwythig a Telford—[Torri ar draws.] A ydych chi eisiau gwneud ymyriad?
Thank you. It's just, from my experience—. I've got family and relatives and friends that live across the border and they've been telling me stories there about corridor care, which I've heard previously from Mabon, and issues about waiting in ambulances as well. So, I just know that it's not perfect across the border, to compare it.
Diolch. Yn fy mhrofiad i—. Mae gennyf deulu a pherthnasau a ffrindiau sy'n byw ar draws y ffin ac maent wedi bod yn dweud straeon wrthyf yno am ofal yn y coridorau, y clywais amdano'n flaenorol gan Mabon, a phroblemau gydag aros mewn ambiwlansys hefyd. Felly, rwy'n gwybod nad yw'n berffaith ar draws y ffin, fel cymhariaeth.
So, I didn't say it was perfect across the border. I think what you're talking about is emergency care, which I accept, but we're talking about treatment, planned treatment. That's what I'm talking about. And we know that what I've just said is correct, because Powys Teaching Health Board have asked providers in England, in those hospitals I just mentioned, to deliberately slow down treatment despite there being capacity to treat them. And we're talking about planned care, not emergency care. So, I understand why you make the point.
But why did Powys Teaching Health Board make that decision? They made that decision, according to them, as they needed to undertake this action to respond to the financial expectations set out by the Welsh Government. This is not about a lack of capacity in health services across the UK, it is purely a financial decision. And of course, I know that the Petitions Committee debated this very issue about Powys waiting times earlier this week, following a petition submitted by Joy Jones. It is indefensible, I think, to ask providers in England to slow down the delivery of care for Powys patients, despite there being sufficient capacity. It is completely unacceptable to treat Powys patients as second-class citizens. Of course, when I've raised this with the First Minister, with the health Cabinet Secretary, at times, both of them have said to me that this is not acceptable. The First Minister has said—in committees, in this Chamber and in statements to the press—that what I have just outlined is unacceptable. Yet the reality is that the Government are accepting that position. They are accepting that Powys patients will wait longer than English patients when being treated in the same hospitals and when being seen by the same health professionals, simply because they live in Powys.
Last month, the health Secretary made an announcement that £120 million will be provided to help cut waiting times. I thought, 'This is good news. This must be good news for Powys patients.' This is mentioned, of course, also in the Government's amendment today. In a written response to my written question this week, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that, of the 200,000 appointments mentioned to reduce the overall size of the waiting list, none—none of these—would help Powys patients waiting for treatment in English hospitals. Zero.
The unique geography of Powys means that more of its residents are closer to hospitals in England than they are to hospitals in Wales. Indeed, the only hospital in mid Wales, of course, is Aberystwyth, which of course is threatened at the moment with the downgrading of vital stroke services. Twelve thousand Powys patients are currently waiting for treatment in English hospitals. Those patients will, quite rightly, feel short-changed by the Government's announcement, which the Government has admitted themselves will not include any help for them.
As I come to a close, I want to, in one sentence, say what I think the Government should do. I'll put this in a question to the Cabinet Secretary. Will he use part of that £120 million fund that he announced just 13 days ago to ensure that Powys Teaching Health Board is funded to a point where it is able to buy healthcare capacity in England, based on English waiting times targets?
Ni ddywedais ei fod yn berffaith ar draws y ffin. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn rydych chi'n siarad amdano yw gofal brys, ac rwy'n derbyn hynny, ond rydym ni'n siarad am driniaeth, triniaeth wedi'i chynllunio. Am hynny rwy'n siarad. Ac rydym yn gwybod bod yr hyn rwyf newydd ei ddweud yn gywir, oherwydd mae Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys wedi gofyn i ddarparwyr yn Lloegr, yn yr ysbytai rwyf newydd eu crybwyll, i arafu triniaeth yn fwriadol er bod capasiti i'w trin. Ac rydym yn siarad am ofal wedi'i gynllunio, nid gofal brys. Felly, rwy'n deall pam eich bod chi'n gwneud y pwynt.
Ond pam y gwnaeth Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys y penderfyniad hwnnw? Fe wnaethant y penderfyniad hwnnw, yn ôl yr hyn a ddywedant, am fod angen iddynt weithredu fel hyn i ymateb i'r disgwyliadau ariannol a nodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Nid oes a wnelo hyn â diffyg capasiti mewn gwasanaethau iechyd ledled y DU, mae'n benderfyniad ariannol llwyr. Ac wrth gwrs, rwy'n gwybod bod y Pwyllgor Deisebau wedi trafod yr union fater hwn ynglŷn ag amseroedd aros Powys yn gynharach yr wythnos hon, yn dilyn deiseb a gyflwynwyd gan Joy Jones. Nid oes unrhyw fath o esgus dros ofyn i ddarparwyr yn Lloegr arafu'r broses o ddarparu gofal i gleifion Powys, er bod digon o gapasiti'n bodoli. Mae'n gwbl annerbyniol trin cleifion Powys fel dinasyddion eilradd. Wrth gwrs, pan wyf wedi tynnu sylw'r Prif Weinidog, ac Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd at hyn, mae'r ddau ohonynt wedi dweud wrthyf ar wahanol adegau nad yw hyn yn dderbyniol. Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi dweud—mewn pwyllgorau, yn y Siambr hon ac mewn datganiadau i'r wasg—fod yr hyn rwyf newydd ei ddisgrifio'n annerbyniol. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod y Llywodraeth yn derbyn y sefyllfa. Maent yn derbyn y bydd cleifion Powys yn aros yn hwy na chleifion Lloegr pan fyddant yn cael eu trin yn yr un ysbytai a phan fyddant yn cael eu gweld gan yr un gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol, yn syml am eu bod yn byw ym Mhowys.
Fis diwethaf, cyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd iechyd y bydd £120 miliwn yn cael ei ddarparu i helpu i leihau amseroedd aros. 'Mae hyn yn newyddion da,' meddyliais. 'Rhaid bod hyn yn newyddion da i gleifion Powys.' Caiff hyn ei grybwyll hefyd yng ngwelliant y Llywodraeth heddiw. Mewn ymateb ysgrifenedig i fy nghwestiwn ysgrifenedig yr wythnos hon, cadarnhaodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, o'r 200,000 o apwyntiadau a grybwyllwyd i leihau maint y rhestr aros yn ei chyfanrwydd, na fyddai unrhyw un o'r rhain yn helpu cleifion Powys sy'n aros am driniaeth yn ysbytai Lloegr. Sero.
Mae daearyddiaeth unigryw Powys yn golygu bod mwy o'i thrigolion yn agosach at ysbytai yn Lloegr nag at ysbytai yng Nghymru. Yn wir, yr unig ysbyty yng nghanolbarth Cymru yw Aberystwyth wrth gwrs, sydd dan fygythiad ar hyn o bryd gydag israddio gwasanaethau strôc hanfodol. Ar hyn o bryd mae 12,000 o gleifion Powys yn aros am driniaeth mewn ysbytai yn Lloegr. Bydd y cleifion hynny, yn gywir ddigon, yn teimlo'u bod yn cael cam yng nghyhoeddiad y Llywodraeth, cyhoeddiad y mae'r Llywodraeth ei hun wedi cyfaddef na fydd yn cynnwys unrhyw gymorth iddynt hwy.
Wrth imi ddod i ben, rwyf am ddweud, mewn un frawddeg, beth y credaf y dylai'r Llywodraeth ei wneud. Fe roddaf hyn mewn cwestiwn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. A wnaiff ddefnyddio rhan o'r gronfa £120 miliwn a gyhoeddodd 13 diwrnod yn ôl i sicrhau bod Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys yn cael ei ariannu i bwynt lle gall brynu capasiti gofal iechyd yn Lloegr, yn seiliedig ar dargedau amseroedd aros yn Lloegr?
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
I want to start by thanking James Evans and, obviously, my group for putting forward this motion for debate today. This motion put forward by the Welsh Conservatives is simple for a reason. All it is asking us to do, really, is to call a spade a spade. We only have to look at the NHS waiting lists, our A&E waiting times, our ambulance wait times, our dentistry wait times, our mental health wait times, to know that Wales is in a health emergency. Everyone in Wales can see that, other than, it seems, our Welsh Labour Senedd Ministers.
Anyone who has interacted with our health service knows that it is stretched to breaking point, with patients and staff at their wits' end. The staff work incredibly hard in very difficult circumstances, and they deserve as much credit as we can give them. We know that, once you get that treatment, the treatment is excellent. It is just getting in the system for that treatment that's the struggle.
We've heard from our health spokesperson, James Evans, about the shocking state that our health service is in in Wales. Specifically, in my region, one in five Aneurin Bevan health board patients wait over four hours in A&E departments. I, myself, have been in that A&E department and witnessed 18-hour plus waits a few times in the last couple of years. There have been critical incidents declared at the Aneurin Bevan health board, following sustained pressure and demand. There are also still hundreds of two-year waits at the health board, and the waiting list for community paediatrics has increased 117 per cent from 2015 to 2024. Natasha Asghar has, eloquently, already put and laid out the stark statistics and examples from our region, so I won't repeat. But I will reiterate just how appalling things have gotten in our region and across Wales.
What is genuinely concerning, Cabinet Secretary, is that this Welsh Government don't recognise the scale of the problem, and they don't even seem to think that they're responsible for it. Yesterday, I heard the First Minister say that the health Minister was breathing down the necks of the people responsible for two-year waits in Betsi Cadwaladr health board. The people responsible for our health service, and those extremely long waits across Wales, are sitting in this room or in Cathays Park. It is the Labour Welsh Government that is responsible for our chronic A&E waits, and our ambulance waits, and waits where, as James Evans said earlier, people are dying while waiting for an ambulance, or lying on the floor for unacceptable hours—the elderly waiting for an ambulance. This Government doesn't even blink when it wants to spend £120 million on more Senedd Members, when what Wales really needs is more doctors and nurses.
There are positives across Wales. I was delighted to recently visit the Velindre@Nevill Hall radiotherapy unit back in March, in Abergavenny in my region, which is much needed and very welcome, but it's taken an awful long time for people in my region to receive that cancer care that they deserve. We face huge—
Hoffwn ddechrau trwy ddiolch i James Evans ac yn amlwg, i fy ngrŵp am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn ar gyfer dadl heddiw. Mae'r cynnig hwn a gyflwynwyd gan y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn syml am reswm. Y cyfan y mae'n gofyn i ni ei wneud, mewn gwirionedd, yw siarad heb flewyn ar dafod. Nid oes ond angen edrych ar restrau aros y GIG, ein hamseroedd aros damweiniau ac achosion brys, ein hamseroedd aros ambiwlansys, ein hamseroedd aros deintyddiaeth, ein hamseroedd aros iechyd meddwl, i wybod bod Cymru mewn argyfwng iechyd. Gall pawb yng Nghymru weld hynny, heblaw Gweinidogion Senedd Lafur Cymru mae'n ymddangos.
Mae unrhyw un sydd wedi rhyngweithio â'n gwasanaeth iechyd yn gwybod ei fod dan bwysau enbyd, gyda chleifion a staff ar ben eu tennyn. Mae'r staff yn gweithio'n anhygoel o galed mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn, ac maent yn haeddu cymaint o glod ag y gallwn ei roi iddynt. Pan gewch chi'r driniaeth, fe wyddom ei bod hi'n ardderchog. Mynd i mewn i'r system i gael y driniaeth honno yw'r frwydr.
