Y Cyfarfod Llawn - Y Bumed Senedd
Plenary - Fifth Senedd
22/09/2020Cynnwys
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 yn y Siambr a thrwy 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 jest eisiau nodi ychydig o bwyntiau. Mae 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 yr agenda. 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'r Aelodau sydd yn y Siambr ag i'r rhai sydd yn ymuno drwy gyswllt fideo.
Welcome to this Plenary session. Before we begin, I just want to set out a few points. A Plenary meeting held using video-conference, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Welsh Parliament, constitute 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, and these are noted on the agenda. And I would remind Members that Standing Orders relating to order in Plenary meetings apply to this meeting, and apply equally to Members in the Chamber and those joining virtually.
Ac, felly, dyma ni'n cyrraedd eitem gyntaf ein hagenda ni'r prynhawn yma, sef y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Angela Burns.
And that brings us to our first item this afternoon, namely questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Angela Burns.
1. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog amlinellu'r broses ar gyfer dewis safleoedd i roi llety dros dro i ffoaduriaid sy'n aros i'w hachosion lloches gael eu clywed? OQ55568
1. Will the First Minister outline the process by which sites are selected to temporarily accommodate refugees waiting for their asylum cases to be heard? OQ55568
Llywydd, the Welsh Government has no responsibility for the process to which the Member refers. The present Home Office makes such selections without reference to local or devolved democratic authorities.
Llywydd, nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru unrhyw gyfrifoldeb am y broses y mae'r Aelod yn cyfeirio ati. Mae'r Swyddfa Gartref bresennol yn gwneud dewisiadau o'r fath heb gyfeirio at awdurdodau democrataidd lleol na datganoledig.
Thank you for that, First Minister. We all know that the flow of people seeking asylum is building, and I understand that the Home Office, whilst facing a deluge, needed to act quickly. But, in my view, mistakes have been made, and communication from the Home Office was very late in the day and very poor. I've put my concerns in a very detailed letter to the Home Secretary and to members of the Home Office. I am concerned that west Wales is not well suited to be a reception centre for asylum seekers to be processed, simply because we no longer, or we do not at the moment, have the infrastructure, capacity and capability to process people in a way that it is fitting, dignified and respectful to them. And we are wanting that support. I've asked the Home Office for money for additional human resource, and I wonder, First Minister, what the Welsh Government may be able to do.
Unfortunately, we saw some shocking scenes last night at Penally camp of elements coming in from away—not Pembrokeshire people; Pembrokeshire people are warm and welcoming, and we want to do our best by these people, who've already been through a really traumatic time. But if you look at the video, which you can find on the The Pembrokeshire Herald website, absolutely shocking scenes occurred, with people bussed in from outside with very unpleasant political agendas. First Minister, what are you able to do as a Welsh Government to either help put pressure on the Home Office to give the financial and human resources that our local services need to provide the right support for these people, and to aid our police—our hard-pressed local policing units—to ensure that disorder does not break out and people are not threatened, no matter which side of that camp they're in?
Diolch am hynna, Prif Weinidog. Rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod bod llif y bobl sy'n ceisio lloches yn cynyddu, ac rwy'n deall y bu angen i'r Swyddfa Gartref, gan wynebu dilyw, weithredu yn gyflym. Ond, yn fy marn i, mae camgymeriadau wedi eu gwneud, ac roedd cyfathrebiad gan y Swyddfa Gartref yn hwyr iawn yn y dydd ac yn wael iawn. Rwyf i wedi mynegi fy mhryderon mewn llythyr manwl iawn at yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref ac at aelodau'r Swyddfa Gartref. Rwy'n pryderu nad yw gorllewin Cymru yn addas iawn i fod yn ganolfan dderbyn i geiswyr lloches gael eu prosesu, a hynny'n syml am nad oes gennym ni'r seilwaith, y capasiti na'r gallu mwyach, neu ddim ar hyn o bryd, i brosesu pobl mewn ffordd sy'n briodol, ac yn dangos urddas a pharch tuag atyn nhw. Ac rydym ni eisiau'r cymorth hwnnw. Rwyf i wedi gofyn i'r Swyddfa Gartref am arian ar gyfer adnoddau dynol ychwanegol, ac rwy'n meddwl tybed, Prif Weinidog, beth y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud.
Yn anffodus, gwelsom olygfeydd brawychus neithiwr yng ngwersyll Penalun o elfennau yn dod i mewn o'r tu allan—nid pobl Sir Benfro; mae pobl Sir Benfro yn wresog a chroesawgar, ac rydym ni eisiau gwneud ein gorau i'r bobl hyn, sydd eisoes wedi bod trwy gyfnod trawmatig iawn. Ond os edrychwch chi ar y fideo, sydd i'w weld ar wefan Herald Sir Benfro, cafwyd golygfeydd hollol frawychus, gyda phobl yn dod i mewn ar fysiau o'r tu allan gydag agendâu gwleidyddol annymunol iawn. Prif Weinidog, beth allwch chi ei wneud fel Llywodraeth Cymru naill ai i helpu i roi pwysau ar y Swyddfa Gartref i roi'r adnoddau ariannol a dynol sydd eu hangen ar ein gwasanaethau lleol i ddarparu'r cymorth cywir i'r bobl hyn, ac i gynorthwyo ein heddlu—ein hunedau plismona lleol sydd dan bwysau—i sicrhau na cheir anhrefn ac nad yw pobl dan fygythiad, ni waeth pa ochr i'r gwersyll hwnnw y maen nhw ynddo?
Well, Llywydd, I thank Angela Burns for those important questions. I share many of her concerns. A military camp is not a suitable place to house people who have fled from conflict and war in other parts of the world. I wrote to the Home Secretary on Friday of last week. I received a reply on Monday, so it was a very swift reply. It wasn't from the Home Secretary though; it was from a junior Minister in the department. In my letter, I asked very specifically for a two-week delay in the plan to house asylum seekers in Penally, in order that proper planning and proper services could be put in place. And I don't think anybody could argue that that has been done in a satisfactory way. Unfortunately, the reply declined that request. I asked in my letter to the Home Secretary for specific assurances that funding would be provided to the local authority and to the local health board. We're talking about relatively small, rural authorities who have no capacity to deal, from their own resources, with the demands that will now be placed upon them. Here was the reply:
'The Home Office will not provide additional funding in connection with any of the accommodation that is provided for asylum seekers'.
So, an utter blanket refusal to provide any additional funds, either for Pembrokeshire County Council or for Hywel Dda University Health Board. And the letter went on to say that work on an agreed communications plan is in progress. Well, really, that is nonsensical, isn't it? 'Communications plan is in progress', when there are hundreds of people protesting already in Tenby over the weekend, and the ugly scenes that the Member referred to yesterday. The Home Office did not put out a single line to reassure the local population, to explain why they are doing what they are doing.
Now, I want to endorse very much what Angela Burns said—Wales is a nation of sanctuary. When there are people who, through no decision of their own, arrive in Wales, then we want to make sure that they are well looked after and welcomed. The way in which the Home Office has gone about its decision in relation to Penally makes all of that far more difficult than it needed to have been. And while we will take part in any of the conversations and any of the groups that are set up to try to improve the position, the general approach needs rapidly to improve in order to avoid a repetition of the scenes that we saw last night, and to make sure that the people who will be housed in that camp are able to be properly looked after, and the concerns—the legitimate concerns—of that local community that deserve to be properly addressed, can be communicated to them, and to draw them into the process rather than them simply being spectators of it.
Wel, Llywydd, diolchaf i Angela Burns am y cwestiynau pwysig yna. Rwy'n rhannu llawer o'i phryderon. Nid yw gwersyll milwrol yn lle addas i gartrefu pobl sydd wedi dianc o wrthdaro a rhyfel mewn rhannau eraill o'r byd. Ysgrifennais at yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref ddydd Gwener yr wythnos diwethaf. Cefais ateb ddydd Llun, felly roedd yn ateb cyflym iawn. Ond nid oedd oddi wrth yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref; roedd oddi wrth Weinidog iau yn yr adran. Yn fy llythyr, gofynnais yn benodol iawn am oedi o bythefnos yn y cynllun i gartrefu ceiswyr lloches ym Mhenalun, er mwyn gallu cynllunio yn briodol a rhoi gwasanaethau priodol ar waith. Ac nid wyf i'n credu y gallai unrhyw un ddadlau bod hynny wedi ei wneud mewn ffordd foddhaol. Yn anffodus, gwrthododd yr ateb y cais hwnnw. Gofynnais yn fy llythyr at yr Ysgrifennydd Cartref am sicrwydd penodol y byddai cyllid yn cael ei ddarparu i'r awdurdod lleol ac i'r bwrdd iechyd lleol. Rydym ni'n sôn am awdurdodau cymharol fach, gwledig nad yw'r capasiti ganddyn nhw i ymdopi, o'u hadnoddau eu hunain, â'r galwadau a fydd yn cael eu rhoi arnyn nhw nawr. Dyma'r ateb:
Ni fydd y Swyddfa Gartref yn darparu cyllid ychwanegol mewn cysylltiad ag unrhyw ran o'r llety a ddarperir ar gyfer ceiswyr lloches.
Felly, gwrthodiad cyffredinol llwyr i ddarparu unrhyw arian ychwanegol, naill ai i Gyngor Sir Penfro nac i Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda. Ac aeth y llythyr ymlaen i ddweud bod gwaith ar gynllun cyfathrebu y cytunwyd arno ar y gweill. Wel, mewn gwirionedd, mae hynny'n nonsens, onid yw? 'Mae cynllun cyfathrebu ar y gweill', pan fo cannoedd o bobl eisoes yn protestio yn Ninbych-y-pysgod dros y penwythnos, a'r golygfeydd annymunol y cyfeiriodd yr Aelod atyn nhw ddoe. Ni roddodd y Swyddfa Gartref yr un llinell i dawelu meddyliau'r boblogaeth leol, i esbonio pam maen nhw'n gwneud yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud.
Nawr, hoffwn ategu yn llwyr yr hyn a ddywedodd Angela Burns—mae Cymru yn genedl noddfa. Pan fo pobl yn cyrraedd Cymru, nid trwy unrhyw benderfyniad ganddyn nhw eu hunain, yna rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n derbyn gofal da ac yn cael eu croesawu. Mae'r ffordd y mae'r Swyddfa Gartref wedi mynd ati i wneud ei phenderfyniad o ran Penalun yn gwneud hynny i gyd yn llawer anoddach nag yr oedd angen iddo fod. Ac er y byddwn ni'n cymryd rhan mewn unrhyw un o'r sgyrsiau ac unrhyw un o'r grwpiau a sefydlir i geisio gwella'r sefyllfa, mae angen gwella'r dull cyffredinol yn gyflym er mwyn osgoi ailadrodd y golygfeydd a welsom ni neithiwr, ac i wneud yn siŵr bod y bobl a fydd yn cael eu cartrefu yn y gwersyll hwnnw yn gallu derbyn gofal priodol, ac y gellir cyfleu pryderon—pryderon dilys—y gymuned leol honno sy'n haeddu cael sylw priodol, iddyn nhw, a'u tynnu i mewn i'r broses yn hytrach na gadael iddyn nhw ei gwylio o'r tu allan.
Can I begin by thanking the First Minister, in his response to Angela Burns, for reiterating the point that Wales is a nation of sanctuary and we want to make people welcome and we want to make sure that they receive the support that they need?
I was, Llywydd, shocked by what the First Minister has said about the Home Office's response, and it is quite unusual for me to be shocked by the way this Westminster Government conducts itself. But this is particularly serious. These are very vulnerable people who have seen and been through horrible experiences, and the fact that they then find themselves at the receiving end of unpleasant behaviour when they get here is heartbreaking. I would agree with Angela Burns, and as the First Minister has already said—those people causing trouble in Penally last night were not typical of the Pembrokeshire community. Much more typical of the Pembrokeshire community were the people celebrating and welcoming asylum seekers on the beach at Tenby at the weekend, and it was very good to see them there.
I fully appreciate that it is not the First Minister's responsibility to make provision for our new neighbours in Penally, but I'm sure that he will agree with me, and he has said himself, that there will be pressures on local services. In the face of what appears to be a completely obdurate position from the UK Government on this, is there anything further that the Welsh Government can do to discuss with local service providers what additional support they may need, fully accepting that it should be the Home Office's job to provide it? But if that isn't possible, will the First Minister be able to work with local services to try and allay some of the fears and concerns that local people may have about pressures on services, and to make sure that these asylum seekers are welcome here in our country?
A gaf i ddechrau drwy ddiolch i'r Prif Weinidog, yn ei ymateb i Angela Burns, am ailadrodd y pwynt bod Cymru yn genedl noddfa a'n bod ni eisiau croesawu pobl a'n bod ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnyn nhw?
Cefais fy syfrdanu, Llywydd, gan yr hyn y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ei ddweud am ymateb y Swyddfa Gartref, ac mae'n eithaf anarferol i mi gael fy syfrdanu gan y ffordd y mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn San Steffan yn ymddwyn. Ond mae hyn yn arbennig o ddifrifol. Mae'r rhain yn bobl agored iawn i niwed sydd wedi gweld a byw profiadau erchyll, ac mae'r ffaith eu bod nhw wedyn yn canfod eu hunain yn dioddef ymddygiad annymunol pan eu bod nhw'n cyrraedd yma yn dorcalonnus. Rwyf yn cytuno ag Angela Burns, ac fel y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi ei ddweud eisoes—nid oedd y bobl hynny a oedd yn achosi trafferth ym Mhenalun neithiwr yn nodweddiadol o gymuned Sir Benfro. Roedd y bobl a oedd yn dathlu ac yn croesawu ceiswyr lloches ar y traeth yn Ninbych-y-pysgod dros y penwythnos yn llawer mwy nodweddiadol o gymuned Sir Benfro, ac roedd yn dda iawn eu gweld nhw yno.
Rwy'n llwyr sylweddoli nad cyfrifoldeb y Prif Weinidog yw darparu ar gyfer ein cymdogion newydd ym Mhenalun, ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn cytuno â mi, ac mae wedi dweud ei hun, y bydd pwysau ar wasanaethau lleol. Yn wyneb yr hyn sy'n ymddangos yn safbwynt gwbl galongaled gan Lywodraeth y DU ar hyn, a oes unrhyw beth arall y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei wneud i drafod gyda darparwyr gwasanaethau lleol pa gymorth ychwanegol y gallai fod ei angen arnyn nhw, gan dderbyn yn llwyr mai cyfrifoldeb y Swyddfa Gartref ddylai fod ei ddarparu? Ond os nad yw hynny'n bosibl, a fydd y Prif Weinidog yn gallu gweithio gyda gwasanaethau lleol i geisio lleddfu rhai o'r ofnau a'r pryderon sydd gan bobl leol am bwysau ar wasanaethau, a gwneud yn siŵr bod croeso i'r ceiswyr lloches hyn yma yn ein gwlad ni?
Llywydd, I thank Helen Mary Jones for those points. Yes, of course, the Welsh Government will work alongside the local authority, the local health board, and the local police service in the difficult job they now need to do. And where we're able to mobilise assistance on their behalf, where we're able to make cases on their behalf, then of course we will be very keen to do that. Our understanding of the Home Office's plan is that the people who will be housed at the camp will, in time, be dispersed to the four main dispersal areas across Wales—that they will live in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham. So, our wish to welcome them to Wales is a long-term commitment to those people's welfare and well-being, and we want to make sure that that can be properly discharged. I think one of the most disturbing features of the whole episode is the way the Home Office's handling of it has led to Tenby becoming a target for hard-right extremist groups from right across the United Kingdom who've heard about this and who think that this is a cause that they can latch on to and exploit. Those people are not welcome in Wales, and I hope that we will soon be in a position to make sure that the police take the action that is necessary to make sure that they cannot inflame local sentiments and that they understand that their presence in Wales is not one that is welcome by us.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Helen Mary Jones am y pwyntiau yna. Bydd, wrth gwrs, y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio ochr yn ochr â'r awdurdod lleol, y bwrdd iechyd lleol, a'r gwasanaeth heddlu lleol yn y gwaith anodd y mae angen iddyn nhw ei wneud nawr. A phan allwn ni fwstro cymorth ar eu rhan, pan allwn ni wneud achos ar eu rhan, yna wrth gwrs byddwn yn awyddus iawn i wneud hynny. Ein dealltwriaeth o gynllun y Swyddfa Gartref yw y bydd y bobl a fydd yn cael eu cartrefu yn y gwersyll yn cael eu gwasgaru, ymhen amser, i'r pedair prif ardal wasgaru ledled Cymru—y byddan nhw'n byw yng Nghaerdydd, yng Nghasnewydd, yn Abertawe ac yn Wrecsam. Felly, mae ein dymuniad i'w croesawu i Gymru yn ymrwymiad hirdymor er les a llesiant y bobl hynny, ac rydym ni eisiau gwneud yn siŵr y gellir cyflawni hynny yn briodol. Rwy'n credu mai un o nodweddion mwyaf annymunol yr holl ddigwyddiad yw bod y ffordd y mae'r Swyddfa Gartref wedi ymdrin ag ef wedi arwain at Ddinbych-y-pysgod yn dod yn darged i grwpiau adain dde eithafol o bob rhan o'r Deyrnas Unedig sydd wedi clywed am hyn ac sy'n credu bod hwn yn achos y gallan nhw ymgysylltu ag ef a chamfanteisio arno. Nid oes croeso i'r bobl hynny yng Nghymru, a gobeithiaf y byddwn ni mewn sefyllfa yn fuan i wneud yn siŵr bod yr heddlu yn cymryd y camau sy'n angenrheidiol i wneud yn siŵr na allan nhw gynhyrfu teimladau lleol a'u bod nhw'n deall nad yw eu presenoldeb yng Nghymru yn un a groesewir gennym ni.
Neil Hamilton. You're mute, Neil Hamilton; you're muted.
Neil Hamilton. nid yw eich meicroffon ymlaen, Neil Hamilton; nid yw eich meicroffon ymlaen.
Diolch, Llywydd. Isn't the truth of the matter that none of the people who are going to be housed at Penally is likely to be qualified for asylum in this country, because they've come from a safe country, in France, because they've all, as I understand it, arrived on small boats on the shores of Kent? Eighty one per cent of those who have arrived in 2020 on the shores of Kent have been said, by the Home Office, to have no credible claim to asylum, although only 2 per cent have actually been removed. So, isn't the cause of the problem that we've got today, first of all, incompetence on the part of the British Government, because they've completely lost control of our borders, but, secondly, irresponsibility on the part of the Welsh Government for its piece of virtue signalling in calling Wales a 'nation of sanctuary'? Because, ultimately, if race relations are to be preserved in this country, it's got to be on the basis of managed and controlled migration and genuine asylum claims, and not bogus ones.
Diolch, Llywydd. Onid y gwir am y mater yw nad oes yr un o'r bobl sy'n mynd i gael eu cartrefu ym Mhenalun yn debygol o fod yn gymwys i gael lloches yn y wlad hon, gan eu bod nhw wedi dod o wlad ddiogel, yn Ffrainc, oherwydd eu bod nhw i gyd, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, wedi cyrraedd ar gychod bach ar lannau Caint? Mae'r Swyddfa Gartref wedi dweud nad oes gan 81 y cant o'r rhai sydd wedi cyrraedd yn 2020 ar lannau Caint, unrhyw hawl credadwy i loches, er mai dim ond 2 y cant sydd wedi cael eu symud mewn gwirionedd. Felly, onid achos y broblem sydd gennym ni heddiw, yn gyntaf oll, yw anallu ar ran Llywodraeth Prydain, gan eu bod nhw wedi colli rheolaeth dros ein ffiniau yn llwyr, ond, yn ail, anghyfrifoldeb ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru am ei darn o orbwysleisio rhinweddau drwy alw Cymru yn 'genedl noddfa'? Oherwydd, yn y pen draw, os yw cysylltiadau hiliol yn mynd i gael eu cynnal yn y wlad hon, mae'n rhaid i hynny fod ar sail ymfudo wedi'i reoli a cheisiadau dilys am loches, ac nid rhai ffug.
Well, Llywydd, we hear echoes of the Member's long history in support of apartheid South Africa in the remarks he's made this afternoon. To describe Wales's ambition to be a nation of sanctuary as irresponsible simply beggars belief. I'm shocked to hear it even from him, and he has no knowledge whatsoever of where people who will be housed at this camp are coming from—none of us do. Almost all of them are yet to arrive. So, as ever, it is his bogus claims, his attempt to exploit a situation to peddle a line that he finds politically convenient that we've heard this afternoon. It's disgraceful.
Wel, Llywydd, clywn adleisiau o hanes maith yr Aelod o gefnogi apartheid De Affrica yn y sylwadau y mae wedi eu gwneud y prynhawn yma. Mae dweud bod uchelgais Cymru i fod yn genedl noddfa yn anghyfrifol yn anghredadwy. Rwy'n synnu clywed hynny, hyd yn oed ganddo ef, ac nid oes ganddo unrhyw wybodaeth o gwbl o ble y mae pobl a fydd yn cael eu cartrefu yn y gwersyll hwn yn dod—nid oes gan yr un ohonom ni. Mae bron pob un ohonyn nhw heb gyrraedd eto. Felly, fel erioed, ei honiadau ffug, ei ymgais i fanteisio ar sefyllfa i gyfleu neges sy'n wleidyddol gyfleus iddo yr ydym ni wedi eu clywed y prynhawn yma. Mae hynny'n warthus.
2. Sut yr effeithiwyd ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus drawsffiniol yn ystod pandemig COVID-19? OQ55539
2. How has cross-border public transport been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic? OQ55539
Llywydd, public transport in cross-border areas has been affected in the same ways as such services more generally. I know Members in the Chamber will want to pay tribute to those operators and public transport workers who have done so much to maintain a core network of services during this crisis.
Llywydd, mae cludiant cyhoeddus mewn ardaloedd trawsffiniol wedi cael ei heffeithio yn yr un ffyrdd â gwasanaethau o'r fath yn fwy cyffredinol. Gwn y bydd Aelodau yn y Siambr eisiau talu teyrnged i'r gweithredwyr a'r gweithwyr cludiant cyhoeddus hynny sydd wedi gwneud cymaint i gynnal rhwydwaith craidd o wasanaethau yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn.
Thank you, First Minister, for your reply. Both the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales have rightfully said that no child should be left behind or have to change the pattern of their important return to education. But we do have a situation where Transport for Wales have made a number of changes to the Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury service, and the effects have meant that students in Montgomeryshire have had their travel to Shrewsbury disrupted, for education purposes. In fairness to Transport for Wales, they've put a number of bus services on, but often those are not viable because there are extended journey times and often the buses arrive after the beginning of courses. Now, as I understand it, the cancellation seems to be in regard to concern over staff safety on some of those services.
This does continue to be quite distressing for younger people, and I am sure you will agree with me that it's an anxious time for young people as they return to school and college. I'd be grateful if you could discuss this situation with your colleagues and see how Transport for Wales can indeed be supported by the Government in order to reinstate some of these services for younger people, for their education in Shrewsbury.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am eich ateb. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi dweud yn briodol na ddylai unrhyw blentyn gael ei adael ar ôl na gorfod newid patrwm ei ddychweliad pwysig i addysg. Ond mae gennym ni sefyllfa lle mae Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi gwneud nifer o newidiadau i'r gwasanaeth Aberystwyth i Amwythig, ac mae'r effeithiau wedi golygu y tarfwyd ar deithiau myfyrwyr yn Sir Drefaldwyn i Amwythig, at ddibenion addysg. Er tegwch i Trafnidiaeth Cymru, maen nhw wedi cynnig nifer o wasanaethau bysiau, ond yn aml nid yw'r rheini yn ymarferol gan fod amseroedd teithio estynedig ac yn aml mae'r bysiau yn cyrraedd ar ôl i'r cyrsiau ddechrau. Nawr, yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae'n ymddangos bod y penderfyniad i ganslo yn ymwneud â phryder ynghylch diogelwch staff ar rai o'r gwasanaethau hynny.
Mae hyn yn parhau i beri cryn ofid i bobl iau, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n cytuno â mi ei fod yn gyfnod pryderus i bobl ifanc wrth iddyn nhw ddychwelyd i'r ysgol a'r coleg. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech chi drafod y sefyllfa hon gyda'ch cyd-Weinidogion a gweld sut y gall Trafnidiaeth Cymru gael ei gynorthwyo mewn gwirionedd gan y Llywodraeth er mwyn ailgyflwyno rhai o'r gwasanaethau hyn i bobl iau, ar gyfer eu haddysg yn Amwythig.
Llywydd, I thank Russell George for raising these points, and I know of his previous concerns about them. I think Members will be reassured to know that Transport for Wales has reinstated the 06:29 service in the morning from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury. It was reinstated on 14 September. The Llywydd, of course, will be aware of that. That is the key train service to take young people for education into Shrewsbury.
Now, it is true, as Russell George has said, that that train service is sometimes filled to a point where it is not safe to allow further passengers onto the route. And in those circumstances, Transport for Wales has extra bus capacity on standby should it be needed. Now, of course Russell George is right that, at the furthest point, that bus journey does take 45 minutes longer than the train journey would. The excess is reduced the closer young people get to Shrewsbury. But in the current circumstances, where coronavirus remains, as we've heard yesterday and today, on the rise, making sure the trains are not overcrowded and young people and other passengers put at risk is very important, and that extra bus capacity, which is there every day should it be needed, is, I think, at the moment a proportionate way to make sure, as we would all wish to see, that no young person is unable to access the education that is so important to them.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Russell George am godi'r pwyntiau hyn, a gwn am ei bryderon blaenorol yn eu cylch. Rwy'n credu y bydd y ffaith fod Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi ailgyflwyno'r gwasanaeth 06:29 yn y bore o Aberystwyth i Amwythig yn tawelu meddwl yr Aelodau. Cafodd ei ailgyflwyno ar 14 Medi. Bydd y Llywydd, wrth gwrs, yn ymwybodol o hynny. Dyna'r gwasanaeth trên allweddol i gludo pobl ifanc ar gyfer addysg i Amwythig.
Nawr, mae'n wir, fel y dywedodd Russell George, bod y gwasanaeth trenau hwnnw weithiau wedi ei lenwi i bwynt lle nad yw'n ddiogel caniatáu rhagor o deithwyr ar y llwybr. Ac o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny, mae gan Trafnidiaeth Cymru gapasiti bysiau ychwanegol wrth gefn pe byddai ei angen. Nawr, wrth gwrs mae Russell George yn iawn bod y daith bws honno, yn y man pellaf, yn cymryd 45 munud yn hwy nag y byddai'r daith trên. Mae'r amser ychwanegol yn lleihau yr agosaf y bydd pobl ifanc at Amwythig. Ond o dan yr amgylchiadau presennol, lle mae coronfeirws yn parhau, fel y clywsom ddoe a heddiw, ar gynnydd, mae gwneud yn siŵr nad yw'r trenau yn orlawn a bod pobl ifanc a theithwyr eraill yn cael eu rhoi mewn perygl yn bwysig iawn, ac rwy'n credu bod y capasiti bws ychwanegol hwnnw, sydd yno bob dydd pe byddai ei angen, ar hyn o bryd yn ffordd gymesur o wneud yn siŵr, fel y byddem ni i gyd yn dymuno ei weld, nad oes unrhyw berson ifanc nad yw'n gallu cael mynediad at yr addysg sydd mor bwysig iddyn nhw.
First Minister, prior to this morning it had been many months before that the Prime Minister of the UK had called a COBRA meeting with the devolved leaders across the United Kingdom's family of nations. Would issues of cross-border transport during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as on many other matters, be far better served by regular and routine communication between the relevant Governments in England and Wales? How can the Welsh Government continue to encourage the UK Government that it is good to talk?
Prif Weinidog, cyn y bore yma, bu'n fisoedd lawer cyn hynny ers i Brif Weinidog y DU alw cyfarfod COBRA gyda'r arweinyddion datganoledig ar draws teulu gwledydd y Deyrnas Unedig. A fyddai materion trafnidiaeth drawsffiniol yn ystod pandemig COVID-19, yn ogystal â llawer o faterion eraill, yn cael sylw llawer gwell trwy gyfathrebu rheolaidd a mater o drefn rhwng y Llywodraethau perthnasol yng Nghymru a Lloegr? Sut gall Llywodraeth Cymru barhau i annog Llywodraeth y DU ei bod yn dda i siarad?
I thank the Member for that. I was very glad that there was a COBRA meeting today. I was glad to have a telephone call with the Prime Minister yesterday. The point I made to him then, and again in the COBRA meeting today, is that we need a regular and reliable pattern of engagement between the four nations of the United Kingdom. Ad hoc, last-minute, paperless meetings are not sufficient for us to be able to respond to the crisis as it is continuing to develop. I was reassured that the Prime Minister said in the COBRA meeting that they would now be properly reinstated. That will give us all an opportunity to discuss matters. Public transport was raised briefly, as Rhianon Passmore has suggested, during today's COBRA meeting. A regular, reliable rhythm of meetings, in which we all know when we will have opportunities to share information, to look at the latest analysis, to pool ideas and then to make decisions that are right for the different nations of the United Kingdom, I think is at the centre of the way that we can get through all of this in the best possible way together.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn y bu cyfarfod COBRA heddiw. Roeddwn i'n falch o gael galwad ffôn gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU ddoe. Y pwynt a wnes iddo bryd hynny, ac eto yn y cyfarfod COBRA heddiw, yw ein bod ni angen patrwm ymgysylltu rheolaidd a dibynadwy rhwng pedair gwlad y Deyrnas Unedig. Nid yw cyfarfodydd ad hoc, munud olaf, di-bapur yn ddigon i ni allu ymateb i'r argyfwng wrth iddo barhau i ddatblygu. Fe'm sicrhawyd bod Prif Weinidog y DU wedi dweud yn y cyfarfod COBRA y bydden nhw'n cael eu hailgyflwyno yn iawn nawr. Bydd hynny yn rhoi cyfle i ni i gyd drafod pethau. Codwyd cludiant cyhoeddus yn gryno, fel yr awgrymodd Rhianon Passmore, yn ystod cyfarfod COBRA heddiw. Rwy'n credu bod rhythm rheolaidd, dibynadwy o gyfarfodydd, lle'r ydym ni i gyd yn gwybod pryd y byddwn yn cael cyfleoedd i rannu gwybodaeth, i edrych ar y dadansoddiad diweddaraf, i gyfuno syniadau ac yna i wneud penderfyniadau sy'n iawn i wahanol wledydd y Deyrnas Unedig, yn ganolog i'r ffordd y gallwn ni gael drwy hyn i gyd yn y ffordd orau bosibl gyda'n gilydd.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.
