Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
26/02/2020Cynnwys
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'r Aelodau i drefn.
I call Members to order.
Cyn cychwyn, dwi eisiau hysbysu'r Cynulliad fod y Bil Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Indemniadau) (Cymru), yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75 wedi cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol heddiw.
Before we begin, I wish to inform the Assembly that the National Health Service (Indemnities) (Wales) Bill was given Royal Assent today, and I do so in accordance with Standing Order 26.75.
Yr eitem gyntaf, felly, sy'n dilyn ar ein hagenda ni yw'r cwestiynau i Weinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru. A'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Angela Burns.
The first item on our agenda this afternoon is questions to the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, and the first question is from Angela Burns.
Diolch, Llywydd. Good afternoon, Minister.
Diolch, Lywydd. Prynhawn da, Weinidog.
1. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i wella cysylltedd trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng ngorllewin Cymru? OAQ55126
1. What is the Welsh Government doing to improve public transport connectivity in west Wales? OAQ55126
Working with Transport for Wales and with local authorities, we are investing in improving rail, bus and community transport services, and in developing our proposals for the metro in the south-west region.
Gan weithio gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru a chydag awdurdodau lleol, rydym yn buddsoddi mewn gwella gwasanaethau rheilffyrdd, bysiau a chludiant cymunedol, ac yn y gwaith o ddatblygu ein cynigion ar gyfer y metro yn rhanbarth y de-orllewin.
Minister, I am here to make an unashamed pitch, to ask Welsh Government to support the St Clears railway station application to Network Rail to open up a railway station again in St Clears. It was closed in 1964, and there has been a campaign that's been long running for the last decade to try to reopen it. St Clears is a burgeoning town. The absence of that railway station is an absolute gap in the west Wales network. There are lots and lots of modern houses, not just in St Clears, but the villages around, and you either have to go to Carmarthen or Whitland, neither of which, actually, are big enough to deal with some of the issues, like the parking, and so on; Whitland is an absolute nightmare, as you will be more than aware.
You, as I understand it, have the third phase of the consultation going out. There is a petition in place, and we think that Cardiff, with Ely Mill, has already got quite a lot of stations all around Cardiff. We understand that there is a strong pitch for Carno and for Deeside, but St Clears is already on a mainline route. It would be a very easy win, and it would really help with things like social inclusion, with making that town not just a far distance satellite, but part of the whole Carmarthen and Swansea network, and we really are counting on your support.
Weinidog, rwyf yma i ofyn heb unrhyw gywilydd i Lywodraeth Cymru gefnogi cais gorsaf drenau Sanclêr i Network Rail i ailagor gorsaf drenau yn Sanclêr. Fe’i caewyd ym 1964, ac mae’r ymgyrch i’w hailagor wedi bod ar waith dros y degawd diwethaf. Mae Sanclêr yn dref sy’n tyfu. Mae absenoldeb yr orsaf drenau honno’n fwlch amlwg yn rhwydwaith gorllewin Cymru. Mae llawer iawn o dai modern, nid yn unig yn Sanclêr, ond yn y pentrefi cyfagos, ac mae'n rhaid i chi naill ai fynd i Gaerfyrddin neu Hendy-gwyn ar Daf, ac nid oes yr un ohonynt, mewn gwirionedd, yn ddigon mawr i ymdrin â rhai o'r problemau fel parcio ac ati; mae Hendy-gwyn ar Daf yn hunllef llwyr, fel y gwyddoch yn iawn.
Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, rydych wedi bwrw ymlaen â thrydydd cam yr ymgynghoriad. Mae deiseb ar waith, a chredwn fod gan Gaerdydd, gyda Melin Elái, gryn dipyn o orsafoedd ym mhob rhan o Gaerdydd eisoes. Rydym yn deall bod gan Garno a Glannau Dyfrdwy achosion cryf, ond mae Sanclêr eisoes ar brif reilffordd. Byddai'n hawdd iawn i'w wneud, a byddai o gymorth mawr gyda phethau fel cynhwysiant cymdeithasol, a sicrhau nad is-dref bell yn unig yw hi, ond rhan o holl rwydwaith Caerfyrddin ac Abertawe, ac rydym o ddifrif yn dibynnu ar eich cefnogaeth.
I can assure the Member that I am supportive of the application for St Clears station. It's one of four shortlisted across Wales for further assessment and potential nomination as a priority for UK Government investment. I think that it would assist in the UK Government showing that it is willing to invest more heavily in rail infrastructure in Wales, and, so, the project is being progressed under the south-west metro programme.
Gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod fy mod yn cefnogi'r cais ar gyfer gorsaf Sanclêr. Mae'n un o bedwar sydd ar y rhestr fer ledled Cymru am asesiad pellach ac enwebiad posibl fel blaenoriaeth ar gyfer buddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth y DU. Credaf y byddai o gymorth pe bai Llywodraeth y DU yn dangos ei bod yn barod i fuddsoddi mwy yn y seilwaith rheilffyrdd yng Nghymru, ac felly mae'r prosiect yn cael ei ddatblygu o dan raglen metro'r de-orllewin.
2. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am effaith cau ffyrdd a rheilffyrdd yn ddiweddar yn Nyffryn Conwy? OAQ55118
2. Will the Minister make a statement on the impact of recent road and railway closures in the Conwy Valley? OAQ55118
Llywydd, can I say that I sympathise greatly with those communities affected in Janet Finch-Saunders's constituency? Given the extent of the rainfall, disruption on the trunk road network in Conwy was, thankfully, kept to a minimum, with just two closures on the A470. However, Conwy Valley railway line does remain closed, with a replacement bus service operating between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Lywydd, a gaf fi ddweud fy mod yn cydymdeimlo'n llwyr â'r cymunedau yr effeithir arnynt yn etholaeth Janet Finch-Saunders? O ystyried faint o law a gawsom, diolch byth, ni chafwyd llawer iawn o darfu ar y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd yng Nghonwy, gyda dim ond dau achos o gau ar yr A470. Fodd bynnag, mae rheilffordd Dyffryn Conwy yn dal i fod ar gau, gyda gwasanaeth bws yn lle trenau yn gweithredu rhwng Cyffordd Llandudno a Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Thank you, and your sympathy is very, very much appreciated. Recent flood devastation, of course, as you mentioned, has seen the railway seriously damaged, and it is really quite sad when you think that £7.5 million of investment has gone into it only recently. But this line is beleaguered by problems with even the mildest rain. So, when we get a flood situation, it's weeks and weeks before it gets to where people are not having to use bus replacements. But we have also seen too many times the A470 closed to the north of Llanrwst. Only as recently as Saturday, it was extremely difficult to get into Llanrwst at all. So, despite the Welsh Government investing in improvements between Penllwyn and Tan Lan and in Maenan, the road still closes. Traffic is forced off the trunk road onto the maze of the local authority-managed lanes in Maenan. And I know that for me to get to Llanrwst on Saturday, I went right over the top of Eglwysbach and Llanddoged. These roads simply cannot cope with any significant volume of traffic going in both directions.
What action will you take to help create a feasible route for individuals needing to travel up and down the east of the Conwy Valley, during what looks very likely now, going forward, to be repeat incidences of severe flooding?
Diolch yn fawr, a gwerthfawrogir eich cydymdeimlad yn fawr iawn. Mae llifogydd diweddar, wrth gwrs, fel y dywedoch chi, wedi difrodi’r rheilffordd yn ddifrifol, ac mae hynny’n wirioneddol drist o gofio bod buddsoddiad o £7.5 miliwn wedi’i wneud ynddi yn ddiweddar. Ond mae'r rheilffordd hon yn wynebu problemau gyda hyd yn oed y glaw ysgafnaf. Felly, pan gawn lifogydd, mae wythnosau lawer cyn ein bod mewn sefyllfa lle nad yw pobl yn gorfod defnyddio gwasanaethau bysiau yn lle trenau. Ond rydym hefyd wedi gweld yr A470 ar gau i'r gogledd o Lanrwst ormod o weithiau. Mor ddiweddar â dydd Sadwrn, roedd yn eithriadol o anodd mynd i mewn i Lanrwst o gwbl. Felly, er bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi mewn gwelliannau rhwng Penllwyn a Than Lan ac ym Maenan, mae'r ffordd yn dal i gau. Mae traffig yn cael ei orfodi oddi ar y gefnffordd i’r ddrysfa o lonydd a reolir gan yr awdurdod lleol ym Maenan. Ac er mwyn i mi gyrraedd Llanrwst ddydd Sadwrn, bu’n rhaid i mi fynd dros y bryn drwy Eglwys-bach a Llanddoged. Yn syml, ni all y ffyrdd hyn ymdopi ag unrhyw draffig sylweddol sy'n mynd i'r ddau gyfeiriad.
Pa gamau y byddwch yn eu cymryd i helpu i greu llwybr dichonadwy i unigolion sydd angen teithio i fyny ac i lawr dwyrain Dyffryn Conwy yn ystod yr hyn sy'n edrych yn debygol iawn bellach o fod yn llifogydd difrifol dro ar ôl tro yn y dyfodol?
Can I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for her question, and say that, whilst I am incredibly sympathetic to those communities who were disrupted as a result of the flooding, I'm also sincerely thankful for their patience? And I'd like to extend my thanks also to staff across the entire transport network who have worked so tirelessly since the flooding began to support the travelling public. I'd also like to put on record my thanks to the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service who have worked tirelessly to support people and to support those transport authorities as well.
Now, the A470 trunk road, as the Member has highlighted, was closed at two locations during the recent storms, including at Llanrwst. It was closed at approximately 0900 hours on Sunday, 9 February and reopened at approximately 0800 the following morning. Now, I think the Member is right that instances of flooding on the trunk road network are likely to become more frequent, given climate change, and that's why the Welsh Government is investing in a road resilience fund, specifically for investment in roads liable to flooding, and I would imagine that the A470 at those two locations would be a prime candidate for investment.
But can I also share the Member's sadness and remorse at what's happened on the Conwy line? I was there just last year visiting the works that were being undertaken by Network Rail. It was a huge endeavour and it is really tragic that, so soon after that work was completed, we've seen further damage caused by storms.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am ei chwestiwn, a dweud, er fy mod yn cydymdeimlo’n llwyr â'r cymunedau yr amharwyd arnynt o ganlyniad i'r llifogydd, fy mod hefyd yn ddiolchgar iawn am eu hamynedd? A hoffwn ddiolch hefyd i staff ar draws y rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth cyfan sydd wedi gweithio mor ddiflino ers i'r llifogydd ddechrau i gynorthwyo'r cyhoedd sy'n teithio. Hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch hefyd i Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru sydd wedi gweithio’n ddiflino i gynorthwyo pobl ac i gefnogi’r awdurdodau trafnidiaeth hefyd.
Nawr, caewyd cefnffordd yr A470, fel y nododd yr Aelod, mewn dau fan yn ystod y stormydd diweddar, gan gynnwys yn Llanrwst. Cafodd ei chau am oddeutu 0900 ddydd Sul 9 Chwefror a chafodd ei hailagor am oddeutu 0800 y bore canlynol. Nawr, credaf fod yr Aelod yn iawn fod achosion o lifogydd ar y rhwydwaith cefnffyrdd yn debygol o ddigwydd yn amlach, o ystyried y newid yn yr hinsawdd, a dyna pam fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi mewn cronfa cydnerthedd ffyrdd, yn benodol ar gyfer buddsoddi mewn ffyrdd sy'n debygol o gael llifogydd, a buaswn yn dychmygu y byddai'r A470 yn y ddau le’n gwneud cais da ar gyfer buddsoddi.
Ond a gaf fi hefyd rannu tristwch a siom yr Aelod gyda’r hyn sydd wedi digwydd ar reilffordd Conwy? Roeddwn yno'r llynedd yn ymweld â'r gwaith a oedd yn mynd rhagddo gan Network Rail. Roedd yn ymdrech enfawr, ac mae'n wirioneddol dorcalonnus ein bod, mor fuan ar ôl i'r gwaith hwnnw gael ei gwblhau, wedi gweld rhagor o ddifrod gan stormydd.
Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Helen Mary Jones.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Helen Mary Jones.
Diolch, Llywydd. The Minister, yesterday, in his statement on transport, set out some very high-level aspirations. He talked about the metro as having a greater focus on connectivity, decarbonisation and integration, and I'm sure that these are aspirations that everybody in this Chamber would support.
However, Llywydd, I remain concerned about some gaps between aspiration and delivery, and if I can take the Minister, first of all, back to some conversations that we had yesterday, the Minister will recall the commitment that he made, with the agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government, that the feasibility study into the south-west metro would include the western valleys, including the Amman and the Gwendraeth. Now, in a written response to Dr Dai Lloyd on 20 September last year, the Minister replied that there had been a feasibility study, but that it did not, at that stage, include the western valleys. That was in the written reply. The Minister will recall that, three times yesterday by three different Plaid Cymru spokespeople, he was asked about whether or not that commitment had been met. He did not answer Dai Lloyd, he did not answer me and he did not answer Adam Price. So, I really want to ask the Minister today, has that feasibility study been completed? If it isn't completed, at what stage does he expect it to be completed? Does it or does it not—and let's be really specific—include the Amman and Gwendraeth valleys? And when will the Minister be able to share that feasibility study with Members, accepting, of course, that there may be some delays, because of issues relating to commercial confidentiality?
Diolch, Lywydd. Ddoe, yn ei ddatganiad ar drafnidiaeth, nododd y Gweinidog rai dyheadau lefel uchel iawn. Soniodd am fwy o ffocws ar gysylltedd, datgarboneiddio ac integreiddio mewn perthynas â’r metro, ac rwy'n siŵr fod y rhain yn ddyheadau y byddai pawb yn y Siambr hon yn eu cefnogi.
Fodd bynnag, Lywydd, rwy’n parhau i boeni am rai o’r bylchau rhwng dyheadau a’u cyflawniad, ac os caf atgoffa’r Gweinidog, yn gyntaf oll, o rai sgyrsiau a gawsom ddoe, bydd y Gweinidog yn cofio’r ymrwymiad a wnaeth, gyda’r cytundeb rhwng Plaid Cymru a Llywodraeth Cymru, y byddai'r astudiaeth ddichonoldeb ar fetro'r de-orllewin yn cynnwys cymoedd y gorllewin, gan gynnwys cwm Aman a chwm Gwendraeth. Nawr, mewn ymateb ysgrifenedig i Dr Dai Lloyd, ar 20 Medi y llynedd, atebodd y Gweinidog fod astudiaeth ddichonoldeb wedi’i chynnal, ond nad oedd, bryd hynny, yn cynnwys cymoedd y gorllewin. Roedd hynny yn yr ateb ysgrifenedig. Bydd y Gweinidog yn cofio i dri gwahanol llefarydd Plaid Cymru ofyn iddo deirgwaith ddoe a oedd yr ymrwymiad hwnnw wedi’i gyflawni ai peidio. Ni roddodd ateb i Dai Lloyd, ni roddodd ateb i mi ac ni roddodd ateb i Adam Price. Felly, rwy'n awyddus iawn i ofyn i'r Gweinidog heddiw, a yw'r astudiaeth ddichonoldeb honno wedi'i chwblhau? Os nad yw wedi’i chwblhau, pryd y mae'n disgwyl iddi gael ei chwblhau? A yw’n cynnwys—a gadewch inni fod yn wirioneddol benodol—cwm Aman a chwm Gwendraeth ai peidio? A phryd y bydd y Gweinidog yn gallu rhannu'r astudiaeth ddichonoldeb honno gyda'r Aelodau, gan dderbyn, wrth gwrs, y gallai fod rhywfaint o oedi, oherwydd materion sy’n ymwneud â chyfrinachedd masnachol?
Well, I think, as I said yesterday, in response to questions, we have funded the four local authorities, being led in this instance by Swansea City and County Council, who've carried out the initial feasibility study into the metro system. The work now will be taken forward by Transport for Wales. That work will be more expansive and extensive and will consider all parts of the region and how that metro system could be enhanced or furthered, both in terms of its vision and in terms of how we can deliver it.
Wel, fel y dywedais ddoe mewn ymateb i gwestiynau, rydym wedi ariannu'r pedwar awdurdod lleol, sy'n cael eu harwain yn yr achos hwn gan Gyngor Dinas a Sir Abertawe, sydd wedi cynnal yr astudiaeth ddichonoldeb gychwynnol i'r system fetro. Bydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn bwrw ymlaen â'r gwaith yn awr. Bydd y gwaith hwnnw'n fwy helaeth ac eang a bydd yn ystyried pob rhan o'r rhanbarth a sut y gellid gwella neu ymestyn y system fetro honno, o ran ei gweledigaeth ac o ran sut y gallwn ei chyflenwi.
I'm grateful to the Minister for his answer. It still doesn't tell me when we will actually know whether it includes the Amman and Gwendraeth valleys, and I invite him to see if he wants to be able to give us a bit more of an idea about that now.
But if I can take him to another commitment that he's made as part of an agreement with our party, he will recall that, in the final budget deal with the Welsh Government, we agreed not to oppose the budget, and one of the conditions of that was £2 million to be allocated to improving electric vehicle charging points across Wales. Now, he will, I'm sure, be aware that, as of October 2019, figures place the majority of south Wales local authorities in the bottom 20 per cent of local authorities UK-wide. For example, one of the lowest ranking was Rhondda Cynon Taf, with just three public charging points for 100,000; Caerphilly, at that stage, only had four; and the Vale of Glamorgan, only five per 100,000 people.
This was a commitment to a substantial investment, and I wonder if the Minister can tell us today what has been done with that investment, and how does he account for the fact that we have such low figures in some of those communities that need it most? I think we would all share the Minister's aspirations to move more and more people on to public transport, but there will be many people who will continue to want or need to use private vehicles and we need to get them into electrical vehicles where we can.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Gweinidog am ei ateb. Nid yw'n dweud wrthyf o hyd pryd y byddwn yn gwybod mewn gwirionedd a yw'n cynnwys cwm Aman a chwm Gwendraeth ai peidio, ac rwy'n ei wahodd i weld a yw am allu rhoi syniad ychydig yn well inni am hynny nawr.
Ond os caf sôn am ymrwymiad arall a wnaed ganddo fel rhan o gytundeb gyda'n plaid, bydd yn cofio, yn y cytundeb cyllideb terfynol â Llywodraeth Cymru, inni gytuno i beidio â gwrthwynebu'r gyllideb, ac un o amodau hynny oedd bod £2 filiwn i'w ddyrannu tuag at wella pwyntiau gwefru cerbydau trydan ledled Cymru. Nawr, rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn ymwybodol fod mwyafrif awdurdodau lleol de Cymru, ym mis Hydref 2019, yn yr 20 y cant isaf o awdurdodau lleol ledled y DU yn ôl y ffigurau. Er enghraifft, un o'r awdurdodau a raddiwyd isaf oedd Rhondda Cynon Taf, gyda thri phwynt gwefru cyhoeddus yn unig i bob 100,000 o bobl; dim ond pedwar oedd gan Gaerffili ar y pryd; a Bro Morgannwg, dim ond pump i bob 100,000 o bobl.
Roedd hwn yn ymrwymiad i fuddsoddi'n sylweddol, a tybed a all y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym heddiw beth sydd wedi'i wneud gyda'r buddsoddiad hwnnw, a sut y mae'n egluro’r ffaith bod gennym ffigurau mor isel yn rhai o'r cymunedau sydd ei angen fwyaf? Credaf y byddai pob un ohonom yn rhannu dyheadau'r Gweinidog i sicrhau bod mwy a mwy o bobl yn defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, ond bydd llawer o bobl yn parhau i fod eisiau neu angen defnyddio cerbydau preifat, ac mae angen inni sicrhau eu bod yn defnyddio cerbydau trydan lle bynnag y bo modd.
Can I thank Helen Mary Jones for the question regarding electrical charging points? I think the explanation is really rather simple: it's that there's been a market failure to date across much of the UK, including huge swathes of Wales. To address that, the Government—any Government—could do one of two things: (1) wait for the market to respond to increasing demand, and we have seen a significant increase in the number of charging points; or (2) invest.
Now, if a Government is going to invest, there are further options. One is to just plough the money into existing charging systems and use taxpayers' money to pay for the infrastructure that's required, or use the moneys to incentivise the market. That is precisely what we're doing with the £2 million that was agreed with Plaid Cymru, working alongside the Development Bank of Wales, and the providers of electric charging points, so that we don't just get £2 million-worth of infrastructure points, but that we get many millions more, and, in so doing, drive up the figure quite considerably in terms of how many charging points we have across Wales.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Helen Mary Jones am y cwestiwn ynghylch pwyntiau gwefru trydan? Credaf fod yr esboniad yn syml iawn: mae'r farchnad wedi methu hyd yma ledled y rhan fwyaf o'r DU, gan gynnwys rhannau helaeth o Gymru. Er mwyn mynd i'r afael â hynny, gallai'r Llywodraeth—unrhyw Lywodraeth—wneud un o ddau beth: (1) aros i'r farchnad ymateb i'r galw cynyddol, ac rydym yn gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn nifer y pwyntiau gwefru; neu (2) buddsoddi.
Nawr, os yw Llywodraeth yn mynd i fuddsoddi, mae opsiynau eraill i'w cael. Un ohonynt yw taflu'r arian i mewn i'r systemau gwefru presennol a defnyddio arian y trethdalwr i dalu am y seilwaith angenrheidiol, neu ddefnyddio'r arian i gymell y farchnad. Dyna'n union rydym yn ei wneud gyda'r £2 filiwn y cytunwyd arno gyda Phlaid Cymru, gan weithio gyda Banc Datblygu Cymru, a darparwyr pwyntiau gwefru trydan, fel nad ydym yn cael gwerth £2 filiwn o bwyntiau seilwaith yn unig, ond ein bod yn cael miliynau lawer yn fwy ohonynt, ac yn cynyddu'r ffigur gryn dipyn wrth wneud hynny o ran faint o bwyntiau gwefru sydd gennym ledled Cymru.
I can understand the Minister's aspirations to make the £2 million go further—that makes a certain amount of sense, but it begs the question about time and about when this is actually going to be delivered. The Minister is right, of course, to highlight the issues of market failure. It's likely that market failure will continue to take place, both in some of our poorer communities and potentially in some of our more isolated rural communities. It's been interesting, of course, to see that Gwynedd has been able to do better than some other local authorities in this regard. So, when does the Minister feel that he will be able to provide this Assembly with a breakdown of exactly how that £2 million has been, or will be, spent? And will he be able to show us where those new charging points have been put, because I would agree with him that we wouldn't want public investment to be put in place to replace private sector investment where the market could deliver?
Gallaf ddeall dyheadau'r Gweinidog i wneud i'r £2 filiwn fynd ymhellach—mae hynny'n gwneud rhywfaint o synnwyr, ond mae'n codi cwestiwn ynglŷn ag amser a phryd y caiff hyn ei gyflawni mewn gwirionedd. Mae'r Gweinidog yn iawn, wrth gwrs, i dynnu sylw at y problemau sy'n ymwneud â methiant y farchnad. Mae'n debygol y bydd methiant y farchnad yn parhau i ddigwydd, yn rhai o'n cymunedau tlotaf ac o bosibl yn rhai o'n cymunedau gwledig mwy anghysbell. Mae wedi bod yn ddiddorol gweld, wrth gwrs, fod Gwynedd wedi gallu gwneud yn well na rhai awdurdodau lleol eraill yn hyn o beth. Felly, pryd y mae'r Gweinidog yn teimlo y bydd yn gallu rhoi dadansoddiad i'r Cynulliad hwn o sut yn union y mae, neu y bydd, y £2 filiwn hwnnw'n cael ei wario? Ac a fydd yn gallu dangos i ni ymhle y mae'r pwyntiau gwefru newydd hynny wedi’u gosod, gan y buaswn yn cytuno ag ef na fyddem yn awyddus i weld buddsoddiad cyhoeddus yn cael ei roi ar waith yn lle buddsoddiad y sector preifat lle gallai'r farchnad gyflawni?
Well, I can assure the Member that we have committed to developing an electric vehicle charging strategy for Wales. That is a strategy to be published this year. It's scoping out the context for further Welsh Government intervention above and beyond the £2 million in the provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. And I can also assure the Member that Transport for Wales's remit letter for the coming year will include commissioning them to support this exercise so that we can roll out, at the fastest possible pace, new improved fast-charging infrastructure for cars.
Wel, gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod ein bod wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu strategaeth gwefru cerbydau trydan i Gymru. Mae honno'n strategaeth a fydd yn cael ei chyhoeddi eleni. Mae'n cwmpasu'r cyd-destun ar gyfer ymyrraeth bellach gan Lywodraeth Cymru uwchlaw a thu hwnt i'r £2 filiwn ar ddarparu seilwaith gwefru cerbydau trydan. A gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod hefyd y bydd llythyr cylch gwaith Trafnidiaeth Cymru ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod yn cynnwys eu comisiynu i gefnogi'r ymarfer hwn er mwyn inni allu cyflwyno, cyn gynted â phosibl, seilwaith newydd gwell ar gyfer gwefru ceir yn gyflym.
Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Russell George.
Conservative spokesperson, Russell George.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, under your watch, how many major transport schemes have cost substantially more and taken longer to complete than expected?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, o dan eich goruchwyliaeth chi, faint o gynlluniau trafnidiaeth mawr sydd wedi costio cryn dipyn yn fwy ac wedi cymryd mwy o amser i'w cwblhau na'r disgwyl?
Well, I don't think anywhere near as many transport-related projects as the UK Government has been in charge of delivering, particularly on the railways. We only need to look at HS2 as an example of how inflating costs have spiralled out of control, or Crossrail, or any given number of road projects that are being delivered by Highways England.
I would say to the Member, though, that it is disappointing whenever a road project, or a rail project for that matter, is delivered beyond the time frame that was promised, or delivered over budget. However, there are certain circumstances where projects have been delivered, either under budget or on budget and within the time frame originally envisaged, including that major road project in the Member's own constituency, the Newtown bypass.
Wel, ni chredaf fod y ffigur yn agos at nifer y prosiectau trafnidiaeth y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn gyfrifol am eu darparu, yn enwedig ar y rheilffyrdd. Nid oes angen i ni ond edrych ar HS2 fel enghraifft o'r ffordd y mae costau wedi cynyddu allan o reolaeth, neu Crossrail, neu unrhyw un o'r prosiectau ffyrdd sy'n cael eu cyflenwi gan Highways England.
Buaswn yn dweud wrth yr Aelod, er hynny, ei bod yn siomedig bob tro y bydd prosiect ffordd, neu brosiect rheilffordd o ran hynny, yn cael ei gyflawni y tu hwnt i'r amserlen a addawyd, neu'n cael ei gyflawni dros gyllideb. Fodd bynnag, ceir rhai amgylchiadau lle mae prosiectau wedi cael eu cyflawni, naill ai o dan y gyllideb neu o fewn y gyllideb ac o fewn yr amserlen a ragwelwyd yn wreiddiol, gan gynnwys y prosiect ffordd mawr yn etholaeth yr Aelod, ffordd osgoi'r Drenewydd.
Thank you for your answer, Minister. Of course, my question was with regard to transport schemes here in Wales, and this is my job—to scrutinise your performance here in this Parliament. Can I ask, Minister, or make the point that the performance of Welsh Government in delivering major road infrastructure projects has not at all been glowing? And I appreciate that you accept the frustration when that occurs.
Last week, the auditor general's report into section 2 of the A465 highlighted disruption, delays and overspend of £100 million, compared to the initial estimate in 2014. It was scheduled for completion in 2018 and was then put back to 2019, and it's now scheduled to be completed in 2021. Are you confident that there will be no further delays and cost increases, because the auditor general, sadly, isn't convinced of that, in fact, he's concluded that the final cost remains uncertain?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Wrth gwrs, roedd fy nghwestiwn yn ymwneud â chynlluniau trafnidiaeth yma yng Nghymru, a dyma fy ngwaith—craffu ar eich perfformiad yma yn y Senedd hon. A gaf fi ofyn, Weinidog, neu wneud y pwynt nad yw perfformiad Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyflawni prosiectau seilwaith ffyrdd mawr wedi bod yn dda o gwbl? Ac rwy'n gwerthfawrogi eich bod yn derbyn y rhwystredigaeth pan fydd hynny'n digwydd.
