Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
15/09/2020Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd drwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda’r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Croeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn i ni ddechrau, dwi eisiau nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Mae'r Cyfarfod Llawn a gynhelir drwy gynhadledd fideo yn unol â Rheolau Sefydlog Senedd Cymru yn gyfystyr â thrafodion y Senedd at ddibenion Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Bydd rhai o ddarpariaethau Rheol Sefydlog 34 yn gymwys ar gyfer y Cyfarfod Llawn heddiw, ac mae'r rheini wedi'u nodi ar eich agenda chi. A dwi eisiau atgoffa Aelodau fod y Rheolau Sefydlog sy'n ymwneud â threfn yn y Cyfarfodydd Llawn yn berthnasol i'r cyfarfod yma, ac yr un mor berthnasol i Aelodau sydd yn y Siambr â'r rhai sy'n ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo.
Welcome to this Plenary meeting. Before we begin, I want to make a few points. A Plenary meeting held using video-conference, in accordance with Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitutes Senedd proceedings for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some of the provisions of Standing Order 34 will apply for today's Plenary meeting. These are noted on your agenda. I would remind Members that Standing Orders relating to order in Plenary meetings apply to this meeting, and apply equally to Members in the Siambr and those joining virtually.
Felly, i gychwyn, dwi eisiau hysbysebu'r Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75, fod Deddf Anifeiliaid Gwyllt a Syrcasau (Cymru) 2020 wedi cael y Cydsyniad Brenhinol ar 7 Medi.
So, to begin, I wish to inform the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, that the Wild Animals and Circuses (Wales) Act 2020 was given Royal Assent on 7 September.
Yr eitem gyntaf y prynhawn yma, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan John Griffiths.
The first item this afternoon is questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from John Griffiths.
1. Pa gamau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i amddiffyn y bobl fwyaf agored i niwed mewn cymdeithas yn ystod pandemig COVID-19? OQ55524
1. What action will the Welsh Government take to protect the most vulnerable in society during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55524
Llywydd, an enormous effort has been mobilised across Wales to protect our most vulnerable citizens during the pandemic. In addition to our public services and third sector organisations, countless volunteers, friends and neighbours have provided help to those most in need. Our winter protection plan, published today, sets out ways in which this huge collective effort can be continued.
Llywydd, rhoddwyd ymdrech enfawr ar waith ledled Cymru i amddiffyn ein dinasyddion mwyaf agored i niwed yn ystod y pandemig. Yn ogystal â'n gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a sefydliadau'r trydydd sector, mae gwirfoddolwyr, ffrindiau a chymdogion dirifedi wedi rhoi cymorth i'r rhai â'r angen mwyaf. Mae ein cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf, a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, yn nodi ffyrdd y gellir parhau â'r ymdrech gyfunol enfawr hon.
First Minister, COVID-19 has laid bare the indefensible unfairness in our society. Those on lower incomes, in insecure jobs, living in poor-quality housing and suffering health inequalities are particularly vulnerable to the virus, in terms of their health, economically and socially. Our more deprived communities, black and ethnic minorities, and disabled people are disproportionately affected. In Newport, we have experience of this, and we now have a worrying spike in COVID-19 cases. First Minister, will you set out the Welsh Government's response to this recent outbreak, and join me in urging local people and businesses to redouble their efforts to follow regulations and advice to keep the virus under control and avoid further lockdown?
Prif Weinidog, mae COVID-19 wedi dangos yn eglur yr annhegwch na ellir ei amddiffyn yn ein cymdeithas. Mae'r rhai sydd ar incwm is, mewn swyddi ansicr, yn byw mewn tai o ansawdd gwael ac yn dioddef anghydraddoldebau iechyd yn arbennig o agored i'r feirws, o ran eu hiechyd, yn economaidd ac yn gymdeithasol. Mae ein cymunedau mwy difreintiedig, lleiafrifoedd du ac ethnig, a phobl anabl yn cael eu heffeithio yn anghymesur. Yng Nghasnewydd, mae gennym ni brofiad o hyn, a nawr mae gennym ni gynnydd i nifer yr achosion COVID-19 sy'n peri pryder. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi nodi ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i'r achosion diweddar hyn, ac ymuno â mi i annog pobl a busnesau lleol i gynydddu eu hymdrechion i ddilyn rheoliadau a chyngor i gadw rheolaeth ar y feirws ac osgoi cyfyngiadau symud pellach?
Llywydd, can I thank John Griffiths for those very important points? He quite rightly draws attention to the recent spike in numbers of people suffering from coronavirus in the Newport area. A considerable effort is being mobilised through the local outbreak control team, working very closely with the local authority—I was speaking with the leader of Newport City Council, Councillor Jane Mudd, yesterday—and our test, trace, protect team have been absolutely assiduous in following up all those cases that have come to our attention, and then, in turn, getting in contact with the people who they have been in contact with. As a result, those efforts are helping to stabilise the position in Newport. And of course we hope that there will be no need for further action, but if there is a need, if those figures do not improve and local action has to be supplemented by national action, then that is exactly what will happen. And as John Griffiths said, Llywydd, that is even more important for those vulnerable groups in a city like Newport—black and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, and so on—for whom, were the virus to get out of control, the risks would be particularly serious.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i John Griffiths am y pwyntiau pwysig iawn yna? Mae'n tynnu sylw, a hynny'n gwbl briodol, at y cynnydd diweddar i nifer y bobl sy'n dioddef oherwydd coronafeirws yn ardal Casnewydd. Mae cryn ymdrech yn cael ei rhoi ar waith drwy'r tîm rheoli achosion lleol, yn gweithio yn agos iawn gyda'r awdurdod lleol—roeddwn i'n siarad ag arweinydd Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd, y Cynghorydd Jane Mudd, ddoe—ac mae ein tîm profi, olrhain, diogelu wedi bod yn gwbl ymroddedig wrth wneud gwaith dilynol ar yr holl achosion hynny sydd wedi dod i'n sylw, ac yna, yn eu tro, cysylltu â'r bobl y maen nhw wedi bod mewn cysylltiad â nhw. O ganlyniad, mae'r ymdrechion hynny yn helpu i sefydlogi'r sefyllfa yng Nghasnewydd. Ac rydym ni'n gobeithio, wrth gwrs, na fydd angen cymryd camau pellach, ond os bydd angen, os na fydd y ffigurau hynny yn gwella a bod yn rhaid i gamau lleol gael eu hategu gan gamau cenedlaethol, yna dyna yn union fydd yn digwydd. Ac fel y dywedodd John Griffiths, Llywydd, mae hynny hyd yn oed yn bwysicach i'r grwpiau agored i niwed hynny mewn dinas fel Casnewydd—cymunedau pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig, pobl ag anableddau, ac yn y blaen—y byddai'r risgiau iddyn nhw yn arbennig o ddifrifol pe byddai'r feirws yn mynd allan o reolaeth.
Good afternoon, First Minister. I listened to your response to John Griffiths very carefully, because I agree that there's a lot of harm to be done if this virus gets out of control. There's also a significant harm that will happen to people who may be asked to shield again, to people who have such disabilities, to people who've got perhaps learning disabilities, do not understand clearly what is going on. So, for example, I've been approached by a disability advocacy group, where one mother's daughter, who's in a residential setting supported by social services, has been told that she probably will not be allowed to go home until June of next year—next year. We are asking some people to make absolutely extraordinary sacrifices. If we do have to go back into lockdown, those who have to shield will have to go back into it. First Minister, what assurances could you give us, or what can the Government do, to make sure that, this time around, if we are faced with that situation, there are ways we can be more compassionate and more kind about some of the things we're asking some of the very vulnerable people in our society to cope with, especially those who perhaps have more difficulty in understanding the necessity?
Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Gwrandewais ar eich ymateb i John Griffiths yn ofalus iawn, gan fy mod i'n cytuno bod llawer o niwed i'w wneud os bydd y feirws hwn yn mynd y tu hwnt i reolaeth. Ceir niwed sylweddol a fydd yn digwydd hefyd i bobl y gellid gofyn iddyn nhw warchod eto, i bobl sydd ag anableddau o'r fath, i bobl sydd ag anableddau dysgu efallai, nad ydyn nhw'n deall yn iawn beth sy'n digwydd. Felly, er enghraifft, mae grŵp eiriolaeth anabledd wedi cysylltu â mi, lle y dywedwyd wrth merch un fam, sydd mewn lleoliad preswyl a gefnogir gan y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, ei bod yn debygol na fydd yn cael mynd adref tan fis Mehefin y flwyddyn nesaf—y flwyddyn nesaf. Rydym ni'n gofyn i rai pobl wneud aberth cwbl eithriadol. Os bydd yn rhaid i ni ddychwelyd i gyfyngiadau symud, bydd yn rhaid i'r rhai y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw gael eu gwarchod ddychwelyd i wneud hynny. Prif Weinidog, pa sicrwydd allech chi ei roi i ni, neu beth all y Llywodraeth ei wneud, i wneud yn siŵr, y tro hwn, os byddwn ni'n wynebu'r sefyllfa honno, bod ffyrdd y gallwn fod yn fwy tosturiol ac yn fwy caredig ynglŷn â rhai o'r pethau yr ydym ni'n gofyn i rai o'r bobl agored iawn i niwed yn ein cymdeithas ymdopi â nhw, yn enwedig y rhai sydd efallai'n cael mwy o anhawster i ddeall yr angenrheidrwydd?
Llywydd, I thank the Member for those points. I agree with very much of what she said—that the impact of responding to coronavirus falls especially hard on those people who have the least ability to be able to recognise what is happening around them and then to respond to it, whether that be very elderly people who have suffered from dementia, whether it be people with learning disabilities, and so on. And it is very important that we learn from the experience of the last six months. My colleague Jane Hutt has chaired five meetings of the disability equality forum over that period. It's been attended as well by the chief medical officer and by my colleague Julie James. And all that is about trying to learn from the lived experience of people who, as in Angela Burns's contact's case, have had to live with the astonishing burden that coronavirus has placed on some members of our society. So, I think the best assurance we can give those people is to listen carefully to them, and to hear from them about ways in which, were we to face a further period of the sort we faced back in March and April, we have learned from the ways in which they have coped with this experience. And where we can do more to support them and can design our public services in a way that is better able to respond to their needs, then that is exactly what we will try to do.
Llywydd, diolchaf i'r Aelod am y pwyntiau yna. Rwy'n cytuno â llawer iawn o'r hyn a ddywedodd—bod effaith ymateb i coronafeirws yn arbennig o anodd i'r bobl hynny sydd â'r lleiaf o allu i ddeall yr hyn sy'n digwydd o'u cwmpas ac yna ymateb iddo, boed hynny'n bobl oedrannus iawn sydd wedi dioddef o ddementia, boed nhw'n bobl ag anableddau dysgu, ac yn y blaen. Ac mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n dysgu o brofiad y chwe mis diwethaf. Mae fy nghyd-Weinidog Jane Hutt wedi cadeirio pum cyfarfod o'r fforwm cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl dros y cyfnod hwnnw. Mae'r prif swyddog meddygol a'm cyd-Weinidog Julie James wedi bod yn bresennol ynddynt hefyd. A diben hynny i gyd yw ceisio dysgu o brofiad byw pobl sydd, fel yn achos cyswllt Angela Burns, wedi gorfod byw gyda'r baich syfrdanol y mae coronafeirws wedi ei osod ar rai aelodau o'n cymdeithas. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r sicrwydd gorau y gallwn ni ei roi i'r bobl hynny yw gwrando'n ofalus arnyn nhw, a chlywed ganddyn nhw am y modd, pe byddem ni'n wynebu cyfnod pellach o'r math i ni ei wynebu yn ôl ym mis Mawrth a mis Ebrill, yr ydym ni wedi dysgu o'r ffyrdd y maen nhw wedi ymdopi â'r profiad hwn. A phan allwn ni wneud mwy i'w cynorthwyo ac y gallwn ddylunio ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus mewn ffordd sy'n gallu ymateb yn well i'w hanghenion, yna dyna'n union y byddwn ni'n ceisio ei wneud.
2. Pa asesiad sydd wedi'i wneud o'r risgiau i gyllid cyhoeddus o ganlyniad i'r pandemig COVID-19? OQ55514
2. What assessment has been made of the risks to public finances as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55514
Llywydd, the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest assessment shows a very large increase in the fiscal deficit for the UK as a whole during this financial year. The Welsh Government's fiscal framework protects the Welsh budget from the impact on devolved revenues of the UK-wide economic shock arising from the pandemic.
Llywydd, mae asesiad diweddaraf y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn dangos cynnydd mawr iawn i'r diffyg ariannol ar gyfer y DU gyfan yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae fframwaith cyllidol Llywodraeth Cymru yn diogelu cyllideb Cymru rhag effaith y sioc economaidd ar draws y DU ar refeniw datganoledig sy'n deillio o'r pandemig.
Thank you for that answer, First Minister. Your Government has encouraged local authorities to invest in commercial properties around the country. You've lent them taxpayers' money to do so, and the Development Bank of Wales lends money directly to private companies developing commercial properties. Last financial year, the bank lent £34.1 million of taxpayers' money to property developers, and this year the bank has two funds available to property developers, totalling £97 million. Most of it is in the commercial property fund, and all of the money is provided by the Welsh Government, i.e. the taxpayer. As a result of lockdown, property experts are predicting that commercial property could lose 50 per cent of its value and rent returns will go through the floor as businesses close and downsize offices because more staff are working from home or need rent holidays. Even the Office for Budget Responsibility admits to at least a 14 per cent drop in value over the next year. If the OBR are correct, the Development Bank of Wales could lose £7.7. million in one year if it invests all of its commercial property fund of £55 million. The bank may already have lost £4.7 million on last year's investments. The picture could be just as bad for local authorities. Flintshire County Council, for example, owns 13 business centres and industrial estates. So, how much taxpayers' money invested in commercial property could be lost due to lockdown? How much money have you set aside to bail out councils who lose money because of investments in commercial property reducing? And has the DBW changed its lending criteria towards commercial property developers since the coronavirus came along and changed the way people work and conduct business?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Prif Weinidog. Mae eich Llywodraeth wedi annog awdurdodau lleol i fuddsoddi mewn eiddo masnachol ledled y wlad. Rydych chi wedi rhoi benthyg arian trethdalwyr iddyn nhw wneud hynny, ac mae Banc Datblygu Cymru yn benthyca arian yn uniongyrchol i gwmnïau preifat sy'n datblygu eiddo masnachol. Yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol ddiwethaf, rhoddodd y banc fenthyciadau gwerth £34.1 miliwn o arian trethdalwyr i ddatblygwyr eiddo, ac eleni mae gan y banc ddwy gronfa ar gael i ddatblygwyr eiddo, sy'n dod i gyfanswm o £97 miliwn. Mae'r rhan fwyaf ohono yn y gronfa eiddo masnachol, a darperir yr holl arian gan Lywodraeth Cymru, hynny yw, y trethdalwr. O ganlyniad i'r cyfyngiadau symud, mae arbenigwyr eiddo yn rhagweld y gallai eiddo masnachol golli 50 y cant o'i werth ac y bydd enillion rhent yn mynd ar chwâl wrth i fusnesau gau a lleihau maint swyddfeydd gan fod mwy o staff yn gweithio gartref neu eu bod angen gwyliau rhent. Mae hyd yn oed y Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn cyfaddef i ostyngiad o 14 y cant o leiaf i werth yn ystod y flwyddyn nesaf. Os yw'r Swyddfa Cyfrifoldeb Cyllidebol yn iawn, gallai Banc Datblygu Cymru golli £7.7. miliwn mewn un flwyddyn os bydd yn buddsoddi ei gronfa eiddo masnachol gyfan o £55 miliwn. Gallai'r banc eisoes fod wedi colli £4.7 miliwn ar fuddsoddiadau y llynedd. Gallai'r darlun fod yr un mor wael i awdurdodau lleol. Mae Cyngor Sir y Fflint, er enghraifft, yn berchen ar 13 o ganolfannau busnes ac ystadau diwydiannol. Felly, faint o arian trethdalwyr a fuddsoddwyd mewn eiddo masnachol y gellid ei golli oherwydd y cyfyngiadau symud? Faint o arian ydych chi wedi ei neilltuo i achub cynghorau sy'n colli arian oherwydd lleihad i fuddsoddiadau mewn eiddo masnachol? Ac a yw Banc Datblygu Cymru wedi newid ei feini prawf benthyca ar gyfer datblygwyr eiddo masnachol ers i'r coronafeirws ymddangos a newid y ffordd y mae pobl yn gweithio ac yn cyflawni busnes?
Well, Llywydd, I think the risk in the Member's question is to conflate short-term and long-term consequences of the pandemic. In the short run, there's absolutely no doubt at all that commercial property values have been affected by coronavirus and that they will continue to be affected as the economic shock of the pandemic unfolds across our economy. But I don't think that we should assume that those short-term impacts are guaranteed to be characteristic of the way the economy will recover. Nor do I think it is fair to criticise any organisation from having made lending decisions in one set of circumstances when something entirely unforeseeable then makes a difference to the way that those investments are now valued. What I expect to see is I expect lending decisions now to be calibrated to the current set of circumstances we see, and I expect us to take a long-term view of some of those investments and not to make decisions in haste that would respond to what we all surely hope is a temporary impact of a global set of circumstances on our economy and that the economy will recover in ways that will protect those investments in the longer term.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu mai'r risg yng nghwestiwn yr Aelod yw cyfuno canlyniadau byrdymor a hirdymor y pandemig. Yn y byrdymor, nid oes amheuaeth o gwbl bod coronafeirws wedi effeithio ar werthoedd eiddo masnachol ac y byddan nhw'n parhau i gael eu heffeithio wrth i sioc economaidd y pandemig ddatblygu ar draws ein heconomi. Ond nid wyf i'n credu y dylem ni gymryd yn ganiataol bod yr effeithiau byrdymor hynny yn sicr o fod yn nodweddiadol o'r ffordd y bydd yr economi yn gwella. Nid wyf i'n credu ychwaith ei bod hi'n deg i feirniadu unrhyw sefydliad am wneud penderfyniadau benthyca mewn un cyfres o amgylchiadau pan fydd rhywbeth cwbl anrhagweladwy yn gwneud gwahaniaeth wedyn i'r ffordd y caiff y buddsoddiadau hynny eu prisio erbyn hyn. Yr hyn yr wyf i'n disgwyl ei weld yw fy mod i'n disgwyl i benderfyniadau benthyca gael eu calibradu nawr i'r gyfres bresennol o amgylchiadau a welwn, ac rwy'n disgwyl ein gweld ni'n cymryd golwg hirdymor ar rai o'r buddsoddiadau hynny a pheidio â gwneud penderfyniadau byrbwyll a fyddai'n ymateb i'r hyn yr ydym ni i gyd yn sicr yn gobeithio sy'n effaith dros dro cyfres fyd-eang o amgylchiadau ar ein heconomi ac y bydd yr economi yn gwella mewn ffyrdd a fydd yn diogelu'r buddsoddiadau hynny yn y tymor hwy.
I think Michelle Brown just about covered everything there, didn't she, First Minister? But I'll ask you about the tax situation. Yesterday, in Finance Committee, we had an evidence session with the finance Minister, where she spoke about the impact of the pandemic on house sales and on land transaction tax. What assessment has been made of the ongoing pandemic on not just that tax but on all taxes, including the Welsh rate of income tax? And you just mentioned in response to Michelle Brown that the fiscal framework supports the Welsh budget against shocks such as a pandemic and UK and international shocks. Are you confident that the fiscal framework is operating properly and that it will fully defend the Welsh budget and Welsh tax revenues against the shock of the pandemic?
Rwy'n credu bod Michelle Brown wedi rhoi sylw i bopeth yn y fan yna, do, Prif Weinidog? Ond hoffwn eich holi am y sefyllfa o ran treth. Ddoe, yn y Pwyllgor Cyllid, cawsom sesiwn dystiolaeth gyda'r Gweinidog cyllid, pryd y siaradodd am effaith y pandemig ar werthu tai ac ar dreth trafodiadau tir. Pa asesiad sydd wedi ei wneud o'r pandemig parhaus nid yn unig ar y dreth honno ond ar bob treth, gan gynnwys cyfradd treth incwm Cymru? Ac rydych chi newydd sôn mewn ymateb i Michelle Brown bod y fframwaith cyllidol yn cefnogi cyllideb Cymru yn erbyn ergydion fel pandemig ac ergydion annisgwyl yn y DU ac yn rhyngwladol. A ydych chi'n ffyddiog bod y fframwaith cyllidol yn gweithredu yn briodol ac y bydd yn amddiffyn cyllideb Cymru a refeniw treth Cymru yn llwyr rhag sioc y pandemig?
Well, Llywydd, if I was to take Nick Ramsay's phrase literally, 'fully defend', then I don't suppose I could guarantee that, because the impact of coronavirus will be felt across the whole of the UK economy as well as the Welsh economy, and across UK Government revenues as well as our own. I am confident that the fiscal framework defends us against shocks that would be experienced in Wales where those shocks are experienced elsewhere. The block grant adjustment will take account of that and will mean that we are protected against those effects.
I'm also pleased to be able to say to the Member, because I know what a close interest he took in it at the time, that the 105 per cent consequential rule that we have as a result of the fiscal framework has already provided £360 million to Wales that would not have come to Wales were it not for the fiscal framework and that part of it that we negotiated at the time. So, we are defended by the fiscal framework. None of us are defended against the global impact that coronavirus has on the whole of the UK economy and more widely.
Wel, Llywydd, pe bawn i'n cymryd ymadrodd Nick Ramsay yn llythrennol, yn 'amddiffyn yn llwyr', yna nid wyf i'n tybio y gallwn i sicrhau hynny, gan y bydd effaith coronafeirws yn cael ei theimlo ar draws economi gyfan y DU yn ogystal ag economi Cymru, ac ar draws refeniw Llywodraeth y DU yn ogystal â'n refeniw ni. Rwy'n ffyddiog bod y fframwaith cyllidol yn ein hamddiffyn rhag ergydion a fyddai'n cael eu dioddef yng Nghymru pan fo'r ergydion hynny yn cael eu dioddef mewn mannau eraill. Bydd addasiad y grant bloc yn cymryd hynny i ystyriaeth a bydd yn golygu ein bod ni'n cael ein diogelu rhag yr effeithiau hynny.
Rwyf i hefyd yn falch o allu dweud wrth yr Aelod, gan fy mod i'n gwybod ei fod wedi cymryd diddordeb agos iawn yn y mater ar y pryd, bod y rheol cyllid canlyniadol o 105 y cant sydd gennym ni o ganlyniad i'r fframwaith cyllidol eisoes wedi darparu £360 miliwn i Gymru na fyddai wedi dod i Gymru oni bai am y fframwaith cyllidol a'r rhan honno ohono a negodwyd gennym ni ar y pryd. Felly, rydym ni'n cael ein hamddiffyn gan y fframwaith cyllidol. Nid oes yr un ohonom ni'n cael ein hamddiffyn rhag yr effaith fyd-eang y mae coronafeirws yn ei chael ar economi gyfan y DU ac yn ehangach.
First Minister, I am confident that you will agree with me when I say that an innovative use of tax competencies can have a positive effect on our public finances, as well as bringing other positive societal benefits. As you will know, I'm a keen supporter of the vacant land tax, which could not only boost public finances but, more importantly, also transform our communities. So, I was disappointed to read the written statement from the finance Minister last week about the foot dragging from UK Ministers on this. Will the Welsh Government continue to press UK Ministers to respect the devolution settlement so that these proposals can be developed and not let them use responding to the pandemic as an excuse for inaction or rowing back?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n ffyddiog y byddwch chi'n cytuno â mi pan ddywedaf y gall defnydd arloesol o gymwyseddau treth gael effaith gadarnhaol ar ein cyllid cyhoeddus, yn ogystal â dod â manteision cymdeithasol cadarnhaol eraill. Fel y gwyddoch, rwy'n gefnogwr brwd o'r dreth ar dir gwag, a allai nid yn unig roi hwb i gyllid cyhoeddus ond, yn bwysicach, gweddnewid ein cymunedau hefyd. Felly, roeddwn i'n siomedig o ddarllen y datganiad ysgrifenedig gan y Gweinidog cyllid yr wythnos diwethaf am y llusgo traed gan Weinidogion y DU ar y mater hwn. A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru barhau i bwyso ar Weinidogion y DU i barchu'r setliad datganoli fel y gellir datblygu'r cynigion hyn a pheidio â gadael iddyn nhw ddefnyddio ymateb i'r pandemig fel esgus dros beidio â gweithredu neu fynd yn ôl ar eu gair?
Llywydd, I thank Vikki Howells for that, and I very much recognise the interest she has taken in the vacant land tax issue. I well remember the short debate that she held on this topic. Sadly, this is a much less positive aspect of our negotiations with the Treasury. While I was able to speak positively of the fiscal framework, this is a much less satisfactory story.
Let's remember for a moment, Llywydd, that what we have been trying to do is to use a power put into the Conservative Government of Wales Act 2017. This is a power that the then Government put on the statute book, and it allows the Welsh Government to propose new taxes for Wales. Some Members here will remember that we deliberately chose a narrow and specific tax, a vacant land tax, not a controversial tax, in many ways, in principle, in order to test that machinery. More than two and a half years have gone by since that proposal was first put to the Treasury. And, despite what have, at some points, been reasonably productive relationships, in August we received a very disappointing letter from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, reopening a whole series of questions and debates that had already been answered in previous negotiations. I'm afraid what is becoming apparent is that the machinery that we set out to test is not satisfactory; that it is not competent to deal with the issue that the previous Conservative Government itself put on the statute book for Wales. We'll continue to work away at it, as Vikki Howells has said, but I'm afraid what we're learning is that the machinery itself is broken beyond repair.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Vikki Howells am hynna, ac rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr y diddordeb y mae hi wedi ei gymryd yn y mater o dreth ar dir gwag. Rwy'n cofio'n dda y ddadl fer a gynhaliodd ar y pwnc hwn. Yn anffodus, mae hon yn agwedd llawer llai cadarnhaol ar ein trafodaethau gyda'r Trysorlys. Er i mi allu siarad yn gadarnhaol am y fframwaith cyllidol, mae hon yn stori llawer llai boddhaol.
Gadewch i ni gofio am eiliad, Llywydd, mai'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi bod yn ceisio ei wneud yw defnyddio pŵer a roddwyd yn Neddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2017 y Ceidwadwyr. Mae hwn yn bŵer a roddwyd ar y llyfr statud gan y Llywodraeth ar y pryd, ac mae'n caniatáu i Lywodraeth Cymru gynnig trethi newydd ar gyfer Cymru. Bydd rhai Aelodau yn y fan yma yn cofio i ni ddewis treth gul a phenodol yn fwriadol, treth ar dir wag, nad oedd yn dreth ddadleuol, mewn nifer o ffyrdd, mewn egwyddor, i roi prawf ar y peirianwaith hwnnw. Mae dros ddwy flynedd a hanner wedi mynd heibio ers i'r cynnig hwnnw gael ei gyflwyno am y tro cyntaf i'r Trysorlys. Ac, er gwaethaf yr hyn sydd, ar rai adegau, wedi bod yn berthynas weddol gynhyrchiol, cawsom lythyr siomedig iawn gan Ysgrifennydd Siecr y Trysorlys ym mis Awst, yn ailagor cyfres gyfan o gwestiynau a dadleuon a oedd eisoes wedi eu hateb mewn trafodaethau blaenorol. Mae arnaf ofn mai'r hyn sy'n dod i'r amlwg yw nad yw'r peirianwaith yr aethom ni ati i roi prawf arno yn foddhaol; nid yw'n gymwys i ymdrin â'r mater y rhoddodd y Llywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol ei hun ar y llyfr statud i Gymru. Byddwn yn parhau i weithio yn ddyfal arno, fel y dywedodd Vikki Howells, ond mae arnaf ofn mai'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei ddysgu yw bod y peirianwaith ei hun wedi torri y tu hwnt i allu ei drwsio.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Paul Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. Leader of the Conservatives, Paul Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, yesterday it came to light that Public Health Wales admitted a data breach that saw details of just over 18,000 people, who'd tested positive for COVID-19, posted on its website for almost a whole day. That figure included almost 2,000 people living in communal settings such as nursing homes and those living in supported housing, which went as far as to reveal their place of residence. First Minister, given that this is not the first time there has been a problem with public health data, it's deeply worrying that the health Minister didn't come forward with this immediately and with an explanation on what steps will now be taken to restore public confidence, because it's been suggested that the Government has known about this for weeks. So, First Minister, I hope you'll now take the opportunity today to apologise to the people affected by this latest data breach. Will you also take the opportunity to tell us how long the Welsh Government has known about this breach and what you're doing to restore public confidence in its data management?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, daeth i'r amlwg ddoe bod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi cyfaddef mynediad diawdurdod at ddata a arweiniodd at bostio manylion ychydig dros 18,000 o bobl, a oedd wedi profi'n bositif ar gyfer COVID-19, ar ei wefan am bron i ddiwrnod cyfan. Roedd y ffigur hwnnw yn cynnwys bron i 2,000 o bobl yn byw mewn lleoliadau cymunedol fel cartrefi nyrsio a'r rhai sy'n byw mewn tai â chymorth, a aeth mor bell â datgelu eu mannau preswylio. Prif Weinidog, o gofio nad dyma'r tro cyntaf y bu problem gyda data iechyd y cyhoedd, mae'n destun pryder mawr na ddatgelodd y Gweinidog iechyd hyn ar unwaith a chydag esboniad o ba gamau a fydd yn cael eu cymryd nawr i adennill ffydd y cyhoedd, oherwydd awgrymwyd bod y Llywodraeth wedi bod yn ymwybodol o hyn ers wythnosau. Felly, Prif Weinidog, rwy'n gobeithio y gwnewch chi achub ar y cyfle heddiw i ymddiheuro i'r bobl a gafodd eu heffeithio gan yr achos diweddaraf hwn o fynediad diawdurdod at ddata. A wnewch chi hefyd fanteisio ar y cyfle i ddweud wrthym ers pryd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn ymwybodol o'r mynediad diawdurdod hwn a'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei wneud i adennill ffydd y cyhoedd o ran rheoli eu data?
Well, Llywydd, I learnt of this data breach yesterday, and I learnt of it as a result of Public Health Wales's statement, which, as Paul Davies has said, drew attention to the data breach. It is a serious matter when data regulations are not properly observed, and I think Public Health Wales was right to apologise to those people whose data was inadvertently put into the public domain in this way. Thankfully, as Paul Davies said, the breach lasted for less than a day and the initial inquiries suggest that no harm has been done as a result. But that is a matter of luck rather than anything else.
It's right, therefore, that Public Health Wales has instituted an inquiry into what went wrong, has informed the Information Commissioner, and we will look to both of those offices to make sure that the reasons that lie behind the data breach can be identified, and if there are any systems that need to be put right, that those steps are taken rapidly.
Wel, Llywydd, clywais am y mynediad diawdurdod at ddata hwn ddoe, a chlywais amdano o ganlyniad i ddatganiad Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, a dynnodd sylw, fel y dywedodd Paul Davies, at y mynediad diawdurdod at ddata. Mae'n fater difrifol pan nad yw rheoliadau data yn cael eu dilyn yn briodol, ac rwy'n credu bod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn iawn i ymddiheuro i'r bobl hynny y cyhoeddwyd eu data yn anfwriadol fel hyn. Diolch byth, fel y dywedodd Paul Davies, parhaodd y mynediad diawdurdod at ddata am lai na diwrnod ac mae'r ymchwiliadau cychwynnol yn awgrymu na wnaed unrhyw niwed o ganlyniad. Ond mater o lwc yw hynny yn hytrach na dim byd arall.
Mae'n iawn, felly, bod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi sefydlu ymchwiliad i'r hyn a aeth o'i le, wedi hysbysu'r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth, a byddwn yn disgwyl i'r ddwy swyddfa hynny wneud yn siŵr y gellir nodi'r rhesymau sydd y tu ôl i'r mynediad diawdurdod at ddata, ac os oes unrhyw systemau y mae angen eu trwsio, bod y camau hynny yn cael eu cymryd yn gyflym.
Well, I'm sure, First Minister, the people affected would appreciate an apology from you as First Minister, given that these circumstances have taken place. But, of course, this isn't the first personal data breach, following the incident where 13,000 shielding letters were sent to the wrong addresses earlier this year, not once, but of course twice. Let's also not forget that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, under your direct control, First Minister, failed to report daily coronavirus death figures because it used a different reporting system to one set up for the Welsh NHS. Therefore, let's hope that this is the last time people's personal data is mishandled during this pandemic, as this could very well damage public confidence, particularly as people are being asked to hand over personal details for the track and trace system.
First Minister, there's also understandable concern at plans to reduce COVID-19 testing from weekly to fortnightly at care homes in north Wales. Can you therefore confirm that the Welsh Government will not reduce the weekly testing of care home residents in Wales? And can you tell us what discussions the Welsh Government is having with those in the Welsh care sector about its testing programme?
Wel, rwy'n siŵr, Prif Weinidog, y byddai'r bobl sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio yn gwerthfawrogi ymddiheuriad gennych chi fel Prif Weinidog, o gofio bod yr amgylchiadau hyn wedi codi. Ond, wrth gwrs, nid dyma'r mynediad diawdurdod at ddata personol cyntaf, yn dilyn y digwyddiad pan anfonwyd 13,000 o lythyrau gwarchod i'r cyfeiriadau anghywir yn gynharach eleni, nid unwaith, ond dwywaith, wrth gwrs. Gadewch i ni gofio hefyd fod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, o dan eich rheolaeth uniongyrchol chi, Prif Weinidog, wedi methu ag adrodd ffigurau marwolaethau coronafeirws dyddiol oherwydd ei fod wedi defnyddio gwahanol system adrodd i un a sefydlwyd ar gyfer GIG Cymru. Felly, gadewch i ni obeithio mai dyma'r tro olaf y bydd data personol pobl yn cael ei gamdrafod yn ystod y pandemig hwn, gan ei bod yn bosibl iawn y gallai hyn niweidio ffydd y cyhoedd, yn enwedig gan y gofynnir i bobl drosglwyddo manylion personol ar gyfer y system olrhain.
Prif Weinidog, ceir pryder dealladwy hefyd ynghylch cynlluniau i leihau profion COVID-19 o sail wythnosol i bob pythefnos mewn cartrefi gofal yn y gogledd. A allwch chi gadarnhau felly na fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn lleihau'r profion wythnosol ar breswylwyr cartrefi gofal yng Nghymru? Ac a allwch chi ddweud wrthym ni pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cael gyda'r rhai yn sector gofal Cymru am eu rhaglen brofi?
Well, Llywydd, it's important to correct a number of points in that. Let's be clear that Betsi Cadwaladr's use of a different reporting system did not involve any breaches of personal data. The two things are entirely different and they're not connected in the way that the Member attempted to connect them in his follow-up question, nor are care home residents tested. It's care home staff who are tested on a weekly or a fortnightly basis, not residents. So, let's be clear about that too. It is quite important in this to be accurate in the way that we put these questions and discuss them.
So, we are in discussions, of course, with all local health bodies about the rate at which we test staff, and where there are symptomatic residents that residents are tested as well. The positivity rate of staff tested in Welsh care homes over this summer was 0.12 per cent. It was absolutely fractional, and it's important to be proportionate, as I believe your health Secretary Matt Hancock has been preaching all morning, about the way we use the scarce resource that tests represent.
The difficulties that we face in care home testing in Wales are because we switched care home testing to the lighthouse laboratories provided by the UK Government. I'm sorry that some care homes are losing confidence in that system and suggesting that they wouldn't be prepared to take part in it. We will look to see whether we need to switch capacity back into the Welsh system in what I hope will be a short period while those lighthouse labs return to the very good service that they were providing in Wales, as elsewhere, only three weeks ago. But the temporary difficulties in care home testing, such as they are, are as a result of the difficulties that that system, that UK system, is experiencing, not because of difficulties in the Welsh testing system.
Wel, Llywydd, mae'n bwysig cywiro nifer o bwyntiau yn hynny o beth. Gadewch i ni fod yn eglur nad oedd defnydd Betsi Cadwaladr o wahanol system adrodd yn cynnwys unrhyw achosion o fynediad diawdurdod at ddata personol. Mae'r ddau beth yn hollol wahanol ac nid ydyn nhw wedi'u cysylltu yn y ffordd y ceisiodd yr Aelod eu cysylltu nhw yn ei gwestiwn dilynol, ac nid yw preswylwyr cartrefi gofal yn cael eu profi ychwaith. Staff cartrefi gofal sy'n cael eu profi yn wythnosol neu bob pythefnos, nid preswylwyr. Felly, gadewch i ni fod yn eglur ynglŷn â hynny hefyd. Mae'n eithaf pwysig yn hyn o beth i fod yn fanwl gywir yn y ffordd yr ydym ni'n gofyn y cwestiynau hyn ac yn eu trafod.
Felly, rydym ni mewn trafodaethau, wrth gwrs, gyda'r holl gyrff iechyd lleol ynglŷn â'r gyfradd yr ydym ni'n profi staff, a phan fydd preswylwyr â symptomau bod preswylwyr yn cael eu profi hefyd. 0.12 y cant oedd cyfradd bositif staff a brofwyd yng nghartrefi gofal Cymru yn ystod yr haf hwn. Roedd yn fychan iawn, ac mae'n bwysig bod yn gymesur, fel yr wyf i'n credu bod eich Ysgrifennydd iechyd Matt Hancock wedi bod yn ei bregethu drwy'r bore, am y ffordd yr ydym ni'n defnyddio'r adnodd prin y mae profion yn ei gynrychioli.
Mae'r anawsterau sy'n ein hwynebu o ran profi cartrefi gofal yng Nghymru oherwydd i ni newid profion cartrefi gofal i'r labordai goleudy a ddarparwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU. Mae'n ddrwg gen i bod rhai cartrefi gofal yn colli ffydd yn y system honno ac yn awgrymu na fydden nhw'n barod i gymryd rhan ynddi. Byddwn ni'n edrych i weld a oes angen i ni newid capasiti yn ôl i system Cymru yn ystod cyfnod yr wyf i'n obeithio fydd yn fyr tra bydd y labordai goleudy hynny yn dychwelyd i'r gwasanaeth da iawn yr oedden nhw'n ei ddarparu yng Nghymru, fel mewn mannau eraill, dim ond tair wythnos yn ôl. Ond mae'r anawsterau dros dro o ran profi mewn cartrefi gofal, fel y maen nhw, o ganlyniad i'r anawsterau y mae'r system honno, y system DU honno, yn eu wynebu, nid oherwydd anawsterau yn system brofi Cymru.
The point I was making, First Minister, is that it is important that you as a Government consult with the care home sector, because it's absolutely critical that the sector is being fully consulted on your testing policy, and I hope that you will reflect on your comments.
Now, one aspect of testing policy that could make a real difference in identifying possible threats is airport testing. Testing all people returning home from abroad will surely keep people safe. Now, the shadow Home Secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, called for a robust testing regime in airports as a way to minimise the need for the two-week isolation period upon return to the UK, and in a letter to the Home Secretary, he made it clear that ramped-up testing is an important part of trying to respond to the pandemic and safely reopen society. He also said,
'Given the huge challenges being faced by the travel sector and the scale of job losses, it makes sense to look at this area as part of a wider package of improvements to the testing regime.'
The shadow Home Secretary is right; I agree with him. Do you agree with him?
Y pwynt yr oeddwn i'n ei wneud, Prif Weinidog, yw ei bod hi'n bwysig eich bod chi fel Llywodraeth yn ymgynghori â'r sector cartrefi gofal, gan ei bod hi'n gwbl hanfodol eich bod yn ymgynghori'n llawn â'r sector ar eich polisi profi, a gobeithiaf y byddwch chi'n myfyrio ar eich sylwadau.
Nawr, un agwedd ar bolisi profi a allai wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol o ran nodi bygythiadau posibl yw profi mewn meysydd awyr. Siawns y bydd profi pawb sy'n dychwelyd adref o dramor yn cadw pobl yn ddiogel. Nawr, galwodd Ysgrifennydd Cartref yr wrthblaid, Nick Thomas-Symonds, am drefn brofi gadarn mewn meysydd awyr fel ffordd o sicrhau bod cyn lleied â phosibl o angen am y cyfnod ynysu o bythefnos ar ôl dychwelyd i'r DU, ac mewn llythyr at yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref, fe'i gwnaeth yn eglur bod cynyddu profion yn rhan bwysig o geisio ymateb i'r pandemig ac ailagor cymdeithas yn ddiogel. Dywedodd hefyd,
O gofio'r heriau enfawr sy'n wynebu'r sector teithio a maint y colledion swyddi, mae'n gwneud synnwyr i edrych ar y maes hwn yn rhan o becyn ehangach o welliannau i'r drefn brofi.
Mae Ysgrifennydd Cartref yr wrthblaid yn iawn; rwy'n cytuno ag ef. Ydych chi'n cytuno ag ef?
Well, Llywydd, we are in discussions with the airport in Cardiff to see if we can find a practical way in which airport testing itself could be carried out. There are some practical issues that have to be addressed in that, in terms of the length of time that people may have to wait at an airport, how long people would be prepared to wait at an airport—you can't require people to do these things; it's a matter of voluntary participation. Therefore, you have to spend a bit of time to make sure that, if you are able to provide tests at an airport, you can do it in a way that is effective, and those discussions with the airport authorities here in Cardiff are continuing.
Wel, Llywydd, rydym ni'n cynnal trafodaethau gyda'r maes awyr yng Nghaerdydd i weld a allwn ni ddod o hyd i ffordd ymarferol o gynnal profion yn y maes awyr ei hun. Ceir rhai materion ymarferol y mae'n rhaid mynd i'r afael â nhw yn hynny o beth, o ran yr amser y gallai fod yn rhaid i bobl aros mewn maes awyr, am ba hyd y byddai pobl yn barod i aros mewn maes awyr—ni allwch chi fynnu bod pobl yn gwneud y pethau hyn; mae'n fater o gymryd rhan yn wirfoddol. Felly, mae'n rhaid i chi dreulio ychydig o amser i wneud yn siŵr, os gallwch chi ddarparu profion mewn maes awyr, y gallwch chi wneud hynny mewn modd sy'n effeithiol, ac mae'r trafodaethau hynny gydag awdurdodau'r maes awyr yma yng Nghaerdydd yn parhau.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. BMA Cymru Wales has warned that a second COVID peak is highly likely this winter, and is the No. 1 concern among the medical profession, as it is, I'm sure, for all of us. Could I urge the First Minister to give serious consideration to adopting elements of the 10-point winter plan that we published today, which is designed to avoid both a second wave and a second national lockdown? In particular, could I ask that the First Minister examines the case for introducing, whenever possible, the targeted approach adopted by some countries based around smart lockdowns focused on high infection spikes at a community or neighbourhood level, rather than lockdowns across a whole local authority area?
Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Mae BMA Cymru Wales wedi rhybuddio bod ail uchafbwynt COVID yn debygol iawn y gaeaf hwn, ac mai dyma'r prif bryder ymhlith y proffesiwn meddygol, fel sy'n wir, rwy'n siŵr, i bob un ohonom ni. A gaf i annog y Prif Weinidog i roi ystyriaeth ddifrifol i fabwysiadu elfennau o'r cynllun gaeaf 10 pwynt a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni heddiw, sydd â'r nod o osgoi ail don ac ail gyfnod o gyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol? Yn benodol, a gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog archwilio'r achos dros gyflwyno, pryd bynnag y bo hynny'n bosibl, y dull wedi'i dargedu a fabwysiadwyd gan rai gwledydd yn seiliedig ar gyfyngiadau symud clyfar sy'n canolbwyntio ar niferoedd uchel o haint ar lefel gymunedol neu gymdogaeth, yn hytrach na chyfyngiadau symud ar draws ardal awdurdod lleol gyfan?
I thank Adam Price for that question, Llywydd, and I'm looking forward to having a chance to look properly at the 10-point plan. Any constructive contributions to ways in which we can better approach the winter are welcome. I know that he will have seen the winter protection plan that the Welsh Government has published today, and there's a lot of overlap between the ideas. So I'm very keen to look constructively at those ideas.
In many ways, the idea of a smart or targeted approach can be seen in the way in which our TTP system responded, for example, to the Rowan Foods outbreak in Wrexham, where we didn't need to have borough-wide restrictions on people's liberties: we were able to focus on the people who worked at that plant and their immediate contacts. The requirement to self-isolate, the advice that was given to that particular group in the population, could be, I think, fairly regarded as an example of a smart lockdown, as those people were in isolation for 14 days. The more we are able to target our interventions so that they respond to the nature of the problem we have in front of us, and don't restrict therefore the lives of people who are not directly caught up in that, the better I think we will command public confidence when those measures need to be taken.
Diolchaf i Adam Price am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gael cyfle i edrych yn iawn ar y cynllun 10 pwynt. Mae croeso i unrhyw gyfraniadau adeiladol at ffyrdd y gallwn ni fynd i'r afael â'r gaeaf yn well. Gwn y bydd wedi gweld y cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ei gyhoeddi heddiw, a cheir llawer o orgyffwrdd rhwng y syniadau. Felly rwy'n awyddus iawn i edrych yn adeiladol ar y syniadau hynny.
Mewn sawl ffordd, gellir gweld y syniad o ddull gweithredu clyfar neu wedi'i dargedu yn y ffordd yr ymatebodd ein system profi, olrhain, diogelu, er enghraifft, i achosion Rowan Foods yn Wrecsam, pan nad oedd angen i ni gael cyfyngiadau ar ryddid pobl ar draws y fwrdeistref gyfan: roeddem ni'n gallu canolbwyntio ar y bobl a oedd yn gweithio yn y gwaith hwnnw a'u cysylltiadau uniongyrchol. Credaf y gellid ystyried y gofyniad i hunanynysu, y cyngor a roddwyd i'r grŵp penodol hwnnw yn y boblogaeth, fel enghraifft deg o gyfyngiadau symud clyfar, gan fod y bobl hynny wedi'u hynysu am 14 diwrnod. Y mwyaf y gallwn ni dargedu ein hymyraethau fel eu bod nhw'n ymateb i natur y broblem sydd gennym ni o'n blaenau, ac nad ydyn nhw'n cyfyngu felly ar fywydau pobl nad ydyn nhw'n rhan uniongyrchol o hynny, y gorau oll yr wyf i'n credu y byddwn ni'n ennyn hyder y cyhoedd pan fydd angen cymryd y mesurau hynny.
The forecasting team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine are reporting currently their estimate, as of 11 September, of the R figure for Wales as being 1.43, which would put Wales as having the highest rate of growth currently in the UK and a doubling time of just over six days. Do you recognise those estimates, First Minister? If not, what are the Welsh Government's latest estimates? Given the growing urgency of the situation and the difficulties that you referred to earlier in terms of the UK lighthouse lab system, is it possible to bring that new network of hot lab facilities being planned in Wales on-stream earlier than November? As capacity grows, can we look at testing asymptomatic contacts as many countries, including the United States, have now begun to do?
Mae'r tîm rhagolygon yn Ysgol Hylendid a Meddygaeth Drofannol Llundain yn adrodd ar hyn o bryd mai 1.43 yw eu hamcangyfrif o ffigur R Cymru, ar 11 Medi, a fyddai'n golygu mai Cymru sydd â'r gyfradd uchaf o dwf yn y DU ar hyn o bryd ac amser dyblu o ychydig dros chwe diwrnod. A ydych chi'n cydnabod yr amcangyfrifon hynny, Prif Weinidog? Os nad ydych chi, beth yw amcangyfrifon diweddaraf Llywodraeth Cymru? O gofio brys cynyddol y sefyllfa a'r anawsterau y cyfeiriasoch chi atyn nhw'n gynharach o ran system labordy goleudy'r DU, a yw'n bosibl cyflwyno'r rhwydwaith newydd hwnnw o gyfleusterau labordy poeth sy'n cael eu cynllunio yng Nghymru yn gynharach na mis Tachwedd? Wrth i gapasiti dyfu, a allwn ni edrych ar brofi cysylltiadau asymptomatig fel y mae llawer o wledydd, gan gynnwys yr Unol Daleithiau, wedi dechrau ei wneud erbyn hyn?
Llywydd, I thank Adam Price again for those questions. The technical advisory cell summary published, I think, today, suggests that the R level in Wales is above 1. I don't think we would sign up to a figure as precise as 1.43. The problem with the R figure for the whole of Wales is that it is inevitably affected by the south-east corner of Wales, where we have seen such spikes in the last week or so. There are whole parts of Wales, Llywydd, where numbers are still very effectively suppressed, and an R level of 1.43 would not be a reflection of the circulation of the virus in those parts of Wales. So, a single figure for Wales at the moment is particularly affected by what we have seen in Caerphilly, in RCT and more latterly in Newport. Nevertheless, the TAC summary does suggest that the rate has crept back above 1 in Wales, and it's why we took the measures that we did on Friday of last week, to respond on a Wales-wide basis to that emerging picture.
The £32 million investment that my colleague Vaughan Gething announced on 18 August, Llywydd, will mean 24-hour working in labs in Swansea, in Cardiff and in Rhyl in October, and hot lab capacity more widely in Wales—at the moment in November. If we can, of course, draw it forward, we will want to do that. The investment is both a matter of capital investment but also employing more staff in those laboratories. We had 3,000 applications for the 160 jobs that will be recruited, and interviews for those posts began yesterday. So the sooner we are able to get those people in post, the sooner we will be able to get that lab capacity in active operation here in Wales. And when we have more capacity in that way, we will be able to think again about who we test, when we test them, including—I'm not suggesting that we've made that decision at all, but it will allow us to consider the issue of asymptomatic testing in a different way.
Llywydd, diolchaf eto i Adam Price am y cwestiynau yna. Mae'r crynodeb y gell cyngor technegol a gyhoeddwyd heddiw, rwy'n credu, yn awgrymu bod y lefel R yng Nghymru yn uwch nag 1. Nid wyf i'n credu y byddem ni'n ymrwymo i ffigur mor fanwl ag 1.43. Y broblem gyda'r ffigur R ar gyfer Cymru gyfan yw ei bod hi'n anochel bod cornel de-ddwyrain Cymru yn effeithio arno, lle'r ydym ni wedi gweld cymaint o gynnydd i achosion yn ystod yr wythnos ddiwethaf. Mae rhannau cyfan o Gymru, Llywydd, lle mae'r niferoedd yn dal i gael eu cadw'n isel yn effeithiol iawn, ac ni fyddai lefel R o 1.43 yn adlewyrchiad o gylchrediad y feirws yn y rhannau hynny o Gymru. Felly, mae'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei weld yng Nghaerffili, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf ac yn fwy diweddar yng Nghasnewydd, yn effeithio'n arbennig ar y ffigur unigol ar gyfer Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Serch hynny, mae crynodeb y gell cyngor technegol yn awgrymu bod y gyfradd wedi codi yn ôl yn uwch nag 1 yng Nghymru, a dyna pam y cymerwyd y mesurau a gymerwyd gennym ni ddydd Gwener yr wythnos diwethaf, i ymateb ar sail Cymru gyfan i'r darlun hwnnw a oedd yn dod i'r amlwg.
Bydd y buddsoddiad o £32 miliwn a gyhoeddodd fy nghyd-Weinidog Vaughan Gething ar 18 Awst, Llywydd, yn golygu gweithio 24 awr mewn labordai yn Abertawe, yng Nghaerdydd ac yn y Rhyl ym mis Hydref, a chapasiti labordy poeth yn ehangach yng Nghymru—ar hyn o bryd ym mis Tachwedd. Os gallwn ni, wrth gwrs, ei gyflwyno yn gynharach, byddwn yn dymuno gwneud hynny. Mae'r buddsoddiad yn fater o fuddsoddiad cyfalaf ond hefyd yn fater o gyflogi mwy o staff yn y labordai hynny. Cawsom 3,000 o geisiadau am y 160 o swyddi a fydd yn cael eu recriwtio, a dechreuodd cyfweliadau ar gyfer y swyddi hynny ddoe. Felly, gorau po gyntaf y gallwn ni gael y bobl hynny yn y swyddi, gorau po gyntaf y byddwn ni'n gallu cael y capasiti labordy hwnnw ar waith yma yng Nghymru. A phan fydd gennym ni fwy o gapasiti yn y modd hwnnw, byddwn yn gallu ystyried eto pwy yr ydym ni'n eu profi, pryd y byddwn ni'n eu profi, gan gynnwys—nid wyf i'n awgrymu ein bod ni wedi gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw o gwbl, ond bydd yn caniatáu i ni ystyried y mater o brofion asymptomatig mewn ffordd wahanol.
In six weeks' time, the UK Government's furlough scheme will end, and the looming cliff edge will leave thousands of workers facing the crippling uncertainty of unemployment. If a further rise in COVID cases means local lockdowns will have to be imposed in other areas over the coming months, and if the UK Government does not act, does the Welsh Government have a contingency plan to offer a local furlough, effectively, as well as financial support to businesses and local public services in the affected areas, as well as those unable to earn because they are self-isolating? I'm sure the First Minister would agree that it would be absolutely wrong to penalise people simply for being ill.
Ymhen chwe wythnos, bydd cynllun ffyrlo Llywodraeth y DU yn dod i ben, a bydd pen y dibyn sydd ar y gorwel yn gadael miloedd o weithwyr yn wynebu ansicrwydd andwyol diweithdra. Os bydd cynnydd pellach i achosion COVID yn golygu y bydd yn rhaid gorfodi cyfyngiadau symud lleol mewn ardaloedd eraill dros y misoedd nesaf, ac os na fydd Llywodraeth y DU yn gweithredu, a oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynllun wrth gefn i gynnig ffyrlo lleol, i bob pwrpas, yn ogystal â chymorth ariannol i fusnesau a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus lleol yn yr ardaloedd sy'n cael eu heffeithio, yn ogystal â'r rhai nad ydyn nhw yn gallu ennill gan eu bod nhw'n hunanynysu? Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno y byddai'n gwbl anghywir i gosbi pobl dim ond am eu bod yn sâl.
I entirely agree with that point, Llywydd, and it's been made repeatedly by me, by Vaughan Gething, by the First Minister of Scotland in a call where I joined with her, and, indeed, the First Minister of Northern Ireland in calling on the UK Government not to bring the furlough scheme to a blunt end—to recalibrate it, to recast it and to add to it an ability to support the wages of those people who we are asking to self-isolate for 14 days. At the moment, there is a perverse incentive for those people who work on very low wages to go into work when you're not feeling well, because otherwise you have to rely on £95-worth of sick pay every week. A simple scheme in which the UK Government itself guaranteed the normal wage level of those people, or indeed did it in partnership with employers, would eliminate that perverse incentive. I think it would increase compliance with the rules that keep us all safe and would be a sensible investment by the UK Government, because you will be, in the way we often talk about in this Chamber, acting preventatively rather than having to pick up the costs that follow when that person does go into work, infects other people, leads to greater demand on public services and firms having to stop production, and so on.
My colleague Ken Skates is at the moment working on the third phase of the economic resilience fund here in Wales. Part of that consideration is the help that we can give to firms who find themselves caught up in local lockdowns here in Wales in future. Will our budget stretch to the income maintenance of people who are affected by the end of the furlough scheme or who need to self-isolate? I'm afraid we're simply not resourced to do that. Income maintenance is not a devolved function to the Welsh Government. Funds don't flow to us from the UK Government to support that, and it's much harder to see how we would be able, in an affordable way, to devise a scheme of the sort that Adam Price rightly draws attention to but that is equally rightly the responsibility of the UK Government to put in place.
Rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â'r pwynt yna, Llywydd, ac mae wedi cael ei wneud dro ar ôl tro gennyf i, gan Vaughan Gething, gan Brif Weinidog yr Alban mewn galwad pan ymunais â hi, ac, yn wir, Prif Weinidog Gogledd Iwerddon yn galw ar Lywodraeth y DU i beidio â dod â'r cynllun ffyrlo i derfyn sydyn—i'w ail-grynhoi, ei ail-lunio a'i ychwanegu at allu i gefnogi cyflogau'r bobl hynny yr ydym ni'n gofyn iddyn nhw hunanynysu am 14 diwrnod. Ar hyn o bryd, ceir cymhelliad gwrthnysig i'r bobl hynny sy'n gweithio ar gyflogau isel iawn fynd i'r gwaith pan nad ydych chi'n teimlo'n dda, oherwydd fel arall mae'n rhaid i chi ddibynnu ar werth £95 o dâl salwch bob wythnos. Byddai cynllun syml lle byddai Llywodraeth y DU ei hun yn sicrhau lefel cyflog arferol y bobl hynny, neu'n ei wneud mewn partneriaeth â chyflogwyr yn wir, yn cael gwared ar y cymhelliad gwrthnysig hwnnw. Rwy'n credu y byddai'n cynyddu cydymffurfiad â'r rheolau sy'n ein cadw ni i gyd yn ddiogel ac yn fuddsoddiad doeth gan Lywodraeth y DU, oherwydd fe fyddwch, yn y modd yr ydym ni'n aml yn siarad amdano yn y Siambr hon, yn gweithredu'n ataliol yn hytrach na gorfod talu'r pris sy'n dilyn pan fydd y person hwnnw yn mynd i'r gwaith, yn heintio pobl eraill, yn arwain at fwy o alw am wasanaethau cyhoeddus a chwmnïau yn gorfod rhoi'r gorau i gynhyrchu, ac yn y blaen.
Mae fy nghyd-Weinidog Ken Skates wrthi'n gweithio ar hyn o bryd ar drydydd cam y gronfa cadernid economaidd yma yng Nghymru. Rhan o'r ystyriaeth honno yw'r cymorth y gallwn ni ei roi i gwmnïau sy'n canfod eu hunain yn destun cyfyngiadau symud lleol yma yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol. A fydd ein cyllideb yn ymestyn i gynnal incwm pobl sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan ddiwedd y cynllun ffyrlo neu sydd angen hunanynysu? Rwy'n ofni nad yw'r adnoddau gennym ni i wneud hynny. Nid yw cynnal incwm yn swyddogaeth sydd wedi ei datganoli i Lywodraeth Cymru. Nid oes cyllid yn llifo i ni gan Lywodraeth y DU i gefnogi hynny, ac mae'n llawer anoddach gweld sut y byddem ni'n gallu llunio, mewn ffordd fforddiadwy, cynllun o'r math y mae Adam Price yn tynnu sylw ato'n briodol ond yn yr un modd, yn briodol, cyfrifoldeb Llywodraeth y DU yw rhoi hynny ar waith.
Arweinydd Plaid Brexit, Mark Reckless.
Leader of the Brexit Party, Mark Reckless.
First Minister, given the legal requirement to inform the Information Commissioner within 72 hours, and his guidance to inform those affected without undue delay, did you and/or Public Health Wales sit, I believe, for around two weeks on news of this major data leak?
Could I also ask you to clarify your version of the rule of six, which you insist must be different from England's? Why say that these six must be of the same extended household, formed of up to four households, not including children, but then that these four households, although forming an extended household, may not all meet at once if more than six?
Could I also remind you that you previously said that there was only a marginal public health case for non-medical face coverings? Your health Minister said that the Chief Medical Officer for Wales thinks that masks should be a matter of personal choice. What new evidence have you seen to remove that personal choice from people?
Prif Weinidog, o ystyried y gofyniad cyfreithiol i hysbysu'r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth o fewn 72 awr, a'i ganllawiau i hysbysu'r rhai yr effeithir arnynt heb oedi diangen, a wnaethoch chi a/neu Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru eistedd, rwy'n credu, am oddeutu pythefnos ar newyddion am y datgeliad data mawr hwn?
A gaf i ofyn i chi hefyd egluro eich fersiwn chi o'r rheol chwech, yr ydych chi'n mynnu ei bod yn rhaid iddi fod yn wahanol i un Lloegr? Pam ydych chi'n dweud bod yn rhaid i'r chwech hyn fod o'r un aelwyd estynedig, wedi'i ffurfio o hyd at bedair aelwyd, heb gynnwys plant, ond yna efallai na fydd y pedair aelwyd hyn, er eu bod yn ffurfio aelwyd estynedig, yn cael cyfarfod ar yr un pryd os oes mwy na chwech?
A gaf i eich atgoffa hefyd eich bod chi wedi dweud yn y gorffennol mai dim ond dadl iechyd cyhoeddus ymylol oedd dros ddefnyddio gorchuddion wyneb anfeddygol? Dywedodd eich Gweinidog iechyd bod Prif Swyddog Meddygol Cymru yn credu y dylai masgiau fod yn fater o ddewis personol. Pa dystiolaeth newydd ydych chi wedi ei gweld i gymryd y dewis personol hwnnw oddi wrth bobl?
Llywydd, the rule of six I don't think is very difficult to follow. What we know is that coronavirus is being passed by people meeting inside each other's houses. That is what lies behind the transmission in Caerphilly. That is what lies behind the transmission in many parts of England. And in order to try to bring the position back under control, what we are proposing in Wales is that no more than six people should meet indoors at any one time; it limits the chain of transmission. It really is as simple as that. And when chains of transmission are driving up figures of people suffering from coronavirus in significant parts of Wales, and doing so quite alarmingly, then it is very important that the Government act to bring that back under control.
We have a more liberal regime here in Wales than elsewhere because four households are able to form a single extended household, and that itself provides an umbrella which helps to disrupt chains of transmission, but no more than six of those people should meet at any one time. We will allow primary school aged children to be part of that household beyond the six because of the evidence that those children don't suffer from coronavirus and don't transmit coronavirus in the way that adults do. It's a proportionate attempt to try not to interfere in people's freedoms more than the minimum necessary, but to do the minimum necessary in order to address the escalating numbers of coronavirus that we see in too many parts of Wales.
As far as face coverings are concerned, in our local lockdown plan, again published in the middle of August, Llywydd, we said that if the circulation of the virus in Wales moved beyond a certain threshold, we would revisit our advice on face coverings. At the end of last week, the rate in Wales went to 20 per 100,000 of the population, and has remained above 20 ever since. Twenty is the figure we use to identify foreign countries where if you've been abroad and you have to return to the United Kingdom, you have to self-isolate. It seemed to me to be again a proportionate way of marking that unfortunate threshold that we should ask people in Wales to do that marginal thing, because when you get to circulation of the virus at that level, marginal bits of help that assist us all in keeping it under control and driving it down become worthwhile.
Llywydd, nid wyf i'n credu ei bod hi'n anodd iawn dilyn y rheol chwech. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wybod yw bod coronafeirws yn cael ei drosglwyddo gan bobl sy'n cyfarfod y tu mewn i dai ei gilydd. Dyna sydd y tu ôl i'r trosglwyddiad yng Nghaerffili. Dyna sydd y tu ôl i'r trosglwyddiad mewn sawl rhan o Loegr. Ac er mwyn ceisio dod â'r sefyllfa yn ôl dan reolaeth, yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei gynnig yng Nghymru yw na ddylai mwy na chwech o bobl gyfarfod dan do ar unrhyw un adeg; mae'n cyfyngu ar y gadwyn drosglwyddo. Mae mor syml â hynny. A phan fo cadwyni trosglwyddo yn cynyddu ffigurau pobl sy'n dioddef o coronafeirws mewn rhannau helaeth o Gymru, ac yn gwneud hynny mewn ffordd eithaf brawychus, yna mae'n bwysig iawn bod y Llywodraeth yn gweithredu i ddod â hynny yn ôl dan reolaeth.
Mae gennym ni drefn fwy rhyddfrydol yma yng Nghymru nag mewn mannau eraill gan y gall pedair aelwyd ffurfio un aelwyd estynedig, ac mae hynny ynddo'i hun yn cynnig ymbarél sy'n helpu i darfu ar gadwyni trosglwyddo, ond ni ddylai mwy na chwech o'r bobl hynny gyfarfod ar unrhyw un adeg. Byddwn yn caniatáu i blant oedran ysgol gynradd fod yn rhan o'r aelwyd honno y tu hwnt i'r chwech oherwydd y dystiolaeth nad yw'r plant hynny yn dioddef o coronafeirws ac nad ydyn nhw'n trosglwyddo coronafeirws yn y ffordd y mae oedolion yn ei wneud. Mae'n ymgais gymesur i geisio peidio ag ymyrryd â rhyddid pobl yn fwy na'r hyn sy'n angenrheidiol, ond gwneud y lleiaf sy'n angenrheidiol i fynd i'r afael â'r cynnydd i'r coronafeirws yr ydym ni'n ei weld mewn gormod o rannau o Gymru.
O ran gorchuddion wyneb, yn ein cynllun cyfyngiadau symud lleol, a gyhoeddwyd hefyd yng nghanol mis Awst, Llywydd, dywedasom, pe byddai cylchrediad y feirws yng Nghymru yn symud y tu hwnt i drothwy penodol, y byddem ni'n ailystyried ein cyngor ar orchuddion wyneb. Ddiwedd yr wythnos diwethaf, aeth y gyfradd yng Nghymru i 20 o bob 100,000 o'r boblogaeth, ac mae wedi aros yn uwch nag 20 byth ers hynny. Ugain yw'r ffigur yr ydym ni'n ei ddefnyddio i nodi gwledydd tramor lle os ydych chi wedi bod dramor a bod yn rhaid i chi ddychwelyd i'r Deyrnas Unedig, mae'n rhaid i chi hunanynysu. Roedd hon yn ymddangos i mi unwaith eto yn ffordd gymesur o nodi'r trothwy anffodus hwnnw y dylem ni ofyn i bobl yng Nghymru wneud y peth ymylol hwnnw, oherwydd pan fyddwch chi'n cyrraedd cylchrediad y feirws ar y lefel honno, mae darnau ymylol o gymorth sy'n ein cynorthwyo ni i gyd i'w gadw dan reolaeth a'i yrru at i lawr yn dod yn werth chweil.
In Sweden, there was no lockdown, as we've discussed before, First Minister, and there has to date been no significant resurgence in the virus; indeed, we've just lifted travel restrictions on Sweden. Yet in Spain, where there was a very severe lockdown, we're seeing a large resurgence of the virus. What then is the reasoning behind the Welsh Government's strategy of keeping people locked down throughout summer when people's immune systems are at that strongest, and when NHS capacity is at its greatest, only to delay increasing infections until we are going into winter? You've locked down my constituents in the Caerphilly council area, and even talked about the possibility of curfews and restrictions on alcohol sales as potential measures you may consider. Having taken people's summer away only for cases to rise again, do you accept that lockdown fatigue has taken hold and that you cannot keep people locked down forever? How much longer do you expect to drag out this pandemic in Wales through your restrictions?
Yn Sweden, nid oedd unrhyw gyfyngiadau symud, fel yr ydym ni wedi ei drafod o'r blaen, Prif Weinidog, ac ni fu unrhyw atgyfodiad sylweddol yn y feirws hyd yma; yn wir, rydym ni newydd godi cyfyngiadau teithio ar Sweden. Ac eto, yn Sbaen, lle cafwyd cyfyngiadau symud difrifol iawn, rydym ni'n gweld atgyfodiad mawr o'r feirws. Beth felly yw'r rhesymeg sy'n sail i strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru o gadw pobl dan glo drwy'r haf pan fo systemau imiwnedd pobl ar eu cryfaf, a phan fo capasiti'r GIG ar ei fwyaf, dim ond i ohirio cynyddu heintiau tan i ni gyrraedd y gaeaf? Rydych chi wedi cyflwyno cyfyngiadau symud ar fy etholwyr i yn ardal cyngor Caerffili, a hyd yn oed wedi sôn am y posibilrwydd o gyrffyw a chyfyngiadau ar werthu alcohol fel mesurau posibl y gallech chi eu hystyried. Ar ôl cymryd haf pobl oddi arnynt dim ond i achosion gynyddu unwaith eto, a ydych chi'n derbyn bod blinder â chyfyngiadau symud wedi dod i'r amlwg ac na allwch chi gadw pobl dan glo am byth?Am faint yn hwy ydych chi'n disgwyl cadw'r pandemig hwn i fynd yng Nghymru drwy eich cyfyngiadau?
Well, Llywydd, the Member often appears to occupy a world that many of the rest of us don't occupy, but now he appears to have a different season in his clock as well. Wales was not locked down during the summer. Our tourism industry has resumed, our 'stay local' restrictions have been lifted, people have been able to meet in the outdoors, people have been able to meet indoors. It's absolutely nonsensical to say that the summer was lost here in Wales. What has really happened in Wales is that some people, a minority of people in Wales, have taken the summer as a sign that coronavirus was over, and the fact that they have been able to do so much more than they were previously has been read by them as a licence to do even more than was permitted, and we are seeing the results. We are seeing the results in the lives of people who are now suffering from this disease, and I'm afraid that we will see over the weeks to come the impact of that in people being admitted to hospital and calling on our intensive care unit beds again. So, very far from the Welsh Government denying people freedoms that they should have experienced, we have done our very best to restore freedoms whenever it has been safe to do so, and I am saddened by the fact that, at the moment, we are faced with a position where the Welsh experience of coronavirus, instead of improving, is worsening. We may all have to make those efforts again that we made earlier this year unless we are able to persuade all of those people—in the Member's constituency and otherwise—to act in a way that protects themselves, protects others and helps us all to keep Wales safe.
Wel, Llywydd, mae'n ymddangos bod yr Aelod yn aml yn byw mewn byd nad oes llawer o'r gweddill ohonom ni yn byw ynddo, ond mae'n ymddangos erbyn hyn bod ganddo wahanol dymhorau yn ei gloc hefyd. Nid oedd Cymru yn destun cyfyngiadau symud yn ystod yr haf. Mae ein diwydiant twristiaeth wedi ailddechrau, mae ein cyfyngiadau 'aros yn lleol' wedi eu codi, mae pobl wedi cael cyfarfod yn yr awyr agored, mae pobl wedi cael cyfarfod dan do. Mae'n gwbl hurt i ddweud y collwyd yr haf hwn yng Nghymru. Yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghymru mewn gwirionedd yw bod rhai pobl, lleiafrif o bobl yng Nghymru, wedi cymryd yr haf fel arwydd bod coronafeirws ar ben, ac maen nhw wedi cymryd y ffaith eu bod nhw wedi gallu gwneud cymaint mwy nag yr oedden nhw yn flaenorol fel rhyddid i wneud hyd yn oed mwy na'r hyn a ganiatawyd, ac rydym ni'n gweld y canlyniadau. Rydym ni'n gweld y canlyniadau ym mywydau pobl sy'n dioddef o'r clefyd hwn erbyn hyn, ac mae arnaf i ofn y byddwn ni'n gweld, dros yr wythnosau i ddod, effaith hynny wrth i bobl gael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty ac yn galw ar welyau ein hunedau gofal dwys unwaith eto. Felly, ymhell iawn o Lywodraeth Cymru yn atal rhyddid y dylai pobl fod wedi ei fwynhau, rydym ni wedi gwneud ein gorau glas i adfer rhyddid pryd bynnag y bu'n ddiogel i wneud hynny, ac mae'r ffaith ein bod ni, ar hyn o bryd, yn wynebu sefyllfa lle mae profiad Cymru o coronafeirws, yn hytrach na gwella, yn gwaethygu yn fy nigalonni. Efallai y bydd yn rhaid i bob un ohonom ni unwaith eto wneud yr ymdrechion hynny a wnaed gennym ni yn gynharach eleni oni bai y gallwn ni berswadio'r holl bobl hynny—yn etholaeth yr Aelod ac fel arall—i ymddwyn mewn ffordd sy'n diogelu eu hunain, yn diogelu pobl eraill ac yn ein helpu ni i gyd i gadw Cymru yn ddiogel.