Questions now from the party leaders. Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. Could the First Minister present to the Senedd the Government's proposals in terms of the changes to coronavirus restrictions, as the Prime Minister has just done as regards England in the last hour, and the First Minister of Scotland is shortly to do in the Scottish Parliament? And in doing so, could he say whether he agrees with what the opposition parties in Westminster have been saying—that while the UK health Minister has emphasised a lack of public adherence to the rules in getting us to this point, it's also true that there have been some policy mistakes, which have contributed to getting to this position? Which begs two questions, really: what has gone wrong that needs to be put right? What are the lessons that we've learned? And what's the Government's vision and plan in terms of the next six months? Is it a succession of releasing restrictions and then reimposing them, and doing it again? If so, we should be honest about that. If it isn't, then how can we use this phase to build up the resilience so that we don't have a third and fourth period of lockdown?
Diolch, Llywydd. A allai'r Prif Weinidog gyflwyno cynigion y Llywodraeth i'r Senedd o ran y newidiadau i gyfyngiadau coronafeirws, fel y mae Prif Weinidog y DU newydd ei wneud o ran Lloegr yn yr awr ddiwethaf, ac y bydd Prif Weinidog yr Alban yn ei wneud cyn bo hir yn Senedd yr Alban? Ac wrth wneud hynny, a allai ddweud a yw'n cytuno â'r hyn y mae'r gwrthbleidiau yn San Steffan wedi bod yn ei ddweud—sef er bod Gweinidog iechyd y DU wedi pwysleisio diffyg cydymffurfiad y cyhoedd â'r rheolau wrth ddod â ni i'r pwynt hwn, ei bod hefyd yn wir y bu rhai camgymeriadau polisi, sydd wedi cyfrannu at gyrraedd y sefyllfa hon? Sy'n codi dau gwestiwn, mewn gwirionedd: beth sydd wedi mynd o'i le y mae angen ei gywiro? Beth yw'r gwersi yr ydym ni wedi eu dysgu? A beth yw gweledigaeth a chynllun y Llywodraeth o ran y chwe mis nesaf? A yw'n olyniaeth o lacio cyfyngiadau ac yna eu hailgyflwyno, a gwneud hynny eto? Os felly, dylem fod yn onest am hynny. Os nad yw, yna sut gallwn ni ddefnyddio'r cyfnod hwn i gynyddu'r cydnerthedd fel nad ydym ni'n cael trydydd a phedwerydd cyfnod o gyfyngiadau symud?
Llywydd, I thank Adam Price for that. I caught some of what the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons but not quite all of it. I think it's important to remind colleagues that we start in a very different place in Wales. Our approach to unlocking coronavirus restrictions has been at a different pace and in a different way to that across our border. Many of the things that the Prime Minister is talking about doing today we have already done in Wales. So, in the part of his statement that I heard, he was talking about encouraging people again to work from home. Well, we have never, ever in Wales suggested anything else than that. We have never gone down the line of saying that people should get back on the bus and get back into work. Our advice has always been that, if you can work successfully from home, that is what you should do. We will reinforce that message today, but the message in Wales has never changed.
I heard the Prime Minister say that matters that are in guidelines in England are going to be put in regulations. Well, we've always made greater use of regulations here. Very early on, we put the 2m distance in the workplace into our regulations. It's not been in guidance in Wales; it's been a legal obligation on employers, and that's made a difference. When we published guidance to the hospitality industry, then our regulations require the person in charge of such a setting to have due regard for that guidance. So, we've already done that differently. The Prime Minister is going to tighten the rule of six, well, our rule of six has been tighter all along. You can only meet somebody from your extended household, not six people from any old household who could meet indoors. And I heard him say that he was going to halt pilots in the arts and sports world. Well, reluctantly, we halted our pilots 10 days ago. We had three successful pilots and we were hoping that, in this three weeks, we could have done more. We decided 10 days ago that things were too difficult for us to be able to do that. So, we start in a different place. There are things that we will be considering during the day. We will be talking with our colleagues in local government, in the health service, in public health and in the police about the additional measures that we might be able to take, but we will do it, as ever, with our partners. We will plan and then we will make an announcement.
Across Wales, Llywydd, I think the majority of people continue to very carefully and very scrupulously observe the rules. They want to do the right thing and they want to know what the right thing is to do. There is a small minority of people who, somehow, took the message for the summer, when we were reducing restrictions, that coronavirus was over. Those are the people we have to convince that they need to go back to observing all the things that they were doing earlier in the summer, and that will mean that the effort across Wales will be strengthened again. That will be my message to people in Wales today. I agree with what Adam Price said: this does not have to be the pattern for the future, but if it's not to be, that depends crucially not simply on what Government does but on what every citizen in their own life does in order to make that collective effort that I think has been characteristic of the response in Wales.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Adam Price am hynna. Fe wnes i ddal rhywfaint o'r hyn a ddywedodd Prif Weinidog y DU yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin ond nid y cwbl. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig atgoffa cyd-Aelodau ein bod ni'n dechrau mewn sefyllfa wahanol iawn yng Nghymru. Mae ein dull o lacio cyfyngiadau coronafeirws wedi bod ar wahanol gyflymder ac mewn gwahanol ffordd i'r hyn a wnaed dros ein ffin. Rydym ni eisoes wedi gwneud llawer o'r pethau y mae Prif Weinidog y DU yn sôn am eu gwneud heddiw yng Nghymru. Felly, yn y rhan o'i ddatganiad a glywais, roedd yn sôn am annog pobl unwaith eto i weithio gartref. Wel, nid ydym ni erioed wedi awgrymu dim byd arall yn hytrach na hynny yng Nghymru. Nid ydym ni erioed wedi mynd ar y trywydd o ddweud y dylai pobl fynd yn ôl ar y bws a mynd yn ôl i'r gwaith. Ein cyngor ni o'r cychwyn fu os gallwch chi weithio yn llwyddiannus gartref, yna dyna ddylech chi ei wneud. Byddwn yn atgyfnerthu'r neges honno heddiw, ond nid yw'r neges yng Nghymru erioed wedi newid.
Clywais Prif Weinidog y DU yn dweud y bydd materion sydd mewn canllawiau yn Lloegr yn cael eu rhoi mewn rheoliadau. Wel, rydym ni wedi gwneud mwy o ddefnydd o reoliadau yma o'r cychwyn. Yn gynnar iawn, rhoesom y pellter o 2 fedr yn y gweithle yn ein rheoliadau. Nid canllawiau oedden nhw yng Nghymru, ond rhwymedigaeth gyfreithiol ar gyflogwyr, ac mae hynny wedi gwneud gwahaniaeth. Pan gyhoeddwyd canllawiau gennym ar gyfer y diwydiant lletygarwch, yna mae ein rheoliadau yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i'r sawl sy'n gyfrifol am leoliad o'r fath roi sylw dyledus i'r canllawiau hynny. Felly, rydym ni eisoes wedi gwneud hynny mewn modd gwahanol. Mae Prif Weinidog y DU yn mynd i dynhau y rheol chwech, wel, mae ein rheol chwech ni wedi bod yn dynnach o'r cychwyn. Caniateir i chi gyfarfod rhywun o'ch aelwyd estynedig yn unig, nid chwech o bobl o unrhyw hen aelwyd a allai gyfarfod dan do. Ac fe'i clywais yn dweud ei fod yn mynd i atal cynlluniau arbrofol ym myd y celfyddydau a chwaraeon. Wel, yn anfoddog, gohiriwyd ein cynlluniau arbrofol ni 10 diwrnod yn ôl. Cawsom dri chynllun arbrofol llwyddiannus ac roeddem ni'n gobeithio, yn y tair wythnos hon, y gallem ni fod wedi gwneud mwy. Penderfynwyd gennym 10 diwrnod yn ôl bod pethau yn rhy anodd i ni allu gwneud hynny. Felly, rydym ni'n dechrau mewn gwahanol sefyllfa. Ceir pethau y byddwn ni'n eu hystyried yn ystod y dydd. Byddwn yn siarad â'n cydweithwyr mewn llywodraeth leol, yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, ym maes iechyd y cyhoedd ac yn yr heddlu am y mesurau ychwanegol y gallem ni eu cymryd, ond byddwn yn gwneud hynny, fel bob amser, gyda'n partneriaid. Byddwn yn cynllunio ac yna byddwn yn gwneud cyhoeddiad.
Ledled Cymru, Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod y rhan fwyaf o bobl yn parhau i gadw at y rheolau yn ofalus iawn ac yn gydwybodol iawn. Maen nhw eisiau gwneud y peth iawn ac maen nhw eisiau gwybod beth yw'r peth iawn i'w wneud. Ceir lleiafrif bach o bobl a gymerodd y neges rywsut ar gyfer yr haf, pan oeddem ni'n lleihau cyfyngiadau, bod coronafeirws ar ben. Y rheini yw'r bobl y mae'n rhaid i ni eu hargyhoeddi bod angen iddyn nhw ailddechrau gwneud yr holl bethau yr oedden nhw'n eu gwneud yn gynharach yn yr haf, a bydd hynny'n golygu y bydd yr ymdrech ledled Cymru yn cael ei chryfhau unwaith eto. Dyna fydd fy neges i bobl yng Nghymru heddiw. Rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd Adam Price: nid oes yn rhaid i hwn fod yn batrwm ar gyfer y dyfodol, ond os nad yw hynny am fod, mae hynny'n dibynnu yn hollbwysig nid yn unig ar yr hyn y mae'r Llywodraeth yn ei wneud ond ar yr hyn y mae pob dinesydd yn ei fywyd ei hun yn ei wneud er mwyn gwneud yr ymdrech gyfunol honno sydd, rwy'n credu, wedi bod yn nodweddiadol o'r ymateb yng Nghymru.
Can I ask the First Minister that, when the Government has made a decision in terms of any changes that it's going to introduce, it does bring a statement to this Senedd later this afternoon?
We've always supported as decentralised as possible an approach. It may be, of course, that you can reach a point where that is no longer possible and you need to introduce nationwide changes, but could I ask the First Minister to look at the principle of localisation because of the range of situations we see across Wales, and possibly look at reversing the logic, if you like—having an overarching national policy as a default, but then having COVID-free areas and areas of low community transmission that would be exempt from those nationwide changes? This would serve two purposes: it would incentivise continued adherence to the rules in areas of low transmission and increase adherence to the rules in areas of higher transmission. What consideration have you also given to the idea of a UK-wide ban on international travel during this critical period, a ban on non-essential travel from lockdown areas in the rest of the UK into Wales, and the temporary closure of pubs indoors, supported vitally, of course, by sector-specific financial support?
A gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog, pan fydd y Llywodraeth wedi gwneud penderfyniad o ran unrhyw newidiadau y mae'n mynd i'w cyflwyno, ei bod yn dod â datganiad i'r Senedd hon yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma?
Rydym ni wedi cefnogi dull gweithredu mor ddatganoledig â phosibl erioed. Efallai, wrth gwrs, y gallwch chi gyrraedd pwynt lle nad yw hynny'n bosibl mwyach a bod angen i chi gyflwyno newidiadau ledled y wlad, ond a gaf i ofyn i'r Prif Weinidog edrych ar egwyddor lleoleiddio oherwydd yr amrywiaeth o sefyllfaoedd yr ydym ni'n eu gweld ledled Cymru, ac o bosibl ystyried gwrthdroi'r rhesymeg, os mynnwch chi—cael polisi cenedlaethol cyffredin fel rhagosodiad, ond wedyn cael ardaloedd heb COVID ac ardaloedd o drosglwyddiad cymunedol isel a fyddai'n cael eu heithrio o'r newidiadau cenedlaethol hynny? Byddai hyn yn cyflawni dau ddiben: byddai'n cymell cydymffurfiad parhaus â'r rheolau mewn ardaloedd o drosglwyddiad isel ac yn cynyddu cydymffurfiad â'r rheolau mewn ardaloedd o drosglwyddiad uwch. Pa ystyriaeth ydych chi hefyd wedi ei rhoi i'r syniad o waharddiad y DU gyfan ar deithio rhyngwladol yn ystod y cyfnod tyngedfennol hwn, gwaharddiad ar deithio nad yw'n hanfodol o ardaloedd sy'n destun cyfyngiadau symud yng ngweddill y DU i Gymru, a chau tafarndai dan do dros dro, wedi'u hategu yn hanfodol, wrth gwrs, gan gymorth ariannol penodol i sectorau?
Well, Llywydd, I think Adam Price puts his finger on one of the central dilemmas that we face in Wales, because while we have a very difficult situation in a number of local authorities in the south-east Wales corner, today in other parts of Wales, in 10 local authorities in Wales today, the rate of coronavirus was still falling. I've so far not been convinced that we should treat Ceredigion as though it were Caerphilly, because the prevalence of coronavirus in Ceredigion is still at a very low ebb indeed, and it would not be proportionate to place the same level of restrictions on citizens there as we have had to ask people in Caerphilly to observe. So, a blended approach in which we have some important national messages—the work from home message is a national message, the meeting six people indoors from your extended household is a national rule here in Wales. I will want to say something later today about trying to encourage people in Wales only to make those journeys that are really necessary. In Caerphilly and the other local authorities where local lockdown measures are concerned, you can't leave the county borough without a good reason for doing so, but beyond that I think every one of us should be asking ourselves, 'Is that journey really essential?', because the fewer people you meet and the fewer journeys you make, the less danger you are posing to yourself and others. So, I think that that, as a message to people everywhere about minimising travel and staying close to home as much as you are able to, is another brick in a national wall that we can build. After that, I'm still of the same mind as Adam Price suggested that local measures for local circumstances at this point in the virus remain the right response in Wales.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n credu bod Adam Price yn rhoi ei fys ar un o'r penblethau canolog sy'n ein hwynebu yng Nghymru, oherwydd er bod gennym ni sefyllfa anodd iawn mewn nifer o awdurdodau lleol yng nghornel y de-ddwyrain, heddiw mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru, mewn 10 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru heddiw, roedd cyfradd coronafeirws yn dal i ostwng. Hyd yma, nid wyf i wedi fy argyhoeddi y dylem ni drin Ceredigion fel pe byddai'n Gaerffili, oherwydd mae nifer yr achosion o goronfeirws yng Ngheredigion yn dal i fod yn isel dros ben, ac ni fyddai'n gymesur gosod yr un lefel o gyfyngiadau ar ddinasyddion yn y fan honno ag y bu'n rhaid i ni ofyn i bobl yng Nghaerffili eu dilyn. Felly, dull cyfunol lle mae gennym ni rai negeseuon cenedlaethol pwysig—mae'r neges gweithio gartref yn neges genedlaethol, mae cyfarfod chwech o bobl dan do o'ch aelwyd estynedig yn rheol genedlaethol yma yng Nghymru. Byddaf eisiau dweud rhywbeth yn ddiweddarach heddiw am geisio annog pobl yng Nghymru dim ond i wneud y teithiau hynny sy'n wirioneddol angenrheidiol. Yng Nghaerffili a'r awdurdodau lleol eraill lle mae mesurau cyfyngiadau symud lleol ar waith, ni chewch adael y fwrdeistref sirol heb reswm da dros wneud hynny, ond y tu hwnt i hynny rwy'n credu y dylai pob un ohonom ni fod yn gofyn i ni ein hunain, 'A yw'r daith yna wir yn hanfodol?', oherwydd y lleiaf o bobl yr ydych chi'n cyfarfod â nhw a'r lleiaf o deithiau y byddwch chi'n eu gwneud, y lleiaf o berygl yr ydych chi'n ei achosi i chi eich hun ac i eraill. Felly, rwy'n credu bod honno, fel neges i bobl ym mhobman am sicrhau cyn lleied o deithio â phosibl ac aros yn agos i'ch cartref gymaint ag y gallwch, yn fric arall mewn wal genedlaethol y gallwn ni ei hadeiladu. Ar ôl hynny, rwy'n dal i fod o'r un meddwl ag yr awgrymodd Adam Price mai mesurau lleol ar gyfer amgylchiadau lleol ar y pwynt hwn yn y feirws yw'r ymateb cywir yng Nghymru o hyd.
Yes, and that will be the subject of a full statement later this afternoon, First Minister—
Ie, a dyna fydd testun datganiad llawn yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, Prif Weinidog—
Llywydd, I don't want to promise that a statement can be made later this afternoon. The health Minister will be making a statement. If the discussions with the authorities that we need to reach a conclusion on matters are not concluded today, we will take the earliest chance we can to make a statement.
Llywydd, nid wyf i eisiau addo y gellir gwneud datganiad yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma. Bydd y Gweinidog iechyd yn gwneud datganiad. Os na fydd y trafodaethau gyda'r awdurdodau y mae angen i ni ddod i gasgliad ar faterion yn dod i ben heddiw, byddwn yn cymryd y cyfle cyntaf y gallwn i wneud datganiad.
Just very briefly on resilience and testing—I know we've talked about this before—in terms of the lighthouse labs, obviously building up our own capacity is absolutely critical. There's an interesting experiment in the north-east of England, where they've taken a lighthouse lab effectively into public ownership, I suppose you might call it, and also they're targeting it at local authorities and universities, and local private sector working together. Interesting model; could that be applied in Newport and then connected with our own indigenous system? Ventilators was a key theme in the early phase of the coronavirus; ventilation is becoming mission critical as well. Are we going to be providing help for workplaces and public buildings to get better ventilation during this critical phase?
Yn gryno iawn ar gydnerthedd a phrofion—gwn ein bod ni wedi siarad am hyn o'r blaen—o ran y labordai goleudy, mae'n amlwg bod cynyddu ein capasiti ein hunain yn gwbl hanfodol. Ceir arbrawf diddorol yng ngogledd-ddwyrain Lloegr, lle maen nhw i bob pwrpas wedi cymryd labordy goleudy i berchnogaeth gyhoeddus, mae'n debyg y byddech chi'n ei alw, a hefyd maen nhw'n ei dargedu at awdurdodau lleol a phrifysgolion, a'r sector preifat lleol yn cydweithio. Model diddorol; oni ellid defnyddio hwnnw yng Nghasnewydd ac yna ei gysylltu â'n system gynhenid ein hunain? Roedd peiriannau anadlu yn thema allweddol yn ystod cyfnod cynnar y coronafeirws; mae awyru yn dod yn hanfodol i'r genhadaeth hefyd. A ydym ni'n mynd i fod yn darparu cymorth i weithleoedd ac adeiladau cyhoeddus gael gwell systemau awyru yn ystod y cyfnod tyngedfennol hwn?
Llywydd, we had a presentation at COBRA this morning from Dido Harding, the person who is in charge of the testing regime in England. I'm afraid it is going to be a number of weeks, from what I heard, before the lighthouse lab system is back up to the level of performance that we saw only a few weeks ago. In the meantime, there are some local experiments of the sort that Adam Price referred to being undertaken, and we will certainly look to see whether any of that flexibility could be applied in Wales. And, yes, ventilation will be an increasingly important theme as we go into the winter months, where people will be indoors more and where those non-medical interventions that can help to prevent the spread of the disease will be even more important, and the Welsh Government will certainly be emphasising that in the guidance we continue to provide to public authorities and to private businesses.
Llywydd, cawsom gyflwyniad yn COBRA y bore yma gan Dido Harding, y sawl sy'n gyfrifol am y drefn brofi yn Lloegr. Mae arnaf i ofn y bydd hi'n nifer o wythnosau, o'r hyn a glywais, cyn i'r system labordy goleudy fod yn ôl i lefel y perfformiad a welsom ychydig wythnosau yn unig yn ôl. Yn y cyfamser, mae rhai arbrofion lleol o'r math y cyfeiriodd Adam Price atyn nhw yn cael eu cynnal, a byddwn yn sicr yn edrych i weld a ellid defnyddio unrhyw agwedd ar yr hyblygrwydd hwnnw yng Nghymru. A bydd, bydd awyru yn thema gynyddol bwysig wrth i ni gyrraedd misoedd y gaeaf, pan fydd pobl o dan do yn amlach a phan fydd yr ymyraethau anfeddygol hynny a all helpu i atal y clefyd rhag lledaenu hyd yn oed yn bwysicach, a bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicr yn pwysleisio hynny yn y canllawiau yr ydym ni'n parhau i'w darparu i awdurdodau cyhoeddus ac i fusnesau preifat.
Ar ran grŵp y Ceidwadwyr, Suzy Davies.
On behalf of the Welsh Conservatives group, Suzy Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, on the weekend you said that you needed to earn the trust of voters again ahead of the election. Why do you think you've lost voters' trust?
Diolch, Llywydd. Prif Weinidog, dywedasoch dros y penwythnos bod angen i chi ennill ffydd pleidleiswyr unwaith eto cyn yr etholiad. Pam ydych chi'n meddwl eich bod chi wedi colli ffydd pleidleiswyr?
Voters' trust has clearly not been lost in Wales. If the Member troubled to look at any of the surveys, they are showing that levels of trust in the Welsh Government during this pandemic are at extraordinarily high levels—75 per cent and above in the Welsh Government; 45 per cent in the Government that her party runs in Westminster. The point I made, Llywydd, is this: any party in Government has to earn and re-earn trust at any election. For five elections in a row, the Labour Party has earned the trust of people in Wales, and we take nothing of that for granted. We will work as hard as we can to go on earning that trust. I imagine any party that seeks the votes of Welsh electors tries to make sure that they are trusted by them. There's nothing unusual in what I said, and I imagine it refers to much of her party as to any other.
Mae'n amlwg nad yw ffydd pleidleiswyr wedi ei cholli yng Nghymru. Pe byddai'r Aelod yn trafferthu i edrych ar unrhyw un o'r arolygon, maen nhw'n dangos bod lefelau ffydd yn Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystod y pandemig hwn ar lefelau eithriadol o uchel—75 y cant ac uwch yn Llywodraeth Cymru; 45 y cant yn y Llywodraeth y mae ei phlaid hi yn ei rhedeg yn San Steffan. Y pwynt a wnes i, Llywydd, yw hwn: mae'n rhaid i unrhyw blaid mewn Llywodraeth ennill ac adennill ffydd mewn unrhyw etholiad. Mewn pum etholiad yn olynol, mae'r Blaid Lafur wedi ennill ffydd pobl yng Nghymru, ac nid ydym ni'n cymryd dim o hynny yn ganiataol. Byddwn yn gweithio mor galed ag y gallwn ni i barhau i ennill y ffydd honno. Rwy'n tybio bod unrhyw blaid sy'n ceisio cael pleidleisiau etholwyr Cymru yn ceisio gwneud yn siŵr eu bod ganddyn nhw ffydd ynddi. Does dim byd anarferol yn yr hyn a ddywedais, ac rwy'n dychmygu ei fod yn cyfeirio at lawer o'i phlaid hi cymaint ag unrhyw blaid arall.
It's a shame to have such a defensive response to that one; it might have given you the opportunity perhaps in the Chamber today to say some of the things that you claim as achievements. Certainly, I would have appreciated an answer that would have included, perhaps, I don't know, the Labour Member for Bridgend remembering to take his mask to a shop, in accordance with Welsh Government's own rules. But I think there are some more serious issues that you could have addressed in your answer today, Minister, because last week you let it be known that there was an 11-day gap between you finding out about a major leak of 18,000 pieces of personal information and the period when your health Minister knew about them. It's the third time there have been problems with personal data on your watch during this pandemic that we know of. Do you see—or foresee, I should say—a difficulty in keeping this pandemic under control if people don't trust you with their personal data?
Mae'n drueni cael ymateb mor amddiffynnol i'r cwestiwn yna; efallai y byddai wedi rhoi cyfle i chi yn y Siambr heddiw ddweud rhai o'r pethau yr ydych chi'n honni sy'n lwyddiannau. Yn sicr, byddwn wedi gwerthfawrogi ateb a fyddai wedi cynnwys, efallai, wn i ddim, yr Aelod Llafur dros Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr yn cofio mynd â'i fasg i siop, yn unol â rheolau Llywodraeth Cymru ei hun. Ond rwy'n credu bod rhai materion mwy difrifol y gallech chi fod wedi mynd i'r afael â nhw yn eich ateb heddiw, Gweinidog, oherwydd yr wythnos diwethaf, fe wnaethoch chi gyhoeddi bod bwlch o 11 diwrnod rhyngoch chi yn dod i wybod am ddatgeliad gwybodaeth anghyfreithlon mawr o 18,000 o ddarnau o wybodaeth bersonol a'r cyfnod pan oedd eich Gweinidog iechyd yn gwybod amdanyn nhw. Dyma'r trydydd tro y bu problemau gyda data personol yn ystod eich teyrnasiad chi yn ystod y pandemig hwn yr ydym ni'n gwybod amdanyn nhw. A ydych chi'n gweld—neu'n rhagweld, ddylwn i ddweud—anhawster yn cadw'r pandemig hwn dan reolaeth os nad yw pobl yn ymddiried ynoch chi gyda'u data personol?
Well, Llywydd, people do trust the system we have in Wales with their personal data. It's why the system we have in Wales is so much more successful than the system across our border. The data breach was regrettable. It was dealt with by the body that is responsible for it, which is the data controller in that instance. I've asked today to be told that a very small number of people who may have been affected have actually contacted Public Health Wales with any concerns. Those concerns will be dealt with. I don't think the matter is of such significance that it needs rehearsing in this forum two weeks in a row, and I think there are bigger issues that the Conservative Party might have wanted to discuss, but probably are afraid to do so.
Wel, Llywydd, mae pobl yn ymddiried yn y system sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru gyda'u data personol. Dyna pam mae'r system sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru gymaint yn fwy llwyddiannus na'r system dros ein ffin. Roedd y mynediad diawdurdod at ddata yn destun gofid. Ymdriniwyd ag ef gan y corff sy'n gyfrifol amdano, sef y rheolwr data yn yr achos hwnnw. Rwyf i wedi gofyn heddiw a chael gwybod mai nifer fach iawn o bobl a allai fod wedi cael eu heffeithio sydd wedi cysylltu ag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru gydag unrhyw bryderon. Bydd y pryderon hynny yn cael sylw. Nid wyf i'n credu bod y mater mor bwysig fel bod angen ei ailadrodd yn y fforwm hwn ddwy wythnos yn olynol, a chredaf fod materion pwysicach efallai y byddai'r Blaid Geidwadol wedi dymuno eu trafod, ond mae'n debyg eu bod nhw ofn gwneud hynny.
Well, First Minister, that didn't sound to me like an explanation of what that 11-day gap was all about, and there's no point saying that is all down to Public Health Wales, when we've had data issues three times in a row now. Once, obviously, that would be misfortune. Twice would be carelessness. But a third time suggests to me we've got a Welsh Government here that's not that keen on taking responsibility for something that has really shocked a lot of people here. We are relying on track and trace to be the answer to keeping this pandemic under control and to avoid the kind of national lockdowns that Adam Price was, hopefully, trying to avoid as well when he spoke earlier on.
On the issue of trust, though, there is something pretty serious, I think, we need to discuss here today, as you've invited me to do that. And yesterday, in an interview on ITV Wales's Sharp End, the health Minister said that he would not rule out making it compulsory for people to have a COVID-19 vaccine, if and when one becomes available. Now, that's compulsory vaccines, First Minister. Did you know that he was going to say this, or was that another piece of information that the health Minister's kept from you? And what is there in such a statement? It's a completely Orwellian statement, a real attack on personal freedoms, which makes you think that anyone should dare trust a future Labour Government.
Wel, Prif Weinidog, nid oedd hynna'n swnio i mi fel esboniad o beth oedd y rheswm am y bwlch hwnnw o 11 diwrnod, ac nid oes unrhyw ddiben dweud mai Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru sy'n gyfrifol am hynny i gyd, pan rydym ni wedi cael problemau data deirgwaith yn olynol erbyn hyn. Unwaith, yn amlwg, byddai hynny yn anffawd. Byddai dwywaith yn ddiofal. Ond mae trydydd tro yn awgrymu i mi bod gennym ni Lywodraeth Cymru yn y fan yma nad yw mor awyddus â hynny i gymryd cyfrifoldeb am rywbeth sydd wir wedi dychryn llawer o bobl yn y fan yma. Rydym ni'n dibynnu ar y system tracio ac olrhain i fod yr ateb i gadw'r pandemig hwn dan reolaeth ac i osgoi'r math o gyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol yr oedd Adam Price, gobeithio, yn ceisio eu hosgoi hefyd pan siaradodd yn gynharach.
O ran ffydd, fodd bynnag, mae rhywbeth eithaf difrifol, rwy'n meddwl, y mae angen i ni ei drafod yn y fan yma heddiw, gan eich bod chi wedi fy ngwahodd i wneud hynny. Ddoe, mewn cyfweliad ar raglen Sharp End ITV Wales, dywedodd y Gweinidog iechyd na fyddai'n diystyru ei gwneud yn orfodol i bobl gael brechlyn COVID-19, os a phan y bydd un ar gael. Nawr, brechlynnau gorfodol yw hynny, Prif Weinidog. A oeddech chi'n gwybod ei fod yn mynd i ddweud hyn, neu a oedd hwnnw'n ddarn arall o wybodaeth y mae'r Gweinidog iechyd wedi ei gadw oddi wrthych chi? A beth sydd mewn datganiad o'r fath? Mae'n ddatganiad cwbl Orwellaidd, yn ymosodiad gwirioneddol ar ryddid personol, sy'n gwneud i chi feddwl a ddylai unrhyw un fentro ymddiried mewn Llywodraeth Lafur yn y dyfodol.
Well, Llywydd, on the matter of trust that the Member seems so exercised about this afternoon, of the 440 positive cases that were eligible for follow up in the test, trace, protect system in the most recent period, 96 per cent were reached, and they provided details of their recent contacts. That says to me that our system is very well trusted and very well regarded, and 89 per cent of all those contacts were also successfully contacted and were able to have their cases resolved. We have very high levels of trust in the Welsh system, and anything that she says to the contrary is simply not borne out by the facts.
The health Minister was asked a hypothetical question: would he rule something out? He simply said that he wouldn't. It went no further than that. There's no implication in what he said that he had made a decision of any sort. And in this context, in the context of coronavirus, when so much is unknown, and where the stakes are so high, to have ruled out something at this stage I think would not have been a responsible thing to have done, and I think he was absolutely right in the answer that he gave.
Wel, Llywydd, o ran y mater o ffydd y mae'r Aelod wedi cynhyrfu gymaint yn ei gylch y prynhawn yma, o'r 440 o achosion cadarnhaol a oedd yn gymwys ar gyfer camau dilynol yn y system profi, olrhain, diogelu yn y cyfnod diweddaraf, cyrhaeddwyd 96 y cant, a rhoddasant fanylion eu cysylltiadau diweddar. Mae hynny yn dweud wrthyf i bod llawer o ffydd yn ein system a'i bod yn uchel ei pharch, a chysylltwyd yn llwyddiannus gydag 89 y cant o'r holl gysylltiadau hynny hefyd a llwyddwyd i ddatrys eu hachosion. Mae gennym ni lefelau uchel iawn o ffydd yn system Cymru, ac nid yw unrhyw beth y mae hi'n ei ddweud i'r gwrthwyneb yn cael ei gadarnhau gan y ffeithiau.