Fe glywsom gan ein llefarydd iechyd, James Evans, am gyflwr syfrdanol ein gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru. Yn fwyaf arbennig, yn fy rhanbarth i, mae un o bob pump o gleifion bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan yn aros dros bedair awr mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Rwyf i fy hun wedi bod yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys ac wedi bod yn dyst i 18 awr a mwy o aros ar fwy nag un achlysur dros y flwyddyn neu ddwy ddiwethaf. Cafodd digwyddiadau critigol eu datgan ym mwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan, yn dilyn pwysau a galw parhaus. Mae cannoedd hefyd yn dal i aros am ddwy flynedd yn y bwrdd iechyd, ac mae'r rhestr aros ar gyfer pediatreg gymunedol wedi tyfu 117 y cant rhwng 2015 a 2024. Mae Natasha Asghar eisoes wedi nodi'r ystadegau llwm a'r enghreifftiau yn ein rhanbarth, felly nid wyf am ailadrodd. Ond fe wnaf gadarnhau pa mor ofnadwy yw pethau yn ein rhanbarth ni ac ar draws Cymru.
Yr hyn sy'n wirioneddol bryderus, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yw nad yw'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru yn cydnabod maint y broblem, ac nid ydynt hyd yn oed i'w gweld yn meddwl mai eu cyfrifoldeb hwy ydyw. Ddoe, clywais y Prif Weinidog yn dweud bod y Gweinidog iechyd yn pwyso ar war y bobl sy'n gyfrifol am amseroedd aros o ddwy flynedd ym mwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae'r bobl sy'n gyfrifol am ein gwasanaeth iechyd, a'r amseroedd aros hir iawn hynny ledled Cymru yn eistedd yn yr ystafell hon neu ym Mharc Cathays. Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am ein hamseroedd aros cronig yn yr adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, ac mae ein hamseroedd aros am ambiwlans, ac amseroedd aros lle mae pobl, fel y dywedodd James Evans yn gynharach, yn marw wrth aros am ambiwlans, neu'n gorwedd ar y llawr am oriau annerbyniol—yr henoed yn aros am ambiwlans. Nid yw'r Llywodraeth hon yn cynhyrfu dim pan fo'n awyddus i wario £120 miliwn ar fwy o Aelodau i'r Senedd, er mai'r hyn sydd ei angen ar Gymru mewn gwirionedd yw mwy o feddygon a nyrsys.
Mae yna bethau cadarnhaol i'w gweld ledled Cymru. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o ymweld ag uned radiotherapi Felindre yn Ysbyty Nevill Hall ym mis Mawrth, yn y Fenni yn fy rhanbarth i, uned y mae ei hangen yn ddybryd ac un y mae croeso mawr iddi, ond mae wedi cymryd amser hir iawn i bobl yn fy rhanbarth i gael y gofal canser y maent yn ei haeddu. Rydym yn wynebu—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, of course.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
I just want to bring us back to the over-medicalisation of issues, because we could have lots more doctors and lots more nurses, and we would still have this problem if we don't deal with some of the causes. One of the most shocking facts I learnt today is that, as a result of all the enthusiasm for injections to resolve obesity, which are being flogged on the internet without any checks on people's suitability or the long-term impact on their health, we now in Cardiff have three to four admissions every single day of people who have taken these injections that they've bought on the internet, and these are people who are going to be preventing somebody having the planned operation that they may need. I'm glad to see Altaf Hussain is nodding and recognises that this is a problem. We have social issues that we have to deal with. We're not going to deal with it by just having more doctors and nurses.
Hoffwn fynd â ni'n ôl at or-feddyginiaethu problemau, gan y gallem gael llawer mwy o feddygon a llawer mwy o nyrsys, a byddai'r broblem hon gennym o hyd os nad awn i'r afael â rhai o'r achosion. Un o'r ffeithiau mwyaf syfrdanol a ddysgais heddiw, o ganlyniad i'r holl frwdfrydedd dros bigiadau i ddatrys gordewdra sy'n cael eu hyrwyddo ar y rhyngrwyd heb unrhyw archwiliadau i wirio addasrwydd pobl na'r effaith hirdymor ar eu hiechyd, yw bod tri i bedwar unigolyn sydd wedi defnyddio'r pigiadau hyn y maent wedi'u prynu ar y rhyngrwyd bellach yn cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty bob dydd yng Nghaerdydd, a'r rhain yw'r bobl a fydd yn atal rhywun rhag cael y llawdriniaeth a gynlluniwyd y gallai fod ei hangen arnynt. Rwy'n falch o weld bod Altaf Hussain yn nodio ac yn cydnabod bod hon yn broblem. Mae gennym broblemau cymdeithasol y mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael â hwy. Nid ydym yn mynd i ddelio â'r broblem drwy gael mwy o feddygon a nyrsys yn unig.
Yes, thank you for your intervention, Jenny. On that specific issue, I think those injections were to try and help with different health reasons, weren't they? People are using them for obesity, but that's not what they were intended for. There does need to be greater information out there about them, and that is something that I don't think any of us would deny is needed.
But you also talk about prevention, which is extremely important. I don't think anyone in here would deny the fact and wouldn't recognise the fact that we need to focus on prevention, but where is this prevention agenda that we hear so much about? I haven't seen anything of it, and it certainly doesn't translate into good statistics, does it? And those statistics are important, that we're all talking about today. They are very important and they paint a very stark picture about how your Government has failed over the past two decades at putting health on top of the agenda. It's an embarrassment compared to the rest of the UK, how we're dealing with things in Wales.
We need to get people out of hospital and into the community quicker. We need to free up those beds, and we need to get people in that community. That will help with that pressure on A&E. We can do that by putting more cash in the right places. It's all very well putting your fingers in your ears, Cabinet Secretary, but that won't get the waiting lists down or make ambulances arrive faster, or A&E waits shorter. Not using the English NHS, as we've just heard, which has been offered, just because they're English and you don't want to ask for help is just appalling when we are in dire need of help.
Declaring a health emergency will go some way to showing that this Welsh Government understands the magnitude of the issue that we're facing in Wales. Maybe then you'll drop your vanity projects and the distractions and focus on the efforts of our ailing health service for the good of patients and staff alike across Wales. The people of Wales have suffered for far too long. Your record on health is nothing short of an embarrassment. So, please, I urge everyone in this Chamber to support our Conservative motion today.
Ie, diolch am eich ymyriad, Jenny. Ar y mater penodol hwnnw, rwy'n credu mai diben y pigiadau hynny oedd ceisio helpu gyda gwahanol resymau iechyd. Mae pobl yn eu defnyddio ar gyfer gordewdra, ond nid dyna oedd eu bwriad. Mae angen mwy o wybodaeth amdanynt, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth nad wyf yn credu y byddai unrhyw un ohonom yn gwadu bod ei angen.
Ond rydych chi hefyd yn sôn am atal, sy'n hynod o bwysig. Nid wyf yn credu y byddai unrhyw un yma'n gwadu'r ffaith, ac na fyddai'n cydnabod bod angen inni ganolbwyntio ar atal, ond ble mae'r agenda atal hon y clywn gymaint amdani? Nid wyf wedi gweld dim ohoni, ac yn sicr, nid yw'n trosi'n ystadegau da. Ac mae'r ystadegau y mae pob un ohonom yn siarad amdanynt heddiw yn bwysig. Maent yn bwysig iawn ac maent yn paentio darlun llwm iawn o sut y mae eich Llywodraeth wedi methu rhoi iechyd ar frig yr agenda dros y ddau ddegawd diwethaf. Mae'r ffordd rydym yn delio â phethau yng Nghymru yn embaras o gymharu â gweddill y DU.
Mae angen inni gael pobl allan o'r ysbyty ac i mewn i'r gymuned yn gyflymach. Mae angen inni ryddhau'r gwelyau, ac mae angen inni gael pobl i mewn i'r gymuned. Bydd hynny'n helpu gyda'r pwysau ar adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Gallwn wneud hynny drwy roi mwy o arian yn y mannau cywir. Mae'n hawdd rhoi eich bysedd yn eich clustiau, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ond ni fydd hynny'n lleihau'r rhestrau aros nac yn gwneud i ambiwlansys gyrraedd yn gyflymach, nac yn lleihau amseroedd aros adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys. Mae peidio â defnyddio cynnig o help gan GIG Lloegr, fel rydym newydd glywed, am ei fod yn Lloegr ac am nad ydych chi eisiau gofyn am help yn warthus pan fo gwir angen yr help arnom.
Bydd datgan argyfwng iechyd yn mynd beth o'r ffordd tuag at ddangos bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall maint y broblem a wynebwn yng Nghymru. Efallai wedyn y gwnewch chi roi'r gorau i'ch prosiectau porthi balchder a'r pethau sy'n tynnu sylw oddi wrth yr hyn sy'n bwysig a chanolbwyntio ar ymdrechion ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwael er lles cleifion a staff fel ei gilydd ledled Cymru. Mae pobl Cymru wedi dioddef yn rhy hir. Mae eich cyflawniad ym maes iechyd yn gywilyddus. Felly, os gwelwch yn dda, rwy'n annog pawb yn y Siambr i gefnogi cynnig y Ceidwadwyr heddiw.
The UK national health service has often been ranked the best healthcare system in developed countries, and we must value it. Prior to 2010, there was an uplift of about 6 per cent from the Labour Government, and this reflects data from 2010 to 2013, which is before the underfunding had made a significant impact, but continued Tory austerity over many years tore at the fabric of our society. Health funding did not rise with inflation or need, pay rises were low, at 1 per cent, and workers were stretched. The service was fragile when COVID attacked, sending waiting lists into a seven-year high, which we are still recovering from.
Those austerity cuts also weakened and stretched public services, including social care, housing and preventative services, such as public protection and leisure, to breaking point. Health isn't just about the NHS; it's about access to fair employment, good work, a healthy standard of living, healthy and sustainable communities, good food—Jenny—tackling racism and discrimination and their outcomes, as well as pursuing environmental sustainability and health equity together. These are the Marmot principles from Sir Michael Marmot, the public health expert, which are being taken on board as Wales becomes a Marmot nation.
There are increasing demands from demographic changes. Many people choose to retire in north Wales, for example, and there are consequences arising from obesity, long-term chronic health problems, rurality and people living longer, and investment being needed in new technology and buildings. But this does not mean this is a health emergency.
Thank goodness, a year ago we had a change of UK Government that has turned the taps on. Waiting lists are coming down. We have a new orthopaedic hub being built in north Wales, which will transform elective orthopaedic services and provide benefits for patients, staff and the wider north Wales community by delivering a planned 1,900 procedures a year. We also have discharge, recover and access beds opening at a new facility in Flint, new community facilities in Denbigh and Bangor, and hopefully this year, investment in the Royal Alexandra Hospital at Rhyl.
Over the last couple of years, we've seen real, positive change at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, with a promised stabilisation under new leadership. It's going to take a while to get to where we need to be. The health board is a big, complex umbrella organisation and change takes time to embed. But thanks to the Welsh Labour Government, we have seen significant investment to increase recruitment into the health board, as well as the north Wales medical school at Bangor University, and nursing and allied health professional training at the new medical facilities at Wrexham Glyndŵr. [Interruption.] However, retention remains an issue as morale continues to be affected.
Mae gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol y DU yn aml wedi cael ei ystyried yn system ofal iechyd orau'r gwledydd datblygedig, ac mae’n rhaid inni weld ei werth. Cyn 2010, gwelwyd cynnydd o oddeutu 6 y cant gan y Llywodraeth Lafur, ac mae hyn yn adlewyrchu data o 2010 i 2013, sef cyn i’r tanariannu gael effaith sylweddol, ond rhwygwyd ffabrig ein cymdeithas gan gyni parhaus y Torïaid dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Ni chododd cyllid iechyd gyda chwyddiant nac angen, roedd codiadau cyflog yn isel, ar 1 y cant, ac roedd gweithwyr dan bwysau. Roedd y gwasanaeth yn fregus pan ddaeth COVID, gan gynyddu rhestrau aros i’r lefelau uchaf ers saith mlynedd, ac rydym yn dal i ddod dros hynny.
