Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
04/06/2019Cynnwys
Contents
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Galw'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Rhianon Passmore.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Rhianon Passmore.
1. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gynorthwyo busnesau yn Islwyn i baratoi at y dyfodol? OAQ53976
1. What actions is the Welsh Government taking to support businesses in Islwyn to prepare for the future? OAQ53976
Llywydd, the Welsh Government takes actions across portfolios areas, for example through services provided by Business Wales, the development bank and the economy futures fund. Furthermore, our international strategy will emphasise the importance of supporting trade with our closest neighbours and with the wider world.
Llywydd, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau ar draws meysydd portffolio, er enghraifft, trwy wasanaethau a ddarperir gan Busnes Cymru, y banc datblygu a chronfa dyfodol yr economi. Hefyd, bydd ein strategaeth ryngwladol yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd cefnogi masnach gyda'n cymdogion agosaf a chyda'r byd ehangach.
First Minister, thank you. More than 200 businesses in Wales have signed up to the Welsh Government's economic contract in its first year. The economic contract is designed with the express intention for the Welsh Government to develop a new and strengthened relationship with business to drive and nurture inclusive growth and responsible business behaviours. First Minister, isn't this dramatic proof that the Welsh Labour Government prioritises growth, supports businesses, and ensures that, in communities throughout Wales, like in Islwyn, business is supported for the very considerable challenges that lie ahead? What further measures, therefore, are the Welsh Labour Government considering as the economic contract moves forward?
Prif Weinidog, diolch. Mae dros 200 o fusnesau yng Nghymru wedi ymuno â chontract economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei flwyddyn gyntaf. Cynlluniwyd y contract economaidd gyda'r bwriad penodol i Lywodraeth Cymru ddatblygu perthynas newydd a chryfach â busnesau i ysgogi a meithrin twf cynhwysol ac ymddygiadau busnes cyfrifol. Prif Weinidog, onid yw hwn yn brawf dramatig bod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn blaenoriaethu twf, yn cefnogi busnesau, ac yn sicrhau, mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru, fel yn Islwyn, bod busnes yn cael ei gefnogi ar gyfer yr heriau sylweddol iawn sydd o'n blaenau? Pa fesurau eraill, felly, y mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn eu hystyried wrth i'r contract economaidd symud ymlaen?
Llywydd, can I thank Rhianon Passmore for those additional questions, and thank her for what she has said about the way that the Welsh Government supports businesses here in Wales, support we are determined to continue providing? That is why Wales has been one of the fastest growing parts of the United Kingdom. We have the highest number of active enterprises since comparable records began. The business birth rate in Wales is the highest of the four UK nations. The five-year survival rate, and the one-year survival rate of new Welsh businesses exceeds the survival rates across the United Kingdom. That is testimony both to the resilience of the business sector here in Wales and to the way in which the Welsh Government works with that sector to secure a successful future.
As far as the economic contract is concerned, we are now extending its reach. It's being included in remit letters that we provide, for example to the national museum, the national library and Transport for Wales, and we intend to apply the economic contract model to the new £50 million Welsh tourism investment fund that we are delivering in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales—further examples, Llywydd, of the way in which this Government goes on working positively with businesses right across Wales.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Rhianon Passmore am y cwestiynau ychwanegol yna, a diolch iddi am yr hyn y mae hi wedi ei ddweud am y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi busnesau yma yng Nghymru, cefnogaeth yr ydym ni'n benderfynol o barhau i'w ddarparu? Dyna pam mae Cymru wedi bod yn un o'r rhannau o'r Deyrnas Unedig sy'n tyfu gyflymaf. Mae gennym ni'r nifer fwyaf o fentrau gweithredol ers i gofnodion cymaradwy ddechrau. Mae'r gyfradd cychwyn busnesau yng Nghymru yr uchaf ym mhedair gwlad y DU. Mae'r gyfradd oroesi am bum mlynedd, a chyfradd goroesi am flwyddyn busnesau newydd Cymru yn fwy na'r cyfraddau goroesi ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae hynny'n tystio i gydnerthedd y sector busnes yma yng Nghymru ac i'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r sector hwnnw i sicrhau dyfodol llwyddiannus.
Cyn belled ag y mae'r contract economaidd yn y cwestiwn, rydym ni'n ymestyn ei gyrhaeddiad erbyn hyn. Mae'n cael ei gynnwys mewn llythyrau cylch gorchwyl yr ydym ni'n eu darparu, er enghraifft, i'r amgueddfa genedlaethol, i'r llyfrgell genedlaethol a Thrafnidiaeth Cymru, ac rydym ni'n bwriadu cymhwyso'r model contract economaidd i gronfa buddsoddi mewn twristiaeth newydd Cymru gwerth £50 miliwn yr ydym ni'n ei chyflwyno mewn partneriaeth â Banc Datblygu Cymru—enghreifftiau eraill, Llywydd, o'r ffordd y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn parhau i weithio'n gadarnhaol gyda busnesau ledled Cymru gyfan.
First Minister, last year, Wales saw the largest increase in the value of exports—£17.2 billion, with a rise of 4.2 per cent compared with 2017. Exports to EU countries rose by 5.6 per cent—just over £0.5 billion—compared to an increase of just over 2 per cent to non-EU countries. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that companies in Islwyn, and in the rest of Wales, have the support they need to take full advantage of the opportunities provided post Brexit to trade with the rest of the world?
Prif Weinidog, y llynedd, gwelwyd y cynnydd mwyaf i werth allforion yng Nghymru—£17.2 biliwn, gyda chynnydd o 4.2 y cant o'i gymharu â 2017. Cynyddodd allforion i wledydd yr UE gan 5.6 y cant—ychydig dros £0.5 biliwn—o'i gymharu â chynnydd o ychydig dros 2 y cant i wledydd nad ydynt yn yr UE. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod gan gwmnïau yn Islwyn, ac yng ngweddill Cymru, y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd a gynigir ar ôl Brexit i fasnachu gyda gweddill y byd?
I thank the Member for pointing to the success that there has been in the Welsh economy in relation to exports, a success that we are very keen to build on further. I'm pleased to tell the Member that I met yesterday, as my colleague Eluned Morgan did, with the Japanese ambassador, who was visiting Cardiff yesterday. He's been in Wales again today. He was here to make sure that we have the closest relationship between this Government and the Japanese Government as we move towards the Rugby World Cup, in order to make sure that Welsh businesses are as well placed as possible to take advantage of the platform that the world cup will provide, when knowledge of Wales will be at a higher level as a result of exposure through sport than would otherwise have been the case. And we will go on working, through the ambassador and through our contacts with the Japanese Government, to make sure that Welsh businesses and Welsh exporters are fully equipped to take advantage of those opportunities.
Diolch i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at y llwyddiant a gafwyd yn economi Cymru o ran allforion, llwyddiant yr ydym ni'n awyddus iawn i adeiladu arno ymhellach. Rwy'n falch o ddweud wrth yr Aelod fy mod i wedi cyfarfod ddoe, fel y gwnaeth fy nghyd-Aelod Eluned Morgan, â llysgennad Japan, a oedd yn ymweld â Chaerdydd ddoe. Mae ef wedi bod yng Nghymru eto heddiw. Roedd yma i wneud yn siŵr bod gennym ni'r berthynas agosaf rhwng y Llywodraeth hon a Llywodraeth Japan wrth i ni symud tuag at Gwpan Rygbi'r Byd, er mwyn sicrhau bod busnesau Cymru mewn sefyllfa gystal â phosibl i fanteisio ar y llwyfan y bydd cwpan y byd yn ei gynnig, pan fydd gwybodaeth am Gymru ar lefel uwch o ganlyniad i amlygiad trwy chwaraeon nag a fyddai wedi bod fel arall. A byddwn yn parhau i weithio, drwy'r llysgennad a thrwy ein cysylltiadau â Llywodraeth Japan, i wneud yn siŵr bod busnesau Cymru ac allforwyr Cymru yn gwbl barod i fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd hynny.
2. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'u cael gyda chyd-aelodau'r cabinet yn dilyn y datganiad am yr argyfwng newid hinsawdd? OAQ53936
2. What discussions has the First Minister had with cabinet colleagues following the declaration of a climate change emergency? OAQ53936
I thank the Member of that question. Cabinet colleagues continuously engage in discussing actions to reduce emissions and to deliver the low-carbon plan for Wales. New arrangements have been put in place to focus on decarbonisation and biodiversity in the current budget round.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna. Mae cydweithwyr yn y Cabinet yn trafod yn barhaus camau i leihau allyriadau a darparu cynllun carbon isel Cymru. Rhoddwyd trefniadau newydd ar waith i ganolbwyntio ar ddatgarboneiddio a bioamrywiaeth yn y cylch cyllideb presennol.
Can I thank the First Minister for that response? I welcome the declaration of a climate change emergency. I believe that climate change is the most important issue facing us today. I'm probably in a minority but I think it is, very much, the most important issue. Will the First Minister produce a road map of planned Welsh Government actions? This could include things such as the annual tree planting target, and an annual target for home improvements, making houses either zero- or very low-carbon emitters.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ymateb yna? Croesawaf y datganiad o argyfwng newid yn yr hinsawdd. Credaf mai'r newid yn yr hinsawdd yw'r mater pwysicaf sy'n ein hwynebu heddiw. Mae'n debyg fy mod i mewn lleiafrif ond rwy'n credu mai dyma, yn sicr, yw'r mater pwysicaf. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog lunio map ffordd o gamau gweithredu arfaethedig Llywodraeth Cymru? Gallai hyn gynnwys pethau fel y targed plannu coed blynyddol, a tharged blynyddol ar gyfer gwella'r cartref, gan wneud tai yn allyrwyr dim carbon neu'n rhai isel iawn.
I thank Mike Hedges for those observations. I don't think he is much alone in believing that climate change is one of the major challenges that face humankind across the globe. We have already set out a series of practical actions in the low-carbon plan, and they build as well on things that the Welsh Government is already doing. We've reduced emissions from our administrative estate by 57 per cent, against a baseline, and we've already exceeded our 2020 targets. And it's in that cumulative effect of the many things that governments do that we will have the impact we want to have. So, only last week, my colleague the health Minister announced the £13.5 million we are investing in 111 new vehicles for the ambulance service in Wales, and 33 of the non-emergency vehicles we will purchase are equipped with solar panels to be able to convert sunlight into electricity. If we are to succeed, then we need action beyond Government as well. And I know that Mike Hedges will be very well aware of the work that goes on in Swansea, through the Swansea community energy and enterprise scheme, carrying out local work within that area, particularly in areas of fuel poverty, to make sure that the way that we address climate change does not fall disproportionately on the shoulders of those least able to pay the cost. The low-carbon action plan, Llywydd, provides £4 million new investment in those local activities that, together with the things that Government can do, will make a difference in every part of Wales. And a road map that draws all of those things together is very much in the mind of Welsh Government as we move to address the problem that we know we face.
Diolchaf i Mike Hedges am y sylwadau yna. Nid wyf i'n credu ei fod yn unig iawn o ran ei farn mai'r newid yn yr hinsawdd yw un o'r prif heriau sy'n wynebu dynolryw ledled y byd. Rydym ni eisoes wedi nodi cyfres o gamau ymarferol yn y cynllun carbon isel, ac maen nhw'n adeiladu hefyd ar bethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes yn eu gwneud. Rydym ni wedi lleihau allyriadau o'n hystâd weinyddol gan 57 y cant, yn erbyn llinell sylfaen, ac rydym ni eisoes wedi rhagori ar ein targedau ar gyfer 2020. Ac yn yr effaith gyfunol honno o'r llu o bethau y mae llywodraethau yn eu gwneud y byddwn ni'n cael yr effaith yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei chael. Felly, dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd fy nghyd-Aelod y Gweinidog iechyd y £13.5 miliwn yr ydym ni'n ei fuddsoddi mewn 111 o gerbydau newydd ar gyfer y gwasanaeth ambiwlans yng Nghymru, ac mae paneli solar wedi eu gosod ar 33 o'r cerbydau nad ydyn nhw'n rhai ar gyfer achosion brys y byddwn ni'n eu prynu er mwyn gallu troi golau'r haul yn drydan. Os ydym ni'n mynd i lwyddo, yna mae angen gweithredu y tu hwnt i'r Llywodraeth arnom ni hefyd. A gwn y bydd Mike Hedges yn ymwybodol iawn o'r gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud yn Abertawe, trwy gynllun ynni a menter cymunedol Abertawe, sy'n gwneud gwaith lleol yn y maes hwnnw, yn enwedig ym meysydd tlodi tanwydd, i wneud yn siŵr nad yw'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n ymdrin â'r newid yn yr hinsawdd yn effeithio'n anghymesur ar y rhai sydd â'r lleiaf o allu i dalu'r gost. Mae'r cynllun gweithredu carbon isel, Llywydd, yn darparu £4 miliwn o fuddsoddiad newydd yn y gweithgareddau lleol hynny a fydd, ynghyd â'r pethau y gall Llywodraeth eu gwneud, yn gwneud gwahaniaeth ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Ac mae map ffordd sy'n tynnu'r holl bethau hynny at ei gilydd yn sicr ym meddwl Llywodraeth Cymru wrth i ni fynd i'r afael â'r broblem yr ydym ni'n gwybod ein bod ni'n ei hwynebu.
First Minister, in March I called on your environment Minister to consider, along with the rest of your Cabinet, the environmental reasons, as well as the economic reasons, for assisting Tata Steel to create its own local energy supply, through a proposed state-of-the-art power station. At the time, I was told that the environment Minister and the economy Minister would be having a joint meeting with Tata in the next couple of months. That's three months ago now, so I'm wondering if you can update us on progress on that and let us know how things are going.
Prif Weinidog, galwais ar eich Gweinidog yr amgylchedd ym mis Mawrth i ystyried, ynghyd â gweddill eich Cabinet, y rhesymau amgylcheddol, yn ogystal â'r rhesymau economaidd, dros gynorthwyo Tata Steel i greu ei gyflenwad ynni lleol ei hun, trwy orsaf bŵer o'r radd flaenaf arfaethedig. Ar y pryd, dywedwyd wrthyf y byddai Gweinidog yr amgylchedd a Gweinidog yr economi yn cael cyfarfod ar y cyd gyda Tata yn ystod y mis neu ddau nesaf. Mae hynny dri mis yn ôl erbyn hyn, felly roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allwch chi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni am gynnydd ar hynny a rhoi gwybod i ni sut mae pethau'n mynd.
I'm grateful for the question and for the emphasis that the Member puts on environmental issues. I know that my colleague Ken Skates has been in further discussions with Tata on that matter. I was myself in Tata just before half term, meeting with senior executives there. They raised with me once again, Llywydd, the high price of energy that they have to purchase and the failure of the UK Government to act on high costs for energy-intensive industries. It is part of why they are so determined to develop their own power supplies, and the Welsh Government remains an active supporter of that intention, both in the advice that we provide to Tata but also in discussing ways in which we can make a financial contribution to that development.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am y cwestiwn ac am y pwyslais y mae'r Aelod yn ei roi ar faterion amgylcheddol. Gwn fod fy nghyd-Aelod Ken Skates wedi bod yn trafod y mater hwnnw ymhellach gyda Tata. Roeddwn i fy hun yn Tata ychydig cyn hanner tymor, yn cyfarfod ag uwch swyddogion gweithredol yno. Codasant gyda mi unwaith eto, Llywydd, y pris uchel am ynni y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei brynu a methiant Llywodraeth y DU i weithredu ar gostau uchel i ddiwydiannau sydd â defnydd dwys o ynni. Mae'n rhan o'r rheswm pam y maen nhw mor benderfynol o ddatblygu eu cyflenwadau pŵer eu hunain, ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i fod yn gefnogwr brwd o'r bwriad hwnnw, o ran y cyngor yr ydym ni'n ei roi i Tata ond hefyd wrth drafod ffyrdd y gallwn ni wneud cyfraniad ariannol at y datblygiad hwnnw.
Mi ddywedoch chi yn eich ateb cychwynnol fod yna drafodaeth barhaus rhyngoch chi a Gweinidogion eich Cabinet chi ar y mater yma. Wrth gwrs, holl fwriad datgan argyfwng hinsawdd yw er mwyn newid gêr ac er mwyn sicrhau bod mwy yn digwydd. Felly, ga'i ofyn pa orchymyn, neu instruction, ŷch chi wedi ei roi i'ch Gweinidogion chi ynglŷn â sut mae datgan argyfwng hinsawdd yn mynd i newid eu blaenoriaethau nhw? Ac a fydd y Llywodraeth, er enghraifft, yn diwygio llythyrau cylch gorchwyl—remit letters—i gyrff cyhoeddus mewn ymateb i'r argyfwng yma?
You said in your initial response that there's an ongoing discussion between you and your Cabinet Ministers on this issue. Of course, the whole purpose of declaring a climate emergency is to change gear and to ensure that more happens. So, can I ask you what instruction you've given to your Ministers on how the declaration of a climate emergency is going to change their priorities? And will the Government, for example, amend remit letters to public bodies in response to this emergency?
Diolch i Llyr Gruffydd am y cwestiwn ac am yr awgrym hefyd. Fel y dywedais i yn yr ateb gwreiddiol, rŷm ni wedi newid y ffordd rŷm ni'n mynd at y broses o greu'r cyllid am y flwyddyn nesaf yn fewnol, a rhoi mwy o bwyslais ar bethau rŷm ni'n gallu eu gwneud ar draws y Llywodraeth i gyd, pan fyddwn ni'n siarad am ddatgarboneiddio a phethau yn yr un maes. Felly, rŷm ni wedi newid y ffordd rŷm ni'n mynd ati. A phwrpas gwneud hynny yw i gasglu mwy o syniadau a newid y pethau rŷm ni'n eu gwneud ar draws y Llywodraeth, a, gydag unrhyw syniadau, fel yr un roedd e wedi'i awgrymu'r prynhawn yma, wrth gwrs, rŷn ni'n agored i feddwl a thrafod syniadau fel yna.
I thank Llyr Gruffydd for that question and for that suggestion. As I said in my original response, we've changed the way in which we've approached the funding for next year internally and placed more emphasis on things that we can do across the whole of Government in the context of decarbonisation and other issues in this area. So, we have changed our approach to this. And the purpose of doing that is to collect more ideas and change the things that we are doing across the whole of the Government, and, as regards the suggestion you’ve made this afternoon, we are open to those kinds of ideas.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Questions now from the party leaders. The Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, in the midst of your wrestling with the decision about the M4 relief road and its implications for investment in public transport, have you been made aware that Aberdeen-based First Group is poised to divest itself of its UK bus operations, including in Swansea, where its subsidiary, First Cymru, runs the local bus service that also extends east to Bridgend and west to Tenby, and, of course, nationally through the TrawsCymru service as well?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, yng nghanol eich ymgodymu â'r penderfyniad ynghylch ffordd liniaru'r M4 a'i oblygiadau i fuddsoddiad mewn trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, a ydych chi wedi cael eich hysbysu bod First Group sydd wedi'i leoli yn Aberdeen ar fin ymddihatru o'i weithrediadau bysus yn y DU, gan gynnwys yn Abertawe, lle mae ei is-gwmni, First Cymru, yn rhedeg y gwasanaeth bws lleol sydd hefyd yn ymestyn i'r dwyrain i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr ac i'r gorllewin i Ddinbych-y-pysgod ac, wrth gwrs, yn genedlaethol trwy wasanaeth TrawsCymru hefyd?
Llywydd, I was aware of the reports that have been made of that matter. It is exactly why we are committed to bringing forward legislation in relation to bus services in Wales, which will provide new powers to local authorities and others, to make sure that the very significant level of public investment that is made in bus services in Wales can be made in a way that serves the public interest. I look forward to that legislation being put in front of this Assembly later in this calendar year, and to the process of scrutiny that will then surround it.
Llywydd, roeddwn i'n ymwybodol o'r adroddiadau a wnaed ar y mater hwnnw. Dyna'n union pam yr ydym ni wedi ymrwymo i gyflwyno deddfwriaeth yn ymwneud â gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru, a fydd yn rhoi pwerau newydd i awdurdodau lleol ac i eraill, sicrhau y gellir gwneud y lefel sylweddol iawn o fuddsoddiad cyhoeddus sy'n cael ei wneud mewn gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru mewn ffordd sy'n gwasanaethu budd y cyhoedd. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld y ddeddfwriaeth honno'n cael ei rhoi gerbron y Cynulliad hwn yn ddiweddarach yn y flwyddyn galendr hon, ac at y broses o graffu a fydd yn gysylltiedig â hi wedyn.
We, on this side, of course, welcome moves towards the re-regulation of bus services. In the interim, I was wondering if the First Minister would care to say whether the acquisition of First Cymru could be a great opportunity for Swansea to follow both the Cardiff Bus and Newport Bus models, and indeed you could say there are similarities with the situation in Cardiff Airport, in demonstrating how good public service provision can produce returns for the taxpayer rather than profits for the shareholder. Quite rightly, the Welsh Government is subsidising public transport in Wales through concessionary fares offered to bus pass holders, but, except in Cardiff and Newport, a proportion of Welsh Government bus pass funding is finding its way into the profits of private sector companies based in England, Scotland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Singapore. Wouldn't it be much better if this money was recycled in Wales by taking bus operations, such as First Cymru, now that it's up for sale, into public ownership? And would you also agree the opportunity to bring First Cymru into public ownership underlines the direction we should be taking in moving towards an all-Wales integrated public transport network co-ordinated through Transport for Wales?
Rydym ni, ar yr ochr hon, wrth gwrs, yn croesawu symudiadau tuag at ail-reoleiddio gwasanaethau bysiau. Yn y cyfamser, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a hoffai'r Prif Weinidog ddweud pa un a allai caffael First Cymru fod yn gyfle gwych i Abertawe ddilyn modelau Bws Caerdydd a Bws Casnewydd, ac yn wir gallech chi ddweud bod tebygrwydd â'r sefyllfa ym Maes Awyr Caerdydd, o ran dangos sut y gall darpariaeth dda o wasanaethau cyhoeddus gynhyrchu adenillion i'r trethdalwr yn hytrach nag elw i'r cyfranddaliwr. Yn gwbl briodol, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi cymhorthdal tuag at drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru trwy gynnig tocynnau mantais i ddeiliaid pasys bws, ond, ac eithrio yng Nghaerdydd a Chasnewydd, mae cyfran o gyllid pasys bws Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i elw cwmnïau sector preifat yn Lloegr, yr Alban, Ffrainc, yr Almaen, yr Iseldiroedd a Singapôr. Oni fyddai'n llawer gwell pe byddai'r arian hwn yn cael ei ailgylchu yng Nghymru trwy gymryd gweithrediadau bysiau, fel First Cymru, nawr ei fod ar werth, i berchnogaeth gyhoeddus? Ac a fyddech chi hefyd yn cytuno bod y cyfle i ddod â First Cymru i berchenogaeth gyhoeddus yn tanlinellu'r cyfeiriad y dylem ni fod yn ei ddilyn wrth symud ymlaen tuag at rwydwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig Cymru gyfan wedi ei gydgysylltu trwy Drafnidiaeth Cymru?
Well, I thank Adam Price for that second question and to agree with much of the analysis that he set out, which is very consistent with the White Paper that we published in relation to bus re-regulation and the reasons why we intend to bring those proposals forward. I'm very familiar, Llywydd, with the Cardiff model and the fact that Newport has managed to retain public ownership of its bus service. It has been in the teeth of the opposition from the UK Government—their ideologically driven determination that local authorities should divest themselves of services that they run on behalf of the public—and our White Paper is designed to use powers we have to reverse that trend here in Wales. The Minister for Housing and Local Government is in her place and will have heard the points that you've made about the actions that could be taken in Swansea direct, and I know that she will be able to discuss those possibilities with the leader of the council in Swansea and to see what appetite there is either to move ahead of the legislation that we intend to bring forward, or whether the legislation that we will provide will provide a better platform for that local authority and others to move in the direction that I think is common between us.
Wel, diolchaf i Adam Price am yr ail gwestiwn yna ac i gytuno â llawer o'r dadansoddiad a wnaeth, sy'n gyson iawn â'r Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddwyd gennym ar ail-reoleiddio bysiau a'r rhesymau pam yr ydym ni'n bwriadu cyflwyno'r cynigion hynny. Rwy'n gyfarwydd iawn, Llywydd, â model Caerdydd a'r ffaith bod Casnewydd wedi llwyddo i gadw perchenogaeth gyhoeddus ar ei gwasanaeth bysiau. Mae hyn wedi bod yn nannedd gwrthwynebiad gan Lywodraeth y DU—eu penderfyniad ideolegol nhw y dylai awdurdodau lleol ymddihatru eu hunain o wasanaethau y maen nhw'n eu rhedeg ar ran y cyhoedd—a bwriad ein Papur Gwyn yw defnyddio pwerau sydd gennym ni i wrthdroi'r duedd honno yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol yn ei lle a bydd wedi clywed y pwyntiau yr ydych chi wedi eu gwneud am y camau y gallai Abertawe eu cymryd yn uniongyrchol, a gwn y bydd yn gallu trafod y posibiliadau hynny gydag arweinydd y cyngor yn Abertawe i weld pa archwaeth sy'n bodoli naill ai i symud o flaen y ddeddfwriaeth yr ydym ni'n bwriadu ei chyflwyno, neu a fydd y ddeddfwriaeth y byddwn ni'n ei darparu yn cynnig gwell llwyfan i'r awdurdod lleol hwnnw ac eraill symud i'r cyfeiriad y credaf sy'n gyffredin rhyngom ni.
I welcome that. Could I urge the Welsh Government at a national level also to see if there is a possibility in terms of it taking a stake? Some of us will remember, of course, South Wales Transport. It still has a depot in the village of Tycroes, which the Minister for Economy and Transport and I know very well. So, there is an opportunity here.
Finally, I mentioned Cardiff Airport, which is a strong exemplar, I think, of why this kind of approach can be successful. Nevertheless, I was slightly concerned by the evidence that we had from the airport to the Public Accounts Committee, setting out their belief that they need to take on or that the Welsh Government needs to sell part of its stake in the airport in order for them to secure the investment that is necessary. Can the First Minister say whether that is the policy position of the Welsh Government? Are you open to selling part of your stake? And can you say whether you are aware of any discussions, or what your position would be if that stake was sold to a sovereign wealth fund of a country that had a dubious human rights record?
Rwy'n croesawu hynny. A gaf i annog Llywodraeth Cymru ar lefel genedlaethol hefyd i weld a oes posibilrwydd y gallai gymryd cyfran? Bydd rhai ohonom ni, wrth gwrs, yn cofio Trafnidiaeth De Cymru. Mae ganddo ddepo o hyd ym mhentref Tŷ-croes, y mae Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth a minnau yn ei adnabod yn dda iawn. Felly, mae cyfle yn y fan yma.
Yn olaf, soniais am Faes Awyr Caerdydd, sy'n esiampl dda, rwy'n credu, o pam y gall y math hwn o ddull fod yn llwyddiannus. Serch hynny, roeddwn i braidd yn bryderus ynghylch y dystiolaeth a gawsom ni gan y maes awyr i'r Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus, yn nodi eu cred bod angen iddyn nhw gymryd neu fod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru werthu rhan o'i chyfran yn y maes awyr er mwyn iddyn nhw sicrhau'r buddsoddiad sy'n angenrheidiol. A all y Prif Weinidog ddweud ai dyna yw safbwynt polisi Llywodraeth Cymru? A ydych chi'n agored i werthu rhan o'ch cyfran? Ac a allwch chi ddweud pa un a ydych chi'n ymwybodol o unrhyw drafodaethau, neu beth fyddai eich safbwynt pe byddai'r gyfran honno'n cael ei gwerthu i gronfa gyfoeth sofran gwlad a oedd â hanes amheus o ran hawliau dynol?
Llywydd, the Welsh Government has no current policy of selling part of our stake in the airport. I understand the points that the airport makes about the need for capital to support its further expansion and development, and to date we've always been able to support the airport in its ambitions through the Development Bank for Wales and other instruments that we have in our own hands. That, I think, has served the airport well, and I see no reason to depart from that model.
Llywydd, nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru bolisi presennol o werthu rhan o'n cyfran yn y maes awyr. Rwy'n deall y pwyntiau y mae'r maes awyr yn eu gwneud am yr angen am gyfalaf i'w gynorthwyo i ehangu a datblygu ymhellach, a hyd yma rydym ni bob amser wedi gallu cefnogi'r maes awyr yn ei uchelgeisiau trwy Fanc Datblygu Cymru ac offerynnau eraill sydd gennym ni yn ein dwylo ein hunain. Credaf fod hynny wedi gwasanaethu'r maes awyr yn dda, ac ni welaf unrhyw reswm dros wyro oddi wrth y model hwnnw.
Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies.
Leader of the opposition, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, can you explain the continued fall of teacher training applicants in Wales under your Government, and why the recruitment targets have been missed for the last few years?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, a allwch chi esbonio'r gostyngiad parhaus i nifer yr ymgeiswyr i fod yn athrawon dan hyfforddiant yng Nghymru o dan eich Llywodraeth, a pham y methwyd â chyrraedd y targedau recriwtio yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf?
Llywydd, of course I'm aware of the latest figures in relation to initial teacher training. We continue to reform parts of the offer that we make to people in Wales to try and draw more people into the profession, and particularly into shortage areas. We continue to recruit very successfully at primary level. There is more that we need to do, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects and in teaching of the Welsh language, to make sure that we recruit the people we will need for the future. We offer a very generous package of support to people who put themselves forward for teacher training in that way. What we won't do, Llywydd, is to lower the standards that we expect of people who come into the profession, and we will continue to calibrate our offer to make sure that we have a supply of teachers that are needed in Wales, and of the standard that we need as well.
Llywydd, wrth gwrs fy mod i'n ymwybodol o'r ffigurau diweddaraf o ran hyfforddiant cychwynnol athrawon. Rydym ni'n parhau i ddiwygio rhannau o'r cynnig yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i bobl yng Nghymru i geisio denu mwy o bobl i'r proffesiwn, ac yn enwedig i feysydd lle mae prinder. Rydym ni'n parhau i recriwtio'n llwyddiannus iawn ar lefel gynradd. Mae rhagor y mae angen i ni ei wneud, yn enwedig ym meysydd gwyddoniaeth, technoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg ac o ran addysgu'r Gymraeg, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n recriwtio'r bobl y byddwn ni eu hangen ar gyfer y dyfodol. Rydym ni'n cynnig pecyn hael iawn o gymorth i bobl sy'n cynnig eu hunain ar gyfer hyfforddiant athrawon yn y ffordd honno. Yr hyn na fyddwn ni'n ei wneud, Llywydd, yw gostwng y safonau yr ydym ni'n eu disgwyl gan bobl sy'n dod i mewn i'r proffesiwn, a byddwn yn parhau i raddnodi ein cynnig i sicrhau bod gennym ni gyflenwad o athrawon sydd eu hangen yng Nghymru, ac o'r safon sydd ei hangen arnom hefyd.
First Minister, these figures are very, very worrying, because the number of those training to teach at secondary level was 40 per cent below the target, while the number of students taking primary level courses was 11 per cent below the target. This means 370 fewer students gained qualified teacher status in 2017-18 compared to four years ago, and we've also seen the number of teacher trainee entrants from Wales on secondary school courses in Wales drop by 37 per cent over the last four years, while the number starting to train in England has actually increased by 34 per cent. Indeed, the number of students from England coming to train here has also fallen by over a half. What this exposes, First Minister, is a pattern. Your Government has proven itself incapable of recruiting teachers for the next generation of Welsh schoolchildren, unable to persuade Wales's talent pool to train here, and feckless at making Wales an attractive place for others to come and train. Can you therefore give this Assembly one specific example of a working policy for actually reversing this worrying trend, which has been presided over by successive Welsh Labour Governments?
Prif Weinidog, mae'r ffigurau hyn yn peri pryder mawr iawn, gan fod nifer y rhai sy'n hyfforddi i addysgu ar lefel uwchradd 40 y cant yn is na'r targed, tra bod nifer y myfyrwyr a oedd yn dilyn cyrsiau lefel cynradd 11 y cant yn is na'r targed. Mae hyn yn golygu bod 370 yn llai o fyfyrwyr wedi ennill statws athro cymwysedig yn 2017-18 o'i gymharu â phedair blynedd yn ôl, ac rydym ni hefyd wedi gweld nifer yr athrawon dan hyfforddiant newydd o Gymru ar gyrsiau ysgolion uwchradd yng Nghymru yn gostwng gan 37 y cant dros y pedair blynedd diwethaf, tra bod y nifer sy'n dechrau hyfforddi yn Lloegr mewn gwirionedd wedi cynyddu gan 34 y cant. Yn wir, mae nifer y myfyrwyr o Loegr sy'n dod i hyfforddi yma hefyd wedi gostwng gan dros hanner. Yr hyn y mae hyn yn ei amlygu, Prif Weinidog, yw patrwm. Mae eich Llywodraeth wedi profi nad yw'n gallu recriwtio athrawon ar gyfer y genhedlaeth nesaf o blant ysgol Cymru, nad yw'n gallu perswadio cronfa dalent Cymru i hyfforddi yma, ac yn ddi-glem o ran gwneud Cymru yn lle deniadol i eraill ddod i hyfforddi yma. Felly, a allwch chi roi un enghraifft benodol i'r Cynulliad hwn o bolisi gweithredol ar gyfer gwrthdroi'r duedd hon sy'n peri pryder, y mae Llywodraethau Llafur Cymru olynol wedi llywyddu drosti?
Well, I entirely reject the hyperbolic description that the Member has offered us—[Interruption.] Facts are one thing; interpretation and description of them is another. It's the description of them that I depart from very much in what the Member said.
Let me give him his one example: we will extend teacher training in Wales through new part-time routes, supported by this Welsh Government for students in higher education. Because we want to bring a wider diversity of people into the teaching profession, and we want people who have experience in other parts of the workforce who are then, at that point in their careers, willing to think about making teaching something that they would offer into the future. They're often not in a position to abandon what they are doing and train on a full-time basis for teaching, but part-time routes, supported through work that we do with the Open University and others, open up those possibilities for new recruits here in Wales and that, I think, is a very clear and specific example of an innovative approach to recruitment in this area.
Wel, rwy'n gwrthod yn llwyr y disgrifiad hyperbolig y mae'r Aelod wedi ei gynnig i ni—[Torri ar draws.] Mae ffeithiau yn un peth; mae eu dehongli a'u disgrifio yn un arall. Y disgrifiad ohonynt yr wyf i'n anghytuno'n helaeth ag ef yn yr hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod.
Gadewch i mi roi ei un enghraifft iddo: byddwn yn ymestyn hyfforddiant athrawon yng Nghymru trwy lwybrau rhan-amser newydd, gyda chymorth gan y Llywodraeth Cymru hon i fyfyrwyr mewn addysg uwch. Oherwydd ein bod ni eisiau dod ag amrywiaeth ehangach o bobl i'r proffesiwn addysgu, ac rydym ni eisiau pobl sydd â phrofiad mewn rhannau eraill o'r gweithlu sydd wedyn, ar yr adeg honno yn eu gyrfaoedd, yn barod i feddwl am wneud addysgu yn rhywbeth y bydden nhw yn ei gynnig yn y dyfodol. Yn aml, nid ydyn nhw mewn sefyllfa i droi eu cefnau ar yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud a hyfforddi ar sail llawn amser i addysgu, ond mae llwybrau rhan-amser, wedi eu cefnogi trwy waith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud gyda'r Brifysgol Agored ac eraill, yn agor y posibiliadau hynny i recriwtiaid newydd yma yng Nghymru ac mae honno, rwy'n credu, yn enghraifft eglur a phenodol iawn o ddull arloesol o recriwtio yn y maes hwn.
First Minister, you shouldn't dismiss these figures. These figures are very, very worrying indeed, and it's about time that your Government starts tackling these issues.
Prif Weinidog, ddylech chi ddim diystyru'r ffigurau hyn. Mae'r ffigurau hyn yn peri pryder mawr iawn, ac mae'n hen bryd i'ch Llywodraeth ddechrau mynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn.
Nawr, yn 2016, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru y targed uchelgeisiol o 1 filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg. I gyflawni hyn, bydd rhaid recriwtio llawer mwy o athrawon sy'n gallu siarad Cymraeg ac athrawon sy'n medru dysgu drwy'r Gymraeg. Yn anffodus, mae'r nifer o fyfyrwyr sy'n gallu dysgu drwy'r Gymraeg ar ei isaf am ddegawd, gyda dim ond 10 y cant o ymgeiswyr yn gallu gwneud hynny. Ac ar ben hynny, o'r nifer sy'n gallu siarad Cymraeg yn rhugl, doedd dros draean o'r rhain ddim yn hyfforddi i ddysgu drwy'r Gymraeg.