Gofynnwyd cwestiwn damcaniaethol i'r Gweinidog iechyd: a fyddai'n diystyru rhywbeth? Dywedodd yn syml na fyddai'n gwneud hynny. Nid aeth ymhellach na hynny. Nid oes unrhyw oblygiad yn yr hyn a ddywedodd ei fod wedi gwneud penderfyniad o unrhyw fath. Ac yn y cyd-destun hwn, yng nghyd-destun coronafeirws, pan fo cymaint yn ddirgelwch i ni, a phan fo cymaint yn y fantol, nid wyf i'n credu y byddai diystyru rhywbeth ar hyn o bryd wedi bod yn rhywbeth cyfrifol i'w wneud, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn hollol gywir yn yr ateb a roddodd.
Arweinydd y grŵp Brexit, Mark Reckless.
Leader of the Brexit group, Mark Reckless.
First Minister, I'm astonished by that answer in respect to your health Minister having said yesterday that you had the power to mandate vaccination, suggesting that people in Wales might be forcibly injected with a COVID vaccine. Is that what devolution has come to? Surely, such a programme of forced injections would break international law, or is that only a concern when you want to impede Brexit? Wouldn't it also break domestic law, which states at section 45E of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, as amended by the Coronavirus Act 2020, that regulations
'may not include provision requiring a person to undergo medical treatment.
'"Medical treatment" includes vaccination'.
First Minister, as with Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, you exonerated your health Minister from breaching guidance when he had his family picnic in Cardiff Bay. Have you similarly exonerated him now for publishing the address and date of birth of everyone who tested positive for COVID in Wales because it wasn't significant, even though the rules require disclosure of such a data breach to the Information Commissioner within 72 hours? Will he now stay in place despite saying your Government could mandate vaccination in breach of UK and international law?
Prif Weinidog, mae'r ateb yna yn ymwneud â'ch Gweinidog iechyd yn dweud ddoe bod gennych chi'r grym i orfodi brechiadau, gan awgrymu y gallai pobl yng Nghymru gael eu chwistrellu dan orfod gyda brechlyn COVID, yn fy syfrdanu. Ai dyna y mae datganoli wedi arwain ato? Oni fyddai rhaglen o'r fath o chwistrelliadau gorfodol yn torri cyfraith ryngwladol, neu a yw hynny'n bryder dim ond pan fyddwch chi eisiau rhwystro Brexit? Oni fyddai hefyd yn torri cyfraith ddomestig, sy'n nodi yn adran 45E Deddf Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Rheoli Clefydau) 1984, fel y'i diwygiwyd gan Ddeddf Coronafeirws 2020, efallai
na fydd rheoliadau yn cynnwys darpariaeth sy'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i berson gael triniaeth feddygol.
Mae 'triniaeth feddygol' yn cynnwys brechiadau.
Prif Weinidog, yn yr un modd â Boris Johnson a Dominic Cummings, fe wnaethoch chi ryddhau eich Gweinidog iechyd o fai am fynd yn groes i ganllawiau pan gafodd ei bicnic teuluol ym Mae Caerdydd. A ydych wedi ei ryddhau o fai yn yr un modd nawr am gyhoeddi cyfeiriad a dyddiad geni pawb a brofodd yn bositif ar gyfer COVID yng Nghymru oherwydd nad oedd yn arwyddocaol, er bod y rheolau yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i ddatgelu mynediad diawdurdod at ddata o'r fath i'r Comisiynydd Gwybodaeth o fewn 72 awr? A wnaiff ef aros yn ei swydd nawr er iddo ddweud y gallai eich Llywodraeth orfodi brechiadau yn groes i gyfraith y DU a chyfraith ryngwladol?
Llywydd, there is no such programme; there never has been such a programme; there's no proposal to have such a programme. It's just a got-up job. He knows it is, but he wants to appeal to a certain sort of person in the population and so he makes up such charges on the floor of the National Assembly. Let me tell him again, in case he wants to ask me again: there is no such programme; there never has been such a programme; there is no proposal for a programme. And people who want to pretend that there is are doing it entirely for their own political advantage and nothing else.
Llywydd, nid oes rhaglen o'r fath; ni fu erioed raglen o'r fath; does dim cynnig i gael rhaglen o'r fath. Mae'n rhywbeth sydd wedi cael ei ddychmygu. Mae'n gwybod hynny, ond mae eisiau apelio at fath penodol o berson yn y boblogaeth ac felly mae'n gwneud ffugio cyhuddiadau o'r fath ar lawr y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Gadewch i mi ddweud wrtho eto, rhag ofn ei fod eisiau gofyn i mi eto: nid oes rhaglen o'r fath; ni fu erioed raglen o'r fath; nid oes cynnig ar gyfer rhaglen. Ac mae pobl sydd eisiau esgus bod rhaglen o'r fath yn gwneud hynny yn gyfan gwbl er eu mantais wleidyddol eu hunain a dim byd arall.
First Minister, I could easily say the same to you in respect of what you've said about the internal market Bill and what you say would be a breach of the law and international law from the Prime Minister. Your health Minister said yesterday that he should keep open the option of forcibly vaccinating people with a COVID vaccine in Wales. You said just now that he was right to keep that option open, despite the fact that it is against the law.
Could you clarify the position on shielding? You previously told old and vulnerable people to maintain shielding through to 16 August, even though, by then, virus prevalence had been low for some weeks. Will it not be now more difficult for them to shield again, having only so recently come out of such a long period of confinement? Would not older and vulnerable people be at less risk from COVID now, as in Sweden, if more younger people had already been through it rather than having postponed infections through lockdown?
Prif Weinidog, gallwn ddweud yr un peth yn rhwydd wrthych chi ynglŷn â'r hyn yr ydych chi wedi ei ddweud am Fil y farchnad fewnol a'r hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud a fyddai'n torri'r gyfraith a chyfraith ryngwladol gan Brif Weinidog y DU. Dywedodd eich Gweinidog iechyd ddoe y dylai gadw'r dewis yn agored o frechu pobl â brechlyn COVID yng Nghymru dan orfodaeth. Dywedasoch nawr ei fod yn iawn i gadw'r dewis hwnnw yn agored, er gwaethaf y ffaith ei fod yn erbyn y gyfraith.
A allech chi egluro'r sefyllfa o ran amddiffyn? Dywedasoch wrth bobl hen ac agored i niwed yn y gorffennol am barhau i amddiffyn tan 16 Awst, er bod nifer yr achosion o'r feirws wedi bod yn isel ers rhai wythnosau erbyn hynny. Oni fydd yn fwy anodd iddyn nhw amddiffyn eto erbyn hyn, ar ôl dim ond dod allan o gyfnod mor faith o gaethiwed mor ddiweddar? Oni fyddai pobl hŷn ac agored i niwed mewn llai o berygl o COVID nawr, fel yn Sweden, pe byddai mwy o bobl iau eisoes wedi bod drwyddo yn hytrach na gohirio heintiau trwy gyfyngiadau symud?
Llywydd, I see the question swerved to something completely different at the end of it. No international law has been broken. No law of any sort has been broken, because there is no proposal of any sort that would lead to that eventuality. When I criticise the UK Government for its deliberate intention to breach international law, I'm not just doing that by myself. I commend the Member to read Theresa May's speech in the House of Commons yesterday, a speech in which she said that the UK Government are putting the integrity of the United Kingdom at risk—a speech in which she said that this is a Conservative Government willing to go back on its word, to break an international agreement signed in good faith and to break international law. That's not me—that's the previous Conservative Prime Minister of this country, supported by the two previous Conservative Prime Ministers in their turn. This is not some idiosyncratic view of the Welsh Government; it's a view widely shared in the party that has proposed it.
As to the shielding population, I note again what he says about Sweden. In Sweden, 10 times more people have died than in Norway, its immediate neighbour. Imagine—imagine the situation here: imagine what the Member would be saying to me if Wales had pursued a policy that led to 10 times the number of citizens in Wales dying compared to the number across our border. Would he be standing up here advocating it then? Of course he wouldn't be.
Llywydd, rwy'n gweld y cwestiwn yn cael ei wyro i rywbeth hollol wahanol ar ei ddiwedd. Ni thorrwyd unrhyw gyfraith ryngwladol. Ni thorrwyd cyfraith o unrhyw fath, oherwydd nid oes cynnig o unrhyw fath a fyddai'n arwain at y canlyniad hwnnw. Pan fyddaf yn beirniadu Llywodraeth y DU am ei bwriad pendant o dorri cyfraith ryngwladol, nid wyf i'n gwneud hynny ar ben fy hun yn unig. Rwy'n argymell bod yr Aelod yn ddarllen araith Theresa May yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin ddoe, araith pryd y dywedodd bod Llywodraeth y DU yn peryglu uniondeb y Deyrnas Unedig—araith pryd y dywedodd mai Llywodraeth Geidwadol yw hon sy'n barod i fynd yn ôl ar ei gair, i dorri cytundeb rhyngwladol a lofnodwyd yn ddidwyll ac i dorri cyfraith ryngwladol. Nid fi sy'n dweud hynny—Prif Weinidog Ceidwadol blaenorol y wlad hon sy'n dweud hynny, gyda chefnogaeth y ddau Brif Weinidog Ceidwadol blaenorol yn eu tro. Nid rhyw farn idiosyncratig gan Lywodraeth Cymru yw hon; mae'n farn a rennir yn eang yn y blaid sydd wedi ei chynnig.
O ran y boblogaeth sy'n amddiffyn, nodaf eto yr hyn y mae'n ei ddweud am Sweden. Yn Sweden, mae 10 gwaith mwy o bobl wedi marw nag yn Norwy, ei chymydog agos. Dychmygwch—dychmygwch y sefyllfa yn y fan yma: dychmygwch yr hyn y byddai'r Aelod yn ei ddweud wrthyf i pe byddai Cymru wedi dilyn polisi a arweiniodd at 10 gwaith nifer y dinasyddion yng Nghymru yn marw o'i gymharu â'r nifer dros ein ffin. A fyddai'n sefyll yn y fan yma yn ei argymell yn yr achos hwnnw? Wrth gwrs na fyddai.
3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am agor Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor? OQ55534
3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the opening of the Grange University Hospital? OQ55534
I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. The announcement that the Grange hospital will open in mid November instead of the original planned date in March 2021 is very welcome. In the coronavirus context, it will provide critical care and acute respiratory care to 600,000 people in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Mae'r cyhoeddiad y bydd ysbyty'r Faenor yn agor ganol mis Tachwedd yn hytrach na'r dyddiad gwreiddiol a fwriadwyd ym mis Mawrth 2021 i'w groesawu'n fawr. Yng nghyd-destun coronafeirws, bydd yn darparu gofal critigol a gofal anadlol acíwt i 600,000 o bobl yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan.
Thank you, First Minister, for that answer. I'm sure you'd like to join me in thanking the construction workers who've helped keep this important project on time and on budget over the last few months and years, particularly at a time when the sector has been so badly affected by the pandemic, with construction microbusinesses making up around a third of applications to the economic resilience fund. You've just touched on the hospitals' role in the COVID-19 pandemic. What discussions—or could you say a little bit more about any discussions that your officials have had with the local health board about a strategy of using the hospital for COVID cases, and therefore removing the risk of infection from the other general hospitals in the Gwent area? And also is the Welsh Government looking at transport links to the new hospital? I have raised this before, as there are concerns about connectivity. The A4042 through Monmouthshire badly needs upgrading and there's also certainly a need for better public transport links for patients and for families to and from the new hospital.
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, am yr ateb yna. Rwy'n siŵr yr hoffech chi ymuno â mi i ddiolch i'r gweithwyr adeiladu sydd wedi helpu i gadw'r prosiect pwysig hwn ar amser a gan gyd-fynd â'r gyllideb dros y misoedd a'r blynyddoedd diwethaf, yn enwedig ar adeg pan fo'r pandemig wedi effeithio mor ofnadwy ar y sector, gydag oddeutu traean o'r ceisiadau i'r gronfa cadernid economaidd yn ficrofusnesau adeiladu. Rydych chi newydd sôn am swyddogaeth yr ysbytai yn ystod pandemig COVID-19. Pa drafodaethau—neu a allech chi ddweud ychydig mwy am unrhyw drafodaethau y mae eich swyddogion wedi eu cael gyda'r bwrdd iechyd lleol am strategaeth o ddefnyddio'r ysbyty ar gyfer achosion COVID, ac felly cael gwared ar y risg o haint o'r ysbytai cyffredinol eraill yn ardal Gwent? Ac a yw Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd yn edrych ar gysylltiadau trafnidiaeth i'r ysbyty newydd? Rwyf i wedi codi hyn o'r blaen, gan fod pryderon ynghylch cysylltedd. Mae angen dybryd i uwchraddio'r A4042 drwy Sir Fynwy ac yn sicr hefyd mae angen cysylltiadau cludiant cyhoeddus gwell i gleifion ac i deuluoedd i'r ysbyty newydd ac oddi yno.
Llywydd, I thank Nick Ramsay for those points. I absolutely do associate myself with what he said about construction workers: here is a major project, a £360 million project, delivered on budget and ahead of time, and that really is a tribute to those who've planned it and then who have executed the plans for the hospital, and it very much is part of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board's plan for dealing with those people who fall acutely ill and will need urgent respiratory care in response to coronavirus. So, the Grange hospital will be pivotal over the months during the winter when those sorts of services may be even more necessary than they have been in the spring and summer period.
I thank the Member for what he asked about public transport, and I know he's raised this in a recent article in the South Wales Argus. The university health board confirmed to me yesterday that there will be a public bus service to the site when the hospital is open in November—buses will drop off at a dedicated point on the site. There are bus services that will link Newport, Caerleon, Cwmbran and the site itself, and there are further discussions going on to confirm all those services, but the health board is determined that public transport to the site will be there from the time the hospital opens, and will be available to those who need to use it.
The Member has asked me previously about the state of the A4042. I know he will be aware of the actions that have been taken to improve drainage along the road in recent times, and there is some evidence that those investments are paying a dividend and that some of the interruptions to the road—particularly through flooding in recent years—may now have been resolved through the schemes that have been put in place and the improvements that have been made on adjacent third party land.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Nick Ramsay am y pwyntiau yna. Rwy'n cysylltu fy hun yn llwyr â'r hyn a ddywedodd am weithwyr adeiladu: dyma brosiect mawr, prosiect gwerth £360 miliwn, a gyflwynwyd yn unol â'r gyllideb ac yn gynnar, ac mae hynny wir yn deyrnged i'r rhai sydd wedi ei gynllunio ac yna sydd wedi gweithredu'r cynlluniau ar gyfer yr ysbyty, ac mae'n rhan bwysig iawn o gynllun Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan ar gyfer ymdrin â'r bobl hynny sy'n ddifrifol wael ac y bydd angen gofal anadlol brys arnyn nhw mewn ymateb i goronafeirws. Felly, bydd ysbyty'r Faenor yn hollbwysig dros y misoedd yn ystod y gaeaf pan allai'r mathau hynny o wasanaethau fod hyd yn oed yn fwy angenrheidiol nag y maen nhw wedi bod yn ystod y gwanwyn a'r haf.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am yr hyn a ofynnodd am gludiant cyhoeddus, a gwn ei fod wedi codi hyn mewn erthygl ddiweddar yn y South Wales Argus. Cadarnhaodd y bwrdd iechyd prifysgol wrthyf ddoe y bydd gwasanaeth bws cyhoeddus i'r safle pan fydd yr ysbyty ar agor ym mis Tachwedd—bydd bysiau'n gollwng ar bwynt penodol ar y safle. Ceir gwasanaethau bysiau a fydd yn cysylltu Casnewydd, Caerllion, Cwmbrân a'r safle ei hun, ac mae trafodaethau pellach yn parhau i gadarnhau'r holl wasanaethau hynny, ond mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn benderfynol y bydd cludiant cyhoeddus i'r safle yno o'r adeg y bydd yr ysbyty yn agor, ac y bydd ar gael i'r rhai sydd angen ei ddefnyddio.
Mae'r Aelod wedi fy holi o'r blaen am gyflwr yr A4042. Gwn y bydd yn ymwybodol o'r camau a gymerwyd i wella draenio ar hyd y ffordd yn ddiweddar, a cheir rhywfaint o dystiolaeth bod y buddsoddiadau hynny yn talu difidend ac y gallai rhai o'r ymyriadau ar y ffordd—yn enwedig drwy lifogydd yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf—fod wedi eu datrys nawr drwy'r cynlluniau a roddwyd ar waith a'r gwelliannau a wnaed ar dir trydydd parti cyfagos.
4. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru i flaenoriaethu adferiad gwyrdd? OQ55576
4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's strategy to prioritise a green recovery? OQ55576
I thank the Member for that, Llywydd. A green recovery is at the heart of our response to the coronavirus pandemic. It will improve outcomes for Wales, generate a more sustainable and resilient economy for the future, tackle the climate emergency and address declines in biodiversity.
Diolchaf i'r Aelod am hynna, Llywydd. Mae adferiad gwyrdd wrth wraidd ein hymateb i bandemig y coronafeirws. Bydd yn gwella canlyniadau i Gymru, yn creu economi fwy cynaliadwy a chydnerth ar gyfer y dyfodol, yn mynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng hinsawdd ac yn mynd i'r afael â dirywiad mewn bioamrywiaeth.
First Minister, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report that was published recently really highlights the importance of high-performing transport networks and skills development to address the historic low productivity that we've suffered in Wales, given the very low level of investment by the UK Government since the industrialisation in the 1970s and 1980s. It is very disappointing to read that the UK Government seems hell bent on using the internal market Bill to undermine the climate reduction commitments of devolved Governments. How can the Welsh Government stay focused on the precision skills required to deliver its clean, green transport and housing ambitions—essential to deliver our carbon reduction commitments—when the UK Government seems determined to top-slice the money that Wales is entitled to to build redundant relief roads and, I fear, carpet the countryside with poor-quality building developments to become the slums of the future?
Prif Weinidog, mae adroddiad y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd a gyhoeddwyd yn ddiweddar wir yn tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd rhwydweithiau trafnidiaeth sy'n perfformio'n dda a datblygu sgiliau i fynd i'r afael â'r cynhyrchiant isel hanesyddol yr ydym ni wedi ei ddioddef yng Nghymru, o gofio'r lefel isel iawn o fuddsoddiad gan Lywodraeth y DU ers y diwydiannu yn y 1970au a'r 1980au. Mae'n siomedig iawn darllen bod Llywodraeth y DU yn ymddangos yn benderfynol o ddefnyddio Bil y farchnad fewnol i danseilio ymrwymiadau Llywodraethau datganoledig i leihau'r hinsawdd. Sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru barhau i ganolbwyntio ar y sgiliau manwl sydd eu hangen i gyflawni ei huchelgeisiau trafnidiaeth a thai glân a gwyrdd—sy'n hanfodol er mwyn cyflawni ein hymrwymiadau lleihau carbon—pan fo'n ymddangos bod Llywodraeth y DU yn benderfynol o frigdorri'r arian y mae gan Gymru hawl iddo i adeiladu ffyrdd lliniaru diangen ac, mae arnaf ofn, gorchuddio cefn gwlad gyda datblygiadau adeiladu o ansawdd gwael i ddod yn hofelau'r dyfodol?
Llywydd, I thank Jenny Rathbone for that very important supplementary question. I was very glad that the Welsh Government was able to commission from the OECD an independent report drawing on best international evidence to help us with the important job of designing future policies and future structures for regional economic development. The report does, absolutely, put a focus on skill development. It's really important that we are able to invest in the people that we have here in Wales, so that they are ready to be able to take advantage of employment opportunities when they come.
The Member, Llywydd, raises, I think, an extraordinary possibility. When I first saw the internal market Bill, that was bad enough when I thought that what the UK Government was planning was to take all the money that had come to Wales from European sources and hug it to itself, and eek it back out according to ideas that they may have, rather than the ideas that people in Wales may have for what is necessary here. But the idea that they would seek to top-slice budgets that are available to this Senedd, to deploy in the way that we choose, in order to run schemes of their own is, I think, an idea even beyond what we originally thought they may have in mind. To do so would make a mockery of the words that the Prime Minister uses about respecting devolution, and being a devolutionist himself. Let us hope that there is a UK Government Minister who is willing to put on record the fact that they intend no such thing.
Llywydd, diolchaf i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiwn atodol pwysig iawn yna. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gallu comisiynu adroddiad annibynnol gan yr OECD gan ddefnyddio'r dystiolaeth ryngwladol orau i'n helpu ni gyda'r gwaith pwysig o gynllunio polisïau'r dyfodol a strwythurau'r dyfodol ar gyfer datblygu economaidd rhanbarthol. Mae'r adroddiad, yn sicr, yn canolbwyntio ar ddatblygu sgiliau. Mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n gallu buddsoddi yn y bobl sydd gennym ni yma yng Nghymru, fel eu bod nhw'n barod i allu manteisio ar gyfleoedd cyflogaeth pan fyddan nhw'n dod.
Mae'r Aelod, Llywydd, yn codi, rwy'n credu, posibilrwydd eithriadol. Pan welais i Fil y farchnad fewnol am y tro cyntaf, roedd hynny'n ddigon drwg pan roeddwn i'n meddwl mai'r hyn yr oedd Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu ei wneud oedd cymryd yr holl arian a oedd wedi dod i Gymru o ffynonellau Ewropeaidd a'i chadw iddi hi ei hun, ac ailddosbarthu rhywfaint yn ôl syniadau a allai fod ganddyn nhw, yn hytrach na'r syniadau a allai fod gan bobl yng Nghymru am yr hyn sy'n angenrheidiol yma. Ond mae'r syniad y bydden nhw'n ceisio brigdorri cyllidebau sydd ar gael i'r Senedd hon, i'w defnyddio yn y ffordd yr ydym ni'n ei ddewis, er mwyn rhedeg cynlluniau eu hunain, rwy'n credu, yn syniad hyd yn oed y tu hwnt i'r hyn yr oeddem ni'n credu yn wreiddiol y gallai fod ganddyn nhw mewn golwg. Byddai gwneud hynny yn gwneud y geiriau y mae Prif Weinidog y DU yn eu defnyddio am barchu datganoli, a bod yn ddatganolwr ei hun, yn chwerthinllyd. Gadewch i ni obeithio bod Gweinidog yn Llywodraeth y DU sy'n fodlon cofnodi'r ffaith nad ydyn nhw'n bwriadu gwneud unrhyw beth o'r fath.
5. Sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn addasu ei hymateb i COVID-19 o ystyried y profiad o'r feirws hyd yma? OQ55577
5. How will the Welsh Government adapt its response to COVID-19 given the experience of the virus to date? OQ55577
I thank John Griffiths for that question, Llywydd. The coronavirus control plan, published in August, and last week's winter protection plan are both rooted in the lessons we have learnt during the coronavirus crisis. Adapted responses can be seen, for example, in more effective treatments for the disease and in COVID-specific rehabilitation measures.
Diolchaf i John Griffiths am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Mae'r cynllun rheoli coronafeirws, a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Awst, a chynllun diogelu'r gaeaf yr wythnos diwethaf ill dau wedi'u gwreiddio yn y gwersi yr ydym ni wedi eu dysgu yn ystod argyfwng y coronafeirws. Gellir gweld ymatebion wedi'u haddasu, er enghraifft, mewn triniaethau mwy effeithiol ar gyfer y clefyd ac mewn mesurau adsefydlu penodol i COVID.
First Minister, from 6 o'clock this evening there will be further restrictions in Newport and other local authorities. The length of time involved will depend on the incidence of cases, but are you able to say anything more about how long these measures may be in place?
An increasing number of school pupils are self-isolating, further damaging their education after the loss of school time in the last academic year. Might Welsh Government then, First Minister, prioritise testing for pupils and staff to minimise loss of time in school, and also ensure that learning at home is consistent and top quality across all our schools?
Prif Weinidog, o 6 o'r gloch heno ymlaen bydd cyfyngiadau pellach yng Nghasnewydd ac mewn awdurdodau lleol eraill. Bydd y cyfnod y mae hynny yn ei olygu yn dibynnu ar nifer yr achosion, ond a allwch chi ddweud unrhyw beth arall am ba mor hir y gallai'r mesurau hyn fod ar waith?
Mae nifer cynyddol o ddisgyblion ysgol yn hunanynysu, gan niweidio eu haddysg ymhellach ar ôl colli amser ysgol yn y flwyddyn academaidd ddiwethaf. A allai Llywodraeth Cymru felly, Prif Weinidog, flaenoriaethu profion i ddisgyblion a staff er mwyn lleihau'r amser a gollir yn yr ysgol, a hefyd sicrhau bod dysgu gartref yn gyson ac o'r ansawdd gorau ar draws ein holl ysgolion?
Llywydd, I thank John Griffiths for those questions. The coronavirus restrictions in Newport will be reviewed within two weeks. My ambition is for those restrictions progressively to be lightened as soon as it is safe for us to do so. The contact tracing team in Newport, I think, have been absolutely outstanding in the way that they have responded to the flare-up of numbers in the city, and provided they continue to have the co-operation of local people, I think there is a realistic prospect that that outbreak will be brought back under control as rapidly as possible, and then some of the measures we've needed to put in place will be able to be removed.
As to schools, Llywydd, since 1 September there have been coronavirus cases in 275 schools in Wales, 140 students have been affected and 135 staff members have been affected. In 198 of those 275 schools, only one case has been reported. So, in more than seven out of 10 schools, it's a single isolated case that has been reported so far, although, I agree, it is early days. Those cases have been imported to the school by people who have contracted it for other reasons, rather than being spread in the school environment. We will continue to prioritise the testing of students and teachers and other school staff members, where that becomes necessary, in order for us to minimise the risk of transmission and to respond to the final point that John Griffiths made, about continuity of learning for young people who may still have to spend some of their time outside the classroom. In some parts of Wales, that was done fantastically well earlier in the summer. That learning is being applied now to make sure that those standards can be achieved in all parts of Wales.
Llywydd, diolchaf i John Griffiths am y cwestiynau yna. Bydd y cyfyngiadau coronafeirws yng Nghasnewydd yn cael eu hadolygu ymhen pythefnos. Fy uchelgais yw llacio'r cyfyngiadau hynny yn raddol cyn gynted ag y bydd yn ddiogel i ni wneud hynny. Credaf fod y tîm olrhain cyswllt yng Nghasnewydd wedi bod yn gwbl rhagorol yn y ffordd y maen nhw wedi ymateb i'r niferoedd cynyddol yn y ddinas, a chyn belled â'u bod nhw'n parhau i gael cydweithrediad pobl leol, rwy'n credu bod gobaith realistig y bydd yr achosion hynny yn cael eu rheoli unwaith eto cyn gynted â phosibl, ac yna bydd modd diddymu rhai o'r mesurau y bu'n rhaid i ni eu rhoi ar waith.
O ran ysgolion, Llywydd, ers 1 Medi bu achosion o coronafeirws mewn 275 o ysgolion yng Nghymru, effeithiwyd ar 140 o fyfyrwyr ac effeithiwyd ar 135 o aelodau staff. Yng 198 o'r 275 o ysgolion hynny, adroddwyd un achos yn unig. Felly, mewn mwy na saith o bob 10 ysgol, un achos ynysig a adroddwyd hyd yma, er fy mod i'n cytuno ei bod hi'n ddyddiau cynnar. Mae'r achosion hynny wedi cael eu mewnforio i'r ysgol gan bobl sydd wedi ei ddal am resymau eraill, yn hytrach na'i fod yn cael ei ledaenu yn amgylchedd yr ysgol. Byddwn yn parhau i flaenoriaethu profi myfyrwyr ac athrawon ac aelodau eraill o staff ysgolion, lle bo hynny'n angenrheidiol, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau bod y perygl o drosglwyddiad cyn lleied â phosibl ac i ymateb i'r pwynt olaf a wnaeth John Griffiths, am barhad dysgu i bobl ifanc y gallai fod yn rhaid iddyn nhw barhau i dreulio rhywfaint o'u hamser y tu allan i'r ystafell ddosbarth. Mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru, gwnaed hynny yn arbennig o dda yn gynharach yn yr haf. Mae'r dysgu hwnnw yn cael ei ddefnyddio nawr i sicrhau y gellir cyrraedd y safonau hynny ym mhob rhan o Gymru.
Ac yn olaf, Joyce Watson, cwestiwn 6.
And finally, Joyce Watson, question 6.
6. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o ganfyddiadau adroddiad y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, 'The Future of Regional Development and Public Investment in Wales'? OQ55579
6. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the findings of the OECD report, 'The Future of Regional Development and Public Investment in Wales'? OQ55579
Llywydd, the OECD’s model of a more regional and place-based model of economic growth is already at the heart of our economic action plan and the goals we have set for future regional investment. We will consider the report’s recommendations with stakeholders over the coming weeks.
Llywydd, mae model yr OECD o fodel mwy rhanbarthol ac yn seiliedig ar leoedd o dwf economaidd eisoes wrth wraidd ein cynllun gweithredu economaidd a'r nodau rydym ni wedi'u gosod ar gyfer buddsoddi rhanbarthol yn y dyfodol. Byddwn i'n ystyried argymhellion yr adroddiad gyda rhanddeiliaid yn ystod yr wythnosau nesaf.
Thank you for that. One of the findings in the report is the impact of the continued austerity inflicted on Wales by the UK Government spending plans. That austerity did reduce local authority investment in industries, and other forms of money that we would have expected to have come to Wales, and it was purely a political decision.
So, what discussions have you had with the UK Chancellor to highlight the impact that their politically imposed austerity measures are having, and will have, on Wales if they carry on along that track? And will you ask Simon Hart, the Secretary of State for Wales, to start acting in the interests of Wales and respect the devolution settlement?
Diolch am hynny. Un o ganfyddiadau'r adroddiad yw effaith y cyni parhaus a gafodd ei osod ar Gymru gan gynlluniau gwario Llywodraeth y DU. Roedd y cyni hwnnw'n lleihau buddsoddiad awdurdodau lleol mewn diwydiannau, a mathau eraill o gyllid y byddem wedi disgwyl iddo ddod i Gymru, a phenderfyniad gwleidyddol yn unig ydoedd.
Felly, pa drafodaethau yr ydych chi wedi'u cael â Changhellor y DU i dynnu sylw at yr effaith y mae eu mesurau cyni, sydd wedi'u gosod ar sail wleidyddol, yn ei chael, ac a gaiff, ar Gymru os ydyn nhw'n parhau ar hyd y trywydd hwnnw? Ac a wnewch chi ofyn i Simon Hart, Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru, ddechrau gweithredu er budd Cymru a pharchu'r setliad datganoli?