3. Pa gymorth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i roi i bobl awtistig yn ystod y pandemig coronafeirws? OQ55500
3. What support has the Welsh Government provided to autistic people during the coronavirus pandemic? OQ55500
Llywydd, the coronavirus crisis has been especially challenging for autistic people. Working with others, the Welsh Government has focused on practical help and specific guidance for those affected. Last month, for example, and jointly with the National Autistic Society, we published advice on face coverings for autistic people on public transport.
Llywydd, mae argyfwng y coronafeirws wedi bod yn arbennig o anodd i bobl awtistig. Gan weithio gydag eraill, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi canolbwyntio ar gymorth ymarferol a chanllawiau penodol i'r rhai sy'n cael eu heffeithio. Y mis diwethaf, er enghraifft, ac ar y cyd â Chymdeithas Genedlaethol Awtistiaeth, cyhoeddwyd cyngor gennym ar orchuddion wyneb ar gyfer pobl awtistig ar gludiant cyhoeddus.
The 'Left stranded' report published last week by the National Autistic Society and its partners shows that as well as significantly exacerbating long-established challenges autistic people face getting suitable social care and educational support, the coronavirus pandemic has had a severely detrimental impact on the mental health of autistic people and their families. How, therefore, will you respond to the report's call for the Welsh Government to: create an action plan to protect autistic people and their families in case of a second wave; prioritise the development of the code of practice on the delivery of autism services; strengthen the legal rights of autistic people and their families in Wales accordingly; publish the additional learning needs code ahead of moving to the new support system next year; and implement the commitment that all teachers receive mandatory autism training as part of their initial teacher education, alongside rolling out a public awareness campaign on autism, as is happening elsewhere in the UK?
Mae'r adroddiad 'Left stranded', a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf gan y Gymdeithas Awtistiaeth Genedlaethol a'i phartneriaid, yn dangos bod pandemig y coronfeirws, yn ogystal â gwaethygu yn sylweddol heriau hirsefydlog sy'n wynebu pobl awtistig o ran cael gofal cymdeithasol a chymorth addysgol addas, wedi cael effaith niweidiol iawn ar iechyd meddwl pobl awtistig a'u teuluoedd. Sut, felly, y gwnewch chi ymateb i alwad yr adroddiad ar Lywodraeth Cymru i: greu cynllun gweithredu i amddiffyn pobl awtistig a'u teuluoedd os bydd ail don; blaenoriaethu datblygiad y cod ymarfer ar ddarparu gwasanaethau awtistiaeth; cryfhau hawliau cyfreithiol pobl awtistig a'u teuluoedd yng Nghymru yn unol â hynny; cyhoeddi'r cod anghenion dysgu ychwanegol cyn symud i'r system gymorth newydd y flwyddyn nesaf; a gweithredu'r ymrwymiad bod pob athro ac athrawes yn cael hyfforddiant awtistiaeth gorfodol yn rhan o'u haddysg gychwynnol i athrawon, ochr yn ochr â chyflwyno ymgyrch ymwybyddiaeth gyhoeddus ar awtistiaeth, fel sy'n digwydd mewn mannau eraill yn y DU?
Llywydd, can I thank Mark Isherwood for drawing attention to the 'Left stranded' report, an important report? I know that the Member wrote yesterday to both the health and education Ministers drawing their attention to it.
As Mark Isherwood has said, there are three specific recommendations in the report for the Welsh Government. The first is to develop a code of practice on the delivery of autism services, and the Minister for Health and Social Services will issue a written statement shortly, before the end of this month, setting out the timetables for consultation and publication of the code.
The second recommendation was for the publication of the additional learning needs code and the implementation of it in 2021, and on 3 September the Minister for Education announced that the code and the regulations will be laid before the Senedd in February of next year, and that that will, indeed, allow the commencement of the Act and the phased roll out of it from September 2021.
The third recommendation concerns the national awareness campaign to which the Member drew attention, and our national autistic team and others—including those working in the field of initial teacher training—are working together to raise public awareness of autism in the community as a key theme of our implementation plans.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Mark Isherwood am dynnu sylw at yr adroddiad 'Left stranded', sy'n adroddiad pwysig? Gwn fod yr Aelod wedi ysgrifennu ddoe at y Gweinidogion iechyd ac addysg yn tynnu eu sylw ato.
Fel y mae Mark Isherwood wedi ei ddweud, ceir tri argymhelliad penodol yn yr adroddiad i Lywodraeth Cymru. Y cyntaf yw datblygu cod ymarfer ar ddarparu gwasanaethau awtistiaeth, a bydd y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn cyhoeddi datganiad ysgrifenedig yn fuan, cyn diwedd y mis hwn, yn nodi'r amserlenni ar gyfer ymgynghori a chyhoeddi'r cod.
Yr ail argymhelliad oedd cyhoeddi'r cod anghenion dysgu ychwanegol a'i roi ar waith yn 2021, ac ar 3 Medi cyhoeddodd y Gweinidog Addysg y bydd y cod a'r rheoliadau yn cael eu gosod gerbron y Senedd ym mis Chwefror y flwyddyn nesaf, ac y bydd hynny, yn wir, yn caniatáu cychwyn y Ddeddf a'i chyflwyno yn raddol o fis Medi 2021.
Mae'r trydydd argymhelliad yn ymwneud â'r ymgyrch ymwybyddiaeth genedlaethol y tynnodd yr Aelod sylw ati, ac mae ein tîm awtistiaeth cenedlaethol ac eraill—gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n gweithio ym maes hyfforddiant cychwynnol i athrawon—yn cydweithio i godi ymwybyddiaeth y cyhoedd o awtistiaeth yn y gymuned fel thema allweddol yn ein cynlluniau gweithredu.
First Minister, you mentioned in your response to Mark Isherwood the code of practice around face coverings for autistic people, and you'll be very aware, I know, that as well as autistic people finding it sometimes difficult to wear a face mask, they can also find it difficult to communicate with somebody who is wearing a face mask, and the same would be true, for example, of deaf people who may need to lip read. Can you confirm this afternoon, First Minister—and I'm asking you this question in the context of a constituent who had an issue with this—that if a member of the public, an autistic person or a person with deafness issues, requests a member of staff in a shop to remove their face covering so that that deaf person or autistic person can more effectively communicate with them, that it is acceptable for the member of staff to do that, providing it is possible to maintain the 2m social distancing? My constituent's experience suggests that there may be some confusion on the part of shop staff in this regard.
Prif Weinidog, soniasoch yn eich ymateb i Mark Isherwood am y cod ymarfer yn ymwneud â gorchuddion wyneb ar gyfer pobl awtistig, a byddwch yn ymwybodol iawn, mi wn, y gall pobl awtistig hefyd ei chael hi'n anodd cyfathrebu â rhywun sy'n gwisgo masg wyneb, yn ogystal â'i chael hi'n anodd weithiau gwisgo masg wyneb, a byddai'r un peth yn wir, er enghraifft, am bobl fyddar y gallai fod angen iddyn nhw ddarllen gwefusau. A allwch chi gadarnhau y prynhawn yma, Prif Weinidog—ac rwy'n gofyn y cwestiwn hwn i chi yng nghyd-destun etholwr a gafodd broblem gyda hyn—pe byddai aelod o'r cyhoedd, person awtistig neu berson â phroblemau byddardod, yn gofyn i aelod o staff mewn siop dynnu ei orchudd wyneb fel y gall y person byddar neu'r person awtistig hwnnw gyfathrebu yn fwy effeithiol ag ef, ei bod hi'n dderbyniol i'r aelod o staff wneud hynny, cyn belled â'i bod yn bosibl cynnal y pellter ymbellhau cymdeithasol o 2 fetr? Mae profiad fy etholwr yn awgrymu y gallai fod rhywfaint o ddryswch ar ran staff siopau yn hyn o beth.
Llywydd, I thank Helen Mary Jones for that. I confirm that in the circumstances she has described it would be acceptable, but we do know that there is quite a lot of learning that the system has to absorb. It was one of the hesitations that the chief medical officer has always expressed about compulsory use of face coverings, that there have to be exceptions and we have to be sensitive to those people who for different reasons do not find the wearing of a face covering themselves possible or who find it difficult when others wear them. We will use all the exceptions that we put into place when face coverings were made compulsory on public transport in the new areas that we have made them compulsory as from Monday of this week, and there will, I'm afraid, be a short period in which sensitivity to some of these issues will have to be developed amongst people who haven't had to operate in this way up until now.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Helen Mary Jones am hynna. Cadarnhaf y byddai'n dderbyniol o dan yr amgylchiadau y mae wedi eu disgrifio, ond rydym ni'n gwybod bod cryn dipyn o ddysgu y mae'n rhaid i'r system ei gymryd i mewn. Roedd yn un o'r pryderon y mae'r prif swyddog meddygol wedi eu mynegi erioed am ddefnydd gorfodol o orchuddion wyneb, bod yn rhaid cael eithriadau a bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn sensitif i'r bobl hynny nad ydyn nhw, am wahanol resymau, yn ei chael hi'n bosibl gwisgo gorchudd wyneb eu hunain neu sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd pan fydd pobl eraill yn eu gwisgo. Byddwn yn defnyddio'r holl eithriadau a roddwyd ar waith gennym ni pan wnaed gorchuddion wyneb yn orfodol ar gludiant cyhoeddus yn yr ardaloedd newydd yr ydym ni wedi eu gwneud nhw'n orfodol ynddynt o ddydd Llun yr wythnos hon, a bydd cyfnod byr, mae arnaf i ofn, pan fydd yn rhaid i sensitifrwydd i rai o'r materion hyn gael ei ddatblygu ymhlith pobl na fu'n rhaid iddyn nhw weithredu yn y modd hwn tan nawr.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y strategaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu ar gyfer coronafeirws? OQ55520
4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the test, trace and protect strategy for coronavirus? OQ55520
I thank Carwyn Jones for that question, Llywydd. The performance of our test, trace, protect service is a credit to our health boards and local authorities and has secured strong support from people across Wales. Since 21 June, 98 per cent of positive cases and 94 per cent of their close contacts have been successfully contacted and advised.
Diolchaf i Carwyn Jones am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Mae perfformiad ein gwasanaeth profi, olrhain, diogelu yn glod i'n byrddau iechyd ac i'n hawdurdodau lleol ac mae wedi cael cefnogaeth gref gan bobl o bob cwr o Gymru. Ers 21 Mehefin, cysylltwyd yn llwyddiannus â 98 y cant o achosion positif a 94 y cant o'u cysylltiadau agos, a rhoddwyd cyngor iddyn nhw.
I thank the First Minister for his answer. There have been some instances of people waiting for results, of course, where they've sought tests. Now, will the First Minister give an assurance that the Welsh Government is doing all that it can to make sure that, as it's done with test, trace and protect, it's working hard to ensure that results are made available in good time to those who need the results?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb. Cafwyd rhai enghreifftiau o bobl yn aros am ganlyniadau, wrth gwrs, pan eu bod nhw wedi gofyn am brofion. Nawr, a wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi sicrwydd bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud popeth yn ei gallu i wneud yn siŵr, fel y mae wedi ei wneud gyda phrofi, olrhain a diogelu, ei bod yn gweithio'n galed i sicrhau bod canlyniadau ar gael mewn da bryd i'r rhai sydd angen y canlyniadau?
Again, I thank the Member for that supplementary question and agree with him, of course, about the importance of timely responses to tests that have been conducted. As I said in an answer to an earlier question, Llywydd, the difficulties that are being experienced in Wales at the moment are the result of the well-identified difficulties in the lighthouse lab system, a system that was working very successfully only three weeks ago and which we very much want to see being successful again as rapidly as that is possible. The UK Minister responsible says to us that within three weeks that system will be properly back on track and providing timely results to people in Wales and beyond.
In the meantime, our own laboratories continue, I think, to provide timely results: 91 per cent, for example, of hospital tests done at Public Health Wales labs are returned within 24 hours. And what we are trying to do with our own capacity is to use the most rapid results where those results are needed in that fashion. So, I think I may have said already, Llywydd—apologies if I did—that around 99 per cent of tests carried out in the community in Caerphilly are being returned within 24 hours. We need the lighthouse labs to be back operating as they were a short number of weeks ago in order to provide the same service to those parts of the system in Wales who depend upon those laboratories as well as our own.
Unwaith eto, diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn atodol yna ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef, wrth gwrs, am bwysigrwydd ymatebion prydlon i brofion a gynhaliwyd. Fel y dywedais mewn ateb i gwestiwn cynharach, Llywydd, mae'r anawsterau sy'n cael eu dioddef yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd yn ganlyniad i'r anawsterau a nodwyd yn glir yn y system labordy goleudy, system a oedd yn gweithio yn llwyddiannus iawn dair wythnos yn unig yn ôl ac rydym ni'n awyddus iawn i'w gweld yn llwyddiannus unwaith eto cyn gynted ag y bydd hynny'n bosibl. Mae Gweinidog y DU sy'n gyfrifol yn dweud wrthym ni y bydd y system honno yn ôl ar y trywydd iawn o fewn tair wythnos ac yn darparu canlyniadau prydlon i bobl yng Nghymru a thu hwnt.
Yn y cyfamser, mae ein labordai ein hunain yn parhau, rwy'n credu, i ddarparu canlyniadau prydlon: dychwelir 91 y cant, er enghraifft, o brofion ysbyty a gynhelir yn labordai Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru o fewn 24 awr. A'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud gyda'n capasiti ein hunain yw defnyddio'r canlyniadau cyflymaf pan fo angen y canlyniadau hynny yn y modd hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi dweud eisoes, Llywydd—ymddiheuriadau os gwnes i—bod tua 99 y cant o'r profion a gynhelir yn y gymuned yng Nghaerffili yn cael eu dychwelyd o fewn 24 awr. Rydym ni angen i'r labordai goleudy fod yn ôl yn gweithredu fel yr oedden nhw dim ond ychydig wythnosau yn ôl er mwyn darparu'r un gwasanaeth i'r rhannau hynny o'r system yng Nghymru sy'n dibynnu ar y labordai hynny yn ogystal â'n rhai ein hunain.
First Minister, obviously any test and trace system requires confidence in the sharing of information. You've been asked twice this afternoon about the data breach that occurred in Public Health Wales—a substantial data breach. On the one question that was put to you, you were asked, 'When did the Government get alerted to the fact that this data had gone in to the public domain?' You failed to answer that question, so could you respond to my question, please, by providing an answer: when was the Welsh Government—not yourself, the Welsh Government—informed of this data breach and who in the Welsh Government was the first point of contact in the ministerial ranks to be alerted to the fact that 18,000 names had been put in the public domain?
Prif Weinidog, mae'n amlwg bod unrhyw system brofi ac olrhain angen ffydd wrth rannu gwybodaeth. Gofynnwyd i chi ddwywaith y prynhawn yma am y mynediad diawdurdod at ddata a ddigwyddodd yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru—mynediad diawdurdod sylweddol at ddata. O ran yr un cwestiwn a ofynnwyd i chi, gofynnwyd i chi, 'Pryd cafodd y Llywodraeth ei hysbysu am y ffaith bod y data hyn wedi cael eu cyhoeddi?' Fe wnaethoch chi fethu ag ateb y cwestiwn hwnnw, felly a allech chi ymateb i fy nghwestiwn i, os gwelwch yn dda, trwy roi ateb: pryd hysbyswyd Llywodraeth Cymru—nid chi, Llywodraeth Cymru—am y mynediad diawdurdod hwn at ddata a phwy yn Llywodraeth Cymru oedd y pwynt cyswllt cyntaf yn rhengoedd y Gweinidogion i gael gwybod am y ffaith bod 18,000 o enwau wedi eu cyhoeddi?
Well, Llywydd, I gave an answer that was within my knowledge. I know when I was informed. I don't know the answer to those other questions, nor would I expect to know them just standing up here in the Chamber. We will discover those answers, of course, and I'm very happy to communicate them to the Member.
Wel, Llywydd, rhoddais ateb a oedd o fewn fy ngwybodaeth. Rwy'n gwybod pryd y cefais i fy hysbysu. Nid wyf i'n gwybod yr ateb i'r cwestiynau eraill hynny, ac ni fyddwn ychwaith yn disgwyl eu gwybod yn sefyll yma yn y Siambr. Byddwn yn darganfod yr atebion hynny, wrth gwrs, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i'w mynegi i'r Aelod.
Mae'n amlwg i mi fod yna rywbeth catastroffig wedi mynd o'i le efo'r system brofi yn y pythefnos diwethaf; nid dim ond arafwch canlyniadau yn dod yn ôl ydy hyn. Mae etholwyr i fi ac mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru yn methu cael prawf cartref o gwbl, yn cael trafferth ffonio 119, yn methu cael slot yn eu canolfan drive-through leol—sy'n llawer rhy bell beth bynnag i lawer o bobl. Dwi'n cytuno'n llwyr efo gwyddonwyr independent SAGE sydd wedi dweud ers misoedd fod yna beryg go iawn yn Llywodraeth Cymru yn penderfynu rhoi ei ffydd mewn system oedd yn cael ei rhedeg gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ac mai beth oedd ei angen oedd datblygu cyfundrefn Gymreig ar gyfer profi. Ydych chi'n gweld rŵan mai camgymeriad oedd rhoi ffydd yn y system Brydeinig, a beth sydd angen ar frys rŵan ydy cynyddu'r capasiti yma yng Nghymru, capasiti y mae gennych chi fel Llywodraeth reolaeth drosto fo?
It's clear to me that something catastrophic has gone wrong with the testing system in the past fortnight, not just sluggishness in getting results back. Constituents of mine and people in other parts of Wales simply can't access the home test at all. They're having difficulties phoning 911. They can't get a slot in the local drive-through centre, which is far too far away for many people in any case. I agree entirely with independent SAGE scientist who have said for months that there's a real risk in the Welsh Government deciding to put its faith in a system that was run by the UK Government, and that what was needed was to develop a specifically Welsh testing system. Do you see now that putting your faith in the UK system was a mistake, and what we need now as a matter of urgency is to increase capacity here in Wales, capacity that you as a Government have control over?
Dwi'n cytuno gyda'r Aelod. Mae'r problemau yn y lighthouse labs yn ddifrifol, ac mae'n bwysig i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i ddelio gyda'r problemau yna mor gyflym â phosib. Dwi ddim yn cytuno o gwbl ag ef pan ddywedodd, fel rhan o’r annibyniaeth mae Plaid Cymru bob tro yn trial ei awgrymu, mai'r ffordd orau oedd bod yn hollol annibynnol yn y maes yma a pheidio â defnyddio'r capasiti oedd yna i'w ddefnyddio ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Dydy Llywodraeth yr Alban ddim wedi gwneud hynny o gwbl, a doedd hi ddim yn gwneud synnwyr i ni ei wneud chwaith. Ac â dweud y gwir, yma ar lawr y Senedd, dwi'n cofio pobl yn dweud wrthyf i, 'Pam ydych chi ddim yn defnyddio'r capasiti sydd i'w gael mewn systemau eraill?' So, rŷn ni wedi defnyddio'r capasiti yna, a than dair wythnos yn ôl, roedd y system yna'n gweithio yn dda. Y sialens nawr yw gwneud y gwaith ar lefel y Deyrnas Unedig i roi'r lighthouse labs yn ôl yn y lle roedden nhw ym mis Awst, a dyna beth rydyn ni eisiau ei gefnogi.
I agree with the Member that the problems in the lighthouse labs are serious and it's important that the UK Government addresses those problems as quickly as possible. I do not agree at all with him when he said, as part of the independence that Plaid Cymru are forever suggesting, that the best way would be to be totally independent in this field and not to use the capacity that already existed throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Executive hasn't done that at all, and it didn't make any sense for us to do it either. And to be honest, here on the floor of the Senedd, people were saying to me, 'Why aren't you using the capacity that's already available in other systems?' And so we have used that capacity, and until three weeks ago, that system worked well. The challenge now is to do the work on a UK level to put the lighthouse labs back to where they were in August, and that's what we want to support.
5. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y cyfyngiadau symud lleol a gyflwynwyd yng Nghaerffili? OQ55522
5. Will the First Minister make a statement on the local lockdown introduced in Caerphilly? OQ55522
Llywydd, the start of last week saw a significant increase of coronavirus cases in the Caerphilly Borough County Council area, in absolute terms and as a proportion of people tested. On 8 September, following a request by public authorities, Ministers introduced measures to control the virus and to protect public health.
Llywydd, cafwyd cynnydd sylweddol i nifer yr achosion o coronafeirws yn ardal Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili ddechrau'r wythnos diwethaf, mewn termau absoliwt ac fel cyfran o'r bobl a brofwyd. Ar 8 Medi, yn dilyn cais gan awdurdodau cyhoeddus, cyflwynodd Gweinidogion fesurau i reoli'r feirws ac i ddiogelu iechyd y cyhoedd.
I thank the First Minister for his answer. When the lockdown was announced last week, it threw many residents in Caerphilly into confusion, and I was inundated with messages from people who are anxious to find out what effect it would have on their circumstances. It took nearly 24 hours before guidance was published clarifying where the parents who shared custody of their children and live on either side of the county border could see their children, whether bereaved family members could attend funerals and whether people who were shielding earlier in the year would be asked to do so again. That was 24 hours of unnecessary distress and angst that could have been avoided if the guidelines had been published at the same time as the announcement. Now that areas like Newport and Merthyr and also possibly facing lockdowns, would you, First Minister, please provide a guarantee that detailed guidelines will in future be published as soon as any lockdowns are announced, and that any changes to guidelines are communicated in advance of implementation, so that people are given time to prepare?
Diolchaf i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ateb. Pan gyhoeddwyd y cyfyngiadau symud yr wythnos diwethaf, fe greodd ddryswch ymhlith llawer o drigolion Caerffili, a chefais fy moddi mewn negeseuon gan bobl sy'n awyddus i gael gwybod pa effaith y byddai'n ei chael ar eu hamgylchiadau. Cymerodd bron i 24 awr cyn i ganllawiau gael eu cyhoeddi yn egluro ble y gallai'r rhai a oedd yn rhannu gwarchodaeth dros eu plant ac sy'n byw ar y naill ochr a'r llall i'r ffin sirol weld eu plant, pa un a fyddai aelodau teulu mewn profedigaeth yn cael mynd i angladdau, a pha un a fyddai gofyn i bobl a oedd yn gwarchod yn gynharach yn y flwyddyn wneud hynny unwaith eto. Roedd hynny yn 24 awr o bryder ac ing diangen y gellid bod wedi eu hosgoi pe byddai'r canllawiau wedi cael eu cyhoeddi ar yr un pryd â'r cyhoeddiad. Nawr bod ardaloedd fel Casnewydd a Merthyr hefyd yn wynebu cyfyngiadau symud erbyn hyn, a fyddech chi cystal, Prif Weinidog, â rhoi sicrwydd y bydd canllawiau manwl yn cael eu cyhoeddi cyn gynted ag y cyhoeddir unrhyw gyfyngiadau symud yn y dyfodol, a bod unrhyw newidiadau i ganllawiau yn cael eu mynegi cyn eu gweithredu, fel bod pobl yn cael amser i baratoi?
Llywydd, I think the question completely fails to understand the context in which such decisions are made. They are not made at a leisurely pace. They're not made with an opportunity to put every dot and comma in its place before they are announced. You are dealing with a public health emergency. You are dealing with a situation in which a day's delay can put more people's lives at risk. And I say to the Member that her constituents and those who I know have contacted the Member for Caerphilly, Hefin David, are a good deal more understanding than she appears to be of the fact that the Welsh Government took action immediately we were asked to do so by those public authorities, and, within 24 hours, every bit of guidance that was necessary to help people to deal with the changed circumstances was available to them. Now, we wish to get that guidance to people as fast as we possibly can, but the sequence of events cannot be to provide guidance and then to announce when you're faced with an emergency, and you are faced with advice from people on the ground that action needs to be taken as fast as possible in order to protect people's lives—you take the actions first and then as fast as you can you provide the guidance to go alongside it. That is what we did in Caerphilly, and that is what of course we will aim to do should any similar situations arise in any other parts of Wales. And the people of Caerphilly, who have co-operated fantastically with the restrictions that have been put in place since, I think show a great deal more sense than the Member gives them credit for.
Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod y cwestiwn yn methu'n llwyr â deall y cyd-destun y mae penderfyniadau o'r fath yn cael eu gwneud ynddo. Dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu gwneud mewn modd hamddenol. Dydyn nhw ddim yn cael eu gwneud gyda chyfle i roi pob dot ac atalnod yn ei le cyn iddyn nhw gael eu cyhoeddi. Rydych chi'n ymdrin ag argyfwng iechyd cyhoeddus. Rydych chi'n ymdrin â sefyllfa lle gall diwrnod o oedi beryglu bywydau mwy o bobl. A dywedaf wrth yr Aelod bod ei hetholwyr a'r rhai y gwn eu bod wedi cysylltu â'r Aelod dros Gaerffili, Hefin David, yn dangos llawer mwy o ddealltwriaeth nag y mae'n ymddangos sydd ganddi hi o'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gweithredu ar unwaith pan ofynnwyd i ni wneud hynny gan yr awdurdodau cyhoeddus hynny, ac o fewn 24 awr roedd pob darn o gyfarwyddyd a oedd yn angenrheidiol i helpu pobl i ymdopi â'r amgylchiadau newydd ar gael iddyn nhw. Nawr, rydym ni eisiau cael y canllawiau hynny i bobl mor gyflym ag y gallwn ni, ond ni ellir cael trefn digwyddiadau pryd y darperir canllawiau ac yna cyhoeddi pan eich bod chi'n wynebu argyfwng, a chithau yn wynebu cyngor gan bobl ar lawr gwlad bod angen cymryd camau cyn gynted â phosibl i ddiogelu bywydau pobl—rydych chi'n cymryd y camau yn gyntaf ac yna cyn gynted ag y gallwch chi, rydych chi'n darparu'r canllawiau i fynd law yn llaw â nhw. Dyna'r hyn a wnaethom ni yng Nghaerffili, a dyna, wrth gwrs, y byddwn ni'n bwriadu ei wneud os bydd unrhyw sefyllfaoedd tebyg yn codi mewn unrhyw rannau eraill o Gymru. Ac mae pobl Caerffili, sydd wedi cydweithredu yn wych â'r cyfyngiadau a roddwyd ar waith ers hynny, yn dangos llawer iawn mwy o synnwyr nag y mae'r Aelod yn ei gredu sydd gandddyn nhw, yn fy marn i.
As a resident of the Caerphilly constituency, I've seen at first hand the sacrifices that people are making in complying with the restrictions in which we're living under, which were very clear in the outset, but have led to some questions from residents with specific scenarios. One I've been dealing with are people who've been required to cancel holidays, pre-booked holidays, and I have to say the travel industry has not responded well, particularly with regard to refunds, although there has been some scope for rebooking. And I have to say EasyJet and Ryanair have been particular standout examples of companies that seem to care little for the health and well-being and, indeed, legal obligations of their passengers, and that has been very disappointing.
The Welsh Government has done the right thing by writing to the travel industry and the insurance industry with very clear instructions for them, and what they need to do to respond to people to meet their legal obligations. The UK Government too now needs to step up and provide support for people who are affected by these circumstances—for those affected passengers. So, can I ask the First Minister has he had a response from the travel industry and the insurance industry; when does he expect to get that response if he hasn't had it so far; and would he also call on the UK Government to take immediate action for those passengers affected?
Fel un o drigolion etholaeth Caerffili, rwyf i wedi gweld yn bersonol yr aberth y mae pobl yn ei wneud i gydymffurfio â'r cyfyngiadau yr ydym ni'n byw oddi tanynt, a oedd yn eglur iawn o'r cychwyn, ond sydd wedi arwain at rai cwestiynau gan drigolion mewn sefyllfaoedd penodol. Un yr wyf i wedi bod yn ymdrin ag ef yw pobl y bu'n ofynnol iddyn nhw ganslo gwyliau, gwyliau a drefnwyd ymlaen llaw, ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud nad yw'r diwydiant teithio wedi ymateb yn dda, yn enwedig o ran ad-daliadau, er bu rhywfaint o le i aildrefnu. Ac mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod EasyJet a Ryanair wedi bod yn enghreifftiau arbennig o amlwg o gwmnïau y mae'n ymddangos nad ydyn nhw'n poeni fawr ddim am iechyd a llesiant ac, yn wir, rhwymedigaethau cyfreithiol eu teithwyr, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn siomedig iawn.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud y peth iawn drwy ysgrifennu at y diwydiant teithio a'r diwydiant yswiriant gyda chyfarwyddiadau eglur iawn ar eu cyfer, a'r hyn y mae angen iddyn nhw ei wneud i ymateb i bobl i gyflawni eu rhwymedigaethau cyfreithiol. Mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU hefyd gamu ymlaen nawr a rhoi cymorth i bobl y mae'r amgylchiadau hyn wedi effeithio arnyn nhw—i'r teithwyr hynny sydd wedi eu heffeithio. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog a yw wedi cael ymateb gan y diwydiant teithio a'r diwydiant yswiriant; pryd y mae e'n disgwyl cael yr ymateb hwnnw os nad yw wedi ei gael hyd yma; ac a wnaiff ef hefyd alw ar Lywodraeth y DU i gymryd camau ar unwaith ar ran y teithwyr hynny sydd wedi eu heffeithio?
Llywydd, can I begin by thanking the Member and his staff for the enormous efforts I know they have made over the last week to respond to literally thousands of enquiries from Caerphilly residents, and for the way that he has taken up issues of this sort on their behalf? He's right, of course, that Vaughan Gething and Lee Waters wrote ministerially to the association of British travel agents and of British insurers back on 10 September; they said in the letter that it's incumbent on the travel and insurance industries to take the necessary steps to mitigate the financial impact of restrictions on members of the travelling public whose travel plans have been disrupted. We are yet to receive a reply to that letter. My colleague Ken Skates will chair a quadrilateral meeting of Ministers later this week who have responsibilities in these areas, and he will certainly be raising these matters with the UK Government as well, because these impacts are not confined to Wales, Llywydd. There are people in many other parts of the United Kingdom who find restrictions imposed locally that have an impact on their ability to fulfil travel plans, but it is not their fault at all that they're in that position, and the industry needs to respond accordingly.
Llywydd, a gaf i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r Aelod a'i staff am yr ymdrechion enfawr y gwn eu bod nhw wedi eu gwneud dros yr wythnos ddiwethaf i ymateb i filoedd o ymholiadau, yn llythrennol, gan drigolion Caerffili ac am y ffordd y mae ef wedi codi materion o'r math hwn ar eu rhan? Mae e'n iawn, wrth gwrs, bod Vaughan Gething a Lee Waters wedi ysgrifennu yn weinidogol at gymdeithas asiantau teithio Prydain ac yswirwyr Prydain yn ôl ar 10 Medi; dywedasant yn y llythyr ei bod yn ddyletswydd ar y diwydiannau teithio ac yswiriant i gymryd y camau angenrheidiol i liniaru effaith ariannol cyfyngiadau ar aelodau o'r cyhoedd sy'n teithio y tarfwyd ar eu cynlluniau teithio. Nid ydym ni wedi cael ateb i'r llythyr hwnnw eto. Bydd fy nghyd-Weinidog Ken Skates yn cadeirio cyfarfod pedairochrog yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon rhwng Gweinidogion sydd â chyfrifoldebau yn y meysydd hyn, a bydd yn sicr yn codi'r materion hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU hefyd, gan nad yw'r effeithiau hyn wedi eu cyfyngu i Gymru, Llywydd. Mae pobl mewn sawl rhan arall o'r Deyrnas Unedig sy'n gweld cyfyngiadau yn cael eu gorfodi yn lleol sy'n effeithio ar eu gallu i gyflawni cynlluniau teithio, ond nid eu bai nhw o gwbl yw eu bod nhw yn y sefyllfa honno, ac mae angen i'r diwydiant ymateb yn unol â hynny.
6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am ailfandio'r dreth gyngor yng Nghymru? OQ55528
6. Will the First Minister make a statement on council tax rebanding in Wales? OQ55528
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dai Lloyd. Mae sylfaen y dreth gyngor ar gyfer Cymru yn fwy cyfredol a chywir nag yw yn Lloegr ac yn yr Alban. Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyhoeddi dogfen yn hwyrach yn yr hydref yn trafod ffyrdd eraill o weithredu yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys diwygiadau ac ailfandio.
Thank you very much, Dai Lloyd. The council tax base for Wales is more up-to-date and accurate than is the case in England and Scotland. The Welsh Government will publish a document discussing a range of alternative approaches to council taxation in Wales later in the autumn, including rebanding.
Diolch yn fawr am hwnna.
Thank you very much for that.
First Minister, you'll be aware that if a property has been improved or extended since it was placed in a council tax band, the Valuation Office Agency review the banding to take account of the alterations when it's sold. However, it is clear that there are problems with the system, with delays experienced in informing residents of changes. Now, constituents of mine last month found out that their council tax banding had jumped two bands, and are now being asked to pay the additional council tax—around £1,000—backdated to when the property was bought, in November 2018. Now, do you agree that this is unfair and will you agree to look into changing the guidance around the backdating of council tax payments in these circumstances?
Prif Weinidog, byddwch yn ymwybodol, os yw eiddo wedi ei wella neu ei ymestyn ers ei roi mewn band treth gyngor, bod Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio yn adolygu'r bandiau i gymryd y newidiadau i ystyriaeth pan gaiff ei werthu. Fodd bynnag, mae'n amlwg bod problemau gyda'r system, gydag oedi o ran hysbysu preswylwyr am newidiadau. Nawr, canfu rhai o'm hetholwyr i fis diwethaf bod eu band treth gyngor wedi neidio dau fand, a gofynnir nawr iddyn nhw dalu'r dreth gyngor ychwanegol—tua £1,000—wedi'i hôl-ddyddio i'r adeg y prynwyd yr eiddo, ym mis Tachwedd 2018. Nawr, a ydych chi'n cytuno bod hyn yn annheg ac a wnewch chi gytuno i ystyried newid y canllawiau ar ôl-ddyddio taliadau treth gyngor o dan yr amgylchiadau hyn?
Well, Llywydd, can I thank Dr Lloyd for raising this concerning issue? I've seen, as it happens, the letter that he wrote on 7 September to Julie James, and I've asked Welsh Government officials to contact him direct, if he's happy for that to happen, just to find out a few more details of the cases that lie behind the letter, so we can pursue them properly. The information I have is that there is less discretion than in other areas of council tax liability in the law in relation to the sort of rebanding to which Dr Lloyd's letter refers. There is a free appeals process for anybody who feels that the system has not been fairly implemented, and that is to the valuation tribunal. But the points that the Member raises are concerning ones, and, with his permission, we'll pursue them in more detail with him directly, so that we can see whether there is anything we can do to assist.
Wel, Llywydd, a gaf i ddiolch i Dr Lloyd am godi'r mater hwn sy'n peri pryder? Rwyf i wedi gweld, fel y mae'n digwydd, y llythyr a ysgrifennodd ar 7 Medi at Julie James, ac rwyf i wedi gofyn i swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru gysylltu ag ef yn uniongyrchol, os yw e'n hapus i hynny ddigwydd, dim ond i gael gwybod ychydig mwy o fanylion am yr achosion sy'n sail i'r llythyr, fel y gallwn ni fynd ar eu trywydd yn briodol. Yr wybodaeth sydd gen i yw bod llai o ddisgresiwn nag mewn meysydd eraill o atebolrwydd yn y gyfraith yn ymwneud â'r dreth gyngor o ran y math o ailfandio y mae llythyr Dr Lloyd yn cyfeirio ato. Mae proses apelio rhad ac am ddim i unrhyw un sy'n teimlo nad yw'r system wedi cael ei gweithredu'n deg, ac mae honno i'r tribiwnlys prisio. Ond mae'r pwyntiau y mae'r Aelod yn eu codi yn rhai sy'n peri pryder, a chyda'i ganiatâd, byddwn yn mynd ar eu trywydd yn fwy manwl gydag ef yn uniongyrchol, er mwyn i ni allu gweld a oes unrhyw beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i gynorthwyo.
Finally, Janet Finch-Saunders. Who I can't see—
Yn olaf, Janet Finch-Saunders. Nad wyf i'n gallu ei gweld—
Caroline Jones sydd nesaf.
Caroline Jones is next.
Yes. I was calling a supplementary—you stick to your job; I'll stick to mine. [Laughter.] That was very kindly meant, and that's your questions for this afternoon complete, First Minister. Sorry to tell you off right at the end.
Ie. Roeddwn i'n galw cwestiwn atodol—cadwch chi at eich swydd chi; mi wnaf innau gadw at fy un i. [Chwerthin.] Bwriadwyd i hynny fod yn garedig iawn, a dyna'ch cwestiynau ar gyfer y prynhawn yma wedi eu cwblhau, Prif Weinidog. Mae'n ddrwg gen i ddweud y drefn wrthych chi ar y diwedd.
Cwestiynau nesaf i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Prif Chwip, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf yna gan Darren Millar.
Questions next to the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, and the first question is from Darren Millar.
1. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog ddatganiad am ryddid i addoli yng Nghymru? OQ55484
1. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on freedom to worship in Wales? OQ55484
I recognise and support the freedom to hold and practise belief in Wales. I'm pleased to have worked with the Wales faith communities forum and the reopening places of worship task and finish group to support the phased and safe reopening of places of worship.
Rwy'n cydnabod ac yn cefnogi'r rhyddid i fod â chred ac i'w harfer yng Nghymru. Rwy'n falch o fod wedi gweithio gyda fforwm cymunedau ffydd Cymru a'r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ar ailagor mannau addoli i gefnogi ailagor mannau addoli yn raddol ac yn ddiogel.
Thank you for that answer, Deputy Minister. One of the issues that has been raised with me by members of various faith communities, but particularly the Christian community, is the impact of the restrictions on the ability to worship through song in our churches at the moment, for congregational singing. I don't know whether you are familiar with recent research, which was published by the University of Bristol, which seems to suggest that singing doesn't produce substantially more respiratory particles than speaking at a similar volume. Therefore, will you look again at the current coronavirus restrictions in relation to worship in churches, and the ability of congregations to sing as part of their worship, and consider that piece of research in order to assist your decision?
Diolch am yr ateb yna, Dirprwy Weinidog. Un o'r materion a godwyd gyda mi gan aelodau o wahanol gymunedau ffydd, ond yn enwedig y gymuned Gristnogol, yw effaith y cyfyngiadau ar y gallu i addoli drwy gân yn ein heglwysi ar hyn o bryd, ar gyfer canu cynulleidfaol. Wn i ddim a ydych chi'n gyfarwydd a gwaith ymchwil diweddar, a gyhoeddwyd gan Brifysgol Bryste, y mae'n ymddangos ei fod yn awgrymu nad yw canu yn cynhyrchu llawer iawn mwy o ronynnau anadlol na siarad ar uchder tebyg. Felly, a wnewch chi edrych eto ar y cyfyngiadau coronafeirws presennol yng nghyswllt addoli mewn eglwysi, a gallu cynulleidfaoedd i ganu yn rhan o'u haddoliad, ac ystyried y darn hwnnw o waith ymchwil i gynorthwyo eich penderfyniad?
Thank you very much, Darren Millar, for that supplementary question. I would say at the outset that the Welsh Government is very grateful to our Wales faith communities forum, and you're well aware of the full and diverse membership of that, and their advice and guidance they've given us—they have a task and finish group—advice and guidance they've given us on reopening places of worship. And they have reopened on a safe basis, in terms of their advice, guidance and the science. But I am very well aware that music and singing are an important part of services and ceremonies. It's greatly missed, and we're actively looking at this, based on scientific advice again, and the guidance from the task and finish and ceremonies group. I hope we'll able to make further announcements.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Darren Millar, am y cwestiwn atodol yna. Byddwn i'n dweud i gychwyn bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ddiolchgar iawn i'n fforwm cymunedau ffydd yng Nghymru, ac rydych chi'n ymwybodol iawn o aelodaeth lawn ac amrywiol hwnnw, a'r cyngor a'r cyfarwyddyd y maen nhw wedi eu rhoi i ni—mae ganddyn nhw grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen—cyngor a chyfarwyddyd y maen nhw wedi eu rhoi i ni ar ailagor mannau addoli. Ac maen nhw wedi ailagor yn ddiogel, ar sail eu cyngor, eu cyfarwyddyd a'r wyddoniaeth. Ond rwy'n ymwybodol iawn bod cerddoriaeth a chanu yn rhan bwysig o wasanaethau a seremonïau. Mae hiraeth mawr ar ei ôl, ac rydym ni wrthi'n edrych ar hyn, yn seiliedig ar gyngor gwyddonol unwaith eto, a'r cyfarwyddyd gan y grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen a seremonïau. Rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn ni'n gallu gwneud cyhoeddiadau pellach.
2. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru'n eu cymryd i atal caethwasiaeth fodern a masnachu mewn pobl? OQ55510
2. What action is the Welsh Government taking to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking? OQ55510
Through working with partner organisations across the UK, our delivery of awareness raising, accredited training, and through improved intelligence gathering to support criminal investigations and support for victims, the Welsh Government is at the forefront of the fight against these appalling crimes.
Trwy weithio gyda sefydliadau partner ledled y DU, ein gwaith o godi ymwybyddiaeth, hyfforddiant achrededig, a thrwy gasglu gwybodaeth yn well i gefnogi ymchwiliadau troseddol a chymorth i ddioddefwyr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru ar flaen y gad yn y frwydr yn erbyn y troseddau gwarthus hyn.
Thank you, Deputy Minister. The anti-slavery charity, Unseen UK, has warned that, due to the economic downturn due to the current crisis, we are likely to see an increase in human trafficking—the two things normally going hand in hand. Will the Deputy Minister assure me that she will take action to try and prevent this, to raise awareness of and recognition of the signs of modern slavery?
Diolch, Dirprwy Weinidog. Mae'r elusen gwrth-gaethwasiaeth, Unseen UK, wedi rhybuddio ein bod ni'n debygol, oherwydd y dirywiad economaidd oherwydd yr argyfwng presennol, o weld cynnydd i fasnachu pobl—gan fod y ddau beth yn mynd law yn llaw fel rheol. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog fy sicrhau y bydd hi'n cymryd camau i geisio atal hyn, i godi ymwybyddiaeth o arwyddion caethwasiaeth fodern ac adnabyddiaeth ohonyn nhw?
I would thank again the Member for that additional question, because it is vital that we recognise that this can be an issue in terms of the adverse impact of COVID-19, which could lead to an increase in trafficking. What's very important—. As I've said, it's about co-ordinated action. The response to slavery in Wales was bolstered, as, of course, we know, by the appointment of the Welsh Government anti-slavery co-ordinator, who's working actively with key agencies to determine scale, types and location of slavery in Wales, but also improving that intelligence and recording of incidents in Wales, very much working with the UK Government using the national referral mechanism and looking at that in terms of the impact of COVID-19.
Hoffwn ddiolch eto i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn ychwanegol yna, oherwydd mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n cydnabod y gall hyn fod yn broblem o ran effaith niweidiol COVID-19, a allai arwain at gynnydd mewn masnachu pobl. Yr hyn sy'n bwysig iawn—. Fel yr wyf i wedi ei ddweud, mae'n golygu gweithredu cydgysylltiedig. Atgyfnerthwyd yr ymateb i gaethwasiaeth yng Nghymru, fel y gwyddom, wrth gwrs, gan benodiad cydgysylltydd gwrth-gaethwasiaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n gweithio yn ymarferol gydag asiantaethau allweddol i bennu graddfa, mathau a lleoliad caethwasiaeth yng Nghymru, ond sydd hefyd yn gwella'r wybodaeth honno a'r broses o gofnodi digwyddiadau yng Nghymru, gan weithio yn helaeth iawn gyda Llywodraeth y DU gan ddefnyddio'r dull atgyfeirio cenedlaethol ac edrych ar hynny yng nghyd-destun effaith COVID-19.
Further to the previous question, we're seeing data published in June showing that, for the first time, Minister, since 2016, the reports of suspected modern slavery in the UK were down by 14 per cent, and this is raising the worry that it's actually that victims are being pushed further out of sight and away from seeking help. So, can I ask our Welsh Government to make formal representations to UK Ministers, to first of all give the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority the resources to do their job, as they are at full stretch already, and also to urge UK Ministers to speed up the national referral mechanisms for victims to access care from housing and healthcare to legal aid, because this is a process that can currently take from six weeks to, indeed, several years? Thank you, Minister.
Yn dilyn y cwestiwn blaenorol, rydym ni'n gweld data a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mehefin sy'n dangos, am y tro cyntaf ers 2016, Gweinidog, bod yr adroddiadau o gaethwasiaeth fodern dybiedig yn y DU wedi gostwng gan 14 y cant, ac mae hyn yn codi'r pryder mai'r ffaith mewn gwirionedd yw bod dioddefwyr yn cael eu gwthio ymhellach allan o'r golwg ac oddi wrth gofyn am gymorth. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i'n Llywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno sylwadau ffurfiol i Weinidogion y DU, i roi'r adnoddau i'r Awdurod Meistri Gangiau a Cham-drin Llafur wneud eu gwaith yn gyntaf oll, gan eu bod wedi'u hymestyn i'r eithaf eisoes, a hefyd i annog Gweinidogion y DU i gyflymu'r dulliau atgyfeirio cenedlaethol i ddioddefwyr allu cael gofal yn amrywio o dai a gofal iechyd i gymorth cyfreithiol, oherwydd mae hon yn broses a all gymryd ar hyn o bryd o chwe wythnos i sawl blwyddyn, yn wir? Diolch, Gweinidog.
Thank you to Huw Irranca-Davies. Following on that important point about the impact of the pandemic, and just to add to the points that I made earlier on, we are continuing to work with our partners in the National Crime Agency, police, Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, but also including all those non-governmental organisations and charities, such as BAWSO, New Pathways and Barnardo's in Wales, raising awareness of slavery, dealing with any incidents that are reported, rescuing and supporting victims where possible. And I think the interesting issue is that reports across Wales have remained consistent. We're in regular contact with the Home Office modern slavery unit, and they are actually now reviewing the national referral mechanism process. And I think your point about access to legal aid is crucial. And we have to recognise, of course, that modern slavery is a reserved matter, and the Home Office will be, obviously, crucially important to take these messages back in terms of the impact of the pandemic, so that we can be aware of and tackle trafficking.
Diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies. Yn dilyn y pwynt pwysig yna am effaith y pandemig, a dim ond i ychwanegu at y pwyntiau a wnes i yn gynharach, rydym ni'n parhau i weithio gyda'n partneriaid yn yr Asiantaeth Troseddu Cenedlaethol, yr heddlu, yr Awdurdod Meistri Gangiau a Cham-drin Llafur, ond hefyd yn cynnwys yr holl sefydliadau ac elusennau anllywodraethol hynny, fel BAWSO, Llwybrau Newydd a Barnardo's yng Nghymru, gan godi ymwybyddiaeth o gaethwasiaeth, ymdrin ag unrhyw ddigwyddiadau sy'n cael eu hadrodd, gan achub a chynorthwyo dioddefwyr pan fo hynny'n bosibl. A chredaf mai'r elfen ddiddorol yw bod adroddiadau ledled Cymru wedi aros yn gyson. Rydym ni mewn cysylltiad rheolaidd ag uned caethwasiaeth fodern y Swyddfa Gartref, ac maen nhw bellach yn adolygu proses y dull atgyfeirio cenedlaethol. Ac rwy'n credu bod eich pwynt am allu cael gafael ar gymorth cyfreithiol yn hollbwysig. Ac mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod, wrth gwrs, bod caethwasiaeth fodern yn fater a gadwyd yn ôl, a bydd y Swyddfa Gartref, yn amlwg, yn hollbwysig i fynd â'r negeseuon hyn yn ôl o ran effaith y pandemig, fel y gallwn ni fod yn ymwybodol o fasnachu pobl a mynd i'r afael ag ef.
As the Chamber will know, I have raised these issues a number of times since being elected to the Senedd. Yet despite the many calls from across the Chamber to investigate the practices employed in particular in car washes, there appears to be absolutely no action taken with regard to these establishments. This is particularly disappointing given that a number of issues are present with regard to their operation—the long hours served by attendants, often 10 hours a day, seven days a week; the low pay, said to be around £3 per hour; the sub-standard accommodation for these workers; the propensity for money laundering, given that all transactions appear to be cash, often to many thousands of pounds per week; the low pay, said to be around—sorry, to the environmental issues, with the considerable volumes of effluent generated at these sites going directly into water drainage systems and hence the rivers; but, of course, worst of all, the clear exploitation of people working on these sites. One has to ask, Deputy Minister, why nothing has been done to investigate or even close these operations, although they have been in existence for over a decade.
Fel y bydd y Siambr yn gwybod, rwyf i wedi codi'r materion hyn droeon ers cael fy ethol i'r Senedd. Ac eto, er gwaethaf y galwadau niferus o bob rhan o'r Siambr i ymchwilio i'r arferion a ddefnyddir mewn busnesau golchi ceir yn arbennig, mae'n ymddangos nad oes unrhyw gamau yn cael eu cymryd o gwbl o ran y sefydliadau hyn. Mae hyn yn arbennig o siomedig o gofio bod nifer o broblemau yn bodoli o ran eu gweithrediad—yr oriau maith y mae gweithwyr yn eu gweithio, 10 awr y dydd, saith diwrnod yr wythnos yn aml; y cyflog isel, y dywedir ei fod tua £3 yr awr; y llety is-safonol ar gyfer y gweithwyr hyn; y duedd i wyngalchu arian, o gofio ei bod yn ymddangos bod yr holl drafodion yn rhai arian parod, yn aml hyd at filoedd lawer o bunnoedd yr wythnos; y cyflog isel, y dywedir ei fod tua—mae'n ddrwg gen i, i'r materion amgylcheddol, gyda'r cyfanswm sylweddol o elifion a gynhyrchir yn y safleoedd hyn yn mynd yn syth i systemau draenio dŵr ac felly i'r afonydd; ond, wrth gwrs, yn waeth na dim, y camfanteisio eglur ar bobl sy'n gweithio ar y safleoedd hyn. Mae'n rhaid gofyn, Dirprwy Weinidog, pam nad oes unrhyw beth wedi ei wneud i ymchwilio neu hyd yn oed gau'r busnesau hyn, er eu bod nhw wedi bodoli ers dros ddegawd.
Well, I will acknowledge that David Rowlands has mentioned this more than once in this Chamber. I'd just like to briefly, in terms of employment, refer to the ethical employment in supply chains code of practice, which was launched in 2017, aimed at making supply chains transparent, but also preventing exploitation of workers. And it was actually a first for Wales and the UK, and over 200 organisations have signed up to the code of practice, with the majority of Welsh public sector bodies signed up too. But I would also like to pay tribute to Joyce Watson with her cross-party group on human trafficking, if I don't get the opportunity again this afternoon.
Wel, rwy'n cydnabod bod David Rowlands wedi sôn am hyn fwy nag unwaith yn y Siambr hon. Hoffwn gyfeirio yn gryno, o ran cyflogaeth, at god ymarfer cyflogaeth foesegol mewn cadwyni cyflenwi, a lansiwyd yn 2017, gyda'r nod o wneud cadwyni cyflenwi yn dryloyw, ond hefyd atal camfanteisio ar weithwyr. Ac roedd yn rhywbeth newydd i Gymru a'r DU mewn gwirionedd, ac mae dros 200 o sefydliadau wedi ymrwymo i'r cod ymarfer, gyda'r rhan fwyaf o gyrff sector cyhoeddus Cymru wedi ymrwymo hefyd. Ond hoffwn dalu teyrnged hefyd i Joyce Watson â'i grŵp trawsbleidiol ar fasnachu pobl, os na chaf i'r cyfle i wneud hynny eto y prynhawn yma.
Minister, acts of modern slavery are becoming a scary reality for the many and this crime is often very difficult to spot. One simple question from me: the Home Office have got a real part to play in this, but what can the Welsh Government do to stop this being a hidden crime?
Gweinidog, mae gweithredoedd o gaethwasiaeth fodern yn dod yn realiti brawychus i lawer ac mae'r drosedd hon yn aml yn anodd iawn ei hadnabod. Un cwestiwn syml sydd gen i: mae gan y Swyddfa Gartref ran wirioneddol i'w chwarae yn hyn, ond beth all Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i atal hyn rhag bod yn drosedd gudd?
Well, until recently, I would say that slavery was a hidden crime. It's still under-reported and these questions and concerns have been raised this afternoon. And that's why we introduced new data collection systems in Wales and we continue to work with partners to develop that better evidence base—Huw Irranca-Davies referred to that as well—that more accurately reflects the level of slavery in Wales so that we can tackle it.
Wel, tan yn ddiweddar, byddwn i'n dweud bod caethwasiaeth yn drosedd gudd. Nid yw'n cael ei adrodd yn ddigonol o hyd a chodwyd y cwestiynau a'r pryderon hyn y prynhawn yma. A dyna pam y cyflwynwyd systemau casglu data newydd gennym ni yng Nghymru ac rydym ni'n parhau i weithio gyda phartneriaid i ddatblygu'r sail dystiolaeth well honno—cyfeiriodd Huw Irranca-Davies at hynny hefyd—sy'n adlewyrchu yn fwy cywir lefel caethwasiaeth yng Nghymru fel y gallwn ni fynd i'r afael ag ef.
3. A wnaiff y Dirprwy Weinidog ddatganiad am sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu Adran 1 o Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010? OQ55519
3. Will the Deputy Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's implementation of Section 1 of the Equality Act 2010? OQ55519
The socioeconomic duty will come into force on 31 March 2021. We're working closely with public bodies to prepare for the duty and, earlier this year, we co-produced guidance, and further resources to guide public bodies will be published shortly.
Bydd y ddyletswydd economaidd-gymdeithasol yn dod i rym ar 31 Mawrth 2021. Rydym ni'n gweithio yn agos gyda chyrff cyhoeddus i baratoi ar gyfer y ddyletswydd ac, yn gynharach eleni, cyd-luniwyd canllawiau gennym, a bydd adnoddau pellach i roi arweiniad i gyrff cyhoeddus yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn fuan.
Deputy Minister, thank you very much for that answer and that very progressive step that's being taken. You'll know that, historically, girls and women have traditionally been less likely in schools and education institutions to take up the STEM subjects—the science, the technology, engineering and maths. And you yourself have very much been a staunch advocate of actually repairing that inequality gap that has existed. Now, during the COVID crisis, what we have seen is the incredible number of female scientists who have really been at the forefront of research and innovation. I'm wondering what ideas Welsh Government might have to use that as an example for actually motivating and promoting the increased take-up amongst girls, amongst women, of the STEM subjects for the future.
Dirprwy Weinidog, diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb yna a'r cam blaengar iawn hwnnw sy'n cael ei gymryd. Byddwch yn gwybod bod merched a menywod, yn hanesyddol, wedi bod yn llai tebygol yn draddodiadol mewn ysgolion a sefydliadau addysg o ymgymryd â'r pynciau STEM—y wyddoniaeth, y dechnoleg, peirianneg a mathemateg. Ac rydych chi eich hun wedi bod yn eiriolwr brwd dros gau'r bwlch anghydraddoldeb hwnnw sydd wedi bodoli. Nawr, yn ystod argyfwng COVID, yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi ei weld yw'r nifer anhygoel o wyddonwyr benywaidd sydd wir wedi bod ar flaen y gad o ran ymchwil ac arloesi. Rwy'n meddwl tybed pa syniadau y gallai fod yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru eu defnyddio fel enghraifft ar gyfer ysgogi a hyrwyddo'r nifer gynyddol o ferched a menywod sy'n astudio'r pynciau STEM yn y dyfodol.
Well, I thank Mick Antoniw for raising that and drawing our attention—because we've all seen it—to the incredible contribution made by those women scientists. Of course, the global pandemic has highlighted the vital role that STEM plays in the world today. We've never had more STEM professionals, scientists, in the public eye as we've had in recent months.
But I'm very pleased to chair the women in STEM board. We're meeting on 15 October. The effect of the pandemic will certainly be discussed and, in fact, we will look at that in terms of that increased profile of female scientists in terms of the appeal and relevance of STEM subjects. And that will be very important, I think, in terms of impact on our new Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill going through, now, the Welsh Parliament, but considering how that can reach more girls and students from disadvantaged backgrounds and, of course, seeing this as an intersectional issue as well as the diversity that we want to seek in the delivery of STEM science and delivery of STEM professionalism and expertise.
Wel, diolchaf i Mick Antoniw am godi hynna ac am dynnu ein sylw—oherwydd rydym ni i gyd wedi ei weld—at y cyfraniad anhygoel a wneir gan y gwyddonwyr benywaidd hynny. Wrth gwrs, mae'r pandemig byd-eang wedi tynnu sylw at y rhan hanfodol y mae STEM yn ei chwarae yn y byd heddiw. Ni fu gennym ni erioed fwy o weithwyr proffesiynol STEM, gwyddonwyr, yn amlwg i'r cyhoedd fel y bu gennym ni yn y misoedd diwethaf.
Ond rwy'n falch iawn o gadeirio'r bwrdd menywod mewn STEM. Rydym ni'n cyfarfod ar 15 Hydref. Bydd effaith y pandemig yn sicr yn cael ei thrafod ac, a dweud y gwir, byddwn yn edrych ar hynny o ran y proffil uwch gwyddonwyr benywaidd hwnnw o ran apêl a pherthnasedd pynciau STEM. A bydd hynny'n bwysig iawn, rwy'n credu, o ran effaith ein Bil Cwricwlwm ac Asesu (Cymru) newydd sy'n mynd drwy Senedd Cymru nawr, ond gan ystyried sut y gall hynny gyrraedd mwy o ferched a myfyrwyr o gefndiroedd difreintiedig ac, wrth gwrs, gweld hwn fel mater rhyngadrannol yn ogystal â'r amrywiaeth yr ydym ni eisiau ei sicrhau yn y ddarpariaeth o wyddoniaeth STEM a'r ddarpariaeth o broffesiynoldeb ac arbenigedd STEM.
4. Sut y bydd polisïau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer Cymru fwy cyfartal yn esblygu yn dilyn y profiad COVID-19? OQ55525
4. How will Welsh Government policies for a more equal Wales evolve following the experience of COVID-19? OQ55525
The First Minister has been clear that the Welsh Government will put equality and human rights considerations at the centre of the response to the pandemic and recovery in Wales. This will be the guiding principle as we take forward key policy developments over the coming months.
Mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi bod yn eglur y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud ystyriaethau cydraddoldeb a hawliau dynol yn ganolog i'r ymateb i'r pandemig a'r adferiad yng Nghymru. Dyma fydd yr egwyddor arweiniol wrth i ni fwrw ymlaen â datblygiadau polisi allweddol dros y misoedd nesaf.
Minister, those living in our more deprived communities have suffered disproportionately during the pandemic in terms of their health, economically and socially, and one aspect of this is higher rates of smoking in these communities—those are significant for vulnerability to the virus but also in terms of lower life expectancy generally. Thankfully, smoking is in decline, with restrictions in public places playing an important part in helping to achieve that. But, nonetheless, the terrible toll on health in Wales continues. So, Minister, would Welsh Government consider extending the existing restrictions, including outdoor areas of cafes and restaurants, which I think is particularly significant now during the pandemic, as those outdoor areas are expanding and growing, and also in relation to events, youth sport events, so that there may be restrictions on smoking at and around those?
Gweinidog, mae'r rhai sy'n byw yn ein cymunedau mwy difreintiedig wedi dioddef yn anghymesur yn ystod y pandemig o ran eu hiechyd, yn economaidd ac yn gymdeithasol, ac un agwedd ar hyn yw cyfraddau ysmygu uwch yn y cymunedau hyn—mae'r rheini yn arwyddocaol o ran bod yn agored i'r feirws ond hefyd o ran disgwyliad oes is yn gyffredinol. Diolch byth, mae ysmygu yn dirywio, gyda chyfyngiadau mewn mannau cyhoeddus yn chwarae rhan bwysig i helpu i gyflawni hynny. Ond, serch hynny, mae'r effaith ofnadwy ar iechyd yng Nghymru yn parhau. Felly, Gweinidog, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried ymestyn y cyfyngiadau presennol, gan gynnwys mannau awyr agored caffis a bwytai, sydd yn arbennig o arwyddocaol nawr yn ystod y pandemig rwy'n credu, gan fod y mannau awyr agored hynny yn ehangu ac yn tyfu, a hefyd o ran digwyddiadau, digwyddiadau chwaraeon ieuenctid, fel y gall fod cyfyngiadau ar ysmygu yn y rheini ac yn agos atyn nhw?
Well, thank you, John Griffiths, for drawing attention to the role of smoking in health inequalities. Just to say that ensuring that the health inequity caused by smoking is reduced—that is a priority for this Welsh Government. You've referred to areas where we could widen the ban on smoking. Clearly, our immediate plan is to introduce a ban on smoking, as all Members are aware, in public playgrounds, school grounds and in hospital grounds. But, we are committed to our long-term goal of making more of Wales's public spaces smoke free and helping people to make positive changes to their health and well-being, and we intend to progress work in the next Senedd term to extend the smoking ban to outdoor areas of cafes and restaurants and city and town centres.
Wel, diolch, John Griffiths, am dynnu sylw at ran ysmygu mewn anghydraddoldebau iechyd. Hoffwn ddweud bod sicrhau bod yr annhegwch iechyd a achosir gan ysmygu yn cael ei leihau—bod hynny'n flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth Cymru hon. Rydych chi wedi cyfeirio at feysydd lle gallem ni ehangu'r gwaharddiad ar ysmygu. Yn amlwg, ein bwriad uniongyrchol yw cyflwyno gwaharddiad ar ysmygu, fel y mae pob Aelod yn ei wybod, mewn meysydd chwarae cyhoeddus, tir ysgolion ac ar dir ysbytai. Ond, rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i'n nod hirdymor o wneud mwy o fannau cyhoeddus Cymru yn ddi-fwg a helpu pobl i wneud newidiadau cadarnhaol i'w hiechyd a'u llesiant, ac rydym ni'n bwriadu bwrw ymlaen â gwaith yn nhymor nesaf y Senedd i ymestyn y gwaharddiad ar ysmygu i fannau awyr agored caffis a bwytai a chanol dinasoedd a threfi.
Policies to create a more equal Wales should be implemented in consultation with local authorities and local communities, and this is especially the case in plans for Wales to play its part in global efforts to support refugees. However, reports that a military training camp in Pembrokeshire will be used to house 250 refugees, with little or no consultation with the local authority prior to the UK Home Office's decision becoming public, are clearly very concerning. Can the Minister tell us whether the Welsh Government was consulted, and does the Minister agree with me that people seeking asylum should be housed safely and supported in communities, and not detained on a military base?
Dylid gweithredu polisïau i greu Cymru fwy cyfartal mewn ymgynghoriad ag awdurdodau lleol a chymunedau lleol, ac mae hyn yn arbennig o wir mewn cynlluniau i Gymru chwarae ei rhan mewn ymdrechion byd-eang i gynorthwyo ffoaduriaid. Fodd bynnag, mae adroddiadau y bydd gwersyll hyfforddi milwrol yn Sir Benfro yn cael ei ddefnyddio i gartrefu 250 o ffoaduriaid, heb fawr ddim ymgynghori â'r awdurdod lleol, os o gwbl, cyn cyhoeddi penderfyniad Swyddfa Gartref y DU, yn amlwg yn peri pryder mawr. A all y Gweinidog ddweud wrthym ni pa un a ymgynghorwyd â Llywodraeth Cymru, ac a yw'r Gweinidog yn cytuno â mi y dylai pobl sy'n ceisio lloches gael eu cartrefu yn ddiogel a'u cynorthwyo mewn cymunedau, ac nid cael eu cadw mewn gwersyll milwrol?
Well, I thank Leanne Wood very much for raising that question this afternoon in the Senedd. We were only notified of the Home Office proposals on Friday. We are yet to receive the full explanation that we have requested. The Welsh Government is committed to being a nation of sanctuary. We are committed to that, but we need to ensure that the needs of asylum seekers who come to us—and that's, of course, through our refugee and asylum seeking coalition, which I chair—that those needs are met, and are fully met and understood in terms of opportunities for people to integrate and settle. We are working with all relevant partners now to ensure that these concerns are addressed, in terms of this proposal that came forward on Friday. That obviously has to include local authorities and the communities affected, but what's crucial is that public health issues are considered at the forefront in terms of the impact of the pandemic.
Wel, diolchaf yn fawr iawn i Leanne Wood am godi'r cwestiwn yna y prynhawn yma yn y Senedd. Dim ond ddydd Gwener y cawsom ni wybod am gynigion y Swyddfa Gartref. Nid ydym ni wedi cael yr esboniad llawn yr ydym ni wedi gofyn amdano eto. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i fod yn genedl o noddfa. Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i hynny, ond mae angen i ni sicrhau bod anghenion ceiswyr lloches sy'n dod atom ni—ac mae hynny, wrth gwrs, drwy ein cynghrair ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches, yr wyf i'n ei gadeirio—bod yr anghenion hynny yn cael eu diwallu, ac yn cael eu diwallu a'u deall yn llwyr o ran cyfleoedd i bobl integreiddio a setlo. Rydym ni'n gweithio gyda'r holl bartneriaid perthnasol nawr i sicrhau bod y pryderon hyn yn cael sylw, o ran y cynnig hwn a wnaed ddydd Gwener. Yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid i hynny gynnwys awdurdodau lleol a'r cymunedau sy'n cael eu heffeithio, ond yr hyn sy'n hollbwysig yw bod materion iechyd y cyhoedd yn cael ystyriaeth flaenllaw o ran effaith y pandemig.
Cwestiwn 5, Rhianon Passmore.
Question 5, Rhianon Passmore.
Can you unmute yourself, Rhianon Passmore?
Allwch chi ddad-dawelu eich hun, Rhianon Passmore?
That question has been withdrawn, Llywydd.
Tynnwyd y cwestiwn yna yn ôl, Llywydd.
Okay, you don't choose to ask the question that's on the order paper.
Iawn, dydych chi ddim yn dewis gofyn y cwestiwn sydd ar y papur trefn.
Ni ofynnwyd cwestiwn 5 [OQ55527].
Question 5 [OQ55527] not asked.
Cwestiwn 6, felly, Mike Hedges.
Question 6, therefore, Mike Hedges.
6. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau cymorth i grwpiau gwirfoddol sy'n gweithio gyda'r gymuned fyddar? OQ55482
6. How is the Welsh Government ensuring support for voluntary groups working with the deaf community? OQ55482
Volunteers across Wales continue to play a vital role in enabling people to stay safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to support voluntary groups, including those working with the deaf community, £11 million has been made available through our third sector resilience fund.
Mae gwirfoddolwyr ledled Cymru yn parhau i chwarae rhan hanfodol o ran galluogi pobl i gadw'n ddiogel trwy bandemig COVID-19. Er mwyn cynorthwyo grwpiau gwirfoddol, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n gweithio gyda'r gymuned pobl fyddar, rhoddwyd £11 miliwn ar gael drwy ein cronfa cydnerthedd y trydydd sector.
I thank the Minister for that response. For the record, my sister is profoundly deaf, and I am also president of the Swansea Hard of Hearing Group. COVID has had a serious effect on the deaf community, as masks stop the ability of deaf people to lip-read, or even know that somebody is talking to them. What is being done to promote sign language and sign language interpreters to support the deaf community?
Diolchaf i'r Gweinidog am yr ymateb yna. Er mwyn ei roi ar y cofnod, mae fy chwaer yn hollol fyddar, ac rwyf i hefyd yn llywydd Grŵp Trwm eu Clyw Abertawe. Mae COVID wedi cael effaith ddifrifol ar y gymuned pobl fyddar, gan fod masgiau yn atal gallu pobl fyddar i ddarllen gwefusau, neu hyd yn oed gwybod bod rhywun yn siarad â nhw. Beth sy'n cael ei wneud i hyrwyddo iaith arwyddion a dehonglwyr iaith arwyddion i gynorthwyo'r gymuned pobl fyddar?
I thank Mike Hedges for that important question. Just to give examples of how we've targeted our funding: £1.1 million of support given to disability organisations, including the Cardiff Deaf Centre. The Welsh Government, of course, has ensured the presence of BSL interpretation at our COVID-19 news conferences, alongside a range of accessible formats on key correspondence through the pandemic, such as BSL videos for our Keep Wales Safe campaign.
But, we've also set up an accessible communications group, advising Welsh Government. The First Minister mentioned the fact we've had many meetings of the disability equality forum. We've also looked at the impact of face coverings, and, of course, that was mentioned earlier on in terms of the impact for autistic people.
So, it is crucial that we listen to the people who are impacted in terms of COVID-19 and ensure that we get that feedback, and then take action accordingly and raise awareness, as the First Minister said, because that's crucial for those who are encountering and engaging and supporting and enabling deaf people to participate fully in society, community and the workplace.
Diolchaf i Mike Hedges am y cwestiwn pwysig yna. Dim ond i roi enghreifftiau o sut yr ydym ni wedi targedu ein cyllid: rhoddwyd £1.1 miliwn o gymorth i sefydliadau anabledd, gan gynnwys Canolfan Pobl Fyddar Caerdydd. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru, wrth gwrs, wedi sicrhau presenoldeb dehongli Iaith Arwyddion Prydain yn ein cynadleddau newyddion COVID-19, ochr yn ochr ag amrywiaeth o fformatau hygyrch ar ohebiaeth allweddol drwy'r pandemig, fel fideos Iaith Arwyddion Prydain ar gyfer ein hymgyrch Cadwch Gymru'n Ddiogel.
Ond, rydym ni hefyd wedi sefydlu grŵp cyfathrebu hygyrch, sy'n cynghori Llywodraeth Cymru. Soniodd y Prif Weinidog am y ffaith ein bod ni wedi cael llawer o gyfarfodydd y fforwm cydraddoldeb i bobl anabl. Rydym ni hefyd wedi edrych ar effaith gorchuddion wyneb, ac, wrth gwrs, soniwyd am hynny yn gynharach o ran yr effaith ar bobl awtistig.
Felly, mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n gwrando ar y bobl sy'n cael eu heffeithio o ran COVID-19 a sicrhau ein bod ni'n cael yr adborth hwnnw, ac yna'n gweithredu yn unol â hynny ac yn codi ymwybyddiaeth, fel y dywedodd y Prif Weinidog, oherwydd mae hynny'n hollbwysig i'r rhai sydd mewn cysylltiad â phobl fyddar ac yn ymgysylltu ac yn cynorthwyo ac yn galluogi pobl fyddar i gymryd rhan lawn mewn cymdeithas, yn y gymuned ac yn y gweithle.
7. Faint o safleoedd Sipsiwn a Theithwyr yng Nghymru sydd â digon o fand eang er mwyn darparu modd o ddysgu yn y cartref i blant pe bai rhagor o gyfyngiadau symud yn cael eu cyflwyno yn y dyfodol? OQ55501
7. How many Gypsy and Traveller sites in Wales have sufficient broadband in order to provide children with adequate at-home learning in the event of further lockdowns? OQ55501
Almost half of local authority sites have at least some form of internet access. My officials are working with local authorities to identify sites without adequate broadband infrastructure and agree funding for projects that enable internet connectivity on sites, at up to 100 per cent of eligible costs.
Mae gan bron i hanner safleoedd awdurdodau lleol o leiaf ryw fath o fynediad i'r rhyngrwyd. Mae fy swyddogion yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i nodi safleoedd heb seilwaith band eang digonol a chytuno ar gyllid ar gyfer prosiectau sy'n galluogi cysylltedd rhyngrwyd ar safleoedd, hyd at 100 y cant o'r costau cymwys.
So, from what you're saying, Minister, I gather that half the Gypsy and Traveller sites have no broadband to enable pupils to be able to access the curriculum in the event that they're unable to attend school because of further lockdowns. What conversations have you had with the local government Minister, and indeed the education Minister, to ensure that this is a top priority for local authorities, given that your department has made money available specifically for this purpose? It's disappointing that this work hasn't been carried out over the summer once the lockdown restrictions were relaxed. So, I'd be very grateful if it would be possible to publish the sites that still do not have any broadband whatsoever.