O ystyried y ffactorau yma, dwi'n pryderu y byddwn ni ddim yn cyrraedd y targed o filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050. Mae'n rhaid i'r Llywodraeth weithredu nawr. Yn sicr mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn fwy uchelgeisiol i sicrhau bod mwy o fyfyrwyr yn fodlon dysgu'r Gymraeg drwy strategaeth gredadwy. Pa obaith sydd gyda ni o gyrraedd y targed yma os nad ydym ni'n mynd yn y cyfeiriad iawn fel y mae hi? Felly, beth ydych chi yn mynd i'w wneud i wrthdroi'r sefyllfa yma i sicrhau bod mwy o fyfyrwyr yn cael eu hannog i ddysgu drwy'r Gymraeg?
Now, in 2016, the Welsh Government announced the ambitious target of 1 million Welsh speakers. To achieve this, we will have to recruit far more teachers who are able to speak Welsh, and teachers who can teach through the medium of Welsh. Unfortunately, the number of students able to teach through the medium of Welsh is at its lowest point for a decade, with only 10 per cent of applicants able to do that. And in addition to that, of the number that are able to speak Welsh fluently, over a third of these weren’t training to teach through the medium of Welsh.
Given these factors, I am concerned that we won’t achieve the target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050. The Government must take action now. Certainly, you have to be more ambitious in ensuring that more students want to teach through the medium of Welsh through a credible strategy. So, what hope do we have of reaching this target unless we are moving in the right direction already? So, what are you going to do in order to overturn this situation in order to ensure that more students are encouraged to teach through the medium of Welsh?
Wel, i ddechrau, a gaf i gytuno gyda beth mae'r Aelod wedi'i ddweud am bwysigrwydd paratoi pobl ifanc trwy ein hysgolion ni os ŷm ni'n mynd i gyrraedd at y targed uchelgeisiol sydd gyda ni? Dyna pam rŷn ni'n gwneud mwy yn ein hysgolion ar lefel A, i gael mwy o fyfyrwyr i astudio ar lefel A a thynnu mwy o bobl i mewn i addysg bellach ac addysg uwch sy'n defnyddio Cymraeg trwy'r broses o gael addysg.
Es i i'r Urdd, fel dwi'n siŵr y gwnaeth lot Aelodau eraill yma, yr wythnos diwethaf, a chwrddais i â nifer fawr o bobl ifanc sy'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn yr ysgol ac ym mhethau bob dydd, ac yn mwynhau defnyddio'r Gymraeg yn yr Eisteddfod, a siarad gyda lot o bobl eraill oedd jest lawr yn y Bae—jest wedi dod i lawr i ymlacio—ac esbonio beth maen nhw'n ei wneud, a threial creu ysbryd gyda phobl eraill i'n cefnogi ni ar y daith rŷn ni eisiau ei gwneud.
So, dwi'n dal i fod yn hyderus, os ŷm ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd, rŷn ni'n gallu cyrraedd at filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, ac rŷn ni'n gwneud popeth ni'n gallu ei wneud fel Llywodraeth, yn y maes addysg a thu fas i addysg hefyd, i gefnogi'r targed uchelgeisiol hwn.
Well, to begin with, may I agree with what the Member has said about the importance of preparing young people through our schools if we are to attain the ambitious target that we’ve set? That is why we are doing more in our schools at A-level, in order to get more students to study at A-level and to draw more young people into further and higher education who use the Welsh language throughout the continuum of education.
I attended the Urdd, as I’m sure many other Members did, last week, and I met a great number of young people who use the Welsh language in their school and in their everyday lives, and enjoy using the Welsh language at the Eisteddfod. And I spoke to lots of other people down in the Bay—people who’d just come down to relax in the bay—to explain what they are doing, and to try and create an appetite among other people to support us on our journey.
So, I remain confident that if we work together we will be able to attain 1 million Welsh speakers, and we are doing everything that we can do as a Government, within education and outwith education also, to support this ambitious target.
Arweinydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.
Leader of the Brexit Party, Mark Reckless.
First Minister, you used to say that you would respect the result of the referendum, but you don't now, do you? Having led the Labour Party in Wales to its worst defeat for over 100 years, you tell the voters that they've got it wrong. You lead a remain establishment that tells the people of Wales, in the words of one AM, that they're ignorant and that they have to vote again. First Minister, when did you stop believing in democracy?
Prif Weinidog, roeddech chi'n arfer dweud y byddech chi'n parchu canlyniad y refferendwm, ond nid ydych chi'n gwneud hynny nawr, ydych chi? Ar ôl arwain y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru i'w chrasfa waethaf ers dros 100 mlynedd, rydych chi'n dweud wrth y pleidleiswyr eu bod nhw wedi gwneud camgymeriad. Rydych chi'n arwain sefydliad sy'n dymuno aros yn yr UE ac yn dweud wrth bobl Cymru, yng ngeiriau un AC, eu bod nhw'n anwybodus a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw bleidleisio eto. Prif Weinidog, pryd wnaethoch chi roi'r gorau i gredu mewn democratiaeth?
Well, Llywydd, I entirely reject what the Member has said. This Government, for the long months following the referendum, pursued two courses of action that were endorsed here on the floor of the Assembly on 30 January when we voted on both those propositions. The first was always that we believed that a deal could be done that would allow this country to leave the European Union without it doing harm to our economy and jobs. We set that out in 'Securing Wales' Future'. We have used every opportunity that we have had, very often with our Scottish Government colleagues, to advocate for that form of Brexit.
It is clear to me that the leadership contest within the Conservative Party means that it is now impossible that such a deal can be struck, because the contest is between candidates who seek to outvie each other by declaring harder and harder forms of Brexit, and that means that those efforts that we made we made in absolute good faith, we made them for as long as we possibly could, and they have reached the point where they no longer can be credibly pursued. In those circumstances, what I have done is to articulate the position agreed on the floor of this National Assembly—that if we were unable to see a way of securing that form of Brexit, then the decision would have to go back to the people who made the decision in the first place. That's the position we have arrived at. We will do everything we can now to secure that position. And I'll say it again for the sake of avoiding any doubt that, if there were a second opportunity for people to vote on such a proposition, the advice of the Welsh Government will not have changed to the advice that we gave in the run-up to the 2016 referendum—that Wales's future is better secured through continued membership of the European Union.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n gwrthod yn llwyr yr hyn y mae'r Aelod wedi ei ddweud. Dilynodd y Llywodraeth hon, yn ystod y misoedd hir yn dilyn y refferendwm, ddau drywydd gweithredu a gymeradwywyd yma ar lawr y Cynulliad ar 30 Ionawr pan wnaethom ni bleidleisio ar y ddau gynnig hynny. Y cyntaf oedd ein bod ni'n credu o'r cychwyn y gellid dod i gytundeb a fyddai'n caniatáu i'r wlad hon adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd heb i hynny niweidio ein heconomi a'n swyddi. Nodwyd hynny gennym yn 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru'. Rydym ni wedi defnyddio pob cyfle yr ydym ni wedi ei gael, yn aml iawn gyda'n cydweithwyr yn Llywodraeth yr Alban, i hyrwyddo'r math hwnnw o Brexit.
Mae'n amlwg i mi bod y gystadleuaeth am arweinyddiaeth y Blaid Geidwadol yn golygu ei bod bellach yn amhosibl dod i gytundeb o'r fath, gan fod y gystadleuaeth rhwng ymgeiswyr sy'n ceisio dadwneud ei gilydd trwy ddatgan ffurfiau caletach a chaletach o Brexit, ac mae hynny'n golygu bod yr ymdrechion hynny a wnaed gennym ni, a wnaed gennym ni yn gwbl ddidwyll, a wnaed gennym ni am gyhyd ag y gallem, ac maen nhw wedi cyrraedd y pwynt lle nad oes modd eu dilyn yn gredadwy mwyach. O dan yr amgylchiadau hynny, yr hyn yr wyf i wedi ei wneud yw mynegi'r safbwynt y cytunwyd arno ar lawr y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol hwn—sef pe na byddem ni'n gallu gweld ffordd o sicrhau'r ffurf honno o Brexit, yna byddai'n rhaid i'r penderfyniad fynd yn ôl at y bobl a wnaeth y penderfyniad yn y lle cyntaf. Dyna'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni wedi ei chyrraedd. Byddwn yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu nawr i sicrhau'r sefyllfa honno. Ac fe wnaf i ei ddweud eto er mwyn osgoi unrhyw amheuaeth na fydd cyngor Llywodraeth Cymru, pe byddai ail gyfle i bobl bleidleisio ar gynnig o'r fath, wedi newid o'r cyngor a roesom yn y cyfnod cyn refferendwm 2016—sef bod dyfodol Cymru yn cael ei ddiogelu'n well trwy barhau i fod yn aelod o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd.
First Minister, that doesn't explain why you said one thing before the European election and another one afterwards. You make out now that there's such a greater chance of no deal that you've had to change your policy and say you back a referendum whatever, but that's not what you said before the election, is it? You tell us there's so much more chance of no deal—you came to the Brexit committee on 7 January and again on 25 March to talk about no deal; you've only been once since. You came to this Chamber on 22 January, 19 February and again on 19 March to go on about no deal, but you haven't come to this Chamber since. On 5 March, you had that debate supposedly to rule out no deal. Even on 21 January you had a 'no deal' day and you cancelled all Government business for the whole day and gave a statement yourself and rolled out every Minister to tell us about no deal, but none of that since. Because the reality is that things haven't changed, except for what happened to your party in that European election.
You say about the Conservative election process, which you take such an interest in, that the election of a new Conservative leader changes all of that, it eliminates the chances of an agreed deal and hugely increases the chance of a 'no deal' exit. Has he been following the same Conservative leadership campaign that I have? Of the three favourite candidates, one of them, Jeremy Hunt, has said no deal would be political suicide and he wouldn't pursue it. Another, Michael Gove, has said he's so against no deal he's willing to stay in the EU at least until the end of 2020. So, there's one favoured candidate, Boris, who's said he backs no deal if he doesn't get a deal by 31 October. Do you believe Boris? Do you trust everything he says? Do you think there's any more truth in what he says now as there was in what Theresa May said 100 times about leaving on 29 March? Isn't the reality, First Minister, that you've said one thing before the election, another afterwards, and what you say about no deal, what you say about respecting the result of the referendum, is no more meaningful than your manifesto commitment to deliver an M4 relief road?
Prif Weinidog, nid yw hynny'n esbonio pam y dywedasoch un peth cyn yr etholiad Ewropeaidd ac un arall ar ôl hynny. Rydych chi'n awgrymu nawr bod cymaint mwy o siawns o gael sefyllfa dim cytundeb fel y bu'n rhaid i chi newid eich polisi a dweud eich bod chi'n cefnogi refferendwm beth bynnag, ond nid dyna'r hyn a ddywedasoch cyn yr etholiad, nage? Rydych chi'n dweud wrthym ni bod cymaint mwy o siawns o ddim cytundeb—daethoch i'r pwyllgor Brexit ar 7 Ionawr ac eto ar 25 Mawrth i siarad am ddim cytundeb; dim ond unwaith yr ydych chi wedi bod yno ers hynny. Daethoch i'r Siambr hon ar 22 Ionawr, 19 Chwefror ac eto ar 19 Mawrth i siarad am ddim cytundeb, ond nid ydych chi wedi dod i'r Siambr hon ers hynny. Ar 5 Mawrth, cawsoch y ddadl honno, i ddiystyru dim cytundeb yn ôl pob sôn. Hyd yn oed ar 21 Ionawr, cawsoch ddiwrnod 'dim cytundeb' a chafodd holl fusnes y Llywodraeth ei ganslo gennych ar gyfer y diwrnod cyfan a rhoesoch ddatganiad eich hunan a chyflwyno pob Gweinidog i ddweud wrthym ni am ddim cytundeb, ond ni fu dim o hynny ers hynny. Oherwydd y gwirionedd yw nad yw pethau wedi newid, ac eithrio'r hyn a ddigwyddodd i'ch plaid chi yn yr etholiad Ewropeaidd hwnnw.
Rydych chi'n sôn am broses etholiad y Ceidwadwyr, y mae gennych chi gymaint o ddiddordeb ynddi, y bydd ethol arweinydd Ceidwadol newydd yn newid hynny i gyd, ei fod yn cael gwared ar y siawns o gytundeb wedi ei gytuno ac yn cynyddu'n aruthrol y siawns o adael 'heb gytundeb'. A yw ef wedi bod yn dilyn yr un ymgyrch arweinyddiaeth Geidwadol â mi? O'r tri ymgeisydd sy'n ffefrynnau, mae un ohonyn nhw, Jeremy Hunt, wedi dweud y byddai dim cytundeb yn hunanladdiad gwleidyddol ac ni fyddai'n mynd ar drywydd hynny. Mae un arall, Michael Gove, wedi dweud ei fod yn gwrthwynebu dim cytundeb gymaint, fel ei fod yn barod i aros yn yr UE tan ddiwedd 2020 o leiaf. Felly, ceir un o'r ymgeiswyr sy'n ffefrynnau, Boris, sydd wedi dweud ei fod yn cefnogi dim cytundeb os na chaiff gytundeb erbyn 31 Hydref. A ydych chi'n credu Boris? Oes gennych chi ffydd ym mhopeth y mae e'n ei ddweud? A ydych chi'n credu bod mwy o wirionedd o gwbl yn yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud nawr nag a oedd yn yr hyn a ddywedodd Theresa May 100 gwaith ynghylch gadael ar 29 Mawrth? Onid yw'n wir, Prif Weinidog, eich bod chi wedi dweud un peth cyn yr etholiad, un arall wedyn, ac nad yw'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud am ddim cytundeb, yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud am barchu canlyniad y refferendwm, yn ddim mwy ystyrlon na'ch ymrwymiad maniffesto i ddarparu ffordd liniaru i'r M4?
Well, Llywydd, I'm used to the fact that politics is theatre, although it's a great deal more pantomime than any other form. I offered the Member a proper answer to his first question. He pays no heed at all to the answer and would rather offer us his pre-prepared lecture. 'Nothing has changed', he said, and I wrote down, at one point. Of course, he has changed. He has changed his party a number of times, I think, over the period that he outlined.
The danger of a 'no deal' exit from the European Union, Llywydd, has strengthened immeasurably as a result of the election within the Conservative Party, because candidates there know that the electorate they have to satisfy within that party is an electorate that demands that they will say that they will leave the European Union and if necessary leave it without a deal at all. That is catastrophic from a Welsh point of view. Sadly, to my mind, the ability to try and craft a different deal has evaporated in those circumstances. In those circumstances, I simply reiterate the position agreed on the floor of this Assembly—that if we cannot do a deal of that sort, then we must go back to the people. That's the position we are in today. We will not stand by—we will not stand idly by and allow the Member and others like him to take this country out of the European Union on terms that would do such damage to families, businesses, public services, universities, the length and breadth of Wales. He may be willing to pitch us over the edge of the cliff, but we will certainly not be there to join him.
Wel, Llywydd, rwyf i wedi arfer â'r ffaith mai theatr yw gwleidyddiaeth, er ei bod yn llawer iawn mwy ar ffurf pantomeim nag unrhyw ffurf arall. Cynigiais ateb priodol i'r Aelod i'w gwestiwn cyntaf. Nid yw'n cymryd unrhyw sylw o gwbl o'r ateb ac roedd yn well ganddo gynnig ei bregeth a baratowyd ymlaen llaw i ni. 'Does dim wedi newid', meddai, ac ysgrifennais hynny i lawr, ar un adeg. Wrth gwrs, mae ef wedi newid. Mae ef wedi newid ei blaid nifer o weithiau, rwy'n credu, dros y cyfnod a amlinellwyd ganddo.
Mae'r perygl o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd heb gytundeb, Llywydd, wedi cryfhau'n aruthrol o ganlyniad i'r etholiad o fewn y Blaid Geidwadol, gan fod yr ymgeiswyr yno'n gwybod bod yr etholaeth y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei bodloni o fewn y blaid honno yn etholaeth sy'n mynnu eu bod nhw'n dweud y byddan y byddan nhw'n gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a'i adael heb gytundeb o gwbl os bydd angen. Mae hynny'n drychinebus o safbwynt Cymru. Yn anffodus, yn fy marn i, mae'r gallu i geisio llunio gwahanol gytundeb wedi diflannu o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny. O dan yr amgylchiadau hynny, ailadroddaf yn syml y safbwynt y cytunwyd arno ar lawr y Cynulliad hwn—sef os na allwn ni ddod i gytundeb o'r math hwnnw, yna mae'n rhaid i ni fynd yn ôl at y bobl. Dyna'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi heddiw. Nid ydym ni'n fodlon sefyll o'r neilltu—nid ydym ni'n fodlon sefyll yn ddidaro a chaniatáu i'r aelod ac eraill tebyg iddo dynnu'r wlad hon allan o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd ar delerau a fyddai'n gwneud cymaint o niwed i deuluoedd, busnesau, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, prifysgolion, ar hyd a lled Cymru. Efallai ei fod ef yn fodlon ein taflu ni dros ymyl y clogwyn, ond yn sicr ni fyddwn ni yno i ymuno ag ef.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gyllid ar gyfer seilwaith rheilffordd yng Nghymru? OAQ53937
3. Will the First Minister provide an update on funding for rail infrastructure in Wales? OAQ53937
I thank the Member for that question. Rail infrastructure investment is a responsibility of the UK Government and the discharge of that responsibility remains woefully inadequate in Wales. The Williams review of Britain’s railways provides an opportunity to secure devolution of powers and necessary funding to the National Assembly for Wales.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna. Llywodraeth y DU sy'n gyfrifol am fuddsoddi mewn seilwaith rheilffyrdd ac mae cyflawniad y cyfrifoldeb hwnnw yn dal i fod yn druenus o annigonol yng Nghymru. Mae adolygiad Williams o reilffyrdd Prydain yn cynnig cyfle i sicrhau datganoli pwerau a chyllid angenrheidiol i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru.
I thank the First Minister for that answer. First Minister, the Welsh Government has a strong and historic record when it comes to train transport in Wales, opening new lines, opening new stations, investment in rolling stock, electrifying some of the lines and, of course, the metro systems—more than one, of course—around Wales. This contrasts, First Minister, does it not, with the UK Government, who promised to electrify the main line between Cardiff and Swansea and withdrew that promise? Can we also note as well, First Minister, that despite the fact that we get a paltry share of rail investment—1 per cent of the overall budget—the UK Government has repeatedly—repeatedly—failed to consent to the devolution of powers and budget over rail, and there is nothing planned by the UK Government for Cardiff Central station? First Minister, is it not the case that the Welsh Government has shown its commitment to the people of Wales, while the UK Government, through failing to invest in rail infrastructure, has let Wales down?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna. Prif Weinidog, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru hanes cryf a hanesyddol pan ddaw hi'n fater o drafnidiaeth trenau yng Nghymru, gan agor rheilffyrdd newydd, agor gorsafoedd newydd, buddsoddi mewn cerbydau, trydaneiddio rhai o'r rheilffyrdd ac, wrth gwrs, y systemau metro—mwy nag un, wrth gwrs—ledled Cymru. Mae hyn yn gwrthgyferbynnu, Prif Weinidog, onid yw, â Llywodraeth y DU, a addawodd drydaneiddio'r brif reilffordd rhwng Caerdydd ac Abertawe ac yna cefnu ar yr addewid hwnnw? A gawn ni nodi hefyd, Prif Weinidog, er gwaethaf y ffaith ein bod ni'n cael cyfran bitw o fuddsoddiad yn y rheilffyrdd—1 y cant o'r gyllideb gyfan—bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi methu droeon—droeon—â chydsynio i ddatganoli pwerau a'r gyllideb ar gyfer rheilffyrdd, ac nid oes dim wedi ei gynllunio gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer gorsaf Caerdydd Canolog? Prif Weinidog, onid yw'n wir bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dangos ei hymrwymiad i bobl Cymru, tra bod Llywodraeth y DU, trwy fethu â buddsoddi yn y seilwaith rheilffyrdd, wedi siomi Cymru?
I thank the Member for that additional question. His own interest in, and commitment to, railways in Wales is known around the Chamber and was very clearly demonstrated during the time that he was First Minister here. He's right, of course—we have 11 per cent of Network Rail's route length here in Wales and we have around 2 per cent of money spent on network enhancements here. Now, the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Grayling, when he announced that he would not be going ahead with his party's manifesto commitment to electrification of the railway line all the way to Swansea, said that there were five different business cases that he would now be taking forward—a business case, as Carwyn Jones has said, to improve Cardiff railway station, to have additional stations around Swansea, to have improved journey times between south and north Wales and across our border into England. To date, Llywydd, not a single one of those business cases announced by the Secretary of State for Transport at the time of cancelling electrification—that's nearly two years ago—not a single one of those business cases has been seen, not a single penny of funding has been committed and there is no clarity at all on next steps and timescales to live up to that second set of commitments. It's no wonder that the Member draws the contrast between the things that have been done here in Wales to support our railways and the complete failure on the part of the UK Government to discharge its responsibilities—responsibilities it has promised, responsibilities that it owes to people in Wales.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn ychwanegol yna. Mae ei ddiddordeb eu hun mewn rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru, a'i ymrwymiad iddyn nhw, yn hysbys o amgylch y Siambr ac fe ddangoswyd hyn yn eglur iawn yn ystod y cyfnod yr oedd yn Brif Weinidog yn y fan yma. Mae e'n iawn, wrth gwrs—mae gennym ni 11 y cant o hyd llwybrau Network Rail yma yng Nghymru ac mae gennym ni oddeutu 2 y cant o arian yn cael ei wario ar welliannau i'r rhwydwaith yma. Nawr, dywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Drafnidiaeth, Mr Grayling, pan gyhoeddodd na fyddai'n bwrw ymlaen ag ymrwymiad maniffesto ei blaid i drydaneiddio'r rheilffordd yr holl ffordd i Abertawe, bod pum gwahanol achos busnes y byddai'n bwrw ymlaen â nhw erbyn hyn—achos busnes, fel y dywedodd Carwyn Jones, i wella gorsaf reilffordd Caerdydd, i gael gorsafoedd ychwanegol o amgylch Abertawe, i gael amseroedd teithio gwell rhwng de a gogledd Cymru ac ar draws ein ffin i Loegr. Hyd yn hyn, Llywydd, ni welwyd unrhyw un o'r achosion busnes hynny a gyhoeddwyd gan yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Drafnidiaeth ar adeg canslo trydaneiddio—mae hynny bron i ddwy flynedd yn ôl—ni welwyd unrhyw un o'r achosion busnes hynny, ni ymrwymwyd yr un geiniog o gyllid ac nid oes unrhyw eglurder o gwbl ynghylch y camau nesaf na'r amserlenni i wireddu'r ail gyfres honno o ymrwymiadau. Does dim rhyfedd bod yr Aelod yn tynnu sylw at y gwrthgyferbyniad rhwng y pethau a wnaed yma yng Nghymru i gefnogi ein rheilffyrdd a'r methiant llwyr ar ran Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni ei chyfrifoldebau—cyfrifoldebau y mae wedi eu haddo, cyfrifoldebau sy'n ddyledus ganddi i bobl yng Nghymru.
I was very pleased, First Minister, to see, as a result of the UK Government's investment in the rail network, the re-establishment of direct rail links between north Wales and the north-west of England via the Halton curve—[Interruption.] Via the Halton Curve. This has been something that I've long championed in this Chamber, first raising questions on the matter with the former First Minister over a decade ago. Now, those rail links are extremely important to the people of north Wales, but one tragedy is that at the moment there is still no direct rail link for the north Wales coastline into Liverpool, in spite of the railway link now being available. Now, I understand that there are plans to reintroduce one, but they are some time off at the moment and at present there's still a change required in Chester and, unfortunately, the timetables do not match well to deliver a reasonable time for people to be able to commute backwards and forwards to Liverpool for whatever purpose they might need to do so. So, can I implore you to speak with Transport for Wales in order to look at their timetabling arrangements, prior to the reintroduction of the direct rail link between the north coastline and Liverpool, in order to get those connection times right to make sure that people can get in and out of Liverpool swiftly?
Roeddwn i'n falch iawn, Prif Weinidog, o weld, o ganlyniad i fuddsoddiad Llywodraeth y DU yn y rhwydwaith rheilffyrdd, ailsefydlu cysylltiadau rheilffordd uniongyrchol rhwng gogledd Cymru a gogledd-orllewin Lloegr trwy dro Halton—[Torri ar draws.] Trwy dro Halton. Mae hyn wedi bod yn rhywbeth yr wyf i wedi ei hyrwyddo ers tro byd yn y Siambr hon, gan godi cwestiynau am y mater yn gyntaf gyda'r Prif Weinidog blaenorol dros ddegawd yn ôl. Nawr, mae'r cysylltiadau rheilffordd hynny'n eithriadol o bwysig i bobl y gogledd, ond un drychineb yw nad oes cyswllt rheilffordd uniongyrchol o hyd ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer morlin gogledd Cymru i mewn i Lerpwl, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod y cyswllt rheilffordd ar gael erbyn hyn. Nawr, rwy'n deall bod cynlluniau i ailgyflwyno un, ond maen nhw gryn amser i ffwrdd ac mae dal i fod angen newid trenau yng Nghaer ar hyn o bryd ac, yn anffodus, nid yw'r amserlenni yn cyfateb yn dda i sicrhau amser rhesymol i bobl allu cymudo yn ôl ac ymlaen i Lerpwl am ba bynnag ddiben y gallai fod arnyn nhw angen gwneud hynny. Felly, a gaf i erfyn arnoch chi i siarad â Trafnidiaeth Cymru er mwyn ystyried eu trefniadau amserlennu, cyn ailgyflwyno'r cyswllt rheilffordd uniongyrchol rhwng morlin y gogledd a Lerpwl, er mwyn cael yr amseroedd cysylltu hynny'n iawn i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl yn gallu mynd i mewn ac allan o Lerpwl yn gyflym?
Can I join the Member in welcoming the new services between north Wales and Liverpool—the result of action that the Welsh Government took through the Mersey Dee Alliance to make sure that that happened? Of course, the Member is right to point to the timetabling difficulties at Chester, but Chris Grayling's record on timetabling is not one that gives us a great deal of confidence that that problem will be easily solved by appealing to him. We have recently had a memorandum of understanding signed between Transport for Wales and Transport for the North. That will certainly help to solve some of the barriers to the determination we have to have direct rail travel between north Wales and Liverpool, and we have the rolling stock in preparation to do that. And, when we have the co-operation we need from the UK Government, we will look to solve the problems that lie in their hands that are the barrier to this being achieved.
A gaf i ymuno â'r aelod i groesawu'r gwasanaethau newydd rhwng gogledd Cymru a Lerpwl—canlyniad y camau a gymerodd Llywodraeth Cymru trwy Gynghrair Mersi a'r Ddyfrdwy i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd? Wrth gwrs, mae'r Aelod yn iawn i gyfeirio at yr anawsterau amserlennu yng Nghaer, ond nid yw record Chris Grayling ar amserlennu yn un sy'n rhoi llawer iawn o ffydd i ni y bydd y broblem honno'n cael ei datrys yn hawdd drwy apelio iddo. Yn ddiweddar, llofnodwyd memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth rhwng Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Transport for the North. Bydd hynny'n sicr yn helpu i ddatrys rhai o'r rhwystrau i'r penderfyniad sydd gennym ni i gael teithio uniongyrchol ar y trên rhwng gogledd Cymru a Lerpwl, ac mae'r cerbydau gennym yn barod ar gyfer gwneud hynny. A, phan fydd gennym ni'r cydweithrediad sydd ei angen arnom ni gan Lywodraeth y DU, byddwn yn ceisio datrys y problemau sydd yn eu dwylo nhw sy'n rhwystro hyn rhag cael ei gyflawni.
4. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o'r arolwg seismig arfaethedig o Fae Ceredigion? OAQ53975
4. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the proposed seismic survey of Cardigan Bay? OAQ53975
I thank Joyce Watson for that. The Welsh Government opposes the extraction and consumption of all fossil fuels. Our commitment to decarbonisation and renewable energy generation places fossil fuels at the bottom of the energy hierarchy here in Wales. All of that applies to activity in the St George's channel and elsewhere around the Welsh coast.
Diolchaf i Joyce Watson am hynna. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwrthwynebu echdynnu a defnyddio pob tanwydd ffosil. Mae ein hymrwymiad i ddatgarboneiddio a chynhyrchu ynni adnewyddadwy yn gosod tanwyddau ffosil ar waelod yr hierarchaeth ynni yma yng Nghymru. Mae hynny i gyd yn berthnasol i weithgarwch yn sianel San Siôr ac mewn mannau eraill o gwmpas arfordir Cymru.
I'm really pleased to hear that, and I'm equally pleased to hear that this proposed activity is now under suspension. But the 7,000 people who have signed a petition who opposed this will be equally pleased to hear that, and I did write to the Minister for Environment, Planning and Rural Affairs on this in May. But I think—. And I was going to ask, but you've already pre-empted my question, for some clarity on our position with regard to such surveys, in the same way that we made our position abundantly clear when it came to fracking. So, I'm now able, thanks to you pre-empting my question, to write back to the people who have been writing to me to make that abundantly clear, that we do oppose any such activity, particularly in these waters, where they are marine-protected areas and sustain the wildlife that lives within them.
Rwy'n falch iawn o glywed hynny, ac rwyf yr un mor falch o glywed bod y gweithgarwch arfaethedig hwn wedi ei wahardd erbyn hyn. Ond bydd y 7,000 o bobl sydd wedi llofnodi deiseb a oedd yn gwrthwynebu hyn yr un mor falch o glywed hynny, ac ysgrifennais at y Weinidog yr Amgylchedd, Cynllunio a Materion Gwledig am hyn ym mis Mai. Ond rwy'n meddwl—. Ac roeddwn i'n mynd i ofyn, ond rydych eisoes wedi achub y blaen ar fy nghwestiwn i, am rywfaint o eglurder ynghylch ein safbwynt ar arolygon o'r fath, yn yr un modd ag y gwnaethom ein safbwynt yn gwbl eglur wrth ymdrin â ffracio. Felly, gallaf erbyn hyn, diolch i'r ffaith i chi achub y blaen ar fy nghwestiwn, ysgrifennu yn ôl at y bobl sydd wedi bod yn ysgrifennu ataf i wneud hynny'n gwbl eglur, ein bod ni'n gwrthwynebu unrhyw weithgarwch o'r fath, yn enwedig yn y dyfroedd hyn, lle maen nhw'n ardaloedd gwarchodedig morol ac yn cynnal y bywyd gwyllt sy'n byw ynddyn nhw.
Can I thank Joyce Watson for the consistent interest that she has taken in this matter, and the way that she has kept Welsh Ministers informed of local concerns? I'm glad to have been able to set out the Welsh Government's position. It's inevitable, Llywydd, and right that our commitment to decarbonisation means that fossil fuels must be at the bottom of the energy hierarchy here in Wales, rather than as in the policy of the UK Government, which is to maximise recovery of oil and gas from the UK continental shelf, including Wales. Indeed, it has placed a statutory obligation on the Oil and Gas Authority to achieve exactly that. Now, that is not the position of the Welsh Government. More than one Government's interest are at play in relation to proposed seismic surveys of the Cardigan bay and St George's channel area, but our position is, I think, as clear as it can be, and I'm very glad to have been able to have put it on the record again this afternoon.
A gaf i ddiolch i Joyce Watson am y diddordeb cyson y mae hi wedi ei gymryd yn y mater hwn, a'r ffordd y mae hi wedi hysbysu Gweinidogion Cymru am bryderon lleol? Rwy'n falch o fod wedi gallu egluro safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae'n anochel, Llywydd, ac yn briodol bod ein hymrwymiad i ddatgarboneiddio yn golygu bod yn rhaid i danwyddau ffosil fod ar waelod yr hierarchaeth ynni yma yng Nghymru, yn hytrach na fel ag y mae ym mholisi Llywodraeth y DU, sef sicrhau bod cymaint â phosibl o olew a nwy yn cael ei adfer o silff gyfandirol y DU, gan gynnwys Cymru. Yn wir, mae wedi cyflwyno rhwymedigaeth statudol ar yr Awdurdod Olew a Nwy i gyflawni yn union hynny. Nawr, nid dyna yw safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru. Mae buddiannau mwy nag un Llywodraeth ar waith o ran arolygon seismig arfaethedig o ardal bae Ceredigion a sianel San Siôr, ond mae ein safbwynt ni, rwy'n credu, mor eglur ag y gall fod, ac rwy'n falch iawn o fod wedi gallu ei roi ar y cofnod unwaith eto y prynhawn yma.
Of course, on this side of the Chamber, we're very pleased indeed that the company has put its application at this point on hold, but I think it's important to emphasise that our understanding is that it's on hold, not abandoned altogether. None of us, I think, want to see this testing in Cardigan bay. Now, the First Minister says that he and his Government wholeheartedly oppose any proposals to speculate for the potential extraction of gas or oil from this area. However, it's our understanding that Eni, the company, justified its application partly on the basis of the draft Welsh marine plan, which specifically says, and I quote:
'Proposals that maximise the long-term supply of oil and gas are encouraged'.
Now, obviously, this is a draft plan as it stands at the moment, but I would ask the First Minister, in the light of what he's said this afternoon, and in the light of the climate change emergency declaration, that he will commit with his Ministers to reviewing the draft marine plan to remove any clauses that companies in future might be able to use, even if they're quoting those clauses potentially out of context, which they may have been in this case—that any clauses that might be seen to encourage extraction should be removed, and a clear commitment to discourage extraction from any part of the Welsh marine environment be in place, firmly in place, within that plan when it's finalised.
Wrth gwrs, ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr, rydym ni'n falch iawn yn wir bod y cwmni wedi gohirio ei gais ar yr adeg hon, ond credaf ei bod hi'n bwysig pwysleisio mai ein dealltwriaeth ni yw ei fod wedi ei ohirio, yn hytrach na'i roi o'r neilltu yn gyfan gwbl. Nid oes yr un ohonom, rwy'n credu, eisiau gweld y profion hyn ym mae Ceredigion. Nawr, mae'r Prif Weinidog yn dweud ei fod ef a'i Lywodraeth yn gwrthwynebu'n llwyr unrhyw gynigion i archwilio'r posibilrwydd o gloddio am nwy neu olew yn yr ardal hon. Fodd bynnag, ein dealltwriaeth ni yw bod Eni, y cwmni, wedi cyfiawnhau ei gais yn rhannol ar sail cynllun morol drafft Cymru, sy'n dweud yn benodol, a dyfynnaf:
'Anogir cyflwyno cynigion sy’n mwyhau’r cyflenwad hirdymor o olew a nwy'.
Nawr, yn amlwg, cynllun drafft yw hwn fel y mae ar hyn o bryd, ond gofynnaf i'r Prif Weinidog, yng ngoleuni'r hyn y mae wedi ei ddweud y prynhawn yma, ac yng ngoleuni datganiad yr argyfwng newid yn yr hinsawdd, ymrwymo gyda'i Weinidogion i adolygu'r cynllun morol drafft i gael gwared ar unrhyw gymalau y gallai cwmnïau yn y dyfodol eu defnyddio, hyd yn oed os ydyn nhw yn dyfynnu'r cymalau hynny allan o'u cyd-destun o bosibl, fel y maen nhw wedi ei wneud yn yr achos hwn efallai—y dylid cael gwared ar unrhyw gymalau y gellid ystyried eu bod yn annog cloddio, a bod ymrwymiad eglur i annog pobl i beidio â chloddio yn unrhyw ran o amgylchedd morol Cymru wedi ei gynnwys, wedi ei gynnwys yn gadarn, o fewn y cynllun hwnnw pan fydd wedi ei gwblhau.
Llywydd, I thank the Member for those points and for the caveated way in which she quoted what the company had said. She was right in what she said, that we have published a draft plan, that there is consultation that has taken place on that draft plan, and I know Members will look forward to seeing the way in which the final plan, which we plan to publish later this year, will take into account views expressed during consultation and developments that have happened in the interim.
Llywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am y pwyntiau yna ac am y modd â chafeat y dyfynnodd yr hyn yr oedd y cwmni wedi ei ddweud. Roedd yn iawn yn yr hyn a ddywedodd, ein bod ni wedi cyhoeddi cynllun drafft, bod ymgynghoriad a gynhaliwyd ar y cynllun drafft hwnnw, a gwn y bydd yr Aelodau yn edrych ymlaen at weld y ffordd y bydd y cynllun terfynol, yr ydym yn bwriadu ei gyhoeddi yn ddiweddarach eleni, yn cymryd i ystyriaeth safbwyntiau a fynegwyd yn ystod yr ymgynghoriad a datblygiadau sydd wedi digwydd yn y cyfamser.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddarparu tai fforddiadwy ar ystadau preswyl newydd sy'n cael eu hadeiladu? OAQ53971
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of affordable housing on new-build residential estates? OAQ53971
Llywydd, increasing the number of affordable homes is a fundamental priority for this Government. Our planning policy requires local planning authorities, through their development plan policies, to ensure the provision of affordable housing to meet their communities’ needs.
Llywydd, mae cynyddu nifer y tai fforddiadwy yn flaenoriaeth sylfaenol i'r Llywodraeth hon. Mae ein polisi cynllunio yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol, drwy eu polisïau cynllun datblygu, sicrhau'r ddarpariaeth o dai fforddiadwy i ddiwallu anghenion eu cymunedau.