Well, very important points, Llywydd, made there by Joyce Watson. There's no doubt, is there, that the whole of the United Kingdom is less able to withstand the shocks of coronavirus and Brexit because of a decade of austerity: household incomes, public services, private businesses all undermined by the flawed and foolish policies pursued at that time. The budget of the Welsh Government is £4 billion lower today than it would have been had it simply stayed where it was 10 years ago. Not an iota of growth. If we'd simply stayed, in real terms, where we were a decade ago, £4 billion more to invest in our public services and all of the other urgent needs that we have here in Wales. We continue to take every opportunity that we have with the Chancellor, through the actions of my colleague Rebecca Evans, to urge the UK Government to use the historic low interest rates that we have for an infrastructure boost to the UK and to the Welsh economy in the comprehensive spending review.
On 30 June, Llywydd, the Prime Minister announced a new deal in infrastructure spending. For Wales, it was no deal, because not a single penny came to us for this year for any infrastructure boost. So, it would be very good if we had a Wales Office that stood up for Wales, that was the voice of Wales in Westminster, rather than the parrot of Westminster in Wales. And, in that way, we might be able to make some inroads into the difficulties and damage that has already been inflicted on us.
Wel, pwyntiau pwysig iawn, Llywydd, wedi'u gwneud gan Joyce Watson. Does dim dwywaith fod y Deyrnas Unedig yn llai abl i wrthsefyll ergydion coronafeirws a Brexit oherwydd degawd o gyni: incwm aelwydydd, gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, busnesau preifat i gyd wedi cael eu tanseilio gan y polisïau diffygiol a ffôl a oedd yn cael eu dilyn bryd hynny. Mae cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru £4 biliwn yn is heddiw nag y byddai pe bai wedi aros lle'r oedd 10 mlynedd yn ôl. Nid mymryn o dwf. Pe baem ni wedi aros, mewn termau real, lle'r oeddem ni ddegawd yn ôl, byddai gennym £4 biliwn yn fwy i fuddsoddi yn ein gwasanaethau cyhoeddus a'r holl anghenion brys eraill sydd gennym yma yng Nghymru. Rydym yn dal i fanteisio ar bob cyfle sydd gennym gyda'r Canghellor, drwy weithredoedd fy nghyd-Aelod Rebecca Evans, i annog Llywodraeth y DU i ddefnyddio'r cyfraddau llog isel hanesyddol sydd gennym ar gyfer rhoi hwb seilwaith i'r DU ac i economi Cymru yn yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant.
Ar 30 Mehefin, Llywydd, cyhoeddodd y Prif Weinidog fargen newydd mewn gwariant ar seilwaith. O ran Cymru, nid oedd yn fargen, oherwydd ni ddaeth yr un geiniog atom eleni am unrhyw hwb seilwaith. Felly, byddai'n dda iawn pe bai gennym ni Swyddfa Cymru sy'n sefyll dros Gymru, a fyddai'n llais Cymru yn San Steffan, yn hytrach na pharot San Steffan yng Nghymru. Ac, yn y modd hwnnw, efallai y byddai modd i ni wneud rhywfaint o gynnydd o ran yr anawsterau a'r difrod sydd eisoes wedi'u hachosi i ni.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
Thank you, First Minister.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Helen Mary Jones.
The next item is questions to the Counsel General, and the first question is from Helen Mary Jones.
1. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda swyddogion y gyfraith yn dilyn colli'r apêl yn erbyn dyfarniad yr Uchel Lys gan fenywod a anwyd yn y 1950au yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan newid oedran pensiwn y wladwriaeth o 60 i 66? OQ55546
1. What discussions has the Counsel General had with law officers following the loss of the appeal against the High Court ruling by women born in the 1950s affected by the state pension age being changed from 60 to 66? OQ55546
The Welsh Government has repeatedly expressed deep-seated concerns to the UK Government on behalf of women in Wales who have faced the injustice of having their state pension age raised without effective or sufficient notification. I am aware of the Court of Appeal judgment, and I will, of course, be monitoring any appeal if it's lodged to the Supreme Court.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi mynegi pryderon dwfn dro ar ôl tro i Lywodraeth y DU ar ran menywod yng Nghymru sydd wedi wynebu'r anghyfiawnder o'u hoedran pensiwn y wladwriaeth yn cael ei godi heb rybudd effeithiol na digonol. Rwy'n ymwybodol o ddyfarniad y Llys Apêl, a byddaf, wrth gwrs, yn monitro unrhyw apêl os caiff ei chyflwyno i'r Goruchaf Lys.
I'm grateful to the Counsel General for his reply. He will know that I have been working very closely with campaigners across my region, particularly in Llanelli and Pembrokeshire, on this issue. The result was obviously disappointing, but it didn't come as a complete surprise.
I wonder if the Counsel General will agree with me that it now seems likely that the solution to this will come from political decisions rather than from any legal ruling. Would this be a timely moment for the Welsh Government to make representations once again to the UK Government on behalf of the women of Wales so affected?
It seems to me that, in the aftermath of the COVID crisis, this is particularly pertinent. We of course have many women who would have expected to retire who are now having to stay in work, and they might be in a position, if they were able to retire and had the pension entitlement they expected, to retire a little earlier and potentially free up some further work for younger people who will desperately need it.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am ei ateb. Bydd ef yn gwybod fy mod wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn gydag ymgyrchwyr ar draws fy rhanbarth i, yn enwedig yn Llanelli a Sir Benfro, ar y mater hwn. Roedd y canlyniad yn amlwg yn siomedig, ond nid oedd yn syndod llwyr.
Tybed a fydd y Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn cytuno â mi ei bod yn ymddangos yn debygol bellach y daw'r ateb i hyn o benderfyniadau gwleidyddol yn hytrach nag o unrhyw ddyfarniad cyfreithiol. A fyddai hon yn adeg amserol i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno sylwadau unwaith eto i Lywodraeth y DU ar ran menywod Cymru a gafodd eu heffeithio gan hyn?
Mae'n ymddangos i mi, yn sgil argyfwng COVID, fod hyn yn arbennig o berthnasol. Wrth gwrs, mae gennym lawer o fenywod a fyddai wedi disgwyl gallu ymddeol ond sydd bellach yn gorfod aros yn y gwaith. Ac efallai y bydden nhw mewn sefyllfa, os byddai modd iddyn nhw ymddeol a chael yr hawl i'r pensiwn yr oedden nhw'n ei ddisgwyl, i allu ymddeol ychydig yn gynharach ac o bosibl ryddhau rhywfaint o waith i bobl iau, y bydd ei angen yn ddybryd.
Well, I share the Member's disappointment with the outcome of the appeal; as she says, perhaps more disappointing than surprising in light of progress in the matter. These women are women who faced discrimination, very often, throughout the course of their working lives. So, it will be particularly disappointing to have had that result.
As she will know, I've continued to look for opportunities to be able to, perhaps, intervene and none have, unfortunately, presented themselves. But I do think that, in her question, she's right to say that given that the litigation strategy isn't bearing the fruit that perhaps we might have hoped, there are some practical proposals that many of these groups have put forward in order to transition to a more just set of outcomes. We have corresponded consistently with the UK Government, as the Member knows. I think, unfortunately, our most recent letter hasn't even had a reply unfortunately. But, we will continue to make those representations so that the UK Government engage with these women, not in the courts, but in seeking a just resolution to what is and has been for some time, a great injustice.
Wel, rwy'n rhannu siom yr Aelod â chanlyniad yr apêl; fel y dywed hi, efallai'n fwy o siom nag o syndod o ystyried cynnydd yn y mater. Mae'r menywod hyn yn fenywod sydd wedi wynebu gwahaniaethu, yn aml iawn, drwy gydol eu bywydau gwaith. Felly, bydd yn arbennig o siomedig i fod wedi cael y canlyniad hwnnw.
Fel y bydd hi'n gwybod, rwyf wedi parhau i chwilio am gyfleoedd i allu ymyrryd, o bosibl, ac nid oes yr un ohonyn nhw, yn anffodus, wedi dod i'r amlwg. Ond yn ei chwestiwn, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n iawn yn dweud, o ystyried nad yw'r strategaeth ymgyfreitha yn dwyn ffrwyth fel y gallem fod wedi ei obeithio efallai, fod yna rai cynigion ymarferol y mae llawer o'r grwpiau hyn wedi'u cyflwyno er mwyn pontio i gyfres fwy cyfiawn o ganlyniadau. Rydym wedi gohebu'n gyson â Llywodraeth y DU, fel y mae'r Aelod yn gwybod. Rwy'n credu, yn anffodus, na chafwyd ateb i'n llythyr diweddaraf hyd yn oed. Ond, byddwn ni'n parhau i gyflwyno'r sylwadau hynny fel bod Llywodraeth y DU yn ymgysylltu â'r menywod hyn, nid yn y llysoedd, ond wrth geisio datrys yr hyn sydd wedi bod ers peth amser, yn anghyfiawnder mawr.
2. Beth yw dadansoddiad cyfreithiol y Cwnsler Cyffredinol o'r mesurau ym Mil Marchnad Fewnol y DU fel y maent yn berthnasol i Gymru? OQ55533
2. What is the Counsel General's legal analysis of the measures contained in the UK Internal Market Bill as they relate to Wales? OQ55533
The UK Government’s United Kingdom Internal Market Bill goes far beyond the structure that might be needed to ensure economic and regulatory co-operation between the nations of the UK, and is a serious assault on the devolution settlement and our powers in Wales.
Mae Bil Marchnad Fewnol y DU Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig yn mynd ymhell y tu hwnt i'r strwythur y gallai fod ei angen i sicrhau cydweithrediad economaidd a rheoleiddiol rhwng cenhedloedd y DU, ac mae'n ymosodiad difrifol ar y setliad datganoli a'n pwerau ni yng Nghymru.
I thank the Counsel General for that answer and I do agree with him. Counsel General, last week, you told me that the Welsh Government was prepared to work with others in the UK Parliament in order to protect Welsh democracy from this power grab that is inherent in the internal market Bill, as you've just alluded to, and I welcome that. Working in a cross-legislature way will be vital in the coming period, so, today, Plaid Cymru MPs will be bringing forward an amendment that would mean that this Senedd would have to give its consent before the provisions in the Bill that are designed to transfer devolved powers back to Westminster—before that comes into force. Does the Welsh Government support the intention behind that amendment, and if so, will you persuade your Welsh Labour colleagues in Westminster to support it this afternoon?
Diolch i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am yr ateb hwnnw ac rwyf yn cytuno ag ef. Cwnsler Cyffredinol, yr wythnos diwethaf, fe ddywedoch chi wrthyf i fod Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i weithio gydag eraill yn Senedd y DU er mwyn diogelu democratiaeth Cymru rhag y cipio pŵer hwn sy'n rhan annatod o'r Bil Marchnad Fewnol, fel yr ydych chi newydd gyfeirio ato, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny. Bydd gweithio mewn ffordd draws-ddeddfwrfa yn hanfodol yn y cyfnod sydd i ddod, felly heddiw bydd ASau Plaid Cymru yn cyflwyno gwelliant a fyddai'n golygu y byddai'n rhaid i'r Senedd hon roi ei chydsyniad cyn bod y darpariaethau yn y Bil, sydd â'r nod o drosglwyddo pwerau datganoledig yn ôl i San Steffan—cyn i hynny ddod i rym. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi'r bwriad y tu ôl i'r gwelliant hwnnw, ac os felly, a wnewch chi berswadio eich cyd-Aelodau Llafur Cymru yn San Steffan i'w gefnogi y prynhawn yma?
Well, I haven't seen the text of that amendment. Our position as a Government is that there should be no transfer of powers, come what may, from this Senedd to Westminster. So, it's a very simple proposition. I was very pleased to see that, on the vote at the start of last week, both my party in Parliament and hers and others in this Chamber were able to stand clear in their rejection of the principles that are at the heart of this Bill. As she knows from the discussions we've previously had, there are many ways in which this Bill cuts across profoundly the devolution settlement and locks in those changes in a way that this Senedd would not be able to reverse. So, I do welcome the opportunity to work on a cross-party basis in Parliament and I very much hope that that continues.
Wel, nid wyf i wedi gweld testun y gwelliant hwnnw. Ein safbwynt ni fel Llywodraeth yw na ddylid trosglwyddo pwerau, doed a ddelo, o'r Senedd hon i San Steffan. Felly, mae'n gynnig syml iawn. Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o weld, ar y bleidlais ddechrau'r wythnos diwethaf, fod fy mhlaid i yn Senedd y DU a'i phlaid hi ac eraill yn y Siambr hon wedi gallu sefyll yn gadarn wrth ymwrthod â'r egwyddorion sydd wrth wraidd y Bil hwn. Fel y mae hi'n ymwybodol o'r trafodaethau a gafwyd o'r blaen, mae'r Bil hwn mewn llawer ffordd yn torri ar draws y setliad datganoli'n llwyr ac yn cloi'r newidiadau hynny mewn ffordd na fyddai'r Senedd hon yn gallu ei gwrthdroi. Felly, rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i weithio ar sail drawsbleidiol yn y Senedd a mawr obeithio y bydd hynny'n parhau.
I wonder if the Counsel General and Minister could outline the legal and constitutional consequences of this Chamber, Siambr, not giving its consent to this Bill being railroaded forward by the UK Government. And, could he also explain why this should matter profoundly to the businesses, the farmers, the food producers, the students and the constituents in a constituency like mine of Ogmore?
Tybed a allai'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog amlinellu'r canlyniadau cyfreithiol a chyfansoddiadol pe bai'r Siambr hon yn peidio â rhoi ei chydsyniad i'r Bil hwn gael ei ruthro ymlaen gan Lywodraeth y DU. Ac, a allai hefyd egluro pam y dylai hyn fod o bwys mawr i'r busnesau, y ffermwyr, y cynhyrchwyr bwyd, y myfyrwyr a'r etholwyr mewn etholaeth fel fy un i yn Aberogwr?
Well, I thank Huw Irranca-Davies for that question. This Senedd, I have no expectation that it will do anything other, in my own view, than reject the consent for this piece of legislation. That ought to be the end of the matter; the UK Government ought, then, not to proceed with the legislation. Huw will recall, as will other Members, that when this Senedd last withheld its consent and the UK Government proceeded notwithstanding that, we received clear assurances from the UK Government that it regarded those circumstances as unique and extraordinary. And in light of that, I think the UK Government could not justify proceeding in the absence of the consent of the devolved legislatures in relation to this piece of legislation.
He is right to raise the point that this is a Bill that has a real impact on the daily lives of citizens, businesses and organisations in Wales. Any consumer who doesn't want to see hormone-injected beef on our shelves, who wants to see a Welsh Government ambitious to limit the use of single-use plastics and to maintain high standards in building construction and the regulation of landlords, and wants to make sure that the kind of ambition that the people of Wales have voted for continues to be available should be concerned about the provisions of this Bill. Any business in Wales that wants a floor of standards against which it can measure its production and supply should be concerned. Any business seeking to reconcile the UK Government seeking for itself state-aid powers, whilst also having obligations to businesses in England as the Government of England, and the conflict of interest that that so obviously presents, should be concerned by the contents of this Bill.
Wel, diolch i Huw Irranca-Davies am y cwestiwn hwnnw. O ran y Senedd hon, nid wyf i'n disgwyl y bydd yn gwneud unrhyw beth arall, yn fy marn i, ond gwrthod caniatâd ar gyfer y darn hwn o ddeddfwriaeth. Dylai hynny fod yn ddiwedd ar y mater; felly, dylai Llywodraeth y DU beidio â bwrw ymlaen â'r ddeddfwriaeth. Bydd Huw yn cofio, fel y bydd Aelodau eraill, pan wnaeth y Senedd hon wrthod ei chydsyniad y tro diwethaf, fod Llywodraeth y DU wedi bwrw ymlaen er gwaethaf hynny, a chawsom sicrwydd clir gan Lywodraeth y DU ei bod yn ystyried yr amgylchiadau hynny'n unigryw ac yn rhyfeddol. Ac yng ngoleuni hynny, yn fy marn i, ni allai Llywodraeth y DU gyfiawnhau bwrw ymlaen heb gydsyniad y deddfwrfeydd datganoledig o ran y darn hwn o ddeddfwriaeth.
Mae e'n iawn i godi'r pwynt bod hwn yn Fil sy'n cael gwir effaith ar fywydau beunyddiol dinasyddion, busnesau a sefydliadau yng Nghymru. Dylai unrhyw ddefnyddiwr nad yw eisiau gweld cig eidion sydd wedi'i chwistrellu gan hormonau ar ein silffoedd, sydd eisiau gweld uchelgais Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfyngu ar ddefnydd plastig untro ac i gynnal safonau uchel o ran adeiladu a rheoleiddio landlordiaid, ac sydd eisiau sicrhau y dylai'r math o uchelgais y mae pobl Cymru wedi pleidleisio drosti barhau i fod ar gael, fod yn pryderu ynghylch ddarpariaethau'r Bil hwn. Dylai unrhyw fusnes yng Nghymru sydd eisiau cael cyfres o safonau ar gyfer mesur ei gynnyrch a'i gyflenwad fod yn bryderus. Dylai unrhyw fusnes sy'n ceisio cysoni Llywodraeth y DU yn ceisio pwerau cymorth gwladwriaethol drosto'i hun, ac ar yr un pryd yn meddu ar rwymedigaethau hefyd i fusnesau yn Lloegr fel Llywodraeth Lloegr, a'r gwrthdaro buddiannau y mae hynny'n amlwg yn ei gyflwyno, fod yn bryderus ynghylch cynnwys y Bil hwn.
It is clear that the UK wishes to plough ahead and intentionally break international agreements, whilst simultaneously hiding the Bill's true intent, to attempt to take back control of this democratic place, but with a new ability to top-slice the budget of Wales for Tory priorities. What would this mean for the programme of government that the people of Wales have democratically elected this Government to carry out on their behalf? Would he agree with me that this demands renewed concern around the distribution of the shared prosperity fund and is, at its heart, an attack on this democracy, devolution, and, Llywydd, an attack on this place?
Mae'n amlwg bod y DU yn dymuno bwrw ymlaen a thorri cytundebau rhyngwladol yn fwriadol, ynghyd â chuddio gwir fwriad y Bil ar yr un pryd, sef ceisio cymryd yn ôl reolaeth dros y lle democrataidd hwn, ond gyda gallu newydd i frigdorri cyllideb Cymru ar gyfer blaenoriaethau'r Torïaid. Beth fyddai hyn yn ei olygu i'r rhaglen lywodraethu y mae pobl Cymru wedi ethol y Llywodraeth hon yn ddemocrataidd i'w chyflawni ar eu rhan? A fyddai ef yn cytuno â mi fod hyn yn gofyn am bryder o'r newydd ynghylch dosbarthu'r gronfa ffyniant gyffredin, ac y mae, yn ei hanfod, yn ymosodiad ar y ddemocratiaeth hon, datganoli a, Llywydd, yn ymosodiad ar y lle hwn?
Well, the Bill, if passed into law, would constrain the actions not only of this Government, but successive Welsh Governments, and, indeed, the effectiveness of this Senedd to make the kind of ambitious changes in law and reform in Wales that it would wish to make. I mentioned in my earlier question the very practical ways in which this affects consumers and citizens right across Wales. Some of the provisions in the Bill are at odds with the Government of Wales Act 2006. Some wouldn't prevent the Senedd from passing laws or Ministers making regulations, but would effectively mean they couldn't be enforced on the ground in Wales. Now, these are changes that run the serious risk of limiting the actions of this Government and future Governments to fulfil manifesto pledges and to be ambitious on behalf of the people of Wales. She identifies in particular the impact on the shared prosperity fund. I think UK Government Ministers have been pretty upfront about the fact that the provisions in the Bill would provide UK Government Ministers with the powers to circumvent powers that effectively have been those of Welsh Ministers to manage the successor programmes to EU programmes in Wales—a clear breach of the commitment made not to reverse the devolution settlement and the powers of the Welsh Government in relation to those successor programmes.
Wel, byddai'r Bil, pe bai'n cael ei basio'n gyfraith, yn cyfyngu ar weithredoedd nid yn unig y Llywodraeth hon, ond Llywodraethau olynol yng Nghymru ac, yn wir, effeithiolrwydd y Senedd hon i wneud y math o newidiadau uchelgeisiol yn y gyfraith a diwygio yng Nghymru yr hoffai eu gwneud. Soniais yn fy nghwestiwn cynharach am y ffyrdd ymarferol iawn y mae hyn yn effeithio ar ddefnyddwyr a dinasyddion ledled Cymru. Mae rhai o'r darpariaethau yn y Bil yn groes i Ddeddf Llywodraeth Cymru 2006. Ni fyddai rhai yn atal y Senedd rhag pasio cyfreithiau na Gweinidogion rhag gwneud rheoliadau, ond fe fydden nhw, i bob pwrpas, yn golygu na fyddai modd eu gorfodi ar lawr gwlad yng Nghymru. Nawr, mae'r rhain yn newidiadau sy'n creu risg ddifrifol o gyfyngu ar weithredoedd y Llywodraeth hon a Llywodraethau'r dyfodol i gyflawni addewidion maniffesto ac i fod yn uchelgeisiol ar ran pobl Cymru. Mae hi'n nodi'n benodol yr effaith ar y gronfa ffyniant gyffredinol. Rwy'n credu bod Gweinidogion Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn eithaf agored ynglŷn â'r ffaith y byddai'r darpariaethau yn y Bil yn rhoi'r pwerau i Weinidogion Llywodraeth y DU gamu heibio'r pwerau sydd i bob pwrpas wedi bod yn eiddo i Weinidogion Cymru i reoli'r rhaglenni olynol i raglenni'r UE yng Nghymru—yn amlwg yn cefnu ar yr ymrwymiad a gafodd ei wneud i beidio â gwrthdroi'r setliad datganoli a phwerau Llywodraeth Cymru o ran y rhaglenni olynol hynny.
Mae cwestiynau 3 [OQ55549] a 4 [OQ55531] wedi'u tynnu yn ôl. Cwestiwn 5—Janet Finch-Saunders.
Questions 3 [OQ55549] and 4 [OQ55531] are withdrawn. Question 5—Janet Finch-Saunders.
5. Pa sylwadau cyfreithiol y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u gwneud ar ran Llywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â chyhoeddiad yr Undeb Ewropeaidd y byddai'n ei gwneud yn anghyfreithlon i gynhyrchion anifeiliaid gael eu gwerthu o Brydain Fawr i Ogledd Iwerddon a'r UE? OQ55547
5. What legal representation has the Counsel General made on behalf of the Welsh Government in relation to the announcement by the European Union that it would make it illegal for animal products to be sold from Great Britain to Northern Ireland and the EU? OQ55547
I am not aware that the European Union has made any such announcement. However, the issue of listing the UK for EU food imports demonstrates just how important the negotiations with the European Union are to Wales. The UK Government internal market Bill jeopardises those talks, which is extremely irresponsible and poses a real risk to Wales.
Nid wyf yn ymwybodol bod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd wedi gwneud unrhyw gyhoeddiad o'r fath. Fodd bynnag, mae'r mater o restru'r DU ar gyfer mewnforion bwyd yr UE yn dangos pwysigrwydd y trafodaethau gyda'r Undeb Ewropeaidd i Gymru. Mae Bil Marchnad Fewnol Llywodraeth y DU yn peryglu'r trafodaethau hynny, sy'n anghyfrifol dros ben ac yn peri risg wirioneddol i Gymru.
I'm sorry, I must disagree with you on that. The prospect of British animals and products not being added to EU sanitary and phytosanitary lists for non-EU countries is causing some alarm. For example, 37,400 tonnes of sheep meat was exported to France, and 40,600 tonnes of beef to Ireland last year. Now, according to Nick von Westenholz of the National Farmers Union, listing should be a straightforward technical matter. Similarly, the chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association has observed that the bigger question is when third country status will be granted. Fortunately, the UK Government will be laying secondary legislation next month to clarify these listing procedures, and have commented: 'We are operating the same rules and will be at the end of the transition period. Nonetheless, there is benefit to taking precautions.' So have you had to amend preparations for the end of the transition period in light of this threat, and what detail can you provide as to the steps the Welsh Government will take should Wales not be able to sell animal products to the EU?
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, mae'n rhaid imi anghytuno â chi ar hynny. Mae'r posibilrwydd na fydd anifeiliaid a chynhyrchion Prydain yn cael eu hychwanegu at restrau glanweithdra a sicrhau iechyd planhigion yr UE ar gyfer gwledydd y tu allan i'r UE yn achosi pryder mawr. Er enghraifft, allforiwyd 37,400 tunnell o gig defaid i Ffrainc, a 40,600 tunnell o gig eidion i Iwerddon y llynedd. Nawr, yn ôl Nick von Westenholz o Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Amaethwyr, dylai rhestru fod yn fater technegol syml. Yn yr un modd, mae prif weithredwr Cymdeithas Proseswyr Cig Prydain wedi dweud mai'r cwestiwn ehangach yw pryd fydd statws trydydd gwlad yn cael ei roi. Yn ffodus, bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn gosod is-ddeddfwriaeth fis nesaf i egluro'r gweithdrefnau rhestru hyn, ac maen nhw wedi dweud: 'Rydym yn gweithredu'r un rheolau a byddwn ar ddiwedd y cyfnod pontio. Serch hynny, mae'n fanteisiol cymryd camau o flaen llaw.' Felly a fu'n rhaid i chi ddiwygio'r paratoadau ar gyfer diwedd y cyfnod pontio yng ngoleuni'r bygythiad hwn, a pha fanylion y gallwch chi eu darparu ynghylch y camau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd pe na bai Cymru yn gallu gwerthu cynnyrch anifeiliaid i'r UE?
Well, there's a range of threats that the Welsh Government are unfortunately in the position of having to prepare for as a consequence of the conduct of negotiations between the UK and the European Union. I've listed on many occasions the damage that the current trajectory will cause to Welsh food exporters, and I'm glad to hear her list in her question the risks that are very real to those farmers and food producers right across Wales. She also said in her question that this is a straightforward technical matter. And I agree with that. I don't think there has been any statement on the part of the EU that this will not happen. But there is an understandable need to be clear about what standards the UK Government proposes to put in place. I'm pleased to hear that the UK Government is keen to bring those forward, not least because, in the current circumstances, its reassurances about high standards in future can surely not be taken at face value.
Wel, mae Llywodraeth Cymru, yn anffodus, mewn sefyllfa o orfod paratoi ar gyfer amrywiaeth o fygythiadau o ganlyniad i gynnal trafodaethau rhwng y DU a'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Rwyf i wedi rhestru droeon y niwed y bydd y llwybr presennol yn ei achosi i allforwyr bwyd Cymru, ac rwy'n falch o'i chlywed yn rhestru yn ei chwestiwn y risgiau sy'n real iawn i'r ffermwyr a'r cynhyrchwyr bwyd hynny ledled Cymru. Dywedodd hefyd yn ei chwestiwn fod hwn yn fater technegol syml. A chytunaf â hynny. Nid wyf yn credu bod unrhyw ddatganiad wedi bod ar ran yr UE na fydd hyn yn digwydd. Ond mae yna angen dealladwy i fod yn glir ynghylch pa safonau y mae Llywodraeth y DU yn bwriadu eu rhoi ar waith. Rwy'n falch o glywed bod Llywodraeth y DU yn awyddus i gyflwyno'r rheini, yn bennaf oherwydd, dan yr amgylchiadau presennol, siawns nad oes modd derbyn fel ffaith ei sicrwydd ynghylch safonau uchel yn y dyfodol.
6. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael gyda swyddogion y gyfraith yn Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch gwella hygyrchedd cymorth cyfreithiol i breswylwyr sy'n dioddef troseddau gwledig? OQ55548
6. What discussions has the Counsel General had with law officers in the UK Government about improving the accessibility of legal support to residents subjected to rural crime? OQ55548
The Welsh Government continues to make representations to the UK Government on the justice system in Wales, including the accessibility of legal support for residents in all parts of Wales and in all areas of law.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gyflwyno sylwadau i Lywodraeth y DU ar y system gyfiawnder yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys hygyrchedd cymorth cyfreithiol i breswylwyr ym mhob rhan o Gymru ac ym mhob maes cyfreithiol.
Thank you. Eighty-six per cent of those surveyed in north Wales, 92 per cent in Dyfed-Powys, and 97 per cent in Gwent think that crime is significant in their rural community. A study carried out by the Countryside Alliance found that nearly a quarter of crimes were not reported to the police, and 56 per cent of respondents who did report a crime were dissatisfied with the response. As the Countryside Alliance has commented,
'Good rural policing is about far more than numbers of police officers on the ground...we must form effective partnerships'.
Now, whilst I appreciate that the Welsh Government is involved in the Wales wildlife and rural crime group, this does not include key stakeholders such as local authorities and town and smaller community councils in our rural areas. Will you now liaise with the law officers in the UK Government, with the aim of founding a national rural crime taskforce for Wales, in order to involve all stakeholders and to help ensure that there is indeed a greater understanding of the needs of our rural communities?
Diolch. Mae 86 y cant o'r rhai a gafodd eu harolygu yn y gogledd, 92 y cant yn Nyfed-Powys, a 97 y cant yng Ngwent yn credu bod trosedd sylweddol yn eu cymuned wledig. Canfyddiad astudiaeth a gynhaliwyd gan y Gynghrair Cefn Gwlad oedd nad oedd bron chwarter y troseddau wedi'u hysbysu i'r heddlu, ac roedd 56 y cant o'r ymatebwyr a ddywedodd eu bod wedi rhoi gwybod am drosedd yn anfodlon â'r ymateb. Fel y dywedodd y Gynghrair Cefn Gwlad,
Mae plismona gwledig da yn golygu llawer mwy na nifer y swyddogion heddlu ar lawr gwlad... rhaid inni ffurfio partneriaethau effeithiol.
Nawr, er fy mod i'n sylweddoli bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwneud â grŵp bywyd gwyllt a throseddau gwledig Cymru, nid yw hyn yn cynnwys rhanddeiliaid allweddol megis awdurdodau lleol a chynghorau tref a chymuned llai yn ein hardaloedd gwledig. A wnewch chi gysylltu nawr â swyddogion y gyfraith yn Llywodraeth y DU, gyda'r nod o sefydlu tasglu troseddau gwledig cenedlaethol i Gymru, er mwyn cynnwys yr holl randdeiliaid a helpu i sicrhau bod angen dealltwriaeth well o anghenion ein cymunedau gwledig?
I will agree with the Member that it is a concern if people are not reporting rural crimes to the police. Of course, both members of the public and stakeholders should feel able to do that, and should in fact do that, and we would encourage them, indeed, to do that. She mentioned in her question the role of the Wales wildlife, crime and rural affairs group. My understanding is that the work of that group has been very widely appreciated and commended as an exemplar, whether it's to do with the secondment of police officers to Natural Resources Wales or the establishment of rural crime units within our police services, right across Wales. I understand those are regarded in other parts of the UK and beyond as examples of very good practice. But I share with her her concern about crime in any part of Wales, and I'm pleased to see the partnership working that is happening between the Government here in Wales, Natural Resources Wales, the police, and other emergency services, to support rural communities in this concern.