Yr wythnos diwethaf, amlygodd adroddiad yr archwilydd cyffredinol i adran 2 o'r A465 fod tarfu, oedi a gorwariant o £100 miliwn wedi bod o gymharu â'r amcangyfrif cychwynnol yn 2014. Roedd i fod i gael ei chwblhau yn 2018 ac yna fe'i gwthiwyd ymlaen i 2019, ac mae bellach i fod i gael ei chwblhau yn 2021. A ydych yn ffyddiog na fydd rhagor o oedi a chynnydd yn y costau, gan nad yw'r archwilydd cyffredinol, yn anffodus, wedi'i argyhoeddi ynglŷn â hynny, ac a dweud y gwir, mae wedi dod i'r casgliad fod y gost derfynol yn dal i fod yn ansicr?
HS2.
HS2.
Absolutely. The Member is absolutely right—HS2 is the prime example of projects that can inflate beyond control.
But, look, the Member is right: he's here to scrutinise me, and the dualling of section 2 of the A465 is an enormously important programme, and I'm obviously very disappointed by the further delay to this particular project. However, I can confirm, Llywydd, that the scheme budget remains as it was in my statement in April of last year. The budget remains the same: no further increase, despite the delay that was announced very recently. It's also worth reflecting on the fact that this particular project is now more than 85 per cent complete, with construction of more than 7.5 miles of retaining walls; something in the order of 1.3 million cu m of material has been excavated, and there has been the laying of 16,000 cu m of concrete; 30,000 trees have been planted and 15 bridges have been constructed. It's a huge endeavour. Whilst I do regret the increase in the overall budget since it was first programmed, and the delay in completing it, there is no doubt whatsoever that this complex but hugely ambitious scheme will be truly transformational for the Heads of the Valleys.
Yn sicr. Mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le—HS2 yw'r enghraifft orau o brosiectau sy'n gallu chwyddo y tu hwnt i reolaeth.
Ond edrychwch, mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei le: mae yma i graffu arnaf, ac mae deuoli adran 2 o'r A465 yn rhaglen hynod o bwysig, ac rwy'n amlwg yn siomedig iawn gyda'r oedi pellach i'r prosiect arbennig hwn. Fodd bynnag, gallaf gadarnhau, Lywydd, fod cyllideb y cynllun yn dal i fod yr un fath â'r hyn ydoedd yn fy natganiad ym mis Ebrill y llynedd. Mae'r gyllideb yn dal i fod yr un fath: dim cynnydd pellach, er gwaethaf yr oedi a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar iawn. Mae'n werth ystyried hefyd fod y prosiect penodol hwn bellach dros 85 y cant yn gyflawn, gyda dros 7.5 milltir o waliau cynnal wedi'u hadeiladu; oddeutu 1.3 miliwn metr ciwbig o ddeunydd wedi'i gloddio, ac 16,000 metr ciwbig o goncrit wedi'i osod; plannwyd 30,000 o goed ac adeiladwyd 15 o bontydd. Mae'n ymdrech enfawr. Er fy mod yn gresynu at y cynnydd yn y gyllideb gyffredinol ers iddi gael ei rhaglennu'n wreiddiol, a'r oedi cyn ei chwblhau, nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth o gwbl na fydd y cynllun cymhleth ond hynod uchelgeisiol hwn yn wirioneddol drawsnewidiol i Flaenau'r Cymoedd.
Thank you for your answer, Minister. I think it will be helpful as well for the residents to be able to listen to your own frustrations that the project hasn't been delivered on time. I want to go to a more positive footing here, but, of course, it's not the first and only project that has been mismanaged; I'll detail a couple and come to my final question. A year ago, you were delighted to mark the beginning of the construction phase of the A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass scheme and told this Parliament that it would be completed in 2021. Currently, the project overview on the Welsh Government's website says completion date is 2022. And then the construction of the Llandeilo bypass, which was due to commence last year—last month you told the climate change and rural affairs committee that it wasn't included in this next budget, and work hasn't yet commenced.
So, I want to get to a more positive point here: when are lessons going to be learned from these past mistakes? When is it that this Parliament can be informed and people across Wales can be informed of a project that is going to be properly managed, so it's delivered on time and it's delivered in a cost-effective way, as the original estimates listed? What is it, through procurement practices and contractual practices, that needs to change to ensure that that can happen?
Diolch am eich ateb, Weinidog. Credaf y bydd yn ddefnyddiol hefyd i'r trigolion allu gwrando ar eich rhwystredigaeth chi nad yw'r prosiect wedi'i gyflawni mewn pryd. Rwy'n awyddus i symud ymlaen at bwynt mwy cadarnhaol yma, ond wrth gwrs, nid dyma'r prosiect cyntaf na'r unig un i gael ei gamreoli; hoffwn fanylu ar ambell un cyn dod at fy nghwestiwn olaf. Flwyddyn yn ôl, roeddech yn falch iawn o nodi dechrau cyfnod adeiladu cynllun ffordd osgoi'r A487 rhwng Caernarfon a Bontnewydd, ac fe ddywedoch chi wrth y Senedd hon y byddai'n cael ei gwblhau yn 2021. Ar hyn o bryd, mae trosolwg y prosiect ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru yn nodi mai 2022 yw'r dyddiad cwblhau. Ac yna, y gwaith o adeiladu ffordd osgoi Llandeilo, a oedd i fod i ddechrau y llynedd—y mis diwethaf, fe ddywedoch chi wrth y pwyllgor newid hinsawdd a materion gwledig nad oedd wedi'i gynnwys yn y gyllideb nesaf hon, ac nid yw'r gwaith wedi dechrau eto.
Felly, rwyf am symud ymlaen i bwynt mwy cadarnhaol yma: pryd y bydd gwersi'n cael eu dysgu o'r camgymeriadau hyn? Pryd y gellir rhoi gwybod i'r Senedd hon ac i bobl ledled Cymru am brosiect sy'n mynd i gael ei reoli'n briodol, fel y caiff ei gyflawni'n brydlon ac mewn ffordd gosteffeithiol, fel y nodwyd yn yr amcangyfrifon gwreiddiol? Beth sydd angen newid, drwy arferion caffael ac arferion contractio, er mwyn sicrhau y gall hynny ddigwydd?
I can assure the Member that we already are delivering projects, road-based projects, to budget, and within the schedule that they are published, including, as I said earlier, the Newtown bypass. Two projects were highlighted in the Member's question: one concerns the A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass, and the Member will be aware that during excavation of land in this project, important archaeological finds were made, and, of course, that leads to delays. In terms of Llandeilo bypass, the Member, I imagine, will be aware as well of concerns that have been expressed by Sustrans, which must, in my view, be fully addressed.
Of course, cost and time bias is built into projects of this scale. However, lessons are being learned, not just from projects here within Wales, but we also work as closely as we can do with Highways England, because this is not an uncommon problem. The discovery of archaeological finds is something that often you cannot predict—you simply cannot predict. In terms of excavation of earth and finding other remains such as unexploded bombs, or terrains that you could not see, and you could not assess before the work began, that need to be addressed, and that can add time and it can add cost, but we are working with Highways England and with others to learn lessons and to ensure that we bring in projects as close to the budget or, indeed, in the case of the Newtown bypass, at the budget that they were published.
Gallaf roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod ein bod eisoes yn cyflawni prosiectau, prosiectau ffyrdd, o fewn cyllidebau, ac o fewn yr amserlenni a gyhoeddir, gan gynnwys, fel y nodais yn gynharach, ffordd osgoi'r Drenewydd. Tynnwyd sylw at ddau brosiect yng nghwestiwn yr Aelod: mae un yn ymwneud â ffordd osgoi'r A487 Caernarfon a Bontnewydd, a bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol fod darganfyddiadau archaeolegol pwysig wedi'u gwneud wrth gloddio tir yn y prosiect hwn, ac wrth gwrs, mae hynny'n arwain at oedi. O ran ffordd osgoi Llandeilo, tybiaf y bydd yr Aelod yn ymwybodol hefyd o bryderon a fynegwyd gan Sustrans y credaf eu bod yn galw am sylw priodol.
Wrth gwrs, mae bias amser a chost wedi'i gynnwys yn rhan o brosiectau o'r maint hwn. Fodd bynnag, mae gwersi'n cael eu dysgu, nid yn unig o brosiectau yma yng Nghymru, ond rydym hefyd yn gweithio mor agos ag y gallwn gyda Highways England, gan nad yw hon yn broblem anghyffredin. Mae dod o hyd i ddarganfyddiadau archaeolegol yn rhywbeth na allwch ei ragweld yn aml—yn syml, ni allwch ei ragweld. O ran cloddio tir a dod o hyd i olion eraill megis bomiau sydd heb ffrwydro, neu diroedd na allech eu gweld, ac na allech eu hasesu cyn i'r gwaith ddechrau, mae angen mynd i'r afael â hynny, a gall hynny ychwanegu amser a gall ychwanegu cost, ond rydym yn gweithio gyda Highways England a chydag eraill i ddysgu gwersi ac i sicrhau ein bod yn cyflawni prosiectau mor agos â phosibl at y gyllideb, neu'n wir, yn achos ffordd osgoi'r Drenewydd, o fewn y gyllideb a gyhoeddwyd.
Llefarydd Plaid Brexit, David Rowlands.
Brexit Party spokesperson, David Rowlands.
Diolch, Llywydd. Could the Minister please provide an update on the foundational economy in Wales?
Diolch, Lywydd. A allai'r Gweinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am yr economi sylfaenol yng Nghymru, os gwelwch yn dda?
Yes, absolutely. It's an exciting piece of work that is being led by my colleague Lee Waters. We recently saw the challenge fund unveiled, with a very significant number of bids. As a result of the enthusiasm for that particular fund, we trebled the amount of resource available, and we've been able to fund a huge number of projects right across the length and breadth of Wales.
Yn sicr. Mae'n waith cyffrous sy'n cael ei arwain gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Lee Waters. Yn ddiweddar, cafodd y gronfa her ei chyhoeddi, gyda nifer sylweddol iawn o geisiadau. O ganlyniad i'r brwdfrydedd mewn perthynas â'r gronfa benodol honno, gwnaethom dreblu faint o adnoddau sydd ar gael, ac rydym wedi gallu ariannu nifer fawr o brosiectau ledled Cymru.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Gerald Holtham, giving the Hodge lecture, said he had no idea how the Welsh economy was going to develop over the next decade. He made the point that Wales should look more towards the foundational economy to simply protect living standards. But he maintained that even if the Welsh economy grows to enrich most of the people in Wales, places like Merthyr were never going to match Bridgend, Swansea, Chepstow—and he should, of course, have added Cardiff. Does the Minister think that this analysis is correct?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Dywedodd Gerald Holtham, wrth roi darlith Hodge, nad oedd ganddo unrhyw syniad sut y mae economi Cymru am ddatblygu dros y degawd nesaf. Gwnaeth y pwynt y dylai Cymru edrych mwy tuag at yr economi sylfaenol er mwyn gwarchod safonau byw. Ond dywedodd, hyd yn oed os yw economi Cymru'n tyfu i wneud y rhan fwyaf o bobl Cymru yn gyfoethocach, nad oedd lleoedd fel Merthyr Tudful byth yn mynd i ddal i fyny â Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Abertawe, Cas-gwent—a dylai fod wedi ychwanegu Caerdydd wrth gwrs. A yw'r Gweinidog yn credu bod y dadansoddiad hwn yn gywir?
I'm sure that we could spend the entire afternoon debating this important area of concern. The economic action plan has the dual purpose of driving down inequality within regions and across regions, but also to improve productivity. Our focus on the foundational economy is new, and it has immense energy attached to it because we recognise that we have to ensure that we protect living standards and that we give opportunities to those communities that have felt very distant from areas that have benefited from economic growth in recent times. But, equally, we are committed to developing the highest quality jobs that we possibly can across all parts of Wales. That's what, for example, the Tech Valleys project is aiming to achieve. It's what our interventions across the Valleys taskforce are aiming to achieve. It's what our intervention in projects such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is aiming to achieve. And if we look at the results of our strategic investments in recent years, we can stand proud. We've got unemployment rates at the lowest ever level—the lowest levels since records began. We see gross value added rising faster than most other parts of the UK, and household earnings as well have been increasing faster than the average in the UK. These are all signs that we have been investing cleverly, smartly and in the right areas.
Rwy'n siŵr y gallem dreulio'r prynhawn cyfan yn trafod y maes pryder pwysig hwn. Mae gan y cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi ddiben deuol i leihau anghydraddoldeb mewn rhanbarthau ac ar draws rhanbarthau, ond hefyd i wella cynhyrchiant. Mae ein ffocws ar yr economi sylfaenol yn newydd, ac mae egni aruthrol ynghlwm wrth hynny gan ein bod yn cydnabod bod yn rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn diogelu safonau byw a'n bod yn rhoi cyfleoedd i'r cymunedau hynny sydd wedi teimlo'n bell iawn o ardaloedd sydd wedi elwa o dwf economaidd yn ddiweddar. Ond yn yr un modd, rydym wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu swyddi o'r safon uchaf posibl ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Dyna, er enghraifft, y mae prosiect y Cymoedd Technoleg yn ceisio'i gyflawni. Dyna mae ein hymyriadau ar draws tasglu'r Cymoedd yn ceisio'i gyflawni. Dyna mae ein hymyrraeth mewn prosiectau fel y Ganolfan Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch yn ceisio'i gyflawni. Ac os edrychwn ar ganlyniadau ein buddsoddiadau strategol dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gallwn fod yn falch. Mae cyfraddau diweithdra ar y lefel isaf erioed—y lefelau isaf ers dechrau cadw cofnodion. Rydym yn gweld gwerth ychwanegol gros yn codi'n gyflymach na'r rhan fwyaf o rannau eraill y DU, ac mae enillion aelwydydd hefyd wedi bod yn cynyddu'n gyflymach na'r cyfartaledd yn y DU. Mae'r rhain oll yn arwyddion ein bod wedi bod yn buddsoddi'n graff, yn glyfar ac yn y meysydd cywir.
3. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch penderfyniad y DVSA i gau'r ganolfan prawf gyrru yng Nghaernarfon? OAQ55113
3. What discussions has the Minister had with the UK Government regarding the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's decision to close the driving test centre in Caernarfon? OAQ55113
Well, we were not informed of this decision by the UK Government. However, I have written to the Secretary of State for Transport asking for urgent clarification on their proposals, and my officials have contacted the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The Welsh Government are ready to assist where possible, with those that will be affected by this news.
Wel, ni chawsom wybod am y penderfyniad hwn gan Lywodraeth y DU. Fodd bynnag, rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Drafnidiaeth i ofyn am eglurhad brys ynglŷn â'u cynigion, ac mae fy swyddogion wedi cysylltu â'r Asiantaeth Safonau Gyrwyr a Cherbydau. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i roi cymorth lle bo modd i'r rheini y bydd y newyddion hwn yn effeithio arnynt.
Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ymateb yna, ond mae eisiau mynd ymhellach na hynny. Mae eisiau sicrhau bod y penderfyniad yma yn cael ei wyrdroi, achos allwn ni ddim fforddio colli'r ganolfan yma. Dwi'n sôn am ganolfan sydd yn etholaeth fy nghyd-weithwraig Siân Gwenllian, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n ganolfan sy'n gwasanaethu ardal eang o'r gogledd. Dim ond fis Awst y llynedd, yn dilyn pryderon a gafodd eu codi efo fi gan Huw Williams o gwmni hyfforddi gyrwyr HGV a bysus ac yn y blaen, sef Huw Williams o Ynys Môn, mi ysgrifennais at y DVSA, yn pwyntio allan iddyn nhw bod ganddyn nhw ddiffyg capasiti yng Nghaernarfon fel y mae hi. Rydym ni angen gyrwyr lori ac rydym ni angen gyrwyr bysus ar gyfer ein heconomi a'n cymdeithas ni.
Yr hyn yr oedd Huw Williams—a dwi'n gwybod bod hyn yn wir am gwmnïau eraill—wedi ffeindio oedd eu bod nhw'n methu â chael digon o slots yn y ganolfan yng Nghaernarfon er mwyn profi'r bobl yr oedden nhw'n eu hyfforddi. Mae hynny'n dweud wrthyf fi mai tyfu ac atgyfnerthu'r ganolfan sydd ei eisiau. Felly, mi allwch chi ddychmygu fy siom enfawr i, a braw Huw Williams, o glywed wedyn—yn answyddogol yn gyntaf—mai'r bwriad rŵan ydy cau'r ganolfan.
Mi gadarnhawyd hynny efo ni maes o law. Mi roddwyd awgrym y bydden nhw'n chwilio, o bosib, am safle arall yng Nghaernarfon ar ôl cau'r safle presennol. Nid dyna'r ffordd y dylai pethau cael eu gwneud. Os yw'r DVSA yn cytuno bod yna le i gael canolfan yng Nghaernarfon, mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddod o hyd i le newydd yng Nghaernarfon neu'r ardal honno rŵan, nid ar ôl cau. A gawn ni sicrwydd gan y Llywodraeth y byddwch chi'n gwneud popeth i wthio'r Llywodraeth i newid y penderfyniad yma, achos allwn ni ddim fforddio colli'r ganolfan yma?
Thank you very much for that response, but we do need to go further than that. We need to ensure that this decision is overturned, because we can’t afford to lose this centre. I’m talking about a centre that is in the constituency of my colleague Siân Gwenllian, but, of course, it’s a centre that serves a vast area of north Wales. In August of last year, following concerns raised with me by Huw Williams from the heavy goods vehicles and buses training service—Huw Williams from Anglesey—I wrote to the DVSA, pointing out to them that they had a lack of capacity in Caernarfon as things stood. We need lorry drivers and we need bus drivers for our economy and our wider society.
What Huw Williams—and I know that this is true of other companies—had found is that they couldn’t get enough slots in the centre in Caernarfon in order to test those people who they were training. That tells me that we need to grow and strengthen the centre, so you can imagine my huge disappointment and the shock of Huw Williams in hearing, unofficially first of all, that the intention now is to close the test centre.
That was confirmed in due time. There was a suggestion that they would seek another site in Caernarfon, having closed the current site. Now, that’s not how things should be done. If the DVSA agree that there is a need for a centre in Caernarfon, then they must find a new site in Caernarfon or in that area now, not after the closure of the centre. Can we have an assurance from the Government that you will do everything you can to urge the Government to change this decision, because we can’t afford to lose that centre?
Can I thank Rhun for his question? Llywydd, I think that it would be helpful if I was to release the letter that I sent to the Secretary of State, because I think that it will show how serious we are in demanding that a Caernarfon site is secured. I appreciate the predicament that haulier trainers are in over this decision, and the impact that it might have on their business, especially those who have invested in good faith and in the belief that a test centre would be retained in the area.
Our understanding is that the Department for Transport is still exploring options for an alternative test centre in or around the Caernarfon area. We have said to the UK Government that we believe that it should be in Caernarfon, and it's also my understanding that the current Caernarfon test site is leased from Gwynedd county council. Our understanding is that they have yet to be formally notified of any date to vacate the site. As I say, we are determined to see the decision reversed and to see a permanent site in Caernarfon.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Rhun am ei gwestiwn? Lywydd, credaf y byddai'n ddefnyddiol pe bawn yn rhyddhau'r llythyr a anfonais at yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, gan y credaf y bydd yn dangos pa mor ddifrifol rydym ni wrth fynnu bod safle yng Nghaernarfon yn cael ei ddiogelu. Rwy'n deall y sefyllfa anodd y mae hyfforddwyr cludwyr ynddi mewn perthynas â'r penderfyniad hwn, a'r effaith y gallai ei chael ar eu busnes, yn enwedig y rheini sydd wedi buddsoddi gyda phob ewyllys da ac yn y gred y byddai canolfan brawf yn cael ei chadw yn yr ardal.
Ein dealltwriaeth ni yw bod yr Adran Drafnidiaeth yn dal i archwilio opsiynau ar gyfer canolfan brawf arall yn ardal Caernarfon neu'r cyffiniau. Rydym wedi dweud wrth Lywodraeth y DU ein bod yn credu y dylai fod yng Nghaernarfon, a deallaf hefyd fod safle prawf presennol Caernarfon yn cael ei osod ar brydles gan gyngor sir Gwynedd. Ein dealltwriaeth yw nad ydynt wedi cael eu hysbysu'n ffurfiol eto ynghylch unrhyw ddyddiad i adael y safle. Fel y dywedaf, rydym yn benderfynol o weld y penderfyniad yn cael ei wrthdroi ac i weld safle parhaol yng Nghaernarfon.
As you indicate, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have been in negotiations for another location in Caernarfon, on the Cibyn industrial estate. Subsequent to that they said a move to Wrexham, 90 miles' drive from Caernarfon, is a contingency, and officials continue to look for alternative sites, as you indicate, in Caernarfon, after not finding what they describe as a suitable location, and that tests should still be booked from the current site until further notice. What assistance, if any, can the Welsh Government provide in not only understanding why the site on Cibyn industrial estate was deemed unsuitable, and whether that can be remedied, but also perhaps on identifying, or helping identify, alternative suitable sites in order to keep the centre in or near Caernarfon?
Fel y nodwch, mae'r Asiantaeth Safonau Gyrwyr a Cherbydau wedi bod yn negodi am leoliad arall yng Nghaernarfon, ar ystâd ddiwydiannol Cibyn. Ar ôl hynny, dywedasant fod symud i Wrecsam, 90 milltir o Gaernarfon, yn gynllun wrth gefn, ac mae swyddogion yn parhau i chwilio am safleoedd eraill, fel y nodwch, yng Nghaernarfon, ar ôl methu dod o hyd i'r hyn a ddisgrifiant fel lleoliad, ac y dylid archebu profion gyrru ar y safle presennol hyd nes y ceir rhybudd pellach. Pa gymorth, os o gwbl, y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei ddarparu, nid yn unig i ddeall pam yr ystyrir fod y safle ar ystâd ddiwydiannol Cibyn yn anaddas, ac a ellir unioni hynny, ond hefyd efallai o ran nodi, neu helpu i nodi, safleoedd addas eraill er mwyn cadw'r ganolfan yng Nghaernarfon neu'r cyffiniau?
Our regional team in north Wales stand ready to assist DVSA in identifying an alternative site in Caernarfon. So, too, do Business Wales, and I've asked my officials to work with Gwynedd county council in assessing the reasons why DVSA have determined that it may not be a suitable site, the one that they currently have, and to ascertain exactly what it is that they would wish to have in a new alternative site in Caernarfon.
Mae ein tîm rhanbarthol yng ngogledd Cymru yn barod i gynorthwyo'r Asiantaeth Safonau Gyrwyr a Cherbydau i ganfod safle arall yng Nghaernarfon. Mae Busnes Cymru hefyd yn barod i wneud hynny, ac rwyf wedi gofyn i fy swyddogion weithio gyda chyngor sir Gwynedd i asesu'r rhesymau pam fod yr Asiantaeth Safonau Gyrwyr a Cherbydau wedi penderfynu nad yw'n safle addas o bosibl, yr un sydd ganddynt ar hyn o bryd, a chanfod beth yn union y byddent yn dymuno'i gael mewn safle arall newydd yng Nghaernarfon.
4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda'r awdurdodau perthnasol ynghylch cynyddu capasiti trenau ar brif reilffordd de Cymru? OAQ55129
4. What discussions has the Minister had with the relevant authorities regarding increasing train capacity on the south Wales main line? OAQ55129
I continue to have discussions with Transport for Wales about current services on the south Wales main line and local lines that are served from it, and I'll also continue to discuss with Network Rail, who own the south Wales main line, about future investments.
Rwy'n parhau i gael trafodaethau gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru ynglŷn â'r gwasanaethau presennol ar brif reilffordd de Cymru a'r rheilffyrdd lleol a wasanaethir ganddi, a byddaf hefyd yn parhau i drafod gyda Network Rail, sy'n berchen ar brif reilffordd de Cymru, ynglŷn â buddsoddiadau yn y dyfodol.
Thank you. Of course, increasing services and expanding the network is something I know has been discussed yesterday in the statement on the south Wales regional metro plans, and also a meeting I had with Transport for Wales recently reflected that aim. I've spoken to a lot of people who talk to me about the capacity issues, and I know that you've mentioned Network Rail, but in particular, locally, many people have raised with me that they want to see more frequent stops in places like Pencoed, Baglan, Llandarcy and other similar stations. How are you able to facilitate this, and what decisions have been made regarding loops on the main line for strategic locations? And the second part of the question is: what have you been doing to discuss with Bridgend County Borough Council regarding Pencoed level crossing? We know that the level crossing is affecting the residents in the area, and has hindered progress over the years. It's going to be a barrier to expansion and has already created many traffic problems. So, on those two issues, can you please give me progress?
Diolch. Wrth gwrs, mae cynyddu gwasanaethau ac ehangu'r rhwydwaith yn rhywbeth y gwn ei fod wedi ei drafod ddoe yn y datganiad ar gynlluniau metro rhanbarthol de Cymru, ac adlewyrchwyd y nod hwnnw mewn cyfarfod a gefais gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn ddiweddar. Rwyf wedi siarad â llawer o bobl sy'n dweud wrthyf am y problemau capasiti, a gwn eich bod wedi sôn am Network Rail, ond yn benodol, yn lleol, mae llawer o bobl wedi dweud wrthyf eu bod am i drenau stopio'n amlach mewn lleoedd fel Pencoed, Baglan, Llandarcy a gorsafoedd tebyg eraill. Sut y gallwch hwyluso hyn, a pha benderfyniadau a wnaed ynghylch dolenni ar y brif reilffordd ar gyfer lleoliadau strategol? Ac ail ran y cwestiwn yw: beth rydych wedi'i wneud i drafod croesfan reilffordd Pencoed gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr? Gwyddom fod y groesfan reilffordd yn effeithio ar drigolion yr ardal, ac wedi llesteirio cynnydd dros y blynyddoedd. Mae'n mynd i fod yn rhwystr i ehangu, ac mae eisoes wedi creu llawer o broblemau traffig. Felly, ar y ddau fater, a allwch ddweud wrthyf pa gynnydd a wnaed, os gwelwch yn dda?
Yes, of course. An extendability framework is now being established for the south Wales metro. I'm looking at corridors that can be enhanced in the future. Of course, I don't really need to rehearse the figures—11 per cent of track, 11 per cent of stations, 20 per cent of level crossings in Wales on the Wales route, and yet we've only received about 2 per cent of investment from the UK Government. Clearly, if we are to improve speeds and reduce journey times, and improve the regularity of services across not just the south Wales lines and services, but also elsewhere in Wales, then we need to see further investment.
I have met very recently with the leader of Bridgend council to discuss Pencoed. I was accompanied by the local Member, and we have asked the council to bring forward proposals that we will be able to, in turn, promote to UK Government for investment. I think it's worth saying that the commitment that TfW has to increasing capacity is one part of the jigsaw. In order to increase and improve capacity we also need to see investment in rail lines, the track and the signalling, which then can enable increased capacity on the network at any given time.
Gallaf, wrth gwrs. Mae fframwaith estynadwyedd yn cael ei sefydlu ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer metro de Cymru. Rwy'n edrych ar goridorau y gellir eu gwella yn y dyfodol. Wrth gwrs, nid oes gwir angen imi ailadrodd y ffigurau—11 y cant o'r trac, 11 y cant o orsafoedd, 20 y cant o groesfannau rheilffordd yng Nghymru ar lwybr Cymru, ond serch hynny, oddeutu 2 y cant yn unig o fuddsoddiad a gawsom gan Lywodraeth y DU. Yn amlwg, os ydym am wella cyflymderau a lleihau amseroedd teithio, a gwella rheoleidd-dra gwasanaethau, nid yn unig ar reilffyrdd a gwasanaethau de Cymru, ond hefyd mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru, mae angen rhagor o fuddsoddiad arnom.
Cyfarfûm yn ddiweddar iawn ag arweinydd cyngor Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr i drafod Pencoed. Daeth yr Aelod lleol gyda mi, ac rydym wedi gofyn i'r cyngor gyflwyno cynigion y byddwn yn gallu eu hyrwyddo yn eu tro i Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer buddsoddi. Credaf ei bod yn werth dweud mai un rhan o'r jig-so yw'r ymrwymiad sydd gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru i gynyddu capasiti. Er mwyn cynyddu a gwella capasiti, mae arnom angen buddsoddiad hefyd yn y rheilffyrdd, y trac a'r signalau, a all alluogi mwy o gapasiti ar y rhwydwaith ar unrhyw adeg benodol.