The problem is that it isn't in the gift of planning authorities, often, to deliver that level of affordable housing. A recently approved development on the site of the old Virginia Park golf club in Caerphilly put 350 houses through planning committee, of which 7 per cent—7 per cent—were affordable, and the developers continually scale down their affordability provision throughout the planning process. Virginia Park in Caerphilly is symptomatic of a system I've been raising since I was first elected to this Assembly. Existing planning policy gives too much leeway to developers to build executive-style homes that price out many local people and just don't enable people to buy affordable properties. Does the First Minister agree that new housing developments need to have much stricter requirements for genuinely affordable housing and that private developers must be—must be—held to account for that?
Y broblem yw nad yw yn nwylo awdurdodau cynllunio, yn aml, i ddarparu'r lefel honno o dai fforddiadwy. Rhoddodd datblygiad a gymeradwywyd yn ddiweddar ar safle hen glwb golff Parc Virginia yng Nghaerffili 350 o dai trwy bwyllgor cynllunio, a dim ond 7 y cant ohonyn nhw—7 y cant—yn rhai fforddiadwy, ac mae'r datblygwyr yn lleihau eu darpariaeth fforddiadwyedd yn barhaus drwy gydol y broses gynllunio. Mae Parc Virginia yng Nghaerffili yn nodweddiadol o system yr wyf i wedi bod yn ei chodi ers i mi gael fy ethol gyntaf i'r Cynulliad hwn. Mae polisi cynllunio presennol yn rhoi gormod o ryddid i ddatblygwyr adeiladu cartrefi o fath uwchraddol sy'n rhy ddrud i lawer o bobl o leol ac nad ydyn nhw yn galluogi pobl i brynu eiddo fforddiadwy. A yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno bod angen i ddatblygiadau tai newydd fod â gofynion llawer mwy llym ar gyfer tai fforddiadwy gwirioneddol a bod yn rhaid—yn rhaid—i ddatblygwyr preifat gael eu dwyn i gyfrif am hynny?
Well, I thank Hefin David for that and I agree with a great deal of what he has said in his analysis of the way that the current system can be manipulated to secure outcomes that the system is not intended to secure. It is certainly why we have introduced changes already in 'Planning Policy Wales' that will reduce the room for renegotiation on affordable housing when that has been entered into between a local authority and a developer. When we see those agreements struck we expect to see those agreements honoured. And 'Planning Policy Wales', as I say, reduces the room for developers to come back to the table and to try to renegotiate. We will publish shortly the national development framework for Wales. That will include further actions that we can take to make sure that our system supports our ambitions for affordable housing to be produced in all parts of Wales, in the places where it is most needed, at volumes that help to meet the demand for affordable housing and do so in a way that illustrates genuine partnership working between local authorities discharging their responsibilities and the developers who they rely upon for those houses to be built.
Wel, diolchaf i Hefin David am hynna ac rwy'n cytuno â llawer iawn o'r hyn y mae wedi ei ddweud yn ei ddadansoddiad o'r ffordd y gellir camddefnyddio'r system bresennol i sicrhau canlyniadau na fwriedir i'r system eu sicrhau. Dyna'n sicr pam yr ydym ni wedi cyflwyno newidiadau eisoes yn 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' a fydd yn lleihau'r cyfle i ailnegodi ar dai fforddiadwy pan gytunwyd ar hynny rhwng awdurdod lleol a datblygwr. Pan fyddwn ni'n gweld y cytundebau hynny'n cael eu taro, rydym ni'n disgwyl gweld y cytundebau hynny'n cael eu hanrhydeddu. Ac mae 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru', fel y dywedaf, yn lleihau'r cyfle i ddatblygwyr ddod yn ôl at y bwrdd a cheisio ailnegodi. Yn fuan, byddwn yn cyhoeddi fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol Cymru. Bydd hwnnw'n cynnwys camau pellach y gallwn ni eu cymryd i sicrhau bod ein system yn cefnogi ein huchelgeisiau i dai fforddiadwy gael eu hadeiladu ym mhob rhan o Gymru, yn y mannau lle mae fwyaf eu hangen, mewn niferoedd sy'n helpu i fodloni'r galw am dai fforddiadwy ac yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n dangos gwaith partneriaeth gwirioneddol rhwng awdurdodau lleol sy'n cyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau a'r datblygwyr y maen nhw'n dibynnu arnyn nhw i'r tai hynny gael eu hadeiladu.
I've got a problem with the term 'affordable housing', because that can be misleading. Affordable housing within the context of technical advice note 2 includes homes owned through shared equity schemes, including Help to Buy. Since the 2016 election, 40 per cent of the 3,458 homes sold through Help to Buy were sold for more than £200,000. That isn't affordable in most people's books. We need to get real about the housing crisis that is preventing many young people from getting onto the property ladder and forcing many to leave the communities that they grew up in because they can't afford to buy a house there anymore. In a housing paper Plaid Cymru published earlier this year, I proposed setting a target of 20,000 new social housing homes in the first year of a Plaid Cymru Government. The market is failing way too many people. First Minister, Wales cannot and should not have to wait until 2021 for the housing crisis to be alleviated. Will you give an undertaking to match our ambition and determination to provide housing that is within genuine reach of those currently priced out of the market?
Mae gen i broblem gyda'r term 'tai fforddiadwy', oherwydd gall hynny fod yn gamarweiniol. Mae tai fforddiadwy yng nghyd-destun nodyn cyngor technegol 2 yn cynnwys cartrefi y mae pobl yn berchen arnyn nhw trwy gynlluniau rhannu ecwiti, gan gynnwys Cymorth i Brynu. Ers etholiad 2016, gwerthwyd 40 y cant o'r 3,458 o gartrefi a werthwyd trwy Cymorth i Brynu am fwy na £200,000. Nid yw hynny'n fforddiadwy o safbwynt y rhan fwyaf o bobl. Mae angen i ni gallio ynghylch yr argyfwng tai sy'n atal llawer o bobl ifanc rhag ymuno â'r ysgol eiddo ac yn gorfodi llawer ohonyn nhw i adael y cymunedau y cawsant eu magu ynddynt gan na allan nhw fforddio prynu tŷ yno mwyach. Mewn papur tai a gyhoeddwyd gan Blaid Cymru yn gynharach eleni, cynigiais y dylid gosod targed o 20,000 o gartrefi tai cymdeithasol newydd ym mlwyddyn gyntaf Llywodraeth Plaid Cymru. Mae'r farchnad yn siomi gormod o bobl. Prif Weinidog, ni all, ac ni ddylai, Cymru orfod aros tan 2021 i'r argyfwng tai gael ei leddfu. A wnewch chi roi addewid i gyd-fynd â'n huchelgais a'n penderfyniad i ddarparu tai sydd o fewn cyrraedd gwirioneddol i'r rhai sydd wedi eu prisio allan o'r farchnad ar hyn o bryd?
Well, Llywydd, I agree that there is a problem with the term 'affordable housing'. I don't agree entirely with the Member about what she has said about Help to Buy, which genuinely has helped many young families in Wales to secure housing that otherwise would not have been available to them. But affordable housing rents are 80 per cent of market rates, and, for many people, including people entering professions such as teaching and nursing, 80 per cent of market rents in some parts of Wales are not genuinely affordable. It is why the vast bulk of the houses we are building as part of our 20,000 affordable homes during this Assembly term are actually at social rents rather than affordable rents. So, that's around 50 per cent of market rates, which are genuinely, then, in the sphere of affordability for people in those circumstances. I want our housing policy to be ambitious. I want it to be focused on those people who most need assistance in the housing market. We are confident that we will reach the target that we have set during this Assembly term, and then we will look to see what offer we would make to the people of Wales were we to be in Government in the next Assembly.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno bod problem gyda'r term 'tai fforddiadwy'. Nid wyf i'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r Aelod am yr hyn y mae hi wedi ei ddweud am Cymorth i Brynu, sydd wedi bod o gymorth gwirioneddol i lawer o deuluoedd ifanc yng Nghymru gael tai na fyddent wedi bod ar gael iddyn nhw fel arall. Ond mae rhenti tai fforddiadwy yn 80 y cant o gyfraddau'r farchnad, ac, i lawer o bobl, gan gynnwys pobl sy'n ymuno â phroffesiynau fel addysgu a nyrsio, nid yw 80 y cant o renti'r farchnad mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru yn wirioneddol fforddiadwy. Dyma pam mae mwyafrif helaeth y tai yr ydym ni'n eu hadeiladu yn rhan o'n 20,000 o gartrefi fforddiadwy yn ystod tymor y Cynulliad hwn ar gyfradd rhenti cymdeithasol yn hytrach na rhenti fforddiadwy mewn gwirionedd. Felly, mae hynny oddeutu 50 y cant o gyfraddau'r farchnad, sy'n wirioneddol, felly, yng nghylch fforddiadwyedd pobl yn yr amgylchiadau hynny. Rwyf i eisiau i'n polisi tai fod yn uchelgeisiol. Rwyf i eisiau iddo ganolbwyntio ar y bobl hynny sydd fwyaf angen cymorth yn y farchnad dai. Rydym ni'n ffyddiog y byddwn ni'n cyrraedd y targed yr ydym ni wedi ei osod yn ystod tymor y Cynulliad hwn, ac yna byddwn yn edrych i weld pa gynnig y byddem ni'n ei wneud i bobl Cymru pe byddem ni mewn Llywodraeth yn y Cynulliad nesaf.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi diweddariad am y cynllun Arbed yn Arfon? OAQ53965
6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the Arbed scheme in Arfon? OAQ53965
Diolch i Siân Gwenllian am y cwestiwn. Yn ystod cyfnod Arbed 2, cafodd cynlluniau eu cwblhau yn ardal Arfon. Mae trafodaethau’n parhau gyda chyngor sir Gwynedd i edrych ar gynlluniau posibl eraill yn ystod Arbed 3.
Thank you, Siân Gwenllian, for that question. During the period of Arbed 2, schemes were delivered in the Arfon area. Discussions continue with Gwynedd county council to explore further possible schemes during Arbed 3.
Mae etholwyr o Garmel, Deiniolen, y Fron a Dinorwig yn mynegi pryder am safon y gwaith a wnaed o dan y cynllun Arbed roeddech chi’n sôn amdano fo bedair blynedd yn ôl: cladin allanol heb ei osod yn gywir ac felly’n achosi problemau tamprwydd, peipiau draenio diffygiol, waliau wedi cracio, render wedi cracio, plastr tu mewn i’r tŷ wedi cracio yn dilyn y gwaith, difrod wedi’i wneud i’r toeau, afliwiad o’r cladin allanol. Rydw i wedi bod yn gohebu efo’r Gweinidog amgylchedd am hyn, ond mae’r diffygion yn parhau. A wnaiff eich Llywodraeth chi ailedrych ar y sefyllfa a chynnal adroddiad annibynnol i edrych ar safon y gwaith ac, yn bwysicach, i argymell beth all y Llywodraeth ei wneud i helpu fy etholwyr i?
Constituents from Carmel, Deiniolen, y Fron and Dinorwig have expressed concern about the quality of the work done under the Arbed scheme that you mentioned, and that happened four years ago: external cladding not put on correctly and therefore causing dampness, drainage pipes being deficient, cracked walls, cracked render, plaster having cracked inside the house following the work, damage to roofs, and discolouration of the external cladding. I have been in correspondence with the environment Minister on this, but the problems continue. Will your Government review this situation and have an external report to look at the quality of the work and, more importantly, to recommend what the Government can do to assist my constituents?
Wel, diolch i Siân Gwenllian am y cwestiwn yna. Dwi’n ymwybodol o’r materion mae’r Aelod yn cyfeirio atynt, a hefyd ei gohebiaeth â Lesley Griffiths ar ran ei hetholwyr. Bydd hi’n gwybod mai casgliad yr adolygiad annibynnol diweddar o’r gwaith a gyflawnwyd yn flaenorol drwy Arbed yn Arfon yw nad methiannau o ran y cynllun oedd yn gyfrifol am rai o’r pethau maen nhw wedi cwyno amdanynt. Dwi wedi darllen yr adroddiad annibynnol yn bersonol hefyd i weld beth roedden nhw’n ei ddweud. Nawr, dwi’n gwybod nad oedd rhai o’r pethau mae pobl wedi cwyno amdanynt o fewn cwmpas yr adolygiad annibynnol dŷn ni wedi cael ar hyn o bryd, ac mae swyddogion yn ystyried nawr os oes rhai pethau eraill y bydd rhaid i ni gael cyngor annibynnol arnynt. So, diolch am godi'r pwyntiau yna; rŷm ni’n dal i fod yn eu hystyried nhw tu fewn y Llywodraeth.
Well, thank you, Siân Gwenllian, for those questions. I'm aware of the issues that the Member refers to and also her correspondence with Lesley Griffiths on behalf of her constituents. She will know that the conclusion of the recent independent report of the work undertaken previously on Arbed in Arfon was that it wasn't failures of the scheme that were responsible for some of the things they have complained about. I have read that independent report personally to order to see exactly what it said. Now, I know that some of the things that people complained about did not fall within the scope of the independent review that we've held at present, and officials are now considering whether some other issues will require independent advice. So, thank you for raising those points; we're still in the process of considering this within Government.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi Bwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys? OAQ53943
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on how the Welsh Government is supporting Powys Teaching Health Board? OAQ53943
Llywydd, on 8 May the health Minister announced £2.554 million in new funding for the north Powys well-being programme. That is just one example of the support provided by the Welsh Government to the Powys Teaching Health Board.
Llywydd, ar 8 Mai cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog iechyd £2.554 miliwn o gyllid newydd ar gyfer rhaglen lesiant gogledd Powys. Dim ond un enghraifft yw honno o'r cymorth a ddarperir gan Lywodraeth Cymru i Fwrdd Iechyd Addysgu Powys.
Thank you for your answer, First Minister. I very much welcome the intention to build a healthcare facility in north Powys, almost certainly to be located in Newtown. The initial sum that you talked about is, of course, just for the initial stages, but the full amount will, of course, be 10 times more in order for that project to go forward. Is there anything more you can say at this stage to provide assurances that further capital funding will be invested to ensure that this facility becomes a reality? And secondly, even if this project moves at quite a pace, it's going to be some years away until that facility is in place. In the meantime, there are concerns about the sustainability of the GP practice and wider health services in Newtown as well. What can be put in place in the meantime in the short and medium term?
Diolch am eich ateb, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y bwriad i adeiladu cyfleuster gofal iechyd yng ngogledd Powys, sydd bron yn sicr o gael ei leoli yn y Drenewydd. Mae'r swm cychwynnol y soniasoch amdano, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer y camau cychwynnol yn unig, ond bydd y swm llawn, wrth gwrs, 10 gwaith yn fwy er mwyn i'r prosiect hwnnw fynd yn ei flaen. A oes unrhyw beth arall y gallwch chi ei ddweud ar hyn o bryd i roi sicrwydd y bydd rhagor o arian cyfalaf yn cael ei fuddsoddi i sicrhau bod y cyfleuster hwn yn cael ei wireddu? Ac yn ail, hyd yn oed os bydd y prosiect hwn yn symud yn weddol gyflym, bydd rhai blynyddoedd tan y bydd y cyfleuster hwnnw ar waith. Yn y cyfamser, ceir pryderon ynghylch cynaliadwyedd y feddygfa a gwasanaethau iechyd ehangach yn y Drenewydd hefyd. Beth ellir ei roi ar waith yn y cyfamser yn y byrdymor a'r tymor canolig?
I thank the Member for that. We understand, of course, that whenever the Government provides funding from the Welsh Government's transformation fund, there are questions that have to be explored as to the long-term sustainability of those services, and those sustainability arguments are absolutely part of the decision making that leads to that investment in the first place. So, I understand the reason why people ask those questions, but I want to give the Member an assurance that those questions are explored as part of the decision making that has led to this investment in the first place. We wouldn't be making the investment if we didn't believe that it would bring about sustainable change and sustainable new services in the areas in which we are investing.
The Member knows that Powys local health board has had to work on a series of issues where GP services have been altered in the area. They have, I think, a very creditable record of reinventing primary care services in the way that will become increasingly familiar in all parts of Wales, where it is that wider range of professionals who come together under the leadership of GPs to make sure that people going through the door of a practice go directly to the person most likely to be able to respond to their need, whether that is a pharmacist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, whatever that wider team is able to provide. That experience and that expertise continues to be applied to issues in Powys where there is a need for change to be brought about in primary care provision.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna. Rydym ni'n deall, wrth gwrs, pryd bynnag y bydd y Llywodraeth yn darparu cyllid o gronfa trawsnewid Llywodraeth Cymru, bod cwestiynau y mae'n rhaid eu hystyried o ran cynaliadwyedd hirdymor y gwasanaethau hynny, ac mae'r dadleuon cynaliadwyedd hynny yn sicr yn rhan o'r broses o wneud penderfyniadau sy'n arwain at y buddsoddiad hwnnw yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, rwy'n deall y rheswm pam mae pobl yn gofyn y cwestiynau hynny, ond hoffwn roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod bod y cwestiynau hynny'n cael eu harchwilio yn rhan o'r penderfyniadau sydd wedi arwain at y buddsoddiad hwn yn y lle cyntaf. Ni fyddem yn gwneud y buddsoddiad pe na byddem ni'n credu y byddai'n sicrhau newid cynaliadwy a gwasanaethau newydd cynaliadwy yn y meysydd yr ydym ni'n buddsoddi ynddyn nhw.
Mae'r Aelod yn gwybod y bu'n rhaid i fwrdd iechyd lleol Powys weithio ar gyfres o broblemau lle mae gwasanaethau meddygon teulu wedi cael eu newid yn yr ardal. Rwy'n credu bod ganddyn nhw hanes clodwiw iawn o ailddyfeisio gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol pan fo'r amrywiaeth ehangach honno o weithwyr proffesiynol yn dod ynghyd o dan arweinyddiaeth meddygon teulu i wneud yn siŵr bod pobl sy'n mynd trwy ddrws practis yn mynd yn syth at y person sydd fwyaf tebygol o allu ymateb i'w angen, boed hwnnw'n fferyllydd, yn ffisiotherapydd, yn therapydd galwedigaethol, beth bynnag y gall y tîm ehangach hwnnw ei ddarparu. Mae'r profiad hwnnw a'r arbenigedd hwnnw yn parhau i gael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer materion ym Mhowys lle mae angen newid yn y ddarpariaeth o ofal sylfaenol.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Lynne Neagle.
And finally, question 8, Lynne Neagle.
8. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ei gefnogaeth i bleidlais y bobl ar Brexit? OAQ53978
8. Will the First Minister make a statement on his support for a people’s vote on Brexit? OAQ53978
I thank the Member for that question. As I said earlier, Llywydd, a contest between candidates for leadership of the Conservative Party means that the context has changed in relation to the policy that has been pursued by this Government. In these circumstances, the National Assembly, which voted on 30 January that the only option is to give the decision back to the people, finds that that is the position that we have now reached, and I have reaffirmed my support for the National Assembly’s position.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach, Lywydd, mae cystadleuaeth rhwng ymgeiswyr i arwain y Blaid Geidwadol yn golygu bod y cyd-destun wedi newid o ran y polisi y mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi bod yn ei ddilyn. O dan yr amgylchiadau hyn, mae'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, a bleidleisiodd ar 30 Ionawr mai'r unig ddewis yw rhoi'r penderfyniad yn ôl i'r bobl, yn gweld mai dyna'r sefyllfa yr ydym wedi'i chyrraedd erbyn hyn, ac rwyf i wedi ailddatgan fy nghefnogaeth i safbwynt y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.
Thank you, First Minister. I'm sure you recognise that many of us from across the Assembly very much welcome your announcement of support for a people's vote, but do you also recognise that absolute clarity is needed and that it's essential that yourself and all your representatives in any forum, including the Labour Party, are crystal clear? So, will you confirm that you support a people's vote in all circumstances and that you will campaign and press for one at every opportunity, and that when that people's vote comes you will be the leading voice in Wales for us remaining in the EU?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn cydnabod bod llawer ohonom ni o bob rhan o'r Cynulliad yn croesawu'n fawr eich cyhoeddiad o gefnogaeth i bleidlais y bobl, ond a ydych chi hefyd yn cydnabod bod angen eglurder llwyr a'i bod yn hanfodol eich bod chi a'ch holl gynrychiolwyr mewn unrhyw fforwm, gan gynnwys y Blaid Lafur, yn hollol glir? Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau eich bod chi'n cefnogi pleidlais y bobl o dan bob amgylchiad, ac y byddwch yn ymgyrchu ac yn pwyso i gael pleidlais ar bob cyfle, a phan fydd y bleidlais y bobl honno yn dod, mai chi fydd y prif lais yng Nghymru o blaid i ni aros yn yr UE?
Well, I thank the Member for that question and for her welcome of my reaffirmation of the position that we are in—that with the possibility of a deal having evaporated, then putting that decision back to the people, as this Assembly said, becomes the only option. I want to assure her that in the meantime, the Government has gone on pressing the UK Government to make the necessary preparations for such a referendum, which was also highlighted in that debate in front of the National Assembly. My colleague Jeremy Miles has discussed this on three separate occasions now with David Lidington, pressing him to take the action that the UK Government needs to take to make sure that a referendum can be a practical possibility. We will go on making that case to him, and I provide her with the assurance that she is looking for that, if a referendum is brought about, this Government will campaign to remain in the European Union and members of the Government will be there with others making that case and trying to persuade people in Wales that their future is better secured in that way.
Wel, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna ac am iddi croesawu fy nghadarnhad o'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi—sef gyda'r posibilrwydd o gytundeb wedi diflannu, yna rhoi'r dewis yn ôl i'r bobl, fel y dywedodd y Cynulliad hwn, yw'r unig ddewis. Yn y cyfamser, rwyf eisiau ei sicrhau bod y Llywodraeth wedi mynd ati i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU i wneud y paratoadau angenrheidiol ar gyfer refferendwm o'r fath, a thynnwyd sylw at hynny hefyd yn y ddadl honno gerbron y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod Jeremy Miles wedi trafod hyn ar dri gwahanol achlysur erbyn hyn gyda David Lidington, gan bwyso arno i gymryd y camau y mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU eu cymryd er mwyn sicrhau y gall refferendwm fod yn bosibilrwydd ymarferol. Byddwn yn parhau i gyflwyno'r achos hwnnw iddo, a rhoddaf sicrwydd y mae hi'n chwilio amdano sef, os caiff refferendwm ei gynnal, y bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn ymgyrchu i aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ac y bydd Aelodau'r Llywodraeth yno gydag eraill yn dadlau dros hynny a cheisio argyhoeddi pobl yng Nghymru bod eu dyfodol wedi'i sicrhau'n well o wneud hynny.
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 Trefnydd i wneud ei datganiad. Rebecca Evans.
The next item is the business statement and announcement, and I call the Trefnydd to make the statement. Rebecca Evans.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are a few changes to this week's business. The First Minister will make a statement shortly on the M4 corridor around Newport, after which the Counsel General and Brexit Minister will provide an update on Brexit. As a result, the statement providing an update on advancing equality and human rights in Wales has been postponed until next week. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out in the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Lywydd. Mae ychydig o newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Bydd y Prif Weinidog yn gwneud datganiad yn fuan ar goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd, ac ar ôl hynny bydd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a Gweinidog Brexit yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am Brexit. O ganlyniad, mae'r datganiad sy'n rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru wedi'i ohirio tan yr wythnos nesaf. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith y papurau cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Can I call for a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to hospice care for children here in Wales? The business manager may well be aware that there was a recent report by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales called 'How are healthcare services meeting the needs of young people?' and in that report it made a very clear recommendation that the Welsh Government need to assess any unmet demand for palliative care services to make sure that children and young people across Wales get the care that they need. I think it's very important that we understand the timescales for undertaking that piece of work to make sure that our constituents can get access to the very important palliative care that is sometimes unfortunately needed for children and young people. We have some excellent children's hospices here in Wales with Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices in the north and Tŷ Hafan here in the south. I think it's very, very important that we make sure that they have the capacity to deal with the children from Wales who need that sort of care and support. So, I would appreciate it if a statement could be brought forward.
A gaf i alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol o ran gofal hosbis i blant yma yng Nghymru? Mae'n bosibl iawn bod y rheolwr busnes yn ymwybodol bod adroddiad diweddar gan Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru o'r enw 'Sut mae gwasanaethau gofal iechyd yn diwallu anghenion pobl ifanc?' ac yn yr adroddiad hwnnw gwnaeth argymhelliad clir iawn bod angen i Lywodraeth Cymru asesu unrhyw alw heb ei ddiwallu am wasanaethau gofal lliniarol i wneud yn siŵr bod plant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru yn cael y gofal sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn i ni ddeall yr amserlenni ar gyfer cyflawni'r gwaith hwnnw, er mwyn sicrhau y gall ein hetholwyr gael gafael ar y gofal lliniarol pwysig iawn y mae blant a phobl ifanc weithiau, yn anffodus, ei angen. Mae gennym ni rai hosbisau plant rhagorol yma yng Nghymru gyda hosbisau plant Tŷ Gobaith yn y gogledd a Thŷ Hafan yma yn y de. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw'r gallu i ymdrin â'r plant o Gymru sydd angen y math hwnnw o ofal a chymorth. Felly, byddwn yn gwerthfawrogi pe byddai modd cael datganiad ar hynny.
Thank you very much for bringing forward that request for a statement today. I agree with you that we do have some excellent provision here in Wales. But it is important that we do understand whether or not there is unmet demand for palliative care for children and young people in Wales, so I will ask the health Minister, in the first instance, to explore that in the context of the report to which you referred and to write to you with an update.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am gyflwyno'r cais yna am ddatganiad heddiw. Rwy'n cytuno â chi fod gennym ni ddarpariaeth ragorol yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ymwybodol o ba un a oes galw heb ei ddiwallu am ofal lliniarol i blant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru, felly gofynnaf i'r Gweinidog Iechyd, yn y lle cyntaf, archwilio hynny yng nghyd-destun yr adroddiad yr ydych wedi cyfeirio ato ac ysgrifennu atoch chi gyda diweddariad.
Trefnydd, you may be aware of the controversy that has arisen within my South Wales West region with regards to Bridgend County Borough Council's decision to order the removal of a 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' mural in Bridgend. A huge amount of public interest has followed the decision of the council to take action against the property owner. I must say that I find the actions of the council to be unreasonable, given that dozens of replicas of the mural have been erected right across Wales over recent months in response to the shameful vandalism of the original 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' mural near Llanrhystud in Ceredigion. I'm sure that we would all acknowledge that the flooding of Capel Celyn in Gwynedd in 1965 was a key event in Wales's history. The murals that have been painted across the length and breadth of Wales over recent months simply reflect the strength of feeling that continues to exist.
What is noteworthy is that Bridgend County Borough Council seems to be the only local authority in Wales that is insisting on a planning application for a 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' mural. I believe that this is due to the fact that the council's interpretation of the legislation is simply wrong. I do not believe that the mural can be construed as an advert; it simply marks a historic event. The positions of other local authorities seem to support that view—that it marks a historic event and that it is not an advert. Indeed, only last year, the renowned artist Banksy famously painted on a garage wall in Port Talbot. I do not recall Neath Port Talbot council insisting that Banksy apply for planning permission. If he has, it's still awaiting—still pending a decision retrospectively. In light of the above, I have already written to Bridgend County Borough Council asking it to reconsider its position with regards to the mural. Would the Welsh Government join me in condemning this action by Bridgend council, and would you be prepared to make a statement to that effect?
Trefnydd, efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol o'r dadlau sydd wedi codi yn fy rhanbarth i yng Ngorllewin De Cymru o ran penderfyniad Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i fynnu bod murlun 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn cael ei dynnu ymaith. Mae llawer iawn o ddiddordeb cyhoeddus wedi dod yn sgil penderfyniad y Cyngor i gymryd camau yn erbyn perchennog yr eiddo. Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn gweld y camau y mae'r Cyngor yn eu cymryd yn afresymol, o ystyried bod dwsinau o gopïau o'r murlun wedi eu hatgynhyrchu ar draws Cymru yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf mewn ymateb i fandaliaeth gywilyddus y murlun 'Cofiwch Dryweryn' gwreiddiol ger Llanrhystud yng Ngheredigion. Rwy'n siŵr y byddem ni i gyd yn cydnabod bod boddi Capel Celyn yng Ngwynedd yn 1965 yn ddigwyddiad allweddol yn hanes Cymru. Yr hyn y mae'r murluniau sydd wedi'u paentio ar hyd a lled Cymru yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf yn ei wneud yw adlewyrchu cryfder y teimlad sy'n parhau i fodoli.
Yr hyn sy'n nodedig yw ei bod yn ymddangos mai Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yw'r unig awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru sy'n mynnu bod angen cais cynllunio ar gyfer murlun 'Cofiwch Dryweryn'. Credaf fod hyn yn ymwneud â'r ffaith bod y Cyngor wedi camddehongli'r ddeddfwriaeth yn llwyr. Nid wyf yn credu y gellir galw'r murlun yn hysbyseb; dim ond nodi digwyddiad hanesyddol y mae'n ei wneud. Mae'n ymddangos bod safbwyntiau awdurdodau lleol eraill yn cefnogi'r farn honno—ei fod yn nodi digwyddiad hanesyddol ac nad hysbyseb ydyw. Yn wir, dim ond y llynedd y gwnaeth yr arlunydd enwog Banksy baentio ar wal garej ym Mhort Talbot. Nid wyf i'n cofio Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot yn mynnu bod Banksy yn gwneud cais am ganiatâd cynllunio. Os ydyw wedi gwneud hynny, mae'n dal i aros—yn disgwyl penderfyniad ôl-weithredol. Yng ngoleuni'r uchod, rwyf eisoes wedi ysgrifennu at Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i ofyn iddo ailystyried ei safbwynt ynghylch y murlun. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ymuno â mi i gondemnio'r camau hyn gan Gyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac a ydych chi'n barod i wneud datganiad i'r perwyl hwnnw?
Thank you for raising this issue. Of course, you remember that I was able to take the opportunity in a previous business statement to express regret at what was mindless and senseless vandalism to the original memorial. The Minister with responsibility for planning has indicated to me that she'd be grateful if you would write to her with details of this particular case so that she can explore the issue regarding the interpretation of legislation.
Diolch ichi am godi'r mater hwn. Wrth gwrs, byddwch yn cofio fy mod i wedi gallu manteisio ar y cyfle mewn datganiad busnes blaenorol i resynu am y fandaliaeth ddifeddwl a disynnwyr i'r gofeb wreiddiol. Mae'r Gweinidog â chyfrifoldeb am gynllunio wedi dweud wrthyf y byddai'n ddiolchgar pe byddech chi'n ysgrifennu ati gyda manylion yr achos penodol hwn fel y gall hi ymchwilio i'r mater o ran dehongli'r ddeddfwriaeth.
Minister, please could I have a statement from the Minister for Education on teacher recruitment in Wales? Last week, it was reported that Welsh Government had missed its own target for recruiting new secondary school trainee teachers by 40 per cent. The primary school trainee target was missed for the third year running. Also, the figures indicate that Wales is becoming a less attractive region for young graduates to train, with student numbers from England falling by over half in the last five years. Please could we have a statement on the escalating crisis in teacher recruiting in Wales?
For my second statement, Minister, I would like to ask the Minister for local government if he or she can make a statement regarding the bin collection timing. Because in Newport, the railway station is right in the middle of town and all the streets come towards there. In the morning, it's a real bad state when people want to come and the bin collectors are right in the middle and people are making a queue. Rather than in the side roads, it's in the main streets, so it takes a long time to go to either the station or to work. So, I'd like to have a statement from the Minister on that issue, please.
Gweinidog, a gaf i ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Addysg ynghylch recriwtio athrawon yng Nghymru os gwelwch yn dda? Yr wythnos diwethaf, adroddwyd bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi methu ei tharged ei hun ar gyfer recriwtio athrawon ysgol uwchradd newydd dan hyfforddiant gan 40 y cant. Methwyd y targed ar gyfer hyfforddeion mewn ysgolion cynradd am y drydedd flwyddyn yn olynol. Hefyd, mae'r ffigurau'n dangos bod Cymru'n mynd yn rhanbarth llai deniadol i raddedigion ifanc hyfforddi yno, a bu gostyngiad o fwy na hanner yn nifer y myfyrwyr o Loegr yn ystod y pum mlynedd diwethaf. A allwn ni gael datganiad ynghylch yr argyfwng cynyddol o ran recriwtio athrawon yng Nghymru os gwelwch yn dda?
Ar gyfer fy ail ddatganiad, Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn i'r Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol a all ef neu hi wneud datganiad am yr amseru casglu biniau. Oherwydd yng Nghasnewydd, mae'r orsaf reilffordd yn union yng nghanol y dref ac mae'r strydoedd i gyd yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad hwnnw. Yn y bore, mae'n sefyllfa wael iawn pan fydd pobl eisiau dod ac mae'r casglwyr biniau yn union yn y canol ac mae pobl yn ffurfio ciw. Yn hytrach nag ar yr heolydd bach mae hyn ar y prif strydoedd, felly mae'n cymryd cryn amser i fynd naill ai'r orsaf neu i'r gwaith. Felly, hoffwn gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog ar y mater hwnnw, os gwelwch yn dda.
Thank you for your request for two statements. The first was about teacher recruitment and, of course, your leader did ask the First Minister several questions about teacher recruitment during the Plenary session earlier today. But the education Minister has also indicated that she'd be happy to have questions on that topic during her question time, which will be taking place tomorrow.
There must be a sensible answer to the bin collection issue, but, in the first instance, I would suggest a discussion—. On the bin collection timing issue, a discussion perhaps with the council in the first instance might be the most appropriate way forward.
Diolch am eich cais am ddau ddatganiad. Roedd y cyntaf yn ymwneud â recriwtio athrawon ac, wrth gwrs, fe wnaeth eich arweinydd ofyn nifer o gwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog am recriwtio athrawon yn ystod y cyfarfod llawn yn gynharach heddiw. Ond mae'r Gweinidog addysg hefyd wedi nodi y byddai'n hapus i gael cwestiynau ar y pwnc hwnnw yn ystod ei sesiwn cwestiynau hi, a bydd hynny yn digwydd yfory.
Mae'n rhaid bod ateb call i'r mater o gasglu biniau, ond, yn y lle cyntaf, byddwn yn awgrymu trafodaeth—. O ran y mater o amseru casglu biniau, efallai mai trafod â'r Cyngor yn y lle cyntaf fyddai'r ffordd fwyaf priodol ymlaen.
I want to raise the state of bus services in the Rhondda. I've received a number of representations from constituents about the deterioration in the frequency and quality of service. Many of the modern gold Stagecoach buses have been replaced by older and smaller models in many cases, and I've been informed that these buses have been reallocated to the Blackwood, Newport and Cardiff routes. Some popular routes have also been reduced in frequency, leading to problems getting on to the bus, let alone finding a seat. I can give you plenty of examples of complaints that I've received, but one has said,
'I drive everywhere, mainly due to the fact that the waiting times for public transport in general are appalling. The cost of a ticket isn't worth waiting for buses. If trains and buses were more frequent and cheaper, then I would 100 per cent use them more often.'
I applaud the decision not to go ahead with the costly black route for the M4, if not the cost and the rigmarole that it took to get us to this stage. However, if we are going to make Wales the cleaner, greener and more prosperous country that we all know we are capable of becoming, then there needs to be a radical plan to improve public transport. This Government needs to make a pitch to ditch the car. Can the Government therefore issue a statement on its plans to improve public transport in Wales, and specifically how it will put right these problems that I've referred to in the Rhondda?
I was informed last week of the decision to delay the centralisation of paediatric services in Cwm Taf health board. This decision, which was endorsed by the Labour Government here, would have seen consultant-led services removed from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant, and concentrated at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr. For me, and the thousands of others who marched and campaigned against those plans for many, many years, this was very welcome news. While the centralisation of maternity services in Cwm Taf cannot be held solely responsible for the failings that we've seen there, it's hardly helped the issue.
I'd like the Government now to acknowledge that the centralisation of services is not the answer to the recruitment crisis. Proactive recruitment and providing more training places is the answer. This is what Plaid Cymru has long been calling for. Will the Government make a statement on its plans for tackling the recruitment crisis please?
Rwyf i am godi cyflwr gwasanaethau bysiau yn y Rhondda. Rwyf i wedi cael nifer o sylwadau gan etholwyr ynghylch y dirywiad yn amlder ac ansawdd y gwasanaeth. Mae llawer o'r bysiau Stagecoach aur modern wedi cael eu disodli gan fodelau hŷn a llai o faint mewn llawer o achosion, ac rwyf i wedi cael gwybod bod y bysiau hyn wedi cael eu hailddosbarthu i lwybrau Coed-duon, Casnewydd a Chaerdydd. Mae rhai llwybrau poblogaidd hefyd yn dioddef gwasanaeth llai aml, gan arwain at broblemau o ran mynd ar y bws, heb sôn am ddod o hyd i sedd. Gallaf roi digon o enghreifftiau i chi o gwynion yr wyf i wedi'u cael, ond roedd un yn dweud, '
Rwy'n gyrru i bobman, yn bennaf oherwydd bod yr amseroedd aros am gludiant cyhoeddus yn gyffredinol warthus. Nid yw cost tocyn yn werth aros am fysiau. Pe byddai trenau a bysiau yn amlach ac yn rhatach, yna 100 y cant byddwn yn eu defnyddio'n amlach.