Cytunaf â'r Aelod ei fod yn bryder os nad yw pobl yn rhoi gwybod i'r heddlu am droseddau gwledig. Wrth gwrs, dylai aelodau'r cyhoedd a rhanddeiliaid deimlo y gallan nhw wneud hynny, ac fe ddylen nhw wneud hynny, a byddem ni'n eu hannog, yn wir, i wneud hynny. Soniodd hi yn ei chwestiwn am swyddogaeth grŵp bywyd gwyllt, troseddu a materion gwledig Cymru. Yn ôl yr hyn a ddeallaf, mae gwaith y grŵp hwnnw wedi cael ei werthfawrogi a'i ganmol yn eang iawn fel enghraifft, boed hynny'n ymwneud â secondio swyddogion yr heddlu i Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru neu sefydlu unedau troseddau gwledig o fewn ein gwasanaethau heddlu, ledled Cymru. Rwy'n deall bod y rheini'n cael eu hystyried mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU a thu hwnt fel enghreifftiau o arfer da iawn. Ond rwy'n rhannu'ch pryder ynghylch troseddu mewn unrhyw ran o Gymru, ac rwy'n falch o weld y gwaith partneriaeth sy'n digwydd rhwng y Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru, yr heddlu, a gwasanaethau brys eraill, i gefnogi cymunedau gwledig yn y mater hwn.
7. Pa asesiad y mae’r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'i wneud ar ddyfarniad y llys gweinyddol yn achos Driver yn erbyn Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Rhondda Cynon Taf? OQ55555
7. What assessment has the Counsel General made of the administrative court’s judgement in the case of Driver v. Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council? OQ55555
Rwyf wedi trafod y dyfarniad gyda’r Gweinidog Addysg o ran y goblygiadau i gyfraith addysg. Rwy’n ystyried y goblygiadau ehangach mewn perthynas â dehongli testun deddfwriaeth Cymraeg, sydd â statws cyfartal â’r tesun Saesneg at bob diben.
I have discussed the judgment with the Minister for Education in relation to the implications for educational law. I am considering the wider implications in relation to the interpretation of Welsh language text of legislation, which has equal status with the English text for all purposes.
Dros yr haf y daeth y dyfarniad yma, yndê, gan y Barnwr Fraser, a llwyddiant i grŵp sy'n brwydo i gadw ysgolion yn nalgylch Pontypridd, gan gynnwys Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Siôn Norton yng Nghilfynydd. Roedd penderfyniad diffygiol cyngor Rhondda Cynon Taf yn golygu y byddai peryg i gymuned ddifreintiedig gael ei heithrio o addysg Gymraeg, ac mae angen i'r cyngor rŵan weithio efo'r gymuned i ddod â chynnig amgen gerbron, ac mi fyddai hi'n warth o beth petai'r cyngor yn meddwl am apelio'r dyfarniad. Hoffwn i ofyn i chi am arwyddocâd ehangach y dyfarniad i addysg Gymraeg ac i statws yr iaith. Ydych chi'n cytuno efo fi bod dyfarniad cadarn y Barnwr Fraser yn ei gyfanrwydd yn gam mawr ymlaen o ran y disgwyliad gan lysoedd a'r awdurdodau cyhoeddus i roi sylw teilwng a phriodol i'r Gymraeg wrth wneud penderfyniadau, ac yn warchodaeth i gymunedau eraill?
This judgment was made by Judge Fraser over the summer, wasn't it, and was a success for a group that is fighting to keep schools open in the Pontypridd catchment area, including Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pont Siôn Norton. The deficient decision taken by Rhondda Cynon Taf council meant that a disadvantaged community could have been excluded from Welsh-medium education, and the council now needs to work with the community to bring an alternative proposal forward. It would be disgraceful if the council were to consider appealing the decision. I would like to ask you about the broader significance of the judgment for Welsh language education and the status of the language. Do you agree with me that the robust decision taken by Judge Fraser is a huge step forward in terms of the expectation on courts and public authorities to give equal and appropriate consideration to the Welsh language when decisions are made, and provides protection for other communities?
Dydw i ddim mewn sefyllfa i wneud sylwadau ehangach ynglŷn â'r maes polisi hwn, gan nad fy mholisi i fel Cwnsler Cyffredinol sydd yma. Ond rwy'n synnu'n fawr i glywed brwdfrydedd yr Aelod dros y dyfarniad, o gymryd mewn i ystyriaeth y ffordd gwnaeth y barnwr edrych ar statws y Gymraeg yn y ddeddfwriaeth a'i chymharu â statws y Saesneg yn y ddeddfwriaeth. Mae cwestiynau pwysig iawn yn y dull hynny; mae'n codi cwestiynau pwysig am driniaeth hafal y Gymraeg yn ein llysoedd ni yma yng Nghymru. Felly, byddwn i'n argymell i'r Aelod edrych ar y cwestiwn hwnnw, ynghyd â'r cwestiynau eraill ehangach mae hi wedi'u codi heddiw.
I’m not in a position to make any broader comments on this policy field because it’s not my policy as a Counsel General that we are considering here. But I’m extremely surprised to hear the Member’s enthusiasm for the judgment, considering the way the judge looked at the status of the Welsh language in the legislation as compared to the status of English in the legislation. There are extremely important questions raised there; it raises important questions about the equal status of the Welsh language in our courts here in Wales. So, I would recommend that the Member looks at that question, in addition to the other questions she has raised today.
8. Pa drafodaethau ydych chi'n eu cael gydag awdurdodau cyhoeddus a'r sector gyfreithiol ynghylch cyfraniad y gyfraith at wireddu strategaeth 2050? OQ55556
8. What discussions is the Counsel General having with public authorities and the legal sector regarding the contribution of the law to achieving the Cymraeg 2050 strategy? OQ55556
Mae’r Llywodraeth hon a minnau yn gwbl ymroddedig yn ein hymdrechion i gyflawni strategaeth Cymraeg 2050. Dwi fy hun ddim wedi cael trafodaethau uniongyrchol â’r awdurdodau cyhoeddus na’r sector gyfreithiol, ond rwyf wedi cael trafodaethau gyda rheoleiddwyr sector y gyfraith ynglŷn ag addysg broffesiynol drwy'r Gymraeg, sydd wedi dwyn ffrwyth.
This Government and I are fully committed in our resolve to deliver on the Cymraeg 2050 strategy. I, myself, have not had direct discussions with the public authorities or the legal sector, but I have had discussions with the legal sector regulators regarding Welsh-medium professional education, which have borne fruit.
Dwi wedi sôn eisoes am arwyddocâd dyfarniad arbennig y Barnwr Fraser yn achos ysgolion Pontypridd, ac mae'r penderfyniad wedi cael ei groesawu gan gyfeillion y Gymraeg ym myd y gyfraith. Fe soniodd Michael Imperato, mewn trafodaeth yn ddiweddar am y dyfarniad, am ripple effect yr achos hwnnw. A allwch chi gadarnhau sut y byddwch chi fel Llywodraeth yn mynd ati i hysbysu cyrff cyhoeddus a'r rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau am y cynseiliau sy'n codi i'r dyfodol o'r dyfarniad, fel na welwn ni ddim Ysgol Felindre arall ac fel na fydd rhieni Pont Sion Norton yn gorfod mynd i gyfraith i sicrhau eu hawl i addysg Gymraeg o fewn cyrraedd rhesymol i'w cymuned?
I’ve already talked about the significance of the judgment made by Judge Fraser in the case of the Pontypridd schools, and the decision has been welcomed from supporters of the Welsh language in the legal profession. Michael Imperato, in a recent discussion on the adjudication, talked of the ripple effect that that case would have. Can you confirm how you as a Government will inform public bodies and those making decisions about the precedents arising for the future from this decision, so that we don’t see another Ysgol Felindre and that the parents of Ysgol Pont Sion Norton will not have to go to law again to secure their right to Welsh-medium education within reasonable reach of their communities?
Wel, mae'r cwestiwn hwn yn debyg iawn o ran sylwedd i'r cwestiwn cynt. Felly does gyda fi ddim lot fwy gallaf ei ddweud fel ymateb i hynny, ond rwy'n credu bod gwerth edrych yn fanwl ar sut gwnaeth y dyfarnwr edrych ar hafalrwydd y Gymraeg a'r Saesneg mewn deddfwriaeth. Mae cwestiwn pwysig yn codi yn y cyd-destun hwnnw i gyfreithwyr yn gyffredinol.
Well, this question is very similar in substance to the previous question. There isn’t very much more I can say in response to that, but I do feel that there is value in looking in detail at the way in which the judge looked at the equality of both Welsh and English in legislation, because there’s a very important question being raised there for lawyers in general.
Diolch i'r Cwnsler Cyfredinol.
I thank the Counsel General.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes. Dwi'n galw ar y Trefnydd i wneud y datganiad hwnnw. 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 are three changes to today's agenda. Later this afternoon, the Minister for Health and Social Services will make an oral statement—update on coronavirus. The debate on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 8) (Caerphilly) Regulations 2020 has been postponed until next week. And finally, the motion to agree the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Functions of Local Authorities) (Wales) Regulations 2020 has been withdrawn. 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 tri newid i'r agenda heddiw. Yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, bydd y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn gwneud datganiad llafar—yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar y coronafeirws. Mae'r ddadl ar Reoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 8) (Caerffili) 2020 wedi'i gohirio tan yr wythnos nesaf. Ac yn olaf, mae'r cynnig i gytuno ar Reoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Swyddogaethau Awdurdodau Lleol) (Cymru) 2020 wedi'i dynnu'n ôl. 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.
Trefnydd, can I call for a statement on public sector procurement advice that the Welsh Government issues? Your response to a recent written question on this matter gives me a great deal of cause for concern in that you've suggested that you might be issuing a new procurement advice notice to the public sector in Wales, and in that answer that you issued, you specifically referred to it being potentially targeted at the nation of Israel, because you referred to it dealing with places where there are territorial disputes.
Now, of course, of the countless places around the world where there are territorial disputes, that answer that you issued specifically mentioned the Jewish state. Now, you'll be aware that the Welsh Government has accepted and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. That refers to not doing anything that could result in double standards being applied to the nation of Israel. But, in singling out Israel in your answer to a question on procurement advice, it suggests that that might well be the case should you issue that particular piece of advice.
So, I'm very concerned about the message that that sends to the Jewish community in Wales. I know that the Welsh Government does not want to send hostile messages to the Jewish community and wants to address the antisemitism that is out there. So, I would urge you to look again at the procurement advice notice that you are preparing, to make sure that your proposals do not impinge on the good work that's been done here in Wales to deal with the rise of antisemitism in our country.
Trefnydd, a gaf i alw am ddatganiad am gyngor ar gaffael yn y sector cyhoeddus y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei gyhoeddi? Mae eich ymateb i gwestiwn ysgrifenedig diweddar ar y mater hwn yn peri pryder mawr i mi gan eich bod wedi awgrymu y gallech chi fod yn rhoi hysbysiad cyngor ar gaffael newydd i'r sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru, ac yn yr ateb hwnnw a gafodd ei gyhoeddi gennych chi, gwnaethoch chi, yn benodol gyfeirio ato'n cael ei dargedu, o bosibl, at genedl Israel, oherwydd gwnaethoch chi gyfeirio ato fel rhywbeth oedd yn ymwneud â mannau lle mae anghydfodau tiriogaethol.
Nawr, wrth gwrs, o'r lleoedd di-rif ledled y byd lle mae anghydfodau tiriogaethol, soniodd yr ateb hwnnw, a gafodd ei gyhoeddi gennych chi, yn benodol am y wladwriaeth Iddewig. Nawr, byddwch chi'n ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi derbyn a mabwysiadu diffiniad Cynghrair Ryngwladol Cofio'r Holocost o wrthsemitiaeth. Mae hynny'n cyfeirio at beidio â gwneud dim a allai arwain at osod safonau dwbl ar genedl Israel. Ond, wrth gyfeirio yn benodol at Israel yn eich ateb i gwestiwn ar gyngor ar gaffael, mae'n awgrymu y gallai hynny fod yn wir pe baech yn cyhoeddi'r darn penodol hwnnw o gyngor.
Felly, rwy'n bryderus iawn ynghylch y neges y mae hynny'n ei hanfon i'r gymuned Iddewig yng Nghymru. Gwn i nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru eisiau anfon negeseuon gelyniaethus i'r gymuned Iddewig a'i bod eisiau mynd i'r afael â'r gwrthsemitiaeth sy'n bodoli. Felly, byddwn i'n eich annog i ailedrych ar yr hysbysiad cyngor ar gaffael yr ydych chi'n ei baratoi, i sicrhau nad yw'ch cynigion yn amharu ar y gwaith da sydd wedi'i wneud yma yng Nghymru i ymdrin â'r cynnydd mewn gwrthsemitiaeth yn ein gwlad.
I'd like to reassure Darren Millar that there's absolutely no intention to single out any nation and the response related to occupied territories anywhere in the world. However, I do understand that there are some significant concerns about this, so we are taking some further legal advice before any further action is taken on that procurement advice note, and I know that the First Minister had a very good meeting with the board of deputies, where this was discussed again. But just to reassure Darren Millar and everybody else, there is no intention to single out any particular nation in terms of the procurement advice note, but we are taking further advice, and nothing will be published until that advice has been received and considered.
Hoffwn i sicrhau Darren Millar nad oes unrhyw fwriad o gwbl i nodi unrhyw genedl yn benodol ac roedd yr ymateb yn ymwneud â thiriogaethau wedi'u meddiannu mewn unrhyw le yn y byd. Fodd bynnag, deallaf i fod rhai pryderon sylweddol ynghylch hyn, felly rydym ni'n cymryd rhywfaint o gyngor cyfreithiol pellach cyn cymryd unrhyw gamau pellach ar y nodyn cyngor ar gaffael hwnnw, a gwn i fod y Prif Weinidog wedi cael cyfarfod da iawn gyda bwrdd y dirprwyon, lle cafodd hyn ei drafod eto. Ond er mwyn tawelu meddwl Darren Millar a phawb arall, nid oes bwriad i nodi unrhyw genedl yn benodol o ran y nodyn cyngor ar gaffael, ond rydym ni'n cymryd cyngor pellach, ac ni fydd dim byd yn cael ei gyhoeddi tan fod y cyngor hwnnw wedi dod i law ac wedi'i ystyried.
Many people are self-isolating, or will be in the coming months, as COVID transmission rates spread throughout the country. I've had many messages from people in the Rhondda, who've already endured significant financial harm from the first lockdown. Some people can work from home, some people are self-employed, some people are entitled to sick pay or statutory sick pay, and others can get nothing at all. Now, I've made representations to Westminster about this with no joy. We have to make it easy for people to abide by the rules. Now, given that we can't rely on Westminster, can we hear from the Welsh Government what it has done to improve the financial support for people who have to self-isolate? What representations or plans have you made?
Now, Plaid Cymru believes that you could be implementing a universal basic income that would both help to stop the spread of COVID and help to alleviate poverty. Do you agree with us on that and will you do it?
Mae llawer o bobl yn hunanynysu, neu byddan nhw yn ystod y misoedd nesaf, wrth i gyfraddau trosglwyddo COVID ymledu ledled y wlad. Rwyf i wedi cael llawer o negeseuon gan bobl yn y Rhondda, sydd eisoes wedi dioddef niwed ariannol sylweddol yn sgil y cyfyngiadau symud cyntaf. Gall rhai pobl weithio gartref, mae rhai pobl yn hunangyflogedig, mae gan rai pobl hawl i dâl salwch neu dâl salwch statudol, ac ni all eraill gael dim byd o gwbl. Nawr, rwyf i wedi cyflwyno sylwadau i San Steffan am hyn heb lwyddiant. Rhaid i ni ei gwneud hi'n hawdd i bobl gadw at y rheolau. Nawr, gan na allwn ni ddibynnu ar San Steffan, a gawn ni glywed gan Lywodraeth Cymru beth y mae wedi'i wneud i wella'r cymorth ariannol i bobl sy'n gorfod hunanynysu? Pa sylwadau neu gynlluniau ydych chi wedi'u gwneud?
Nawr, mae Plaid Cymru yn credu y gallech chi fod yn gweithredu incwm sylfaenol cyffredinol a fyddai'n helpu i atal lledaenu COVID ac yn helpu i liniaru tlodi. A ydych chi'n cytuno â ni ar hynny ac a wnewch chi hynny?
I thank Leanne Wood for raising this issue. I do think we have to be realistic as to the extent to which we can stretch the Welsh Government's budget, but, that said, we are currently in discussions with HM Treasury and other parts of the UK Government in relation to the announcements that the UK Government has made in terms of some kind of income support for those individuals who are unable to access other kinds of support. We're trying to, through the course of today, better understand the source of that funding, what it means in terms of Barnett consequentials, and if we're able to say more on that shortly, I know that we will.
Diolch i Leanne Wood am godi'r mater hwn. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn realistig o ran i ba raddau y gallwn ni ymestyn cyllideb Llywodraeth Cymru, ond, wedi dweud hynny, rydym ni wrthi'n cynnal trafodaethau gyda Thrysorlys EM a rhannau eraill o Lywodraeth y DU ynglŷn â'r cyhoeddiadau y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'u gwneud o ran rhyw fath o gymorth incwm i'r unigolion hynny nad ydyn nhw'n gallu cael gafael ar fathau eraill o gymorth. Rydym ni'n ceisio, drwy gydol heddiw, ddeall ffynhonnell y cyllid hwnnw'n well, yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu o ran cyllid canlyniadol Barnett, ac os gallwn ni ddweud mwy am hynny cyn bo hir, fe wn i y byddwn ni'n gwneud hynny.
During questions, the First Minister indicated that he would seek to bring a statement to this place on the new coronavirus regulations that will be made consequent to this morning's COBRA meeting. I understand, from social media, that he will be making a public statement on this matter this evening at 20:05. It would, therefore, be much preferable, I think, for Members on all sides of this Chamber were he able to come back to the Chamber this afternoon to make a statement so that we can have an opportunity to scrutinise the Welsh Government on these matters before they're made public later this evening.
Secondly, I understand from the business statement that there is a statement next week on the economic resilience plan, and the economy Minister will be giving that statement. He is in his place this afternoon, and I know he can hear my question, so I hope that you will be able to confirm, business manager, that that statement will cover all those sectors that are being affected by the corona regulations, as they're being amended this week, and particularly those areas of Wales, such as Blaenau Gwent, where there are new restrictions in place. This will have a significant impact on our economy and on many people and families within our communities, and it is important that the Government places some significant support and help for those people as part of its response to the continuing coronavirus crisis. I hope that the statement on the economy next week will be a broader statement encompassing all of those different areas.
Finally—
Yn ystod y cwestiynau, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog y byddai'n ceisio dod â datganiad i'r lle hwn am y rheoliadau coronafeirws newydd a ddaw o ganlyniad i gyfarfod COBRA y bore yma. Rwy'n deall, o'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol, y bydd yn gwneud datganiad cyhoeddus ar y mater hwn heno am 20:05. Felly, byddai'n llawer gwell, rwy'n credu, i Aelodau ar bob ochr i'r Siambr hon pe bai'n gallu dod yn ôl i'r Siambr y prynhawn yma i wneud datganiad fel y gallwn ni gael cyfle i graffu ar Lywodraeth Cymru ar y materion hyn cyn iddyn nhw gael eu cyhoeddi yn ddiweddarach heno.
Yn ail, rwy'n deall o'r datganiad busnes fod datganiad yr wythnos nesaf ynghylch y cynllun cadernid economaidd, a bydd Gweinidog yr economi'n rhoi'r datganiad hwnnw. Mae yn ei le y prynhawn yma, a gwn ei fod yn gallu clywed fy nghwestiwn, felly rwy'n gobeithio y gallwch chi gadarnhau, rheolwr busnes, y bydd y datganiad hwnnw'n cynnwys yr holl sectorau hynny y mae rheoliadau'r coronafeirws yn effeithio arnyn nhw, gan eu bod yn cael eu diwygio yr wythnos hon, ac yn enwedig yr ardaloedd hynny o Gymru, megis Blaenau Gwent, lle mae cyfyngiadau newydd ar waith. Caiff hyn effaith sylweddol ar ein heconomi ac ar lawer o bobl a theuluoedd yn ein cymunedau, ac mae'n bwysig bod y Llywodraeth yn rhoi rhywfaint o gefnogaeth a chymorth sylweddol i'r bobl hynny fel rhan o'i hymateb i'r argyfwng coronafeirws sy'n parhau. Gobeithio y bydd y datganiad am yr economi yr wythnos nesaf yn ddatganiad ehangach sy'n cynnwys yr holl feysydd gwahanol hynny.
Yn olaf—
No, there's no 'finally', Alun Davies. You've had two points and you're over time, but thank you. The Trefnydd to respond.
Na, nid oes 'yn olaf', Alun Davies. Rydych chi wedi cael dau bwynt ac rydych chi dros amser, ond diolch. Y Trefnydd i ymateb.
Thank you. So, on the first of those points, I would just refer you to the comments that the First Minister made during First Minister's questions to the leader of Plaid Cymru in terms of needing to spend time this afternoon talking to our partners in local government and in the police, and others, in order to determine the way forward. But, obviously, the First Minister is keen to keep colleagues updated, and, of course, we do have the statement from the health Minister on the update on coronavirus later this afternoon, which will be an opportunity for colleagues to question the health Minister on these matters.
In terms of the statement next week, I know it's the intention of the economy and transport Minister to say more on the economic resilience fund, and particularly phase 3. I don't want to pre-empt anything that the Minister will say next week, but I can say I've had some very good discussions with him and I do know that he's very much alive to the local dimension of the challenges that face us at the moment.
Diolch. Felly, o ran y cyntaf o'r pwyntiau hynny, fe hoffwn eich cyfeirio chi at y sylwadau a wnaeth y Prif Weinidog i arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn ystod cwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog, o ran yr angen i dreulio amser y prynhawn yma yn siarad â'n partneriaid mewn llywodraeth leol ac yn yr heddlu, ac eraill, er mwyn penderfynu ar y ffordd ymlaen. Ond, yn amlwg, mae'r Prif Weinidog yn awyddus i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'w gydweithwyr, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r datganiad gennym ni gan y Gweinidog iechyd o ran yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ynghylch coronafeirws yn ddiweddarach y prynhawn yma, a fydd yn gyfle i gydweithwyr holi'r Gweinidog iechyd am y materion hyn.
O ran y datganiad yr wythnos nesaf, gwn i mai bwriad Gweinidog yr economi a thrafnidiaeth yw dweud mwy am y gronfa cadernid economaidd, ac yn enwedig cam 3. Nid wyf eisiau achub y blaen ar unrhyw beth y bydd y Gweinidog yn ei ddweud yr wythnos nesaf, ond gallaf i ddweud fy mod wedi cael trafodaethau da iawn gydag ef ac rwy'n gwybod ei fod yn ymwybodol iawn o ddimensiwn lleol yr heriau sy'n ein hwynebu ni ar hyn o bryd.
Trefnydd, the issue of mental health has massively moved to the forefront of all our minds over recent years, and particularly during the pandemic with the associated issues of mental health that have been affecting some people. You may be aware that Mind Cymru have launched their Stand For Me campaign, calling on Welsh political parties, current Members of the Senedd and future candidates to stand up for mental health issues. I wonder if we could have a statement or an update from the Welsh Government on what's being done ahead of next year's Senedd election to keep the focus on mental health, both now and after that election.
If I may, Llywydd, on a related issue, 10 September was World Suicide Prevention Day. I know it was mentioned in this Chamber in the business statement last week, I think possibly by Jack Sargeant. I wonder if we could have—again, Jack asked for this—a statement from the Welsh Government on what it's doing to make sure that we all do what we can to help prevent suicide, to see the warning signs ahead of when the awful end transpires for someone so that we can do a little bit more to listen and provide that kinder Wales that we all want to give to our colleagues and friends.
Trefnydd, mae mater iechyd meddwl wedi symud i flaen ein holl feddyliau yn ddirfawr yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac yn enwedig yn ystod y pandemig gyda'r materion iechyd meddwl cysylltiedig sydd wedi bod yn effeithio ar rai pobl. Efallai eich bod yn ymwybodol bod Mind Cymru wedi lansio eu hymgyrch Sefwch drosof i, yn galw ar bleidiau gwleidyddol Cymru, Aelodau presennol y Senedd ac ymgeiswyr yn y dyfodol i sefyll dros faterion iechyd meddwl. Tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad neu ddiweddariad gan Lywodraeth Cymru am yr hyn sy'n cael ei wneud cyn etholiad y Senedd y flwyddyn nesaf i gadw'r sylw ar iechyd meddwl, nawr ac ar ôl yr etholiad hwnnw.
Os gaf i, Llywydd, ar fater cysylltiedig, 10 Medi oedd Diwrnod Atal Hunanladdiad y Byd. Gwn iddo gael ei grybwyll yn y Siambr hon yn y datganiad busnes yr wythnos diwethaf, rwy'n credu, o bosibl gan Jack Sargeant. Tybed a gawn ni ddatganiad—unwaith eto, gofynnodd Jack am hyn—gan Lywodraeth Cymru am yr hyn y mae'n ei wneud i sicrhau ein bod ni i gyd yn gwneud yr hyn a allwn i helpu i atal hunanladdiad, i weld yr arwyddion rhybudd cyn i'r diwedd ofnadwy ddod i rywun fel y gallwn ni wneud ychydig mwy i wrando a darparu'r Gymru garedicach honno yr ydym i gyd am ei rhoi i'n cydweithwyr a'n ffrindiau.
Thank you, Nick Ramsay, for that, and I absolutely will discuss with the health Minister what more we can be doing to promote that day, but also to promote the message that it's absolutely fine to talk to people. It's okay not to be okay, as Jack Sargeant was telling us in the Chamber just last week. I know all colleagues will have received communication from Mind Cymru, setting out their new campaign, encouraging us as Members of the Senedd and all future Members of the Senedd to make that pledge to stand up for mental health, and I know that we'll all be very keen in order to engage with that.
Of course, we've had recently the publication of our new three-year 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan. That's been an important step forward, and especially, I think, in terms of improving access to psychological therapies. I can say that the health Minister has also written to health boards to request proposals for funding for the transformation fund from 2021-22 onwards in order to give that longer sight and that longer line of view to investment in mental health transformation.
Diolch, Nick Ramsay, am hynna, ac yn bendant, byddaf yn trafod gyda'r Gweinidog iechyd o ran beth arall y gallwn ni fod yn ei wneud i hyrwyddo'r diwrnod hwnnw, ond hefyd i hyrwyddo'r neges ei bod yn hollol iawn i siarad â phobl. Mae'n iawn peidio â bod yn iawn, fel y dywedodd Jack Sargeant wrthym ni yn y Siambr yr wythnos diwethaf. Rwy'n gwybod y bydd pob cyd-Aelod wedi cael gohebiaeth gan Mind Cymru, yn nodi eu hymgyrch newydd, gan ein hannog fel Aelodau'r Senedd a holl Aelodau'r Senedd yn y dyfodol i wneud yr addewid hwnnw i sefyll dros iechyd meddwl, a gwn y byddwn ni i gyd yn awyddus iawn i ymgysylltu â hynny.
Wrth gwrs, rydym ni wedi cyhoeddi ein cynllun cyflawni tair blynedd newydd 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl' yn ddiweddar. Mae hynny wedi bod yn gam pwysig ymlaen, ac yn enwedig, rwy'n credu, o ran gwella mynediad at therapïau seicolegol. Gallaf ddweud bod y Gweinidog iechyd hefyd wedi ysgrifennu at fyrddau iechyd i ofyn am gynigion o ran cyllid ar gyfer y gronfa drawsnewid o 2021-22 ymlaen er mwyn rhoi'r olwg hwy honno a'r safbwynt hwy hwnnw ar fuddsoddi mewn trawsnewid iechyd meddwl.
Can I ask for two statements, Trefnydd, one from the Minister for the economy and transport regarding his recent announcement on the red route proposal relating, of course, to the A55 along the Flintshire corridor? I've been absolutely inundated by constituents who are very concerned and who actually see legitimate and clear parallels with the decision around the M4 relief road in Newport. Clearly, there are concerns around cost—the projected cost of £210 million in 2016 is now over £300 million. We know that we've declared a climate and biodiversity emergency here in Wales. Well, if that means anything, then it surely means that the Government needs to step back and at least look at alternatives other than just a four-lane highway. And, of course, the COVID pandemic has changed the terms of the debate, in that more people will be working from home, which means there will be less demand on our road infrastructure in years to come. Now, the Welsh Government has said that it wants a coronavirus recovery that, 'Builds back a fairer, greener, more resilient economy'. Well, if that doesn't mean revisiting this proposal, then it's clearly business as usual for Welsh Government and absolutely nothing has changed.
And the Welsh Government also—and this relates to your role as finance Minister—is withdrawing the rates grant scheme for all commercial hydropower generators. I think around 50 will be affected. I appreciate that you're still retaining support for seven community hydro schemes, but, more broadly, the sector is very angry, actually, that it hasn't been able to participate in meaningful discussions that might have influenced your decision. Many of the schemes are now—
A gaf i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, Trefnydd, un gan Weinidog yr economi a thrafnidiaeth ynglŷn â'i gyhoeddiad diweddar ynghylch y cynnig llwybr coch sy'n ymwneud, wrth gwrs, â'r A55 ar hyd coridor Sir Fflint? Rwyf wedi cael lli o ymholiadau gan etholwyr sy'n bryderus iawn ac sy'n gweld tebygrwydd dilys a chlir rhyngddo a'r penderfyniad ynghylch ffordd liniaru'r M4 yng Nghasnewydd. Yn amlwg, mae pryderon ynghylch cost—mae'r gost ragamcanol o £210 miliwn yn 2016 bellach dros £300 miliwn. Rydym ni'n gwybod ein bod wedi datgan argyfwng hinsawdd a bioamrywiaeth yma yng Nghymru. Wel, os yw hynny'n golygu rhywbeth, yna'n sicr mae'n golygu bod angen i'r Llywodraeth gamu'n ôl ac o leiaf ystyried dewisiadau eraill heblaw priffordd bedair lôn yn unig. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae pandemig COVID wedi newid telerau'r ddadl, gan y bydd mwy o bobl yn gweithio gartref, sy'n golygu y bydd llai o alw ar ein seilwaith ffyrdd yn y blynyddoedd i ddod. Nawr, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud ei bod am gael adferiad coronafeirws sy'n ,'Datblygu economi decach, wyrddach a mwy cadarn.' Wel, os nad yw hynny'n golygu ailedrych ar y cynnig hwn, yna mae'n amlwg ei fod yn fusnes fel arfer i Lywodraeth Cymru ac nid oes dim byd wedi newid o gwbl.
