Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
03/07/2018Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan David Melding.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from David Melding.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddiogelwch tân mewn blociau uchel yng Nghymru? OAQ52469
1. Will the First Minister make a statement on fire safety in high-rise blocks in Wales? OAQ52469
Our first priority after the Grenfell Tower tragedy has been to ensure residents of high-rise blocks are safe. We have provided £3 million to remove and replace cladding in the three social sector blocks affected, and we're working with private sector companies to establish their plans to complete the essential work.
Ein blaenoriaeth gyntaf ar ôl trychineb Tŵr Grenfell fu sicrhau bod trigolion blociau uchel yn ddiogel. Rydym ni wedi darparu £3 miliwn i gael gwared ar gladin a gosod un newydd mewn tri bloc sector cymdeithasol a effeithiwyd, ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda chwmnïau sector preifat i lunio eu cynlluniau i gwblhau'r gwaith hanfodol.
First Minister, of course, I acknowledge the work that's been done in the social sector, and very welcome it is, but, last month, Wales's chief fire adviser said that residents in private high-rise blocks may have to live with unsafe cladding for years because of wrangling over who should pay for it, and the Residential Landlords Association has called on the Welsh Government to offer short-term loans to the privately owned buildings for remedial works while the issue of liability is sorted out. Do you, First Minister, agree with me that, for the private sector, the priority should be to remove dangerous materials from these buildings and the issue surrounding liability contracts and responsibility should come later?
Prif Weinidog, wrth gwrs, rwy'n cydnabod y gwaith sydd wedi ei wneud yn y sector cymdeithasol, ac mae i'w groesawu'n fawr, ond y mis diwethaf, dywedodd prif gynghorydd tân Cymru efallai y bydd yn rhaid i breswylwyr mewn blociau uchel preifat fyw gyda chladin anniogel am flynyddoedd oherwydd dadlau dros pwy ddylai dalu amdano, ac mae Cymdeithas y Landlordiaid Preswyl wedi galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i gynnig benthyciadau tymor byr i adeiladau sy'n eiddo preifat ar gyfer gwaith ailwampio tra bod y mater o atebolrwydd yn cael ei ddatrys. A ydych chi, Prif Weinidog, yn cytuno â mi mai'r flaenoriaeth i'r sector preifat ddylai fod cael gwared ar ddeunyddiau peryglus o'r adeiladau hyn ac y dylai'r mater yn ymwneud â chontractau atebolrwydd a chyfrifoldeb ddod yn ddiweddarach?
Usually, the structure and exterior of a building are matters for the landlord. In the case of a high-rise building, it's usually the management company in normal circumstances. They are responsible. Now, there are private companies across Wales who are looking at the buildings that they own and are taking action in order to make them safer, and so they should. Now, I'd urge those private companies who own buildings to do just that. They will have made a substantial amount of money in the main from those buildings. It's only right then that they contribute back to the upkeep of those buildings and not expect residents or tenants to pay.
Materion i'r landlord yw strwythur yr adeilad a'r tu allan iddo fel rheol. O ran adeilad uchel, y cwmni rheoli sy'n gyfrifol o dan amgylchiadau arferol. Nhw sy'n gyfrifol. Nawr, ceir cwmnïau preifat ledled Cymru sy'n edrych ar yr adeiladau y maen nhw'n berchen arnynt ac sy'n cymryd camau i'w gwneud yn fwy diogel, ac mae hynny'n briodol. Nawr, byddwn yn annog y cwmnïau preifat hynny sy'n berchen ar adeiladau i wneud yn union hynny. Byddan nhw wedi gwneud swm sylweddol o arian o'r adeiladau hynny ar y cyfan. Mae'n gwbl briodol felly y dylen nhw gyfrannu at y gwaith o gynnal a chadw'r adeiladau hynny a pheidio â disgwyl i breswylwyr neu denantiaid dalu.
Just to expand on that point, I'm not entirely convinced that it's just as easy as saying that the management company should pay, because some of these management companies have previously been made up of residents associations, and that means that, by virtue of the set-up and the constitution of those management bodies, the residents themselves are the ones who will be paying. So, for example, in Prospect Place, you've got a mixture of people who are on benefits, you've got a mixture of professional people and elderly people. Some people will not be able to afford their contribution to that cladding. So, again, I would ask you: what is the Welsh Government doing in addressing this issue with the private sector? In the UK Government—I'm not one to praise them very often—they are having UK round-tables with the industry, telling them how they might address this issue, whereas I'm not seeing here the same type of urgent action on the private cladding that I've seen elsewhere.
Dim ond i ymhelaethu ar y pwynt hwnnw, nid wyf i'n gwbl argyhoeddedig ei fod mor rhwydd â dweud y dylai'r cwmni rheoli dalu, gan fod rhai o'r cwmnïau rheoli hyn wedi eu cyfansoddi yn y gorffennol o gymdeithasau preswylwyr, ac mae hynny'n golygu, trwy rinwedd trefn a chyfansoddiad y cyrff rheoli hynny, mai'r preswylwyr eu hunain yw'r rhai a fydd yn talu. Felly, er enghraifft, yn Prospect Place, mae gennych chi gymysgedd o bobl sydd ar fudd-daliadau, mae gennych chi gymysgedd o bobl broffesiynol a phobl oedrannus. Ni fydd rhai pobl yn gallu fforddio eu cyfraniad at y cladin hwnnw. Felly, unwaith eto, rwyf yn gofyn i chi: beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn gyda'r sector preifat? Yn Llywodraeth y DU—nid wyf i'n un sydd yn eu canmol nhw yn aml iawn—maen nhw'n cynnal cyfarfodydd bwrdd crwn ar sail y DU gyfan gyda'r diwydiant, gan ddweud wrthyn nhw sut y gallent fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn, ond nid wyf i'n gweld yr un math o weithredu brys yma o ran y cladin preifat yr wyf i wedi ei weld mewn mannau eraill.
Well, no, that simply isn't correct. There have been meetings with organisations. You're right to say that some management companies are made up entirely of residents within a building. They have to take on board the liabilities as well in those circumstances. It is an advantage to those who live in the building because they feel they have greater control over the communal area of the building, but there are disadvantages, particularly when it comes to liability.
We will, of course, work with residents organisations. I can say that the Minister has already had a constructive meeting with representatives of the residents management company, the developer and managing agents for a number of the buildings that we're talking about. We'll continue with those meetings to see what help could be provided where there is genuine difficulty as far as some residents are concerned in order to make buildings safer.
Wel, na, mae hynny'n gwbl anghywir. Cafwyd cyfarfodydd â sefydliadau. Rydych chi'n iawn i ddweud bod rhai cwmnïau rheoli wedi eu cyfansoddi'n llwyr o breswylwyr mewn adeilad. Mae'n rhaid iddynt hwythau ystyried yr atebolrwydd hefyd o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny. Mae'n fantais i'r rhai hynny sy'n byw yn yr adeilad gan eu bod nhw'n teimlo bod ganddyn nhw fwy o reolaeth dros ran cymunedol yr adeilad, ond ceir anfanteision, yn enwedig pan ddaw i atebolrwydd.
Byddwn, wrth gwrs, yn gweithio gyda sefydliadau preswylwyr. Gallaf ddweud bod y Gweinidog eisoes wedi cael cyfarfod adeiladol gyda chynrychiolwyr y cwmni rheoli preswylwyr, y datblygwr ac asiantau rheoli nifer o'r adeiladau yr ydym ni'n sôn amdanynt. Byddwn yn parhau i gynnal y cyfarfodydd hynny i weld pa gymorth y gellid ei ddarparu lle ceir anhawster gwirioneddol cyn belled ag y mae rhai preswylwyr yn y cwestiwn er mwyn gwneud adeiladau yn fwy diogel.
2. Pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i ymateb i argymhellion adroddiad y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg, 'Cadernid Meddwl'?
2. What steps will the Welsh Government take in response to the recommendations of the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report, ‘Mind over matter’?
Our response was published on 27 June. It does recognise, the original report, the progress that's been made, but there is no doubt that there is more that needs to be done to improve young people’s mental health and well-being. I can assure Members that we will examine very carefully those recommendations we have accepted in principle and look very carefully at what more we might be able to do in order to provide assurances for the committee and the report that it has produced.
Cyhoeddwyd ein hymateb ar 27 Mehefin. Mae yn cydnabod, yr adroddiad gwreiddiol, y cynnydd a wnaed, ond nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth bod mwy y mae angen ei wneud i wella iechyd meddwl a llesiant pobl ifanc. Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelodau y byddwn yn archwilio'n ofalus iawn yr argymhellion hynny yr ydym ni wedi eu derbyn mewn egwyddor ac yn edrych yn ofalus iawn ar beth arall y gallem ni ei wneud er mwyn rhoi sicrwydd i'r pwyllgor a'r adroddiad y mae wedi ei lunio.
First Minister, committee members from all parties, many education and health professionals, as well as schoolchildren, worked hard over many months to produce this report 'Mind over matter'. Our Chair then met with you personally to ask you to lead a cross-Government response, since we do need the health Secretary to engage with our work as much as the education Secretary. First Minister, what have you got to say to everyone who helped with our report now that they see you've accepted only seven of our 28 recommendations, and that eight have been rejected in whole or in part, while 13 have been described—and many regret Welsh Government's increasing use of this get-out phrase—as just accepted in principle?
Prif Weinidog, mae aelodau pwyllgor o bob plaid, llawer o weithwyr addysg ac iechyd proffesiynol, yn ogystal â phlant ysgol, wedi gweithio'n galed dros fisoedd lawer i lunio'r adroddiad hwn, 'Cadernid meddwl'. Cyfarfu ein Cadeirydd gyda chi yn bersonol wedyn i ofyn i chi arwain ymateb traws-Lywodraeth, gan ein bod ni angen i'r Ysgrifennydd iechyd ymgysylltu â'n gwaith gymaint â'r ysgrifennydd Addysg. Prif Weinidog, beth sydd gennych chi i'w ddweud wrth bawb a helpodd gyda'n hadroddiad nawr eu bod nhw'n gweld nad ydych chi wedi derbyn dim ond saith o'r 28 argymhelliad a wnaed, a bod wyth wedi eu gwrthod yn gyfan gwbl neu'n rhannol, tra dywedwyd bod 13—ac mae llawer yn gresynu defnydd cynyddol Llywodraeth Cymru o'r ymadrodd ochr-gamu hwn—wedi eu derbyn mewn egwyddor yn unig?
Well, my understanding is that the report makes one key recommendation and 27 separate recommendations. We have accepted fully or in part 23 of those recommendations. It's important that, where there has been acceptance in principle, that we look very carefully and seriously at how to implement or take forward those recommendations, and we will do that because we are aware, of course, that mental health is one of the key priority areas for us, identified in 'Prosperity for All'.
Wel, fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod yr adroddiad yn gwneud un argymhelliad allweddol a 27 o argymhellion ar wahân. Rydym ni wedi derbyn yn llawn neu'n rhannol 23 o'r argymhellion hynny. Mae'n bwysig, pan fo argymhellion yn cael eu derbyn mewn egwyddor, ein bod ni'n edrych yn ofalus iawn ac o ddifrif ar sut i weithredu neu fwrw ymlaen â'r argymhellion hynny, a byddwn yn gwneud hynny gan ein bod ni'n ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, fod iechyd meddwl yn un o'r meysydd o flaenoriaeth allweddol i ni, a nodwyd yn 'Ffyniant i Bawb'.
First Minister, you are very well aware of my deep concern about the Welsh Government response to 'Mind over matter'. Now, I don't want to pre-empt the committee debate tomorrow, because it wouldn't be possible to do this issue justice in a question, but can I just ask you to give me your assurance that you will very carefully consider what happens in that debate tomorrow, with a view to ensuring that we do actually get the step change that we so desperately need for our children and young people?
Prif Weinidog, rydych chi'n gwbl ymwybodol o fy mhryder mawr ynghylch ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i 'Cadernid meddwl'. Nawr, nid wyf i eisiau achub y blaen ar y ddadl yn y pwyllgor yfory, gan na fyddai'n bosibl gwneud cyfiawnder â'r mater hwn mewn cwestiwn, ond a gaf i ofyn i chi roi eich sicrwydd i mi y gwnewch chi ystyried yn ofalus iawn yr hyn sy'n digwydd yn y ddadl honno yfory, gyda'r nod o sicrhau ein bod ni wir yn cael y newid sylweddol sydd mor daer ei angen arnom ni ar gyfer ein plant a'n pobl ifanc?
Yes. I can give my friend and colleague that assurance. I know that this is an issue that she has given a huge amount of commitment to, and I want to make sure that the Government's response in the longer term is the kind of response that she would want to see, and other members of the committee. There will, of course, be a fuller debate tomorrow, and these issues can be explored in greater depth at that point.
Cewch. Gallaf roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw i'm ffrind a'm cyd-Aelod. Gwn fod hwn yn fater y mae wedi rhoi llawer iawn o ymroddiad iddo, ac rwyf i eisiau gwneud yn siŵr mai ymateb y Llywodraeth yn y tymor hwy yw'r math o ymateb y byddai hi, ac aelodau eraill y pwyllgor, eisiau ei weld. Bydd dadl lawnach yfory, wrth gwrs, a gellir ystyried y materion hyn yn fwy manwl bryd hynny.
Rydw innau hefyd eisiau cofrestru fy siom, a dweud y gwir, ar ymateb cwbl lipa'r Llywodraeth i argymhellion yr adroddiad yma. Yn amlwg, i fi, nid yw'r Llywodraeth yn rhannu'r un uchelgais ag aelodau'r pwyllgor o safbwynt y newid trawsnewidiol sydd ei angen yn y maes yma, yn enwedig wrth edrych ar y trajectory o ran y cynnydd yn y broblem rydym ni'n ei weld. Mae'n rhaid i ni gwrdd â'r her yna gyda llawer mwy o frwdfrydedd na derbyn mewn egwyddor, sydd, i fi, yn god, yn aml iawn, am fusnes fel arfer.
Nawr, mae cael mwy nag un Ysgrifennydd Cabinet neu mwy nag un Gweinidog yn gyfrifol am rai meysydd weithiau'n gallu bod yn gryfder, ond i fi, yn yr achos yma, mae'n amlwg yn wendid, oherwydd nid oes dim un person yn cymryd gafael, yn cymryd perchnogaeth o'r gwelliannau ac yn gyrru'r newidiadau yna drwyddo. Felly, a gaf i ofyn a wnewch chi, fel Prif Weinidog, oherwydd natur y modd y mae'r pwyllgor yn teimlo bod yn rhaid i hyn nawr fod yn flaenoriaeth genedlaethol, gymryd y rôl yna?
I also want to record my disappointment with the poor response of the Government to the recommendations made in this report. It’s clear to me that the Government doesn’t share the same ambitions as committee members in terms of the transformational change required in this area, particularly in looking at the trajectory in terms of the increase in the problems that we see. We need to meet that challenge with far more enthusiasm rather than just accepting in principle, which, to me, is code for business as usual.
Now, having more than one Cabinet Secretary or more than one Minister responsible for certain areas can be a strength, but, in this case, for me, it’s clearly a weakness because there isn’t one individual taking ownership of these improvements and driving those changes through. So, may I ask whether you as First Minister, because of the nature of the way in which the committee feels that this should be a national priority, will take that lead role?
Wel, os oes eisiau gwneud hynny, fe wnaf i hynny, wrth gwrs, yn enwedig gyda CAMHS. Fel rhywun sydd â phrofiad agos gyda CAMHS, a gwybod am a gweld rhai o'r problemau mae rhai pobl wedi cael ynglŷn â'u plant yn enwedig, mae hyn yn rhywbeth rydw i'n moyn sicrhau sy'n cael ei yrru ymlaen. A gaf i ddweud hyn wrth Aelodau: fe fyddaf i'n cymryd ystyriaeth, wrth gwrs, o'r ddadl fory ac, wrth gwrs, bydd y Llywodraeth yn ymateb fory, a hefyd ar ôl fory, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu cryfhau'r gwasanaethau sydd ar gael i bobl?
Well, if that’s required, I will do that, of course, particularly with CAMHS. As I have some direct experience of CAHMS, and as I’ve seen some of the problems that people have had with their children particularly, this is something that I want to ensure is driven forward. May I tell Members this: I will take tomorrow’s debate into account, and the Government will respond tomorrow, and beyond tomorrow, in order to ensure that we can strengthen the services available?
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau, ac, ar ran yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders, and, on behalf of the opposition, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, this week is of course the seventieth anniversary of the national health service, and I'm sure you will join me in celebrating the service and the tireless work of health professionals, who, over the years, have continued to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients across the UK. First Minister, in light of this significant milestone, are you ashamed to be the only leader of a UK nation to have ever cut an NHS budget?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae'r wythnos hon yn dathlu deng mlynedd a thrigain ers sefydlu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, wrth gwrs, ac rwy'n siŵr y gwnewch ichi ymuno â mi i ddathlu'r gwasanaeth a gwaith diflino gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol, sydd, dros y blynyddoedd, wedi parhau i ddarparu'r canlyniadau gorau posibl i gleifion ledled y DU. Prif Weinidog, yng ngoleuni'r garreg filltir bwysig hon, a oes gennych chi gywilydd o fod yr unig arweinydd o wlad yn y DU erioed sydd wedi torri cyllideb y GIG?
Can I first of all pay just a word of tribute again to the Member's predecessor, with whom I crossed swords for seven years, I think, in this Chamber? It went very quickly, I suspect, but could I wish him the best for the future as well, and to welcome the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire back to the role that he occupied back in 2011 for a short period of time?
Can I assure him we are proud of the record we have on the NHS? We are the party that established the NHS. We spend more on health per head than England does. We spend more on health and social care by some distance than England does. And if he is suggesting to me that somehow things are better under his Government in London, I simply repeat to him a sign I saw, which touched me, in Tredegar on Sunday, and it's this: 'We have a statue to Aneurin Bevan; we'll never have a statue to Jeremy Hunt.'
A gaf i yn gyntaf dalu gair o deyrnged unwaith eto i ragflaenydd yr Aelod, y gwnes i groesi cleddyfau ag ef am saith mlynedd, rwy'n credu, yn y Siambr hon? Aeth yr amser yn gyflym iawn, rwy'n amau, ond a gaf i ddymuno'r gorau iddo ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd, a chroesawu'r Aelod dros Preseli Sir Benfro yn ôl i'r swydd yr oedd ynddi yn ôl yn 2011 am gyfnod byr o amser?
A gaf i ei sicrhau ein bod ni'n falch iawn o'r hanes sydd gennym ni o ran y GIG? Ni yw'r blaid a sefydlodd y GIG. Rydym ni'n gwario mwy y pen ar iechyd nag y mae Lloegr. Rydym ni'n gwario mwy ar iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol o lawer iawn nag y mae Lloegr. Ac os yw'n awgrymu i mi rywsut bod pethau'n well o dan ei Lywodraeth ef yn Llundain, hoffwn ailadrodd yn syml iddo arwydd a welais, a gafodd effaith arnaf i, yn Nhredegar ddydd Sul, a dyma fe: 'Mae gennym ni gerflun i Aneurin Bevan; ni fydd gennym ni fyth gerflun i Jeremy Hunt.'
Well, of course, here he goes again—the First Minister, wanting to talk about England. He doesn't want to talk about Wales. You are the First Minister of Wales. Now, of course, perhaps the outgoing First Minister doesn't actually want to talk about financing the NHS in Wales, but at least the incoming First Minister is starting to accept his party's mistakes of the past. Only last week, at the WLGA conference in Llandudno, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services made it clear that it was a mistake to cut the health budget in 2011, when he said that—and I quote:
'The cash flat budget settlement didn't work'.
First Minister, do you agree with him?
Wel, wrth gwrs, dyma ni eto—y Prif Weinidog, eisiau siarad am Loegr. Nid yw eisiau siarad am Gymru. Chi yw Prif Weinidog Cymru. Nawr, wrth gwrs, efallai nad yw'r Prif Weinidog sydd ar fin gadael eisiau siarad am ariannu'r GIG yng Nghymru, ond o leiaf mae'r Prif Weinidog newydd yn dechrau derbyn camgymeriadau ei blaid yn y gorffennol. Dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, yng nghynhadledd CLlLC yn Llandudno, fe'i gwnaed yn eglur gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ei fod yn gamgymeriad torri'r gyllideb iechyd yn 2011, pan ddywedodd—a dyfynnaf:
Ni wnaeth y setliad cyllideb arian gwastad weithio.
Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno ag ef?
What I can say is we have put enormous resources into the health service now for many, many years. It is perfectly proper for us to point out what he—his party—would do if they were in Government in Wales, because we have seen the example of what they have done in England: mass prioritisation, a postcode lottery—[Interruption.] Yes, I know it hurts, but you've got to listen. A postcode lottery of treatment, prioritisation, cuts in health spending in real terms, not keeping up with the health spending in Wales, massive cuts in social services. If they talked to their colleagues—their own party colleagues—in local government in England, we will see from them, and hear from them, the devastating impact of his party's cuts in England that thankfully—thankfully—we have been able to prevent in Wales. I just remember one thing: we have, for the past eight years and more in this Chamber, had to suffer the effects of austerity that has been imposed on the people of Wales by his own party. I would accept his criticism perhaps more favourably if he were to stand up today and demand that his own Prime Minister and what's left of her Government end austerity in the UK.
Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud yw ein bod ni wedi rhoi adnoddau enfawr i mewn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd ers blynyddoedd lawer iawn erbyn hyn. Mae'n gwbl briodol i ni dynnu sylw at yr hyn y byddai ef—ei blaid—yn ei wneud pe bydden nhw mewn Llywodraeth yng Nghymru, gan ein bod ni wedi gweld yr enghraifft o'r hyn y maen nhw wedi ei wneud yn Lloegr: blaenoriaethu torfol, loteri cod post—[Torri ar draws.] Ie, gwn ei fod yn brifo, ond mae'n rhaid i chi wrando. Loteri cod post o driniaeth, blaenoriaethu, toriadau i wariant iechyd mewn termau real, peidio â gwario gymaint ar iechyd ag yr ydym ni yng Nghymru, toriadau anferth i wasanaethau cymdeithasol. Pe bydden nhw'n siarad â'u cydweithwyr—eu cydweithwyr yn eu plaid eu hunain—mewn llywodraeth leol yn Lloegr, byddwn yn gweld ganddyn nhw, ac yn clywed ganddyn nhw, effaith ddinistriol toriadau ei blaid ef yn Lloegr a diolch byth—diolch byth—rydym ni wedi gallu eu hatal yng Nghymru. Un peth yr wyf i'n ei gofio: rydym ni, dros yr wyth mlynedd diwethaf a mwy yn y Siambr hon, wedi gorfod dioddef effeithiau cyni cyllidol a orfodwyd ar bobl Cymru gan ei blaid ef ei hun. Byddwn yn derbyn ei feirniadaeth yn fwy ffafriol efallai pe byddai'n sefyll ar ei draed heddiw ac yn mynnu bod ei Brif Weinidog ei hun a'r hyn sy'n weddill o'i Llywodraeth yn rhoi terfyn ar gyni cyllidol yn y DU.
Well, I'm not going to take any lectures on spending from the First Minister and, indeed, the Labour Party. It was the Labour Party that left a deficit of £150 billion back in 2010—[Interruption.]—and we all remember—[Interruption.] We all remember the former Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liam Byrne, who said there was no money left. This party has had to clear up that mess. [Interruption.] First Minister—
Wel, nid wyf i'n mynd i gymryd unrhyw bregethau ar wariant gan y Prif Weinidog nac, yn wir, y Blaid Lafur. Y Blaid Lafur a adawodd ddiffyg o £150 biliwn yn ôl yn 2010—[Torri ar draws.]—ac rydym ni i gyd yn cofio—[Torri ar draws.] Rydym ni i gyd yn cofio cyn-brif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys Llafur, Liam Byrne, a ddywedodd nad oedd unrhyw arian ar ôl. Bu'n rhaid i'r blaid hon glirio'r llanastr hwnnw. [Torri ar draws.] Prif Weinidog—
I think we all need to calm down a little bit and listen to Paul Davies.
Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni i gyd ymdawelu ychydig a gwrando ar Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the effects of the cuts back in 2011 are still being felt by communities across Wales today. The starving of vital NHS funds in recent years has led to Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board in north Wales being put in special measures, the centralisation and downgrading of services and hospitals like Withybush in west Wales, in my constituency, health boards struggling and, in some cases, unable to break even. Waiting times satisfaction rates are down, according to your own Government's survey, and thousands of people across Wales are still struggling to access their GP. First Minister, the UK Government has pledged a funding boost of £1.2 billion to the Welsh Government every year—[Interruption.]—for the next few years, every year for the next few years. Will you now commit to spending every penny of that funding on the NHS in Wales and give the Welsh health service the birthday present it so vitally deserves?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, mae effeithiau'r toriadau yn ôl yn 2011 yn dal i gael eu teimlo gan gymunedau ledled Cymru heddiw. Mae atal cyllid GIG hanfodol yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf wedi arwain at Fwrdd Iechyd Lleol Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn y gogledd yn cael ei roi mewn mesurau arbennig, canoli ac israddio gwasanaethau ac ysbytai fel Llwynhelyg yn y gorllewin, yn fy etholaeth i, byrddau iechyd mewn trafferthion ac, mewn rhai achosion, ddim yn gallu mantoli eu cyllidebau. Mae cyfraddau boddhad gydag amseroedd aros wedi gostwng, yn ôl arolwg eich Llywodraeth eich hun, ac mae miloedd o bobl ledled Cymru yn dal i gael trafferth i gael gweld eu meddygon teulu. Prif Weinidog, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi addo hwb ariannol o £1.2 biliwn i Lywodraeth Cymru bob blwyddyn—[Torri ar draws.]—dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf, bob blwyddyn dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf. A wnewch chi ymrwymo nawr i wario pob ceiniog o'r cyllid hwnnw ar y GIG yng Nghymru a rhoi'r anrheg pen-blwydd y mae'n ei haeddu gymaint i wasanaeth iechyd Cymru?
Well, he is more animated than I've seen him for the past 11 years in this Chamber. He doesn't need to audition for the job; no-one else wants it, at the end of the day. [Laughter.] But let me say this to him: again, he wants to avoid the austerity that his own party has imposed on the people of Britain. It is because of austerity that we find ourselves in the position where we would want to spend more money, more resources in health and other areas but we are unable to do so. Once again, on being given the invitation today to stand up and call for the end of austerity, he has failed. I can't say 'once again' because it's the first time he's done it, but he has failed the people of Wales in terms of what he has done.
Once again, he spreads this myth—he spreads this myth about a £1.2 billion consequential. That is not true. Let me explain why it's not true. What will happen is, the consequential will come, and then there will be cuts in other areas. There won't be £1.2 billion. It will be far less than that. We know that because that's what's happened over the past few years. So, what we will find is there may well be a consequential, but it will be far less than £1.2 billion, because his party are going to make sure of that. His party are going to make sure that they will make cuts in local government, they will make cuts in other devolved areas, and they'll pass those cuts on to us and shave that figure of £1.2 billion down to something far, far less. So, let's see, if he wants the leadership of his party, whether he will say today that he will demand of his party in London that we should get a full £1.2 billion and more, just as they gave £1 billion to the eight Members of Parliament from the Democratic Unionist Party.
Wel, mae'n fwy bywiog nag yr wyf i wedi ei weld ef yn ystod yr 11 mlynedd diwethaf yn y Siambr hon. Nid oes angen iddo gael clyweliad ar gyfer y swydd; does neb arall ei heisiau hi, yn y pen draw. [Chwerthin.] Ond gadewch i mi ddweud hyn wrtho: unwaith eto, mae eisiau osgoi'r cyni cyllidol y mae ei blaid ei hun wedi ei orfodi ar bobl Prydain. Oherwydd cyni cyllidol y ydym ni'n canfod ein hunain yn y sefyllfa lle byddem ni'n dymuno gwario mwy o arian, mwy o adnoddau ym maes iechyd a meysydd eraill ond nad ydym yn gallu gwneud hynny. Unwaith eto, ar ôl cael y gwahoddiad heddiw i sefyll ar ei draed a galw am derfyn ar gyni cyllidol, mae wedi methu. Ni allaf ddweud 'unwaith eto' oherwydd dyma'r tro cyntaf y mae wedi ei wneud, ond mae wedi siomi pobl Cymru o ran yr hyn y mae wedi ei wneud.
Unwaith eto, mae'n lledaenu'r chwedl hon—mae'n lledaenu'r chwedl hon am swm canlyniadol o £1.2 biliwn. Nid yw hynny'n wir. Gadewch i mi esbonio pam nad yw'n wir. Yr hyn a fydd yn digwydd yw, bydd y swm canlyniadol yn dod, ac yna bydd toriadau mewn meysydd eraill. Ni fydd £1.2 biliwn. Bydd yn llawer llai na hynny. Rydym ni'n gwybod hynny gan mai dyna sydd wedi digwydd dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf. Felly, yr hyn y byddwn yn ei ganfod yw efallai'n wir y bydd swm canlyniadol, ond bydd yn llai o lawer nag £1.2 biliwn, gan fod ei blaid yn mynd i wneud yn siŵr o hynny. Mae ei blaid yn mynd i wneud yn siŵr y bydd yn gwneud toriadau mewn llywodraeth leol, bydd yn gwneud toriadau mewn meysydd datganoledig eraill, a bydd yn trosglwyddo'r toriadau hynny i ni ac yn gostwng y ffigur hwnnw o £1.2 biliwn i lawr i rywbeth llawer, llawer llai. Felly, gadewch i ni weld, os yw ef eisiau bod yn arweinydd ei blaid, pa un a wnaiff ef ddweud heddiw y bydd yn mynnu wrth ei blaid yn Llundain y dylem ni gael £1.2 biliwn llawn a mwy, yn union fel y rhoddasant £1 biliwn i wyth o Aelodau Seneddol o blaid yr Unoliaethwyr Democrataidd.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood.
The Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood.
Diolch, Llywydd. In the seventieth year of the NHS, it remains Wales's greatest invention, and it is, of course, the staff to whom we owe the greatest gratitude. So, I'm sure I speak on behalf of everyone here when I say 'diolch o galon i chi i gyd' on behalf of all of us.
Now, Wales's ageing population means that care services are unable to deal with the pressure that they're under, leading to thousands of unnecessary referrals to the NHS. It's in your gift, First Minister, to create the national care service that Plaid Cymru has been advocating for some time now, to alleviate that pressure. Will you do it?
Diolch, Llywydd. Er bod y GIG yn ddeg a thrigain oed, mae'n dal i fod y peth gorau a ddyfeisiwyd gan Gymru, ac i'r staff, wrth gwrs, y mae arnom ni'r diolch mwyaf. Felly, rwy'n sicr fy mod i'n siarad ar ran pawb yma pan ddywedaf 'diolch o galon i chi i gyd' ar ran bob un ohonom ni.
Nawr, mae poblogaeth Cymru sy'n heneiddio yn golygu nad yw gwasanaethau gofal yn gallu ymdopi â'r pwysau sydd arnyn nhw, sy'n arwain at filoedd o atgyfeiriadau diangen i'r GIG. Mae yn eich rhodd, Prif Weinidog, i greu'r gwasanaeth gofal gwladol y mae Plaid Cymru wedi dadlau o'i blaid ers cryn amser bellach, i leddfu'r pwysau hynny. A wnewch chi hynny?
Well, it's not clear what a national care service would do. It is right to say that there is still work to be done in aligning further the work of social services with health. We know there can't be a divorce between the two. The two run very much together. And that is what we are doing, working with our local government colleagues, to make sure that there are fewer people who are delayed in hospital—we're seeing delayed transfers of care go down—and also, of course, working with primary care providers to make sure that they are able to provide the care that people need to avoid them going into hospital in the first place.
Wel, nid yw'n eglur beth fyddai gwasanaeth gofal gwladol yn ei wneud. Mae'n iawn i ddweud bod gwaith i'w wneud o hyd i gyfochri ymhellach gwaith gwasanaethau cymdeithasol gydag iechyd. Rydym ni'n gwybod na ellir ysgaru'r ddau. Mae'r ddau yn sicr yn rhedeg law yn llaw. A dyna'r ydym ni'n ei wneud, gweithio gyda'n cydweithwyr llywodraeth leol, i wneud yn siŵr bod llai o bobl sy'n cael eu hoedi yn yr ysbyty—rydym ni'n gweld nifer yr achosion o oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal yn gostwng—a hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn gweithio gyda darparwyr gofal sylfaenol i wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n gallu darparu'r gofal sydd ei angen ar bobl er mwyn iddynt allu osgoi mynd i'r ysbyty yn y lle cyntaf.
It's not happening quick enough, First Minister, and that's why we've advocated this national care service. Bold changes are needed for our health and social care services to reflect the changing demographics in this country. Bevan's bold vision saw the creation of the NHS, and a similar bold vision is needed now for a national care service. We can all agree that the NHS is a Welsh institution that is the envy of the world, but Wales's place in the world is putting it under threat. Unlike the promises on the side of the famous big red bus, Brexit's danger for the NHS has come into sharp focus this week. NHS England's chief executive officer, Simon Stevens, confirmed that there is extensive planning taking place for a 'no deal' Brexit. First Minister, can you tell us exactly what planning has been taking place here in Wales in the Welsh NHS for a 'no deal' Brexit scenario?
