Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
13/11/2018Cynnwys
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 cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mike Hedges.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister. And the first question is from Mike Hedges.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gyllido'r cynnydd mewn cyfraniadau pensiwn athrawon? OAQ52895
1. Will the First Minister make a statement on funding the increase in teacher pension contributions? OAQ52895
I share the concerns of others in the public sector that the proposed changes to public sector pension schemes risk diverting further funding from front-line services. The UK Government is responsible for these changes and we have made it clear that they must fund the increase in pension contributions.
Rwy'n rhannu pryderon pobl eraill yn y sector cyhoeddus bod perygl y bydd y newidiadau arfaethedig i gynlluniau pensiwn sector cyhoeddus yn dargyfeirio rhagor o arian o wasanaethau rheng flaen. Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am y newidiadau hyn ac rydym ni wedi ei gwneud yn glir bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw ariannu'r cynnydd i gyfraniadau pensiwn.
Can I thank the First Minister for that answer? The cost of funding the increase in the employer teacher pension contributions follows the decision of Westminster to implement cost capping, and this will fall mainly on school budgets. Unless money comes from Westminster—and there may be money from Westminster—will the First Minister commit that any money that comes as a consequential of the additional money for schools in England to cover the pensions will actually be given to schools in Wales?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna? Mae'r gost o ariannu'r cynnydd i gyfraniadau pensiwn cyflogwyr athrawon yn dilyn penderfyniad San Steffan i gyflwyno cap costau, a bydd hyn yn effeithio ar gyllidebau ysgolion yn bennaf. Oni ddaw arian gan San Steffan—ac efallai y bydd arian gan San Steffan—a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ymrwymo y bydd unrhyw arian a ddaw fel swm canlyniadol o'r arian ychwanegol ar gyfer ysgolion yn Lloegr i dalu am y pensiynau wir yn cael ei roi i ysgolion yng Nghymru?
Well, we have already made it clear that local authorities are first in the queue, although there is a queue in terms of funding, but that depends on whether we do get consequentials. What is not fair, nor is it right, is a situation to arise where the UK Government imposes extra costs on local authorities that the Welsh Government is then expected to fund. That clearly can't be right. So, where costs are imposed by Government, we have an agreement with local authorities where we say that any new costs will be funded. The UK Government needs to do the same.
Wel, rydym ni eisoes wedi ei gwneud yn glir bod awdurdodau lleol ar flaen y ciw, er bod ciw o ran cyllid, ond mae hynny'n dibynnu ar ba un a fyddwn ni yn cael symiau canlyniadol ai peidio. Yr hyn nad yw'n deg, ac nad yw'n iawn ychwaith, yw sefyllfa'n codi pan fo Llywodraeth y DU yn gorfodi costau ychwanegol ar awdurdodau lleol y disgwylir i Lywodraeth Cymru eu hariannu wedyn. Ni all hynny fod yn iawn, yn amlwg. Felly, pan fydd costau yn cael eu gorfodi gan y Llywodraeth, mae gennym ni gytundeb gydag awdurdodau lleol lle'r ydym ni'n dweud y bydd unrhyw gostau newydd yn cael eu hariannu. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU wneud yr un fath.
Well, of course, local authorities complain all the time that they're asked to make spending decisions based on decisions made here that aren't followed up by money. And if the Welsh Local Government Association is right on this one, we'll have far fewer teachers building up pensions rights anyway as a result of the cash cuts to both local government and the education budgets in the recent budget announcement.
Last week, we heard from the leader of Bridgend council about the cuts he was planning on making to services following the Welsh Government draft budget, and this week we have Swansea council's leader—both of these Labour, of course—saying that he's going to be making cuts to his schools budget due to the settlement from Welsh Government. The Chancellor's budget allocates three years' worth of funding. So, in your final weeks as First Minister, will you use some of that additional money to give local authority leaders in Wales the money they need to fund schools and staff?
Wel, wrth gwrs, mae awdurdodau lleol yn cwyno bob amser y gofynnir iddyn nhw wneud penderfyniadau gwario yn seiliedig ar benderfyniadau a wneir yma nad ydyn nhw'n eu dilyn gan arian. Ac os yw Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn iawn am hyn, bydd gennym ni lawer llai o athrawon yn cronni hawliau pensiynau beth bynnag o ganlyniad i'r toriadau arian parod i'r cyllidebau llywodraeth leol ac addysg yn y cyhoeddiad cyllideb diweddar.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, clywsom gan arweinydd cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr am y toriadau yr oedd yn bwriadu eu gwneud i wasanaethau yn dilyn cyllideb ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru, ac yr wythnos hon mae gennym ni arweinydd cyngor Abertawe—y ddau o'r rhain o'r balid Lafur, wrth gwrs—yn dweud ei fod yn mynd i wneud toriadau i'r gyllideb ysgolion oherwydd y setliad gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae cyllideb y Canghellor yn dyrannu gwerth tair blynedd o gyllid. Felly, yn eich wythnosau olaf fel Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ddefnyddio rhywfaint o'r arian ychwanegol hwnnw i roi'r arian i arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru sydd ei angen arnynt i ariannu ysgolion a staff?
The Chancellor's funding decision does not give us three years of funding, nor is it anything like the figure that he suggested of £555 million. In fact, we estimate it's around about £50 million or £60 million of revenue in this year, and £2.6 million in capital. So, a great deal of spin has gone into that announcement. What I can say is, having spoken to the leader of Bridgend, and spoken to the leader of Swansea, is, yes, they face difficult decisions and we're looking to help them, but they are absolutely clear that those decisions they face are as a result of the austerity imposed by a Tory Government in London.
Nid yw penderfyniad ariannu'r Canghellor yn rhoi tair blynedd o gyllid i ni, ac nid yw'n agos at y ffigur a awgrymodd o £555 miliwn. A dweud y gwir, rydym ni'n amcangyfrif ei fod tua £50 miliwn neu £60 miliwn o refeniw y flwyddyn hon, ac yn £2.6 miliwn mewn cyfalaf. Felly, mae llawer iawn o sbin yn gysylltiedig â'r cyhoeddiad hwnnw. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud, ar ôl siarad ag arweinydd Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, a siarad ag arweinydd Abertawe, yw, ydy, maen nhw'n wynebu penderfyniadau anodd ac rydym ni'n ceisio eu helpu nhw, ond maen nhw'n gwbl glir bod y penderfyniadau hynny y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu yn ganlyniad i'r cyni cyllidol a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd yn Llundain.
Mae'n amlwg fod yr ansicrwydd o gwmpas y taliadau pensiwn yma yn creu problemau mawr ar lawr gwlad, ac nid ydym ni'n glir o gwbl beth fydd y mecanwaith ar gyfer darparu'r arian ychwanegol yma. Pa drafodaethau ydych chi'n eu cael, felly, efo'r Trysorlys, efo'ch Aelodau Seneddol chi yn San Steffan ac, yn wir, efo'r undebau addysg ynglŷn â'r broblem yma?
It’s clear that the uncertainty around these pension payments is creating great problems at a grass-roots level, and it’s not clear at all what the mechanism will be for providing the additional funding. What discussions are you having, therefore, with the Treasury, with your Members of Parliament in Westminster and, indeed, with the teaching unions about this problem?
Rydym ni wedi ysgrifennu, gyda'r Alban, i alw am y newidiadau ynglŷn â'r pensiynau athrawon, a dylai hynny gael ei gyllido gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Nhw, wrth gwrs, sydd wedi creu'r sefyllfa, ac mae'r un peth yn yr Alban, fel rwy'n deall, ac felly rydym ni wedi ysgrifennu gyda'n gilydd er mwyn dweud, 'Chi sydd wedi mynnu dodi'r gost hyn ar awdurdodau lleol, felly chi ddylai dalu.'
We, along with Scotland, have written to call for changes in teachers’ pensions, and that should be funded from the UK Government. It’s they who have created this situation, and the same is true in Scotland, as I understand it, and so we have written jointly to say, ‘You have insisted on imposing this additional cost on local authorities, therefore you should fund it’.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am effaith cofrestru ail gartrefi fel eiddo busnes ar dderbyniadau treth cyngor? OAQ52931
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the impact of registering second homes as business properties on council tax receipts? OAQ52931
Cyfrifoldeb Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio, yn annibynnol ar Lywodraeth Cymru, yw penderfynu a ddylai pob eiddo dalu treth gyngor neu ardrethi annomestig, ac mae’r penderfyniadau hynny yn cael eu gwneud gan ddilyn meini prawf sydd wedi’u gosod yn y gyfraith.
It is the responsibility of the Valuation Office Agency, independently of the Welsh Government, to determine whether each property in Wales is liable for council tax or for non-domestic rates, and these decisions are made according to criteria set out in law.
Mae'n hysbys iawn yr effaith mae pryniant ar farchnad ail gartrefi a thai gwyliau yn ei chael ar allu pobl ifanc i gael ar yr ysgol eiddo yn lleol. Mae o'n gwthio prisiau i fyny ac yn gwthio pobl allan o'r farchnad dai. Rydym ni'n gwybod beth yw difrifoldeb y broblem—36 o dai a gafodd eu gwerthu yn Ynys Môn yn 2017-18 yn ail gartrefi neu yn buy-to-lets. Mae'r ffigurau'n uwch fyth yng Ngwynedd, ac mae hynny'n bryderus iawn. Rwy'n gefnogol iawn o fesurau, er enghraifft, fel codi mwy o dreth cyngor ar ail gartrefi fel ffordd o wneud i bobl feddwl ddwywaith, neu i ddod â rhagor o arian i mewn i goffrau cynghorau lleol. Ond mae yna batrwm yn ymddangos erbyn hyn lle mae mwy a mwy o bobl, yn hytrach na thalu treth cyngor ar y tai, yn eu cofrestru nhw fel eiddo busnes fel y byddan nhw wedyn yn gorfod talu ardrethi busnes. Ond, fel busnesau bach, maen nhw'n cael rhyddhad llawn o ardrethi busnes, ac mae hynny'n costio'n ddrud i awdurdodau lleol. A ydy'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno bod hwn yn loophole sydd angen ei gau, a beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn ystyried ei wneud er mwyn cau y loophole yna?
The impact of the second-homes market and holiday homes is well known, in terms of young people’s ability to get on the property ladder locally. It pushes prices up and pushes people out of the housing market. We know the gravity of the problem—36 homes sold in Anglesey in 2017-18 were second homes or buy-to-lets. The figures are even higher in Gwynedd, and that’s very concerning indeed. I’m very supportive of measures such as charging more council tax on second homes as a way of making people think twice or to bring more funds into local authority coffers. But there is a pattern emerging now, where more and more people, rather than paying council tax on their homes, are registering them as business properties so that they would then have to pay business rates. But, as small businesses, they receive full business rate relief, and that is expensive for local authorities. Does the First Minister agree with me that this is a loophole that needs to be closed, and what is the Government considering doing in order to close that loophole?
Nid ydw i'n credu ei fod e'n loophole. Mae'r gyfraith yn eithaf clir—mae'r gyfraith yn gryfach nag yn Lloegr. Mater, wrth gwrs, i'r swyddfa brisio yw hwn, ond os yw rhywun yn moyn newid eu statws, lle maen nhw'n newid o dalu treth y cyngor i dalu ardrethi anomestig, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddangos tystiolaeth bod hynny'n iawn. Nawr, allan nhw ddim jest datgan mai dyna sydd wedi digwydd; mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddangos tystiolaeth. Os yw'r dystiolaeth honno yn wan, neu os nad yw'r dystiolaeth yn ddigonol, felly wrth gwrs y byddai'r swyddfa brisio yn gallu ailystyried beth maen nhw wedi ei wneud, ac wedyn maen nhw'n gallu rhoi bil iddyn nhw, sydd yn mynd nôl efallai flynyddoedd ynglŷn â thalu treth y cyngor. Felly, sicrhau bod y gyfraith yn cael ei hystyried yw'r pwynt fan hyn. Rwy'n credu bod y gyfraith yn ddigon clir, ond mae hi lan i'r swyddfa brisio blismona'r sefyllfa.
I don’t think there’s a loophole, but the law is very clear—it’s stronger than in England. It is a matter, of course, for the Valuation Office Agency, but if somebody wants to change their status, where they change from paying the council tax to paying business non-domestic rates, they have to show evidence that that is correct. They can’t just state that; they have to provide evidence. If that evidence is weak, or the evidence isn’t sufficient, the Valuation Office Agency can reconsider what they’ve done, and then, of course, they can give them a bill that could go back years regarding paying the council tax. So, ensuring that the law is considered is the point here, and I think the law is clear enough, but it's up to the Valuation Office Agency to police the situation.
Well, you refer to the criteria that the Valuation Office Agency must adjudicate, where, in Wales, property is judged to be a business property and not liable for business rates if it's available for letting commercially as self-catering accommodation for 140 or more days in the following 12 months, has been in the previous 12 months, and has actually been commercially let for at least 70 days during that period. What assurance can you therefore provide the many providers, from Flintshire to Anglesey, who have contacted me, who run legitimate self-catering business, many of whom are farms that have diversified, that their genuine and legitimate businesses will not be compromised by any changes that might come?
Wel, rydych chi'n cyfeirio at y meini prawf y mae'n rhaid i Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio eu dyfarnu, lle, yng Nghymru, ystyrir bod eiddo yn eiddo busnes ac nad yw'n agored i dalu ardrethi busnes os yw ar gael i'w osod yn fasnachol fel llety hunan-arlwyo am 140 neu fwy o ddiwrnodau yn ystod y 12 mis canlynol, wedi ei osod yn ystod y 12 mis blaenorol, ac wedi ei osod yn fasnachol am o leiaf 70 diwrnod yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw. Pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi i'r darparwyr niferus felly, o Sir y Fflint i Ynys Môn, sydd wedi cysylltu â mi, sy'n rhedeg busnes hunan-arlwyo cyfreithlon, y mae llawer ohonyn nhw yn ffermydd sydd wedi arallgyfeirio, na fydd eu busnesau dilys a chyfreithlon yn cael eu peryglu gan unrhyw newidiadau a allai ddigwydd?
Well, genuine businesses need not fear, of course. What I can say is that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance is evaluating the impact of the introduction of council tax premiums. That does include a survey of local authorities, to assess how many properties have switched from council tax to non-domestic rates. Once that survey is complete, we can then see what the scale of the problem is, and whether there is a need to do more to ensure that people pay properly, according to the status of the property that they own.
Wel, nid oes angen i fusnesau dilys ofni, wrth gwrs. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud yw bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid yn gwerthuso effaith cyflwyno premiymau treth gyngor. Mae hynny'n cynnwys arolwg o awdurdodau lleol, i asesu faint o eiddo sydd wedi newid o'r dreth gyngor i ardrethi annomestig. Ar ôl i'r arolwg hwnnw gael ei gwblhau, gallwn weld wedyn beth yw maint y broblem, a pha un a oes angen gwneud mwy i sicrhau bod pobl yn talu'n briodol, yn unol â statws yr eiddo y maen nhw'n berchen arno.
Will the Welsh Government legislate to ensure that all properties built or adapted for housing have to pay council tax based upon the band they're in and any second home premium charged by the local authority, or that the business rate relief for rented out properties is abolished? Because I think this is a loophole: it has to be available for 140 days; it is quite easy to make something available for 140 days, and get round it. It has to be let out for 70 days, whether renting out to family counts, which a lot of people do, in that you collect more rent, but they let family members use it, and therefore that builds up to the 70 days. So, will the Government look at taking either of those two actions, to ensure that local authorities get the money they deserve?
A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ddeddfu i sicrhau bod yn rhaid i bob eiddo sy'n cael ei adeiladu neu ei addasu ar gyfer tai dalu'r dreth gyngor yn seiliedig ar y band y maen nhw ynddo a bod unrhyw bremiwm ail gartref sy'n cael ei godi gan yr awdurdod lleol, neu'r rhyddhad ardrethi busnes ar gyfer eiddo rhent yn cael eu diddymu? Oherwydd rwy'n credu bod hwn yn fwlch: mae'n rhaid iddo fod ar gael am 140 diwrnod; mae'n hawdd iawn rhoi rhywbeth ar gael am 140 diwrnod, a'i osgoi. Mae'n rhaid ei osod am 70 diwrnod, pa un a yw rhentu i deulu yn cyfrif, y mae llawer o bobl yn ei wneud, o'r safbwynt eich bod yn casglu mwy o rent, ond maen nhw'n gadael i aelodau teulu ei ddefnyddio, ac felly mae hynny'n cronni i'r 70 diwrnod. Felly, a wnaiff y Llywodraeth ystyried edrych ar y naill neu'r llall o'r ddau gam hynny, i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn cael yr arian y maen nhw'n ei haeddu?
We've legislated to allow local authorities to charge council tax premiums on second homes. As I said in the answer earlier, it's the responsibility of the Valuation Office Agency—independently of the Government—to determine the status of each property in Wales. As I said, those second home owners who try to game the system could find themselves facing very large backdated bills for council tax. But, again, I refer to the answer I gave earlier, where a review is being conducted, to examine the scale of the problem in different parts of Wales.
Rydym ni wedi deddfu i ganiatáu i awdurdodau lleol godi premiymau treth gyngor ar ail gartrefi. Fel y dywedais yn yr ateb yn gynharach, cyfrifoldeb Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio—yn annibynnol ar y Llywodraeth—yw pennu statws pob eiddo yng Nghymru. Fel y dywedais, gallai'r perchnogion ail gartrefi hynny sy'n ceisio twyllo'r system ganfod eu hunain yn wynebu biliau wedi'u hôl-ddyddio mawr iawn ar gyfer y dreth gyngor. Ond, unwaith eto, cyfeiriaf at yr ateb a roddais yn gynharach, sy'n golygu bod adolygiad yn cael ei gynnal, i archwilio maint y broblem mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the opposition, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, why does your Government spend £678 less per pupil than in England?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, pam mae eich Llywodraeth yn gwario £678 yn llai fesul disgybl nag yn Lloegr?
That's a figure that's simply wrong. If he wishes to provide me with evidence for that figure, I'm willing to hear it.
Mae hwnna'n ffigur sy'n gwbl anghywir. Os yw'n dymuno rhoi tystiolaeth o'r ffigur hwnnw i mi, rwy'n barod i'w chlywed.
First Minister, these are figures from the Welsh branch of the NASUWT union, and this is despite having a funding settlement that allows £120 to be spent per person in Wales for every £100 spent in England. But it's not just your decision to underfund schools that has led to a decline in standards, it is the failure of your Government to set a clear direction for education here in Wales. Let's take the Programme for International Student Assessment targets, for example—a clear measure of managed decline in school standards. In 2011, your colleague, and the then education Minister, Leighton Andrews—Leighton Andrews: remember him? Yes; perhaps you don't want to remember him—set the ambitious target that, by 2015, Wales would be ranked in the top 20 countries for PISA results. The reality, First Minister, is that we are currently ranking thirty-ninth out of 71, and now there's no target at all. There is no ambition, no drive and no desire at the heart of your administration to develop an internationally competitive education system, which speaks volumes from a tired and unambitious Welsh Labour Government. So, do you agree with your previous colleague Leighton Andrews that Wales's education system continues to be complacent, falling short of being consistently good and not delivering the outcomes that our learners deserve? Would you agree that Wales's education system is currently in a weaker place now than when you became First Minister?
Prif Weinidog, mae'r rhain yn ffigurau gan gangen Cymru undeb Cymdeithas Genedlaethol yr Ysgolfeistri ac Undeb yr Athrawesau, ac mae hyn er gwaethaf cael setliad ariannu sy'n caniatáu i £120 gael ei wario fesul person yng Nghymru ar gyfer pob £100 sy'n cael ei wario yn Lloegr. Ond nid eich penderfyniad i dan-ariannu ysgolion yn unig sydd wedi arwain at ddirywiad i safonau, ond methiant eich Llywodraeth i bennu cyfeiriad eglur ar gyfer addysg yma yng Nghymru. Gadewch i ni edrych ar dargedau'r Rhaglen Ryngwladol Asesu Myfyrwyr, er enghraifft—mesuriad eglur o ddirywiad wedi ei reoli mewn safonau ysgolion. Yn 2011, pennwyd y targed uchelgeisiol gan eich cyd-Aelod, y Gweinidog addysg ar y pryd, Leighton Andrews—Leighton Andrews: ydych chi'n ei gofio fe? Ie; efallai nad ydych chi eisiau ei gofio—y byddai Cymru, erbyn 2015, yn yr 20 gwlad uchaf o ran canlyniadau PISA. Y gwir amdani, Prif Weinidog, yw ein bod ni yn y nawfed ar ddeg ar hugain safle allan o 71 ar hyn o bryd, ac nid oes unrhyw darged o gwbl erbyn hyn. Nid oes unrhyw uchelgais, dim ysgogiad a dim awydd wrth wraidd eich gweinyddiaeth i ddatblygu system addysg sy'n gystadleuol yn rhyngwladol, sy'n dweud cyfrolau gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru flinedig ac sy'n dangos diffyg uchelgais. Felly, a ydych chi'n cytuno â'ch cyd-Aelod blaenorol, Leighton Andrews, bod system addysg Cymru yn parhau i fod yn hunanfodlon, ac yn methu â bod yn gyson dda a chyflawni canlyniadau y mae ein dysgwyr yn eu haeddu? A ydych chi'n cytuno bod system addysg Cymru mewn lle gwannach ar hyn o bryd nag yr oedd pryd y daethoch chi'n Brif Weinidog?
Not at all. The reality is, of course, that to say that somehow the system is indifferent or that the system is in managed decline is a serious attack on our teachers who work very, very hard, day in, day out, to educate our children. The reality is that it is impossible to compare school funding between England and Wales. In England, they fund schools directly; in Wales, it doesn't happen. We give the money to local authorities and they are responsible for school funding.
He says that somehow there's a decline. Well, let me just give him some figures here: we have improved performance at the highest grades—A* to A from 17 per cent to 18 per cent in GCSEs; we see a 50 per cent increase in pupils studying science, with more getting A* to C and getting top grades for biology, chemistry and physics; we see, of course, A-level pass rates improving; we see, for example, 63 per cent of 16-year-olds getting A* to C at English language; we see mathematics numeracy is up at 60 per cent; we see improvements year after year in GCSE performance; and we see improvements year after year in A-level performance.
Our heads are not marching in the streets saying that their schools are underfunded, unlike the situation that exists under his party in England. I suggest to him, 'Go and see'. I was in his constituency a few weeks ago on a political visit—go and see the new schools that have been built or promised around Wales, and go and see how many are being built or promised in England. We want to make sure that our youngsters carry on with being able to have the facilities they require to learn, to have the support from Government that they need to learn, to have the finance from Government that they need to learn, rather than having the situation in England, where they teach young people and children in crumbling buildings while the heads are marching on the streets.
Ddim o gwbl. Y gwir amdani, wrth gwrs, yw bod dweud bod y system rywsut yn gymedrol neu fod y system mewn dirywiad a reolir yn ymosodiad difrifol ar ein hathrawon sy'n gweithio'n galed iawn, iawn, bob un dydd, i addysgu ein plant. Y gwir amdani yw ei bod hi'n amhosibl cymharu cyllid ysgolion rhwng Cymru a Lloegr. Yn Lloegr, maen nhw'n ariannu ysgolion yn uniongyrchol; yng Nghymru, nid yw'n digwydd. Rydym ni'n rhoi'r arian i awdurdodau lleol a nhw sy'n gyfrifol am ariannu ysgolion.
Mae'n dweud rywsut bod dirywiad. Wel, gadewch i mi roi rhai ffigurau iddo yn y fan yma: Rydym ni wedi gwella perfformiad ar y graddau uchaf—A* i A o 17 y cant i 18 y cant mewn arholiadau TGAU; wedi gweld cynnydd o 50 y cant yn nifer y disgyblion sy'n astudio gwyddoniaeth, gyda mwy yn ennill graddau A* i C ac yn cael y graddau uchaf ar gyfer bioleg, cemeg a ffiseg; gwelwn, wrth gwrs, gyfraddau pasio Safon Uwch yn gwella; gwelwn, er enghraifft, 63 y cant o bobl ifanc 16 oed yn cael A* i C ym mhwnc Saesneg iaith; gwelwn fod rhifedd mathemateg yn 60 y cant; gwelwn welliannau flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn i berfformiad TGAU; a gwelwn welliannau flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn i berfformiad Safon Uwch.
Nid yw ein penaethiaid yn gorymdeithio ar y strydoedd yn dweud bod eu hysgolion yn cael eu tanariannu, yn wahanol i'r sefyllfa sy'n bodoli o dan ei blaid ef yn Lloegr. Awgrymaf iddo, 'Ewch i weld'. Roeddwn i yn ei etholaeth ychydig wythnosau yn ôl ar ymweliad gwleidyddol—ewch i weld yr ysgolion newydd sydd wedi eu hadeiladu neu eu haddo ledled Cymru, ac ewch i weld faint sy'n cael eu hadeiladu neu eu haddo yn Lloegr. Rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr bod ein pobl ifanc yn parhau i allu cael y cyfleusterau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw i ddysgu, i gael y cymorth gan Lywodraeth sydd ei angen arnynt i ddysgu, i gael y cyllid gan Lywodraeth sydd ei angen arnynt i ddysgu, yn hytrach na chael y sefyllfa yn Lloegr, lle maen nhw'n addysgu pobl ifanc a phlant mewn adeiladau sy'n dadfeilio tra bod y penaethiaid yn gorymdeithio ar y strydoedd.
First Minister, you said yourself that you took your eye off the ball on education. Clearly, your party has been asleep at the wheel for the last decade. And let me give you some figures: under your party's stewardship, we've seen the worst GCSE results in a decade; the lowest ranking PISA scores in the UK, with educational attainment ranking behind countries like Vietnam and Slovakia; an 8 per cent real-terms cut to funding for education, with schools braced to experience more cuts; and the leader of your own council in your own constituency has warned that the £57 million funding gap in education created by your Government could see the loss of 1,300 teachers or 2,400 teaching assistants across Wales.
It's completely unacceptable that our pupils' and Wales's future are shouldering the burden of your Government's incompetence in this area. Our children are worth more than what you give them, First Minister. When you took office in 2009, was this the type of reform you set out to achieve? And, are you proud of your record on education?
Prif Weinidog, dywedasoch eich hun eich bod chi wedi cymryd eich llygad oddi ar y bêl o ran addysg. Yn amlwg, mae eich plaid wedi bod yn cysgu wrth yr olwyn dros y degawd diwethaf. A gadewch i mi roi rhai ffigurau i chi: o dan stiwardiaeth eich plaid chi, rydym ni wedi gweld y canlyniadau TGAU gwaethaf mewn degawd; y sgoriau PISA isaf yn y DU, gyda chyrhaeddiad addysgol sy'n waeth na gwledydd fel Fietnam a Slofacia; a thoriad o 8 y cant mewn termau real i gyllid ar gyfer addysg, gydag ysgolion yn paratoi ar gyfer mwy o doriadau; ac mae arweinydd eich cyngor eich hun yn eich etholaeth eich hun wedi rhybuddio y gallai'r bwlch ariannu o £57 miliwn ym maes addysg a grëwyd gan eich Llywodraeth chi arwain at golli 1,300 o athrawon neu 2,400 o gynorthwywyr addysgu ledled Cymru.
Mae'n gwbl annerbyniol bod dyfodol ein disgyblion a dyfodol Cymru yn ysgwyddo baich anallu eich Llywodraeth yn y maes hwn. Mae ein plant yn werth mwy na'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei roi iddyn nhw, Prif Weinidog. Pan gawsoch eich penodi i'r swydd yn 2009, ai dyma'r math o ddiwygio yr oeddech chi'n bwriadu ei gyflawni? Ac a ydych chi'n falch o'ch hanes ar addysg?
Yes and yes. But let me say two things to him: his party went into the 2011 Assembly election with a vow to cut education spending by 20 per cent—20 per cent. His own leader at the time, Nick Bourne, said it—[Interruption.]—I know you don't like it, but he said it live on a BBC Wales interview. We saw the alternative budget that his party provided, and if he has any complaint, then surely it's the fact that we haven't cut education spending enough as far as he is concerned.
Secondly, I've no doubt that we will sit here over the course of the next half an hour or so, and, indeed, in the weeks to come, while he will demand that we spend more money on everything—health, education, local government, everything—and we would like to do that. We would like to do that, but the reality is we have £4 billion less as a result of his party's policies than otherwise we would have if spending had kept up with economic development. He cannot have it both ways; he can't stand up here every week and demand money for each and every part of the Government every single week without being responsible and saying where that money is coming from. He won't do that because that's just too difficult.
Ie ac ydw. Ond gadewch i mi ddweud dau beth wrtho: aeth ei blaid ef i mewn i etholiad Cynulliad 2011 gydag addewid i dorri gwariant ar addysg gan 20 y cant—20 y cant. Dywedodd ei arweinydd ei hun ar y pryd, Nick Bourne, y byddai—[Torri ar draws.]—gwn nad ydych chi'n hoffi hyn, ond fe'i dywedodd yn fyw mewn cyfweliad ar BBC Wales. Gwelsom y gyllideb amgen a ddarparwyd gan ei blaid, ac os oes ganddo unrhyw gŵyn, does bosib nad honno yw'r ffaith nad ydym wedi torri digon ar wariant ar addysg cyn belled ag y mae ef yn y cwestiwn.
Yn ail, nid oes gen i unrhyw amheuaeth y byddwn ni'n eistedd yma yn ystod yr hanner awr nesaf, ac, yn wir, yn yr wythnosau i ddod, tra ei fod ef yn mynnu ein bod ni'n gwario mwy o arian ar bopeth—iechyd, addysg, llywodraeth leol, popeth—a hoffem ni wneud hynny. Hoffem wneud hynny, ond y gwir amdani yw bod gennym ni £4 biliwn yn llai o ganlyniad i bolisïau ei blaid ef nag y byddai gennym ni fel arall pe byddai gwariant wedi cadw i fyny â datblygiad economaidd. Ni all ei chael hi bob ffordd; ni all ef sefyll ar ei draed yma bob wythnos a gofyn am arian ar gyfer pob un rhan o'r Llywodraeth bob un wythnos heb fod yn gyfrifol a dweud o ble mae'r arian hwnnw'n dod. Ni fydd yn gwneud hynny gan fod hynny'n rhy anodd.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, are you content that the RAF are training Saudi Arabian pilots at RAF Valley on Ynys Môn, teaching the techniques that can be used in the conflict in Yemen?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n fodlon bod yr RAF yn hyfforddi peilotiaid Saudi Arabia yn RAF y Fali ar Ynys Môn, gan addysgu'r technegau y gellir eu defnyddio yn y rhyfel yn Yemen?
These are matters, of course, that are not devolved, but I certainly join with him in wishing to see a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen. The current situation is unsustainable—innocent lives are being lost—and I know the UK Government's position is also that a peace settlement needs to be reached, and soon.
Mae'r rhain yn faterion, wrth gwrs, nad ydynt wedi eu datganoli, ond rwy'n sicr yn ymuno ag ef o ran dymuno gweld ateb heddychlon i'r rhyfel yn Yemen. Mae'r sefyllfa bresennol yn anghynaliadwy—mae bywydau diniwed yn cael eu colli—a gwn mai safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU hefyd yw bod angen dod i gytundeb heddwch, a hynny'n fuan.
You say that it's a non-devolved matter, but are ethics non-devolved? Is morality non-devolved? Where does it say in the Government of Wales Act 2006 that matters of conscience are reserved to Westminster? Thousands of people have died in the Yemeni conflict, many of them civilians, and among them children. The leader of the Labour Party has called upon the UK Government to end arms exports to Saudi Arabia, which, as he has pointed out, stands accused of war crimes by the United Nations.