Ac mae Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd—ac mae hyn yn ymwneud â'ch swydd yn Weinidog cyllid—yn tynnu'r cynllun grant ardrethi ar gyfer pob cynhyrchydd ynni dŵr masnachol yn ôl. Rwy'n credu bydd hynny'n effeithio ar tua 50. Rwy'n sylweddoli eich bod chi dal yn cefnogi saith cynllun dŵr cymunedol, ond, yn fwy cyffredinol, mae'r sector yn ddig iawn, mewn gwirionedd, nad yw wedi gallu cymryd rhan mewn trafodaethau ystyrlon a allai fod wedi dylanwadu ar eich penderfyniad. Mae llawer o'r cynlluniau bellach—
Can you ask your question, please, Llyr?
A wnewch chi ofyn eich cwestiwn, os gwelwch yn dda, Llyr?
Well, it's basically that we have a statement from the finance Minister explaining why she believes that withdrawing the rates grant scheme for hydropower generators is a good idea, given the Government's ambitions in terms of net-zero carbon.
Wel, yn y bôn, mae gennym ni ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog cyllid yn esbonio pam y mae hi'n credu bod tynnu'r cynllun grant ardrethi ar gyfer generaduron ynni dŵr yn ôl yn syniad da, o ystyried uchelgeisiau'r Llywodraeth o ran di-garbon-net.
I thank Llyr for those questions, and, of course, the hydropower non-domestic rates grant scheme does sit in the portfolio of the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, but I know that she will be able to hear your comments on that this afternoon.
In terms of the A55 red route, the intention as I understand it is to continue and review the community and stakeholder engagement activity in order to ensure that all interested parties now are updated regularly as the scheme does move forward. But it will also include improving active travel links, bus travel links and improving the resilience of the existing infrastructure as well as reducing congestion. And I know that they will be carrying out some environmental investigations along the preferred route later this year. These will mainly be non-invasive surveys with a small number of ecologists looking to identify potential areas for further survey. That means that they will be contacting local landowners to discuss land access. So, that's the latest update that I have, but of course I will make sure that the Minister for Economy and Transport is well aware of the concerns that you've raised.
Diolch i Llyr am y cwestiynau yna, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r cynllun grant ardrethi annomestig ynni dŵr yn rhan o bortffolio Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig, ond rwy'n gwybod y bydd yn gallu clywed eich sylwadau ynghylch hynny y prynhawn yma.
O ran llwybr coch yr A55, y bwriad, yn ôl yr hyn yr wyf i yn ei ddeall yw parhau ac adolygu'r gweithgarwch ymgysylltu â'r gymuned a rhanddeiliaid er mwyn sicrhau bod pawb sydd â diddordeb nawr yn cael yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf yn rheolaidd wrth i'r cynllun symud ymlaen. Ond bydd hefyd yn cynnwys gwella cysylltiadau teithio llesol, cysylltiadau teithio ar fysiau a gwella cadernid y seilwaith presennol yn ogystal â lleihau tagfeydd. Ac fe wn y byddan nhw'n cynnal rhai ymchwiliadau amgylcheddol ar hyd y llwybr mwyaf ffafriol yn ddiweddarach eleni. Arolygon anymwthiol fydd y rhain yn bennaf gyda nifer fach o ecolegwyr yn ceisio nodi meysydd posibl i'w harolygu ymhellach. Mae hynny'n golygu y byddan nhw'n cysylltu â thirfeddianwyr lleol i drafod mynediad i dir. Felly, dyna'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf sydd gennyf i, ond wrth gwrs byddaf yn sicrhau bod Gweinidog yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth yn ymwybodol iawn o'r pryderon yr ydych chi wedi'u codi.
Minister, I'd like to ask for two statements, the first from the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs on social distancing and other safety measures in supermarkets. Because of the worsening coronavirus situation, some supermarkets have already reintroduced queues, one-way systems et cetera, but it is crucial that the Welsh Government brings whatever pressure is necessary to bear on supermarkets to ensure that they are as safe as they possibly can be.
I'd also like to request a statement from the health Minister on the restrictions that are in place for families expecting babies. At the moment, partners are not allowed to attend scan appointments and are only able to be with their partner during active labour. This is not a minor matter. Pregnancy is not an illness, and I believe that some of these restrictions could have an impact on mental health, going forward. Thank you.
Gweinidog, hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, y cyntaf gan Weinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol a mesurau diogelwch eraill mewn archfarchnadoedd. Oherwydd y sefyllfa coronafeirws sy'n gwaethygu, mae rhai archfarchnadoedd eisoes wedi ailgyflwyno ciwiau, systemau un ffordd ac ati, ond mae'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi pa bynnag bwysau sydd eu hangen ar archfarchnadoedd i sicrhau eu bod mor ddiogel â phosibl.
Hoffwn i hefyd ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd ar y cyfyngiadau sydd ar waith ar gyfer teuluoedd sy'n disgwyl babanod. Ar hyn o bryd, nid yw partneriaid yn cael bod yn bresennol yn ystod apwyntiadau sganio, a dim ond yn cael bod gyda'u partner adeg esgor. Nid mater bach yw hwn. Nid salwch yw beichiogrwydd, ac rwy'n credu y gallai rhai o'r cyfyngiadau hyn effeithio ar iechyd meddwl, wrth symud ymlaen. Diolch.
Thank you to Lynne Neagle for raising both of those important issues, and I know that she has been a strong voice, really, in terms of ensuring that supermarkets play their important role in terms of helping to keep people safe. I can provide reassurance that, during the regular meetings that the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs has with the food industry and the supermarkets, she does continue to impress upon them how important it is. I think that there has been recently a much greater effort and a much greater focus on enforcement, and local authorities will issue improvement notices to individual stores and other premises not meeting the required standard. I know that Members of the Senedd are often asked by their constituents to alert the local authorities to stores where they have had those concerns, and the local authorities will undertake inspections and actions where those shortcomings have been identified. But I just want to provide that reassurance that this is a strong topic of conversation between the Welsh Government and the supermarkets.
The second issue again is very important, in terms of support for mothers both before and after giving birth, and I do know that the arrangements are kept constantly under review because we recognise the important role of having the partner there in terms of supporting the individuals. But if they are feeling anxious about anything, the first advice is to speak to the midwife, because the health boards will always take individual circumstances into account, particularly where there might be mental health needs or learning disability or other kinds of support the individual might need. But, as I say, we do keep this under constant review.
Diolch i chi i Lynne Neagle am godi'r ddau fater pwysig yna, ac fe wn i ei bod hi wir wedi bod yn llais cryf, o ran sicrhau bod archfarchnadoedd yn chwarae eu rhan bwysig yn helpu i gadw pobl yn ddiogel. Rwy'n gallu rhoi sicrwydd, yn ystod y cyfarfodydd rheolaidd y mae Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Ynni a Materion Gwledig yn eu cael gyda'r diwydiant bwyd a'r archfarchnadoedd, ei bod hi'n dal i bwysleisio pa mor bwysig ydyw. Rwy'n credu bod llawer mwy o ymdrech wedi bod yn ddiweddar a llawer mwy o sylw ar orfodi, a bydd awdurdodau lleol yn cyflwyno hysbysiadau gwella i siopau unigol ac adeiladau eraill nad ydyn nhw'n cyrraedd y safon ofynnol. Gwn i fod eu hetholwyr yn aml yn gofyn i Aelodau'r Senedd dynnu sylw'r awdurdodau lleol at siopau sydd wedi peri pryderon iddyn nhw, a bydd yr awdurdodau lleol yn cynnal arolygiadau a chamau gweithredu lle mae'r diffygion hynny wedi'u nodi. Ond rwy'n awyddus i roi'r sicrwydd hwnnw bod hwn yn destun sgwrs gref rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a'r archfarchnadoedd.
Mae'r ail fater eto'n bwysig iawn, o ran cymorth i famau cyn ac ar ôl rhoi genedigaeth, ac rwy'n gwybod bod y trefniadau'n cael eu hadolygu'n gyson oherwydd ein bod yn cydnabod rhan bwysig y partner yno o ran cefnogi'r unigolion. Ond os ydyn nhw'n teimlo'n bryderus am unrhyw beth, y cyngor cyntaf yw siarad â'r fydwraig, oherwydd bydd y byrddau iechyd bob amser yn ystyried amgylchiadau unigol, yn enwedig lle y gallai fod anghenion iechyd meddwl neu anabledd dysgu neu fathau eraill o gymorth y gallai fod eu hangen ar yr unigolyn. Ond, fel y dywedais, rydym ni'n parhau i adolygu hyn yn gyson.
I'd like a Government statement on the Westminster Government's report NRPB-M173. I understand it's no longer in the public domain, but it shows quite clearly that plutonium has leaked from Hinkley Point into the estuary for decades. What is of particular concern is that, in 1982, the report and the tests of the UK Government showed that was a huge spike in plutonium discharge through the waste pipe. Therefore, plutonium did enter the estuary at a very high level, scientists say, and they've actually, as I said, presented the evidence. The issue for me is that the Government allowed the mud to be dumped in 2018 because they said there was no need to test for plutonium or alpha emitters, alpha radiation, because there was no corresponding spike in gamma. Now, what report NRPB-M173 shows is that you do not need a peak in gamma radiation when there is a peak in plutonium. So, you've got a huge, huge peak in plutonium leaking into the estuary, and I think it's reasonable, therefore, to assume that it's in the mud.
Hoffwn i gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar adroddiad Llywodraeth San Steffan NRPB-M173. Rwy'n deall nad yw bellach ar gael i'r cyhoedd, ond mae'n dangos yn gwbl glir bod plwtoniwm wedi bod yn gollwng o Hinkley Point i'r aber ers degawdau. Yr hyn sy'n peri pryder arbennig yw bod adroddiad a phrofion Llywodraeth y DU, ym 1982, wedi dangos bod hynny'n gynnydd enfawr mewn gollyngiad plwtoniwm drwy'r bibell wastraff. Felly, aeth lefel uchel iawn o blwtoniwm i mewn i'r aber yn ôl gwyddonwyr, ac maen nhw, fel y dywedais i, wedi cyflwyno'r dystiolaeth. Y broblem i mi yw bod y Llywodraeth wedi caniatáu i'r mwd gael ei ollwng yn 2018 oherwydd dywedon nhw nad oedd angen profi am blwtoniwm neu allyrwyr alffa, pelydriad alffa, oherwydd nad oedd unrhyw gynnydd cyfatebol mewn gama. Nawr, yr hyn y mae adroddiad NRPB-M173 yn ei ddangos yw nad oes angen uchafbwynt mewn pelydriad gama pan fo uchafbwynt mewn plwtoniwm. Felly, mae gennych chi uchafbwynt enfawr o blwtoniwm yn gollwng i'r aber, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn rhesymol, felly, tybio ei fod yn y mwd.
Can you ask your question please, Neil McEvoy?
A wnewch chi ofyn eich cwestiwn os gwelwch yn dda, Neil McEvoy?
Yes. What I'd like to know is: what is the Government going to do about this?
Gwnaf. Yr hyn yr hoffwn i ei wybod yw: beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i'w wneud ynghylch hyn?
Well, with respect, Llywydd, this is the business statement, and neither Neil McEvoy nor myself are scientists. So, I would respectfully suggest that he writes to the Minister on that particular issue, although I do understand that the Petitions Committee is also taking an interest and, in due course, there will be the opportunity for the Minister to respond to a committee report on this.
Wel, gyda pharch, Llywydd, hwn yw'r datganiad busnes, ac nid yw Neil McEvoy na minnau'n wyddonwyr. Felly, byddwn i'n awgrymu'n barchus ei fod yn ysgrifennu at y Gweinidog ar y mater penodol hwnnw, er fy mod yn deall bod y Pwyllgor Deisebau hefyd â diddordeb ac, maes o law, bydd cyfle i'r Gweinidog ymateb i adroddiad pwyllgor ar hyn.
If I may start by putting on record my support for the contribution made by my colleague Nick Ramsay, with regard to suicide prevention and mental health.
Secondly, Minister, the economic recovery from coronavirus is something we need to start planning for and addressing now. Members may be aware that, at the start of the summer, I wrote a piece on the LabourList website for that to be a green recovery, and I called for a green new deal for Wales. Just yesterday, it was reported that Airbus have revealed the first zero-emission, climate-neutral passenger aircraft. If we are to be serious about a green recovery, the wings for that aircraft need to be made in Deeside. Now, for that to happen, Minister, we need the UK Government to support the aerospace industry with a sector-specific deal to protect jobs and protect skills. Minister, can we have a debate in Government time on what a green recovery should look like for Wales and what support is needed?
Os gallaf i ddechrau drwy gofnodi fy nghefnogaeth i gyfraniad fy nghyd-Aelod Nick Ramsay, o ran atal hunanladdiad ac iechyd meddwl.
Yn ail, Gweinidog, mae'r adferiad economaidd o goronafeirws yn rhywbeth y mae angen i ni ddechrau cynllunio ar ei gyfer a mynd i'r afael ag ef nawr. Efallai bod Aelodau'n ymwybodol i mi ysgrifennu darn ar wefan Labourlist ddechrau'r haf er mwyn i hynny fod yn adferiad gwyrdd, a galwais am fargen newydd werdd i Gymru. Dim ond ddoe, roedd adroddiad bod Airbus wedi datgelu'r awyren deithwyr ddi-allyriadau a hinsawdd-niwtral gyntaf. Os ydym ni eisiau bod o ddifrif ynghylch adferiad gwyrdd, mae angen gwneud adenydd yr awyren honno yng Nglannau Dyfrdwy. Nawr, er mwyn i hynny ddigwydd, Gweinidog, mae angen i Lywodraeth y DU gefnogi'r diwydiant awyrofod gyda bargen sy'n benodol i'r sector i ddiogelu swyddi a diogelu sgiliau. Gweinidog, a gawn ni ddadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ynghylch beth y dylai natur adferiad gwyrdd fod yng Nghymru a pha gymorth sydd ei angen?
I thank Jack Sargeant for raising that and the potentially really exciting news in terms of the future of aviation, and I completely agree with him that Wales has to play its part in any future. He's right that this does require the UK Government to work with Welsh Government in terms of providing support to these strategically important sectors—the aerospace, steel and automotive industries, just to name a few of them. Welsh Government obviously stands ready to play its part. I know that there is a statement on the agenda in the coming weeks that in part deals with the green recovery, but perhaps it won't have the specific focus that Jack Sargeant's looking for. But I'm sure that he will find a creative way to make his interventions in that debate.
Diolch i Jack Sargeant am godi hynna a'r newyddion a allai fod yn gyffrous iawn o ran dyfodol hedfan, ac rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr ag ef bod yn rhaid i Gymru chwarae ei rhan mewn unrhyw ddyfodol. Mae'n iawn wrth ddweud bod angen i Lywodraeth y DU weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru o ran rhoi cymorth i'r sectorau strategol bwysig hyn—y diwydiannau awyrofod, dur a modurol, dim ond i enwi rhai ohonyn nhw. Mae'n amlwg bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn barod i chwarae ei rhan. Rwy'n gwybod bod datganiad ar yr agenda yn yr wythnosau nesaf sy'n ymdrin yn rhannol â'r adferiad gwyrdd, ond efallai na fydd yn canolbwyntio'n benodol ar y sylw penodol y mae Jack Sargeant yn chwilio amdano. Ond rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn dod o hyd i ffordd greadigol o wneud ei ymyriadau yn y ddadl honno.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd. Mi fydd yna egwyl nawr ac fe fyddwn yn ôl ymhen ychydig.
I thank the Trefnydd. There will now be a break and we will reconvene soon.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 15:03.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 15:14, gyda'r Dirprwy Lywydd (Ann Jones) yn y Gadair.
Plenary was suspended at 15:03.
The Senedd reconvened at 15:14, with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Ann Jones) in the Chair.
We'll reconvene on item 4 on our agenda this afternoon, which is a statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: an update on the coronavirus, COVID-19. I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething.
Fe wnawn ni ailgychwyn gydag eitem 4 ar ein hagenda ni'r prynhawn yma, sef datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol: yr wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ar Coronafeirws (COVID-19). Rwy'n galw ar Vaughan Gething, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. A week ago I made a statement to the Senedd to inform Members about the developing situation in Rhondda Cynon Taf and the need to introduce local restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus and protect people's health. Today I want to update you about the latest action that the Welsh Government is taking, working in partnership with local authorities and public health experts. We will be introducing local restrictions in four more areas of south Wales because of a rapid increase in cases of coronavirus.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Wythnos yn ôl, fe wnes i ddatganiad i'r Senedd i roi gwybod i'r Aelodau am y sefyllfa sy'n datblygu yn Rhondda Cynon Taf a'r angen i gyflwyno cyfyngiadau lleol i reoli lledaeniad coronafeirws a diogelu iechyd pobl. Heddiw, rwy'n awyddus i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf ichi am y camau diweddaraf y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd, gan weithio mewn partneriaeth ag awdurdodau lleol ac arbenigwyr iechyd cyhoeddus. Byddwn yn cyflwyno cyfyngiadau lleol mewn pedair ardal arall yn y de oherwydd y cynnydd cyflym a fu yn nifer yr achosion o goronafeirws.
From 6 o'clock tonight, new restrictions will come into force to control the spread of the virus for everyone living in Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Newport local authorities. This will mean people will not be allowed to enter or leave these four local authority areas without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education. People will only be able to meet people they do not live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form an extended household for the time being. All licensed premises in these areas will have to close at 11 p.m. Everyone over the age of 11 must continue to wear face coverings in indoor public places, as is the case throughout Wales. We're also extending the 11 p.m. licensing restriction to Caerphilly county borough area.
These restrictions are the same as those introduced in Rhondda Cynon Taf last week: from 6 o'clock tonight, the same local restrictions will be in place in all six local authority areas in south Wales. This will mean a large proportion of the population of south Wales will be living under local restrictions to help control the spread of coronavirus. We will hold a meeting later today with local authority leaders, health boards and the police throughout the wider south Wales region to discuss the developing coronavirus situation, particularly for those areas where rates are lower. We'll discuss whether further measures are needed to protect the wider population as we prepare to see students start, and return to, university. A similar meeting will be held in north Wales to bring together leaders of the local authority, health board and police to discuss the situation if we see rates rising rapidly across the region.
We've had to take the difficult but necessary decision to introduce these restrictions because we have seen a sharp and swift rise in cases in these areas since the end of August. There are many similarities between the cases in each of these six areas. We've seen a rise and spread of coronavirus cases associated with people socialising without social distancing, meeting indoors in other people's homes, and people returning from holidays overseas.
In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the number of positive cases and the incidence rate has continued to increase. This is to be expected and follows the pattern we saw in the Caerphilly borough in the days immediately after restrictions were introduced. We're seeing many small clusters throughout the local authority area, which, because of a lack of social distancing, have led to community transmission. Initially, most of the cases were in younger age groups, but we're now seeing infections in all age groups, and, particularly worrying, we have 34 cases of coronavirus in people in the Royal Glamorgan Hospital. Bridgend is a growing concern for us because there has been a sharp rise in cases in a short space of time. We've identified a small number of clusters in the borough, but we are worried that the pattern is similar to what we've already seen in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Mobile testing will be introduced in Bridgend this week.
In Blaenau Gwent, we've seen cases linked to pubs and a lack of social distancing, but there have also been cases in care home staff and in secondary schools in the area. In Newport, the rise in cases appeared to start with a house party at the end of August and was subsequently linked to a number of pubs, but we're now seeing a wide spread of cases across the city that are not linked to a particular cluster or showing links with existing cases.
But there are also some differences. In Merthyr Tydfil, the incidence rate is very high but the cases appear to be mainly focused around two distinct clusters. One is linked to a large employer and the other a pub. Two new smaller clusters have also been identified. The restrictions will be kept under close review in each of these areas and will be formally reviewed in two weeks' time.
Later this week, we'll carry out the first formal review of the restrictions in the Caerphilly borough. I'm cautiously optimistic that they are having a positive impact on cases of coronavirus in the area. We have seen a significant fall over a couple of days in the incidence rate. From being the highest rate in Wales, at 119 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, the latest figures show this rate has fallen to 77.9 cases per 100,000. This is still high, but provides, again, some cautiously optimistic evidence that the restrictions are helping to control the spread of the virus.
I want to thank residents and businesses in the Caerphilly borough for their help, co-operation and patience. This shows what we can do when we work together. I hope that we will see similar reductions in the other five local authority areas in south Wales that are subject to local restrictions, and, working together, we can keep Wales safe.
O 6 o'r gloch ymlaen heno, daw cyfyngiadau newydd i reoli lledaeniad y feirws i rym ar gyfer pawb sy'n byw yn awdurdodau lleol Blaenau Gwent, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, Merthyr Tudful a Chasnewydd. Fe fydd hyn yn golygu na chaniateir i bobl fynd i mewn i'r pedair ardal awdurdod lleol hyn na'u gadael heb reswm digonol, megis teithio i'r gwaith neu ar gyfer addysg. Dim ond yn yr awyr agored y gall pobl gwrdd â phobl sy'n byw ar aelwydydd eraill. Ni fyddan nhw'n gallu ffurfio cartrefi estynedig am y tro. Fe fydd yn rhaid i bob safle trwyddedig yn yr ardaloedd hyn gau am 11 p.m. Fe fydd yn rhaid i bawb dros 11 oed barhau i wisgo gorchuddion wyneb mewn mannau cyhoeddus dan do, fel sy'n wir ledled Cymru. Rydym hefyd yn ymestyn y cyfyngiad trwyddedu 11 p.m. i ardal bwrdeistref sirol Caerffili.
Mae'r cyfyngiadau hyn yr un peth â'r rhai a gyflwynwyd yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yr wythnos diwethaf: o 6 o'r gloch heno, fe fydd yr un cyfyngiadau lleol yn weithredol ym mhob un o'r chwe ardal awdurdod lleol yn y de. Fe fydd hyn yn golygu y bydd cyfran fawr o boblogaeth y de yn byw dan gyfyngiadau lleol er mwyn helpu i reoli lledaeniad coronafeirws. Fe fyddwn ni'n cynnal cyfarfod yn ddiweddarach heddiw gydag arweinwyr yr awdurdodau lleol, byrddau iechyd a'r heddlu ledled rhanbarth ehangach y de i drafod y sefyllfa sy'n datblygu o ran coronafeirws, yn enwedig ar gyfer yr ardaloedd hynny lle mae'r cyfraddau'n is. Fe fyddwn ni'n trafod a oes angen mesurau pellach i ddiogelu'r boblogaeth ehangach wrth inni baratoi i weld myfyrwyr yn dechrau mewn prifysgolion neu'n dychwelyd iddyn nhw. Fe gynhelir cyfarfod tebyg yn y gogledd i ddwyn ynghyd arweinwyr yr awdurdodau lleol, y bwrdd iechyd a'r heddlu i drafod y sefyllfa os gwelwn y cyfraddau'n codi'n gyflym drwy'r rhanbarth.
Bu'n rhaid i ni wneud y penderfyniad anodd ond angenrheidiol i gyflwyno'r cyfyngiadau hyn oherwydd ein bod wedi gweld cynnydd sydyn a chyflym mewn achosion yn yr ardaloedd hyn ers diwedd mis Awst. Mae llawer o debygrwydd rhwng yr achosion ym mhob un o'r chwe ardal hyn. Rydym wedi gweld cynnydd a lledaeniad yn yr achosion o goronafeirws sy'n gysylltiedig â phobl yn cymdeithasu heb gadw pellter cymdeithasol, yn cyfarfod dan do ar aelwydydd pobl eraill, a phobl yn dychwelyd adref wedi gwyliau dramor.
Yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, mae nifer yr achosion cadarnhaol a'u hamlder wedi parhau i gynyddu. Mae hyn i'w ddisgwyl ac mae'n dilyn y patrwm a welsom ym mwrdeistref Caerffili yn y dyddiau yn union ar ôl i gyfyngiadau gael eu cyflwyno. Rydym yn gweld llawer o glystyrau bach ledled ardal yr awdurdod lleol sydd, oherwydd diffyg cadw pellter cymdeithasol, wedi arwain at drosglwyddo'r feirws yn gymunedol. I ddechrau, roedd y rhan fwyaf o'r achosion mewn grwpiau oedran iau, ond bellach rydym yn gweld heintio ym mhob grŵp oedran, ac mae'n achos pryder arbennig fod gennym 34 o achosion o glefyd coronafeirws mewn pobl yn Ysbyty Brenhinol Morgannwg. Mae Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn bryder cynyddol i ni oherwydd y cynnydd sydyn mewn achosion mewn cyfnod byr iawn. Rydym wedi nodi nifer fach o glystyrau yn y fwrdeistref, ond rydym yn gofidio bod y patrwm hwn yn debyg i'r hyn a welsom eisoes yn Rhondda Cynon Taf. Fe fydd unedau profi symudol yn cael eu cyflwyno ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr yr wythnos hon.
Ym Mlaenau Gwent, rydym wedi gweld achosion sy'n gysylltiedig â thafarndai a diffyg cadw pellter cymdeithasol, ond cafwyd achosion ymhlith staff cartrefi gofal hefyd yn ogystal ag yn ysgolion uwchradd yn yr ardal. Yng Nghasnewydd, mae'n ymddangos bod y cynnydd mewn achosion wedi yn gweld nifer fawr o achosion ar draws y ddinas sydd heb fod yn gysylltiedig â chlwstwr penodol nac yn dangos cysylltiadau ag achosion sy'n bodoli eisoes.
Ond mae yna rai gwahaniaethau hefyd. Ym Merthyr Tudful, mae cyfradd yr amlder yn uchel iawn ond ymddengys bod yr achosion yn canolbwyntio'n bennaf ar ddau glwstwr penodol. Mae un yn gysylltiedig â chyflogwr mawr a'r llall â thŷ tafarn. Fe nodwyd dau glwstwr newydd llai o faint hefyd. Fe fydd y cyfyngiadau'n cael eu hadolygu'n fanwl ym mhob un o'r ardaloedd hyn ac yn cael eu hadolygu'n ffurfiol ymhen pythefnos.
Yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, fe fyddwn ni'n cynnal yr adolygiad ffurfiol cyntaf o'r cyfyngiadau ym mwrdeistref Caerffili. Rwy'n dawel obeithiol eu bod nhw'n cael effaith gadarnhaol ar yr achosion o goronafeirws yn yr ardal. Rydym wedi gweld gostyngiad sylweddol dros ychydig ddyddiau yn y gyfradd o achosion. O fod â'r gyfradd uchaf yng Nghymru, gyda 119 achos fesul 100,000 o bobl yn ystod y saith diwrnod diwethaf, mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos bod y gyfradd hon wedi gostwng i 77.9 achos fesul pob 100,000 o bobl. Mae'n parhau i fod yn uchel, ond unwaith eto, mae'n dangos tystiolaeth sy'n dawel obeithiol bod y cyfyngiadau'n helpu i reoli lledaeniad y feirws.
Fe hoffwn i ddiolch i drigolion a busnesau ym mwrdeistref Caerffili am eu cymorth, eu cydweithrediad a'u hamynedd. Mae'n dangos yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud trwy gydweithio â'n gilydd. Rwy'n gobeithio y gwelwn ni ostyngiadau tebyg yn y pum ardal awdurdod lleol arall yn y de sy'n ddarostyngedig i gyfyngiadau lleol, a thrwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, fe allwn ni gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Thank you. Andrew R.T. Davies. You need to unmute, Mr Davies, please. There you go.
Diolch. Andrew R.T. Davies. Mae angen i chi ddiffodd y mudydd, Mr Davies, os gwelwch chi'n dda. Dyna chi.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you, Minister, for your statement this afternoon, although it doesn't tell us anything that isn't already in the press, I fear.
Could you confirm, Minister, what the end goal is from these measures? I'm assuming it is to suppress the virus and, ultimately, allow our health service and other public functions not to become overwhelmed. But, for many people, looking at the new measures, is this the new norm now, that, every so often, we will end up having to interact with some form of lockdown until a vaccine is available? Because many people are trying to understand how things will pan out through the next winter months that we face. Could you also confirm that these localised measures that you are taking are being put in place to avert a national lockdown, which I hope you will agree must be averted at all costs, given the economic and social costs that that would have on communities the length and breadth of Wales?
In your statement, you touch on extra measures—and I think the wording that you use is—as students return to university, to protect local populations. I'd be grateful to understand what measures you are considering might be instigated to protect, in your words, local populations from the return of students to communities that host large student populations.
Could you also confirm that the NHS, despite these local measures, is very much open for business? I highlighted yesterday that there's been a 60 per cent loss of operations within the NHS since lockdown in March, and whilst, thankfully, we've seen procedures increase ever so slowly through the summer months, it is the case that, despite these local measures, the NHS is still very much open for business.
And finally, given your comments last night, and the First Minister's comments in First Minister's questions, can you categorically rule out that you would not support mandatory vaccination under any circumstances? I have to say, when I saw your interview last night, it did send a shudder down my spine that, in a democracy, a democratically elected Minister could say such a statement that he would not rule out such a measure. I, as someone who believes in the power of vaccination to control illnesses and eradicate illness within our community, will promote vaccination to the hilt, but I do not believe it is the role of the state to instigate legislation that ultimately would sanction mandatory vaccination in any shape or form. And I do note that you have put something up on social media this afternoon. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad chi'r prynhawn yma, er nad yw'n dweud mwy wrthym na wnaeth y wasg eisoes, rwy'n ofni.
A wnewch chi gadarnhau, Gweinidog, beth yw nod terfynol y mesurau hyn? Rwy'n tybio mai trechu'r feirws yw hyn ac, yn y pen draw, rwystro ein gwasanaeth iechyd a gweithrediadau cyhoeddus eraill rhag cael eu gorlethu. Ond, i lawer o bobl, o edrych ar y mesurau newydd, onid hyn yw'r normal newydd nawr, ac y byddwn ni, bob hyn a hyn, yn gorfod rhyngweithio â rhyw fath o gyfnod clo nes y bydd brechlyn ar gael? Oherwydd bydd llawer o bobl yn ceisio deall sut y bydd pethau arnom ni drwy fisoedd nesaf y gaeaf o'n blaenau. A wnewch chi hefyd gadarnhau bod y mesurau lleol hyn a roddwch ar waith yno er mwyn osgoi cyfnod clo cenedlaethol, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch chi'n cytuno bod rhaid osgoi hynny ar bob cyfrif, o gofio'r costau economaidd a chymdeithasol a fyddai'n effeithio ar gymunedau ledled Cymru?
Yn eich datganiad rydych yn sôn am fesurau ychwanegol—ac rwy'n credu mai'r geiriau a ddefnyddir gennych yw—wrth i fyfyrwyr ddychwelyd i'r brifysgol, diogelu poblogaethau lleol. Fe fyddwn i'n falch o gael deall pa fesurau yr ydych chi'n ystyried eu rhoi ar waith i ddiogelu, yn eich geiriau chi, boblogaethau lleol rhag myfyrwyr yn dychwelyd i gymunedau sy'n croesawu poblogaethau mawr o fyfyrwyr.
