Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
15/01/2019Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 12:45 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 12:45 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da. Ddwy flynedd a hanner yn unig wedi ei ethol yn Aelod Cynulliad dros y de-ddwyrain, ac ond yn 34 oed, mae'n orchwyl trist iawn imi orfod datgan yn y Senedd inni golli ein cyd-Aelod a'n ffrind, Steffan Lewis, dros y penwythnos. Mae ei deulu annwyl a'i ffrindiau yn ymuno â ni heddiw yn yr oriel, wrth inni dalu teyrnged iddo. A gawn ni godi gyda'n gilydd yma yn y Siambr a thrwy ein hystâd yn gyfan i gofio Steffan Lewis?
Good afternoon. Just two and a half years after his election as an Assembly Member for the south-east of Wales and at just 34 years of age, it’s my sad duty today to state in the Senedd that we have lost our fellow Member and friend, Steffan Lewis, over the weekend. His dear family and friends have joined us today in the gallery as we pay tribute to him. May we all rise here in the Chamber and across our whole estate to commemorate Steffan Lewis?
Safodd Aelodau’r Cynulliad am funud o dawelwch.
Assembly Members stood for a minute’s silence.
I agor y teyrngedau y prynhawn yma, Adam Price, arweinydd Plaid Cymru.
To begin the tributes this afternoon, Adam Price, the leader of Plaid Cymru.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cenedl fach ydy Cymru, ond bob rhyw hyn, rŷm ni'n magu cawr. Des i nabod Steffan Lewis gyntaf, mae'n rhaid, dros 20 mlynedd yn ôl, yn sgil isetholiad Islwyn. Clywon ni sôn am y bachgen anhygoel yma o gymoedd Gwent a oedd nid yn unig yn aelod o Blaid Cymru, ond o'r SNP a Mebyon Kernow, ac wedi llwyddo i gael Undeb Rygbi Cymru i nodi hyn yn y rhaglen ar gyfer gêm Cymru-Lloegr pan oedd Steffan yn fascot i dîm Cymru. Doedd Steffan byth yn gwneud unrhyw beth ar ei hanner.
O fewn cwpl o flynyddoedd, roedd Steffan yn annerch cynhadledd y Blaid am y tro cyntaf, yn 14 oed—ddwy flynedd yn iau na William Hague ac, fel roedd e'n hoff o bwyntio mas, yn llawer mwy effeithiol. Hyd yn oed bryd hynny, nid Steffan bach mohono; yr oedd hwn am fod yn fawr. Mi oedd yna ddyfnder rhyfeddol yno o'r cychwyn. Ei fam, Gail, wrth y bwrdd smwddio, ac yntau'n naw a'r cwestiynau'n tasgu fel dŵr o ffynnon. Pryd a ble a pham—ac yn amlach na dim, y 'pam', fel rhyw fath o Vincent Kane o dan brentisiaeth. Gwelwyd y potensial a dyfrwyd y gwreiddiau, â Gail yn uwcholeuo erthyglau'r Western Mail ac yn prynu llyfrau hanes Cymru. Ond nid ysgrifennu straeon na llyfrau hanes oedd tynged hwn, ond ei greu.
Thank you Llywydd. Wales is a small nation, but every now and then we breed giants. I got to know Steffan Lewis first over 20 years ago in light of the Islwyn by-election. We heard talk of this incredible young boy from the Gwent valleys who was not only a member of Plaid Cymru, but of the SNP and Mebyon Kernow too, and had managed to get the WRU to note this in the programme for the Wales-England game when Steffan was a mascot for the Wales team. Steffan never did things by halves.
Within a few years, Steffan was addressing the Plaid conference for the first time, at 14 years of age—two years younger than William Hague and, as he was keen to point out, he was far more effective. And, even at that time, he wasn’t little Steffan—Steffan was to be great. There was incredible depth to his character from the outset. His mother, Gail, at the ironing board, and him as a nine-year-old asking all sorts of questions, flowing like water from a well. Where, why and when—and most often, the 'why', like some sort of apprentice Vincent Kane. The potential was spotted and the roots were nurtured and took hold. Gail would highlight articles in the Western Mail and would buy him books on Welsh history. But writing stories or history books wasn’t his destiny; he was to make history.
Steffan was every bit the definition of a passionate Welshman. But he was also a man of Gwent, and he saw in the triumphs and tragedies of that great county the key to understanding the problems and possibilities of the nation as a whole. It was Gwent who brought the first blossoming of Welsh nationalism in the form of Cymru Fydd to a shuddering halt in a stormy meeting in Newport in 1896. But it also produced, in Steffan and, before him, Phil Williams, two of the most cerebral and creative minds in 100 years of the modern national movement. If our task was to forge a new Wales, then the die would be cast in Gwent—the social laboratory that gave the world socialised medicine. His county was not just the gateway to Wales but the key to its future.
Steffan was obsessed by history, as his sister Nia soon discovered—whose summer holidays growing up were a Wales-wide odyssey of castles, battles and the birthplaces of famous Welsh heroes. But whilst Steffan wanted us to learn, he didn't want us imprisoned by it. He tried in vain to get a party that, up until recently, still had Lewis Valentine's lyrics to Sibelius's Finlandia as its official party anthem, to adopt instead Fleetwood Mac's 'Don't Stop Thinking about Tomorrow', famously used, of course, by Bill Clinton in his 1992 presidential campaign. For Steffan, it was the mirror of our past that often offered the vision of our future. A speech he made to our conference after being selected as a candidate for the 2016 election sums this up best, and I'd like to read the closing section now. Here is Steffan in his own words:
'You know I'm a historian myself by training, and I take a great deal of pleasure looking and learning about our past but, in a few months, I am due to become a father for the first time. That's made me think an awful lot more about our future, rather than our past. What inheritance will there be for the next generation? What accomplishments will that generation look back upon and mark out as decisive points in the course of our country? Friends, all of that is in our hands now'.
He went on to talk about the great inspiration he had drawn from the referendum in Scotland, but the point for Steffan is the choices we made here in Wales. Here's Steffan again:
'As much as we take inspiration from others, we will thrive as a movement and as a nation only when we find our own path, when we inspire one another, when we come together to resolve to build a new society and a new state. We are going to walk that path together, north and south, local and newcomer, together as one Wales towards the free Wales.'
Steffan, sadly, will not see the Wales of which he dreamed. But for his son, Celyn, and his generation, he has laid the foundation, and it's we now who must build the road. He understood, like that other Welsh giant, Brân, that the essence of leadership is to take people with you, to build bridges. In the words of one of his favourite poets, Harri Webb, if we Welsh could only be inseparable, we would be insuperable.
Steffan ended that speech by saying that he wasn't going to be the typical politician and reel off a long list of promises to the electorate. Instead, he was going to make just one promise: he was going to make us proud. Well, you made us all proud, Steffan—proud of you, proud to have known you, to have called you a friend and colleague. You made us proud to be Welsh by your example, that will endure. You may not get there with us, Steffan, but we will get there because of you. Steffan had all the qualities to become, one day, the father of the nation. That, sadly, cannot be, but he was the nation's perfect son.
Roedd Steffan o'i gorun i'w sawdl yn Gymro tanbaid o'r iawn ryw. Ond roedd hefyd yn ŵr o Went, a gwelodd yr allwedd ar gyfer deall problemau a phosibiliadau'r genedl gyfan yn llwyddiannau a thrasiedïau'r sir arbennig honno. Yng Ngwent y gwelwyd datblygiad cyntaf cenedlaetholdeb Cymreig ar ffurf Cymru Fydd yn cael ei ddarostwng mewn cyfarfod stormus yng Nghasnewydd ym 1896. Ond fe fagodd y sir, yn Steffan ac yn Phil Williams o'i flaen ef, ddau o'r meddyliau mwyaf doeth a chreadigol yn ystod 100 mlynedd y mudiad cenedlaethol cyfoes. Os mai ein tasg ni oedd llunio Cymru newydd, yna yng Ngwent y dechreuodd hynny—y labordy cymdeithasol a roddodd feddygaeth sosialaidd i'r byd. Roedd ei sir ef nid yn unig yn borth i Gymru ond yn allwedd i'w dyfodol hi.
Roedd gan Steffan obsesiwn gyda hanes, fel y sylweddolodd Nia ei chwaer yn fuan iawn—roedd gwyliau'r haf iddyn nhw wrth dyfu i fyny yn daith drwy Gymru benbaladr yn canfod cestyll, brwydrau a mannau geni arwyr ac enwogion. Ond er bod Steffan yn awyddus i ni ddysgu, nid oedd yn dymuno inni gael ein caethiwo gan y gorffennol. Ceisiodd yn ofer berswadio plaid a oedd, hyd nes yn ddiweddar, wedi cadw geiriau Lewis Valentine ar dôn Finlandia gan Sibelius yn anthem swyddogol iddi ei hun, i fabwysiadu cân Fleetwood Mac 'Don't stop thinking about tomorrow', yn ei lle, a ddefnyddiwyd yn gofiadwy iawn, wrth gwrs, gan Bill Clinton yn ei ymgyrch arlywyddol ym 1992. I Steffan, drych ein gorffennol yn aml fyddai'n cynnig gweledigaeth ar gyfer ein dyfodol. Yr araith a draddododd i'n cynhadledd ar ôl cael ei ethol yn ymgeisydd ar gyfer etholiad 2016 sy'n crynhoi hyn orau, ac fe hoffwn i ddarllen ei diweddglo nawr. Dyma Steffan yn ei eiriau ef ei hun:
Rydych chi'n gwybod fy mod i fy hunan wedi fy hyfforddi'n hanesydd, a'm bod yn cael llawer iawn o bleser wrth ystyried a dysgu am ein gorffennol ond, mewn ychydig fisoedd, byddaf yn dad am y tro cyntaf. Mae hynny wedi gwneud imi feddwl llawer iawn mwy am ein dyfodol ni, yn hytrach na'r gorffennol. Beth fydd yn etifeddiaeth i'r genhedlaeth nesaf? Pa lwyddiannau y bydd y genhedlaeth honno'n edrych 'nôl arnyn nhw ac yn eu nodi nhw'n bwyntiau pendant yn hynt ein gwlad? Gyfeillion, mae hyn i gyd nawr yn ein dwylo ni.
Aeth ymlaen i sôn am yr ysbrydoliaeth fawr a gafodd yn sgil y refferendwm yn yr Alban, ond y pwynt i Steffan yw'r dewisiadau a wnaethom ni yma yng Nghymru. Dyma Steffan unwaith eto:
Ac er ein bod ni wedi cael ein hysbrydoli gan eraill i ryw raddau, byddwn yn ffynnu fel mudiad ac fel cenedl dim ond pan gerddwn ein llwybr ni ein hunain, pan fyddwn yn ysbrydoli ein gilydd, pan fyddwn yn dod at ein gilydd i benderfynu ar yn y gogledd a'r de, yn bobl leol a newydd-ddyfodiaid, gyda'n gilydd yn un Gymru tuag at y Gymru rydd.
Ni fydd Steffan, yn anffodus, yn gweld y Gymru honno y bu ef yn breuddwydio amdani. Ond i'w fab, Celyn, a'i genhedlaeth ef, fe osododd y sylfaen, ac yn awr bydd yn rhaid i ni adeiladu'r ffordd. Roedd ef yn deall, fel y cawr arall hwnnw o Gymro, Brân, mai hanfod arweinyddiaeth yw mynd â'r bobl gyda chi, er mwyn codi pontydd. Yng ngeiriau un o'i hoff feirdd, Harri Webb, pe byddem ni'r Cymry ond yn gallu cydsefyll, ni fyddai modd ein gorchfygu ni.
Daeth Steffan â'r araith honno i ben drwy ddweud nad oedd ef am fod yn wleidydd nodweddiadol a rhaffu rhestr hir o addewidion i'r etholwyr. Yn hytrach, roedd ef yn addo un peth yn unig: roedd yn mynd i'n gwneud ni'n falch ohono. Wel, fe wnaethost bawb ohonom ni'n falch, Steffan—yn falch ohonot ti, yn falch o'th adnabod di, a'th alw'n gyfaill a chydweithiwr. Fe wnaethost ti ni'n falch o fod yn Gymry drwy dy esiampl di, a bydd hynny'n parhau. Efallai na fyddi di dy hun yn cyrraedd y fan honno gyda ni, Steffan, ond fe fyddwn ni'n cyrraedd o'th herwydd di. Roedd gan Steffan yr holl gyneddfau i fod, un diwrnod, yn dad i'r genedl. Yn anffodus, ni ddaw hynny i fod, ond bu'n fab perffaith i'r genedl.
Mae'n diolch ni i gyd yn ddiderfyn i ti, Steffan, i'th fam am dy roi di i ni, ac i Shona am dy rannu di gyda ni oll.
Our thanks is unending to you, Steffan, to your mother for giving you to us, and to Shona for sharing you with us all.
Galwaf yn awr ar y Prif Weinidog, Mark Drakeford.
I now call on the First Minister, Mark Drakeford.
Diolch, Llywydd.
The sense of sadness and of loss is profound in the Assembly this afternoon, as we think first of Steffan's family and his friends, but we think as well of the loss to this Assembly and to the future of our nation. I'm very conscious that, unlike other Members—unlike Adam, who has just spoken—that I didn't know Steffan at all until I met him here after his election. And in the way that chance has it, Llywydd, the responsibilities that he discharged over that brief period for Plaid Cymru in the Chamber, speaking on Brexit, speaking on finance, happened to be the responsibilities that I held in the Welsh Government at the same time. And as a result, and much more than would normally be the case, I found myself in his company. And he was, without any shadow of a doubt, one of the most decent and able politicians of his generation; somebody who, as Adam Price has just said, when he came through the door to discuss something that mattered passionately to him, his ambition always seemed to me to be to see where common ground could be forged and where we could agree together on the important responsibilities that fall to us all. That's how I ended up working with him on 'Securing Wales' Future', a document that has served us so well in the past two years and will go on, I know, being a touchstone of the sort of nation that we want to be in the context we find ourselves in today, and beyond that as well, conversations about finance, about tax, about Gwent and the things that mattered to him there.
Inevitably, like all of us, when something awful like this happens, you find yourself remembering and you think of conversations that you've had. I thought over the weekend of an occasion where we had talked together about the importance of us jointly being able to present a copy of 'Securing Wales' Future' to the UK Government. It was a product of both our parties, we both had a lot to do with its production and we wanted to go together and make sure that we presented it to the UK Government, and, lo and behold, a senior Secretary of State in the UK Government was visiting Cardiff and we were able to go and present the document to him. Steffan introduced the document in the way exactly as you would expect—articulate and to the point. We received a reply from the Secretary of State and, as we left the room, Steffan said to me, 'Well, if I wasn't a nationalist before I came in this room, I'm definitely one as I leave it'. [Laughter.]
He was, as you all know, a thoughtful, sensitive and committed individual, but he was a funny person, somebody whose company you wanted to be in, somebody who you learnt a lot from, even in those more casual moments. It's very difficult, isn't it, to remember that it is barely six weeks since he last spoke in this Chamber, and difficult to remember that it's only six months ago since many of us here in south Wales and in the north, where a number of us were, across parties in the Chamber, set off to walk together across the front in Llandudno. It was a beautiful day; it was one of those high summer's days when the sun shone and you couldn't but be optimistic about the future. And here we are, barely six months later, in the dark winter days. A day when
'The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head.'
And neither, for a long time, Llywydd, will we.
Diolch, Llywydd.
Mae'r ymdeimlad o dristwch a cholled yn ddwys yn y Cynulliad y prynhawn yma, wrth inni feddwl yn bennaf am deulu a chyfeillion Steffan, ond rydym hefyd yn meddwl am y golled i'r Cynulliad hwn a dyfodol ein cenedl. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn nad oeddwn i, yn wahanol i Aelodau eraill—yn wahanol i Adam, sydd newydd siarad—yn adnabod Steffan o gwbl nes i mi gyfarfod ag ef yma ar ôl iddo gael ei ethol. Ac fel mae'n digwydd, Llywydd, roeddwn i'n rhannu'r un cyfrifoldebau yn Llywodraeth Cymru ar y pryd ag yr oedd ef ar ran Plaid Cymru yn y Siambr, sef siarad ar Brexit a siarad ar gyllid. O ganlyniad, ac yn llawer mwy nag a fyddai wedi digwydd yn gyffredin, cefais fy hun yn ei gwmni. Ac roedd ef, heb rithyn o amheuaeth, yn un o wleidyddion mwyaf graslon a galluog ei genhedlaeth; yn rhywun, fel y mae Adam Price newydd ei ddweud, pan fyddai'n dod i mewn trwy'r drws i drafod rhywbeth a oedd o bwys angerddol iddo ef, ei uchelgais bob amser fyddai ceisio'r fan lle gellid cael tir yn gyffredin a lle gellid cytuno â'n gilydd ar yr hyn sy'n gyfrifoldebau pwysig i ni i gyd. Dyna sut y cefais fy hun yn y diwedd yn gweithio gydag ef ar 'Ddiogelu dyfodol Cymru', dogfen sydd wedi ein gwasanaethu'n dda iawn yn y ddwy flynedd diwethaf ac a fydd yn parhau, fe wn, yn faen prawf i'r math o wlad yr ydym yn dymuno ei gweld yn y cyd-destun y cawn ni ein hunain ynddo heddiw, a thu hwnt i hynny hefyd, a chawsom sgyrsiau ynghylch cyllid, a threth, a Gwent a'r pethau oedd o bwys iddo yno.
Mae'n anochel, wrth i rywbeth ofnadwy fel hyn ddigwydd, eich bod yn eich cael eich hunan yn cofio ac yn meddwl am y sgyrsiau a gawsoch chi. Roeddwn yn meddwl dros y penwythnos am achlysur pan fuom ni'n siarad gyda'n gilydd am bwysigrwydd gallu cyflwyno ar y cyd gopi o 'Ddiogelu dyfodol Cymru' i Lywodraeth y DU. Roedd yn gynnyrch ein dwy blaid, roedd y ddau ohonom wedi cymryd rhan fawr yn ei gynhyrchu ac roeddem yn dymuno mynd gyda'n gilydd a gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n ei chyflwyno i Lywodraeth y DU. Ac wele, roedd uwch Ysgrifennydd Gwladol yn Llywodraeth y DU yn ymweld â Chaerdydd ac roeddem yn gallu mynd a chyflwyno'r ddogfen iddo. Cyflwynodd Steffan y ddogfen yn yr union ffordd y byddech chi'n ei disgwyl—yn eglur ac yn gryno. Fe gawsom ni ateb gan yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol ac, wrth inni adael yr ystafell, dywedodd Steffan wrthyf, 'Wel, os nad oeddwn yn genedlaetholwr cyn i mi ddod i mewn i'r ystafell hon, yn sicr rwyf yn genedlaetholwr wrth imi adael.' [Chwerthin.]
Fel y gwyddoch, roedd Steffan yn unigolyn meddylgar, sensitif ac ymroddedig. Ond roedd yn ddoniol hefyd, yn rhywun y byddech yn mwynhau bod yn ei gwmni, yn rhywun y byddech chi'n dysgu llawer ganddo, hyd yn oed yn yr eiliadau llai ffurfiol hynny. Mae'n anodd iawn meddwl, onid yw, mai chwe wythnos yn unig sydd ers iddo siarad am y tro diwethaf yn y Siambr hon. Ac mae'n galed cofio mai dim ond chwe mis yn ôl sydd ers i nifer ohonom yma yn y de ac yn y gogledd, ar draws y pleidiau yn y Siambr, ymgynnull i gerdded gyda'n gilydd ar hyd y ffrynt yn Llandudno. Roedd hi'n ddiwrnod braf iawn; yn un o'r dyddiau hirfelyn o haf hynny pan ddisgleiria'r haul ac ni allech chi ond bod yn obeithiol ynglŷn â'r dyfodol. A dyma ni, brin chwe mis wedi hynny, yn nyddiau tywyll y gaeaf. Ar ddiwrnod pan
Wyneb yr haul, ar draul galar, na welwn.
Ac, am amser go hir, Llywydd, ni wnawn ninnau godi ein pennau ychwaith.
Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.
The leader of the Conservatives, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd.
I, too, rise with a heavy heart to pay tribute to Steffan this afternoon, and, on behalf of the Welsh Conservatives, I'd like to extend our sincere condolences to his wife Shona, son Celyn and to all his family and close friends. Nothing can prepare you for losing someone at such a tender age.
Even though he was only elected to the Assembly in 2016, I was very much aware that he was a rising star within his party, well before being elected, from the conversations I'd had with some of my colleagues in Plaid Cymru. Steffan described being elected to this place as his dream job, and he fulfilled the role with distinction right up until the end; always ensuring the voices of his constituents were heard. As the First Minister said, it was clear to everyone that he was a very able, talented and committed politician, with so much more to give.
He was never known to raise his voice when he delivered a contribution, as the Chamber always fell silent when he spoke, as people genuinely wanted to hear what he had to say. Perhaps sometimes I didn't want to hear what he had to say, because he always had something powerful and intelligent to say, which sometimes countered strongly the arguments we were putting forward on this side of the Chamber. But not only did he put forward powerful and intelligent arguments, he also had always something new to add to the debate, something that none of us had thought about. He would always approach a debate from a different angle. This, I believe, was one of his greatest strengths. Even though we were on different sides of the political spectrum, I had enormous respect for his principled stance on the issues that really mattered. He will be remembered as a politician who was always true to his principles. It was absolutely clear to me how dedicated and committed he was to his constituents in the way he never allowed his illness to prevent him from coming here to represent his constituents. The bravery and courage he demonstrated throughout his illness will be an example to us all.
I am sure that Steffan's legacy will live on through his family and, indeed, through this Assembly, and I hope that more people like Steffan will enter politics to make a real difference to the people of Wales. It was a privilege and an honour to have known Steffan, and my thoughts and prayers are with Shona, Celyn and his family at this very, very difficult time. Llywydd, every Parliament should have a Steffan. We're just very sad that we've lost ours. He will be sorely missed on all sides of this Chamber.
Diolch, Llywydd.
Rwyf innau hefyd yn codi gyda chalon drom i roi teyrnged i Steffan y prynhawn yma ac, ar ran y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, hoffwn fynegi ein cydymdeimlad diffuant â Shona ei wraig a Celyn ei fab ac â'i deulu a'i gyfeillion agos. Ni all dim eich paratoi chi ar gyfer colli rhywun mor ifanc.
Er mai dim ond yn 2016 y cafodd ei ethol i'r Cynulliad, roeddwn i'n ymwybodol iawn ei fod yn disgleirio'n gynyddol fel un o sêr ei blaid, ymhell cyn ei ethol, o'r sgyrsiau a gefais gyda rhai o'm cyd-Aelodau ym Mhlaid Cymru. Dywedodd Steffan fod cael ei ethol i'r lle hwn yn swydd ddelfrydol yn ei olwg, ac fe lenwodd ei swydd gydag anrhydedd hyd y diwedd un; gan sicrhau bob amser fod lleisiau ei etholwyr yn cael eu clywed. Fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog, roedd yn amlwg i bawb ei fod yn wleidydd galluog, dawnus ac ymrwymedig iawn, gyda llawer iawn i'w gyfrannu eto.
Ni chofir iddo godi ei lais erioed pan gyflwynai ei gyfraniad, gan fod y Siambr bob amser yn ymdawelu pan siaradai ef, oherwydd roedd pobl yn wirioneddol awyddus i glywed beth oedd ganddo i'w ddweud. Weithiau, efallai, nid oeddwn yn rhy eiddgar i glywed yr hyn oedd ganddo i'w ddweud, gan ei fod bob amser â rhywbeth grymus a deallus i'w ddweud, a oedd weithiau'n gwrthbrofi'n gryf y dadleuon yr oeddem yn eu cyflwyno o'r ochr hon i'r Siambr. Nid yn unig ei fod yn cyflwyno dadleuon grymus a deallus, roedd hefyd bob amser â rhywbeth newydd i'w ychwanegu at y ddadl, rhywbeth nad oedd yr un ohonom ni wedi meddwl amdano. Byddai bob amser yn ymdrin â'r ddadl o wahanol gyfeiriad. Dyna un o'i gryfderau mwyaf yn fy marn i. Er ein bod ni ar wahanol ochrau i'r sbectrwm gwleidyddol, roedd gennyf barch mawr i'w safiad egwyddorol ar faterion a oedd o bwys gwirioneddol. Cofir amdano fel gwleidydd a oedd bob amser yn cadw at ei egwyddorion. Roedd hi'n gwbl eglur i mi pa mor ymroddedig ac ymrwymedig oedd ef i'w etholwyr ac ni fyddai byth yn caniatáu i'w salwch ei rwystro rhag dod yma i gynrychioli ei etholwyr. Bydd y dewrder a ddangosodd drwy gydol ei salwch yn esiampl i ni i gyd.
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd etifeddiaeth Steffan yn parhau drwy ei deulu ac, yn wir, drwy'r Cynulliad hwn, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd mwy fel Steffan yn ymuno â'r byd gwleidyddol i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i bobl Cymru. Roedd yn fraint ac yn anrhydedd cael adnabod Steffan, ac mae fy meddyliau a'm gweddïau gyda Shona, Celyn a'i deulu ar yr adeg anodd iawn, iawn hon. Llywydd, dylai pob Senedd gael rhywun fel Steffan. Ond rydym ni'n drist iawn nawr ein bod wedi colli ein Steffan ni. Bydd colled enfawr ar ei ôl ym mhob cwr o'r Siambr hon.
Galwaf nawr at David Rowlands ar ran UKIP.
I now call David Rowlands on behalf of UKIP.
Diolch, Llywydd. I first met Steffan at a hustings in Blaenau Gwent during the last Assembly elections, but it was obvious to me at that time that he was an exceptionally gifted person. Over his two and a half years in the Assembly, I believe we have all witnessed his special capabilities, and I know that all in this Chamber will agree with me that we have lost one of our most able AMs.
On a personal level, although we of course disagreed politically, he was always polite and friendly whenever we crossed paths on the Assembly estate. I, for one, am deeply saddened by Steffan's passing, and my thoughts go out to his family at this very distressing time. But I hope that they shall find solace in his very considerable achievements.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ar lwyfan etholiad ym Mlaenau Gwent y cwrddais i â Steffan am y tro cyntaf yn ystod etholiadau diwethaf y Cynulliad, ond roedd hi'n amlwg i mi ar y pryd ei fod yn unigolyn eithriadol o ddawnus. Yn ystod ei ddwy flynedd a hanner yn y Cynulliad, rwy'n credu i bawb ohonom weld ei alluoedd arbennig, a gwn y bydd pob un yn y Siambr hon yn cytuno â mi ein bod wedi colli un o'n haelodau mwyaf galluog.
Ar lefel bersonol, er ein bod wrth gwrs yn anghytuno'n wleidyddol, roedd bob amser yn gwrtais a chyfeillgar pryd bynnag y byddem ni'n croesi llwybrau yn adeiladau'r Cynulliad. Rwyf innau'n un sydd yn drist iawn oherwydd ymadawiad Steffan â'r bywyd hwn, ac mae ei deulu yn fy meddyliau ar hyn o bryd yn eu profedigaeth fawr. Ond gobeithio y byddan nhw'n cael rhywfaint o gysur yn ei gyflawniadau sylweddol iawn.
This is possibly the most difficult contribution I've ever had to make in this Senedd in the 15 years that I've been an Assembly Member. All of us in the Plaid Cymru family are beyond devastated that we've lost our friend and colleague, and our hearts go out to his family, who I know are in incredible pain at his loss. But Steffan is a loss to our nation too, to our democracy—he's a loss to our future.
Steffan had one of the sharpest political brains in Welsh politics. He was incredibly well read, and he had an international understanding, which meant that he was always able to draw on examples—sometimes pretty obscure examples—to highlight or prove his point. As others have said, his contributions, especially on Brexit but on other matters too, were always considered, measured, well informed, and more often than not—not always, but more often than not—Steffan would end up being proved right.
Plenty of people have paid tribute to Steff's public political contribution, and many of you here will be well aware of that, but I'd like to focus my brief remarks on Steffan as the person. We worked very closely together for around three years before he was elected as an Assembly Member. He was thorough, he could think outside the box, and he could think strategically. He was incredibly loyal and honest, and he was very prepared to say when he disagreed with something or he didn't like something. But he was also a team player, prepared to work extremely hard for the success of all of our shared goals. With Steff, no matter how difficult or insurmountable a problem might seem, he just would not accept that there was no solution. We tackled many tricky problems together, we made some fabulous political interventions together, and I've got some amazing memories of my work and friendship with Steffan, which I will now be able to keep forever.
All of us are privileged to have memories, we're all privileged to have been part of his life, and we all want to pull together now to support his family and each other through the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Nos da, Steffan. Sleep well, my friend.
Hwn, o bosib, yw'r cyfraniad anoddaf y bu'n rhaid i mi ei wneud yn y Senedd hon erioed yn y 15 mlynedd yr wyf wedi bod yn Aelod Cynulliad. Mae pob un ohonom ni yn nheulu Plaid Cymru mewn galar eithafol o golli ein cyfaill a'n cydweithiwr, ac mae ein cydymdeimlad o waelod ein calonnau â'i deulu, y gwn eu bod ym mhoen eu hiraeth ar ôl ei golli ef. Ond mae Steffan yn golled i'n cenedl ni hefyd, i'n democratiaeth ni—mae'n golled i'n dyfodol ni.
Roedd gan Steffan un o'r ymenyddiau gwleidyddol gorau yng ngwleidyddiaeth Cymru. Roedd wedi darllen yn anhygoel o eang, ac roedd ganddo ddealltwriaeth ryngwladol, a oedd yn golygu ei fod yn gallu tynnu ar enghreifftiau bob amser—enghreifftiau eithaf astrus weithiau—i dynnu sylw at neu brofi ei bwynt. Fel y soniodd eraill, roedd ei gyfraniadau, yn enwedig ar Brexit ond ar faterion eraill hefyd, bob amser yn ystyrlon, yn bwyllog, yn wybodus, ac yn amlach na pheidio—nid bob amser, ond yn amlach na pheidio—byddai Steffan yn cael ei brofi'n iawn yn y pen draw.
Mae digonedd o bobl wedi rhoi teyrnged i gyfraniad gwleidyddol cyhoeddus Steff, a bydd llawer ohonoch chi yma yn ymwybodol iawn o hynny, ond hoffwn ganolbwyntio fy sylwadau i'n fyr ar Steffan fel person. Buom ni'n gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'n gilydd am tua thair blynedd cyn iddo gael ei ethol yn Aelod Cynulliad. Roedd yn drylwyr, gallai feddwl yn greadigol, a gallai feddwl yn strategol. Roedd yn hynod o deyrngar a gonest, ac roedd yn barod iawn i ddweud pan fyddai'n anghytuno â rhywbeth neu pan na fyddai'n hoffi rhywbeth. Ond roedd hefyd yn chwarae i'w dîm, yn barod i weithio'n galed iawn i sicrhau llwyddiant pob un o'n hamcanion cyffredin. Gyda Steff, ni waeth pa mor anodd neu anorchfygol y gallai'r broblem ymddangos, ni fyddai byth yn derbyn nad oedd unrhyw ateb i'w gael. Fe aethom ni i''r afael â llawer o broblemau anodd gyda'n gilydd, fe wnaethom ni rai ymyriadau gwleidyddol gwych gyda'n gilydd ac mae gennyf i atgofion rhyfeddol o'm gwaith a'm cyfeillgarwch gyda Steffan, y byddaf i nawr yn gallu eu trysori am byth.
Mae pob un ohonom wedi ein breintio o gael atgofion, a bod yn rhan o'i fywyd, ac rydym ni i gyd yn awyddus i dynnu gyda'n gilydd nawr i gefnogi ei deulu a chefnogi ein gilydd drwy'r wythnosau a'r misoedd anodd nesaf.
Nos da, Steffan. Cwsg yn dawel, fy ffrind.
I only knew Steffan, like many others in this Chamber, since he was elected in 2016 to join us here, and in that short time, his decency and his intellect have made their mark on myself and many others, as we are hearing across the Chamber today. My colleague Jack Sargeant came into this Chamber with the thought of a kinder politics. Steffan embodied that kinder politics he wanted to do. He was decent, he was well thought of, he considered his arguments and he put forward a strong case, as has been highlighted already.
Llywydd, Steffan's contribution to the Assembly has been recognised by all Members, but his contribution to the external affairs committee on which he sat was enormous. He brought to us the thoughtful consideration of the arguments and he put that thoughtful consideration not with an agenda of anything else other than the best for the people of Wales. That was his contribution.
Now, we all know his political thinking and what was paramount to him was the existence of an independent Welsh national state. But more important to him was the actual improvement of the lives of people in Wales, and that's what he chose to achieve and work towards, and everything he did was for that. He brought to us cutting ideas, and scrutiny of Ministers, which sometimes they didn't enjoy either, because they were sometimes very wary of Steffan when he was in the committee because they knew what was coming. He went everywhere to try and get that information. I remember him telling me he went to London to go all round the embassies and the consulates to get information about what a future Europe would look like. I even remember him telling me that he was planning a trip to Norway with his family with the real intention of going to the Sweden-Norway border to see what went on on that border.
Whilst we will miss his intellect and sharpness here in this Assembly, that is nothing compared to the loss that his family will be experiencing at this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with his family now and in the future, but one thing I do know is that his son will grow up to see his ambition realised at one point; I do believe that. Steffan's time might have been short, but his legacy will live on.
Fel llawer o rai eraill yn y Siambr hon, dim ond ers iddo gael ei ethol yn 2016 i ymuno â ni yma yr oeddwn i'n adnabod Steffan, ac yn y cyfnod byr hwnnw, mae ei gwrteisi a'i ddeallusrwydd wedi gadael eu hôl arnaf i a llawer un arall, fel y clywn ni o bob rhan o'r Siambr heddiw. Daeth fy nghyd-Aelod Jack Sargeant i'r Siambr hon gyda'r syniad o wleidyddiaeth fwy caredig. Roedd Steffan yn ymgorfforiad o'r wleidyddiaeth fwy caredig honno yr oedd yn dymuno ei weld. Roedd yn gwrtais, roedd gan bobl feddwl uchel ohono, byddai'n ystyried ei ddadleuon a chyflwynai achos cryf, fel y nodwyd eisoes.
Llywydd, mae cyfraniad Steffan i'r Cynulliad wedi cael ei gydnabod gan yr holl Aelodau, ond roedd ei gyfraniad i'r pwyllgor materion allanol yr oedd yn eistedd arno yn enfawr. Deuai ag ystyriaeth feddylgar i'r dadleuon ac fe ddefnyddiai'r ystyriaeth feddylgar honno gydag agenda am yr hyn a fyddai orau i bobl Cymru. Dyna oedd ei gyfraniad ef.
Nawr, fe wyddom i gyd beth oedd ei safbwynt gwleidyddol a'r hyn a oedd o'r pwys mwyaf iddo ef, sef bodolaeth gwladwriaeth genedlaethol annibynnol i Gymru. Ond yn bwysicach yn ei olwg oedd gwelliant gwirioneddol ym mywydau pobl yng Nghymru, a dyna'r hyn a dewisodd ei gyflawni a gweithio ar ei gyfer, ac roedd popeth a wnâi i'r perwyl hwnnw. Daeth â syniadau trawsbynciol ger ein bron, a chraffu ar Weinidogion, nad oedden nhw'n ei fwynhau bob amser chwaith, oherwydd roedden nhw ddrwgdybus iawn o Steffan weithiau pan oedd ef yn y pwyllgor oherwydd roedden nhw'n gwybod beth oedd ar ddod. Fe aeth i bobman i geisio'r wybodaeth honno. Rwy'n cofio iddo ddweud wrthyf i ei fod wedi mynd i Lundain er mwyn mynd o amgylch yr holl lysgenadaethau a swyddfeydd yr is-genhadon i gael gwybod sut beth fyddai Ewrop y dyfodol. Rwy'n cofio iddo ddweud wrthyf hyd yn oed ei fod eisiau trefnu taith i Norwy gyda'i deulu gyda'r bwriad gwirioneddol o fynd at y ffin rhwng Sweden a Norwy i weld beth oedd yn digwydd ar y ffin honno.
Er y byddwn ni'n gweld eisiau ei ddeallusrwydd a'i ffraethineb yma yn y Cynulliad hwn, nid yw hynny'n ddim o'i gymharu â cholled ei deulu yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn. Mae fy meddyliau a'm gweddïau gyda'i deulu nawr ac i'r dyfodol, ond un peth a wn yw y bydd ei fab yn tyfu i fyny i weld ei uchelgais yn cael ei gwireddu ryw bryd; rwy'n credu hynny. Efallai mai amser byr a gafodd Steffan, ond bydd ei etifeddiaeth yn parhau.