Rwyf i'n cymeradwyo'r penderfyniad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â'r llwybr du costus ar gyfer yr M4, os nad y gost a'r rigmarôl a fu i gyrraedd y fan hon. Fodd bynnag, os ydym ni'n mynd i wneud Cymru'n lanach, yn wyrddach ac yn fwy ffyniannus, sef y wlad yr ydym ni i gyd yn ymwybodol y gall hi fod, yna mae angen cynllun radical i wella cludiant cyhoeddus. Mae angen i'r Llywodraeth hon wneud ymdrech i gael gwared ar y car. A all y Llywodraeth felly gyhoeddi datganiad ar ei chynlluniau i wella cludiant cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, ac yn benodol sut y bydd yn unioni'r problemau hyn yr wyf i wedi cyfeirio atynt yn y Rhondda?
Cefais wybod yr wythnos diwethaf am y penderfyniad i oedi'r broses o ganoli gwasanaethau pediatrig ym Mwrdd Iechyd Cwm Taf. Byddai'r penderfyniad hwn, a gefnogwyd gan y Llywodraeth Lafur hon, wedi gweld gwasanaethau dan arweiniad ymgynghorwyr yn cael eu symud o Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg yn Llantrisant, ac wedi'u canoli yn ysbyty'r Tywysog Siarl ym Merthyr. I mi, a'r miloedd o bobl eraill a orymdeithiodd ac a ymgyrchodd yn erbyn y cynlluniau hynny am flynyddoedd lawer, roedd hyn yn newyddion calonogol iawn. Er nad yw canoli gwasanaethau mamolaeth yng Nghwm Taf wedi bod yn llwyr gyfrifol am y methiannau a welwyd yno, prin ei fod wedi helpu'r mater.
Hoffwn i'r Llywodraeth gydnabod yn awr nad canoli gwasanaethau yw'r ateb i'r argyfwng recriwtio. Recriwtio rhagweithiol a darparu mwy o leoedd hyfforddi yw'r ateb. Dyma'r hyn y bu Plaid Cymru yn galw amdano ers talwm. A wnaiff y Llywodraeth ddatganiad am ei chynlluniau ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng recriwtio os gwelwch yn dda?
Thank you for raising both of these issues. The first was reflecting the concerns of your constituents regarding their experience with bus services in the Rhondda, particularly in terms of the frequency and the quality of the service. You'll be aware, of course, that Welsh Government has recently concluded a consultation on some quite radical plans for the future of bus services in Wales, and we're extremely ambitious for what bus services could deliver in terms of public transport, alongside all the work that we're doing with the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 and so forth. But you say that many constituents have been in touch with you, so I'd certainly encourage you to share those individual experiences with the economy Minister, who is responsible for the consultation on bus services, so that he can consider them as part of that.
The health Minister has committed to providing regular updates to Members regarding the Cwm Taf paediatric services, and maternity services in particular, I should say. And he has recently provided an oral update to the Assembly on the 'Train. Work. Live.' programme, which did offer Members the opportunity to discuss in depth the recruitment challenges within the NHS.
Diolch i chi am godi'r materion hyn. Roedd y cyntaf yn adlewyrchu pryderon eich etholwyr ynglŷn â'u profiad o wasanaethau bysiau yn y Rhondda, yn enwedig o ran amlder ac ansawdd y gwasanaeth. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, wrth gwrs, bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cwblhau ymgynghoriad yn ddiweddar ar gynlluniau eithaf radical ar gyfer dyfodol gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghymru, ac rydym ni'n hynod uchelgeisiol ynghylch yr hyn y gallai gwasanaethau bws eu darparu o ran cludiant cyhoeddus, ochr yn ochr â'r holl waith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud drwy Ddeddf Teithio Llesol (Cymru) 2013 ac yn y blaen. Ond rydych chi'n dweud bod llawer o etholwyr wedi cysylltu â chi, felly byddwn yn sicr yn eich annog i rannu'r profiadau unigol hynny gyda Gweinidog yr economi, sy'n gyfrifol am yr ymgynghoriad ar wasanaethau bysiau, er mwyn iddo allu eu hystyried yn rhan o hynny.
Mae'r Gweinidog iechyd wedi ymrwymo i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn rheolaidd i Aelodau ynglŷn â gwasanaethau pediatrig Cwm Taf, a'r gwasanaethau mamolaeth yn enwedig, fe ddylwn ddweud. Ac yn ddiweddar, rhoddodd ddiweddariad llafar i'r Cynulliad ar y rhaglen 'Hyfforddi. Gweithio. Byw.', a wnaeth gynnig cyfle i Aelodau drafod yn fanwl yr heriau recriwtio yn y GIG.
A couple of weeks ago, there was a trade union bulletin in Ford in Bridgend about the possibility of potential strike action if plans, as they understood, go ahead to cut two thirds of the job population at Ford in Bridgend due to cutbacks, and due to changes in Ford on a UK and European level. I understand that there's going to be a top-level Ford management meeting in June—this month—and I wanted to understand what the Welsh Government are doing to (a) take part in that meeting, and (b) to protect and safeguard the jobs at Ford. I'm getting quite a lot of workers at the plant contacting me with anxiety about the future, considering this is one of the biggest employers in Wales. So, I would like to have an update urgently on the position that the Welsh Government is taking in relation to those particular jobs at Ford.
My second question is on something that's been brought to my attention over the weekend, about a lady from Swansea who is an asylum seeker/refugee. She actually didn't know her own status because her husband wouldn't tell her. She was beaten up over the weekend, and went to the police and domestic abuse services, but was told, because she had no recourse to public funds, that she couldn't get any support. So I've been trying to help her over the last few days to get a hostel, to get anywhere to get support, because she couldn't return to this abusive relationship. And, for me, it was about the fact that she had to define herself before she could get any support. She didn't actually know her status, because her husband, being abusive, wasn't telling her. So, what can we do to ensure that the first thing we think about, if a woman is being abused, is to help her, and not to think about how much money she's got, what country she's from, what her status is, so that that woman doesn't go back to an abusive relationship? I would like to have a statement specifically on this small group of people, actually, who need support in relation to a refuge, a hostel, when they simply do not know their status.
Ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, cafwyd bwletin undeb llafur yn Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ynghylch y posibilrwydd o weithredu streic posibl os bydd cynlluniau, fel y maen nhw'n eu deall, yn mynd rhagddynt i dorri dwy ran o dair o'r swyddi yn Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr oherwydd toriadau, ac oherwydd newidiadau yn Ford ar lefel y DU ac ar lefel Ewropeaidd. Deallaf y bydd cyfarfod rheoli Ford ar y lefel uchaf ym mis Mehefin—y mis hwn—ac roeddwn i eisiau ddeall beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud (a) i gymryd rhan yn y cyfarfod hwnnw, a (b) i warchod a diogelu'r swyddi yn Ford. Mae cryn dipyn o weithwyr yn y ffatri yn cysylltu â mi yn pryderu am y dyfodol, o ystyried mai hwn yw un o gyflogwyr mwyaf Cymru. Felly, hoffwn gael diweddariad ar frys ynglŷn â'r safbwynt y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gymryd yng nghyswllt y swyddi penodol hynny yn Ford.
Mae fy ail gwestiwn yn ymwneud â rhywbeth sydd wedi cael ei ddwyn i'm sylw dros y penwythnos, am fenyw o Abertawe sy'n geisydd lloches/ffoadur. Mewn gwirionedd, nid oedd yn ymwybodol o'i statws ei hun gan nad oedd ei gŵr yn fodlon dweud wrthi. Cafodd ei churo dros y penwythnos, ac aeth at yr heddlu a'r gwasanaethau cam-drin domestig, ond dywedwyd wrthi, oherwydd nad oedd ganddi unrhyw hawl i gael arian cyhoeddus, na allai gael unrhyw gefnogaeth. Felly rwyf wedi bod yn ceisio ei helpu dros y dyddiau diwethaf i gael hostel, i gael gafael ar unrhyw le i gael cymorth, oherwydd ni allai fynd yn ôl i'r berthynas gamdriniol hon. Ac, i mi, roedd yn ymwneud â'r ffaith bod yn rhaid iddi ddiffinio ei hun cyn y gallai gael unrhyw gymorth. Doedd hi ddim yn ymwybodol o'i statws mewn gwirionedd, gan nad oedd ei gŵr, gan ei fod yn ei cham-drin, yn dweud wrthi. Felly, beth allwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau mai'r peth cyntaf y byddwn ni'n ei ystyried, os yw menyw yn cael ei cham-drin, yw ei helpu, a pheidio â meddwl am faint o arian sydd ganddi, o ba wlad y mae hi'n dod, beth yw ei statws, fel nad yw'r fenyw honno'n mynd yn ôl i berthynas gamdriniol? Hoffwn gael datganiad yn benodol am y grŵp bach hwn o bobl, mewn gwirionedd, y mae angen cymorth arnynt o ran lloches, hostel, pan nad ydynt hyd yn oed yn gwybod beth yw eu statws.
The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip has responsibility for both the support that we are able to offer asylum seekers and refugees in Wales, and also the issue of tackling domestic violence. So, I think she'll be very well placed to provide you with an update in terms of how those two pieces of work can mesh seamlessly together, so that we don't put people such as the woman you describe in such a terrible situation, where they are perhaps faced with no other option than to return back to an abusive partner.FootnoteLink We do have a statement next week on the nation of sanctuary, so this might be an opportunity to raise this specific case on the floor of the Assembly with the Minister concerned.
The Minister for Economy and Transport has confirmed that we are in regular contact with Ford, but I will ask him to write to you with an update on the most recent discussions that have been had.
Mae gan y Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip gyfrifoldeb dros y gefnogaeth y gallwn ni ei chynnig i geiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid yng Nghymru, a hefyd y mater o fynd i'r afael â thrais yn y cartref. Felly, credaf y bydd hi mewn sefyllfa dda iawn i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ichi o ran sut y gall y ddau ddarn hyn o waith gyd-fynd yn ddi-dor, fel nad ydym yn rhoi pobl fel y fenyw yr ydych chi'n ei disgrifio mewn sefyllfa mor ofnadwy, pan mai'r unig ddewis sydd yn agored iddyn nhw, efallai, yw dychwelyd at bartner sy'n eu cam-drin.FootnoteLink Mae gennym ddatganiad yr wythnos nesaf ar y genedl noddfa, felly gallai hwn fod yn gyfle i godi'r achos penodol hwn ar lawr y Cynulliad gyda'r Gweinidog dan sylw.
Mae Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth wedi cadarnhau ein bod mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd â Ford, ond byddaf yn gofyn iddo ysgrifennu atoch gyda'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y trafodaethau diweddaraf a gafwyd.
Gaf i ofyn i'r Trefnydd am ddau ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth? Yn y lle cyntaf, wrth gwrs, byddwn ni i gyd yn ymwybodol bod nifer fawr o ddinasyddion o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd wedi methu pleidleisio yn ystod yr etholiad Ewropeaidd diweddar. Mae hynny, wrth gwrs, yn destun gofid i bob un ohonom ni. Rwy'n gwybod bod o leiaf 3,500 wedi gwneud cwyn swyddogol, ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig, eu bod nhw wedi cyrraedd yr orsaf bleidleisio ac wedi cael eu gwrthod. Bydd yna nifer mwy na hynny, wrth gwrs, ddim wedi gwneud cwyn swyddogol, a bydd yna mwy eto byddai ddim wedi derbyn y gwaith papur perthnasol cyn hyd yn oed cyrraedd y blychau pleidleisio. Dyw hi ddim yn broblem newydd—mi oedd yna broblemau yn 2014, ond wrth gwrs roedden nhw'n llawer, llawer gwaeth y tro hwn.
Camau syml a fyddai fod wedi gallu cael eu mabwysiadu fyddai cysylltu'n uniongyrchol drwy lythyr ac e-bost â'r etholwyr hynny—fel roedd rhai awdurdodau lleol wedi ei wneud, gyda llaw—ond hefyd gynnig y ffurflenni UC1 a oedd yn rhaid eu llenwi er mwyn datgan eich bod chi'n pleidleisio yma, ac nid mewn gwlad arall, nid yn unig ar-lein ond yn y gorsafoedd pleidleisio, lle y byddai modd eu llenwi nhw yn y fan a'r lle. Dau gam syml a fyddai, dwi'n credu, wedi achub camwedd eithriadol a wynebodd nifer o'r etholwyr hynny. Felly, gaf i ofyn, mewn datganiad, i'r Llywodraeth ei gwneud hi'n glir pa gyswllt rŷch chi wedi ei gael â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ac ag awdurdodau lleol, er mwyn mynegi'r consýrn y mae nifer ohonom ni'n ei deimlo ynglŷn â'r anghyfiawnder yma i'r rhai a gafodd eu gwrthod o safbwynt eu pleidlais, ac er mwyn sicrhau na fydd hynny yn digwydd eto?
May I ask the Trefnydd for two statements from the Government? First of all, of course, we'll all be aware that many EU citizens had failed to vote during the European elections recently. That is a cause of concern for each and every one of us. I know that at least 3,500 have made official complaints across the UK that they had got to the polling station and been rejected. There will be far more who won't have made an official complaint, and there will be yet more who won't have received the relevant paperwork before even getting to the polling station. It’s not a new problem—there were problems in 2014, but they were far worse this time.
Simple steps could have been taken and could have been to contact directly by letter and e-mail those constituents—as some local authorities did, by the way—but also to offer the UC1 forms that had to be filled in order to say that you were voting here rather than elsewhere, and to provide those not only online but in the polling stations themselves, where they could have been filled in on the spot. Two simple steps, I think, that could have prevented the great misdemeanour that many constituents faced. So, could I ask for the Government to make it clear what contact you've had with the UK Government, and with local authorities, in order to express the concern that many of us have on this injustice, for those who were not allowed to vote, and in order to ensure that that won't happen again?
Could I ask for a statement from the health Minister, if I may? Many of us are increasingly concerned about the creeping privatisation within the health service in Wales. I'm particularly concerned about the situation in Betsi Cadwaladr in my region, in North Wales, which is of course under the direct control of this Labour Government at the moment. Last year, I'm sure you will recall, many of us campaigned to stop the privatisation of dialysis services in Wrexham and Welshpool, where the proposal was even to transfer NHS staff into the private sector. Now, myself, trade unions and others succeeded in that campaign, but now we learn that the health board is turning to private companies to run hospital pharmacies, in Ysbyty Wrecsam, in Glan Clwyd, and in Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor as well.
Labour of course is seemingly fiercely opposed to the privatisation of health services in England, yet seemingly very relaxed about a similar outcome emerging here in Wales. I agree with the trade unions, such as Unison, that there is no place for private companies within these kinds of services in Wales. In light of the ongoing trend that we're seeing, in terms of this privatisation of services across North Wales, I think the Government needs to make a clear statement on outsourcing NHS services, to ensure that we do protect our national health services from private predators.
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd, os caf i? Mae llawer ohonom ni'n pryderu fwyfwy am y preifateiddio graddol yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru. Rwy'n poeni'n arbennig am y sefyllfa ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr yn fy rhanbarth i, yng Ngogledd Cymru, sydd, wrth gwrs, o dan reolaeth uniongyrchol y Llywodraeth Lafur hon ar hyn o bryd. Y llynedd, rwy'n siŵr y cofiwch, ymgyrchodd llawer ohonom ni i atal preifateiddio gwasanaethau dialysis yn Wrecsam a'r Trallwng, lle'r oedd hyd yn oed cynnig i drosglwyddo staff y GIG i'r sector preifat. Nawr, rwyf fi, undebau llafur ac eraill wedi llwyddo yn yr ymgyrch honno, ond nawr rydym ni'n clywed bod y Bwrdd Iechyd yn troi at gwmnïau preifat i gynnal fferyllfeydd ysbytai, yn Ysbyty Wrecsam, yng Nglan Clwyd, ac yn Ysbyty Gwynedd ym Mangor hefyd.
Wrth gwrs, mae'n ymddangos bod Llafur yn daer yn erbyn preifateiddio gwasanaethau iechyd yn Lloegr, ond nid yw'n ymddangos ei bod yn poeni llawer am ganlyniad tebyg sy'n dod i'r amlwg yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n cytuno â'r undebau llafur, fel Unison, nad oes lle i gwmnïau preifat o fewn y mathau hyn o wasanaethau yng Nghymru. Yng ngoleuni'r duedd barhaus yr ydym ni'n ei gweld, o ran preifateiddio gwasanaethau ledled Gogledd Cymru, credaf fod angen i'r Llywodraeth wneud datganiad clir ynghylch rhoi gwasanaethau'r GIG ar gontract allanol, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn diogelu ein gwasanaethau GIG rhag ysglyfaethwyr y sector preifat.
I can give a clear statement now that we're fundamentally opposed to any privatisation of the health service here in Wales, and we're fundamentally opposed to any suggestion, for example, that there should be an agreement made with the United States of America that might sell off parts of our NHS here in Wales, and we continue to make those points.
On the issue of votes for EU citizens, we'll take into account what the Electoral Commission review will say and the Wales Electoral Coordination Board is involved in that work, and that's an opportunity to make those representations on behalf of those EU citizens based here in Wales who were denied the opportunity to take part in that election.
Gallaf roi datganiad clir nawr ein bod ni'n gwrthwynebu'n sylfaenol unrhyw breifateiddio ar y gwasanaeth iechyd yma yng Nghymru, ac rydym ni'n gwrthwynebu'n sylfaenol unrhyw awgrym, er enghraifft, y dylid cael cytundeb ag Unol Daleithiau America a allai fod yn gwerthu rhannau o'n GIG ni yma yng Nghymru, ac fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i wneud y pwyntiau hynny.
O ran pleidleisiau i ddinasyddion yr UE, byddwn yn ystyried yr hyn y bydd arolwg y Comisiwn Etholiadol yn ei ddweud ac mae Bwrdd Cydgysylltu Etholiadol Cymru â rhan yn y gwaith hwnnw. Bydd hynny'n gyfle i gyflwyno'r achosion hynny ar ran dinasyddion yr UE sydd wedi eu lleoli yma yng Nghymru na chafodd gyfle i gymryd rhan yn yr etholiad hwnnw.
Ac yn olaf, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
And finally, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch, Llywydd. Cais sydd gen i am ddadl yn amser y Llywodraeth, a hynny wrth inni aros yn fan hyn am ddatganiad gan y Prif Weinidog ar y penderfyniad ynglŷn â'r M4 yn ardal Casnewydd. Does yna ddim amheuaeth gen i y bydd safbwyntiau cryf yn cael eu gwyntyllu yn ystod y tri chwarter awr neu'r ychydig mwy a fydd yn cael ei neilltuo ar gyfer hynny heddiw a'r dadleuon ar y ddwy ochr, dwi'n siwr. Ond feiddiwn i awgrymu bod yna ragor i'w ddweud nag all gael ei ddweud mewn ymateb i ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth heddiw? Felly, mi hoffwn i wneud cais am ddadl, a dadl sylweddol, yn amser y Llywodraeth, o bosib hyd yn oed dros ddau ddiwrnod, ynglŷn â beth yn union ydy goblygiadau'r penderfyniad yma, a beth ydy'r camau sydd angen i ni eu cymryd fel sefydliad, y Llywodraeth yma a ni fel cenedl, wrth inni symud ymlaen o'r pwynt hwn mewn amser. Dwi'n meddwl bod hwn wedi bod yn un o'r testunau gwleidyddol pwysicaf i ni ei drafod mewn blynyddoedd diweddar, ond dwi'n credu yn wyneb hynny fod angen sicrhau bod digon o amser yn cael ei neilltuo yma yn ein Senedd genedlaethol ni i gael y drafodaeth bwysig yma wrth inni wynebu'r camau nesaf.
Thank you, Llywydd. I would like to make a request for a debate in Government time, as we await the statement from the First Minister on the decision on the M4 corridor around Newport. I have no doubt that strong views will be expressed during the next three quarters of an hour or a little longer that will be allocated for that statement today, and there will be strong arguments on both sides, I'm sure. But dare I suggest that there is more to be said than can be covered in response to a statement from Government today? So, I would like to request a debate, and a substantial debate, in Government time, possibly over two days even, on what exactly the implications of this decision are and what steps need to be taken as an institution, as a Government and as a nation, as we move forward from this particular point in time. I think this has been one of the most important political issues that we have discussed in recent years, but I do believe in light of that that we do need to ensure that there is adequate time allocated here in our national Parliament to have this important debate as we face the next steps.
Well, the inspector's report is very long and very detailed, as is the decision letter, and it is really important that Members do have the opportunity to read both of those documents and to consider them fully before we schedule a debate in Government time. But we will bring forward a debate in Government time during the forthcoming weeks, once Members have had the opportunity to consider fully the information that's been set out today.
Wel, mae adroddiad yr arolygydd yn hir iawn ac yn fanwl iawn, fel y llythyr penderfyniad, ac mae'n bwysig iawn i'r Aelodau gael cyfle i ddarllen y ddwy ddogfen a'u hystyried yn llawn cyn trefnu dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth. Ond fe fyddwn ni'n cyflwyno dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf, wedi i'r Aelodau gael cyfle i ystyried yn llawn yr wybodaeth sydd wedi ei chyflwyno heddiw.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
Thank you, Trefnydd.
Ac felly dyma ni yn cyrraedd y datganiad gan y Prif Weinidog ar goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd, ac rwy'n galw ar y Prif Weinidog i wneud ei ddatganiad.
And that brings us to the statement by the First Minister on the M4 corridor around Newport, and I call on the First Minister to make the statement.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Following my written statement to Members earlier today, and publication of the report of the public inquiry into the M4 corridor around Newport, I can now set out further details in relation to my decision on the proposed M4 relief road, and the next steps to alleviate traffic congestion on the current M4.
Since late February, I have carefully considered the report and the recommendations of the public inquiry into the M4 corridor around Newport. As Members will be aware, the report is a very substantial document, reflecting the work undertaken by the inspector between February 2017 and September 2018, and the many hundreds of written submissions made to that inquiry. The decision as to whether to make the Schemes and Orders, which are necessary for the project to be implemented, falls solely to me as First Minister.
My decision has to reflect the context within which it is made, Llywydd. We are still deep into the longest and deepest period of austerity in any of our lifetimes. It has seen our capital budgets cut consistently since 2010. My ministerial colleagues and I grapple every day with balancing the financial implications of our Government investment priorities.
Llywydd, the Cabinet met at the end of April to discuss the overall financial situation facing the Welsh Government, and the capital spending needs of the coming years across all portfolios, in order to give careful consideration to our forward capital programme. Cabinet concluded that the significant level of expenditure needed to deliver the M4 project would have an unacceptable impact on our other priorities in areas such as public transport, health, education, and housing. It did so, as I said, by placing those capital investment decisions in the wider financial context faced by the Welsh Government.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Yn dilyn fy natganiad ysgrifenedig i'r Aelodau yn gynharach heddiw, a chyhoeddiad yr adroddiad ar yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd, gallaf yn awr roi manylion pellach am fy mhenderfyniad ar y ffordd liniaru arfaethedig i'r M4, a'r camau nesaf i liniaru tagfeydd traffig ar yr M4 bresennol.
Ers diwedd mis Chwefror, rwyf wedi ystyried yr adroddiad ac argymhellion yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd yn ofalus iawn. Fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, mae'r adroddiad yn ddogfen swmpus iawn ac yn adlewyrchu'r gwaith a ymgymerwyd gan yr arolygydd rhwng mis Chwefror 2017 a mis Medi 2018, a'r cannoedd ar gannoedd o gyflwyniadau ysgrifenedig a wnaed i'r ymchwiliad hwnnw. Mae'r penderfyniad a ddylid cyflawni'r Cynlluniau a'r Gorchmynion sy'n angenrheidiol i weithrediad y prosiect yn gyfrifoldeb i mi, fel Prif Weinidog, ac i neb arall.
Mae'n rhaid i'm penderfyniad i adlewyrchu'r cyd-destun y caiff ei wneud ynddo, Llywydd. Rydym yn dal i fod yn ddwfn iawn ynghanol y cyfnod hwyaf a dyfnaf o gyni yn oes unrhyw un ohonom ni. Gwelwyd ein cyllidebau cyfalaf yn cael eu torri'n gyson ers 2010. Mae fy nghyd-Weinidogion a minnau'n ymgodymu'n ddyddiol â chydbwyso goblygiadau ariannol ein blaenoriaethau buddsoddi yn y Llywodraeth.
Llywydd, fe wnaeth y Cabinet gyfarfod ddiwedd mis Ebrill i drafod y sefyllfa ariannol gyffredinol sy'n wynebu Llywodraeth Cymru, a'r anghenion o ran gwario cyfalaf yn y blynyddoedd nesaf ym mhob un portffolio, er mwyn rhoi ystyriaeth ofalus i'n blaenraglen gyfalaf. Daeth y Cabinet i'r casgliad y byddai'r lefel sylweddol o wariant sydd ei angen i gyflawni prosiect yr M4 yn cael effaith annerbyniol ar ein blaenoriaethau eraill mewn meysydd fel trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, iechyd, addysg a thai. Fe wnaeth y Cabinet hynny, fel y dywedais, gan osod y penderfyniadau buddsoddi cyfalaf hynny yn y cyd-destun ariannol ehangach y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wynebu.
Llywydd, this is a decision being made at the point of maximum uncertainty about our financial future. Unprecedented austerity in the public finances is combined with a complete lack of clarity over our capital budgets for the coming years, and is exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, while we know that the UK Government’s lack of progress in bringing forward a comprehensive spending review could see the Welsh Government’s budget even lower in the future than it is today.
This financial position has significant and specific implications for the exercise of my powers to make the necessary compulsory purchase orders for the project to proceed. In this regard, and before deciding to make any CPOs, I am required to be satisfied that there is a compelling need for such orders and that they must be in the public interest, and that that, together, must justify interference with the human rights of those with an interest in the land required for the project. I must be satisfied that the necessary resources to carry out the project would be available within a reasonable timescale and that the project is unlikely to be blocked by any other impediment to its implementation. Llywydd, I have concluded that the financial position means that I cannot be satisfied that I can lawfully exercise my compulsory purchase order powers in relation to the project, because I am not satisfied that the project can be implemented within the foreseeable future, given the prolonged period of financial uncertainty we face.
Now, Llywydd, in light of this conclusion, it is actually unnecessary for me to go on to consider whether the advantages of the project outweigh its disadvantages and whether I agree with the inspector’s overall conclusions as to where the balance between advantages and disadvantages lies. Nevertheless, I have proceeded, as the inspector did, by addressing, as he says in paragraph 8.481 of his report, the ‘strong and competing interests’ at play and the question of where the balance between those competing interests should lie. I have therefore considered the advantages and disadvantages identified by the inspector, and I have concluded that, even without the Cabinet’s position on funding, and even if, on those grounds, it was likely that the project would be implemented, I would, in any event, have decided not to make the schemes and orders.
I recognise the inspector’s conclusions as to the advantages and disadvantages of the project. However, I attach greater weight than the inspector to the adverse impacts that the project would have on the environment and ecology. In particular, I attach very significant weight to the fact that the project would have a substantial adverse impact on the Gwent levels sites of special scientific interest and their reen network and wildlife, and on other species, and a permanent adverse impact on the historic landscape of the Gwent levels. As a result, in my judgment, the project’s adverse impacts on the environment, taken together with other disadvantages, outweigh its advantages. In weighing up the inspector’s ‘strong competing interests’, my judgment as to where the balance between those competing interests lies ultimately differs from his. For these additional reasons, separate to those on the grounds of funding, I do not consider that there is a compelling case in the public interest to expropriate the land that is subject to the compulsory purchase orders, and I do not consider that it would be appropriate or expedient to make other schemes and orders.
Llywydd, just as my decision has had to take into account the latest and changed financial context facing the Welsh Government, so too future solutions to the congestion issues on the M4 around Newport must reflect the most recent environmental challenges we face as a nation. Two significant recent reports have highlighted different aspects of these challenges. The first is the UK Committee on Climate Change ‘Net Zero’ report on climate change, recommending a new 95 per cent target for emissions reduction in Wales by 2050. In response, the Welsh Government, recognising the scale and urgency of the threat, declared a climate emergency. Secondly, last month, the United Nations published its global assessment on biodiversity. That report set out the scale of the impact that human activity and development is having on species, and the threat that further development is likely to pose to ecosystems across the world. Llywydd, the findings of that report apply equally to us here in Wales.
Now, Llywydd, I acknowledge, of course, that there are strong views on both sides of the debate in relation to this project. There is a consensus, however, and a consensus that I share, that the issues of capacity, resilience and environment at the M4 corridor around Newport do have to be addressed and that they will need a mixture of both local and regional solutions. In light of the funding constraints and the environmental impacts that have led to my decision on the orders, it is important that those issues are now addressed collaboratively, and that voices on all sides have the chance to shape the way forward together. It's in this context that I announce today a new commission that will be appointed—a commission of transport experts charged with reviewing the evidence and making recommendations to the Welsh Government on alternative solutions to the problems faced at the M4 corridor around Newport. Those suggestions can include innovative technologies and other measures to address those current problems.
The commission will be guided by our overarching ambition to develop a high-quality, multimodal, integrated and low-carbon transport system, and the context of the major challenges of climate change and biodiversity that I have set out already. The commission will be drawn from a spectrum of expertise, and it will be supported in its work by a dedicated team within the Welsh Government. Ken Skates, the Minister for Economy and Transport, will make further announcements on the commission, including timescales—making those announcements to the Assembly tomorrow. In advance of the commission’s work, the Minister will implement a series of fast-tracked, targeted interventions to alleviate congestion on the M4, for example actions to expedite recovery of vehicles, enhanced traffic officer patrols, live journey information to inform better transport choices, and a behavioural campaign to reduce accidents and incidents and to make maximum use of existing lane capacity.
Llywydd, transport is an area, as we heard in the question posed to me by the former First Minister, where this Welsh Government has bold and ambitious plans for the future, from the £5 billion plan we have developed through Transport for Wales for the new rail franchise and metro, to major legislation to improve bus services, to the biggest investment in active travel ever seen across Wales.
Resolving the congestion issues around the M4 is an important part of those plans, but there are, as we see from the inspector's report, no easy or uncontested answers. We are committed to taking an inclusive and collaborative approach to finding innovative, affordable and sustainable solutions in the shortest possible timescales, and we look forward to working with others to achieve that ambition.
Llywydd, penderfyniad yw hwn a wneir pan mae'r ansicrwydd mwyaf ynglŷn â'n dyfodol ariannol. Mae cyni na welwyd ei debyg o'r blaen ym maes cyllid cyhoeddus yn cyfuno â diffyg eglurder llwyr o ran ein cyllidebau cyfalaf am y blynyddoedd i ddod, a gwaethygir hynny gan yr ansicrwydd ynghylch Brexit, er ein bod ni'n gwybod y gallai diffyg cynnydd Llywodraeth y DU o ran cyflwyno adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant weld cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn llai hyd yn oed yn y dyfodol nag y mae heddiw.
Mae goblygiadau sylweddol a phenodol i'r sefyllfa ariannol hon o ran arfer fy mhwerau i wneud y gorchmynion prynu gorfodol sy'n angenrheidiol i'r prosiect fynd rhagddo. Yn hyn o beth, a chyn penderfynu cyflawni unrhyw orchmynion prynu gorfodol, mae'n ofynnol imi fod yn sicr bod angen pendant am orchmynion o'r fath a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw fod er budd y cyhoedd, a bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw, gyda'i gilydd, gyfiawnhau ymyrryd â hawliau dynol y rhai sydd â buddiant yn y tir sydd ei angen ar gyfer y prosiect. Mae'n rhaid imi gael fy modloni y byddai'r adnoddau angenrheidiol i gyflawni'r prosiect ar gael o fewn amserlen resymol ac nad yw'r prosiect yn debygol o gael ei atal gan unrhyw rwystr arall i'w weithrediad. Llywydd, deuthum i'r casgliad bod y sefyllfa ariannol yn golygu na allaf fod yn sicr y caf arfer fy mhwerau i roi gorchmynion prynu gorfodol o ran y prosiect, gan nad wyf wedi fy modloni y gellir gweithredu'r prosiect mewn dyfodol y gellir ei ragweld, o ystyried y cyfnod hir o ansicrwydd ariannol sy'n ein hwynebu.
Nawr, Llywydd, yng ngoleuni'r casgliad hwn, nid oes angen imi fynd ymlaen i ystyried a yw manteision y prosiect yn goresgyn ei anfanteision ac a wyf i'n cytuno â chasgliadau cyffredinol yr arolygydd o ran lleoliad y man canol rhwng y manteision a'r anfanteision. Serch hynny, rwyf wedi mynd ati, fel y dywedodd yr arolygydd, drwy roi sylw, fel y gwnaiff ef ym mharagraff 8.481 ei adroddiad, i'r buddiannau cryf a chystadleuol sydd ar waith yma, a'r cwestiwn o ble y dylai'r cydbwysedd rhwng y buddiannau cystadleuol hynny sefyll. Felly, rwyf wedi ystyried y manteision a'r anfanteision a nodwyd gan yr arolygydd, a deuthum i'r casgliad, hyd yn oed heb ystyried safbwynt y Cabinet ynglŷn ag ariannu, a hyd yn oed pe byddai'n debygol, ar y sail honno, y câi'r prosiect ei weithredu arno, y byddwn i, beth bynnag am hynny, wedi penderfynu peidio â chyflawni'r cynlluniau na'r gorchmynion.
Rwy'n cydnabod casgliadau'r arolygydd o ran manteision ac anfanteision y prosiect. Fodd bynnag, rwyf yn rhoi mwy o bwys na'r arolygydd ar yr effeithiau andwyol y byddai'r prosiect yn eu cael ar yr amgylchedd ac ecoleg. Yn benodol, rwy'n rhoi pwys mawr iawn ar y ffaith y byddai'r prosiect yn cael effaith andwyol sylweddol ar safleoedd o ddiddordeb gwyddonol arbennig ar wastadeddau Gwent a'u rhwydwaith a'u bywyd gwyllt, ac ar rywogaethau eraill, ac effaith andwyol barhaol ar dirwedd hanesyddol wastadeddau Gwent. O ganlyniad, yn fy marn i, mae effeithiau anffafriol y prosiect ar yr amgylchedd, o'u cymryd ynghyd â'r anfanteision eraill, yn gorlethu ei fanteision. Wrth bwyso a mesur y 'buddiannau cryf a chystadleuol', geiriau'r arolygydd, mae fy nyfarniad ynghylch lle mae'r cydbwysedd rhwng y buddiannau cystadleuol hynny'n gorwedd yn y pen draw yn wahanol i'w farn ef. Am y rhesymau ychwanegol hyn, ar wahân i'r rhesymau ar sail cyllid, nid wyf o'r farn y ceir achos cryf o ran budd y cyhoedd o blaid difeddiannu'r tir sy'n ddarostyngedig i'r gorchmynion prynu gorfodol, ac nid wyf o'r farn y byddai'n briodol nac yn fanteisiol cyflawni cynlluniau a gorchmynion eraill.
Llywydd, yn union fel y bu'n rhaid i'm penderfyniad ystyried y cyd-destun ariannol diweddaraf a'r newid sy'n wynebu Llywodraeth Cymru, mae'n rhaid i ddatrysiadau i broblemau tagfeydd ar yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd yn y dyfodol adlewyrchu'r sialensiau amgylcheddol diweddaraf sy'n ein hwynebu fel cenedl. Mae dau adroddiad sylweddol diweddar wedi tynnu sylw at wahanol agweddau ar yr heriau hyn. Y cyntaf yw adroddiad Pwyllgor y DU ar Newid yn yr Hinsawdd, 'Net Zero', sy'n argymell nod newydd o 95 y cant ar gyfer lleihau allyriadau yng Nghymru erbyn 2050. Mewn ymateb, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, gan gydnabod maint a brys y bygythiad, wedi datgan argyfwng ar yr hinsawdd. Yn ail, fis diwethaf, cyhoeddodd y Cenhedloedd Unedig ei asesiad byd-eang ar fioamrywiaeth. Roedd yr adroddiad hwnnw'n nodi maint yr effaith y mae gweithgarwch a datblygiad dynol yn ei chael ar rywogaethau, a'r bygythiad y mae datblygiad pellach yn debygol o'i achosi i ecosystemau ledled y byd. Llywydd, mae canfyddiadau'r adroddiad hwnnw'r un mor berthnasol i ni yma yng Nghymru.