Fe wnaeth y toriadau cyni hynny wanhau a rhoi pwysau ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus hefyd, yn cynnwys gofal cymdeithasol, tai a gwasanaethau ataliol, fel diogelu'r cyhoedd a hamdden, hyd nes y bu bron iddynt chwalu. Mae iechyd yn ymwneud â mwy na'r GIG yn unig; mae'n ymwneud â mynediad at gyflogaeth deg, gwaith da, safon byw iach, cymunedau iach a chynaliadwy, bwyd da—Jenny—mynd i'r afael â hiliaeth a gwahaniaethu a'u canlyniadau, yn ogystal â mynd ar drywydd cynaliadwyedd amgylcheddol a chydraddoldeb iechyd gyda'i gilydd. Dyma egwyddorion Marmot gan Syr Michael Marmot, yr arbenigwr iechyd cyhoeddus, sy'n cael eu mabwysiadu wrth i Gymru ddod yn genedl Marmot.
Ceir galw cynyddol oherwydd newidiadau demograffig. Mae llawer o bobl yn dewis dod i ogledd Cymru i ymddeol, er enghraifft, ac mae canlyniadau'n deillio o ordewdra, problemau iechyd cronig hirdymor, gwledigrwydd a phobl yn byw'n hwy, a'r angen am fuddsoddiad mewn technoleg newydd ac adeiladau. Ond nid yw hyn yn golygu bod yna argyfwng iechyd.
Diolch byth, flwyddyn yn ôl, newidiodd Llywodraeth y DU, gan agor y tapiau. Mae rhestrau aros yn lleihau. Mae gennym ganolfan orthopaedig newydd yn cael ei hadeiladu yng ngogledd Cymru a fydd yn trawsnewid gwasanaethau orthopaedig dewisol ac yn darparu manteision i gleifion, staff a chymuned ehangach y gogledd drwy gyflawni 1,900 o driniaethau a gynlluniwyd y flwyddyn. Mae gennym hefyd welyau mynediad, rhyddhau ac adfer yn agor mewn cyfleuster newydd yn y Fflint, cyfleusterau cymunedol newydd yn Ninbych a Bangor, ac eleni, gobeithio, buddsoddiad yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Alexandra yn y Rhyl.
Dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, rydym wedi gweld newid gwirioneddol a chadarnhaol ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, gyda sefydlogrwydd wedi'i addo o dan arweinyddiaeth newydd. Bydd yn cymryd peth amser i gyrraedd lle mae angen inni fod. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn sefydliad ambarél mawr a chymhleth ac mae'n cymryd amser i wreiddio newid. Ond diolch i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, rydym wedi gweld buddsoddiad sylweddol i gynyddu lefelau recriwtio i'r bwrdd iechyd, yn ogystal ag ysgol feddygol gogledd Cymru ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, a hyfforddiant nyrsio a gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd yn y cyfleusterau meddygol newydd ym Mhrifysgol Glyndŵr Wrecsam. [Torri ar draws.] Fodd bynnag, mae lefelau cadw staff yn parhau i fod yn broblem wrth i forâl barhau i gael ei effeithio.
Thank you. I hear your impassioned plea there for more investment in our NHS, and I wouldn't disagree with that, but why is it that Wales, under this Welsh Labour Government, was the only part of the United Kingdom ever to cut an NHS budget, if funding our NHS is so important?
Diolch. Rwy'n clywed eich apêl angerddol am fwy o fuddsoddiad yn ein GIG, ac ni fyddwn yn anghytuno â hynny, ond pam mai Cymru, o dan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, oedd yr unig ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig erioed i dorri cyllideb y GIG, os yw ariannu ein GIG mor bwysig?
Okay. Can I just say, I was a councillor at the time? And one year, okay, money went into social healthcare because it was on its knees. Now, health isn't just the national health service, the NHS; it is also social healthcare. It was on its knees because of austerity and cuts from the Conservatives into public services. Thank you very much.
We need to also look at working conditions, provide more family-friendly hours and job shares, rather than the 12-hour rolling shifts. We also need to look at accommodation for staff, so we can employ people and so that they can actually live in the area as well. It's difficult to recruit when there is no available housing. A whole-system approach is needed.
I refuse to talk down our wonderful NHS. I am really pleased we've got it here. If politicians continue to talk down the health board, it will continue to struggle to recruit people. The NHS is its staff. It is terribly demoralising. We must celebrate their efforts and successes and not forget the many people who receive excellent care day in, day out. I never hear about the great work that goes on. I know we all get casework of when situations get really bad for people, but we never hear about the positives. We need to speak about them. We must protect healthcare free at the point of use and put in the necessary investment to ensure our NHS is sustainable.
I'm really concerned that both the Conservatives and Reform believe there are further efficiencies to be made in our public services. There aren't. Attempting to run it into the ground so that privatisation is the only option is not the right way. The health board does face ongoing challenges, and it recognises that people are frustrated and concerned by waiting times, but Betsi has made real inroads in reducing some of the waiting times for the longest waiters, and will continue to prioritise reduced waiting times as we move forward. It is also a Welsh Government priority, and £120 million has been allocated to cut waiting times and the overall size of waiting lists. Thank you.
Iawn. A gaf i ddweud, roeddwn yn gynghorydd ar y pryd? Ac un flwyddyn, iawn, aeth arian i ofal iechyd cymdeithasol am ei fod ar ei liniau. Nawr, nid y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, y GIG, yn unig yw iechyd; mae hefyd yn cynnwys gofal iechyd cymdeithasol. Roedd ar ei liniau oherwydd cyni a thoriadau gan y Ceidwadwyr i wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Mae angen inni edrych hefyd ar amodau gwaith, darparu oriau mwy cyfeillgar i deuluoedd a rhannu swyddi, yn hytrach na'r sifftiau treigl 12 awr. Mae angen inni edrych hefyd ar lety i staff, fel y gallwn gyflogi pobl ac fel y gallant fyw yn yr ardal hefyd. Mae'n anodd recriwtio pan nad oes tai ar gael. Mae angen dull system gyfan.
Rwy'n gwrthod lladd ar ein GIG gwych. Rwy'n falch iawn ei fod gennym yma. Os yw gwleidyddion yn parhau i ladd ar y bwrdd iechyd, bydd yn parhau i'w chael hi'n anodd recriwtio pobl. Y GIG yw ei staff. Mae'n ofnadwy o ddigalon. Rhaid inni ddathlu eu hymdrechion a'u llwyddiannau a pheidio ag anghofio'r nifer o bobl sy'n derbyn gofal rhagorol ddydd ar ôl dydd. Nid wyf byth yn clywed am y gwaith gwych sy'n digwydd. Gwn fod pob un ohonom yn cael gwaith achos pan fydd sefyllfaoedd yn mynd yn wirioneddol ddrwg i bobl, ond nid ydym byth yn clywed am y pethau cadarnhaol. Mae angen inni siarad amdanynt. Rhaid inni ddiogelu gofal iechyd sy'n rhad ac am ddim lle caiff ei ddefnyddio a gwneud y buddsoddiad angenrheidiol i sicrhau bod ein GIG yn gynaliadwy.
Rwy'n bryderus iawn fod y Ceidwadwyr a Reform yn credu bod mwy o doriadau y gellir eu gwneud i'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Nid yw hynny'n wir. Nid ceisio ei wanychu fel mai preifateiddio yw'r unig opsiwn yw'r dull cywir. Mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn wynebu heriau parhaus, ac mae'n cydnabod bod pobl yn rhwystredig ac yn bryderus ynghylch amseroedd aros, ond mae bwrdd Betsi wedi gwneud cynnydd gwirioneddol ar leihau rhai o'r amseroedd aros i'r bobl sy'n aros hiraf, a bydd yn parhau i flaenoriaethu torri amseroedd aros wrth inni symud ymlaen. Mae hefyd yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae £120 miliwn wedi'i ddyrannu i leihau amseroedd aros a rhestrau aros yn gyffredinol. Diolch.
It's a pleasure to take part in this debate this afternoon and to join my colleagues in calling for the declaration of a health emergency. I'm keen to make the case for why the situation in our health service is an emergency and should be the Welsh Government's No. 1 priority. I'd like to speak up for my constituents, for patients and, as a former NHS worker, for our healthcare workers, who are not just facing challenges.
The Welsh NHS is in crisis, and in my constituency, that crisis couldn't be any clearer than in Glan Clwyd Hospital. Glan Clwyd now has the worst waiting times across the whole of Wales, and patients in my constituency are waiting hours in A&E and sometimes years for routine operations. Just this morning, patients at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd A&E were waiting over six hours, and that's on a good day. Behind each of these statistics is a real person, and I hear harrowing stories in my constituency surgeries from patients at Glan Clwyd Hospital.
There are 790,000 pathways in Wales, with an eye-watering 200,000 of them being within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The situation for children is equally dire, with 481 under-18s in Betsi now waiting over two years for care, part of the 1,016 per cent increase in community paediatric waiting lists since 2018.
We just cannot go on like this. The Welsh Government have declared a nature and climate emergency; we now need to declare a health emergency in Wales. Unlike the trendy nature and climate emergencies championed by the establishment, this crisis lacks glamour but demands urgent action, and means more preventable deaths, prolonged suffering and eroded trust in the NHS: real consequences for real people unfolding every day in our communities. Declaring a health emergency is an honest admission that the system is failing and that extraordinary measures are needed.
This is about maintaining a level of dignity people expect of us. No-one in a first-world country should have to put up with the waiting times Welsh people have had to endure under the Welsh NHS. And if we were moving in that direction I may feel differently, but we’re not, with two-year waits up to 9,600 across Betsi Cadwaladr and an almost 15 per cent rise from the previous month.
Declaring a health emergency is a sign that the Welsh Government cares enough to act to put the health of the people before political convenience. People are told time and time again that things will improve. The Welsh Conservatives have called for a maximum one-year wait, fast-track surgeries, a seven-day GP service, new surgical hubs and a real recovery team reporting directly to the Cabinet Secretary. These are tangible steps that go beyond targets and more money. The chief executive of the Welsh NHS has called for a response on par with the COVID-19 pandemic, and I agree, because there is a crisis that needs a similar response.
As I do have time, I will respond to the comment made by the Member for North Wales on the North Denbighshire Community Hospital, in that it's an absolute watering down of what the people of Rhyl and Prestatyn were initially promised over 10 years ago. The Member herself has been relatively silent over this matter for a long period of time, since it's been raised many times in this Senedd Chamber—[Interruption.] I will just finish my sentence. But then progress is being made, and now the Labour Party are trying to come up smelling of roses—
Mae'n bleser cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma ac ymuno â fy nghyd-Aelodau i alw am ddatgan argyfwng iechyd. Rwy'n awyddus i ddadlau'r achos dros y rheswm pam fod y sefyllfa yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd yn argyfwng ac y dylai fod yn brif flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Hoffwn siarad dros fy etholwyr, dros gleifion, ac fel cyn-weithiwr GIG, dros ein gweithwyr gofal iechyd, sy'n wynebu mwy na heriau'n unig.