A wnewch chi gadarnhau hefyd bod y GIG, er gwaethaf y mesurau lleol hyn, yn agored i fusnes i raddau helaeth iawn? Fe dynnais i sylw ddoe at y ffaith y gwelwyd gostyngiad o 60 y cant yn nhriniaethau'r GIG ers y cyfnod clo ym mis Mawrth, ac er ein bod ni, diolch am hynny, wedi gweld cynnydd araf iawn i'r gweithdrefnau drwy fisoedd yr haf, er gwaethaf y mesurau lleol hyn, rwy'n cymryd y bydd y GIG yn parhau i fod ar agor i fusnes, i raddau helaeth iawn.
Ac yn olaf, o ystyried eich sylwadau chi neithiwr, a sylwadau'r Prif Weinidog yn y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi ddatgan yn bendant na fyddwch chi'n cefnogi brechu gorfodol mewn unrhyw amgylchiadau? Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, pan welais i eich cyfweliad chi neithiwr, ei bod wedi anfon ias i lawr asgwrn fy nghefn, i feddwl y gallai Gweinidog a etholwyd yn ddemocrataidd, mewn gwlad ddemocrataidd, wneud datganiad o'r math hwn na fyddai'n diystyru mesur o'r fath. Fe fyddaf i, fel rhywun sy'n credu'n gryf yng ngallu brechu i reoli afiechydon a dileu salwch yn ein cymuned ni, yn hyrwyddo brechu i'r eithaf. Ond nid wyf i o'r farn mai swyddogaeth y wladwriaeth yw rhoi deddfwriaeth ar waith a fyddai, yn y pen draw, yn rhoi sêl bendith ar frechu gorfodol mewn unrhyw lun neu fodd. Ac rwy'n nodi eich bod wedi rhoi rhywbeth ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol y prynhawn yma. Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd.
Yes, thank you for the series of questions. The end goal, in terms of the restrictions we've introduced, is to reduce and suppress the virus and to avoid harm. And you'll have seen the UK Government's chief scientific adviser and the Chief Medical Officer for England yesterday indicating that, unless measures are taken to arrest the spread of the virus, we can expect, by mid October, on current growth rates across the UK, to see 50,000 cases a day, with the attendant increase in hospitalisations that would produce, and, unfortunately, the attendant increase in deaths.
So, the measures we are taking now are to avoid that harm taking place. There's both the responsibility of Governments across the UK, of our health service, to prepare for the potential increase in cases, but, equally, the personal responsibility that we share and our own role as leaders, not just within our particular political parties, but within our communities, for the sort of conduct that we all need to reconsider about how we reduce our contacts, how we understand and follow the rules, and, in particular, the rules around household contact.
I think one of the more difficult things we've had to do is to change the extended household arrangements and to move to single households in those areas with local restrictions. That's because the evidence is that household contact is the primary driver. And so it's really important that people understand you should have an exclusive group of four households, and the same four households. It doesn't mean you each choose four different households. Four households, in other areas of Wales, for indoor contact, including if you're going out to a pub or a restaurant together—to only be with those people when you're making your booking. If that doesn't happen, then we're likely to see a further increase in the spread of the virus, with all of its harm.
And we are doing this to avoid harm and to avoid a national lockdown. Now, I appreciate it's a turn of phrase, but the phrase 'to avoid a national lockdown at all costs', well, that can't be right, because, potentially, 'all costs' is the significant exponential increase in cases and harm that we're trying to avoid. We have been very clear, though, that a national lockdown is the last resort to avoid that significant scale of harm. That remains the case for this Government, and, indeed, others across the UK. And we've already set out our stall: we'll take other measures, and the closure of schools being the last point, before we take any other action. The very last thing we want to do is to close schools, for reasons that Members understand.
The new normal will depend on how successful we are in actually following that guidance on social distancing and in reducing our contacts, and not having large amounts of indoor contact with significantly different groups of people. That's why we have the extended household rules in place. If we do that, then it is possible we can go through the winter without needing to take even more significant measures. You will have seen the Prime Minister announcing, both through the media and then today in his statement in the House of Commons, significant national measures that are being taken across the whole of England. We are meeting to discuss what we will do in Wales, and, as soon as we're able to, as the First Minister indicated earlier, we'll come to this place. And that really does depend on how we land with the conversations that are still taking place as I'm in the Chamber, and when I leave later on to join those conversations.
In universities, I'm very pleased to say that the challenges about the large amounts of mixing that normally happen at university time at the start of the year—well, I actually want to praise universities and the National Union of Students in Wales and their members for the very responsible approach they're taking at leadership level. The education Minister will have more to say this week on the measures that are being taken in university towns and cities.
On the reduction in elective care, I've been very upfront about the fact there has been a reduction in elective care throughout the pandemic—partly driven by the measures we've needed to take in ending elective activity at one point largely, partly driven by the reluctance of people to come into a hospital setting for their treatment, and now partly driven by the reality that, with more people in need because of that slowing down of our ability to process, that comes up against a service that isn't able to see the same number of people at the same time as it would previously have done because of the COVID security requirements, including significant personal protective equipment requirements for our staff. So, that is going to be a real challenge here in Wales and across the rest of the UK.
We have no plans for mandatory vaccination; we do not intend to take primary law-making powers to do so. Every year, we have a conversation about the flu vaccine, and your predecessor in the shadow health spokesperson role would, every year, ask me about whether we would mandate staff in our health service to have the flu vaccine. And, every year, we decided not to, and that's still the position we're in now. And I said last night mandation would be the most extreme and most unlikely action, and we are not planning to do so. It is not what we intend to do.
So, our plan for vaccination, if and when we have a COVID vaccine, is to do so on a basis where we explain the benefits and understand that, and I think we'll have very high levels of public uptake. And I just don't think I haven't been clear this is not something that Government is planning to do. And that is the clear and, I think, unambiguous position of the Government here.
Ie, diolch i chi am y gyfres o gwestiynau. Y nod terfynol, o ran y cyfyngiadau a gyflwynwyd, yw lleihau a rhwystro'r feirws ac osgoi niwed. Ac fe fyddwch wedi gweld prif gynghorydd gwyddonol Llywodraeth y DU a Phrif Swyddog Meddygol Lloegr yn nodi ddoe, oni fydd mesurau yn cael eu cymryd i atal lledaeniad y feirws, y gallwn ddisgwyl gweld, erbyn canol mis Hydref, ar gyfraddau twf cyfredol ledled y DU, 50,000 o achosion y dydd, gyda chynnydd cysylltiedig yn nifer yr achosion mewn ysbytai y byddai hynny'n ei achosi, yn ogystal, yn anffodus, â'r cynnydd yn nifer y marwolaethau.
Felly, diben y mesurau yr ydym ni'n eu cyflwyno nawr yw ceisio osgoi'r niwed hwnnw. Cyfrifoldeb Llywodraethau ledled y DU, ein gwasanaeth iechyd, yw paratoi ar gyfer y cynnydd posibl mewn achosion, ond, yn yr un modd, mae'r cyfrifoldeb personol a rannwn ni i gyd a'n swyddogaeth ni fel arweinwyr, nid yn unig o fewn ein pleidiau gwleidyddol penodol ni, ond yn ein cymunedau ni, am y math o ymddygiad y mae angen i bob un ohonom ei ailystyried o ran sut i gyfyngu ar ein cysylltiadau, sut rydym yn deall ac yn dilyn y rheolau, ac, yn benodol, y rheolau sy'n ymwneud â chyswllt aelwydydd.
Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau anoddaf y bu'n rhaid i ni eu gwneud yw newid y trefniadau ynglŷn ag aelwydydd estynedig a symud tuag at aelwydydd unigol yn yr ardaloedd hynny sydd â chyfyngiadau lleol. Y rheswm am hynny yw mai cyswllt rhwng aelwydydd yw'r prif ysgogiad. Ac felly mae'n bwysig iawn bod pobl yn deall y dylech gael grŵp wedi'i gyfyngu i bedair aelwyd, a'r un bedair aelwyd. Nid yw'n golygu eich bod i gyd yn dewis pedair aelwyd arall. Pedair aelwyd, mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru, i gael cyswllt dan do, gan gynnwys pan ydych yn mynd allan i dafarn neu fwyty gyda'ch gilydd—i fod gyda'r bobl hynny'n unig wrth archebu eich lle. Os na fydd hynny'n digwydd, yna fe fyddwn ni'n debygol iawn o weld cynnydd pellach yn lledaeniad y feirws, gyda'r holl niwed a ddaw yn sgil hynny.
Ac rydym yn gwneud hyn i osgoi niwed ac osgoi cyfnod clo cenedlaethol. Nawr, rwy'n gwerthfawrogi mai ymadrodd yw hwn, ond mae'r ymadrodd 'i osgoi cyfnod clo cenedlaethol ar bob cyfrif', wel, ni all fod yn addas, oherwydd, o bosibl, 'pob cyfrif' yw'r cynnydd cyflym a sylweddol mewn achosion a niwed yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei osgoi. Rydym wedi bod yn glir iawn, serch hynny, mai cyfnod clo cenedlaethol yw'r dewis olaf ar gyfer osgoi'r raddfa sylweddol honno o niwed. Dyna fel y mae hi o hyd yn y Llywodraeth hon, ac, yn wir, mewn llywodraethau eraill ledled y DU. Ac rydym ni eisoes wedi codi ein stondin: fe fyddwn ni'n cymryd camau eraill, a chau ysgolion yw'r pwynt olaf, cyn i ni gymryd unrhyw gamau eraill. Y peth olaf un yr ydym ni'n dymuno ei wneud yw cau ysgolion, am resymau y mae'r Aelodau'n eu deall.
Fe fydd y normal newydd yn dibynnu ar ba mor llwyddiannus yr ydym ni'n dilyn y canllawiau hynny ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol ac wrth leihau ein cysylltiadau ni, a pheidio â bod â llawer iawn o gyswllt â grwpiau sylweddol o bobl amrywiol dan do. Dyna pam mae gennym ni reolau ynglŷn ag aelwydydd estynedig ar waith. Os gwnawn ni hynny, yna mae'n bosibl y gallwn ni ddal trwy'r gaeaf heb orfod cymryd camau mwy sylweddol eto. Rydych chi wedi gweld y Prif Weinidog yn cyhoeddi, drwy'r cyfryngau ac yna yn ei ddatganiad heddiw yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin, fesurau cenedlaethol sylweddol sy'n cael eu cymryd ledled Lloegr. Rydym ninnau'n cyfarfod i drafod yr hyn y byddwn ni'n ei wneud yng Nghymru, a chyn gynted ag y gallwn ni, fel y nododd Prif Weinidog Cymru'n gynharach, fe fyddwn yn dod i'r fan hon. Ac mae hynny'n wir yn dibynnu ar yr hyn a benderfynir yn y trafodaethau sy'n dal i ddigwydd tra rwyf i yn y Siambr, a phan fyddaf y gadael yn nes ymlaen i ymuno â'r trafodaethau hynny.
O ran y prifysgolion, rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud bod yr heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r maint sylweddol o gymysgu sy'n digwydd fel arfer ar ddechrau blwyddyn prifysgol—wel, hoffwn ganmol prifysgolion ac Undeb Cenedlaethol y Myfyrwyr yng Nghymru a'u haelodau nhw am y dull cyfrifol iawn y maen nhw'n ei ddefnyddio ar lefel arweinyddiaeth. Fe fydd gan y Gweinidog Addysg fwy i'w ddweud yr wythnos hon am y mesurau sy'n cael eu cymryd mewn trefi a dinasoedd prifysgol.
O ran lleihau gofal dewisol, rwyf wedi bod yn agored iawn ynglŷn â'r ffaith fod yna ostyngiad wedi bod mewn gofal dewisol drwy gydol y pandemig—a ysgogwyd yn rhannol gan y mesurau y bu angen i ni eu cymryd i roi terfyn ar weithgarwch dewisol ar un pwynt yn bennaf, ac a ysgogwyd yn rhannol gan amharodrwydd pobl i ddod i mewn i ysbyty ar gyfer eu triniaethau, ac a ysgogwyd yn rhannol erbyn hyn gan y sefyllfa wirioneddol, gyda mwy o bobl mewn angen oherwydd bod ein gallu ni i brosesu yn arafu. Mae hyn yn gorfod wynebu gwasanaeth na all weld yr un nifer o bobl ar yr un pryd ag y gwnaethai o'r blaen oherwydd gofynion diogelwch COVID, gan gynnwys gofynion cyfarpar amddiffynnol personol sylweddol ar gyfer ein staff ni. Felly, fe fydd honno'n her wirioneddol yma yng Nghymru a ledled gweddill y DU.
Nid oes gennym unrhyw gynlluniau ar gyfer brechu gorfodol; nid ydym yn bwriadu ceisio pwerau deddfu sylfaenol i wneud hynny. Bob blwyddyn, rydym yn cael trafodaeth am y brechlyn ffliw, ac arferai eich rhagflaenydd chi fel llefarydd iechyd yr wrthblaid, bob blwyddyn, ofyn i mi a fyddem ni'n mandadu bod staff yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd ni'n cael y brechlyn ffliw. Bob blwyddyn, fe fyddem ni'n penderfynu peidio gwneud hynny, a dyna'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi ar hyn o bryd hefyd. Ac fe ddywedais i neithiwr mai gorfodaeth fyddai'r cam mwyaf eithafol a mwyaf annhebygol, ac nid ydym ni'n bwriadu gwneud hynny. Nid dyna yw ein bwriadu ni.
Felly, ein cynllun ar gyfer brechu, os a phan gawn ni frechlyn COVID, yw gwneud hynny gan esbonio'r manteision a'u deall, ac rwy'n credu y bydd llawer iawn o'r cyhoedd yn cydsynio i gael y brechlyn. Ac nid wyf i o'r farn i mi beidio â bod yn eglur nad yw hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu ei wneud. A dyna safbwynt clir a diamwys y Llywodraeth yn hyn o beth, yn fy marn i.
Diolch, Weinidog, am y datganiad yna. Cyn imi ofyn cwpwl o gwestiynau am y datganiad ei hun, mae gen i gwpwl o sylwadau am yr atebion y clywsom ni yn y fan yna. Mi fydd pobl wedi dychryn yn clywed y gallai ysgolion gau eto—fel cam olaf, fel y dywedoch chi. Dwi'n sicr, fel un, yn edrych ymlaen am ddatganiad clir iawn gan y Llywodraeth—y Gweinidog Addysg, nid y chi—y bydd addysg yn parhau y tro yma yn ddiamwys os ydy ysgolion yn gorfod cau, a dyna beth fydd rhieni, dwi'n meddwl, yn disgwyl ei glywed.
Dwi'n croesawu hefyd eich eglurhad chi ynglŷn â brechiadau gorfodol—dydy o ddim yn gynllun, meddai chi. Dyma pam fod dewis geiriau mor ofalus gan ein harweinwyr ni ar yr adeg hon—. Rydych chi'n dal i ddweud, 'Dydyn ni ddim yn cynllunio gwneud hyn.' Mae eisiau bod yn glir iawn na fydd y Llywodraeth yn gwneud hyn, oherwydd dyma'r math o beth sydd yn mynd i godi amheuon mawr ym meddyliau etholwyr ledled Cymru, yn hytrach na'u cael nhw i ddilyn a bod yn dymuno dilyn cyngor a chyfarwyddyd y Llywodraeth.
Ychydig o gwestiynau. Dwi'n croesawu ehangiad y cyfyngiadau—mae'n amlwg bod y patrwm yng Nghymru yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad anghywir. Rydym ni'n sicr yn croesawu dilyn y patrwm yma o gyfyngiadau lleol. Un peth rydych chi'n ei wneud, wrth gwrs, ydy gofyn i bobl aros o fewn eu hardaloedd eu hunain. Mae yna anomali yn fan hyn ar draws Prydain. A gaf ofyn i chi: ydy o'n fwriad i siarad efo'r Llywodraeth yn Lloegr, awdurdodau lleol yn Lloegr, i ofyn iddyn nhw wneud yr un fath? Achos, ar hyn o bryd, er bod pobl yng Nghymru yn gorfod aros yn eu ardaloedd eu hunain, os ydyn nhw'n ardaloedd o risg, ardaloedd o dan gyfyngiadau, does dim byd i atal pobl rhag teithio i Gymru o ardaloedd eraill. Dwi'n meddwl bod hwnna'n rhywbeth sydd angen ei drafod ar y lefel uchaf rhwng Llywodraethau.
Ydy'r Gweinidog yn credu bod angen y plan B yn barod? Er enghraifft, mae yna, i fi, lefydd amlwg lle dydych chi ddim yn mynd yn ddigon pell. Does yna ddim cyfyngiad, ar wahân i gau am 11 y nos, ar dafarndai, gymaint ag a fyddai pobl, dwi'n meddwl, yn dymuno ei weld. Rydym ni y tu ôl i Loegr yn sicr ar hyn erbyn hyn. Ydych chi yn ystyried mynd gam ymhellach a gofyn i bobl gau yn gynharach fel cam lleiaf, dim ond agor y tu allan, cau tafarndai a bwytai hyd yn oed, os, a dim ond os, yr ydych chi'n gallu rhoi cefnogaeth ychwanegol iddyn nhw?
I gloi, dwi angen, unwaith eto, tynnu sylw at y broblem yn fan hyn. Rydym ni'n cefnogi'r cyfyngiadau ychwanegol, yn gofyn os ydyn nhw'n mynd yn ddigon pell, ond mae'n rhaid mynd i'r afael â'r broblem efo profi. Rydych chi wedi rhoi datganiad allan heddiw yn dweud y bydd hi'n wythnosau nes y bydd lighthouse labs wedi cael ei ddatrys. Dydy hynny ddim yn digon da. Rydych chi'n dweud bod yna 28,000 o brofion ychwanegol yr wythnos yng Nghymru rŵan, yn cyfeirio at Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru mewn perthynas â hynny. Fedrwch chi egluro o ble yn union mae'r 28,000 o brofion yr wythnos yma yn dod, a phryd byddwn ni'n gweld eu heffaith nhw yng Nghymru?
Ac o ran y datganiad gan y Prif Weinidog heno, plis a wnewch chi dynnu fo ymlaen fel ein bod ni'n gallu cael hwn yn y Senedd y prynhawn yma? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you for that statement, Minister. Before I ask a few questions on the statement itself, I have a few comments on the responses that we've just heard. People will have been shocked to hear that schools could close again—as a final step, as you said. I, for one, am looking forward to a very clear statement from the Government—the education Minister, not yourself—that education will remain open unambiguously even if schools have to close, and I think parents would expect to hear that.
But I also welcome your clarity on mandatory vaccinations—it's not your plan. That's why choice of words is so important from our leaders at this point. And you still say that you're not planning to do this, but you need to be very clear that the Government will not do this, because this is the kind of thing that will raise grave doubts in the minds of constituents across Wales, rather than encouraging them to follow the advice and direction of Government.
Just a few questions. I welcome the expansion of the restrictions—clearly the pattern in Wales is moving in the wrong direction. We certainly welcome this pattern of local restrictions. One thing you're doing, of course, is to ask people to remain within their own areas, but there's an anomaly here across Britain. Can I ask you whether it's your intention to speak to the Government in England, and to local authorities in England, to ask them to do the same? Because, at the moment, although people in Wales have to remain in their own areas, if they are high-risk areas or areas under restrictions, there is nothing to prevent people from travelling to Wales from other areas. I think that's something that needs to be discussed at the highest level between Governments.
Does the Minister believe that we need the plan B to be ready? For me, there are clear areas where you're not going far enough. There is no restriction, apart from closing at 11 in the evening, on pubs, although people, I think, would wish to see that. We're certainly behind England on this now. So, are you considering taking a step further and asking people to close earlier at least, and only open outdoors, and even closing pubs and restaurants if, and only if, you're able to provide additional support to them?
And to conclude, I again want to highlight the problem here. We support the additional restrictions, we're asking whether they're going far enough, but we do need to address the issue on testing. You've issued a statement today saying that it will be weeks before the lighthouse labs issues will have been resolved. That's not good enough. You say that 28,000 additional tests are in Wales now, referring to Public Health Wales in relation to that. Can you explain where exactly those 28,000 tests come from, and when will we see their impact in Wales?
And in terms of the statement to be made by the First Minister this evening, please bring it forward so that we can discuss it in the Senedd this afternoon. Thank you.
Thank you for the comments. I don't think I've shifted the Government's position at all on school closures. I've been very, very clear that it's the Government's priority to keep schools open as far as possible, and we will prioritise schools above other sectors. So, we'll close other parts of public services, or indeed the economy, to protect the ability for our schools. There's a direct impact on the mental health and well-being of children and young people. There is evidence that they are less susceptible to harm, less likely to be infectious for adults, and, equally, there is good evidence about the fact that not every child has thrived during remote schooling. It's a reality that has a longer term impact on the prospects of children and young people. So, the Government's position hasn't shifted at all in that.
And I can't be clearer: there is absolutely no plan for mandatory vaccination. I'm not going to get lost in a red herring. We have a significant job of work to do to plan for this year's flu vaccination campaign. We need to persuade people to take up their entitlement to a flu jab, to protect themselves and people around them, and the same will come whenever we do get a COVID vaccine. We are already planning about how to deliver that, and mandation does not form any part of this Government's plans.
On local travel, with the restrictions we've already introduced in the six areas of south Wales, we of course already have restrictions that prevent travel into those areas. So, if you go back to where we were previously with the stay local message we had during the first phase, we know that there were penalty notices issued to people who travelled from outside the area. And we may get to that point again, but we're not there. And, actually, the primary focus has to be on each of us reducing our contacts, to be clear about what the rules say about how we keep social distance, and how we follow the rules in particular on mixing indoors with other people.
Part of the challenge with the significant movement of people around the UK with universities reopening is that there will be people moving from one part of the country to another, potentially from a higher incidence area to a lower and vice versa. We do know that, as we've seen in RCT, in community settings the virus doesn't stay within one distinct age group, and so there's a concern about making sure that our universities don't see harm done, in relatively lower levels, to the student population, but we shouldn't expect that that will stay uniquely kept within one block of the population.
On the challenges about licensed premises, we are already considering what to do; it's part of what we're deliberately doing. We've already had a debate about earlier closing hours and the restrictions we've got at 11 o'clock, we're considering whether to move to 10 o'clock. There is something about consistency there that may help with the message, and part of the welcome meeting today at COBRA was a recognition by the UK Government that it would help to have a conversation between the four Governments of the UK, both in terms of discussing and agreeing decisions wherever possible, but it would also help in communication terms. There was, at least, a partial recognition that not having four-nation meetings had not been helpful when it comes to clarity in the communication. That matters for people who do want to follow the rules and recognise that it's important to behave in line with the guidance. So, we're not just considering the 10 o'clock issue; we're also considering whether to have the same movement on table service. Other restrictions are potentially possible before we get to closure. As I have mentioned before, it is a possibility, but not a plan, that you could potentially do what Ireland have done, where they've kept pubs open, but only if they're serving a substantial food offering as well. So there are different ways to move before getting to the point of entirely closing pubs, because if we did do that we can be confident that we'll displace some drinking activity into people's homes, which as we know is where the most significant vectors of spreading the virus have taken place.
We raised issues of testing at this morning's COBRA meeting. In the presentation with Dido Harding, which the First Minister referenced, there was again an acknowledgment that there has been a need to improve the position, with the well-advertised challenges not just in terms of the numbers of tests, but actually in the speed of the turnaround of those tests as well. Because we have a very good contact tracing service here in Wales—highly effective, materially more so than the service in England. But if people are, on a regular basis, waiting three days for their tests, then there's a challenge in whether those people and their contacts are circulating within the community unknown. So that is part of the challenge that we want to get through.
And on the use of the additional capacity we are releasing into the system, we're going to have extra lanes and extra availability in every drive-through centre. We're also creating an additional number of mobile testing units. They're currently going to be deployed in the highest incidence areas—in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board areas. But we will continue to look to understand how long we expect to have to wait for the lighthouse labs programme to get back on track. And we may need to make further steps to switch over more of our testing, to make sure it's more reliable and robust, to the capacity that we have taken the time and the resource to build up here in Wales, in addition of course to the £32 million I've previously announced to strengthen our testing infrastructure here in Wales through the autumn and the winter.
Diolch i chi am y sylwadau. Nid wyf yn credu fy mod i wedi newid safbwynt y Llywodraeth ar gau ysgolion o gwbl. Rwyf wedi bod yn eglur iawn mai blaenoriaeth y Llywodraeth yw cadw ysgolion ar agor cyn belled ag y bo modd, ac fe fyddwn ni'n blaenoriaethu ysgolion uwchlaw sectorau eraill. Felly, fe wnawn ni gau rhannau eraill o'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, neu'n wir yr economi, er mwyn diogelu'r gallu ar gyfer ein hysgolion ni. Mae yna effaith uniongyrchol ar iechyd meddwl a lles plant a phobl ifanc. Ceir tystiolaeth eu bod nhw'n llai agored i niwed, ac yn llai tebygol o fod yn heintus i oedolion, ac, yn yr un modd, ceir tystiolaeth dda nad yw pob plentyn wedi ffynnu o gael eu haddysgu o bell. Dyma wirionedd sy'n cael effaith yn y tymor hwy ar ragolygon plant a phobl ifanc. Felly, nid yw safbwynt y Llywodraeth wedi newid o gwbl yn hyn o beth.
Ac ni allaf fod yn gliriach na hynny: nid oes cynllun o gwbl ar gyfer brechu gorfodol. Nid wyf yn dymuno codi sgwarnog fel hyn. Mae gennym waith sylweddol i'w wneud eleni yn cynllunio ar gyfer yr ymgyrch brechu rhag y ffliw. Mae angen inni berswadio pobl i fanteisio ar eu hawl i gael pigiad rhag y ffliw, i'w hamddiffyn nhw eu hunain a'r bobl o'u cwmpas, a bydd hyn yn digwydd hefyd pryd bynnag y cawn ni frechlyn COVID. Rydym eisoes yn cynllunio sut i gyflawni hynny, ac nid yw gorfodaeth yn rhan o gynlluniau'r Llywodraeth hon.
O ran teithio lleol, gyda'r cyfyngiadau a gyflwynwyd eisoes mewn chwe ardal yn y de, mae gennym ni, wrth gwrs, gyfyngiadau eisoes sy'n atal teithio i'r ardaloedd hynny. Felly, os ewch chi'n ôl i'r sefyllfa a gawsom o'r blaen yn ystod y cyfnod pan gafwyd yr achosion cyntaf gyda'r neges i aros yn lleol, gwyddom fod hysbysiadau cosb wedi cael eu rhoi i bobl a oedd yn teithio o'r tu allan i'r ardal. Ac efallai y byddwn ni'n cyrraedd y pwynt hwnnw eto, ond nid cyn belled. Ac, mewn gwirionedd, mae'n rhaid inni ganolbwyntio'n bennaf ar gael pob un ohonom i gyfyngu ar ein cysylltiadau, a bod yn eglur ynghylch yr hyn a ddywed y rheolau am y ffordd yr ydym ni'n cadw pellter cymdeithasol, a'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n dilyn y rheolau penodol ar gymysgu â phobl eraill dan do.
Gyda llawer iawn o symud o gwmpas yn digwydd yn y DU wrth i'r prifysgolion ailagor, rhan o'r her yw y bydd pobl yn symud o un rhan o'r wlad i'r llall, o ardal lle ceir mwy o achosion i ardal lle ceir llai, ac i'r gwrthwyneb hefyd. Fe wyddom ni, fel y gwelsom yn Rhondda Cynon Taf, mewn lleoliadau cymunedol, nad yw'r feirws yn aros o fewn un grŵp oedran arbennig, ac felly ceir pryder ynghylch sicrhau nad yw ein prifysgolion yn gweld niwed yn digwydd, mewn lefelau cymharol is, i boblogaeth y myfyrwyr, ond ni ddylem ddisgwyl y bydd hynny'n aros yn gyfan gwbl o fewn un bloc yn y boblogaeth.
O ran yr heriau sy'n ymwneud ag adeiladau trwyddedig, rydym eisoes yn ystyried beth y dylid ei wneud; mae'n rhan o'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yn fwriadol. Rydym eisoes wedi cael dadl ynglŷn ag oriau cau cynharach a'r cyfyngiadau sydd gennym ni am 11 o'r gloch, ac rydym yn ystyried a ddylid symud i 10 o'r gloch. Mae rhywbeth i'w ddweud am gysondeb yn hyn o beth a allai helpu gyda'r neges, a rhan o'r cyfarfod a oedd i'w groesawu yn COBRA heddiw oedd y gydnabyddiaeth gan Lywodraeth y DU y byddai o gymorth cael trafodaeth rhwng pedair Llywodraeth y DU, o ran trafod a chytuno ar benderfyniadau lle bynnag y bo modd gwneud hynny, ond fe fyddai hefyd o gymorth o ran cyfathrebu. Roedd yna gydnabyddiaeth rannol, o leiaf, nad oedd peidio â chael cyfarfodydd pedair gwlad wedi bod o gymorth o ran eglurder yn y cyfathrebu. Mae hynny'n bwysig i bobl sy'n awyddus i ddilyn y rheolau a chydnabod ei bod yn bwysig ymddwyn yn unol â'r canllawiau. Felly, nid dim ond ystyried mater 10 o'r gloch a wnawn, rydym hefyd yn ystyried a ddylai hynny ddigwydd o ran gweini wrth fyrddau. Mae cyfyngiadau eraill yn bosibl cyn inni orfod cau i lawr. Fel y soniais o'r blaen, mae'n bosibilrwydd, ond nid yn gynllun, y gellid gwneud yr hyn a wnaeth Iwerddon, lle maen nhw wedi cadw'r tafarndai ar agor, ond dim ond os ydyn nhw'n cynnig bwyd hefyd. Felly mae yna sawl ffordd wahanol i'w throedio cyn cyrraedd y pwynt o gau'r tafarndai yn llwyr, oherwydd pe byddem yn gwneud hynny gallwn fod yn siŵr iawn y bydd rhywfaint o'r yfed yn symud i aelwydydd pobl, sef lle mae'r fectorau mwyaf arwyddocaol o ledaenu'r feirws wedi digwydd.
Fe godwyd materion yn ymwneud â phrofi yng nghyfarfod COBRA y bore yma. Yn y cyflwyniad gyda Dido Harding, y cyfeiriodd Prif Weinidog Cymru ato, roedd yna gydnabyddiaeth unwaith eto fod angen gwella'r sefyllfa, gyda'r heriau hysbys iawn nid yn unig o ran niferoedd y profion, ond o ran cyflymder cwblhau'r profion hynny hefyd. Mae gennym ni yma yng Nghymru wasanaeth olrhain cyswllt da iawn—sy'n hynod effeithiol, yn sylweddol well na'r gwasanaeth yn Lloegr. Ond os yw pobl, yn rheolaidd, yn gorfod aros am dri diwrnod am eu profion, yna ceir her o ran a yw'r bobl hynny, a'u cysylltiadau nhw, eisoes yn cymysgu o fewn y gymuned. Felly mae honno'n rhan o'r her yr ydym ni'n awyddus i ymdrin â hi.