Nawr, Llywydd, rwy'n cydnabod, wrth gwrs, fod barn gref ar ddwy ochr y ddadl ynglŷn â'r prosiect hwn. Ond mae yna gonsensws, a chonsensws yr wyf i'n ei rannu, fod yn rhaid mynd i'r afael â phroblemau o ran capasiti, cydnerthedd a'r amgylchedd ar goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd, ac y bydd angen cymysgedd o atebion lleol a rhanbarthol i fynd i'r afael â nhw. Yng ngoleuni'r cyfyngiadau ar gyllid a'r effeithiau amgylcheddol sydd wedi arwain at fy mhenderfyniad ar y gorchmynion, mae'n bwysig bod y materion hynny'n cael sylw ar y cyd ar hyn o bryd, a bod gan leisiau ar y naill ochr a'r llall y cyfle i weithio ar y ffordd ymlaen gyda'i gilydd. Yn y cyd-destun hwn yr wyf i'n cyhoeddi comisiwn newydd heddiw a gaiff ei benodi—comisiwn o arbenigwyr trafnidiaeth sy'n gyfrifol am adolygu'r dystiolaeth a gwneud argymhellion i Lywodraeth Cymru ynghylch atebion amgen i'r problemau a wynebir ar goridor yr M4 o amgylch Casnewydd. Fe all yr awgrymiadau hynny gynnwys technolegau arloesol a mesurau eraill i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau cyfredol hynny.
Bydd y comisiwn yn cael ei dywys gan ein huchelgais cyffredinol ni i ddatblygu system drafnidiaeth o ansawdd uchel, sy'n aml-foddol, yn integredig ac yn garbon isel, ac yng nghyd-destun heriau mawr newid hinsawdd a bioamrywiaeth yr wyf i wedi eu nodi eisoes. Bydd y comisiwn yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o arbenigedd, a chaiff ei gefnogi yn ei waith gan dîm penodedig o fewn Llywodraeth Cymru. Bydd Ken Skates, Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth, yn gwneud cyhoeddiadau pellach am y comisiwn, gan gynnwys amserlenni—gan wneud y cyhoeddiadau hynny yfory i'r Cynulliad. Cyn gwaith y comisiwn, bydd y Gweinidog yn gweithredu cyfres o ymyriadau wedi eu hanelu ar fyrder i liniaru tagfeydd ar yr M4, er enghraifft camau i hwyluso'r broses o symud cerbydau sy'n peri rhwystrau, patrolau gwell o swyddogion traffig, gwybodaeth fyw am deithiau i helpu gyrwyr i wneud dewisiadau teithio gwell, ac ymgyrch i newid ymddygiad gyrwyr a lleihau damweiniau a digwyddiadau a gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r lle sydd ar y lonydd ar hyn o bryd.
Llywydd, mae trafnidiaeth yn faes, fel y clywsom yn y cwestiwn a ofynnwyd imi gan y cyn Brif Weinidog, lle mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynlluniau beiddgar ac uchelgeisiol i'r dyfodol, o'r cynllun £5 biliwn a ddatblygwyd trwy Trafnidiaeth i Gymru i'r fasnachfraint reilffyrdd newydd a'r metro, i ddeddfwriaeth o bwys i wella gwasanaethau bysiau, i'r buddsoddiad mwyaf a welwyd erioed mewn teithio llesol ledled Cymru.
Mae datrys y problemau tagfeydd o amgylch yr M4 yn rhan bwysig o'r cynlluniau hynny. Ond fel y gwelwn o adroddiad yr arolygydd, nid oes atebion hawdd heb unrhyw wrthwynebiad. Rydym wedi ymrwymo i fabwysiadu dull cynhwysol a chydweithredol o ddod o hyd i atebion arloesol, fforddiadwy a chynaliadwy o fewn yr amserlenni byrraf posibl, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gydag eraill i wireddu'r uchelgais hwnnw.
Can I thank the First Minister for his statement this afternoon? As we on this side of the Chamber have been saying for many years, this congestion on the M4 is a foot on the windpipe of the Welsh economy. We have seen a 10 per cent increase in traffic flows as a result of the scrapping of tolls on the Severn, thanks to the UK Government, so a solution is needed now more than ever. We know that £31 million is being lost just to motorists on that stretch of road every year. Now, people have been talking about the need for a solution for the M4 for decades, and we are now no further forward than when we began. In fact, a solution was first talked about by the then Secretary of State for Wales, William Hague, at the end of the 1990s, and, quite clearly, this problem should have been sorted out 15 years ago. Perhaps if it had been dealt with then, you wouldn't be using austerity as a reason for rejecting this project. Clearly, successive Welsh Labour Governments have failed to deal with this issue. We need less of your dithering and more action to resolve the challenges facing modern day Wales, and what we've seen today is more dithering and kicking a solution into the long grass.
Now, today, First Minister, you are saying that this project is not now affordable. However, last year you wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in your capacity as the then finance Minister asking for more money to deliver this scheme. In this letter, you clearly thought then that this scheme was achievable, because this is the letter and this is what you said, and I quote:
'I will be seeking an increase in the Welsh Government's annual and aggregate borrowing limits as we move into the next Spending Review in order that we can deliver our investment priorities for Wales, including the M4 project'.
So, what has now changed, First Minister, and do you accept that the people of Newport were sold a pup? Because during the Newport West by-election, you were out campaigning with a candidate, now the MP, who was promising to deliver an M4 relief road.
First Minister, this morning you have published the inspector's report for us as Members to scrutinise. However, you've had months to consider this. This has been sat on your desk since the beginning of this year. Why on earth didn't you publish this report earlier so that stakeholders and the public could actually scrutinise the inspector's recommendations? You've had six months to look at this report. We and the Welsh people have only had a few hours to look at it. This report should have been published long ago, and this is just another example of your Government failing to be open and transparent with the Welsh people.
Let me remind you, First Minister, what this report tells us. It tells us that the inspector was looking at your Government's own proposal. You were part of the Cabinet that agreed to cost this particular inquiry. Do you now think that the £44 million spent on this project therefore is money well spent? Because you were the finance Minister that signed this off, and it's quite clear to me that tens of millions of pounds have now been wasted on this specific scheme.
First Minister, we were assured by the former leader of the house back in December last year that we as Members would have a binding vote on this very important issue. Given that you've already made this decision, it seems now that a vote will not go ahead, and therefore will you now apologise to this Chamber on behalf of your Government for breaking that specific pledge?
You've made it clear in your statement this afternoon that you are again kicking this decision into the long grass by looking to set up a commission to look at alternative solutions. You say that the Minister for Economy and Transport will make further announcements shortly. Can you therefore give us an indication of when the Minister will be making these further announcements? What timescales will you be giving the commission to report their findings?
In your statement you also tell us that the Minister will implement a series of fast-tracked, targeted interventions to alleviate congestion on the M4 in the interim period, but I have to put it to you, First Minister, that these are sticking plasters. What people want to see is a proper solution to this huge problem. In the 2016 Welsh Labour Party election manifesto, there was a commitment in that document to deliver an M4 relief road. Given the setting up of this commission, do you accept therefore that you will no longer deliver on that pledge in this fifth Assembly? And finally, First Minister, today businesses, commuters and residents in south Wales will be extremely disappointed with your Government's decision, and, unfortunately, the foot on the windpipe of the Welsh economy will clearly continue.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ddatganiad y prynhawn yma? Fel yr ydym ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr wedi ei ddweud ers llawer blwyddyn, mae'r tagfeydd hyn ar yr M4 yn tagu economi Cymru. Rydym wedi gweld cynnydd o 10 y cant yn llif y traffig o ganlyniad i ddiddymu'r tollau ar bont Hafren, diolch i Lywodraeth y DU, ac felly mae angen datrysiad nawr yn fwy nag erioed. Gwyddom fod £31 miliwn yn cael ei golli gan fodurwyr yn unig ar y darn hwnnw o ffordd yn flynyddol. Nawr, mae pobl wedi bod yn sôn am yr angen am ddatrysiad i'r M4 ers degawdau, ac nid ydym wedi symud ymlaen o gwbl. Mewn gwirionedd, soniwyd gyntaf am ddatrysiad gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru ar y pryd, William Hague, ar ddiwedd y 1990au ac, yn amlwg, dylai'r broblem hon fod wedi cael ei datrys 15 mlynedd o bosib yn defnyddio cyni fel rheswm dros wrthod y prosiect hwn. Yn amlwg, mae un Llywodraeth Lafur ar ôl y llall yng Nghymru wedi methu â mynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn. Mae angen llai o'ch tin-droi chi a mwy o weithredu i ddatrys yr heriau sy'n wynebu'r Gymru gyfoes, a'r hyn a welsom ni heddiw oedd mwy o din-droi a gohirio datrysiad.
Nawr, heddiw, Prif Weinidog, rydych chi'n dweud nad yw'r prosiect hwn bellach yn fforddiadwy. Er hynny, fe wnaethoch chi ysgrifennu at Brif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys y llynedd yn rhinwedd eich swydd fel Gweinidog cyllid ar y pryd yn gofyn am fwy o arian i gyflawni'r cynllun hwn. Yn y llythyr roedd hi'n amlwg eich bod yn credu bryd hynny fod modd cyflawni'r cynllun hwn, oherwydd dyma fe'r llythyr a dyma'r hyn a wnaethoch chi ei ddweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
Byddaf i'n gofyn am gynnydd yn nherfynau benthyca blynyddol a chyfanredol Llywodraeth Cymru wrth inni symud tuag at yr Adolygiad o Wariant nesaf er mwyn i ni allu cyflawni ein blaenoriaethau buddsoddi ar gyfer Cymru, gan gynnwys prosiect yr M4.
Felly, beth sydd wedi newid erbyn hyn, Prif Weinidog, ac a ydych chi'n derbyn bod pobl Casnewydd wedi cael eu bradychu? Oherwydd yn ystod isetholiad Gorllewin Casnewydd, roeddech chi allan yn ymgyrchu gydag ymgeisydd, sef yr AS nawr, a oedd yn addo cwblhau ffordd liniaru'r M4.
Prif Weinidog, rydych chi wedi cyhoeddi'r bore 'ma adroddiad yr arolygydd i ni'r Aelodau gael craffu arno. Eto i gyd, rydych chi wedi cael misoedd i ystyried hyn. Mae hwn wedi bod ar eich desg ers dechrau'r flwyddyn. Pam ar y ddaear na wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi'r adroddiad hwn yn gynharach fel y gallai rhanddeiliaid a'r cyhoedd mewn gwirionedd graffu ar argymhellion yr arolygydd? Rydych chi wedi cael chwe mis i edrych ar yr adroddiad hwn. Ni chawsom ni na'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru ond ychydig oriau i edrych arno. Fe ddylid fod wedi cyhoeddi'r adroddiad hwn amser maith yn ôl, a dim ond enghraifft arall yw hon o'ch Llywodraeth chi yn methu â bod yn agored a thryloyw gyda phobl Cymru.
Gadewch i mi eich atgoffa chi, Prif Weinidog, yr hyn y mae'r adroddiad hwn yn ei ddweud wrthym. Mae'n dweud bod yr arolygydd yn edrych ar gynnig eich Llywodraeth chi eich hun. Roeddech chi'n rhan o'r Cabinet a gytunodd i gostio'r ymchwiliad arbennig hwn. A ydych chi'n credu nawr felly bod y £44 miliwn a gafodd ei wario ar y prosiect hwn wedi bod yn werth chweil? Chi oedd y Gweinidog cyllid a roddodd sêl ei fendith ar hyn, ac mae'n gwbl glir i mi fod degau o filiynau o bunnoedd bellach wedi cael eu gwastraffu ar y cynllun arbennig hwn.
Prif Weinidog, fe gawsom ni ein sicrhau gan gyn-arweinydd y tŷ ym mis Rhagfyr y llynedd y byddem ni'r Aelodau yn cael pleidlais rwymol ar y mater pwysig iawn hwn. Gan eich bod eisoes wedi gwneud y penderfyniad, mae'n ymddangos erbyn hyn na fydd pleidlais yn digwydd, ac felly a wnewch chi ymddiheuro nawr i'r Siambr hon ar ran eich Llywodraeth chi am dorri'r addewid arbennig hon?
Rydych chi wedi egluro yn eich datganiad y prynhawn yma eich bod unwaith eto yn dymuno gohirio'r penderfyniad hwn drwy geisio sefydlu comisiwn i edrych ar atebion amgen. Rydych chi'n dweud y bydd Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth yn gwneud cyhoeddiadau pellach cyn bo hir. A allwch chi felly roi syniad inni pa bryd fydd y Gweinidog yn gwneud y cyhoeddiadau pellach hyn? Pa amserlenni y byddwch yn eu pennu i'r Comisiwn ar gyfer adrodd ar eu canfyddiadau?
Yn eich datganiad rydych chi'n dweud wrthym hefyd y bydd y Gweinidog yn gweithredu cyfres o ymyriadau sydd i'w hanelu ar fyrder i liniaru tagfeydd ar yr M4 yn y cyfnod cyfamserol. Ond mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrthych chi, Prif Weinidog, mai atebion dros dro yn unig yw'r rhain. Yr hyn y mae pobl yn awyddus i'w weld yw ateb priodol i'r broblem enfawr hon. Ym maniffesto etholiad Plaid Lafur Cymru yn 2016, roedd ymrwymiad yn y ddogfen honno i gael ffordd liniaru i'r M4. O ystyried sefydlu'r comisiwn hwn, a ydych chi felly'n derbyn na fyddwch yn cyflawni'r addewid honno mwyach yn y pumed Cynulliad hwn? Ac yn olaf, Prif Weinidog, bydd busnesau, cymudwyr a thrigolion yn y De yn siomedig iawn heddiw oherwydd penderfyniad eich Llywodraeth chi ac, yn anffodus, bydd y dagfa ar economi Cymru yn amlwg yn parhau.
Llywydd, I thank the Member for some of those remarks. Let me deal with a small number of them directly. The report, which I have here, has quite certainly not been sat on my desk over those months. I have spent many, many hours reading the report and receiving advice on it, because that's what this report required. It did not require being put into the public domain without the necessary legal and policy advice that went alongside it. It's available to any member of the public who now wishes to read it, but the decision that I had to make required not simply a very close reading of the report, and more than one close reading of it as well, but extensive advice—legal and policy advice—in order to come to the decision that I have come to today. There's been no long delay. This decision has had, as I promised it would, the level of concentration and the level of consideration that a decision of this sort deserved, and that is what it has had.
The Member is wrong as well, Llywydd, to suggest that matters are just being pushed far into the distance. He asked when my colleague Ken Skates will make a statement. It will be tomorrow. He'll make it to this National Assembly. It will set out the short-term remit that we will put to the commission to come forward with a first set of immediate proposals that can be put to work to begin to alleviate the problems experienced at the M4.
The Member began by saying that the situation at Newport now needs action more than ever—needs 'now', he said. The M4 relief road would provide no relief at all for a minimum of five years. And he said to me that those problems will get worse in the meantime. I recognise the significance of those problems, which is why we will take action to alleviate the problem far sooner than the relief road would have done. And we will begin on that work immediately.
As far as money that has been spent in preparing the report and holding a public inquiry, and making sure that those hundreds of people who put their views to the inquiry and who participated in these proceedings are concerned, I think that spending has been proportionate to the task involved. And I think it is right that, when there was a decision of this level of controversy, we made sure that there were all those opportunities available to people to put their points of view and to have them properly considered. As finance Minister, I did have to be satisfied that that spending was properly being applied. I believe it was. It is the cost of living in a democracy. It is the cost of having a genuinely open process in which people are able to make their contribution, know that it will be heard, and know that the results of that will be properly considered.
Finally to the point that the Member makes about a foot on the windpipe of the Welsh economy—the future of our economy, Llywydd, is not dependent on one stretch of road. The future of the economy depends upon all those measures that we discussed earlier during First Minister's questions, and have led to an economy in Wales where, as I said then, we have a faster rate of business growth than anywhere in the United Kingdom, that those businesses last longer at one year and five years than they do across the whole of the United Kingdom, and where we have more enterprises alive and flourishing in Wales today than at any time in the past. That's the state of the Welsh economy, and it depends on far more than a single course of action of the sort and in the way that he described.
Llywydd, rwy'n diolch i'r Aelod am rai o'r sylwadau yna. Gadewch imi ymdrin â nifer fechan ohonyn nhw'n uniongyrchol. Nid yw'r adroddiad, sydd gennyf i fan hyn, wedi bod yn casglu llwch ar fy nesg i drwy'r misoedd hyn. Rwyf wedi treulio oriau lawer iawn yn darllen yr adroddiad ac yn cael cyngor arno, oherwydd dyna oedd yr adroddiad hwn yn ei deilyngu. Nid oedd yn ofynnol ei gyhoeddi i'r cyhoedd heb y cyngor cyfreithiol a pholisi angenrheidiol a oedd yn cyd-fynd ag ef. Bydd ar gael i unrhyw aelod o'r cyhoedd sy'n dymuno ei ddarllen. Ond roedd y penderfyniad yr oedd yn rhaid imi ei wneud yn gofyn nid yn unig am ddarllen yr adroddiad yn drylwyr iawn, a mwy nag un darlleniad manwl ohono hefyd, ond hefyd yn gofyn am gyngor eang—cyngor cyfreithiol a pholisi—er mwyn gwneud y penderfyniad a gyhoeddwyd heddiw. Ni chafwyd oedi hir. Mae'r penderfyniad hwn, fel yr addewais, wedi cael y lefel o ganolbwyntio a'r ystyriaeth yr oedd penderfyniad o'r math hwn yn ei deilyngu, a dyna'r hyn a gafodd.
Mae'r Aelod yn cyfeiliorni hefyd, Llywydd, wrth awgrymu bod materion yn cael eu gwthio i'r dyfodol pell. Gofynnodd pryd y byddai fy nghydweithiwr, Ken Skates, yn gwneud datganiad. Yfory fydd hynny. Bydd yn ei wneud i'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol hwn. Bydd yn nodi'r cylch gwaith byrdymor y byddwn yn ei roi i'r comisiwn i gyflwyno'r gyfres gyntaf o gynigion uniongyrchol y gellir eu rhoi ar waith i ddechrau lliniaru'r problemau ar yr M4.
Dechreuodd yr Aelod drwy ddweud bod angen gweithredu nawr yn fwy nag erioed ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa yng Nghasnewydd—bod angen 'nawr', dyna ddywedodd. Ni fyddai ffordd liniaru'r M4 yn golygu unrhyw ryddhad o gwbl am bum mlynedd o leiaf. A dywedodd wrthyf y bydd y problemau hynny'n gwaethygu yn y cyfamser. Rwy'n cydnabod arwyddocâd y problemau hynny, a dyna pam y byddwn ni'n cymryd camau i liniaru'r broblem yn gynt o lawer nag y byddai'r ffordd liniaru wedi gwneud. A byddwn yn dechrau ar y gwaith hwnnw ar ein hunion.
O ran yr arian a wariwyd ar baratoi'r adroddiad a chynnal ymchwiliad cyhoeddus, a sicrhau bod y cannoedd o bobl hynny a roddodd eu barn nhw i'r ymchwiliad ac a gymerodd ran yn y trafodion hyn dan sylw, rwyf i o'r farn bod y gwariant yn gymesur â'r dasg gysylltiedig. A chredaf ei bod hi'n iawn, pan oedd penderfyniad mor ddadleuol â hwn i'w wneud, ein bod ni'n sicrhau bod yr holl gyfleoedd hynny ar gael i bobl fynegi eu barn a'u bod nhw'n cael yr ystyriaeth briodol. Fel Gweinidog cyllid, roedd yn rhaid imi gael fy modloni bod y gwariant hwnnw'n cael ei ddefnyddio'n iawn. Rwy'n credu i hynny ddigwydd. Dyna yw'r pris am fyw mewn gwlad ddemocrataidd. Dyna yw cost cael proses wirioneddol agored lle gall pobl gyfrannu, gwybod y caiff hynny ei glywed, a gwybod y bydd canlyniadau hynny'n cael yr ystyriaeth briodol.
Yn olaf, at y pwynt a wnaeth yr Aelod am y dagfa ar economi Cymru—nid yw dyfodol ein heconomi ni, Llywydd, yn dibynnu ar un darn o ffordd. Mae dyfodol yr economi yn dibynnu ar yr holl fesurau hynny a gafodd eu trafod yn gynharach yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Maen nhw wedi arwain at economi yng Nghymru, fel y dywedais i bryd hynny, lle mae gennym gyfradd well o dwf mewn busnes nag unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig, lle mae'r busnesau hynny'n para am yn hirach ar ôl blwyddyn a phum mlynedd nag y maen nhw ledled y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan, a lle mae gennym fwy o fentrau sy'n hyfyw ac yn ffynnu yng Nghymru heddiw nag ar unrhyw bryd arall yn y gorffennol. Dyna yw cyflwr economi Cymru, ac mae'n dibynnu ar lawer mwy nag un weithred o'r fath ac yn y modd a ddisgrifiwyd ganddo ef.
When a Government gets it wrong, admits its mistake and endeavours to put matters right, maybe it's my Sunday school upbringing, but I think the proper response in the first instance is to praise the repentant for seeing the error of their ways. And there will be many, many hallelujahs uttered across Wales in response to this u-turn, as there was to the u-turn last week. And I'm pleased to add our amen on this side to the decision made today.
We repeatedly said in response to this question that the black route as proposed was both environmentally destructive and financially unjustifiable. I think both points have been borne out, really, in the statement that we've heard from the First Minister. Financially destructive for the reasons set out very, very clearly by the future generations commissioner in her evidence to the public inquiry itself; financially unjustifiable because, as the First Minister said, it would have siphoned such a large proportion of the limited borrowing powers that we have and of the overstretched capital investment funds available to the Welsh Government.
Pan fydd Llywodraeth yn gwneud camgymeriad, yn cwympo ar ei bai ac yn ymdrechu i unioni'r cam, efallai mai fy magwraeth i yn yr ysgol Sul yw hyn, ond yr ymateb priodol yn y lle cyntaf, yn fy marn i, yw llawenydd am y pechadur sy'n edifarhau am ei bechodau. A bydd llawer o bobl ledled Cymru yn dweud 'haleliwia' mewn ymateb i'r tro pedol hwn, fel yr oedd i'r tro pedol yr wythnos diwethaf. Ac mae'n bleser gennyf ychwanegu Amen ar yr ochr hon oherwydd y penderfyniad a wnaed heddiw.
Rydym wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro mewn ymateb i'r cwestiwn hwn fod y llwybr du fel y'i cynigiwyd yn ddinistriol o safbwynt amgylcheddol ac na ellir ei gyfiawnhau yn ariannol. Credaf fod y ddau bwynt wedi cael eu cadarnhau, mewn gwirionedd, yn y datganiad yr ydym wedi ei glywed gan y Prif Weinidog. Mae'n ddinistriol yn ariannol am y rhesymau a nodwyd yn glir iawn gan gomisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn ei thystiolaeth hi i'r ymchwiliad cyhoeddus ei hun; ni ellir ei gyfiawnhau yn ariannol oherwydd, fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog, byddai wedi tynnu cyfran mor fawr o'r pwerau benthyca cyfyngedig sydd gennym ni a'r arian buddsoddi cyfalaf prin sydd ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru.
Mae eisiau, rwy'n credu, talu teyrnged i'r ymgyrchwyr, onid oes e, yn lleol ac yn genedlaethol, a oedd yn ymbil ar y Llywodraeth i amddiffyn un o drysorau mwyaf Cymru, sef gwastadeddau Gwent? Buaswn i'n hoffi petasai'r Prif Weinidog yn gallu dweud ychydig bach mwy am rôl y datganiad pwysig arwyddocaol—mwy arwyddocaol fyth nawr—o ran yr argyfwng hinsawdd, o gofio am rôl pobl ifanc yn arbennig, yn fyd-eang ac yng Nghymru, yn galw ar i'r Llywodraeth wneud y datganiad yma. Ac a ydyw e'n wir i ddweud, nid yn unig, felly, taw ni oedd y wlad gyntaf i wneud y datganiad hynny, ond y wlad gyntaf lle mae'r datganiad yn amlwg wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar benderfyniad polisi o bwys a fydd yn effeithio yn arbennig, yn fwy nag unrhyw un arall, wrth gwrs, ar yr union bobl ifanc a oedd yn ymgyrchu dros y penderfyniad rŷn ni wedi gweld heddiw?
I think we need to pay tribute to the campaigners, both locally and nationally, who urged the Government to safeguard one of Wales’s greatest treasures, the Gwent levels. Now, I would appreciate it if the First Minister could tell us about the role of the important and significant declaration—more significant than ever now—in terms of the climate emergency, given the role of young people particularly, both globally and in Wales, in calling on the Government to make this declaration. And is it true to say that not only, therefore, were we the first nation to make that declaration, but the first nation where that declaration has clearly had a substantial impact on a policy decision of some import, which will have an impact, more than anything else, of course, on those very young people who are campaigning for the decision that we've seen today?
Of course, I think the First Minister would accept that, on our side, naturally, we're going to say that we would have liked this decision to have been made earlier. There clearly is an opportunity cost in here, financially. Perhaps the First Minister could give us, actually, the full estimated total for the cost to the public purse, including the inquiry itself, the traffic modelling, surveying, design and legal costs. But there's also been potentially even bigger opportunity costs in terms of the time that's been lost—the eight years since your predecessor first took us down this path, which has ended up leading nowhere, frankly—which could have been invested, in terms of the energy, the effort, into an integrated public transport system that Wales so desperately needs. Obviously, we're particularly mindful of the problems that Newport faces—it's one of the most car-dependent cities in the UK—but it's also true, of course, that we need a vision for the whole of Wales.
Again, I mean this in the best possible sense, but we have to find a better way, surely, of making these decisions. There is a British disease, and we have a Welsh version of it, where infrastructure investment project costs are rising—we've seen the inflation in this case—the time that it takes to make the decisions is getting ever, ever longer, and, as a result of that, the third element, of course, is that public trust in the process by which we arrive at these decisions is being eroded. In this case, it has to be said that many, many people, seeing as they saw that promise in the Labour manifesto, will have had an expectation, which has now, of course, been dashed, and there has to be a response to that as well.
Finally, setting up an expert commission—the response to any problem in Wales used to be setting up a committee. We've gone one better—we set up commissions now. Why set up an expert commission when we've just created an independent national infrastructure commission precisely to help us make better decisions in a more agile and adroit way? Why create another commission when we have one already? Perhaps the First Minister could address himself to that question.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n credu y byddai'r Prif Weinidog yn derbyn, ar ein hochr ni, yn naturiol, y byddem ni wedi hoffi i'r penderfyniad hwn gael ei wneud yn gynharach. Mae'n amlwg bod cost o ran cyfle yn y fan hon, yn ariannol. Efallai y gallai'r Prif Weinidog roi inni, mewn gwirionedd, yr amcangyfrif llawn ar gyfer y gost i bwrs y wlad, gan gynnwys yr ymchwiliad ei hun, y costau o ran modelu traffig, tirfesur, dylunio a chyngor cyfreithiol. Ond gallai'r costau o ran cyfle fod wedi bod yn fwy byth o ran yr amser a gollwyd—yr wyth mlynedd ers i'ch rhagflaenydd chi ein harwain ar hyd y trywydd hwn, nad aeth i'r unlle yn y diwedd, a siarad yn blaen—a allai fod wedi cael ei fuddsoddi, o ran yr ynni, yr ymdrech, i system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig sydd ei hangen yn ddybryd ar Gymru. Yn amlwg, rydym yn arbennig o ymwybodol o'r problemau sy'n wynebu Casnewydd—un o ddinasoedd y DU sy'n fwyaf dibynnol ar geir—ond mae hefyd yn wir, wrth gwrs, fod angen gweledigaeth ar gyfer Cymru gyfan arnom ni.
Unwaith eto, ac rwy'n golygu hyn yn yr ystyr gorau posibl, mae'n rhaid inni ddod o hyd i ffordd amgen, yn sicr, o wneud y penderfyniadau hyn. Ceir clefyd ym Mhrydain, ac mae gennym ni fersiwn ohono yng Nghymru, lle mae costau prosiectau buddsoddi mewn seilwaith ar gynnydd—rydym wedi gweld y chwyddiant yn yr achos hwn—mae'r amser a gymerir i wneud penderfyniadau yn mynd yn hirach byth ac, o ganlyniad i hynny, y drydedd elfen, wrth gwrs, yw bod ymddiriedaeth y cyhoedd yn y broses o wneud y penderfyniadau hyn yn cael ei herydu. Yn yr achos hwn, mae'n rhaid dweud y bydd llawer o bobl wedi bod â disgwyliad, o ystyried eu bod wedi gweld yr addewid honno ym maniffesto Llafur, a bod hynny bellach, wrth gwrs, wedi ei chwalu, ac mae'n rhaid cael ymateb i hynny hefyd.
Yn olaf, sefydlu comisiwn arbenigol—sefydlu pwyllgor arferai fod yn ymateb i unrhyw broblem yng Nghymru. Rydym wedi mynd un cam ymhellach—rydym yn sefydlu comisiynau nawr. Pam sefydlu comisiwn arbenigol a ninnau newydd greu comisiwn seilwaith cenedlaethol annibynnol yn benodol i'n helpu i wneud penderfyniadau amgen mewn ffordd sy'n fwy ystwyth a deheuig? Pam creu comisiwn arall pan fo gennym ni un yn barod? Efallai y gallai'r Prif Weinidog ymdrin â'r cwestiwn hwnnw.
Llywydd, I thank Adam Price for those remarks. Let me begin by saying that I want to pay tribute to all those who gave their time and their expertise to the public inquiry on very different sides of the argument. Of course there will be groups who will feel that their views have come through in the final decision, and there were, as Adam Price said, many young people who contributed to the public inquiry making those environmental points, but there were, equally, just as committed people making other arguments, who took a lot of time and trouble to put those views to the inquiry. I pay tribute to all of those who are so motivated to participate in these very important public decisions in Wales that they take the trouble to turn up and to produce documents that argue their case, on all sides of the argument.
Llywydd, fe hoffwn i ddiolch i Adam Price am y sylwadau yna. Gadewch i mi ddechrau drwy ddweud fy mod am roi teyrnged i bawb a roddodd o'u hamser a'u harbenigedd i'r ymchwiliad cyhoeddus o safbwyntiau gwahanol iawn ynglŷn â'r ddadl. Wrth gwrs, fe fydd yna grwpiau sydd yn teimlo bod eu barn nhw wedi dod i'r amlwg yn y penderfyniad terfynol, ac fel y dywedodd Adam Price, mae llawer o bobl ifanc a gyfrannodd at yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus yn gwneud y pwyntiau amgylcheddol hynny, ond yn yr un modd roedd yna bobl ymroddedig yn dadlau fel arall, a roddodd o'u hamser a mynd i drafferth fawr i gyflwyno'r safbwyntiau hynny i'r ymchwiliad. Rhoddaf deyrnged i bawb sydd wedi teimlo cymaint o ysgogiad i gymryd rhan yn y penderfyniadau cyhoeddus tra phwysig hyn yng Nghymru fel eu bod yn mynd i'r drafferth i ddod a chynhyrchu dogfennau sy'n dadlau eu hachos, o bob ochr i'r ddadl.
I don't accept, Llywydd, Adam Price's opening premise. When the proposal was re-placed on the table back in 2014, the context was very different, and I tried to set that out in my opening statement. Back in 2014, we had never heard of Brexit. Back in 2014, the Welsh Government had a budget that lasted not just for the rest of that Assembly term, but into the next Assembly term, and we had a Chancellor of the Exchequer who assured us that austerity would be over in 2015. In that financial context, the decision to explore the M4 relief road was the right decision. It is the context that has changed and means that I have arrived at a different decision today.
And the Welsh Government has not sat idly by, not investing in all those other things that we know are needed in our transport infrastructure: the metro proposal for south Wales has been developed right through the period that we are talking about, since 2014; the ideas on buses that we talked about earlier this afternoon developed during that period as well. So, we have not stood by doing nothing on that wider agenda of public transport infrastructure while the inquiry proceeded, and we're in a much better position today than we would have been without all that work going on.
I listened carefully to what the Member said about better ways of decision making, and I think he makes an important point there. The conundrum, which I know he will recognise, is that, in a really difficult decision with so many strong views and so many opposing views, making sure that the process is genuinely open enough for people to feel that they've had their chance and their opportunity to have their point of view heard has an impact on the speed at which decisions can be made. Now, I think he's right that we ought to think together about whether there are better ways of doing these things in future, but the way not to do it, I think, is to cut out the public from the way in which their voices are heard in it—and I know you didn't suggest that at all, but I'm simply pointing to the fact that, if you want to involve the public, that takes time and time is one of the things that slows down decisions and gets in the way of making these things in as timely a way as we would like.
Finally, to the point that Adam Price made about the national infrastructure commission—of course, we thought carefully about whether that was the right group to go to to get the advice that we needed, but, actually, it's a different job. The infrastructure commission is there to think long term, to think over a 30-year horizon, to advise us on the long-term needs of the Welsh economy and on public services. What this group will do, this expert group, is to focus immediately on those 28 different ideas that the inspector reports on that were alternatives to the M4 relief road, and to a further set of ideas that have emerged since the inspector concluded his hearings, which are practical ways in which the problems at the M4 can be addressed in the here and now. It is a much narrower, it is a much shorter, it is a much more specific piece of advice that we need. It's why the infrastructure commission wouldn't have been the best way of securing that advice, because, quite unlike the suggestion made by the leader of the opposition, I don't want this to take a moment longer than it needs to to start making a difference for the people of Newport in the problems that they face around the M4 today.
Nid wyf i'n derbyn, Llywydd, yr hyn a ddywedodd Adam Price yn ei ragymadrodd. Pan ystyriwyd y cynnig unwaith eto yn ôl yn 2014, roedd y cyd-destun yn wahanol iawn, a cheisiais nodi hynny yn fy natganiad agoriadol. Yn 2014, nid oeddem erioed wedi clywed am Brexit. Yn 2014, roedd gan Lywodraeth Cymru gyllideb a oedd yn para nid yn unig am weddill tymor y Cynulliad hwnnw, ond hyd at dymor y Cynulliad wedyn, ac roedd gennym Ganghellor y Trysorlys a roddodd sicrwydd inni y byddai'r cyni'n dod i ben yn 2015. Yn y cyd-destun ariannol hwnnw, y penderfyniad cywir oedd ymchwilio i ffordd liniaru'r M4. Y cyd-destun sydd wedi newid ac sy'n golygu fy mod i wedi dod i benderfyniad gwahanol heddiw.
Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llaesu dwylo, heb fuddsoddi yn yr holl bethau eraill hynny yr ydym ni'n gwybod am yr angen amdanyn nhw yn ein seilwaith trafnidiaeth: mae cynnig y metro ar gyfer y de wedi cael ei ddatblygu yn ystod y cyfnod yr ydym ni'n sôn amdano, ers 2014; datblygwyd y syniadau o ran bysiau y gwnaethom ni sôn amdanyn nhw'n gynharach y prynhawn yma yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw hefyd. Felly, nid ydym wedi llaesu dwylo a gwneud dim o ran yr agenda ehangach honno ar gyfer seilwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus tra'r oedd yr ymchwiliad yn mynd rhagddo. Ac rydym mewn sefyllfa well o lawer heddiw nag y buasem ni heb yr holl waith hwnnw sy'n digwydd.
Gwrandewais yn astud ar yr hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod am ffyrdd gwell o wneud penderfyniadau, a chredaf ei fod ef yn gwneud pwynt pwysig yn hynny o beth. Y benbleth, y gwn y bydd ef yn ei chydnabod, gyda phenderfyniad anodd iawn, yw bod cymaint o safbwyntiau cryf a chymaint o safbwyntiau gwrthgyferbyniol, a bod rhaid sicrhau bod y broses yn wirioneddol agored fel bod pobl yn teimlo eu bod wedi cael eu cyfle a'u tro i leisio eu barn. Mae hynny wrth gwrs wedi effeithio ar ba mor gyflym y gellir gwneud penderfyniadau. Nawr, rwy'n credu ei fod ef yn iawn y dylem ni feddwl gyda'n gilydd a oes ffyrdd amgen o wneud y pethau hyn yn y dyfodol. Ond y ffordd i beidio â gwneud hynny, yn fy marn i, yw peidio rhoi cyfle i'r cyhoedd gael mynegi eu barn nhw—ac rwy'n gwybod nad oeddech chi'n awgrymu hynny o gwbl. Dim ond tynnu sylw ydw i at y ffaith honno, sef os ydych chi'n dymuno cynnwys y cyhoedd, fod hynny'n cymryd amser, ac mae bod yn bwyllog yn un o'r pethau sy'n arafu penderfyniadau ac yn rhwystro gwneud y pethau hyn mewn ffordd sydd mor amserol ag yr hoffem ni.