Felly, o'r hyn rydych chi'n ei ddweud, Gweinidog, rwy'n deall nad oes gan hanner y safleoedd Sipsiwn a Theithwyr fand eang i alluogi disgyblion i fynd at y cwricwlwm os na allan nhw fynychu'r ysgol oherwydd cyfyngiadau symud pellach. Pa sgyrsiau ydych chi wedi'u cael â'r Gweinidog llywodraeth leol, ac yn wir y Gweinidog addysg, i sicrhau bod hyn yn brif flaenoriaeth i awdurdodau lleol, o gofio bod eich adran wedi sicrhau bod arian ar gael yn benodol at y diben hwn? Mae'n siomedig nad yw'r gwaith hwn wedi'i wneud yn ystod yr haf ar ôl i'r cyfyngiadau symud gael eu llacio. Felly, byddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn os byddai'n bosibl cyhoeddi'r safleoedd nad oes ganddyn nhw fand eang o gwbl o hyd.
Thank you to Jenny Rathbone, and I also acknowledge that Jenny Rathbone chairs the Gypsy/Traveller/Roma cross-party group, which has an important influence on listening as well as working with those who are impacted. We do indeed meet with those who are supporting and representing Gypsy/Roma/Travellers at the Wales race forum and, following advice and guidance from them in terms of barriers to internet access, I did write to the Minister for Education to ensure that local authorities are challenged and supported as well financially to improve outcomes for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, particularly for the children and young people in terms of accessing that blended learning.
So, I think the issues now that we're working on—and I will report back, clearly, to the Senedd on this—is that we're asking local authorities—. They've got the money, 100 per cent funding. We're asking them to come forward. We want to know all forms of need in terms of internet access, including high-speed mobile data, site-wide Wi-Fi, and all those gaps that may exist, so that we can ensure those children and young people have access to learning, and indeed adults as well in terms of their life opportunities.
Diolch i Jenny Rathbone, ac rwy'n cydnabod hefyd fod Jenny Rathbone yn cadeirio grŵp trawsbleidiol Sipsiwn/Teithwyr/Roma, sydd â dylanwad pwysig ar wrando ar y rhai hynny yr effeithir arnyn nhw, yn ogystal â gweithio gyda nhw. Yn wir, rydym ni'n cyfarfod â'r rhai sy'n cefnogi ac yn cynrychioli Sipsiwn/Roma/Teithwyr yn fforwm hil Cymru ac, yn dilyn cyngor ac arweiniad ganddyn nhw o ran rhwystrau i ddefnyddio'r rhyngrwyd, ysgrifennais i at y Gweinidog Addysg i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn cael eu herio a'u cefnogi yn gyllidol hefyd i wella'r canlyniadau i Sipsiwn, Roma a Theithwyr, yn enwedig i'r plant a'r bobl ifanc o ran gallu defnyddio'r dysgu cyfunol hwnnw.
Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r materion yr ydym ni'n gweithio arnyn nhw yn awr—a byddaf i'n adrodd yn ôl, yn amlwg, i'r Senedd ar hyn—yw ein bod ni'n gofyn i awdurdodau lleol—. Mae ganddyn nhw'r arian, 100 y cant o gyllid. Rydym ni'n gofyn iddyn nhw gamu ymlaen. Rydym ni eisiau gwybod am bob math o angen o ran mynediad i'r rhyngrwyd, gan gynnwys data symudol cyflym, Wi-Fi ar draws y safle, a'r holl fylchau hynny a all fodoli, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau bod dysgu ar gael i'r plant a'r bobl ifanc hynny, ac yn wir oedolion hefyd o ran eu cyfleoedd bywyd.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you, Deputy Minister.
Felly, y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd nesaf. Dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hynny—Rebecca Evans.
The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd to make that statement—Rebecca Evans.
Diolch, Llywydd. There is one change to today's agenda: the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition will make a statement on the UK Government Internal Market Bill. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae un newid i'r agenda heddiw: bydd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog dros Bontio Ewropeaidd yn gwneud datganiad am Fil Marchnad Fewnol Llywodraeth y DU. Mae'r busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi ar y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau'n electronig.
As we're embarking on the scrutiny of the curriculum Bill, I think it would be helpful if we could have some clarity on protecting the existence of Welsh-medium schools. I know the education Minister, in recent exchanges about the requirement to opt out of English, has said that this is not about the medium of teaching, it's about subjects, but I think that prompts the question then about how schools are currently categorised and what protections are currently in place. I wonder if the education Minister, or Minister for Welsh language—because I'm not quite sure which one it is—could update the Senedd via a statement about work that's being done on the language categorisations of schools in, say, I don't know, maybe the last two years, in view of the strategy for 1 million Welsh speakers and of course the curriculum Bill, to see if there are any possible conflicts in that. Thank you.
Gan ein bod yn dechrau craffu ar Fil y cwricwlwm, rwy'n credu y byddai'n ddefnyddiol os gallem ni gael rhywfaint o eglurder ynghylch diogelu bodolaeth ysgolion cyfrwng Cymraeg. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog addysg, mewn trafodaethau diweddar ynghylch y gofyniad i beidio a bod yn rhan o'r cyfrwng Saesneg, wedi dweud nad yw hyn yn ymwneud â chyfrwng addysgu, mae'n ymwneud â phynciau, ond credaf i fod hynny'n codi'r cwestiwn ynglŷn â sut mae ysgolion yn cael eu categoreiddio ar hyn o bryd a pha ddiogelu sydd ar waith ar hyn o bryd. Tybed a allai'r Gweinidog addysg, neu'r Gweinidog dros y Gymraeg—oherwydd nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr pa un ydyw—roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd drwy ddatganiad ynghylch y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud ar gategoreiddio iaith ysgolion yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, dyweder, efallai, o ystyried y strategaeth ar gyfer 1 miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg ac wrth gwrs y Bil cwricwlwm, i weld a oes unrhyw wrthdaro posibl yn hynny. Diolch.
Thank you to Suzy Davies for raising that this afternoon. In the first instance, I will have a conversation with both Ministers to better understand what might be the best way to update the Senedd on that particular issue. But, in any case, I'll ensure that you do get a written response to that.FootnoteLink
Diolch i Suzy Davies am godi hynny y prynhawn yma. Yn y lle cyntaf, byddaf i'n cael sgwrs gyda'r ddau Weinidog i ddeall yn well beth allai fod y ffordd orau o roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd ynghylch y mater penodol hwnnw. Ond, fodd bynnag, byddaf i'n sicrhau eich bod chi'n cael ymateb ysgrifenedig i hynny.FootnoteLink
Some people who are exempt from wearing face masks are being challenged or refused entry into shops, and many small business owners in particular are telling me of the difficulties that they are facing policing the wearing of face masks. So, will the Government look into providing some sort of official means of proof for people to show if they're exempt from wearing a face mask?
I also wanted to say 'thank you and well done' to all the staff who stepped in at the last minute in the Rhondda after the UK Government decided to reduce the number of tests per day to just 60. I'm still getting people who say they have symptoms of COVID-19 but cannot get a test. Now, how can this happen in the Rhondda when we've been told that we're on the verge of a local lockdown? This failure could put lives at risk, it could help a second wave. So, could we have a statement outlining what alternative plans the Government have so that we're not at the mercy of Westminster for this crucial testing operation?
Mae rhai pobl sydd wedi'u heithrio rhag gwisgo masgiau wyneb yn cael eu herio neu'n cael gwrthod mynediad i siopau, ac mae llawer o berchnogion busnesau bach yn arbennig yn dweud wrthyf i am yr anawsterau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu yn plismona gwisgo masgiau wyneb. Felly, a wnaiff y Llywodraeth ystyried darparu rhyw fath o brawf swyddogol i bobl ei ddangos os ydyn nhw wedi'u heithrio rhag gwisgo masg wyneb?
Roeddwn i hefyd eisiau dweud 'diolch a da iawn' i'r holl staff a gamodd i mewn ar y funud olaf yn y Rhondda ar ôl i Lywodraeth y DU benderfynu lleihau nifer y profion y dydd i ddim ond 60. Rwy'n dal i gael pobl yn dweud bod ganddyn nhw symptomau COVID-19 ond nad ydyn nhw'n gallu cael prawf. Nawr, sut gall hyn ddigwydd yn y Rhondda pan ddywedwyd wrthym ni ein bod ni ar fin gweld cyfyngiadau symud lleol? Gallai'r methiant hwn beryglu bywydau, gallai helpu ail don. Felly, a allem ni gael datganiad yn amlinellu pa gynlluniau eraill sydd gan y Llywodraeth fel nad ydym ni ar drugaredd San Steffan ar gyfer y broses brofi hollbwysig hon?
Thank you to Leanne Wood for raising those issues. On the second, which relates to the availability of COVID-19 tests, I would respectfully refer the Member to the comments made by the First Minister during First Minister's question earlier on this afternoon, because I do think that he addressed that specific issue in some depth.
On the issue of face masks, I do agree that it's absolutely important that there is a greater level of understanding that not everybody will be able to wear a face mask for a multitude of reasons, and I will ensure that I have a conversation with the health Minister to explore what more we can do to ensure that we do engender that atmosphere where people feel comfortable not wearing a mask if they can't do so because of a mental or physical reason, and that people have more understanding that there are people out there who might have a very, very good reason not to be wearing a face mask.
Diolch i Leanne Wood am godi'r materion hynny. O ran yr ail, sy'n ymwneud â chael gafael ar brofion COVID-19, byddwn yn cyfeirio'r Aelod yn barchus at y sylwadau a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog yn ystod cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog yn gynharach y prynhawn yma, oherwydd rwy'n credu eu fod wedi rhoi sylw manwl i'r mater penodol hwnnw.
O ran masgiau wyneb, rwy'n cytuno ei bod yn sicr yn bwysig bod mwy o ddealltwriaeth o lawer na fydd pawb yn gallu gwisgo masg wyneb am nifer fawr o resymau, a byddaf yn sicrhau fy mod i'n cael sgwrs gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd i archwilio beth arall y gallwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau ein bod ni'n meithrin yr awyrgylch hwnnw lle mae pobl yn teimlo'n gyfforddus yn peidio â gwisgo masg os na allan nhw wneud hynny oherwydd rheswm meddyliol neu gorfforol, a bod gan bobl fwy o ddealltwriaeth bod pobl allan yno a allai fod â rheswm da iawn dros beidio â gwisgo masg wyneb.
Minister, you'll have heard the exchange earlier between Darren Millar and the Deputy Minister on the issue of singing and worship in churches and chapels and elsewhere. It is an issue that is causing some great distress amongst people within the community. You may also have seen BBC Wales Today last week, where Beaufort male voice choir was practising in Ebbw Vale rugby club to avoid some of the difficulties that are faced in practising indoors. It is important that, as we move through these very, very difficult months, there are points of normality in people's lives that enable them to accept and abide by all the other regulations that we need to impose at different times. Would it be possible for the Government to look hard again at some of the evidence that is being produced to enable choirs to practise and singing to take place in places of worship, and also the situation of brass bands and others as well, to enable people, during the long winter months, to ensure that there are elements of normality in their lives?
The second issue I'd like to seek the Government's time for, in terms of a statement or debate, is that about access to public transport. With schools and colleges going back over the last few weeks, we have recognised that there are some significant difficulties with public transport, particularly, perhaps, in areas such as Blaenau Gwent, where people have not been able to get to local colleges easily and where people are not able to access public services easily because of the difficulties with mainly bus services.
The Grange University Hospital will be opened in November and we all very much welcome this enormous investment in our local health service, but we need to ensure that there are public transport routes and public transport services enabling people to reach that hospital, whether it's for treatment or for visiting when that will be possible. So, access to services through public transport continues to be a very major issue and I'd be grateful if the Government could make a statement on that.
Gweinidog, byddwch chi wedi clywed y drafodaeth yn gynharach rhwng Darren Millar a'r Dirprwy Weinidog ar fater canu ac addoli mewn eglwysi a chapeli ac mewn mannau eraill. Mae'n fater sy'n achosi cryn ofid mawr ymhlith pobl yn y gymuned. Efallai eich bod chi hefyd wedi gweld BBC Wales Today yr wythnos diwethaf, pan roedd côr meibion Beaufort yn ymarfer yng nghlwb rygbi Glynebwy i osgoi rhai o'r anawsterau a wynebir o ymarfer dan do. Mae'n bwysig, wrth i ni symud drwy'r misoedd anodd dros ben hyn, bod pwyntiau o normalrwydd ym mywydau pobl sy'n caniatáu iddyn nhw dderbyn a chydymffurfio â'r holl reoliadau eraill y mae angen i ni eu gorfodi ar wahanol adegau. A fyddai'n bosibl i'r Llywodraeth edrych yn ofalus eto ar rywfaint o'r dystiolaeth sy'n cael ei chynhyrchu i alluogi corau i ymarfer ac i ganu ddigwydd mewn mannau addoli, a hefyd sefyllfa bandiau pres ac eraill hefyd, i ganiatáu i bobl sicrhau, yn ystod misoedd hir y gaeaf, bod elfennau o normalrwydd yn eu bywydau?
Yr ail fater yr hoffwn i ofyn am amser y Llywodraeth ar ei gyfer, o ran datganiad neu ddadl, yw hwnnw sy'n ymwneud â gallu defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus. Ar ôl i ysgolion a cholegau ddychwelyd dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, rydym ni wedi cydnabod bod rhai anawsterau sylweddol gyda thrafnidiaeth gyhoeddus, yn enwedig, efallai, mewn ardaloedd fel Blaenau Gwent, lle nad yw pobl wedi gallu cyrraedd colegau lleol yn hawdd a lle nad yw pobl yn gallu cael gafael ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus yn hawdd oherwydd yr anawsterau gyda gwasanaethau bysiau yn bennaf.
Bydd Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor yn agor ym mis Tachwedd ac rydym ni i gyd yn croesawu'n fawr y buddsoddiad enfawr hwn yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd lleol, ond mae angen i ni sicrhau bod llwybrau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus a gwasanaethau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn galluogi pobl i gyrraedd yr ysbyty hwnnw, boed hynny ar gyfer triniaeth neu i ymweld, pan fydd hynny'n bosibl. Felly, mae mynediad at wasanaethau trwy drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yn parhau i fod yn fater pwysig iawn a byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Llywodraeth wneud datganiad ar hynny.
Thank you to Alun Davies for raising these issues. I know that he is a passionate supporter—even the president, maybe, I think—of Beaufort male voice choir. And I obviously declare an interest, as the Member for Gower, given the fact that we also have some of the best male voice choirs and brass bands in the world in that constituency too. So, yes, I do give that commitment that we will continue to keep that evidence under review, because we recognise the true value that being a member of a brass band or a choir has. And, of course, I see Mick Antoniw, the famous supporter of the Cory Band, also in the Chamber this afternoon. So, we've got lots of rivalry about our local brass bands and it just shows how passionate we are about them. So, yes, absolutely, we will continue to keep that advice under review as the evidence continues to develop.
And I do know that it is the intention of the Minister for the economy to bring forward a statement on buses very shortly, and you'll see that added to the business statement before too long.
Diolch i Alun Davies am godi'r materion hyn. Gwn ei fod yn gefnogwr brwd—llywydd hyd yn oed, efallai, rwy'n credu—o gôr meibion Beaufort. Ac rwy'n amlwg yn datgan buddiant, fel yr Aelod dros Benrhyn Gŵyr, o gofio bod gennym ninnau hefyd rai o'r corau meibion a'r bandiau pres gorau yn y byd yn yr etholaeth honno hefyd. Felly, ydw, rwy'n gwneud yr ymrwymiad hwnnw y byddwn ni'n parhau i adolygu'r dystiolaeth honno, oherwydd rydym ni'n cydnabod gwir werth bod yn aelod o fand pres neu gôr. Ac, wrth gwrs, rwy'n gweld Mick Antoniw, cefnogwr enwog Band Cory, yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma hefyd. Felly, mae gennym ni lawer o gystadleuaeth ymhlith ein bandiau pres lleol ac mae'n dangos pa mor angerddol ydym ni amdanyn nhw. Felly, yn sicr, byddwn yn parhau i adolygu'r cyngor hwnnw wrth i'r dystiolaeth barhau i ddatblygu.
A gwn fod Gweinidog yr economi yn bwriadu cyflwyno datganiad ar fysiau yn fuan iawn, a byddwch yn gweld hynny yn cael ei ychwanegu at y datganiad busnes cyn bo hir.
Unmute, right. I call for a Welsh Government statement on the approval and distribution of clear face masks in Wales. Action on Hearing Loss Cymru has highlighted the disproportionate effect on people who are deaf or have hearing loss of face mask use during the coronavirus pandemic, where inaccessible communication can also present a safety risk. Visual cues, such as facial expression and lip reading, are essential for communication, but personal protective equipment in health and social care settings is masking these visual cues.
Now the UK Government has announced the approval and dissemination of a clear mask for use in health and social care settings in the UK, Action on Hearing Loss is seeking clarification from the Welsh Government on: what the allocation of the first clear masks will be for Wales; will the allocation cover both health and social care settings, including care homes; how will applicable third sector organisations, such as themselves, access a supply; and how will the Welsh Government ensure ongoing supply to meet demand? I call for a statement accordingly.
Troi'r sain ymlaen, iawn. Galwaf am ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar gymeradwyo a dosbarthu masgiau wyneb clir yng Nghymru. Mae Action on Hearing Loss Cymru wedi tynnu sylw at yr effaith anghymesur ar bobl fyddar neu sydd â cholled clyw yn ystod pandemig y coronafeirws, lle gall cyfathrebu anhygyrch fod yn risg o ran diogelwch hefyd. Mae ciwiau gweledol, fel mynegiant yr wyneb a darllen gwefusau, yn hanfodol ar gyfer cyfathrebu, ond mae cyfarpar diogelu personol mewn lleoliadau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn cuddio'r ciwiau gweledol hyn.
Ar ôl i Lywodraeth y DU gyhoeddi cymeradwyaeth a dosbarthiad masg clir i'w ddefnyddio mewn lleoliadau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn y DU, mae Action on Hearing Loss yn gofyn am eglurhad gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar: beth fydd y dyraniad cyntaf o fasgiau clir i Gymru; a fydd y dyraniad yn cynnwys lleoliadau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, gan gynnwys cartrefi gofal; sut bydd sefydliadau trydydd sector perthnasol, fel nhw eu hunain, yn gallu cael gafael ar gyflenwad; a sut bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicrhau cyflenwad parhaus i fodloni'r galw? Galwaf am ddatganiad yn unol â hynny.
Thank you to Mark Isherwood for raising that, and I think this is the third time in this afternoon's session when we have explored the difficulties that people who are deaf, who have hearing loss are experiencing at the moment as a result of the usage of face masks. So, it is a really important issue and I will ensure that Action on Hearing Loss does have an answer to their particular questions about how those specially adapted masks will be distributed to ensure that they're distributed to people who most need them and who will most benefit from them.FootnoteLink
Diolch i Mark Isherwood am godi hynna, ac rwy'n credu mai dyma'r trydydd tro yn sesiwn y prynhawn yma yr ydym ni wedi archwilio'r anawsterau y mae pobl sy'n fyddar, sydd â cholled clyw, yn eu cael ar hyn o bryd o ganlyniad i'r defnydd o fasgiau wyneb. Felly, mae'n fater pwysig iawn a byddaf yn sicrhau bod Action on Hearing Loss yn cael ateb i'w cwestiynau penodol am sut y bydd y masgiau hynny sydd wedi'u haddasu yn arbennig yn cael eu dosbarthu i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael eu dosbarthu i bobl sydd eu hangen fwyaf ac a fydd yn elwa fwyaf ohonyn nhw.FootnoteLink
Gweinidog, gawn ni ddatganiad am y camau mae'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i ymateb yn rhagweithiol i'r argyfwng tai dŷn ni'n ei weld mewn nifer o gymunedau ar draws Cymru? Mae yn argyfwng, wrth gwrs, sy'n cael ei yrru yn bennaf, ond nid yn unig, gan y ffaith bod nifer cynyddol o gartrefi nawr yn cael eu prynu fel ail gartrefi neu dai gwyliau. Mae'n cael ei ddwysáu hefyd, wrth gwrs, gan y ffaith bod mwy o bobl nawr yn symud o'r dinasoedd a'r ardaloedd poblog i gefn gwlad Cymru mewn ymateb, wrth gwrs, i'r pandemig.
Nawr, fe glywoch chi yn y Pwyllgor Cyllid ddoe fod nifer o Aelodau'n teimlo y dylai'r Llywodraeth fod yn gwneud gwell defnydd o'i phwerau trethiannol i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r mater yma. Byddwn i'n licio clywed pa gamau o'r newydd y mae'r Llywodraeth yn edrych arnyn nhw i'r perwyl hwnnw. Ond yn bennaf oll, wrth gwrs, mae angen edrych ar gamau pendant o fewn y gyfundrefn gynllunio, ac yn sicr mae angen rheoli y gallu i newid defnydd tŷ annedd o fod yn gartref cyntaf i fod yn ail gartref, man lleiaf. Mae yna enghreifftiau o gamau sydd wedi cael eu cymryd mewn rhannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Unedig, yng Nghernyw, yn benodol, o safbwynt ail gartrefi. Yn Guernsey, wrth gwrs, o safbwynt y farchnad dai, mae yna farchnad agored a marchnad gaeedig, ac mae yna enghreifftiau ar draws Ewrop a thu hwnt hefyd o'r mathau o bethau dylai'r Llywodraeth nawr fod yn eu hystyried.
Felly, dwi eisiau gwybod pa gynlluniau sydd ar droed gan y Llywodraeth i ymateb i'r argyfwng yma. Oherwydd rŷn ni i gyd yn gwybod, wrth gwrs, ac yn cofio beth ddigwyddodd yn y 1980au, ac roedd hynny'n uniongyrchol yn ganlyniad i fethiant gan wleidyddion i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem. Nawr, does neb eisiau gweld eu hunain nôl yn y sefyllfa yna, wrth gwrs, oherwydd petai hynny'n digwydd, yna mi fyddai hynny yn cynrychioli methiant difrifol o safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru, methiant difrifol o safbwynt y Senedd honno, ac mi fyddai hynny yn sen ar ddatganoli.
Minister, could we have a statement on the steps that the Government is taking to respond proactively to the housing crisis that we see in so many communities across Wales? It is a crisis, of course, driven mainly, but not only, by the fact that an increasing number of homes are now being bought as second homes or holiday accommodation. It's intensified also by the fact that more people are now moving out of cities and more populated areas to rural Wales in response to the pandemic.
Now, you heard in the Finance Committee yesterday that many Members felt that the Government should be making better use of its taxation powers in order to seek to address this issue. I would like to know what new steps the Government is considering to that end. But mainly, of course, we need to look at specific steps within the planning regime, and certainly we need to manage the ability to change the use from a residential property into a second home. There are examples of steps taken in other parts of the UK, in Cornwall specifically in terms of second homes. In Guernsey, in terms of the housing market, there is an open market and a closed market there, and there are examples across Europe and beyond of the kinds of things that the Government should now be considering.
So, I'd like to know what plans are in place by Government to respond to this crisis. Because we all know, of course, and we all recall what happened in the 1980s, and that was a direct result of the failure of politicians in addressing the problem. Now, nobody wants to see us back in that situation, of course, because if that were the case, then that would represent a grave failure from the point of view of the Welsh Government and a grave failure for the Senedd, and that would be an insult to devolution.
Well, of course, we've had excellent success over the course of this Senedd in terms of meeting our Welsh Government commitment to the people of Wales, that we would build 20,000 new affordable homes over the course of this Senedd. And I'm really pleased to be able to say that we are absolutely on course to have hit that target by the end of this Senedd term.
I recognise all of the issues that Llyr has described in terms of the pressures on the housing market, particularly in some parts of Wales, and I know that the Minister for housing is participating remotely this afternoon, but will have heard that request for a statement or a debate in order to explore those issues further. FootnoteLink
Wel, wrth gwrs, rydym ni wedi cael llwyddiant rhagorol yn ystod y Senedd hon o ran cyflawni ein hymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i bobl Cymru, y byddem ni'n adeiladu 20,000 o dai fforddiadwy newydd yn ystod y Senedd hon. Ac rwy'n falch iawn o allu dweud ein bod ni'n sicr ar y trywydd iawn i gyrraedd y targed hwnnw erbyn diwedd tymor y Senedd.
Rwy'n cydnabod yr holl faterion y mae Llyr wedi'u disgrifio o ran y pwysau ar y farchnad dai, yn enwedig mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, a gwn fod y Gweinidog tai yn cymryd rhan o bell y prynhawn yma, ond bydd wedi clywed y cais hwnnw am ddatganiad neu ddadl er mwyn ymchwilio ymhellach i'r materion hynny. FootnoteLink
Trefnydd, tourism has been one of the sectors that have been actually badly affected by the pandemic, but yet tourism can also be one of the sectors that can drive our regeneration of the economy as we move forward. Now, with that in mind, obviously, we want to try and promote tourism and promote projects that develop tourism as much as possible. To that end, the Rhondda tunnel has actually always been one of those projects that could deliver on the tourism idea. I have raised this before in this Chamber, that the ownership of the tunnel has been one of the big stumbling blocks to the progression of the work there. Can I have a statement from the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales as to what progress has been made on the transfer of ownership from Highways England to the Welsh Government or to governments within Wales so that we can get on with the project, so that by the time we look at a situation where we really want to regenerate our economy in our Valleys, the project could actually be going ahead and that tunnel could be one of the things that attract people here?
Trefnydd, mae twristiaeth wedi bod yn un o'r sectorau y mae'r pandemig wir wedi cael effaith wael arno, ond eto gall twristiaeth hefyd fod yn un o'r sectorau a all sbarduno ein hadfywiad o'r economi wrth i ni symud ymlaen. Nawr, gyda hynny mewn golwg, yn amlwg, rydym ni eisiau ceisio hyrwyddo twristiaeth a hyrwyddo prosiectau sy'n datblygu twristiaeth cymaint â phosibl. I'r perwyl hwnnw, mae twnnel y Rhondda wedi bod yn un o'r prosiectau hynny a allai wireddu'r syniad o dwristiaeth erioed. Rwyf i wedi codi hyn o'r blaen yn y Siambr hon, mai perchnogaeth y twnnel fu bod yn un o'r rhwystrau mawr i ddatblygiad y gwaith yno. A allaf i gael datganiad gan Weinidog yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru ynghylch pa gynnydd a wnaed o ran trosglwyddo'r perchnogaeth o Highways England i Lywodraeth Cymru neu i lywodraethau yng Nghymru fel y gallwn ni fwrw ymlaen â'r prosiect, fel y gallai'r prosiect, erbyn yr adeg y byddwn ni'n edrych ar sefyllfa lle'r ydym ni wir eisiau adfywio ein heconomi yn ein Cymoedd, wir fod yn mynd rhagddo ac y gallai'r twnnel hwnnw fod yn un o'r pethau sy'n denu pobl yma?
Thank you to David Rees for raising that, and he knows that I share his enthusiasm for that particular project. Transport officials are currently in discussion with the Department for Transport on the terms of any potential transfer of the tunnel, as well as with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council on the development of a business case for its future use. I think, as I understand it, one of the outstanding big issues, of course, is in terms of taking on an asset and taking on risk and what funding should come alongside with that, but that is something that I understand is currently continuing to be discussed. The Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport did meet with the council and the Rhondda Tunnel Society at the beginning of this month, and I know that future meetings are again being arranged to discuss the future management and that issue of the ownership of the tunnel. So, there's certainly continued work going on in this space, even though we've been facing a pandemic.
Diolch i David Rees am godi hynna, ac mae'n gwybod fy mod i'n rhannu ei frwdfrydedd at y prosiect penodol hwnnw. Mae swyddogion trafnidiaeth wrthi'n trafod telerau unrhyw drosglwyddiad posibl o'r twnnel gyda'r Adran Drafnidiaeth, yn ogystal â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf ar ddatblygu achos busnes dros ei ddefnydd yn y dyfodol. Rwy'n credu, yn ôl yr wyf i'n ei ddeall, bod un o'r problemau mawr sydd heb eu datrys, wrth gwrs, yn ymwneud â chymryd cyfrifoldeb am ased a chymryd cyfrifoldeb am risg a pha gyllid ddylai gyd-fynd â hynny, ond mae hynny yn rhywbeth sy'n parhau i gael ei drafod ar hyn o bryd, rwy'n deall. Cafodd Dirprwy Weinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth gyfarfod gyda'r cyngor a Chymdeithas Twnnel y Rhondda ddechrau'r mis hwn, a gwn fod cyfarfodydd yn cael eu trefnu eto ar gyfer y dyfodol i drafod rheolaeth y twnnel yn y dyfodol a'r mater hwnnw o berchnogaeth y twnnel. Felly, yn sicr mae gwaith parhaus yn cael ei wneud yn y gofod hwn, er ein bod ni wedi bod yn wynebu pandemig.
The residents of Victoria Wharf in Cardiff bought what they thought were their dream homes, but it turns out that they've bought into a nightmare. The properties are worthless now, they're unable to borrow off them, they're unable to sell them and there are real concerns about fire safety. These residents do not now sleep easily in their beds at night, and the blocks were signed off by Cardiff council and the developers. So, the statement that I would like off the Government is: what do they propose to do to help these residents in Cardiff, and not only in Cardiff, but all over Wales? There are people in awful predicaments, where it seems that these buildings are quite simply not safe. What will be done?
Prynodd trigolion Victoria Wharf yng Nghaerdydd yr hyn yr oedden nhw'n eu hystyried yn gartrefi eu breuddwydion, ond y gwir amdani yw mai prynu hunllef a wnaethon nhw. Mae'r eiddo yn ddiwerth erbyn hyn, dydyn nhw ddim yn gallu benthyg ar eu sail, dydyn nhw ddim yn gallu eu gwerthu a cheir pryderon gwirioneddol ynghylch diogelwch tân. Nid yw'r trigolion hyn yn cysgu'n dawel yn eu gwelyau liw nos erbyn hyn, a chadarnhawyd y blociau gan gyngor Caerdydd a'r datblygwyr. Felly, y datganiad yr hoffwn i ei gael gan y Llywodraeth yw: beth maen nhw'n bwriadu ei wneud i helpu'r trigolion hyn yng Nghaerdydd, ac nid yng Nghaerdydd yn unig, ond ym mhob cwr o Gymru? Mae pobl mewn sefyllfaoedd ofnadwy, lle mae'n ymddangos yn syml nad yw'r adeiladau hyn yn ddiogel. Beth fydd yn cael ei wneud?
The Minister for Housing and Local Government has made it clear repeatedly that building owners and developers should face up to what is, essentially, a very strong moral responsibility and put right these faults at their cost or they do risk their professional reputation, because it's absolutely critical that people do feel safe and secure in their homes and we are committed to improving building safety here in Wales. I do know, again, that it is the intention of the Minister to provide the Senedd with an update in the not-too-distant future on the work that we've been doing in terms of that building safety programme in order to address the concerns that came to light following the tragic Grenfell fire.
Mae'r Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol wedi ei gwneud hi'n eglur dro ar ôl tro y dylai perchnogion a datblygwyr adeiladau wynebu'r hyn sydd, yn ei hanfod, yn gyfrifoldeb moesol cryf iawn a chywiro'r diffygion hyn ar draul eu hunain, neu maen nhw'n peryglu eu henw da proffesiynol, oherwydd mae'n gwbl hanfodol bod pobl yn teimlo'n ddiogel yn eu cartrefi ac rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i wella diogelwch adeiladau yma yng Nghymru. Gwn, unwaith eto, mai bwriad y Gweinidog yw rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd yn y dyfodol agos ynghylch y gwaith yr ydym ni wedi bod yn ei wneud o ran y rhaglen diogelwch adeiladau honno er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon a ddaeth i'r amlwg yn dilyn tân trasig Grenfell.
Trefnydd, one of the consequences of COVID has been that many of us have been getting more exercise. We've been taking walks in some of the incredible and beautiful countryside that we have around us. I regularly now walk through the Coedely woods, through the Smaelog, and the reconnection with nature is really something that is perhaps one of the positives that have come out of this pandemic.
But alongside that is the appalling behaviour of a minority of people and the amount of fly-tipping, the amount of rubbish that is being dumped. I've been photographing this. At one stage, I couldn't walk more than a couple of metres without coming across fly-tipping. Rhondda Cynon Taf council has been tremendous at not only monitoring social media, but then going along and clearing this up, but, of course, at a cost to all those members of the public who don't engage in that sort of anti-social behaviour.
The point I make is this: Rhondda Cynon Taf have been very vigorous in prosecuting, there have been a number of prosecutions, but the fines are no deterrent. They're far less than the benefit the individual gets, and in no way reflect the cost to the council of having to clear up these sites. Now, I've written to the Counsel General on this point, but it seems to me it would be very helpful if there was a Government-time debate here where we talked about the legislation that exists, the penalties that exist, how the penalties have now got to relate to the cost of clearing up fly-tipping, and how we've got to campaign against this anti-social behaviour. Do you agree with me that now would be a good time to actually start talking about this, and to seriously look at the legislation to improve our ability to deter and to prosecute those who engage in this terrible anti-social behaviour?
Trefnydd, un o ganlyniadau COVID yw bod llawer ohonom ni wedi bod yn gwneud mwy o ymarfer corff. Rydym ni wedi bod yn mynd am dro yn rhai o'r ardaloedd cefn gwlad anhygoel a hardd sydd gennym ni o'n cwmpas. Rwy'n cerdded yn rheolaidd erbyn hyn trwy goedwig Coedelái, drwy'r Smaelog, ac mae'r ailgysylltu â natur wir yn rhywbeth sydd efallai yn un o'r agweddau cadarnhaol sydd wedi dod o'r pandemig hwn.
Ond ochr yn ochr â hynny y mae ymddygiad gwarthus lleiafrif o bobl a lefel y tipio anghyfreithlon, faint o sbwriel sy'n cael ei adael. Rwyf i wedi bod yn tynnu lluniau o hyn. Ar un adeg, nid oeddwn i'n gallu cerdded mwy nag ychydig fetrau heb weld tipio anghyfreithlon. Mae cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi bod yn wych, nid yn unig o ran monitro cyfryngau cymdeithasol, ond yna mynd ati a chlirio hyn, ond yn arwain, wrth gwrs, at gost i'r holl aelodau hynny o'r cyhoedd nad ydyn nhw'n ymgymryd â'r math hwnnw o ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol.
Y pwynt yr wyf i'n ei wneud yw hwn: mae Rhondda Cynon Taf wedi bod yn egnïol iawn yn erlyn, cafwyd nifer o erlyniadau, ond nid yw'r dirwyon yn atal pobl. Maen nhw'n llai o lawer na'r budd y mae'r unigolyn yn ei gael, ac nid ydyn nhw'n adlewyrchu'r gost i'r cyngor o orfod clirio'r safleoedd hyn mewn unrhyw ffordd. Nawr, rwyf i wedi ysgrifennu at y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ynglŷn â'r pwynt hwn, ond mae'n ymddangos i mi y byddai'n ddefnyddiol iawn pe bai dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth yma pan fyddem ni'n trafod y ddeddfwriaeth sy'n bodoli, y cosbau sy'n bodoli, sut y mae'n rhaid i'r cosbau fod yn gysylltiedig â chost clirio tipio anghyfreithlon bellach, a sut y mae'n rhaid i ni ymgyrchu yn erbyn yr ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol hwn. A ydych chi'n cytuno â mi y byddai nawr yn amser da i ddechrau trafod hyn, ac i edrych o ddifrif ar y ddeddfwriaeth i wella ein gallu i atal ac erlyn y rhai sy'n ymgymryd â'r ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol ofnadwy hwn?
I'd like to join Mick Antoniw in congratulating RCT on the work that they've been doing on this particular issue, and being very proactive in their response to it, because fly-tipping is never justified in any circumstances, and obviously during the COVID-19 lockdown we worked particularly closely with local authorities and businesses to ensure that the public were aware of their responsibility to store their waste safely until the sites reopened. We know that not everybody did that, and we have seen the results of that.
We're currently exploring options on how best to further assist those local authorities and Natural Resources Wales in their enforcement work. Obviously, this area involves both items that are devolved to us here in Wales—so, those environmental issues, for example—but there are also some issues to do with the reserved justice system. I can confirm that we will be pursuing this with the UK Government in the first instance, and I'll be very pleased to provide an update on those discussions.
Hoffwn ymuno â Mick Antoniw i longyfarch Rhondda Cynon Taf ar y gwaith y maen nhw wedi bod yn ei wneud ar y mater penodol hwn, ac ar fod yn rhagweithiol iawn yn eu hymateb iddo, oherwydd nid ellir cyfiawnhau tipio anghyfreithlon byth o dan unrhyw amgylchiadau, ac yn amlwg yn ystod cyfyngiadau symud COVID-19 buom ni'n gweithio yn arbennig o agos gydag awdurdodau lleol a busnesau i sicrhau bod y cyhoedd yn ymwybodol o'u cyfrifoldeb i storio eu gwastraff yn ddiogel tan i'r safleoedd ailagor. Rydym ni'n gwybod na wnaeth pawb hynny, ac rydym ni wedi gweld canlyniadau hynny.
Rydym ni wrthi'n archwilio opsiynau ynghylch y ffordd orau o gynorthwyo'r awdurdodau lleol hynny a Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru ymhellach yn eu gwaith gorfodi. Yn amlwg, mae'r maes hwn yn cynnwys y ddwy eitem sydd wedi'u datganoli i ni yma yng Nghymru—felly, y materion amgylcheddol hynny, er enghraifft—ond ceir rhai materion hefyd sy'n ymwneud â'r system cyfiawnder a gadwyd yn ôl. Gallaf gadarnhau y byddwn ni'n mynd ar drywydd hyn gyda Llywodraeth y DU yn y lle cyntaf, a byddaf yn falch iawn o roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y trafodaethau hynny.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
Byddwn ni nawr yn cynnal egwyl fer ac yn oedi'r darllediad dros dro.
I thank the Trefnydd.
We will now have a short break and will postpone broadcasting for the time being.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:12.
Plenary was suspended at 15:12.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:25, gyda’r Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 15:25, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) in the Chair.
[Inaudible.]—that short break, and with item 3 on our agenda this afternoon, which is a statement by the Minister for Education on schools reopening. I call on the Minister for Education, Kirsty Williams.
[Anghlywadwy.]—yr egwyl fer honno, a chydag eitem 3 ar ein hagenda ni'r prynhawn yma, sef datganiad gan y Gweinidog Addysg ar ailagor ysgolion. Rwy'n galw ar y Gweinidog Addysg, Kirsty Williams.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. Colleagues, learners in Wales have been going back to nursery, schools and colleges over the last two weeks, and I want to thank them, teachers, tutors and all education staff for the way in which they have dealt with and, indeed, are still dealing with COVID-19. I want to thank them for their hard work, their resilience and their co-operation as we navigate our way through these most difficult of times.
Of course, I recognise that in any situation such as this, it is not without any risk. However, I continue to be guided by the latest medical and scientific advice in making any decision on the safe return of learners. My priorities throughout this pandemic have been the safety and well-being of staff and learners, whilst delivering maximum learning with minimal disruption to our young people.
I believe that going back to school is critical for children’s development and for their health and their well-being, especially those who are most vulnerable in our communities, and I'm grateful for the effort that schools, colleges, local authorities and trade unions have made to ensure that school and college environments are as safe as possible for all learners. These measures include increased cleaning, hygiene stations for staff and learners and reduced movement and contact between groups.
Wales’s technical advisory group were also clear that we must have a robust trace and protect strategy in place as a prerequisite for a wider reopening of schools. And as has been rehearsed earlier in the Chamber, this has been a real success story here in Wales, with not only a high number of contacts being traced within 24 hours, but also a clear approach to outbreak management, which will help support schools in moving forward.
Of course, our education and nursery settings may be fully open, but this is not going back to normal. For staff and learners alike it is a continuing challenge after so many months of distance learning, and the possibility of further spikes in cases and the disruption that that causes. This is a difficult time as education settings are still having to plan for different models of learning as well as managing contact and social distancing within their school environments. Therefore, along with the regions, we have provided guidance to ensure that learning and progression continues and remains safe.
It is very likely that time away from school has had a negative impact on many of our young people. They may need support to be ready to learn once again and to reintegrate into the school environment. We may see significant well-being challenges, over and above what we would normally expect at the start of a new academic year. Key areas of learning may have been lost during the time away from school and schools will need flexibility to address these issues. I want schools and other settings to be able to respond to this and invest time in supporting learners’ well-being. We cannot expect schools to execute all of their duties in respect of our curriculum for all learners in all circumstances, given circumstances we all face, and therefore I have decided to modify the basic curriculum and associated assessment requirements to a 'reasonable endeavours' basis for the first 30 days of September. In doing this I want to provide schools with flexibility to reintegrate students and to develop resilient and relevant learning plans. This is about helping schools as they return to full-time learning in their buildings.
But we know that many learners have not progressed as much as they would ordinarily have done so, and we need to address this. As teachers and heads continue to welcome pupils back, I know that they will be assessing learners’ needs and development, building on the check-in period for everyone before the summer break. My clear message to them is that funding is there in council and school budgets to recruit extra staff and teaching assistants for this academic year. Building on their understanding of where learners are in their learning, our investment of over £29 million is targeted to ensure that extra teachers and support is there for years 11, 12 and 13, as well as disadvantaged and vulnerable learners of all ages.
I know that teachers, as well as parents, share my concern about potential learning loss and the attainment gap. This month will help heads and teachers better understand how they can use the funding provided to support extra coaching, personalised learning programmes and additional time and resources for those pupils facing exams.
We have also been working with directors of education and education trade unions to develop guidance to support ongoing provision in schools, and this includes clear advice on social distancing. We have issued advice to schools and education workforce unions on COVID-19 more generally, and via Dysg, and we will continue to provide information and guidance as the needs arise.
We have also been working collectively across the Government to address issues around school transport, with £10 million additional funding allocated to assist local authorities. This money has helped them provide additional capacity to meet statutory requirements following the updated guidance issued recently by the traffic commissioner.
As we all understand, situations can change rapidly during a pandemic. I can assure you, however, that we will continue to work within and across Government, and with our other partners, to provide guidance and advice to ensure the safety of our staff and our young people. And together, even in these uncertain times, we will continue to focus on raising standards for all, reducing the attainment gap and ensuring that we have a system that is a source of pride and enjoys public confidence.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae cydweithwyr a dysgwyr yng Nghymru wedi dychwelyd i'r meithrinfeydd, ysgolion a cholegau dros y pythefnos diwethaf, ac rwy'n awyddus i ddiolch iddyn nhw, i'r athrawon, y tiwtoriaid a'r holl staff addysgol am y ffordd y maen nhw wedi ymdrin ac, yn wir, yn parhau i ymdrin â COVID-19. Fe hoffwn i ddiolch iddyn nhw am eu gwaith caled, eu cydnerthedd a'u cydweithrediad wrth inni ymlwybro drwy'r cyfnod mwyaf dyrys hwn.
Wrth gwrs, rwy'n cydnabod nad oes modd, mewn unrhyw sefyllfa fel hon, peidio â chael unrhyw risg o gwbl. Er hynny, y cyngor meddygol a gwyddonol diweddaraf sy'n fy nhywys i wrth wneud unrhyw benderfyniad am ddysgwyr yn dychwelyd i'w haddysg yn ddiogel. Fy mlaenoriaethau i drwy gydol y pandemig hwn fu diogelwch a lles staff a dysgwyr, gan ddarparu'r addysg orau bosibl gyda chyn lleied â phosibl o amharu yn digwydd i'n pobl ifanc ni.
Rwyf i o'r farn fod mynd yn ôl i'r ysgol yn hanfodol i ddatblygiad plant ac i'w hiechyd a'u lles nhw, yn enwedig y rhai sydd fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau ni, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar am yr ymdrech a wnaeth ysgolion, colegau, awdurdodau lleol ac undebau llafur i sicrhau bod yr amgylchedd mewn ysgolion a cholegau mor ddiogel ag sy'n bosibl i bob dysgwr. Mae'r mesurau hyn yn cynnwys mwy o lanhau, gorsafoedd hylendid i staff a dysgwyr, a llai o symud a chyswllt rhwng grwpiau.
Roedd grŵp cynghori technegol Cymru yn eglur hefyd fod yn rhaid inni sefydlu strategaeth gadarn o olrhain a diogelu fel un o'r rhagofynion ar gyfer ailagor ysgolion yn ehangach. Ac fel y mynegwyd yn gynharach yn y Siambr, mae hyn wedi bod yn llwyddiant mawr yma yng Nghymru. Mae nifer fawr o gysylltiadau yn cael eu holrhain o fewn 24 awr, ond hefyd gwelwyd dull clir o reoli achosion, a fydd yn help i gefnogi ysgolion i symud ymlaen.
Wrth gwrs, efallai fod ein lleoliadau addysg a meithrin ar agor yn llawn, ond nid yw hyn yn golygu normalrwydd. I staff a dysgwyr fel ei gilydd mae'n her barhaus ar ôl misoedd lawer o ddysgu o bell, a'r posibilrwydd o achosion pellach a'r tarfu a achosir gan hynny. Cyfnod anodd iawn yw hwn gan fod lleoliadau addysg yn dal i orfod cynllunio ar gyfer gwahanol fodelau dysgu yn ogystal â rheoli cyswllt a chadw pellter cymdeithasol o fewn amgylchedd eu hysgolion. Felly, ynghyd â'r rhanbarthau, rydym wedi darparu canllawiau i sicrhau bod dysgu a dilyniant yn parhau ac yn aros yn ddiogel.
Mae'n debygol iawn bod amser i ffwrdd o'r ysgol wedi cael effaith negyddol ar lawer o'n pobl ifanc ni. Efallai y bydd angen cymorth arnyn nhw i fod yn barod i ddysgu unwaith eto ac ailintegreiddio i amgylchedd yr ysgol. Efallai y gwelwn ni heriau sylweddol o ran llesiant, yn ychwanegol at yr hyn y byddem ni'n ei ddisgwyl fel arfer ar ddechrau blwyddyn academaidd newydd. Efallai fod meysydd dysgu allweddol wedi mynd ar goll yn ystod yr amser i ffwrdd o'r ysgol a bydd angen hyblygrwydd ar ysgolion i fynd i'r afael â'r materion hyn. Rwy'n awyddus i ysgolion a lleoliadau eraill allu ymateb i hynny a buddsoddi amser er mwyn cefnogi llesiant y dysgwyr. Ni allwn ddisgwyl i ysgolion gyflawni eu holl ddyletswyddau mewn cysylltiad â'r cwricwlwm i bob dysgwr mewn pob amgylchiad, o ystyried yr amgylchiadau yr ydym i gyd yn eu hwynebu. Felly, rwyf wedi penderfynu addasu'r cwricwlwm sylfaenol a'r gofynion asesu cysylltiedig ar sail 'ymdrech resymol' ar gyfer 30 diwrnod cyntaf mis Medi. Wrth wneud hyn rwy'n awyddus i roi hyblygrwydd i ysgolion wrth ailintegreiddio myfyrwyr a datblygu cynlluniau addysg sy'n gadarn ac yn berthnasol. Mae hyn yn golygu helpu ysgolion wrth iddyn nhw ailddechrau addysg amser llawn yn eu hadeiladau.
Ond fe wyddom fod yna lawer o ddysgwyr nad ydyn nhw wedi datblygu cymaint ag y byddent wedi ei wneud fel arfer, ac mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â hynny. Wrth i athrawon a phenaethiaid barhau i groesawu disgyblion yn ôl, gwn y byddant yn asesu anghenion a datblygiad dysgwyr, gan adeiladu ar y cyfnod ailgydio i bawb cyn toriad yr haf. Fy neges glir i iddyn nhw yw bod yr arian ar gael yng nghyllidebau'r cynghorau ac ysgolion i recriwtio staff a chynorthwywyr addysgu ychwanegol ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd hon. Gan adeiladu ar eu dealltwriaeth nhw o sefyllfa addysgol eu dysgwyr nhw, mae ein buddsoddiad ni o dros £29 miliwn wedi ei dargedu i sicrhau bod athrawon a chymorth ychwanegol yno ar gyfer blynyddoedd 11, 12 ac 13, yn ogystal â dysgwyr difreintiedig ac agored i niwed o bob oedran.
Gwn fod athrawon, yn ogystal â rhieni, yn pryderu fel minnau am y dysgu a gollwyd a'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad. Fe fydd y mis hwn yn helpu penaethiaid ac athrawon i ddeall yn well sut y gallan nhw ddefnyddio'r arian a ddarperir i gefnogi hyfforddiant ychwanegol, rhaglenni addysg bersonol ac amser ac adnoddau ychwanegol i'r disgyblion hynny sy'n wynebu arholiadau.
Rydym wedi bod yn gweithio hefyd gyda chyfarwyddwyr addysg ac undebau llafur addysg i ddatblygu canllawiau i gefnogi darpariaeth gyfredol mewn ysgolion, ac mae hyn yn cynnwys cyngor clir ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Rydym wedi darparu cyngor i ysgolion ac undebau'r gweithlu addysg ar COVID-19 yn fwy cyffredinol, a thrwy Dysg, ac fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i ddarparu gwybodaeth ac arweiniad wrth i'r anghenion godi.
Rydym wedi bod yn cydweithio hefyd ar draws y Llywodraeth i fynd i'r afael â materion sy'n ymwneud â chludiant i'r ysgol, a dyranwyd £10 miliwn o arian ychwanegol i gynorthwyo awdurdodau lleol. Mae'r arian hwn wedi eu helpu i ddarparu capasiti ychwanegol i fodloni gofynion statudol yn dilyn y canllawiau diweddaraf a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar gan y comisiynydd traffig.
Fel yr ydym ni i gyd yn deall, fe all sefyllfaoedd newid yn gyflym iawn mewn cyfnod o bandemig. Gallaf eich sicrhau chi, er hynny, y byddwn ni'n parhau i weithio o fewn ac ar draws y Llywodraeth, a chyda'n partneriaid eraill ni, i roi arweiniad a chyngor i sicrhau diogelwch i'n staff a'n pobl ifanc ni. A chyda'n gilydd, hyd yn oed yn y cyfnod ansicr hwn, fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i ganolbwyntio ar godi safonau i bawb, a lleihau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad, ac yn sicrhau bod gennym system sy'n destun balchder ac y mae'r cyhoedd yn ymddiried ynddi.
Thank you, Minister. Can I just associate myself with your opening remarks regarding teachers and staff, and can I include governors in that? It's been a really difficult time for everybody, including yourselves, but most importantly our constituents.
Thank you very much for your statement. I think we have to start off with the top line of my position, which is that schools must stay open unless they absolutely—absolutely—have to close. And while, of course, the situation with exams is difficult, and perhaps for another day, I think we do need to look a little bit at the history of the opening and closing of schools because, obviously, back in March, we all understood the urgency of limiting contact of every kind. We had a dangerous enemy that we didn't really understand, but we did also understand that there would be an inevitable hit to our children's education, and while school leaders did turn themselves inside out trying to provide the best that they could for our learners, I think we know by now that there was a great inconsistency of pupil contact, of the accessibility of online content, the ability of families to really engage with that online content, and the willingness of children to stick with it, the willingness to stick with that learning. We've all had a bit of COVID fatigue, I guess.
And that's why we were very supportive, actually, of your plans to open schools over four weeks in the summer term to check in and catch up, as you said, so that teachers and learners could evaluate what they needed next. And I think that's perhaps where it started to unravel for Government. Letting the country think one thing, when, actually, you hadn't really nailed it down on the delivery of that fourth week, when you had powers that you could have used to stop councils saying 'no' to schools, is where I'm starting to take issue with what I thought was a good start, if I'm honest. Since then, there's been, certainly more latterly, more of a sense of 'whatever you want, schools' going on. Of course, there are operational decisions that only schools can make, and your guidance has been very helpful with that, but there are occasions when you need mandates; there are occasions when you need rules. Schools don't understand the science, whereas you, as you said today, have continued to be guided by the latest medical and scientific advice in making any decisions on the safe return of learners. You have that information; school leaders don't necessarily. And they are certainly are struggling to make ideas stick on the spot when they don't have that reassurance that behind them is a Minister who can say, 'Here's the law, that's what you can rely on.'
When you say fully open is not back to normal, obviously that's true of the physical layout in our schools, but I think we do need some reassurance that the level and standard of acquisition of learning does need to be nearer back to normal. I'm not encouraged by your statement that we cannot expect schools to execute all of their duties in respect of the curriculum for all learners in all circumstances during this time. And we know they have had time. We agreed with you that a fortnight was a good time to let schools get the hang of what their learners needed, and I'm curious to know whether this extension for the first 30 days of September is something that you consulted on, because I don't believe it is, and whether we are back in a situation where we are suspending the need to stick to the curriculum.
Have you been successful in persuading your colleagues of what I said in my opening statement, that schools must be the last to close down, particularly in the event of a lockdown? I see that you've expressed great confidence in the TTP strategy, so I'm hoping that that is the ammunition you've taken to Cabinet colleagues in making the argument that schools should stay open. But if you weren't successful in that, have you already decided what you will mandate in the event of a national lockdown, to make sure that learning wasn't impacted on in the way it was before? Are you thinking of mandating live-streaming of lessons, for example? Have you done an assessment of how much of the IT equipment that was distributed—something we supported—to make sure that students are making the best of them? Or in the more likely situation of localised lockdowns, which will hopefully mean students are out of face-to-face learning for a fortnight at a time at the most, are you going to be insisting that schools should require virtual attendance to lessons, which in the majority of cases should be provided virtually as timetabled?
I'd like a little bit of detail on the money that you found for new teachers and catch-up, how that's going to be used, and how it will be used in further education colleges. I'd be keen to learn how the belated monitoring and evaluation of what happened between March and July has affected decisions you're likely to make. And I'd be keen to hear what you can tell us now on how any further lockdowns would be likely to impact on that already pared down syllabus that you referred to earlier, particularly for those taking general qualifications later in—at the end of this academic year, sorry.
You didn't say very much about testing in schools. I wondered if you could tell us whether you or Public Health Wales have done anything on temperature testing in schools at all. If you have—that's an open question; genuinely curious to hear about that. And then I suppose I repeat my questions in the same context for further education, where the different age profiles make face-to-face teaching more difficult, because there are different regulations on social distancing relating to different age groups. I wonder if you could clarify for me how far you can mandate certain actions in a college as compared to a school, and do you have any particular powers through which you can satisfy yourself on that question of the quality of learning during a period of lockdown in FE institutions as well as schools? Thank you.
Diolch, Gweinidog. Fe hoffwn innau ategu eich sylwadau agoriadol chi ynglŷn ag athrawon a staff, ac a gaf i gynnwys llywodraethwyr gyda'r rhain? Mae wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd iawn i bawb, gan eich cynnwys chi, ond yn bwysicaf oll, i'n hetholwyr.
Diolch yn fawr ichi am eich datganiad. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid inni ddechrau gyda'r peth pwysicaf o ran fy safbwynt i, sef mae'n rhaid i ysgolion aros ar agor onid oes rheidrwydd gwirioneddol—gwirioneddol—iddyn nhw gau. Ac er bod y sefyllfa gydag arholiadau, wrth gwrs, yn anodd, ac efallai ar gyfer rhyw ddiwrnod eto, rwy'n credu bod angen inni edrych ychydig ar yr hanes o ran agor a chau ysgolion oherwydd, yn amlwg, yn ôl ym mis Mawrth, roedd pawb yn deall pwysigrwydd cyfyngu ar gyswllt o bob math ar fyrder. Roedd yna elyn peryglus nad oeddem ni'n deall fawr ddim amdano mewn gwirionedd, ond roeddem hefyd yn deall y byddai'n ergyd anochel i addysg ein plan. Ac er i arweinwyr ysgolion wneud eu gorau glas wrth geisio darparu'r cyfan y gallen nhw i'n dysgwyr ni, rwy'n credu y gwyddom bellach fod yna anghysondeb mawr wedi bod o ran cyswllt â disgyblion, o ran hygyrchedd cynnwys ar-lein, gallu teuluoedd i ymgysylltu'n wirioneddol â'r cynnwys hwnnw ar-lein, a pharodrwydd plant i ddal ati, i fod yn barod i ddal ati gyda'r addysg honno. Mae COVID wedi peri blinder mawr inni, fe gredaf.
A dyna pam y buom ni'n gefnogol iawn, mewn gwirionedd, i'ch cynlluniau chi i agor ysgolion am bedair wythnos yn nhymor yr haf er mwyn ailgydio a dal i fyny, fel yr oeddech chi'n dweud, fel y gallai athrawon a dysgwyr werthuso'r hyn yr oedd angen ei wneud nesaf. Ac rwy'n credu efallai mai dyna lle y dechreuodd pethau fynd ar chwâl i'r Llywodraeth. Gan adael i'r wlad feddwl un peth, pan nad oeddech chi, mewn gwirionedd, wedi llwyddo o ran darpariaeth y bedwaredd wythnos honno, pan roedd y pwerau gennych chi y gallech fod wedi eu defnyddio i atal y cynghorau rhag dweud Na wrth ysgolion, dyna lle roeddwn i'n dechrau anghytuno â'r hyn a oedd, yn fy marn i, yn ddechrau da, a bod yn onest. Ers hynny, yn sicr yn ddiweddar, mae rhyw deimlad o 'fel y mynnoch chi, ysgolion' wedi bod yn digwydd. Wrth gwrs, dim ond yr ysgolion a all wneud rhai o'r penderfyniadau gweithredol, ac mae eich canllawiau chi wedi bod o gymorth mawr gyda hynny, ond mae yna adegau pan fydd angen mandadau; mae yna adegau pan fydd angen rheolau. Nid yw ysgolion yn deall yr wyddoniaeth, ond rydych chi, fel yr oeddech chi'n dweud heddiw, wedi parhau i gael eich tywys gan y cyngor meddygol a gwyddonol diweddaraf wrth wneud unrhyw benderfyniadau ynglŷn â chael y dysgwyr yn ôl yn ddiogel. Mae'r wybodaeth honno gennych chi; ond nid yw gan arweinwyr ysgolion o reidrwydd. Ac maen nhw'n sicr yn ei chael hi'n anodd gweinyddu'r syniadau hyn pan nad oes yno'r sicrwydd a ddaw o gael Gweinidog yn dweud, 'Fel hyn y dywed y gyfraith, ac fe allwch chi ddibynnu ar hynny.'
Pan ddywedwch nad yw bod ar agor yn llawnamser yn golygu normalrwydd, yn amlwg mae hynny'n wir o ran cynllun adeiladau ein hysgolion ni, ond rwy'n credu bod angen rhywfaint o sicrwydd arnom fod angen i lefel a safon caffaeliad addysg fod yn nes at yr hyn sydd yn normal. Nid oes gennyf hyder yn eich datganiad sy'n dweud na allwn ddisgwyl i ysgolion gyflawni eu holl ddyletswyddau o ran y cwricwlwm ar gyfer pob dysgwr ym mhob amgylchiad yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. Ac rydym yn gwybod eu bod wedi cael yr amser. Roeddem ni wedi cytuno â chi fod pythefnos yn ddigon da i ganiatáu i ysgolion ddod o hyd i'r hyn oedd ei angen ar eu dysgwyr. Ac rwy'n awyddus i wybod a yw'r estyniad hwn i 30 diwrnod cyntaf mis Medi yn rhywbeth yr ydych chi wedi ymgynghori arno, oherwydd nid wyf i'n credu hynny. Ac a ydym ni mewn sefyllfa eto lle'r ydym ni'n gohirio'r angen i gadw at y cwricwlwm.
A ydych chi wedi llwyddo i berswadio eich cyd-Aelodau o'r hyn a ddywedais i yn fy natganiad agoriadol, mai ysgolion ddylai fod y rhai olaf i gau, yn enwedig os bydd yna gyfnod clo arall? Rwy'n nodi eich bod wedi mynegi hyder mawr yn y strategaeth Profi, Olrhain, Diogelu, felly rwy'n gobeithio mai dyna'r arf yr ydych wedi ei ddefnyddio i ddadlau â'ch cydweithwyr yn y Cabinet y dylai'r ysgolion aros ar agor. Ond os nad oeddech chi'n llwyddiannus yn hynny o beth, a ydych eisoes wedi penderfynu beth fyddwch chi'n ei fandadu os daw'n gyfnod clo cenedlaethol, i wneud yn siŵr nad yw dysgu'n cael ei lesteirio yn yr un modd â'r tro diwethaf? A ydych chi'n ystyried mandadu ffrydio gwersi'n fyw, er enghraifft? A ydych chi wedi cael asesiad o'r offer TG a ddosbarthwyd—rhywbeth yr oeddem ni'n ei gefnogi—i sicrhau bod myfyrwyr yn gwneud yn fawr ohono? Neu, mewn sefyllfa fwy tebygol o gyfnodau clo lleol, a fydd, gobeithio, yn golygu bod myfyrwyr yn colli dysgu wyneb yn wyneb am bythefnos ar y tro ar y mwyaf, a fyddwch chi'n mynnu y dylai ysgolion wneud presenoldeb yn orfodol ar gyfer gwersi rhithwir, y dylid eu darparu yn y mwyafrif o achosion bron yn union fel y'u hamserlennwyd?
Fe hoffwn i gael ychydig o fanylder am yr arian y daethoch o hyd iddo ar gyfer athrawon newydd ac ar gyfer dal i fyny, sut y bydd yn cael ei ddefnyddio, a sut y caiff ei ddefnyddio mewn colegau addysg bellach. Ac rwy'n awyddus i gael gwybod sut mae'r gwaith monitro a gwerthuso hwyr o'r hyn a ddigwyddodd rhwng mis Mawrth a mis Gorffennaf wedi effeithio ar benderfyniadau yr ydych chi'n debygol o'u gwneud. Ac rwy'n awyddus i glywed yr hyn yr ydych chi am ei ddweud wrthym ni'n awr ynghylch sut y byddai unrhyw gyfnod clo pellach yn debygol o effeithio ar y maes llafur a gwtogwyd yr ydych chi wedi sôn amdano eisoes, yn enwedig i'r rhai sy'n ymgeisio am gymwysterau cyffredinol yn ddiweddarach—ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn academaidd hon, mae'n ddrwg gennyf i.
Nid oedd gennych lawer i'w ddweud am brofion mewn ysgolion. Tybed a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym a ydych chi neu Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi gwneud unrhyw beth ynglŷn â phrofion tymheredd mewn ysgolion o gwbl. Os felly—cwestiwn agored yw hwn; rwy'n wirioneddol awyddus i glywed rhywbeth am hynny. Ac yna mae'n debyg fy mod i am ailadrodd fy nghwestiynau i yn yr un cyd-destun o ran addysg bellach, lle mae'r proffiliau oedran amrywiol yn gwneud dysgu wyneb yn wyneb yn fwy heriol, oherwydd mae yna reoliadau ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol sy'n amrywio yn ôl gwahanol grwpiau oedran. Tybed a wnewch chi egluro i mi i ba raddau y gallwch chi orfodi rhai camau gweithredu mewn coleg o'u cymharu â rhai mewn ysgolion, ac a oes gennych chi unrhyw bwerau penodol y gallwch chi eu defnyddio i fodloni eich hun ynghylch y cwestiwn hwn o ansawdd y dysgu yn ystod cyfnod clo mewn sefydliadau addysg bellach yn ogystal ag ysgolion? Diolch.
It's quite a long list of questions—I'll try and rattle through them as quickly as possible. Can I begin, though, by thanking Suzy Davies for her recognition of the tremendous efforts that have gone on in the education workforce in its entirety during this time? I'm very grateful to her for recognising that.
Can I assure her that keeping education open is a priority across the Government, and we will take all necessary steps necessary as a Government to ensure that children's learning is disrupted as little as possible? Indeed, you will have already heard the First Minister and the health Minister speak about some of the issues around greater mixing of households, which we have not proceeded with, to give us the headroom to allow schools to open. So, difficult decisions have already been taken by this Government, which have allowed us to prioritise the opening of schools. And I should just say to the Member—she referred to children missing out on education because of a local lockdown. Well, obviously, we have our first local lockdown at the moment in Wales, in Caerphilly, and schools and colleges remain open. And we've been very clear that our expectation is that, in Caerphilly, schools and colleges should remain open, and those travelling in and out of Caerphilly because they are teachers and they work in those establishments—that is a reasonable excuse for travel. And even though the problems with Caerphilly, and cases in that community being very high—over 70 per cent of children in Caerphilly attended school yesterday. It's one of the lower figures in Wales at the moment, but given that they're subject to a lockdown, it's good to see that that continues to be the case.
With regard to the curriculum, let's be absolutely clear on what the new normal is like. Suzy Davies is right—schools look and feel somewhat different. But it is important, having liaised with the teaching profession, that we do have some flexibility for this first month of operations, to give them an opportunity to test their procedures, to check out how things are working, and, crucially, to allow them to have the extra time that they may need to attend to children's well-being, and to understand where they are in their learning. And actually, for some aspects of the curriculum, there are public health reasons why we would not want them carrying out some activities. We continue to have concerns about some music activities within schools, especially in a group circumstance; issues around field trips that require an overnight stay—we are not recommending those at the moment, where those would be a normal part of the school day. So, there are some constraints. But if you talk to most schools, most schools are getting on with, as I said, identifying the learning needs, reflecting on the child's experience of lockdown, and making a plan going forward.
With regard to digital exclusion, I would remind the Member that we handed out 10,848 MiFi devices before the summer holiday, and we also handed out almost 10,000 licences to local authorities for them to convert all pieces of kit and those have been distributed to children. We've had record amounts of login to Hwb, which is our digital learning platform. But the Member is absolutely right, Deputy Presiding Officer: there was too much variation in the ability of schools to deliver distance learning. We have learnt the lessons; we are learning the lessons of what worked well, what were the barriers to that.
And as I speak, even though some of the local authorities don't particularly like it, Estyn is visiting every single local authority to assure themselves that the local authority is working with schools to ensure that they do have robust plans that allow them to flex their provision, should individual classes or individual schools be affected by the virus. And as I said, the inspectors are out there at this moment, and they will be reporting back to me. We've asked them to do that. We think it's really important to be able to have that level of assurance.
With regard to synchronous and asynchronous learning, we've published advice back in April about how schools can do that safely and effectively. With regard to temperature checks, at this point, the CMO is not advising that temperatures are checked in schools, although some schools are doing that. Parents who suspect their child has a temperature should not be sending their child to school. A high temperature is a symptom of coronavirus. If you suspect that your child has a high temperature, that child needs to get a test and should not be attending school. We will continue throughout this period to provide additional information and opportunities to discuss with headteachers and their representatives about how we can make sure that there is clarity about what a school needs to do if a child becomes unwell. But what we have seen so far is that, where that has happened, schools have taken immediate action to protect children and staff.
With regard to FE, well, obviously our colleges are also subject to the powers of inspection by Estyn, and we would expect Estyn to continue to work alongside our FE colleges to satisfy ourselves that the provision at those colleges is as good as it could be. As you know, FE is a strong part of our education system in Wales that delivers, year on year, excellent results, and colleges have been working very hard with Government to ensure that their learners can return safely.
With regard to catch-up money, £29 million has been made available. Each local authority has been given an allocation for individual schools. There is also an amount of money that has been given to each regional partnership to be able to assist schools in making sure that that money is used in an evidence-way approach, so each school will have been given an allocation. That money is there, and I would expect that headteachers and the LEAs would be planning this term, on the basis of these first few weeks back in school, about how that money can be used to best effect. I myself was in Hay-on-Wye primary school just last week, and Mrs B, the formidable headteacher of that primary school, already had a firm plan in place of how she was going to use her allocation.
Mae hon yn rhestr faith iawn o gwestiynau—fe geisiaf i fwrw ymlaen drwyddyn nhw cyn gynted â phosibl. A gaf i ddechrau, serch hynny, drwy ddiolch i Suzy Davies am ei chydnabyddiaeth hi o'r ymdrechion enfawr sydd wedi cael eu gwneud yn y gweithlu addysg cyfan yn ystod y cyfnod hwn? Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn iddi am gydnabod hynny.
A gaf i ei sicrhau hi bod cadw addysg ar agor yn flaenoriaeth ledled y Llywodraeth, ac fe fyddwn ni'n cymryd yr holl gamau sy'n angenrheidiol yn y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod cyn lleied â phosibl o amharu ar ddysgu i blant? Yn wir, rydych chi wedi clywed y Prif Weinidog a'r Gweinidog Iechyd yn siarad eisoes am rai o'r materion sy'n ymwneud â mwy o gymysgu rhwng aelwydydd, nad ydym ni wedi bwrw ymlaen â nhw, i roi'r hyblygrwydd i ni ganiatáu i ysgolion agor. Felly, mae penderfyniadau anodd wedi eu gwneud gan y Llywodraeth hon yn barod, sydd wedi ein galluogi ni i flaenoriaethu agor ysgolion. Ac fe ddylwn i ddweud wrth yr Aelod—roedd hi'n cyfeirio at blant yn colli allan ar addysg oherwydd cyfnod clo lleol. Wel, yn amlwg, mae gennym ni'r cyfnod clo lleol cyntaf yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, yng Nghaerffili, ac mae ysgolion a cholegau yn parhau i fod ar agor. Ac rydym ni wedi bod yn eglur iawn mai ein disgwyliad ni yw y dylai ysgolion a cholegau, yng Nghaerffili, aros ar agor, ac o ran y rhai sy'n teithio i mewn ac allan o Gaerffili am eu bod nhw'n athrawon ac yn gweithio yn y sefydliadau hynny—mae hwnnw'n rheswm digonol ar gyfer teithio. Ac er bod yna broblemau gyda Chaerffili, ac mae'r achosion yn y gymuned honno'n uchel iawn—roedd dros 70 y cant o blant Caerffili wedi mynd i'r ysgol ddoe. Dyma un o'r ffigurau isaf yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd, ond o ystyried eu bod nhw'n cael cyfnod clo yno, mae'n dda gweld hyn.
O ran y cwricwlwm, gadewch inni fod yn gwbl glir am y normal newydd. Mae Suzy Davies yn iawn—mae golwg a naws yr ysgolion ychydig yn wahanol. Ond mae'n bwysig, ar ôl cysylltu â'r proffesiwn addysgu, fod rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd ar gael i ni am y mis cyntaf hwn o weithredu, er mwyn rhoi cyfle iddyn nhw gael profi eu gweithdrefnau, gweld sut mae pethau'n gweithio, ac, yn hollbwysig, ganiatáu iddyn nhw gael yr amser ychwanegol y gallai fod ei angen ar gyfer ymdrin â llesiant plant, a deall eu sefyllfa o ran eu dysgu. Ac yn wir, gyda rhai agweddau ar y cwricwlwm, mae yna resymau o ran iechyd y cyhoedd pam na fyddem ni'n dymuno iddynt gynnal rhai gweithgareddau. Rydym ni'n parhau i fod yn bryderus ynglŷn â rhai gweithgareddau cerddorol mewn ysgolion, yn enwedig mewn grwpiau; a materion sy'n ymwneud â gwibdeithiau sy'n golygu aros dros nos—nid ydym ni'n argymell y rhain ar hyn o bryd, lle byddent yn rhan arferol o ddiwrnod ysgol. Felly, mae yna rai cyfyngiadau arnom ni. Ond os siaradwch â'r rhan fwyaf o ysgolion, maent yn bwrw ymlaen, fel y dywedais i, gan nodi'r anghenion dysgu, rhoi ystyriaeth i brofiad y plentyn o'r cyfnod clo, a chynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol.