Now, on Sunday, at a solemn ceremony at the Cenotaph to commemorate the victims of war, you and I both pledged, and I quote, 'To strive for all that makes peace.' So, in honour of that pledge, are you prepared to promise that no Welsh Government money will go to a company that is directly supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia while this bloody conflict continues?
Rydych chi'n dweud ei fod yn fater nad yw wedi ei ddatganoli, ond a yw moeseg yn rhywbeth nad yw wedi ei ddatganoli? A yw moesoldeb yn rhywbeth nad yw wedi ei ddatganoli? Ble mae'n dweud yn Neddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006 bod materion y cydwybod wedi eu cadw yn ôl i San Steffan? Mae miloedd o bobl wedi marw yn y rhyfel yn Yemen, llawer ohonyn nhw yn sifiliaid, a phlant yn eu plith. Mae arweinydd y Blaid Lafur wedi galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i roi terfyn ar allforio arfau i Saudi Arabia, sydd, fel y nododd, wedi cael ei chyhuddo o droseddau rhyfel gan y Cenhedloedd Unedig.
Nawr, ddydd Sul, mewn seremoni sanctaidd ger y Senotaff i goffáu'r rhai a laddwyd mewn rhyfeloedd, gwnaed addewid gennych chi a minnau, a dyfynnaf, 'I ymdrechu am bopeth sy'n sicrhau heddwch.' Felly, i anrhydeddu'r addewid hwnnw, a ydych chi'n barod i addo y bydd dim o arian Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i gwmni sy'n cyflenwi arfau yn uniongyrchol i Saudi Arabia tra bod y rhyfel gwaedlyd hwn yn parhau?
I am not aware of any company that's received money in that sense. We certainly haven't had contracts with the Saudi Government, and we share the UK Government's concern, not just in terms of what's happened in Yemen, but of course the well-publicised murder of the journalist, Khashoggi, in Turkey. There are questions for Saudi Arabia to answer, and I agree with him that we should be very careful indeed, as things stand at the moment, with those two situations in terms of the way in which we engage with the Saudi Government.
Nid wyf i'n ymwybodol o unrhyw gwmni sydd wedi cael arian yn yr ystyr hwnnw. Yn sicr nid ydym ni wedi trefnu contractau gyda Llywodraeth Saudi Arabia, ac rydym ni'n rhannu pryder Llywodraeth y DU, nid yn unig o ran yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn Yemen, ond wrth gwrs llofruddiaeth y newyddiadurwr, Khashoggi, yn Nhwrci, sydd wedi cael cymaint o gyhoeddusrwydd. Mae cwestiynau i Saudi Arabia eu hateb, ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef y dylem ni fod yn ofalus iawn, fel y mae pethau ar hyn o bryd, gyda'r ddwy sefyllfa hynny o ran y ffordd yr ydym ni'n ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth Saudi.
Well, I can tell the First Minister that the Welsh Government has given over £1 million to the US defence firm Raytheon. According to CNN, Raytheon's weapons have been used in the targeted bombing of civilians in Yemen. Information from the US Department of Defense confirms that Raytheon's Welsh operations are directly and substantially involved in delivering hundreds more air-to-ground missiles to the Saudi Arabian military. That $300 million deal, incidentally, was signed a week after the chief executive officer of Raytheon flew to Riyadh to lobby Mohammed bin Salman on whose instruction Jamal Khashoggi, whom the First Minister just referred to, was reportedly murdered. So, can I ask you, First Minister, to honour your pledge and commit that not a single penny more of public money from Wales will go to a company involved in the supply of weapons to this murderous and barbaric regime?
Wel, gallaf ddweud wrth y Prif Weinidog bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi dros £1 filiwn i gwmni amddiffyn Raytheon yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Yn ôl CNN, defnyddiwyd arfau Raytheon yn y bomio wedi'i dargedu o sifiliaid yn Yemen. Mae gwybodaeth gan Adran Amddiffyn yr Unol Daleithiau yn cadarnhau bod gweithrediadau Raytheon yng Nghymru yn cymryd rhan yn uniongyrchol ac yn sylweddol yn y broses o ddanfon cannoedd yn fwy o daflegrau aer i dir i fyddin Saudi Arabia. Llofnodwyd y cytundeb $300 miliwn hwnnw, gyda llaw, wythnos ar ôl i brif swyddog gweithredol Raytheon hedfan i Riyadh i lobïo Mohammed bin Salman, y dywedwyd mai ar ei gyfarwydd ef y llofruddiwyd Jamal Khashoggi, y mae'r Prif Weinidog newydd gyfeirio ato. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Prif Weinidog, i anrhydeddu eich addewid ac ymrwymo na fydd yr un geiniog arall o arian cyhoeddus o Gymru yn mynd i gwmni sy'n ymwneud â chyflenwi arfau i'r gyfundrefn lofruddiol a barbaraidd hon?
Well, the leader of Plaid Cymru has raised an important issue there in terms of Raytheon. It's not clear what the involvement of the Raytheon plant in Deeside is with regard to Saudi Arabia. I will, however, find out, and I will write to him once I've established what the connection is. Upon seeing the results of that investigation, I will then of course respond fully to the points that he's raised.
Wel, mae arweinydd Plaid Cymru wedi codi mater pwysig yn y fan yna o ran Raytheon. Nid yw'n eglur beth yw cyfraniad ffatri Raytheon yng Nglannau Dyfrdwy o ran Saudi Arabia. Fodd bynnag, byddaf yn darganfod hynny, a byddaf yn ysgrifennu ato ar ôl o mi sefydlu beth yw'r cysylltiad. Ar ôl gweld canlyniadau'r ymchwiliad hwnnw, byddaf yn ymateb yn llawn wedyn, wrth gwrs, i'r pwyntiau y mae ef wedi eu codi.
Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Gareth Bennett.
Leader of the UKIP group, Gareth Bennett.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, one of the early policies enacted by the Welsh Government was to introduce a new educational qualification, the Welsh baccalaureate, or 'Welsh bac', as it is known. The Welsh bac has come under criticism, so do you still believe it has been a worthwhile addition to the national curriculum in Wales?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, un o'r polisïau cynnar a ddeddfwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru oedd cyflwyno cymhwyster addysgol newydd, bagloriaeth Cymru, neu 'bac Cymru', fel y'i gelwir. Mae bagloriaeth Cymru wedi cael ei feirniadu, felly a ydych chi'n dal i gredu ei fod wedi bod yn ychwanegiad gwerthfawr at y cwricwlwm cenedlaethol yng Nghymru?
Yes.
Ydw.
Yes, I thought you would probably endorse it, so thank you for the answer. I have to say that you didn't tell us why you think that, but perhaps that will become—[Interruption.] I didn't ask. That may perhaps become clearer as we progress. I have to say—[Interruption.] I have to say, the majority of students doing the A-level version of the Welsh bac probably don't agree with your assessment of it—not as far as I can see. One of the issues is that A-level students trying to get into the UK's top universities have enough on their plate as it is with three A-levels to cope with. Then, your Government goes and handicaps them in Wales by forcing them to study an extra subject, the Welsh bac, which most of the top UK universities don't even recognise, and which doesn't count towards their grades for getting onto the top courses. Would you accept that your—[Interruption.] Would you accept that your Welsh bac is simply making life more difficult for Welsh A-level students?
Ie, roeddwn i'n meddwl ei bod hi'n debygol y byddech chi'n ei gymeradwyo, felly diolch am yr ateb. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud na wnaethoch chi ddweud wrthym ni pam yr ydych chi'n credu hynny, ond efallai y daw—[Torri ar draws.] Wnes i ddim gofyn. Efallai y daw hynny'n fwy eglur wrth i ni symud ymlaen. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, mae'n debyg na fydd mwyafrif y myfyrwyr sy'n astudio fersiwn Safon Uwch bagloriaeth Cymru yn cytuno â'ch asesiad chi ohono—nid cyn belled ag y gallaf i ei weld. Un o'r problemau yw bod gan fyfyrwyr Safon Uwch sy'n ceisio cael eu derbyn i brifysgolion gorau'r DU ddigon ar eu plât fel y mae hi gyda thri chymhwyster Safon Uwch i ymdopi â nhw. Yna, mae eich Llywodraeth yn mynd ati i'w rhoi o dan anfantais yng Nghymru drwy eu gorfodi i astudio pwnc ychwanegol, bagloriaeth Cymru, nad yw'r rhan fwyaf o brifysgolion gorau'r DU yn ei gydnabod hyd yn oed, ac nad yw'n cyfrif tuag at eu graddau ar gyfer cael lle ar y cyrsiau gorau. A ydych chi'n derbyn bod eich—[Torri ar draws.] A ydych chi'n derbyn bod eich bagloriaeth Cymru yn gwneud bywyd yn fwy anodd i fyfyrwyr Safon Uwch Cymru?
This is not American politics. We like to see questions that are asked on the basis of evidence—any evidence, actually. He said that most A-level students probably wouldn't agree with me. He offers no evidence for that. He suggests that most universities see the Welsh bac as some kind of imposition or don't recognise it. There's no evidence for that at all. He believes that the Welsh bac itself is somehow handicapping our students. There's no evidence for that at all. Because what I can tell him is—I have a child, he's 16 years old, he's studying GCSEs this year, and the Welsh bac is immensely useful, because it teaches students how to operate in life and in work beyond academic subjects. They'll research topics and find out about areas like community work, they look at entrepreneurship—all the things that aren't taught in traditional subjects. So, I think what the bac does is prepare our young people in the broadest way possible not just for academic qualifications, but for the world of work. I know that many employers that I've spoken to—so that I'm not accused of making things up—have said to me that they find that those who've gone through the Welsh bac and have that qualification are better prepared to start in the world of work.
Nid gwleidyddiaeth America yw hyn. Rydym ni'n hoffi gweld cwestiynau a ofynnir ar sail tystiolaeth—unrhyw dystiolaeth, a dweud y gwir. Dywedodd ei bod yn debygol na fyddai mwyafrif y myfyrwyr Safon Uwch yn cytuno â mi. Nid yw'n cynnig unrhyw dystiolaeth ar gyfer hynny. Mae'n awgrymu bod y rhan fwyaf o brifysgolion yn gweld bagloriaeth Cymru fel rhyw fath o orfodaeth neu nad ydynt yn ei gydnabod. Nid oes unrhyw dystiolaeth o hynny o gwbl. Mae'n credu bod bagloriaeth Cymru ei hun rywsut yn rhoi ein myfyrwyr o dan anfantais. Nid oes unrhyw dystiolaeth o hynny o gwbl. Oherwydd yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrtho yw—mae gen i blentyn, mae'n 16 mlwydd oed, mae'n astudio ar gyfer TGAU eleni, ac mae bagloriaeth Cymru yn hynod ddefnyddiol, gan ei fod yn addysgu myfyrwyr sut i weithredu mewn bywyd ac mewn gwaith y tu hwnt i bynciau academaidd. Byddan nhw'n ymchwilio i bynciau ac yn dod i wybod am feysydd fel gwaith cymunedol, maen nhw'n edrych ar entrepreneuriaeth—yr holl bethau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu haddysgu mewn pynciau traddodiadol. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y mae'r bac yn ei wneud yw paratoi ein pobl ifanc yn y ffordd ehangaf bosibl nid yn unig ar gyfer cymwysterau academaidd, ond ar gyfer y byd gwaith. Gwn fod llawer o gyflogwyr yr wyf i wedi siarad â nhw—fel nad wyf i'n cael fy nghyhuddo o ddweud celwydd—wedi dweud wrthyf eu bod nhw'n canfod bod y rhai sydd wedi bod trwy fagloriaeth Cymru ac wedi ennill y cymhwyster hwnnw wedi eu paratoi'n well i ddechrau yn y byd gwaith.
Yes, you say it prepares them better, but it also hinders them from getting onto the top courses. Now, you wanted—[Interruption.] You wanted evidence, so listen to some evidence. We know from freedom of information requests that in 2017 Oxford and Cambridge universities made 153 conditional offers to Welsh-domiciled students, none of which included the Welsh bac. Imperial College London said that it is not standard practice to make offers that include the Welsh bac. Indeed, out of 19 Russell Group universities, 14 of them made more conditional offers that did not include the Welsh bac to Welsh-based students than those that did. Therefore, would you agree that, based on the evidence before us, the Welsh bac does nothing to help Welsh students into top universities and everything, in fact, to hinder them? And would you agree with me that your Government should now seriously consider abolishing the Welsh bac altogether?
Ie, rydych chi'n dweud ei fod yn eu paratoi'n well, ond mae hefyd yn eu rhwystro rhag cael eu derbyn ar y cyrsiau gorau. Nawr, roeddech chi eisiau—[Torri ar draws.] Roeddech chi eisiau tystiolaeth, felly gwrandewch ar rywfaint o dystiolaeth. Rydym ni'n gwybod o geisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth bod prifysgolion Rhydychen a Chaergrawnt wedi gwneud 153 o gynigion amodol i fyfyrwyr o Gymru yn 2017, ac nid oedd yr un ohonyn nhw yn cynnwys bagloriaeth Cymru. Dywedodd Coleg Imperial Llundain nad yw'n arfer safonol gwneud cynigion sy'n cynnwys bagloriaeth Cymru. Yn wir, o 19 o brifysgolion Grŵp Russell, gwnaeth 14 ohonynt fwy o gynigion amodol nad oeddent yn cynnwys bagloriaeth Cymru i fyfyrwyr yng Nghymru na'r rhai a oedd yn ei gynnwys. Felly, a fyddech chi'n cytuno, yn seiliedig ar y dystiolaeth ger ein bron, nad yw bagloriaeth Cymru yn gwneud dim i helpu myfyrwyr Cymru i gael eu derbyn i'r prifysgolion gorau ac yn gwneud popeth, mewn gwirionedd, i'w rhwystro? A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y dylai eich Llywodraeth ystyried o ddifrif diddymu bagloriaeth Cymru yn gyfan gwbl?
No. He doesn't like it because it's Welsh. Let's be honest. He doesn't like anything Welsh, that's the reason why he doesn't like the Welsh bac.
Again, he offers no evidence. All he says is that some universities—and Cambridge is supportive of the Welsh bac; we know that, they've said it—are making offers where they rely on traditional A-level grades. They're not saying the Welsh bac is a handicap. And the Welsh bac is not just a qualification in academic terms. It is a qualification that prepares, as I've said, young people for the world of work. Universities are interested in academic grades, employers are interested in academic grades, yes, but also the readiness and preparedness of a young person to enter the world of work. It's something now that of course is being copied in England. I suppose if it's adopted there he'll be all in favour of the Welsh bac at that point, as long as it's called something else, that's not Welsh.
No, I think we have done well in preparing our young people for the future. We have grafted the Welsh bac onto the traditional curriculum, and I can say from my own personal experience looking at it with my son, it does an immense amount of good in broadening the horizons of so many youngsters, which they need in order to make themselves even more employable in the future.
Nac ydw. Nid yw'n ei hoffi gan ei fod yn gysylltiedig â Chymru. Gadewch i ni fod yn onest. Nid yw'n hoffi dim sy'n gysylltiedig â Chymru, dyna pam nad yw'n hoffi bagloriaeth Cymru.
Unwaith eto, nid yw'n cynnig unrhyw dystiolaeth. Y cwbl y mae'n ei ddweud yw bod rhai prifysgolion—ac mae Caergrawnt yn cefnogi bagloriaeth Cymru; rydym ni'n gwybod hynny, maen nhw wedi ei ddweud—yn gwneud cynigion lle maen nhw'n dibynnu ar raddau Safon Uwch traddodiadol. Nid ydyn nhw'n dweud bod bagloriaeth Cymru yn anfantais. Ac nid yw bagloriaeth Cymru yn gymhwyster o safbwynt academaidd yn unig. Mae'n gymhwyster sy'n paratoi pobl ifanc, fel y dywedais, ar gyfer y byd gwaith. Mae gan brifysgolion ddiddordeb mewn graddau academaidd, mae gan gyflogwyr ddiddordeb mewn graddau academaidd, oes, ond hefyd parodrwydd a pharatoad person ifanc i ymuno â'r byd gwaith. Mae'n rhywbeth nawr sy'n cael ei ailadrodd yn Lloegr, wrth gwrs. Mae'n debyg os caiff ei fabwysiadu yno y bydd o blaid bagloriaeth Cymru bryd hynny, cyn belled ag y bo ganddo wahanol enw, nad yw'n gysylltiedig â Chymru.
Na, rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi gwneud yn dda i baratoi ein pobl ifanc ar gyfer y dyfodol. Rydym ni wedi asio bagloriaeth Cymru i'r cwricwlwm traddodiadol, a gallaf ddweud o'm profiad personol fy hun o edrych arno gyda fy mab, ei fod yn gwneud llawer iawn o ddaioni o ran ehangu gorwelion cynifer o bobl ifanc, sydd ei angen arnynt er mwyn gwneud eu hunain hyd yn oed yn fwy cyflogadwy yn y dyfodol.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y camau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd ym Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni? OAQ52928
3. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government action to tackle health inequalities in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? OAQ52928
It is a central ambition of the Government that everyone in Wales has a fair opportunity to live a healthy life, irrespective of their background or where they live. We continue to tackle the root causes of health inequalities through national and local action, and across Government.
Mae'n un o uchelgeisiau canolog y Llywodraeth fod pawb yng Nghymru yn cael cyfle teg i fyw bywyd iach, ni waeth beth yw eu cefndir neu ym mha le maen nhw'n byw. Rydym ni'n parhau i fynd i'r afael ag achosion sylfaenol anghydraddoldebau iechyd trwy gymryd camau cenedlaethol a lleol, ac ar draws y Llywodraeth.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. In spite of the significant investment in health services in my constituency, we can see that there still remains an alarming health trend amongst the local population. You'll be aware that in 2016 the annual report of the Chief Medical Officer for Wales highlighted the social inequities that affect areas like Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. Now, clearly adequate funding of local health and care services in order to overcome these inequalities must remain as the core of the Welsh Government's work in the years ahead, but given that these inequalities stubbornly persist, what more can the Welsh Government do to ensure that income and social class do not continue to be barriers to good health?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Er gwaethaf y buddsoddiad sylweddol mewn gwasanaethau iechyd yn fy etholaeth i, gallwn weld bod tueddiad iechyd sy'n peri pryder yn parhau o hyd ymhlith y boblogaeth leol. Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod adroddiad blynyddol Prif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru yn 2016 wedi tynnu sylw at yr annhegwch cymdeithasol sy'n effeithio ar ardaloedd fel Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni. Nawr, mae'n rhaid i gyllid digonol i wasanaethau iechyd a gofal lleol i oresgyn yr anghydraddoldebau hyn barhau i fod yn ganolog i waith Llywodraeth Cymru yn y blynyddoedd i ddod, ond o gofio bod yr anghydraddoldebau hyn yn parhau'n ystyfnig, beth arall all Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau nad yw incwm a dosbarth cymdeithasol yn parhau i fod yn rhwystrau i iechyd da?
Tackling social inequality is a cross-Government priority, as demonstrated by the fact it's a central ambition of 'Prosperity for All'. To give examples of Government programmes that are tackling the root cause of health inequalities, they include employment programmes, quality housing and access to childcare. They're combined with programmes to address healthy behaviour and improved access to healthcare, because we know that will reduce barriers to good health as well. And, of course, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 provides new impetus in tackling the persistent underlying causes of health inequalities through working differently with partners, intervening earlier and promoting better integration between services.
Mae mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb cymdeithasol yn flaenoriaeth traws-Lywodraeth, fel y dangosir gan y ffaith ei fod yn un o uchelgeisiau canolog 'Ffyniant i Bawb'. I roi enghreifftiau o raglenni'r Llywodraeth sy'n mynd i'r afael ag achosion sydd wrth wraidd anghydraddoldebau iechyd, maen nhw'n cynnwys rhaglenni cyflogaeth, tai o ansawdd a mynediad at ofal plant. Maen nhw'n cael eu cyfuno â rhaglenni i fynd i'r afael ag ymddygiad iachus a gwell mynediad at ofal iechyd, gan ein bod ni'n gwybod y bydd hynny'n lleihau rhwystrau i iechyd da hefyd. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 yn darparu ysgogiad newydd i fynd i'r afael ag achosion sylfaenol parhaus anghydraddoldebau iechyd trwy weithio'n wahanol gyda phartneriaid, ymyrryd yn gynharach a hyrwyddo gwell integreiddio rhwng gwasanaethau.
First Minister, Merthyr Tydfil has the highest level of childhood obesity in Wales. Seventeen and a half per cent of children in Merthyr Tydfil are obese, more than double the figure of the Vale of Glamorgan. In the view of the fact that diabetes is the fastest growing health crisis in Wales, what action is the Welsh Government taking to target areas of high childhood obesity, such as Merthyr Tydfil, to reduce future pressures on the NHS in Wales, please?
Prif Weinidog, mae gan Ferthyr Tudful y lefel uchaf o ordewdra ymhlith plant yng Nghymru. Mae un deg saith y cant o blant ym Merthyr Tudful yn ordew, sy'n fwy na dwywaith ffigur Bro Morgannwg. Yng ngoleuni'r ffaith mai diabetes yw'r argyfwng iechyd sy'n tyfu gyflymaf yng Nghymru, pa gamau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i dargedu ardaloedd o ordewdra uchel ymhlith plant, fel Merthyr Tudful, i leihau'r pwysau ar y GIG yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol, os gwelwch yn dda?
Well, there's consistent evidence to suggest that an investment in the early years significantly improves health, social and economic outcomes. So, our Healthy Child Wales programme has been developed with a standard universal NHS offer for all families with children aged nought to seven. That offers a consistent range of preventative and early intervention measures and, importantly, guidance to support parenting and healthy lifestyle choices. It also identifies families in need of additional support. So, that's one example, that programme, of what we are doing in order to ensure that the issue of obesity is tackled early on in a child's life, before difficult habits start to form.
Wel, ceir tystiolaeth gyson i awgrymu bod buddsoddiad yn y blynyddoedd cynnar yn gwella canlyniadau iechyd, cymdeithasol ac economaidd yn sylweddol. Felly, datblygwyd ein rhaglen Plant Iach Cymru gyda chynnig GIG cyffredinol safonol i bob teulu sydd â phlant rhwng dim a saith oed. Mae hynny'n cynnig amrywiaeth gyson o fesurau ataliol ac ymyrraeth gynnar ac, yn bwysig, canllawiau i gynorthwyo rhianta a dewisiadau ffordd iach o fyw. Mae hefyd yn nodi teuluoedd sydd angen cymorth ychwanegol. Felly, dyna un enghraifft, y rhaglen honno, o'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod y mater o ordewdra yn cael sylw yn gynnar ym mywyd plentyn, cyn i arferion anodd ddechrau ffurfio.
4. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith codi'r cap benthyg ar y cyfrif refeniw tai? OAQ52932
4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the effect of lifting the housing revenue account borrowing cap? OAQ52932
Lifting the housing revenue account borrowing cap is significant. It's welcome in Wales. It's a u-turn, but, nevertheless, we do welcome what has been done. It will help local authorities to deliver on their council house building strategies. And we're working closely with those authorities to fully understand the benefits.
Mae codi'r cap benthyg ar y cyfrif refeniw tai yn arwyddocaol. Mae i'w groesawu yng Nghymru. Mae'n dro pedol, ond, serch hynny, rydym ni'n croesawu'r hyn a wnaed. Bydd yn helpu awdurdodau lleol i gyflawni eu strategaethau adeiladu tai cyngor. Ac rydym ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda'r awdurdodau hynny i ddeall y manteision yn llawn.
I also welcome the fact that this cap has been lifted. It will also allow local authorities to work effectively with other organisations, especially housing associations. I note the interesting partnership model that exists in Warrington council, where they have increased the total loans to housing associations by hundreds of millions of pounds. That sort of imagination we could see in Wales, with potential for local authorities to commission housing association development teams or to partner on modern methods of construction to achieve the scale that we need in this regard. And, as you, I think, also referred to, the 20,000 home target that we have in this Assembly term for social homes is another key area. But we need to go way beyond and ensure the new borrowing powers are used very, very effectively.
Rwyf innau hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith bod y cap hwn wedi ei godi. Bydd hefyd yn galluogi awdurdodau lleol i weithio'n effeithiol gyda sefydliadau eraill, yn enwedig cymdeithasau tai. Nodaf y model partneriaeth diddorol sy'n bodoli yng nghyngor Warrington, lle maen nhw wedi rhoi cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd yn fwy i gyfanswm y benthyciadau i gymdeithasau tai. Gallem weld y math hwnnw o ddychymyg yng Nghymru, gyda'r potensial i awdurdodau lleol gomisiynu timau datblygu cymdeithasau tai neu i ffurfio partneriaethau ar ddulliau adeiladu modern i gyflawni'r raddfa sydd ei hangen arnom yn hyn o beth. Ac, fel y gwnaethoch chi, rwy'n meddwl, gyfeirio ato hefyd, mae'r targed o 20,000 o gartrefi sydd gennym ni yn y tymor Cynulliad hwn ar gyfer cartrefi cymdeithasol yn faes allweddol arall. Ond mae angen i ni fynd ymhell y tu hwnt a sicrhau bod y pwerau benthyg newydd yn cael eu defnyddio yn hynod, hynod effeithiol.
Yes, that's true. One thing I can say is that the Minister has commissioned an independent review of the affordable housing supply. That's looking at a range of policies and processes to ensure we maximise the number of homes we get from our considerable investment. And, of course, the lifting of the borrowing cap will form part of the panel's consideration, and we expect recommendations from that panel in April of next year.
Ydy, mae hynny'n wir. Un peth y gallaf ei ddweud yw bod y Gweinidog wedi comisiynu adolygiad annibynnol o'r cyflenwad tai fforddiadwy. Mae hwnnw'n ystyried amrywiaeth o bolisïau a phrosesau i sicrhau ein bod ni'n sicrhau'r nifer fwyaf bosibl o gartrefi yr ydym ni'n eu cael o'n buddsoddiad sylweddol. Ac, wrth gwrs, bydd codi'r cap benthyg yn rhan o ystyriaeth y panel, ac rydym ni'n disgwyl argymhellion gan y panel hwnnw ym mis Ebrill y flwyddyn nesaf.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am drafodaethau gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin? OAQ52934
5. Will the First Minister provide an update on discussions with the UK Government regarding the shared prosperity fund? OAQ52934
I think it's fair to say that it's fairly vague at the moment, and fairly incoherent in terms of how it might operate or how much money might be available. I raised it, certainly, last week with David Lidington. It's not clear how it would work, how much money would be available and, of course, how it would work in terms of meshing with the devolved settlement. We simply have to wait and see.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n deg i ddweud ei bod hi'n eithaf amwys ar hyn o bryd, ac yn eithaf aneglur o ran sut y gallai weithredu neu faint o arian a allai fod ar gael. Fe'i codais, yn sicr, yr wythnos diwethaf gyda David Lidington. Nid yw'n eglur sut y byddai'n gweithio, faint o arian fyddai ar gael nac, wrth gwrs, sut y byddai'n gweithio o ran asio â'r setliad datganoli. Yn syml, mae'n rhaid i ni aros i weld.
I thank the First Minister for that response, and I'm aware that there have been pre-consultation meetings taking place in Wales, and the most recent one, I think, was last Friday, with representatives of the third sector. So, I don't know if the First Minister has got any feedback from those meetings, but doesn't he agree that it is absolutely crucial that the future of regional policy lies in the hands of the Welsh Government, and that the focus should be on tackling inequality as a means of improving prosperity and productivity?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb yna, ac rwy'n ymwybodol bod cyfarfodydd cyn-ymgynghori wedi eu cynnal yng Nghymru, ac roedd y diweddaraf, rwy'n credu, ddydd Gwener diwethaf, gyda chynrychiolwyr y trydydd sector. Felly, nid wyf i'n gwybod a yw'r Prif Weinidog wedi cael unrhyw adborth o'r cyfarfodydd hynny, ond onid yw'n cytuno ei bod hi'n gwbl hanfodol mai Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am ddyfodol polisi rhanbarthol, ac y dylai'r pwyslais fod ar fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldeb fel ffordd o wella ffyniant a chynhyrchiant?
Absolutely, because that is a devolved responsibility. It would be wholly inappropriate for a shared prosperity fund to be administered entirely from Whitehall, bypassing the Government and the Assembly completely. That would cut across what the UK Government has said about devolved responsibilities in a very serious way.
There was indeed a stakeholder event in Cardiff that took place on Thursday and Friday last week regarding the shared prosperity fund. In fairness, our officials were invited the day before. So, we didn't get much notice of that event taking place, but it does give you an example of the incoherent approach that's being taken where the Wales Office arranges something, doesn't tell anybody, appears to cut across devolved responsibility even though it has no powers of its own, and then all that does is confuse businesses. Well, I think it would be far better if the UK Government were clearer and followed the approach that we've suggested, where in effect you have a fund that closely mirrors the operation of the current European funds, and, of course, with maximum—a common set of rules, of course, but maximum flexibility for the devolved Governments.
Yn sicr, oherwydd mae hwnnw'n gyfrifoldeb datganoledig. Byddai'n gwbl amhriodol i gronfa ffyniant gyffredin gael ei gweinyddu'n llwyr o Whitehall, gan osgoi'r Llywodraeth a'r Cynulliad yn gyfan gwbl. Byddai hynny'n mynd yn groes i'r hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ei ddweud am gyfrifoldebau datganoledig mewn ffordd ddifrifol iawn.
Yn wir, roedd digwyddiad i randdeiliaid yng Nghaerdydd a gynhaliwyd ddydd Iau a dydd Gwener yr wythnos diwethaf ynghylch y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Er tegwch, gwahoddwyd ein swyddogion y diwrnod cynt. Felly, ni chawsom lawer o rybudd bod y digwyddiad hwnnw'n cael ei gynnal, ond mae'n rhoi enghraifft i chi o'r dull anghydlynol sy'n cael ei fabwysiadu pan fydd Swyddfa Cymru yn trefnu rhywbeth, ddim yn dweud wrth neb, yn ymddangos i dorri ar draws cyfrifoldeb datganoledig er nad oes ganddi unrhyw bwerau ei hun, ac yna'r cwbl y mae hynny'n ei wneud yw drysu busnesau. Wel, rwy'n credu y byddai'n llawer gwell pe byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn fwy eglur ac yn dilyn y dull yr ydym ni wedi ei awgrymu, lle mae gennych chi gronfa sy'n adlewyrchu'n agos, i bob pwrpas, gweithrediad y cronfeydd Ewropeaidd presennol, ac, wrth gwrs, gyda'r hyblygrwydd mwyaf posibl—cyfres gyffredin o reolau, wrth gwrs, ond yr hyblygrwydd mwyaf posibl i'r Llywodraethau datganoledig.
First Minister, the Member for Cardiff North makes a very good point when she says that future regional policy should be controlled by the Welsh Government, by this Assembly—a point that you've echoed yourself. Whilst I appreciate that there are still details, a large number of details, about the shared prosperity fund to be effectively ironed out, it's important that when the current European funding ends and the shared prosperity fund, whatever final form that takes, kicks in—it's important at that point that the Welsh Government is best placed to access that funding. What are you doing to make sure that Welsh Government departments across portfolios are fit for purpose and are ready to be at the front of the queue to access that shared prosperity funding as soon as we do leave the EU? Because it's important that there isn't a gap in funding.