The electrification of the Great Western main line has clearly been a major plus and will be a major plus for the Welsh, south Wales, economy.
Mae'n amlwg fod y gwaith o drydaneiddio prif reilffordd y Great Western wedi bod yn fantais fawr ac y bydd yn fantais fawr i economi Cymru, de Cymru.
[Inaudible.]
[Anghlywadwy.]
As Bethan Jenkins—sorry, Bethan Sayed—said before, it works as a part of the metro jigsaw, and I'm going to qualify my question to you by saying I appreciate that you're not superman, and that you can't wave a magic wand and—[Interruption.] And you can't wave a magic wand—[Interruption.] No. And you can't wave a magic wand and make all these happen tomorrow, but, in terms of getting the more disparate, the rural, parts of the metro network going, such as Monmouth, which I've mentioned to you before, what can you do to make sure that those parts of the metro jigsaw are joined up as quickly as possible? I appreciate it can't be tomorrow, but people in my area are thinking that the metro's a great idea in practice, but when is it actually going to extend to a point where it's going to help them in their lives?
Fel y dywedodd Bethan Jenkins—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Bethan Sayed—yn gynt, mae'n gweithio fel rhan o jig-so y metro, ac rwyf am gymhwyso fy nghwestiwn i chi drwy ddweud fy mod yn deall nad dewin ydych chi, ac na allwch chi chwifio ffon hud a—[Torri ar draws.] Ac ni allwch chwifio ffon hud—[Torri ar draws.] Na. Ac ni allwch chwifio ffon hud a gwneud i’r pethau hyn i gyd ddigwydd yfory, ond o ran dechrau ar y rhannau mwy gwledig a gwahanol o'r rhwydwaith metro, fel Sir Fynwy, fel y crybwyllais wrthych o'r blaen, beth allwch chi ei wneud i sicrhau bod y rhannau hynny o jig-so y metro yn cael eu cysylltu cyn gynted â phosibl? Rwy'n sylweddoli na all ddigwydd yfory, ond mae pobl yn fy ardal yn meddwl bod y metro yn syniad gwych yn ymarferol, ond pryd y daw i bwynt lle bydd yn eu helpu yn eu bywydau?
Well, we've asked—. As I said in yesterday's debate, we've asked Transport for Wales—we've remitted them in the next financial year—to look at each of the metro projects, including extendibility. That work is extensive, of course, but it is necessary for individuals in the more distant areas of each of the metro areas to appreciate that, in the future, investment will come their way and they will be better connected.
Wel, rydym wedi gofyn—. Fel y dywedais yn y ddadl ddoe, rydym wedi gofyn i Trafnidiaeth Cymru—rydym wedi eu cyfarwyddo yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf—i edrych ar bob un o'r prosiectau metro, gan gynnwys estynadwyedd. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n helaeth wrth gwrs, ond mae angen i unigolion yn ardaloedd mwy anghysbell pob un o ardaloedd y metro ddeall y bydd buddsoddiad yn dod iddynt yn y dyfodol ac y byddant yn cael cysylltedd gwell.
Could I just address my thanks to Network Rail, TfW? Representatives from the Secretary of State's office as well have been part of the meetings that have been organised alongside Pencoed Town Council, myself and Chris Elmore, the MP, in order to make the case and to actually get us to the stage where we have now completed the Welsh transport appraisal guidance first phase study into the level crossing, but also the enhancements that are needed on the Pencoed bridge road crossing as well. But will he accept that, in order to take this forward, not just with the WelTAG 2, but to make the case for the moneys—and I thank the Minister for the meeting he held recently with Huw David of Bridgend and ourselves—we will have to have all players at the table. It will have to be the local authority in terms of highways and urban structure around the railway if we move to closing the crossing, but there will also need to be major investment from the UK Department of Transport as well. And it's good to have had the Secretary of State as an observer in these meetings, but we're rapidly moving to the point where they'll have to look to put their hand in their pocket.
Could I also ask, please, that, in terms of doing this, the criticality of increasing frequency of service from all the way—? Maesteg, Sarn, Tondu, Pontyclun, Pencoed, Llanharan are all reliant on this. But could I ask him: is he going to continue to urge for progress as well on increased frequency on the Maesteg to Cheltenham line as well? Because that, equally—if we can unlock Pencoed, then that can happen as well.
Hoffwn fynegi fy niolch i Network Rail a Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Mae cynrychiolwyr o swyddfa’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol hefyd wedi bod yn rhan o’r cyfarfodydd a drefnwyd gyda Chyngor Tref Pencoed, Chris Elmore yr AS a minnau er mwyn cyflwyno’r achos ac er mwyn cyrraedd y pwynt lle rydym bellach wedi cwblhau astudiaeth cam cyntaf arweiniad arfarnu trafnidiaeth Cymru ar y groesfan, ond hefyd y gwelliannau sydd eu hangen ar groesfan pont Pencoed. Ond a yw’n derbyn, er mwyn bwrw ymlaen â hyn, nid yn unig gydag arweiniad ar arfarnu trafnidiaeth Cymru 2, ond i wneud yr achos am yr arian—a diolch i'r Gweinidog am y cyfarfod a gynhaliodd yn ddiweddar gyda Huw David o Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr a ninnau—bydd yn rhaid i ni gael pob chwaraewr o amgylch y bwrdd. Bydd yn rhaid cael yr awdurdod lleol o ran priffyrdd a strwythur trefol o amgylch y rheilffordd os byddwn yn cau'r groesfan, ond bydd angen buddsoddiad mawr gan Adran Drafnidiaeth y DU hefyd. Ac mae'n dda ein bod wedi cael yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol fel sylwedydd yn y cyfarfodydd hyn, ond rydym bron â chyrraedd pwynt lle bydd yn rhaid iddynt ystyried rhoi eu dwylo yn eu pocedi.
A gaf fi ofyn hefyd, os gwelwch yn dda, o ran gwneud hyn, ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd cynyddu amlder gwasanaeth yr holl ffordd—? Mae Maesteg, Sarn, Ton-du, Pont-y-clun, Pencoed, Llanharan i gyd yn dibynnu ar hyn. Ond a gaf fi ofyn iddo: a fydd yn parhau i annog y gwaith o gynyddu amlder y gwasanaeth ar lein Maesteg i Cheltenham hefyd? Oherwydd, yn yr un modd—os gallwn ddatgloi Pencoed, gall hynny ddigwydd hefyd.
I couldn't disagree with any of the points raised by the Member, and I'll assure him that I will champion those services and those infrastructure projects in and around his constituency with DfT, with Transport for Wales colleagues, and with my colleagues within Government. It's absolutely vital, as the Member said, that we have a united-team approach to these projects, and that is what we are seeking to deliver for the Maesteg area.
Ni allaf anghytuno ag unrhyw un o'r pwyntiau a godwyd gan yr Aelod, ac rwy'n ei sicrhau y byddaf yn hyrwyddo'r gwasanaethau hynny a'r prosiectau seilwaith hynny yn ei etholaeth a'r cyffiniau gyda’r Adran Drafnidiaeth, gyda chydweithwyr Trafnidiaeth Cymru, a chyda fy nghyd-Aelodau yn y Llywodraeth. Mae'n gwbl hanfodol, fel y dywedodd yr Aelod, fod gennym ddull tîm unedig o fynd ati ar y prosiectau hyn, a dyna'r hyn rydym yn ceisio'i gyflawni ar gyfer ardal Maesteg.
5. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i arallgyfeirio economi Gorllewin De Cymru? OAQ55127
5. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to diversify the economy of South Wales West? OAQ55127
The Welsh Government's priorities are set out in the economic action plan. We are currently working with a wide range of partners in the region on the emerging regional economic framework, as well as supporting the Swansea bay city deal.
Mae blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u nodi yn y cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi. Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn gweithio gydag ystod eang o bartneriaid yn y rhanbarth ar y fframwaith economaidd rhanbarthol sydd ar y gweill, yn ogystal â chefnogi bargen ddinesig bae Abertawe.
Thank you, Minister. Our past reliance on a handful of large employers has left the economy of South Wales West vulnerable. The closure of the Port Talbot steelworks would be devastating for the region, and we face huge challenges in diversifying. But we can also seize the opportunities, if we can think ahead. The biggest challenge we face as a nation is decarbonisation, which also offers us great opportunities. Electric arc furnaces can be used to recycle the tonnes of cars that will be scrapped as a result of electrification. New fuel sources must be found for heavy goods transportation, and there have been promising developments in ammonia fuel cells and conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol. But, in order to capitalise on the opportunities, we have to invest in research and development. Minister, will your Government commit to invest in alternative fuels R&D and work with higher education to ensure Wales leads the way? After all, Swansea was the birthplace of the hydrogen fuel cell. Thank you.
Diolch, Weinidog. Mae ein dibyniaeth yn y gorffennol ar lond llaw o gyflogwyr mawr wedi gadael economi Gorllewin De Cymru yn agored i niwed. Byddai cau gwaith dur Port Talbot yn ddinistriol i'r rhanbarth, ac rydym yn wynebu heriau enfawr o ran arallgyfeirio. Ond gallwn hefyd fanteisio ar y cyfleoedd os gallwn edrych i’r dyfodol. Yr heriau mwyaf sy'n ein hwynebu fel cenedl yw datgarboneiddio, sydd hefyd yn cynnig cyfleoedd gwych i ni. Gellir defnyddio'r ffwrneisi arc trydan i ailgylchu'r tunelli o geir a fydd yn cael eu sgrapio o ganlyniad i drydaneiddio. Mae’n rhaid dod o hyd i ffynonellau tanwydd newydd ar gyfer cludo nwyddau trwm, ac mae datblygiadau addawol wedi bod mewn celloedd tanwydd amonia a throi carbon deuocsid yn fethanol. Ond er mwyn manteisio ar y cyfleoedd, mae'n rhaid i ni fuddsoddi mewn ymchwil a datblygu. Weinidog, a wnaiff eich Llywodraeth ymrwymo i fuddsoddi mewn gwaith ymchwil a datblygu tanwydd amgen a gweithio gydag addysg uwch i sicrhau bod Cymru’n arwain y ffordd? Wedi'r cyfan, Abertawe oedd man geni'r gell tanwydd hydrogen. Diolch.
Can I thank Caroline Jones for her question? I can assure her that we already are investing heavily in R&D, that we're working with higher education institutions in the region. Swansea University have taken a lead in many respects in regard to industrial energy solutions, and we are absolutely determined to chase after every penny that is on offer through the UK Government's industrial energy transformation fund and the clean steel fund. They amount to something in the region of £500 million of investment over several years, but I'm afraid to say that that investment pales into almost insignificance next to the Netherlands' £5 billion annual investment that is being made in decarbonisation.
Decarbonisation offers an enormous opportunity for businesses in Wales, for research and development organisations, for higher education institutions, and I'm keen to make sure that, within south Wales, the industrial cluster that has been established is used as a pathway to draw down as much UK industrial strategy funding as possible, but also to access Welsh Government funding. Okay, our bags of money may be smaller than the UK Government's, but, nonetheless, we are able to make strategic investments that assist businesses in decarbonising, and I could identify a number in the Member's region, such as Keytree, where they were able to access £0.5 million and create 38 highly skilled jobs in a software hub within the region. Approximately 33 per cent of our calls to action money has gone to projects relating directly to decarbonisation programmes and, as a result of that, we have seen an employment rate in mid and south-west Wales that has increased by 7.1 per cent between 2011 and 2019. But our determination is to build on that by investing in those industries of tomorrow, and, clearly, decarbonisation is at the very heart of the industries of the future.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Caroline Jones am ei chwestiwn? Gallaf sicrhau ein bod eisoes yn buddsoddi'n helaeth mewn ymchwil a datblygu a'n bod yn gweithio gyda sefydliadau addysg uwch yn y rhanbarth. Mae Prifysgol Abertawe wedi cymryd yr awenau mewn sawl ffordd mewn perthynas â datrysiadau ynni diwydiannol, ac rydym yn gwbl benderfynol o fynd ar ôl pob ceiniog a gynigir drwy gronfa trawsnewid ynni diwydiannol Llywodraeth y DU a’r gronfa dur glân. Maent yn darparu oddeutu £500 miliwn o fuddsoddiad dros sawl blwyddyn, ond mae arnaf ofn bod y buddsoddiad hwnnw’n ymddangos yn ddibwys wrth ymyl y £5 biliwn o fuddsoddiad blynyddol y mae’r Iseldiroedd yn ei wneud ym maes datgarboneiddio.
Mae datgarboneiddio yn cynnig cyfle enfawr i fusnesau yng Nghymru, i sefydliadau ymchwil a datblygu, i sefydliadau addysg uwch, ac rwy'n awyddus i sicrhau, yn ne Cymru, fod y clwstwr diwydiannol sydd wedi'i sefydlu yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel llwybr i ddenu cymaint o arian strategaeth ddiwydiannol y DU â phosibl, ond hefyd i gael mynediad at gyllid Llywodraeth Cymru. Iawn, mae’n bosibl fod ein bagiau arian yn llai na rhai Llywodraeth y DU, ond serch hynny, rydym yn gallu gwneud buddsoddiadau strategol sy'n cynorthwyo busnesau i ddatgarboneiddio, a gallwn nodi nifer yn rhanbarth yr Aelod, fel Keytree, lle roeddent wedi gallu cael £0.5 miliwn a chreu 38 o swyddi medrus iawn mewn hyb meddalwedd yn y rhanbarth. Mae tua 33 y cant o'n galwadau i weithredu arian wedi mynd i brosiectau sy'n ymwneud yn uniongyrchol â rhaglenni datgarboneiddio, ac o ganlyniad i hynny, mae’r gyfradd gyflogaeth yng nghanolbarth a de-orllewin Cymru wedi cynyddu 7.1 y cant rhwng 2011-19. Ond rydym yn benderfynol o adeiladu ar hynny drwy fuddsoddi yn niwydiannau yfory ac yn amlwg, mae datgarboneiddio yn gwbl ganolog i ddiwydiannau'r dyfodol.
Minister, the Swansea bay city deal, of course, is founded on the commercialisation of innovation, not least in decarbonising energy sources west of my region, but I'm pleased with progress within my region. I've raised the prospects about the national steel innovation centre with you before, so I am pleased to hear that Neath Port Talbot's projects for that and tackling climate change have now been signed off by the joint board—any new jobs are going to be welcome, although there are more factors than just that. But I do remain nervous about delays within the system that we've seen from both Governments interrogating previous projects. Can you tell me what you've learned from those processes in testing the viability of projects brought before you already that help you speed up the process of deciding when money can be released?
Weinidog, mae bargen ddinesig bae Abertawe, wrth gwrs, wedi'i seilio ar fasnacheiddio arloesedd, a datgarboneiddio ffynonellau ynni i'r gorllewin o fy rhanbarth yn anad dim, ond rwy'n falch o'r cynnydd yn fy rhanbarth. Rwyf wedi codi’r posibilrwydd o greu canolfan arloesi dur genedlaethol gyda chi o'r blaen, felly rwy'n falch o glywed bod prosiectau Castell-nedd Port Talbot ar gyfer hynny a mynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd bellach wedi'u cymeradwyo gan y cyd-fwrdd—bydd croeso i unrhyw swyddi newydd, er bod mwy o ffactorau na hynny’n unig. Ond rwy'n parhau i fod yn nerfus ynghylch oedi yn y system a welsom gan y ddwy Lywodraeth wrth archwilio prosiectau blaenorol. A allwch chi ddweud wrthyf beth rydych wedi'i ddysgu o'r prosesau hynny wrth brofi hyfywedd prosiectau a ddygwyd ger eich bron yn barod sy'n eich helpu i gyflymu'r broses o benderfynu pryd y gellir rhyddhau arian?
I think it's fair to say that the key lesson that we've learned from recent history in regard to the deal and the projects contained within it is that Governments need to be more heavily involved in assisting the development of projects to ensure that they can reach the point of approval sooner. There are hugely ambitious projects contained within the deal. We wish to see the deal become a great success, but we have to be thorough in our interrogation of each and every project contained within it. That doesn't necessarily just need to be challenging in a critical way; as I say, I think we can assist more proactively in ensuring that those projects can reach conclusions—positive conclusions—sooner.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn deg dweud mai'r wers allweddol rydym wedi'i dysgu o hanes diweddar mewn perthynas â'r fargen a'r prosiectau sy’n rhan ohoni yw bod angen i Lywodraethau chwarae mwy o ran yn cynorthwyo datblygiad prosiectau i sicrhau eu bod yn gallu cyrraedd y pwynt cymeradwyo yn gynt. Mae yna brosiectau uchelgeisiol iawn wedi'u cynnwys yn y fargen. Rydym yn dymuno gweld y fargen yn dod yn llwyddiant mawr, ond mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn drylwyr wrth archwilio pob prosiect sy’n rhan ohoni. Nid yn unig fod angen i hynny fod yn heriol mewn ffordd feirniadol, fel y dywedais, rwy’n credu y gallwn gynorthwyo’n fwy rhagweithiol hefyd i sicrhau y gall y prosiectau hynny ddod i gasgliadau—casgliadau cadarnhaol—yn gynt.
Further to Suzy Davies's question about the national steel innovation centre and the Swansea bay technology centre at the Baglan energy park, can I just push you further on that point about funding and can you outline exactly when the Welsh Government is likely to make a decision on this important funding bid? Furthermore, do you also recognise that current broadband provision at the Baglan energy park is less than optimal, with many businesses complaining about connectivity locally? Therefore, what action is the Welsh Government taking to remedy that situation, mindful of the potential development of this key city deal project at that very location?
I ddilyn cwestiwn Suzy Davies am y ganolfan arloesi ddur genedlaethol a chanolfan dechnoleg bae Abertawe ym mharc ynni Baglan, a gaf fi eich gwthio ymhellach ar y pwynt ynglŷn â chyllid ac a allwch chi amlinellu pryd yn union y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn debygol o wneud penderfyniad ar y cais cyllido pwysig hwn? At hynny, a ydych hefyd yn cydnabod nad yw’r ddarpariaeth band eang gyfredol ym mharc ynni Baglan gystal ag y gallai fod, gyda llawer o fusnesau'n cwyno am gysylltedd yn lleol? Felly, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i unioni’r sefyllfa honno, gan gofio y gallai'r prosiect allweddol hwn yn y fargen ddinesig gael ei ddatblygu yn yr union leoliad hwnnw?
Can I thank Dai Lloyd for his questions? The issue relating to broadband provision at Baglan I will ask my colleague Lee Waters to respond to in writing. If there are issues there, then clearly we need to address them.FootnoteLink
In terms of the other projects contained in the deal, we will approve them as soon as we are entirely satisfied that they deliver against their intentions and that the due diligence does indeed stack up.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Dai Lloyd am ei gwestiynau? Yn y mater sy'n ymwneud â darpariaeth band eang ym Maglan, byddaf yn gofyn i fy nghyd-Aelod, Lee Waters, ymateb yn ysgrifenedig iddo. Os oes problemau yno, yn amlwg mae angen i ni fynd i'r afael â hwy.FootnoteLink
O ran y prosiectau eraill sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn y fargen, byddwn yn eu cymeradwyo cyn gynted ag y byddwn yn gwbl fodlon bod yna ddiwydrwydd dyladwy a’u bod yn cyflawni yn ôl eu bwriadau.
What I was going to talk about is the university sector. We've got two outstanding universities in the Swansea bay city region and the ability to use them in order to grow major new industries and to build on some of those that are coming out of it. You have a choice, really, with economic policy, to prioritise low-wage areas to try and bring branch factories in, but actually developing within your own area, building up, the skills of your own people, who aren't going to be footloose and fancy-free, as Dawn Bowden has discovered with some of those companies that have come into her area, then you've got a chance of keeping them; they're going to grow in your area. What is the Welsh Government doing to work with universities to get more success out of some of these things coming out? I know 'technium' has a bad reputation, but that's because the Welsh Government used it to brand—they gave the name to every branch factory they opened in Wales. The idea of techniums, of spinning out of universities and developing skills and making their way into high-quality and high-value companies, is something that can work, has started to work in Swansea, but what more can be done?
Roeddwn am sôn am y sector prifysgolion. Mae gennym ddwy brifysgol ragorol yn ninas-ranbarth bae Abertawe a'r gallu i'w defnyddio er mwyn tyfu diwydiannau newydd o bwys ac adeiladu ar rai o'r rheini sy'n deillio ohono. Mae gennych ddewis, mewn gwirionedd, gyda pholisi economaidd, i flaenoriaethu ardaloedd cyflog isel i geisio dod ag is-ffatrïoedd i mewn, ond gan ddatblygu yn eich ardal eich hun, a meithrin sgiliau eich pobl eich hun, nad ydynt yn mynd i fod â'u traed yn gwbl rydd, fel y mae Dawn Bowden wedi’i ddarganfod gyda rhai o'r cwmnïau a ddaeth i mewn i'w hardal hi, mae gennych obaith o'u cadw; byddant yn tyfu yn eich ardal chi. Beth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i weithio gyda phrifysgolion i gael mwy o lwyddiant o'r pethau hyn sy'n ymddangos? Rwy'n gwybod bod enw drwg i 'technium', ond y rheswm am hynny yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi’i ddefnyddio i frandio—fe roesant yr enw i bob is-ffatri a agorwyd ganddynt yng Nghymru. Mae technium, y syniad o ddeillio o brifysgolion a datblygu sgiliau a gwneud eu ffordd i mewn i gwmnïau o ansawdd uchel a gwerth uchel, yn rhywbeth a all weithio, yn rhywbeth sydd wedi dechrau gweithio yn Abertawe, ond beth arall y gellir ei wneud?
I'm sure many lessons were learned from techniums, and we were able to apply several of those lessons in the development of the enterprise hubs, which are proving to be incredibly successful across Wales—six enterprise hubs that are boosting prospects for young entrepreneurs and leading to many, many new start-ups flourishing sooner than they would do if they were to survive in their own existence. Now, we've provided—. I think the Member is absolutely right that higher education has a critical role in ensuring our long-term prosperity. Further education skills offer incredibly important technical tools, and higher education offers the strategic tools in which to have the best possible fighting chance in a competitive world. And so we have been investing heavily in higher education institutions and research and development. For example, we provided £3 million to the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales just last year, and a further £5 million this year to develop degree-level apprenticeships, which will make a significant contribution, I believe, to the development of high-level skills that our economy needs.
Now, so far, work has gone ahead in relation to digital and engineering and also in advanced manufacturing, and I await the results of those pilot schemes with keen interest. It's worth saying as well, Llywydd, that European structural funds have helped universities play a really important role in helping to meet the higher level skills needs of Welsh industry over many, many years, with in excess of £70 million of EU funds having been utilised during the 2014 to 2020 period.
Rwy'n siŵr bod llawer o wersi wedi cael eu dysgu o’r cynlluniau technium, a llwyddwyd i gymhwyso sawl un o'r gwersi hynny wrth ddatblygu'r hybiau menter sy'n hynod lwyddiannus ledled Cymru—chwe hyb menter sy'n rhoi hwb i ragolygon entrepreneuriaid ifanc ac sy'n arwain at lawer o fusnesau newydd yn ffynnu'n gynt nag y byddent wedi’i wneud pe bai’n rhaid iddynt oroesi ar eu pen eu hunain. Nawr, rydym wedi darparu—. Rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gwbl gywir fod gan addysg uwch rôl hanfodol yn sicrhau ein ffyniant hirdymor. Mae sgiliau addysg bellach yn cynnig adnoddau technegol hynod bwysig, ac mae addysg uwch yn cynnig yr adnoddau strategol i gael y cyfle gorau posibl mewn byd cystadleuol. Ac felly, rydym wedi bod yn buddsoddi'n helaeth yng ngwaith ymchwil a datblygu sefydliadau addysg uwch. Er enghraifft, gwnaethom ddarparu £3 miliwn i Gyngor Cyllido Addysg Uwch Cymru y llynedd yn unig a £5 miliwn arall eleni i ddatblygu prentisiaethau lefel gradd, a fydd yn gwneud cyfraniad sylweddol, rwy'n credu, i ddatblygiad y sgiliau lefel uwch sydd eu hangen ar ein heconomi.
Hyd yn hyn, mae gwaith wedi mynd rhagddo mewn perthynas â’r maes digidol a pheirianneg a hefyd ym maes gweithgynhyrchu uwch, ac rwy'n aros am ganlyniadau'r cynlluniau peilot hynny gyda diddordeb mawr. Mae'n werth dweud hefyd, Lywydd, fod cronfeydd strwythurol Ewropeaidd wedi helpu prifysgolion i chwarae rhan bwysig iawn yn helpu i ddiwallu anghenion sgiliau lefel uwch diwydiant Cymru dros nifer o flynyddoedd, gyda mwy na £70 miliwn o gronfeydd yr UE wedi’i ddefnyddio yn ystod y cyfnod rhwng 2014 a 2020.
6. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ysgogi'r economi yng Ngogledd Cymru? OAQ55128
6. What plans does the Welsh Government have to stimulate the economy in North Wales? OAQ55128
Well, we're stimulating the north Wales economy in many ways. We continue to invest in people, places, business and infrastructure, as outlined in the economic action plan. My role as a Minister for north Wales also ensures the region has a strong voice in Government and in Cabinet.
Wel, rydym yn ysgogi economi gogledd Cymru mewn sawl ffordd. Rydym yn parhau i fuddsoddi mewn pobl, lleoedd, busnesau a seilwaith, fel yr amlinellwyd yn y cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi. Mae fy rôl fel Gweinidog gogledd Cymru hefyd yn sicrhau bod gan y rhanbarth lais cryf yn y Llywodraeth ac yn y Cabinet.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. Leaving the EU means that we can open new free ports that can actually offer the tax and duty benefits traditionally associated with such ports. Under the EU, state-aid rules prevented new free ports offering such benefits, effectively making them free in name only. The Westminster Government seems keen to establish a number of new free ports in the UK now that we've left the EU. Do you agree with me that a free port in north Wales could bring much-needed economic and employment regeneration to the area, and will you call on the UK Government to ensure that at least one of the new free ports is in north Wales?
Diolch am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae gadael yr UE yn golygu y gallwn agor porthladdoedd rhydd newydd a all gynnig y buddion trethi a thollau a gysylltir yn draddodiadol â phorthladdoedd o'r fath. O dan reolau cymorth gwladwriaethol yr UE, ataliwyd porthladdoedd rhydd newydd rhag cynnig manteision o'r fath, gan eu gwneud yn rhydd mewn enw'n unig i bob pwrpas. Mae'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth San Steffan yn awyddus i sefydlu nifer o borthladdoedd rhydd newydd yn y DU gan ein bod wedi gadael yr UE. A ydych yn cytuno â mi y gallai porthladd rhydd yng ngogledd Cymru ddod ag adfywiad economaidd a chyflogaeth sy'n fawr eu hangen i’r ardal, ac a wnewch chi alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod o leiaf un o’r porthladdoedd rhydd newydd yng ngogledd Cymru?
Well, we remain open-minded about free ports, but let me just be absolutely clear, in answering the Member, what free ports, in our view, should not be. They should not be a means of lowering employment or health or environmental standards—absolutely not. Nor they should be used in a way that displaces activity away from existing ports and enterprise zones. Now, the Member is very well aware that Holyhead port, that Deeside industrial zone, that many, many centres of activity in north Wales, could be threatened by the establishment of a free port zone if it was not carried out in the correct manner. And so, whilst we remain open-minded, I would have to say to the Member that they should not be embraced as an idea without first of all approaching them very, very sceptically.
Rydym yn parhau i fod â meddwl agored am borthladdoedd rhydd, ond gadewch imi fod yn hollol glir, wrth ateb yr Aelod, ynglŷn â’r hyn na ddylai porthladdoedd rhydd fod yn ein barn ni. Ni ddylent fod yn fodd o ostwng safonau o ran cyflogaeth, iechyd na'r amgylchedd—ddim o gwbl. Ni ddylid eu defnyddio ychwaith mewn ffordd sy'n symud gweithgarwch o borthladdoedd ac ardaloedd menter presennol. Nawr, mae'r Aelod yn ymwybodol iawn y gallai porthladd Caergybi, ardal ddiwydiannol Glannau Dyfrdwy a llawer o ganolfannau gweithgarwch yng ngogledd Cymru gael eu bygwth yn sgil sefydlu porthladd rhydd pe na bai'n cael ei wneud yn y modd cywir. Ac felly, er ein bod yn parhau i fod â meddwl agored, byddai'n rhaid i mi ddweud wrth yr Aelod na ddylid eu croesawu fel syniad heb roi ystyriaeth ofalus iawn iddynt yn gyntaf.