O ran allgáu digidol, fe hoffwn i atgoffa'r Aelod ein bod ni wedi dosbarthu 10,848 o ddyfeisiau MiFi cyn gwyliau'r haf, ac fe wnaethom ni ddosbarthu bron 10,000 o drwyddedau i awdurdodau lleol hefyd er mwyn iddynt addasu pob dyfais ac mae'r rhain wedi cael eu rhannu allan i'r plant. Rydym ni wedi gweld y niferoedd mwyaf erioed yn mewngofnodi i Hwb, sef ein llwyfan dysgu digidol ni. Ond mae'r Aelod yn llygad ei lle, Dirprwy Lywydd: roedd yna ormod o amrywiaeth yng ngallu'r ysgolion i ddarparu dysgu o bell. Rydym wedi dysgu gwersi; ac rydym yn dysgu'r gwersi o ran yr hyn a oedd yn gweithio'n dda, a'r hyn a oedd yn rhwystr i hynny.
Ac wrth imi siarad nawr, er nad yw rhai o'r awdurdodau lleol yn arbennig o hoff ohono, mae Estyn yn ymweld â phob awdurdod lleol unigol i'w sicrhau eu hunain bod yr awdurdod lleol yn gweithio gydag ysgolion i sicrhau bod cynlluniau cadarn ganddynt sy'n caniatáu iddynt ystwytho eu darpariaeth, pe byddai'r feirws yn effeithio ar ddosbarthiadau unigol neu ysgolion unigol. Ac fel y dywedais i, mae'r arolygwyr allan yno ar hyn o bryd, ac fe fyddan nhw'n adrodd yn ôl i mi. Rydym ni wedi gofyn iddyn nhw wneud hynny. Rydym ni o'r farn ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod yn cael y lefel honno o sicrwydd.
O ran dysgu cydamserol ac anghydamserol, cyhoeddwyd cyngor yn ôl ym mis Ebrill ynghylch sut y gall ysgolion wneud hynny'n ddiogel ac effeithiol. O ran profion tymheredd, ar hyn o bryd, nid yw'r Prif Swyddog Meddygol yn cynghori bod tymheredd yn cael ei wirio mewn ysgolion, er bod rhai ysgolion yn gwneud hynny. Ni ddylai rhieni sy'n amau bod gan eu plentyn dymheredd uchel fod yn anfon eu plentyn i'r ysgol. Mae tymheredd uchel yn symptom o goronafeirws. Os ydych chi'n amau bod tymheredd uchel gan eich plentyn, mae angen i'r plentyn hwnnw gael ei brofi ac ni ddylai'r plentyn hwnnw fod yn mynd i'r ysgol. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i ddarparu gwybodaeth a chyfleoedd ychwanegol drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn i drafod gyda phenaethiaid a'u cynrychiolwyr sut y gallwn sicrhau eglurder ynghylch yr hyn y mae angen i ysgol ei wneud pe byddai plentyn yn cael ei daro'n wael. Ond yr hyn a welsom ni hyd yma yw bod ysgolion, lle mae hynny wedi digwydd, wedi cymryd camau ar unwaith i amddiffyn plant a staff.
O ran Addysg Bellach, wel, mae'n amlwg bod ein colegau ni'n atebol hefyd i bwerau arolygu sydd gan Estyn, ac fe fyddem ni'n disgwyl i Estyn barhau i weithio law yn llaw â'n colegau addysg bellach i fodloni ein hunain bod y ddarpariaeth yn y colegau hynny cystal ag y gallai fod. Fel y gwyddoch, mae Addysg Bellach yn rhan gadarn o'n system addysg ni yng Nghymru sydd, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, yn cyflawni canlyniadau rhagorol, ac mae colegau wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn gyda'r Llywodraeth i sicrhau y gall eu dysgwyr nhw ddychwelyd yn ddiogel.
O ran arian ar gyfer dal i fyny, fe ddarparwyd £29 miliwn. Mae pob awdurdod lleol wedi cael dyraniad ar gyfer ysgolion unigol. Rhoddwyd swm o arian i bob partneriaeth ranbarthol hefyd i gynorthwyo ysgolion i sicrhau bod yr arian hwnnw'n cael ei ddefnyddio mewn dull sydd â sail tystiolaeth iddo, ac felly bydd pob ysgol wedi cael dyraniad. Mae'r arian hwnnw ar gael, ac fe fyddwn i'n disgwyl y bydd penaethiaid a'r awdurdodau addysg lleol yn cynllunio'r tymor hwn, ar sail yr wythnosau cyntaf hyn yn ôl yn yr ysgol, o amgylch sut y gellir defnyddio'r arian hwnnw yn y ffordd fwyaf effeithiol. Roeddwn i mewn ysgol gynradd yn y Gelli Gandryll yr wythnos diwethaf, ac roedd gan Mrs B, pennaeth gwydn yr ysgol gynradd honno, gynllun cadarn yn ei le eisoes ynglŷn â sut yr oedd yn bwriadu defnyddio'r dyraniad i'w hysgol hi.
Diolch am y datganiad. Hoffwn innau hefyd ddiolch yn fawr iawn i bawb sy'n ceisio sicrhau bod ein plant a'n pobl ifanc ni yn gallu dychwelyd at eu haddysg mewn ffordd ddiogel, sydd yn her enfawr, wrth gwrs, yn enwedig wrth inni weld achosion positif o'r COVID ar gynnydd ymhlith ein plant a'n pobl ifanc ni, efo dwsinau o ysgolion wedi cael eu heffeithio yn barod gan yr argyfwng coronafeirws.
Mae'n rhaid i fi ddweud, dwi'n methu credu eich bod chi'n meddwl bod y strategaeth olrhain, profi ac amddiffyn yn 'llwyddiannus'. Dyna'r gair rydych chi'n ei ddefnyddio. Hwn ydy'r gair lleiaf addas i ddisgrifio'r sefyllfa sy'n datblygu efo profion yn ein hysgolion ni. Ar hyn o bryd, mae yna wendid mawr efo rhan o'r strategaeth, sef y cam cyntaf: y profi. Ac mae gweithredu'r rhan honno o'r strategaeth yn simsan iawn ar hyn o bryd. Dwi yn gwybod mai mater i'r Gweinidog iechyd ydy'r profion COVID, ond mae o'n gyfrifoldeb arnoch chi fel Gweinidog Addysg pan fo'r diffyg profi a'r oedi gyda chael prawf yn golygu bod llawer gormod o ddisgyblion yn absennol o'r ysgol yn ddianghenraid ac felly'n colli allan ar eu haddysg unwaith eto. Yn anffodus, mae fy inbox i'n llawn o e-byst gan rieni o bob rhan o Gymru—nid Arfon yn unig, ond o bob cwr o Gymru—sydd yn dweud bod eu hysgol wedi anfon eu plentyn adref o'r ysgol efo symptomau, sef y peth iawn i'w wneud, fel rydych chi newydd sôn, ond wedyn bod disgwyl gan yr ysgol bod y plentyn yn cael prawf cyn dychwelyd i'r ysgol ond mae'r rhieni'n methu'n lân â chael prawf innau drwy'r post neu mewn canolfan dreifio drwodd.
Felly, byddwn i'n hoffi gwybod pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael ar ran plant a phobl ifanc Cymru sydd ddim eisiau colli mwy o'u haddysg am y sefyllfa gwbl annerbyniol yma efo profion a pham na all adran addysg Llywodraeth Cymru greu mecanwaith penodol ar gyfer rhieni, disgyblion a staff ysgolion fel bod modd i ysgolion gael mynediad rhwydd at brofion. Beth, er enghraifft, am greu un pwynt cyswllt i ysgolion ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa profion er mwyn iddyn nhw gael gafael arnyn nhw yn llawer iawn cynt na maen nhw ar hyn o bryd? Mae'n rhaid inni ddatrys hyn, a buaswn i'n leicio clywed beth rydych chi wedi bod yn ei wneud am y sefyllfa.
Mater arall sy'n peri pryder i rieni a disgyblion ydy'r sefyllfa efo mygydau ar fysiau ysgol. Dwi'n credu bod yna ddiffyg eglurder, felly hoffwn i wybod yn union pwy sydd efo'r cyfrifoldeb am orfodaeth ynglŷn â mygydau ar fysiau ysgol. Eto, mae fy inbox i'n llawn o bobl sydd yn poeni wrth weld problemau'n codi ar y daith ar y bws i'r ysgol. Rydych chi wedi rhoi mwy o arian tuag at drafnidiaeth ysgol, ond dydy hynny ar ben ei hun ddim yn mynd i wella sefyllfa lle nad oes yna ganllawiau clir ac eglurder i rieni a disgyblion ynglŷn â'r orfodaeth ar yr agwedd yma efo'r mygydau.
Ac i gloi, mae'r cwestiwn mawr yn parhau ynglŷn ag arholiadau a beth sydd i ddigwydd yr haf nesaf. Mae'r cynnydd mewn achosion a'r sefyllfa annerbyniol efo'r profion yn golygu bod addysg rhai o'n disgyblion ni'n cael ei amharu arno fo'n barod a dim ond newydd ddechrau ailgychwyn mae pethau. Pam na wnewch chi gyhoeddi na fydd arholiadau'n cael eu cynnal flwyddyn nesaf ac y byddwch chi'n canolbwyntio'n hytrach ar greu system gadarn o ddefnyddio asesiadau sydd ddim yn cynnwys gorfod bod yn yr ysgol yn gorfforol i eistedd arholiad? Does yna ddim sôn am hynny yn eich datganiad chi, ac mi fyddai cyhoeddiad cynnar am hynny'n cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr iawn.
Thank you for the statement. I too would like to thank everyone who is seeking to ensure that our children and young people are able to return to education in a safe manner, which is a huge challenge, of course, particularly as we see positive COVID cases on the rise among our children and young people, with dozens of schools now having been affected already by the coronavirus crisis.
I have to say, I can't believe that you think that the test, trace and protect system is 'successful'. I think that's the word you used. That's the least appropriate description of it in my view, given the situation developing with testing in our schools. There is a grave weakness with that part of the strategy, which is that first step: the testing. And implementing that part of the strategy is very weak at the moment. Now, I do know that the COVID testing is an issue for the health Minister, but there is a responsibility on you as education Minister when the lack of testing and the delays in getting tests does mean that far too many pupils are absent from our schools unnecessarily and are therefore missing out on their education once again. Unfortunately, my inbox is full of e-mails from parents from all parts of Wales—not just Arfon, but all corners of Wales—who tell me that their school had sent their child home because they were symptomatic, which, of course, is the right thing to do, as you've just mentioned, but then that the school expects that child to have a test before returning to school but the parents simply cannot access a test either through the mail or in a drive-through centre.
So, I would like to know what discussions you are having on behalf of our children and young people who don't want to miss out on more of their education on this utterly unacceptable situation with testing and why can't the Welsh Government education department develop a specific mechanism for parents, pupils and staff in schools so that schools can easily access testing. What about creating one point of contact for schools to deal with testing so that they can access them far more swiftly than they can at the moment? We must resolve this and I would like to hear what you've been doing about this particular situation.
Another issue that is a cause of concern for pupils and parents is the situation with face coverings on school buses. Now, I think there's a lack of clarity, and therefore I would like to know who exactly is responsible for enforcement in terms of the wearing of face coverings on school buses. Again, my inbox is full of messages from people who are concerned about seeing problems arising on that journey to school on the bus. You've provided more funding for school transport, but that alone isn't going to improve the situation where there isn't clear guidance in place and clarity for both pupils and parents on the enforcement of this aspect of face coverings.
And to conclude, the major question on examinations remains and what will happen next summer. The increase in cases and the unacceptable situation with testing does mean that the education of some of our pupils is already being affected and we've only just got back, so why don't you announce that examinations won't be held next year and that you will focus rather on creating a robust system of using assessments that doesn't include having to be physically at school to take an exam? There's no mention of that in your statement and an early announcement on that issue would be very much appreciated.
Could I make it absolutely clear that the information that I have to date regarding COVID-positive cases in school at this stage relates to the infection being acquired outside of the school premises? I think that's really important to state. Where we've had children testing positive for COVID, that is usually part of a family grouping and, where we have had adults testing positive for COVID at this stage, the data I have would suggest that, again, the virus has been acquired outside of school. And that's why it is really, really important—if we are to do what we all want to do in this Chamber, to keep our schools open, then all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to keep community transmission rates of the virus really low. Where we're seeing the biggest disruption to education at the moment, it mirrors where we're seeing the virus in the community, in Caerphilly, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, in Newport—not exclusively, of course, because there are schools in other parts of Wales that are affected, but we have to keep transmission rates down and it's really important.
A gaf i ei gwneud yn hollol glir bod yr wybodaeth sydd gennyf i am achosion cadarnhaol o COVID mewn ysgolion ar hyn o bryd yn ymwneud â heintio yn digwydd y tu allan i safle'r ysgol? Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn nodi hynny. Pan mae plant yn cael prawf cadarnhaol am COVID, mae hynny fel arfer yn rhan o grŵp teuluol, a phan mae oedolion yn cael prawf cadarnhaol am COVID ar hyn o bryd, mae'r data sydd gennyf i'n awgrymu bod y feirws, unwaith eto, wedi ei gael y tu allan i'r ysgol. A dyna pam mae hi'n wirioneddol bwysig—os ydym yn awyddus i wneud yr hyn yr ydym yn ei ddymuno yn y Siambr hon, sef cadw ein hysgolion ni ar agor, felly mae'n gyfrifoldeb ar bob un ohonom i wneud yr hyn a allwn i gadw cyfraddau trosglwyddo cymunedol y feirws yn isel iawn. Mae'r mannau lle'r ydym ni'n gweld yr amharu mwyaf ar addysg ar hyn o bryd yn adlewyrchu'r mannau hynny lle mae'r feirws yn y gymuned, yng Nghaerffili, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, yng Nghasnewydd—nid yn unig y mannau hyn, wrth gwrs, oherwydd mae yna ysgolion wedi'u heffeithio mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru hefyd, ond mae'n rhaid inni gadw cyfraddau trosglwyddo i lawr ac mae hynny'n wirioneddol bwysig.
I've had reports, for instance, of parents gathering closely together without socially distancing at the school gate. That's a simple thing we can avoid doing—that we can avoid doing. It is particularly important that staff in our schools remember to socially distance themselves from other members of staff. We have an incident where the senior management of a school is currently self-isolating because of a COVID case and because that staff group had been meeting together in the staff room and had not done that in a socially distanced way—hence the other members of staff having to go home to isolate. So, it's really important that we remember these messages.
With regard to testing, issues around lighthouse lab capacity again have been well rehearsed here in the Chamber today, and the health Minister will speak next, but I can assure you, Siân, that I have more than daily conversations with the health Minister about the need to ensure that TTP is as good as it needs to be to allow for the smooth running of education, and the Welsh Government is taking steps to do just that, to ensure that capacity above and beyond that at the lighthouse labs is made available, focusing in particular on those communities where we know infection in the community is a challenge at the moment, and there are further plans to increase local walk-in facilities, which will be important as the autumn continues.
Can I say that testing kits have been distributed to all schools and colleges, which can be used in an emergency if there is really, truly, no other way for a child to be able to access a test? So, schools will have 10 kits delivered to them, and, as I said, they are there in absolutely emergency situations. Kits have also been supplied to further education colleges. But I recognise—and that's why the Government is working as hard as it can to make sure that tests are available in a timely fashion, because that does allow us to minimise disruption.
With regard to face coverings, the guidance is absolutely clear with regard to face coverings. Our expectations of schools and our operational guidance are that they will take steps within their school to limit contact between groups of students. And schools are doing this in a variety of ways: zoning, for instance; one-way systems; staggered starts; staggered break times, lunch times and end-of-school-day arrangements. Where, after all those other things have been done—because those things have to be done first—where those things have all been done and then it is impossible to keep bubbles of students apart in communal areas, that's when face coverings should be worn. And it is best that that is done on an individual risk-assessment basis within an individual school, because our schools come in all different shapes and sizes. There are high schools in my own constituency that would look like a small primary school in the context of Cardiff. We have some of our schools in wonderful twenty-first century schools buildings, and then some of our schools are still, if I'm honest, Victorian structures, so your ability to achieve these things within your school will vary from school to school. If you cannot keep groups of students in communal areas 2m apart, then they should wear a face covering, and I'm sure that figuring that out is well within the capability of our headteachers who run our schools. They are dealing with much more complex problems every single day of their lives than figuring out whether they can keep children 2m apart in a corridor.
With regard to buses and home-to-school transport, 17 of our 22 local authorities have already mandated or strongly recommended that face coverings be used on home-to-school transport. And again, the advice, Deputy Presiding Officer, is clear: if capacity on that bus precludes you from keeping children apart—and, let's be honest, that's the case on most buses—then, again, a face covering is appropriate. And, as to who is responsible for that, then parents and carers and children themselves have to have those conversations about what they can do to ensure that they are minimising the chances of disruption of their education by wearing a face covering. And I believe we are the only part of the United Kingdom where the Government has made financial resources available to allow local authorities to purchase, and schools to purchase, masks for their students, so that no child will be in a situation where they don't have the appropriate face covering if that's necessary. And, again, as I said, I think we're the only part of the United Kingdom to make that possible.
Rwyf wedi clywed adroddiadau, er enghraifft, am rieni'n ymgynnull yn agos at ei gilydd heb gadw pellter cymdeithasol wrth fynedfa'r ysgol. Mae hyn yn beth syml y gallwn ni ei osgoi—gallwn ni osgoi gwneud hynny. Mae'n arbennig o bwysig bod staff yn ein hysgolion yn cofio cadw pellter cymdeithasol oddi wrth aelodau eraill o staff. Mae achos gennym ni o uwch reolwyr ysgol yn hunan-ynysu ar hyn o bryd oherwydd achos o COVID ac oherwydd bod y grŵp hwnnw o staff wedi bod yn cyfarfod â'i gilydd mewn ystafell staff a heb wneud hynny gan gadw pellter cymdeithasol—ac felly roedd yn rhaid i aelodau eraill o'r staff fynd adref i ynysu. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n cadw'r negeseuon hyn mewn cof.
O ran profi, mae materion sy'n ymwneud â chapasiti labordy goleudy wedi cael eu trafod yn eang yma yn y Siambr eto heddiw, a'r Gweinidog Iechyd yw'r nesaf i siarad. Ond fe allaf eich sicrhau chi, Siân, fy mod i'n cael sgyrsiau gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd fwy nag unwaith y dydd am yr angen i sicrhau bod Profi, Olrhain, Diogelu gystal ag y gall fod er mwyn gallu cynnal yr addysg yn rhwydd. Ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau i wneud hynny, i sicrhau bod capasiti uwchlaw a thu hwnt i hynny ar gael yn y labordai goleudy, gan ganolbwyntio ar y cymunedau hynny'n benodol lle gwyddom fod haint yn y gymuned yn her ar hyn o bryd, ac mae cynlluniau pellach i gynyddu cyfleusterau galw i mewn lleol, a fydd yn bwysig wrth i'r hydref fynd yn ei flaen.
A gaf i ddweud fod yna becynnau profi wedi cael eu dosbarthu i bob ysgol a choleg, y gellid eu defnyddio nhw mewn argyfwng os nad oes ffordd arall i blentyn allu cael prawf? Felly, fe fydd 10 pecyn yn cael eu cyflwyno i ysgolion, ac, fel y dywedais i, maen nhw ar gael mewn sefyllfaoedd cwbl argyfyngus. Rhoddwyd pecynnau i golegau Addysg Bellach hefyd. Ond rwyf i yn cydnabod—a dyna pam mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio mor galed â phosibl i sicrhau bod profion ar gael mewn da bryd, oherwydd mae hynny'n ein galluogi ni i gyfyngu ar amhariadau.
O ran mygydau, mae'r canllawiau ar fygydau yn gwbl glir. Ein disgwyliadau ni o ran ysgolion, a'n canllawiau gweithredu ni yw, y byddan nhw'n cymryd camau i gyfyngu ar gyswllt rhwng grwpiau o ddisgyblion. Ac mae ysgolion yn gwneud hyn mewn ffyrdd amrywiol: er enghraifft, parthau; systemau un ffordd; dechrau'r diwrnod fesul cam; amseroedd egwyl fesul cam, amseroedd cinio a threfniadau ar ddiwedd diwrnod ysgol. Pan fydd yr holl bethau hyn wedi eu gwneud—oherwydd mae'n rhaid gwneud y pethau hynny'n gyntaf—pan fydd yr holl bethau hynny wedi eu gwneud a'i bod hi'n amhosibl wedyn gadw swigod o ddisgyblion ar wahân mewn mannau cymunedol, dyna pryd y dylid gwisgo mygydau. Ac mae'n well gwneud hynny ar sail asesu risg unigol mewn ysgol unigol, oherwydd mae ein hysgolion ni'n amrywio'n fawr o ran maint a chynllun. Mae yna ysgolion uwchradd yn fy etholaeth i a fyddai'n edrych fel ysgolion cynradd bach yng nghyd-destun Caerdydd. Mae rhai o'n hysgolion mewn adeiladau ysgol gwych yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, ac yna mae rhai o'n hysgolion yn dal i fod, pe byddwn i'n onest, mewn adeiladau o oes Fictoria, ac felly fe fydd eich gallu chi i gyflawni'r pethau hyn yn eich ysgol chi'n amrywio o ysgol i ysgol. Os na allwch gadw grwpiau o ddisgyblion 2m oddi wrth ei gilydd mewn mannau cymunedol, yna fe ddylen nhw wisgo mygydau, ac rwy'n siŵr fod trefnu hynny o fewn gallu'r penaethiaid sy'n rhedeg ein hysgolion ni. Maent yn ymdrin yn feunyddiol â phroblemau sy'n llawer mwy cymhleth na gweithio allan sut i gadw plant 2m ar wahân mewn coridor.
O ran bysiau a chludiant rhwng y cartref a'r ysgol, mae 17 o'n 22 awdurdod lleol ni wedi mandadu neu argymell yn gryf eisoes y dylid defnyddio mygydau ar gludiant o'r cartref i'r ysgol. Ac unwaith eto, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r cyngor yn glir: os nad oes digon o le ar y bws i gadw'r plant ar wahân—a gadwech inni fod yn onest, mae hynny'n wir am y rhan fwyaf o fysiau—yna, unwaith eto, mae mwgwd yn briodol. Ac o ran pwy sy'n gyfrifol am hynny, yna mae'n rhaid i rieni a gofalwyr a'r plant eu hunain gael y sgyrsiau hynny am yr hyn y gallan nhw ei wneud i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n lleihau'r perygl o amharu ar eu haddysg nhw drwy wisgo mwgwd. Ac rwy'n credu mai ni yw'r unig ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig lle mae'r Llywodraeth wedi darparu adnoddau ariannol i ganiatáu i awdurdodau lleol brynu, ac i ysgolion brynu, mygydau i'w disgyblion nhw, fel nad oes yna unrhyw blentyn mewn sefyllfa lle nad oes ganddo'r mwgwd priodol os oes ei angen. Ac, unwaith eto, fel y dywedais, rwy'n credu mai ni yw'r unig ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig i wneud hynny'n bosibl.
Thank you very much for your statement and the comments you've made to other Members.
I agree with you that emotional well-being has to be the top priority, because a child that is distressed is not going to be learning effectively. So, that absolutely has to be the top priority. And it is wonderful to hear the sounds in the playground of children playing, because we know, then, that they are back enjoying life.
I think that, just picking up on some of the comments you made about the use of masks when it's not possible to separate young people, and, obviously, that includes when they're getting on these buses to go back to wherever, it simply isn't possible to have school buses by year groups—that's just not going to happen; we haven't got that sort of level of buses. But I think—when parents express concern about this, I wondered if we could encourage them to think beyond that and think, 'Could my child not be bicycling to school, or walking?', depending on how far away they've got to travel. Because that transition in people's—parents'—heads has not yet been made, in my experience.
I want to pay tribute to the two schools where there were very limited outbreaks of coronavirus at the very beginning of term. Clearly, it must have been contracted in the community; they hadn't been in school long enough to have contracted it in school. So, I'm absolutely reinforcing the messages you say about how we all need to keep the whole community from spreading the disease so that we can keep our schools open.
However, I want to come back on this digital exclusion point, because you weren't in the Chamber when I had a dialogue with the Deputy Minister on the number of Gypsy and Traveller sites that are digitally connected, and she said half of them had some connection. Well, I know what that means from personal experience—1 Mbps won't get you any learning remotely, unfortunately. And I'm concerned about all the other sites where there clearly is no digital learning. So, it doesn't matter how many iPads and laptops we hand out, those children will not be able to access the curriculum unless we are providing the broadband to enable those things to function. So, I wondered if you could talk to the Minister for local government about how we can get local authorities to make this a top priority. Because the money is available for making these connections, but local authorities have simply not taken it up over the summer when there was this opportunity to do so. So, this seems to me a top priority, and thank you for all the work you're doing.
Diolch yn fawr am eich datganiad a'r sylwadau a wnaethoch chi i'r Aelodau eraill.
Rwy'n cytuno â chi mai llesiant emosiynol ddylai fod yn brif flaenoriaeth, oherwydd nid yw plentyn sy'n bryderus yn mynd i allu dysgu'n effeithiol. Felly, mae'n rhaid i hynny fod yn brif flaenoriaeth. A hyfryd o beth yw clywed sŵn plant yn chwarae ar yr iard, oherwydd yna rydym yn gwybod eu bod nhw'n ôl yn mwynhau bywyd.
Rwyf i o'r farn, gan nodi'n syml rai o'r sylwadau a wnaethoch chi am ddefnyddio mygydau pan nad oes modd cadw pobl ifanc ar wahân, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys pan fyddan nhw'n teithio ar y bysiau hyn i fynd yn ôl i ble bynnag, nad yw'n bosibl darparu bysiau ysgol yn ôl grwpiau blwyddyn—nid yw hynny'n mynd i ddigwydd; nid oes gennym y lefel honno o fysiau. Ond rwy'n credu—pan fydd rhieni'n mynegi pryder yn hyn o beth, tybed a allem ni eu hannog nhw i feddwl y tu hwnt i hynny a meddwl, 'A allai fy mhlentyn i fynd ar y beic i'r ysgol, neu gerdded?', gan ddibynnu ar ba mor bell i ffwrdd y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw deithio. Oherwydd, yn fy mhrofiad i, nid yw'r trawsnewid hwnnw wedi digwydd ym mhennau pobl—y rhieni—eto.
Fe hoffwn i dalu teyrnged i'r ddwy ysgol lle cafwyd achosion cyfyngedig iawn o'r coronafeirws ar ddechrau'r tymor. Yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid mai yn y gymuned y daliwyd y feirws; nid oeddent wedi bod yn yr ysgol yn ddigon hir i'w gael yno. Felly, rwy'n llwyr atgyfnerthu'r negeseuon yr ydych chi'n eu datgan ynglŷn â sut mae angen i bob un ohonom ni gadw'r gymuned gyfan rhag lledu'r clefyd fel y gallwn ni gadw ein hysgolion ar agor.
Fodd bynnag, fe hoffwn i ddod yn ôl at y pwynt am allgau digidol, oherwydd nid oeddech chi yn y Siambr pan gefais ddeialog â'r Dirprwy Weinidog ynglŷn â nifer y safleoedd Sipsiwn a Theithwyr sydd â chysylltiad digidol, ac fe ddywedodd hi fod gan eu hanner nhw rywfaint o gysylltiad. Wel, gwn o brofiad personol yr hyn y mae hynny'n ei olygu—nid yw 1Mb yr eiliad yn caniatáu ichi gael unrhyw ddysgu o bell, yn anffodus. Ac rwy'n bryderus am yr holl safleoedd eraill lle mae'n amlwg nad oes unrhyw ddysgu digidol. Felly, waeth faint o lechi neu liniaduron sy'n cael eu dosbarthu, ni fydd y plant hynny'n gallu cael mynediad i'r cwricwlwm oni bai ein bod yn darparu'r band eang i allu gwneud defnydd ohonynt. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed a allech chi siarad â'r Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol am sut y gallwn ni gael yr awdurdodau lleol i wneud hyn yn brif flaenoriaeth. Mae'r arian ar gael ar gyfer gwneud y cysylltiadau hyn, ond nid yw awdurdodau lleol wedi manteisio ar hynny dros yr haf pan oedd cyfle i wneud hynny. Felly, mae hon yn ymddangos yn brif flaenoriaeth i mi, a diolch am yr holl waith yr ydych chi'n ei wneud.
Thank you very much. You're absolutely correct: well-being is key. Learning cannot stick in a child who is distressed, and what we know is that the period of lockdown will have had an impact on all of our children, but that impact will be as various as our children are. Lockdown will have been a very unhappy period for some of our children, and that will need to be addressed. We know that for some of our learners, actually—and there have been some recent surveys that have said that teenagers actually have been less stressed being outside of school, so that reintegration into school has to be managed appropriately. And, if nothing else, it reinforces the importance of the whole-school approach, doesn't it, about making school a happy place to be for all of our learners. And that's why we do need to take this time at the beginning of term to give schools space to be able to address that, so that the rest of the academic year can go as well as it possibly can. And that's why we've made additional resources available, between myself and the health Minister, to have additional counselling sessions for those children where counselling is appropriate, and children in primary school, where traditional counselling is not an appropriate method for intervening with children, but family work and group work, which is much more appropriate, is made available.
Deputy Presiding Officer, the Member is right: in our guidance, we say very clearly that active travel should be the first option for parents where it is practical to do so, if for no other reason than that is a perfect start to the day for a child—burning off a little bit of that excess energy, getting some fresh air and getting some exercise before the start of the school day. We will continue to work with colleagues in the transport department to get those messages across and to make sure that schools are well equipped for that. Across the way here, in Ysgol Hamadryad, we have our first active travel school, where cars are simply not allowed to travel to school. So, in certain circumstances, in certain communities, it can be done successfully and we need to keep working on creating the conditions—not just for now, but for the future—to encourage active travel.
With regard to digital exclusion, I will indeed raise the point with the Minister for local government about permanent connections to Gypsy and Traveller sites. But, as I said in answer to Suzy Davies, not only did we give out laptops and devices to children, we also actually distributed 10,848 MiFi devices. Sometimes, it's not just the lack of a device that's the problem; it's the connectivity. You may be in a Gypsy-Traveller site, or you may be in the countryside, where that connection is not available. Hence, we were able to assist, as I said, almost 11,000 children by providing them with connectivity during this time.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydych chi yn llygad eich lle: mae llesiant yn allweddol. Nid yw dysgu'n gweddu i blentyn sy'n ofidus, a'r hyn a wyddom ni yw y bydd y cyfnod clo wedi cael effaith ar bob un o'n plant ni, ond fe fydd effaith hynny'n amrywio o blentyn i blentyn. Fe fu'r cyfnod clo yn gyfnod anhapus iawn i rai o'r plant, ac fe fydd angen mynd i'r afael â hynny. Gwyddom fod hyn yn wir am rai o'n dysgwyr, mewn gwirionedd—ac fe gafwyd rhai arolygon diweddar yn dangos bod pobl ifanc yn eu harddegau wedi teimlo llai o straen y tu allan i'r ysgol, felly rhaid rheoli ailintegreiddio i'r ysgol yn briodol. Ac, o leiaf, mae hyn yn atgyfnerthu pwysigrwydd y dull ysgol gyfan, onid yw e, am wneud yr ysgol yn lle hapus i'n dysgwyr ni i gyd. A dyna pam mae angen inni gymryd yr amser hwn ar ddechrau'r tymor i roi cyfle i ysgolion allu mynd i'r afael â hynny, fel y gall gweddill y flwyddyn academaidd fynd yn ei blaen gystal ag y gall. A dyna pam yr ydym ni, y Gweinidog Iechyd a minnau, wedi sicrhau bod adnoddau ychwanegol ar gael i gynnal sesiynau cwnsela ychwanegol i'r plant hynny lle mae cwnsela'n briodol. Ac o ran plant ysgol gynradd, lle nad yw cwnsela traddodiadol yn ddull priodol i gyfryngu â phlant, fe geir gwaith teuluol a gwaith grŵp, sy'n llawer mwy priodol.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r Aelod yn iawn: yn ein canllawiau ni, rydym yn dweud yn eglur iawn mai teithio llesol ddylai fod y dewis cyntaf i rieni lle bo'n ymarferol gwneud felly, ac os nad am unrhyw reswm arall mae'n ddechrau perffaith i'r diwrnod i blentyn—gan losgi ychydig o'r egni hwnnw sydd dros ben, a chael rhywfaint o awyr iach ac ymarfer corff cyn dechrau'r diwrnod ysgol. Fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i weithio gyda chydweithwyr yn yr adran drafnidiaeth i gyfleu'r negeseuon hynny a sicrhau bod ysgolion mewn sefyllfa dda i wneud hynny. Ar draws y ffordd yn y fan hon, yn Ysgol Hamadryad, mae gennym ein hysgol teithio llesol gyntaf, lle ni chaniateir i geir deithio i'r ysgol. Felly, mewn rhai amgylchiadau, mewn rhai cymunedau, gellir gwneud hynny'n llwyddiannus ac mae angen inni barhau i weithio ar greu'r amodau—nid yn unig dros dro, ond i'r dyfodol—i annog teithio llesol.
O ran allgau digidol, fe fyddaf i'n sicr yn codi'r pwynt gyda'r Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol ynglŷn â chysylltiadau parhaol i safleoedd Sipsiwn a Theithwyr. Ond, fel y dywedais pan atebais Suzy Davies, nid yn unig fe wnaethom roi gliniaduron a dyfeisiau i blant, dosbarthwyd 10,848 o ddyfeisiau MiFi gennym hefyd. Weithiau, nid diffyg dyfais yn unig yw'r broblem, ond y cysylltedd. Efallai eich bod chi mewn safle Sipsiwn a Theithwyr, neu efallai eich bod chi yng nghefn gwlad, lle nad yw'r cysylltiad hwnnw ar gael. Felly, roeddem ni'n gallu cynorthwyo, fel y dywedais i, bron 11,000 o blant drwy ddarparu cysylltedd iddyn nhw yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.
How do you respond to concerns raised with me by school staff that social distancing is being ignored or is impossible for pupils whose school requires them to move between classrooms; that the breadth and standard of online teaching has been variable, asking whether Wales has invested in further development of online teaching and resources in preparation for a possible second wave; that a primary sector teacher was hauled over the coals for using up too much paper in her classroom during hand-washing sessions, and told to encourage pupils to air-dry their hands—we all know how dangerous that is; that in some authorities the teaching staff are having to clean their own classrooms, with cleaners only coming in to provide one weekly deep clean, creating additional health risks and increasing their stress levels; and that Kirsty Williams says that the headteacher is best placed to advise, but they are not medical practitioners or scientists, and even they have got it wrong, and that we need robust, enforceable all-Wales advice?
Beth yw eich ymateb chi i bryderon a godwyd gyda mi gan staff mewn ysgolion bod cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn cael ei anwybyddu neu ei fod yn amhosibl i ddisgyblion mewn ysgol lle mae gofyn iddyn nhw symud o un ystafell ddosbarth i'r llall; bod cysondeb a safon yr addysg ar-lein wedi amrywio'n fawr, gan holi a yw Cymru wedi buddsoddi ymhellach mewn datblygu addysg ac adnoddau ar-lein i baratoi ar gyfer ail don bosibl; bod athrawes sector cynradd wedi cael ei dwrdio am ddefnyddio gormod o bapur yn ei hystafell ddosbarth yn ystod sesiynau golchi dwylo, a dywedwyd wrthi am annog disgyblion i sychu eu dwylo nhw yn yr aer—ac fe wyddom ni i gyd pa mor beryglus yw hynny; bod y staff addysgu mewn rhai awdurdodau yn gorfod glanhau eu hystafelloedd dosbarth nhw eu hunain, gyda glanhawyr yn dod i mewn i lanhau'n ddwfn yn wythnosol yn unig, gan greu risgiau iechyd ychwanegol a chynyddu'r pwysau sydd arnynt; a bod Kirsty Williams yn dweud mai'r pennaeth sydd yn y sefyllfa orau i gynghori, ond nid ymarferwyr meddygol na gwyddonwyr mohonynt, ac mae'r rheini, hyd yn oed, wedi gwneud camgymeriadau, a bod angen cyngor cadarn arnom y gellir ei orfodi trwy Gymru gyfan?
First of all, with regard to digital learning, as I have said in answer to both Jenny Rathbone and Suzy Davies, we've invested heavily in ensuring that digitally excluded learners have devices and MiFi connections. Those devices that have been given out to children will be replaced with new devices in those schools that have given devices to children as part of our EdTech scheme.
With regard to what further investment, Wales is the only part of the United Kingdom that has a deal with Microsoft. So, every child and every teacher has access to a full suite of Microsoft for education tools—Office and all those things that a school and a child would need to engage in online learning. Our digital platform, Hwb, has been an absolute godsend during this period. During the lockdown, we were also able to make Adobe Spark software available to every single child and teacher. Again, these are unique resources that are simply not available on this scale, free of charge, anywhere else in the United Kingdom.
With regard to cleaning, operational guidance is very clear about cleaning. Ahead of the summer term, out of the education budget, we made over £1 million available, up front, for local authorities to buy additional cleaning material. My colleague the Minister for local government has made available, I believe it is £29 million, which local authorities can draw down for the additional costs of cleaning in their schools. That is a substantial sum of money that has been agreed with the Welsh Local Government Association, so there is no reason why cleaning should be being skimped on. The financial resources have been made available prior to September, and are available to local authorities as we move forward.
With regard to enforcement, HSE, the Health and Safety Executive—much to the annoyance, actually, of some unions—has been ringing schools during the first week back and last week back, checking that the schools are abiding by the legislation that we have put in place for safe workplaces. Because not only are they places of education, they are workplaces, and they need to comply with the legislation that has been put in place. The HSE has been actively involved in telephoning schools to double-check that they are taking all the necessary steps.
With regard to moving children around schools, many schools are choosing to limit movements around schools, Mark. So, for instance, children staying in a particular classroom for the majority of their day, including in secondary school, and only moving when they need to move to a lab to do, perhaps, lab work. Or, the preference many schools are using is actually moving staff around the schools. And if that teacher is saying that those provisions haven't been put in place in their school then that conversation needs to be had with the headteacher, doesn't it, about how that school is organising itself? Because in the schools that I have visited, and the discussions I've had with headteachers, they're looking at zones and they're looking at minimising the amount of movement around a school that the pupils are doing, choosing, where at all possible, to move staff instead.
Yn gyntaf oll, o ran dysgu digidol, fel y dywedais i wrth ateb Jenny Rathbone a Suzy Davies, rydym wedi buddsoddi llawer i sicrhau bod dysgwyr sydd wedi eu hallgau'n ddigidol yn cael dyfeisiau a chysylltiadau MiFi. Fe fydd dyfeisiau newydd yn cael eu rhoi i blant yn yr ysgolion hynny a roddodd dyfeisiau i blant yn rhan o'n cynllun Technoleg Addysg.
O ran pa fuddsoddiad pellach a roddwyd, Cymru yw'r unig ran o'r Deyrnas Unedig sydd â bargen gyda Microsoft. Felly, mae pob plentyn a phob athro yn cael defnyddio'r gyfres lawn o raglenni Microsoft ar gyfer addysg—Office a'r holl bethau hynny y byddai eu hangen ar ysgol ac ar blentyn i gymryd rhan mewn dysgu ar-lein. Mae ein platfform digidol ni, Hwb, wedi bod yn fendithiol tu hwnt yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. Yn ystod y cyfnod clo, roeddem ni'n gallu sicrhau bod meddalwedd Adobe Spark ar gael hefyd i bob plentyn ac athro unigol. Unwaith eto, mae'r rhain yn adnoddau unigryw nad ydyn nhw ar gael ar y raddfa hon, yn rhad ac am ddim, yn unman arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig.
O ran glanhau, mae'r canllawiau gweithredol yn eglur iawn ynghylch glanhau. Cyn tymor yr haf, o'r gyllideb addysg, rhoddwyd dros £1 miliwn, ymlaen llaw, i awdurdodau lleol brynu deunyddiau glanhau ychwanegol. Mae fy nghyd-Weinidog, y Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol, wedi darparu £29 miliwn, rwy'n credu, y gall awdurdodau lleol ei ddefnyddio i dalu am y costau ychwanegol o lanhau eu hysgolion. Mae hwnnw'n swm sylweddol o arian y cytunwyd arno gyda Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, felly nid oes unrhyw reswm dros ddiffyg glanhau. Roedd yr adnoddau ariannol ar gael cyn mis Medi, ac maen nhw ar gael i awdurdodau lleol wrth inni symud ymlaen.
O ran gorfodi, mae'r HSE, yr Awdurdod Gweithredol Iechyd a Diogelwch—er dicter i rai undebau, yn wir—wedi bod yn ffonio ysgolion yn ystod yr wythnos gyntaf yn ôl a'r wythnos ddiwethaf yn ôl, gan sicrhau bod yr ysgolion yn cadw at y ddeddfwriaeth a roddwyd ar waith gennym ni ar gyfer gweithleoedd diogel. Nid yn unig maen nhw'n safleoedd addysg, maen nhw'n weithleoedd, ac mae angen iddyn nhw gydymffurfio â'r ddeddfwriaeth a roddwyd ar waith. Mae'r HSE wedi bod wrthi'n ffonio ysgolion i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cymryd yr holl gamau angenrheidiol.
O ran symud plant o amgylch ysgolion, mae llawer o ysgolion yn dewis cyfyngu ar symudiadau o amgylch ysgolion, Mark. Felly, er enghraifft, fe fydd plant yn aros mewn ystafell ddosbarth benodol am y rhan fwyaf o'r diwrnod, gan gynnwys yn yr ysgol uwchradd, a dim ond yn symud pan fydd angen iddyn nhw symud i labordy i wneud gwaith labordy, efallai. Neu, mae llawer o ysgolion yn dewis symud y staff o amgylch yr ysgolion. Ac os yw'r athro hwnnw'n dweud na roddwyd y darpariaethau hynny ar waith yn ei ysgol ef, yna mae angen cael y sgwrs honno gyda'r pennaeth, onid oes, am y trefniadau yn yr ysgol benodol honno? Oherwydd yn yr ysgolion yr wyf i wedi ymweld â nhw, ac yn y trafodaethau a gefais i gyda phenaethiaid, maen nhw'n ystyried parthau ac yn ystyried lleihau'r symudiadau gan ddisgyblion o amgylch ysgol gan ddewis yn hytrach, os oes modd, symud y staff o gwmpas.
Can I thank you for your statement, Minister, and also place on record my thanks to not just the school staff, but also staff in LEAs who've worked really hard to get the children back to school? It is really wonderful to have them back there.
I welcome your assurance on the issue of testing that you're having very regular discussions with the health Minister. As you'll be aware, there have been some concerns locally about the ability to get tests for children and young people via the UK Government's lighthouse labs, so I would be grateful if you could give me your assurances that you will continue to discuss that with the health Minister and that both of you will continue to impress upon the UK Government how vital it is that the testing system is in place to respond quickly on these issues.
I was pleased to see the emphasis in your statement and in the reopening guidance on well-being, and obviously I heard your answer to Jenny Rathbone. I'd like to ask you, though, how you are ensuring that all schools are actually embracing the need to prioritise well-being, and also how you're ensuring that the money, and this is a significant sum of money that's been allocated, is being spent in an appropriate way to support children and young people, particularly in relation to the concerns you've highlighted, which you know the committee shares, about the need for appropriate interventions for particularly younger children.
And just finally, I'd like to say that one of the committee's major concerns during the lockdown was the impact on hidden children and children who were maybe suffering abuse and neglect at home but that weren't known to services. I welcome the recent Welsh Government leaflet—
A gaf i ddiolch ichi am eich datganiad, Gweinidog, a hoffwn roi ar gofnod fy niolch nid yn unig i staff yr ysgolion, ond staff mewn AALlau hefyd sydd wedi gweithio'n galed iawn i gael y plant yn ôl yn yr ysgolion? Mae'n hyfryd iawn eu gweld nhw'n ôl yno.
Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith eich bod yn ein sicrhau eich bod yn cael trafodaethau rheolaidd iawn gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd ynglŷn â mater profion. Fel yr ydych chi'n ymwybodol, cafwyd rhai pryderon yn lleol ynglŷn â'r gallu i gynnal profion ar blant a phobl ifanc drwy labordai goleudy Llywodraeth y DU, felly fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe gallech chi roi sicrwydd i mi y byddwch chi'n parhau i drafod hynny gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd ac y bydd y ddau ohonoch chi'n parhau i bwysleisio gerbron Llywodraeth y DU pa mor hanfodol yw hi fod y system brofi ar waith i ymateb yn gyflym i'r problemau hyn.
Roeddwn i'n falch o weld y pwyslais ar lesiant yn eich datganiad a'ch canllawiau ailagor, ac yn amlwg fe glywais eich ateb i Jenny Rathbone. Fe hoffwn i ofyn i chi, serch hynny, sut ydych chi'n bwriadu gwneud yn siŵr fod pob ysgol yn croesawu'r angen am flaenoriaethu llesiant? A hefyd sut rydych chi am sicrhau bod yr arian, ac mae'r arian a ddyrannwyd yn swm sylweddol, yn cael ei wario mewn ffordd sy'n briodol i gefnogi plant a phobl ifanc, yn enwedig mewn cysylltiad â'r pryderon yr ydych wedi tynnu sylw atynt, ac fe wyddoch fod y pwyllgor yn eu rhannu, am yr angen i gael ymyriadau priodol ar gyfer plant ifanc yn arbennig.
Ac yn olaf, fe hoffwn i ddweud mai un o brif bryderon y pwyllgor yn ystod y cyfnod clo oedd yr effaith ar blant yn y dirgel a phlant a oedd o bosibl yn dioddef camdriniaeth ac esgeulustod yn y cartref ond nad oedd hynny'n hysbys i'r gwasanaethau. Rwy'n croesawu taflen ddiweddar Llywodraeth Cymru—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi roi pen ar y mwdwl, os gwelwch chi'n dda?
—that's been produced with Childline, which is very helpful: you have the right to remain safe. Can I ask you what you're doing to ensure that all children and young people in Wales have access to that very useful leaflet? Thank you.
—a gynhyrchwyd gyda Childline, sy'n ddefnyddiol iawn: mae gennych chi'r hawl i fod yn ddiogel. A gaf i ofyn ichi beth rydych chi'n ei wneud i sicrhau y bydd pob plentyn ac unigolyn ifanc yng Nghymru yn gallu cael gafael ar y daflen ddefnyddiol iawn hon? Diolch.
Can I thank Lynne Neagle for her comments and her recognition of the role of local education authorities during this time, who have, as you said, been working tirelessly alongside their headteachers to be able to put provision in place that has led to the opening of all our schools for the start of this academic year? It's been a massive challenge and they have risen to it well. I'm very grateful for the support of those in the WLGA who specialise in education. I meet on a regular basis, weekly—I think almost weekly through the summer as well—with them so that we can understand the challenges that they're facing on the ground turning our operational guidance as a Government into reality.
As I said, undoubtedly, there are challenges with testing capacity at this moment. I discuss it often with my colleague the health Minister. I discussed it yesterday with Gavin Williamson, the Minister in Westminster, who has similar challenges in making sure that testing capacity is meeting the demands that are being placed upon it at the moment. We have a collective endeavour to make sure that action is taken at lighthouse labs, but those are not the only facilities that we're relying on. We are working hard to create additional local testing centres as well as the other facilities that have already been announced by my colleague the health Minister.
With regard to well-being, myself and the Minister for children, Julie Morgan, continue to work together to ensure that local authorities are responding in a holistic approach across education and children's services to meet the needs of children. Again, we have to anticipate a rise in referrals at this time, as children come back into school and begin to have those conversations with trusted adults about what the period of lockdown has been for them. And, like you, I think for most teaching professionals, those children who are on the cusp—you know, so they're not formally known to social services; those children have been contacted throughout this period—but for those children where life, sometimes, at home can be a challenge, those are the children who have been a particular focus and of concern to teachers. And we are working with LEAs to make sure that education has the ability to make referrals as necessary and get the necessary support in for children and families at this time if that becomes evident that it is needed.
And you're right: for younger children, the focus must be on family therapy and group sessions rather than the traditional counselling model. The counselling model allows you to be able to take control of your own life and make decisions and take actions. Well, the ability of a six-year-old to be able to do that in these circumstances is limited if it exists at all, and therefore different types of therapy. We will be monitoring how individual health boards and local authorities are using the resources that have been made available to them. And I will discuss with colleagues about how we can get the information that the Member referred to more widely available to all children so that they are aware of the support that is available to them.
A gaf i ddiolch i Lynne Neagle am ei sylwadau a'i chydnabyddiaeth hi o waith awdurdodau addysg lleol yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, sydd, fel yr oeddech chi'n dweud, wedi bod yn gweithio'n ddiflino ochr yn ochr â'u penaethiaid i roi darpariaeth ar waith sydd wedi arwain at agor ein holl ysgolion ni ar gyfer dechrau'r flwyddyn academaidd hon? Bu'n her enfawr ac maen nhw wedi ymateb yn dda iawn iddi. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am gefnogaeth y rhai yn CLlLC sy'n arbenigo mewn addysg. Rwy'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd, yn wythnosol—bron bob wythnos drwy'r haf hefyd, rwy'n credu—gyda nhw fel y gallwn ddeall yr heriau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu ar lawr gwlad gan wireddu ein canllawiau gweithredol ni yn y Llywodraeth.
Fel y dywedais i, heb unrhyw amheuaeth, mae heriau o ran capasiti profion ar hyn o bryd. Rwy'n trafod hyn gyda'm cyd-Weinidog, y Gweinidog Iechyd, yn aml. Roeddwn i'n trafod hyn ddoe gyda Gavin Williamson, y Gweinidog yn San Steffan, sydd â heriau tebyg ganddo o ran sicrhau bod y capasiti i brofi'n ateb y galwadau sydd arno ar hyn o bryd. Mae gennym ymdrech ar y cyd i sicrhau bod camau'n cael eu cymryd mewn labordai goleudy, ond nid dyna'r unig gyfleusterau yr ydym ni'n dibynnu arnynt. Mae pawb yn gweithio'n galed i greu canolfannau profi lleol ychwanegol yn ogystal â'r cyfleusterau eraill a gyhoeddwyd eisoes gan fy nghyd-Weinidog, y Gweinidog Iechyd.
O ran llesiant, mae'r Gweinidog Plant, Julie Morgan, a minnau'n parhau i gydweithio i sicrhau bod awdurdodau lleol yn ymateb mewn dull cyfannol ar draws y gwasanaethau addysg a gwasanaethau plant i ddiwallu anghenion plant. Unwaith eto, fe fydd yn rhaid inni ragweld cynnydd mewn atgyfeiriadau ar hyn o bryd, wrth i blant ddod yn ôl i'r ysgol a dechrau cael y sgyrsiau hynny gydag oedolion y gellir ymddiried ynddyn nhw am brofiadau'r cyfnod clo. Ac, fel chithau, rwy'n credu, i'r rhan fwyaf o weithwyr addysgu proffesiynol, mae'r plant hynny ar yr ymylon—ac nid ydynt yn hysbys yn ffurfiol i'r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol; fe gysylltwyd â'r plant hynny drwy gydol y cyfnod hwn—ond y plant hynny y mae bywyd yn y cartref yn gallu bod yn heriol weithiau iddynt, dyna'r plant fu'n ganolbwynt penodol ac sydd wedi peri pryder i athrawon. Ac rydym ni'n gweithio gydag AALlau i sicrhau y gall y maes addysg wneud atgyfeiriadau yn ôl yr angen a chael y cymorth angenrheidiol i blant a theuluoedd ar hyn o bryd os daw eu hangen nhw i'r amlwg.
Ac rydych chi'n iawn: i blant iau, bydd yn rhaid canolbwyntio ar therapi teulu a sesiynau grŵp yn hytrach na'r model cwnsela traddodiadol. Mae'r model cwnsela yn eich galluogi i gymryd rheolaeth dros eich bywyd chi eich hun a gwneud penderfyniadau a chymryd camau. Wel, mae'r gallu sydd gan blentyn chwech oed i wneud hynny dan yr amgylchiadau hyn yn gyfyngedig iawn os yw'n bodoli o gwbl, ac felly fe geir gwahanol fathau o therapi iddyn nhw. Fe fyddwn ni'n monitro sut mae byrddau iechyd unigol ac awdurdodau lleol yn defnyddio'r adnoddau a ddarparwyd ar eu cyfer. Ac fe fyddaf i'n trafod gyda chydweithwyr sut y gallwn ni sicrhau bod yr wybodaeth y cyfeiriodd yr Aelod ati ar gael yn fwy eang i bob plentyn fel eu bod yn fwy ymwybodol o'r cymorth sydd ar gael iddyn nhw.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. I also want to take this opportunity to welcome your comments and your opening remarks that you want to keep our schools open during these uncertain times.
It was a little concerning this week when I heard that a number of children were sent home with runny noses this week, and obviously, because of the delay in testing, that meant that they missed out on three days of education, roughly. None of us want to see them missing out on any more education, I'm sure, so I welcome your comments that you said that you're going to work with the health Minister to ensure that testing is speeded up. But also, I'm just wondering what guidance we could maybe further issue to our schools to differentiate between COVID symptoms and the common cold—a sniffly cough—and maybe, as was suggested earlier in the Chamber, it is a good idea to look into all schools temperature testing before sending a child home, so at least they do have one of the COVID symptoms. Because we don't—I'm sure that we all, Minister—don't want to see any of our children missing out unnecessarily on education. Thank you.
Diolch i chi am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Fe hoffwn i achub ar y cyfle hefyd i groesawu eich sylwadau a'ch sylwadau agoriadol chi am eich dyhead i gadw ein hysgolion ni'n agored yn ystod y cyfnod dyrys hwn.
Roedd clywed yr wythnos hon bod nifer o blant wedi cael eu hanfon adref gan fod eu trwynau'n rhedeg yn destun rhywfaint o bryder, ac yn amlwg, oherwydd yr oedi gyda phrofion, roedd hynny'n golygu eu bod nhw wedi colli tri diwrnod o'u haddysg, yn fras. Nid oes neb ohonom yn dymuno eu gweld yn colli rhagor o'u haddysg, rwyf i'n siŵr, ac felly rwy'n croesawu eich sylwadau am eich bwriad i weithio gyda'r Gweinidog Iechyd i sicrhau y caiff y profion eu cyflymu. Ond hefyd, tybed pa ganllawiau y gallem eu cyhoeddi eto o bosibl i'n hysgolion ni i wahaniaethu rhwng symptomau COVID ac annwyd cyffredin—tisian a pheswch—ac efallai, fel yr awgrymwyd yn gynharach yn y Siambr, fe fyddai'n syniad da edrych ar bosibilrwydd cynnal profion tymheredd ym mhob ysgol cyn anfon unrhyw blentyn adref, fel bod ganddyn nhw un o symptomau COVID o leiaf. Oherwydd rwy'n siŵr nad oes neb ohonom ni, Gweinidog, yn dymuno gweld unrhyw un o'n plant ni'n colli addysg a hynny'n ddiangen. Diolch.
Laura Anne makes a very relevant point. At this time of year, at the start of an academic year, as a mum Laura, you well know the absolute inevitability of the cold; it is a truth like death and taxes that you will get that cold. But because of the heightened awareness, quite understandably, people are very, very anxious and it is understandable why, then, perhaps a member of staff may say, 'No, this child has to go home.'
I would refer you to a video that we have been circulating that has been done by Dr Heather Payne, who is the chief adviser on child health to the Government, explaining just this, about when it's appropriate for a child to be tested and that the symptoms of a common cold are different. We're looking to work across education and health to do extra webinars for teachers and headteachers, where they can hear directly from health professionals to give them the extra confidence that they need in helping them make these decisions, and that is being arranged as we speak. We're trying to get those messages out.
But, clearly, access to testing does need to improve to be able to minimise disruption where a child could have one of the nasties that you have at this time of year, but it is not COVID and therefore, if they were well enough in themselves, they could be in school. But that's one of the wicked problems that we face returning to school at this particular juncture in the year; it's one of the challenges we're going to have to overcome. Thank you.
Mae Laura Anne yn gwneud pwynt perthnasol iawn. Yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, ar ddechrau blwyddyn academaidd, a chithau'n fam Laura, rydych chi'n gwybod yn iawn fod annwyd yn gwbl anochel; ni ellir osgoi cael annwyd, gwir y gair. Ond oherwydd yr ymwybyddiaeth gynyddol, yn ddealladwy, mae pobl yn bryderus iawn, ac mae'n ddealladwy pam, felly, y gallai aelod o staff ddweud, 'Mae'n rhaid i'r plentyn hwn fynd adref.'
Rwyf am eich cyfeirio at fideo yr ydym ni wedi bod yn ei roi ar led a gynhyrchwyd gan Dr Heather Payne, prif gynghorydd iechyd plant i'r Llywodraeth, yn egluro'r union beth hwn, ynglŷn â phryd y mae'n briodol i blentyn gael ei brofi a bod symptomau annwyd syml yn wahanol. Rydym ni'n ceisio gweithio ar draws y maes addysg ac iechyd i gael gweminarau ychwanegol i athrawon a phenaethiaid, lle gallan nhw glywed yn uniongyrchol gan weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol er mwyn rhoi'r hyder ychwanegol sydd ei angen arnyn nhw i'w helpu i wneud y penderfyniadau hyn, ac mae hynny'n cael ei drefnu wrth i ni siarad yma. Rydym ni'n ceisio lledaenu'r negeseuon hynny.
Ond, yn amlwg, mae angen sicrhau bod y profion hyn ar gael yn ehangach er mwyn creu cyn lleied o darfu â phosibl lle gallai plentyn fod ag annwyd cas sy'n digwydd ar yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, ond nid COVID mohono, ac felly, os yw'n teimlo'n ddigon da, gallai fod yn yr ysgol. Ond dyna un o'r problemau dyrys sy'n ein hwynebu ni wrth ddychwelyd i'r ysgol ar yr adeg benodol hon o'r flwyddyn; dyma un o'r heriau y bydd yn rhaid ei goresgyn. Diolch.
And finally, Mick Antoniw.
Ac yn olaf, Mick Antoniw.
Minister, we all want the best for our schoolchildren. Rhondda Cynon Taf, over the last 10 years, will have invested somewhere in the region of £0.75 billion under the twenty-first century schools programme renewing those schools. And in those schools, of course, we want the best teachers, so I very much welcome the proposal by Welsh Government to employ a further 600 teachers. But one of the issues that has arisen, of course, is that we have quite a number of highly qualified teachers living in Wales who have qualified abroad but face obstacles in overcoming the restrictions on the recognition of their qualifications. I have one particular constituent—I know I've written to you about that, and I'm very grateful for the way in which you've looked at that particular issue—a highly qualified teacher from the United States who has been trying to overcome those hurdles. Bearing in mind the demand we have now for teachers and the challenges that we face from COVID, is there anything that you could do as education Minister to perhaps look at those restrictions, to overcome those restrictions, to ensure that we maximise the use of the wealth of talent that exists amongst the citizens who have made their lives in Wales and who could contribute so much to our education system?
Gweinidog, mae pawb am weld y gorau i'n plant ysgol. Fe fydd Rhondda Cynon Taf, dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, wedi buddsoddi oddeutu £0.75 biliwn dan raglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain ar gyfer adnewyddu'r ysgolion hynny. Ac yn yr ysgolion hynny, wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n awyddus i gael yr athrawon gorau, ac felly rwy'n croesawu'r cynnig yn fawr gan Lywodraeth Cymru i gyflogi 600 o athrawon eraill. Ond un o'r materion sydd wedi codi, wrth gwrs, yw bod gennym nifer helaeth o athrawon sydd â chymwysterau uchel yn byw yng Nghymru sydd wedi eu cymhwyso dramor ond sy'n wynebu rhwystrau i oresgyn y cyfyngiadau sydd ar gydnabod eu cymwysterau nhw. Mae gennyf i un etholwr yn benodol—fe wn i fy mod i wedi ysgrifennu atoch chi ynglŷn â hynny, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn am y ffordd yr ydych chi wedi rhoi ystyriaeth i'r mater penodol hwnnw—athro cymwysedig iawn o'r Unol Daleithiau sydd wedi bod yn ceisio goresgyn y rhwystrau hynny. O gofio'r galw sydd gennym ni nawr am athrawon a'r heriau sy'n ein hwynebu ni oherwydd COVID, a oes unrhyw beth y gallech chi ei wneud fel Gweinidog Addysg efallai i edrych ar y cyfyngiadau hynny, i oresgyn y cyfyngiadau hynny, i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gwneud y defnydd gorau o'r cyfoeth o dalent ar gael ymhlith dinasyddion sydd wedi ymgartrefu yng Nghymru ac a allai gyfrannu cymaint at ein system addysg ni?
Thank you, Mick. Firstly, on the twenty-first century schools programme, can I assure Members that work onsite continues, and has continued, as soon as regulations allowed that to happen? And despite the considerable strain on Welsh Government budgets, I'm delighted that the capital available to me to continue to support band B of that programme is unchanged. Even during lockdown, we've been able to make announcements on some really significant new buildings. That's really important, of course, for the future of education, but it's also really important to our economic recovery, making sure that this Government is spending Welsh money to provide fantastic facilities, but also work for people here in Wales.
Can I assure the Member that work is under way at the moment to give powers to the Education Workforce Council to be able to make decisions regarding the applicability and the relevance of teaching qualifications from areas of the world that presently do not automatically give you the right to work as a teacher here? We guard entry into our profession in Wales, quite rightly so, very, very highly. We want the very best people standing in front of our classrooms. No education system can exceed the quality of the people who work with our children day in and day out. But we are in the process of giving extra powers to the Education Workforce Council that will allow an individual with a teaching qualification from a country outside, traditionally, the UK or the European Union to have that qualification scrutinised by the Education Workforce Council, with a view to putting them on the list as a qualified teacher able to work within Wales. That work is under way right at this moment. So, it shouldn't be too much longer, Mick. Not too much longer.
Diolch, Mick. Yn gyntaf, o ran rhaglen ysgolion yr unfed ganrif ar hugain, a gaf i sicrhau'r Aelodau bod gwaith ar y safle'n parhau, ac wedi parhau, cyn gynted ag yr oedd rheoliadau'n caniatáu hynny? Ac er gwaethaf y straen sylweddol ar gyllidebau Llywodraeth Cymru, rwy'n falch iawn nad yw'r cyfalaf sydd ar gael i mi i barhau i gefnogi band B y rhaglen honno wedi newid. Hyd yn oed yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud rydym ni wedi gallu gwneud cyhoeddiadau ynghylch rhai adeiladau newydd gwirioneddol arwyddocaol. Mae hynny'n bwysig iawn, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer dyfodol addysg, ond mae hefyd yn bwysig iawn i'n hadferiad economaidd, gan sicrhau bod y Llywodraeth hon yn gwario arian Cymru i ddarparu cyfleusterau gwych, ond hefyd gwaith i bobl yma yng Nghymru.
A gaf i sicrhau'r Aelod bod gwaith ar y gweill ar hyn o bryd i roi pwerau i Gyngor y Gweithlu Addysg i allu gwneud penderfyniadau ynghylch addaster a pherthnasedd cymwysterau addysgu o ardaloedd o'r byd nad ydynt ar hyn o bryd yn rhoi'r hawl i chi weithio fel athro yma yn awtomatig? Rydym yn gwarchod mynediad i'n proffesiwn yng Nghymru, a hynny'n gwbl briodol, yn ofalus iawn. Rydym eisiau'r bobl orau yn sefyll o flaen ein dosbarthiadau. Ni all yr un system addysg fod yn fwy nag ansawdd y bobl sy'n gweithio gyda'n plant o ddydd i ddydd. Ond rydym yn y broses o roi pwerau ychwanegol i Gyngor y Gweithlu Addysg a fydd yn caniatáu i gymhwyster addysgu unigolyn sydd o wlad y tu allan, yn draddodiadol, i'r DU neu'r Undeb Ewropeaidd fod yn destun craffu gan Gyngor y Gweithlu Addysg, gyda'r bwriad o'i roi ar y rhestr fel athro cymwysedig sy'n cael gweithio yng Nghymru. Mae'r gwaith hwnnw'n mynd rhagddo ar hyn o bryd. Felly, ni ddylai fod yn llawer hwy Mick. Ddim yn llawer hwy.
Thank you, Minister.
Diolch, Gweinidog.
Item 4 on the agenda is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services on the winter protection plan. I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services—Vaughan Gething.
Eitem 4 ar yr agenda yw datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar gynllun diogelu'r gaeaf. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol—Vaughan Gething.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Members will be aware that I announced our intention to develop a winter protection plan for Wales over the summer. I'm pleased to confirm we have now published that plan, following our work with stakeholders. The events from the last week have reinforced why this is needed. Despite all of the good progress made over the summer, the position remains precarious. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and as we have been reminded again, the virus can spread quickly with significant local outbreaks.
We all know that winter is always a challenging time of year for our health and social service staff. Let me be clear: the challenges this winter will be truly extraordinary. In addition to the normal winter pressures, we will need to respond to the unfinished COVID pandemic. The resurgence of the virus in recent weeks will not be the end of our challenges. The next days and weeks will determine whether we need to introduce even more significant measures to control the virus. So, we must be prepared for the worst. The winter protection plan is intended to bring together the main health and social care contributions that protect the public, help support delivery and engagement with our key partners and stakeholders, and we will work together to keep Wales safe.
We have heard from community health councils about the things that will matter most to individuals and communities. Engagement with professional groups and partners across health and social care has been helpful to ensure that the context for the winter protection plan is clear. Our NHS and care expectations will be more specifically set out in the NHS operational framework for quarters 3 and 4, which will be issued next week. The winter protection plan will be supported by the £800 million NHS stabilisation package that we recently announced, together with the additional funding being provided to local authorities and the care sector.
The plan highlights a number of now familiar areas, but ones that are crucial to controlling the virus, keeping communities safe and well and to reduce demand on our NHS and care services. For example, a key element of the local prevention and response plans is the test, trace and protect service. This provides a key defence against widespread transmission that relies heavily on public co-operation, honesty and compliance with that advice. The plan identifies the need for the public to support an expanded and comprehensive flu vaccination campaign this autumn. This should help to reduce the seasonal demands that flu places on our NHS. There is no easy way to tackle COVID-19, it requires everyone to play their part in supporting this national effort.
Scientific evidence informs our decisions and will continue to do so. I recognise it has been very difficult and challenging for us as individuals and communities. Working together as a nation has made a huge difference, with people and organisations across Wales playing their part in helping to limit the impact of the virus. The reduction over the summer made some people relax and become complacent about the continuing threat. There has also been a minority of people that have deliberately not followed the rules and may have thought that COVID-19 had gone away. It has not and cases are rising.
Despite the huge efforts of the majority of people, some areas are experiencing much higher numbers of cases that are likely to result in vulnerable people being admitted to hospital in the coming weeks. So, let me be absolutely clear: if we are to avoid further local or national lockdowns, our behaviour must change and change quickly. We are in a similar position now to early February this year—a matter of weeks ahead of the national lockdown choice made in March by each UK nation.
We have seen significant rises in cases in the Caerphilly borough area, Merthyr Tydfil, the Rhondda and in Newport. Members will know that local actions have had to be taken and are under constant review. Limiting people's movements and placing restrictions on daily life is never something the Welsh Government has taken lightly. However, we will make those difficult decisions to help to save lives and reduce the risks to our most vulnerable people.
The significance of the rise in cases in the last week means we have a very narrow window of opportunity in which to act and avoid more radical intervention. None of us want to see more restrictions, but I cannot stress enough that if we do not start to see a reduction in cases, and that can only come through changes in our behaviour, then lives will be lost. I do not want to see a national lockdown, but if the choice is that or more harm, including deaths, then we will do what is necessary to keep Wales safe.
Health and social care staff, together with other key workers and colleagues in the third sector, work tirelessly to provide services and care for us and our loved ones. We in turn must all do our bit to fight the virus and help keep Wales safe, whether that is adhering to the rules, maintaining social distancing or practising good hand hygiene. We will continue to live with the virus in many aspects of our daily lives for some time to come. We must remain vigilant for ourselves, our families and communities.
The winter protection plan is not a panacea, and it will take time for us all to recover from this pandemic. However, the plan demonstrates our continued commitment to the people of Wales throughout this exceptional public health emergency. We all have our part to play to do the right thing. We can all make choices to help keep Wales safe.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol imi gyhoeddi ein bwriad i ddatblygu cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf ar gyfer Cymru dros yr haf. Rwy'n falch o gadarnhau ein bod bellach wedi cyhoeddi'r cynllun hwnnw, yn dilyn ein gwaith gyda rhanddeiliaid. Mae digwyddiadau'r wythnos diwethaf wedi atgyfnerthu pam y mae angen hwn. Er gwaethaf yr holl gynnydd da a wnaed dros yr haf, mae'r sefyllfa'n parhau'n ansicr. Nid yw pandemig COVID-19 ar ben, ac fel y cawsom ein hatgoffa unwaith eto, gall y feirws ledaenu'n gyflym gydag achosion lleol sylweddol.
Rydym i gyd yn gwybod bod y gaeaf wastad yn adeg heriol o'r flwyddyn i'n staff iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Gadewch imi fod yn glir: bydd yr heriau y gaeaf hwn yn wirioneddol ryfeddol. Yn ogystal â phwysau arferol y gaeaf, bydd angen inni ymateb i'r pandemig COVID sydd heb ddod i ben. Nid ymchwydd diweddar y feirws yn yr wythnosau diwethaf fydd diwedd ein heriau. Bydd y dyddiau a'r wythnosau nesaf yn penderfynu a oes angen i ni gyflwyno mesurau mwy sylweddol fyth i reoli'r feirws. Felly, mae'n rhaid inni fod yn barod am y gwaethaf. Bwriad cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf yw dwyn ynghyd prif gyfraniadau y maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol sy'n diogelu'r cyhoedd, helpu i gefnogi'r gwaith o gyflawni ac ymgysylltu â'n partneriaid a'n rhanddeiliaid allweddol, a byddwn yn cydweithio i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Rydym wedi clywed gan gynghorau iechyd cymuned am y pethau a fydd bwysicaf i unigolion a chymunedau. Mae ymgysylltu â grwpiau proffesiynol a phartneriaid ar draws y maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol i sicrhau bod cyd-destun cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf yn glir. Bydd ein disgwyliadau o ran y GIG a'r sector gofal yn cael eu nodi'n fwy penodol yn fframwaith gweithredol y GIG ar gyfer chwarteri 3 a 4, a gyhoeddir yr wythnos nesaf. Cefnogir cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf gan becyn sefydlogi'r GIG gwerth £800 miliwn a gyhoeddwyd gennym yn ddiweddar, ynghyd â'r arian ychwanegol a ddarperir i awdurdodau lleol a'r sector gofal.
Mae'r cynllun yn tynnu sylw at nifer o feysydd sydd bellach yn gyfarwydd, ond rhai sy'n hanfodol i reoli'r feirws, gan gadw cymunedau'n ddiogel ac yn iach a lleihau'r galw ar ein GIG a'n gwasanaethau gofal. Er enghraifft, elfen allweddol o'r cynlluniau atal ac ymateb lleol yw'r gwasanaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu. Mae hyn yn amddiffyniad allweddol rhag trosglwyddo eang sy'n dibynnu'n helaeth ar gydweithrediad cyhoeddus, gonestrwydd a chydymffurfiaeth â'r cyngor hwnnw. Mae'r cynllun yn nodi'r angen i'r cyhoedd gefnogi ymgyrch ehangach a chynhwysfawr i frechu rhag y ffliw yr hydref hwn. Dylai hyn helpu i leihau'r pwysau tymhorol y mae'r ffliw yn ei roi ar ein GIG. Nid oes ffordd hawdd o fynd i'r afael â COVID-19, mae angen i bawb wneud ei ran i gefnogi'r ymdrech genedlaethol hon.