Nid yw'n digwydd yn ddigon cyflym, Prif Weinidog, a dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi argymell y gwasanaeth gofal gwladol hwn. Mae angen newidiadau beiddgar i'n gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i adlewyrchu'r ddemograffeg newidiol yn y wlad hon. Arweiniodd gweledigaeth feiddgar Bevan at greu'r GIG, ac mae angen gweledigaeth feiddgar debyg nawr ar gyfer gwasanaeth gofal gwladol. Gallwn ni i gyd gytuno bod y GIG yn sefydliad o Gymru sy'n destun eiddigedd y byd, ond mae lle Cymru yn y byd yn ei roi o dan fygythiad. Yn wahanol i'r addewidion ar ochr y bws coch mawr enwog, mae perygl Brexit i'r GIG wedi dod yn gwbl amlwg yr wythnos hon. Cadarnhaodd prif swyddog gweithredol GIG Lloegr, Simon Stevens, bod cynllunio helaeth yn cael ei wneud ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb'. Prif Weinidog, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni'n union pa waith cynllunio sydd wedi bod yn cael ei wneud yma yng Nghymru yn GIG Cymru ar gyfer sefyllfa Brexit 'dim cytundeb'?
No amount of planning will help us to recruit doctors in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit. It's a disaster. In fact, people were told two years ago that it wouldn't happen. Now, they are being softened up for a 'no deal' Brexit that will lead to many things, and she is right to point this out. What it would mean is that it would be far more difficult to attract doctors and nurses into our health system. Every single health service in the western world relies on medical staff from other countries, because they want to be able to attract the best, wherever they are from. The message that's being sent out from Britain at the moment is: doctors and nurses from other countries are not welcome here; that, somehow, this is not the country to come to; it is too much bother to come to; there is too much bureaucracy in the future. That is not what we want. A 'no deal' Brexit cannot be planned for, because if we can't attract doctors and nurses from other countries, we will not make up the numbers that we need in Wales. That's why we continue to fight, as she does, for a Brexit that is sensible and makes sure that the people of Wales don't suffer.
Ni fydd unrhyw faint o gynllunio yn ein helpu ni i recriwtio meddygon mewn achos o Brexit 'dim cytundeb'. Mae'n drychineb. A dweud y gwir, dywedwyd wrth bobl ddwy flynedd yn ôl na fyddai'n digwydd. Nawr, maen nhw'n cael eu paratoi ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb' a fydd yn arwain at lawer o bethau, ac mae hi'n iawn i dynnu sylw at hyn. Yr hyn y byddai'n ei olygu yw y byddai'n llawer mwy anodd denu meddygon a nyrsys i'n system iechyd. Mae pob un gwasanaeth iechyd yn y byd gorllewinol yn dibynnu ar staff meddygol o wledydd eraill, gan eu bod nhw eisiau gallu denu'r gorau, o ble bynnag y maen nhw'n dod. Y neges sy'n cael ei anfon allan gan Brydain ar hyn o bryd yw: nid oes croeso i feddygon a nyrsys o wledydd eraill yma; nad dyma'r wlad i ddod iddi, rywsut; mae'n ormod o drafferth i ddod iddi; mae gormod o fiwrocratiaeth yn y dyfodol. Nid dyna yr ydym ni ei eisiau. Ni ellir cynllunio ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb', oherwydd os na allwn ni ddenu meddygon a nyrsys o wledydd eraill, ni fyddwn yn denu'r niferoedd sydd eu hangen arnom ni yng Nghymru. Dyna pam yr ydym ni'n parhau i ymladd, fel y mae hithau, dros Brexit sy'n synhwyrol ac sy'n gwneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl Cymru yn dioddef.
I'm really concerned that you have no plan for a 'no deal' Brexit, First Minister. They are planning for this in England. You should be planning for this here in Wales. Now, I know that we both want to see our NHS weather the Brexit storm. You are in a position to do something about it, though. I don't have faith in Westminster to ensure a steady hand on the tiller. 'No deal' needs planning, and that planning needs to start now, for the sake of patients and for staff.
One of the most startling revelations relates to our access to medicines, post Brexit. Thirty-seven million patient packets of medicines are imported into the UK from the EU every single month. Now, in a 'no deal' scenario, there is no guarantee about a single one of those packs. Medicines regulation is not a devolved matter, and NHS England has confirmed that they are preparing to stockpile medicines made outside the UK for English patients. That's what planning does.
First Minister, are there specific Welsh contingency plans, or are you going to leave it up to the Department of health in Whitehall to ensure that Welsh patients can access the treatments that they need post Brexit?
Rwy'n bryderus iawn nad oes gennych chi gynllun wrth gefn ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb', Prif Weinidog. Maen nhw'n cynllunio ar gyfer hyn yn Lloegr. Dylech chi fod yn cynllunio ar gyfer hyn yma yng Nghymru. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod bod y ddau ohonom ni eisiau gweld ein GIG yn dod trwy waethaf storm Brexit. Rydych chi mewn sefyllfa i wneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch, fodd bynnag. Nid oes gen i unrhyw ffydd yn San Steffan i sicrhau llaw gadarn ar y llyw. Mae angen cynllunio ar gyfer dim cytundeb, ac mae angen i'r cynllunio hwnnw ddechrau nawr, er lles cleifion ac ar gyfer staff.
Mae un o'r pethau mwyaf syfrdanol a ddatgelwyd yn ymwneud â'n mynediad at feddyginiaethau, ar ôl Brexit. Caiff 37 miliwn o becynnau meddyginiaethau i gleifion eu mewnforio i'r DU o'r UE bob un mis. Nawr, mewn sefyllfa 'dim cytundeb', nid oes unrhyw sicrwydd ynghylch yr un o'r pecynnau hynny. Nid yw rheoleiddio meddyginiaethau yn fater datganoledig, ac mae GIG Lloegr wedi cadarnhau eu bod nhw'n paratoi i bentyrru meddyginiaethau a gynhyrchir y tu allan i'r DU ar gyfer cleifion yn Lloegr. Dyna mae cynllunio yn ei wneud.
Prif Weinidog, a oes cynlluniau wrth gefn penodol i Gymru, neu a ydych chi'n mynd i'w gadael i'r adran iechyd yn Whitehall sicrhau y gall cleifion Cymru gael gafael ar y triniaethau sydd eu hangen arnynt ar ôl Brexit?
Yes, we will do what we have to do in order to cater for that scenario, but let's not pretend here that any of this is good. She makes the point that there is planning for a 'no deal' Brexit. There is no planning for a 'no deal' Brexit. It's more like people running around in circles screaming. There are no plans at all for it. Let's look, for example, at the ports. Where are the plans to put in place the structure in the ports to deal with extra customs checks, possibly extra border controls, the queues of lorries that would be created as a result, and the parking that would be created as a result of that? Nothing. There is no planning for it. The reason why no planning has been done on a 'no deal' Brexit in Whitehall is because they convinced themselves that the EU would crumble and therefore there would be a deal. It would be an abject failure on the part of Brexiteers if, having promised the people of Britain in 2016 that there would be a deal that the EU would agree to, they then broke that promise two years on. They would have some explaining to do to the people of Britain.
Byddwn, byddwn yn gwneud yr hyn y mae'n rhaid i ni ei wneud er mwyn darparu ar gyfer y sefyllfa honno, ond gadewch i ni beidio ag esgus yma bod dim o hyn yn dda. Mae hi'n gwneud y pwynt bod cynllunio ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb'. Nid oes unrhyw gynllunio ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb'. Mae'n debycach i bobl yn rhedeg o amgylch mewn cylchoedd yn sgrechian. Nid oes unrhyw gynlluniau o gwbl ar ei gyfer. Gadewch i ni edrych, er enghraifft, ar y porthladdoedd. Ble mae'r cynlluniau i gyflwyno'r strwythur yn y porthladdoedd i ymdrin ag archwiliadau tollau ychwanegol, rheolaethau ffin ychwanegol o bosibl, ciwiau o lorïau a fyddai'n cael eu creu o ganlyniad, a'r parcio a fyddai'n cael ei greu o ganlyniad i hynny? Dim byd. Nid oes unrhyw gynllunio ar ei gyfer. Y rheswm pam nad oes unrhyw gynllunio wedi ei wneud ar Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yn Whitehall yw oherwydd eu bod nhw wedi argyhoeddi eu hunain y byddai'r UE yn ildio ac felly y byddai cytundeb. Byddai'n fethiant llwyr ar ran y Brexiteers pe bydden nhw, ar ôl addo i bobl Prydain yn 2016 y byddai cytundeb y byddai'r UE yn cytuno iddo, yn torri'r addewid hwnnw wedyn ddwy flynedd yn ddiweddarach. Byddai ganddyn nhw waith esbonio i'w wneud i bobl Prydain.
Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Caroline Jones.
The leader of the UKIP group, Caroline Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, the whole of my region and communities breathed a sigh of relief when news broke of the deal being struck between Tata and ThyssenKrupp. It ended years of uncertainty for workers at Port Talbot and Deeside. So, the Port Talbot works is to get one of its blast furnaces repaired, helping to guarantee the jobs of the thousands of employees until 2026. However, I note from the announcement that the firm only have an ambition to avoid compulsory redundancies until then. So, it's clear that the sector still needs significant help if it is to succeed. First Minister, what additional support is the Welsh Government going to offer the steel sector in Wales in general, and the Port Talbot plant in particular?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, rhoddodd fy holl ranbarth a'i gymunedau ochenaid o ryddhad pan dorrodd y newyddion am y fargen yn cael ei tharo rhwng Tata a ThyssenKrupp. Daeth â blynyddoedd o ansicrwydd i weithwyr ym Mhort Talbot a Glannau Dyfrdwy i ben. Felly, bydd gwaith Port Talbot yn cael trwsio un o'i ffwrneisi chwyth, gan helpu i sicrhau swyddi'r miloedd o weithwyr tan 2026. Fodd bynnag, nodaf o'r cyhoeddiad mai dim ond uchelgais i osgoi diswyddiadau gorfodol tan hynny sydd gan y cwmni. Felly, mae'n amlwg bod y sector yn dal i fod angen cymorth sylweddol os yw'n mynd i lwyddo. Prif Weinidog, pa gymorth ychwanegol mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i'w gynnig i'r sector dur yng Nghymru yn gyffredinol, ac i waith Port Talbot yn benodol?
The £60 million package that we've already alluded to in this Chamber and outside. The UK Government have offered nothing. There's been no interest at all from the UK Government for the past two years. There was—when David Cameron was there, there was interest, and I acknowledge that. Since then, nothing.
I do, however, welcome the deal. The unions have given it a welcome as well. I think we have to remember we have then the guarantee of no compulsory redundancies till 2026. We also have, of course, the promises in relation to blast furnace 5. Two years ago, things were very bleak indeed. There was a real question mark as to whether the heavy end of Port Talbot could continue in the future. The plant was up for sale. We've come a huge way since then. Part of that is because of the work that we've put in as a Government—the money we've put on the table, the talking that's taken place, the engagement that we've had with Tata. And in the two years since 2016, when things looked very difficult indeed, we now have—let's not pretend that things are out of the woods yet, but we now have our steel industry in a far stronger position than it was then.
Y pecyn gwerth £60 miliwn yr ydym ni eisoes wedi cyfeirio ato yn y Siambr hon a'r tu allan. Nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi cynnig dim. Ni fu unrhyw ddiddordeb o gwbl gan Lywodraeth y DU yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Roedd diddordeb—pan oedd David Cameron yno, roedd diddordeb, ac rwy'n cydnabod hynny. Ers hynny, dim byd.
Rwyf i yn croesawu'r cytundeb, fodd bynnag. Mae'r undebau wedi ei groesawu hefyd. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni gofio bod gennym ni'r sicrwydd o ddim diswyddiadau gorfodol tan 2026. Mae gennym ni hefyd, wrth gwrs, yr addewidion ynghylch ffwrnais chwyth rhif 5. Ddwy flynedd yn ôl, roedd pethau yn llwm dros ben. Roedd marc cwestiwn gwirioneddol ynghylch pa un a allai pen trwm Port Talbot barhau yn y dyfodol. Roedd y gwaith ar werth. Rydym ni wedi dod ymhell iawn ers hynny. Mae rhan o hynny oherwydd y gwaith yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud fel Llywodraeth—yr arian yr ydym ni wedi ei roi ar y bwrdd, y trafodaethau a gynhaliwyd, yr ymgysylltu yr ydym ni wedi ei gael gyda Tata. Ac yn y ddwy flynedd ers 2016, pan oedd pethau'n edrych yn anodd dros ben, mae gennym ni erbyn hyn—gadewch i ni beidio ag esgus bod pethau allan o berygl eto, ond mae gennym ni ein diwydiant dur mewn sefyllfa gryfach o lawer erbyn hyn nag yr oedd bryd hynny.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. The UK Government does indeed have a lot more to do for this sector. There's a strategy to use 3 million tonnes of steel in the next five years on infrastructure projects like HS2, Hinkley C and the upgrading of the UK motorways, but this doesn't go far enough, because every single infrastructure project should be using UK steel, and every defence project should be using Welsh and UK steel. And every publicly funded and supported project should also be using UK steel. So, has your Government suggested this in your discussions with the UK Government? We can't afford to lose our steel industry because of the short-sightedness of Government policy. It is of strategic importance to our nation that we maintain steel production here in the UK, which means here in Wales. First Minister, is your Government considering other ways to support the sector in Wales, perhaps looking at a tidal lagoon at Port Talbot that will help to reduce energy costs for the plant?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Yn wir, mae gan Lywodraeth y DU lawer mwy i'w wneud ar gyfer y sector hwn. Ceir strategaeth i ddefnyddio 3 miliwn tunnell o ddur yn y pum mlynedd nesaf ar brosiectau seilwaith fel HS2, Hinkley C ac uwchraddio traffyrdd y DU, ond nid yw hyn yn mynd yn ddigon pell, oherwydd dylai pob un prosiect seilwaith fod yn defnyddio dur y DU, a dylai pob prosiect amddiffyn fod yn defnyddio dur Cymru a'r DU. A dylai pob prosiect sy'n cael ei ariannu a'i gefnogi yn gyhoeddus fod yn defnyddio dur y DU hefyd. Felly, a yw eich Llywodraeth chi wedi awgrymu hyn yn eich trafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU? Ni allwn fforddio colli ein diwydiant dur oherwydd diffyg gweledigaeth polisi'r Llywodraeth. Mae o bwysigrwydd strategol i'n cenedl ein bod ni'n cynnal gwaith cynhyrchu dur yma yn y DU, sy'n golygu yma yng Nghymru. Prif Weinidog, a yw eich Llywodraeth yn ystyried ffyrdd eraill o gefnogi'r sector yng Nghymru, gan edrych ar forlyn llanw ym Mhort Talbot efallai, a fydd yn helpu i leihau costau ynni i'r gwaith?
I think we have to be careful here, because the steel industry, like other industries, does depend on an export market. If we actually say to other countries, 'Only steel from Britain is allowed to be used in Britain', they'll say, 'Tough—you're not entering our markets either.' So, we have to be very careful about what we do.
What we do need to do, of course, is to make sure that our procurement policy is as strong as it can be, as far as using Welsh steel is concerned. We also need to make sure, of course, that we support the industry to become stronger in terms of exporting. Certainly, a small but significant amount of steel is exported to the US, where the tariffs now have made it not so much difficult for Welsh steel, but more expensive for their buyers in the US. So, we've just got to be very careful here in saying that it's only steel from Britain used in British projects, as other countries will then take the same attitude, and we must be careful not to cut ourselves off from the export market.
Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus yn y fan yma, oherwydd mae'r diwydiant dur, fel diwydiannau eraill, yn dibynnu ar farchnad allforio. Os byddwn ni'n dweud mewn gwirionedd wrth wledydd eraill, 'Dim ond dur o Brydain y caniateir iddo gael ei ddefnyddio ym Mhrydain', byddan nhw'n dweud,' 'Iawn—chewch chi ddim ymuno â'n marchnadoedd ni ychwaith.' Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus iawn o'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud.
Yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud, wrth gwrs, yw gwneud yn siŵr bod ein polisi caffael mor gryf ag y gall fod, cyn belled ag y mae defnyddio dur Cymru yn y cwestiwn. Mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr hefyd, wrth gwrs, ein bod ni'n cynorthwyo'r diwydiant i gryfhau o ran allforio. Yn sicr, mae swm bach ond arwyddocaol o ddur yn cael ei allforio i'r Unol Daleithiau, lle mae'r tariffau bellach wedi ei gwneud hi nid yn anodd i ddur Cymru ar y cyfryw, ond yn fwy drud i'w prynwyr yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus iawn yn y fan yma o ddweud mai dim ond dur o Brydain sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer prosiectau ym Mhrydain, gan y bydd gwledydd eraill yn cymryd yr un agwedd wedyn, ac mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn ofalus i beidio â gwahanu ein hunain o'r farchnad allforio.
Thank you, First Minister. While the steel industry is of national and strategic importance, we can't ignore the impact that it has on our environment. Living in the shadow of the Port Talbot plant, I see on a daily basis the effect the steelworks has on the environment, with huge plumes of acrid orange smoke released into the air that we breathe and thick layers of dust covering everything from our cars to our windows. So, it's little wonder that Port Talbot has been ranked as one of the most polluted towns in the UK. It is not as bad as it once was, because gone are the days of the acid rain. However, the impact on human health is still present and is still a threat. So, First Minister, what actions will your Government be taking to ensure that investment at the plant doesn't come at a cost to human lives?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Er bod y diwydiant dur o bwysigrwydd cenedlaethol a strategol, ni allwn anwybyddu'r effaith y mae'n ei gael ar ein hamgylchedd. A minnau'n byw yng nghysgod gwaith Port Talbot, rwy'n gweld yn feunyddiol yr effaith y mae'r gwaith dur yn ei chael ar yr amgylchedd, wrth i blu enfawr o fwg oren pigog gael eu rhyddhau i'r aer yr ydym ni'n ei anadlu a haenau trwchus o lwch yn gorchuddio popeth o'n ceir i'n ffenestri. Felly, nid yw'n syndod bod Port Talbot wedi ei nodi yn un o'r trefi mwyaf llygredig yn y DU. Nid yw cynddrwg ag yr oedd ar un adeg, gan fod dyddiau'r glaw asid wedi mynd. Fodd bynnag, mae'r effaith ar iechyd pobl yn bresennol o hyd ac yn dal i fod yn fygythiad. Felly, Prif Weinidog, pa gamau wnaiff eich Llywodraeth eu cymryd i sicrhau nad yw'r buddsoddiad hwnnw yn y gwaith yn dod ar draul bywydau pobl?
Well, I think, in fairness to Tata, they have certainly improved the situation in terms of emissions over many years, including looking, of course, at reusing the gas that is flared for energy in the plant. Inevitably, where there's a steelworks, that will have an effect on air quality, but the key is, of course, to make sure that that effect is minimised over the years.
Port Talbot also, of course, has a very congested stretch of motorway that is well below the standard that would be built these days, and it's a problem that's not easy to resolve, because it would take a significant amount of money to resolve the issue by looking purely at a road-based solution in Port Talbot. But we want to make sure that we work with Tata—and Tata have been doing this anyway over the years—so that the steelworks reduces its emissions, which it has done as the Member has recognised, and to continue that trend in the future.
Wel, rwy'n credu, er tegwch i Tata, maen nhw'n sicr wedi gwella'r sefyllfa o ran allyriadau dros flynyddoedd lawer, gan gynnwys ystyried, wrth gwrs, ailddefnyddio'r nwy sy'n cael ei losgi ar gyfer ynni yn y gwaith. Yn anochel, lle ceir gwaith dur, bydd hwnnw'n cael effaith ar ansawdd aer, ond yr hyn sy'n allweddol, wrth gwrs, yw gwneud yn siŵr bod yr effaith honno yn cael ei chadw cyn lleied â phosibl dros y blynyddoedd.
Mae gan Bort Talbot hefyd, wrth gwrs, ddarn o draffordd lle ceir llawer o dagfeydd sydd ymhell islaw'r safon a fyddai'n cael ei adeiladu y dyddiau hyn, ac mae'n broblem nad yw'n hawdd ei datrys, gan y byddai'n cymryd swm sylweddol o arian i ddatrys y mater o edrych ar ateb sy'n gwbl gysylltiedig â'r ffordd yn unig ym Mhort Talbot. Ond rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gweithio gyda Tata—ac mae Tata wedi bod yn gwneud hyn beth bynnag dros y blynyddoedd—fel bod y gwaith dur yn lleihau ei allyriadau, ac mae wedi gwneud hynny fel y mae'r Aelod wedi ei gydnabod, ac i barhau'r duedd honno yn y dyfodol.
3. Pa gynigion sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer gwella trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn yr ardaloedd na fydd yn cael eu gwasanaethu gan fetro de Cymru? OAQ52472
3. What proposals does the Welsh Government have for improving public transport in areas that will not be served by the south Wales metro? OAQ52472
The new contract for rail services does include a number of proposals for improvements to public transport in each region of Wales. They include proposals that will accelerate delivery of the north-east Wales metro and also funding to develop a south-west Wales metro as well.
Mae'r contract newydd ar gyfer gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd yn cynnwys nifer o gynigion ar gyfer gwelliannau i drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ym mhob rhanbarth o Gymru. Maen nhw'n cynnwys cynigion a fydd yn cyflymu darpariaeth metro gogledd-ddwyrain Cymru yn ogystal â chyllid i ddatblygu metro de-orllewin Cymru hefyd.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. As you are aware, there are many valleys that are not going to be served by the south Wales metro, including the Afan valley. I've received a petition from residents in the Afan valley concerned about bus services in the Afan valley and the reduction in services. In fact, we have Abergwynfi and Blaengwynfi served every two hours, and so is Glyncorrwg, and you can't even get to Glyncorrwg by bus after 5.15 in the evening. Now, this is going to have an impact upon lives because this is an area where a large proportion of people don't own cars and rely upon public transport. What can the Welsh Government do to ensure that the valley gets equal treatment to the areas that are being served by the metro so that it can have services that will deliver for people there—getting to hospital, getting to appointments, getting to the services that they need to get to?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Fel y gwyddoch, mae llawer o gymoedd nad ydyn nhw'n mynd i gael eu gwasanaethu gan fetro de Cymru, gan gynnwys cwm Afan. Rwyf i wedi cael deiseb gan drigolion yng nghwm Afan sy'n pryderu am wasanaethau bws yng nghwm Afan a'r gostyngiad i nifer y gwasanaethau. A dweud y gwir, mae gennym ni Abergwynfi a Blaengwynfi sy'n cael eu gwasanaethu bob dwy awr, a Glyncorrwg hefyd, ac ni allwch chi hyd yn oed gyrraedd Glyncorrwg ar y bws ar ôl 5.15 gyda'r hwyr. Nawr, mae hyn yn mynd i gael effaith ar fywydau gan fod hon yn ardal lle mae cyfran fawr o bobl nad ydynt yn berchen ar geir ac yn dibynnu ar gludiant cyhoeddus. Beth all Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau bod y cwm yn cael yr un driniaeth â'r ardaloedd sy'n cael eu gwasanaethu gan y metro fel y gall gael gwasanaethau a fydd yn darparu ar gyfer pobl yno—cyrraedd yr ysbyty, cyrraedd apwyntiadau, cyrraedd y gwasanaethau y maen nhw angen eu cyrraedd?
Well, I can give the Member two assurances. First of all, we are looking at potential legislation to start to regulate bus services again in Wales, because as I've said in this Chamber before, there are many Members in this Chamber who have had complaints brought to them about bus services that we can do nothing about, because the private companies, apart from the subsidised services, can do pretty much as they want. I had unhappy dealings with the transport commissioner, years ago, when that person was based in Birmingham, where not much was done. So, we will have greater control, and we can, obviously, look at sharing that control with local government over the next few years.
Secondly, to re-emphasise the point, the metro is not just about vehicles that run on rails—if I can put it that way—it's about buses as well. And it means, if we're going to have a properly integrated transport system, that the bus services link in, for example, with Port Talbot Parkway station, and that people see that they have a seamless integrated public transport system. Buses are very much a part of that, and buses in the Afan valley will be part of that as well.
Wel, gallaf roi dau sicrwydd i'r Aelod. Yn gyntaf oll, rydym ni'n ystyried deddfwriaeth bosibl i ddechrau rheoleiddio gwasanaethau bws eto yng Nghymru, oherwydd fel yr wyf i wedi ei ddweud yn y Siambr hon o'r blaen, mae llawer o Aelodau yn y Siambr sydd wedi cael cwynion am wasanaethau bws na allwn wneud dim amdanynt, gan y gall y cwmnïau preifat, ac eithrio'r gwasanaethau sy'n cael cymhorthdal, wneud fel y dymunant fwy neu lai. Cefais drafodaethau anfoddhaol gyda'r comisiynydd trafnidiaeth, flynyddoedd yn ôl, pan oedd y person hwnnw wedi ei leoli yn Birmingham, lle nad oedd llawer yn cael ei wneud. Felly, bydd gennym ni fwy o reolaeth, ac, yn amlwg, gallwn ystyried rhannu'r reolaeth honno gyda llywodraeth leol dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf.
Yn ail, i ailbwysleisio’r pwynt, nid yw'r metro yn ymwneud â cherbydau sy'n rhedeg ar reilffyrdd yn unig—os caf ei roi felly—mae'n ymwneud a bysiau hefyd. Ac mae'n golygu, os ydym ni'n mynd i gael system drafnidiaeth sydd wedi'i hintegreiddio'n iawn, bod y gwasanaethau bws yn cysylltu, er enghraifft, gyda gorsaf Parcffordd Port Talbot, a bod pobl yn gweld bod ganddyn nhw system trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig ddi-dor. Mae bysiau yn rhan fawr o hynny, a bydd bysiau yng nghwm Afan yn rhan o hynny hefyd.
Since 2010, spending on bus provision by the Welsh Government has fallen by 20 per cent and the number of registered bus services in Wales continues to fall. This is certainly having an effect right across Wales, but particularly in rural Wales, I'd suggest. So, can I ask, First Minister: what are you doing to solve this crisis in Wales? And do you agree with me that what passengers in Wales want is a cleaner, safer and more reliable, especially, bus network, which is valued and funded properly by the Welsh Government?
Ers 2010, mae gwariant ar ddarpariaeth bysiau gan Lywodraeth Cymru wedi gostwng gan 20 y cant ac mae nifer y gwasanaethau bysiau cofrestredig yng Nghymru yn parhau i ostwng. Mae hyn yn sicr yn cael effaith ledled Cymru gyfan, ond yn enwedig yng Nghymru wledig, byddwn i'n awgrymu. Felly, a gaf i ofyn, Prif Weinidog: beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i ddatrys yr argyfwng hwn yng Nghymru? Ac a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi mai'r hyn y mae teithwyr yng Nghymru ei eisiau yw rhwydwaith bysiau, yn arbennig, glanach, mwy diogel a mwy dibynadwy, sy'n cael ei werthfawrogi a'i ariannu'n briodol gan Lywodraeth Cymru?
You privatised the buses. [Interruption.] Well, not him personally, but his party and said it would be marvellous and that there would be competition. Whereas, in fact, of course, most of what we have now is a private monopoly, and where, in reality, there's no competition at all.
Secondly, I have to point out to him, when it comes to promises on transport, his own party has a poor record. Where, for example, is the electrification to Swansea that was promised by one Conservative Prime Minister and that promise was then reneged on by another Conservative Prime Minister?
He also fails, again, to point out the effect of austerity as if, since 2010, we have had a tranche of money provided for us every year to spend as we want and we are therefore swimming in notes. We are not. His party has made sure that public spending has been cut across the whole of the UK. But despite those challenges, we have maintained bus service support grant allocations to local authorities, at £25 million per year. It is for each local authority to determine which bus and community transport services to support using that grant. So, if there is a service that should be subsidised, then the first port of call for the Member is his own local authority.
Chi wnaeth breifateiddio'r bysiau. [Torri ar draws.] Wel, nid ef yn bersonol, ond ei blaid ef, gan ddweud y byddai'n ardderchog ac y byddai cystadleuaeth. Ond, mewn gwirionedd, wrth gwrs, monopoli preifat yw'r rhan fwyaf o'r hyn sydd gennym ni nawr, ac sy'n golygu, mewn gwirionedd, nad oes unrhyw gystadleuaeth o gwbl.
Yn ail, mae'n rhaid i mi dynnu ei sylw at hyn, pan ddaw i addewidion ynghylch trafnidiaeth, mae gan ei blaid ei hun hanes gwael. Ble, er enghraifft, mae'r trydaneiddio i Abertawe a addawyd gan un Prif Weinidog Ceidwadol ac yna aeth Prif Weinidog Ceidwadol arall yn ôl ar yr addewid hwnnw?
Mae ef hefyd yn methu, unwaith eto, â nodi effaith cyni cyllidol fel pe byddem ni, ers 2010, wedi cael llwyth o arian wedi ei ddarparu i ni bob blwyddyn i'w wario fel y dymunwn ac felly ein bod ni'n nofio mewn arian. Nid ydym ni. Mae ei blaid ef wedi gwneud yn siŵr bod gwariant cyhoeddus wedi ei dorri ar draws y DU gyfan. Ond er gwaethaf yr heriau hynny, rydym ni wedi cynnal dyraniadau grant cymorth gwasanaethau bws i awdurdodau lleol, o £25 miliwn y flwyddyn. Cyfrifoldeb pob awdurdod lleol yw penderfynu pa wasanaethau bysiau a thrafnidiaeth gymunedol i'w cynorthwyo gan ddefnyddio'r grant hwnnw. Felly, os oes gwasanaeth a ddylai gael cymhorthdal, yna'r lle cyntaf i'r Aelod holi yw ei awdurdod lleol ei hun.
What assurances can the First Minister give that the new major critical care hospital, the Grange, near Cwmbran will be accessible by public transport for all parts of the Caerphilly constituency by the time the hospital opens?
Pa sicrwydd all y Prif Weinidog ei roi y bydd yr ysbyty gofal critigol mawr newydd, y Grange, ger Cwmbrân yn hygyrch drwy gludiant cyhoeddus o bob rhan o etholaeth Caerffili erbyn yr adeg y bydd yr ysbyty yn agor?
It won't be a service that runs on the rails, if I can put it that way, on light rail or heavy rail, but via buses. It'll be hugely important—we understand the importance of this—that the hospital is served by an efficient and widespread bus network that does connect with wider rail services where people need that. So, yes, public transport and ease of public transport is a hugely important part of planning for the hospital.
Ni fydd yn wasanaeth sy'n rhedeg ar y rheilffordd, os caf ei roi felly, ar reilffyrdd ysgafn neu reilffyrdd trwm, ond trwy fysiau. Bydd yn arbennig o bwysig—rydym ni'n deall pwysigrwydd hyn—bod yr ysbyty yn cael ei wasanaethu gan rwydwaith bysiau effeithlon ac eang sy'n cysylltu â gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd ehangach lle bydd pobl angen hynny. Felly, ydy, mae trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a hwylustod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn rhan hynod bwysig o gynllunio ar gyfer yr ysbyty.
4. Ar wnaiff y Prif Weinidog datganiad am ddyfodol ynni’r môr yng Nghymru? OAQ52467
4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the future of marine energy in Wales? OAQ52467
Rydym ni’n cydnabod potensial ynni’r môr ar gyfer creu ynni carbon isel a darparu manteision economaidd a chymdeithasol i’n cymunedau arfordirol. Mae polisïau Llywodraeth Cymru wedi helpu i gyflwyno cyfres o dechnolegau ynni’r môr ac fe fyddwn ni’n parhau i weithio i wireddu’r cyfleoedd sy’n gysylltiedig â’r sector hwn.
We recognise the potential of marine energy in creating low-carbon energy and providing economic and social benefits to our coastal communities. Welsh Government policies have supported the development of a range of marine technologies, and we will continue to work to realise the opportunities associated with this sector.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog. Ar ôl siom yr wythnos diwethaf, roedd yn braf ymweld ag Ynys Môn gyda Rhun ap Iorwerth ddydd Gwener a gweld nifer o gynlluniau cyffrous yna yn ymwneud ag ynni'r môr—yn bennaf, Minesto, sydd newydd lansio eu dyfais ynni llanw yn yr harbwr yng Nghaergybi. Y cwestiwn sy'n codi yw: a yw'r £200 miliwn roeddech chi fel Llywodraeth wedi'i neilltuo i gefnogi un cynllun penodol ar gyfer y morlyn llanw ym mae Abertawe nawr ar gael ar gyfer rhychwant o ddatblygiadau ynni môr, megis yn Ynys Môn, neu ar gael ar gyfer cynllun newydd morlyn ym mae Abertawe? Beth ydych chi'n bwriadu ei wneud i arwain datblygiad yn y maes yma?
Thank you, First Minister. After the disappointment of last week, it was good to visit Anglesey with Rhun ap Iorwerth on Friday and to see many exciting plans there related to marine energy—mainly Minesto, which has just launched its new tidal energy device in the harbour in Holyhead. The question arising is whether the £200 million that you as a Government had allocated to support one specific proposal for the tidal lagoon in Swansea bay is now available for a range of marine energy developments, for example those around Anglesey, or for a new lagoon proposal in Swansea bay. What are you intending to do to lead development in this area?
Mae'n wir i ddweud fod y swm o arian yna ddim yn swm a oedd wedi'i benodi'n uniongyrchol i Abertawe, er bod ei eisiau fe ar y pryd. Rydym ni yn ystyried ym mha ffyrdd y gallwn ni helpu technolegau ar draws Cymru, yn enwedig y morlyn yn y gogledd, er mwyn gweld beth allwn ni ei wneud fel Llywodraeth er mwyn cefnogi'r dechnoleg. Ond, mae'n rhaid inni ystyried ynglŷn â'r arian mawr, sef yr arian byddai Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wedi gallu dodi mewn i forlyn Abertawe, er enghraifft, fod hynny'n rhywbeth nad yw wedi ei ddatganoli. Ond, mae'n wir i ddweud ein bod ni'n dal i ystyried ym mha ffyrdd y gallwn ni gefnogi'r technolegau yn y pen draw.