One issue that continues to be raised with me by businesses in Aberconwy is the skills shortage. This is a Wales-wide problem, with 92 per cent of senior business leaders reporting difficulties in hiring workers with the required skills. So, to stimulate skill growth, I have previously called for the creation of an institute of technology in north Wales. Despite the UK Government having already committed to setting up 12 institutes of technology across England, a Welsh Government spokesperson stated the following to the North Wales Weekly News: there is capacity within the existing further education estate to provide excellent learning in subjects such as engineering and digital close to people's homes in the north. So, therefore, given the apparent opposition to the creation of an institute, I would be grateful if you could explain where this referenced 'capacity' is and what action are you taking to build on that. Thank you.
Un mater sy'n parhau i gael ei godi gyda mi gan fusnesau yn Aberconwy yw'r prinder sgiliau. Mae hon yn broblem ledled Cymru, gyda 92 y cant o uwch arweinwyr busnes yn nodi anawsterau i gyflogi gweithwyr sydd â'r sgiliau gofynnol. Felly, i ysgogi twf sgiliau, rwyf wedi galw yn y gorffennol am greu athrofa dechnoleg yng ngogledd Cymru. Er bod Llywodraeth y DU eisoes wedi ymrwymo i sefydlu 12 athrofa dechnoleg ledled Lloegr, nododd llefarydd ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru y canlynol wrth y North Wales Weekly News: mae capasiti yn yr ystâd addysg bellach bresennol i ddarparu dysgu rhagorol mewn pynciau fel peirianneg a'r maes digidol yn agos at gartrefi pobl yn y gogledd. Felly, o ystyried y gwrthwynebiad ymddangosiadol i greu athrofa, buaswn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech egluro lle mae'r 'capasiti' hwn y cyfeiriwyd ato a pha gamau rydych yn eu cymryd i adeiladu ar hynny. Diolch.
Can I thank the Member for her question? This primarily relates to responsibilities in the hands of the education Minister, because it concerns further education institutions, of course. However, on the general point of skills, I'd say a number of things. One, that skills shortages will become more acute in certain areas as a result of our exit from the EU; that's certainly what businesses are telling me. Secondly, that Grŵp Llandrillo Menai do an incredible job as one of our most important providers of skills in Wales in meeting the needs of the local economy. And thirdly, specifically with regard to the idea of the creation of an institute of technology, I would welcome consideration of the creation of an institute of technology for north Wales. I believe that this is an issue that has already been discussed. If proposals are bought to Government, then we would seek to support the development of a business case.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei chwestiwn? Mae'n ymwneud yn bennaf â chyfrifoldebau'r Gweinidog addysg, oherwydd mae'n trafod sefydliadau addysg bellach, wrth gwrs. Fodd bynnag, ar sgiliau yn gyffredinol, buaswn yn dweud nifer o bethau. Yn gyntaf, bydd prinder sgiliau yn gwaethygu mewn rhai meysydd o ganlyniad i'r ffaith ein bod yn gadael yr UE; dyna'n bendant yw'r hyn y mae busnesau yn ei ddweud wrthyf. Yn ail, mae Grŵp Llandrillo Menai'n gwneud gwaith anhygoel fel un o'n darparwyr sgiliau pwysicaf yng Nghymru, yn diwallu anghenion yr economi leol. Ac yn drydydd, mewn perthynas â'r syniad o greu athrofa dechnoleg yn benodol, buaswn yn falch o ystyried creu athrofa dechnoleg ar gyfer gogledd Cymru. Credaf fod hwn yn fater sydd wedi'i drafod eisoes. Os caiff cynigion eu cyflwyno i'r Llywodraeth, byddem yn ceisio cefnogi'r broses o ddatblygu achos busnes.
Minister, metro mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham are looking into using their budgets to drive the growth of industry in their areas. We need the flexibility in north Wales to be part of this drive and bring projects like the Heathrow logistics hubs and a second Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to Alyn and Deeside. Minister, when will the Welsh Government publish regional budgets that will give us the money, flexibility and power to secure such projects and to enable us to work collaboratively and directly with the north west of England? And finally, Minister, do you agree with me that devolving power and money to north Wales will start to address the north-south divide, so often felt by my constituents in Alyn and Deeside?
Weinidog, mae'r meiri metro Steve Rotheram ac Andy Burnham yn ystyried defnyddio eu cyllidebau i hybu twf diwydiant yn eu hardaloedd. Rydym angen yr hyblygrwydd yng ngogledd Cymru i fod yn rhan o'r ymgyrch hon a denu prosiectau fel hybiau logisteg Heathrow ac ail Ganolfan Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch i Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy. Weinidog, pryd y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi cyllidebau rhanbarthol a fydd yn rhoi inni'r arian, yr hyblygrwydd a'r pŵer i gaffael prosiectau o'r fath ac i'n galluogi i weithio ar y cyd ac yn uniongyrchol gyda gogledd-orllewin Lloegr? Ac yn olaf, Weinidog, a ydych yn cytuno â mi y bydd datganoli pŵer ac arian i ogledd Cymru yn dechrau mynd i'r afael â'r rhaniad rhwng y gogledd a'r de a deimlir mor aml gan fy etholwyr yn Alun a Glannau Dyfrdwy?
Can I thank Jack Sargeant for his questions and say that, whether real or perceived, the north-south divide is an issue that I'm determined to get to grips with? In terms of the relationship we have with the north west of England, can I put on record how impressed I've been by both metro mayor Steve Rotheram and metro mayor Andy Burnham in recent years? Their engagement with Welsh Government has been quite astonishing. The determination that they both have in improving prospects for their citizens is to be hugely admired, and I wish them the best of luck in this year's set of elections.
In terms of the investment that will be made through regional indicative budgets, I can assure the Member that I'll be making a statement on or around 10 March of this year concerning regional indicative budgets, and I think it's absolutely right that we have transparency of funding and investment. That will, in turn, help to address the real or perceived north-south divide.
In the meantime, I can also assure the Member that we are pressing ahead with £1 billion of transport investment in north Wales. We've already established the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and we're now looking at establishing the Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute mark two in Deeside. We're pressing ahead with the Wrexham gateway project. We're going to be improving every single station in north Wales. And as a result of our endeavours in recent years, the unemployment rate in north Wales is at a record low, and lower than both the Welsh and UK average.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Jack Sargeant am ei gwestiynau a dweud, boed yn real neu'n ganfyddedig, fod y rhaniad rhwng y gogledd a'r de yn fater rwy'n benderfynol o fynd i'r afael ag ef? O ran y berthynas sydd gennym â gogledd-orllewin Lloegr, a gaf fi gofnodi cymaint o argraff y mae'r meiri metro Steve Rotheram ac Andy Burnham wedi'i wneud arnaf yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf? Mae eu hymgysylltiad â Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn eithaf syfrdanol. Mae penderfyniad y ddau ohonynt wrth wella'r rhagolygon ar gyfer eu dinasyddion, i'w edmygu'n fawr, ac rwy'n dymuno pob lwc iddynt yn yr etholiadau eleni.
O ran y buddsoddiad a fydd yn cael ei wneud drwy gyllidebau dangosol rhanbarthol, gallaf sicrhau'r Aelod y byddaf yn gwneud datganiad o gwmpas 10 Mawrth eleni ynghylch cyllidebau dangosol rhanbarthol, a chredaf ei bod yn gwbl briodol fod gennym dryloywder o ran ariannu a buddsoddi. Bydd hynny, yn ei dro, yn helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r rhaniad gwirioneddol neu ganfyddedig rhwng y gogledd a'r de.
Yn y cyfamser, gallaf hefyd sicrhau'r Aelod ein bod yn bwrw ymlaen â'r £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiadau trafnidiaeth yng ngogledd Cymru. Rydym eisoes wedi sefydlu'r Ganolfan Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch, ac rydym bellach yn bwriadu sefydlu'r ail Sefydliad Ymchwil Gweithgynhyrchu Uwch yng Nglannau Dyfrdwy. Rydym yn bwrw ymlaen â phrosiect porth Wrecsam. Byddwn yn gwella pob gorsaf yng ngogledd Cymru. Ac o ganlyniad i'n hymdrechion dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, mae'r gyfradd ddiweithdra yng ngogledd Cymru yn is nag erioed, ac yn is na chyfartaledd Cymru a'r DU.
7. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cynyddu ffyniant economaidd ledled Cymru? OAQ55112
7. How does the Welsh Government intend to increase economic prosperity across Wales? OAQ55112
The Welsh Government is helping to increase economic prosperity across Wales through the economic action plan. In 2020, we'll deliver inclusive growth through a focus on regional economic development and we'll encourage a sense of national movement behind a fairer, more responsible economy, fit for future generations.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn helpu i gynyddu ffyniant economaidd ledled Cymru drwy'r cynllun gweithredu ar yr economi. Yn 2020, byddwn yn cyflawni twf cynhwysol drwy ganolbwyntio ar ddatblygiad economaidd rhanbarthol a byddwn yn annog ymdeimlad o fudiad cenedlaethol y tu ôl i economi decach, fwy cyfrifol, sy'n addas ar gyfer cenedlaethau'r dyfodol.
I wonder if I could ask the Minister what role he thinks the further education sector plays in developing the skills that can underpin our growth in economic prosperity for all, particularly in some of the more disadvantaged communities. We don't have an university in our immediate patch within Ogmore and Bridgend, but we have a fantastic FE college—it happens to be double excellent rated by Estyn, award winning, inclusive, and happens to be the Times Educational Supplement 2019 college of the year—in Bridgend. I recently went along to see the incredible work being done by four young women students in the Nemesis Inferno F1 model competition. They've won the UK heats of this—they've outcompeted every other team, not only in engineering, but also in enterprise, which is part of it as well—and they go on now to the European competitions. It's a combination of a collaboration between Pencoed Comprehensive, between the FE college in Bridgend, but also a range of partners and sponsors from industry as well. Isn't this a real exhibition of the contribution that FE and good sixth-form education, working with partners, makes to growing our economic productivity?
Tybed a gaf fi ofyn i'r Gweinidog pa rôl y mae'n credu y mae'r sector addysg bellach yn ei chwarae yn datblygu'r sgiliau a all fod yn sail i dwf ffyniant economaidd i bawb, yn enwedig yn rhai o'r cymunedau mwyaf difreintiedig. Nid oes gennym brifysgol yn ein hardal gyfagos yn Ogwr a Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ond mae gennym goleg addysg bellach gwych—mae'n digwydd bod wedi cael gradd ragorol ddwbl gan Estyn, mae wedi ennill gwobrau, mae'n gynhwysol, ac mae Times Educational Supplement 2019 wedi dyfarnu gwobr coleg y flwyddyn iddo—ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Yn ddiweddar, euthum i weld y gwaith anhygoel sy'n cael ei wneud gan bedair myfyrwraig ifanc yng nghystadleuaeth model Nemesis Inferno F1. Maent wedi ennill rowndiau'r DU—maent wedi gwneud yn well na phob tîm arall, nid yn unig ym maes peirianneg, ond hefyd mewn menter, sy'n rhan ohono yn ogystal—ac maent yn mynd ymlaen yn awr i gystadlaethau Ewrop. Mae'n gyfuniad o gydweithrediad rhwng Ysgol Gyfun Pencoed, rhwng y coleg addysg bellach ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, ac amrywiaeth o bartneriaid a noddwyr o'r diwydiant yn ogystal. Onid yw hyn yn arddangosiad da o'r cyfraniad y mae addysg bellach, ac addysg chweched dosbarth o safon, gan weithio gyda phartneriaid, yn ei wneud i gynyddu ein cynhyrchiant economaidd?
Can I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for his question? The FE institutions that we're fortunate to have in Wales are outstanding in terms of how they respond to employer needs and how they bring life chances to so many young people, and that includes Bridgend College. I've seen first hand how Bridgend College have increased their engagement and participation in skills competitions. Through engagement with the Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales project, the college have been able to second to the project an individual, and that's been enormously important to learners. I think it's also worth saying that the college has traditionally had incredibly strong links with major employers, including Ford and Sony, but it's also been highly responsive to SMEs and micro-sized businesses as well.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am ei gwestiwn? Mae'r sefydliadau addysg bellach rydym yn ffodus i'w cael yng Nghymru yn rhagorol o ran y ffordd y maent yn ymateb i anghenion cyflogwyr a sut y maent yn dod â chyfleoedd bywyd i gynifer o bobl ifanc, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys Coleg Penybont. Rwyf wedi gweld drosof fy hun sut y mae Coleg Penybont wedi cynyddu eu hymgysylltiad a'u cyfranogiad mewn cystadlaethau sgiliau. Drwy ymwneud â phrosiect Ysbrydoli Rhagoriaeth Sgiliau yng Nghymru, mae'r Coleg wedi gallu cael unigolyn ar secondiad i'r prosiect, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn aruthrol o bwysig i ddysgwyr. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn werth dweud hefyd fod gan y coleg gysylltiadau hynod gryf yn draddodiadol â chyflogwyr mawr, gan gynnwys Ford a Sony, ond mae hefyd wedi bod yn ymatebol iawn i fusnesau bach a chanolig a microfusnesau yn ogystal.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Gareth Bennett.
Finally, question 8, Gareth Bennett.
8. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am ddyfodol gwasanaethau bysiau yng Nghanol De Cymru? OAQ55125
8. Will the Minister make a statement on the future of bus services in South Wales Central? OAQ55125
Yes, of course. Transport for Wales is assisting the Welsh Government in reviewing how bus services could be improved in the future to ensure that communities across Wales benefit from a modern, integrated public transport service.
Gwnaf, wrth gwrs. Mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn helpu Llywodraeth Cymru i adolygu sut y gellid gwella gwasanaethau bysiau yn y dyfodol er mwyn sicrhau bod cymunedau ledled Cymru yn elwa ar wasanaeth trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus integredig a modern.
Thank you. As the Minister will be well aware, the congestion charge for Cardiff is being consulted on; the council are pushing that forward as a proposal. I know that the Minister has been in consultation with them, which is good. Now, there is a major problem with the lack of public confidence in the public transport system in and around Cardiff, particularly since we haven't had a bus station in Cardiff for five years. Could you offer any reassurance that bus service provision in Cardiff itself, and into Cardiff, will improve?
Diolch. Fel y bydd y Gweinidog yn gwybod, mae'r tâl tagfeydd ar gyfer Caerdydd yn destun ymgynghoriad; mae'r cyngor yn cyflwyno hwnnw fel cynnig. Gwn fod y Gweinidog wedi ymgynghori â hwy, sy'n beth da. Nawr, mae problem fawr gyda diffyg hyder y cyhoedd yn y system drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghaerdydd a'r cyffiniau, yn enwedig gan nad ydym wedi cael gorsaf fysiau yng Nghaerdydd ers pum mlynedd. A allwch chi gynnig unrhyw sicrwydd y bydd y ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau bysiau yng Nghaerdydd ei hun, ac i mewn i Gaerdydd, yn gwella?
As a result of a series of reforms and measures, I can offer that assurance, first and foremost. Although we've have had 10 years of austerity, we've been able to maintain the bus services support grant of £25 million since 2013. If austerity is truly coming to an end, then clearly there will be opportunities to increase the amount of funding allocated to support bus services across Wales, including in and around Cardiff.
Secondly, we're bringing forward to this Chamber proposals to legislate for the re-introduction of franchising to allow local authorities to run bus companies, to ensure that there is better open data and data gathering so that we can better integrate timetables for rail and for bus services. And we will be bringing forward enhanced quality partnerships to ensure that the experience that passengers have are improved and that the infrastructure in place to support bus services is enhanced as well. This is an incredibly exciting area of work. It's exciting because the work that this Welsh Labour Government is doing will address, finally, the failure of deregulation in the 1980s.
O ganlyniad i gyfres o ddiwygiadau a mesurau, gallaf gynnig y sicrwydd hwnnw, yn gyntaf oll. Er ein bod wedi cael 10 mlynedd o gyni, rydym wedi gallu parhau i gynnal y grant cynnal gwasanaethau bysiau gwerth £25 miliwn ers 2013. Os yw cyni yn dod i ben mewn gwirionedd, mae'n amlwg y bydd cyfleoedd i gynyddu'r swm o gyllid a ddyrennir i gefnogi gwasanaethau bysiau ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys yng Nghaerdydd a'r cyffiniau.
Yn ail, rydym yn cyflwyno cynigion i'r Siambr hon i ddeddfu ar gyfer ailgyflwyno masnachfreinio er mwyn caniatáu i awdurdodau lleol redeg cwmnïau bysiau, er mwyn sicrhau bod data agored gwell a ffyrdd gwell o gasglu data fel y gallwn integreiddio amserlenni'n well ar gyfer gwasanaethau trenau a bysiau. A byddwn yn cyflwyno partneriaethau ansawdd estynedig er mwyn sicrhau bod profiadau teithwyr yn cael eu gwella a bod y seilwaith sydd ar gael i gefnogi gwasanaethau bysiau yn cael ei wella hefyd. Mae hwn yn faes gwaith hynod gyffrous. Mae'n gyffrous oherwydd bydd y gwaith y mae'r Llywodraeth Lafur Gymreig hon yn ei wneud yn mynd i'r afael, o'r diwedd, â methiant dadreoleiddio yn yr 1980au.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Brexit mewn perthynas â'i gyfrifoldebau fel Gweinidog Brexit, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Mike Hedges.
The next item, therefore, is questions to the Counsel General and Brexit Minister in relation to his responsibilities as Brexit Minister, and the first question is from Mike Hedges.
1. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am unrhyw femorandwm cydsyniad deddfwriaethol sydd ar y gweill a ddisgwylir o ganlyniad i ymadawiad y DU â'r UE? OAQ55108
1. Will the Counsel General provide an update on any forthcoming legislative consent memorandum expected as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU? OAQ55108
I'm pleased to confirm that the legislative consent memorandum for the UK Environment Bill has been laid today. This follows recent memoranda on four Bills relating to EU exit: the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, the Direct Payments Bill, the Agriculture Bill and the Fisheries Bill. We will keep under review the need for similar memoranda in relation to future Bills the UK Government may bring forward.
Rwy'n falch o gadarnhau bod y memorandwm cydsyniad deddfwriaethol ar gyfer Bil Amgylchedd y DU wedi'i osod heddiw. Mae hwn yn dilyn memoranda diweddar ar bedwar Bil sy'n ymwneud ag ymadael â'r UE: y Bil Cytundeb Ymadael, y Bil Taliadau Uniongyrchol, y Bil Amaethyddiaeth a'r Bil Pysgodfeydd. Byddwn yn parhau i adolygu'r angen am femoranda tebyg mewn perthynas â Biliau y gallai Llywodraeth y DU eu cyflwyno yn y dyfodol.
Can I thank the Counsel General for that response? I accept that leaving the European Union is the will of the British people and have accepted that since 2016. Whilst leaving the EU is the will of the people, I do not believe the people want to return to the south Wales rivers of the 1960s, with no fish, high pollution levels, and the colour of the water varying from red to black, with some of them able to actually catch fire. I want to stress the importance of protecting the environment and request an update on any discussions on the LCM regarding the environment.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am yr ateb hwnnw? Rwy'n derbyn mai ewyllys pobl Prydain yw gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ac rwyf wedi derbyn hynny ers 2016. Er mai ewyllys y bobl yw gadael yr UE, nid wyf yn credu bod y bobl eisiau dychwelyd at afonydd de Cymru yn y 1960au, heb unrhyw bysgod, lefelau llygredd uchel, a lliw'r dŵr yn amrywio rhwng coch a du, gyda rhai ohonynt yn gallu mynd ar dân mewn gwirionedd. Rwyf am bwysleisio pwysigrwydd diogelu'r amgylchedd a hoffwn ofyn am y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar unrhyw drafodaethau ar y memorandwm cydsyniad deddfwriaethol mewn perthynas â'r amgylchedd.
The LCM in relation to that has been laid today. I share with the Member the importance that he attaches to environmental protection in Wales and we have benefited from that during the course of our membership of the European Union. We have been very clear that what we want to see is continued alignment with the beneficial EU regulations that we've seen the benefit of in Wales over many decades, and I hope that we can persuade the UK Government in due course to continue to align to those standards into the future.
Mae'r memorandwm cydsyniad deddfwriaethol mewn perthynas â hynny wedi'i osod heddiw. Rwy'n cytuno â'r Aelod o ran y pwyslais y mae'n ei roi ar ddiogelu'r amgylchedd yng Nghymru ac rydym wedi elwa o hynny yn ystod ein haelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Rydym wedi bod yn glir iawn mai'r hyn rydym eisiau ei weld yw aliniad parhaus â rheoliadau buddiol yr UE rydym wedi gweld eu manteision yng Nghymru dros ddegawdau lawer, ac rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn berswadio Llywodraeth y DU, maes o law, i barhau i weithredu'r safonau hynny yn y dyfodol.
2. Pa asesiad diweddar y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud o effaith ymadawiad y DU â'r UE ar drefniadau masnach a thollau yng Nghymru? OAQ55116
2. What recent assessment has the Counsel General made of the impact on trade and customs arrangements in Wales following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU? OAQ55116
During the transition period, the UK will remain in the customs union and single market, leaving tariffs and customs arrangements unchanged for that period. It's clear this will change significantly at the end of transition, with a real increase in non-tariff barriers, including requirements for customs documentation, and potentially tariffs also.
Yn ystod y cyfnod pontio, bydd y DU yn aros yn yr undeb tollau a'r farchnad sengl, sy'n golygu y bydd tariffau a threfniadau tollau yn aros yr un peth am y cyfnod hwnnw. Mae'n amlwg y bydd hyn yn newid yn sylweddol ar ddiwedd y cyfnod pontio, gyda chynnydd gwirioneddol mewn rhwystrau di-dariff, gan gynnwys gofynion ar gyfer dogfennaeth tollau, a thariffau o bosibl hefyd.
You'll be aware that I've raised on a number of occasions concerns by the RMT trade union about the impact of potential customs arrangements and changes, particularly with regard to the impact on shipping, the impact on competition within shipping, the impact on the collective agreements that are currently held by trade unions to protect terms and conditions of employment, and also the implications in respect of potentially undercutting of freight terms and conditions, the underpayment of minimum wage, as well as all the issues of external, broader non-payment of national minimum wage. I wonder what steps the Government is taking, and what discussions the Welsh Government is having to try and ensure that we preserve the recommendations of the Fair Work Commission and protect the rights and interests of workers within seafaring and within freight, and also in terms of the issues around the future status of the port of Milford Haven.
Fe fyddwch yn gwybod fy mod wedi mynegi pryderon gan Undeb Cenedlaethol y Gweithwyr Rheilffordd, Morwrol a Thrafnidiaeth ar sawl achlysur am effaith trefniadau a newidiadau tollau posibl, yn enwedig mewn perthynas â'r effaith ar forgludiant, yr effaith ar gystadleuaeth o fewn morgludiant, yr effaith ar y cytundebau ar y cyd sy'n cael eu dal ar hyn o bryd gan undebau llafur i ddiogelu telerau ac amodau cyflogaeth, a hefyd y goblygiadau o ran torri telerau ac amodau cludo nwyddau, tandalu'r isafswm cyflog, yn ogystal â'r holl faterion allanol, ehangach sy'n ymwneud â pheidio â thalu'r isafswm cyflog cenedlaethol. Tybed pa gamau y mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd, a pha drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael i geisio sicrhau ein bod yn cadw argymhellion y Comisiwn Gwaith Teg ac yn diogelu hawliau a buddiannau gweithwyr ym maes mordeithio a chludo nwyddau, a hefyd o ran y materion sy'n codi mewn perthynas â statws porthladd Aberdaugleddau yn y dyfodol.
I thank the Member for that important question and his point illuminates one of the under-explored aspects of some of the impacts of non-tariff barriers in particular. I can assure him that we continue to take every opportunity to impress upon the UK Government in their negotiations the importance of maintaining as few barriers as possible to trade, including the kind of freight lines that he described in his question. That is part of a broader commitment, which I know very well that he shares, to ensure that labour standards are maintained into the future. Obviously, we wish to see the continuation of a level playing field in our future relationship with the European Union, now that we are outside the European Union. Part of that, and a crucial part of it, relates to labour standards and certainly we in Wales are committed to maintaining those.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn pwysig hwnnw ac mae ei bwynt yn taflu goleuni ar un agwedd nad yw wedi cael ei harchwilio'n ddigon manwl, sef rhai o effeithiau rhwystrau di-dariff yn arbennig. Gallaf ei sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i fanteisio ar bob cyfle i bwysleisio wrth Lywodraeth y DU yn eu negodiadau pa mor bwysig yw cynnal cyn lleied o rwystrau â phosibl i fasnach, gan gynnwys y math o lwybrau cludo nwyddau a ddisgrifiodd yn ei gwestiwn. Mae hynny'n rhan o ymrwymiad ehangach, a gwn yn iawn ei fod yn rhannu'r ymrwymiad hwnnw, i sicrhau bod safonau llafur yn cael eu cynnal yn y dyfodol. Yn amlwg, rydym eisiau gweld cae chwarae gwastad yn parhau yn ein perthynas â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y dyfodol, a ninnau bellach y tu allan i'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae rhan o hynny, a rhan hanfodol ohono, yn ymwneud â safonau llafur ac yn sicr rydym ni yng Nghymru wedi ymrwymo i gynnal y rheini.
Cwestiynau nawr lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Darren Millar.
Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Darren Millar.
Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, can you tell us what action the Welsh Government is taking to increase the number of EU citizens that are applying for EU settlement status under the scheme?
Diolch, Lywydd. Weinidog, a allwch chi ddweud wrthym pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i gynyddu nifer dinasyddion yr UE sy'n gwneud cais am statws preswylio'n sefydlog o dan y cynllun?
Certainly. That scheme is a scheme of the UK Government; it is not a scheme that we would have designed had we been in control of how it works, but we recognise that it is the scheme that is available. As a result, we've been taking a number of steps in order to support EU citizens living in Wales to apply to the scheme. We've, I think, committed around £2 million most recently in relation to funding advice services. Some of that is through organisations such as Citizens Advice; some of it is of a much more technical nature through an immigration law firm. We've funded local authorities to support their own communities locally; and we have a communications strategy, including a digital communications strategy, to increase the numbers applying. We take every opportunity, including myself, this week, with Home Office officials, to impress upon them the need to make sure that communications across the UK do everything possible to encourage the maximum number of applicants.
Yn sicr. Cynllun Llywodraeth y DU yw'r cynllun hwnnw; nid yw'n gynllun y byddem wedi'i gynllunio pe baem wedi bod yn rheoli'r ffordd y mae'n gweithio, ond rydym yn cydnabod mai dyna'r cynllun sydd ar gael. O ganlyniad, rydym wedi rhoi nifer o gamau ar waith er mwyn cynorthwyo dinasyddion yr UE sy'n byw yng Nghymru i wneud cais i'r cynllun. Rwy'n credu ein bod wedi ymrwymo tua £2 filiwn yn fwyaf diweddar mewn perthynas â chyllido gwasanaethau cynghori. Mae rhywfaint o hwnnw drwy sefydliadau megis Cyngor ar Bopeth; mae rhywfaint ohono o natur lawer mwy technegol drwy gwmni cyfraith mewnfudo. Rydym wedi ariannu awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi eu cymunedau eu hunain yn lleol; ac mae gennym strategaeth gyfathrebu, gan gynnwys strategaeth gyfathrebiadau digidol, i gynyddu'r niferoedd sy'n ymgeisio. Rydym yn manteisio ar bob cyfle, gan fy nghynnwys i, yr wythnos hon, gyda swyddogion y Swyddfa Gartref, i'w hargyhoeddi o'r angen i sicrhau bod cyfathrebiadau ar draws y DU yn gwneud popeth y gellir ei wneud i annog cymaint o bobl ag y bo modd i ymgeisio.