Mae tystiolaeth wyddonol yn llywio ein penderfyniadau a bydd yn parhau i wneud hynny. Rwy'n cydnabod y bu hi'n anodd ac yn heriol iawn i ni fel unigolion a chymunedau. Mae cydweithio fel cenedl wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth enfawr, gyda phobl a sefydliadau ledled Cymru yn gwneud eu rhan i helpu i gyfyngu effaith y feirws. Parodd y gostyngiad dros yr haf i rai pobl ymlacio a bod yn hunanfodlon ynglŷn â'r bygythiad parhaus. Bu lleiafrif o bobl hefyd na wnaethant ddilyn y rheolau'n fwriadol ac efallai eu bod yn credu bod COVID-19 wedi diflannu. Nid yw wedi gwneud hynny ac mae nifer yr achosion yn cynyddu.
Er gwaethaf ymdrechion enfawr y rhan fwyaf o bobl, mae rhai ardaloedd yn profi niferoedd llawer uwch o achosion sy'n debygol o arwain at bobl agored i niwed yn cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf. Felly, gadewch imi fod yn gwbl glir: os ydym ni eisiau osgoi rhagor o gyfyngiadau symud lleol neu genedlaethol, rhaid i'n hymddygiad newid a newid yn gyflym. Rydym ni mewn sefyllfa debyg nawr i ddechrau mis Chwefror eleni—ychydig wythnosau cyn y dewis i gyflwyno cyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol a wnaethpwyd ym mis Mawrth gan bob gwlad yn y DU.
Rydym ni wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol mewn achosion yn ardal bwrdeistref Caerffili, Merthyr Tudful, y Rhondda ac yng Nghasnewydd. Bydd Aelodau'n gwybod y bu'n rhaid gweithredu camau lleol a'u bod yn cael eu hadolygu'n gyson. Nid yw cyfyngu ar symudiadau pobl a gosod cyfyngiadau ar fywyd bob dydd erioed wedi bod yn rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i gymryd yn ysgafn. Fodd bynnag, byddwn yn gwneud y penderfyniadau anodd hynny i helpu i achub bywydau a lleihau'r risgiau i'n pobl fwyaf agored i niwed.
Mae arwyddocâd y cynnydd mewn achosion yn ystod yr wythnos diwethaf yn golygu bod gennym ni gyfle cyfyng iawn o ran amser i weithredu ac osgoi ymyrraeth fwy radical. Nid oes yr un ohonom ni eisiau gweld mwy o gyfyngiadau, ond ni allaf bwysleisio digon, os na fyddwn yn dechrau gweld gostyngiad mewn achosion, ac mai dim ond drwy newidiadau yn ein hymddygiad y gallwn ni gyflawni hynny, yna bydd bywydau yn cael eu colli. Nid wyf eisiau gweld cyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol, ond os yw'r dewis rhwng hynny a mwy o niwed, gan gynnwys marwolaethau, yna byddwn yn gwneud yr hyn sy'n angenrheidiol i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Mae staff iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, ynghyd â gweithwyr a chydweithwyr allweddol eraill yn y trydydd sector, yn gweithio'n ddiflino i ddarparu gwasanaethau a gofal i ni a'n hanwyliaid. Mae'n rhaid i bob un ohonom ni yn ein tro wneud ein rhan i ymladd y feirws a helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel, pa un ai glynu wrth y rheolau, cadw pellter cymdeithasol neu ymarfer hylendid dwylo da yw hynny. Byddwn yn parhau i fyw gyda'r feirws mewn sawl agwedd ar ein bywydau bob dydd am beth amser i ddod. Mae'n rhaid inni barhau i fod yn wyliadwrus drosom ein hunain, ein teuluoedd a'n cymunedau.
Nid yw cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf yn ateb i bopeth, a bydd yn cymryd amser i ni i gyd ail godi ar ein traed yn dilyn y pandemig hwn. Fodd bynnag, mae'r cynllun yn dangos ein hymrwymiad parhaus i bobl Cymru drwy gydol yr argyfwng eithriadol hwn ym maes iechyd y cyhoedd. Mae gan bob un ohonom ni ran i'w chwarae i wneud y peth priodol. Gallwn i gyd wneud dewisiadau i helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Minister, thank you for your statement this afternoon. Can I put on record my sincere thanks to all the staff that make up the health and social care family in Wales for what they've done so far since the COVID outbreak was officially declared in March, and, indeed, to you as Minister, and the Government as well? Because I'm sure the pressure on all of you as individuals has been as great a challenge as anything you've faced in your political if not in your entire lives. But I would like to ask a series of questions about the plan that you have tabled before the Assembly today.
It's important that such plans do maintain confidence, and confidence is a critical component, not just from the staff who will be delivering this plan, but obviously the public who have to buy into it. Yesterday, we had the breach from Public Health Wales around the testing and the data that was put up on public display. This afternoon we've heard from the First Minister that he didn't know anything about that breach of data until 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when Public Health Wales put that up on display. I'm led to believe that Welsh Government were informed on 2 September of this data breach, and you as Minister were informed on 3 September. Can you inform the Assembly today of the timeline when this information was made available to you, and why did you retain that information rather than share it with other colleagues in Government? Or is it the case that you did share it with other colleagues in Government, but not the First Minister? I think it is really important that we understand how Government is working when such anomalies—and it is an anomaly, I accept, the data breach, but it's a serious anomaly of 18,000 names appearing on a public website, and it's vital that we keep confidence.
Secondly, could you highlight how this plan will start to address the issue of tackling the waiting lists that have built up through the summer months? Because it is critically important that we do make progress in that particular area. I agree entirely with you when you say about the issue of it being a real troubling time when you've got COVID and waiting times and normal winter pressures, but it's important that the public can have confidence that some of these waiting times will be eaten into.
Thirdly, on the flu vaccine programme, can you identify that there are enough doses available to meet the requirements of the flu vaccine programme that you've put before us? Because a new cohort of individuals has been brought into the scheme, and as I understand it, there are still negotiations pending with the pharmaceutical companies to secure enough dosage to make sure that there's enough flu vaccine available in the country.
Fourthly, it is vital that we understand the support that the staff require, both in social and in health settings. Are you confident that this plan that you've put before us today to meet winter pressures will meet the needs of staff both in social care and healthcare settings, so that ultimately they can feel supported, whether it be in PPE or making sure that they can make the decisions that they require to meet the circumstances that face them in their own localities?
Finally, could you highlight to me in particular—because it's a concern that I've had raised with me around dental services—how this plan will address the chronic problems that the dental service in this country is facing at the moment, getting back to as near normal as possible, albeit the new normal that we face with the COVID regulations?
Gweinidog, diolch ichi am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma. A gaf i ddiolch ar goedd yn ddiffuant i'r holl staff sy'n rhan o'r teulu iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru am yr hyn y maen nhw wedi'i wneud hyd yma ers i'r achosion o COVID gael eu cyhoeddi'n swyddogol ym mis Mawrth, ac, yn wir, i chi fel Gweinidog, a'r Llywodraeth hefyd? Oherwydd, rwy'n siŵr y bu'r pwysau ar bob un ohonoch chi fel unigolion yn gymaint o her ag unrhyw beth yr ydych chi wedi'i wynebu yn eich bywydau gwleidyddol os nad yn eich bywydau cyfan. Ond hoffwn ofyn cyfres o gwestiynau am y cynllun yr ydych chi wedi'i gyflwyno gerbron y Cynulliad heddiw.
Mae'n bwysig bod cynlluniau o'r fath yn cynnal hyder, ac mae hyder yn elfen hollbwysig, nid yn unig ymhlith y staff a fydd yn cyflawni'r cynllun hwn, ond yn amlwg y cyhoedd y mae'n rhaid iddynt ei gefnogi. Ddoe, cawsom y tor diogelwch data gan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ynghylch y profion a'r data a gafodd ei arddangos yn gyhoeddus. Y prynhawn yma clywsom gan y Prif Weinidog nad oedd yn gwybod dim am y tor diogelwch data hwnnw tan 2 o'r gloch brynhawn ddoe, pan gyhoeddodd Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru hynny i'r cyhoedd. Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf roedd Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael gwybod ar 2 Medi am y data hwn a ryddhawyd, a'ch bod chi fel Gweinidog wedi cael gwybod ar 3 Medi. A wnewch chi roi gwybod i'r Cynulliad heddiw am yr amserlen pan oedd yr wybodaeth hon ar gael ichi, a pham y cadwoch yr wybodaeth honno yn hytrach na'i rhannu â chyd-Aelodau eraill yn y Llywodraeth? Neu a fu i chi ei rannu â chydweithwyr eraill yn y Llywodraeth, ond nid â'r Prif Weinidog? Credaf ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn deall sut y mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio pan fydd anghysondeb o'r fath—ac mae'n anghysondeb, rwy'n derbyn, y toriad data, ond mae'n anghysondeb difrifol o 18,000 o enwau'n ymddangos ar wefan gyhoeddus, ac mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn parhau'n ffyddiog.
Yn ail, a wnewch chi amlygu sut y bydd y cynllun hwn yn dechrau mynd i'r afael â'r broblem o ymdrin â'r rhestrau aros sydd wedi cronni dros fisoedd yr haf? Oherwydd mae'n hollbwysig i ni wneud cynnydd yn y maes penodol hwnnw. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi pan ddywedwch ei fod yn gyfnod cythryblus iawn pan fo gennych chi COVID ac amseroedd aros a phwysau arferol y gaeaf, ond mae'n bwysig y gall y cyhoedd fod yn ffyddiog y bydd rhai o'r amseroedd aros hyn yn lleihau.
Yn drydydd, o ran y rhaglen brechu rhag y ffliw, a allwch chi ddweud a oes digon o ddosau ar gael i fodloni gofynion y rhaglen brechu rhag y ffliw yr ydych chi wedi'i rhoi ger ein bron? Gan fod carfan newydd o unigolion wedi'i chyflwyno i'r cynllun, ac yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae trafodaethau eto i'w cynnal gyda'r cwmnïau fferyllol i sicrhau digon o ddosau i sicrhau bod digon o frechlyn ffliw ar gael yn y wlad.
Yn bedwerydd, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn deall y cymorth sydd ei angen ar y staff, mewn lleoliadau cymdeithasol ac mewn lleoliadau iechyd. A ydych yn ffyddiog y bydd y cynllun hwn yr ydych chi wedi'i roi ger ein bron heddiw i ymateb i bwysau'r gaeaf yn diwallu anghenion staff mewn lleoliadau gofal cymdeithasol a gofal iechyd, fel y gallan nhw deimlo eu bod yn y pendraw yn cael eu cefnogi, boed hynny o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol neu o ran sicrhau y gallan nhw wneud y penderfyniadau angenrheidiol i fynd i'r afael â'r amgylchiadau sy'n eu hwynebu yn eu hardaloedd eu hunain?
Yn olaf, a wnewch chi amlygu i mi'n benodol—oherwydd y mae'n bryder a gyflwynwyd i mi ynghylch gwasanaethau deintyddol—sut y bydd y cynllun hwn yn mynd i'r afael â'r problemau cronig y mae'r gwasanaeth deintyddol yn y wlad hon yn eu hwynebu ar hyn o bryd, wrth ddychwelyd mor agos at y drefn arferol ag sy'n bosibl, er mai trefn arferol newydd fydd yn ein hwynebu oherwydd rheoliadau COVID?
Thank you for that series of questions, which I'll try to address as quickly as time allows.
You're correct; my understanding is that officials were informed on 2 September, and I was informed with a serious incident alert on 3 September. That's entirely normal. Public Health Wales had already informed the Information Commissioner, as they should do, of the breach. They had identified what had happened, and as I say, we don't believe that anyone has come to harm, but it is a serious breach and it needs to be treated seriously. That's why there is an independent investigation. That investigation will be taken through the board accountability and governance processes, so you can expect there to be a published report into that investigation once it's been received. And as you know, the chief executive of Public Health Wales issued a proactive press release and gave a series of interviews yesterday setting out what had happened, and indeed apologising for the serious breach. There is no attempt to cover over the fact that this was a serious breach that took place, and it was reported as a serious incident, as indeed all serious incidents are between the health service and the Government.
In terms of addressing waiting lists, I'm afraid I don't share the Member's optimism about the ability to significantly eat into waiting lists over the winter period. It's a reality in every nation of the UK that the significant increase in activity that has built up during the first period of lockdown, where we both ended NHS services—. You'll recall that on 13 March I was the first UK health Minister to make the decision to pause most forms of elective activity. We've seen a significant build-up as a result of that, and then, even as services have restarted, there's been some reluctance from members of the public to access services that are now available. In common with every other Minister in every one of the four nations, I'd say that most of the next term, a full Senedd term, will be likely to be needed to catch up with the activity we're seeing, partly because of the activity that's built up, but also because we're not able to see people in the numbers we'd otherwise do. That's about the need to screen people, between COVID secure and those where they are suspected or COVID-positive. It's also the reality that our staff can't undertake as many procedures with the additional PPE requirements. So, it isn't realistic for us to expect there to be a significant eating into waiting lists through this period of time. It will need prioritisation for people with the greatest need, and that means that it's going to be difficult because some people will need to wait longer. But, as I said, that is not a situation unique to Wales. You may have seen the commentary from the King's Fund and others about the scale of challenge that we're going to face right across our national health service, and we'll talk more and more about the reasons for that, including our staff. And I was pleased to hear you mention our staff, because our staff haven't really had a break, across our health and social care system, since the start of the pandemic, and that gives me great concern about not just the potential for a second wave, but the longer term future.
We have introduced more support—occupational health support, health and well-being support—and I have had very regular conversations with representatives from employers and trade unions. There's been even more conversation between those parts of the workplace relationship than even we would have had in normal times. That's because what our staff have had to do will have an impact on them, for more support, practically, to keep them in the workplace, but we also know that there is an effect that takes some time to manifest itself when people have been through particularly difficult or traumatic events. So, through the next term, we'll need to deal with the reality that staff in health and social care will need more support, and some staff will need to come out of the workplace to recover and some staff may leave prematurely.
So, actually we have had a really big challenge building up with more activity that we can't undertake now and we'll face a challenge in our staff. But I can say, though, on the positive side: you mentioned challenges around PPE to support staff; we're in a much better position than at the start of the pandemic, where we found that we had stores that we had in use, and once we'd used the pandemic stores, our normal plans would have been to have contracts in place, but other countries then didn't honour them because they had their own challenges and, as we've rehearsed many times, the world market in PPE tightened significantly. We've rebuilt and stocked up our stores, we've been very successful within the family of UK nations in doing so, and we've helped other UK nations through mutual aid with PPE requirements. We've also managed to continue to supply PPE to our social care sector as well. So, we have a much better situation on stock than the position that I faced when going through the pandemic in April and May of this year.
On the flu vaccine, the UK Government procure for all four nations. That's an agreed process. So, we're optimistic that we'll have more flu vaccine in place for every UK nation, including, of course, Wales. We're looking to prioritise the most vulnerable. There's a section in the winter protection plan on what we're looking to do to both have a higher rate of uptake in our most vulnerable populations and if we still have enough vaccine to then go out and have people over the age of 50 receiving the flu vaccine as well, as well as our in-any-event plan to have more pre-school and primary school-age children undertaking and receiving the vaccine as well.
On dentistry, we expect more data to be provided in the NHS operational framework that I mentioned. This has been a real challenge because, of course, dentistry is a high-risk profession—it's pretty impossible to undertake socially distanced dentistry work, there's the proximity you often need to be able to do the work and, indeed, the aerosol-generating procedures. We can expect there to be more detail through the operational framework and the advice from our chief dental officer.
Diolch am y gyfres yna o gwestiynau, a cheisiaf roi sylw iddyn nhw mor gyflym ag y bydd amser yn caniatáu.
Rydych chi'n gywir; yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, hysbyswyd swyddogion ar 2 Medi, a chefais wybod am rybudd o ddigwyddiad difrifol ar 3 Medi. Mae hynny'n gwbl normal. Roedd Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru eisoes wedi hysbysu'r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth, fel y dylent wneud, o'r tor diogelwch. Roeddent wedi canfod yr hyn a ddigwyddodd, ac fel y dywedais, nid ydym yn credu bod neb wedi cael niwed, ond mae'n dor diogelwch difrifol ac mae angen ei drin o ddifrif. Dyna pam y ceir ymchwiliad annibynnol. Bydd yr ymchwiliad hwnnw'n cael ei gynnal drwy brosesau atebolrwydd a llywodraethu'r bwrdd, felly gallwch ddisgwyl cael adroddiad cyhoeddedig ar yr ymchwiliad hwnnw pan fydd wedi dod i law. Ac fel y gwyddoch chi, cyhoeddodd prif weithredwr Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ddatganiad rhagweithiol i'r wasg a rhoddodd gyfres o gyfweliadau ddoe yn nodi'r hyn a ddigwyddodd, ac yn wir, ymddiheurodd am y tor diogelwch difrifol. Nid oes ymgais i guddio'r ffaith fod hwn yn dor diogelwch difrifol a ddigwyddodd, ac adroddwyd ei fod yn ddigwyddiad difrifol, fel yn wir y caiff pob digwyddiad difrifol rhwng y gwasanaeth iechyd a'r Llywodraeth.
O ran mynd i'r afael â rhestrau aros, mae arnaf ofn nad wyf yn rhannu optimistiaeth yr Aelod ynglŷn â'r gallu i leihau rhestrau aros dros gyfnod y gaeaf. Mae'n realiti ym mhob gwlad yn y DU bod y cynnydd sylweddol mewn gweithgarwch sydd wedi cronni yn ystod y cyfnod cyntaf o gyfyngiadau symud pan fu inni derfynnu gwasanaethau'r GIG—. Byddwch yn cofio mai fi, ar 13 Mawrth, oedd y Gweinidog iechyd cyntaf yn y DU i wneud y penderfyniad i ohirio'r rhan fwyaf o weithgarwch dewisol. Rydym ni wedi gweld cynnydd sylweddol o ganlyniad i hynny, ac yna, hyd yn oed wrth i wasanaethau ailgychwyn, bu rhywfaint o amharodrwydd ymhlith y cyhoedd i geisio gwasanaethau sydd bellach ar gael. Yn gyffredin â phob Gweinidog arall ym mhob un o'r pedair gwlad, byddwn yn dweud y bydd angen y rhan fwyaf o'r tymor nesaf, tymor llawn y Senedd, i ddal i fyny â'r gweithgarwch yr ydym yn ei weld, yn rhannol oherwydd y gweithgarwch sydd wedi cronni, ond hefyd am nad ydym yn gallu gweld pobl yn y niferoedd y byddem yn eu gweld fel arall. Mae hynny'n ymwneud â'r angen i sgrinio pobl, rhwng y rhai sy'n ddiogel o ran COVID a'r rhai dan amheuaeth neu'r rhai sy'n bositif o ran COVID. Y gwir amdani hefyd yw na all ein staff ymgymryd â chymaint o weithdrefnau oherwydd gofynion cyfarpar diogelwch personol. Felly, nid yw'n realistig i ni ddisgwyl gweld lleihad sylweddol yn y rhestrau aros drwy'r cyfnod hwn. Bydd angen blaenoriaethu pobl sydd â'r angen mwyaf, ac mae hynny'n golygu y bydd yn anodd oherwydd bydd angen i rai pobl aros yn hwy. Ond, fel y dywedais, nid yw honno'n sefyllfa sy'n unigryw i Gymru. Efallai eich bod wedi gweld y sylw gan Gronfa'r Brenin ac eraill am faint yr her y byddwn yn ei hwynebu ar draws ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, a byddwn yn siarad fwy a mwy am y rhesymau dros hynny, gan gynnwys ein staff. Ac roeddwn yn falch o'ch clywed yn sôn am ein staff, oherwydd nid yw ein staff wedi cael seibiant mewn gwirionedd, yn unrhyw ran o'n system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, ers dechrau'r pandemig, ac mae hynny'n peri pryder mawr i mi nid yn unig oherwydd y posibilrwydd o ail don, ond y dyfodol tymor hwy.
Rydym ni wedi cyflwyno mwy o gymorth—cymorth iechyd galwedigaethol, cymorth iechyd a lles—ac rwyf wedi cael sgyrsiau rheolaidd gyda chynrychiolwyr cyflogwyr ac undebau llafur. Bu hyd yn oed mwy o sgwrsio rhwng y rhannau hynny o'r berthynas weithle nag y byddem wedi'i gael yn y cyfnod arferol hyd yn oed. Y rheswm am hynny yw y bydd yr hyn y bu'n rhaid i'n staff ei wneud yn cael effaith arnynt, am fwy o gymorth, yn ymarferol, i'w cadw yn y gweithle, ond gwyddom hefyd fod yna effaith sy'n cymryd peth amser i'w hamlygu ei hun pan fydd pobl wedi bod drwy ddigwyddiadau arbennig o anodd neu drawmatig. Felly, dros y tymor nesaf, bydd angen i ni ymdrin â'r realiti y bydd angen mwy o gymorth ar staff ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a bydd angen i rai staff adael y gweithle i wella ac efallai y bydd rhai staff yn gadael cyn pryd.
Felly, mewn gwirionedd bu her fawr iawn yn cynyddu gyda mwy o weithgarwch nag y gallwn ni ymgymryd ag ef nawr a byddwn yn wynebu her ymysg ein staff. Ond gallaf ddweud, serch hynny, ar yr ochr gadarnhaol: fe wnaethoch chi sôn am heriau ynghylch cyfarpar diogelu personol i gefnogi staff; rydym ni mewn sefyllfa well o lawer nag ar ddechrau'r pandemig, pryd gwelsom ni fod gennym ni storfeydd a oeddem yn eu defnyddio, ac ar ôl i ni ddefnyddio'r storfeydd pandemig, ein cynlluniau arferol fyddai cael contractau ar waith, ond nid oedd gwledydd eraill yn eu hanrhydeddu am fod ganddynt eu heriau eu hunain ac, fel yr ydym ni wedi ailadrodd droeon, crebachodd marchnad y byd o ran cyfarpar diogelu personol yn sylweddol. Rydym ni wedi ailadeiladu a stocio ein storfeydd, rydym ni wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn o fewn teulu gwledydd y DU wrth wneud hynny, ac rydym ni wedi helpu gwledydd eraill y DU drwy gymorth ar y cyd o ran anghenion cyfarpar diogelu personol. Rydym ni hefyd wedi llwyddo i barhau i gyflenwi cyfarpar diogelu personol i'n sector gofal cymdeithasol hefyd. Felly, rydym ni mewn sefyllfa well o lawer o ran stoc na'r sefyllfa yr oeddwn yn ei hwynebu wrth fynd drwy'r pandemig ym mis Ebrill a mis Mai eleni.
O ran y brechlyn ffliw, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn caffael ar gyfer pob un o'r pedair gwlad. Mae honno'n broses y cytunwyd arni. Felly, rydym yn obeithiol y bydd gennym ni fwy o frechlyn ffliw ar gael ar gyfer pob gwlad yn y DU, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, Cymru. Rydym yn ceisio blaenoriaethu'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed. Mae adran yng nghynllun diogelu'r gaeaf ar yr hyn yr ydym yn bwriadu ei wneud i gael cyfradd uwch o bobl sydd fwyaf agored i niwed i gael y brechlyn a hefyd os oes gennym ni ddigon o frechlyn yn weddill, i sicrhau bod pobl dros 50 oed yn cael y brechlyn ffliw hefyd, yn ogystal â'n cynllun beth bynnag a ddaw i gael mwy o blant cyn oed ysgol ac oedran ysgol gynradd i gael y brechlyn hefyd.
O ran deintyddiaeth, disgwyliwn i fwy o ddata gael ei ddarparu yn fframwaith gweithredol y GIG y soniais amdano. Mae hyn wedi bod yn her wirioneddol oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae deintyddiaeth yn broffesiwn risg uchel—mae'n eithaf amhosibl ymgymryd â gwaith deintyddiaeth a chadw pellter cymdeithasol, mae'r agosrwydd yna y mae ei angen yn aml er mwyn ichi wneud y gwaith ac, yn wir, y gweithdrefnau sy'n cynhyrchu aerosol. Gallwn ddisgwyl y ceir mwy o fanylion drwy'r fframwaith gweithredol a'r cyngor gan ein prif swyddog deintyddol.
Thank you for the statement, Minister. I'll begin with that assertion of yours that we're in a position very similar to that which we were in in February. I know why you're saying it, because this is the same virus, it's as potentially dangerous as it was back then and I fully concur with your view that it's up to all of us to face our own responsibilities in terms of adhering to guidance and so on, but we should be, of course, in a much, much better place than we were in February. We have track and trace, we know a bit more about treatments—a lot more about treatments—we do have, finally, now, the wearing of face coverings, keeping people safe, and so on. What we need to know now, going into the winter, is that lessons have been learned and some of, perhaps, the bad decisions made early on—understandable, given that this was new, if not entirely forgivable, but understandable—we need to make sure that they aren't happening again. And whilst you spent a lot of that statement saying how important it is that people take their own responsibilities, it's about what the Government can do and, on testing and tracing, it's not people who are flouting rules who are finding it difficult to get tests in my constituency and throughout Wales at the moment—it's people who can't get tests because they aren't available now. Can you explain to us what will be done ahead of this winter to make sure that the over-reliance that you decided to put on the lighthouse labs won't become a problem in coming weeks and months? This is something that independent SAGE warned against; I'm concerned about it too. We're looking for assurances from you.
I wrote to you about the problems in getting tests last week. I also in that letter asked: please, can we move towards the asymptomatic testing of domiciliary carers and community nurses, and others who have to visit people's homes? Because there are fears that those tests that have been made available in residential homes still aren't there for people who need them just as much because of the vulnerability of people that they come across. Please can you assure us that that is something that you will look at introducing as we approach the winter, or do so immediately?
I'm concerned that there's no mention, whilst you look at the flu, of other chronic health conditions. In particular, I'm thinking of cancer. There's no reference to that in your statement. It's vital that you keep the NHS running, of course, for other health conditions as much as possible, and I dread to think what the survival rates for cancer will be next year if we have a winter without screening or testing. So, it's about what Government can show us at the onset of winter that they have learned that actually makes now very different to February in terms of our potential to certainly get a better outcome than we did in those early days of the pandemic here in Wales.
Diolch ichi am y datganiad, Gweinidog. Dechreuaf gyda'ch honiad ein bod mewn sefyllfa debyg iawn i'r un yr oeddem ni ynddi ym mis Chwefror. Fe wn i pam yr ydych yn dweud hynny, oherwydd dyma'r un feirws, mae mor beryglus ag yr oedd bryd hynny ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'ch barn mai ein cyfrifoldeb ni i gyd yw wynebu ein cyfrifoldebau ein hunain o ran glynu wrth ganllawiau ac ati, ond dylem ni, wrth gwrs, fod mewn sefyllfa llawer gwell nag yr oeddem ni ynddi ym mis Chwefror. Rydym ni bellach yn tracio ac yn olrhain, gwyddom ychydig mwy am driniaethau—llawer mwy am driniaethau—o'r diwedd, nawr, mae gorchuddion wyneb yn cael eu defnyddio, yn cadw pobl yn ddiogel, ac ati. Yr hyn y mae angen inni ei wybod nawr, wrth i'r gaeaf ddynesu, yw bod gwersi wedi'u dysgu a rhai o'r penderfyniadau gwael a wnaed yn gynharach efallai—yn ddealladwy, gan fod hyn yn newydd, os nad yn gwbl faddeuadwy, ond yn ddealladwy—mae angen inni sicrhau nad ydynt yn digwydd eto. Ac er i chi dreulio llawer o'r datganiad hwnnw'n dweud pa mor bwysig yw hi i bobl gymryd cyfrifoldeb dros eu hunain, mae'n ymwneud â'r hyn y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud ac, o ran profi ac olrhain, nid y bobl sy'n diystyru rheolau sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd cael profion yn fy etholaeth i a ledled Cymru ar hyn o bryd—ond pobl na allant gael profion am nad ydynt ar gael nawr. A wnewch chi egluro wrthym ni beth fydd yn cael ei wneud cyn y gaeaf hwn i sicrhau na fydd yr orddibyniaeth y penderfynoch ei rhoi ar y labordai goleudy yn achosi problem yn yr wythnosau a'r misoedd nesaf? Mae hyn yn rhywbeth y rhybuddiodd y SAGE annibynnol amdano; rwy'n pryderu amdano hefyd. Rydym yn chwilio am sicrwydd gennych chi.
Ysgrifennais atoch ynghylch y problemau o ran cael profion yr wythnos diwethaf. Gofynnais hefyd yn y llythyr hwnnw: a allwn ni ddechrau profi gweithwyr gofal cartref a nyrsys cymunedol nad oes symptomau ganddyn nhw, ac eraill sy'n gorfod ymweld â chartrefi pobl? Oherwydd mae ofnau nad yw'r profion hynny sydd wedi'u darparu mewn cartrefi preswyl ar gael o hyd i'r bobl hynny sydd hefyd eu hangen oherwydd bod y bobl y maent yn dod ar eu traws o bosib yn agored i niwed. A wnewch chi ein sicrhau bod hynny'n rhywbeth y byddwch yn ystyried ei gyflwyno wrth inni nesáu at y gaeaf, neu wneud hynny ar unwaith?
Rwy'n pryderu nad oes sôn, wrth i chi ganolbwyntio ar y ffliw, am gyflyrau iechyd cronig eraill. Yn benodol, rwy'n meddwl am ganser. Does dim cyfeiriad at hynny yn eich datganiad. Mae'n hanfodol eich bod yn cadw'r GIG ar waith, wrth gwrs, ar gyfer cyflyrau iechyd eraill gymaint â phosib, ac mae'n gas gennyf feddwl beth fydd y cyfraddau goroesi ar gyfer canser y flwyddyn nesaf os cawn aeaf heb sgrinio na phrofi. Felly, mae'n ymwneud â'r hyn y gall y Llywodraeth ei ddangos i ni ar ddechrau'r gaeaf o ran yr hyn y maent wedi'i ddysgu sy'n gwneud heddiw yn wahanol iawn i fis Chwefror o ran ein potensial i gael gwell canlyniad yn sicr nag a gawsom ni yn nyddiau cynnar y pandemig yma yng Nghymru.
Thank you for that series of questions I'll run through. I think it's important to recognise what I am saying about the comparison with February. Of course, we're in a better position in terms of our preparation and understanding, with the practical experience and learning from the last six months or so. That's not the point that I'm making; I think the Member knows that isn't the point that I'm making, but in terms of the position in February about the profile and the rise in cases, so without action where we could end up find ourselves. In terms of learning from where we were, I think it's fair to say that with the knowledge we have now and the same facts, we would act differently. So, that's why I'm saying it's really important that people take account of their own choices, because otherwise the Government may have different choices to make where we may need to make choices earlier than the time period in which we did in the first wave. And that is the learning that I think Members are urging us to take on board. The Government will meet its responsibilities, but I think it is really important that people don't forget their own personal responsibility as well. That's what saw us come out of lockdown through the summer and suppress the virus, and it's what's been the most significant factor in seeing a rise in case numbers as well.
It may be helpful if I re-set out what's happened with the lighthouse labs, the UK testing programme. You'll recall that most of the criticism at the early stage was that Wales didn't take part early enough in the lighthouse labs testing programme, and that was because we couldn't see and understand the data flowing through it. Scotland and Northern Ireland took part earlier; we waited until we could understand the data, and that's now regularly flowing through to our test, trace and protect teams. They've always been able to see data from the lighthouse labs and NHS Wales labs, and that's put us in a very good position for our highly successful contact tracing service.
The challenges we've seen are that the lighthouse labs process was working well until about three weeks ago, to be fair. We've all seen the well-advertised challenges, and that's really because not so much that they can't undertake the sampling, but they're unable to deliver the testing of those samples to get the results back to people, and that's the problem that we see. And Matt Hancock today has acknowledged in the House of Commons that it'll take a matter of weeks for that to be resolved. That was a discussion we had in meetings of health Ministers of all four nations on Friday. We then saw the challenges in the testing programme with reductions over the weekend. And again, to be fair to Matt Hancock, after myself and other health Ministers contacted him, there was an improvement over the weekend, and we then mobilised some of our own resources as well.
As well as us thinking about how we redeploy NHS Wales resources, which we are doing, and I'll have more to say over the next week or so on what we're doing, especially around mobile testing units, we also need the UK programme to get back on an even keel because it's a UK-funded and delivered programme of testing in each one of the four nations. There isn't an additional consequential of extra money or extra staff that are waiting to be found to come and deliver additional tests aside from this. And the successful return to the level of predictability and testing turnaround we saw through most of the summer would benefit all four nations. That is what we are looking to see happen.
When it comes to the use of NHS Wales resources, we built them up to be able to deal with extra pressures that we know we're going face through the autumn and the winter. So, it's a collaborative effort of the Welsh programme that we've taken Welsh Government resources to fund, and indeed the lighthouse programme as well, and seeing that come back to the levels of performance we saw up until about three weeks ago.
On the challenge about COVID tests in asymptomatic populations in domiciliary care and residential care, we've carried on with a regular testing programme now from the first weekly programme to every two weeks. Typically for staff in residential care, we've increased the frequency again in Caerphilly, and we're looking to do so again in RCT because of the challenges there about an increase in community transmission.
So, we are looking to deliver a regular programme, and, again, the challenges that you allude to in terms of that testing programme for our staff are again part of the lighthouse lab challenges that we're seeing, and that's again about the turnaround in those tests and, again, there's been a lot of commentary across the UK about that. We're again looking at whether we can use NHS Wales resources in areas of highest transmission and to try to—[Inaudible.]—faster and more predicable turnaround for a limited period of time.
On the domiciliary and residential care, they are again a priority—those staff—for the flu vaccination programme, because they are, by definition, working with groups of vulnerable people. And when it comes to non-COVID treatment and harm, it's one of the four harms we recognise in our national approach, and it's again set out very clearly in the winter protection plans. So, again, we've set out in the plan what we're doing to see that continue as much as possible throughout the period of the winter and, indeed, the message that myself and the NHS chief exec have given about the need to not just to restart those, but to see further plans for those in the quarter 3 and quarter 4 framework. Because I recognise that the harm that comes from a national lockdown—it's not just the economic harm, which almost always has a health consequence as well, but it's potentially the harm to those other forms of non-COVID treatment that may not go ahead and take place, either because we have to pause those, because we're seeing more people coming to hospitals with COVID, or, indeed, because the public, as they have done in the first wave, choose not to take part because they're more concerned about acquiring coronavirus.
So, there aren't simple and straightforward answers here. The plan we set out today talks about how we'll balance those priorities and, again, look to make and deliver further improvement. And you can expect to hear more from the Government over the winter about what we have and have not managed to do successfully in our unfinished fight with coronavirus.
Diolch am y gyfres yna o gwestiynau imi ymdrin â nhw. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig cydnabod yr hyn rwy'n ei ddweud am y gymhariaeth â mis Chwefror. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni mewn gwell sefyllfa o ran ein paratoi a'n dealltwriaeth, gyda'r profiad ymarferol a'r dysgu o'r chwe mis diwethaf. Nid dyna'r pwynt yr wyf yn ei wneud; rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gwybod nad dyna'r pwynt yr wyf yn ei wneud, ond o ran y sefyllfa ym mis Chwefror ynghylch y proffil a'r cynnydd mewn achosion, felly heb weithredu, dyna'r sefyllfa y gallem weld ein hunain ynddi yn y pen draw. O ran dysgu o le'r oeddem ni, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n deg dweud, gyda'r wybodaeth sydd gennym ni nawr a'r un ffeithiau, y byddem yn gweithredu'n wahanol. Felly, dyna pam yr wyf yn dweud ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn bod pobl yn ystyried eu dewisiadau eu hunain, oherwydd fel arall efallai y bydd gan y Llywodraeth ddewisiadau gwahanol i'w gwneud lle y gall fod angen i ni wneud dewisiadau'n gynharach nag a wnaethom ni yng nghyfnod y don gyntaf. A dyna'r wers a ddysgwyd y credaf fod Aelodau'n ein hannog i'w hystyried. Bydd y Llywodraeth yn cyflawni ei chyfrifoldebau, ond rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn nad yw pobl yn anghofio eu cyfrifoldeb personol eu hunain hefyd. Dyna pam y daethom ni allan o'r cyfyngiadau symud dros yr haf ac atal y feirws, a dyma'r ffactor mwyaf arwyddocaol o ran gweld cynnydd yn nifer yr achosion hefyd.
Efallai y byddai'n ddefnyddiol pe bawn yn nodi eto yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd gyda'r labordai goleudy, rhaglen brofi'r DU. Byddwch yn cofio mai'r rhan fwyaf o'r feirniadaeth yn y cyfnod cynnar oedd na fu i Gymru'n cymryd rhan yn ddigon cynnar yn rhaglen brofi labordai goleudy, a'r rheswm am hynny oedd nad oeddem yn gallu gweld a deall y data a oedd yn rhan o hynny. Cymerodd yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon ran yn gynharach; buom yn aros nes inni ddeall y data, ac mae hynny bellach yn cyrraedd ein timau profi, olrhain a diogelu yn rheolaidd. Maen nhw wastad wedi gallu gweld data o labordai goleudy a labordai GIG Cymru, ac mae hynny wedi rhoi ein gwasanaeth olrhain cyswllt hynod lwyddiannus mewn sefyllfa dda iawn.
Yr heriau a welsom ni yw bod proses y labordai goleudy yn gweithio'n dda hyd at oddeutu tair wythnos yn ôl, a bod yn deg. Rydym ni i gyd wedi gweld yr heriau a amlygwyd yn eang, a hynny mewn gwirionedd nid oherwydd na allant ymgymryd â'r samplu, ond oherwydd na allant gyflawni'r gwaith o brofi'r samplau hynny er mwyn cael y canlyniadau'n ôl i bobl, a dyna'r broblem a welwn ni. Ac mae Matt Hancock heddiw wedi cydnabod yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin y bydd yn cymryd ychydig wythnosau i ddatrys hynny. Roedd honno'n drafodaeth a gawsom ni yng nghyfarfodydd Gweinidogion iechyd y pedair gwlad ddydd Gwener. Yna gwelsom yr heriau yn y rhaglen brofi gyda gostyngiadau dros y penwythnos. Ac eto, a bod yn deg â Matt Hancock, ar ôl i mi a Gweinidogion iechyd eraill gysylltu ag ef, bu gwelliant dros y penwythnos, ac yna rhoddwyd rhai o'n hadnoddau ein hunain ar waith hefyd.
Yn ogystal ag ystyried sut yr ydym yn adleoli adnoddau GIG Cymru, y byddwn yn ei wneud, a bydd gennyf fwy i'w ddweud dros yr wythnos nesaf am yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud, yn enwedig o ran unedau profi symudol, mae angen i raglen y DU hefyd ddod yn ôl ar ei thraed gan ei bod yn rhaglen brofi a ariennir ac a ddarperir gan y DU ym mhob un o'r pedair gwlad. Nid oes cyllid canlyniadol ychwanegol na staff ychwanegol yn aros i gael eu canfod i gyflwyno profion ychwanegol ar wahân i hyn. A byddai dychwelyd yn llwyddiannus i'r niferoedd rhagweladwy ac i lefel y profion a welsom ni drwy'r rhan fwyaf o'r haf o fudd i bob un o'r pedair gwlad. Dyna'r hyn yr ydym yn gobeithio y bydd yn digwydd.
O ran defnyddio adnoddau GIG Cymru, fe'u cryfhawyd i allu ymdrin â phwysau ychwanegol y gwyddom y byddwn yn ei hwynebu drwy'r hydref a'r gaeaf. Felly, mae'n ymdrech gydweithredol ar ran y rhaglen Gymreig yr ydym ni wedi defnyddio adnoddau Llywodraeth Cymru i'w hariannu, ac yn wir y rhaglen oleudy hefyd, a gweld hynny'n dychwelyd at y lefelau perfformio a welsom hyd at oddeutu tair wythnos yn ôl.
O ran yr her yngylch profion COVID mewn poblogaethau asymptomatig ym maes gofal cartref a gofal preswyl, rydym ni wedi parhau â rhaglen brofi reolaidd o'r rhaglen wythnosol gyntaf i bob pythefnos. Fel arfer i staff maes gofal preswyl, rydym wedi cynyddu'r amlder yng Nghaerffili, ac rydym yn bwriadu gwneud hynny eto yn Rhondda Cynon Taf oherwydd yr heriau yno ynglŷn â chynnydd mewn trosglwyddo cymunedol.
Felly, rydym yn bwriadu darparu rhaglen reolaidd, ac, unwaith eto, mae'r heriau yr ydych yn cyfeirio atynt o ran y rhaglen brofi honno i'n staff unwaith eto'n rhan o'r heriau i labordai goleudy, ac mae hynny eto'n ymwneud â'r broses brofi a rhoi canlyniadau ac, unwaith eto, mae llawer o sylwadau wedi eu mynegi ledled y DU am hynny. Unwaith eto, rydym yn ystyried a allwn ddefnyddio adnoddau GIG Cymru mewn ardaloedd lle mae'r trosglwyddiad uchaf ac i geisio—[Anghlywadwy.]—proses brofi a rhoi canlyniad cyflymach a mwy ffafriol am gyfnod cyfyngedig.
O ran gofal cartref a phreswyl, maent unwaith eto'n flaenoriaeth—y staff hynny—ar gyfer y rhaglen brechu rhag y ffliw, oherwydd maent, drwy ddiffiniad, yn gweithio gyda grwpiau o bobl sy'n agored i niwed. A phan ddaw'n fater o driniaeth a niwed nad yw'n ymwneud â COVID, mae'n un o'r pedwar niwed a gydnabyddwn yn ein dull gweithredu cenedlaethol, ac unwaith eto mae wedi'i nodi'n glir iawn yng nghynlluniau diogelu'r gaeaf. Felly, unwaith eto, rydym wedi nodi yn y cynllun yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod hynny'n parhau gymaint â phosibl drwy gydol cyfnod y gaeaf ac, yn wir, y neges yr wyf fi a phrif weithredwr y GIG wedi'i rhoi ynghylch yr angen nid yn unig i ailgychwyn y rheini, ond i weld cynlluniau pellach ar gyfer y rheini yn fframwaith chwarter 3 a chwarter 4. Gan fy mod yn cydnabod bod y niwed sy'n deillio o gyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol—nid y niwed economaidd yn unig, sydd bron bob amser yn arwain at ganlyniad iechyd hefyd, ond y niwed posib i'r mathau eraill hynny o driniaeth nad ydynt yn ymwneud â COVID, y rheini na fyddant yn mynd yn ei blaenau ac yn digwydd, naill ai oherwydd bod yn rhaid inni ohirio'r rheini, oherwydd ein bod yn gweld mwy o bobl yn dod i ysbytai gyda COVID, neu, yn wir, oherwydd bod y cyhoedd, fel y gwnaethant yn ystod y don gyntaf, yn dewis peidio â chael triniaeth am eu bod yn poeni mwy am ddal coronafeirws.
Felly, does dim atebion syml a rhwydd yma. Mae'r cynllun a nodwyd gennym ni heddiw yn sôn am sut y byddwn yn cydbwyso'r blaenoriaethau hynny ac, unwaith eto, yn ceisio gwneud a sicrhau gwelliant pellach. A gallwch ddisgwyl clywed mwy gan y Llywodraeth dros y gaeaf am yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo a heb lwyddo i'w wneud yn llwyddiannus yn ein brwydr anorffenedig yn erbyn y coronafeirws.
Thank you. We are two thirds of the way through this time-wise, and I still have a number of speakers, so I'm going to have to ask for some brevity, both of questions and of answers. Mandy Jones.
Diolch. Rydym ni dwy ran o dair o'r ffordd drwy hyn o ran amser, ac mae gennyf nifer o siaradwyr o hyd, felly mae'n rhaid i mi ofyn ichi fod yn gryno gyda'r cwestiynau a'r atebion. Mandy Jones.
Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Minister, thank you for your statement today and the opportunity for me to contribute. The sense of dread after everything the health service and the public have been through this year, I send my best wishes and—[Inaudible.]—all of the challenges and dangers that brings, especially to those who are vulnerable. I've heard your winter protection plan and I'm very concerned that its main focus appears to be a look back at lockdown, a response to a second winter wave of COVID. As we head into the winter and the predictable number of illnesses and, sadly, deaths—many of these of the respiratory system—question 1: how will the public and the medical professionals differentiate between the usual winter-type illnesses and COVID-19, when the symptoms are very similar to each other?
Minister, we had an exchange in July when I referred to the effects of lockdown on non-COVID-related illnesses, and you mentioned the need to balance different harms like you've done again today. One of the biggest worries has to be suspected cancer. Minister—[Inaudible.]—modelling shows that, across the UK, there could be around 35,000 extra cancer deaths as a result of COVID-19. In Wales, between March and June, there were around 1,600 fewer urgent cancer referrals. There is clearly a huge backlog of patients, as you've mentioned, who will need diagnostic testing for suspected cancers who aren't in the system at all yet. When these patients do present, this will no doubt cause capacity constraint in diagnostic services, and we're all acutely aware that delays for patients could cause a late diagnosis of cancer, fewer treatment options and less chance of survival. I do see consideration of this in your plan, so can you tell the Chamber what the Welsh Government is doing to make sure diagnostic services are completely ready and what arrangements are being made for follow-on treatment and surgeries, all of this in the context of winter pressures? While we couldn't foresee the demands of the Welsh NHS of COVID-19 in the early days, the curve was flattened and, of course, you are keeping a close eye on the numbers of cases now and using the levers available to counter any rises in numbers. Surely, though, you must agree with me that the NHS in Wales cannot remain in a state of suspended animation, as it currently appears to be, and waiting lists for elective surgery need to get started again. Can you inform the Chamber how the lockdown has impaired waiting lists—sorry, has impacted waiting lists—and what your plan is for addressing this? A hip replacement or a cataract removal becomes an emergency when the former causes a fall and the latter causes blindness.
Finally, lockdown, job losses, working from home and a different reality to get used to has the potential to affect the nation's mental health, as we've previously said—what capacity has the Welsh NHS got to deal with this?
And in closing, Minister, can I tell you that, despite what you say about the NHS being open for business, there appears to be a real disjoint between what you say and what constituents are experiencing, where simple and necessary procedures are not taking place? Appointments are impossible to get. With the winter pressures coming, I fear that nothing will change anytime soon and I hope you'll—[Inaudible.]
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, diolch ichi am eich datganiad heddiw a'r cyfle imi gyfrannu. Yr ymdeimlad o ofn ar ôl popeth y mae'r gwasanaeth iechyd a'r cyhoedd wedi bod drwyddo eleni, anfonaf fy nymuniadau gorau a—[Anghlywadwy.]—yr holl heriau a'r peryglon sy'n dod yn sgil hynny, yn enwedig i'r rhai sy'n agored i niwed. Rwyf wedi clywed manylion eich cynllun diogelu'r gaeaf ac rwy'n pryderu'n fawr yr ymddengys ei fod yn canolbwyntio fwyaf ar edrych yn ôl ar y cyfyngiadau symud, ymateb i ail don o COVID yn y gaeaf. Wrth inni nesáu at y gaeaf a'r nifer rhagweladwy o afiechydon ac, yn anffodus, marwolaethau—llawer o'r rhain yn afiechydon y system anadlu—cwestiwn 1: sut y bydd y cyhoedd a'r gweithwyr meddygol proffesiynol yn gwahaniaethu rhwng yr afiechydon arferol a geir yn y gaeaf a COVID-19, pan fydd y symptomau'n debyg iawn i'w gilydd?
Gweinidog, cawsom drafodaeth ym mis Gorffennaf pan gyfeiriais at effeithiau cyfyngiadau symud ar afiechydon nad ydynt yn gysylltiedig â COVID, a sonioch chi am yr angen i gydbwyso gwahanol niweidiau fel y gwnaethoch eto heddiw. Un o'r pryderon mwyaf heb os yw achosion posib o ganser. Gweinidog—[Anghlywadwy.]—mae modelu'n dangos, ledled y DU, y gallai fod tua 35,000 o farwolaethau ychwanegol oherwydd canser o ganlyniad i COVID-19. Yng Nghymru, rhwng mis Mawrth a mis Mehefin, roedd tua 1,600 yn llai o atgyfeiriadau canser brys. Mae'n amlwg bod ôl-groniad enfawr o gleifion, fel yr ydych wedi sôn, y bydd angen profion diagnostig arnynt ar gyfer achosion posib o ganser nad ydynt yn y system o gwbl hyd yn hyn. Pan fydd y cleifion hyn yn dod i'n hysbytai, mae'n siŵr y bydd hyn yn achosi cyfyngiad ar gapasiti mewn gwasanaethau diagnostig, ac rydym i gyd yn ymwybodol iawn y gallai oedi achosi diagnosis hwyr o ganser, llai o opsiynau triniaeth a llai o siawns o oroesi. Gwelaf eich bod yn ystyried hyn yn eich cynllun, felly a wnewch chi ddweud wrth y Siambr beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau diagnostig yn gwbl barod a pha drefniadau sy'n cael eu gwneud ar gyfer triniaeth ddilynol a llawdriniaethau, hyn i gyd yng nghyd-destun pwysau'r gaeaf? Er nad oeddem yn gallu rhagweld y gofynion ar GIG Cymru yn sgil COVID-19 yn y dyddiau cynnar, cafodd y gromlin ei llyfnhau ac, wrth gwrs, rydych yn cadw llygad barcud ar nifer yr achosion nawr ac yn defnyddio'r dulliau sydd ar gael i wrthsefyll unrhyw gynnydd yn y niferoedd. Fodd bynnag, siawns eich bod yn cytuno â mi na all y GIG yng Nghymru barhau mewn marwgwsg, fel y mae'n ymddangos ar hyn o bryd, ac mae angen dechrau ymdrin â rhestrau aros am lawdriniaeth ddewisol unwaith eto. A allwch chi hysbysu'r Siambr sut y mae'r cyfyngiadau symud wedi amharu ar restrau aros—mae'n ddrwg gennyf, wedi effeithio ar restrau aros—a beth yw eich cynllun ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â hyn? Mae clun newydd neu dynnu cataract yn argyfwng pan fydd y cyntaf yn achosi cwymp a'r ail yn achosi dallineb.
Yn olaf, mae gan gyfyngiadau symud, colli swyddi, gweithio gartref a realiti gwahanol i ymgynefino ag ef y potensial i effeithio ar iechyd meddwl y genedl, fel y dywedsom ni o'r blaen—pa gapasiti sydd gan GIG Cymru i ymdrin â hyn?
Ac wrth gloi, Gweinidog, a gaf i ddweud wrthych, er gwaethaf yr hyn a ddywedwch fod y GIG yn gweithredu yn ôl yr arfer, ei bod yn ymddangos bod diffyg cysylltiad gwirioneddol rhwng yr hyn a ddywedwch a'r hyn y mae etholwyr yn ei brofi, sef nad yw gweithdrefnau syml ac angenrheidiol yn digwydd? Mae'n amhosibl cael apwyntiadau. Gyda phwysau'r gaeaf yn dod, ofnaf na fydd dim byd yn newid yn y dyfodol agos ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch—[Anghlywadwy.]
I thank the Member for the series of questions. I think I largely addressed challenges about elective care and waiting lists in response to Andrew R.T. Davies's first set of questions, in acknowledging both that we have a significant challenge to address over a significant period of time, but the fact that the NHS has been progressively opening itself for more work; there is elective care taking place in every single health board. Our challenge is the fact that, in having COVID-secure arrangements for people who come in for elective care, that means we can't do as much activity as we would have done in the past, and, again, the need to prioritise. That goes for a wide range of services, not just cancer, but broader diagnostics. You'll see more detail in our operational framework, but, of course, on cancer, we have already seen the restart of a range of cancer screening programmes, so we are doing that work and we know there is ground to recover. I'm certainly not sanguine or unconcerned about the backlog in not just elective care but in other conditions where significant health harm can be caused, including, of course, some conditions that, left untreated, may prove fatal.
When it comes to the challenges about the flu season in particular, I think it's worth reflecting that an average flu season across the UK causes 8,000 to 10,000 deaths, so it's something that we get used to, but, actually, flu does take the lives of lots of people every single year: it reiterates why the flu vaccine programme is so important. In terms of people who may come to harm from flu, of course, they are potentially more vulnerable to COVID as well, so it reinforces the need to get yourself tested and protected against flu, take the jab, but also it's why some of the rapid point-of-care tests are really useful for us, because a range of those will be able to test people for strains of flu as well as COVID. So, there are a range of things in the plan that we've already published today as well as more detail to come in the statements I expect to continue to make to the Senedd through the winter and indeed in the operational framework I've referenced in my opening statement.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y gyfres o gwestiynau. Rwy'n credu imi fynd i'r afael i raddau helaeth â heriau ynghylch gofal dewisol a rhestrau aros mewn ymateb i gyfres gyntaf o gwestiynau Andrew R.T. Davies, wrth gydnabod bod gennym ni her sylweddol i ymdrin â hi dros gyfnod sylweddol o amser, a'r ffaith bod y GIG wedi agor yn raddol ar gyfer mwy o waith; mae gofal dewisol yn digwydd ym mhob un bwrdd iechyd. Ein her yw'r ffaith, wrth gael trefniadau diogelu rhag COVID ar gyfer pobl sy'n dod i mewn am ofal dewisol, bod hynny'n golygu na allwn ni wneud cymaint o weithgarwch ag y byddem wedi'i wneud yn y gorffennol, ac, unwaith eto, mae angen blaenoriaethu. Mae hynny'n wir am ystod eang o wasanaethau, nid canser yn unig, ond diagnosteg ehangach. Gallwch weld mwy o fanylion yn ein fframwaith gweithredol, ond, wrth gwrs, o ran canser, rydym eisoes wedi gweld amrywiaeth o raglenni sgrinio canser yn ailgychwyn, felly rydym yn gwneud y gwaith hwnnw a gwyddom fod lle i wella. Yn sicr, nid wyf yn ffyddiog nac yn ddi-bryder ynghylch yr ôl-groniad nid yn unig mewn gofal dewisol ond o ran cyflyrau eraill lle gall achosi niwed sylweddol i iechyd, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, rhai cyflyrau a allai, heb eu trin, fod yn angheuol.
O ran yr heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â thymor y ffliw yn benodol, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n werth crybwyll bod tymor ffliw cyfartalog ledled y DU yn achosi 8,000 i 10,000 o farwolaethau, felly mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym yn dod i arfer ag ef, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae'r ffliw yn cymryd bywydau llawer o bobl bob blwyddyn: mae'n ategu pam y mae'r rhaglen brechu rhag y ffliw mor bwysig. O ran pobl a allai ddioddef o'r ffliw, wrth gwrs, efallai eu bod nhw yn fwy agored i COVID hefyd, felly mae'n atgyfnerthu'r angen i gael eich profi a'ch amddiffyn rhag y ffliw, cael y pigiad, ond hefyd dyna pam y mae rhai o'r profion pwynt gofal cyflym yn ddefnyddiol iawn i ni, oherwydd bydd amrywiaeth o'r rheini'n gallu profi pobl am fathau o ffliw yn ogystal â COVID. Felly, mae amrywiaeth o bethau yn y cynllun yr ydym eisoes wedi'u cyhoeddi heddiw yn ogystal â mwy o fanylion i ddod yn y datganiadau yr wyf yn disgwyl parhau i'w gwneud i'r Senedd drwy'r gaeaf ac yn wir yn y fframwaith gweithredol rwyf wedi cyfeirio ato yn fy natganiad agoriadol.
Thank you. Alun Davies.
Diolch. Alun Davies.
I'm grateful to you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you very much for the statement this afternoon, Minister. I think many of us will welcome a more localised approach to these matters. The local approach that's being taken in Caerphilly and a voluntary approach that's being taken elsewhere are ones where I think many of us will watch with a great deal of interest. It is important that the Government continues to be agile and is able to respond to some very different issues in different parts of the country.
But one area that I've seen, in the last few weeks, rise in salience has been that of testing. You've been asked repeatedly on it this afternoon, Minister, and the First Minister was earlier today as well, and I think that reflects the amount of concern that is felt on all sides of the Chamber and in all parts of the country at the moment. You will be aware that I've never felt that I have the confidence in the UK Government to do the right thing—to do the right thing for the people we represent, and to certainly do the right thing for Wales—and, over the last few weeks, we've seen the UK systems break down again. The UK systems have broken down week after week and month after month as this crisis has developed over the year, and I feel it is time, that we need, and that you need as a Welsh Government, to establish our own systems here in Wales, working with local government, working with the health board, working with Public Health Wales to ensure that we do have robust testing processes in place. We've seen the failure of contact tracing across the border in England and we've seen the impact that has had. We've seen in Wales how contact tracing—you made a statement on it last week, Minister—has been a great success, and I think it is one of the key ways in which we continue to deal with the coronavirus over the coming weeks and months that we get testing in the same place as where the wider contact-tracing strategy is, and that means a Welsh system, rooted in our communities, where people can walk in, have the test and get the results, because I'm not convinced that the UK systems are delivering for us.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr i chi am y datganiad y prynhawn yma, Gweinidog. Rwy'n credu y bydd llawer ohonom yn croesawu dull mwy lleol o ymdrin â'r materion hyn. Mae'r dull lleol sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio yng Nghaerffili a'r dull gwirfoddol sy'n cael ei ddefnyddio mewn mannau eraill yn rhai y credaf y bydd llawer ohonom yn eu gwylio gyda llawer iawn o ddiddordeb. Mae'n bwysig bod y Llywodraeth yn parhau i fod yn hyblyg a'i bod yn gallu ymateb i rai materion gwahanol iawn mewn gwahanol rannau o'r wlad.
Ond un maes a welais, yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf, yn dod yn fwy amlwg fu profion. Gofynnwyd i chi dro ar ôl tro ynghylch hyn y prynhawn yma, Gweinidog, ac i'r Prif Weinidog yn gynharach heddiw hefyd, a chredaf fod hynny'n adlewyrchu faint o bryder a deimlir ar bob ochr i'r Siambr ac ym mhob rhan o'r wlad ar hyn o bryd. Byddwch yn ymwybodol nad wyf erioed wedi teimlo bod gennyf ffydd yn Llywodraeth y DU i wneud y peth iawn—i wneud y peth iawn dros y bobl yr ydym ni yn eu cynrychioli, ac i wneud y peth iawn i Gymru yn sicr—a, dros yr wythnosau diwethaf, rydym wedi gweld systemau'r DU yn chwalu eto. Mae systemau'r DU wedi methu wythnos ar ôl wythnos a mis ar ôl mis wrth i'r argyfwng hwn ddatblygu dros y flwyddyn, a theimlaf ei bod yn bryd i ni a chithau fel Llywodraeth Cymru, sefydlu ein systemau ein hunain yma yng Nghymru, gan weithio gyda llywodraeth leol, gweithio gyda'r bwrdd iechyd, gweithio gydag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i sicrhau bod gennym ni brosesau profi cadarn ar waith. Rydym wedi gweld methiant olrhain cyswllt dros y ffin yn Lloegr ac rydym wedi gweld yr effaith a gafodd hyn. Rydym wedi gweld yng Nghymru sut y bu olrhain cyswllt—gwnaethoch ddatganiad yn ei gylch yr wythnos diwethaf, Gweinidog—yn llwyddiant mawr, a chredaf ei fod yn un o'r ffyrdd allweddol yr ydym yn parhau i ymdrin â'r coronafeirws dros yr wythnosau a'r misoedd nesaf, ac y cawn ni'r broses brofi i'r un lefel â'r strategaeth olrhain cyswllt ehangach, ac mae hynny'n golygu system Gymreig, sydd wedi'i gwreiddio yn ein cymunedau, lle gall pobl gerdded i mewn, cael y prawf a chael y canlyniadau, oherwydd nid wyf wedi fy argyhoeddi bod systemau'r DU yn cyflawni ar ein cyfer.
I thank the Member, and, of course, we do set out some of the challenges he sets out at the start, in terms of taking local action in preference to national action, in our coronavirus control plan and, as the First Minister has reminded Members today, our test, trace, protect service works, effectively, as a smart lockdown. If people are honest and upfront about their contacts, we'll get to people quickly, because our contact tracing service isn't just highly effective in reaching contacts overall, but actually gets to people very quickly, in the information that we published in the last week. That allows people to follow that advice on self-isolation and avoid wider community measures, and I think that's really valuable and important for all of us.
The challenges on lighthouse lab testing are undeniably disappointing, and it's not just me saying that—every health Minister in the UK who will be asked questions about this will have the same issues to say and, as I say, Matt Hancock today in the House of Commons has acknowledged it will take a matter of weeks for those issues to be resolved. But it is in all of our interests for those issues to be resolved, because, until a few weeks ago, it was actually a pretty good performance of lighthouse labs, and that's not a point of criticism; that's what was happening. What we need to do, though, is to be able to see how we're going to be able to switch our resources in Wales to deal with the challenge we have for that next few weeks, because the challenge that the lighthouse labs are facing comes at a considerably difficult period of time. Schools have gone back, universities will have gone back within three weeks, and so we know we're likely to see more pressure on the system, and I recognise the deep frustration of not just the Members' constituents, but across the country, if they can't get ready access to a test in the way we were used to getting through the summer. So, rest assured, it isn't just the contact I've had on the Friday or the Saturday morning with other health Ministers; it's a regular feature of concern. That's why I wrote jointly, with the Scottish health Minister, to Matt Hancock yesterday, seeking to understand more about the challenges, so we can actually make sure we're deploying our own resources as we need to to provide the sort of testing system that all of us want to see for all of our communities.
Diolch i'r Aelod, ac, wrth gwrs, rydym yn nodi rhai o'r heriau y mae'n eu crybwyll ar y dechrau, o ran gweithredu lleol yn hytrach na gweithredu cenedlaethol, yn ein cynllun rheoli coronafeirws ac, fel y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi atgoffa'r Aelodau heddiw, mae ein gwasanaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu yn gweithio fel cyfyngiadau symud clyfar i bob pwrpas. Os yw pobl yn onest ac yn agored ynghylch eu cysylltiadau, byddwn yn cyrraedd pobl yn gyflym, oherwydd mae ein gwasanaeth olrhain cyswllt nid yn unig yn effeithiol iawn o ran cyrraedd cysylltiadau'n gyffredinol, mae hefyd mewn gwirionedd yn cyrraedd pobl yn gyflym iawn, dyna'r wybodaeth a gyhoeddwyd gennym ni yn ystod yr wythnos diwethaf. Mae hynny'n caniatáu i bobl ddilyn y cyngor hwnnw ar hunanynysu ac osgoi mesurau cymunedol ehangach, a chredaf fod hynny'n werthfawr ac yn bwysig iawn i bob un ohonom ni.
Mae'n anochel bod yr heriau o ran y profi yn y labordai goleudy yn siomedig, ac nid fi yn unig sy'n dweud hynny—bydd bob Gweinidog iechyd yn y DU a gaiff gwestiynau am hyn yn sôn am yr un problemau ac, fel y dywedais, mae Matt Hancock heddiw yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin wedi cydnabod y bydd yn cymryd ychydig wythnosau i ddatrys y problemau hynny. Ond mae o fudd i bob un ohonom ni fod y problemau hynny'n cael eu datrys, oherwydd, hyd at ychydig wythnosau'n ôl, roedd y labordai goleudy mewn gwirionedd yn perfformio'n eithaf da, ac nid yw hynny'n feirniadaeth; dyna oedd yn digwydd. Yr hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud, serch hynny, yw gallu gweld sut y gallwn newid ein hadnoddau yng Nghymru i ymdrin â'r her sydd gennym ni dros yr wythnosau nesaf, oherwydd y mae'r her y mae'r labordai goleudy yn ei hwynebu yn dod mewn cyfnod anodd iawn. Mae ysgolion wedi ailagor, bydd prifysgolion yn agor o fewn tair wythnos, ac felly gwyddom ein bod yn debygol o weld mwy o bwysau ar y system, ac rwy'n cydnabod rhwystredigaeth fawr nid yn unig etholwyr yr Aelodau, ond ledled y wlad, os na all pobl gael profion yn ddi-drafferth fel yn yr haf. Felly, hoffwn eich sicrhau nad dim ond y cyswllt yr wyf yn ei gael ar y dydd Gwener a'r bore Sadwrn gyda Gweinidogion iechyd eraill yw hyn; mae'n bryder rheolaidd. Dyna pam yr ysgrifennais ar y cyd, gyda Gweinidog iechyd yr Alban, at Matt Hancock ddoe, i geisio deall mwy am yr heriau, fel y gallwn sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio ein hadnoddau ein hunain gan fod angen i ni ddarparu'r math o system brofi y mae pob un ohonom eisiau ei gweld ar gyfer ein holl gymunedau.
Thank you. We have had one speaker from each of the parties, and can I just make a plea again? I have four speakers and it's entirely up to the three speakers ahead of the last person to actually just stick to the minute—including the Minister on his answers—and then the fourth person will be called and, if the fourth person can't be called, then I'm sorry; the fourth person had better take it up with those of you who were ahead of them. Vikki Howells.
Diolch. Rydym ni wedi cael un siaradwr o bob un o'r pleidiau, ac a gaf i wneud apêl eto? Mae gennyf bedwar siaradwr ac mae'n fater i'r tri siaradwr cyn y siaradwr olaf yn llwyr i gadw at funud—gan gynnwys y Gweinidog gyda'i atebion—ac yna caiff y pedwerydd person ei alw ac, os na ellir galw'r pedwerydd person, yna mae'n ddrwg gennyf; bydd rhaid i'r pedwerydd person drafod hynny gyda'r rheini ohonoch chi a oedd o'i flaen. Vikki Howells.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, thank you for your statement today, which I've read with great interest. One key part of ensuring our hospitals are able to cope with demand through normal winters, let alone this coming one, is the ability to discharge in-patients in a safe and timely manner to avoid bedblocking. I know that RCT council and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board have worked closely with the Welsh Government's integrated care fund in past years to develop innovative community-based initiatives, which have assisted very many patients in achieving a safe and timely discharge from hospital, releasing those beds for those who need them most. So, I welcome the fact that, on 24 August, you announced a 12-month extension to the integrated care fund. It's clearly a central pillar of our response to winter pressures, so what work is Welsh Government doing to ensure that all local authorities and health boards are fully aware of the benefits of the integrated care fund and have the resources in place to exploit its potential fully this coming winter?
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, diolch am eich datganiad heddiw, ac rwyf wedi'i ddarllen gyda diddordeb mawr. Un rhan allweddol o sicrhau bod ein hysbytai'n gallu ymdopi â'r galw drwy aeafau arferol, heb sôn am yr un sy'n dod, yw'r gallu i ryddhau cleifion mewn modd diogel ac amserol er mwyn osgoi llenwi gwelyau yn ddiangen. Gwn fod cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg wedi gweithio'n agos gyda chronfa gofal integredig Llywodraeth Cymru yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf i ddatblygu mentrau arloesol yn y gymuned, sydd wedi helpu llawer iawn o gleifion i adael yr ysbyty yn ddiogel ac yn amserol, gan ryddhau'r gwelyau hynny i'r rheini sydd eu hangen fwyaf. Felly, croesawaf y ffaith ichi gyhoeddi estyniad o 12 mis i'r gronfa gofal integredig ar 24 Awst. Mae'n amlwg yn un o golofnau canolog ein hymateb i bwysau'r gaeaf, felly pa waith y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod pob awdurdod lleol a bwrdd iechyd yn gwbl ymwybodol o fanteision y gronfa gofal integredig a bod ganddynt yr adnoddau i fanteisio i'r eithaf ar bosibiliadau'r gronfa y gaeaf nesaf?
Thank you. I think it's a really important question, because delayed transfers of care cause real harm within our system. People that don't need to be in hospital almost always end up suffering harm. If you're immobile and in a bed, rather than being up and around, that's a challenge and a problem for that person. Many of the people we're talking about are vulnerable and, in particular, older people who are in hospital, and it's the wrong place for them to be. As well as the integrated care fund, which local authorities and regional partnership boards all lobbied for the continuation of, because they recognise the value it's provided, we have a twin challenge of making sure we don't just see the value from that, but we understand how that's spread to other authorities as well. And that deliberate shared learning is something that we can't lose sight of through the COVID pandemic. It also, of course, includes some of the work that we've funded with the transformation fund that accompanied 'A Healthier Wales'. The Member will recall that, in Ynysybwl, when we launched that, we took account of the work that the health board had done successfully with the council on getting people into their own homes, supporting them there—that was a benefit for those individuals and a benefit for the health service and the council in getting to the right place to receive their ongoing care and treatment. So, I'm very happy to continue making the case for work between health and local government; it benefits the citizen and it benefits the whole service.
Diolch. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwestiwn pwysig iawn, oherwydd mae oedi wrth drosglwyddo gofal yn achosi drwg gwirioneddol yn ein system. Mae pobl nad oes angen iddynt fod yn yr ysbyty bron bob tro yn dioddef. Os ydych chi'n methu symud ac mewn gwely, yn hytrach na bod ar eich traed, mae hynny'n her ac yn broblem i'r person hwnnw. Mae llawer o'r bobl yr ydym yn sôn amdanynt yn agored i niwed ac, yn arbennig, pobl hŷn sydd yn yr ysbyty, ac nid dyma'r lle iawn iddyn nhw fod. Yn ogystal â'r gronfa gofal integredig, y lobïodd awdurdodau lleol a byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol i gyd am ei pharhad, oherwydd eu bod yn cydnabod y gwerth y mae wedi'i ddarparu, mae gennym ni hefyd her ddwbl sef sicrhau nad ydym yn gweld gwerth hynny'n unig, ond ein bod yn deall sut y mae hynny'n cael ei ledaenu i awdurdodau eraill hefyd. Ac mae'r cyd-ddysgu bwriadol hynny yn rhywbeth na allwn ni golli golwg arno drwy'r pandemig COVID. Mae hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn cynnwys rhywfaint o'r gwaith yr ydym ni wedi'i ariannu gyda'r gronfa drawsnewid a oedd yn cyd-fynd â 'Cymru Iachach'. Bydd yr Aelod yn cofio inni, yn Ynysybwl, pan lansiwyd hynny, ystyried y gwaith yr oedd y bwrdd iechyd wedi'i wneud yn llwyddiannus gyda'r cyngor i helpu pobl i ddychwelyd i'w cartrefi eu hunain, eu cefnogi yno—roedd hynny o fudd i'r unigolion hynny ac yn fudd i'r gwasanaeth iechyd a'r cyngor o ran cael eu gofal a'u triniaeth barhaus mewn lle priodol. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn i barhau i ddadlau dros gydweithio rhwng iechyd a llywodraeth leol; mae o fudd i'r dinesydd ac mae o fudd i'r holl wasanaeth.
Minister, firstly to say thank you very much for the work that you and the leader of RCT council did recently when we were failed by the UK Government in respect of the testing capacity. I don't think people will realise that, as I understand it, you both ended up almost virtually working around the clock, through the night, in order to try and alleviate and increase that capacity, and I think that is very much appreciated by those who were then able to get tested. Can I just ask about, though, elective surgery, hips and knees? Because these things do affect people's lives very, very considerably, and I think we all understand the impact that COVID has had on the capacity within our health assets, and I'm just wondering to what extent we can actually get information out to people, explain to them what the situation is, and give some indication of what is happening, with a view to, I suppose, a timetable of trying to restore and increase the amount of elective surgery that can actually take place. People are reasonable, people do understand, and sometimes it is the most reasonable people who are the ones who suffer silently, and I think we have an obligation to at least, I think, be as transparent as possible with them with the challenges we face.