Mae GIG Cymru mewn argyfwng, ac yn fy etholaeth i, ni allai'r argyfwng hwnnw fod yn gliriach nag yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Gan Ysbyty Glan Clwyd y mae'r amseroedd aros gwaethaf yng Nghymru gyfan bellach, ac mae cleifion yn fy etholaeth yn aros am oriau yn yr adran ddamweiniau ac achosion brys ac am flynyddoedd weithiau am lawdriniaethau cyffredin. Y bore yma, roedd cleifion yn adran ddamweiniau ac achosion brys Ysbyty Glan Clwyd yn aros dros chwe awr, ac mae hynny ar ddiwrnod da. Y tu ôl i bob un o'r ystadegau hyn, mae unigolyn go iawn, ac rwy'n clywed straeon brawychus yn fy nghymhorthfeydd etholaethol gan gleifion yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Mae 790,000 o lwybrau gofal yng Nghymru, gyda 200,000 ohonynt, sy'n nifer syfrdanol, ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae'r sefyllfa i blant yr un mor ddifrifol, gyda 481 o rai dan 18 oed ym mwrdd Betsi bellach yn aros dros ddwy flynedd am ofal, rhan o'r cynnydd o 1,016 y cant yn y rhestrau aros pediatreg cymunedol ers 2018.
Ni allwn barhau fel hyn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi datgan argyfwng natur a hinsawdd; mae angen inni ddatgan argyfwng iechyd yng Nghymru nawr. Yn wahanol i'r argyfyngau natur a hinsawdd ffasiynol a hyrwyddir gan y sefydliad, nid yw'r argyfwng hwn yn atyniadol ond mae'n galw am gamau brys, ac mae'n golygu mwy o farwolaethau y gellir eu hatal, dioddefaint hirfaith ac erydu ymddiriedaeth yn y GIG: canlyniadau go iawn i bobl go iawn yn datblygu bob dydd yn ein cymunedau. Mae datgan argyfwng iechyd yn gyfaddefiad gonest fod y system yn methu a bod angen rhoi mesurau eithriadol ar waith.
Mae a wnelo hyn â chynnal y lefel o urddas y mae pobl yn ei disgwyl gennym. Ni ddylai unrhyw un yn un o wledydd datblygedig y byd orfod dioddef yr amseroedd aros y mae pobl Cymru wedi gorfod eu dioddef o dan GIG Cymru. A phe baem yn symud i'r cyfeiriad iawn, efallai y byddwn yn teimlo'n wahanol, ond nid ydym, gyda hyd at 9,600 o bobl yn aros am ddwy flynedd ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr a chynnydd o bron i 15 y cant o'r mis blaenorol.
Mae datgan argyfwng iechyd yn arwydd fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn malio digon i gymryd camau i roi iechyd y bobl o flaen cyfleustra gwleidyddol. Dywedir wrth bobl dro ar ôl tro y bydd pethau'n gwella. Mae'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi galw am uchafswm aros o flwyddyn, llawdriniaethau ar lwybr cyflym, gwasanaeth meddyg teulu saith diwrnod, canolfannau llawfeddygol newydd a thîm adfer go iawn sy'n adrodd yn uniongyrchol i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae'r rhain yn gamau pendant sy'n mynd y tu hwnt i dargedau a mwy o arian. Mae prif weithredwr GIG Cymru wedi galw am ymateb ar yr un lefel â'r ymateb i bandemig COVID-19, ac rwy'n cytuno, gan fod hwn yn argyfwng sy'n galw am ymateb tebyg.
Gan fod gennyf amser, rwyf am ymateb i'r sylw a wnaed gan yr Aelod dros Ogledd Cymru am Ysbyty Cymuned Gogledd Sir Ddinbych, gan ei fod wedi'i lastwreiddio'n llwyr o gymharu â'r hyn a addawyd i bobl y Rhyl a Phrestatyn yn wreiddiol dros 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Mae'r Aelod ei hun wedi bod yn gymharol dawel ynglŷn â'r mater hwn ers amser, gan iddo gael ei godi sawl gwaith yn Siambr y Senedd hon—[Torri ar draws.] Fe wnaf orffen fy mrawddeg. Ond mae cynnydd yn cael ei wneud, a nawr, mae'r Blaid Lafur yn ceisio cymryd arnynt eu bod wedi gwneud popeth yn iawn—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
The reality is the fact that what the people of Rhyl and Prestatyn were promised over 10 years ago has not actually been delivered, and the delay in actually building the thing itself. Yes, I will give way.
Y gwir amdani yw nad yw'r hyn a addawyd i bobl y Rhyl a Phrestatyn dros 10 mlynedd yn ôl wedi'i gyflawni mewn gwirionedd, a'r oedi cyn adeiladu'r peth ei hun. Gwnaf, fe ildiaf.
Okay. The reason why it wasn't able to progress was because of inflationary costs caused by your UK Conservative Government. There was no capital funding coming forward until the UK Labour Government took power, and some capital funding has come across now to the Welsh Labour Government, making capital funding available. So, I'm hoping that this window of opportunity is available to now push forward with the Alexandra hospital.
Iawn. Y rheswm pam na lwyddodd i symud ymlaen oedd oherwydd costau chwyddiant a achoswyd gan Lywodraeth Geidwadol y DU. Ni chawsom unrhyw gyllid cyfalaf nes i Lywodraeth Lafur y DU ddod i rym, ac mae rhywfaint o gyllid cyfalaf wedi'i ddarparu bellach i Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru, sy'n golygu bod cyllid cyfalaf ar gael. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio bod cyfle nawr i symud ymlaen ag ysbyty Alexandra.
When it was initially planned it was a fraction of the cost, and if that hospital had been delivered as promised at the time, it would have remained a fraction of the current cost. Yes, inflation of course, and price rises will always increase, of course they will. That's the nature of the economy. But if that had been delivered in 2013, 2014 as initially promised, they would have had that hospital as promised for a fraction of its current price. That's the reality, and the Labour Party have failed my constituents in the Vale of Clwyd, and that's probably why you lost the seat in 2021.
Pan gafodd ei gynllunio'n wreiddiol, roedd yn ffracsiwn o'r gost, a phe bai'r ysbyty hwnnw wedi'i ddarparu fel yr addawyd ar y pryd, byddai wedi parhau i fod yn ffracsiwn o'r gost gyfredol. Ie, chwyddiant wrth gwrs, a bydd codiadau prisiau bob amser yn cynyddu, wrth gwrs y byddant. Dyna natur yr economi. Ond pe bai wedi'i ddarparu yn 2013, 2014 fel yr addawyd yn wreiddiol, byddent wedi cael yr ysbyty hwnnw fel yr addawyd am ffracsiwn o'i bris cyfredol. Dyna'r realiti, ac mae'r Blaid Lafur wedi methu ar ran fy etholwyr yn Nyffryn Clwyd, a dyna pam y colloch chi'r sedd yn 2021 yn ôl pob tebyg.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd nawr i gyfrannu i'r ddadl. Jeremy Miles.
The Cabinet Secretary now to contribute to the debate. Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Llywydd. This afternoon we find ourselves indulging once again in the opposition's favourite sport, kicking the NHS from pillar to post. This time, their game of political football with the NHS is wrapped up not in the well-worn call for a public inquiry, but in demands today for a declaration of a health emergency. But, Llywydd, it amounts to the same thing: an opposition that can only see the worst in the NHS and can't bring itself to praise anything, picking away at the fabric of this treasured institution on which we all rely, where hard-working, dedicated staff all over Wales provide fantastic care every day, care that makes a real difference to all our lives. Every accusation, every insult loosely dressed up as scrutiny, is a hammer blow to staff morale.
So let's take a moment from this unrelenting negativity to acknowledge some of that hard work today. It's thanks to the hard work—
Diolch, Lywydd. Y prynhawn yma, rydym yn ymroi unwaith eto i hoff gêm yr wrthblaid, cicio'r GIG nes ei fod yn ddu-las. Y tro hwn, mae eu gêm bêl-droed wleidyddol gyda'r GIG wedi'i lapio nid yn yr un hen alwad am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, ond mewn galwadau heddiw i ddatgan argyfwng iechyd. Ond Lywydd, yr un peth ydyw: gwrthblaid na all ond gweld y gwaethaf yn y GIG ac na all ganmol unrhyw beth, gan bigo a chrafu ar ffabrig y sefydliad gwerthfawr hwn y mae pob un ohonom yn dibynnu arno, lle mae staff gweithgar ac ymroddedig ledled Cymru yn darparu gofal gwych bob dydd, gofal sy'n gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i fywydau pob un ohonom. Mae pob cyhuddiad, pob sarhad dan rith craffu, yn ergyd fawr i forâl staff.
Felly, gadewch inni gymryd saib o'r ymagwedd negyddol ddi-ildio hon i gydnabod peth o'r gwaith caled hwnnw heddiw. Diolch i waith caled—
Will the Minister take an intervention?
A wnaiff y Gweinidog dderbyn ymyriad?
—and dedication of NHS staff that record numbers of people—
—ac ymroddiad staff y GIG y dywedir wrth y niferoedd uchaf erioed o bobl—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Are you taking an intervention, Minister?
A ydych chi'n derbyn ymyriad, Weinidog?
I'm not.
Nac ydw.
The Minister is not taking an intervention.
Nid yw'r Gweinidog yn derbyn ymyriad.
It's thanks to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff that record numbers of people are told they don't have cancer every year. One-year cancer survival rates are improving. Heart disease survival rates are improving. Long waits are at their lowest levels in the Senedd term, with more to come. There are more people with faster access to mental health care, and some genuinely leading examples of care—the first country in the UK to offer a confidential online sexual health testing service, to change the law on organ donations, to introduce '111 press 2'. Primary care reforms are transforming care so more people are being seen closer to home without the need for a hospital referral. And the South Wales burns and plastics centre in Swansea is providing truly life-changing care for people all over Wales, and large parts of southern England.
I heard the Conservative health spokesman say on at least two occasions, 'If that's not an emergency, I don't know what is'. So, let me tell him what a health emergency is: it's COVID, it's mpox, it's war, it's terrorism. And the public will look at this debate and see that in it—shamefully, on a matter of such importance—it's driven by a slogan and not by substance.
I'm acutely aware that there are issues in the NHS that need to be resolved. There are many instances where care has fallen short of the high standards that we've set. Coroners, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and others have highlighted where this has happened and we've had feedback and complaints from individuals as well. And I'm committed to addressing these issues, together with NHS leaders, to ensure that people get better care and outcomes. But Llywydd, this does not constitute a health emergency. I've announced an ambitious £120 million to continue to cut waiting times and the waiting list this year—plans for Wales to tackle the root causes of ill health, to close the health inequality gap that robs so many people of a longer and healthy life, what the Tories regard as a divisive distraction.
And what do you think they say about our plans to help tackle and manage obesity, which, if left unchecked, could cause a tidal wave of demand and overtake smoking as the No. 1 cause of preventable ill health in Wales? Well, yes, you've guessed it, they don't like that much either. In fact, they tried to vote down vital regulations that will start to tackle the unchecked promotion and availability of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, just like they tried to vote down our budget, opposing an uplift to front-line NHS funding, including a pay rise for NHS staff. It's clear that this is an opposition intent on living up to its name and railing against every step that we take to support our NHS, to stand with our NHS staff, to improve access to NHS services, and to improve outcomes for people in Wales.
Diolch i waith caled ac ymroddiad staff y GIG y dywedir wrth y niferoedd uchaf erioed o bobl nad oes ganddynt ganser bob blwyddyn. Mae cyfraddau goroesi canser am flwyddyn yn gwella. Mae cyfraddau goroesi clefyd y galon yn gwella. Mae arosiadau hir ar eu lefelau isaf yn nhymor y Senedd hon, gyda mwy i ddod. Mae gan fwy o bobl fynediad cyflymach at ofal iechyd meddwl, a rhai enghreifftiau gwirioneddol flaenllaw o ofal—y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i gynnig gwasanaeth profi iechyd rhywiol cyfrinachol ar-lein, i newid y gyfraith ar roi organau, i gyflwyno '111, pwyso 2'. Mae diwygiadau gofal sylfaenol yn trawsnewid gofal fel bod mwy o bobl yn cael eu gweld yn agosach at adref heb fod angen atgyfeiriad i'r ysbyty. Ac mae canolfan llosgiadau a llawfeddygaeth blastig de Cymru yn Abertawe yn darparu gofal sy'n newid bywydau i bobl ledled Cymru, a rhannau helaeth o dde Lloegr.
