Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
28/01/2020Cynnwys
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 Aelodau i drefn. Cyn cychwyn y prynhawn yma, hoffwn i groesawu'r ddirprwyaeth seneddol o'r Maldives, sy'n ymweld â'r Senedd heddiw. Felly, croeso i chi o'r Maldives.
I call the Members to order. Before starting this afternoon, I would like to welcome the parliamentary delegation from the Maldives, who are visiting the Senedd today. So, welcome to you from the Maldives.
Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog yw'r eitem gyntaf, felly, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Angela Burns.
Questions to the First Minister is the first item, and the first question is from Angela Burns.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i leihau nifer y bobl sy'n smygu yng Nghymru? OAQ55018
1. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to reduce the number of people smoking in Wales? OAQ55018
I thank Angela Burns for that question, Llywydd.
We remain committed to reducing the percentage of the Welsh population who smoke to 16 per cent by the end of this calendar year. A post-2020 tobacco control plan is in preparation, deploying all evidence-based techniques to help achieve a tobacco-free Wales.
Diolchaf i Angela Burns am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd.
Rydym ni'n dal i fod wedi ymrwymo i ostwng y ganran o boblogaeth Cymru sy'n smygu i 16 y cant erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn galendr hon. Mae cynllun rheoli tybaco ar ôl 2020 yn cael ei baratoi, gan ddefnyddio'r holl dechnegau seiliedig ar dystiolaeth i helpu i sicrhau Cymru ddi-dybaco.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. And, undoubtedly, Wales has led the UK in banning smoking in public places, which is very welcome. However, 13 years on, latest figures still show that we're failing to address smoking in young people and expectant mothers. Across Wales, 9 per cent of 15 to 16-year-olds smoke, and 30 per cent of teenage mums smoke. Thirty per cent of mums aged between 16 and 19 are smokers at their baby's birth. Now, this obviously has a long-term impact on them, and, of course, their child. And one of the things I've discovered is that not all maternity services have dedicated stop smoking services. Those that do have them have shown a very high success rate. And we have to recognise that teenage mums in particular are very vulnerable to pressures such as body image, they want a tiny baby, there are a lack of role models, and, of course, the demographics sometimes fight against them. And we also know that if children see people smoking around them, they're much more likely to take up smoking.
So, I wondered if you could just outline for me what the Welsh Government could do to ensure that the best practice that does exist where there's a midwife-led stop smoking cessation service in a midwifery unit is spread across Wales, and we can have more midwives that can lead this kind of practice in order to try to cut down on the rates of teenage smoking.
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Ac nid oes amheuaeth bod Cymru wedi arwain y DU trwy wahardd smygu mewn mannau cyhoeddus, sydd i'w groesawu'n fawr. Fodd bynnag, 13 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn dal i ddangos ein bod ni'n methu â mynd i'r afael â smygu ymhlith pobl ifanc a mamau beichiog. Ledled Cymru, mae 9 y cant o bobl ifanc 15 i 16 oed yn smygu, ac mae 30 y cant o famau yn eu harddegau yn smygu. Mae tri deg y cant o famau rhwng 16 a 19 oed yn smygwyr pan fydd ar adeg geni eu babanod. Nawr, mae hyn yn amlwg yn cael effaith hirdymor arnyn nhw, ac, wrth gwrs, ar eu plentyn. Ac un o'r pethau yr wyf i wedi eu darganfod yw nad oes gan bob gwasanaeth mamolaeth wasanaethau rhoi'r gorau i smygu penodol. Mae'r rhai sydd â gwasanaethau o'r fath wedi dangos cyfraddau llwyddiant uchel iawn. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod bod mamau yn eu harddegau yn arbennig yn agored iawn i bwysau fel delwedd y corff, maen nhw eisiau cael babi bach iawn, mae diffyg esiampl, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r ddemograffeg yn brwydro yn eu herbyn weithiau. Ac rydym ni hefyd yn gwybod os yw plant yn gweld pobl yn smygu o'u cwmpas, eu bod nhw'n llawer mwy tebygol o ddechrau smygu.
Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allech chi amlinellu i mi yr hyn y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau bod yr arfer gorau sy'n bodoli lle ceir gwasanaeth rhoi'r gorau i smygu dan arweiniad bydwragedd mewn uned fydwreigiaeth yn cael ei ledaenu ar draws Cymru, ac y gallwn ni gael mwy o fydwragedd sy'n gallu arwain y math hwn o arfer er mwyn ceisio gostwng cyfraddau smygu ymhlith pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau.
Llywydd, I thank Angela Burns for those supplementary questions. She is right that there is a continuing challenge to reduce the proportion of young women who become pregnant and who carry on smoking. The figures have to be treated with just a small degree of caution, because the percentage is a factor of the fact that the number of teenage pregnancies has fallen so rapidly during the devolution era. So, in the year 2000, there were 495 young women under the age of 16 who became pregnant in Wales, and in 2017, the last year for which we have figures, it was down to 144. And that's a dramatic decline. And amongst the 144, there is a concentration of young people who have particular difficulties and challenges, then, in persuading people to give up smoking.
But the range of services that are there in the NHS are designed to try and make sure that there isn't just one approach. In-hospital services work very well for some young people, but other young people definitely, we know, prefer to use pharmacy-based services, partly because it can be more anonymous; you'd rather go where you weren't so visible to other people. Specially trained midwives have a very important part to play in working with young people in particular, and then working directly with young people is important as well. So, in Pembrokeshire, in the Member's own area, Hywel Dda is doing a particular piece of work with young people who are smokers, trying to learn from them about the things that they would find most effective as forms of intervention to enable them to give up smoking, and that work is going on alongside primary care clusters and specialist midwives.
Llywydd, hoffwn ddiolch i Angela Burns am y cwestiynau atodol yna. Mae hi'n iawn bod her barhaus i leihau'r gyfran o fenywod ifanc sy'n beichiogi ac yn parhau i smygu. Mae'n rhaid trin y ffigurau gyda dim ond rhyw fymryn o bwyll, oherwydd mae'r ganran yn ffactor o'r ffaith bod nifer y merched yn eu harddegau sy'n beichiogi wedi gostwng mor gyflym yn ystod y cyfnod datganoli. Felly, yn y flwyddyn 2000, roedd 495 o fenywod ifanc dan 16 oed a ddaeth yn feichiog yng Nghymru, ac yn 2017, y flwyddyn ddiwethaf y mae gennym ni ffigurau ar ei chyfer, roedd i lawr i 144. Ac mae hwnnw'n ostyngiad dramatig. Ac ymhlith y 144, ceir crynhoad o bobl ifanc sydd ag anawsterau a heriau penodol, wedyn, o ran perswadio pobl i roi'r gorau i smygu.
Ond mae'r amrywiaeth o wasanaethau sydd ar gael yn y GIG wedi'u cynllunio i geisio gwneud yn siŵr nad un dull yn unig sydd ar gael. Mae gwasanaethau yn yr ysbyty yn gweithio'n dda iawn i rai pobl ifanc, ond mae'n well gan bobl ifanc eraill yn bendant, fe wyddom, ddefnyddio gwasanaethau fferyllol, yn rhannol gan y gall hynny fod yn fwy anhysbys; byddai'n well gennych chi fynd lle nad oeddech chi mor weladwy i bobl eraill. Mae gan fydwragedd sydd wedi'u hyfforddi'n arbennig ran bwysig i'w chwarae o ran gweithio gyda phobl ifanc yn arbennig, ac yna mae gweithio'n uniongyrchol gyda phobl ifanc yn bwysig hefyd. Felly, yn Sir Benfro, yn ardal yr Aelod ei hun, mae Hywel Dda yn gwneud darn penodol o waith gyda phobl ifanc sy'n smygu, gan geisio dysgu ganddyn nhw am y pethau a fyddai fwyaf effeithiol iddyn nhw fel dulliau ymyrraeth i'w galluogi i roi'r gorau i smygu, ac mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo ochr yn ochr â chlystyrau gofal sylfaenol a bydwragedd arbenigol.
Thankfully, we've made progress in reducing the numbers smoking in Wales, First Minister, but it still takes a terrible toll on health in Wales, and particularly regarding people living in poverty. I do believe it's important that we make it more and more socially unacceptable to smoke in Wales, and the ban on smoking in enclosed public places has been a big part of that. A recent Action on Smoking and Health survey showed 59 per cent of respondents in favour of a ban on smoking in city and town centres. Is that something Welsh Government would consider in terms of making further progress?
Yn ffodus, rydym ni wedi gwneud cynnydd o ran lleihau'r niferoedd sy'n smygu yng Nghymru, Prif Weinidog, ond mae'n dal i gael effaith ofnadwy ar iechyd yng Nghymru, ac yn enwedig o ran pobl sy'n byw mewn tlodi. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni'n ei gwneud yn fwyfwy annerbyniol yn gymdeithasol i smygu yng Nghymru, ac mae'r gwaharddiad ar smygu mewn mannau cyhoeddus caeedig wedi bod yn rhan fawr o hynny. Dangosodd arolwg Action on Smoking and Health diweddar bod 59 y cant o ymatebwyr o blaid gwahardd smygu yng nghanol dinasoedd a threfi. A yw hynny'n rhywbeth y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ystyried o ran gwneud cynnydd pellach?
I thank John Griffiths for that, and I completely agree with him—it was a point made by Angela Burns as well—that social acceptability of smoking leads to young people, in particular, becoming smokers. We have seen a huge cultural shift in the last 20 or 30 years in social acceptability. My colleague Vaughan Gething will bring forward regulations this year to enforce a statutory ban on smoking in hospital grounds, school playgrounds, play areas outside schools, and in unenclosed premises in childcare facilities. And then we will move on to the next phase of our determination to make smoking something that we bear down on, that we reduce, and that we prevent young people from thinking that it's a normal way of growing up. And unenclosed premises, in town and city centres, is one of the things that we will definitely be moving to act on next.
Diolchaf i John Griffiths am hynna, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr ag ef—roedd yn bwynt a wnaed gan Angela Burns hefyd—bod y ffaith fod smygu yn dderbyniol yn gymdeithasol yn arwain at bobl ifanc, yn arbennig, yn dod yn smygwyr. Rydym ni wedi gweld newid diwylliannol enfawr yn yr 20 neu'r 30 mlynedd diwethaf o ran yr hyn sy'n dderbyniol yn gymdeithasol. Bydd fy nghyd-Weinidog, Vaughan Gething, yn cyflwyno rheoliadau eleni i orfodi gwaharddiad statudol ar smygu ar dir ysbytai, meysydd chwarae ysgolion, mannau chware y tu allan i ysgolion, ac adeiladau agored mewn cyfleusterau gofal plant. Ac yna byddwn yn symud ymlaen i gam nesaf ein penderfyniad i wneud smygu yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni'n rhoi pwysau arno, yr ydym ni'n ei leihau, ac yr ydym yn atal pobl ifanc rhag meddwl ei fod yn ffordd arferol o dyfu i fyny. Ac mae safleoedd agored, yng nghanol trefi a dinasoedd, yn un o'r pethau y byddwn ni'n sicr yn cymryd camau i weithredu arnyn nhw nesaf.
2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ddatganoli trethi ymhellach, yn unol ag argymhelliad Comisiwn Silk? OAQ54983
2. Will the First Minister make a statement on further devolution of taxes as recommended by the Silk Commission? OAQ54983
I thank Mike Hedges for that. Llywydd, while land transfer tax, landfill disposals tax and Welsh rates of income tax have been successfully absorbed as responsibilities devolved to Wales, the UK Government continues to reject the Silk recommendation in relation to air passenger duty, despite all the evidence that supports its devolution.
Diolchaf i Mike Hedges am hynna. Llywydd, er bod treth trosglwyddo tir, treth gwarediadau tirlenwi a chyfraddau treth incwm Cymru wedi cael eu hamsugno'n llwyddiannus fel cyfrifoldebau sydd wedi eu datganoli i Gymru, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn parhau i wrthod argymhelliad Silk o ran toll teithwyr awyr, er gwaethaf yr holl dystiolaeth sy'n cefnogi ei datganoli.
I just wanted to talk about air passenger duty and aggregates levy. The reason why we couldn't have aggregates levy being devolved ends at one second past 11 p.m. on Friday. So, can we expect, at two seconds past 11 p.m., aggregates levy to be devolved? And have you had any further discussion regarding the devolution of air passenger duty?
Roeddwn i eisiau siarad am y doll teithwyr awyr a'r ardoll agregau. Mae'r rheswm pam na allem ni gael datganoli'r ardoll agregau yn dod i ben am un eiliad wedi 11 p.m. ddydd Gwener. Felly, a allwn ni ddisgwyl, am ddau eiliad wedi 11 p.m., i'r ardoll agregau gael ei datganoli? Ac a ydych chi wedi cael unrhyw drafodaeth bellach ynghylch datganoli'r doll teithwyr awyr?
I thank Mike for both of those examples, both of which were considered by the Silk Commission. As Mike Hedges knows, and has alluded to, Llywydd, aggregates levy was subject to extensive litigation at European and domestic levels. That was all resolved in February of last year, and the UK Government announced a review of aggregates levy, and that was due to be published in the autumn. It wasn't published because of the general election; we now expect that that review will be published alongside the budget on 11 March. There is a strong synergy between the environmental responsibilities that are discharged here in Wales and aggregates levy, which is, after all, an environmental tax, and putting the two sets of responsibilities together would make very good sense. There are some complexities, which we expect the review to address. It's a declining tax, and the Welsh share of UK aggregates may also be declining. There are significant data issues with it, and, of course, it will bring no more money to Wales, because any money that we got through aggregates levy would just be subject to a reduction in the block grant. Nevertheless, the case for it is a strong one, and we look forward to the publication of the review.
As far as air passenger duty is concerned, the UK Government has announced a review there as well, as part of its Flybe activities, and that too is due to be published alongside the March budget. None of that requires further justification for devolution of APD to Wales. The case was thoroughly made in Silk, and it was thoroughly made in the Welsh Affairs Select Committee report, under the chairing of David T.C. Davies, now the Deputy Minister in the Wales Office. We look forward to the UK Government giving to Wales what has already been devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland; there simply is no excuse for that tax not coming to Wales, as the Silk commission recommended.
Diolchaf i Mike am y ddwy enghraifft yna, a chafodd y ddwy eu hystyried gan Gomisiwn Silk. Fel y mae Mike Hedges yn gwybod, ac wedi cyfeirio ato, Llywydd, roedd yr ardoll agregau yn destun ymgyfreitha helaeth ar lefelau Ewropeaidd a domestig. Cafodd hynny i gyd ei ddatrys ym mis Chwefror y llynedd, a chyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y DU adolygiad o'r ardoll agregau, a disgwyliwyd i hwnnw gael ei gyhoeddi yn yr hydref. Ni chafodd ei gyhoeddi oherwydd yr etholiad cyffredinol; rydym ni'n disgwyl erbyn hyn y bydd yr adolygiad hwnnw'n cael ei gyhoeddi ochr yn ochr â'r gyllideb ar 11 Mawrth. Ceir synergedd cryf rhwng y cyfrifoldebau amgylcheddol a gyflawnir yma yng Nghymru a'r ardoll agregau, sydd, wedi'r cyfan, yn dreth amgylcheddol, a byddai gosod y ddwy gyfres o gyfrifoldebau gyda'i gilydd yn gwneud synnwyr da iawn. Ceir rhai cymhlethdodau yr ydym ni'n disgwyl i'r adolygiad roi sylw iddyn nhw. Mae'n dreth sy'n lleihau, ac mae'n bosibl y bydd cyfran Cymru o agregau'r DU yn lleihau hefyd. Mae problemau sylweddol o ran data yn gysylltiedig â hi, ac, wrth gwrs, ni fydd yn dod â mwy o arian i Gymru, oherwydd byddai unrhyw arian y byddem ni'n ei gael trwy ardoll agregau yn destun gostyngiad i'r grant bloc. Serch hynny, mae'r ddadl o'i phlaid yn un gref, ac edrychwn ymlaen at gyhoeddiad yr adolygiad.
Cyn belled ag y mae'r doll teithwyr awyr yn y cwestiwn, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi adolygiad o honno hefyd, yn rhan o'i gweithgareddau Flybe, a disgwylir i hwnnw gael ei gyhoeddi ochr yn ochr â chyllideb mis Mawrth hefyd. Nid oes dim o hynny'n gofyn am ragor o gyfiawnhad dros ddatganoli'r doll teithwyr awyr i Gymru. Dadleuwyd yr achos yn drylwyr yn Silk, ac fe'i dadleuwyd yn drylwyr yn adroddiad y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Faterion Cymreig, dan gadeiryddiaeth David T.C. Davies, y Dirprwy Weinidog yn Swyddfa Cymru erbyn hyn. Rydym ni'n edrych ymlaen at weld Llywodraeth y DU yn rhoi i Gymru yr hyn sydd eisoes wedi ei ddatganoli i'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon; nid oes unrhyw esgus dros beidio â dod â'r dreth honno i Gymru, fel yr argymhellodd comisiwn Silk.
First Minister, your wing of the Labour Party is hardly known for cutting taxes. In fact, you're more considered to be an individual that might want to raise them. What assurances can you give to the hard-working people of Wales, and, indeed, those businesses across Wales, that, if further taxes are devolved to Wales, your Government's not going to put them up rather than cutting the burden for people to get on with their lives?
Prif Weinidog, prin y mae eich adain chi o'r Blaid Lafur yn adnabyddus am dorri trethi. A dweud y gwir, rydych chi'n cael eich ystyried yn fwy fel unigolyn a allai fod eisiau eu codi. Pa sicrwydd allwch chi eu rhoi i bobl sy'n gweithio'n galed yng Nghymru, ac, yn wir, y busnesau hynny ledled Cymru, os caiff trethi pellach eu datganoli i Gymru, nad yw eich Llywodraeth yn mynd i'w codi yn hytrach na thorri'r baich i bobl fwrw ymlaen â'u bywydau?
I give this guarantee, Llywydd, that any taxes that come to Wales will be carefully considered, and that any decisions are made here, on the floor of the National Assembly—that they're not made by Government, they're made by the National Assembly. And when it came to land transfer tax, of course, we cut that tax for the vast majority of house purchases here in Wales. We cut the business element of land transfer tax, so that the vast majority of small businesses pay a lower rate of tax here in Wales than they did when his Government was in charge of it. People will look at what we did, rather than what the Member alleges, and find that our actions speak a lot louder than his words.
Rhoddaf y sicrwydd hwn, Llywydd, y bydd unrhyw drethi sy'n dod i Gymru yn cael eu hystyried yn ofalus, ac y bydd unrhyw benderfyniadau yn cael eu gwneud yn y fan yma, ar lawr y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol—na fyddan nhw'n cael eu gwneud gan y Llywodraeth, y byddan nhw'n yn cael eu gwneud gan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. A phan ddaeth i'r dreth ar drosglwyddo tir, wrth gwrs, torrwyd y dreth honno gennym ar gyfer mwyafrif helaeth yr achosion o brynu tai yma yng Nghymru. Torrwyd elfen fusnes y dreth ar drosglwyddo tir gennym, fel bod y mwyafrif llethol o fusnesau bach yn talu cyfradd dreth is yma yng Nghymru nag yr oedden nhw pan oedd ei Lywodraeth ef yn gyfrifol amdani. Bydd pobl yn edrych ar yr hyn a wnaethom, yn hytrach na'r hyn y mae'r Aelod yn ei honni, ac yn canfod bod llawer mwy o sylwedd i'n gweithredoedd ni na'i eiriau ef.
I'm sure the First Minister will agree with me that it's slightly curious that the Conservative Party always talk about tax as if it was something dreadful. If we didn't pay taxes we wouldn't have public services. We all know that we need investment in our public services going forward.
In response to Mike Hedges, the First Minister mentioned the air passenger duty and the aggregates levy. I know that the First Minister will, like I do, regret what is going to happen on Friday night this week, but it is going to happen. Can I suggest to the First Minister that this may be an opportunity to look at some other taxes that we might want to seek devolution of, over and above Silk? I'm thinking particularly of perhaps the capacity to vary corporation tax, which wouldn't have been possible inside the European Union; seeking possibly the capacity to vary VAT, which might be able to help grow some of our own local and indigenous businesses.
I realise, of course, Llywydd, that the First Minister in this sense is at the mercy of the Conservative Government in London. But I wonder if he would agree with me that with what is bound to be a challenging time economically for Wales we ought to be being ambitious about seeking the levers that we will need to potentially protect our economy from some of the potential negative effects.
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi ei bod hi braidd yn rhyfedd bod y Blaid Geidwadol bob amser yn siarad am dreth fel pe byddai'n rhywbeth ofnadwy. Pe na byddem ni'n talu trethi ni fyddai gennym ni wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod bod angen buddsoddi yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn y dyfodol.
Mewn ymateb i Mike Hedges, soniodd y Prif Weinidog am y doll teithwyr awyr a'r ardoll agregau. Gwn y bydd y Prif Weinidog, fel minnau, yn gresynu'r hyn sy'n mynd i ddigwydd nos Wener yr wythnos hon, ond mae'n mynd i ddigwydd. A gaf i awgrymu i'r Prif Weinidog y gallai hwn fod yn gyfle i edrych ar rai trethi eraill y gallem ni fod eisiau ceisio eu datganoli, y tu hwnt i Silk? Rwy'n meddwl yn benodol efallai am y gallu i amrywio'r dreth gorfforaeth, na fyddai wedi bod yn bosibl o fewn yr Undeb Ewropeaidd; gan geisio y gallu i amrywio TAW o bosibl, a allai helpu i dyfu rhai o'n busnesau lleol a chynhenid ein hunain.
Rwy'n sylweddoli, wrth gwrs, Llywydd, bod y Prif Weinidog yn yr ystyr hwn ar drugaredd y Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn Llundain. Ond tybed a fyddai'n cytuno â mi y dylem ni, yn ystod cyfnod sy'n siŵr o fod yn anodd yn economaidd i Gymru, fod yn uchelgeisiol ynghylch ceisio'r ysgogiadau y bydd eu hangen arnom ni i ddiogelu ein heconomi rhag rhai o'r effeithiau negyddol posibl.
I thank Helen Mary Jones for that, and of course I agree with her first contribution. The taxes we pay are the admission charge to a civilised society. If we didn't have taxes and didn't pay them then we wouldn't have the services that we talk about all the time on the floor of this Assembly, and which Members opposite are forever urging further investments and more expenditures for, while at the same time devising plans to deprive us of what we need in order to be able to do so.
I know that Helen Mary Jones will be interested to know that earlier this month Welsh Treasury officials hosted a meeting here in Cardiff involving the Treasury, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, which was a workshop to look at new common ways in which new taxes could be devolved inside the United Kingdom. And that discussion was a productive one, and it will help in some other practical ways in which new opportunities that might come our way in the future can be navigated through the machinery of the United Kingdom.
Diolchaf i Helen Mary Jones am hynna, ac wrth gwrs rwy'n cytuno â'i chyfraniad cyntaf. Y trethi yr ydym ni'n eu talu yw'r tâl mynediad i gymdeithas wâr. Pe na byddai gennym ni drethi ac nad oeddem ni'n eu talu yna ni fyddai gennym ni'r gwasanaethau yr ydym ni'n siarad amdanyn nhw drwy'r amser ar lawr y Cynulliad hwn, ac y mae'r Aelodau gyferbyn yn annog rhagor o fuddsoddiadau a mwy o wariant arnyn nhw yn barhaus, gan ddyfeisio cynlluniau ar yr un pryd i'n hamddifadu ni o'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom er mwyn gallu gwneud hynny.
Gwn y bydd o ddiddordeb i Helen Mary Jones wybod bod swyddogion Trysorlys Cymru wedi cynnal cyfarfod yma yng Nghaerdydd yn gynharach y mis hwn a oedd yn cynnwys y Trysorlys, Llywodraeth yr Alban a Gweithrediaeth Gogledd Iwerddon, a oedd yn weithdy i edrych ar ffyrdd cyffredin newydd y gallai trethi newydd gael eu datganoli o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig. Ac roedd y drafodaeth honno'n un gynhyrchiol, a bydd yn helpu mewn rhai ffyrdd ymarferol eraill lle y gall cyfleoedd newydd a allai ddod i'n rhan yn y dyfodol gael eu llywio drwy beirianwaith y Deyrnas Unedig.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Questions now from the party leaders. Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, one cannot begin to imagine the grief of parents who suffer the loss of a child. As reported by BBC Wales Investigates last night, an inquest found that the healthcare provided to Sarah Handy contributed to her baby's death in 2017. Her case is one of 140 being reviewed to establish whether mothers and babies were harmed while receiving care at Cwm Taf Morgannwg maternity units. Rebecca Long-Bailey, a Labour leadership candidate, called for a public inquiry into maternity failures at the health board, only to retract her comments later. The Labour leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council says it's 'an absolute scandal' that nobody on the health board has been held to account. He's backing Mrs Handy's call for a criminal investigation. Are you?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, ni ellir dechrau dychmygu galar rhieni sy'n colli plentyn. Fel yr adroddwyd gan BBC Wales Investigates neithiwr, canfu cwest bod y gofal iechyd a roddwyd i Sarah Handy wedi cyfrannu at farwolaeth ei babi yn 2017. Mae ei hachos hi yn un o 140 sy'n cael eu hadolygu i ganfod pa un a gafodd mamau a babanod eu niweidio tra eu bod yn derbyn gofal yn unedau mamolaeth Cwm Taf Morgannwg. Galwodd Rebecca Long-Bailey, ymgeisydd am arweinyddiaeth Llafur, am ymchwiliad cyhoeddus i fethiannau mamolaeth yn y bwrdd iechyd, dim ond i dynnu ei sylwadau'n ôl yn ddiweddarach. Mae arweinydd Llafur Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf yn dweud ei bod yn 'sgandal llwyr' nad oes unrhyw un ar y bwrdd iechyd wedi ei ddwyn i gyfrif. Mae'n cefnogi galwad Mrs Handy am ymchwiliad troseddol. A ydych chi?
Well, Llywydd, I agree with what Adam Price said at the start, that a loss of a child in any circumstances, and even more so in circumstances that might have been preventable, cannot be imagined in the impact that that has in the lives of families.
I've heard calls for a criminal investigation. That will be entirely a matter for the police and not a matter for me, and I'm going to say nothing on that subject this afternoon that could be interpreted in any way as prejudicing the police's ability to discharge their responsibilities.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd Adam Price ar y dechrau, sef na ellir dychmygu colli plentyn o dan unrhyw amgylchiadau, a hyd yn oed yn fwy felly o dan amgylchiadau y gellid bod wedi eu hosgoi, o ran yr effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael ar fywydau teuluoedd.
Rwyf i wedi clywed galwadau am ymchwiliad troseddol. Mater i'r heddlu yn llwyr fydd hynny, nid mater i mi, ac ni fyddaf yn dweud dim ar y pwnc hwnnw y prynhawn yma y gellid ei ddehongli mewn unrhyw ffordd fel un sy'n niweidio gallu'r heddlu i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau.
In last night's programme, Andrew Morgan also said that when there were calls for the resignation of Cwm Taf's chief executive, he was asked not to speak out. Do you agree that any attempt to gag an elected representative is totally unacceptable? And will he launch his own investigation to see whether the allegations that Mr Morgan made vis-à-vis the health board are true?
Cwm Taf is not the only health board where there are serious questions. Of course, Betsi Cadwaladr is now in its fifth year of special measures, and it has an alarming rate of patient safety incidents. Between November 2017 and December 2019, there were 520 incidents within Betsi that resulted in death or serious harm. That total is higher than all the other health boards in Wales combined. Now, there is either a serious underlying problem within Betsi or there is severe underreporting elsewhere in Wales. Which is it?
Yn y rhaglen neithiwr, dywedodd Andrew Morgan hefyd, pan oedd galwadau am i brif weithredwr Cwm Taf ymddiswyddo, y gofynnwyd iddo beidio â siarad yn gyhoeddus. A ydych chi'n cytuno bod unrhyw ymgais i gau ceg cynrychiolydd etholedig yn gwbl annerbyniol? Ac a wnaiff ef lansio ei ymchwiliad ei hun i weld a yw'r honiadau a wnaeth Mr Morgan am y bwrdd iechyd yn wir?
Nid Cwm Taf yw'r unig fwrdd iechyd lle y ceir cwestiynau difrifol. Wrth gwrs, mae Betsi Cadwaladr bellach yn ei bumed flwyddyn o fesurau arbennig, ac mae ganddo gyfradd frawychus o ddigwyddiadau'n ymwneud â diogelwch cleifion. Rhwng Tachwedd 2017 a Rhagfyr 2019, cafwyd 520 o ddigwyddiadau ym mwrdd Betsi a arweiniodd at farwolaeth neu niwed difrifol. Mae'r cyfanswm hwnnw'n uwch na'r holl fyrddau iechyd eraill yng Nghymru gyda'i gilydd. Nawr, mae naill ai problem sylfaenol ddifrifol o fewn Betsi neu mae hysbysu annigonol difrifol mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru. Pa un sy'n wir?
Llywydd, I think the leader of RCT is able to speak for himself. I know him very well and hold him in very high regard. He's made no request of me, and I'm sure that he's more than capable of doing so for himself, should he wish to do so.
The figures in Betsi Cadwaladr are, I believe, a sign of a health board in which reporting incidents and learning from them has become part of its culture, and that is something that we want to see everywhere in Wales. We regularly have this exchange on the floor of the Assembly, where we say that we want a learning culture, we say we want a culture in health boards where people are not afraid to speak up and have things recorded, and then when that happens, we have questions that say, 'Oh, everything must be awful, look at the incidents that are reported.' I just don't think we can have it both ways. I think the fact that there are figures in Betsi Cadwaladr that demonstrate that staff are willing to report things shows that there is a culture there now that wants to learn from the way that things are conducted, and that maybe wasn't the case there not that many years ago.
Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod arweinydd Rhondda Cynon Taf yn gallu siarad drosto'i hun. Rwy'n ei adnabod yn dda iawn ac mae gen i barch mawr tuag ato. Nid yw wedi gwneud unrhyw gais i mi, ac rwy'n siŵr ei fod yn fwy na digon galluog i wneud hynny drosto'i hun, pe byddai'n dymuno gwneud hynny.
Credaf fod y ffigurau yn Betsi Cadwaladr yn arwydd o fwrdd iechyd lle mae hysbysu am ddigwyddiadau a dysgu oddi wrthyn nhw wedi dod yn rhan o'i ddiwylliant, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni eisiau ei weld ym mhobman yng Nghymru. Rydym ni'n cael y drafodaeth hon yn rheolaidd ar lawr y Cynulliad, pryd yr ydym ni'n dweud ein bod ni eisiau diwylliant o ddysgu, rydym ni'n dweud ein bod ni eisiau diwylliant mewn byrddau iechyd lle nad yw pobl yn ofni lleisio eu barn a chofnodi pethau, ac wedyn pan fydd hynny'n digwydd, rydym ni'n cael cwestiynau sy'n dweud, 'O, mae'n rhaid bod popeth yn ofnadwy, edrychwch ar y digwyddiadau sy'n cael eu cyhoeddi.' Nid wyf i'n credu y gallwn ni ei chael hi'r ddwy ffordd. Rwy'n credu bod y ffaith bod ffigurau ar gael ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr sy'n dangos bod staff yn barod i hysbysu am bethau yn dangos bod diwylliant yno nawr sydd eisiau dysgu o'r ffordd y mae pethau'n cael eu gwneud, ac efallai nad oedd hynny'n wir yn y fan honno ddim llawer o flynyddoedd yn ôl.
Between December 2018 and December 2019—the figures released just today—there were 41 incidents resulting in death registered within Betsi. That's 53 per cent of all such deaths reported by Welsh health boards in total. That's obviously disproportionately high when you consider that health board covers just about 20 per cent of the population of Wales.
If I've understood the First Minister correctly, what he is saying—but he can respond to confirm whether my understanding is correct—is, in response to my question, he seems to be of the view that there is underreporting of serious incidents in the rest of Wales and that there, presumably, are deaths as a result of incidents that are unreported in the rest of Wales, which, of course, was one of the most serious charges in the report into the maternity services in Cwm Taf.
So, is the First Minister saying now that the key failing, the lack of reporting of serious incidents that was at the heart of the problem at Cwm Taf, is actually a general problem in other health boards, apart from Betsi, throughout Wales?
Rhwng Rhagfyr 2018 a Rhagfyr 2019—cyhoeddwyd y ffigurau heddiw ddiwethaf—cofrestrwyd 41 o ddigwyddiadau a arweiniodd at farwolaeth yn Betsi. Mae hynny'n gyfanswm o 53 y cant o'r holl farwolaethau o'r fath a gofnodwyd gan fyrddau iechyd Cymru. Mae hynny'n amlwg yn anghymesur o uchel pan ystyriwch chi fod y bwrdd iechyd yn gyfrifol am tua 20 y cant yn unig o boblogaeth Cymru.
Os wyf i wedi deall y Prif Weinidog yn iawn, yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud—ond gall ymateb i gadarnhau a yw fy nealltwriaeth yn gywir—yw, mewn ymateb i fy nghwestiwn, mae'n ymddangos ei fod o'r farn bod diffyg hysbysu am ddigwyddiadau difrifol yng ngweddill Cymru a bod, mae'n debyg, marwolaethau o ganlyniad i ddigwyddiadau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu hysbysu yng ngweddill Cymru, sef, wrth gwrs, yn un o'r cyhuddiadau mwyaf difrifol yn yr adroddiad ar wasanaethau mamolaeth yng Nghwm Taf.
Felly, a yw'r Prif Weinidog yn dweud nawr bod y methiant allweddol, y diffyg hysbysu am ddigwyddiadau difrifol a oedd wrth wraidd y broblem yng Nghwm Taf, mewn gwirionedd yn broblem gyffredinol mewn byrddau iechyd eraill, ac eithrio Betsi, ledled Cymru?
I must say, Llywydd, I think that is a complete farrago. It's simply building one sort of unsubstantiated assertion on top of another. I said no such thing, nor would I. What I am saying here is that we want a culture in the NHS in Wales where, when things go wrong, people feel empowered to speak up, that things are reported, and things are learned as a result of those reports being made. I want to see that in every part of Wales. And the Member's attempt to try and drag the NHS through the mud once again this afternoon—because that's what he does, and he does it ever so regularly here, he does it very regularly here, he did it again this afternoon—doesn't do him any good, and it certainly doesn't do any good to patients in the Welsh health service.
Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, Llywydd, fy mod i'n meddwl bod hynna'n gybolfa lwyr. Mae'n fater syml o adeiladu un math o haeriad di-sail ar ben y llall. Ni ddywedais i ddim o'r fath beth, ac ni fyddwn i'n gwneud hynny. Yr hyn yr wyf i yn ei ddweud yn y fan yma yw ein bod ni eisiau diwylliant yn y GIG yng Nghymru lle mae pobl, pan fydd pethau'n mynd o chwith, yn teimlo wedi eu grymuso i leisio eu barn, bod pethau'n cael eu hadrodd, a bod pethau'n cael eu dysgu o ganlyniad i wneud yr adroddiadau hynny. Rwyf i eisiau gweld hynny ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Ac nid yw ymgais yr Aelod i geisio llusgo'r GIG drwy'r mwd unwaith eto y prynhawn yma—oherwydd dyna mae'n ei wneud, ac mae'n gwneud hynny mor rheolaidd yn y fan yma, mae'n gwneud hynny'n rheolaidd iawn yn y fan yma, fe wnaeth hynny eto y prynhawn yma—yn gwneud unrhyw les iddo, ac yn sicr nid yw'n gwneud unrhyw les i gleifion yng ngwasanaeth iechyd Cymru.
Arweinydd yr wrthblaid, Paul Davies.
Leader of the opposition, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, last week, it was reported that the A465 Heads of the Valleys road is facing possible further delays and, as you know, it's already significantly over budget. That road was due to be finished at the end of last year. Could you tell us when the Heads of the Valleys road will be completed, and can you also confirm whether the Welsh Government will be spending any additional resources in excess of the current budget to ensure the road is finally completed?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, adroddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf bod ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd yr A465 yn wynebu oediadau pellach posibl, ac fel y gwyddoch, mae eisoes dros y gyllideb yn sylweddol. Roedd disgwyl i'r ffordd honno gael ei gorffen ddiwedd y llynedd. A allech chi ddweud wrthym ni pryd y bydd ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd yn cael ei chwblhau, ac a allwch chi hefyd gadarnhau pa un a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwario unrhyw adnoddau ychwanegol y tu draw i'r gyllideb bresennol i sicrhau bod y ffordd yn cael ei chwblhau o'r diwedd?
Llywydd, the timescales for the completion of the road remain as set out in the statement made by my colleague Ken Skates when he last reported this matter to the floor of the National Assembly. Those timescales have not altered. The Minister will make a further statement on progress in completion of that section of the Heads of the Valleys road.
The budget for the completion is beyond what had originally been anticipated. That is partly explained by the challenging topography that the constructors have faced in making their way through one of the biggest gorges that we've ever built a road of this sort through in Wales. There have been disputes between the Welsh Government and the contractor over some of the other costs that have been raised with us, and they remain subject to ongoing arbitration between the parties.
Llywydd, mae'r amserlenni ar gyfer cwblhau'r ffordd yn dal i fod fel y'u nodwyd yn y datganiad a wnaed gan fy nghyd-Weinidog Ken Skates y tro diwethaf iddo adrodd am y mater hwn i lawr y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Nid yw'r amserlenni hynny wedi newid. Bydd y Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiad arall ar hynt y gwaith o gwblhau'r rhan honno o ffordd Blaenau'r Cymoedd.
Mae'r gyllideb ar gyfer cwblhau'r gwaith y tu hwnt i'r hyn a ragwelwyd yn wreiddiol. Caiff hynny ei esbonio'n rhannol gan y topograffi heriol y mae'r adeiladwyr wedi ei wynebu wrth iddyn nhw wneud eu ffordd drwy un o'r ceunentydd mwyaf yr ydym ni erioed wedi adeiladu ffordd o'r math hwn drwyddo yng Nghymru. Cafwyd anghydfod rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r contractwr ynghylch rhai o'r costau eraill a godwyd gyda ni, ac maen nhw'n dal i fod yn destun cymrodeddu parhaus rhwng y partïon.
First Minister, this particular stretch of road is just one example of many of the frustrations that communities across Wales have had with the Welsh Government's handling of road infrastructure projects. At the end of last year, the Welsh Infrastructure Alliance made it clear in their report that significant investment is required in Wales's trunk road network and more certainty is required on the delivery timescales of schemes set out in the national transport plan—and that's entirely true, First Minister. In west Wales, the continual calls to dual the A40 have simply fallen on deaf ears. And, of course, the decision not to press ahead with a solution to the M4 has once again left communities along that corridor frustrated and annoyed.
In 2011, the Wales Audit Office found that major transport projects had cost substantially more and taken longer to complete than expected, with overspends totalling £226 million. This took place under a Labour Government. First Minister, do you accept that lessons simply haven't been learned from that damning report, and do you recognise the very distressing impact that your Government's mismanagement of road projects is having on people's lives across Wales?
Prif Weinidog, dim ond un enghraifft o lawer yw'r rhan benodol hon o ffordd o'r rhwystredigaethau y mae cymunedau ledled Cymru wedi eu cael gyda'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymdrin â phrosiectau seilwaith ffyrdd. Ddiwedd y llynedd, fe'i gwnaed yn eglur gan Gynghrair Seilwaith Cymru yn eu hadroddiad bod angen buddsoddiad sylweddol yn rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd Cymru a bod angen mwy o sicrwydd ynglŷn ag amserlenni cyflawni'r cynlluniau a nodir yn y cynllun trafnidiaeth cenedlaethol—ac mae hynny'n hollol wir, Prif Weinidog. Yn y gorllewin, mae'r galwadau parhaus i ddeuoli'r A40 wedi cael eu hanwybyddu'n llwyr. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r penderfyniad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen ag ateb i'r M4 unwaith eto wedi gadael cymunedau ar hyd y coridor hwnnw'n rhwystredig ac yn ddig.
Yn 2011, canfu Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru bod prosiectau trafnidiaeth mawr wedi costio llawer mwy ac wedi cymryd mwy o amser i'w cwblhau na'r disgwyl, gyda chyfanswm gorwariant o £226 miliwn. Digwyddodd hyn o dan Lywodraeth Lafur. Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n derbyn nad yw gwersi wedi cael eu dysgu o'r adroddiad damniol hwnnw, ac a ydych chi'n cydnabod yr effaith ofidus iawn y mae camreolaeth eich Llywodraeth o brosiectau ffyrdd yn ei chael ar fywydau pobl ledled Cymru?
Llywydd, if I thought for a moment there was a lesson to be learned from the party responsible for the HS2 line and the billions—. He talks to me about £226 million; that's barely a week's overspend in his Government's handling of HS2, where there are billions—billions and billions of pounds. That's a project dreamed up by his party, entirely the responsibility of his party. He thinks that he can come here and criticise us for the way that we conduct things when his party is a scandal across the whole of Europe for the way that it has conducted itself in relation to that transport programme.
He quotes me a report of 2011. In 2011, we were at the very start of the year-by-year slash and burn through the capital programme of this Labour Government by his Government at Westminster. If we had the budget today that we'd had back then, we would be able to do more in a whole range of capital investments here in Wales.
I'm not apologising for the record of the Welsh Government: the Newtown bypass, completed on budget and on time; the work that we are doing in Valleys communities that his party would quite certainly never contemplate spending. In every part of Wales, this Government invests to the very fullest extent that we are able, despite the depredations of austerity that his party has imposed on us. And those things are appreciated—far from his carping away at the way things happen—those things are appreciated in every part of Wales as well.
Llywydd, pe bawn i'n meddwl am eiliad bod gwers i'w dysgu gan y blaid a oedd yn gyfrifol am reilffordd HS2 a'r biliynau—. Mae'n siarad â mi am £226 miliwn; prin fod hynny'n orwariant o wythnos yn ymdriniaeth ei Lywodraeth ef o HS2, lle ceir biliynau—biliynau a biliynau o bunnoedd. Mae hwnnw'n brosiect a luniwyd gan ei blaid ef, a chyfrifoldeb ei blaid ef yn llwyr. Mae'n credu y gall ddod i'r fan yma a'n beirniadu ni am y ffordd yr ydym ni'n gwneud pethau pan fo'i blaid ef yn sgandal ar draws Ewrop gyfan am y ffordd y mae wedi ymddwyn o ran y rhaglen drafnidiaeth honno.
Mae'n dyfynnu adroddiad i mi o 2011. Yn 2011, roeddem ni ar gychwyn cyntaf y cwtogi o flwyddyn i flwyddyn drwy raglen gyfalaf y Llywodraeth Lafur hon gan ei Lywodraeth ef yn San Steffan. Pe byddai gennym ni'r gyllideb heddiw yr oedd gennym ni bryd hynny, byddem ni'n gallu gwneud mwy mewn amrywiaeth eang o fuddsoddiadau cyfalaf yma yng Nghymru.
Nid wyf i'n ymddiheuro am hanes Llywodraeth Cymru: ffordd osgoi'r Drenewydd, a gwblhawyd yn unol â'r gyllideb ac yn brydlon; y gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yng nghymunedau'r Cymoedd na fyddai ei blaid ef yn gwbl sicr yn ystyried ei wario. Ym mhob rhan o Gymru, mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn buddsoddi i'r graddau llawnaf posibl, er gwaethaf holl galedi'r cyni cyllidol y mae ei blaid ef wedi ei orfodi arnom ni. A gwerthfawrogir y pethau hynny—ymhell o'i achwyn ynghylch y ffordd y mae pethau'n digwydd—gwerthfawrogir y pethau hynny ym mhob rhan o Gymru hefyd.
Well, you should apologise, First Minister, for the mismanagement of this particular project, and you should be apologising to the people of Wales for other projects that your Government has mismanaged. It's a fact that communities are frustrated with the Welsh Government's approach to road infrastructure here in Wales, and there seems, to me, little accountability from Ministers for your Government's mismanagement.
Now, First Minister, you will be aware of plans by Cardiff Council to introduce a congestion charge—or a Valleys tax, as your own Members have called it—to charge non-residents to travel in and out of Cardiff. Now, those plans have been criticised by your colleague the Member for Caerphilly, who has made it clear that the charge should not be brought in unless there are clear alternatives to car use, and that the charge should also apply to Cardiff residents as well. The Member for Blaenau Gwent has rightly called it a Valleys tax.
Now, it's a fact that this scheme needs Welsh Government approval before it can be implemented. So, First Minister, is it your Government's intention to support Cardiff Council and sign off this Valleys tax? Do you genuinely believe that Cardiff's public transport system could handle the significant increase in demand that could come as a result of this proposal? And if you do sign off this proposal, how will you avoid creating an us-and-them environment between the Valleys and the capital?
Wel, fe ddylech chi ymddiheuro, Prif Weinidog, am gamreoli'r prosiect penodol hwn, a dylech chi fod yn ymddiheuro i bobl Cymru am brosiectau eraill y mae eich Llywodraeth wedi eu camreoli. Mae'n ffaith bod cymunedau'n teimlo'n rhwystredig gyda dull Llywodraeth Cymru o ymdrin â seilwaith ffyrdd yma yng Nghymru, ac mae'n ymddangos i mi mai prin yw'r atebolrwydd gan Weinidogion am gamreolaeth eich Llywodraeth.
Nawr, Prif Weinidog, byddwch yn ymwybodol o gynlluniau gan Gyngor Caerdydd i gyflwyno tâl atal tagfeydd—neu dreth y Cymoedd, fel y mae eich Aelodau eich hun wedi ei alw—i godi tâl ar y rhai nad ydyn nhw yn drigolion i deithio i mewn ac allan o Gaerdydd. Nawr, mae'r cynlluniau hynny wedi cael eu beirniadu gan eich cyd-Aelod, yr Aelod dros Gaerffili, sydd wedi ei gwneud yn eglur na ddylid cyflwyno'r tâl oni bai bod dewisiadau eglur eraill yn hytrach na defnyddio ceir, ac y dylai'r tâl gael ei godi ar drigolion Caerdydd hefyd. Mae'r Aelod dros Flaenau Gwent wedi ei alw'n dreth y Cymoedd, a hynny'n briodol.
Nawr, mae'n ffaith bod y cynllun hwn angen cymeradwyaeth Llywodraeth Cymru cyn y gellir ei weithredu. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a yw'n fwriad gan eich Llywodraeth i gefnogi Cyngor Caerdydd a chymeradwyo'r dreth hon ar y Cymoedd? A ydych chi'n credu o ddifrif y gallai system trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus Caerdydd ymdopi â'r cynnydd sylweddol i alw a allai ddod o ganlyniad i'r cynnig hwn? Ac os byddwch chi'n cymeradwyo'r cynnig hwn, sut y gwnewch chi osgoi creu amgylchedd 'ni a nhw' rhwng y Cymoedd a'r brifddinas?
Llywydd, lectures from the Member on public transport, from the party that cancelled the electrification of the main line here in Wales—do you remember that? I wonder if the Member remembers. No, I think he doesn't. He's forgotten that his party promised to electrify the main railway line all the way to Swansea, only then to turn to turn its back on the promise that it had made to people in Wales. He wants to ask me about public transport. Let's look at his record, at his party's record, for a moment.
As far as Cardiff Council's proposals are concerned, I am glad that Cardiff city council is responding in an imaginative and determined way to the impact of climate change and the impact of air quality here in our capital city—the most commuted capital anywhere in the United Kingdom. So, I don't think that it is right simply to dismiss proposals that the council has come up with, because they are a serious response to a serious set of issues.
But the Member is right to say that of course there is a responsibility on the Welsh Government to interrogate those proposals in a regional context. That is exactly what the Minister for transport said when those plans were announced. That's why we as a Welsh Government have set up an investigation into demand management, not just in Cardiff, but in the wider region, and the study will look at the benefits and challenges of different demand-management approaches, and we will use that to inform national and regional policy. We deserve, people in Cardiff and people around Cardiff deserve, to look at serious proposals seriously, to look at other alternatives that there may be there, and to do so in the context of the climate change emergency that faces us all. Cardiff's proposals are intended to be a serious response to that situation.
Llywydd, pregethau gan yr Aelod ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, gan y blaid a wnaeth ganslo trydaneiddio'r brif reilffordd yma yng Nghymru—ydych chi'n cofio hynny? Tybed a yw'r Aelod yn cofio. Na, nid wyf i'n credu ei fod ef. Mae wedi anghofio bod ei blaid wedi addo trydaneiddio'r brif reilffordd yr holl ffordd i Abertawe, dim ond i gefnu wedyn ar yr addewid yr oedd wedi ei wneud i bobl Cymru. Mae eisiau fy holi i am drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Gadewch i ni edrych ar ei hanes ef, ar hanes ei blaid ef, am funud.
O ran cynigion Cyngor Caerdydd, rwy'n falch bod cyngor dinas Caerdydd yn ymateb mewn ffordd benderfynol a llawn dychymyg i effaith y newid yn yr hinsawdd ac effaith ansawdd aer yma yn ein prifddinas—y brifddinas lle ceir y gyfradd gymudo fwyaf yn unman yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, nid wyf i'n credu ei bod hi'n iawn i ddiystyru'r cynigion y mae'r Cyngor wedi eu cyflwyno, oherwydd maen nhw'n ymateb difrifol i gyfres ddifrifol o broblemau.
Ond mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud bod cyfrifoldeb ar Lywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, i gwestiynu'r cynigion hynny mewn cyd-destun rhanbarthol. Dyna'n union a ddywedodd y Gweinidog trafnidiaeth pan gyhoeddwyd y cynlluniau hynny. Dyna pam yr ydym ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sefydlu ymchwiliad i reoli galw, nid yn unig yng Nghaerdydd, ond yn y rhanbarth ehangach, a bydd yr astudiaeth yn ystyried manteision a heriau gwahanol ddulliau rheoli galw, a byddwn yn defnyddio hynny i lywio polisi cenedlaethol a rhanbarthol. Rydym ni'n haeddu, mae pobl yng Nghaerdydd a phobl o gwmpas Caerdydd yn haeddu, cael edrych ar gynigion difrifol o ddifrif, i edrych ar ddewisiadau eraill a allai fod yno, ac i wneud hynny yng nghyd-destun yr argyfwng newid yn yr hinsawdd sy'n wynebu pob un ohonom ni. Bwriedir i gynigion Caerdydd fod yn ymateb difrifol i'r sefyllfa honno.
Arweinydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.
Leader of the Brexit Party, Mark Reckless.
Can I wish all Members a happy Brexit day this Friday? Not least the leader of Plaid Cymru, who I commend on the positive approach that he has taken this week.
First Minister, do you support the even more positive approach being taken by the Royal Mint in Llantrisant? For two weeks, they are offering bespoke Brexit tours. I'm looking forward to taking my children to strike their very own Brexit 50p coins, wishing 'Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations'. On Brexit day, the Royal Mint is even opening through the night, with public tours every 15 minutes. With Nathan Gill coming to Llantrisant on Friday to operate the coin press as his final MEP engagement, can I ask the First Minister what you will be doing to mark Brexit day?
A gaf i ddymuno diwrnod Brexit hapus i'r holl Aelodau ddydd Gwener? Yn enwedig arweinydd Plaid Cymru, yr wyf yn ei ganmol ar yr agwedd gadarnhaol y mae wedi ei mabwysiadu yr wythnos hon.
Prif Weinidog, a ydych chi'n cefnogi'r dull mwy cadarnhaol fyth sy'n cael ei fabwysiadu gan y Bathdy Brenhinol yn Llantrisant? Am bythefnos, maen nhw'n cynnig teithiau Brexit pwrpasol. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at fynd â'm plant i fathu eu darnau 50c Brexit eu hunain, gan ddymuno 'Heddwch, llewyrch a chyfeillgarwch gyda phob cenedl'. Ar ddiwrnod Brexit, mae'r Bathdy Brenhinol hyd yn oed yn agor drwy'r nos, gyda theithiau cyhoeddus bob 15 munud. Wrth i Nathan Gill ddod i Lantrisant ddydd Gwener i weithredu'r wasg darnau arian fel ei ymrwymiad olaf fel ASE, a gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog beth fyddwch chi'n ei wneud i ddathlu diwrnod Brexit?
Llywydd, I will be chairing a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (European Negotiations) here in Cardiff later this afternoon. It will involve the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. I was very pleased to welcome them to Wales this morning, their first engagement of this sort since the re-established Executive. Michael Gove will represent the United Kingdom Government at this afternoon's meeting. There, we will be having not a tour of a tourist attraction but we will be grappling seriously with the issues that face us as a United Kingdom as we leave the European Union. We will be talking about the strategic priorities for negotiations with the European Union. We will be talking about the way in which devolved administrations can be involved in the setting of mandates and the discharging of them in negotiations. That's what I and the Welsh Government will be focusing on this week and over the weeks and months to come.
Llywydd, byddaf yn cadeirio cyfarfod y Cydbwyllgor Gweinidogion (Negodiadau Ewropeaidd) yma yng Nghaerdydd yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma. Bydd yn cynnwys Prif Weinidog a Dirprwy Brif Weinidog Gogledd Iwerddon. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o'u croesawu nhw i Gymru y bore yma, eu hymrwymiad cyntaf o'r math hwn ers ailsefydlu'r Weithrediaeth. Bydd Michael Gove yn cynrychioli Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn y cyfarfod y prynhawn yma. Yno, ni fyddwn yn cael taith o amgylch atyniad i dwristiaid ond byddwn yn mynd i'r afael o ddifrif â'r materion sy'n ein hwynebu fel Teyrnas Unedig wrth i ni adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Byddwn yn trafod y blaenoriaethau strategol ar gyfer trafodaethau gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Byddwn yn trafod y modd y gellir cynnwys gweinyddiaethau datganoledig yn y broses o bennu mandadau a'u cyflawni mewn trafodaethau. Dyna'r hyn y byddaf i a Llywodraeth Cymru yn canolbwyntio arno yr wythnos hon ac yn ystod yr wythnosau a'r misoedd i ddod.
Good. I think the First Minister had announced that he was going to be making a speech on Friday, but I would like to congratulate him about the meeting he has had today, because I think while the UK Government has understandably been focussed on other things, when there hasn't been a Northern Ireland Government, and when the Scottish Government is antagonistic, I think the Welsh Government has taken a lead in thinking through some of these post-Brexit issues and what the appropriate architecture should be for our intra-government liaisons in the UK.
I was pleased to meet Simon Hart in Tŷ Hywel earlier, and I hope that he will also recognise the strong lead that Welsh Government has been giving in this area. Will the First Minister, however, now also pledge to work with the leader of the opposition and with Members opposite to use their influence on UK Government Ministers to help push forward some of the ideas his Government has developed, and on which we all agree?
And could I also ask, in an effort to find common ground, whether he might reconsider the delete-and-replace-all approach to the Conservative Brexit motion tomorrow? It refers only to the potential benefits to Wales of Brexit, and, in trying to find common ground, it speaks relatively non-controversially about new free trade agreements, an immigration system that does not discriminate against non-EU, and a new approach to regional investment. It also calls upon Welsh Government to engage positively with the UK Government. So, I wonder if the First Minister could find his way to supporting it?
Da iawn. Rwy'n credu bod y Prif Weinidog wedi cyhoeddi ei fod yn mynd i fod yn gwneud araith ddydd Gwener, ond hoffwn ei longyfarch ar y cyfarfod y mae wedi ei gael heddiw, gan fy mod i'n credu tra bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn canolbwyntio ar bethau eraill, a hynny'n ddealladwy, pan nad oedd Llywodraeth yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, a phan fo Llywodraeth yr Alban yn elyniaethus, rwy'n credu bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd yr awenau o ran rhoi ystyriaeth i rai o'r materion ar ôl Brexit hyn a beth ddylai'r bensaernïaeth briodol fod i'n cysylltiadau rhyng-lywodraeth yn y DU.
Roeddwn i'n falch o gyfarfod â Simon Hart yn Nhŷ Hywel yn gynharach, a gobeithio y bydd yntau hefyd yn cydnabod yr arweiniad cryf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ei roi yn y maes hwn. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog, fodd bynnag, addewid nawr hefyd i weithio gydag arweinydd yr wrthblaid a chyda'r Aelodau gyferbyn i ddefnyddio eu dylanwad ar Weinidogion Llywodraeth y DU i helpu i fwrw ymlaen â rhai o'r syniadau y mae ei Lywodraeth wedi eu datblygu, ac y mae pob un ohonom ni'n cytuno â nhw?
Ac a gaf i hefyd ofyn, mewn ymdrech i ddod o hyd i dir cyffredin, a allai ailystyried yr agwedd 'dileu a disodli popeth' at gynnig Brexit y Ceidwadwyr yfory? Mae'n cyfeirio at y manteision posibl Brexit i Gymru yn unig, ac, wrth geisio dod o hyd i dir cyffredin, mae'n siarad yn gymharol ddi-dadleuol am gytundebau masnach rydd newydd, system fewnfudo nad yw'n gwahaniaethu yn erbyn y tu allan i'r UE, a dull newydd ar gyfer buddsoddi rhanbarthol. Mae hefyd yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i ymgysylltu'n gadarnhaol â Llywodraeth y DU. Felly, tybed a allai'r Prif Weinidog ddod o hyd i'w ffordd i'w gefnogi?
I thank the Member. The Secretaries of State for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland will all be present at the JMC(EN) this afternoon. I thank the Member for what he said about the proposals that Wales has made to strengthen the way in which the United Kingdom can operate the other side of Brexit. I was glad to be able to discuss those directly with Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill this morning, and they will be part of an ongoing discussion about inter-governmental machinery that is discharged at the JMC.
I've been grateful to the leader of the opposition here for a number of opportunities to meet to talk about matters in relation to Brexit, the future of the United Kingdom and other important public policy issues. It has always been the position of these benches—it certainly was under my predecessor—that wherever there are constructive ideas that people want to contribute to these important public debates, of course, we are open to hearing them and to discussing them, and I certainly want to go on doing that into the future. Tomorrow's debate, Llywydd, will, I'm sure, have ample time on the floor of the Assembly for people to express their views.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod. Bydd Ysgrifenyddion Gwladol Cymru, Gogledd Iwerddon a'r Alban i gyd yn bresennol yn y Cyd-bwyllgor Gweinidogion (Negodiadau’r UE) y prynhawn yma. Diolchaf i'r Aelod am yr hyn a ddywedodd am y cynigion y mae Cymru wedi eu gwneud i gryfhau'r ffordd y gall y Deyrnas Unedig weithredu yr ochr arall i Brexit. Roeddwn i'n falch o allu trafod y rheini yn uniongyrchol gydag Arlene Foster a Michelle O'Neill y bore yma, a byddant yn rhan o drafodaeth barhaus am beirianwaith rhynglywodraethol sy'n cael ei weithredu yn y Cyd-bwyllgor.
Rwyf i wedi bod yn ddiolchgar i arweinydd yr wrthblaid yma am nifer o gyfleoedd i gyfarfod i siarad am faterion yn ymwneud â Brexit, dyfodol y Deyrnas Unedig a materion polisi cyhoeddus pwysig eraill. Safbwynt y meinciau hyn erioed—yn sicr o dan fy rhagflaenydd—oedd pa le bynnag y bo syniadau adeiladol y mae pobl eisiau eu cyfrannu at y dadleuon cyhoeddus pwysig hyn, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n agored i'w clywed ac i'w trafod, ac rwyf i yn sicr eisiau parhau i wneud hynny yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd digonedd o amser ar lawr y Cynulliad yn y ddadl yfory, Llywydd, i bobl fynegi eu barn.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru i gefnogi pobl ag awtistiaeth yng Ngorllewin De Cymru? OAQ55009
3. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans to support people with autism in South Wales West? OAQ55009
Thank you, Llywydd. Can I begin just by wishing the Member well in her continued recovery from her recent ill health? The integrated autism service is now available in all regions in Wales, supported by the Welsh Government's continued annual investment of £3 million. We will consult on the draft statutory autism code of practice in April of this year.
Diolch, Llywydd. A gaf i ddechrau drwy ddymuno'n dda i'r Aelod yn ei gwellhad parhaus o'i salwch diweddar? Mae'r gwasanaeth awtistiaeth integredig ar gael ym mhob rhanbarth yng Nghymru erbyn hyn, gyda chefnogaeth buddsoddiad blynyddol parhaus Llywodraeth Cymru o £3 miliwn. Byddwn yn ymgynghori ar y cod ymarfer statudol drafft ar gyfer awtistiaeth ym mis Ebrill eleni.
Thank you for your kind words, Minister, and thank you for your answer to my question. At a meeting last Friday, despite the measures you outlined, my constituents are still struggling to get the support they need. It's bad enough for families seeking help for the children with autism, but they've highlighted that it can be equally traumatic for adults previously undiagnosed. So, First Minister, what additional measures can you take to improve support for adults on the autism spectrum and also to speed up the diagnosis for adults who are without a firm diagnosis? Thank you.
Diolch am eich geiriau caredig, Gweinidog, a diolch am eich ateb i'm cwestiwn. Mewn cyfarfod ddydd Gwener diwethaf, er gwaethaf y mesurau a amlinellwyd gennych, mae fy etholwyr yn dal i'w chael yn anodd cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Mae'n ddigon drwg i deuluoedd sy'n chwilio am gymorth i'r plant ag awtistiaeth, ond maen nhw wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith y gall fod yr un mor drawmatig i oedolion sydd heb gael diagnosis o'r blaen. Felly, Prif Weinidog, pa fesurau ychwanegol allwch chi eu cymryd i wella cymorth i oedolion ar y sbectrwm awtistiaeth a hefyd i gyflymu'r diagnosis i oedolion sydd heb gael diagnosis pendant? Diolch.
I thank the Member for that, and I recognise the points that she raises about people who, when they were in childhood, maybe autism wasn't recognised in the way that it is today. And for some people, it's quite late in adult life before the things that matter to them are now being recognised as part of a wider condition. So, our integrated autism service is now available throughout Wales, and as I said in my original answer, Llywydd, the health Minister recently confirmed that the £3 million investment that we had originally made to assist in the establishment of that service is now to be a permanent part of its funding. So that, I think, will help. Some of the work that we have done in helping with the training of front-line primary care clinicians to recognise the autism spectrum and people who may be needing help on it, I think that will go on helping people in that position. And the autism statutory code of practice, which we will publish in April and which we will complete before the end of this Assembly term, focuses on assessment, awareness, access, planning and monitoring, and all of those things are designed to reinforce the service so that adults and young people can be confident that their needs are recognised and responded to in Wales.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna, ac rwy'n cydnabod y pwyntiau y mae'n eu codi am bobl a oedd, pan oedden nhw yn eu plentyndod, efallai nad oedd awtistiaeth yn cael ei gydnabod yn y ffordd y mae heddiw. Ac i rai pobl, mae'n eithaf hwyr yn eu bywyd fel oedolion cyn bod y pethau sy'n bwysig iddyn nhw bellach yn cael eu cydnabod yn rhan o gyflwr ehangach. Felly, mae ein gwasanaeth awtistiaeth integredig ar gael ledled Cymru erbyn hyn, ac fel y dywedais yn fy ateb gwreiddiol, Llywydd, cadarnhaodd y Gweinidog iechyd yn ddiweddar y bydd y buddsoddiad o £3 miliwn a wnaed gennym ni yn wreiddiol i helpu i sefydlu'r gwasanaeth hwnnw bellach yn rhan barhaol o'i gyllid. Felly bydd hynny, rwy'n credu, yn helpu. Bydd rhywfaint o'r gwaith yr ydym ni wedi ei wneud i helpu gyda hyfforddi clinigwyr gofal sylfaenol rheng flaen i gydnabod y sbectrwm awtistiaeth a'r bobl y gallai fod angen cymorth arnyn nhw arno, rwy'n credu y bydd hynny'n parhau i helpu pobl yn y sefyllfa honno. Ac mae'r cod ymarfer statudol ar awtistiaeth, y byddwn ni'n ei gyhoeddi ym mis Ebrill ac y byddwn ni'n ei gwblhau cyn diwedd y tymor Cynulliad hwn, yn canolbwyntio ar asesu, ymwybyddiaeth, mynediad, cynllunio a monitro, ac mae'r holl bethau hynny wedi eu cynllunio i atgyfnerthu'r gwasanaeth fel y gall oedolion a phobl ifanc fod yn ffyddiog bod eu hanghenion yn cael eu cydnabod ac yr ymatebir iddyn nhw yng Nghymru.
First Minister, not every child in my region with an autistic spectrum condition will need full special educational needs or additional learning needs support, but many do and, in some cases, quite significant support. It's also true that some of those children will experience poor mental health, whether that's unrelated to their autism or as a consequence of the daily challenges they face because of their autism. The education Minister has pledged £7 million towards meeting demand for education support in the current system, and there's an additional £5 million going in from both health and education for the whole-school approach, all of which is extremely welcome. But can you tell me how the £3 million to which you referred in your answer to Caroline Jones will be used to meet the needs of autistic children with poor mental health at all levels in the NHS, not just in primary care? And can you give me a guarantee that no child with an autistic spectrum condition will be turned away from primary mental healthcare due to lack of expertise or training from mental health professionals?
Prif Weinidog, ni fydd pob plentyn yn fy rhanbarth i sydd â chyflwr sbectrwm awtistig angen cymorth anghenion addysgol arbennig neu anghenion dysgu ychwanegol llawn, ond mae llawer angen y cymorth hwnnw ac, mewn rhai achosion, cymorth eithaf sylweddol. Mae hefyd yn wir y bydd rhai o'r plant hynny yn dioddef iechyd meddwl gwael, pa un a yw hynny heb gysylltiad â'u hawtistiaeth neu o ganlyniad i'r heriau dyddiol y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu oherwydd eu hawtistiaeth. Mae'r Gweinidog addysg wedi addo £7 miliwn tuag at fodloni'r galw am gymorth addysg yn y system bresennol, ac mae £5 miliwn ychwanegol yn mynd i mewn o feysydd iechyd ac addysg ar gyfer y dull ysgol gyfan, a chroesewir hyn i gyd. Ond a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf i sut y bydd y £3 miliwn y cyfeiriasoch ato yn eich ateb i Caroline Jones yn cael ei ddefnyddio i ddiwallu anghenion plant awtistig sydd ag iechyd meddwl gwael ar bob lefel yn y GIG, nid ym maes gofal sylfaenol yn unig? Ac a allwch chi roi sicrwydd i mi na fydd unrhyw blentyn â chyflwr sbectrwm awtistig yn cael ei wrthod gan ofal iechyd meddwl sylfaenol oherwydd diffyg arbenigedd neu hyfforddiant gan weithwyr iechyd meddwl proffesiynol?
Thank you for those additional questions and for the recognition of the investment that is going into different parts of the service. That's over and above the £20 million that's being invested in the implementation of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018. I entirely agree with what Suzy Davies says that not all children on the disorder spectrum will need the same sort of response.
We have developed, over the last three or four years, the particular service for young people with neurodevelopmental difficulties. We're carrying out a capacity-and-demand review of that service because, in a way that I think you could anticipate, when you create a new service then a set of latent demands rises to the surface. So, the service was funded from the beginning to deal with the young people we knew were coming into the system already; we provide a new service, and then a whole number of other young people who hadn't previously been identified come to the surface and need help, and that's why the demand-and-capacity review is being carried out.
Between that, between the things that we are doing in relation to mental health services for young people in schools, allied with what we are doing in relation to the additional learning needs Act, we are creating a web of services that I think are there to create a strong safety net for young people along that spectrum, so that nobody falls between the cracks and everybody's able to find a service that meets their particular needs.
Diolch am y cwestiynau ychwanegol yna ac am gydnabod y buddsoddiad sy'n mynd i wahanol rannau o'r gwasanaeth. Mae hynny'n ychwanegol i'r £20 miliwn sy'n cael ei fuddsoddi yn y broses o weithredu Deddf Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a'r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) 2018. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn y mae Suzy Davies yn ei ddweud na fydd angen yr un math o ymateb ar bob plentyn ar y sbectrwm anhwylderau.
Dros y tair neu bedair blynedd diwethaf, rydym ni wedi datblygu'r gwasanaeth penodol ar gyfer pobl ifanc ag anawsterau niwroddatblygiadol. Rydym ni'n cynnal adolygiad capasiti a galw o'r gwasanaeth hwnnw oherwydd, mewn ffordd yr wyf i'n credu y gallwch chi ei rhagweld, pan fyddwch chi'n creu gwasanaeth newydd yna mae cyfres o ofynion cudd yn codi i'r wyneb. Felly, ariannwyd y gwasanaeth o'r cychwyn i ymdrin â'r bobl ifanc yr oeddem ni'n gwybod eu bod nhw'n dod i mewn i'r system eisoes; rydym ni'n darparu gwasanaeth newydd, ac yna mae nifer fawr o bobl ifanc eraill nad oedden nhw wedi cael ei nodi cyn hynny yn dod i'r wyneb ac angen cymorth, a dyna pam mae'r adolygiad o alw a chapasiti yn cael ei gynnal.
Rhwng hwnnw, rhwng y pethau yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud o ran gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl i bobl ifanc mewn ysgolion, ar y cyd â'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud o ran y Ddeddf anghenion dysgu ychwanegol, rydym ni'n creu gwe o wasanaethau yr wyf i'n credu sydd yno i greu rhwyd diogelwch cryf i bobl ifanc ar hyd y sbectrwm hwnnw, fel nad oes neb yn syrthio rhwng y craciau a bod pawb yn gallu dod o hyd i wasanaeth sy'n diwallu eu hanghenion penodol.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer tyfu'r economi ymwelwyr yn Islwyn? OAQ55020
4. Will the First Minister outline the Welsh Government's plans for growing the visitor economy in Islwyn? OAQ55020
I thank the Member for that.
The tourism action plan for 2020-25 was launched last week. Its ambition to extend the tourism sector and the geographical reach of the industry will give new impetus to the many attractions that Islwyn has to offer.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna.
Lansiwyd y cynllun gweithredu ar dwristiaeth ar gyfer 2020-25 yr wythnos diwethaf. Bydd ei uchelgais i ymestyn y sector twristiaeth a chyrhaeddiad daearyddol y diwydiant yn rhoi hwb newydd i'r llu o atyniadau sydd gan Islwyn i'w cynnig.
First Minister, thank you. Last week, you and the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, unveiled an exciting future for the visitor economy in Wales. The new five-year plan, 'Welcome to Wales: Priorities for the Visitor Economy 2020-25', is backed by a new £10 million fund, brilliant basics, to support the all-important tourism infrastructure that will complement the £50 million Wales tourism investment fund, focusing on high-quality, reputation-changing products.
First Minister, the visitor economy, as you know, is vital to the well-being and future of communities in my constituency of Islwyn and, as such, last week I met with the Deputy Ministers, Lee Waters and Hannah Blythyn, where we discussed, amongst other things, the place of culture and the Welsh Government's commitment to Cwmcarn forest scenic drive in Islwyn, which has been designated a discovery gateway as part of the Welsh Government's Valleys Regional Park discovery gateway.
First Minister, the Welsh Labour Government backs its words with action, and in November, £450,000 was pledged to ensuring the Cwmcarn forest scenic drive will fully reopen in 2020, allowing access to every generation to experience one of Wales's natural wonders. So, First Minister, will you and Deputy Minister, Lee Waters, accept my invite to join the people of Islwyn at Cwmcarn forest scenic drive, and further, will you and the Welsh Government do all you can do to ensure that Wales and the world know that the beautiful Cwmcarn forest drive is once again fully open for business?
Prif Weinidog, diolch. Yr wythnos diwethaf, datgelwyd dyfodol cyffrous i'r economi ymwelwyr yng Nghymru gennych chi a'r Dirprwy Weinidog Diwylliant, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth, yr Arglwydd Elis-Thomas. Cefnogir y cynllun pum mlynedd newydd, 'Croeso i Gymru: Blaenoriaethau i'r Economi Ymwelwyr 2020-25', gan gronfa newydd o £10 miliwn, y pethau pwysig, i gefnogi'r seilwaith twristiaeth hollbwysig a fydd yn ategu cronfa buddsoddi mewn twristiaeth Cymru gwerth £50 miliwn, gan ganolbwyntio ar gynhyrchion o ansawdd uchel sy'n gwella enw da.
Prif Weinidog, mae'r economi ymwelwyr, fel y gwyddoch, yn hanfodol i lesiant a dyfodol cymunedau yn fy etholaeth i yn Islwyn ac, oherwydd hynny, cefais gyfarfod yr wythnos diwethaf gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidogion, Lee Waters a Hannah Blythyn, pryd y trafodasom, ymhlith pethau eraill, lle diwylliant ac ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i daith yrru golygfeydd coedwig Cwmcarn yn Islwyn, a ddynodwyd yn borth darganfod yn rhan o borth darganfod Parc Rhanbarthol y Cymoedd Llywodraeth Cymru.
Prif Weinidog, mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn cefnogi ei geiriau gyda gweithredoedd, ac ym mis Tachwedd, addawyd £450,000 i sicrhau y bydd taith yrru golygfeydd coedwig Cwmcarn yn ailagor yn llwyr yn 2020, gan ganiatáu mynediad i bob cenhedlaeth gael profiad o un o ryfeddodau naturiol Cymru. Felly, Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi a'r Dirprwy Weinidog, Lee Waters, dderbyn fy ngwahoddiad i ymuno â phobl Islwyn yn nhaith yrru golygfeydd coedwig Cwmcarn, a hefyd, a wnewch chi a Llywodraeth Cymru wneud popeth y gallwch ei wneud i sicrhau bod Cymru a'r byd yn gwybod bod taith yrru coedwig Cwmcarn ar agor yn llawn unwaith eto ar gyfer busnes?
Well, Llywydd, I thank the Member for that probing question on behalf of her constituents in Islwyn. I very much enjoyed the opportunity to be with Dafydd Elis-Thomas at the launch of the tourism action plan in Porthcawl last week. It sets out our ambitions for the tourist industry here in Wales. The Member is absolutely right to point to the Cwmcarn forest scenic drive as an example of the investment that this Welsh Labour Government is making in tourism destinations in all parts of Wales.
When my children were growing up, Llywydd, we were very regular visitors to Cwmcarn because of the way in which it provides such a variety of opportunities for young people to enjoy the wonderful scenery that is there but also all those other opportunities that the scenic drive provides. All the mountain bike routes at Cwmcarn have now been reopened. NRW have submitted planning applications for each of eight recreational areas along the drive. When those are in place as well, alongside the new visitor centre, there will be even more reasons for people to come to Islwyn and to enjoy what Cwmcarn has to offer.