It’s true to say that that sum of money wasn’t directly allocated to Swansea, although it was needed at the time. We are considering in which ways we can assist and support marine technologies across Wales, particularly the lagoon in the north, to see what we as a Government can do to support the technology. But, we must consider that the big money, namely the money that the UK Government could have put into the Swansea lagoon, for example, is not devolved. But, it's true to say that we are still considering how we can support these technologies in the long term.
First Minister, this puts you in a bit of a quandary, I think, because of course we heard offers put forward for a new Swansea bay lagoon over the weekend, and while there are obviously questions about that and why they didn't put this offer forward sooner and whether the figures stack up, you did offer £200 million to support a Swansea bay lagoon on figures that actually proved unworkable in the end. So, what figures would you be looking for to persuade—[Interruption.] They were the same figures you had. We had the same figures. So, what figures would persuade you to consider keeping the offer on the table for Swansea bay?
Prif Weinidog, mae hyn yn eich rhoi mewn tipyn o penbleth, rwy'n credu, oherwydd clywsom wrth gwrs gynigion yn cael eu cyflwyno ar gyfer morlyn bae Abertawe newydd dros y penwythnos, ac er bod cwestiynau ynghylch hynny, yn amlwg, a pham na wnaethon nhw gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn ynghynt a pha un yw'r ffigurau’n gwneud synnwyr, cynigiwyd £200 miliwn gennych i gefnogi morlyn bae Abertawe ar sail ffigurau a oedd yn anymarferol yn y pen draw. Felly, pa ffigurau fyddech chi'n chwilio amdanynt i ddarbwyllo—[Torri ar draws.] Yr un ffigurau ag yr oedd gennych chi oedden nhw. Roedd gennym ni'r un ffigurau. Felly, pa ffigurau fyddai'n eich darbwyllo i ystyried cadw'r cynnig ar y bwrdd ar gyfer bae Abertawe?
I owe an apology to Paul Davies, there is another candidate who has just thrown her hat into the ring. I'm sorry for that. We can see the evidence there. [Laughter.]
The reality is that the failure of the Swansea bay tidal lagoon is entirely in the hands of the UK Government. She talks about the figures; we don't accept the figures. Bear in mind that these figures were deemed unworkable by the very same people who got the figures for Hinkley wrong in the first place. So, why should we then trust the view of the UK Government? Let's bear in mind, all we asked for was the same treatment as Hinkley. That was it. If she is saying the figures for Hinkley were wrong, then that is something for the UK Government to explain. We just wanted the same chwarae teg for Wales as Hinkley got, and we were let down once again.
Dylwn ymddiheuro i Paul Davies, mae ymgeisydd arall newydd ei herio. Mae'n ddrwg gen i am hynny. Gallwn weld y dystiolaeth yn y fan yna. [Chwerthin.]
Y gwir yw bod methiant morlyn llanw bae Abertawe yn nwylo Llywodraeth y DU yn gyfan gwbl. Mae hi'n sôn am y ffigurau; nid ydym ni'n derbyn y ffigurau. Cofiwch y dyfarnwyd bod y ffigurau hyn yn anymarferol gan yn union yr un bobl a gafodd y ffigurau ar gyfer Hinkley yn anghywir yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, pam y dylem ni ymddiried wedyn ym marn Llywodraeth y DU? Gadewch i ni gofio mai'r cwbl y gwnaethom ni ofyn amdano oedd yr un driniaeth â Hinkley. Dyna'r cwbl. Os yw hi'n dweud bod y ffigurau ar gyfer Hinkley yn anghywir, yna mae hynny'n rhywbeth i Lywodraeth y DU ei esbonio. Y cwbl yr oeddem ni ei eisiau oedd yr un chwarae teg i Gymru ag y cafodd Hinkley, a chawsom ein siomi unwaith eto.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am raglen ddeddfwriaethol Llywodraeth Cymru? OAQ52473
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's legislative programme? OAQ52473
Byddaf yn gwneud fy natganiad blynyddol am y rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol cyn toriad yr haf.
I will be making my annual statement on the legislative programme before the summer recess.
Edrychwn ymlaen i gael hwnnw, felly. Ond, mae Gweinidog y Gymraeg, Eluned Morgan, wedi datgan ei bod hi am wthio'r cynigion ar gyfer Bil y Gymraeg yn eu blaen fel rhan o'r rhaglen honno. Prif fyrdwn y cynigion rheini ydy ysgogi newid cyfeiriad llwyr ym mholisi iaith y Llywodraeth, gwanio hawliau, sgrapio'r comisiynydd a mynd â ni nôl i fframwaith gyfreithiol Deddf fethiedig 1993. Pa dystiolaeth sydd ar gael i gefnogi cynigion y Llywodraeth? A wnewch chi oedi cyn cyflwyno Bil newydd ar y Gymraeg er mwyn cynnal adolygiad cynhwysfawr o'r achos dros Fil newydd? Onid ydy hi'n berffaith glir erbyn hyn mai cryfhau nid gwanio deddfwriaeth sydd ei angen yn sgil yr ymosodiad diweddaraf ar yr iaith Gymraeg gan Trago Mills?
We look forward to that. But the Minister with responsibility for the Welsh language has stated that she is going to push proposals for a Welsh language Bill forward as part of that programme. The main thrust of those proposals is to encourage a total change of direction in the Government’s language policy, diluting rights, scrapping the commissioner, and taking us back to the legal framework of the failed Welsh language Act of 1993. So, what evidence is there to support the Government's proposals? Will you delay before introducing a new Welsh language Bill in order to carry out a comprehensive review of the case for such a Bill? Isn’t it entirely clear now that we need to strengthen, rather than dilute, legislation in light of the most recent attack on the Welsh language from Trago Mills?
Rwy'n rhannu'r anhapusrwydd ynglŷn â beth ddywedodd Trago Mills gyda hi, wrth gwrs—a phawb arall, rwy'n gobeithio, yn y Siambr hon. Nod y Bil yw cryfhau'r strwythur cyfreithiol ynglŷn â'r iaith Gymraeg, nid ei wanhau. Gyda'r system sydd gyda ni ar hyn o bryd, ac yn enwedig gyda'r ddeddfwriaeth sydd gyda ni ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'n amlwg i fi fod y ddeddfwriaeth yn ddigon clir na bod y ddeddfwriaeth yn ddigon cryf er mwyn cael Bil Cymraeg yn y pen draw. Mae'n hollbwysig hefyd i ystyried pa fath o fframwaith deddfwriaethol a ddylai fod, ond hefyd ystyried ym mha ffordd y gallwn ni berswadio mwy o bobl i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg. Er nad oeddwn yno, rwy'n clywed bod gŵyl Tafwyl wedi tynnu 40,000 o bobl mewn i Gaerdydd dros y penwythnos. Mae honno yn enghraifft dda i mi o'r ffordd y gallwch chi berswadio pobl i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ac i gael agwedd dda tuag at y Gymraeg. Felly, mae'n bwysig i ystyried ym mha ffyrdd y gallwn ni gryfhau'r ddeddfwriaeth a'r gyfraith, ond hefyd mae'n hollbwysig i ystyried ffyrdd y gallwn ni helpu i berswadio pobl jest er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n gallu cael sbri yn yr iaith Gymraeg.
I share your unhappiness with what Trago Mills has said, of course—and I’m sure that that’s true of everybody else in this Chamber. The aim of the Bill is to strengthen the legal structure relating to the Welsh language, not to weaken it. With the system that we have at present, and especially with the legislation that we have at present, it’s not clear to me that the legislation is clear enough or strong enough in order to have a Welsh language Bill ultimately. It’s also important to consider what kind of legislative framework should exist, but also to consider how we can persuade more people to use the Welsh language. Although I wasn’t present, I understand that the Tafwyl festival attracted 40,000 people into Cardiff over the weekend. That, to me, is a good example of how you can persuade people to use the Welsh language and to have a good attitude towards the language. And it is important to consider how we can strengthen legislation and the law, but it’s also extremely important to consider how we can persuade people just to make sure that they can have fun through the medium of Welsh.
Andrew R.T. Davies.
Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. [Interruption.] It's always good to get a cheer. [Laughter.]
First Minister, could I thank you for the very kind comments—with your indulgence, Presiding Officer—you expressed last week, and also to Members across the Chamber who have been very kind over the last couple of days in the comments that they have made on my departure from office? But I certainly look forward to challenging the Government, and I have a different view sitting here now of the Labour backbenches; I can see the whole backbench now.
But I would like to ask you on the legislative programme. I visited a charity in Cardiff North recently, Tomorrow's Generation, and they specialise in providing support for children who suffer with dyslexia in mainstream education. They made the point that in many countries across Europe—Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland and in England—the legislative framework that gives rights to children who are diagnosed with dyslexia is far stronger. Could I encourage you to have a look at the legislative framework that is available here in Wales, compare it to other examples in Europe, and if there does need to be a tightening of that legislative framework, that those changes are made and the Government brings forward the proposals? I can see the Cabinet Secretary saying it is not; I'm just conveying the message that was put to me by the charity. If it is not, then great, but if the changes do need to be made then I'd hope the Government would consider them.
Diolch, Llywydd. [Torri ar draws.] Mae bob amser yn braf cael cymeradwyaeth. [Chwerthin.]
Prif Weinidog, a gaf i ddiolch i chi am y sylwadau caredig iawn—maddeuwch i mi, Llywydd—a fynegwyd gennych chi yr wythnos diwethaf, a hefyd i'r Aelodau ar draws y Siambr sydd wedi bod yn garedig iawn dros y diwrnod neu ddau diwethaf o ran y sylwadau y maen nhw wedi eu gwneud ar fy ymadawiad o'm swydd? Ond rwy'n sicr yn edrych ymlaen at herio'r Llywodraeth, ac mae gen i wahanol olygfa wrth eistedd yma nawr o feinciau cefn y Blaid Lafur; gallaf weld yr holl fainc gefn nawr.
Ond hoffwn eich holi am y rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol. Ymwelais ag elusen yng Ngogledd Caerdydd yn ddiweddar, Tomorrow's Generation, ac maen nhw'n arbenigo mewn darparu cymorth i blant sy'n dioddef â dyslecsia mewn addysg prif ffrwd. Gwnaed y pwynt ganddyn nhw bod y fframwaith deddfwriaethol sy'n rhoi hawliau i blant sy'n cael diagnosis o ddyslecsia yn gryfach o lawer mewn llawer o wledydd ledled Ewrop—Bwlgaria, y Weriniaeth Tsiec, yr Eidal, y Swistir ac yn Lloegr. A allwn i eich annog i gymryd golwg ar y fframwaith deddfwriaethol sydd ar gael yma yng Nghymru, ei gymharu ag enghreifftiau eraill yn Ewrop, ac os oes angen tynhau'r fframwaith deddfwriaethol hwnnw, bod y newidiadau hynny yn cael eu gwneud a bod y Llywodraeth yn cyflwyno'r cynigion? Gallaf weld Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn dweud nad yw'n wir; y cwbl yr wyf i'n ei wneud yw cyfleu'r neges a roddwyd i mi gan yr elusen. Os nad yw'n wir, gwych, ond os oes angen gwneud newidiadau yna byddwn yn gobeithio y byddai'r Llywodraeth yn eu hystyried.
First of all, the reception he had there from his own benches was substantial, and it shows they miss him already, I suspect, but secondly, he raises an important point. If he will allow me to look at this issue and write to him with a substantive answer, he can then convey that answer to those who've expressed their concerns.
Yn gyntaf oll, roedd y croeso a gafodd yn y fan yna gan ei feinciau ei hun yn sylweddol, ac mae'n dangos eu bod nhw hiraeth ar ei ôl yn barod, rwy'n amau, ond yn ail, mae'n codi pwynt pwysig. Os gwnaiff ef ganiatáu i mi edrych ar y mater hwn ac ysgrifennu ato gydag ateb o sylwedd, gall ef wedyn gyfleu'r ateb hwnnw i'r rhai sydd wedi mynegi eu pryderon.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i annog Llywodraeth y DU i ail-gydbwyso ei gwariant ar seilwaith? OAQ52466
6. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's efforts to encourage the UK Government to rebalance its spending on infrastructure? OAQ52466
Infrastructure investment is vital to the prosperity of the whole of the UK. I will continue to press the UK Government to ensure Wales gets its fair share.
Mae buddsoddi mewn seilwaith yn hanfodol i ffyniant y DU gyfan. Byddaf yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod Cymru'n cael ei chyfran deg.
First Minister, I hope you enjoyed the secret ceremony you attended this week to rename the second Severn crossing the Prince of Wales bridge, against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of people in Wales who were not even invited. [Interruption.]
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n gobeithio eich bod chi wedi mwynhau'r seremoni ddirgel yr oeddech chi'n bresennol ynddi yr wythnos hon i ailenwi ail bont Hafren yn bont Tywysog Cymru, yn groes i ddymuniadau'r mwyafrif llethol o bobl yng Nghymru na chafodd eu gwahodd hyd yn oed. [Torri ar draws.]
I do want to hear Neil McEvoy's question.
Hoffwn glywed cwestiwn Neil McEvoy.
It took freedom of information requests to reveal how desperate you were to go to the unpopular ceremony, and how cosy your relationship is with Alun Cairns. Last week, you voted against a motion of no confidence in the Secretary of State, even though key Conservative manifesto promises were broken, including rail electrification between Cardiff and Swansea. So, I wonder when you were quaffing drinks with Cairns and royalty if you spoke about the report from the transport committee in Westminster that exposed how Wales is sidelined on infrastructure spending, and made clear that decisions will always favour London. The report showed how absurd it was to cancel much needed infrastructure projects in Wales at the same time as billions of pounds of expenditure were announced for London. Now, nothing is being done by Cairns. Whilst money is thrown at the south-east of England, we have cuts for Wales. [Interruption.]
Bu'n rhaid gwneud ceisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth i ddatgelu pa mor awyddus oeddech chi i fynd i'r seremoni gyfrinachol, a pha mor agos yw eich perthynas ag Alun Cairns. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnaethoch bleidleisio yn erbyn cynnig o ddiffyg hyder yn yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, er i addewidion allweddol maniffesto'r Ceidwadwyr gael eu torri, gan gynnwys trydaneiddio'r rheilffordd rhwng Caerdydd ac Abertawe. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed pan oeddech chi'n llowcio diodydd gyda Cairns a'r teulu brenhinol pa un a wnaethoch chi drafod yr adroddiad gan y pwyllgor trafnidiaeth yn San Steffan a amlygodd sut y mae Cymru yn cael ei gwthio o'r neilltu o ran gwariant seilwaith, gan ei gwneud yn eglur y bydd penderfyniadau bob amser yn ffafrio Llundain. Dangosodd yr adroddiad pa mor hurt oedd canslo prosiectau seilwaith sydd wir eu hangen yng Nghymru ar yr un pryd ag y cyhoeddwyd biliynau o bunnoedd o wariant ar Lundain. Nawr, nid oes dim yn cael ei wneud gan Cairns. Tra bod arian yn cael ei daflu at de-ddwyrain Lloegr, toriadau sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru. [Torri ar draws.]
You do need to come to a question now, Neil McEvoy.
Mae angen i chi ofyn cwestiwn nawr, Neil McEvoy.
The Secretary of State is starting to be an embarrassment to our country, as well as stopping us developing our economy. [Interruption.] This is the question. Hopefully, this could be understood.
Mae'r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn dechrau codi cywilydd ar ein gwlad, yn ogystal â'n hatal rhag datblygu ein heconomi. [Torri ar draws.] Dyma'r cwestiwn. Gobeithio, y gellid deall hyn.
Get to it. [Laughter.]
Gofynnwch y cwestiwn. [Chwerthin.]
How could you vote—? [Interruption.] A very simple question to answer this week. How could you vote last week against a motion of no confidence in the Secretary of State for Wales? It's very simple.
Sut gallech chi bleidleisio—? [Torri ar draws.] Cwestiwn syml iawn i'w ateb yr wythnos hon. Sut gallech chi bleidleisio yr wythnos diwethaf yn erbyn cynnig o ddiffyg hyder yn Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru? Mae'n syml iawn.
In two minutes and five seconds, because I looked at the clock, the Member managed to take an issue on which I agree with him quite substantially, and presented it in such a ham-fisted way as to annoy almost everyone in the Chamber. That is his talent—I understand that. But I have to say that we will always fight to make sure that Wales gets its fair share of infrastructure investment. We do not have a fair share at the moment. He mentions a secret ceremony, so secret, in fact, that I wasn't even at it. [Laughter.] But, there we are, and he will have seen coverage of it on the news in any event. But certainly I share his desire to make sure that Wales gets the promises that it has been given in the past kept, in terms of electrification and in terms, of course, of seeing more money made available for the infrastructure that we need in Wales.
Mewn dau funud a phum eiliad, oherwydd edrychais i ar y cloc, llwyddodd yr Aelod i gymryd mater yr wyf i'n cytuno ag ef yn eithaf sylweddol, a'i gyflwyno mewn ffordd mor drwsgl iddo gythruddo bron pawb yn y Siambr. Dyna ei ddawn—rwy'n deall hynny. Ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud y byddwn ni bob amser yn ymladd i wneud yn siŵr bod Cymru'n cael ei chyfran deg o fuddsoddiad mewn seilwaith. Nid oes gennym ni gyfran deg ar hyn o bryd. Mae'n sôn am seremoni gyfrinachol, mor gyfrinachol, yn wir, nad oeddwn i hyd yn oed yno. [Chwerthin.] Ond, dyna ni, a bydd wedi gweld y sylw iddi ar y newyddion beth bynnag. Ond yn sicr, rwy'n rhannu ei awydd i wneud yn siŵr y cedwir yr addewidion a wnaed i Gymru yn y gorffennol, o ran trydaneiddio ac o ran, wrth gwrs, gweld mwy o arian ar gael ar gyfer y seilwaith sydd ei angen arnom ni yng Nghymru.
I was just about to ask you, First Minister, how you managed to wangle an invitation to this secret ceremony that I didn't get invited to either, but you've taken the wind out of my sails on that one. [Laughter.]
Would you say that the question about the—[Interruption.] [Laughter.] And there's always the Alun Davies road going from Brynmawr to Abergavenny, isn't there? [Laughter.] Maybe when you're First Minister we'll see that as well, Alun. [Laughter.]
Roeddwn i ar fin gofyn i chi, Prif Weinidog, sut y gwnaethoch chi lwyddo i gael gwahoddiad i'r seremoni gyfrinachol hon na chefais i wahoddiad iddi ychwaith, ond rydych chi wedi cymryd y gwynt o'm hwyliau o ran yr un yna. [Chwerthin.]
A fyddech chi'n dweud bod y cwestiwn am y—[Torri ar draws.] [Chwerthin.] Ac mae gennym ni bob amser ffordd Alun Davies o Fryn-mawr i'r Fenni hefyd, onid oes? [Chwerthin.] Efallai pan fyddwch chi'n Brif Weinidog byddwn ni'n gweld hynny hefyd, Alun. [Chwerthin.]
Let's get to the question.
Gadewch i ni gael y cwestiwn.
I'm getting to a question. The question about the name of the bridge has been raised many times, but isn't it more important, First Minister, that the tolls on that bridge have been reduced and are going to be abolished later this year? Whatever you think about the name of the bridge—some are for it, some are against it—isn't it a fact that people are now going to be able to enter Wales and leave Wales without paying what many in this Chamber have called a tax over so many years? That's to be welcomed. That's because of this UK Government.
Rwy'n dod i gwestiwn. Codwyd y cwestiwn am enw'r bont droeon, ond onid yw'n bwysicach, Prif Weinidog, bod y tollau ar y bont honno wedi cael eu gostwng ac yn mynd i gael eu ddiddymu yn ddiweddarach eleni? Beth bynnag fo'ch barn am enw'r bont—mae rhai o'i blaid, mae rhai yn erbyn—onid yw'n ffaith bod pobl bellach yn mynd i allu dod i Gymru a gadael Cymru, heb dalu'r hyn y mae llawer yn y Siambr hon wedi ei alw'n dreth ers cymaint o flynyddoedd? Mae hynny i'w groesawu. Mae hynny oherwydd Llywodraeth bresennol y DU.
I do welcome the removal of the tolls, and it's about time too. People have been paying for many, many, many years, probably beyond the cost of the bridge as it was built in 1996. So, I share his congratulation, if that is the word, to the UK Government for lifting the tolls, but it's taken them long enough. I mean, the reduction of the tolls was due entirely to the fact that VAT was no longer chargeable on them. It wasn't some kind of largesse that the UK Government provided in terms of the tolls themselves. But, yes, there are opportunities now, of course, for us to get over what has been a psychological barrier to investors who are looking at Wales and make sure that we continue with our great success that we've had with foreign direct investment and improve those figures over the next few years.
Rwy'n croesawu cael gwared ar y tollau, ac mae'n hen bryd hefyd. Mae pobl wedi bod yn talu ers blynyddoedd lawer, lawer iawn, y tu hwnt i gost y bont mae'n debyg, oherwydd cafodd ei hadeiladu ym 1996. Felly, rhannaf ei longyfarchiad, os mai dyna'r gair, i Lywodraeth y DU ar ddiddymu'r tollau, ond mae wedi cymryd yn ddigon hir iddyn nhw wneud hynny. Hynny yw, roedd y gostyngiad i'r tollau yn llwyr oherwydd y ffaith nad oedd modd codi TAW arnyn nhw mwyach. Nid oedd yn rhyw fath o haelioni a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU o ran y tollau eu hunain. Ond, oes, mae cyfleoedd nawr, wrth gwrs, i ni oresgyn yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn rhwystr seicolegol i fuddsoddwyr sy'n edrych ar Gymru a gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n parhau gyda'n llwyddiant mawr yr ydym ni wedi ei gael gyda buddsoddiad uniongyrchol o dramor a gwella'r ffigurau hynny dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf.
7. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n cefnogi'r sector cydweithredol a chydfuddiannol i wella canlyniadau ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc? OAQ52461
7. How is the Welsh Government supporting the co-operative and mutuals sector to improve outcomes for children and young people? OAQ52461
The 'Mapping the Social Business Sector in Wales' report notes that the sector is now worth an incredible £2.37 billion to Wales and provides jobs and volunteering opportunities to around 100,000 people. I’m sure the Member would agree that the sector makes a valuable contribution to our society.
Mae'r adroddiad 'Mapio'r Sector Busnesau Cymdeithasol yng Nghymru' yn nodi bod y sector werth swm anhygoel o £2.37 biliwn i Gymru erbyn hyn ac yn darparu swyddi a chyfleoedd gwirfoddoli i tua 100,000 o bobl. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Aelod yn cytuno bod y sector yn gwneud cyfraniad gwerthfawr i'n cymdeithas.
Thank you, First Minister, and I would wholeheartedly agree with that. I recently visited Cylch Meithrin Seren Fach in Mountain Ash in my constituency, a registered childcare provider. They're supported by the Wales Co-operative Centre and achieved really positive results in their recent Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales inspections. As we are in Co-operatives Fortnight, and with improving childcare being such an important Welsh Government goal for this term, how is Welsh Government supporting the establishment of childcare providers on a co-operative model, which in turn brings so many additional benefits to local economies?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, a byddwn i'n cytuno'n llwyr â hynny. Ymwelais yn ddiweddar â Chylch Meithrin Seren Fach yn Aberpennar yn fy etholaeth i, sy'n ddarparwr gofal plant cofrestredig. Fe'u cynorthwyir gan Ganolfan Cydweithredol Cymru ac maen nhw wedi sicrhau canlyniadau gwirioneddol gadarnhaol yn eu harolygiadau Estyn ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru diweddar. Gan ein bod ni ym Mhythefnos y Mentrau Cydweithredol, a chan fod gwella gofal plant yn nod mor bwysig i Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y tymor hwn, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynorthwyo'r gwaith o sefydlu darparwyr gofal plant ar sail model cydweithredol, sy'n dod â chymaint o fanteision ychwanegol i economïau lleol yn ei sgil?
I can begin by saying that, to date, Social Business Wales has provided support to help the group develop a business plan, a sustainability environment policy, an eco-code and a sustainability health check, and we do refer any individual looking to establish a co-operative model to Social Business Wales, because we want to make sure that we create the right support that is needed, both through Business Wales, Social Business Wales, us and the Welsh European Funding Office to make sure that worthwhile projects such as this are able to flourish in the future.
Gallaf ddechrau trwy ddweud bod Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru wedi darparu, hyd yma, cymorth i helpu'r grŵp i ddatblygu cynllun busnes, polisi amgylchedd cynaliadwyedd, cod eco ac archwiliad iechyd cynaliadwyedd, ac rydym ni'n cyfeirio unrhyw unigolyn sy'n dymuno sefydlu model cydweithredol at Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru, gan ein bod ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n creu'r cymorth priodol sydd ei angen, trwy Busnes Cymru, Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru, ni a Swyddfa Cyllid Ewropeaidd Cymru i wneud yn siŵr bod prosiectau gwerth chweil fel hyn yn gallu ffynnu yn y dyfodol.
Can I ask you, First Minister—? It's not only organisations like the ones described by Vikki Howells, co-operatives and mutuals, that are supporting education. There is a wealth of charities also that are involved in giving support to our education system. There is Groundwork North Wales, for example, providing education to young people on environmental issues. You've got the North Wales Superkids charity, which is doing great work with people across north Wales, covering communities from Holyhead all the way down to Wrexham, and, of course, Big Ideas Wales, which encourages enterprise in our schools by getting business people into those schools in order to encourage young people to be entrepreneurs. What support is the Welsh Government giving to them in order to foster that sort of approach, so that young people can have the opportunities that they might not have otherwise?
A gaf i ofyn i chi, Prif Weinidog—? Nid sefydliadau fel y rhai a ddisgrifiwyd gan Vikki Howells yn unig, cwmnïau cydweithredol a chwmnïau cydfuddiannol, sy'n cefnogi addysg. Mae cyfoeth o elusennau hefyd yn ymwneud â rhoi cymorth i'n system addysg. Ceir Groundwork Gogledd Cymru, er enghraifft, sy'n darparu addysg i bobl ifanc ar faterion amgylcheddol. Mae gennych chi elusen Superkids Gogledd Cymru, sy'n gwneud gwaith gwych gyda phobl ar draws y gogledd, yn cwmpasu cymunedau o Gaergybi yr holl ffordd i lawr i Wrecsam, ac, wrth gwrs, Syniadau Mawr Cymru, sy'n annog menter yn ein hysgolion trwy gael pobl fusnes i mewn i'r ysgolion hynny er mwyn annog pobl ifanc i fod yn entrepreneuriaid. Pa gymorth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi iddyn nhw er mwyn mabwysiadu'r math yna o ddull, fel y gall pobl ifanc gael y cyfleoedd efallai na fyddent wedi eu cael fel arall?
Core funding for social enterprise support in this financial year has been awarded to the Wales Co-operative Centre and Social Firms Wales. They support the delivery of our objectives to develop the social enterprise market and to provide bespoke specialist business support to social enterprises. For those that are not social enterprises, of course, there are other areas of support that are available. And, of course, as I mentioned earlier on, we do provide funding towards the £11 million ERDF-supported Social Business Wales project.
Dyfarnwyd cyllid craidd ar gyfer cymorth i fentrau cymdeithasol yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon i Ganolfan Cydweithredol Cymru a Cwmnïau Cymdeithasol Cymru. Maen nhw'n cynorthwyo darpariaeth ein hamcanion i ddatblygu'r farchnad mentrau cymdeithasol ac yn darparu cymorth busnes arbenigol wedi'i deilwra i fentrau cymdeithasol. I'r rhai nad ydynt yn fentrau cymdeithasol, wrth gwrs, ceir meysydd eraill o gymorth sydd ar gael. Ac, wrth gwrs, fel y soniais yn gynharach, rydym ni'n darparu cyllid tuag at brosiect Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru sydd werth £11 miliwn ac a gefnogir gan ERDF.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ymdrechion Llywodraeth Cymru i fynd i'r afael â thlodi? OAQ52445
8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's efforts to tackle poverty? OAQ52445
We are committed to improving outcomes for future generations through investment in early years and increasing prosperity for all by focusing on employability and economic growth.
Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i wella canlyniadau ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol trwy fuddsoddi yn y blynyddoedd cynnar a chynyddu ffyniant i bawb trwy ganolbwyntio ar gyflogadwyedd a thwf economaidd.
Can I thank the First Minister for that response? Many of my constituents are facing a financial crisis during the summer holidays, having to find 10 extra meals per child for six weeks. Whilst Carolyn Harris MP is providing food for some children for two weeks of the holiday, there will be substantial unmet need. Faith in the Community has met some of that need, but the closure of Communities First puts the continuation of lunches and breakfasts in some of our poorest communities in jeopardy. Will the Welsh Government investigate the cost of continuing free breakfasts and free school meals for those eligible during the school summer holidays?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb yna? Mae llawer o'm hetholwyr yn wynebu argyfwng ariannol yn ystod gwyliau'r haf, gan orfod dod o hyd i 10 o brydau ychwanegol fesul plentyn am chwe wythnos. Er bod Carolyn Harris AS yn darparu bwyd i rai plant am bythefnos o'r gwyliau, bydd angen sylweddol heb ei ddiwallu. Mae Faith in the Community wedi diwallu rhywfaint o'r angen hwnnw, ond mae cau Cymunedau yn Gyntaf yn rhoi parhad cinio a brecwast mewn rhai o'n cymunedau tlotaf yn y fantol. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ymchwilio i gost parhau brecwastau am ddim a phrydau ysgol am ddim i'r rheini sy'n gymwys yn ystod gwyliau haf yr ysgolion?
Well, we have made available a grant of £500,000 per annum to the WLGA since 2017 to support the programme Food and Fun—Bwyd a Hwyl. Last year, it ran in 38 schools, covering 12 local authorities and all seven local health boards, with approximately 1,500 children benefiting from the programme. The 2018 programme is anticipated to run in approximately 60 schools. It will cover 16 local authorities, and, again, all LHB areas. The indications are that an estimated 3,000 learners will attend the scheme this summer.
Wel, rydym ni wedi sicrhau bod grant o £500,000 y flwyddyn ar gael i CLlLC ers 2017 i gefnogi'r rhaglen Food and Fun—Bwyd a Hwyl. Cafodd ei redeg mewn 38 o ysgolion y llynedd, yn cwmpasu 12 awdurdod lleol a phob un o'r saith bwrdd iechyd lleol, gyda tua 1,500 o blant yn elwa ar y rhaglen. Rhagwelir y bydd rhaglen 2018 yn rhedeg mewn oddeutu 60 o ysgolion. Bydd yn cwmpasu 16 o awdurdodau lleol, ac, unwaith eto, pob ardal BILl. Yr arwyddion yw y bydd amcangyfrif o 3,000 o ddysgwyr yn mynychu'r cynllun yr haf hwn.
The First Minister will be aware of the comprehensive report published yesterday by the Wales Centre for Public Policy, entitled 'The Welsh Tax Base: Risks and Opportunities after Fiscal Devolution'. I don't expect he's read it all overnight, but, in it, innovative approaches are suggested for regressive taxes, particularly council tax. And, as we know, people living in the lowest valued properties pay nearly 5 per cent of the worth of their house in council tax whilst people living in the most expensive properties pay as little as 0.25 per cent. But the report crucially suggests that we take a holistic approach to taxation and fiscal policy generally rather than looking at individual taxes in isolation. The report says tax reform should be pursued in an integrated way. For example, a more progressive approach to council tax could be linked to changes in land transaction tax or income tax rate. Is that approach supported by the First Minister?
Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ymwybodol o'r adroddiad cynhwysfawr a gyhoeddwyd ddoe gan Ganolfan Polisi Cyhoeddus Cymru, o'r enw 'Y Sylfaen Drethu Gymreig: Risgiau a Chyfleoedd ar ôl Datganoli Cyllidol'. Nid wyf i'n disgwyl ei fod wedi ei ddarllen i gyd dros nos, ond, ynddo, awgrymir dulliau arloesol ar gyfer trethi atchweliadol, yn enwedig y dreth gyngor. Ac, fel y gwyddom, mae pobl sy'n byw yn yr eiddo â'r gwerth isaf yn talu bron i 5 y cant o werth eu tŷ mewn treth gyngor tra bod pobl sy'n byw yn yr eiddo drutaf yn talu cyn lleied â 0.25 y cant. Ond mae'r adroddiad yn awgrymu'n hollbwysig y dylem ni fabwysiadu agwedd gyfannol at drethiant a pholisi cyllidol yn gyffredinol yn hytrach nag edrych ar drethi unigol ar wahân. Dywed yr adroddiad y dylid mynd ar drywydd diwygiadau treth mewn ffordd integredig. Er enghraifft, gallai agwedd fwy blaengar at y dreth gyngor fod yn gysylltiedig â newidiadau i'r gyfradd treth trafodiadau tir neu dreth incwm. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cefnogi'r agwedd honno?
I think that there is a great deal of scope over the next few years to examine models such as that. At the moment, of course, two taxes are devolved; income tax will soon follow. I think, first of all, it's important to bed the system in, but I do think there is the opportunity for debate across political parties, and in political parties, to see what kind of tax system we would want in Wales. There are positives and negatives with council tax, of course. We know that there are some people who pay a high level of council tax whose incomes are actually quite low. We know as well, of course, that, with things like a local income tax, the question then arises of: do you pay where you live, or do you pay where you work? These things have to be looked at carefully, and I'm sure they'll form part of the debate over the next few years.