Thank you for that response. I know that you and I both want to see as many EU citizens as possible that have chosen to make Wales their home stay here in Wales. But I think what is concerning is that figures that have been released by the House of Commons Library show that, as of last month, just 71 per cent of EU citizens based here in Wales have actually applied to the EU settlement scheme, and that's compared to 93 per cent elsewhere in the UK. So, obviously, there's a significant difference in terms of people taking advantage of the scheme from Wales, and I want to better understand why that is the case. Have you done any analysis as a Government as to why people might be having more difficulty in accessing the scheme, or taking advantage of the scheme to a lesser degree here in Wales versus other parts of the UK?
Diolch ichi am yr ateb hwnnw. Gwn eich bod chi a minnau eisiau gweld cynifer â phosibl o ddinasyddion yr UE, sydd wedi dewis byw yng Nghymru, yn aros yma yng Nghymru. Ond credaf mai'r hyn sy'n peri pryder yw bod ffigurau a ryddhawyd gan Lyfrgell Tŷ’r Cyffredin yn dangos, hyd at fis diwethaf, mai dim ond 71 y cant o ddinasyddion yr UE sy'n byw yma yng Nghymru sydd wedi gwneud cais i gynllun preswylio'n sefydlog yr UE mewn gwirionedd, ac mae hynny o'i gymharu â 93 y cant mewn ardaloedd eraill o'r DU. Felly, yn amlwg, mae gwahaniaeth sylweddol o ran nifer y bobl sy'n manteisio ar y cynllun o Gymru, ac rwyf eisiau deall pam. A ydych wedi gwneud unrhyw waith dadansoddi fel Llywodraeth i weld pam y gallai pobl fod yn ei chael hi'n anos cael mynediad at y cynllun, neu pam fod llai o bobl yn manteisio ar y cynllun yma yng Nghymru o gymharu â rhannau eraill o'r DU?
The most recent Home Office figures actually show Wales as the second of the four nations of the UK in terms of numbers of applications. Obviously, we want to see 100 per cent of eligible citizens applying, and we would hope and expect that the UK Government would share that ambition as well. Part of the issue, we believe, is in relation to the UK-wide communication strategy, which has focused on cities, and, of course, there are more cities with bigger populations of EU citizens in England than there are in Wales, where the populations are more dispersed. We think that's one of the aspects to the situation. The other aspect is perhaps the number of Irish citizens within that overall envelope of EU citizens. Obviously, Irish citizens living in Wales don't need to apply to the scheme, and we think that may be part of the factor as well. But we are absolutely clear that although this is a reserved scheme, not a devolved scheme, we are putting Welsh Government budget into maximising the number of applicants.
We've worked successfully to persuade the UK Government, for example, to increase the number of digital centres in Wales, from one to, I think, seven at the moment, and for them to be spread across Wales. We've worked hard to make sure that that's happened and to increase the number of support centres generally. But I know that he will share my ambition to make sure that 100 per cent of applicants in Wales are able to apply and succeed in applying.
Mae ffigurau diweddaraf y Swyddfa Gartref yn dangos mewn gwirionedd mai Cymru yw’r ail o bedair gwlad y DU o ran nifer y ceisiadau. Yn amlwg, rydym am weld 100 y cant o ddinasyddion cymwys yn ymgeisio, a byddem yn gobeithio ac yn disgwyl i Lywodraeth y DU rannu'r uchelgais hwnnw hefyd. Credwn fod rhan o'r mater yn ymwneud â'r strategaeth gyfathrebu ledled y DU, sydd wedi canolbwyntio ar ddinasoedd, ac wrth gwrs, mae mwy o ddinasoedd â phoblogaethau mwy o ddinasyddion yr UE yn Lloegr nag sydd yng Nghymru, lle mae'r poblogaethau'n fwy gwasgaredig. Credwn fod honno’n un agwedd ar y sefyllfa. Yr agwedd arall efallai yw nifer y dinasyddion o Iwerddon o fewn y garfan gyffredinol honno o ddinasyddion yr UE. Yn amlwg, nid oes angen i ddinasyddion Iwerddon sy'n byw yng Nghymru wneud cais i'r cynllun, ac rydym o'r farn y gallai hynny fod yn rhan o'r ffactor hefyd. Ond rydym yn hollol glir, er mai cynllun wedi’i gadw'n ôl yw hwn, nid cynllun datganoledig, rydym yn rhoi cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru tuag at sicrhau bod cynifer o bobl ag sy’n bosibl yn gwneud cais.
Rydym wedi gweithio'n llwyddiannus i berswadio Llywodraeth y DU, er enghraifft, i gynyddu nifer y canolfannau digidol yng Nghymru, o un i saith ar hyn o bryd rwy'n credu, ac iddynt gael eu gwasgaru ledled Cymru. Rydym wedi gweithio'n galed i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd ac i gynyddu nifer y canolfannau cymorth yn gyffredinol. Ond gwn y bydd yn rhannu fy uchelgais i sicrhau bod 100 y cant o’r rhai sy’n gwneud cais yng Nghymru yn gallu gwneud hynny a llwyddo yn eu ceisiadau.
I note what you said regarding recent improvements in these figures, and, from the information that I have, it does suggest that, from December to January, we saw an 8 per cent increase in the number of people applying here in Wales for the scheme. But, notwithstanding that, the average across the UK is 93 per cent of citizens versus this 71 per cent here in those latest published figures. Now, I welcome some of the action that has been taken. You rightly refer to the fact that there has been a focus on communications in cities by the UK Government, and that that needs to be supplemented here because of the different nature of the population spread across Wales. But, obviously, I think it is a concern that we only have 71 per cent of people who have taken advantage of the scheme so far.
Can I ask what communications or discussions the Welsh Government might have had with local authorities about specifically boosting their role in reaching out to the diaspora communities within their respective areas, because, obviously, they have a key role, I think, given their interface with these communities on the ground? And given the limited resources of some local authorities, is there more that perhaps the Welsh Government might be able to do in order to assist them?
Nodaf yr hyn a ddywedoch ynghylch gwelliannau diweddar yn y ffigurau hyn, ac o'r wybodaeth sydd gennyf, mae'n awgrymu ein bod, o fis Rhagfyr i fis Ionawr, wedi gweld cynnydd o 8 y cant yn nifer y bobl sy'n gwneud cais am y cynllun yma yng Nghymru. Er hynny, y cyfartaledd ledled y DU yw 93 y cant o ddinasyddion yn hytrach na’r 71 y cant yma yn y ffigurau a gyhoeddwyd yn fwyaf diweddar. Nawr, rwy'n croesawu peth o'r gwaith a wnaed. Fe gyfeiriwch yn gywir at y ffaith bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi canolbwyntio ar gyfathrebiadau mewn dinasoedd, a bod angen ychwanegu at hynny yma oherwydd natur wahanol y boblogaeth a wasgarwyd ledled Cymru. Ond yn amlwg, rwy'n credu ei fod yn destun pryder mai dim ond 71 y cant o bobl sydd wedi manteisio ar y cynllun hyd yn hyn.
A gaf fi ofyn pa gyfathrebiadau neu drafodaethau a gafodd Llywodraeth Cymru gydag awdurdodau lleol ynghylch rhoi hwb penodol i'w rôl yn estyn allan at y cymunedau alltud yn eu hardaloedd, oherwydd, yn amlwg, mae ganddynt rôl allweddol, rwy'n credu, o ystyried eu cysylltiad â’r cymunedau hyn ar lawr gwlad? Ac o ystyried pa mor gyfyngedig yw adnoddau rhai awdurdodau lleol, a oes mwy y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i’w cynorthwyo?
Well, the meeting I had earlier this week with a range of stakeholders around Wales and Home Office officials, included representation from the Welsh Local Government Association. Most recently, we've made funding available to each local authority to support their efforts in addition to the Wales-wide efforts that we are making, so that local authorities have the capacity to do it themselves within their local areas. One of the features of these figures is that it seems to be the case that there's a higher chance of getting settled status in Wales than a pre-settled status than in other parts of the UK. One of the great sources of concern for most EU citizens applying to this scheme is the very high number of pre-settled status grants in circumstances where we would expect to see settled status being granted. And it's difficult to overestimate, I think, the kind of anxiety that comes with that. For many people, engaging with this sort of migration policy bureaucracy is the first time they've ever had to do that. And, so, it is incumbent on the UK Government to make that as straightforward and as supportive, and to maximise the chance of those who are eligible getting their settled status and protecting their rights here.
Wel, roedd y cyfarfod a gefais yn gynharach yr wythnos hon gydag ystod o randdeiliaid ledled Cymru, a swyddogion y Swyddfa Gartref, yn cynnwys cynrychiolaeth o Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru. Yn fwyaf diweddar, rydym wedi sicrhau bod cyllid ar gael i bob awdurdod lleol i gefnogi eu hymdrechion yn ychwanegol at yr ymdrechion rydym yn eu gwneud ledled Cymru, fel bod gan awdurdodau lleol allu i'w wneud eu hunain yn eu hardaloedd lleol. Un o nodweddion y ffigurau hyn yw ei bod yn ymddangos bod mwy o obaith o gael statws preswylydd sefydlog yng Nghymru yn hytrach na statws preswylydd cyn-sefydlog na mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU. Un o'r ffynonellau pryder mawr i'r rhan fwyaf o ddinasyddion yr UE sy'n gwneud cais i'r cynllun yw'r nifer uchel iawn o bobl sy’n cael statws preswylydd cyn-sefydlog mewn amgylchiadau lle byddem yn disgwyl gweld statws preswylydd sefydlog yn cael ei roi. Ac rwy’n credu ei bod hi'n anodd gorddatgan y math o bryder sy'n deillio o hynny. I lawer o bobl, ymwneud â'r math hwn o fiwrocratiaeth polisi ymfudo yw'r tro cyntaf iddynt orfod gwneud hynny erioed. Ac felly, mae'n ddyletswydd ar Lywodraeth y DU i’w wneud yn syml, a rhoi cymaint o gefnogaeth ag y bo modd, a chynyddu gobaith y rhai sy'n gymwys i gael eu statws preswylwyr sefydlog a gwarchod eu hawliau yma.
Llefarydd Plaid Cymru, Dai Lloyd.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson, Dai Lloyd.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Minister, plainly, continued international co-operation is needed for the frictionless trade of health products across UK-EU borders in the future, post Brexit. Now, around 45 million patient packs of medicines are supplied from the UK to the EU and European economic area countries every month, and, in return, over 37 million patient packs of medicines come from the EU to the UK every month. Yet, without any future regulatory alignment, as announced by the Conservative Government in Westminster, can I ask you: what could possibly go wrong?
Diolch yn fawr, Lywydd. Weinidog, yn amlwg, mae angen cydweithredu rhyngwladol parhaus ar gyfer masnachu cynnyrch iechyd yn ddirwystr ar draws ffiniau'r DU-UE yn y dyfodol, ar ôl Brexit. Nawr, mae tua 45 miliwn o becynnau cleifion o feddyginiaethau yn cael eu cyflenwi o'r DU i wledydd yr UE a’r ardal economaidd Ewropeaidd bob mis, ac mae dros 37 miliwn o becynnau cleifion o feddyginiaethau yn dod o'r UE i'r DU bob mis. Ac eto, heb unrhyw gysoni rheoliadol yn y dyfodol, fel y cyhoeddodd y Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn San Steffan, a gaf fi ofyn i chi: beth yn y byd allai fynd o’i le?
He identifies a very live example, it seems to me, of some of the problems that we may well face unless the negotiations with the European Union conclude in the kind of agreement that minimises the barriers to international freight and to trade, which are so important in many aspects of our economic life, but, as his question also makes clear, the life of our citizens in a very direct way, in terms of public services. I can assure him that we take every opportunity—have taken every opportunity—to press the case on the UK Government, not only to seek to minimise tariffs and quotas in their negotiations, but also the kind of non-tariff barriers, which his question identifies as a significant problem.
Mae'n nodi enghraifft fyw iawn, mae'n ymddangos i mi, o rai o'r problemau y gallem yn sicr eu hwynebu oni fydd y negodiadau â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn dod i ben gyda'r math o gytundeb sy'n lleihau'r rhwystrau i fasnachu a chludo nwyddau'n rhyngwladol, sydd mor bwysig i sawl agwedd ar ein bywyd economaidd, ond fel y mae ei gwestiwn hefyd yn ei ddangos, i fywyd ein dinasyddion mewn ffordd uniongyrchol iawn, o ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Gallaf ei sicrhau ein bod yn manteisio ar bob cyfle—wedi manteisio ar bob cyfle—i bwyso ar Lywodraeth y DU, nid yn unig i geisio lleihau tariffau a chwotâu yn eu negodiadau, ond hefyd y math o rwystrau di-dariff, sy'n broblem sylweddol, fel y mae ei gwestiwn yn nodi.
Can I thank you for that answer? Moving on to another aligned issue, a substantial proportion of UK employment law, as we've already heard, originates from the EU, including the European working time directive. That is what stopped doctors from working 120 hours every week down to around 58 hours over the years. So, can I ask: what discussions are you having about protecting employment rights for workers in Wales post Brexit?
A gaf fi ddiolch i chi am yr ateb hwnnw? Gan symud ymlaen at fater arall cysylltiedig, mae cyfran sylweddol o gyfraith cyflogaeth y DU, fel y clywsom eisoes, yn tarddu o'r UE, gan gynnwys y gyfarwyddeb oriau gwaith Ewropeaidd. Dyna a ataliodd feddygon rhag gweithio 120 awr bob wythnos i lawr i tua 58 awr dros y blynyddoedd. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn: pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael ynglŷn â diogelu hawliau cyflogaeth i weithwyr yng Nghymru ar ôl Brexit?
Well, the political declaration, as the Member may recall, was clear that both parties—both the United Kingdom Government, at that point, and the European Union—were committing to maintaining standards, in terms of workplace rights and so on, which were in place at the end of the transition period. That was a feature of the political declaration.
He will, I'm sure, share with me the concern at reading speculation requests and in speeches, in fact, given by the Prime Minister and others, about the potential upside, as they would describe it—and he and I would describe it as the downside—of weakening labour regulation as a consequence of leaving the European Union. Those sorts of ambitions and aims are not ones that we share in this Government and would not be widely shared across this Chamber. We believe that the kind of relationship that people in Wales will expect into the future is one that enables those labour standards to be maintained, both in Wales and the UK, and for there to be a commitment to do that so that we can take advantage of that level of alignment to support our economy into the future.
Wel, roedd y datganiad gwleidyddol, fel y bydd yr Aelod yn cofio o bosibl, yn glir fod y ddau barti—Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ar y pwynt hwnnw, a'r Undeb Ewropeaidd—yn ymrwymo i gynnal safonau, o ran hawliau'r gweithle ac yn y blaen, a oedd ar waith ar ddiwedd y cyfnod pontio. Roedd hynny'n un o nodweddion y datganiad gwleidyddol.
Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn rhannu fy mhryder ynghylch darllen hap-geisiadau ac mewn areithiau gan y Prif Weinidog ac eraill, ynghylch y potensial, fel y byddent yn ei ddisgrifio—a byddai ef a minnau'n ei ddisgrifio fel anfantais—gwanhau rheoliadau llafur o ganlyniad i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Nid yw'r mathau hynny o uchelgeisiau ac amcanion yn rhai rydym yn eu rhannu yn y Llywodraeth hon ac ni fyddent yn cael eu rhannu'n eang ar draws y Siambr hon. Credwn fod y math o berthynas y bydd pobl yng Nghymru yn ei disgwyl yn y dyfodol yn un sy'n ein galluogi i gynnal y safonau llafur hynny, yng Nghymru ac yn y DU, ac i gael ymrwymiad i wneud hynny fel y gallwn fanteisio ar y lefel honno o gysoni i gefnogi ein heconomi i'r dyfodol.
Thank you for that. Going on to another field, anyone who has attended the annual National Social Care Awards here in Cardiff will know that social care is a skilled profession. In fact, the examples on show every year in that awards ceremony show a very high level of skills. But obviously, social care is plagued by low pay and has fallen foul of the UK Government's points-based immigration system as a result. Now, Wales relies on the EU social care professionals, as it is, in an already overstretched system. So, what representations are you making about social care in Wales post Brexit?
Diolch. Ac i droi at faes arall, bydd unrhyw un sydd wedi mynychu'r Gwobrau Gofal Cymdeithasol Cenedlaethol yma yng Nghaerdydd yn gwybod bod gofal cymdeithasol yn broffesiwn medrus. Yn wir, mae'r enghreifftiau sy'n cael eu harddangos bob blwyddyn yn y seremoni wobrwyo honno'n dangos lefel uchel iawn o sgiliau. Ond yn amlwg, mae cyflogau isel yn bla ym maes gofal cymdeithasol ac o ganlyniad, mae'n methu cydymffurfio â system fewnfudo Llywodraeth y DU sy'n seiliedig ar bwyntiau. Nawr, mae Cymru'n dibynnu ar weithwyr gofal cymdeithasol proffesiynol o'r UE fel y mae mewn system sydd eisoes o dan bwysau. Felly, pa sylwadau rydych yn eu cyflwyno ar ofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru ar ôl Brexit?
Well, I thank the Member for highlighting that point. When I met with the chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, the social care sector was exactly one of the sectors that I identified to him as being at risk from the sorts of migration policies that were being floated by the UK Government at that point and that have been confirmed in the most recent announcement. We had hoped, as a Government, that the UK Government would be persuaded to bring forward a set of migration policies that would support the economy and public services across the UK. That has not been the case, and as a consequence of the salary threshold and the skills threshold, amongst other things, sectors such as the social care sector, but, indeed, others in food production, in logistics and in certain parts of the manufacturing sectors, will be concerned about their capacity to staff their services and businesses into the future.
And I want to make one point in relation to the remark at the start of the Member's question. He and I will both know, and many in the Chamber, if not, sadly, all, will not recognise the term 'low skilled' in the context of the care sector. Anybody who has had exposure to the kinds of support and skilled support that many of our people who are cared for receive will recognise that those are very skilled roles indeed.
Wel, diolch i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at y pwynt hwnnw. Pan gyfarfûm â chadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cynghori ar Ymfudo, roedd y sector gofal cymdeithasol yn un o'r sectorau y dywedais wrtho eu bod yn wynebu risg o'r mathau o bolisïau ymfudo a oedd yn cael eu crybwyll gan Lywodraeth y DU ar y pwynt hwnnw ac a gadarnhawyd yn y cyhoeddiad diweddaraf. Roeddem wedi gobeithio, fel Llywodraeth, y byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn cael ei pherswadio i gyflwyno set o bolisïau ymfudo a fyddai'n cefnogi'r economi a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus ledled y DU. Nid felly y bu, ac o ganlyniad i'r trothwy cyflogau a'r trothwy sgiliau, ymysg pethau eraill, bydd sectorau fel y sector gofal cymdeithasol, ac eraill, yn wir, ym maes cynhyrchu bwyd, logisteg a rhai rhannau o'r sectorau gweithgynhyrchu, yn pryderu am eu gallu i staffio eu gwasanaethau a'u busnesau yn y dyfodol.
Ac rwyf am wneud un pwynt mewn perthynas â'r sylw ar ddechrau cwestiwn yr Aelod. Ni fydd ef na minnau, na llawer o rai eraill yn y Siambr, os nad pawb, ysywaeth, yn cydnabod y term 'sgiliau isel' yng nghyd-destun y sector gofal. Bydd unrhyw un sydd wedi dod i gysylltiad â'r mathau o gymorth a chefnogaeth fedrus y mae llawer o'n pobl sy'n derbyn gofal yn eu cael yn cydnabod bod y rheini'n rolau medrus iawn yn wir.
3. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o safbwynt negodi'r UE yn ystod y trafodaethau presennol ar y gytundeb fasnach? OAQ55133
3. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the EU’s negotiating position during the current trade deal talks? OAQ55133
The EU's draft negotiating mandate largely reflects the political declaration agreed between the UK and the EU in October last year. We, as a Government, set out our position on the political declaration in 'The Future UK/EU Relationship: Negotiating Priorities for Wales' in January of this year.
Mae mandad negodi drafft yr UE yn adlewyrchu i raddau helaeth y datganiad gwleidyddol y cytunwyd arno rhwng y DU a'r UE ym mis Hydref y llynedd. Gwnaethom ni, fel Llywodraeth, nodi ein safbwynt ar y datganiad gwleidyddol yn 'Y berthynas rhwng y DU a'r UE yn y dyfodol: blaenoriaethau negodi i Gymru' ym mis Ionawr eleni.
Thank you for that answer, Minister. It looks like the EU may try to insist that continued subservience to the European Court of Justice is a prerequisite of any trade deal. Do you think that UK courts, or Welsh courts, should our judiciary ever be devolved, should remain subservient to the European Court of Justice when the Brexit transition period ends?
Diolch ichi am yr ateb hwnnw, Weinidog. Mae'n edrych fel pe gallai'r UE geisio mynnu bod parhau i fod yn ddarostyngedig i Lys Cyfiawnder Ewrop yn rhagofyniad i unrhyw gytundeb masnach. Yn eich barn chi, a ddylai llysoedd y DU, neu lysoedd Cymru pe bai ein barnwriaeth yn cael ei datganoli, barhau i fod yn ddarostyngedig i Lys Cyfiawnder Ewrop pan ddaw cyfnod pontio Brexit i ben?
Well, I don't understand the notion of 'subservience'. We have a UK Government at the moment that seems intent on questioning the role of the judiciary in British public life. I think that there are significant risks in fetishising this matter, which is what the UK Government is doing. It is absolutely an area where a more pragmatic approach should be taken. For example, there are many examples of EU-wide governance: the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is one that might be in the minds of Members, given the circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment, where a degree of European-wide governance, and including, in some cases, the jurisdiction of the court, might be a sensible step to agree in order to protect larger interests.
I think just focusing on just one aspect, as the Member's question does, fails to grapple with the impact that that will have on a number of other areas, touching, for example, on the security of British citizens, which I'm sure all our constituents would take for granted.
Wel, nid wyf yn deall y cysyniad o 'ddarostyngedig'. Mae gennym Lywodraeth y DU ar hyn o bryd sy'n ymddangos fel pe bai'n benderfynol o gwestiynu rôl y farnwriaeth ym mywyd cyhoeddus Prydain. Credaf fod risgiau sylweddol i roi gormod o bwyslais ar hyn, sef yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ei wneud. Mae'n sicr yn faes lle dylid mabwysiadu agwedd fwy pragmatig. Er enghraifft, ceir llawer o enghreifftiau o lywodraethu ar sail yr UE yn ei gyfanrwydd: mae Canolfan Atal a Rheoli Clefydau Ewrop yn un a allai fod ym meddyliau'r Aelodau, o ystyried yr amgylchiadau rydym yn eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd, lle gallai rhywfaint o lywodraethu ar sail Ewrop gyfan, gan gynnwys, mewn rhai achosion, awdurdodaeth y llys, fod yn gam synhwyrol i'w gytuno er mwyn diogelu buddiannau ehangach.
Credaf fod canolbwyntio ar un agwedd yn unig, fel y mae cwestiwn yr Aelod yn ei wneud, yn dangos methiant i fynd i'r afael â'r effaith a gaiff hynny ar nifer o feysydd eraill, gan gyffwrdd, er enghraifft, ar ddiogelwch dinasyddion Prydain, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un o'n hetholwyr yn cymryd hynny'n ganiataol.
I think it's important to understand that the UK Government appears willing to accept level-playing-field provisions of the type that were included in the Canada and South Korea treaties by the EU, and the broad non-regression and the international conventions referenced in those treaties. What the EU is saying, though, is that we should, indeed, be subservient to the EU on an ongoing basis by obeying their rules in these areas, whatever they are, without any democratic input and then have the ECJ determine how those roles are interpreted. Now, does the Welsh Government support the UK position or the EU?
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig deall bod Llywodraeth y DU yn ymddangos yn barod i dderbyn darpariaethau caeau chwarae gwastad o'r math a gynhwyswyd yng nghytuniadau Canada a De Korea gan yr UE, a'r confensiynau cyffredinol i beidio â chaniatáu dirywiad a'r confensiynau rhyngwladol y cyfeiriwyd atynt yn y cytuniadau hynny. Yr hyn y mae'r UE yn ei ddweud, serch hynny, yw y dylem, yn wir, fod yn ddarostyngedig i'r UE ar sail barhaus drwy ufuddhau i'w rheolau yn y meysydd hyn, beth bynnag ydynt, heb unrhyw fewnbwn democrataidd ac yna fod Llys Cyfiawnder Ewrop yn penderfynu sut y dehonglir y rolau hynny. Nawr, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi safbwynt y DU neu'r UE?
The Member's gift for caricature remains undiminished. That is not the EU's position. What the political declaration said, which both the European Union and the UK Government have signed—have agreed—is that, at the end of the transition period, the standards that apply in both, including in the level-playing-field context, should continue to apply. It is not the case that you can draw a simple parallel with the Canadian free-trade agreement. The UK Government is seeking a zero-tariff, zero-quota agreement. The Canadian agreement is not that—it took seven years to negotiate. It represents a tenth of the trade that the UK does with the European Union, and it's 5,000 km away. There is simply no comparison in trade terms. And to expect the same provisions to be applicable in a deal with your nearest neighbour, with 10 per cent more trade, as you impose on a much less significant, in volume terms, trading partner on the other side of the world, I think, is just fanciful.
Mae gallu'r Aelod i lunio gwawdlun yn ddi-ben-draw. Nid dyna yw safbwynt yr UE. Yr hyn a ddywedodd y datganiad gwleidyddol, a lofnodwyd—a gytunwyd—gan yr Undeb Ewropeaidd a Llywodraeth y DU yw y dylai'r safonau sy'n gymwys yn y ddau ar ddiwedd y cyfnod pontio, gan gynnwys yng nghyd-destun y cae chwarae gwastad, barhau i fod yn gymwys. Nid yw'n wir y gallwch gymharu'n syml â chytundeb masnach rydd Canada. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn ceisio cytundeb dim tariff, dim cwota. Nid dyna gytundeb Canada—cymerodd saith mlynedd i'w negodi. Mae'n cynrychioli degfed ran o'r fasnach sydd gan y DU â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd, ac mae 5,000 km i ffwrdd. Nid oes unrhyw gymhariaeth mewn perthynas â masnach. A ffantasi yn fy marn i yw disgwyl i'r un darpariaethau fod yn gymwys mewn cytundeb â'ch cymydog agosaf, gyda 10 y cant yn fwy o fasnach, na'r hyn a osodwch ar bartner masnachu llawer llai sylweddol o ran cyfaint ar yr ochr arall i'r byd.
Counsel General, clearly, yesterday, the general council confirmed the EU's negotiating mandate—[Inaudible.] It is slightly harsher than the original draft, indicating clearly strong views on this level playing field. Tomorrow, we will see the UK Government's opening gambit, because we're yet to actually have that clearly defined. But what's important is actually the economy of Wales and how we ensure that the economy of Wales is not damaged by future EU-UK negotiations.
Now, in that sense, what discussions is the Welsh Government having with the EU side of things to ensure that its position—its economy and the issues important to Wales—are being reflected and discussed in Europe, as well as in the UK? Because very often, we know that in the UK—. And we know Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings—they just put their own view forward; they don't even put the view of other parts of their party forward. Will you ensure that the Welsh position is put forward in all sides and all avenues so that we can get a fair share of this?
Gwnsler Cyffredinol, yn amlwg, ddoe, cadarnhaodd y cyngor cyffredinol fandad negodi'r UE—[Anghlywadwy.] Mae ychydig yn llymach na'r drafft gwreiddiol, gan nodi'n glir safbwyntiau cryf ar y cae chwarae gwastad hwn. Yfory, byddwn yn gweld symudiad agoriadol Llywodraeth y DU, gan ein bod eto i gael hynny wedi'i ddiffinio'n glir. Ond yr hyn sy'n bwysig mewn gwirionedd yw economi Cymru a sut i sicrhau na chaiff economi Cymru ei niweidio gan negodiadau'r UE a'r DU yn y dyfodol.