Prif Weinidog, mae'r Aelod dros Ogledd Caerdydd yn gwneud pwynt da iawn pan ddywed y dylai polisi rhanbarthol yn y dyfodol gael ei reoli gan Lywodraeth Cymru, gan y Cynulliad hwn—pwynt yr ydych chi wedi ei ategu eich hun. Er fy mod i'n sylweddoli bod manylion, nifer fawr o fanylion, am y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin i'w cytuno'n effeithiol o hyd, mae'n bwysig pan fydd y cyllid Ewropeaidd presennol yn dod i ben ac y bydd y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, pa bynnag ffurf derfynol y bydd honno'n ei chymryd, yn dechrau—mae'n bwysig ar yr adeg honno bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn y sefyllfa orau i gael mynediad at y cyllid hwnnw. Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod adrannau Llywodraeth Cymru ar draws portffolios yn addas i'w diben ac yn barod i fod ar flaen y ciw i gael mynediad at y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin honno cyn gynted ag y byddwn yn gadael yr UE? Oherwydd mae'n bwysig nad oes bwlch yn y cyllid.
Well, the structure is there, of course. We've had years of dealing with European funds. The Wales European Funding Office and other departments are well used to dealing with this kind of funding structure. The shared prosperity fund is not of itself a bad idea. It's how much money will be available and how it is administered that we are troubled by. It's hugely important, as the Member himself, in fairness, has said, that this in effect replaces European funds in terms of the actual quantum available but that the responsibilities and rights of this Chamber and the Government are protected as the shared prosperity fund is developed. We'd prefer to be part of that conversation to make sure that the fund operates not just as far as Wales is concerned but works properly across the whole of the UK.
Wel, mae'r strwythur yno, wrth gwrs. Rydym ni wedi cael blynyddoedd o ymdrin â chyllid Ewropeaidd. Mae Swyddfa Cyllid Ewropeaidd Cymru ac adrannau eraill wedi hen arfer ymdrin â'r math hwn o strwythur ariannu. Nid yw'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn syniad gwael ynddo'i hun. Faint o arian fydd ar gael a sut y caiff ei weinyddu sy'n peri pryder i ni. Mae'n aruthrol o bwysig, fel y mae'r Aelod ei hun, a bod yn deg, wedi dweud, bod hyn i bob pwrpas yn disodli'r cronfeydd Ewropeaidd o ran y swm gwirioneddol sydd ar gael ond bod cyfrifoldebau a hawliau'r Siambr hon a'r Llywodraeth yn cael eu hamddiffyn wrth i'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin gael ei datblygu. Byddai'n well gennym fod yn rhan o'r sgwrs honno i wneud yn siŵr bod y gronfa yn gweithredu nid yn unig cyn belled ag mae Cymru yn y cwestiwn ond yn gweithio'n iawn ar draws y DU gyfan.
Of course, we still have questions about the existing arrangements before moving to the so-called shared prosperity fund. The First Minister will be aware of the audit office report on the impact of a 'no deal' separation on structural and regional funding as they stand. At the time of the report's publication in August, it noted that WEFO had exceeded its spending targets in three out of four of its operational programmes and underspent in one, which was west Wales and the Valleys. In the first instance, is the First Minister able to reassure us that overspends will be covered by the UK Government in the event of a 'no deal' separation, and can he update the Assembly further on whether all spending targets in all operational programmes are now being met or exceeded?
Wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni gwestiynau o hyd ynghylch y trefniadau presennol cyn symud ymlaen i'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, fel y'i gelwir. Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ymwybodol o adroddiad y swyddfa archwilio ar effaith gwahaniad 'dim cytundeb' ar gyllid strwythurol a rhanbarthol fel y maen nhw ar hyn o bryd. Ar adeg cyhoeddi'r adroddiad ym mis Awst, nododd bod WEFO wedi mynd y tu hwnt i'w thargedau gwario yn nhri o'i phedair rhaglen weithredol ac wedi tanwario mewn un, sef gorllewin Cymru a'r Cymoedd. Yn y lle cyntaf, a all y Prif Weinidog roi sicrwydd i ni y bydd achosion o orwario yn cael eu talu gan Lywodraeth y DU os bydd gwahaniad 'dim cytundeb', ac a all ef ddiweddaru'r Cynulliad ymhellach ar ba un a yw'r holl dargedau gwario ym mhob rhaglen weithredol yn cael eu bodloni nawr neu a oes mwy na hynny'n cael ei wario?
It's very unusual for spending programmes to spend 100 per cent of the money in any financial year, because some projects are kept over to the other financial year. I can't offer him comfort in terms of how overspends might be dealt with; the UK Government have given us no comfort on that or any other issue regarding European funding post 2022. There's no doubt that a 'no deal' Brexit would be hugely costly. We can try to mitigate against it but the reality is we can't prevent the economic disaster that would occur if there was a 'no deal' Brexit, which is why I hope that there is a satisfactory deal on the table. We wait to see. I hope that those who at the moment see a 'no deal' Brexit as no problem will come to their senses when that deal is considered in the UK Parliament.
Mae'n anarferol iawn i raglenni gwario wario 100 y cant o'r arian mewn unrhyw flwyddyn ariannol, gan fod rhai prosiectau yn cael eu cadw drosodd ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol arall. Ni allaf gynnig cysur iddo o ran sut y gellid ymdrin ag achosion o orwario; nid yw Llywodraeth y DU wedi rhoi unrhyw gysur i ni ynghylch hynny nac unrhyw fater arall yn ymwneud â chyllid Ewropeaidd ar ôl 2022. Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth y byddai Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yn hynod gostus. Gallwn geisio lliniaru rhagddo, ond y gwir amdani yw na allwn atal y drychineb economaidd a fyddai'n digwydd pe byddai Brexit 'dim cytundeb', a dyna pam yr wyf yn gobeithio bod cytundeb boddhaol ar y bwrdd. Rydym ni'n aros i weld. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y rhai sydd o'r farn ar hyn o bryd bod Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yn ddim problem yn dod at eu coed pan fydd y cytundeb hwnnw'n cael ei ystyried yn Senedd y DU.
6. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o'r argymhellion yn adroddiad y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach ar ddyfodol trefi yng Nghymru? OAQ52901
6. What assessment has the First Minister made of the recommendations contained in the Federation of Small Businesses report on the future of Welsh towns? OAQ52901
I think the work they've done is very useful and it's a very useful addition to our existing knowledge in this area. We will, of course, consider the recommendations carefully in light of our current initiatives to support town centres.
Rwy'n credu bod y gwaith y maen nhw wedi ei wneud yn ddefnyddiol iawn ac mae'n ychwanegiad defnyddiol iawn at ein gwybodaeth bresennol yn y maes hwn. Byddwn, wrth gwrs, yn ystyried yr argymhellion yn ofalus yng ngoleuni ein mentrau presennol i gefnogi canol trefi.
Thank you, First Minister. I agree with you: I think the work they've commissioned gives a solid evidence base, which is the kind of deep work that can of course lead to positive changes in Government policy and action. Let's remember that over 1 million people live in Wales's towns. We hear lots about city deals, but how do you feel a potential mid Wales growth deal can empower those who live in the towns of mid Wales to identify and promote their towns? The report that was commissioned also talks about ideas coming from the grass roots upwards. So, how do you believe that a potential mid Wales growth deal can support that aim?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n cytuno â chi: mae'r gwaith y maen nhw wedi ei gomisiynu yn rhoi sylfaen dystiolaeth gadarn, sef y math o waith dwys a all arwain wrth gwrs at newidiadau cadarnhaol i bolisi a chamau gweithredu'r Llywodraeth. Gadewch i ni gofio bod dros 1 filiwn o bobl yn byw yn nhrefi Cymru. Rydym ni'n clywed llawer am fargeinion dinesig, ond sut ydych chi'n teimlo y gall bargen dwf canolbarth Cymru bosibl rymuso'r rhai sy'n byw yn nhrefi'r canolbarth i nodi a hyrwyddo eu trefi? Mae'r adroddiad a gomisiynwyd hefyd yn sôn am syniadau yn dod o lawr gwlad i fyny. Felly, sut ydych chi'n credu y gall bargen dwf canolbarth Cymru bosibl gefnogi'r nod hwnnw?
I think that's important. If we look at the bids process of business improvement districts, they have been led by businesses in respective towns. Any growth deal must be targeted specifically to the needs and requirements of the area in which that growth deal is based. So, certainly, as a growth deal is developed, it's hugely important to have the maximum amount of engagement with retail businesses in town centres and all those in the rural economy.
Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig. Os edrychwn ni ar broses ceisiadau ardaloedd gwella busnes, fe'u harweiniwyd gan fusnesau mewn trefi perthnasol. Mae'n rhaid targedu unrhyw fargen dwf yn benodol i anghenion a gofynion yr ardal y mae'r fargen dwf honno wedi ei lleoli ynddi. Felly, yn sicr, wrth ddatblygu bargen dwf, mae'n bwysig dros ben cael cymaint o ymgysylltiad â phosibl â busnesau manwerthu yng nghanol trefi ac â phawb sydd yn yr economi wledig.
First Minister, you'll be aware that the report shows clearly—and, of course, we already knew this—that empty shops detract from the overall performance of town centres and deter new businesses from locating themselves there. You will probably know that the Plaid Cymru-led Carmarthenshire County Council has made a big investment in Llanelli, buying shops, breaking them into smaller units that people can then afford to rent, and turning the upper levels of the shops into residential properties that also bring people in to live in the town centre. What further support can the Welsh Government provide to local authorities to enable them to continue to respond creatively to the crisis that is faced by many of our town centres?
Prif Weinidog, byddwch yn ymwybodol bod yr adroddiad yn dangos yn eglur—ac, wrth gwrs, roeddem ni eisoes yn gwybod hyn—bod siopau gwag yn amharu ar berfformiad cyffredinol canol trefi ac yn atal busnesau newydd rhag lleoli eu hunain yno. Mae'n debyg y byddwch chi'n gwybod bod Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin dan arweiniad Plaid Cymru wedi gwneud buddsoddiad mawr yn Llanelli, gan brynu siopau, eu rhannu'n unedau llai y gall pobl fforddio eu rhentu wedyn, a throi lefelau uwch y siopau yn eiddo preswyl sydd hefyd yn dod â phobl i fyw yng nghanol y dref. Pa gymorth arall all Llywodraeth Cymru ei roi i awdurdodau lleol i'w galluogi i barhau i ymateb yn greadigol i'r argyfwng a wynebir gan ganol llawer o'n trefi?
I think we have to accept that we are not likely to see the same number of retail units in towns in the future. If I look at my own home town of Bridgend, there are many, many units that are empty and will probably never be filled. Some of them have been empty for many, many years. So, what then should happen? Well, a lot of them may be turned into residential units, to ensure there's a better mix in town centres. In my home town, it's been happening for 30 years or more.
How do we then create more vibrant towns that are mixed in terms of their provision—some of it residential, some of it business, some of it will be retail, some of it will be restaurants, bars—to create that buzz in the town, not just in the day but in the evening as well? I think also it's important that consideration is given to when shops open in town centres, because, of course, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. doesn't suit most people any more, and, unless you have a very big footfall in a town centre because there are offices there, then you will lose out.
But, in terms of what the Government is doing, we have our targeted regeneration investment programme. That means capital funding of £100 million across Wales over three years to support regionally prioritised regeneration projects in town centres. We have the European-funded Building for the Future programme, which is providing £54 million to acquire, refurbish or redevelop unused buildings and land within or close to town or city centres across west Wales and the Valleys. And, of course, our town centre loan scheme has provided £27.5 million since 2014 to bring empty, underused sites and premises in town centres back into use.
Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni dderbyn nad ydym ni'n debygol o weld yr un nifer o unedau manwerthu mewn trefi yn y dyfodol. Os edrychaf ar fy nhref enedigol fy hun ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ceir llawer iawn o unedau sydd yn wag ac mae'n debyg na fyddan nhw byth yn cael eu llenwi. Mae rhai ohonynt wedi bod yn wag ers blynyddoedd lawer iawn. Felly, beth ddylai ddigwydd wedyn? Wel, efallai y gellir troi llawer ohonyn nhw yn unedau preswyl, i sicrhau bod gwell cymysgedd yng nghanol trefi. Yn fy nhref enedigol i, mae wedi bod yn digwydd ers 30 mlynedd neu fwy.
Sut yr ydym ni wedyn am greu trefi mwy bywiog sy'n gymysg o ran eu darpariaeth—rhywfaint ohoni'n breswyl, rhywfaint ohoni'n fusnes, bydd rhywfaint ohoni'n fanwerthu, bydd rhywfaint ohoni'n fwytai, yn fariau—i greu'r cyffro hwnnw yn y dref, nid yn unig yn ystod y dydd ond fin nos hefyd? Rwy'n credu ei bod hefyd yn bwysig rhoi ystyriaeth i ba bryd mae siopau yn agor yng nghanol trefi, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, nid yw 9 a.m. i 5 p.m. yn gyfleus i'r rhan fwyaf o bobl mwyach, ac, oni bai bod gennych chi nifer fawr iawn o ymwelwyr mewn canol tref gan fod swyddfeydd yno, yna byddwch ar eich colled.
Ond, o ran yr hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud, mae gennym ni ein rhaglen buddsoddiad adfywio wedi'i dargedu. Mae hynny'n golygu cyllid cyfalaf o £100 miliwn ledled Cymru dros dair blynedd i gynorthwyo prosiectau adfywio sydd wedi eu blaenoriaethu'n rhanbarthol mewn canol trefi. Mae gennym ni'r rhaglen Adeiladu ar gyfer y Dyfodol a ariennir gan Ewrop, sy'n darparu £54 miliwn i gaffael, ailwampio neu ailddatblygu adeiladau a thir segur yng nghanol trefi a dinasoedd, neu'n agos atynt, ar draws y gorllewin a chymoedd y de. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae ein cynllun benthyciadau canol tref yn wedi darparu £27.5 miliwn ers 2014 i ddod â safleoedd ac adeiladau gwag, nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu defnyddio'n ddigonol yng nghanol trefi yn ôl i ddefnydd.
First Minister, when I speak to residents up and down the Cynon Valley, there's great passion about wanting to see our town centres rejuvenated. But, at the same time, that's often set against a reluctance by local people to actually shop locally. And when I speak to them about the reasons for that, one of the things that's most often cited is the lack of diversity of businesses on our high streets. Now, clearly, that's quite a difficult interface between the public and private sectors, but what is the Welsh Government doing to try and encourage local entrepreneurs to create that more diverse offer on our high streets?
Prif Weinidog, pan fyddaf yn siarad â thrigolion ar hyd a lled Cwm Cynon, ceir angerdd mawr ynghylch y dymuniad i weld canol ein trefi yn cael eu hadfywio. Ond, ar yr un pryd, mae hynny'n aml wedi ei gydbwyso ag amharodrwydd ymhlith pobl leol i siopa'n lleol mewn gwirionedd. A phan fyddaf yn siarad â nhw am y rhesymau am hynny, un o'r pethau y cyfeirir ato amlaf yw'r diffyg amrywiaeth o fusnesau ar ein strydoedd mawr. Nawr, yn amlwg, mae hynny'n rhyngwyneb braidd yn anodd rhwng y sectorau cyhoeddus a phreifat, ond beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i geisio annog entrepreneuriaid lleol i greu'r cynnig mwy amrywiol hwnnw ar ein strydoedd mawr?
I think part of the solution to this lies in retailers working together and, as the Member has said, creating a reason for people to go into town centres. Town centres are shut, often, by 5.30pm. If people are not working in those town centres, in reality they're shut all week. So thought needs to be given to opening hours, I believe, in order to make those town centres more accessible in the future.
She mentioned her own constituency. I know that underused sites and premises in town centres are being brought back into use, and Aberdare is one of those areas that's been identified for that support. Aberdare, of course, is also one of the 10 additional BIDs that are being developed as a result of our recently announced further funding of £262,000. But, of course, what's important here is the money is made available for local businesses to decide how best to promote themselves. That's the key to it. We don't know how to do it. They will have ideas on the ground. That's why we wanted to make sure that they were fully engaged and have been from the start.
Rwy'n credu mai rhan o'r ateb i hyn yw i fanwerthwyr weithio gyda'i gilydd ac, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, creu rheswm i bobl fynd i ganol trefi. Mae canol trefi wedi cau, yn aml, erbyn 5.30pm. Os nad yw pobl yn gweithio yng nghanol y trefi hynny, maen nhw wedi cau drwy'r wythnos i bob pwrpas. Felly mae angen rhoi ystyriaeth i oriau agor, rwy'n credu, er mwyn gwneud canol y trefi hynny yn fwy hygyrch yn y dyfodol.
Cyfeiriodd at ei hetholaeth ei hun. Gwn fod y safleoedd a'r adeiladau yng nghanol trefi nad ydynt yn cael eu defnyddio'n ddigonol yn cael eu dychwelyd i ddefnydd, ac mae Aberdâr yn un o'r ardaloedd hynny a nodwyd ar gyfer y cymorth hwnnw. Mae Aberdâr, wrth gwrs, hefyd yn un o'r 10 BID ychwanegol sy'n cael eu datblygu o ganlyniad i'n cyllid ychwanegol o £262,000 a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar. Ond, wrth gwrs, yr hyn sy'n bwysig yn y fan yma yw bod yr arian ar gael i fusnesau lleol benderfynu ar y modd gorau i'w hyrwyddo eu hunain. Dyna sy'n allweddol. Nid ydym ni'n gwybod sut i'w wneud. Bydd ganddyn nhw syniadau ar lawr gwlad. Dyna pam yr ydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n ymgysylltu'n llawn ac wedi bod o'r dechrau.
7. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi plant gydag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol mewn addysg? OAQ52891
7. How is the Welsh Government supporting children with additional learning needs in education? OAQ52891
Equity and inclusion are at the heart of our national mission for education. We are committed to ensuring all learners can access a high standard of education and reach their full potential. And implementation, of course, of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 is expected to begin in September 2020.
Mae tegwch a chynhwysiant yn ganolog i'n cenhadaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer addysg. Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau y gall pob dysgwr gael mynediad at addysg o safon uchel a gwireddu eu llawn botensial. A disgwylir i weithrediad Deddf Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a'r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) 2018 gychwyn ym mis Medi 2020, wrth gwrs.
Thank you. Well, we know that children, pupils, young people with additional learning needs have seen their short-term exclusion rates in school go up, against the overall trend. Only two weeks ago, I was contacted by another parent, in this case in Conwy, where their autistic son had been excluded for 43 days after an autistic meltdown in school—the 43 days coincidentally taking him to the end of his term at the end of primary school. He then got, the parents told me, no support for transition into secondary school—because their son was 'such a naughty boy'. How, therefore, will you as a Welsh Government be ensuring that the education sector across Wales understands the court ruling in August, where the National Autistic Society intervened on behalf of some parents, and the court ruled for the first time that all schools must make sure that they have made appropriate adjustments for autistic children or those with other disabilities before they can resort to exclusion.
Diolch. Wel, rydym ni'n gwybod bod cyfraddau gwaharddiad byrdymor yn yr ysgol o ran plant, disgyblion, pobl ifanc ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol wedi cynyddu, yn groes i'r duedd gyffredinol. Dim ond pythefnos yn ôl, cysylltodd rhiant arall â mi, yng Nghonwy yn yr achos hwn, lle'r oedd y mab awtistig wedi cael ei wahardd am 43 diwrnod ar ôl ffrwydrad awtistig yn yr ysgol—gyda'r cyd-ddigwyddiad bod y 43 diwrnod yn mynd ag ef i ddiwedd ei dymor ar ddiwedd yr ysgol gynradd. Ni chafodd wedyn, meddai ei rieni wrthyf, unrhyw gymorth ar gyfer pontio i'r ysgol uwchradd—gan fod eu mab yn 'fachgen mor ddrwg'. Sut, felly, gwnewch chi fel Llywodraeth Cymru sicrhau bod y sector addysg ledled Cymru yn deall dyfarniad y llys ym mis Awst, pryd yr ymyrrodd y Gymdeithas Genedlaethol Awtistiaeth ar ran rhai rhieni, ac y dyfarnodd y llys am y tro cyntaf bod yn rhaid i bob ysgol wneud yn siŵr eu bod wedi gwneud addasiadau priodol ar gyfer plant awtistig neu bobl ag anableddau eraill cyn y gallan nhw ddefnyddio gwaharddiadau.
Clearly, schools will have to take note of the court ruling. I can say that work has already started to support the new statutory system; it's not simply a question of waiting until September 2020 for everything to start. We are upskilling the workforce so that they're able to meet the needs of learners with ALN. That includes developing a professional learning offer for teachers, and funding to train educational psychologists and specialist teachers of the sensory impaired. So, yes, it's important that the law is in place and is ready to begin its course in September 2020, but we are investing to make sure that practitioners will be ready for when the changes come in September 2020.
Yn amlwg, bydd yn rhaid i ysgolion gymryd sylw o'r dyfarniad llys. Gallaf ddweud bod gwaith eisoes wedi dechrau i gefnogi'r system statudol newydd; nid yw'n fater syml o aros tan fis Medi 2020 i bopeth ddechrau. Rydym ni'n gwella sgiliau'r gweithlu fel eu bod nhw'n gallu diwallu anghenion dysgwyr ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Mae hynny'n cynnwys datblygu cynnig dysgu proffesiynol i athrawon, a chyllid i hyfforddi seicolegwyr addysgol ac athrawon arbenigol i blant â nam ar eu synhwyrau. Felly, ydy, mae'n bwysig bod y gyfraith ar waith ac yn barod i ddechrau ar ei hynt ym mis Medi 2020, ond rydym ni'n buddsoddi i wneud yn siŵr y bydd ymarferwyr yn barod pan ddaw'r newidiadau ym mis Medi 2020.
First Minister, one of the biggest challenges for children with additional learning needs in education is actually getting the additional learning needs recognised. I've had many families who are facing tireless fights just to get that recognition for their child so that they can go through the processes. Now, I appreciate that the additional learning needs Act will actually give them opportunities, and the other measures that you've taken with CAMHS and extra funding in CAMHS. But families need to ensure that that's there. Councils are facing difficult times ahead of them, with austerity and the measures. Will you monitor the funding for additional learning needs very carefully, and ensure that, as that comes in, local authorities will not have to fund additional funding to make sure that that works? Because I'm sure the demand will go up once they realise it's working.
Prif Weinidog, un o'r heriau mwyaf i blant ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol mewn addysg mewn gwirionedd yw cael cydnabyddiaeth ar gyfer yr anghenion dysgu ychwanegol. Rwyf i wedi gweld llawer o deuluoedd sy'n wynebu brwydrau diflino dim ond i gael y gydnabyddiaeth honno i'w plant fel y gallan nhw fynd drwy'r prosesau. Nawr, rwy'n sylweddoli y bydd y Ddeddf anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn rhoi cyfleoedd iddyn nhw, a'r mesurau eraill yr ydych chi wedi eu cymryd gyda CAMHS a chyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer CAMHS. Ond mae angen i deuluoedd sicrhau bod hwnnw ar gael. Mae cynghorau yn wynebu cyfnod anodd o'u blaenau, gyda chyni cyllidol a'r mesurau. A wnewch chi fonitro'r cyllid ar gyfer anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn ofalus iawn, a sicrhau, wrth i hwnnw gael ei gyflwyno, na fydd yn rhaid i awdurdodau lleol ariannu cyllid ychwanegol i wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n gweithio? Oherwydd rwy'n siŵr y bydd y galw'n cynyddu ar ôl iddyn nhw sylweddoli ei fod yn gweithio.
I can assure the Member that £20 million has been made available for this Assembly term to support implementation of the Act and delivery of the wider ALN transformation programme. And, of course, we will work with local authorities to ensure that they're able to meet their legal obligations from 2020 onwards.
Gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod bod £20 miliwn wedi ei roi ar gael ar gael ar gyfer y tymor Cynulliad hwn i gefnogi gweithrediad y Ddeddf a darparu'r rhaglen gweddnewid anghenion dysgu ychwanegol ehangach. Ac, wrth gwrs, byddwn yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gallu bodloni eu rhwymedigaethau cyfreithiol o 2020 ymlaen.
Y gobaith ydy, wrth gwrs, y bydd y Ddeddf anghenion dysgu ychwanegol wir yn trawsnewid addysg ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc ond, fel rydym ni wedi ei glywed, mae adnoddau digonol yn hollbwysig, ond hefyd y sgiliau priodol. Ac mae yna gwestiwn ynglŷn ag a ydy'r sgiliau yna ar gael ym mhob man ar hyn o bryd. Pa mor hyderus ydych chi felly y bydd disgwyliadau uchel sydd gan ddisgyblion, rhieni ac athrawon yn sgîl y Ddeddf newydd yma—pa mor hyderus ydych chi fydd y disgwyliadau yma yn cael eu gwireddu yn wyneb y toriadau yn enwedig?
The hope, of course, is that the additional learning needs Act will truly transform education for these children and young people, but, as we’ve heard, sufficient resources are crucial, but also the appropriate skills. There is a question as to whether those skills are available across the board at the moment. How confident are you, therefore, that the high expectations that pupils, parents and teachers have in light of this new legislation—how confident can you be that these expectations will be delivered, given the cuts that we’re facing, especially?
Rwy'n hyderus o hynny. Fel y dywedais i yn gynharach, rŷm ni wedi bod yn datblygu strwythur dysgu proffesiynol i athrawon, a hefyd rŷm ni wedi sicrhau bod yna gyllid ar gael er mwyn hybu seicolegwyr addysgol a hefyd athrawon arbenigol. Rydym ni hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn gweithredu pecyn eang o hyfforddiant er mwyn helpu pawb sydd yn rhan o'r system i gefnogi dysgwyr gydag ALN er mwyn, wrth gwrs, iddyn nhw'n deall ac yn paratoi am y system newydd sy'n mynd i ddechrau yn 2020. So, rŷm ni'n hyderus y bydd y system, o achos y ffaith y bydd yna eithaf amser wedi bod cyn bod y gyfraith newydd yn dechrau—bydd y system felly yn barod i ddechrau yn iawn pan fydd y gyfraith yn dod i rym.
I’m confident. As I said earlier, we have been developing a structure of professional learning for teachers, and we’ve also ensured that funding is available to promote educational psychologists and specialist teachers. We’ve also implemented a wide package of training in order to help everybody who’s part of the system to support learners with ALN so that they understand and prepare for the new system that’s going to be in place in 2020. So, we’re confident that the system, because of the fact that there will have been quite a long time before this new legislation comes into force—that the new system will be ready to begin properly when the Act comes into force.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog nodi blaenoriaethau cyllidebol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer llywodraeth leol? OAQ52913
8. Will the First Minister set out the Welsh Government's budgetary priorities for local government? OAQ52913
The Government’s priorities are set out in 'Prosperity for All'. Of course, it is for authorities to determine how they spend their funding allocation through the revenue support grant, together with their other income from specific grants, council tax and other sources.
Nodir blaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth yn 'Ffyniant i Bawb'. Wrth gwrs, cyfrifoldeb yr awdurdodau yw penderfynu sut maen nhw'n gwario eu dyraniad cyllid drwy'r grant cymorth refeniw, ynghyd â'u hincwm arall o grantiau penodol, y dreth gyngor a ffynonellau eraill.
Thank you, First Minister. I know you like to accuse this side of the Chamber of calling for funding increases in all areas of Government; I'm sure in an ideal world we would all like to see that. But it's not just this side of the Chamber—[Interruption.] Or, indeed, your Minister emeritus. It's not just this side of the Chamber that has concerns about local government funding; the Welsh Local Government Association have also spoken about the way that local services are being threatened, and that the system is creaking under some of the funding problems they've had. Welsh Government is set to receive a significant uplift from the UK Government as a result of the recent UK Government budget. Can you reassure local authorities in Wales that they will at least receive a fair share of this new cake that is coming as a result of that UK Government budget, so that local authorities can at least be a little reassured in the short to medium term that local services can be protected?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Gwn eich bod chi'n hoffi cyhuddo'r ochr hon i'r Siambr o alw am gynnydd i gyllid ym mhob rhan o'r Llywodraeth; rwy'n siŵr mewn byd delfrydol yr hoffem ni i gyd weld hynny. Ond nid yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn unig—[Torri ar draws.] Neu, yn wir, eich Gweinidog emeritws. Nid yr ochr hon i'r Siambr yn unig sydd â phryderon am gyllid llywodraeth leol; mae Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru hefyd wedi siarad am y ffordd y mae gwasanaethau lleol yn cael eu bygwth, a bod y system yn gwegian o dan rai o'r problemau ariannu y maen nhw wedi eu cael. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru ar fin derbyn codiad sylweddol gan Lywodraeth y DU yn sgil cyllideb ddiweddar Llywodraeth y DU. A allwch chi sicrhau'r awdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru y byddan nhw o leiaf yn cael cyfran deg o'r gacen newydd hon sy'n dod o ganlyniad i'r gyllideb Llywodraeth y DU honno, fel y gall awdurdodau lleol gael ychydig o sicrwydd o leiaf yn y byrdymor i'r tymor canolig y gellir diogelu gwasanaethau lleol?
Well, just to reiterate what I said before, local authorities are at the front of the queue. We are looking to see what kind of further financial package might be made available to local authorities, and that is something we will be considering over the course of the next week or two. We do understand, of course, the fact that austerity has imposed such a squeeze on local authority finances, and I believe that, when we state to the Assembly how we plan to deal with the not anything like as much amount as was announced by the Chancellor, but nevertheless some consequential that we have received in Wales, the package that we have for local government will be fair given the circumstances we've found ourselves in.
Wel, dim ond i ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedais yn gynharach, mae awdurdodau lleol ar flaen y ciw. Rydym ni'n ceisio gweld pa fath o becyn ariannol pellach y gellid ei roi ar gael i awdurdodau lleol, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth y byddwn ni'n ei ystyried yn ystod yr wythnos neu ddwy nesaf. Rydym ni'n deall, wrth gwrs, y ffaith bod cyni cyllidol wedi gorfodi cymaint o wasgfa ar gyllid awdurdodau lleol, ac rwy'n credu, pan fyddwn ni'n datgan i'r Cynulliad sut yr ydym yn bwriadu ymdrin â'r swm nad yw'n unrhyw beth tebyg i'r swm a gyhoeddwyd gan y Canghellor, ond er gwaethaf hynny rhywfaint o swm canlyniadol yr ydym ni wedi ei dderbyn yng Nghymru, bydd y pecyn sydd gennym ni ar gyfer llywodraeth leol yn deg o ystyried yr amgylchiadau yr ydym ni wedi canfod ein hunain ynddynt.
Ac yn olaf cwestiwn 9—Andrew R. T. Davies.
Finally, question 9—Andrew R. T. Davies.
9. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am gapasiti TG o fewn y GIG yng Nghymru? OAQ52927
9. Will the First Minister make a statement on IT capabilities within the Welsh NHS? OAQ52927
Yes. Our longer term plan for health and social care confirms we will significantly increase investment in both our IT infrastructure and the skills needed to accelerate digital change across the NHS, and that will include £50 million of revenue and capital in the coming year to support transformational change.
Gwnaf. Mae ein cynllun iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol tymor hwy yn cadarnhau y byddwn yn cynyddu buddsoddiad yn sylweddol yn ein seilwaith TG a'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen i gyflymu newid digidol ar draws y GIG, a bydd hynny'n cynnwys £50 miliwn o refeniw a chyfalaf yn y flwyddyn i ddod i gefnogi newid gweddnewidiol.