Credaf fod llawer iawn o gyfleoedd dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf i archwilio modelau o'r fath. Ar hyn o bryd, wrth gwrs, dwy dreth sydd wedi'u datganoli; bydd treth incwm yn dilyn yn fuan. Rwy'n credu, yn gyntaf oll, ei bod hi'n bwysig ymsefydlu'r system, ond rwy'n credu bod cyfle i gael trafodaeth ar draws y pleidiau gwleidyddol, ac o fewn pleidiau gwleidyddol, i weld pa fath o system dreth y byddem ni'n hoffi ei chael yng Nghymru. Ceir manteision ac anfanteision gyda'r dreth gyngor, wrth gwrs. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod rhai pobl sy'n talu lefel uchel o dreth gyngor pan fo eu hincwm yn eithaf isel mewn gwirionedd. Rydym ni'n gwybod hefyd, wrth gwrs, gyda phethau fel treth incwm leol, bod y cwestiwn yn codi wedyn: a ydych chi'n talu lle'r ydych chi'n byw, neu a ydych chi'n talu lle'r ydych chi'n gweithio? Mae'n rhaid edrych yn ofalus ar y pethau hyn, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddan nhw'n rhan o'r ddadl dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf.
Finally, Mark Isherwood.
Yn olaf, Mark Isherwood.
Diolch, Lywydd. After two decades of Labour Government in Wales, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's 'Poverty in Wales 2018' report found the proportion of households living in income poverty in Wales remained higher than in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and that poverty among couples with children had been rising since 2003-06. In that context, how do you respond to the statement by the Bevan Foundation that, if people feel that policies are imposed on them, the policies don't work, and that a new tackling poverty programme should not be directed top down?
Diolch, Llywydd. Ar ôl dau ddegawd o Lywodraeth Lafur yng Nghymru, canfu adroddiad 'Tlodi yng Nghymru 2018' Sefydliad Joseph Rowntree bod cyfran yr aelwydydd sy'n byw mewn tlodi incwm yng Nghymru yn dal yn uwch nag yn Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, a bod tlodi ymhlith parau â phlant wedi bod yn cynyddu ers 2003-06. Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad gan Sefydliad Bevan nad yw'r polisïau'n gweithio os yw pobl yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu gorfodi arnynt, ac na ddylai rhaglen trechu tlodi newydd gael ei chyfarwyddo o'r brig i lawr?
I always think that listening to the Conservatives talking about poverty is a bit like somebody trying to stand up on a paddle board without falling off into the sea of austerity that's gathered around it. The reality is that it is his party that has done so much to cut the incomes of our poorest people. How can we rest as a society when we know that in England there are nurses who have to go to food banks? We used to say to people, 'If you get a job, you'll be better off.' That's no longer the case. We've seen in-work benefits cut, we've seen tax cuts for those who earn the most, and then we have Conservative politicians wondering why levels of poverty have gone up. Yes, we have, of course, our plans to tackle poverty, but we do need a change of Government in London so we have a Government that is far more committed to a more equal society.
Rwyf i bob amser yn meddwl bod gwrando ar y Ceidwadwyr yn siarad am dlodi ychydig fel rhywun yn ceisio sefyll ar gwch olwyn heb syrthio i mewn i'r môr o gyni cyllidol sydd wedi casglu o'i amgylch. Y gwir amdani yw bod ei blaid ef wedi gwneud cymaint i leihau incwm ein pobl dlotaf. Sut gallwn ni orffwys fel cymdeithas pan ydym yn gwybod bod nyrsys yn Lloegr sy'n gorfod mynd i fanciau bwyd? Roeddem ni'n arfer dweud wrth bobl, 'Os byddwch chi'n cael swydd, byddwch chi'n well eich byd'. Nid yw hynny'n wir mwyach. Rydym ni wedi gweld budd-daliadau mewn gwaith yn cael eu torri, rydym ni wedi gweld toriadau treth i'r rhai sy'n ennill fwyaf, ac wedyn mae gennym ni wleidyddion Ceidwadol yn meddwl tybed pam mae lefelau tlodi wedi cynyddu. Oes, wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni ein cynlluniau i fynd i'r afael â thlodi, ond mae angen newid Llywodraeth arnom ni yn Llundain fel bod gennym ni Lywodraeth sydd yn llawer mwy ymrwymedig i gymdeithas fwy cyfartal.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, o fusnes yw'r datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, ac rydw i'n galw ar arweinydd y tŷ, Julie James.
The next item of business is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the leader of the house, Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are two changes to tomorrow's agenda: the time allocated to the Counsel General's oral Assembly questions has been reduced to 30 minutes, and also Business Committee has agreed to postpone the UKIP debate until September.
Business for the next three weeks is shown on the business statement and announcement found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ceir dau newid i agenda yfory: mae'r amser a neilltuwyd i gwestiynau Cynulliad llafar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi ei leihau i 30 munud, a hefyd mae'r Pwyllgor Busnes wedi cytuno i ohirio dadl UKIP tan fis Medi.
Dangosir busnes ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd i'w gweld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement on Welsh Government support for concessionary fares in Wales? This week, Newport Transport is introducing changes to bus services in the city. These include the removal of the 10A and 10C bus services altogether, which were used by many elderly passengers living in assisted housing areas in Newport. One of my constituents was told by Newport City Council, and the quote is: the amount of money that Newport receives for concessionary fares has also been reduced, which means that they have to take more in fare revenue from the passengers—quote closed. As my constituent says, 'If you live in an area with a high volume of older people who use bus passes, you're out of luck with your bus service.' Quote closed. Please could we have a statement on the effect of these cuts on bus services in Wales, particularly on the mobility and well-being of the elderly passengers who have seen their services cut and abolished altogether? I think that, not long ago, they looked after us and it's about time that we looked after them, especially in this frail age and old-age period. Thank you.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad ar gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i docynnau teithio rhatach yng Nghymru? Yr wythnos hon, mae Trafnidiaeth Casnewydd yn cyflwyno newidiadau i wasanaethau bws yn y ddinas. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys cael gwared ar wasanaethau bws 10A a 10C yn gyfan gwbl, a ddefnyddiwyd gan lawer o deithwyr oedrannus sy'n byw mewn ardaloedd tai â chymorth yng Nghasnewydd. Hysbyswyd un o'm hetholwyr gan Gyngor Dinas Casnewydd, a dyma'r dyfyniad: mae'r swm o arian y mae Casnewydd yn ei gael ar gyfer tocynnau rhatach hefyd wedi gostwng, sy'n golygu bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw gymryd mwy mewn refeniw tocynnau gan y teithwyr—diwedd y dyfyniad. Fel y dywed fy etholwr, 'Os ydych chi'n byw mewn ardal lle ceir nifer fawr o bobl hŷn sy'n defnyddio tocynnau bws, rydych chi'n anlwcus gyda'ch gwasanaeth bws.' Diwedd y dyfyniad. A allem ni gael datganiad ar effaith y toriadau hyn ar wasanaethau bws yng Nghymru, yn enwedig ar symudedd a llesiant y teithwyr oedrannus sydd wedi gweld eu gwasanaethau'n cael eu torri a'u diddymu'n llwyr? Rwy'n credu, ddim yn bell yn ôl, eu bod nhw'n gofalu amdanom ni ac mae'n hen bryd i ni ofalu amdanyn nhw, yn enwedig yn y cyfnod hwn o oedran bregus a henaint. Diolch.
Well, yes, I agree with the sentiment that Mohammad Asghar expressed at the end of his question there. Obviously, that's why we give concessionary bus travel to older people, because we do agree that they need to have better mobility and so on. The matter of subsidy is a matter for the local authority and the First Minister just answered a question to that effect. I think the very specific point that he raises about his own council is best asked in oral questions to the transport Minister.
Wel, ydw, rwy'n cytuno â'r farn a fynegodd Mohammad Asghar ar ddiwedd ei gwestiwn yn y fan yna. Yn amlwg, dyna pam yr ydym ni'n rhoi teithiau rhatach ar fysiau i bobl hŷn, oherwydd ein bod ni'n cytuno bod angen iddynt gael gwell symudedd ac ati. Mater i'r awdurdod lleol yw'r cymhorthdal ac mae'r Prif Weinidog newydd ateb cwestiwn i'r perwyl hwnnw. Rwy'n credu mai'r peth gorau yw iddo fe ofyn i'r Gweinidog dros drafnidiaeth ynghylch y pwynt penodol iawn y mae'n ei godi am ei gyngor ei hun yn ystod cwestiynau llafar.
Mae eisoes trafodaeth wedi bod ynglŷn ag agwedd perchennog Trago Mills tuag at yr iaith Gymraeg, ac roedd y Prif Weinidog yn ateb Siân Gwenllian yn glir iawn nad yw e’n cytuno a’i fod yn anhapus iawn gyda sylwadau fel yna. Ond byddwn i’n gofyn am ddatganiad neu lythyr gan y Gweinidog dros yr iaith Gymraeg i Aelodau i esbonio sut y cododd y sefyllfa yma. Dyma fuddsoddiad a oedd yn cael ei weld a’i bortreadu fel buddsoddiad yn ardal Merthyr Tudful. Mae yna nifer yn gofyn nawr: a gafodd y cwmni yma gymorth o gwbl i fuddsoddi yn yr ardal? Ac, os cafodd e gymorth o gwbl gan y Llywodraeth neu gan y cyngor lleol, onid oedd parch tuag at dreftadaeth a’r iaith leol yn rhan o’r buddsoddiad yna?
Ymhellach—er i beidio ag ailadrodd y cwestiynau sydd eisoes wedi’u gofyn ynglŷn â statws cyfreithiol y Gymraeg—mae agwedd y cwmni yma tuag at leiafrifoedd eraill, os caf i ddweud, dros y blynyddoedd, hefyd wedi dod i’r amlwg: rhywbeth nid ydw i eisiau ailadrodd yn y Siambr yma, ynglŷn â phobl hoyw, er enghraifft. Os dyma’r pris rŷm ni’n gorfod ei dalu am fuddsoddiad, mae’n well inni gadw ein parch a dweud wrth y buddsoddwyr yma lle i fynd, o bosib. Ond, yn benodol, rydw i am ddeall gan y Llywodraeth beth oedd ymwneud y Llywodraeth â’r buddsoddiad yma ymlaen llaw ac a ydy’r Gweinidog, bellach, wedi cysylltu â Trago Mills ac yn gallu rhannu’r cysylltiad yna gyda ni? Rwy’n gwybod bod y comisiynydd iaith wedi gwneud, ond hoffwn i wybod beth mae’r Llywodraeth wedi’i wneud yn ei gylch.
Yr ail beth rydw i am godi gyda chi yw’r ffaith bod diffyg carbon deuocsid ar hyn o bryd. Mae wedi, wrth gwrs, cyrraedd tudalennau’r wasg ynglŷn â diffyg cwrw ar gyfer Cwpan y Byd, ond mae yna rywbeth llawer mwy pwysig yn digwydd yn y diwydiant bwyd ar hyn o bryd. Mae diffyg carbon deuocsid yn golygu nad oes modd pecynnu cig i’w gadw’n ffres, nac ychwaith defnyddio carbon deuocsid sydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel ffordd o 'stun-io' anifeiliaid bellach—nid y dull trydan, yn benodol, sy’n cael ei ddefnyddio, ond carbon deuocsid, fel nwy, sy’n cael ei ddefnyddio. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae’r cwestiwn o les anifeiliaid yn codi yn hynny o beth. Felly, a oes modd i ni gael datganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ynglŷn â defnydd carbon deuocsid ar gyfer lles anifeiliaid a phecynnu bwyd? Ac a oes sicrwydd bod hyn yn cael ei wneud o hyd at y safon rŷm ni’n ei disgwyl yng Nghymru? Yn ail, gan fod hwn, a dweud y gwir, yn tanlinellu pa mor anodd fydd tynnu allan o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd, achos mae’r diffyg carbon deuocsid yma’n adlewyrchu’r gadwyn drwy ryw bum ffatri yng ngorllewin Ewrop sy’n cynhyrchu nwy i’r safon rŷm ni’n ei defnyddio, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru, bellach, yn trafod gyda Llywodraeth San Steffan ynglŷn â pharatoi i sicrhau cyflenwad digonol cyn i ni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ac ar ôl?
There’s already been discussion on the attitude of the owner of Trago Mills towards the Welsh language, and the First Minister, in response to Siân Gwenllian, said very clearly that he didn’t agree and was unhappy with such comments. But I would ask for a statement from the Minister for the Welsh language, or a letter, at least, to Members to explain exactly how this situation arose. This was an investment that was portrayed as an investment in the Merthyr area, and many people are now asking whether this company were given any support to invest in the area, and, if they were supported by Government or the local council, wasn’t respect for the heritage and language of the local community part of that investment?
Further to that—not to rehearse the questions that have already been asked about the legal status of the Welsh language—the attitude of this company towards other minorities, if I may say so, over the years, has also emerged. Something that I don’t want to repeat in this Chamber—some comments about gay people, for example. If this is the price that we have to pay for investment, then it’s worth us retaining our respect and telling these investors where to go, perhaps. But, specifically, I want to understand from Government what the Government’s involvement was with this investment. Has the Minister now contacted Trago Mills and can she share that with us? I know that the language commissioner has done that, but I would like to know what the Government has done about this.
The second issue I want to raise with you is the fact that there is a carbon dioxide shortage at the moment. It’s made the front pages in terms of the shortage of beer for the World Cup, but there is something far more important happening in the food industry at the moment. A shortage of carbon dioxide means that it’s not possible to package meat so that it can remain fresh, or use carbon dioxide as a means of stunning animals—it's not the electrocution method that's used, but carbon dioxide, as a gas, is used now to stun animals, and there is a question of animal welfare arising in that regard. So, could we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary on the use of carbon dioxide in terms of animal health and food packaging and an assurance that this is still being done to the expected standards in Wales? Secondly, this highlights just how difficult withdrawal from the European Union will be, because this carbon dioxide shortage does reflect the chain through some five factories in Western Europe that produce the gas to the standard that is expected. Is the Welsh Government now having discussions with the Westminster Government in terms of preparing to ensure a sufficient supply before we leave the European Union and post exit?
The Member raises two very important issues. On the Trago Mills issue, I think we all share his outrage, I think is not too strong a word, at some of the language used. I also won't repeat it; it doesn't require the publicity. I will ensure that all Assembly Members are updated, probably by way of letter, as to where we are with that. This company has caused problems wherever it's gone in Britain, I think it's fair to say. I well remember the protests when it set up in Cornwall about the environmental damage that occurred and the damage done to both flora and fauna in that area, so it hasn't covered itself in glory elsewhere in the UK. So, I will ensure that all Assembly Members are updated as to where we are with that.
On the carbon dioxide shortage, the Member raises a series of very good points about that, and, again, I will make sure that all Assembly Members are informed, by way of letter, where we are with the situation, both in terms of animal welfare and in terms of the security of supply as we exit the European Union.
Mae'r Aelod yn codi dau fater pwysig iawn. O ran mater Trago Mills, rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn rhannu ei ddicter, nad yw'n air rhy gryf yn fy marn i, ynglŷn â rhywfaint o'r iaith a ddefnyddiwyd. Ni wnaf innau ei ailadrodd ychwaith; nid oes angen rhoi cyhoeddusrwydd iddo. Byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr bod holl Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, a hynny mae'n debyg drwy lythyr yn dweud lle'r ydym ni arni â hynny. Mae'r cwmni hwn wedi achosi problemau lle bynnag y mae wedi mynd ym Mhrydain, rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud hynny. Rwy'n cofio'n dda y protestiadau a fu pan gafodd ei sefydlu yng Nghernyw am y difrod amgylcheddol a ddigwyddodd a'r difrod a wnaed i fflora a ffawna yn yr ardal honno, felly nid yw wedi ennill unrhyw fri mewn mannau eraill yn y DU. Felly, byddaf yn sicrhau bod holl Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynglŷn â lle'r ydym ni arni â hynny.
Ar y prinder carbon deuocsid, mae'r Aelod yn codi cyfres o bwyntiau da iawn am hynny, ac, unwaith eto, byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr bod holl Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn cael gwybod, drwy lythyr, lle'r ydym ni â'r sefyllfa, o ran lles anifeiliaid ac o ran diogelwch cyflenwi wrth i ni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Since the last questions to the leader of the house, we've had the news from Westminster that the five women's prisons they were going to build have been abandoned and, instead, there will be five women's centres, which I think is a matter of great rejoicing. I know the leader of the house will share that with me, because we've campaigned for this for years. So, it does seem a fundamental change of policy, finally recognising the unique situation of women in the justice system. So, would it be possible to have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary responsible about what implications this will have for Wales? Are we likely to have one of these residential centres in Wales and what discussions have taken place with Welsh Ministers about this very welcome change in policy?
Ers y cwestiynau diwethaf i arweinydd y tŷ, rydym ni wedi cael y newyddion gan San Steffan y cefnwyd ar y bwriad i adeiladu pum carchardy menywod ac, yn lle hynny, bydd pum canolfan fenywod yn cael eu hadeiladu, sy'n reswm i lawenhau yn fy marn i. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd arweinydd y tŷ yn rhannu'r farn honno, oherwydd ein bod ni wedi ymgyrchu dros hyn am flynyddoedd. Felly, ymddengys y bu newid sylfaenol yn y polisi, sydd o'r diwedd yn cydnabod sefyllfa unigryw'r menywod yn y system gyfiawnder. Felly, a fyddai'n bosibl cael datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet sy'n gyfrifol, ynghylch goblygiadau hyn i Gymru? A ydym ni'n debygol o gael un o'r canolfannau preswyl hyn yng Nghymru a pha drafodaethau sydd wedi'u cynnal â Gweinidogion Cymru ynghylch y newid hwn yn y polisi, sydd i'w groesawu'n fawr?
Yes, absolutely. Julie Morgan is entirely right, I am delighted that our long campaign to see justice for many of the women in prison for offences generally of poverty, actually, received the right kind of response. The Cabinet Secretary is meeting Ministers at the Ministry of Justice on 18 July to discuss our approach to tackling female offending, including the potential to develop a different approach to the secure female estate for Welsh-domiciled women to ensure that they get the right support in their communities and, if at all possible, are diverted entirely from the prison estate. Once he's had that meeting on 18 July, I'm sure he'll be delighted to update all Assembly Members on how it went.FootnoteLink
Ie, yn hollol. Mae Julie Morgan yn llygad ei lle, rwy'n falch iawn bod ein hymgyrch hir i weld cyfiawnder ar gyfer llawer o fenywod sydd yn y carchar, a hynny ar y cyfan am droseddau sy'n ymwneud a thlodi, mewn gwirionedd, wedi cael y math iawn o ymateb. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn cyfarfod â Gweinidogion yn y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder ar 18 Gorffennaf i drafod ein dull o fynd i'r afael â throseddwyr benywaidd, gan gynnwys y potensial i ddatblygu ymagwedd wahanol i'r ystad ddiogel i fenywod ar gyfer menywod o Gymru er mwyn gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cael y cymorth cywir yn eu cymunedau ac, os yn bosibl, yn cael eu dargyfeirio yn gyfan gwbl o'r ystad carchardai. Ar ôl iddo fod yn y cyfarfod hwnnw ar 18 Gorffennaf, rwy'n siŵr y bydd ef yn falch iawn o roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar hyn i holl Aelodau'r Cynulliad.FootnoteLink
Could I, in a sense, support Simon's call for a statement regarding the Trago Mills investment, but also including the confidentiality of correspondence for inward investors? My region benefited from £65 million, I understand, of investment in this site. Its head was condemned by both the Welsh language Minister and the Counsel General for expressing his view regarding bilingual signage. I haven't heard any similar condemnation from anyone in Welsh Government about the leaking of that correspondence in the first place. Do we now have a fit-and-proper-character test for inward investors, and, if so, can we, perhaps, clarify the scope of that? The individual concerned said, at least according to the South Wales Argus, that welcome signs,
'departmental descriptions, directional, welfare and safety signage will...display Welsh and English language',
but then said they didn't plan
'to cascade its use a great deal further at present.'
Can Welsh Government clarify what standards are expected in terms of bilingual signage from private businesses? Could we also say if any other inward investor or, indeed, any of my constituents in south-east Wales, questions Welsh language policy, can they also expect to have their confidential correspondence leaked? What impact does the leader of the house think that will have on the willingness of such people to engage with Welsh Government in future? Could we have guidance on exactly what such correspondence—or how egregious views must be in order to be considered offensive, such that they will be leaked in this way? Finally, will there be any inquiry regarding the Welsh Language Commissioner and this leak?
A gaf i, mewn ffordd, gefnogi galwad Simon am ddatganiad ar fuddsoddiad Trago Mills, ond gan gynnwys hefyd gyfrinachedd yr ohebiaeth ar gyfer mewnfuddsoddwyr? Rwyf ar ddeall bod fy rhanbarth i wedi elwa ar fuddsoddiad o £65 miliwn yn y safle hwn. Condemniwyd ei bennaeth gan Weinidog y Gymraeg a'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am fynegi ei farn ynghylch arwyddion dwyieithog. Dydw i ddim wedi clywed unrhyw gondemniad tebyg gan unrhyw un yn Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch gollwng yr ohebiaeth honno yn y lle cyntaf. A oes gennym ni nawr brawf cymeriad addas a phriodol ar gyfer mewnfuddsoddwyr, ac, os felly, a allwn ni, efallai, egluro cwmpas hynny? Dywedodd yr unigolyn dan sylw, yn ôl y South Wales Argus o leiaf, y bydd yr arwyddion croesawu,
'disgrifiadau adrannol, arwyddion lles a diogelwch yn...arddangos y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg',
ond dywedodd wedyn nad oedd yn bwriadu
'datblygu lawer mwy ar ei defnydd ar hyn o bryd.'
A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru egluro pa safonau a ddisgwylir o ran arwyddion dwyieithog gan fusnesau preifat? A allem ni ddweud hefyd pe byddai unrhyw fewnfuddsoddwr arall neu, yn wir, unrhyw un o fy etholwyr yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, yn cwestiynu polisi iaith Gymraeg, yna a allen nhw hefyd ddisgwyl cael eu gohebiaeth gyfrinachol wedi'i datgelu? Arweinydd y tŷ, pa effaith a gaiff hyn, yn eich barn chi, ar barodrwydd pobl o'r fath i ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol? A gawn ni ganllawiau ar ba ohebiaeth o'r fath—neu pa mor eithafol y byddai'n rhaid i farn fod er mwyn ei hystyried yn sarhaus, i'r graddau a fydd yn achosi iddi gael ei datgelu yn y modd hwn? Yn olaf, a fydd unrhyw ymchwiliad ynghylch Comisiynydd y Gymraeg a'r gollyngiad hwn?
Well, I don't think those are matters for me in the business statement, Mark Reckless. I think you should address them to the Minister responsible.
Wel, dydw i ddim yn meddwl bod y pethau hynny yn faterion i mi yn y datganiad busnes, Mark Reckless. Rwy'n credu y dylech chi eu cyfeirio at y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol.
Arweinydd y tŷ, fel yr ydych chi'n gwybod, o dan Ddeddf yr Amgylchedd Hanesyddol (Cymru) 2016, mae gofyn
'i Weinidogion...lunio a chynnal rhestr o enwau lleoedd hanesyddol yng Nghymru.'
Pwrpas y rhestr hon yw darparu mynediad i un ffynhonnell ganolog o enwau lleoedd hanesyddol yng Nghymru i godi ymwybyddiaeth o werth enwau lleoedd hanesyddol ac i gynorthwyo'r rheini sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau ynglŷn ag enwau tai, bryniau, llynnoedd ac ati. Nawr, nid oes dim statws cyfreithiol gyda'r enwau ar y rhestr yma, wrth gwrs, er i mi drio sicrhau hynny flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ond collais bleidlais ar gael Deddf i ddiogelu enwau hanesyddol Cymru. Nawr, yn ddiweddar, rydym ni wedi clywed am ddatblygiadau tai newydd fel Regency Park yn ardal Llanilltern, i'r gogledd o Gaerdydd. Mae'r datblygiad yn agos i safle mynachlog o'r chweched ganrif a sefydlwyd gan Sant Illtud. Ond, yn lle adlewyrchu'r hanes yma, mae'r datblygwr wedi dewis enw hollol anaddas i'r datblygiad, sydd â dim cysylltiad hanesyddol i'r ardal o gwbl. Mae yna esiamplau tebyg o golli enwau hanesyddol ar draws Cymru, ac felly, gan bod y Ddeddf wedi ei mabwysiadu ers peth amser rŵan, a wnaiff y Gweinidog dros ddiwylliant ddod â datganiad gerbron y Siambr yma yn edrych ar effeithiolrwydd y rhestr a'r gwaith sy'n mynd yn ei flaen i hyrwyddo'r rhestr yna? Bydd hyn hefyd yn gyfle i ni i gyd drafod a oes yna ffyrdd eraill allwn ni helpu amddiffyn ein hiaith a'n treftadaeth.
Leader of the house, as you know, under the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016,
'The Welsh Ministers must compile and maintain a list of historic place names in Wales.'
Now, the purpose of this list is to provide access to one central source of historic names in Wales, to raise awareness of the value of historic place names, and to support those who make decisions about names of houses, lakes, mountains, and so on. Now, there is no legal status for the names on this list, of course, even though I tried to ensure that last year, but I lost the vote on having an Act to safeguard historic place names in Wales. Now, recently, we’ve heard about new housing developments such as Regency Park in the Llanilltern area, to the north of Cardiff. The development is close to a sixth century monastery, established by St Illtud, but the developer has chosen an inappropriate name for the development, which has no historic connection to the area at all. There are similar examples of losing historic place names across Wales, and so, as the Act has now been adopted for some time now, will the Minister for culture bring a statement forward to this Chamber, looking at the effectiveness of the register and the work that is being done to promote it? This would also be an opportunity for us all to discuss whether there are other ways in which we can safeguard our heritage and language.
I think the Minister will be providing an update at an appropriate time once the Act has bedded in. As Dai Lloyd said, we did have a bit of a debate at the time that the Act went through about the matter he raises. I'm sure that will be an appropriate point for him to raise it again.
Rwy'n credu y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi diweddariad ar yr adeg briodol ar ôl i'r Ddeddf ymsefydlu. Fel y dywedodd Dai Lloyd, fe gawsom ni ychydig o ddadl wrth i'r Ddeddf fynd ar ei hynt ynghylch y mater a godir ganddo. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yna bwynt priodol iddo ef gael ei godi eto.
Leader of the house, I'd like to ask for three statements this afternoon, please. I'll do the two easy ones first. The Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services yesterday issued a statement regarding the concordat that the Welsh Government has reached with the Ministry of Justice. Reading through the concordat, it actually describes mainly functions, but it doesn't rule out the possibility of discussions on a future superprison on Welsh Government-owned land. So, could you ask the Cabinet Secretary to actually bring a statement to the house, so we can ask questions on that concordat, on what it actually means regarding the justice issues that we have fought for for so long in Port Talbot? I want to make sure that what we've achieved to date remains achieved.
On the second point, we're obviously awaiting the White Paper on the future relationship of the UK with the EU. We all await with bated breath. Last week, I was in Brussels talking to many, many individuals over there who expressed deep concern over the failure of being able to get somewhere simply because they didn't know where they were going. Can we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance or the First Minister once that White Paper is published, so we can see and ask questions as to how it affects Wales and what we see as the future as a consequence of that White Paper, so that we ensure, in the very short time we have left before a decision is reached, that we are able to express those views clearly and to have consultations with businesses in particular who have already indicated their concerns over the future relationship with the EU?
Thirdly, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport has left now, but it would be interesting to have a statement on the steel industry and the agreement that was reached last Friday between ThyssenKrupp AG and Tata. That clearly puts a provision in place for medium-term sustainability until 2026. As has already been stated this afternoon, there'll be no compulsory redundancies before that point, and the upgrade of blast furnace No. 5 will last roughly that period of time. But it is important, when we look at the long-term sustainability of the works, and the future here in Wales, and the long-term impact—. I would like to understand what the Welsh Government's position is on the long-term position of steel in Wales, and how we can support the industry, and in particular the Tata and ThyssenKrupp merger, to ensure that the industry doesn't suffer in 10 years' time, and that it isn't a short-term stop gap to keep people happy now; it is actually something that we've always believed in, which is that there's a future for steel making here in the UK, and particularly here in Wales.
Arweinydd y tŷ, hoffwn ofyn am dri datganiad y prynhawn yma, os gwelwch yn dda. Fe wnaf i'r ddau hawdd yn gyntaf. Cyhoeddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus ddatganiad ddoe ynghylch y concordat y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i gyrraedd â'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder. Wrth ddarllen drwy'r concordat, mae mewn gwirionedd yn disgrifio swyddogaethau yn bennaf, ond nid yw'n diystyru'r posibilrwydd o drafodaethau ar garchar enfawr yn y dyfodol ar dir sy'n eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru. Felly, a wnewch chi ofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wneud datganiad i'r tŷ, er mwyn inni ofyn cwestiynau ar y concordat hwnnw, a beth y mae'n ei olygu mewn gwirionedd o ran y materion cyfiawnder yr ydym ni wedi ymladd drostyn nhw am gyfnod mor hir ym Mhort Talbot? Rwy'n dymuno gwneud yn siŵr bod yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi'i gyflawni hyd yn hyn yn parhau i fod wedi ei gyflawni.
Ar yr ail bwynt, rydym ni'n amlwg yn aros am y Papur Gwyn ar berthynas y DU â'r UE yn y dyfodol. Rydym ni'n dal i ddisgwyl gan ddal ein hanadl. Yr wythnos diwethaf, roeddwn i ym Mrwsel yn siarad â llawer iawn o unigolion yno a fynegodd bryder dwfn am fethu â chyrraedd rhywle, gan nad oedden nhw'n gwybod i ble roedden nhw'n mynd. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid neu'r Prif Weinidog ar ôl i'r Papur Gwyn hwnnw gael ei gyhoeddi, fel y gallwn ni weld a gofyn cwestiynau ynglŷn â sut y mae'n effeithio ar Gymru a'r hyn a'n gweledigaeth ni o'r dyfodol o ganlyniad i'r Papur Gwyn hwnnw, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau, yn yr amser byr iawn sydd gennym ni ar ôl cyn dod i benderfyniad, ein bod ni'n gallu mynegi'r safbwyntiau hynny yn glir a chael ymgynghoriadau â busnesau, yn arbennig y rheiny sydd eisoes wedi nodi eu pryderon ynghylch y berthynas â'r UE yn y dyfodol?
Yn drydydd, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth wedi gadael erbyn hyn, ond byddai'n ddiddorol cael datganiad ar y diwydiant dur a'r cytundeb sydd wedi ei gyrraedd ddydd Gwener diwethaf rhwng ThyssenKrupp a Tata. Mae hynny'n amlwg yn rhoi darpariaeth ar waith ar gyfer cynaliadwyedd tymor canolig hyd at 2026. Fel y dywedwyd eisoes y prynhawn yma, ni fydd unrhyw ddiswyddiadau gorfodol cyn y pwynt hwnnw, a bydd uwchraddio ffwrnais chwyth Rhif 5 yn para am oddeutu'r cyfnod hwnnw o amser. Ond mae'n bwysig, wrth inni edrych ar gynaliadwyedd hirdymor y gwaith, ac yn y dyfodol yma yng Nghymru, a'r effaith hirdymor—. Hoffwn i ddeall beth yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar y sefyllfa hirdymor ar gyfer dur yng Nghymru, a sut y gallwn ni gefnogi'r diwydiant, ac yn arbennig yr uno rhwng Tata a ThyssenKrupp, i sicrhau na fydd y diwydiant yn dioddef ymhen 10 mlynedd, ac nad yw'n fesur i gau bwlch tymor byr i gadw pobl yn hapus nawr; y mae mewn gwirionedd yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni bob amser wedi credu ynddo, sef bod yna ddyfodol i ddur yma yn y DU, ac yn arbennig, yma yng Nghymru.
Absolutely, David Rees. Obviously, the First Minister, in First Minister's questions, broadly welcomed the announcement of Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp on the signing of the definitive agreement, and I'd just like to reiterate that the Government is extremely glad that that's gone through. We also noted that the steel trade unions have stated that they recognise the industrial logic of the partnership and consider it to be the best solution to ensuring the long-term future of Tata Steel's UK operations. This Government is committed to continuing to engage with the company and the trade unions to consider the detail of the announcement and how it might impact on the securing of iron and steel making in Wales over the longer term. The First Minister also mentioned keeping a weather eye on, for example, our export markets and what the tariff situation is and what we can do to support the industry in the meantime.
With regard to the UK operations, as you said, we'll ensure that the commitments in the existing memorandum of understanding with the trade unions are taken into account into the joint venture. We welcome the announcement of the employment pact to 2026, and, indeed, the upgrading of the blast furnace. But be assured that we're still fully engaged with the company at every level, to ensure its continued prosperity and success, and we share the concerns that the Member has expressed on a number of occasions in supporting the steel industry in his constituency.
In terms of the concordat, I think if you have very specific constituency issues to bring up with the Cabinet Secretary, it would be best to bring those up specifically in questions with him. I don't think it's appropriate to bring a general statement on the concordat as we've already got the concordat in public. I don't think he's got anything of other general interest still to say on that. And on the relationship with the EU, we will certainly be bringing forward a number of occasions on which Members will be able to closely question the Ministers involved in those negotiations, to ensure that Wales gets the best possible deal out of the so-called negotiations as we continue.