I raise to speak with a heavy heart on behalf of the Labour group. First, I'd like to extend all of our condolences to Steffan's wife, Shona, his son, Celyn, and the rest of his family and friends. Steffan was so widely respected by Members of all parties across this Chamber and held in really great esteem. His razor-sharp intellect was clear to see, as was his grasp of the key issues and his genuine passion to make Wales a better place. And in the work that he did on first proposing the EU continuity Bill, and his work thereafter on 'Securing Wales' Future', he will undoubtedly leave a strong legacy here in Wales.
I'd also like to say a few points personally as well, because I arrived in this Chamber in May 2016, at exactly the same time as Steffan, and I was struck very quickly by how non-partisan a place this Chamber is. It was actually Steffan who played a key role in first showing me that, as we both served on BIPA together—the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. I remember meeting with him and the other representatives prior to our first trip and feeling somewhat trepidatious about how I would get on with Members of other parties during that trip. But Steffan actually jumped over the security barriers in Tŷ Hywel, such was his enthusiasm for the work we were about to undergo, and that certainly did break down any barriers that there were.
From then on, I found that there was nothing that he could not talk about and show a huge amount of knowledge on, as other colleagues have said, from international examples to national and to local. The depth of knowledge and passion he had across all different areas of politics was really quite incredible. But virtually every conversation that I had with him would always come back to his family, and that was something that really struck me. He was, clearly, very much a family man, a very proud father, and spoke with great affection of his wife and his parents too, and how they had shaped his politics.
His talent will undoubtedly be a great loss to the party, Plaid Cymru, and a great loss to Wales as a nation as well, but of course, more importantly, a loss that is felt by his family and his friends too. Like Steffan, I too am a historian at heart, and I am confident that, when the history of this fifth Assembly is written and this chapter of the history of Plaid Cymru, Steffan's role will be a shining light.
Rwy'n codi i siarad gyda chalon drom ar ran y grŵp Llafur. Yn gyntaf, hoffwn fynegi ein cydymdeimlad ni i gyd â gwraig Steffan, Shona, ei fab, Celyn, a'i holl deulu a'i ffrindiau. Roedd Steffan mor fawr ei barch yng ngolwg Aelodau o bob plaid ar draws y Siambr hon ac roedd llawer o edmygedd ohono. Roedd ei ddeallusrwydd craff yn glir, fel yr oedd ei afael ar y materion allweddol a'i angerdd gwirioneddol i wella cyflwr Cymru. Ac yn y gwaith a wnaeth, yn gyntaf ar gynnig Bil parhad UE, a'i waith ar 'Ddiogelu dyfodol Cymru' wedi hynny, bydd yn sicr o adael etifeddiaeth rymus yma yng Nghymru.
Hoffwn sôn hefyd am ychydig o bwyntiau personol, gan i mi gyrraedd yn y Siambr hon ym mis Mai 2016, yr un pryd yn union â Steffan, ac fe'm trawyd i'n gyflym iawn pa mor amhleidiol mewn gwirionedd yw natur y Siambr hon hefyd. Steffan wnaeth chwarae'r rhan allweddol wrth dangos hyn i mi yn y lle cyntaf, gan fod y ddau ohonom ni'n gwasanaethu ar BIPA gyda'n gilydd—y Cynulliad Seneddol Prydeinig-Gwyddelig. Rwy'n cofio cyfarfod gydag ef a chynrychiolwyr eraill cyn ein taith gyntaf a theimlo braidd yn anniddig o ran sut y byddwn yn gallu dod ymlaen gydag Aelodau o bleidiau eraill yn ystod y daith honno. Ond neidiodd Steffan dros ben y rhwystrau diogelwch yn Nhŷ Hywel, cymaint oedd ei frwdfrydedd am y gwaith yr oeddem ni ar fin ei wneud, ac yn sicr fe chwalwyd unrhyw rwystrau a oedd yn bodoli.
O hynny ymlaen, fe ddysgais nad oedd dim na allai ef ei drafod a dangos gwybodaeth eang iawn amdano, fel y soniodd yr Aelodau eraill, yn enghreifftiau rhyngwladol, cenedlaethol a lleol. Roedd dyfnder yr wybodaeth a feddai arno ym mhob maes o wleidyddiaeth a'i angerdd yn gwbl ryfeddol. Ond byddai bron pob sgwrs a gefais gydag ef yn troi'n ôl bob amser at ei deulu, ac roedd hynny'n rhywbeth a wnaeth argraff wirioneddol arnaf i. Roedd yn amlwg yn ddyn teulu i raddau helaeth iawn, yn dad balch iawn, a siaradai'n annwyl iawn am ei wraig a'i rieni hefyd, a sut yr oedden nhw wedi dylanwadu ar ei wleidyddiaeth.
Bydd ei dalent, yn ddi-os, yn golled enfawr i'w blaid, Plaid Cymru, ac yn golled enfawr i genedl y Cymry hefyd, ond wrth gwrs, yn bwysicach, yn golled i'w deulu a'i gyfeillion. Fel Steffan, rwyf innau hefyd yn hanesydd yn y bôn, ac rwy'n hyderus, pan gaiff hanes y pumed Cynulliad hwn ei ysgrifennu a'r bennod hon yn hanes Plaid Cymru, bydd gwaith Steffan yn llusern olau.
Mae yna gadair wag y tu cefn i mi. Mae'n gadair sydd wedi bod yn cael ei chadw yn gynnes i Steff fyth ers iddo ddechrau ar ei frwydr yn erbyn canser ychydig dros flwyddyn yn ôl. Mae'n teimlo fel ddoe. Roeddwn i'n edrych ar ei decst o y diwrnod o'r blaen: 'Fedri di ddod allan o'r pwyllgor i siarad efo fi?', meddai fo. Ac mi oedd hwnnw'n ddiwrnod tywyll.
Ond mi oedd Steff yn benderfynol o barhau i fwrw ei oleuni arnon ni. Mi fyddai'n dal i ddod yma, fel rydyn ni wedi clywed, yn enwedig ar gyfer trafodaethau ar faterion Ewropeaidd, neu i fynnu chwarae teg dros ryw achos neu'i gilydd yng Ngwent a'r de-ddwyrain, bro ei febyd oedd mor annwyl iddo fo.
Yn ei ugeiniau cynnar oedd o pan greodd o argraff arnaf i'n gyntaf. Roeddwn i'n cyflwyno rhaglen hystings deledu o Lynebwy yn ystod isetholiad ym Mlaenau Gwent, a Steff oedd ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru—ymgeisydd ifanc iawn, rhyw 21 oed, dwi'n meddwl oedd o. Dwi'n cofio meddwl ar y pryd, 'Waw, mae hwn yn dda', ac mi oedd o'n dda iawn. Roedd o'n arbennig iawn.
Pleser pur wedyn oedd cael dod yn gydweithiwr iddo fo maes o law, ac i'w alw fo'n ffrind—fi yn etholedig yn gyntaf, er ei fod o ym Mhlaid Cymru ymhell o'm blaen i, yntau yn aelod cwbl allweddol o'r tîm, ac yna mi gafodd o ei ethol. Ac mi oedd cael dod yn Aelod o'n Senedd genedlaethol ni yn golygu popeth iddo fo. I Steff, braint oedd bod yma, yn gwasanaethu ei gymuned, yn gwasanaethu Cymru, ond braint y gymuned honno, braint Cymru a'n braint ninnau i gyd oedd bod Steff wedi penderfynu ymroi i wasanaethu'r genedl yn ei Senedd.
Dyn addfwyn, dyn teg, gwleidydd teg. Dyn anhunanol. Mi welon ni hynny yn y ffordd yr oedd o mor eiddgar i helpu cleifion eraill drwy siarad yn agored am ei ganser. Dyn meddylgar, yn dewis ei eiriau'n ofalus. Roedd o'n atgoffa fi am fy niweddar fam yn hynny o beth, a hithau wedi rhoi cymaint dros Gymru mewn llawer ffordd. A minnau'n clywed mewn teyrngedau iddi hi, 'Byddai dy fam yn dal yn ôl, wedyn pan fyddai hi'n siarad, mi oedden ni'n gwybod bod ganddi hi rywbeth i'w ddweud, ac mi fyddai pawb yn gwrando'. Ac felly oedd Steff. Steff, allaf i ddim rhoi llawer mwy o deyrnged i ti na drwy ddweud dy fod ti'n atgoffa fi o mam. Mi oedd cyfraniad Steff bob amser yn werthfawr.
There is an empty chair behind me. It’s a chair that’s been kept warm for Steff ever since he started his battle with cancer a little over a year ago. It feels like yesterday. I was looking at his text the other day: ‘Can you come out of committee to speak to me?’ he said, and that was a dark day.
But Steff was determined to continue to cast his light upon us. He would still come here, as we’ve heard, particularly for discussions on European matters or to demand fair play for some cause or another in Gwent and the south-east, the area where he was raised, which was so dear to him.
In his early 20s, he made an impression on me for the first time. I was introducing a television hustings programme from Ebbw Vale during the Blaenau Gwent by-election, and Steff was a very young Plaid Cymru candidate at that election—I think he was just 21. I remember thinking at the time, ‘Wow, he’s good.’ And he was very good. He was very special.
It was a huge pleasure then to become a colleague of his in due time and to call him a friend. I was an elected member first of all, although he was in Plaid Cymru way before I was, where he was a key member of the team, and then he too was elected. Becoming a Member of our national Senedd meant everything to him. For Steff, it was a privilege to be here, serving his community and serving Wales. But it was that community's privilege, Wales’s privilege and all of our privilege that Steff had decided to commit to serve the nation in its Parliament.
He was a dear man, a fair man, a fair politician. He was unselfish. We saw that in the way in which he was so eager to help other patients in speaking openly of his cancer. He was a mindful individual, choosing his words carefully. It reminded me of my late mother in that regard. She had given so much to Wales in so many ways. I heard in tributes to her that my mother would hold back, but when she spoke, we would know that she had something to say, and everyone would listen. And that’s how it was with Steff. Steff, I cannot pay you much greater tribute than to say that you remind me of my mother. Steff’s contribution was always valuable.
Steff's role in public life in Wales has been cut way, way too short. In a few short years, he made a contribution that made him stand out as a politician with rare ability, with real clarity and vision for his community and his nation, and as a man of integrity, fairness, sincerity, determination and total selflessness. He brought people together, and in that, he's an example to all of us.
Daeth gwaith Steff ym mywyd cyhoeddus Cymru i ben yn llawer, llawer rhy gynnar. Mewn ychydig flynyddoedd, gwnaeth gyfraniad a oedd yn gwneud iddo sefyll allan fel gwleidydd â gallu prin ganddo, gydag eglurder gwirioneddol a gweledigaeth ar gyfer ei gymuned a'i wlad, ac fel dyn gonest, cyfiawn, didwyll, penderfynol a chwbl anhunanol. Daeth â phobl at ei gilydd, ac yn hynny o beth, mae'n esiampl i bob un ohonom ni.
Heddiw, rydyn ni'n dweud, 'Diolch, Steff'. Rydyn ni'n dy golli di ac yn colli'r hyn y byddet ti wedi ei wneud droson ni, ond yn diolch am bopeth a wnest ti, am osod y sylfaeni ar gyfer Cymru annibynnol. Rydyn ni'n diolch am dy weledigaeth a dy arweiniad mewn bywyd mor fyr. Do, mi gadwon ni dy gadair yn gynnes, ond nid felly yr oedd hi am fod. Rŵan, mi wnawn ni bopeth i gadw dy fflam ynghyn. Heddwch iti, Steff.
Today, we say, ‘Thank you, Steff'. We miss you and miss what you would have done for us. But we give thanks for everything that you did and for laying the foundations for an independent Wales. We thank you for your vision and your leadership in such a brief life. Yes, we kept your seat warm, but that wasn't to be. Now, we will do everything to keep your flame alight. Rest in peace, Steff.
I'd always heard about Steffan Lewis from my former ministerial colleague and fellow Assembly Member, Jocelyn Davies, who was so proud of this young political activist who volunteered in her office. And when she told me she was standing down at the 2016 election, she actually said she was glad that this would provide an opportunity for Steffan to take his place in the Assembly as her successor Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for the South Wales East region.
Of course, Steffan was known by many of us for his work behind the scenes before 2016, working for Leanne as her speech writer, and we knew—we knew—he would be formidable when the time came for him to enter the public world of politics as an Assembly Member. And, of course, he made his mark from day one as the youngest Member elected in 2016. I recall, as many will as well, Steffan taking his seat here in the Chamber with great confidence, clarity, but also humble about his role and the opportunity he'd had—clear about his politics, of course. I remember he said—and you can recall that, and his colleagues—that he wouldn't be using his computer, because he wanted to be fully engaged in debates. He didn't want to have that charge we often get: 'What are you doing staring at your computer all day?' And I think he stuck to that promise. So, if we wanted him, we had to get him out of the Chamber or text him.
He was ready from the start to work outside the party confines to achieve shared goals and aims, and he took the lead as we quickly moved into the pre-imposed referendum world as the party spokesperson, working with Labour on 'Securing Wales' Future', and of course that has stood the test of time today, as the First Minister said today, and indeed last week. But he was also expert and steadfast as finance spokesperson. He sat on both finance and the external affairs committees, as I did, and when I joined those committees last November, I enjoyed them so much more when he was able to join us, as Dai Rees has said, despite his advancing illness and arduous treatment, which he faced with such courage, which all of us will have learnt from. But he did, as has been said, never let any Labour Minister or colleague off the hook in terms of his scrutiny, but was always supportive when he saw common cause.
I also want to pay tribute to the role Steffan played in promoting the importance of Wales in the world, and the importance of external affairs. So, he handed over to me the rapporteur role he'd played with Jeremy Miles, when he was on the committee, looking at the opportunities for Wales in the world as part of our responsibilities towards international development—and I know Eluned Morgan will be taking this forward—but also post Brexit, determined to ensure that Wales was not bypassed and was recognised diplomatically, culturally, socially and economically.
The walk with Steff has been mentioned, organised by Nia last July. I remember walking with Dai Lloyd and Jeff Cuthbert along the canal to Blackwood. It will be a lasting memory for all of us, and I remember that hug with Steffan on that walk. For Steffan, it was so important that he was raising those funds for Velindre. And of course, with that, my heartfelt thoughts and sympathies are with his family today, and in the weeks and months and years ahead.
Steffan, you've left a great legacy as a passionate Welsh European, an international citizen of the world, and we'll continue to help pursue those goals in your memory, because you were far-sighted in your political vision as a proud and outstanding person and politician of Wales.
Roeddwn wedi clywed ers amser am Steffan Lewis gan fy nghyn gyd-Aelod a chyd-Weinidog yn y Cynulliad, Jocelyn Davies, a oedd mor falch o'r ymgyrchydd gwleidyddol ifanc hwn a oedd wedi gwirfoddoli yn ei swyddfa hi. A phan ddywedodd hi wrthyf ei bod yn bwriadu ymddiswyddo cyn etholiad 2016, dywedodd ei bod yn falch y byddai hwnnw'n gyfle i Steffan gymryd ei le yn y Cynulliad fel olynydd iddi hi yn Aelod Cynulliad Plaid Cymru dros ranbarth y de ddwyrain.
Wrth gwrs, roedd llawer ohonom ni'n adnabod Steffan yn sgil ei waith y tu ôl i'r llenni cyn 2016, yn gweithio fel awdur areithiau i Leanne, ac roeddem yn gwybod—roeddem yn gwybod—y byddai ef yn unigolyn aruthrol pan ddeuai'r amser iddo ef ymuno â byd gwleidyddiaeth cyhoeddus fel Aelod Cynulliad. Ac, wrth gwrs, fe adawodd ei farc o'r diwrnod cyntaf y daeth yn Aelod, yr ieuengaf a etholwyd yn 2016. Rwy'n cofio, fel y bydd llawer hefyd, i Steffan gymryd ei sedd yma yn y Siambr gyda hyder ac eglurder, ond hefyd yn wylaidd o ran ei swydd a'r cyfle yr oedd wedi ei gael—yn glir o ran ei wleidyddiaeth, wrth gwrs. Cofiaf iddo ddweud—a gallwch chi gofio hynny, a'i gydweithwyr hefyd—na fyddai ef yn defnyddio ei gyfrifiadur, oherwydd ei fod yn awyddus i gymryd rhan lawn yn y dadleuon. Nid oedd ef am gael ei gyhuddo fel y cawn ni'n aml: 'Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud yn rhythu ar eich cyfrifiadur o fore gwyn tan nos?' A chredaf iddo gadw at yr addewid honno. Felly, os oedd angen cael gafael arno, roedd yn rhaid ei gael allan o'r Siambr neu anfon neges destun ato.
O'r cychwyn roedd yn barod i weithio y tu hwnt i ffiniau'r pleidiau i gyflawni nodau ac amcanion cyffredin, ac fe gymerodd ef yr awenau yn llefarydd ei blaid wrth inni symud yn fuan tuag at fyd y refferendwm a orfodwyd arnom, gan weithio gyda Llafur ar 'Ddiogelu dyfodol Cymru'. Ac wrth gwrs mae hynny wedi sefyll prawf amser heddiw, fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog heddiw, ac yn wir yr wythnos diwethaf. Ond roedd hefyd yn llefarydd cyllid cadarn ac yn arbenigwr yn y maes. Eisteddai ar y pwyllgorau cyllid a'r pwyllgorau materion allanol, fel y gwnawn innau, a phan ymunais â'r pwyllgorau hynny fis Tachwedd diwethaf, roeddwn i'n eu mwynhau nhw gymaint yn fwy pan oedd ef yn gallu ymuno â ni, fel y soniodd Dai Rees, er gwaethaf ei salwch cynyddol a'i driniaethau blin, yr oedd yn eu hwynebu gyda'r fath ddewrder, a bydd pob un ohonom wedi dysgu oddi wrtho. Ond ni fyddai byth, fel y dywedais, yn gadael unrhyw Weinidog Llafur neu gydweithiwr oddi ar y bachyn o ran ei waith craffu, ond roedd bob amser yn gefnogol pan welai achos cyffredin.
Hoffwn dalu teyrnged hefyd i waith Steffan yn hyrwyddo pwysigrwydd Cymru yn y byd, a phwysigrwydd materion allanol. Felly, fe drosglwyddodd yr awenau i mi o ran swyddogaeth y rapporteur yr oedd ef wedi ei wneud gyda Jeremy Miles, pan oedd ef ar y pwyllgor, yn edrych ar gyfleoedd i Gymru yn y byd fel rhan o'n cyfrifoldebau tuag at ddatblygiad rhyngwladol—a gwn y bydd Eluned Morgan yn dwyn hyn yn ei flaen—ond hefyd ar ôl Brexit, yn benderfynol o sicrhau nad oedd Cymru yn cael ei hanwybyddu ac yn cael ei chydnabod o ran diplomyddiaeth, yn ddiwylliannol, yn gymdeithasol ac yn economaidd.
Soniwyd eisoes am y daith gerdded gyda Steff, a drefnwyd gan Nia fis Gorffennaf diwethaf. Rwy'n cofio cerdded gyda Dai Lloyd a Jeff Cuthbert ar hyd y gamlas i'r Coed Duon. Bydd yn atgof parhaol i bob un ohonom, a chofiaf y cwtsh gyda Steffan ar y daith honno. I Steffan, roedd mor bwysig ei fod yn codi'r arian hwnnw at Felindre. Ac wrth gwrs, gyda hynny, rwy'n meddwl am ei deulu ac yn cydymdeimlo o'r galon â nhw heddiw, a hefyd yn yr wythnosau a'r misoedd a'r blynyddoedd i ddod.
Steffan, rydych chi wedi gadael etifeddiaeth fawr ar eich ôl yn Gymro Ewropeaidd angerddol, ac yn ddinesydd byd rhyngwladol. Byddwn yn parhau i helpu i fynd ar drywydd yr amcanion hynny er cof amdanoch, oherwydd roeddech chi'n graff iawn yn eich gweledigaeth wleidyddol ac fel unigolyn a gwleidydd balch a neilltuol o Gymru.
Gaf i ddechrau wrth dalu teyrnged, wrth gwrs, i Steffan a'r teulu, ac i gydymdeimlo â'r teulu yn eu profedigaeth? Er, wrth gwrs, efallai fod pobl yn erfyn rhywbeth i ddigwydd, mae'r golled yn dal i fod yn un trwm.
May I begin by paying tribute to Steffan and his family, and to extend my sympathies to the family in their loss? Although, of course, you might be expecting something to happen, the loss is still a bitter blow.
It's difficult to conceive that Steffan was a Member of the Assembly for such a short time, so great was his contribution. We sat here in this Chamber and in committees and we saw how considerable his knowledge was and, of course, his desire to service his country. He quite quickly became respected by so many around this Chamber in all parties, and when he spoke, what he said was always incisive and thought-provoking. Steffan was always worth listening to.
He offered so much to the debate on Brexit through his work on developing a vision from how Brexit should work to the suggestion of a continuity Bill. And I believe he was the first Member in this Chamber to suggest a continuity Bill and he deserves the credit for that.
On a personal level, I think it's entirely right to say that Steffan was well liked by all. He was a proud member of Plaid Cymru. We've all seen, of course, the photograph of him addressing the Plaid Cymru conference in 1987 when he was, I think, 14. That would have taken a considerable feat of confidence to be able to do that. But despite, of course, his strongly held principles, he was always ready to work with other parties when he felt it was for the good of the nation. We often aspire, don't we, as politicians, to work with others? But Steffan didn't just aspire to do that; he practised it as well.
I, for one, found his contribution to the debate on Brexit to be invaluable, and some of you will know that I was asked before Christmas in a tv interview to name those I respected in other parties. Without disrespect to others in the Chamber, Steffan was one of those names that I mentioned.
The news that Steffan had been diagnosed, of course, with cancer, was a great shock to him and to his family. There's no doubt about that. He shared his diagnosis with me. He knew that my wife, Lisa, worked for Macmillan. He knew that it was a very difficult prognosis, but, despite that, he carried on with his work and worked hard to raise money for those who are living with cancer, and those memories, of course, will be there amongst so many Members who remember the work that he did to raise money for Velindre. There would of course have been low moments in his fight against cancer, but one thing we do know is that he found the resolve and the strength to inspire others. There are very few people with those qualities. Steffan was one of them.
We have lost a future star of Welsh politics, but his family have lost a son, a brother, a husband and father, and today we stand with them and remember Steffan.
Mae'n anodd i ni amgyffred mai dim ond am amser byr iawn y bu Steffan yn aelod o'r Cynulliad, cymaint oedd ei gyfraniad. Roeddem ni'n eistedd yma yn y Siambr hon ac mewn pwyllgorau, a gwelsom pa mor helaeth oedd ei wybodaeth ac, wrth gwrs, ei awydd i wasanaethu ei wlad. Fe ddaeth yn gyflym iawn yn uchel ei barch yng ngolwg cynifer o amgylch y Siambr hon o bob plaid, a phan siaradai, roedd yr hyn a ddywedai yn dreiddgar ac yn ysgogi'r meddwl bob amser. Roedd hi'n werth gwrando ar Steffan bob amser.
Roedd ganddo gymaint i'w gynnig i'r ddadl ar Brexit drwy ei waith ar ddatblygu gweledigaeth o'r ffordd y dylai Brexit weithio hyd at awgrymu Bil parhad. Ac rwy'n credu mai ef yr oedd yr Aelod cyntaf yn y Siambr hon i awgrymu Bil parhad ac mae'n deilwng o'r clod am hynny.
Ar lefel bersonol, credaf ei bod yn gwbl gywir i ddweud bod pawb yn hoffi Steffan. Roedd yn aelod balch o Blaid Cymru. Rydym i gyd wedi gweld y llun ohono, wrth gwrs, yn annerch cynhadledd Plaid Cymru ym 1987 pan oedd yn 14 oed, rwy'n credu. Byddai hynny wedi gofyn am gryn hyder i allu gwneud hynny. Ond er gwaethaf yr egwyddorion a ddaliai mor gryf, roedd bob amser, wrth gwrs, yn barod i weithio gyda phleidiau eraill pan deimlai fod hynny er lles y genedl. Rydym ni'r gwleidyddion yn aml ag uchelgais o weithio gydag eraill, onid ydym? Ond nid uchelgais yn unig oedd hynny gan Steffan; byddai'n gweithredu hynny hefyd.
Roeddwn i, yn un, a oedd yn cael ei gyfraniad i'r ddadl ar Brexit yn amhrisiadwy, a bydd rhai ohonoch yn gwybod y gofynnwyd i mi mewn cyfweliad teledu cyn y Nadolig i enwi rhai unigolion o bleidiau eraill yr oeddwn i â pharch tuag atynt. Heb amharchu eraill yn y Siambr, Steffan oedd un o'r rheini a enwais.
Roedd y newyddion am y diagnosis o ganser a gafodd Steffan, wrth gwrs, yn achos siom enfawr iddo ef a'i deulu. Nid oes amheuaeth o hynny. Fe soniodd am ei ddiagnosis gyda mi. Gwyddai fod fy ngwraig, Lisa, yn gweithio i Macmillan. Gwyddai mai prognosis anodd iawn oedd hwn, ond, er hynny, fe barhaodd â'i waith a gweithiodd yn galed i godi arian i'r rhai sy'n byw gyda chanser, ac wrth gwrs, bydd yr atgofion hynny yn aros gyda chynifer o'r Aelodau sy'n cofio'r gwaith a wnaeth i godi arian i Felindre. Byddai adegau o deimlo'n isel, wrth gwrs, yn ei frwydr yn erbyn canser, ond gwyddom yn sicr ei fod wedi cael y penderfyniad a'r nerth i ysbrydoli eraill. Ychydig iawn o bobl sydd â'r cyneddfau hynny. Roedd Steffan yn un ohonyn nhw.
Rydym ni wedi colli un o sêr y dyfodol yng ngwleidyddiaeth Cymru, ond mae ei deulu wedi colli mab, brawd, gŵr a thad, a heddiw rydym yn cydsefyll â nhw ac yn cofio Steffan.
Fel pawb yn y Siambr heddiw, dwi hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn anfon fy nghydymdeimlad dwysaf at Shona, Celyn, Gail, Nia a'r teulu i gyd, a dwi am ddiolch i chi am rannu Steffan efo ni. Cafodd ei gipio i ffwrdd yn llawer rhy gynnar, ac mae ei golled yn un drom i'w deulu, yn anad neb, ond hefyd i Blaid Cymru, i bobl y de-ddwyrain, i'r Cynulliad ac i Gymru. Fe gyfrannodd cymaint, ac fe fydd ei ddisgleirdeb yn goleuo'r ffordd i ni. Fe fydd yn ysbrydoliaeth ac fe fydd yn cerdded efo ni ar y daith tuag at y Gymru rydd.
Gwnes i ddod ar draws Steff am y tro cyntaf mewn cyfarfod cyhoeddus ym Mhen-y-groes yn etholaeth Arfon. Roedd Alun Ffred wedi mynnu bod yr hogyn ifanc, disglair yma o Went yn dod atom ni i rannu ei weledigaeth, a dyna a wnaeth, mewn ffordd feddylgar, fanwl, dawel, ond mewn ffordd hollol argyhoeddedig a chredadwy. Roedd ganddo freuddwyd, ac roedd yn credu y byddai'r freuddwyd yn cael ei gwireddu. Dros y blynyddoedd wedyn, byddwn yn cwrdd â Steff mewn cynadleddau a digwyddiadau'r blaid, ac yn 2016, fe ddaeth y ddau ohonnon ni'n Aelodau Cynulliad am y tro cyntaf, a chefais y fraint o eistedd drws nesa iddo fo tan yn weddol ddiweddar.
Fel y clywsom ni yn barod, doedd o ddim yn licio'r sgrin gyfrifiadurol, ac felly, os oedd o eisiau anfon neges at y Llywydd, yn aml byddai'n rhaid mynd drwy fy sgrin i, a finnau wedyn yn tynnu ei goes, 'Nid fi yw dy ysgrifennydd personol di, Steff', ac mi fyddai yntau yn tynnu fy nghoes innau hefyd. Er enghraifft, pan oeddwn i'n defnyddio pob cyfle posibl i wthio am ysgol feddygol i Fangor, mi fyddwn i'n cael, 'Chi gogs yn rhy swnllyd o lawer.' Dyna un ymadrodd y byddai o'n hoff o ddefnyddio. Mi oeddwn i wrth fy modd efo'i ymadroddion bachog. Roeddwn i wrth fy modd yn clywed ei areithiau gofalus, grymus, ond byddai'r asides bach bachog pan fyddai Aelod arall yn siarad yn rhoi gwen ar fy wyneb i. 'Mae hyn yn ofnadwy', pan oedd Gweinidog yn gwrthod ateb cwestiwn neu'n traethu'n ddiflas, a bydda o'n casáu clywed Aelodau'n cyfeirio at y Deyrnas Unedig fel 'our nation', 'our country'. Fe fyddai o bob tro yn cywiro hynny o dan ei wynt—'Cymru ydy'n cenedl ni. Cymru ydy'n gwlad ni.' A pheth arall oedd yn ei gorddi fo oedd cyfeirio at Gymru fel 'cenedl fechan'. 'Ni ddim yn fach', byddai o'n mynnu, 'Ni'n genedl fwy na nifer o wledydd annibynnol eraill.'
Wrth gerdded i'r Siambr neu wrth aros cyn areithio tu ôl i lwyfan, fe fyddai Steff yn dweud hyn wrthyf i, 'Dyma ni, Siân Gwenllian'—'Siân Gwenllian', byth 'Siân'; wastad fy enw llawn—'Dyma ni, Siân Gwenllian, y fenyw o Wynedd, a'r bachan o Went. Awn amdani. Let's go, let's show 'em how it's done.' Gwnaf i fyth anghofio'r geiriau hynny. Roedden ni'n cynrychioli ardaloedd gwahanol iawn i'w gilydd, ond fe wnaeth y bachan o Went gryn argraff arnaf i. A bydd y bachan hynaws, disglair, egwyddorol wastad efo ni yn y Senedd, yn ein cynadleddau ni, yn fy mywyd pob dydd, achos bydd y bachan o Went wastad yn fy nghalon, yn ein calonnau. Steff, mae dy freuddwyd yn fyw, ac fe fydd y freuddwyd yn dod yn wir. Cwsg mewn hedd, gyfaill annwyl.
Like everyone in the Chamber today, I too send my deepest condolences to Shona, Celyn, Gail, Nia and the whole family, and I wish to thank you for sharing Steffan with us. He was taken away far too soon and his loss is great to his family more than anyone, of course, but also to Plaid Cymru, the people of the south-east of Wales, this Assembly and to Wales. He contributed so much, and his intellect will light the way for us. He will be an inspiration and he will walk with us on the journey towards a free Wales.
I first came across Steff at a public meeting in Pen-y-groes in the Arfon constituency. Alun Ffred had insisted that this bright young boy from Gwent should join us to share his vision, and that is what he did, in a thoughtful, detailed, intelligent and quiet way, but in an entirely convincing and credible way. He had a dream and he believed that that dream would be realised. Over ensuing years, I would meet Steff at conferences and Plaid events, and in 2016 both of us were elected Assembly Members for the first time, and I had the privilege of sitting next to him until quite recently.
As we’ve already heard, he didn’t like the computer screen, and therefore, if he wanted to send a message to the Llywydd, very often he would have to go through my computer screen, and then I would pull his leg and say, ‘Well, I’m not your personal secretary, Steff’, and he would tease me too. For example, when I took every possible opportunity to press for a medical school for Bangor, I would hear, ‘You gogs are far too noisy.’ And that was one of his favourite phrases. I delighted in those phrases. I loved to hear his powerful, carefully constructed speeches, but those asides when another Member was speaking would always put a smile on my face. ‘This is terrible’, when a Minister was refusing to answer a question or was rambling on, and he would hate to hear Members referring to the UK as ‘our nation’ or ‘our country’. He would always correct that—'Wales is our nation. Wales is our country.’ And another thing that wound him up was references to Wales as a 'small nation'. ‘We’re not a small nation’, he would insist, ‘We are a bigger nation than many other independent nations.’
In walking to the Chamber or whilst waiting to deliver a speech backstage, Steff would say this to me, ‘Here we are, Siân Gwenllian’—he’d never call me ‘Siân’; he’d always call me by my full name—‘Here we are, Siân Gwenllian, the woman from Gwynedd and the boy from Gwent. We’ll go for it. Let’s go, let’s show them how it’s done.’ I will never forget those words. We represented very different areas, but the boy from Gwent made quite an impression on me, and that bright, principled boy will always be with me in our Senedd, in our conferences and in my daily life, because that boy from Gwent will always be in my heart, in all of our hearts. Steff, your dream lives on and that dream will be realised. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Like everybody else in the Chamber, I'll miss Steffan. I sat on the Finance Committee with him and we had some interesting times—I'm not sure that others would think it—when we were discussing land transaction tax and cross-border matters. I'm sure that Steffan and I engaged in very much a dialogue on this, much to the chagrin of other people sat in the Chamber. His encyclopaedic knowledge of other borders—when I said about 'cross border', we eventually ended up with a 1,000 pieces of land crossing the England-Wales border, he said, 'That's nothing—how do you think they manage in Portugal and Spain, or the Walloons and the Flemish? How do think it works in the rest—?' I said, 'I don't know', and he said, 'Well, I've been there. I went on holiday to visit it to see.' I said, 'Well, I don't think I'd convince my wife to go on holiday to see borders but—.'
The other thing about him was his refusal to use his computer in the Chamber, which I found incredibly infuriating—not as infuriating as Siân Gwenllian did, because the only way you could contact him was by sending Siân a message: 'Siân, can you ask Steffan if I can talk to him about land transaction tax outside?' She would say, 'I am not his secretary.' In fact, that must be one of the things she said most to him during her time here—'Steffan, I'm not your secretary.' But you did a fine job as his secretary. He had that belief that you should not use a computer in the Chamber. He had that belief and he stuck to it. However annoying it was for the rest of us, he stuck to it.
I knew Steffan when he was working in the Plaid Cymru office. I shared a kitchen with him. It's amazing how you know people from the strangest of things within the Assembly. I use the same kitchen as Plaid Cymru do and what I remember of Steffan is he was always pleasant, always polite and always had a smile on his face. I'll miss him, but not half as much as his family.
Fel pawb arall yn y Siambr, bydd hiraeth arnaf am Steffan. Roeddwn yn eistedd ar y Pwyllgor Cyllid gydag ef ac fe gawsom ni sbort—nid wyf yn siŵr y byddai neb arall yn credu hynny—pan oeddem ni'n trafod y dreth trafodiadau tir a materion traws-ffiniol. Rwy'n siŵr i Steffan a minnau ymdrin â hynny drwy ddeialog rhyngom ni'n dau, er mawr siom i eraill a oedd yn eistedd yn y Siambr. Ei wybodaeth ddi-ben-draw am ffiniau eraill—pan grybwyllais y 'traws-ffiniol', fe orffennom ni yn y diwedd gyda 1,000 o ddarnau o dir yn croesi'r ffin rhwng Cymru a Lloegr, a dywedodd ef, 'Dyw hynny'n ddim—sut ydych chi'n meddwl y mae Portiwgal a Sbaen yn ymdopi, neu'r Walwniaid a'r Fflemiaid? Sut ydych chi'n credu y mae'n gweithio yn y gweddill—? Dywedais i, 'Nid wyf i'n gwybod', a dywedodd ef, 'Wel, rwyf i wedi bod yno. Es yno ar fy ngwyliau i ymweld â'r ffin a'i gweld.' Dywedais i, 'Wel, nid wyf i'n credu y gallwn i ddarbwyllo fy ngwraig i fynd ar wyliau i weld ffiniau ond—.'
Y peth arall a'i gwnâi yn hynod oedd ei fod yn gwrthod defnyddio ei gyfrifiadur yn y Siambr, rhywbeth a oedd yn fy ngwylltio i'n gacwn—ond nid fel yr oedd yn gwylltio Siân Gwenllian, oherwydd yr unig ffordd y gallech chi gysylltu ag ef oedd drwy anfon neges at Siân: 'Siân, a wnewch chi ofyn i Steffan a gaf i siarad ag ef am y dreth trafodiad tir y tu allan?' A byddai hithau'n dweud, 'Nid fi yw ei ysgrifenyddes.' Yn wir, mae'n rhaid mai dyna un o'r pethau a ddywedodd hi wrtho'n fwy aml na dim arall yn ystod ei hamser yma—'Steffan, nid fi yw dy ysgrifenyddes di.' Ond fe wnaethoch chi waith da fel ysgrifenyddes iddo. Credai na ddylid defnyddio cyfrifiadur yn y Siambr. Roedd yn credu hynny a glynodd ato. Ni waeth pa mor drafferthus oedd hynny i'r gweddill ohonom, roedd yn glynu ato.