Nawr, o ran hynny, pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael gydag ochr yr UE i sicrhau bod ei safbwynt—ei heconomi a'r materion sy'n bwysig i Gymru—yn cael eu hadlewyrchu a'u trafod yn Ewrop, yn ogystal ag yn y DU? Oherwydd yn aml iawn, gwyddom yn y DU—. A gwyddom fod Boris Johnson a Dominic Cummings—cyflwyno eu safbwynt eu hunain yn unig a wnânt; nid ydynt yn cyflwyno barn rhannau eraill o'u plaid hyd yn oed. A wnewch chi sicrhau y caiff safbwynt Cymru ei gyflwyno ar bob ochr a phob llwybr fel y gallwn gael cyfran deg o hyn?
Well, we continue to do that. The Minister for international relations was in Brussels recently, the First Minister will be there shortly. We take every opportunity of making sure that what is in the interests of the Welsh economy is understood by any of our interlocutors.
But what I will say to the Member, though, is that in this period of the negotiations ahead, the parties to that negotiation will be the European institutions and the British Government. There is no parallel set of negotiations or discussions that the Welsh Government can or should have in that context. Our expectation, our vision, of how this should work in practical terms is that the UK Government should agree for the devolved Governments to have a role in those negotiations in setting a UK-wide position in relation to those matters that are devolved.
As he will know, that is not a principle that the UK Government has yet agreed in a way that we think is acceptable. The capacity of the Welsh Government to reflect the interests of Wales, and to reflect the devolved competences of this institution and the Welsh Government, is something that must be recognised by the UK Government in order to protect the interests of Wales through that period.
Wel, rydym yn parhau i wneud hynny. Roedd y Gweinidog cysylltiadau rhyngwladol ym Mrwsel yn ddiweddar, bydd y Prif Weinidog yno cyn bo hir. Rydym yn manteisio ar bob cyfle i sicrhau bod yr hyn sydd er budd economi Cymru yn cael ei ddeall gan bawb o'n cyd-siaradwyr.
Ond hoffwn ddweud wrth yr Aelod mai sefydliadau Ewropeaidd a Llywodraeth Prydain fydd y partïon i'r negodiadau yn y cyfnod o negodi sydd o’n blaenau. Nid oes set gyfochrog o negodiadau na thrafodaethau y gallai neu y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru eu cael yn y cyd-destun hwnnw. Ein disgwyliad, ein gweledigaeth, o sut y dylai hyn weithio’n ymarferol yw y dylai Llywodraeth y DU gytuno i'r Llywodraethau datganoledig chwarae rôl yn y trafodaethau hynny wrth osod safbwynt DU gyfan mewn perthynas â materion sydd wedi'u datganoli.
Fel y bydd yn gwybod, hyd yma nid yw honno'n egwyddor y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i chytuno mewn ffordd sy'n dderbyniol yn ein barn ni. Mae gallu Llywodraeth Cymru i adlewyrchu buddiannau Cymru, ac i adlewyrchu cymwyseddau datganoledig y sefydliad hwn a Llywodraeth Cymru, yn rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth y DU ei gydnabod er mwyn amddiffyn buddiannau Cymru drwy'r cyfnod hwnnw.
4. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gynnig i awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi'r broses o roi cynllun Llywodraeth y DU, Cynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog i Ddinasyddion yr UE ar waith? OAQ55135
4. What assistance is the Welsh Government offering local authorities to support the implementation of the UK Government's EU Settlement Scheme? OAQ55135
Most recently, we have provided an additional £224,000 funding to local authorities to put support in place for EU citizens applying to the EU settlement scheme. The funding is flexible, to enable local authorities to be able to provide tailored support to their local communities. This is part of a range of support we have made available to support EU citizens in Wales to apply.
Yn fwyaf diweddar, rydym wedi darparu £224,000 o gyllid ychwanegol i awdurdodau lleol allu darparu cymorth i ddinasyddion yr UE sy'n gwneud cais i'r cynllun preswylio’n sefydlog i ddinasyddion yr UE. Mae'r cyllid yn hyblyg, er mwyn galluogi awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu cymorth wedi'i deilwra i'w cymunedau lleol. Mae hyn yn rhan o ystod o gymorth rydym wedi'i darparu i gynorthwyo dinasyddion yr UE yng Nghymru i wneud cais.
Thank you. As you stated on 13 February, you have put in more than £220,000 to support councils across Wales, and that is to step up local outreach to tackle barriers to help those who still are not aware of the need to apply or who are struggling to apply. Minister, specifically, what will the funding to Caerphilly County Borough Council be, and how can the Welsh Government aid and support the authority in facilitating the European Union citizens living in communities throughout Islwyn applying to settle in the United Kingdom?
Additionally, Minister, with all European Union citizens and their families living in Wales having to apply now to the Home Office scheme by 30 June 2021, in order to protect their rights and to continue to live and work here, what can the Welsh Government do to ensure that, whilst councils are free to choose the best way to support residents, we ensure consistent best practice across Wales?
Diolch. Fel y dywedoch chi ar 13 Chwefror, rydych wedi cyfrannu mwy na £220,000 i gynorthwyo cynghorau ledled Cymru, ac mae hwnnw’n mynd i gynyddu allgymorth lleol i oresgyn rhwystrau i helpu’r rhai nad ydynt yn ymwybodol o hyd o’r angen i wneud cais neu sy’n ei chael hi'n anodd gwneud cais. Weinidog, yn benodol, beth fydd y cyllid i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili, a sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru gynorthwyo a chefnogi'r awdurdod i’w gwneud yn haws i ddinasyddion yr Undeb Ewropeaidd sy'n byw mewn cymunedau ledled Islwyn i wneud cais i ymgartrefu yn y Deyrnas Unedig?
Yn ogystal, Weinidog, gyda’r holl ddinasyddion o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd a'u teuluoedd sy'n byw yng Nghymru yn gorfod gwneud cais yn awr i gynllun y Swyddfa Gartref erbyn 30 Mehefin 2021, er mwyn amddiffyn eu hawliau ac i barhau i fyw a gweithio yma, beth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i sicrhau, er bod cynghorau'n rhydd i ddewis y ffordd orau o gefnogi preswylwyr, ein bod yn gweld yr ymarfer gorau ar waith yn gyson ledled Cymru?
I thank the Member for that question. I'm afraid I don't have the precise number for Caerphilly council, but I will happily write to her in relation to that. Part of the objective in providing the funding is to allow a degree of flexibility in how this works on the ground, recognising that local, different communities in parts of Wales will have different needs. But we are also providing a Wales-wide bespoke training package for all public-facing local authority staff regarding the rights of EU citizens in Wales, and that includes their eligibility for public services. We are doing that through the EU citizens' rights project, which is designed to increase awareness and to assist authorities in recognising the support needs of individual EU citizens across Wales. That's intended to be a best practice-driven training package, and it will be available, as I say, to authorities right across Wales.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn. Mae arnaf ofn nad oes gennyf yr union ffigur ar gyfer cyngor Caerffili, ond rwy’n hapus i ysgrifennu ati mewn perthynas â hynny. Rhan o'r amcan wrth ddarparu'r cyllid yw caniatáu rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd o ran sut y mae hyn yn gweithio ar lawr gwlad, gan gydnabod y bydd gan wahanol gymunedau lleol mewn rhannau o Gymru anghenion gwahanol. Ond rydym hefyd yn darparu pecyn hyfforddi pwrpasol ledled Cymru ar gyfer holl staff awdurdodau lleol sy'n ymwneud â'r cyhoedd ynghylch hawliau dinasyddion yr UE yng Nghymru, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys eu cymhwysedd i gael gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Rydym yn gwneud hynny trwy brosiect hawliau dinasyddion yr UE, sydd wedi'i gynllunio i gynyddu ymwybyddiaeth ac i gynorthwyo awdurdodau i gydnabod anghenion cymorth dinasyddion unigol yr UE ledled Cymru. Bwriedir iddo fod yn becyn hyfforddi sy'n cael ei yrru gan ymarfer gorau, a bydd ar gael, fel rwy'n dweud, i awdurdodau ledled Cymru.
5. Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch polisi mewnfudo yn y dyfodol ar ôl Brexit? OAQ55131
5. What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government on future immigration policy post-Brexit? OAQ55131
6. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael yn ddiweddar gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch polisi mewnfudo ar ôl i'r DU ymadael â'r UE? OAQ55111
6. What recent discussions has the Counsel General had with the UK Government regarding immigration policy following the UK's withdrawal from the EU? OAQ55111
Llywydd, I believe that you have given your consent to this question being grouped with question 6.
I was disappointed that the UK Government didn't share their proposals with us before they were announced to the media. Whilst immigration is not, of course, devolved, future migration policy is of profound importance and will have significant impacts on our economy and our communities. Reform must take into account the needs of Wales.
Lywydd, credaf eich bod wedi rhoi eich caniatâd i'r cwestiwn hwn gael ei grwpio â chwestiwn 6.
Roeddwn yn siomedig na wnaeth Llywodraeth y DU rannu eu hargymhellion â ni cyn iddynt gael eu cyhoeddi i'r cyfryngau. Er nad yw mewnfudo wedi'i ddatganoli wrth gwrs, mae polisi ymfudo yn y dyfodol yn hynod o bwysig a bydd yn cael effeithiau sylweddol ar ein heconomi a'n cymunedau. Rhaid i ddiwygio ystyried anghenion Cymru.
I thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that immigration—net migration—has averaged 330,000 a year since 2014? Would he agree with me that we do not need to add to the UK population a city the size of Cardiff every single year from immigration alone in order to plug gaps in health and social care, to revert to his earlier answer? The Labour Party at its last conference in 2019 voted for a series of motions that effectively commits his party to open-door immigration, and the effective end of all immigration control. Does that explain, perhaps, Labour's dismal result in the recent general election? Because they're obviously completely out of touch with the views of most ordinary people on this subject, and the fact that Plaid Cymru shares this view shows that two thirds of the Members of this place are therefore out of touch with ordinary people in Wales. Is that not yet another reason why the reputation of this institution falls year in, year out?
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am yr ateb hwnnw. A yw’n ymwybodol fod mewnfudo—ymfudo net—wedi bod yn 330,000 y flwyddyn ar gyfartaledd ers 2014? A fyddai’n cytuno â mi nad oes angen inni ychwanegu dinas o faint Caerdydd at boblogaeth y DU bob blwyddyn yn sgil mewnfudo yn unig er mwyn llenwi bylchau mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, i ddychwelyd at ei ateb cynharach? Pleidleisiodd y Blaid Lafur yn ei chynhadledd ddiwethaf yn 2019 dros gyfres o gynigion sydd i bob pwrpas yn ymrwymo ei blaid i fewnfudo drws agored, a diwedd ar bob rheolaeth fewnfudo yn y bôn. Tybed ai dyna’r rheswm dros ganlyniadau truenus Llafur yn yr etholiad cyffredinol yn ddiweddar? Oherwydd mae’n amlwg nad oes cysylltiad o gwbl rhyngddynt a barn y mwyafrif o bobl gyffredin ar y pwnc hwn, ac mae'r ffaith bod Plaid Cymru yn rhannu'r farn hon yn dangos y diffyg cysylltiad rhwng dwy ran o dair o Aelodau'r lle hwn a phobl gyffredin yng Nghymru. Onid yw hynny'n rheswm arall eto am y dirywiad yn enw da'r sefydliad hwn flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn?
I'm sure none of those are rhetorical questions, but just to be clear, I would expect the Member to support a migration policy that that stands up and reflects the interests of the people of Wales and the public services of Wales, and the economies and employers of Wales. That is not, I'm afraid, what the most recent proposals from the UK Government have done. They certainly don't reflect the needs of the workforce or of public services here in Wales, and whatever people may have voted for in the past, I do not think they were voting to make Welsh public services less resilient, and to make it harder for Welsh businesses to grow and employ people.
Rwy'n siŵr nad yw'r un o'r rheini'n gwestiynau rhethregol, ond i fod yn glir, buaswn yn disgwyl i'r Aelod gefnogi polisi ymfudo sy'n sefyll dros, ac yn adlewyrchu buddiannau pobl Cymru a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru, ac economïau a chyflogwyr Cymru. Mae arnaf ofn nad dyna y mae'r cynigion diweddaraf gan Lywodraeth y DU wedi'i wneud. Yn sicr nid ydynt yn adlewyrchu anghenion y gweithlu na gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yma yng Nghymru, a beth bynnag y byddai pobl wedi pleidleisio drosto yn y gorffennol, ni chredaf eu bod wedi pleidleisio dros wneud gwasanaethau cyhoeddus Cymru yn llai cadarn, a'i gwneud yn anos i fusnesau Cymru dyfu a chyflogi pobl.
Huw Irranca-Davies.
Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. Can I just check—do I need to read my question or—
Diolch, Lywydd. A gaf fi ofyn—a oes angen i mi ddarllen fy nghwestiwn neu—
No, you don't. You just ask a question.
Nac oes. Gofynnwch gwestiwn dyna i gyd.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Minister, there's been real and understandable anger at the crude label of 'low skilled' that the UK Government has now levelled at people such as social workers, when we know that they're not low skilled, they are low paid, and you simply cannot put a value on the precious human qualities of compassion and care. How would he respond to Dr Moira Fraser-Pearce, the director of policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, who has written saying
'The Government's plan for a points-based immigration system paints a concerning picture for a health and care system already under record pressure...The Government must create a separate migration route for social care as well as clarifying what specific measures will be put in place to protect the NHS workforce to ensure that people with cancer get the right support when they need it. Any immigration reform',
she says,
'that prevents social care workers from working in the UK could mean that some of the most vulnerable people, including those living with cancer, suffer the consequences'.
How would he respond to that, and what representations will he be making to the UK Government?
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Weinidog, gwelwyd dicter real a dealladwy ynghylch y label bras, 'sgiliau isel', y mae Llywodraeth y DU bellach yn ei ddefnyddio i gyfeirio at bobl fel gweithwyr cymdeithasol pan wyddom nad lefel eu sgiliau sy'n isel, ond lefel eu cyflogau, ac ni allwch roi gwerth ar rinweddau dynol gwerthfawr fel tosturi a gofal. Sut y byddai'n ymateb i Dr Moira Fraser-Pearce, cyfarwyddwr polisi Cymorth Canser Macmillan, sydd wedi ysgrifennu hyn:
Mae cynllun y Llywodraeth ar gyfer system fewnfudo ar sail pwyntiau’n cynnig darlun sy’n peri gofid o system iechyd a gofal sydd eisoes dan bwysau gwaeth nag erioed...Rhaid i'r Llywodraeth greu llwybr ymfudo ar wahân ar gyfer gofal cymdeithasol yn ogystal ag egluro pa fesurau penodol a gaiff eu rhoi ar waith i amddiffyn gweithlu'r GIG er mwyn sicrhau bod pobl â chanser yn cael y gefnogaeth gywir pan fydd ei angen arnynt. Gallai unrhyw ddiwygiadau ymfudo,
meddai,
sy’n atal gweithwyr gofal cymdeithasol rhag gweithio yn y DU olygu mai rhai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n byw gyda chanser, sy’n dioddef y canlyniadau.
Sut y byddai'n ymateb i hynny, a pha sylwadau y bydd yn eu cyflwyno i Lywodraeth y DU?
Well, I think he describes in a very vivid way some of the very real pressures and challenges and impacts that people in Wales will suffer, and I think his question is a retort to the question Neil Hamilton that raised earlier. I agree with him, as he will have heard me say to Dai Lloyd earlier, that people working in the care sector, particularly, perhaps, in the way that he has described today, do work of very great skill, and we have advocated a position in Wales for a migration policy that reflects the different skill sets and a different salary level in order for that to work in the interests of public services in Wales, but also the people of Wales, who need the kind of support that he's describing. It is the case that there are many thousands of people from the European Union working in our care sector either as providers of care or nurses in different settings. We want them to stay and continue providing those services, but we also don't want to put artificial barriers in the way of more people coming to take their place to fulfil what is a very real need.
Wel, rwy'n credu ei fod yn disgrifio mewn ffordd fyw iawn ychydig o'r pwysau a'r heriau a'r effeithiau real iawn y bydd pobl yng Nghymru yn eu dioddef, ac rwy'n credu bod ei gwestiwn yn ymateb i'r cwestiwn a ofynnodd Neil Hamilton yn gynharach. Rwy’n cytuno ag ef, fel y bydd wedi fy nghlywed yn dweud wrth Dai Lloyd yn gynharach, fod pobl sy’n gweithio yn y sector gofal, yn enwedig efallai, yn y ffordd y mae wedi’i ddisgrifio heddiw, yn gwneud gwaith sy’n galw am sgiliau helaeth, ac rydym wedi hyrwyddo safbwynt yng Nghymru dros bolisi ymfudo sy'n adlewyrchu'r gwahanol setiau o sgiliau a lefelau cyflog er mwyn i hynny weithio er budd gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, ond hefyd er budd pobl Cymru, sydd angen y math o gefnogaeth y mae'n ei disgrifio. Mae'n wir fod miloedd lawer o bobl o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn gweithio yn ein sector gofal naill ai fel darparwyr gofal neu nyrsys mewn gwahanol leoliadau. Rydym am iddynt aros a pharhau i ddarparu'r gwasanaethau hynny, ond nid ydym ychwaith eisiau rhoi rhwystrau artiffisial yn ffordd mwy o bobl rhag dod i gymryd eu lle i ateb angen real iawn.
7. Pa gyfleoedd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u nodi ar gyfer Cymru o ganlyniad i ymadawiad y DU â'r UE? OAQ55122
7. What opportunities has the Welsh Government identified for Wales as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU? OAQ55122
The benefits of new opportunities will be outweighed by the downsides likely to result from the terms proposed by the UK Government for our relationship with the European Union. But the Welsh Government is committed to making use of opportunities in respect of supporting the rural economy, a new approach to regional development and our new international strategy, for example, in the best interests of Wales.
Bydd manteision cyfleoedd newydd yn cael eu gorbwyso gan yr anfanteision sy'n debygol o ddeillio o'r telerau a argymhellwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU ar gyfer ein perthynas â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i ddefnyddio cyfleoedd mewn perthynas â chefnogi'r economi wledig, ymagwedd newydd tuag at ddatblygu rhanbarthol a'n strategaeth ryngwladol newydd, er enghraifft, er budd gorau Cymru.
Last month's PwC chief executive survey found that European chief executives regard the UK as a key market for growth and investment, rated only behind the US, China and Germany internationally. On Brexit day, ITV Wales reported businesses that had spoken of the opportunities that could arise outside the EU, quoting companies in both the aerospace and agricultural sectors in Wales. Wales continues to have the lowest prosperity levels per head amongst the UK nations, and Brexit can provide an opportunity to help address this. However, growth in the Welsh food and beverage sector, for example, has excluded markets outside of the EU. What evidence have you got, therefore, to share with us of positive, practical action by the Welsh Government to increase the prosperity of Wales by taking us from a EU-dependant exporter to a global trading success, which includes the EU, but seeks growth globally with the new trading partners we all hope to have?
Canfu arolwg prif weithredwr PwC y mis diwethaf fod prif weithredwyr Ewropeaidd yn ystyried y DU fel marchnad allweddol ar gyfer twf a buddsoddi, y tu ôl i'r Unol Daleithiau, Tsieina a'r Almaen yn unig ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol. Ar ddiwrnod Brexit, adroddodd ITV Wales am fusnesau a oedd wedi siarad am y cyfleoedd a allai godi y tu allan i'r UE, gan ddyfynnu cwmnïau yn y sector awyrofod a’r sector amaethyddol yng Nghymru. Cymru sydd â'r lefelau ffyniant isaf y pen o hyd ymhlith gwledydd y DU, a gall Brexit roi cyfle i helpu i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Fodd bynnag, mae twf yn sector bwyd a diod Cymru, er enghraifft, wedi eithrio marchnadoedd y tu allan i'r UE. Pa dystiolaeth sydd gennych, felly, i rannu â ni o gamau cadarnhaol, ymarferol gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gynyddu ffyniant Cymru drwy fynd â ni o fod yn allforiwr dibynnol ar y UE i fod yn llwyddiant masnachol byd-eang, sy'n cynnwys yr UE, ond sy'n ceisio twf yn fyd-eang gyda'r partneriaid masnachu newydd rydym i gyd yn gobeithio'u cael?
Well, I'd refer him to the international strategy and economic action plan as the Government's interventions in order to ensure the prosperity of Wales. I'm afraid he and I just disagree. I do not believe that membership of the European Union has been in any way an impediment to any of the opportunities that he describes in his question. There's no question that Welsh businesses are able to continue to export internationally as members of the European Union as well as in the period after membership. That is not the challenge. There is a myth that is grown up, I'm afraid, that membership of the European Union was in some way an impediment to that. That is not the case. But I do think that we need to be realistic and clear-sighted about this. Even on the UK Government's own figures, the contribution that the free trade strategy that they are pursuing with third countries—the contribution that that can make to the UK economy on current figures is absolutely marginal compared to maintaining the trading opportunities that we have with one of the largest trading blocks on the globe.
Wel, buaswn yn ei gyfeirio at y strategaeth ryngwladol a'r cynllun gweithredu economaidd fel ymyriadau'r Llywodraeth er mwyn sicrhau ffyniant Cymru. Rwy'n ofni ei fod ef a minnau'n anghytuno. Nid wyf yn credu bod aelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd wedi bod yn rhwystr mewn unrhyw ffordd i unrhyw un o'r cyfleoedd y mae'n eu disgrifio yn ei gwestiwn. Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth na all busnesau Cymru barhau i allforio'n rhyngwladol fel aelodau o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd lawn cystal ag yn y cyfnod ar ôl i'n haelodaeth ddod i ben. Nid dyna'r her. Mae arnaf ofn fod myth wedi datblygu fod aelodaeth o'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn rhwystr i hynny mewn rhyw fodd. Nid yw hynny'n wir. Ond rwy'n credu bod angen inni fod yn realistig ac yn glir ynglŷn â hyn. Hyd yn oed ar sail ffigurau Llywodraeth y DU ei hun, mae'r cyfraniad y mae'r strategaeth masnach rydd y maent yn mynd ar ei thrywydd gyda thrydydd gwledydd—mae'r cyfraniad y gall hynny ei wneud i economi'r DU ar y ffigurau cyfredol yn gwbl ymylol o gymharu â chynnal y cyfleoedd masnach sydd gennym gydag un o'r blociau masnachu mwyaf yn y byd.
Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Joyce Watson.
And finally, question 8, Joyce Watson.
8. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y trafodaethau diweddaraf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch ymadawiad y DU â'r UE? OAQ55136
8. Will the Counsel General provide an update on the latest discussions the Welsh Government has had with the UK Government on the UK's departure from the EU? OAQ55136
On 28 January the First Minister hosted the Joint Ministerial Committee for EU negotiations—the JMC(EN)—in Cardiff; only the second time it has taken place outside London. The meeting focused on the strategic choices that need to be made in setting out an opening negotiating position and the role of the devolved Governments in the negotiations.
Ar 28 Ionawr, croesawodd y Prif Weinidog Gydbwyllgor y Gweinidogion ar negodiadau'r UE yng Nghaerdydd; dyma'r ail dro yn unig iddo ddigwydd y tu allan i Lundain. Canolbwyntiodd y cyfarfod ar y dewisiadau strategol y mae angen eu gwneud wrth bennu safbwynt negodi agoriadol a rôl y Llywodraethau datganoledig yn y negodiadau.
There were—and it's been mentioned several times today—plans recently introduced by the UK Government on the introduction of the point-based immigration system from 2021. And, again, I'm going to repeat, the industry that will be most negatively affected—and the people—as a consequence of the changes is the social care sector. I don't think we can spend too much time here actually driving home this message, and Unison have warned that the plans by the UK Government will represent a disaster for the sector. They've said that companies and councils can't currently recruit enough staff from the UK, and they already have to rely on those care workers from elsewhere. So, suddenly ending this supply of labour will cause huge problems across the country. I notice that Neil Hamilton's already disappeared now, but he doesn't seem to think that that's the case. But this will be where people will need care, and there won't be sufficient people there to provide it, and others have said so here already today. So, Minister, what assessment have you, the Welsh Government, made of the impact that these changes can have on the social care sector here in Wales?
Cyflwynwyd cynlluniau yn ddiweddar gan Lywodraeth y DU—a chrybwyllwyd hyn sawl gwaith heddiw—ar gyflwyno'r system fewnfudo ar sail pwyntiau o 2021. Ac unwaith eto, rwy'n mynd i ailadrodd, y diwydiant a fydd yn cael ei effeithio yn fwyaf negyddol—a'r bobl—o ganlyniad i'r newidiadau yw'r sector gofal cymdeithasol. Nid wyf yn credu ei bod hi'n bosibl inni dreulio gormod o amser yma'n cyfleu'r neges hon, ac mae Unsain wedi rhybuddio y bydd y cynlluniau gan Lywodraeth y DU yn drychineb i'r sector. Maent wedi dweud na all cwmnïau a chynghorau recriwtio digon o staff o'r DU ar hyn o bryd, ac mae'n rhaid iddynt ddibynnu ar weithwyr gofal o fannau eraill eisoes. Felly, bydd rhoi terfyn ar y cyflenwad hwn o lafur yn sydyn yn achosi problemau enfawr ar draws y wlad. Nodaf fod Neil Hamilton wedi diflannu bellach, ond nid yw'n ymddangos ei fod yn meddwl bod hynny'n wir. Ond dyma lle bydd angen gofal ar bobl, ac ni fydd digon o bobl yno i'w ddarparu, ac mae eraill wedi dweud hynny yma eisoes heddiw. Felly, Weinidog, pa asesiad rydych chi, Lywodraeth Cymru, wedi'i wneud o'r effaith y gall y newidiadau hyn ei chael ar y sector gofal cymdeithasol yma yng Nghymru?
Well, I think that the potential impact is very significant. I think nurses in care settings—I think around 17 per cent are EU citizens working and living in Wales. And care providers more generally—I think the percentage figures are around 6 or 7 per cent, which is a high figure. The reasons she outlines in her question for her concern are exactly the same reasons that lay behind my concern, and which is why I and others in the Government have made these representations directly to the Migration Advisory Committee.
What we had hoped was that the version of the immigration policy that the UK Government brought forward would take into fuller regard the impact on our public services, both in Wales and across the UK incidentally. This isn't an issue that is unique to Wales—it's felt across the UK. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. We have said that, in the absence of having a UK-wide system that reflects the needs of our public services and our economy in Wales, we will wish to look at the case for a spatial differentiation—for example, in relation to additional points for people who wish to work outside London and the south-east or wish to work in specific parts of the UK or, alternatively, a version of the shortage occupation list. She will know that the Migration Advisory Committee has already advocated that in principle for Wales, and so I think there's a case for exploring that.
Wel, rwy'n credu bod yr effaith bosibl yn sylweddol iawn. Rwy'n meddwl bod nyrsys mewn lleoliadau gofal—rwy'n credu bod tua 17 y cant yn ddinasyddion yr UE sy'n gweithio ac yn byw yng Nghymru. A darparwyr gofal yn fwy cyffredinol—credaf fod y ffigurau canrannol oddeutu 6 neu 7 y cant, sy'n ffigur uchel. Mae'r rhesymau y mae'n eu hamlinellu yn ei chwestiwn am ei phryder yn union yr un fath â'r rhesymau sy'n sail i fy mhryder i, a dyna pam rwyf fi ac eraill yn y Llywodraeth wedi cyflwyno'r sylwadau hyn yn uniongyrchol i'r Pwyllgor Cynghori ar Ymfudo.
Roeddem wedi gobeithio y byddai'r fersiwn o'r polisi mewnfudo y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi ei gyflwyno yn rhoi mwy o ystyriaeth i'r effaith ar ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, yng Nghymru ac ar draws y DU fel mae'n digwydd. Nid yw'n fater sy'n unigryw i Gymru—caiff ei deimlo ledled y DU. Yn anffodus, nid felly y bu. Yn niffyg system ar gyfer y DU gyfan sy'n adlewyrchu anghenion ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a'n heconomi yng Nghymru, rydym wedi dweud y byddwn yn dymuno edrych ar yr achos dros wahaniaethu gofodol—er enghraifft, mewn perthynas â phwyntiau ychwanegol i bobl sy'n dymuno gweithio y tu allan i Lundain a de-ddwyrain Lloegr neu sy'n dymuno gweithio mewn rhannau penodol o'r DU neu fel arall, fersiwn o'r rhestr o alwedigaethau lle ceir prinder. Bydd hi'n gwybod bod y Pwyllgor Cynghori ar Ymfudo eisoes wedi argymell hynny mewn egwyddor i Gymru, ac felly rwy'n credu bod achos dros archwilio hynny.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau amserol. Mae'r Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol mewn cyfarfod COBRA ar hyn o bryd gyda Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, Llywodraeth yr Alban a Llywodraeth Gogledd Iwerddon ynghylch coronafeirws. Dwi wedi cytuno felly i'r cwestiwn amserol ar coronafeirws gael ei ofyn fel yr eitem olaf o fusnes cyn y cyfnod pleidleisio heddiw. Felly, mae'r cwestiwn amserol nesaf gan Dawn Bowden.