Yn sicr, David Rees. Yn amlwg, roedd y Prif Weinidog, yn ystod y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, wedi croesawu'n fras y cyhoeddiad am arwyddo'r cytundeb pendant rhwng Tata Steel a ThyssenKrupp, a hoffwn i ailadrodd bod y Llywodraeth yn hynod falch bod hynny wedi digwydd. Nodwyd hefyd fod yr undebau llafur dur wedi datgan eu bod yn cydnabod rhesymeg ddiwydiannol y bartneriaeth ac yn ei ystyried mai hwn yw'r ateb gorau i sicrhau dyfodol hirdymor gweithrediadau Tata Steel yn y DU. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i barhau i drafod â'r cwmni a'r undebau llafur i ystyried manylion y cyhoeddiad, a sut y gallai effeithio ar sicrhau haearn a dur yng Nghymru yn y tymor hirach. Soniodd y Prif Weinidog hefyd am gadw llygad manwl, er enghraifft, ar ein marchnadoedd allforio a beth yw'r sefyllfa o ran tariffau a beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i gefnogi'r diwydiant yn y cyfamser.
O ran gweithrediadau y DU, fel y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud, byddwn ni'n sicrhau bod yr ymrwymiadau yn y memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth presennol â'r undebau llafur yn cael eu cyfrif yn fenter ar y cyd. Rydym ni'n croesawu cyhoeddiad y cytundeb cyflogaeth i 2026, ac, yn wir, uwchraddio'r ffwrnais chwyth. Ond gallwn eich sicrhau ein bod ni'n parhau i ymgysylltu â'r cwmni ar bob lefel, i sicrhau ei ffyniant a'i lwyddiant parhaus, ac rydym ni'n rhannu'r pryderon a fynegwyd gan yr aelod ar nifer o achlysuron, wrth gefnogi'r diwydiant dur yn ei etholaeth.
O ran y concordat, rwy'n credu os oes gennych chi faterion etholaethol penodol iawn i'w codi gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, y peth gorau fyddai eu codi nhw'n benodol mewn cwestiynau gydag ef. Dydw i ddim yn credu ei bod yn briodol i wneud datganiad cyffredinol ar y concordat gan fod y concordat ar gael yn gyhoeddus eisoes. Dydw i ddim yn credu bod ganddo unrhyw beth arall o ddiddordeb cyffredinol i'w ddweud ar hynny. Ac o ran y berthynas â'r UE, byddwn ni'n sicr yn cynnig nifer o achlysuron pan fydd modd i'r Aelodau holi'r Gweinidogion sy'n ymwneud â'r trafodaethau hynny, er mwyn sicrhau bod Cymru yn cael y fargen orau bosibl allan o'r hyn a elwir yn drafodaethau wrth i ni fwrw ymlaen.
Can I call for a statement from the Minister responsible for the new childcare offer? I was very pleased to see that the 30 hours of free childcare is going to be extended in different parts of north Wales later on this year from September, including into Conwy, which forms part of my constituency. But, of course, there is one single local authority that is going to be left out of the offer from September of this year, and that's Denbighshire. I have written to the Minister in respect of this matter, but I think it would be beneficial for all Members of the house to have some sort of assurance about this, because there are parents who are concerned that there may be cross-border issues if they are working in one local authority area and trying to make a claim for free childcare in another and how that might impact upon the practicalities of being able to enjoy the benefits of the 30 hours that might be available. So, I think some clarity on that should be afforded, and I would urge the Minister to consider extending the roll-out into Denbighshire from the same date—1 September—as all of the other local authorities in north Wales, to overcome the potential problems. [Interruption.]
A gaf i alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am y cynnig gofal plant newydd? Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o weld y bydd y 30 awr o ofal plant am ddim yn ymestyn i wahanol rannau o'r gogledd yn ddiweddarach eleni o fis Medi ymlaen, gan gynnwys Conwy, sy'n rhan o fy etholaeth i. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae un awdurdod lleol a fydd yn cael ei eithrio o'r cynnig o fis Medi eleni, sef sir Ddinbych. Rwyf i wedi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog ynghylch y mater hwn, ond rwy'n credu y byddai'n fuddiol i holl Aelodau'r tŷ gael rhyw fath o sicrwydd ynglŷn â hyn, oherwydd bod rhai rhieni sy'n pryderu y gallai fod materion traws-ffiniol os ydynt yn gweithio mewn un ardal awdurdod lleol ac yn ceisio hawlio gofal plant am ddim mewn un arall a sut y gallai hynny effeithio ar yr agweddau ymarferol ar eu gallu i fwynhau manteision y 30 awr a allai fod ar gael. Felly, rwy'n credu y dylid rhoi rhywfaint o eglurder ynghylch hynny, a byddwn i'n annog y Gweinidog i ystyried ymestyn y cyflwyniad i sir Ddinbych o'r un dyddiad—1 Medi—fel pob un o'r awdurdodau lleol eraill yn y gogledd, i oresgyn y problemau posibl. [Torri ar draws.]
Llywydd, I feel as if I'm caught in a conversation between two people here. It's clear you're in correspondence about the issue, and the Minister is indicating to me that he's about to write back out to you. It's obviously a series of pilot programmes; Denbighshire is not the only authority in Wales that's not in the initial tranche. I understand that the Minister is about to write to you and explain exactly where we are with it.
Llywydd, rwy'n teimlo fel pe bawn i wedi cael fy nal mewn sgwrs rhwng dau berson yn y fan yma. Mae'n amlwg y bu gohebiaeth rhyngoch chi ar y mater hwn, ac mae'r Gweinidog yn dangos i mi ei fod ar fin ysgrifennu yn ôl atoch. Mae'n amlwg yn gyfres o raglenni treialu; nid sir Ddinbych yw'r unig awdurdod yng Nghymru nad yw yn y gyfran gychwynnol. Deallaf fod y Gweinidog ar fin ysgrifennu atoch ac egluro'r union sefyllfa ar y mater hwn.
David Rees pipped me to the post on Tata. I want to ask for a statement on the issues with regard to Thyssenkrupp, but also in relation to the investment the Welsh Government has pledged already between Plaid Cymru and Labour. I know that phase 1 has gone ahead. I'd like assurances on the other phases, but also a general statement that will show us what is happening in relation to state aid post Brexit. I know that there are varying issues there, and I know that the First Minister has already indicated on the record to us that there still is disagreement on that with the UK Government. So, a general statement on steel would be beneficial.
Also, if we could have an update from the Cabinet Secretary for health on how the consultation is going with regard to the eating disorders framework. I do welcome it, as I've said previously, but we had a cross-party group meeting recently, and some of those in the health service who were there weren't aware of the consultation happening, so I just wanted an update as to how they are being told that they can engage with the process, because I want as many people in the health service to be involved in the review as possible, so we can have a fully comprehensive analysis of eating disorder services, to get the best deal out of any revised frameworks. So, that would be my second call. Thank you.
Mae David Rees wedi achub y blaen arnaf ynghylch Tata. Hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad ar y materion o ran Thyssenkrupp, ond hefyd ar y buddsoddiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei addo eisoes rhwng Plaid Cymru a Llafur. Gwn fod cam 1 wedi mynd rhagddo. Hoffwn i gael sicrwydd ynghylch y camau eraill, ond hefyd, hoffwn ddatganiad cyffredinol a fydd yn dangos inni beth sy'n digwydd o ran cymorth gwladwriaethol ar ôl Brexit. Gwn fod materion amrywiol yn y fan yna, a gwn fod y Prif Weinidog eisoes wedi nodi i ni ar y cofnod fod yna anghytuno o hyd ynghylch hynny â Llywodraeth y DU. Felly, byddai datganiad cyffredinol ar y diwydiant dur yn fuddiol.
Hefyd, a gawn ni ddiweddariad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd ar sut y mae'r ymgynghoriad yn mynd o ran y fframwaith anhwylderau bwyta. Rwyf i yn ei groesawu, fel yr wyf i wedi dweud o'r blaen, ond fe gawsom ni gyfarfod grŵp trawsbleidiol yn ddiweddar, ac nid oedd rhai o'r rheini a oedd yno o'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn ymwybodol bod yr ymgynghoriad yn digwydd, felly hoffwn i ddiweddariad ynghylch sut y maen nhw'n cael gwybod y gallan nhw ymgysylltu â'r broses, oherwydd rwyf i'n dymuno bod cynifer o bobl â phosibl yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn cymryd rhan yn yr adolygiad, er mwyn inni gael dadansoddiad cwbl gynhwysfawr o'r gwasanaethau anhwylderau bwyta, i gael y manteisio i'r eithaf ar unrhyw fframweithiau diwygiedig. Felly, dyna fy ail alwad. Diolch.
The Cabinet Secretary is indicating to me that he's brought it to their attention just this week. We are, of course, extremely concerned that all consultations get the widest possible response. He's indicating to me that he's brought it to renewed attention just this week, so hopefully that will elicit the broad range of responses that Bethan Sayed is quite right in saying we need to have in order to be able to evaluate the policy.
On steel, of course, the large number of us who represent that region have a great deal of interest in the continued strength of the steel industry. A number of statements on the record have been made today about that, and I'm sure that you heard that, alongside Plaid Cymru, we're very keen indeed to make sure that all of the assurances that we've already given are heard loud and clear by the new collaboration.
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn dangos i mi ei fod wedi tynnu eu sylw atynt yr wythnos hon. Rydym ni, wrth gwrs, yn dymuno'n fawr fod yr holl ymgynghoriadau yn cael yr ymateb ehangaf posibl. Mae'n nodi i mi ei fod wedi dwyn sylw ato o'r newydd yr wythnos hon, felly gobeithio y bydd hynny yn ysgogi'r amrywiaeth eang o ymatebion sydd ei hangen arnom, fel y mae Bethan Sayed yn llygad ei lle yn dweud, er mwyn gallu gwerthuso'r polisi.
O ran y diwydiant dur, wrth gwrs, mae gan y nifer mawr ohonom sy'n cynrychioli'r rhanbarth hwnnw ddiddordeb mawr iawn yng nghryfder parhaus y diwydiant dur. Gwnaed nifer o ddatganiadau ar y cofnod heddiw am hynny, ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod wedi clywed ein bod ni, ochr yn ochr â Phlaid Cymru, yn awyddus iawn yn wir i wneud yn siŵr bod y cydweithrediaeth newydd yn clywed yn glir yr holl sicrwydd yr ydym ni wedi ei roi eisoes.
I wish to return again to the threat of closure by Virgin Media of their facility in Swansea. Can I firstly ask for an update on the Welsh Government support for the main submission to try and save the whole site and the call centre agents, based on their quality and skills? Secondly, can I ask for an update on support for the non-call-centre operational staff, of which there are about 80, who are putting a proposal for an alternative site locally or an expansion of other sites in south Wales?
Hoffwn i ddychwelyd eto at y bygythiad gan Virgin Media i gau eu cyfleuster yn Abertawe. A gaf i ofyn yn gyntaf i gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y prif gynnig i geisio achub y safle cyfan ac asiantau'r ganolfan alwadau, ar sail eu hansawdd a'u sgiliau? Yn ail, a gaf i ofyn am ddiweddariad ar y cymorth ar gyfer y staff gweithredol nad ydynt yn y ganolfan alwadau, rhyw 80 ohonynt, sy'n cyflwyno cynnig am safle amgen yn lleol neu ehangu safleoedd eraill yn y de?
Thank you for that. The Member is continuing to show his concern for the large number of people who are under threat of redundancy in his constituency and in the Swansea area in general. The Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport met with Virgin Media on 14 June to further discuss the plans for closure and the reasons behind the decision, and to offer what support we can to help reverse that decision. The consultation period commenced on 23 May, and it will run for a minimum of 45 days. We are assisting with a counterproposal from the employer's representatives aimed at keeping the site open, and we're awaiting the outcome of that consultation. Should the plans for closure continue after that consultation, the taskforce will be ready to support affected staff, and that includes discussions with any particular groups of staff who have a specific proposal for parts of the business to be self-standing here in Wales.
Diolch ichi am hynny. Mae'r Aelod yn parhau i ddangos ei bryder am y nifer mawr o bobl sy'n wynebu'r bygythiad o gael eu diswyddo yn ei etholaeth ef ac yn ardal Abertawe yn gyffredinol. Fe wnaeth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth gyfarfod â Virgin Media ar 14 Mehefin i drafod y cynlluniau ar gyfer cau a'r rhesymau dros y penderfyniad, ac i gynnig cymaint o gymorth ag y gallwn ni i helpu i wrthdroi'r penderfyniad hwnnw. Dechreuodd y cyfnod ymgynghori ar 23 Mai, a bydd yn para am o leiaf 45 diwrnod. Rydym yn helpu cynrychiolwyr y cyflogwr â gwrthgynnig i geisio cadw'r safle ar agor, ac rydym ni'n disgwyl canlyniad yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw ar hyn o bryd. Pe byddai'r cynlluniau i gau yn parhau ar ôl yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw, bydd y tasglu yn barod i gefnogi'r staff y bydd hyn yn effeithio arnynt, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys trafodaethau ag unrhyw grwpiau penodol o staff sydd â chynnig penodol i rannau o'r busnes sefyll ar eu pennau eu hunain yma yng Nghymru.
Fel y gwyddoch chi, mae'n siŵr, mae timau argyfwng wrthi yn fy ardal i ac yn gweithio’n galed iawn er mwyn diffodd tanau sydd wedi cael eu hachosi gan y tywydd sych. Mae Carmel, Bethesda a Mynydd Bangor wedi cael eu heffeithio, efo o leiaf 45 o deuluoedd wedi gorfod gadael eu cartrefi, ac rydw i yn hynod ddiolchgar i’r diffoddwyr tân, y gwasanaethau argyfwng eraill, a hefyd y cymunedau eu hunain sydd wedi dod ynghyd er mwyn cefnogi’r rheini sydd wedi eu heffeithio. Felly, a gaf i ofyn pa gysylltiad sydd yna rhwng y Llywodraeth a’r gwasanaethau lleol, ac a ydych chi’n hyderus bod ganddyn nhw adnoddau digonol er mwyn delio efo’r argyfwng hwn yn Arfon ac mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru?
A throi at fater diwygio llywodraeth leol, ychydig fisoedd yn ôl, mi gawsom ni wybod mewn blog gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol ei fod o’n mynd i symud ymlaen efo cynlluniau newydd ar gyfer ad-drefnu llywodraeth leol, gan roi heibio’r cynigion a oedd ym Mhapur Gwyn y Gweinidog blaenorol ar gydweithio rhanbarthol. Ddydd Gwener, mi ges i wybod drwy drydariad gan newyddiadurwr o gynhadledd y WLGA yn Llandudno bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros lywodraeth leol rŵan yn hapus i roi’r ffidil yn y to efo’i fap ad-drefnu llywodraeth leol, sydd ddim yn syndod i neb ohonom ni, nid ydw i’n meddwl. Ond efo datganiadau mor bwysig â hyn, sydd yn effeithio’r ffordd y mae gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael eu rhedeg yn y dyfodol, onid ydych chi’n meddwl bod angen meddwl o ddifri ai cyhoeddi ar wefannau cymdeithasol ydy’r ffordd briodol o gyhoeddi newidiadau polisi mawr fel hyn, heb ddatganiad ysgrifenedig ffurfiol i Aelodau Cynulliad? Mae hynny, i mi, yn tanseilio hygrededd Llywodraeth Cymru, a hefyd hygrededd y Cynulliad cyfan. Felly, buaswn i’n licio cael dau ddatganiad: un yn nodi beth ydy’r ffordd ymlaen rŵan—beth nesaf i lywodraeth leol, beth nesaf ar gyfer ad-drefnu—ond hefyd buaswn i’n hoffi gwybod pa gyfarwyddiadau sydd yna i Weinidogion wrth iddyn nhw gyflwyno gwybodaeth sydd efo arwyddocâd cenedlaethol i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yma.
As I'm sure you know, emergency teams are working in my area, working extremely hard to extinguish fires that have been caused by the very dry weather. Carmel, Bethesda and Bangor Mountain have been affected, with at least 45 families having to leave their homes. I am extremely grateful to the firefighters and the other emergency services, as well as the communities themselves who have come together to support those who have been affected by these fires. So, can I ask what connection has there been between the Government and local services, and are you confident that they have sufficient resources in order to deal with this crisis in Arfon and elsewhere in Wales?
Turning to local government reform, a few months ago we learned through a blog from the Cabinet Secretary for local government that he was going to proceed with new proposals for the reorganisation of local government, putting aside the proposals in the predecessor Minister's Green Paper on regional collaboration. On Friday, I learned from a tweet from a journalist at the WLGA conference in Llandudno that the Cabinet Secretary for local government was now happy to give up on his reorganisation map, which will come as no surprise to any of us. But with such important statements affecting the way public services are run and delivered for the future, do you not think that we need to think carefully as to whether these announcements should be made on social media? Is that the appropriate means of conveying major policy changes such as these, without a formal written statement to Assembly Members? To me, that undermines the credibility of the Welsh Government, and also the credibility of the Assembly as a whole. So, I would like two statements: one noting the way forward—what next for local government, and what next for the reorganisation—but also I'd like to know what directives there are for Ministers as they present information that is of national significance to the National Assembly.
In terms of the fires, I also want to pay tribute to the staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of both the countryside and the people using the countryside. And, Llywydd, I repeat the appeals by the fire service for people to be very careful, for example in things such as where they park, to ensure that a hot exhaust pipe is not touching highly flammable grasses, for example, which, in this very dry weather, can cause real issues. I'm sure the Minister will update us on the circumstances once we have a full picture of what's been happening.
In terms of local government reform, my understanding is that the Minister is intending to update the Assembly once the consultation responses have been properly analysed. The conversation he was having was about the conversation that was going on at the WLGA conference, which, of course, is an ongoing consultation.
O ran y tanau, hoffwn i hefyd dalu teyrnged i'r staff sydd wedi gweithio'n ddiflino i sicrhau diogelwch y cefn gwlad a'r bobl sy'n defnyddio'r cefn gwlad. A, Llywydd, rwy'n ailadrodd yr apeliadau gan y gwasanaeth tân i bobl fod yn ofalus iawn, er enghraifft o ran pethau fel ble y maen nhw'n parcio, i sicrhau nad yw'r bibell wacáu boeth yn cyffwrdd â glaswelltau hynod fflamadwy, er enghraifft, sydd, yn ystod y tywydd sych iawn hwn, yn gallu achosi problemau gwirioneddol. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Gweinidog yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf inni am yr amgylchiadau pan fydd gennym ni ddarlun llawn o'r hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd.
O ran diwygio llywodraeth leol, fy nealltwriaeth i yw bod y Gweinidog yn bwriadu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Cynulliad pan fydd yr ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad wedi'u dadansoddi'n briodol. Roedd y sgwrs yr oedd yn ei chael yn ymwneud â'r sgwrs a oedd yn cael ei chynnal yng nghynhadledd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn ymgynghoriad parhaus.
Leader of the house, I've got two questions. First, tomorrow I'm facilitating a meeting in the Senedd of the Welsh Mesh Survivors group, and it would be helpful to have an update from the Welsh Government on the ministerially directed implementation group announced by the Cabinet Secretary on 8 May, chaired by Tracy Myhill.
Secondly, leader of the house, can you clarify whether the Welsh Government's guidance on the wearing of school uniforms in secondary schools has been updated to respond to these hot weather conditions? With temperatures reaching over 30 degrees over the past week, I'm aware that there are some schools allowing pupils to wear shorts—that's both girls and boys—if preferred by pupils and parents, whilst others are not.
Arweinydd y tŷ, mae gen i ddau gwestiwn. Yn gyntaf, yfory rwy'n hwyluso cyfarfod yn y Senedd o grŵp Goroeswyr Triniaethau Rhwyll Cymru, a byddai'n ddefnyddiol cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf gan Lywodraeth Cymru am y grŵp gweithredu dan gyfarwyddyd gweinidogion a gyhoeddwyd gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar 8 Mai, dan gadeiryddiaeth Tracy Myhill.
Yn ail, arweinydd y tŷ, a wnewch chi egluro a yw canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru ar wisgo gwisg ysgol mewn ysgolion uwchradd wedi eu diweddaru i ymateb i'r tywydd poeth hwn? Wrth i'r tymheredd gyrraedd dros 30 gradd yn ystod yr wythnos ddiwethaf, rwy'n ymwybodol bod rhai ysgolion yn caniatáu i ddisgyblion wisgo trowsus byr—bechgyn a merched—os yw hynny'n well gan ddisgyblion a rhieni, ond mae ysgolion eraill nad ydynt yn gwneud hyn.
Yes, indeed; the hot weather has been a real pleasure for most of us, but there are some real issues about appropriate responses. School uniform and appearance policies are set by each school headteacher and governing body, but they do give schools the flexibility to relax the rules if they wish, although we would expect some discretion to be used during periods of hot weather by the headteachers. Our guidance on school uniform and appearance policies suggests governing bodies take a flexible approach to basic uniform requirements during hot weather, as opposed to having separate uniforms for winter and summer—so, very much along the lines that Jane Hutt has just remarked on. Clearly, common sense needs to be used in these circumstances so that pupils remain comfortable and can continue with their learning, which is, after all, the overriding priority. I'm sure that headteachers will take that into account.
In terms of the vaginal mesh issue, the priority of the women's health implementation group in the first instance will be to oversee the implementation of recommendations from the vaginal mesh and tape review. We anticipate that the group will consider any recommendations arising from the endometriosis and faecal incontinence reviews in progress. The activities will be directed by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services on advice from the chief medical officer and chief nursing officer, and will have a central role in providing leadership and strategic direction to ensure an all-Wales approach is in place to help break down barriers and join up pathways between primary, secondary and tertiary care and manage women's health in the community. So, it is a fully rounded approach, which I'm sure we all very much welcome.
Ie, yn wir; mae'r tywydd poeth wedi bod yn bleser gwirioneddol i'r rhan fwyaf ohonom, ond mae rhai materion gwirioneddol yn ymwneud ag ymatebion priodol. Caiff polisïau gwisg ysgol ac ymddangosiad disgyblion eu pennu gan bob pennaeth ysgol a chorff llywodraethu, ond maen nhw'n rhoi'r hyblygrwydd i lacio'r rheolau os byddan nhw'n dymuno, er y byddem ni'n disgwyl i benaethiaid ddefnyddio rhywfaint o ddisgresiwn yn ystod cyfnodau o dywydd poeth. Mae ein canllawiau ar bolisïau gwisg ysgol ac ymddangosiad disgyblion yn awgrymu bod cyrff llywodraethu yn defnyddio ymagwedd hyblyg at ofynion gwisg ysgol sylfaenol yn ystod tywydd poeth, yn hytrach na chael gwisg ysgol wahanol ar gyfer y gaeaf a'r haf—felly, yn debyg iawn i'r hyn y mae Jane Hutt newydd ei ddweud. Yn amlwg, mae angen defnyddio synnwyr cyffredin o dan yr amgylchiadau hyn fel bod disgyblion yn aros yn gyfforddus ac yn gallu parhau â'u dysgu, sef y brif flaenoriaeth, wedi'r cyfan. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd penaethiaid yn cadw hynny mewn cof.
O ran y mater o rwyll y wain, blaenoriaeth y grŵp gweithredu ar iechyd menywod yn gyntaf fydd goruchwylio'r gwaith o weithredu argymhellion yr adolygiad o dâp a rhwyll y wain. Rydym ni'n rhagweld y bydd y grŵp yn ystyried unrhyw argymhellion sy'n deillio o'r adolygiadau o endometriosis ac anymataliaeth ysgarthol sy'n mynd rhagddynt. Bydd y gweithgareddau wedi'u cyfarwyddo gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol gyda chyngor y prif swyddog meddygol a'r prif swyddog nyrsio, a bydd yn rhan ganolog o'r arweiniad a chyfeiriad strategol a ddarperir i sicrhau bod dull gweithredu Cymru-gyfan ar waith i helpu i chwalu rhwystrau ac uno llwybrau rhwng gofal sylfaenol, eilaidd a thrydyddol a rheoli iechyd menywod yn y gymuned. Felly, mae'n ddull cyfannol a chyflawn, ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn croesawu hyn yn fawr iawn.
Leader of the house, on Wednesday—that's tomorrow—Sarah Champion MP will lead a debate in Westminster on tackling demand for commercial sexual exploitation. It centres on the question of whether the UK should follow the United States and other countries by banning so-called prostitution websites. There's mounting evidence that websites like Vivastreet and AdultWork are enabling a huge rise in sexual exploitation and trafficking of women to the UK for profit, making money by placing ads on behalf of gangs and individuals running networks of women, and many of those women are trafficked from abroad into the UK. Vivastreet operates in 19 countries and is owned by an off-shore holding company in Jersey, and AdultWork is registered in Panama. Could we have a statement, following tomorrow's debate, from the Government on its assessment of online sexual exploitation here and whether Wales will add its weight to the campaign by calling on the UK Government to ban the online pimps and traffickers?
Arweinydd y tŷ, ddydd Mercher—sef yfory—bydd Sarah Champion AS yn arwain dadl yn San Steffan ar fynd i'r afael â'r galw am gamfanteisio rhywiol masnachol. Mae'n canolbwyntio ar y cwestiwn o ba un a ddylai'r DU ddilyn yr Unol Daleithiau a gwledydd eraill drwy wahardd gwefannau puteindra, fel y'i gelwir. Ceir tystiolaeth gynyddol bod gwefannau fel Vivastreet ac AdultWork yn galluogi cynnydd enfawr mewn camfanteisio'n rhywiol ar fenywod a masnachu menywod i'r DU er elw, a gwneud arian trwy osod hysbysebion ar ran gangiau ac unigolion sy'n rhedeg rhwydweithiau o fenywod, ac mae llawer o'r menywod hynny wedi eu masnachu i'r DU o dramor. Mae Vivastreet yn gweithredu mewn 19 o wledydd ac yn eiddo i gwmni daliannol alltraeth yn Jersey, ac mae AdultWork wedi ei gofrestru yn Panama. A gawn ni ddatganiad, yn dilyn y ddadl yfory, gan y Llywodraeth ar ei hasesiad o'r camfanteisio rhywiol ar-lein hwn, a pha un a fydd Cymru yn ychwanegu ei llais at yr ymgyrch sy'n galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i wahardd pimpiaid a masnachwyr ar-lein?
Can I pay tribute to Joyce Watson for her determination, as always, to tackle all forms of violence against women and exploitation, which we fully share in the Welsh Government? Our action through our legislation on violence against women, domestic violence and sexual violence, our work to stop modern slavery and our work with partners to disrupt organised crime all aim to put in place measures that will protect women and girls, and in particular, as Joyce points out, those most vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking and modern slavery. We are very happy to continue to support all action that seeks to ensure that such women are protected, and I'm very happy to write to the Home Office and ensure that we add our weight to the campaign to ensure that protections are adequately in place.
A gaf i dalu teyrnged i Joyce Watson am fod mor benderfynol, bob amser, i fynd i'r afael â phob math o drais a cham-fanteisio yn erbyn menywod, ac rydym ni yn Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhannu hyn yn llawn. Nod ein camau trwy ein deddfwriaeth ar drais yn erbyn menywod, trais domestig a thrais rhywiol, ein gwaith i atal caethwasiaeth fodern a'n gwaith gyda phartneriaid i darfu ar droseddu cyfundrefnol yw rhoi mesurau ar waith a fydd yn diogelu menywod a merched, ac yn benodol, fel y dywed Joyce, y rhai hynny sy'n fwyaf agored i gamfanteisio, caethwasiaeth modern a masnachu pobl. Rydym yn hapus iawn i barhau i gefnogi pob cam sy'n ceisio sicrhau y diogelir menywod hynny, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i ysgrifennu at y Swyddfa Gartref a sicrhau ein bod yn ychwanegu ein pwysau at yr ymgyrch i sicrhau bod mesurau diogelu digonol ar waith.
A few weeks ago, I hosted the launch of 'From bumps to babies', an important new report on perinatal mental health in Wales, which was a collaboration between NSPCC, the National Centre for Mental Health and the Mental Health Foundation. This publication, of course, followed the publication of the Children, Young People and Education Committee's report on perinatal mental health. As you'll be aware, one of our key recommendations was that mother and baby provision should be established in south Wales, and provision made for mums in north Wales. At the time of the publication of the report, back in the autumn, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee was considering that, but, to date, there seems to have been very little progress. So, I'd like to ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary so that we can be updated on this very important provision for mothers.
Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, fe wnes i gynnal lansiad 'Beichiogrwydd a babis', adroddiad pwysig newydd ar iechyd meddwl amenedigol yng Nghymru, a oedd yn gydweithrediad rhwng NSPCC Cymru, y Ganolfan Genedlaethol ar gyfer Iechyd Meddwl, Mind Cymru a’r Sefydliad Iechyd Meddwl. Daeth y cyhoeddiad hwn, wrth gwrs, yn sgil cyhoeddi adroddiad y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg ar iechyd meddwl amenedigol. Fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol, un o'n prif argymhellion oedd y dylid sefydlu darpariaeth ar gyfer mamau a babis yn y de, a darpariaeth ar gyfer mamau yn y gogledd. Ar adeg cyhoeddi'r adroddiad, yn yr hydref, roedd Pwyllgor Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru yn ystyried hynny, ond, hyd yma, ymddengys na fu llawer o gynnydd. Felly, hoffwn ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet er mwyn i ni gael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y ddarpariaeth bwysig iawn hon ar gyfer mamau.
Yes, the Cabinet Secretary is indicating that he's very happy to write to Members and give us an update.
Ie, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn nodi ei fod yn hapus iawn i ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau ac i roi diweddariad i ni.
First, I'd just like to agree entirely with the words of Julie Morgan about the change in policy on women in the criminal justice system—not just for the women, to ensure that they are appropriately helped to rehabilitate, but also for the absolute transformation in the lives of the children of prisoners, who rarely get their needs taken into consideration in the devastation that occurs when women get carted off to prison.
Secondly, I'd just like to add to what Jane Hutt said about the issue of school uniforms in this hot weather. One of the secondary schools in my constituency is insisting that girls wear tights in this weather, which is really bad for their health as well as their concentration. So, it would be useful if the Government could give some guidance on this.
The substantive issue I wanted to raise was around integrated ticketing. I wondered if we could have a statement on that, because the cross-party group on transport heard from the operations director of Transport for Wales, and the statement we were getting was less than categorical that we would go ahead with this. I know how important this is to people across Wales who endeavour to navigate their way from bus to train to bus to get to work, and I think we really do need to have a joined-up policy on this. I think it's pretty crucial to ensure that we are making sure that going by public transport is cheaper than going by car when we're trying to get to work or indeed shopping.
The other issue I wanted to raise, which I don't expect you to have an answer for, but I wondered if we could ask the Government to produce a statement on a fair deal for supply teachers, because many of the agencies that assist headteachers who need to get hold of people in a hurry are continuing to flout the agency worker regulations by using something called the Swedish derogation. There's going to be a march this Saturday from Cardiff Central station to New Directions, which is currently flouting the regulations, and I wonder why the Welsh Government is putting any work their way when they are still flouting the regulations that we currently enjoy through being a member of the European Union.
Yn gyntaf, hoffwn i gytuno'n llwyr â geiriau Julie Morgan ynghylch y newid yn y polisi ar fenywod yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol—nid yn unig ar gyfer y menywod, i sicrhau y cânt gymorth priodol i adsefydlu, ond hefyd i weddnewid bywydau plant carcharorion yn llwyr. Anaml iawn y caiff eu hanghenion nhw eu hystyried yn y distryw a gaiff ei achosi pan fydd menywod yn cael eu cludo i'r carchar.
Yn ail, hoffwn i ychwanegu at yr hyn a ddywedodd Jane Hutt am wisg ysgol yn ystod y tywydd poeth hwn. Mae un o'r ysgolion uwchradd yn fy etholaeth i yn mynnu bod merched yn gwisgo teits yn y tywydd hwn, sy'n wael iawn i'w hiechyd yn ogystal â'u gallu i ganolbwyntio. Felly, byddai'n ddefnyddiol pe gallai'r Llywodraeth roi rhywfaint o arweiniad ar hyn.
Y prif fater yr hoffwn i ei godi yw tocynnau integredig. Tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad ar hynny, oherwydd clywodd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar drafnidiaeth gan gyfarwyddwr gweithrediadau Trafnidiaeth Cymru, ac roedd y datganiad a gawsom yn llai na phendant y byddem ni'n parhau â hyn. Gwn pa mor bwysig yw hyn i bobl ledled Cymru sy'n ceisio mynd o'r bws i'r trên i'r bws i gyrraedd y gwaith, ac rwy'n credu bod angen gwirioneddol i ni gael polisi cydlynol ar hyn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn hollbwysig i sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud yn siŵr bod trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn rhatach na mynd mewn car wrth geisio mynd i'r gwaith neu'r siopau.
Y mater arall yr oeddwn i'n dymuno'i godi, ac nid wyf i'n disgwyl y bydd ateb gennych, ond tybed a gaf i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth lunio datganiad ar fargen deg i athrawon cyflenwi, oherwydd bod llawer o'r asiantaethau sy'n helpu penaethiaid sydd angen cael gafael ar bobl ar frys yn parhau i dorri'r rheoliadau gweithwyr asiantaeth trwy ddefnyddio'r hyn a elwir yn rhanddirymiad Sweden. Bydd yna orymdaith ddydd Sadwrn o orsaf Caerdydd Canolog i New Directions, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn diystyru'r rheoliadau, a meddwl oeddwn i tybed pam y mae Llywodraeth Cymru rhoi unrhyw waith iddyn nhw pan fyddan nhw'n parhau i ddiystyru'r rheoliadau sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd, trwy fod yn aelod o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Yes, on the first issue, on women in prisons, I couldn't agree more. Jenny Rathbone is very much part of the group that has been campaigning for such changes for a long time, and I would just commend to the Chamber the consultation that Mark Drakeford recently announced on preventing councils from imprisoning people for non-payment of council tax, which we know impacts heavily on women and girls, for example, and other such civil offences that really should not result in imprisonment in those circumstances. So, I commend that consultation to Members if they haven't already seen it.
In terms of school uniform, as I've highlighted, there is guidance to say that discretion should be used, and it's worth highlighting that to a school, if the Member is aware of one that's not using its discretion appropriately in this very hot weather.