Wel, Llywydd, diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn treiddgar yna ar ran ei hetholwyr yn Islwyn. Mwynheais yn fawr y cyfle i fod gyda Dafydd Elis-Thomas yn lansiad y cynllun gweithredu ar dwristiaeth ym Mhorthcawl yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae'n cyflwyno ein huchelgeisiau ar gyfer y diwydiant twristiaeth yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r Aelod yn gwbl gywir i dynnu sylw at daith yrru golygfeydd coedwig Cwmcarn fel enghraifft o'r buddsoddiad y mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur hon yng Nghymru yn ei wneud mewn cyrchfannau twristiaeth ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
Pan oedd fy mhlant i yn tyfu i fyny, Llywydd, roeddem ni'n ymwelwyr rheolaidd iawn â Chwmcarn oherwydd y ffordd y mae'n cynnig cymaint o amrywiaeth o gyfleoedd i bobl ifanc fwynhau'r golygfeydd bendigedig sydd yno ond hefyd yr holl gyfleoedd eraill hynny y mae'r daith yrru olygfaol yn eu cynnig. Mae'r holl lwybrau beicio mynydd yng Nghwmcarn wedi eu hailagor erbyn hyn. Mae Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi cyflwyno ceisiadau cynllunio ar gyfer pob un o'r wyth ardal hamdden ar hyd y daith yrru. Pan fydd y rheini wedi'u sefydlu hefyd, ochr yn ochr â'r ganolfan ymwelwyr newydd, bydd hyd yn oed mwy o resymau i bobl ddod i Islwyn a mwynhau'r hyn sydd gan Cwmcarn i'w gynnig.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am gamau gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru i hyrwyddo cynhwysiant ariannol yng Nghymru? OAQ55014
5. Will the First Minister provide an update on Welsh Government action to promote financial inclusion in Wales? OAQ55014
Llywydd, our commitment to promoting financial inclusion is reflected through the £19 million funding we provide to offer people access to affordable financial services and quality-assured information and advice. This means people are able to make more informed financial decisions and better manage their finances.
Llywydd, mae ein hymrwymiad i hybu cynhwysiant ariannol yn cael ei adlewyrchu yn y cyllid o £19 miliwn yr ydym ni'n ei ddarparu i gynnig mynediad i bobl at wasanaethau ariannol fforddiadwy a gwybodaeth a chyngor y mae eu hansawdd wedi'i sicrhau. Mae hyn yn golygu bod pobl yn gallu gwneud penderfyniadau ariannol mwy cytbwys a rheoli eu cyllid yn well.
Thank you, First Minister, and can I welcome the range of actions that you set out there, which I know assist many of my constituents in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? Many of us on this side of the Chamber also remember the actions of the last UK Labour Government in establishing child trust funds, and, of course, the additional support for this provided by the Welsh Labour Government. Trust funds exist, First Minister, as you know, to help young people with savings to support them into adult life—support that was abolished by the UK Tory Government. Since then, Tory Ministers have failed to link people with their accounts, meaning that millions could go unclaimed when all children in Wales born in 2002 will be eligible to access their savings this September. What representations has the Welsh Government made to the UK Government to ensure that young people are reunited with their savings?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, ac a gaf i groesawu'r amrywiaeth o gamau gweithredu a gyflwynwyd gennych chi yn y fan yna, y gwn eu bod o gymorth i lawer o'm hetholwyr ym Merthyr Tudful a Rhymni? Mae llawer ohonom ni ar yr ochr hon i'r Siambr hefyd yn cofio gweithredoedd Llywodraeth Lafur ddiwethaf y DU o ran sefydlu cronfeydd ymddiriedolaeth plant, ac, wrth gwrs, y gefnogaeth ychwanegol i hyn a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru. Mae cronfeydd ymddiriedolaeth yn bodoli, Prif Weinidog, fel y gwyddoch, i helpu pobl ifanc gyda chynilion i'w cynorthwyo wrth symud i fywyd fel oedolyn—cymorth a ddiddymwyd gan Lywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU. Ers hynny, mae Gweinidogion Torïaidd wedi methu â chysylltu pobl â'u cyfrifon, sy'n golygu y gallai miliynau fynd heb eu hawlio pan fydd pob plentyn yng Nghymru a anwyd yn 2002 yn gymwys i gael eu cynilion ym mis Medi. Pa sylwadau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi eu gwneud i Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn cael eu haduno â'u cynilion?
Well, I thank Dawn Bowden for pointing to one of the great social policy experiments of this century. I deeply regret the fact that the child trust fund, launched by Labour in 2002 was abolished by the incoming coalition Government in 2010, because that scheme offered young people and particularly people from disadvantaged communities a chance to begin their adult life with an asset behind them, and in asset-based welfare, the theory is that assets change lives; that, if you have a sum of money that you can rely on, you make different sorts of decisions about your future. Now, we have this great natural experiment because we have these cohorts of young people born from 1 September 2002 until 2011 and the first generation of those children turn 18 in September of this year. There were 273,000 young people in Wales who had child trust fund accounts opened for them and some Members here will remember my colleague, Brian Gibbons, introducing a Welsh addition to those child trust funds, so that children in Wales, when they became primary school age, every child had £50 added to their account; every child from a disadvantaged family had £100 added to their account.
When the child trust fund was set up, Llywydd, the idea was not simply to put money into a child's account, but that that child would be able to track that account throughout their maturity—that, every year, they would have a statement telling them how much was being held for them. By the time they were 16, they were meant to be able to make decisions for themselves about where that fund would be invested. And, when the fund was abolished, unfortunately all of that was abolished as well.
That's why we are fearful, as Dawn Bowden has said, that there could be thousands of young people in Wales in September of this year who have had money invested on their behalf that could provide a platform for them as they go into adult life, who will know nothing about it. That's why my colleague Rebecca Evans wrote to Treasury Ministers on 22 January, urging them to take new action, so that those young people in Wales who have an opportunity to take advantage of their child trust fund will be identified and that we can be confident that, for those young people at least, this opportunity will be genuinely available.
Wel, diolchaf i Dawn Bowden am gyfeirio at un o arbrofion polisi cymdeithasol mawr y ganrif hon. Gresynaf yn fawr y ffaith bod y gronfa ymddiriedolaeth plant, a lansiwyd gan y Blaid Lafur yn 2002 wedi cael ei diddymu gan y Llywodraeth glymblaid a ddaeth i rym yn 2010, gan fod y cynllun hwnnw'n cynnig cyfle i bobl ifanc ac yn enwedig pobl o gymunedau difreintiedig ddechrau ar eu bywyd fel oedolion gydag ased y tu ôl iddyn nhw, ac mewn lles sy'n seiliedig ar asedau, y ddamcaniaeth yw bod asedau'n newid bywydau; os oes gennych chi swm o arian y gallwch chi ddibynnu arno, rydych chi'n gwneud gwahanol fathau o benderfyniadau am eich dyfodol. Nawr, mae gennym ni'r arbrawf naturiol mawr hwn oherwydd bod gennym ni'r cohortau hyn o bobl ifanc a anwyd rhwng 1 Medi 2002 a 2011 a bydd y genhedlaeth gyntaf o'r plant hynny yn troi'n 18 oed ym mis Medi eleni. Roedd 273,000 o bobl ifanc yng Nghymru yr agorwyd cyfrifon cronfa ymddiriedolaeth plant ar eu cyfer a bydd rhai Aelodau yn y fan yma yn cofio fy nghyd-Aelod, Brian Gibbons, yn cyflwyno ychwanegiad yng Nghymru at y cronfeydd ymddiriedolaeth plant hynny, fel bod plant yng Nghymru, pan roedden nhw'n cyrraedd oed ysgol gynradd, ychwanegwyd £50 at gyfrif pob plentyn; ychwanegwyd £100 at gyfrif pob plentyn o deulu difreintiedig.
Pan sefydlwyd y gronfa ymddiriedolaeth plant, Llywydd, y syniad oedd nid yn unig rhoi arian i mewn i gyfrif plentyn, ond y byddai'r plentyn hwnnw'n gallu olrhain y cyfrif hwnnw drwy gydol ei aeddfedrwydd—y byddai ganddo, bob blwyddyn, gyfriflen yn dweud wrtho faint oedd yn cael ei gadw ar ei gyfer. Erbyn yr adeg y bydden nhw'n 16 oed, roedden nhw i fod i allu gwneud penderfyniadau drostynt eu hunain ynghylch ble y byddai'r gronfa honno'n cael ei buddsoddi. A, phan ddiddymwyd y gronfa, diddymwyd hynny i gyd hefyd yn anffodus.
Dyna pam yr ydym ni'n bryderus, fel y mae Dawn Bowden wedi ei ddweud, y gallai fod miloedd o bobl ifanc yng Nghymru ym mis Medi eleni y buddsoddwyd arian ar eu rhan a allai roi llwyfan iddyn nhw wrth iddyn nhw fynd ymlaen i fywyd fel oedolion, na fyddan nhw'n gwybod dim am y peth. Dyna pam yr ysgrifennodd fy nghyd-Aelod Rebecca Evans at Weinidogion y Trysorlys ar 22 Ionawr, yn eu hannog i gymryd camau newydd, fel y bydd y bobl ifanc hynny yng Nghymru sydd â chyfle i fanteisio ar eu cronfa ymddiriedolaeth plant yn cael eu nodi ac y gallwn fod yn ffyddiog y bydd y cyfle hwn ar gael yn wirioneddol, i'r bobl ifanc hynny o leiaf.
Ac, yn olaf, cwestiwn 6, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Finally, question 6, Huw Irranca-Davies.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi diweddariad am gyfarfod diweddaraf Tasglu Ford Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr? OAQ54985
6. Will the First Minister provide an update on the latest meeting of the Ford Bridgend Taskforce? OAQ54985
Llywydd, the taskforce last met on 20 January. It was attended by the Minister for the economy, Ken Skates, and by the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart. The meeting reviewed progress to date and agreed next steps in delivering a regional approach to the Ford plant closure.
Llywydd, cyfarfu'r tasglu ddiwethaf ar 20 Ionawr. Roedd Gweinidog yr economi, Ken Skates, a Simon Hart, Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, yn bresennol. Adolygodd y cyfarfod y cynnydd a wnaed hyd yma a chytunwyd ar y camau nesaf yn y gwaith o sicrhau dull rhanbarthol ar gyfer cau gwaith Ford.
I notice that, in the press release that accompanied that update last week, it mentioned that, in the next phase, it'll move on to focusing on the regional approach. Much of the focus at the moment has been very much on the site itself, the legacy, the community fund that will be left, which, I have to say—I'm sure my colleague Carwyn and I will both agree—should be as large as any community fund that's been left anywhere else when Ford have left a community. But, on that regional approach, would he emphasise to the chair and the taskforce members the necessity of working with Bridgend County Borough Council on some of their regional plans as well, and those would include ones such as economic hubs in the Garw and the Ogmore valleys and development of empty or unused sites, such as the Ewenny Road site as well? I think there's a real opportunity here, First Minister, for the taskforce to work across the region with some quite exciting plans that are already in the pipeline, and that's the way we'll make the regeneration with this taskforce really bite deep.
Sylwaf, yn y datganiad i'r wasg a oedd yn atodi'r diweddariad hwnnw yr wythnos diwethaf, ei fod yn sôn y bydd yn symud ymlaen, yn y cam nesaf, i ganolbwyntio ar y dull rhanbarthol. Bu llawer o'r pwyslais ar hyn o bryd ar y safle ei hun, yr etifeddiaeth, y gronfa gymunedol a fydd ar ôl, a ddylai, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud—rwy'n siŵr y bydd fy nghyd-Aelod Carwyn a minnau yn cytuno—fod mor fawr ag unrhyw gronfa gymunedol a adawyd yn unman arall pan fo Ford wedi gadael cymuned. Ond, o ran y dull rhanbarthol hwnnw, a wnaiff ef bwysleisio i'r cadeirydd ac aelodau'r tasglu bod angen gweithio gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar rai o'u cynlluniau rhanbarthol hwythau hefyd, a byddai'r rheini'n cynnwys rhai fel canolfannau economaidd yng nghymoedd Garw ac Ogwr a datblygu safleoedd gwag neu segur, fel safle Heol Ewenni hefyd? Rwy'n credu bod cyfle gwirioneddol yn y fan yma, Prif Weinidog, i'r tasglu weithio ar draws y rhanbarth gyda rhai cynlluniau eithaf cyffrous sydd eisoes ar y gweill, a dyna sut y byddwn ni'n sicrhau bod yr adfywiad gyda'r tasglu hwn yn brathu'n ddwfn iawn.
Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that, Llywydd, and agree with him entirely that the closure of a plant like Bridgend has a regional as well as a local impact? There will be many Assembly Members here, to the east and to the west of Bridgend, who have constituents who are working, have been working, in Ford, and the impact of the closure will not simply be felt in the immediate locality, but right across the region. That is why the taskforce agreed at its last meeting on a regional focus for the next phase of its work.
Certainly, it will want to work with Bridgend County Borough Council to make sure that some of their wider ambitions can be supported by the work of the taskforce. It's why, when Ineos, for example, was brought to Bridgend itself, the Welsh Government has had a real emphasis on supply chain opportunities, because the companies that Ineos will contract with will have a regional impact beyond Bridgend as well, and the taskforce, I know, is going, in its next phase of work, to have a particular focus on that wider impact—the things that we can do beyond Bridgend as a town—to make sure that the impact of the closure is attended to in all its different dimensions.
A gaf i ddiolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am hynna, Llywydd, a chytuno ag ef yn llwyr bod cau gwaith fel Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn cael effaith ranbarthol yn ogystal â lleol? Bydd llawer o Aelodau Cynulliad yn y fan yma, i'r dwyrain ac i'r gorllewin o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr, sydd ag etholwyr sy'n gweithio, sydd wedi bod yn gweithio, yn Ford, ac nid yn yr ardal leol yn unig y bydd effaith cau'r gwaith yn cael ei theimlo, ond ar draws y rhanbarth cyfan. Dyna pam y cytunodd y tasglu yn ei gyfarfod diwethaf ar bwyslais rhanbarthol ar gyfer cam nesaf ei waith.
Yn sicr, bydd eisiau gweithio gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i sicrhau y gall gwaith y tasglu gefnogi rhai o'i uchelgeisiau ehangach. Dyna pam, pan ddaethpwyd ag Ineos, er enghraifft, i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr ei hun, bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi rhoi pwyslais gwirioneddol ar gyfleoedd yn y gadwyn gyflenwi, oherwydd bydd y cwmnïau y bydd Ineos yn eu contractio yn cael effaith ranbarthol y tu hwnt i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr hefyd, ac mae'r tasglu, rwy'n gwybod, yn mynd i ganolbwyntio'n benodol yn ei gyfnod nesaf ar yr effaith ehangach honno—y pethau y gallwn ni eu gwneud y tu hwnt i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr fel tref—i wneud yn siŵr bod effaith cau'r gwaith yn cael ei hystyried yn ei holl wahanol ddimensiynau.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mohammad Asghar.
The next item is questions to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, and the first question is from Mohammad Asghar.
1. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am fesurau i fynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb yng Nghymru? OAQ54993
1. Will the Deputy Minister provide an update on measures to tackle hate crime in Wales? OAQ54993
We've significantly increased our investment in tackling hate crime in recent months to address the rise in hateful narratives. And I'll lead a debate in March providing an update on action to tackle hate crime with our partners in Wales.
Rydym ni wedi cynyddu ein buddsoddiad mewn mynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb yn sylweddol yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf i roi sylw i'r cynnydd mewn naratifau atgas. A byddaf yn arwain dadl ym mis Mawrth yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y camau i fynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb gyda'n partneriaid yng Nghymru.
Thank you for the reply, Minister. Welsh police forces recorded nearly 4,000 hate crimes in 2018-19. Eleven per cent of these incidents were disability hate crimes—shocking. The learning disability charity United Response has called for measures to be taken across the country and by the authorities to make the process of reporting and convicting disability hate crimes more accessible and less daunting for victims. They went on to say they feel the process is currently a significant barrier to criminals being given the punishment they deserve, especially in the context of the dramatic rise in repeat offenders. Minister, will you take action to address the specific needs of disabled people with regard to reporting hate crime in Wales, please?
Diolch am yr ateb, Gweinidog. Cofnododd heddluoedd Cymru bron i 4,000 o droseddau casineb yn 2018-19. Roedd un ar ddeg y cant o'r digwyddiadau hyn yn droseddau casineb ar sail anabledd—sy'n gywilyddus. Mae'r elusen anabledd dysgu United Response wedi galw am i fesurau gael eu cymryd ledled y wlad a chan yr awdurdodau i wneud y broses o adrodd ac euogfarnu troseddau casineb ar sail anabledd yn fwy hygyrch ac yn llai brawychus i ddioddefwyr. Aethant ymlaen i ddweud eu bod nhw'n teimlo bod y broses yn rhwystr sylweddol ar hyn o bryd i droseddwyr gael y gosb y maen nhw'n ei haeddu, yn enwedig yng nghyd-destun y cynnydd sylweddol i nifer y troseddwyr mynych. Gweinidog, a wnewch chi gymryd camau i ddiwallu anghenion penodol pobl anabl o ran hysbysu am droseddau casineb yng Nghymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
I thank you very much for that question, Oscar, because it is true that the rise in disability hate crime was a shocking statistic last year. We have put more funding into our national hate crime report and support centre over the next two years, and that's also on top of annual funding that we give. And we're also developing an anti-hate crime campaign in terms of communications, and we're going to focus particularly on hate crime affecting disabled people, and learning from, for example, the organisation People First—you will be aware of the People First organisations across Wales—so that learning disabled people can contribute to that communications campaign in terms of tackling disabled people's hate crime, which, unfortunately, has been on the rise.
Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi am y cwestiwn yna, Oscar, oherwydd mae'n wir bod y cynnydd i nifer y troseddau casineb ar sail anabledd yn ystadegyn brawychus y llynedd. Rydym ni wedi neilltuo mwy o gyllid i'n canolfan adrodd a chymorth cenedlaethol ar droseddau casineb dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf, ac mae hynny hefyd yn ogystal â chyllid blynyddol yr ydym ni'n ei roi. Ac rydym ni hefyd yn datblygu ymgyrch yn erbyn troseddau casineb o ran cyfathrebu, ac rydym ni'n mynd i ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar droseddau casineb sy'n effeithio ar bobl anabl, a dysgu, er enghraifft, gan y sefydliad Pobl yn Gyntaf—byddwch chi'n ymwybodol o'r sefydliadau Pobl yn Gyntaf ledled Cymru—fel y gall pobl ag anableddau dysgu gyfrannu at yr ymgyrch gyfathrebu honno o ran mynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb pobl anabl, sydd, yn anffodus, wedi bod ar gynnydd.
Minister, would you agree with me that hate crime against the Gypsy/Traveller community must be treated with equal seriousness as hate crime against any other community or minority in Wales? I recently met with local members of my Gypsy/Traveller community, and they feel very strongly that too often that isn't the case. They gave examples of social media postings, for example, that were discriminatory, prejudicial and clearly hate crime, but when they tried to get effective action, they found it very, very difficult. Their plea, really, was that hate crime against their community must be treated with equal seriousness as any other hate crime.
Gweinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi bod yn rhaid trin troseddau casineb yn erbyn y gymuned Sipsiwn/Teithwyr gyda'r un difrifoldeb â throseddau casineb yn erbyn unrhyw gymuned neu leiafrif arall yng Nghymru? Cefais gyfarfod yn ddiweddar gydag aelodau lleol o'm cymuned Sipsiwn/Teithwyr, ac maen nhw'n teimlo'n gryf iawn, yn rhy aml, nad yw hynny'n wir. Rhoesant enghreifftiau o negeseuon cyfryngau cymdeithasol, er enghraifft, a oedd yn wahaniaethol, yn rhagfarnllyd ac yn amlwg yn droseddau casineb, ond pan geisiwyd camau effeithiol ganddynt, fe welsant fod hynny yn anodd dros ben. Eu ple, mewn gwirionedd, oedd bod yn rhaid i droseddau casineb yn erbyn eu cymuned nhw gael eu trin gyda'r un difrifoldeb ag unrhyw drosedd casineb arall.
Again, I thank John Griffiths for that important question and, indeed, we must treat hate crime against Gypsy/Traveller/Roma communities with equal vigour, as we are against disability hate crime, race hate crime, LGBT hate crime, all the hate crimes that unfortunately are in our midst. And, of course, I'm pleased that we are investing not only in our Travelling Ahead fund in terms of ensuring that we do have Gypsy sites across Wales, but also working with local authorities and those third sector organisations that we are supporting the Gypsy/Traveller/Roma community. And can I also say that it's very important that we have an all-party group to tackle these issues? I meet regularly with Isaac Blake from the Gypsy/Traveller Romani Cultural and Arts Company, and we are funding them in terms of addressing these issues.
Unwaith eto, diolchaf i John Griffiths am y cwestiwn pwysig yna ac, yn wir, mae'n rhaid i ni drin troseddau casineb yn erbyn cymunedau Sipsiwn/Teithwyr/Roma gyda'r un egni, ag yr ydym ni yn ei wneud yn erbyn troseddau casineb ar sail anabledd, troseddau casineb hiliol, troseddau casineb LGBT, yr holl droseddau casineb sydd yn ein plith yn anffodus. Ac, wrth gwrs, rwy'n falch ein bod ni'n buddsoddi nid yn unig yn ein cronfa Teithio Ymlaen o ran sicrhau bod gennym ni safleoedd Sipsiwn ledled Cymru, ond hefyd yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol a'r mudiadau trydydd sector hynny yr ydym ni'n gweithio â nhw i gefnogi'r gymuned Sipsiwn/Teithwyr/Roma. Ac a gaf i ddweud hefyd ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn bod gennym ni grŵp hollbleidiol i roi sylw i'r materion hyn? Rwy'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd gydag Isaac Blake o'r Cwmni Diwylliannol a Chelfyddydol Romani Sipsiwn/Teithwyr, ac rydym ni'n eu hariannu nhw o ran mynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn.
2. Pa strategaethau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i wneud y mwyaf o fanteision byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus fel y'u sefydlwyd gan Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015? OAQ55016
2. What strategies does the Welsh Government have to maximise the benefits of public service boards as established by the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015? OAQ55016
Public services boards have a collective purpose and obligation to improve well-being in their areas through their local well-being plans. The Welsh Government provides a range of support to enable them to make their work as effective as possible.
Mae gan fyrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ddiben a rhwymedigaeth gyfunol i wella llesiant yn eu hardaloedd drwy eu cynlluniau llesiant lleol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn darparu amrywiaeth o gymorth i'w galluogi i wneud eu gwaith mor effeithiol â phosibl.
Thank you. The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee is currently scrutinising the Government's work on eliminating fuel poverty in Wales—important both from the social justice perspective as well as our need to eliminate carbon emissions as quickly as possible. It's one of those challenging issues that requires a joined-up approach by all stakeholders, from energy companies to all public services as well as citizens. An ideal subject, you would have thought, for public services boards, but we've yet to receive any evidence the public services boards are being tasked to join up the gaps between these different services. So, what is the Welsh Government doing to ensure that public services boards are grasping complex issues like fuel poverty to deliver on the ways of working and objectives, as in the well-being of future generations Act?
Diolch. Mae'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig yn craffu ar hyn o bryd ar waith y Llywodraeth ar ddileu tlodi tanwydd yng Nghymru—mae'n bwysig o'r safbwynt cyfiawnder cymdeithasol yn ogystal â'n hangen i ddileu allyriadau carbon mor gyflym â phosibl. Mae'n un o'r materion heriol hynny sy'n galw am ddull gweithredu cydgysylltiedig gan yr holl randdeiliaid, o gwmnïau ynni i bob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus yn ogystal â dinasyddion. Pwnc delfrydol, byddech wedi meddwl, i fyrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, ond nid ydym wedi cael unrhyw dystiolaeth hyd yn hyn bod y byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn cael y dasg o gydgysylltu'r bylchau rhwng y gwahanol wasanaethau hyn. Felly, beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn mynd i'r afael â materion cymhleth fel tlodi tanwydd er mwyn cyflawni'r ffyrdd o weithio ac amcanion, fel yn Neddf llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol?
Well, I thank you, Jenny Rathbone, for that question, and it's very good to hear that the climate change committee is undertaking this inquiry into tackling fuel poverty. What is crucial is that public services boards must be held to account for the work that they're doing and, in fact, they have that scrutiny through a local authority scrutiny committee, which reviews both the governance of the public services board and its decisions. And, indeed, the Welsh Government has a representative on each of the public services boards to make sure that there is a connection between local and national context. In looking at policy issues, it's vital that PSBs do understand complex issues and address them.
But, I think that there are some encouraging accounts of what PSBs are doing in terms of making fuel poverty a priority for their area. I'd just mention Cwm Taf, which I understand is tackling fuel poverty by promoting the Warm Homes programme, community energy schemes and home insulation. The Vale of Glamorgan, my own constituency, I have to say, has a long-term goal of developing a co-ordinated approach to tackling fuel poverty, and they are engaging the expertise and contribution of registered social landlords.
In Cardiff, your public services board have specific action to help people out of poverty, with fuel poverty as an outcome indicator, which they are going to use to measure the impact of public services boards. So, that's a real opportunity to see if Cardiff can prove the important contribution impact of the public services boards in terms of tackling fuel poverty.
Wel, diolchaf i chi, Jenny Rathbone, am y cwestiwn yna, ac mae'n dda iawn clywed bod y pwyllgor newid hinsawdd yn cynnal yr ymchwiliad hwn i fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd. Yr hyn sy'n hollbwysig yw bod yn rhaid i fyrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gael eu dwyn i gyfrif am y gwaith y maen nhw'n ei wneud ac, yn wir, maen nhw'n destun y craffu hwnnw trwy bwyllgor craffu awdurdod lleol, sy'n adolygu trefniadau llywodraethu'r bwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a'i benderfyniadau. Ac, yn wir, mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynrychiolydd ar bob un o'r byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus i wneud yn siŵr bod cysylltiad rhwng cyd-destun lleol a chenedlaethol. Wrth edrych ar faterion polisi, mae'n hanfodol bod BGCau yn deall materion cymhleth ac yn mynd i'r afael â nhw.
Ond, rwy'n credu bod rhai adroddiadau calonogol o'r hyn y mae'r byrddau yn ei wneud o ran gwneud tlodi tanwydd yn flaenoriaeth i'w hardal. Hoffwn sôn am Gwm Taf, sydd, yn ôl a ddeallaf, yn mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd drwy hyrwyddo'r rhaglen Cartrefi Cynnes, cynlluniau ynni cymunedol ac inswleiddio cartrefi. Mae gan Fro Morgannwg, fy etholaeth i fy hun, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, nod hirdymor o ddatblygu dull cydgysylltiedig o fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd, ac maen nhw'n ymgysylltu ag arbenigedd a chyfraniad landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig.
Yng Nghaerdydd, mae gan eich bwrdd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gamau penodol i helpu pobl allan o dlodi, gyda thlodi tanwydd yn ddangosydd canlyniadau, y maen nhw'n mynd i'w defnyddio i fesur effaith byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Felly, mae hwnnw'n gyfle gwirioneddol i weld a all Caerdydd brofi effaith cyfraniad pwysig y byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o ran mynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd.
Last autumn, the auditor general found that the way that public services boards are currently operating is hampering their ability to improve the well-being of their communities. His report identified weaknesses such as the inadequacy of accountability and oversight arrangements, lack of public reporting and the duplication of PSB activity with other partnerships. Now, there is a significant difference between here and England. Here, Welsh Government policy for PSBs promotes a public sector-led response to addressing many challenges, and the private sector is not identified as a core PSB member. What consideration will you give to encouraging PSBs to consider the benefits of involving representatives of the private sector that already show significant influences in other areas?
Yr hydref diwethaf, canfu'r archwilydd cyffredinol bod y ffordd y mae byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn gweithredu ar hyn o bryd yn llesteirio eu gallu i wella llesiant eu cymunedau. Nododd ei adroddiad wendidau fel anaddasrwydd atebolrwydd a threfniadau goruchwylio, diffyg adroddiadau cyhoeddus a dyblygu gweithgarwch BGC gyda phartneriaethau eraill. Nawr, ceir gwahaniaeth sylweddol rhwng y fan yma a Lloegr. Yma, mae polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer BGCau yn hyrwyddo ymateb dan arweiniad y sector cyhoeddus i fynd i'r afael â llawer o heriau, ac nid yw'r sector preifat yn cael ei nodi fel aelod craidd o'r BGC. Pa ystyriaeth wnewch chi ei rhoi i annog BGCau i ystyried manteision cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o'r sector preifat sydd eisoes yn dangos dylanwadau sylweddol mewn meysydd eraill?
Well, it is important that we assess the impact of public services boards—crucial, as part of the tools of the well-being of future generations legislation, and obviously of great interest to the commissioner. Of course, we are seeking to support PSBs, to make them have a greater impact in terms of delivery. That includes engagement partners, and not just community, which is crucial, but also, clearly, private sector partners where appropriate. For example, some public services boards are looking at those priorities such as the early years policy area, which I know you'd welcome, and also the foundational economy. But, I think that it is important that public services boards have to publish annual reports making their work transparent, improving well-being in their areas, so it is a point for scrutiny, and to take into account their work.
Wel, mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n asesu effaith byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus—yn hollbwysig, yn rhan o arfau'r ddeddfwriaeth llesiant cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac yn amlwg o ddiddordeb mawr i'r comisiynydd. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n ceisio cefnogi BGCau, i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael mwy o effaith o ran cyflawni. Mae hynny'n cynnwys partneriaid ymgysylltu, ac nid y gymuned yn unig, sy'n hollbwysig, ond hefyd, yn amlwg, partneriaid y sector preifat pan fo hynny'n briodol. Er enghraifft, mae rhai byrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yn edrych ar y blaenoriaethau hynny fel maes polisi'r blynyddoedd cynnar, yr wyf yn gwybod y byddech chi'n ei groesawu, a hefyd yr economi sylfaenol. Ond, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig bod yn rhaid i fyrddau gwasanaethau cyhoeddus gyhoeddi adroddiadau blynyddol sy'n gwneud eu gwaith yn dryloyw, gan wella llesiant yn eu hardaloedd, felly mae'n bwynt ar gyfer craffu, ac i gymryd eu gwaith i ystyriaeth.
3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â gwrth-semitiaeth? OAQ55000
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle anti-semitism? OAQ55000
The Welsh Government has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism in full and without qualification. We are determined to root out intolerance in our communities, and I will provide a full statement this afternoon on work that we are doing to combat antisemitism and to commemorate the Holocaust.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi mabwysiadu diffiniad Cynghrair Rhyngwladol Cofio'r Holocost o wrth-semitiaeth yn llawn ac yn ddiamod. Rydym ni'n benderfynol o gael gwared ar anoddefgarwch o'n cymunedau, a byddaf yn darparu datganiad llawn y prynhawn yma ar waith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â gwrth-semitiaeth ac i goffáu'r Holocost.
Thank you for that, and I'm looking forward to your statement, on the back of which I hope to ask you a different question. But, for now, I would like to ask you about education and, in the light of the new curriculum, whether you would consider the work of the March of the Living movement. This is an annual educational programme that brings students from around the world to Poland, where they explore the remnants of the Holocaust and march silently from Auschwitz to Birkenau.
I have to say that visiting the camps really does change people. Seeing is believing, and certainly feeling. If education is at the heart of stamping out hatred, would you please work with the education Minister to ensure absolutely that the Holocaust does not fall out of the curriculum, and that as many young people as possible have the opportunity to see these camps for themselves?
Diolch am hynna, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at eich datganiad, ac rwy'n gobeithio gofyn gwahanol gwestiwn i chi ar sail hwnnw. Ond, am nawr, hoffwn eich holi am addysg ac, yng ngoleuni'r cwricwlwm newydd, a wnewch chi ystyried gwaith mudiad March of the Living. Rhaglen addysgol flynyddol yw hon sy'n dod â myfyrwyr o bedwar ban byd i wlad Pwyl, lle maen nhw'n archwilio olion yr Holocost ac yn gorymdeithio'n dawel o Auschwitz i Birkenau.
Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod ymweld â'r gwersylloedd wir yn newid pobl. Mae gweld yn gyfystyr â chredu, ac yn sicr teimlo. Os yw addysg wrth wraidd cael gwared ar gasineb, a fyddech cystal â gweithio gyda'r Gweinidog addysg i sicrhau'n llwyr nad yw'r Holocost yn disgyn allan o'r cwricwlwm, a bod cymaint o bobl ifanc â phosibl yn cael y cyfle i weld y gwersylloedd hyn drostynt eu hunain?
Well, I thank Suzy Davies very much for that question, and I realise that this follows your visit, and that you were part of a delegation, I understand, to Auschwitz. I'm sure that we will hear more about that later on this afternoon, when I make my statement. I know that the education Minister will be willing to look at the March of the Living movement, in particular, as you've raised it today, but you will know that we do also provide an annual grant of £119,000 to the Holocaust Educational Trust to deliver the Lessons from Auschwitz Project. And also, and we'll speak more of this this afternoon, I'm sure, we've provided £40,500 of funding, EU transition funding, in fact, to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to undertake much work involving schools in Wales as part of this year's commemorations.
Actually, yesterday, young people took part in the national service in City Hall, which was very powerful, I know, and also last night at an event at the Friends Meeting House, where two young people read out a Holocaust memorial prayer in Welsh and in English. And I think the fact that we're supporting the Holocaust Educational Trust does mean that, in fact, last year, a visit took place. Now that I've got the opportunity to say: 186 participants took part in that visit to Auschwitz, including 154 pupils from 66 schools, sixth forms and colleges, 19 teachers, 13 others, including facilitators and press representatives. And that programme will run again in Wales from January—crucial to enable young people to engage. But, clearly, we will also look at the movements, the March of the Living movement as well.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn i Suzy Davies am y cwestiwn yna, ac rwy'n sylweddoli bod hyn yn dilyn eich ymweliad, a'ch bod yn rhan o ddirprwyaeth, rwy'n deall, i Auschwitz. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwn ni'n clywed mwy am hynny yn nes ymlaen y prynhawn yma, pan fyddaf yn gwneud fy natganiad. Gwn y bydd y Gweinidog addysg yn fodlon edrych ar fudiad March of the Living, yn enwedig, gan eich bod wedi ei godi heddiw, ond byddwch yn gwybod ein bod ni hefyd yn darparu grant blynyddol o £119,000 i Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost i ddarparu'r prosiect Gwersi o Auschwitz. A hefyd, a byddwn yn siarad mwy am hyn y prynhawn yma, rwy'n siŵr, rydym ni wedi darparu £40,500 o gyllid, cyllid pontio'r UE, a dweud y gwir, i Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost i wneud llawer o waith yn cynnwys ysgolion yng Nghymru yn rhan o ddigwyddiadau coffáu eleni.
A dweud y gwir, ddoe, cymerodd pobl ifanc ran yn y gwasanaeth cenedlaethol yn Neuadd y Ddinas, a oedd yn rymus iawn, rwy'n gwybod, a hefyd neithiwr mewn digwyddiad yn Nhŷ Cwrdd y Cyfeillion, pryd y darllenodd dau o bobl ifanc weddi am yr Holocost yn y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg. Ac rwy'n credu bod y ffaith ein bod ni'n cefnogi Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost yn golygu, mewn gwirionedd, y llynedd, y cynhaliwyd ymweliad. Nawr bod gen i'r cyfle i ddweud: cymerodd 186 o gyfranogwyr ran yn yr ymweliad hwnnw ag Auschwitz, gan gynnwys 154 o ddisgyblion o 66 o ysgolion, dosbarthiadau chwech a cholegau, 19 o athrawon, 13 arall, gan gynnwys hwyluswyr a chynrychiolwyr y wasg. A bydd y rhaglen honno'n cael ei chynnal eto yng Nghymru o fis Ionawr—sy'n hollbwysig i alluogi pobl ifanc i ymgysylltu. Ond, yn amlwg, byddwn hefyd yn edrych ar y mudiadau, mudiad March of the Living hefyd.
Yesterday marked the seventy-fifth anniversary since the liberation of Auschwitz death camp. It's estimated that over a million people who were predominantly Jewish died a horrific death there. And that included men, women and children of all ages. And it is certainly, we will all agree, one of the darkest periods in our human history. Minister, do you agree with me that we must always remember the atrocities that happened in Auschwitz, so that they do serve as a stark reminder of what did and what can happen when people incite hatred towards others?
Roedd hi'n saith deg pump mlynedd ddoe ers rhyddhau gwersyll marwolaeth Auschwitz. Amcangyfrifir bod dros filiwn o bobl a oedd yn Iddewon yn bennaf wedi dioddef marwolaeth arswydus yno. Ac roedd hynny'n cynnwys dynion, menywod a phlant o bob oed. Ac yn sicr, byddwn i gyd yn cytuno, un o'r cyfnodau tywyllaf yn ein hanes dynol. Gweinidog, a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi bod yn rhaid i ni gofio bob amser yr erchyllterau a ddigwyddodd yn Auschwitz, fel eu bod yn ein hatgoffa'n eglur o'r hyn a ddigwyddodd a'r hyn a all ddigwydd pan fydd pobl yn ysgogi casineb tuag at eraill?
I do thank Joyce Watson for that question. Together, we must ensure the Holocaust remains in our collective memory as a warning of how hateful and divisive narratives can cause that unthinkable damage. And that's why we have funded the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and the Holocaust Educational Trust to undertake activities in Wales. But I think that many Members here from across the Chamber will have heard survivors—in fact, we heard a survivor earlier on this year at an event organised with Darren Millar and Jenny Rathbone and others. But yesterday some of us also heard the survivor Dr Martin Stern. We know that the survivors' stories—it is hard to believe that they've survived, but they're so committed, often in retirement, and we have to listen to those survivors about what they've gone through. But, I think, the Holocaust Memorial Day, is, as they say, learning lessons from the past to create a safer, better future, and we will be speaking more on this later this afternoon.
Diolchaf i Joyce Watson am y cwestiwn yna. Gyda'n gilydd, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod yr Holocost yn aros yn ein cof cyfunol fel rhybudd o sut y gall naratifau atgas a rhwygol achosi'r niwed annychmygol hwnnw. A dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi ariannu Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost ac Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost i ymgymryd â gweithgareddau yng Nghymru. Ond credaf y bydd llawer o Aelodau yn y fan yma o bob rhan o'r Siambr wedi clywed goroeswyr—yn wir, clywsom oroeswr yn gynharach eleni mewn digwyddiad a drefnwyd gyda Darren Millar a Jenny Rathbone ac eraill. Ond ddoe clywodd rhai ohonom ni hefyd y goroeswr Dr Martin Stern. Rydym ni'n gwybod bod straeon y goroeswyr—mae'n anodd credu eu bod nhw wedi goroesi, ond maen nhw mor ymroddgar, yn aml ar ôl ymddeol, ac mae'n rhaid i ni wrando ar y goroeswyr hynny am yr hyn y maen nhw wedi ei ddioddef. Ond, rwy'n credu mai diben Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost, fel y maen nhw'n dweud, yw dysgu gwersi o'r gorffennol i greu dyfodol mwy diogel a gwell, a byddwn yn siarad mwy am hyn yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma.
4. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru am sicrhau fod hawliau dynol cyfredol yn cael eu gwarchod pan fydd y DU yn gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd? OAQ55008
4. How will the Welsh Government ensure that current human rights are protected when the UK leaves the European Union? OAQ55008
Rwyf wedi comisiynu gwaith ymchwil i'r opsiynau i gryfhau cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru, a'u datblygu. Bydd yn ystyried confensiynau'r Cenhedloedd Unedig, deddfwriaeth bresennol Cymru, a bydd hefyd yn pwyso a mesur yr angen am Fil hawliau dynol ar gyfer Cymru.
I have commissioned research on options to strengthen and advance equality and human rights in Wales. It will look at United Nations conventions, existing Welsh legislation and whether there may be a need for a human rights Bill for Wales.
Da iawn. Dwi'n falch iawn o glywed hynny, a'ch bod chi wedi comisiynu'r gwaith, ac y bydd hynny, yn wir, yn cynnwys gwaith deddfwriaethol, oherwydd beth rydyn ni'n gwybod ydy bod yna botensial real y byddwn ni'n colli llawer o'r hawliau—hawliau gweithwyr, hawliau menywod, hawliau pobl anabl ac yn y blaen—wrth adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. A dwi'n credu, yn yr haf, mi wnaeth y Cwnsler Cyffredinol, Jeremy Miles, godi y pwnc yma, y mater yma, ynglŷn â chael Deddf. A dwi'n credu i Steffan Lewis, y diweddar Steffan Lewis, a minnau, grybwyll hyn dro yn ôl hefyd, a'r enw roedden ni'n ei gynnig oedd Deddf hawliau'r bobl. Felly, dwi'n falch iawn o glywed bod yna symudiad yn digwydd tuag at hyn. Fedrwch chi roi rhyw fath o amserlen, os gwelwch yn dda?
Excellent. I'm very pleased to hear that, and that you commissioned that work and that that will include some legislative work, because what we do know is that there is a very real potential for us to lose many of the rights—workers' rights, women's rights, the rights of disabled people and so on—as we leave the European Union. And I believe that, in the summer, the Counsel General, Jeremy Miles, raised this issue of the need for legislation, and I think the late Steffan Lewis and myself mentioned this a while ago too, and the name that we proposed was a people's rights Act. So, I'm very pleased to hear that there is some movement towards this. Can you give us some sort of timetable on it, please?
Diolch yn fawr, Siân. I think the Jeremy Miles lecture at the Eisteddfod, and Steffan Lewis, of course—and I was glad to be sharing a committee space with him. When we had the chance, I would always raise human rights, and I know Members do on David's committee. But it's very important that we've actually awarded a contract for the research, in terms of timetable. It's a consortia led by Swansea University, who are going to research these wider options, in terms of the—. The commission is about strengthening and advancing equality and human rights in Wales. We also have a steering group, which is meeting tomorrow for the first time, and we expect to report by the end of this year. But it will be looking at the impact of the withdrawal of the—the loss of the charter of fundamental rights of the European Union. And we know that human rights are hard-wired into our DNA, not just legally, through the provisions in the Government of Wales Act 2006, but also culturally and through our proud history in Wales of driving for fairness and inclusivity.
Diolch yn fawr, Siân. Rwy'n credu bod darlith Jeremy Miles yn yr Eisteddfod, a Steffan Lewis, wrth gwrs—ac roeddwn i'n falch o fod yn rhannu gofod pwyllgor gydag ef. Pan fyddai'r cyfle'n codi, byddwn i bob amser yn codi hawliau dynol, a gwn i fod Aelodau'n gwneud hynny ar bwyllgor David. Ond mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni wedi dyfarnu contract ar gyfer yr ymchwil, o ran yr amserlen. Mae'n gonsortiwm wedi'i arwain gan Brifysgol Abertawe, sy'n mynd i ymchwilio i'r dewisiadau ehangach hyn, o ran—. Mae'r Comisiwn yn ymwneud â chryfhau a hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru. Mae gennym ni hefyd grŵp llywio, sy'n cyfarfod yfory am y tro cyntaf, ac rydym yn disgwyl cyflwyno adroddiad erbyn diwedd y flwyddyn. Ond bydd yn edrych ar effaith tynnu—colli siarter hawliau sylfaenol yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. A gwyddom fod hawliau dynol wedi'u cysylltu'n annatod â'n DNA, nid yn unig yn gyfreithiol, drwy'r darpariaethau yn Neddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006, ond hefyd yn ddiwylliannol a thrwy ein hanes balch yng Nghymru o ymdrechu dros degwch a chynwysoldeb.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
I know of your personal commitment to human rights, Minister, and I'm very pleased that the Welsh Government is at least talking about trying to take something forward, in order to emphasise and underscore the commitment through legislation here in Wales. As you will know, I introduced an older people's Bill, which, effectively, was voted down by the Government, because of your intention to bring forward legislation. I am very concerned, though, that the timetable simply will not allow for a piece of legislation to get through this Parliament by the time that we rise and go into our dissolution period, in advance of the next National Assembly elections. And I'd be very grateful if you could give an indication as to the position of the Government, and whether you feel that legislation will be achieved within the tight timetable that we have. And if it isn't going to be achieved, what other action are you going to take, in order to protect these rights?
Gwn i am eich ymrwymiad personol i hawliau dynol, Gweinidog, ac rwy'n falch iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru o leiaf yn siarad am geisio bwrw ymlaen â rhywbeth, er mwyn pwysleisio a thanlinellu'r ymrwymiad drwy ddeddfwriaeth yma yng Nghymru. Fel y gwyddoch chi, cyflwynais Fil ar gyfer pobl hŷn, a gafodd ei wrthod, i bob pwrpas, gan y Llywodraeth, oherwydd eich bwriad i gyflwyno deddfwriaeth. Rwy'n bryderus iawn, fodd bynnag, na fydd yr amserlen yn caniatáu ar gyfer darn o ddeddfwriaeth i fynd drwy'r Senedd hon erbyn yr adeg y byddwn ni'n codi ac yn mynd i gyfnod ein diddymiad, cyn etholiadau nesaf y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. A byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn pe gallech roi syniad ynghylch sefyllfa'r Llywodraeth, ac a ydych chi'n teimlo y bydd deddfwriaeth yn cael ei chyflawni o fewn yr amserlen dynn sydd gennym ni. Ac os nad yw'n mynd i gael ei gyflawni, pa gamau eraill yr ydych chi'n mynd i'w cymryd, er mwyn amddiffyn yr hawliau hyn?
Thank you for that question, Darren Millar. And it is important that I report back, and I indeed will do, on progress with this important work. The steering group meets tomorrow—it's called the strengthening and advancing equality and human rights in Wales steering group—and we're also actually making progress with commencing the socioeconomic duty in Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. You're aware that we've just completed a consultation. We're also reviewing the Welsh-specific duties, under the public sector equality duty. So, these are important tools to strengthen and to meet those needs, in terms of human rights. But we're looking at those wider options, in terms of the possible incorporation of UN conventions into Welsh law. And, of course, that's something that Helen Mary Jones also brought up, in terms of the prospects for a possible legislative opportunity. We will, of course—. We are undertaking—we've commissioned this research in order to ensure that we get this right, and I know that people, across the Chamber, will accept that that's the right way forward. But it, of course, will enable us to consider—and I'm sure all parties will want to then consider—whether there is a need for fresh legislation, such as a human rights Bill for Wales.
Diolch am y cwestiwn hwnnw, Darren Millar. Ac mae'n bwysig i mi adrodd yn ôl, ac fe wnaf hynny, o ran y cynnydd gyda'r gwaith pwysig hwn. Mae'r grŵp llywio yn cyfarfod yfory—fe'i gelwir yn llywio cryfhau a hyrwyddo cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru—ac rydym hefyd mewn gwirionedd yn gwneud cynnydd o ran dechrau'r ddyletswydd economaidd-gymdeithasol yn Rhan 1 o Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010. Rydych chi'n ymwybodol ein bod ni newydd gwblhau ymgynghoriad. Rydym hefyd yn adolygu'r dyletswyddau sy'n benodol i'r Gymraeg, o dan ddyletswydd cydraddoldeb y sector cyhoeddus. Felly, mae'r rhain yn offer pwysig i gryfhau a diwallu'r anghenion hynny, o ran hawliau dynol. Ond rydym ni'n edrych ar y dewisiadau ehangach hynny, o ran y posibilrwydd o ymgorffori confensiynau'r Cenhedloedd Unedig yng nghyfraith Cymru. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gwnaeth Helen Mary Jones ei godi hefyd, o ran y gobaith am gyfle deddfwriaethol posibl. Byddwn ni, wrth gwrs—. Rydym ni'n ymgymryd—rydym wedi comisiynu'r ymchwil hon er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn cael hyn yn gywir, a gwn y bydd pobl, ar draws y Siambr, yn derbyn mai dyna'r ffordd gywir ymlaen. Ond, wrth gwrs, bydd yn ein galluogi i ystyried—ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd pob plaid eisiau ystyried hynny—a oes angen deddfwriaeth newydd, fel Bil hawliau dynol i Gymru.
Thank you very much, Deputy Minister.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Weinidog.
Item 2 on the agenda is the business statement and announcement. And I call on the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans.
Eitem 2 ar yr agenda yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes. A galwaf ar y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans.
There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Nid oes unrhyw newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfodydd sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.
Trefnydd, can I request a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services on mental health services in north Wales, please? It's been over four and a half years since the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was placed into special measures, for, amongst other things, significant challenges in its governance, and mental health services. We are repeatedly told in this Chamber that things are improving, that steady progress is being made, and yet, just last week, a report came to light that suggests a quite different picture of services in north Wales, particularly in terms of psychological therapies. There was a report that identified, frankly, serious failings, including unacceptably long waiting lists, a lack of strategic and integrated workforce development, an under-resourced service, which isn't fit for purpose, a sense of despondency amongst staff. Now, frankly, I was very surprised that this report seems to have been published earlier last year—around August/September time—and yet there appears to be no discussion about this report, no report back to Assembly Members about this report, and the board itself doesn't appear to have discussed it in any of its board papers. So, I do think that, given the serious findings in that report, we need an urgent update from the Minister for Health and Social Services on the current situation.
Can I also call for a statement on the regulation of independent schools? The education Minister will be aware of the significant interest that there has been publicly as a result of the media reports into some safeguarding issues at Ruthin School in my constituency. And I do think that we need to look at the regulations around independent schools in order to strengthen the safeguarding arrangements, but, more than that, also to actually have a look at the Education Workforce Council's role, and whether it may be appropriate to have a discrete registration category, particularly for senior leaders in our independent schools, in order to ensure that they are appropriate? Obviously, there's a lot of outrage at some of the reports, which have been read, in terms of what's been going on in that school in north Wales, and certainly in my constituency, and I think it would be useful to have a written or oral statement on that as soon as possible.
And just finally, in terms of tourism zones, you'll be aware that the UK Government announced in June of last year that there will be a number of tourism zones across the country, which will be designated—[Interruption.]—and, no, it's not just England, actually, this is a UK-wide project. I was very disappointed that there's been no updates to this Chamber on any prospects, in terms of Wales actually being designated a zone, or even north Wales designated as a zone. It's quite clear from the UK Government that this is on offer for the whole of the United Kingdom, not just England, as has been asserted by the Minister responsible for tourism on your benches. I would therefore be very grateful if we could have an urgent statement on this matter in order that we can take advantage of this opportunity to get investment into Wales to maximise our tourism industry.
Trefnydd, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar wasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y Gogledd, os gwelwch yn dda? Mae wedi bod dros bedair blynedd a hanner ers i Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr gael ei roi mewn mesurau arbennig, am, ymhlith pethau eraill, heriau sylweddol o ran llywodraethu, a gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Dywedir wrthym dro ar ôl tro yn y Siambr hon fod pethau'n gwella, bod cynnydd cyson yn cael ei gyflawni, ac eto, yr wythnos diwethaf, daeth adroddiad i'r amlwg sy'n awgrymu darlun hollol wahanol o wasanaethau yn y Gogledd, yn enwedig o ran therapïau seicolegol. Roedd adroddiad a oedd yn nodi, a dweud y gwir, fethiannau difrifol, gan gynnwys rhestrau aros annerbyniol o hir, diffyg datblygu gweithlu yn strategol ac integredig, gwasanaeth heb ddigon o adnoddau, nad yw'n addas i'r diben, ymdeimlad o ddigalondid ymhlith y staff. Nawr, a dweud y gwir, roeddwn i'n synnu'n fawr fod yr adroddiad hwn, mae'n debyg, wedi'i gyhoeddi'n gynharach y llynedd—tua mis Awst/Medi—ac eto nid yw'n ymddangos bod unrhyw drafodaeth ynghylch yr adroddiad hwn, dim adroddiad i Aelodau'r Cynulliad am yr adroddiad hwn, ac nid yw'n ymddangos bod y bwrdd ei hun wedi'i drafod yn unrhyw un o'i bapurau bwrdd Felly, rwy'n credu, o ystyried y canfyddiadau difrifol yn yr adroddiad hwnnw, fod angen diweddariad brys gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar y sefyllfa bresennol.
A gaf i hefyd alw am ddatganiad ar reoleiddio ysgolion annibynnol? Bydd y Gweinidog addysg yn ymwybodol o'r diddordeb sylweddol sydd wedi bod yn gyhoeddus o ganlyniad i'r adroddiadau yn y cyfryngau ar rai materion diogelu yn Ysgol Rhuthun yn fy etholaeth i. Ac rwy'n credu bod angen inni ystyried y rheoliadau ynghylch ysgolion annibynnol er mwyn cryfhau'r trefniadau diogelu, ond, yn fwy na hynny, i ystyried hefyd swyddogaeth Cyngor y Gweithlu Addysg, ac a allai fod yn briodol cael categori cofrestru ar wahân, yn enwedig ar gyfer uwch arweinwyr yn ein hysgolion annibynnol, er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn briodol? Yn amlwg, mae llawer o ddicter ynglŷn â rhai o'r adroddiadau, sydd wedi'u darllen, o ran yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn digwydd yn yr ysgol honno yn y Gogledd, ac yn sicr yn fy etholaeth i, a chredaf y byddai'n ddefnyddiol bod datganiad ysgrifenedig neu lafar ar hynny cyn gynted â phosibl.
Ac yn olaf, o ran parthau twristiaeth, byddwch chi'n ymwybodol i Lywodraeth y DU gyhoeddi ym mis Mehefin y llynedd y bydd nifer o barthau twristiaeth ledled y wlad, a fydd yn cael eu dynodi—[Torri ar draws.]—a, nage, nid Lloegr yn unig, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n brosiect ledled y DU. Roeddwn i'n siomedig iawn na fu unrhyw ddiweddariadau i'r Siambr hon am unrhyw obaith, o ran Cymru mewn gwirionedd yn cael ei dynodi'n barth, neu hyd yn oed Ogledd Cymru'n cael ei dynodi'n barth. Mae'n eithaf clir gan Lywodraeth y DU fod hyn ar gael ar gyfer y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan, ac nid Lloegr yn unig, fel y mae'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am dwristiaeth ar eich meinciau chi wedi'i haeru. Byddwn i'n ddiolchgar felly pe bai modd inni gael datganiad brys ar y mater hwn er mwyn i ni allu manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i gael buddsoddiad i Gymru a'r budd mwyaf i'n diwydiant twristiaeth.
So, on the first issue, which was a request for an update regarding Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board, I can confirm that such an update will be forthcoming on 25 February. That's on the business statement, which has been published today.
On the second issue, regarding Ruthin School, Welsh Government is aware of those serious findings of the Care Inspectorate Wales report, and officials, along with Estyn inspectors, are considering an action plan from the school, which has been submitted following a request by the Welsh Government for the action plan. But the Minister has indicated she'd be happy to provide a further update, and I know that you've also tabled a series of written questions, which will also receive an answer.
And on the third issue, the Minister with responsibility for tourism is here to hear your request for further information on that. And it is important that, where possible, Welsh Government makes the most of the opportunities to work with the UK Government. But it is incumbent on the UK Government to recognise that tourism is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales and it's incumbent on them to have discussions with our Minister to explore how we could work jointly for the benefit of Wales.
Felly, o ran y mater cyntaf, a oedd yn gais am ddiweddariad ynglŷn â Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, gallaf gadarnhau y bydd diweddariad o'r fath yn dod i law ar 25 Chwefror. Mae hynny ar y datganiad busnes, sydd wedi'i gyhoeddi heddiw.
O ran yr ail fater, ynghylch ysgol Rhuthun, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol o'r canfyddiadau difrifol hynny yn adroddiad Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru, ac mae swyddogion, ynghyd ag arolygwyr Estyn, yn ystyried cynllun gweithredu gan yr ysgol, sydd wedi cael ei gyflwyno yn dilyn cais gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer y cynllun gweithredu. Ond mae'r Gweinidog wedi dweud y byddai'n hapus i roi diweddariad pellach, a gwn i eich bod hefyd wedi cyflwyno cyfres o gwestiynau ysgrifenedig, a fydd hefyd yn cael ateb.
Ac ar y trydydd mater, mae'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am dwristiaeth yma i glywed eich cais am ragor o wybodaeth ynghylch hynny. Ac mae'n bwysig, lle mae hynny'n bosibl, fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn manteisio i'r eithaf ar y cyfleoedd i weithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Ond mae'n ddyletswydd ar Lywodraeth y DU i gydnabod bod twristiaeth wedi'i datganoli i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru ac mae'n ddyletswydd arnyn nhw i gynnal trafodaethau gyda'n Gweinidog i ymchwilio i sut y gallem ni weithio ar y cyd er lles Cymru.
Adref is a charity that has been supporting vulnerable people and combating homelessness in my area for three decades. The charity is threatened now with closure, because Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council have awarded the contract to provide local hostel services to another organisation, an organisation with little or no experience of the situation in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr. This will mean some redundancies. It will mean a loss of expert local knowledge about the homeless situation in our area and it will mean the loss of a small army of volunteers. Adref's great community work, like the Christmas hamper appeal that my office has supported for many years, is unlikely to be duplicated, and you can't put a price on community work like that.
So, Trefnydd, can we have a statement from the Government about local procurement principles for third sector contracts? Will you join me in urging RCT council and Merthyr council to think again on this matter and to recognise the great work that this charity has carried out since it was set up by probation officers who identified a local need back in 1987?
Health chiefs from Cwm Taf are recommending the withdrawal of consultant-led accident and emergency services in one form or another from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. This has grave implications for the place that I represent, the Rhondda, and people are justifiably angry at the prospect of having to travel further in a potentially life-threatening emergency.
No-one has yet been able to answer the concerns about the ambulance response times, or the fact that a significant number of people living in the Rhondda are without a car. And that, in my view, is outrageous. People have little faith that their legitimate concerns will be taken into account following the sham consultation that was run back in 2014, where 60,000 people said that they didn't want the changes to go ahead, and those voices were ignored.
In many ways, the problems we face now are largely due to a lack of workforce planning from a succession of Labour health Ministers. Plaid Cymru put forward a plan six years ago to address the shockingly low ratio of doctors to people that we have in this country, and our plans were scoffed at by the very people who had the power or the responsibility to do something about it.
I will be gauging the mood of Rhondda people at a Plaid Cymru organised open meeting next Monday at Porth Harlequins rugby club. Everyone is welcome to attend. Perhaps Ministers would like to come and hear the strength of feeling from Rhondda people on this matter. You would be more than welcome to attend if you wanted to take up that offer.
But I'd like to ask: do you regret the lack of action to address the consultant shortage in Wales by your Cabinet colleagues? Will the Government make a statement on its plans to address the withering of district general hospitals, and emergency services in particular, which is a problem not just in the Rhondda, but across the whole of our country?
Mae Adref yn elusen sydd wedi bod yn cefnogi pobl sy'n agored i niwed ac yn brwydro yn erbyn digartrefedd yn fy ardal i ers tri degawd. Nawr mae bygythiad i gau'r elusen, gan fod Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf a Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful wedi dyfarnu'r contract i ddarparu gwasanaethau hostel lleol i sefydliad arall, sefydliad heb fawr o brofiad, os o gwbl, o'r sefyllfa yn Rhondda Cynon Taf a Merthyr. Bydd hyn yn golygu colli rhai swyddi. Bydd yn golygu colli gwybodaeth leol arbenigol am y sefyllfa o ran digartrefedd yn ein hardal a bydd yn golygu colli byddin fach o wirfoddolwyr. Bydd gwaith cymunedol sylweddol Adref, fel yr apêl hamper Nadolig y mae fy swyddfa i wedi'i chefnogi ers blynyddoedd lawer, yn annhebygol o gael ei ailadrodd, ac ni allwch roi pris ar waith cymunedol fel yna.
Felly, Trefnydd, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth am egwyddorion caffael lleol ar gyfer contractau'r trydydd sector? A wnewch chi ymuno â mi i annog Cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf a chyngor Merthyr i ailystyried y mater hwn ac i gydnabod y gwaith gwych y mae'r elusen hon wedi'i wneud ers iddi gael ei sefydlu gan swyddogion prawf a nododd angen lleol yn ôl yn 1987?
Mae penaethiaid iechyd o Gwm Taf yn argymell tynnu'n ôl y gwasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys dan arweiniad meddyg ymgynghorol ar ryw ffurf neu'i gilydd o Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg. Mae gan hyn oblygiadau difrifol i'r lle yr wyf i'n ei gynrychioli, y Rhondda, ac mae pobl yn grac, a hynny'n haeddiannol, ynghylch y posibilrwydd o orfod teithio ymhellach mewn argyfwng a allai fygwth eu bywyd.
Nid oes neb eto wedi gallu ateb y pryderon ynghylch amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys, na'r ffaith nad oes gan nifer sylweddol o bobl sy'n byw yn y Rhondda gar. Ac mae hynny, yn fy marn i, yn warthus. Nid oes gan bobl fawr o ffydd y bydd eu pryderon dilys yn cael eu hystyried ar ôl yr ymgynghoriad ffuantus a gafodd ei gynnal yn 2014, lle dywedodd 60,000 o bobl nad oedden nhw eisiau i'r newidiadau fynd rhagddynt, ac anwybyddwyd y lleisiau hynny.
Mewn sawl ffordd, mae'r problemau yr ydym ni'n eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd yn deillio'n bennaf o ddiffyg cynllunio'r gweithlu gan olyniaeth o Weinidogion Iechyd Llafur. Cyflwynodd Plaid Cymru gynllun chwe blynedd yn ôl i fynd i'r afael â'r gymhareb frawychus o isel o feddygon i bobl sydd gennym ni yn y wlad hon, a chafodd ein cynlluniau eu gwatwar gan yr union bobl a oedd â'r pŵer neu'r cyfrifoldeb i wneud rhywbeth yn ei gylch.
Byddaf yn mesur teimladau pobl y Rhondda mewn cyfarfod agored sydd wedi'i drefnu gan Blaid Cymru ddydd Llun nesaf yng nghlwb rygbi Harlequins Porth. Mae croeso i bawb ddod. Efallai yr hoffai Gweinidogion ddod i glywed cryfder y teimladau gan bobl y Rhondda ar y mater hwn. Byddai croeso ichi fod yn bresennol os hoffech chi dderbyn y cynnig hwnnw.
Ond hoffwn i ofyn: a ydych chi'n gresynu at y diffyg gweithredu i fynd i'r afael â'r prinder meddygon ymgynghorol yng Nghymru gan eich cyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet? A wnaiff y Llywodraeth ddatganiad ynghylch ei chynlluniau i fynd i'r afael ag achosion o gadw ysbytai cyffredinol dosbarth, a gwasanaethau brys yn benodol, sy'n broblem nid yn unig yn y Rhondda, ond ledled ein gwlad gyfan?
On the first issue, I don't think it's appropriate for the Welsh Government to be putting pressure on local authorities in terms of the decisions they make in terms of the awarding of contracts. However, I would encourage the Member to make her concerns known to both Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr councils with regard to the local procurement. I will be happy, of course, to provide an update on Welsh Government's approach to supporting local procurement and the work that we're doing, particularly through the foundational economy approach, which my colleague the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport is leading on.
On the second issue, of course Welsh Government is aware that Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has been reviewing the implementation of the remaining elements of the south Wales programme involving the future of emergency medicine, and proposed options will be discussed at its public board meeting on 30 January. Clearly, it would be improper and inappropriate for me to comment on or pre-empt those discussions, but we would expect the board to be working with stakeholders to consider options and then to agree a sustainable model of care for the future. I know that the Member will be making her representations as part of that due process.
O ran y mater cyntaf, nid wyf i'n credu ei bod yn briodol i Lywodraeth Cymru roi pwysau ar awdurdodau lleol o ran y penderfyniadau y maen nhw'n eu gwneud o ran dyfarnu contractau. Fodd bynnag, byddwn i'n annog yr Aelod i roi gwybod i gynghorau Rhondda Cynon Taf a Merthyr am ei phryderon ynglŷn â'r caffael lleol. Byddaf i'n hapus, wrth gwrs, i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddull Llywodraeth Cymru o gefnogi caffael lleol a'r gwaith yr ydym ni'n ei wneud, yn enwedig drwy ddull yr economi sylfaenol, y mae fy nghydweithiwr, Dirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth yn arwain arno.
O ran yr ail fater, wrth gwrs, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg wedi bod yn adolygu'r broses o weithredu'r elfennau sy'n weddill yn rhaglen de Cymru sy'n cynnwys dyfodol meddygaeth frys, a bydd y dewisiadau arfaethedig yn cael eu trafod yn ei gyfarfod bwrdd cyhoeddus ar 30 Ionawr. Yn amlwg, byddai'n amhriodol ac anaddas i mi wneud sylwadau neu achub y blaen ar y trafodaethau hynny, ond byddem ni'n disgwyl i'r bwrdd fod yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid i ystyried opsiynau ac yna gytuno ar fodel gofal cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol. Gwn i y bydd yr Aelod yn gwneud ei sylwadau fel rhan o'r broses briodol honno.
Minister, last week, Swansea Bay University Health Board announced that it was actually going to freeze recruitment to posts that are vacant as a consequence of the financial position it finds itself in, as a way in which to reduce the financial position and deficit. Now, this will impact upon my constituents, as it will impact upon your constituents, and many others who represent constituencies in the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot areas.
Can I have a statement from the Welsh Government highlighting whether it believes this is a way forward in reducing financial pressures on health boards? Because this actually could put at risk patient care, because every one of those posts, whether it be a member of the administrative team, the clerking team, a member of the physiotherapy, radiotherapy, radiographic—any member of a team. They didn't mention nurses and doctors, by the way; they said those were safe. But other members are crucial to the care of patients.
Could we therefore have a statement from the Minister on that position, and perhaps the way Welsh Government wants to work with health boards to ensure they do not find themselves in a situation where they're freezing posts, stopping people from being recruited, and therefore having an impact upon care?
Gweinidog, yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Bae Abertawe ei fod yn mynd i rewi'r recriwtio i swyddi gwag o ganlyniad i'r sefyllfa ariannol y mae'n ei hwynebu, fel ffordd o leihau'r sefyllfa ariannol a'r diffyg. Bydd hyn yn effeithio ar fy etholwyr, fel y bydd yn effeithio ar eich etholwyr chi, a llawer o rai eraill sy'n cynrychioli etholaethau yn ardaloedd Abertawe a Chastell-nedd Port Talbot.
A gaf i ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn nodi a yw'n credu bod hyn yn ffordd ymlaen o ran lleihau pwysau ariannol ar fyrddau iechyd? Gallai hyn roi gofal cleifion yn y fantol, oherwydd mae pob un o'r swyddi hynny, boed yn aelod o'r tîm gweinyddol, yn dîm clercio, yn aelod o'r ffisiotherapi, radiotherapi, radiograffig—unrhyw aelod o dîm. Ni soniwyd am nyrsys a meddygon, gyda llaw; fe wnaethon nhw ddweud fod y rheini'n ddiogel. Ond mae aelodau eraill yn hanfodol i ofalu am gleifion.
A gawn ni felly ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog ynghylch y sefyllfa honno, ac efallai y ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisiau gweithio gyda byrddau iechyd i sicrhau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu hunain mewn sefyllfa lle maen nhw'n rhewi swyddi, yn atal pobl rhag cael eu recriwtio, ac felly'n cael effaith ar ofal?
The matters you describe in terms of staffing are, in the first instance, operational matters for the health board, but they have been very clear on ensuring that those actions do not affect patient care or the quality of service, and that is Welsh Government's clear interest in this.
Health organisations in Wales, like those across the UK, have to make annual savings every year to improve efficiency and to manage within those allocated resources. They're reported monthly as part of annual accounts, and indeed have been scrutinised over recent years by Assembly committees, including those committees that have made criticisms, actually, when those budgets have overspent or those savings haven't been made.
It is worth recognising, of course, that Welsh Government has invested over £0.5 billion extra in the NHS this year, and we've seen the underlying NHS deficit reduced by 35 per cent between 2016-17 and 2018-19, and we do expect there to be further improvements this year, demonstrating better financial management. But none of that can come at the expense of patient care or the quality of service.
Mae'r materion yr ydych chi'n eu disgrifio o ran staffio, yn y lle cyntaf, yn faterion gweithredol i'r bwrdd iechyd, ond maen nhw wedi bod yn glir iawn o ran sicrhau nad yw'r camau hynny'n effeithio ar ofal cleifion nac ar ansawdd y gwasanaeth, a dyna yw diddordeb clir Llywodraeth Cymru yn hyn.
Mae sefydliadau iechyd yng Nghymru, fel y rhai ar draws y DU, yn gorfod gwneud arbedion blynyddol bob blwyddyn i wella effeithlonrwydd a rheoli o fewn yr adnoddau hynny a ddyrannwyd. Maen nhw'n cael eu hadrodd yn fisol fel rhan o'r cyfrifon blynyddol, ac yn wir mae pwyllgorau'r Cynulliad wedi craffu arnyn nhw yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gan gynnwys y pwyllgorau hynny sydd wedi beirniadu, mewn gwirionedd, pan fo'r cyllidebau hynny wedi gorwario neu'r arbedion hynny heb eu gwneud.
Mae'n werth cydnabod, wrth gwrs, fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi buddsoddi dros £0.5 biliwn yn ychwanegol yn y GIG eleni, ac rydym wedi gweld gostyngiad o 35 y cant yn y diffyg sylfaenol yn y GIG rhwng 2016-17 a 2018-19. Rydym yn disgwyl gweld gwelliannau pellach eleni, gan ddangos gwell rheolaeth ariannol. Ond ni all dim o hynny ddod ar draul gofal cleifion nac ansawdd y gwasanaeth.
Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy and Transport on the continuing delay to completing works to dual the A465 Heads of the Valleys road? This work was originally due to finish by the end of last year. We now hear that the date for completion for this project is being reviewed again. Furthermore, there is a dispute between the contractor and the Welsh Government over the costs of the scheme, which is already £54 million over budget.
Minister, could we have a statement on how this situation has come about, who is responsible for the design information of the road, what the cost to the taxpayer will be, and when can the long-suffering users of this road expect to see it completed? Really, it's a very, very tough job for the people living in Brynmawr and Abergavenny to travel on that road, because it's not only taking time, it's a real frustration for many urgent users. Thank you.
Gweinidog, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ar yr oedi parhaus i gwblhau gwaith i ddeuoli ffordd A465 Blaenau'r Cymoedd? Roedd y gwaith hwn yn wreiddiol i fod i orffen erbyn diwedd y llynedd. Clywn nawr fod y dyddiad cwblhau ar gyfer y prosiect hwn yn cael ei adolygu eto. At hynny, mae anghydfod rhwng y contractwr a Llywodraeth Cymru ynghylch costau'r cynllun, sydd eisoes yn £54 miliwn dros y gyllideb.
Gweinidog, a gawn ni ddatganiad ar sut y mae'r sefyllfa hon wedi digwydd, pwy sy'n gyfrifol am yr wybodaeth am ddyluniad y ffordd, beth fydd y gost i'r trethdalwr, a pha bryd y gall defnyddwyr dioddefgar y ffordd hon ddisgwyl iddi gael ei chwblhau? Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n anodd iawn i'r bobl sy'n byw ym Mrynmawr a'r Fenni deithio ar y ffordd honno, oherwydd nid yn unig mae'n cymryd amser, ond mae'n rhwystredig iawn i lawer o ddefnyddwyr brys. Diolch.
I would say, with respect, that the First Minister did answer a great deal of that concern during First Minister's questions in response to the Conservative Party leader's questions, but I do know that it is the intention of the Minister for Economy and Transport to provide a further update to Assembly Members as soon he's able to do so and as soon as there is more news in terms of that dispute, which we hope will be resolved.
Byddwn i'n dweud, gyda phob parch, fod y Prif Weinidog wedi ymateb i'r pryder hwnnw yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog mewn ymateb i gwestiynau arweinydd y Blaid Geidwadol, ond gwn mai bwriad Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth yw rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau'r Cynulliad cyn gynted ag y gall wneud hynny a chyn gynted ag y bydd mwy o newyddion am yr anghydfod hwnnw, a gobeithiwn y caiff ei ddatrys.
Hoffwn i gael datganiad ar lafar gan y Gweinidog iechyd ynglŷn â beth sy'n digwydd nawr gyda'r fframwaith anhwylderau bwyta yn sgil y ffaith fod yr adolygiad hynny wedi digwydd. Gwnaethom ni gael cyfarfod y grŵp trawsbleidiol yr wythnos diwethaf, ac mae yna gonsyrn ynglŷn â faint o arian sydd yn mynd i fynd at y newidiadau, beth mae'r byrddau iechyd penodol yn mynd i allu ei wneud, ac ydyn nhw'n mynd i gael capasiti yn y system i allu rhoi mwy o staffio i mewn i waith anhwylderau bwyta. Dwi'n gwybod fod yna bobl sydd â diddordeb mawr yn y maes yma sydd eisiau gweithio gyda'r byrddau iechyd i wneud i hyn ddigwydd.
Hoffwn i gael rhywbeth ar lafar gan fy mod i wedi gofyn cynifer o weithiau, a dim ond datganiad ar ffurf e-bost dŷn ni wedi'i gael. Dwi'n credu bod y mater yma mor, mor bwysig i gymaint o bobl yng Nghymru y byddem ni'n gwerthfawrogi cael datganiad ar lafar gan y Gweinidog iechyd.
I would like an oral statement from the Minister for health as regards what's happening now with the eating disorders framework given that review has taken place. We did have a meeting of the cross-party group last week, and there is concern as to how much money will be provided to fund the changes, what specific health boards are going to be able to do, and will they have capacity within the system to allow them to provide more staff into eating disorders work. I know that there are people who are very interested in this area and want to work with health boards to make this happen.
So, I would like an oral statement as I have asked so many times and I've only received a statement in an e-mail. I think this is an issue of such great importance to so many people in Wales that we would appreciate having an oral statement from the health Minister.
The second issue I'd like to raise is probably more so in my capacity as Chair of the culture committee. Yesterday, you may have seen the Music Venues Trust has said that there's going to be a 50 per cent business relief for small to medium-sized businesses that are music venues across England and Wales. In their statement, they've said that 230 grass-roots venues across England and Wales will get that relief. I've been informed via my committee team, with Welsh Government, that that isn't necessarily going to come to Wales. It will mean that there may be a consequential via Barnett, but we are not sure if that's going to happen.
People are very confused, people want to welcome it, people want it to happen here in Wales, they want to see that business rate relief, but we don't know if that is the case. So, I would ask for a statement, in whichever form in this regard, to come from the Welsh Government to see what the Treasury is intending to do. Are we going to get that business rate relief, and when? And can you make a statement to the public, because there's a lot of confusion out there about the current situation?
Mae'n debyg bod yr ail fater yr hoffwn i ei godi yn fwy yn rhinwedd fy swydd fel Cadeirydd y pwyllgor diwylliant. Ddoe, efallai eich bod wedi gweld yr Ymddiriedolaeth Lleoliadau Cerddoriaeth wedi dweud y bydd rhyddhad o 50 y cant i ardrethi busnes i fusnesau bach a chanolig eu maint sy'n lleoliadau cerddoriaeth ledled Cymru a Lloegr. Yn eu datganiad, maen nhw wedi dweud y bydd 230 o leoliadau ar lawr gwlad ledled Cymru a Lloegr yn cael y rhyddhad hwnnw. Rwyf i wedi cael gwybod drwy fy nhîm pwyllgor, gyda Llywodraeth Cymru, nad yw hynny o reidrwydd yn mynd i ddod i Gymru. Bydd yn golygu efallai y bydd swm canlyniadol drwy Barnett, ond nid ydym yn siŵr a fydd hynny'n digwydd.
Mae pobl wedi eu drysu, mae pobl eisiau ei groesawu, mae pobl eisiau iddo ddigwydd yma yng Nghymru, maen nhw eisiau gweld y rhyddhad ardrethi busnes hwnnw, ond nid ydym yn gwybod a fydd hynny'n digwydd. Felly, byddwn i'n gofyn am ddatganiad, ar ba ffurf bynnag o ran hyn, i ddod gan Lywodraeth Cymru i weld yr hyn y mae'r Trysorlys yn bwriadu ei wneud. A ydym ni'n mynd i gael y rhyddhad ardrethi busnes hwnnw, a phryd? Ac a allwch chi wneud datganiad i'r cyhoedd, oherwydd mae llawer o ddryswch ynghylch y sefyllfa bresennol?