Gweinidog, yn gyntaf hoffwn ddweud diolch yn fawr iawn ichi am y gwaith a wnaethoch chi ac arweinydd cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf yn ddiweddar pan gawsom ein siomi gan Lywodraeth y DU o ran y capasiti profi. Nid wyf yn credu y bydd pobl yn sylweddoli, yn ôl a ddeallaf, fod y ddau ohonoch wedi gweithio fwy neu lai ddydd a nos, er mwyn ceisio lleddfu a chynyddu'r capasiti hwnnw, a chredaf fod y rhai a oedd wedyn yn gallu cael eu profi yn gwerthfawrogi hynny'n fawr iawn. Ond a gaf i ofyn ynghylch llawdriniaeth ddewisol, cluniau a phengliniau? Gan fod y pethau hyn yn effeithio ar fywydau pobl yn sylweddol iawn, a chredaf ein bod i gyd yn deall yr effaith y mae COVID wedi'i chael ar y capasiti o fewn ein hasedau iechyd, a tybed i ba raddau y gallwn ni mewn gwirionedd hysbysu bobl, egluro iddyn nhw beth yw'r sefyllfa, a rhoi rhyw syniad o'r hyn sy'n digwydd, gyda'r bwriad, mae'n debyg, o gael amserlen i geisio adfer a chynyddu faint o lawdriniaeth ddewisol a all ddigwydd mewn gwirionedd. Mae pobl yn rhesymol, mae pobl yn deall, ac weithiau'r bobl fwyaf rhesymol yw'r rhai sy'n dioddef yn dawel, a chredaf fod gennym ni rwymedigaeth i fod o leiaf mor dryloyw â phosibl ynghylch yr heriau a wynebwn.
It's a completely fair point the Member makes, and others have alluded to as well in earlier questions, about elective care and doing as much as we possibly can do, and how we transparently set that out. You will see plans, when we publish the operational framework and quarter 3 and quarter 4 plans that I expect to come back in for us to be able to publish through October, for how we want to maintain elective activity, the sort of elective activity work we'll be able to do, and then health boards working transparently with their staff and the patients they're serving to try to explain how they're working through that. But, as I say, it's important to recognise that I don't think we're going to be able to keep up with the demand that is there. In normal times, we'd see a different position. And, actually through the first three, four years of this term, we actually made significant and material moves forward every year in the time that people waited, in doing more elective activity and the transformation of that. We're going to a significant step backwards because of the way the pandemic has interrupted not just a period of time elective activity didn't take place, but the way our service operates.
And, finally, to say thank you for the recognition of the work that was done, not just by myself, but Andrew Morgan, the leader of RCT, who I think has been highly impressive throughout not just the pandemic, but in dealing with this particular situation over the weekend, but, in particular, the team at Public Health Wales, Cwm Taf Morgannwg and the Welsh ambulance service, who, from a challenge that we knew about late on Friday evening, by 10 o'clock the next day, had a Welsh solution in place to make sure that testing was protected. It involved work late at night and through Saturday—not always popular with families, as I can attest to myself—but it meant that the public had a service they could rely on that next day.
Mae'r Aelod yn gwneud pwynt hollol deg, ac mae eraill wedi cyfeirio ato hefyd mewn cwestiynau cynharach, ynghylch gofal dewisol a gwneud cymaint ag y gallwn ei wneud, a sut yr ydym yn nodi hynny'n dryloyw. Byddwch yn gweld cynlluniau, pan fyddwn yn cyhoeddi'r fframwaith gweithredol a chynlluniau chwarter 3 a chwarter 4 y disgwyliaf iddynt ddod i law er mwyn i ni allu eu cyhoeddi drwy fis Hydref, ar gyfer sut yr ydym eisiau cynnal gweithgarwch dewisol, y math o weithgarwch dewisol y byddwn yn gallu ei wneud, ac yna byrddau iechyd yn gweithio'n dryloyw gyda'u staff a'r cleifion y maent yn eu gwasanaethu i geisio egluro sut y maent yn gweithio drwy hynny. Ond, fel y dywedais, mae'n bwysig cydnabod nad wyf yn credu ein bod yn mynd i allu ymdopi â'r galw. Mewn cyfnod arferol, byddem yn gweld sefyllfa wahanol. Ac, mewn gwirionedd, drwy dair, pedair blynedd gyntaf y tymor hwn, fe wnaethom ni gamau sylweddol a pherthnasol ymlaen bob blwyddyn o ran yr amser yr oedd pobl yn aros, wrth wneud mwy o weithgarwch dewisol a thrawsnewid hynny. Rydym yn mynd i gamu'n ôl yn sylweddol oherwydd y ffordd y mae'r pandemig wedi torri ar draws nid yn unig cyfnod pryd na ddigwyddodd gweithgarwch dewisol, ond y ffordd y mae ein gwasanaeth yn gweithredu.
Ac, yn olaf, i ddweud diolch am gydnabod y gwaith a wnaethpwyd, nid yn unig gennyf fi fy hun, ond Andrew Morgan, arweinydd Rhondda Cynon Taf, sydd, rwy'n credu, wedi creu argraff fawr iawn drwy'r pandemig, ac wrth ymdrin â'r sefyllfa benodol hon dros y penwythnos, ond, yn enwedig, y tîm yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, Cwm Taf Morgannwg a gwasanaeth ambiwlans Cymru, a oedd, ers yr her yr oeddem yn gwybod amdani'n hwyr nos Wener, erbyn 10 o'r gloch y diwrnod canlynol ag ateb Cymreig ar waith i sicrhau bod profion yn cael eu diogelu. Roedd yn golygu gweithio'n hwyr yn y nos a thrwy ddydd Sadwrn—nid bob amser yn boblogaidd ymhlith teuluoedd, fel y gallaf dystio fy hun—ond roedd yn golygu bod gan y cyhoedd wasanaeth y gallent ddibynnu arno y diwrnod canlynol.
Minister, thank you for your statement, and I want to put on record my thanks to all those health and care social workers who have gone above and beyond in the last six months, and will go above and beyond in the next six months as well. I agree with my colleague Alun Davies from Blaenau Gwent in regard to testing, but you've answered that, so I won't push that agenda at this point.
But you mentioned just now the ambulance service, and one of the issues I'm concerned about, and I'm getting messages from my constituents, is they are now facing increased pressure once again, and we're seeing five-, six-, seven-hour waits for ambulances to attend at the point of need. A person falling down, an older person falling down on a path in the summer being told, 'Don't move them'—on a nice day like this, you could get away with it; come the winter, that is not acceptable. We need to address the issue on the emergency ambulance services and getting people out. I've had ambulances waiting at Morriston, again, for hours. Will you look at this to make sure the ambulance service has sufficient resources to be able to actually go to these urgent cases, to ensure people don't have to wait these long times for the care? And, another point, we've also questioned on the health visitors issue and the safeguarding of children; some health visitors have not been able to go, during the coronavirus pandemic, to ensure that the children are safeguarded. That's a very serious question that we have to address during the next winter months as well. I'm conscious of the time, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Gweinidog, diolch ichi am eich datganiad, a hoffwn ddiolch ar goedd i'r holl weithwyr cymdeithasol iechyd a gofal hynny sydd wedi gweithio y tu hwnt i bob disgwyl yn y chwe mis diwethaf, ac a fydd yn gweithio y tu hwnt i bob disgwyl yn y chwe mis nesaf hefyd. Cytunaf â'm cyd-Aelod Alun Davies o Flaenau Gwent o ran profi, ond rydych wedi ateb hynny, felly ni fyddaf yn gwthio'r agenda honno ar hyn o bryd.
Ond fe sonioch chi gynnau am y gwasanaeth ambiwlans, ac un o'r materion rwy'n pryderu yn ei gylch, ac rwy'n cael negeseuon gan fy etholwyr, yw ei fod bellach yn wynebu mwy o bwysau unwaith eto, ac rydym yn gweld cyfnodau aros o bum awr, chwe awr i ambiwlansys gyrraedd lle mae'r angen. Mae dweud wrth rywun sydd wedi cwympo, person hŷn sydd wedi cwympo ar lwybr yn yr haf, 'Peidiwch â'i symud'—ar ddiwrnod braf fel hwn, gallai hynny fod yn dderbyniol; ond yn y gaeaf, nid yw hynny'n dderbyniol. Mae angen inni fynd i'r afael â'r mater o ran y gwasanaethau ambiwlans brys a rhyddhau pobl. Rwyf wedi gweld ambiwlansys yn aros yn Nhreforys, unwaith eto, am oriau. A wnewch chi edrych ar hyn i sicrhau bod gan y gwasanaeth ambiwlans ddigon o adnoddau i allu ymdrin â'r achosion brys hyn, er mwyn sicrhau nad oes rhaid i bobl aros am gyfnodau hir fel hyn i gael gofal? A, pwynt arall, rydym ni hefyd wedi holi ynghylch mater ymwelwyr iechyd a diogelu plant; nid yw rhai ymwelwyr iechyd, yn ystod pandemig y coronafeirws, wedi gallu sicrhau bod y plant yn cael eu diogelu. Mae hwnnw'n gwestiwn difrifol iawn y mae'n rhaid inni fynd i'r afael ag ef yn ystod misoedd nesaf y gaeaf hefyd. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r amser, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Thank you. Minister.
Diolch. Gweinidog.
Thank you. On testing, I recognise the point that the Member has made. To be fair, as well as in the Chamber, a number of Members have approached me directly, in their capacity of representing their constituencies and regions, about the issue.
On Welsh ambulance response times, we're seeing both the return of more normal activity, as well as the backlog of activity that built up in emergencies, where people would otherwise have called and sought help, whether that's from the out-of-hours service or the ambulance service, and they're now returning in much larger numbers, bringing very, very high volumes of activity. It's putting pressure on the service while we are also, in some areas, seeing a rise in COVID cases. So, it's a very uncomfortable period of time. So, again, where people don't need an emergency ambulance, they should look for other options.
But, I'd also reiterate, I think, the need to transform emergency care. I have made announcements recently, and there will be more to come in the next week or two, about the money that we are putting into transforming emergency care, the resource that comes with it, and also some of the telephone-first and triage approaches being taken not just in Cardiff and Vale, but also Aneurin Bevan, which is looking to trial some of them as well, to provide people with an appropriate service to make sure that people get to the right point to have their care needs met.
I recognise the point that the Member makes about health visitors too. It's one of our concerns that there were challenges about staff going into a number of different houses when there's community transmission of COVID, but also those families not wanting to see someone who has maybe been in three or four different houses in the same day. So, there are some challenges here.
Also, for me, it reiterates the importance of keeping schools open. When you have a whole community of children going to that place, it's a protective environment, and we are able to understand and support children and their families in a way that we haven't been able to during full lockdown. So, I recognise the issue that the Member raises, and I am sure I will carry on the conversations that I have had not just with him, but also with my Deputy Minister and also the education Minister as well.
Diolch. O ran profi, rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod wedi'i wneud. A bod yn deg, yn ogystal ag yn y Siambr, mae nifer o Aelodau wedi cysylltu â mi'n uniongyrchol, yn rhinwedd eu swydd o gynrychioli eu hetholaethau a'u rhanbarthau, ynglŷn â'r mater.
O ran amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys Cymru, rydym yn gweld gweithgarwch mwy arferol yn dychwelyd, yn ogystal â'r ôl-groniad o weithgarwch a oedd yn cronni mewn argyfwng, lle byddai pobl fel arall wedi galw a cheisio cymorth, boed hynny o'r gwasanaeth y tu allan i oriau neu'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans, ac maent bellach yn dychwelyd mewn niferoedd llawer mwy, gan ddod â llawer iawn o weithgarwch. Mae'n rhoi pwysau ar y gwasanaeth wrth i ni hefyd, mewn rhai ardaloedd, weld cynnydd mewn achosion o COVID. Felly, mae'n gyfnod anghyfforddus iawn. Felly, unwaith eto, lle nad oes angen ambiwlans brys ar bobl, dylent chwilio am ddewisiadau eraill.
Ond, byddwn hefyd yn ailadrodd, rwy'n credu, yr angen i drawsnewid gofal brys. Rwyf wedi gwneud cyhoeddiadau'n ddiweddar, a bydd mwy i ddod yn yr wythnos neu ddwy nesaf, am yr arian yr ydym yn ei roi i drawsnewid gofal brys, yr adnoddau sy'n dod gydag ef, a hefyd rhai o'r dulliau ffonio yn gyntaf a brysbennu sy'n cael eu defnyddio nid yn unig yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro, ond hefyd yn Aneurin Bevan, sy'n bwriadu arbrofi gyda rhai o'r dulliau hynny hefyd, i ddarparu gwasanaeth priodol i bobl i sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu hanghenion gofal wedi eu diwallu yn y man a'r modd priodol.
Rwy'n cydnabod y pwynt y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud am ymwelwyr iechyd hefyd. Un o'n pryderon yw bod heriau ynghylch staff yn mynd i nifer o wahanol dai pan fydd COVID yn cael ei drosglwyddo'n gymunedol, ond hefyd y teuluoedd hynny nad ydynt eisiau gweld rhywun sydd efallai wedi bod mewn tri neu bedwar tŷ gwahanol yr un diwrnod. Felly, mae rhai heriau yma.
Hefyd, i mi, mae'n ategu pwysigrwydd cadw ysgolion ar agor. Pan fydd gennych chi gymuned gyfan o blant yn mynd i'r lle hwnnw, mae'n amgylchedd amddiffynnol, ac rydym yn gallu deall a chefnogi plant a'u teuluoedd mewn modd nad ydym wedi gallu ei wneud yn ystod y cyfnod cyfyngiadau symud llawn. Felly, rwy'n cydnabod y mater y mae'r Aelod yn ei godi, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddaf yn parhau â'r sgyrsiau yr wyf wedi'u cael nid yn unig gydag ef, ond hefyd gyda'm Dirprwy Weinidog a'r Gweinidog addysg hefyd.
Thank you. Finally, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch. Yn olaf, Huw Irranca-Davies.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Minister, could I turn straight away to the NHS COVID-19 app? Could I ask first of all: are there similarities with the system being used in Scotland, where, for example, the QR codes are on every table and every counter and every bar in every restaurant? It is very easy, very convenient to use, and I have to say that everybody that I observed when I was there recently was using it.
What proportion of the population need to actually update this and use this for it to be effective, and how can you promote that uptake, not least among the young and those who are big data sceptics? And, can you confirm that this is in addition to—not replacing—the old-school, tried and tested, localised test, trace and protect taking place in Wales? Finally, what's your very simple message to the people of Wales about why they should use this app? If you can't answer all of these in detail now, just write out to Members and we'll pass it on to our constituents. Thank you, Minister.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, a gaf i droi'n syth at ap COVID-19 y GIG? A gaf i ofyn yn gyntaf oll: a yw'n debyg i'r system sy'n cael ei defnyddio yn yr Alban, lle mae'r codau QR, er enghraifft, ar bob bwrdd a phob cownter a phob bar ym mhob bwyty? Mae'n hawdd iawn, yn gyfleus iawn i'w ddefnyddio, a rhaid imi ddweud bod pawb a welais pan oeddwn yno'n ddiweddar yn ei ddefnyddio.
Pa gyfran o'r boblogaeth sydd angen diweddaru hwn a'i ddefnyddio er mwyn iddo fod yn effeithiol, a sut y gallwch chi hyrwyddo'r defnydd hwnnw, yn enwedig ymhlith yr ifanc a'r rhai sy'n amheus iawn o ddata? Ac, a allwch chi gadarnhau bod hyn yn ychwanegol at—nid yn disodli—y profi, olrhain a diogelu lleol traddodiadol sydd wedi ennill ei blwyf yng Nghymru? Yn olaf, beth yw eich neges syml iawn i bobl Cymru ynghylch pam y dylent ddefnyddio'r ap hwn? Os na allwch chi ateb y rhain i gyd yn fanwl nawr, ysgrifennwch at yr Aelodau a byddwn yn ei drosglwyddo i'n hetholwyr. Diolch, Gweinidog.
Thank you to the Member for the questions. I'm happy to confirm that the NHS COVID app is now done on a local, not a central, basis. That was one of the concerns about privacy, so it should be largely resolved.
So, this is the second round of running an app. While Scotland and Northern Ireland have a proximity app that tells you how close you've been to other people, the app that England and Wales are going to launch and use together actually provides a bit more functionality than that. Actually, it made more sense, if the app worked in England, for us to have the same system, because of the transfers between England and Wales and the very porous border, so actually having a similar system has real practical advantages to it as well.
Interestingly, as well as a proximity app, it also has a diary function in it as well. So, if you have downloaded the app and you've been using it to check into places, you don't need to remember what you've done because there will be a function on your phone to allow you to do that. So, there are real advantages and we've encouraged businesses to download QR readers to make sure that people can check in and check out as they are going around into different venues and businesses.
It's particularly important that it's going to launch for 24 September—that's the plan—because we want to have this in place, ideally, before university students return. They're one of the key target groups who are likely to use and download the app, and somewhere where, actually, the challenges about people being mobile—. It will be much easier to do that, particularly when people are moving to a potentially new environment.
In terms of your question about this being an add-on, it is an add-on. So, contact tracing is still effective in Wales—highly effective. In 98 per cent of our index cases, people with a new COVID case get successfully contacted. Overall, since 21 June, 94 per cent of their close contacts have been contacted as well. So, a very high success rate, and all credit to our staff. So, it's an add-on to that, but it will be a useful add-on, and I would encourage people to download the app. We will be providing more information to Members and the public as we move into the phase of finally implementing this across England and Wales.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau. Rwy'n fodlon cadarnhau bod ap COVID y GIG bellach yn cael ei weithredu'n lleol, nid yn ganolog. Dyna oedd un o'r pryderon ynghylch preifatrwydd, felly dylai fod wedi ei ddatrys i raddau helaeth.
Felly, dyma'r ail rownd o redeg yr ap. Er bod gan yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon ap agosrwydd sy'n dweud wrthych pa mor agos ydych chi wedi bod at bobl eraill, mae'r ap y mae Cymru a Lloegr yn mynd i'w lansio a'i ddefnyddio gyda'i gilydd mewn gwirionedd yn rhoi ychydig mwy o ymarferoldeb na hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd yn gwneud mwy o synnwyr, os oedd yr ap yn gweithio yn Lloegr, i ni gael yr un system, oherwydd y trosglwyddiadau rhwng Cymru a Lloegr a'r ffin hydraidd iawn, felly mae manteision ymarferol gwirioneddol i gael system debyg hefyd.
Yn ddiddorol, yn ogystal â bod yn ap agosrwydd, mae ganddo swyddogaeth ddyddiadur hefyd. Felly, os ydych wedi lawrlwytho'r ap ac y buoch yn ei ddefnyddio i gofrestru mewn lleoedd, nid oes angen i chi gofio beth wnaethoch chi oherwydd bydd swyddogaeth ar eich ffôn yn caniatáu i chi wneud hynny. Felly, mae manteision gwirioneddol ac rydym wedi annog busnesau i lawrlwytho darllenwyr QR i sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu cofrestru wrth gyrraedd a gadael wrth iddynt fynd o amgylch lleoliadau a gwahanol fusnesau.
Mae'n arbennig o bwysig y caiff ei lansio ar 24 Medi—dyna'r cynllun—oherwydd rydym am sefydlu hyn, yn ddelfrydol, cyn i fyfyrwyr prifysgol ddychwelyd. Maent yn un o'r grwpiau targed allweddol sy'n debygol o ddefnyddio a lawrlwytho'r ap, ac yn rhywle lle, mewn gwirionedd, mae heriau ynglŷn â phobl yn symud—. Bydd yn llawer haws gwneud hynny, yn enwedig pan fydd pobl yn symud i amgylchedd a allai fod yn newydd.
O ran eich cwestiwn ynghylch a yw hwn yn ychwanegiad, mae'n ychwanegiad. Felly, mae olrhain cyswllt yn dal yn effeithiol yng Nghymru—yn effeithiol iawn. Mewn 98 y cant o'n hachosion mynegai, cysylltir yn llwyddiannus â phobl ag achos COVID newydd. Yn gyffredinol, ers 21 Mehefin, cysylltwyd â 94 y cant o'u cysylltiadau agos hefyd. Felly, cyfradd lwyddiant uchel iawn, a phob clod i'n staff. Felly, mae'n ychwanegiad at hynny, ond bydd yn ychwanegiad defnyddiol, a byddwn yn annog pobl i lawrlwytho'r ap. Byddwn yn rhoi mwy o wybodaeth i Aelodau a'r cyhoedd wrth inni symud ymlaen i'r cam o weithredu hwn o'r diwedd ledled Cymru a Lloegr.
Thank you very much, Minister. There will now be a short break, just so people can re-clean the seats for change over. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog. Bydd seibiant byr nawr, dim ond er mwyn i bobl allu ail-lanhau'r seddi ar gyfer y trosglwyddiad. Diolch.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 17:05.
Plenary was suspended at 17:05.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 17:11, gyda'r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 17:11, with the Llywydd in the Chair.
Yr eitem nesaf o fusnes yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar dai, tlodi a chymunedau a dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog hynny i wneud y datganiad. Julie James.
The next item of business is the statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government on housing, poverty and communities and I call on the Minister to make the statement. Julie James.
Diolch, Llywydd. The coronavirus pandemic is continuing to have a significant impact on daily life. As we have seen recently, it is still posing major challenges for us all and in particular for our local authorities.
I would like to express my thanks to them and to the Welsh Local Government Association who have worked so hard and been so responsive in mobilising to address the situation. We have seen unprecedented levels of engagement and co-production; national and local government working hand in hand to support our citizens and communities, especially those who were most vulnerable—a uniquely Welsh approach where local government leaders had access to Ministers on the issues that really mattered, when they mattered. We have committed significant funding to local government. The local government hardship fund provides for almost £0.5 billion to support authorities to respond to the impacts of the pandemic. I would like to thank the WLGA, the partnership council and the Society of Welsh Treasurers for their continued work with us to enable services to keep running, adapting and meeting the needs of local populations.
For the future, we plan to place our established social partnership system and structures on a statutory footing, further strengthening arrangements and supporting constructive dialogue with our social partners for the future that Wales wants post COVID-19. A priority for that future is preventing and ending homelessness in all its forms. At the beginning of the pandemic, we took immediate action to protect those who were homeless, providing £10 million of extra funding, to ensure that no-one was left without access to accommodation. More than 2,200 people have been helped into temporary or emergency accommodation—a huge achievement. But there are challenges ahead. I have made it absolutely clear that I do not want to see anyone forced back onto the streets.
To this end, in May, I announced the next phase of our homelessness response. All 22 local authorities in Wales submitted applications, setting out how they will ensure that no-one need return to the streets, focusing on innovation, building and remodelling, to transform the accommodation offer across Wales. A significant oversubscription to the original capital funding pot reflected the scale of ambition to deliver a long-term, sustainable and fundamental change to homelessness services in Wales. It also quite obviously demonstrated that the initial fund of £10.5 million capital did not match our collective ambition. Therefore, I substantially increased the overall capital funding available to £50 million, demonstrating our commitment to making a truly significant and transformational step change towards achieving our goal of ending homelessness in Wales. We have provisionally allocated funding to 70 capital projects, supporting people into settled accommodation or transforming services for the long term.
Still on housing, I welcome the suspension of evictions being extended until 20 September, and I am very happy that the court has put in place measures to ensure that the impacts of the pandemic are taken into account. Using the powers available to me under the Coronavirus Act 2020, I have acted to give additional protection to renters by increasing notice periods for eviction to six months, other than in relation to anti-social behaviour. I was pleased to note that the UK Government has since made similar changes. I am committed to ensuring that we continue to protect renters whilst at the same time mitigating impacts on landlords. Therefore, I intend making regulations extending the current protections until the end of March next year.
At the same time, and in recognition of the need to address the impact on communities of anti-social and other negative behaviour in a timely manner, I intend reducing the notice periods for possession grounds relating to anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse to the pre-COVID position. Where rent arrears have accumulated due to COVID-19, private rented sector tenants will soon be able to apply for a loan through the tenancy saver loan scheme when it opens for applications later this month. We've also provided an additional £1.4 million to boost services that support people in Wales to manage problem debt and improve their household income.
Looking beyond the pandemic, we are continuing with our Bill to amend the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 to increase security of tenure. The Bill extends the no-fault notice period from two to six months, and landlords will be prevented from issuing a no-fault notice until at least six months from the date of occupancy. This means those renting their homes will have a minimum of 12 months' security of tenure from the outset of their contract, meaning security of tenure in Wales will be greater than elsewhere in the UK.
The consequences of the pandemic are far reaching, and, sadly, the economic impact of COVID-19 will mean a significant rise in poverty levels. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, I commissioned a child poverty review, which sought to explore what more could be done to improve outcomes for children and young people. The pandemic has had such far-reaching consequences for the lives of people in Wales and our economy, we believe the findings of that review do not now fully reflect the current landscape. Practical actions to help mitigate the impact of the crisis for families living in poverty is urgent and necessary right now. Our focus is on action to maximise income and provide support to families to build financial resilience. We are working in collaboration with our stakeholders to progress this work over the coming months.
We are working with local authorities to ensure that local authority benefits such as free school meals and council tax reduction are more accessible, as well as helping to make the administration more streamlined and less resource intensive for local authorities. We're also developing a 'no wrong door' approach through a more integrated system of support, limiting the number of contacts families and individuals have to make and the number of times they have to tell their story in order to access support. And we will ensure that third sector and other front-line workers have the training, tools and information they need to support individuals and families to maximise their incomes.
I want to finish, Llywydd, by mentioning some other areas that underpinned our response to the pandemic and will continue to be priorities as we move forward. Thanks to local authorities maintaining essential services during lockdown, we've been able to continue to deliver on recycling aims and actions on decarbonisation. We are continuing to support communities and want to rejuvenate town centres and expand on the growth in repair cafes and zero-waste shops. To that end, we have awarded funding to Repair Cafe Wales and made additional funding available for FareShare Cymru to expand their food surplus redistribution provision. And finally, we have expanded the circular economy fund so that it could support the post-COVID response and contribute to a green recovery. These are very difficult times, but we have worked well together. These collaborations will provide clear lessons and a great deal of good practice that we can and should adopt going forward. Diolch yn fawr.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae pandemig y coronafeirws yn parhau i gael effaith sylweddol ar fywyd bob dydd. Fel y gwelsom ni yn ddiweddar, mae'n dal i achosi heriau mawr i bob un ohonom ni ac yn arbennig i'n hawdurdodau lleol.
Hoffwn ddiolch iddyn nhw ac i Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru sydd wedi gweithio mor galed ac wedi bod mor ymatebol wrth dorchi llewys i fynd i'r afael â'r sefyllfa. Rydym ni wedi gweld ymgysylltu a chyd-gynhyrchu fel na welsom ni erioed o'r blaen; y llywodraeth genedlaethol a llywodraeth leol yn gweithio law yn llaw i gefnogi ein dinasyddion a'n cymunedau, yn enwedig y rhai a oedd fwyaf agored i niwed—dull unigryw Gymreig lle gallai arweinwyr llywodraeth leol fynd at y Gweinidogion ynghylch y materion a oedd o bwys gwirioneddol, pan roedd hynny'n bwysig. Rydym ni wedi ymrwymo cyllid sylweddol i lywodraeth leol. Mae cronfa galedi llywodraeth leol yn darparu bron iawn £0.5 biliwn i gefnogi awdurdodau i ymateb i effeithiau'r pandemig. Hoffwn ddiolch i CLlLC, y cyngor partneriaeth a Chymdeithas Trysoryddion Cymru am eu gwaith parhaus gyda ni i alluogi gwasanaethau i barhau i redeg, addasu a diwallu anghenion poblogaethau lleol.
Ar gyfer y dyfodol, bwriadwn roi ein system a'n strwythurau partneriaeth gymdeithasol sefydledig ar sail statudol, cryfhau trefniadau ymhellach a chefnogi trafodaethau adeiladol gyda'n partneriaid cymdeithasol ar gyfer y dyfodol y mae ar Gymru ei eisiau ar ôl COVID-19. Un o flaenoriaethau'r dyfodol hwnnw yw atal digartrefedd a rhoi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd o bob math. Ar ddechrau'r pandemig, aethom ati ar unwaith i amddiffyn y rhai a oedd yn ddigartref, gan ddarparu £10 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol, i sicrhau na adawyd neb heb lety. Rhoddwyd cymorth i dros 2,200 o bobl gael llety dros dro neu mewn argyfwng—cyflawniad enfawr. Ond mae heriau o'n blaenau. Rwyf wedi'i gwneud hi'n gwbl glir nad wyf eisiau gweld neb yn cael ei orfodi'n ôl ar y strydoedd.
I'r perwyl hwn, ym mis Mai, cyhoeddais gam nesaf ein hymateb i ddigartrefedd. Cyflwynodd pob un o'r 22 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru geisiadau, yn nodi sut y byddant yn sicrhau nad oes angen i neb ddychwelyd i'r strydoedd, gan ganolbwyntio ar arloesi, adeiladu ac ailfodelu, i drawsnewid y llety a gynigir ledled Cymru. Roedd gor-alw sylweddol am gymorth o'r gronfa arian cyfalaf wreiddiol yn adlewyrchu maint yr uchelgais i sicrhau newid hirdymor, cynaliadwy a sylfaenol i wasanaethau digartrefedd yng Nghymru. Dangosodd yn eithaf amlwg hefyd nad oedd y gronfa gychwynnol o £10.5 miliwn o gyfalaf yn cyd-fynd â'r uchelgais yr ydym ni i gyd yn ei rhannu. Felly, cynyddais yn sylweddol yr arian cyfalaf cyffredinol sydd ar gael i £50 miliwn, gan ddangos ein hymrwymiad i wneud newid sylweddol a gwirioneddol drawsffurfiol o ran cyflawni ein nod o roi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd yng Nghymru. Rydym ni wedi dyrannu cyllid dros dro i 70 o brosiectau cyfalaf, gan gefnogi pobl i gael llety sefydlog neu drawsnewid gwasanaethau ar gyfer y tymor hir.
Eto o ran tai, rwy'n croesawu atal troi pobl allan tan 20 Medi, ac rwy'n hapus iawn fod y llys wedi rhoi mesurau ar waith i sicrhau bod effeithiau'r pandemig yn cael eu hystyried. Gan ddefnyddio'r pwerau sydd ar gael imi dan Ddeddf Coronafeirws 2020, rwyf wedi gweithredu i roi amddiffyniad ychwanegol i bobl sy'n rhentu drwy gynyddu cyfnodau rhybudd ar gyfer troi allan i chwe mis, ac eithrio o ran ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Roeddwn yn falch o weld bod Llywodraeth y DU wedi gwneud newidiadau tebyg ers hynny. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau ein bod yn parhau i amddiffyn rhentwyr gan liniaru effeithiau ar landlordiaid ar yr un pryd. Felly, bwriadaf wneud rheoliadau sy'n ymestyn yr amddiffyniadau presennol tan ddiwedd mis Mawrth y flwyddyn nesaf.
Ar yr un pryd, ac i gydnabod yr angen i fynd i'r afael ag effaith ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol ar gymunedau ac ymddygiad negyddol arall mewn modd amserol, bwriadaf leihau'r cyfnodau rhybudd lle mae sail i feddiannu eiddo oherwydd ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol a cham-drin domestig i'r sefyllfa oedd yn bodoli cyn COVID. Lle mae ôl-ddyledion rhent wedi cronni oherwydd COVID-19, bydd tenantiaid y sector rhentu preifat yn gallu gwneud cais am fenthyciad drwy'r cynllun benthyciadau arbed tenantiaeth cyn bo hir pan fydd yn agor ar gyfer ceisiadau yn ddiweddarach y mis hwn. Rydym ni hefyd wedi darparu £1.4 miliwn ychwanegol i hybu gwasanaethau sy'n helpu pobl yng Nghymru i reoli dyledion problemus a gwella incwm eu haelwydydd.
Gan edrych y tu hwnt i'r pandemig, rydym yn parhau â'n Bil i ddiwygio Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 i gynyddu sicrwydd deiliadaeth. Mae'r Bil yn ymestyn y cyfnod rhybudd dim bai o ddau i chwe mis, a bydd landlordiaid yn cael eu hatal rhag cyflwyno hysbysiad dim bai tan o leiaf chwe mis o'r dyddiad meddiannaeth. Mae hyn yn golygu y bydd gan y rhai sy'n rhentu eu cartrefi o leiaf 12 mis o sicrwydd deiliadaeth o ddechrau eu contract, sy'n golygu y bydd sicrwydd deiliadaeth yng Nghymru yn fwy nag mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU.
Mae canlyniadau'r pandemig yn bellgyrhaeddol, ac, yn anffodus, bydd effaith economaidd COVID-19 yn golygu cynnydd sylweddol mewn tlodi. Cyn argyfwng COVID-19, comisiynais adolygiad tlodi plant, a oedd yn ceisio archwilio beth arall y gellid ei wneud i wella amgylchiadau i blant a phobl ifanc. Mae'r pandemig wedi cael effeithiau mor bellgyrhaeddol ar fywydau pobl yng Nghymru a'n heconomi, credwn nad yw canfyddiadau'r adolygiad hwnnw bellach yn adlewyrchu'r sefyllfa bresennol yn llawn. Mae camau ymarferol i helpu i liniaru effaith yr argyfwng ar deuluoedd sy'n byw mewn tlodi yn fater brys ac angenrheidiol ar hyn o bryd. Rydym yn canolbwyntio ar weithredu i sicrhau'r incwm mwyaf posibl a rhoi cymorth i deuluoedd i feithrin cydnerthedd ariannol. Rydym yn cydweithio â'n rhanddeiliaid i ddatblygu'r gwaith hwn dros y misoedd nesaf.
Rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod rhai o'r buddion y mae awdurdodau lleol yn eu cynnig megis prydau ysgol am ddim a gostyngiad yn y dreth gyngor yn fwy hygyrch, yn ogystal â helpu i wneud y weinyddiaeth yn symlach ac yn llai dwys o ran adnoddau i awdurdodau lleol. Rydym hefyd yn datblygu dull 'dim ffordd anghywir' drwy system gymorth fwy integredig, gan gyfyngu ar sawl gwaith y mae'n rhaid i deuluoedd ac unigolion gysylltu a sawl gwaith y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ddweud eu stori er mwyn cael cymorth. A byddwn yn sicrhau bod gan y trydydd sector a gweithwyr rheng flaen eraill yr hyfforddiant, yr offer a'r wybodaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt i gefnogi unigolion a theuluoedd i gynyddu eu hincwm i'r eithaf.
Hoffwn orffen, Llywydd, drwy sôn am rai meysydd eraill a oedd yn sail i'n hymateb i'r pandemig ac a fydd yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaethau wrth inni symud ymlaen. Diolch i awdurdodau lleol yn cynnal gwasanaethau hanfodol yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud, rydym ni wedi gallu parhau i gyflawni amcanion ailgylchu a chamau gweithredu ar ddatgarboneiddio. Rydym yn parhau i gefnogi cymunedau ac eisiau adfywio canol trefi ac ehangu ar y twf mewn caffis trwsio a siopau diwastraff. I'r perwyl hwnnw, rydym ni wedi dyfarnu cyllid i Gaffi Trwsio Cymru ac wedi darparu cyllid ychwanegol i FareShare Cymru ehangu eu darpariaeth ailddosbarthu bwyd dros ben. Ac yn olaf, rydym ni wedi ehangu'r gronfa economi gylchol fel y gall gefnogi'r ymateb i'r amgylchiadau ar ôl COVID, a chyfrannu at adferiad gwyrdd. Mae hwn yn gyfnod anodd iawn, ond rydym ni wedi gweithio'n dda gyda'n gilydd. Bydd y cydweithio hwn yn darparu gwersi clir a llawer iawn o arferion da y gallwn ni ac y dylem ni eu mabwysiadu wrth symud ymlaen. Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you for your statement. You referred to people helped into temporary or emergency accommodation. How do you therefore respond to the report released by Audit Wales on 23 July on avoiding a return to rough-sleeping after the pandemic, which found that up to £209 million is wasted annually by the Welsh public sector reacting to, but not solving, rough-sleeping, and cited examples of a revolving door for service users assisted off the streets into temporary accommodation but without the necessary support to address the root causes of their homelessness and who often ended back where they started?
You refer to the increasing notice period for eviction to six months, other than in relation to anti-social behaviour. Do you therefore—and you partially addressed this—recognise the need to protect both tenants and landlords, particularly in light of the increasing dependency of people on the private rented sector for housing and the damaging effect the pandemic has had on the sector? The majority of landlords let out one or two properties. Many rely on that income for their day-to-day living expenses, for example a landlord who told me, 'The house I own is my only property. I rely on the rent as my sole income for living expenses as I approach state pension age. I rented it out on a six-month tenancy. The tenancy has now run its course and the tenants are currently four months in arrears, have ceased communicating with me or my agents, and leave me with the dire situation of having no income but still my bills to pay. This will now continue for a long time. I'm 63, have no pension, no work, currently living in a narrow boat, and my financial situation is becoming intolerable, as I fear for my mental health.'
How do you respond to suggestions, therefore, by the National Residential Landlords Association not only for the adoption of a low-cost or interest-free tenant loan scheme for COVID-19-related arrears, which you did refer to, but for payment to be made to the landlord—or can it be—and a mechanism for landlords to access grants where renters are unwilling to engage or make an application themselves? This is particularly relevant for landlords where possession cases started before the stay and for those where arrears have accrued unrelated to COVID.
How do you respond to the call by the British Psychological Society for the Welsh Government to commit to developing a comprehensive cross-departmental anti-poverty strategy that places psychology at the heart of its approach and families and communities at the heart of its coronavirus recovery plans?
How do you respond to the statement by the Building Communities Trust, the Welsh charity that runs the lottery-funded Invest Local programme, Wales's largest asset-based community development initiative, that a public sector culture of doing to, not with, has eroded community capacity and trust, and reduced social infrastructure, and that improving support for local people to do the things that matter to them can help tackle the impact of poverty, develop local skills and promote health and well-being?
How do you respond to the statement by Hafod, the not-for-profit housing, care and support provider that we need to tackle causes, not symptoms, and, therefore, to focus on community and citizen strengths to help people take ownership to achieve their personal and collective ambitions?
How do you respond to the call by the Nationwide Foundation for a commitment to support community-led housing in Wales as an integral part of affordable housing delivery?
How do you respond to the calls by Tai Pawb for a human right to adequate housing in Wales, accessible housing, ensuring that disabled people are able to live independently with confidence, and refugee accommodation? Refugees in Wales face significant barriers in sourcing appropriate accommodation and support once granted leave to remain, hampering their ability to integrate and avoid a spiral of poverty.
How do you respond to the call by the Bevan Foundation for the Welsh Government to encourage local authorities to establish a single point of access for free school meals, for pupil development grant and the council tax reduction scheme, making it easier for families in poverty to access them?
And how, finally, do you respond to the call by NEA Cymru for the anticipated new Welsh Government fuel poverty strategy to help those most in need, starting with the worst first, improving home energy efficiency, helping reduce energy bills and boosting household incomes? I know that crosses portfolios, but it's key to us all. Thank you.
Diolch am eich datganiad. Fe wnaethoch chi gyfeirio at bobl a gafodd gymorth i gael llety dros dro neu mewn argyfwng. Sut ydych chi felly'n ymateb i'r adroddiad a ryddhawyd gan Archwilio Cymru ar 23 Gorffennaf ynglŷn ag osgoi sefyllfa lle mae pobl yn dychwelyd i gysgu ar y stryd ar ôl y pandemig, a ganfu fod hyd at £209 miliwn yn cael ei wastraffu'n flynyddol gan y sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru yn ymateb i gysgu ar y stryd, ond nid yn ei ddatrys, ac a oedd yn cyfeirio at enghreifftiau o gylch dieflig i ddefnyddwyr gwasanaeth a gynorthwyir oddi ar y strydoedd i mewn i lety dros dro ond heb y cymorth angenrheidiol i fynd i'r afael ag achosion sylfaenol eu digartrefedd ac a oedd yn aml iawn yn dychwelyd i'r sefyllfa yr oedden nhw ynddi yn wreiddiol.
Rydych yn cyfeirio at y cynnydd yn y cyfnod rhybudd ar gyfer troi allan i chwe mis, ac eithrio oherwydd ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. A ydych chi felly—ac rydych chi wedi mynd i'r afael â hyn yn rhannol—yn cydnabod yr angen i amddiffyn tenantiaid a landlordiaid, yn enwedig yng ngoleuni dibyniaeth gynyddol pobl ar y sector rhentu preifat ar gyfer tai a'r effaith niweidiol y mae'r pandemig wedi'i chael ar y sector? Mae'r rhan fwyaf o landlordiaid yn gosod un neu ddau eiddo. Mae llawer yn dibynnu ar yr incwm hwnnw ar gyfer eu costau byw beunyddiol, er enghraifft landlord a ddywedodd wrthyf, 'Y tŷ yr wyf fi'n berchen arno yw fy unig eiddo. Rwy'n dibynnu ar y rhent fel fy unig incwm ar gyfer costau byw wrth i mi nesáu at oedran pensiwn y wladwriaeth. Fe'i rhentiais ar denantiaeth chwe mis. Mae'r cyfnod hwnnw bellach ar ben ac mae'r tenantiaid bedwar mis ar ôl ei hôl hi ar hyn o bryd, wedi rhoi'r gorau i gyfathrebu â mi neu fy asiantau, ac wedi fy ngadael gyda'r sefyllfa enbyd o beidio â chael incwm ond â biliau i'w talu o hyd. Bydd hyn yn parhau am gyfnod hir nawr. Rwy'n 63 oed, nid oes gennyf bensiwn, dim gwaith, rwy'n byw mewn cwch cul ar hyn o bryd, ac mae fy sefyllfa ariannol yn mynd yn annioddefol, ac rwy'n ofni am fy iechyd meddwl.'
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i awgrymiadau, felly, gan Gymdeithas Genedlaethol y Landlordiaid Preswyl nid yn unig i fabwysiadu cynllun benthyciadau tenantiaid cost isel neu ddi-log ar gyfer ôl-ddyledion sy'n gysylltiedig â COVID-19, y cyfeirioch chi ato, ond i dalu'r landlord—neu a all fod—a mecanwaith i landlordiaid gael grantiau pryd nad yw rhentwyr yn fodlon cyfathrebu neu wneud cais eu hunain? Mae hyn yn arbennig o berthnasol i landlordiaid pryd dechreuodd achosion meddiant cyn yr arhosiad ac i'r rhai lle mae ôl-ddyledion wedi cronni nad ydynt yn gysylltiedig â COVID.
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r alwad gan Gymdeithas Seicolegol Prydain i Lywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i ddatblygu strategaeth wrthdlodi drawsadrannol gynhwysfawr sy'n rhoi seicoleg wrth wraidd ei dull gweithredu a theuluoedd a chymunedau wrth wraidd ei chynlluniau o ran adfer o'r coronaferiws?
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad gan yr Ymddiriedolaeth Adeiladu Cymunedau, yr elusen Gymreig sy'n rhedeg y rhaglen Buddsoddi Lleol a ariennir gan y loteri, menter datblygu cymunedol fwyaf Cymru sy'n seiliedig ar asedau, bod diwylliant sector cyhoeddus o weithredu, nid cydweithredu, wedi erydu gallu ac ymddiriedaeth cymunedau, ac wedi lleihau seilwaith cymdeithasol, ac y gall gwella'r gefnogaeth i bobl leol wneud y pethau sy'n bwysig iddynt helpu i fynd i'r afael ag effaith tlodi, datblygu sgiliau lleol a hybu iechyd a lles?
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r datganiad gan Hafod, y darparwr tai, gofal a chymorth di-elw bod angen i fynd i'r afael ag achosion, nid symptomau, ac, felly, canolbwyntio ar gryfderau cymunedol a dinasyddion i helpu pobl i gymryd perchnogaeth i gyflawni eu huchelgeisiau personol a chyfunol?
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i alwad Sefydliad Nationwide am ymrwymiad i gefnogi cynlluniau tai yng Nghymru y mae cymunedau yn arwain arnynt fel rhan annatod o ddarparu tai fforddiadwy?
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i alwadau Tai Pawb am hawl ddynol i dai digonol yng Nghymru, tai hygyrch, i sicrhau bod pobl anabl yn gallu byw'n annibynnol gyda hyder, a llety i ffoaduriaid? Mae ffoaduriaid yng Nghymru yn wynebu rhwystrau sylweddol o ran dod o hyd i lety a chymorth priodol unwaith y rhoddir caniatâd i aros, gan lesteirio eu gallu i integreiddio ac osgoi tlodi.
Sut ydych chi'n ymateb i alwad Sefydliad Bevan i Lywodraeth Cymru annog awdurdodau lleol i sefydlu un man canolog i wneud cais am brydau ysgol am ddim, ar gyfer grant datblygu disgyblion a chynllun gostyngiadau'r dreth gyngor, gan ei gwneud hi'n haws i deuluoedd mewn tlodi elwa ar y rhain?
A sut, yn olaf, ydych chi'n ymateb i alwad NEA Cymru am strategaeth tlodi tanwydd newydd ddisgwyliedig Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu'r rhai sydd â'r angen mwyaf, gan ddechrau gyda'r gwaethaf yn gyntaf, gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni cartref, helpu i leihau biliau ynni a hybu incwm aelwydydd? Rwy'n gwybod bod a wnelo hyn i gyd ag amrywiol addrannau, ond mae'n allweddol i bob un ohonom ni. Diolch.
Thank you, Mark, for that series of questions and comments.
Starting with the Audit Wales report, that report came out just before the pandemic, and as I said when I was talking about the anti-poverty strategy in my statement, life shifted. It's like a Sliding Doors moment, isn't it? Life shifted out of all perspective, and what we've managed to do during the pandemic has been incredible. I take the opportunity, once again, to pay tribute to the enormous number of people in the local authority sector, the third sector, the registered social landlord sector, the private landlords and everybody else who have pulled together to make us able to get 2,200 people into temporary or emergency accommodation and ensure that they were able to access provision that would allow them to self-isolate and have the right hygiene facilities and so on.
What that's also enabled us to do is it's enabled us to take what I've always said should be a full public service approach to housing, where we wrap the right level of support around people, because it's not and never has been just about four walls and a roof. It's always been about making sure that somebody can sustain their housing, that they have the right levels of support, that they're in supportive communities, that they have good mental health support or substance abuse support or relationship breakdown support, or whatever it is—domestic abuse support—that they need in order to be able to sustain that tenancy.
Also, I personally was very, very, very firm on local authority housing option providers, saying, 'Just do the right thing. Sort the person out in front of you. Don't worry about where they're from and we'll sort the plumbing out afterwards.' People really stepped up to that plate. I am really proud of them, and I'm really proud of us. Wales is a shining light in terms of its housing provision over this pandemic, and we should all be rightly proud of that. I'm really grateful to our partners for having done that.
Diolch, Mark, am y gyfres yna o gwestiynau a sylwadau.
Gan ddechrau gydag adroddiad Archwilio Cymru, cyhoeddwyd yr adroddiad hwnnw ychydig cyn y pandemig, ac fel y dywedais pan oeddwn yn sôn am y strategaeth wrthdlodi yn fy natganiad, mae bywyd wedi newid ers hynny. Mae fel rhyw drobwynt anrhagweladwy, onid yw? Newidiodd bywyd y tu hwnt i bob argoel, ac mae'r hyn yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo i'w wneud yn ystod y pandemig wedi bod yn anhygoel. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle, unwaith eto, i dalu teyrnged i'r nifer enfawr o bobl yn y sector awdurdodau lleol, y trydydd sector, y sector landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig, y landlordiaid preifat a phawb arall sydd wedi dod at ei gilydd i'w gwneud hi'n bosib inni sicrhau llety dros dro neu mewn argyfwng i 2,200 o bobl a sicrhau y gallant gael darpariaeth a fyddai'n caniatáu iddyn nhw hunanynysu a chael y cyfleusterau hylendid cywir ac ati.
Yr hyn y mae hynny wedi ein galluogi ni i'w wneud hefyd yw ei fod wedi ein galluogi i fynd ati yn y modd a ddywedais erioed a ddylai fod yn ddull gwasanaeth cyhoeddus llawn o ymdrin â thai, pryd yr ydym yn rhoi cymorth priodol i bobl, oherwydd nid yw ac ni fu erioed ynglŷn â phedair wal a tho. Mae wastad wedi ymwneud â sicrhau y gall rhywun gynnal ei gartref, bod ganddynt y cymorth priodol, eu bod mewn cymunedau cefnogol, bod ganddynt gymorth iechyd meddwl da neu gymorth camddefnyddio sylweddau neu gymorth os yw perthynas yn chwalu, neu beth bynnag ydyw—cymorth cam-drin domestig—y mae arnynt ei angen er mwyn gallu cynnal y denantiaeth honno.
Hefyd, roeddwn yn bersonol yn gadarn iawn, iawn, iawn o ran darparwyr dewisiadau tai awdurdodau lleol, gan ddweud, 'Gwnewch y peth iawn. Rhowch gymorth i'r person sydd o'ch blaen. Peidiwch â phoeni am o ble maen nhw'n dod ac fe drefnwn ni y glo mân wedyn.' Ymdrechodd bobl i wneud hynny mewn gwirionedd. Rwy'n falch iawn ohonyn nhw, ac rwy'n falch iawn ohonom ni. Mae Cymru'n olau disglair o ran ei darpariaeth tai dros y pandemig hwn, a dylem i gyd fod yn falch iawn o hynny. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'n partneriaid am wneud hynny.
Unfortunately, the Audit Wales report was a report that's very retrospective. I've had good meetings with the auditor general about what we can do to look at the provision going forward and how we can learn from the lessons in collaboration and the different approach that we had during the pandemic. So, I'm very happy that they are going to work well with us in terms of taking those lessons learned forward.
In terms of landlords and tenants, the vast majority of people who are struggling in the private rented sector are tenants who, through no fault of their own, have had their income reduced as a result of COVID, and now can no longer pay their rent, when they've always been able to do so whenever in any difficulty. So we announced a series of things to do that—myself and Jane Hutt combined have announced a set of provisions around debt advice and debt counselling and support and advice services across Wales to help people who are dealing with that. We've also announced the tenancy saver loan scheme. Those tenancy saver loans, Mark, are paid to the landlord, so the tenant requests the loan, we've been able to do them at a 1 per cent interest through our credit unions—again, something Wales should be rightly proud of. So there's virtually no cost to the tenant, allowing them to spread the cost of paying back the arrears over five years in an affordable way alongside help and support. But they're paid to the landlord so that the landlord gets the income on the rent and the tenant maintains their secure home.
The thing about private sector landlords is of course it's an income for them, but the house is somebody's home. It's where they say, 'I'm going home', and they mean that person's business proposition, but for them it's a home, and that's the most important thing—that we make sure that they can maintain that home, and that we don't have a flood of people who are put into awful circumstances in which they find themselves unable to pay their rent, and they can't recover. So, on that basis, I call on the Conservative Government once more to make sure that the local housing allowance stays at at least the 30 per cent mark where it is now, that they really consider putting it back up to the 50 per cent mark, which is where is should be—and when it was first conceived by a Labour Government, that's where it was—and that they certainly don't reduce it back down to the levels that we saw before the pandemic when it was—and I said this in a Plenary debate with you, Mark, before—lower than in the poor laws in the Elizabethan era. Because that is something we should all be ashamed of. So, I really do call on the Government to do that, and I hope the Conservatives in the Welsh Parliament will assist us with that call, because if people have their local housing allowance reduced, then we really will have a big problem with the private rented sector.
The landlord who is in the position you mentioned, with difficulties with their income and so on, will also, of course, be able to access the debt advice that I've just discussed, because that's open to all citizens of Wales, and I would recommend that. If you want to give me details, I can pass that on for you.
The Conservative Government in England has announced a stay on possession proceedings because they too can see that there's a big problem with people who, through no fault of their own, can no longer pay their rent, and I'm very happy to welcome that, and the approach of the courts in making sure that, before anyone can take eviction proceedings for rent arrears, they must go through a protocol with their tenant to make sure that they understand the nature, and that it isn't possible to make a long-term arrangement for the repayment of those arrears. I really welcome that. It's very much in line with where we're going.
Then in terms of the poverty issues that you raised, Mark, just to say that that's exactly what I was saying in my statement—that what we need to do is build on community strength, maximise people's income and make sure that we put them in the best possible position. So I couldn't agree more with you that we need to work with our communities to make sure that people have a streamlined approach to being able to access the right advice. I recently had a very good meeting with the Bevan Foundation in which we agreed to work together on an action plan for being able to bring that forward, and I look forward to being able to do that very shortly.
Then on the fuel poverty strategy, I'm delighted to say that, unlike the approach in England, where we're just having a one-size-fits-all approach, we've recently announced the optimised retrofit programme, where we're asking a series of landlords across Wales to come forward with a range of different types of housing so that we can see what best retrofit can happen to make those houses better insulated. There is no one-size-fits-all. What works for a Victorian terraced house in the Rhondda does not work for a cavity wall house built in the 1970s in Rebecca's constituency, for example. They're very, very different propositions, and the idea that one fit would work for all of them just does not work. So, our programme will bring forward a series—in the way that our innovative housing programme did, it will bring forward a series of potential solutions to that, and then we'll be able to roll that out as part of our fuel poverty and our Warm Homes initiative, and we'll get the right fit for that. And, in doing so, not only will we reduce fuel poverty, but we will of course decarbonise the housing stock in Wales and produce a home-grown industry of skilled people who can do that right across our housing sector. Diolch.
Yn anffodus, roedd adroddiad Archwilio Cymru yn adroddiad oedd yn bwrw golwg yn ôl i raddau helaeth iawn. Rwyf wedi cael cyfarfodydd da gyda'r archwilydd cyffredinol am yr hyn y gallwn ei wneud i edrych ar y ddarpariaeth yn y dyfodol a sut y gallwn ni ddysgu o'r gwersi ar y cyd a'r ffordd wahanol yr aethom ni ati yn ystod y pandemig. Felly, rwy'n hapus iawn y byddant yn gweithio'n dda gyda ni o ran bwrw ymlaen â'r gwersi hynny a ddysgwyd.
O ran landlordiaid a thenantiaid, mae'r mwyafrif helaeth o bobl sy'n cael trafferth yn y sector rhentu preifat yn denantiaid sydd, heb fod unrhyw fai arnyn nhw, wedi gweld eu hincwm yn lleihau oherwydd COVID, a nawr ni allan nhw dalu eu rhent mwyach, pan fyddant bob amser wedi gallu gwneud hynny pryd bynnag y byddant mewn unrhyw anhawster. Felly, fe wnaethom ni gyhoeddi cyfres o bethau i wneud hynny—rwyf fi a Jane Hutt gyda'n gilydd wedi cyhoeddi cyfres o ddarpariaethau ynghylch cyngor ar ddyledion a chwnsela dyledion a gwasanaethau cymorth a chyngor ledled Cymru i helpu pobl sydd yn y sefyllfa honno. Rydym ni hefyd wedi cyhoeddi'r cynllun benthyciadau arbed tenantiaeth. Telir y benthyciadau arbed tenantiaeth, Mark, i'r landlord, felly mae'r tenant yn gofyn am y benthyciad, rydym ni wedi gallu ei roi ar log o 1 y cant drwy ein hundebau credyd—unwaith eto, rhywbeth y dylai Cymru fod yn haeddiannol falch ohono. Felly nid oes fawr ddim cost i'r tenant, gan ganiatáu iddo ledaenu'r gost o ad-dalu'r ôl-ddyledion dros bum mlynedd mewn ffordd fforddiadwy ochr yn ochr â chymorth a chefnogaeth. Ond fe'u telir i'r landlord fel bod y landlord yn cael yr incwm ar y rhent a bod y tenant yn cael sicrwydd o gadw ei gartref.
Y peth am landlordiaid y sector preifat wrth gwrs yw ei fod yn incwm iddynt, ond cartref rhywun yw'r tŷ. At hynny maen nhw'n cyfeirio wrth ddweud, 'rwy'n mynd adref', ac maent yn golygu cynnig busnes y person hwnnw, ond iddyn nhw mae'n gartref, a dyna'r peth pwysicaf—ein bod yn sicrhau y gallan nhw gynnal y cartref hwnnw, ac nad oes gennym ni lif o bobl sy'n cael eu rhoi mewn amgylchiadau ofnadwy lle nad ydynt yn gallu talu eu rhent, ac na allant godi o'r sefyllfa honno. Felly, ar y sail honno, galwaf ar y Llywodraeth Geidwadol unwaith eto i sicrhau bod y lwfans tai lleol yn aros ar o leiaf y marc o 30 y cant lle y mae ar hyn o bryd, eu bod yn ystyried ei roi yn ôl i'r marc o 50 y cant, sef lle y dylai fod—a phan gafodd ei lunio gyntaf gan Lywodraeth Lafur, dyna lle yr oedd—ac yn sicr nad ydyn nhw yn ei leihau'n ôl i'r lefelau a welsom ni cyn y pandemig pan oedd—a dywedais hyn mewn dadl yn y Cyfarfod Llawn gyda chi, Mark, o'r blaen—yn is nag yng nghyfreithiau'r tlodion yn oes Elisabeth. Oherwydd mae hynny'n rhywbeth y dylem ni i gyd fod â chywilydd ohono. Felly, galwaf mewn gwirionedd ar y Llywodraeth i wneud hynny, a gobeithio y bydd y Ceidwadwyr yn Senedd Cymru yn ein cynorthwyo gyda'r alwad honno, oherwydd os caiff lwfans tai lleol pobl ei leihau, yna bydd gennym ni broblem fawr gyda'r sector rhentu preifat.
Bydd y landlord sydd yn y sefyllfa y sonioch chi amdani, gydag anawsterau â'i incwm ac ati, hefyd, wrth gwrs, yn gallu cael y cyngor ar ddyledion yr wyf newydd ei grybwyll, oherwydd mae hynny ar gael i holl ddinasyddion Cymru, a byddwn yn argymell hynny. Os ydych chi eisiau rhoi manylion imi, gallaf drosglwyddo hynny i chi.
Mae'r Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn Lloegr wedi cyhoeddi y caiff achosion o feddiannaeth eu gohirio oherwydd fe allan nhw hefyd weld bod problem fawr gyda phobl na allant, heb fod unrhyw fai arnyn nhw, dalu eu rhent mwyach, ac rwy'n hapus iawn i groesawu hynny, a sut mae'r llysoedd yn mynd ati i sicrhau, cyn y gall unrhyw un gyflwyno achos o droi allan oherwydd ôl-ddyledion rhent, rhaid iddyn nhw fynd drwy brotocol gyda'u tenant i sicrhau eu bod yn deall natur hynny, ac nad yw'n bosib gwneud trefniant hirdymor ar gyfer ad-dalu'r ôl-ddyledion hynny. Croesawaf hynny'n fawr. Mae'n cyd-fynd i raddau helaeth â'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n mynd ati.
Yna, o ran y materion tlodi y sonioch chi amdanyn nhw, Mark, dim ond i ddweud mai dyna'n union yr oeddwn i yn ei ddweud yn fy natganiad—mai'r hyn y mae angen inni ei wneud yw adeiladu ar gryfder cymunedol, cynyddu incwm pobl i'r eithaf a sicrhau ein bod yn eu rhoi yn y sefyllfa orau bosib. Felly, ni allwn gytuno mwy â chi fod angen i ni weithio gyda'n cymunedau i sicrhau bod gan bobl ffordd symlach o allu cael y cyngor cywir. Cefais gyfarfod da iawn yn ddiweddar gyda Sefydliad Bevan lle bu inni gytuno i gydweithio ar gynllun gweithredu i allu cyflwyno hynny, ac edrychaf ymlaen at allu gwneud hynny'n fuan iawn.
Yna, o ran y strategaeth tlodi tanwydd, mae'n bleser gennyf ddweud, yn wahanol i'r dull gweithredu yn Lloegr, lle mae gennym ni un dull gweithredu cyffredinol, rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi'n ddiweddar y rhaglen ôl-osod orau, lle rydym ni'n gofyn i gyfres o landlordiaid ledled Cymru gyflwyno amrywiaeth o wahanol fathau o dai fel y gallwn ni weld sut orau y gellir ôl-osod deunydd ynysu yn y tai hynny i wneud yn siŵr eu bod wedi'u hynysu'n well. Nid oes un ateb sy'n addas i bawb. Nid yw'r hyn sy'n gweithio i dŷ teras Fictoraidd yn y Rhondda yn gweithio i dŷ wal ceudod a adeiladwyd yn y 1970au yn etholaeth Rebecca, er enghraifft. Maen nhw'n gynigion gwahanol iawn, ac nid yw'r syniad y byddai un dull yn gweithio i bob un ohonyn nhw yn gweithio. Felly, bydd ein rhaglen yn cyflwyno cyfres—yn y ffordd y gwnaeth ein rhaglen dai arloesol, bydd yn cyflwyno cyfres o atebion posib i hynny, ac yna byddwn yn gallu cyflwyno hynny fel rhan o'n menter tlodi tanwydd a'n menter Cartrefi Cynnes, a byddwn yn mynd i'r afael â hynny yn briodol. Ac, wrth wneud hynny, nid yn unig y byddwn yn lleihau tlodi tanwydd, ond byddwn wrth gwrs yn datgarboneiddio'r stoc dai yng Nghymru ac yn meithrin yma yn ein gwlad ein hun ddiwydiant o bobl fedrus a all wneud hynny ar draws ein sector tai. Diolch.
Diolch, Weinidog, am y datganiad, a dwi yn cydnabod y gwaith helaeth rydych chi a'ch tîm wedi ei wneud ar hyn dros y misoedd diwethaf. Rwy'n credu bod y pandemig wedi gwneud i nifer o bobl sylweddoli bod angen uwchraddio'r hawl i gartref fod yn fater o hawl ddynol a bod digartrefedd yn rhywbeth sy'n niweidio pawb o fewn cymdeithas. Rwy'n croesawu eich ymrwymiad i geisio atal unrhyw un rhag dychwelyd i'r strydoedd, ond mae'ch datganiad yn cyfeirio at roi pobl mewn llety dros dro mewn rhai llefydd er mwyn cyflawni hyn, pan mae'n glir bod angen datrysiad tymor hir. Dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi eisiau cael datrysiad tymor hir i hyn, ond mae gen i rywfaint o bryder bod brys o ran symud rhai pobl oddi ar y strydoedd wedi arwain at ddefnyddio cyfleusterau amhriodol mewn rhai achosion. Er enghraifft, rwyf wedi clywed tystiolaeth anecdotaidd o bobl, yn dilyn perthynas niweidiol, yn cael eu rhoi mewn llety brys gyda phobl oedd â phroblemau o ran cam-drin cyffuriau. Yn amlwg, doedd hynny ddim yn sefyllfa dda i neb, felly byddwn yn gofyn ichi edrych eto ar yr opsiynau sydd gan gynghorau er mwyn sicrhau bod llety priodol ar gael i bawb. Dwi yn gweld bod nifer o gynghorwyr wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn ar hyn dros y misoedd diwethaf. Yn ogystal, buaswn i'n hoffi gweld llwybr i sicrhau bod llety brys ond yn cael ei ddefnyddio dros dro a bod gennym atebion tymor hir ar gyfer pobl sy'n canfod eu hunain yn ddigartref.
Nawr, i droi at y manylion o ran ehangu'r mesurau 'no evictions' sydd yn y datganiad, rŷn ni'n croesawu ehangu hyn, ond mae gen i bryder o ran y cynnig i leihau'r cyfnod hysbysu ar gyfer ymddygiad sydd yn wrthgymdeithasol a cham-drin domestig. A allwch chi roi sicrwydd inni, plis, mai'r flaenoriaeth yn yr achos hwn fydd gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl sy'n cael eu troi allan yn cael llety arall a'u bod nhw'n cael help gyda'r problemau sydd ganddyn nhw? Wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn fater cymhleth, dwi'n gweld hynna, ac mae nifer o asiantaethau yn mynd i fod yn ymwneud ag ef, ond dyma'r achosion mwyaf cymhleth sydd angen y mwyaf o gymorth hefyd.
Rwyf eisiau hefyd sicrwydd o ran y fenter arbed benthyciadau i denantiaid, os taw dyna'r cyfieithiad cywir. Dwi ddim yn siŵr y bydd cynyddu dyledion pobl sy'n debygol o ffeindio eu hunain mewn sefyllfa letchwith, efallai, yn ariannol, am flynyddoedd efallai, wir yn datrys y broblem. Onid yw'n annheg bod landlordiaid nawr yn cael bail-outs, mewn ffordd, gan y Llywodraeth, pan dyw llawer o sectorau ddim? Felly, hoffwn i wybod pa fesurau diogelwch sydd mewn lle i sicrhau nad ydy rhai landlordiaid yn cymryd mantais o'r fenter hon, dim ond i daflu tenantiaid mas unwaith mae'r cyfyngiadau yn cael eu codi.
I gloi, hoffwn nodi mater sydd ddim yn cael ei drin yma y buaswn i wedi hoffi ei weld yn y datganiad, sef y diffyg tai cymdeithasol a diffyg tai fforddiadwy. Ydyn, mae'r niferoedd craidd yn cynyddu, ond maen nhw'n disgyn yn fyr iawn o beth sydd ei angen. Yr eliffant yn yr ystafell, os dwi'n gallu dweud hynny yn Gymraeg, yw'r ffaith bod gennym system gynllunio sydd â sicrwydd o elw wedi ei adeiladu i mewn iddi. Hynny yw, gall ddatblygwyr ddefnyddio'r Arolygiaeth Gynllunio i atal awdurdodau lleol rhag cael eu siâr haeddiannol o dai fforddiadwy mewn datblygiadau. Nid yw eich Llywodraeth wedi mynd i'r afael â hyn. Felly, a allwch chi ddweud pryd y byddwch chi'n yn gwneud i ffwrdd gyda'r gallu sydd gan yr Arolygiaeth Gynllunio i ganiatáu datblygiadau sydd heb gyfran ddigonol o dai fforddiadwy? Pryd fyddwch yn gwneud i ffwrdd gyda'r hawl iddo fe wneud hynny? Diolch.
Thank you, Minister, for the statement, and I do recognise the great work that you have been doing on this over the past few months. I do think the pandemic has made a number of people realise that we do need to upgrade the right to a home to be a human right and that it's something that can have an impact on everyone in society. I do welcome your commitment to seek to ensure that nobody returns to the streets, but your statement refers to placing people in temporary accommodation in certain areas in order to achieve this, when it's clear that we need a long-term solution. I know that you are looking for a long-term solution to this, but I do have some concern that there has been haste in moving some people from the streets, which has led to using inappropriate facilities in some cases. For example, I've heard anecdotal evidence of people, following a damaging relationship, being placed in emergency accommodation with people who had drug abuse problems. Clearly, that wasn't a healthy situation for anyone. So, I'd ask you to look again at the options that councils have in order to ensure that appropriate accommodation is available. And I do see that a number of councils have been working very hard on this over the past few months. In addition to that, I would like to see a pathway to ensure that emergency accommodation is only used temporarily and that we do have long-term solutions for people who find themselves homeless.
Now, in turning to the detail in terms of the 'no evictions' measures, which you mentioned in your statement, we welcome the expansion of this, but I do have concerns about the proposal to reduce the notice period for anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse. Can you give us an assurance that the priority in this case will be ensuring that people who are evicted are given alternative accommodation and that they are given assistance with the problems that they have? Now, obviously this is a complex issue, I understand that, and there are a number of agencies that will be involved, but these are the most complex cases that need the greatest amount of support.
I also want an assurance on the tenancy saver loan scheme. I'm not sure that increasing the debts of people who are likely to find themselves in difficult financial situations, perhaps, for many years will truly resolve the problem. Isn't it unfair that landlords are having bail-outs, in a way, from Government when many sectors aren't? So, I would like to know what safeguards are in place to ensure that some landlords don't take advantage of this initiative, just to throw tenants out once the restrictions are removed.
To conclude, I would like to note an issue that isn't dealt with here that I would have liked to have seen it included in the statement, namely the shortage of social and affordable housing. Yes, the core numbers are increasing, but they are falling far short of what is required. The elephant in the room, if I can say that, is that we have a planning system that has profit assurance built into it, namely developers can use the Planning Inspectorate to prevent local authorities from having the deserved share of affordable housing in developments, and your Government hasn't truly addressed this. So, can you tell us when you can actually do away with the ability of the Planning Inspectorate to allow developments that don't have a proper proportion of affordable housing? When will you deal with that? Thank you.
Diolch, Delyth. Thank you very much for that suite of comments and questions. Just on the human right to housing, we are very much working alongside a number of organisations looking at how that might work. I just want to remind Members once more, as I constantly remind myself, that the Assembly, as it then was, passed the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, and what a groundbreaking piece of legislation that is. And that actually goes quite a long way to doing some of the things that you mentioned there. But we have got some other things that we need to do. For example, the renting homes Act means that anybody renting a home, including social landlords, has to have a house that's fit for human habitation. And I'd just like to remind the Chamber that, of course, the Tories at Westminster level refused to put 'fit for human habitation' into their legislation, so that just shows you how low the benchmark is. So, we have done that—we've already moved that forward.
Diolch, Delyth. Diolch yn fawr am y gyfres yna o sylwadau a chwestiynau. O ran yr hawl ddynol i dai, rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn ochr yn ochr â nifer o sefydliadau sy'n edrych ar sut y gallai hynny weithio. Hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau unwaith eto, fel yr atgoffaf fy hun yn gyson, fod y Cynulliad, fel yr oedd bryd hynny, wedi pasio Deddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016, ac am ddarn arloesol o ddeddfwriaeth yw hwnnw. Ac mae hynny'n gwneud cryn dipyn i gyflawni rhai o'r pethau y sonioch chi amdanyn nhw yn y fan yna. Ond mae gennym ni rai pethau eraill y mae angen i ni eu gwneud. Er enghraifft, mae'r Ddeddf rhentu cartrefi yn golygu bod yn rhaid i unrhyw un sy'n rhentu cartref, gan gynnwys landlordiaid cymdeithasol, gael tŷ sy'n addas i bobl fyw ynddo. A hoffwn atgoffa'r Siambr fod y Torïaid ar lefel San Steffan, wrth gwrs, wedi gwrthod rhoi 'yn addas i bobl fyw yno' yn eu deddfwriaeth, felly mae hynny'n dangos i chi pa mor isel yw'r meincnod. Felly, rydym wedi gwneud hynny—rydym ni eisoes wedi gwneud cynnydd gyda hynny.
The next phase is to make sure that we have the adequate housing necessary to enable people to enforce the right to adequate housing. There's no point in giving people the right to adequate housing if, actually, in the end there isn't enough adequate housing to go around. So, jumping to your bit about the social housing, very much part of our part 2 homelessness plan is to move people from the temporary and emergency accommodation into good-quality, permanent social housing, and a very large part of the capital bids that came forward that we've been able to approve from local authorities and partners is to build social housing, especially modern methods of construction social housing, which is carbon neutral or carbon passive—a number of things.