Roeddwn i'n adnabod Steffan pan oedd yn gweithio yn swyddfa Plaid Cymru. Roeddwn i'n defnyddio'r un gegin ag ef. Mae'n syndod sut y dewch chi i adnabod pobl oherwydd y pethau rhyfeddaf o fewn y Cynulliad. Rwy'n defnyddio'r un gegin â Phlaid Cymru a'r hyn a gofiaf am Steffan yw ei fod bob amser yn serchog, bob amser yn gwrtais a phob amser â gwên ar ei wyneb. Bydd gennyf i hiraeth amdano, ond nid hanner cymaint â'i deulu.
I didn't know Steffan very well, but I just wanted to rise very briefly to say what a wonderful man he was. My enduring memory of Steffan is meeting him just by chance out walking with his family on the Cardiff barrage one balmy October day during that Indian summer that we had. And it was one happy family, out with Shona and their son, enjoying the sunshine. But, for me, it was such a poignant moment, for me, because I wondered how many more of these happy memories they were going to be able to share together. I just—. I think it's an absolute tragedy for his parents that they're having to bury their son before their time; that is just not the normal order of things, and that is, obviously, unbelievably painful. But, obviously, for Shona and Celyn, it leaves a huge gap in their lives. And I just wanted to say to Celyn that he was a truly amazing politician, as, hopefully, he will appreciate when he is a little bit older, and that he was such a courageous man and really did practice the kind of politics that Jack Sargeant promotes so regularly. 76
And I just want to say that it was such a privilege to know him, and I hope that he will inspire us all to up our game and to improve the level of debate that he showed us was perfectly possible without being cantankerous and party political. So, thank you so much, Steffan, and our condolences—I'm sure all of us—to his family.
Nid oeddwn i'n adnabod Steffan yn dda iawn, ond roeddwn yn awyddus i godi i ddweud yn fyr iawn ei fod yn ddigon o ryfeddod o ddyn. Yr atgof parhaol sydd gennyf i o Steffan yw digwydd dod ar ei draws yn mynd am dro gyda'i deulu dros forglawdd Caerdydd ryw brynhawn braf ym mis Hydref yn ystod y tywydd twym hwnnw a gawsom. Ac roedd yn deulu hapus, allan gyda Shona a'u mab, yn mwynhau'r heulwen. Ond, i mi, roedd yn foment ingol oherwydd meddyliais tybed faint mwy o atgofion hapus fel hyn y cânt i'w rhannu. Dim ond—. Mae'n golled ddirdynnol i rieni gladdu eu mab cyn ei amser; nid honno yw'r drefn arferol, ac mae hynny, yn amlwg, yn ddychrynllyd o boenus. Ond, yn amlwg, i Shona a Celyn, mae'n agor bwlch enfawr yn eu bywydau nhw. Ac roeddwn i eisiau dweud wrth Celyn fod ei dad yn wleidydd wirioneddol anhygoel, fel y bydd yn sylweddoli pan fydd ychydig yn hŷn, gobeithio, a'i fod yn ddyn dewr, a oedd yn ymarfer y fath o wleidyddiaeth y mae Jack Sargeant yn ei hyrwyddo mor aml.
Rwy'n awyddus i ddweud ei bod wedi bod yn fraint o'r mwyaf cael ei adnabod ef. Ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn ein hysbrydoli ni i wella ein perfformiad a gwella safon y dadlau y dangosodd ef ei bod yn gwbl bosibl ei wneud heb fod yn gwerylgar nac yn or-bleidiol. Felly, diolch yn fawr iawn, Steffan, ac mae ein cydymdeimlad ni—bawb ohonom ni, rwy'n siŵr—â'i deulu.
I was about to enter the Newbridge memorial hall on Friday evening when the news broke that my political opponent in Islwyn, and my also dear colleague, Steffan Lewis AM, had passed away. So, as many have said, my heart does go out to Steffan's wife, Shona, and son, Celyn. At our Islwyn Labour Party meeting of members, there was a genuine sadness at this tragic news, and that is because of the personality who Steffan is. The Islwyn Labour Party held a minute's silence for Steffan and tributes were paid to our countryman. He was highly proud of hailing from Islwyn, as we've already heard, having grown up in Cross Keys, and I know he is fondly remembered from his time as a child in Ysgol Gynradd Cwm Gwyddon in Abercarn, where my daughter also attended. And, today, we mark our respect for this true son of Wales and a true son of Islwyn, who I also respected greatly as a colleague in the Welsh Parliament, even though, as I said, we were ultimately political opponents. But there was much that we also agreed upon, and, as a sentiment in today's speeches, I think that we hear that loudly and clearly.
But, ultimately, Steffan was a kind and sensitive human being, with a razor-sharp intellect. We were both elected to the National Assembly for Wales, as many have said, for the first time in 2016, and, as a member of the class, I also vouch loudly that Steffan was an energetic and principled politician who had so much more to give to Welsh public life. And we've already mentioned a kinder politics, which Jack Sargeant has already talked about at great length, and Steffan was the embodiment of that kinder politics. In the all too short time that he was able to serve as an Assembly Member, he demonstrated this with everything that he said and everything that he did—his ability and his calm manner. He used his considerable intellectual powers to make the case, as we've heard earlier in this Chamber, for the Assembly for Wales's rights to be respected following the Brexit negotiations. And it is probably Steffan's work on Brexit, in his capacity as party spokesman on the subject, where he had his biggest impact. But I will personally always remember him as a principled and decent politician and a decent human being—a sincere and dedicated servant to the people of Islwyn, and I believe we will all miss you. God rest you, Steffan.
Roeddwn i ar fin mynd i mewn i Neuadd Goffa Trecelyn nos Wener pan ddaeth y newyddion bod fy ngwrthwynebydd gwleidyddol yn Islwyn, a'm cyd-Aelod annwyl, Steffan Lewis AC, wedi ein gadael ni. Felly, fel mae nifer wedi'i ddweud, rwyf yn cydymdeimlo'n ddwys â gwraig Steffan, Shona, a'i fab, Celyn. Yn ein cyfarfod o aelodau Plaid Lafur Islwyn, roedd tristwch gwirioneddol o glywed y newyddion trasig hyn, a hynny oherwydd personoliaeth Steffan. Cynhaliodd Plaid Lafur Islwyn funud o dawelwch i gofio am Steffan a thalwyd teyrnged i'n cydwladwr. Roedd e'n hynod falch ei fod yn hanu o Islwyn, fel rydym ni eisoes wedi clywed, ac yntau wedi'i fagu yn Cross Keys, ceir atgofion annwyl am ei gyfnod fel plentyn yn Ysgol Gynradd Cwm Gwyddon yn Abercarn, lle'r oedd fy merch innau hefyd yn ddisgybl. A heddiw, rydym ni'n mynegi ein parch at y gwir fab Cymru a gwir fab Islwyn hwn, yr oeddwn i hefyd yn ei barchu'n fawr fel cyd-Aelod o Senedd Cymru, er, fel y dywedais i, yn y pen draw, roedden ni'n wrthwynebwyr gwleidyddol. Er hynny, roedd llawer yr oeddem ni'n cytuno arno, a chredaf inni glywed y teimladau hynny'n glir ac yn groyw yn areithiau heddiw.
Ond, yn y pen draw, roedd Steffan yn unigolyn caredig a sensitif, a oedd yn meddu ar deallusrwydd miniog. Fel mae sawl un wedi'i ddweud, cafodd y ddau ohonom ni ein hethol i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru am y tro cyntaf yn 2016, ac, fel aelod o'r dosbarth, rwyf innau hefyd yn tystio'n frwd bod Steffan yn wleidydd egnïol ac egwyddorol a oedd â chymaint mwy i'w gyfrannu at fywyd cyhoeddus Cymru. Ac rydym ni eisoes wedi sôn am wleidyddiaeth fwy caredig, y mae Jack Sargeant eisoes wedi sôn yn hirfaith amdano, ac roedd Steffan yn ymgorffori'r wleidyddiaeth fwy caredig honno. Yn yr amser rhy fyr o lawer yr oedd wedi gallu gwasanaethu fel Aelod o'r Cynulliad, dangosodd hyn drwy bopeth a ddywedodd a phopeth a wnaeth—ei allu a'i natur pwyllog. Defnyddiodd ei bwerau deallusol helaeth i ddadlau'r achos o blaid, fel rydym ni wedi clywed yn gynharach yn y Siambr hon, hawl Cynulliad Cymru i gael ei barchu ar ôl trafodaethau Brexit. Ac mae'n debyg mai gwaith Steffan ar Brexit, yn rhinwedd ei swydd fel llefarydd ei blaid ar y pwnc, a gafodd yr effaith fwyaf. Ond, yn bersonol, byddaf bob amser yn ei gofio fel gwleidydd egwyddorol a dyn da—gwas didwyll ac ymroddedig dros bobl Islwyn, a chredaf y bydd pob un ohonom ni yn gweld ei eisiau. Bydded i ti orffwys mewn heddwch, Steffan.
I remember hearing Steffan on the radio for the 2006 by-election in Blaenau Gwent—his speech for the declaration. I was in bed and I sat up in bed because his words were electrifying—really, really inspirational. I worked with Steffan in 2008, in the Caerphilly council elections, and we got to know each other better when we were first elected for the first time in 2016. And, some afternoons, we'd just pop over the road and have a quick drink and a quick chat and just talk about all kinds of things, especially politics and how things could be done better, and football—Celtic, Cardiff City. I'm really grateful to Steffan for those conversations. He was a really good man, who showed so much courage and dignity in the way that he came here, and in the way that he did things his way. His far too early passing is a real loss to our country, and I really hope that his family can take some comfort in the fact that so many people—every one of us who knew Steffan—thought so highly of him.
Cofiaf glywed Steffan ar y radio ar gyfer is-etholiad 2006 ym Mlaenau Gwent—ei araith am y datganiad. Roeddwn i yn fy ngwely ac eisteddais i fyny yn y gwely oherwydd bod ei eiriau'n wefreiddiol—yn hynod, hynod ysbrydoledig. Gweithiais gyda Steffan yn 2008, yn etholiadau cyngor Caerffili, a daethon ni i adnabod ein gilydd yn well pan gawson ni ein hethol am y tro cyntaf yn 2016. Ac, ambell brynhawn, byddem ni'n mynd dros y ffordd am ddiod gyflym a sgwrs fach ac yn trafod pob math o bethau, yn enwedig gwleidyddiaeth a sut y byddai modd gwneud pethau yn well, a phêl-droed—Celtic, Dinas Caerdydd. Rwyf yn ddiolchgar iawn i Steffan am y sgyrsiau hynny. Roedd e'n ddyn da iawn, a ddangosodd gymaint o ddewrder ac urddas yn y ffordd y daeth ef yma, ac yn y ffordd yr oedd yn torri ei gŵys ei hun. Mae ei farwolaeth gynamserol yn golled wirioneddol i'n gwlad, a gwir obeithiaf y gall ei deulu gymryd rhywfaint o gysur o'r ffaith fod gan gynifer o bobl—pawb ohonom ni a oedd yn adnabod Steffan—feddwl mor uchel ohono.
Llywydd, Steffan's voice was a strong voice on the constitution. He had a depth of understanding that allowed him to soar to the heights of political thought. Llywydd, we were both elected in 1999, and I don't think I've ever heard a more generous voice on fundamental matters. His knowledge and use of the parliamentary process allowed him to promote the concept of the continuity Act, as we've heard, something that put pressure on the Welsh and the UK Governments at a key moment in our history as an institution.
Steffan's authority, however, on constitutional matters was no dry or abstract thing; he spoke with energy and passion. But he also respected the views of others, like myself, who often reached different conclusions. What I found most noble and convincing in Steffan's constitutional insights was the need for a deliberative parliamentary democracy. That is what has been forged by the home nations of the United Kingdom. It is our taproot—something we should all cherish, whether our ultimate goal is an independent Wales or a rejuvenated devolved UK. How we need such wisdom today of all days, as Brexit arrives at a decision point in Parliament.
One of the last conversations I had with Steffan was about Alan Watkins's funny and irreverent account of the fall of Mrs Thatcher, A Conservative Coup. And Steffan had that mischievous humour too, seeing the foolishness of politics when it drifts from its firm foundations, as that book masterfully describes.
I extend my heartfelt condolences to Steffan's family and friends. Please be comforted by the knowledge that Steffan's was such a true voice it will never be lost to our memory.
Llywydd, roedd llais Steffan yn llais cryf ar y cyfansoddiad. Roedd ganddo ddealltwriaeth ddofn a oedd yn caniatáu iddo droedio uchelfannau syniadaeth wleidyddol. Llywydd, cafodd y ddau ohonon ni ein hethol yn 1999, ac nid wyf yn meddwl i mi erioed glywed rhywun yn traethu mor hael ar faterion sylfaenol. Roedd ei wybodaeth am y broses seneddol a'i ddefnydd ohoni yn caniatáu iddo hyrwyddo cysyniad y Ddeddf parhad, fel rydym ni wedi'i glywed, rhywbeth a roddodd bwysau ar Lywodraethau Cymru a'r DU ar adeg allweddol yn ein hanes fel sefydliad.
Fodd bynnag, nid oedd awdurdod Steffan ar faterion cyfansoddiadol, yn rhywbeth sych na haniaethol; roedd yn siarad gydag egni ac angerdd. Ond, roedd hefyd yn parchu barn pobl eraill, fel fi, a oedd yn aml yn dod i gasgliadau gwahanol. Yr hyn a welais yn fwyaf urddasol ac argyhoeddiadol yn syniadau cyfansoddiadol Steffan oedd yr angen am ddemocratiaeth seneddol ystyriol. Dyna'r hyn sydd wedi cael ei ffurfio gan wledydd cartref y Deyrnas Unedig. Dyma yw ein prif wreiddyn— rhywbeth y dylen ni i gyd ei drysori, pa un ai Cymru annibynnol neu DU ddatganoledig ar ei newydd wedd yw ein nod yn y pen draw. Ac mae angen doethineb o'r fath arnom ni heddiw o bob dydd, wrth i Brexit gyrraedd adeg penderfyniad yn y Senedd.
Un o'r sgyrsiau diwethaf a gefais â Steffan oedd ynghylch hanes doniol ac amharchus Alan Watkins am gwymp Mrs Thatcher, A Conservative Coup. Ac roedd Steffan yn berchen ar yr hiwmor direidus hwnnw hefyd, gan weld ffolineb gwleidyddiaeth sy'n ymbellhau o'i sylfeini cadarn, fel y mae'r llyfr hwnnw yn ei ddisgrifio'n grefftus.
Estynnaf fy nghydymdeimlad diffuant i deulu a ffrindiau Steffan. Gobeithio y byddwch yn cael eich cysuro o wybod na fydd llais diffuant Steffan byth yn mynd yn anghof i ni.
To lose Steffan at such a tender age is obviously a tragic blow to his family and friends, to his party, Plaid Cymru, to the Assembly as a whole, and to Wales, given the significance of Steffan Lewis as a political figure and the ability that he had, the commitment that he had, which we've heard about across the Chamber today.
For me, Llywydd, my first memory of speaking to Steffan after he became an Assembly Member was when he brought those qualities to the fore, and that great concern that he had for Gwent, as we heard from Adam and others, when Steffan came up to me early on and said how committed he was to working across the political parties and how committed he was to understanding Gwent, representing the interests of Gwent, and being a champion for that geographical part of Wales. And it subsequently became very clear that he was absolutely genuine about that, as he was about everything else as well. So, I know that I speak for all of my Labour Gwent AM colleagues—Rhianon Passmore has spoken for herself, as it were—but all of us recognise that, that Steffan was so committed and genuine in that concern for Gwent and that determination to do all that he could for Gwent, but to work across the parties, and indeed with a variety of organisations, to that end.
As with others, I remember the walk to raise money for Velindre, where it was so clear what widespread support, and what important support, Steffan had from his family and friends, the political parties—again, across the Chamber—different organisations that he'd worked with over the years, and many others. It was also clear what a comfort that was to Steffan, how important it was to him to draw strength from that support, evidenced on the walk, but evidenced much more widely and generally as well.
Also, Llywydd, I just wanted to echo what others said in terms of how brave Steffan was in using that horrible experience of suffering from cancer for a greater good—to be so willing to talk about the experience, to do interviews, to make public statements, to take part in debates, knowing how important it was for other people suffering from cancer and their families and their friends. He went into detail, which I think must be so important, significant and beneficial for other people suffering from cancer and their families and friends.
Obviously, it was very, very moving as well to read about the memoir that he was preparing for his son, his young son, who could read that when he was older and understand his father better and understand his father's beliefs and values and principles and draw from those in living his own life and making his own contribution.
So, I just wanted to echo, on behalf of my local Labour colleagues, Llywydd, what so many others have said: what a nice, genuine, committed, able, talented human being Steffan Lewis was and how significant he was to his country. I, as others have said, hope that's some comfort to his family and friends at such an incredibly difficult time.
Wrth reswm, mae colli Steffan mor ifanc yn ergyd drychinebus i'w deulu a'i ffrindiau, i'w blaid, Plaid Cymru, i'r Cynulliad yn ei gyfanrwydd, ac i Gymru, o gofio pwysigrwydd Steffan Lewis fel ffigur gwleidyddol a'r gallu oedd ganddo, yr ymrwymiad oedd ganddo, yr ydym wedi clywed sôn amdano ar draws y Siambr heddiw.
O'm rhan i, Llywydd, y tro cyntaf yr wyf i'n cofio siarad â Steffan ar ôl iddo ddod yn Aelod o'r Cynulliad, oedd pan ddaeth ef â'r rhinweddau hynny i'r amlwg, a'r teimlad dwys a oedd ganddo dros Went, fel y clywsom gan Adam ac eraill, pan ddaeth Steffan ataf yn gynnar iawn a dweud cymaint oedd ei ymrwymiad i weithio ar draws y pleidiau gwleidyddol a chymaint oedd ei ymrwymiad i ddeall Gwent, cynrychioli buddiannau Gwent, ac i fod yn hyrwyddwr ar gyfer y rhan honno o Gymru. Maes o law, daeth yn amlwg iawn ei fod yn hollol ddiffuant am hynny, fel yr oedd am bopeth arall hefyd. Felly, rwy'n gwybod fy mod i'n siarad ar ran pob un o fy nghyd-Aelodau AC Llafur Gwent— mae Rhianon Passmore wedi siarad drosti hi ei hun, fel petai—ond mae pob un ohonom ni yn cydnabod bod Steffan mor ymroddedig a diffuant yn yr ymdeimlad hwnnw dros Went ac mor benderfynol o wneud popeth a allai ar ran Gwent, ond i weithio ar draws y pleidiau, ac yn wir gydag amrywiaeth o sefydliadau, i'r perwyl hwnnw.
Fel y mae eraill, rwyf innau'n cofio'r daith gerdded i godi arian dros Felindre, pryd yr oedd hi mor amlwg beth oedd hyd a lled a phwysigrwydd y gefnogaeth a oedd i Steffan gan deulu a ffrindiau, y pleidiau gwleidyddol—unwaith eto, ar draws y Siambr—gwahanol sefydliadau y bu ef yn gweithio gyda nhw dros y blynyddoedd, a sawl un arall. Roedd hefyd yn amlwg gymaint o gysur oedd hynny i Steffan, pa mor bwysig oedd tynnu nerth o'r gefnogaeth honno iddo, a oedd i'w gweld ar y daith gerdded, ond a oedd i'w gweld yn eangach o lawer ac yn fwy cyffredinol hefyd.
Hefyd, Llywydd, hoffwn innau adleisio yr hyn y mae eraill wedi'i ddweud ynghylch pa mor ddewr oedd Steffan wrth ddefnyddio'r profiad ofnadwy hwnnw o ddioddef o ganser er lles cyffredinol—i fod mor barod i siarad am y profiad, i wneud cyfweliadau, i wneud datganiadau cyhoeddus, i gymryd rhan mewn trafodaethau, gan wybod pa mor bwysig oedd hynny i bobl eraill sy'n dioddef o ganser a'u teuluoedd a'u ffrindiau. Aeth i gryn fanylder, sydd yn amlwg bwysig, arwyddocaol a llesol i bobl eraill sy'n dioddef o ganser, eu teuluoedd a'u ffrindiau.
Wrth reswm, yr oedd yn hynod emosiynol hefyd ddarllen am yr hunangofiant yr oedd yn ei baratoi ar gyfer ei fab, ei fab ifanc, a fyddai'n gallu ei ddarllen pan fydd yn hŷn ac yn gallu deall ei dad yn well a deall daliadau a gwerthoedd ac egwyddorion ei dad a'u defnyddio i gyfrannu at ei fywyd ei hun a gwneud ei gyfraniad ei hun.
Felly, Llywydd, dymunaf adleisio, ar ran fy nghyd-Aelodau Llafur lleol yr hyn a ddywedodd cynifer o bobl eraill: dyn pa mor hoffus, diffuant, ymrwymedig, dawnus, talentog oedd Steffan Lewis a pha mor bwysig oedd i'w wlad. Rwyf innau, fel y mae eraill wedi ei ddweud, yn gobeithio bod hynny'n rhywfaint o gysur i'w deulu a'i ffrindiau ar adeg mor anhygoel o anodd.
I last spoke with Steffan on his last visit to the Assembly before Christmas, when I remember speaking to him outside the Chamber here in a break in debate. It was clear at that point how ill he was. I told him that we were—all of us, every one of us in the Chamber—rooting for him. He thanked me for that and he said it was the work as an Assembly Member that was keeping him going, that was inspiring him, and the affection, the love, that he felt from all of us Assembly Members was making that difference to him.
As has been said by his own party, who he loved dearly, and other Members in this Chamber, he was a boy of Gwent. He used to call me 'the boy of Monmouthshire'. I did point out that I was from Cwmbran originally and I could see his little eyes light up as he could think of all sorts of new insults or expressions that he could use in debate across the Chamber. [Laughter.] Sadly, those debates are not to be. But the legacy he leaves, and the feeling that he inspired all of us to feel, from whatever part of Wales that was, is something that will live with me forever.
Mike Hedges mentioned the Finance Committee. I had the privilege of sitting next to Steffan—it seems for a very long time, but, of course, it was only a couple of years since 2016 that we were on that committee together. And you're right, Mike, he used to love talking about the border, or, really, attacking people who wanted to talk about the border, and he would point out there were borders all across the world that didn't cause any problems at all in terms of trade and in terms of countries being separate. He was right there. Also, whenever there were discussions about Brexit or austerity, I'd hear this little voice in my ear, which was his voice, and he'd be prodding me, and he'd say, 'That's your lot, again, that is, isn't it? That's your lot in Westminster. How can you live with yourself?' Eventually, I just used to move the chair slightly to the right so he couldn't quite reach any more.
But it was a privilege to know Steffan since he got elected in 2016. I think it is very easy to say that people leave a legacy, but I think, as the former First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said earlier, his legacy is an immense one. I think, in his own way, he has had an effect on everyone in Wales, and, whether you agreed in the nationalist policy, or whatever party political view you aspire from, I think that he sold the message of his party so well that he drew everyone else in Wales a little nearer to his dreams, and I think, whatever happens down the road for this great country of ours that he was so proud of, he brought his dream a little closer to everyone's reality.
Siaradais ddiwethaf â Steffan yn ystod ei ymweliad olaf â'r Cynulliad cyn y Nadolig, pryd yr wyf yn cofio sgwrsio ag ef y tu allan i'r Siambr hon mewn toriad yn y ddadl. Roedd yn amlwg y pryd hwnnw pa mor sâl yr ydoedd. Dywedais i wrtho ein bod ni i gyd—pob un ohonon ni yn y Siambr—yn ei gefnogi. Diolchodd i mi am hynny a dweud mai ei waith fel Aelod Cynulliad a oedd yn ei gynnal, a oedd yn ei ysbrydoli, ac roedd yr anwyldeb, y cariad, yr oedd e'n ei deimlo gan bob un ohonom ni Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn gwneud y gwahaniaeth hwnnw iddo.
Fel y mae ei blaid ei hun, yr oedd ef yn meddwl y byd ohoni, ac Aelodau eraill yn y Siambr hon wedi ei ddweud, bachgen Gwent oedd ef. Roedd e'n arfer fy ngalw i yn 'bachgen Mynwy'. Fe wnes i dynnu sylw at y ffaith mai o Gwmbrân oeddwn i'n dod yn wreiddiol a gwelais ei lygaid bach yn goleuo wrth feddwl am bob math o bethau sarhaus neu ymadroddion newydd y byddai'n gallu eu defnyddio mewn dadleuon ar draws y Siambr. [Chwerthin.] Yn anffodus, ni fydd y dadleuon hynny'n digwydd. Ond bydd ei etifeddiaeth, a'r teimladau y gwnaeth ef annog pob un ohonom ni i'w teimlo, o ba ran bynnag o Gymru fyddai hynny, yn rhywbeth a fydd yn aros gyda fi am byth.
Soniodd Mike Hedges am y Pwyllgor Cyllid. Ces i'r fraint o eistedd wrth ochr Steffan—sydd i'w weld yn amser hir iawn, ond, wrth gwrs, dim ond cwpl o flynyddoedd, ers 2016, yr oeddem ni ar y pwyllgor hwnnw gyda'n gilydd. Ac rydych chi'n iawn, Mike, roedd ef wrth ei fodd yn sôn am y ffin, neu, mewn gwirionedd, ymosod ar bobl a oedd yn dymuno siarad am y ffin, a byddai'n tynnu sylw at y ffaith fod yna ffiniau ledled y byd nad ydyn nhw'n achosi unrhyw broblemau o gwbl o ran masnachu ac o ran gwledydd yn bodoli ar wahân. Roedd e'n iawn yn hynny o beth. Hefyd, pryd bynnag y byddai trafodaethau ynghylch Brexit neu gyni, byddwn i'n clywed y llais bach hwn yn fy nghlust, ei lais ef ydoedd, a byddai ef yn fy mhrocio i, a byddai'n dweud, 'Dy griw di yw hyn eto, yntê? Dyna dy griw di yn San Steffan. Sut galli di fyw 'da dy hunan?' Yn y pen draw, byddwn i'n symud y gadair ychydig i'r dde fel nad oedd yn bosibl iddo gyrraedd mwyach.
Ond roedd yn fraint adnabod Steffan ers iddo gael ei ethol yn 2016. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn hawdd iawn dweud bod pobl yn gadael etifeddiaeth, ond, yn fy marn i, fel y dywedodd y cyn Brif Weinidog, Carwyn Jones gynnau, mae ei etifeddiaeth ef yn un enfawr. Rwy'n credu, yn ei ffordd ei hun, ei fod wedi effeithio ar bawb yng Nghymru, a pha un a ydych chi'n cytuno â'r polisi cenedlaetholaidd ai peidio, neu o ba blaid wleidyddol bynnag yr ydych chi wedi dod, rwy'n credu iddo fe werthu neges ei blaid mor dda fel ei fod wedi denu pawb arall yng Nghymru ychydig yn nes at ei freuddwyd, ac rwy'n credu, beth bynnag fydd yn digwydd yn y dyfodol i'n gwlad odidog yr oedd ef mor falch ohoni, daeth ef â'i freuddwyd ychydig yn nes at realiti pawb.
Dyma ddiwrnod du iawn. Mae'n anrhydedd i fi allu sefyll yn fan hyn i dalu teyrnged i ti, Steffan. Dŷn ni, yn naturiol, yn cydymdeimlo'n ddwys iawn gyda dy deulu, gyda dy ffrindiau, ac mae yna fwlch yn y sedd nesaf ataf i. Dydy'r sgrin dal ddim ymlaen. Ond mae yna fwlch enfawr yn ein grŵp ni, yn ein calonnau, yn ein bywydau—bwlch lle bu Steffan. Steffan oedd Aelod ieuengaf grŵp Plaid Cymru; babi ein grŵp ni, gyda theulu ifanc, ac mae'n calonnau ni yn torri.
Roeddet ti'n ysbrydoliaeth i ni i gyd, gweithiwr dygn ac ymroddedig, yn byw bob munud dros Gymru, dros ddyfodol cenedlaethol ein gwlad. Byddaf yn cofio'r trafodaethau di-rif dros y blynyddoedd lawer dwi wedi dy nabod di, ers yr isetholiad nôl yn y 1990au—roeddwn i yna yn Islwyn hefyd—y trafodaethau droeon am hanes Cymru, hanes anrhydeddus ein gwlad, fel ffordd i ysbrydoli cenedl nad yw'n gwybod ei hanes.
This is a very dark day. It is an honour for me to be able to stand here to pay tribute to you, Steffan. Naturally, we sympathise deeply with your friends and your family, and there is an empty space in the chair next to me. The screen is still black. But there's a huge gap in our group, in our hears, in our lives—a gap where Steffan used to be. Steffan was the youngest Member of the Plaid Cymru group. He was the baby of the group, with a young family, and we are heartbroken.
You were an inspiration to us all, a hard and committed worker, living every minute for Wales and for the future of our nation. I will remember the endless discussions and debates over the very many years that I knew you, since the by-election back in the 1990s—I was there in Islwyn too—the discussions, many a time, about the history of Wales, the honourable history of our country, as a way of inspiring a nation. And how do you inspire a nation that knows not its history?
And a man of detail, too, of exquisite legislative detail, and creator of Wales's continuity Bill. Steffan was very conscious of the threat of Brexit to the very existence of Wales, and worked tirelessly to construct a protective legislative shield for our people. Steffan was a total inspiration to me personally, to this party of ours, to this Senedd and to Wales; a shining star, as many have said, with a huge talent and courage, especially these last months, as well as resilience of spirit, a resilience that we all need now. Our prayers are with Steffan's family, yes. Our loss is as nothing compared to their loss.
We often say on these Plaid benches, chairs, that we stand on the shoulders of the heroes of Welsh history longing for national freedom, the noblest of causes. Steffan is one of those heroes now.
Ac roedd yn ddyn manylder, hefyd, manylion cywrain deddfwriaethol, ac ef oedd crëwr Bil parhad Cymru. Roedd Steffan yn ymwybodol iawn o fygythiad Brexit i fodolaeth gwirioneddol Cymru, a gweithiodd yn ddiflino i adeiladu tarian ddeddfwriaethol amddiffynnol ar gyfer ein pobl. Roedd Steffan yn ysbrydoliaeth lwyr i mi yn bersonol, i'r blaid hon sydd gennym, i'r Senedd hon ac i Gymru; seren ddisglair, fel y dywedodd llawer, gyda thalent a dewrder enfawr, yn enwedig yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf, yn ogystal ag ysbryd cydnerth, cydnerthedd y mae ei angen arnom ni i gyd nawr. Rydym ni'n gweddïo dros deulu Steffan, ydym. Nid yw ein colled ni yn ddim o'i gymharu â'u colled nhw.
Rydym ni'n dweud yn aml ar y meinciau, cadeiriau, hyn y Blaid, ein bod yn sefyll ar ysgwyddau arwyr hanes Cymru a oedd yn dyheu am ryddid cenedlaethol, y mwyaf urddasol o achosion. Mae Steffan yw un o'r arwyr hynny erbyn hyn.
Cwsg mewn hedd, Steffan bach.
Rest in peace, young Steffan.
Thank you to all Members for your tributes. It's clear that in his too short a time here, Steffan made an impression across this Chamber. Sitting here as I do, I watch many of you typing away as debates carry on around you. Steffan, as we've heard, didn't type. He had his computer disabled when he took his seat so he could listen to debates and take part in debate. Of course, he learnt there was a downside to that, as he then couldn't message me to ask to be called in a debate. However, he quickly learnt that a cheeky smile or a phone text, or Siân Gwenllian, were just as persuasive to get himself called to speak.
And who wouldn't call Steffan Lewis? What he had to say was worth hearing. I'd watch you all, First Ministers past and present, Ministers, backbenchers—you all listened to what Steffan had to say. He spoke with a quiet authority, a clarity of thought, always with something original to say. Steffan was the one to challenge the orthodoxy of the day, and that happened as much within Plaid Cymru as it did within this Chamber.
Diolch i bob Aelod am eich teyrngedau. Mae'n amlwg bod Steffan, yn ei amser rhy fyr o lawer yma, wedi gwneud argraff ar draws y Siambr. Wrth eistedd yn y fan yma, fel yr wyf, rwy'n sylwi ar lawer ohonoch chi'n teipio tra bod dadleuon yn digwydd o'ch cwmpas. Nid oedd Steffan, fel yr ydym wedi clywed, yn teipio. Trefnodd i'w gyfrifiadur gael ei analluogi pan ddaeth i'w sedd fel ei fod yn gallu gwrando ar ddadleuon a chymryd rhan mewn dadleuon. Wrth gwrs, dysgodd fod anfantais i hynny, gan nad oedd modd iddo anfon neges ataf i ofyn am gael ei alw mewn dadl. Er hynny, dysgodd yn gyflym fod gwên fach ddireidus neu neges destun, neu Siân Gwenllian, yn un mor berswadiol ar gyfer cael ei alw i siarad.
A phwy na fyddai'n galw Steffan Lewis? Roedd yr hyn yr oedd ganddo i'w ddweud yn werth ei glywed. Byddwn i yn eich gwylio chi i gyd, Prif Weinidogion ddoe a heddiw, Gweinidogion, Aelodau'r meinciau cefn—roedd pob un ohonoch chi'n gwrando ar yr hyn oedd gan Steffan i'w ddweud. Roedd yn siarad ag awdurdod tawel, syniadaeth glir, rhywbeth gwreiddiol i'w ddweud bob amser. Steffan oedd yr un i herio uniongrededd y dydd, a digwyddodd hynny mor aml o fewn Plaid Cymru ag o fewn y Siambr hon.
Mi gwrddais i â Steffan yn gyntaf yn ystod y Cynulliad cyntaf, pan oedd e'n gwneud profiad gwaith gyda Jocelyn Davies yn ei arddegau cynnar. Dechreuodd Steffan ei fywyd gwleidyddol yn ifanc iawn. Mi oedd e'n angerddol yn ei wleidyddiaeth bryd hynny, ac mi wireddodd ei freuddwyd yn 2016 i gael ei ethol i'w Senedd genedlaethol ac i olynu Jocelyn Davies. Er i'w fywyd fod yn fyr, fe baciodd Steffan lot fawr mewn i'w fywyd, ac ein hatgoffa taw nid wrth hyd fywyd mae gwir fesur gwerth y bywyd hwnnw.
Yn wahanol i nifer ohonon ni, mi oedd Steffan yn gwybod pob manylyn o hanes ei wlad, a sawl gwlad arall, nid er mwyn rhamantu'r hanes hwnnw, ond yn hytrach i ddeall yr hanes er mwyn cynllunio'r dyfodol, lle'r oedd popeth yn bosib i'w wlad. Ac, er yn llefarydd cryf dros Gymoedd y de-ddwyrain, dros Went, bro ei febyd, lle'r oedd treftadaeth ei ddwy iaith—y Saesneg a'r Gymraeg—yn bwysig iddo fe, uno Cymru oedd un o'r negeseuon parhaol gan Steffan. Mi oedd e'n gwylltio os oedd e'n clywed gormod o sôn am y gogledd neu'r gorllewin. Iddo fe, roedd Cymru'n un.
Dyn oedd Steffan â'r cyffredin a'r anghyffredin yn perthyn iddo—yn garedig ac yn ddidwyll a chwbl o ddifri am ei uchelgais i'w wlad. Mi fydd ei esiampl ef yn gyrru nifer ohonom ni i weithio'n galetach i wireddu ei freuddwydion i'w wlad a'i gymuned, ac yn ei enw e.
Wrth inni gloi'r cyfarfod teyrnged yma, dwi'n cymryd y cyfle eto i gydymdeimlo ar ein rhan ni oll gyda theulu Steffan: ei wraig, Shona, a'i fab bach, Celyn; ei fam, Gail; ei chwaer, Nia; a Neil, sydd yma hefyd heddiw. Mi fyddwn ni'n meddwl amdanoch chi yn y dyddiau a'r misoedd anodd i ddod. Mi fyddwn ni'n cofio'n annwyl iawn am ein ffrind Steffan Lewis, ac yn diolch i chi'r teulu am ei rannu gyda ni. Yng ngeiriau'r bardd Annest Glyn yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf yma:
'Enaid yw sy'n dal ar dân,
Nid diffodd a wna Steffan.'
Diolch, Steffan. Diolch, bawb.
I first met Steffan during the first Assembly, when he was on work experience with Jocelyn Davies in his early teens. Steffan started his political life at a very young age. He was passionate about his politics then, and he realised his dream in 2016 when he was elected to his national Senedd as successor to Jocelyn Davies. Although his life was brief, Steffan packed a great deal into it, and he reminded us that we don't really measure the value of a life by its length.