So, on the first issue of the eating disorders framework, I will of course speak to the health Minister and make him aware of your request for that statement, which I know he will obviously give his consideration to.FootnoteLink
On the second issue, I can say that we don't yet know what, if any, Barnett consequentials might be coming to Wales as a result of the UK Government's decision regarding business rates. But we already have in Wales the high street rate relief scheme, which has been in operation since 2017, and that's unique to Wales. It does provide support, which is available to pubs and restaurants, and so on, so it's wider than what we might think of as particularly high-street retailers themselves. I did provide a written statement just recently indicating that we were extending that support into 2020-21, but I'd be more than happy to share that again with Members.
Felly, ar fater cyntaf y fframwaith anhwylderau bwyta, byddaf i wrth gwrs yn siarad â'r Gweinidog iechyd ac yn ei wneud yn ymwybodol o'ch cais am y datganiad hwnnw, y gwn y bydd yn amlwg yn ei ystyried.FootnoteLink
O ran yr ail fater, gallaf i ddweud nad ydym ni'n gwybod eto, pa symiau canlyniadol Barnett, os o gwbl, a allai ddod i Gymru o ganlyniad i benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch ardrethi busnes. Ond mae gennym ni eisoes yng Nghymru gynllun rhyddhad ardrethi'r stryd fawr, sydd wedi bod ar waith ers 2017, ac mae hynny'n unigryw i Gymru. Mae'n darparu cymorth, sydd ar gael i dafarndai a bwytai, ac yn y blaen, felly mae'n ehangach na'r hyn y gallem ni ei ystyried yn fanwerthwyr y stryd fawr yn benodol eu hunain. Fe wnes i ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn ddiweddar yn nodi ein bod yn ymestyn y cymorth hwnnw i 2020-21, ond byddwn i'n fwy na pharod i rannu hynny eto gyda'r Aelodau.
Leader of the house, could we have a statement, please, from the Deputy Minister for social services in relation to a Government report compiled by the housing learning and improvement network around care homes and the provision of care homes? This report highlights that by 2035 there will be a nearly 30,000 shortfall in spaces across Wales for accommodation of this type of care.
Many local authorities at the moment are looking to reconfigure their care home provision; Rhondda Cynon Taf, for example, are out at the moment, and the cabinet will meet next month. I think it's important to understand, when Welsh Government commission this type of work, how that is fed into its partner organisations, local government in this instance, and how that information is shared when they're building in capacity. This is quite a live issue, to say the least, in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area, with many people wanting the retention of the existing care homes in that particular area. But it would seem to me that this particular report has been compiled on behalf of Welsh Government, but not shared with its partner agencies.
So, could we have a statement from the Deputy Minister to understand (a) the commissioning process (b) what she thinks of the report itself and its recommendations and (c) how she will be working with organisations that support the Welsh Government in delivery of social care across Wales to make sure that its recommendations are delivered on the ground?
Arweinydd y Tŷ, a gawn ni ddatganiad, os gwelwch yn dda, gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ynglŷn ag adroddiad gan y Llywodraeth a luniwyd gan y rhwydwaith dysgu a gwella tai ynghylch cartrefi gofal a darparu cartrefi gofal? Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith y bydd erbyn 2035 brinder o bron 30,000 o leoedd ledled Cymru o ddarpariaeth ar gyfer y math hwn o ofal.
Mae llawer o awdurdodau lleol ar hyn o bryd yn ystyried ad-drefnu eu darpariaeth cartrefi gofal; mae Rhondda Cynon Taf, er enghraifft, allan ar hyn o bryd, a bydd y cabinet yn cyfarfod fis nesaf. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig deall, pan fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn comisiynu'r math hwn o waith, sut mae hynny'n cael ei gyflwyno i'w sefydliadau partner, llywodraeth leol yn yr achos hwn, a sut mae'r wybodaeth honno'n cael ei rhannu pan fyddan nhw'n meithrin gallu. Mae hwn yn fater eithaf byw, a dweud y lleiaf, yn ardal Rhondda Cynon Taf, gyda llawer o bobl eisiau cadw'r cartrefi gofal presennol yn yr ardal benodol honno. Ond mae'n ymddangos i mi fod yr adroddiad penodol hwn wedi ei lunio ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru, ond heb ei rannu ag asiantaethau partner.
Felly, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog i ddeall (a) y broses gomisiynu (b) beth yw ei barn ynghylch yr adroddiad ei hun a'i argymhellion ac (c) sut y bydd yn gweithio gyda sefydliadau sy'n cefnogi Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflawni gofal cymdeithasol ledled Cymru i wneud yn siŵr bod yr argymhellion yn cael eu cyflawni ar lawr gwlad?
I'd be more than happy to pursue your request with the Deputy Minister for social services. On a slightly different angle, we do have an update on the inter-ministerial group on paying for social care on the agenda for next week, which I know is part of the wider conundrum that we face in terms of ensuring that we have a sustainable care home service here in Wales for the future. But on that specific issue of the report, I will seek to pursue that with the Deputy Minister on your behalf.FootnoteLink
Byddwn i'n fwy na pharod i fynd ar drywydd eich cais gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Ar drywydd arall, mae gennym ddiweddariad ar y grŵp rhyng-weinidogol ar dalu am ofal cymdeithasol ar yr agenda ar gyfer yr wythnos nesaf, sydd, rwy'n gwybod, yn rhan o'r broblem ehangach yr ydym yn ei hwynebu o ran sicrhau bod gennym wasanaeth cartrefi gofal cynaliadwy yma yng Nghymru ar gyfer y dyfodol. Ond o ran y mater penodol hwnnw yn yr adroddiad, ceisiaf fynd ar drywydd hynny gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog ar eich rhan.FootnoteLink
Yn sgîl y prosesau cyllidebol sydd yn mynd ymlaen ar hyn o bryd mewn awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru a'r bygythiad pellach i gludiant i ddysgwyr ôl-16 yn y cyllidebau hynny, a fedrwn ni gael diweddariad, os gwelwch yn dda, ynghylch yr adolygiad o deithio gan ddysgwyr ôl-16, yr adolygiad a gafodd ei gyhoeddi ar 13 Tachwedd? A fedrwch chi hefyd ofyn i'r Gweinidog neu'r Dirprwy Weinidog sy'n gyfrifol am y maes yma i amlinellu'r rhesymeg dros oedi'r broses o adolygu'r canllawiau ar deithio gan ddysgwyr nes y bydd canfyddiadau'r adolygiad o deithio gan ddysgwyr ôl-16 yn glir? Achos mae'r materion yma angen sylw brys. Er enghraifft, mae materion yn codi o hyn i gyd yn ymwneud â chludiant i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, ac mae'r sefyllfa yn creu ansicrwydd a dryswch. Mi fuaswn i'n licio trio deall ychydig bach o resymeg yr oedi a beth ydy'r sefyllfa gyfredol.
Given the budgetary processes going on in local authorities across Wales at the moment and the further threat to transport for post-16 learners in those budgets, can we have an update on the review of learner travel in the post-16 sector, the review announced on 13 November? And can you also ask the Minister or the Deputy Minister with responsibility for this area to outline the rationale for deferring the process of reviewing the guidelines on learner travel until the findings of the review of learner travel in the post-16 sector will be clear? Because these issues do need to be addressed urgently. For example, there are issues arising from all of this related to transport to Welsh-medium education, and the situation causes uncertainty and confusion. I would like to understand some of the rationale behind this delay and what the current situation is.
I don't have a date yet in terms of an update on the review of the learner travel Measure. Since it was only announced in November, I suspect that it might be a little while before that review comes to a conclusion. But I would encourage you to write to the Minister for Economy and Transport with your specific questions regarding why the decision on reviewing the guidelines was deferred, because I think that would probably be the most appropriate and quickest way to get an answer on that specific question.
Nid oes gennyf i ddyddiad eto o ran yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynghylch yr adolygiad o'r Bil teithio gan ddysgwyr. Gan mai dim ond ym mis Tachwedd y cyhoeddwyd hynny, tybiaf y gallai fod ychydig amser cyn i'r adolygiad hwnnw ddod i ben. Ond byddwn i'n eich annog i ysgrifennu at Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth gyda'ch cwestiynau penodol ynghylch pam y gohiriwyd y penderfyniad i adolygu'r canllawiau, oherwydd credaf i mai dyna fyddai'r ffordd fwyaf priodol a chyflymaf o gael ateb, yn ôl pob tebyg ar y cwestiwn penodol hwnnw.
I was going to call for a statement updating the situation in Betsi Cadwaladr; I note that Darren Millar my colleague has already done so. You said the health Minister will be making a statement on 25 February. Could I ask you to invite him to ensure that that does address the report that Darren Millar referred to on the psychological therapies review in north Wales by the TogetherBetter collaborative consultancy, an independent report? Because, in addition to the findings that Darren highlighted, it talks about a lack of shared vision about what you're seeking to achieve, a lack of strategic clarity and oversight at health board and divisional levels, and an enormous data deficit. And, worryingly, as the North Wales Community Health Council states, after nearly five years in special measures, much of it related to mental health issues, these findings are deeply disappointing. The key recommendations should have been tackled in 2015-16 when the health board was first taken into special measures. It is unsatisfactory to hear that these fundamental issues still remain unresolved almost five years on.
Could you also ask the health Minister to incorporate specific reference to vascular services in north Wales relating to diseases of the blood vessels, the arteries and veins and the body's circulatory system, where our health council in north Wales has held four out of what will be 11 safe-space events across the region, and they're hearing clearly that public confidence in the north Wales vascular service has been severely compromised? They say that many people have said that they've written to the health board requesting information under freedom of information, but have not received anything. The view is that if figures were positive, the health board would be keen to release them, and that the community health council themselves have written requesting performance data and this has also been denied to the community health council on the grounds that it will eventually be provided as part of the vascular services review, which, they point out, is in clear breach of the legislation and regulation relating to community health councils' rights to information. The North Wales Community Health Council executive has considered this matter and strongly recommends that a degree of externality should be introduced now to the vascular review reflecting this.
These are two of the key issues that are coming up across the region, one of which was the final tipping point in relation to the special measures. It is desperately unacceptable that, five years later, we should be hearing reports like this, and I hope you will therefore agree to ask your colleague to address these specifically alongside the wider matters that he may choose to present to us on 25 February.
Roeddwn i'n mynd i alw am ddatganiad yn diweddaru'r sefyllfa ym mwrdd Betsi Cadwaladr; sylwaf fod Darren Millar, fy nghyd-Aelod, wedi gwneud hynny eisoes. Fe wnaethoch chi ddweud y bydd y Gweinidog iechyd yn gwneud datganiad ar 25 Chwefror. A allaf i ofyn ichi ei wahodd i sicrhau bod hynny'n ymdrin â'r adroddiad y cyfeiriodd Darren Millar ato, ar yr adolygiad o therapïau seicolegol yn y Gogledd gan yr ymgynghoriaeth gydweithredol TogetherBetter, sef adroddiad annibynnol? Oherwydd, yn ogystal â'r canfyddiadau y tynnodd Darren sylw atynt, mae'n sôn am ddiffyg gweledigaeth gyffredin ynglŷn â'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ceisio ei gyflawni, diffyg eglurder a goruchwyliaeth strategol ar lefelau byrddau iechyd ac is-adrannol, a diffyg data enfawr. Ac, yn anffodus, fel y dywedodd Cyngor Iechyd Cymuned Gogledd Cymru, ar ôl bron pum mlynedd mewn mesurau arbennig, roedd llawer ohono'n ymwneud â materion iechyd meddwl, mae'r canfyddiadau hyn yn hynod siomedig. Dylid bod wedi mynd i'r afael â'r argymhellion allweddol yn 2015-16 pan gafodd y Bwrdd Iechyd ei gymryd i fesurau arbennig gyntaf. Mae'n anfoddhaol clywed bod y materion sylfaenol hyn heb eu datrys bron i bum mlynedd ar ôl hynny.
A allech chi hefyd ofyn i'r Gweinidog iechyd gynnwys cyfeiriad penodol at wasanaethau fasgwlaidd yn y Gogledd sy'n ymwneud â chlefydau'r pibellau gwaed, y rhydwelïau a'r gwythiennau a system gylchredol y corff? Mae ein cyngor iechyd yn y Gogledd wedi cynnal pedwar allan o'r 11 digwyddiad lleoliad-diogel ledled y rhanbarth, ac maen nhw'n clywed yn glir bod ymddiriedaeth y cyhoedd yng ngwasanaeth fasgwlaidd y Gogledd wedi cael ei gyfaddawdu'n ddifrifol. Dywedant fod llawer o bobl wedi dweud eu bod wedi ysgrifennu at y bwrdd iechyd yn gofyn am wybodaeth o dan ryddid gwybodaeth, ond heb gael unrhyw beth yn ôl. Y farn yw pe bai'r ffigurau'n gadarnhaol, byddai'r bwrdd iechyd yn awyddus i'w rhyddhau, a bod y cyngor iechyd cymuned eu hunain wedi ysgrifennu yn gofyn am ddata perfformiad a bod y cyngor iechyd cymuned wedi cael ei wrthod hefyd ar sail y ffaith y bydd yn cael ei ddarparu yn y pen draw fel rhan o adolygiad y gwasanaethau fasgwlaidd, sydd, yn eu tyb hwy, yn gwbl groes i'r ddeddfwriaeth a'r rheoliadau sy'n ymwneud â hawliau cynghorau iechyd cymuned i gael gwybodaeth. Mae gweithrediaeth Cyngor Iechyd Cymuned Gogledd Cymru wedi ystyried y mater hwn ac yn argymell yn gryf y dylid cyflwyno rhywfaint o allanoldeb nawr i'r adolygiad fasgwlaidd sy'n adlewyrchu hyn.
Dyma ddau o'r materion allweddol sy'n codi ledled y rhanbarth, ac un ohonyn nhw oedd y trobwynt tyngedfennol o ran mesurau arbennig. Mae'n annerbyniol dros ben y dylem ni, bum mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, fod yn clywed adroddiadau fel hyn, a gobeithio y cytunwch chi felly i ofyn i'ch cyd-Weinidog fynd i'r afael â'r rhain yn benodol ynghyd â'r materion ehangach y gall ef ddewis eu cyflwyno inni ar 25 Chwefror.
I can reassure colleagues that I always draw Ministers' attention to any contributions that Members make in relation to their portfolios during the business statement, and I'll certainly do that with regard to your particular concerns about mental ill health services and vascular services in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area. And obviously, the Minister will be making an oral statement, so there'll be opportunity for deeper questioning on those issues during that statement.
Gallaf sicrhau fy nghyd-Aelodau fy mod bob amser yn tynnu sylw'r Gweinidogion at unrhyw gyfraniadau y mae'r Aelodau yn eu gwneud o ran eu portffolios yn ystod y datganiad busnes, a byddaf i'n sicr o wneud hynny ynghylch eich pryderon penodol am wasanaethau afiechyd meddwl a gwasanaethau fasgwlaidd yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Ac yn amlwg, bydd y Gweinidog yn gwneud datganiad llafar, felly bydd cyfle i gwestiynu'r materion hynny yn ddyfnach yn ystod y datganiad hwnnw.
I'd like to ask the Trefnydd for two statements today. First, with regard to the outstanding issues with regard to the census. I know that Welsh Government shares the concerns on these benches that Welsh citizens should be able to identify as black and ethnic minority Welsh without having to go through the inconvenience of having to write handwriting in a separate part of the form.
I'd like to ask for an updated statement from the Government as to their current position with regard to this and any conversations they've had with the Office for National Statistics. Colleagues from Gwynedd Council met the ONS yesterday and actually received quite a favourable response, and the ONS was asking for evidence. Now, I'm sure that Welsh Ministers will be aware that Gwynedd and the other north Wales authorities have found in their own monitoring systems ways in which black and ethnic minority citizens can register themselves as Welsh in the way that we would seek the census to do. So, I'd be very grateful if we can have a further statement from the Government about—a written statement, perhaps—the latest position in this regard, because time is running out and the ONS will shortly be doing further piloting with the forms they propose to use, and I fear that once those forms have been used in the pilots, it will be more difficult to change them.
Welsh Ministers will also be aware that Carmarthenshire County Council has reached a position where they have had to withdraw their application for planning for the current proposed site for the new Ysgol Dewi Sant. This is a matter of great regret to me and more importantly to my constituents and to the children who are being taught in conditions that, were they factory workers, the factory would be closed down because it simply isn't safe. Now, obviously, this was a decision that the local authority took; this is certainly not a matter for the Minister for Education, and I know that she has expressed a willingness in future to look at a further application for funding if it comes forward. But I would like to ask for a statement from the Minister with responsibility for planning, because the reason why this withdrawal has been necessary is that the county has spent over £0.5 million trying to respond to the requirements of the call-in process, and they have reached the point where they simply feel they have to back away from that site, even though, out of the nine sites looked at in the previous public consultation, this was the favoured site. So, I would like to ask the Minister with responsibility for planning to review the call-in process, particularly with regard to public buildings, to ensure that it is better insulated in future from party political interference, which has been at the root of this issue for Ysgol Dewi Sant.
Hoffwn i ofyn i'r Trefnydd am ddau ddatganiad heddiw. Yn gyntaf, o ran y materion sydd heb eu datrys ynglŷn â'r cyfrifiad. Gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhannu'r pryderon ar y meinciau hyn y dylai dinasyddion Cymru allu nodi eu hunain fel Cymry duon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig heb orfod mynd drwy'r anghyfleustra o orfod ysgrifennu â llaw mewn rhan ar wahân o'r ffurflen.
Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad diweddar gan y Llywodraeth ynghylch ei sefyllfa bresennol o ran hyn ac unrhyw sgyrsiau a gafwyd â'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol. Roedd cydweithwyr o Gyngor Gwynedd wedi cwrdd â'r ONS ddoe a chawsant ymateb eithaf ffafriol mewn gwirionedd, ac roedd y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol yn gofyn am dystiolaeth. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd Gweinidogion Cymru yn ymwybodol bod Gwynedd ac awdurdodau eraill y Gogledd wedi canfod yn eu systemau monitro eu hunain ffyrdd y gall dinasyddion du a lleiafrifoedd ethnig gofrestru eu hunain fel Cymry yn y ffordd y byddem ni'n ceisio i'r Cyfrifiad ei wneud. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn pe gallwn ni gael datganiad pellach gan y Llywodraeth ynghylch—datganiad ysgrifenedig, efallai—y sefyllfa ddiweddaraf yn hyn o beth, oherwydd bod amser yn mynd yn brin a bydd yr ONS yn cynnal rhagor o waith treialu yn fuan gyda'r ffurflenni y maen nhw'n bwriadu eu defnyddio, ac rwy'n ofni, ar ôl i'r ffurflenni hynny gael eu defnyddio yn y cynlluniau peilot, y bydd yn fwy anodd eu newid.
Bydd Gweinidogion Cymru hefyd yn ymwybodol bod Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin wedi cyrraedd sefyllfa lle bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw dynnu'n ôl eu cais cynllunio am y safle arfaethedig presennol ar gyfer ysgol newydd Dewi Sant. Mae hyn yn destun gofid mawr i mi ac yn bwysicach byth i fy etholwyr ac i'r plant sy'n cael eu haddysgu dan y fath amodau, pe baent yn weithwyr ffatri, y byddai'r ffatri'n cael ei chau am nad yw'n ddiogel. Nawr, yn amlwg, roedd hwn yn benderfyniad a wnaeth yr awdurdod lleol; yn sicr, nid yw hwn yn fater i'r Gweinidog Addysg, a gwn ei bod wedi mynegi parodrwydd yn y dyfodol i ystyried cais pellach am arian os caiff ei gyflwyno. Ond hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros gynllunio, oherwydd y rheswm pam y bu'n rhaid tynnu'n ôl yw bod y sir wedi gwario dros £0.5 miliwn yn ceisio ymateb i ofynion y broses galw i mewn. Maen nhw wedi cyrraedd y pwynt lle maen nhw'n teimlo eu bod yn gorfod symud i ffwrdd o'r safle hwnnw, er, o'r naw safle a ystyriwyd yn yr ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus blaenorol, hwn oedd y safle a ffafriwyd. Felly, hoffwn i ofyn i'r Gweinidog sy'n gyfrifol am gynllunio i adolygu'r broses galw i mewn, yn enwedig o ran adeiladau cyhoeddus, i sicrhau y caiff ei warchod yn well yn y dyfodol rhag ymyrraeth pleidiau gwleidyddol, sydd wedi bod wrth wraidd y mater i ysgol Dewi Sant.
On the first issue, which was seeking an update on the discussions that Welsh Government has had with the ONS regarding the census and people's ability to identify as being of an ethnic minority whilst also being Welsh at the same time, I was able to update your colleague Bethan Sayed last week in the business statement. I don't have a further update beyond that at this point. But I did have a very good meeting with the deputy chief statistician and, like with the meeting that you described in Gwynedd, we found the ONS to be particularly open to having these discussions, and keen, as we are, to find a suitable way forward. And as soon as I have something further I will, obviously, update colleagues on that.
With regard to your concern about the call-in process, could I ask you to write to the Minister for planning, Julie James, outlining the particular case study that you've described this afternoon? And then she'll obviously have the opportunity to respond.
O ran y mater cyntaf, a oedd yn gofyn am ddiweddariad ar y trafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda'r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol ynghylch y cyfrifiad a gallu pobl i uniaethu â bod yn aelod o leiafrif ethnig a hefyd yn Gymry ar yr un pryd, roedd modd imi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'ch cydweithiwr Bethan Sayed yr wythnos diwethaf yn y datganiad busnes. Nid oes gennyf i ddiweddariad pellach y tu hwnt i hynny ar hyn o bryd. Ond cefais i gyfarfod da iawn gyda'r dirprwy brif ystadegydd, ac fel gyda'r cyfarfod yr oeddech chi wedi'i ddisgrifio yng Ngwynedd, roedd yr ONS yn arbennig o agored i gael y trafodaethau hyn, ac yn awyddus, fel ni, i ddod o hyd i ffordd briodol ymlaen. A chyn gynted ag y bydd gennyf i rywbeth pellach byddaf i, yn amlwg, yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'm cyd-Aelodau ynghylch hynny.
O ran eich pryder ynghylch y broses galw i mewn, a gaf i ofyn ichi ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog dros gynllunio, Julie James, yn amlinellu'r astudiaeth achos benodol yr ydych chi wedi'i disgrifio'r prynhawn yma? Ac yna, yn amlwg, bydd cyfle iddi ymateb.
I would like to ask for a statement from the health Minister about general practitioner recruitment in Aneurin Bevan health board. I've been told that the health board has failed to plan in advance for the retirement of a GP that serves the Lansbury Park and Penyrheol surgeries in my region. Now, both of those practices are crucial bedrocks of their local communities, as you can imagine, and they provide a range of essential services for thousands of nearby homes and provide business for local chemists as well, and neither has nearby alternatives, because all the other surgeries are full up. I'm concerned that the plan to hire a locum, rather than a long-term appointment to cover both surgeries, would endanger their long-term sustainability, and I'm also concerned for the general picture within the health board, given that a recent British Medical Association GP heat map indicated that up to 32 practices may be at risk within the health board area.
Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for this statement from the Minister to explain how the Welsh Government intends to turn around this failure to plan the workforce in advance, how it intends to meet growing demand, and what reassurance the Minister can offer patients in my region that these surgeries that they depend on will be put on a sustainable footing as soon as possible.
Hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd am recriwtio meddygon teulu ym mwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan. Dywedwyd wrthyf fod y bwrdd iechyd wedi methu â chynllunio ymlaen llaw ar gyfer ymddeoliad meddyg teulu sy'n gwasanaethu Parc Lansbury a meddygfa Penyrheol yn fy rhanbarth i. Mae'r ddau bractis hynny'n hollbwysig yn eu cymunedau lleol, fel y gallwch chi ddychmygu, ac maen nhw'n darparu amrywiaeth o wasanaethau hanfodol i filoedd o gartrefi cyfagos ac yn darparu busnes i fferyllwyr lleol hefyd, ac nid oes gan y naill na'r llall ddewisiadau eraill, gan fod yr holl feddygfeydd eraill yn llawn. Rwy'n pryderu y byddai'r cynllun i logi locwm, yn hytrach na phenodiad hirdymor i gynnwys y ddwy feddygfa, yn peryglu eu cynaliadwyedd hirdymor, ac rwyf hefyd yn pryderu ynghylch y darlun cyffredinol yn y bwrdd iechyd, o gofio bod map gwres Cymdeithas Feddygol Prydain wedi nodi y gallai hyd at 32 o bractisau fod mewn perygl o fewn ardal y bwrdd iechyd.
Trefnydd, hoffwn i ofyn am y datganiad hwn gan y Gweinidog i egluro sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu gwyrdroi'r methiant hwn i gynllunio ymlaen llaw ar gyfer y gweithlu, sut mae'n bwriadu ateb y galw cynyddol, a pha sicrwydd y gall y Gweinidog ei gynnig i gleifion yn fy rhanbarth i y bydd y meddygfeydd y maen nhw'n dibynnu arnyn nhw'n cael eu gosod ar sail gynaliadwy cyn gynted â phosibl.
On the wider issue of workforce planning, again I will speak to my colleague the health Minister to make him aware of your request for the statement, but, with regard to your particular concern about the GP surgery that services Lansbury Park and the surrounding area, if you could, again, put that in a letter to the health Minister, I know that he will be able to take that up directly with the health board on your behalf.
O ran mater ehangach cynllunio'r gweithlu, unwaith eto byddaf i'n siarad â'm cydweithiwr, y Gweinidog iechyd, i'w wneud yn ymwybodol o'ch cais ar gyfer y datganiad. Ond, o ran eich pryder penodol ynghylch y feddygfa meddyg teulu sy'n gwasanaethu Parc Lansbury a'r cyffiniau, os gallech chi, unwaith eto, roi hynny mewn llythyr at y Gweinidog iechyd, gwn i y bydd yn gallu codi hynny'n uniongyrchol â'r Bwrdd iechyd ar eich rhan.
I'd like a Government statement—or maybe some advice, really. I've stated several times that a child with learning difficulties alleged abuse in care—[Interruption.] I've no idea why there's a sarcastic noise from my right, from a Labour Assembly Member. I'll say it again: a child with learning difficulties alleged abuse in care. My information is as follows: he was not taken to a place of safety; he was not given an advocate; he was not spoken to by a child protection officer, a child protection specialist; he was told off. The written record I've seen says that he was told off. The written record that I've also seen states that the child did not change his mind on what had happened.
On Friday, I wrote to the children's commissioner, I wrote to the chief constable of South Wales Police, I wrote to Cardiff county council and I wrote to the public services ombudsman, because, when I named the company on social media, a now adult who used to be a child in care with the same company made allegations of assault against him—he said that he had witnessed two other assaults, one allegedly perpetrated by the convicted paedophile Liam Brown. Now, the point is that these children were supposedly all in the care of Priority Child Care Ltd. Now, I've written to the South Wales Police, I've written to the children's commissioner, I've written to the council, I've written to the ombudsman, I've raised it here several times to the point of a gasp, almost, from my right there, of disapproval.
So, I want a Government statement because I'd really like to know what am I supposed to do? What is this child's family supposed to do? Who is listening? All I've had off South Wales Police—actually, nothing; I've written to them twice. The children's commissioner, I had an acknowledgement. The ombudsman, I've just had an acknowledgement that seems to have popped up on my screen now. This is a really, really serious matter. This is supposedly our national Parliament. I'm raising it here. What on earth is going on?
Hoffwn i gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth—neu efallai rhywfaint o gyngor, mewn gwirionedd. Rwyf wedi nodi sawl gwaith bod plentyn ag anawsterau dysgu wedi honni iddo gael ei gam-drin mewn gofal—[torri ar draws.] Nid oes syniad gennyf pam mae sŵn sarcastig yn dod o'r dde, gan Aelod Cynulliad Llafur. Dywedaf eto: roedd plentyn ag anawsterau dysgu wedi honni iddo gael ei gam-drin mewn gofal. Mae fy ngwybodaeth fel a ganlyn: ni chafodd ei ddwyn i fan diogel; ni chafodd eiriolwr; ni siaradodd swyddog amddiffyn plant, arbenigwr amddiffyn plant, ag ef; dywedwyd y drefn wrtho. Mae'r cofnod ysgrifenedig a welais yn dweud y dywedwyd y drefn wrtho. Mae'r cofnod ysgrifenedig a welais hefyd yn dweud na wnaeth y plentyn newid ei feddwl am yr hyn a oedd wedi digwydd.
Ddydd Gwener, ysgrifennais at y comisiynydd plant, ysgrifennais at brif gwnstabl Heddlu De Cymru, ysgrifennais at gyngor sir Caerdydd ac ysgrifennais at yr ombwdsmon gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, oherwydd, pan enwais i'r cwmni ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, fe wnaeth un sy'n oedolyn bellach, ac a arferai fod yn blentyn yng ngofal yr un cwmni, honiad o ymosodiad arno—dywedodd ef ei fod wedi bod yn dyst i ddau ymosodiad arall, un yr honnir iddo gael ei gyflawni gan y pedoffeil a gafwyd yn euog, Liam Brown. Y pwynt yw, yr oedd y plant hyn oll, yn ôl pob sôn, yng ngofal Priority Child Care Ltd. Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at Heddlu De Cymru, rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y comisiynydd plant, rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y cyngor, rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at yr ombwdsmon, rwyf wedi'i godi yma sawl gwaith i'r pwynt o ebychiad, bron, yn dod i'r dde ohonof, o anghymeradwyaeth.
Felly, rwyf eisiau cael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth oherwydd hoffwn wybod beth ddylwn i ei wneud? Beth mae teulu'r plentyn hwn i fod ei wneud? Pwy sy'n gwrando? Y cyfan yr wyf wedi'i gael gan Heddlu De Cymru—mewn gwirionedd, dim; rwyf wedi ysgrifennu atyn nhw ddwywaith. Y comisiynydd plant, cefais gydnabyddiaeth. Yr ombwdsmon, rwyf newydd gael cydnabyddiaeth sydd fel petai wedi ymddangos ar fy sgrin nawr. Mae hwn yn fater gwirioneddol ddifrifol. Hon yw ein Senedd genedlaethol, yn ôl pob sôn. Rwy'n ei godi yma. Beth ar y ddaear sy'n digwydd?
Well, the issue that Neil McEvoy describes is obviously, clearly, a very serious one, and the individual who disclosed on social media that they had been the victim of abuse certainly should make those concerns known to the police in the first instance, and I see that Neil McEvoy has made those concerns known to the police, which is obviously the appropriate first step.
Neil McEvoy raised some similar questions about child safeguarding in a recent business statement, and I did indicate that the Minister with responsibility for social services would be writing, setting out the approach to safeguarding, and I'll be sure that your comments this afternoon are taken into consideration as that response is prepared.
Wel, mae'r mater y mae Neil McEvoy yn ei ddisgrifio, yn glir, yn un difrifol iawn, a dylai'r unigolyn a ddatgelodd ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ei fod wedi dioddef camdriniaeth yn sicr wneud y pryderon hynny'n hysbys i'r heddlu yn y lle cyntaf, a gwelaf i fod Neil McEvoy wedi gwneud y pryderon hynny yn hysbys i'r heddlu, sy'n amlwg yn gam cyntaf priodol.
Cododd Neil McEvoy rai cwestiynau tebyg am ddiogelu plant mewn datganiad busnes diweddar, a dywedais i y byddai'r Gweinidog â chyfrifoldeb dros wasanaethau cymdeithasol yn ysgrifennu, yn nodi'r dull o ddiogelu, a gwnaf i'n siŵr bod eich sylwadau y prynhawn yma yn cael eu hystyried wrth i'r ymateb hwnnw gael ei baratoi.
And finally, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Ac yn olaf, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mi hoffwn i ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ynglŷn â pha amodau mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu gosod ar gyllid sy’n cael ei ddarparu ganddi ar gyfer busnesau er mwyn gwarchod gweithwyr a chyflogaeth yng Nghymru.
Thank you, very much Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like a Government statement as to what conditions the Welsh Government places on funding provided by it for businesses in order to safeguard staff and employment in Wales.
I'm pleased that Welsh Government has been able to support Stena Line with a number of investments in Holyhead, but I want to appeal to Government to ensure that in providing support, it's able also to influence important local employers like Stena too. For example, I wonder if Government was aware of Stena's decision to re-flag its brand new Holyhead-to-Dublin ferry, Estrid. It's great to see investment in that beautiful new ship, but I am worried by the fact that in Algeciras, during a delivery from China recently, she was changed from Welsh to Cypriot registration. Estrid Cardiff was re-flagged and literally re-badged as Estrid Limassol. Now, there's a suggestion that it's driven by a desire to remain EU registered.
Now, I have met members of the ship's crew, who, as a result, now no longer pay UK national insurance contributions directly, and they're worried about the implications of that. But they also have longer term worries that re-flagging under a flag of convenience could be a slippery slope towards undermining workers' rights and even undermining Stena's previous policy, and current policy, which, of course, is vital in my constituency, of crewing locally rather than internationally.
So, as well as providing a statement, hopefully, can I ask Government, as I am doing, to write to Stena to seek assurances that workers' rights and jobs will be protected, and in doing so, that Welsh Government uses its influence as a part-funder of various Stena projects?
Rwy'n falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gallu cefnogi Stena Line gyda nifer o fuddsoddiadau yng Nghaergybi, ond rwyf i eisiau apelio ar y Llywodraeth i sicrhau, wrth ddarparu cymorth, ei bod yn gallu dylanwadu ar gyflogwyr lleol pwysig fel Stena hefyd. Er enghraifft, tybed a oedd y Llywodraeth yn ymwybodol o benderfyniad Stena i ail-gofrestru ei fferi newydd sbon o Gaergybi i Ddulyn, Estrid. Mae'n wych gweld buddsoddiad yn y llong newydd hardd honno, ond rwy'n poeni am y ffaith, yn Algeciras, yn ystod dosbarthiad o Tsieina yn ddiweddar, i'w chofrestriad gael ei newid o Gymru i Cyprus. Cafodd Estrid Caerdydd ei hail-gofrestru a'i hail-enwi'n llythrennol yn Estrid Limassol. Nawr, mae awgrym bod hyn yn cael ei yrru gan ddyhead i barhau i fod yn gofrestredig â'r UE.
Nawr, rwyf wedi cwrdd ag aelodau o griw'r llong, nad ydyn nhw bellach, o ganlyniad, yn talu cyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol y DU yn uniongyrchol, ac maen nhw'n poeni am oblygiadau hynny. Ond mae ganddyn nhw hefyd bryderon tymor hwy y gallai ei hail-gofrestru o dan faner gyfleus fod yn llethr llithrig tuag at danseilio hawliau gweithwyr a hyd yn oed danseilio polisi blaenorol, a pholisi cyfredol Stena, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol yn fy etholaeth i, o recriwtio criwiau lleol yn hytrach nag yn rhyngwladol.
Felly, yn ogystal â darparu datganiad, gobeithio, a gaf i ofyn i'r Llywodraeth, fel y gwnaf, ysgrifennu at Stena i ofyn am sicrwydd y bydd hawliau a swyddi gweithwyr yn cael eu diogelu, ac wrth wneud hynny, bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn defnyddio ei dylanwad fel rhan o gyllidwr gwahanol brosiectau Stena?
Well, I had a recent meeting with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers to discuss exactly this issue, although it wasn't particularly in the context of Stena Line; it was more in the context of what we can do to support Welsh seafarers who work in all kinds of parts of the seafaring industry. And the concerns that were raised there were that when companies do take advantage of various opportunities that are there for them legally, then it does mean that some Welsh workers can be out-priced and that workers from elsewhere in the world can actually find themselves not paid as well as they should be and find themselves with poor employment rights as well. So, some of the concerns that you have described I very much recognise, and I'd be happy to ask the Minister for transport to provide an update on Welsh Government's approach to that, and some reflections on the opportunities that might be to change the law, although it would, I think, have to be done at a UK basis.
Wel, cefais gyfarfod yn ddiweddar gydag Undeb Cenedlaethol y Gweithwyr Rheilffordd, Morwrol a Thrafnidiaeth i drafod yr union fater hwn, er nad oedd hynny yn arbennig yng nghyd-destun Stena Line; roedd yn fwy yng nghyd-destun yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud i gefnogi morwyr Cymru sy'n gweithio mewn pob math o rannau o'r diwydiant morwrol. A'r pryderon a godwyd yno oedd pan fo cwmnïau yn manteisio ar gyfleoedd amrywiol sydd yno iddyn nhw yn gyfreithiol, yna mae'n golygu y gall rhai gweithwyr yng Nghymru fod yn rhy ddrud a gall gweithwyr o fannau eraill yn y byd beidio â chael eu talu cystal ag y dylen nhw a bod ganddyn nhw hawliau cyflogaeth gwael hefyd. Felly, mae rhai o'r pryderon yr ydych wedi'u disgrifio yn fawr iawn, a byddwn yn hapus i ofyn i'r Gweinidog dros drafnidiaeth roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ddull gweithredu Llywodraeth Cymru ar hynny, a rhai sylwadau ar y cyfleoedd a allai fod i newid y gyfraith, er y byddai'n rhaid gwneud hynny ar sail y DU, rwy'n credu.
Thank you very much, Trefnydd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Trefnydd.
The next item on the agenda are motions to elect Members to the committees, and in accordance with Standing Orders 12.24 and 12.40, I propose that the motions to elect Members to committees are grouped for debate and for voting. So, if there are no objections, can I call on a member of the Business Committee to move the motions formally—Trefnydd?
Yr eitem nesaf ar yr agenda yw cynigion i ethol Aelodau i'r pwyllgorau, ac yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog 12.24 a 12.40, rwy'n cynnig bod y cynigion i ethol Aelodau i bwyllgorau yn cael eu grwpio ar gyfer dadl ac ar gyfer pleidleisio. Felly, os nad oes gwrthwynebiad, a gaf i alw ar aelod o'r Pwyllgor Busnes i wneud y cynigion yn ffurfiol—Trefnydd?
Cynnig NDM7248 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Materion Allanol a Deddfwriaeth Ychwanegol yn lle Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7248 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in place of Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7249 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor ar Ddiwygio Etholiadol y Cynulliad yn lle Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7249 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Dai Lloyd (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Committee on Assembly Electoral Reform in place of Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7250 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Cyfrifon Cyhoeddus yn lle Adam Price (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7250 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Public Accounts Committee in place of Adam Price (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7251 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Safonau Ymddygiad yn lle Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7251 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Standards of Conduct Committee in place of Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7252 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Sian Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Cyllid yn lle Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7252 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Sian Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Finance Committee in place of Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7253 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau yn lle Bethan Sayed (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7253 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee in place of Bethan Sayed (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7254 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb, Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau yn lle Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7254 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Delyth Jewell as a member of the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee in place of Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7255 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon yn lle Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7255 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee in place of Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7256 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chyfathrebu yn lle Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7256 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Helen Mary Jones (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee in place of Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru).
Cynnig NDM7257 Elin Jones
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 17.14, yn ethol Sian Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru) yn aelod o’r Pwyllgor Busnes yn lle Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru).
Motion NDM7257 Elin Jones
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales, in accordance with Standing Order 17.14, elects Sian Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru) as a member of the Business Committee in place of Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru).
Cynigiwyd y cynigion.
Motions moved.
Formally.
Yn ffurfiol.
Formally. Thank you. I have no speakers, so the proposal is to agree the motions. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motions are agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Yn ffurfiol. Diolch. Nid oes gennyf i unrhyw siaradwyr, felly y cynnig yw cytuno ar y cynigion. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynigion yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynigion yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motions agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Item 3 on the agenda is a statement by the Minister for Education on the curriculum for Wales framework. I call on the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
Eitem 3 ar yr agenda yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog Addysg ar fframwaith cwricwlwm Cymru. Rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Addysg, Kirsty Williams.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today, I am publishing the refined curriculum for Wales guidance. This sets out: guidelines for every school to develop their curriculum; expectations around assessment arrangements to support learner progression; and the proposed legislative requirements to secure a consistency of approach for learners across the country.
Improving education is our national mission. Nothing is so essential as universal access to the experiences, knowledge and skills that our young people need for employment, for lifelong learning and active citizenship. Our new guidance is a clear statement of what is important in delivering a broad and balanced curriculum and education. The four purposes are the shared vision and aspiration for every child and young person. And, in fulfilling these, we set high expectations for all, promote individual and national well-being, tackle ignorance and misinformation, and encourage critical and civic engagement.
Our guidance is the product of a prolonged process of co-construction, involving practitioners from schools across Wales. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those practitioners for their commitment over the last three years in jointly drafting this guidance. I would also like to thank the individuals and organisations who engaged during the feedback phase last year, after the draft guidance was released. The quality and detail of these contributions has helped to make significant improvements. In the autumn, I published the analysis of this feedback; today, I am also publishing a response to that feedback, alongside the guidance.
Over the autumn, practitioners and officials have worked to refine the guidance in response to that feedback, and in particular to: simplify and reduce the volume of guidance; clarify which parts of the new curriculum framework will be mandatory to ensure equity across schools; and provide greater clarity and detail where practitioners require more support, giving them guidance on designing their own curriculum. This feedback, together with the process of co-construction, has been critical: guidance made by practitioners, for practitioners, through an ongoing dialogue with the whole of our education system.
Seeing all practitioners as curriculum designers represents a fundamental shift for education in Wales. The new guidance does not give a prescriptive programme that can simply be delivered. Instead, it is about empowering practitioners to decide what will help their learners to become ambitious and capable, ethical and informed, enterprising and creative, and healthy and confident.
The new guidance focuses on a more integrated approach to learning. The six areas of learning and experience bring together familiar disciplines and encourage strong and meaningful links across them. While disciplines remain important, this new approach supports learners to build connections across their learning, helping them understand not only what they learn, but why they learn it.
Our new guidance also places learner progression at its heart, with assessment playing a fundamental part in supporting this. The guidance has been fully informed by international evidence of progression. This will enable every learner to make progress throughout their education, in every area and discipline, rather than simply doing more and more of the acquiring of facts. Today's publication also includes specific guidance on developing assessment arrangements to support learner progression and enable every learner to make progress by ensuring that they are both supported and challenged.
Beyond the emphasis on co-construction, these changes are distinct from many of the similar types of reforms that we see elsewhere in three key respects. The learning outcomes in our guidance are based on robust evidence and methodology to sustaining learning over three-year periods. Outcomes elsewhere are often very narrow or vague, providing insufficient direction to practitioners. Our guidance is focused on schools designing their own curriculum. Reforms elsewhere often leave this entirely implicit. The 'Designing your Curriculum' section will help practitioners to develop a high-quality curriculum.
And we are working with our partners to ensure that schools are fully supported to realise the curriculum in their school within the framework that we have set out. International evidence makes clear that this next stage—implementation of our reforms—is the biggest challenge. After Easter, I will publish our curriculum implementation plan based on where schools should focus their efforts at different points up to 2022, and how we and the middle tier will support them in that process.
The feedback phase made clear that additional, specific guidance will be required to support practitioners in specific areas. To this end, Deputy Presiding Officer, in the next 18 months I will also publish a framework for religion, values and ethics to inform the development of the agreed syllabuses in each local authority; guidance for relationships and sexuality education; guidance on careers and work-related experiences; enabling steps to support learners at the very beginning of the learning continuum; a curriculum for funded non-maintained nursery settings to adopt; and guidance on developing a curriculum for pupil referral units and for those responsible for the provision of education other than at school.
It is now essential that Government, regional consortia, Estyn and local authorities work together to support every school, setting and practitioner to understand the new curriculum and to deliver it. In addition to my commitments to professional learning, officials are working with regional consortia and Estyn to establish national networks of practitioners and experts to share expertise and learning, and identify priorities for supporting the profession in readiness. Officials are working with practitioners to identify priorities for the development of resources, to ensure a range of supporting material is available by 2022 to help practitioners develop their own curriculum. Officials are also working closely with Qualifications Wales as it considers how qualifications may need to change to align with and support the new curriculum. This presents a fresh opportunity to consider the nature and role of qualifications for 14 to 16-year-olds.
Let me be clear: the publishing of this curriculum guidance is only the next step of co-construction. Government will continue to work closely with the profession to make this a success. But it is now for every practitioner to engage fully what has been published. Schools should take space and time to understand the model of the curriculum and start to discuss how their vision and values will eventually inform their own curriculum. They should not rush into trying to plan or implement it right now.
This new curriculum represents the very best of the education profession’s efforts. The next step in our reform journey is to prepare the profession to make it real in every classroom and for every learner in our nation.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Heddiw, rwy'n cyhoeddi'r canllawiau diwygiedig i Gwricwlwm Cymru. Mae'r rhain yn nodi: canllawiau i bob ysgol ar gyfer datblygu eu cwricwlwm nhw; disgwyliadau ynghylch trefniadau asesu i gefnogi hynt y dysgwyr; a'r gofynion deddfwriaethol arfaethedig i sicrhau dull gweithredu cyson ar gyfer dysgwyr ledled y wlad.
Gwella addysg yw ein cenhadaeth genedlaethol ni. Nid oes dim mor hanfodol â bod y profiadau, yr wybodaeth a'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar ein pobl ifanc ar gael yn gyffredinol ar gyfer cyflogaeth, dysgu gydol oes a dinasyddiaeth weithgar. Mae ein canllawiau newydd ni'n ddatganiad clir o'r hyn sy'n bwysig o ran darparu cwricwlwm ac addysg eang a chytbwys. Y pedwar diben yw'r weledigaeth a'r dyheadau a rennir ar gyfer pob plentyn ac unigolyn ifanc. Ac, wrth gyflawni'r rhain, rydym ni'n disgwyl llawer oddi wrth bawb, yn hyrwyddo llesiant unigol a chenedlaethol, yn mynd i'r afael ag anwybodaeth a chamwybodaeth, ac yn annog ymgysylltiad sy'n feirniadol ac yn ymwybodol o ddinasyddiaeth.
Mae ein canllawiau ni'n gynnyrch proses faith o gydlunio, sy'n cynnwys ymarferwyr o ysgolion ledled Cymru. Fe hoffwn i achub ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i'r ymarferwyr hynny am eu hymroddiad dros y tair blynedd diwethaf wrth ddrafftio'r canllawiau hyn ar y cyd. Fe hoffwn i ddiolch hefyd i'r unigolion a'r sefydliadau a fu'n ymwneud â'r cyfnod adborth y llynedd, ar ôl i'r canllawiau drafft gael eu cyhoeddi. Mae ansawdd a manylder y cyfraniadau hyn wedi helpu i wneud gwelliannau sylweddol. Yn yr hydref, fe gyhoeddais i ddadansoddiad o'r adborth hwn; heddiw, rwy'n cyhoeddi ymateb i'r adborth hwnnw hefyd, ynghyd â'r canllawiau.
Yn ystod yr hydref, mae ymarferwyr a swyddogion wedi gweithio i ddiwygio'r canllawiau gan ymateb i'r adborth hwnnw, ac yn benodol i: symleiddio a lleihau maint y canllawiau; egluro pa rannau o'r fframwaith cwricwlwm newydd fydd yn orfodol i sicrhau tegwch yn yr holl ysgolion; a rhoi mwy o eglurder a manylder lle mae angen mwy o gymorth ar ymarferwyr, gan roi arweiniad iddyn nhw ar gynllunio eu cwricwlwm eu hunain. Mae'r adborth hwn, ynghyd â'r broses o gydlunio wedi bod yn allweddol: arweiniad a gynhyrchwyd gan ymarferwyr, ar gyfer ymarferwyr, drwy ddeialog barhaus â'n system addysg ni yn ei chyfanrwydd.
Mae gweld pob ymarferwr yn ddyluniwr cwricwlwm yn golygu newid sylfaenol i addysg yng Nghymru. Nid yw'r canllawiau newydd yn pennu rhaglen ragnodol y gellir ei chyflwyno'n syml. Yn hytrach, maen nhw'n ymwneud â grymuso ymarferwyr i benderfynu beth fydd yn helpu eu dysgwyr nhw i fod yn uchelgeisiol ac yn fedrus, yn foesol a gwybodus, yn fentrus ac yn greadigol, ac yn iach ac yn hyderus.
Mae'r canllawiau newydd yn canolbwyntio ar ddull mwy integredig o ddysgu. Mae'r chwe maes dysgu a phrofiad yn tynnu disgyblaethau cyfarwydd ynghyd ac yn annog cysylltiadau cryf ac ystyrlon rhyngddynt. Er bod y disgyblaethau yn parhau i fod yn bwysig, mae'r dull newydd hwn yn helpu dysgwyr i feithrin cysylltiadau gydol eu haddysg, gan eu helpu nhw i ddeall nid yn unig yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei ddysgu, ond pam mae hynny'n cael ei ddysgu iddyn nhw.
Mae ein canllawiau newydd yn rhoi lle canolog i hynt dysgwyr hefyd, ac mae asesu yn chwarae rhan sylfaenol yn y broses o gefnogi hyn. Mae'r canllawiau wedi cael eu seilio'n llwyr ar dystiolaeth ryngwladol ar gyfer hynt yr addysg. Bydd hyn yn galluogi pob dysgwr i ddod yn ei flaen drwy gydol ei addysg, ym mhob maes a disgyblaeth, yn hytrach na dim ond dysgu torreth o ffeithiau. Mae'r cyhoeddiad heddiw yn cynnwys canllawiau penodol hefyd ar ddatblygu trefniadau asesu i gefnogi hynt dysgwyr a galluogi pob dysgwr i wneud cynnydd drwy sicrhau ei fod yn cael ei gefnogi a'i herio.
Y tu hwnt i'r pwyslais ar gydlunio, mae'r newidiadau hyn yn wahanol i lawer o'r mathau tebyg o ddiwygiadau a welwn ni mewn tair ffordd allweddol. Mae'r canlyniadau dysgu yn ein canllawiau ni'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth a methodoleg gadarn i gynnal dysgu dros gyfnodau o dair blynedd. Mae canlyniadau mewn mannau eraill yn gul neu'n amwys iawn yn aml, gan roi cyfarwyddyd annigonol i ymarferwyr. Mae ein harweiniad ni'n canolbwyntio ar ysgolion yn cynllunio eu cwricwlwm nhw eu hunain. Mae diwygiadau mewn mannau eraill yn aml yn ystyried hyn yn gyfan gwbl ymhlyg. Fe fydd yr adran 'Cynllunio eich Cwricwlwm' yn helpu ymarferwyr i ddatblygu cwricwlwm o ansawdd uchel.
Ac rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'n partneriaid i sicrhau bod ysgolion yn cael y gefnogaeth lawn i wireddu'r cwricwlwm yn eu hysgol nhw o fewn y fframwaith a roddwn ni. Mae tystiolaeth ryngwladol yn ei gwneud hi'n glir mai'r cam nesaf hwn—gweithredu ar ein diwygiadau ni—yw'r her fwyaf un. Wedi'r Pasg, byddaf yn cyhoeddi ein cynllun gweithredu cwricwlwm ni sy'n seiliedig ar y mannau y dylai ysgolion ganolbwyntio eu hymdrechion arnyn nhw ar wahanol bwyntiau hyd at 2022, a sut y byddwn ni a'r haen ganol yn eu cefnogi nhw yn y broses honno.
Roedd y cam adborth yn ei gwneud yn glir y bydd angen canllawiau penodol, ychwanegol i gefnogi ymarferwyr mewn meysydd arbennig. I'r perwyl hwn, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn ystod y 18 mis nesaf fe fyddaf i'n cyhoeddi fframwaith hefyd ar gyfer crefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg i lywio datblygiad y meysydd llafur a gytunwyd ym mhob awdurdod lleol; canllawiau ar gyfer addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb; canllawiau ar yrfaoedd a phrofiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â gwaith; galluogi camau i gefnogi dysgwyr ar ddechrau'r continwwm dysgu; cwricwlwm ar gyfer lleoliadau meithrin nas cynhelir a ariennir i'w fabwysiadu; ac arweiniad ar ddatblygu cwricwlwm ar gyfer unedau cyfeirio disgyblion ac ar gyfer y rhai sy'n gyfrifol am ddarparu addysg heb fod mewn ysgol.
Mae'n hanfodol nawr bod y Llywodraeth, consortia rhanbarthol, Estyn ac awdurdodau lleol yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd i gynorthwyo pob ysgol, lleoliad ac ymarferwr i ddeall y cwricwlwm newydd a'i gyflawni. Yn ogystal â'r ymrwymiadau a wnes i ynglŷn â dysgu proffesiynol, mae swyddogion yn gweithio gyda chonsortia rhanbarthol ac Estyn i sefydlu rhwydweithiau cenedlaethol o ymarferwyr ac arbenigwyr i rannu arbenigedd ac addysg, a nodi blaenoriaethau ar gyfer cefnogi'r proffesiwn i fod yn barod. Mae swyddogion yn gweithio gydag ymarferwyr i nodi blaenoriaethau ar gyfer datblygu adnoddau, i sicrhau bod ystod o ddeunyddiau ategol ar gael erbyn 2022 i helpu ymarferwyr i ddatblygu eu cwricwlwm eu hunain. Mae swyddogion yn gweithio'n agos hefyd gyda Cymwysterau Cymru wrth iddo ystyried sut y gallai fod angen i gymwysterau newid ar gyfer cyd-fynd â'r cwricwlwm newydd a rhoi cefnogaeth iddo. Mae hwn yn gyfle newydd i ystyried natur a swyddogaeth cymwysterau ar gyfer pobl ifanc 14 i 16 oed.
Gadewch imi fod yn glir: dim ond y cam nesaf o gydlunio yw cyhoeddi'r canllawiau hyn ar gyfer y cwricwlwm. Bydd y Llywodraeth yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda'r proffesiwn i sicrhau y bydd hyn yn llwyddiant. Ond mae'n bryd nawr i bob ymarferwr ymgysylltu yn llawn â'r hyn a gyhoeddwyd. Fe ddylai'r ysgolion gymryd y gofod a'r amser i ddeall model y cwricwlwm a dechrau trafod sut y bydd eu gweledigaeth a'u gwerthoedd nhw'n llywio eu cwricwlwm eu hunain yn y pen draw. Ni ddylent ruthro i geisio ei gynllunio neu ei weithredu ar unwaith.
Mae'r cwricwlwm newydd hwn yn cynrychioli ymdrechion gorau'r proffesiwn addysg. Y cam nesaf yn ein taith ddiwygio yw paratoi'r proffesiwn i'w wireddu ym mhob ystafell ddosbarth ac ar gyfer pob dysgwr yn ein cenedl ni.
Thank you very much, Minister, for a very comprehensive statement on the journey so far. Can I offer my thanks to everybody else involved in what looks like, certainly, an enormous amount of hard work? I've explained before that the Welsh Conservatives have long argued that we should let teachers teach, and some of the changes already have our in-principle support. That goes hand in hand with our heads-up, if you like, on looking for greater information on what scrutiny will look like in future accountability and measurability—aspects that I'm sure we'll come back to in some more detail on another day.
Personally, I hope that we move away from this atmosphere of having to sit 13 or 14 GCSEs, or at least year 11 exams, in order to prove your excellence. There comes a point where you can be asked to do too much, when we look at it in these terms. If we are to avoid teaching to the exam, and I hope we are all on that page, we still will need to find a way for pupils to demonstrate their attainment across this broader curriculum, and again, I suspect that's something we'll come back to.
My first question is about the point that you made, Minister, about implementation—the deliverability and what that looks like at this stage of development. We're having to wait 18 months or so for some pretty key frameworks on guidance, not least on the more sensitive areas of the curriculum, which doesn't give practitioners or the range of co-constructors—'co-producers' I still prefer to call them—time to get to grips with this by the time it gets to 2022. So I'm wondering if you can give us some steer on why you think, bearing in mind the enormous amount of work that's already gone into this, that we're having to wait quite so long for detailed frameworks and guidance on those more sensitive areas.
Populating the curriculum with material still remains, of course, a core challenge at this point of development. The guidelines, such as they are, are helpful, and I'm not saying that they're not, but inevitably existing teachers I suspect will still be relying on their body of knowledge, and even some of their resources that they already have, to decide what they're going to do when they go into school on a Monday morning and have to stand up in front of a class of year 7. I think, by the sound of it, that it's the secondary schools that are going to find this change more of a challenge, if I can put it like that.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog, am ddatganiad cynhwysfawr iawn ar y daith hyd yn hyn. A gaf i fynegi fy niolch i bawb arall sydd wedi bod â rhan yn yr hyn sy'n edrych, yn sicr, fel cryn dipyn o waith caled? Rwyf wedi egluro o'r blaen fod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi dadlau ers tro y dylem adael llonydd i athrawon ddysgu, ac rydym eisoes yn cefnogi rhai o'r newidiadau mewn egwyddor. Mae hynny'n mynd law yn llaw â'n craffter ni, os hoffech chi, o ran chwilio am fwy o wybodaeth ynghylch sut beth fydd y craffu o ran atebolrwydd a'r dull o fesur y dyfodol—agweddau yr wyf i'n siŵr y byddwn yn dychwelyd atyn nhw ryw ddiwrnod eto.
Yn bersonol, rwy'n gobeithio ein bod ni'n symud oddi wrth yr awyrgylch hon o orfod sefyll 13 neu 14 o bynciau TGAU, neu o leiaf arholiadau blwyddyn 11, er mwyn profi eich gallu. Fe ddaw yn fater o ofyn gormod ohonoch chi, o'i ystyried felly. Os ydym am osgoi addysg ar gyfer arholiadau'n unig, ac rwy'n gobeithio ein bod ni i gyd o'r un farn yn hyn o beth, bydd angen dod o hyd i ffordd y gall disgyblion ddangos eu cyflawniadau ar draws y cwricwlwm ehangach hwn, ac eto, rwy'n amau'n gryf y bydd hynny'n rhywbeth y byddwn yn ei drafod eto.
Mae fy nghwestiwn cyntaf yn ymwneud â'r pwynt a wnaethoch chi, Gweinidog, ynglŷn â gweithredu—sut y caiff hynny ei gyflawni a sut mae pethau ar y cam datblygu hwn. Rydym yn gorfod aros am ryw 18 mis i gael rhai fframweithiau cwbl allweddol ar ganllawiau, yn anad dim ar feysydd mwy sensitif y cwricwlwm, nad ydyn nhw'n rhoi'r amser i ymarferwyr na'r amrywiaeth o gydlunwyr—mae'n well gennyf i o hyd eu galw nhw'n 'gydgynhyrchwyr'—i fynd i'r afael â hyn erbyn y byddwn ni wedi cyrraedd 2022. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi roi rhyw amcan inni ynghylch pam ydych chi'n credu, o gofio'r gwaith aruthrol sydd wedi ei wneud eisoes ar hyn, y bydd yn rhaid inni aros cyhyd am fframweithiau a chanllawiau manwl ar y meysydd mwy sensitif hynny.
Wrth gwrs, mae llenwi'r cwricwlwm â deunydd yn parhau i fod yn her graidd ar yr adeg hon yn y datblygiad. Mae'r canllawiau, fel ag y maen nhw, yn ddefnyddiol, ac nid wyf yn honni nad ydyn nhw ddim. Ond yn anochel rwy'n amau y bydd athrawon presennol yn parhau i ddibynnu ar y corff sylweddol o wybodaeth sydd ganddyn nhw, a hyd yn oed ar rai o'r adnoddau sydd ganddyn nhw eisoes, i benderfynu ar yr hyn y maen nhw'n mynd i'w wneud pan fyddan nhw'n mynd i'r ysgol ar fore Llun ac yn gorfod sefyll o flaen dosbarth o blant blwyddyn 7. Rwy'n credu, o'r hyn a glywaf i, mai'r ysgolion uwchradd sy'n mynd i weld yr her fwyaf yn y newid hwn, os caf ei roi felly.
So, just looking at the £39 million that, over some years, you've already allocated to getting teachers ready for this new curriculum, can you give us some indication of how much of that is going to go to creating time for curriculum designers—both within and among schools? What have the teachers told you so far about how they're going to be able to manage these absences or need for absences, how to create that non-contact time within the school day? I heard your exhortation not to run too quickly with this, but actually, time is running out—2022 is not that far away. And of course, we'll be looking shortly at legislation, which leaves me a little bit concerned that some of the work on this key element of deliverability implementation, if you like, remains to be completed, and so I have to ask: what will be completed by the time we're at a stage where we're being invited to table amendments to your legislation?
You talk about co-construction and practitioners extensively in your statement, and for pedagogy I completely see the purpose in that, but you didn't say anything about communities and families in this co-construction picture. I think that this is going to be essential, particularly for those more sensitive and compulsory areas of the curriculum if they're to work, and to avoid agitated families choosing home schooling for their children in protest at what looks like the loss of their right to withdraw.
Can you give us some indication at this stage of, for example, your faith, BAME, I think it's called 'community involvement group', if I'm right, whether that is going to be a central forum or whether there are going to be localised versions of that? Because I'm very keen to understand the role of the community at local level in devising that local curriculum. If there is going to be local input from the community, particularly families, who will be responsible for drawing all that local work together if, as I hope, it's not just about practitioners? What will be the role of the consortia in that particular piece of work? And perhaps just again, as a heads up—I don't expect you to be able to answer that today—but if you can give us some indication of how many withdrawals there have been and perhaps on what grounds over, say, the last five years, so that we can get some elements of early understanding about the problem that could arise as a result of removing parents' rights to withdraw.
Could you also give us an indication of how children who are already home schooled through parental choice, but also children who are educated other than at school for other reasons, how they're going to access this new curriculum, particularly as many of them rely on independent external support for the education that they're offering children? I think I've already raised concerns with you about who can access the Hwb platform, and at the moment, independent schools won't be allowed to do that. But I'd like some indication of whether you think independent education providers, other than independent schools, might be able to do that to make sure that are our education-other-than-at-school children aren't disadvantaged.
And then, on the issue of prescription, I know exactly where you stand on it. I know you don't want it. I applaud you—I have to say this—for at least referring to emergency lifesaving skills in the guidance. But I wonder if it's asking just a little bit too much. If you could nudge it a little bit further by asking schools to give reasons why they don't include it rather than merely permitting them to include it, because that's not actually moving things on from where we are now. There are so many providers and organisations prepared to do this work, it's not as if demand couldn't be easily met by schools, and I don't want them finding reasons not to do this.
I'll leave others—because I'm sure this will happen—to raise with you the issue of status and presence of what you call 'the Welsh dimension' in the curriculum. I'll leave that to somebody else.
But there is one more specific I would like to ask of you, actually, Minister. This week, of course, we're reminding ourselves of the horrors of the Holocaust. This is not just history or a point of illustration about genocide or equalities; this is something I think really has to be embedded into our collective DNA. Not just because of the Poles and the Jews and the Roma and the disabled and the LGBT victims, but precisely because it is unimaginable. There is nothing to prevent teaching about the Holocaust, and I accept everything we heard from the Deputy Minister earlier, but would you consider raising the prominence of the Holocaust within the guidance when it goes out to further consultation? Thank you.
Felly, wrth edrych ar y £39 miliwn yr ydych chi wedi ei ddyrannu eisoes, dros sawl blwyddyn, i sicrhau bod athrawon yn barod ar gyfer y cwricwlwm newydd hwn, a wnewch chi roi rhyw amcan inni o faint o hynny fydd yn mynd i roi amser i'r rhai sy'n dylunio'r cwricwlwm—o fewn yr ysgolion ac ymysg ysgolion hefyd? Beth mae'r athrawon wedi ei ddweud wrthych chi hyd yn hyn ynghylch sut y byddan nhw'n gallu rheoli'r absenoldebau hyn neu'r angen am absenoldebau, sut i greu'r amser digyswllt hwnnw o fewn y diwrnod ysgol? Roeddwn i'n clywed eich anogaeth i beidio â bwrw ymlaen yn rhy gyflym yn hyn o beth, ond mewn gwirionedd, mae'r amser wedi mynd yn brin—nid yw 2022 mor bell i ffwrdd â hynny. Ac wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni'n edrych ar ddeddfwriaeth yn fuan iawn, sy'n fy ngwneud i braidd yn bryderus gan fod peth o'r gwaith ar yr elfen allweddol hon o gyflawni gweithrediad, os mynnwch chi, heb ei gwblhau eto, ac felly mae'n rhaid i mi ofyn: beth fydd wedi cael ei gwblhau erbyn inni gyrraedd y cam y cawn wahoddiad i gyflwyno gwelliannau i'ch deddfwriaeth chi?
Rydych chi'n sôn llawer yn eich datganiad am gyd-lunio ac am ymarferwyr, ac o ran addysgeg rwy'n gweld pwrpas hynny'n amlwg, ond nid oeddech yn sôn dim am gymunedau a theuluoedd yn y darlun hwn o gyd-lunio. Rwyf i o'r farn y bydd hyn yn hanfodol, yn enwedig ar gyfer y meysydd mwy sensitif a gorfodol yn y cwricwlwm os ydyn nhw am weithio, ac i osgoi teuluoedd gofidus yn dewis addysg yn y cartref i'w plant fel protest yn erbyn yr hyn a ymddengys yn golled o'r hawl i dynnu'n ôl.
A wnewch chi roi rhyw syniad i ni ar y cam hwn, er enghraifft, o'ch ffydd chi, BAME, rwy'n credu y gelwir hyn yn 'grŵp cynnwys cymunedau', os wyf i'n iawn, a fydd hwnnw'n fforwm canolog ynteu a fydd yna fersiynau lleol o hynny? Oherwydd rwy'n awyddus iawn i ddeall beth fydd swyddogaeth y gymuned ar lefel leol wrth lunio'r cwricwlwm lleol hwnnw. Os bydd y gymuned yn cyfrannu'n lleol, a theuluoedd yn enwedig, pwy fydd yn gyfrifol am dynnu'r holl waith lleol hwnnw ynghyd os nad yw hyn, gobeithio, yn ymwneud ag ymarferwyr yn unig? Beth fydd swyddogaeth y consortia yn y darn arbennig hwnnw o waith? Ac efallai unwaith eto, i fod yn graff—nid wyf i'n disgwyl ichi allu ateb hynny heddiw—ond tybed a allwch chi roi rhyw syniad inni o faint o dynnu'n ôl sydd wedi bod ac efallai ar ba sail y bu hynny, dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf, dyweder, fel y gallwn ni gael rhywfaint o ddealltwriaeth gynnar am y broblem a allai godi o ganlyniad i ddileu hawliau rhieni i dynnu'n ôl.
A wnewch chi roi syniad inni o'r modd y mae plant sydd eisoes yn cael eu haddysg yn y cartref oherwydd dewis y rhieni, ond hefyd y plant sy'n cael addysg heb fod mewn ysgol am resymau eraill, sut y bydden nhw'n cael mynediad i'r cwricwlwm newydd hwn, yn arbennig gan fod llawer ohonyn nhw'n dibynnu ar gymorth allanol annibynnol ar gyfer yr addysg a gynigir i'r plant? Rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi codi pryderon gyda chi eisoes ynghylch pwy all gael mynediad i blatfform Hwb, ac ar hyn o bryd, ni fydd ysgolion annibynnol yn cael gwneud hynny. Ond fe hoffwn i gael rhyw arwydd o sut yr ydych chi'n credu y gallai darparwyr addysg annibynnol, ar wahân i ysgolion annibynnol, wneud hynny i sicrhau nad yw'r plant nad ydyn nhw mewn ysgol yn cael eu rhoi dan anfantais.
Ac yna, ar fater rhagnodi, fe wn i'n hollol eich safbwynt chi yn hyn o beth. Gwn nad ydych chi'n dymuno gweld hynny. Rwy'n eich canmol chi—mae'n rhaid imi ddweud hyn—am gyfeirio o leiaf at sgiliau achub bywyd brys yn y canllawiau. Ond tybed a yw hynny'n gofyn ychydig bach yn ormod. Pe gallech chi ei wthio ychydig ymhellach drwy ofyn i ysgolion roi rhesymau pam nad ydyn nhw'n ei gynnwys yn hytrach na chaniatáu iddyn nhw ei gynnwys, oherwydd nid yw hynny mewn gwirionedd yn symud pethau ymlaen o'n sefyllfa bresennol ni. Mae yna gymaint o ddarparwyr a sefydliadau sy'n barod i wneud y gwaith hwn, nid yw fel pe na allai ysgolion fodloni'r galw'n hawdd, ac nid wyf yn awyddus i'w gweld yn dod o hyd i resymau i beidio â gwneud hyn.
Fe roddaf gyfle i eraill—gan fy mod i'n siŵr y bydd hyn yn digwydd—godi mater statws a phresenoldeb yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei alw yn 'ddimensiwn Cymreig' yn y cwricwlwm. Rwyf am adael hynny i rywun arall.
Ond mae yna un peth mwy penodol yr hoffwn i ei ofyn i chi, Gweinidog. Yr wythnos hon, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n cofio am erchyllterau'r Holocost. Nid hanes yn unig yw hyn ac nid rhywbeth sy'n cael ei ddarlunio fel enghraifft ynghylch hil-laddiad neu gydraddoldeb; yn fy marn i, mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid ei ymgorffori yn ein DNA cyfunol. Nid yn unig oherwydd y Pwyliaid a'r Iddewon a'r Roma a'r bobl anabl a'r bobl Lesbiaidd, Hoyw, Ddeurywiol a Thrawsrywiol a ddioddefodd, ond am ei fod yn rhywbeth sy'n wir annirnadwy. Does dim angen atal addysgu am yr Holocost, ac rwy'n derbyn popeth a glywsom ni gan y Dirprwy Weinidog yn gynharach, ond a fyddech chi'n ystyried rhoi lle blaenllaw i'r Holocost o fewn y canllawiau pan fyddant yn mynd allan i ymgynghoriad pellach? Diolch.
Can I begin by thanking Suzy Davies for the points she raised and the question she asked? She firstly talked about implementation. And as I said in my statement, we will publish an implementation plan later on this term. I want practitioners and interested parties to be able to spend the next couple of weeks reading what is a quite extensive document, and beginning their thought process before, suddenly, they also have from Government an implementation plan. I want them to engage in this document, to think about what's written here, and to begin that thought process. But it is clear that then we will need to set out a series of points and pieces of work that individual schools will need to do between now and September 2022, to ensure that everybody is in the right place, and is moving along at pace in their preparedness.
What I talked about in terms of additional guidance, there has been a clear ask from people for some additional support in this area. Although you will have seen from what we've published today, we have been very detailed in each area of learning and experience, with each of the 'what matters' statements below that, and the progression steps. What we will providing in guidance is some extra, additional information, on top of what is an already very comprehensive steer as to what should be included in those areas. But, clearly, when thinking about subjects that, understandably, people feel very strongly about, with regard to religion, values and ethics, and relationship education, because of their concerns about what that might include, we want to be very explicit about what it is, and perhaps even more importantly, what it is not. And I have to say, I've been slightly concerned by some of the correspondence I have received over the last week, where there is a great misunderstanding about what is currently taught in schools, and what our expectation is that schools will teach in the future. So, to give reassurance to parents and communities about what we will expect their children's teachers to teach them, we want to be more explicit to be able to provide that confidence over what are, understandably, sensitive issues, and people want some reassurance.
To that end, the involved group will sit alongside our group of constructors that will look at that guidance, especially with regard to relationship education. But you will have seen in the document that I have produced today that we have been very clear about what we envisage will be the principles that will underpin the guidance around relationship education. They're based on the principles from the UN of what qualifies as best practice in teaching these subjects to children and young people.
I know the Member shares my concern that, when it comes to these areas, we have a responsibility to ensure that our children are safe. Our children are growing up in a world that is so very, very different, Deputy Presiding Officer, in terms of access to information around relationships and sexuality. Gone are the days when we passed a copy of Judy Blume around the class so that we could learn more about periods. And when we got a little bit older, gone are the days when we had a Jackie Collins novel, which we passed around the classroom again, and that's how we found out that information. It seems incredibly tame now, doesn't it? But our children are literally a few clicks away on one of these from some terrifying images. We saw recently from experts in the field the proportion of obscene pictures of young people—the proportion of things that are actually posted by young people themselves, unaware of the damage and the danger that they can place themselves in. I believe we have a responsibility to educate our children to keep them safe, and the principles that will underpin our education in this area are the principles of best practice from the United Nations.
With regard to professional learning, you will be aware that the vast majority of that money is passed directly to headteachers and school leaders, because it is they who understand the professional learning needs of their staff. And we can't possibly know all of that from the centre. We trust in those school leaders to be able to design a professional learning programme that meets the needs of their particular staff, and that professional learning can take place in lots of different ways. The call to me from the unions was a continuation of that funding. Because you'll be aware there was funding in the previous two years; professionals were concerned that that funding would come to an end, and I'm delighted that we've been able to make a funding commitment for the new financial year. Each school will be required to publish its professional learning plan, so that we can see—or anybody who's interested can see—how that money is being used in the professional learning of staff in that particular way.
With regard to further—I think the Member referred to further consultation. This is the final version of this document—there's no further consultation on what is being published today. This is it, so we won't be going back out on this. With regard to the legislation—that legislation, which will be published after the Easter recess, will be subject to the usual scrutiny process here. This document does outline what we will use legislation—the curriculum and assessment Bill—to do, in terms of legislating for the four purposes, the areas of learning and experience, and our intention to have a code with regard to the 'what matters' statements. You will also be aware that we will need to then ensure that the legislation also takes into consideration the curriculum needs and expectations for pupil referral units, and indeed education that is received by children other than at school. And the curriculum and assessment Bill will clearly state our expectations in that regard, recognising some core elements that all providers will have to produce, but recognising that in some cases, in the best interests of the children, some aspects of the curriculum will be disallowed, because that's in the best interests of that particular learner.
The Member began her contribution by talking about children sitting 12 or 13 GCSEs. As I said in my statement, Qualifications Wales is in the first part of their consultation on what the future of qualifications will be like. And I'm sure that not only the content but also the desirability, or the necessity, of sitting 12 or 13 GCSEs will form part of that examination, because it certainly is a challenge. But that is further work to be done.
A gaf i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i Suzy Davies am y pwyntiau a godwyd ganddi a'r cwestiwn a ofynnodd hi? Yn gyntaf, fe soniodd am weithredu. Ac fel y dywedais yn fy natganiad, fe fyddwn ni'n cyhoeddi cynllun gweithredu yn ddiweddarach y tymor hwn. Rwy'n awyddus i ymarferwyr a phartïon â diddordeb allu treulio'r wythnos neu ddwy nesaf yn darllen dogfen helaeth iawn, gan ddechrau rhoi meddwl ar waith cyn bod rhaid iddyn nhw, yn sydyn iawn, gael cynllun gweithredu hefyd gan y Llywodraeth. Rwy'n dymuno eu gweld yn ymgysylltu â'r ddogfen hon, ac ystyried yr hyn a ysgrifenwyd ynddi, a dechrau rhoi'r meddwl ar waith. Ond mae'n amlwg y bydd angen wedyn inni nodi cyfres o bwyntiau a darnau o waith y bydd angen i ysgolion unigol eu cyflawni rhwng nawr a mis Medi 2022, i sicrhau bod pawb yn y lle iawn, ac yn symud ymlaen o ran eu parodrwydd.