First Minister, you'll be aware of the Public Accounts Committee report that came out last week looking at IT provision within the Welsh NHS, and a damning report, to say the least, it was. I appreciate you won't comment specifically on that report because I will get the line that the Government is considering the report, but IT is a huge component of the delivery of healthcare within the whole of Wales. One element of that report identified the cancer computer network that was, in 2014, delisted from Microsoft support and has had outages on a regular basis. This greatly impacts the delivery of services for cancer patients, as identified by the charity Macmillan. This cannot be tolerated, surely, First Minister. What action is the Welsh Government taking on the broader narrative of improving IT services within Wales in the NHS, but specifically around cancer services that have such a demoralising effect, as the committee report identified, on staff who work in cancer services at Velindre hospital within my region?
Prif Weinidog, byddwch yn ymwybodol o adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf sy'n edrych ar ddarpariaeth TG o fewn GIG Cymru, ac adroddiad damniol ydoedd hefyd, a dweud y lleiaf. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi na wnewch am sôn am yr adroddiad hwnnw'n benodol gan y byddaf yn cael yr wybodaeth bod y Llywodraeth yn ystyried yr adroddiad, ond mae TG yn elfen enfawr o ddarparu gofal iechyd yng Nghymru gyfan. Nododd un elfen o'r adroddiad hwnnw fod y rhwydwaith cyfrifiadurol canser wedi ei ddileu oddi ar restr cefnogaeth Microsoft yn 2014 a'i fod wedi dioddef diffoddiadau'n rheolaidd. Mae hyn yn effeithio'n fawr ar ddarparu gwasanaethau i gleifion canser, fel y nodwyd gan yr elusen Macmillan. Ni ellir goddef hyn, yn sicr, Prif Weinidog. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd ar y naratif ehangach o wella gwasanaethau TG o fewn y GIG yng Nghymru, ond yn benodol ar wasanaethau canser sydd â'r fath effaith negyddol, fel y nododd adroddiad y pwyllgor, ar staff sy'n gweithio yng ngwasanaethau canser yn ysbyty Felindre yn fy rhanbarth i?
I can't give a response to the recommendations that the committee has tabled, but I will say this: clearly the report makes troublesome reading, clearly there is a need for action, and there will be action. There will be action in terms of funding, but clearly there needs to be action in terms of acceptance of new ways of working. We can't carry on with the old ways of working simply because people are used to them. So, the Government's response to the committee's report will encompass all features of what a robust response has to be and a constructive response has to be, looking at all factors including, of course, the financial.
Ni allaf roi ymateb ynghylch yr argymhellion y mae'r pwyllgor wedi eu cyflwyno, ond fe ddywedaf hyn: yn amlwg mae'r adroddiad yn anodd ei ddarllen, yn amlwg, mae angen gweithredu, a byddwn yn gweithredu. Byddwn yn gweithredu o ran cyllid, ond yn amlwg mae angen gweithredu o ran derbyn ffyrdd newydd o weithio. Ni allwn barhau â'r hen ffyrdd o weithio dim ond am fod pobl wedi dod i arfer â nhw. Felly, bydd ymateb y Llywodraeth i adroddiad y pwyllgor yn cwmpasu holl nodweddion yr hyn y mae'n rhaid i ymateb cadarn fod a'r hyn y mae'n rhaid i ymateb adeiladol fod, gan edrych ar yr holl ffactorau, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, ffactorau ariannol.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf felly yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, ac rydw i'n galw ar arweinydd y tŷ i wneud y datganiad hwnnw—Julie James.
The next item, therefore, is the business statement and announcement, and I call on the leader of the house to make the statement—Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. There's one change to today's agenda—to amend the title of the statement on valuing our teachers—investing in their excellence. Additionally, Business Committee has agreed to reduce the time allocated to questions to the Assembly Commission tomorrow. Finally, no topic has been tabled for tomorrow's short debate. Draft business for the next few weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Lywydd. Ceir un newid i agenda heddiw—newid teitl y datganiad ar werthfawrogi ein hathrawon—buddsoddi yn eu rhagoriaeth. Yn ogystal, mae'r Pwyllgor Busnes wedi cytuno i leihau'r amser a neilltuwyd ar gyfer cwestiynau i Gomisiwn y Cynulliad yfory. Yn olaf, nid oes unrhyw bwnc wedi ei gyflwyno ar gyfer dadl fer yfory. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer yr ychydig wythnosau nesaf wedi ei nodi ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, y gellir eu gweld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Leader of the house, can I call for an oral statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services on the Welsh Government's recent decision to provide abortions in Wales for women who are normally resident in Northern Ireland? The decision, as you will be aware, was announced on Friday. Just this morning, I received an e-mail from over 60 women living in Northern Ireland asking me to raise this issue as a matter of urgency. These women have said that they are appalled that one part of the UK that enjoys devolution should act to undermine the devolved arrangements in another part of the UK, and they are very concerned, frankly, that the decision to provide abortions has been made in spite of the significant opposition that women from Northern Ireland have expressed during the public consultation that the Welsh Government held on the matter.
Now, I understand from reading the summary of responses that there were 802 consultation responses in all, 788 of which—over 98 per cent—opposed the Welsh Government's plans, and the consultation report says that a significant proportion of those were from women in Northern Ireland. There were just 14 submissions that were in support of the Government's plans, none of which came from a single woman in Northern Ireland. This is an unusual consultation, of course, because it is uniquely and exclusively looking at the impact on women living in another devolved jurisdiction, and I think it's very important that when these sorts of consultations—these unusual ones—happen, the views of women living in that jurisdiction should be taken into account. What is the point in holding public consultations if the outcome of those public consultations is to be ignored? I think that this Assembly deserves an explanation from the Cabinet Secretary as to why he's ignored the views of women in Northern Ireland and why he feels it is appropriate to undermine the devolved arrangements in another part of the UK.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad llafar gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar benderfyniad diweddar Llywodraeth Cymru i ddarparu erthyliadau yng Nghymru i fenywod sy'n preswylio fel arfer yng Ngogledd Iwerddon? Fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol, ddydd Gwener y cyhoeddwyd y penderfyniad. Dim ond y bore yma, cefais e-bost gan dros 60 o fenywod sy'n byw yng Ngogledd Iwerddon a ofynnodd i mi godi'r mater hwn ar frys. Mae'r menywod hyn wedi dweud eu bod nhw wedi eu brawychu bod un rhan o'r DU sy'n mwynhau datganoli yn gweithredu i danseilio'r trefniadau datganoledig mewn rhan arall o'r DU, ac maen nhw'n bryderus iawn, a dweud y gwir, fod y penderfyniad i ddarparu erthyliadau wedi'i wneud er gwaethaf y gwrthwynebiad sylweddol a fynegwyd gan fenywod o Ogledd Iwerddon yn ystod yr ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus a gynhaliwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y mater.
Nawr, deallaf o ddarllen crynodeb o'r ymatebion y cafwyd cyfanswm o 802 o ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad, ac roedd 788 ohonyn nhw—dros 98 y cant—yn gwrthwynebu cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru, a dywed adroddiad yr ymgynghoriad fod cyfran sylweddol o'r ymatebion hynny gan fenywod o Ogledd Iwerddon. Dim ond 14 o gyflwyniadau oedd yn cefnogi cynlluniau'r Llywodraeth, ac ni ddaeth yr un ohonyn nhw gan unrhyw fenyw o Ogledd Iwerddon. Mae hwn yn ymgynghoriad anarferol, wrth gwrs, gan ei fod yn edrych yn unigryw ac yn benodol ar yr effaith ar fenywod sy'n byw mewn awdurdodaeth ddatganoledig arall, a chredaf ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn, pan geir y mathau hyn o ymgynghoriadau—y rhai anarferol hyn—fod barn y menywod yn yr awdurdodaeth honno yn cael ei hystyried. Beth yw pwynt cynnal ymgynghoriadau cyhoeddus os yw canlyniad yr ymgynghoriadau cyhoeddus hynny yn cael ei anwybyddu? Credaf fod y Cynulliad hwn yn haeddu eglurhad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynghylch pam y mae wedi anwybyddu barn menywod yng Ngogledd Iwerddon a pham y mae'n teimlo ei bod hi'n briodol tanseilio trefniadau datganoledig mewn rhan arall o'r DU.
The Cabinet Secretary's already issued a statement on this issue, and I'm sure the Member is well aware of that. I can arrange for the statement to be forwarded to him if it's slipped his attention.
Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet eisoes wedi cyhoeddi datganiad ar y mater hwn, ac rwy'n siŵr bod yr Aelod yn ymwybodol o hynny. Gallaf wneud trefniadau i anfon y datganiad ymlaen ato os nad yw wedi sylwi arno.
Leader of the house, you may remember that, earlier this year, I raised concerns with regard to the fact that over £36 million of public money had been spent on developing a 106-acre strategic business park at Felindre to the north of Swansea, yet, despite being in public ownership for 20 years, the business park was still empty. The Parc Felindre strategic business park has been promoted by the Welsh Government and Swansea council as having, and I quote:
'the potential to become a centre for networking and knowledge exchange in South Wales for emerging industries and specialist sectors such as R&D, life sciences, advanced engineering and ICT'.
The current Parc Felindre website currently states that Parc Felindre has planning permission for B1 and B2 uses, i.e., for emerging industries such as high-tech manufacturing and high-level services. Last week, as you will no doubt be aware, Swansea council leader Rob Stewart announced that the first potential tenant for the site, however, instead of a high-tech manufacturing firm, instead of emerging sectors such as research and development, life sciences, advanced engineering and ICT—the firm in fact was DPD, which wants to build a parcel delivery depot on part of the site. The firm, of course, already has a base in the Llansamlet area of the city. Now, whilst any jobs are to be welcomed, I'm sure that you'd agree that this announcement fails to meet the expectations that the Welsh Government and Swansea council set for themselves. Given that this site has been promoted as a potential jewel in the crown, will the Cabinet Secretary for the economy bring forward a statement on how he sees the site developing over the next few months and years and, following £36 million of public investment, will he state how he believes that the Welsh Government and Swansea council will deliver against the development brief of attracting top-end high-skilled jobs to the site?
Arweinydd y tŷ, efallai eich bod chi'n cofio, yn gynharach eleni, codais bryderon ynghylch y ffaith bod dros £36 miliwn o arian cyhoeddus wedi ei wario ar ddatblygu parc busnes strategol 106 erw yn Felindre i'r gogledd o Abertawe, ac er hynny, er ei fod wedi bod yn eiddo cyhoeddus am 20 mlynedd, roedd y parc busnes yn dal i fod yn wag. Mae parc busnes strategol Parc Felindre wedi ei hyrwyddo gan Lywodraeth Cymru a chyngor Abertawe fel bod â, a dyfynnaf:
'y potensial i ddod yn ganolfan ar gyfer rhwydweithio a chyfnewid gwybodaeth yn y de ar gyfer diwydiannau datblygol a sectorau arbenigol megis ymchwil a datblygu, gwyddorau bywyd, peirianneg uwch a TGCh'.
Dywed gwefan bresennol Parc Felindre fod gan Barc Felindre ganiatâd cynllunio ar gyfer defnydd B1 a B2, h.y., diwydiannau datblygol megis gweithgynhyrchu uwch-dechnoleg a gwasanaethau lefel uchel. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fel y byddwch yn ymwybodol mae'n siŵr, cyhoeddodd arweinydd Cyngor Abertawe, Rob Stewart, y tenant potensial cyntaf ar gyfer y safle, ond er hynny, yn hytrach na chwmni gweithgynhyrchu uwch-dechnoleg, yn hytrach na sectorau datblygol megis ymchwil a datblygu, gwyddorau bywyd, peirianneg uwch a TGCh—y cwmni mewn gwirionedd oedd DPD, sydd eisiau adeiladu depo danfon parseli ar ran o'r safle. Mae gan y cwmni eisoes, wrth gwrs, safle yn ardal Llansamlet o'r ddinas. Nawr, er y dylid croesawu unrhyw swyddi, rwyf yn siŵr y byddech yn cytuno bod y cyhoeddiad hwn yn methu â bodloni'r disgwyliadau a osodwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru a chyngor Abertawe ar gyfer eu hunain. O gofio bod y safle hwn wedi ei hyrwyddo fel datblygiad o'r radd flaenaf, a wnaiff Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr economi gyflwyno datganiad ar sut y mae'n gweld y safle'n datblygu dros y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd nesaf, yn dilyn buddsoddiad cyhoeddus o £36 miliwn, ac a wnaiff ef ddatgan sut y mae'n credu y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru a chyngor Abertawe yn cyflawni yn erbyn y brîff datblygu o ddenu swyddi sgiliau uchel pen uchaf i'r safle?
Well, Dai Lloyd, thank you for those points. I, for one, welcome the creation of jobs in the Swansea area in the constituency of my colleague Mike Hedges. I think Swansea council and the Welsh Assembly Government have actually worked very hard indeed to get inward investment into that site. I'm very much in favour of the jobs that are coming there, and I think that Swansea council is to be congratulated on its efforts in this regard.
Wel, Dai Lloyd, diolch ichi am y pwyntiau yna. Rwyf i, yn un, yn rhywun sy'n croesawu'r broses o greu swyddi yn ardal Abertawe, etholaeth fy nghyd-Aelod, Mike Hedges. Credaf fod cyngor Abertawe a Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru wedi gweithio'n galed iawn, mewn gwirionedd, i gael mewnfuddsoddiad i'r safle hwnnw. Rwyf yn bendant iawn o blaid y swyddi sy'n dod yno, ac rwy'n credu y dylid llongyfarch cyngor Abertawe ar ei ymdrechion yn hyn o beth.
I'm sure that the leader of the house is aware of the research findings issued today by the Welsh Governance Centre on self-harm and violence at the young offender institutions in England and Wales. There were some rather alarming statistics about Parc young offenders' institution in that research. Children aged 15 to 17 recorded the highest rate of self-harm out of the five comparable institutions in Wales and England and also the highest rate of assaults, which is concerning. So, I wondered if it would be possible for, maybe, the Cabinet Secretary responsible for justice to make a statement to the Assembly about why, apparently, these figures appear to be so concerning.
Rwyf yn siŵr bod arweinydd y tŷ yn ymwybodol o'r canfyddiadau gwaith ymchwil a gyhoeddwyd heddiw gan Ganolfan Lywodraethiant Cymru ar hunan-niweidio a thrais mewn sefydliadau troseddwyr ifanc yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Roedd rhai ystadegau brawychus am sefydliad troseddwyr ifanc y Parc yn y gwaith ymchwil hwnnw. Cofnodwyd y gyfradd uchaf o hunan-niwed ar gyfer plant rhwng 15 a 17 oed o'r pum sefydliad tebyg yng Nghymru a Lloegr, a hefyd y gyfradd uchaf o ymosodiadau, sy'n destun pryder. Felly, tybed a fyddai'n bosibl, efallai, i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet â chyfrifoldeb dros gyfiawnder wneud datganiad i'r Cynulliad ynghylch pam, mae'n ymddangos, bod y ffigurau hyn yn destun y fath bryder.
I share your concern entirely. YOI Parc houses some of the most vulnerable people from our communities, and it's extremely important that they receive both the care and support they need to see them safely through to adulthood. Obviously, I completely agree with you that every effort should be made to keep children who are in custody for one reason or another safe and in appropriate placements. It's very much our view that placing a child in a young offender institution within the curtilage of a male adult prison is not conducive to the rehabilitative process that we would obviously like to see for all children. I'm certainly happy to discuss it with my colleague the Cabinet Secretary. We are due to have a discussion about the prison estate in general, and I'll certainly be including it in that and I'll report back to the Member on how those discussions have gone.
Rwy'n rhannu eich pryder yn llwyr. Mae Sefydliad Troseddwyr Ifanc y Parc yn gartref i rai o'r bobl sydd fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau, ac mae'n bwysig dros ben eu bod nhw'n cael y gofal a'r cymorth sydd eu hangen arnynt i'w gweld nhw'n cyrraedd eu llawn dwf yn ddiogel. Yn amlwg, rwyf yn cytuno'n llwyr â chi y dylid gwneud pob ymdrech i gadw plant sydd yn y ddalfa am ba bynnag reswm yn ddiogel ac mewn lleoliadau priodol. Ein barn ni yn bendant, yw nad yw lleoli plentyn mewn sefydliad troseddwyr ifanc o fewn cwrtil carchar oedolion gwrywaidd yn addas ar gyfer y broses adsefydlu yr hoffem ni ei gweld, yn amlwg, ar gyfer pob plentyn. Rwyf yn sicr yn hapus i drafod hyn gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Rydym i fod i gael trafodaeth am ystâd y carchardai yn gyffredinol, a byddaf yn sicr yn ei gynnwys yn hynny a byddaf yn rhoi adroddiad ynghylch sut y mae'r trafodaethau hynny wedi mynd rhagddynt i'r Aelod.
Leader of the house, could I seek two statements, if possible, please? The first is from the health Secretary, in relation to maternity services in Wales. When he made a statement in relation to the incident at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and staffing at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, he gave an assurance that his officials were working with health boards across Wales to satisfy himself that staffing numbers were up to the quota that was required in those maternity units the length and breadth of Wales. He did indicate he'd bring that assurance back to the Chamber, or certainly write to Members. I'm unaware—and I'm sure it's not a deliberate oversight, but I'm unaware that that has happened to date, but I think it would be reassuring if we could have that information, either via a statement, or certainly in a letter written to Members, that he can give that assurance that maternity units across the length and breadth of Wales are up to quota on the number of midwives and other staff that are associated with those units.
And the second statement or assurance from the Government or assurance from the Government I'd like to seek, if possible, please, is in light of the announcement this morning from the High Court that the Sargeant family do have the ability to take their case forward for consideration by the High Court. I note that the family's solicitors indicated that it is now within the gift of the Welsh Government to come forward with proposals that would allow the inquiry to resume its work, and I would hope that the Welsh Government would, in light of, obviously, the judgment this morning, come forward with proposals, as the solicitors indicated, that would facilitate the recommencement of the inquiry. Can the Government give that assurance that it will be in a position to do that, or is it committed to making sure this case goes all the way through the courts?
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, os yn bosibl, os gwelwch yn dda? Yn gyntaf, gan yr Ysgrifennydd dros iechyd ynglŷn â gwasanaethau mamolaeth yng Nghymru. Pan wnaeth ef ddatganiad ynglŷn â'r digwyddiad yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg a staffio yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg, rhoddodd sicrwydd fod ei swyddogion yn gweithio gyda byrddau iechyd ledled Cymru i’w fodloni ei hun bod niferoedd staffio yn bodloni'r cwota a oedd yn ofynnol yn yr unedau mamolaeth hynny ar hyd a lled Cymru. Nododd y byddai’n cyflwyno sicrwydd o hynny i'r Siambr, neu’n sicr, y byddai’n ysgrifennu at yr Aelodau. Ni wyf yn ymwybodol—ac nid wyf yn siŵr mai esgeulustod bwriadol yw hynny, ond nid wyf yn ymwybodol bod hynny wedi digwydd hyd yn hyn, ond rwy'n credu y byddai'n tawelu meddyliau pe byddem ni'n cael yr wybodaeth honno, naill ai drwy ddatganiad, neu’n sicr mewn llythyr ysgrifenedig at yr Aelodau, fel y gall ef roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw bod unedau mamolaeth ar hyd a lled Cymru yn bodloni cwota nifer y bydwragedd a staff eraill sy'n gysylltiedig â’r unedau hynny.
A’r ail ddatganiad neu sicrwydd yr wyf yn gofyn amdano gan y Llywodraeth, os yn bosibl, os gwelwch yn dda, yng ngoleuni cyhoeddiad y bore yma gan yr Uchel Lys bod gan y teulu Sargeant yr hawl i gyflwyno eu hachos ar gyfer ystyriaeth gan yr Uchel Lys. Sylwaf fod cyfreithwyr y teulu wedi nodi ei bod hi bellach yn nwylo Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno cynigion a fyddai'n caniatáu i’r ymchwiliad ailgydio yn ei waith, ac rwyf yn gobeithio y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru, yng ngolau’r dyfarniad hwn y bore yma, yn amlwg, yn dod ymlaen gyda chynigion, fel y nododd y cyfreithwyr, a fyddai'n hwyluso’r ymchwiliad i ailddechrau. A wnaiff y Llywodraeth roi sicrwydd y bydd mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny, neu a yw wedi ymrwymo i wneud yn siŵr bod yr achos hwn yn mynd yr holl ffordd drwy'r llysoedd?
Well, taking that one first, obviously, we'll be taking advice on the best way to deal with the judicial review and, of course, we want the best outcome for the Sargeant family. So, I'm sure that the First Minister and his legal advisers will be taking that into account, and, as soon as we're aware of what's going on, we will make sure that the Chamber is aware of that as well. Obviously, I can't comment on any of the merits of the case or anything else as it's clearly in a legal process.
In terms of the maternity services point that you raise, the health Secretary did indeed say that he would come back to us, and I will explore with him the best method of doing that and the timescale that he had in mind.
Wel, gan ateb hwnna'n gyntaf, yn amlwg, byddwn yn cael cyngor ar y ffordd orau i ymdrin â'r adolygiad barnwrol ac, wrth gwrs, rydym eisiau gweld y canlyniad gorau ar gyfer y teulu Sargeant. Felly, rwyf yn siŵr y bydd y Prif Weinidog a'i gynghorwyr cyfreithiol yn cymryd hynny i ystyriaeth, a chyn gynted ag y byddwn yn ymwybodol o'r hyn sy'n digwydd, byddwn yn sicrhau bod y Siambr yn ymwybodol o hynny hefyd. Yn amlwg, ni allaf wneud sylw ar unrhyw un o rinweddau'r achos nac unrhyw beth arall gan ei bod hi'n amlwg ei fod mewn proses gyfreithiol.
O ran y pwyntiau gwasanaethau mamolaeth a godwch, dywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd dros iechyd yn wir y byddai'n dod yn ôl atom, a byddaf yn archwilio gydag ef y dull gorau o wneud hynny a'r amserlen yr oedd ganddo mewn golwg.
Leader of the house, would you consider asking the Cabinet Secretary for the environment to make an oral statement with regard to best practice as to how local authorities should consult with communities about proposed major planning applications, particularly when the local authority itself is the applicant? I met this weekend with residents of Abermule, a village in Powys, who are very concerned about the proposed major recycling centre that's planned for their village. I'm not in any way suggesting that, through the consultation, the county council has done anything improper, but it is clear that the residents of the village—and if I tell you that it's a village of 700 households, and over 500 people are signed up to the protest group, that shows the level of concern—don't feel that they were fully informed, nor do they feel they were listened to. So, I would be grateful to hear from the Cabinet Secretary what further guidance the Welsh Government might be able to provide to local authorities to avoid communities finding themselves in this situation in the future.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a wnewch chi ystyried gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr amgylchedd i wneud datganiad llafar o ran arfer gorau ynghylch sut y dylai awdurdodau lleol ymgynghori â chymunedau ynghylch ceisiadau cynllunio mawr arfaethedig, yn enwedig pan mai'r awdurdod lleol ei hun yw'r ymgeisydd? Cyfarfûm â thrigolion Aber-miwl, pentref ym Mhowys, y penwythnos hwn, sy'n bryderus iawn am y ganolfan ailgylchu fawr arfaethedig a fwriedir ar gyfer eu pentref. Nid wyf mewn unrhyw ffordd yn awgrymu, drwy'r ymgynghoriad, fod y cyngor sir wedi gwneud unrhyw beth amhriodol, ond mae'n amlwg nad yw trigolion y pentref—ac os dywedaf wrthych mai pentref o 700 o gartrefi ydyw, a bod dros 500 o bobl wedi ymuno â grŵp protest, mae hynny'n dangos lefel y pryder—yn teimlo eu bod wedi cael gwybod yn llawn, nac yn teimlo bod y cyngor wedi gwrando arnyn nhw. Felly, byddwn yn ddiolchgar o gael clywed gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet pa ganllawiau pellach y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru eu darparu i awdurdodau lleol fel y bydd cymunedau'n osgoi canfod eu hunain yn y sefyllfa hon yn y dyfodol.
Well, obviously we can't comment on individual applications of that sort. I know that 'Planning Policy Wales' is under review by the Cabinet Secretary, and I'm sure she'll take—
Wel, yn amlwg ni allwn wneud sylwadau ar geisiadau unigol o'r math hwnnw. Gwn fod 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' wrthi'n cael ei adolygu gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, ac rwyf yn siŵr y bydd hi'n cymryd—
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
So, there'll be something coming forward before the end of term on the review of 'Planning Policy Wales' in its strategic form, but, obviously, we can't comment on the individual circumstances.
Felly, caiff rhywbeth ei gyflwyno ar yr adolygiad o 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn ei ffurf strategol cyn diwedd y tymor, ond, yn amlwg, ni allwn wneud sylwadau ar yr amgylchiadau unigol.
Can I ask for two statements? Leader of the house, I, again, return to an issue that affects your constituency and mine as well as those of several of our colleagues, namely the closure of the Virgin Media call centre in Swansea. Can I ask for a statement on the support being given by the Welsh Government taskforce to those seeking alternative employment?
And can I also ask for a statement on economic development in the Swansea area, outlining the success of the development in Swansea vale, outlining the success of the SA1 development, and how the Felindre development, which is the next major site on the development plan, will fit into that?
A gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad? Arweinydd y tŷ, rwyf, eto, yn dychwelyd at fater sy'n effeithio ar eich etholaeth chi a minnau yn ogystal ag etholaeth sawl un o'n cyd-Aelodau, sef cau canolfan alwadau Virgin Media yn Abertawe. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad ar y cymorth a roir gan dasglu Llywodraeth Cymru i'r rhai sy'n chwilio am swyddi eraill?
A gaf i ofyn hefyd am ddatganiad ar ddatblygiadau economaidd yn ardal Abertawe, sy'n amlinellu llwyddiant y datblygiad ym Mro Abertawe, sy'n amlinellu llwyddiant datblygiad SA1, a sut y bydd datblygiad Felindre, sef y safle mawr nesaf ar y cynllun datblygu, yn cyd-fynd â hynny?
In terms of the ongoing engagement with Virgin Media, the taskforce continues to be engaged with all of the staff and with the company itself. I will ask the Cabinet Secretary, at an appropriate point in the engagement of the taskforce, to update Members by way of letter as to exactly where we are, how many people have gone through the process and so on. There is a normal situation with taskforces, and this one is—as Mike Hedges knows—very much ongoing at the moment. I just remind the Chamber that the company has given an assurance that employees who stay all the way till the end date will not be disadvantaged and, conversely, employees leaving early because they've secured alternative employment will also not be disadvantaged. That's an important concession by the company, it's worth reiterating.
And in terms of the development in the Swansea area, I will certainly speak with the Cabinet Secretary about making available to Members the statistics on the successful economic development arrangements that have been in place in Swansea vale, in his constituency, and the surrounding area for some time.
O ran ymgysylltiad parhaus gyda Virgin Media, mae'r tasglu'n dal i ymwneud â phob un o'r staff a'r cwmni ei hun. Gofynnaf i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ddiweddaru'r Aelodau drwy gyfrwng llythyr, pan fydd y gwaith o ymgysylltu â'r tasglu wedi cyrraedd pwynt addas, i ddweud ble yn union yr ydym ni, faint o bobl sydd wedi mynd drwy'r broses ac ati. Ceir sefyllfa arferol gyda thasgluoedd, ac mae hwn—fel y mae Mike Hedges yn gwybod—yn mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd. Atgoffaf y Siambr fod y cwmni wedi rhoi sicrwydd na fydd gweithwyr sy'n aros yr holl ffordd tan y dyddiad terfyn o dan anfantais ac, i'r gwrthwyneb, na fydd gweithwyr sy'n gadael yn gynnar oherwydd eu bod wedi sicrhau swydd arall o dan anfantais ychwaith. Mae hwnnw'n gonsesiwn pwysig gan y cwmni, mae'n werth ei ailadrodd.
Ac o ran y datblygiad yn ardal Abertawe, byddaf yn sicr yn sgwrsio ag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynghylch sicrhau bod yr ystadegau ar y trefniadau datblygu economaidd llwyddiannus sydd wedi bod ar waith ym Mro Abertawe, yn ei etholaeth ef, a'r cyffiniau ers peth amser, ar gael i'r Aelodau.
Leader of the house, may I ask for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on the complaints procedure in the NHS in Wales? Last year, a record number of complaints about health services were made to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. Complaints made about Nye Bevan health board increased by 24 per cent. In response, the ombudsman said that evidence suggests
'there is a cultural problem when it comes to dealing with complaints in the Welsh NHS.'
Can we have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary with his response to the ombudsman's concerns and outlining what plans he has to review the complaints procedures in the NHS in Wales?
Arweinydd y tŷ, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd ar y weithdrefn gwyno yn y GIG yng Nghymru? Y llynedd, gwnaed y nifer uchaf erioed o gwynion ynghylch gwasanaethau iechyd i Ombwdsmon Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Cymru. Roedd cwynion ynghylch bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan wedi cynyddu gan 24 y cant. Mewn ymateb, dywedodd yr ombwdsmon fod tystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod
problem ddiwylliannol pan ddaw hi'n fater o ymdrin â chwynion yn y GIG yng Nghymru.
A gawn ni ddatganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet gyda'i ymateb i bryderon yr ombwdsmon gan amlinellu pa gynlluniau sydd ganddo i adolygu'r gweithdrefnau cwynion yn y GIG yng Nghymru?
Yes. We take complaints right across Government public services very seriously indeed, and we view them very much as a learning opportunity to ensure that services can be the very best they can be and that lessons are learnt from complaints. A rise in complaints is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it indicates a particular confidence in the system, and that people's complaints will, in fact, be answered. So, I'm not aware of the particular circumstances the Member talks about. I will discuss with the Cabinet Secretary for health whether there are any general points that can be derived that would be of use to the Chamber in terms of the overarching points that he raises on the ombudsman's findings.
Cewch. Rydym yn rhoi ystyriaeth o ddifrif i gwynion ar draws gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y Llywodraeth yn wir, ac rydym yn eu gweld i raddau helaeth fel cyfle i ddysgu er mwyn sicrhau bod gwasanaethau y gorau y gallant fod a bod gwersi'n cael eu dysgu o'r cwynion. Nid yw cynnydd mewn cwynion yn beth drwg bob amser. Weithiau mae'n dangos ffydd arbennig yn y system, ac y bydd cwynion pobl yn cael eu hateb mewn gwirionedd. Felly, nid wyf yn ymwybodol o'r amgylchiadau penodol y mae'r Aelod yn siarad amdano. Byddaf yn trafod gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd a oes unrhyw bwyntiau cyffredinol a allai ddeillio a fyddai o ddefnydd i'r Siambr o ran y pwyntiau cyffredinol a godir ganddo ar ganfyddiadau'r ombwdsmon.
Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o bryderon rhieni, athrawon ac arweinwyr addysg ar draws y gogledd yn sgil canlyniadau arholiadau TGAU Saesneg. Mae'n ymddangos bod plant yn y gogledd wnaeth sefyll yr arholiadau yn haf 2018 wedi cael cam, ac mae'n rhaid unioni hynny ar fyrder. Gall fod hyd at 700 o blant wedi cael eu heffeithio—plant fyddai wedi derbyn gradd C neu uwch pe bai nhw wedi cael eu trin yn gyfartal â phlant a safodd yr arholiadau yn 2017. Mae hyn yn effeithio ar eu llwybrau gyrfa i'r dyfodol, sy'n amlwg yn hollol annheg.
Mae yna honiad pellach—difrifol iawn—fod athrawon yn y gogledd wedi colli hyder mewn dau gorff: Cymwysterau Cymru a Chyd-bwyllgor Addysg Cymru. A wnewch chi sicrhau bod y pryderon yma yn cael eu cymryd o ddifrif, ac a wnewch chi ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg i gynnal ymchwiliad byr i weld beth sydd wedi mynd o'i le? Mae Cymwysterau Cymru wedi cynnal ymchwiliad—rwy'n ymwybodol o hynny—ond efallai fod angen ymchwiliad pellach ac un annibynnol.