The next item is the topical questions. The Minister for Health and Social Services is currently attending a COBRA meeting with the UK Government, the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Government on coronavirus, and I've therefore agreed for the second topical question on coronavirus to be taken as the last item of business before voting time today. Therefore, the next topical question is to be asked by Dawn Bowden.
1. A wnaiff y Gweinidog ddatganiad am y cyhoeddiad gan KASAI y bydd yn cau ei ffatri ym Merthyr Tudful yn 2021? 397
1. Will the Minister make a statement on the announcement by KASAI that it will close its Merthyr Tydfil plant in 2021? 397
Yes. Kasai has started a 90-day formal consultation period with the staff. This is clearly extremely disappointing news and my thoughts are with all those directly affected by this uncertainty. My officials visited the company earlier this week and we will continue to offer support as appropriate.
Gwnaf. Mae Kasai wedi dechrau cyfnod ymgynghori ffurfiol o 90 diwrnod gyda'r staff. Yn amlwg, mae hyn yn newyddion siomedig dros ben ac rwy'n cydymdeimlo â phawb yr effeithir arnynt yn uniongyrchol gan yr ansicrwydd hwn. Ymwelodd fy swyddogion â'r cwmni yn gynharach yr wythnos hon a byddwn yn parhau i gynnig cymorth fel y bo'n briodol.
Thank you, Minister. Clearly, the announcement from Kasai about the statutory consultation process with its employees is disappointing, particularly on the back of job losses and closures that we have recently seen announced in Merthyr at Hoover and Triumph. This particular announcement reflects, I think, the ongoing pressure on the motor manufacturing sector at this time, especially given the links between this factory and the Honda plant in Swindon. I do, however, note that there will be a continuing need for production at the Merthyr plant in the months ahead in support of the Honda contract, but around 180 loyal and hard-working employees could be affected in Merthyr Tydfil. Along with Gerald Jones MP, I will be meeting with the workers in the near future for a discussion about the next steps. So, can you reassure me that, once the statutory procedures are complete, the Welsh Government, along with local partners, will do all they can to consider all the options for the workforce and for this site? Furthermore, what is the Welsh Government's most recent assessment about the health of the motor manufacturing sector in the south Wales Valleys and whether this means that we need to reassess the types of businesses and companies that we support to ensure longer term commitments to our Valleys communities?
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog. Yn amlwg, mae'r cyhoeddiad gan Kasai am y broses ymgynghori statudol gyda'u gweithwyr yn siomedig, yn enwedig ar ôl y cyhoeddiadau diweddar ynghylch colli swyddi a chau ym Merthyr Tudful yn Hoover a Triumph. Credaf fod y cyhoeddiad penodol hwn yn adlewyrchu'r pwysau parhaus ar y sector gweithgynhyrchu modurol ar hyn o bryd, yn enwedig o gofio'r cysylltiadau rhwng y ffatri hon a ffatri Honda yn Swindon. Nodaf, fodd bynnag, y bydd angen parhau i gynhyrchu yn ffatri Merthyr Tudful dros y misoedd nesaf i gefnogi contract Honda, ond gallai oddeutu 180 o weithwyr ffyddlon a gweithgar gael eu heffeithio ym Merthyr Tudful. Gyda Gerald Jones AS, byddaf yn cyfarfod â'r gweithwyr yn y dyfodol agos i drafod y camau nesaf. Felly, a allwch roi sicrwydd imi, pan fydd y gweithdrefnau statudol wedi'u cwblhau, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru, ynghyd â phartneriaid lleol, yn gwneud popeth a allwch i ystyried yr holl opsiynau ar gyfer y gweithlu ac ar gyfer y safle hwn? Yn ychwanegol at hynny, beth yw asesiad diweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru o iechyd y sector gweithgynhyrchu modurol yng Nghymoedd de Cymru, ac a yw hyn yn golygu bod angen inni ailasesu'r mathau o fusnesau a chwmnïau a gaiff eu cefnogi gennym i sicrhau ymrwymiadau mwy hirdymor i'n cymunedau yn y Cymoedd?
Can I thank Dawn Bowden for her questions and assure her that, through not just Welsh Government, but our partners in the Wales automotive forum, we are assessing every opportunity for existing automotive businesses and for emerging businesses in the automotive and mobility sector? Last autumn, I hosted an automotive summit, which looked at opportunities for Wales. That was incredibly well attended and we'll build on it by hosting the manufacturing summit on 2 April in Venue Cymru. The automotive sector will be present and we will be examining the very latest opportunities and, indeed, threats to the sector in Wales and across the UK.
It's worth saying that, over the last five years, automotive companies in Wales, including those supporting the supply chain, have had help to the tune of £200 million in supporting their growth and in supporting the 12,000 jobs that are contained within the sector. It's also fair to say that there has been, until very recently, a renaissance in UK car production. For a variety of reasons, the sector right now is facing considerable difficulty and transformation. We're assisting in the transformation through focusing our resource on those automotive companies that clearly have the best prospects of succeeding in the transition to low- and zero-emissions vehicles. And we have an incredibly strong record in attracting investment, including from Ineos Automotive most recently. As part of the support that we were offering to Kasai we, through the Wales automotive forum, introduced the company to Ineos and to Aston Martin Lagonda and to others in the hope that alternative work may be secured in order to avoid closure. Unfortunately, the bridge between the closure of Honda and the work that would come from other manufacturers was so great as to necessitate the announcement that has been made recently. However, the company is not due to close, if it decides to proceed with closure, until July 2021. This gives a significant amount of time for us to assist, through our regional response teams, through Careers Wales and so forth, every single individual that might be affected. But it also gives us, during the consultation period, an opportunity to say to the company once again, 'Reconsider the announcement. Please, if there is any way possible, maintain your operations in Merthyr.'
A gaf fi ddiolch i Dawn Bowden am ei chwestiynau a rhoi sicrwydd iddi, nid yn unig drwy Lywodraeth Cymru, ond ein partneriaid yn fforwm moduro Cymru, ein bod yn asesu pob cyfle i fusnesau modurol sy'n bodoli eisoes ac i fusnesau newydd yn y diwydiant modurol a'r sector symudedd a moduro? Yn yr hydref y llynedd, cynhaliais uwchgynhadledd fodurol, a fu'n edrych ar gyfleoedd i Gymru. Cafwyd presenoldeb anhygoel o dda yno, a byddwn yn adeiladu ar hynny drwy gynnal yr uwchgynhadledd weithgynhyrchu ar 2 Ebrill yn Venue Cymru. Bydd y sector modurol yn bresennol, a byddwn yn edrych ar y cyfleoedd diweddaraf, ac yn wir, y bygythiadau i'r sector yng Nghymru a ledled y DU.
Mae'n werth dweud, dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf, fod cwmnïau modurol yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys y rheini sy'n cefnogi'r gadwyn gyflenwi, wedi cael cymorth o £200 miliwn i gefnogi eu twf ac i gefnogi'r 12,000 o swyddi yn y sector. Mae'n deg dweud hefyd y bu adfywiad ym maes cynhyrchu ceir yn y DU tan yn ddiweddar iawn. Am amrywiaeth o resymau, mae'r sector yn wynebu anawsterau a thrawsnewid sylweddol ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yn cynorthwyo gyda'r trawsnewid drwy ganolbwyntio ein hadnoddau ar y cwmnïau modurol hynny y mae'n amlwg fod ganddynt y rhagolygon gorau i lwyddo wrth newid i gerbydau allyriadau isel a di-allyriadau. Ac mae gennym hanes hynod o gryf o ddenu buddsoddiad, gan gynnwys gan Ineos Automotive yn fwyaf diweddar. Fel rhan o'r gefnogaeth roeddem yn ei rhoi i Kasai, drwy fforwm moduro Cymru, fe gyflwynasom y cwmni i Ineos ac i Aston Martin Lagonda ac i eraill yn y gobaith y gellid sicrhau gwaith arall er mwyn osgoi cau. Yn anffodus, roedd y bont rhwng cau Honda a'r gwaith a fyddai'n dod gan weithgynhyrchwyr eraill mor fawr nes bod angen gwneud y cyhoeddiad a wnaed yn ddiweddar. Fodd bynnag, nid yw'r cwmni i fod i gau, os yw'n penderfynu bwrw ymlaen â hynny, tan fis Gorffennaf 2021. Mae hyn yn rhoi cryn dipyn o amser inni allu cynorthwyo pob unigolyn a allai gael eu heffeithio drwy ein timau ymateb rhanbarthol, drwy Gyrfa Cymru ac ati. Ond hefyd mae'n rhoi cyfle i ni ddweud wrth y cwmni unwaith eto, yn ystod y cyfnod ymgynghori, 'Ailystyriwch y cyhoeddiad. Os gwelwch yn dda, cadwch eich gwaith ym Merthyr Tudful os oes unrhyw fodd o wneud hynny.'
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) took the Chair.
Minister, news that around 180 jobs will be lost due to the impending closure of the Kasai plant in Merthyr Tydfil is a devastating blow to the workers and their families. My thoughts go out to them at this difficult time. Kasai provides highly-skilled jobs, producing internal parts for Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover and Nissan. It is a real loss to Merthyr Tydfil, which was recently ranked at the bottom of a league table ranking economic competitiveness in the United Kingdom. So, can I ask, Minister, what assistance the Welsh Government will provide to these workers so they can seek new employment? And can you also confirm that prompt action will be taken to help those affected so that their skills and talents are not lost, but can be redirected to contribute to growing the economy of Merthyr Tydfil? And, finally, Minister, what measures will be taken to assist those workers who are able to relocate to find jobs outside Merthyr and outside Wales?
Weinidog, mae'r newyddion y bydd oddeutu 180 o swyddi'n cael eu colli am fod ffatri Kasai ym Merthyr Tudful yn mynd i gau yn ergyd drom i'r gweithwyr a'u teuluoedd. Rwy'n cydymdeimlo â hwy ar yr adeg anodd hon. Mae Kasai yn darparu swyddi crefftus iawn yn cynhyrchu cydrannau mewnol i Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover a Nissan. Mae'n golled wirioneddol i Ferthyr Tudful, a ddaeth ar waelod tabl yn ddiweddar a raddiai gystadleurwydd economaidd yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, a gaf fi ofyn, Weinidog, pa gymorth y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi i'r gweithwyr hyn fel y gallant ddod o hyd i swyddi newydd? Ac a allwch gadarnhau hefyd y bydd camau'n cael eu cymryd ar unwaith i helpu'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt er mwyn sicrhau nad yw eu sgiliau a'u talentau'n cael eu colli, ond y gellir eu hailgyfeirio i gyfrannu at dyfu economi Merthyr Tudful? Ac yn olaf, Weinidog, pa gamau a roddir ar waith i gynorthwyo'r gweithwyr sy'n gallu adleoli i ddod o hyd i swyddi y tu allan i Ferthyr Tudful a thu allan i Gymru?
Can I thank Mohammad Asghar for his questions and say, first and foremost, it would be our hope that we'd be able to secure alternative employment for the workers affected within the Merthyr area? I don't see why people should have to move out of their community in order to maintain employment if they wish to remain where they live. And so we'll be doing all that we can to identify job opportunities within the Merthyr area. We will be deploying support services, including ReAct and Careers Wales advisers, at the earliest opportunity to carry out an audit of the skills in existence within the business and to match those skills to job opportunities within the area. There will be, for example, vouchers available for skills training if anybody requires upskilling in order to take on a new job opportunity.
I think it's worth recognising, though, Dirprwy Lywydd, that the people who work at the site are incredibly loyal and incredibly well skilled, and this was something that the First Minister stated to the company when he visited the business headquarters in Japan in September 2019, when he reiterated Welsh Government's commitment to fully support them. That support, still available, comes in the context of huge problems for the business because they were so reliant on Honda in Swindon. As I said in response to Dawn Bowden, we have exhausted many opportunities that we had hoped would provide alternative sources of work for Kasai, including Aston Martin Lagonda and Ineos Automotive, and other automotive companies in Wales and across the border as well. But we stand ready to continue in that search for alternative work to keep those loyal and skilled people within the workplace.
A gaf fi ddiolch i Mohammad Asghar am ei gwestiynau a dweud, yn gyntaf oll, y byddem yn gobeithio gallu sicrhau swyddi eraill i'r gweithwyr yr effeithir arnynt yn ardal Merthyr Tudful? Nid wyf yn gweld pam y dylai pobl orfod symud o'u cymuned er mwyn cael gwaith os ydynt yn dymuno aros lle maent yn byw. Ac felly byddwn yn gwneud popeth a allwn i nodi cyfleoedd swyddi yn ardal Merthyr Tudful. Byddwn yn defnyddio gwasanaethau cymorth, gan gynnwys cynghorwyr Gyrfa Cymru a ReAct, cyn gynted â phosibl i gynnal archwiliad o'r sgiliau sydd i'w cael yn y busnes ac i baru'r sgiliau hynny â chyfleoedd gwaith yn yr ardal. Er enghraifft, bydd talebau ar gael ar gyfer hyfforddiant sgiliau os bydd angen i unrhyw un uwchsgilio er mwyn manteisio ar gyfle gwaith newydd.
Fodd bynnag, credaf ei bod yn werth cydnabod, Ddirprwy Lywydd, fod y bobl sy'n gweithio ar y safle yn anhygoel o ffyddlon ac yn hynod fedrus, ac roedd hyn yn rhywbeth a ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog wrth y cwmni pan ymwelodd â'r pencadlys busnes yn Siapan ym mis Medi 2019, pan ailadroddodd ymrwymiad Llywodraeth Cymru i'w cefnogi'n llawn. Mae'r cymorth hwnnw, sy'n dal i fod ar gael, yn cael ei gynnig yng nghyd-destun problemau enfawr i'r busnes gan eu bod mor ddibynnol ar Honda yn Swindon. Fel y dywedais mewn ymateb i Dawn Bowden, rydym wedi dihysbyddu llawer o gyfleoedd roeddem wedi gobeithio y byddent yn darparu ffynonellau gwaith eraill ar gyfer Kasai, gan gynnwys Aston Martin Lagonda ac Ineos Automotive, a chwmnïau modurol eraill yng Nghymru a dros y ffin hefyd. Ond rydym yn barod i barhau i chwilio am waith arall i gadw'r bobl ffyddlon a medrus hynny yn y gweithle.
I'd like to express my heartfelt sympathy with all of the hard-working staff at Kasai who are going to face losing their jobs through no fault of their own after many years of dedicated service. I know this will be an extremely difficult time for them and their families. I'd like to offer my own office's support; in any way that we can help, we want to be able to. Now, as has been mentioned, we've known that this closure has been on the cards since Honda announced the closure of its Swindon plant a year ago this week, and media reports at that time had warned about the knock-on effect it would have on Kasai, and I raised the issue with the Brexit Minister in the Chamber in May last year.
Now, I've listened with interest to what you said, Minister, about what your ReAct programme will be offering to the workers who are going to be possibly having to find new employment, but could you tell us on this point, please, when you expect the Job Support Wales scheme to be up and running? I was dismayed to learn recently that this important employment programme had failed to get off the ground for a second time due to a challenge to the tendering process. Now, I'm afraid I do find it difficult to comprehend how, after 20 years of leading the Welsh Government, Labour is unable to complete a successful tendering process. So, I would appreciate some information about when we can expect this to move forward so that further support can be made available to help workers with skills training when that can become available.
Now, finally, I'd like to ask about your plans for future economic planning, Minister. We currently have people with valuable skills who are losing their jobs in the manufacturing industry and there is a dire need to build up a new green energy and transport economy. It seems obvious that these should be connected and that the Welsh Government should lead the way in building and incentivising industries such as electric vehicles and transport networks that would help with the green agenda but would also provide new, well-paid jobs for people who have valuable skills to contribute.
Now, I'm not saying by any means that the Government will be giving up on the Kasai workforce at all in their current jobs, but, alongside this, Minister, could you tell us whether you have any plans to strengthen our green manufacturing industry to futureproof the economy and provide new jobs for people who are currently being made redundant due to the closure of traditional car manufacturing plants and their suppliers?
Hoffwn gydymdeimlo'n llwyr â'r holl staff diwyd yn Kasai sy'n mynd i wynebu colli eu swyddi heb fod unrhyw fai arnynt hwy ar ôl blynyddoedd lawer o wasanaeth ymroddedig. Gwn y bydd hwn yn gyfnod anodd iawn iddynt hwy a'u teuluoedd. Hoffwn gynnig cymorth fy swyddfa; mewn unrhyw ffordd y gallwn helpu, rydym yn awyddus i allu gwneud hynny. Nawr, fel y nodwyd, roeddem yn gwybod bod perygl y byddai'r safle'n cau ers i Honda gyhoeddi y byddai eu ffatri yn Swindon yn cau flwyddyn yn ôl i'r wythnos hon, ac roedd adroddiadau yn y cyfryngau ar y pryd yn rhybuddio am yr effaith ganlyniadol y byddai hynny'n ei chael ar Kasai, a chodais y mater gyda'r Gweinidog Brexit yn y Siambr ym mis Mai y llynedd.
Nawr, rwyf wedi gwrando gyda diddordeb ar yr hyn a ddywedoch chi, Weinidog, ynglŷn â beth fydd eich rhaglen ReAct yn ei gynnig i'r gweithwyr a fydd, o bosibl, yn gorfod dod o hyd i waith newydd, ond a allech ddweud wrthym ar y pwynt hwn, os gwelwch yn dda, pryd rydych chi'n disgwyl i gynllun Cymorth Gwaith Cymru fod ar waith? Cefais fy siomi wrth glywed yn ddiweddar fod y rhaglen gyflogaeth bwysig hon wedi methu cychwyn am yr eildro oherwydd her i'r broses dendro. Nawr, mae arnaf ofn fy mod yn ei chael hi'n anodd deall sut y mae Llafur, ar ôl 20 mlynedd o arwain Llywodraeth Cymru, yn methu cwblhau proses dendro lwyddiannus. Felly, buaswn yn gwerthfawrogi rhywfaint o wybodaeth ynglŷn â phryd y gallwn ddisgwyl i hyn symud ymlaen fel y gellir darparu cymorth pellach i helpu gweithwyr â hyfforddiant sgiliau pan fydd hynny ar gael.
Nawr, yn olaf, hoffwn ofyn am eich cynlluniau ar gyfer cynllunio economaidd yn y dyfodol, Weinidog. Ar hyn o bryd, mae gennym bobl â sgiliau gwerthfawr sy'n colli eu swyddi yn y diwydiant gweithgynhyrchu, ac mae taer angen creu economi ynni a thrafnidiaeth werdd newydd. Mae i'w weld yn amlwg y dylai'r rhain fod yn gysylltiedig ac y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru arwain y ffordd o ran adeiladu a chymell diwydiannau fel cerbydau trydan a rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth a fyddai'n helpu gyda'r agenda werdd ond a fyddai hefyd yn darparu swyddi newydd a chyflogau da i bobl a chanddynt sgiliau gwerthfawr i'w cyfrannu.
Nawr, nid wyf yn dweud mewn unrhyw ffordd y bydd y Llywodraeth yn rhoi'r gorau i gefnogi gweithlu Kasai yn eu swyddi presennol, ond ochr yn ochr â hyn, Weinidog, a allech ddweud wrthym a oes gennych unrhyw gynlluniau i gryfhau ein diwydiant gweithgynhyrchu gwyrdd i ddiogelu'r economi at y dyfodol ac i ddarparu swyddi newydd i bobl sy'n cael eu diswyddo ar hyn o bryd yn sgil cau gweithfeydd cynhyrchu ceir traddodiadol a'u cyflenwyr?
Can I thank the Member for her questions and firstly invite her to welcome the success that the Welsh Government has had in attracting manufacturers that are at the forefront of utilising low- and zero-emissions propulsion systems within cars—for example, the success we enjoyed in attracting Aston Martin Lagonda to Wales? Aston Martin Lagonda have made Wales their home for electric vehicles; equally Ineos Automotive, who are looking at utilising hydrogen for future power systems within their vehicles. So, we are already investing very heavily in those industries that will become so significant globally in the years to come.
Now, in terms of the closure being on the cards when the announcement about Honda was made is concerned, there was a Honda taskforce established immediately after the announcement, because it was recognised that many businesses within the supply chain would be adversely affected. There are many businesses in Wales that rely on Honda for work, but Kasai was amongst those that relied the most heavily on that single manufacturer, and that's why the company is in the position that it is in today. However, we will go on searching for opportunities for the business during the 90-day consultation period in the hope that the decision—the announcement, rather—can be reversed and that the decision to remain open will be made. In the event that that does not happen, we will be deploying all of the support services that exist today and that will be formed as part of the Job Support Wales holistic support service—every employment service that currently exists will continue for those people affected at Kasai and for anybody else affected by unemployment in Wales.
Today, we have a record low unemployment rate of just 2.9 per cent, and that's because this Welsh Government is determined to ensure people stay in valuable work, and, when they do fall out of work, that we find them opportunities elsewhere to get back on to the employment ladder.
A gaf fi ddiolch i'r Aelod am ei chwestiynau a'i gwahodd yn gyntaf i groesawu llwyddiant Llywodraeth Cymru yn denu gweithgynhyrchwyr sydd ar flaen y gad o ran defnyddio systemau gyriant allyriadau isel a di-allyriadau mewn ceir—er enghraifft, y llwyddiant a gawsom wrth ddenu Aston Martin Lagonda i Gymru? Mae Aston Martin Lagonda wedi gwneud Cymru'n gartref i gerbydau trydan; yn yr un modd, Ineos Automotive, sy'n edrych ar ddefnyddio hydrogen ar gyfer systemau pŵer yn y dyfodol yn eu cerbydau. Felly, rydym eisoes yn buddsoddi'n sylweddol iawn yn y diwydiannau hynny a fydd yn dod mor bwysig yn fyd-eang yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.
Nawr, o ran y syniad fod cau'r safle ar y gweill pan wnaed y cyhoeddiad am Honda, sefydlwyd tasglu Honda yn syth ar ôl y cyhoeddiad, gan y cydnabuwyd y byddai llawer o fusnesau yn y gadwyn gyflenwi yn cael eu heffeithio'n andwyol. Mae llawer o fusnesau yng Nghymru'n dibynnu ar Honda am waith, ond roedd Kasai ymhlith y rheini a oedd yn dibynnu fwyaf ar yr un gweithgynhyrchwr hwnnw, a dyna pam fod y cwmni yn y sefyllfa y mae ynddi heddiw. Fodd bynnag, byddwn yn parhau i chwilio am gyfleoedd ar gyfer y busnes yn ystod y cyfnod ymgynghori 90 diwrnod gan obeithio y gellir gwrthdroi'r penderfyniad—y cyhoeddiad, yn hytrach—ac y gwneir penderfyniad i aros ar agor. Os na fydd hynny'n digwydd, byddwn yn defnyddio'r holl wasanaethau cymorth sy'n bodoli eisoes ac a fydd yn cael eu sefydlu fel rhan o wasanaeth cyfannol Cymorth Gwaith Cymru—bydd pob gwasanaeth cyflogaeth sy'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd yn parhau ar gyfer y bobl yr effeithir arnynt yn Kasai ac unrhyw un arall y mae diweithdra yng Nghymru yn effeithio arnynt.
Heddiw, mae gennym y gyfradd ddiweithdra isaf erioed, sef 2.9 y cant yn unig, a'r rheswm am hynny yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn benderfynol o sicrhau bod pobl yn aros mewn gwaith gwerthfawr, a phan fyddant yn colli eu gwaith, ein bod yn dod o hyd i gyfleoedd iddynt mewn mannau eraill i fynd yn ôl ar yr ysgol gyflogaeth.
Thank you very much, Minister.
Diolch yn fawr, Weinidog.
Item 4 on the agenda this afternoon is 90-second statements. First this afternoon is Darren Millar.
Eitem 4 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw'r datganiadau 90 eiliad. Yn gyntaf y prynhawn yma mae Darren Millar.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Towyn floods, and I can recall the event vividly, even though I was just 13 years old. I was sat in a classroom, waiting for the English teacher to arrive. I was amongst a small group of pupils that were fixated by the view towards Towyn through the window. We saw towering waves, 40 ft high, smashing into the sea wall, and it was an incredible spectacle. But what we didn't realise is that those waves were pounding a 400m hole in the sea defences and the tide was rushing in. Within 20 minutes, 400 homes were under water, and, an hour later, it was thousands. The water came two miles inland, and it affected communities five miles along the coast. Our home—a bungalow—was submerged. All our belongings were lost, and irreplaceable items like family photos and keepsakes from relatives were destroyed. Along with 6,000 other people, we were evacuated: the largest evacuation since the second world war. It was six months before we moved back into our home and finally got our lives together, and other families took even longer.
Today, Towyn and Kinmel Bay are still thriving seaside resorts. They always have been, and no doubt always will be, but our daily lives are regularly interrupted by flood alerts when bad weather and high tides are forecast, and, even now, 30 years on, our sea defences remain vulnerable and are in need of further investment. Storms Ciara and Dennis have reminded us all of the power of the water. Let them and the events of 30 years ago in Towyn be a wake-up call to us all to do what we can to work together to prevent the devastation that flooding can cause.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Heddiw, mae'n 30 mlynedd ers llifogydd Towyn, a gallaf gofio'r digwyddiad yn glir, er mai dim ond 13 oed oeddwn i ar y pryd. Roeddwn yn eistedd mewn ystafell ddosbarth, yn aros i'r athro Saesneg gyrraedd. Roeddwn ymhlith grŵp bach o ddisgyblion a oedd yn rhythu ar yr olygfa tuag at Dowyn drwy'r ffenestr. Gwelsom donnau anferth, 40 troedfedd o uchder, yn taro'r morglawdd, ac roedd yn olygfa anhygoel. Ond yr hyn nad oeddem yn sylweddoli oedd bod y tonnau hynny'n torri twll 400m yn yr amddiffynfeydd môr a bod y llanw'n llifo i mewn. O fewn 20 munud, roedd 400 o gartrefi o dan ddŵr, ac awr yn ddiweddarach, roedd y nifer yn filoedd. Daeth y dŵr ddwy filltir i mewn i'r tir, ac fe effeithiodd ar gymunedau dros bum milltir ar hyd yr arfordir. Cafodd ein cartref—byngalo—ei foddi. Collwyd ein holl eiddo, a dinistriwyd eitemau amhrisiadwy fel lluniau'r teulu a chofroddion gan berthnasau. Gyda 6,000 o bobl eraill, cawsom ein symud oddi yno: yr achos mwyaf o symud pobl ers yr ail ryfel byd. Aeth chwe mis heibio cyn i ni symud yn ôl i'n cartref a chael ein bywydau yn ôl o'r diwedd, a chymerodd hyd yn oed yn hirach i deuluoedd eraill allu gneud hynny.
Heddiw, mae Towyn a Bae Cinmel yn dal i ffynnu fel trefi glan môr. Maent bob amser wedi ffynnu, ac mae'n siŵr y byddant bob amser yn ffynnu, ond caiff ein bywydau bob dydd eu tarfu'n rheolaidd gan rybuddion llifogydd pan geir rhagolygon o dywydd garw a llanw uchel, a hyd yn oed yn awr, 30 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, mae ein hamddiffynfeydd môr yn dal i fod yn fregus ac mae angen buddsoddiad pellach arnynt. Mae stormydd Ciara a Dennis wedi atgoffa pob un ohonom o rym y dŵr. Gadewch iddynt hwy a'r hyn a ddigwyddodd 30 mlynedd yn ôl yn Nhowyn fod yn rhybudd i bob un ohonom wneud yr hyn a allwn i gydweithio i atal y dinistr y gall llifogydd ei achosi.