Yr hyn y soniais i amdano o ran canllawiau ychwanegol, cafwyd galwad clir gan bobl am ryw gymaint o gymorth ychwanegol yn y maes hwn. Er y byddwch wedi gweld o'r hyn a gyhoeddwyd gennym heddiw, rydym wedi bod yn fanwl iawn ym mhob maes dysgu a phrofiad, gyda phob datganiad o'r 'hyn sy'n bwysig' oddi tano, a'r camau o ran cynnydd. Yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ei ddarparu o ran canllawiau fydd gwybodaeth ychwanegol dros ben hynny, yn ogystal â'r hyn sydd eisoes yn arweiniad cynhwysfawr iawn ynghylch yr hyn y dylid ei gynnwys yn y meysydd hynny. Ond, yn amlwg, wrth feddwl am bynciau y mae pobl, yn ddealladwy iawn, yn teimlo'n gryf iawn yn eu cylch, ynglŷn â chrefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg, ac addysg cydberthynas, oherwydd eu pryderon am yr hyn y gallai hynny ei gynnwys, rydym eisiau bod yn eglur iawn ynghylch yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu, ac efallai yn bwysicach, yr hyn nad ydyw'n ei olygu. Ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, rwyf wedi bod braidd yn bryderus ynglŷn â rhywfaint o'r ohebiaeth a ddaeth i law dros yr wythnos ddiwethaf, lle mae yna gamddealltwriaeth fawr ynglŷn â'r hyn a ddysgir mewn ysgolion ar hyn o bryd, a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n disgwyl y bydd ysgolion yn ei ddysgu yn y dyfodol. Felly, i dawelu meddyliau rhieni a chymunedau ynghylch yr hyn y disgwyliwn i athrawon eu plant ei ddysgu iddyn nhw, rydym ni'n dymuno bod yn fwy penodol er mwyn rhoi'r hyder hwnnw ynghylch materion sydd, yn ddealladwy, yn sensitif, ac mae pobl yn awyddus i gael sicrwydd.
I'r perwyl hwnnw, fe fydd y grŵp dan sylw yn eistedd ochr yn ochr â'n grŵp ni o lunwyr a fydd yn edrych ar y canllawiau hynny, yn enwedig o ran addysg am gydberthynas. Ond fe fyddwch chi wedi gweld yn y ddogfen a gyflwynais i heddiw ein bod ni wedi bod yn eglur iawn ynglŷn â'r hyn yr ydym yn ei ragweld fydd yr egwyddorion a fydd yn sail i'r canllawiau ynghylch addysg cydberthynas. Maen nhw'n seiliedig ar egwyddorion y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar yr hyn sy'n gymwys fel arfer gorau wrth ddysgu'r pynciau hyn i blant a phobl ifanc.
Gwn fod yr Aelod yn rhannu fy mhryder, wrth ystyried y meysydd hyn, fod gennym ni gyfrifoldeb i sicrhau bod ein plant ni'n ddiogel. Mae ein plant ni'n aeddfedu mewn byd sy'n eithriadol wahanol, Dirprwy Lywydd, o ran y mynediad i wybodaeth am berthnasoedd a rhywioldeb. Mae'r dyddiau wedi hen ddiflannu pan oeddem ni'n pasio copi o Judy Blume o amgylch y dosbarth er mwyn inni gael dysgu mwy am y mislif. A phan oeddem ni ychydig yn hŷn, fe ddiflanodd y dyddiau pan oedd gennym ni nofel gan Jackie Collins, yr oeddem ni'n ei phasio hi o gwmpas yr ystafell ddosbarth eto, a dyna sut y cawsom ni'r wybodaeth yna. Diniwed tu hwnt erbyn hyn, onid e? Ond mae ein plant ni yn llythrennol glic neu ddau yn unig oddi wrth luniau brawychus. Fe welsom ni rai lluniau anweddus o bobl ifanc yn ddiweddar gan arbenigwyr yn y maes—y gyfran o'r pethau sydd mewn gwirionedd yn cael eu rhoi yno gan y bobl ifanc eu hunain, heb fod yn ymwybodol o'r niwed a'r perygl y gallan nhw fod yn eu rhoi eu hunain ynddo. Rwyf i o'r farn fod gennym gyfrifoldeb i addysgu ein plant ni ar gyfer eu cadw nhw'n ddiogel, a'r egwyddorion a fydd yn sail i'n haddysg ni yn y maes hwn yw egwyddorion arfer gorau gan y Cenhedloedd Unedig.
O ran dysgu proffesiynol, fe fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod y mwyafrif helaeth o'r arian hwnnw'n cael ei drosglwyddo i benaethiaid ac arweinwyr ysgolion yn uniongyrchol, gan mai y nhw sy'n deall anghenion dysgu proffesiynol eu staff. Ac nid oes modd inni wybod am hynny i gyd yn ganolog. Rydym yn ymddiried yn arweinwyr yr ysgolion hynny i allu cynllunio rhaglen ddysgu broffesiynol sy'n diwallu anghenion eu staff arbennig nhw, ac y gall dysgu proffesiynol ddigwydd mewn llawer o wahanol ffyrdd. Daeth galwad gan yr undebau i barhau â'r cyllid hwnnw. Oherwydd fe fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol fod yna gyllid yn ystod y ddwy flynedd flaenorol; roedd gweithwyr proffesiynol yn pryderu y byddai'r cyllid hwnnw'n dod i ben, ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod ni wedi gallu gwneud ymrwymiad i ariannu ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol newydd. Bydd yn ofynnol i bob ysgol gyhoeddi ei chynllun dysgu proffesiynol, fel y gallwn ni weld— neu y gall unrhyw un sydd â diddordeb weld—sut mae'r arian hwnnw'n cael ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer dysgu proffesiynol i'r staff yn y ffordd neilltuol honno.
Ymhellach—rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod wedi cyfeirio at ymgynghori pellach. Dyma fersiwn derfynol y ddogfen hon—nid oes ymgynghoriad pellach i fod ar yr hyn sy'n cael ei gyhoeddi heddiw. Dyma hi, felly ni fyddwn yn mynd yn ôl allan i holi ynglŷn â hyn. O ran y ddeddfwriaeth—fe fydd y ddeddfwriaeth honno, a gaiff ei chyhoeddi ar ôl toriad y Pasg, yn ddarostyngol i'r broses graffu arferol yn y fan hon. Mae'r ddogfen hon yn amlinellu sut y byddwn ni'n defnyddio deddfwriaeth—y Bil cwricwlwm ac asesu—o ran deddfu ar gyfer y pedwar diben, y meysydd dysgu a phrofiad, a'n bwriad i gael cod o ran datganiadau o'r 'hyn sy'n bwysig'. Fe fyddwch chi'n ymwybodol hefyd y bydd angen inni sicrhau wedyn bod y ddeddfwriaeth yn ystyried anghenion a disgwyliadau'r cwricwlwm ar gyfer unedau cyfeirio disgyblion hefyd, ac yn wir ar gyfer yr addysg a gaiff plant sydd heb fod mewn ysgol. Ac fe fydd y Bil cwricwlwm ac asesu yn nodi ein disgwyliadau ni'n eglur yn hynny o beth, gan gydnabod rhai elfennau craidd y bydd yn rhaid i bob darparwr eu cynhyrchu, ond gan gydnabod, mewn rhai achosion, er budd gorau'r plant, na chaniateir rhai agweddau ar y cwricwlwm, oherwydd bod hynny er budd mwyaf y dysgwr penodol hwnnw.
Fe ddechreuodd yr Aelod ei chyfraniad drwy siarad am blant yn sefyll 12 neu 13 o wahanol TGAU. Fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, mae Cymwysterau Cymru ynghanol rhan gyntaf ei ymgynghoriad ar ddyfodol cymwysterau. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd y cynnwys ond hefyd y dymuniad neu'r angen i sefyll 12 neu 13 TGAU yn rhan o gyfansoddiad yr archwiliad hwnnw, oherwydd mae hon yn her, yn sicr. Ond gwaith pellach i'w wneud eto yw hwnnw.
Hoffwn i y prynhawn yma fynd ar ôl dau fater penodol—fydd y materion yma ddim yn newydd i chi; dwi wedi eu codi nhw o'r blaen—yn gyntaf, gweithredu'r cwricwlwm newydd. Mae'ch datganiad chi heddiw yn cydnabod, wrth gwrs, mai gweithredu'r diwygiadau ydy'r her fawr, a bod yna dystiolaeth ryngwladol yn dangos bod hynny wedi bod yn glir mewn sefyllfaoedd eraill. A'r ail bwynt dwi am ei wyntyllu ychydig bach ymhellach ydy sut ydych chi'n cysoni gwneud rhai materion yn statudol, tra'n neilltuo rhai eraill o'r ddeddfwriaeth?
Does yna ddim dwywaith bod cyflwyno'r cwricwlwm newydd yn mynd i fod yn newid anferth i'r byd addysg yng Nghymru, a meddech chi heddiw y dylai ysgolion gymryd amser i ddeall model y cwricwlwm. Ac felly hoffwn i ofyn i chi'n gyntaf: ydych chi'n cytuno y bydd hyn, y bydd deall model y cwricwlwm newydd, yn fwy o her i'r sector uwchradd nag i'r sector cynradd? Ydy'r sector cynradd, yn enwedig o gofio datblygiad y cyfnod sylfaen, yn fwy parod, efallai, ar gyfer y weledigaeth newydd yma ar gyfer deall model y cwricwlwm?
Rydych chi'n sôn am yr angen i ysgolion gyd-gynllunio. I gyd-gynllunio, mae angen i ysgolion gael y gofod i ddod at ei gilydd. Ac eto, meddech chi yn eich datganiad heddiw, mae angen i ysgolion greu gofod ac amser i ddeall model y cwricwlwm, a pheidio â rhuthro'r broses o weithredu'r cwricwlwm newydd. Dwi'n cytuno yn llwyr efo hynny, ond mae creu'r gofod yn costio. Mae angen cyflogi athrawon llanw ac yn y blaen. Sut ydych chi'n gweld hwnna'n gweithio yn ymarferol? Ac ydych chi eto yn credu y bydd hi'n haws i greu'r gofod yma ar gyfer y cyd-gynllunio yn y cynradd, lle mae yna lai o blant, i ddechrau, mewn ysgolion cynradd o gymharu efo'r uwchradd? Ac i fynd yn ôl at y dystiolaeth ryngwladol roeddwn i'n cyfeirio ati ar y cychwyn, pa wersi sydd yna i'w dysgu o'r dystiolaeth yma wrth feddwl am wreiddio a gweithredu'r cwricwlwm yn y sector uwchradd yn benodol?
Wrth gwrs, mi fyddwch chi'n ateb ac mi fyddwch chi'n sôn am y dyddiau hyfforddiant mewn swydd a bod hynny yn mynd i helpu i ganiatáu i ysgolion gael y gofod yma, ond dim ond i raddau mae hynny yn mynd i helpu. A byddwch chi'n sôn am y £39 miliwn ychwanegol hefyd sy'n cael ei glustnodi tuag at hyfforddiant mewn swydd, ond a ydy hynny yn ddigon? Hyn ydy fy mhryder i. Dwi'n credu, os ydy hwn yn mynd i lwyddo, ac rydyn ni i gyd eisiau ei weld o'n llwyddo, mae angen chwistrelliad sylweddol o arian i gefnogi gweithrediad y cwricwlwm. Mae'r ysgolion ar eu cluniau'n barod ac mae yna beryg i gyflwyno newid mor anferth ar gyfnod o gynni ariannol—mae yna beryg iddo fo fethu yn llwyr.
Ac felly, mi fyddwn yn gofyn i chi, ac i'r Llywodraeth yn fwy nag i chi fel y Gweinidog Addysg—dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi'n dadlau dros fwy o arian i addysg, ond mae hwn yn gwestiwn i'r Llywodraeth mewn gwirionedd. Onid oes angen i'r Llywodraeth gael bach o reality check yn fan hyn a sylweddoli bod angen cannoedd o filoedd yn fwy o bres er mwyn creu llwyddiant o'r cwricwlwm newydd—ddim y symiau cymharol fechan sydd dan sylw ar hyn o bryd? Mae eisiau chwistrelliad sylweddol i greu'r llwyddiant rydyn ni ei angen.
A jest i drafod yr ail bwynt yma—rydyn wedi ei drafod o o'r blaen, ond dwi'n dal i geisio deall sut ydych chi'n cysoni gwneud rhai materion yn rhan statudol o'r cwricwlwm, ond wedyn yn neilltuo rhannau eraill o'r ddeddfwriaeth. Dwi'n credu eich bod chi'n hollol iawn i gynnwys addysg rhyw, addysg perthnasoedd iach ac addysg crefydd, neu beth bynnag ydy'r enw newydd ar hwnnw rŵan. Dwi'n meddwl ei fod yn bwysig iawn bod y rheini yn rhan statudol o brofiad pob person. Ond wedyn sut mae cysoni cynnwys y rheini, ond wedyn ddim cynnwys dwy awr o addysg gorfforol, materion yn ymwneud efo addysg lles meddyliol, hanes Cymru a Chymreictod? Dyw'r rheini ddim yn mynd i orfod bod yn rhan hanfodol o'r cwricwlwm. Lle mae'r cysondeb mewn gwneud un elfen yn hanfodol, ac elfennau eraill ddim?
Rŵan, rydyn wedi cael y sgwrs yma sawl tro o'r blaen, a dwi'n gwybod y cawn ni'r ateb rydych yn ei roi fel arfer. Ond tybed—. Rydyn yn cytuno bod y materion yma'n bwysig. Dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi'n credu bod Cymreictod a hanes Cymru neu hanesion Cymru yn bwysig. Oes yna ffordd arall, felly? Yn hytrach na'u bod nhw yn y cwricwlwm, oes yna ffordd arall o sicrhau eu bod nhw yn cael eu dysgu ymhob ysgol heb rym Deddf tu ôl i hynny? Dyna ydy'r cwestiwn allweddol, mae'n debyg, gan ein bod ni'n cytuno bod angen i'r rhain gael eu dysgu. Sut ydyn ni yn mynd i wneud hynny os nad ydyn ni'n eu cynnwys nhw yn y ddeddfwriaeth?
This afternoon I would like to pursue two specific issues—these issues won't be new to you; I have raised them in the past—first of all, implementing the new curriculum. Your statement today does acknowledge, of course, that implementing the change is the major challenge, and that there is international evidence that demonstrates that that has been clear in other scenarios. And the other point that I just want to discuss a little more is how do you reconcile making some issues statutory, whilst exempting others from the legislation?
Now, there's no doubt that introducing the new curriculum is going to be a major change in education in Wales, and you've told us today that schools should take time to understand the curriculum model. And so I'd like to ask you first: do you agree that understanding the new curriculum model will be more of a challenge for the secondary sector than the primary sector? Is the primary sector, particularly given the development of the foundation phase, more ready or prepared for this new vision and understanding of the curriculum model?
You mention the need for schools to co-plan and plan jointly. Now, in order to do that, schools must have the space to come together. And you say again in your statement today that schools need to make time and space to understand the curriculum model, and not to rush the process of implementing the new curriculum. Now, I would agree entirely with that, but creating that space is going to cost. You will need to employ supply teachers and so on and so forth. So, how do you see that working on a practical level, and, again, do you think it would be easier to create the space for the co-construction in the primary sector, where there are fewer children, first of all, in primary schools as compared to with the secondary sector? And to return to the international evidence that I mentioned at the outset, what lessons can be learned from this evidence in considering implementing the curriculum in the secondary sector specifically?
Of course, in your response you will talk about in-service training days and how that is going to help to give schools the space and time that they need, but that can only help to a certain extent. And I'm sure you will mention the additional £39 million that is being designated for INSET training, but is that enough? This is my concern. I believe that if this is going to succeed, and we all want to see it succeed, then we need a substantial injection of funding to support the implementation of the curriculum. The schools are already on their knees, and there is a great risk that in introducing such a huge change at a time of financial austerity, there is a risk that it will fail.
And therefore I ask you and ask the Government more generally—I know that you are arguing for more funding for education, but this is a question for the whole Government, if truth be told. Doesn't the Government need to have some sort of reality check here and realise that we need hundreds of millions of pounds in addition in order to make this new curriculum a success, not the relatively small sums that are being considered at the moment? We need a substantial injection of funding to generate the success that we all want to see.
And just to discuss this second point—I know we've discussed it in the past, but I'm still trying to understand how you reconcile making certain issues a statutory part of the curriculum, whilst not doing so with other aspects in the legislation. I think you're entirely right in including sex and healthy relationship education and religious education, or whatever the new terminology is in that particular area now. I think it's very important that those are a statutory part of the experience of every young person. But how do you reconcile including those, but not including two hours of physical education, issues related to mental well-being, the history of Wales? Now, those aren't going to be a statutory part of the curriculum, so where is the consistency in making one section a requirement, whilst others aren't?
Now, we've had this conversation on a number of occasions in the past, and I know that we will get the same response again today, perhaps, but we are agreed that these issues are important, and I know that you strongly believe that Welsh identity and the history of Wales, or the histories of Wales are important, but is there another way, therefore, rather than including them in the curriculum—is there another way of ensuring that they are taught in every school without the force of legislation underpinning them? That's the crucial question, I suppose, as we are agreed that these issues do need to be taught. How are we going to achieve that unless they're included in the legislation?
Thank you very much to Siân for her contribution. Firstly, we talked about the space and the time to prepare. Those are important considerations. That's why I took a decision to, first of all, delay the introduction of the curriculum to give us more time, and I took the decision to alter the way in which the curriculum would be implemented by having a phased roll-out approach in the secondary sector, rather than a big-bang approach that had been originally advised to me. Because Siân Gwenllian is correct: a move to the new curriculum does present, in many ways, a bigger challenge to our colleagues in the secondary sector than it does in the primary sector, where what we're seeing is a natural extension to many of the pedagogical principles that have underpinned our foundation phase. That's why, therefore, it has been especially important to be able to have a phased roll-out in the secondary sector, to allow for greater time for adjustment and for professional learning and for preparedness.
Diolch yn fawr i Siân am ei chyfraniad hi. Yn gyntaf, fe fuom ni'n siarad am y gofod a'r amser i baratoi. Mae'r rhain yn ystyriaethau pwysig. Dyna pam y gwnes i benderfyniad i ohirio cyflwyno'r cwricwlwm, yn gyntaf, i roi mwy o amser inni, ac fe wnes i'r penderfyniad i newid y ffordd y byddai'r cwricwlwm yn cael ei roi ar waith drwy gyflwyno dull gweithredu fesul cam yn y sector uwchradd, yn hytrach na gwneud pob dim ar unwaith, sef y cyngor a gefais yn wreiddiol. Oherwydd mae Siân Gwenllian yn iawn: mae symud i'r cwricwlwm newydd yn golygu, mewn sawl ffordd, fwy o her i'n cydweithwyr ni yn y sector uwchradd nag a wna yn y sector cynradd, lle mae'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei weld yn estyniad naturiol i lawer o'r egwyddorion sydd wedi bod yn sail i'n cyfnod sylfaen ni. Dyna pam, felly, yr oedd hi'n neilltuol bwysig i allu cyflwyno hyn yn y sector uwchradd fesul cam, i ganiatáu mwy o amser i addasu a dysgu proffesiynol a bod yn barod.
Siân Gwenllian is right to say that I'm going to mention the additional INSET day; if she had seen some of the responses to the consultation on that INSET day, she will have seen that, in some sectors, that is not a popular thing to have done. But it is a necessary thing to increase, once again, the time available to schools. We've been very clear in the document that we've published today about the need to collaborate not only within a school, but with networks of schools, whether that be in a locality, whether that be across phase with regards to primary talking to secondary talking to FE colleges, or whether that needs to be in a subject specialism or an AoLE specialism.
Of course, that additional day that we have made available over a number of years isn't the only day that schools have; they have the existing INSET provisions that they can use to utilise this. And of course, some of our best professional learning happens when children are in school, so we need a mixed approach. That's why we're devolving the resources that we have for professional learning.
The money that has been made available for the last two years, and will be made available again, represents the largest single investment in the teaching profession since devolution started, and rightly so, Deputy Presiding Officer—and rightly so. Those resources are also being complemented by investment by this Government in new national networks to support pedagogy and practice, and that is coming at a time when there is still not an insignificant squeeze on this Welsh Government's budget, but we have been able to deliver increases to our local authorities. I hope that those local authorities will be as good as their word in the commitments that they gave to myself, the finance Minister and the Minister for local government, where they all want to prioritise education spending.
I was delighted this morning to be in Pen y Fai Church in Wales Primary School in the county borough of Bridgend, and to hear from the leader of Bridgend his plans to use the extra money that's been made available to prioritise education spend. I welcome that commitment from him very much indeed. That comes on top of the increase in the education budget, which as I said is funding a range of initiatives to support implementation. But I'm not shying away from the need to examine forensically the level of education spend in Wales, and to do that on an independent basis. Luke Sibieta will report before the end of the summer term, and that is really important.
But I would say to Siân Gwenllian: I too would like hundreds of millions of pounds extra to spend on education, but when calling for that you have to tell me where we don't spend money, because that is the consequence of the situation we find ourselves in—either where we don't spend money or where you want that extra revenue raised from.
With regard to what is statutory and what is not statutory, the rationale behind what we have published today is, first of all, it remains true to the principles and the recommendations in the original 'Successful Futures' report. It is also complemented by a recommendation by the expert group that I convened on relationship education that made a very clear recommendation to me that this also should be a statutory part of the curriculum. And I would have to say to the Member: where in this document can she point to a lack of commitment on behalf of me or this Welsh Government to the issue of mental health and well-being?
One of the most important aspects of this curriculum reform is the inclusion of an area of learning and experience that is dedicated to the health and well-being of our children. That is new to what we have had in the past. And if you read the 'what matters' statements and if you read the progression steps, you will see very clearly a strong emphasis on ensuring that children learn about emotions, learn about how those emotions can affect their well-being, how they can seek help for when they feel overwhelmed, and how they can build their resilience.
With regard to Welsh histories, and I'm glad she used the word Welsh 'histories'—it seems it's okay for some of us to use that term and maybe not for others. But I do agree with her that histories need to be taught in a pluralistic way. If she turns to page 23 of the document we've published today on the guidance that we're giving schools on how they develop their own curriculum design, it says, and I quote:
'Schools and practitioners should have a vision to develop a curriculum which: contributes to learners' realisation of the four purposes and acquisition of the integral skills which underpin them; supports the development of their learners' sense of identity in Wales'.
It then goes on, on page 30, to give explicit guidance on 'Designing a curriculum in Wales and for Wales'. And I quote again:
'The Framework reflects Wales, its cultural heritage and diversity, its languages and the values, histories and traditions of its communities and all of its people. Instilling learners with passion and pride in themselves, their communities and their country is central to the four purposes.'
We are absolutely explicit. And I have to say, confining that just to Welsh history lessons actually deprives us of the opportunity that is clearly stated in this document and the expectation that designing a curriculum in Wales and for Wales needs to cover every single area of learning and experience. If she can point to me in this document a lack of commitment to that, then I'd like to see it.
Mae Siân Gwenllian yn gywir i ddweud fy mod i'n mynd i sôn am y diwrnod HMS ychwanegol; pe byddai wedi gweld rhai o'r ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad ar y diwrnod HMS hwnnw, byddai wedi gweld, mewn rhai sectorau, nad rhywbeth poblogaidd i'w wneud oedd hynny. Ond mae'n rhywbeth sy'n angenrheidiol i'w wneud er mwyn cynyddu, unwaith eto, yr amser sydd ar gael i ysgolion. Rydym wedi bod yn glir iawn yn y ddogfen a gyhoeddwyd heddiw ynghylch yr angen i gydweithio nid yn unig mewn ysgol, ond gyda rhwydweithiau o ysgolion, boed hynny mewn ardal leol, boed hynny ar draws cyfnod, o ran cynradd yn siarad ag uwchradd yn siarad â cholegau addysg bellach, neu a oes angen i hynny fod mewn arbenigedd pwnc neu arbenigedd maes dysgu a phrofiad.
Wrth gwrs, nid y diwrnod ychwanegol hwnnw a roddwyd gennym dros nifer o flynyddoedd yw'r unig ddiwrnod sydd gan yr ysgolion; mae ganddyn nhw'r darpariaethau HMS presennol y gallan nhw eu defnyddio i roi hyn ar waith. Ac wrth gwrs, mae rhywfaint o'n dysgu proffesiynol gorau ni'n digwydd pan fydd plant yn yr ysgol, felly mae angen dull cymysg. Dyna pam rydym ni'n datganoli'r adnoddau sydd gennym ar gyfer dysgu proffesiynol.
Mae'r arian sydd wedi cael ei ddarparu ar gyfer y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, ac a fydd ar gael eto, yn golygu'r buddsoddiad unigol mwyaf yn y proffesiwn addysgu ers i ddatganoli ddechrau, ac mae hynny'n briodol, Dirprwy Lywydd—mae hynny'n briodol. Mae'r adnoddau hynny yn cael eu hategu hefyd gan fuddsoddiad gan y Llywodraeth hon mewn rhwydweithiau cenedlaethol newydd i gefnogi addysgeg ac arferion, ac mae hynny'n dod ar adeg pan fo gwasgfa nid ansylweddol yn parhau ar gyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, ond rydym wedi llwyddo i sicrhau cynnydd i'n hawdurdodau lleol. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr awdurdodau lleol hynny'n cadw at eu gair o ran eu hymrwymiadau i mi, y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol, lle maen nhw i gyd yn awyddus i flaenoriaethu gwariant ar addysg.
Roeddwn wrth fy modd y bore yma i fod yn Ysgol Gynradd yr Eglwys yng Nghymru Pen y Fai ym Mwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, a chlywed gan arweinydd Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ei fwriad ef i ddefnyddio'r arian ychwanegol ar gael i flaenoriaethu gwariant ar addysg. Rwy'n croesawu'r ymrwymiad hwnnw ganddo ef yn fawr iawn yn wir. Mae hynny'n dod ar ben y cynnydd yn y gyllideb addysg, sydd, fel y dywedais i, yn ariannu amrywiaeth o fentrau i gefnogi gweithrediad y cynllun. Ond nid wyf i'n osgoi'r angen i archwilio'n gyfreithiol lefel y gwariant ar addysg yng Nghymru, a gwneud hynny ar sail annibynnol. Fe fydd Luke Sibieta yn adrodd cyn diwedd tymor yr haf, ac mae hynny'n bwysig iawn.
Ond byddwn i'n dweud wrth Siân Gwenllian: fe hoffwn innau hefyd fod â channoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd yn ychwanegol i'w gwario ar addysg, ond wrth alw am hynny mae'n rhaid ichi ddweud wrthyf lle y dylem ni beidio â gwario arian, oherwydd dyna ganlyniad y sefyllfa yr ydym ynddi—naill ai lle y dylem ni beidio â gwario arian neu lle ydych chi'n dymuno codi'r refeniw ychwanegol hwnnw.
O ran yr hyn sy'n statudol a'r hyn nad yw'n statudol, y rhesymeg y tu ôl i'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei gyhoeddi heddiw, yn y lle cyntaf, yw ei fod yn dal yn ffyddlon i'r egwyddorion a'r argymhellion yn yr adroddiad 'Dyfodol Llwyddiannus' gwreiddiol. Ategir hyn hefyd gan argymhelliad gan y grŵp arbenigol a ddaeth at ei gilydd ar addysg cydberthynas a wnaeth argymhelliad clir iawn i mi y dylai hyn hefyd fod yn rhan statudol o'r cwricwlwm. Ac fe fyddai'n rhaid imi ddweud wrth yr Aelod: ymhle yn y ddogfen hon y gall hi weld diffyg ymrwymiad ar fy rhan i neu Lywodraeth Cymru o ran mater iechyd meddwl a llesiant?
Un o'r agweddau pwysicaf ar y broses hon o ddiwygio'r cwricwlwm yw cynnwys maes dysgu a phrofiad sy'n ymroddedig i iechyd a llesiant ein plant ni. Mae hynny'n newydd o'i gymharu â'r hyn oedd gennym yn y gorffennol. A phe byddech chi'n darllen y datganiadau o'r 'hyn sy'n bwysig' a phe byddech chi'n darllen y camau dilyniant, fe welwch chi'n eglur iawn bwyslais cryf ar sicrhau bod plant yn dysgu am emosiynau, yn dysgu am sut y gall yr emosiynau hynny effeithio ar eu llesiant nhw, sut gallan nhw ofyn am gymorth pan maen nhw'n teimlo eu bod nhw'n cael eu gorlethu, a sut y gallan nhw ddatblygu i fod yn fwy cydnerth.
O ran hanesion Cymru, ac rwy'n falch iddi ddefnyddio'r gair 'hanesion' Cymru—ymddengys ei bod hi'n iawn i rai ohonom ddefnyddio'r term hwnnw ac efallai nid eraill. Ond rwy'n cytuno â hi fod angen dysgu hanesion mewn dull lluosog. Pe byddai hi'n troi at dudalen 23 o'r ddogfen a gyhoeddwyd heddiw am y canllawiau yr ydym ni'n eu rhoi i ysgolion ar sut y byddan nhw'n datblygu eu cynllun cwricwlwm eu hunain, mae'n dweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
Fe ddylai fod gan ysgolion ac ymarferwyr weledigaeth i ddatblygu cwricwlwm sydd: yn cyfrannu at y dysgwyr yn gwireddu'r pedwar diben ac yn caffael y sgiliau annatod sy'n sail iddynt; ac yn cefnogi datblygiad synnwyr hunaniaeth eu dysgwyr yng Nghymru.
Mae'n mynd ymlaen, ar dudalen 30, i roi arweiniad clir ar 'Gynllunio Cwricwlwm yng Nghymru ac ar gyfer Cymru'. Ac rwy'n dyfynnu eto:
Mae'r Fframwaith yn adlewyrchu Cymru, ei threftadaeth ddiwylliannol a'i hamrywiaeth, ei hieithoedd a'i gwerthoedd, ei hanes a thraddodiadau ei chymunedau a'i holl bobl. Mae meithrin dysgwyr gydag angerdd a balchder ynddynt eu hunain, eu cymunedau a'u gwlad yn ganolog i'r pedwar diben.
Rydym yn gwbl eglur. Ac mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, fe fyddai cyfyngu hynny i wersi hanes Cymru yn amddifadu'r cyfle a nodir yn glir yn y ddogfen hon a'r disgwyliad bod angen i gynllunio cwricwlwm yng Nghymru ac ar gyfer Cymru gynnwys pob un maes dysgu a phrofiad. Os gall hi ddangos i mi yn y ddogfen hon unrhyw ddiffyg ymrwymiad yn hynny o beth, yna fe hoffwn i ei weld ef.
Thank you. I know it's a very important subject, but we have less than 10 minutes left and we have three speakers. So, if I could just ask Members to reflect on that. Jenny Rathbone.
Diolch. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn bwnc pwysig iawn, ond mae gennym ni lai na 10 munud ar ôl ac mae gennym dri i siarad. Felly, os caf i ofyn i'r Aelodau roi ystyriaeth i hynny. Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you. I completely endorse your approach to relationship and sexuality education, making it compulsory, because in the context of the most advantaged, least deprived secondary school in my constituency, these phones are a major problem. Because they have the police in every single week trying to explain to young people, if they're sharing compromising photographs on their phones, it is going to come back and bite them, either financially or they're going to be sexually exploited. Unless we can get everybody to understand that, we have a major problem.
We also know that it's absolutely vital that young people are given non-judgmental guidance on what positive relationships look like, so that the child who's being asked to do inappropriate things is empowered to say 'no' and knows where to go. I find it hypocritical that organisations that have failed to safeguard children and young people adequately from predatory adults are then at the forefront of saying that this should be left to parents. Equally, it's unacceptable that a child of nine has no idea why they're bleeding between the legs because nobody's bothered to tell them about monthly periods.
Equally, I feel that the humanists association has got the wrong end of the stick in saying that religious education as a core part of the curriculum is ramming religion down children's throats, because we have to deconstruct religious values and ethics into different areas of teaching and learning so that every child knows the history of religion, which after all has been the cause of more wars than practically anything else, and we continue to have wars fought over religion. So, we need to understand all that. And in a multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious world, we're not going to get very far in teaching respect for difference if we can't ensure all young people understand that people have different beliefs, and ensure that we have core values and ethics, honesty, truthfulness, kindness and empathy.
Suzy Davies mentioned the lessons learned from the Holocaust. Well, Dr Martin Stern, who spoke at city hall yesterday, was really clear that what we have to learn from all these 50 genocides that have occurred since the second world war is an understanding that ordinary people can become monsters. He talked about his Bosnian friend who was interrogated by his former science teacher, who had made the transition from being a pedagogue to a murderer. So, all these things; it is vital that we are building up the core curriculum to ensure that we have a civilised society that everybody understands.
Diolch. Rwy'n llwyr gefnogi eich agwedd chi tuag at addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb, gan ei wneud yn beth gorfodol, oherwydd yng nghyd-destun yr ysgol uwchradd fwyaf breintiedig, leiaf difreintiedig yn fy etholaeth i, mae'r ffonau hyn yn broblem fawr. Mae'r heddlu yno bob yr wythnos yn ceisio egluro i bobl ifanc, os ydyn nhw'n rhannu ffotograffau sy'n peryglu eu henw da ar eu ffonau, yna fe ddaw hynny'n ôl i'w bwrw nhw, naill ai'n ariannol neu byddan nhw'n cael eu hecsbloetio yn rhywiol. Oni bai fod pawb yn deall hynny, mae gennym ni broblem enfawr.
Gwyddom hefyd ei bod hi'n gwbl hanfodol bod pobl ifanc yn cael canllawiau anfeirniadol ar ystyr cydberthnas iach, fel bod plentyn y gofynnir iddo wneud pethau amhriodol yn cael ei rymuso i wrthod a'i fod yn gwybod ble i fynd. Credaf ei fod yn rhagrithiol fod sefydliadau sydd wedi methu â diogelu plant a phobl ifanc yn ddigonol rhag oedolion anrheithgar ar flaen y gad wedyn yn dweud y dylid gadael hynny i'r rhieni. Yn yr un modd, mae'n annerbyniol nad oes gan blentyn naw mlwydd oed syniad pam ei bod yn gwaedu rhwng ei choesau gan nad oes neb wedi mynd i'r drafferth o ddweud wrthi am y mislif.
Yn yr un modd, rwy'n teimlo bod cymdeithas y dyneiddwyr yn anghywir i ddweud bod addysg grefyddol fel rhan greiddiol o'r cwricwlwm yn stwffio crefydd i lawr corn gyddfau'r plant. Oherwydd mae'n rhaid i ni ddadadeiladu gwerthoedd a moeseg crefyddol i wahanol feysydd dysgu ac addysgu fel bod pob plentyn yn gwybod am hanes crefydd, sydd wedi'r cyfan wedi bod yn achos mwy o ryfeloedd nag unrhyw beth arall bron, ac mae rhyfeloedd yn dal i gael eu hymladd yn enw crefydd. Felly, mae angen inni ddeall y cyfan o hynny. Ac mewn byd amlddiwylliannol, amlboblogaeth, amlethnig, nid ydym yn mynd i fynd ymhell iawn o ran dysgu pobl ifanc i barchu gwahaniaeth os na allwn sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn deall bod gwahanol gredoau gan bobl, a sicrhau bod gennym ni werthoedd a moeseg craidd, gonestrwydd, trugaredd, caredigrwydd a chydymdeimlad.
Fe soniodd Suzy Davies am y gwersi a ddysgwyd o'r Holocost. Wel, roedd Dr Martin Stern, a siaradodd yn neuadd y ddinas ddoe, yn gwbl glir mai'r hyn sydd gennym ni i'w ddysgu o'r 50 hil-laddiad sydd wedi digwydd ers yr ail ryfel byd yw dealltwriaeth o'r ffaith y gall pobl gyffredin ddatblygu i fod yn fwystfilod. Soniodd am ei gyfaill o Bosnia a gafodd ei holi gan ei gyn athro gwyddoniaeth, a oedd wedi trawsnewid o fod yn addysgwr i fod yn llofrudd. Felly, y pethau hyn i gyd; mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n llunio'r cwricwlwm craidd i sicrhau bod gennym ni gymdeithas wâr y mae pawb yn ei deall.
Can I thank Jenny Rathbone for her support with regard to these two very important parts of the curriculum? I would point all Members to page 38 of the document, where we explain in some detail that:
'Children begin to learn about relationships long before they start school. As soon as they enter the social world they will be encountering and interacting with complex and often contradictory messages'.
Just think about the messages that both young men and young women are bombarded with about how they should look, how they should act in a relationship. I think it was last week or the week before last we had a very powerful debate in this very Chamber about rape and instances of rape. It's absolutely vital that we teach all of our children about principles of consent and how to be a loving, respectful partner in a relationship.
We have long debated the scourge of domestic violence in our society. Again, we need to teach our children about what a healthy relationship looks like. This Government is doing a lot of work with its 'This is Not Love' campaign, but it is a damning condemnation of us as a society that we need to do that. If we're to radically change some of these issues that are facing women and men in our community, then our best hope of doing that is via education, and ensuring that our children, from the youngest age, understand their role, their rights and their responsibilities as part of a relationship.
Now, clearly, that has to be done in an age-appropriate way. How you will talk about these issues with a primary school child is very different to how you will talk about these issues to a 16-year-old. But if we don't, and if we don't provide this space and this opportunity for young people, they will find other ways of finding this information out—or should I say other ways of finding out disinformation; information that can frighten and confuse them, information that can make them feel unsafe and unworthy. Like the young man who spoke to me about his addiction to porn and how that made him feel as a young man and what he thought was expected of him as a young man. If we're concerned about our children's mental health, if we're concerned about our children's well-being, then we have to do these lessons. And all children have a fundamental right to access the full curriculum, and I believe that very, very strongly.
Now, you're right: we're changing religious studies to religion, values and ethics, to better reflect the nature of that part of the curriculum. But if we're to have ethical, informed citizens of the world, how can we not teach children about religion? How can we not teach them about the right to hold religious views and to be respectful of that, even if your views are different? The Member makes a very good point, the horror of the Holocaust and the horror of Srebrenica are perfect examples of how we can work across the curriculum. Not learning about that simply in a history lesson, but learning it in a lesson about religion, values and ethics; learning about it in literature as well as in humanities; expressing the horror of that through our expressive arts: drama, dance, art itself. Those topics are perfect enablers and symbols and important points in the history of the world where we can reinforce that importance of rights, human rights and respect, which again runs through the entirety of the curriculum.
A gaf i ddiolch i Jenny Rathbone am ei chefnogaeth o ran y ddwy ran bwysig hyn o'r cwricwlwm? Fe hoffwn i dynnu sylw pob Aelod at dudalen 38 y ddogfen, lle'r ydym yn egluro gyda pheth manylder:
Mae plant yn dechrau dysgu am gydberthynas ymhell cyn iddynt ddechrau yn yr ysgol. Cyn gynted ag y byddant yn ymuno â'r byd cymdeithasol, byddant yn dod ar draws ac yn rhyngweithio â negeseuon sy'n aml yn gymhleth a gwrthgyferbyniol.
Meddyliwch am y negeseuon y mae dynion a menywod ifanc fel ei gilydd yn cael eu llethu â nhw o ran sut y dylen nhw edrych, sut y dylen nhw ymddwyn mewn cydberthynas. Rwy'n credu mai'r wythnos ddiwethaf neu'r wythnos flaenorol y cawsom ni ddadl rymus iawn yn y Siambr hon am drais rhywiol ac achosion o drais rhywiol. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol ein bod ni'n dysgu pob un o'n plant am egwyddorion cydsynio a sut i fod yn bartner cariadus a pharchus mewn cydberthynas.
Rydym wedi bod yn trafod melltith trais domestig yn ein cymdeithas ers amser maith. Unwaith eto, mae angen inni addysgu ein plant am gydberthynas iach. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn gwneud llawer o waith gyda'i hymgyrch 'Nid Cariad yw hyn', ond mae'n gondemniad damniol ohonom ni fel cymdeithas fod angen inni wneud felly. Os ydym yn dymuno newid yn eu hanfod rai o'r materion hyn sy'n wynebu menywod a dynion yn ein cymuned yna ein gobaith gorau o wneud hynny yw drwy addysg, a sicrhau bod ein plant, o oedran cynnar, yn deall eu rhan nhw, eu hawliau a'u cyfrifoldebau mewn cydberthynas.
Nawr, yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid gwneud hynny mewn ffordd sy'n briodol i oedran y plentyn. Mae sut y byddwch chi'n siarad am y materion hyn gyda phlentyn ysgol gynradd yn wahanol iawn i'r ffordd y byddwch chi'n siarad am y materion hyn gyda phlentyn 16 oed. Ond os na wnawn ni hynny, ac os na fyddwn ni'n rhoi'r lle hwn a'r cyfle hwn i bobl ifanc, fe fyddan nhw'n dod o hyd i ffyrdd eraill o ddod o hyd i'r wybodaeth hon—neu fe ddylwn i ddweud ffyrdd eraill o ddod o hyd i wybodaeth gamarweiniol; gwybodaeth sy'n gallu eu dychryn nhw a'u drysu nhw, gwybodaeth sy'n gallu gwneud iddyn nhw deimlo'n anniogel ac yn annheilwng. Fel y dyn ifanc a siaradodd gyda mi am ei gaethiwed i bornograffi a sut roedd hynny'n gwneud iddo deimlo fel dyn ifanc a'r hyn yr oedd ef yn credu oedd yn ddisgwyliedig ohono fel dyn ifanc. Os ydym yn poeni am iechyd meddwl ein plant, os ydym ni'n poeni am lesiant ein plant, yna mae'n rhaid inni gael y gwersi hyn. Ac mae gan bob plentyn yr hawl sylfaenol i gael y cwricwlwm llawn, ac rwy'n credu hynny'n gryf iawn.
Nawr, rydych chi'n iawn: rydym yn newid o astudiaethau crefyddol i grefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg, i adlewyrchu natur y rhan honno o'r cwricwlwm yn well. Ond os ydym eisiau gweld dinasyddion moesol a deallus yn y byd, sut allwn ni beidio â dysgu plant am grefydd? Sut na allwn ni eu dysgu nhw am yr hawl i arddel barn grefyddol a pharchu hynny, hyd yn oed os yw eich barn chi'n un wahanol? Mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt da iawn, mae arswyd yr Holocost ac arswyd Srebrenica yn enghreifftiau perffaith o sut y gallwn ni weithio ar draws y cwricwlwm. Nid dysgu am hynny yn syml mewn gwers hanes, ond ei ddysgu mewn gwers am grefydd, gwerthoedd a moeseg; dysgu am hynny mewn llenyddiaeth yn ogystal ag yn y dyniaethau; mynegi arswyd hynny drwy ein celfyddydau mynegiannol: drama, dawns, a chelf ei hun. Mae'r pynciau hynny'n alluogwyr a symbolau perffaith ac yn bwyntiau pwysig yn hanes y byd lle gallwn atgyfnerthu pwysigrwydd hynny o ran hawliau, hawliau dynol a pharch, sydd unwaith eto'n rhedeg trwy'r cwricwlwm cyfan.
Can I thank the Minister for the way in which she has sought to reassure parents, and indeed educators, about the approach that she wants to take in this new curriculum, particularly to sex and relationships education, and indeed to religious education? I speak as a person of faith with an interest in faith and who partners with faith groups of all different types on all sorts of different matters, and I know that a lot of what you've said will chime very much with them.
But there is, of course, one challenge, if you like, which has been laid at the Welsh Government's door by those people who fundamentally believe that it is a parent's responsibility to educate their child. And, as you will know and be aware, it's a parent's right, if they want to, to withdraw their child from state education altogether and to home educate their children, because of that fundamental position of a parent having the primary responsibility for education. So, I do think that the concerns that have been expressed about the withdrawal of parental rights to be able to take a child out of a classroom for certain elements of education that people feel uncomfortable about, that parents might feel uncomfortable about, is an important right that has been something that I think has been appreciated by parents for many, many years, and your previous commitments to maintaining that right were very much appreciated.
I've heard your assurances, I understand your assurances, and I know that they will be accepted by a great many parents across the country. I believe very much that the sensitive way that you're trying to map out the future of these very important subjects is to be applauded, in my view. But I do think that the opportunity to withdraw a child from any part of the curriculum should still be there for parents, and I would urge you to just reconsider your position on that and how you might be able to enable parents to withdraw their children from elements of the lesson where there's a clear intention to teach about certain subjects. I'm sure that there are ways that these things can be done and work-arounds that can be put into place, and I just ask that—. You've been very much in listening mode during the creation of this curriculum, and I ask that you would continue to be in listening mode, particularly around parental concerns, about the erosion of that right to withdraw children in the future.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am y ffordd y mae hi wedi ceisio rhoi sicrwydd i rieni, ac addysgwyr yn wir, am y dull y mae hi'n awyddus i'w ddilyn yn y cwricwlwm newydd hwn, yn enwedig o ran addysg rhyw a chydberthnasedd, ac yn wir addysg grefyddol? Rwy'n siarad fel crediniwr sydd â diddordeb mewn ffydd ac sy'n bartner i grwpiau ffydd o bob math ar bob math o wahanol faterion, a gwn y bydd y rhain yn cyd-weld yn llwyr â llawer o'r hyn a ddywedasoch.
Ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna un her, os mynnwch chi, sydd wedi ei rhoi i Lywodraeth Cymru gan y bobl hynny sy'n credu'n sylfaenol mai cyfrifoldeb rhiant yw addysgu ei blentyn. Ac, fel y byddwch chi'n gwybod ac yn ymwybodol ohono, mae gan y rhiant yr hawl, os dymuna hynny, i dynnu ei blentyn allan o system addysg y wladwriaeth yn gyfan gwbl ac addysgu ei blant yn y cartref, oherwydd y sefyllfa sylfaenol honno, sef mai gan y rhiant mae'r prif gyfrifoldeb am yr addysg. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y pryderon a fynegwyd am ddirymu hawliau rhieni i allu cymryd plentyn allan o'r ystafell ddosbarth ar gyfer rhai elfennau o addysg y mae pobl yn teimlo'n anghyfforddus yn eu cylch, y gallai rhieni deimlo'n anghyfforddus yn eu cylch, yn hawl bwysig sydd, yn fy marn i, wedi cael ei gwerthfawrogi gan rieni ers blynyddoedd lawer, ac roedd eich ymrwymiadau blaenorol chi i gynnal yr hawl honno yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi yn fawr iawn.
Rwyf i wedi clywed eich sicrwydd chi, rwy'n deall eich sicrwydd chi, ac fe wn i y bydd yn cael ei dderbyn gan lawer iawn o rieni ledled y wlad. Rwy'n credu'n gryf bod y ffordd sensitif yr ydych yn ceisio mapio dyfodol y pynciau pwysig hyn i'w chanmol. Ond credaf y dylai'r cyfle i dynnu plentyn allan o unrhyw ran o'r cwricwlwm barhau i fod ar gael i rieni, ac fe fyddwn i'n eich annog chi i ailystyried eich safbwynt ar hynny a sut y gallech chi alluogi rhieni i dynnu eu plant o elfennau o'r wers lle mae yna fwriad clir i addysgu am bynciau penodol. Rwy'n siŵr fod yna ffyrdd y gellir gwneud y pethau hyn a ffyrdd o weithio o'u hamgylch, ac rwy'n gofyn hynny'n unig—. Rydych wedi bod yn gwrando'n astud wrth greu'r cwricwlwm hwn, ac rwy'n gofyn i chi barhau i wrando, yn enwedig ar bryderon rhieni, o ran dileu'r hawl hon i dynnu plant yn ôl yn y dyfodol.
Can I thank Darren Millar for the points that he made? I absolutely accept the point about the rights of parents to educate their children, and nothing that we are proposing here takes away from that. I'm sure all of us would agree that the vast majority of parents are in a position to do that successfully, but not all of our children are so lucky, Darren; not all of our children are so lucky to have parents who can do this for them for a whole variety of reasons.
Darren, you've spent a great deal of time talking about the rights of parents, which I don't want to undermine, but my perspective comes from the right of a child; the right of a child to receive a broad and balanced education and to be able to access every single part of the curriculum. I understand the sensitivities associated with this and they're often coming—. I understand.
We are committed to working hard over the next two and a half years before there are changes to the right to withdraw to reassure parents and communities about the nature of the curriculum. And as I said earlier, I think it's really important that all children, when thinking about relationship and sexuality education, have lessons with regard to rights and equity, learning about relationships, learning about sex and gender, learning about bodies and body image, as well as sexual health and well-being, and violence, safety and support. And those will be the principles that underpin our approach to RSE, and I'm not aware of any child who doesn't need to learn about those things if they're to grow up to fulfil one of the purposes of our curriculum, which is to be happy, confident individuals. Relationships are fundamental to us as human beings, and we need to ensure that our children are educated so they can form successful and happy ones.
A gaf i ddiolch i Darren Millar am y pwyntiau a wnaeth ef? Rwy'n derbyn y pwynt yn llwyr am hawliau rhieni i addysgu eu plant, ac nid oes unrhyw beth yr ydym ni'n ei gynnig yn y fan hon yn tynnu dim oddi ar hynny. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom yn cytuno bod y mwyafrif helaeth o rieni mewn sefyllfa i wneud hynny'n llwyddiannus, ond nid yw pob un o'n plant ni mor ffodus, Darren; nid yw pob un o'n plant ni mor ffodus o gael rhieni sy'n gallu gwneud hyn iddyn nhw am amrywiaeth o resymau.
Darren, rydych chi wedi treulio llawer iawn o amser yn sôn am hawliau rhieni, ac nid wyf i'n dymuno eu tanseilio nhw. Ond mae fy safbwynt i'n deillio o hawliau'r plentyn; hawl plentyn i gael addysg eang a chytbwys a'r gallu i gael addysg o bob rhan o'r cwricwlwm. Rwy'n deall natur sensitif hyn ac yn aml maen nhw'n dod—. Rwy'n deall.
Rydym wedi ymrwymo i weithio'n galed dros y ddwy flynedd a hanner nesaf cyn y bydd yna newidiadau i'r hawl i dynnu'n ôl ar gyfer tawelu meddyliau rhieni a chymunedau ynghylch natur y cwricwlwm. Ac fel y dywedais i'n gynharach, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod pob plentyn, wrth feddwl am addysg cydberthynas a rhywioldeb, yn cael gwersi o ran hawliau a thegwch, dysgu am berthnasoedd, dysgu am ryw a rhywedd, dysgu am gyrff a delwedd gorfforol, yn ogystal ag iechyd a llesiant rhywiol, a thrais, diogelwch a chefnogaeth. A'r rhain fydd yr egwyddorion sy'n sail i'n dull ni o ymdrin ag addysg rhyw a pherthnasedd, ac nid wyf i'n ymwybodol o unrhyw blentyn nad oes angen iddo ddysgu am y pethau hyn os yw am dyfu i gyflawni un o ddibenion ein cwricwlwm, sef bod yn unigolyn hapus a hyderus. Mae perthnasedd yn hanfodol i ni fel bodau dynol, ac mae angen sicrhau bod ein plant ni'n cael eu haddysgu fel y gallant ffurfio perthynas lwyddiannus a hapus.
And finally, Lynne Neagle.
Ac yn olaf, Lynne Neagle.
Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. Can I thank you, Minister, for your statement and add my thanks to you, your officials and the many, many people who, on the ground, have worked really, really hard to deliver this?
I was at a conference yesterday looking at the whole-school approach, where some teachers were presenting on the health and well-being AoLE, and the enthusiasm that teachers have for this on the ground is palpable, and that is very much to be welcomed.
I also wanted to give a very warm welcome to your decision to remove the parental right to withdraw. I've just come now from a cross-party group on suicide prevention where we've had a presentation on the review of deaths of young people by suicide, and a significant proportion of those deaths were linked to sexual abuse. So, I wonder whether you would agree with me that it is absolutely crucial that all young people have access to relationship education that teaches them about consent. Also, around the issues of equality, I wonder whether you would agree with me that the young people who most need equality-based relationship education are precisely those young people who do not get this education at home. This is, as you say, a fundamental mental health issue but also, absolutely, a children's right issue.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch i chi, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad, ac ategaf fy niolch i chi, eich swyddogion a'r llu o bobl sydd, ar lawr gwlad, wedi gweithio'n galed iawn i gyflawni hyn?
Roeddwn i mewn cynhadledd ddoe yn edrych ar y dull ysgol gyfan, lle'r oedd rhai athrawon yn rhoi cyflwyniadau ar faes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a llesiant. Mae'r brwdfrydedd sydd gan athrawon am hyn yn amlwg ar lawr gwlad, ac mae hynny i'w groesawu yn fawr.
Rwy'n dymuno rhoi croeso cynnes iawn hefyd i'ch penderfyniad chi i ddileu hawl y rhieni i dynnu'n ôl. Rwyf newydd ddod o grŵp trawsbleidiol nawr ar atal hunanladdiad lle cawsom gyflwyniad ar yr adolygiad o farwolaethau pobl ifanc yn sgil hunanladdiad, ac roedd cyfran sylweddol o'r marwolaethau hynny'n gysylltiedig â chamdriniaeth rywiol. Felly, tybed a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi ei bod hi'n gwbl hanfodol i bob unigolyn ifanc gael addysg cydberthynas sy'n eu dysgu nhw am gydsyniad. Hefyd, o ran materion cydraddoldeb, tybed a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi mai'r bobl ifanc y mae arnynt angen yr addysg cydberthynas yn seiliedig ar gydraddoldeb yw'r union bobl ifanc hynny nad ydyn nhw'n cael yr addysg honno gartref. Mae hyn, fel y dywedwch chi, yn fater o iechyd meddwl sylfaenol ond hefyd, yn gyfan gwbl, yn fater o hawliau plant.
I thank Lynne Neagle for her comments, and I'm delighted to hear that there were practitioners yesterday talking in such warm terms about the health and well-being AoLE. You and I were both in the ministerial task and finish group yesterday, and we heard from the primary school headteacher representative about the opportunity that the new curriculum gives them, and she was very excited about it.
The health and well-being AoLE looks to, specifically in terms of what matters, develop children's understanding that physical health and well-being have lifelong benefits; that how we process and respond to experiences affects our mental health and our emotional well-being; and also that our emotional decision-making impacts on the quality of our lives and on the lives of others; and that how we engage with social influences shapes who we are and affects our health and well-being; and, lastly, that healthy relationships are fundamental to our well-being as human beings.
Those are the 'what matters' statements that underpin our health and well-being AoLE, and they chime precisely with the need for all children to access that to address good mental health and well-being in the way that you have just described, Lynne. To have this on an equal path with traditional subjects of education gives us a real opportunity to address some of the social problems that this parliament spends a lot of time talking about, and responds to what children and young people themselves are crying out for.
Diolch i Lynne Neagle am ei sylwadau, ac rwy'n falch iawn o glywed fod yna ymarferwyr ddoe yn siarad mor wresog am y maes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a lles. Roeddech chi a minnau yn y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen gweinidogol ddoe, a chlywsom gan y cynrychiolydd penaethiaid ysgolion cynradd am y cyfle y mae'r cwricwlwm newydd yn ei roi iddyn nhw, ac roedd hi yn llawn cyffro yn ei gylch.
Diben y maes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a lles, yn benodol o ran yr hyn sy'n bwysig, yw datblygu dealltwriaeth plant bod buddion gydol-oes i iechyd a lles corfforol; bod sut yr ydym ni'n prosesu ac yn ymateb i brofiadau yn effeithio ar ein hiechyd meddwl a'n lles emosiynol; a hefyd bod ein penderfyniadau emosiynol yn effeithio ar ansawdd ein bywydau ac ar fywydau pobl eraill; a bod sut yr ydym ni'n ymateb i ddylanwadau cymdeithasol yn llunio pwy ydym ni ac yn effeithio ar ein hiechyd a'n lles; ac, yn olaf, bod perthynas iach ag eraill yn sylfaenol i'n lles fel bodau dynol.
Y rheini yw'r datganiadau 'yr hyn sy'n bwysig' sy'n sail i'n maes dysgu a phrofiad iechyd a lles, ac maent yn cyd-fynd yn union â'r angen i bob plentyn allu dysgu yn eu cylch er mwyn sicrhau iechyd meddwl a lles da yn y ffordd yr ydych chi newydd ei disgrifio, Lynne. Mae cael cyfartaledd rhwng hyn â phynciau traddodiadol addysg yn rhoi cyfle gwirioneddol inni fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r problemau cymdeithasol y mae'r Senedd hon yn treulio llawer o amser yn siarad amdanynt, ac yn ymateb i'r hyn y mae plant a phobl ifanc yn galw amdanynt eu hunain.
Thank you very much, Minister.
Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog.
Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language: Cymraeg 2050 Annual Report 2018-19. I call on the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language—Eluned Morgan.
Eitem 4 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol: Adroddiad Blynyddol 2018-19 ar Cymraeg 2050. Galwaf ar Weinidog y Gymraeg a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol—Eluned Morgan.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Diolch yn fawr.
Mae'n fraint i gyflwyno ein hadroddiad ar y daith i filiwn o siaradwyr. Rŷm ni wedi bod yn brysur. Fel dwi'n dweud yn y rhagymadrodd i'r adroddiad, mae'n gallu teimlo fel bod lot o amser wedi pasio ers lansio Cymraeg 2050, achos mae'r daith i filiwn o siaradwyr wirioneddol wedi dal dychymyg pobl ar draws Cymru a thu hwnt.
Ond, cofiwch mai jest dros ddwy flynedd sydd wedi bod ers ei chyhoeddi, ac rŷm ni'n dal yn y dyddiau cynnar. Amser o osod y sylfeini yw hwn ond, er hynny, fe welwch chi fod arwyddion cadarnhaol o gynnydd ym maes y blynyddoedd cynnar, mwy o ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg, a mwy yn dysgu Cymraeg fel oedolion, boed hynny drwy’r Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg Genedlaethol neu drwy ffyrdd eraill.
Ond, mae newid mawr yn galw am weithredu mawr, ac mae ein gwaith ar draws amrywiaeth o feysydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Beth sydd gyda ni yn yr adroddiad yma yw ciplun, neu snapshot o gyfnod mewn amser—rhwng Ebrill 2018 a Mawrth 2019. Ond, rŷm ni wedi parhau gyda’r gwaith ac wedi cyflawni lot fawr y tu hwnt i’r cyfnod dan sylw. Er enghraifft, rŷm ni wedi cyflwyno rheoliadau sy'n gosod targedau am y tro cyntaf i bob sir o ran eu cyfraniad i gynyddu addysg Gymraeg, ac fe ddaeth Rheoliadau Cynlluniau Strategol Cymraeg mewn Addysg (Cymru) 2019 i rym ar 1 Ionawr eleni.
Mae cynyddu nifer yr athrawon i addysgu'n plant yn rhywbeth rŷm ni'n ei gymryd o ddifri. Ym mis Tachwedd, fe wnaethon ni gynnal y cyfrifiad blynyddol cyntaf o’r gweithlu ysgolion i ddod i wybod mwy am sgiliau Cymraeg athrawon ar draws Cymru. Mae hyn yn cefnogi rhaglenni sydd eisoes ar waith, fel rhaglenni hyfforddiant ac addysg cychwynnol athrawon; cymhelliant ariannol, Iaith Athrawon Yfory; y cynllun sabothol iaith Gymraeg; gwaith gyda’r consortia rhanbarthol; a'r rhaglen e-sgol, a fydd yn cefnogi argaeledd pynciau a dewis teg.
Mae cael disgyblion i symud gyda’r Gymraeg o un cyfnod addysg i'r llall hefyd yn bwysig. Yn ogystal â hyn, rŷm ni wedi cytuno i ddyrannu £145,000 yn 2019-20 i gael mwy o ddysgwyr i wneud y Gymraeg ar lefel safon uwch ac yn y brifysgol.
Thank you very much.
It's a pleasure to present our report on the journey to a million Welsh speakers. We've been busy. As I say in the foreword to the annual report, it can feel like a lot of time has passed since we launched Cymraeg 2050, because it really has caught the imagination of people across Wales and beyond.
But, remember that only two years have passed since it was published, and that we're still in the early days. This is a period of laying the foundations but, despite that, you'll see signs of progress in relation to the early years, more Welsh-medium provision, and more people learning Welsh as adults, whether through the National Centre for Learning Welsh, or other means.
But, big changes call for taking big steps, and our work across a number of areas is making a difference. What we have in this report is a snapshot of a period in time—between April 2018 and March 2019. But, we have continued with the work and we've achieved a lot beyond the period in question. For instance, we've introduced regulations that, for the first time, set targets for every county in relation to their contribution to increasing Welsh-medium education, and the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (Wales) Regulations 2019 came into force on 1 January this year.
Increasing the number of teachers who are able to teach our children through the medium of Welsh is something we take seriously. In November, we conducted the first annual census of the school workforce to learn more about teachers' Welsh language skills across Wales. This supports programmes that already exist, such as initial teacher training and education programmes; the financial incentive, Iaith Athrawon Yfory; the Welsh language sabbatical scheme; work with the regional consortia; and the e-sgol project, which will support the availability of subjects and fair choice.
Making sure that pupils move with the Welsh language from one period of education to the next is also important. We've also agreed to allocate £145,000 in 2019-20 to encourage more learners to follow Welsh at A-level and at university.
O ran cynyddu defnydd, y llynedd, cafodd memorandwm cyd-ddealltwriaeth ei lofnodi rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg. Mae’r holl waith sy’n cael ei wneud gan ein partneriaid grant yn ein cymunedau yn parhau i roi cyfleoedd i bobl o bob gallu i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg. Ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn datblygu strategaeth fewnol er mwyn iddi hi hefyd fod yn sefydliad dwyieithog erbyn 2050. Ac o ran seilwaith, rŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod pa mor bwysig yw gosod sylfaen dechnolegol ar gyfer unrhyw iaith, ac rŷn ni wedi bod yn cymryd camau o dan y cynllun gweithredu technoleg Cymraeg a lansiwyd ym mis Hydref 2018.
O ddarllen yr adroddiad, fe welwch chi fod y gwaith yn eang iawn, ac yn cyffwrdd â phortffolios ar draws y Llywodraeth. Gan wisgo fy het fel y Gweinidog cysylltiadau rhyngwladol, dwi o hyd yn edrych am gyfleoedd cyffrous i gydweithio rhwng y Gymraeg a’r portffolio rhyngwladol. Byddwch wedi clywed am ein gwaith i ddathlu Blwyddyn Ryngwladol Ieithoedd Brodorol UNESCO y llynedd, ac am y gynhadledd wych Gŵyl Ein Llais yn y Byd a gafodd ei chynnal fis Tachwedd yn Aberystwyth.
Dw i am i Gymru gael ei gweld fel gwlad sy'n arwain ar gynllunio ieithyddol, gan adeiladu ar yr enw da sydd eisoes gyda ni yn rhyngwladol, a dyna ddiben sefydlu Prosiect 2050. Ac mae yna dipyn o gydweithio rhwng Cymru a gwledydd eraill sy'n hybu ieithoedd. Rŷn ni'n aelodau o rwydwaith amrywiaeth ieithyddol Ewrop, ac yn arwain grŵp ieithoedd y Cyngor Prydeinig-Gwyddelig.
Drwy deithio tramor a chael gweld yr hyn rŷn ni’n ei wneud yng Nghymru drwy lygaid eraill, mae’n dod yn amlwg ein bod yn dueddol, yn gyffredinol, o feddwl mewn ffordd negyddol am yr hyn rŷn ni’n ei wneud o safbwynt y Gymraeg yma yng Nghymru. Mae yna dueddiad gan rai i sôn am 'warchod' a 'cholled' a 'thranc yn hytrach na 'dathlu', 'tyfu a 'chynllunio’ Dwi yn meddwl ei bod yn bwysig ein bod ni'n edrych i fyny ac yn codi'n golygon.
Beth dwi'n gweld, o siarad ag eraill, yw bod Cymru a'r Gymraeg yn ysbrydoliaeth i siaradwyr ieithoedd eraill, a'u bod nhw yn parhau i ddysgu am ein cynlluniau ni ar gyfer caffael yr iaith a hybu ei defnydd. Wrth gwrs, mae gyda ni hefyd wersi i'w dysgu gan Iwerddon a’r Alban a Gwlad y Basg wrth i ni gnoi cil ar sut rŷn ni am gyfleu ein hunain i'n cyd-Gymry ac i'r byd.
Gall stori'r Gymraeg mor hawdd fod yn un o hwyl, positifrwydd, undod a chefnogaeth lle rŷn ni’n gweithio gyda'n gilydd i gyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr. Edrychwch ar y ffordd y mae aelodau o dîm merched y gymdeithas bêl-droed yn dysgu Cymraeg gyda'i gilydd ac yn rhannu eu taith nhw ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol. A dwi'n edrych ymlaen at weld y Gymraeg yn flaenllaw eto yn yr Ewros yr haf nesaf, fel oedd hi yn 2016.
Does dim amheuaeth bod yna fwy allwn ni ei wneud i greu amodau ffafriol er mwyn annog pobl i ddefnyddio’r Gymraeg. Gwnaeth ymchwil rai blynyddoedd yn ôl awgrymu bod rhai pobl oedd yn dweud eu bod yn ddi-hyder yn eu Cymraeg yn ofni cael eu beirniadu—er nad oeddent efallai wedi cael y profiad hynny eu hunain. Felly mae yna rywbeth yn eu dal nhw nôl, ac mae hynny'n fy siomi i. Mae’r Gymraeg yn iaith i bawb yng Nghymru ac mae'n rhaid i ni edych arnom ni’n hunain weithiau, a gwneud pob ymdrech i dorri lawr unrhyw rwystr sy'n atal pobl rhag cyfranogi. Mae angen troi y 'nhw' yn 'ni'.
Rŷn ni'n datblygu'n dealltwriaeth o ymddygiad ieithyddol pobl, o'r math o negeseuon sy’n cymell pobl ac yn hwyluso defnyddio’r Gymraeg—yn gymdeithasol, yn y teulu, yn y gymuned ysgol neu yn y gweithle. Bydd cyrraedd miliwn o siaradwyr yn golygu creu siaradwyr newydd. Ac mae gyda ni drac record da yng Nghymru o groesawu pobl i'r Gymraeg. Mae ein canolfannau trochi hwyrddyfodiaid i addysg Gymraeg wedi torri tir newydd ac yn drysor cenedlaethol. Ac os awn ni yn ôl i'r tro diwethaf i ni gael tua miliwn o siaradwyr, ddechrau’r ugeinfed ganrif, chwaraeodd ein cymunedau ni rôl bwysig yn cymhathu pobl a symudodd i Gymru. Daeth nifer ohonyn nhw i fod yn gefnogwyr brwd i’r iaith. Ac mae hon yn neges bwysig i ni ei chofio wrth inni feddwl am sut rŷn ni’n trin a thrafod y Gymraeg.
Dwi am roi Cymru a’r Gymraeg ar y map fel gwlad ac iaith fodern, groesawgar a hyfyw. Gall ein dwyieithrwydd fod yn fantais wirioneddol yn economaidd. Mae gennym ni weithlu dwyieithog, diwylliant unigryw a stori i'w hadrodd. Dyma pam dwi’n cyflwyno’r adroddiad blynyddol hwn i chi, ac yn ymfalchïo yn yr hyn rŷn ni wedi'i gyflawni. A dwi jest eisiau talu teyrnged hefyd i'r Gweinidog a oedd yna o fy mlaen ac a oedd yn rhannol gyfrifol am y cyfnod yma. Nid jest am y cyfnod adrodd yma rŷn ni'n edrych, ond ers hynny, gyda’n cynlluniau ni ar gyfer y dyfodol hefyd. Mae pobl ifanc—a phob un ohonom ni, mewn gwirionedd—yn uniaethu gyda llwyddiant, gyda gobaith am ddyfodol llewyrchus, a rhaid inni ddangos iddyn nhw fod y Gymraeg yn un o'r storïau llwyddiannus hynny.
In relation to increasing use of the language, last year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Welsh Government and the Welsh Language Commissioner. All of the work being done by our grant partners in our communities continues to give opportunities to people of all abilities to use Welsh. And the Welsh Government is developing an internal strategy to become a bilingual organisation by 2050. And in terms of infrastructure, we all know how important a solid technological foundation is in any language, and we've been taking steps under the Welsh language technology action plan, launched in October 2018.
From reading the report you'll see that its scope is very broad, and touches on portfolios across the Government. Donning my cap as Minister for international relations, I'm always looking for exciting opportunities for joint working between the Welsh language and international portfolios. You'll have heard about our work celebrating the UNESCO Year of Indigenous Languages last year, and the superb conference Gŵyl Ein Llais yn y Byd, the Our Voice in the World Festival, was held in November in Aberystwyth.
I want Wales to be seen leading on language planning, thus building on the reputation we already have internationally, and why we're setting up Prosiect 2050. And there’s a lot of collaboration between Wales and other countries that promote languages. We are members of the European network to promote linguistic diversity, and lead the British-Irish Council languages group.
By travelling abroad and seeing what we're doing in Wales through other people's eyes, it becomes evident that we have a tendency in general to think negatively about what we're doing here in relation to the Welsh language. There is a tendency amongst some people to speak of 'protecting' and 'loss' and the 'death' of the language, rather than 'celebrating' and 'growing' and 'planning'. I do think that it's important that we raise our sight and our aspirations.
But what I've seen from speaking to others is that Wales and the Welsh language are an inspiration to the speakers of other languages, and that they continue to learn about our plans for acquiring Welsh and promoting its use. Of course, we also have lessons to learn from Ireland and Scotland and the Basque Country as we consider how we convey ourselves to our fellow Welsh people and the world at large.
The story of the Welsh language can so easily be one of fun, positivity, unity and support, where we work together to reach a million speakers. Look at how members of our international women's football team are learning Welsh together and sharing their journey on social media as an example of that. And I'm looking forward to seeing the language taking a prominent place once again at the Euros next summer, just as it was in 2016.
There’s no doubt that we can do more to create favourable conditions to encourage people to use Welsh. Research conducted a few years ago suggested that some people said they weren't very confident in their Welsh and were afraid of being criticised—even though they hadn't, perhaps, had that experience themselves. So there's something holding them back, and that's disappointing to me. Welsh is a language for everyone in Wales, and sometimes, we have to take a look at ourselves, and make every effort to break down any barriers that prevent people from taking part. We need to turn 'them' into 'us'
We are developing our understanding of people’s behaviour in relation to language, of the types of messages that motivate people and make it easier for them to use Welsh—socially, in the family, the school community or the workplace. Reaching a million speakers will mean creating new speakers. And we have a good track record in Wales of welcoming people to Welsh. Our immersion centres for latecomers to Welsh-medium education have broken new ground and are a national treasure. And if we go back to the last time we had about a million Welsh speakers, at the start of the twentieth century, our communities played an important role in integrating people who moved to Wales. A number of them became keen advocates for the language. And that’s an important message for us to remember as we think of how we speak about Welsh.
I want to put Wales and the Welsh language on the map as being modern, welcoming and vibrant. Our bilingualism can be a genuine advantage economically. We have a bilingual workforce, a unique culture and a story to tell. That’s why I'm presenting this annual report to you and why I'm proud of what we've achieved. And I want to pay tribute as well to the Minister who was my predecessor who was partly responsible for this period. We're not just proud about this reporting period, but since then, as well as our plans for the future. Young people—all of us, truth be told—identify with success, with hope for a bright future, and we have to show them that the Welsh language is one of those success stories.
Gan fod y nod o 1 miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg yn cael ei gefnogi gan bawb, neu bron pawb, anyway, rwy'n fwy na bodlon i gydnabod y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud gan y Llywodraeth rydych chi wedi sôn amdano yn y datganiad heddiw. Hoffwn ddweud rôn i'n arbennig o falch o weld y geiriau yn yr adroddiad ei hun ynglŷn â Chymraeg y tu hwnt i'n ffiniau hefyd. Dwi ddim yn gwybod os oes gyda chi ddigon o amser i siarad tipyn bach mwy am hynny, a hefyd TAN 20, achos dwi ddim yn siŵr os yw'r awdurdodau cynllunio i gyd yn agored i'r syniad o weld hyn fel cyfle i'r iaith, yn arbennig o safbwynt addysg, yn lle rhywbeth negatif. Fel pob strategaeth, wrth gwrs, mae angen moron a ffyn, ond mae'n anodd iawn—wel, dyw hi ddim yn bosibl yn fy marn i—i orfodi pobl yn gyffredinol i dderbyn cymorth neu i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg yn eu bywydau dyddiol. Hoffwn i wybod tipyn bach mwy am y moron rŷch chi'n ei ystyried cyn yr adroddiad nesaf.
Rwy'n croesawu'r gwaith ym maes addysg y blynyddoedd cynnar, yn arbennig drwy'r prentisiaethau. Allaf i ofyn pa mor galed yw hi i ffeindio cyflogwyr sy'n gallu cynnig prentisiaethau drwy'r Gymraeg mewn meysydd eraill, ac yn benodol yn y sector preifat? Rwy'n meddwl am letygarwch a manwerthu yn benodol—swyddi sy'n wynebu'r cyhoedd ac sy'n rhan amlwg o bresenoldeb y Gymraeg ar ein strydoedd ac yn ein bywydau dyddiol. Dwi ddim yn credu taw safonau yw'r ymateb i'r her hon, ond mae'n werth ystyried pa fath o foronen fyddai'n addas.
Efallai y gallaf i ofyn hefyd am yr elfennau Cymraeg mewn prentisiaethau neu gyrsiau coleg neu'r ysgol drwy gyfrwng Saesneg, achos dwi'n gwybod bod rhai elfennau Cymraeg ar rai cyrsiau, ond dwi ddim yn gwybod lot amdanyn nhw. A beth yw'r safon? Ydyn nhw'n gadarn, fel rhan o'r cyrsiau yna?
Ynglŷn â nifer yr athrawon, er gwaethaf y camau roeddech chi'n sôn amdanynt, mae'n glir ei bod yn dal yn broblem perswadio pobl ifanc i chwilio am hyfforddiant, nid dim ond yn y Gymraeg, ond i ddysgu Cymraeg fel pwnc. Pam ydych chi'n credu bod hyn yn parhau? Beth ydych chi wedi bod yn ei drafod gyda Chyngor y Gweithlu Addysg a Cymwysterau Cymru am sut mae dysgu Cymraeg yn mynd i edrych ar gyfer y sector uwchradd yn arbennig, gyda chwricwlwm newydd ar y gorwel, achos mae'r newidiadau yna'n mynd i fod yn bwysig iawn? Hoffwn wybod hefyd sut y mae hyn yn mynd i gael ei ddarparu i bobl ifanc sy'n cael eu haddysgu tu allan i'r ysgol—EOTAS—a sut gallan nhw gysylltu â beth sydd ar gael ar gyfer cynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg.