I’ve very aware of the concerns of parents, teachers and education leaders in north Wales as a result of GCSE English exam results. It appears that children in north Wales who sat the exams in the summer of 2018 have been let down. Up to 700 children could have been impacted by this—children who would have had grade C or above if they’d been treated equally with children who sat the exams in 2017. This affects their career options for the future, which is clearly unfair.
There is a further claim—a very serious one—that teachers in north Wales have lost confidence in two bodies: Qualifications Wales and WJEC. Will you ensure that these concerns are taken seriously? Will you ask the Cabinet Secretary for Education to conduct a short inquiry to see what has gone wrong? Qualifications Wales has conducted an inquiry—I’m aware of that—but perhaps there is a need for a further inquiry and an independent one.
Qualifications Wales is independent of the Government. That's its role, and it has conducted that inquiry and it has been very clear that it doesn't think that there is an issue as the Member sets out. I'd just remind the Chamber that Qualifications Wales was set up with that independent remit in the first place in order to be distant from the Cabinet Secretary on these decisions.
Mae Cymwysterau Cymru yn annibynnol ar y Llywodraeth. Dyna yw ei swyddogaeth, ac mae wedi cynnal yr ymchwiliad hwnnw ac mae wedi bod yn glir iawn nad yw'n meddwl bod yna broblem fel y mae'r Aelod yn ei nodi. Byddwn yn atgoffa'r Siambr fod Cymwysterau Cymru wedi ei sefydlu gyda'r cylch gwaith annibynnol hwnnw yn y lle cyntaf er mwyn bod ymhell oddi wrth Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ar y penderfyniadau hyn.
Leader of the house, earlier this year, I raised the issue of pollution emanating from Tata with you and, basically, the pollution being a nuisance—'dust' as it's known. It does cause great problems for many of my constituents. Following the issue that I raised, I was informed that the Minister for Environment might be meeting with Tata, and I know that she's attended the air quality unit in the university bay campus as well. Could we have a statement from the Minister outlining the issues that she identified as a consequence of that, so that we can talk about how we address the pollution issues in my constituency and how Tata are working towards improving the well-being of the individuals living close by?
At the same time, could I also have a statement from the economy Secretary in relation to Tata, as to what the Welsh Government is doing to discuss with Tata the investment in modern equipment to ensure that the modernisation of the plant also works towards diminishing the pollution?
Arweinydd y tŷ, yn gynharach eleni, codais bryder ynghylch llygredd yn deillio o Tata gyda chi ac, yn y bôn, bod y llygredd yn niwsans—'llwch' fel y'i gelwir. Mae'n peri problemau mawr i lawer o'm hetholwyr. Yn dilyn y mater a godais, dywedwyd wrthym efallai y bydd Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd yn cyfarfod gyda Tata, a gwn ei bod wedi bod yn yr uned ansawdd aer ym nghampws bae'r brifysgol hefyd. A gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog sy'n amlinellu'r materion a nodwyd ganddi o ganlyniad i hynny, fel y gallwn siarad am y modd y byddwn yn ymdrin â materion llygredd yn fy etholaeth i a sut y mae Tata yn gweithio tuag at wella llesiant unigolion sy'n byw gerllaw?
Ar yr un pryd, a gaf i ddatganiad hefyd gan Ysgrifennydd dros yr economi ynglŷn â Tata, ynghylch yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n ei wneud i drafod gyda Tata y buddsoddiad mewn offer modern i sicrhau bod moderneiddio'r gwaith hefyd yn gweithio tuag at leihau'r llygredd?
Yes, I'll ensure that the Minister writes to the Member and copies it to all other Assembly Members. I think there are a number of us with an interest in that, and that can encompass the issues that arise in the Cabinet Secretary's portfolio as well.
Cewch, byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr bod y Gweinidog yn ysgrifennu at yr Aelod gan anfon copïau i holl Aelodau eraill y Cynulliad. Credaf fod nifer ohonom sydd â diddordeb yn hynny, a gall hynny gwmpasu'r materion sy'n codi ym mhortffolio Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hefyd.
I call for two statements, firstly on something often referred to, which is the reduction of single-use plastic, but in the context of reusable bottles. I've been asked by water company Hafren Dyfrdwy Limited, Severn Dee, to join them in promoting their Refill in Wrexham initiative, which is launching, I believe, tomorrow, working collaboratively with the Welsh Government and foundling not-for-profit organisation City to Sea, where a national tap water campaign will encourage businesses, cafes, museums and restaurants to provide free refills, with businesses simply displaying a blue refill sticker in their windows, and a supporting smartphone app showing the locations of all water refill stations.
Secondly, can I call for a statement on myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome—ME/CFS—in Wales, after I hosted three weeks ago the showing of Unrest in the Senedd and the discussion on behalf of ME support in Glamorgan and WAMES, the Welsh Association of ME and CFS Support in Wales? We heard that the cost to the UK economy of these conditions is £3.5 billion per annum. We heard that WAMES is calling on the Cabinet Secretary to address as a matter of urgency the continuing need for improved access to timely diagnosis, for GPs to fully understand the symptoms of the condition, and for the development of clinical expertise in Wales, with a standardised training and awareness programme. Also, we saw a copy of the ME Trust 2018-21 strategy, the 'Vision into Action' paper, saying that parts of the UK, such as Wales, have no specialist services. And, finally in this context, I'd like to consider the evidence we received from Dr Nina Muirhead, not only an NHS doctor but also an academic who's currently working with Cardiff University in implementing a pilot trial, introducing ME/CFS into the medical school curriculum here, uniquely so far in the UK. She says that she's very concerned that NICE guidelines say that graded exercise therapy, GET, and cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT, are the recommended treatments in NICE guidelines, when she says that these are causing harm, potentially, to patients and should be removed, as they have in America by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Galwaf am ddau ddatganiad, yn gyntaf ar rywbeth y cyfeirir ato’n aml fel gostyngiad mewn plastigau untro, ond yng nghyd-destun poteli y gellir eu hailddefnyddio. Gofynnwyd i mi gan gwmni dŵr Hafren Dyfrdwy Limited, Hafren Dyfrdwy, i ymuno â nhw i hyrwyddo eu menter Refill in Wrexham, sy'n cael ei lansio yfory, rwy'n credu, gan weithio ar y cyd â Llywodraeth Cymru a’r sefydliad nid er elw City to Sea, lle bydd ymgyrch genedlaethol dŵr tap yn annog busnesau, caffis, amgueddfeydd a bwytai i ddarparu ail-lenwadau’n rhad ac am ddim, gyda busnesau’n arddangos sticer ail-lenwi glas yn eu ffenestri, ac ap ffôn clyfar ategol sy'n dangos lleoliadau’r holl orsafoedd ail-lenwi dŵr.
Yn ail, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad ar enceffalopathi myelitis myalgig neu syndrom blinder cronig—ME/CFS—yng Nghymru, ar ôl imi lywyddu dair wythnos yn ôl ddangosiad o Unrest yn y Senedd a’r drafodaeth ar ran cefnogaeth ME ym Morgannwg a Chymdeithas ME Support a CFS Cymru? Clywsom mai £3.5 biliwn y flwyddyn yw cost y cyflyrau hyn i economi’r DU. Clywsom fod Cymdeithas ME Support a CFS Cymru yn galw ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i fynd i'r afael â’r angen parhaus am well mynediad at ddiagnosis prydlon, i feddygon teulu ddeall symptomau’r cyflwr yn llawn, ac i ddatblygu arbenigedd clinigol yng Nghymru, gyda rhaglen hyfforddi a chodi ymwybyddiaeth safonedig fel mater o frys. Hefyd, gwelsom gopi o strategaeth ME Trust 2018-21, y papur 'Vision into Action', sy’n dweud bod rhannau o'r DU, megis Cymru, lle nad oes unrhyw wasanaethau arbenigol. Ac yn olaf yn y cyd-destun hwn, hoffwn ystyried y dystiolaeth a gawsom gan Dr Nina Muirhead, sydd nid yn unig yn feddyg y GIG ond hefyd yn academydd sy'n gweithio gyda Phrifysgol Caerdydd wrth weithredu prawf arbrofol, cyflwyno ME/CFS i gwricwlwm yr ysgolion meddygol yma, sy’n unigryw yn y DU hyd yn hyn. Mae hi'n dweud ei bod hi’n bryderus iawn bod canllawiau NICE yn dweud mai therapi ymarfer wedi ei raddio, GET, a therapi gwybyddol ymddygiadol, CBT, yw'r triniaethau a argymhellir yng nghanllawiau NICE, gan ei bod hi'n dweud bod y rhain yn achosi niwed, o bosibl, i gleifion ac y dylid eu dileu, fel y maen nhw wedi ei wneud yn America gan y Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Well, the Member has done his usual very good job at highlighting the issues he wants raised all by himself, so I don't think there's any need for a supporting statement. And I know the Minister is very pleased with her refill policy, and no doubt will be bringing something back to the Chamber in the course of it to tell us how well it's doing.
Wel, mae'r Aelod wedi gwneud ei waith da iawn arferol o dynnu sylw at y materion y dymuna eu codi i gyd ar ei ben ei hun, felly nid wyf yn credu bod unrhyw angen am ddatganiad ategol. A gwn fod y Gweinidog yn fodlon iawn gyda'i pholisi ail-lenwi, ac nid oes amheuaeth y bydd hi'n dod â rhywbeth yn ôl i'r Siambr yn ystod ei hynt i ddweud wrthym pa mor dda y mae'n dod yn ei flaen.
Arweinydd y tŷ, mae yna gryn ddisgwyl am ddatganiad a phleidlais ar ddyfodol cynlluniau ar gyfer yr M4 yn y de-ddwyrain yn yr wythnosau nesaf. Rydym ni'n disgwyl rhywbeth—neu mi oeddem ni'n disgwyl rhywbeth—ddechrau mis Rhagfyr. A fyddech chi'n gallu egluro wrth y Cynulliad beth ydy'r tebygrwydd ar hyn o bryd y gall fod yna oedi yn yr amseru yna a rhoi eglurhad o rai o'r ffactorau a fydd yn dylanwadu ar yr amseru?
Leader of the house, there’s been quite some expectation of a statement and a vote on the future of plans for the M4 in the south-east over the next few weeks. We expect something—or we did expect something—at the beginning of December. Could you explain to the Assembly what the likelihood is at the moment that there could be some delay in the timing of that debate and give us an explanation of some of the factors that will influence that timetable?
Yes, certainly. When I was stepping in for the First Minister during First Minister's questions, I set out for the Assembly the legal process in which we are involved as a result of the inquiry and its findings, and the quite specific and very legalistic process that that follows. We haven't scheduled that debate so far because we're in the process of that. We have kept some space available on the Plenary timetable, should it be possible to schedule it in the time frame that was originally envisaged. We still hope that that might be the case, but, if not, then I'll certainly provide an explanation of exactly where we are and what the timescale has become.
Gallaf, yn sicr. Pan oeddwn i'n camu i mewn dros y Prif Weinidog yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, amlinellais ar gyfer y Cynulliad y broses gyfreithiol yr ydym yn rhan ohoni o ganlyniad i'r ymchwiliad a'i ganfyddiadau, a'r broses eithaf penodol a deddfol iawn sy'n dilyn hynny. Nid ydym wedi trefnu'r ddadl honno hyd yma gan ein bod ni wrthi'n gwneud hynny. Rydym wedi cadw rhywfaint o le ar amserlen y cyfarfod llawn, os bydd hi'n bosibl ei threfnu o fewn y cyfnod a ragwelwyd yn wreiddiol. Rydym yn dal i obeithio y bydd hynny'n digwydd, ond, os na fydd, yna byddaf yn sicr o esbonio ble'n union yr ydym ni yn ogystal â beth yw'r amserlen erbyn hyn.
Leader of the house, today is World Kindness Day. It's a day to celebrate and promote kindness in all its forms, from small acts of kindness, to fighting for a new, kinder politics, which is something that I've been calling for since arriving in this place, with support from Members from across the Chamber, including Darren Millar, Bethan Sayed and Julie Morgan, just to name a small few. The little conversations you have each day are all the experience you need to actually help save a life, and it's why I'm really pleased to be supporting the Samaritans' Small Talk Saves Lives campaign, and I hope Members, and the Welsh Government themselves, will support that with me as well. In a recent speech, I said that there are some, including the powerful in our economy and in political life, who cannot imagine that kindness works as a political strategy, and, once again, I do not agree with that. So, I was absolutely delighted to read the recent report from the Carnegie UK Trust, 'Kindness, Emotions and Human Relationships: the Blind Spot in Public Policy', and, as it rightly highlights, there is now a growing recognition of the importance of kindness and relationships for societal well-being in public policy making. So, with that in mind, leader of the house, what collective steps is the Welsh Government taking to make sure this becomes a reality?
Arweinydd y tŷ, mae hi'n Ddiwrnod Caredigrwydd y Byd heddiw. Mae'n ddiwrnod i ddathlu a hyrwyddo caredigrwydd yn ei holl ffurfiau, o gymwynasau bach, i ymladd am wleidyddiaeth newydd, mwy caredig, sy'n rhywbeth yr wyf i wedi bod yn galw amdano ers imi gyrraedd y lle hwn, gyda chymorth gan Aelodau ar draws y Siambr, gan gynnwys Darren Millar, Bethan Sayed a Julie Morgan, i enwi dim ond rhai ohonynt. Yr ychydig sgyrsiau a geir bob dydd yw'r unig brofiad y mae rhywun ei angen mewn gwirionedd i helpu i achub bywyd, a dyna pam yr wyf yn wirioneddol falch o gefnogi ymgyrch Mae Mân Siarad yn Achub Bywydau y Samariaid, a gobeithiaf y bydd yr Aelodau, a Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun, yn cefnogi hynny hefyd. Mewn araith ddiweddar, dywedais fod rhai, gan gynnwys y rhai pwerus yn ein heconomi ac mewn bywyd gwleidyddol, na all ddychmygu bod caredigrwydd yn gweithio fel strategaeth wleidyddol, ac, unwaith eto, nid wyf yn cytuno â hynny. Felly, roeddwn wrth fy modd pan ddarllenais yr adroddiad diweddar gan Carnegie UK Trust 'Kindness, Emotions and Human Relationships: the Blind Spot in Public Policy', ac, fel y mae'n amlygu'n gywir, ceir cydnabyddiaeth gynyddol bellach o bwysigrwydd caredigrwydd a pherthnasoedd ar gyfer lles cymdeithasol wrth lunio polisïau cyhoeddus. Felly, gyda hynny mewn golwg, arweinydd y tŷ, pa gamau ar y cyd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod hyn yn dod yn realiti?
I completely support Jack Sargeant in his campaign for this. I had no idea it was World Kindness Day, but I'm very happy to be told that and to say that that's a very good idea. I'm certainly very supportive of the Small Talk Saves Lives campaign from the Samaritans, and their excellent work. I had the privilege at lunchtime today to be sponsoring the multifaith forum and its community walk, and the real privilege of talking to people about how much each individual contribution to the way that we conduct ourselves in our society matters and builds up into a whole of which we can be proud, whereas everything that we do that we might not be so proud of also builds up into something, and that individual lives, and individual actions, very much matter. So, I entirely endorse his remarks. I have not read the Carnegie UK Trust report, but I will make sure that I do so. I'm sure it says something very similar. And I was very proud today to be standing with a forum of people who agree that, here in Wales, we can build a better future for Wales, based on acceptance, embracement of everyone here and of kindness and neighbourliness in all of its forms.
Rwyf yn cefnogi Jack Sargeant yn llwyr yn ei ymgyrch ar gyfer hyn. Nid oedd gennyf unrhyw syniad ei bod hi'n Ddiwrnod Caredigrwydd y Byd, ond rwyf yn hapus iawn i gael gwybod hynny ac i ddweud bod hwnnw'n syniad da iawn. Rwyf yn sicr yn gefnogol iawn o ymgyrch Mae Mân Siarad yn Achub Bywydau y Samariaid, a'u gwaith rhagorol. Cefais y fraint amser cinio heddiw i noddi'r fforwm aml-ffydd a'i daith gerdded gymunedol, a'r fraint wirioneddol o siarad â phobl ynghylch sut y mae pob cyfraniad unigol i'r ffordd yr ydym yn ymddwyn yn ein cymdeithas yn bwysig ac yn tyfu'n gyfanrwydd y gallwn fod yn falch ohono, er bod popeth a wnawn nad ydym mor falch ohono, efallai, hefyd yn tyfu'n rhywbeth, a bod bywydau unigol, a gweithredoedd unigol, o bwys mawr. Felly, cefnogaf ei sylwadau'n llwyr. Nid wyf wedi darllen adroddiad Carnegie UK Trust, ond byddaf yn gwneud yn siŵr fy mod yn gwneud hynny. Rwyf yn siŵr ei fod yn dweud rhywbeth tebyg iawn. Ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn heddiw o sefyll gyda fforwm o bobl sy'n cytuno y gallwn adeiladu dyfodol gwell i Gymru, yn seiliedig ar oddefgarwch, derbyn pawb sydd yma, a charedigrwydd a natur gymdogol yn ei holl ffurfiau yma yng Nghymru.
Leader of the house, are you able to inform Members when you expect to be able to make a statement on lot 2 of phase 2 of the Superfast Cymru programme? I see you smiling as I ask the question. And, secondly, can I request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport on when he'll be providing Members with a copy of the remit letter and business plan for Transport for Wales that he's already committed to doing? A remit letter for Transport for Wales, I'd suggest, should have really already been made available to Members by now.
Arweinydd y tŷ, a fyddai modd ichi roi gwybod i'r Aelodau pryd yr ydych yn disgwyl gallu gwneud datganiad ar lot 2 yng ngham 2 rhaglen Cyflymu Cymru? Gwelaf eich bod chi'n gwenu wrth imi ofyn y cwestiwn. Ac, yn ail, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ynghylch pa bryd y bydd ef yn rhoi copi i'r Aelodau o'r llythyr cylch gwaith a chynllun busnes ar gyfer Trafnidiaeth Cymru fel yr ymrwymodd i'w wneud eisoes? Credaf y dylai llythyr cylch gwaith ar gyfer Trafnidiaeth Cymru fod ar gael eisoes i'r Aelodau erbyn hyn.
On that second one, I'll certainly discuss that with my Cabinet colleague and make sure that it's circulated as soon as possible. The reason I was smiling, Russell George, is because I'm answering oral Assembly questions tomorrow, and a large number of them are tabled on the issue that you raised. So, if there is a need for a further statement after that, I will certainly make sure that it happens.
Ar yr ail bwynt, byddaf yn sicr o drafod hynny gyda'm cyd-Aelod Cabinet a gwneud yn siŵr y caiff hwnnw ei ddosbarthu cyn gynted â phosibl. Y rheswm dros wenu, Russell George, yw y byddaf i'n ateb cwestiynau llafar yn y Cynulliad yfory, ac mae nifer fawr ohonyn nhw wedi eu cyflwyno ar y mater a godwyd gennych chi. Felly, pe bai angen datganiad pellach wedyn, byddaf yn sicr o wneud siŵr y bydd hynny'n digwydd.
Diolch i arweinydd y tŷ.
Thank you, leader of the house.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg ar werthfawrogi ein hathrawon—buddsoddi yn eu rhagoriaeth. Rydw i'n galw ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg i wneud y datganiad—Kirsty Williams.
The next item, therefore, is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education on valuing our teachers—investing in their excellence. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Education to make the statement—Kirsty Williams.
Diolch, Llywydd. As we move closer towards the realisation of our new curriculum for Wales, we are accelerating the pace in developing the professional learning culture and infrastructure to ensure that curriculum reform becomes a reality. Recognising and promoting teaching excellence is one of the priorities in my agreement with the First Minister. It is a key objective of 'Our national mission', our shared action plan for education reform, and it is crucial to translating the new curriculum into practice. Although we have already made significant inroads in supporting practitioners, our journey is far from complete. To support us in this endeavour, a robust approach to professional learning is vital. The world’s highest performing education systems have vibrant, engaged educators and support staff who are committed to continuous learning. Our new curriculum cannot be delivered without a high-quality education workforce. That is why I am committed to developing a national approach to career-long professional learning that builds capacity from initial teacher education and is embedded in evidence-based research and effective collaboration.
Through early engagement with the draft curriculum, pioneer schools have considered immediate professional learning implications, and it is clear that a national approach is needed as we rapidly move towards publication of the draft curriculum. The approach is centred on the learner and embodies the four purposes of the new curriculum. It is designed to be responsive to school, local and national priorities, and encompasses the individual learning journey of all practitioners. The new professional learning curriculum is based on the professional learning standards and exploits the benefits of a blend of approaches. The approach has been developed through a process of consultation and co-construction involving the OECD, the unions, universities, regional consortia, local authorities, school leaders, pioneer schools and many others. A range of research projects have been undertaken to provide an evidence base for the components of the approach and ensure overall coherence. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the work of the Children, Young People and Education Committee and their constructive challenge on professional learning in supporting the delivery of the curriculum. Last year’s committee report helped bring together valuable input and advice.
When the draft curriculum is launched in April 2019, we will further develop our understanding of the professional learning challenges associated with implementation in schools. The investment that I'm announcing today gives us and the system the tools to do this successfully. Our own made-in-Wales approach to professional learning is a key point in our reform journey. It pulls together our new professional standards, the schools-as-learning-organisations approach and the professional learning model to create a vision fit for our evolving system.
The new approach will also include a focus on supporting teachers to better understand and improve mental health and well-being. We have listened carefully to the profession on this, and the work that was undertaken by the CYPE committee. In this spirit, I'm committed to making available significant additional funding and resources to support professional learning. In this financial year, we will make an additional £9 million available, and in the next financial year this will increase to £15 million. This means that, in total over the coming 18 months, we will provide an additional £24 million to support the implementation of the national approach. This is the single biggest investment in support for teachers in Wales since devolution. The money will go to the front line and will be targeted to create and release capacity at school and cluster level for structured, managed and resourced engagement with the professional learning needs of the new curriculum. We are expecting a profound transformation in the way our practitioners and leaders think about their professional learning in light of the new curriculum, and we need to provide support to schools to enable them to make this step change.
This investment will enable teachers, leaders and others in school to take the time that they need to make changes and refine their practice. There will be flexibility as part of the funding, allowing schools to work together in ways that suit their own circumstances. It will support teachers to develop the skills needed for the new curriculum design and delivery, in line with the fundamental shift in approach required in the new curriculum. And it will support dedicated school and cluster-level professional learning coaches and leaders—a key recommendation from university and international research in this area.
Presiding Officer, our national approach to professional learning is fundamental to how we value our teachers and invest in their excellence. We are moving forward in our reform journey with clarity and confidence, giving our teachers the support and investment they need to ensure that they keep on raising standards across our education system. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Llywydd. Wrth inni symud yn nes tuag at wireddu ein cwricwlwm newydd i Gymru, rydym yn cyflymu'r gwaith o ddatblygu'r diwylliant a'r seilwaith dysgu proffesiynol i sicrhau y bydd diwygio'r cwricwlwm yn cael ei wireddu. Mae cydnabod a hyrwyddo rhagoriaeth addysg yn un o'r blaenoriaethau yn fy nghytundeb gyda'r Prif Weinidog. Mae'n un o amcanion allweddol 'Cenhadaeth ein Cenedl', ein cynllun gweithredu ar y cyd i ddiwygio addysg, ac mae'n ganolog i roi'r cwricwlwm newydd ar waith. Er ein bod eisoes wedi cychwyn yn dda gyda chefnogaeth i ymarferwyr, mae ein taith ymhell o fod wedi dod i ben. I'n cefnogi yn yr ymdrech hon, mae dull cadarn o ddysgu proffesiynol yn hanfodol. Mae gan y systemau addysg sy'n perfformio orau yn y byd addysgwyr bywiog ac ymgysylltiedig a staff cymorth sydd wedi ymrwymo i ddysgu parhaus. Ni ellir cyflwyno ein cwricwlwm newydd heb weithlu addysg o ansawdd uchel. Dyna pam yr wyf wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu dull cenedlaethol o ddysgu proffesiynol trwy gydol gyrfa, sy'n cynyddu gallu o'r addysg gychwynnol i athrawon ac a gaiff ei wreiddio mewn ymchwil ar sail tystiolaeth a chydweithredu effeithiol.
Drwy ymgysylltiad cynnar â'r cwricwlwm drafft, mae ysgolion arloesi wedi ystyried goblygiadau dysgu proffesiynol uniongyrchol, ac mae'n amlwg y bydd angen dull cenedlaethol wrth inni symud yn gyflym tuag at gyhoeddi'r cwricwlwm drafft. Mae'r dull yn canolbwyntio ar y dysgwr ac yn ymgorffori pedwar diben y cwricwlwm newydd. Fe'i cynlluniwyd i ymateb i flaenoriaethau ysgol yn ogystal â blaenoriaethau cenedlaethol a lleol, ac mae'n cwmpasu taith ddysgu unigol pob ymarferwr. Mae'r cwricwlwm dysgu proffesiynol newydd yn seiliedig ar y safonau dysgu proffesiynol ac mae'n elwa ar fanteision cyfuniad o ddulliau. Datblygwyd y dull drwy broses o ymgynghoriad a chydadeiladu gan gysylltu â'r OECD, yr undebau, y prifysgolion, y consortia rhanbarthol, yr awdurdodau lleol, arweinwyr ysgolion, yr ysgolion arloesi a llawer o rai eraill. Cynhaliwyd amrywiaeth o brosiectau ymchwil ar gyfer rhoi sail dystiolaeth i gydrannau'r dull a sicrhau cydlyniad cyffredinol. Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn hefyd i gydnabod gwaith y Pwyllgor Plant, Phobl Ifanc ac Addysg a'u her adeiladol i ddysgu proffesiynol wrth gefnogi cyflwyno'r cwricwlwm. Llwyddodd adroddiad y pwyllgor y llynedd i ddwyn ynghyd gyngor a mewnbwn gwerthfawr.
Pan gaiff y cwricwlwm drafft ei lansio ym mis Ebrill 2019, byddwn yn datblygu ymhellach ein dealltwriaeth o'r heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â'i weithredu mewn ysgolion. Mae'r buddsoddiad yr wyf yn ei gyhoeddi heddiw yn rhoi'r offer inni ac i'r system i wneud hyn yn llwyddiannus. Mae ein dull brethyn cartref o ddysgu proffesiynol yng Nghymru yn bwynt allweddol yn ein taith ddiwygio. Mae'n dwyn ein safonau proffesiynol newydd, y dull ysgolion fel sefydliadau addysgol a'r model dysgu proffesiynol at ei gilydd i greu gweledigaeth sy'n addas i'n system ni wrth iddi ddatblygu.
Bydd y dull newydd hefyd yn cynnwys canolbwyntio ar gefnogi athrawon i gael gwell dealltwriaeth o iechyd meddwl a lles a'i wella. Rydym wedi gwrando'n ofalus ar y proffesiwn yn hyn o beth, a'r gwaith a wnaeth y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg. Yn yr ysbryd hwn, rwy'n ymrwymedig i sicrhau y bydd arian ychwanegol sylweddol ac adnoddau ar gael i gefnogi dysgu proffesiynol. Yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, bydd £9 miliwn ychwanegol ar gael, ac yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf bydd hyn yn cynyddu i £15 miliwn. Mae hyn yn golygu y byddwn, dros y 18 mis nesaf, yn rhoi cyfanswm o £24 miliwn yn ychwanegol i gefnogi gweithredu'r dull cenedlaethol. Dyma'r buddsoddiad unigol mwyaf ar gyfer cymorth i athrawon yng Nghymru ers datganoli. Bydd yr arian yn mynd i'r rheng flaen a'r nod fydd creu a rhyddhau capasiti ar lefel ysgol a chlwstwr ar gyfer ymgysylltiad ag anghenion dysgu proffesiynol y cwricwlwm newydd sy'n strwythuredig, wedi'i reoli ac yn meddu ar yr adnoddau priodol. Rydym yn disgwyl trawsnewid mawr yn y ffordd y mae ein hymarferwyr a'n arweinwyr yn meddwl am eu dysgu proffesiynol yng ngoleuni'r cwricwlwm newydd, ac mae angen inni roi'r cymorth i ysgolion i wneud y newid sylweddol hwn.
Bydd y buddsoddiad hwn yn galluogi athrawon, arweinwyr a rhai eraill yn yr ysgolion i gymryd yr amser y bydd ei angen arnyn nhw i gyflawni'r newidiadau a mireinio eu harferion. Bydd hyblygrwydd yn rhan o'r cyllido, gan alluogi ysgolion i weithio gyda'i gilydd mewn ffyrdd sy'n addas i'w hamgylchiadau eu hunain. Bydd yn cefnogi athrawon i ddatblygu'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen i gynllunio'r cwricwlwm newydd a'r ddarpariaeth ohono, yn unol â'r newid sylfaenol yn y dull o weithredu sy'n ofynnol yn y cwricwlwm newydd. A bydd yn cefnogi hyfforddwyr ac arweinyddion dysgu proffesiynol penodedig ar lefel ysgol a chlwstwr—argymhelliad allweddol gwaith ymchwil gan brifysgolion ac yn rhyngwladol yn y maes hwn.
Llywydd, mae ein dull cenedlaethol o weithredu dysgu proffesiynol yn hanfodol i sut yr ydym yn gwerthfawrogi ein hathrawon ac yn buddsoddi yn eu rhagoriaeth. Rydym yn parhau â'n taith ddiwygio gydag eglurder a hyder, gan roi i'n hathrawon y gefnogaeth a'r buddsoddiad y mae eu hangen arnyn nhw i sicrhau eu bod yn dal ati i godi safonau ledled ein system addysg. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement today. We're very happy to support quite a lot of what you're saying on this, because we recognise, of course, that Donaldson will require some major reskilling of our teachers and other support staff, hopefully, as well, with the freedom to respond more directly to the different learning styles of pupils, rather than Estyn's more prescriptive take on teaching, shall we say? Thank you also for your comments on the Children, Young People and Education Committee. I think it's a point worth making that constructive criticism is about helping this place do a good job, it's not just a 'Let's get the Government' moment, tempting though that is occasionally. I imagine that you will, of course, be looking forward to our next inquiry, which is on school funding, which, I think, actually, does speak to this statement to some degree as well.
You say that the approach to this new funding on supporting teacher development has been co-constructed with a number of interested parties, including local authorities. Were they aware of your intention to earmark this very welcome new funding for this purpose in the way that you have? And are you confident that this is what it'll be used for as soon as it gets to councils? I appreciate what you say, that this is for the front line, and, obviously, as Welsh Conservatives, we support any direct funding to schools, but I'm quite curious about how you'll monitor the use of this money when you—well, obviously, you know where local authorities are on this at the moment, and there is some public sympathy for the position that they're putting forward.
With regard to the specific amount of money, how did you conclude that succeeding in developing this new professional learning, to the level needed to be successful, was going to cost £24 million? Did you argue with the finance Cabinet Secretary that, actually, to get this absolutely right, you might need more, but this was all he was prepared to give you? Either way, actually, if the local authority is able—and, obviously, this is what I was after in my first question—to use some of this money slightly differently from the purpose for which you intended it, would that actually then diminish the availability of actual funds to provide the training that you think is needed in order to get the job done? I think one of the things we'd all be worried about is that, as a policy objective, this could become fragile and maybe even fail if the money that you've identified as being absolutely necessary doesn't get there.