So, I'm very, very pleased with that. We're able to up our social stock immediately as a result of that. We're also looking at plans to enable councils and RSLs to buy off land from the private sector—we're still looking at that—because by doing that, we can encourage our private sector builders, especially our small and medium-sized enterprises, to build to social housing standards, so that if there is a recession, then we can continue to build that social housing stock. And, of course, we've got the private sector scheme in place where a private sector landlord who is worried about being able to continue their income in uncertain times, and all the rest of it, can actually hand their house over to a social landlord for five years and have the guaranteed local housing allowance, and also a guarantee that their house will be returned to them at social housing standard. So, a very good deal and I'd encourage all private sector landlords to look into, because that's a way to ensure that you do get that income and you don't have the worry of having to deal with it yourself. It means that we can give secure tenancies to people, which is obviously much better. And then we of course have very ambitious plans. We're cautiously optimistic that we'll be able to significantly increase the amount of social housing, even in what's left of this Welsh Parliament and then certainly in the parliamentary term following. And I'm sure whichever Government is in place will want to do that; there seems to be a broad consensus across the Chamber that that should be done. So, I'm very pleased with that, and there's cautious optimism that we'll be able to really ramp it up. You've heard me speaking about building it at pace and scale. We're in a good place to say that we're doing that.
On the tenancy saver loans, so just to say I absolutely agree with you this isn't the time to increase people's debt. So, that's why we've managed to negotiate this 1 per cent annual percentage rate. It wasn't possible to do it at nothing, for a variety of reasons I don't have time to go into here, or the Llywydd will be losing patience with me, but 1 per cent is a very, very small margin for people to look at. And just to say that, of course, we're not increasing their debt other than by that tiny margin. This is a debt that's incurred because they haven't been able to pay their rent through no fault of their own et cetera, through difficult circumstances. I'm going to take this opportunity to say that we encourage people to pay their rent where they can, because the arrears can be very, very difficult. But the loan is then paid to the landlord because then the rent is paid, so that person can't be evicted for not paying their rent because they will have paid their rent. So, that's the whole point about it. It short-circuits that. And so, from our point of view as a Government, it's a very good thing as well, because what we want is we want people to stay in their homes—these are their homes. We don't want them to be insecure and eventually have to leave, and then present themselves at the local authority housing options saying, 'Please find me somewhere else to go.' This is a very important investment by the Government to ensure that people can do that and, obviously, we've had to look carefully at what we think the rate of repayment will be and so on. But the Government has decided that that's a good investment to make in those people. Most people want to pay their rent, they want to stay in their house, so I'm really pleased we've done that, but I just wanted to clear up that that's what we're doing, because I agree with you about not increasing people's rents. It's certainly not a bail-out to the landlord because, of course, the landlord is entitled to their rent. So, it's that way round.
Further down the line, I will want to look as well at mortgage rescue. I'm not in a position to talk about that yet, but if the recession deepens as we expect, then there will be a number of people who'll get themselves into difficulties in mortgage repayments. And we will be looking to see what we can do to help them out by way of allowing them to convert their mortgage into rent payments, and take those homes into social ownership. That was done in the last recession as well. I'm not there yet, but I'm certainly looking to investigate things like that. And the reason I mention that, Llywydd, is because if any Members have any other brilliant ideas of that sort, I'd be really glad to hear them, because we are not the fount of all knowledge, and people across the Chamber have had good ideas in this space, so I'd really like people to come forward and share them with us, if at all possible.
And then the last thing is on the planning system. You'll know we've changed the policy on Welsh Government-owned land so that we have 50 per cent affordable housing on all schemes on Welsh Government land. We're encouraging that for other public sector land across Wales. We're in conversation with local authorities about maximising that. And then, of course, local authorities—it's up to local authorities, not the planning inspectors. It's up to local authorities to make sure that their local development plan specifies a very large amount of social housing for their land. So, that's the way forward, and I'm really proud of Wales's plan-led system. Shortly, Llywydd, we'll be introducing the national development framework alongside Planning Policy Wales. It's certainly one of the most progressive frameworks anywhere in the United Kingdom and, actually, pretty good even for western Europe. So, we're very proud of it. But the planning inspector can only do what's in front of them. So, if the LDP doesn't specify that, they can't do anything about it. So, we need to make sure that the plan is in and that local people have a big say in what that plan looks like in building that housing. Thank you, Llywydd.
Y cam nesaf yw sicrhau bod gennym ni y tai digonol sydd eu hangen i alluogi pobl i orfodi'r hawl i dai digonol. Does dim diben rhoi'r hawl i bobl gael tai digonol os nad oes digon o dai digonol yn y pen draw. Felly, gan neidio at y darn lle roeddech chi'n sôn am dai cymdeithasol, rhan fawr o'n cynllun digartrefedd rhan 2 yw symud pobl o'r llety dros dro ac argyfwng i dai cymdeithasol parhaol o ansawdd da, a rhan fawr iawn o'r ceisiadau cyfalaf a gyflwynwyd gan awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid ac yr ydym ni wedi gallu eu cymeradwyo, yw adeiladu tai cymdeithasol, yn enwedig dulliau modern o adeiladu tai cymdeithasol, sy'n niwtral o ran carbon neu yn garbon oddefol—nifer o bethau.
Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o hynny. Gallwn gynyddu ein stoc gymdeithasol ar unwaith o ganlyniad i hynny. Rydym ni hefyd yn ystyried cynlluniau i alluogi cynghorau a Landlordiaid Cymdeithasol Cofrestredig i brynu tir oddi wrth y sector preifat—rydym yn dal i edrych ar hynny—oherwydd drwy wneud hynny, gallwn annog ein hadeiladwyr yn y sector preifat, yn enwedig ein busnesau bach a chanolig eu maint, i adeiladu yn unol â safonau tai cymdeithasol, fel y gallwn ni barhau i adeiladu'r stoc tai cymdeithasol honno os bydd dirwasgiad. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae gennym y cynllun sector preifat ar waith lle gall landlord sector preifat sy'n poeni am allu parhau i dderbyn incwm mewn cyfnod ansicr, a'r holl oblygiadau ynghlwm â hynny, drosglwyddo ei dŷ i landlord cymdeithasol am bum mlynedd a chael y lwfans tai lleol gwarantedig, a gwarant hefyd y bydd ei dŷ'n cael ei ddychwelyd ato yn unol â safon tai cymdeithasol. Felly, bargen dda iawn a byddwn yn annog holl landlordiaid y sector preifat i ymchwilio iddi, oherwydd mae hynny'n ffordd o sicrhau eich bod yn cael yr incwm hwnnw ac nad oes gennych y pryder o orfod ymdrin â hynny eich hun. Mae'n golygu y gallwn ni roi tenantiaethau diogel i bobl, sy'n amlwg yn llawer gwell. Ac yna mae gennym ni, wrth gwrs, gynlluniau uchelgeisiol iawn. Rydym yn bur ffyddiog y byddwn yn gallu cynyddu nifer y tai cymdeithasol yn sylweddol, hyd yn oed yn yr hyn sydd ar ôl o'r Senedd Gymreig hon ac yna'n sicr yn y tymor seneddol canlynol. Ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd pa Lywodraeth bynnag sydd mewn grym eisiau gwneud hynny; mae'n ymddangos bod consensws eang ar draws y Siambr y dylid gwneud hynny. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o hynny, ac mae cryn dipyn o hyder y byddwn yn gallu cynyddu hynny mewn gwirionedd. Rydych chi wedi fy nghlywed yn siarad am gynyddu hynny yn fwy ac ynghynt. Rydym ni mewn lle da i ddweud ein bod yn gwneud hynny.
O ran y benthyciadau arbed tenantiaeth, dim ond i ddweud fy mod yn cytuno'n llwyr â chi nad dyma'r amser i gynyddu dyled pobl. Felly, dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi llwyddo i negodi'r gyfradd ganrannol flynyddol hon o 1 y cant. Doedd hi ddim yn bosib cael cyfradd o ddim, am amryw o resymau nad oes gen i amser i ymhelaethu arnynt yn y fan yma, neu bydd y Llywydd yn colli amynedd gyda mi, ond mae 1 y cant yn elw bach iawn i bobl ei ystyried. A dim ond i ddweud, wrth gwrs, nad ydym yn cynyddu eu dyled heblaw am un sy'n unol â'r ganran fechan honno. Mae hon yn ddyled a ddaeth i fodolaeth am nad ydyn nhw wedi gallu talu eu rhent heb fod unrhyw fai arnyn nhw ac ati, drwy amgylchiadau anodd. Rwy'n mynd i fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddweud ein bod yn annog pobl i dalu eu rhent lle gallan nhw, oherwydd gall yr ôl-ddyledion fod yn anodd iawn. Ond yna telir y benthyciad i'r landlord oherwydd felly caiff y rhent ei dalu, fel na ellir troi'r person hwnnw allan am beidio â thalu ei rent oherwydd bydd wedi talu ei rent. Felly, dyna holl ddiben hynny. Mae'n osgoi hynny. Ac felly, o'n safbwynt ni fel Llywodraeth, mae'n beth da iawn hefyd, oherwydd yr hyn yr ydym ni eisiau yw ein bod eisiau i bobl aros yn eu cartrefi—eu cartrefi nhw yw'r rhain. Nid ydym ni eisiau iddyn nhw fod yn ansicr a gorfod gadael yn y pen draw, ac yna mynd ar ofyn dewisiadau tai'r awdurdod lleol gan ddweud, 'Dewch o hyd i rywle arall i mi fynd.' Mae hwn yn fuddsoddiad pwysig iawn gan y Llywodraeth i sicrhau y gall pobl wneud hynny ac, yn amlwg, bu'n rhaid i ni edrych yn ofalus ar yr hyn y credwn ni fydd cyfradd yr ad-dalu ac yn y blaen. Ond mae'r Llywodraeth wedi penderfynu bod hynny'n fuddsoddiad da i'w wneud yn y bobl hynny. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl eisiau talu eu rhent, maen nhw eisiau aros yn eu tŷ, felly rwy'n falch iawn ein bod ni wedi gwneud hynny, ond roeddwn i eisiau ei gwneud hi'n glir mai dyna yr ydym ni yn ei wneud, oherwydd rwy'n cytuno â chi ynghylch peidio â chynyddu rhenti pobl. Yn sicr, nid yw'n achub croen y landlord oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae gan y landlord hawl i'w rent. Felly, dyna'r drefn.
Ymhellach i'r dyfodol, rwyf eisiau ystyried achub morgeisi. Nid wyf mewn sefyllfa i siarad am hynny eto, ond os bydd y dirwasgiad yn dwysáu fel y disgwyliwn, yna bydd nifer o bobl a fydd yn mynd i drafferthion o ran ad-dalu morgeisi. A byddwn yn ystyried beth y gallwn ni ei wneud i'w helpu drwy ganiatáu iddyn nhw droi eu morgais yn daliadau rhent, a mynd â'r cartrefi hynny i berchnogaeth gymdeithasol. Gwnaethpwyd hynny yn y dirwasgiad diwethaf hefyd. Nid wyf wedi cyrraedd y cam yna eto, ond rwy'n sicr yn ceisio ymchwilio i bethau fel hynny. A'r rheswm yr wyf yn sôn am hynny, Llywydd, yw os oes gan unrhyw Aelodau unrhyw syniadau gwych eraill o'r math hwnnw, byddwn yn falch iawn o'u clywed, oherwydd nid ni yw ffynhonnell yr holl wybodaeth, ac mae pobl ar draws y Siambr wedi cael syniadau da yn y fan yma, felly hoffwn i bobl ddod ymlaen a'u rhannu â ni, os yw hynny'n bosib.
Ac yna mae'r peth olaf ynglŷn â'r system gynllunio. Byddwch yn gwybod ein bod ni wedi newid y polisi ar dir sy'n eiddo i Lywodraeth Cymru fel bod gennym ni 50 y cant o dai fforddiadwy ar bob cynllun ar dir Llywodraeth Cymru. Rydym ni yn annog hynny ar gyfer darnau eraill o dir yn y sector cyhoeddus ledled Cymru. Rydym yn sgwrsio ag awdurdodau lleol ynglŷn ag elwa i'r eithaf ar hynny. Ac yna, wrth gwrs, awdurdodau lleol—mater i awdurdodau lleol yw hynny, nid yr arolygwyr cynllunio. Mater i awdurdodau lleol yw sicrhau bod eu cynllun datblygu lleol yn pennu llawer iawn o dai cymdeithasol ar gyfer eu tir. Felly, dyna'r ffordd ymlaen, ac rwy'n falch iawn o'r system hon sydd gan Gymru sy'n seiliedig ar gynlluniau. Yn fuan, Llywydd, byddwn yn cyflwyno'r fframwaith datblygu cenedlaethol ochr yn ochr â Pholisi Cynllunio Cymru. Mae'n sicr yn un o'r fframweithiau mwyaf blaengar yn unman yn y Deyrnas Unedig ac, mewn gwirionedd, yn eithaf da hyd yn oed i orllewin Ewrop. Felly, rydym yn falch iawn ohono. Ond dim ond yr hyn sydd o'i flaen y gall yr arolygydd cynllunio ei wneud. Felly, os nad yw'r CDLl yn nodi hynny, ni all wneud dim yn ei gylch. Felly, mae angen inni sicrhau bod y cynllun yn rhan o hynny a bod gan bobl leol lais mawr o ran ffurf y cynllun hwnnw wrth adeiladu'r tai hynny. Diolch, Llywydd.
Can I first of all welcome the statement by the Minister? It amazes me how little money was needed to protect those who were homeless at the beginning of the pandemic, and I think one good thing that's come out of the pandemic is the idea of trying to deal with homelessness. I'm very pleased that the Minister believes that preventing and ending homelessness in all its forms is a priority for the future, and I hope whoever takes over from the Minister throughout the rest of the time this Senedd is in existence will see that as a priority.
I'm also pleased that the Minister does not want to see anyone returning to sleeping on the street or walking the streets at night and sleeping in parks during the day, which I understand is something that is more likely to be done by younger people and women who don't want to be sleeping in doorways during the night. But what is the Welsh Government's assessment of the numbers who are sofa surfing and are just one step away from sleeping on the street, and what support can be given to this group of people to stop them getting into that position?
Can I say, I welcome the provision of free school meals across the summer holidays this year? I've asked for it for a long time; I'm very pleased it's happened. And I'm asking on behalf of the families of children who get free school meals: why can't it continue for every holiday? And also, can financial support be provided for the children when they're absent from school, possible because they're having the 14 days when they have to self-isolate? Then they go 14 days without having the free school meals which they're entitled to. So, can some support be given to them?
I hold a view that is, I think, unique here—I see no role for a planning inspector. When planning inspectors get abolished, which is inevitable, it will be like when we came off gold standard, when everybody would say, 'Well, why didn't we do that before?' There's no reason, in my opinion, for a planning inspector—if you don't like the decision, you can go to judicial review. Having these people, who know nothing about the area, coming in, making decisions that often simply cause severe problems in an area, I think is something that is going to come to an end, and, Minister, I hope you're the person to do it.
A gaf i yn gyntaf groesawu'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog? Mae'n fy synnu cyn lleied o arian oedd ei angen i amddiffyn y rhai a oedd yn ddigartref ar ddechrau'r pandemig, a chredaf mai un peth da sy'n deillio o'r pandemig yw'r syniad o geisio mynd i'r afael â digartrefedd. Rwy'n falch iawn bod y Gweinidog yn credu bod atal a rhoi terfyn ar ddigartrefedd o bob math yn flaenoriaeth ar gyfer y dyfodol, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd pwy bynnag sy'n cymryd yr awenau oddi wrth y Gweinidog drwy gydol gweddill yr amser y mae'r Senedd hon yn bodoli yn ystyried hynny'n flaenoriaeth.
Rwyf hefyd yn falch nad yw'r Gweinidog eisiau gweld unrhyw un yn dychwelyd i gysgu ar y stryd nac yn cerdded y strydoedd yn y nos ac yn cysgu mewn parciau yn ystod y dydd, sydd, yn ôl a ddeallaf, yn rhywbeth y mae pobl iau a menywod yn fwy tebygol o'i wneud gan nad ydyn nhw eisiau bod yn cysgu mewn drysau yn ystod y nos. Ond beth yw asesiad Llywodraeth Cymru o'r niferoedd sy'n cysgu o soffa i soffa ac sydd dim ond un cam i ffwrdd o gysgu ar y stryd, a pha gymorth y gellir ei roi i'r grŵp hwn o bobl i'w hatal rhag cyrraedd y sefyllfa honno?
A gaf i ddweud, croesawaf ddarparu prydau ysgol am ddim drwy wyliau'r haf eleni? Rwyf wedi gofyn am hynny ers amser maith; rwy'n falch iawn ei fod wedi digwydd. Ac rwy'n gofyn ar ran teuluoedd plant sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim: pam na all barhau dros gyfnod pob gwyliau? A hefyd, a ellir darparu cymorth ariannol i'r plant pan fyddant yn absennol o'r ysgol, o bosib oherwydd bod ganddyn nhw 14 diwrnod pan fydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw hunanynysu? Yna mae 14 diwrnod yn mynd heibio heb iddyn nhw gael y prydau ysgol am ddim y mae ganddyn nhw hawl iddyn nhw. Felly, a ellir rhoi rhywfaint o gefnogaeth iddynt?
Mae gennyf farn sydd, mi gredaf, yn unigryw yn y fan yma—ni welaf unrhyw swyddogaeth i arolygydd cynllunio. Pan gaiff arolygwyr cynllunio eu diddymu, sy'n anochel, bydd yn debyg i'r adeg pan ddaethom ni oddi ar y safon aur, pan ddywedai pawb, 'Wel, pam na wnaethom ni hynny o'r blaen?' Nid oes rheswm, yn fy marn i, dros arolygydd cynllunio—os nad ydych chi'n hoffi'r penderfyniad, gallwch ofyn am adolygiad barnwrol. Mae cael y bobl hyn, nad ydynt yn gwybod dim am yr ardal, yn ymyrryd, yn gwneud penderfyniadau sy'n aml yn achosi problemau difrifol mewn ardal, yn rhywbeth rwy'n credu a ddaw i ben, a, Gweinidog, rwy'n gobeithio mai chi yw'r person i wneud hynny.
Well, right up until that last bit, Mike, we were just agreeing with each other, so I suppose it's always good not to have complete agreement all the way down the line.
So, in terms of the small amount of money, it does seem like a small amount of money, but, of course, it was additional money. All of the normal money for homelessness was still in the system. We didn't just take £10 million and solve homelessness—there are hundreds of millions of pounds in the homelessness system. What we did was we reconfigured it really quickly, and that's why I'm so grateful to partners, because they stepped up to reconfiguring it really quickly, and it is amazing how quickly we did that.
Of course, we did have a unique opportunity—I'll just remind Members of that—because, all of a sudden, we had a large number of hotels and bed and breakfasts and university accommodation and so on that didn't have anybody in them. That was very unique—we'd never had that situation before. So, in a really dark situation, we had a ray of light we had an opportunity to take advantage of, and we were able to take advantage of that. So, I'm very proud of that. But it is tempting to think it was done for £10 million—that's just not the case.
So, we housed 2,200 people who were otherwise in unsuitable accommodation or no accommodation over the course of the pandemic, Mike, and that shows you that we were—. That was the number of people who were sofa surfing and could no longer do so as people who were prepared to put them up on their sofa wouldn't do that because they were wanting to be COVID secure and so on. And what it shows us is something we always knew: we always knew that the rough count of sleepers was inadequate. We always knew that it was a snapshot. We always knew that it wasn't capturing everybody—people who, as you say, were walking all night and sleeping in the day, women in particular and so on. So, it's given us a much better idea of the number of people that we knew were in that situation. So, the answer to that is there were 2,200 people in that situation and we've been able to house all of them in emergency or temporary accommodation, and now this phase 2 approach is to get those people and the people who were already in temporary or emergency accommodation into permanent accommodation, and, as I said in answer to Delyth, we're working very hard with local authorities to make sure that people move on.
And the other important thing is that, when you are moved from your emergency or temporary accommodation, you're not moved multiple times. So, what we've said is the optimum is that you're moved immediately to permanent accommodation, but otherwise it shouldn't be more than one time. So, if you're in emergency accommodation, you move to somewhere more suitable before you get to your forever home, but ideally people go straight into their forever home, and that's much better, because then we can wrap the services around them that mean that that's a sustainable placement and that's just as important. I always say, if you put me into an empty flat in the middle of Manchester, my chances of sustaining that tenancy would be none. And that's the case for absolutely every human being: if you put them into an empty flat in the middle of somewhere they don't know, they will not be able to sustain that as a home, so we need to make sure that they've got all the things necessary to make that home, including the support services they need.
And then, on the last two points, on free school meals, that's obviously Kirsty's portfolio overall, but we are working very hard on a programme to sustain free school meals across the holidays and actually there's a group looking at what to do about children who are missing out because they're self-isolating or otherwise away from school who would otherwise have an entitlement to free school meals. So, there is a group looking at that, Mike, but it is Kirsty's lead on that, not mine. But it is certainly something that's under consideration.
And then the last point on the planning inspectorate—you and I have had many a conversation on this. We disagree, let's put it like that. But we have had to pause our separation of Planning Inspectorate Wales from Planning Inspectorate England, and I would very much like to see that advance, because I think then we would have a better chance of making sure that our policy aims were followed.
Wel, hyd at y rhan olaf yna, Mike, roeddem yn cytuno â'n gilydd, felly mae'n debyg ei bod hi wastad yn beth da peidio â chytuno'n llwyr bob cam o'r ffordd.
Felly, o ran y swm bach o arian, mae'n ymddangos fel swm bach o arian, ond, wrth gwrs, arian ychwanegol ydoedd. Roedd yr holl arian arferol ar gyfer digartrefedd yn dal yn y system. Nid cymryd £10 miliwn a wnaethom ni a datrys digartrefedd—mae cannoedd o filiynau o bunnoedd yn y system ddigartrefedd. Yr hyn a wnaethom ni oedd ad-drefnu hynny'n gyflym iawn, a dyna pam yr wyf i mor ddiolchgar i bartneriaid, oherwydd fe aethon nhw ati i'w ad-drefnu'n gyflym iawn, ac mae'n rhyfeddol pa mor gyflym y gwnaethom ni hynny.
Wrth gwrs, fe gawsom ni gyfle unigryw—hoffwn atgoffa'r Aelodau o hynny—oherwydd, yn sydyn iawn, cawsom nifer fawr o westai a lleoliadau gwely a brecwast a llety prifysgol ac ati heb neb ynddyn nhw. Roedd hynny'n unigryw iawn—ni chawsom ni erioed y sefyllfa honno o'r blaen. Felly, mewn sefyllfa dywyll iawn, fe gawsom ni belydr o oleuni y cawsom gyfle i fanteisio arno, ac fe allon ni fanteisio ar hynny. Felly, rwy'n falch iawn o hynny. Ond mae hi yn demtasiwn meddwl y gwnaed hynny am £10 miliwn—nid yw hynny'n wir.
Felly, bu inni gartrefu 2,200 o bobl a oedd fel arall mewn llety anaddas neu ddim mewn llety yn ystod y pandemig, Mike, ac mae hynny'n dangos ichi ein bod—. Dyna oedd nifer y bobl a âi o un soffa i'r llall ac na allent wneud hynny mwyach gan nad oedd pobl a oedd yn barod i gynnig soffa iddyn nhw yn fodlon gwneud hynny bellach oherwydd bod arnyn nhw eisiau bod yn ddiogel rhag COVID ac ati. Ac mae'r hyn y mae'n ei ddangos i ni yn rhywbeth yr oeddem bob amser yn ei wybod: roeddem bob amser yn gwybod bod y brasamcan o bobl sy'n cysgu allan yn annigonol. Gwyddem bob tro mai ciplun ydoedd. Gwyddem bob tro nad oedd yn cynnwys pawb—pobl a oedd, fel y dywedwch chi, yn cerdded drwy'r nos ac yn cysgu yn y dydd, menywod yn arbennig ac ati. Felly, mae wedi rhoi syniad llawer gwell i ni o nifer y bobl yr oeddem yn gwybod eu bod yn y sefyllfa honno. Felly, yr ateb i hynny yw bod 2,200 o bobl yn y sefyllfa honno ac rydym ni wedi gallu cartrefu pob un ohonyn nhw mewn llety brys neu dros dro, a nawr ail gam y broses hon yw cael y bobl hynny a'r bobl a oedd eisoes mewn llety dros dro neu lety brys i lety parhaol, ac, fel y dywedais wrth ateb Delyth, rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod pobl yn symud ymlaen.
A'r peth pwysig arall yw, pan gewch chi eich symud o'ch llety brys neu dros dro, nad ydych yn cael eich symud sawl gwaith. Felly, yr hyn yr ydym ni wedi'i ddweud yw mai'r sefyllfa ddelfrydol yw eich bod yn cael eich symud ar unwaith i lety parhaol, ond fel arall ni ddylai fod yn fwy nag unwaith. Felly, os ydych chi mewn llety brys, byddwch yn symud i rywle sy'n fwy addas cyn i chi gyrraedd eich cartref parhaol, ond yn ddelfrydol mae pobl yn mynd yn syth i'w cartref parhaol, ac mae hynny'n llawer gwell, oherwydd wedyn gallwn gynnig yr holl wasanaethau iddyn nhw sy'n golygu bod hwnnw'n lleoliad cynaliadwy ac mae hynny yr un mor bwysig. Rwyf bob amser yn dweud, os rhowch fi mewn fflat wag yng nghanol Manceinion, ni fyddai unrhyw siawns imi gynnal y denantiaeth honno. Ac mae hynny'n wir am bob person dan haul: os rhowch chi nhw mewn fflat wag yng nghanol rhywle nad ydynt yn ei adnabod, ni fyddant yn gallu cynnal honno fel cartref, felly mae angen i ni sicrhau bod ganddyn nhw yr holl bethau angenrheidiol i wneud y lle hwnnw'n gartref, gan gynnwys y gwasanaethau cymorth sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw.
Ac yna, o ran y ddau sylw olaf, ar brydau ysgol am ddim, mae'n amlwg mai portffolio Kirsty yw hwnnw'n gyffredinol, ond rydym yn gweithio'n galed iawn ar raglen i gynnal prydau ysgol am ddim drwy'r gwyliau ac mewn gwirionedd mae grŵp yn edrych ar beth i'w wneud ynglŷn â phlant sydd ar eu colled am eu bod yn hunanynysu neu fel arall yn absennol o'r ysgol a fyddai fel arall â hawl i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Felly, mae grŵp yn ystyried hynny, Mike, ond Kirsty sy'n arwain ar hynny, nid fi. Ond mae'n sicr yn rhywbeth sy'n cael ei ystyried.
Ac yna'r sylw olaf am yr arolygiaeth gynllunio—rydych chi a mi wedi cael aml i sgwrs am hyn. Rydym ni'n anghytuno, gadewch i ni ei roi felly. Ond rydym ni wedi gorfod gohirio'r broses o wahanu Arolygiaeth Gynllunio Cymru oddi wrth Arolygiaeth Gynllunio Lloegr, a hoffwn weld hynny'n mynd yn ei flaen, oherwydd credaf y byddai gennym ni well siawns bryd hynny o sicrhau y cai ein nodau polisi eu dilyn.
Diolch, Weinidog, am eich datganiad chi. Roeddwn i'n nodi'r hyn roeddech chi'n ei ddweud ynglŷn â'r gwaith i daclo digartrefedd ac, wrth gwrs, i gynyddu nifer y tai cymdeithasol. Roeddwn i wedi gobeithio efallai clywed mwy gennych chi yn y datganiad ynglŷn â sut mae'r Llywodraeth am ddefnyddio'r system gynllunio i fynd i'r afael â'r anghyfartaledd a'r anghynaliadwyedd cynyddol rydym ni'n ei weld yn y marchnadoedd tai mewn nifer o gymunedau ar draws Cymru, sy'n cael ei yrru'n bennaf, fel roeddwn i'n cyfeirio'n gynharach y prynhawn yma, gan y cynydd yn nifer yr ail gartrefi rydym ni'n eu gweld mewn nifer o gymunedau ar draws Cymru, ac mae'n dueddiad hefyd, wrth gwrs, sy'n cael ei yrru gan y ffaith nawr ein bod ni'n gweld mwy o bobl yn symud o ddinasoedd ac ardaloedd poblog i ardaloedd gwledig yng Nghymru yn sgil COVID-19 hefyd.
Rydym ni'n wynebu sefyllfa gynyddol anghynaliadwy: nid yw mwyafrif pobl mewn siroedd fel Gwynedd nawr yn gallu fforddio prynu tai yn y sir maen nhw wedi'i geni a'i magu ac yn byw ac yn gweithio ynddi hi. Gwelais i ystadegyn oedd yn awgrymu bod 40 y cant o'r holl dai a gafodd eu gwerthu yng Ngwynedd llynedd wedi cael eu prynu i fod yn ail gartrefi. Felly, dwi eisiau clywed gennych chi fel Gweinidog beth yw eich bwriad chi o safbwynt defnyddio'r system gynllunio i fynd i'r afael â'r anghyfartaledd a'r anghynaliadwyedd yna fel y mae ardaloedd eraill o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig wedi gwneud ac fel y mae gwledydd eraill yn Ewrop a thu hwnt wedi gwneud hefyd.
Thank you, Minister, for the statement. I noted what you had to say about the work to tackle homelessness and to increase the number of social houses available. I had hoped to hear more from you in the statement on how the Government is going to use the planning system to tackle the inequality and the increasing unsustainability in housing markets in many communities across Wales, driven mainly, as I referred earlier this afternoon, by the increase in the number of second homes that we're seeing in many communities across Wales. It's a trend that's also driven by the fact that we are now seeing more people moving from cities and highly-populated areas to rural areas in Wales as a result of COVID-19.
We are facing an increasingly unsustainable scenario. Many people in counties such as Gwynedd can't afford to buy homes in the counties in which they live, work and were brought up. I saw a statistic that 40 per cent of all the homes sold in Gwynedd last year were bought as second homes. So, I want to hear from you as a Minister what your intentions are in terms of using the planning system to tackle this inequality and unsustainability as other areas within the UK have done and as other nations in Europe and beyond have also done.
Thank you, Llyr. I absolutely hear what you say. There are number of issues there, aren't there? It's not just second homes; it's about having affordable homes across all the communities of Wales so that our young people can stay in the communities that they grew up in and they can contribute to Wales from those communities. We certainly don't want to drain rural Wales into our cities as a result of people being priced out of the housing market.
So, we are actively investigating a number of things. One of them is certainly to just up the number of social homes we build across the communities of Wales and to make sure that those homes are accessible to local people in the right way. So, we will be working with local authorities to do that. The other thing is to put the disincentives in for second homes and to learn the lessons of that. So, we have been looking closely at some of the things that have happened elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Some schemes have been less successful than they had hoped for. The one in Cornwall has been unsuccessful in some ways, so we will be learning the lessons of that. What I'd like to do, though, Llyr, is invite a number of Members who I know have an interest in this to come to a discussion with me to discuss a number of ideas. As I said earlier in response to another—I think it was Delyth—I don't have all the good ideas in Wales, so I'd be really grateful if a number of people who are interested in that would be kind enough to come and have a discussion with us about all of the ideas that we'd like to take forward.
And then the last thing is that I am in discussion—it's not my portfolio, but I am in discussion with Rebecca Evans about the threshold at which you can switch to business rents. You'll know that we changed the grant-level conditions through the pandemic and I would like to look in more detail at what would happen if we upped the levels completely for that, and I know that's something that yourself and Siân Gwenllian and a number of others have raised on a number of occasions, and no doubt there's several of you now saying, 'I've raised it as well,' but a number of people have raised it with me in the Chamber, so I'd be very happy to do that. So, Llyr, if you want to drop me an e-mail, perhaps we could set that meeting up.
Diolch, Llyr. Rwy'n deall yn llwyr yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud. Mae nifer o faterion yn y fan yna, onid oes? Nid ail gartrefi yw'r unig agwedd; mae'n ymwneud â chael tai fforddiadwy ar draws holl gymunedau Cymru fel y gall ein pobl ifanc aros yn y cymunedau y cawsant eu magu ynddynt ac y gallant gyfrannu at Gymru o'r cymunedau hynny. Yn sicr, nid ydym am ddisbyddu Cymru wledig i'n dinasoedd o ganlyniad i bobl yn cael eu prisio allan o'r farchnad dai.
Felly, rydym wrthi'n ymchwilio i nifer o bethau. Un ohonynt yn sicr yw cynyddu nifer y cartrefi cymdeithasol yr ydym yn eu hadeiladu ar draws cymunedau Cymru a sicrhau bod y cartrefi hynny'n hygyrch i bobl leol yn y ffordd briodol. Felly, byddwn yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i wneud hynny. Y peth arall yw cyflwyno datgymhellion ar gyfer ail gartrefi a dysgu'r gwersi o hynny. Felly, rydym ni wedi bod yn edrych yn fanwl ar rai o'r pethau sydd wedi digwydd mewn mannau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae rhai cynlluniau wedi bod yn llai llwyddiannus nag y gobeithid y byddent. Mae'r un yng Nghernyw wedi bod yn aflwyddiannus mewn rhai ffyrdd, felly byddwn yn dysgu'r gwersi o hynny. Yr hyn yr hoffwn i ei wneud, serch hynny, Llyr, yw gwahodd nifer o Aelodau y gwn fod ganddyn nhw ddiddordeb yn hyn i ddod i drafodaeth gyda mi i drafod nifer o syniadau. Fel y dywedais yn gynharach mewn ymateb i rywun arall—rwy'n credu mai Delyth ydoedd—nid gennyf i mai'r holl syniadau da yng Nghymru, felly byddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn pe bai nifer o bobl sydd â diddordeb yn hynny'n ddigon caredig i ddod i gael trafodaeth gyda ni am yr holl syniadau yr hoffem eu datblygu.
Ac yna'r peth olaf yw fy mod yn trafod—nid fy mhortffolio i ydyw, ond rwyf yn trafod gyda Rebecca Evans ynghylch y trothwy pryd gallwch newid i renti busnes. Byddwch yn gwybod inni newid yr amodau lefel grant drwy'r pandemig a hoffwn edrych yn fanylach ar yr hyn a fyddai'n digwydd pe baem yn codi'r lefelau'n llwyr ar gyfer hynny, a gwn fod hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydych chi a Siân Gwenllian a nifer o rai eraill wedi'i godi droeon, ac mae'n siŵr bod sawl un ohonoch chi yn dweud nawr, 'Rwyf wedi'i godi hefyd,' ond mae nifer o bobl wedi'i godi gyda mi yn y Siambr, felly byddwn yn hapus iawn gwneud hynny. Felly, Llyr, os hoffech chi anfon e-bost ataf, efallai y gallem ni drefnu'r cyfarfod hwnnw.
Like others, can I welcome the statement from the Minister and the update that you've given us today? And thank you also for the actions that the Welsh Government and local partners have taken in recent months to look after the homeless and some of the most vulnerable in our society in the face of this pandemic. It was absolutely the right policy at the right time. However, what you'll also be aware of, Minister, is that, on occasion, even the best policies can create some unintended consequences, and, for example, in Merthyr Tydfil and in parts of the Upper Rhymney Valley as well, the emergency COVID-19 arrangements have created concentrations of very vulnerable people in small areas of the town centre—so, the hotels, which are all concentrated in the town centre—and what that has done has meant that that has spilled out into the town centre and has had quite a significant impact on local residents and businesses in the town centre, leading to some quite significant issues around anti-social behaviour.
Now, while there is clearly a police response to anti-social behaviour to ensure that residents and businesses do feel safe, there is also a need for a parallel strategy to deliver support in a more appropriate and dispersed manner, so that people receive the help that they need, but not all in that one, concentrated area. And that's the concern that I've got. In small towns, it's actually very difficult to find accommodation that is not concentrated in one area, and all of these people with such complex needs being accommodated in small accommodation in a very tight-knit community is causing lots of problems.
Now, what I'm asking, Minister, is whether that particular aspect is something that you will consider in the second phase of the strategy. I know you've talked a lot about the need for that wraparound support for people in that second phase of the strategy, and you're putting a significant amount of money into that, but the issue that I'm asking you to take on board is the issue of the concentration of lots of people in small areas and accommodation where they spill out into the town, and whether we can have a strategy that includes dispersal of accommodation, so that that support is more effective, rather than having people in that tight area.
Fel eraill, a gaf i groesawu'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog a'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yr ydych wedi'i rhoi inni heddiw? A diolch hefyd am yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth Cymru a phartneriaid lleol wedi ei wneud yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf i ofalu am y digartref a rhai o'r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas yn wyneb y pandemig hwn. Dyna oedd y polisi gwirioneddol gywir ar yr adeg briodol. Fodd bynnag, yr hyn y byddwch hefyd yn ymwybodol ohono, Gweinidog, yw bod hyd yn oed y polisïau gorau, ar brydiau, wedi creu rhai canlyniadau anfwriadol, ac, er enghraifft, ym Merthyr Tudful ac mewn rhannau o Gwm Rhymni Uchaf hefyd, mae trefniadau brys COVID-19 wedi creu crynodiadau o bobl agored iawn i niwed mewn ardaloedd bach yng nghanol y dref—felly, mae'r gwestai, sydd i gyd wedi'u crynhoi yng nghanol y dref—ac mae hynny wedi golygu bod hynny wedi dylifo i ganol y dref ac mae wedi cael effaith eithaf sylweddol ar drigolion a busnesau lleol yng nghanol y dref, gan arwain at rai materion eithaf arwyddocaol yn ymwneud ag ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol.
Nawr, er ei bod hi'n amlwg bod yr heddlu yn ymateb i ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol i sicrhau bod trigolion a busnesau'n teimlo'n ddiogel, mae angen strategaeth gyfochrog hefyd i ddarparu cymorth mewn modd mwy priodol a gwasgaredig, fel bod pobl yn cael y cymorth y mae arnyn nhw ei angen, ond nid i gyd yn yr un ardal ddwys honno. A dyna'r pryder sydd gen i. Mewn trefi bach, mae'n anodd iawn dod o hyd i lety nad yw wedi'i ganoli mewn un ardal, ac mae'r holl bobl hyn ag anghenion mor gymhleth sy'n cael eu lletya mewn llety bach mewn cymuned glos iawn yn achosi llawer o broblemau.
Nawr, yr hyn yr wyf yn ei ofyn, Gweinidog, yw a yw'r agwedd benodol honno'n rhywbeth y byddwch yn ei hystyried yn ail gam y strategaeth. Gwn eich bod wedi siarad llawer am yr angen am y gefnogaeth gofleidiol honno i bobl yn ail gam y strategaeth honno, ac rydych yn cyfrannu swm sylweddol o arian i wneud hynny, ond y mater yr wyf yn gofyn ichi ei ystyried yw'r mater o grynhoi llawer o bobl mewn ardaloedd a lletyau bach lle maent yn dylifo i mewn i'r dref, ac a allwn ni gael strategaeth sy'n cynnwys gwasgaru lletyau, fel bod y cymorth hwnnw'n fwy effeithiol, yn hytrach na chael pobl yn yr ardal glos honno.
Diolch, Dawn. I'm very aware of the issue that you raise. It's an issue in a number of places and because, of course—you know, we were able to house a large number of people, but we did it with some speed and, as I said in response to Mike Hedges, it was possible because a number of places that were bed and breakfast and hotels and so on were available and they wouldn't have otherwise been available. So, obviously, in the phase 2 approach, what we're looking to do is get people out of those accommodations and into secure, permanent homes. So, each authority will have come forward with a scheme, and we'll have agreed with—I know we've agreed schemes in every authority in Wales—that authority what the best approach to the best stage is and what the best approach of moving those people who are housed in those kinds of accommodations on into their permanent home, or, in some cases, into another temporary home, but where they can get a better range of support services, so perhaps to a hub, where there's a range of support services around them.
I'm afraid I can't think of one off the top of my head in Merthyr, but I visited a brilliant scheme in Newport only a few weeks ago, where we had put a range of support services on the ground floor in conjunction with a third sector partner, a suite on the second floor for individual support services and then seven supported flats on the top. Now, people are not intended to stay in those flats for the rest of their lives, but they are intended to stay in those flats for two or three years while their issues are addressed and they're put back on their feet and then helped to find their final, forever home. So, that's the one step that I was talking to Delyth about, isn't it: from the emergency accommodation into the supported accommodation and then on to your forever home.
So, once I'm—. Dawn, if you want to write to me, I'm sure I'll be able to tell you what the scheme in Merthyr is; I'm sure officials would be happy to remind me what it is. But we have specifically asked local authorities to address the kinds of issues you're talking about, because people need to have their complex needs met, and those needs need to be met in a place that's sustainable and secure, and that's not likely to be in a town centre surrounded by people with similar complex needs. So, it's very much part of our phase 2.
Diolch, Dawn. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o'r mater yr ydych chi'n ei grybwyll. Mae'n broblem mewn nifer o leoedd ac oherwydd, wrth gwrs—wyddoch chi, roeddem yn gallu cartrefu nifer fawr o bobl, ond fe wnaethom ni hynny'n bur gyflym ac, fel y dywedais mewn ateb i Mike Hedges, roedd hi'n bosib oherwydd bod nifer o leoedd a oedd yn lleoliadau gwely a brecwast a gwestai ac ati ar gael ac na fyddent wedi bod ar gael fel arall. Felly, yn amlwg, yn y dull cam 2, yr hyn yr ydym yn bwriadu ei wneud yw cael pobl allan o'r lletyau hynny ac i gartrefi diogel a pharhaol. Felly, bydd pob awdurdod wedi cyflwyno cynllun, a byddwn wedi cytuno â'r awdurdod hwnnw—rwy'n gwybod ein bod ni wedi cytuno ar gynlluniau ym mhob awdurdod yng Nghymru—gyda'r awdurdod hwnnw beth yw'r dull gorau o ymdrin â'r cam gorau a beth yw'r dull gorau o symud y bobl hynny sy'n cael eu cartrefu yn y mathau hynny o lety i'w cartref parhaol, neu, mewn rhai achosion, i gartref dros dro arall, ond lle gallant gael gwell ystod o wasanaethau cymorth, felly efallai i ganolfan, lle mae amrywiaeth o wasanaethau cymorth o'u cwmpas.
Mae arnaf ofn na alla i feddwl am un yn fyrfyfyr ym Merthyr, ond ymwelais â chynllun gwych yng Nghasnewydd ychydig wythnosau'n ôl, lle yr oeddem ni wedi rhoi amrywiaeth o wasanaethau cymorth ar y llawr gwaelod ar y cyd â phartner trydydd sector, ystafell ar yr ail lawr ar gyfer gwasanaethau cymorth unigol ac yna saith fflat â chymorth ar y llawr uchaf. Nawr, ni fwriedir i bobl aros yn y fflatiau hynny am weddill eu hoes, ond bwriedir iddyn nhw aros yn y fflatiau hynny am ddwy neu dair blynedd tra bod eu problemau'n cael sylw ac y cânt eu traed oddi tanynt ac yna eu helpu i ddod o hyd i'w cartref terfynol parhaol. Felly, dyna'r un cam yr oeddwn yn siarad â Delyth amdano, onid e: o'r llety brys i'r llety â chymorth ac yna ymlaen i'ch cartref parhaol.
Felly, unwaith y byddaf—. Dawn, os hoffech chi ysgrifennu ataf, rwy'n siŵr y gallaf ddweud wrthych chi beth yw'r cynllun ym Merthyr; rwy'n siŵr y byddai swyddogion yn hapus i'm hatgoffa o beth yw hwnnw. Ond rydym ni wedi gofyn yn benodol i awdurdodau lleol fynd i'r afael â'r mathau o faterion yr ydych chi'n sôn amdanynt, oherwydd mae angen diwallu anghenion cymhleth pobl, ac mae angen diwallu'r anghenion hynny mewn lle sy'n gynaliadwy ac yn ddiogel, ac nid yw hynny'n debygol o fod mewn canol tref wedi eich amgylchynu gan bobl ag anghenion cymhleth tebyg. Felly, mae'n rhan bwysig iawn o'n hail gam.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.
Thank you very much, Minister. Thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog. Diolch.
Item 6 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition—the UK internal market Bill—and I call on the Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, Jeremy Miles.
Eitem 6 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma yw datganiad gan y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Pontio Ewropeaidd—Bil marchnad fewnol y DU—a galwaf ar y Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Pontio Ewropeaidd, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Dydd Mercher diweddaf, cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol ei Bil ar y farchnad fewnol, dim ond wyth wythnos ar ôl cyhoeddi Papur Gwyn a oedd yn honni y byddai'n ymgynghori ar gynigion y Bil. Nid yw Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol yn cyhoeddi'r ymatebion i'r ymgynghoriad, ac mae ei dadansoddiad ohonyn nhw yn simsan, a dweud y lleiaf. Ond rydyn ni'n gwybod nad y Llywodraethau datganoledig yn unig a gwestiynodd yr angen am ddeddfwriaeth, a chwestiynu rhagdybiaethau'r Papur Gwyn. Roedd sefydliadau fel NFU Cymru a Chyngor y Gweithlu Addysg ymysg y rhai o Gymru a ymatebodd yn feirniadol. Byddai Llywodraeth sydd â hyder yn ei seiliau ar gyfer deddfwriaeth mor bellgyrhaeddol a dadleuol â hyn, does bosib, yn cyhoeddi'r ymatebion y mae wedi'u cael.
Bydd dadl gwrthblaid ar Fil y farchnad fewnol yn cael ei chynnal yfory, felly heddiw byddaf yn amlinellu'r ffeithiau sy'n sail i'r pryderon difrifol sydd gennym. O'r dechrau, hoffwn i bwysleisio nad ydyn ni'n gwrthwynebu'r nod o sicrhau y gall marchnad fewnol y Deyrnas Gyfunol weithio'n esmwyth ar ôl diwedd y cyfnod pontio. Yn wir, roedden ni ymysg y cyntaf i dynnu sylw at y ffaith y byddai angen inni ddatblygu ffordd newydd o lywodraethu ar y cyd ar ôl gadael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd er mwyn rheoli'r berthynas rhwng cymwyseddau datganoledig a'r farchnad fewnol.
Am dair blynedd, rŷn ni wedi gweithio'n ddiflino ar fframweithiau cyffredin ym mhob un o'r meysydd a nodwyd gan Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol fel rhai a allai gynnwys rhwystrau diangen i greu'r farchnad fewnol. Bellach, mae'r gwaith hwn yn dod tua'i derfyn, ac nid oes yr un enghraifft wedi bod o fethiant llwyr, nac o un Llywodraeth yn atal cynnydd, yn unrhyw un o'r 28 o fframweithiau y mae Cymru'n ymwneud â nhw. Ac eto, mae'r Bil, i bob pwrpas, yn tanseilio'r gwaith hwn drwy ddarparu, i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Gyfunol, ffordd o erydu hawl y Senedd hon i reoleiddio o fewn y meysydd hynny o gymhwysedd datganoledig fel y gwêl orau.
Byddai Rhannau 1 a 2 o'r Bil yn gorfodi egwyddorion cydnabyddiaeth gilyddol a dim gwahaniaethu yn achos bron yr holl nwyddau a gwasanaethau sy'n tarddu o, neu sy'n cael eu mewnforio'n gyfreithlon i, unrhyw ran o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol, sy'n cael eu diffinio'n achos dim gwahaniaethu fel nwyddau hyd yn oed sy'n 'pasio drwodd'. I roi enghraifft i chi, er y gallwn ni barhau â'n bwriad i wahardd naw math o blastig untro yng Nghymru os cafodd ei gynhyrchu yng Nghymru neu ei fewnforio i Gymru, ni fydden ni'n gallu atal nwyddau o'r fath a gafodd eu cynhyrchu neu eu mewnforio i Loegr neu'r Alban rhag cael eu gwerthu yng Nghymru os oedd modd eu gwerthu'n gyfreithlon yno. Mae'n ymddangos, hefyd, y byddai'n anghyfreithlon mynnu i labeli dynnu ein sylw ni at eu heffaith niweidiol ar yr amgylchedd. Er nad yw hyn yn atal y Senedd yn benodol rhag arfer ei phwerau, mae'n eu gwneud yn ddiystyr, o gofio bod y mwyafrif helaeth o nwyddau sy'n cael eu gwerthu yng Nghymru yn dod o rannau eraill o'r Deyrnas Gyfunol, neu'n pasio drwyddyn nhw.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Last Wednesday, the UK Government published its internal market Bill, only eight weeks after a White Paper purportedly consulting on the proposals contained within it saw the light of day. The UK Government is not publishing the responses to the consultation, and its analysis of them is flimsy, to say the least. But we know it's not just the devolved Governments that question the need for the legislation and the assumptions within the White Paper. Organisations such as NFU Cymru and the Education Workforce Council were among those from Wales that responded critically. A Government sure of its footing in respect of such far-reaching and contentious legislation would surely publish the responses that it has received.
There will be an opposition party debate on the internal market Bill tomorrow, so today I will set out the factual basis for our serious concerns. From the outset, I want to make it clear that we have no issue with the objective of ensuring that a UK internal market can work smoothly after the end of EU transition. Indeed, we were among the first to point out the fact that we would need to develop a new form of joint governance after leaving the European Union in order to manage the intersection between devolved competence and the internal market.
For three years, we have worked tirelessly on common frameworks in all of the areas set out by the UK Government as identified as those that could place unnecessary barriers to the internal market being erected. This work is now coming to its fruition and there have been no examples of irrevocable breakdown or of one Government blocking progress in any of the 28 frameworks that Wales is involved with. Yet the Bill effectively undermines this work by providing the UK Government with a quick way of hollowing out the rights of this Senedd to regulate within those areas of devolved competence as it sees fit.
Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill would enforce the principles of mutual recognition and non-discrimination in the case of almost all of the goods and services that originate in, or are legally imported to, any part of the UK, defined in the case of non-discrimination as merely goods that 'pass through'. To give you an example, although we could continue with our intention to ban nine types of single-use plastics in Wales if they were produced or imported into Wales, we could not prevent such products produced or imported into England or Scotland from being sold in Wales if they could be lawfully sold there. It also appears that it would be illegal to insist on them being labelled in a way that highlights their damaging impact on the environment. While this doesn't specifically prevent the Senedd from exercising its powers, it renders them meaningless in the context that the vast majority of goods for sale in Wales come from other parts of the UK or pass through them.
While this part of the Bill supposedly merely replaces the application of the same principles in EU law, the crude proposals in the Bill have none of the protections—of subsidiarity, proportionality and significant public policy exceptions—that apply in the approach it seeks to replicate. Crucially, it doesn't provide a floor of standards, which divergence across the UK during the era of devolution has been built upon. Part 3 seeks to impose the same approach on professional qualifications, though, declaring my interest as a lawyer, I note that the legal profession itself is exempt. But, as a lawyer also, I can also point out that this is a complex piece of drafting that will also bring joy to litigants up and down the land. We are not yet clear whether this would actually make it impossible to prevent teachers from other parts of the UK who lack the qualifications and experience required by our legislation from registering with the Education Workforce Council to teach in Wales, but it could tie that council up in legal knots for years to come.
Part 4 of the Bill gives the Competition and Markets Authority a new role in providing the Office of the Internal Market. The functions proposed for this office are ones that we broadly could endorse, but it is wholly inappropriate that a non-ministerial department of the UK Government, whose main functions relate to matters that are wholly reserved, should be given this role without extensive reform of its governance arrangements.
Part 5 of the Bill relates to the Northern Ireland protocol. It is somewhat odd, probably unprecedented, to find myself on the same side of any debate as Lords Howard and Lamont, but that will tell you how broad is the range of voices that finds this part of the Bill utterly repugnant. Anyone who believes in the importance of the rule of law, and the importance of abiding to legal agreements you have freely entered into, even if for the simple expedient of ensuring that other parties in future will be willing to make agreements with you, will be appalled that a Government could propose ministerial powers that so directly flout both domestic law and international agreements. The provisions in this Part also exacerbate a potential threat to Welsh ports by incentivising freight from the island of Ireland to use ferry routes from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
Part 6 of the Bill gives UK Ministers, for the first time in the 21 years since devolution, powers to fund activity in policy areas that are devolved to Wales—not just in economic development, but in health, in housing, in educational infrastructure, in sport and in culture. Let us be clear about one thing: a Government in Westminster that seeks both the power to spend in devolved areas and the power to control the funding available is a Government that seeks to neuter devolution. And a Government that has so manifestly failed to invest in Wales in respect of the things that it already has responsibility for—railways, broadband, the tidal lagoon, large-scale energy—plainly intends to fund its own priorities by top-slicing the budget that this Senedd currently controls, leaving us with even less scope and flexibility to meet the needs of the Welsh people we are elected to serve.
Part 7 of the Bill explicitly changes the devolution settlement by adding state aid to the list of reserved matters. Dirprwy Lywydd, the preoccupation with state aid by this Conservative Government leads it to risk sacrificing a free trade agreement with the EU and peace in Northern Ireland. But, plainly, the intention here is to shut us out from co-creation of a robust state aid regime for the whole of the UK, and it's a significant threat to Welsh businesses.
Finally, Part 8 of the Bill contains the proposal to make the whole of the Bill a protected enactment, not capable of amendment by this Senedd even when it impacts, as this surely does, on devolved matters—a power that should surely be used sparingly but that has been applied more times in the last three years than in the 18 previous ones.
The Welsh Government believes that this is a badly thought through and highly damaging piece of legislation. We will work with politicians of all parties and none in Parliament to ensure that, unless overhauled through amendment, this Bill does not get on the statute book. We have proposed constructive alternative proposals. A wise Government in Westminster would look at them anew.
Er nad yw'r rhan hon o'r Bil i fod yn gwneud dim mwy na disodli cymhwysiad yr un egwyddorion yng nghyfraith yr UE, nid yw'r cynigion crai yn y Bil yn cynnwys dim o'r amddiffyniadau—o sybsidiaredd, cymesuredd ac eithriadau polisi cyhoeddus sylweddol—sy'n berthnasol yn y dull y mae'n ceisio ei efelychu. Yn hollbwysig, nid yw'n darparu terfyn safonau, a fu'n sylfaen i'r ymwahanu ledled y DU yn ystod cyfnod datganoli. Mae Rhan 3 yn ceisio gosod yr un dull o ymdrin â chymwysterau proffesiynol, er, o ddatgan fy muddiant fel cyfreithiwr, fy mod i'n sylweddoli bod y proffesiwn cyfreithiol ei hun wedi'i eithrio. Ond, fel cyfreithiwr eto, gallaf dynnu sylw hefyd at y ffaith bod hwn yn ddarn cymhleth o ddrafftio a fydd hefyd yn rhoi llawenydd i gyfreithwyr ledled y wlad. Nid ydym yn glir eto a fyddai hyn mewn gwirionedd yn ei gwneud yn amhosibl atal athrawon o rannau eraill o'r DU nad oes ganddynt y cymwysterau a'r profiad sy'n ofynnol gan ein deddfwriaeth ni rhag cofrestru gyda Chyngor y Gweithlu Addysg i addysgu yng Nghymru, ond gallai glymu'r cyngor hwnnw yn glymau cyfreithiol am flynyddoedd i ddod.
Mae Rhan 4 o'r Bil yn rhoi swyddogaeth newydd i'r Awdurdod Cystadleuaeth a Marchnadoedd o ran darparu Swyddfa'r Farchnad Fewnol. Mae'r swyddogaethau a gynigir ar gyfer y swyddfa hon yn rhai y gallem eu cymeradwyo'n gyffredinol, ond mae'n gwbl amhriodol mai adran anweinidogol o Lywodraeth y DU, y mae ei phrif swyddogaethau'n ymwneud â materion a gadwyd yn ôl yn llwyr, sy'n cael y swyddogaeth hon heb ddiwygio ei threfniadau llywodraethu'n helaeth.
Mae Rhan 5 o'r Bil yn ymwneud â phrotocol Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae braidd yn rhyfedd, yn ddigynsail mae'n debyg, fy ngweld fy hun ar yr un ochr i unrhyw ddadl ag Arglwyddi Howard a Lamont, ond bydd hynny'n dweud wrthych mor eang yw'r ystod o leisiau y mae'r rhan hon o'r Bil yn gwbl wrthun iddyn nhw. Bydd unrhyw un sy'n credu ym mhwysigrwydd rheolaeth y gyfraith, a phwysigrwydd cadw at gytundebau cyfreithiol yr ydych wedi ymrwymo iddynt yn rhwydd, hyd yn oed yn syml i sicrhau y bydd pleidiau eraill yn y dyfodol yn barod i wneud cytundebau â chi, yn arswydo y gallai Llywodraeth gynnig pwerau gweinidogol sy'n diystyru cyfraith ddomestig a chytundebau rhyngwladol mewn modd mor uniongyrchol. Mae'r darpariaethau yn y Rhan hon hefyd yn gwaethygu bygythiad posibl i borthladdoedd Cymru drwy gymell trefniadau cludo nwyddau o ynys Iwerddon i ddefnyddio llwybrau fferi o Ogledd Iwerddon i Brydain Fawr.
Mae Rhan 6 o'r Bil yn rhoi pwerau i Weinidogion y DU, am y tro cyntaf yn yr 21 mlynedd ers datganoli, ariannu gweithgareddau mewn meysydd polisi sydd wedi'u datganoli i Gymru—nid ym maes datblygu economaidd yn unig, ond ym maes iechyd, tai, seilwaith addysgol, chwaraeon a diwylliant. Gadewch i ni fod yn glir ynghylch un peth: mae Llywodraeth yn San Steffan sy'n ceisio'r pŵer i wario mewn meysydd datganoledig a'r pŵer i reoli'r cyllid sydd ar gael, yn Llywodraeth sy'n ceisio torri ar ddatganoli. Ac mae'n amlwg bod Llywodraeth sydd wedi methu mor helaeth â buddsoddi yng Nghymru mewn cysylltiad â'r pethau y mae'n gyfrifol amdanyn nhw eisoes—rheilffyrdd, band eang, y morlyn llanw, ynni ar raddfa fawr—yn amlwg yn bwriadu ariannu ei blaenoriaethau ei hun drwy frigdorri'r gyllideb y mae'r Senedd hon yn ei rheoli ar hyn o bryd, a'n gadael â hyd yn oed llai o gyfle a hyblygrwydd i ddiwallu anghenion pobl Cymru yr ydym wedi ein hethol i'w gwasanaethu.
Mae Rhan 7 o'r Bil yn newid yn glir y setliad datganoli yn benodol drwy ychwanegu cymorth gwladwriaethol at y rhestr o faterion a gadwyd yn ôl. Dirprwy Lywydd, mae diddordeb y Llywodraeth Geidwadol hon mewn cymorth gwladwriaethol yn ei harwain at fentro aberthu cytundeb masnach rydd â'r UE a heddwch yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Ond, yn amlwg, y bwriad yma yw ein cau ni allan rhag cyd-greu cyfundrefn cymorth gwladwriaethol gadarn ar gyfer y DU gyfan, ac mae'n fygythiad sylweddol i fusnesau Cymru.
Yn olaf, mae Rhan 8 o'r Bil yn cynnwys y cynnig i wneud y Bil cyfan yn ddeddfiad gwarchodedig, na all y Senedd hon ei ddiwygio hyd yn oed pan fydd yn effeithio, fel y mae'n sicr o wneud, ar faterion datganoledig—pŵer y dylid ei ddefnyddio'n gynnil siawns ond sydd wedi'i ddefnyddio mwy o weithiau yn y tair blynedd diwethaf nag yn y 18 mlynedd flaenorol.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru o'r farn bod hwn yn ddarn o ddeddfwriaeth sydd wedi'i ystyried yn wael ac sy'n niweidiol iawn. Byddwn yn gweithio gyda gwleidyddion o bob plaid a heb blaid yn y Senedd i sicrhau, oni chaiff ei ailwampio drwy welliant, nad yw'r Bil hwn yn mynd ar y llyfr statud. Rydym wedi cynnig cynigion amgen adeiladol. Byddai Llywodraeth ddoeth yn San Steffan yn edrych arnyn nhw o'r newydd.
I thank the Minister for an advance copy of his statement, although it was just as bad hearing it from his lips as it was when it crossed my desk earlier on today. It should come as no surprise to Members of this Welsh Parliament or the people of Wales that the Welsh Government is seeking to undermine the UK Government's efforts to deliver on its promise to the people of the United Kingdom that it would maintain and strengthen the integrity and the smooth operation of the UK internal market.
As you know, Minister, this Bill provides a framework for the orderly transfer of European Union powers back from Brussels to the United Kingdom. That is something that I welcome and the majority of people in Wales welcome. You have branded this Bill on numerous occasions as a power grab, and a number of other people have tried to present this as a power grab. Perhaps you can be specific, Minister, today, and tell me which powers this Bill will transfer from the Welsh Parliament, because the reality is there aren't any being transferred away from this Welsh Parliament. The reality is far from the case. Isn't it that, far from being a power grab, this Bill actually provides for the orderly transition of those powers from the EU to the United Kingdom? And, in fact, there are scores of new powers that are actually going to be endowed upon this Senedd, directly transferred from Brussels to the Welsh Parliament and, indeed, other devolved legislatures. And the powers that aren't being transferred to this place will be transferred, quite rightly, to the UK Government and the UK Parliament in accordance with the wishes of the British people and the people of Wales in the Brexit referendum. Now, can you tell the people of Wales why you object to the UK Government and UK Parliament holding these powers when you didn't object to the European Parliament and the European Union and the people in Brussels having hold of these powers? Why is it that the Welsh Government is so uptight about the UK Government and Parliament setting rules on state aid, but you didn't seem to have any problem in those rules being set in Brussels?
Similarly, why does the Welsh Government have a problem with Part 6 of the Bill? You have suggested that this paves the way for some sort of top-slicing of the Welsh block grant in order to support UK Government spending priorities, but of course you know that this is absolute nonsense. There's no evidence to support your claim. The UK Government has been absolutely clear that any spending will be in addition to and not coming from the Barnett consequentials that we receive here in Wales—in addition to. Now, I don't know about you but I would welcome anything over and above Barnett, and I think that you should be welcoming it too. I can't believe that you are rejecting a proposal that could bring significant additional resources into Wales as a result of this piece of legislation.
And, of course, the Bill does not actually break international or domestic law. It actually provides a safety net—a safety net—which the UK can fall back on in the event that the EU continues to attempt to divide the United Kingdom by the creation of a tariff border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, something that of course is completely and utterly unacceptable and goes against the commitment that the EU have already given in article 4 of the Northern Ireland protocol, which says, and I quote,
'Northern Ireland is part of the customs territory of the United Kingdom.'
Do you accept that that is what article 4 of the Northern Ireland protocol actually says? And if you do, do you not recognise that this Bill is designed to ensure that that continues to be the case beyond the end of the transition period?
Diolch i'r Gweinidog am gopi ymlaen llaw o'i ddatganiad, er bod ei glywed o'i wefusau cynddrwg ag yr oedd pan groesodd fy nesg yn gynharach heddiw. Ni ddylai fod yn syndod i Aelodau Senedd Cymru na phobl Cymru bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ceisio tanseilio ymdrechion Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni ei haddewid i bobl y Deyrnas Unedig y byddai'n cynnal ac yn cryfhau uniondeb a gweithrediad llyfn marchnad fewnol y DU.
Fel y gwyddoch, Gweinidog, mae'r Bil hwn yn darparu fframwaith ar gyfer trosglwyddo pwerau'r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn drefnus yn ôl o Frwsel i'r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr wyf i'n ei groesawu ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yng Nghymru yn ei groesawu. Rydych chi wedi brandio'r Bil hwn droeon fel ymgais i gipio pŵer, ac mae nifer o bobl eraill wedi ceisio cyflwyno hyn fel cipio pŵer. Efallai y gallwch chi fod yn benodol, Gweinidog, heddiw, a dweud wrthyf pa bwerau y bydd y Bil hwn yn eu trosglwyddo o Senedd Cymru, oherwydd y realiti amdani yw nad oes unrhyw rai'n cael eu trosglwyddo i ffwrdd o Senedd Cymru. Mae'r realiti ymhell o fod yn wir. Onid yw'r Bil hwn, ymhell o fod yn ymgais i gipio pŵer, yn darparu ar gyfer trosglwyddo'r pwerau hynny'n drefnus o'r UE i'r Deyrnas Unedig? Ac, mewn gwirionedd, mae ugeiniau o bwerau newydd a fydd yn cael eu rhoi i'r Senedd hon, wedi'u trosglwyddo'n uniongyrchol o Frwsel i Senedd Cymru ac, yn wir, i'r deddfwrfeydd datganoledig eraill. A bydd y pwerau nad ydyn nhw'n cael eu trosglwyddo i'r lle hwn yn cael eu trosglwyddo, a hynny'n gwbl briodol, i Lywodraeth y DU a Senedd y DU yn unol â dymuniadau pobl Prydain a phobl Cymru yn refferendwm Brexit. Nawr, a wnewch chi ddweud wrth bobl Cymru pam yr ydych yn gwrthwynebu bod Llywodraeth y DU a Senedd y DU yn dal y pwerau hyn pan na wnaethoch wrthwynebu bod Senedd Ewrop a'r Undeb Ewropeaidd a'r bobl ym Mrwsel yn dal y pwerau hyn? Pam mae Llywodraeth Cymru mor bryderus ynghylch Llywodraeth a Senedd y DU yn gosod rheolau o ran cymorth gwladwriaethol, ond nid oedd yn ymddangos bod gennych unrhyw broblem ynghylch y rheolau hynny'n cael eu gosod ym Mrwsel?
Yn yr un modd, pam mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru broblem gyda Rhan 6 o'r Bil? Rydych chi wedi awgrymu bod hyn yn paratoi'r ffordd ar gyfer rhyw fath o frigdorri grant bloc Cymru er mwyn cefnogi blaenoriaethau gwario Llywodraeth y DU, ond wrth gwrs rydych chi'n gwybod bod hyn yn nonsens llwyr. Nid oes dim tystiolaeth i gefnogi eich honiad. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn gwbl glir y bydd unrhyw wariant yn ychwanegol at symiau canlyniadol Barnett a gawn yma yng Nghymru nid yn cael ei dynnu ohonyn nhw—yn ychwanegol. Nawr, nid wyf i'n gwybod amdanoch chi ond byddwn i'n croesawu unrhyw beth sy'n ychwanegol at Barnett, ac rwy'n credu y dylech chi fod yn ei groesawu hefyd. Ni allaf gredu eich bod yn gwrthod cynnig a allai ddod ag adnoddau ychwanegol sylweddol i Gymru o ganlyniad i'r darn hwn o ddeddfwriaeth.
Ac, wrth gwrs, nid yw'r Bil mewn gwirionedd yn torri cyfraith ryngwladol na domestig. Mewn gwirionedd, mae'n darparu rhwyd ddiogelwch—rhwyd ddiogelwch—y gall y DU syrthio'n ôl arni pe byddai'r UE yn parhau i geisio rhannu'r Deyrnas Unedig drwy greu ffin tariff rhwng Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon, rhywbeth sydd wrth gwrs yn gwbl annerbyniol ac yn mynd yn groes i'r ymrwymiad y mae'r UE eisoes wedi'i roi yn erthygl 4 o brotocol Gogledd Iwerddon, sy'n dweud, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:
Mae Gogledd Iwerddon yn rhan o diriogaeth tollau'r Deyrnas Unedig.
A ydych yn derbyn mai dyna y mae erthygl 4 o brotocol Gogledd Iwerddon yn ei ddweud mewn gwirionedd? Ac os felly, oni fyddwch yn cydnabod bod y Bil hwn wedi'i gynllunio i sicrhau bod hynny'n parhau i fod yn wir y tu hwnt i ddiwedd y cyfnod pontio?
Well, that was quite an extraordinary speech, Dirprwy Lywydd. I've heard a string of fiction sown together by complete political opportunism. I'm with David Melding on this—the party that the Conservatives claim to be, which believe in the union, wouldn't even begin to table legislation like this in Parliament—and I admire him for the stand of principle that he's taken in this place in response to this appalling set of proposals.
The first fiction is that we have new powers in the Senedd as a result of this Bill. I've asked Members to point me in the direction of the part of the Bill that gives those powers to us. It doesn't exist. We know, Dirprwy Lywydd, that the devolution settlement, the devolution legislation, is what enhances this Senedd's powers as a consequence of leaving the European Union; it is not this Bill.
The reason this Bill exists, as I think we understand from the speech that Alun Cairns gave in Parliament last night, is that, effectively, he said, the Conservatives don't like the Government the people of Wales have voted for. That is what is at the heart of this legislation. They just don't like how things are done in Wales. So, any fiction that this is a democratic exercise I think is blown out of the water by that remark.
And I think this notion that these are powers that were previously exercised by bureaucrats in Brussels—. I understand that that's a convenient line for a Brexiteer, but, actually, section 46 legislates to take powers that already exist. These powers to spend in Wales already exist; they're powers of the Welsh Government, and the reason they're being put into that Bill is to enable the UK Government to take control of the budget, of expenditure and infrastructure in Wales. And the notion that we should take this Government at its word in relation to future budgets, when it is legislating to break an international agreement, I think is utterly risible.
Wel, roedd honna'n araith eithaf neilltuol, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwyf wedi clywed cyfres o ffuglen wedi'i phwytho at ei gilydd gan oportiwnistiaeth wleidyddol lwyr. Rwy'n cytuno â David Melding ar hyn—ni fyddai'r blaid y mae'r Ceidwadwyr yn honni ei bod, sy'n credu yn yr undeb, hyd yn oed yn dechrau cyflwyno deddfwriaeth fel hon yn y Senedd—ac rwy'n ei edmygu am ei safbwynt ar egwyddor y mae wedi'i gyflwyno yn y lle hwn mewn ymateb i'r gyfres warthus hon o gynigion.
Y ffuglen gyntaf yw bod gennym ni bwerau newydd yn y Senedd o ganlyniad i'r Bil hwn. Rwyf wedi gofyn i'r Aelodau fy nghyfeirio i'r rhan o'r Bil sy'n rhoi'r pwerau hynny i ni. Nid yw'n bodoli. Rydym ni'n gwybod, Dirprwy Lywydd, mai'r setliad datganoli, y ddeddfwriaeth ddatganoli, yw'r hyn sy'n gwella pwerau'r Senedd hon o ganlyniad i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd; nid y Bil hwn.
Y rheswm y mae'r Bil hwn yn bodoli, fel yr wyf i'n credu ein bod ni ar ddeall o'r araith a roddodd Alun Cairns yn y Senedd neithiwr, yw nad yw'r Ceidwadwyr, i bob pwrpas, meddai, yn hoffi'r Llywodraeth y mae pobl Cymru wedi pleidleisio amdani. Dyna sydd wrth wraidd y ddeddfwriaeth hon. Nid ydyn nhw'n hoffi sut y mae pethau yn cael eu gwneud yng Nghymru. Felly, mae unrhyw ffuglen sy'n dweud bod hwn yn ymarfer democrataidd wedi ei chwalu, yn fy marn i, gan y sylw hwnnw.
Ac rwy'n credu bod y syniad hwn bod y rhain yn bwerau a gafodd eu harfer gan fiwrocratiaid ym Mrwsel yn flaenorol—. Rwy'n deall bod honno'n llinell gyfleus i gefnogwr Brexit, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae adran 46 yn deddfu i gymryd pwerau sy'n bodoli eisoes. Mae'r pwerau hyn i wario yng Nghymru yn bodoli eisoes; maen nhw'n bwerau Llywodraeth Cymru, a'r rheswm y maen nhw wedi eu cynnwys yn y Bil hwnnw yw galluogi Llywodraeth y DU i gipio rheolaeth dros y gyllideb, gwariant a seilwaith yng Nghymru. Ac mae'r syniad y dylem ni dderbyn gair y Llywodraeth hon mewn cysylltiad â chyllidebau yn y dyfodol, pan fo'n deddfu i dorri cytundeb rhyngwladol, yn gwbl chwerthinllyd yn fy marn i.
Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Allaf i ddechrau drwy hefyd ddiolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ddatganiad? Nawr, wrth gwrs, mae mater Mesur y farchnad fewnol yn hynod, hynod ddyrys ac, yn wir, yn peryglu holl fodolaeth Cymru. Mae'n siom enbyd bod y fath Fesur yn gweld wyneb dydd. Y pictiwr mawr, wrth gwrs, ydy ei bod hi'n anghyfrifol tu hwnt i unrhyw Lywodraeth yrru ymlaen efo'r agenda Brexit tra bod pandemig COVID yn dal i fod yn gymaint o fygythiad i'n gwlad ac i'n pobl, ond dwi'n deall mai dadl arall ydy honno, sbo, ac a gaf i fanylu ar y Mesur yma sydd gerbron?
Nawr, yn nhermau cydadnabyddiaeth, fyddai'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno bod yna beryg bod ein pwerau i ddeddfu yma yn y Senedd yn cael eu cyfyngu os nad yw Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn cytuno efo'n bwriad ni? Dywedasoch chi fod pethau'n bellgyrhaeddol. Dwi'n ddigon hen i gofio'r dadleuon i newid y Ddeddf i wahardd ysmygu yn dechrau yma yng Nghymru, yn y Cynulliad fel yr oedd e, yn y flwyddyn 2000, yng ngwyneb gwrthwynebiad clir Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig ar y pryd. Heb ddatganoli, gellid dadlau na fyddai'r gwaharddiad ar ysmygu erioed wedi digwydd, felly hefyd mesurau fel presgripsiynau am ddim a newid y system rhoi organau—newid cyfraith yn fan hyn yng Nghymru yng ngwyneb gwrthwynebiad llwyr ar y pryd o ochr Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Felly, allaf i ofyn: pa obaith i Gymru allu deddfu o'r newydd i Gymru yn y dyfodol os nad ydy San Steffan yn cytuno? Ac a fydd yn rhaid inni dderbyn safonau is i'n bwydydd—cyw iâr clorinedig, unrhyw un? Ac a oes yna amddiffyniad yn erbyn preifateiddio ein gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol? Dyna beth mae'r ddadl yma ynglŷn ag e—nid rhywbeth sych ynglŷn â'r cyfansoddiad a phwerau, ond rhywbeth fyddai'n effeithio ar bobl bob dydd.
Nawr, yn nhermau Rhan 6 o'r Bil, y pwerau cymorth cyllidol, dwi'n clywed beth y dywedasoch chi, a hefyd ro'n i'n gwrando—roedd yn rhaid imi wrando—ar eiriau Darren Millar. Yn nhermau Rhan 6, mae'n edrych fel bod Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn cael rhwydd hynt i wario ar brosiectau mewn meysydd datganoledig, fel dŷch chi wedi'i ddweud, ac o gofio bod isadeiledd dŵr wedi ei gynnwys yn y Rhan yma, dyna gynyddu pŵer San Steffan a lleihau pwerau'r Senedd yma a gwneud y posibilrwydd real o Dryweryn arall—boddi cwm arall yn erbyn dymuniadau pobl Cymru. Cofiwch Dryweryn, yn wir. Allaf i ofyn i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol: fyddwch chi'n cytuno na ddylid colli pwerau o fan hyn heb gydsyniad y Senedd hon?
Ac i gloi—dwi'n sylweddoli'r amser, Dirprwy Lywydd—a ydych chi'n cytuno, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, taw annibyniaeth i Gymru ydy'r unig ffordd nawr i ddiogelu Cymru fel endid gwleidyddol, neu ynteu ysgrifennu llythyr arall i gwyno a pharhau i ddioddef cael ein sathru fel cenedl?
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. May I start by also thanking the Counsel General for his statement? Now, of course, the issue of the internal market Bill is very complex and, indeed, risks the whole existence of Wales. It’s a huge disappointment that such a Bill should see the light of day. The big picture, of course, is that it’s very irresponsible indeed for any Government to drive forward the Brexit agenda while the COVID pandemic is such a threat to our country and our people, but that’s another debate, I suppose, and may I now look in detail at this Bill?
In terms of joint understanding, would the Counsel General agree that there is a risk that our powers to legislate here in the Senedd will be restricted unless the UK Government agrees with our intention? You described this as ‘far reaching’. I’m old enough to remember the arguments around the legislation to ban smoking here in Wales, starting in the Assembly, as it was, in the year 2000, in the face of clear opposition from the UK Government at that time. Without devolution, one could argue that the ban on smoking would never have happened. Also, issues such as free prescriptions and the change to the organ donation system meant changing the law here in Wales in the face of fulsome opposition from the perspective of the UK Government. So, may I ask what hope for Wales to legislate anew for Wales in the future unless Westminster agrees? And will we have to accept lower standards for our foodstuffs? Chlorinated chicken, anyone? Is there a defence against the privatisation of our national health service? That’s what we’re debating here. It’s not a dry constitutional issue and an issue about powers; it affects the lives of people on a daily basis.
In terms of Part 6 of the Bill, on the financial assistance powers, I heard what you had to say and I also listened—I had to listen—to the words of Darren Millar. In terms of Part 6, it appears that the UK Government is given a free hand to spend on projects in devolved areas, as you have said, and bearing in mind that water infrastructure is included in this Part, then that increases the power of Westminster and reduces the power of this Senedd, and makes a very real possibility of a second Tryweryn—the drowning of another valley against the wishes of the people of Wales. Cofiwch Dryweryn, indeed. May I ask the Counsel General: would you agree that powers should not be lost from this place without the consent of this Senedd?
To conclude—I do note the time, Deputy Presiding Officer—do you agree, Counsel General, that independence for Wales is the only means now of safeguarding Wales as a political entity, or will you write another letter of complaint and continue to suffer being stamped down on as a nation?
Diolch i Dai Lloyd am y cwestiynau hynny. Mae'r pwerau sydd gyda ni ar hyn o bryd, yn sgil y newidiadau sydd yn arfaethedig yn y Mesur hwn, ddim yn bwerau gallwn ni eu gweithredu yn y dyfodol, ac fel mae Dai Lloyd ei hun yn dweud, nid cwestiwn cyfansoddiadol yn unig yw hwn; mae’n gwestiwn sy’n effeithio ar fywyd pob dydd pobl yng Nghymru. Felly, plastigau, safonau adeiladu, isafswm alcohol, cig eidion gyda hormones, pob mathau o bethau sydd yn effeithio ar fywyd pob dydd, naill ai drwy nwyddau, bwydydd ac ati, mae peryg i’r rheini i gyd mewn gwahanol ffyrdd.
Mae cyfeiriad yn y Bil, yn un o’r rhannau yn y Bil, nad yw’r gwasanaeth iechyd o fewn sgôp y Bil, ond gall hynny gael ei newid gan Weinidog yn San Steffan heb unrhyw rwystredigaeth wrth y Senedd hon. Felly, mae risg yn perthyn i hynny hefyd i’r gwasanaethau iechyd a gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae pwerau gallwn ni barhau i'w defnyddio ond gallwn ni ddim eu gorfodi, ac mae pwerau gallwn ni barhau i'w defnyddio ond gall y Llywodraeth yn San Steffan fynd o’u hamgylch nhw. Mae enghreifftiau o’r holl bethau hynny yn y Bil, a dyna pam rŷn ni’n ei wrthwynebu fe mor ffyrnig.
Dwi’n anghytuno ar ben y daith mae Dai Lloyd yn disgrifio ar ddiwedd ei araith, ond mae’n sicr ddigon yn sgil hyn fod angen diwygio sylfaenol ar y berthynas rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a’r Deyrnas Gyfunol, a’r setliad cyfansoddiadol yn gyffredinol, er mwyn ein bod ni’n gallu sicrhau ein bod ni’n cynnal y safonau mae pobl yng Nghymru wedi disgwyl ac wedi mwynhau dros y ddau ddegawd diwethaf.
Thank you very much to Dai Lloyd for those questions. The powers that we currently hold, as a result of the changes proposed by this Bill, aren't powers that we will be able to enforce in the future, and as Dai Lloyd himself said, it's not simply a constitutional question; it impacts on the daily lives of the people of Wales. So, plastics, building standards, the minimum alcohol price, hormone-injected beef, all sorts of things that will have an impact on people's daily lives, be they goods and foodstuffs, then there is a risk for all of those in different ways.
There is a reference in the Bill, in one of the parts of the Bill, that the health service is not within its scope, but that could be changed by a Minister in Westminster without any consent from this Senedd. So, there is a risk there, too, in terms of our health services and other public services. There are powers that we can continue to use but can't enforce, and there are powers that we can continue to use but the UK Government can circumvent those. There are examples of all of those things in the Bill, and that is why we are opposing it so strongly.
I disagree with the end point that Dai Lloyd described at the end of his speech, but it's clear that we need fundamental reform of the relationship between the Welsh Government and the UK Government, and the constitutional settlement more generally, in order to ensure that we maintain the standards the people of Wales have expected and enjoyed over the past two decades.
Counsel General, once again you seem to want to frustrate Brexit. Your party voted against every withdrawal agreement, while legislating to prevent our leaving the EU without an agreement, to try to remain in the EU even though Wales and the UK had voted to leave. As Darren Millar said in his excellent contribution, while you didn't object to the EU exercising powers, you won't extend that same courtesy to the UK Government. Indeed, in your response to the internal market White Paper, you seem to question the very legitimacy of the UK Government exercising a power across the UK. I quote what you said:
'the context of the UK is key. By legislating in this way, the UK Government would be imposing a model of mutual recognition and non-discrimination on the three other nations of the UK'.
But the UK Government is not imposing anything on other nations, since it represents all four nations of the United Kingdom. It answers to a Parliament in which the people of Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all represented, yet you allege that UK Ministers will flout domestic law, despite the Westminster Parliament legislating to legalise what they do.
Minister, isn't the reason you disagree with that Parliament's internal market Bill because you don't agree with its goal of keeping our union together, mutual recognition and non-discrimination between four nations, and preventing barriers between our nations, including those the EU would put down the Irish sea to divide Wales from Northern Ireland? Minister, you want us to stay tied to the EU and you want devolution to differentiate and divide our United Kingdom. But the people of the United Kingdom do not. Isn't it right that the Westminster Parliament represents them with this Bill?
Cwnsler Cyffredinol, unwaith eto, mae'n ymddangos eich bod eisiau rhwystro Brexit. Pleidleisiodd eich plaid yn erbyn pob cytundeb tynnu'n ôl, gan ddeddfu i'n hatal rhag gadael yr UE heb gytundeb, i geisio aros yn yr UE er bod Cymru a'r DU wedi pleidleisio i adael. Fel y dywedodd Darren Millar yn ei gyfraniad rhagorol, er nad oeddech chi'n gwrthwynebu bod yr UE yn arfer pwerau, wnewch chi ddim ymestyn yr un cwrteisi i Lywodraeth y DU. Yn wir, yn eich ymateb i Bapur Gwyn y farchnad fewnol, mae'n ymddangos eich bod yn cwestiynu dilysrwydd Llywodraeth y DU i arfer pŵer ledled y DU. Fe ddyfynnaf yr hyn a ddywedwyd gennych:
'mae cyd-destun y DU yn allweddol. Drwy ddeddfu fel hyn, byddai Llywodraeth y DU yn gorfodi model o gyd-gydnabyddiaeth, a hynny heb wahaniaethu, ar dair gwlad arall y DU'.
Ond nid yw Llywodraeth y DU yn gorfodi dim ar wledydd eraill, gan ei bod yn cynrychioli pedair gwlad y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae'n atebol i Senedd lle mae pobl Cymru, Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon i gyd yn cael eu cynrychioli, ac eto rydych chi'n honni y bydd Gweinidogion y DU yn diystyru cyfraith ddomestig, er bod Senedd San Steffan yn deddfu i gyfreithloni'r hyn a wnânt.
Gweinidog, onid y rheswm yr ydych chi'n anghytuno â Bil marchnad fewnol y Senedd honno yw oherwydd nad ydych chi'n cytuno â'i nod o gadw ein hundeb at ei gilydd, cyd-gydnabyddiaeth a diffyg gwahaniaethu rhwng pedair gwlad, ac atal rhwystrau rhwng ein gwledydd, gan gynnwys y rhai y byddai'r UE yn eu gosod ar Fôr Iwerddon i rannu Cymru a Gogledd Iwerddon? Gweinidog, rydych chi eisiau i ni barhau i fod wedi'n clymu i'r UE ac rydych chi eisiau i ddatganoli wahaniaethu a rhannu ein Teyrnas Unedig. Ond nid yw pobl y Deyrnas Unedig eisiau hynny. Onid yw'n iawn bod Senedd San Steffan yn eu cynrychioli nhw drwy'r Bil hwn?
Dirprwy Lywydd, the reason I have challenged this Bill is not at all for the reason that the Member gives; it's precisely because I understand that if the UK Government proceeds in this way, it poses a threat to the union, actually, and I don't want to see that happen. And I know that devolution and high standards are nowhere near the top of the list of the Member's priorities, but they are in this place, and I stand by the remarks that I made in that letter.
I think it's absolutely fundamental to any understanding of devolution that the UK Government ought to operate on an agreed basis with other Governments in the UK in relation to devolved matters. And we have put forward, as a Government, an alternative mechanism for achieving that, which is constructive, is capable of working, and incidentally it's one the UK Government have themselves been participating in. So, we're not opposed to the idea of an internal market. We have also said, incidentally, that we are not opposed to elements of legislation to support the common frameworks, but there is a much better way forward than the way this Bill represents. It's to continue the work of common frameworks and achieve this set of outcomes on an agreed basis across the UK, not an imposed basis, which is what this Bill represents.
Dirprwy Lywydd, nid y rheswm y mae'r Aelod yn ei roi yw'r rheswm yr wyf i wedi herio'r Bil hwn o gwbl; mae'n union oherwydd fy mod i'n deall, os bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn mynd ymlaen fel hyn, bod hynny'n fygythiad i'r undeb, mewn gwirionedd, ac nid wyf i eisiau gweld hynny'n digwydd. Ac rwy'n gwybod nad yw datganoli a safonau uchel yn agos o gwbl at frig rhestr blaenoriaethau'r Aelod, ond maen nhw yn y lle hwn, ac rwy'n parhau i gredu yn y sylwadau a wnes i yn y llythyr hwnnw.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol i unrhyw ddealltwriaeth o ddatganoli y dylai Llywodraeth y DU weithredu ar sail gytunedig gyda Llywodraethau eraill yn y DU o ran materion datganoledig. Ac rydym ni wedi cyflwyno, fel Llywodraeth, dull amgen ar gyfer cyflawni hynny, sy'n adeiladol, a fyddai'n gallu gweithio, a gyda llaw mae'n un y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn cymryd rhan ynddo. Felly, nid ydym ni'n gwrthwynebu'r syniad o farchnad fewnol. Rydym ni hefyd wedi dweud, gyda llaw, nad ydym ni'n gwrthwynebu elfennau o ddeddfwriaeth i gefnogi'r fframweithiau cyffredin, ond mae ffordd well o lawer ymlaen na'r ffordd y mae'r Bil hwn yn ei gynrychioli. Bydd yn parhau â gwaith fframweithiau cyffredin a chyflawni'r gyfres hon o ganlyniadau ar sail gytunedig ledled y DU, nid ar sail orfodol, sef yr hyn y mae'r Bil hwn yn ei gynrychioli.
Mick Antoniw as Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee.
Mick Antoniw fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a’r Cyfansoddiad.
Dirprwy Lywydd, the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee has not yet had the opportunity for a detailed examination of this Bill. It was produced very late in the day, with very little advance notice, and we look forward to your giving evidence on Monday to the committee, where we will explore all these particular issues.
But the committee has a particular responsibility in respect of the constitution of this place, and I would say in respect of issues relating to the ethics of parliamentary democracy and the rule of law. One of the founding principles of the United Nations is precisely on the rule of law, and I focus very much on this because you've related to many of the consequences of this legislation, but I think it is important that we do not lose sight of some of the fundamental democratic principles on which we operate. This is the UN principles of governance:
'The rule of law is fundamental to international peace and security and political stability; to achieve economic and social progress and development; and to protect people’s rights and fundamental freedoms. It is foundational to people's access to public services, curbing corruption, restraining the abuse of power, and to establishing the social contract between people and the state.'
This legislation, as it is drafted, drives a coach and horses through the rule of law. I am just going to refer to four aspects. One, the illegality, which is already conceded. I do not believe it is in any way acceptable for a Government to legislate for illegality and to argue that the illegality is okay because it might only be specific and limited. That is unacceptable in any modern democracy. If I were to mug you outside this Chamber, Counsel General, which I never, never would, it was hardly become me in court to say, 'Well, my lud, yes, but it was only a very specific and limited mugging, wasn't it?' It is absolutely ludicrous.
We also have to consider the implication when legislative consent comes to this Chamber of the ethics of consenting to legislation that ethically drives a coach and horses through the rule of law and sustains illegality, and I think that's an area that perhaps you might want to explore. It also gags the courts and judges from defending the rule of law.
And, fourthly, it gives unfettered power to the hands of Government Ministers who will not be accountable to either Parliament, or Westminster, or Wales in the exercise of those powers. Now, in normal parlance, if we were looking at Russia or Belarus or some of those countries, we would say what it amounts to is elected dictatorship. It was Roosevelt, I think—I hope I get it right—who actually said that the best way of explaining the rule of law is to look at the countries that don't have the rule of law.
As part of this exercise, I did a bit of legal research, and I was trying to find an example where a democratic European country has ever attempted to actually impose this form of illegality, and I did find one. I found a European state that had been a pinnacle of the rule of law, a mother of Parliaments, with a constitution that was respected throughout the world, where legislation was introduced to remove the autonomy from devolved states, to empower the Government to enact laws to violate the constitution and to disempower the judiciary. That was the 1933 enabling Act of the Weimar republic that brought Hitler to power.
Now, I don't want to be melodramatic about this, but democracy is fragile, the rule of law is fragile, and this legislation is, as you've described so rightly, absolutely repugnant, and I would just ask one question to you: do you agree with me that our democracy is too important to be undermined by this type of legislation?
Dirprwy Lywydd, nid yw'r Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a’r Cyfansoddiad wedi cael cyfle hyd yma i archwilio'r Bil hwn yn fanwl. Fe'i cynhyrchwyd yn hwyr iawn yn y dydd, gydag ychydig iawn o rybudd ymlaen llaw, ac edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld chi yn rhoi tystiolaeth i'r pwyllgor ddydd Llun, pryd y byddwn yn archwilio'r holl faterion penodol hyn.
Ond mae gan y pwyllgor gyfrifoldeb penodol ynglŷn â chyfansoddiad y lle hwn, ac ynglŷn â materion sy'n ymwneud â moeseg democratiaeth seneddol a rheol y gyfraith fe ddywedwn i. Mae un o egwyddorion sylfaenol y Cenhedloedd Unedig yn ymwneud â rheol y gyfraith, ac rwyf yn rhoi llawer o bwyslais ar hyn oherwydd eich bod chi wedi cyfeirio at lawer o ganlyniadau'r ddeddfwriaeth hon, ond credaf ei bod yn bwysig nad ydym ni'n colli golwg ar rai o'r egwyddorion democrataidd sylfaenol yr ydym yn gweithredu arnynt. Mae egwyddorion llywodraethu'r Cenhedloedd Unedig yn nodi
bod rheol y gyfraith yn hanfodol i heddwch a diogelwch rhyngwladol a sefydlogrwydd gwleidyddol; i sicrhau cynnydd a datblygiad economaidd a chymdeithasol; a diogelu hawliau pobl a rhyddid sylfaenol. Mae'n sylfaenol i fynediad pobl at wasanaethau cyhoeddus, i atal llygredd, i atal camddefnyddio pŵer, ac i sefydlu'r contract cymdeithasol rhwng pobl a'r wladwriaeth.
Mae'r ddeddfwriaeth hon, fel y'i drafftiwyd, yn diystyru rheolaeth y gyfraith yn llwyr. Rwyf eisiau cyfeirio at bedair agwedd. Un, yr anghyfreithlondeb, sydd eisoes wedi'i gyfaddef. Nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn dderbyniol mewn unrhyw ffordd i Lywodraeth ddeddfu mewn modd anghyfreithlon ac i ddadlau bod yr anghyfreithlondeb yn iawn oherwydd efallai nad yw ond mewn modd penodol a chyfyngedig. Mae hynny'n annerbyniol mewn unrhyw ddemocratiaeth fodern. Pe byddwn i yn eich mygio chi y tu allan i'r Siambr hon, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, er na fyddwn i byth, byth yn gwneud hynny, ni fyddai'n dderbyniol i mi ddweud yn y llys, 'Wel, fy arglwydd, ie, ond dim ond mygio penodol a chyfyngedig iawn oedd hwn, onid e?' Mae'n gwbl chwerthinllyd.
Mae'n rhaid i ni hefyd ystyried yr awgrym pan ddaw cydsyniad deddfwriaethol i'r Siambr hon o ran moeseg cydsynio i ddeddfwriaeth sy'n diystyru rheolaeth y gyfraith yn llwyr ac yn cynnal anghyfreithlondeb, a chredaf fod hwnnw'n faes efallai y gallech chi fod eisiau ei archwilio. Mae hefyd yn gagio'r llysoedd a barnwyr rhag amddiffyn rheolaeth y gyfraith.
Ac, yn bedwerydd, mae'n rhoi pŵer dilyffethair yn nwylo Gweinidogion y Llywodraeth na fyddan nhw'n atebol i'r Senedd, na San Steffan, na Chymru wrth arfer y pwerau hynny. Nawr, mewn iaith llafar gwlad, pe byddem ni'n edrych ar Rwsia neu Belarws neu rai o'r gwledydd hynny, byddem ni'n dweud ei fod yn gyfystyr ag unbennaeth etholedig. Roosevelt, rwy'n credu—gobeithio fy mod i'n iawn—a ddywedodd mewn gwirionedd mai'r ffordd orau o esbonio rheolaeth y gyfraith yw edrych ar y gwledydd nad oes ganddyn nhw reolaeth y gyfraith.
Yn rhan o'r ymarfer hwn, fe wnes i ychydig o ymchwil gyfreithiol, ac roeddwn yn ceisio dod o hyd i enghraifft pan fo gwlad ddemocrataidd yn Ewrop erioed wedi ceisio defnyddio'r math hwn o anghyfreithlondeb, ac fe wnes i ddod o hyd i un. Fe wnes i ddod o hyd i wladwriaeth Ewropeaidd a fu'n binacl rheolaeth y gyfraith, gydag un o'r Seneddau pwysicaf, gyda chyfansoddiad a oedd yn cael ei barchu ledled y byd, lle y cyflwynwyd deddfwriaeth i ddileu ymreolaeth gwladwriaethau datganoledig, i rymuso'r Llywodraeth i ddeddfu i dorri'r cyfansoddiad ac i ddadrymuso'r farnwriaeth. Y ddeddf honno oedd Deddf galluogi gweriniaeth Weimar yn 1933 a ddaeth â Hitler i rym.
Nawr, nid wyf i eisiau bod yn felodramatig am hyn, ond mae democratiaeth yn fregus, mae rheolaeth y gyfraith yn fregus, ac mae'r ddeddfwriaeth hon, fel yr ydych chi wedi ei disgrifio mor briodol, yn gwbl atgas, ac rwyf am ofyn un cwestiwn i chi: a ydych chi'n cytuno â mi fod ein democratiaeth yn rhy bwysig i gael ei thanseilio gan y math hwn o ddeddfwriaeth?
I thank Mick Antoniw for those remarks, and they carry particular weight given his role as a former Counsel General as well. But I will just say this point: he is right to say that there are parts of this Bill that legislate to effectively put ministerial action above the law. There are express provisions that state that regulations can be made regardless of whether they comply with domestic law or international agreements. Now, that is corrosive, in my opinion, of the British Government's reputation. Successive British Governments have described themselves as having a commitment to the rule of law and that being fundamental to Britain's sense of itself in the world, and I think provisions like that in legislation are corrosive of that reputation. They're corrosive of that reputation internationally, but also they put in place additional barriers within the UK to relationships between the Governments, which are dependent almost entirely on commitments made between one Government and another, and I think, at this particular time, the UK Government ought not to be looking for reasons for that to be the case. I think there are a range of views in this Chamber about this Bill, there are certainly a range of views in this Chamber about the backdrop that EU exit provides to it, but I would hope that we could achieve a much broader coalition of support in this Chamber on the question of rule of law and the risk that this Bill runs to the rule of law.
Diolch i Mick Antoniw am y sylwadau yna, ac mae ei sylwadau yn cario pwys arbennig o ystyried ei swyddogaeth fel Cwnsler Cyffredinol blaenorol hefyd. Ond fe dywedaf y pwynt hwn: mae'n gywir i ddweud bod rhannau o'r Bil hwn yn deddfu i, fwy neu lai, roi gweithrediadau gweinidogol uwchlaw y gyfraith. Mae darpariaethau datganedig sy'n nodi y ceir gwneud rheoliadau pa un a ydyn nhw'n cydymffurfio â chyfraith ddomestig neu gytundebau rhyngwladol ai peidio. Nawr, mae hynny'n ddeifiol, yn fy marn i, o enw da Llywodraeth Prydain. Mae Llywodraethau Prydeinig olynol wedi dweud eu bod yn ymrwymo i reolaeth y gyfraith a'i fod yn hanfodol i synnwyr Prydain ohono'i hun yn y byd, a chredaf fod darpariaethau o'r math hwnnw mewn deddfwriaeth yn ddeifiol i'r enw da hwnnw. Maen nhw'n llygru'r enw da rhyngwladol hwnnw, ond hefyd maen nhw'n rhoi rhwystrau ychwanegol o fewn y DU ar y berthynas rhwng y Llywodraethau, sy'n dibynnu bron yn gyfan gwbl ar ymrwymiadau a wnaed rhwng y naill Lywodraeth a'r llall, a chredaf, ar yr adeg benodol hon, na ddylai Llywodraeth y DU fod yn chwilio am resymau dros wneud hynny. Credaf fod amrywiaeth o safbwyntiau yn y Siambr hon ynglŷn â'r Bil hwn, yn sicr mae amrywiaeth o safbwyntiau yn y Siambr hon ynglŷn â'r cefndir y mae gadael yr UE yn ei roi iddo, ond rwy'n gobeithio y gallem sicrhau clymblaid ehangach o lawer o ran cefnogaeth yn y Siambr hon ar fater rheolaeth y gyfraith a'r perygl y mae'r Bil hwn yn ei achosi i reolaeth y gyfraith.
Counsel General, the behaviour of some Conservative MPs in last night's internal market Bill debate was deplorable. They continually misrepresented the facts through cynical contradiction, claiming the Bill conferred new devolved powers while gloating over the fact that it takes them away. It was particularly galling, and I'm sure that you'll agree with me, to hear the former Secretary of State, Alun Cairns, welcoming clause 46, which transfers wide spending powers from Wales to Westminster, when he told the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee in November 2017,
'there is no agenda in terms of withdrawing powers or rolling back powers from the Welsh Government.'
There was an agenda, and he supported it. The Tories have misled us every step of the way and have dishonoured themselves with their appalling conduct. So, Counsel General, can you tell me what the current status is of the inter-governmental agreement now that the Tories have broken every key clause, including clause 6, which states
'The UK Government commits to make regulations through a collaborative process and in accordance with this agreement'?
And can you assure me that you will do whatever it takes to protect the powers of our Senedd, including considering bringing a case to the Supreme Court, perhaps in conjunction with the Scottish Government?
Cwnsler Cyffredinol, yr oedd ymddygiad rhai ASau Ceidwadol yn nadl y Bil marchnad fewnol neithiwr yn warthus. Fe wnaethon nhw gamliwio'r ffeithiau yn barhaus drwy wrth-ddweud sinigaidd, gan honni bod y Bil wedi rhoi pwerau datganoledig newydd wrth lawenhau ynghylch y ffaith ei fod yn mynd â hwy i ffwrdd. Roedd yn arbennig o sarhaus, ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod yn cytuno â mi, i glywed y cyn Ysgrifennydd Gwladol, Alun Cairns, yn croesawu cymal 46, sy'n trosglwyddo pwerau gwario eang o Gymru i San Steffan, ar ôl iddo ddweud wrth y Pwyllgor Materion Allanol a Deddfwriaeth Ychwanegol ym mis Tachwedd 2017
nad oedd agenda o ran tynnu pwerau'n ôl oddi wrth Llywodraeth Cymru.
Roedd agenda, ac yr oedd ef yn ei chefnogi. Mae'r Torïaid wedi ein camarwain bob cam o'r ffordd ac wedi codi cywilydd ar eu hunain drwy eu hymddygiad gwarthus. Felly, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, a allwch chi ddweud wrthyf i beth yw statws presennol y cytundeb rhynglywodraethol gan fod y Torïaid bellach wedi torri pob cymal allweddol, gan gynnwys cymal 6, sy'n datgan bod
Llywodraeth y DU yn ymrwymo i wneud rheoliadau drwy broses gydweithredol ac yn unol â'r cytundeb hwn?
Ac a allwch fy sicrhau i y byddwch yn gwneud beth bynnag sydd ei hangen i ddiogelu pwerau ein Senedd, gan gynnwys ystyried cyflwyno achos i'r Goruchaf Lys, efallai ar y cyd â Llywodraeth yr Alban?
Dirprwy Lywydd, I thank Delyth Jewell for that set of questions. I think the point about the speech that the former Secretary of State gave last night in Parliament drives home to me the fact that the objection is really about what we do with our powers here, not the fact of the powers themselves. So it's an objection to the kind of approach that successive Welsh Governments have taken to investment, to standards and so on—it's the things that affect people's daily lives in Wales. I can assure her that we will do everything we can as a Government to protect the rights of this place. There are a number of discussions going on internally about the scope of our capacity to act. Certainly, as you've heard me say already, we'll want to work with parties in Parliament to amend this legislation, but we'll be looking at it from a legal perspective as well.
In relation to the inter-governmental agreement, I will just say, in light of the speculation in the press, which I found very unhelpful, actually, in the last few days in relation to the repeal of the continuity Act and the inter-governmental agreement, I stand by the actions of this Government in seeking to reach that agreement with the UK Government. It has actually, broadly speaking, been complied with, and it has actually been the foundation of the common frameworks programme, which in our view is the right way to take forward resolving these questions. I would urge the UK Government to look again at the capacity of the common frameworks programme to replace what they've provided for in this Bill. I think that's a much more constructive, collaborative way forward.
Dirprwy Lywydd, diolchaf i Delyth Jewell am y gyfres yna o gwestiynau. Credaf fod y pwynt am yr araith a roddodd y cyn Ysgrifennydd Gwladol neithiwr yn y Senedd yn pwysleisio'r ffaith fod y gwrthwynebiad mewn gwirionedd yn ymwneud â'r hyn a wnawn gyda'n pwerau yn y fan yma, nid y pwerau eu hunain. Felly mae'n wrthwynebiad i'r math o ddull y mae Llywodraethau olynol yng Nghymru wedi'i ddefnyddio o ran buddsoddi, safonau ac yn y blaen—pethau sy'n effeithio ar fywydau bob dydd pobl yng Nghymru. Gallaf ei sicrhau hi y byddwn yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu fel Llywodraeth i ddiogelu hawliau'r lle hwn. Mae nifer o drafodaethau yn mynd rhagddynt yn fewnol am gwmpas ein gallu i weithredu. Yn sicr, fel yr ydych chi wedi fy nghlywed i'n dweud eisoes, byddwn eisiau gweithio gyda phleidiau yn y Senedd i ddiwygio'r ddeddfwriaeth hon, ond byddwn yn edrych arno o safbwynt cyfreithiol hefyd.
O ran y cytundeb rhynglywodraethol, fe wnaf i ddweud, yng ngoleuni'r dyfalu yn y wasg, nad oeddwn i'n teimlo ei fod o gymorth o gwbl, mewn gwirionedd, yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf o ran diddymu'r Ddeddf parhad a'r cytundeb rhynglywodraethol, rwyf yn glynu wrth weithredoedd y Llywodraeth hon wrth geisio dod i'r cytundeb hwnnw gyda Llywodraeth y DU. Cydymffurfiwyd ag ef, yn gyffredinol, a bu'n sylfaen i'r rhaglen fframweithiau cyffredin, sef y ffordd iawn, yn ein barn ni, i ddatblygu datrysiad i'r cwestiynau hyn. Byddwn yn annog Llywodraeth y DU i edrych eto ar allu'r rhaglen fframweithiau cyffredin i ddisodli'r hyn y maen nhw wedi darparu ar ei gyfer yn y Bil hwn. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n ffordd ymlaen lawer mwy adeiladol a chydweithredol.
This Bill takes us back at least 100 years to when the Encyclopaedia Britannica said, 'For Wales, see England'. Instead of being leaders on environmental protections, we're going to be laggards, dependent on the UK Government's enthusiasm, or not, for protecting our seas from plastic pollution. You've already told us that our attempt to ban all single-use plastics in this country would be completely undermined by forcing us to take single-use plastics that were produced in other parts of the UK, which would make it null and void, frankly.
You talked about common frameworks. We're all in favour of common frameworks, but the word 'common' is the key, isn't it? Not imposed frameworks, common frameworks that have been agreed between the four different parties. So, this seems to me a very sad day that would hasten the break-up of the United Kingdom, because it's certain that Northern Ireland would choose to trade with its nearest neighbour in order to prevent a tearing up of the Good Friday agreement. Why wouldn't you? This would be absolutely deplorable.
So, if this Bill becomes law, we presumably could not prevent adulterated food coming from a bad deal with the United States from being imposed on our citizens, and people wouldn't know whether they were eating genetically modified food or not, because it simply wouldn't need to be labelled as such. Nor would we be able to protect our citizens from the substandard building programme—
Mae'r Bil hwn yn mynd â ni yn ôl o leiaf 100 mlynedd i'r adeg pan ddywedodd yr Encyclopaedia Britannica 'For Wales, see England'. Yn hytrach na bod yn arweinyddion ar amddiffyniadau amgylcheddol, byddwn yn segurwyr, yn dibynnu ar frwdfrydedd Llywodraeth y DU, neu beidio, dros ddiogelu ein moroedd rhag llygredd plastig. Rydych chi eisoes wedi dweud wrthym y byddai ein hymgais i wahardd yr holl blastig untro yn y wlad hon yn cael ei danseilio'n llwyr drwy ein gorfodi i gymryd plastigau untro a gynhyrchwyd mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, a fyddai'n ei gwneud ein hymgais yn ddi-werth, a dweud y gwir.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am fframweithiau cyffredin. Rydym ni i gyd o blaid fframweithiau cyffredin, ond mae'r gair 'cyffredin' yn allweddol, onid yw? Nid fframweithiau a gafodd eu gorfodi, fframweithiau cyffredin a gytunwyd rhwng pedwar parti gwahanol. Felly, mae hwn yn ymddangos i mi yn ddiwrnod trist iawn a fyddai'n cyflymu'r broses o chwalu'r Deyrnas Unedig, oherwydd mae'n sicr y byddai Gogledd Iwerddon yn dewis masnachu gyda'i chymydog agosaf er mwyn atal chwalu cytundeb Gwener y Groglith. Pam na fyddech chi? Byddai hyn yn gwbl warthus.
Felly, os daw'r Bil hwn yn gyfraith, mae'n debyg na allem ni atal bwyd amhur a fyddai'n dod o fargen wael gyda'r Unol Daleithiau rhag cael ei orfodi ar ein dinasyddion, ac ni fyddai pobl yn gwybod pa un a oedden nhw'n bwyta bwyd a addaswyd yn enetig ai peidio, oherwydd ni fyddai angen ei labelu yn y modd hwnnw. Ni fyddem ychwaith yn gallu amddiffyn ein dinasyddion rhag y rhaglen adeiladu is-safonol—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
—that the UK Government seems to have in mind, to abolish all planning laws and allow developers to build whatever instant slums they have in mind, rather than the quality-for-life housing that we would like to produce. Presumably, we would be prevented from amending our Part L regulations so that they were fit for purpose with our climate emergency obligations.
—y mae'n ymddangos sydd gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn golwg, i ddiddymu'r holl gyfreithiau cynllunio a chaniatáu i ddatblygwyr adeiladu pa bynnag hofelau cyflym sydd ganddyn nhw mewn golwg, yn hytrach na'r tai am oes o ansawdd da yr hoffem ni eu cynhyrchu. Maen debyg y byddem yn cael ein hatal rhag diwygio ein rheoliadau Rhan L fel eu bod yn addas i'w diben o ran ein rhwymedigaethau argyfwng hinsawdd.
Jenny Rathbone is right to point to the innovations that we've achieved in this Senedd in many of the examples that she gave. We are proud of those standards here in Wales, and people in Wales are proud of being able to rely on them. Whether it's minimum alcohol pricing or hormone beef and labelling for that, whether it's single-use plastics, housing standards, the regulation of landlords, all of these policy areas where we are ambitious in our reach as a Senedd are in question as a consequence of aspects of this Bill. And we are working through each clause of the Bill to ascertain exactly the level of challenge that some of its provisions make to our ambitions.
I just want to say this one thing: we have managed very successfully to be able to diverge in different parts of the UK in areas where we wish to do so to reflect the priorities of our different countries. We have done that very successfully in a way that gives people pride in those standards in different parts of the UK, and also enables the business community, producers and manufacturers to understand the floor of standards on which these things are built. The proposals that we have put forward as an alternative to this Bill build on that history of 20 years of divergence and certainty, and it is not too late for the UK Government to look again at that set of proposals and to overhaul this Bill, effectively, to put those agreed mechanisms, that process of agreement, at the heart of the internal market.
Mae Jenny Rathbone yn iawn i dynnu sylw at y datblygiadau arloesol yr ydym ni wedi'u cyflawni yn y Senedd hon mewn llawer o'r enghreifftiau a roddodd. Rydym ni'n falch o'r safonau hynny yma yng Nghymru, ac mae pobl yng Nghymru yn falch o allu dibynnu arnyn nhw. Boed yn isafswm pris alcohol, hormonau cig eidion a labelu ar gyfer hynny, boed yn blastigau untro, safonau tai, rheoleiddio landlordiaid, mae'r holl feysydd polisi hyn lle'r ydym yn uchelgeisiol o ran ein cyrhaeddiad fel Senedd yn y fantol o ganlyniad i agweddau ar y Bil hwn. Ac rydym ni'n gweithio drwy bob cymal o'r Bil i ganfod yn union faint o her y mae rhai o'i ddarpariaethau yn ei achosi i'n huchelgeisiau.
Rwyf eisiau dweud yr un peth hwn: rydym ni wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn wrth allu ymwahanu mewn gwahanol rannau o'r DU mewn meysydd lle'r ydym ni eisiau gwneud hynny i adlewyrchu blaenoriaethau ein gwahanol wledydd. Rydym wedi gwneud hynny'n llwyddiannus iawn mewn ffordd sy'n rhoi balchder i bobl yn y safonau hynny mewn gwahanol rannau o'r DU, ac sydd hefyd yn galluogi'r gymuned fusnes, cynhyrchwyr a gweithgynhyrchwyr i ddeall y safonau y mae'r pethau hyn yn cael eu hadeiladu arnynt. Mae'r cynigion yr ydym wedi'u cyflwyno fel dewis amgen i'r Bil hwn yn adeiladu ar yr hanes hwnnw o 20 mlynedd o ymwahanu a sicrwydd, ac nid yw'n rhy hwyr i Lywodraeth y DU edrych eto ar y gyfres honno o gynigion ac ailwampio'r Bil hwn, mewn gwirionedd, i roi'r mecanweithiau cytunedig hynny, y broses honno o gytuno, wrth wraidd y farchnad fewnol.
Neil Hamilton. No, we can't hear you, Mr Hamilton. You need to unmute, or somebody needs to unmute you. There you go.
Neil Hamilton. Na, allwn ni ddim eich clywed chi, Mr Hamilton. Mae angen i chi droi eich meicroffon ymlaen, neu mae angen i rywun ei droi ymlaen. Dyna chi.
Apologies, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for calling me.
I'm not surprised by the Counsel General's statement, because he's determined to die in the last ditch of remainer resistance to implementing the will of the people, and the people of Wales at that, in the Brexit referendum four years ago. But he boldly asserts his statement that the powers in this Bill directly flout both domestic law and international agreements, but the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, section 38, provides that the UK Parliament shall be sovereign and, to quote,
'nothing in this Act derogates from the sovereignty of...Parliament'.
So whatever is proposed in this Bill, if voted through both Houses of Parliament, is going to be the law of the land and can't be criticised as being in breach of UK law, because it will be the law.
Secondly, on the question of international agreements, it's a core principle of the Good Friday agreement that Northern Ireland's constitutional status can't be changed without the consent of the Northern Ireland people. The Act of Union 1801, which establishes that constitutional status, says that the citizens of the UK are all on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation and in all treaties with foreign powers. Of course, the imposition of a tariff barrier in the Irish sea, which is what the EU has forced the Conservative Government foolishly to accept in the withdrawal agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol, is a clear breach of the Good Friday agreement in itself. Now, the Irish Government and the UK Government have both said that they will not impose checkpoints on the border. It's only the EU that has left open the possibility that this might happen in order to protect the sacred single market of the EU.
The EU has been, in the course of four years or two years or whatever it is of negotiations, negotiating in bad faith in my view, because they've always had the ultimate objective of wanting to maintain the extra territorial reach of the EU internal market laws, not just now but also in the future. What they want us to do is to accept even changes in regulations that they will be voting on, in which we will have no say and will have no vote. No self-respecting sovereign state would ever accept such a humiliation. And secondly, they want to maintain the extra territorial reach of the European Court of Justice as the interpreter of the law. Again, no self-respecting sovereign state could possibly accept that. So, if the EU has not been negotiating in good faith under the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, then the UK Government would be perfectly justified in passing this Bill through Parliament.
Ymddiheuriadau, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch am fy ngalw.
Nid wyf wedi fy synnu gan ddatganiad y Cwnsler Cyffredinol, oherwydd mae'n benderfynol o farw yn ffos olaf y gwrthwynebiad sydd ar ôl o ran y rhai a oedd eisiau aros yn yr UE i weithredu ewyllys y bobl, a phobl Cymru ar hynny, yn refferendwm Brexit bedair blynedd yn ôl. Ond mae'n haeru'n eiddgar ei ddatganiad bod y pwerau yn y Bil hwn yn diystyru cyfraith ddomestig a chytundebau rhyngwladol yn uniongyrchol, ond mae Deddf yr Undeb Ewropeaidd (Y Cytundeb Ymadael) 2020, adran 38, yn nodi y bydd Senedd y DU yn sofran, ac i ddyfynnu
nid oes unrhyw beth yn y Ddeddf hon sydd yn amharu ar sofraniaeth...y Senedd.
Felly, beth bynnag a gynigir yn y Bil hwn, os caiff ei bleidleisio drwy ddau Dŷ'r Senedd, fydd cyfraith y wlad ac ni ellir ei beirniadu o fod yn torri cyfraith y DU, oherwydd dyna fydd y gyfraith.
Yn ail, o ran cytundebau rhyngwladol, mae'n un o egwyddorion craidd cytundeb Gwener y Groglith na ellir newid statws cyfansoddiadol Gogledd Iwerddon heb gydsyniad pobl Gogledd Iwerddon. Mae Deddf Uno 1801, sy'n sefydlu'r statws cyfansoddiadol hwnnw, yn dweud bod dinasyddion y DU i gyd ar yr un sylfaen o ran masnach a mordwyo ac ym mhob cytuniad â phwerau tramor. Wrth gwrs, mae gosod rhwystr tariff ym môr Iwerddon, sef yr hyn y mae'r UE wedi gorfodi'r Llywodraeth Geidwadol i'w dderbyn yn eu ffolineb yn y cytundeb ymadael a phrotocol Gogledd Iwerddon, ynddo'i hun yn torri cytundeb Gwener y Groglith yn amlwg. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Iwerddon a Llywodraeth y DU ill dau wedi dweud na fyddan nhw'n gosod mannau gwirio ar y ffin. Dim ond yr UE sydd wedi gadael yn agored y posibilrwydd y gallai hyn ddigwydd er mwyn diogelu marchnad sengl gysegredig yr UE.
Nid yw'r UE, dros y pedair blynedd neu ddwy flynedd neu beth bynnag ydyw o drafodaethau, wedi negodi'n ddidwyll yn fy marn i, oherwydd eu bod wastad wedi bod â'r amcan terfynol o fod eisiau cynnal cyrhaeddiad tiriogaethol ychwanegol cyfreithiau marchnad fewnol yr UE, nid yn unig yn awr ond yn y dyfodol hefyd. Yr hyn y maen nhw eisiau i ni ei wneud yw derbyn newidiadau mewn rheoliadau y byddan nhw yn pleidleisio arnynt, ac na fydd gennym ni lais ac na fydd gennym ni bleidlais arnynt. Ni fyddai unrhyw wladwriaeth sofran â chanddi hunan-barch byth yn derbyn gwaradwydd o'i fath. Ac yn ail, maen nhw eisiau cynnal cyrhaeddiad tiriogaethol ychwanegol Llys Cyfiawnder Ewrop fel dehonglydd y gyfraith. Unwaith eto, ni allai unrhyw wladwriaeth sofran â chanddi hunan-barch dderbyn hynny o gwbl. Felly, os nad yw'r UE wedi bod yn negodi'n ddidwyll o dan Gonfensiwn Fienna 1969 ar y Gyfraith Cytuniadau, yna byddai cyfiawnhad perffaith i Lywodraeth y DU basio'r Bil hwn drwy'r Senedd.
Well, I just think I would simply say that, in relation to the Member's view about the legality of some of the provisions here, I think the overwhelming weight of legal opinion is against his view. But I was struggling to hear a question that I was being invited to answer, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Wel, rwy'n credu y byddwn i'n dweud yn syml, o ran barn yr Aelod am gyfreithlondeb rhai o'r darpariaethau hyn, fy mod i'n credu bod pwysau llethol y farn gyfreithiol yn groes i'w farn ef. Ond roeddwn i'n ei chael hi'n anodd clywed cwestiwn yr oeddwn yn cael fy ngwahodd i'w ateb, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Minister, this Bill is an affront to our democracy. The UK Government concluded a treaty with the European Union. They then sought a mandate from the people for that treaty. They enshrined that treaty in legislation, and less than a year later they're repudiating that mandate, that commitment and that legislation. And we are being told here that we have no opportunity, no opportunity at all to pass comment even or to be consulted on the restriction of powers of this Parliament, where the UK structures of governance—the UK Parliament and the UK Government together—can simply roll over this Parliament, can stop us exercising the powers that the people have elected us to do so. Two referenda have provided us with powers in this place, and the UK Government can simply put that to one side without even consulting this Parliament and its Members and its Government. That is unacceptable.
Deputy Presiding Officer, I would be grateful if the Minister could explain to us how this Bill will impact some of the services that are delivered by this Government, how we are able to respond to the demands that the people who have sent us here have on us, and how we can then create a structure within the United Kingdom where the UK Parliament and the UK Government are unable to deprive this place of powers that have been provided by the people. For me, Deputy Presiding Officer, we have to go back. The Member for Cardiff Central spoke about the actions of a century ago; perhaps it's time now that we remembered what Keir Hardie was first elected in Merthyr Tydfil to deliver—home rule, a federal United Kingdom, where powers that lie in this place are protected in this place and cannot be removed from this place without the people having their say.
Gweinidog, mae'r Bil hwn yn sarhad ar ein democratiaeth. Daeth Llywodraeth y DU i gytuniad gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Yna, fe wnaethon nhw ofyn am fandad gan y bobl ar gyfer y cytuniad hwnnw. Fe wnaethon nhw ymgorffori'r cytuniad hwnnw mewn deddfwriaeth, a llai na blwyddyn yn ddiweddarach maen nhw'n ymwrthod â'r mandad hwnnw, yr ymrwymiad hwnnw a'r ddeddfwriaeth honno. A dywedir wrthym ni yn y fan yma nad oes gennym ni gyfle, dim cyfle o gwbl i wneud sylwadau hyd yn oed ac na fydd ymgynghori â ni ynghylch cyfyngu pwerau'r Senedd hon, pan all strwythurau llywodraethu'r DU—Senedd y DU a Llywodraeth y DU gyda'i gilydd—ddisodli'r Senedd hon, ein hatal rhag arfer y pwerau y mae'r bobl wedi ein hethol i'w wneud. Mae dau refferendwm wedi rhoi pwerau i ni yn y lle hwn, a gall Llywodraeth y DU roi hynny o'r neilltu yn rhwydd heb ymgynghori hyd yn oed â'r Senedd hon a'i Haelodau a'i Llywodraeth. Mae hynny'n annerbyniol.
Dirprwy Lywydd, byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Gweinidog egluro wrthym ni sut y bydd y Bil hwn yn effeithio ar rai o'r gwasanaethau a ddarperir gan y Llywodraeth hon, sut y gallwn ni ymateb i'r galwadau arnom sydd gan y bobl sydd wedi ein hanfon ni yma, a sut y gallwn ni wedyn greu strwythur o fewn y Deyrnas Unedig lle na all Senedd y DU a Llywodraeth y DU amddifadu'r lle hwn o bwerau sydd wedi'u rhoi gan y bobl. O'm rhan i, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'n rhaid i ni fynd yn ôl. Siaradodd yr Aelod dros Ganol Caerdydd am weithredoedd canrif yn ôl; efallai ei bod hi'n bryd nawr i ni gofio'r hyn yr etholwyd Keir Hardie am y tro cyntaf ym Merthyr Tudful i'w gyflawni—hunanlywodraeth, Teyrnas Unedig ffederal, lle mae pwerau sydd yn y lle hwn yn cael eu diogelu yn y lle hwn ac na ellir eu tynnu o'r lle hwn heb i'r bobl gael dweud eu dweud.
I thank the Member for that set of questions. On the first question he asked about what this does in terms of the impact on our powers here in the Senedd, there are a number of provisions in the Bill that either limit those powers, whether it's in food regulation or environmental regulation. It means that powers can be exercised but, effectively, not enforced, or it means that powers can be, effectively, circumvented. So, there's a range of ways in which this Bill attacks the competence of this Senedd and Welsh Ministers. There are provisions in the Bill that enable direct funding of aspects of housing, or in health infrastructure. There is already a settlement that provides that those powers are exercised by this Senedd and Welsh Ministers on behalf of the people of Wales, and if there is further investment to be made available to support infrastructure in Wales, we are very happy with that, but there's a Government that already has the powers to do that, and it's this Government.
I think the last point that he makes is very important. It seems to me that, in approaching legislation of this sort, which plainly, in one clause, explicitly adds to the number of reservations in the Government of Wales Act 2006, to embark upon that kind of legislation without seeking to do that in as collaborative a way, and as open a way with devolved Government as is possible—I think it shows the limit of the constitutional arrangements that we currently have. And I think we're in a territory where we need to look at the fundamental reform of some of those arrangements. And the way that he was talking about Keir Hardie and the home rule campaign, one where the Governments of the UK operate as four Governments, a four-nation approach—we've been talking about that, haven't we, in the last few months—one that really significantly entrenches the powers of different Governments across the UK. And not for constitutional reasons alone, but because of the way in which they affect the daily lives of people in Wales, and our accountability as a Government to those people for the choices that we make, which must be at the absolute heart of our response to this.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y gyfres yna o gwestiynau. O ran y cwestiwn cyntaf, gofynnodd beth y mae hyn yn ei wneud o ran yr effaith ar ein pwerau ni yma yn y Senedd, mae nifer o ddarpariaethau yn y Bil sydd naill ai'n cyfyngu ar y pwerau hynny, boed hynny wrth reoleiddio bwyd neu reoleiddio amgylcheddol. Mae'n golygu y gellir arfer pwerau ond, i bob pwrpas, nid eu gorfodi, neu mae'n golygu y gellir osgoi pwerau, i bob pwrpas. Felly, mae amrywiaeth o ffyrdd y mae'r Bil hwn yn ymosod ar gymhwysedd y Senedd hon a Gweinidogion Cymru. Mae darpariaethau yn y Bil sy'n galluogi yn uniongyrchol ariannu agweddau ar dai neu seilwaith iechyd. Mae setliad eisoes sy'n darparu bod y pwerau hynny'n cael eu harfer gan y Senedd hon a Gweinidogion Cymru ar ran pobl Cymru, ac os oes rhagor o fuddsoddiad i'w roi ar gael i gynorthwyo seilwaith yng Nghymru, rydym ni'n hapus iawn â hynny, ond mae Llywodraeth sydd eisoes â'r pwerau i wneud hynny, a'r Llywodraeth hon yw honno.
Rwy'n credu bod y pwynt olaf y mae'n ei wneud yn bwysig iawn. Mae'n ymddangos i mi, wrth ystyried deddfwriaeth o'r math hwn, sy'n amlwg, mewn un cymal, yn ychwanegu'n benodol at nifer y materion a gedwir yn ôl yn Neddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006, mae cychwyn ar y math hwnnw o ddeddfwriaeth heb geisio gwneud hynny mewn ffordd mor gydweithredol, ac mor agored â Llywodraethau datganoledig â phosibl—rwy'n credu bod hynny yn dangos cyfyngiadau'r trefniadau cyfansoddiadol sydd gennym ni ar hyn o bryd. Ac rwy'n credu ein bod mewn sefyllfa pan fo angen i ni edrych ar ddiwygio sylfaenol rhai o'r trefniadau hynny. A'r ffordd yr oedd yn sôn am Keir Hardie a'r ymgyrch hunanlywodraeth, sef un lle mae Llywodraethau'r DU yn gweithredu fel pedair Llywodraeth, dull pedair gwlad—rydym ni wedi bod yn sôn am hynny, onid ydym ni, yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf—un sydd wir yn ymwreiddio pwerau gwahanol Lywodraethau ledled y DU mewn modd sylweddol iawn. Ac nid am resymau cyfansoddiadol yn unig, ond oherwydd y ffordd y maen nhw'n effeithio ar fywydau beunyddiol pobl yng Nghymru, a'n hatebolrwydd ni fel Llywodraeth i'r bobl hynny am y dewisiadau a wnawn, ac mae'n rhaid i hynny fod wrth wraidd ein hymateb i hyn.
Rhianon Passmore. Rhianon Passmore. Can somebody switch on Rhianon's mike for us please? There we go.
Rhianon Passmore. Rhianon Passmore. A all rhywun droi meicroffon Rhianon ymlaen i ni os gwelwch yn dda? Dyna ni.
I keep losing my screen. Sorry, Deputy Llywydd. Can you come back to me?
Rwy'n colli fy sgrin o hyd. Mae'n ddrwg gen i, Dirprwy Lywydd. Allwch chi ddod yn ôl ataf i?
Right. Okay. David Rees.
Iawn. Iawn. David Rees.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I think we've explored very much with colleagues the situation that, constitutionally, this Bill provides us, and I won't explore that much further. But I do think we need—. We've heard the rhetoric very much from the Brexiteers for the last few years that we will have powers through the EU giving them back to us. Is it not true that this Bill actually undermines our ability to actually deliver any decisions based upon those powers? Because it gives UK Ministers the right to make decisions that undermine our decisions. And therefore, when people in my constituency expect us to deliver certain conditions or policies, we can do that here, but UK Government Ministers could actually deliver something different as a consequence of that. That's what people want to know. They want to understand what this means to them. And what it really means to them is we can make a decision, but UK Ministers can change that without even consulting us or the people. That's correct.
Do you also agree with me perhaps that this is actually an end to common frameworks? Because the common frameworks were something we agreed, something we put forward as a possible way of working together to come to these positions. But this is a situation where that seems to have been thrown out of the window, where the UK Government is going to impose decisions. Therefore, is it the end of the common frameworks?
And, finally, the shared prosperity fund. We've been asking questions for years on the shared prosperity fund, and it seems to be now that, in fact, when we were promised by Brexiteers that Wales would not lose a penny that we would have had from Europe—it now seems that we are not going to get anything. Where we could make a decision, as we could before, it's going to be decided upon in London, and therefore the shared prosperity fund, as far as I'm concerned, is dead and done.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi archwilio'n fawr iawn gyda chydweithwyr y sefyllfa y mae'r Bil hwn, yn gyfansoddiadol, yn ei rhoi ni ynddi, ac ni wnaf archwilio hynny cymaint â hynny ymhellach. Ond rwy'n credu bod arnom ni angen—. Rydym ni wedi clywed y rhethreg yn amlwg iawn gan gefnogwyr Brexit dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf y bydd gennym ni bwerau drwy i'r UE eu rhoi yn ôl i ni. A yw'n wir bod y Bil hwn mewn gwirionedd yn tanseilio ein gallu i gyflawni unrhyw benderfyniadau sy'n seiliedig ar y pwerau hynny? Oherwydd, mae'n rhoi'r hawl i Weinidogion y DU wneud penderfyniadau sy'n tanseilio ein penderfyniadau ni. Ac felly, pan fydd pobl yn fy etholaeth i yn disgwyl i ni gyflawni amodau neu bolisïau penodol, gallwn ni wneud hynny yn y fan yma, ond gallai Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU gyflawni rhywbeth gwahanol o ganlyniad i hynny. Dyna y mae pobl eisiau ei wybod. Maen nhw eisiau deall beth mae hyn yn ei olygu iddyn nhw. A'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu iddyn nhw mewn gwirionedd yw y gallwn ni wneud penderfyniad, ond y gall Gweinidogion y DU ei newid heb ymgynghori â ni na'r bobl hyd yn oed. Mae hynny'n gywir.
A ydych chi hefyd yn cytuno â mi efallai fod hyn yn ddiwedd ar fframweithiau cyffredin mewn gwirionedd? Oherwydd, roedd y fframweithiau cyffredin yn rhywbeth y gwnaethom ni gytuno arnyn nhw, rhywbeth a gyflwynwyd gennym fel ffordd bosibl o gydweithio i ddod i'r sefyllfaoedd hyn. Ond mae hon yn sefyllfa lle mae'n ymddangos bod hynny wedi'i daflu allan drwy'r ffenestr, lle mae Llywodraeth y DU yn mynd i orfodi penderfyniadau. Felly, a yw hyn yn diwedd y fframweithiau cyffredin?
Ac, yn olaf, y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. Rydym ni wedi bod yn gofyn cwestiynau am flynyddoedd am y gronfa ffyniant a rennir, ac mae'n ymddangos yn awr, mewn gwirionedd, pan addawodd cefnogwyr Brexit i ni na fyddai Cymru yn colli ceiniog y byddem ni wedi ei chael gan Ewrop—mae'n ymddangos yn awr nad ydym ni am gael unrhyw beth. Pan allem ni wneud penderfyniad, fel y gallem ni o'r blaen, bydd yn cael ei benderfynu yn Llundain, ac felly mae'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, o'm rhan i, wedi'i dileu yn llwyr.
I thank David Rees for those questions. On the first point, he is right to say, as Jenny Rathbone was saying in her question earlier, that we set food standards, of which we're proud here in Wales, but if another part of the UK chooses to adopt lower standards on a particular basis, we would not be able to prevent those goods and foods being sold in supermarkets and shops in Wales. So, that would be a direct example for you of the kind of way in which the standards we would set and legislate here in Senedd couldn't be enforceable, in effect.
We would have a more ambitious approach to the control of single-use plastics, I guess, than the UK Government on behalf of England, but we would have a challenge in enforcing that if the rules were lower in England, and would enable plastics to be on the Welsh market in a way we could not effectively enforce. So, there are a number of very practical examples about the practical limitations that we would face in implementing our priorities as a Government on behalf of the people of Wales. So, it isn't simply a constitutional argument; this is about the practical aspects of people's weekly shop, effectively.
On the common frameworks, I'm asking the UK Government to redouble its commitment to the common frameworks, because I think that it's in the common frameworks that lies the way of regulating these sets of questions. So, we've been able to diverge for 20 years between the four Governments in the UK in terms of some of these issues, and we want to be able to continue to do that. And the way to do that is to do it on an agreed basis and managed. We won't always be able to reach agreement, obviously, but there'll be a process by which that can be resolved in a way that respects the fact that power is devolved in the UK in a way that this Bill does not do.
And finally, to your point on the shared prosperity fund. Effectively, the spending powers in the Bill, which the UK Government is taking to itself from devolved areas, will enable them, effectively, to run some aspects of the shared prosperity fund directly in Wales. We have always known, haven't we, that those powers have been devolved to the Welsh Government, and there have, in fact, been commitments, although never manifested, by the UK Government that those powers wouldn't be taken away? Well, there are powers in this Bill that would enable that promise to be broken.
Diolch i David Rees am y cwestiynau yna. O ran y pwynt cyntaf, mae e'n iawn i ddweud, fel yr oedd Jenny Rathbone yn ei ddweud yn ei chwestiwn hi yn gynharach, ein bod ni yn gosod safonau bwyd, ac rydym ni'n falch o hynny yma yng Nghymru, ond os bydd rhan arall o'r DU yn dewis mabwysiadu safonau is ar sail benodol, ni fyddem ni'n gallu atal y nwyddau a'r bwydydd hynny rhag cael eu gwerthu mewn archfarchnadoedd a siopau yng Nghymru. Felly, byddai hynny yn enghraifft uniongyrchol i chi o'r math o ffordd na fyddai'n bosibl gorfodi'r safonau y byddem ni'n eu gosod a'u deddfu yma yn y Senedd, mewn gwirionedd
Byddai gennym ni ddull mwy uchelgeisiol o reoli plastigau untro, mae'n debyg, na Llywodraeth y DU ar ran Lloegr, ond byddai gennym ni her wrth orfodi hynny pe byddai'r rheolau'n is yn Lloegr, ac y bydden nhw'n galluogi plastigau i fod ar y farchnad yng Nghymru mewn ffordd na allem ni ei gorfodi'n effeithiol. Felly, mae nifer o enghreifftiau ymarferol iawn am y cyfyngiadau ymarferol y byddem ni'n eu hwynebu wrth weithredu ein blaenoriaethau fel Llywodraeth ar ran pobl Cymru. Felly, nid dadl gyfansoddiadol yn unig yw hon; mae hyn yn ymwneud ag agweddau ymarferol siopa wythnosol pobl, i bob pwrpas.
O ran y fframweithiau cyffredin, rwy'n gofyn i Lywodraeth y DU ddwysáu ei hymrwymiad i'r fframweithiau cyffredin, oherwydd rwy'n credu mai yn y fframweithiau cyffredin y ceir y modd o reoleiddio'r cyfresi hyn o gwestiynau. Felly, rydym ni wedi gallu ymwahanu ers 20 mlynedd rhwng y pedair Llywodraeth yn y DU o ran rhai o'r materion hyn, ac rydym ni eisiau gallu parhau i wneud hynny. A'r ffordd o wneud hynny yw ei wneud ar sail gytunedig a'i reoli. Ni fyddwn bob amser yn gallu dod i gytundeb, yn amlwg, ond bydd proses ar gyfer datrys hynny mewn ffordd sy'n parchu'r ffaith bod pŵer wedi'i ddatganoli yn y DU mewn ffordd nad yw'r Bil hwn yn ei wneud.
Ac yn olaf, o ran eich pwynt am y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin. I bob pwrpas, bydd y pwerau gwario yn y Bil, y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn eu cymryd iddi ei hun o feysydd datganoledig, yn eu galluogi, i bob pwrpas, i weithredu rhai agweddau ar y gronfa ffyniant gyffredin yn uniongyrchol yng Nghymru. Rydym ni bob amser wedi gwybod, onid ydym ni, fod y pwerau hynny wedi'u datganoli i Lywodraeth Cymru, ac y bu ymrwymiadau, mewn gwirionedd, na ddangoswyd erioed, gan Lywodraeth y DU, na fyddai'r pwerau hynny'n cael eu tynnu ymaith? Wel, mae pwerau yn y Bil hwn a fyddai'n galluogi torri'r addewid hwnnw.
Thank you. We'll try Rhianon Passmore again. Rhianon Passmore.
Diolch. Fe rown gynnig arall i Rhianon Passmore. Rhianon Passmore.
Thank you. Can you hear me, Deputy Llywydd?
Diolch. ydych chi'n gallu fy nghlywed i, Dirprwy Lywydd?
Yes, that's fine.
Gallaf, mae hynna'n iawn.
Thank you very much. Thank you for re-calling me. Let's be frank—the UK Tory Government's internal market Bill is the latest in a long line of totally incomprehensible actions by Boris Johnson and his Government. And I very much welcome today's statement by the Welsh Counsel General and Minister for European Transition. The people of Wales now, more than ever, will need the full functional responsibility and representation of the Welsh Labour Government to argue for our future in the face of continued UK Tory negligence and incompetence. Will the Counsel General reaffirm to my constituents in Islwyn that the Welsh Labour Government will always defend one of the most important principles of international law, and protect the rights of the people of Wales, under hard-won devolution, to continue setting our priorities, undiluted by Westminster? Without respect for the rule of international law, the position and influence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be greatly reduced in the eyes of the world.
Last night, the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill passed to the next stage. Yet, perversely, the UK Internal Market Bill would stop the EU from so-called blockading food. The Conservative chairman of the Justice Select Committee, Sir Bob Neill, stated strongly that the Bill contains an egregious, needless and potentially damaging clause, which would bring the UK into breach of its international obligations. And for Darren Millar, that is the Conservative chairperson who's put forward that amendment. He proposes removing the clause that would break international law. But outside of this, there remain serious, fundamental flaws to this Bill of democratic, economic and societal harm to Wales. This, Deputy Llywydd, is a bad Bill, and a bad Bill for Wales. The loss of functionality in the Bill is stark. The loss of our current ability to lead the way banning certain plastics and the UK new authority proposed to diminish Welsh, for example, high food-quality standards via a UK priority setting is ever-present in this Bill. But to top it all—
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Diolch am fy ngalw yn ôl. Gadewch i ni fod yn onest—Bil marchnad fewnol Llywodraeth Dorïaidd y DU yw'r diweddaraf mewn rhes hir o gamau cwbl annealladwy gan Boris Johnson a'i Lywodraeth. Ac rwyf i'n croesawu'n fawr y datganiad heddiw gan Gwnsler Cyffredinol Cymru a'r Gweinidog dros Bontio Ewropeaidd. Bydd ar bobl Cymru nawr, yn fwy nag erioed, angen cyfrifoldeb a chynrychiolaeth swyddogaethol llawn Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru i ddadlau dros ein dyfodol yn wyneb esgeulustod ac anallu parhaus Torïaid y DU. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ailddatgan i'm hetholwyr yn Islwyn y bydd Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru bob amser yn amddiffyn un o egwyddorion pwysicaf cyfraith ryngwladol, ac yn diogelu hawliau pobl Cymru, o dan ddatganoli a enillwyd drwy ymdrech galed, i barhau i bennu ein blaenoriaethau, heb iddynt gael eu glastwreiddio gan San Steffan? Heb barch at reolaeth cyfraith ryngwladol, bydd safle a dylanwad Teyrnas Unedig Prydain Fawr a Gogledd Iwerddon yn llawer llai yng ngolwg y byd.
Neithiwr, trosglwyddodd Bil Marchnad Fewnol y Deyrnas Unedig i'r cam nesaf. Ac eto, yn wrthnysig, byddai Bil Marchnad Fewnol y DU yn atal yr UE rhag blocio bwyd, fel y'i gelwir. Dywedodd cadeirydd Ceidwadol y Pwyllgor Dethol ar Gyfiawnder, Syr Bob Neill, yn gryf fod y Bil yn cynnwys cymal dybryd, diangen a allai fod yn niweidiol, a fyddai'n torri rhwymedigaethau rhyngwladol y DU. Ac ar gyfer Darren Millar, cadeirydd y Ceidwadwyr sydd wedi cyflwyno'r gwelliant hwnnw. Mae e'n cynnig dileu'r cymal a fyddai'n torri cyfraith ryngwladol. Ond y tu allan i hyn, erys diffygion difrifol, sylfaenol i'r Bil hwn o niwed democrataidd, economaidd a chymdeithasol i Gymru. Mae hwn, Dirprwy Lywydd, yn Fil gwael, ac yn Fil gwael i Gymru. Mae colli swyddogaethau yn y Bil yn amlwg. Mae colli ein gallu presennol i arwain y ffordd wrth wahardd plastigau penodol a'r awdurdod newydd yn y DU sy'n cynnig lleihau safonau ansawdd bwyd uchel Cymru, er enghraifft, drwy bennu blaenoriaethau y DU yn bresennol drwy gydol y Bil hwn. Ond ar ben hyn i gyd—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
The bonus of the UK Government being able to top-slice our income in Wales is not on. Counsel General, what representations and actions can the Welsh Government take, working with colleagues in Westminster, to combat this serious attack on Wales and Britain's good name? And what priority is being given to the proposed erosion of Welsh powers contained within this Bill?
Nid yw'r bonws o Lywodraeth y DU yn gallu cymryd rhan o'n hincwm yng Nghymru yn dderbyniol. Cwnsler Cyffredinol, pa sylwadau a chamau y gall Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd, gan weithio gyda chydweithwyr yn San Steffan, i frwydro yn erbyn yr ymosodiad difrifol hwn ar Gymru ac enw da Prydain? A pha flaenoriaeth sy'n cael ei rhoi i'r bwriad i leihau pwerau Cymru sydd wedi'u cynnwys yn y Bil hwn?
I thank Rhianon Passmore for those questions. I can give her categorical assurance that this Government will stand up for the interests of people in Wales in relation to this Bill. And we will work with anybody who shares those opinions and shares those priorities. I'd like to pay tribute to parliamentary colleagues in my party, and in other parties in this Chamber, who stood up to those principles yesterday in Parliament in the way that she describes. But I'm not naive enough to think that the Prime Minister is likely to find the word of the Welsh Labour Government at its most persuasive. But I would urge him to listen to the words of three former Conservative Prime Ministers, as well as a range of former law officers and Lord Chancellors in previous Conservative Governments. This is a broad coalition of concern. It is not an exclusively party-political matter. There are ranges across the political spectrum who, for various reasons, are very, very troubled with this Bill. And I would say to him, it's not too late to heed those words and to reverse his position on this Bill.
Diolch i Rhianon Passmore am y cwestiynau yna. Gallaf roi sicrwydd pendant iddi y bydd y Llywodraeth hon yn sefyll o blaid buddiannau pobl yng Nghymru mewn cysylltiad â'r Bil hwn. A byddwn yn gweithio gydag unrhyw un sy'n rhannu'r safbwyntiau hynny ac sy'n rhannu'r blaenoriaethau hynny. Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i gyd-Aelodau seneddol yn fy mhlaid i, ac mewn pleidiau eraill yn y Siambr hon, a wnaeth sefyll dros yr egwyddorion hynny ddoe yn Senedd y DU yn y modd y mae hi'n ei ddisgrifio. Ond nid wyf i'n ddigon diniwed i feddwl bod y Prif Weinidog yn debygol o gredu bod gair Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn mynd i fod yn hynod argyhoeddiadol. Ond byddwn yn ei annog i wrando ar eiriau tri chyn Brif Weinidog Ceidwadol, yn ogystal ag ystod o gyn-swyddogion y gyfraith ac Arglwydd Gangellorion mewn Llywodraethau Ceidwadol blaenorol. Mae hon yn gynghrair eang o bryder. Nid yw'n fater pleidiol wleidyddol yn unig. Mae amrywiaeth o bobl ar draws y sbectrwm gwleidyddol sydd, am wahanol resymau, yn gofidio'n fawr iawn am y Bil hwn. A byddwn yn dweud wrtho nad yw'n rhy hwyr i wrando ar y geiriau hynny ac i wrthdroi ei safbwynt ar y Bil hwn.
Thank you very much. And that brings us to the end of the speakers for that item. Therefore, there is no further business, so that brings today's proceedings to a close. Thank you very much.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Ac mae hynny'n dod â ni i ddiwedd y siaradwyr ar gyfer yr eitem yna. Felly, nid oes rhagor o fusnes, felly daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:50.
The meeting ended at 18:50.