Yn olaf, ynglŷn â'r pwynt a wnaeth Adam Price am y comisiwn seilwaith cenedlaethol—wrth gwrs, fe wnaethom ni ystyried yn ofalus ai hwnnw oedd y grŵp priodol i droi ato i gael y cyngor yr oedd ei angen arnom, ond, mewn gwirionedd, swydd wahanol yw honno. Mae'r comisiwn seilwaith yno i feddwl yn y tymor hir, i feddwl dros orwel o 30 mlynedd, i'n cynghori ar anghenion hirdymor economi Cymru ac ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Yr hyn y bydd y grŵp arbenigol hwn yn ei wneud yw canolbwyntio ar unwaith ar y 28 o syniadau amrywiol eraill y mae'r arolygydd yn adrodd amdanynt a oedd un ddulliau amgen i ffordd liniaru'r M4, ac ar gyfres bellach o syniadau a ddaeth i'r amlwg ers i'r arolygydd gwblhau ei wrandawiadau, sy'n ffyrdd ymarferol y gellir mynd i'r afael â'r problemau gyda'r M4 yn y presennol. Mae hwn yn llawer mwy cyfyngedig, mae'n fyrrach o lawer, ac yn gyngor llawer mwy penodol sydd ei angen arnom ni. Nid trwy'r comisiwn seilwaith y byddai'r ffordd orau o gael y cyngor hwnnw oherwydd, yn wahanol i'r awgrym a wnaeth arweinydd yr wrthblaid, nid wyf eisiau gweld hyn yn cymryd eiliad yn hirach na'r hyn sydd raid i ddechrau gwneud gwahaniaeth i bobl Casnewydd o ran y problemau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu o amgylch yr M4 heddiw.
Thank you, First Minister, for your statement. The process leading to today has taken years, cost millions of pounds and created much uncertainty for local residents and businesses. Today, we have a decision. It's deeply disappointing and a bitter blow for Newport. I'd like to put on record my thanks to the independent inspector who led the year-long public inquiry and to all of the public who gave evidence to it. The inspector and his team examined over 100 solutions, including the option of doing nothing.
While I respect the objections of ecologists, many will conclude that this decision condemns Newport to further decades of heavy congestion, idling traffic and toxic fumes. The current road is not fit for purpose and was never designed to be a motorway. Idling traffic pollutes more than flowing traffic, and persistent congestion means toxins on this stretch of the motorway and the surrounding residential areas are dangerously high.
The vast majority of M4 traffic is not local traffic. The Government's own estimate suggests a doubling of public transport usage in Newport would remove only 6 per cent of the M4 traffic. In contrast, the volume of traffic coming over from the Severn bridge has risen by 10 per cent since the tolls were removed. How will the commission take into account the traffic travelling from England?
Every time there's an incident or accident or severe congestion at the Brynglas tunnels, motorway traffic is pushed onto local roads, closer to homes and schools. This creates gridlock, choking the city and stopping buses from running on time. While congestion is a major barrier to economic growth in south Wales, it's also the people of Newport who suffer as a result. I've always said that inaction is not an option. The problem around the Brynglas tunnels must not be confined to the 'too difficult' box—that is not good enough. We cannot go back to square one. A sustainable solution has to be found and has to be found quickly.
I've already heard people suggesting a whole variety of different projects across Wales. Can the First Minister guarantee me that the money set aside for a solution to this specific problem will be used for exactly that—solving the long-standing pollution and congestion caused by the M4 running through Newport?
Finally, the people of Newport will have seen many reviews come and go. It's crucial that the commission does not only consider the opinions of a select few—it must include the people whose daily lives are actually affected. What can you say to reassure them that this commission will report on time and deal with the issues once and for all?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am eich datganiad. Mae'r broses sydd wedi arwain at heddiw wedi cymryd blynyddoedd, wedi costio miliynau o bunnoedd ac wedi creu llawer o ansicrwydd i drigolion a busnesau lleol. Heddiw, mae gennym benderfyniad. Mae'n siomedig iawn ac yn ergyd fawr i Gasnewydd. Hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i'r arolygydd annibynnol a fu'n arwain yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus a barodd flwyddyn ac i holl aelodau'r cyhoedd a roddodd dystiolaeth iddo. Edrychodd yr arolygydd a'i dîm ar dros 100 o atebion, gan gynnwys y dewis o wneud dim.
Er fy mod yn parchu gwrthwynebiadau'r ecolegwyr, bydd llawer yn dod i'r casgliad y bydd y penderfyniad hwn yn condemnio Casnewydd i ddegawdau eto o dagfeydd trwm, traffig yn sefyllian a nwyon gwenwynig. Nid yw'r ffordd bresennol yn addas at y diben ac ni chafodd erioed ei chynllunio i fod yn draffordd. Mae traffig sy'n llonydd yn llygru mwy na thraffig sy'n llifo, ac mae tagfeydd parhaus yn golygu bod nwyon gwenwynig ar y rhan hon o'r draffordd a'r ardaloedd preswyl cyfagos yn beryglus o uchel.
Nid traffig lleol yw'r mwyafrif helaeth o draffig yr M4. Mae amcangyfrifon y Llywodraeth ei hun yn awgrymu y byddai dyblu'r defnydd o drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghasnewydd ond yn cael gwared ar 6 y cant o draffig yr M4. Mewn cyferbyniad, mae swm y traffig sy'n dod dros bont Hafren wedi codi 10 y cant ers i'r tollau gael eu diddymu. Sut fydd y comisiwn yn ystyried y traffig sy'n teithio o Loegr?
Bob tro y bydd digwyddiad neu ddamwain neu dagfeydd difrifol wrth dwneli Bryn-glas, caiff traffig y draffordd ei wthio ar y ffyrdd lleol, yn nes at gartrefi ac ysgolion. Mae hyn yn creu tagfeydd, yn tagu'r ddinas ac yn atal bysiau rhag rhedeg yn brydlon. Er bod tagfeydd yn rhwystr mawr i dwf economaidd yn y de, mae pobl Casnewydd hefyd yn dioddef o ganlyniad i hynny. Rwyf wedi dweud erioed nad yw gwneud dim yn ddewis o gwbl. Rhaid peidio â chyfyngu'r broblem sy'n ymwneud â thwneli Bryn-glas i'r blwch 'rhy anodd'—nid yw hynny'n gwneud y tro. Ni allwn fynd yn ôl i'r man cychwyn. Mae'n rhaid dod o hyd i ateb cynaliadwy ac mae'n rhaid dod o hyd iddo'n gyflym.
Rwyf eisoes wedi clywed pobl yn awgrymu amrywiaeth eang o wahanol brosiectau ledled Cymru. A all y Prif Weinidog roi sicrwydd i mi y bydd yr arian a neilltuir ar gyfer ateb y broblem benodol hon yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer hynny'n union—i ddatrys y llygredd a'r tagfeydd hirsefydlog a achosir gan yr M4 yn rhedeg drwy Gasnewydd?
Yn olaf, bydd pobl Casnewydd wedi gweld llawer o adolygiadau yn mynd ac yn dod. Mae'n hanfodol bod y comisiwn yn ystyried nid yn unig farn yr ychydig rai—mae'n rhaid iddo gynnwys y bobl yr effeithir yn wirioneddol ar eu bywydau bod dydd. Beth allwch chi ei ddweud wrthynt i'w sicrhau y bydd y comisiwn hwn yn adrodd ar amser ac yn ymdrin â'r problemau unwaith ac am byth?
Llywydd, I thank Jayne Bryant for the many hours of attention that she has given to this matter, for the many meetings that I have had with her on it over the months before I became First Minister, as she seeks with others to find solutions to the problems around Newport. She's been absolutely assiduous in doing that, and I want to give her an assurance that, in coming to my decision today and in setting it out in the way that I have, I am absolutely determined that we will demonstrate to the people of Newport that there are things that can be done in the here and now, far in advance of any relief that a relief road would have provided, to have an impact upon the issues that they face.
Sometimes, Llywydd, the relief road is described as a solution to many problems. I read very carefully, and take very seriously, the things that the inspector said about air quality around Newport, but when Members have a chance to read it they will find that, while the inspector found that 30,000 properties would have air quality improved, he also found that in 29,500 of those properties the impact would be negligible or minor, that only 12 of those 30,000 properties would see a major impact on their air quality. So, the air quality issues are really important. We are more aware of those today than we were even five years ago, but the M4 relief road turned out not to be a solution to the air quality problems faced by the people of Newport, and I think there are other solutions that will have a greater benefit to them.
I'm grateful to Jayne Bryant for drawing attention to the issue of incidents and accidents, because I set out in my statement those things we think we can do immediately to deal more swiftly with accidents that occur, particularly around the Brynglas tunnel, because, if we are able to have greater patrols, more police presence, different arrangements for clearing accidents away from the motorway so that they can be properly responded to and investigated, then we won't have some of the lengthy hold-ups that otherwise take place, and the motorway will be restored to proper functioning without the impact on surrounding areas that the Member for Newport West pointed to.
Let me deal with the issue of money, because I have said already in my discussions with some of those who will populate the commission that they will have first call on the money that otherwise would have been set aside for the M4 relief road. And I wanted to give them that confidence that, when they come up with practical ideas, the resourcing will be available to put those ideas into practice. I've made that commitment already to them; I'm very pleased to repeat it again this afternoon. When Ken Skates makes his statement tomorrow, he will have more to say about how the commission will operate, its methods of working, and how that will make sure that the voices of local people and others are heard in the decisions that it will make. And I'm sure the Member will want to both ask questions but also to welcome what will be said on that front too.
Llywydd, rwy'n diolch i Jayne Bryant am yr oriau lawer o sylw y mae hi wedi eu rhoi i'r mater hwn, am y llu o gyfarfodydd yr wyf wedi eu cael gyda hi yn ystod y misoedd cyn i mi ddod yn Brif Weinidog, wrth iddi geisio canfod atebion i'r problemau yng nghyffiniau Casnewydd. Mae hi wedi bod yn gwbl gydwybodol yn gwneud hynny, ac rwy'n awyddus i roi sicrwydd iddi hi, wrth ddod i'm penderfyniad heddiw ac wrth ei fynegi yn y ffordd y gwneuthum, fy mod yn gwbl benderfynol y byddwn yn dangos i bobl Casnewydd fod yn bethau y gellir eu gwneud yn y presennol, ymhell cyn y byddai unrhyw ryddhad yn dod yn sgil ffordd liniaru, i gael effaith ar y problemau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu.
Weithiau, Llywydd, disgrifir y ffordd liniaru yn ateb i lawer o broblemau. Fe ddarllenais i'n ofalus iawn, a rhoi ystyriaeth ddifrifol iawn i'r pethau a ddywedodd yr arolygydd am ansawdd yr aer o amgylch Casnewydd, ond pan gaiff yr Aelodau gyfle i'w ddarllen fe fyddan nhw'n gweld, er bod yr arolygydd wedi canfod y byddai ansawdd aer wedi gwella mewn 30,000 o dai, roedd ef yn canfod hefyd mai dibwys neu ychydig iawn fyddai'r effaith ar 29,500 o'r tai hynny, a dim ond 12 o'r 30,000 eiddo hynny a fyddai'n gweld effaith fawr ar ansawdd yr aer. Felly, mae'r materion sy'n ymwneud ag ansawdd aer yn bwysig iawn. Rydym yn fwy ymwybodol o'r rhain heddiw nag yr oeddem hyd yn oed bum mlynedd yn ôl, ond gwelwyd nad oedd ffordd liniaru'r M4 yn ateb i'r problemau ansawdd aer a wynebir gan bobl Casnewydd, a chredaf fod yna atebion eraill a fydd o fwy o fudd iddyn nhw.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Jayne Bryant am dynnu sylw at ddigwyddiadau a damweiniau, oherwydd yr wyf i wedi nodi yn fy natganiad y pethau y credwn y gallwn ni eu gwneud nhw ar unwaith i ymdrin yn gynt ag unrhyw ddamwain sy'n digwydd, yn enwedig o amgylch twnnel Bryn-glas, oherwydd, os cawn ni fwy o batrolau, mwy o bresenoldeb yr heddlu, trefniadau eraill ar gyfer clirio damweiniau oddi ar y draffordd fel y gellir ymateb iddyn nhw'n briodol ac ymchwilio iddyn nhw, yna ni cheir peth o'r oedi hirfaith sy'n digwydd fel arall, a bydd y draffordd yn cael ei hadfer i weithredu'n briodol heb yr effaith ar ardaloedd cyfagos y cyfeiriodd yr Aelod dros Orllewin Casnewydd ati.
Gadewch i mi ymdrin â mater arian, oherwydd yr wyf i eisoes wedi dweud yn fy nhrafodaethau â rhai o'r bobl a fydd yn ffurfio'r comisiwn y byddan nhw'n alluog i gael yr alwad gyntaf am yr arian a fyddai wedi ei neilltuo fel arall ar gyfer ffordd liniaru'r M4. Ac roeddwn i'n awyddus i roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw iddyn nhw y bydd yr adnoddau ar gael, pan fydd syniadau ymarferol ganddyn nhw, i roi'r syniadau hynny ar waith. Rwyf i wedi gwneud yr ymrwymiad hwnnw iddyn nhw'n barod; rwy'n falch iawn o'i ailadrodd eto'r prynhawn yma. Pan fydd Ken Skates yn gwneud ei ddatganiad yfory, bydd ganddo ef fwy i'w ddweud am y ffordd y bydd y comisiwn yn gweithredu, ei ddulliau o weithio, a sut y bydd hynny'n sicrhau bod lleisiau pobl leol ac eraill yn cael eu clywed yn y penderfyniadau a wneir. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelod yn awyddus i ofyn cwestiynau ond hefyd i groesawu'r hyn a fydd yn cael ei ddweud yn y cyswllt hwnnw hefyd.
We greatly regret this decision. In the First Minister's selective boasts about the Welsh economy just now, he didn't refer to Wales having the lowest wages of all the nations and regions of the UK. He had the opportunity today to do something to relieve the pinch-point that is strangling two thirds of the Welsh economy that relies, to some degree or other, on the M4 to get its products to market. Does he really believe that saying he's going to do something to expedite dealing with accidents and educate people more about avoiding accidents, or setting up another commission—that that's really an adequate response to the scale of the problem? I do welcome him saying he'll listen to all voices, and I do hope as part of that he'll listen to David Rowlands, our spokesperson, on quite a lot of the detailed work that he has done around this.
The decision letter—you say at paragraph 4.3 that there were nine matters you had regard to. You then mention another three matters at paragraph 4.4. I just wondered if I can ask: is there another document whether you paid any regard to at all, and that document is the Labour manifesto, which said, 'We will deliver a relief road for the M4'. Now, you say at the end of your decision letter that—[Interruption.] You say at the end of your decision letter:
'My decisions may only be challenged by way of a claim for judicial review.'
First Minister, don't you think that your decision may be something that voters may have a view on, given that very clear promise you made in your manifesto, which you've now broken?
Now, you speak about the timeline, First Minister. You say that, in 2014, no-one had thought of Brexit. It was in January 2014 that David Cameron made his Bloomberg speech saying there would be an in/out referendum. You talk about this timeline. This poor inspector, he was there from February 2017 to September 2018. He had 83 sitting days of evidence. He was told by the Welsh Government—the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, finance Minister, Mark Drakeford—that the funds would be available to fund this. He did all this work on that basis—spent 44 million quid on that basis—yet then you're told, not before 29 April, that, actually, that's all wrong. So, First Minister, on your evidence, you spent three months looking at this report, doing all this work, giving it such extraordinary consideration in such amazing detail, but then on 29 April it was all to no avail because your Cabinet told you, actually, the money's not available. Is that really a credible basis? Can we really believe that you proceeded on that basis?
Finally, I'd like to draw some attention to an inconsistency between your decision letter and what you said just now. Your decision letter mentions only one environmental factor, and that was the Gwent levels—perhaps 2 per cent directly affected by the road, but you put such a different emphasis and judgment on that, compared to the inspector, that that's what drives it. But what you said in your statement just now was, 'Oh, it was the committee for climate change, it was net zero'—it was because you've declared a climate change emergency, notwithstanding that you told us it was only declaratory and wouldn't lead to a change of policy last time. Why is it that you're putting such emphasis on climate change in your statement today but not in your decision notice, and what impact does it have on the climate when you have these vast amounts of congestion of cars pushing out carbon dioxide and other emissions, which would be rather less if those cars were actually moving rather than just stuck there with their engines running?
What, finally, about the people of Newport who suffer that air pollution, the particulates and the nitrogen dioxide near those tunnels, that's going to get worse and worse for them, along with this pinch-point getting worse and worse for the Welsh economy?
Mae'r penderfyniad hwn yn un gresynus iawn yn ein golwg ni. Wrth i'r Prif Weinidog glochdar, yn ofalus ei ddewis, am economi Cymru nawr, ni chyfeiriodd at y ffaith mai yng Nghymru y ceir y cyflogau isaf ym mhob un o wledydd a rhanbarthau'r DU. Roedd ganddo'r cyfle heddiw i wneud rhywbeth i leddfu'r gwasgbwynt sy'n tagu dwy ran o dair o economi Cymru sy'n dibynnu, i ryw raddau, ar yr M4 i gael ei chynnyrch i'r farchnad. A yw'n credu mewn gwirionedd bod dweud ei fod yn mynd i wneud rhywbeth i hwyluso'r gwaith o ymdrin â damweiniau a dysgu mwy i bobl am sut i osgoi damweiniau, neu sefydlu comisiwn arall—bod hynny'n ymateb digonol i faint y broblem? Rwy'n croesawu iddo ddweud y bydd yn gwrando ar bob llais, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd, fel rhan o hynny, yn gwrando ar David Rowlands, ein llefarydd ni, am y gwaith manwl y mae ef wedi ei wneud yn hyn o beth.
Y llythyr penderfyniad—rydych chi'n dweud ym mharagraff 4.3 fod yna naw mater yr oeddech chi'n eu hystyried. Rydych chi'n sôn wedyn am dri mater arall ym mharagraff 4.4. Tybed a gaf i ofyn: a oes dogfen arall y rhoesoch chi sylw iddi o gwbl, a maniffesto'r Blaid Lafur yw'r ddogfen honno, a oedd yn dweud, 'Fe fyddwn ni'n cwblhau ffordd liniaru'r M4'. Nawr, rydych chi'n dweud ar ddiwedd eich llythyr penderfyniad—[Torri ar draws.] Rydych chi'n dweud ar ddiwedd eich llythyr penderfyniad:
'Dim ond trwy wneud cais am adolygiad barnwrol y ceir herio fy mhenderfyniadau.'
Prif Weinidog, onid ydych chi'n credu y gallai eich penderfyniad chi fod yn rhywbeth y gallai pleidleiswyr fod â barn amdano, o ystyried yr addewid glir iawn a wnaethoch chi yn eich maniffesto, yr ydych chi wedi ei thorri erbyn hyn?
Nawr, rydych chi'n sôn am yr amserlen, Prif Weinidog. Rydych chi'n dweud, yn 2014, nad oedd neb wedi meddwl am Brexit. Yn Ionawr 2014 y gwnaeth David Cameron draddodi ei araith Bloomberg yn dweud y byddai refferendwm ar aros neu adael. Rydych chi'n sôn am y llinell amser. Yr arolygwr druan, roedd yno rhwng Chwefror 2017 a Medi 2018. Roedd ganddo 83 o ddiwrnodau yn eistedd ac yn gwrando ar dystiolaeth. Dywedwyd wrtho gan Lywodraeth Cymru—y Prif Weinidog, Carwyn Jones, y Gweinidog cyllid, Mark Drakeford—y byddai'r arian ar gael i ariannu hyn. Cyflawnodd yr holl waith ar y sail honno—gwariodd 44 miliwn o bunnoedd ar y sail honno—eto i gyd, dywedwyd wrthoch, nid cyn 29 o fis Ebrill, fod hynny, yn wir, yn gwbl anghywir. Felly, Prif Weinidog, yn ôl eich tystiolaeth chi, fe wnaethoch dreulio tri mis yn edrych ar yr adroddiad hwn, yn gwneud yr holl waith hwn, gan roi ystyriaeth anhygoel iddo mewn manylder rhyfeddol. Ond yna ar 29 Ebrill aeth y cyfan yn ofer gan fod eich Cabinet wedi dweud wrthoch nad yw'r arian ar gael. A yw honno'n sail gredadwy mewn gwirionedd? A ydym ni i gredu o ddifrif eich bod wedi bwrw ymlaen ar y sail honno?
Yn olaf, hoffwn dynnu rhywfaint o sylw at yr anghysondeb rhwng eich llythyr penderfyniad a'r hyn yr oeddech chi'n ei ddweud gynnau. Mae eich llythyr penderfyniad yn sôn am un ffactor amgylcheddol yn unig, sef gwastadeddau Gwent—dim ond 2 y cant o'r gwastadeddau sy'n cael eu heffeithio'n uniongyrchol gan y ffordd. Rydych chi'n rhoi pwyslais a barn mor wahanol arno, o'i gymharu â'r arolygydd, o ran mai hyn sy'n ei ysgogi. Ond yr hyn a wnaethoch ei ddweud yn eich datganiad nawr oedd, 'O, y pwyllgor ar newid hinsawdd oedd hynny, Net Zero oedd hynny'—roedd hynny oherwydd eich bod wedi datgan argyfwng newid hinsawdd, er i chi ddweud wrthym ni'r tro diwethaf mai datganiad yn unig oedd hyn ac na fyddai'n arwain at newid polisi. Pam ydych chi'n rhoi cymaint o bwyslais ar newid hinsawdd yn eich datganiad heddiw ond nid yn yr hysbysiad o'ch penderfyniad? A pha effaith a gaiff ar yr hinsawdd pan fo'r niferoedd enfawr hyn o gerbydau mewn tagfeydd yn pwmpio carbon deuocsid ac allyriadau eraill, a fyddai gryn dipyn yn llai pe bai'r ceir hynny'n symud yn hytrach nag yn aros yno gyda'u peiriannau ymlaen?
Ac yn olaf, beth am bobl Casnewydd sy'n dioddef y llygredd aer hwnnw, y gronynnau a'r nitrogen deuocsid gerllaw'r twneli hynny, sy'n mynd yn waeth ac yn waeth, ynghyd â'r gwasgbwynt hwn sy'n mynd yn waeth ac yn waeth i economi Cymru?
Well, there are a number of matters, I expect, in that, Llywydd. I'll try and address some of them. I don't agree with what the Member says about this being such a pivotal issue in relation to all the other things that can be done to support the Welsh economy and that continue to do that today. If there is detailed work that can be made available, then of course we will be prepared to look at that and to make sure that it is properly considered. I don't think there's much I can say to the Member on the matter of manifestos. At least my party had a manifesto. And, as I recall—I'm not an avid reader of his work in this area but I seem to remember that the UKIP manifesto, which was one of the things on which he has stood, was against the black route. So, I don't think there are many lessons for us to learn from him on that basis.
Llywydd, I should have said earlier, so I apologise that I didn't—I'd intended to say it in answer to the question from Jayne Bryant, but of course I wanted to pay tribute to the work of the inspector and his team. Some Members around the Chamber will know that, in the period since the publication of the report, the inspector has passed away. So, I particularly wanted to make sure that I had taken the opportunity to set out my appreciation of the very detailed work that he and his team carried out and which led to the report. So, thank you for the opportunity of putting that on the record.
The inspector proceeded on the basis that the scheme would be affordable. He says it's not a matter for him to deal with that. He takes it as read that the scheme is affordable. Of course that's what he should have done and I've got no quarrel at all with him deciding that that wasn't a matter for him to resolve. Matters of funding are a matter for the Welsh Government, however, and, as I said in setting out my statement, the decision was mine and, in law, is mine alone. I am informed by the Cabinet's view on this matter but I make the decision. That's the way in which this proceeded.
As to the Gwent levels, the inspector makes it clear in his report—'There is no question', he says at paragraph 8.490,
'that the scheme would have a significant detrimental impact on the historic landscape of the Gwent Levels and whilst there can be some archaeological investigation and interpretation works, that impact cannot be mitigated. This must weigh against the scheme'—
the inspector says—
'and I concur with the consensus that the local impact would be severe'.
The inspector, Llywydd, takes nowhere near the cavalier attitude that the Member takes to the impact of the scheme on the Gwent levels. He weighs it up very carefully. He points to the cumulative environmental impacts of the scheme. He explores its impact on biodiversity and on ecosystem resilience. He comes—in the balance that he comes to—to a conclusion that the road should go ahead. But nobody here should believe that the inspector simply dismisses the environmental impact in the way that the Member did. His report is of a very different calibre to the argument we heard a moment ago.
Wel, codwyd nifer o faterion, rwy'n amau, yma, Llywydd. Rwyf i am roi cynnig ar ateb rhai ohonyn nhw. Nid wyf i'n cytuno â'r hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei ddweud ynglŷn â bod hwn yn fater mor ganolog o ran yr holl bethau eraill y gellir eu gwneud i gefnogi economi Cymru ac sy'n parhau i wneud hynny heddiw. Os oes gwaith manwl y gellir ei roi gerbron, yna wrth gwrs fe fydden ni'n barod i feddwl am hynny a gwneud yn siŵr ei fod yn cael ystyriaeth briodol. Nid wyf i'n credu y gallaf ddweud dim wrth yr Aelod ar fater maniffestos. O leiaf roedd gan fy mhlaid i faniffesto. Ac yn ôl yr hyn a gofiaf—nid wyf i'n ddarllenwr brwd o'i waith ef yn y maes hwn ond mae rhyw gof gennyf i fod maniffesto UKIP, a oedd yn un o'r sawl peth y mae ef wedi sefyll arno, yn hollol yn erbyn y llwybr du. Felly, nid wyf i'n credu bod gennym ni lawer i'w ddysgu ganddo ef ar sail hynny.
Llywydd, fe ddylwn i fod wedi dweud yn gynharach, felly rwy'n ymddiheuro na wnes i ddim—roeddwn i wedi bwriadu dweud hyn wrth ateb y cwestiwn gan Jayne Bryant, ond wrth gwrs roeddwn i'n awyddus i roi teyrnged i waith yr arolygydd a'i dîm. Bydd rhai aelodau yn y Siambr yn gwybod bod yr arolygydd, yn y cyfnod ers cyhoeddi'r adroddiad, wedi ymadael â'r byd hwn. Felly, roeddwn i'n arbennig o awyddus i wneud yn siŵr fy mod i'n achub ar y cyfle i nodi fy ngwerthfawrogiad o'r gwaith manwl iawn a wnaeth ef a'i dîm ac a arweiniodd at yr adroddiad. Felly, diolch am y cyfle i roi hynny ar gofnod.
Aeth yr arolygydd yn ei flaen ar y sail y byddai'r cynllun yn fforddiadwy. Fe ddywed nad mater iddo ef yw ymdrin â hynny. Fe gymerodd yn ganiataol bod y cynllun yn fforddiadwy. Dyna'r hyn y dylai ef fod wedi ei wneud ac nid oes gennyf i unrhyw wrthwynebiad o gwbl ei fod wedi penderfynu nad mater iddo ef ei ddatrys oedd hynny. Mater i Lywodraeth Cymru, fodd bynnag, yw materion sy'n ymwneud ag ariannu, ac fel y dywedais wrth wneud fy natganiad, fy mhenderfyniad i oedd hynny ac, yn ôl y gyfraith, fi yn unig. Cefais fy nghyfarwyddo gan farn y Cabinet ar y mater hwn ond fy mhenderfyniad i oedd yr un terfynol. Dyna sut y digwyddodd hyn.
O ran gwastadeddau Gwent, mae'r arolygydd yn nodi'n glir yn ei adroddiad—'Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth', meddai ym mharagraff 8.490,
'y byddai’r cynllun yn cael effaith niweidiol sylweddol ar dirwedd hanesyddol Gwastadeddau Gwent ac, er y gellir cynnal rhywfaint o archwilio a gwaith dehongli archaeolegol, ni ellir lliniaru’r effaith honno. Mae'n rhaid i hyn bwyso yn erbyn y cynllun'—
meddai'r arolygydd—
'ac rwy'n cytuno â'r consensws y byddai'r effaith leol yn ddifrifol'.
Llywydd, nid yw agwedd yr arolygydd ddim byd tebyg i agwedd ddi-hid yr Aelod tuag at effaith y cynllun ar wastadeddau Gwent. Mae ef yn cloriannu hyn yn ofalus iawn. Mae'n cyfeirio at effeithiau amgylcheddol cronnol y cynllun. Mae'n edrych ar ei effaith ar fioamrywiaeth ac ar gydnerthedd ecosystemau. Wedi pwyso a mesur, fe ddaw ef i'r casgliad y dylai'r ffordd fynd yn ei blaen. Ond ni ddylai neb gredu yn y fan hon bod yr arolygydd, yn syml, yn wfftio'r effaith amgylcheddol fel y gwnaeth yr Aelod. Mae ei adroddiad ef o safon wahanol iawn i'r ddadl a glywsom ni funud yn ôl.
First Minister, I agree with the decision that you've made, and I've long held that opinion. But I do understand that it was a very difficult decision for you to make, with very strong arguments on both sides of the equation, which I think explains how myself and Jayne, who very much agree on the scale and the gravity of the problems, nonetheless have different views as to the best solution. But there are very strong arguments on both sides and I very much understand that.
But I do agree that the environmental drivers, the great value of the Gwent levels, which is a unique and historic environment, with great ecological value—in fact, in a recent short debate, I set out the history of the Gwent levels here in this Chamber—that the value of the Gwent levels, and, indeed, the climate emergency that we face, require new thinking, more imagination and new ways of approaching these problems, and that also, the cost is obviously a very real difficulty in going ahead with a road of this scale. And I know many people believe that the eventual cost would have exceeded £2 billion, but whether people take that view, or believe that it would have been contained at around £1.5 billion, it's a very large sum of money, which I believe could be used in much better ways.
I would like you to agree—I think you already have, First Minister, but I'd certainly like to make the point—that perhaps £1 billion or so of available borrowing must be used for that M4 corridor around Newport, where the problems are so grave and intense. And, I think, with the expectation that's built around the history of the proposal for an M4 relief road, local people very much expect that to be the case. I'd like to reiterate as well what my colleague Jayne said about the need to make sure that Newport people are properly represented in the process that's now going to take place around the commission. And I would say that Newport City Council must have a very strong role in terms of the commission, given that no doubt they will be required to deliver many of the actions that will be necessary to take forward the alternative approach.
First Minister, could you give any further reassurance as well in terms of the need to take very speedy action to deal with the problems of the here and now? I know you've addressed this already, but you rightly said that it would be some five years or so at the earliest before an M4 relief road would be up and operating, and obviously, we need to do a lot to deal with the problems in the very short term. And that must be uppermost, I think, in the commission's work, and much needs to happen before the commission even begins its work. And I hope we will see that level of urgency and timeliness.
Could I also say that many of the issues, of course, affect the Monmouthshire council area of Newport East, in my constituency? And I think we're lucky in having communities there that are actually putting forward possible solutions to the problems that we face, including those in Magor and Undy, who propose a new 'walkway' train station. They've been going through the UK process around the new stations fund, and they're currently hoping that Welsh Government will match some £80,000 available from Monmouthshire council to take forward the next stage of that process of applying to the UK new stations fund. So, I hope very much that we'll draw on that imagination, energy and ideas from local communities in addressing these very real problems.
Finally, First Minister, I wonder if you could say anything about the future generations legislation, because I think many people saw this decision as a major test of that legislation and whether we would see a very new approach from Welsh Government. And I wonder if you could say something about the significance of that legislation in you arriving at the decision you have taken.
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n cytuno â'ch penderfyniad, ac rwyf wedi arddel y farn honno ers tro. Ond deallaf iddo fod yn benderfyniad anodd iawn ichi ei wneud, gyda dadleuon cryf iawn ar y ddwy ochr. Mae hyn hefyd yn egluro'r ffaith fod gen i a Jayne, er ein bod yn cytuno'n llwyr ar raddfa a difrifoldeb y problemau, safbwyntiau gwahanol ynghylch yr ateb gorau, serch hynny. Ond mae dadleuon cryf iawn ar y ddwy ochr ac rwy'n deall hynny'n iawn.
Ond rwy'n cytuno bod yr ystyriaethau amgylcheddol, gwerth mawr gwastadeddau Gwent, sy'n amgylchedd unigryw a hanesyddol, gyda gwerth ecolegol hollbwysig—yn wir, mewn dadl fer yn ddiweddar, cyfeiriais at hanes gwastadeddau Gwent yma yn y Siambr hon. Yn wir, mae gwerth gwastadeddau Gwent, a'r argyfwng hinsawdd sy'n ein hwynebu, yn golygu bod angen meddylfryd newydd, mwy o ddychymyg a ffyrdd newydd o wynebu'r broblem hon, a hefyd, mae'r gost yn amlwg yn anhawster gwirioneddol wrth fwrw ymlaen â ffordd o'r maint hwn. Gwn fod llawer o bobl yn credu y byddai'r gost yn y pen draw wedi mynd y tu hwnt i £2 biliwn, ond os yw pobl yn arddel y farn honno, neu'n credu y byddai wedi bod oddeutu £1.5 biliwn, mae'n swm mawr iawn o arian, y gellid ei ddefnyddio mewn ffyrdd llawer gwell yn fy marn i.
Hoffwn ichi gytuno—credaf eich bod wedi gwneud hyn eisoes, Prif Weinidog, ond yn sicr hoffwn wneud y pwynt—y bydd yn rhaid defnyddio £1 biliwn o'r benthyciad sydd ar gael, efallai, ar gyfer y coridor M4 hwnnw o amgylch Casnewydd, lle mae'r problemau mor ddifrifol a dwys. Ac, rwy'n credu, gyda'r disgwyliad sydd wedi ei greu o gwmpas hanes y cynnig am ffordd liniaru'r M4, mae gan y bobl leol ddisgwyliadau uchel iawn y bydd hynny'n digwydd. Hoffwn ategu hefyd yr hyn a ddywedodd fy nghyd-Aelod Jayne am yr angen i sicrhau bod pobl Casnewydd yn cael eu cynrychioli'n briodol yn y broses sydd bellach yn mynd i ddigwydd o amgylch y comisiwn. A byddwn yn dweud bod yn rhaid i Gyngor Dinas Casnewydd gael swyddogaeth gref iawn o ran y Comisiwn, gan ei bod yn sicr y bydd gofyn iddynt gyflawni llawer o'r camau y bydd eu hangen i fwrw ymlaen â'r dull amgen.
Prif Weinidog, a allech roi sicrwydd pellach hefyd o ran yr angen i gymryd camau cyflym iawn i ymdrin â phroblemau'r presennol? Gwn eich bod eisoes wedi mynd i'r afael â hyn, ond roeddech yn llygad eich lle yn dweud y byddai'n o leiaf tua phum mlynedd cyn y byddai ffordd liniaru'r M4 yn weithredol, ac yn amlwg mae angen inni wneud llawer i ymdrin â'r problemau yn y tymor byr iawn. A rhaid i hynny fod yn flaenaf, fe gredaf, yng ngwaith y comisiwn, ac mae angen i lawer ddigwydd cyn i'r comisiwn ddechrau ar ei waith hyd yn oed. Rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn y lefel honno o frys ac amseroldeb.
A gaf i ddweud hefyd fod llawer o'r materion, wrth gwrs, yn effeithio ar ardal Cyngor Sir Fynwy, Dwyrain Casnewydd, yn fy etholaeth i? Credaf ein bod yn ffodus o gael cymunedau yno sydd mewn gwirionedd yn cyflwyno atebion posibl i'r problemau sy'n ein hwynebu, gan gynnwys y rheini ym Magwyr a Gwndy, sy'n cynnig gorsaf drên newydd. Maent wedi bod yn mynd drwy broses y DU ynglŷn â chronfa gorsafoedd newydd, ac maent yn gobeithio, ar hyn o bryd, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi arian cyfatebol i'r £80,000 sydd ar gael gan Gyngor Sir Fynwy i fwrw ymlaen â cham nesaf y broses honno o wneud cais i orsafoedd newydd Cronfa'r DU. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y byddwn yn defnyddio'r dychymyg, yr egni a'r syniadau hynny gan gymunedau lleol i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau real iawn hyn.
Yn olaf, Prif Weinidog, tybed a allech ddweud unrhyw beth am ddeddfwriaeth cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, oherwydd credaf fod llawer o bobl yn ystyried y penderfyniad hwn yn brawf pwysig o'r ddeddfwriaeth honno, ac a fyddem yn gweld dull newydd iawn o weithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Tybed a allech ddweud rhywbeth am arwyddocâd y ddeddfwriaeth honno wrth ichi ddod i'r penderfyniad a wnaethoch.
Llywydd, thanks to John Griffiths. I won't repeat many of the things that I've said already in relation to speedy action and the need for new and imaginative solutions. I'll try and respond to the new points that John has made. He's right to point to the fact that, as well as concern about the current expected costs of any relief road, we have to think about how those costs might escalate in the future. The average cost overrun across the United Kingdom of schemes of this sort is 20 per cent, and there are many examples that are far worse, of course, than that. You're bound to take that sort of evidence into account, in a background way, when assessing affordability.
I'll say again that when the scheme was first proposed, as the then First Minister made clear on a number of occasions here in the Chamber, it was on the basis that a new stream of funding—borrowing powers that had never been previously available to this Assembly—would be sufficient to meet the costs involved, and that there would be no need, therefore, to divert funds from other priorities of this Welsh Labour Government in those important fields of health, housing and education, and so on. But I have made it clear to people who will be involved in the commission that the first call on the money that would have been available for a relief road will be theirs, and that they will be able to press ahead with ideas such as those put forward by community councils in the Monmouthshire area—that they will be able to draw on that money to give them substance.