My next question is: 'What's absolutely necessary?' The £24 million—obviously, the finance Cabinet Secretary said that for next year we're talking about £15 million. Another £9 million has appeared from somewhere, so I'd like you to tell us from where that £9 million has come. I'm not saying it's unwelcome, but with just five months to go before the end of the financial year, how do you expect that £9 million to be spent meaningfully, when any national approach is only anticipated as being rolled out, really, from next year? And moreover, the development of the professional learning offer—only £5.8 million was anticipated as being necessary to develop that. So, that's already developed, effectively, so where does that £9 million fit in? Is it for roll-out? And how would you do that in five months' time?
I heard from your statement that there are a range of research projects ongoing. Well, presumably, they're not going to be ready to inform how that £9 million is to be spent. Or is there something you really, really could bring forward into this year? Because if there is—and there may well be—that's obviously going to release £9 million at the other end of next year's budget. What do you anticipate spending that on? Who are the professional learning coaches and leaders that you're anticipating? I mean, are they available now, or is the anticipation that they would be stepping up and helping us roll out this good plan next year? Are the schools clear about who they would want to release, if you're able to bring a lot of this forward?
I just want to make it plain, really, that I'm asking these questions not to challenge your policy objective, but bearing in mind that local authorities have been clamouring for extra money, not least for their schools budget, how was the decision made that this £9 million, which has come from somewhere, goes for this very creditable and worthy objective at the same time when schools are saying, 'Actually, we can't afford to run our schools.' So, if you could help us and explain that, I would be very grateful. Certainly, the money is welcome, it's just the immediacy of the use of it that I'm curious to know more about.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, am eich datganiad heddiw. Rydym yn hapus iawn i gefnogi cryn dipyn o'r hyn yr ydych yn ei ddweud. Rydym yn cydnabod, wrth gwrs, y bydd adroddiad Donaldson yn gofyn am ailsgilio eang ymhlith ein hathrawon a staff cymorth, gyda'r rhyddid hefyd, gobeithio, i ymateb yn fwy uniongyrchol i'r dulliau amrywiol sydd gan ddisgyblion o ddysgu, yn hytrach na'r ddealltwriaeth fwy ragnodol sydd gan Estyn o addysgu, dyweder? Diolch i chi hefyd am eich sylwadau ar y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg. Mae'n bwynt sy'n werth ei wneud bod beirniadaeth adeiladol yn ymwneud â helpu'r lle hwn i wneud gwaith da, ac nid yw'n gyfle'n unig i ddweud 'Gadewch i ni roi pwniad i'r Llywodraeth', er bod hynny'n demtasiwn ar adegau. Tybiaf y byddwch, wrth gwrs, yn edrych ymlaen at ein hymchwiliad nesaf, sydd ar gyllid ysgolion, sydd, yn fy marn i, mewn gwirionedd, yn ymwneud â thestun y datganiad hwn i ryw raddau hefyd.
Rydych yn dweud bod y dull o weithredu'r cyllid newydd hwn i gefnogi datblygiad athrawon wedi cael ei lunio ar y cyd â nifer o bartïon â diddordeb, gan gynnwys awdurdodau lleol. A oedden nhw'n ymwybodol o'ch bwriad chi i glustnodi'r cyllid newydd hwn sydd i'w groesawu'n fawr iawn ar gyfer y diben hwn yn y ffordd a wnaethoch chi? A ydych yn hyderus y caiff ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer hyn cyn gynted ag y bydd y cynghorau yn ei gael? Rwy'n deall yr hyn a ddywedwch chi, fod hyn ar gyfer y rheng flaen, ac, yn amlwg, fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, rydym yn cefnogi unrhyw gyllid uniongyrchol i ysgolion. Ond rwy'n awyddus i wybod sut y byddwch chi'n monitro'r defnydd o'r arian hwn pan fyddwch—wel, yn amlwg, rydych chi'n gwybod am sefyllfa'r awdurdodau lleol ar hyn o bryd, a cheir peth cydymdeimlad ymhlith y cyhoedd â'r safbwynt y maen nhw'n ei gyflwyno.
O ran y swm penodol o arian, sut ddaethoch chi i'r casgliad y byddai llwyddo i ddatblygu'r dysgu proffesiynol newydd hwn, i'r lefel a fyddai'n angenrheidiol iddo fod yn llwyddiannus, yn costio £24 miliwn? A wnaethoch chi ddadlau gydag Ysgrifennydd cyllid y Cabinet y gallai, er mwyn gwneud hyn yn hollol iawn, fod angen mwy arnoch, ond mai dyna'r cyfan yr oedd yn barod i'w roi i chi? Sut bynnag yr oedd hi, mewn gwirionedd, pe byddai'r awdurdod lleol yn gallu defnyddio rhywfaint o'r arian hwn mewn ffordd ychydig yn wahanol i'r diben yr oeddech chi'n ei fwriadu ar ei gyfer—ac, yn amlwg, dyma'r hyn yr oeddwn yn ei geisio yn fy nghwestiwn cyntaf—a fyddai hynny mewn gwirionedd yn lleihau'r swm gwirioneddol o arian fyddai ar gael i ddarparu'r hyfforddiant yr ydych yn credu sydd ei angen i gwblhau'r gwaith? Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau y byddem ni i gyd yn poeni amdano yw y gallai hyn, fel amcan polisi, ddatblygu i fod yn rhywbeth bregus a hyd yn oed fethu pe na fyddai'r arian y dywedasoch sy'n gwbl angenrheidiol yn dod i law.
Fy nghwestiwn nesaf yw: 'Beth sy'n hollol angenrheidiol?' Y £24 miliwn—yn amlwg, dywedodd Ysgrifennydd cyllid y Cabinet ein bod ni'n sôn am £15 miliwn ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae £9 miliwn arall wedi ymddangos o rywle, felly hoffwn pe gallech ddweud wrthym o ble y daeth y £9 miliwn hwn. Nid wyf yn dweud nad oes croeso iddo, ond gyda dim ond pum mis eto cyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol, sut ydych yn disgwyl i'r £9 miliwn hwn gael ei wario mewn ffordd ystyrlon, pan ragwelir na fydd unrhyw ddull cenedlaethol ond yn cael ei gyflwyno, mewn gwirionedd, o'r flwyddyn nesaf ymlaen? Ac ar ben hynny, datblygiad y cynnig dysgu proffesiynol—rhagwelwyd mai dim ond £5.8 miliwn fyddai'n angenrheidiol i ddatblygu hwnnw. Mae eisoes wedi cael ei ddatblygu, i bob pwrpas, felly beth am y £9 miliwn? Ar gyfer y cyflwyno? A sut fyddech chi'n gwneud hynny ymhen pum mis?
Clywais o'ch datganiad fod amrywiaeth o brosiectau ymchwil yn mynd rhagddynt. Wel, mae'n debyg na fyddan nhw'n barod i roi gwybod sut y bydd y £9 miliwn hwnnw i'w wario. Neu a oes unrhyw beth y gallech yn wirioneddol ei ddwyn ymlaen i'r flwyddyn hon? Oherwydd os oes— ac mae'n hynny'n gwbl bosibl—byddai hynny, yn amlwg, yn rhyddhau £9 miliwn ym mhen arall cyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf. Beth ydych chi'n rhagweld gwario hynny arno? Pwy yw'r hyrwyddwyr a'r arweinyddion dysgu proffesiynol yr ydych chi'n disgwyl eu gweld? Hynny yw, a ydyn nhw ar gael nawr, neu ai'r disgwyliad yw y byddan nhw'n dod i'r adwy ac yn ein helpu i gyflwyno'r cynllun da hwn y flwyddyn nesaf? A yw'r ysgolion yn glir ynghylch pwy y bydden nhw'n hoffi eu rhyddhau, os ydych yn gallu dwyn llawer o hyn yn ei flaen?
Rwy'n dymuno ei gwneud yn glir, mewn gwirionedd, nad wyf yn holi'r cwestiynau hyn i herio amcan eich polisi. Ond gan gofio bod yr awdurdodau lleol wedi bod yn crochlefain am arian ychwanegol, yn enwedig ar gyfer eu cyllideb ysgolion, sut y daethpwyd i'r penderfyniad fod y £9 miliwn hwn, sydd wedi ymddangos o rywle, yn mynd i gael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer yr amcan clodwiw a theilwng hwn ond ar yr un pryd mae'r ysgolion yn dweud, 'A dweud y gwir, nid ydym yn gallu fforddio i redeg ein hysgolion.' Felly, pe gallech ein helpu ni ac esbonio hynny, byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn. Yn sicr, mae'r arian i'w groesawu, ond rwy'n awyddus i ddeall mwy am natur uniongyrchol y defnydd ohono.
Thank you very much to Suzy Davies for those observations and questions. I think it is important to recognise the role of the committee in this regard. When the committee looked at the curriculum, this was the committee's No. 1 recommendation: that we needed, as a Government, to address the professional learning needs of the staff, if the objectives of the curriculum were to be developed. I hope that the members of the committee who worked on that report are pleased that we have taken their views into consideration when doing this.
Let me be absolutely clear about how the money will get to the front line. So, in this financial year, the money will be allocated to the regional consortia, who have been involved in the development of this programme and are confident that we can get those resources out to the front line. We're not starting from scratch. There is much evidence base already that has been undertaken, and our pioneer schools that are involved in professional learning have already been trying out some of these techniques. So, this is not a standing start. This is informed by practice that has already been undertaken in schools, and there are some wonderful examples that I can point to. For instance, King Henry VIII school in Abergavenny: a relatively new professional development pioneer, but working really, really hard, not only within their own school, but actually with surrounding cluster schools, to really look at what are the professional learning opportunities and needs if we're to get ready for the curriculum—very proactive in that. Romilly Primary School: again, another example where, already, the mapping has been done for individuals to identify what they feel they need to get ready to be ready for the new curriculum. But, clearly, some of this will have to be developed further when the details of the AoLEs are released in the spring of next year. That will shape our ongoing discussions about what's needed.
The money for next year will be a hypothecated grant to local authorities, which has to be spent on these purposes. Both with regard to money to consortia and to schools, we will be looking to ensure transparency in the method of allocation of the resources and also the monitoring of the funding. Now, there is always, is there not, a balancing act to be struck between creating huge amounts of bureaucracy, especially for individual schools, to account for money, and making sure the money is used for what it is intended for? Therefore, we will be working with regional consortia, who will be required to publish their spending plans for the money, and we will be monitoring the uptake of professional learning opportunities by professional group and by individual school. So, we will be expecting the collection of that data so that we can satisfy ourselves as to what use is being made of the money, but it's a balancing act between creating a bureaucratic nightmare for people and allowing the money to be used for the purposes that it's intended to be used for.
I don't have rows with my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. It's not in my interest to have rows. I think you used the word 'arguments' with him. But he is aware that, if our curriculum is to be a success, then we have to invest in our teachers to enable them to do that. All the work that we have done on the curriculum will come to naught if our teachers are not in a position to implement that successfully on behalf of their students. The examples of sorts of things that schools will need to explore—we'll be looking at the implications of the new content, new approaches for planning and realising learning, new approaches to assessment of children's progress, developing the skills for school-level curriculum design—something that perhaps schools have not been quite so used to doing—developing collaborative arrangements for school-level curriculum from four to 19, so actually getting schools to work together in both the primary and the secondary phases to ensure that there is the pathway for individual learners. Implications of the AoLEs, for instance—we will have a new AoLE of health and well-being. That, in some ways, will be a challenge to the sector in this particular area, and that's why we need to make sure that our teachers are confident that they can make the most of the opportunity of having that new AoLE.
What do we expect the money to be used for? Well, we are confident that schools are in a position to map the learning needs of their teachers. We will expect them to use the money for releasing and covering staff time to be involved in collaborative work. Often that's really difficult. I think we had this conversation just the other week in committee about when budgets are tight, the ability to release staff for training disappears, and this now means that there will be dedicate resource to allow that to happen.
I'm very alive to and alert to the significant pressures on local government. You will have heard the First Minister's answers today about the Government continuing to look to see what more we can do to alleviate those pressures. I'm sure that, if the Government is in a position to do that, local authorities will want to prioritise spending on schools and to ensure that children in their local area get the best possible opportunities. But having done that, we need to make sure that those teachers in those classrooms have the skills and the training that they need. In responding to the committee's report, we're also responding to consistent calls from the unions to have this money in place, and I was delighted yesterday to see the very warm welcome the teaching unions gave to this announcement.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i Suzy Davies am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau yna. Rwyf i o'r farn ei bod yn bwysig i ni gydnabod gwaith y Pwyllgor yn hyn o beth. Pan edrychodd y pwyllgor ar y cwricwlwm, hwn oedd argymhelliad Rhif Un y pwyllgor: mae angen i ni, fel Llywodraeth, fynd i'r afael ag anghenion dysgu proffesiynol y staff, os ydym eisiau datblygu amcanion y cwricwlwm. Rwy'n gobeithio bod yr aelodau o'r Pwyllgor a weithiodd ar yr adroddiad hwnnw yn falch ein bod wedi cymryd eu safbwyntiau i ystyriaeth wrth wneud hyn.
Gadewch imi fod yn gwbl glir ynglŷn â'r ffordd y bydd yr arian yn cyrraedd y rheng flaen. Yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, dyrennir yr arian i'r consortia rhanbarthol, sydd wedi bod yn ymwneud â datblygiad y rhaglen hon ac sy'n hyderus y gallwn anfon yr adnoddau hynny i'r rheng flaen. Nid ydym yn dechrau o'r dechrau. Ceir sylfaen eang o dystiolaeth a gafwyd eisoes, ac mae ein hysgolion arloesi sy'n ymwneud â dysgu proffesiynol wedi bod yn arbrofi gyda rhai o'r technegau hyn eisoes. Felly, nid cychwyn stond yw hwn. Caiff ei lywio gan ymarfer sydd eisoes wedi ei wneud mewn ysgolion, ac mae rhai enghreifftiau gwych y gallaf gyfeirio atyn nhw. Er enghraifft, Ysgol Brenin Harri'r VIII yn y Fenni: arloeswr cymharol newydd ym maes datblygiad proffesiynol, ond yn gweithio yn galed iawn, iawn, nid yn unig o fewn eu hysgol eu hunain, ond mewn gwirionedd gydag ysgolion y clwstwr o'i chwmpas, i edrych o ddifrif ar beth yw'r anghenion a'r cyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol os ydym eisiau bod yn barod ar gyfer y cwricwlwm—yn rhagweithiol iawn. Ysgol Gynradd Romilly: unwaith eto, enghraifft arall lle mae'r mapio wedi cael ei wneud eisoes ar gyfer unigolion i nodi beth y maen nhw'n ei deimlo sydd ei angen i'w paratoi ar gyfer bod yn barod i'r cwricwlwm newydd. Ond, yn amlwg, bydd yn rhaid i rywfaint o'r gwaith hwn gael ei ddatblygu ymhellach pan fydd manylion y Meysydd Dysgu a Phrofiad yn cael eu rhyddhau yn y gwanwyn y flwyddyn nesaf. Bydd hyn yn llywio ein trafodaethau parhaus am yr hyn sy'n angenrheidiol.
Grant a neilltuir i'r awdurdodau lleol fydd yr arian ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf, a bydd yn rhaid gwario'r arian i'r dibenion hyn. O ran arian i gonsortia ac i ysgolion fel ei gilydd, byddwn yn ceisio sicrhau bod tryloywder yn y dull o ddyrannu adnoddau a hefyd yn y gwaith o fonitro'r cyllid. Nawr, mae cydbwysedd i'w daro bob amser, onid oes, rhwng creu swm enfawr o fiwrocratiaeth, yn enwedig i ysgolion unigol, i roi cyfrif am arian, a gwneud yn siŵr bod yr arian yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer yr hyn y mae wedi ei fwriadu ar ei gyfer. Felly, byddwn yn gweithio gyda'r consortia rhanbarthol, y bydd yn ofynnol iddyn nhw gyhoeddi eu cynlluniau gwariant ar gyfer yr arian, a byddwn yn monitro'r niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar gyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol yn ôl y grwpiau proffesiynol ac yn ôl yr ysgolion unigol. Felly, byddwn yn disgwyl casglu'r data hynny fel y gallwn fodloni ein hunain ynghylch y defnydd a wneir o'r arian. Ond mae'n rhaid taro cydbwysedd rhwng creu hunllef fiwrocrataidd i bobl a chaniatáu i'r arian gael ei ddefnyddio at y dibenion a fwriedir.
Nid oes cweryl rhwng fy nghydweithiwr Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a minnau. Nid oes mantais i mi o fod yn cweryla. Rwy'n credu ichi ddweud mod i'n 'dadlau' ag ef. Ond mae ef yn ymwybodol, os yw'n cwricwlwm am fod yn llwyddiant, yna bydd raid inni fuddsoddi yn ein hathrawon i'w galluogi i gyflawni hynny. Bydd yr holl waith yr ydym wedi ei wneud ar y cwricwlwm yn mynd i'r gwellt os na fydd ein hathrawon mewn sefyllfa i roi hwnnw ar waith yn llwyddiannus ar ran eu disgyblion. Yr enghreifftiau o'r mathau o bethau y bydd angen i ysgolion eu harchwilio—byddwn yn edrych ar oblygiadau'r cynnwys newydd, dulliau newydd o gynllunio a gwireddu dysgu, dulliau newydd o asesu cynnydd plant, datblygu'r sgiliau ar gyfer cynllunio'r cwricwlwm ar lefel ysgol—rhywbeth nad yw ysgolion efallai mor gyfarwydd â'i wneud—datblygu trefniadau cydweithredol ar gyfer y cwricwlwm ar lefel ysgol o 4 i 19 oed, felly mewn gwirionedd gwneud yn siŵr bod ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd yn cydweithio i sicrhau bod llwybr i'w gael ar gyfer dysgwyr unigol. Goblygiadau, er enghraifft, y meysydd dysgu a phrofiad—bydd gennym faes dysgu a phrofiad newydd, sef iechyd a lles. Bydd hynny, mewn rhai ffyrdd, yn her i'r sector yn y maes arbennig hwn, a dyna pam mae angen i ni wneud yn siŵr y bydd ein hathrawon yn hyderus y gallan nhw fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfle o fod â'r maes dysgu a phrofiad newydd o iechyd a lles.
At ba ddiben y disgwyliwn i'r arian gael ei ddefnyddio? Wel, rydym yn hyderus bod ysgolion mewn sefyllfa i fapio anghenion dysgu eu hathrawon. Byddwn yn disgwyl iddyn nhw ddefnyddio'r arian i ryddhau a llenwi bylchau gydag amser y staff ar gyfer cymryd rhan mewn gweithgarwch ar y cyd. Mae hynny'n anodd iawn yn aml. Rwy'n credu i ni gael y sgwrs hon yr wythnos o'r blaen yn y pwyllgor wrth drafod yr adegau y bydd cyllidebau yn gyfyng, y bydd y gallu i ryddhau staff ar gyfer hyfforddiant yn diflannu. Mae hyn nawr yn golygu y bydd adnoddau wedi eu neilltuo i ganiatáu i hynny ddigwydd.
Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn ac yn effro i'r pwysau sylweddol sydd ar lywodraeth leol. Byddwch wedi clywed ateb y Prif Weinidog heddiw o ran y Llywodraeth yn parhau i fwrw golwg ar beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i ysgafnhau'r pwysau. Rwy'n siŵr, pe bai'r Llywodraeth mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny, byddai'r awdurdodau lleol yn awyddus i flaenoriaethu gwariant ar ysgolion a sicrhau bod plant yn eu hardal leol yn cael y cyfleoedd gorau posibl. Ond wedi gwneud hynny, bydd angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod gan yr athrawon hynny yn y stafell ddosbarth y sgiliau a'r hyfforddiant sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw. Wrth ymateb i adroddiad y pwyllgor, rydym yn ymateb hefyd i alwadau cyson gan yr undebau i fod â'r arian hwn yn ei le, ac roeddwn yn hapus iawn ddoe i weld y croeso cynnes iawn a roddodd undebau'r athrawon i'r cyhoeddiad hwn.
Mae codi safonau a chodi statws y proffesiwn yn rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn galw amdano fo ers blynyddoedd, wrth gwrs. Os nad ydy'r gweithlu yn cael—
Raising standards and raising the status of the profession is something that Plaid Cymru has been calling for for many years, of course. If the workforce isn't given—
I'm ever so sorry, but I don't have the translation, Presiding Officer. I'm very sorry.
Mae'n flin iawn gyda fi, ond nid yw'r cyfieithiad i'w gael gennyf i, Llywydd. Rwy'n flin iawn.
Iawn. A ydych chi eisiau imi drio eto? A ydy o'n gweithio rŵan?
Okay. Do you want me to try again? Is it working now?
Sorry—
Sori—
Okay. Is this a problem with everybody's?
Ocê. Ydy hon yn broblem gan bawb?
I'm so sorry—
Rwy'n flin iawn—
No, it's okay. It's not your fault; it happens.
Na. Nid arnoch chi y mae'r bai; mae pethau fel hyn yn digwydd.
No, it's my fault, sorry. It's working on this one—I'll borrow Lesley's.
Nage, arnaf i y mae'r bai, sori. Mae'n gweithio ar hwn—mi gymeraf i fenthyg un Lesley.
Okay. Lean over.
Iawn. Pwyswch drosodd.
I'll have to clean it for her later.
Bydd raid i mi lanhau hwn iddi wedyn.
Too much information, Cabinet Secretary. [Laughter.]
Peidiwch â sôn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. [Chwerthin.]
Siân Gwenllian i gario mlaen.
Siân Gwenllian to carry on.
Iawn. Gobeithio eich bod chi'n fy nghlywed i, a chlywed y cyfieithiad yn glir hefyd.
Okay. I hope you can hear me now, and I hope the interpretation is clear too.
Perfect.
I'r dim.
Ardderchog. Fe wnaf ddechrau eto, felly.
Mae codi safonau a chodi statws y proffesiwn yn rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn galw amdano fo ers nifer o flynyddoedd. Os nad ydy'r gweithlu yn cael hyfforddiant o safon uchel drwy gydol eu gyrfa, o'u haddysg gychwynnol hyd at gyfnod ymddeol o'r sector, fydd y safonau ddim yn codi yn y dosbarth.
Cyn troi at fater sydd wedi cael ei drafod yn fan hyn nifer o weithiau, sef athrawon llanw a'u rhan nhw yn y broses yma, rydw i eisiau cyffwrdd hefyd ar y mater yr oedd Suzy yn ei godi ynglŷn â'r £15 miliwn o arian, ac a fyddai fo wedi bod yn well i'r arian fynd yn syth i'r gyllideb graidd yn hytrach na chael ei roi fel grant benodol.
Rŵan, rydw i'n cydymdeimlo â chi, achos rydw i newydd ddweud fy mod i'n meddwl bod angen buddsoddi i gael y dysgu proffesiynol yma'n digwydd yn iawn, ond, wrth gwrs, mae hi'n gyfnod eithriadol o anodd ar y cynghorau sir, ac mae'r gymdeithas llywodraeth leol wedi dweud y byddai'n llawer iawn gwell ganddyn nhw weld y £15 miliwn yn cael ei wario ar gadw swyddi—un ai dros 350 o athrawon profiadol neu dros 600 o gymorthyddion dysgu—fel y byddai'r achos wedi bod petai'r cyllid yma wedi cael ei gynnwys o fewn y gyllideb graidd. Rydw i'n gweld eich dilema chi: rydych chi eisiau gwario'r arian yn y lle iawn, ond, ar y llaw arall, mae hi'n gyfnod o argyfwng ac mae ein hysgolion ni angen pob ceiniog er mwyn cadw'r athrawon profiadol—felly, jest gofyn ichi jest ystyried ychydig ar hynny unwaith yn rhagor.
Ond i droi yn benodol rŵan at athrawon llanw, mae yna bedair gwaith mwy o asiantaethau preifat ar gyfer athrawon llanw rŵan nag oedd yna ychydig o flynyddoedd yn ôl, ac mae yna bryderon ynglŷn â thâl ac amodau a datblygiad proffesiynol yr athrawon yma, efo llawer o ysgolion yn dibynnu'n gynyddol ar athrawon llanw i lenwi absenoldebau athrawon. Mae'n hollbwysig, felly, onid ydy, bod yr athrawon llanw hefyd yn derbyn hyfforddiant a bod eu gwybodaeth o ddatblygiadau yn y cwricwlwm yn gyfoes.
Mewn datganiad gennych chi'n ddiweddar ar wefan y Llywodraeth, mi ddywedwyd y bydd dysgu proffesiynol yn hawl i bob ymarferwyr mewn ysgolion, nid athrawon yn unig, felly hoffwn i wybod a fydd yna ddarpariaeth ar gyfer athrawon llanw hefyd a sut rydych chi'n mynd i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd.
Mae'r datganiad yn dweud hefyd y bydd arian yn sicrhau bod y newidiadau'n cael eu gwneud mewn ffordd a fydd yn blaenoriaethu lles athrawon ac yn aflonyddu cyn lleied â phosib ar ddysgu'r disgyblion, a bydd yr arian yn helpu sicrhau bod staff yn cael eu rhyddhau ar gyfer dysgu proffesiynol hefyd. Felly, a fedrwch chi ymhelaethu ar sut y mae hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd? Ac a ydy hynny, yn anorfod, yn mynd i arwain at ragor o ddibyniaeth ar athrawon llanw? Felly, y pwynt penodol yna, os gwelwch yn dda, a'ch sylwadau chi ynglŷn â'r gyllideb graidd yn erbyn grant. Diolch.
Excellent. I will start again, therefore.
Raising standards and raising the status of the profession is something that Plaid Cymru has been calling for for many years. If the workforce isn’t given quality training throughout their career, from the initial teacher training up to retirement from the sector, then standards won’t improve in our classrooms.
Before turning to one issue that's been discussed here on a number of occasions, namely supply teachers and their part in the process, I also want to touch on the issue Suzy raised on the £15 million, and whether it would have been better for that funding to go straight into the core budget, rather than being a specific grant.
Now, I sympathise with you, because I’ve just said that I do think that we need to invest in professional learning. But, of course, it is an exceptionally difficult period for our local authorities, and the WLGA have said that they would very much prefer to see that £15 million being spent on retaining posts—either 350 experienced teachers or over 600 teaching assistants—as would have been the case if this funding had been included within the core budget.
I do recognise your dilemma: you want to spend the money in the right place, but, on the other hand, it is a period of crisis and our schools need every penny to retain their experienced teachers. So, I would just ask you to consider and to dwell on that a little.
To turn specifically now to supply teachers, there are four times more private agencies for supply teachers now than there were just a few years ago, and there are concerns about pay and conditions and professional development for these teachers, with very many schools increasingly reliant on supply teachers to cover teacher absences. It’s crucial, therefore, that those supply teachers also get training and that their information about curriculum developments is up to date.
In a statement by you recently on the Government website, it was stated that professional learning will be available to all practitioners in schools, not just teachers, so I would like to know whether there will be provision for supply teachers too and how you’re going to ensure that that works.
The statement also says that funding will ensure that the changes are made in a way that will prioritise the welfare of teachers and will have as little a disruptive effect on pupil learning as possible, and that the funding will help to ensure that staff are released for professional learning too. So, can you expand on how that is going to happen? Is that inevitably going to lead to more reliance on supply teachers? So, on those specific points and your comments on the core budget against the grant. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr, Siân, and I'm so sorry for the disruption in making you start again. My Welsh is improving, but it's a blwyddyn 2 or blwyddyn 3 standard, and not good enough for the Chamber.
I think what I absolutely welcome is your understanding that without excellence in the teaching workforce, we cannot realise, I believe, a shared endeavour across this Chamber to provide first-class education. That's why the committee stressed so much the importance of finding these resources. If we look to past Estyn reports, it has highlighted the need to invest in the quality of our teaching as a priority, and that's why it's absolutely right to find this money.
We can have a debate about the mechanisms by which this money will find its way to the frontline, but, as you've recognised yourselves, often the first thing to go is investment in staff and training. And, therefore, if we are to invest in our staff, I have made the decision that the only way that we can be absolutely sure that that will happen is via a hypothecated grant. I don't think it should be a binary choice either—that this is either about money for the RSG or money for professional learning. We need to do better than that, and I would also reiterate that the Government continues to look at what more it can do to support the RSG going forward.
But, Presiding Officer, Siân Gwenllian used the word 'crisis'. What I believe will be a crisis is if our new curriculum is introduced on a statutory basis in 2022 and our teachers are not in a position to deliver it. Now that, indeed, would be a crisis. And unless we prioritise this expenditure on support and professional learning, the new curriculum will not do what it needs to do. I think that indeed would be a crisis that we would find ourselves in. That's why I have made this decision to prioritise and make these resources specifically available to invest in our staff. As I said, it's been done in conjunction with our teaching union colleagues and they have welcomed this resource.
You're also absolutely right to recognise that both teaching assistants and supply teachers have an equal right to access professional learning opportunities. They are much valued and valuable members of our education workforce and have a significant role in developing and delivering on education, on our national mission. Therefore, we will be, as part of the monitoring process, looking to consortia to report on the amount of training that is taken up and made available both to supply teachers, but also looking and giving schools flexibility on their ability to use their resources to support their teachers but also their teaching assistant staff. Some schools already do that; some schools say they're not in a position to do that. So, there will be flexibility for individual schools and clusters to make arrangements for both teaching staff and teaching assistant staff and we will be monitoring issues around supply.
I know issues around supply continue to be of concern to Members across this Chamber; they are of concern to me. That's why we continue with our work to look to enshrine better terms and conditions via our national procurement of these services and look to ensure access to professional training as a prerequisite to agencies working in this area. As I said, I'm under no illusions about the challenges facing the RSG, but, if we're serious about getting the profession ready for the new curriculum, and we are serious about the curriculum being successful, then we have to invest in our workforce and we have to do that now, at this point. It'll be too late if we wait for a couple of years' time, if and when the financial system may or may not be—the financial sector, financial atmosphere, may or may not be better. We have to take this opportunity right now.
Diolch yn fawr, Siân, ac mae'n flin iawn gyda fi am yr amhariad a gorfod gwneud ichi ailddechrau. Mae safon fy Nghymraeg yn gwella, ond hyd at flwyddyn 2 neu flwyddyn 3, ac nid yn ddigon da ar gyfer y Siambr.
Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn a groesawaf yn bendant yw eich dealltwriaeth na allwn ni sylweddoli, heb ragoriaeth yn y gweithlu addysgu, yr ymdrech ar y cyd ar draws y Siambr hon i ddarparu addysg o'r radd flaenaf. Dyna pam y tynnodd y Pwyllgor sylw at bwysigrwydd dod o hyd i'r adnoddau hyn. Os edrychwn ar adroddiadau blaenorol Estyn, tynnwyd sylw at yr angen i fuddsoddi yn ansawdd ein dysgu fel blaenoriaeth, a dyna pam mae hi'n hollol iawn dod o hyd i'r arian hwn.
Gallwn gael dadl am y dulliau y gall yr arian hwn fynd i'r rheng flaen, ond, fel yr ydych chi eich hunain wedi ei gydnabod, yn aml y peth cyntaf i ddiflannu yw buddsoddiad mewn staff a hyfforddiant. Ac, felly, os ydym eisiau buddsoddi yn ein staff, rwyf wedi penderfynu mai'r unig ffordd y gallwn fod yn gwbl sicr y bydd hynny'n digwydd yw drwy grant wedi'i neilltuo. Nid wyf i o'r farn y dylai fod yn ddewis deuaidd chwaith—ei fod yn arian ar gyfer y grant cynnal refeniw neu'n arian ar gyfer dysgu proffesiynol. Mae angen inni wneud yn well na hynny, a byddwn yn ailadrodd hefyd bod y Llywodraeth yn parhau i edrych ar yr hyn y gellir ei wneud i gefnogi'r grant cynnal refeniw yn y dyfodol.