In terms of the integrated ticketing arrangements, the Cabinet Secretary has emphasised many times that we're very keen on integrated ticketing arrangements that ensure both through-travel and reasonable travel. I'm sure he'll be reiterating that in his next statement on our use of the bus powers that have been discussed several times already today.
In terms of the fair deal for supply teachers, the Member's clearly aware of some specific instances around that company. I suggest she writes to the Cabinet Secretary for Education highlighting that, and perhaps copies it to all of us.
Ie, ar y mater cyntaf, ar fenywod mewn carchardai, allwn i ddim cytuno mwy. Mae Jenny Rathbone yn aelod pwysig o'r grŵp sydd wedi bod yn ymgyrchu dros newidiadau o'r fath ers amser maith, a hoffwn gymeradwyo yn y Siambr yr ymgynghoriad a gyhoeddodd Mark Drakeford yn ddiweddar ar atal cynghorau rhag carcharu pobl am beidio â thalu’r dreth gyngor, rhywbeth yr ydyn ni’n gwybod ei fod yn effeithio’n drwm ar fenywod a merched, er enghraifft, a throseddau sifil eraill o’r fath na ddylent wir arwain at garcharu dan yr amgylchiadau hynny. Felly, rwy’n cymeradwyo’r ymgynghoriad hwnnw i'r Aelodau os nad ydynt eisoes wedi ei weld.
O ran gwisg ysgol, fel y nodais, ceir canllawiau i ddweud y dylid defnyddio disgresiwn, ac mae'n werth tynnu sylw ysgolion at hynny, os yw'r Aelod yn gwybod am un nad yw’n defnyddio ei disgresiwn priodol yn y tywydd poeth iawn hwn.
O ran y trefniadau tocynnau integredig, mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet wedi pwysleisio droeon ein bod yn awyddus iawn i sefydlu trefniadau tocynnau integredig sy’n sicrhau teithio drwodd a theithio rhesymol. Rwy’n siŵr y bydd yn ailadrodd hynny yn ei ddatganiad nesaf ar y ffordd yr ydyn ni’n defnyddio pwerau bysiau, sydd wedi cael ei drafod lawer gwaith eisoes heddiw.
O ran y fargen deg i athrawon llanw, mae’r Aelod yn amlwg yn gwybod am rai enghreifftiau penodol o ran y cwmni hwnnw. Rwy’n awgrymu ei bod hi’n ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg i dynnu sylw at hynny, ac efallai’n anfon copi at bawb ohonon ni.
Diolch i arweinydd y tŷ.
Thank you, leader of the house.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn nodi 70 mlynedd ers sefydlu'r gwasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol. Rydw i'n galw ar yr Ysgrifennydd i wneud ei ddatganiad—Vaughan Gething.
The next item, therefore, is the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services noting the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of the national health service. I call on the Secretary to make his statement—Vaughan Gething.
Diolch, Llywydd. As Members are already aware, this week marks the seventieth anniversary of our health service. This is a particularly proud landmark for us here in Wales, given that its founding father was of course our very own Aneurin Bevan. The son of a Tredegar miner who left school at the age of 13 and seemed to be set for a life working underground. Had it not been for a trade union movement committed to self-improvement and mutual support he would not have had the education and opportunities that ultimately set him on a career path into politics.
Of course, Bevan’s formative experiences indelibly shaped his political views: the absence of a universal healthcare service, a patchwork of local arrangements based largely on the Victorian Poor Law where those who could pay got care, and those who could not usually did not. The disparities and hardships that created and perpetuated are unimaginable to those of us brought up with the NHS. However, as we know, the local Tredegar Medical Aid Society offered Bevan a glimpse of what was possible when individuals took action collectively for the common good.
The battles that Bevan fought to establish the NHS are well documented, and his reputation as a firebrand was certainly one of the reasons why Attlee chose him for the task. In the face of ferocious and highly personal criticism, he succeeded in delivering a healthcare system with three fundamental principles that still hold true today in Wales: services are free at the point of use, they're financed from central taxation, and everyone is eligible.
The achievements of the service that he delivered, and the positive impact this has had on our society, are too numerous to list. Yet it is far too easy to take for granted the extent to which we all rely on our health and care services from cradle to grave. Every single one of us has benefited from the eradication of diseases that in the past would have debilitated or taken the lives of people in their hundreds every year. We are now able to treat or cure illnesses and conditions that, even 20 years ago, would have seemed impossible. As a result, of course, more of us are living longer.
Diolch, Llywydd. Fel mae’r Aelodau’n gwybod eisoes, mae’r wythnos hon yn nodi dengmlwyddiant a thrigain ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Rydyn ni yma yng Nghymru yn arbennig o falch o’r garreg filltir hon, o gofio mai ei sefydlwr oedd ein Aneurin Bevan ni wrth gwrs. Mab i löwr o Dredegar a adawodd yr ysgol yn 13 oed ac a oedd yn ymddangos y byddai’n treulio ei fywyd yn gweithio o dan y ddaear. Oni bai am fudiad undebau llafur a ymrwymodd i hunanwelliant a chyd-gymorth, ni fyddai wedi cael yr addysg a’r cyfleoedd a’i rhoddodd yn y pen draw ar lwybr gyrfa i mewn i wleidyddiaeth.
Wrth gwrs, roedd profiadau ffurfiannol Bevan yn cyfrannu’n annileadwy at ei safbwyntiau gwleidyddol: absenoldeb gwasanaeth gofal iechyd cyffredinol, clytwaith o drefniadau lleol yn seiliedig i raddau helaeth ar y Ddeddf Tlodion Fictoraidd lle byddai pobl a oedd yn gallu talu yn cael gofal, a phobl nad oeddent yn gallu talu fel arfer ddim yn ei gael. Mae’r gwahaniaethau a'r caledi y byddai hynny’n eu creu ac yn eu cynnal y tu hwnt i ddychymyg i ni sydd wedi cael ein magu gyda'r GIG. Fodd bynnag, fel y gwyddom, rhoddodd cymdeithas leol Cymorth Meddygol Tredegar gipolwg i Bevan ar yr hyn oedd yn bosibl pan fyddai unigolion yn cymryd camau ar y cyd er budd pawb.
Mae’r brwydrau a ymladdodd Bevan i sefydlu’r GIG wedi'u dogfennu'n dda, ac roedd ei enw fel penboethyn yn sicr yn un o'r rhesymau pam cafodd ei ddewis gan Attlee ar gyfer y dasg. Yn wyneb beirniadaeth ffyrnig a phersonol iawn, llwyddodd i ddarparu system gofal iechyd gyda thair egwyddor sylfaenol sy'n dal yn wir heddiw yng Nghymru: gwasanaethau yn rhad ac am ddim yn y man defnyddio, wedi’u hariannu o drethu canolog, a phawb yn gymwys.
Mae cyflawniadau’r gwasanaeth a ddarparodd, a’r effaith gadarnhaol y mae hyn wedi’i chael ar ein cymdeithas, yn rhy niferus i’w rhestru. Ac eto mae'n llawer rhy hawdd cymryd yn ganiataol i ba raddau rydyn ni i gyd yn dibynnu ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal o'r crud i'r bedd. Mae pob un ohonom wedi elwa o ddileu clefydau a fyddai yn y gorffennol wedi llesgáu neu ladd cannoedd o bobl bob blwyddyn. Heddiw, rydym yn gallu trin neu wella afiechydon a chyflyrau a fyddai, hyd yn oed 20 mlynedd yn ôl, wedi ymddangos yn amhosibl. O ganlyniad, wrth gwrs, mae mwy ohonom yn byw'n hirach.
And these are incredible achievements to be celebrated. Yet we know that there's always more to do. A growing and ageing population places ever-greater demands on our services. The ever-faster rate of medical and technological advancement is creating opportunity and expectation, together with more funding dilemmas for services with finite budgets and a myriad of competing priorities. In many ways, none of this is new. Almost from day one, the NHS has been surrounded by arguments over funding, spiralling budgets, and arguments over structural and organisational arrangements, capacity and the rationing of services.
What is different now though is the scale of the challenge, its urgency and the scale of the operation. Last year in Wales there were some 20 million patient contacts, more than 700,000 first out-patient appointments, more than 600,000 in-patient and day cases, more than 479,000 ambulance calls and more than 1 million people seen in our accident and emergency departments, whilst some 82,000 adults and around 16,000 children depended on support from our social care services. Between them, these services have a combined budget of over £9 billion and employ a workforce of over 170,000 staff. And all this for a population of just over 3 million.
And when we consider today, of course, we still face the challenges over a range of health inequalities. And I want to recognise now the pioneering work done on the inverse care law in Cwm Taf and Aneurin Bevan health board areas and the signs that they're actually closing a gap on health inequalities, which is a remarkable achievement. And it's worth reflecting, of course, on the passing away of the Welsh GP Julian Tudor Hart at the age of 91 on Sunday. As will others, I've met him and been impressed by him, but, more than that, the impact of his 1971 The Lancet paper on the inverse care law continues to prompt debate and recognition of how we still have a continuing responsibility to tackle health inequalities.
We know that meeting these challenges and coping with the different demands that the future will bring means that our services will have to change and adapt, as they have had to do in the past. That's why, with cross-party support, we commissioned the independent parliamentary review to examine our health and care system, and, having taken their advice on what needs to change, we've spent the early part of this year working with stakeholders across Wales to develop our long-term plan for health and social care. So, 'A Healthier Wales' is the first joint health and social care plan in the UK. It sets out actions that we will take as a Government to support our services so that they can deliver the transformation required and ensure that our services are fit for the future.
As we reflect on and celebrate our past, we have choices to make for our future. More of the same cannot be the answer. We cannot allow our NHS to be changed by service failure. We have to empower and enable change to improve services and outcomes. And, crucially, we have to listen to our staff and provide them with a platform to lead a debate with the public about the future.
When I receive praise for the national health service, the letters and the conversations that I have themselves often refer to the amazing technical capability of the health service. However, they always talk about people. Because the service isn’t bricks and mortar—the health service, above all else, is our staff. Because the NHS would survive without me, but it won’t survive without our staff—the doctors, the nurses, the therapists, scientists, admin staff, the cooks, the cleaners, the paramedics, the porters and many more—all of the people who keep our service alive with their skill, their commitment and their compassion, and it's a tremendous honour to serve our staff.
The other big 70 we celebrate this year is, of course, Windrush 70. Many of the Windrush generation played a pivotal role in shaping our national health service, the same incredible people who are being denied their place in the Britain that they helped to create. This country is their home, and our countries are better places for the Windrush generation, and they have been poorly repaid for their loyalty. We cannot and will not allow their fate to stain the hands of this generation.
Our NHS and social care sector is lucky to have such a skilled and diverse workforce. We have a rich history of welcoming people who were born or trained both in and outside Europe. We should not simply value them for their public service but for the contribution that they make as our friends and neighbours in each community that we live in and represent. Bevan was famously quoted as saying:
'no society can legitimately call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means.'
This Government still holds true to that principle today, as it was then. There will always be more for us to improve here in Wales, but I am proud that we have stayed true to Bevan’s ideals. We rejected the market in favour of a planned system, we have increased budgets faster than across our border over the last five years, we abolished prescription charges and capped the costs of social care.
But Bevan himself was not simply a man of fine words and principle. He compromised with reality to deliver an achievement of lasting value that touches and improves the lives of every one of us. If he were here today I think he would recognise the need to improve and not to get stuck with what we have instead of what we deserve. I think he would recognise the battle of ideas and the clash of values. I am certain that he would recognise our values, support them and fight for them.
Ac mae'r rhain yn llwyddiannau anhygoel y dylid eu dathlu. Ond eto rydyn ni’n gwybod bod rhagor i'w wneud bob amser. Mae poblogaeth sy'n tyfu ac yn heneiddio yn rhoi mwy a mwy o bwysau ar ein gwasanaethau. Mae cyfradd datblygiad technolegol a meddygol, sy'n gyflymach nag erioed, yn creu cyfle a disgwyliad, ynghyd â mwy o gyfyngderau cyllido ar gyfer gwasanaethau â chyllidebau cyfyngedig a llu o flaenoriaethau sy'n cystadlu. Mewn llawer o ffyrdd, does dim o hyn yn newydd. Bron o'r diwrnod cyntaf un, mae’r GIG wedi cael ei amgylchynu â dadleuon dros arian, cynyddu cyllidebau, a dadleuon dros drefniadau strwythurol a sefydliadol, capasiti a dogni gwasanaethau.
Yr hyn sy'n wahanol nawr, fodd bynnag, yw maint yr her, ei brys a maint y gweithrediad. Y llynedd yng Nghymru roedd tuag 20 miliwn o gysylltiadau â chleifion, mwy na 700,000 o apwyntiadau cleifion allanol cyntaf, mwy na 600,000 o achosion cleifion mewnol a dydd, mwy na 479,000 o alwadau am ambiwlans a mwy na 1 miliwn o bobl yn cael eu gweld yn ein hadrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys, tra'r oedd tuag 82,000 o oedolion a thuag 16,000 o blant yn dibynnu ar gymorth gan ein gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol. Rhyngddynt, mae gan y gwasanaethau hyn gyllideb gyfunol o dros £9 biliwn ac maen nhw’n cyflogi gweithlu o dros 170,000 o staff. A hyn oll ar gyfer poblogaeth o ychydig dros 3 miliwn.
A phan ystyriwn heddiw, wrth gwrs, ein bod yn dal i wynebu heriau dros ystod o anghydraddoldebau iechyd. Hoffwn gydnabod nawr y gwaith arloesol sydd wedi cael ei wneud ar y ddeddf gofal gwrthgyfartal yn ardaloedd bwrdd iechyd Cwm Taf ac Aneurin Bevan a'r arwyddion eu bod wir yn cau bwlch ar anghydraddoldebau iechyd, sy’n gamp ryfeddol. Ac mae'n werth myfyrio, wrth gwrs, ar farwolaeth y meddyg teulu o Gymru, Julian Tudor Hart, yn 91 oed ddydd Sul. Fel eraill, cwrddais ag ef a gwnaeth argraff arnaf, ond, yn fwy na hynny, mae effaith ei bapur yn The Lancet yn 1971 ar ddeddf gofal gwrthgyfartal yn parhau i ysgogi dadl a chydnabyddiaeth o’r cyfrifoldeb sydd gennym o hyd i ymdrin ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd.
Rydym yn gwybod bod ateb yr heriau hyn ac ymdopi â’r gwahanol ofynion a ddaw yn y dyfodol yn golygu y bydd ein gwasanaethau’n gorfod newid ac addasu, fel y maent wedi gorfod ei wneud yn y gorffennol. Dyna pam, gyda chefnogaeth drawsbleidiol, y gwnaethom gomisiynu’r arolwg seneddol annibynnol i edrych ar ein system iechyd a gofal, ac, ar ôl cymryd eu cyngor ar yr hyn y mae angen ei newid, rydym wedi treulio rhan gynnar y flwyddyn hon yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid ledled Cymru i ddatblygu ein cynllun hirdymor ar gyfer iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Felly, 'Cymru Iachach' yw’r cynllun iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol ar y cyd cyntaf yn y DU. Mae'n nodi camau gweithredu y byddwn yn eu cymryd fel Llywodraeth i gefnogi ein gwasanaethau fel y gallant sicrhau'r trawsnewid sydd ei angen a sicrhau bod ein gwasanaethau’n addas i'r dyfodol.
Wrth i ni fyfyrio ar ein gorffennol a’i ddathlu, mae gennym ddewisiadau i'w gwneud ar gyfer ein dyfodol. Ni all yr ateb fod yn fwy o'r un peth. Ni allwn ganiatáu i fethiant gwasanaethau newid ein GIG. Rhaid inni rymuso a galluogi newid i wella gwasanaethau a chanlyniadau. Ac, yn hollbwysig, rhaid inni wrando ar ein staff a rhoi llwyfan iddynt i arwain dadl gyda'r cyhoedd am y dyfodol.
Pan fyddaf yn cael canmoliaeth am y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, mae’r llythyrau a’r sgyrsiau a gaf ynddynt eu hunain yn aml yn cyfeirio at allu technegol anhygoel y gwasanaeth iechyd. Fodd bynnag, maent bob amser yn sôn am bobl. Oherwydd nid brics a morter yw’r gwasanaeth— ein staff, yn anad dim, yw’r gwasanaeth iechyd. Byddai'r GIG yn goroesi hebof fi, ond ni wnaiff oroesi heb ein staff—y meddygon, y nyrsys, y therapyddion, y gwyddonwyr, y staff gweinyddol, y cogyddion, y glanhawyr, y parafeddygon, y porthorion a llawer mwy—yr holl bobl sy'n cadw ein gwasanaeth yn fyw â’u sgiliau, eu hymrwymiad a’u cydymdeimlad, ac mae’n fraint aruthrol i wasanaethu ein staff.
Wrth gwrs, y 70 mawr arall yr ydyn ni’n ei ddathlu eleni yw Windrush 70. Chwaraeodd llawer o'r genhedlaeth Windrush ran ganolog wrth lunio ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, yr un bobl anhygoel sy'n cael gwrthod eu lle yn y Brydain y gwnaethant helpu i’w chreu. Y wlad hon yw eu cartref, ac mae ein gwledydd yn lleoedd gwell oherwydd cenhedlaeth Windrush, ac maent wedi cael eu had-dalu’n wael am eu teyrngarwch. Ni allwn, ac ni wnawn, ganiatáu i’w tynged nhw staenio dwylo’r genhedlaeth hon.
Mae ein GIG a’n sector gofal cymdeithasol yn ffodus o’i weithlu sydd mor fedrus ac amrywiol. Mae gennym hanes cyfoethog o groesawu pobl a gafodd eu geni neu eu hyfforddi y tu mewn a thu allan i Ewrop. Dylem eu gwerthfawrogi am fwy na’u gwasanaeth cyhoeddus ond am eu cyfraniad fel ein ffrindiau a'n cymdogion ym mhob cymuned yr ydyn ni’n byw ynddynt ac yn eu cynrychioli. Dyfyniad enwog gan Bevan yw:
'ni all unrhyw gymdeithas alw ei hun yn gymdeithas wâr mewn gwirionedd os yw’n gwrthod cymorth meddygol i rywun sâl oherwydd diffyg adnoddau.'
Mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn cadw at yr egwyddor honno heddiw, fel bryd hynny. Bydd mwy inni ei wella yma yng Nghymru bob amser, ond rwy’n falch ein bod wedi aros yn driw i ddelfrydau Bevan. Rydyn ni wedi gwrthod y farchnad o blaid system wedi’i chynllunio, rydyn ni wedi cynyddu cyllidebau’n gyflymach na dros y ffin yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf, rydyn ni wedi diddymu taliadau presgripsiwn ac wedi capio costau gofal cymdeithasol.
Ond nid dim ond dyn o eiriau da ac egwyddor oedd Bevan ei hun. Roedd yn rhaid iddo gyfaddawdu â realiti i gyflawni'r gamp o werth parhaol sy'n cyffwrdd ac yn gwella bywydau pob un ohonom. Pe bai yma heddiw, rwy’n credu y byddai’n cydnabod yr angen i wella ac i beidio â chael ein gadael gyda'r hyn sydd gennym yn hytrach na'r hyn yr ydym yn ei haeddu. Rwy’n credu y byddai’n cydnabod y frwydr o syniadau a’r gwrthdaro rhwng gwerthoedd. Rwy’n sicr y byddai'n cydnabod ein gwerthoedd, yn eu cefnogi ac yn ymladd drostynt.
I'd like to thank the Cabinet Secretary for health for bringing forward today's statement. It's 2018—70 years of our national health service and, wow, what a rollercoaster it has been. Like you, Cabinet Secretary, I absolutely recognise the determination and passion of Aneurin Bevan. He saw a need, he built on ideas put forward during the war years, and as part of Attlee's Government he was tasked with trying to bring our country back together again. He moved forward with the NHS, that amazing construct that we have today.
Just very briefly, Deputy Presiding Officer, some of the innovations and extraordinary celebrations we should have—1958: the introduction of polio and diptheria vaccinations. They used to kill people by the millions—gone. How wonderful is that? In 1968: the first-ever heart transplant in Britain was carried out in Marylebone by Donald Ross. In 1978: Louise Brown. In 1998: NHS Direct. In 2008: a debate we only had last week about extending this—the national programme to vaccinate girls against the human papilloma virus. What wonderful marvels that we have now done this.
So, I say to you, Cabinet Secretary, Aneurin Bevan—he started something, but it's now become ours, and it's become ours and every political party's, every politician's, but above all, yours as Vaughan, mine as Angela, and that of others in this room. This is our NHS. It saved my life three years ago, it saves the lives of many people, it's always there when the chips are down, and we shouldn't forget that, and it is our job to move this NHS forward.
I would like to ask you, Cabinet Secretary, if we go back to Bevan's overriding principles—I just want to ask you three questions on three of them. A shared responsibility for health between the people of Wales and the NHS: how can we really get the people of Wales to buy into this, focusing on prevention not just cure, focusing on not just the obviously unwell, such as someone with cancer or a broken leg, but those who have illnesses buried deep within their souls that they cannot be seen so easily, people with mental health issues? How do we deal with those people who aren't sick in the conventional sense of the word, but are vulnerable, elderly, frail and need that help? How do we rewrite and strengthen that contract between the people of Wales and our NHS?
Another Bevan principle is a service that values people, and above all values, I think, the staff. There are some 80,000 staff who work in our NHS and this is why we've repeatedly called for a rapid access to treatment scheme for NHS staff. We lose over 900 years of staff hours every year because people are away, stressed and sick. You talked about the letters that you receive praising the NHS, and I get those letters. I get letters praising the staff and I get letters despairing of where the system has broken down, and where people have been let down because they can't get an appointment, they can't get a return call, they can't get the treatment they need. And those staff who deliver that NHS service of ours, day in, day out, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday, mother's day, father's day, whenever it is—they need our support, because they're working in a system that is flawed, that is creaking at the seams and that doesn't have enough resources to go around. So, what can you do, Cabinet Secretary, to really put those amazing 80,000-plus people at the heart of our NHS, because if we do not do that, then the 3 million people of Wales will be let down, and we want to keep that NHS going?
Finally, how do we get that true patient and public accountability? I'd like to answer that partly, and challenge you to answer it partly—it's about the political football. Today, we had the Bevan Commission saying that too often the NHS is used as a political football. On Monday, Jeremy Hunt announced the most extraordinary app that can now be used by people to do all sorts of things, from making appointments to getting NHS 111 calls, to seeing what their prescription medicines are to reordering—a great idea. There's fantastic innovation going on in Scotland, particularly with the technology. Here in Wales, our own organ donation transplantation. All the home nations have great ideas. Cabinet Secretary, will you commit to really looking at how we can learn from best practice not just within our own country, but best practice in England, in Scotland, in Northern Ireland, so that the NHS that belongs to every single person in the United Kingdom is here in 70 years' time, not just for Aneurin Bevan, but for you and for me, and for everyone else in this room?
Hoffwn ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd am gyflwyno'r datganiad heddiw. Mae'n 2018—70 mlynedd o’n gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol. Waw, mae wedi bod yn dipyn o daith. Fel chi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy’n bendant yn cydnabod penderfyniad ac angerdd Aneurin Bevan. Fe welodd yr angen, fe adeiladodd ar syniadau a gyflwynwyd yn ystod blynyddoedd y rhyfel, ac fel rhan o Lywodraeth Attlee, gofynnwyd iddo geisio dod â’n gwlad yn ôl at ei gilydd eto. Ei ddatblygiad ef oedd y GIG, y lluniad anhygoel sydd gennym heddiw.
I sôn yn fyr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd, am rai o'r datblygiadau arloesol a'r dathliadau anhygoel y dylen ni eu cael—1958: cyflwyno brechiadau polio a difftheria. Roedd y rhain yn arfer lladd miliynau o bobl—wedi mynd. Pa mor wych yw hynny? Ym 1968: cynhaliwyd y trawsblaniad calon cyntaf erioed ym Mhrydain yn Marylebone gan Donald Ross. Ym 1978: Louise Brown. Ym 1998: Galw Iechyd Cymru. Yn 2008: cawsom ddadl yr wythnos diwethaf am ymestyn hyn—y rhaglen genedlaethol i frechu merched rhag y feirws papiloma dynol. Am wyrthiau rhyfeddol yr ydyn ni wedi eu gwneud.
Felly, rwy’n dweud wrthych, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, Aneurin Bevan—dechreuodd ef rywbeth, ond ein peth ni yw e nawr, ac mae’n perthyn i ni i gyd ac i bob plaid wleidyddol, i bob gwleidydd, ond yn anad dim, i chi Vaughan, i mi Angela, ac i eraill yn yr ystafell hon. Ein GIG ni yw hwn. Achubodd fy mywyd i dair blynedd yn ôl, mae'n achub bywydau llawer o bobl, mae bob amser ar gael pan fo ei angen, ac ni ddylem anghofio hynny, a'n gwaith ni yw datblygu'r GIG hwn.
Hoffwn ofyn ichi, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, os awn yn ôl at brif egwyddorion Bevan—hoffwn ofyn tri chwestiwn ichi am dri ohonynt. Rhannu'r cyfrifoldeb dros iechyd rhwng pobl Cymru a'r GIG: sut y gallwn wir berswadio pobl Cymru i gyd-fynd â hyn, canolbwyntio ar atal ac nid dim ond ar wella, canolbwyntio nid yn unig ar bobl sy’n amlwg yn wael, fel rhywun sydd â chanser neu wedi torri ei goes, ond pobl sydd â salwch wedi'i gladdu'n ddwfn yn eu heneidiau sydd ddim mor hawdd eu gweld, pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl? Sut rydyn ni’n ymdrin â’r bobl hynny sydd ddim yn sâl yn ystyr arferol y gair, ond sy’n agored i niwed, yn oedrannus, yn fregus ac mae angen yr help hwnnw arnyn nhw? Sut allwn ailysgrifennu ac atgyfnerthu’r contract hwnnw rhwng ein GIG a phobl Cymru?
Un arall o egwyddorion Bevan yw gwasanaeth sy’n gwerthfawrogi pobl, ac yn anad dim sy’n gwerthfawrogi, rwy’n tybio, y staff. Mae tua 80,000 o staff yn gweithio yn ein GIG, a dyma pam rydyn ni wedi galw dro ar ôl tro am gynllun mynediad cyflym at driniaeth ar gyfer staff y GIG. Rydyn ni’n colli dros 900 mlynedd o oriau staff bob blwyddyn oherwydd bod pobl i ffwrdd, dan straen ac yn wael. Soniasoch am y llythyrau yr ydych chi’n eu cael sy’n canmol y GIG, ac rwyf fi’n cael y llythyrau hynny. Rwy’n cael llythyrau yn canmol y staff ac rwy’n cael llythyrau sy’n anobeithio pan fydd y system wedi torri i lawr, a lle mae pobl wedi'u siomi oherwydd na allant gael apwyntiad, na allant gael galwad yn ôl, na allant gael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen. Ac mae’r staff hynny sy'n darparu'r gwasanaeth GIG hwnnw inni, bob dydd, ar ddydd Nadolig, Sul y Pasg, Sul y mamau, Sul y tadau, pryd bynnag—mae angen ein cymorth ni arnynt, oherwydd maent yn gweithio mewn system sy’n ddiffygiol, sy’n gwegian ac sydd heb ddigon o adnoddau i wneud popeth. Felly, beth allwch chi ei wneud, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, i sicrhau bod yr 80,000 a mwy o bobl anhygoel hynny wrth wraidd ein GIG, oherwydd os na wnawn ni hynny, bydd y 3 miliwn o bobl Cymru yn cael eu siomi, ac rydyn ni am gadw’r GIG i fynd?
Yn olaf, sut ydyn ni’n cael gwir atebolrwydd cleifion a'r cyhoedd? Hoffwn ateb hynny'n rhannol, a’ch herio chi i’w ateb yn rhannol—mae'n ymwneud â’r bêl-droed wleidyddol. Heddiw, mae Comisiwn Bevan wedi dweud bod y GIG yn cael ei ddefnyddio’n rhy aml fel pêl-droed wleidyddol. Ddydd Llun, cyhoeddodd Jeremy Hunt yr ap mwyaf rhyfeddol y gall pobl ei ddefnyddio nawr i wneud pob math o bethau, o wneud apwyntiadau a chael galwadau GIG 111, i weld beth yw eu meddyginiaeth ar bresgripsiwn i gael ail-archebu—syniad gwych. Mae arloesi gwych yn digwydd yn yr Alban, yn enwedig gyda'r dechnoleg. Yma yng Nghymru, ein trawsblannu organau ni. Mae gan y gwledydd cartref i gyd syniadau gwych. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i edrych mewn gwirionedd ar sut y gallwn ddysgu o arfer gorau nid yn unig o fewn ein gwlad ni, ond yr arfer gorau yn Lloegr, yn yr Alban, yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, fel bod y GIG sy’n perthyn i bob unigolyn yn y Deyrnas Unedig yma ymhen 70 mlynedd, nid dim ond i Aneurin Bevan, ond i chi ac i mi, ac i bawb arall yn yr ystafell hon?
Thank you, Angela. I do welcome what you say about the personal thanks to the NHS, not just the general improvement of public health. You mentioned polio, measles and a whole range of other things that killed lots of people in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s that have been eradicated because we had a universal service that was able to deliver a comprehensive vaccination programme. So, it has been a tremendous achievement, and just as you have personal reasons to be grateful to the NHS, I too do, and I imagine other people in this room will have their own personal stories for themselves or their loved ones.
I'm going to start with your point about the shared responsibility of people and the health service. I remember one of the first things I voted on when becoming an Assembly Member in 2011 was a report from the Bevan Commission about key principles for the future of the service, and one of those was about the personal responsibility of individual citizens, and how we need to have something where we have a positive conversation and relationship between the citizen, the service and, of course, the rest of the state, because we do have a shared responsibility for the choices that we make. It's one of the things that we regularly talk about on almost every major cause of disease, illness and death—so smoking, how much we drink, how much we exercise and what we eat. In addition to that, we need to make some of those healthier choices—[Inaudible.] —easier. That's part of what we need to do, because if it's simply a finger-pointing or lecturing exercise, then we'll get what we have. So, there is a broad change from the Government, from public services but also from the business world as well, because work has a huge impact on people's health outcomes. Not just work, but good work makes a huge difference to the outcomes that people have. Of course, there is then how we persuade people to accept their own measure for their responsibility for the choices they make, and in particular the choices that we make for our children.
I want to turn next to your point about the political football of the health service, and on the one hand this is, of course, inevitable. Labour Members will understand and I think will, rightly, complain about the way in which the national health service in Wales is regularly talked about in Prime Minister's questions. We heard previously the points about the 'line of life and death' being Offa's Dyke. Now, I think those things of course are bound to produce an inevitable and angry political response. But what we have to be able to do, though, is to recognise that there is innovation that does take place across the United Kingdom, and learning to be taken. There are points that, actually, it's in our interest to work together. The tier 2 visas, for example—I asked for that decision to be made, but I know that every organisation representing staff in the UK did, and I also know that the UK health department wanted the Home Office in the UK to change course rather sooner. So, it was in the interest of all four parts of the UK that that change was made. I welcome the fact that the change was made, even though we'll continue to have arguments about why the change wasn't made earlier, and yet we know that, in innovation, people do look to Wales. I'll give you an example there. On ambulance services, I know we still have scrutiny and disagreement about the changes that I chose to make for the ambulance service, and yet if you talk to people within the ambulance service around the UK, they are coming to Wales to look at what we have done, how and why, and we see pilots from Wales, where Scotland and England look remarkably similar to what we have done here. You won't hear an English Minister stand up and say that they're looking to learn from Wales, but that is practically what happens. So, in some way, the inevitable politics of it are actually about what we have to learn from other parts of the UK, including England, as well as what we have to give.
I just want to come back to your point about it being a service that values people and the huge numbers of employees that we have. We have over 91,000 people employed in the service and nearly 80,000 full-time equivalents, and yet key part of 'A Healthier Wales' is the quadruple aim and the need to value our staff. A good place to work with motivated staff will deliver a better service in every single part of activity, in public service and the private sector. I know you'll know that, having run your own business. I know it from my own time being a manager and an employer.
At the launch of the plan—this is the point I'll finish on, Deputy Presiding Officer—we spoke to staff within the service, and they recognise that changes that have been made to the way they deliver health and care already have not just delivered a better quality of care but a better place for them to work, and they're motivated by that change. I regularly hear on each of the visits that I undertake a sense of frustration about the way politicians behave and talk about the service and about wanting us to not just have the maturity to say, 'Here are the big challenges, let's create a parliamentary review', but it's about the way that each of us choose to behave in taking that plan forward, because most people who work in our national health service want to see a little more honesty about those challenges and some more licence and support for taking on the big challenges that we recognise exist and being brave enough to make choices about them in the future.
Diolch, Angela. Rwy’n croesawu’r hyn a ddywedwch am y diolch personol i'r GIG, nid dim ond gwelliant cyffredinol iechyd y cyhoedd. Soniasoch am polio, y frech goch a llu o bethau eraill a laddodd lawer o bobl yn yr 1930au, yr 1940au a'r 1950au sydd wedi cael eu dileu oherwydd bod gennym wasanaeth cyffredinol a oedd yn gallu darparu rhaglen frechu gynhwysfawr. Felly, mae wedi bod yn gamp aruthrol, ac yn union fel y mae gennych chi resymau personol dros fod yn ddiolchgar i'r GIG, mae gen innau hefyd, ac rwy’n dychmygu y bydd gan bobl eraill yn yr ystafell hon eu straeon personol eu hunain amdanynt eu hunain neu am eu hanwyliaid.