O safbwynt Cymraeg yn y gweithle, rydw i wedi codi hyn o'r blaen. Rydych wedi ymateb gyda rhai manylion am y llinell gymorth, er enghraifft, ac unigolion sy'n gweithio gyda chwmnïau mawr a bychain, ac, wrth gwrs, drwy Gymraeg i oedolion lle mae'r prif ffocws ar y sector cyhoeddus. Rwy'n deall pam—mae safonau yn esgus i wneud hyn, wrth gwrs—ond a ydych chi eto mewn sefyllfa i rannu rhai o ganlyniadau ansoddol y rhaglenni hyn, nid dim ond nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu cydio ganddynt, ond faint o bobl sydd wedi gweld eu Cymraeg yn gwella neu sy'n defnyddio'r iaith yn fwy hyderus neu yn fwy aml, er enghraifft?
Rwy'n cytuno 100 y cant, mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, Weinidog, am y pwyntiau am bobl sydd ddim yn hyderus yn eu hiaith Gymraeg. Mae'n fater personol iawn, ein dewis cyfathrebu, ac rydych chi fel Gweinidog—. Mae'n signal da iawn i ddod oddi wrthych chi, rwy'n credu, i ddweud does yna ddim angen i bawb fod yn berffaith yn eu Cymraeg ond, wrth gwrs, dwi ddim yn dadlau dros drio tanseilio cynnydd mewn safon ac ansawdd. Ond os ydym ni'n ystyried bod yna ganran enfawr o ddysgwyr ffurfiol, neu sy'n dod o gefndiroedd Cymraeg ond sydd ddim yn siarad Cymraeg yn aml, dydyn ni ddim yn gallu fforddio eu colli nhw fel craidd y strategaeth yma. Hoffwn i glywed dipyn bach mwy oddi wrthych chi ar hynny.
Jest yn olaf, rwy'n croesawu targedau yn y cynlluniau addysg nawr; rwy'n falch o weld y rhain. Beth fyddech chi'n wneud pe bai cynghorau'n methu gyda'r targedau newydd? Beth mae'n mynd i gymryd i chi ailystyried fod angen deddfwriaeth newydd? A oes yna ryw siawns i ni gael deddfwriaeth i'n helpu ni pe bai'r cynghorau yn methu'r targedau, er enghraifft? Mae mwy i ddeddfwriaeth na hynny, rwy'n gwybod. Diolch yn fawr
As the aim of 1 million Welsh speakers is supported across the board, or almost across the board, I'm more than happy to recognise the work that’s been done by the Government and the work that you've mentioned in your statement today. I would like to say a few words, because I was particularly pleased to see what’s written in the report itself on Wales beyond our borders. I don't know if you have time to tell us a little more about that, and also TAN 20, because I'm not sure where that planning authorities are all open to this idea of seeing this as an opportunity for the language, particularly in terms of education, rather than seeing it in negative terms. As with all strategies, of course, you need carrots and sticks, but it’s difficult, and perhaps impossible, in my view, to force people to accept help or to use the Welsh language in their daily lives. I would like to know a little more about the carrots that you're considering implementing before the next report.
I welcome the work that’s been done in early years education, particularly through apprenticeships. Could I ask you how difficult it is to find employers who can offer Welsh language apprenticeships in other areas, specifically in the private sector? I'm thinking about hospitality and retail particularly, those are front-facing jobs and have a prominent role in terms of the prominence of the Welsh language on our streets and in our daily lives. I don’t think standards are the solution to this challenge, but it is withe considering what kind of carrot would be most appropriate.
Perhaps I could also ask about the elements of the Welsh language included in apprenticeships or school or college courses that are provided through the medium of English, because I know that there are certain elements provided in Welsh, but I don't know too much about them. And what's the standard? Are they robust as part of those courses?
In terms of the numbers of teachers, despite the steps that you've mentioned in your statement, it is clear that there is still a problem in persuading young people to seek training, not just in Welsh, but to actually study Welsh as a subject. So, why do you think that that persists as a problem and what have you been discussing with the Education Workforce Council and Qualifications Wales as to how the teaching of Welsh will look in the secondary sector, particularly in the future and particularly in light of the introduction of the new curriculum, because those changes are going to be crucial? I’d also like to know how this is to be provided to young people who are educated other than at school—the EOTAS—and how they can engage with what’s available in terms of increasing the use of the Welsh language.
Now, in terms of Welsh in the workplace, I’ve raised this in the past, and you have responded with some details about the helpline and individuals working with both large and small companies, and, course, with Welsh for adults where the main focus is still on the public sector. I understand why, of course, because standards do require this, but are you yet in a position to share some of the qualitative outcomes of some of these programmes, not just the number of people who become immersed in them, but how many people have seen their Welsh language improve, or how many people use the language with more confidence or use it more often as a result of this?
I agree with you 100 per cent, I must say, Minister, on the points that you made about people who aren't confident in using the Welsh language. It’s a very personal issue in terms of language of choice, and you as Minister—. It sends a very strong message for you to say that not everyone has to be word perfect in their use of the Welsh language, but, of course, I'm not arguing that we should seek to undermine quality. But we do need to take into account that there is a large percentage of learners in formal education or those who come from Welsh-speaking backgrounds but who don't use the language very often, and we can't afford to lose them, because they are core to this strategy. I would like to hear a little more on that particular point.
And, finally, I welcome the targets in the WESPs now; I'm pleased to see them. But what would you do if councils were to fail in terms of their new targets? What’s it going to take for you to reconsider the need for new legislation in this area? And is there any chance that we will have legislation to assist us if the councils do fail in delivering those targets? I know there’s more to legislation than that, but thank you.
Diolch yn fawr; roedd lot o gwestiynau fanna.
Yn gyntaf i gyd, a gaf i ddweud pa mor galonogol yw hi ein bod ni'n gweithredu nawr yn drawsbleidiol tuag at y targed yma o 1 miliwn o siaradwyr? Dwi yn meddwl bod hynny yn rhoi neges glir tu fewn i Gymru a thu hwnt, ac mae hon yn neges rŷm ni'n ceisio ei dangos i Ogledd Iwerddon, er enghraifft, i ddangos bod yna daith a siwrnai rydych chi'n gallu mynd arni fel gwlad gyda phwnc efallai a oedd yn sensitif, ond yn rhywbeth nawr sydd wedi dod yn rhywbeth sydd wedi cael ei dderbyn gan gymdeithas yn gyffredinol.
Dwi yn meddwl bod yna gyfle i ni sôn am y Gymraeg tu hwnt i'n ffiniau a dwi'n eithaf bodlon siarad mwy am hynny rhywbryd, ond jest i roi syniad i chi: yn ddiweddar, fues i yn UNESCO yn siarad â nhw ynglŷn â sut y gallant efallai ein defnyddio ni fel model o beth rŷm ni'n gallu ei wneud, beth rydym ni wedi ei wneud, ac yn arbennig mewn meysydd fel technoleg. Roedd lot o ddiddordeb gyda nhw i glywed mwy am hynny.
Rydym ni wedi cael ymateb, dwi'n meddwl, cadarnhaol o ran y WESPs ac wedi bod yn cydweithredu yn agos iawn gyda chynghorau lleol. Dwi'n meddwl beth sy'n bwysig yw ein bod ni'n dod â chynghorau lleol a'u poblogaeth nhw ar y siwrnai gyda ni. Mae hwn yn rhywbeth lle mae'n anodd iawn ceisio 'force-o' rhywun i gymryd y Gymraeg fel pwnc ac i gymryd hi fel ffordd maen nhw eisiau Cymraeg llawn amser yn eu hysgolion nhw. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni ddarbwyllo pobl. Rydym ni wedi gwneud hynny, dwi'n meddwl, ond mae'r WESPs ac mae'r ffaith bod gennym ni 10 mlynedd nawr i gynllunio yn help aruthrol, dwi'n meddwl. Felly, dwi'n cytuno mai darbwyllo pobl, nid gorfodi, yw'r ffordd orau i symud hyn ymlaen.
Mae yna lot o bethau y gallem eu gwneud o ran defnydd iaith. Mae yna, yn sicr, ffyrdd gwahanol o ddefnyddio'r moron. Un enghraifft o hyn oedd yr enghraifft gyda'r arian cyfalaf ddefnyddiom ni i geisio annog rhai o'r awdurdodau i fynd ymhellach gyda'u cynlluniau nhw. Felly, roedd £30 miliwn ychwanegol wedi cael ei roi yn uniongyrchol i'r llywodraethau lleol hynny oedd yn fodlon agor ysgolion Cymraeg newydd. Felly, mae yna foronen mewn lle.
O ran y prentisiaethau, eisoes mae tua 12 y cant o'r prentisiaethau a'r bobl sydd yn gwneud gwaith yn ein cymunedau ni ac yn ein colegau ni—mae tua 12 y cant o'r rheini'n cynnwys elfen o'r Gymraeg. Ac mae'n wir i ddweud bod cael prentisiaethau ym meysydd gofal a gofal plant, er enghraifft, lot yn haws nag, efallai, yn y sector breifat. Dwi yn meddwl bod yna fwy o waith i'w wneud yn rhai o'r ardaloedd yna roeddech chi'n sôn amdanynt—lletygarwch a manwerthu—ond dyna pam beth rŷn ni'n trio gwneud yw codi ymwybyddiaeth pobl am ddefnydd o'r iaith drwy gynlluniau fel Cymraeg Gwaith: sicrhau bod pobl yn gweld mantais o ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg ac efallai wedyn cymryd rhywun sydd eisiau gwneud prentisiaeth ymlaen fel rhan o'u datblygiad nhw.
O ran dysgu Cymraeg fel pwnc, wel, mae hwn yn rhywbeth rŷn ni'n ceisio annog pobl i wneud fel lefel A. Dŷch chi wedi gweld ein bod ni wedi rhoi £150,000 yn ychwanegol i geisio annog pobl yn y maes yma i fynd o wneud TGAU i wneud lefel A ac hefyd ymlaen i'r brifysgol. Mae Saesneg hefyd yn cael trafferth. Mae pobl yn cael trafferth i wneud Saesneg hefyd. Felly, nid mater yn unig i'r Gymraeg yw hi.
O ran defnydd y Gymraeg, rŷn ni wedi bod yn rhoi pwysau ar bobl fel y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gwneud, efallai, mwy yn y maes cymdeithasol ac ati, ac mae pethau fel Dydd Miwsig Cymru gyda ni'n dod i fyny cyn bo hir, ac mae hwnna'n gyfle i bobl i sicrhau bod yna gyfle i gymdeithasu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.
Mae yna waith i'w wneud ar drosglwyddo iaith ac mae yna gynllun gyda ni rŷn ni'n ei baratoi ar hyn o bryd, a bydd hwnna'n dod allan cyn bo hir. Ond rŷn ni'n ymwybodol bod yn rhaid i ni weld beth yw'r pethau yna sy'n cael pobl i ddefnyddio'r iaith—i switsio o ddefnyddio'r Saesneg i'r Gymraeg yn y meysydd cymdeithasol.
O ran safon y Gymraeg, dwi yn meddwl ei fod e'n really bwysig ein bod ni'n codi hyder pobl sy'n gwneud ymgais i siarad Cymraeg. Mae'n bwysig bod ni ddim yn beirniadu ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n trio ymdawelu'r plismyn iaith. Felly, dwi yn gobeithio bod y neges yna wedi mynd mas yn glir. Wrth gwrs bod yn rhaid i ni gael safonau hefyd, ond mae'n rhaid i ni gael y balans yna'n iawn.
Thank you very much; there were many questions there.
First of all, may I say how encouraging it is that we are operating on a cross-party basis towards this target of 1 million Welsh speakers? I think that does give a very clear message within and outwith Wales, and this is a message that we're trying to share in Northern Ireland, for example, to show that there is a journey that you can follow as a nation on an issue that perhaps used to be sensitive, but that has become now something that is accepted by society in general.
I do think that there is an opportunity for us to talk about the Welsh language outside our borders, and I'm willing to talk more about that sometime, but just to give you an idea: recently I went to UNESCO to speak to them about how they can perhaps use us as a model of what we can do, what we have done, and in particular in areas such as technology. There was a great deal of interest from them in hearing more about that.
We have had a positive response, I think, with regard to the WESPs, and we've been collaborating very closely with local councils. I think what’s important is that we bring councils and their populations with us on this journey. This is something where I think it’s very difficult to try to force someone to take the Welsh language seriously as a subject and to take it as the way that they want Welsh to be taught full time in their schools. So, we need to convince people. We've done that, I think, but the WESPs and the fact that we have 10 years now to plan is a great help. So, I agree that it's about convincing people and not compelling them; that’s the best way of moving this forward.
There are many things that we can do in terms of use of the language. Certainly, there are different ways of using the carrot. One example of this was with capital funding that we used to try to encourage some authorities to go further with their plans. So, there was £30 million in addition that was directly allocated to those local authorities that were willing to open new Welsh-medium schools. So, there is a carrot there.
In terms of apprenticeships, around 12 per cent of apprenticeships and those involved in work in our communities and our colleges—around 12 per cent of those do include an element of the Welsh language. It’s true to say that having apprenticeships in the areas of care and childcare is perhaps much easier than in the private sector. So, I do think that there is further work to be done in some of those areas that you talked about with regard to hospitality and retail. And that’s why what we're trying to do is to raise awareness of language use through schemes such as Cymraeg Gwaith, so that people can see the advantages of using the Welsh language and then perhaps they'll take on an apprentice as part of their development.
In terms of teaching Welsh as a subject, well, this is something that we are trying to encourage people to do at A-level. You’ll see that we’ve allocated an additional £150,000 to try to encourage people in this area to go from GCSE to A-level and then onwards to university. English, also, is facing difficulties in this regard, so it’s not just an issue for the Welsh language.
In terms of use of the Welsh language, I have been urging groups such the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol to ensure that they do more in the social sphere. And things such as Dydd Miwsig Cymru, Welsh Language Music Day, is coming up and that’s an opportunity for people to ensure that there’s an opportunity to socialise through the medium of Welsh.
There is work to do on language transmission and we do have a scheme that we're preparing at the moment, and that will be coming out very soon. But we are aware that we need to see what those factors are that do encourage people to use the Welsh language—to switch from using the English language to using the Welsh language in those social spheres.
In terms of standards of Welsh, I do think it’s important that we do raise the confidence of people who speak Welsh and who make the effort to do so. We shouldn’t criticise or judge and it’s important that we should silence the language police. So, I do hope that that message has gone out clearly. Of course, we do need to have standards, but we do need to strike the balance.
Diolch yn fawr am y datganiad. Drwy hyn i gyd, un cwestiwn penodol sydd yn codi yn fy meddwl i, a hynny ydy cwestiwn ynglŷn ag arian: sut ydych chi'n gallu cysoni cyllideb y Llywodraeth bresennol ar gyfer y Gymraeg ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf efo'r uchelgais yn y strategaeth 2050? Er mae yna groes-ddweud wedi bod gan wahanol Weinidogion, yn ôl beth rydym ni'n ddeall, fe fydd y Llywodraeth hon yn gwario llai ar yr iaith Gymraeg yn 2020-21 nag y mae'n gwneud yn y flwyddyn ariannol bresennol. Rydw i yn deall bod fy nghydweithiwr Llyr Gruffydd, Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid, wedi ysgrifennu atoch chi yn gofyn am eglurder am hyn ond does yna ddim ateb wedi dod. Ein dealltwriaeth ni, felly, ydy bod y setliad ar gyfer cyllideb y Gymraeg yn un fflat, yn llai na chwyddiant, ac yn llai na'r cynnydd cyfartalog yn y gyllideb yn gyffredinol.
Mae'r diffyg ariannu yma'n dechrau amlygu ei hun yn barod, ac rydw i am sôn am ddwy enghraifft sydd wedi dod i'm sylw i'r prynhawn yma. Yn gyntaf, mi fydd yna doriadau i'r gyllideb Cymraeg i oedolion. Yn ôl gwybodaeth rydw i wedi'i chael yn lleol, rydw i'n deall y bydd y Ganolfan Dysgu Cymraeg i Oedolion ym Mangor yn colli hyd at £100,000 y flwyddyn nesaf. Llai o bres i Gymraeg i oedolion; llai, felly, o gyfleon i oedolion ddysgu Cymraeg. Rŵan, sut yn y byd mae cysoni hynny efo strategaeth 'Cymraeg 2050'? Onid ydy cynyddu'r nifer o oedolion sy'n dysgu Cymraeg yn greiddiol i lwyddiant y nod o greu 1 miliwn o siaradwyr?
Ac yn ail, hoffwn i gymryd y cyfle i'ch holi chi heddiw am gyllideb yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol. Yn ôl beth roeddwn i'n ei ddeall, roedd bwriad i glustnodi arian ar gyfer Eisteddfod Ceredigion ac Eisteddfod Llŷn er mwyn i'r trefnwyr allu cynnig gostyngiad ar docynnau mynediad—syniad gwych—ac mi gofiwch chi gyd fod hyn wedi digwydd yn llwyddiannus yn Eisteddfod Caerdydd, eisteddfod lle doedd dim rhaid talu dim byd o gwbl, eisteddfod ddi-ffin. Ac yn Eisteddfod Llanrwst, hefyd—dwi'n credu ar y dydd Sul roeddech chi'n cael mynd i mewn am ddim. A dwi'n meddwl mai'r bwriad gwreiddiol oedd galluogi Eisteddfod Ceredigion ac Eisteddfod Llŷn i roi trefniadau ar waith er mwyn gallu gostwng pris tocynnau er mwyn estyn allan, denu eisteddfodwyr newydd, codi hyder yn yr iaith Gymraeg, fel rydyn ni wedi bod yn ei drafod yn fan hyn. Felly, a wnewch chi gadarnhau nad dyna ydy'r bwriad bellach, a bod y gyllideb oedd wedi'i chynllunio yn wreiddiol ar gyfer yr Eisteddfod hefyd yn destun toriadau? A sut mae cysoni'r tro pedol yma eto efo'ch awydd chi i weld mwy o bobl yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg ac i wneud y Gymraeg yn fwy hygyrch i fwy o bobl? Sut mae o'n cyd-fynd â strategaeth 2050 a'r weledigaeth 1 miliwn o siaradwyr?
Ac, yn olaf, hoffwn i wybod ydy'r arbedion yn y ddau faes yma dwi wedi sôn amdanyn nhw y prynhawn yma—ac efallai bod yna arbedion yn digwydd mewn meysydd eraill yn ymwneud â'r Gymraeg hefyd—ydy'r arbedion yma ar gyfer blaenoriaethau eraill, a beth ydy'r blaenoriaethau eraill rydych chi'n eu hystyried, ac a ydy'r blaenoriaethau eraill yma o fewn portffolio'r Gymraeg, ynteu a ydyn nhw'n flaenoriaethau sydd yn ymwneud â'ch gwaith chi mewn rhannau eraill o'r portffolio—er enghraifft, ar gyfer y strategaeth ryngwladol? Mae eisiau eglurder ar hyn i gyd, os gwelwch yn dda.
Dau gwestiwn bach cyflym i gloi: mae yna £14 miliwn yn ychwanegol yn 2020-1 i golegau addysg bellach. Faint o'r gyllideb ychwanegol fydd yn mynd i addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg? Ac wedyn, o ganlyniad i arian ychwanegol i addysg uwch a phrentisiaethau cyffredinol y flwyddyn nesaf, faint o arian ychwanegol fydd gan y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol er mwyn ehangu addysg a phrentisiaethau cyfrwng Cymraeg? Cwestiynau byddai'n braf iawn cael eglurder pellach yn eu cylch nhw y prynhawn yma.
Diwedd y gân yw'r geiniog—efo'r gyllideb ar gyfer y Gymraeg yn crebachu, sut ydyn ni i fod i gredu bod eich Llywodraeth chi wirioneddol o ddifri ynglŷn â chreu 1 miliwn o siaradwyr, a sut fedrwn ni fod yn wirioneddol yn rhoi sylw teg i'r adroddiad ar y strategaeth 2050, pan ydyn ni'n gwybod bod ymdrechion yn digwydd i danseilio cyllideb y Gymraeg?
Thank you for the statement. Now, throughout all of this, there is one particular question that constantly arises in my mind, and that is a question on funding: how can you reconcile the Government's current budget for the Welsh language for the next financial year with the ambition in the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy? Although various Ministers have contradicted each other, as we understand it, this Government will spend less on the Welsh language in 2020-21 than it will do in the current financial year. I do understand that my colleague Llyr Gruffydd, the Chair of the Finance Committee, has written to you asking for clarity on this issue, but he's received no response to date. Our understanding, therefore, is that the settlement for the Welsh language budget is flat, is below inflation, and is less than the average increase in the budget more generally.
This lack of funding is starting to emerge already, and I'm going to mention two examples that have been drawn to my attention. First of all, there will be cuts in the Welsh for adults budget. According to the information that I've received locally, I do understand that the centre for learning Welsh in Bangor will lose up to £100,000 next year. That's less money for Welsh for adults, and, therefore, fewer opportunities for adults to learn Welsh. Now, how on earth can you reconcile that with the 'Cymraeg 2050' strategy? Isn't increasing the number of adults learning Welsh core to the target of creating 1 million Welsh speakers?
Secondly, I'd like to take the opportunity to question you on the budget of the National Eisteddfod. From my understanding, there was an intention to allocate funding for the Ceredigion and the Llŷn eisteddfods so that the organisers could offer reduced-price tickets, which is a wonderful idea, and you will all recall that this happened very successfully in the Cardiff Eisteddfod, which was available free of charge. There was no charge for entry, and I think that in Llanrwst, you could enter the field free of charge on the Sunday. I think the original intention was to allow the Llŷn and Ceredigion Eisteddfods to put arrangements in place in order to reduce the price of tickets in order to reach out, to attract new people to the Eisteddfod and to increase people's confidence in the use of the Welsh language, as we've discussed here. So, will you confirm that that is no longer your intention and that the budget that had been originally put in place for the Eisteddfod is also subject to cuts? And how do you reconcile that u-turn with your desire to see more people using the Welsh language and making the Welsh language more accessible to more people? How does it accord with the 2050 strategy and the 1 million Welsh speakers vision?
And, finally, I would like to know whether the savings in these two areas that I've mentioned this afternoon—and perhaps there may be savings in other areas in relation to the Welsh language today—are these savings to be used for other priorities, and what are those other priorities that you're considering? Are those other priorities within the Welsh language portfolio or are they priorities that relate to your responsibilities in other parts of your portfolio—for example, the international strategy? We need clarity on all of this, please.
Two brief questions to conclude: there's an additional £14 million in 2020-1 for FE colleges. How much of that additional budget will be provided to Welsh-medium education? And then, as a result of additional funding for HE and apprenticeships next year, how much additional funding will the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol have in order to expand Welsh-medium education and apprenticeships? These are questions that we would like some clarity on this afternoon.
At the end of the day, it'll all come down to money. With the budget for the Welsh language shrinking, how are we to believe that your Government is truly serious about creating 1 million Welsh speakers, and how can we give proper attention to the report on the 2050 strategy, when we know that there are efforts in place to undermine the Welsh language budget?
Wel, gaf i ddechrau trwy ei wneud yn glir: does dim toriad wedi bod yng nghyllideb y Gymraeg? Fe fydd yna ddim toriad yng nghyllideb y Gymraeg. Dwi ddim yn siŵr faint o weithiau gallaf i ddweud hynny. Mwy na hynny, mae £6.5 miliwn y cytunodd Plaid Cymru arno yn y gyllideb ddiwethaf—rŷn ni wedi cadw'r arian yna, felly mae'r arian yna wedi mynd tuag at y gyllideb. Yn ogystal â hynny, dwi yn meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig bod pobl yn cydnabod mai jest rhan o'r gyllideb ar gyfer y Gymraeg yw'r gyllideb dwi'n edrych ar ei hôl hi—mae yna gyllidebau ar draws y Llywodraeth sydd yn cyffwrdd â'r Gymraeg. Os ydych chi jest yn meddwl am y ffaith y llynedd inni wario £30 miliwn ar gyfalaf ar gyfer adeiladu ysgolion Cymraeg, £15 miliwn ar gyfer adeiladu llefydd lle oedd plant ifanc yn gallu dysgu'r Gymraeg, roedd arian—miliynau ychwanegol—wedi mynd i Langrannog a Glan-llyn—does neb byth yn sôn am yr arian ychwanegol yna sydd wedi mynd mewn i'r Gymraeg. Felly, dwi yn meddwl bod hynny'n bwysig.
Roeddwn i eisiau edrych ar Gymraeg i oedolion yn fanwl—maen nhw'n cael £13 miliwn ac maen nhw'n dysgu tua 12,000 o bobl. Dwi jest eisiau cael golwg ar hynny, ac mae'n cymryd eithaf lot o arian y gyllideb; dwi eisiau sicrhau eu bod nhw'n gwario'r arian yna yn gywir—dwi'n siŵr y byddech chi eisiau imi wneud hynny. Ac mae'n werth, efallai, jest edrych ar y ffaith nad dim ond nhw sy’n darparu ar gyfer dysgu oedolion yng Nghymru. Mae Say Something in Welsh yn dweud eu bod nhw'n dysgu 50,000 o bobl. Mae Duolingo yn dweud bod miliwn o bobl gyda nhw ar eu llyfrau nhw, a dŷn nhw ddim yn cael ceiniog o'r Llywodraeth. Felly, dwi yn meddwl ei fod e'n bwysig ein bod ni yn gweld hyn yn ei gyfanrwydd. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae'r gwaith mae Cymraeg i oedolion a'r gwaith maen nhw yn ei wneud yn y ganolfan yn eithriadol o bwysig.
Ond dwi ddim wedi gwneud unrhyw benderfyniad eto ynglŷn â beth rŷn ni'n mynd i wneud am hynny, achos dwi eisiau cael edrych yn fanwl ar beth rŷn ni'n gallu ei wneud i sicrhau bod hwnna'n cyd-fynd â'n blaenoriaethau ni ar gyfer Cymraeg 2050. Ond gallaf i fod yn hollol siŵr a sicr gyda chi na fydd dim arian yn mynd o'r portffolio. Os bydd arian yn mynd o hynny o gwbl, mi fydd e'n mynd at rywle arall yn y portffolio Cymraeg.
Does dim tro pedol wedi cael ei wneud ar yr Eisteddfod. Mae'r sefyllfa yr un peth ag yr oedd hi yn y gorffennol, felly dwi ddim yn gwybod o ble mae hwnna wedi dod.
O ran y coleg Cymraeg, mae prentisiaethau, fel roeddwn i'n ei ddweud—mae tua 12 y cant o bobl yn gwneud rhywfaint o'u gwaith nhw o ran prentisiaethau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni'n cynyddu'r posibilrwydd i bobl wneud mwy o'u cwrs nhw trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg yn y dyfodol.
Well, may I start by making it clear that there have been no cuts in the Welsh language budget? There will be no cut in the Welsh language budget. I don't know how many times I can state that. In addition to that, the £6.5 million that Plaid Cymru agreed to in the previous budget—we have maintained that funding, so that funding has gone towards the budget as well. In addition to that, I think it's important that we recognise that the budget I'm responsible for is only part of the Welsh language budget. There are portfolios across Government the touch on the Welsh language. If you just think about the fact that last year we spent £30 million in capital funding for building Welsh-medium schools, £15 million on building locations where young children could learn the Welsh language, additional millions went to Llangrannog and Glan-llyn—nobody ever mentions that additional funding that has gone towards the Welsh language. So, I do think that it is important to restate that.
I wanted to look at Welsh for adults in detail. They receive £13 million, and they teach around 12,000 people. I just want to have a look at that in greater detail, because it does take a great deal of the budget. I want to ensure that they spend the money in the right way, and I'm sure that you'd want me to do that. And it's worth, perhaps, just looking at the fact that it's not just them who provide for teaching adults in Welsh. Say Something in Welsh say that they teach 50,000 people. Duolingo says that they have a million people on their books, and they don't receive a penny from the Government. So, I do think it's important that we see this in the wider context. But, of course, the work that Welsh for adults does in the centre is very, very important.
But I haven't made any decision yet with regard to what we're going to do about that, because I do want to have a closer look at what we can do and ensure that it dovetails with our priorities for Cymraeg 2050. But I can be entirely clear with you that funding won't be lost from the portfolio. If funding is moved around, it will be allocated somewhere else within the Welsh language portfolio.
There's no u-turn being made on the Eisteddfod. The situation remains the same as it was in the past, so I don't know where that has come from.
In terms of the coleg Cymraeg, there are apprenticeships, as I said—around 12 per cent of people do an element of their work in the apprenticeships through the medium of Welsh, and it's important that we increase the opportunities for people to do that so that they study more of their course through the medium of Welsh in future.
Minister, I think, to state the obvious, really, there are particular challenges in different parts of Wales in terms of promoting and growing the Welsh language. In Newport, there was, for a long time, a historical nonsense around in terms of Monmouthshire not being part of Wales or England but being in some strange hybrid position. Thankfully, things have moved on since those days, and I think there's a much stronger sense of Welsh identity in Newport now. And, indeed, many people very much lament what they see as the opportunities they should have had but didn't have to learn Welsh and be able to use the Welsh language. Thankfully for younger people now, things are so much better through the growth of Welsh-medium education. And there are other positive aspects as well, even quite basic, simple things such as bilingual signage, bilingual announcements, and, indeed, some adult groups now meeting in cafes and other places where you hear Welsh spoken in the community. But it is still fairly limited, I think, it's fair to say.
So, I'd be interested just to hear how Welsh Government might continue that progress, further strengthening the language in not just Newport but similar areas across Wales. As I say, they do obviously present particular challenges, given the low base level of the language. It would be great to hear Welsh spoken more commonly, more often in the community in Newport, and I think those limited adult groups show that there's probably a need for greater support to promote social use of the language. Lots of those young people coming out of Welsh-medium education are not using the language in the streets, in the community in Newport, and I'd be interested in your ideas as to how that community use might be developed, promoted and strengthened.
Gweinidog, rwy'n credu, i ddweud yr hyn sy'n amlwg, mewn gwirionedd, mae heriau penodol mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru o ran hyrwyddo a chynyddu'r defnydd o'r Gymraeg. Yng Nghasnewydd, roedd ffwlbri hanesyddol, am gyfnod hir, o ran nad oedd Sir Fynwy yn rhan o Gymru na Lloegr, ond ei bod mewn rhyw sefyllfa amwys ryfedd. Diolch byth, daeth tro ar fyd ers y dyddiau hynny, a chredaf fod ymdeimlad llawer cryfach o hunaniaeth Gymreig yng Nghasnewydd nawr. Ac, yn wir, mae llawer o bobl yn gresynu'n fawr at yr hyn y gwelant fel y cyfleoedd y dylent fod wedi'u cael ond na chawsant i ddysgu a defnyddio'r Gymraeg. Yn ffodus i bobl iau erbyn hyn, mae pethau gymaint gwell drwy dwf addysg Gymraeg. Ac mae agweddau cadarnhaol eraill hefyd, hyd yn oed pethau eithaf sylfaenol, syml fel arwyddion dwyieithog, cyhoeddiadau dwyieithog, ac, yn wir, mae rhai grwpiau oedolion bellach yn cyfarfod mewn caffis a mannau eraill lle yr ydych yn clywed Cymraeg yn cael ei siarad yn y gymuned. Ond mae'n dal yn weddol gyfyngedig, rwy'n credu, mae'n deg dweud.
Felly, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb clywed sut y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru barhau â'r cynnydd hwnnw, gan gryfhau ymhellach yr iaith nid yn unig yng Nghasnewydd ond mewn ardaloedd tebyg ledled Cymru. Fel y dywedais, maent yn amlwg yn cyflwyno heriau penodol, o ystyried natur leiafrifol yr iaith. Byddai'n wych clywed Cymraeg yn cael ei siarad yn fwy cyffredin, yn fwy aml yn y gymuned yng Nghasnewydd, ac rwy'n credu bod y grwpiau oedolion cyfyngedig hynny'n dangos ei bod hi'n debygol bod angen mwy o gefnogaeth i hyrwyddo defnydd cymdeithasol o'r iaith. Nid yw llawer o'r bobl ifanc hynny sy'n gadael addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg yn defnyddio'r iaith yn y strydoedd, yn y gymuned yng Nghasnewydd, a byddai gennyf ddiddordeb yn eich syniadau o ran sut y gellid datblygu, hybu a chryfhau'r defnydd cymunedol hwnnw.
Diolch yn fawr. Dwi yn meddwl bod—. Dwi'n mynd i siarad yn Gymraeg, John, achos dwi'n ymwybodol bod dy Gymraeg di yn arbennig o dda—dwi'n siŵr bod dim eisiau hynny arnoch chi, ond cawn ni weld—jest i ddweud fy mod i'n hapus iawn gyda faint o frwdfrydedd sydd yn codi nawr yn ardal Casnewydd a thu hwnt o ran y Gymraeg, ac mae'n dda i weld nawr y bydd ysgol newydd yn dod i'r ardal. Mae'r ysgolion sydd yna'n llawn dop yn barod, felly mae yna gyfleoedd i bobl sicrhau bod yna ddigon o bobl yn siarad. A'r pwynt nesaf, wedyn, yw sicrhau eu bod nhw yn ei siarad tu fas i'r ysgol, a dyna ble mae'r—. Mae yna ddwy nod gyda ni: un yw cynyddu'r nifer sy'n gallu, ond yr ail yw bod pobl actually yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg, ac mae'n rhaid inni ddyblu faint sy'n defnyddio'r Gymraeg. Mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod yna gyfleoedd cymdeithasol. Dyna pam rŷn ni'n gwneud pethau fel Dydd Miwsig Cymru. Dwi'n siŵr bod yna bethau sy'n digwydd ar Ddydd Miwsig Cymru yn ardal Casnewydd, a byddai'n grêt pe gallech chi roi gwybod i bobl am y cyfleoedd hynny.
Mae yna gyfleoedd hefyd i ddysgwyr ddod at ei gilydd drwy bethau fel Siarad, sy'n brosiect ychwanegol rŷn ni wedi'i ddechrau gyda'r ganolfan Gymraeg. Felly, dwi yn meddwl bod yn rhaid inni edrych ar beth yw'r cyfleoedd yma i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg unwaith rŷn ni wedi dysgu pobl, ac yn arbennig efallai yr oedolion, pan fyddant yn gallu ei defnyddio, fel nad yw'n iaith artiffisial, fel mae rhai pobl wedi ei gweld.
Un o'r pethau sy'n bwysig i fi yw inni ailgodi'r ymwybyddiaeth yn yr ardal honno. Cwpl o wythnosau yn ôl, es i am dro i ardal Llanthony, sydd jest ar y ffin â Lloegr. Mae gymaint o arwyddion Cymraeg yn yr ardal. Rŷch chi'n anghofio, ar un adeg, roedd yr holl ardal honno yn eithaf Cymreig. Mae'n rhaid inni jest ailgodi'r ymwybyddiaeth yma—mai dyma o ble mae'r bobl yna'n dod.
Thank you very much. I am going to reply in Welsh, because I'm aware that your Welsh is excellent, John—I'm sure that you don't need the headset, but we'll see—just to say that I'm very happy with the enthusiasm that there is in the Newport area and beyond in terms of the Welsh language, and it's wonderful to see that there'll be a new school in that area. The schools that are already there are full to the brim already, so there are opportunities for people to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of people speaking the language. And the next step is to ensure that they do speak Welsh outside of the school. There are two aims here. There's one to increase the number of people who can speak Welsh and then the second is to ensure that they do use the Welsh language. We need to double the number of people who use the Welsh language and we need to ensure that there are social opportunities available. That's why we hold events such as Dydd Miwsig Cymru—Welsh Language Music Day. I'm sure that there are events on that day in the Newport area, and it would be wonderful if you could let people know about those opportunities.
There are also opportunities for learners to come together through things such as the Siarad project, which is an additional project that we have launched with the national centre. So, I do think that it's important that we look at what these opportunities are to use the Welsh language once we've taught people, especially adults, so that they can use the language, so that it's not an artificial language, as some people have perceived it.
One of the things that's important for me is that we raise awareness again in that area. A few weeks ago, I went for a walk to the Llanthony area, which is just on the border with England. There are so many Welsh signs there. You forget that, at one time, the whole area was a Welsh stronghold. We need to raise this awareness again that this is where these people come from.
Gaf innau hefyd ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei datganiad, a chroesawu'r cynnwys, yn naturiol, a pharhau i longyfarch y Gweinidog ar ei huchelgais yn y maes yma, a thra ein bod ni wrthi, gydnabod hefyd waith arloesol Alun Davies pan oedd yn Weinidog—arloesol a phellgyrhaeddol yn y maes yma—i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n anelu am filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg?
Wrth gwrs, fel rŷch chi wedi ei grybwyll eisoes, adennill y tir y byddwn ni. Pan rydym yn sôn am filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg, mi oedd yna, fel rŷch chi'n dweud, filiwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg yng Nghymru rhyw 120 o flynyddoedd yn ôl. Hefyd, fel rŷch chi wedi ei ddweud yn y datganiad, mae'r ffaith bod yr iaith Gymraeg yn dal i fyw a bod, ac yn ffynnu, yn rhyfeddol ynddo'i hun ac yn destun dathliad, o gofio ein hanes o ormes, yn naturiol. Yn naturiol, dim ond un hanes o nifer o hanesion Cymru ydy hynna, ond mae e wedi digwydd serch hynny.
Yn wyneb y realiti bod ieithoedd lleiafrifol dros y byd i gyd yn crebachu ac yn diflannu o wyneb y tir pan mae yna iaith gref iawn ochr yn ochr efo nhw—. Ond, wrth gwrs, mae'r Gymraeg, felly, wedi llwyddo i droi'r gornel yna, ac mae hynna yn destun rhyfeddod a dathlu. Dim ond tair iaith yn unig, allan o dros 7,000 o ieithoedd sydd ar wyneb y ddaear yma, sydd wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny—i droi cornel, i stopio mynd allan a diflannu. Tair iaith yn unig sydd wedi troi'r gornel yna, i stopio diflannu, troi rownd a thyfu. Mae'r Gymraeg yn un o'r tair iaith yna.
Felly, mae yna ewyllys da tuag at yr iaith ym mhobman. Ond, wrth gwrs, yn wastadol, ewyllys da—nid da lle gellir gwell. Nawr, nid yw Cyngor Castell Nedd Port Talbot, er enghraifft, wedi agor yr un ysgol gynradd Gymraeg newydd yn ei hanes, ers sefydlu'r sir yn 1996. Mae hyn mewn sir â chymunedau sydd dal yn naturiol Gymraeg eu hiaith. Dwi'n clodfori beth mae John Griffiths newydd ei ddweud am Gasnewydd, a sefyllfaoedd tebyg, ond, wrth gwrs, mae yna ardaloedd naturiol Gymraeg eu hiaith sydd heb ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg, ac erioed wedi cael y cyfle i anfon eu plant—. Mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw eu hanfon nhw filltiroedd i ffwrdd. Dyna realiti Castell-nedd Port Talbot heddiw, ac mae o'n destun siom.
Mae Cyngor Dinas a Sir Abertawe newydd gau Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Felindre yn y Parsel Mawr—unig ardal naturiol Gymraeg Abertawe, ar lethrau'r ucheldiroedd yng ngogledd y sir. Nawr, gyda 600 o blant yr un mewn ysgolion cynradd cyfagos Cymraeg, fel Pontybrenin, a 600 arall yn Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Lôn Las, a thros 400 yn Nhirdeunaw, sydd ddim yn bell i ffwrdd, roedd lle i gydweithio a rhannu adnoddau, newid dalgylch hyd yn oed, yn lle jest colli'r ysgol yn gyfan gwbl fel adnodd cymunedol i gymuned Gymraeg ei hiaith. A Chomisiynydd y Gymraeg heb y grymoedd i atal gwerthu'r ysgol—gwerthu ysgol Felindre mewn ocsiwn yn Llundain mewn rhyw bythefnos. Rhyfedd o beth.
Trof at un peth arall cyn imi orffen. Mae'r gofyniad ieithyddol yn nhermau gwasgedd ar y Gymraeg, yn naturiol, wrth adeiladu ystadau o dai newydd—mae hynny'n her sylweddol a chynyddol. Dwi ddim yn mynd i olrhain yr holl hanesion, na'r holl heriau, ond a allaf i jest ofyn, pa berswâd ydych chi fel Gweinidog yn ei ddwyn ar adrannau cynllunio llywodraeth leol i gymryd o ddifri gofynion y Gymraeg a'r pwysau ar y Gymraeg, ac o leiaf deall bod angen cael gofyniad am y Gymraeg?
Ac i orffen, a fyddech chi'n cytuno—
I also thank the Minister for her statement, and welcome its content, and continue to congratulate the Minister on her ambition in this area, while also recognising the innovative work of Alun Davies while he was a Minister. His work was far-reaching and innovative in this particular area, in ensuring that we do aim towards a million Welsh speakers.
As you've already mentioned, we will be regaining ground. When we talk about a million Welsh speakers, there were a million Welsh speakers in Wales some 120 years ago. Also, as you mentioned in your statement, the fact that the Welsh language still survives and prospers is incredible in and of itself and deserves to be celebrated, given our history of oppression. That's only one part of Welsh history but it did happen.
In the face of the reality that minority languages across the world are in retreat and are disappearing from the face of the earth when they live alongside a very strong global language—. But, of course, the Welsh language has managed to turn that corner, and that is reason for celebration because only three languages out of 7,000 languages on this earth have managed to turn that corner to stop the decline. Only three languages have turned that corner, to halt the decline and to make a u-turn and to start growing again. And Welsh is one of those three languages.
So, there is goodwill towards the language, but, of course, goodwill isn't always enough. There's always room for improvement. Now, Neath Port Talbot Council, for example, haven't opened a single Welsh-medium primary school in its history, since the county was established in 1996. This is in a county where there are still naturally Welsh-speaking communities. I applaud what John Griffiths has just said about Newport, and similar situations, but there are naturally Welsh-speaking areas that don't have Welsh-medium schools available, and have never had the opportunity to send their children to local schools. They've had to send them many miles away. That's the reality of the situation in Neath Port Talbot today, and that is a huge disappointment.
The City and County of Swansea have just closed the Felindre Welsh-medium primary school in the Parsel Mawr—the only naturally Welsh-speaking area in Swansea, in the uplands of the Swansea valley. Now, with 600 children in the Welsh-medium primary school in Pontybrenin and another 600 in Lôn Las primary school, and another 400 in Tirdeunaw, which isn't too far away, there was scope for collaboration, even changing catchment areas, rather than just closing the school down and seeing it lost as a resource for a Welsh-speaking community. And the Welsh Language Commissioner didn't have the powers to prevent the sale of the school site in an auction in London, and that will happen in around a fortnight's time.
Just one other issue before I conclude: linguistic pressures on the Welsh language will naturally emerge in building large, new housing estates. That is a significant and increasing challenge. I'm not going to take you through all of the stories or all of the challenges, but can I just ask what persuasion you as Minister are bringing to bear on the planning departments of local authorities to take seriously the requirement of the Welsh language, and pressures on the Welsh language, and to at least understand that there needs to be consideration of the Welsh language?
And to close, would you agree—
Roeddwn i'n meddwl dy fod ti wedi gorffen, Dai, fanna. Allet ti ofyn dy gwestiwn olaf, os allet ti?
I thought you had finished, Dai, there. Could you ask your final question, please?
Diolch, Llywydd. Hwn yw'r cwestiwn olaf, byddwch chi'n falch clywed: fyddech chi'n cytuno, Weinidog, bod gochel a hybu ein hardaloedd naturiol Gymraeg yn annatod i lwyddiant y bwriad o gael 1 miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, Llywydd. This is the final question, you'll be pleased to hear: would you agree, Minister, that safeguarding and developing our naturally Welsh-speaking areas is at the heart of the intention of delivering 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050? Thank you.
Diolch, Dai. A gaf i ddweud ei bod hi'n bwysig tanlinellu bod iaith yn marw yn y byd bob yn ail wythnos? Felly, dwi yn gobeithio bod pobl yn gallu edrych arnom ni ac yn gallu dysgu wrthym ni. Ond dwi yn meddwl ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni ddim yn sôn drwy'r amser am y tranc ac am 'Ry'n ni yma o hyd' a phethau. Mae'n rhaid i ni newid yr iaith. Rŷm ni'n dathlu, rŷm ni'n edrych i'r dyfodol. Mae'n rili bwysig ein bod ni'n gwneud yr holl bethau yma yn gadarnhaol, yn edrych i'r dyfodol, nid i'r gorffennol. Sut ydym ni'n mynd i ysbrydoli pobl i ddod at yr iaith os nad ydym ni'n siarad gyda'r math o eirfa yna?
Dwi'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n blês i glywed fy mod i'n mynd i gael sgwrs gyda chyngor Castell-nedd yfory ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa gyda'r iaith Gymraeg, ond hefyd byddaf i yn mynd i ymweld ag ysgol Bro Dur, wrth gwrs, ac mae hon yn ysgol newydd sydd wedi agor yn yr ardal. Wrth gwrs, mae yna le i drafod ymhellach, ond dwi'n meddwl, o ran Abertawe, maen nhw wedi symud yn bell yn y maes yma. Dwi'n gwybod bod Felindre wedi cau, ond dim ond 14 o ddisgyblion oedd yn yr ysgol, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl bod pobl yn deall y byddai'n gwneud mwy o synnwyr. Mae symud ysgol Tan-y-lan i sefyllfa newydd yn golygu bod 420 o lefydd newydd. Mae ysgolion newydd Tirdeunaw a Pontybrenin. Mae'r rheini i gyd yn ysgolion newydd sydd wedi agor yn Abertawe. Felly, dwi yn meddwl bod rhaid i roi clod i Abertawe am y tir maen nhw wedi symud yn y maes yma.
O ran y WESPs, mae gyda ni gynlluniau nawr ar gyfer 10 mlynedd. Mae pob cyngor wedi cael targed o ran beth ddylen nhw fod yn cyrraedd yn ystod y 10 mlynedd nesaf. Felly, mae'r cynllunio yna dros y tymor hirach nawr, gobeithio, mewn lle.
Thank you, Dai. May I say that it is important to underline that languages die in the world every other week? I think it important that people can look to us and can learn from us. But I think it is important that we don't always talk about the death of the language and 'We are still here' and so on. We have to change the way we talk about the language. We need to celebrate, we need to look to the future. It's really important that we take positive steps, looking to the future, rather than the past. How are we going to inspire people to come to the language if we don't speak with that kind of positive vocabulary?
I'm sure that you'll be pleased to hear that I'll be having a conversation with Neath council tomorrow about the situation with regard to the Welsh language, but I'll also be visiting ysgol Bro Dur, and that is a new school that has opened in the area. Of course there is room for further discussion, but I do think, in terms of Swansea, they have moved quite far in this area. I know that Felindre has closed, but there were only 14 pupils at that school, and I thought that everyone understood that it made more sense. Moving ysgol Tan-y-lan to a new location means that 420 new places are available. Tirdeunaw and Pontybrenin are new schools. These are all new schools that have opened in Swansea. So, I think we need to give praise where it's due to Swansea for the journey that they have taken in this area.
In terms of the WESPs, we do have plans now for 10 years. Every council has received a target in terms of what they should be achieving over the next 10 years. So, that planning over the longer term is, hopefully, in place.
Ac yn olaf, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Finally, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd, am dderbyn fy nghais i ofyn cwestiwn neu ddau. Dau gwestiwn ynglŷn ag addysg sydd gen i—addysg ysgolion yn gyntaf. Rydym ni'n sôn am y targed 1 miliwn o siaradwyr erbyn 2050, ac mae'n dda gweld pawb yn gweithio gyda'i gilydd tuag at y nod hwnnw. Mae pawb yn croesawu'r targed. Mi ddylem ni allu ei gyrraedd oherwydd bod rôl ysgolion mor bwysig, ac mae dwy genhedlaeth gyfan o blant ysgol yn mynd i basio trwy ein hysgolion ni rhwng rŵan a 2050.
Ydych chi fel Gweinidog yn cytuno efo fi, yn fy etholaeth i, y dylai pob un plentyn sy'n cael ei fagu yn Ynys Môn gael sicrwydd y bydd o neu hi yn gwbl rugl yn y Gymraeg erbyn gadael addysg? Pa bynnag ysgol y mae'r plentyn yna yn ei mynychu, a p'un ai yw'n mynychu ysgol ar yr ynys neu ar y tir mawr. Achos dydy hi wir ddim yn deg ar blentyn i'w rhoi nhw drwy system addysg sydd ddim yn galluogi iddyn nhw chwarae rhan yn gwbl lawn mewn cymdeithas sydd yn ddwyieithog.
A'r ail gwestiwn, ynglŷn ag addysg i oedolion—yn ategu pwynt a gafodd ei wneud gan Siân Gwenllian. Mae yna 405, fel dwi'n deall, o ddysgwyr a ddysgwragedd yn Ynys Môn ar hyn o bryd yn derbyn addysg Gymraeg i oedolion gan y ganolfan dysgu Cymraeg yn y gogledd orllewin ym Mhrifysgol Bangor. Maen nhw'n bryderus am yr awgrym y gallech chi fod yn ystyried torri, o bosib, £0.5 miliwn oddi ar gyllideb y ganolfan Cymraeg i oedolion yn genedlaethol.
Mae'n hollol iawn, fel rydych chi'n dweud, eich bod chi'n edrych ar sut mae'r arian yn cael ei wario, a sicrhau ei fod o'n cael ei wario yn synhwyrol. Ond mi fyddai torri ryw £0.5 miliwn, os mai dyna ydych chi'n dal yn ystyried, yn golygu, mae'n siŵr, £80,000 oddi ar gyllideb y ganolfan yn y gogledd orllewin, yn cyfateb, mae'n siŵr, i ddwy swydd. A does yna ddim amheuaeth y byddai hynny'n cael effaith uniongyrchol ar gapasiti i ddysgu'r bobl hynny ar draws y gogledd orllewin, a'r rhai dwi'n poeni fwyaf amdanyn nhw—os gwnewch chi faddau i mi—y rhai yn Ynys Môn.
Mewn ardal fel Ynys Môn, lle mae yna lawer o fewnfudo gan bobl sy'n dod i fyw ar yr ynys am resymau cwbl, cwbl ddealladwy, mae'n hanfodol fod cyfleon yn cael eu cynnig ar eu cyfer nhw i ddysgu Cymraeg, i ddeall pwysigrwydd yr iaith mewn cymdeithas ddwyieithog, a bod y capasiti yna wedyn er mwyn rhoi y cyfleon dysgu iddyn nhw. Felly, pa bryd fyddwch chi'n dod i'ch penderfyniad er mwyn, gobeithio, gallu rhoi sicrwydd i'r ganolfan ynglŷn â'r ffordd ymlaen?
Thank you very much, Llywydd, for accepting my request to ask a few questions. I have two questions on education—schools education first of all. Now, we talk about this target of 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050, and it's good to see that everyone is working together towards that target. Everyone welcomes the target. We should be able to reach it because the role of schools is so very important, and there are two whole generations that are going to pass through our schools between now and 2050.
Do you as Minister agree with me that, in my constituency, every child brought up on Anglesey should be given an assurance that he or she will be entirely fluent in Welsh by the time they leave education? Whichever school that child attends, whether it's a school on the island or on the mainland. Because it's truly not fair for any child to go through an education system that doesn't enable them to play their full part in a society that is bilingual.
The second question, on adult education—to echo a point made by Siân Gwenllian. There are 405 learners in Anglesey at the moment receiving Welsh for adults education at the National Centre for Learning Welsh in the north west at Bangor University. They are concerned about the suggestion that you could be considering cutting up to £0.5 million from the budget of the National Centre for Learning Welsh.
It's entirely right, as you say, that you look at how that money is spent, to ensure that it is spent in the best way possible. But cutting some £0.5 million, if you're still considering that, would mean some £80,000 off the budget of the centre in the north west of Wales, which would correspond to around two posts. There's no doubt that that would have a direct impact on the capacity to teach those people across the north west, and those I am most concerned about—if you'll forgive me—those on Anglesey.
In areas such as Anglesey, where there is a great deal of in-migration from people who come to live on the island for entirely understandable reasons, it's crucial that opportunities are provided for them to learn Welsh, to understand the importance of the language in a bilingual community, and that the capacity is in place to provide those learning opportunities for them. So, when will you make a decision in order to, hopefully, give some assurances to the centre on the way forward?
Diolch. O ran addysg, dwi'n meddwl beth sy'n bwysig yw ein bod ni'n trio dwyn perswâd ar rieni i anfon eu plant nhw i ysgolion Cymraeg lle bo hynny'n bosibl. Felly, dyna pam dwi'n meddwl beth sy'n bwysig yw ein bod ni'n dechrau ar y dechrau gydag ysgolion meithrin. Dyna pam bod y £1 miliwn ychwanegol yna a aeth i mewn i agor mwy o ysgolion meithrin mor bwysig.
Wrth gwrs, mae targed gyda sir Fôn, mae targed gyda Gwynedd, o ran ble y dylen nhw fod yn cyrraedd o ran gweld ehangu yn nifer y bobl sy'n siarad Cymraeg yn eu hardaloedd nhw. Felly, mae'n rhaid i hyn, dwi'n meddwl, fod yn rhywbeth rŷn ni'n ei drafod gyda nhw, yn hytrach na rhywbeth rŷn ni'n gofyn iddyn nhw ei wneud heb ein bod ni'n cael y drafodaeth yna. Dyna pam mae'r broses yna'n mynd yn ei blaen ar hyn o bryd. Mae'r drafodaeth yna ar ble y dylai'r WESPs fod yn y tymor hir. Mae 10 mlynedd gyda ni nawr i sicrhau ein bod ni yn y lle iawn. Mae'r cynllunio 10 mlynedd yna, mae'r trafodaethau yna yn mynd yn eu blaen ar hyn o bryd.
O ran y sefyllfa gyda Cymraeg i oedolion, dwi yn meddwl bod lot o arian yn mynd mewn i hyn. Dwi eisiau sicrhau ei fod e'n cael ei wario'n iawn. Dwi hefyd eisiau sicrhau bod yna gyfle i ddysgwyr ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg unwaith eu bod nhw wedi gorffen eu cyrsiau nhw. Felly, os rhywbeth, beth dwi eisiau gwneud yw edrych a ydyn ni gyda'r balans yn y lle cywir i sicrhau bod yna gyfleoedd y tu fas, unwaith maen nhw wedi gorffen dysgu, i sicrhau eu bod nhw yn cael cyfle i'w defnyddio. Dwi heb wneud penderfyniad. Mi fyddaf i'n gwneud penderfyniad yn ystod y mis nesaf, fel eu bod nhw yn cael y sicrwydd yna.
Thank you. In terms of education, I think what's important is that we try to persuade parents to send their children to Welsh-medium schools where that's possible. So, that’s why I think what's important is that we start at the beginning with nursery schools. That's why an additional £1 million went into opening additional nursery schools.
Of course, Anglesey has a target, as does Gwynedd, in terms of where they should be reaching in terms of the expansion in the number of people who speak Welsh in their areas. So, this has to be something that we discuss with them, rather than something that we impose on them, or require them to do without us having that conversation. That's why that process is ongoing at the moment. That conversation is being had about where the WESPs should be in the long term. We have 10 years now to ensure that we are in the right place. That 10-year planning is being done, and that conversation is being had.
In terms of the situation with Welsh for adults, I do think that a great deal of funding goes into this. I want to ensure that it is spent in the right way. I also want to ensure that there is an opportunity for learners to use the Welsh language once they've finished their courses. So, if anything, I want to look at whether we have struck the right balance to ensure that there are opportunities outside, once they finished their learning, to ensure that they have an opportunity to use the Welsh language. I haven't made a decision. I will be making a decision over the coming month, so that they do receive that assurance.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad a'r atebion yna.
Thank you to the Minister for the statement and for answering questions.
Felly, rŷn ni'n cyrraedd yr eitem nesaf, sef y datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog ar Ddiwrnod Cofio'r Holocost. Rwy'n galw ar y Dirprwy Weinidog i wneud ei datganiad—Jane Hutt.
That brings us to our next item, which is a statement by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip on Holocaust Memorial Day. I call on the Deputy Minister to make the statement—Jane Hutt.
Diolch, Llywydd. Yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day 2020, which this year marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The Holocaust is still living memory and we remain hugely grateful to the survivors who travel around the UK sharing their personal experiences of this dark period of history. Yesterday, survivor Dr Martin Stern MBE spoke at the Holocaust Memorial Day event at Cardiff city hall with the First Minister, and at a Welsh Muslim Cultural Foundation event last night, which I also attended with the First Minister. Many Members attended the Holocaust Educational Trust event in the Senedd on 14 January, where survivor Mala Tribich gave her personal account, and Isaac Blake spoke about the experiences of the Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust.
The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2020 is Stand Together or Safwn Gyda'n Gilydd. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has encouraged people to consider what can divide communities. As the trust has stated:
'Now more than ever, we need to stand together with others in our communities in order to stop division and the spread of identity-based hostility in our society.'
The First Minister and I were also honoured to take part in the candle lighting on the eighth night of Hanukkah. We were grateful to Cardiff Reform Synagogue for inviting us to Insole Court in Cardiff to join in with the celebrations. Regrettably, during the festival of Hanukkah, anti-Semitic graffiti was spray painted on a synagogue and several shops in north London. In early January, it was reported that a 13-year-old boy was physically assaulted and subjected to anti-Semitic abuse while travelling on a bus in London. These incidents in the UK have followed a series of anti-Semitic attacks in New York throughout December.
The Welsh Government stands with Jewish communities and against anti-Semitism in Wales and around the world. Following the horrendous attack on the synagogue in Halle, eastern Germany, on 9 October 2019, which resulted in the death of two people, I wrote to rabbis in Wales to remind communities that they have our full support.
Diolch, Llywydd. Ddoe oedd Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost 2020, a oedd eleni yn nodi saith deg pump o flynyddoedd ers rhyddhau carcharorion Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Mae'r Holocost yn dal o fewn cof rhai sy'n fyw ac rydym yn parhau'n hynod ddiolchgar i'r goroeswyr sy'n teithio o amgylch y DU yn rhannu eu profiadau personol o'r cyfnod tywyll hwn o hanes. Ddoe, siaradodd y goroeswr Dr Martin Stern MBE yn nigwyddiad Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost yn Neuadd y Ddinas, Caerdydd gyda'r Prif Weinidog, ac yn nigwyddiad a gynhaliwyd gan y Sefydliad Diwylliannol Mwslimaidd Cymreig neithiwr, ac roeddwn yn bresennol yno hefyd gyda'r Prif Weinidog. Roedd llawer o'r Aelodau'n bresennol yn nigwyddiad Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost yn y Senedd ar 14 Ionawr, lle adroddodd y goroeswr Mala Tribich ei hanes personol, a siaradodd Isaac Blake am brofiadau Roma a Sinti a ddioddefodd yn ystod yr Holocost.
Y thema ar gyfer Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost 2020 yw Safwn Gyda'n Gilydd. Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost wedi annog pobl i ystyried beth all rannu cymunedau. Fel y dywedodd yr Ymddiriedolaeth:
Nawr yn fwy nag erioed, mae angen i ni sefyll ynghyd gydag eraill yn ein cymunedau er mwyn atal ymrannu ac ymledu gelyniaeth sy'n seiliedig ar hunaniaeth yn ein cymdeithas.
Roedd yn anrhydedd i'r Prif Weinidog a minnau hefyd gymryd rhan yn nefod goleuo'r canhwyllau ar wythfed noson Hanukkah. Roeddem yn ddiolchgar i Synagog Ddiwygiedig Caerdydd am ein gwahodd i Insole Court yng Nghaerdydd i ymuno yn y dathliadau. Yn anffodus, yn ystod Gŵyl Hanukkah, cafodd graffiti gwrthsemitaidd ei baentio â chwistrell ar synagog a sawl siop yng Ngogledd Llundain. Ar ddechrau mis Ionawr, adroddwyd bod bachgen 13 oed wedi dioddef ymosodiad corfforol a chamdriniaeth gwrthsemitaidd wrth deithio ar fws yn Llundain. Mae'r digwyddiadau hyn yn y DU yn dilyn cyfres o ymosodiadau gwrthsemitaidd yn Efrog Newydd drwy gydol mis Rhagfyr.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sefyll gyda chymunedau Iddewig ac yn erbyn gwrthsemitiaeth yng Nghymru a ledled y byd. Yn dilyn yr ymosodiad erchyll ar y synagog yn Halle, yn nwyrain yr Almaen, ar 9 Hydref 2019, a arweiniodd at farwolaeth dau o bobl, ysgrifennais at rabïaid yng Nghymru i atgoffa cymunedau ein bod yn llwyr gefnogol iddynt.
In May 2017, the Welsh Government adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism in full and without qualification. We've also provided £40,500 of EU transition funding to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to undertake work in Wales as part of this year's commemorations.
The funding went towards three elements: the 75 memorial flames project, where community groups across the UK created their own pieces of artwork to remember all those who lost their lives during the Holocaust. Nine of these memorial flames were developed by groups in Wales, including entries from HM Prison Cardiff art group, Merthyr Tydfil central library and the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust is planning to bring an exhibition of all of the 75 memorial flames to Cardiff in February, but you can see examples of these memorial flames here in the Senedd until 29 January; the Stand Together website, which generates the name of an individual killed in the Holocaust and encourages website users to share details of this individual on social media to help raise awareness of the individual stories behind the harrowing genocide; and finally, the employment of a support worker to encourage activity in Wales around Holocaust Memorial Day 2020.
It is vital that children and young people understand the reasons behind the Holocaust and the consequences of dehumanising sections of society. The Welsh Government gives £119,000 to the Holocaust Educational Trust to deliver the Lessons from Auschwitz project in Wales. The programme is open to 16 to 18-year-old students in post-16 education, and gives learners the opportunity to hear the testimony of a Holocaust survivor and also take part in a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Students then become Holocaust Educational Trust ambassadors in their own communities, and use their experiences to spread awareness and challenge racism and prejudice.
Further to our work to combat anti-Semitism and commemorate the Holocaust, we have bolstered our existing programmes that prevent hate, promote inclusion of diverse communities, and improve support for victims. We have expanded our support for the national hate crime report and support centre, operated on our behalf by Victim Support Cymru. The centre now has increased capacity to raise awareness of hate crime, develop partnerships with community support organisations, and ensure all victims of hate crime can be offered support.
We've recently developed the hate crime minority communities grant, which is funding eight third-sector organisations to raise awareness of hate crime and how to report it, seek to promote understanding of diversity in communities, and trial innovative approaches to tackling hate crime and support victims. The Hate Crime in Schools project will deliver critical thinking skills training for children in approximately 100 schools across Wales, equipping our young people with the skills to identify hate and misinformation, to enable them to avoid becoming perpetrators in future and challenge negative behaviour where it occurs.
Our equality and inclusion programme supports minority communities to have their voices heard and to challenge inequalities. This activity includes groups who have been affected by persecution and genocide, such as Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, refugees and asylum seekers, and LGBT groups. Later this year, we will launch an anti-hate-crime campaign to try to turn the corner in the spread of divisive rhetoric. We are involving stakeholders to make the campaign as effective as possible.
Tragically, other genocides have followed the Holocaust. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust encourages remembrance of all people killed in genocides, such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. This year is also the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, which will be marked in July at an event at the Senedd.
We have a duty to carry the memory of those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, and remember victims of all backgrounds: Jewish people, Roma people, disabled people, LGBT people, and many other groups who faced unimaginable persecution during this period, and ultimately lost their lives because hate and prejudice had become acceptable. By marking these days of remembrance, we can ensure that these horrendous crimes against humanity are never forgotten and we move the world to a situation where it is never again repeated.
Ym mis Mai 2017, mabwysiadodd Llywodraeth Cymru ddiffiniad Cynghrair Rhyngwladol Cofio'r Holocost o wrthsemitiaeth yn llawn ac yn ddiamod. Rydym ni hefyd wedi darparu £40,500 o arian pontio'r UE i Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost i wneud gwaith yng Nghymru yn rhan o'r digwyddiadau coffáu eleni.
Aeth y cyllid tuag at dair elfen: prosiect fflamau coffa 75, lle roedd grwpiau cymunedol ledled y DU yn creu eu darnau eu hunain o waith celf i gofio am bawb a gollodd eu bywydau yn ystod yr Holocost. Cafodd naw o'r fflamau coffa hyn eu datblygu gan grwpiau yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cynigion gan grŵp celf Carchar EM Caerdydd, llyfrgell ganolog Merthyr Tudful a Chymdeithas Mudiadau Gwirfoddol Wrecsam. Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost yn bwriadu dod ag arddangosfa o bob un o'r 75 o fflamau coffa i Gaerdydd ym mis Chwefror, ond gallwch weld enghreifftiau o'r fflamau coffa yma yn y Senedd tan 29 Ionawr; gwefan Sefyll Gyda'n Gilydd sy'n dangos enw unigolyn a laddwyd yn yr Holocost ac sy'n annog defnyddwyr y wefan i rannu manylion yr unigolyn hwn ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol er mwyn helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o'r straeon unigol y tu ôl i'r hil-laddiad dirdynnol; ac yn olaf, cyflogi gweithiwr cymorth i annog gweithgaredd yng Nghymru ynglŷn â Diwrnod Coffáu'r Holocost 2020.
Mae'n hanfodol bod plant a phobl ifanc yn deall y rhesymau y tu ôl i'r Holocost a chanlyniadau dad-ddyneiddio rhannau o gymdeithas. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi £119,000 i Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost i gyflwyno'r prosiect Gwersi o Auschwitz yng Nghymru. Mae'r rhaglen yn agored i fyfyrwyr 16 i 18 oed sydd mewn addysg ôl-16, ac mae'n rhoi cyfle i fyfyrwyr glywed tystiolaeth goroeswr yr Holocost a hefyd i gymryd rhan mewn ymweliad ag Auschwitz-Birkenau. Yna, daw myfyrwyr yn llysgenhadon Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost yn eu cymunedau eu hunain, a defnyddiant eu profiadau i ledaenu ymwybyddiaeth a herio hiliaeth a rhagfarn.
Yn ychwanegol at ein gwaith i fynd i'r afael â gwrthsemitiaeth a choffáu'r Holocost, rydym wedi atgyfnerthu ein rhaglenni presennol sy'n atal casineb, yn hyrwyddo cynnwys cymunedau amrywiol, ac yn gwella cefnogaeth i ddioddefwyr. Rydym ni wedi ehangu ein cefnogaeth i'r Ganolfan Genedlaethol Adrodd am Droseddau Casineb a Chymorth, y mae Cymorth i Ddioddefwyr Cymru yn ei gweithredu ar ein rhan. Mae gan y ganolfan bellach fwy o allu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o droseddau casineb, datblygu partneriaethau gyda sefydliadau cymorth cymunedol, a sicrhau y gellir cynnig cymorth i bawb sydd wedi dioddef trosedd casineb.
Yn ddiweddar, rydym ni wedi datblygu'r grant cymunedau lleiafrifol i fynd i’r afael â throseddau casineb, sy'n ariannu wyth o sefydliadau'r trydydd sector i godi ymwybyddiaeth o droseddau casineb a sut i roi gwybod amdanynt, ceisio hyrwyddo dealltwriaeth o amrywiaeth mewn cymunedau, ac arbrofi gyda dulliau arloesol o fynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb a chefnogi dioddefwyr. Bydd y prosiect Troseddau Casineb mewn Ysgolion yn darparu hyfforddiant sgiliau meddwl beirniadol i blant mewn tua 100 o ysgolion ledled Cymru, gan arfogi ein pobl ifanc â'r sgiliau i adnabod casineb a chamwybodaeth, i'w galluogi nhw i osgoi cyflawni'r cyfryw droseddau yn y dyfodol a herio ymddygiad negyddol lle mae'n digwydd.
Mae ein rhaglen cydraddoldeb a chynhwysiant yn cefnogi cymunedau lleiafrifol i sicrhau bod eu lleisiau'n cael eu clywed ac yn herio anghydraddoldebau. Mae'r gweithgaredd hwn yn cynnwys grwpiau yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan erledigaeth a hil-laddiad, fel Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr, ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches, a phobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, ddeurywiol a thrawsrywiol. Yn ddiweddarach eleni, byddwn yn lansio ymgyrch yn erbyn troseddau casineb i geisio atal y llif o rethreg gynhennus sy'n cael ei lledaenu. Rydym yn cynnwys rhanddeiliaid er mwyn gwneud yr ymgyrch mor effeithiol â phosib.
Yn drasig, mae achosion eraill o hil-laddiad wedi dilyn yr Holocost. Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost yn ein hannog i gofio'r holl bobl a laddwyd mewn hil-laddiadau, fel yng Nghambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia a Darfur. Mae eleni hefyd yn bum mlynedd ar hugain ers y gyflafan yn Srebrenica, a gaiff ei choffáu ym mis Gorffennaf mewn digwyddiad yn y Senedd.
Mae'n ddyletswydd arnom i gofio'r rhai a gollodd eu bywydau yn ystod yr Holocost, ac i gofio pawb o bob cefndir a ddioddefodd: pobl Iddewig; pobl Roma; pobl anabl; pobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, ddeurywiol a thrawsrywiol, a llawer o grwpiau eraill a wynebodd erledigaeth annirnadwy yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, ac a gollodd eu bywydau yn y pen draw gan fod casineb a rhagfarn wedi dod yn dderbyniol. Drwy nodi'r dyddiau hyn o gofio, gallwn sicrhau nad aiff y troseddau erchyll hyn yn erbyn dynoliaeth byth yn angof a symudwn y byd i sefyllfa lle nad yw'n cael ei ailadrodd byth eto.
Well, you conclude, as you've just concluded, by saying,
'By marking these days of remembrance we can ensure that these horrendous crimes against humanity are never forgotten and we move the world to a situation where it is never again repeated.'
And I fully, 100 per cent, share your sentiments there. Unfortunately, marking the days of remembrance alone won't ensure that, and we all know when we turn on the television at night and watch the news or documentaries, we see peoples' populations being persecuted across the globe because they're perceived to be different to the Government in power or the dominant belief system or religion in the area they live.
So, how do you believe we can more forcefully—at least at a Wales and UK level—lead global understanding and action on this agenda that goes beyond those critical remembrance and commemoration events on specific dates each year and, hopefully, becomes more cultural? Those who lived through the second world war; those who grew up during those years have lived with that memory, but now we have generations, as you know, for whom this appears to be ancient history.
Last Friday, I spoke at the Holocaust Memorial Day event in Wrexham. It was great to see so many people there, particularly young people—young people from the local colleges and some from local schools, who did want to understand, to engage and to ensure that these dreadful things never happen again. As you have indicated, we were commemorating 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau as well as the twenty-fifth anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. It's also, in April, the seventy-fifth anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp by British forces. And this year, we've also got the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Stockholm declaration, which established what's now known as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of 27 January as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the UN General Assembly.
I, like you, attended the event in the Senedd two weeks ago with Mala Tribich and Isaac Blake. How do you feel or respond to the e-mail I've received and I suspect many other Members have today, from the Israel Britain Alliance, which reports a significant rise in the number of antisemitic incidents in the UK, which they say—and I quote—that, sadly, no part of our country, by which they mean the UK, has been immune to the world's oldest hatred?
You say—and we add the Welsh Conservatives to this, and I know everybody in this Chamber—we stand with Jewish communities against antisemitism in Wales and around the world. You talk about it being vital that children and young people understand the reasons and you referred to a programme involving 16 to 18-year-old students. In fact, my children attended Castell Alun High School in Flintshire, and most of them benefited from a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau with their school, and the impression made on them was profound, providing a vital lesson that will remain with them all their lives. They happen to be one of those schools that have recognised how important it is that this is given attention, but there are many others, perhaps, that don't. How can we ensure that this becomes embedded on a more mainstream basis, not just in those schools that are at the forefront of this sort of issue, but those that, perhaps, need to be helped further along the way?
I visited, with Assembly colleagues in 2017, the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, and in the hall of names, we saw engraved on the mosaic floor the names of the 22 most infamous Nazi murder sites, and buried beneath these, we understood and learned, are the ashes of the victims. And as Churchill said, the further back you can look, the further forward you are likely to see because the Nazis understood that it's far easier to unite people against rather than for something and they turned against the minorities within.
German authorities also targeted, as you know, other groups because of their perceived difference—their racial and biological so-called inferiority, including children—Roma and Sinti Gypsies, disabled Germans, LGBT people, and certain Slavic peoples, particularly Poles and Russians. No wartime document produced by the Nazis spells out how many people were actually killed, but the US Holocaust Memorial Museum estimates 6 million and 11 million others, taking that to 17 million, including—conservatively estimated—0.5 million European Roma and Sinti Gypsies. In fact, the community itself identifies as many as 1.5 million.
Again, how would you respond to the e-mail I've received today from Gypsy/Travellers I know living near Conwy, who say, 'We love Jews as God loves them, but we watch the tv, we don't see anything about the Gypsy people exterminated by the Nazis and their allies. Please, people, remember this. Please remember 26 November 1935, when the Nuremburg laws were updated to include the detention of Gypsy people, who were made enemies of the state'? And, of course, they talk about genocide; they call it—let's get this right—the Porajmos, or the genocide. And they said that, 'Just small of bits of persecution, small bits of prejudice left unchallenged can ignite destruction. We pray for our Jewish friends and distant cousins that it never happens again.' And, of course, in 1939, we saw the beginning of the killing of disabled adults and children—Germans experimentally gassed in killing centres in Brandenburg, and thousands of disabled patients killed in gas chambers of shower rooms, creating the model that was then rolled out in the Nazi extermination and concentration camps, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau. Again, conservatively estimated, 0.25 million disabled people, many of those children—Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy and many others—killed in that horrible way.
And, actually, there isn't much—. I don't think you really have to answer; I think we're coming from the same place on this. At the core of all that is how we move from this being an annual event or something that we periodically talk about and embed this across our society and lead globally in so doing, so that future generations don't make the same mistakes that generations today are still making and generations of the past did themselves. Thank you.
Wel, rydych chi'n gorffen, fel rydych chi newydd orffen, drwy ddweud:
Drwy nodi'r dyddiau hyn o gofio, gallwn sicrhau nad aiff y troseddau erchyll hyn yn erbyn dynoliaeth byth yn angof a symudwn y byd i sefyllfa lle nad yw'n cael ei ailadrodd byth eto.
Ac rwy'n ategu'ch teimladau'n llwyr, gant y cant yn hynny o beth. Yn anffodus, ni fydd nodi'r dyddiau cofio ar ei ben ei hun yn sicrhau hynny, a gwyddom i gyd pan fyddwn yn troi'r teledu ymlaen yn y nos ac yn gwylio'r newyddion neu'r rhaglenni dogfen, gwelwn boblogaethau yn cael eu herlid ar draws y byd oherwydd ystyrir eu bod yn wahanol i'r Llywodraeth sydd mewn grym neu'r system gred neu grefydd gryfaf yn yr ardal lle maen nhw'n byw.
Felly, sut ydych chi'n credu y gallwn ni, mewn modd mwy grymus—ar lefel Cymru a'r DU o leiaf—arwain dealltwriaeth fyd-eang a gweithredu ar yr agenda hon sy'n mynd y tu hwnt i'r digwyddiadau cofio a choffáu tyngedfennol hynny ar ddyddiadau penodol bob blwyddyn ac a fydd, gobeithio, yn dod yn fwy diwylliannol? Mae'r rhai a fu'n byw drwy'r ail ryfel byd; y rhai a fagwyd yn ystod y blynyddoedd hynny wedi byw gyda'r atgof hwnnw, ond erbyn hyn mae gennym ni genedlaethau, fel y gwyddoch chi, sy'n gweld hyn fel hen hanes.