Ond, Llywydd, defnyddiodd Siân Gwenllian y gair 'argyfwng'. Credaf i mai argyfwng fyddai ein cwricwlwm newydd yn cael ei gyflwyno ar sail statudol yn 2022 ac na fyddai ein hathrawon mewn sefyllfa i'w gyflawni. Byddai hwnnw'n argyfwng gwirioneddol. A heb i ni flaenoriaethu'r gwariant hwn ar gymorth a dysgu proffesiynol, ni fydd y cwricwlwm newydd yn cyflawni'r hyn y mae angen iddo'i gyflawni. Rwy'n credu y byddai hynny'n argyfwng gwirioneddol inni. Dyna pam yr wyf wedi gwneud y penderfyniad hwn i flaenoriaethu a rhoi'r adnoddau hyn yn benodol i fuddsoddi yn ein staff. Fel y dywedais, gwnaed hyn ar y cyd â'n cydweithwyr yn undebau'r athrawon ac maen nhw wedi croesawu'r adnodd hwn.
Rydych chi yn llygad eich lle i gydnabod bod gan gynorthwywyr addysgu ac athrawon cyflenwi hefyd yr un hawl i gael cyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol. Maen nhw i raddau helaeth iawn yn aelodau gwerthfawr a werthfawrogir o'n gweithlu addysg ac mae ganddyn nhw swyddogaeth sylweddol wrth ddatblygu a chyflawni gydag addysg, ar ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol. Felly, yn rhan o'r broses fonitro, byddwn yn ceisio cael y consortia i adrodd ar y niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar yr hyfforddiant a faint ohono sydd ar gael i athrawon cyflenwi, ond hefyd yn edrych ar, ac yn rhoi, hyblygrwydd i ysgolion o ran eu gallu i ddefnyddio eu hadnoddau i gefnogi athrawon, a hefyd eu staff addysgu cynorthwyol. Mae rhai ysgolion yn gwneud hynny eisoes; mae rhai ysgolion yn dweud nad ydyn nhw mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny. Felly, ceir hyblygrwydd ar gyfer ysgolion unigol a chlystyrau i wneud trefniadau ar gyfer staff addysgu a staff cynorthwyol addysgu a byddwn yn monitro materion sy'n ymwneud â chyflenwi.
Gwn fod materion ynghylch cyflenwi yn parhau i beri pryder i'r Aelodau ar draws y Siambr hon; maen nhw'n peri pryder i minnau. Dyna pam rydym yn parhau â'n gwaith o geisio ymgorffori telerau ac amodau gwell yn sgil ein caffael cenedlaethol o'r gwasanaethau hyn ac yn bwriadu sicrhau bod hyfforddiant proffesiynol ar gael fel rhagofyniad i asiantaethau sy'n gweithio yn y maes hwn. Fel y dywedais, nid wyf dan unrhyw gamargraff o ran yr heriau sy'n wynebu'r grant cynnal refeniw, ond, os ydym yn ddifrifol o ran sicrhau bod y proffesiwn yn barod ar gyfer y cwricwlwm newydd, a'n bod ni'n ddifrifol o ran llwyddiant y cwricwlwm, yna bydd yn rhaid inni fuddsoddi yn ein gweithlu ac mae'n rhaid inni wneud hynny nawr. Bydd yn rhy hwyr os arhoswn am flwyddyn neu ddwy arall, os neu pan fyddai neu na fyddai'r system ariannol—y sector ariannol, yr awyrgylch ariannol, yn well neu beidio. Mae'n rhaid achub ar y cyfle hwn nawr.
Thank you for your statement, Cabinet Secretary, although I note that, once again, you press-released your key announcement before announcing it to us. Since you're able to issue a press release on the matter, you're clearly in a position to issue the statement to AMs, but you didn't. I do find it rather disappointing that you released it to the press first before making the announcement here.
But, turning to your statement, I'm sure teachers and schools will be deeply, deeply grateful for the funds that you're announcing today—or rather that you pre-announced. I just wonder: is this an admission that you're seeking to change too much too quickly? Have you had to pledge this amount of funding because of the cost of supply teachers because you haven't sorted out an alternative to using agencies, which charge a fortune to schools? Was it always the plan to spend the huge sum of £24 million in this way? If so, why haven't you said so before—that is, when you announced the new curriculum?
You say it's to ensure that changes are made in a way that will prioritise the well-being of teachers and minimise disruption to pupils' learning. I don't object in principle to the allocation of the money. I think I've always said that, any measure that you introduce, whether it's the additional learning needs Bill or whatever, unless the resources are there to enable those changes to take place, it's not worth the paper it's written on. I'm just questioning why this is now coming up and why it hasn't been considered before, because surely you should have considered this when you first announced your plans to introduce all these curriculum changes, and surely you should have done an impact assessment on how much these changes were likely to cost the teaching profession to implement them.
In the Government written press release, you're quoted as saying that the money shows how highly we value teachers and professional learning, yet earlier it says it's to make the transition to the new curriculum as smooth as possible. But which is it? It seemed a little bit contradictory there. Is this a new opportunity for professional learning, as your quote suggests, or is it a response to panic that teachers will need hitherto unforeseen help in adapting to all the changes, as the rest of the article suggests? Is this new money, or is this money that will have to be found from the existing dwindling education budget that the Labour Government you're propping up has cut in real terms? If it's not new money, do you feel embarrassed that your changes are requiring money to be taken from other parts of the education system in order to help smooth the transition to the new curriculum because you're trying to make too many changes too quickly? Twenty-four million pounds is a lot of new teachers, a lot of new books—a few rural schools and local schools could avoid closure. So, I think we and the taxpayers deserve to know what is having less spent money—sorry, I'll start again—what is having less money spent on it in order to fund your latest announcement. And can you give us an itemised list of what will be getting less funding than anticipated as a result of this and what assessments you and the rest of the members of the Cabinet have made of the implications of those reductions? Thank you.
Diolch i chi am eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, er fy mod yn nodi, unwaith eto, eich bod wedi rhyddhau eich cyhoeddiad allweddol i'r wasg cyn ei gyhoeddi i ni. Gan eich bod yn gallu cyhoeddi datganiad i'r wasg ar y mater, rydych chi'n amlwg mewn sefyllfa i gyhoeddi'r datganiad i Aelodau'r Cynulliad, ond wnaethoch chi ddim. Rwyf braidd yn siomedig eich bod wedi ei ryddhau i'r wasg gyntaf cyn gwneud y cyhoeddiad yn y fan hon.
Ond, gan droi at eich datganiad, rwy'n siŵr y bydd athrawon ac ysgolion yn hynod ddiolchgar i chi am yr arian yr ydych yn ei gyhoeddi heddiw—neu yn hytrach a gyhoeddwyd gennych chi ymlaen llaw. Tybed a yw hwn yn gyfaddefiad eich bod chi'n ceisio newid gormod yn rhy gyflym? A fu'n rhaid ichi addo'r swm hwn o arian oherwydd cost athrawon cyflenwi gan nad ydych chi wedi sicrhau dewis arall ar wahân i ddefnyddio asiantaethau, sy'n codi crocbris ar ysgolion? Ai'r cynllun o'r dechrau oedd gwario'r swm enfawr o £24 miliwn yn y modd hwn? Os felly, pam nad ydych chi wedi dweud hynny o'r blaen—hynny yw, pan wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi'r cwricwlwm newydd?
Rydych yn dweud ei fod ar gyfer sicrhau bod newidiadau yn cael eu gwneud mewn ffordd a fydd yn blaenoriaethu lles athrawon ac yn lleihau'r amharu ar ddysgu disgyblion. Nid wyf yn gwrthwynebu'r egwyddor o ddyrannu'r arian. Rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi dweud, gydag unrhyw fesur yr ydych yn ei gyflwyno, boed yn Fil anghenion dysgu ychwanegol neu beth bynnag, oni bai i'r adnoddau fod ar gael i ganiatáu i'r newidiadau hyn ddigwydd, nad yw hynny'n werth dim. Holi'r wyf i pam mae hyn yn dod i'r amlwg nawr a pham na chafodd ei ystyried yn gynharach, oherwydd siawns gen i y dylech chi fod wedi ystyried hyn pan gyhoeddwyd eich cynlluniau i gyflwyno'r holl newidiadau hyn i'r cwricwlwm yn y lle cyntaf, ac yn sicr fe ddylech chi fod wedi gwneud asesiad o'r effaith y byddai maint y newidiadau hyn yn debygol o'i gostio i'r proffesiwn addysgu i'w rhoi ar waith.
Yn y datganiad ysgrifenedig i'r wasg gan y Llywodraeth, cewch eich dyfynnu'n dweud bod yr arian yn dangos cymaint yr ydym yn gwerthfawrogi athrawon a dysgu proffesiynol, ac eto i gyd cyn hynny dywed mai bwriad yr arian yw pontio i'r cwricwlwm newydd mor hawdd â phosibl. Ond pa un o'r ddau ydyw? Roedd ychydig o anghysondeb yn y fan honno, mae'n ymddangos. Ai cyfle newydd yw hwn ar gyfer dysgu proffesiynol, fel yr awgryma eich dyfyniad, ynteu ymateb i'r panig y bydd angen help na chafodd ei ragweld hyd yma ar athrawon ar gyfer addasu i'r newidiadau, fel yr awgryma gweddill yr erthygl? Ai arian newydd yw hwn, ynteu arian y bydd yn rhaid iddo ddod o'r gyllideb addysg bresennol sy'n lleihau, y mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur yr ydych chi'n ei chynnal wedi ei thorri mewn termau gwirioneddol? Os nad yw'n arian newydd, a oes gennych gywilydd bod eich newidiadau chi yn gofyn am gymryd arian o rannau eraill o'r system addysg er mwyn helpu i hwyluso'r broses o drosglwyddo i'r cwricwlwm newydd oherwydd eich bod chi'n ceisio gwneud gormod o newidiadau yn rhy gyflym? Mae £24 million yn golygu llawer o athrawon newydd, llawer o lyfrau newydd—gallai rhai ysgolion gwledig ac ysgolion lleol osgoi cael eu cau. Felly, rwyf i o'r farn ein bod ni a'r trethdalwyr yn haeddu cael gwybod beth sy'n cael llai o arian—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, dechreuaf eto—beth fydd llai o arian yn cael ei wario arno er mwyn ariannu eich cyhoeddiad diweddaraf chi. Ac a wnewch chi roi rhestr fanwl o'r hyn fydd yn cael llai o gyllid nag a ragwelwyd o ganlyniad i hyn a pha asesiadau yr ydych chi a gweddill aelodau'r Cabinet wedi eu gwneud o oblygiadau'r gostyngiadau hynny? Diolch.
Presiding Officer, sorry, I must have been mistaken, because I thought that the Children, Young People and Education Committee that made their No. 1 commitment around resulting professional development for the curriculum was a unanimous report that was signed off by all members of the committee and the last I remember Michelle Brown was a member of that committee, so she was well aware of the discussions surrounding that.
I have never, ever, ever said that we would not need to invest in the professional learning development of our teaching staff. I have never said that. I know better than anyone that, if we are to have the education system that I want for my children and, indeed, every child in Wales, it is a quality education workforce that will deliver it. Now, the Member says 'Why now?', and that is a legitimate question to ask. We're making this announcement now because the research has been done, the work has been done, to identify what professional learning opportunities and requirements are arising out of our curriculum changes. That's why it's important to make this announcement now, because we have the research—we've done the research with our universities, we have consulted with our teaching profession, we have looked at the impact of curriculum changes in other nations and what they have done to make sure that their curriculum reforms have been successful. That work is now completed, our pioneer schools have fed back, and we're in a position to ensure that that national approach is taken forward.
Now, Michelle Brown says, 'Do the public really want us to spend this money?' Well, I would argue— I would argue—[Interruption.] I would argue that the public do expect this Government to invest in the teachers up and down this country who stand in front of their children day in, day out, delivering not only the current curriculum but the future curriculum—a curriculum that, with the exception of UKIP, it has been acknowledged that we need here in Wales. And to give it its best chance of success and not to set our teachers up for failure, we need to invest in them. The Member says, 'Which is it? Is it an investment in our teaching staff or is it an investment in our curriculum?' Well, you can't have one without the other. This is about valuing our teaching profession; it is about saying that we will prioritise their learning and development. We will not just talk about it, we will fund it, and we will give them the very best chance of making the exciting new curriculum for Wales a reality for them, but, more importantly, a reality for our learners.
Llywydd, mae'n flin gennyf, mae'n rhaid fy mod i wedi camgymryd, oherwydd roeddwn i'n credu bod y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg a wnaeth ei ymrwymiad Rhif 1 ynghylch datblygiad proffesiynol o ganlyniad i'r cwricwlwm yn adroddiad unfrydol a gafodd ei gymeradwyo gan bob aelod o'r pwyllgor. Cyn belled ag y cofiaf i roedd Michelle Brown yn aelod o'r pwyllgor hwnnw, felly roedd hi'n gwbl ymwybodol o'r trafodaethau am hynny.
Nid wyf i erioed, ddim erioed wedi dweud na fyddai angen inni fuddsoddi yn natblygiad dysgu proffesiynol ein staff addysgu. Ni ddywedais i hynny erioed. Gwn yn well na neb, os ydym eisiau cael y system addysg yr wyf i'n ei dymuno i'm plant i, ac yn wir, i bob plentyn yng Nghymru, yna gweithlu addysg o ansawdd da fydd yn ei chyflawni. Nawr, mae'r Aelod yn dweud 'Pam nawr?', ac mae hwnnw'n gwestiwn dilys i'w ofyn. Rydym yn gwneud y cyhoeddiad hwn nawr gan fod y gwaith ymchwil wedi dod i ben, mae'r gwaith wedi cael ei wneud, i nodi pa gyfleoedd a gofynion dysgu proffesiynol sy'n deillio o'r newidiadau i'n cwricwlwm. Dyna pam mae'n bwysig inni wneud y cyhoeddiad hwn nawr, oherwydd mae'r ymchwil gyda—rydym wedi gwneud y gwaith ymchwil gyda'n prifysgolion, rydym wedi ymgynghori â'n proffesiwn addysgu, rydym wedi edrych ar effaith y newidiadau i'r cwricwlwm mewn gwledydd eraill a'r hyn y maen nhw wedi ei wneud i sicrhau bod y diwygiadau i'w cwricwlwm nhw wedi bod yn llwyddiannus. Mae'r gwaith wedi cael ei gwblhau bellach, mae ein hysgolion arloesi wedi bwydo nôl, ac rydym mewn sefyllfa i sicrhau y bydd y dull gweithredu cenedlaethol yn cael ei ddwyn yn ei flaen.
Nawr, mae Michelle Brown yn dweud, 'A yw'r cyhoedd mewn gwirionedd yn dymuno i ni wario'r arian hwn?' Wel, byddwn i'n dadlau—byddwn i'n dadlau—[Torri ar draws.] Byddwn i'n dadlau bod y cyhoedd yn disgwyl i'r Llywodraeth hon fuddsoddi mewn athrawon ledled y wlad hon sydd yn sefyll o flaen eu plant o ddydd i ddydd, yn darparu nid yn unig y cwricwlwm presennol ond gwricwlwm y dyfodol—cwricwlwm y cydnabyddir, ac eithrio gan UKIP, fod ei angen arnom ni yma yng Nghymru. Ac er mwyn rhoi'r cyfle gorau iddo lwyddo a pheidio â thynghedu ein hathrawon i fethiant, mae angen inni fuddsoddi ynddyn nhw. Mae'r Aelod yn dweud, 'Pa un o'r ddau ydyw? Buddsoddiad yn ein staff addysgu neu fuddsoddiad yn ein cwricwlwm?' Wel, ni allwch gael un heb y llall. Mae'n ymwneud â gwerthfawrogi ein proffesiwn addysgu; mae'n ymwneud â dweud y byddwn yn blaenoriaethu eu dysgu a'u datblygiad nhw. Nid siarad am y peth yn unig fyddwn ni, byddwn yn ei ariannu, a byddwn yn rhoi iddyn nhw'r cyfle gorau posibl i wireddu'r cwricwlwm newydd cyffrous i Gymru ar eu cyfer nhw, ond, yn bwysicach na hynny, ar gyfer ein dysgwyr.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for your statement? I very much welcome it and the additional funding. As you've highlighted, this was an area of great concern for the committee and I, for one, am really pleased that the Government has been able to respond so positively.
As you've highlighted, it is about the new curriculum, but it is also about investing in our workforce, who are our greatest asset. And I know that local government have been quite vocal about this funding, but I wonder if you'd take this opportunity to reiterate to me now that, although we desperately need more funding for local government, and I hope that will come, it is absolutely crucial that we have this protected resource to invest in our skilled teachers, especially as Estyn has consistently told us that teaching is the weakest aspect of the system.
I had one further question, which was around what you've said about the funding contributing towards helping teachers with emotional and mental health. That also responds to the committee's 'Mind over matter' report, and I wondered if you could say just a little bit more about how you would anticipate that part of the money being spent.
A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet am eich datganiad? Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad a'r cyllid ychwanegol yn fawr iawn. Fel y tynnwyd ein sylw ato, roedd hwn yn faes o bryder mawr i'r pwyllgor ac rwyf fi, am un, yn falch iawn bod y Llywodraeth wedi gallu ymateb mor gadarnhaol.
Fel y tynnwyd ein sylw ato gennych, mae a wnelo hyn â'r cwricwlwm newydd, ond hefyd â buddsoddi yn ein gweithlu, sef ein hased mwyaf. Gwn fod Llywodraeth Leol wedi bod yn uchel ei gloch o ran y cyllid hwn, ond ys gwn i a fyddech chi'n achub ar y cyfle hwn i ailadrodd i mi nawr, er bod taer angen mwy o arian ar gyfer Llywodraeth Leol, ac rwy'n gobeithio y daw hwnnw, ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol inni fod â'r adnodd gwarchodedig hwn i fuddsoddi yn ein hathrawon medrus, yn enwedig gan fod Estyn wedi dweud wrthym ni'n gyson mai addysgu yw'r agwedd wannaf yn y system.
Roedd gennyf i un cwestiwn arall, am yr hyn a ddywedwyd gennych am y cyllid yn cyfrannu at helpu athrawon gyda'u hiechyd emosiynol a meddyliol. Mae hynny hefyd yn ymateb i adroddiad 'Cadernid Meddwl' y pwyllgor, a tybed a allech chi ddweud ryw ychydig bach mwy am sut y byddech chi'n rhagweld y rhan honno o'r arian yn cael ei gwario.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
Thank you, Lynne, and I'm glad that we've been able to use the committee's report and the evidence that was taken to help inform and shape Government policy. As Suzy Davies said earlier, that's one of the strengths of our system, I believe. I'm a great believer in, also, the principle that Government and civil servants don't have all the answers, and it is important to use the recommendations of the committees, and the time and effort they put into those reports, to help guide policy.
It has been necessary for me to hypothecate this funding to ensure that it is spent for these purposes. Without such hypothecation, I think there is a very real danger that this money would not be available for professional learning opportunities. I guess the WLGA press release confirms that—that they would not have prioritised that; they would have spent it not on less important things, but they would have spent it on different things. I will always continue in the Cabinet to look to maximise the resources going to the front line in education. As I said earlier, the Government continues to look to see what more can be done to support local authorities through the RSG, but it is absolutely crucial, if our education reforms are to be successful, that we invest in our teaching profession.
Now, the Member will be aware that 'Successful Futures'—'Donaldson', as it is known—highlights, and I would quote, that
'Children and young people need to experience social, emotional and physical well-being to thrive and engage successfully with their education.'
And one of the four purposes of the new curriculum will be to support children and young people to become healthy, confident individuals, and those four purposes are, of course, at the heart of our new curriculum. So, we need to be in a position to ensure that teachers have that training to allow them to realise one of those purposes.
One of the 'what matters' of the health and well-being area of learning and experience will focus on mental and emotional health, and, as I said in answer to questions earlier, one of the things that schools will need to address as they prepare for the new curriculum is how they will be able to interact with the AoLEs, and how they will be able to have confidence that their staff are in a position to deliver that. Given that that is such a fundamental part of that area of learning and experience, we would expect that schools—perhaps in the past, in some schools, they haven't had a great deal of attention on this area—would want to utilise some of this resource to be able to put themselves in a position to deliver on that AoLE, and on that 'what matters' statement.
Of course, there will be greater clarity for everybody regarding the AoLEs when they are published in the spring of next year, and then that will help us guide our next set of professional learning opportunities.
Diolch, Lynne, ac rwy'n falch ein bod wedi gallu defnyddio adroddiad y pwyllgor a'r dystiolaeth a gasglwyd i helpu i lunio a ffurfio polisi'r Llywodraeth. Fel y dywedodd Suzy Davies yn gynharach, dyna un o gryfderau ein system, rwy'n credu. Rwy'n gredwr cryf hefyd, yn yr egwyddor nad oes gan y Llywodraeth a gweision sifil yr holl atebion, ac mae hi'n bwysig defnyddio argymhellion y pwyllgorau, a'r amser y maen nhw'n ei roi, a'r ymdrech y maen nhw'n ei wneud, i lunio'r adroddiadau hynny, i helpu datblygu polisïau.
Bu'n rhaid i mi i glustnodi'r cyllid hwn i sicrhau y caiff ei wario at y dibenion hyn. Heb glustnodi yn y fath fodd, rwy'n credu bod perygl gwirioneddol na fyddai'r arian hwn ar gael ar gyfer cyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol. Mae'n debyg bod datganiad i'r wasg Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru yn cadarnhau hynny—na fydden nhw wedi blaenoriaethu hynny; bydden nhw wedi ei wario nid ar bethau llai pwysig, ond bydden nhw wedi ei wario ar bethau gwahanol. Byddaf bob amser yn y Cabinet yn ceisio rhoi cymaint o adnoddau â phosibl i reng flaen y byd addysg. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, mae'r Llywodraeth yn parhau i edrych i weld beth y gellir ei wneud i gefnogi awdurdodau lleol drwy gyfrwng y grant cynnal refeniw, ond mae hi'n gwbl hanfodol, os yw ein diwygiadau addysg i fod yn llwyddiannus, ein bod yn buddsoddi yn ein proffesiwn addysgu.
Nawr, bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol bod 'Dyfodol Llwyddiannus'—'Donaldson', fel y'i gelwir—yn amlygu, ac rwy'n dyfynnu,
'Mae angen i blant a phobl ifanc brofi lles cymdeithasol, emosiynol a chorfforol er mwyn ffynnu a llwyddo yn eu haddysg.'
Ac un o bedwar diben y cwricwlwm newydd fydd cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc i ddatblygu yn unigolion iach, hyderus, ac mae'r pedwar diben hynny, wrth gwrs, wrth wraidd ein cwricwlwm newydd. Felly, mae angen inni fod mewn sefyllfa i sicrhau bod athrawon yn meddu ar yr hyfforddiant hwnnw i'w galluogi i wireddu un o'r dibenion hynny.
Bydd un agwedd o ran 'yr hyn sy'n bwysig' ym maes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a lles yn canolbwyntio ar iechyd meddwl ac emosiynol, ac, fel y dywedais wrth ateb cwestiynau yn gynharach, un o'r pethau y bydd angen i ysgolion fynd i'r afael ag ef wrth iddyn nhw baratoi ar gyfer y cwricwlwm newydd yw sut byddan nhw'n gallu ymwneud â'r meysydd dysgu a phrofiad, a sut byddan nhw'n gallu bod yn ffyddiog bod eu staff mewn sefyllfa i gyflawni hynny. O ystyried bod hynny'n rhan mor hanfodol o'r maes dysgu a phrofiad, byddem ni'n disgwyl y byddai ysgolion—efallai yn y gorffennol, mewn rhai ysgolion, nad ydyn nhw wedi rhoi llawer iawn o sylw i'r maes hwn—eisiau defnyddio rhai o'r adnoddau hyn i allu rhoi eu hunain mewn sefyllfa i gyflawni'r maes dysgu a phrofiad hwnnw, a'r datganiad 'yr hyn sy'n bwysig' hwnnw.
Wrth gwrs, bydd pethau'n gliriach i bawb ynghylch y meysydd dysgu a phrofiad pan gânt eu cyhoeddi yn y gwanwyn y flwyddyn nesaf, a bydd hynny'n ein helpu i lunio ein cyfres nesaf o gyfleoedd dysgu proffesiynol.
Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.
Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services: reform of fire and rescue authorities' governance and finance arrangements, and I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services—Alun Davies.
Eitem 4 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus: diwygio trefniadau llywodraethu a chyllid awdurdodau tân ac achub, ac rwy'n galw ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus—Alun Davies.
Deputy Presiding Officer, we are all rightly proud of our fire and rescue services. They respond swiftly, effectively and selflessly to serious threats to our safety. More than that, their prevention work has helped reduce the number of fires and fire casualties by more than half since responsibility was devolved to Wales in 2005. That is a huge success, but it is also a challenge. As the number of fires falls, the role of the service will become broader. Firefighters have the skills, training, capabilities and values to deal with a wide range of other incidents, such as floods, medical emergencies and terrorist attacks. Taking on this broader role is not only beneficial, I believe it is essential to the service’s future.
Dirprwy Lywydd, rydym ni i gyd yn falch iawn o'n gwasanaethau tân ac achub, a hynny'n haeddiannol hefyd. Maen nhw'n ymateb yn gyflym, yn effeithiol ac yn anhunanol i fygythiadau difrifol i'n diogelwch. Yn fwy na hynny, mae eu gwaith ataliol wedi helpu i leihau nifer y tanau a nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu hanafu gan danau o fwy na hanner ers datganoli'r cyfrifoldeb i Gymru yn 2005. Mae hynny'n llwyddiant mawr, ond mae hefyd yn her. Wrth i nifer y tanau leihau, bydd swyddogaeth y gwasanaeth yn ehangu. Mae gan ddiffoddwyr tân y sgiliau, yr hyfforddiant, y galluoedd a'r gwerthoedd i ymdrin ag amrywiaeth eang o ddigwyddiadau eraill, megis llifogydd, achosion meddygol brys ac ymosodiadau terfysgol. Mae ymgymryd â'r swyddogaeth ehangach hon nid yn unig yn fuddiol, ond rwy'n credu yn hanfodol i ddyfodol y gwasanaeth.
We already have several fire stations in Wales that typically deal with less than one emergency call-out to a fire every month, and many that see only a few dozen a year. We understand that this is not sustainable and it makes recruiting, motivating and retaining firefighters very difficult indeed. But nor should such stations be closed, as that would leave large parts of the country with no fire service at all.
So, the future depends on realising the potential to do more in collaboration with other agencies. To achieve that and secure a future that is viable, the service needs to be governed and funded in a modern, accountable and sustainable way. At present it is not.
There are other growing challenges too. People are living longer and staying independently in their homes, which is exactly what we want to see. However, older people are at greater risk of fires in their homes. At the same time, the lessons of the Grenfell Tower tragedy still have to be fully learned and applied. Climate change will increase the risks of flooding and wildfires, and public finances are extremely constrained—a situation that is only likely to worsen in the aftermath of Brexit. Again, this calls for the highest standards of leadership and transparency, ensuring the service has the resources it needs, but also placing that in a wider context of other public services.
The current governance and funding arrangements are not fit for this new purpose. They mean the service is run by what are, in effect, large committees at arm’s length from all other local services and without any kind of direct democratic mandate. There isn’t any real public debate or accountability about what the service does or ought to do, and insufficient engagement tools to respond to changing local needs. Yet such debate and such accountability have never been more important.
Fire and rescue authorities’ funding arrangements have similar flaws. They involve the authorities levying contributions from local authorities, at a level that the fire and rescue authority alone determines. There is no external control or approval at all at either the local or the national level. At a time of continuing, severe austerity across all public services, that is difficult to justify. There needs to be a sustainable source of funding for the growing range of non-fire responsibilities that I have already described this afternoon.
Deputy Presiding Officer, the current arrangements date from the mid-1990s. Whilst they may well have been adequate at that time, the service and the demands placed upon it have changed significantly since. No-one should see this as any kind of criticism of the current fire and rescue authority members, managers or staff. We know that they have done their best within the flawed system, but that system itself now needs to change.
The White Paper I am publishing today sets out our preferred approach to reform. This is grounded firmly in the need to enhance local control of the service, and to generate effective leadership and real accountability at that local level. That will mean fire and rescue authority membership becoming more streamlined and more transparent, with greater capacity and capability to provide strategic and political leadership and to build connections with other services and agencies. I also want to see effective challenge at that level from non-executive members.
Fire and rescue authorities' budgets also need proper scrutiny and approval. That role should rest with local authorities, which provide the great majority of fire and rescue authority funds. We appreciate emergency services can neither manage nor predict demand, so that must be reflected in their resourcing. If there were any threat to that or the service standards we enjoy, the Welsh Government would not hesitate to step in.
Most of these changes can happen relatively soon, without the need for primary legislation. In the longer term, I am keen to explore a more radical reform that would fully support the changing role of the service and would enable proper professional leadership of it, with appointed members remaining in an oversight role. I also want to explore options for sustainable and transparent funding for the range of responsibilities we expect the service to discharge.
We must focus on the outcomes of reform than merely on the means. I would, therefore, also be happy to consider other options for reform through the consultation process that would clearly meet the criteria that the White Paper demands.
However, let me be very clear that under no circumstances am I prepared to transfer control of the service to police and crime commissioners, as is happening in England. I do not either intend to alter the current pattern of three fire and rescue authorities or amend their existing boundaries. As we have seen across the border, those approaches create more problems than they would resolve.
I also want to reassure our firefighters that reform is concerned solely with how the fire and rescue authorities operate at the corporate level, and not with front-line delivery. I want to provide the service with clearer, more accountable leadership and fairer, more sustainable funding. There is nothing here that will affect the numbers of firefighters, the training regimes, appliances, fire stations or other operational matters.
Deputy Presiding Officer, change is all too often a response to failure and creates even more burdens on an organisation in difficulty. That is not the case here. I want to build on the successes that we have seen and to sustain the successes that the service has enjoyed to ensure that we do have in the future a service on which we can all continue to rely.
Mae gennym ni eisoes nifer o orsafoedd tân yng Nghymru sydd fel arfer yn ymdrin â llai nag un alwad brys i ddiffodd tân bob mis, a llawer sy'n gweld dim ond ambell ddwsin y flwyddyn. Rydym ni'n deall nad yw hyn yn gynaliadwy a'i fod yn gwneud recriwtio, ysgogi a chadw diffoddwyr tân yn anodd iawn. Ond ni ddylid cau gorsafoedd o'r fath chwaith, oherwydd byddai hynny'n gadael rhannau helaeth o'r wlad heb wasanaeth tân o gwbl.
Felly, mae'r dyfodol yn dibynnu ar wireddu'r potensial i wneud mwy trwy gydweithio ag asiantaethau eraill. I gyflawni hynny ac i sicrhau dyfodol sy'n hyfyw, mae angen i'r gwasanaeth gael ei lywodraethu a'i ariannu mewn ffordd fodern, atebol a chynaliadwy. Ar hyn o bryd nid dyna'r achos.