Rwy’n mynd i ddechrau â'ch pwynt am rannu cyfrifoldeb rhwng pobl a'r gwasanaeth iechyd. Rwy’n cofio mai un o'r pethau cyntaf imi bleidleisio arnynt ar ôl dod yn Aelod Cynulliad yn 2011 oedd adroddiad gan Gomisiwn Bevan am egwyddorion allweddol ar gyfer dyfodol y gwasanaeth. Roedd un o'r rheini’n ymwneud â chyfrifoldeb personol dinasyddion unigol, a bod angen inni sicrhau bod gennym sgwrs a pherthynas gadarnhaol rhwng y dinesydd, y gwasanaeth ac, wrth gwrs, weddill y wladwriaeth, oherwydd rydym yn rhannu’r cyfrifoldeb am y dewisiadau a wnawn. Mae'n un o'r pethau yr ydym yn sôn amdanynt yn rheolaidd ar bron pob prif ffactor sy’n achosi clefyd, salwch a marwolaeth—felly ysmygu, faint yr ydyn ni’n ei yfed, faint o ymarfer corff yr ydyn ni’n ei wneud a beth ydyn ni’n ei fwyta. Yn ogystal â hynny, mae angen inni wneud rhai o'r dewisiadau iachach hynny—[Anghlywadwy.]—yn haws. Mae hynny'n rhan o'r hyn sydd angen inni ei wneud, oherwydd os mai dim ond darlithio neu bwyntio bysedd sy’n digwydd, fe gawn yr hyn sydd gennym. Felly, mae newid eang gan y Llywodraeth, gan wasanaethau cyhoeddus ond hefyd gan y byd busnes, oherwydd mae gwaith yn cael effaith enfawr ar ganlyniadau iechyd pobl. Nid dim ond gwaith, ond mae gwaith da yn gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr i ganlyniadau pobl. Wrth gwrs, yna mae angen inni berswadio pobl i dderbyn eu mesur eu hunain ar gyfer eu cyfrifoldeb am y dewisiadau a wnânt, ac yn benodol y dewisiadau a wnawn dros ein plant.
Hoffwn droi nesaf at eich pwynt am bêl-droed wleidyddol y gwasanaeth iechyd, ac ar y naill law mae hyn, wrth gwrs, yn anochel. Bydd Aelodau Llafur yn deall ac rwy’n credu y byddan nhw, yn ddigon teg, yn cwyno am y ffordd y mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yng Nghymru yn cael sylw rheolaidd yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Rydym wedi clywed cyn hyn y pwyntiau mai Clawdd Offa yw 'llinell bywyd a marwolaeth'. Nawr, rwy’n credu bod y pethau hynny wrth gwrs yn sicr o gynhyrchu ymateb gwleidyddol anochel a dig. Ond yr hyn y mae’n rhaid inni allu ei wneud, fodd bynnag, yw cydnabod bod arloesi yn digwydd ledled y Deyrnas Unedig, a dysgu i'w wneud. Ceir pwyntiau lle mae, a dweud y gwir, o fudd i ni weithio gyda'n gilydd. Y fisâu haen 2, er enghraifft—gofynnais i am i’r penderfyniad hwnnw gael ei wneud, ond rwy’n gwybod bod pob sefydliad sy'n cynrychioli staff yn y DU wedi gwneud hynny, ac rwy’n gwybod hefyd bod adran iechyd y DU eisiau i’r Swyddfa Gartref yn y DU newid cwrs cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, roedd gwneud y newid hwnnw er budd pob un o bedair rhan y DU. Rwy’n croesawu’r ffaith bod y newid wedi cael ei wneud, er y byddwn yn parhau i gael dadleuon ynghylch pam na chafodd y newid ei wneud yn gynharach, ac eto rydym yn gwybod, wrth arloesi, bod pobl yn edrych ar Gymru. Rwy’n mynd i roi enghraifft ichi. O ran gwasanaethau ambiwlans, rwy’n gwybod y bydd craffu ac anghytundeb yn dal i ddigwydd ynghylch y newidiadau y dewisais eu gwneud ar gyfer y gwasanaeth ambiwlans. Ac eto i gyd, os siaradwch chi â phobl o fewn y gwasanaeth ambiwlans ledled y DU, maen nhw’n dod i Gymru i edrych ar yr hyn yr ydyn ni wedi ei wneud, sut a pham, ac rydyn ni’n gweld cynlluniau peilot o Gymru, lle mae’r Alban a Lloegr yn edrych yn hynod o debyg i’r hyn yr ydyn ni wedi'i wneud yma. Wnewch chi ddim clywed Gweinidog o Loegr yn sefyll ac yn dweud ei fod yn bwriadu dysgu gan Gymru, ond dyna sy'n digwydd yn ymarferol. Felly, mewn rhyw ffordd, mae gwleidyddiaeth anochel y peth yn ymwneud â'r hyn sydd gennyn ni i’w ddysgu gan rannau eraill o'r DU, gan gynnwys Lloegr, yn ogystal â'r hyn sydd gennyn ni i’w roi.
Hoffwn ddod yn ôl at eich pwynt bod y gwasanaeth yn gwerthfawrogi pobl a’r niferoedd mawr iawn o weithwyr sydd gennyn ni. Rydyn ni’n cyflogi dros 91,000 o bobl yn y gwasanaeth a bron 80,000 cywerth ag amser llawn, ac eto mae’r nod pedwarplyg a’r angen i werthfawrogi ein staff yn rhan allweddol o 'Cymru Iachach'. Bydd lle da i weithio gyda staff brwdfrydig yn darparu gwell gwasanaeth ym mhob rhan o'r gweithgarwch, yn y gwasanaeth cyhoeddus a'r sector preifat. Rwy’n gwybod y byddwch chi’n gwybod hynny, gan eich bod wedi rhedeg eich busnes eich hun. Rwyf i'n gwybod hynny ers fy amser fy hun fel rheolwr a chyflogwr.
Ar adeg lansio’r cynllun—dyma'r pwynt rwy’n mynd i orffen arno, Dirprwy Lywydd—gwnaethom siarad â staff o fewn y gwasanaeth, ac maent yn cydnabod bod newidiadau a wnaed i'r ffordd y maen nhw’n darparu iechyd a gofal eisoes wedi cyflawni gofal o ansawdd gwell, ond hefyd le gwell iddynt weithio ynddo, ac mae’r newid hwnnw’n gymhelliant iddyn nhw. Rwy’n clywed yn rheolaidd, yn ystod pob ymweliad, ymdeimlad o rwystredigaeth ynghylch y ffordd y mae gwleidyddion yn ymddwyn ac yn sôn am y gwasanaeth a’u bod eisiau inni gael nid yn unig yr aeddfedrwydd i ddweud, 'Dyma’r heriau mawr, dewch inni greu arolwg seneddol', ond mae’n ymwneud â’r ffordd y mae pob un ohonom yn dewis ymddwyn wrth fwrw ymlaen â’r cynllun hwnnw. Hoffai’r rhan fwyaf o’r bobl sy'n gweithio yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol weld ychydig mwy o onestrwydd am yr heriau hynny ac ychydig mwy o ryddid a chymorth i ymgymryd â’r heriau mawr yr ydyn ni’n cydnabod eu bod yn bodoli a bod yn ddigon dewr i wneud dewisiadau amdanynt yn y dyfodol.
Yn gyntaf, a gaf i ddymuno pen-blwydd hapus i sefydliad sydd mor bwysig i bob un ohonom ni?
First of all, may I wish the NHS a very happy birthday, an institution that's so important to all of us?
A very happy birthday to the NHS. A birthday is a time for celebration and, more than anything, I think we celebrate all the NHS staff—hundreds of thousands of them over 70 years who have made the NHS what it is. They're our friends, they're our families, they're our loved ones. My grandmother—I was trying to work this out today—would have left the NHS in its very first few years. She was a nurse at the Royal Liverpool hospital and I know that she would be looking back with amazement at what the NHS has become. Any birthday is a time for reflection; the 70-year anniversary is a time to reflect on the feat in itself that we still have an NHS that has lasted this long. It's a fantastic achievement in itself. When it was created, there were great doubts about whether it would last, about whether it would be sustainable, and about whether the concept of providing care free at the point of delivery would lead to an onslaught of people seeking free treatment. At risk of playing political football, there are those on the right of politics who still question the sustainability of the NHS and think that privatisation is the way forward and raise fears of an onslaught of people seeking free prescriptions and so on. But I'm confident that we'll be looking back at 140 years, when 70 years has gone by again, and I'm sure the same questions about sustainability will be asked then. But the key thing is that all of us have to be clear that that sustainability is a priority, a priority for us in all that we do.
The point has been raised about the NHS being used as a political football, and I'll say at the outset here that I have no doubt that this Government and the Conservatives and everybody else represented want the NHS to perform as well as it possibly can. We have different approaches, of course, on how that could be achieved, and I think that, where we can work together, it is in the interests of everybody in Wales—the staff of the NHS and patients too—but it is important that we do hold Government to account. And I make no apologies—20 years after Labour took control of the NHS in Wales—about raising questions about why you've failed to get to grips with the workforce challenges in the way that I think could have been done; why there's still a lack of integration of social care; why there is still poor performance of waiting times compared with other nations in the UK. And the patients and staff of the NHS look to us to hold you in Government to account on those areas.
I'll ask you a few questions: one, I think the biggest threat, and I'm sure you'll agree with me, at the beginning of the second 70 years of the NHS, is the very real threat of a hard Brexit. I would appreciate your comments on some of the—. The concerning answer that I heard from the First Minister earlier today, when he suggested there are no preparations being made within the Welsh NHS for a hard Brexit. He suggested that there's no way the NHS could prepare for a hard Brexit. I don't believe that for a second, and now is the time to be making sure that all possible steps—however challenging they may be—are taken to prepare us for a hard Brexit.
Secondly, about valuing staff. I'd appreciate your thoughts on how we support staff who are overworked. We know we need more staff in the NHS, and, of course, we've put forward ideas such as the training of doctors, for example, in Bangor. We need to relieve that stress, but how will you deal with overworked staff and the help they need now?
And finally, in terms of the future, the third paragraph, I think it was, of your statement, refers to the fundamental principles underpinning the NHS. I don't think we've achieved the fundamental principles when it comes to care, and I would appreciate your comments on how we achieve the aim of providing care as well as healthcare for people in Wales, because those principles are as important in care as they are in the NHS.
Pen-blwydd hapus iawn i'r GIG. Mae pen-blwydd yn amser i ddathlu ac, yn fwy na dim, rwy’n credu ein bod ni’n dathlu holl staff y GIG—cannoedd ar filoedd ohonynt dros 70 o flynyddoedd sydd wedi gwneud y GIG yr hyn ydyw. Maen nhw’n ffrindiau, yn deulu, ac yn anwyliaid inni. Byddai fy mam-gu—roeddwn i’n ceisio ystyried hyn heddiw—wedi gadael y GIG yn ystod ei flynyddoedd cyntaf. Roedd hi’n nyrs yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Lerpwl ac rwy’n gwybod y byddai hi’n edrych yn ôl gyda syndod ar y GIG fel y mae heddiw. Mae unrhyw ben-blwydd yn amser i fyfyrio; mae’r 70 mlwyddiant yn amser i fyfyrio ar y gamp ynddi ei hun bod gennym GIG sydd wedi para cyhyd. Mae'n llwyddiant gwych ynddo'i hun. Pan gafodd ei greu, roedd amheuon mawr ynghylch a fyddai’n para, a fyddai'n gynaliadwy, ac a fyddai'r syniad o ddarparu gofal am ddim yn y man cyflenwi’n arwain at lu o bobl yn ceisio triniaeth am ddim. I wynebu’r risg o chwarae pêl-droed gwleidyddol, mae rhai ar yr ochr dde i wleidyddiaeth sy'n dal i gwestiynu cynaliadwyedd y GIG ac sy’n credu mai preifateiddio yw'r ffordd ymlaen ac sy’n codi ofnau am lu o bobl yn ceisio presgripsiynau am ddim ac ati. Ond rwy’n hyderus y byddwn yn edrych yn ôl ar 140 mlynedd, pan fydd 70 mlynedd arall wedi mynd heibio, ac rwy’n siŵr y bydd yr un cwestiynau am gynaliadwyedd yn cael eu gofyn bryd hynny. Ond y peth allweddol yw bod yn rhaid i bob un ohonom fod yn glir bod cynaliadwyedd yn flaenoriaeth, yn flaenoriaeth inni ym mhob peth a wnawn.
Codwyd y pwynt am ddefnyddio’r GIG fel pêl-droed wleidyddol, ac rwy’n mynd i ddweud ar y cychwyn yma nad wyf yn amau bod y Llywodraeth hon a’r Ceidwadwyr a phawb arall a gynrychiolir eisiau gweld y GIG yn perfformio cystal ag y bo modd. Mae gennym syniadau gwahanol, wrth gwrs, ynghylch sut i gyflawni hynny, ac rwy'n credu, lle y gallwn gydweithio, bod hynny er budd pawb yng Nghymru—staff y GIG a chleifion hefyd—ond mae'n bwysig ein bod yn dal y Llywodraeth i gyfrif. Ac nid wyf yn ymddiheuro—20 mlynedd ar ôl i Lafur gymryd awenau’r GIG yng Nghymru—am ofyn cwestiynau ynghylch pam rydych chi wedi methu ag ymdrin â’r heriau gweithlu fel y credaf y gellid bod wedi'i wneud; pam mae diffyg integreiddio gofal cymdeithasol o hyd; pam mae perfformiad yn dal i fod yn wael o ran amseroedd aros o'i gymharu â gwledydd eraill y DU. Ac mae cleifion a staff y GIG yn disgwyl i ni eich dal chi yn y Llywodraeth i gyfrif ar y meysydd hynny.
Rwy’n mynd i ofyn rhai cwestiynau ichi: un, rwy’n credu mai’r bygythiad mwyaf, ac rwy’n siŵr y gwnewch chi gytuno â mi, ar ddechrau ail 70 mlynedd y GIG, yw’r bygythiad gwirioneddol o Brexit caled. Byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi eich sylwadau am rai o’r—. Yr ateb sy'n peri pryder a glywais gan y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach heddiw, pan awgrymodd nad oes paratoadau'n cael eu gwneud o fewn y GIG yng Nghymru ar gyfer Brexit caled. Awgrymodd ef nad oes unrhyw ffordd y gallai'r GIG baratoi am Brexit caled. Dydw i ddim yn credu hynny am eiliad, a nawr yw'r amser i wneud yn siŵr bod pob cam posibl—pa bynnag mor heriol—yn cael ei gymryd i'n paratoi ar gyfer Brexit caled.
Yn ail, ynghylch gwerthfawrogi staff. Byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi eich barn am sut ydyn ni’n cefnogi staff sy’n cael eu gorweithio. Gwyddom fod angen mwy o staff yn y GIG, ac, wrth gwrs, rydyn ni wedi cyflwyno syniadau fel hyfforddi meddygon, er enghraifft, ym Mangor. Mae angen inni leddfu'r straen hwnnw, ond sut fyddwch chi’n ymdrin â staff sy’n cael eu gorweithio a’r help sydd ei angen arnynt nawr?
Ac yn olaf, o ran y dyfodol, mae trydydd paragraff, rwy’n credu, eich datganiad yn cyfeirio at yr egwyddorion sylfaenol sy'n sail i'r GIG. Dydw i ddim o'r farn ein bod ni wedi cyflawni’r egwyddorion sylfaenol o ran gofal, a byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi eich sylwadau ynghylch sut ydyn ni’n cyflawni'r nod o ddarparu gofal yn ogystal â gofal iechyd i bobl Cymru, oherwydd mae’r egwyddorion hynny yr un mor bwysig mewn gofal ag y maent yn y GIG.
Thank you for the comments and the questions. First I'll reflect on the progress made since pre the health service, as has been eluded to. Yesterday, I was at Llandough hospital looking at the mural where they'd actually developed some of the recognition and research into pneumoconiosis. After that, I saw a patchwork quilt with a number of different stories about the NHS. One of them was a grandmother who had done a patchwork quilt in memory of her 10-year-old sister who had died before the creation of the national health service because her dress caught fire, and the coroner's report said that the doctor refused to attend without payment of his fee. That shows the sort of progress that has been made. So, for all of our arguments, there is enormous progress—things that simply do not happen now, or if they do, they are a national scandal rather than a common part of life.
It's also worth reflecting that prescription growth in Wales—as you mentioned prescriptions—the growth has been lower in Wales than in England since the introduction of our free prescriptions policy, so it's not led to a ballooning amount of prescriptions being provided.
On your questions, I think the two biggest threats facing the national health service are the twin storm clouds of Brexit and austerity. If we continue to have not just the health service, but the wider range of public services that are key determinants of people's health, being underfunded, then we'll continue to pile on more demand into the health service, and we'll be blamed for that, whilst other services complain about more money going into the health service itself. We will have an unvirtuous circle.
You will recall from last week's statement the significant risks that a hard Brexit provides for the national health service. There's a level of a lack of awareness about the scale of those risks. I don't think it's a fair or accurate presentation to say that this Government is in any way complacent about those risks, or is somehow being blasé about not needing to plan for them. Of course preparations are being planned for a hard Brexit, but the point being made is, some of the consequences of a hard Brexit are impossible to resolve without consequence.
Last week, we had a really good example that you raised, and that I've mentioned at other times before. The radioisotopes used for treatment in the health service, almost all of them come from Amsterdam. If we have a hard Brexit, we will not be able to replicate production of those between now and March next year, or even the transition period that's likely, and so treatment will simply not exist in a range of areas. You have to be honest that that is one of the consequences of a hard Brexit, and you can't stockpile radioisotopes. So, there are challenges that we simply can't replicate if we leave on hard Brexit terms. And as I said last week, the biggest danger to the future of the health service, in the immediate future, is a hard Brexit. And, of course, Simon Stevens and NHS England recognise it too, which is why they've mentioned it in public.
On workforce planning, the creation of HIW will give us a new structure to plan for the whole workforce. And, again, we can't have competing demands from staff groups asking for more of them or for lobbying groups. So, whether it's more people in one part of medicine, more people in one part of nursing or therapy, we'll have to look at the whole service in the round and recognise that there is a team of professionals who work together to deliver healthcare. I expect to see a significant improvement in workforce planning and you'll see more of that once HIW is created from October this year.
On your point about care, it's worth reflecting that, of course, social care has always been means-tested. Part of the difficulty in integrating health and social care is that the health service is free, paid for by taxation, and social care is means-tested. What we're looking to do is to try to eliminate some of the wrangles about funding, so that the citizen does not fall between the cracks, between the two services. That is why the parliamentary review recommendations and the plan we have for health and social care is so important. It's why I place such value on having regional partnership boards for health and social care to plan together, so that the citizen need not know and need not worry too much about whether they're in health or social care. It'll make it easier for the citizen to access those services, which is why the progress on pooled budgets is but a means to an end of making sure that we derive much greater value from the £9 billion of integrated funding that exists there, and much greater outcomes. I expect that integrated model will deliver exactly those outcomes that all of us in this room would wish to see.
Diolch am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau. Yn gyntaf rwy'n mynd i adlewyrchu ar y cynnydd a wnaed ers cyn y gwasanaeth iechyd, fel y mae rhai wedi cyfeirio ato. Ddoe, roeddwn yn Ysbyty Llandochau yn edrych ar y murlun lle'r oeddent wedi datblygu rhywfaint o'r gydnabyddiaeth a'r ymchwil i niwmoconiosis. Ar ôl hynny, gwelais gwilt clytwaith yn dangos nifer o wahanol straeon am y GIG. Un ohonynt oedd mam-gu a oedd wedi gwneud cwilt clytwaith er cof am ei chwaer 10 mlwydd oed a fu farw cyn creu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol am fod ei ffrog wedi mynd ar dân, ac roedd adroddiad y crwner yn dweud bod y meddyg wedi gwrthod ei gweld hi heb i’w ffi gael ei thalu. Mae hynny'n dangos y math o gynnydd sydd wedi’i wneud. Felly, er ein dadleuon i gyd, ceir cynnydd enfawr—pethau nad ydynt yn digwydd erbyn hyn, neu os ydynt, maent yn sgandal genedlaethol yn hytrach nag yn rhan gyffredin o fywyd.
Mae hefyd yn werth myfyrio ar y ffaith bod twf presgripsiynau yng Nghymru—gan eich bod chi wedi sôn am bresgripsiynau—mae’r twf wedi bod yn is yng Nghymru nag yn Lloegr ers inni gyflwyno’r polisi presgripsiynau am ddim, felly nid yw wedi arwain at roi mwy a mwy o bresgripsiynau.
O ran eich cwestiynau, rwy’n credu mai’r ddau fygythiad mwyaf sy'n wynebu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol yw dau gwmwl storm Brexit a llymder. Os ydym yn parhau i danariannu nid yn unig y gwasanaeth iechyd, ond yr ystod ehangach o wasanaethau cyhoeddus sy’n benderfynyddion allweddol o ran iechyd pobl, byddwn yn parhau i bentyrru mwy o alw ar y gwasanaeth iechyd, a ni fydd yn cael y bai am hynny, tra bo gwasanaethau eraill yn cwyno bod mwy o arian yn mynd i mewn i'r gwasanaeth iechyd ei hun. Bydd gennym gylch anrhinweddol.
Byddwch yn cofio o ddatganiad yr wythnos diwethaf fod Brexit caled yn peri risgiau sylweddol i’r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol. Ceir rhywfaint o ddiffyg ymwybyddiaeth ynghylch maint y risgiau hynny. Dydw i ddim yn credu ei fod yn gyflwyniad teg na chywir i ddweud bod y Llywodraeth hon mewn unrhyw ffordd yn ddifater ynghylch y risgiau hynny, nac yn ddidaro ynghylch unrhyw angen i gynllunio ar eu cyfer. Wrth gwrs rydyn ni’n cynllunio paratoadau ar gyfer Brexit caled, ond y pwynt sy’n cael ei wneud yw bod rhai o ganlyniadau Brexit caled yn amhosibl eu datrys heb oblygiadau.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, cawsom enghraifft dda iawn a godwyd gennych chi, ac rwyf wedi sôn am hon ar adegau eraill cyn hynny. Y radioisotopau a ddefnyddir ar gyfer triniaeth yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, mae bron pob un ohonynt yn dod o Amsterdam. Os cawn ni Brexit caled, fyddwn ni ddim yn gallu dyblygu cynhyrchu’r rheini rhwng nawr a mis Mawrth y flwyddyn nesaf, neu hyd yn oed yn y cyfnod pontio sy'n debygol, ac felly, yn syml, fydd dim triniaeth i’w chael mewn amrywiaeth o feysydd. Rhaid ichi fod yn onest bod hynny'n un o oblygiadau Brexit caled, ac ni allwch gadw stoc o radioisotopau. Felly, mae yna heriau sy’n gwbl amhosibl eu dyblygu os gwnawn ni adael ar delerau Brexit caled. Ac fel y dywedais yr wythnos diwethaf, y perygl mwyaf i ddyfodol y gwasanaeth iechyd, yn y dyfodol agos, yw Brexit caled. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae Simon Stevens a’r GIG yn Lloegr yn cydnabod hynny hefyd, a dyna pam maen nhw wedi sôn am y peth yn gyhoeddus.
O ran cynllunio'r gweithlu, bydd creu AGIC yn rhoi strwythur newydd i ni gynllunio ar gyfer y gweithlu cyfan. Ac, unwaith eto, ni allwn gael galwadau croes gan grwpiau staff yn gofyn am fwy ohonynt neu am grwpiau lobïo. Felly, os yw'n fwy o bobl mewn un maes meddygaeth, mwy o bobl mewn un maes nyrsio neu therapi, bydd rhaid inni edrych ar y gwasanaeth cyfan yn y cylch a chydnabod bod yno dîm o weithwyr proffesiynol sy'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd i ddarparu gofal iechyd. Rwy'n disgwyl gweld gwelliant sylweddol o ran cynllunio'r gweithlu a byddwch yn gweld mwy o hynny unwaith y caiff AGIC ei greu o fis Hydref eleni ymlaen.
Ynglŷn â’ch pwynt ynghylch gofal, mae'n werth ystyried, wrth gwrs, fod gofal cymdeithasol wedi bod yn destun profion modd erioed. Rhan o'r anhawster o ran integreiddio iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yw bod y gwasanaeth iechyd am ddim, yn cael ei dalu amdano drwy drethi, a bod gofal cymdeithasol yn destun profion modd. Yr hyn yr ydym yn gobeithio ei wneud yw ceisio cael gwared ar rai o’r anghydfodau am arian, fel nad yw'r dinesydd yn syrthio rhwng y craciau, rhwng y ddau wasanaeth. Dyna pam mae argymhellion yr adolygiad seneddol a’r cynllun sydd gennym ar gyfer iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol mor bwysig. Dyna pam rwy'n rhoi cymaint o werth ar sicrhau bod byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol ar gyfer iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn cynllunio gyda'i gilydd, fel nad oes angen i’r dinesydd wybod na phoeni gormod a yw mewn gofal iechyd neu ofal cymdeithasol. Bydd yn ei gwneud yn haws i ddinasyddion gael mynediad at y gwasanaethau hynny, a dyna pam nad yw’r cynnydd ar gyllidebau cyfun yn ddim mwy na modd i gyflawni diben o wneud yn siŵr ein bod yn cael llawer mwy o werth o’r £9 biliwn o gyllid integredig sy’n bodoli yno, a llawer gwell canlyniadau. Rwy’n disgwyl y bydd y model integredig hwnnw’n sicrhau'r union ganlyniadau hynny yr hoffai pawb ohonom yn yr ystafell hon eu gweld.
Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. It is a huge privilege to be able to stand here today and celebrate 70 years of the NHS.
Without the national health service, I wouldn't be here today. Eleven years ago, a hard-working NHS doctor discovered my breast cancer and an army of other hard-working doctors, nurses, radiographers and pharmacists saved my life. Without the NHS, many of my constituents, family and friends wouldn't be here. Seventy years ago, the average life expectancy was 65 and infant mortality was at around 52 deaths per 1,000 live births. Today, we can expect to live well into our 80s and it's believed that children born today could live well into their 100s. Infant mortality is down to well under three deaths per 1,000 and we have all but eradicated many of the biggest childhood diseases.
We have Wales to thank for this. If it wasn't for the Tredegar Workmen's Medical Aid Society and the vision of Tredegar-born MP Aneurin Bevan, we wouldn't have an NHS, and without the NHS, we wouldn't have kidney transplants, hip replacements, CT scans, bone marrow transplants or a whole raft of medical science improvements.
What makes the NHS such a success is the staff. Their commitment and dedication must be celebrated and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. From porter to paediatrician, admin assistant to anaesthetist, the NHS would be nothing without its hard-working staff.
The NHS is a fantastic achievement and one that we should rightly be proud of. But while we celebrate the achievements of the last 70 years, we have to look to the future. As our population grows and many of us develop long-term life-limiting conditions, and as medicines become more bespoke and therefore expensive we have to adapt. The NHS today is very different from the NHS in 1948 and will be very different in years to come.
Cabinet Secretary, I believe that your long-term plan is in the right direction, but we have to ensure that the policies are delivered on the ground. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development described the NHS as fairly mediocre with great policies not being translated into great practices. What can we do to ensure that policies can make it to the front line, and how can we improve buy-in from staff? The NHS is the world's fifth biggest employer, so any changes will require buy-in from a lot of personnel.
Cabinet Secretary, the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine have raised concerns about the impact of fatigue and shift patterns on the NHS workforce and have launched the Fight Fatigue campaign. Our NHS is reliant upon the staff, and we have to put the well-being of staff first. Cabinet Secretary, will you support the Fight Fatigue campaign and ensure the roll-out in all health boards across Wales?
Finally, Cabinet Secretary, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, once again, and hope that I can play a very small part in ensuring that the NHS is around to celebrate its one hundred and fortieth anniversary, still providing world-class care free at the point of delivery. Thank you.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Mae'n fraint enfawr gallu sefyll yma heddiw a dathlu 70 mlynedd o’r GIG.
Heb y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, fyddwn i ddim yn yma heddiw. Un ar ddeg mlynedd yn ôl, darganfu meddyg GIG gweithgar ganser ar fy mron a gwnaeth byddin o feddygon, nyrsys, radiograffyddion a fferyllwyr eraill gweithgar achub fy mywyd i. Heb y GIG, fyddai llawer o'm hetholwyr, fy nheulu a fy ffrindiau ddim yma. Saith deg mlynedd yn ôl, roedd y disgwyliad oes cyfartalog yn 65 oed a marwolaethau babanod o gwmpas 52 o farwolaethau i bob 1,000 o enedigaethau byw. Heddiw, gallwn ddisgwyl byw ymhell i’n 80au a’r gred yw y gallai plant sy’n cael eu geni heddiw fyw ymhell dros 100 oed. Mae marwolaethau babanod wedi gostwng i lawer llai na thair marwolaeth i bob 1,000 ac rydyn ni fwy neu lai wedi dileu llawer o'r clefydau plentyndod mwyaf.
Mae’r diolch am hyn i Gymru. Heb Gymdeithas Cymorth Meddygol Gweithwyr Tredegar a gweledigaeth Aneurin Bevan AS a anwyd yn Nhredegar, ni fyddai gennym GIG, a heb y GIG, ni fyddai gennym drawsblaniadau arennau, triniaeth i osod cluniau newydd, sganiau CT, trawsblaniadau mêr esgyrn na llu o welliannau gwyddoniaeth feddygol.
Yr hyn sy'n gwneud y GIG yn gymaint o lwyddiant yw’r staff. Rhaid dathlu eu hymrwymiad a'u hymroddiad ac mae arnom ni i gyd ddyled o ddiolchgarwch iddynt. O’r porthoriaid i’r pediatregyddion, o’r cynorthwywyr gweinyddol i'r anaesthetyddion, fyddai’r GIG yn ddim heb ei staff gweithgar.
Mae'r GIG yn gamp anhygoel ac yn un y dylem fod yn falch ohoni. Ond wrth ddathlu llwyddiant y 70 mlynedd diwethaf, rhaid inni hefyd edrych i'r dyfodol. Wrth i’n poblogaeth dyfu ac wrth i lawer ohonom ddatblygu cyflyrau hirdymor sy'n cyfyngu ar fywyd, a wrth i feddyginiaethau fynd yn fwy pwrpasol ac felly’n ddrutach mae’n rhaid inni addasu. Mae’r GIG heddiw yn wahanol iawn i’r GIG ym 1948 a bydd yn wahanol iawn yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rwy’n credu bod eich cynllun hirdymor yn mynd i’r cyfeiriad cywir, ond rhaid inni sicrhau bod y polisïau’n cael eu gwireddu ar lawr gwlad. Disgrifiodd y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad Economaidd a Datblygiad y GIG fel gwasanaeth gweddol, gan ddweud nad yw polisïau gwych yn cael eu troi’n arferion gwych. Beth allwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau bod polisïau’n gallu cyrraedd y rheng flaen, a sut y gallwn sicrhau bod y staff yn eu derbyn? Y GIG yw’r pumed cyflogwr mwyaf yn y byd, felly bydd angen i lawer o bersonél dderbyn unrhyw newidiadau.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, mae Cymdeithas Anesthetyddion Prydain Fawr ac Iwerddon, Coleg Brenhinol yr Anesthetyddion a'r Gyfadran Meddygaeth Gofal Dwys wedi codi pryderon am effaith patrymau shifft a blinder ar weithlu'r GIG ac wedi lansio’r ymgyrch Ymladd Blinder. Mae ein GIG yn dibynnu ar y staff, a rhaid inni roi lles staff yn gyntaf. Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, a wnewch chi gefnogi'r ymgyrch Ymladd Blinder a sicrhau y caiff ei chyflwyno ym mhob bwrdd iechyd ledled Cymru?
Yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i'r staff, unwaith eto, ac rwy’n gobeithio y gallaf chwarae rhan fach iawn i sicrhau bod y GIG o gwmpas i ddathlu ei ben-blwydd yn gant a deugain, ac yn parhau i ddarparu gofal o'r radd flaenaf yn rhad ac am ddim ar y pwynt cyflenwi. Diolch.
Thank you, Caroline. Again, I recognise your personal story and recognition of the fact that the NHS has helped to protect and maintain your own life, and also the huge progress made in improving health and in removing significant causes of disability, illness and death. Again, we've all mentioned staff within the service, and it's absolutely right that we do.
The challenge then is about whether we're prepared to take forward our headline commitment to a conversation about the future of health and social care into delivery. That doesn't take away from people asking awkward questions of the Government—it never will do, and it should not do—but there are still challenges about how we make choices when change is proposed in different parts of the country and what we're actually prepared to do. That isn't simply a challenge for one party, it's a challenge for all of us, because all of us will be challenged by changes within our local areas, which we represent, and the concern that people have where something they value and understand is proposed for change. That's why it's so important to have staff leading the conversation, staff talking to other staff, staff talking and listening to the public, because I guarantee that 10 politicians talking to the public about the NHS will never be believed compared to a handful of members of staff talking about the challenges they face. It's understandable why people trust staff in that way. So, we do need to listen to staff, but the key stakeholder in improving public health is the individual citizen themselves, in their context. The choices we make have a much greater impact on health outcomes for the nation than the technical service that is provided by the NHS.
On your point about Fighting Fatigue, last week, I agreed a fatigue charter with the British Medical Association, so I'm looking to see how the Fight Fatigue campaign links to the charter that we've agreed, because I do recognise that our staff need to be able to go into work and not just be content and motivated, but to have time to have rest and to perform their duties without coping with fatigue itself. So, I'm interested in the area, I'll have a look at the campaign that is being launched and how it actually is consistent with the charter that I've agreed with doctors' representatives within the last week or so.