Unlike a number of us, Steffan knew every detail of the history of his country, and a number of other countries too, not in order to romanticise that history, but rather to understand the history in order to plan the future, where everything would be possible for that country. And, although he was a very strong advocate for Gwent and the eastern Valleys where he had been brought up, and where the heritage of both languages—English and Welsh—were important to him, one of his continuous messages was the unity of Wales. He used to get annoyed if he heard too much talk about the north or the west. To him, Wales was one.
Steffan was both ordinary and extraordinary—he was kind and sincere and completely serious about his ambition for his country. His example will drive a number of us to work harder to realise his dreams for his nation and his community in his name.
In closing this meeting of tribute, I take this opportunity once again to sympathise on behalf of all of us with his family: his wife, Shona, and his young son, Celyn; his mother, Gail; his sister, Nia; and Neil, who are with us today. We will be thinking of you in the very difficult days and months to come. We will remember most dearly our friend Steffan, and thank the family for sharing him with us. To paraphrase Annest Glyn, the poet, from the past few days:
A soul who will shine forever bright,
And never shall be dimmed his light.
Thank you, Steffan, and thank you all.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 13:51.
Ailymgynullodd y Cynulliad am 14:00, gyda'r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
Plenary was suspended at 13:51.
The Assembly reconvened at 14:00, with the Presiding Officer in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn. Cwestiwn brys fydd yr eitem gyntaf. Rwyf i wedi derbyn y cwestiwn yna o dan Reol Sefydlog 12.67, a dwi'n galw ar Carwyn Jones i ofyn y cwestiwn, plis.
I call Members to order. The first item will be an emergency question. I've accepted that question under Standing Order 12.67, and I call on Carwyn Jones to ask that emergency question.
Pa asesiad mae’r Gweinidog wedi ei wneud o’r sefyllfa bresennol yn Ford Europe a’i heffaith bosibl ar y Ffatri Beiriannau ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr? (EAQ0003)
What assessment has the Minister made of the current situation in Ford Europe and its potential effect on the Bridgend Engine Plant? (EAQ0003)
Thank you. I've spoken with Ford UK and also with UK Government Ministers, pressing the case for the Bridgend plant. We'll continue to work closely with Ford to protect the highly skilled jobs and supply chain, as well as look for other high-tech opportunities for the Bridgend site.
Diolch. Rwyf i wedi siarad gyda Ford UK a chyda Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU hefyd, gan ddadlau'r achos dros waith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Byddwn yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda Ford i warchod y swyddi medrus iawn a'r gadwyn gyflenwi, yn ogystal â chwilio am gyfleoedd uwch-dechnoleg eraill ar gyfer safle Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr.
Could I thank the Minister for his answer? He will understand, of course, that the announcement has caused great uncertainty amongst workers at the Ford plant and their families. Minister, will you commit to monitoring the situation closely, and to work with Ford Europe, with the management and unions at the Bridgend plant, and also with those who represent Bridgend to secure the future of the plant and, of course, its dedicated workforce?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ateb? Bydd yn deall, wrth gwrs, bod y cyhoeddiad wedi achosi ansicrwydd mawr ymhlith gweithwyr yng ngwaith Ford a'u teuluoedd. Gweinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i fonitro'r sefyllfa yn ofalus, ac i weithio gyda Ford Ewrop, gyda'r rheolwyr a'r undebau yng ngwaith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a hefyd gyda'r rhai sy'n cynrychioli Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i sicrhau dyfodol y gwaith ac, wrth gwrs, ei weithlu ymroddedig?
Yes, indeed. Can I thank the Member for his question and for his keen interest in this matter, and for the dedication that he's shown to the Bridgend Ford plant? I do commit to monitoring the situation across Europe, but particularly in the UK and at Bridgend. The First Minister will be joining unions tomorrow morning at the Bridgend plant, and following my discussion today with Ford UK, I'm arranging to meet with Graham Hoare, the director of global vehicle evaluation and verification for Ford, to discuss the situation at the Bridgend plant.
I think what is clear is that the automotive sector is undergoing dramatic and rapid change, and, in the last week, we've seen the impact of that on Ford's decisions in terms of a Europe-wide review, with various decisions to be made over whether to reduce lines in Germany, whether to close a plant in Bordeaux, whether to cease the joint venture agreement in Russia. What makes the Bridgend plant strong in regards to future considerations is that the productivity levels have been improving. There are now very, very good industrial relations at the site and, of course, a new Dragon engine has begun being manufactured.
As we look to the future and the dramatic change in the automotive sector, I'm confident that as Ford considers hybridising powertrains, the Dragon engine being built new at Bridgend will place that particular site and the loyal, committed, dedicated workers at the forefront of considerations for Ford Europe, as it determines where is most suitable to hybridise future powertrains.
Gwnaf, yn wir. A gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiwn ac am ei ddiddordeb brwd yn y mater hwn, ac am yr ymroddiad y mae wedi ei ddangos i waith Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr? Ymrwymaf i fonitro'r sefyllfa ledled Ewrop, ond yn y DU ac ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn arbennig. Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn ymuno ag undebau bore yfory yng ngwaith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac ar ôl fy nhrafodaeth heddiw gyda Ford UK, rwy'n trefnu i gyfarfod gyda Graham Hoare, cyfarwyddwr gwerthuso a dilysu cerbydau byd-eang Ford, i drafod y sefyllfa yng ngwaith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr.
Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n eglur yw bod y sector modurol yn mynd trwy newid sylweddol a sydyn, ac, yn yr wythnos ddiwethaf, rwyf i wedi gweld effaith hynny ar benderfyniadau Ford o ran adolygiad Ewrop gyfan, gyda gwahanol benderfyniadau i'w gwneud ynghylch pa un a ddylid lleihau llinellau yn yr Almaen, pa un a ddylid cau gwaith yn Bordeaux, pa un a ddylid dod â'r cytundeb menter ar y cyd yn Rwsia i ben. Yr hyn sy'n gwneud gwaith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn gryf o ran ystyriaethau yn y dyfodol yw bod lefelau cynhyrchiant wedi bod yn gwella. Ceir cysylltiadau diwydiannol da dros ben ar y safle nawr ac, wrth gwrs, dechreuwyd gweithgynhyrchu injan Dragon newydd.
Wrth i ni edrych tuag at y dyfodol a'r newid sylweddol yn y sector modurol, rwy'n ffyddiog wrth i Ford ystyried cynhyrchu trenau pŵer ar sail hybrid, y bydd yr injan Dragon sy'n cael ei hadeiladu o'r newydd ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn rhoi'r safle penodol hwnnw a'r gweithwyr teyrngar, ymroddedig a brwdfrydig yn flaenllaw yn ystyriaethau Ford Ewrop, wrth iddo benderfynu lle sydd fwyaf addas ar gyfer cynhyrchu trenau pŵer ar sail hybrid yn y dyfodol.
Thank you for the response to the question on this. Just a couple of questions from me, based on promises that you made back in 2016. At that point, when Ford was potentially in trouble at that stage, you said that Welsh Government would be prepared to invest in the plant, and I'm glad to hear you praise it yet again for the high level of commitment of the workforce there, but that you would be expecting a minimum of five years of sustainable and secure employment for a specific number of workers there. So, perhaps you can just fill us in a little bit on what support, financially in particular, you have given them in the interim, and whether you're confident that the promises they will have given you—obviously, that finance would have been conditional—whether those promises have been fulfilled.
You've mentioned that you've been talking about new technology since then, and you've mentioned the Dragon engine; obviously, there's a question mark about the long-term sustainability of that work because of Jaguar Land Rover's announcement—but what other technology, apart from electric cars, have you been talking about? Because one of the considerations I'm sure you've thought of is, of course, that Ford globally is now working in partnership with Volkswagen, and Volkswagen itself already has the infrastructure available to produce electric cars, which, for me, places a question mark over the possibility of Bridgend being used for that. But there are other options; you've probably come across Projekt Grenadier and the potential for off-road vehicle development. Obviously, Jaguar Land Rover has had its problems, but there were huge pre-sales for the Suzuki Jimny announced relatively recently. So, I wonder what kinds of conversations you've had about that, alongside anything to do with electric cars.
And then, finally, from me, when Tata was in trouble, Welsh Government was very keen to talk about the new opportunities it would offer anybody who was made redundant on the back of Tata changes, particularly in retraining. We've already had, for some months now, criticism of Welsh Government because it doesn't have a skills strategy, but I'm hoping that this may have concentrated the mind and that you have some idea of what you might tell Ford plant workers, should they be made redundant, about the training opportunities that they can be offered at this stage. Thank you.
Diolch am yr ymateb i'r cwestiwn ar hyn. Dim ond un neu ddau o gwestiynau gennyf fi, yn seiliedig ar addewidion a wnaethoch yn ôl yn 2016. Bryd hynny, pan roedd Ford o bosibl mewn helynt ar y pryd, dywedasoch y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i fuddsoddi yn y gwaith, ac rwy'n falch o'ch clywed yn ei ganmol unwaith eto am lefel uchel ymroddiad y gweithlu yno, ond y byddwch chi'n disgwyl o leiaf bum mlynedd o gyflogaeth cynaliadwy a diogel ar gyfer nifer penodol o weithwyr yno. Felly, efallai y gallwch chi roi rhywfaint o wybodaeth i ni am ba gymorth, yn ariannol yn arbennig, yr ydych chi wedi ei roi iddyn nhw yn y cyfamser, a pha un a ydych chi'n ffyddiog bod yr addewidion y byddan nhw wedi eu gwneud i chi—yn amlwg, byddai'r cyllid hwnnw wedi bod yn amodol—pa un a yw'r addewidion hynny wedi eu cadw.
Rydych chi wedi sôn eich bod chi wedi bod yn siarad am dechnoleg newydd ers hynny, ac rydych chi wedi sôn am yr injan Dragon; yn amlwg, mae marc cwestiwn ynghylch cynaliadwyedd hirdymor y gwaith hwnnw oherwydd cyhoeddiad Jaguar Land Rover—ond pa dechnoleg arall, ac eithrio ceir trydan, ydych chi wedi bod yn eu trafod? Oherwydd un o'r ystyriaethau yr wyf i'n siŵr eich bod chi wedi meddwl amdano, wrth gwrs, yw bod Ford yn fyd-eang yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth â Volkswagen erbyn hyn, ac mae gan Volkswagen ei hun eisoes y seilwaith ar gael i gynhyrchu ceir trydan, sydd, i mi, yn codi marc cwestiwn ynghylch y posibilrwydd o ddefnyddio Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar gyfer hynny. Ond ceir dewisiadau eraill; mae'n debyg eich bod chi'n gyfarwydd â'r Projekt Grenadier a'r potensial ar gyfer datblygu cerbydau oddi ar y ffordd. Yn amlwg, mae Jaguar Land Rover wedi dioddef problemau, ond roedd gwerthiannau ymlaen llaw enfawr o'r Suzuki Jimny a gyhoeddwyd yn gymharol ddiweddar. Felly, tybed pa fathau o sgyrsiau ydych chi wedi eu cael am hynny, ynghyd ag unrhyw beth i'w wneud â cheir trydan.
Ac yna, yn olaf, gennyf i, pan oedd Tata mewn trafferthion, roedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn awyddus iawn i siarad am y cyfleoedd newydd y byddai'n eu cynnig i unrhyw un a fyddai'n cael ei ddiswyddo yn sgil newidiadau Tata, yn enwedig o ran ailhyfforddi. Rydym ni eisoes wedi cael beirniadaeth, ers rhai misoedd bellach, o Lywodraeth Cymru gan nad oes ganddi strategaeth sgiliau, ond rwy'n gobeithio efallai fod hyn wedi canolbwyntio'r meddwl a bod gennych chi ryw syniad o'r hyn y gallwch chi ei ddweud wrth weithwyr gwaith Ford, pe bydden nhw'n cael eu diswyddo, am y cyfleoedd hyfforddi y gellir eu cynnig iddyn nhw ar hyn o bryd. Diolch.
Can I thank Suzy Davies for her questions? There are a number of important points and potential products, particularly powertrains, that could be considered in the years to come for the Bridgend site. First of all, in terms of conditions that are attached to support from Welsh Government, of course, the Dragon engine was brought to Bridgend as a consequence of support offered by the Welsh Government, and conditions attached to that support in terms of the security of work for five years minimum will stand. The Dragon engine actually is a safe and secure engine because it can be hybridised. Within the new product cycle that Ford are looking at, it's hybridisation rather than a complete move immediately to full electrification of powertrains that would be their priority. That's why I think the Dragon engine actually is probably one of the most attractive products that they currently produce, to hybridise for a global market.
What we want to do is ensure that hybridisation of the Dragon engine comes first, before other powertrains, and that that work is carried out in Bridgend. There is, of course, potential for increasing capacity with regard to the Dragon engine. At the moment, about 125,000 units are being manufactured. It could increase to 250,000 units. There is a question mark over Ford's operations in Russia. If Russia were to be taken out of the equation, then that would clearly give a huge opportunity to increase production of the Dragon engine at the Bridgend plant. These are all factors that are currently in motion that we are monitoring and that we are clearly trying to influence with a view to making sure that we get the best outcome for Bridgend.
The Member rightly raised the question of what support can be given to workers affected by any decision by a company to reduce head-count numbers. In terms of the support that we can offer, clearly we would seek to deploy the same sort of support that was offered to Tata workers, primarily through our employability plan and with a special regard to the new Working Wales suite of interventions to make sure that people can be trained up with new skills if necessary to get them straight back into work or signposted to immediate opportunities already within the sector that they are specialists in.
The Member also raised perhaps the most important potential project for the site—it's actually project Seagull. 'Grenadier' is the product name that has been attached to the rugged 4x4 off-roader. This is a potential investment by Ineos. Welsh Government has worked tirelessly in collaboration with Ford and Ineos to ensure that we are best placed to secure that investment. If we bring production of that vehicle to Bridgend, it will provide work for hundreds upon hundreds of people and potentially thousands in the supply chain. A decision will be made next month. The big question is whether Wales can win that contract ahead of one other site in Europe as we leave the EU. It will perhaps be the biggest test of whether the Welsh economy can withstand the challenge of Brexit that we will face in the coming months ahead.
A gaf i ddiolch i Suzy Davies am ei chwestiynau? Ceir nifer o bwyntiau pwysig a chynhyrchion posibl, yn enwedig trenau pŵer, y gellid eu hystyried yn y blynyddoedd i ddod ar gyfer safle Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Yn gyntaf oll, o ran amodau sydd ynghlwm wrth gymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, daethpwyd ag injan Dragon i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr o ganlyniad i'r cymorth a gynigiwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru, a bydd yr amodau sydd ynghlwm wrth y cymorth hwnnw o ran diogelwch gwaith am o leiaf pum mlynedd yn sefyll. Mae injan Dragon yn injan ddiogel mewn gwirionedd gan fod modd ei chynhyrchu ar sail hybrid. O fewn y cylch cynhyrchion newydd y mae Ford yn eu hystyried, cynhyrchu ar sail hybrid yn hytrach na symud yn llwyr at drydaneiddio trenau pŵer yn llawn ar unwaith fyddai eu blaenoriaeth. Dyna pam rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n debyg mai injan Dragon yw un o'r cynhyrchion mwyaf deniadol y maen nhw'n eu cynhyrchu ar hyn o bryd mewn gwirionedd, i'w chynhyrchu ar sail hybrid ar gyfer marchnad fyd-eang.
Yr hyn yr ydym ni eisiau ei wneud yw sicrhau bod cynhyrchu'r injan Dragon ar sail hybrid yn dod gyntaf, cyn trenau pŵer eraill, a bod y gwaith hwnnw yn cael ei wneud ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Mae potensial, wrth gwrs, i gynyddu capasiti o ran yr injan Dragon. Mae oddeutu 125,000 yn cael eu gweithgynhyrchu ar hyn o bryd. Gallai hyn gynyddu i 250,000 o unedau. Ceir marc cwestiwn ynghylch gweithrediadau Ford yn Rwsia. Pe byddai Rwsia yn cael ei chymryd allan o'r drafodaeth, yna byddai hynny'n amlwg yn rhoi cyfle enfawr i gynyddu cynhyrchiant injan Dragon yng ngwaith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Mae'r rhain i gyd yn ffactorau sydd ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd yr ydym ni'n eu monitro, ac yr ydym ni'n amlwg yn ceisio dylanwadu arnyn nhw gyda'r bwriad o wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cael y canlyniad gorau i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr.
Cododd yr Aelod, a hynny'n gwbl briodol, y cwestiwn o ba gymorth y gellir ei roi i weithwyr sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan unrhyw benderfyniad gan gwmni i leihau nifer y gweithwyr. O ran y cymorth y gallwn ni ei gynnig, yn amlwg byddem ni'n ceisio defnyddio'r un math o gymorth a gynigiwyd i weithwyr Tata, yn bennaf drwy ein cynllun cyflogadwyedd a chyda sylw arbennig i gyfres newydd Cymru'n Gweithio o ymyraethau i wneud yn siŵr y gellir hyfforddi pobl mewn sgiliau newydd os oes angen i'w cael yn syth yn ôl i mewn i waith neu eu cyfeirio at gyfleoedd uniongyrchol sydd eisoes yn y sector y maen nhw'n arbenigwyr ynddo.
Cododd yr Aelod hefyd y prosiect posibl pwysicaf efallai ar gyfer y safle—prosiect Seagull yw hwn mewn gwirionedd. 'Grenadier' yw enw'r cynnyrch a roddwyd i'r cerbyd oddi ar y ffordd 4x4 gerwin. Buddsoddiad posibl gan Ineos yw hwn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithio'n ddiflino ar y cyd â Ford ac Ineos i sicrhau ein bod ni yn y sefyllfa orau i sicrhau'r buddsoddiad hwnnw. Os byddwn ni'n dod â chynhyrchiant y cerbyd hwnnw i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr, bydd yn cynnig gwaith i gannoedd ar gannoedd o bobl a miloedd yn y gadwyn gyflenwi o bosibl. Bydd penderfyniad yn cael ei wneud y mis nesaf. Y cwestiwn mawr yw a all Cymru ennill y contract hwnnw o flaen un safle arall yn Ewrop wrth i ni adael yr UE. Efallai mai hwn fydd y prawf mwyaf o ba un a all economi Cymru wrthsefyll yr her Brexit y byddwn yn ei wynebu yn ystod y misoedd sydd i ddod.
Can I also express my deep concern at this announcement and what it means for both the workforce at Bridgend and also the wider Welsh economy? Can I also seek assurances from Welsh Government that you will leave no stone unturned in seeking a new future for the plant at Bridgend? Can I also seek assurances about the use of public funds—both money that has already been invested at Ford Bridgend and also public funds that may need to be invested in future, considering the uncertainty that has surrounded the Ford Bridgend plant at various points over the past few years? And also, can I suggest that is it perhaps not time, considering the seriousness of the situation we face at Bridgend and elsewhere, that a major summit is convened to look at some of the threats that we face in the Welsh economy, not just the announcement at Ford Bridgend but also the deep uncertainty surrounding Wylfa, an issue I hope to be able to raise with the Minister later today or this week, plus the threats in the longer term, perhaps, to Airbus at Broughton, due to Brexit, and indeed the wider issues linked to our planned departure from the European Union?
A gaf innau hefyd fynegi fy mhryder dwys ynghylch y cyhoeddiad hwn a'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu i'r gweithlu ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr a hefyd i economi ehangach Cymru? A gaf i hefyd ofyn am sicrwydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru y byddwch chi'n troi pob carreg bosibl wrth geisio sicrhau dyfodol newydd i'r gwaith ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr? A gaf i hefyd ofyn am sicrwydd ynghylch y defnydd o arian cyhoeddus—arian a fuddsoddwyd eisoes yn Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn ogystal ag arian cyhoeddus y gallai fod angen ei fuddsoddi yn y dyfodol, o ystyried yr ansicrwydd sydd wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â gwaith Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar wahanol adegau dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf? A hefyd, a gaf i awgrymu ei bod hi efallai'n amser, o ystyried difrifoldeb y sefyllfa yr ydym ni'n ei hwynebu ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac mewn mannau eraill, i drefnu uwchgynhadledd fawr i ystyried rhai o'r bygythiadau yr ydym ni'n eu hwynebu yn economi Cymru, nid yn unig y cyhoeddiad yn Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ond hefyd yr ansicrwydd mawr ynghylch Wylfa, mater yr wyf i'n gobeithio gallu ei godi gyda'r Gweinidog yn ddiweddarach heddiw neu yr wythnos hon, yn ogystal â'r bygythiadau yn y tymor hwy, efallai, i Airbus ym Mrychdyn, oherwydd Brexit, ac yn wir y materion ehangach sy'n gysylltiedig â'n hymadawiad arfaethedig o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd?
Well, can I thank the Member for his questions and say that it's largely as a consequence of the support that the Welsh Government has been able to provide over many years and the public-private collaboration that we've seen between Ford and the Welsh Government that the site is still in Bridgend, alive and well, producing some of the world's most cutting-edge engines? And we stand ready to support further production at the Bridgend plant, and we are certainly keen to ensure that further investment is secured for the area. Indeed, the investment that we could be looking at from Ineos amounts to many hundreds of millions of pounds, and that would be a huge win for the Welsh economy if we can secure it next month.
The Welsh Automotive Forum acts as a very important forum for horizon-scanning of trends and emerging technologies and for advising Government on the situation that the sector is currently positioned in and also the potential challenges and opportunities that are coming down the line. The forum continues to do excellent work in advising Ministers, both here in the Welsh Government and in the UK Government. And in terms of working together—if you like, a summit to assess future trends and opportunities and challenges—well, I can tell Members that a working group had already been established prior to this week's news to look at what the potential opportunities are, particularly for Ford in Bridgend in the context of a rapidly changing automotive sector.
I can also assure the Member that, with regard to other major projects that there is considerable speculation over at the moment, I have asked for the North Wales Economic Ambition Board to convene urgently, and I'm keen to meet with the ambition board to discuss the decision that Hitachi is due to make on Thursday. It's my intention to be in north Wales on Thursday, ready to meet with the economic ambition board, if all stakeholders and local authority leaders are available. If that can't take place immediately after the decision taken by Hitachi, then I will be asking for that board to be convened at the earliest opportunity.
I spoke with UK Government Ministers today about the situation at Wylfa. I also spoke with Horizon. I think that what's pretty clear is that the Prime Minister let Wales down, I'm afraid, last week in failing to raise this crucially important matter with the Japanese Prime Minister and with key stakeholders in Japan. The Prime Minister said that this was solely a commercial matter for Hitachi. That is not true—that is not true. This project is something that the UK Government is willing to take a £5 billion-stake in. It could provide up to 10 per cent of the UK's energy. It could provide hundreds upon hundreds of incredibly valuable jobs for generations to come. It is not purely a commercial matter for Hitachi. This is about securing our security over energy, and it's about securing the economy of north Wales, Wales and beyond.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei gwestiynau a dweud mai o ganlyniad i raddau helaeth i'r cymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gallu ei ddarparu dros flynyddoedd lawer a'r cydweithrediad cyhoeddus-preifat yr ydym ni wedi ei weld rhwng Ford a Llywodraeth Cymru y mae'r safle yn dal i fodoli ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, yn fyw ac yn iach, yn cynhyrchu rhai o injans mwyaf arloesol y byd? Ac rydym ni'n sefyll yn barod i gefnogi mwy o gynhyrchu yng ngwaith Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac rydym ni'n sicr yn awyddus i sicrhau bod buddsoddiad pellach yn cael ei sicrhau ar gyfer yr ardal. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'r buddsoddiad y gallem ni fod yn edrych arno gan Ineos yn swm o gannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd, a byddai honno'n fuddugoliaeth enfawr i economi Cymru os gallwn ni ei sicrhau fis nesaf.
Mae Fforwm Modurol Cymru yn gweithredu fel fforwm pwysig iawn ar gyfer sganio'r gorwel ar gyfer tueddiadau a thechnolegau sy'n dod i'r amlwg ac i gynghori'r Llywodraeth ar y sefyllfa y mae'r sector ynddi ar hyn o bryd a hefyd yr heriau a'r cyfleoedd posibl sy'n dod yn ddiweddarach. Mae'r fforwm yn parhau i wneud gwaith rhagorol o ran cynghori Gweinidogion, yma yn Llywodraeth Cymru ac yn Llywodraeth y DU. Ac o ran cydweithio—os hoffech chi, uwchgynhadledd i asesu tueddiadau yn y dyfodol a chyfleoedd a heriau—wel, gallaf ddweud wrth yr Aelodau bod gweithgor eisoes wedi ei sefydlu cyn newyddion yr wythnos hon i ystyried beth yw'r cyfleoedd posibl, yn enwedig ar gyfer Ford ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yng nghyd-destun sector modurol sy'n newid yn gyflym.
Gallaf hefyd sicrhau'r Aelod, o ran prosiectau mawr bod cryn ddyfalu yn eu cylch ar hyn o bryd, fy mod i wedi gofyn i Fwrdd Uchelgais Economaidd Gogledd Cymru ymgynnull ar frys, ac rwy'n awyddus i gyfarfod â'r bwrdd uchelgais i drafod y penderfyniad y disgwylir i Hitachi ei wneud ddydd Iau. Rwy'n bwriadu bod yn y gogledd ddydd Iau, yn barod i gyfarfod â'r bwrdd uchelgais economaidd, os yw'r holl randdeiliaid ac arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol ar gael. Os na all hynny ddigwydd yn syth ar ôl y penderfyniad a wneir gan Hitachi, yna byddaf yn gofyn i'r bwrdd hwnnw gael ei ymgynnull ar y cyfle cyntaf.
Cefais sgwrs gyda Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU heddiw am y sefyllfa yn Wylfa. Siaradais â Horizon hefyd. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n weddol eglur yw bod Prif Weinidog y DU wedi gwneud tro gwael â Chymru, mae gen i ofn, yr wythnos diwethaf trwy fethu â chodi'r mater hollbwysig hwn gyda Phrif Weinidog Japan a chyda rhanddeiliaid allweddol yn Japan. Dywedodd y Prif Weinidog mai mater masnachol i Hitachi yn unig oedd hwn. Nid yw hynny'n wir—nid yw hynny'n wir. Mae'r prosiect hwn yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn barod i gymryd cyfran gwerth £5 biliwn ynddo. Gallai ddarparu hyd at 10 y cant o ynni y DU. Gallai ddarparu cannoedd ar gannoedd o swyddi hynod werthfawr am genedlaethau i ddod. Nid mater cwbl fasnachol i Hitachi yw hyn. Mae hyn yn ymwneud â sicrhau ein sicrwydd o ran ynni, ac mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau economi gogledd Cymru, Cymru a thu hwnt.
The Minister has given us some degree of optimism, certainly in the respect that, again, the Welsh Government is making sure that it stands by Ford Bridgend, which it has done over many, many years. As to why Ford has been a success, its two biggest strengths are (1) the Welsh Government standing with it, but paramount the skilled, committed, highly motivated workforce, which have adapted previously to challenging circumstances and to change, and they've come through in difficult times and have put this company, year after year, back on its feet and doing very well. And it's doing well at the moment, even though it has declines in some production lines.
Much of this does rely on Ford Europe and their decisions, but I think it's helpful that the Welsh Government is signalling that it is there to help in any way it possibly can. Could I ask what role, if any, there is for the UK Government as well? Because the worry would always be that we'd want the UK Government to be here, equally standing as strong as the Welsh Government is, knowing the regional importance of this not only in the constituency of Bridgend and Ogmore, but in the wider supply chain throughout south Wales and, indeed, up into the Midlands as well, and into north Wales. So, we want to know that the UK Government can also play a role and doesn't see this in any way as a threat to other parts of the UK. It is of paramount importance to the regional economy in south Wales.
Mae'r Gweinidog wedi rhoi rhywfaint o galondid i ni, yn sicr o'r safbwynt bod Llywodraeth Cymru, unwaith eto, yw gwneud yn siŵr ei bod y sefyll yn gadarn y tu ôl i Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, fel y mae wedi ei wneud ers blynyddoedd lawer iawn. O ran pam mae Ford wedi bod yn llwyddiant, ei ddau gryfder mwyaf yw (1) Llywodraeth Cymru yn sefyll ochr yn ochr ag ef, ond yn bennaf y gweithlu medrus, ymroddedig, hynod frwdfrydig, sydd wedi addasu o'r blaen i amgylchiadau anodd ac i newid, ac maen nhw wedi dod drwy gyfnodau anodd ac wedi rhoi'r cwmni hwn, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, yn ôl ar ei draed a gwneud yn dda iawn. Ac mae'n gwneud yn dda ar hyn o bryd, er bod ganddo ddirywiad mewn rhai llinellau cynhyrchu.
Mae llawer o hyn yn dibynnu ar Ford Ewrop a'u penderfyniadau nhw, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn ddefnyddiol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn nodi ei bod yno i helpu mewn unrhyw ffordd bosibl. A gaf i ofyn pa swyddogaeth, os o gwbl, sydd i Lywodraeth y DU hefyd? Oherwydd y pryder bob amser fyddai y byddem ni eisiau i Lywodraeth y DU fod yma, yn sefyll yr un mor gadarn ag y mae Llywodraeth Cymru, gan wybod pwysigrwydd rhanbarthol hyn nid yn unig yn etholaeth Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ac Ogwr, ond yn y gadwyn gyflenwi ehangach ar draws de Cymru ac, yn wir, i fyny i ganolbarth Lloegr hefyd, ac i ogledd Cymru. Felly, rydym ni eisiau gwybod y gall Llywodraeth y DU chwarae rhan hefyd ac nad yw'n gweld hyn mewn unrhyw ffordd fel bygythiad i rannau eraill o'r DU. Mae'n hollbwysig i'r economi ranbarthol yn ne Cymru.
Well, can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his question? There are, of course, a number of areas that the UK Government could be of great assistance in right now. First of all, Brexit is a factor that needs to be considered. Because of sterling weakness, there's been impact to the tune of £600 million on Ford UK's turnover. That, in turn, of course, has affected profitability. Secondly, there is a role that the UK Government can play in ensuring that Ineos decides to invest in the UK rather than continental Europe, thereby providing a huge number of highly paid jobs for well-skilled people. And thirdly, there is a role for the UK Government, and in particular the UK industrial strategy, in promoting opportunities for Welsh research institutions and, crucially, Welsh businesses to take full advantage of some of the grand challenges. I'm thinking, in particular, of the Faraday challenge. I know that the Member has shown a great interest in the potential production of batteries for vehicles at the Ford Bridgend site. At the moment, what is quite clear from industry is that the production of batteries within the UK for the automotive sector could only take place if there is collaboration between manufacturers and with a significant degree of assistance from UK Government. I know that this is an area of work that the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, is very interested in and very committed to, and my call on UK Government would be to engage as much as possible for Welsh companies and Welsh research institutions to make sure that we get maximum benefit from the Faraday challenge and the industrial strategy as a whole.
Wel, a gaf i ddiolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am ei gwestiwn? Mae nifer o feysydd, wrth gwrs, y gallai Llywodraeth y DU fod o gymorth mawr ynddyn nhw ar hyn o bryd. Yn gyntaf oll, mae Brexit yn ffactor y mae angen ei ystyried. Oherwydd gwendid sterling, bu effaith o £600 miliwn ar drosiant Ford UK. Mae hynny, yn ei dro, wrth gwrs, wedi effeithio ar broffidioldeb. Yn ail, mae rhan y gall Llywodraeth y DU ei chwarae o ran sicrhau bod Ineos yn penderfynu buddsoddi yn y DU yn hytrach nag yn Ewrop gyfandirol, gan ddarparu drwy hynny nifer enfawr o swyddi â chyflogau da i bobl fedrus. Ac yn drydydd, mae rhan i Lywodraeth y DU, a strategaeth ddiwydiannol y DU yn benodol, ei chwarae o ran hybu cyfleoedd i sefydliadau ymchwil Cymru ac, yn hollbwysig, i fusnesau Cymru fanteisio i'r eithaf ar rai o'r heriau mawr. Rwy'n meddwl, yn arbennig, am her Faraday. Gwn fod yr Aelod wedi dangos diddordeb mawr ym mhotensial cynhyrchu batris ar gyfer cerbydau ar safle Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Ar hyn o bryd, yr hyn sy'n gwbl eglur gan ddiwydiant yw na allai cynhyrchu batris yn y DU ar gyfer y sector modurol ddigwydd oni bai bod cydweithrediad rhwng gweithgynhyrchwyr a chyda chryn dipyn o gymorth gan Lywodraeth y DU. Gwn fod hwn yn un maes gwaith y mae gan yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Fusnes, Ynni a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol, Greg Clark, ddiddordeb mawr ynddo ac y mae'n ymroddedig iawn iddo, ac rwyf yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i ymgysylltu cymaint â phosibl dros gwmnïau Cymru a sefydliadau ymchwil Cymru i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cael y budd mwyaf posibl o her Faraday a'r strategaeth ddiwydiannol yn ei chyfanrwydd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, a'r cwestiwn cyntaf, Lynne Neagle.
The next item is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Lynne Neagle.
1. Sut y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn sicrhau y rhoddir blaenoriaeth i iechyd emosiynol a meddyliol plant a phobl ifanc drwy gydol tymor y Cynulliad hwn? OAQ53224
1. How will the First Minister ensure that the emotional and mental health of children and young people is prioritised for the duration of this Assembly term? OAQ53224
Llywydd, the Government announced yesterday that a further £7.1 million will be invested from April of this year to support the emotional and mental health of our children and young people. This commitment underpins our response to the recommendations contained in the 'Mind over Matter' report.
Llywydd, cyhoeddodd y Llywodraeth ddoe y byddai £7.1 miliwn arall yn cael ei fuddsoddi o fis Ebrill eleni i gynorthwyo iechyd emosiynol a meddyliol ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Mae'r ymrwymiad hwn yn sail i'n hymateb i'r argymhellion a geir yn yr adroddiad 'Cadernid Meddwl'.
Thank you, First Minister, and I was delighted to hear about that extra £7.1 million that was announced yesterday. As you'll be aware, 'Mind over Matter' enjoys strong cross-party support, and I believe that it sets out a clear road map for transforming the emotional and mental health of our children and young people. That said, I'm under no illusions about the scale of the challenge we face, and a particular concern is the rise in the number of young people dying by suicide in Wales and an overall rise in the suicide rate of 12 per cent that goes against the trend of a reduction in the number of suicides in the rest of the UK.
Would the First Minister agree with me that if we are to stem that trend, investing in the emotional and mental health of our children and young people is absolutely crucial? And what assurances can you give that some of this extra money—a good chunk of this extra money—will be directed at the early intervention and prevention that is advocated by 'Mind over Matter'?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn o glywed am y £7.1 miliwn ychwanegol hwnnw a gyhoeddwyd ddoe. Fel y byddwch chi'n ymwybodol, mae cefnogaeth drawsbleidiol gref i 'Cadernid Meddwl', ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn cyflwyno map ffordd eglur ar gyfer gweddnewid iechyd emosiynol a meddyliol ein plant a'n pobl ifanc. Wedi dweud hynny, nid wyf i o dan unrhyw gamargraff ynghylch maint yr her a wynebwn, ac un pryder arbennig yw'r cynnydd i nifer y bobl ifanc sy'n marw drwy hunanladdiad yng Nghymru a chynnydd cyffredinol i'r gyfradd hunanladdiad o 12 y cant sy'n mynd yn groes i'r tueddiad o ostyngiad i nifer yr achosion o hunanladdiad yng ngweddill y DU.
A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi bod buddsoddi yn iechyd emosiynol a meddyliol ein plant a'n pobl ifanc yn hollbwysig os ydym ni'n mynd i atal y duedd honno? A pha sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi y bydd rhywfaint o'r arian ychwanegol hwn—cyfran sylweddol o'r arian ychwanegol hwn—yn cael ei chyfeirio at y camau ymyrraeth gynnar ac atal a argymhellir gan 'Cadernid Meddwl'?
I thank Lynne Neagle for that supplementary question and thank her for the work that she has led, through the committee, which has been so widely supported across the Assembly Chamber. She will know that a whole series of actions are being taken forward, in which she herself is playing a direct part, for example, through the ministerial task and finish group on the report, and further actions that will happen through others, including young people themselves, who we want to make sure we involve directly in the way that these services are developed in the future, because those young people make exactly the point that Lynne Neagle made in closing there—that when they are going through the tough times that are often involved in growing up, what they want is a response that recognises that. They don't want a mental health response; they want a response that any young person would be able to use. It's why we've provided, as we'll hear later on this afternoon, an extra £2.5 million next year for the youth service, so that it can play its part as a universal service, making sure that there are adults available that young people facing difficult times in their lives can meet and can explore and be provided with the help that they need.