I agree with what the Member said about the involvement of Newport City Council, and I've already spoken to the leader of Newport council today. I spoke to a range of other individuals with a direct interest in it. My colleague Ken Skates has spoken with the CBI, the FSB and other business interests, and I will be meeting them next week. So, we will make sure that all those who have an interest in the decision have a direct line to the Welsh Government.
The Member has asked me about the well-being of future generations legislation. I want to make it clear, Llywydd, that I read very carefully the evidence that was given by the commissioner, and I read very carefully the way in which the QC, on behalf of the Welsh Government, responded to her interpretation of the Act. My own view is that it was not a reading of the Act that I heard expressed on the floor of this Assembly that proposals for development have to satisfy all seven goals and all well-being objectives, and that they have to do so equally across all the goals and the objectives. It does seem to me inevitable that, in any plan for development, there will be some balancing between the different goals and the objectives that the Act introduces. I did not dissent from the view of the inspector, therefore, that the requirements of the Act had been fairly represented by the Welsh Government in the way that it presented its evidence on the Act to the inspector.
Llywydd, diolch i John Griffiths. Ni fyddaf yn ailadrodd llawer o'r pethau a ddywedais eisoes mewn cysylltiad â gweithredu'n gyflym a'r angen am atebion newydd llawn dychymyg. Ceisiaf ymateb i'r pwyntiau newydd y mae John wedi'u gwneud. Mae'n iawn i dynnu sylw at y ffaith, yn ogystal â phryder am gostau disgwyliedig cyfredol unrhyw ffordd liniaru, fod yn rhaid inni feddwl sut y gallai'r costau hynny gynyddu yn y dyfodol. Ar gyfartaledd, mae cost cynlluniau o'r math hwn ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig wedi cynyddu 20 y cant, ac mae llawer o enghreifftiau sy'n llawer gwaeth na hynny, wrth gwrs. Rydych yn siŵr o gymryd y math hwnnw o dystiolaeth i ystyriaeth yn y cefndir wrth asesu fforddiadwyedd.
Dywedaf eto, pan gynigiwyd y cynllun gyntaf, fel yr eglurwyd gan y Prif Weinidog ar y pryd ar sawl achlysur yma yn y Siambr, mai ar y sail y byddai ffrwd newydd o gyllid—pwerau benthyca nad oeddent erioed wedi bod ar gael o'r blaen i'r Cynulliad hwn— yn ddigonol i dalu'r costau dan sylw, ac na fyddai angen, felly, dargyfeirio arian i ffwrdd oddi wrth flaenoriaethau eraill y Llywodraeth Lafur Gymreig hon yn y meysydd pwysig hynny, sef iechyd, tai ac addysg, ac yn y blaen. Ond rwyf wedi egluro wrth y bobl a fydd yn gysylltiedig â'r comisiwn, y bydd eu gwaith nhw'n cael manteisio ar yr arian a fuasai ar gael ar gyfer ffordd liniaru, ac y byddant yn gallu bwrw ymlaen â syniadau fel y rhai a gyflwynwyd gan gynghorau cymuned yn ardal Sir Fynwy. Byddant yn gallu defnyddio'r arian hwnnw i roi sylwedd i'w gwaith.
Cytunaf â'r hyn a ddywedodd yr Aelod am gyfraniad Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd, ac rwyf wedi siarad eisoes gydag arweinydd Cyngor Casnewydd heddiw. Siaredais ag amryw o unigolion eraill sydd â diddordeb uniongyrchol ynddo. Mae fy nghyd-aelod Ken Skates wedi siarad â Chydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain, y Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach a buddiannau busnes eraill, a byddaf yn cwrdd â nhw yr wythnos nesaf. Felly, byddwn yn gwneud yn siŵr bod gan bawb sydd â diddordeb yn y penderfyniad gyswllt uniongyrchol â Llywodraeth Cymru.
Mae'r Aelod wedi fy holi am ddeddfwriaeth llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Rwy'n dymuno egluro, Llywydd, fy mod wedi darllen yn ofalus iawn y dystiolaeth a roddwyd gan y Comisiynydd, a darllenais yn ofalus iawn y modd yr ymatebodd Cwnsler y Frenhines, ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, i'w dehongliad hi o'r Ddeddf. Yn fy marn i, nid darlleniad o'r Ddeddf oedd yr hyn a glywais i'n cael ei fynegi ar lawr y Cynulliad hwn, sef bod yn rhaid i gynigion ar gyfer datblygu fodloni pob un o'r saith nod a'r holl amcanion llesiant, a bod yn rhaid iddynt wneud hynny'n gyfartal ar draws yr holl nodau a'r amcanion. Mae'n ymddangos i mi ei bod yn anochel, mewn unrhyw gynllun datblygu, y bydd rhywfaint o gydbwysedd rhwng y gwahanol nodau a'r amcanion y mae'r Ddeddf yn eu cyflwyno. Nid oeddwn wedi anghydweld â barn yr arolygydd, felly, fod gofynion y Ddeddf wedi cael eu cynrychioli'n deg gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y modd y cyflwynodd ei thystiolaeth ar y Ddeddf i'r arolygydd.
Ian Price, the CBI Wales director, said today that this is a dark day for the Welsh economy, pointing out that we've had decades of deliberation, over £40 million spent, and no problem has yet been solved. He goes on to say that economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken, and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise. That is the view of business leaders across Wales. Now, you've talked today, First Minister, about a genuinely open process. You've mentioned the words, 'it's the price of living in a democracy'. But, at the same time, you've actively prevented public scrutiny with the decision to withhold the public inquiry report. And you've mentioned you've been flicking through those pages for months; we haven't had the opportunity—other AMs have not had the opportunity to look at that report. Can I ask you to explain, First Minister, why you could have not published that report without the legal advice attached to it?
You say that the cost of the project and the potential demands on the Welsh Government's capital budget mean that you are not in a position to provide funding for this project. The inspector concluded that the project would, of course, constitute sound value for money and deliver considerable advantages. Your own Welsh economist gave evidence to the public inquiry that the project had a benefit-cost ratio of 2.0:2.2, with economic benefits of £2.12 billion. So, do you no longer accept the views of Welsh Government officials and those working on behalf of the Welsh Government that made this case to the public inquiry on your behalf? The transport Minister said in 2016 that the new section of the M4 would be opened by autumn 2021. The building of the road was in the Labour party's election manifesto. It was a pledge in your 2016 manifesto. The leader of the opposition and other Members have asked this question: do you acknowledge that this pledge has now been completely broken?
Also, you have said that the so-called expert commission will now be appointed. Well, what is a two-year public inquiry at a cost to the Welsh taxpayer of £44 million all about if that inquiry didn't discuss all the options in extensive detail? Jayne Bryant has said we surely can't go back to square one. Well, this commission is doing just that. It's going back to square one. That's what this commission is doing. And, finally, I was in this Chamber when the former leader of the house committed—committed—to holding a binding vote. The leader of the opposition has asked the question. You, First Minister, have not answered it. Can you now answer the question on the binding vote that was promised to this Chamber?
Dywedodd Ian Price, Cyfarwyddwr CBI Cymru, heddiw fod hwn yn ddiwrnod tywyll i economi Cymru, gan dynnu sylw at y ffaith ein bod wedi cael degawdau o drafod, dros £40 miliwn wedi'i wario, ac nad oes yr un broblem wedi cael ei datrys hyd yn hyn. Fe ddywed ymhellach y bydd twf economaidd yn cael ei lethu, y bydd hyder yn y rhanbarth yn gwanhau, ac y bydd cost ffordd liniaru yn y pen draw yn codi. Dyna farn arweinwyr busnes ledled Cymru. Nawr, rydych wedi sôn heddiw, Prif Weinidog, am broses wirioneddol agored. Rydych wedi crybwyll y geiriau, 'Dyma bris byw mewn democratiaeth'. Ond, ar yr un pryd, rydych wedi mynd ati i atal craffu cyhoeddus gyda'r penderfyniad i atal yr adroddiad ar yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus. Ac rydych wedi sôn eich bod wedi bod yn bodio drwy'r tudalennau hynny am fisoedd; nid ydym ni wedi cael y cyfle—nid yw ACau eraill wedi cael y cyfle i edrych ar yr adroddiad hwnnw. A gaf i ofyn ichi egluro, Prif Weinidog, pam na allech chi gyhoeddi'r adroddiad hwnnw heb y cyngor cyfreithiol sydd ynghlwm wrtho?
Rydych yn dweud bod cost y prosiect a'r gofynion posibl ar gyllideb gyfalaf Llywodraeth Cymru yn golygu nad ydych mewn sefyllfa i ddarparu cyllid ar gyfer y prosiect hwn. Daeth yr arolygydd i'r casgliad y byddai'r prosiect, wrth gwrs, yn golygu gwerth cadarn am arian ac yn cynnig manteision sylweddol. Rhoddodd eich economegydd eich hun yng Nghymru dystiolaeth i'r ymchwiliad cyhoeddus fod gan y prosiect gymhareb cost a budd o 2.0:2.2, gyda buddiannau economaidd o £2,12 biliwn. Felly, ydych chi ddim yn derbyn barn swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru a'r rhai sy'n gweithio ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru a wnaeth yr achos hwn i'r ymchwiliad cyhoeddus ar eich rhan? Dywedodd y Gweinidog Trafnidiaeth yn 2016 y byddai'r darn newydd o'r M4 yn cael ei agor erbyn tymor yr hydref 2021. Roedd adeiladu'r ffordd ym maniffesto etholiadol y Blaid Lafur. Roedd yn addewid yn eich maniffesto yn 2016. Mae arweinydd yr wrthblaid ac aelodau eraill wedi gofyn y cwestiwn hwn: a ydych yn cydnabod bod yr addewid hwn wedi'i dorri'n llwyr erbyn hyn?
Hefyd, rydych wedi dweud y bydd y comisiwn arbenigol, fel y'i gelwir, yn cael ei benodi nawr. Wel, beth oedd pwrpas ymchwiliad cyhoeddus a gymerodd ddwy flynedd ac a gostiodd £44 miliwn i drethdalwyr Cymru os na chafodd yr holl ddewisiadau eu trafod yn fanwl yn yr ymchwiliad hwnnw? Mae Jayne Bryant wedi dweud nad oes modd inni fynd yn ôl i'r dechrau eto. Wel, dyna'n union y mae'r comisiwn hwn yn ei wneud, mae'n mynd yn ôl i'r dechrau. Dyna mae'r comisiwn yn ei wneud. Ac, yn olaf, roeddwn yn y Siambr hon pan ymrwymodd cyn arweinydd y tŷ—fe ymrwymodd—i gynnal pleidlais rwymol. Mae arweinydd yr wrthblaid wedi gofyn y cwestiwn. Nid ydych chi, Prif Weinidog, wedi'i ateb. A wnewch chi ateb y cwestiwn ynglŷn â'r bleidlais rwymol a addawyd i'r Siambr hon nawr?
Llywydd, I think the Member's got a number of things wrong there. It shows, I think, an unbecoming degree of flippancy to suggest that the report had been flicked through. Just let me tell him for certain that I have read this report from cover to cover—[Interruption.] I think I heard you the first time, I don't need a second piece of advice. And let me be clear to you that I am the decision maker here. That's what the law requires. That's why I have seen the report and you see it now, because I am the decision maker, and however strong your views may be, Members of the Assembly generally are not. That's what the law requires and that's the responsibility that I have discharged.
Of course you don't see the legal advice. Members of the Chamber surely understand. You asked me why aren't I publishing the legal advice. I heard you ask me. And I'm not publishing the legal advice, because the conventions of Government, as he well knows, mean that that legal advice is a privileged advice available to Ministers, and that has been the case, just as Ministers in his Government in the United Kingdom would never agree to publish legal advice in those circumstances. So, I'm paying him the tribute of answering the questions that he asked. He may wish he'd asked me other questions, but he didn't, and I've answered the ones he has asked.
We've been round the manifesto question a number of times. I have here a copy of the Conservative party manifesto at the same election. On page 9, it commits his party to electrification of the railway all the way to Swansea—[Interruption.] On page 35, it commits his party to fund a tidal lagoon in Swansea—[Interruption.] The manifesto that we drew up was drawn up in the circumstances that I described. The context has changed, and that's why the decision has changed in that changing context.
As to a vote, you heard the leader of the house earlier this afternoon say there will be a debate in this Assembly. And had the decision been to go ahead with the relief road, there would have been a binding vote, because it would have come on the budget that is put in front of this Assembly every year, because the decision to go ahead would have committed money, and money is only expendable by Government when this National Assembly votes for that money to be available to the Government. So, there would have been a binding vote in those circumstances. Now, there will be a debate, and there will be an opportunity for Members here to make all the points that they want to make.
And quite certainly, Llywydd, this is a decision not about going back to square one. It is about a rapid piece of work by an expert commission that will bring forward practical proposals to resolve some of the issues that are faced by the residents of Newport in 2019 and 2020, not many years from now when the road might eventually have been constructed and opened for traffic.
Llywydd, credaf fod yr Aelod yn anghywir am nifer o bethau yma . Rwy'n credu ei fod yn dangos rhyw gymaint o wamalrwydd anweddus wrth awgrymu mai bodio drwy'r adroddiad wnes i. Gadewch imi ddweud yn bendant wrtho fy mod wedi darllen yr adroddiad hwn o glawr i glawr—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu fy mod wedi eich clywed y tro cyntaf, does dim angen ail ddarn o gyngor arnaf i. A gadewch i mi fod yn glir wrthoch mai fi sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau yma. Dyna sy'n ofynnol yn ôl y gyfraith. Dyna pam rwyf i wedi gweld yr adroddiad ac rydych chi'n ei weld nawr, oherwydd fi sy'n gwneud y penderfyniadau ac nid Aelodau'r Cynulliad yn gyffredinol, waeth pa mor gryf fo'ch barn. Dyna sy'n ofynnol yn ôl y gyfraith a dyna'r cyfrifoldeb yr wyf wedi'i gyflawni.
Wrth gwrs, dydych chi ddim yn gweld y cyngor cyfreithiol. Mae aelodau'r Siambr yn sicr yn deall hyn. Gofynasoch imi pam nad wyf yn cyhoeddi'r cyngor cyfreithiol. Fe'ch clywais yn gofyn i mi. Ac nid wyf yn cyhoeddi'r cyngor cyfreithiol, oherwydd bod confensiynau Llywodraeth, fel y gŵyr ef yn iawn, yn golygu bod y cyngor cyfreithiol hwnnw yn gyngor breintiedig sydd ar gael i Weinidogion, ac felly y bu, yn yr un modd na fyddai Gweinidogion yn ei Lywodraeth ef yn y Deyrnas Unedig byth yn cytuno i gyhoeddi cyngor cyfreithiol o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny. Felly, rwy'n dangos parch dyledus iddo wrth ateb y cwestiynau a ofynnodd. Efallai y byddai wedi dymuno gofyn cwestiynau eraill imi, ond ni wnaeth hynny, ac rwyf i wedi ateb y rhai a ofynnodd ef.
Rydym wedi trafod y cwestiwn maniffesto nifer o weithiau. Mae gennyf gopi yma o faniffesto'r Blaid Geidwadol yn yr un etholiad. Ar dudalen 9, mae'n ymrwymo ei blaid i drydaneiddio'r rheilffordd yr holl ffordd i Abertawe—[Torri ar draws.] Ar dudalen 35, mae'n ymrwymo ei blaid i ariannu morlyn llanw yn Abertawe—[Torri ar draws.] Lluniwyd y maniffesto a luniwyd gennym dan yr amgylchiadau a ddisgrifiais. Mae'r cyd-destun wedi newid, a dyna pam mae'r penderfyniad wedi newid yn y cyd-destun cyfnewidiol hwnnw.
O ran pleidlais, clywsoch arweinydd y tŷ yn gynharach y prynhawn yma yn dweud y bydd dadl yn y Cynulliad hwn. A phe bai'r penderfyniad wedi mynd rhagddo ar y ffordd liniaru, byddai pleidlais rwymol wedi bod, oherwydd byddai wedi dod ar y gyllideb a roddir gerbron y Cynulliad hwn bob blwyddyn, gan y byddai'r penderfyniad i fynd ymlaen wedi ymrwymo arian, ac mae'r Llywodraeth yn gorfod gwario arian pan fydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol hwn yn pleidleisio o blaid darparu'r arian hwnnw i'r Llywodraeth. Felly, byddai pleidlais rwymol wedi digwydd yn yr amgylchiadau hynny. Nawr, fe fydd dadl, a bydd cyfle i'r Aelodau yma wneud yr holl bwyntiau y maent am eu gwneud.
Ac yn hollol sicr, Llywydd, nid yw'r penderfyniad hwn yn ymwneud â mynd yn ôl i'r cychwyn cyntaf. Mae'n ymwneud â darn o waith cyflym gan gomisiwn arbenigol a fydd yn cyflwyno cynigion ymarferol i ddatrys rhai o'r problemau a wynebir gan drigolion Casnewydd yn 2019 a 2020, nid flynyddoedd lawer yn y dyfodol pan fydd y ffordd wedi'i hadeiladu efallai yn y pen draw ac ar agor i draffig.
We're now quite considerably over the time allocated by the Government for this statement, and I have many speakers yet to ask a question. And as the Government has said, there will be a debate again on this issue, but I'm going to allow short questions from the remainder of Members who wish to contribute. I'll challenge you first on that, Mike Hedges.
Bellach, rydym dros yr amser a neilltuwyd gan y Llywodraeth ar gyfer y datganiad hwn yn eithaf sylweddol, ac mae gennyf lawer o siaradwyr sydd heb ofyn eu cwestiwn eto. Ac fel y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi dweud, bydd dadl eto ar y mater hwn, ond rwy'n mynd i ganiatáu cwestiynau byr gan weddill yr Aelodau sy'n dymuno cyfrannu. Fe'ch heriaf yn gyntaf ar hynny, Mike Hedges.
I'm normally pretty good, Presiding Officer—
Rwy'n eithaf da fel arfer, Llywydd—
You are, you are; that's why I went for you first.
Yr ydych, yr ydych; dyna pam y dewisais i chi'n gyntaf.
Can I welcome the decision? The traffic problems around Newport at peak times need addressing, but the M25 gives us an example of what happens with new roads: first of all it gets built, then it gets made wider, then it gets turned into what people have described as the biggest car park in western Europe. I want to put forward some suggestions of what can be done. The Heads of the Valleys could be signposted for those of us coming from the north and midlands who want to go west to Port Talbot. I've said this since Edwina Hart was the Minister here. The outside lane on the M4 could be used for through traffic only, so the local traffic stays in the inside lane, the through traffic goes in the outside lane, unless there's an accident. Why can't we stagger public sector start times, so everybody isn't on that road between 8 and 9 every morning, which is when the problems are, and between 5 and 6? I checked this morning at 11:30 and there were no traffic problems there. Finally, can we look at closing some M4 junctions, because that is really—? If you want to know why you've got a problem, you have too many junctions close together on two-lane motorways. That gives you a problem.
A gaf i groesawu'r penderfyniad? Mae angen mynd i'r afael â'r problemau traffig o amgylch Casnewydd ar adegau brig, ond mae'r M25 yn enghraifft inni o'r hyn sy'n digwydd gyda ffyrdd newydd: yn gyntaf oll mae'n cael ei adeiladu, yna ei ledu, yna ei droi i'r hyn a ddisgrifiwyd gan bobl fel y maes parcio mwyaf yng Ngorllewin Ewrop. Hoffwn gyflwyno rhai awgrymiadau ynghylch yr hyn y gellir ei wneud. Gellid rhoi arwyddion ar gyfer Blaenau'r Cymoedd i'r rhai ohonom sy'n dod o'r Gogledd a'r Canolbarth ac sy'n dymuno mynd i'r gorllewin i Bort Talbot. Rwyf i wedi dweud hyn ers i Edwina Hart fod yn Weinidog yma. Gellid defnyddio'r lôn allanol ar y M4 ar gyfer traffig trwodd yn unig, felly byddai'r traffig lleol yn aros yn y lôn fewnol, y traffig trwodd yn mynd i'r lôn allanol, oni bai bod yna ddamwain. Pam na allwn ni wahanu amseroedd dechrau'r sector cyhoeddus, fel na fyddai pawb ar y ffordd honno rhwng 8 a 9 bob bore, sef adeg y problemau, a rhwng 5 a 6? Y bore yma, am 11:30, nid oedd problemau traffig yno. Yn olaf, a allwn ni ystyried cau rhai o gyffyrdd yr M4, oherwydd mae hynny mewn gwirionedd—? Os ydych eisiau gwybod pam mae gennych broblem, mae gennych ormod o gyffyrdd yn agos at ei gilydd ar draffyrdd dwy lôn. Mae hynny'n rhoi problem ichi.
I thank the Member for those suggestions. They are of different levels of acceptability, I've no doubt, but what they demonstrate is that there is no shortage of practical ideas that the commission will be able to consider, and I'm grateful to the Member for putting his ideas in front of the Assembly today.
Diolch i'r Aelod am yr awgrymiadau hynny. Nid oes amheuaeth gennyf fod rhai o'i awgrymiadau'n fwy derbyniol nag eraill. Ond yr hyn y maent yn ei ddangos yw nad oes prinder syniadau ymarferol y bydd y comisiwn yn gallu eu hystyried, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelod am roi ei syniadau gerbron y Cynulliad heddiw.
I've been trying to reduce the traffic on the A40 between Raglan and the castle, but I see Mike Hedges is eager to increase it, but there we are. Two quick questions, if I may, Llywydd. Firstly, as we heard earlier, a considerable amount of money has already been spent on the M4 relief road to date in terms of the scoping of the project and also the acquisition of land—I think it's in the region of £40 million. I'm just wondering if you can tell us—. Well, in terms of the land that's been purchased, I think you said earlier that you weren't able to look at other routes, but there is clearly land that's been purchased, so what's going to be done to try and mitigate the effect on the taxpayer?
Secondly, the road was going to cost £1.4 billion. Now that the scheme has been shelved, can I make a plea for you to look urgently at other infrastructure projects in south-east Wales and south Wales and, indeed, across Wales—projects such as the proposed Chepstow bypass in my area? There's tremendous congestion in Chepstow. I think that if people around Newport aren't going to get relief of the M4 road, then at least constituents of mine and other towns in Wales can get some benefit. And finally, Presiding Officer, a little bit closer to home, the eastern bay link is unfinished and, as we know, it's not just the M4 that causes congestion; a lot of traffic piles back on the A48M because there's nowhere for it to go because of the lack of completion of that eastern bay link. I know that's phenomenally expensive, but perhaps with the money that will be flushing around because we haven't actually got the M4 now, the Welsh Government could look at some of the other schemes that could be progressed to help life in Wales.
Rwyf wedi bod yn ceisio lleihau'r traffig ar y A40 rhwng Rhaglan a'r Castell, ond gwelaf fod Mike Hedges yn awyddus i'w gynyddu, ond dyna ni. Dau gwestiwn cyflym, os caf, Llywydd. Yn gyntaf, fel y clywsom yn gynharach, mae swm sylweddol o arian eisoes wedi'i wario ar ffordd liniaru'r M4 hyd yn hyn o ran cwmpasu'r prosiect a chaffael tir hefyd—credaf ei fod tua £40 miliwn. Tybed a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni—. Wel, o ran y tir a brynwyd, credaf ichi ddweud yn gynharach nad oeddech yn gallu edrych ar lwybrau eraill, ond yn amlwg mae tir wedi cael ei brynu, felly beth sydd yn mynd i gael ei wneud i geisio lliniaru'r effaith ar y trethdalwr?
Yn ail, roedd y ffordd yn mynd i gostio £1.4 biliwn. Gan fod y cynllun wedi'i roi o'r neilltu bellach, a gaf i erfyn arnoch i edrych ar frys ar brosiectau seilwaith eraill yn y De-ddwyrain ac yn y De ac, yn wir, ledled Cymru—prosiectau megis ffordd osgoi arfaethedig Cas-gwent yn fy ardal i? Mae tagfeydd mawr yng Nghas-gwent. Os nad yw pobl o gwmpas Casnewydd yn mynd i gael rhyddhad o'r M4, credaf o leiaf y gall fy etholwyr i a threfi eraill yng Nghymru gael rhywfaint o fudd. Ac yn olaf, Llywydd, ychydig yn nes adref, mae cyswllt y bae dwyreiniol yn anorffenedig ac, fel y gwyddom, nid yr M4 yn unig sy'n achosi tagfeydd; mae llawer o draffig yn pentyrru ar yr A48M gan nad oes unman iddo fynd oherwydd nad yw'r cyswllt dwyreiniol hwnnw wedi'i gwblhau. Rwy'n gwybod bod hynny'n aruthrol o ddrud, ond efallai gyda'r arian fydd ar gael am nad ydym wedi cael yr M4 yn awr, y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru edrych ar rai o'r cynlluniau eraill y gellid eu datblygu i helpu bywyd yng Nghymru.
I thank the Member for those two questions. The land that is now in the ownership of the Welsh Government forms part of the public assets here in Wales and, when those assets are realised, then, of course, that money will return to the public purse.
Llywydd, I did a short calculation myself of all the different new possibilities for public capital expenditure that have been put to me by Members around the Chamber in the time that I have been First Minister. It came to over £2.2 billion. The Member for Newport appears many times on this list. I am not suggesting for a minute that the ideas that he and other Members have put forward are not good ideas, but I think the point he makes is an important one—that there are choices that you face in Government between using the resources you've got for one purpose or another. I've said again that the first call on this money will be for Newport and for dealing with the traffic issues there, but this lengthy list of other possibilities is always on my desk, and the Member for Monmouth's advocacy of improvements around Chepstow, Monmouth, Raglan and others are all firmly on this list, I can assure him.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y ddau gwestiwn hynny. Mae'r tir sydd bellach yn eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru yn ffurfio rhan o'r asedau cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru a phan fydd yr asedau hynny'n cael eu gwireddu, yna, wrth gwrs, bydd yr arian hwnnw'n mynd yn ôl i'r pwrs cyhoeddus.
Llywydd, gwneuthum gyfrifiad byr fy hun o'r holl bosibiliadau newydd gwahanol ar gyfer gwariant cyfalaf cyhoeddus a roddwyd imi gan Aelodau o amgylch y Siambr yn ystod yr amser y bûm yn Brif Weinidog. Daeth i dros £2.2 biliwn. Mae'r Aelod dros Gasnewydd yn ymddangos lawer gwaith ar y rhestr hon. Nid wyf yn awgrymu am funud nad yw'r syniadau y mae ef ac aelodau eraill wedi eu cyflwyno yn syniadau da, ond credaf fod y pwynt a wna yn un pwysig—fod yna ddewisiadau a wynebir mewn Llywodraeth rhwng defnyddio'r adnoddau sydd gennych at un pwrpas neu'i gilydd. Rwyf wedi dweud eto mai ar gyfer Casnewydd y bydd yr alwad gyntaf ar yr arian hwn ac ar gyfer ymdrin â'r materion traffig yno. Ond mae'r rhestr faith hon o bosibiliadau eraill ar fy nesg bob amser, ac mae eiriolaeth yr Aelod dros Drefynwy o welliannau o gwmpas Cas-gwent, Trefynwy, Rhaglan ac eraill i gyd yn gadarn ar y rhestr hon, gallaf ei sicrhau.
Jack Sargeant.
Jack Sargeant.
Diolch, Llywydd, and I appreciate your patience in allowing us to go a little bit into extra time. Unfortunately, I can't talk as quickly as my good friend Mr Ramsay over there. [Laughter.] First Minister, I believe that your decision today, history will look back and our future generations will look back and judge that you have made the correct decision, so I applaud you on that.
I did have three questions today. One has been pointed to by John Griffiths, my colleague, on the fact that this was a major test of the future generations Act, but I'll leave that there for the time being. Firstly, First Minister, with respect to the feeling of a north-south divide, would you agree with me that we need to use all the borrowing powers we have on a range of projects across the whole of Wales, all corners of Wales, to improve the well-being of all the people we represent in Wales? And, finally, First Minister, do you agree with me that declaring a climate emergency was the right thing to do, and, as a result, it wouldn't have been in our planet's interests to go ahead with this type of project?
Diolch, Llywydd, ac rwyf yn gwerthfawrogi eich amynedd yn caniatáu amser ychwanegol inni. Yn anffodus, alla i ddim siarad mor gyflym â'm cyfaill da Mr Ramsay draw acw. [Chwerthin.] Prif Weinidog, credaf o ran eich penderfyniad heddiw, y bydd hanes yn edrych yn ôl ac y bydd cenedlaethau i ddod yn edrych yn ôl ac yn barnu eich bod wedi gwneud y penderfyniad cywir, felly rwy'n eich canmol am hynny.
Roedd gennyf dri chwestiwn heddiw. Tynnwyd sylw at un gan John Griffiths, fy nghyd-Aelod, am y ffaith bod hwn yn brawf mawr ar ddeddf cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ond gadawaf hynny am y tro. Yn gyntaf, Prif Weinidog, o ran y teimlad o raniad rhwng y Gogledd a'r De, a fyddech yn cytuno â mi bod angen inni ddefnyddio'r holl bwerau benthyca sydd gennym ar amrywiaeth o brosiectau ledled Cymru gyfan, ym mhob cwr o Gymru, er mwyn gwella lles yr holl bobl yr ydym yn eu cynrychioli yng Nghymru? Ac, yn olaf, Prif Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno â mi mai datgan argyfwng hinsawdd oedd y peth cywir i'w wneud, ac o ganlyniad, ni fyddai wedi bod er budd ein planed i fwrw ymlaen â'r math hwn o brosiect?
Llywydd, thanks to Jack Sargeant for those points. I assure him that we intend to use the borrowing capacity that we have as a Welsh Government to the fullest extent. Can I point out to Members—as I have reasonably often in discussions with the leader of Plaid Cymru—that every £20 million we borrow for capital purposes costs us £1 million in revenue and that at a time when revenue is particularly short, that has to be put into the balance as well, but the Welsh Government's budget plans allow us to draw down the full amount of borrowing that's available to us? And, of course, the point that Jack Sargeant makes is echoed in what Nick Ramsay said. I've repeated my commitment to Newport and to making its needs the top of the list for money, but all parts of Wales have needs; all parts of Wales have transport issues that they face; all parts of Wales need investment in education, in housing, in health services. And I know that around the Chamber and in the comments that the inspector received, there were anxieties at the amount of investment that was being concentrated in one project and in one part of Wales. So, I understand the point that is being made. For me, none of that detracts from the need to resolve the issues that the report was set up to investigate.
And as far as a climate emergency is concerned, as I said in my statement, that is very much a matter for the commission, to draw up its proposals in the new context that the climate emergency, the UK CCC's report, and the work of the UN now bring to the table in relation to environmental impact.
Llywydd, diolch i Jack Sargeant am y pwyntiau hynny. Gallaf ei sicrhau ein bod yn bwriadu defnyddio'r capasiti benthyca sydd gennym fel Llywodraeth Cymru i'r graddau mwyaf. A gaf i dynnu sylw'r Aelodau—fel yr wyf wedi gwneud yn weddol aml mewn trafodaethau gydag arweinydd Plaid Cymru—fod pob £20 miliwn yr ydym yn ei fenthyg at ddibenion cyfalaf yn costio £1 miliwn i ni mewn refeniw, ac mewn cyfnod pan fo refeniw yn arbennig o brin rhaid ystyried hyn hefyd, ond mae cynlluniau cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru yn caniatáu inni ddefnyddio'r holl fenthyciadau sydd ar gael i ni? Ac wrth gwrs, mae'r pwynt y mae Jack Sargeant yn ei wneud yn cael ei adleisio yn yr hyn a ddywedodd Nick Ramsay. Rwyf wedi ailadrodd fy ymrwymiad i Gasnewydd ac i sicrhau bod ei anghenion ar frig y rhestr am arian, ond mae gan bob rhan o Gymru ei hanghenion; mae gan bob rhan o Gymru faterion trafnidiaeth y maent yn eu hwynebu; mae angen buddsoddi mewn addysg, mewn tai, yn y gwasanaethau iechyd ym mhob rhan o Gymru. A gwn, o amgylch y Siambr ac yn y sylwadau a gafodd yr arolygydd, fod pryderon ynghylch y maint o fuddsoddiad a oedd yn cael ei ganolbwyntio mewn un prosiect ac mewn un rhan o Gymru. Felly, rwy'n deall y pwynt sy'n cael ei wneud. I mi, nid yw hynny'n tynnu oddi ar yr angen i ddatrys y problemau y sefydlwyd yr adroddiad i ymchwilio iddynt.
A chyn belled ag y mae argyfwng hinsawdd yn y cwestiwn, fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad, mae hynny'n sicr yn fater i'r comisiwn, i lunio'i gynigion yn y cyd-destun newydd a roddir gan argyfwng yr hinsawdd, adroddiad CCC y DU, a gwaith y Cenhedloedd Unedig yng nghyswllt yr effaith amgylcheddol.
First Minister, it's a very sad day. I'm not saying this; this is CBI—your Minister just met, you earlier said it. It's their quote in the BBC. It's a sad day for those who want to see the removal of significant barriers to economic growth in Wales; a sad day for those businesses who face increased costs when their lorries are delayed by congestion; a sad day for commuters, for tourists, who are coming in quite large numbers after the removal of the Severn bridge tolls, which earlier was mentioned, and other motorists forced to endure frustration and delay to their journeys to south Wales and Wales; and a sad day for those concerned by the impact on our environment of an increased level of air pollution caused by traffic jams around Newport.
First Minister, I've been living in Newport for the last 50 years; I know exactly. Nobody has yet mentioned the emergency services, police, ambulances and fire brigades, their contribution, what they think, or how much it costs annually for these fatalities, especially from the Coldra roundabout to the Tredegar roundabout, because those few junctions in Newport are so dangerous, especially with the speed limits and the cameras there. One camera makes more money than any other camera in the United Kingdom. That's what I was told.
First Minister, I would like to ask a few questions. What is the alternative? There's congestion—a serious congestion problem in Wales. You heard many speakers here earlier. The convention centre is nearly built in the Celtic Manor. That convention centre itself is going to include more than 5,000 people on weekends. While we're speaking, the Afghanistan and Sri Lanka international match is going on in Cardiff. They're all international sporting events, and other events are happening. Traffic is increasing humongously on the M4 every year. So, could you do something?
I'm not saying that you rejected this black route. I'm saying—. For the last 10 years, I've been listening to debates and questions with the First Minister all the time—hopes being built, but it's never been done. Now you are putting a commission. Have you put a timescale for that? How much cost? The money; how much money are we going to waste? And we are now competing with the world. In an earlier question you mentioned that we are economically great. More income is all about export rather than our budget in this Chamber. So, First Minister, could you do something? Where there is a will, there is a way. We need some road expansion around Newport to make sure the flow of this traffic gets eased and goes through our Wales—different cities. Our leader mentioned it's actually a rotor on our blood vessel that this is for Wales. We need to expand and we need to get it done ASAP. Thank you.
Prif Weinidog, mae'n ddiwrnod trist iawn. Nid fi sy'n dweud hyn; ond Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain—y mae eich Gweinidog newydd gwrdd â nhw, fel y dywedasoch yn gynharach. Dyma eu dyfyniad ar y BBC. Mae'n ddiwrnod trist i'r rheini sydd eisiau gweld dileu rhwystrau sylweddol i dwf economaidd yng Nghymru; yn ddiwrnod trist i'r busnesau hynny sy'n wynebu costau uwch pan fydd tagfeydd yn achosi oedi i'w lorïau. Mae'n ddiwrnod trist i gymudwyr, i dwristiaid sy'n dod mewn niferoedd eithaf mawr ar ôl dileu tollau Pont Hafren, fel y cafodd ei grybwyll yn gynharach, a'r ffaith bod modurwyr eraill yn gorfod dioddef rhwystredigaeth ac oedi wrth deithio i'r De ac i Gymru. Mae'n ddiwrnod trist i'r rhai sy'n pryderu am effaith y lefel gynyddol o lygredd aer a achosir gan dagfeydd traffig o amgylch Casnewydd ar ein hamgylchedd.
Prif Weinidog, rwyf wedi bod yn byw yng Nghasnewydd ers 50 mlynedd; rwy'n gwybod hyn yn iawn. Nid oes neb wedi sôn eto am y gwasanaethau brys, yr heddlu, ambiwlansys a'r Brigadau Tân, eu cyfraniad nhw, eu barn nhw, na faint y mae'n ei gostio bob blwyddyn am y marwolaethau hyn, yn enwedig o Gylchfan Coldra hyd at Gylchfan Tredegar, gan fod yr ychydig gyffyrdd yng Nghasnewydd mor beryglus, yn enwedig gyda'r terfynau cyflymder a'r camerâu yno. Mae un camera yn gwneud mwy o arian nag unrhyw gamera arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Dyna a ddywedwyd wrthyf.