Clywais lefarydd iechyd y Ceidwadwyr yn dweud ar o leiaf ddau achlysur, 'Os nad yw hynny'n argyfwng, nid wyf yn gwybod beth sydd'. Felly, gadewch imi ddweud wrtho beth yw argyfwng iechyd: COVID, brech M, rhyfel, terfysgaeth. A bydd y cyhoedd yn edrych ar y ddadl hon ac yn gweld ynddi—yn gywilyddus, ar fater mor bwysig—ei bod wedi'i sbarduno gan slogan ac nid gan sylwedd.
Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn fod yna broblemau y mae angen eu datrys yn y GIG. Mae llawer o achosion lle mae gofal wedi methu cyrraedd y safonau uchel yr ydym wedi'u gosod. Mae crwneriaid, Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ac eraill wedi tynnu sylw at ble mae hyn wedi digwydd ac rydym wedi cael adborth a chwynion gan unigolion hefyd. Ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau hyn, gydag arweinwyr y GIG, er mwyn sicrhau bod pobl yn cael gofal a chanlyniadau gwell. Ond Lywydd, nid argyfwng iechyd yw hynny. Rwyf wedi cyhoeddi swm uchelgeisiol o £120 miliwn i barhau i leihau amseroedd aros a'r rhestr aros eleni—cynlluniau i Gymru fynd i'r afael ag achosion sylfaenol afiechyd, i gau'r bwlch anghydraddoldeb iechyd sy'n amddifadu cymaint o bobl o fywyd hirach ac iachach, pethau y mae'r Torïaid yn eu hystyried yn ymrannol ac yn ddibwys.
A beth yw eich barn chi am ein cynlluniau i helpu i reoli a mynd i'r afael â gordewdra, a allai, os na chaiff ei reoli, achosi ton o alw a goddiweddyd ysmygu fel prif achos afiechyd ataliadwy yng Nghymru? Wel, wrth gwrs, nid ydynt yn hoffi hynny ychwaith. Mewn gwirionedd, fe wnaethant bleidleisio yn erbyn rheoliadau hanfodol a fydd yn dechrau mynd i'r afael â hyrwyddo dirwystr ac argaeledd bwydydd sy'n uchel mewn braster, halen a siwgr, yn union fel y gwnaethant bleidleisio yn erbyn ein cyllideb, gan wrthwynebu cynnydd i gyllid rheng flaen y GIG, yn cynnwys codiad cyflog i staff y GIG. Mae'n amlwg fod hon yn wrthblaid sy'n benderfynol o fyw yn driw i'w henw ac chwyno am bob cam a gymerwn i gefnogi ein GIG, i gydsefyll gyda staff ein GIG, i wella mynediad at wasanaethau'r GIG, ac i wella canlyniadau i bobl Cymru.
Darren Millar i ymateb i'r ddadl.
Darren Millar to reply to the debate.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I was absolutely astonished by the response of the Cabinet Secretary, which I felt was very complacent and ignored the crisis engulfing the NHS that we all see every single day of the year. Frankly, this is a Labour Government that has run out of ideas, is running out of steam, is letting patients down and is letting the staff down in our national health service as well.
Let's look at the facts. We've rehearsed some of them today and heard them already, but it's worth reminding us of them before we press our buttons to vote. If you live in Wales, you've got a 50:50 chance of an ambulance turning up in time during a life-and-death situation. Patients are dying whilst waiting for hours for paramedics to turn up. And if they are fortunate enough to get an ambulance, they're then dying outside the hospital's front doors, waiting in the back of an ambulance in an undignified way for many hours. Some people that do get into the front door of the emergency department are sat on hard, plastic, uncomfortable seats languishing in pain for hours before they are properly seen in order to determine their situation and given the treatment that they need.
On top of this, we have a dental service in Wales that is failing many of our patients, too. People are having to pull out their own teeth with pliers because they cannot register with an NHS dentist, or travel all the way to Scotland from Wales because that's the only place that they can still register with an NHS dentist, too. There are one in four people in Wales on an NHS waiting list, and if you're on an NHS waiting list, you're more than 500 times more likely than over the border in England to be waiting for two years or more. [Interruption.] Cancer targets are routinely missed. Our waiting time targets are routinely missed. Our emergency performance targets are routinely missed. Our ambulance targets are routinely missed. We have critical incidents being declared by our ambulance service on a reasonably frequent basis. We have critical incidents being declared in our hospitals on a frequent basis. We have health professionals telling us we don't have enough beds, that we don't have enough staff because of the recruitment crisis that this Government is entirely responsible for.
So, the question is not, 'Do we have a crisis?', because we do; the question is why on earth this failing Labour Government refuses to accept that there is a crisis. Because if you don't accept that there's a crisis, you're never going to get around to actually fixing it once and for all. And that is the tragedy for us here in Wales. We have a Welsh Government that refuses to acknowledge the crisis engulfing our NHS and therefore will never be in a position to actually get to grips with it and fix it. Well, that's what we will do, given the opportunity next May. And your party, Cabinet Secretary, deserves the kicking that it is going to get in those elections next year. Because we are not kicking our NHS, we are kicking this Welsh Labour Government that is letting down our NHS and letting down those members of staff.
I'm going to come to some of the comments. Isn't it extraordinary—[Interruption.] Isn't it extraordinary that we have a former Cabinet Secretary for health, now the Cabinet Secretary for finance, who really gave away the truth about the Welsh Government's position on our NHS when he said that there are too many beds and too many hospitals here in Wales? While we have that frame of mind in our Welsh Government, again, we're never going to fix—[Interruption.] Did you say that you're right, Cabinet Secretary? I'm happy to take an intervention from you, if you want to repeat your assertion.
Diolch, Lywydd. Cefais fy synnu’n llwyr gan ymateb Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a oedd yn hunanfodlon iawn yn fy marn i ac yn anwybyddu’r argyfwng y mae ein GIG ynddo ac y mae pob un ohonom yn ei weld bob dydd o’r flwyddyn. A dweud y gwir, mae hon yn Llywodraeth Lafur sydd wedi rhedeg allan o syniadau, sydd wedi chwythu ei phlwc, sy’n gwneud cam â chleifion ac sy'n gwneud cam â staff ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol hefyd.
Dewch inni edrych ar y ffeithiau. Rydym wedi sôn am rai ohonynt heddiw ac wedi eu clywed yn barod, ond mae'n werth atgoffa ein hunain yn eu cylch cyn inni wasgu ein botymau i bleidleisio. Os ydych chi'n byw yng Nghymru, mae yna debygolrwydd o 50:50 y bydd ambiwlans yn cyrraedd mewn pryd mewn sefyllfa bywyd a marwolaeth. Mae cleifion yn marw wrth aros am oriau i barafeddygon gyrraedd. Ac os ydynt yn ddigon ffodus i gael ambiwlans, maent wedyn yn marw y tu allan i ddrysau'r ysbyty, wrth aros yn ddi-urddas yng nghefn ambiwlans am oriau lawer. Mae'r ychydig bobl sy'n cyrraedd drwy ddrws yr adran achosion brys yn eistedd ar seddi caled, plastig, anghyfforddus yn dihoeni mewn poen am oriau cyn iddynt gael eu gweld yn iawn er mwyn pennu eu sefyllfa a chael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt.
Ar ben hyn, mae gennym wasanaeth deintyddol yng Nghymru sy'n methu ar ran llawer o'n cleifion hefyd. Rhaid i bobl dynnu eu dannedd eu hunain allan gyda gefel am na allant gofrestru gyda deintydd GIG, neu deithio'r holl ffordd i'r Alban o Gymru gan mai dyna'r unig le y gallant gofrestru gyda deintydd y GIG. Mae un o bob pedwar o bobl yng Nghymru ar restr aros y GIG, ac os ydych chi ar restr aros y GIG, rydych chi fwy na 500 gwaith yn fwy tebygol na thros y ffin yn Lloegr o aros am ddwy flynedd neu fwy. [Torri ar draws.] Mae targedau canser yn cael eu methu'n rheolaidd. Mae ein targedau amseroedd aros yn cael eu methu'n rheolaidd. Mae ein targedau perfformiad brys yn cael eu methu'n rheolaidd. Mae ein targedau ambiwlansys yn cael eu methu'n rheolaidd. Mae digwyddiadau critigol yn cael eu datgan gan ein gwasanaeth ambiwlans yn eithaf aml. Mae digwyddiadau critigol yn cael eu datgan yn ein hysbytai yn aml. Mae gennym weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol yn dweud wrthym nad oes gennym ddigon o welyau, nad oes gennym ddigon o staff oherwydd yr argyfwng recriwtio y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn gwbl gyfrifol amdano.
Felly, nid 'A oes gennym argyfwng?' yw'r cwestiwn, gan fod gennym un; y cwestiwn yw pam ar y ddaear fod y Llywodraeth Lafur aflwyddiannus hon yn gwrthod derbyn bod argyfwng. Oherwydd os nad ydych chi'n derbyn bod argyfwng, ni fyddwch chi byth yn llwyddo i fynd i'r afael ag ef unwaith ac am byth. A dyna'r drasiedi i ni yma yng Nghymru. Mae gennym Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n gwrthod cydnabod yr argyfwng y mae ein GIG ynddo, ac felly ni fydd byth mewn sefyllfa i fynd i'r afael ag ef a'i unioni. Wel, dyna fyddwn ni'n ei wneud, o gael y cyfle fis Mai nesaf. Ac mae eich plaid chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, yn haeddu'r grasfa y bydd yn ei chael yn yr etholiadau y flwyddyn nesaf. Oherwydd nid ydym yn cicio ein GIG, rydym yn cicio Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru sy'n gwneud cam â'n GIG ac yn gwneud cam â'i staff.
Rwy'n mynd i ddod at rai o'r sylwadau. Onid yw'n rhyfeddol—[Torri ar draws.] Onid yw'n rhyfeddol fod gennym gyn-Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros iechyd, sydd bellach yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, a ddatgelodd y gwir am safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar ein GIG pan ddywedodd fod gormod o welyau a gormod o ysbytai yma yng Nghymru? Tra bo gennym y meddylfryd hwnnw yn Llywodraeth Cymru, unwaith eto, nid ydym byth yn mynd i fynd i'r afael—[Torri ar draws.] A ddywedoch chi eich bod chi'n iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet? Rwy'n fwy na pharod i dderbyn ymyriad gennych, os hoffech chi ailadrodd eich honiad.
You've had many requests for interventions.
Rydych chi wedi cael sawl cais am ymyriad.
I have, but I'll happily take that. I'll come to others later. Cabinet Secretary for finance, no?
Do, ond rwy'n fwy na pharod i dderbyn yr un hwn. Dof at y lleill yn nes ymlaen. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros gyllid, a hoffech chi wneud ymyriad?
You can carry on, Darren Millar.
Ewch yn eich blaen, Darren Millar.
I thought I heard him say that he was right on that, and I was very interested to hear what he would say to defend it. But what I will say is this: if you're not going to listen to us, at least listen to the patients that write to each one of you as Members of the Senedd every single day. Listen to them about their experiences, because if you listen to them, there's no doubt our NHS is in crisis. Listen to the professionals, including your own chief executive of the NHS here in Wales, who told the First Minister, when she was the Cabinet Secretary for health, that we needed a health and social care response on a par to the COVID-19 response. She wanted a crisis to be declared in order that we could get to grips with the problems in our ambulance service. She didn't declare it; she ignored those particular calls. So, while you're putting your fingers in your ears and your hands over your eyes, people are dying, they're going blind, because they're not getting access to the tests and treatment, and we're in a situation where things can only look set to get worse. I've had two requests for interventions. I'll take one from Carolyn Thomas first and then Jenny Rathbone.