As far as suicide is concerned, of course we are right to be concerned when there is any adverse change in the numbers of suicides, particularly amongst young people here in Wales. The numbers do fluctuate from year to year. This year's fluctuation was small numerically and not statistically significant, but 'Talk to me 2' and the other actions we are taking in this field remain central to making sure that we have a response that matches the challenge that young people face in their lives.
Diolchaf i Lynne Neagle am y cwestiwn atodol yna a diolchaf iddi am y gwaith y mae hi wedi ei arwain, drwy'r pwyllgor, a gefnogwyd mor eang ar draws Siambr y Cynulliad. Bydd yn gwybod bod cyfres gynhwysfawr o gamau gweithredu yn cael eu cymryd, y mae hi ei hun yn chwarae rhan uniongyrchol ynddynt, er enghraifft, drwy'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen gweinidogol ar yr adroddiad, a chamau gweithredu pellach a fydd yn digwydd drwy eraill, gan gynnwys pobl ifanc eu hunain, yr ydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr eu bod yn cael eu cynnwys yn uniongyrchol yn y ffordd y caiff y gwasanaethau hyn eu datblygu yn y dyfodol, oherwydd mae'r bobl ifanc hyn yn gwneud yr union bwynt a wnaeth Lynne Neagle wrth gloi yn y fan yna—sef mae'r hyn y maen nhw ei eisiau pan fyddan nhw'n mynd drwy'r cyfnodau anodd sy'n aml yn codi wrth dyfu i fyny, yw ymateb sy'n cydnabod hynny. Nid ydyn nhw eisiau ymateb iechyd meddwl; maen nhw eisiau ymateb y byddai unrhyw berson ifanc yn gallu ei ddefnyddio. Dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi darparu, fel y byddwn yn clywed yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, £2.5 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn nesaf ar gyfer y gwasanaeth ieuenctid, fel y gall chwarae ei ran fel gwasanaeth cyffredinol, gan wneud yn siŵr bod oedolion ar gael y gall pobl ifanc sy'n wynebu cyfnodau anodd yn eu bywydau gyfarfod â nhw ac archwilio a chael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt.
Cyn belled ag y mae hunanladdiad yn y cwestiwn, rydym ni'n iawn i fod yn bryderus, wrth gwrs, pan fydd unrhyw newid andwyol i nifer yr achosion o hunanladdiad, yn enwedig ymhlith pobl ifanc yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r niferoedd yn amrywio o flwyddyn i flwyddyn. Roedd amrywiad eleni yn fach o ran niferoedd ac nid yw'n arwyddocaol yn ystadegol, ond mae 'Siarad â fi 2' a'r camau eraill yr ydym ni'n eu cymryd yn y maes hwn yn parhau i fod yn ganolog i wneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni ymateb sy'n cyfateb i'r her y mae pobl ifanc yn ei hwynebu yn eu bywydau.
First Minister, I join you in commending the work of Lynne Neagle and her committee, which I think has been key in this area. Can I highlight the increasing pressures caused by internet use, particularly social media? Children in the UK now spend more time on the internet than any other country apart from Chile in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and we are way above the average of the OECD. I think these are causing pressures that a lot of other people, like parents and teachers, are possibly unaware of. And I'm afraid we are now seeing some extreme events as well as a result of this, sometimes. So, we really need to ensure that we have a good policy in giving our young people the sort of assistance they need to use these wonderful new tools responsibly.
Prif Weinidog, ymunaf â chi i ganmol gwaith Lynne Neagle a'i phwyllgor, sydd wedi bod yn allweddol yn y maes hwn. A gaf i dynnu sylw at y pwysau cynyddol a achosir gan ddefnyddio'r rhyngrwyd, yn enwedig y cyfryngau cymdeithasol? Mae plant yn y DU yn treulio mwy o amser ar y rhyngrwyd erbyn hyn nag unrhyw wlad arall ar wahân i Chile yn y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, ac rydym ni ymhell uwchlaw cyfartaledd y Sefydliad. Rwy'n credu bod y rhain yn achosi pwysau nad oes llawer o bobl eraill, fel rhieni ac athrawon, yn ymwybodol ohonynt o bosibl. Ac mae gen i ofn ein bod ni'n gweld rhai digwyddiadau eithafol hefyd erbyn hyn, o ganlyniad i hyn, weithiau. Felly, mae wir angen i ni sicrhau bod gennym ni bolisi da ar gyfer rhoi'r math o gymorth i'n pobl ifanc sydd ei angen arnynt i ddefnyddio'r teclynnau newydd ardderchog hyn mewn modd cyfrifol.
I thank the Member for that additional question, because he's right that we need to think about how we explain the surge of mental health concerns amongst young people that are reported in Wales, but also across the United Kingdom as a whole, and to try to identify those factors in contemporary circumstances that might help us to explain that phenomenon. Every age faces new challenges of a sort that young people have to absorb. You can go back 150 years to find newspaper accounts of how penny dreadfuls made available to children through circulating libraries were making a difference in the lives of young people, and you see that right through the ages, whether it's the onset of cinema or radio or television or, in our own time, as the Member has said, the internet. But the internet is a different phenomenon in many ways. When used badly, it has an insidious ability to enter the lives of young people and to cause them anxiety and distress. So, of course, we have to make sure that the way in which we shape our policies takes account of new factors and new phenomena of the sort the Member pointed to.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn ychwanegol yna, oherwydd mae e'n iawn bod angen i ni feddwl am sut yr ydym ni'n esbonio'r ymchwydd o bryderon iechyd meddwl ymhlith pobl ifanc yr adroddir amdanynt yng Nghymru, ond hefyd ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig yn ei chyfanrwydd, ac i geisio nodi'r ffactorau hynny mewn amgylchiadau cyfoes a allai ein helpu ni i esbonio'r ffenomen honno. Mae bob oed yn wynebu heriau newydd o'r fath y mae'n rhaid i bobl ifanc ymdrin â nhw. Gallwch fynd yn ôl 150 o flynyddoedd a dod o hyd i adroddiadau papur newydd ar sut yr oedd penny dreadfuls a oedd ar gael i blant trwy lyfrgelloedd symudol yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ym mywydau pobl ifanc, ac rydych chi'n gweld hynny ar hyd yr oesoedd, pa un a yw'n ddyfodiad sinema neu radio neu deledu neu, yn ein hamser ein hunain, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, y rhyngrwyd. Ond mae'r rhyngrwyd yn ffenomen wahanol mewn sawl ffordd. Pan fydd yn cael ei defnyddio'n wael, mae ganddi allu llechwraidd i ddod i mewn i fywydau pobl ifanc ac i beri gorbryder a gofid iddyn nhw. Felly, wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod y ffordd yr ydym ni'n llunio ein polisïau yn cymryd i ystyriaeth ffactorau newydd a ffenomena newydd o'r math y cyfeiriodd yr Aelod atyn nhw .
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am drefniadau diogelwch ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd? OAQ53165
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on security arrangements at Cardiff Airport? OAQ53165
I thank the Member for the question. The management team at Cardiff Airport monitors security arrangements actively and regularly. They work with local residents and South Wales Police, as well as promoting safety campaigns with airport passengers. Vigilance and awareness in and around the airfield is a shared responsibility amongst all connected to it.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae'r tîm rheoli ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd yn monitro trefniadau diogelwch yn weithredol ac yn rheolaidd. Maen nhw'n gweithio gyda thrigolion lleol a Heddlu De Cymru, yn ogystal â hyrwyddo ymgyrchoedd diogelwch ymhlith teithwyr yn y maes awyr. Mae gwyliadwriaeth ac ymwybyddiaeth yn y maes awyr a'r cyffiniau yn gyfrifoldeb a rennir ymhlith pawb sy'n gysylltiedig ag ef.
Can I thank the First Minister for his answer? Following the recent drone-related disruption at both Gatwick and Heathrow airports, and, of course, the incident on the Severn crossing bridge, will the First Minister outline what measures he has taken to ensure that Wales has a strategy in place to minimise the disruption caused to vital Welsh infrastructure in the event of future inappropriate drone use?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb? Yn dilyn y tarfu diweddar yn gysylltiedig â dronau ym meysydd awyr Gatwick a Heathrow, ac, wrth gwrs, y digwyddiad ar bont croesfan Hafren, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu pa fesurau y mae wedi eu cymryd i sicrhau bod gan Gymru strategaeth ar waith i sicrhau bod y tarfu a achosir i seilwaith hanfodol Cymru cyn lleied â phosibl mewn achos o ddefnydd amhriodol o ddrôn yn y dyfodol?
I thank the Member for that supplementary question. Specifically at Cardiff Airport, there is an airport watch group. It involves local residents, but also those people with a particular interest in aviation who are regular visitors to the airport. They are part of a group that the police work with in order to make sure that there is good intelligence available and easily collected about activity at the airport. And there is a drone code campaign—again, specifically at Cardiff Airport. It provides a 24-hour dedicated help telephone number for members of the public, who are able to report any suspicious drone activity. So, Cardiff Airport is well aware of the issues and it has measures already in place. Of course, we work closely with the UK Government as well. We responded to its 'Taking flight' consultation, and we hope that the promised Bill, which is due to be published in February and that will put into place new measures on a UK-wide basis—we hope that that Bill will be produced and that it will take the necessary measures to assist in addressing this phenomenon.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Yn benodol ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd, ceir grŵp gwylio maes awyr. Mae'n cynnwys trigolion lleol, ond hefyd y bobl hynny sydd â diddordeb arbennig mewn awyrennau sy'n ymwelwyr rheolaidd â'r maes awyr. Maen nhw'n rhan o grŵp y mae'r heddlu'n gweithio ag ef i wneud yn siŵr bod gwybodaeth dda ar gael ac yn hawdd ei chasglu am weithgarwch yn y maes awyr. A cheir ymgyrch cod dronau—unwaith eto, yn benodol ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd. Mae'n darparu rhif ffôn cymorth 24-awr penodedig ar gyfer aelodau'r cyhoedd, sy'n gallu hysbysu am unrhyw weithgarwch dronau amheus. Felly, mae Maes Awyr Caerdydd yn ymwybodol iawn o'r problemau ac mae ganddo fesurau ar waith eisoes. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd. Darparwyd ymateb gennym i'w hymgynghoriad 'Taking flight', ac rydym ni'n gobeithio y bydd y Bil a addawyd, y disgwylir iddo gael ei gyhoeddi ym mis Chwefror ac a fydd yn rhoi mesurau newydd ar waith ar sail y DU gyfan—rydym ni'n gobeithio y bydd y Bil hwnnw'n cael ei lunio ac y bydd yn cymryd y mesurau angenrheidiol i gynorthwyo i fynd i'r afael â'r ffenomen hon.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. Leader of the opposition, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, will you now take the opportunity today to publicly apologise to those farmers whose confidential details were released last year by the Welsh Government to animal rights activist groups?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi nawr achub ar y cyfle heddiw i ymddiheuro'n gyhoeddus i'r ffermwyr hynny y cyhoeddwyd eu manylion cyfrinachol y llynedd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i grwpiau actifyddion hawliau anifeiliaid?
This has been well rehearsed as an issue. I don't think there's anything further that I need to add to what has already been put on the record many times in relation to it.
Rhoddwyd sylw i hyn droeon fel problem. Nid wyf i'n credu bod unrhyw beth arall y mae angen i mi ei ychwanegu at yr hyn a roddwyd ar y cofnod lawer gwaith eisoes ynglŷn ag ef.
Well, I'm extremely disappointed that the First Minister can't say 'sorry', even though this was an administrative error by your Government. The buck stops with your Government, and it's not difficult to say 'sorry', First Minister, so I would expect you to say 'sorry' on behalf of the Welsh Government. Let's not forget; the farmers whose details that were revealed by the Welsh Government were acting completely within the law here in Wales, in an attempt to protect their livelihoods from the spread of TB.
Now, in the 12 months to September 2018—these are the latest figures—Wales has seen an increase in the number of cattle slaughtered because of suspected TB, with 9,700 cattle lost. This has had a devastating impact on farmers, their livelihoods and the localised economy, and is costing the taxpayer huge amounts of money. You are clearly not doing enough to tackle this problem, given that the number of cattle being slaughtered is increasing. Therefore, under the circumstances, do you accept there is absolutely no prospect of bovine TB being eradicated in Wales by your target date of 2041? Surely we should be tackling this awful disease well before then.
Wel, rwy'n hynod siomedig na all y Prif Weinidog ddweud 'mae'n ddrwg gen i', er mai camgymeriad gweinyddol gan eich Llywodraeth oed hwn. Eich Llywodraeth chi sydd â'r cyfrifoldeb terfynol, ac nid yw'n anodd dweud 'mae'n ddrwg gen i', Prif Weinidog, felly byddwn yn disgwyl i chi ddweud 'mae'n ddrwg gen i' ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'n rhaid i ni gofio; roedd y ffermwyr y datgelwyd eu manylion gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu yn unol â'r gyfraith yma yng Nghymru yn llwyr, mewn ymgais i ddiogelu eu bywoliaeth rhag ymlediad TB.
Nawr, yn ystod y flwyddyn hyd at fis Medi 2018—dyma'r ffigurau diweddaraf—bu cynnydd yng Nghymru i nifer y gwartheg a laddwyd oherwydd TB tybiedig, a chollwyd 9,700 o wartheg. Mae hyn wedi cael effaith drychinebus ar ffermwyr, eu bywoliaeth a'r economi leol, ac mae'n costio symiau enfawr o arian i'r trethdalwr. Mae'n amlwg nad ydych chi'n gwneud digon i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem hon, o gofio bod nifer y gwartheg sy'n cael eu lladd yn cynyddu. Felly, o dan yr amgylchiadau, a ydych chi'n derbyn nad oes unrhyw obaith o gwbl y bydd TB mewn gwartheg yn cael ei ddileu yng Nghymru erbyn eich dyddiad targed, sef 2041? Does bosib na ddylem ni fod yn mynd i'r afael â'r clefyd erchyll hwn ymhell cyn hynny.
Well, Llywydd, let me respond again to the opening part of Paul Davies's second question by saying that, of course, when things go wrong, we recognise them, as we did at the time, and said the necessary things then. In his general point, of course, I agree with much of what he has to say; bovine TB is an awful experience for farmers who have to encounter it, and the Welsh Government works really closely with the industry to make sure that we are able to do all the things that we can put in place that we think are effective in tackling the disease. There are many good things that have happened as a result of all those endeavours, including better biosecurity at farms, including better traceability and better testing as well, which partly explains some of the ways in which the numbers that he referred to rise. Because if you have a better understanding of the disease, know its prevalence, know where it is to be found, then—hugely difficult as I understand it is for farmers involved—dealing with cattle who are infected has to be part of the way in which the long-term eradication of the disease is brought about.
Wel, Llywydd, gadewch i mi ymateb eto i ran agoriadol ail gwestiwn Paul Davies trwy ddweud, wrth gwrs, pan fydd pethau'n mynd o chwith, ein bod ni'n eu cydnabod, fel y gwnaethom ar y pryd, gan ddweud y pethau angenrheidiol bryd hynny. O ran ei bwynt cyffredinol, wrth gwrs, rwy'n cytuno â llawer o'r hyn sydd ganddo i'w ddweud; mae TB mewn gwartheg yn brofiad ofnadwy i ffermwyr y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei wynebu, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r diwydiant i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gallu gwneud popeth y gallwn ni eu rhoi ar waith yr ydym ni'n credu sy'n effeithiol i fynd i'r afael â'r clefyd. Ceir llawer o bethau da sydd wedi digwydd o ganlyniad i'r holl ymdrechion hynny, gan gynnwys gwell bioddiogelwch ar ffermydd, gan gynnwys gallu olrhain gwell a phrofi gwell hefyd, sy'n esbonio'n rhannol rhai o'r ffyrdd y mae'r niferoedd y cyfeiriodd atyn nhw yn cynyddu. Oherwydd os oes gennych chi well dealltwriaeth o'r clefyd, eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o ba mor gyffredin ydyw, yn gwybod lle gellir dod o hyd iddo, yna—ac mor aruthrol o anodd yr wyf i'n ei ddeall yw hynny i'r ffermwyr dan sylw—mae'n rhaid i ymdrin â gwartheg sydd wedi'u heintio fod yn rhan o'r ffordd y bydd dileu'r clefyd yn y tymor hir yn cael ei wireddu.
Well, clearly, your Government policy is not being effective; otherwise we wouldn't be slaughtering the number of cattle that we're actually slaughtering. Let me highlight the situation to you in the south-west of England. In Gloucester and Somerset, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in the number of TB incidences in the last four years, which is in stark contrast to south-west Wales, where, despite having strict biosecurity measures in place, prevalence of TB in herds has not changed. In fact, we have seen the number of cattle slaughtered increase due to bovine TB. Now, in light of the growing body of evidence, will you now reconsider your Government's position on a TB eradication strategy and support a strategy that both protects our wildlife and cattle populations from this dreadful disease in an urgent manner?
Wel, yn amlwg, nid yw polisi eich Llywodraeth yn gweithio'n effeithiol; fel arall ni fyddem ni'n lladd y nifer o wartheg yr ydym ni'n eu lladd mewn gwirionedd. Gadewch i mi dynnu eich sylw at y sefyllfa yn ne-orllewin Lloegr. Yn Swydd Gaerloyw a Gwlad yr Haf, bu gostyngiad o 50 y cant i nifer yr achosion o TB yn y pedair blynedd diwethaf, sy'n gwrthgyferbynnu'n llwyr â de-orllewin Cymru, lle, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod mesurau bioddiogelwch llym ar waith, nad yw nifer yr achosion o TB mewn buchesi wedi newid. Yn wir, rydym ni wedi gweld nifer y gwartheg a laddwyd oherwydd TB buchol yn cynyddu. Nawr, yng ngoleuni'r corff cynyddol o dystiolaeth, a wnewch chi ailystyried safbwynt eich Llywodraeth nawr ar strategaeth dileu TB a chefnogi strategaeth sy'n diogelu ein poblogaethau bywyd gwyllt a gwartheg rhag y clefyd ofnadwy hwn ar frys?
Well, I agree with him again, Llywydd, about the awful nature of the disease and the impact that it has in the farming community. I think he implies in his question that there is some sort of straightforward and easy answer waiting on a shelf simply to be deployed here. He knows, doesn't he, that that is not the case. Where there are lessons from elsewhere, then of course we want to learn them, just as others learn from some of the experience that we have had in working successfully with the industry here in Wales. My colleague Lesley Griffiths will report on the current regime we have for testing and eradicating the disease in Wales, and where we can do better, then of course, we all have a shared ambition to do just that.
Wel, rwy'n cytuno ag ef eto, Llywydd, am natur ofnadwy y clefyd a'r effaith y mae'n ei chael yn y gymuned ffermio. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn awgrymu yn ei gwestiwn bod rhyw fath o ateb syml a hawdd yn aros ar silff dim ond i gael ei ddefnyddio yn y fan yma. Mae'n gwybod, onid yw, nad yw hynny'n wir. Lle ceir gwersi o fannau eraill, yna wrth gwrs rydym ni eisiau eu dysgu nhw, yn union fel y mae eraill yn dysgu o rywfaint o'r profiad yr ydym ni wedi ei gael o weithio'n llwyddiannus gyda'r diwydiant yma yng Nghymru. Bydd fy nghyd-Aelod Lesley Griffiths yn adrodd ar y drefn bresennol sydd gennym ni ar gyfer profi a dileu'r clefyd yng Nghymru, a lle gallwn ni wneud yn well, yna wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni i gyd uchelgais cyffredin i wneud hynny.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn i gofnodi ymhellach gyfraniad aruthrol ein cyfaill a'n cydweithiwr Steffan Lewis i fywyd cenedlaethol drwy holi ynghylch tri o'r achosion oedd yn agos at ei galon.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I'd like to take this opportunity to further put on record the huge contribution made by our friend and colleague Steffan Lewis to our national life by asking about three of those issues that were very close to his heart.
Steffan Lewis's first contribution in this Parliament was in support of mining communities across Wales and, in particular, the injustice of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme. As the First Minister will no doubt be aware, a deal in the 1990s saw the UK Government agree to underwrite mineworkers' pensions, but in exchange it can receive 50 per cent of the surplus each year. Over the decades, the UK Government has benefited from £8 billion from this surplus, at a rate of £1 million a day. Steffan was a champion of the cause of mineworkers, supporting their petition and making countless representations to the UK Government. The Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said in July last year that she would explore options for the future of the scheme, with little progress being made to date, it seems. So, is the First Minister able to commit today to supporting the endeavours of former mineworkers, and will he meet with a delegation of the campaign to map out how we can achieve a fairer settlement, giving miners a greater share of the surplus the scheme generates?
Cyfraniad cyntaf Steffan Lewis yn y Senedd hon oedd cefnogi cymunedau mwyngloddio ledled Cymru ac, yn arbennig, anghyfiawnder Cynllun Pensiwn y Glowyr. Fel y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn sicr yn ymwybodol, arweiniodd cytundeb yn y 1990au i Lywodraeth y DU gytuno i warantu pensiynau glowyr, ond yn gyfnewid gall gael 50 y cant o'r gwarged bob blwyddyn. Dros y degawdau, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi elwa o £8 biliwn o'r gwarged hwn, ar gyfradd o £1 filiwn y dydd. Roedd Steffan yn hyrwyddwr achos y glowyr, gan gefnogi eu deiseb a gwneud sylwadau dirifedi i Lywodraeth y DU. Dywedodd y Gweinidog Gwladol dros Fusnes, Ynni, a Strategaeth Ddiwydiannol ym mis Gorffennaf y llynedd y byddai'n archwilio dewisiadau ar gyfer dyfodol y cynllun, gan wneud ychydig iawn o gynnydd hyd yma, mae'n ymddangos. Felly, a all y Prif Weinidog ymrwymo heddiw i gefnogi ymdrechion y cyn-lowyr, ac a wnaiff ef gyfarfod â dirprwyaeth o'r ymgyrch i fapio sut y gallwn ni sicrhau cytundeb tecach, gan roi cyfran fwy o'r gwarged y mae'r cynllun yn ei gynhyrchu i'r glowyr?
Diolch i Adam Price am y cwestiwn, Llywydd. Wrth gwrs, dwi'n cydnabod ei bod hi'n addas i ganolbwyntio y prynhawn yma ar bethau roedd Steffan Lewis wedi'u cefnogi yma yn y Siambr.
I thank Adam Price for that question. Of course, I recognise that it is appropriate to focus this afternoon on those issues that Steffan Lewis had supported here in this Chamber.
I do remember, Llywydd, not long after Steffan had arrived in the Assembly, I was responding to a short debate here in the Assembly, and for reasons I cannot now recall, I made a reference to Mabon's Monday. And I thought when I did it, 'Well, whoever else will know here?' And I looked up, and there were Steffan and Dai Lloyd sitting in the back row, both nodding, and I thought, 'Well, what other democratic forum are you likely to come across where you can make a reference to something steeped deep in our history and know that there will be people elsewhere in the Chamber who are as familiar with it as you'd hope people would be?'
So, specifically in relation to his question, then, of course, this Government wants to support the endeavours of former mineworkers, and I'm very happy to make a commitment to meet with the delegation of that campaign to map out ways in which we can work together in the future.
Rwyf yn cofio, Llywydd, nid yn hir ar ôl i Steffan gyrraedd yn y Cynulliad, roeddwn i'n ymateb i ddadl fer yma yn y Cynulliad, ac am resymau nad wyf i'n gallu eu cofio erbyn hyn, cyfeiriais at Ddydd Llun Mabon. A meddyliais pan y'i dywedais, 'Wel, pwy ar y ddaear arall fydd yn gwybod yma?' Ac edrychais i fyny, a dyna lle'r oedd Steffan a Dai Lloyd yn eistedd yn y rhes gefn, y ddau'n amneidio, a meddyliais, 'Wel, pa fforwm democrataidd eraill ydych chi'n debygol o'i ganfod lle gallwch chi wneud cyfeiriad at rywbeth sy'n ddwfn yn ein hanes a gwybod y bydd pobl mewn rhannau eraill o'r Siambr sydd mor gyfarwydd ag ef ag y byddech chi'n gobeithio y byddai pobl?'
Felly, yn benodol o ran ei gwestiwn, yna, wrth gwrs, mae'r Llywodraeth hon eisiau cefnogi ymdrechion cyn-lowyr, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i wneud ymrwymiad i gyfarfod â dirprwyaeth yr ymgyrch honno i fapio ffyrdd y gallwn ni gydweithio yn y dyfodol.
I'm very grateful to the First Minister. As part of the 2018-19 budget, Plaid Cymru, at Steffan's behest, negotiated and secured a commitment from the Welsh Government to reinstate an in-patient perinatal mental health ward in Wales. Steffan was so passionate about perinatal mental health services that the First Minister, during his time as finance Minister, included funding for the re-establishment of the service. Can the First Minister today confirm that, in response to Steffan's efforts, his Government will do everything necessary to ensure that all expectant or new mothers in Wales will have the perinatal mental health treatment they require in Wales, and that no-one will be put in the tragic position of having to potentially be separated from their baby and families for treatment?
Would he also consider exploring Steffan's idea for creating a centre of excellence for healthcare innovation in Tredegar, celebrating its past, of course, as the NHS birthplace, and making it a base also for shaping its future?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Prif Weinidog. Yn rhan o gyllideb 2018-19, trafododd a sicrhaodd Plaid Cymru, ar gais Steffan, ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ailgyflwyno ward iechyd meddwl amenedigol cleifion mewnol yng Nghymru. Roedd Steffan mor angerddol ynghylch gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl amenedigol fel bod y Prif Weinidog, yn ystod ei gyfnod fel Gweinidog cyllid, wedi cynnwys cyllid ar gyfer ailsefydlu'r gwasanaeth. A all y Prif Weinidog gadarnhau heddiw, mewn ymateb i ymdrechion Steffan, y bydd ei Lywodraeth yn gwneud popeth sy'n angenrheidiol i sicrhau y bydd yr holl famau beichiog neu newydd yng Nghymru yn cael y driniaeth iechyd meddwl amenedigol sydd ei hangen arnyn nhw yng Nghymru, ac na fydd neb yn cael ei roi yn y sefyllfa drist o orfod cael eu gwahanu o bosibl oddi wrth eu baban a'u teulu i gael triniaeth?
A wnaiff ef hefyd ystyried ymchwilio i syniad Steffan ar gyfer creu canolfan ragoriaeth ar gyfer arloesedd gofal iechyd yn Nhredegar, gan ddathlu ei orffennol, wrth gwrs, fel man geni'r GIG, a'i wneud yn sail hefyd i lunio ei ddyfodol?
Well, Llywydd, I'm probably more familiar with the first of those two propositions than the second. A lot has been done in Wales to improve perinatal mental health, concentrating, in the first instance, on improving community services. Because most of all, we wouldn't want women and their babies to have to be looked after away from their own homes when they are going through those sorts of experiences. But the discussions we had—and I remember having them with Steffan Lewis as well—was that, where in-patient treatment is needed, then of course we want that to be as close to people's homes as it can. I know that Siân Gwenllian has this week raised concerns about those services in north Wales, and that the Minister was answering questions in front of committee on these services as well. So, we have an ongoing and shared commitment to the improvement of perinatal mental health treatment, both in the community, and in those rarer occasions when women and their babies need more intensive and in-patient care, and to try to make sure that that is properly available for them as close to their homes, wherever that might be in Wales.
Wel, Llywydd, mae'n debyg fy mod i'n fwy cyfarwydd â'r cyntaf o'r ddau osodiad hynny na'r ail. Gwnaed llawer yng Nghymru i wella iechyd meddwl amenedigol, gan ganolbwyntio, yn y lle cyntaf, ar wella gwasanaethau cymunedol. Oherwydd yn anad dim, ni fyddem ni eisiau i fenywod a'u babanod orfod cael gofal i ffwrdd o'u cartrefi eu hunain pan eu bod yn mynd drwy'r mathau hynny o brofiadau. Ond y trafodaethau a gawsom—ac rwy'n cofio eu cael gyda Steffan Lewis hefyd—oedd, pan fo angen triniaeth fel cleifion mewnol, yna wrth gwrs rydym ni eisiau i honno fod mor agos at gartrefi pobl ag y gall fod. Gwn fod Siân Gwenllian yr wythnos hon wedi mynegi pryderon am y gwasanaethau hynny yn y gogledd, ac y bu'r Gweinidog yn ateb cwestiynau gerbron y pwyllgor ar y gwasanaethau hyn hefyd. Felly, mae gennym ni ymrwymiad parhaus a rennir i wella triniaeth iechyd meddwl amenedigol, yn y gymuned, ac yn yr achosion mwy prin hynny pan fydd menywod a'u babanod angen gofal mwy dwys ac fel cleifion mewnol, ac i geisio gwneud yn siŵr bod honno ar gael yn briodol iddyn nhw mor agos â phosib at eu cartrefi, lle bynnag y gallai hynny fod yng Nghymru.
Wel, yn sicr, ar ein hochr ni, bydden ni'n falch o gael y cyfle, efallai, i eistedd lawr gyda'r Prif Weinidog a'r Ysgrifennydd iechyd i barhau â'r drafodaeth yna.
Dŷn ni wedi clywed, wrth gwrs, yn gynharach gymaint o ddylanwad roedd Steffan wedi ei gael o ran siapio a llunio ymateb y lle hwn, y Llywodraeth, a Chymru, a dweud y gwir, i Brexit. Ac mi oedd yn llais awdurdodol, wrth gwrs, a oedd yn ennyn parch a hygrededd y tu hwnt i ffiniau pleidiol. Roedd yn amlwg ar fy ymweliad i a Rhun ap Iorwerth ag Iwerddon yr wythnos diwethaf fod Steffan wedi gwneud cryn argraff, ac ennyn parch, ar lwyfan rhyngwladol hefyd. Ac roedd Iwerddon, wrth gwrs, yn wlad mor arbennig iddo fe.
Ac yn ei ddatganiad i'r wasg olaf, fe alwodd Steffan am gynnull uwch-gynhadledd y cenhedloedd yn yr ynysoedd hyn i ganfod ffordd ymlaen o ran Brexit. A fyddai'r Prif Weinidog yn fodlon ystyried estyn gwahoddiad i'r Prif Weinidogion eraill, ar lun galwad Steffan, pe bai angen, dros y dyddiau nesaf?
Well, certainly, from our side, we would be grateful for opportunities, perhaps, to sit down with the First Minister and the health Minister to continue this discussion.
We’ve heard earlier, of course, just how much influence Steffan had in terms of shaping this place’s response, the Government’s response, and Wales’s response to Brexit. He was a voice of great authority, of course, who had respect and credibility beyond party lines. It was clear from my visit, along with Rhun ap Iorwerth, to Ireland last week that Steffan had made quite an impression, and had gained respect, on the international stage too. And Ireland was, of course, a nation that was so dear to him.
And in his final press release, Steffan called for a summit of the nations to be brought forward within these isles in order to find a way forward in terms of Brexit. Would the First Minister be willing to consider extending an invitation to the other Prime Ministers and First Ministers, making right Steffan’s calls, if that proved necessary, over the next few days?
Diolch, wrth gwrs, i Adam Price. Rŷm ni wedi clywed fwy nag unwaith yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma am y gwaith roedd Steffan wedi ei wneud dramor, a dwi yn cofio sgwrsio ag e pan oedd e'n dod nôl o'r Iwerddon am y bobl roedd e wedi siarad â nhw yna, am y syniadau roedd e wedi eu codi gyda nhw, ac am y gwaith roedd e'n gwneud i drio cryfhau'r berthynas rhyngom ni a'r Llywodraeth yn Iwerddon hefyd. A dwi wedi cael, yn bersonol, lythyr cynnes oddi wrth y Taoiseach, ac, wrth gwrs, dwi wedi ymateb yn yr un modd.
Mae fy swyddfa i wedi bod yn gweithio yn agos â swyddfa Prif Weinidog yr Alban dros y dyddiau diwethaf, yn siarad am beth y gallwn ni ei wneud gyda'n gilydd ar ôl y bleidlais yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin heddiw. Ac, wrth gwrs, dwi'n fodlon ystyried beth y mae Adam Price wedi ei awgrymu y prynhawn yma, ac i'w wneud e yn y cyd-destun y gwaith rŷm ni'n ei wneud yn barod gyda'r bobl eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig a thramor hefyd.
Thanks, of course, to Adam Price. We’ve heard more than once in this Chamber this afternoon about the work that Steffan did abroad, and I remember speaking to him when he returned from Ireland about the people he’d been speaking to over there, and the ideas that he had raised with them, and about the work that he was doing to try and strengthen the relationship between ourselves and the Government in Ireland too. And, personally, I have received a very warm letter from the Taoiseach, and, of course, I have responded in similar terms.
My office has been working very closely with the office of the First Minister of Scotland over the past few days, discussing what we can do jointly following the vote in the House of Commons today. And I am of course willing to consider Adam Price’s suggestion, and that we should do that in the context of the work that we’re already doing with others in the United Kingdom and abroad too.
Arweinydd grŵp UKIP, Gareth Bennett.
The leader of the UKIP group, Gareth Bennett.
Diolch, Llywydd. And can I also take the opportunity to add my condolences to the family of Steffan Lewis?
First Minister, this is the time of year when many people have to complete their tax returns, and, therefore, the subject of taxation is in their minds. Of course, we know that governments wouldn't function if we didn't have taxation, but I would add, from my own observation, that most ordinary people are rarely enthusiastic about the prospect of taxes, and particularly of new or additional taxation. I did notice, in your previous role as the Finance Minister, you did seem to get quite excited about the Welsh Government's new tax powers. I quote what you said at one point:
'It's what devolution was always meant to be: a living laboratory in which different parts of the United Kingdom are able to try out new ideas, to learn from one another, to see what is effective.'
Do you still believe that here in Wales we are all part of a living laboratory? And do you think, First Minister, that all Welsh residents should happily accept new taxes and tax increases from your Welsh Government because we are all part of some exciting experiment?
Diolch, Llywydd. Ac a gaf innau hefyd achub ar y cyfle i ychwanegu fy nghydymdeimlad â theulu Steffan Lewis?
Prif Weinidog, hon yw'r adeg o'r flwyddyn pan fo'n rhaid i lawer o bobl lenwi eu ffurflenni treth, ac, felly, mae'r mater o drethiant yn eu meddyliau. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n gwybod na fyddai llywodraethau yn gweithredu pe na byddai gennym ni drethiant, ond byddwn yn ychwanegu, o'm harsylwadau fy hun, mai anaml y mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl gyffredin yn frwdfrydig ynghylch y posibilrwydd o drethi, ac yn enwedig trethi newydd neu ychwanegol. Fe wnes i sylwi, yn eich swydd flaenorol fel y Gweinidog Cyllid, ei bod hi'n ymddangos eich bod wedi gyffroi cryn dipyn am bwerau trethu newydd Llywodraeth Cymru. Dyfynnaf yr hyn a ddywedasoch ar un adeg:
Dyna oedd datganoli i fod bob amser: labordy byw lle y gall gwahanol rannau o'r Deyrnas Unedig roi cynnig ar syniadau newydd, dysgu oddi wrth ei gilydd, gweld beth sy'n effeithiol.
A ydych chi'n dal i gredu bod ein bod ni i gyd yma yng Nghymru yn rhan o labordy byw? Ac a ydych chi'n credu, Prif Weinidog, y dylai holl drigolion Cymru dderbyn yn fodlon trethi newydd a chynnydd i drethi gan eich Llywodraeth Cymru oherwydd ein bod ni i gyd yn rhan o ryw arbrawf cyffrous?
Wel, Llywydd, I definitely do believe that one of the great advantages of devolution is that it does provide a living laboratory inside the United Kingdom and an opportunity to try different ideas in different places and to learn from one another in doing so. And I also completely stand by what I said previously, that the process of the maturing of devolution is assisted by the changes in which this Assembly becomes not simply a spending body, but a body that has to take responsibility for raising some of the funds that it disperses.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n sicr yn credu mai un o fanteision mawr datganoli yw ei fod yn darparu labordy byw y tu mewn i'r Deyrnas Unedig a chyfle i roi cynnig ar wahanol syniadau mewn gwahanol leoedd a dysgu oddi wrth ein gilydd wrth wneud hynny. Ac rwyf i hefyd yn glynu'n llwyr at yr hyn a ddywedais yn y gorffennol, bod y broses o aeddfedu datganoli yn cael ei chynorthwyo gan y newidiadau lle nad yw'r Cynulliad hwn yn dod yn gorff gwario yn unig, ond yn gorff y mae'n rhaid iddo gymryd cyfrifoldeb am godi rhywfaint o'r cyllid y mae'n ei ddosbarthu.