Some years ago, I met Carolyn, a truly inspirational woman who went on to tell me that she was a SWAN. Slightly taken aback, I asked her to explain that, and that was when I began to really understand the challenges faced by people who have rare diseases and undiagnosed conditions, also known as syndromes without a name, hence SWAN.
Building awareness of rare disease is important, because one in 20 people will live with a rare disease at some point in their life. Despite this, a substantial number of rare diseases are undiagnosed, and a substantial proportion are without cure or effective treatments to delay the progress of the condition.
This Saturday, 29 February, is a rare day, it is an anomaly, and Rare Disease Day has been held on the last day of February since 2007 with the specific aim of raising awareness about rare diseases and the impacts on patients' lives. We marked this day yesterday with a reception here in the Neuadd.
But I would like to take this opportunity today to pay tribute to those who work so hard in undertaking research into these diseases, and to the Welsh Government for the funding that they provide for this research: Dr Graham Shortland, who leads the rare disease implementation group, and Professor Keir Lewis, who heads Wales Orphan and Rare Lung Diseases—I've got their badge on today—are the lead physicians who are at the front line of this treatment and research into rare diseases, and are much loved and appreciated by the patients they deal with. We are very lucky to have them working for us in the Welsh NHS.
This Saturday—Rare Disease Day—please spend a moment and think about those with rare diseases and undiagnosed conditions. They need to know that they're not alone.
Rai blynyddoedd yn ôl, cyfarfûm â Carolyn, menyw wirioneddol ysbrydoledig a ddywedodd wrthyf ei bod yn SWAN. A minnau wedi synnu braidd, gofynnais iddi esbonio hynny, a dyna pryd y dechreuais ddeall yr heriau sy'n wynebu pobl sydd â chlefydau prin a chyflyrau heb eu diagnosio, a elwir yn syndromau heb enw—'syndromes without a name', neu SWAN.
Mae codi ymwybyddiaeth o glefydau prin yn bwysig, gan y bydd un o bob 20 o bobl yn byw gyda chlefyd prin ar ryw adeg yn ystod eu bywyd. Er hyn, mae nifer sylweddol o glefydau prin heb eu diagnosio, ac mae cyfran sylweddol ohonynt yn rhai na ellir eu gwella neu gael triniaethau effeithiol i arafu datblygiad y cyflwr.
Mae dydd Sadwrn nesaf, 29 Chwefror, yn ddiwrnod prin, mae'n anomaledd, ac mae Diwrnod Clefydau Prin wedi'i gynnal ar ddiwrnod olaf mis Chwefror ers 2007 gyda'r nod penodol o godi ymwybyddiaeth am glefydau prin a'r effeithiau ar fywydau cleifion. Dathlwyd y diwrnod yma gennym ddoe mewn derbyniad yn y Neuadd.
Ond hoffwn achub ar y cyfle hwn heddiw i dalu teyrnged i'r rheini sy'n gweithio mor galed yn ymchwilio i'r clefydau hyn, ac i Lywodraeth Cymru am y cyllid y maent yn ei ddarparu ar gyfer yr ymchwil hwn: Dr Graham Shortland, sy'n arwain y grŵp gweithredu ar glefydau prin, a'r Athro Keir Lewis, pennaeth Wales Orphan and Rare Lung Disease—rwy'n gwisgo eu bathodyn heddiw—yw'r prif feddygon sydd ar y rheng flaen gyda'r driniaeth hon a'r ymchwil i glefydau prin, ac mae'r cleifion y maent yn ymdrin â hwy yn meddwl y byd ohonynt ac yn eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr. Rydym yn lwcus iawn eu bod yn gweithio i ni yn y GIG yng Nghymru.
Ddydd Sadwrn—Diwrnod Clefydau Prin—rhowch funud i feddwl am y rheini â chlefydau prin a chyflyrau heb eu diagnosio. Mae angen iddynt wybod nad ydynt ar eu pennau eu hunain.
Last Saturday, several years of ambitious plans were realised as the Pantside woodland park and play area in Newbridge was officially opened to the public. The park boasts a playground for nought to six-year-olds, a junior play area, and a multi-use games area for such sports as football and basketball. It is a true testament to the proud community of Pantside, which has, through the Pantside Association of Residents and Tenants, worked for seven years to secure this valued asset for its community. With a lack of facilities for youngsters on the estate, the residents and tenants worked together to secure £0.25 million from the National Lottery fund to establish this park. At Saturday's opening, it was really delightful to see just so many children—and there were so many children—from my community enjoying these facilities. And as a Newbridge girl, born in Pantside, the opening had an added resonance for me.
So, I would like to place on the record my sincere thanks to all of those involved over these years to help bring this fantastic facility to Pantside: local Councillor Gary Johnston and Councillors Leeroy Jeremiah and Adrian Hussey, and the residents association of Gwyneth, Julie, Jean, Amy, Sue, and many others, who have driven this forward.
Playgrounds are truly vital assets for our communities that can help to give children from all backgrounds the chance to play, to learn and to make friends. I know that this scheme will be a huge boost to the community, but it's only just the beginning. The residents are now hoping to add a skateboard park, an outdoor auditorium, and outdoor classrooms to this former disused site, and I wish to congratulate wholly their collective efforts.
Ddydd Sadwrn diwethaf, gwireddwyd sawl blwyddyn o gynlluniau uchelgeisiol wrth i barc coetir ac ardal chwarae Pantside yn Nhrecelyn agor yn swyddogol i'r cyhoedd. Mae'r parc yn cynnwys maes chwarae i blant hyd at chwe blwydd oed, ardal chwarae iau, a man chwarae amlddefnydd ar gyfer chwaraeon fel pêl-droed a phêl-fasged. Mae'n dyst i gymuned falch Pantside, sydd wedi gweithio, drwy Gymdeithas Trigolion a Thenantiaid Pantside, ers saith mlynedd i sicrhau'r ased gwerthfawr hwn i'w cymuned. Gyda diffyg cyfleusterau i bobl ifanc ar yr ystâd, cydweithiodd y trigolion a'r tenantiaid i sicrhau £0.25 miliwn gan gronfa'r Loteri Genedlaethol i sefydlu'r parc hwn. Yn yr agoriad ddydd Sadwrn, roedd yn hyfryd iawn gweld cynifer o blant—ac roedd llawer iawn o blant yno—o fy nghymuned yn mwynhau'r cyfleusterau hyn. Ac fel merch o Drecelyn a aned yn Pantside, roedd i'r agoriad arwyddocâd ychwanegol i mi.
Felly, hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch diffuant i bawb a fu'n gysylltiedig â hyn dros y blynyddoedd i helpu i ddod â'r cyfleuster gwych hwn i Pantside: y Cynghorydd lleol Gary Johnston a'r Cynghorwyr Leeroy Jeremiah ac Adrian Hussey, a chymdeithas y trigolion, sef Gwyneth, Julie, Jean, Amy, Sue, a llawer o bobl eraill, sydd wedi gyrru'r gwaith hwn yn ei flaen.
Mae meysydd chwarae'n asedau gwirioneddol hanfodol i'n cymunedau a all helpu i roi cyfle i blant o bob cefndir chwarae, dysgu a gwneud ffrindiau. Gwn y bydd y cynllun hwn yn hwb enfawr i'r gymuned, ond dim ond y dechrau yw hyn. Mae'r trigolion bellach yn gobeithio ychwanegu parc sgrialu, awditoriwm awyr agored, ac ystafelloedd dosbarth awyr agored ar y tir a arferai fod yn safle segur, a hoffwn longyfarch eu hymdrechion cyfunol.
Thank you.
Diolch.
Detholwyd y gwelliannau canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Rebecca Evans, a gwelliannau 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 a 7 yn enw Siân Gwenllian. Os derbynnir gwelliant 1, caiff gwelliannau 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 a 7 eu dad-ddethol.
The following amendments have been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Rebecca Evans, and amendments 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in the name of Siân Gwenllian. If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be deselected.
Item 5 on the agenda is the Welsh Conservatives debate on roads, and I call on Russell George to move the motion.
Eitem 5 ar yr agenda yw dadl y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig ar ffyrdd, a galwaf ar Russell George i gyflwyno'r cynnig.
Cynnig NDM7274 Darren Millar
Cynnig bod Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru:
1. Yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd ffyrdd fel rhydwelïau economaidd hanfodol sy'n hyrwyddo ffyniant.
2. Yn cydnabod yr effaith economaidd ac amgylcheddol andwyol sy'n deillio o gysylltedd gwael a thagfeydd ffyrdd.
3. Yn gresynu bod y Prif Weinidog wedi gwneud y penderfyniad unochrog i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â ffordd liniaru'r M4 er gwaethaf y gefnogaeth a gynigir gan Lywodraeth y DU.
4. Yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i:
a) gweithio gyda Llywodraeth y DU i ddarparu ffordd liniaru'r M4 cyn gynted â phosibl;
b) datblygu cynigion ar gyfer gwaith i uwchraddio cefnffordd yr A55 yn sylweddol a deuoli'r A40 i Abergwaun;
c) ymgysylltu â Llywodraeth y DU i fwrw ymlaen â chyflenwi ffordd osgoi Pant/Llanymynech.
Motion NDM7274 Darren Millar
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Recognises the importance of roads as vital economic arteries which promote prosperity.
2. Acknowledges the adverse economic and environmental impact of poor road connectivity and congestion.
3. Regrets that the First Minister has taken the unilateral decision not to proceed with the M4 relief road in spite of the support offered by the UK Government.
4. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:
a) work with the UK Government to deliver an M4 relief road as soon as possible;
b) develop proposals for a major upgrade of the A55 trunk road and the dualling of the A40 to Fishguard;
c) engage with the UK Government to progress the delivery of a Pant/Llanymynech bypass.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to move the motion for our debate today, listed in the name of Darren Millar, and in doing so also say that we will, of course, not be supporting the Government's usual 'Delete all' amendment, but we will be supporting Plaid's amendments 2 and 7.
I'd like to think that all of us in this Chamber can agree that a fit-for-purpose road network is vital to support our country's longer-term social and economic development. Our road transport network is crucial, of course, for future productivity, to ensure that we are competitive. It supports productive labour markets and is the arteries of domestic and international trade. I think we can all agree on that.
But I'd suggest that now, more than ever before, the Welsh economy requires the support of an effective and reliable road network in order to support Wales's long-term economic growth and in order to minimise the environmental impact of poor road connectivity and congestion. The current state of the Welsh road network means that Wales is unable to capture and lever in the drivers of economic activity. Congestion on Wales's roads is directly preventing Wales from achieving a step change in its level of productivity, which in turn is depressing the growth of Wales's wages and output. I'm sure that we'd all want to claim that we don't want to see that.
We don't have a good and effective road network in Wales, and when it comes to schemes that are coming forward, they are so often not managed well. Members who were in this Chamber earlier today will have heard me question the Minister in regard to a number of road schemes that are behind schedule and over cost due to poor procurement and poor management of those road delivery schemes. We are in a position where our current road transport system is unable to cope with the current level of demand.
Diolch yn fawr, Ddirprwy Lywydd. Hoffwn gyflwyno'r cynnig ar gyfer ein dadl heddiw, a restrir yn enw Darren Millar, ac wrth wneud hynny, hoffwn ddweud hefyd na fyddwn, wrth gwrs, yn cefnogi gwelliant 'Dileu popeth' arferol y Llywodraeth, ond byddwn yn cefnogi gwelliannau 2 a 7 gan Blaid Cymru.
Hoffwn feddwl y gall pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon gytuno bod rhwydwaith ffyrdd addas i'r diben yn hanfodol i gefnogi datblygiad cymdeithasol ac economaidd mwy hirdymor ein gwlad. Mae ein rhwydwaith trafnidiaeth ffyrdd yn hanfodol, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer cynhyrchiant yn y dyfodol, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gystadleuol. Mae'n cefnogi marchnadoedd llafur cynhyrchiol ac mae'n darparu rhydwelïau ar gyfer masnach yn y wlad hon ac yn rhyngwladol. Credaf y gall pob un ohonom gytuno ar hynny.
Ond buaswn yn awgrymu bod economi Cymru bellach, yn fwy nag erioed o'r blaen, angen cefnogaeth rhwydwaith ffyrdd effeithiol a dibynadwy er mwyn cefnogi twf economaidd Cymru yn y tymor hir ac er mwyn lleihau effaith amgylcheddol cysylltedd ffyrdd gwael a thagfeydd. Mae cyflwr presennol y rhwydwaith ffyrdd yng Nghymru yn golygu nad yw Cymru'n gallu ysgogi na manteisio ar yr hyn sy'n sbarduno gweithgarwch economaidd. Mae tagfeydd ar ffyrdd Cymru yn atal Cymru'n uniongyrchol rhag cyflawni newid sylweddol yn ei lefelau cynhyrchiant, sydd yn ei dro'n llesteirio twf yng nghyflogau ac allbwn Cymru. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai pob un ohonom am honni nad ydym am weld hynny.
Nid oes gennym rwydwaith ffyrdd da ac effeithiol yng Nghymru, a phan gyflwynir cynlluniau, yn aml iawn ni chânt eu rheoli'n dda. Bydd yr Aelodau a oedd yn y Siambr hon yn gynharach heddiw wedi fy nghlywed yn holi'r Gweinidog ynghylch nifer o gynlluniau ffyrdd sydd ar ei hôl hi ac sydd dros gyllideb o ganlyniad i gaffael gwael a rheolaeth wael ar y cynlluniau cyflenwi ffyrdd hynny. Rydym mewn sefyllfa lle nad yw ein system drafnidiaeth ffyrdd bresennol yn gallu ymdopi â'r lefel bresennol o alw.
Will you take an intervention?
A wnewch chi dderbyn ymyriad?
Yes, absolutely.
Gwnaf, yn sicr.
Thank you, Russell, for giving way. Russell, I've got the pleasure of being, with you, a member of the all-party group on active travel, and I know your commitment to sustainable travel as well. If he, like me, agrees with the sustainable transport hierarchy, a real hierarchy about who should be using our roads, and he talked about the importance of freight—I absolutely agree with him on freight—how should that apply to our road network and the decisions that we make?
Diolch am ildio, Russell. Mae'n bleser gennyf fod, gyda chi, yn aelod o'r grŵp hollbleidiol ar deithio llesol, ac rwy'n ymwybodol o'ch ymrwymiad i deithio cynaliadwy hefyd. Os yw ef, fel fi, yn cytuno â hierarchaeth trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy, hierarchaeth wirioneddol ynghylch pwy ddylai fod yn defnyddio ein ffyrdd, a soniodd am bwysigrwydd cludo nwyddau—cytunaf yn llwyr ag ef ynghylch cludo nwyddau—sut y dylai hynny fod yn berthnasol i'n rhwydwaith ffyrdd a'r penderfyniadau a wnawn?
Well, one doesn't have to not complement the other. I represent a constituency in mid Wales and, I have to say, it's very different to your constituency, with respect. You just can't—the public transport is not there. Unfortunately, to get to your nearest school, you're 10 miles away. You have to have an effective road infrastructure. But I don't disagree with you at all; I think they're compatible and both are important. We heard an earlier question today from Helen Mary Jones in regard to electric vehicle charging points and infrastructure as well, and we need to have road infrastructure for the expansion of electric vehicles also.
I will perhaps highlight some of the issues that I raised today in my questions to the Minister. The delays and the cost overruns associated with A465 Heads of the Valleys route, I'm afraid, perfectly highlight the Welsh Government's poor track record when in comes to the management and delivery of specific road improvement schemes. I mentioned a couple of others as well. Perhaps the Minister will have more time in this response to deal with perhaps how procurement and contractual agreements can change in order that we don't see these kinds of poorly managed schemes in the future.
One of the worst and most worrying examples, I think, of the Welsh Government's poor management of the road network in Wales is of course the level of ongoing congestion on the M4 motorway—a strategic road that has been blighted by huge levels of traffic congestion for many years, and the Welsh Government is yet still unable to provide an adequate solution to that problem. While the Welsh Government has been dithering and shelving any meaningful schemes, the volume of traffic on the M4 is increasing.
It is with huge disappointment, I think, that the First Minister—and I'm pleased that he is in here to listen to this debate this afternoon; I'm grateful for that—has made that decision not to proceed with the M4 relief road, in spite of the support offered by the UK Government and support from businesses across Wales and support from Members in this Chamber, including from the Government's benches as well, and of course as a result of the very expensive independent inquiry, which concluded that the M4 relief road should be built.
The Planning Inspectorate report found that the Welsh Government's assertion that it would be inconsistent with its declaration of a climate emergency is incorrect. The report found that
'the scheme would save about 4,324 tonnes of user carbon emitted on the Welsh road network each year, with increasing savings into the future'.
Furthermore, of course, the economic benefits of the M4 relief road are clear. With the economic benefits to building the M4 relief road outweighing the costs, the scheme would have been a good value-for-money scheme. Instead, the Welsh Government, of course, wasted that £144 million on the inquiry, only to reject its findings because it didn't suit the First Minister.
Wel, nid oes raid i'r un ohonynt beidio ag ategu'r llall. Rwy’n cynrychioli etholaeth yng nghanolbarth Cymru, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, mae'n wahanol iawn i'ch etholaeth chi, gyda phob parch. Ni allwch—nid yw'r drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yno. Yn anffodus, i gyrraedd eich ysgol agosaf, rydych 10 milltir i ffwrdd. Mae’n rhaid ichi gael seilwaith ffyrdd effeithiol. Ond nid wyf yn anghytuno â chi o gwbl; credaf fod y ddau beth yn gydnaws â’i gilydd ac mae'r ddau'n bwysig. Clywsom gwestiwn yn gynharach heddiw gan Helen Mary Jones ynglŷn â phwyntiau gwefru cerbydau trydan a seilwaith hefyd, ac mae angen inni gael seilwaith ffyrdd ar gyfer cynyddu’r defnydd o gerbydau trydan hefyd.
Efallai y caf dynnu sylw at rai o'r materion a godais heddiw yn fy nghwestiynau i'r Gweinidog. Mae'r oedi a'r gorwario sy'n gysylltiedig â heol yr A465 Blaenau'r Cymoedd, mae arnaf ofn, yn amlygu hanes gwael Llywodraeth Cymru yn berffaith o ran rheoli a chyflawni cynlluniau penodol i wella ffyrdd. Soniais am ambell un arall hefyd. Efallai y bydd gan y Gweinidog fwy o amser yn yr ymateb hwn i fynd i’r afael, efallai, â sut y gall caffael a chytundebau contractiol newid fel nad ydym yn gweld y mathau hyn o gynlluniau a reolir yn wael yn y dyfodol.
Un o'r enghreifftiau gwaethaf sy’n peri’r gofid mwyaf, yn fy marn i, o reolaeth wael Llywodraeth Cymru ar y rhwydwaith ffyrdd yng Nghymru, wrth gwrs, yw'r tagfeydd parhaus ar draffordd yr M4—ffordd strategol sydd wedi dioddef lefelau enfawr o dagfeydd traffig ers blynyddoedd lawer, ond serch hynny, ni all Llywodraeth Cymru roi ateb digonol i'r broblem honno. Tra bu Llywodraeth Cymru'n tin-droi ac yn cael gwared ar unrhyw gynlluniau ystyrlon, mae’r traffig ar yr M4 yn cynyddu.
Er mawr siom i mi, mae’r Prif Weinidog—ac rwy’n falch ei fod yma i wrando ar y ddadl hon y prynhawn yma; rwy'n ddiolchgar am hynny—wedi gwneud y penderfyniad i beidio â bwrw ymlaen â ffordd liniaru'r M4, er gwaethaf y gefnogaeth a gynigiwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU a chefnogaeth gan fusnesau ledled Cymru a chefnogaeth gan Aelodau yn y Siambr hon, gan gynnwys o feinciau'r Llywodraeth hefyd, ac wrth gwrs, o ganlyniad i'r ymchwiliad annibynnol drud iawn, a ddaeth i'r casgliad y dylid adeiladu ffordd liniaru'r M4.
Canfu adroddiad yr Arolygiaeth Gynllunio fod honiad Llywodraeth Cymru y byddai'n anghyson â'i datganiad o argyfwng hinsawdd yn anghywir. Canfu'r adroddiad
'y byddai’r cynllun yn arbed tua 4,324 o dunelli o garbon a allyrrir gan ddefnyddwyr ar rwydwaith ffyrdd Cymru bob blwyddyn, ac y byddai’r arbedion yn cynyddu yn y dyfodol.'
Yn ychwanegol at hynny, wrth gwrs, mae manteision economaidd ffordd liniaru'r M4 yn glir. Gyda manteision economaidd adeiladu ffordd liniaru'r M4 yn gorbwyso'r costau, byddai'r cynllun wedi bod yn gynllun da o ran gwerth am arian. Yn lle hynny wrth gwrs, gwastraffodd Llywodraeth Cymru £144 miliwn ar yr ymchwiliad, dim ond i wrthod ei ganfyddiadau am nad oeddent yn plesio'r Prif Weinidog.
Will you give way?
A wnewch chi ildio?
Yes, absolutely.
Gwnaf, yn sicr.
I thank you, and I agree with some of the points that you made. There will be arguments continuing for and against road expansion, not just around the M4, but it'll be Briton Ferry next, because—. The question for us as supporters of sustainable transportation is: to what extent do we advocate shifting unnecessary journeys off the whole of that stretch? So, we allow the white van man and woman to transport the goods the final couple of miles. So, we allow those who have no other option. Because this isn't rural Wales that we are talking about anymore; this is urbanised Wales.
Diolch, a chytunaf â rhai o'r pwyntiau a wnaethoch. Bydd y dadleuon o blaid ac yn erbyn ehangu ffyrdd yn parhau, nid yn unig mewn perthynas â'r M4, ond Llansawel fydd nesaf, oherwydd—. Y cwestiwn i ni fel cefnogwyr trafnidiaeth gynaliadwy yw: i ba raddau rydym yn dadlau dros gael gwared â theithiau diangen oddi ar y darn cyfan o ffordd? Felly, rydym yn caniatáu i faniau gwyn gludo'r nwyddau dros yr ychydig filltiroedd olaf. Felly, rydym yn caniatáu'r rheini nad oes ganddynt unrhyw ddewis arall. Oherwydd nid am y Gymru wledig rydym yn sôn bellach; rydym yn sôn am y Gymru drefol.
Sorry, I heard most of your points, but I couldn't hear some of your points because my own side were talking. [Laughter.]
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, clywais y rhan fwyaf o'ch pwyntiau, ond ni allwn glywed rhai o'ch pwyntiau am fod fy ochr i'n siarad. [Chwerthin.]
He was heckling you. [Laughter.]
Roedd yn eich heclo. [Chwerthin.]
They weren't heckling me. [Laughter.]
I think some of your points that I heard were fair points; I don't disagree, Huw, at all. But I think that my response would be—. Well, I quote back the Minister for economy and transport himself, who said:
'over the 60-year appraisal period, there is more than £2 of benefit for each pound spent on the scheme, without touching on the wider economic benefits likely to flow from the scheme, such as a stronger perception of Wales as a place to invest, which cannot be captured.'
So, I'd counter-argue what you say with that, which is the view of the Minister. In fairness, I think he probably agrees with that view still today. Perhaps he can inform us at the conclusion.
On top of that, the UK Government has provided the Welsh Government with the levers that are needed to proceed with the project, as well as ensuring that the capital budget has grown by over 45 per cent over the current spending review period. The UK Government has also committed to continue working with the Welsh Government on how to strengthen the Welsh economy and provide greater connectivity as well. [Interruption.] I can hear the First Minister talking as well, but I would say to the First Minister today, who seems to be engaged in this debate today, I call on him to rethink his plans and deliver the M4 relief road as soon as possible, although I don't think that he's going to change his position as a result of today's debate, unfortunately.
Other major road schemes in Wales have failed to receive the improvements that they require to ensure that they are better able to meet the demands of Welsh road users: the A55 in north Wales is an example that has long suffered from underinvestment; there's the A40, which has also experienced a lack of effective upgrades over the last 20 years; and we're also calling for proposals to be developed for major upgrades to the A55 trunk road; and, of course, I have to mention—I can hear Paul Davies talking to my left—the A40 road to Fishguard, which Paul Davies so often mentions.
Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Pant-Llanymynech bypass in my own constituency, as well as focusing attention on other north and south links to Wales. When it comes to the Pant-Llanymynech bypass, I can see that the Welsh Government has engaged positively with the UK Government on that in the past, so I hope for some positive contribution in that regard. But, we need to have—. Huw Irranca has commented on a number of occasions in this debate today; I don't disagree with what he has to say. I think it's both having effective road schemes as well as having effective public transport and active travel. They are combined together. They don't compete against each other.
We do need to have a road network that is suitable for making sure that Wales's economic prosperity grows. To remain a competitive Wales, we need to have an efficient road network structure in place. I look forward to Members' contributions to this debate, and commend our motion to this Parliament.
Nid oeddent yn fy heclo. [Chwerthin.]
Credaf fod rhai o'ch pwyntiau a glywais yn bwyntiau teg; nid wyf yn anghytuno, Huw, dim o gwbl. Ond credaf mai fy ymateb fyddai—. Wel, dyfynnaf Weinidog yr economi a thrafnidiaeth ei hun, a ddywedodd:
'dros y cyfnod arfarnu o 60 mlynedd, fod mwy na £2 o fudd am bob punt a werir ar y cynllun, heb gyffwrdd ar y manteision economaidd ehangach sy’n debygol o ddeillio o’r cynllun, megis canfyddiad cryfach o Gymru fel lle i fuddsoddi, rhywbeth na ellir ei fesur.'
Felly, buaswn yn dadlau yn erbyn yr hyn a ddywedwch drwy ddweud hynny, sef barn y Gweinidog. A bod yn deg, credaf ei fod, yn ôl pob tebyg, yn dal i gytuno â'r farn honno heddiw. Efallai y gall roi gwybod inni ar y diwedd.
Yn ychwanegol at hynny, mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi rhoi'r dulliau sydd eu hangen ar Lywodraeth Cymru i fwrw ymlaen â'r prosiect, yn ogystal â sicrhau bod y gyllideb gyfalaf wedi cynyddu dros 45 y cant yn ystod cyfnod yr adolygiad presennol o wariant. Mae Llywodraeth y DU hefyd wedi ymrwymo i barhau i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru ar sut i gryfhau economi Cymru yn ogystal â darparu mwy o gysylltedd. [Torri ar draws.] Gallaf glywed y Prif Weinidog yn siarad hefyd, ond buaswn yn dweud wrth y Prif Weinidog heddiw, sydd fel pe bai'n cymryd rhan yn y ddadl hon heddiw, galwaf arno i ailfeddwl ei gynlluniau a darparu ffordd liniaru'r M4 cyn gynted â phosibl, er na chredaf y bydd yn newid ei safbwynt o ganlyniad i'r ddadl heddiw, yn anffodus.
Mae cynlluniau ffyrdd mawr eraill yng Nghymru wedi methu cael y gwelliannau sydd eu hangen arnynt i sicrhau eu bod yn gallu bodloni gofynion defnyddwyr ffyrdd Cymru yn well: mae'r A55 yng ngogledd Cymru yn enghraifft sydd wedi dioddef yn hir yn sgil tanfuddsoddi ers amser maith; yr A40, sydd hefyd wedi dioddef yn sgil diffyg gwaith uwchraddio effeithiol dros yr 20 mlynedd diwethaf; ac rydym hefyd yn galw am ddatblygu cynigion ar gyfer gwaith uwchraddio sylweddol ar gefnffordd yr A55; ac wrth gwrs, mae'n rhaid i mi grybwyll—clywaf Paul Davies yn siarad ar y chwith i mi—ffordd yr A40 i Abergwaun, y mae Paul Davies yn sôn amdani mor aml.
Wrth gwrs, buaswn ar fai pe na bawn yn sôn am ffordd osgoi Pant-Llanymynech yn fy etholaeth i, yn ogystal â chanolbwyntio ar gysylltiadau gogledd a de eraill â Chymru. O ran ffordd osgoi Pant-Llanymynech, gallaf weld bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymgysylltu'n gadarnhaol â Llywodraeth y DU ar hynny yn y gorffennol, felly rwy'n gobeithio am gyfraniad cadarnhaol yn hynny o beth. Ond mae angen i ni gael —. Mae