Diolch, Caroline. Unwaith eto, rwy’n cydnabod eich stori bersonol a'ch cydnabyddiaeth o'r ffaith bod y GIG wedi helpu i ddiogelu a chynnal eich bywyd chi, a hefyd y cynnydd aruthrol a wnaed i wella iechyd ac i ddileu achosion sylweddol o anabledd, salwch a marwolaeth. Unwaith eto, rydym i gyd wedi sôn am staff o fewn y gwasanaeth, ac mae'n hollol iawn ein bod yn gwneud hynny.
Yr her wedyn yw a ydyn ni'n barod i fwrw ymlaen â’n prif ymrwymiad i gael sgwrs am ddyfodol iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol a chyflawni arni. Nid yw hynny'n atal pobl rhag gofyn cwestiynau lletchwith i’r Llywodraeth—ni wnaiff byth wneud hynny, ac ni ddylai—ond ceir heriau o hyd ynglŷn â sut i wneud dewisiadau pan gynigir newid mewn gwahanol rannau o'r wlad a’r hyn yr ydyn ni'n barod i’w wneud mewn gwirionedd. Nid dim ond her i un blaid yw hon, mae'n her i bob un ohonom, oherwydd bydd pob un ohonom yn cael ein herio gan newidiadau yn ein hardaloedd lleol, yr ydym yn eu cynrychioli, a gan bryder pobl oherwydd cynnig i newid rhywbeth y maen nhw’n ei werthfawrogi ac yn ei ddeall. Dyna pam mae mor bwysig bod y staff yn arwain y sgwrs, staff yn siarad â staff eraill, staff yn siarad â’r cyhoedd ac yn gwrando arnynt, oherwydd rwy’n gwarantu na chaiff 10 o wleidyddion yn sôn wrth y cyhoedd am y GIG byth eu credu o'i gymharu â llond llaw o aelodau staff yn sôn am yr heriau sy'n eu hwynebu. Mae'n hawdd deall pam mae pobl yn ymddiried yn y staff yn y modd hwnnw. Felly, mae angen inni wrando ar y staff, ond y rhanddeiliad allweddol o ran gwella iechyd y cyhoedd yw'r dinesydd unigol ei hun, yn ei gyd-destun ei hun. Mae’r dewisiadau yr ydyn ni’n eu gwneud yn cael effaith fwy o lawer ar ganlyniadau iechyd y genedl na'r gwasanaeth technegol a ddarperir gan y GIG.
Ar eich pwynt am Ymladd Blinder, yr wythnos diwethaf, cytunais ar siarter blinder gyda Chymdeithas Feddygol Prydain. Felly rwy’n edrych i weld sut y bydd yr ymgyrch Ymladd Blinder yn cysylltu â’r siarter y cytunwyd arni, oherwydd rwy’n cydnabod bod angen i’n staff allu mynd i'r gwaith ac nid dim ond bod yn hapus a brwdfrydig, ond bod ag amser i orffwys ac i gyflawni eu dyletswyddau heb ymdopi â blinder ei hun. Felly, mae gennyf ddiddordeb yn y maes, byddaf yn edrych ar yr ymgyrch sy’n cael ei lansio a sut mae hi mewn gwirionedd yn gyson â’r siarter yr wyf fi wedi cytuno arni gyda chynrychiolwyr meddygon o fewn yr wythnos neu ddwy ddiwethaf.
It's great to use this opportunity to recognise all the achievements of the NHS over the last 70 years, particularly recognising the longer lives and the drop in the infant mortality rate, the huge drop in unplanned pregnancies, and I'm particularly pleased to welcome the initiatives we've been able to take here specifically in Wales, such as the free prescriptions, because I think that is absolutely right in delivering healthcare free at the point of demand. I think it is a great credit to the Welsh Labour Government that we have brought in free prescriptions, and, of course, the free parking as well. I think the free parking in hospitals is vitally important, because the last thing you want to do is worry about finding money to park when you're either going to an out-patient appointment or, in fact, visiting your loved ones. So, I think there is so much to celebrate, and it goes without saying, my total commitment and support for what the Welsh Government is doing for the NHS.
But I did want to use this opportunity to bring up the contaminated blood scandal, because, obviously, this is one of the big issues that the NHS has had to cope with. I wanted to bring it up today, because the terms of reference were agreed yesterday in Parliament, so that means we can now move on with the inquiry. As the Cabinet Secretary will know, we have all been very involved with this inquiry here, including the Cabinet Secretary himself, with the families and the people who have suffered. Of course, in Wales, 70 people did die as a result of this scandal. So, what we really need to do now is to do all we possibly can to see that we do get answers, because there have been two previous inquiries, but those haven't really found out why this contaminated blood continued to be given to people who were suffering from haemophilia, many of whom went on to contract AIDS/HIV through the contaminated blood.
So, I wondered what the Cabinet Secretary could tell us about what involvement he sees from the Welsh Government now that this inquiry has started, and whether there is any support that the Government can offer to the group who, under the leadership of Haemophilia Wales, are putting the case for the Welsh patients to the national inquiry. I'm hoping that the cross-party group on haemophilia and contaminated blood will possibly be involved as a core participant, as we've been campaigning for this judge-led inquiry, but we do want everybody in Wales to make their voices heard. So, I just think it's appropriate to raise this on the day that we are marking the seventieth anniversary, because it's an issue to do with the health service that is so vitally important and so current for many of our constituents in Wales.
Mae'n wych defnyddio'r cyfle hwn i gydnabod holl gyflawniadau’r GIG dros y 70 mlynedd diwethaf, gan gydnabod yn enwedig y bywydau hirach a'r gostyngiad yn y gyfradd marwolaethau babanod, y gostyngiad enfawr mewn beichiogrwydd heb ei gynllunio. Ac rwy’n arbennig o falch o groesawu’r mentrau y llwyddwyd i'w cynnal yma yn benodol yng Nghymru, fel y presgripsiynau am ddim, oherwydd rwy’n credu bod hynny’n gwbl iawn o ran darparu gofal iechyd am ddim yn y pwynt galw. Credaf fod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn haeddu clod mawr am gyflwyno presgripsiynau am ddim ac, wrth gwrs, y parcio am ddim hefyd. Rwy’n credu bod y parcio am ddim mewn ysbytai yn hanfodol bwysig, oherwydd y peth olaf yr ydych chi eisiau ei wneud yw poeni am ddod o hyd i arian i barcio pan ydych naill ai'n mynd i apwyntiad claf allanol neu, yn wir, yn ymweld â’ch anwyliaid. Felly, credaf fod llawer i'w ddathlu, ac afraid dweud, fy ymrwymiad llwyr a’m cefnogaeth i’r hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud dros y GIG.
Ond roedd arnaf eisiau defnyddio'r cyfle hwn i sôn am y sgandal gwaed wedi'i heintio, oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae hwn yn un o'r materion mawr y mae’r GIG wedi gorfod ymdopi â nhw. Roedd arnaf eisiau sôn amdano heddiw, oherwydd cafwyd cytundeb ar y cylch gorchwyl ddoe yn y Senedd, sy’n golygu y gallwn nawr symud ymlaen gyda'r ymchwiliad. Fel y bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet yn ei wybod, rydym i gyd wedi chwarae rhan flaenllaw gyda'r ymchwiliad hwn yma, gan gynnwys Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ei hun, gyda’r teuluoedd a’r bobl sydd wedi dioddef. Wrth gwrs, yng Nghymru, bu farw 70 o bobl o ganlyniad i’r sgandal hwn. Felly, yr hyn y mae gwir angen inni ei wneud nawr yw gwneud popeth a allwn i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni’n cael atebion. Mae dau ymchwiliad blaenorol wedi bod, ond dydy’r rheini ddim mewn gwirionedd wedi darganfod pam roedd y gwaed wedi'i heintio hwn yn dal i gael ei roi i bobl a oedd yn dioddef o hemoffilia, a bod llawer ohonynt wedyn wedi dal AIDS/HIV drwy’r gwaed wedi'i heintio.
Felly, tybed beth allai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ei ddweud wrthym am sut y mae’n gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwneud â hyn nawr bod yr ymchwiliad hwn wedi dechrau, ac a all y Llywodraeth gynnig unrhyw gymorth i'r grŵp sydd, o dan arweinyddiaeth Hemoffilia Cymru, yn cyflwyno achos cleifion Cymru i'r ymchwiliad cenedlaethol. Rwy’n gobeithio y gall y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar hemoffilia a gwaed wedi'i heintio gymryd rhan fel cyfranogwr craidd, gan mai ni sydd wedi bod yn ymgyrchu am yr ymchwiliad hwn dan arweiniad barnwr, ond hoffem sicrhau bod lleisiau pawb yng Nghymru yn cael eu clywed. Felly, rwy’n credu ei bod yn briodol codi'r mater hwn ar y diwrnod pan ydyn ni’n nodi’r dengmlwyddiant a thrigain, oherwydd mae'n fater sy’n ymwneud â’r gwasanaeth iechyd sydd mor hanfodol bwysig ac mor gyfredol i lawer o'n hetholwyr yng Nghymru.
Yes, and I want to recognise in particular the point about the contaminated blood inquiry, because the impact of the health service is so great because we recognise the challenges we would have without it. That also means that there are times when healthcare goes wrong and has a huge impact on people's lives too. And there is always learning to be taken from complaints and from when we get things wrong. And, actually, the contaminated blood scandal has led to a significant improvement in the safety and the traceability of the use of blood and blood products within our health service. We can be really proud of the work that is being undertaken by the Welsh Blood Service in pioneering a different range of ways to deliver medical benefit. The challenge then, looking back, is not just how we learn lessons but this challenge of understanding what really happened, because that's the biggest grievance that I think people have, that they don't ever think they've been told the truth and they never got to the truth. So, I welcome not just the inquiry, but the way that Sir Brian Langstaff has gone about the inquiry as the appointed Chair—a recently retired judge and a man of significant integrity. I think he's developed trust from a community who weren't really sure they could trust the inquiry itself. And I also think it was helpful to move the sponsor department from the UK Department of health to the UK Cabinet Office as well, and I welcome the move that was taken to do so.
So, we do want to encourage people to give evidence. My officials continue to have regular conversations with Haemophilia Wales and other stakeholders here in Wales about their expectations for the inquiry and the practical business of how we support them to give evidence to the inquiry, including here in Wales, which we have asked for and I think will happen. And our challenge is how we have a conversation with not just the Cabinet Office, but the inquiry itself about how it goes about its business to make sure people really can tell their story and ask questions where they think they've not been answered before. And, in that regard, I'm very pleased that Sir Brian has indicated that he expects to have additional experts for particular parts of the inquiry. So, they haven't ruled out having an additional wing members to sit with him when it comes to deliberations, but, in the evidence-gathering part of it, he is looking to make use of additional expertise for different parts of what went wrong at the time, and I think that is a real advantage. So, I approach this with some cautious optimism at the outset, but we will, of course, continue to listen to and work with stakeholders here in Wales.
Ie, a hoffwn gydnabod yn benodol y pwynt am yr ymchwiliad i waed wedi'i heintio. Mae effaith y gwasanaeth iechyd mor fawr oherwydd ein bod yn cydnabod yr heriau a fyddai gennym hebddo. Mae hynny hefyd yn golygu bod yna adegau pan fydd gofal iechyd yn mynd o'i le ac yn cael effaith enfawr ar fywydau pobl hefyd. Ac mae bob amser rhywbeth i'w ddysgu o gwynion ac o achosion pan fyddwn yn gwneud pethau'n anghywir. Ac, mewn gwirionedd, mae'r sgandal gwaed wedi'i heintio wedi arwain at welliant sylweddol yn niogelwch a'r gallu i olrhain y defnydd o waed a chynhyrchion gwaed yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Gallwn fod yn falch iawn o'r gwaith a wneir gan Wasanaeth Gwaed Cymru wrth arloesi amrywiaeth o wahanol ffyrdd o gyflawni buddion meddygol. Yr her wedyn, wrth edrych yn ôl, yw nid yn unig sut y byddwn yn dysgu gwersi ond yr her hon o ddeall beth ddigwyddodd mewn gwirionedd. Dyna'r gŵyn fwyaf sydd gan bobl, yn fy marn i, eu bod yn credu nad ydynt erioed wedi cael gwybod y gwir ac na wnaethant erioed gyrraedd y gwir. Felly, rwy'n croesawu nid yn unig yr ymchwiliad, ond y ffordd y mae Syr Brian Langstaff wedi mynd ati i gynnal yr ymchwiliad fel y Cadeirydd a benodwyd—barnwr sydd wedi ymddeol yn ddiweddar a dyn sy'n meddu ar unplygrwydd sylweddol. Rwy'n credu ei fod wedi datblygu ffydd gan gymuned nad oedd yn siŵr, mewn gwirionedd, y gallen nhw fod â ffydd yn yr ymchwiliad ei hun. Ac rwy'n credu hefyd y bu o gymorth i symud yr adran noddi o Adran Iechyd y DU i Swyddfa Cabinet y DU, ac rwy'n croesawu'r cam a gymerwyd i wneud hynny.
Felly, rydym ni eisiau annog pobl i roi tystiolaeth. Mae fy swyddogion yn parhau i gael sgyrsiau rheolaidd â Hemoffilia Cymru a rhanddeiliaid eraill yma yng Nghymru am eu disgwyliadau ar gyfer yr ymchwiliad a'r busnes ymarferol o sut yr ydym yn eu cefnogi i roi tystiolaeth i'r ymchwiliad, gan gynnwys yma yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi gofyn am hynny a chredaf y bydd hynny'n digwydd. A'n her ni yw sut y cawn ni sgwrs â nid yn unig Swyddfa'r Cabinet, ond yr ymchwiliad ei hun ynghylch sut y mae'n mynd ati i weithredu i wneud yn siŵr y gall pobl ddweud eu stori mewn gwirionedd a gofyn cwestiynau os ydyn nhw o'r farn nad ydyn nhw wedi cael eu hateb o'r blaen. Ac, yn hynny o beth, rwy'n falch iawn fod Syr Brian wedi nodi ei fod yn disgwyl y bydd arbenigwyr ychwanegol ar gyfer rhannau penodol o'r ymchwiliad. Felly, dydyn nhw heb ddiystyru bod ag aelodau ategol ychwanegol i eistedd gydag ef pan ddaw'r trafodaethau, ond, yn y rhan casglu tystiolaeth ohono, mae'n bwriadu gwneud defnydd o arbenigedd ychwanegol ar gyfer gwahanol rannau o'r hyn a aeth o'i le ar y pryd, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny yn fantais wirioneddol. Felly, rwy'n ymdrin â hyn gyda rhywfaint o optimistiaeth bwyllog ar y cychwyn, ond byddwn, wrth gwrs, yn parhau i wrando a gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid yma yng Nghymru.
Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i allu croesawu'r datganiad yma a hefyd gallu datgan pen-blwydd hapus i'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn 70 mlwydd oed. A hefyd a gaf i ddechrau drwy dalu teyrnged i Aneurin Bevan a hefyd i Dr Julian Tudor Hart, a fu farw yn y dyddiau diwethaf yma, ac y bum i'w gyfarfod ef sawl tro fel cyd-feddyg teulu yng Nghymoedd y De yma? Ond, yn y bôn, felly, rydym ni yn dathlu goroesiad gweledigaeth o driniaeth rhad ac am ddim yn seiliedig ar angen yn unig a gwasanaeth iechyd wedi'u ariannu o drethiant cyffredinol—pawb, felly, yn rhannu ac yn talu am y risg. A rhywbeth unigryw dros rhan fwyaf o'r byd, a dweud y gwir, ydy'r syniad yna bod pawb yn rhannu yn y risg yn ogystal ag yn cyfrannu i'r taliad. A'r gwasanaeth iechyd, felly, yn mynd i'r afael efo anghyfartaleddau iechyd go iawn felly, achos mae gorfod talu am driniaeth wastad yn mynd i waethygu pethau yn nhermau anghyfartaledd iechyd, gan na fydd rhai pobl yn gallu talu am y driniaeth.
Nawr, rwyf i wedi bod yn feddyg ers 38 o flynyddoedd nawr, sef dros hanner bodolaeth y gwasanaeth iechyd, ac yn falch iawn o dal i fod yn feddyg yn gweithio i'r gwasanaeth iechyd y dyddiau hyn. Balchder hynod, mae'n rhaid cyfaddef, achos mae rhai pobl sy'n dod i fy ngweld i rŵan fel cleifion, roedden nhw'n blant pan wnes i ddechrau gweithio fel meddyg, a nawr maen nhw'n neiniau ac yn deidiau eu hunain, ac mae'n anrhydedd bod yn llinyn di-dor mewn bywydau nifer fawr o bobl yng Nghymru heddiw.
Nid ydym ni'n gallu gorbwysleisio'r rhyddhad o fynd ag arian allan o'r drafodaeth—o fynd ag arian allan o'r consultation. Wrth gwrs, mi ddaeth taliadau am bresgripsiwn i mewn yn 1951, ac mi wnaeth Aneurin Bevan adael y Cabinet yn sgil hynny. Ac, wrth gwrs, y Llywodraeth yn fan hyn ddaeth â'r polisi yna yn ôl i rym rhyw 11 mlynedd yn ôl. Gyda dileu talu am bresgripsiwn, rydym ni'n wirioneddol yn gallu canolbwyntio ar y triniaethau gorau, achos mae talu am bresgripsiwn yn Lloegr yn golygu eich bod chi'n talu dros £8 am bob eitem sydd ar eich presgripsiwn chi. Felly, nid oes yn rhaid i ni orfod tan-drin ein cleifion yma yng Nghymru achos ein bod ni fel meddygon yn pryderu am y gost i'r claf. Nid oes yn rhaid i ni newid y driniaeth neu beidio â phresgreibio rhywbeth o achos y gost, yma yng Nghymru, i'w gyferbynnu â'r sefyllfa dros y ffin yn Lloegr.
Byddem ni'n syfrdanu, felly, o orfod cynilo ein harian, neu werthu ein tŷ, neu dalu crocbris am gymorth iechyd—a allwch chi feddwl am y sefyllfa? Mewn sawl gwlad heddiw mae'n rhaid i chi gasglu arian cyn i chi gael llawdriniaeth; nid fel yna efo'r gwasanaeth iechyd. Ond, yn rhyfeddol, heddiw yng Nghymru ac yn y Deyrnas Unedig, dyna yw ein sefyllfa ni efo gofal cymdeithasol. Mae disgwyl i bobl arbed eu harian, i gynilo. Mae disgwyl iddyn nhw, weithiau, werthu eu tŷ. Mae disgwyl iddyn nhw, weithiau, dalu crocbris am gymorth gofal cymdeithasol heddiw. Buaswn i'n dweud, wrth inni ddathlu gwasanaeth iechyd am ddim yn seiliedig ar angen yn unig, wedi'i ariannu o drethiant cyffredinol, fod angen yr un un ateb i ofal cymdeithasol, a chael hwnnw am ddim, ar sail gwasanaeth gofal cymdeithasol cenedlaethol. A fyddech chi'n cytuno?
I welcome the opportunity to welcome this statement and also to wish a happy birthday to our national health service at 70 years of age. May I start by paying tribute to Aneurin Bevan and Dr Julian Tudor Hart, who passed away in the past few days, and whom I met on a number of occasions as a fellow GP in the South Wales Valleys? But, essentially, we are celebrating the survival of a vision of free treatment based on need alone and a health service funded from general taxation—everyone, therefore, sharing and paying for the risk. It is something quite unique across most of the world, namely that all of these people share the risk as well as contributing towards payment. And the health service, therefore, is dealing with real health inequalities, because having to pay for treatment is always going to make things worse in terms of health inequalities, because some people won’t be able to afford treatment.
Now, I’ve been a doctor for 38 years. Now, that’s over half the existence of the NHS, and I’m still very proud to still be a practising doctor working for the NHS. That is a source of great pride to me, I have to admit, because some people who come to see me as patients were children when I started working as a GP, and now they are grandmothers and grandfathers themselves, and it is an honour to be an unbroken line within the lives of very many people in Wales.
We can’t overemphasise the relief of taking money out of the equation—taking money out of the consultation, if you like. Of course, prescription charges were introduced in 1951, and Aneurin Bevan left the Cabinet as a result of that. And, of course, the Government here scrapped prescription charges some 11 years ago. With the abolition of prescription charges, we truly can focus on the best treatments, because having to pay for prescriptions in England means that you pay over £8 for every item on your prescription. Therefore, we don’t have to under-treat our patients here in Wales because we as doctors may be concerned about the cost to the patient. We don’t have to change treatments and we don’t have to fail to prescribe something because of the cost here in Wales, and that is very much in contrast to the situation over the border in England.
We would be staggered, therefore, if we were to have to save money, or sell our home, or pay a huge price for health services—can you imagine such a situation? In many nations today, you have to save money for an operation, for example; well, that isn’t the case with the NHS. But, surprisingly, today in Wales, and in the UK, that is the situation with social care. People are expected to save up. They are expected, on occasion, to sell their homes. They are expected to pay a huge amount for support and social care today. I would say, as we celebrate a free NHS, based entirely on patient need, funded from general taxation, that we need the same solution for social care, and that that should be provided free of charge, on the basis of a national social care service. Would you agree?
Thank you for your comments. Funnily enough, you mentioned Julian Tudor Hart—I know a man whom you have met several times yourself—I last met him at the south west Wales faculty of the Royal College of General Practitioners, and he still had plenty to say at that point in time, as he always did. I recognise what you say about sharing risk and sharing benefit, and we see developed countries—not just developing world countries, developed countries—where they don't have the same privileged access that we enjoy as a right in this country, the United States being the most obvious example, where people still cannot afford what we would think of as basic healthcare.
On your challenge about social care funding, of course, in 'A Healthier Wales', we committed to reviewing the future needs on a social care basis and to do that in partnership with local government and, in particular, the Association of Directors for Social Services, but also to review the funding to go with that as well. In that regard, in the last week we had the report from Gerry Holtham, looking at the future and potential options for how we might choose to use our powers in this place to fill the gap in social care funding. I would be delighted if we did not need to do so, if there was a different settlement at a UK level for public services, but we should not wait for that to be the case. His proposal of creating a fund that is ring-fenced for social care purposes is particularly interesting, and Ministers across the Government are looking at those proposals to try and understand what that would mean for us. I look forward to a range of cross-sector engagement and involvement in what those proposals mean, because this is a challenge for the country and not just for one political party.
Diolch i chi am eich sylwadau. Yn rhyfedd ddigon, fe wnaethoch chi sôn am Julian Tudor Hart—dyn yr ydych chi wedi ei gyfarfod sawl gwaith eich hun—cyfarfûm ag ef ddiwethaf yng nghyfadran de-orllewin Cymru o Goleg Brenhinol yr Ymarferwyr Cyffredinol, ac roedd yn dal ganddo ddigon i'w ddweud ar yr adeg honno, fel yr oedd ganddo bob amser. Rwy'n cydnabod yr hyn yr ydych yn ei ddweud am rannu risg a rhannu buddion, ac rydym yn gweld gwledydd datblygedig—nid dim ond gwledydd datblygol y byd, gwledydd datblygedig—lle nad oes ganddyn nhw yr un mynediad breintiedig ag sydd gennym ni fel hawl yn y wlad hon, yr Unol Daleithiau yw'r enghraifft fwyaf amlwg, lle mae pobl yn dal i fod yn methu fforddio yr hyn y byddem ni yn ei ystyried yn ofal iechyd sylfaenol.
Ar eich her ynghylch cyllido gofal cymdeithasol, wrth gwrs, yn 'Cymru Iachach', fe wnaethom ymrwymo i adolygu anghenion yn y dyfodol ar sail gofal cymdeithasol ac i wneud hynny mewn partneriaeth â llywodraeth leol ac, yn benodol, Gymdeithas Cyfarwyddwyr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ond i adolygu'r cyllid i fynd gyda hynny hefyd. Yn hynny o beth, yn yr wythnos ddiwethaf cawsom yr adroddiad gan Gerry Holtham, yn edrych ar yr opsiynau ar gyfer y dyfodol a'r opsiynau posibl ar gyfer sut y gallem ni ddewis defnyddio ein pwerau yn y lle hwn i lenwi'r bwlch yn y cyllid ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol. Byddwn i'n falch iawn pe na fyddai angen i ni wneud hynny, pe byddai yna setliad gwahanol ar lefel y DU ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ond ni ddylem ni aros i hynny fod yn wir. Mae ei gynnig ef o greu cronfa sy'n cael ei neilltuo at ddibenion gofal cymdeithasol yn arbennig o ddiddorol, ac mae Gweinidogion o bob rhan o'r Llywodraeth yn edrych ar y cynigion hynny i geisio deall beth y mae'r cynigion hyn yn ei olygu i ni. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at amrywiaeth o ymgysylltiad traws-sector ac ymwneud yn yr hyn y mae'r cynigion yn ei olygu, oherwydd mae hon yn her i'r wlad ac nid dim ond i un blaid wleidyddol.
I have two more speakers, and I will call both of them even though we're running out of time, but that's no indication that you can go on for five minutes, and I'm sure you won't, either of you. David Rees.
Mae gennyf ddau siaradwr arall, a galwaf ar y ddau ohonyn nhw er ein bod ni'n brin o amser, ond dydy hynny ddim yn arwydd y gallwch chi fynd ymlaen am bum munud, ac rwy'n siŵr na wnewch chi, y naill na'r llall ohonoch chi. David Rees.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I won't. Can I, first of all, thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement this afternoon? It gives me an opportunity to put on record my thanks and appreciation to all the NHS staff who have worked over those 70 years and who are still working and will be working in the years ahead of us. Again I put on record, Deputy Presiding Officer, that my wife is one of those members of staff at this point in time. Can I also pay tribute to Dr Julian Hart, who passed away on Sunday? Of course, he was a GP in Glyncorrwg in my Afan Valley. He actually worked alongside Dr Brian Gibbons, my predecessor, and also former health Minister. So, he is well-known to many of us, and his loss is a sad loss to society because of the work he did for deprived communities, particularly in the Valleys.
Cabinet Secretary, you've highlighted many issues, and I think one of the biggest things you've highlighted is perhaps the understanding that there is a need for change and we have to empower that change, both within the service and also within the public. Part of our role as politicians is to take that challenge on board and to lead that change—[Inaudible.]—anywhere else and to recognise that we can't always keep on saying, 'Well, it worked better 10 years ago, so that's the way it has to stay', but in doing so we need also therefore to look at strategies for that change. Clearly, recently, in my own area, we've seen a change in the strategy of bed closures as an example, but we don't have a clinical strategy. The Welsh Government has put together fantastic programmes and plans—the cancer care delivery plan, the respiratory care plan, and many others—but the question I want ask is: where's the joined-up thinking to ensure that all these plans can work together to deliver a clinical strategy for the whole of the service, and how do the health boards also ensure they have a clinical strategy? So, when we come across a service that is working better, that is improving because of efficiency measures, instead of closing beds we look at how we can best use those beds to improve the strategies in other areas to deliver the service for our patients. I think that is an important way forward because I—like Angela Burns—want to see it, not for 30 years or 70 years—and I won't be around in 70 years—but for years ahead, so our children, their grandchildren and their children beyond that will have a service that they can rely upon as free at the point of need. I have a sister in America, who doesn't have that service, and, believe you me, we don't want to see anything like that. We need to ensure that the health service continues, but we do have to embrace change, but also change that carries us with it, and carries the patients with it. So, therefore, that's important.
Can I also ask the question: the South Wales Programme was clearly one of these mechanisms by which we would see this change, but I'm seeing very little as a consequence of the South Wales Programme, so when will we see more on that to ensure that the service change, which was led by clinicians, will actually deliver those changes we so desperately want? Because we know that there is a difficult challenge ahead of us. We know the resources are difficult.
Finally, on the workforce, I think Rhun ap Iorwerth highlighted a very important point about how we develop it, and you answered quite well. It's not just about nurses and not just about doctors; it's a wide range of staff. Can you assure that Health Education and Improvement Wales covers that wide range of staff, and, if we are talking about new equipment, we also have the additional staff to resource that new equipment? Because a positron emission tomography scanner in a new hospital is fantastic, but it needs staff to work that PET scanner, and those staff are important to delivery.
Diolch ichi, Dirprwy Lywydd, a wnaf i ddim. A gaf i, yn gyntaf oll, ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am ei ddatganiad y prynhawn yma? Mae'n gyfle i mi gofnodi fy niolch a fy ngwerthfawrogiad o holl staff y GIG sydd wedi gweithio dros y 70 mlynedd hynny ac sy'n dal i weithio ac a fydd yn gweithio yn y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod. Eto rwy'n cofnodi, Dirprwy Lywydd, fod fy ngwraig yn un o'r aelodau staff hynny ar hyn o bryd. A gaf i hefyd dalu teyrnged i Dr Julian Hart, a fu farw ddydd Sul? Wrth gwrs, roedd yn feddyg teulu yng Nglyncorrwg yn fy Nghwm Afan i. Mewn gwirionedd, gweithiodd ochr yn ochr â Dr Brian Gibbons, fy rhagflaenydd, a chyn Weinidog iechyd hefyd. Felly, mae'n adnabyddus i lawer ohonom ni, ac mae ei golli yn golled drist i gymdeithas oherwydd y gwaith a wnaeth dros gymunedau difreintiedig, yn enwedig yn y Cymoedd.
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, rydych chi wedi tynnu sylw at nifer o faterion, a chredaf efallai mai un o'r pethau mwyaf yr ydych chi wedi tynnu sylw ato yw'r ddealltwriaeth bod angen newid, ac mae'n rhaid inni rymuso'r newid hwnnw, o fewn y gwasanaeth a hefyd o fewn y cyhoedd. Rhan o'n swyddogaeth ni fel gwleidyddion yw derbyn yr her honno ac arwain y newid hwnnw—[Anghlywadwy.]—unrhyw le arall ac i gydnabod na allwn ni ddal ati i ddweud, 'Wel, roedd yn gweithio'n well 10 mlynedd yn ôl, felly dyna'r ffordd y mae'n rhaid iddo aros', ond wrth wneud hynny, mae angen inni hefyd felly edrych ar strategaethau ar gyfer y newid hwnnw. Yn amlwg, yn ddiweddar, yn fy ardal i fy hun, rydym ni wedi gweld newid yn y strategaeth o gau gwelyau fel enghraifft, ond nid oes gennym ni strategaeth glinigol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llunio cynlluniau a rhaglenni gwych—y cynllun cyflawni gofal canser, y cynllun gofal anadlol, a llawer o rai eraill—ond y cwestiwn yr wyf i eisiau ei ofyn yw: ble mae'r ystyriaeth gydgysylltiedig i sicrhau y gall yr holl gynlluniau hyn weithio gyda'i gilydd i gyflawni strategaeth glinigol ar gyfer y gwasanaeth cyfan, a sut mae'r byrddau iechyd hefyd yn sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw strategaeth glinigol? Felly, pan fyddwn yn dod ar draws gwasanaeth sy'n gweithio'n well, sy'n gwella oherwydd mesurau effeithlonrwydd, yn hytrach na chau gwelyau rydym yn ystyried sut orau y gallwn ni ddefnyddio'r gwelyau hynny i wella'r strategaethau mewn meysydd eraill i ddarparu'r gwasanaeth ar gyfer ein cleifion. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n gam pwysig ymlaen oherwydd yr wyf i—fel Angela Burns—eisiau ei weld, nid dim ond am 30 mlynedd neu 70 o flynyddoedd—a byddaf i ddim yma mewn 70 mlynedd—ond am flynyddoedd i ddod, fel bod gan ein plant ni, eu hwyrion a'u plant hwythau y tu hwnt i hynny wasanaeth y gallan nhw ddibynnu arno am ddim pan fydd ei angen. Mae gen i chwaer yn America, ac nid oes ganddi hi'r gwasanaeth hwnnw. Credwch chi fi, dydyn ni ddim eisiau gweld unrhyw beth tebyg i hynny. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod y gwasanaeth iechyd yn parhau, ond mae'n rhaid inni groesawu newid, ond hefyd newid sy'n mynd â ni gydag ef, ac sy'n cario cleifion gydag ef. Felly, mae hynny'n bwysig.
A gaf i hefyd ofyn y cwestiwn: roedd Rhaglen De Cymru yn amlwg yn un o'r dulliau hyn y byddem ni'n gweld y newid hwn yn ei sgil, ond ychydig iawn yr wyf i'n ei weld o ganlyniad i Raglen De Cymru, felly pryd fyddwn ni'n gweld mwy ar hynny i sicrhau y bydd y newid yn y gwasanaeth, a gafodd ei arwain gan glinigwyr, yn sicrhau y newidiadau hynny y mae eu hangen arnom ni mor druenus? Oherwydd rydym ni'n gwybod bod her anodd o'n blaenau. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod yr adnoddau yn anodd.
Yn olaf, o ran y gweithlu, rwy'n credu bod Rhun ap Iorwerth wedi codi pwynt pwysig iawn ynghylch sut yr ydym ni'n ei ddatblygu, a gwnaethoch chi ateb yn eithaf da. Nid yw'n ymwneud â nyrsys a meddygon yn unig; mae'n ymwneud ag amrywiaeth eang o staff. A allwch chi sicrhau bod Addysg a Gwella Iechyd Cymru yn cwmpasu'r amrediad eang hwnnw o staff, ac, os ydym ni'n sôn am offer newydd, fod gennym ni hefyd y staff ychwanegol i ddefnyddio'r offer newydd hwnnw? Oherwydd mae sganiwr tomograffeg allyrru positronau mewn ysbyty newydd yn wych, ond mae angen staff i weithredu'r sganiwr PET hwnnw, ac mae'r staff hynny yn bwysig i'r ddarpariaeth.