I thank you for clarifying your position on that. Now, on the issue of income tax variation, that's something that's coming up later on today—it does sound as if your long-term view may be that a variation of the income tax rate in Wales may be a lever that you can legitimately use, and which you may be enthusiastic about using in the future.
Diolch i chi am egluro eich safbwynt ar hynny. Nawr, ar y mater o amrywio treth incwm, mae hynny'n rhywbeth sydd i ddod yn ddiweddarach heddiw—mae'n swnio efallai mai eich safbwynt hirdymor yw y gallai amrywio'r gyfradd treth incwm yng Nghymru fod yn ysgogiad y gallwch chi ei ddefnyddio'n gyfreithlon, ac y gallech chi fod yn frwdfrydig ynghylch ei ddefnyddio yn y dyfodol.
Well, I've never said that, Llywydd, to my recollection. I've said that it's my intention to stick to the manifesto commitment that our party provided at the last election—that we wouldn't use the power to vary income tax during this Assembly term. I'm sure I remember debating in this Chamber with the Member's colleague in UKIP that growing the economy is a better strategy for collecting more money in to provide for public services than obsessing about whether we can use the incremental powers we have in relation to varying income tax. If we had a stronger economy, with more money coming in, the debate would be different.
Wel, nid wyf i erioed wedi dweud hynny, Llywydd, hyd y cofiaf. Rwyf i wedi dweud mai fy mwriad yw cadw at yr ymrwymiad maniffesto a wnaed gan ein plaid yn yr etholiad diwethaf—na fyddem ni'n defnyddio'r grym i amrywio treth incwm yn ystod y tymor Cynulliad hwn. Rwy'n siŵr fy mod i'n cofio dadlau yn y Siambr hon gyda chydweithiwr yr Aelod yn UKIP bod tyfu'r economi yn well strategaeth ar gyfer casglu mwy o arian i ddarparu ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus na datblygu obsesiwn ynghylch pa un a allwn ni ddefnyddio'r pwerau cynyddol sydd gennym ni o ran amrywio treth incwm. Pe byddai gennym ni economi gryfach, gyda mwy o arian yn dod i mewn, byddai'r ddadl yn wahanol.
I think that's an excellent point, First Minister. However, we do have the evidence of 20 years of a devolved Wales in which the economic performance of the region has signally failed to improve. [Interruption.] The region, the country—call it what you will. Call it what you will. The economic performance of Wales has not signally improved over the past 20 years. The latest gross value added figures show that, once again, Wales is bottom of the four nations of the UK, by doing even worse than we were before we had your Labour Party running Wales through the Assembly. So, given that, do you conceive that under your leadership over the next few years we are going to get a quick turnaround and these figures are going to change, and at some point we are going to get some improving statistics regarding the economic performance?
Rwy'n credu bod hwnna'n bwynt ardderchog, Prif Weinidog. Fodd bynnag, mae gennym ni dystiolaeth o 20 mlynedd o Gymru ddatganoledig lle mae perfformiad economaidd y rhanbarth wedi methu'n lân â gwella. [Torri ar draws.] Y rhanbarth, y wlad—beth bynnag yr hoffech chi ei galw. Beth bynnag yr hoffech chi ei galw. Mae perfformiad economaidd Cymru wedi methu'n lân â gwella dros yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf. Mae'r ffigurau gwerth ychwanegol gros diweddaraf yn dangos bod Cymru, unwaith eto, yr isaf o bedair gwlad y DU, trwy wneud hyd yn oed yn waeth nag yr oeddem ni cyn i ni gael eich Plaid Lafur chi yn rhedeg Cymru drwy'r Cynulliad. Felly, o ystyried hynny, a ydych chi'n dychmygu o dan eich arweiniad chi dros yr ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf ein bod ni'n mynd i gael ymateb cyflym a bod y ffigurau hyn yn mynd i newid, ac ar ryw adeg ein bod ni'n mynd i gael ystadegau sy'n gwella o ran y perfformiad economaidd?
Well, I'm afraid, Llywydd, that the greatest threat to the Welsh economy is the policy that has been so much promoted by his own party. If there is to be a quick impact on the Welsh economy, it will be if we were to leave the European Union, and to leave it on the terms that his party has so long advocated. In fact, the Welsh economy is robust, it has withstood the difficulties of the period of austerity, it goes into the next few years with levels of employment higher than for many years past, and with levels of unemployment that are lower for many years past. We will do everything we can, but we will be doing it in the teeth of the policies that his party advocates, rather than being assisted by them.
Wel, mae gen i ofn, Llywydd, mai'r bygythiad mwyaf i economi Cymru yw'r polisi a hyrwyddwyd gymaint gan ei blaid ei hun. Os ydym ni am gael effaith gyflym ar economi Cymru, bydd yn digwydd pe byddem ni'n gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac yn ei adael ar y telerau y mae ei blaid wedi ei hyrwyddo ers cyhyd. Mewn gwirionedd, mae economi Cymru yn gadarn, mae wedi gwrthsefyll anawsterau'r cyfnod o gyni cyllidol, mae'n mynd i'r ychydig flynyddoedd nesaf â lefelau cyflogaeth yn uwch nag ers llawer o flynyddoedd a fu, a chyda lefelau diweithdra sy'n is na llawer o flynyddoedd a fu. Byddwn yn gwneud popeth y gallwn, ond byddwn yn ei wneud yn nannedd y polisïau y mae ei blaid ef yn eu hargymell, yn hytrach na chael ein cynorthwyo ganddynt.
3. Pa drafodaethau diweddar y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg ynghylch cefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer addysg uwch yng Nghymru? OAQ53202
3. What recent discussions has the First Minister had with the Minister for Education about Welsh Government support for higher education in Wales? OAQ53202
I thank the Member for the question. I hold regular meetings with the Minister for Education, including discussions on key issues relating to higher education. We continue to provide support to the sector through the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, which, together with our student support reforms, will create a stronger and more sustainable higher education sector in Wales.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Rwy'n cynnal cyfarfodydd rheolaidd gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg, gan gynnwys trafodaethau ar faterion allweddol yn ymwneud ag addysg uwch. Rydym ni'n parhau i ddarparu cymorth i'r sector trwy Gyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru, a fydd, ynghyd â'n diwygiadau cymorth myfyrwyr, yn creu sector addysg uwch cryfach a mwy cynaliadwy yng Nghymru.
I thank the First Minister for his answer. You'll be aware that I have on a number of occasions raised concerns about the current situation with regard to governance at Swansea University. Now, obviously, as the education Minister has rightly said, our universities are independent bodies, but it is also true that they are in receipt of very substantial public funds in Wales, and that they are very important national institutions. Can I ask you today, First Minister, to have some private discussions with the education Minister about this issue, to reassure yourself that the higher education funding council, HEFCW, are applying the appropriate level of challenge and support to the university at this difficult time? It is, of course, of strategic importance, and longer term, will you undertake to look with the Minister for Education at whether or not, when this current situation is resolved, there are lessons that need to be learned about the robustness of the governance arrangements at our higher education institutions?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb. Byddwch yn ymwybodol fy mod i wedi codi pryderon ar nifer o achlysuron ynghylch y sefyllfa bresennol o ran llywodraethu ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Nawr, yn amlwg, fel y mae'r Gweinidog Addysg wedi ei ddweud yn briodol, mae ein prifysgolion yn gyrff annibynnol, ond mae hefyd yn wir eu bod yn cael arian cyhoeddus sylweddol iawn yng Nghymru, a'u bod yn sefydliadau cenedlaethol pwysig iawn. A gaf i ofyn i chi heddiw, Prif Weinidog, gynnal trafodaethau preifat gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg ynghylch y mater hwn, i sicrhau eich hun bod y cyngor cyllido addysg uwch, CCAUC, yn defnyddio'r lefel briodol o her a chymorth i'r brifysgol yn ystod y cyfnod anodd hwn? Mae o bwysigrwydd strategol, wrth gwrs, ac a wnewch chi ymrwymo yn y tymor hwy i ystyried gyda'r Gweinidog Addysg, pan fydd y sefyllfa bresennol hon yn cael ei datrys, pa un a oes gwersi y mae angen eu dysgu am gadernid y trefniadau llywodraethu yn ein sefydliadau addysg uwch?
Well, I thank the Member for that supplementary question. I absolutely recognise her own commitment to that institution and the part that she's played in it in the recent past and the concern that leads her to the questions that she has raised with me and with the education Minister. I know that she met with Kirsty Williams prior to the Christmas break. I can give her an assurance that HEFCW, as the regulator in this field, is taking a very close and direct interest in the developing story at the university in Swansea. While those matters are unfolding and being investigated, there's inevitably nothing that I can say or the Minister can say directly on the floor of the Assembly, which I know Helen Mary Jones understands. But I give her the assurance that we continue to be closely involved through the regulator in the unfolding story, and that when the point comes at which lessons about what has happened are there to be drawn, we will work with the regulator to make sure that that happens.
Wel, diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr ei hymrwymiad ei hun i'r sefydliad hwnnw a'r rhan y mae wedi ei chwarae ynddo yn y gorffennol diweddar a'r pryder sy'n ei harwain at y cwestiynau y mae hi wedi eu codi gyda mi a chyda'r Gweinidog addysg. Gwn ei bod wedi cyfarfod â Kirsty Williams cyn toriad y Nadolig. Gallaf roi sicrwydd iddi bod CCAUC, fel y rheoleiddiwr yn y maes hwn, yn cymryd diddordeb agos ac uniongyrchol iawn yn y stori sy'n datblygu yn y brifysgol yn Abertawe. Er bod y materion hyn yn datblygu ac yn cael eu hymchwilio, mae'n anochel nad oes dim y gallaf i ei ddweud nac y gall y Gweinidog ei ddweud yn uniongyrchol ar lawr y Cynulliad, a gwn fod Helen Mary Jones yn deall hynny yn iawn. Ond rhoddaf y sicrwydd iddi ein bod ni'n parhau i chwarae rhan agos drwy'r rheoleiddiwr yn y stori sy'n datblygu, a phan ddaw'r adeg pan fo gwersi ynghylch yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yno i'w dysgu, byddwn yn gweithio gyda'r rheoleiddiwr i wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n digwydd.
Actually, I share Helen Mary's concerns about this, about the invisibility of things that might be being investigated there. So, time is marching on, so thank you for your answer on that.
Since scrapping the cap on the number of Welsh students going to Welsh universities, do you know whether we have seen more Welsh students with the top grades now entering Welsh universities, or applying for them and getting those places, particularly in STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—subjects and in medicine? And do you think that committing now to the recommendations of the Reid review would actually help those premium Welsh students stay in this country rather than going over the border? Thank you.
A dweud y gwir, rwy'n rhannu pryderon Helen Mary am hyn, am natur anweledig pethau a allai fod yn cael eu hymchwilio yno. Felly, mae amser yn symud yn gyflym, felly diolch am eich ateb ar hynna.
Ers cael gwared ar y cap ar nifer y myfyrwyr o Gymru sy'n mynd i brifysgolion yng Nghymru, a ydych chi'n gwybod pa un a ydym ni wedi gweld mwy o fyfyrwyr o Gymru â'r graddau uchaf yn mynd i brifysgolion Cymru erbyn hyn, neu'n gwneud cais am le ynddyn nhw ac yn cael y lleoedd hynny, yn enwedig mewn pynciau STEM—gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg—ac mewn meddygaeth? Ac a ydych chi'n meddwl y byddai ymrwymo nawr i argymhellion adolygiad Reid yn helpu'r myfyrwyr gorau hynny o Gymru i aros yn y wlad hon yn hytrach na mynd dros y ffin? Diolch.
Well, Llywydd, the number of 18-year-olds in the Welsh population is going to be at its all-time low in modern times in the year 2020. It's gone from 40,000 to down close to 30,000, but the percentage of 18-year-olds who go to university from Wales continues to be at the top end of historic levels, and we're very glad to see that. As far as the Reid review is concerned, we're already committed to one of its key recommendations, in making sure that we strengthen our position in London through our office that we have there, and that's a necessary thing to do because the future for research income for Welsh universities the other side of Brexit depends upon our ability to help them and them to help themselves in competing for other strands of research income, including new strands, for example, through the industrial strategy.
Wel, Llywydd, mae nifer y bobl ifanc 18 oed ym mhoblogaeth Cymru yn mynd i fod ar ei isaf erioed yn yr oes fodern yn y flwyddyn 2020. Mae wedi mynd o 40,000 i lawr at ffigur sy'n agos at 30,000, ond mae canran y bobl ifanc 18 oed sy'n mynd i'r brifysgol o Gymru yn parhau i fod ar ben uchaf lefelau hanesyddol, ac rydym ni'n falch iawn o weld hynny. Cyn belled ag y mae adolygiad Reid yn y cwestiwn, rydym ni wedi ymrwymo eisoes i un o'i argymhellion allweddol, trwy wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n atgyfnerthu ein sefyllfa yn Llundain drwy ein swyddfa sydd gennym ni yno, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth angenrheidiol i'w wneud oherwydd mae'r dyfodol ar gyfer incwm ymchwil i brifysgolion Cymru ar ôl Brexit yn dibynnu ar ein gallu i'w helpu nhw ac iddyn nhw helpu eu hunain i gystadlu am ffrydiau eraill o incwm ymchwil, gan gynnwys ffrydiau newydd, er enghraifft, drwy'r strategaeth ddiwydiannol.
I welcome those comments in response to Professor Graeme Reid's report, which was a little while ago—not too long ago. He said in that report that he encountered
'long-standing structural weaknesses in the research and innovation ecosystem that put Wales at a disadvantage compared with other parts of the UK in funding competitions.'
And he pointed to the fact that that had been somewhat
'masked by the availability of EU structural funds,'
as he said,
'whose future remains unclear.'
So, I wonder if the First Minister could give us some further reflections of his, now that a little time has passed on Professor Reid's recommendations. He made three recommendations. Is there more, either in response to those recommendations or something separate, that we can do to enhance our ability to access UK Research and Innovation funds or other sources of funding to establish our research base, which, actually, does quite well in what it's done, but, as that point said, it's masked somewhat by accessing European funds?
Rwy'n croesawu'r sylwadau hynny mewn ymateb i adroddiad yr Athro Graeme Reid, a oedd ychydig amser yn ôl—nid yn rhy bell yn ôl. Dywedodd yn yr adroddiad hwnnw iddo ganfod
gwendidau strwythurol hirsefydlog yn yr ecosystem ymchwil ac arloesi a oedd yn rhoi Cymru o dan anfantais o'i chymharu â rhannau eraill o'r DU mewn cystadlaethau ariannu.
A chyfeiriodd at y ffaith bod hynny wedi cael ei guddio braidd
gan y ffaith bod cronfeydd strwythurol yr UE ar gael,
fel y dywedodd,
y mae eu dyfodol yn dal i fod yn aneglur.
Felly, tybed a allai'r Prif Weinidog roi rhagor o'i fyfyrdodau, nawr bod rhywfaint o amser wedi mynd heibio ers argymhellion yr Athro Reid. Gwnaeth dri argymhelliad. A oes mwy, naill ai mewn ymateb i'r argymhellion hynny neu rywbeth ar wahân, y gallwn ni ei wneud i wella ein gallu i gael gafael ar gyllid Ymchwil ac Arloesi y DU neu ffynonellau eraill o gyllid i sefydlu ein sylfaen ymchwil, sydd, a dweud y gwir, yn gwneud yn eithaf da yn yr hyn y mae wedi ei wneud, ond, fel y dywedodd y pwynt hwnnw, caiff ei guddio braidd drwy gael gafael ar gyllid Ewropeaidd?
Llywydd, I want to congratulate Welsh universities on the way in which they have been able to use those sources of funding from the European Union, both those ones that come direct to Wales, but, for example, through the interterritorial co-operation programme that we have with the Republic of Ireland, where our universities have been doing world-leading research, for example, in the marine environment and marine energy. While those sources of funding have been available to us, I think it is completely understandable that our higher education sector has made best use of the funding that is closest to hand. And we know, through the work of the chief scientific advisor to the Welsh Government, that the impact that Welsh universities make with the funding they have in research puts them at the top of the league in terms of best use of that funding. Now, the other side of Brexit, we have said in response to the Reid review that any further consequentials that come our way will be put directly to the Cabinet to discuss to see whether we can strengthen the position of research and innovation here in Wales through our universities. It is a challenge for them, as it's a challenge for us all, to move into that new world, but through the Reid review we have recommendations that we can use to try and make sure that we position ourselves in the strongest way we can.
Llywydd, hoffwn longyfarch prifysgolion Cymru ar y ffordd y maen nhw wedi gallu defnyddio'r ffynonellau cyllid hynny gan yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, y rhai sy'n dod yn uniongyrchol i Gymru, ond, er enghraifft, drwy'r rhaglen cydweithredu rhyng-diriogaethol sydd gennym ni gyda Gweriniaeth Iwerddon, lle mae ein prifysgolion wedi bod yn gwneud gwaith ymchwil sy'n arwain y byd, er enghraifft, ym meysydd yr amgylchedd morol ac ynni morol. Tra bod y ffynonellau cyllid hynny wedi bod ar gael i ni, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n gwbl ddealladwy bod ein sector addysg uwch wedi gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r cyllid sydd agosaf i law. A gwyddom, trwy waith y prif gynghorydd gwyddonol i Lywodraeth Cymru, bod yr effaith y mae prifysgolion Cymru yn ei chael gyda'r cyllid sydd ganddyn nhw o ran ymchwil yn eu rhoi ar frig y gynghrair o ran defnydd gorau o'r cyllid hwnnw. Nawr, ar ôl Brexit, rydym ni wedi dweud mewn ymateb i adolygiad Reid y bydd unrhyw symiau canlyniadol pellach a ddaw yn cael eu rhoi yn uniongyrchol i'r Cabinet i drafod pa un a allwn ni gryfhau sefyllfa ymchwil ac arloesi yma yng Nghymru drwy ein prifysgolion. Mae'n her iddyn nhw, fel y mae'n her i bob un ohonom ni, symud i'r byd newydd hwnnw, ond drwy adolygiad Reid mae gennym ni argymhellion y gallwn ni eu defnyddio i geisio gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n rhoi ein hunain yn y sefyllfa gryfaf y gallwn ni fod ynddi.
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fodloni'r angen am dai fforddiadwy? OAQ53163
4. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to meet affordable housing need? OAQ53163
I thank the Member for the question. The Welsh Government takes a widening range of actions to help meet housing need across Wales. In this term, we are making a record £1.7 billion-worth of investment in housing.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd ystod fwyfwy eang o gamau er mwyn helpu i ddiwallu'r angen am dai ledled Cymru. Yn y tymor hwn, rydym ni'n gwneud gwerth £1.7 biliwn o fuddsoddiad mewn tai, a dyna'r mwyaf erioed.
Diolch. As you know, 'Planning Policy Wales' requires local planning authorities to set capacity thresholds for residential developments, above which a proportion of affordable housing should be sought from developers. In Flintshire's case, the policy seeks to provide at least 30 per cent affordable housing on sites with a minimum of 25 dwellings. Well, despite evidence of local affordable housing need, the circumstances and apparent contradictory evidence applying to an application in Buckley has led to a site of 28 units going forward without affordable housing inclusion. What consideration will you therefore give to the call from Buckley Town Council for an investigation into the circumstances that allowed this to happen and the precedent this sets if not nipped in the bud?
Diolch. Fel y gwyddoch, mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' yn ei gwneud hi'n ofynnol i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol bennu trothwyon capasiti ar gyfer datblygiadau preswyl, y dylid gofyn am gyfran o dai fforddiadwy gan ddatblygwyr uwchben hynny. Yn achos sir y Fflint, mae'r polisi yn ceisio darparu o leiaf 30 y cant o dai fforddiadwy ar safleoedd â lleiafrif o 25 o anheddau. Wel, er gwaethaf tystiolaeth o angen lleol am dai fforddiadwy, mae amgylchiadau a'r dystiolaeth sy'n ymddangos yn anghyson sy'n berthnasol i gais ym Mwcle wedi arwain at safle o 28 o unedau yn mynd rhagddo heb gynnwys tai fforddiadwy. Pa ystyriaeth wnewch chi ei rhoi felly i'r alwad gan Gyngor Tref Bwcle am ymchwiliad i'r amgylchiadau a ganiataodd i hyn ddigwydd a'r cynsail y mae hyn yn ei greu os na chaiff ei atal yn gyflym?
I thank the Member for the general point that he made at the outset about the importance of the planning regime in making sure that we are able to maximise the opportunities that there are for additional affordable housing across Wales. He will know that my colleague Lesley Griffiths, then responsible for that matter, published 'Planning Policy Wales: Edition 10' shortly before Christmas, which attempts to draw together some key strands in planning policy and to align them with the purpose that Mark Isherwood outlined. I'm not directly familiar with the call that Buckley Town Council has made in relation to the specific scheme that the Member outlined, but the Minister with responsibility for housing and planning is in her place and we'll make sure that we follow up the specific issue that the Member has raised this afternoon.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y pwynt cyffredinol a wnaeth ar y cychwyn ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd y drefn gynllunio o ran gwneud yn siŵr ein bod yn gallu manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael ar gyfer tai fforddiadwy ychwanegol ledled Cymru. Bydd yn gwybod bod fy nghyd-Aelod, Lesley Griffiths, a oedd yn gyfrifol am y mater hwnnw ar y pryd, wedi cyhoeddi 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru: Argraffiad 10' ychydig cyn y Nadolig, sy'n ceisio tynnu rhai llinynnau allweddol mewn polisi cynllunio ynghyd a'u cyfochri â'r diben a amlinellwyd gan Mark Isherwood. Nid wyf i'n gyfarwydd yn uniongyrchol â'r alwad y mae Cyngor Tref Bwcle wedi ei gwneud o ran y cynllun penodol a amlinellwyd gan yr Aelod, ond mae'r Gweinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros dai a chynllunio yn ei lle a byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n gwneud gwaith dilynol ar y mater penodol y mae'r Aelod wedi ei godi y prynhawn yma.
Is it not time for real innovation now—modular homes, container homes, prefabricated homes that are temporary and available to move if, say, land is sold by councils or private land owners? Bristol City Council recently went against its own planning policy for a small development of one-person homes. It was encouraged to set new precedents by the applicants in the interest of dealing with the housing crisis; that is exactly what it did. Similarly, pods for rough-sleepers could go some way to starting to give rough-sleepers shelter and the support they need to move on. Some of these housing solutions are already made in Wales and all of them can be developed into businesses here. Why does your Government not support them?
Onid yw hi'n amser am arloesi gwirioneddol erbyn hyn—cartrefi modiwlaidd, cartrefi cynhwysydd, cartrefi parod sydd dros dro ac ar gael i symud os, dyweder, y bydd tir yn cael ei werthu gan gynghorau neu berchnogion tir preifat? Yn ddiweddar, aeth Cyngor Dinas Bryste yn erbyn ei bolisi cynllunio ei hun ar gyfer datblygiad bach o gartrefi un person. Fe'i hanogwyd i osod cynseiliau newydd gan yr ymgeiswyr er mwyn ymdrin â'r argyfwng tai; dyna'n union yr hyn a wnaeth. Yn yr un modd, gallai podiau ar gyfer pobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd wneud cryn dipyn i ddechrau rhoi lloches i bobl sy'n cysgu ar y stryd a'r cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt i symud ymlaen. Caiff rhai o'r atebion tai hyn eu gwneud yng Nghymru eisoes a gellir datblygu pob un ohonynt yn fusnesau yma. Pam nad yw eich Llywodraeth yn eu cefnogi nhw?
Well, Llywydd, I think we do support innovation in the housing field. We have a specific funding strand to support innovative ways in which the housing needs and demands here in Wales can be met. In the debate that was held in the Chamber here last week, a number of Members made contributions that talked about the opportunities there are for manufacture off site and new construction methods that we can deploy in that way. I wouldn't be in a position to commit to the specifics that the Member has outlined this afternoon, but the general point that she makes I think is one that is very consistent already with Government policy.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n meddwl ein bod ni'n cefnogi arloesedd ym maes tai. Mae gennym ni ffrwd gyllid benodol i gefnogi ffyrdd arloesol y gellir diwallu anghenion a bodloni gofynion tai yma yng Nghymru. Yn y ddadl a gynhaliwyd yn y Siambr yma yr wythnos diwethaf, gwnaeth nifer o Aelodau gyfraniadau a oedd yn sôn am y cyfleoedd a geir ar gyfer gweithgynhyrchu oddi ar y safle a dulliau adeiladu newydd y gallwn eu defnyddio yn y ffordd honno. Nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i ymrwymo i'r pethau penodol y mae'r Aelod wedi eu hamlinellu y prynhawn yma, ond rwy'n credu bod y pwynt cyffredinol y mae hi'n ei wneud yn un sy'n gyson iawn eisoes â pholisi'r Llywodraeth.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog nodi blaenoriaethau cychwynnol Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â thlodi? OAQ53173
5. Will the First Minister set out the Welsh Government's initial priorities for tackling poverty? OAQ53173
Thank you. Llywydd, our immediate priorities focus on those mitigating measures directly available to the Welsh Government that have a practical impact on the lives of children and families experiencing poverty in Wales.
Diolch. Llywydd, mae ein blaenoriaethau cyntaf yn canolbwyntio ar y mesurau lliniaru hynny sydd ar gael yn uniongyrchol i Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n cael effaith ymarferol ar fywydau plant a theuluoedd sy'n byw mewn tlodi yng Nghymru.
First Minister, universal credit is too often a cruel and inhumane system in practice that causes misery for families and communities, whether it's the waiting times for initial payment and the loan system that accompanies that, or the lack of ability for direct payment to landlords in terms of housing benefit, or conditionality and sanctioning, which is often draconian. It often leads to debt, homelessness, queues at food banks, and weeks if not months spent without any income at all. Will Welsh Government consider the devolution of the administration of universal credit for a more humane system in Wales?
Prif Weinidog, mae credyd cynhwysol yn rhy aml yn system greulon ac annynol yn ymarferol sy'n achosi trallod i deuluoedd a chymunedau, boed hynny oherwydd yr amseroedd aros am daliad cychwynnol a'r system fenthyciadau sy'n cyd-fynd â hynny, neu'r diffyg gallu i wneud taliad uniongyrchol i landlordiaid o ran budd-dal tai, neu amodoldeb a chosbau, sy'n aml yn llym. Mae'n aml yn arwain at ddyled, digartrefedd, ciwiau mewn banciau bwyd, ac wythnosau os nad misoedd yn cael eu treulio heb unrhyw incwm o gwbl. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried datganoli gweinyddiad credyd cynhwysol ar gyfer system fwy trugarog yng Nghymru?
I thank John Griffiths for that, and of course he points very vividly to the history of universal credit implementation to date. I'm aware, of course, of the work that his committee has done and the reports that have been produced suggesting that we should explore the devolution of administration of benefits here in Wales. I've heard as well, in this Chamber, other Members point quite rightly to the difficulties that might lie in its path, and there is a history, isn't there, that we're all familiar with—for example, in the forced devolution of council tax benefit, where we took on the administration, but the UK Government badly short-changed us in terms of the amount of money required for the benefit itself, and nothing at all to pay for administration. But, having pointed to those warnings, then my view is that we ought to explore the devolution of administration. We want to do it carefully, but I think the case is made for exploration, and I'm happy to give him that assurance this afternoon.
Diolchaf i John Griffiths am hynna, ac wrth gwrs mae'n cyfeirio'n eglur iawn at hanes gweithrediad credyd cynhwysol hyd yn hyn. Rwy'n ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, o'r gwaith y mae ei bwyllgor wedi ei wneud a'r adroddiadau a luniwyd sy'n awgrymu y dylem ni ystyried datganoli gweinyddiad budd-daliadau yma yng Nghymru. Rwyf i wedi clywed hefyd, yn y Siambr hon, Aelodau eraill yn cyfeirio'n gwbl briodol at yr anawsterau a allai ei rwystro, ac mae hanes, onid oes, yr ydym ni i gyd yn gyfarwydd ag ef—er enghraifft, o ran gorfodi datganoli budd-dal y dreth gyngor, pan wnaethom ni gymryd cyfrifoldeb dros y gweinyddiad, ond gwnaeth Llywodraeth y DU dro gwael iawn â ni o ran y swm o arian sydd ei angen ar gyfer y budd-dal ei hun, a dim byd o gwbl i dalu am ei weinyddu. Ond, ar ôl tynnu sylw at y rhybuddion hynny, yna fy marn i yw y dylem ni ystyried datganoli gweinyddiad. Rydym ni eisiau ei wneud yn ofalus, ond rwy'n credu bod yr achos wedi ei wneud dros ei archwilio, ac rwy'n hapus i roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw iddo fe y prynhawn yma.
What consideration has the First Minister given to appointing a Minister for poverty who would set clear and measurable targets to address poverty and deprivation in Wales and who would be accountable for the Welsh Government's anti-poverty strategy, please?
Pa ystyriaeth y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ei rhoi i benodi Gweinidog tlodi a fyddai'n pennu targedau eglur a mesuradwy i fynd i'r afael â thlodi ac amddifadedd yng Nghymru ac a fyddai'n atebol am strategaeth gwrth-dlodi Llywodraeth Cymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
Well, accountability for anti-poverty measures in the Welsh Government has been allocated to the Minister for housing, planning and local government, and she will be able to answer questions and be held accountable in the way that the Member suggests.
Wel, mae atebolrwydd am fesurau gwrth-dlodi yn Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei neilltuo i'r Gweinidog tai, cynllunio a llywodraeth leol, a bydd hi'n gallu ateb cwestiynau a chael ei dwyn i gyfrif yn y modd y mae'r Aelod yn ei awgrymu.
First Minister, I was interested to hear all the things that you listed happening in and around Ebbw Vale during last week's First Minister's questions. You mentioned the starter units at Lime Avenue in Ebbw Vale, planning consent having been secured for a 50,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing facility at Rhyd-y-Blew in the town, and the refurbished 174,000 sq ft derelict building at Rassau in Ebbw Vale for the private sector. Your economy Minister has previously said that £100 million will be allocated to the Tech Valleys in the area over the next 10 years, with the aim of creating 1,500 jobs.
Now, what I, and probably many other Assembly Members representing communities in the former coalfield area, would like to know, is: what about my constituency? The Rhondda is in a similar position to Blaenau Gwent in terms of unemployment statistics and deprivation levels, yet we have been largely ignored by successive Governments, and that's a fact that is confirmed by the Valleys delivery plan. So, what are your plans to make sure that employment opportunities and income generation are spread equitably, and when can we expect to hear an announcement about investment in job creation for the Rhondda?
Prif Weinidog, roedd gen i ddiddordeb mewn clywed popeth a restrwyd gennych chi sy'n digwydd yng Nglynebwy a'r cyffiniau yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog yr wythnos diwethaf. Soniasoch am yr unedau dechreuol yn Lime Avenue yng Nglynebwy, ar ôl sicrhau caniatâd cynllunio ar gyfer cyfleuster gweithgynhyrchu uwch 50,000 troedfedd sgwâr yn Rhyd-y-blew yn y dref, a'r adeilad adfeiliedig 174,000 troedfedd sgwâr a ailwampiwyd yn Rassau yng Nglynebwy ar gyfer y sector preifat. Mae eich Gweinidog yr economi wedi dweud yn y gorffennol y bydd £100 miliwn yn cael ei ddyrannu i'r Tech Valleys yn yr ardal dros y 10 mlynedd nesaf, gyda'r nod o greu 1,500 o swyddi.
Nawr, yr hyn yr hoffwn i, a llawer o Aelodau Cynulliad eraill sy'n cynrychioli cymunedau yn ardal yr hen feysydd glo, ei wybod yw: beth am fy etholaeth i? Mae'r Rhondda mewn sefyllfa debyg i Flaenau Gwent o ran ystadegau diweithdra a lefelau amddifadedd, ac eto rydym ni wedi cael ein hanwybyddu i raddau helaeth gan Lywodraethau olynol, ac mae hynny'n ffaith a gadarnheir gan gynllun cyflawni'r Cymoedd. Felly, beth yw eich cynlluniau i wneud yn siŵr bod cyfleoedd cyflogaeth a chamau cynhyrchu incwm yn cael eu rhannu'n gyfartal, a phryd allwn ni ddisgwyl clywed cyhoeddiad am y buddsoddiad mewn creu swyddi ar gyfer y Rhondda?
I thank the Member for that question, which no doubt does have a relevance to tackling poverty in the way that she put it. Thank you for—[Interruption.] I thank her for the careful attention she paid to what was said in questions last week, and she will have noticed that further announcements have been made this week of investments in Ebbw Vale. It's not a competition, Llywydd, is it, and I know the Member didn't suggest that it was. Of course there are things that we want to do in other parts of Wales. That's why the Valleys taskforce was set up, to take that pan-Valleys look at the different things that we can do in different parts of Wales, and the Rhondda and the needs of that community are certainly not forgotten in those considerations.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, sy'n sicr yn berthnasol i fynd i'r afael â thlodi yn y ffordd y gwnaeth hi ei fynegi. Diolch am—[Torri ar draws.] Diolchaf iddi am y sylw gofalus a roddodd i'r hyn a ddywedwyd yn ystod cwestiynau yr wythnos diwethaf, a bydd wedi sylwi bod cyhoeddiadau pellach wedi eu gwneud yr wythnos hon am fuddsoddiadau yng Nglynebwy. Nid cystadleuaeth yw hon, Llywydd, a gwn na wnaeth yr Aelod awgrymu ei bod yn hynny. Wrth gwrs, mae pethau yr ydym ni eisiau eu gwneud mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru. Dyna pam y sefydlwyd tasglu'r Cymoedd, i gymryd yr olwg Cymoedd gyfan honno ar y gwahanol bethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, ac yn sicr nid yw'r Rhondda ac anghenion y gymuned honno wedi eu hanghofio yn yr ystyriaethau hynny.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu blaenoriaethau economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Canol De Cymru? OAQ53167
6. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's economic priorities for South Wales Central? OAQ53167
I thank the Member for the question. Our economic priorities are set out in the Welsh Government's economic action plan. These include investing in people, places and businesses through skills, infrastructure and business support.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae ein blaenoriaethau economaidd wedi eu nodi yng nghynllun gweithredu economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys buddsoddi mewn pobl, lleoedd a busnesau trwy gymorth sgiliau, seilwaith a busnes.
Thank you, First Minister, for that answer. Obviously, people, places, require good transport links. We know much about the metro system that is promised over the coming years. But a decision that was in your predecessor's inbox and is now in your inbox, the M4 relief road, is desperately required. It will dramatically improve the fortunes of the area that I represent, South Wales Central. Because, time and time again, when I talk to business, the logjam around Newport seems to be stopping goods and people moving around the south Wales economy. Can you give any indication on the timeline when your Government will be making a decision on this important infrastructure—and, if it is to be a negative decision, allow the Government to bring forward other proposals so that people can have confidence that the car park that is the M4 today will be relieved and businesses can get on with investing in their businesses and creating job opportunities in South Wales Central?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am yr ateb yna. Yn amlwg, mae pobl, lleoedd, angen cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth da. Rydym ni'n gwybod llawer am y system fetro sy'n cael ei haddo yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf. Ond mae angen taer am benderfyniad a oedd ym mewnflwch eich rhagflaenydd ac sydd yn eich mewnflwch chi erbyn hyn, sef ffordd liniaru'r M4. Bydd yn gwella ffyniant yr ardal yr wyf i'n ei chynrychioli, Canol De Cymru, yn sylweddol iawn. Oherwydd, dro ar ôl tro, pan fyddaf i'n siarad â busnesau, mae'n ymddangos bod y dagfa o amgylch Casnewydd yn atal nwyddau a phobl rhag symud o amgylch economi'r de. A allwch chi roi unrhyw arwydd o'r amserlen pan fydd eich Llywodraeth yn gwneud penderfyniad ar y seilwaith pwysig hwn—ac, os yw'n mynd i fod yn benderfyniad negyddol, caniatáu i'r Llywodraeth gyflwyno cynigion eraill fel y gall pobl fod yn ffyddiog y bydd y maes parcio sy'n cynrychioli'r M4 heddiw yn gallu cael ei leddfu ac y gall busnesau fwrw ymlaen â buddsoddi yn eu busnesau a chreu cyfleoedd ar gyfer swyddi yng Nghanol De Cymru?