Ddydd Gwener diwethaf, siaradais yn nigwyddiad Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost yn Wrecsam. Roedd yn wych gweld cynifer o bobl yno, yn enwedig pobl ifanc—pobl ifanc o'r colegau lleol a rhai o ysgolion lleol, a oedd eisiau deall, ymwneud a sicrhau na fydd y pethau erchyll hyn byth yn digwydd eto. Fel rydych chi wedi dweud, roeddem yn coffáu 75 mlynedd ers rhyddhau Auschwitz-Birkenau yn ogystal â phum mlynedd ar hugain ers yr hil-laddiad yn Bosnia. Hefyd, ym mis Ebrill, fe fydd hi'n 75 mlynedd ers rhyddhau gwersyll crynhoi Bergen-Belsen gan luoedd Prydain. Ac eleni hefyd mae hi'n ugain mlynedd ers mabwysiadu datganiad Stockholm, a sefydlodd yr hyn a adwaenir bellach fel Cynghrair Rhyngwladol Cofio'r Holocost, a phymtheg mlynedd ers mabwysiadu 27 Ionawr fel Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Cofio'r Holocost gan Gynulliad Cyffredinol y Cenhedloedd Unedig.
Bûm i, fel chithau, yn y digwyddiad yn y Senedd bythefnos yn ôl gyda Mala Tribich ac Isaac Blake. Sut ydych chi'n teimlo neu'n ymateb i'r e-bost yr wyf wedi'i gael ac nad wyf yn amau nad yw llawer o Aelodau eraill wedi'i gael heddiw gan yr Israel Britain Alliance, sy'n nodi cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer y digwyddiadau gwrthsemitig yn y DU, a dywedant yn anffodus, nad oes unrhyw ran o'n gwlad, maen nhw'n cyfeirio at y DU wrth ddweud hynny, wedi bod yn ddiogel rhag casineb hynaf y byd?
Rydych chi'n dweud—ac rydym yn ychwanegu'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig at hyn, a phawb yn y Siambr hon, rwy'n gwybod—rydym yn sefyll gyda chymunedau Iddewig yn erbyn gwrthsemitiaeth yng Nghymru a ledled y byd. Rydych chi'n sôn am y ffaith ei bod hi'n hanfodol bod plant a phobl ifanc yn deall y rhesymau ac fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at raglen a oedd yn cynnwys myfyrwyr 16 i 18 oed. Yn wir, aeth fy mhlant i Ysgol Uwchradd Castell Alun yn Sir y Fflint, a manteisiodd y rhan fwyaf ohonynt ar ymweliad ag Auschwitz-Birkenau gyda'u hysgol, ac roedd yr argraff a wnaed arnynt yn aruthrol, gan roi gwers hanfodol a fydd yn aros gyda nhw ar hyd eu hoes. Maen nhw'n digwydd bod yn un o'r ysgolion hynny sydd wedi cydnabod pa mor bwysig yw hi i roi sylw i hyn, ond mae llawer o rai eraill, efallai, nad ydynt yn rhoi'r sylw hwnnw. Sut gallwn ni sicrhau bod hyn yn ymwreiddio i'r brif ffrwd, nid yn unig yn yr ysgolion hynny sydd ar flaen y gad yn hyn o beth, ond y rhai y mae angen, efallai, eu helpu ymhellach ar hyd y ffordd?
Ymwelais, gyda chydweithwyr yn y Cynulliad yn 2017, â Yad Vashem, Canolfan Ryngwladol Cofio'r Holocost, ac yn neuadd yr enwau, gwelsom wedi eu llingerfio ar y llawr mosäig, enwau 22 o'r safleoedd llofruddio Natsïaidd mwyaf ffiaidd, ac wedi eu claddu o dan y rhain, fel y gwnaethom ni ddeall a dysgu, mae lludw'r dioddefwyr. Ac fel y dywedodd Churchill, po bellaf yn ôl y gallwch chi edrych, y pellaf ymlaen yr ydych chi'n debygol o weld oherwydd bod y Natsïaid yn deall ei bod hi'n llawer haws uno pobl yn erbyn rhywbeth yn hytrach nag o blaid rhywbeth, ac fe droesant yn erbyn y lleiafrifoedd yn eu plith.
Targedodd awdurdodau'r Almaen hefyd, fel y gwyddoch chi, grwpiau eraill oherwydd eu gwahaniaeth canfyddedig—eu hisraddoldeb hiliol a biolegol fel y'i hystyriwyd, gan gynnwys plant—Sipsiwn Roma a Sinti; Almaenwyr anabl; pobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, deurywiol a thrawsrywiol; a rhai pobloedd Slafig, yn enwedig Pwyliaid a Rwsiaid. Ni cheir unrhyw ddogfen o adeg y rhyfel a luniwyd gan y Natsïaid yn nodi faint o bobl a laddwyd mewn gwirionedd, ond mae Amgueddfa Coffáu'r Holocost yr UD yn amcangyfrif 6 miliwn ac 11 miliwn o rai eraill, sy'n 17 miliwn, gan gynnwys—ar amcangyfrif ceidwadol—0.5 miliwn o Sipsiwn Roma a Sinti Ewropeaidd. Yn wir, mae'r gymuned ei hun yn nodi cynifer â 1.5 miliwn.
Unwaith eto, sut byddech chi'n ymateb i'r e-bost a gefais heddiw gan Sipsiwn/Teithwyr sydd fel rwy'n gwybod yn byw ger Conwy, sy'n dweud, 'Rydym yn caru Iddewon fel y mae Duw yn eu caru, ond wrth wylio'r teledu, ni welwn ni unrhyw beth am Sipsiwn yn cael eu lladd gan y Natsïaid a'u cynghreiriaid. Os gwelwch yn dda, bobl, cofiwch hyn. Cofiwch 26 Tachwedd 1935, pan ddiweddarwyd cyfreithiau Nuremburg i gynnwys cadw Sipsiwn, a gafodd eu gwneud yn elynion y wladwriaeth?' Ac, wrth gwrs, maen nhw'n sôn am hil-laddiad; maen nhw'n ei alw—gadewch i ni gael hyn yn iawn—yn Porajmos, neu'r hil-laddiad. Ac maen nhw'n dweud, 'Gall dim ond ychydig o erledigaeth, mymryn o ragfarn na chaiff ei herio gynnau dinistr. Gweddïwn dros ein cefndryd pell a'n cyfeillion Iddewig na fydd hyn byth yn digwydd eto.' Ac, wrth gwrs, yn 1939, dechreuwyd lladd oedolion a phlant anabl—cafodd Almaenwyr eu gwenwyno â nwy yn rhan o arbrofion mewn canolfannau lladd yn Brandenburg, a lladdwyd miloedd o gleifion anabl mewn siambrau nwy neu ystafelloedd cawod, gan greu'r model a gafodd ei gyflwyno wedyn yng ngwersylloedd crynhoi a gwersylloedd lladd y Natsïaid megis Auschwitz-Birkenau. Unwaith eto, yn ôl amcangyfrif ceidwadol, cafodd 250,000 o bobl anabl, llawer ohonynt yn blant—syndrom Down, parlys yr ymennydd a llawer mwy—eu lladd yn y ffordd ofnadwy honno.
Ac, mewn gwirionedd, nid oes llawer—. Nid wyf yn credu bod yn rhaid i chi ateb mewn gwirionedd; rwy'n credu ein bod yn gytûn ynghylch hyn. Wrth wraidd hynny i gyd mae'r cwestiwn sut yr ydym yn newid hyn o fod yn ddigwyddiad blynyddol neu rywbeth yr ydym yn sôn amdano o bryd i'w gilydd, a'i wreiddio drwy ein cymdeithas ac arwain yn fyd-eang wrth wneud hynny, fel na fydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn gwneud yr un camgymeriadau ag y mae cenedlaethau heddiw yn dal i'w gwneud ac fel y gwnaeth cenedlaethau'r gorffennol eu hunain. Diolch.
Well, thank you very much, Mark Isherwood, and thank you for all of the points, the questions, that you've made this afternoon. Again, we must repeat: the Holocaust must never be forgotten, and it cannot be just on Holocaust Memorial Day. It's important that this permeates our policy and the way in which I respond to your questions hopefully will demonstrate.
Never again to be repeated—that's part of education. That was a very, very strong message from survivor Dr Martin Stern yesterday, that this is about education. And we need to ensure that that is not just through some very excellent projects that we are funding through the Holocaust Educational Trust, but actually taking this further—and we follow on from a very important statement this afternoon by the education Minister—where we look at the curriculum, we look at the purposes. One of the four purposes in our new curriculum in Wales from 2022 is for all children and young people to develop as ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world, knowledgeable about their culture, communities and society, respecting the needs and rights of others as members of a diverse society. Of course, we see that in our schools, and we see the benefits of that, but this is a very strong tenet of the new curriculum.
It is important that we do fund that Holocaust Educational Trust and we encourage more schools to engage. It will be running in February, and we know that young people—and I'm sure that you saw this in the Wrexham event—want to engage, and they become powerful ambassadors and it will change their lives. And we've heard of other programmes that we will look at, I'm sure, later on. But I think that it is about how we then ensure that this is across the curriculum and in all our schools. I think you raise a very important point about Gypsy/Roma/Travellers and I would like to respond to the message you had from your friends in Conwy, from the Gypsies and Travellers, in terms of their experience. Of course, we heard from Issac Blake at the event in the Senedd recently, and if I can then put again on record today that we must remember that the Nazi genocide included a large number of Gypsy and Roma victims and their suffering mustn't be forgotten. It's very clearly part of today's statement and our response across this Chamber, I'm sure. Negative public discourse in relation to these members of our communities—John Griffiths mentioned this earlier on, and I'm glad that they can feed back to us as Assembly Members in terms of these adverse experiences or feelings that they haven't been acknowledged or heard. It's imperative that we do stand together—the message of Holocaust Memorial Day—against such racism and intolerance.
But I think the fact that we are awarding considerable sums of finance—£529,500 to the Travelling Ahead project at TGP Cymru—is important because that's about delivering advice and advocacy support to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. That's about making a positive impact on people's lives through supporting community members, but also on the aspects of their lives that are very important in terms of accessing equality of opportunity, training, education and influencing decision making. So, that is a very important part of my response today.
But in terms of how we tackle antisemitism, we stand, the Welsh Government, with the Jewish community in Wales and across the world. We consider antisemitic attacks to be an attack on Welsh values of inclusion, freedom and respect. So, that's why working with faith communities is so important to promote those shared values and understanding in Wales. We will work to ensure that Wales continues to be a country where antisemitism and all forms of hate have no place.
Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn ichi, Mark Isherwood, a diolch ichi am yr holl sylwadau a wnaethoch chi a'r cwestiynau yr ydych chi wedi eu holi y prynhawn yma. Unwaith eto, rhaid inni ailadrodd: ni ddylid byth anghofio'r Holocost, ac nid ar Ddiwrnod Cofio'r Holocost yn unig y mae cofio. Mae'n bwysig bod hyn yn treiddio drwy ein polisi a bydd y ffordd y byddaf yn ymateb i'ch cwestiynau gobeithio yn dangos hynny.
Byth eto i'w ailadrodd—mae hynny'n rhan o addysg. Roedd honno'n neges gref iawn gan y goroeswr Dr Martin Stern ddoe, sef bod a wnelo hyn ag addysg. Ac mae angen inni sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd, nid yn unig drwy rai prosiectau rhagorol iawn yr ydym yn eu hariannu drwy Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost, ond mewn gwirionedd drwy fynd â hyn ymhellach—ac rydym yn dilyn datganiad pwysig iawn y prynhawn yma gan y Gweinidog Addysg—pan fyddwn yn edrych ar y cwricwlwm, byddwn yn edrych ar y dibenion. Un o'r pedwar diben yn ein cwricwlwm newydd yng Nghymru o 2022 yw bod pob plentyn a pherson ifanc yn datblygu'n ddinasyddion egwyddorol, gwybodus o Gymru a'r byd, yn wybodus am eu diwylliant, eu cymunedau a'u cymdeithas, gan barchu anghenion a hawliau pobl eraill yn aelodau o gymdeithas amrywiol. Wrth gwrs, gwelwn hynny yn ein hysgolion, ac rydym yn gweld manteision hynny, ond mae hyn yn egwyddor gref iawn yn y cwricwlwm newydd.
Mae'n bwysig ein bod yn ariannu Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost ac yn annog mwy o ysgolion i ymwneud â hyn. Bydd yn cael ei gynnal ym mis Chwefror, a gwyddom fod pobl ifanc—ac rwy'n siŵr y gwelsoch chi hyn yn nigwyddiad Wrecsam—eisiau ymwneud, a dônt yn llysgenhadon grymus a bydd yn newid eu bywydau. Ac rydym ni wedi clywed am raglenni eraill y byddwn yn edrych arnynt, rwy'n siŵr, yn nes ymlaen. Ond rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â sut rydym ni'n sicrhau y caiff hyn ei ystyried drwy'r cwricwlwm i gyd ac ym mhob un o'n hysgolion. Rwy'n credu eich bod yn gwneud sylw pwysig iawn ynghylch Sipsiwn/Roma/Teithwyr a hoffwn ymateb i'r neges a gawsoch chi gan eich cyfeillion yng Nghonwy, gan y Sipsiwn a'r Teithwyr, o ran eu profiad. Wrth gwrs, clywsom gan Issac Blake yn y digwyddiad yn y Senedd yn ddiweddar, ac os gallaf ddweud ar goedd eto heddiw bod yn rhaid inni gofio i nifer fawr o Sipsiwn a Roma ddioddef yn hil-laddiad y Natsïaid ac ni ddylid anghofio eu dioddefaint. Yn amlwg mae'n rhan o'r datganiad heddiw a'n hymateb o bob rhan Siambr hon, rwy'n siŵr. Sgwrsio cyhoeddus negyddol yng nghyswllt yr aelodau hyn o'n cymunedau—soniodd John Griffiths am hyn yn gynharach, ac rwy'n falch y gallan nhw roi gwybod i ni, Aelodau'r Cynulliad, am y profiadau neu deimladau anffafriol hyn nad ydyn nhw wedi cael cydnabyddiaeth na sylw. Mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn sefyll gyda'n gilydd—neges Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost—yn erbyn hiliaeth ac anoddefgarwch o'r fath.
Ond rwy'n credu bod y ffaith ein bod yn dyfarnu symiau sylweddol o gyllid—£529,500 i brosiect Teithio Ymlaen TGP Cymru—yn bwysig gan fod hynny'n ymwneud â darparu cyngor a chymorth eiriolaeth i gymunedau Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr. Mae hynny'n ymwneud â chael effaith gadarnhaol ar fywydau pobl drwy gefnogi aelodau o'r gymuned, ond hefyd ynghylch yr agweddau ar eu bywydau sy'n bwysig iawn o ran cael cyfle cyfartal, hyfforddiant, addysg a dylanwadu ar y broses o wneud penderfyniadau. Felly, mae hynny'n rhan bwysig iawn o'm hymateb heddiw.
Ond o ran sut rydym ni'n mynd i'r afael â gwrthsemitiaeth, rydym yn sefyll, Llywodraeth Cymru, gyda'r gymuned Iddewig yng Nghymru ac ar draws y byd. Rydym yn ystyried ymosodiadau gwrthsemitaidd yn ymosodiad ar y gwerthoedd Cymreig o gynhwysiant, rhyddid a pharch. Felly, dyna pam mae gweithio gyda chymunedau ffydd mor bwysig i hyrwyddo'r gwerthoedd hynny a'r ddealltwriaeth honno yr ydym ni'n eu rhannu yng Nghymru. Byddwn yn gweithio i sicrhau bod Cymru yn parhau i fod yn wlad lle nad yw gwrthsemitiaeth a phob math o gasineb yn bodoli.
I thank the Deputy Minister for her statement. It's so important that we use Holocaust Memorial Day to remember those who lost their lives, the Jewish people, the Roma people, disabled people, LGBT people—anyone who didn't fit the twisted Nazi ideal. This date of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau has to be marked every year to remember, as you've said, and to learn from one of the greatest inhumanities ever seen on the face of this earth.
Deputy Minister, I'd echo your words in praising the Holocaust Educational Trust and the crucially important work they do in teaching young people about these horrors and the outreach work they do with survivors. A number of years ago I met Zigi Shipper, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau. His story and his zest for life were, at one and the same time, life-affirming and heartbreaking. Heartbreaking because of how aware we all were in that room of all the stories that couldn't be told because those children didn't survive to live them. Zigi is now 90 years old—I think he's just had his birthday. As survivors of the Holocaust grow older, the time will soon come when no-one is left living who lived through the horrors of that time.
The Holocaust didn't happen overnight. It started slowly with a gradual erosion of rights and a narrative set-up of us versus them—the other. Of course, amongst the horrors there were stories of hope, like Sir Nicholas Winton's kindertransport, a scheme that ensured that children who might otherwise have died in the Holocaust were brought to the UK. The Government of the time could have done more, but thank God that that initiative born out of human kindness and compassion saved the lives that it did.
I'm sure the Deputy Minister will share my concern that the current UK Government recently refused to accept an amendment in Westminster that would have obliged the UK to continue to allow lone children within the EU to apply for legal family reunion here. I accept that this is not directly to do with the Holocaust. I would not draw a comparison and say that that is the same as the Holocaust, but we have never regretted moments of kindness in our past, let's continue this proud tradition. That's all I'm saying with that point.
So, on that, could I ask what assessment would the Welsh Government make of the impact of the kindertransport scheme in Wales still today? And what conversations is the Welsh Government having with the UK Government to plead with them to ensure that in the future migrant children will be allowed to seek refuge here?
Deputy Minister, moreover, the statement mentions a number of projects in schools aimed at tackling prejudice, which I welcome. But would the Welsh Government reflect on calls for teaching about the Holocaust to be made a compulsory element of the new curriculum? It's something that's come up a few times in the Chamber today. There's a Primo Levi poem that expresses why we should do this far more eloquently than I could. He says:
'Meditate that this came about: / I commend these words to you. / Carve them in your hearts / …Repeat them to your children, / Or may your house fall apart, / … May your children turn their faces from you.'
It's relevant, I think, to note that Primo Levi died in 1987 and the coroner ruled his death as a suicide. His biographers attribute the depression that gripped him later in life to the traumatic memories of his experiences. The Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said at the time:
'Primo Levi died at Auschwitz forty years later.'
Events like the Holocaust aren't just frozen in time. Their catastrophic effects linger and ripple down the generations. Deputy Minister, do you agree that we owe it to the children of the Holocaust, the Primo Levis, the Zigi Shippers of this world, and to future generations, to ensure that these events are never allowed to fade into the mist of time, that they can never be allowed to become remote, a horror story that happened to a different people in another time, when things were different?
Hugo Rifkind has a blog he published in 2015 where he points out that
'It happened here, in Europe. In lands of cellos, and neckties, and bicycles. '
It was not remote then, it is not remote from us now. We owe it to them, surely, to avoid that old adage, that terrible prospect, that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei datganiad. Mae hi mor bwysig ein bod yn defnyddio Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost i gofio am y rhai a gollodd eu bywydau, y bobl Iddewig, pobl Roma, pobl anabl, pobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, ddeurywiol a thrawsrywiol—unrhyw un nad oedd yn gweddu i ddelfryd y Natsïaid. Mae'n rhaid nodi'r dyddiad hwn o ryddhau Auschwitz-Birkenau bob blwyddyn i gofio, fel yr ydych chi wedi dweud, ac er mwyn dysgu oddi wrth un o'r enghreifftiau mwyaf o annynoldeb a welwyd erioed ar wyneb y ddaear hon.
Dirprwy Weinidog, rwy'n adleisio eich geiriau yn canmol Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost a'r gwaith hollbwysig y maen nhw'n ei wneud i addysgu pobl ifanc am yr erchyllterau hyn a'r gwaith allgymorth y maen nhw'n ei wneud gyda goroeswyr. Nifer o flynyddoedd yn ôl, cyfarfûm â Zigi Shipper, goroeswr o Auschwitz-Birkenau. Roedd ei stori a'i awch am fywyd, ar yr un pryd, yn bywiocáu ac yn dorcalonnus. Torcalonnus oherwydd mor ymwybodol yr oeddem ni i gyd yn yr ystafell honno o'r holl straeon na ellid eu hadrodd gan nad oedd y plant hynny wedi goroesi i'w byw nhw. Mae Zigi bellach yn 90 oed—rwy'n credu ei fod newydd gael ei ben-blwydd. Wrth i oroeswyr yr Holocost heneiddio, daw'r amser cyn hir pan na fydd neb yn dal yn fyw a aeth drwy erchyllterau'r cyfnod hwnnw.
Ni ddigwyddodd yr Holocost dros nos. Dechreuodd yn araf gydag erydiad graddol o hawliau a phedlera naratif, ni yn eu herbyn nhw—y lleill. Wrth gwrs, ymhlith yr erchyllterau roedd straeon o obaith, megis Kindertransport Syr Nicholas Winton, cynllun a sicrhaodd fod plant a allai fel arall fod wedi marw yn yr Holocost yn cael eu cludo i'r DU. Gallai Llywodraeth y cyfnod fod wedi gwneud mwy, ond diolch i Dduw fod y fenter honno a anwyd o garedigrwydd dynol a thosturi wedi achub y bywydau hynny.
Rwy'n siŵr bod y Dirprwy Weinidog yn rhannu fy mhryder bod Llywodraeth bresennol y DU wedi gwrthod derbyn gwelliant yn San Steffan yn ddiweddar a fyddai wedi gorfodi'r DU i barhau i ganiatáu i blant ar eu pen eu hunain o fewn yr UE i wneud cais am aduniad teuluol cyfreithiol yma. Rwy'n derbyn nad yw hyn yn ymwneud yn uniongyrchol â'r Holocost. Ni fyddwn yn cymharu, a dweud bod hynny yr un fath â'r Holocost, ond nid ydym erioed wedi bod yn edifar am eiliadau o garedigrwydd yn ein gorffennol, gadewch i ni barhau â'r traddodiad balch hwn. Dyna'r cyfan rwy'n ei ddweud ynghylch hynny.
Felly, ar hynny, a gaf i ofyn pa asesiad y byddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud o effaith y cynllun 'Kindertransport ' yng Nghymru heddiw? A pha sgyrsiau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU i erfyn arnyn nhw i sicrhau y bydd plant mudol, yn y dyfodol, yn cael ceisio lloches yma?
Dirprwy Weinidog, hefyd, mae'r datganiad yn sôn am nifer o brosiectau mewn ysgolion sydd â'r nod o fynd i'r afael â rhagfarn, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny. Ond a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried galwadau i ddysgu am yr Holocost fod yn elfen orfodol o'r cwricwlwm newydd? Mae'n rhywbeth a grybwyllwyd ambell waith yn y Siambr heddiw. Mae yna gerdd gan Primo Levi sy'n mynegi'n llawer mwy huawdl nag y gallwn i, pam y dylem ni wneud hyn. Dywed:
'Meditate that this came about: / I commend these words to you. / Carve them in your hearts / …Repeat them to your children, / Or may your house fall apart, / … May your children turn their faces from you.'
Mae'n berthnasol, rwy'n credu, dweud y bu farw Primo Levi ym 1987 a dyfarnodd y crwner mai hunanladdiad oedd ei farwolaeth. Mae ei fywgraffwyr yn priodoli'r iselder a bwysodd yn drwm arno yn ddiweddarach mewn bywyd i'r atgofion trawmatig o'i brofiadau. Dywedodd yr enillydd gwobr Nobel a goroeswr yr Holocost, Elie Wiesel ar y pryd:
Bu farw Primo Levi yn Auschwitz 40 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach.
Nid yw digwyddiadau fel yr Holocost yn cael eu rhewi mewn amser. Mae eu heffeithiau trychinebus yn parhau ac yn ymdonni drwy'r cenedlaethau. Dirprwy Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno bod arnom ni ddyled i blant yr Holocost, Primo Leviau, Zigi Shipperau'r byd hwn, ac i genedlaethau'r dyfodol, i sicrhau na chaniateir byth i'r digwyddiadau hyn bylu yn niwl amser; na chânt fyth gilio i'r pellter, stori arswyd a ddigwyddodd i bobl wahanol mewn adeg wahanol, pan oedd pethau'n wahanol?
Mae gan Hugo Rifkind flog a gyhoeddodd yn 2015 lle mae'n dweud:
Digwyddodd yma, yn Ewrop. Yn nhiroedd soddgrythau, teis a beiciau.
Nid oedd yn bell bryd hynny, nid yw'n bell oddi wrthym nawr. O ran dyled iddyn nhw, siawns, mae'n rhaid i ni osgoi'r hen ddywediad hwnnw, y posibilrwydd ofnadwy hwnnw, fod y rhai sy'n anghofio hanes wedi eu tynghedu i'w ailadrodd.
Thank you, Delyth Jewell. I'm pleased you focused on lessons learnt and how that can influence, going back to Mark Isherwood's point, the whole of our working, the whole of our policy making and delivery. And particularly, I think, it was good that we had a statement on the new curriculum this afternoon, to see that there are opportunities, because I know that all the schools that do engage, and most schools—I think there'll be very few schools that won't now engage in national Holocaust Memorial Day—will have learnt and will have taken this forward, and it will become not just an annual feature, but a feature of the curriculum, of their living and learning, to create that society that we know is right for their opportunity, their values and their ethics.
I think it's very important to see, in terms of the opportunities with the flames that you'll see around the country, and I hope you will see them in the Senedd today, that, actually, there's also a Lessons from Auschwitz course being run by the Holocaust Educational Trust, and we're enabling schools and teachers to benefit from that. And one of the schools that actually did benefit from our funding this year was Woodlands High School in Cardiff, which also was able to produce and be recognised for the sharing of the flame.
It was interesting last night hearing from Dr Martin Stern about the gradual build-up of the Nazi movement and the influence of Adolf Hitler in Germany—Germany, his country that he loved and had to leave. He actually survived the Holocaust as a very young boy, and we've all heard of the stories over the last two days, but he's determined that his story should be shared with the youngest of children in our society.
I think importantly yesterday, also, the First Minister said:
'Today is a painful day and I thank Dr Stern for using his touching story to remind us all about the power of tolerance…We must stand together. We must celebrate our differences. And we must believe there is more that unites us than drives us apart. It's the only way to make sure these sorry events stay exactly where they belong—in the history books.'
Julie Morgan, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, and I did write to the Home Secretary about the importance of ensuring that we have got an opportunity to support family reunification for child refugees. And, in fact, I acknowledged Lord Alf Dubs, when we had our event on the fourteenth, when we were painting messages on stones, and I think many people had a message to thank him for what he's done for child refugees since he was a child refugee. And I know that we will be writing to find out how the UK Government is proposing to support family reunification for child refugees, which is what they have said. So, we will be taking that up following our statement last week.
Finally, I would have to say that this is an opportunity for us in this Assembly to unite across the Chamber, to stand, making sure that we respond to the standing together message of the national Holocaust movement, and the importance of Holocaust Memorial Day.
Diolch, Delyth Jewell. Rwy'n falch eich bod wedi canolbwyntio ar y gwersi a ddysgwyd a sut y gall hynny ddylanwadu, gan fynd yn ôl at sylw Mark Isherwood, ar y cyfan o'n gwaith, ein holl waith o lunio a gweithredu polisïau. Ac yn arbennig, rwy'n credu, roedd hi'n dda y cawsom ni ddatganiad ar y cwricwlwm newydd y prynhawn yma, i weld bod cyfleoedd, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod y bydd yr holl ysgolion a fydd yn ymwneud â hyn, a'r rhan fwyaf o ysgolion—rwy'n credu mai ychydig iawn o ysgolion na fyddant bellach yn cymryd rhan yn Niwrnod Cenedlaethol Cofio'r Holocost—wedi dysgu a mynd â hyn yn ei flaen, ac ni fydd yn nodwedd flynyddol yn unig, ond yn nodwedd o'r cwricwlwm, o'u byw a'u dysgu, i greu'r gymdeithas honno y gwyddom ei bod yn iawn ar gyfer eu cyfleoedd, eu gwerthoedd a'u moeseg.
Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn gweld, o ran y cyfleoedd gyda'r fflamau y byddwch yn eu gweld o gwmpas y wlad, a gobeithio y byddwch yn eu gweld yn y Senedd heddiw, mewn gwirionedd, bod Ymddiriedolaeth Addysg yr Holocost hefyd yn cynnal cwrs Gwersi o Auschwitz, ac rydym ni'n galluogi ysgolion ac athrawon i elwa ar hwnnw. Ac un o'r ysgolion a wnaeth elwa ar ein cyllid eleni oedd ysgol uwchradd Woodlands yng Nghaerdydd, a oedd hefyd yn gallu cynhyrchu a chael ei chydnabod am rannu'r fflam.
Roedd yn ddiddorol neithiwr clywed gan Dr Martin Stern am gynnydd graddol y mudiad Natsïaidd a dylanwad Adolf Hitler yn yr Almaen—yr Almaen, ei wlad yr oedd yn ei charu ac y bu'n rhaid iddo ei gadael. Mewn gwirionedd goroesodd yr Holocost yn fachgen ifanc iawn, ac rydym i gyd wedi clywed am y straeon dros y deuddydd diwethaf, ond mae'n benderfynol y dylid rhannu ei stori gyda'r ieuengaf o blant yn ein cymdeithas.
Rwy'n credu, yn bwysig ddoe hefyd, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog:
Mae heddiw'n ddiwrnod poenus a diolch i Dr Stern am ddefnyddio ei stori deimladwy i'n hatgoffa ni i gyd am rym goddefgarwch ... Mae'n rhaid inni sefyll gyda'n gilydd. Mae'n rhaid inni ddathlu ein gwahaniaethau. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni gredu bod mwy sy'n ein huno nag sy'n ein gwahanu. Dyma'r unig ffordd i sicrhau bod y digwyddiadau truenus hyn yn aros yn union yn y lle y maen nhw'n perthyn—yn y llyfrau hanes.
Ysgrifennodd Julie Morgan - y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithaso, a minnau at yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref am bwysigrwydd sicrhau bod gennym ni gyfle i gefnogi ailuno ffoaduriaid sy'n blant gyda'u teuluoedd. Ac, mewn gwirionedd, fe wnes i gydnabod yr Arglwydd Alf Dubs, pan gawsom ein digwyddiad ar y pedwerydd ar ddeg, pan oeddem yn paentio negeseuon ar gerrig, a chredaf fod gan lawer o bobl neges i ddiolch iddo am yr hyn y mae wedi'i wneud i ffoaduriaid sy'n blant oherwydd bu yntau yn ffoadur ei hun yn blentyn. Ac rwy'n gwybod y byddwn ni yn ysgrifennu i ganfod sut y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu cefnogi ailuno ffoaduriaid sy'n blant gyda'u teuluoedd, sef yr hyn y maen nhw wedi'i ddweud. Felly, byddwn yn mynd ar drywydd hynny yn dilyn ein datganiad yr wythnos diwethaf.
Yn olaf, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud bod hwn yn gyfle i ni yn y Cynulliad hwn i uno ym mhob rhan o'r Siambr, i sefyll, gan sicrhau ein bod yn ymateb i neges sefyll gyda'n gilydd mudiad cenedlaethol yr Holocost, a phwysigrwydd Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost.
Whilst I accept that protocol dictates I question the Deputy Minister on her statement today, I feel the content and the completeness of the statement leaves little to criticise or add to. I also feel that making some political gain out of the occasion or the actions outlined in the statement would be totally inappropriate.
I would therefore like to simply say that, having attended the Holocaust Educational Trust event in the Senedd on the fourteenth of this month, I was completely and utterly moved by the courage of Mala Tribich in giving her testimony, especially when she described the moment she and her young cousin entered the infamous camp of Belsen. To feel I was in the presence of someone whose eyes had actually gazed on the horrors of that camp brought home to me as nothing had previously the sheer brutality of those times. We must never forget that these appalling crimes were carried out by a supposedly civilised nation. The events that occurred in Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur, and much closer to home in Bosnia, especially at Srebrenica, remind us of the constant potential for man's inhumanity to man.
Just one point I wish to raise with regard to this report, Deputy Minister, and that is many were murdered by the Nazis simply because they were disabled. I know that Mark has raised this point as well. It should be noted here that most hate crime is aimed at those who are disabled in some way. If we are to teach people about intolerance to their fellow beings, this aspect of being victimised because you are different should also be emphasised in any project aimed at eliminating prejudice.
Er fy mod yn derbyn bod protocol yn mynnu fy mod yn holi'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei datganiad heddiw, teimlaf nad oes lle i feirniadu nac i ychwanegu o ran cynnwys a chyflawnder y datganiad. Teimlaf hefyd y byddai gwneud rhywfaint o enillion gwleidyddol o'r achlysur neu'r camau a amlinellwyd yn y datganiad yn gwbl amhriodol.
Hoffwn ddweud felly, ar ôl bod yn bresennol yn nigwyddiad Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost yn y Senedd ar y pedwerydd ar ddeg o'r mis hwn, cefais fy nghyffwrdd yn llwyr ac yn gyfan gwbl gan ddewrder Mala Tribich wrth iddi roi ei thystiolaeth, yn enwedig pan ddisgrifiodd y foment pan aeth hi a'i chefnder ifanc i wersyll enwog Belsen. Roedd teimlo fy mod ym mhresenoldeb rhywun yr oedd ei llygaid wedi syllu ar erchyllterau'r gwersyll hwnnw wedi fy ngwneud yn fwy ymwybodol nag erioed o'r blaen o greulondeb llwyr y cyfnod hwnnw. Na foed inni byth ag anghofio bod y troseddau erchyll hyn wedi'u cyflawni gan genedl a oedd i fod yn genedl wâr. Mae'r digwyddiadau a ddigwyddodd yn Cambodia, Rwanda a Darfur, ac yn llawer agosach at adref yn Bosnia, yn enwedig yn Srebrenica, yn ein hatgoffa o bosibilrwydd cyson annynoldeb dyn tuag at ei gyd-ddyn.
Mae un sylw yn unig yr hoffwn ei wneud ynghylch yr adroddiad hwn, Dirprwy Weinidog, a hynny yw bod llawer wedi'u llofruddio gan y Natsïaid dim ond am eu bod yn anabl. Rwy'n gwybod fod Mark wedi crybwyll hyn hefyd. Dylid dweud yn y fan yma fod y rhan fwyaf o droseddau casineb wedi'u hanelu at y rhai sy'n anabl mewn rhyw ffordd. Os ydym ni am addysgu pobl am oddefgarwch at eu cyd-ddyn, dylai'r agwedd hon o gael eich erlid oherwydd eich bod yn wahanol hefyd gael ei phwysleisio mewn unrhyw brosiect sydd â'r nod o ddileu rhagfarn.
I thank David Rowlands very much for that contribution this afternoon. I think this does demonstrate that we can come together in this Chamber and I hope that this will also—. In terms of your final comments in terms of tackling hate crime, we've talked about this earlier on—Mark Isherwood raised the issue of hate crime that disabled people face—but we know that race hate crime is also an important feature of those statistics, and we have got to work together to face this and to overcome it. So, I hope we will have a positive response to the hate crime debate that I shall be leading in Government time in due course.
Diolch yn fawr i David Rowlands am y cyfraniad yna y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn dangos y gallwn ni ddod at ein gilydd yn y Siambr hon a gobeithio y bydd hyn hefyd—. O ran eich sylwadau olaf ynghylch mynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb, rydym ni wedi siarad am hyn yn gynharach—cododd Mark Isherwood fater ynghylch troseddau casineb y mae pobl anabl yn ei hwynebu—ond gwyddom fod troseddau casineb ar sail hil hefyd yn nodwedd bwysig ar yr ystadegau hynny, ac mae'n rhaid inni weithio gyda'n gilydd i wynebu hyn a'i oresgyn. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio y cawn ni ymateb cadarnhaol i'r ddadl ar droseddau casineb y byddaf yn ei harwain yn amser y Llywodraeth maes o law.
The BBC was at its best last night with a really powerful dramatisation of the story of The Windermere Children and the work of Leonard Montefiore in fighting bureaucracy to get these children to come from war-torn liberated concentration camps. It also captured, if you like, the bigotry that still existed at that time in this country, and still exists today. It was a no-holds-barred dramatisation of the story of those young people. Then, it went on subsequently, later, to interview those children as they are today in their 80s. And so it was the most extraordinary experience to be able to really understand exactly what they'd been through.
So, I think that we have to remember that there was huge resistance by the UK Government both to bringing in people in kindertransport before the war, and so many of those children died in the concentration camps, but also to bringing in any of these children at all. It was only down to the persistence of this visionary man that he managed to negotiate with both the UK Government and with the Red Cross to persuade them to allow these people to come to the Lake District to have some sort of rehabilitation before they had to reintegrate with normal life.
It was great to see Mala Tribich, who was undoubtedly the star of the show at our event here in the Senedd on 14 January, but she was also the central character in Westminster Central Hall, because it was her story that was mentioned by the Prime Minister; it was her who briefed him on what he had to say. I think one of the things that was most heartening about the event yesterday in City Hall was to hear Dr Martin Stern being so clear that it isn't about just this one historic event, but all the 50 other Holocausts that have happened since then; all the genocides that have happened since then. I just wanted to also say that I think the stand together initiative of this year's Holocaust memorial is really important, because it has started to tell the story of all the other people who were murdered by the Nazis so that—. On my chair was the name of somebody called Ewald Förster who was murdered by the Nazis for being a gay person, and also Sophie Blaschke, murdered by the Nazis for being a disabled person.
But equally, I wanted to come back to what was mentioned by Mark Isherwood, which was also the destruction and murder of the Roma and Sinti, which was spoken about by Isaac Blake. He embraced the memorial stone project that was also brought to the Senedd two weeks ago, and organised for schools to take part in that creative project so that they could be part of the permanent memorial in Westminster. He told me yesterday that several schools had turned down the opportunity to allow their pupils to make a memorial stone on the grounds that they didn't have any Gypsies or Travellers amongst their pupils, as if this was something that only affected certain types of people, which is quite extraordinary.
But I just wanted to come back to the way in which we have neglected, up until now, the horror that was suffered by Roma and Sinti by the Nazis. Because it's worth noting that the Jewish people were given reparations by Germany for their Holocaust crimes, but at Nuremberg, nobody ever discussed any reparations for the Roma and Sinti community or anybody else, as far as I'm aware. And I think one of the most important things that I learnt from the event here at the Senedd was that, whilst we know—and I think everybody in this Chamber knows that 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis—we do not know how many Roma and Sinti were murdered by the Nazis, even though they were absolutely religious note takers of everything they did. We know that there was a large number, but we have no idea how many. Most estimates put it between 220,000 and 500,000, but some scholars put it as high as 1.5 million. And I just wondered whether there was anything that the Welsh Government could do to support the research required to tie down exactly how many Roma and Sinti were murdered by the Nazis because I think it's an important part of recording the pain and suffering that was suffered by people who mainly had no literacy, and therefore didn't record things in the way that most Jewish people did. So, I just wondered whether there was anything that could be done to rectify that, to help support some further research into trying to have a much more granular idea of just how many other people, other than Jews, were murdered by the Nazis.
Roedd y BBC ar ei orau neithiwr gyda dramateiddiad gwirioneddol rymus o stori The Windermere Children a gwaith Leonard Montefiore yn brwydro yn erbyn biwrocratiaeth i gael y plant hyn i ddod o wersylloedd crynhoi a gawsant eu rhyddhau ar ôl dioddef erchyllterau rhyfel. Tynnodd sylw pobl hefyd, os mynnwch chi, at y rhagfarn a fodolai o hyd yr adeg honno yn y wlad hon, ac sy'n dal i fodoli heddiw. Roedd yn ddramateiddiad diflewyn-ar-dafod o stori'r bobl ifanc hynny. Yna, aeth ymlaen, yn ddiweddarach, i gyfweld y plant hynny fel y maen nhw heddiw, yn eu 80au. Ac felly, roedd yn brofiad anhygoel i gael deall yn union yr hyn a ddioddefodd y rhain.
Felly, credaf fod yn rhaid inni gofio bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwrthwynebu'n chwyrn dod â phobl draw drwy gyfrwng y kindertransport cyn y rhyfel, ac felly bu farw llawer o'r plant hynny yn y gwersylloedd crynhoi, ond hefyd roeddent yn gwrthwynebu dod ag unrhyw un o'r plant hyn yma o gwbl. Dim ond oherwydd dyfalbarhad y gŵr hwn â'i weledigaeth y llwyddodd i negodi gyda Llywodraeth y DU a chyda'r Groes Goch i'w perswadio i adael i'r bobl hyn ddod i Ardal y Llynnoedd i brofi rhyw fath o adferiad cyn iddynt orfod ailintegreiddio i fywyd arferol.
Roedd yn wych gweld Mala Tribich, seren y sioe yn ddi-os yn ein digwyddiad ni yma yn y Senedd ar 14 Ionawr, ond hi hefyd oedd y cymeriad canolog yn Neuadd Ganolog San Steffan, oherwydd ei stori hi a grybwyllwyd gan Brif Weinidog y DU; hi roddodd ef ar ben ffordd ynglŷn â beth i'w ddweud. Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau mwyaf calonogol am y digwyddiad ddoe yn Neuadd y Ddinas oedd clywed Dr Martin Stern yn dweud mor eglur nad yw'n ymwneud â'r un digwyddiad hanesyddol hwn yn unig, ond ynghylch y 50 o'r holocostau eraill sydd wedi digwydd ers hynny; yr holl hil-laddiadau sydd wedi digwydd ers hynny. Roeddwn i eisiau dweud hefyd fy mod i'n credu bod menter 'Sefyll Gyda'n Gilydd' wrth gofio'r Holocost eleni yn bwysig iawn, gan ei bod wedi dechrau adrodd hanes yr holl bobl eraill a lofruddiwyd gan y Natsïaid fel bod—. Ar fy nghadair roedd enw rhywun a elwid yn Ewald Förster a lofruddiwyd gan y Natsïaid am fod yn hoyw, a hefyd Sophie Blaschke a lofruddiwyd gan y Natsïaid am fod yn anabl.
Ond yn yr un modd, roeddwn eisiau dychwelyd at yr hyn a grybwyllwyd gan Mark Isherwood, sef hefyd, dinistrio a llofruddio y Roma a'r Sinti, a grybwyllwyd gan Isaac Blake. Croesawodd y prosiect cerrig coffa a ddaeth hefyd i'r Senedd bythefnos yn ôl, a threfnwyd i ysgolion gymryd rhan yn y prosiect creadigol hwnnw fel y gallent fod yn rhan o'r gofeb barhaol yn San Steffan. Dywedodd wrthyf ddoe fod nifer o ysgolion wedi gwrthod y cyfle i ganiatáu i'w disgyblion wneud carreg goffa ar y sail nad oedd ganddyn nhw unrhyw Sipsiwn na Theithwyr ymhlith eu disgyblion, fel pe bai hyn yn rhywbeth oedd dim ond yn effeithio ar fathau arbennig o bobl, sy'n eithaf rhyfeddol.
Ond roeddwn eisiau dychwelyd at y ffordd yr ydym ni wedi esgeuluso, hyd yn hyn, yr arswyd a ddioddefodd y Roma a'r Sinti dan y Natsïaid. Oherwydd mae hi'n werth nodi bod y bobl Iddewig wedi cael iawndal gan yr Almaen am eu troseddau Holocost, ond yn Nuremberg, ni thrafodwyd unrhyw iawndal ar gyfer y gymuned Roma a Sinti na neb arall, hyd y gwn i. Ac rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau pwysicaf a ddysgais o'r digwyddiad yma yn y Senedd oedd, er ein bod yn gwybod—ac rwy'n credu bod pawb yn y Siambr hon yn gwybod y cafodd 6 miliwn o Iddewon eu llofruddio gan y Natsïaid—nid ydym yn gwybod faint o Roma a Sinti a lofruddiwyd gan y Natsïaid, er eu bod yn dra gofalus wrth gofnodi popeth a wnaethent. Rydym yn gwybod bod y nifer yn fawr, ond nid oes gennym ni unrhyw syniad pa mor fawr. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o amcangyfrifon yn nodi rhwng 220,000 a 500,000, ond mae rhai ysgolheigion yn dweud ei fod cymaint â 1.5 miliwn. Tybed a oes unrhyw beth y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i gefnogi'r ymchwil sydd ei hangen i gadarnhau'n union faint o Roma a Sinti a lofruddiwyd gan y Natsïaid oherwydd rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhan bwysig o gofnodi'r boen a'r dioddefaint a dioddefodd pobl oedd yn bennaf yn anllythrennog, ac na fu iddyn nhw felly gofnodi pethau yn y ffordd y gwnaeth y rhan fwyaf o bobl Iddewig. Felly, tybed a oes unrhyw beth y gellid ei wneud i gywiro hynny, i helpu i gefnogi rhagor o ymchwil i geisio cael syniad llawer mwy manwl o faint o bobl eraill, ar wahân i Iddewon, a lofruddiwyd gan y Natsïaid.
Thank you very much, Jenny Rathbone, and thank you for drawing attention to the many other broadcasts and events that took place yesterday. I think you would be interested to know that Dr Martin Stern is making visits all week—he's 80 and he walked over to the Friends Meeting House last night and he gave a speech for an hour without a note. He was remarkable. Today he's speaking to 280 pupils from year 9 at Fitzalan High School; he's going to Eastern High School, he's speaking to students, he's going to meet the school council; he's speaking to 130 sixth-formers and staff from Cardiff and central south Wales; he's going to Swansea; he's going all over Wales in south Wales—all of your constituencies, you will find that he's going to be there. He's been to north Wales, he tells me, several times. But it is quite remarkable, the influence of survivors. He's a retired doctor, and he just says, 'This is what I do', and he spoke last night about the fact that he could not speak about it, he could not do this, until he had retired. And many other survivors have been in this place, and I thank you for mentioning Mala Tribich and what she did.
Now, I just want to finally say, in response to your two points, yes, it's important that Stand Together actually reflects what we're trying to do in terms of strengthening equality and inclusion and human rights in Wales, and we must recognise that in terms of LGBT people and what we're doing to tackle hate crime, exclusion and discrimination. And I will follow up with Issac Blake. We fund, support, as I've said, organisations that support Gypsies and Travellers, but also the Romani arts community that Issac supports. Because he influences schools across Wales, from Newport, from Pill, to Carmarthen, to Pembrokeshire, and the children, who aren't—obviously, these are not all diverse schools, but they are schools that are learning about this, and we will look at how we can extend our knowledge, as that will be important for the students and the children, who will benefit.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Jenny Rathbone, a diolch ichi am dynnu sylw at y darllediadau a'r digwyddiadau niferus eraill a gynhaliwyd ddoe. Rwy'n credu y byddai gennych chi ddiddordeb gwybod bod Dr Martin Stern yn gwneud ymweliadau drwy'r wythnos—mae'n 80 a cherddodd draw i Dŷ Cwrdd y Crynwyr neithiwr a rhoddodd araith am awr heb unrhyw bapurau o'i flaen. Roedd yn rhyfeddol. Heddiw mae'n siarad â 280 o ddisgyblion o flwyddyn 9 yn Ysgol Uwchradd Fitzalan; mae'n mynd i Ysgol Uwchradd y Dwyrain, mae'n siarad â myfyrwyr, mae'n mynd i gwrdd â chyngor yr ysgol; mae'n siarad â 130 o ddisgyblion chweched dosbarth a staff o Gaerdydd a chanol de Cymru; mae'n mynd i Abertawe; mae'n mynd ar hyd a lled Cymru, yn y de—eich holl etholaethau, fe welwch y bydd yno. Mae wedi bod i'r gogledd, dywed wrthyf, sawl gwaith. Ond mae'n eithaf rhyfeddol, dylanwad goroeswyr. Mae'n feddyg wedi ymddeol, ac mae'n dweud, 'Dyma'r hyn rwy'n ei wneud', a siaradodd neithiwr am y ffaith na allai siarad amdano, ni allai wneud hyn, nes yr oedd wedi ymddeol. Ac mae llawer o oroeswyr eraill wedi bod yn y sefyllfa hon, a diolch i chi am grybwyll Mala Tribich a'r hyn a wnaeth.
Nawr, rwyf eisiau dweud yn olaf, mewn ymateb i'ch dau sylw, ydy, mae'n bwysig bod Sefyll Gyda'n Gilydd mewn gwirionedd yn adlewyrchu'r hyn yr ydym yn ceisio ei wneud o ran cryfhau cydraddoldeb a chynhwysiant a hawliau dynol yng Nghymru, a rhaid inni gydnabod hynny o ran pobl lesbiaidd, hoyw, ddeurywiol a thrawsrywiol a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb, eithrio a gwahaniaethu. Ac fe af ar drywydd hyn gydag Issac Blake. Rydym yn ariannu, yn cefnogi, fel y dywedais, sefydliadau sy'n cefnogi Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, ond hefyd cymuned gelfyddydau y Romani y mae Issac yn ei chefnogi. Gan ei fod yn dylanwadu ar ysgolion ar draws Cymru, o Gasnewydd, o Billgwenlli, i Gaerfyrddin, i Sir Benfro, a'r plant, nad ydynt—yn amlwg, nid yw'r rhain i gyd yn ysgolion amrywiol, ond ysgolion sy'n dysgu am hyn, a byddwn yn edrych ar sut y gallwn ni ehangu ein gwybodaeth, gan y bydd hynny'n bwysig i'r myfyrwyr a'r plant, a fydd yn elwa.
I want to be able to call two further contributions, so if contributors can be reasonably succinct, and the Minister in responding as well. Suzy Davies.
Rwyf eisiau gallu galw dau gyfraniad arall, felly os gall cyfranwyr fod yn weddol gryno, a'r Gweinidog wrth ymateb hefyd. Suzy Davies.
Thank you very much, Llywydd, for this opportunity. Deputy Minister, can I say 'thank you' for your earlier answers, and for the contributions today? You were right: I did go and visit Auschwitz-Birkenau this time last week. I don't propose to talk about that in particular, except from one particular angle, which we've touched on a little bit already, and that is the necessity for our younger people to go there. It's 75 years since the liberation, as we know. Time has passed. The generations before the young people we have today—my generation, at least, born less than 20 years after the second world war—weren't told about the horrors of the Holocaust, and, in fact, as we heard from Norma Glass, a member of the Jewish community in Swansea, who was at the Pentrehafod event earlier this week—this is an older lady—she wasn't told about the events either, because people couldn't bring themselves to talk about it. That's why I too am pleased with the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust, and, of course, the willingness of survivors to talk to us.
On the back of my exhortation to get as many young people to go to Auschwitz as soon as possible, I think we have to recognise that, because time has passed, we now have stories coming forward of individuals—and I stress it is individuals—thinking it's entirely appropriate, after having seen some of the awful exhibits, and having seen the ovens where people like them burned people like them, that they can stand in front of the death wall, where people like them were shot by people like them, taking selfies and making—. Ridiculous, fun-filled activities, and I wonder: do they see themselves as antisemitic when they're doing that? Because that's what I wanted to ask you about. Part of this Stand Together exhortation is about action, rather than just words, and as part of the visit I did last week—. Obviously, we had a conference alongside it, hosted by the European Jewish Association, which is the biggest association of Jewish organisations across Europe, within the EU and beyond it, and, at the conference, we heard from Ministers of state from across all the European countries that I can think of, and we were all invited to consider further legislation in our countries—and this where action rather than just words comes into what I'm about to say—to combat antisemitism.
We don't have the competence for all these, and I'll go through them as quickly as possible, but the first one was to ask whether states were prepared to penalise organisations or individuals who engage in antisemitic stereotyping in the public domain. It was suggested to us that the national education bodies of all our countries appoint a special representative mandated to liaise with designated Jewish community representatives with expertise in the field of education to ensure that teaching resources are accurate, that the Holocaust is seen as the bigger picture of the Jewish nation and the Jewish story, and the contribution of Jews to public life can be adequately recognised—particularly important in Wales, where the Jewish population is small, and, as Jenny alluded to, education research on the Holocaust more widely, as far as I can tell, anyway, is not as developed as it is in Scotland and England. I recommend Dr Andy Pearce's paper on the Holocaust and the national curriculum of England after 25 years. Neither of these proposals prevents similar steps being taken to combat other type of racial or religious discrimination, of course.
Then, thirdly, they called for an outright ban on the trade of Nazi memorabilia for personal profit or macabre interest, excluding legitimate historians and institutions, of course. It was a highlight of the event for me to meet Abdallah Chatila, the Lebanese Christian who spent €600,000 of his own money to take a number of Hitler's personal possessions off the market, and they're now on their way to Yad Vashem. We don't have the competence for all of this, but if standing together does mean action rather than words, I wonder if you would be prepared to make representations to the UK Government—I'm sorry the Dubs amendment has come up in this context; I don't think that was appropriate—but also think about what we can do here with the powers that we do have, whether that's through policy or through legislation. Thank you. Diolch, Llywydd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd, am y cyfle hwn. Dirprwy Weinidog, a gaf i ddweud 'diolch' am eich atebion cynharach, ac am y cyfraniadau heddiw? Roeddech yn iawn: fe wnes i fynd i ymweld ag Auschwitz-Birkenau yr adeg yma yr wythnos diwethaf. Nid wyf yn bwriadu siarad am hynny'n benodol, ac eithrio un elfen benodol, yr ydym ni wedi'i chrybwyll eisoes, a dyna'r rheidrwydd i'n pobl iau fynd yno. Mae'n 75 mlynedd ers iddo gael ei ryddhau, fel y gwyddom ni. Mae amser wedi mynd heibio. Ni chafodd y cenedlaethau a ddaeth o flaen y bobl ifanc sydd gennym ni heddiw—fy nghenhedlaeth i o leiaf, a aned lai nag 20 mlynedd ar ôl yr ail ryfel byd—eu hysbysu am erchyllterau'r Holocost ac, yn wir, fel y clywsom ni gan Norma Glass, aelod o'r gymuned Iddewig yn Abertawe, a oedd yn nigwyddiad Pentrehafod yn gynharach yr wythnos hon—menyw hŷn yw hon—ni chafodd wybod am y digwyddiadau ychwaith, oherwydd ni allai pobl ddarbwyllo eu hunain i siarad am y peth. Dyna pam yr wyf innau hefyd yn falch o waith Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost, ac, wrth gwrs, parodrwydd goroeswyr i siarad â ni.
Yn ogystal â'm hanogaeth i gael cynifer o bobl ifanc i fynd i Auschwitz cyn gynted â phosib, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni gydnabod, oherwydd bod amser wedi mynd heibio, ein bod ni bellach yn cael straeon am unigolion—a phwysleisiaf mai unigolion ydyn nhw—sy'n meddwl ei bod yn hollol briodol, ar ôl gweld rhai o'r arddangosion erchyll, ac ar ôl gweld y ffyrnau lle bu pobl fel nhw'n llosgi pobl fel nhw, eu bod nhw'n gallu sefyll o flaen y wal farwolaeth, lle cafodd pobl fel nhw eu saethu gan bobl fel nhw, i dynnu hun-luniau a gwneud—. Gweithgareddau llawn hwyl hurt, a tybed: a ydyn nhw'n gweld eu hunain yn wrthsemitaidd pan fyddan nhw'n gwneud hynny? Oherwydd dyna'r hyn yr oeddwn am eich holi yn ei gylch. Mae rhan o'r anogiad Sefyll Gyda'n Gilydd hwn yn ymwneud â gweithredoedd yn hytrach na geiriau yn unig, ac fel rhan o'm hymweliad yr wythnos diwethaf—. Yn amlwg, cawsom gynhadledd ochr yn ochr â'r ymweliad, a gynhaliwyd gan Gymdeithas Iddewig Ewrop, sef y gymdeithas fwyaf o sefydliadau Iddewig ledled Ewrop, yn yr UE a thu hwnt, ac yn y gynhadledd, clywsom gan Weinidogion gwladol o'r holl wledydd Ewropeaidd y gallaf feddwl amdanynt, a gwahoddwyd pob un ohonom ni i ystyried deddfwriaeth bellach yn ein gwledydd—a dyma lle mae gweithredu yn hytrach na dim ond geiriau yn rhan o'r hyn yr wyf ar fin ei ddweud—i fynd i'r afael â gwrthsemitiaeth.
Nid oes gennym y cymhwysedd ar gyfer pob un o'r rhain, a byddaf yn mynd drwyddynt cyn gynted â phosib, ond yr un cyntaf oedd gofyn a oedd gwladwriaethau yn barod i gosbi sefydliadau neu unigolion sy'n ymwneud â stereoteipio gwrthsemitaidd yn gyhoeddus. Awgrymwyd i ni y dylai cyrff addysg cenedlaethol ein holl wledydd benodi cynrychiolydd arbennig gyda'r cyfrifoldeb o gysylltu â chynrychiolwyr cymunedau Iddewig dynodedig sydd ag arbenigedd ym maes addysg i sicrhau bod adnoddau addysgu yn gywir, bod yr Holocost yn cael ei weld fel darlun mwy o'r genedl Iddewig a hanes yr Iddewon, ac y gellir cydnabod yn ddigonol gyfraniad Iddewon i fywyd cyhoeddus—sy'n arbennig o bwysig yng Nghymru, lle mae'r boblogaeth Iddewig yn fach, ac, fel y crybwyllwyd gan Jenny, nid yw ymchwil addysg ehangach i'r Holocost, hyd y gallaf ddweud, beth bynnag, wedi datblygu cymaint ag y mae yn yr Alban a Lloegr. Rwy'n argymell papur Dr Andy Pearce ar yr Holocost a chwricwlwm cenedlaethol Lloegr ar ôl 25 mlynedd. Nid yw unrhyw un o'r cynigion hyn yn rhwystro gweithredu tebyg i fynd i'r afael â mathau eraill o wahaniaethu hiliol neu grefyddol, wrth gwrs.
Yna, yn drydydd, fe alwon nhw am waharddiad llwyr ar fasnach gofiannau'r Natsïaid am elw personol neu oherwydd diddordeb dychrynllyd, gan eithrio haneswyr a sefydliadau cyfreithlon, wrth gwrs. Uchafbwynt y digwyddiad i mi oedd cwrdd ag Abdallah Chatila, y Cristion o Libanus a wariodd €600,000 o'i arian ei hun i gymryd nifer o eiddo personol Hitler oddi ar y farchnad, ac maen nhw nawr ar eu ffordd i Yad Vashem. Nid oes gennym y cymhwysedd ar gyfer hyn i gyd, ond os yw Sefyll Gyda'n Gilydd yn golygu gweithredu yn hytrach na geiriau, tybed a fyddech yn barod i gyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU—mae'n ddrwg gennyf fod gwelliant Dubs wedi codi yn y cyd-destun hwn; nid wyf yn credu bod hynny'n briodol—ond i feddwl hefyd am yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud yma gyda'r pwerau sydd gennym ni, boed hynny drwy bolisi neu drwy ddeddfwriaeth. Diolch, Llywydd.
Thank you very much, Suzy Davies, and thank you for sharing with us what you gained and learned from your visit not only to Auschwitz-Birkenau but also to the conference for the European Jewish Association. I'd like you—you've given us some of the recommendations; I'd like you to write to me and send them to me. But as you say, you've come back from that conference, immediately got a question in to me, which was very good, this afternoon, and I've welcomed that in my oral questions.
But it is about action rather than words. I also recognise that there are ways in which we are working together across the whole of Wales. You mentioned Norma Glass, for example; I met with her and the First Minister in the summer, and last Saturday attended the starting of the opening of the BAME cultural and digital hub in Swansea at the Grand Theatre, where of course there were Jewish, Muslim—all faiths, all communities there represented.
But just very quickly, just to say in terms of what Welsh Government is already doing to deliver our commitment to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism—we've arranged training on antisemitism for Welsh Government officials, and we've also offered that to external stakeholders, including a focus on the IHRA definition of antisemitism. We've organised Holocaust survivors with Welsh connections to give talks, we're working with the Holocaust Educational Trust, and, of course, I've talked about our clear co-ordinated action in terms of tackling hate crime. But also, just to say that we have the hate crime criminal justice board, which has had a full discussion on antisemitic hate crime, and working with Victim Support Cymru in terms of ensuring we have a recording system to flag antisemitic hate crimes and incidents. So, I think it would be useful for me to respond to your letter to highlight what already we are seeking to do.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Suzy Davies, a diolch i chi am rannu â ni yr hyn a gawsoch chi ac a ddysgoch chi o'ch ymweliad nid yn unig ag Auschwitz-Birkenau ond hefyd yn y gynhadledd ar gyfer y Gymdeithas Iddewig Ewropeaidd. Hoffwn i chi—rydych chi wedi rhoi rhai o'r argymhellion i ni; hoffwn i chi ysgrifennu ataf a'u hanfon ataf. Ond fel y dywedwch chi, rydych chi wedi dychwelyd o'r gynhadledd honno, wedi gofyn cwestiwn i mi ar unwaith, a oedd yn beth da iawn, y prynhawn yma, ac rwyf wedi croesawu hynny yn fy nghwestiynau llafar.
Ond mae a wnelo hyd â gweithredu yn hytrach na geiriau. Rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod bod ffyrdd lle rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd ar draws Cymru gyfan. Roeddech chi'n sôn am Norma Glass, er enghraifft; fe wnes i gyfarfod â hi a'r Prif Weinidog yn yr haf, a dydd Sadwrn diwethaf yn bresennol ar ddechrau agoriad canolfan ddiwylliannol a digidol y gymuned pobl dduon ac Asiaidd a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yn Abertawe yn Theatr y Grand, lle roedd wrth gwrs Iddewon, Mwslimiaid—pob ffydd, pob cymuned yno yn cael eu cynrychioli.
Ond yn gyflym iawn, dim ond i ddweud o ran yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes yn ei wneud i gyflawni ein hymrwymiad i ddiffiniad Cynghrair Rhyngwladol Cofio'r Holocost o wrthsemitiaeth—rydym ni wedi trefnu hyfforddiant ar wrthsemitiaeth ar gyfer swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru, ac rydym ni hefyd wedi cynnig hynny i randdeiliaid allanol, gan gynnwys pwyslais ar ddiffiniad y Cynghrair o wrthsemitiaeth. Rydym ni wedi trefnu i oroeswyr yr Holocost sydd â chysylltiadau Cymreig i roi sgyrsiau, rydym yn gweithio gydag Ymddiriedolaeth Addysgol yr Holocost, ac, wrth gwrs, rwyf wedi siarad am ein camau gweithredu cydgysylltiedig clir o ran mynd i'r afael â throseddau casineb. Ond hefyd, dim ond i ddweud fod gennym fwrdd cyfiawnder troseddol Cymru ar gyfer troseddau casineb, sydd wedi cael trafodaeth lawn ar droseddau casineb gwrthsemitaidd, ac yn gweithio gyda Cymorth i Ddioddefwyr Cymru i sicrhau bod gennym ni system gofnodi i dynnu sylw at droseddau casineb a digwyddiadau gwrthsemitaidd. Felly, rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol i mi ymateb i'ch llythyr er mwyn tynnu sylw at yr hyn yr ydym ni eisoes yn ceisio ei wneud.
Now more than ever we should remind ourselves that, if left unopposed, all forms of hatred and dehumanising the Other will undermine democratic values and human rights, and will feed violent extremism. We cannot afford to live in societies where people fear for their safety and suffer discrimination and a denial of rights on a daily basis, for no other reason than their identity and convictions. State authorities, public personalities, the media and all of us must condemn and confront antisemitic, xenophobic acts and other attempts to vilify the Other. Political leaders have the duty to prevent intolerance and hate speech from entering mainstream politics, to help current and future generations understand what happens when prejudice and hatred are allowed to thrive. We must become more vocal, visible and effective against those who instil hate.
Remembrance days are important to pause and reflect, but the fight against hate is a challenge that must be met every day, not once a year. As the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, we must take up their torch and help keep their memory alive. Their tragic destiny must remain visible and guide us towards a more just and inclusive society, free from hate. Does the Deputy Minister agree with this statement released this week to mark the Holocaust commemorations by the Council of Europe, and does she agree that this is a timely reminder of how we are, regardless of formal ties or not, ultimately stronger together as partners and friends in Europe, united by values of tolerance and understanding, and in our remembering the painful lessons of the recent past, to prevent our repeating of them in the future?
Nawr yn fwy nag erioed dylem atgoffa ein hunain y bydd pob math o gasineb a dad-ddynoli'r Llall, o'u gadael yn ddiwrthwynebiad, yn tanseilio gwerthoedd democrataidd a hawliau dynol, a byddant yn bwydo eithafiaeth dreisgar. Ni allwn ni fforddio byw mewn cymdeithasau lle mae pobl yn poeni am eu diogelwch ac yn dioddef gwahaniaethu a lle gwedir eu hawliau iddynt bob dydd, am ddim rheswm arall heblaw eu hunaniaeth a'u hargyhoeddiadau. Rhaid i awdurdodau'r wladwriaeth, personoliaethau cyhoeddus, y cyfryngau a phob un ohonom ni gondemnio a mynd i'r afael â gweithredoedd gwrthsemitaidd, senoffobig ac ymdrechion eraill i ddifrïo Llall. Mae gan arweinwyr gwleidyddol y ddyletswydd i atal anoddefgarwch a chaseiriau rhag dod yn rhan o wleidyddiaeth prif ffrwd, i helpu cenedlaethau'r presennol a'r dyfodol i ddeall beth sy'n digwydd pan ganiateir i ragfarn a chasineb ffynnu. Rhaid i ni ddod yn fwy llafar, gweladwy ac effeithiol yn erbyn y rhai sy'n ennyn casineb.
Mae diwrnodau cofio yn bwysig ar gyfer oedi a myfyrio, ond mae'r frwydr yn erbyn casineb yn her y mae'n rhaid ei hwynebu bob dydd, nid unwaith y flwyddyn. Wrth i nifer y rhai a oroesodd yr Holocost edwino, rhaid inni gynnal eu fflam a helpu i gadw'r cof amdanynt yn fyw. Rhaid i'w tynged drasig aros yn weladwy a'n harwain tuag at gymdeithas fwy cyfiawn a chynhwysol, yn rhydd o gasineb. A yw'r Dirprwy Weinidog yn cytuno â'r datganiad hwn a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos hon i nodi digwyddiadau coffáu'r Holocost gan Gyngor Ewrop, ac a yw hi'n cytuno bod hyn yn fodd amserol o'n hatgoffa o sut yr ydym ni, waeth beth fo'r cysylltiadau ffurfiol neu beidio, yn y pen draw yn gryfach gyda'n gilydd fel partneriaid a chyfeillion yn Ewrop, wedi ein huno gan werthoedd goddefgarwch a dealltwriaeth, ac wrth gofio gwersi poenus y gorffennol diweddar, i'n hatal ni rhag eu hailadrodd yn y dyfodol?
Thank you, Huw Irranca-Davies, and I thank you for reading out that statement from the Council of Europe. I hope in this week we can reflect on that statement. Clearly, from the contributions that have been made this afternoon, there is a strong commitment to that statement. We have got to keep that at the heart of what we do in terms of Government and scrutiny, as well as in our policy making.
And I think we must just conclude by saying that, as you and others have said, the stand-together message is very important for today. It says:
'stand together with others in our communities in order to stop division and the spread of identity-based hostility in our society.'
That's what the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has encouraged us to do: safwn gyda'n gilydd. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Huw Irranca-Davies, a diolch am ddarllen y datganiad yna gan Gyngor Ewrop. Gobeithio yn ystod yr wythnos hon y gallwn ni fyfyrio ar y datganiad hwnnw. Yn amlwg, o'r cyfraniadau sydd wedi'u gwneud y prynhawn yma, mae ymrwymiad cryf i'r datganiad hwnnw. Rhaid inni gadw hynny wrth wraidd yr hyn a wnawn o ran Llywodraeth a chraffu, yn ogystal â'n gwaith o lunio polisïau.
Ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni orffen drwy ddweud, fel yr ydych chi ac eraill wedi dweud, mae'r neges o gyd-sefyll yn bwysig iawn ar gyfer heddiw. Mae'n dweud:
Sefwch ar y cyd ag eraill yn ein cymunedau er mwyn atal rhaniadau ac ymlediad gelyniaeth sy'n seiliedig ar hunaniaeth yn ein cymdeithas.
Dyna beth mae Ymddiriedolaeth Diwrnod Cofio'r Holocost wedi ein hannog i'w wneud: safwn gyda'n gilydd. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you, Deputy Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar gefnogi canol ein trefi. Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog i wneud ei datganiad—Hannah Blythyn.
The next item is a statement by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government: supporting our town centres. I call on the Deputy Minister to make the statement—Hannah Blythyn.
Diolch, Llywydd. Dwi'n hapus iawn i siarad efo chi heddiw am drefi Cymru, a dwi'n hapus iawn i siarad am fwy o gefnogaeth i'n trefi ni. Dwi eisiau trawsnewid trefi Cymru.
Thank you, Llywydd. I'm very pleased to speak to you today about Welsh town centres and to speak about providing more support for our towns. I do want to transform Welsh towns.
Llywydd, I'm happy to announce a further package of support for town centres worth nearly £90 million as part of our transforming towns agenda. This builds on the projected £800 million investment in our towns as a result of our regeneration programmes since 2014. The transforming towns package includes support for enforcement around empty and derelict properties in our town centres, a new green infrastructure fund and a town-centre-first approach to new developments.
These measures will contribute significantly to the health of our town centres. We all agree here that towns are incredibly important to Wales, and the vast majority of us will have a natural affinity to at least one town—places that have shaped us, places that are integrally linked to friends and family, places that are so much more than just a collection of buildings. Towns across the country have unique assets, a proud heritage and inspiring histories.
But I want our towns to have great futures as well as great pasts, and some are facing challenges. The retail sector has changed as the way we shop, work and live has changed. The role of towns is changing and towns need to repurpose themselves to adapt. That's why we've been investing in bringing life to town centres through housing, office and business start-up space, and leisure and public services. We have a number of regeneration funds that are targeted at town centres but have not been explicitly badged as such. From now on, our investments will be an integral part of our transforming towns agenda and I want to clarify and simplify the processes around funds.
The transforming towns package includes extending our capital grant funding programme for a further year to March 2022. Welsh Government investment of £36 million will enable the delivery of additional projects worth nearly £58 million. I am also providing an additional £10 million loan funding to bring empty and under-utilised buildings in town centres back into use. And I have established a £5 million green infrastructure and biodiversity fund for greening projects, which will bring environmental benefits as well as helping making town centres more attractive places to visit.
Coastal towns like Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Cardigan and Barry already benefit from our existing programmes, and will continue to do so. I have, though, additionally earmarked funding to specifically support projects in coastal town areas. This £2 million funding will deliver projects worth around £3 million and includes an element of revenue as well as capital funding.
More generally, I'm also providing £0.5 million revenue funding to enable local authorities to develop master plans, projects and provisions for town centres, including digital development and enhancing community and stakeholder engagement. Community and stakeholder engagement is key to the vitality of a town. I want to support communities and stakeholders to take ownership of their towns and to shape their future. And I intend today to take to towns across the country to hear what people have to say and how they want to shape, to transform, their own towns and the places where they live and work. We've also put £539,000 into supporting the development of 22 business improvement districts.
As part of giving communities and businesses the tools to do the job, with the Carnegie Trust, we funded the creation of the understanding Welsh places data tool. We're now funding further development of the tool, which assists users to better understand the places where they live and work, in order to make positive change.
Whilst I am keen to empower and challenge communities to take ownership and drive change from the grass roots, I recognise that Government has a key, strategic role. I want to use all the levers at our disposal to make a real and lasting difference to our town centres. That's why this Government, together with our partners in the Welsh Local Government Association, has adopted a town-centre-first principle. This will mean that town-centre locations will be the first consideration for any new developments we are part of. The principle will inform our future estates strategy and we will strongly support and encourage our partners to do likewise.
Whether it's a small rural town or a large urban one, whether it's my constituency office in the heart of Flint town centre, or Transport for Wales's headquarters in Pontypridd, location decisions can provide a boost to a town. I recently visited the new Conwy County Borough Council headquarters at Colwyn Bay and saw for myself the positive effect on the town centre—increased footfall, decreased vacancies and a marked improvement in business performance and confidence. Town-centre locations also bring major environmental benefits, such as reducing single-use car journeys, preservation of green field sites, opportunities to introduce green infrastructure, and more co-location of public agencies.
One of the key challenges in transforming our towns is tackling empty and derelict properties or land—the properties that have blighted too many of our high streets for too long. It's time to call time on this. I'm providing local authorities with access to expertise and a £13.6 million fighting fund to enable them become a source of constant nuisance to those owners who don't engage or only do the bare minimum. With our local authority partners, we have prioritised 66 properties across Wales for action. So, my message to owners of empty properties in town centres is: work with us and we will help to bring your empty property back into use. But, if you refuse to co-operate, we will not be afraid to take firm and final action.
This Welsh Government is serious about refocusing and reinvigorating our approach and support for town centres, and these measures will make a significant contribution. In addition, my officials are exploring the feasibility of a fund aimed at unlocking strategic stalled sites in Wales that are likely to yield significant numbers of housing. This links to recommendations within the affordable housing review and, reflecting our town-centre focus, will prioritise sites that would directly benefit town centres.
Llywydd, this package is simply the start of transforming towns and definitely not the end. Together, we can and will make sure that towns across the country not only survive but thrive. Diolch yn fawr.
Llywydd, rwy'n hapus i gyhoeddi pecyn arall o gymorth ar gyfer canol trefi gwerth bron i £90 miliwn yn rhan o'n hagenda trawsnewid trefi. Mae hyn yn adeiladu ar y buddsoddiad £800 miliwn rhagamcanol yn ein trefi o ganlyniad i'n rhaglenni adfywio ers 2014. Mae'r pecyn trawsnewid trefi yn cynnwys cymorth i orfodi'r gyfraith mewn cysylltiad ag eiddo gwag a dadfeiliedig yng nghanol ein trefi, cronfa seilwaith gwyrdd newydd a dull o ymdrin â datblygiadau newydd sy'n rhoi'r ystyriaeth gyntaf i ganol y dref.
Bydd y mesurau hyn yn cyfrannu'n sylweddol at iechyd canol ein trefi. Rydym ni i gyd yn cytuno bod trefi'n eithriadol o bwysig i Gymru, a bydd gan y mwyafrif helaeth ohonom ni gysylltiad naturiol ag o leiaf un dref—lleoedd sydd wedi ein llunio, lleoedd sydd â chyswllt creiddiol â chyfeillion a theulu, lleoedd sydd gymaint yn fwy na dim ond casgliad o adeiladau. Mae gan drefi ar draws y wlad asedau unigryw, treftadaeth falch a hanes sy'n ysbrydoli.
Ond rwyf eisiau i'n trefi gael dyfodol gwych yn ogystal â gorffennol gwych, ac mae rhai yn wynebu heriau. Mae'r sector manwerthu wedi newid wrth i'r ffordd yr ydym yn siopa, yn gweithio ac yn byw newid. Mae swyddogaeth trefi yn newid ac mae angen i drefi ail-greu eu hunain i addasu. Dyna pam y buom ni'n buddsoddi i ddod â bywyd i ganol trefi drwy gyfrwng tai, swyddfeydd a lleoedd i sefydlu busnesau newydd, a gwasanaethau hamdden a chyhoeddus. Mae gennym ni nifer o gronfeydd adfywio sy'n canolbwyntio ar ganol trefi ond nad ydynt wedi'u hyrwyddo'n benodol felly. O hyn ymlaen, bydd ein buddsoddiadau yn rhan annatod o'n hagenda trawsnewid trefi a hoffwn egluro a symleiddio'r prosesau sy'n ymwneud â chronfeydd.