Ceir heriau cynyddol eraill hefyd. Mae pobl yn byw'n hwy ac yn aros yn annibynnol yn eu cartrefi, a dyna'n union beth yr ydym ni eisiau ei weld. Fodd bynnag, mae pobl hŷn mewn mwy o berygl o gael tanau yn eu cartrefi. Ar yr un pryd, mae angen i'r gwersi o drychineb Tŵr Grenfell gael eu dysgu a'u cymhwyso'n llawn o hyd. Bydd newid yn yr hinsawdd yn cynyddu'r peryglon o lifogydd a thanau gwyllt, ac mae cyllid cyhoeddus yn hynod gyfyngedig—sefyllfa nad yw ond yn debygol o waethygu yn sgil Brexit. Unwaith eto, mae hyn yn galw am y safonau uchaf o arweinyddiaeth ac eglurder, gan sicrhau fod gan y gwasanaeth yr adnoddau y mae eu hangen, ond gan roi hynny hefyd yng nghyd-destun ehangach gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill.
Nid yw'r trefniadau llywodraethu ac ariannu presennol yn addas at y diben newydd hwn. Maen nhw'n golygu y caiff y gwasanaeth ei redeg gan yr hyn sydd, i bob pwrpas, yn bwyllgorau mawr sydd led braich o'r holl wasanaethau lleol eraill a heb unrhyw fath o fandad democrataidd uniongyrchol. Nid oes unrhyw drafod cyhoeddus gwirioneddol nac atebolrwydd ynglŷn â'r hyn y mae'r gwasanaeth yn ei wneud neu'r hyn y dylai ei wneud, ac mae diffyg mecanweithiau ymgysylltu i ymateb i anghenion lleol sy'n newid. Eto i gyd, ni fu trafodaeth o'r fath ac atebolrwydd o'r fath erioed yn fwy pwysig.
Mae diffygion tebyg yn nhrefniadau ariannu awdurdodau tân ac achub. Mae'n rhaid i'r awdurdodau godi cyfraniadau ar ffurf ardoll gan awdurdodau lleol, gyda'r awdurdod tân ac achub a neb arall yn penderfynu ar y swm hwnnw. Nid oes unrhyw reolaeth neu gymeradwyaeth allanol o gwbl yn lleol nac yn genedlaethol. Ar adeg o gyni llym parhaus ym mhob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus, mae hynny'n anodd ei gyfiawnhau. Mae angen ffynhonnell gynaliadwy o arian ar gyfer yr amrywiaeth gynyddol o gyfrifoldebau amgenach na diffodd tân a ddisgrifiais i eisoes y prynhawn yma.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r trefniadau presennol yn dyddio o ganol y 1990au. Er y buont efallai yn ddigonol ar y pryd, mae'r gwasanaeth a'r gofynion a roddir arno wedi newid yn sylweddol ers hynny. Ni ddylai unrhyw un weld hyn fel unrhyw fath o feirniadaeth ar aelodau, rheolwyr neu staff presennol yr awdurdod tân ac achub. Rydym ni'n gwybod eu bod nhw wedi gwneud eu gorau yn y system ddiffygiol sydd ohoni, ond mae angen newid y system honno ei hun bellach.
Mae'r Papur Gwyn yr wyf yn ei gyhoeddi heddiw yn nodi sut yr hoffem ni ddiwygio'n ddelfrydol. Mae hyn wedi ei seilio'n gadarn ar yr angen i wella'r ffordd y caiff y gwasanaeth ei reoli'n lleol, ac i sicrhau bod arweiniad effeithiol a gwir atebolrwydd ar y lefel leol honno. Bydd hynny'n golygu y bydd aelodaeth awdurdodau tân ac achub yn dod yn symlach ac yn fwy tryloyw, gyda mwy o gapasiti a gallu i ddarparu arweinyddiaeth strategol a gwleidyddol ac i ddatblygu cysylltiadau gyda gwasanaethau ac asiantaethau eraill. Hoffwn i hefyd weld aelodau anweithredol ar y lefel honno yn herio'n effeithiol.
Mae angen craffu'n briodol a chymeradwyo cyllidebau awdurdodau tân ac achub hefyd. Dylai'r swyddogaeth honno fod yn un i awdurdodau lleol, sy'n darparu'r mwyafrif sylweddol o gyllid awdurdodau tân ac achub. Rydym ni'n sylweddoli na all y gwasanaethau brys reoli na chwaith ragweld galw, felly mae'n rhaid adlewyrchu hynny wrth ddarparu adnoddau ar eu cyfer. Pe bai unrhyw fygythiad i hynny neu i safonau'r gwasanaeth yr ydym ni'n eu mwynhau, ni ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru oedi cyn ymyrryd.
Gall y rhan fwyaf o'r newidiadau hyn ddigwydd yn gymharol fuan, heb yr angen am ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol. Yn y tymor hwy, rwy'n awyddus i archwilio diwygio mwy radical a fyddai'n llwyr gefnogi swyddogaeth gyfnewidiol y gwasanaeth ac yn sicrhau bod ganddo'r arweinyddiaeth broffesiynol briodol, gyda'r aelodau'n parhau i gael eu penodi i oruchwylio. Hoffwn i hefyd edrych ar y dewisiadau o ran ariannu'r ystod o gyfrifoldebau yr ydym ni'n disgwyl i'r gwasanaeth eu cyflawni mewn modd cynaliadwy a thryloyw.
Rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar ganlyniadau'r diwygio yn hytrach na dim ond ar y ffordd o wneud hynny. Rwyf, felly, yn hapus hefyd i ystyried dewisiadau eraill ar gyfer diwygio drwy'r broses ymgynghori a fyddai'n amlwg yn bodloni'r meini prawf y mae'r Papur Gwyn yn galw amdanynt.
Fodd bynnag, gadewch imi fod yn glir iawn nad wyf i o dan unrhyw amgylchiadau yn barod i drosglwyddo rheolaeth dros y gwasanaeth i gomisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu, fel sy'n digwydd yn Lloegr. Nid wyf i chwaith yn bwriadu newid y patrwm cyfredol o gael tri awdurdod tân ac achub na diwygio eu ffiniau presennol. Fel yr ydym ni wedi gweld dros y ffin, mae mynd ati fel yna yn creu mwy o broblemau nag y bydden nhw'n eu datrys.
Hefyd, fe hoffwn i sicrhau ein diffoddwyr tân fod diwygio ynglŷn â dim ond sut mae awdurdodau tân ac achub yn gweithredu yn gorfforaethol, ac nid ynglŷn â darpariaeth rheng flaen. Rwyf eisiau sicrhau y caiff y gwasanaeth ei arwain mewn modd cliriach a mwy atebol, a'i ariannu mewn ffordd decach, fwy cynaliadwy. Nid oes a wnelo hyn o gwbl ag unrhyw beth a fydd yn effeithio ar nifer y diffoddwyr tân, y cyfundrefnau hyfforddiant, offer, gorsafoedd tân neu faterion gweithredol eraill.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae newid yn rhy aml o lawer yn ymateb i fethiant ac yn creu hyd yn oed mwy o bwysau ar sefydliad sydd mewn anhawster. Nid yw hynny'n wir yn yr achos hwn. Rwyf eisiau adeiladu ar y llwyddiannau yr ydym ni wedi'u gweld a chynnal y llwyddiannau a gafodd y gwasanaeth er mwyn sicrhau bod gennym ni wasanaeth yn y dyfodol y gallwn ni i gyd barhau i ddibynnu arno.
Well, as you say, we are rightly proud of our fire and rescue services. You state in your opening paragraph that they've worked to help reduce the number of fires and fire casualties. In fact, since 2001-02, a little bit further back than you look, they've reduced by 69 per cent. However, how do you respond to concern that the number of fires attended by Welsh fire and rescue authorities in 2017-18 actually increased by 3 per cent, reversing that trend, with the number of secondary fires rising by 13 per cent, and grassland, woodland and crop fires by 22 per cent, and 15 casualties from fires in Wales, which is actually 50 per cent higher than when 10 fire casualties in Wales were used as an argument in favour of what became the fire sprinkler legislation?
You refer to older people being at greater risk of fire in their homes and the lessons of the Grenfell tragedy. What consideration are you giving or have you given to the Building Research Establishment report commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister in the UK in 2002 and the follow-up report by the Welsh Government itself at the tail end of the fire sprinkler legislation, which recommended fire sprinklers in high-rise towers? It was less enthusiastic about new-build residential properties. But it appeared that no response to that was taken until after the Grenfell tragedy.
In a letter to me on 20 June, you said that you don't agree that older people are at particular risk of electrical fires, whether in terms of the source of fire or the cause. I believe you might have since met Electrical Safety First. I think you had a meeting scheduled with them for July. They produced figures showing that, of 1,485 reported domestic fires last year—I presume that's UK—71 per cent of those were electrical fires and 63 per cent in the kitchen. And, in that context, what is the Welsh Government doing to raise awareness of fires caused by electricity in Wales?
My final questions relate to your proposed changes to governance and funding arrangements, which you say are simply not up to the job. You then ironically attribute the failings to
'large committees of backbench councillors, at arm’s length from all other local services and without any kind of direct democratic mandate.'
That's a model that, as I recall, you defended when the UK Government was proposing police and crime commissioners, using almost identical words at that time. You say that will mean fire and rescue authority membership becoming more streamlined and transparent, and budgets needing proper scrutiny and approval. Well, thankfully, the fire and rescue authorities are transparent with their meeting documentation, which is surely a valid point when considering their current governance and finance arrangements. The report from the chief fire officer in north Wales to their fire authority on 17 September referred to key issues set out in a letter to fire and rescue authority chairs in February by you for the meeting the three chairs had with you at the end of April, to your then engagement of Professor Catherine Farrell of the University of South Wales and Professor Rachel Ashworth at Cardiff University, to speak with representatives of the fire rescue authorities and the WLGA, and that their report was submitted to you. And the report from the deputy chief officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority in September to his or her authority attached a summary feedback drawn from the meetings held with the fire and rescue authority chairs, chiefs and additional personnel and the WLGA. How, therefore, do you respond to the findings in that report that chiefs and chairs are not resistant to change, and provided many examples of how they embraced it, but they raised a series of concerns regarding the suggestion that fire and rescue governance in Wales might be reformed?
How do you respond to the statement that several queried the lack of clear evidence and rationale for reform, feeling that perceived problems with the current system had not been clearly identified, making it difficult for them to estimate the added value that might be gained through any change, to the statement in which some of them raised concern about changing a system that operates well and, quote, 'breaking a system which is not broken', giving the example that it was identified that accountability for fire was highly sufficient given the scale and budget for the service, relative to systems of accountability for other public services operating at a much larger scale, and to the statement that interviews emphasised the importance of the electoral link via local authorities and provided examples of how this was currently operationalised to deliver accountability, transparency, consultation and information? And, finally, how do you respond—I won't read them all because there are a lot of them—to the summary of suggestions for improvement in that report, which I'm sure you have engraved on your bedroom wall, but which included the need for consistency around member role specifications, the clarity around the scrutiny and challenge role, an indication of the level of member development and support, and the need for members with expertise from outside the service, from areas such as health and social care, to be co-opted onto the fire and rescue authority, or a new national issues committee scrutiny sub-committee? Thank you.
Wel, fel yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud, rydym ni'n falch iawn o'n gwasanaethau tân ac achub, a hynny am resymau da. Rydych chi'n nodi yn eich paragraff agoriadol y buon nhw'n gweithio i helpu i leihau nifer y tanau a phobl sy'n cael eu hanafu gan dannau. Yn wir, ers 2001-02, ychydig ymhellach yn ôl nag yr ydych chi'n edrych, bu gostyngiad o 69 y cant. Fodd bynnag, sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r pryder bod cynnydd o 3 y cant mewn gwirionedd yn nifer y tanau y galwyd awdurdodau tân ac achub i ymdrin â nhw yn 2017-18, gan wrthdroi'r duedd honno, gyda chynnydd o 13 y cant yn nifer y tanau eilaidd, a chynnydd o 22 y cant yn nifer tannau glaswelltir, coetiroedd a chnydau, a 15 o anafiadau o ganlyniad i danau yng Nghymru, sydd mewn gwirionedd 50 y cant yn uwch na'r ffigur o 10 o bobl a gafodd eu hanafu gan dân a ddefnyddiwyd fel dadl o blaid yr hyn a ddaeth yn ddeddfwriaeth systemau chwistrellu rhag tân?
Rydych chi'n cyfeirio at bobl hŷn sydd mewn mwy o berygl o gael tân yn eu cartrefi a'r gwersi o drychineb Grenfell. Pa ystyriaeth ydych chi'n ei rhoi neu a roesoch chi i adroddiad y Sefydliad Ymchwil Adeiladu a gomisiynwyd gan y Dirprwy Brif Weinidog yn y DU yn 2002 a'r adroddiad dilynol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ei hun ar ddiwedd y ddeddfwriaeth systemau chwistrellu tân, a argymhellodd roi systemau chwistrellu rhag tân mewn tyrau uchel? Roedd yn llai brwdfrydig ynglŷn â thai newydd. Ond mae hi'n ymddangos na fu unrhyw ymateb i hynny tan ar ôl trychineb Grenfell.
Mewn llythyr ataf ar 20 Mehefin, fe wnaethoch chi ddweud nad ydych chi'n cytuno bod pobl hŷn yn wynebu risg benodol o danau trydanol, p'un ai o ran ffynhonnell y tân neu ei achos. Rwy'n credu o bosib eich bod chi wedi cwrdd ag Electrical Safety First ers hynny. Rwy'n credu yr oedd gennych chi gyfarfod wedi ei drefnu gyda nhw ym mis Gorffennaf. Roedd ganddyn nhw ffigurau yn dangos, o 1,485 o danau domestig y llynedd—rwy'n cymryd bod hynny'n golygu yn y DU—roedd 71 y cant ohonyn nhw yn danau trydanol a 63 y cant yn y gegin. Ac, yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r tanau a achosir gan drydan yng Nghymru?
Mae fy nghwestiynau olaf yn ymwneud â'ch newidiadau arfaethedig i drefniadau llywodraethu a chyllido, yr ydych chi'n dweud yn syml nad ydyn nhw'n addas at y diben. Yna yn eironig, rydych chi'n priodoli'r methiannau i
'bwyllgorau mawr o gynghorwyr meinciau cefn sydd led braich o'r holl wasanaethau lleol eraill a heb unrhyw fath o fandad democrataidd uniongyrchol.'
Mae hwnnw'n fodel, os cofiaf, y buoch chi'n ei amddiffyn pan oedd Llywodraeth y DU yn cynnig sefydlu comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu, gan ddefnyddio geiriau bron yn union yr un fath bryd hynny. Rydych chi'n dweud y bydd hynny'n golygu y bydd aelodaeth awdurdod tân ac achub yn symlach a mwy tryloyw o ganlyniad, gyda'r angen i gymeradwyo a chraffu ar gyllidebau mewn modd priodol. Wel, diolch byth, mae'r awdurdodau tân ac achub yn dryloyw gyda dogfennau eu cyfarfod, sydd yn bwynt dilys wrth ystyried eu trefniadau cyllid a llywodraethu presennol. Cyfeiriodd adroddiad prif swyddog tân y gogledd i'w awdurdod tân ar 17 Medi at faterion allweddol a nodir mewn llythyr gennych chi at gadeiryddion awdurdodau tân ac achub ym mis Chwefror ar gyfer y cyfarfod a gafodd y tri chadeirydd gyda chi ar ddiwedd Ebrill, at eich penodiad ar y pryd o'r Athro Catherine Farrell o Brifysgol De Cymru a'r Athro Rachel Ashworth, Prifysgol Caerdydd, i siarad â chynrychiolwyr o awdurdodau tân ac achub a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, ac fe gyflwynwyd eu hadroddiad i chi. Ac roedd adroddiad dirprwy brif swyddog Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru ym mis Medi i'w awdurdod ef neu hi yn cynnwys crynodeb o'r adborth a gasglwyd ynghyd o'r cyfarfodydd a gynhaliwyd gyda chadeiryddion, penaethiaid a phersonél ychwanegol yr awdurdod tân ac achub a Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru. Sut, felly, ydych chi'n ymateb i'r canfyddiadau yn yr adroddiad hwnnw nad yw penaethiaid a chadeiryddion yn gwrthsefyll newid, a'u bod wedi rhoi enghreifftiau lu o sut maen nhw wedi cofleidio hynny, ond fe wnaethon nhw sôn am nifer o bryderon ynghylch yr awgrym y gellid diwygio awdurdodau tân ac achub yng Nghymru?
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad bod sawl un ohonyn nhw yn cwestiynu'r diffyg tystiolaeth a'r sail resymegol glir ar gyfer diwygio, a'u bod yn teimlo nad yw'r problemau honedig gyda'r system bresennol wedi'u nodi'n glir, gan ei gwneud hi'n anodd iddyn nhw amcangyfrif y gwerth ychwanegol y gellid ei ennill drwy unrhyw newid, a'r datganiad lle mynegodd rhai ohonyn nhw eu pryder am newid system sy'n gweithio'n dda ac am 'chwalu system nad yw wedi torri', gan roi'r enghraifft y canfuwyd bod atebolrwydd o ran tân yn ddigonol iawn o gofio'r raddfa a'r gyllideb ar gyfer y gwasanaeth, o gymharu â systemau atebolrwydd ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill sy'n gweithredu ar raddfa lawer mwy, a'r datganiad y pwysleiswyd yn y cyfweliadau pa mor bwysig yw'r cyswllt etholiadol drwy awdurdodau lleol ac a oedd yn cynnig enghreifftiau o sut y caiff hyn ei weithredu ar hyn o bryd i sicrhau atebolrwydd, tryloywder, ymgynghori a gwybodaeth? Ac, yn olaf, sut ydych chi'n ymateb—ni wnaf ddarllen pob un ohonyn nhw oherwydd bod llawer ohonyn nhw—i'r crynodeb o'r awgrymiadau ar gyfer gwella yn yr adroddiad hwnnw, yr ydych chi rwy'n siŵr, wedi eu cerfio ar wal eich ystafell wely, ond a oedd yn cynnwys yr angen am gysondeb o ran manylebau swyddogaeth aelodau, eglurder ynglŷn â'r swyddogaeth o graffu a herio, arwydd o lefel datblygiad aelodau a'r cymorth y maen nhw yn ei gael, a'r angen i gyfethol aelodau sydd ag arbenigedd o'r tu allan i'r gwasanaeth, o feysydd megis iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, ar gyfer yr awdurdod tân ac achub, neu is-bwyllgor newydd i graffu ar waith pwyllgor materion cenedlaethol? Diolch.
Deputy Presiding Officer, I had a terrible fear halfway through that contribution that the Conservative Member was going to read out the notes of every meeting that I've had over the last year, and read out from the notes of every meeting the contribution of every member in that meeting. [Laughter.] It could have been a very, very long session.
Let me say this: we have, as the Member has indicated, shall I say, had a very long conversation with both the current chairs and the chief officers as we've moved through this process. And I have, over the last year or so, sought to develop a debate, with the chairs particularly, over the need for reform and the shape that that reform will take. I introduced the academic element to that on the basis of an attempt to shape and to allow the development of their own thoughts on some of these issues. And let me say this: this is a White Paper, and it is a White Paper that seeks views on particular proposals, but it is not a White Paper that rules out alternatives. In fact, were the Member to take the time to read the White Paper in any detail, then he would see that, in the White Paper itself, we do take the time to say that if there are other proposals, other suggestions, other recommendations for reform, then we're very happy to take that forward and to consider those additional proposals. At no time in this process have I ruled in or ruled out any alternative measures or any alternative suggestions, with the exception of a national force, a national brigade, and also a transfer of responsibility to the police and crime commissioners. Those are the two options I've ruled out, but I've not ruled out other options. If the Conservative spokesperson does have any suggestions he wishes us to consider, then I'm more than happy to give due consideration to those issues.
But in his contribution, he does, in many ways, make the case for reform. It might break his heart to learn this, but he does make the case for reform, because he outlines the changing nature of the threat from fire. He describes secondary fires, grassland and moorland fires, and he may wish to appreciate the expertise and specialisms that we now have in the fire services in Wales. He may be aware that the south Wales fire service spent a great deal of time working with others on Saddleworth moor, for example, dealing with the fires that took place in England, across the border, over the summer months. And that expertise—that knowledge, that specialism—is something that we want to enhance and invest in for the future. The abilities that the fire and rescue authorities and services now have is far beyond that which we would have potentially envisaged in the 1990s, when the current structures were put in place. And it is right and proper, therefore, that we meet an evolving and changing need with a debate and a discussion about how our structures are fit for purpose to meet that changing and evolving landscape.
So, I hope that he will perhaps lift his head a little, and give due consideration to these matters. And if he wishes to join the debate about the future, then I'm more than happy to have that conversation with him. The challenges that we will face in the future are great. We know, and we've debated already, the changes to a pattern of fire responses required. The Member asked a number of questions on Grenfell Tower and our response to that. I will say to him that our response has been led by the Minister in these matters, and she has, as he will be aware, made a number of statements to this Assembly on the evolving response of the Welsh Government to the absolute tragedy of Grenfell Tower. And we will be continuing, and she will be continuing, to lead that response.
But let me say this: as we move forward to respond—and, I believe, put in place a new structure to respond to Grenfell—it is right and proper that the fire and rescue authorities play a full and leading role in responding to that. That is why we need fire and rescue authorities that are fit for purpose, with the funding and the governance in place to enable them to do so.
Dirprwy Lywydd, daeth ofn dychrynllyd arnaf hanner ffordd drwy'r cyfraniad hwnnw fod yr Aelod Ceidwadol yn mynd i ddarllen nodiadau pob cyfarfod a gefais dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, a darllen o nodiadau pob cyfarfod, cyfraniad pob aelod yn y cyfarfod hwnnw. [Chwerthin.] Gallai fod wedi bod yn sesiwn hir iawn, iawn.
Gadewch imi ddweud hyn: rydym ni, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, wedi cael sgwrs hir iawn gyda'r cadeiryddion a'r prif swyddogion presennol wrth inni symud drwy'r broses. A, dros y flwyddyn neu ddwy ddiwethaf, rwyf wedi ceisio datblygu dadl, gyda'r cadeiryddion yn arbennig, dros yr angen i ddiwygio a ffurf y diwygio hwnnw. Cyflwynais yr elfen academaidd i hynny ar sail ymgais i lunio ac i ganiatáu datblygu syniadau eu hunain ar rai o'r materion hyn. A gadewch imi ddweud hyn: Papur Gwyn yw hwn, ac mae'n Bapur Gwyn sy'n holi barn ynglŷn â chynigion penodol, ond nid yw'n Bapur Gwyn sy'n anwybyddu dewisiadau eraill. Yn wir, pe bai'r Aelod yn rhoi o'i amser i ddarllen y Papur Gwyn yn fanwl, yna byddai'n gweld, yn y Papur Gwyn ei hun, ein bod ni yn gwneud ymdrech i ddweud, os oes cynigion eraill, awgrymiadau eraill, argymhellion eraill ar gyfer diwygio, ein bod ni'n hapus i roi sylw iddyn nhw ac i ystyried y cynigion ychwanegol hynny. Nid wyf ar unrhyw adeg yn y broses hon wedi siarad o blaid nac yn erbyn unrhyw fesurau amgen neu unrhyw awgrymiadau amgen, ac eithrio cael llu cenedlaethol, brigâd genedlaethol, a hefyd trosglwyddo cyfrifoldeb i'r comisiynwyr heddlu a throseddu. Dyna'r ddau ddewis yr wyf i wedi eu diystyru, ond nid wyf i wedi diystyru dewisiadau eraill. Os oes gan lefarydd y Blaid Geidwadol unrhyw awgrymiadau y mae'n dymuno inni eu hystyried, yna rwy'n fwy na pharod i roi ystyriaeth briodol i'r materion hynny.
Ond yn ei gyfraniad, mae yntau, mewn sawl ffordd, yn dadlau dros ddiwygio. Efallai y bydd clywed hynny yn torri ei galon, ond mae yn dadlau o blaid diwygio, oherwydd mae yntau yn amlinellu'r newid yn natur bygythiad tân. Mae'n disgrifio tanau eilaidd, tannau ar y glaswelltiroedd a'r rhosydd, ac efallai yr hoffai werthfawrogi'r arbenigedd a'r deheurwydd sydd gennym ni yn awr yn y gwasanaethau tân yng Nghymru. Efallai ei fod yn ymwybodol bod gwasanaeth tân de Cymru wedi treulio llawer iawn o amser yn gweithio gydag eraill ar weunydd Saddleworth, er enghraifft, yn ymdrin â'r tanau a fu yn Lloegr, ar draws y ffin, dros fisoedd yr haf. Ac mae'r arbenigedd hwnnw—yr wybodaeth, y deheurwydd hwnnw—yn bethau y mae arnom ni eisiau eu gwella a buddsoddi ynddyn nhw ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae'r galluoedd sydd gan yr awdurdodau a'r gwasanaethau tân ac achub bellach ymhell y tu hwnt i'r hyn y byddem ni wedi eu rhagweld yn bosibl yn y 1990au, pan luniwyd y strwythurau presennol. Ac mae'n addas ac yn briodol, felly, ein bod yn diwallu angen sy'n newid ac yn esblygu drwy ddadlau a thrafod sut mae ein strwythurau yn addas at y diben i ymateb i'r sefyllfa honno sy'n newid ac yn datblygu.
Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y gwnaiff efallai godi ei ben ychydig, a rhoi ystyriaeth ddyledus i'r materion hyn. Ac os yw'n dymuno bod yn rhan o'r drafodaeth am y dyfodol, rwy'n fwy na pharod i gael y sgwrs honno gydag ef. Bydd yr heriau y byddwn ni yn eu hwynebu yn y dyfodol yn rhai mawr. Rydym ni'n gwybod, ac rydym ni wedi trafod eisoes, y newidiadau sydd eu hangen i'r patrwm o ymateb i danau. Gofynnodd yr Aelod nifer o gwestiynau am Dŵr Grenfell a'n hymateb i hynny. Dywedaf wrtho ein bod wedi dilyn arweiniad y Gweinidog wrth ymateb i'r materion hyn, ac mae hi, fel y bydd yn ymwybodol, wedi gwneud sawl datganiad i'r Cynulliad hwn ar ymateb esblygol Llywodraeth Cymru i drychineb llwyr Tŵr Grenfell. A byddwn yn parhau, a bydd hithau'n parhau, i arwain yr ymateb hwnnw.
Ond gadewch i mi ddweud hyn: wrth inni symud ymlaen i ymateb—ac rwy'n credu, sefydlu strwythur newydd i ymateb i Grenfell—mae'n addas a phriodol bod yr awdurdodau tân ac achub yn chwarae rhan lawn a blaenllaw wrth ymateb i hynny. Dyna pam fod angen awdurdodau tân ac achub arnom ni sy'n addas at y diben, ac sydd â'r cyllid a'r drefn lywodraethu i'w galluogi i wneud hynny.
Dai Lloyd.
Dai Lloyd.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Before I start, actually, it's entirely right that you are in the chair for this statement, DPO, being as you are the inspiration behind the fire sprinklers legislation, and it is right that we acknowledge that once again.
Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary also for his statement and welcome the production of this White Paper? It is right that we pay tribute to firefighters—we are rightly proud of them and all their rescue services. They rightly, as is always said, put their bodies on the line. And as is mentioned, there are other growing challenges too—people are living longer, as the Cabinet Secretary mentioned. And, yes, certainly in the community and primary care, we are keeping people at home now who we didn't use to keep at home. Routinely, we have very frail 80 and 90-year-old people living alone, and that is a particular challenge, and it's a challenge that, from time to time, I'm in conversation with fire colleagues as to how to address those challenges. So, certainly, the field is changing, with more emphasis on prevention work, as the number of fires, as we've heard, reduce. In fact, that's become obvious when you look at the Welsh cartoon involving that scion of the firefighting community, Sam Tân—firefighter Sam. Obviously, I'm watching these videos now with my grandson and they are entirely different videos to the ones I was watching a generation ago with my children, involving that accident-prone community of Pontypandy—far more emphasis on prevention these days, and the expanded role of the fire services generally, which is to be welcomed, naturally.
Now, in 1999, only one of the 999 services was devolved to this Assembly. By 2005, the second 999 service was devolved, and that was the fire service. We still await further devolution of 999 services like the police. So, I welcome the Cabinet Secretary's comments about not devolving any control of the fire services to the police, certainly, who remain not devolved at the moment. So, I do welcome those comments. But, in terms of consistency, would the Cabinet Secretary agree with me in terms of—? I realise you've put your proposals, but you also said it's a White Paper, so you're entertaining other opinions. In terms of co-working between the different 999 services, how do you feel that consistency of boundaries and consistency of the means of funding the different 999 services would this help co-working and co-location of emergency responses to all of the 999 emergency services?
Talking about your White Paper, on the second page, you've set out some proposals here. Have you got a preliminary idea of what the response of the fire and rescue authorities is to your proposed reforms? Plainly, we still remember that you had a little local difficulty recently, with regard to reforming local authorities. Have you had any indication of how fire and rescue authorities view these plans, because, obviously, we wouldn't want any danger of a rerun of that debacle, would we? Thank you.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Cyn imi ddechrau, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n gwbl briodol eich bod yn y gadair ar gyfer y datganiad hwn, Dirprwy Lywydd, gan mai chi yw'r ysbrydoliaeth y tu ôl i'r ddeddfwriaeth systemau chwistrellu rhag tân, ac mae hi'n briodol inni gydnabod hynny unwaith eto.
A gaf i ddiolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet hefyd am ei ddatganiad a chroesawu llunio'r Papur Gwyn hwn? Mae'n briodol inni dalu teyrnged i ddiffoddwyr tân—mae hi'n briodol inni fod yn falch iawn ohonyn nhw a'u holl wasanaethau achub. Maen nhw, yn briodol iawn, fel y dywedir bob amser, yn peryglu eu cyrff. Ac fel y crybwyllwyd, ceir heriau cynyddol eraill hefyd—mae pobl yn byw'n hwy fel y soniodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet. Ac, ie, yn sicr yn y maes gofal cymunedol a gofal sylfaenol, rydym ni'n cadw pobl yn eu cartrefi yn awr nad oeddem ni'n arfer eu cadw yn eu cartrefi. Yn rheolaidd, mae gennym ni bobl eiddil iawn 80 a 90 mlwydd oed sy'n byw ar eu pen eu hunain, ac mae hynny'n her benodol, ac mae'n her, o bryd i'w gilydd, yr wyf yn ei thrafod gyda chydweithwyr o'r gwasanaethau tân ynghylch sut i fynd i'r afael â'r heriau hynny. Felly, yn sicr, mae'r maes yn newid, gyda mwy o bwyslais ar waith ataliol, wrth i nifer y tanau, fel yr ydym ni wedi clywed, leihau. Yn wir, mae hynny wedi dod yn amlwg wrth edrych ar y cartŵn Cymraeg sy'n cynnwys eicon y diffoddwyr tân, Sam Tân. Yn amlwg, rwy'n gwylio'r fideos hyn bellach gyda'r ŵyr ac maen nhw'n fideos hollol wahanol i'r rhai yr oeddwn i'n eu gwylio genhedlaeth yn ôl gyda'm plant, sy'n seiliedig ar gymuned Pontypandy lle mae rhywbeth o hyd yn mynd o chwith—ac mae llawer mwy o bwyslais ar atal y dyddiau hyn, ac ar swyddogaeth ehangach y gwasanaethau tân yn gyffredinol, sydd i'w groesawu, yn naturiol.
Nawr, ym 1999, dim ond un o'r gwasanaethau 999 oedd wedi'i ddatganoli i'r Cynulliad hwn. Erbyn 2005, roedd yr ail wasanaeth 999 wedi ei ddatganoli, sef y gwasanaeth tân. Rydym ni'n dal i ddisgwyl i wasanaethau 999 eraill gael eu datganoli, megis yr heddlu. Felly, rwy'n croesawu sylwadau Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet ynghylch peidio â datganoli unrhyw reolaeth dros y g