Well, Llywydd, I entirely recognise the challenge that is faced in that part of the south-east Wales infrastructure. I remain in the position that I explained the last time I was asked here in the Assembly. There is advice that needs to come to me as First Minister, following receipt of the independent local inquiry inspector's report. That advice is yet to be concluded. When it is received, I will approach it in an entirely open-minded way, relying on the report itself and all the other considerations on which advice will come to me.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n llwyr gydnabod yr her a wynebir yn y rhan honno o seilwaith y de-ddwyrain. Rwy'n dal i fod o'r un safbwynt ag yr esboniais y tro diwethaf y gofynnwyd i mi yma yn y Cynulliad. Ceir cyngor y mae angen iddo ddod i mi fel Prif Weinidog, ar ôl cael adroddiad arolygydd yr ymchwiliad lleol annibynnol. Nid yw'r cyngor hwnnw wedi ei gwblhau eto. Pan ddaw i law, byddaf yn rhoi sylw iddo gyda meddwl cwbl agored, gan ddibynnu ar yr adroddiad ei hun a'r holl ystyriaethau eraill y bydd cyngor yn dod i mi ar eu sail.
7. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i helpu landlordiaid cymdeithasol i fuddsoddi mewn tai cymdeithasol newydd yn Islwyn? OAQ53225
7. What is the Welsh Government doing to aid social landlords to invest in new social housing in Islwyn? OAQ53225
Llywydd, thank you. Amongst the policy measures that the Welsh Government deploys in Islwyn is the provision of social housing grant to social landlords. This measure alone produced over 50 new affordable homes in the area in the last financial year, with more than 50 more to be completed in 2018-19.
Llywydd, diolch. Ymhlith y mesurau polisi y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu defnyddio yn Islwyn y mae'r ddarpariaeth o grant tai cymdeithasol i landlordiaid cymdeithasol. Cynhyrchodd y mesur hwn ar ei ben ei hun dros 50 o gartrefi fforddiadwy newydd yn yr ardal yn y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, gyda mwy na 50 arall i'w cwblhau yn 2018-19.
Diolch. First Minister, the right to buy and associated rights will finally be abolished throughout Wales on 26 January 2019, thanks to the Welsh Labour Government. Between 1981 and 2016, over 139,000 local authority and housing association homes were sold under the right to buy, with no ability or capacity for replenishing the social housing stocks to the same levels. This has severely depleted council and social housing stock. First Minister, I tell my constituents in Islwyn that their Welsh Labour Government is committed to creating 20,000 more affordable homes by 2021. What is the Welsh Government doing in Islwyn to support social landlords further, and the local authority, to help us achieve this highly ambitious goal?
Diolch. Prif Weinidog, bydd yr hawl i brynu a hawliau cysylltiedig yn cael eu diddymu o'r diwedd ledled Cymru ar 26 Ionawr 2019, diolch i Lywodraeth Llafur Cymru. Rhwng 1981 a 2016, gwerthwyd dros 139,000 o gartrefi awdurdodau lleol a chymdeithasau tai o dan yr hawl i brynu, heb ddim gallu na chapasiti i ailgyflenwi'r stoc tai cymdeithasol i'r un lefelau. Mae hyn wedi disbyddu stoc tai cyngor a chymdeithasol yn ddifrifol. Prif Weinidog, rwy'n dweud wrth fy etholwyr yn Islwyn bod eu Llywodraeth Llafur Cymru wedi ymrwymo i greu 20,000 o gartrefi fforddiadwy arall erbyn 2021. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud yn Islwyn i gefnogi landlordiaid cymdeithasol ymhellach, a'r awdurdod lleol, i'n helpu i gyflawni'r nod uchelgeisiol iawn hwn?
I thank Rhianon Passmore for that. She's absolutely right to point to the depreciation in the number of houses available for social renting as a result of the right-to-buy scheme, and I'm glad that she tells her constituents about our 20,000 more affordable homes, because we are confident that we are well on track to providing that number. In her constituency, she will know—and she will be able to relay to her constituents—the investments that the Welsh Government is making through the social housing grant, through the affordable housing grant, and through our land for housing scheme, which we are confident will help in her constituency to bring more land—we talked here last week about the importance of land in housing—to the market in order to support our ambitions in this area.
Diolchaf i Rhianon Passmore am hynna. Mae hi'n hollol iawn i dynnu sylw at y gostyngiad i nifer y tai sydd ar gael ar gyfer rhentu cymdeithasol o ganlyniad i'r cynllun hawl i brynu, ac rwy'n falch ei bod hi'n dweud wrth ei hetholwyr am ein 20,000 o gartrefi fforddiadwy ychwanegol, oherwydd rydym ni'n hyderus ein bod ni ar y trywydd iawn i ddarparu'r nifer hwnnw. Yn ei hetholaeth hi, bydd yn gwybod—a bydd yn gallu cyfleu i'w hetholwyr—y buddsoddiadau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu gwneud drwy'r grant tai cymdeithasol, drwy'r grant tai fforddiadwy, a thrwy ein cynllun tir ar gyfer tai, yr ydym ni'n hyderus fydd yn helpu yn ei hetholaeth hi i ddod â mwy o dir—cawsom drafodaethau yma yr wythnos diwethaf am bwysigrwydd tir ym maes tai—i'r farchnad er mwyn cefnogi ein huchelgeisiau yn yr ardal hon.
And, finally, question 8, Jack Sargeant.
Ac, yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Jack Sargeant.
8. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo gwleidyddiaeth fwy caredig? OAQ53166
8. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote a kinder politics? OAQ53166
I thank Jack Sargeant. The Welsh Government will take measures in our forthcoming local government and elections Bill to promote a more diverse, inclusive and respectful politics in Wales. At the same time, we will stand alongside others to resist the tide of intimidation and bigotry that threatens to disfigure parts of public life in the United Kingdom.
Diolch i Jack Sargeant. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau yn ein Bil llywodraeth ac etholiadau lleol sydd ar ddod i hyrwyddo gwleidyddiaeth fwy amrywiol, cynhwysol a pharchus yng Nghymru. Ar yr un pryd, byddwn yn sefyll ochr yn ochr ag eraill i wrthsefyll y llif o fygythiadau a rhagfarn sy'n bygwth difetha rhannau o fywyd cyhoeddus yn y Deyrnas Unedig.
Can I thank the First Minister for his reply and say that I was very pleased to see him refer to a kinder approach to politics in his first speech as First Minister? He will know that I've been working hard to see a positive change in our politics, and I agree with him completely that the way in which we conduct ourselves makes a difference in a fractured and uneasy world. Now, Llywydd, we all have a part to play to promote a kinder style of politics, and I feel it's only appropriate that I do mention, as so many have today, the impact our late friend and colleague Steffan Lewis had on this topic. And Llywydd, again, we would go a long way if we were a little bit more like Steffan. Now, the Welsh Government, of course, has an important part to play in such change, including the culture and the way in which we bring kindness into public policy making. Would the First Minister agree with me that, in order to reach this ambition, we must all work together, including Members from across the Chamber, Ministers, the civil service and others?
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb a dweud fy mod i'n falch iawn o'i weld yn cyfeirio at agwedd fwy garedig at wleidyddiaeth yn ei araith gyntaf fel Prif Weinidog? Bydd yn gwybod fy mod i wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed i weld newid cadarnhaol yn ein gwleidyddiaeth, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr bod y ffordd yr ydym ni'n ymddwyn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth mewn byd toredig ac anniddig. Nawr, Llywydd, mae gennym ni i gyd ran i'w chwarae i hyrwyddo gwleidyddiaeth fwy caredig, ac rwy'n teimlo ei bod hi'n gwbl briodol fy mod i'n sôn, fel y mae cynifer wedi ei wneud heddiw, yr effaith a gafodd ein diweddar gyfaill a chyd-Aelod Steffan Lewis ar y pwnc hwn. A Llywydd, unwaith eto, byddem ni'n mynd ymhell iawn pe byddem ni ychydig bach yn debycach i Steffan. Nawr, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, ran bwysig i'w chwarae mewn newid o'r fath, gan gynnwys y diwylliant a'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n dod â charedigrwydd i'r gwaith o lunio polisi cyhoeddus. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi, er mwyn cyflawni'r uchelgais hwn, bod yn rhaid i ni i gyd weithio gyda'n gilydd, gan gynnwys Aelodau o bob rhan o'r Siambr, Gweinidogion, y gwasanaeth sifil ac eraill?
Llywydd, I absolutely agree that it is the job of us all to do what we can to promote the sort of kinder, more respectful politics that Jack Sargeant has spoken about this afternoon and, of course, has promoted during the whole time that he has been an Assembly Member. I was able to be in the Chamber during the first short debate that Jack held on a kinder politics here in Wales and, indeed, in the very sad context of today, I revisited that debate over the weekend and read again the contributions that Jack made, primarily, but there were contributions from across the Chamber. Julie Morgan spoke about the importance of a politics that has passion without poison. Adam Price drew attention to the work of that great black gay American novelist James Baldwin, and what we can learn from his experience. And Darren Millar said in his contribution that, challenging as it can be in the cut and thrust of debate here in the Assembly, our ambition as Assembly Members should be to be people who disagree well. And in the context of today, I think that ambition that we should be people who disagree when we do, but we do it in that spirit, is a good thought to leave with us this afternoon.
Llywydd, rwyf yn cytuno'n llwyr fod gwneud ein gorau glas i hyrwyddo gwleidyddiaeth sy'n fwy caredig ac yn fwy parchus o'r math yr oedd Jack Sargeant yn sôn amdano y prynhawn yma ac sydd, wrth gwrs, wedi cael ei hyrwyddo ganddo yn ystod ei holl amser yn Aelod Cynulliad, yn waith i bob un ohonom. Roeddwn i'n gallu bod yn y Siambr yn ystod y ddadl fer gyntaf a gynhaliodd Jack ar wleidyddiaeth fwy caredig yma yng Nghymru ac, yn wir, yng nghyd-destun trist iawn heddiw, ailymwelais â'r ddadl honno yn ystod y penwythnos ac ailddarllen y cyfraniadau a wnaed gan Jack, yn bennaf, ond cafwyd cyfraniadau ar draws y Siambr. Siaradodd Julie Morgan am bwysigrwydd gwleidyddiaeth ag angerdd ond heb wenwyn. Tynnodd Adam Price sylw at y gwaith a wnaed gan y nofelydd Americanaidd mawr du a hoyw, James Baldwin, a'r hyn y gallwn ei ddysgu o'i brofiad ef. A dywedodd Darren Millar yn ei gyfraniad ef, er mor heriol y mae'r awyrgylch cystadleuol a bywiog yn ystod dadleuon yma yn y Cynulliad yn gallu bod, dylai fod yn uchelgais i ni fel Aelodau Cynulliad fod yn bobl sy'n anghytuno'n dda. Ac yng nghyd-destun heddiw, credaf fod yr uchelgais hwnnw, sef y dylem fod yn bobl sy'n anghytuno, ond yn ei wneud yn yr ysbryd hwnnw, yn rhywbeth inni feddwl amdano a'i ystyried yn sgil y prynhawn yma.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf felly yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, a dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans.
The next item therefore is the business statement and announcement, and I call the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans.
Diolch. There's one change to this week's business. The Counsel General and Brexit Minister will make a statement shortly on the UK Government's current proposals for EU withdrawal. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch. Mae un newid i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Bydd y Gweinidog Brexit a'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn gwneud datganiad cyn hir ar gynigion presennol Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer ymadael â'r UE. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi ei gynnwys yn y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes y gellir ei weld ymysg papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
During the recess, on 27 December, the UK Government launched a consultation proposing that the carrier bag levy should be doubled from 5p to 10p and extended to all shops. Given that Wales originally took the lead on this and the collective wish to drive against plastic waste, can we have a statement from the Welsh Government in response to this, and how it might independently, or in parallel with the consultation in England, propose to go forward on this matter itself?
Similarly, during recess, there was news from the UK Government that cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid training are to be included as part of the school curriculum in England. Could I call therefore for a statement from the Welsh Government in that context where, in February 2017, our colleague Suzy Davies held a debate to propose that all children and young people should receive age-appropriate life-saving skills as part of the school curriculum in Wales, backed by Members of all parties but, thus far, the Welsh Government hasn't delivered on that proposal? Again, we hope that we are not going to have a differentiation across the border, particularly given some of the comments made about borders in a different context earlier.
Finally, we've heard reference to Wylfa Newydd. Could we have an oral statement, preferably involving the First Minister in the statement, regarding the concerns over Wylfa Newydd if the speculation is borne out later this week, in a decision by Hitachi either to not go ahead, or simply to put proposals on hold? We've had a written statement in which the Minister for Economy and Transport rightly says that Wylfa Newydd is a major project with potentially significant benefits to Anglesey, north Wales and the UK. But we know that, in the past, the new First Minister has himself personally opposed nuclear power, and we know that shortly after he took on his new role, the Welsh Government called in plans to prepare the 740 acre area in Anglesey to build Wylfa Newydd, about which Hitachi's subsidiary, Horizon, said it disagreed with the Welsh Government's reasoning. I am very well advised that that is one of the factors that have led to Hitachi considering the situation currently. This is too important to north Wales, Wales and the UK to simply be dealt with by a written statement, and I call for a proper oral statement in Assembly time, here, so the full Assembly can contribute. Thank you.
Yn ystod y toriad, ar 27 Rhagfyr, lansiodd Llywodraeth y DU ymgynghoriad a oedd yn cynnig y dylid dyblu’r ardoll ar fagiau siopa o 5c i 10c gan ei hymestyn i gynnwys pob siop. O gofio bod Cymru wedi arwain ar hyn yn wreiddiol, a’r dymuniad torfol yn yr ymgyrch yn erbyn gwastraff plastig, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn ymateb i hyn, a sut y gallai, yn annibynnol neu ochr yn ochr â'r ymgynghoriad yn Lloegr, gynnig bwrw ymlaen ar y mater hwn ei hun?
Yn yr un modd, yn ystod y toriad, cafwyd newyddion gan Lywodraeth y DU bod hyfforddiant cymorth cyntaf ac adfywio cardio-pwlmonaidd yn mynd i gael eu cynnwys yn rhan o'r cwricwlwm ysgol yn Lloegr. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, felly, lle cynhaliodd ein cyd-Aelod, Suzy Davies, ddadl ym mis Chwefror 2017 i gynnig y dylai pob plentyn a pherson ifanc gael sgiliau achub bywyd sy’n briodol i’w hoedran yn rhan o gwricwlwm yr ysgol yng Nghymru, a gefnogwyd gan Aelodau o bob plaid? Hyd yn hyn, nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithredu'r cynnig hwnnw. Eto, rydym yn gobeithio na chawn wahaniaethu ar draws y ffin, yn enwedig o gofio rhai o'r sylwadau a wnaed am ffiniau mewn cyd-destun gwahanol yn gynharach.
Yn olaf, rydym wedi clywed cyfeiriad at Wylfa Newydd. A gawn ni ddatganiad llafar, sy'n cynnwys y Prif Weinidog yn y datganiad os oes modd, ynghylch y pryderon dros Wylfa Newydd os cadarnheir y ddamcaniaeth yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, mewn penderfyniad gan Hitachi naill ai i beidio â bwrw ymlaen, neu i ohirio’r cynigion? Rydym wedi cael datganiad ysgrifenedig y dywed Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ynddo fod Wylfa Newydd yn brosiect mawr gyda manteision sylweddol posib i Ynys Môn, gogledd Cymru a’r DU. Ond rydym yn gwybod, yn y gorffennol, fod y Prif Weinidog newydd ei hun, wedi gwrthwynebu ynni niwclear yn bersonol. Gwyddom, yn fuan ar ôl iddo dderbyn ei swydd newydd, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi tynnu'n ôl gynlluniau i baratoi ardal 740 erw yn Ynys Môn i adeiladu Wylfa Newydd, ac roedd is-gwmni Hitachi, Horizon, yn dweud eu bod yn anghytuno â rhesymeg Llywodraeth Cymru. Dywedwyd wrthyf fod hynny'n un o'r ffactorau sydd wedi arwain at Hitachi yn ystyried y sefyllfa ar hyn o bryd. Mae hwn yn fater rhy bwysig i ogledd Cymru, Cymru a'r DU i ymdrin ag ef drwy ddatganiad ysgrifenedig, a galwaf am ddatganiad llafar priodol yma yn amser y Cynulliad, fel y gall y Cynulliad llawn gyfrannu iddo. Diolch.
Thank you very much for raising those issues and, in the first part of your contribution, for recognising the leading role that Wales has played in terms of reducing the plastic that we use through the carrier bag levy, which we introduced. I know that the Deputy Minister is now exploring where we do take this next, because, clearly, having led the way, we want to certainly be maintaining the momentum that we have started in this particular area. But not just with plastic carrier bags, of course, but looking at reducing plastic in many other walks of life and aspects of life as well.
In terms of CPR, I know that there are many opportunities currently within the existing curriculum for CPR to be taught to pupils and it's making good progress in terms of the work that's being undertaken for curriculum reform. I know that the Minister is keen to ensure that schools have the flexibility they need to deliver a programme of education to the pupils that's appropriate for them and that will give them the best possible support, and without seeking to overcrowd the curriculum as well. So, there's certainly a balance to be struck there, but the point you make about the importance of CPR is well made.
On the issue of Wylfa Newydd, I know that a written statement has just gone out from the Minister for the economy. There'll be important decisions to be made later this week, as the Minister said in his response to the question on Ford, but he did refer to Hitachi there. So, I'm sure that the Government will explore how best and most appropriately to respond to those decisions that are made later this week.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am godi'r materion hynny ac, yn rhan gyntaf eich cyfraniad, am gydnabod y rhan arweiniol y mae Cymru wedi ei chwarae o ran lleihau’r plastig yr ydym yn ei ddefnyddio drwy ardoll ar fagiau siopa, a gyflwynwyd gennym ni. Gwn fod y Dirprwy Weinidog bellach yn ystyried i ble yr ydym yn mynd â hyn nesaf, oherwydd, yn amlwg, ar ôl arwain y ffordd, rydym yn sicr yn dymuno cynnal y momentwm a ddechreuwyd gennym yn y maes penodol hwn. Nid gyda bagiau siopa plastig yn unig, wrth gwrs, ond byddwn yn edrych ar leihau plastig mewn llawer o feysydd ac agweddau eraill ar fywyd hefyd.
O ran adfywio cardio-pwlmonaidd, gwn fod llawer o gyfleoedd ar hyn o bryd o fewn y cwricwlwm presennol ar gyfer addysgu adfywio cardio-pwlmonaidd i ddisgyblion ac mae’n gwneud cynnydd da o ran y gwaith a wneir ar gyfer diwygio'r cwricwlwm. Gwn fod y Gweinidog yn awyddus i sicrhau bod gan ysgolion yr hyblygrwydd sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i ddarparu rhaglen addysg i'r disgyblion sy'n briodol ac yn rhoi’r cymorth gorau posibl iddyn nhw, a heb geisio gorlenwi’r cwricwlwm chwaith. Felly, yn sicr, mae angen cydbwysedd arnom yn y fan honno, ond mae’r pwynt a wnaethoch am bwysigrwydd adfywio cardio-pwlmonaidd yn un da.
O ran y mater ynghylch Wylfa Newydd, gwn fod datganiad ysgrifenedig newydd fynd allan gan y Gweinidog dros yr economi. Mae penderfyniadau pwysig i’w gwneud yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, fel y dywedodd y Gweinidog yn ei ymateb i'r cwestiwn ar Ford, ond fe wnaeth gyfeirio at Hitachi bryd hynny. Felly, rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Llywodraeth yn edrych ar sut i ymateb i'r penderfyniadau hynny a gaiff eu gwneud yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon yn y modd gorau a mwyaf priodol.
Trefnydd, can I support, first of all, the concerns raised earlier about Ford in Bridgend, and I also look forward to further ministerial statements on work done and progress made, because it's a huge issue locally?
My second point is, you will be, Trefnydd, no doubt aware that the Auditor General for Wales has today published a report calling for urgent action following financial and governance concerns within the town and community councils sector in Wales. The report shows that the number of qualified audit opinions has doubled in the past financial year to 340 councils, nearly half of all councils. We also know that the auditor general had to issue reports in the public interest or make formal recommendations to eight councils in 2018. Now, in a sense, this shouldn't come as a huge surprise. We have heard of concerns over a number of years around lack of governance, bullying and of community councils being disbanded due to local in-fighting. The Welsh Government have known of these issues for quite some time. Now, the report by the independent review panel on community and town councils, which reported in October 2018, shows that there are options available to Welsh Government in terms of trying to reform the sector. It is vitally important that the Welsh Government now gets on with that task and gets a grip on this important sector. With that as a backdrop, will the Minister for local government agree to bring forward a statement on the Wales Audit Office findings and use that statement to set out how the Welsh Government intends to ensure that this important tier of democracy is put on a sustainable footing, going forward?
Trefnydd, yn gyntaf oll, a gaf i gefnogi’r pryderon a godwyd ynghylch Ford ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac rwyf i hefyd yn edrych ymlaen at ddatganiadau gweinidogol pellach ar y gwaith a'r cynnydd a wnaed, gan ei fod yn broblem enfawr yn lleol?
Fy ail bwynt, fel y byddwch yn ddiau yn ymwybodol ohono, Trefnydd, yw hyn. Mae Archwilydd Cyffredinol Cymru wedi cyhoeddi adroddiad heddiw sy’n galw am weithredu brys yn dilyn pryderon ariannol a llywodraethu yn sector y cynghorau tref a chymuned yng Nghymru. Mae'r adroddiad yn dangos bod nifer y barnau archwilio amodol wedi dyblu yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf i 340 o gynghorau, bron hanner yr holl gynghorau. Gwyddom hefyd fod yr Archwilydd Cyffredinol wedi gorfod cyhoeddi adroddiadau er budd y cyhoedd neu wneud argymhellion ffurfiol i wyth cyngor yn 2018. Nawr, mewn ffordd, ni ddylai hyn beri syndod mawr. Rydym wedi clywed pryderon am nifer o flynyddoedd ynghylch diffyg llywodraethu, bwlio a chynghorau cymuned yn cael eu chwalu oherwydd ymladd lleol ymysg ei gilydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ymwybodol o'r materion hyn ers cryn amser. Bellach, mae’r adroddiad gan y panel adolygu annibynnol ar gynghorau cymuned a thref a adroddwyd ym mis Hydref 2018, yn dangos bod dewisiadau ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru o ran ceisio gwella'r sector. Mae'n hanfodol bwysig fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn symud ymlaen gyda'r dasg honno yn awr ac yn mynd i'r afael â'r sector pwysig hwn. Gyda'r cefndir hwnnw, a wnaiff y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol gytuno i gyflwyno datganiad ar ganfyddiadau Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru a defnyddio'r datganiad hwnnw i nodi sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu sicrhau bod yr haen bwysig hon o ddemocratiaeth yn cael ei rhoi ar sylfaen gynaliadwy, wrth symud ymlaen?
Thank you very much for those issues and for putting on record your concern regarding the announcement relating to Ford. I know that the economy Minister is very much engaged in this issue and will certainly be bringing forward the appropriate updates to Assembly Members as and when that would be useful.
In terms of the report that has been published today regarding town and community councils, I know that the Minister clearly will be considering that report. Members will have the opportunity to question her on that in her question time next week.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am y materion hynny ac am gofnodi eich pryder ynghylch y cyhoeddiad sy'n ymwneud â Ford. Gwn fod Gweinidog yr economi yn ymwneud â'r mater hwn i raddau helaeth ac yn sicr bydd yn cyflwyno'r diweddariadau priodol i Aelodau'r Cynulliad pan fyddai'n ddefnyddiol.
O ran yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd heddiw ynghylch cynghorau tref a chymuned, gwn y bydd y Gweinidog, yn amlwg, yn ystyried yr adroddiad hwnnw. Caiff yr Aelodau gyfle i'w holi hi ar hynny yn ystod ei sesiwn gwestiynau yr wythnos nesaf.
Could I ask for time for one debate and one statement? I wonder if there'll be time for a debate on the importance of grass-roots community groups to regeneration. I attended a meeting last night of the Ogmore valley community forum, which brings together clubs and organisations and residents from all parts of the valley, from Evanstown to Lewistown, Blackmill to Nantymoel and all points in between to develop a shared vision for the valley, based on the priorities they themselves develop. At the next meeting, they're going to work their ideas up, and they're going to bring more young people in to help shape these ideas as well, organised by the very able Councillors Dhanisha Patel and Lee-Anne Hill, the community council chair. A debate will allow us to celebrate the role of these community groups and fora right across the country in regenerating our communities.
Could I also ask for a statement or debate on the importance of culture and traditions to Wales? On Sunday, on Nos Galan, the Mari Lwyd made an appearance at the Corner House pub and restaurant in Llangynwyd. It terrified and delighted the children, who were out way beyond their bedtime, in equal measure, as well as the adults, by the way, who packed this hilltop hostelry out, myself included. Now, the sight of a dancing horse's skull, draped in white sheets and bawdy decorations being led by a singing Gwyn Evans in top hat and tails is part of what makes us very Welsh—it's the uniqueness that draws visitors and tourists to stay with us and spend their money, and it's what reminds us of the Celtic roots, which go deep in our pre-Christian culture. So, I'd like to pay tribute to those who continue these remarkable traditions, sometimes passed down, as in this instance, through generations. And a statement or a debate would allow us to celebrate this and encourage the sustaining of these traditions for many generations to come.
A gaf i ofyn am amser ar gyfer un ddadl ac un datganiad? Tybed a fydd amser am ddadl ar bwysigrwydd grwpiau cymunedol ar lawr gwlad i adfywio. Roeddwn i yng nghyfarfod fforwm cymunedol Ogwr neithiwr, sy'n dwyn ynghyd glybiau a sefydliadau a thrigolion o bob rhan o'r cwm, rhwng Evanstown a Lewistown, a rhwng Melin Ifan Ddu a Nant-y-moel a’r holl bwyntiau sydd rhyngddyn nhw i ddatblygu gweledigaeth a rennir ar gyfer y cwm, yn seiliedig ar y blaenoriaethau y maen nhw eu hunain yn eu datblygu. Yn y cyfarfod nesaf, maen nhw'n mynd i ddatblygu eu syniadau, ac maen nhw’n mynd i ddod â mwy o bobl ifanc i mewn i helpu i lunio'r syniadau hyn hefyd, a drefnwyd gan y Cynghorwyr galluog iawn Dhanisha Patel a Lee-Anne Hill, cadeirydd cyngor y gymuned. Bydd dadl yn caniatáu inni ddathlu swyddogaeth y grwpiau cymunedol hyn a fforymau ar draws y wlad wrth adfywio ein cymunedau.
A gaf i ofyn hefyd am ddatganiad neu ddadl ar bwysigrwydd diwylliant a thraddodiadau i Gymru? Ddydd Sul, ar Nos Galan, fe wnaeth y Fari Lwyd ymddangosiad yn nhafarn a bwyty'r Corner House yn Llangynwyd. Dychrynodd y plant a'u plesio'n fawr ac roeddent allan ymhell y tu hwnt i’w hamseroedd gwely, yn ogystal â’r oedolion, gyda llaw, a lenwodd y gwesty hwn ar ben bryn, a minnau yn eu plith nhw. Nawr, mae gweld penglog ceffyl wedi ei orchuddio â chynfas wen ac addurniadau anweddus yn dawnsio, dan arweiniad Gwyn Evans sy’n canu mewn het silc a chynffonnau yn rhan o'r hyn sy'n ein gwneud ni’n Gymreig iawn—y pethau unigryw hyn sy'n denu ymwelwyr a thwristiaid i aros gyda ni a gwario eu harian, a hynny sy’n ein hatgoffa ni o'n gwreiddiau Celtaidd, sy'n mynd yn ddwfn i’n diwylliant cyn-Gristnogol. Felly, hoffwn dalu teyrnged i'r rhai sy’n cynnal y traddodiadau rhyfeddol hyn, sydd weithiau, fel yn yr achos hwn, wedi eu pasio i lawr drwy'r cenedlaethau. Byddai datganiad neu ddadl yn caniatáu inni ddathlu hyn ac yn annog y traddodiadau hyn i gael eu cynnal am nifer o genedlaethau i ddod.
I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for raising both of these important issues and giving us a sense of the vibrancy that's going on every day within our own communities. I'm really delighted to hear particularly about the grass-roots regeneration conversations that are going on at a local level, because this level of engagement is exactly what we envisaged when we set up the Valleys taskforce. It really is a ground-up piece of work, and so what we've heard really describes that kind of ethos.
I'm aware that Councillor Patel has had some very good discussions around the work of the taskforce, and she did speak at length to the former Minister with responsibility for the taskforce. The community hub approach, which you describe, is very much a priority under theme 2 of the taskforce delivery plan, and we know that those community hubs are very much a key asset to us when we're seeking to improve public service delivery. So, following a networking event last year, a community hub working group has been set up to map those existing hubs that already exist across the Valleys, highlighting good practice where it exists, and I think that we've heard of some of that there, and also exploring what communities and organisations need to do to develop a sustainable hub model. So, we're working with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, county voluntary councils, the Welsh Local Government Association, Interlink RCT, local health boards, the Building Communities Trust, the Learning and Work Institute and others in order to take that piece of work forward, but always with local residents and tenants being at the heart of that.
On the second part of the statement, I absolutely agree that the importance of our culture and traditions is very much what makes us very Welsh, as Huw Irranca-Davies said in his contribution, and we do have a wealth of poetry and prose, and our National Museum of History at St Fagans and the National Library of Wales both have collected this through the years to ensure that this wealth is not lost on us.
Diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am godi'r ddau fater pwysig hyn ac am roi ymdeimlad inni o’r bywiogrwydd sy'n digwydd bob dydd yn ein cymunedau ein hunain. Rwyf yn wirioneddol falch o glywed am y sgyrsiau adfywio ar lawr gwlad sy'n cael eu cynnal ar lefel leol, oherwydd y lefel hon o ymgysylltiad oedd yr union beth yr oeddem yn ei ragweld pan sefydlwyd tasglu’r Cymoedd. Mae'n ddarn o waith sy’n cael ei adeiladu o'r gwaelod i fyny yn wir, ac felly mae'r hyn a glywsom yn disgrifio'r math hwnnw o ethos yn dda iawn.
Rwyf yn ymwybodol bod y Cynghorydd Patel wedi cael trafodaethau da iawn ynghylch gwaith y tasglu, ac fe siaradodd yn hir â'r cyn-Weinidog yr oedd cyfrifoldeb am y tasglu ganddo. Mae’r dull hyb cymunedol yr ydych yn ei ddisgrifio, yn flaenoriaeth fawr o dan thema 2 y cynllun cyflenwi tasglu, a gwyddom fod yr hybiau cymunedol hynny yn asedau mawr inni pan rydym yn ceisio gwella darpariaeth gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Felly, yn dilyn digwyddiad rhwydweithio y llynedd, cafodd gweithgor hyb cymunedol ei sefydlu i fapio’r hybiau sydd eisoes yn bodoli ledled y Cymoedd, gan dynnu sylw at arferion da lle bo hynny'n bodoli, a chredaf ein bod ni wedi clywed rhywfaint o hynny yn y fan yna, a hefyd i edrych ar yr hyn y mae angen i gymunedau a sefydliadau ei wneud i ddatblygu model o hyb sy’n gynaliadwy. Felly, rydym yn gweithio gyda Chyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru, cynghorau gwirfoddol sirol, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, Interlink RhCT, byrddau iechyd lleol, yr Ymddiriedolaeth Adeiladu Cymunedau, y Sefydliad Dysgu a Gwaith ac eraill er mwyn mynd â’r darn hwnnw o waith yn ei flaen, ond gyda thrigolion lleol a thenantiaid wrth wraidd hynny bob amser.
O ran ail ran y datganiad, cytunaf yn llwyr mai pwysigrwydd ein diwylliant a'n traddodiadau yw’r hyn sy'n ein gwneud ni’n Gymreig iawn, fel y dywedodd Huw Irranca-Davies yn ei gyfraniad ef. Mae gennym gyfoeth o farddoniaeth a rhyddiaith, ac mae’n Hamgueddfa Werin yn Sain Ffagan a Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru wedi casglu'r rhain dros y blynyddoedd i sicrhau nad yw’r cyfoeth hwn yn cael ei golli.
May I ask for a statement from the Minister for Housing and Local Government on a matter of great concern to local residents living in Caerphilly County Borough Council? The council plans to increase council tax in the borough by nearly 7 per cent and cut its spending by £50 million. However, last month, the Labour administration voted to spend £242,000 on an investigation into pay rises for senior officers in the borough. This investigation began in 2013 and will have cost the taxpayer over £4 million this year. Please could we have a statement from the Minister on what action she intends to take to protect taxpayers from the consequences of the Labour Party's mismanagement of Caerphilly council?
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar fater sydd o bryder mawr i drigolion lleol sy'n byw yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili? Mae'r cyngor yn bwriadu cynyddu'r dreth gyngor yn y fwrdeistref bron 7 y cant ac mae wedi torri £50 miliwn ar ei wariant. Fodd bynnag, y mis diwethaf, pleidleisiodd y weinyddiaeth Lafur i wario £242,000 ar gynnal ymchwiliad i godiadau cyflog ar gyfer uwch-swyddogion yn y fwrdeistref. Dechreuodd yr ymchwiliad hwn yn 2013 a bydd wedi costio dros £4 miliwn i'r trethdalwr eleni. Os gwelwch yn dda, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog ar y camau y mae hi'n bwriadu eu cymryd i amddiffyn y trethdalwyr rhag canlyniadau camreoli'r Blaid Lafur yng Nghyngor Caerffili?
Thank you for the question. There'll be two opportunities open to you to raise this directly with the Minister for local government. There'll be a statement later this afternoon on the local government settlement and, obviously, opportunities to table questions to the Minister for answer in next week's session.
Diolch am y cwestiwn. Bydd dau gyfle i chi godi hyn yn uniongyrchol gyda'r Gweinidog dros lywodraeth leol. Bydd datganiad yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma ar y setliad llywodraeth leol ac, yn amlwg, ceir cyfleoedd i gyflwyno cwestiynau i'r Gweinidog i'w hateb yn sesiwn yr wythnos nesaf.
I'd just like to begin my brief comments by saying how pleased I think Steffan would be to see us just all getting on with things after a very emotional start this afternoon.
Hoffwn ddechrau fy sylwadau byr drwy ddweud pa mor falch y credaf y byddai Steffan o'n gweld ni'n bwrw ymlaen â phethau ar ôl dechrau emosiynol iawn y prynhawn yma.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
I'd like to request consideration for two statements, please, Trefnydd. One is with regard to the ongoing problems with Powys County Council's children's services. Now, I'm very grateful for the written statement that we have all received from the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services and, though she's not here, I'd like to put on record my congratulations to her in her new post and welcome somebody with the level of expertise that she has to this role, where I'm sure she'll make an invaluable contribution. But I'm sure that there are many Members in this Chamber who represent Powys, as I do, who will be very concerned at the lack of progress after a whole 12 months of intervention. I wonder, Trefnydd, if you could ask the Deputy Minister whether she'd consider making a statement, perhaps in about eight weeks' time, when the administration at Powys County Council will have had an opportunity to respond to the inspectorate, to respond to concerns that she and her officials are raising, and I'm sure the correspondence that she will have received from me and, I'm sure, other elected Members. Because I suppose my concern is that, after all this time, we have not seen progress and, in the meantime, the childhoods of these children in Powys are passing by without the support to which we would all believe they are entitled, despite, in fairness, the support that I know they have received from the Welsh Government to enable them to address these issues.
The other issue that I would like to ask you to raise with one of your colleagues is that I would like you to ask the health Minister himself if he will make a statement following the press coverage today of the aftermath of the issues in Tawel Fan. Members will have seen the correspondence released under freedom of information with Donna Ockenden, who, of course, conducted the original, very critical report. Now, in that exchange of correspondence with the Minister, Ms Ockenden says, for example,
'My concern is that the BCUHB board and senior management team within mental health at BCUHB do not currently have the capability and capacity to deliver upon the root and branch systemic review that is needed'
to make the changes for older people's mental health services. She further then reports a nurse telling her of a recent visit to an elderly persons mental health ward, during which the senior member of staff did not speak at all. The senior member of management did not speak at all, either to a single member of staff or to a patient, though that will be reported as them having actively engaged with the service.
The response from the health board to these concerns in that article—and, of course, it is only a press article—are beyond concerning in their complacency. I believe we need to hear from the Minister about how he responds to those criticisms. Essentially, Ms Ockenden is telling him that no progress has been made in the last six months. How does he respond to those concerns and what steps is he taking to ensure that the health board does have the capacity to address these very serious issues?