Prif Weinidog, hoffwn ofyn ychydig o gwestiynau. Beth yw'r dewis arall? Mae tagfeydd—mae gennym broblem tagfeydd ddifrifol yng Nghymru. Clywsoch lawer o siaradwyr yma'n gynharach. Mae'r ganolfan gynadledda bron wedi cael ei hadeiladu yn y Celtic Manor. Mae'r ganolfan gynadledda honno ei hun yn mynd i gynnwys mwy na 5,000 o bobl ar benwythnosau. Wrth inni siarad, mae gêm ryngwladol Affganistan a Sri Lanka yn digwydd yng Nghaerdydd. Maen nhw'n ddigwyddiadau chwaraeon rhyngwladol, ac mae digwyddiadau eraill hefyd. Mae traffig yn cynyddu'n drybeilig ar y M4 bob blwyddyn. Felly, a oes modd gwneud rhywbeth?
Nid wyf yn dweud eich bod wedi gwrthod y llwybr du hwn. Rwy'n dweud —. Am y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, rwyf wedi bod yn gwrando ar ddadleuon a chwestiynau gyda'r Prif Weinidog drwy'r amser—yn codi gobeithion, ond nid oes unrhyw beth wedi digwydd. Rydych yn awr yn galw comisiwn. A ydych wedi rhoi amserlen ar gyfer hynny? Beth fydd y gost? Yr arian; faint o arian fydd yn cael ei wastraffu? Ac rydym nawr yn cystadlu gyda'r byd. Mewn cwestiwn blaenorol soniasoch ein bod mewn sefyllfa wych o ran ein heconomi. Mae mwy o incwm yn ymwneud ag allforio yn hytrach na'n cyllideb ni yn y Siambr hon. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a allech chi wneud rhywbeth? Os oes ewyllys, yna mae gobaith cyflawni. Mae angen inni ehangu'r ffordd o amgylch Casnewydd er mwyn sicrhau bod llif y traffig hwn yn gwella a'i fod yn mynd drwy Gymru—y dinasoedd gwahanol. Soniodd ein harweinydd ei fod fel rotor ar ein llestr gwaed. Mae angen inni ehangu ac mae angen inni wneud hynny cyn gynted â phosib. Diolch.
Llywydd, Ken Skates will set out tomorrow the timescales for the convention. I set out in my statement the actions we will take immediately in relation to improving the rate of accidents and incidents on the M4. Let me say, Llywydd, because I probably haven't had a chance to do this so far this afternoon, how much the Welsh Government appreciates the relationship we have with the CBI and other business organisations here in Wales; the closeness with which we have worked with them over Brexit and other important matters; the fact that I will meet with them directly next week to make sure that I have that conversation with them. The Member asked that we should work together to find solutions to the problems of the M4, and that is exactly what we intend to do.
Llywydd, bydd Ken Skates yn nodi'r amserlenni ar gyfer y confensiwn yfory. Yn fy natganiad, rwy'n nodi'r camau y byddwn yn eu cymryd ar unwaith mewn cysylltiad â gwella cyfradd y damweiniau a'r digwyddiadau ar yr M4. Gadewch imi ddweud, Llywydd, oherwydd mae'n debyg nad wyf wedi cael cyfle i wneud hyn hyd yn hyn y prynhawn yma, gymaint y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwerthfawrogi'r berthynas sydd gennym â'r CBI a sefydliadau busnes eraill yma yng Nghymru; ein perthynas agos wrth gydweithio dros BREXIT a materion pwysig eraill; a'r ffaith y byddaf yn cyfarfod â nhw'n uniongyrchol yr wythnos nesaf i wneud yn siŵr fy mod yn cael y sgwrs honno gyda nhw. Gofynnodd yr Aelod inni weithio gyda'n gilydd i ddod o hyd i atebion i broblemau'r M4, a dyna'n union yr hyn yr ydym yn bwriadu ei wneud.
On behalf of the residents of Cardiff Central, I would like to thank the First Minister for the careful consideration he has given to the evidence and the complex issues that surround it. Because I think it's really important in the light of the UK CCC report on achieving net zero emissions and the UN global biodiversity assessment that when the facts change, we need to change our mind.
At least a quarter and up to half of the communities that I represent would've had no benefit whatsoever from the M4 relief road and lots of negative impact. That is because they do not possess a motorcar and, therefore, wouldn't be able to use the M4. Instead, they would have had increased congestion because we know by analysing the data around the traffic running between east of Cardiff and west of Cardiff that 40 per cent of that traffic is actually heading for Cardiff. So, most city regions across the UK have invested heavily in integrated public transport, and now that this public inquiry has concluded with the First Minister's decision, I hope that we will rapidly see a much broader development of the integrated transport system that we now need.
So, I welcome the First Minister's commitments to ensuring that transport experts are going to come up with rapid solutions to the congestion problem around Newport and that that will have first call on the money that's now going to be released because we have to ensure that we are spending value for money. We know that per kilometre, a rail line costs about the same as a motorway but carries between eight and 20 times as many people. I appreciate that rail takes time to be reconfigured, but we need to make better use of existing roads more quickly. Other motorways in Britain have dedicated bus lanes in urban areas, and I hope that the experts will consider that.
Other major routes into cities like Bristol restrict the use of one priority lane to vehicles that have at least two people in them, which, of course, encourages car sharing. And I note that page 58 of the inspector's report confirms that mobile phone data was used by the Welsh Government to inform the traffic projections ahead, and I hope that, therefore, we will be able to commission some half a dozen to a dozen express electric buses that we know are available to ensure that the routes usually travelled by those who are currently clogging up the M4 in order to get to work can be given instantly express bus travel instead.
Ar ran trigolion Canol Caerdydd, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ystyriaeth ofalus a roddodd i'r dystiolaeth a'r materion cymhleth cysylltiedig. Gan fy mod yn credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn, yng ngoleuni adroddiad CCC y DU ar sicrhau dim allyriadau net ac asesiad bioamrywiaeth fyd-eang y Cenhedloedd Unedig, fod angen inni newid ein meddwl pan fydd y ffeithiau'n newid.
Ni fyddai o leiaf chwarter a hyd at hanner y cymunedau a gynrychiolaf i wedi cael unrhyw fudd o gwbl o ffordd liniaru'r M4 a llawer o effaith negyddol. Y rheswm am hynny yw nad oes ganddynt geir ac felly ni fyddent yn gallu defnyddio'r M4. Yn hytrach, byddent wedi cael mwy o dagfeydd oherwydd gwyddom, drwy ddadansoddi'r data ynghylch y traffig sy'n rhedeg rhwng Dwyrain a Gorllewin Caerdydd, fod 40 y cant o'r traffig hwnnw mewn gwirionedd yn mynd i Gaerdydd. Felly, mae'r rhan fwyaf o ranbarthau dinesig ledled y DU wedi buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig, a chan fod yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus hwn bellach wedi dod i ben gyda phenderfyniad y Prif Weinidog, gobeithiaf y gwelwn ddatblygiad llawer ehangach ar y system drafnidiaeth integredig y mae arnom ei hangen yn awr ar frys.
Felly, croesawaf ymrwymiadau'r Prif Weinidog i sicrhau y bydd arbenigwyr ar drafnidiaeth yn dod o hyd i atebion buan i broblem tagfeydd o amgylch Casnewydd ac y bydd hyn yn cael blaenoriaeth o ran yr arian sy'n mynd i gael ei ryddhau oherwydd mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn gwario gwerth am arian. Gwyddom fod llinell reilffordd, fesul cilomedr, yn costio tua'r un faint â thraffordd ond mae'n cario rhwng wyth ac 20 gwaith yn fwy o bobl. Sylweddolaf fod rheilffyrdd yn cymryd amser i gael eu had-drefnu, ond mae angen inni wneud gwell defnydd o'r ffyrdd presennol yn gyflymach. Mae gan draffyrdd eraill ym Mhrydain lonydd bysiau penodedig mewn ardaloedd trefol, a gobeithio y bydd yr arbenigwyr yn ystyried hynny.
Mae prif lwybrau eraill i mewn i ddinasoedd fel Bryste yn cyfyngu ar y defnydd o un lôn gyda blaenoriaeth i gerbydau sydd ag o leiaf dau berson ynddynt, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn annog rhannu ceir. A sylwaf fod Tudalen 58 o adroddiad yr arolygydd yn cadarnhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi defnyddio data ffonau symudol i lywio'r rhagamcanion traffig sydd o'n blaenau. Rwy'n gobeithio, felly, y gallwn gomisiynu rhyw hanner dwsin i ddwsin o fysiau trydan cyflym y gwyddom sydd ar gael bellach er mwyn sicrhau bod y sawl sydd fel arfer yn teithio ar y lonydd i gyrraedd y gwaith ac yn achosi tagfeydd ar yr M4 ar hyn o bryd yn gallu teithio ar fws cyflym yn lle hynny.
Llywydd, I thank the Member for recognising the complexity of the decision. I agree with her that there's more work that we can do in relation to data and use of data, and that would allow us to do some of the detailed work that would be necessary to underpin some of the alternative proposals. And I thank Jenny Rathbone, as I have other Members around the Chamber, for being willing to put forward those alternative ideas, so that the work of the commission can begin immediately, by drawing on the range of possibilities that have been identified here, as well as the ones that were rehearsed in front of the public inquiry.
Llywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelod am gydnabod cymhlethdod y penderfyniad. Rwy'n cytuno â hi fod mwy o waith y gallwn ei wneud o ran data a defnyddio data, a byddai hynny'n caniatáu inni wneud rhywfaint o'r gwaith manwl a fyddai'n angenrheidiol i ategu rhai o'r cynigion amgen. Ac rwy'n diolch i Jenny Rathbone, fel y gwnes i Aelodau eraill o gwmpas y Siambr, am fod yn barod i gyflwyno'r syniadau amgen hynny, fel y gall gwaith y comisiwn ddechrau ar unwaith, drwy dynnu ar yr ystod o bosibiliadau sydd wedi'u nodi yma, yn ogystal â'r rhai a drafodwyd o flaen yr ymchwiliad cyhoeddus.
Ac yn olaf, Alun Davies.
And finally, Alun Davies.
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Like other Members this afternoon, First Minister, I would like to welcome your statement today and welcome the decision. I think many of us have had great concerns about the proposals of a black route for many years, for many different reasons. My own concerns centred not only around the environmental impacts, which would have been quite horrific across the Gwent levels, but also on the very narrow range of economic benefits. When I read of the Welsh Government's economic analysis of the black route a few years ago now, it was very, very clear that the economic benefits were restricted to a relatively narrow band across the M4 itself and wouldn't have any wider economic benefits for the regions as a whole. In fact, my reading of the economic analysis demonstrated that Bristol would benefit more than Blaenau Gwent from this investment by the Welsh Government.
Now, what I'm anxious to understand this afternoon, First Minister, is: in moving ahead, we certainly need to move forward with an urgency and set a very fast tempo for moving forward with alternative solutions. Can we ensure that the economic benefits, the wider economic benefits, are also taken into consideration when assessing alternatives to the black route? It is important, and we've seen this in recent years—a real differential in economic activity rates between the Glamorgan Valleys and the Gwent Valleys, where the Glamorgan Valleys have benefited from Cardiff and the success of Cardiff as an economic driver of growth, and where the Gwent Valleys have seen very limited levels of growth as a consequence of issues around infrastructure and other matters around Newport and parts of the M4 corridor. If we are going to invest—and I hope we will be investing the full budget in this region—then it is important that we have the maximum benefit for the maximum number of people as a consequence of that investment. So, in taking decisions, First Minister, I hope that you and the economy Minister will take into account the economic impacts of the investment that's being made in this infrastructure.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Fel Aelodau eraill y prynhawn yma, Prif Weinidog, hoffwn groesawu eich datganiad heddiw a chroesawu'r penderfyniad. Credaf fod llawer ohonom ni wedi bod yn bryderus iawn am y cynigion o lwybr du ers blynyddoedd lawer, am nifer o resymau gwahanol. Roedd a wnelo fy mhryderon fy hun nid yn unig â'r effeithiau amgylcheddol, a fyddai wedi bod yn eithaf erchyll ar draws gwastadeddau Gwent, ond hefyd ar yr ystod gul iawn o fuddion economaidd. Pan ddarllenais am ddadansoddiad economaidd Llywodraeth Cymru o'r llwybr du ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl bellach, roedd hi'n amlwg iawn, iawn, fod y manteision economaidd wedi'u cyfyngu i lain gymharol gul ar draws yr M4 ei hun ac na fyddai'n dod ag unrhyw fanteision economaidd ehangach i'r rhanbarthau yn gyffredinol. Yn wir, o'm darlleniad i o'r dadansoddiad economaidd, byddai Bryste'n elwa mwy na Blaenau Gwent o'r buddsoddiad hwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
Nawr, yr hyn rwy'n awyddus i'w ddeall y prynhawn yma, Prif Weinidog, yw: wrth symud ymlaen, yn sicr mae angen inni symud ymlaen ar frys a gosod tempo cyflym iawn ar gyfer symud ymlaen gydag atebion eraill. A allwn ni sicrhau bod y manteision economaidd, y manteision economaidd ehangach, hefyd yn cael eu hystyried wrth asesu dewisiadau amgen i'r llwybr du? Mae hi yn bwysig, ac rydym ni wedi gweld hyn yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf—gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol mewn cyfraddau gweithgarwch economaidd rhwng Cymoedd Morgannwg a Chymoedd Gwent, lle mae Cymoedd Morgannwg wedi elwa ar Gaerdydd a llwyddiant Caerdydd fel sbardun economaidd i dwf, a lle mae Cymoedd Gwent wedi gweld lefelau cyfyngedig iawn o dwf o ganlyniad i faterion yn ymwneud â seilwaith a materion eraill o amgylch Casnewydd a rhannau o goridor yr M4. Os ydym yn mynd i fuddsoddi—ac rwyf yn gobeithio y byddwn yn buddsoddi'r gyllideb lawn yn y rhanbarth hwn—yna mae'n bwysig inni gael y budd mwyaf posib i'r nifer fwyaf o bobl o ganlyniad i'r buddsoddiad hwnnw. Felly, wrth wneud penderfyniadau, Prif Weinidog, rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch chi a Gweinidog yr Economi yn ystyried effeithiau economaidd y buddsoddiad sy'n cael ei wneud yn y seilwaith hwn.
Llywydd, can I thank the Member, because he's made a point that hasn't been raised otherwise in the discussion and it's an important one? I agree with him—I think the investment that will be made around Newport will still be, with these alternative mitigating measures, one of the largest investments in solving a problem that has faced any part of Wales, and it is absolutely right that there must be the widest possible economic benefit from that very significant investment that will be made. And the commission will certainly look at the wider impacts of the different investment propositions that it will put to Government. It will do so now within a regional economic development approach that we have developed here in Wales that I think will help answer the question that the Member has raised as to how the money that will be spent at that point around Newport will have that wider economic benefit further up the Gwent area. And it's why, around the table of the commission, we will have voices that will help to make sure that exactly that wider benefit is driven out from the very significant investment that will now be made.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i'r Aelod, oherwydd mae wedi gwneud sylw nad yw wedi ei wneud fel arall yn y drafodaeth ac mae'n un pwysig? Rwy'n cytuno ag ef—credaf y bydd y buddsoddiad a wneir o amgylch Casnewydd yn dal i fod, gyda'r mesurau lliniaru eraill hyn, yn un o'r buddsoddiadau mwyaf i ddatrys problem sydd wedi wynebu unrhyw ran o Gymru, ac mae'n gwbl briodol bod yn rhaid cael y budd economaidd ehangaf posib o'r buddsoddiad sylweddol hwnnw a wneir. A bydd y Comisiwn yn sicr yn edrych ar effeithiau ehangach y gwahanol gynigion buddsoddi y bydd yn eu cyflwyno i'r Llywodraeth. Bydd yn gwneud hynny nawr o fewn dull datblygu economaidd rhanbarthol a ddatblygwyd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru a fydd, fe gredaf, yn helpu i ateb y cwestiwn a holodd yr Aelod ynghylch sut y bydd yr arian a werir ar y pwynt hwnnw o amgylch Casnewydd yn cael y budd economi ehangach yna ymhellach i fyny ardal Gwent. A dyna pam, o amgylch bwrdd y Comisiwn, y bydd gennym ni leisiau a fydd yn helpu i sicrhau y ceir yr union fudd ehangach hwnnw o'r buddsoddiad sylweddol iawn a gaiff ei wneud nawr.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Brexit ar y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am Brexit. Dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog a'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol, Jeremy Miles.
The next item is a statement by the Counsel General and Brexit Minister—an update on Brexit. I call on the Minister and Counsel General, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ddiwedd fis Ebrill, wnes i ddatganiad yn croesawu penderfyniad y cyfarfod eithriadol o'r Cyngor Ewropeaidd i gytuno ar estyniad i erthygl 50. Fel sawl un arall, roeddwn i'n teimlo rhyddhad fod y penderfyniad wedi ei atal, am y tro, o leiaf, y posibilrwydd o Brexit heb gytundeb a'r anhrefn a ddeuai yn ei sgil. Ond roeddwn i'n glir iawn hefyd, er bod yr estyniad i erthygl 50 i'w groesawu, fod peryglon sylweddol ynghlwm wrth hynny. Soniais i am y risg na fyddem ni, yn ystod y chwe mis hynny, yn gweld camau pendant ymlaen, ond yn hytrach y byddai'r Senedd yn San Steffan yn parhau i droi yn ei hunfan. Erbyn heddiw, y gwir digalon amdani yw bod yr ofnau hynny wedi eu gwireddu. Mewn ychydig wythnosau, mae fel petai popeth wedi newid.
Thank you, Llywydd. At the end of April, I made a statement welcoming the decision of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council to agree to an extension to the article 50 deadline. Like many, I was relieved that the decision had averted, at that moment, at least, the prospect of a chaotic 'no deal' Brexit. But I was also very clear that, however welcome the article 50 extension was, it also entailed considerable dangers. I mentioned the risk that, during that six months, rather than making decisive progress, the Parliament in Westminster would continue to be in stasis. As I stand here today, the bleak reality is that these fears have been realised. In just a few short weeks, it’s as though everything has changed.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
The negotiations between the Government and the opposition have broken down, destroyed by the jockeying for prominence of would-be Conservative leaders, and we know that there is no appetite in the parliamentary Conservative Party for a form of Brexit that we had consistently advocated, one that retains participation in the single market and a customs union.
The Prime Minister is quitting and her deal is in tatters. It seems inevitable, given the bizarre process and the wholly unrepresentative electorate that will provide us with her successor, that in July we will have a Prime Minister who will demand, in a show of bravado, if nothing else, that the EU-27 reopens negotiations of the withdrawal agreement. This will be rejected, and the Government will set a course to a 'no deal' Brexit. Llywydd, it is incredible that a new Prime Minister, without any public mandate, could willingly preside over the UK crashing out of the EU with no deal. But it is also clear that there is no national consensus over the way forward and little support for a soft Brexit as a way of squaring the circle. We sought to reconcile the result of the 2016 referendum with the least damaging kind of Brexit, but that effort has now reached the end of the road.
The European elections have shown that the electorate remains profoundly divided, and, indeed, the split has widened, with many of those who voted for Brexit in the 2016 referendum now supporting no deal, and many, probably a majority, wanting us to remain within the European Union. Faced by this sort of binary choice, we are clear that, almost three years on from the referendum, and more than two years after we put forward 'Securing Wales’ Future', we as a Government must recognise these realities and change course.
In doing so, we make no apology for the policy that we and Plaid Cymru put forward in January 2017. It was an honest attempt to articulate a way of respecting the referendum result while not trashing the economy, recognising that the economic fall-out from a hard Brexit would only intensify, rather than solve, the problems caused by austerity—the austerity that, with the sense of being left out, played such a big part in motivating people to vote 'leave' in communities across Wales.
In publishing the White Paper, we were clear that no form of Brexit would be as good for the jobs and livelihoods of people in Wales as remaining within the European Union. And we were also clear that delivering Brexit required a trade-off between political influence and economic prosperity. But time has moved on, the UK Government has wasted more than two years in trying and failing to bodge together a deal that could conceal the inherent contradictions set out in the Prime Minister’s red lines. The ongoing uncertainty is untenable. The Confederation of British Industry has said that the current political situation with regard to EU exit is a 'crushing disaster' for business in the UK, with investor confidence at the lowest since the financial crash a decade ago. This is not some abstract debate; there are real-world impacts for the people of Wales, with lost opportunities and job losses.
So, as a Government, we will now campaign to remain in the EU. And to make that happen, Parliament should now show the courage to admit it is deadlocked and legislate for a referendum, with 'remain' on the ballot paper. We have been calling for months for the UK Government to make preparations in case a referendum should be necessary. Now Parliament must make sure that it happens.
Let me be completely clear: any deal will require a new mandate from the electorate, and leaving without a deal must require one also. And, of course, any referendum must include remaining in the EU as an option. We have always argued that holding a further referendum risks reinforcing divisions, but the European elections have shown that any belief that the country has come together is wholly illusory. And, of course, there is the chance that a second referendum might lead to the same result as the first. But we will campaign to remain, and we will work with those within this Chamber and outside who share that view.
Mae'r negodiadau rhwng y Llywodraeth a'r wrthblaid wedi methu, wedi'u dinistrio gan yr ymgiprys am amlygrwydd gan y rhai sy'n dyheu am arwain y Ceidwadwyr, ac fe wyddom ni nad oes unrhyw awydd yn y Blaid Geidwadol seneddol am y fath o Brexit y buom ni'n ei hybu'n gyson, un sy'n galw am barhau i fod yn rhan o'r farchnad sengl ac undeb tollau.
Mae'r Prif Weinidog yn rhoi'r gorau iddi ac mae ei chytundeb yn deilchion. Mae'n ymddangos yn anochel, o gofio'r broses ryfedd a'r etholwyr cwbl anghynrychioladol a fydd yn rhoi ei holynydd inni, y bydd gennym ni Brif Weinidog ym mis Gorffennaf a fydd yn mynnu, mewn sioe o ryfyg, os dim byd arall, y bydd y 27 aelod o'r UE yn ailagor eu trafodaethau ar y cytundeb ymadael. Caiff hyn ei wrthod, a bydd y Llywodraeth yn paratoi'r ffordd ar gyfer cael Brexit heb gytundeb. Llywydd, mae'n anhygoel y gallai Prif Weinidog newydd, heb fandad cyhoeddus, fod yn barod i lywyddu dros y DU yn chwalu o'r UE heb gytundeb. Ond mae'n amlwg hefyd nad oes consensws cenedlaethol ynghylch y ffordd ymlaen ac ychydig o gefnogaeth i Brexit meddal fel ffordd o wneud yr hyn sy'n amhosibl ei gyflawni. Fe wnaethom ni geisio cysoni canlyniad refferendwm 2016 gyda'r math lleiaf niweidiol o Brexit, ond mae'r ymdrech honno bellach wedi cyrraedd pen y ffordd.
Mae'r etholiadau Ewropeaidd wedi dangos bod yr etholwyr yn rhanedig iawn o hyd, ac, yn wir, bod y rhaniad wedi ymledu, gyda llawer o'r rhai a bleidleisiodd o blaid Brexit yn refferendwm 2016 bellach yn cefnogi dim cytundeb, a llawer, mwyafrif mae'n debyg, eisiau inni aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Yn wyneb y math hwn o ddewis deuaidd, rydym ni'n glir, bron dair blynedd ar ôl y refferendwm, a mwy na dwy flynedd ar ôl inni gyflwyno 'Diogelu Dyfodol Cymru', fod yn rhaid i ni fel Llywodraeth gydnabod y gwirioneddau hyn a newid cwrs.
Wrth wneud hynny, nid ydym ni'n ymddiheuro o gwbl am y polisi a gyflwynwyd gennym ni a Phlaid Cymru ym mis Ionawr 2017. Roedd yn ymgais onest i gyfleu ffordd o barchu canlyniad y refferendwm heb chwalu'r economi, gan gydnabod y byddai'r cwymp economaidd yn sgil Brexit caled dim ond yn dwysáu, yn hytrach na datrys, y problemau a achoswyd gan gyni—y cyni a fu, gyda'r ymdeimlad o gael eich eithrio, a chwaraeodd ran mor fawr yn cymell pobl i bleidleisio 'gadael' mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru.
Wrth gyhoeddi'r Papur Gwyn, roeddem yn glir na fyddai unrhyw fath o Brexit gystal ar gyfer swyddi a bywoliaethau pobl Cymru ag aros yn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Ac roeddem ni hefyd yn glir bod angen cyfaddawd rhwng dylanwad gwleidyddol a ffyniant economaidd er mwyn cyflawni Brexit. Ond mae amser wedi treiglo, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwastraffu mwy na dwy flynedd yn ceisio ac yn methu llunio cytundeb a allai guddio'r gwrthddywediadau cynhenid a nodwyd yn safbwyntiau digyfaddawd y Prif Weinidog. Mae'r ansicrwydd parhaus yn anghynaliadwy. Mae Cydffederasiwn Diwydiant Prydain wedi dweud bod y sefyllfa wleidyddol bresennol o ran gadael yr UE yn drychineb sy'n gwasgu ar fusnesau yn y DU, gyda hyder buddsoddwyr ar ei isaf ers y chwalfa ariannol ddegawd yn ôl. Nid rhyw ddadl haniaethol yw hon; mae effeithiau gwirioneddol i bobl Cymru, gyda cholli cyfleoedd a swyddi.
Felly, fel Llywodraeth, byddwn yn awr yn ymgyrchu i aros yn yr UE. Ac er mwyn sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd, dylai Senedd San Steffan nawr ddangos y dewrder i gyfaddef ei bod mewn merddwr a deddfu ar gyfer refferendwm, gydag 'aros' ar y papur pleidleisio. Rydym ni wedi bod yn galw ers misoedd ar i Lywodraeth y DU wneud paratoadau rhag ofn y byddai angen refferendwm. Nawr rhaid i'r Senedd wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n digwydd.
Gadewch imi fod yn hollol glir: bydd unrhyw gytundeb yn gofyn am fandad newydd gan yr etholwyr, ac mae'n rhaid i'r angen am adael heb gytundeb gael un hefyd. Ac, wrth gwrs, rhaid i unrhyw refferendwm gynnwys aros yn yr UE fel dewis. Rydym ni bob amser wedi dadlau bod perygl y bydd cynnal refferendwm arall yn atgyfnerthu rhaniadau, ond mae'r etholiadau Ewropeaidd wedi dangos bod unrhyw gred bod y wlad wedi dod ynghyd yn gwbl ledrithiol. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae siawns y gallai ail refferendwm arwain at yr un canlyniad â'r cyntaf. Ond byddwn yn ymgyrchu i aros, a byddwn yn gweithio gyda'r rheini yn y Siambr hon a'r tu allan sy'n rhannu'r farn honno.
In the meantime, we must continue our preparations for the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal at the end of October. Since the extension was agreed in April, we have been taking the opportunity to review the preparations that we made as the anticipated departure date neared in April. It is important that we take stock and think about how best to build on all the valuable work done across the public sector and beyond. It remains the case that it is not possible to mitigate fully the impacts of a 'no deal' exit on Wales, either in the short or in the long term. There is simply no measure that could fully counteract the effects of a lurch into trading under World Trade Organization rules. The imposition of tariffs and the potential for delays and blockages at ports because of customs checks are an inevitable consequence of leaving the European Union without a deal.
The UK Government’s own paper in February of this year, setting out the implications for business and trade of leaving the EU without a deal, conceded that the UK economy would be 6.3 to 9 per cent smaller in the long term in a 'no deal' scenario than it otherwise would have been when compared with today. Alarmingly, in Wales it would be 8.1 per cent smaller. Law enforcement experts have made it clear that the UK will be a less safe place if the UK leaves without a deal.
So, we want to make sure that our preparations are as robust as possible. Overall, I am pleased to say that reflections on previous preparations are positive. We had robust governance structures in place that provided effective co-ordination and decision-making. We established sound structures for engagement with the wider public sector—indeed, the Wales Audit Office noted in their report that the Welsh Government had provided leadership in this area. Where expenditure on no deal has been required, we have sought to ensure that, as far as possible, it was in line with wider strategic aims and ideally would be beneficial in the event of no deal or otherwise.
We've given the UK Government our reflections on UK-wide preparations. While we did see improvements in information sharing and the same type of central co-ordination that we had in Wales, it came too late. It is also important that the relationships and structures that have been built up do not deteriorate. So, building on these reflections, we are revisiting our planning and preparations to ensure that they are as robust as possible, considering, in particular, whether any of our underpinning assumptions need to change. For example, we've been considering the implications of a potential leave date in the autumn instead of the spring, such as the different patterns of imports and exports and the availability of storage capacity.
The health and well-being of the people of Wales remains our top priority and we will continue to do our utmost to secure access to medicines and security of food supplies. We will continue to support businesses in all sectors of the economy through advice provided by the Business Wales Brexit portal and financial support through the Brexit business resilience fund, the economy futures fund and the Development Bank of Wales. And we will continue to press the UK Government so that Wales does not lose a penny of funding.
We continue to strike a balance to ensure we allocate resources on 'no deal' preparations appropriately and proportionately, whilst continuing to deliver other priorities and also to prepare to ensure that Wales’s interests are reflected in any future negotiations. But with the current parliamentary impasse, the lack of any consensus about a way forward, and the prospect of a hard Brexiteer leading the Conservative Party and the country, the threat of no deal remains very real, and so we must prepare for it.
Dirprwy Lywydd, I would encourage all businesses and organisations across Wales to do the same. Of course, we fully recognise the challenge of devoting scarce resources to planning for something that may not happen, but the risk of ignoring the threat of no deal is very great. It is simply not enough to now take the chance that Parliament or the EU will put a stop to it at the last minute, once again. We provide advice and guidance through our Preparing Wales website—Paratoi Cymru—which is regularly updated with support for the people of Wales. Businesses can access financial support and advice about trading through uncertain times on the Business Wales website, including the Brexit portal, and through the Development Bank of Wales. We have now identified a number of simple, low-cost actions to help businesses prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit and which will be useful for their businesses anyway, and those details are now available on Paratoi Cymru.
Dirprwy Lywydd, we are facing the real and ongoing threat of a disorganised Brexit. Against a backdrop of real uncertainty, we are taking action where it lies within our power to make sure that Wales is prepared. As a responsible Government, safeguarding the interests of the people of Wales will always be our absolute priority.
Yn y cyfamser, rhaid inni barhau â'n paratoadau ar gyfer y posibilrwydd o adael yr UE heb gytundeb ddiwedd mis Hydref. Ers cytuno ar yr estyniad ym mis Ebrill, rydym ni wedi bod yn achub ar y cyfle i adolygu'r paratoadau a wnaethom ni wrth i'r dyddiad ymadael disgwyliedig agosáu ym mis Ebrill. Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn pwyso a mesur ac yn ystyried y ffordd orau o adeiladu ar yr holl waith gwerthfawr sy'n cael ei wneud ar draws y sector cyhoeddus a thu hwnt. Mae'n parhau'n wir nad oes modd lliniaru'n llawn ar effeithiau gadael heb gytundeb ar Gymru, naill ai yn y tymor byr neu yn yr hirdymor. Nid oes unrhyw fesur a allai wrthweithio'n llwyr effeithiau dechrau masnachu o dan reolau Sefydliad Masnach y Byd. Mae gosod tariffau a'r potensial ar gyfer oedi a rhwystrau mewn porthladdoedd oherwydd gwiriadau tollau yn ganlyniad anochel o adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd heb gytundeb.
Cyfaddefodd papur Llywodraeth y DU ei hun ym mis Chwefror eleni, a oedd yn nodi'r goblygiadau i fusnes a masnach o adael yr UE heb gytundeb, y byddai economi'r DU yn 6.3 i 9 y cant yn llai yn y tymor hir mewn sefyllfa o 'ddim cytundeb' nag y byddai wedi bod fel arall o'i gymharu â heddiw. Yn frawychus, yng Nghymru, byddai'n 8.1 y cant yn llai. Mae arbenigwyr gorfodi'r gyfraith wedi'i gwneud hi'n glir y bydd y DU yn lle llai diogel os bydd y DU yn gadael heb gytundeb.
Felly, rydym ni eisiau sicrhau bod ein paratoadau mor gadarn â phosib. Yn gyffredinol, rwy'n falch o ddweud bod myfyrdodau ar baratoadau blaenorol yn gadarnhaol. Roedd gennym ni strwythurau llywodraethu cadarn ar waith a oedd yn darparu gwaith cydgysylltu a gwneud penderfyniadau effeithiol. Sefydlwyd strwythurau cadarn gennym ni ar gyfer ymgysylltu â'r sector cyhoeddus ehangach—yn wir, nododd Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru yn ei hadroddiad fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu arweiniad yn y maes hwn. Lle bu'n rhaid gwario ar y posibilrwydd o adael heb gytundeb, rydym ni wedi ceisio sicrhau, cyn belled ag y bo modd, y bu hynny yn unol â'r nodau strategol ehangach ac, yn ddelfrydol, y byddai'n fuddiol os na fyddai cytundeb, neu fel arall.
Rydym ni wedi cyflwyno ein meddyliau i Lywodraeth y DU o ran paratoadau ar gyfer y DU gyfan. Er i ni weld gwelliannau o ran rhannu gwybodaeth a'r un math o gydgysylltu canolog a oedd gennym ni yng Nghymru, daeth yn rhy hwyr. Mae hefyd yn bwysig nad yw'r perthnasau a'r strwythurau a grëwyd yn dirywio. Felly, gan adeiladu ar y sylwadau hyn, rydym ni'n ailedrych ar ein gwaith cynllunio a'n paratoadau er mwyn sicrhau eu bod mor gadarn â phosib, gan ystyried, yn benodol, a oes angen i unrhyw un o'n tybiaethau sylfaenol newid. Er enghraifft, rydym ni wedi bod yn ystyried goblygiadau dyddiad ymadael posib yn yr hydref yn lle'r gwanwyn, fel y gwahanol batrymau o fewnforion ac allforion a'r capasiti storio sydd ar gael.
Iechyd a lles pobl Cymru yw ein prif flaenoriaeth o hyd a byddwn yn parhau i wneud ein gorau glas i sicrhau bod meddyginiaethau ar gael a bod cyflenwadau bwyd yn ddiogel. Byddwn yn parhau i gefnogi busnesau ym mhob sector o'r economi drwy'r cyngor a roddir gan borth Brexit Busnes Cymru a chymorth ariannol drwy gronfa cydnerthedd busnesau Brexit, cronfa dyfodol yr economi a Banc Datblygu Cymru. A byddwn yn parhau i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU fel na fydd Cymru'n colli ceiniog o gyllid.
Rydym yn dal i gael cydbwysedd er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn dyrannu adnoddau ar baratoadau 'dim cytundeb' yn briodol ac yn gymesur, gan barhau i gyflawni blaenoriaethau eraill a hefyd i baratoi i sicrhau y caiff buddiannau Cymru eu hystyried mewn unrhyw drafodaethau yn y dyfodol. Ond gyda'r cyfyngder Seneddol presennol, diffyg unrhyw gonsensws ynglŷn â ffordd ymlaen, a'r posibilrwydd y bydd Brexitwr digyfaddawd yn arwain y Blaid Geidwadol a'r wlad, mae'r bygythiad o ddim cytundeb yn dal yn real iawn, ac felly mae'n rhaid i ni baratoi ar ei gyfer.
Dirprwy Lywydd, byddwn yn annog pob busnes a sefydliad ledled Cymru i wneud yr un fath. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n cydnabod yn llawn yr her o neilltuo adnoddau prin i gynllunio ar gyfer rhywbeth na fydd o bosib yn digwydd, ond mae'r risg o anwybyddu bygythiad dim cytundeb yn fawr iawn. Yn syml, nid yw'n ddigon i fanteisio nawr ar y posibilrwydd y bydd y Senedd neu'r UE yn rhoi terfyn arno ar y funud olaf, unwaith eto. Rydym ni'n darparu cyngor ac arweiniad drwy ein gwefan—Paratoi Cymru—sy'n cael ei diweddaru'n rheolaidd gyda chefnogaeth i bobl Cymru. Gall busnesau gael cymorth ariannol a chyngor am fasnachu drwy gyfnodau ansicr ar wefan Busnes Cymru, gan gynnwys y Porth Brexit, a thrwy Fanc Datblygu Cymru. Rydym ni bellach wedi nodi nifer o gamau syml, cost-isel i helpu busnesau i baratoi am Brexit 'dim cytundeb' ac a fydd yn ddefnyddiol i'w busnesau beth bynnag, ac mae'r manylion hynny ar gael yn awr ar Paratoi Cymru.
Dirprwy Lywydd, rydym ni'n wynebu'r bygythiad gwirioneddol a pharhaus o Brexit anhrefnus. Yn erbyn cefndir o ansicrwydd gwirioneddol, rydym ni'n gweithredu lle mae gennym ni'r gallu i sicrhau bod Cymru'n barod. Fel Llywodraeth gyfrifol, diogelu buddiannau pobl Cymru fydd ein prif flaenoriaeth bob amser.
Thank you. Darren Millar.
Diolch. Darren Millar.