Mae'r pecyn trawsnewid trefi yn cynnwys ymestyn ein rhaglen ariannu grant cyfalaf am flwyddyn arall i fis Mawrth 2022. Bydd buddsoddiad Llywodraeth Cymru o £36 miliwn yn galluogi ychwanegol gwerth bron £58 miliwn i gael eu cyflawni. Rwyf hefyd yn rhoi £10 miliwn o arian benthyca ychwanegol i sicrhau bod adeiladau gwag a dadfeiliedig yng nghanol trefi yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto. Ac rwyf wedi sefydlu cronfa seilwaith gwyrdd a bioamrywiaeth £5 miliwn ar gyfer prosiectau gwyrdd, a fydd yn dod â manteision amgylcheddol yn ogystal â helpu i wneud canol trefi yn lleoedd mwy deniadol i ymweld â nhw.
Mae trefi arfordirol fel y Rhyl, Bae Colwyn, Aberteifi a'r Barri eisoes yn elwa ar ein rhaglenni presennol, a byddant yn parhau i wneud hynny. Er hynny, rwyf wedi clustnodi cyllid yn benodol i gefnogi prosiectau yn ardaloedd y trefi arfordirol. Bydd y £2 miliwn hwn o arian yn cyflawni prosiectau gwerth tua £3 miliwn ac yn cynnwys elfen o refeniw yn ogystal â chyllid cyfalaf.
Yn fwy cyffredinol, rwyf hefyd yn darparu £0.5 miliwn o arian refeniw i alluogi awdurdodau lleol i ddatblygu prif gynlluniau, prosiectau a darpariaethau ar gyfer canol trefi, gan gynnwys datblygu digidol a gwella ymgysylltiad cymunedau a rhanddeiliaid. Mae ymgysylltu â'r gymuned a rhanddeiliaid yn allweddol i fywiogrwydd tref. Rwyf eisiau cefnogi cymunedau a rhanddeiliaid i berchnogi eu trefi a llunio'u dyfodol. A bwriadaf heddiw ymweld â threfi ar draws y wlad i glywed beth sydd gan bobl i'w ddweud a sut y maen nhw eisiau llunio, trawsnewid, eu trefi eu hunain a'r mannau lle maen nhw'n byw ac yn gweithio. Rydym ni hefyd wedi rhoi £539,000 i gefnogi datblygiad 22 o ardaloedd gwella busnes.
Fel rhan o roi'r offer i gymunedau a busnesau wneud y gwaith, gydag Ymddiriedolaeth Carnegie, fe wnaethom ni ariannu'r gwaith o greu'r offeryn data deall lleoedd Cymru. Rydym ni bellach yn ariannu'r gwaith o ddatblygu'r adnodd ymhellach, sy'n helpu defnyddwyr i ddeall yn well y mannau lle maen nhw'n byw ac yn gweithio, er mwyn gwneud newidiadau cadarnhaol.
Er fy mod yn awyddus i rymuso a herio cymunedau i gymryd perchenogaeth ac ysgogi newid o lawr gwlad i fyny, rwy'n cydnabod bod gan y Llywodraeth ran strategol, allweddol yn hyn. Rwyf eisiau defnyddio pob grym sydd ar gael inni i wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol a pharhaol i ganol ein trefi. Dyna pam mae'r Llywodraeth hon, ynghyd â'n partneriaid yng Nghymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, wedi mabwysiadu egwyddor o roi canol trefi yn gyntaf. Bydd hyn yn golygu mai lleoliadau canol tref fydd yr ystyriaeth gyntaf ar gyfer unrhyw ddatblygiadau newydd yr ydym yn rhan ohonynt. Bydd yr egwyddor yn greiddiol i'n strategaeth ystadau ar gyfer y dyfodol a byddwn yn cefnogi ac yn annog ein partneriaid yn gryf i wneud yr un peth.
P'un a yw hi'n dref wledig fach neu'n un drefol fawr, boed yn fy swyddfa etholaeth yng nghanol tref y Fflint, neu ym mhencadlys Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym Mhontypridd, gall penderfyniadau o ran lleoliad roi hwb i dref. Ymwelais yn ddiweddar â phencadlys newydd Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy ym Mae Colwyn a gwelais drosof fy hun yr effaith gadarnhaol ar ganol y dref—mwy o bobl yn y dref, llai o swyddi gwag a gwelliant amlwg ym mherfformiad a hyder busnesau. Mae lleoliadau canol tref hefyd yn dod â manteision amgylcheddol mawr, fel lleihau teithiau car untro, cadw safleoedd meysydd glas, cyfleoedd i gyflwyno seilwaith gwyrdd, a mwy o gydleoli asiantaethau cyhoeddus.
Un o'r heriau allweddol wrth drawsnewid ein trefi yw mynd i'r afael ag eiddo neu dir gwag neu ddiffaith—yr eiddo sydd wedi difetha gormod o'n strydoedd mawr yn rhy hir. Mae'n bryd rhoi terfyn ar hyn. Rwy'n galluogi awdurdodau lleol i fanteisio ar arbenigedd a chronfa ddatrys £13.6 miliwn i'w galluogi nhw i fod yn dân cyson ar groen y perchenogion hynny nad ydynt yn gwneud eu rhan neu sydd dim ond yn gwneud y lleiaf posibl. Gyda'n partneriaid awdurdod lleol, rydym ni wedi rhoi blaenoriaeth i 66 eiddo ledled Cymru i weithredu yn eu cylch. Felly, fy neges i berchnogion eiddo gwag yng nghanol trefi yw: gweithiwch gyda ni a byddwn yn eich helpu chi er mwyn i'ch eiddo gwag gael ei ddefnyddio unwaith eto. Ond, os byddwch yn gwrthod cydweithredu, ni fyddwn yn ofni gweithredu'n gadarn a therfynol.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru o ddifrif ynglŷn â rhoi bywyd a phwyslais o'r newydd o ran sut yr ydym ni'n rhoi sylw â chefnogaeth i ganol trefi, a bydd y mesurau hyn yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol. Hefyd, mae fy swyddogion yn ymchwilio i ddichonoldeb cronfa sydd â'r nod o ryddhau safleoedd segur strategol yng Nghymru lle mae modd codi nifer sylweddol o dai. Mae hyn yn cysylltu ag argymhellion yn yr adolygiad tai fforddiadwy ac wrth adlewyrchu ein pwyslais ar ganol trefi, bydd yn blaenoriaethu safleoedd a fyddai o fudd uniongyrchol i ganol trefi.
Llywydd, dim ond dechrau trawsnewid trefi yw'r pecyn hwn ac yn bendant nid y diwedd. Gyda'n gilydd, gallwn wneud yn siŵr bod trefi ar draws y wlad nid yn unig yn goroesi ond yn ffynnu. Diolch yn fawr.
You begin your statement with the announcement, which, of course, we have been made publicly aware of in advance through the media, of a further package of support for town centres worth nearly £90 million as part of your transforming towns agenda. What is the timescale that that £90 million applies to? Is it one year, or is it projected into the next Senedd term? Having led a debate three weeks ago here, calling on the Welsh Government to establish a seaside town and market town fund to support regeneration in communities across Wales, and announcing that's exactly what the Welsh Conservatives would do, I could say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, although I suspect you'll of course flatly deny that this had anything to do with it. However, our proposals included the statement that this will enable communities to decide how the fund is to be invested within their local area—in other words, not just public bodies and businesses.
As the Bevan Foundation has said, if people feel that policies are imposed on them, the policies don't work, and we need to therefore produce programmes with communities themselves. This morning, you issued your town-centre-first principle Wales, and this concluded with the statement that proportionate and best value decision making should include consideration of the importance of supporting town centres in line with the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. And, of course, the five ways of working for public bodies within that Act include collaboration, working with others, including third sector bodies and communities, to help achieve goals that have been decided together, and involving the people that services or activities are going to benefit or affect from as early a stage as possible. How will your proposals, therefore, address that, because the statements I've seen so far haven't specifically referred to this, which should be clearly at the core, not only because of legislation, but also because, if you are going to invest money, this is the best way to get the outcomes that we all want to see?
You refer to 22 business improvement districts and state that:
'Community and stakeholder engagement is key to the vitality of a town.'
When I looked up business improvement districts, the Welsh Government website says currently there are only 24 of these in existence or being developed, that support ends in March this year and that only funding up to £30,000 is available for each district. So, I wonder if you can expand—is that still the case or are the business improvement districts you're referring to here something that will continue beyond March and potentially enable BIDs to go beyond the £30,000 referred to.
You refer to the Carnegie Trust working with you to create the understanding Welsh places data tool, and, of course, as the Carnegie Trust themselves state, having robust data is a fundamental requirement for supporting regeneration, and therefore, of course, we embrace this. But what consideration have you also given to the extensive work carried out by Carnegie Trust on transforming towns and on the enabling state? They state in their many reports, including 'Turnaround Towns', that:
'The future of our towns is about more than just the high street, it is also about residents' access to levers of change and their ability to influence local decisions.'
And they state that the enabling state approach is about
'moving us from the state as a provider of welfare towards a more enabling style of governance. Set within a shift in the relationships between citizens, community and the state',
suggesting that
'government, alongside driving the performance of public services, should enable communities to do what they do best',
where communities
'are best-placed to bring a wealth of local knowledge and collective energy to the decisions that affect them.'
Two more questions. You will be aware that the UK Government has announced £3.6 billion for its town fund to support towns across England to build prosperous futures, give communities a greater say in their future post Brexit, targeted at places that have not shared in the proceeds of growth in the same way as more prosperous parts of the country. So, how much, if at all—and I don't know if this is Barnettised money—of that £3.6 billion will find its way or has found its way to Wales? If it is coming to Wales now or in the future—and I appreciate this goes beyond 2021—will the Welsh Government be fully allocating that to transforming towns in Wales or not?
And, finally, in response to your transforming towns media coverage, the Federation of Small Businesses Wales, which supports businesses, said it was time to start rethinking what a high street looks like. So, how do you respond to their research identifying the key megatrends affecting towns in Wales and the suggestions they made, including publishing town strategies in every town, ensuring the ownership is local and businesses and the voluntary and public sectors are engaged; considering establishing a property register where interventions often fail with absent or unidentifiable landlords, to build a basis for engagement; and rethinking the role of business rates in towns, replicating the recently announced English relief for high street businesses, which they say will be a great start, but, in the longer term, the impact of rates in our towns will need better consideration? Diolch.
Rydych chi'n dechrau eich datganiad gyda'r cyhoeddiad, y cawsom ni, wrth gwrs, ein hysbysu'n gyhoeddus amdano ymlaen llaw drwy'r cyfryngau, am becyn pellach o gefnogaeth i ganol trefi gwerth bron i £90 miliwn yn rhan o'ch agenda trawsnewid trefi. Beth yw'r amserlen y mae'r £90 miliwn hwnnw yn berthnasol iddi? Ai blwyddyn yw hi, neu ai'r bwriad yw parhau â hi yn y tymor Senedd nesaf? Ar ôl arwain dadl dair wythnos yn ôl yma, yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i sefydlu cronfa trefi glan môr a threfi marchnad i gefnogi adfywio mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru, a chyhoeddi mai dyna'n union y byddai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn ei wneud, gallwn ddweud mai dynwared yw'r math mwyaf diffuant o edmygedd, er nid wyf yn amau na fyddwch wrth gwrs yn gwadu'n llwyr fod gan hyn unrhyw beth i'w wneud ag ef. Fodd bynnag, roedd ein cynigion yn cynnwys y datganiad y bydd hyn yn galluogi cymunedau i benderfynu sut y caiff y gronfa ei buddsoddi yn eu hardal leol—mewn geiriau eraill, nid dim ond cyrff cyhoeddus a busnesau. Fel y mae Sefydliad Bevan wedi dweud, os yw pobl yn teimlo bod polisïau'n cael eu gorfodi arnynt, nid yw'r polisïau'n gweithio, ac mae angen inni felly gynhyrchu rhaglenni gyda'r cymunedau eu hunain.
Y bore yma, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi eich egwyddor o roi canol trefi Cymru'n gyntaf, a daeth hyn i ben gyda'r datganiad y dylai penderfyniadau cymesur a gwerth gorau gynnwys ystyried pwysigrwydd cefnogi canol trefi yn unol â gofynion Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r pum ffordd o weithio ar gyfer cyrff cyhoeddus o fewn y Ddeddf honno yn cynnwys cydweithio, gweithio gydag eraill, gan gynnwys cyrff trydydd sector a chymunedau, i helpu i gyflawni nodau sydd wedi'u penderfynu ar y cyd, a chynnwys mor gynnar â phosibl y bobl y bydd gwasanaethau neu weithgareddau o fudd iddynt neu'n effeithio arnynt. Sut fydd eich cynigion, felly, yn mynd i'r afael â hynny, oherwydd nid yw'r datganiadau a welais hyd yma wedi cyfeirio'n benodol at hyn, a ddylai fod yn amlwg yn greiddiol, nid yn unig oherwydd deddfwriaeth, ond hefyd oherwydd, os ydych yn mynd i fuddsoddi arian, dyma'r ffordd orau i gael y canlyniadau y mae bob un ohonom ni eisiau eu gweld?
Rydych chi'n cyfeirio at 22 o ardaloedd gwella busnes ac yn dweud:
Mae ymgysylltu â'r gymuned a rhanddeiliaid yn allweddol i fywiogrwydd tref.
Pan es i chwilio am wybodaeth am ardaloedd gwella busnes, dywed gwefan Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd mai dim ond 24 o'r rhain sy'n bodoli neu sy'n cael eu datblygu, y daw'r cymorth hwnnw i ben ym mis Mawrth eleni ac mai dim ond hyd at £30,000 o gyllid sydd ar gael ar gyfer pob ardal. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ymhelaethu—a yw hynny'n dal i fod yn wir neu a fydd yr ardaloedd gwella busnes yr ydych chi'n cyfeirio atyn nhw yn y fan yma yn parhau y tu hwnt i fis Mawrth ac a allai alluogi ardaloedd gwella busnes i fynd y tu hwnt i'r £30,000 y cyfeirir ato.
Rydych chi'n cyfeirio at Ymddiriedolaeth Carnegie yn gweithio gyda chi i greu offeryn data deall lleoedd Cymru, ac, wrth gwrs, fel y mae Ymddiriedolaeth Carnegie eu hunain yn datgan, mae cael data cadarn yn ofyniad sylfaenol ar gyfer cefnogi adfywio, ac felly, wrth gwrs, rydym yn croesawu hyn. Ond pa ystyriaeth ydych chi hefyd wedi ei rhoi i'r gwaith helaeth a wnaed gan Ymddiriedolaeth Carnegie ar weddnewid trefi ac ar y wladwriaeth alluogol? Maen nhw'n dweud yn eu hadroddiadau niferus, gan gynnwys 'Turnaround Towns' bod:
dyfodol ein trefi'n ymwneud â mwy na'r stryd fawr yn unig, mae hefyd yn ymwneud â sut all trigolion newid pethau a'u gallu i ddylanwadu ar benderfyniadau lleol.
Ac maent yn dweud bod dull y wladwriaeth alluogol yn ymwneud â:
ein symud ni o sefyllfa lle mae'r wladwriaeth yn ddarparwr lles tuag at ddull mwy galluogol o lywodraethu. Yng nghyd-destun newid yn y berthynas rhwng dinasyddion, y gymuned a'r wladwriaeth
yn awgrymu:
dylai'r Llywodraeth, ynghyd â hybu perfformiad gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, alluogi cymunedau i wneud yr hyn a wnânt orau
lle mae cymunedau:
yn y sefyllfa orau i ddod â chyfoeth o wybodaeth leol ac egni ar y cyd i'r penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio arnynt.
Dau gwestiwn arall. Byddwch yn ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi £3.6 biliwn ar gyfer ei chronfa drefi i gefnogi trefi ledled Lloegr i adeiladu dyfodol llewyrchus, rhoi mwy o lais i gymunedau yn eu dyfodol ar ôl Brexit, wedi'i dargedu at leoedd nad ydynt wedi rhannu yn y manteision twf yn yr un ffordd â rhannau mwy llewyrchus o'r wlad. Felly, faint, os o gwbl—ac nid wyf yn gwybod a yw hyn yn arian a gaiff ei ddyrannu o dan fformiwla Barnett—o'r £3.6 biliwn a fydd yn canfod ei ffordd neu sydd wedi canfod ei ffordd i Gymru? Os yw'n dod i Gymru nawr neu yn y dyfodol—ac rwy'n sylweddoli bod hyn yn mynd y tu hwnt i 2021—a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru'n dyrannu hynny'n llawn i weddnewid trefi yng Nghymru ai peidio?
Ac, yn olaf, mewn ymateb i'ch sylw i drawsnewid trefi yn y cyfryngau, dywedodd Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach Cymru, sy'n cefnogi busnesau, ei bod hi'n bryd dechrau ailfeddwl ynghylch sut olwg fydd ar y stryd fawr. Felly, sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'w hymchwil sy'n adnabod y tueddiadau sylweddol allweddol sy'n effeithio ar drefi yng Nghymru a'r awgrymiadau a wnaethant, gan gynnwys cyhoeddi strategaethau tref ym mhob tref, gan sicrhau perchenogaeth leol a bod busnesau a'r sectorau gwirfoddol a chyhoeddus yn cael eu cynnwys; ystyried sefydlu cofrestr eiddo lle mae ymyriadau yn aml yn methu gyda landlordiaid absennol neu rai na ellir eu hadnabod, meithrin sail ar gyfer ymgysylltu; ac ailystyried swyddogaeth ardrethi busnes mewn trefi, gan efelychu'r gostyngiad a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar yn Lloegr i fusnesau'r stryd fawr, a fydd, yn eu barn nhw, yn ddechrau da, ond, yn y tymor hwy, bydd angen rhoi gwell ystyriaeth i effaith trethi yn ein trefi? Diolch.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
If I first take the question around the package of the £90 million funding and the timescales of that, well, it has to be broken down, because the £90 million encapsulates quite a few different strands, the bulk of which is the targeted regeneration investment fund, an extension until 2022 of £57.6 million, which will be for local authorities to identify projects in priority towns. It also includes the £5 million green infrastructure fund, and an additional £10 million for the town-centre loans. But it may be better if I provide that breakdown in writing to Members, to be able to analyse that further and to explain the timescales around that for you to disseminate in your constituencies and communities as well.FootnoteLink
The Member would expect me to say this, and I hate to disappoint, but you said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I can assure you that we probably already had this announcement in the pipeline when we did have that debate a few weeks ago. But I'm very pleased where you can find areas of consensus, because we all agree that our towns are so important to us, and to support them as well. I do not disagree in any respect—and I said it in my statement—that it's incredibly important, as we move forward with this regeneration work, and in particular the focus on town centres, that communities are involved with that. Because you can invest money in a town, but to actually make it work in the long term, it has to have that buy-in of stakeholders, whether they be businesses, whether they be members of community groups. So, I'm keen to look at further ways that we can facilitate that, moving forward, and should any Members in this Chamber have any suggestions then I'd be more than happy to receive them.
One of the things we are doing as part of this package is looking in terms of how we can take forward more of a communications approach with communities, to work with them, to actually talk about the support that we're talking about and get their input, and enable a mechanism for people to be able to flag issues and put forward suggestions. And I'm keen to look at how we can involve town and community councils much more in that as well, because, from my experience, they're often the people at the forefront there in the community, seeing what the challenges are and seeking those solutions.
With respect to the UK Government announcement of the £3.6 billion, none of the additional funding that I've announced this week is a result of Barnett consequentials from the UK Government's towns fund. We've not been made aware of any consequential from that, and I would perhaps urge the Member to perhaps go back to his colleagues in Westminster and perhaps lobby on behalf of Wales to ensure that, if there is any consequential, then we should receive it.
Os cymeraf y cwestiwn am y pecyn arian £90 miliwn ac amserlenni hwn yn gyntaf, wel, mae'n rhaid ei ddadelfennu, gan fod y £90 miliwn yn cwmpasu sawl elfen wahanol, a'r rhan fwyaf ohonynt yw'r gronfa buddsoddi adfywio wedi'i thargedu, estyniad tan 2022 o £57.6 miliwn, a fydd ar gael i awdurdodau lleol ganfod prosiectau mewn trefi blaenoriaeth. Mae hefyd yn cynnwys y gronfa seilwaith gwyrdd £5 miliwn, a £10 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y benthyciadau ar gyfer canol trefi. Ond efallai y byddai'n well i mi ddarparu'r dadansoddiad hwnnw i Aelodau yn ysgrifenedig, er mwyn iddynt allu dadansoddi hynny ymhellach ac esbonio'r amserlenni ar gyfer hynny er mwyn i chi eu lledaenu yn eich etholaethau a'ch cymunedau hefyd.FootnoteLink
Byddai'r Aelod yn disgwyl imi ddweud hyn, ac mae'n gas gennyf eich siomi, ond fe wnaethoch chi ddweud mai dynwared yw'r math mwyaf diffuant o edmygedd. Gallaf eich sicrhau ei bod hi'n debygol bod y cyhoeddiad hwn gennym eisoes ar y gweill pan gawsom y ddadl honno ychydig wythnosau'n ôl. Ond rwy'n falch iawn pryd gallwch ddod o hyd i feysydd lle ceir consensws, oherwydd ein bod ni i gyd yn cytuno bod ein trefi mor bwysig i ni, ac mae'n bwysig eu cefnogi nhw hefyd. Nid wyf yn anghytuno mewn unrhyw ffordd—ac fe ddywedais yn fy natganiad—ei bod hi'n eithriadol o bwysig, wrth inni fwrw iddi gyda'r gwaith adfywio hwn, ac yn enwedig y pwyslais ar ganol trefi, fod cymunedau'n ymwneud â hynny. Oherwydd gallwch fuddsoddi arian mewn tref, ond er mwyn sicrhau ei bod yn gweithio yn y tymor hir, rhaid i hynny gael cefnogaeth rhanddeiliaid, pa un a ydynt yn fusnesau, pa un a ydynt yn aelodau o grwpiau cymunedol. Felly, rwy'n awyddus i edrych ar ffyrdd eraill y gallwn ni eu defnyddio i hwyluso hynny, yn y dyfodol, ac os oes gan unrhyw Aelodau yn y Siambr hon unrhyw awgrymiadau, byddwn yn fwy na pharod i wrando arnynt.
Un o'r pethau yr ydym yn ei wneud yn rhan o'r pecyn hwn yw ystyried sut y gallwn ni gyfathrebu mwy gyda chymunedau, i weithio gyda nhw, i siarad mewn gwirionedd am y gefnogaeth yr ydym yn sôn amdani a chael eu barn, a sefydlu trefn i bobl allu tynnu sylw at broblemau a chyflwyno awgrymiadau. Ac rwy'n awyddus i edrych ar sut y gallwn ni gynnwys cynghorau tref a chymuned yn fwy o lawer yn hynny hefyd, oherwydd, o'm profiad i, nhw yn aml yw'r bobl sydd ar flaen y gad yn y gymuned, yn gweld beth yw'r heriau ac yn chwilio am yr atebion hynny.
O ran cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch y £3.6 biliwn, nid oes dim o'r arian ychwanegol yr wyf wedi'i gyhoeddi'r wythnos hon yn deillio o symiau canlyniadol Fformiwla Barnett o gronfa trefi Llywodraeth y DU. Nid ydym ni wedi cael gwybod am unrhyw gyllid canlyniadol yn sgil hynny, ac efallai y gallwn annog yr Aelod efallai i holi ei gyd-Aelodau yn San Steffan ac efallai lobïo ar ran Cymru i sicrhau, os bydd unrhyw swm canlyniadol, yna y dylem ei gael.
I thank the Deputy Minister for her statement. There is a lot to welcome in it. There's a growing realisation that towns have been left behind due to the inaction of Governments here and in Westminster, and there's a realisation as well, I think, that that needs to change because of how important town centres are for businesses, for the health of the local economy, and of course—most importantly, perhaps—for the people who live in them.
We'll all be familiar with the experience of visiting the centres of historic and strategically important towns in Wales and being dismayed at seeing dereliction and shops with their shutters down. But, Deputy Minister, there are seeds of hope in Wales as well, and I think we'd all like to take this opportunity to congratulate Treorchy for winning the prize of the UK's best high street. So, what's Treorchy doing right? There are around 100 shops on the high street, with the vast majority being run independently, and the occupancy rate is a staggering 96 per cent, which is just phenomenal. This is what we should be aiming for all over Wales. So, I'd welcome hearing what the Welsh Government will be doing to learn from their experiences there—not least the fact that, according to the BBC, 60 per cent of the independent shops are run by women, which shows how a locally based economy can bring tangible benefits in economic equality.
Now, another success story in the making is Llanelli, where the local authority has made excellent use of funding streams, including the town-centre loan scheme. So, could the Deputy Minister confirm that this funding will continue to be available for local authorities that are keen to use all the levers at their disposal to turn their town centres around? Now, I'd agree that the £10 million fund for bringing derelict properties back into use is appropriate as a first step to tackling that problem. But the complaint we hear from businesses time and again is that they simply can't make ends meet because of the crippling burden of business rates, which are high in Wales for small and medium-sized businesses, as you'll know. So, while I welcome the tough words that you've said, when you say that you'll empower local authorities to take firm and final action against owners of empty properties that refuse to co-operate, we do need action as well to prevent these properties from becoming derelict and empty in the first place. So, I'd urge you to persuade the economy Minister to look at how the burden of business rates can be lifted as a priority, so that your firm words can be complemented with firm action in that regard as well.
Indeed, lots of the problems that town centres are facing do emanate—as these things are all connected, they will emanate from the economy and transport portfolios: a lack of affordable bus services within and between towns that makes it difficult for public transport users to get around, and unreasonable parking costs, which makes taking a trip in a car undesirable for so many people.
I was slightly surprised to see a reference to local services, like leisure centres, being essential to town centres. Of course I agree with that principle, but campaigners in my region had to fight tooth and nail to prevent the closure of a valued local resource in Pontllanfraith leisure centre. Again, I don't doubt the sincerity of the intent here, but I feel that greater cross-portfolio working would benefit the Government here as well, because cuts to local government inevitably mean cuts to local services, and a one-Government approach would really be welcome to be seen there.
And finally, I'd like to thank the Deputy Minister for the note she circulated before the statement about the town-centre-first principle. This is something that Plaid Cymru wholeheartedly supports as a way to maximise footfall within our town centres, and again, I hope that the ambition is met with action. It was mentioned in the note that not all public services and facilities will be suitable for a town centre, so could you please indicate what services and facilities you foresee won't be suitable for town centres? But again, there's a lot to welcome here and I look forward to scrutinising the delivery of the plans with interest.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am ei datganiad. Mae llawer i'w groesawu ynddo. Mae pobl yn sylweddoli fwyfwy bod trefi wedi cael eu hesgeuluso oherwydd diffyg gweithredu gan Lywodraethau yn y fan yma ac yn San Steffan, ac mae yna sylweddoliad hefyd, rwy'n credu, fod angen newid hynny oherwydd bod canol trefi mor bwysig i fusnesau, i iechyd yr economi leol, ac wrth gwrs—yn bwysicaf oll, efallai—i'r bobl sy'n byw ynddynt.
Byddwn i gyd yn gyfarwydd â'r profiad o ymweld â chanolfannau trefi hanesyddol a strategol bwysig yng Nghymru a chael ein siomi o weld adfeilion a siopau â gorchuddion haearn dros eu mynedfeydd. Ond, Dirprwy Weinidog, mae yna hadau gobaith yng Nghymru hefyd, ac rwy'n credu y byddem i gyd yn hoffi manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i longyfarch Treorci am ennill gwobr y stryd fawr orau yn y DU. Felly, beth mae Treorci yn ei wneud yn iawn? Mae tua 100 o siopau ar y stryd fawr, a'r mwyafrif helaeth ohonyn nhw yn cael eu rhedeg yn annibynnol, ac mae'r raddfa feddiannaeth yn syfrdanol ar 96 y cant, sy'n rhyfeddol. Dyma'r hyn y dylem ni fod yn anelu ato ym mhob cwr o Gymru. Felly, byddwn yn croesawu clywed beth fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i ddysgu o'u profiadau yn y fan yna—yn enwedig y ffaith bod 60 y cant o'r siopau annibynnol, yn ôl y BBC, yn cael eu rhedeg gan fenywod, sy'n dangos sut y gall economi leol ddod â manteision pendant mewn cydraddoldeb economaidd.
Nawr, llwyddiant arall sy'n raddol amlygu ei hun yw Llanelli, lle mae'r awdurdod lleol wedi gwneud defnydd rhagorol o ffrydiau ariannu, gan gynnwys y cynllun benthyca ar gyfer canol trefi. Felly, a allai'r Dirprwy Weinidog gadarnhau y bydd y cyllid hwn yn parhau i fod ar gael i awdurdodau lleol sy'n awyddus i ddefnyddio'r holl ddulliau sydd ar gael iddynt i weddnewid canol eu trefi? Nawr, byddwn yn cytuno bod y gronfa £10 miliwn ar gyfer adfer eiddo adfeiliedig ar gyfer eu defnyddio unwaith eto yn briodol fel cam cyntaf tuag at fynd i'r afael â'r broblem honno. Ond y gŵyn a glywn gan fusnesau dro ar ôl tro yw na allant gael deupen llinyn ynghyd oherwydd baich andwyol ardrethi busnes, sy'n uchel yng Nghymru i fusnesau bach a chanolig, fel y gwyddoch chi. Felly, er fy mod yn croesawu'r geiriau di-lol yr ydych chi wedi'u dweud, pan ddywedwch y byddwch yn grymuso awdurdodau lleol i weithredu'n gadarn a therfynol yn erbyn perchenogion eiddo gwag sy'n gwrthod cydweithredu, mae angen inni weithredu hefyd i atal yr eiddo hyn rhag dadfeilio a chael eu gadael yn wag yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, rwy'n eich annog i berswadio Gweinidog yr economi i edrych ar sut y gellir codi baich ardrethi busnes fel blaenoriaeth, fel y gellir ategu eich geiriau cadarn gyda gweithredu cadarn yn hynny o beth hefyd.
Yn wir, mae llawer o'r problemau y mae canol trefi'n eu hwynebu yn tarddu—gan fod y pethau hyn oll yn gysylltiedig, byddant yn deillio o bortffolios yr economi a thrafnidiaeth: diffyg gwasanaethau bws fforddiadwy o fewn a rhwng trefi sy'n ei gwneud hi'n anodd i'r cyhoedd defnyddio trafnidiaeth i deithio o gwmpas, a chostau parcio afresymol, sy'n golygu nad yw teithio mewn car yn ddymunol i gynifer o bobl.
Synnais braidd o weld cyfeiriad at wasanaethau lleol, megis canolfannau hamdden, yn datgan eu bod yn hanfodol i ganol trefi. Wrth gwrs fy mod yn cytuno â'r egwyddor honno, ond bu'n rhaid i ymgyrchwyr yn fy rhanbarth i frwydro nerth eu deng ewin i atal cau adnodd lleol gwerthfawr, sef Canolfan Hamdden Pontllanfraith. Unwaith eto, nid wyf yn amau didwylledd y bwriad yma, ond teimlaf y byddai mwy o weithio rhwng adrannau o fudd i'r Llywodraeth yma hefyd, oherwydd mae toriadau i lywodraeth leol yn anochel yn golygu toriadau i wasanaethau lleol, a byddai mynd ati fel un llywodraeth yn rhywbeth y byddai croeso brwd iawn iddo yn hynny o beth.
Ac yn olaf, hoffwn ddiolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog am y nodyn a ddosbarthwyd ganddi cyn y datganiad am yr egwyddor o ystyried canol trefi yn gyntaf. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae Plaid Cymru yn ei gefnogi'n llwyr fel ffordd o gynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr yng nghanol ein trefi, ac unwaith eto, gobeithiaf y caiff yr uchelgais ei wireddu gyda gweithredu. Soniwyd yn y nodyn na fydd pob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus a chyfleusterau yn addas ar gyfer canol y dref, felly, a fyddech cystal â nodi pa wasanaethau a chyfleusterau nad ydych yn rhagweld y byddant yn addas ar gyfer canol trefi? Ond eto, mae llawer i'w groesawu yn y fan yma ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at graffu gyda diddordeb ar y modd y cyflawnir y cynlluniau.
Thank you. I thank the Member for her contribution. First and foremost, I join you in congratulating Treorchy on its fantastic win and the recognition it well deserves. I wasn't aware of that point you made about 60 per cent of the independent shops being run by women, which is fantastic. Actually, when I think about the towns in my own community, that is very much the case as we move forward now. Clearly, we've got a lot to learn. We talk about the challenges, but I think sometimes we have to have a glass-half-full approach and actually see what we can learn from those towns that are doing well and are perhaps bucking the trend.
So, I think we have to learn more about what's happened in Treorchy and how they got there, and perhaps how they can share that best practice with other towns of a similar size and nature as well. But recognising it's about finding that unique selling point of a town and how you embrace that and use it, rather than trying and be like somewhere else or trying to compete with a neighbouring town, and to perhaps complement that.
You mentioned Llanelli, I think it was a while back, last year, when I managed to go and visit and see some of the work that's been done there to try and repurpose the town centre and perhaps restructure it and bring it together and consolidate it. I certainly saw the seeds of improvement being sown there.
The town-centre loans are set to continue and there's an additional £10 million-worth of funding for that, because I know it has made a difference with local authorities being able to facilitate those loans and bring in private investment. So, that's really to the benefit of some of our communities.
The enforcement fund for derelict properties is actually £13.6 million. We've actually already worked with local authorities on this to look at how they can identify—. They've already identified three buildings. We all know those ones that everybody talks about and everybody moans about. It's making sure now that they've identified the right buildings—the ones that can send that message. You can get one or two and use that as leverage in the future.
In terms of the Minister for finance's role and business rates, this is a discussion that we regularly have, and I'm really pleased that the high street rate relief scheme has been extended recently. I've heard first hand that has made a difference to people. Clearly, as we move forward, there's work ongoing in terms of local taxation as a whole and how we think—. You're right: there's a whole holistic approach to making this work, and transport is key. Because there's no point in us redeveloping our town centres if we can't access them. So, I think, as we move forward, the public transport Bill and elements of that all have to work. I can assure you that this has cross-Government commitment and support for making this work, as we move forward.
Diolch. Diolch i'r Aelod am ei chyfraniad. Yn gyntaf oll ac yn bennaf, rwy'n ategu eich llongyfarchiadau i Dreorci ar ei buddugoliaeth wych a'r gydnabyddiaeth y mae'n ei haeddu. Nid oeddwn yn ymwybodol o'r sylw hwnnw a wnaethoch chi fod tua 60 y cant o'r siopau annibynnol yn cael eu rhedeg gan fenywod, sy'n wych. Mewn gwirionedd, pan fyddaf yn meddwl am y trefi yn fy nghymuned fy hun, mae hynny'n wir wrth inni symud ymlaen nawr. Yn amlwg, mae gennym ni lawer i'w ddysgu. Rydym yn siarad am yr heriau, ond rwy'n credu weithiau bod yn rhaid i ni feddwl yn nhermau'r gwydr hanner llawn a gweld yr hyn y gallwn ni ei ddysgu oddi wrth y trefi hynny sy'n gwneud yn dda ac sydd efallai'n mynd yn groes i'r duedd.
Felly, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ddysgu mwy am yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn Nhreorci a sut maen nhw wedi cyflawni hynny, ac efallai sut y gallan nhw rannu'r arferion gorau hynny gyda threfi eraill o faint a natur debyg hefyd. Ond cydnabod bod hynny yn ymwneud â dod o hyd i'r pwynt gwerthu unigryw hwnnw ar gyfer tref a sut yr ydych chi'n croesawu hynny a'i ddefnyddio, yn hytrach na cheisio bod fel rhywle arall neu geisio cystadlu â thref gyfagos, ac efallai ategu hynny.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am Lanelli, rwy'n credu ei bod hi beth amser yn ôl, y llynedd, pan lwyddais i ymweld a gweld rhywfaint o'r gwaith sydd wedi'i wneud yno i geisio ail-greu canol y dref ac efallai ei ailstrwythuro a'i ddwyn ynghyd a'i gyfnerthu. Yn sicr, gwelais yr hadau o welliannau'n cael eu hau yno.
Disgwylir i'r benthyciadau i ganol trefi barhau ac mae gwerth £10 miliwn ychwanegol o gyllid ar gyfer hynny, oherwydd gwn ei fod wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth gydag awdurdodau lleol yn gallu hwyluso'r benthyciadau hynny a chyflwyno buddsoddiad preifat. Felly, mae hynny'n wirioneddol lesol i rai o'n cymunedau.
Mae'r gronfa orfodi ar gyfer eiddo adfeiliedig mewn gwirionedd yn £13.6 miliwn. Rydym ni eisoes wedi gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ar hyn i weld sut y gallan nhw nodi—. Maen nhw eisoes wedi nodi tri adeilad. Rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod am y rhai y mae pawb yn sôn amdanynt ac mae pawb yn cwyno amdanynt. Mae a wnelo hyn yn awr â sicrhau eu bod wedi nodi'r adeiladau cywir—y rhai sy'n gallu cyfleu y neges honno. Gallwch ymdrin ag un neu ddau a defnyddio hynny fel erfyn yn y dyfodol.
O ran swyddogaeth ac ardrethi busnes y Gweinidog Cyllid, mae hon yn drafodaeth yr ydym ni'n ei chael yn rheolaidd, ac rwy'n falch iawn bod y cynllun rhyddhad ardrethi ar gyfer y stryd fawr wedi cael ei ymestyn yn ddiweddar. Rydw i wedi clywed drosof fy hun fod hynny wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth i bobl. Yn amlwg, yn y dyfodol, mae gwaith yn mynd rhagddo o ran trethiant lleol yn ei gyfanrwydd a sut rydym ni'n credu—. Rydych chi'n iawn: mae yna ffordd gynhwysfawr o wneud i hyn weithio, ac mae trafnidiaeth yn allweddol. Oherwydd does dim diben i ni ailddatblygu canol ein trefi os na allwn ni eu defnyddio. Felly, rwy'n credu, yn y dyfodol, bod yn rhaid i'r Bil trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus ac elfennau o hynny gydweithio. Gallaf eich sicrhau bod gan hyn ymrwymiad a chefnogaeth draws-lywodraethol i wneud i hyn weithio yn y dyfodol.
Like others this afternoon, Deputy Minister, I would also like to welcome the statement that you've made. I think, across the Chamber, despite many differences, we would all welcome the structured thinking that is now taking place within the Welsh Government about the future of our town centres. This is something that affects not only the economy of individual places, but it also deeply affects people's perceptions of themselves. It's an issue that is at the heart of who we are as communities and who we want to be in the places that we live. I very much welcome this holistic approach that is being taken.
But if I could, I would like to move you a little further, Deputy Minister, to be a little more holistic as well. If I think about the communities that I represent: if you take Ebbw Vale, for example. When I speak to people who are retailers and shop owners there, they will tell me that one of the biggest challenges they face is the lack of decent bus services into the town centre, and the same is said in other parts of my constituency. Now, you are delivering £90 million, which is obviously very welcome, but another department is cutting the bus services grant. I think we do need to see a more linked-up approach across Government, so that the work that you are undertaking in your department is supported by the work being undertaken by your colleagues in other departments and isn't undermined—even though I accept that it is unintentionally so. At the same time, we need to ensure that we have the planning in place that will enable town centres to flourish and not simply to become ghettos, as has happened in many places.
Having said that, I really do welcome very much the new emphasis, as I see it, on the green infrastructure. I think that's one of the really key issues. When you look hard at places you like to be—town centres and community centres that are attractive, that feel comfortable, that people want to spend time in—they are also areas that are physically attractive as well. We need to ensure that we are able to invest both in the physical built environment, but also the green infrastructure, which I think will have a profound impact on people's perceptions of where they are.
I would ask you to go a little further, Minister, in terms of how this is delivered. You said, in both your statement and also in answer to earlier questions, that you wanted to work with other stakeholders and the rest of it. I think that that's all very laudable, and it would be more surprising if you didn't say that. But there is a lack of resource, I believe, in local government and elsewhere that enables this sort of structured development to take place. I would like to see the Welsh Government investing in greater resource, whether it's town centre managers or the equivalent of developing a structured approach to ensuring that we do have these different policy areas brought together in order to deliver change in a particular community.
I would also like to ask you what work you are doing to ensure that the legislation we passed here at the end of the last Assembly—I think it was the built environment Act—is being delivered in order to ensure that some of the architecture that we want to protect in different parts of our communities, and also the built environment itself, is maintained and that that law is being used to its full extent. I'm unconvinced at the moment that it is being used to the full extend it should be in order to protect some of our most precious environments.
But I hope also—and I'll finish with this, Deputy Presiding Officer—that the Welsh Government will be able to ensure that we don't simply go through another process of investing in individual projects, but we actually invest in whole places.
Fel eraill y prynhawn yma, Dirprwy Weinidog, fe hoffwn innau hefyd groesawu'r datganiad yr ydych chi wedi'i wneud. Rwy'n credu, ym mhob rhan o'r Siambr, er gwaethaf llawer o wahaniaethau, y byddem i gyd yn croesawu'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn meddwl yn strwythuredig nawr ynglŷn â dyfodol canol ein trefi. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n effeithio nid yn unig ar economi lleoedd unigol, ond mae hefyd yn effeithio'n fawr ar ganfyddiadau pobl ohonynt eu hunain. Mae'n fater sydd wrth wraidd pwy ydym ni fel cymunedau a phwy rydym ni eisiau bod yn y lleoedd yr ydym yn byw ynddynt. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y ffordd gynhwysfawr hon sy'n cael ei mabwysiadu.
Ond os caf i, hoffwn eich annog i fynd ychydig ymhellach, Dirprwy Weinidog, i fod ychydig yn fwy cynhwysfawr hefyd. Os ystyriaf y cymunedau yr wyf i yn eu cynrychioli: dyna ichi Lynebwy, er enghraifft. Pan fyddaf yn siarad â phobl sy'n fanwerthwyr ac yn berchnogion siopau yno, byddant yn dweud wrthyf mai un o'r heriau mwyaf y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu yw diffyg gwasanaethau bws priodol i ganol y dref, a dywedir yr un peth mewn rhannau eraill o'm hetholaeth. Nawr, rydych chi'n rhoi £90 miliwn, sy'n amlwg yn dderbyniol iawn, ond mae adran arall yn cwtogi'r grant gwasanaethau bysiau. Rwy'n credu bod angen i ni weld ffordd fwy cysylltiedig o weithio rhwng gwahanol adrannau'r Llywodraeth, fel bod y gwaith yr ydych yn ei wneud yn eich adran chi yn cael ei gefnogi gan y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud gan eich cydweithwyr mewn adrannau eraill ac nad yw'n cael ei danseilio—er fy mod yn derbyn ei fod yn anfwriadol. Ar yr un pryd, mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn cynllunio mewn modd a fydd yn galluogi canol trefi i ffynnu ac nid bod yn ddim mwy na getos, fel sydd wedi digwydd mewn llawer o leoedd.
Wedi dweud hynny, rwyf yn croesawu'n fawr iawn mewn gwirionedd y pwyslais newydd, fel yr wyf fi'n ei weld, ar y seilwaith gwyrdd. Rwy'n credu mai dyna un o'r materion mwyaf allweddol. Pan edrychwch chi yn fanwl ar leoedd lle rydych chi'n hoffi bod—canol trefi a chanolfannau cymunedol sy'n ddeniadol, sy'n teimlo'n gyfforddus, lle mae pobl eisiau treulio amser ynddynt—maen nhw hefyd yn ardaloedd sy'n ddeniadol i'r llygad. Mae angen inni sicrhau ein bod yn gallu buddsoddi yn yr amgylchedd adeiledig, ond hefyd yn y seilwaith gwyrdd, a fydd, rwy'n credu, yn cael effaith fawr ar ganfyddiadau pobl o ble y maen nhw.
Gofynnaf ichi fynd ychydig ymhellach, Gweinidog, o ran sut y caiff hyn ei gyflawni. Fe wnaethoch chi ddweud, yn eich datganiad a hefyd mewn ateb i gwestiynau cynharach, eich bod eisiau gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid eraill ac ati. Credaf fod hynny i gyd yn ganmoladwy iawn, a byddai'n fwy o syndod pe na baech yn dweud hynny. Ond mae diffyg adnoddau, rwy'n credu, gan lywodraethau lleol ac mewn meysydd eraill i alluogi'r math hwn o ddatblygiad strwythuredig i ddigwydd. Hoffwn weld Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi mewn mwy o adnoddau, boed yn rheolwyr canol trefi neu yr hyn sy'n gyfwerth â datblygu dull strwythuredig o sicrhau ein bod yn gweld y meysydd polisi gwahanol hyn yn cael eu dwyn ynghyd er mwyn cyflawni newid mewn cymuned benodol.
Hoffwn ofyn ichi hefyd pa waith yr ydych chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau bod y ddeddfwriaeth a basiwyd yn y fan yma ar ddiwedd y Cynulliad diwethaf—credaf mai Deddf yr amgylchedd adeiledig oedd hi—yn cael ei gweithredu er mwyn sicrhau bod rhywfaint o'r bensaernïaeth yr ydym ni eisiau ei gwarchod mewn gwahanol rannau o'n cymunedau, a hefyd yr amgylchedd adeiledig ei hun, yn cael eu cynnal ac y caiff y gyfraith honno ei defnyddio i'r eithaf. Nid wyf yn argyhoeddedig ar hyn o bryd y caiff ei defnyddio i'r graddau y dylai fod yn cael ei defnyddio er mwyn amddiffyn rhai o'n hamgylcheddau mwyaf gwerthfawr.
Ond rwy'n gobeithio hefyd—ac rwyf am orffen gyda hyn, Dirprwy Lywydd—y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gallu sicrhau nad ydym yn mynd drwy broses arall o fuddsoddi mewn prosiectau unigol, ond ein bod mewn gwirionedd yn buddsoddi mewn lleoedd cyfan.
Just to start where you finished, the way I'm approaching this and the way Welsh Government is approaching this is: it's not just about the projects, it's about the places and the people who make up those places. As we say, you talked about boosting the economy of the individual place, it's actually about the feel of it as well, and that sense that people feel their home town has gone downhill and that sense of civic pride that goes with it. I think that's why we need to approach it—you are absolutely right—in that holistic way, ensuring things are joined up and there are no unintended consequences elsewhere. As I said before, it's about actually being able to access towns, as well as actually having a nice town and a nice place to go to and having that experience there as well.
Specifically in terms of green infrastructure and looking at the benefits that brings. Yes, the bricks and mortar are important, but for too long that's all we've focused on. When we've looked at what is the public realm or the public space, it's often just been a bit of concrete or some paving stones or a few potted plants, rather than thinking about it in a much broader, more beneficial way. Although the green infrastructure fund is £5 million as a separate fund, I would encourage local authorities and others, when they are considering other regeneration projects, to use the criteria that we are going to look at in the future and actually take that into account as part of that as well. We want that to be part of those projects that come forward from local authorities and other stakeholders.
I recognise what's been said in here in terms of actually making sure there is that support for local authorities in that holistic approach, and a recognition that budgets are tight after a decade of austerity. But we're doing what we can within this. We're taking this forward now, with support from elsewhere across Government, and I'm really pleased that we're able to offer revenue funding to local authorities to start actually looking at what they're going to need to take this forward as well, whether that be master planning or digital support or community engagement.
I ddechrau lle gwnaethoch chi orffen, y ffordd rwy'n ymdrin â hyn a'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymdrin â hyn yw: nid yw'n ymwneud â'r prosiectau yn unig, mae'n ymwneud â'r lleoedd a'r bobl sy'n ffurfio'r lleoedd hynny. Fel y dywedwn ni, fe wnaethoch chi sôn am roi hwb i economi'r lle unigol, mae hyn mewn gwirionedd yn ymwneud â'r ymdeimlad o'r lle hefyd, a'r ymdeimlad hwnnw fod pobl yn teimlo bod eu tref enedigol wedi dirywio a'r ymdeimlad hwnnw o falchder dinesig sy'n mynd gyda'r lle. Rwy'n credu mai dyna pam mae angen i ni fynd ati—rydych chi yn llygad eich lle—yn y ffordd gynhwysfawr honno, gan sicrhau bod pethau'n gydgysylltiedig ac nad oes unrhyw effeithiau anfwriadol mewn mannau eraill. Fel y dywedais o'r blaen, mae'n ymwneud â gallu cyrraedd trefi mewn gwirionedd, yn ogystal â chael tref braf a lle braf i fynd iddo a chael y profiad hwnnw yno hefyd.
Yn benodol o ran seilwaith gwyrdd ac edrych ar y manteision a ddaw yn ei sgil. Ydy, mae'r brics a'r morter yn bwysig, ond am gyfnod rhy hir dyna'r cyfan yr ydym ni wedi canolbwyntio arno. Pan fyddwn ni wedi edrych ar beth yw'r amgylchfyd cyhoeddus neu'r gofod cyhoeddus, yn aml mae'n ychydig o goncrit neu rai cerrig palmant neu ychydig o blanhigion pot, yn hytrach dylem feddwl amdano mewn ffordd llawer ehangach a mwy buddiol. Er bod y gronfa seilwaith gwyrdd yn £5 miliwn fel cronfa ar wahân, byddwn yn annog awdurdodau lleol ac eraill, wrth iddynt ystyried prosiectau adfywio eraill, i ddefnyddio'r meini prawf y byddwn yn eu hystyried yn y dyfodol a rhoi sylw i'r rheini mewn gwirionedd yn rhan o hynny hefyd. Rydym ni eisiau i hynny fod yn rhan o'r prosiectau hynny sy'n cael eu cyflwyno gan awdurdodau lleol a rhanddeiliaid eraill.
Rwy'n cydnabod yr hyn sydd wedi cael ei ddweud yn y fan yma o ran gwneud yn siŵr bod cefnogaeth i awdurdodau lleol yn y ffordd gynhwysfawr honno, a chydnabyddiaeth bod cyllidebau'n dynn ar ôl degawd o gyni. Ond rydym ni'n gwneud yr hyn a allwn ni o fewn hyn. Rydym yn bwrw ymlaen â hyn nawr, gyda chymorth o fannau eraill o bob rhan o'r Llywodraeth, ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod yn gallu cynnig cyllid refeniw i awdurdodau lleol i ddechrau edrych ar yr hyn y bydd ei angen arnynt i fwrw ymlaen â hyn hefyd, boed hynny'n golygu cynllunio manwl neu gymorth digidol neu ymgysylltu â'r gymuned.
Thank you for your statement, Deputy Minister, and I welcome the Welsh Government's renewed commitment to our town centres. Empty shops are discouraging to potential shoppers and, when empty, can be vandalised, particularly late at night, making the town a no-go area. There are many empty shops in our town centres across Wales, and I therefore welcome the Welsh Government's town-centre-first approach.
As a former retailer, I take a particular interest in the revitalisation of our town centres with regular bus services to encourage shoppers, because lack of such services and the decreasing number of such services impacts negatively on the town. And whilst I accept that not all empty properties will be filled by retail, we have to try and encourage small independent retailers to set up shop, as it were.
A much higher proportion of revenue is recycled into the local community through small businesses than through their larger counterparts. Without small, independent retailers our high streets are at risk of becoming either empty shells or smaller versions of our out-of-town retail parks. And if we want to retain the character of our high streets, from Bridgend to Bangor, from Connah's Quay to Cowbridge, then we have to act now.
One in every eight retail unit is currently empty and the Welsh economy is lagging behind the other UK nations, and the outlook for the high street is not looking great. High street retailers are struggling with increasing rents and business rates, at the same time as facing increasing competition from online and out-of-town retailers, who have lower costs often, as well as free parking. Therefore, Deputy Minister, can you outline how you're working with the economy Minister and the finance Minister to address the issue of rising costs of doing business?
You have said in your statement that you will take firm and final action against owners of empty properties who refuse to co-operate. So, can you please outline what that action will look like? There can be multiple reasons, as we know, for empty properties, Deputy Minister. As the Welsh Government are taking a tough stance with private business owners, will you practice what you preach and bring back into use all those empty properties owned by the Welsh Government?
Finally, Deputy Minister, this initiative is the latest measure from your Government aimed at improving our town centres, so what assurances can you give my constituents that it won't be beset by the problems of earlier schemes, schemes that operated in isolation and were not subject to scrutiny? How can the people of my region be assured that towns like Neath, Pontardawe and Bridgend will receive genuine support? Thank you.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Dirprwy Weinidog, ac rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad newydd Llywodraeth Cymru i ganol ein trefi. Mae siopau gwag yn annog siopwyr posibl i gadw draw a, phan fyddant yn wag, gellir eu fandaleiddio, yn enwedig yn hwyr yn y nos, gan wneud y dref yn ardal lle nad yw'n bosibl cerdded drwyddi. Mae llawer o siopau gwag yng nghanol ein trefi ledled Cymru, ac felly rwy'n croesawu'r ffordd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi pwyslais ar ganol trefi.
Fel cyn-adwerthwr, mae gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig yn y gwaith o adfywio canol ein trefi gyda gwasanaethau bws rheolaidd i annog siopwyr, oherwydd mae diffyg gwasanaethau o'r fath a gostyngiad parhaus mewn gwasanaethau o'r fath yn cael effaith negyddol ar y dref. Ac er fy mod yn derbyn na fydd pob eiddo gwag yn cael ei lenwi gan siop, mae'n rhaid i ni geisio annog manwerthwyr annibynnol bach i sefydlu siop, fel petai.
Mae cyfran uwch o lawer o refeniw yn cael ei hailgylchu yn y gymuned leol drwy fusnesau bach na thrwy siopau mwy o faint. Heb siopau bach, annibynnol, mae'r stryd fawr mewn perygl o fod naill ai'n llefydd marw neu'n fersiynau llai o'n parciau manwerthu ar gyrion trefi. Ac os ydym ni eisiau cadw cymeriad ein strydoedd mawr, o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr i Fangor, o Gei Connah i'r Bont-faen, yna mae'n rhaid i ni weithredu nawr.
Mae un o bob wyth uned fanwerthu yn wag ar hyn o bryd ac mae economi Cymru ar ei hôl hi o'i chymharu â gwledydd eraill y DU, ac nid yw'r rhagolygon ar gyfer y stryd fawr yn edrych yn dda. Mae manwerthwyr y stryd fawr yn cael trafferth gyda rhenti ac ardrethi busnes cynyddol, ar yr un pryd ag wynebu cystadleuaeth gynyddol gan fanwerthwyr ar-lein ac ar gyrion trefi, sydd â chostau is yn aml, yn ogystal â pharcio am ddim. Felly, Dirprwy Weinidog, a allwch chi amlinellu sut yr ydych chi'n gweithio gyda Gweinidog yr Economi a'r Gweinidog Cyllid i fynd i'r afael â'r costau cynyddol sy'n ymwneud â masnachu?
Rydych chi wedi dweud yn eich datganiad y byddwch yn gweithredu'n gadarn a therfynol yn erbyn perchnogion eiddo gwag sy'n gwrthod cydweithredu. Felly, a wnewch chi amlinellu sut beth fydd y gweithredu hwnnw? Gall fod sawl rheswm, fel y gwyddom ni, dros eiddo gwag, Dirprwy Weinidog. Gan fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn llym gyda pherchnogion busnesau preifat, a wnewch chi wneud yn ogystal â dweud a sicrhau y defnyddir unwaith eto yr holl eiddo gwag hynny sy'n eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru?
Yn olaf, Dirprwy Weinidog, y fenter hon yw'r mesur diweddaraf gan eich Llywodraeth sydd â'r nod o wella canol ein trefi, felly pa sicrwydd allwch chi ei roi i'm hetholwyr na fydd problemau cynlluniau cynharach yn dod i'w ran, cynlluniau a oedd yn gweithredu ar eu pen eu hunain ac nad oeddent yn destun craffu? Sut gall pobl fy rhanbarth fod yn sicr y bydd trefi fel Castell-nedd, Pontardawe a Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn cael cymorth gwirioneddol? Diolch.
I think the Member won brownie points with Jack Sargeant when the mention of Connah's Quay got into your speech then. Just in terms of the points about the challenges that face our high streets, there are many similar challenges, not just in Wales, but right across the UK. You're absolutely right that we need to work across Government with the Minister for finance and the Minister for economy, because it's not in isolation, it needs to be done across the piece.
You talked about reassurances for residents and retailers in your constituency and your region. I think what is important is that the communities have a stake in any developments, which is why, as I've emphasised today, there's a need to actually have that community buy-in and the ideas to be driven from the grass roots up, rather than it's something that's done to people and places. So, it's how we can support local authorities and town and community councils to do that.
It's about actually identifying projects to come forward; it's for local authorities to try and identify projects, but I'd want to involve as many stakeholders as possible and to make sure that we have avenues for the community to have a say in that. Like I said, you can give resources or grants or loan funding, but to actually sustain the success of a community or a town centre that needs to have the involvement and the buy-in of not just retailers, but of residents, of town councillors, of everybody across the piece to make it successful well into the future.
Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod wedi plesio Jack Sargeant pan wnaethoch chi grybwyll Cei Connah yn eich araith gynnau. O ran y sylwadau am yr heriau sy'n wynebu ein strydoedd mawr, mae llawer o heriau tebyg, nid yn unig yng Nghymru, ond ledled y DU. Rydych chi yn llygad eich lle bod angen i ni weithio fel Llywodraeth gyfan gyda'r Gweinidog Cyllid a Gweinidog yr economi, oherwydd nid yw hynny'n digwydd ar wahân, mae angen ei wneud gan gynnwys pawb.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am sicrwydd i breswylwyr a manwerthwyr yn eich etholaeth a'ch rhanbarth. Credaf mai'r hyn sy'n bwysig yw bod gan y cymunedau ran mewn unrhyw ddatblygiadau, a dyna pam, fel yr wyf wedi pwysleisio heddiw, fod angen i'r gymuned gefnogi hynny ac i'r syniadau fod yn rhai a gaiff eu sbarduno ar lawr gwlad, yn hytrach na rhywbeth sy'n digwydd i bobl a lleoedd. Felly, dyna sut y gallwn ni helpu awdurdodau lleol a chynghorau tref a chymuned i wneud hynny.
Mae'n ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â nodi prosiectau i'w cyflwyno; mae'n fater i awdurdodau lleol i geisio nodi prosiectau, ond byddwn eisiau cynnwys cynifer o randdeiliaid â phosibl a sicrhau bod gennym ni fodd i'r gymuned fynegi barn ynghylch hynny. Fel y dywedais, gallwch roi adnoddau neu grantiau neu gyllid ar gyfer benthyciadau, ond er mwyn cynnal llwyddiant cymuned neu ganol tref mae angen nid yn unig i fanwerthwyr gymryd rhan yn hynny a'i gofleidio, ond i'r trigolion, cynghorwyr tref, a phawb cysylltiedig wneud hynny fel ei fod yn llwyddiannus ymhell i'r dyfodol.
Thank you.
I have a number of speakers still and I'm just looking at the time, so brevity now. We've had the main speakers from each of the parties, so if I could ask for brevity from the next set of speakers as well. Jack Sargeant.
Diolch.
Mae gennyf nifer o siaradwyr ac rwy'n edrych ar yr amser, felly crynoder nawr. Rydym ni wedi cael y prif siaradwyr o bob un o'r pleidiau, felly a gaf i ofyn am grynoder gan y gyfres nesaf o siaradwyr hefyd. Jack Sargeant.
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. I will start by thanking Caroline Jones for mentioning Connah's Quay. It's not often Members from south Wales mention towns in north Wales, so I do very much welcome that. [Laughter.]
Minister, the high street is changing, and if high streets like Buckley in my own constituency are to thrive, then we must ensure that the infrastructure allows them to do so. Firstly, as many people have said in the Chamber, it's about having a reliable and affordable way of getting there. So, the north Wales metro, for me, could play a key part in resolving this issue and creating a transport hub. In a town like Buckley, it would enable residents to access the high street whilst leaving the car behind, but it also has the ability to link up our rural communities to their nearest high streets and town centres.
Now, Minister, I have spoken to you a lot about the importance of banking infrastructure as well, and what that can mean for the high street, which we are still to see. We are losing so many banks at a rapid pace. The difference of a community bank and what that could mean to the people in these towns is huge. Free access to cash and face-to-face banking services keeps the money in the local economy. So, can I ask you, Minister: what conversations have you had with the Minister for Economy and Transport about creating transport hubs in towns like Buckley, but also creating community banks in towns like Buckley as well?
Finally, if I may—I know we're pressed for time here, Deputy Llywydd—but I would just like to speak in my role as chair of the cross-party group on beer and pubs in Wales. Now, we need to preserve our unique community spaces in towns. Elsewhere, planning rules restrict the turning of pubs into other commercial ventures like shops, for example, without the need for consent from the local authority. Now, I understand that the Welsh Government has proposals in place to amend the legislation in Wales, but will you stress the need for urgency to take this forward with your colleagues within the Welsh Government? Diolch.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dechreuaf drwy ddiolch i Caroline Jones am sôn am Gei Connah. Nid yn aml iawn mae aelodau o'r de yn sôn am drefi yn y gogledd, felly rwy'n croesawu hynny'n fawr iawn. [Chwerthin.]
Gweinidog, mae'r stryd fawr yn newid, ac os yw strydoedd mawr fel Bwcle yn fy etholaeth i yn mynd i ffynnu, yna mae'n rhaid inni sicrhau bod y seilwaith yn caniatáu iddyn nhw wneud hynny. Yn gyntaf, fel y mae llawer o bobl wedi dweud yn y Siambr, mae'n ymwneud â chael ffordd ddibynadwy a fforddiadwy o gyrraedd y fan honno. Felly, gallai metro'r gogledd, i mi, chwarae rhan allweddol wrth ddatrys y mater hwn a chreu canolfan drafnidiaeth. Mewn tref fel Bwcle, byddai'n galluogi preswylwyr i fynd i'r stryd fawr gan adael y car gartref, ond mae hefyd â'r gallu i gysylltu ein cymunedau gwledig â'u strydoedd mawr a chanol eu trefi agosaf.
Nawr, Gweinidog, rwyf wedi sôn llawer wrthych chi am bwysigrwydd seilwaith bancio hefyd, a'r hyn y gall hynny ei olygu i'r stryd fawr, sy'n dal heb ei wireddu. Rydym yn colli cymaint o fanciau'n gyflym. Mae'r gwahaniaeth o gael banc cymunedol a'r hyn y gallai hynny ei olygu i'r bobl yn y trefi hyn yn enfawr. Mae gallu defnyddio gwasanaethau bancio wyneb yn wyneb a chodi arian parod am ddim yn cadw'r arian yn yr economi leol. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Gweinidog: pa sgyrsiau ydych chi wedi'u cael gyda Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth ynghylch creu canolfannau trafnidiaeth mewn trefi fel Bwcle, ond hefyd creu banciau cymunedol mewn trefi fel Bwcle hefyd?
Yn olaf, os caf i—rwy'n gwybod bod amser yn prysur gario'r dydd, Dirprwy Lywydd—ond hoffwn siarad yn rhinwedd fy swyddogaeth yn gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar gwrw a thafarndai yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae angen i ni gadw ein mannau cymunedol unigryw mewn trefi. Mewn mannau eraill, mae rheolau cynllunio yn cyfyngu ar droi tafarndai yn fentrau masnachol eraill fel siopau, er enghraifft, heb fod angen caniatâd gan yr awdurdod lleol. Nawr, rwy'n deall bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynigion yn yr arfaeth i ddiwygio'r ddeddfwriaeth yng Nghymru, ond a wnewch chi bwysleisio'r angen i fwrw ymlaen â hyn ar fyrder gyda'ch cydweithwyr yn Llywodraeth Cymru? Diolch
I thank Jack Sargeant for his contribution and questions. Buckley is a town that I'm familiar with, not because I spent many of my younger years going to the Tivoli nightclub there, but because it's actually on the border of my own constituency and I have many friends and family who live there as well. Like many towns across Wales, Buckley has changed over the years, the way we shop has changed, the way we work and the way we live has changed.
But you're absolutely right in terms of the role that the north-east Wales metro can play and, actually, those vital infrastructure links in another sense, like banks and pharmacies. When we see some high streets that have managed to buck the trend slightly, they have managed to retain those things that bring in the footfall; bring people in and then drive them to perhaps independent businesses alongside that. So, yes, certainly I've had conversations with my colleague, the Minister for economy, about how we can use our collective leverage to ensure that we do bring services into communities like Buckley right across the country.
On the point you make as chair of the cross-party group on beer and pubs, which is quite a cushy role if I do say so myself, the consultation that we had previously recognised the role that pubs play not just as a focal point for the community, but as a hub, as we've seen in many places, perhaps in more rural towns, they actually host post offices now, and utilities and shops. I know that the Minister is committed to bringing forward that as soon as is legislatively possible.
Diolch i Jack Sargeant am ei gyfraniad a'i gwestiynau. Mae Bwcle yn dref rwy'n gyfarwydd â hi, nid oherwydd imi dreulio llawer o'm blynyddoedd iau yn mynd i'r clwb nos Tivoli yno, ond oherwydd ei fod ar ffin fy etholaeth fy hun, ac mae gennyf lawer o ffrindiau a theulu sy'n byw yno hefyd. Fel nifer o drefi ledled Cymru, mae Bwcle wedi newid dros y blynyddoedd, mae'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n siopa wedi newid, mae'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n gweithio a'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n byw wedi newid.
Ond rydych chi'n llygad eich lle ynghylch y rhan y gall Metro'r gogledd-ddwyrain ei chwarae ac, mewn gwirionedd, y cysylltiadau seilwaith hanfodol hynny mewn ystyr arall, fel banciau a fferyllfeydd hefyd. Pan welwn ni rai strydoedd mawr sydd wedi llwyddo i wrthsefyll y duedd ychydig, maen nhw wedi llwyddo i gadw'r pethau hynny sy'n denu ymwelwyr; dewch â phobl i mewn ac yna eu cymell i fynd i fusnesau annibynnol efallai ochr yn ochr â hynny. Felly, ydw, yn sicr rwyf wedi cael sgyrsiau gyda fy nghyd-Weinidog, Gweinidog yr Economi, ynghylch sut y gallwn ni ddefnyddio'r elfennau sydd ar gael inni gyda'n gilydd i sicrhau ein bod yn dod â gwasanaethau i gymunedau fel Bwcle ar hyd a lled y wlad.
O ran y sylw yr ydych chi'n ei wneud yn rhinwedd eich swyddogaeth yn gadeirydd y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar gwrw a thafarndai, sy'n swyddogaeth eithaf braf os caf i ddweud hynny, roedd yr ymgynghoriad a gawsom ni yn flaenorol yn cydnabod y swyddogaeth sydd gan dafarnau nid yn unig fel canolbwynt i'r gymuned, ond fel canolfan, fel y gwelsom ni mewn nifer o leoedd, efallai mewn trefi mwy gwledig, maen nhw mewn gwirionedd yn cynnal swyddfeydd post nawr, a chyfleustodau a siopau. Rwy'n gwybod fod y Gweinidog wedi ymrwymo i gyflwyno hynny cyn gynted ag sy'n bosibl yn ddeddfwriaethol.
Dwi'n croesawu, wrth gwrs, unrhyw fentrau i sicrhau bod buddsoddiad yn gallu mynd i mewn i ganol ein trefi. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen at weithio efo gwahanol fudiadau a chynghorau tref ac ati yn Ynys Môn i weld sut mae'n bosibl manteisio ar hyn—a gweithio yn Amlwch, er enghraifft, un o'r lleoedd sydd wedi gweld dirywiad canol tref dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf.
Ond jest eisiau sôn am un syniad penodol ydw i yn nhref Caergybi. Mae'n bwysig, wrth gwrs, wrth gynllunio ein canol trefi, ein bod ni'n gweithio ar draws gwahanol adrannau a dod â gwahanol gyrff cyhoeddus at ei gilydd. Mae yna argyfwng mewn gofal sylfaenol iechyd yng Nghaergybi ar hyn o bryd; y bwrdd iechyd wedi cymryd drosodd dwy syrjeri oherwydd diffyg meddygon, ac mae angen adeiladu gwasanaeth iechyd sylfaenol o'r newydd. Mae o wedi cael ei dynnu i fy sylw i bod yr hen siop Woolworths yng nghanol Caergybi—y math o beth a allai fod yn ddelfrydol ar gyfer agor canolfan iechyd aml-ddisgyblaethol newydd—yn berffaith oherwydd y math o adeilad ydy o, yng nghanol y dre ac â pharcio yno. Bydd yn dod â phobl i mewn wedyn, wrth gwrs, fel footfall i ganol Caergybi mewn ffordd a allai greu bwrlwm economaidd. Rŵan, mae yna opsiynau eraill yn cael eu hystyried wrth gwrs, ond dwi wedi cyflwyno'r syniad yna, ar ôl iddo fo gael ei dynnu i'n sylw i, i'r bwrdd iechyd; dwi'n gobeithio y gwnaiff yr awdurdod lleol ei gymryd o o ddifri hefyd. Ond, tra ddim yn gofyn i chi wneud penderfyniad heddiw, na rhoi arian, ydych chi'n cytuno efo fi mewn egwyddor bod y math yna o fenter yn un sydd wirioneddol yn clymu nifer o bethau at ei gilydd yr ydyn ni angen ei wneud a chael impact arnyn nhw, a'i fod o yn haeddu ystyriaeth fanwl?
Of course, I welcome any initiatives to ensure that there is investment in our town centres. I look forward to working with various organisations and town councils on Anglesey to see how we can take advantage of this—and working in Amlwch, for example, one of the places that has seen town-centre decline over the past few years.
But I just wanted to mention one specific idea in the town of Holyhead. It's important, of course, in planning our town centres, that we work across various departments and bring different public bodies together. There is a crisis in primary care in Holyhead at the moment; the health board has taken over two surgeries because of a shortage of doctors, and we do need to build a primary care service anew. Now, it's been drawn to my attention that the old Woolworths shop in the middle of Holyhead—the kind of site that could be ideal for opening a multidisciplinary health centre—would be perfect, because of the kind of building it is, in the town centre and there's parking available. It would then bring people in as footfall to the centre of Holyhead in a way that could cause economic regeneration. Now, other options are being considered, of course, but I have put forward that idea, as it was drawn to my attention, to the health board, and I hope that the local authority will take it seriously too. But, whilst not asking you to make a decision today, or to provide funding for it, do you agree with me in principle that that kind of initiative is one that truly ties in a number of elements that we need to do in order to have an impact on our town centres, and that it deserves detailed consideration?
Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Thank you for the question.
Yes, I think, to make a decision on funding or—[Inaudible.]—if I don't make a decision that's perhaps potentially above my pay grade to make anyway. But, the point you make about actually how we make use of those sites—. As the nature of our town centres has changed and those big retailers are not there; they don't have the presence that they used to, it's how we make use of those sites and use them in a different way and repurpose them. And, I think, certainly, the points you raise would fit very well with the town-centre-first approach.
Ydw, rwy'n credu, i wneud penderfyniad ynglŷn ag ariannu neu—[Anhyglyw.]—os nad wyf yn gwneud penderfyniad sydd efallai yn uwch na fy ngraddfa gyflog i'w wneud beth bynnag. Ond, y sylw yr ydych chi'n ei wneud ynglŷn â sut yr ydym ni'n defnyddio'r safleoedd hynny—. Gan fod natur canol ein trefi wedi newid ac nad yw'r manwerthwyr mawr hynny yno; nid oes ganddyn nhw'r presenoldeb yr oedd ganddyn nhw ar un adeg, mae ynglŷn â sut rydym ni'n defnyddio'r safleoedd hynny a'u defnyddio mewn ffordd wahanol a rhoi diben newydd iddynt. Ac, yn sicr, rwy'n credu y byddai'r sylwadau yr ydych chi'n eu gwneud yn cyd-fynd yn dda iawn â'r dull gweithredu o ystyried canol trefi yn gyntaf.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Minister, one aspect of our town centres that I think many people find very attractive is that distinctive offer that isn't just a replica of what you see in so many other town centres across the UK. So, rather than the big operators, the shops and stores that you see everywhere and distinctive local businesses, I think, are a great asset. I know that, in many areas, there's a wealth, actually, of local people, individuals and small businesses, who are involved in arts and crafts, in music and in providing local food produce. I think what would be really valuable would be to have mapping exercises where those individuals and small businesses are identified, brought together, and sometimes, premises identified, because, although individually, they might not be able to afford rents and premises, if they come together as a collective, or as a group, then that becomes feasible and possible.
But it does take somebody, Minister, to take the initiative to do that, and it may happen in some parts of Wales but not in others. So, in terms of Welsh Government showing a lead and taking a strategic approach, I wonder if there's anything in particular that Welsh Government might consider to ensure that sort of activity is structured and taken forward right across Wales.
And, one other thing, Minister: I know that in Caldicot, for example, in my patch in Newport East, one of the difficulties in taking forward policy around the town centre is identifying the private ownership of the shops, and then, engaging the owners. Very often, there's a lot of difficulty around that, and I wonder again whether there's anything that Welsh Government could do to provide the necessary support and help to deal with those issues.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Gweinidog, un agwedd ar ganol ein trefi y credaf fod llawer o bobl yn ei gweld yn ddeniadol iawn yw'r cynnig unigryw hwnnw nad yw'n ddyblygiad o'r hyn a welwch chi mewn cynifer o ganol trefi eraill ledled y DU. Felly, yn hytrach na'r cwmnïau mawr, mae'r siopau a'r storfeydd a welwch chi ym mhobman a'r busnesau lleol unigryw, rwy'n credu, yn gaffaeliad mawr. Rwy'n gwybod, mewn llawer o ardaloedd, bod cyfoeth, mewn gwirionedd, o bobl leol, unigolion a busnesau bach, sy'n ymwneud â chelf a chrefft, cerddoriaeth a darparu cynnyrch bwyd lleol. Rwy'n credu mai'r hyn a fyddai'n wirioneddol werthfawr fyddai cael ymarferion mapio lle mae'r unigolion a'r busnesau bach hynny yn cael eu nodi, eu dwyn ynghyd, ac weithiau, lle caiff safleoedd eu nodi, oherwydd, er yn unigol, efallai na fyddant yn gallu fforddio rhenti a safle, os dônt at ei gilydd fel cydweithfa, neu fel grŵp, yna daw hynny yn ddichonadwy ac yn bosibl.
Ond mae'n golygu bod yn rhaid i rywun, Gweinidog, gymryd y cam cyntaf i wneud hynny, ac efallai y bydd yn digwydd mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru ond nid mewn rhannau eraill. Felly, o ran bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn dangos arweiniad ac yn mynd ati mewn modd strategol, tybed a oes unrhyw beth yn benodol y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei ystyried i sicrhau bod y math hwnnw o weithgarwch wedi'i strwythuro a'i ddatblygu ledled Cymru.