Hoffwn ofyn am ystyriaeth i ddau ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, Trefnydd. Mae un yn ymwneud â phroblemau parhaus gyda gwasanaethau plant Cyngor Sir Powys. Nawr, rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y datganiad ysgrifenedig yr ydym i gyd wedi ei dderbyn gan y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithas. Ac er nad yw hi yma, hoffwn gofnodi fy llongyfarchiadau iddi yn ei swydd newydd a chroesawu rhywun â'r lefel o arbenigedd sydd ganddi hi i'r swyddogaeth hon, ac rwyf yn siŵr y bydd yn gwneud cyfraniad amhrisiadwy. Ond rwy'n siŵr bod llawer o'r Aelodau yn y Siambr hon sy'n cynrychioli Powys, fel minnau, a fydd yn bryderus iawn ynghylch y diffyg cynnydd a wnaed ar ôl 12 mis cyfan o ymyrraeth. Tybed, Trefnydd, a allech chi ofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a wnaiff hi ystyried gwneud datganiad, ymhen tuag wyth wythnos efallai, pan fydd y weinyddiaeth yng Nghyngor Sir Powys wedi cael cyfle i ymateb i'r arolygiaeth, i ymateb i’r pryderon a godir ganddi hi a'i swyddogion, ac rwyf yn siŵr yr ohebiaeth y bydd hi wedi ei chael gennyf i ac, rwyf yn siŵr, Aelodau etholedig eraill. Oherwydd, mae'n debyg mai fy mhryder i yw hyn. Ar ôl yr holl amser hwn, nid ydym wedi gweld cynnydd ac, yn y cyfamser, mae plentyndod y plant hyn ym Mhowys yn mynd heibio heb y cymorth y credwn i gyd sydd ganddynt yr hawl iddo, er gwaethaf, a bod yn deg, y cymorth y gwn iddynt ei gael gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'w galluogi nhw i fynd i'r afael â’r materion hyn.
Y mater arall yr hoffwn ofyn i chi ei godi gydag un o'ch cyd-Aelodau yw hyn. Byddwn yn hoffi ichi ofyn i’r Gweinidog iechyd ei hun a yw'n mynd i wneud datganiad yn dilyn y sylw yn y wasg heddiw i ganlyniadau'r materion yn Nhawel Fan. Bydd yr Aelodau wedi gweld yr ohebiaeth a ryddhawyd o dan y ddeddf ryddid gwybodaeth rhwng y Gweinidog a Donna Ockenden, wrth gwrs, a gynhaliodd yr adroddiad gwreiddiol beirniadol iawn. Nawr, wrth gyfnewid gohebiaeth â'r Gweinidog, mae Ms Ockenden yn dweud, er enghraifft,
Fy mhryder i yw nad oes gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr na'r uwch dîm rheoli ym maes iechyd meddwl ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr y gallu na'r capasiti ar hyn o bryd i gyflawni’r hyn sydd angen ei wneud yn unol â’r adolygiad systemig gwraidd a brig
i wneud y newidiadau i wasanaethau iechyd meddwl pobl hŷn. Mae hi wedyn yn adrodd ymhellach bod nyrs wedi dweud wrthi am ymweliad diweddar â ward iechyd meddwl pobl hŷn pan na siaradodd yr uwch aelod o staff o gwbl. Ni siaradodd yr uwch aelod rheoli chwaith ag unrhyw aelod o’r staff na chlaf, er y bydd hynny'n cael ei nodi fel chwarae rhan weithredol yn y gwasanaeth.
Mae ymateb y bwrdd iechyd i'r pryderon hyn yn yr erthygl honno—ac, wrth gwrs, erthygl yn y wasg yn unig ydyw—y tu hwnt i fod yn bryderus ynghylch eu hunanfoddhad. Credaf fod angen inni glywed gan y Gweinidog sut y mae ef yn ymateb i'r beirniadaethau hynny. Yn y bôn, mae Ms Ockenden yn dweud wrtho nad oes unrhyw gynnydd wedi ei wneud yn y chwe mis diwethaf. Sut y mae'n ymateb i'r pryderon hynny a pha gamau y mae'n eu cymryd i sicrhau bod gan y bwrdd iechyd y gallu i fynd i'r afael â materion difrifol iawn hyn?
Thank you for raising both of those issues, and I can give you my commitment that I will speak to both the Deputy Minister and the Minister in terms of what would be the most appropriate way and the most appropriate time to update on both the issues of the Ockenden review and the issues that Powys County Council have been facing in their children's services.
Diolch am godi'r ddau fater hynny, a gallaf roi fy ymrwymiad y byddaf yn siarad â'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Gweinidog o ran beth fyddai'r ffordd fwyaf priodol a'r adeg fwyaf priodol o roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynghylch materion adolygiad Ockenden a'r materion y mae Cyngor Sir Powys wedi bod yn eu hwynebu yn eu gwasanaethau plant.
Trefnydd, I listened with interest yesterday to the statement by the UK environment Minister on measures to improve air quality across the UK, and whilst the measures to clean up wood and coal in open fires and stoves, as well as polluting substances in scented candles, carpets and paint, may be laudable, the major challenge in my constituency is pollutants from vehicles. So, I was disappointed that the UK Government is not planning to do anything further beyond the ban on diesel vehicles by 2040. So, I wondered if we could have a statement from the Welsh Government on how Welsh Government policy relates to this new statement from the UK Government, which also includes measures to reduce ammonia emissions from agriculture, which may be of interest. But I'm just concerned about the very slow pace of reform, given what we now know about the impact of air pollutants on really important issues like miscarriages, heart disease and dementia. Therefore, there seems to be a lack of urgency about what the UK Government is doing. So, I'd be very keen to understand the Welsh Government's response so that we can then scrutinise that. So, I wonder if we can have a statement on that.
Trefnydd, gwrandewais â diddordeb ddoe ar y datganiad gan y Gweinidog dros yr Amgylchedd yn y DU ar fesurau i wella ansawdd yr aer ar draws y DU. Ac er bod y mesurau i lanhau coed a glo mewn tanau agored a stofiau, yn ogystal â sylweddau sy'n llygru mewn canhwyllau persawrus, carpedi a phaent, yn ganmoladwy, yr her fawr yn fy etholaeth i yw llygryddion o gerbydau. Felly, roeddwn yn siomedig nad yw Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu gwneud unrhyw beth pellach y tu hwnt i'r gwaharddiad ar gerbydau diesel erbyn 2040. Tybed a oes modd cael datganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar sut y mae polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yn gysylltiedig â'r datganiad newydd hwn gan Lywodraeth y DU, sydd hefyd yn cynnwys mesurau i leihau allyriadau amonia mewn amaethyddiaeth, a allai fod o ddiddordeb. Ond rwy'n bryderus ynghylch amser araf iawn y diwygio, o ystyried yr hyn a wyddom bellach am effaith llygryddion aer ar faterion pwysig megis camesgor, clefyd y galon a dementia. Felly, ymddengys fod diffyg brys ynghylch yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud. Byddwn yn awyddus iawn i ddeall ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru fel y gallwn graffu ar hynny wedyn. Felly, tybed a allwn ni gael datganiad ar hynny.
Thank you very much for raising this issue, because clean air clearly has a central role to play in creating the right conditions for better health, for well-being and for greater physical activity across Wales as well. And I think that this is recognised in our commitment to reducing emissions and delivering vital improvements to air quality, but doing it through planning, through infrastructure, through regulation and also through health communication measures.
The Member will be aware that, in summer 2018, the Welsh Government established the clean air programme for Wales to reduce the burden of poor air quality on human health and the natural environment, and that programme is very much considering the evidence and developing and implementing actions right across Government, and across sectors including the environment, health, education, decarbonisation, transport, local government planning, agriculture and industry, to try and achieve clean air for Wales. The work being developed through that programme will inform the development of a clean air plan for Wales, which the Welsh Government intends to consult on and publish during 2019, and I would encourage Members to have an interest in that to engage with that consultation.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am godi'r mater hwn, oherwydd mae'n amlwg fod gan aer glân swyddogaeth ganolog i'w chwarae er mwyn creu'r amodau cywir ar gyfer gwell iechyd a llesiant ac ar gyfer mwy o weithgarwch corfforol ar draws Cymru hefyd. Ac rwyf yn credu bod hyn yn cael ei gydnabod yn ein hymrwymiad i leihau allyriadau a darparu gwelliannau hanfodol i ansawdd yr aer, ond caiff hynny ei wneud drwy gynllunio, drwy seilwaith, drwy reoleiddio a hefyd drwy fesurau cyfathrebu iechyd.
Bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol, yn ystod yr haf yn 2018, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefydlu rhaglen aer glân fel y gall Cymru leihau'r baich o ansawdd aer gwael ar iechyd dynol a'r amgylchedd naturiol. Mae'r rhaglen honno'n ystyried y dystiolaeth yn fawr iawn ac yn datblygu ac yn gweithredu camau ar draws y Llywodraeth, ac ar draws sectorau gan gynnwys yr amgylchedd, iechyd, addysg, datgarboneiddio, trafnidiaeth, cynllunio llywodraeth leol, amaethyddiaeth a diwydiant, i geisio sicrhau aer glân yng Nghymru. Bydd y gwaith sy'n cael ei ddatblygu drwy'r rhaglen yn llywio datblygiad cynllun aer glân ar gyfer Cymru y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu ymgynghori yn ei gylch a'i gyhoeddi yn ystod 2019. Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i fod â diddordeb yn hynny er mwyn ymwneud â'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw.
I would like to request a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the case of my constituent, Mr Barry Topping-Morris. Mr Topping-Morris was the head of nursing at the Caswell Clinic in the then Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust when he was removed from post in 2005. He had brought to the attention of senior management what he considered irregularities in the assessment and treatment of a patient. These concerns emerged when Mr Topping-Morris conducted an internal review into a serious case and in preparation for a visit by Health Inspectorate Wales. I am concerned that Mr Topping-Morris's subsequent treatment as an employee might have been adversely affected by the way he sought to exercise his professional judgment in applying constructive challenge in this difficult case.
A number of reviews have been held, but none on the employment practices. The most recent review carried out on behalf of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health Board, in March 2015, stated that the employment concerns, and I now quote:
'were not within scope of the review'.
It appears that Mr Topping-Morris's employment concerns have never been properly investigated, and given that these might be relevant to wider issues of public interest, I would urge the Minister to commission a further review so that closure can at last be made to this case.
Fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog dros Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar achos fy etholwr, Mr Barry Topping-Morris. Mr Topping-Morris oedd y pennaeth nyrsio yng Nghlinig Caswell yn Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Bro Morgannwg, fel yr oedd hi bryd hynny, pan gafodd ei ddiswyddo yn 2005. Soniodd wrth uwch-reolwyr am yr hyn a ystyriai yn afreoleidd-dra mewn asesu a thrin claf. Daeth y pryderon hyn i'r amlwg pan oedd Mr Topping-Morris yn cynnal adolygiad mewnol i achos difrifol ac yn paratoi ar gyfer ymweliad gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru. Rwy'n pryderu bod y ffordd y ceisiodd arfer ei farn broffesiynol wrth herio'n adeiladol yn yr achos anodd hwn efallai wedi cael effaith andwyol ar y ffordd y cafodd Mr Topping-Morris ei drin ar ôl hynny fel cyflogai.
Cynhaliwyd nifer o adolygiadau, ond dim un ynglŷn â'r arferion cyflogaeth. Dywedodd yr adolygiad mwyaf diweddar a gynhaliwyd ar ran Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Prifysgol Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, ym mis Mawrth 2015, nad oedd pryderon ynglŷn â chyflogaeth, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
'o fewn cwmpas yr adolygiad'.
Mae'n ymddangos nad yw pryderon cyflogaeth Mr Topping-Morris erioed wedi bod yn destun ymchwil priodol, ac o gofio y gallai'r rhain fod yn berthnasol i faterion ehangach o ddiddordeb i'r cyhoedd, rwy'n annog y Gweinidog i gomisiynu adolygiad pellach fel y gellir cau pen y mwdwl ar yr achos hwn o'r diwedd.
I thank you very much for raising what is a very sensitive issue, and I appreciate the distress that has been caused to your constituent, if he feels that his concerns haven't been fully investigated and addressed. You'll appreciate that the health Minister can't become involved in individual employment matters, but he has indicated to me that he would be prepared to write to the chair of the health board on this matter, specifically on the issue of whether all of the employment issues raised by your constituent about employment practices and so on, as you've described, have been properly considered and effectively addressed. I'll ensure that he shares that response with you when he receives it.
Diolch ichi am grybwyll yr hyn sydd yn fater sensitif iawn, ac rwy'n sylweddoli'r trallod a achoswyd i'ch etholwr, os yw'n teimlo na fu ymchwiliad llawn i'w bryderon ac nad ymdriniwyd â nhw'n llawn. Byddwch yn deall na all y Gweinidog iechyd ymdrin â materion cyflogaeth unigol, ond mae wedi dweud wrthyf y byddai'n barod i ysgrifennu at gadeirydd y bwrdd iechyd ynglŷn â'r mater hwn, yn benodol ynghylch pa un a yw'r holl faterion cyflogaeth a soniodd eich etholwr amdanyn nhw ynglŷn ag arferion cyflogaeth ac ati, fel yr ydych chi wedi eu disgrifio, wedi eu hystyried yn briodol ac a ymdriniwyd â nhw'n effeithiol. Fe wnaf i sicrhau ei fod yn rhannu'r ymateb gyda chi pan gaiff ef hwnnw.
Thank you very much, Minister.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog.
Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Counsel General and Brexit Minister on the UK Government's current proposals for EU withdrawal, and I call on the Counsel General and Brexit Minister, Jeremy Miles.
Eitem 4 ar yr agenda'r prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Brexit ynglŷn â chynigion presennol Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer ymadael â’r UE, ac rwy'n galw ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Brexit, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Wrth inni eistedd yma, mae ein cydweithwyr yn Senedd y Deyrnas Unedig yn cyrraedd diwedd eu trafodaeth hirfaith am gynnig y Llywodraeth ar gyfer cytundeb i ymadael â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mi fyddan nhw’n pleidleisio yn nes ymlaen ac mae'n debygol iawn y bydd cytundeb y Prif Weinidog yn cael ei drechu, yn drwm iawn, o bosib. Mae disgwyl inni ymadael â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd mewn 73 o ddiwrnodau, a does dim cytundeb yn ei le.
Rydyn ni wedi cael ein harwain at y dibyn gan Lywodraeth hollol ddi-glem sydd â mwy o ddiddordeb mewn ymdrechion byrbwyll i uno'i phlaid ei hun na budd y wlad. Mae'r sefyllfa'n un gwbl warthus. Does gan fewnforwyr ac allforwyr ddim sicrwydd o gwbl o ran sut bydd eu busnesau'n gweithredu mewn ychydig wythnosau. Mae cynnyrch amaethyddol yn wynebu tariffau andwyol, ac fe allai'r peryg o ddryswch yn ein porthladdoedd effeithio ar gyflenwadau o bob math, o rannau ceir i feddyginiaethau neu ffrwythau a llysiau ffres. Gallai hyn effeithio ar bob rhan o'n cymunedau ac mae'n bygwth y rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. Fe fydd yn gosod pwysau ychwanegol diangen ar ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus.
Mae dinasyddion Ewropeaidd sydd eisoes yn byw ac yn gweithio yma yn ein cymuned yn teimlo'n ansicr ac yn fregus. Nid oes gan y rhai sydd wedi cael cynigion i lenwi swyddi gwag hanfodol bwysig, er enghraifft yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd neu ein prifysgolion, ar ôl 30 Mawrth, unrhyw syniad ar ba sail y byddant yn cael hawl i weithio yma. Mae buddsoddwyr sydd wedi bod yn edrych ar y Deyrnas Unedig fel y ganolfan orau ar gyfer cyflenwi’r farchnad Ewropeaidd nawr yn ein hosgoi. Mae peryg i swyddi. Yn wir, mae rhai eisoes yn cael eu colli. Mae twf economaidd yn dod i stop a does neb yn gwybod beth a ddigwyddiff nesaf. Dirprwy Lywydd, mae Llywodraeth y Derynas Unedig yn chwarae gyda dyfodol y wlad.
Cymerodd hi ddwy flynedd i lunio cynigion Chequers, sef cynnig cyntaf y Llywodraeth i bob pwrpas ar gynllun ar gyfer perthynas hirdymor, er y dylai hynny fod wedi bod yn ei le pan gafodd erthygl 50 ei danio. Collwyd amser hanfodol yn dadlau dros linellau coch a chwarae i'r gynulleidfa yn nghynadleddau'r blaid. Ac hyd yn oed, dros yr ychydig wythnosau diwethaf, wrth gamu yn ôl, collwyd amser yn pledio am sicrwydd. Digwyddodd hyn i gyd yn hytrach na datblygu strategaeth ymarferol ac adeiladu cynghreiriau o gefnogaeth, gan gynnwys gyda'r rhai a oedd, fel Llywodraeth Cymru a'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, yn annog perthynas ar ôl Brexit yn seiliedig ar barch i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd a buddiannau hanfodol y wlad hon.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. As we sit here, our colleagues in the UK Parliament are reaching the end of their elongated debate on the Government’s proposed EU withdrawal deal. They will vote later and it’s likely the Prime Minister’s deal will be defeated, probably quite heavily. We are scheduled to leave the European Union in 73 days, and there is no kind of deal in place.
We have been led to this cliff-edge by an inept Government more interested in its increasingly desperate attempts to hold its own party together than the national interest. This situation is truly appalling. Importers and exporters have no assurance at all as regards the basis on which they can conduct their business in just a few weeks' time. Agricultural produce faces crippling tariffs, and the risk of chaos around our ports could impact on supplies of anything from spare parts for cars to medicines to fresh fruit and vegetables. This could affect all parts of our communities. It poses a real threat to the most vulnerable in our society and will place needless additional pressure on our public services.
European citizens already living and working here in our community are inevitably unsettled and vulnerable. Those with job offers to fill much needed vacancies, for example in our health service and universities, after 30 March, have no idea of the basis on which they will be allowed to work here. Investors who have seen the UK as their best base for operations for supplying the European market are now avoiding us. Jobs are at risk. Indeed, some are already being lost. Economic growth is grinding to a halt and nobody knows what will happen next. Deputy Presiding Officer, the UK Government is gambling with this country’s future.
It took two years to come up with the Chequers proposals—effectively, the Government’s opening gambit on the long-term relationship—which should have been in place at the point at which we triggered article 50. This was time lost posturing over red lines and playing to the gallery at party conferences, and even in the last few weeks, in retreat, time was lost in pleading for assurances. All of this instead of developing a viable strategy and building coalitions of support, including those, like the Welsh Government and this National Assembly, who advocated a post-Brexit relationship based both on respect for the European Union and the vital interests of this country.
The result is a deal which represents an obvious retreat from the Prime Minister's arrogant red lines and her pretence that we can have the same access to the single market without subscribing to its rule, but which fails in the cobbled-together political declaration to secure firm guarantees over this country's economic future. The deal does not remove the threat of a perilous cliff edge; it simply postpones it. The Prime Minister's deal creates ambiguity in trading relationships, and excludes services where the UK actually enjoys a trade surplus with Europe. It fails to guarantee alignment with future EU social workplace and environmental protections. It fosters uncertainty for citizens, both Europeans living here and UK citizens living in Europe. And when taken together with the wholly misconceived proposals in the White Paper on immigration, it positively inhibits the ability of employers to recruit workers in shortage areas in both the public and private sectors. As a result of this incoherence, the UK Government has been forced to accept the convoluted Northern Ireland backstop arrangement. The UK Government's own analysis, and those of independent institutions, including the National Institute for Economic and Social Research and the London School of Economics, shows the UK Government's approach will damage the economy. No-one voted in the referendum to be poorer.
Now, if we're criticising the UK Government position, it's entirely reasonable to ask what we propose instead. On that, we can be very clear. Almost exactly two years ago, we, jointly with Plaid Cymru, published our proposals in our White Paper 'Securing Wales' Future'. And I'll associate myself, if I may, with the comments the First Minister made in tributes earlier to Steffan Lewis, in particular his integral role in developing those proposals jointly. But if the Welsh Government was able to publish a comprehensive, strategic position for EU exit two years ago, why was the UK Government unable to do the same? We had to wait until the summer of 2018 before we had any serious inkling of where the UK really stood. 'Securing Wales' Future' represented as well an effort to reach out beyond the confines of one party to seek a broader consensus, an approach that the Prime Minister has rejected in formulating her own position.
We believe Wales's vital interests are best preserved through participation in the single market across the whole economy, including services. That's what business wants and that's what investors need. We should remain in a customs union, which is essential to avoid increased friction at the border and which delivers free trade with so many countries. We should preserve social protections and mutual rights for UK and EU citizens living in each other's countries, and continue to match environmental standards and social and labour rights as they develop across our continent. Fair movement should clearly link migration from the EU to work opportunities and should be accompanied by vigorous measures to prevent the exploitation of workers. If we follow these measures, as we outlined in our White Paper, the need for a Northern Ireland backstop simply melts away, and the integrity of the UK, which has been taken for granted in the UK Government's negotiating position, is protected.
Llywydd, I have no idea if the Prime Minister has a plan B. In the national interest, I hope she has—it is essential. We urge her now to commit to a new approach, based on working with the devolved administrations, and on a cross-party basis, and, at the same time, to ask the European Union for an extension to the article 50 deadline of 29 March. This country is in deep turmoil, and it cannot be right that fundamentally important decisions about our collective future be taken in these circumstances. The clock needs to be put on pause while Parliament regroups, while we all regroup, and think carefully about the best way forward for our country.
And I say this with great respect to all shades of opinion. Wherever people stand on Brexit, it cannot be right for the country if we simply fall out of the EU without any sort of deal, based on a random date at the end of March. That is the first choice of hardly anyone, and would be a travesty. But the stark reality is this: we face leaving without a deal on 29 March, and we must prepare for that. As the First Minister outlined last week, most of the key levers for 'no deal' Brexit preparation are in the hands of the UK Government. In spite of our policy disagreements, we are committed to working closely with them, and with the other devolved administrations, and other partners, to make preparations.
We have consistently said it would be extremely difficult to mitigate the effects of a 'no deal', but we have a responsibility to prepare for such a bleak situation. We are working with other organisations across Wales to do all in our power to prepare. To inform citizens and organisations, we have created a Preparing Wales website, bringing together the latest advice and information. We anticipate launching that in the coming days, taking into account developments in what is a very fluid situation.
Members will know that we are working hard to make sure that our statute book is up to date. An enormous amount of work is being done, here and in collaboration with the UK Government, to ensure that legislation necessary to function outside the European Union is in place before 29 March. The work is being tackled in extraordinary and unique circumstances, and we look to colleagues here in the National Assembly to play a part alongside us as a Government. We have activated the well-established networks for civil contingencies management in Wales, and we are linked in to the wider UK contingencies network. We are also working with local resilience fora across Wales. NHS Wales is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to facilitate their necessary preparations. Information useful to business is posted to our Business Wales Brexit portal, and further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Llywydd, there is no avoiding the serious reality of the difficult position we now face. 'No deal' is a very possible outcome, and, as a responsible Government, we must do all we can to work with others to prepare and mitigate where possible. But this is not the outcome we want. Even now, we remain ready to work with the UK Government, and others, to secure a sensible deal with the EU. We will find out soon how the UK Government and Parliament intend to resolve the position. We have already called for the article 50 deadline to be extended.
The UK Government has perplexed its friends, undermined our country’s interests, caused anxiety to Europeans in our community, and exacerbated deep division amongst its own citizens. If the UK Government can't bring forward a deal that commands strong support, then it should stand aside. The current chaos cannot continue.
Y canlyniad yw cytundeb sy'n cynrychioli cyfaddawdu amlwg ar safbwynt trahaus Prif Weinidog y DU a'i hesgus y gallwn ni gael yr un mynediad i'r farchnad sengl heb ymostwng i'w rheolau, ond sy'n ddiffygiol yn y datganiad gwleidyddol a daflwyd at ei gilydd ar frys i roi sicrwydd cadarn ynghylch dyfodol economaidd y wlad hon. Nid yw'r cytundeb yn cael gwared ar y bygythiad o'r ymyl dibyn peryglus; dim ond yn ei ohirio. Mae cytundeb y Prif Weinidog yn creu amwyster yn y berthynas fasnachu, ac yn eithrio gwasanaethau lle mae'r DU mewn gwirionedd yn mwynhau gwarged masnach ag Ewrop. Mae'n methu â sicrhau cydymffurfiaeth ag amddiffyniadau cymdeithasol, amgylcheddol ac yn ymwneud â'r gweithle y bydd yr UE yn eu cyflwyno yn y dyfodol. Mae'n meithrin ansicrwydd ar gyfer dinasyddion, Ewropeaid sy'n byw yma a dinasyddion y DU sy'n byw yn Ewrop. Ac o'i ystyried gyda'r cynigion cwbl gyfeiliornus yn y Papur Gwyn ar fewnfudo, mae'n bendant yn llesteirio gallu cyflogwyr i recriwtio gweithwyr yn y meysydd hynny lle mae prinder, a hynny yn y sector cyhoeddus a'r sector preifat. O ganlyniad i'r diffyg cydlyniad hwn, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gorfod derbyn yr ôl-stop astrus ar gyfer Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae dadansoddiad Llywodraeth y DU ei hun, a rhai sefydliadau annibynnol, gan gynnwys y Sefydliad Cenedlaethol dros Ymchwil Economaidd a Chymdeithasol ac Ysgol Economeg Llundain, yn dangos y bydd dull gweithredu Llywodraeth y DU yn niweidio'r economi. Ni phleidleisiodd neb yn y refferendwm dros fod yn dlotach.
Nawr, os ydym ni'n beirniadu safbwynt Llywodraeth y DU, mae'n gwbl resymol i ofyn beth ydym ni'n ei gynnig yn lle hynny. Yn hynny o beth, fe allwn ni fod yn glir iawn. Bron yn union ddwy flynedd yn ôl, fe wnaethom ni, ar y cyd â Phlaid Cymru, gyhoeddi ein cynigion yn ein Papur Gwyn 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru'. Ac fe wnaf i, os caf i, ategu'r sylwadau a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog yn y teyrngedau yn gynharach i Steffan Lewis, yn arbennig ei swyddogaeth annatod wrth ddatblygu'r cynigion ar y cyd hynny. Ond os oedd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu cyhoeddi safbwynt cynhwysfawr, strategol ar gyfer gadael yr UE ddwy flynedd yn ôl, pam na allai Llywodraeth y DU wneud yr un peth? Bu'n rhaid inni aros tan haf 2018 cyn inni gael unrhyw awgrym difrifol o safbwynt y DU mewn gwirionedd. Roedd 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru' yn ymdrechu hefyd i ymestyn y tu hwnt i gyfyngiadau un blaid i geisio consensws ehangach, rhywbeth y mae Prif Weinidog y DU wedi gwrthod ei wneud wrth lunio ei safbwynt ei hun.
Rydym ni'n credu y caiff buddiannau hanfodol Cymru eu diogelu orau drwy sicrhau bod yr holl economi yn elwa ar y farchnad sengl, gan gynnwys gwasanaethau. Dyna ddymuniad byd busnes a dyna beth sydd ei angen ar fuddsoddwyr. Fe ddylem ni aros mewn undeb tollau, sy'n hanfodol er mwyn osgoi mwy o rwystrau ar y ffin ac sy'n fodd o fasnachu'n rhydd gyda chynifer o wledydd. Dylem gadw amddiffyniadau cymdeithasol a hawliau cydfuddiannol i ddinasyddion y DU a'r UE sy'n byw yng ngwledydd ei gilydd, a pharhau i gydymffurfio â safonau amgylcheddol a hawliau cymdeithasol a llafur wrth iddyn nhw ddatblygu ar draws ein cyfandir. Dylai tegwch o ran symudiad fod â chysylltiad clir rhwng ymfudo o'r UE a chyfleoedd gwaith a dylid ychwanegu mesurau llym i atal camfanteisio ar weithwyr. Os dilynwn y mesurau hyn, fel yr amlinellwyd yn ein Papur Gwyn, fe fydd yr angen am drefniant ôl-stop ar gyfer Gogledd Iwerddon yn diflanu, ac mae uniondeb y DU, sydd wedi'i gymryd yn ganiataol yn sefyllfa negodi Llywodraeth y DU, yn cael ei amddiffyn.
Llywydd, nid oes gennyf y syniad lleiaf pa un a oes gan Brif Weinidog y DU gynllun wrth gefn. Er budd cenedlaethol, rwy'n gobeithio bod ganddi un—mae'n hanfodol. Rydym ni'n ei hannog yn awr i ymrwymo i fynd ati mewn ffordd newydd, yn seiliedig ar weithio gyda'r gweinyddiaethau datganoledig, ac ar sail drawsbleidiol, ac, ar yr un pryd, i ofyn i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd am estyniad i ddyddiad terfynol erthygl 50, sef 29 Mawrth. Mae'r wlad hon mewn cythrwfl dwfn, ac nid yw hi'n iawn fod penderfyniadau pwysig sylfaenol am ein dyfodol ni i gyd yn cael eu gwneud o dan yr amgylchiadau hyn. Mae angen oedi'r cloc wrth i'r Senedd ailymgynull, wrth inni i gyd ailymgynull, a meddwl yn ofalus ynghylch y ffordd orau ymlaen ar gyfer ein gwlad.
Ac rwy'n dweud hyn gyda phob parch i bob arlliw o farn. Beth bynnag yw barn pobl ynglŷn â Brexit, ni all fod yn iawn i'r wlad os wnawn ni adael yr UE heb unrhyw fath o gytundeb, yn seiliedig ar ddyddiad ar hap ar ddiwedd mis Mawrth. Ni fyddai hynny'n ddewis cyntaf i neb bron, a byddai'n warth. Ond y gwir plaen amdani yw hyn: rydym ni'n wynebu gadael heb gytundeb ar 29 Mawrth, ac mae'n rhaid inni baratoi ar gyfer hynny. Fel yr amlinellodd Prif Weinidog Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf, mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r elfennau allweddol o ran paratoi ar gyfer Brexit 'dim cytundeb' yn nwylo Llywodraeth y DU. Er gwaethaf ein hanghytuno ynglŷn â pholisi, rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i weithio'n agos â nhw, a chyda'r gweinyddiaethau datganoledig eraill, a phartneriaid eraill, i baratoi.
Rydym ni wedi dweud yn gyson y byddai hi'n eithriadol o anodd lliniaru effeithiau 'dim cytundeb', ond mae gennym ni gyfrifoldeb i baratoi ar gyfer sefyllfa dywyll o'r fath. Rydym ni'n gweithio gyda sefydliadau eraill ledled Cymru i wneud popeth yn ein gallu i baratoi. Er mwyn hysbysu dinasyddion a sefydliadau, rydym ni wedi creu gwefan Paratoi Cymru, gan ddwyn ynghyd y cyngor a'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf. Rydym ni'n rhagweld lansio'r wefan honno yn y dyddiau nesaf, gan ystyried sut bydd y sefyllfa gyfnewidiol iawn yma yn datblygu
Bydd Aelodau'n gwybod ein bod ni'n gweithio'n galed i wneud yn siŵr bod ein llyfr statud yn gyfredol. Mae gwaith mawr yn cael ei wneud, yma ac mewn cydweithrediad â Llywodraeth y DU, i sicrhau bod deddfwriaeth sy'n angenrheidiol i weithredu y tu allan i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ar waith cyn Mawrth 29. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n cael ei wneud mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol ac unigryw, ac rydym ni'n gobeithio y bydd cyd-Aelodau yma yn y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â ni fel Llywodraeth. Rydym ni wedi gweithredu'r rhwydweithiau sefydledig ar gyfer rheoli argyfyngau sifil posibl yng Nghymru, ac rydym ni'n gysylltiedig â rhwydwaith argyfyngau ehangach y DU. Rydym ni hefyd yn gweithio gyda fforymau cydnerthedd lleol ledled Cymru. Mae GIG Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r Adran Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i hwyluso eu paratoadau angenrheidiol. Caiff gwybodaeth ddefnyddiol i fusnesau ei chynnwys ar borth Brexit Busnes Cymru, ac fe gaiff rhagor o wybodaeth ei chynnwys pan fydd ar gael.
Llywydd, does dim osgoi realiti difrifol y sefyllfa anodd yr ydym ni'n ei hwynebu yn awr. Mae 'dim cytundeb' yn ganlyniad posib iawn, ac, yn Llywodraeth gyfrifol, mae'n rhaid inni wneud popeth a allwn ni i weithio gydag eraill i baratoi a lliniaru lle bo'n bosib. Ond nid dyma'r canlyniad yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei weld. Hyd yn oed nawr, rydym ni'n dal yn barod i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU, ac eraill, i sicrhau cytundeb synhwyrol gyda'r UE. Cawn wybod cyn bo hir sut y mae Llywodraeth y DU a'r Senedd yn bwriadu datrys y sefyllfa. Rydym ni eisoes wedi galw am ymestyn dyddiad terfyn erthygl 50.
Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi peri dryswch i'w ffrindiau, tanseilio buddiannau ein gwlad, wedi achosi pryder i bobl Ewrop yn ein cymunedau ni, a gwaethygu rhaniadau dwfn ymhlith ei dinasyddion ei hun. Os na all Llywodraeth y DU gyflwyno cytundeb y mae cefnogaeth gref iddo, yna dylai sefyll o'r neilltu. Ni all yr anhrefn presennol barhau.
Can I thank the Counsel General, or Brexit Minister—whichever role he's making the statement today in—for making a copy of the statement available to me? I have to say, I'm a little bit disappointed at the tone of the statement that's just been delivered, because of course we all know that Theresa May has been working incredibly hard to be able to build a consensus of support in the UK Parliament—[Interruption.]—in the UK Parliament, in order to deliver a Brexit that realises the outcome of the referendum back in June 2016. And yet it appears that we have a Labour Party, both in Westminster and here in Wales, that looks set to try to frustrate Brexit and to frustrate the will of the people. And let's not forget; the people of Wales voted to leave the EU. I know that that's an inconvenient truth for some people in this Chamber, but it is a statement of fact. And, of course, in your own constituency, Counsel General, it was very clear that there was a margin of almost 14 per cent of people voting in favour of leaving the EU.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol, neu'r Gweinidog Brexit—yn rhinwedd pa bynnag swyddogaeth y mae'n gwneud y datganiad heddiw—am sicrhau bod copi o'r datganiad ar gael i mi? Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, rwyf ychydig yn siomedig ynglŷn â naws y datganiad sydd newydd ei draddodi, oherwydd wrth gwrs rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod bod Theresa May wedi bod yn gweithio'n anhygoel o galed i allu meithrin consensws o gefnogaeth yn Senedd y DU—[Torri ar draws.]—yn Senedd y DU, er mwyn sicrhau Brexit sy'n anrhydeddu canlyniad y refferendwm yn ôl ym mis Mehefin 2016. Ac eto ymddengys fod gennym ni Blaid Lafur, yn San Steffan ac yma yng Nghymru, sydd fel petai ei bod yn ceisio rhwystro Brexit a rhwystro ewyllys y bobl. Ac ni ddylem ni anghofio; pleidleisiodd pobl Cymru i adael yr UE. Rwy'n gwybod mai dyna'r gwir anghyfleus i rai pobl yn y Siambr yma, ond datganiad o ffaith ydyw. Ac, wrth gwrs, yn eich etholaeth chi, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, roedd hi'n glir iawn bod mwyafrif o bron 14 y cant o'r bobl wedi pleidleisio o blaid gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd.
Now, we can't ignore those facts. We have to deliver on the outcome of the referendum whether people voted to leave or to remain. What the Prime Minister has done is she's gone to Brussels, she's engaged with stakeholders, she's listened to people's concerns and she's come back with a deal that is a compromise deal, that not everybody is happy with. But it's a deal nevertheless that will avoid the sort of turbulence that you have described that could happen if we leave the EU without a deal on 29 March. [Interruption.]
It's all very well of you to be crowing and criticising the fact that article 50 was triggered, but let's not forget that article 50 was triggered with the support of the Labour Party and, in fact, it would have been triggered even sooner had Jeremy Corbyn had his way, because it was the day of the referendum he wanted to hand our notice in. So, what we have is a Prime Minister who's trying to steer and steady the ship at a difficult time in British politics and we ought to be working collaboratively on a cross-party basis—this is where I do agree with the Counsel General—in order to deliver a Brexit that will work in the interest of everybody here in Wales.
We need some mutual respect, and I don't feel that the tone of the statement that you made is giving that mutual respect in terms of the UK Government, because we know that, of course, the UK Government is trying to include the Welsh Government in taking the situation forward. I know, for example—and you could have given us an update on this, but you didn't, and I would appreciate it if you could tell us what the outcome of the meeting was that you had on 19 December, when you attended the national security council meeting.
Perhaps you could have given us an update on the weekly meetings that the First Minister and the Welsh Government have been invited to participate in in terms of the new EU exit preparedness arrangements. You could have told us about the numerous statutory instruments that have been passed with the agreement of the UK and the Welsh Governments—75 of them in all, which have been laid before the UK Parliament. You could have decided to inform us about the arrangements that you have in place, under the contingency plans, for Holyhead and Pembrokeshire ports. You c