Roeddwn yn credu fy mod i wedi'i glywed yn dweud ei fod yn iawn ynglŷn â hynny, ac roeddwn yn awyddus iawn i glywed beth fyddai'n ei ddweud i amddiffyn hynny. Ond fe ddywedaf hyn: os na wnewch chi wrando arnom ni, o leiaf gwrandewch ar y cleifion sy'n ysgrifennu at bob un ohonoch fel Aelodau o'r Senedd bob dydd. Gwrandewch ar eu profiadau hwy, oherwydd os gwrandewch arnynt hwy, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth fod ein GIG mewn argyfwng. Gwrandewch ar y gweithwyr proffesiynol, yn cynnwys prif weithredwr y GIG yma yng Nghymru, a ddywedodd wrth y Prif Weinidog, pan oedd yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, fod angen ymateb iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol arnom ar yr un lefel â'r ymateb i COVID-19. Roedd hi am i argyfwng gael ei ddatgan er mwyn inni allu mynd i'r afael â'r problemau yn ein gwasanaeth ambiwlans. Ni wnaeth ei ddatgan; fe anwybyddodd y galwadau penodol hynny. Felly, tra byddwch chi'n rhoi eich bysedd yn eich clustiau a'ch dwylo dros eich llygaid, mae pobl yn marw, maent yn mynd yn ddall, am nad ydynt yn cael y profion a'r driniaeth, ac rydym mewn sefyllfa lle na all pethau ond gwaethygu. Rwyf wedi cael dau gais am ymyriad. Fe dderbyniaf un gan Carolyn Thomas yn gyntaf ac yna Jenny Rathbone.
Do you not think that this rhetoric might put people off from calling an ambulance or going to see the dentist because of this scaremongering? That's how far you're going. And please take it back: the language of taking a kicking, that is not acceptable in this Chamber.
Onid ydych chi'n credu y gallai'r rhethreg hon atal pobl rhag ffonio am ambiwlans neu fynd i weld y deintydd wrth i chi godi'r bwganod hyn? Dyna pa mor bell rydych chi'n mynd. Ac os gwelwch yn dda, tynnwch eich sylwadau yn ôl: nid yw siarad am gicio yn dderbyniol yn y Siambr hon.
I've always been of the view that we need to be honest about the state of our public services, so that we can get to grips with the challenges in them and fix them, not deny that there are problems, which seems to be the approach of the Labour Party.
Rwyf bob amser wedi bod o'r farn fod angen inni fod yn onest ynglŷn â chyflwr ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, fel y gallwn fynd i'r afael â'r heriau ynddynt a'u datrys, nid gwadu bod yna broblemau, sef ymagwedd y Blaid Lafur, i bob golwg.
I get plenty of correspondence from my constituents about health services, and I reply to them and I take action that enables them to get the service that they need. I absolutely never get people saying, 'I didn't get any joy out of the action that you took'.
Rwy'n cael digon o ohebiaeth gan fy etholwyr am wasanaethau iechyd, ac rwy'n eu hateb ac yn cymryd camau sy'n eu galluogi i gael y gwasanaeth sydd ei angen arnynt. Nid wyf byth yn clywed pobl yn dweud, 'Ni chefais unrhyw fudd o'r camau a gymerwyd gennych'.
Well, I'm very pleased to hear that that is the case for you. Sadly, it's not the case for everybody. A lot of people in this Chamber, when they write to their local health boards, do not get satisfactory answers, and that's why many of our health boards, I'm afraid, are in high levels of intervention or special measures as a result of the crisis that is engulfing our health service.
We need to be honest about the scale of the challenges. We need to be honest about the fact that not focusing on this issue whilst focusing on other issues, which, frankly, are not the priority of the people of Wales, is meaning that funds that should be going to our NHS are being diverted to other things. That's why we believe—and I'm pleased to see that Plaid Cymru agree with us—that we do need to declare this crisis in our national health service so that we can focus all of the resources of the Government on fixing this problem. Because if we do not have our health, then our country does not have anything. I urge people to support this motion today.
Wel, rwy'n falch iawn o glywed mai dyna sut y mae hi arnoch chi. Yn anffodus, nid yw'n wir i bawb. Mae llawer o bobl yn y Siambr hon nad ydynt yn cael atebion boddhaol pan fyddant yn ysgrifennu at eu byrddau iechyd lleol, a dyna pam fod llawer o'n byrddau iechyd, mae arnaf ofn, yn destun lefelau uchel o ymyrraeth neu fesurau arbennig o ganlyniad i'r argyfwng y mae ein gwasanaeth iechyd ynddo.
Mae angen inni fod yn onest ynglŷn â maint yr heriau. Mae angen inni fod yn onest ynglŷn â'r ffaith bod peidio â chanolbwyntio ar y mater hwn wrth ganolbwyntio ar faterion eraill nad ydynt, a bod yn onest, yn flaenoriaeth i bobl Cymru, yn golygu bod arian a ddylai fod yn mynd i'n GIG yn cael ei ddargyfeirio at bethau eraill. Dyna pam ein bod yn credu—ac rwy'n falch o weld bod Plaid Cymru yn cytuno â ni—fod angen inni ddatgan yr argyfwng hwn yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol fel y gallwn ffocysu holl adnoddau'r Llywodraeth ar ddatrys y broblem hon. Oherwydd os nad oes gennym ein hiechyd, nid oes gan ein gwlad unrhyw beth. Rwy'n annog pobl i gefnogi'r cynnig hwn heddiw.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio? A oes gwrthwynebiad? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, mae yna wrthwynebiad.
The proposal is to agree the motion without amendment. Does any Member object? [Objection.] There is an objection.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Cymerwn ni bleidlais, oni bai fod tri Aelod o'r Senedd eisiau i fi ganu'r gloch.
We will therefore move to a vote, unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung.
Fe wnawn ni symud ymlaen i'r bleidlais gyntaf ar eitem 8, dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar argyfwng iechyd. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig heb ei ddiwygio yn enw Paul Davies. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 24, yn ymatal neb, 26 yn erbyn. Ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi'i wrthod.
I will therefore proceed directly to our first vote on item 8, the Welsh Conservatives debate, a health emergency. I call for a vote on the motion without amendment tabled in the name of Paul Davies. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 24, no absentions, 26 against. And therefore, the motion is not agreed.
Eitem 8. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Argyfwng iechyd. Cynnig heb ei ddiwygio: O blaid: 24, Yn erbyn: 26, Ymatal: 0
Gwrthodwyd y cynnig
Item 8. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Health emergency. Motion without amendment: For: 24, Against: 26, Abstain: 0
Motion has been rejected
Felly, fe wnawn ni bleidleisio ar y gwelliant. Gwelliant 1 sydd yn gyntaf, yn enw Jane Hutt. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 26, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Mae gwelliant 1 wedi'i dderbyn.
So, we will now vote on the amendment to the motion. Amendment 1 tabled in the name of Jane Hutt. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 26, no abstentions, 24 against. Therefore, amendment 1 is agreed.
Eitem 8. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Argyfwng iechyd. Gwelliant 1, cyflwynwyd yn enw Jane Hutt: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y gwelliant
Item 8. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Health emergency. Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Jane Hutt: For: 26, Against: 24, Abstain: 0
Amendment has been agreed
Mae'r bleidlais olaf ar y cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio.
The final vote is on the motion as amended.
Cynnig NDM8944 fel y'i diwygiwyd:
Cynnig bod y Senedd:
1. Yn cydnabod bod y GIG yng Nghymru yn wynebu cynnydd yn y galw yn sgil newidiadau demograffig a goblygiadau lefelau gordewdra cynyddol a phroblemau iechyd cronig hirdymor, ond nid yw hyn yn golygu bod argyfwng iechyd.
2. Yn nodi'r camau gweithredu y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn ac i wella iechyd pobl a gwella mynediad at ofal iechyd gan gynnwys:
a) £120m i leihau amseroedd aros a maint cyffredinol y rhestr aros;
b) newidiadau i'r contract meddygon teulu i ddarparu parhad yn y gofal i bobl â chyflyrau hirdymor; ac
c) Cymru yn dod yn Genedl Marmot i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd.
Motion NDM8944 as amended:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises the NHS in Wales faces increased demand from demographic changes and the consequences from rising obesity and long-term, chronic health problems but this does not mean this is a health emergency.
2. Notes the action the Welsh Government is taking to address these issues and improve people’s health and access to healthcare including:
a) £120m to cut waiting times and the overall size of the waiting list;
b) changes to the GP contract to provide continuity of care for people with long-term conditions; and
c) Wales becoming a Marmot Nation to tackle health inequalities.
Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 26, neb yn ymatal, 24 yn erbyn. Ac felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio wedi'i dderbyn.
Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 26, no abstentions, 24 against. And therefore, the motion as amended is agreed.
Eitem 8. Dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig - Argyfwng iechyd. Cynnig wedi'i ddiwygio: O blaid: 26, Yn erbyn: 24, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig fel y'i diwygiwyd
Item 8. Welsh Conservatives Debate - Health emergency. Motion as amended: For: 26, Against: 24, Abstain: 0
Motion as amended has been agreed
Dyna ddiwedd ar y pleidleisio y prynhawn yma.
That concludes voting for this afternoon.
Fe fyddwn ni yn symud ymlaen nawr i'r ddadl fer. Os gall Aelodau adael y Siambr, os ydyn nhw'n gwneud, yn dawel.
We will move on to our next item, which is the short debate. If Members could leave the Chamber quietly, if they are leaving.
If Members can leave the Chamber quietly, then the short debate today is to be introduced by Julie Morgan. You can start.
Os gall yr Aelodau adael y Siambr yn dawel, fe gaiff y ddadl fer heddiw ei chyflwyno gan Julie Morgan. Gallwch ddechrau.
Diolch, Llywydd. I would like to start my debate today by telling you about my constituent Zach Stubbings, who sadly passed away in January of this year at the young age of 46. Zach was born in Cardiff, and after his GCSEs, he went on to do an apprenticeship with the Royal Air Force. He excelled and was the first in his class. He then went on to dedicate his life to serve in the RAF for 15 years.
Zach wasn't a pilot, he was dual trained as a winchman and a winch operator, and flew more than 2,000 hours on Sea King helicopters carrying out search and rescue missions. The work that he did was incredibly specialised. Zach absolutely loved what he did and he was very well respected by his peers and colleagues. He spent time stationed around the world, including in Cyprus, Hong Kong and the Falklands, and he spent the end of his career based at RAF Valley in Anglesey.
Zach was involved in dangerous rescue missions to floods in Eryri and over the Irish sea. He was also part of the crew called to help during the Morecambe bay disaster in 2004, when 21 cockle pickers were drowned by a fast incoming tide. He was also part of the team that trained Prince William when he was stationed at RAF Valley, and took part in Sea King search and rescue missions.
Diolch, Lywydd. Hoffwn ddechrau fy nadl heddiw drwy sôn wrthych am fy etholwr Zach Stubbings, a fu farw ym mis Ionawr eleni yn 46 oed. Ganwyd Zach yng Nghaerdydd, ac ar ôl ei arholiadau TGAU, aeth ymlaen i wneud prentisiaeth gyda’r Llu Awyr Brenhinol. Fe wnaeth yn rhagorol ac roedd ar y brig yn ei ddosbarth. Aeth yn ei flaen i gysegru ei fywyd i wasanaethu yn yr RAF am 15 mlynedd.