Ac, un peth arall, Gweinidog: rwy'n gwybod, yng Nghil-y-coed, er enghraifft, yn fy ardal i yn Nwyrain Casnewydd, mai un o'r anawsterau wrth fwrw ymlaen â pholisi yng nghanol y dref yw canfod pwy yw perchenogion preifat y siopau, ac yna gweithio gyda'r perchnogion. Yn aml iawn, ceir llawer o anhawster wrth ymwneud â hynny, a tybed unwaith eto, a oes unrhyw beth y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i ddarparu'r gefnogaeth angenrheidiol a helpu i ymdrin â'r materion hynny.
I thank the Member for his contribution. Working on the assumption—on your last point in terms of the difficulty in identifying owners—that you're referring perhaps to buildings or premises that perhaps have been left empty, or have not been rented out for some time, this is what we hope that this enforcement fighting fund, coupled with the industry expert that will be with us, going out across local authorities from next month, will actually help to address. We will bring in his expertise, share that, train up and resource up our local authority counterparts so that they have the confidence, the resource and the funding to be able to take that on. And, once one or two have been challenged, then, hopefully, that sends a message within a community that, actually, if you're not going to co-operate and if you're going to be difficult, then action will be taken. And I'm more than happy to share more details of that with the Member as this approach develops.
You're right about the distinctive offer of a town or a community, because that's what makes it the place that it is, and I think, like I said before, it's not about trying to replicate that one-size-fits-all, but what works for a particular place and a particular community. And the point you make in terms of how we could use this to perhaps create something like a hub or a mechanism to provide that platform for people, who, as you said, wouldn't be able to afford the premises on their own, and have the resource to do that, is a very valid one. I know that some local authorities—and where I was yesterday, in Rhyl, they're looking at how they can use the old Queen's Market building there to bring in independent producers to link up with the local colleges and actually give an opportunity to students there to be able to have pop-up stalls, to develop business plans and get that experience, and to have that kind of step up to enable them, hopefully, and help them succeed, going forward. So perhaps that's one where we can go away and do some work on—how we can share these ideas and share these best practices, to see them replicated in towns and places right across Wales where they would be appropriate and most welcome.
Diolch i'r Aelod am ei gyfraniad. Gan weithio ar y dybiaeth—ynghylch eich sylw olaf o ran yr anhawster i ganfod perchnogion—eich bod yn cyfeirio efallai at adeiladau neu eiddo a adawyd yn wag efallai, neu nad ydynt wedi cael eu gosod ar rent ers tro, dyma'r hyn yr ydym ni'n gobeithio y bydd y gronfa orfodi hon, ynghyd â'r sawl fydd yn gweithio gyda ni sy'n arbenigwr yn y diwydiant, a fydd yn ymweld ag awdurdodau lleol gyda ni o'r mis nesaf ymlaen, mewn gwirionedd, yn helpu i fynd i'r afael ag ef. Byddwn yn elwa ar arbenigedd y gŵr hwn, yn rhannu hynny, yn hyfforddi ac yn rhoi'r adnoddau priodol i'n cymheiriaid mewn awdurdodau lleol fel bod ganddynt yr hyder, yr adnoddau a'r cyllid i allu ymgymryd â hynny. Ac, ar ôl i un neu ddau gael eu herio, yna, gobeithio, y bydd hynny'n anfon neges drwy gymuned yn dweud, mewn gwirionedd, os na fyddwch chi'n cydweithredu ac os ydych chi'n mynd i fod yn anodd, yna fe weithredir yn eich erbyn. Ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i rannu mwy o fanylion am hynny gyda'r Aelod wrth i'r dull gweithredu hwn ddatblygu.
Rydych chi'n gywir am yr elfen unigryw sydd gan dref neu gymuned i'w chynnig, oherwydd dyna sy'n ei gwneud yr hyn ydyw, ac rwy'n credu, fel y dywedais o'r blaen, nid yw'n ymwneud â cheisio efelychu un peth penodol, ond yr hyn sy'n gweithio ar gyfer lle penodol a chymuned benodol. A'r sylw yr ydych chi'n ei wneud o ran sut y gallwn ni ddefnyddio hyn i greu, efallai, rhywbeth fel canolfan neu gyfrwng i roi'r cyfle hwnnw i bobl, na fyddent, fel y gwnaethoch chi ddweud, yn gallu fforddio'r safle ar eu pen eu hunain, a bod â'r adnoddau i wneud hynny, yn un dilys iawn. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhai awdurdodau lleol—a lle'r oeddwn i ddoe, yn y Rhyl, maen nhw'n ystyried sut y gallan nhw ddefnyddio hen adeilad Marchnad y Frenhines i ddenu cynhyrchwyr annibynnol i gysylltu â'r colegau lleol a rhoi cyfle mewn gwirionedd i fyfyrwyr gael stondinau dros dro, i ddatblygu cynlluniau busnes a chael y profiad hwnnw, a chael y math hwnnw o gyfle i'w galluogi, gobeithio, a'u helpu i lwyddo, yn y dyfodol. Felly efallai bod hynny'n rhywbeth y gallwn ni wneud rhywfaint o waith arno—sut y gallwn ni rannu'r syniadau hyn a rhannu'r arferion gorau hyn, i'w gweld yn cael eu hailadrodd mewn trefi a lleoedd ledled Cymru lle byddent yn briodol ac y byddai'r croeso mwyaf iddynt.
Thank you, Deputy Minister, for your statement here today. I've got three quick questions for you. Firstly, around your comments on the town-centre-first principle, in my constituency, in the Cynon Valley, I've seen some really positive examples, where the council has enhanced the public service offers available in our town centres. And I agree with your estimate of the benefits of doing this. As you mentioned, locating the Transport for Wales headquarters in Pontypridd is a great example of this principle in action. What I'd like to know is how the Welsh Government is engaging with other partners in the public sector, and, indeed, in private sector enterprises also, to encourage them into town centres.
Secondly, you mentioned the additional £10 million loan funding to bring empty and under-utilised buildings in town centres back into use. I think that's something that's really to be mentioned. Again, some excellent examples in Rhondda Cynon Taf of the local authority stepping in to deliver similar schemes. I'm thinking of the mixed-use Boot Hotel plans in Aberdare town centre, for example. So I wonder if you could give us a little more information, because I know this is something that my constituents would dearly like to see more of.
And my third and final question is, just in relation to your mention of the fund aimed at unlocking strategic stalled sites that could be used for housing. I'm wondering how that would tie in with the stalled sites fund that was announced around two years ago, and what, if any, would be any significant differences between the two.
Diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog, am eich datganiad yma heddiw. Mae gen i dri chwestiwn cyflym i chi. Yn gyntaf, o ran eich sylwadau ar yr egwyddor o roi canol y dref yn gyntaf, yn fy etholaeth i, yng Nghwm Cynon, rwyf wedi gweld rhai enghreifftiau gwirioneddol gadarnhaol, lle mae'r cyngor wedi gwella'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus sy'n cael eu cynnig yng nghanol ein trefi. Ac rwy'n cytuno â'ch amcangyfrif o fanteision gwneud hyn. Fel y gwnaethoch chi sôn, mae lleoli pencadlys Trafnidiaeth Cymru ym Mhontypridd yn enghraifft wych o'r egwyddor hon ar waith. Yr hyn yr hoffwn i ei wybod yw sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymgysylltu â phartneriaid eraill yn y sector cyhoeddus, ac, yn wir, mewn mentrau sector preifat hefyd, i'w hannog i mewn i ganol trefi.
Yn ail, fe wnaethoch chi sôn am y £10 miliwn o arian ychwanegol drwy'r gronfa fenthyciadau i sicrhau bod adeiladau gwag a rhannol segur yng nghanol y dref yn cael eu defnyddio unwaith eto. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n rhywbeth sydd wir angen ei grybwyll. Unwaith eto, mae rhai enghreifftiau rhagorol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf o'r awdurdod lleol yn ymyrryd i ddarparu cynlluniau tebyg. Rwy'n meddwl am gynlluniau defnydd cymysg Gwesty Boot yng nghanol tref Aberdâr, er enghraifft. Felly tybed a wnewch chi roi ychydig mwy o wybodaeth i ni, gan fy mod yn gwybod bod hwn yn rhywbeth y byddai fy etholwyr i'n hoffi gweld mwy ohono.
Ac mae fy nhrydydd cwestiwn a'r olaf yn ymwneud â'r ffaith eich bod yn sôn am y gronfa i geisio rhyddhau safleoedd segur strategol y byddai modd eu defnyddio ar gyfer tai. Tybed sut y byddai hynny'n cyd-fynd â'r gronfa safleoedd segur a gyflwynwyd tua dwy flynedd yn ôl, a beth, os o gwbl, yw'r gwahaniaethau arwyddocaol rhwng y ddau.
Thank you, Vikki, for your contributions and questions. The town-centre-first principle—you are right, actually; you can see that, in principle, the sentiment behind it is common sense, really. You can see the difference it makes, including on the site in Colwyn Bay too—the difference that they've seen there. When they created the council buildings, one of the conscious decisions they had was not only to move to a town centre location, but to not have a canteen. And that's not because they were being unnecessarily mean to the staff and to the employees—there's still a facility there to do your meals, and make your tea and coffee and things—but actually to try and encourage that engagement with the local community, to go out and to support local businesses as well, both before and after work. And also actually how the local authority now is perhaps thinking about other services they can bring into that space, to bring more people into the building and into town as well.
And right across the public sector, this has cross-Government support, and that doesn't just mean in terms of our own Government approach, in terms of our locations strategy, moving forward, but actually the work we do perhaps through the various health boards, through education, through local authorities, and the work with housing associations, and other bodies too. So, it's something that—the question, to go through the prism of town-centre-first, should be applied across the piece, moving forward.
And, as you rightly say RCT is a really good example, in terms of bringing properties back into use, and there are projects that have been run by the council as well. I know when I gave evidence to the committee about empty properties that that was cited as a very positive example, which I'd like to see replicated elsewhere. And I think, in terms of actually doing that, there is that money behind them right now, with the enforcement fund and the expertise, to actually make that happen more at pace and scale, right across the country. But also, I think what I'd say to your constituents, in terms of what we want to see there in place, I think it actually goes back to how we better and more involve communities in shaping that agenda too. So, as I said, I invite the Member, if you've got suggestions from your constituents on how best to do that in the future, then they'd be very welcome.
Diolch Vikki am eich cyfraniadau a'ch cwestiynau. Egwyddor canol y dref yn gyntaf—rydych chi'n gywir, mewn gwirionedd; gallwch chi weld, mewn egwyddor, fod y syniad y tu ôl iddo yn synnwyr cyffredin, mewn gwirionedd. Gallwch chi weld y gwahaniaeth y mae'n ei wneud, gan gynnwys ar y safle ym Mae Colwyn hefyd—y gwahaniaeth y maen nhw wedi'i weld yno. Wrth greu adeiladau'r Cyngor, un o'r penderfyniadau ymwybodol a wnaethon nhw oedd nid yn unig symud i leoliad canol tref, ond i beidio â chael ffreutur. Ac nid oherwydd eu bod yn ddiangen o gas i'r staff ac i'r gweithwyr—mae cyfleuster yno o hyd i wneud eich prydau, a gwneud eich te a'ch coffi a phethau—ond mewn gwirionedd i geisio annog yr ymgysylltiad hwnnw â'r gymuned leol, i fynd allan a chefnogi busnesau lleol hefyd, cyn ac ar ôl gwaith. A hefyd, mewn gwirionedd, sut y mae'r awdurdod lleol nawr yn meddwl am wasanaethau eraill y gallan nhw ddod â hwy i'r gofod hwnnw, i ddenu mwy o bobl i'r adeilad ac i'r dref hefyd.
Ac ar draws y sector cyhoeddus drwyddo draw, mae gan hyn gefnogaeth drawslywodraethol, ac nid yw hynny'n golygu dim ond ein dull gweithredu fel Llywodraeth, o ran ein strategaeth lleoliadau, o hyn ymlaen, ond mewn gwirionedd y gwaith a wnawn ni efallai drwy'r amryw fyrddau iechyd, drwy addysg, drwy awdurdodau lleol, a'r gwaith gyda chymdeithasau tai, a chyrff eraill hefyd. Felly, mae'n rhywbeth y dylid ei ddefnyddio—y cwestiwn, o fynd drwy'r prism o ganol y dref yn gyntaf, o hyn ymlaen.
Ac roeddech chi yn llygaid eich lle, mae RhCT yn enghraifft wirioneddol dda, o ran defnyddio eiddo unwaith eto, ac mae prosiectau sydd wedi cael eu cynnal gan y cyngor hefyd. Gwn i pan roddais i dystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor ynghylch eiddo gwag fod hynny'n cael ei grybwyll fel enghraifft gadarnhaol iawn, yr hoffwn i ei gweld yn cael ei hefelychu mewn mannau eraill. A chredaf i, o ran gwneud hynny, fod yr arian hwnnw y tu ôl iddyn nhw ar hyn o bryd, gyda'r gronfa orfodi a'r arbenigedd, i wneud i hynny ddigwydd yn gyflymach ac ar raddfa fwy, ledled y wlad. Ond hefyd, rwy'n credu yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud wrth eich etholwyr, o ran yr hyn yr ydym ni eisiau ei weld yn ei le, rwy'n credu ei fod yn mynd yn ôl i'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n gwella ac yn cynnwys cymunedau'n well wrth lunio'r agenda honno hefyd. Felly, fel y dywedais i, rwy'n gwahodd yr Aelod, os oes gennych chi awgrymiadau gan eich etholwyr ynglŷn â'r ffordd orau o wneud hynny yn y dyfodol, yna byddai croeso mawr iddyn nhw.
Thank you very much, Deputy Minister.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Weinidog.
Item 7 on the agenda this afternoon is the Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. And I call on the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd to move the motion. Rebecca Evans.
Eitem 7 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Cyfraddau Treth) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2020. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Cyllid a'r Trefnydd i gynnig y cynnig. Rebecca Evans.
Cynnig NDM7240 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru; yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Cyfraddau Treth) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2020 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 7 Ionawr 2020.
Motion NDM7240 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales; in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 7 January 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
The Welsh Revenue Authority has successfully been collecting and managing landfill disposal tax for the last two years. It has worked closely with landfill site operators to support them in the administration of the tax, and has established a strong working relationship with Natural Resources Wales. So far, in the first two quarters of this financial year, tax assessed is £21 million and accounts for just over 530,000 tonnes of waste.
I will now talk to the Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, which relate to setting the 2021 tax rates for landfill disposals tax. These regulations set the standard, lower and unauthorised disposal rates for landfill disposals tax, which, subject to the outcome of today’s debate, will apply to taxable disposals made on or after 1 April.
In developing these regulations, consideration has been given to how the rates being set support the objective of reducing waste sent to landfill. A reduction in LDT rates may encourage greater landfill disposals in Wales, which is not consistent with the Welsh Government’s aim to reduce landfill disposals. Increasing rates might incentivise unauthorised disposals of waste. These regulations maintain an appropriate cost to the disposal of waste to landfill sites to incentivise more environmentally sensitive activities, such as the reduction and recycling of waste.
In accordance with the announcement of the draft budget in December, the standard and lower rates for landfill disposals tax will increase in line with the consumer price index. This approach also ensures that the rate remains consistent with the UK tax for the next financial year, providing the stability that businesses have so clearly told us they need.
By setting the same tax rate as the UK Government, public services in Wales will continue to benefit from tax revenue, while ensuring that the risk of movement of waste across the border is reduced. The standard rate will be increased to £94.15 per tonne and the lower rate will be £3 per tonne. The unauthorised rate will be set at 150 per cent of the standard rate, which seeks to encourage illegal operators to take their waste to an authorised landfill site and to sort their waste for onward recovery, reuse and recycling in order to reduce the amount of waste landfilled. The unauthorised rate will be £141.20. So, I ask the Members for their support for these regulations this afternoon.
Mae Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru wedi bod yn casglu a rheoli treth gwarediadau tirlenwi yn llwyddiannus am y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf. Mae wedi gweithio'n agos gyda gweithredwyr safleoedd tirlenwi i'w cefnogi wrth weinyddu'r dreth, ac mae wedi sefydlu perthynas waith gref â Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru. Hyd yn hyn, yn nau chwarter cyntaf y flwyddyn ariannol hon, mae'r dreth a aseswyd yn £21 miliwn ac yn cyfrif am ychydig dros 530,000 tunnell o wastraff.
Byddaf i nawr yn siarad ynghylch Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Cyfraddau Treth) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2020, sy'n ymwneud â gosod cyfraddau treth 2021 ar gyfer treth gwarediadau tirlenwi. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn gosod y cyfraddau safonol, is ac anawdurdodedig ar gyfer treth gwarediadau tirlenwi, a fydd, yn amodol ar ganlyniad y ddadl heddiw, yn gymwys i warediadau trethadwy a wneir ar neu ar ôl 1 Ebrill.
Wrth ddatblygu'r rheoliadau hyn, ystyriwyd sut mae'r cyfraddau sy'n cael eu gosod yn cefnogi'r amcan o leihau'r gwastraff sy'n cael ei hanfon i safleoedd tirlenwi. Gallai gostyngiad mewn cyfraddau treth gwarediadau tirlenwi annog mwy o warediadau tirlenwi yng Nghymru, nad yw'n gyson â nod Llywodraeth Cymru o leihau gwarediadau tirlenwi. Gallai cynyddu cyfraddau gymell achosion o waredu gwastraff heb awdurdod. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn cynnal cost briodol i waredu gwastraff i safleoedd tirlenwi er mwyn cymell gweithgareddau sy'n fwy amgylcheddol sensitif, megis lleihau ac ailgylchu gwastraff.
Yn unol â chyhoeddi'r gyllideb ddrafft ym mis Rhagfyr, bydd y cyfraddau safonol ac is ar gyfer treth gwarediadau tirlenwi yn cynyddu yn unol â'r mynegai prisiau defnyddwyr. Mae'r dull hwn hefyd yn sicrhau bod y gyfradd yn parhau i fod yn gyson â threth y DU ar gyfer y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf, gan ddarparu'r sefydlogrwydd y mae busnesau wedi dweud wrthym ni mor glir y bod ei angen arnyn nhw.
Drwy bennu yr un gyfradd dreth â Llywodraeth y DU, bydd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru yn parhau i elwa ar refeniw treth, gan sicrhau bod y risg o symud gwastraff ar draws y ffin wedi'i lleihau. Bydd y gyfradd safonol yn cael ei chynyddu i £94.15 y dunnell a'r gyfradd isaf fydd £3 y dunnell. Caiff y gyfradd anawdurdodedig ei phennu ar 150 y cant o'r gyfradd safonol, sy'n ceisio annog gweithredwyr anghyfreithlon i fynd â'u gwastraff i safle tirlenwi awdurdodedig ac i ddidoli eu gwastraff i'w adfer, ei ailddefnyddio a'i ailgylchu er mwyn lleihau maint y gwastraff sy'n mynd i safleoedd tirlenwi. Y gyfradd anawdurdodedig fydd £141.20. Felly, gofynnaf i'r Aelodau am eu cefnogaeth i'r rheoliadau hyn y prynhawn yma.
Thank you. Can I call on Dai Lloyd to speak on behalf of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee? Dai.
Diolch. A gaf i alw ar Dai Lloyd i siarad ar ran y Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol? Dai.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ie, Rheoliadau Treth Gwarediadau Tirlenwi (Cyfraddau Treth) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2020. Gwnaethom ni osod ein hadroddiad mewn perthynas efo'r rheoliadau yma gerbron y Senedd ar 21 Ionawr. Cododd ein hadroddiad un pwynt o ragoriaeth bach, ond pwysig, o dan Reol Sefydlog 21.3(i).
Bydd y rheoliadau yn diwygio'r gyfradd safonol, y gyfradd is a’r gyfradd gwarediadau anawdurdodedig ar gyfer treth gwarediadau tirlenwi a fydd yn berthnasol i warediadau trethadwy a wneir ar 1 Ebrill 2020 neu wedi hynny yng Nghymru. Gobeithio eich bod chi i gyd yn dilyn. [Chwerthin.]
Yn unol ag adran 25 o Ddeddf Casglu a Rheoli Trethi (Cymru) 2016, rhaid i Awdurdod Cyllid Cymru dalu'r trethi a gesglir i gronfa gyfunol Cymru. Fel offeryn cadarnhaol dros dro, neu offeryn cadarnhaol a wnaed, rhoddwyd y rheoliadau ar waith yn gyfreithiol ar 6 Ionawr 2020, ond rhaid i'r Cynulliad eu cymeradwyo er mwyn i'r rheoliadau barhau i gael effaith. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Yes, these are the Landfill Disposals Tax (Tax Rates) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 before us. We laid our report in respect of these regulations before the Assembly—indeed, the Senedd—on 21 January. Our report raised one small but important merits point under Standing Order 21.3(i).
The regulations will amend the standard rate, the lower rate and the unauthorised disposals rate for landfill disposals tax that will apply to taxable disposals made on or after 1 April 2020 in Wales. I hope that you're all following me. [Laughter.]
In accordance with section 25 of the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016, the Welsh Revenue Authority must pay the collected taxes into the Welsh consolidated fund. As a provisional or made-affirmative instrument, the regulations were signed into law on 6 January 2020, but must be approved by the Assembly in order for the regulations to continue to have effect. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Minister to reply.
Diolch. Y Gweinidog i ymateb.
I will just take the opportunity to thank the Chair and the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee for their work in scrutinising this piece of legislation.
Cymeraf i'r cyfle i ddiolch i'r Cadeirydd a'r Pwyllgor Materion Cyfansoddiadol a Deddfwriaethol am eu gwaith wrth graffu ar y darn hwn o ddeddfwriaeth.
The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Y cynnig yw bod y cynnig yn cael ei gytuno. A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Na. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.
Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
We now move to item 8 on the agenda this afternoon, which is a debate on Stage 4 of the Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill. I call on the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services to move that motion, Julie Morgan.
Symudwn ni nawr at eitem 8 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma, sef dadl ar Gyfnod 4 Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru). Galwaf ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i gynnig y cynnig hwnnw, Julie Morgan.
Cynnig NDM7246 Julie Morgan
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.47:
Yn cymeradwyo'r Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru).
Motion NDM7246 Julie Morgan
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with Standing Order 26.47:
Approves the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Diolch, and opening this Stage 4 debate is a huge privilege. I believe that we should be proud that our nation has taken forward this important reform to ensure that children have the same protection from physical punishment as adults.
Like me, many in this Chamber, past and present, from different parties, and many stakeholders across many different sectors, including those who I know are here in the gallery tonight, have campaigned long and hard for this legislation over many years—decades in fact. I believe I've been campaigning for 20 years for it with many others.
So, your perseverance has helped bring Wales one step closer to affording children the right to be protected from all forms of physical punishment. And I want to thank all those organisations and all those individuals here in the Chamber, and past Members of this Assembly, for what they have done. And I would also like to thank the Children's Commissioner for Wales for her leadership on this issue, including on the international stage. And so, this shows what can be achieved when we work together, putting children's rights at the forefront.
Diolch, ac mae agor dadl Cyfnod 4 yn fraint enfawr. Credaf y dylem ni ymfalchïo yn y ffaith bod ein cenedl wedi bwrw ymlaen â'r diwygiad pwysig hwn i sicrhau bod plant yn cael yr un amddiffyniad rhag cosb gorfforol ag oedolion.
Fel minnau, mae llawer yn y Siambr hon, yn y gorffennol a'r presennol, o wahanol bleidiau, a llawer o randdeiliaid ar draws llawer o wahanol sectorau, gan gynnwys y rhai y gwn i eu bod yma yn yr oriel heno, wedi ymgyrchu'n hir ac yn galed dros y ddeddfwriaeth hon ers blynyddoedd lawer—degawdau mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi bod yn ymgyrchu ers 20 mlynedd o'i phlaid gyda llawer o rai eraill.
Felly, mae eich dyfalbarhad wedi helpu i ddod â Chymru un cam yn nes at roi'r hawl i blant gael eu diogelu rhag pob math o gosb gorfforol. Ac rwyf eisiau diolch i'r holl sefydliadau hynny a'r holl unigolion hynny yma yn y Siambr, a chyn-Aelodau'r Cynulliad hwn, am yr hyn y maen nhw wedi'i wneud. A hoffwn i hefyd ddiolch i Gomisiynydd Plant Cymru am ei harweiniad ar y mater hwn, gan gynnwys ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol. Ac felly, mae hyn yn dangos yr hyn y gellir ei gyflawni pan fyddwn ni'n gweithio gyda'n gilydd, gan roi lle blaenllaw i hawliau plant.
Many people of an older generation will recall being physically punished both by parents at home and by teachers at school. But things have changed, and this Bill is not about judging the actions or decisions of parents in the past, whose parenting decisions were based on the information and social norms prevalent then. Certainly, there is more research, professional advice and psychological insight available to today's parents, helping them raise children without resorting to physical punishment.
So, the overarching aim of this Bill is to help protect children's rights. Removing the defence of reasonable punishment brings Wales in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is central to our approach to give children the best start in life, and to help them achieve their potential. It'll provide much-need clarity to parents and the professionals who work with families. It will eliminate the current potential for confusion and ambiguity in how we expect children to be treated. And front-line professionals have said repeatedly that this clarity will improve their ability to protect children living in Wales.
But, clearly, two things will be of critical importance to ensure the Bill benefits children and their families: firstly, making sure that everyone is aware that the law has changed; and, secondly, support for parents to adopt positive parenting styles. And as you know, I am absolutely committed to these important activities. Subject to the passage of the Bill through this final stage and to Royal Assent being granted, the awareness raising will begin in the spring and continue for a number of years after the law changes. And as with our parenting support provision, we will be providing parents with information in a number of different formats to suit a range of needs.
During the passage of this Bill, we gathered valuable evidence that helped to inform our thinking, not only in the development of the legislation, but also in considering its impact and implementation. A great many people have contributed their time, energy and knowledge, and I thank them sincerely. I'd like to acknowledge the help and support from the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, social services, education and health professionals, and others who have tirelessly worked with us over this Assembly term. And I thank them in advance for their ongoing support, including through our implementation groups, to ensure that this law will be implemented in the most practical and pragmatic way. And I want to particularly thank all the Welsh Government officials who have worked tirelessly on the Bill—they could not have done more.
I'm grateful to all Members who've contributed to the scrutiny of this Bill, and to Huw Irranca-Davies for his early involvement with the Bill, and to Carl Sargeant, for the role they both played in the Bill's development. And let me pay tribute to the three committees for their support and challenge. The Children, Young People and Education Committee: under Chair, Lynne Neagle, their detailed and thorough scrutiny of the Bill gave voice to many different views, including from children and young people. The committee's Stage 1 report recommendations led to Government amendments and identified areas that could be strengthened at Stages 2 and 3. One such area was providing certainty around the date the law will change, and to provide for a period of two years between Royal Assent and commencement. My Stage 2 amendment secures sufficient time for partner organisations to be ready for the change in the law and for the awareness-raising campaign. I'd like to thank Janet Finch-Saunders and Suzy Davies for a constructive discussion following Stage 2. As a result, the Bill now includes a provision strengthening the post-implementation review.
I want to reassure Members concerned about the impact of this Bill that we have already made significant progress in preparing for implementation. We have been, and will continue to work in collaboration with all key partners through our strategic implementation group, which is up and running with enthusiastic participants and associated task and finish groups. And I will continue to update the Senedd on this work.
This is a historic moment in Welsh history. Our example is already encouraging people worldwide who wish to end the physical punishment of children. I commend this Bill to the Senedd.
Bydd llawer o bobl o genhedlaeth hŷn yn cofio cael eu cosbi'n gorfforol gan rieni yn y cartref a gan athrawon yn yr ysgol. Ond mae pethau wedi newid, ac nid yw'r Bil hwn yn ymwneud â barnu gweithredoedd neu benderfyniadau rhieni yn y gorffennol, roedd eu penderfyniadau rhianta yn seiliedig ar y wybodaeth a'r normau cymdeithasol a oedd yn gyffredin bryd hynny. Yn sicr, mae mwy o ymchwil, cyngor proffesiynol a mewnwelediad seicolegol ar gael i rieni heddiw, sy'n eu helpu i fagu plant heb orfod troi at gosb gorfforol.
Felly, nod cyffredinol y Bil hwn yw helpu i ddiogelu hawliau plant. Mae cael gwared ar yr amddiffyniad o gosb resymol yn sicrhau bod Cymru yn cydymffurfio â Chonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn, sy'n ganolog i'n dull gweithredu o roi'r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd i blant, ac i'w helpu i gyflawni eu potensial. Bydd yn rhoi'r eglurder y mae ei angen yn ddirfawr i rieni a'r bobl broffesiynol sy'n gweithio gyda theuluoedd. Bydd yn dileu'r perygl presennol o ddryswch ac amwysedd o ran sut yr ydym ni'n disgwyl i blant gael eu trin. Ac mae gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen wedi dweud dro ar ôl tro y bydd yr eglurder hwn yn gwella eu gallu i amddiffyn plant sy'n byw yng Nghymru.
Ond, yn amlwg, bydd dau beth yn dyngedfennol bwysig i sicrhau bod y Bil o fudd i blant a'u teuluoedd: yn gyntaf, sicrhau bod pawb yn ymwybodol bod y gyfraith wedi newid; ac, yn ail, cymorth i rieni fabwysiadu arddulliau rhianta cadarnhaol. Ac fel y gwyddoch chi, rwyf i wedi ymrwymo'n llwyr i'r gweithgareddau pwysig hyn. Yn amodol ar basio'r Bil drwy'r cyfnod terfynol hwn a chael Cydsyniad Brenhinol, bydd y broses o godi ymwybyddiaeth yn dechrau yn y gwanwyn ac yn parhau am nifer o flynyddoedd ar ôl i'r gyfraith newid. A fel gyda'n darpariaeth o gymorth rhianta, byddwn i'n darparu gwybodaeth i rieni mewn nifer o wahanol fformatau i ddiwallu amrywiaeth o anghenion.
Yn ystod hynt y Bil hwn, casglwyd tystiolaeth werthfawr a fu'n gymorth i lywio ein meddylfryd, nid yn unig wrth ddatblygu'r ddeddfwriaeth, ond hefyd wrth ystyried ei heffaith a'i gweithrediad. Mae llawer iawn o bobl wedi cyfrannu eu hamser, eu hegni a'u gwybodaeth, a diolchaf yn ddiffuant iddyn nhw. Hoffwn i gydnabod y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth gan yr heddlu, Gwasanaeth Erlyn y Goron, y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, gweithwyr proffesiynol addysg ac iechyd, ac eraill sydd wedi gweithio'n ddiflino gyda ni yn ystod y tymor Cynulliad hwn. A hoffwn i ddiolch iddyn nhw ymlaen llaw am eu cymorth parhaus, gan gynnwys drwy ein grwpiau gweithredu, i sicrhau y caiff y gyfraith hon ei gweithredu yn y ffordd fwyaf ymarferol a phragmatig. Ac rwyf eisiau diolch yn arbennig i holl swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru sydd wedi gweithio'n ddiflino ar y Bil—ni allen nhw fod wedi gwneud mwy.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r holl Aelodau sydd wedi cyfrannu at y gwaith o graffu ar y Bil hwn, ac i Huw Irranca-Davies am ei gysylltiad cynnar â'r Bil, ac i Carl Sargeant, am y rhan a chwaraeodd y ddau ohonyn nhw yn natblygiad y Bil. A gadewch i mi dalu teyrnged i'r tri phwyllgor am eu cefnogaeth a'u her. Y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg: o dan y Cadeirydd, Lynne Neagle, roedd eu gwaith craffu manwl a thrylwyr ar y Bil wedi rhoi llais i lawer o wahanol safbwyntiau, gan gynnwys rhai gan blant a phobl ifanc. Arweiniodd argymhellion adroddiad Cyfnod 1 y Pwyllgor at welliannau gan y Llywodraeth a nododd feysydd y byddai modd eu hatgyfnerthu yng Nghyfnodau 2 a 3. Un maes o'r fath oedd rhoi sicrwydd ynghylch y dyddiad y bydd y gyfraith yn newid, ac i ddarparu ar gyfer cyfnod o ddwy flynedd rhwng y Cydsyniad Brenhinol a'r dyddiad dod i rym. Mae fy ngwelliant yng Nghyfnod 2 yn sicrhau digon o amser i sefydliadau partner fod yn barod ar gyfer y newid yn y gyfraith ac ar gyfer yr ymgyrch codi ymwybyddiaeth. Hoffwn i ddiolch i Janet Finch-Saunders a Suzy Davies am drafodaeth adeiladol yn dilyn Cyfnod 2. O ganlyniad, mae'r Bil bellach yn cynnwys darpariaeth sy'n cryfhau'r adolygiad ôl-weithredu.
Mae arnaf i eisiau sicrhau Aelodau sy'n pryderu am effaith y Bil hwn ein bod eisoes wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol wrth baratoi ar gyfer gweithredu. Rydym ni wedi bod yn cydweithio â'r holl bartneriaid allweddol, a byddwn ni'n parhau i wneud hynny, drwy ein grŵp gweithredu strategol, sydd ar waith gyda chyfranogwyr brwdfrydig a grwpiau gorchwyl a gorffen cysylltiedig. A byddaf i'n parhau i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd am y gwaith hwn.
Dyma foment hanesyddol yn hanes Cymru. Mae ein hesiampl eisoes yn annog pobl ledled y byd sydd eisiau roi terfyn ar gosbi plant yn gorfforol. Rwy'n cymeradwyo'r Bil hwn i'r Senedd.
Thank you. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch. Janet Finch-Saunders.
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to speak in the final stage of the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill.
This Bill is a free vote among the Welsh Conservative group, and I'd certainly like to reassure Members that, as spokesperson, I have listened to all sides of the debate, all evidence laid before the committee, and all of the Deputy Minister’s own statements on this issue. I was pleased to see engagement throughout the Bill’s progress, as well as some compromise from the Deputy Minister at Stage 3, which led to our amendments on reporting standards being accepted as part of this Bill.
Nevertheless, from my own perspective, I remain still unconvinced that removing the defence of reasonable punishment is right or fair for Wales. As I have said throughout the Bill’s progress, we have laws and systems already in place to protect the rights of the child, and we could have considered other options to change the behaviour of parents, such as civil liability.
With this Bill, the state is now stepping into the private lives of families, and through the involvement of the police and social services to enforce the smacking ban, this will potentially have far-reaching consequences for us all. Exposing parents to criminal liability for smacking their children should be the last resort of a Government, not the first.
It is the short-term thinking of this Government behind a long-term issue that concerns me the most. Today, this Welsh Parliament has been left the choice of passing a Bill that didn't have an in-depth costing for our public services from the start, and we now find out, from a letter that I've acquired, which is from the Chair of the Finance Committee, Llyr Gruffydd, of their concerns that since the explanatory memorandum the Bill has increased from a range of between £2.3 million and £3.7 million, to £6.2 million and £7.9 million. The revised regulatory impact assessment provides a total cost of awareness-raising activities of £2.8 million, previously in a range of £1.3 million; information on out-of-court disposal schemes, not originally costed, is now estimated to cost between £810,000 and £2.5 million; costs for staff working in a safeguarding role, who will need to familiarise themselves with new guidance, has been included—£882,000; costs of the task and finish implementation group, £620,000; and costs of the post-implementation review, £100,000. And it goes on. This is a letter that has been signed by a committee in this Assembly—
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n ddiolchgar bod gennyf y cyfle i siarad yng ngham terfynol Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru).
Mae'r Bil hwn yn bleidlais rydd ymhlith grŵp Ceidwadwyr Cymru, ac yn sicr hoffwn i sicrhau Aelodau fy mod i, fel llefarydd, wedi gwrando ar bob ochr o'r ddadl, yr holl dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd gerbron y Pwyllgor, a holl ddatganiadau'r Dirprwy Weinidog ei hun ar y mater hwn. Roeddwn i'n falch o weld ymgysylltu drwy gydol hynt y Bil, yn ogystal â rhywfaint o gyfaddawdu gan y Dirprwy Weinidog yng Nghyfnod 3, a arweiniodd at dderbyn ein gwelliannau ar safonau adrodd yn rhan o'r Bil hwn.
Fodd bynnag, o fy safbwynt i fy hun, nid wyf eto wedi fy argyhoeddi bod dileu amddiffyniad cosb resymol yn iawn nac yn deg i Gymru. Fel yr wyf wedi'i ddweud drwy gydol hynt y Bil, mae gennym ni gyfreithiau a systemau eisoes ar waith i amddiffyn hawliau'r plentyn, a gallem ni fod wedi ystyried dewisiadau eraill i newid ymddygiad rhieni, megis atebolrwydd sifil.
Drwy'r Bil hwn, mae'r wladwriaeth bellach yn camu i mewn i fywydau preifat teuluoedd, a drwy gynnwys yr heddlu a'r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol i orfodi'r gwaharddiad ar smacio, mae'n bosibl y bydd gan hyn effeithiau pellgyrhaeddol ar bob un ohonom ni. Dylai gwneud rhieni yn agored i atebolrwydd troseddol am smacio eu plant fod yn ddewis olaf i unrhyw Lywodraeth, nid y dewis cyntaf.
Meddylfryd tymor byr y Llywodraeth hon y tu ôl i fater hirdymor sy'n peri'r pryder mwyaf i mi. Heddiw, mae'r Senedd Cymru hon yn gorfod dewis pasio Bil nad oedd wedi'i gostio'n fanwl ar gyfer ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o'r cychwyn cyntaf, ac rydym yn cael gwybod yn awr, drwy lythyr yr wyf wedi cael gafael arno, gan Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cyllid, Llyr Gruffydd, am eu pryderon bod y Bil, ers y memorandwm esboniadol, wedi cynyddu o ystod o rhwng £2.3 miliwn a £3.7 miliwn, i rhwng £6.2 miliwn a £7.9 miliwn. Mae'r asesiad o effaith rheoleiddiol diwygiedig yn rhoi cyfanswm cost gweithgareddau codi ymwybyddiaeth o £2.8 miliwn, a oedd gynt o fewn ystod o £1.3 miliwn; Amcangyfrifir y bydd gwybodaeth am gynlluniau gwarediadau y tu allan i'r llys, nad oedd wedi eu costio yn wreiddiol, yn costio rhwng £810,000 a £2.5 miliwn erbyn hyn; mae costau i staff sy'n gweithio mewn swydd ddiogelu, y bydd angen iddyn nhw ymgyfarwyddo â chanllawiau newydd, wedi'u cynnwys—£882,000; costau'r grŵp gweithredu gorchwyl a gorffen, £620,000; a chostau'r adolygiad ôl-weithredu, £100,000. Ac mae'n mynd ymlaen. Dyma lythyr sydd wedi ei lofnodi gan bwyllgor yn y Cynulliad hwn—
Would you take an intervention—
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad—
Yes, of course.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs.
—given that you've referred to a letter with my name on it? In fairness to members of the committee, those figures are figures that were requested by the committee, and the Government, in sincerity, provided those figures. There is a disparity between what was initially tabled, and what subsequently was before us, but, of course, that is the whole point of having a scrutiny process. It shows that it does work, and, of course, Members today can vote for or against based on the evidence that the Government, in fairness, has brought forward.
—o ystyried eich bod wedi cyfeirio at lythyr gyda fy enw i arno? A bod yn deg ag aelodau'r pwyllgor, mae'r ffigurau hynny yn ffigurau y gofynnwyd amdanyn nhw gan y Pwyllgor, ac fe wnaeth y Llywodraeth, yn ddidwyll, ddarparu'r ffigurau hynny. Mae gwahaniaeth rhwng yr hyn a gafodd ei gyflwyno yn wreiddiol, a'r hyn a oedd yn ein hwynebu yn ddiweddarach, ond, wrth gwrs, dyna holl bwynt cael proses graffu. Mae'n dangos ei bod yn gweithio, ac, wrth gwrs, gall Aelodau heddiw bleidleisio o blaid neu yn erbyn yn seiliedig ar y dystiolaeth y mae'r Llywodraeth, a bod yn deg, wedi ei chyflwyno.
Thank you.
So, here we have the passing of a Bill that didn't have an in-depth costing for public services from the start, and that doesn't give us complete confidence in how the Bill’s consequences will be communicated to parents and children, and one that doesn't give us, a devolved Parliament, any control over how its enforcement will be applied by two reserved institutions—the Crown Prosecution Service and the police.
I say again that there must be a commitment from the Government to continually place this at the forefront of parents and the public's minds. Despite the Deputy Minister’s clear commitment to have a long awareness campaign, if we are going to use the example of New Zealand as a reason to introduce the Bill, we should also heed the warning signs coming from that country.
As I mentioned last week, 13 years after their smacking ban, a survey found that almost 40 per cent of mothers would still smack their child, and 70 per cent would not report a parent if they witnessed a parent smacking their child on the backside or the hand. So, this may not even have as much of an impact as you had intended. Furthermore, there has been a decline in discipline in New Zealand, with 15 per cent of parents with young children saying they were aware of a family that had been negatively affected by the law, and 17 per cent said it had made them less confident as a parent. We cannot allow this to be repeated in Wales.
Deputy Presiding Officer, I agree entirely with the Finance Committee's concerns. And as I said during the passage of the Childcare Funding (Wales) Bill last year, this Parliament's concerns should not be continually dismissed by the Welsh Government, and we would take no more.
Deputy Minister, as I said last week, it is your duty to take the Welsh public along with you, rather than to create an atmosphere of hostility and resistance. I don't think this has been achieved yet, but I also do know you have enough votes for the Bill to pass. As I said to the former Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services last year, it is also for you to convince your own constituents that this was the right course of action to take and that you have listened to scrutiny. I don't believe that to be the case.
Diolch.
Felly, yr hyn sydd gennym yn y fan yma yw pasio Bil nad oedd wedi ei gostio'n fanwl ar gyfer gwasanaethau cyhoeddus o'r cychwyn cyntaf, ac nid yw hynny'n rhoi llawn ffydd i ni o ran sut y bydd canlyniadau'r Bil yn cael eu cyfleu i rieni a phlant, ac mae'n un nad yw'n rhoi i ni, fel Senedd ddatganoledig, unrhyw reolaeth dros sut y caiff yr orfodaeth ohono ei weithredu gan ddau sefydliad a gadwyd yn ôl— Gwasanaeth Erlyn y Goron a'r heddlu.
Dywedaf eto fod yn rhaid i'r Llywodraeth ymrwymo i roi hyn ar y tu blaen i feddyliau rhieni a'r cyhoedd yn barhaol. Er gwaethaf ymrwymiad clir y Dirprwy Weinidog i gynnal ymgyrch ymwybyddiaeth hir, os ydym ni'n mynd i ddefnyddio enghraifft Seland Newydd fel rheswm dros gyflwyno'r Bil, dylem ni hefyd wrando ar yr arwyddion rhybudd sy'n dod o'r wlad honno.
Fel y soniais yr wythnos diwethaf, 13 mlynedd ar ôl iddyn nhw wahardd smacio, canfu arolwg y byddai bron i 40 y cant o famau yn dal i smacio eu plentyn, ac ni fyddai 70 y cant yn achwyn ar riant pe bydden nhw'n gweld rhiant yn smacio eu plentyn ar y pen-ôl neu'r llaw. Felly, efallai na fydd hyn hyd yn oed yn cael cymaint o effaith ag yr oeddech chi wedi ei fwriadu. Hefyd, bu dirywiad mewn disgyblaeth yn Seland Newydd, gyda 15 y cant o rieni â phlant ifanc yn dweud eu bod yn ymwybodol o deulu yr oedd y gyfraith wedi effeithio'n negyddol arnyn nhw, a dywedodd 17 y cant ei fod wedi eu gwneud yn llai hyderus fel rhieni. Ni allwn ganiatáu i hyn gael ei ailadrodd yng Nghymru.
Dirprwy Lywydd, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â phryderon y Pwyllgor Cyllid. Ac fel y dywedais yn ystod hynt Bil Cyllido Gofal Plant (Cymru) y llynedd, ni ddylai Llywodraeth Cymru ddiystyru pryderon y Senedd hon yn barhaus, ac ni fyddem ni'n cymryd mwy.
Dirprwy Weinidog, fel y dywedais yr wythnos diwethaf, eich dyletswydd chi yw mynd â chyhoedd Cymru gyda chi, yn hytrach na chreu awyrgylch o elyniaeth a gwrthwynebiad. Nid wyf i'n credu bod hyn wedi'i gyflawni eto, ond rwyf hefyd yn gwybod bod gennych chi ddigon o bleidleisiau i'r Bil basio. Fel y dywedais wrth y cyn Ddirprwy Weinidog Plant a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol y llynedd, mater i chi hefyd yw argyhoeddi eich etholwyr eich hun mai dyma'r cam cywir i'w gymryd a'ch bod wedi gwrando ar y broses graffu. Nid wyf i'n credu bod hynny'n wir.
Will you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
Yes. Ultimately, your constituents, our families and the voters will be the judges of that.
I will promise the Welsh public this today: my colleagues and I will be closely monitoring this situation in the years to come, and if this Bill doesn't work, if this places law-abiding parents at a disadvantage, if this places untold pressure on already overstretched social services, and if this places more children in looked-after care, we will listen to of the people of Wales, and I personally—
Gwnaf. Yn y pen draw, eich etholwyr chi, ein teuluoedd ni a'r pleidleiswyr fydd yn barnu hynny.
Rhoddaf addewid i gyhoedd Cymru heddiw: Byddaf i a fy nghyd-Aelodau yn monitro'r sefyllfa hon yn fanwl yn ystod y blynyddoedd i ddod, ac os na fydd y Bil hwn yn gweithio, os bydd hyn yn rhoi rhieni sy'n parchu'r gyfraith o dan anfantais, os bydd hyn yn rhoi pwysau di-ben-draw ar wasanaethau cymdeithasol, ac os yw hyn yn golygu y bydd mwy o blant mewn gofal, byddwn ni'n gwrando ar bobl Cymru, a byddaf i'n bersonol—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
—will seek to reverse the ramifications of this dreadful legislation. Diolch yn fawr.
—yn ceisio gwrthdroi goblygiadau'r ddeddfwriaeth echrydus hon. Diolch yn fawr.
I rise to support this legislation today with a happy heart, and I think that the work of the campaigners, some of whom, as the Deputy Minister said, are here, has finally paid off. I think for those of us who've been fighting this battle for a very long time, this will be a happy day for us, a happy day for Welsh families, and most importantly a happy day for Welsh children.
I don't wish to detain this Chamber for a long time, Dirprwy Lywydd, but I do feel that I need to respond to some of the points that Janet Finch-Saunders has made. In my opinion, the Deputy Minister and the Welsh Government have bent over backwards to accommodate people's concerns. There are some of us here—[Interruption.] I will quite happily take an intervention from Janet Finch-Saunders, but I find it very difficult to deal with remarks made from a sedentary position. If you wish to intervene—
Codaf i i gefnogi'r ddeddfwriaeth hon heddiw gyda chalon hapus, ac rwy'n credu bod gwaith yr ymgyrchwyr, y mae rhai ohonyn nhw, fel y dywedodd y Dirprwy Weinidog, yma, wedi talu ar ei ganfed o'r diwedd. Rwy'n credu i'r rhai ohonon ni sydd wedi bod yn brwydro'r frwydr hon am amser hir iawn, bydd hwn yn ddiwrnod hapus i ni, yn ddiwrnod hapus i deuluoedd Cymru, ac yn bwysicach fyth yn ddiwrnod hapus i blant Cymru.
Nid wyf i'n dymuno cadw'r Siambr hon am gyfnod hir, Dirprwy Lywydd, ond rwy'n teimlo bod angen i mi ymateb i rai o'r pwyntiau y mae Janet Finch-Saunders wedi eu gwneud. Yn fy marn i, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog a Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn hyblyg iawn er mwyn ateb pryderon pobl. Mae rhai ohonom ni yma—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n ddigon bodlon derbyn ymyriad gan Janet Finch-Saunders, ond rwyf yn ei chael hi'n anodd iawn ymdrin â sylwadau sydd wedi'u gwneud oddi ar eich eistedd. Os ydych chi'n dymuno ymyrryd—
I appreciate that. If I could just make the point clear: we did put 11 amendments in; only two really were considered.
Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi hynny. Os caf i ddim ond gwneud y pwynt yn glir: fe wnaethom ni gyflwyno 11 o welliannau; dim ond dau a gafodd eu hystyried mewn gwirionedd.
It is one thing, I think, to have a process of scrutiny—it is, of course, the Government's right not to accept opposition amendments. I'm surprised that Janet Finch-Saunders appears to be surprised by that.
In my opinion, the Deputy Minister has bent over backwards. So, to a certain extent, I disagree with her. I am disappointed that the children of Wales will not be protected as from tonight—that we will wait two years—but I understand why she's made that decision: she's made that decision to deal with the genuine concerns around implementation.
Janet Finch-Saunders said that this is a first resort. This is not a first resort—we've been debating this in this place for the best part of 20 years. We would have passed this legislation—
Un peth, yn fy marn i, yw cael proses graffu—mae hawl, wrth gwrs, gan y Llywodraeth i beidio â derbyn gwelliannau'r wrthblaid. Rwy'n synnu ei bod yn ymddangos bod Janet Finch-Saunders yn synnu at hynny.
Yn fy marn i, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi bod yn hyblyg iawn. Felly, i ryw raddau, rwy'n anghytuno â hi. Rwy'n siomedig na fydd plant Cymru yn cael eu hamddiffyn o heno ymlaen—y byddwn ni'n aros am ddwy flynedd—ond rwyf i'n deall pam mae hi wedi gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw: mae hi wedi gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw i ymdrin â'r pryderon gwirioneddol ynghylch gweithredu.
Dywedodd Janet Finch-Saunders mai dewis cyntaf yw hyn. Nid dewis cyntaf yw hwn—rydym ni wedi bod yn trafod hyn yn y lle hwn am bron i 20 mlynedd. Byddem ni wedi pasio'r ddeddfwriaeth hon—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
No, I'm sorry, Darren, I don't have time. I might in a moment.
We passed this in principle 18 years ago, so any suggestion that the Welsh Government is rushing this—. Again, I feel—I'm rather disappointed that it's taken so long. Janet Finch-Saunders again mentions the New Zealand survey, which I pointed out last week was nothing more than a survey, and it was bought and paid for by the very campaign that had campaigned against that in the first place. So, that is not research, That is not scientific legislation.
Now, I want to address those two groups of people who I think are concerned about this legalisation, and the first people I want to talk to are those who really have some genuine concerns around the implementation. And to them, I will say: it will be all right. Fifty-eight nations have done this already. This is the new normal.
It began in 1979 with Sweden. None of those countries have seen those things that people are concerned about. None of them have seen kind and caring parents demonised. None of them have seen criminal justice systems overwhelmed. It simply hasn't happened. Fifty-eight nations, Scotland most recently, and it's a matter of sorrow to me that Wales wasn't there before them.
Today we will become the fifty-ninth, but to those with genuine concerns, I say, 'Look at the experience; look at what has happened.' Essentially, what has happened is that good parenting has been promoted in those nations. In those nations where this has been in operation for a very long time—Sweden is the example—it has actually led to a de-escalation of violence in families, of serious violence in families.
So, today we move to give our children their article 19 rights, their right to be protected from violence. As we do this, I want to focus on those who oppose this legislation from the point of view of intrusion into family life. Well, you know, we intrude into family life on a regular basis. There was a time when it was lawful in this nation for a man to beat his wife with a stick so long as it was no thicker than his thumb. I do not believe that children are the property of their parents. We have a fundamental, philosophical difference here. Children do not belong to their parents. They are citizens in their own right.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child places upon us all a duty to support them in their growth and in their development. Today we as a nation will exercise that right. We will give them at last—at last—equal protection against violence under the law. I am looking forward to this and I commend this legislation to this Chamber, but more importantly to this nation.
Na, mae'n ddrwg gennyf i, Darren, nid oes amser gennyf i. Efallai y gwnaf i mewn munud.
Cafodd hwn ei basio gennym, mewn egwyddor, 18 mlynedd yn ôl, felly mae unrhyw awgrym bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhuthro hyn —. Unwaith eto, rwy'n teimlo—rwyf braidd yn siomedig ei fod wedi cymryd cyn hired. Mae Janet Finch-Saunders eto'n sôn am arolwg Seland Newydd, y nodais yr wythnos diwethaf nad yw'n ddim mwy nag arolwg, a chafodd ei brynu a'i dalu amdano gan yr union ymgyrch a oedd wedi ymgyrchu yn erbyn hynny yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, nid ymchwil yw hyn, nid deddfwriaeth wyddonol yw hyn.
Nawr, rwyf i am roi sylw i'r ddau grŵp hynny o bobl sydd, yn fy marn i, yn pryderu am y ddeddfwriaeth hon, a'r bobl gyntaf yr wyf i eisiau siarad â hwy yw'r rhai sydd mewn gwirionedd â rhai pryderon dilys yn ymwneud â'r gweithredu. Ac wrthyn nhw, rwy'n dweud: bydd popeth yn iawn. Mae 58 o wledydd eisoes wedi gwneud hyn. Dyma'r normalrwydd newydd.
Dechreuodd yn 1979 gyda Sweden. Nid oes yr un o'r gwledydd hynny wedi gweld y pethau hynny y mae pobl yn pryderu yn eu cylch. Nid oes yr un ohonyn nhw wedi gweld rhieni caredig a gofalgar yn cael eu demoneiddio. Ni welodd yr un ohonyn nhw systemau cyfiawnder troseddol wedi eu llethu. Nid yw wedi digwydd. Pum deg wyth gwlad, yr Alban yn fwyaf diweddar, ac mae'n fater o dristwch i mi nad oedd Cymru yno o'u blaen.
Heddiw, ni fydd rhif pum deg naw, ond i'r rhai sydd â phryderon dilys, rwy'n dweud, 'Edrychwch ar y profiad; edrychwch ar yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd.' Yn y bôn, yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yw bod rhianta da wedi ei hyrwyddo yn y gwledydd hynny. Yn y gwledydd hynny lle mae hyn wedi bod ar waith ers amser hir iawn—Sweden yw'r enghraifft—mae wedi arwain at leihau trais mewn teuluoedd, trais difrifol mewn teuluoedd.
Felly, heddiw rydym ni'n symud i roi eu hawliau erthygl 19 i'n plant, eu hawl i gael eu hamddiffyn rhag trais. Wrth i ni wneud hyn, rwyf i am ganolbwyntio ar y rheini sy'n gwrthwynebu'r ddeddfwriaeth hon o safbwynt ymyrryd ym mywyd y teulu. Wel, wyddoch chi, rydym ni’n ymyrryd â bywyd teuluol yn rheolaidd. Ar un adeg yr oedd yn gyfreithlon yn y wlad hon i ddyn guro ei wraig gyda ffon cyn belled nad oedd y ffon yn fwy trwchus na'i fawd. Nid wyf i'n credu bod plant yn eiddo i'w rhieni. Mae gennym ni wahaniaeth sylfaenol, athronyddol yn y fan yma. Nid yw plant yn eiddo i'w rhieni. Maen nhw'n ddinasyddion yn eu rhinwedd eu hunain.
Mae Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn yn rhoi dyletswydd ar bob un ohonom ni i'w cefnogi yn eu twf ac yn eu datblygiad. Heddiw, byddwn ni fel gwlad yn arfer yr hawl hwnnw. Byddwn ni yn rhoi iddyn nhw o'r diwedd—o'r diwedd—amddiffyniad cyfartal rhag trais o dan y gyfraith. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at hyn a chymeradwyaf y ddeddfwriaeth hon i'r Siambr hon, ond yn bwysicach i'r wlad hon.
Lynne Neagle.
Lynne Neagle.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this debate. This is a landmark day for children in Wales and I am really pleased that we have got here after all this time. I think it is very important to recognise the role that the Deputy Minister has played on this issue for 20 years in two different Parliaments. So, thank you, Deputy Minister, for your tremendous persistence and determination, which has played such an important part in getting us here today.
I also wanted to thank everyone who gave evidence to the Children, Young People and Education Committee: to all the parents from both sides of the debate, who shared their views courageously, thoughtfully and openly with the committee; the wide range of professionals from education, a range of health professionals, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service, social services, all who told us without exception that this Bill would make it easier for them to protect children in Wales; the Youth Parliament who themselves, in an historic move, took a vote and supported this legislation—thanks to them for that; and I'd like to thank the rest of the committee and, very importantly, Llinos Madeley, our clerk, and Sian Thomas, our head of research, who had to marshal a phenomenal amount of evidence into the huge tome that became our Stage 1 report. I think we are blessed as a committee to have such brilliant support.
But, above all for the committee, this was a fundamental children's rights issue and I am absolutely delighted that, today, we will ensure that those children's rights are made a reality in Wales. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd, am y cyfle i gael gwneud cyfraniad byr i'r ddadl hon. Mae hwn yn ddiwrnod hanesyddol i blant yng Nghymru ac rwy'n falch iawn ein bod ni wedi cyrraedd y fan yma ar ôl cymaint o amser. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn cydnabod y rhan y mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi ei chwarae yn y mater hwn ers 20 mlynedd mewn dwy Senedd wahanol. Felly, diolch i chi, Dirprwy Weinidog, am eich dyfalbarhad a'ch penderfynoldeb gwych, sydd wedi chwarae rhan mor bwysig i ddod â ni i'r fan yma heddiw.
Roeddwn i hefyd eisiau diolch i bawb a roddodd dystiolaeth i'r Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg: i'r holl rieni o'r ddwy ochr i'r ddadl, a rannodd eu barn yn ddewr, yn feddylgar ac yn agored gyda'r pwyllgor; yr amrywiaeth eang o weithwyr proffesiynol o addysg, amrywiaeth o weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol, yr heddlu, Gwasanaeth Erlyn y Goron, gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, a dywedodd pob un ohonyn nhw wrthym ni, heb eithriad, y byddai'r Bil hwn yn ei gwneud yn haws iddyn nhw amddiffyn plant yng Nghymru; y Senedd Ieuenctid a wnaeth eu hunain, mewn gweithred hanesyddol, bleidleisio a chefnogi'r ddeddfwriaeth hon—diolch iddyn nhw am hynny; a hoffwn ddiolch i weddill y pwyllgor ac, yn bwysig iawn, i Llinos Madeley, ein clerc, a Sian Thomas, ein pennaeth ymchwil, y bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw roi llwyth enfawr o dystiolaeth i mewn i'r gyfrol anferth a ddaeth yn adroddiad Cyfnod 1. Rwy'n credu ein bod wedi ein bendithio fel Pwyllgor o gael cymorth mor wych.
Ond, yn anad dim i'r pwyllgor, yr oedd hwn yn fater o hawliau sylfaenol plant, ac rwyf wirioneddol wrth fy modd y byddwn ni, heddiw, yn sicrhau bod hawliau'r plant hynny yn dod yn realiti yng Nghymru. Diolch yn fawr.
This debate should be about more than whether it is morally right to smack a child or whether it is good parenting ever to use physical chastisement. If it were just about that, then my view is that it is not and, for my own children, I have not smacked them and I hope to bring them up without ever physically chastising them. But that is not sufficient, that view, to vote for this legislation because there is a further step: is it right to go from one's own personal moral view about this to saying, 'That is a view that we shall use our powers here to impose on the rest of society'? I'm not convinced that we're at this point. The Deputy Minister rightly spoke about social norms, and I wouldn't want to put any emphasis on any particular poll or any particular survey, but I'm concerned that those changes in society—smacking and corporal punishment, certainly as we used to see, are not the social norms they were. But I fear that there are still too many people, too large a group of parents who take a different view of this to that which I personally take. And for that reason, I think this should remain, for now at least, an issue determined by parents, within marriages, within relationships, within families. I say that from a pragmatic more than a principled view. There may come a time when the changes in social norms are such that it may be appropriate to legislate, that something becomes so transgressive of social norms that there is legislation and there is criminalisation, but I don't believe that that time is yet, simply because there are too many loving families who still use physical chastisement because their views on the matter are different from mine. And I—
Dylai'r ddadl hon fod ynghylch mwy na pha un a yw hi'n foesol gywir i smacio plentyn neu a yw byth yn rhianta da i ddefnyddio cosb gorfforol. Pe byddai'n ymwneud â hynny'n unig, yna fy marn i yw nad ydyw ac, o ran fy mhlant fy hun, nid wyf wedi eu smacio ac rwyf yn gobeithio eu magu nhw heb eu ceryddu'n gorfforol byth. Ond nid yw hynny'n ddigon, y farn honno, i bleidleisio dros y ddeddfwriaeth hon gan fod cam pellach: a yw'n iawn i symud o'ch safbwynt moesol personol eich hun ynghylch hyn i ddweud, 'Mae honno'n farn y byddwn ni'n defnyddio ein pwerau yma i'w gorfodi ar weddill y gymdeithas'? Nid wyf i'n argyhoeddedig ein bod ni wedi cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw. Siaradodd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn ddigon teg am norm cymdeithasol, ac ni fyddwn i eisiau rhoi unrhyw bwyslais ar unrhyw bleidlais benodol nac unrhyw arolwg penodol, ond rwyf yn pryderu nad yw'r newidiadau hynny mewn cymdeithas—smacio a chosbi corfforol, yn norm cymdeithasol fel yr oedden nhw o'r blaen. Ond rwy'n ofni bod gormod o bobl o hyd, grŵp rhy fawr o rieni sydd â barn wahanol ar hyn i fy marn bersonol i. Ac am y rheswm hwnnw, rwy'n credu y dylai hyn aros, ar hyn o bryd o leiaf, yn fater sy'n cael ei benderfynu gan rieni, o fewn priodasau, o fewn perthnasoedd, o fewn teuluoedd. Rwy'n dweud hynny o safbwynt pragmatig yn hytrach nag egwyddorol. Efallai y daw amser pan fydd y newidiadau mewn norm cymdeithasol yn golygu y gallai fod yn briodol i ddeddfu, bod rhywbeth yn tramgwyddo ar norm cymdeithasol i'r fath raddau fel bod deddfu a throseddoli, ond nid wyf yn credu bod yr amser hwnnw wedi cyrraedd eto, yn syml oherwydd bod gormod o deuluoedd cariadus sy'n dal i ddefnyddio cosb gorfforol oherwydd bod eu barn ar y mater yn wahanol i fy un i. Ac rwyf—
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
I will take an intervention.
Gwnaf, fe dderbyniaf ymyriad.
Thank you. I thank you for taking the intervention. I hear what you say, but I clearly don't agree with it. Because if we went along the trajectory that you're going on, it seems to me that what you're saying is that the personal is not political, and that, then, in turn, would clearly mean that all the legislation that we've had to protect people within their families from whatever form of abuse it might be—domestic abuse, incest et cetera—would never have happened, because, if I'm understanding you quite clearly, society wasn't yet ready for the changes.
Diolch. Diolch i chi am dderbyn yr ymyriad. Clywaf yr hyn a ddywedwch, ond mae'n amlwg nad wyf i'n cytuno ag ef. Oherwydd pe byddem ni'n dilyn y trywydd yr ydych chi'n ei ddilyn, mae'n ymddangos i mi mai'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud yw nad yw'r personol yn wleidyddol, ac y byddai hynny, yn ei dro, yn golygu'n amlwg na fyddai'r holl ddeddfwriaeth yr ydym ni wedi'i chael i ddiogelu pobl o fewn eu teuluoedd rhag pa bynnag fath o gam-drin a allai fod—cam-drin domestig, llosgach ac ati—erioed wedi digwydd, oherwydd os wyf yn eich deall yn gwbl glir, nid oedd cymdeithas eto'n barod ar gyfer y newidiadau.
I don't think you are understanding me correctly, because I do accept that the personal can be political and I do think that some behaviours are so transgressive of social norms that there is justification for legislation and in some cases, criminalisation. I'm just saying that I'm not convinced that our society is yet there in respect of this issue, because I think there are so many parents and families who are loving, good parents in other ways, who take a different view from you and me on this matter, and that really is the core point why I don't think we should legislate to make what happens to be a majority—a substantial majority—in this Chamber, in terms of personal morality or view about this issue, into the law of the land, with criminal penalties, when such a higher proportion of the population, relative to us, take a contrary view.
I've thought about this carefully and I've listened to powerful speeches made by Helen Mary and others and I compliment the Deputy Minister on how she has taken the legislation through and recognise what she has done over a long time in terms of her campaigning. I just worry for those that we potentially criminalise through this. I worry that this will be used when people talk about custody and divorce proceedings. I worry—I don't want to scaremonger, and I don't think, or at least I hope that people are not going to see children taken into care just because a parent is seen smacking them in public, but I fear that, in some cases, it will weigh in the balance and will mean that some children are taken into care who might not otherwise be, and given the woeful record of the state, as a parent, I worry that that may not be in the best interests of those children. For me, it is a matter of balance. I'm not yet convinced that the balance is such that we should pass this legislation.
Nid wyf yn credu eich bod yn fy neall yn iawn, oherwydd rwy'n derbyn y gall y personol fod yn wleidyddol ac rwy'n credu bod rhai mathau o ymddygiad mor amhriodol o ran normau cymdeithasol fel bod cyfiawnhad dros ddeddfwriaeth ac, mewn rhai achosion, troseddoli. Y cyfan yr wyf i'n ei ddweud yw nad wyf yn argyhoeddedig bod ein cymdeithas yn y sefyllfa iawn eto o ran y mater hwn, oherwydd credaf fod cymaint o rieni a theuluoedd sydd yn gariadus, yn rhieni da mewn ffyrdd eraill, sydd â barn wahanol i chi a minnau ar y mater hwn, a dyna'r pwynt creiddiol yn wir pam nad wyf yn credu y dylem ni ddeddfu i wneud yr hyn sy'n digwydd bod yn fwyafrif—mwyafrif sylweddol—yn y Siambr hon, o ran moesoldeb neu farn bersonol ar y mater hwn, yn gyfraith gwlad, gyda chosbau troseddol, pan fydd cyfran uwch o'r boblogaeth, o'i chymharu â ni, â barn i'r gwrthwyneb.
Rwyf wedi meddwl am hyn yn ofalus ac rwyf wedi gwrando ar areithiau grymus a wnaed gan Helen Mary ac eraill ac rwy'n llongyfarch y Dirprwy Weinidog ar sut y mae wedi mynd â'r ddeddfwriaeth drwodd ac yn cydnabod yr hyn y mae wedi'i wneud dros gyfnod hir o ran ei hymgyrchu. Rwyf ond yn poeni am y rhai y gallem eu troseddoli drwy hyn. Rwy'n poeni y bydd hyn yn cael ei ddefnyddio pan fydd pobl yn siarad am gaethiwed ac achosion ysgaru. Rwy'n poeni—nid wyf eisiau codi bwganod, ac nid wyf yn meddwl, neu o leiaf rwy'n gobeithio nad yw pobl yn mynd i weld plant yn gorfod derbyn gofal dim ond oherwydd bod rhiant wedi cael ei weld yn eu smacio'n gyhoeddus, ond mae arnaf ofn, mewn rhai achosion, y bydd yn rhan o'r fantol a bydd yn golygu y bydd rhai plant yn mynd i orfod derbyn gofal na fydden nhw fel arall efallai, ac o ystyried hanes truenus y wladwriaeth, fel rhiant, rwy'n poeni nad yw hynny efallai er lles pennaf y plant hynny. I mi, mae'n fater o gydbwysedd. Nid wyf i'n argyhoeddedig eto bod y cydbwysedd yn golygu y dylem ni basio'r ddeddfwriaeth hon.
Thank you. Can I now call the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services to reply to the debate? Julie Morgan.
Diolch. A gaf i alw nawr ar y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i ymateb i'r ddadl? Julie Morgan.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to thank Members for their thoughtful and considered responses. I will just pick up a few of the points in the very brief time period I've got.
I thank Llyr for his intervention, because, as the Finance Committee acknowledge in their letter, many of the additional costs in the latest explanatory memorandum are as a result of recommendations from his committee, so we were listening to his committee. And, Janet, as far as I'm aware, no other nation has done as much to identify the potential impact or costs before legislating to prohibit physical punishment of children. Many of our near neighbours have been involved in promoting this legislation. Ireland introduced it on an amendment with no preparation at all. We have spent an extensive amount of time preparing for this legislation.
The Bill provides clarity for parents, professionals and the public, and from the commencement date, physical punishment of a child in Wales will no longer be acceptable under any circumstances. I think it's an interesting point that 58 per cent of the Welsh public already think that this is the law, and picking up on what Mark Reckless has said, 81 per cent of young parents with young children think that it is not necessary to physically punish a child. I believe that the public mood is changing. All the research that the Welsh Government has done has shown a distinct change in mood. Lynne Neagle mentioned how the Youth Parliament voted. We are moving that way and we are going with the times, but we must be sensitive, as Mark Reckless has said, to the minority who still do use physical punishment.
But, as I've said, we're going to give support to parents, we're going to give advice, we're going to give information. I don't think we could be doing more to carefully prepare, and all the agencies are working with us. We've got a major implementation group, we've got subgroups—we've got a subgroup on diversion, we've got one on parenting support—and they're working with this very enthusiastically, because this is something that many people have wanted for many years. Because they do see it as an impediment to being able to advise parents, work with parents. Those front-line professionals, the health visitors, the midwives, people who are working with parents right from the beginning, they want to be clear what they can say and, if we do this, it will make it clear. And just remember, we did talk about domestic abuse in this way a very short time ago.
So, let's sign into Welsh law this important bit of legislation, which will help to protect the rights of our children in Wales now and in the future. Let's continue to have the courage to do the right thing by the children of this country. So, I urge all Members to support the Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill and take another momentous step forward in protecting children's rights in Wales.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn ddiolch i'r Aelodau am eu hymatebion meddylgar ac ystyriol. Hoffwn godi rhai o'r pwyntiau yn y cyfnod byr iawn sydd gennyf.
Diolch i Llyr am ei ymyriad, oherwydd, fel y mae'r Pwyllgor Cyllid yn cydnabod yn eu llythyr, mae llawer o'r costau ychwanegol yn y memorandwm esboniadol diweddaraf yn deillio o argymhellion gan ei bwyllgor ef, felly roeddem yn gwrando ar ei bwyllgor. A, Janet, hyd y gwn i, nid oes yr un gwlad arall wedi gwneud cymaint i nodi'r effaith neu'r costau posibl cyn deddfu i wahardd cosbi plant yn gorfforol. Mae llawer o'n cymdogion agos wedi bod yn rhan o'r gwaith o hyrwyddo'r ddeddfwriaeth hon.
Fe'i cyflwynwyd gan Iwerddon ar welliant heb unrhyw baratoi o gwbl. Rydym ni wedi treulio llawer iawn o amser yn paratoi ar gyfer y ddeddfwriaeth hon. Mae'r Bil yn darparu eglurder i rieni, gweithwyr proffesiynol a'r cyhoedd, ac o'r dyddiad cychwyn, ni fydd cosb gorfforol plentyn yng Nghymru yn dderbyniol mwyach o dan unrhyw amgylchiadau. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn bwynt diddorol bod 58 y cant o'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru eisoes yn meddwl mai dyma'r gyfraith, a chan sylwi ar yr hyn y mae Mark Reckless wedi'i ddweud, mae 81 y cant o rieni ifanc sydd â phlant ifanc yn credu nad oes angen cosbi plentyn yn gorfforol. Credaf fod teimladau'r cyhoedd yn newid. Mae'r holl ymchwil y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei wneud wedi dangos newid nodedig yn nheimladau pobl. Soniodd Lynne Neagle am sut y pleidleisiodd y Senedd Ieuenctid. Rydym yn symud i'r cyfeiriad hwnnw ac rydym yn mynd gyda'r oes, ond mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn sensitif, fel y mae Mark Reckless wedi ei ddweud, o ran y lleiafrif sy'n dal i ddefnyddio cosb gorfforol.
Ond, fel y dywedais, rydym ni'n mynd i roi cymorth i rieni, rydym ni'n mynd i roi cyngor, rydym ni'n mynd i roi gwybodaeth. Nid wyf i'n credu y gallem ni fod yn gwneud mwy i baratoi'n ofalus, ac mae'r holl asiantaethau'n gweithio gyda ni. Mae gennym ni grŵp gweithredu mawr, mae gennym ni is-grwpiau—mae gennym ni is-grŵp dargyfeirio, mae gennym ni un ar gymorth rhianta—ac maen nhw'n gweithio gyda hwn yn frwdfrydig iawn, oherwydd ei fod yn rhywbeth y mae llawer o bobl wedi bod eisiau ei weld ers blynyddoedd lawer. Oherwydd maen nhw yn ei weld yn rhwystr rhag gallu cynghori rhieni, gweithio gyda rhieni. Mae'r gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen hynny, yr ymwelwyr iechyd, y bydwragedd, pobl sy'n gweithio gyda rhieni o'r cychwyn cyntaf, maen nhw eisiau bod yn glir ynghylch yr hyn y cânt ei ddweud ac, os gwnawn hyn, bydd yn ei wneud yn glir. A chofiwch, fe wnaethom ni siarad am gam-drin domestig yn y modd hwn yn ddiweddar iawn.
Felly, gadewch i ni lofnodi'r darn pwysig hwn o ddeddfwriaeth i gyfraith Cymru, a fydd yn helpu i ddiogelu hawliau ein plant yng Nghymru nawr ac yn y dyfodol. Beth am barhau i fod yn ddewr a gwneud y peth iawn ar gyfer plant y wlad hon? Felly, rwy'n annog pob Aelod i gefnogi Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru) a chymryd cam pwysig arall ymlaen o ran amddiffyn hawliau plant yng Nghymru.
Thank you. In accordance with Standing Order 26.50C a recorded vote must be taken on a Stage 4 motion, and so I defer voting on the motion until voting time.
Diolch. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.50C mae'n rhaid cymryd pleidlais wedi'i chofnodi ar gynnig Cyfnod 4, ac felly gohiriaf y pleidleisio ar y cynnig tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
We have reached voting time. Unless three Members wish for the bell to be rung, I intend to now proceed to the electronic vote. No. All right, okay.
Rydym wedi cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio. Oni bai bod tri aelod yn dymuno i'r gloch gael ei chanu, rwyf yn bwriadu symud ymlaen yn awr at y bleidlais electronig. Na. Popeth yn iawn, iawn.
So, we move to the vote on Stage 4 of the Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill and I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Julie Morgan. Open the vote. Close the vote. For the motion 36, no abstentions, 14 against. Therefore, the motion is agreed. [Applause.]
Felly, symudwn at y bleidlais ar Gyfnod 4 o Fil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru) a galwaf am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Julie Morgan. Agorwch y bleidlais. Caewch y bleidlais. O blaid y cynnig 36, neb yn ymatal, 14 yn erbyn. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi ei dderbyn. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
NDM7246 - Dadl: Cyfnod 4 y Bil Plant (Diddymu Amddiffyniad Cosb Resymol) (Cymru): O blaid: 36, Yn erbyn: 14, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
NDM7246 - Debate: Stage 4 of the Children (Abolition of the Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill: For: 36, Against: 14, Abstain: 0
Motion has been agreed
And that brings today's proceedings to a close. [Applause.] And that's the day's proceedings to a close. Thank you.
Ac mae hynny'n dod â thrafodion heddiw i ben. [Cymeradwyaeth.] A dyna drafodion y dydd wedi dod i ben. Diolch.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 19:03.
The meeting ended at 19:03.