Nid oedd Zach yn beilot, cafodd hyfforddiant deuol fel winshmon a gweithiwr winsh, a hedfanodd dros 2,000 awr ar hofrenyddion Sea King ar deithiau chwilio ac achub. Roedd y gwaith a wnaeth yn hynod o arbenigol. Roedd Zach wrth ei fodd â'i swydd ac roedd yn uchel ei barch ymhlith ei gyfoedion a'i gydweithwyr. Treuliodd amser mewn lleoliadau ledled y byd, gan gynnwys yn Cyprus, Hong Kong ac Ynysoedd Falkland, a threuliodd ran olaf ei yrfa yn RAF y Fali ar Ynys Môn.
Roedd Zach yn rhan o gyrchoedd achub peryglus i lifogydd yn Eryri a thros Fôr Iwerddon. Roedd hefyd yn rhan o'r criw a alwyd i helpu yn ystod trychineb bae Morecambe yn 2004, pan foddwyd 21 o gasglwyr cocos gan lanw cyflym. Roedd hefyd yn rhan o'r tîm a hyfforddodd y Tywysog William pan oedd wedi'i leoli yn RAF y Fali, gan gymryd rhan mewn cyrchoedd chwilio ac achub ar hofrenyddion Sea King.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
In 2013, while stationed in north Wales, Zach developed a rash. He'd just had a new flying suit issued to him, so he thought it was a reaction to that new suit. Blood tests were done, and Zach received the dreadful news that he had multiple myeloma—a type of blood cancer. Apart from the rash, Zach had no other symptoms. He was extremely fit and healthy and working as normal, so the diagnosis was a huge shock to him and his family. Zach chose to deal with his diagnosis in his usual positive way, and was adamant that he was going to get the best out of life.
Zach moved to Lincoln and received his cancer treatment in Nottingham. Zach received a stem cell transplant from himself, a process where they take out stem cells and then put them back in. He slowly started to recover and was medically discharged from the RAF, but then went on to work for the civilian search and rescue in north Wales. After a while, he decided to transfer back home to Cardiff, and this is where he met Anna-Louise Bates, who would become his wife in 2020.
Many of you will know Anna-Louise. Following the tragic death of her first husband, Stuart, and young son, Fraser, in a car accident, Anna-Louise donated their organs and many lives have been saved as a result. Anna-Louise set up the charity Believe in their honour, and this aims to spread awareness of organ donation and provide support for all those affected by organ donation. With her usual courage and strength, Anna-Louise is carrying on the fight for Zach. I felt it was important that we knew all about Zach and his life in the RAF, and with Anna-Louise, before I move on to the next part.
In June last year, Zach came to see me as his MS, because he discovered what he thought was a causal link between his cancer diagnosis and the fumes that he breathed in while working on the RAF helicopters for 15 years. He wanted my help with his campaign to spread awareness about this link and to help get an acknowledgement from the Ministry of Defence that these cancers were caused by the toxic fumes coming from RAF helicopters.
Zach set up his campaign in 2013 and he found that he was not alone. Many other veterans who'd worked on RAF helicopters like the Sea King and others like Westland Wessex, Puma and CH-47 Chinook helicopters had also developed different types of cancers. The group was called Fly Hard, Fight Hard, and had the motto 'shoulder to shoulder', and was set up with three other colleagues who were suffering from cancer to provide support and spread awareness.
Zach's health progressively started to deteriorate from about autumn 2022, but his determination and fight to get justice never waned. He wasn't just fighting for himself, he was fighting for other people who had been affected too. In fact, last year he was willing to meet with me and an officer from the armed forces department of the Welsh Government in his hospital bed. Unfortunately, just before the meeting, Zach's health rapidly declined, so it never took place, and then he sadly passed away in January.
The message about the supposed causal link between the toxic fumes from RAF helicopters and veterans being diagnosed with cancer is now spreading. There are claims that the MOD knew about the dangers of the toxic fumes from as far back as 1999, but this is yet to be proven for certain. There are more than 180 cases being dealt with by solicitors across the UK of people who are progressing action against the MOD. So far, six cases have been settled by the MOD out of court, and one of those cases was Zach's, but he still continued to campaign for others.
Sea King helicopters were taken out of service in 2018. The Westland Wessex retired in 2003, but the Puma and CH-47 Chinook helicopters are still in use. The MOD have referred to previous helicopter tests carried out on behalf of the RAF, which did not show indication that the air crew were being exposed to dangerous levels of contaminants, and I'm also aware of the independent medical expert group's seventh report on medical armed forces compensation, published last July, which concludes that the existing data does not meet the threshold for causation. However, the law firm that is representing the majority of the military personnel said that a report recommended modification to the aircraft to divert the exhaust fumes, but claimed that the MOD failed to act on these recommendations.
Zach said to Anna-Louise that he would constantly be in the direct line of the exhaust fumes from the helicopters during his job, and that was the nature of the job. He said that his helmet would often be completely covered in soot, which he would also be breathing in. It was only in February of this year that the MOD started testing the exhaust emissions of in-service helicopters to ensure that they were meeting their duty of care for personnel.
So, what can we do here in the Senedd to help Zach's campaign? We need to spread awareness of the possible link between toxic helicopter fumes and veterans being diagnosed with cancer. We need to educate GPs to be aware of a person's military record and that this could lead to complications later in life. This would enable screening to take place much sooner. There needs to be clear signposting for veterans of what to do if they are diagnosed with cancer. Our new recruits need to be educated about the possible dangers. The Welsh Government needs to work closely with the MOD and press them to reveal the number of veterans who flew in helicopters, were exposed to toxic fumes and have consequently developed cancer. This is data that is urgently needed. The MOD has already started this process, but it needs to act quickly because people are dying. I ask the Cabinet Secretary to take this forward with his counterpart in Westminster to make an analysis of how many people are affected in this way. It is also very important that the personal protective equipment that is used in the helicopters by present serving personnel is sufficient.
Unfortunately, Zach is no longer here to carry on his campaign for justice, so we owe it to him to carry on his legacy. I'm pleased that I've been able to air Zach's concerns here today and put them on the record here in the Senedd, in the Parliament of Wales. Diolch.
Yn 2013, pan oedd yn gweithio yng ngogledd Cymru, datblygodd Zach frech. Roedd newydd gael siwt hedfan newydd wedi'i darparu ar ei gyfer, felly roedd yn meddwl mai adwaith i'r siwt newydd honno ydoedd. Gwnaed profion gwaed, a chafodd Zach y newyddion ofnadwy fod ganddo myeloma ymledol—math o ganser y gwaed. Ar wahân i'r frech, nid oedd gan Zach unrhyw symptomau eraill. Roedd yn hynod o heini ac iach a'r un mor ffit ag arfer, felly roedd y diagnosis yn sioc enfawr iddo ef a'i deulu. Dewisodd Zach ddelio â'i ddiagnosis yn ei ffordd gadarnhaol arferol, ac roedd yn bendant y byddai'n gwneud y gorau o'i fywyd.
Symudodd Zach i Lincoln a chafodd ei driniaeth ganser yn Nottingham. Cafodd drawsblaniad o'i fôn-gelloedd ei hun, proses lle maent yn tynnu bôn-gelloedd allan ac yna'n eu rhoi yn ôl i mewn. Dechreuodd wella'n araf a chafodd ei ryddhau ar sail feddygol o'r RAF, ond wedyn aeth i weithio i'r gwasanaeth chwilio ac achub sifil yng ngogledd Cymru. Ar ôl ychydig, penderfynodd drosglwyddo'n ôl adref i Gaerdydd, a dyma ble y cyfarfu ag Anna-Louise Bates, a fyddai'n dod yn wraig iddo yn 2020.
Bydd llawer ohonoch yn adnabod Anna-Louise. Yn dilyn marwolaeth ei gŵr cyntaf, Stuart, a'i mab ifanc, Fraser, mewn damwain car, penderfynodd Anna-Louise roi eu horganau gan arwain at achub llawer o fywydau yn sgil hynny. Sefydlodd Anna-Louise yr elusen Believe yn eu henwau, a nod yr elusen honno yw lledaenu ymwybyddiaeth o roi organau a darparu cefnogaeth i bawb yr effeithir arnynt gan roi organau. Gyda'i dewrder a'i chryfder arferol, mae Anna-Louise yn parhau â'r frwydr dros Zach. Roeddwn i'n teimlo ei bod yn bwysig ein bod ni'n gwybod popeth am Zach a'i fywyd yn yr RAF a chydag Anna-Louise, cyn imi symud ymlaen at y rhan nesaf.
Ym mis Mehefin y llynedd, daeth Zach i fy ngweld i fel ei Aelod Senedd, oherwydd darganfu'r hyn y credai ei fod yn gysylltiad achosol rhwng ei ddiagnosis canser a'r mygdarth a anadlodd wrth weithio ar hofrenyddion yr RAF am 15 mlynedd. Roedd eisiau fy help gyda'i ymgyrch i ledaenu ymwybyddiaeth o'r cysylltiad hwn ac i helpu i gael cydnabyddiaeth gan y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn fod y canserau hyn yn cael eu hachosi gan y mygdarth gwenwynig sy'n dod o hofrenyddion yr RAF.
Sefydlodd Zach ei ymgyrch yn 2013 a darganfu nad oedd ar ei ben ei hun. Roedd llawer o gyn-filwyr eraill a oedd wedi gweithio ar hofrenyddion yr RAF fel y Sea King, ac eraill fel hofrenyddion Westland Wessex, Puma a CH-47 Chinook, hefyd wedi datblygu gwahanol fathau o ganser. Enw'r grŵp oedd Fly Hard, Fight Hard, ac roedd ganddo'r arwyddair 'shoulder to shoulder', ac fe'i sefydlwyd gyda thri chydweithiwr arall a oedd yn dioddef o ganser i ddarparu cefnogaeth a lledaenu ymwybyddiaeth.
Dechreuodd iechyd Zach waethygu'n raddol o tua hydref 2022, ond ni wanychodd ei benderfyniad a'i frwydr i sicrhau cyfiawnder. Nid ymladd drosto'i hun yn unig a wnâi, roedd yn ymladd dros bobl eraill a oedd wedi cael eu heffeithio hefyd. Yn wir, y llynedd roedd yn fodlon cyfarfod â mi a swyddog o adran lluoedd arfog Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wely ysbyty. Yn anffodus, ychydig cyn y cyfarfod, dirywiodd iechyd Zach yn gyflym, felly ni ddigwyddodd y cyfarfod, a bu farw ym mis Ionawr.
Mae'r neges yn lledaenu erbyn hyn am y cysylltiad achosol tybiedig rhwng y mygdarth gwenwynig o hofrenyddion yr RAF a chyn-filwyr sy'n cael diagnosis o ganser. Ceir honiadau fod y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn yn gwybod am beryglon y mygdarth gwenwynig mor bell yn ôl â 1999, ond nid yw hyn wedi'i brofi'n bendant eto. Mae mwy na 180 o achosion wedi'u dwyn gan gyfreithwyr ar ran pobl ledled y DU yn erbyn y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn. Hyd yma, mae chwe achos wedi'u setlo gan y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn y tu allan i'r llys, ac un o'r achosion hynny oedd un Zach, ond parhaodd i ymgyrchu dros eraill.
Cafodd hofrenyddion Sea King eu tynnu allan o wasanaeth yn 2018. Rhoddwyd y gorau i ddefnyddio hofrenyddion Westland Wessex yn 2003, ond mae'r hofrenyddion Puma a CH-47 Chinook yn dal i gael eu defnyddio. Mae'r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn wedi cyfeirio at brofion blaenorol a gynhaliwyd ar hofrenyddion ar ran yr RAF nad oeddent yn dangos arwydd fod y criw awyr yn agored i lefelau peryglus o halogion, ac rwy'n ymwybodol hefyd o seithfed adroddiad y grŵp arbenigol meddygol annibynnol ar iawndal meddygol i'r lluoedd arfog a gyhoeddwyd fis Gorffennaf diwethaf, sy'n dod i'r casgliad nad yw'r data presennol yn cyrraedd y trothwy ar gyfer achosiaeth. Fodd bynnag, dywedodd y cwmni cyfreithwyr sy'n cynrychioli'r rhan fwyaf o'r personél milwrol fod adroddiad wedi argymell y dylid addasu'r hofrennydd i ddargyfeirio'r mygdarth egsôst, ond honnodd fod y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn wedi methu gweithredu ar yr argymhellion hyn.
Dywedodd Zach wrth Anna-Louise y byddai'n gyson yn sefyll yn y mygdarth egsôst o'r hofrenyddion yn ystod ei waith, a dyna oedd natur y swydd. Dywedodd y byddai ei helmed yn aml wedi'i gorchuddio'n llwyr â huddygl y byddai'n ei anadlu i mewn. Dim ond ym mis Chwefror eleni y dechreuodd y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn brofi allyriadau egsôst hofrenyddion a gâi eu defnyddio, er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn cyflawni eu dyletswydd gofal am bersonél.
Felly, beth y gallwn ni ei wneud yma yn y Senedd i helpu ymgyrch Zach? Mae angen inni ledaenu ymwybyddiaeth o'r cysylltiad posibl rhwng mygdarth gwenwynig o hofrenyddion a chyn-filwyr sy'n cael diagnosis o ganser. Mae angen inni addysgu meddygon teulu i fod yn ymwybodol o hanes milwrol unigolyn ac y gallai hyn arwain at gymhlethdodau yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd. Byddai hyn yn ei gwneud hi'n bosibl i sgrinio ddigwydd yn gynt o lawer. Mae angen nodi'n glir i gyn-filwyr beth i'w wneud os cânt ddiagnosis o ganser. Mae angen addysgu ein recriwtiaid newydd am y peryglon posibl. Mae angen i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio'n agos gyda'r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn a phwyso arnynt i ddatgelu nifer y cyn-filwyr a fu'n hedfan mewn hofrenyddion, a ddaeth i gysylltiad â mygdarth gwenwynig ac sydd wedi datblygu canser o ganlyniad. Mae hwn yn ddata sydd ei angen ar frys. Mae'r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn eisoes wedi dechrau'r broses, ond mae angen iddi weithredu'n gyflym am fod pobl yn marw. Rwy'n gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet fynd ar drywydd hyn gyda'i swyddog cyfatebol yn San Steffan i wneud dadansoddiad o faint o bobl yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn y modd hwn. Mae hefyd yn bwysig iawn fod y cyfarpar diogelu personol a ddefnyddir yn yr hofrenyddion gan bersonél sy'n gwasanaethu ar hyn o bryd yn ddigonol.
Yn anffodus, nid yw Zach yma mwyach i barhau â'i ymgyrch dros gyfiawnder, felly mae arnom ddyletswydd iddo i barhau â'r hyn a gyflawnodd. Rwy'n falch fy mod wedi gallu gwyntyllu pryderon Zach heddiw a'u cofnodi yma yn Senedd Cymru. Diolch.
Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru i ymateb i'r ddadl.
I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales to reply to the debate.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. And Julie, thank you for raising this matter and for sharing the tragic story of Zach and also Anna-Louise. Last week, we did celebrate Armed Forces Week, which was an opportunity for us to thank all of those who are serving, our veterans and their families for their service. The Prime Minister visited RAF Valley with the First Minister, the Secretary of State for Wales and myself to announce plans to strengthen the armed forces covenant. We welcome this and we look forward to receiving further detail. We are absolutely committed to the principles of the covenant, and we recognise that service places unique demands on people and, in return, it should not disadvantage people.
Now, last week, Members will recall my statement in the Siambr about the support that the Welsh Government provides to the armed forces community in Wales. This short debate is a further opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of our armed forces community, and particularly all of those who have flown on RAF search and rescue missions. We thank you for your service. Through RAF Valley and its training for search and rescue operators, and previously when crews were stationed in other parts of Wales, the Sea King was an iconic presence in our skies.
Julie, this short debate relates to issues that you have recently written to me about, and it has also received—rightly—media attention. I'm pleased to see that the matter has been reviewed by the Ministry of Defence by its independent medical expert group and that it is being taken with the utmost seriousness. Now, its findings may not be what those who are campaigning are seeking in terms of immediate next steps. At this time, the expert group has not found a link and has not made a recommendation for occupational screening within the Royal Air Force. However, the language of the report allows for the possibility of a body of evidence to be developed. The US military has conducted reviews in this area and has reached a similar position, recommending further study.
Now, medical care and occupational health for those who serve is very much a Ministry of Defence responsibility, with treatment provided through the Defence Medical Services and via the NHS as well. The settlement of all claims, compensation for injuries or conditions acquired as a result of service is also their responsibility, but we can and do add our voices from Wales, reflecting what we hear and see, and we rightly raise concerns and press for reassurance when responsibility for these matters lies elsewhere. This debate itself is an opportunity to raise concerns, and I am happy to raise this voice from Wales again with the Minister for Veterans and People. We meet very regularly, and I'm confident that we have someone in post with veterans and their families' interests very much at heart. Minister Al Carns is, remember, the most decorated Member of Parliament in living memory, someone who I know has a genuine passion for veterans' support and justice.
I'd like to turn to veterans and the health service. We have a responsibility to show due regard for the armed forces community in relation to healthcare. We want our NHS to provide excellent services for all, and, within that, we recognise that there may be particular challenges faced by the armed forces community. Our veteran-friendly GP scheme is an important part of that, developing their awareness of veterans and identifying former service as a code on NHS records.
In closing, I'd like to acknowledge the courage of all those who are campaigning on behalf of others, especially when dealing with their own health issues and, in some cases, their own losses. Courage and tenacity are qualities that I think we would all wish for ourselves, and it's humbling to see others display such attributes. Julie, thank you for tabling this short debate and showing your support for the armed forces community in Wales, who give so much to keep our country secure in a deeply uncertain world. Diolch.
Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A Julie, diolch am godi'r mater hwn ac am rannu stori drasig Zach, ac Anna-Louise hefyd. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnaethom ddathlu Wythnos y Lluoedd Arfog, a oedd yn gyfle inni ddiolch i bawb sy'n gwasanaethu, ein cyn-filwyr a'u teuluoedd am eu gwasanaeth. Ymwelodd y Prif Weinidog ag RAF y Fali gyda'r Prif Weinidog, Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru a minnau i gyhoeddi cynlluniau i gryfhau cyfamod y lluoedd arfog. Rydym yn croesawu hyn ac edrychwn ymlaen at gael rhagor o fanylion. Rydym yn gwbl ymrwymedig i egwyddorion y cyfamod, ac rydym yn cydnabod bod gwasanaeth yn gosod gofynion unigryw ar bobl, ac yn gyfnewid am hynny, ni ddylai beri anfantais i bobl.
Nawr, yr wythnos diwethaf, bydd yr Aelodau'n cofio fy natganiad yn y Siambr am y gefnogaeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei darparu i gymuned y lluoedd arfog yng Nghymru. Mae'r ddadl fer hon yn gyfle pellach i gydnabod cyfraniad cymuned ein lluoedd arfog, ac yn enwedig yr holl rai sydd wedi hedfan yn rhan o wasanaeth chwilio ac achub yr RAF. Diolch i chi am eich gwasanaeth. Drwy RAF y Fali a'i hyfforddiant i weithredwyr chwilio ac achub, ac yn flaenorol pan oedd criwiau wedi'u lleoli mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru, roedd y Sea King yn bresenoldeb eiconig yn ein hawyr.
Julie, mae'r ddadl fer hon yn ymwneud â materion yr ydych wedi ysgrifennu ataf yn eu cylch yn ddiweddar, ac mae hefyd wedi cael sylw yn y cyfryngau, a hynny'n briodol. Rwy'n falch o weld bod y mater wedi cael ei adolygu gan y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn, gan ei grŵp arbenigol meddygol annibynnol, a'i fod yn cael ei ystyried gyda'r difrifoldeb mwyaf. Nawr, efallai nad ei ganfyddiadau yw'r hyn y mae'r rhai sy'n ymgyrchu yn ei geisio o ran y camau uniongyrchol nesaf. Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'r grŵp arbenigol wedi dod o hyd i gysylltiad ac nid yw wedi gwneud argymhelliad ar gyfer sgrinio galwedigaethol o fewn y Llu Awyr Brenhinol. Fodd bynnag, mae iaith yr adroddiad yn caniatáu'r posibilrwydd o ddatblygu corff o dystiolaeth. Mae byddin yr Unol Daleithiau wedi cynnal adolygiadau yn y maes hwn ac wedi cyrraedd safbwynt tebyg, gan argymell astudiaethau pellach.
Nawr, mae gofal meddygol ac iechyd galwedigaethol i'r rhai sy'n gwasanaethu yn un o gyfrifoldebau'r Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn, gyda thriniaeth yn cael ei darparu drwy'r Gwasanaeth Meddygol Amddiffyn a thrwy'r GIG hefyd. Mae setlo pob hawliad, iawndal am anafiadau neu gyflyrau a gafwyd o ganlyniad i'r gwasanaeth hefyd yn un o'u cyfrifoldebau, ond gallwn ychwanegu ein lleisiau o Gymru, adlewyrchu'r hyn a glywn ac a welwn, ac rydym yn iawn i godi pryderon a phwyso am sicrwydd pan fydd cyfrifoldeb am y materion hyn mewn mannau eraill. Mae'r ddadl hon ei hun yn gyfle i godi pryderon, ac rwy'n hapus i godi'r llais hwn o Gymru eto gyda'r Gweinidog dros Bobl Amddiffyn a Chyn-filwyr. Rydym yn cyfarfod yn rheolaidd iawn, ac rwy'n hyderus fod gennym rywun yn y swydd sydd â chyn-filwyr a buddiannau eu teuluoedd yn agos at ei galon. Y Gweinidog Al Carns yw'r Aelod Seneddol mwyaf medalog o fewn cof, ac mae'n rhywun y gwn fod ganddo angerdd gwirioneddol dros gefnogi a sicrhau cyfiawnder i gyn-filwyr.
Hoffwn droi at gyn-filwyr a'r gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae gennym gyfrifoldeb i ddangos parch dyladwy at gymuned y lluoedd arfog mewn perthynas â gofal iechyd. Rydym am i'n GIG ddarparu gwasanaethau rhagorol i bawb, ac o fewn hynny, rydym yn cydnabod y gallai fod heriau penodol yn wynebu cymuned y lluoedd arfog. Mae ein cynllun meddygon teulu sy'n ystyriol o gyn-filwyr yn rhan bwysig o hynny, gan ddatblygu eu hymwybyddiaeth o gyn-filwyr a nodi gwasanaeth blaenorol fel cod ar gofnodion GIG.
I gloi, hoffwn gydnabod dewrder pawb sy'n ymgyrchu ar ran eraill, yn enwedig pan fyddant yn delio â'u problemau iechyd eu hunain, ac mewn rhai achosion, eu colledion eu hunain. Mae dewrder a dycnwch yn rhinweddau y credaf y byddai pawb ohonom yn hoffi eu cael, ac mae gweld eraill yn arddangos priodoleddau o'r fath yn gwneud i rywun deimlo'n ostyngedig iawn. Julie, diolch am gyflwyno'r ddadl fer hon a dangos eich cefnogaeth i gymuned y lluoedd arfog yng Nghymru, sy'n rhoi cymaint i gadw ein gwlad yn ddiogel mewn byd ansicr iawn. Diolch.
Thank you both for the contributions.
Diolch i chi'ch dau am eich cyfraniadau.
Daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.
That brings today's proceedings to a close.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 17:41.
The meeting ended at 17:41.