Ac o ran defnyddio'r capasiti ychwanegol yr ydym ni'n ei ryddhau i'r system, rydym yn mynd i gael lonydd ychwanegol a mwy o brofion ym mhob canolfan profi trwy ffenest y car. Rydym yn creu nifer ychwanegol o unedau profi symudol hefyd. Ar hyn o bryd, fe fyddan nhw'n cael eu rhoi yn yr ardaloedd lle mae'r nifer fwyaf o achosion—ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Aneurin Bevan ac ardaloedd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg. Ond fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i geisio deall pa mor hir y mae disgwyl inni orfod aros i'r rhaglen labordai goleudy fod yn ei hôl ar y trywydd iawn. Ac efallai y bydd angen inni gymryd camau pellach i newid mwy o'n profion ni, i sicrhau eu bod yn fwy dibynadwy a chadarn, i'r capasiti yr ydym ni wedi cymryd yr amser a'r adnoddau i'w adeiladu yma yng Nghymru, yn ogystal â'r £32 miliwn a gyhoeddais i o'r blaen i atgyfnerthu ein seilwaith profi ni yma yng Nghymru drwy'r hydref a'r gaeaf.
Thank you. Just before we go on, we're half way through the allotted time for this statement and we've had two sets of questions. I have something like 10 speakers, so if we can have shorter contributions, that would be helpful. David Rowlands.
Diolch. Cyn inni fynd ymhellach, rydym hanner ffordd drwy'r amser a neilltuwyd ar gyfer y datganiad hwn ac rydym wedi cael dwy gyfres o gwestiynau. Mae gennyf tua 10 siaradwr, felly os cawn ni gyfraniadau sy'n fwy cryno, fe fyddai hynny o ddefnydd mawr. David Rowlands.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I thank the Minister for his statement this afternoon? Minister, whilst we must all acknowledge that you have, to a certain extent, to follow what the UK Government, and indeed much of the world, is doing with regard to COVID-19, it is incumbent upon us as politicians to question these draconian actions, for draconian they are, because they are having far-reaching consequences for almost every person living in Wales. We have to ask whether these actions are justified by the figures.
At the present time, COVID-19 accounts for an average of 11 of the 1,687 deaths that occur in Britain every day. By comparison, the week ending 4 September, 124 people died each day from endemic flu and pneumonia. Heart disease, Britain's biggest killer, accounted for 460 deaths every day last year, while cancer kills an average of 450 people per day. We have all been made aware that people are not seeking treatments for these killers because they are very much afraid of catching the disease in our hospitals. And given the increasing evidence that the statistics on deaths directly as a result of coronavirus are hugely flawed, can the Government really justify locking down the whole of the population because of the behaviour of a very small number of people, as the First Minister himself expressed earlier in this Plenary session? Surely, Minister, the correct action is to penalise those who are breaking the regulations, not seek to incarcerate those of us who are obeying the law.
I also wanted to point out some of the anomalies inherent in the present course of action, where we are seeing travelling funfairs allowed, but properly organised equestrian events being prevented, and where people cannot travel from closed-down areas, but where large numbers are allowed to for so-called work processes. Surely such lockdown strategies, which leak so comprehensively, only serve to cause consternation to those of us who do obey the regulations, whilst having limited effectiveness on containing the virus.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am ei ddatganiad y prynhawn yma? Gweinidog, rhaid i bob un ohonom gydnabod bod angen dilyn, i ryw raddau, yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU ac, yn wir, lawer trwy'r byd yn ei wneud o ran COVID-19. Ond mae'n ddyletswydd arnom ni'r gwleidyddion i holi ynglŷn â'r camau llym hyn, ac maen nhw'n llym iawn, oherwydd fe fydd yna ganlyniadau pellgyrhaeddol i bron pob unigolyn sy'n byw yng Nghymru. Mae'n rhaid inni ofyn a yw'r ffigurau'n cyfiawnhau'r camau hyn.
Ar hyn o bryd, mae COVID-19 yn gyfrifol am, ar gyfartaledd, 11 o'r 1,687 o farwolaethau sy'n digwydd ym Mhrydain bob dydd. Gellir cymharu hyn â'r ffaith, yn yr wythnos a ddaeth i ben ar 4 Medi, fod 124 o bobl wedi marw bob dydd o achos ffliw endemig a niwmonia. Clefyd y galon, sef y clefyd sy'n lladd y mwyaf o bobl ym Mhrydain, oedd achos 460 marwolaeth bob dydd y llynedd, tra bod canser yn lladd 450 o bobl bob dydd ar gyfartaledd. Rydym i gyd wedi cael gwybod nad yw pobl yn ceisio triniaeth ar gyfer y clefydau hyn gan fod arnyn nhw ofn dal y feirws yn ein hysbytai. Ac o ystyried y dystiolaeth gynyddol bod yr ystadegau ar farwolaethau o ganlyniad uniongyrchol i glefyd coronafeirws yn ddiffygiol iawn, a yw'r Llywodraeth yn gallu cyfiawnhau cyfnod clo i'r boblogaeth gyfan oherwydd ymddygiad nifer fach iawn o bobl, fel y mynegodd y Prif Weinidog ei hun yn gynharach yn y Cyfarfod Llawn hwn? Onid y camau cywir, Gweinidog, fyddai cosbi'r rhai sy'n torri'r rheoliadau, ac nid ceisio carcharu'r rheini ohonom sy'n ufuddhau i'r gyfraith?
Roeddwn i'n awyddus i dynnu sylw hefyd at rai o'r anghysonderau sy'n rhan annatod o'r camau gweithredu presennol. Rydym yn gweld caniatâd yn cael ei roi i ffeiriau teithiol, ond mae digwyddiadau marchogaeth sydd wedi'u trefnu'n briodol yn cael eu hatal, ac ni all pobl deithio allan o ardaloedd dan glo ond caniateir i lawer iawn o bobl wneud hynny ar gyfer prosesau gwaith, fel y'u gelwir. Siawns nad yw strategaethau clo o'r fath, nad ydynt yn dal dŵr o bell ffordd, ddim ond yn achosi dryswch i'r rheini ohonom sy'n cadw at y rheoliadau, pan welir effeithiolrwydd cyfyngedig o ran rheoli'r feirws.
Thank you for the series of comments, and I'll try to respond to the points with questions attached to them. The Senedd, of course, votes on regulations and the significant restrictions that have been introduced and the interruptions to people's liberty, and I recognise that; it's not an easy or straightforward decision to take. What we are trying to do though is to avoid harm, not wait until significant harm has been caused. In the first wave, we have, compared to England, seen materially fewer excess deaths in Wales. So, that's a positive, and yet we still see more than 2,500 people have lost their lives to coronavirus. That is despite the significant measures that we have taken. We can be confident, I'm afraid, that without any measures being taken we would have seen a much, much greater loss of life and that is why we need to act.
In terms of the challenge about whether we should have a big stick for those people who are not following the rules, actually we need to both persuade, encourage and support people to follow the rules. And, in particular, that's why the financial measures to support self-isolation are so important. Clarity on the consequentials for that rapidly would be most welcome in each of the four nations, and it was a point that was raised in today's COBRA meeting that we need clarity for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales on the moneys that will be available to help people in self-isolation. Because if you're on statutory sick pay, and you need to go into self-isolation for 14 days, you may find that you're not able to feed your family or pay your bills. That's not a position that we want to put people in, so it could put people off taking a test in the first place. So, as soon as we get clarity on the finance, we'll happily come back with a scheme to make sure that is in place.
Diolch am y gyfres o sylwadau, ac fe geisiaf i ymateb i'r pwyntiau sydd â chwestiynau ynghlwm wrthyn nhw. Mae'r Senedd, wrth gwrs, yn pleidleisio ar y rheoliadau a'r cyfyngiadau sylweddol a gyflwynwyd a'r ymyriadau ar ryddid pobl, ac rwy'n cydnabod hynny; nid yw'n benderfyniad hawdd na syml. Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei wneud serch hynny yw osgoi niwed, nid aros nes y bydd niwed sylweddol wedi cael ei achosi. Yn y don gyntaf, o'n cymharu ni â Lloegr, rydym ni wedi gweld llawer llai o farwolaethau ychwanegol yng Nghymru. Felly, mae hynny'n gadarnhaol, ac eto i gyd rydym ni'n parhau i weld fod yna fwy na 2,500 o bobl wedi colli eu bywydau i goronafeirws. Mae hynny er gwaethaf y mesurau sylweddol a wnaed gennym. Gallwn fod yn hyderus y buasai llawer iawn mwy o farwolaethau, mae arnaf ofn, oni bai am y mesurau hyn, a dyna pam mae angen inni weithredu.
O ran yr her ynghylch a ddylem ni ddefnyddio'r wialen fedw ar gyfer y bobl hynny nad ydyn nhw'n dilyn y rheolau, mewn gwirionedd, angen dwyn perswâd sydd arnom ni, i annog a chefnogi pobl i ddilyn y rheolau. Ac, yn arbennig felly, dyna pam mae'r mesurau ariannol i gefnogi hunanynysu mor bwysig. Fe fyddai cael eglurder cyflym ynghylch y symiau canlyniadol ar gyfer hynny i'w groesawu'n fawr ym mhob un o'r pedair gwlad, ac roedd yn bwynt a godwyd yng nghyfarfod COBRA heddiw, sef bod angen eglurder ar gyfer Gogledd Iwerddon, yr Alban a Chymru ynglŷn â'r arian a fydd ar gael i helpu pobl sy'n hunanynysu. Oherwydd os ydych yn cael tâl salwch statudol, a bod angen ichi hunanynysu am 14 diwrnod, efallai y byddwch chi'n gweld na allwch fwydo eich teulu na thalu eich biliau. Nid yw honno'n sefyllfa y dymunwn roi pobl ynddi, felly fe allai achosi i bobl beidio â mynd am y prawf yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, cyn gynted ag y cawn ni eglurder am y cyllid, fe fyddwn ni'n hapus i ddod yn ôl gyda chynllun i sicrhau bod hynny ar waith.
Minister, can I thank you for the statement and welcome very much the fact that the four-nation conversations have started, but just to ask him is he sure and confident that there will indeed be regular, reliable rhythm to these meetings now, that it is not a one-off? And can I also thank him for the incredibly intense engagement that he's had, not only with Members of the Senedd, but also with local authority leaders throughout south Wales? If people knew the half of what was going on in the level of engagement and planning and co-ordination, I think they'd be amazed, and I doubt this is going on to the same extent, I have to say, within England.
Could I ask him to tell us—? He mentioned that a mobile testing unit now will be introduced in Bridgend, possibly some time during this week. Could he give us a bit more detail on that? And thank you for that, because you know that's an issue that I and the local authority leader, Huw David, have raised with you. So, that's really fast work on that. And could I ask you to keep an open mind in the discussions with council leaders on going further with the pubs, as you have just said—in pubs and clubs? I think there are ways, not only lowering the time limit on pubs, but actually the sitting down for service and the face coverings, which are worth exploring. And we can see in Scotland and Northern Ireland where they have been working, and it imposes some discipline. Because the two things, Minister, that don't go together are inebriation, late hours and social distancing.
Gweinidog, a gaf i ddiolch ichi am y datganiad a chroesawu'n fawr y ffaith bod y trafodaethau pedair gwlad wedi dechrau, ond hoffwn ofyn iddo a yw'n siŵr ac yn hyderus y bydd yna gyfarfodydd rheolaidd a dibynadwy yn digwydd nawr, ac nid unwaith yn unig? Ac a gaf i ddiolch iddo hefyd am yr ymgysylltu hynod ddwys a gafodd, nid yn unig ag Aelodau'r Senedd, ond ag arweinwyr yr awdurdodau lleol ledled y de hefyd? Pe bai pobl ond yn gwybod hanner yr hyn oedd yn digwydd ar lefel yr ymgysylltu a'r cynllunio a'r cydgysylltu, rwy'n credu y bydden nhw'n rhyfeddu, ac rwy'n amau'n fawr a yw hyn yn digwydd i'r un graddau, mae'n rhaid imi ddweud, yn Lloegr.
A gaf i ofyn iddo ddweud wrthym ni—? Fe soniodd y bydd uned brofi symudol yn cael ei chyflwyno ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr nawr, ryw bryd yn ystod yr wythnos hon o bosibl. A wnaiff roi ychydig mwy o fanylion i ni am hynny? A diolch i chi am hynny, oherwydd rydych yn gwybod fod hwnnw'n fater a gododd arweinydd yr awdurdod lleol, Huw David, a minnau gyda chi. Felly, dyna waith cyflym iawn ar hynny. Ac a gaf i ofyn ichi gadw meddwl agored yn y trafodaethau gydag arweinwyr cynghorau ynghylch mynd ymhellach gyda'r tafarndai, fel yr ydych chi newydd ei ddweud—mewn tafarndai a chlybiau? Rwy'n credu bod yna ffyrdd sy'n werth ymchwilio iddyn nhw, nid dim ond lleihau oriau gweithredol tafarndai, ond mewn gwirionedd wrth eistedd i lawr am wasanaeth a'r gorchuddion wyneb. Ac fe welwn ni yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon lle mae'r rhain wedi bod yn gweithio, ac mae'n golygu rhywfaint o ddisgyblaeth. Oherwydd, Gweinidog, y ddau beth nad ydyn nhw'n mynd gyda'i gilydd yw meddwdod ac oriau hwyr, a chadw pellter cymdeithasol.
I welcome the comment. I thank the Member for his constructive engagement, not just in this place, but outside it as well. I have spent lots of time speaking to local authority leaders and I expect to join a call with 10 different local authority leaders after this session is finished.
When it comes to the four-nation engagement, we have again made the point this morning that a regular and reliable rhythm to our engagement is in all of our interests. As we're approaching another phase, where coronavirus is increasing, the value of the consistency of our message becomes ever greater. We think it would have been helpful through the summer as well. But we're in a better place now, we welcome the fact that a COBRA meeting has taken place and I want to see more of these on a regular basis, so we don't need to wonder about what is happening or see things being briefed to the newspapers before we have meetings about them. That is in all of our interests to make sure that happens on a regular basis.
I'll come back to you later this week with confirmed details. I'm waiting for not just the site but all the arrangements to be in place, and I'll make sure that constituency and regional Members are aware of when the Bridgend testing site is available and where it will be. And that is about having local testing for local people. Part of the challenge this morning for the UK programme was they've actually tried to introduce a fix to make sure that you can't book a test more than 50 miles away from where you live. We need to make sure that's 50 miles by travel, not as the crow flies, because, as we've seen, people living in Weston-super-Mare have been directed to testing centres in south Wales and that's particularly unhelpful.
On pub restrictions, I'm considering the point you raise, and I mentioned earlier about table service and a 10 o'clock finish time, and we're also reviewing the evidence on face coverings. Just a warning about that though: obviously you can't drink while you're wearing a face covering or eat, but the challenge about putting on and taking off the face covering is part of the concern. Taking off a face covering and putting it on are times when you may actually be shedding part of the virus, so we need to consider whether the evidence supports that being more likely to spread the coronavirus rather than lead to a benefit. But that review is being undertaken.
Rwy'n croesawu'r sylw. Rwy'n diolch i'r Aelod am ei ymgysylltiad adeiladol ef, nid yn unig yn y lle hwn, ond y tu allan hefyd. Rwyf wedi treulio llawer o amser yn siarad ag arweinwyr yr awdurdodau lleol ac rwy'n disgwyl ymuno mewn galwad gyda 10 o arweinyddion gwahanol awdurdodau lleol ar ôl i'r sesiwn hwn ddod i ben.
O ran yr ymgysylltu rhwng y pedair gwlad, rydym wedi gwneud y pwynt unwaith eto'r bore yma bod cael trefn reolaidd a dibynadwy i'n hymgysylltiad ni er budd pawb. Gan ein bod ni'n nesáu at gyfnod arall, lle mae coronafeirws yn cynyddu, fe ddaw gwerth cysondeb ein neges ni'n fwy amlwg byth. Rydym ni o'r farn y byddai hyn wedi bod o gymorth drwy'r haf hefyd. Ond rydym mewn gwell sefyllfa nawr, rydym yn croesawu'r ffaith i gyfarfod COBRA gael ei gynnal ac rwy'n awyddus i weld mwy o gyfarfodydd rheolaidd, ac felly nid oes angen inni bendroni tybed beth fydd yn digwydd na chlywed pethau'n cael eu briffio i'r papurau newydd cyn i ni gael trafodaethau yn eu cylch. Mae er ein lles ni i gyd i sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd yn rheolaidd.
Fe ddof i'n ôl atoch yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon gyda'r manylion a gadarnhawyd. Rwy'n aros nid yn unig i'r safle fod yn barod ond i'r holl drefniadau fod ar waith, ac fe fyddaf i'n sicrhau bod Aelodau'r etholaeth a'r rhanbarth yn ymwybodol pryd y bydd safle profi Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar gael ac ymhle y bydd hynny. Mae'n ymwneud â chael profion lleol ar gyfer pobl leol. Rhan o'r her rhaglen y DU y bore yma oedd eu bod nhw wedi ceisio cyflwyno datrysiad i sicrhau na allwch archebu prawf sy'n fwy na 50 milltir i ffwrdd o'ch cartref. Mae angen inni wneud yn siŵr bod hynny'n golygu 50 milltir o daith, ac nid fel yr hed y frân, oherwydd, fel y gwelsom ni, mae pobl sy'n byw yn Weston-super-Mare wedi cael eu cyfeirio at ganolfannau profi yn ne Cymru ac nid yw hynny'n fuddiol o gwbl.
O ran cyfyngiadau ar dafarndai, rwy'n ystyried y pwynt yr ydych chi'n ei godi, ac fe soniais i'n gynharach am weini wrth y bwrdd ac amser cau o 10 o'r gloch, ac rydym ni'n adolygu'r dystiolaeth ar orchuddion wyneb hefyd. Ond dim ond rhybudd ynglŷn â hynny: mae'n amlwg na allwch yfed na bwyta pan fyddwch yn gwisgo mwgwd, ac mae'r her o dynnu'r gorchudd wyneb a'i roi yn ôl ymlaen yn rhan o'r pryder. Mae'r weithred hon yn digwydd ar yr adegau pan allwch chi fod yn rhyddhau peth o'r feirws mewn gwirionedd, felly mae angen ystyried a yw'r dystiolaeth yn cefnogi bod hynny'n fwy tebygol o ledaenu coronafeirws yn hytrach na bod o fudd. Ond mae'r adolygiad hwnnw wrthi'n cael ei gynnal.
Thank you for your response to Huw Irranca-Davies about the mobile testing centre for Bridgend. I just wanted to ask you, bearing in mind that these regulations are likely to come before us next week and then won't be reviewed for another three weeks from this week, how long do you expect the lockdowns to last? Do you have a time frame in mind, or is it very much predicated on, well, effectively the R number? Thank you.
Diolch am eich ymateb i Huw Irranca-Davies ynglŷn â chanolfan brofi symudol i Ben-y-bont ar Ogwr. Rwyf i am ofyn dim ond hyn i chi, o gofio bod y rheoliadau hyn yn debygol o ddod ger ein bron yr wythnos nesaf ac na fyddan nhw'n cael eu hadolygu wedyn am dair wythnos arall o'r wythnos hon ymlaen, am ba hyd yr ydych chi'n disgwyl i'r cyfnodau clo barhau? A oes gennych amserlen mewn golwg, neu a yw hyn yn seiliedig i raddau helaeth iawn, wel, ar y rhif R i bob pwrpas? Diolch.
In the coronavirus control plan, we've set out—and I think it's the legal requirement as well—to review these individual restrictions every 14 days initially, but then to review them every week. In reality, we're looking at the daily picture of what's happening. So, we look at the rates each day and what they tell us about the trend. And, because of the challenges in getting test results through, that means that our figures change as we backtrack to understand how many positive cases have taken place on a day.
So, for example, we know that, on the figures we have got for the last couple of days, we'll get more of those filled in in the next few days. There's a lag of up to about three to four days, typically, in current lighthouse labs testing. Now, that's part of a blind spot that we have in the middle of what we are able to do. We have much more information than we had in February or March or April, with a much bigger testing programme, but the time lag introduces some difficulty about the reliability of the trend. That's why the seven-day trend is important for us, and the data over the last 48 to 72 hours.
So, we are looking at that on a regular basis, and my ambition is that, when we understand if we have managed to suppress coronavirus again in those areas, we need to think then again about releasing some of the restrictions, but doing that in a way that is manageable and in a way that we can sustain through the autumn and the winter. As I said in answer to previous questions, these are significant restrictions upon people's liberty that, in any other time—and even in this one—are truly extraordinary. I don't want them to be in place for any longer than is necessary to protect public health.
Yn y cynllun i reoli coronafeirws, rydym wedi nodi—ac rwy'n credu mai hwn yw'r gofyniad cyfreithiol hefyd—y byddwn ni'n adolygu'r cyfyngiadau unigol hyn bob 14 diwrnod i ddechrau, ond yn eu hadolygu nhw bob wythnos wedyn. Mewn gwirionedd, rydym yn edrych ar y darlun dyddiol o'r hyn sy'n digwydd. Felly, fe edrychwn ni ar y cyfraddau bob dydd a'r hyn y maen nhw'n ei ddweud wrthym am y tueddiadau. Ac, oherwydd yr heriau o gael canlyniadau profion yn mynd drwodd, mae hynny'n golygu bod ein ffigurau ni'n newid wrth inni fwrw golwg yn ôl i ddeall faint o achosion cadarnhaol sydd wedi digwydd ar unrhyw ddiwrnod.
Felly, er enghraifft, yn ôl y ffigurau sydd gennym dros yr ychydig ddyddiau diwethaf, gwyddom y byddwn yn cael rhagor o'r rhain wedi'u llenwi yn ystod y dyddiau nesaf. Mae bwlch o hyd at dri i bedwar diwrnod, fel arfer, yn y profion labordy goleudy ar y foment. Nawr, dyna ran o fan dall sydd gennym yng nghanol yr hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud. Mae gennym lawer mwy o wybodaeth na'r hyn oedd gennym ym mis Chwefror neu fis Mawrth neu fis Ebrill, gyda rhaglen brofi sy'n llawer mwy, ond mae'r bwlch amser yn peri rhywfaint o anhawster o ran ba mor ddibynadwy yw'r tueddiadau. Dyna pam mae'r duedd dros saith diwrnod yn bwysig i ni, a'r data dros y 48 i 72 awr ddiwethaf hefyd.
Felly, rydym yn edrych ar hynny'n rheolaidd, a'm huchelgais i yw, pan fyddwn yn deall ein bod wedi llwyddo i reoli coronafeirws yn yr ardaloedd hynny unwaith eto, mae angen inni feddwl drachefn am lacio rhai o'r cyfyngiadau, ond gwneud hynny mewn ffordd y gellir ei rheoli ac mewn ffordd y gallwn ni gadw ati drwy'r hydref a'r gaeaf. Fel y dywedais wrth ateb cwestiynau yn flaenorol, mae'r rhain yn gyfyngiadau sylweddol ar ryddid pobl sydd, ar unrhyw adeg arall—a hyd yn oed ar yr adeg hon—ymhell y tu hwnt i'r cyffredin. Nid wyf yn dymuno eu gweld ar waith am fwy o amser nag sy'n angenrheidiol i ddiogelu iechyd y cyhoedd.
Carwyn Jones.
Carwyn Jones.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for your—
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch i chi am eich—
No, sorry. Carwyn Jones. Sorry, Caroline.
Nage, mae'n ddrwg gennyf. Carwyn Jones. Mae'n ddrwg gennyf, Caroline.
Sorry.
Mae'n ddrwg gennyf i.
Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I know that Caroline and myself had the same problem at the time of the last election, when we were perhaps sometimes confused for each other, certainly in writing.
Three things from me, Minister. First, you mentioned already the signposts—the review points, as it were—in the process. Could you give us some indication of what you will be looking for in 14 days, when you take your decision as to whether or not to extend these restrictions in this form or not, so that we can have an idea of what signs you are looking for in order to decide whether restrictions should be kept, or whether they should be made more restrictive or, indeed, loosened?
Secondly, I have a concern, as public houses and bars shut after 11 p.m., that there will be a temptation for some people, especially young people, to just go on to house parties. Now, we know, of course, that house parties are a particular risk as we see people mixing very closely with each other. Alcohol is involved, so we know that social distancing tends to break down. What messages are you preparing to give out about the dangers of house parties replacing pubs in that regard?
Thirdly, just a plea to make sure that, when an announcement is made, the guidance is made available as soon as possible. My colleague the Member for Ogmore and myself were lucky in the sense that, when we had enquiries from constituents, we were able to point or signpost them to the RCT guidance. But, just a plea to make sure that the guidance is made available as quickly as possible, so that those of us who are affected as Members are able to provide the right level of advice to constituents.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fe wn i fod Caroline a minnau wedi cael yr un broblem adeg yr etholiad diwethaf, pan oedd pobl yn ein drysu â'n gilydd, yn sicr ar bapur.
Tri pheth sydd gennyf i, Gweinidog. Yn gyntaf, fe wnaethoch chi sôn eisoes am yr arwyddbyst—pwyntiau'r adolygiad, fel petae—yn y broses. A wnewch chi roi ryw syniad inni o'r hyn y byddwch chi'n chwilio amdano mewn 14 diwrnod, pan fyddwch chi'n penderfynu a ddylid ymestyn y cyfyngiadau hyn yn y dull hwn ai peidio, er mwyn cael syniad o ba arwyddion yr ydych chi'n chwilio amdanyn nhw i benderfynu a ddylid cadw'r cyfyngiadau, neu a ddylid eu tynhau nhw neu, yn wir, eu llacio nhw?
Yn ail, rwy'n pryderu, wrth i dafarndai a bariau gau ar ôl 11 p.m., y bydd yn demtasiwn i rai pobl, yn enwedig pobl ifanc, fynd ymlaen i bartïon mewn tai. Nawr, fe wyddom ni, wrth gwrs, fod partïon mewn tai yn risg arbennig gan ein bod ni'n gweld pobl yn cymysgu'n agos iawn at ei gilydd. Mae alcohol yn rhan o hyn, ac felly fe wyddom fod cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn tueddu i fynd ar chwâl. Pa negeseuon yr ydych chi'n eu paratoi i'w rhoi ynglŷn â pheryglon partïon mewn tai yn disodli tafarndai yn hyn o beth?
Yn drydydd, dim ond apêl i sicrhau, pan gaiff cyhoeddiad ei wneud, bod y canllawiau ar gael cyn gynted â phosibl. Roedd fy nghyd-Aelod i, yr Aelod dros Ogwr, a minnau yn ffodus yn yr ystyr ein bod ni, pan wnaeth etholwyr ymholiadau, yn gallu eu cyfeirio nhw at ganllawiau Rhondda Cynon Taf. Ond, dim ond apêl i sicrhau bod y canllawiau ar gael cyn gynted â phosibl, fel bod y rhai ohonom ni yr effeithir arnyn nhw fel Aelodau yn gallu darparu'r lefel briodol o gyngor i'r etholwyr.
Thank you for the questions. On your final point, I recognise that there is a need to provide as much clarity as quickly as possible on what the restrictions mean for people. Most people want to follow the rules, and so it's about how we help them to do so. That's got to be balanced against the speed of decision making that is necessary to keep people safe. But, it's a point well made, and in this instance, it has been helpful that there are essentially the same restrictions as are already in place within Rhondda Cynon Taf now across the six relevant local authorities in south Wales.
On the challenge about house parties, it's a real danger and a real concern. It's part of the rationale for keeping pubs and the hospitality trade open. There's an environment where people can drink together, where they enjoy doing that together, but also, it's an environment that is regulated and there's a line of sight. Our bigger concern is indoor contact in people's private homes. That's been the largest area of spread and infection rates rising. So, what we definitely don't want to see is house parties increasing. If you think you're safer drinking in your home with six or seven friends you don't live with, actually, you're at much greater risk than being in a pub where you have to be socially distanced. So, there's a real challenge in what we do and the messaging around hospitality, why it's being kept open, and the challenge of just substituting that for drinking and buying alcohol from an off-licence. We're looking at off-licences as a possible restriction, together with other Governments in the UK.
On what we need to see to see the current local restrictions removed, we'll be looking in particular at a reduction in the case rate and seeing the trends going in the right direction, seeing a sustained fall in those to get below our action levels. We're also going to be looking at the positivity rates, how many people in every 100 test positive. That will tell us a lot about the state of community transmission. And we'll also be looking at the intelligence we get from our test, trace and protect service about new clusters, whether we have unexplained clusters—that's again a signal that community transmission is taking place—but also evidence of mixing and how people are acquiring coronavirus in the first place. So, it'll be a range of harder data measures and that softer intelligence on what's happening in terms of behaviour within the community.
But if we're making any choices about dropping a level down, we'll have to be clear about why we're doing that and what that then means. What I don't want is people to lose sight of the collective discipline we need to rediscover on respecting and following social distancing in particular.
Diolch i chi am y cwestiynau. Ynglŷn â'ch pwynt olaf, rwy'n cydnabod bod angen darparu eglurder, a hynny cyn gynted ag sy'n bosibl, ynglŷn ag ystyr y cyfyngiadau i bobl. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o bobl yn awyddus i ddilyn y rheolau, ac felly mae hyn yn ymwneud â sut yr ydym ni'n eu helpu nhw i wneud felly. Mae'n rhaid cydbwyso hynny â chyflymder y broses o wneud penderfyniadau sy'n angenrheidiol i gadw pobl yn ddiogel. Ond, pwynt da yw hwn, ac yn yr achos hwn, mae wedi bod o gymorth mai'r un cyfyngiadau yn y bôn sydd eisoes ar waith yn Rhondda Cynon Taf sydd ar draws y chwe awdurdod lleol perthnasol yn y de erbyn hyn.
O ran yr her o safbwynt partïon mewn tai, mae hwn yn berygl gwirioneddol ac yn bryder gwirioneddol. Dyma ran o'r rhesymeg dros gadw tafarndai a'r fasnach letygarwch ar agor. Mae'n amgylchedd lle gall pobl yfed gyda'i gilydd, lle maen nhw'n mwynhau gwneud hynny gyda'i gilydd, ond hefyd, mae'n amgylchedd a gaiff ei reoleiddio ac mae'n bosibl cadw golwg arno. Rydyn ni'n pryderu mwy am y cyswllt dan do yng nghartrefi preifat pobl. Hwnnw fu'r maes pennaf o ran lledaeniad a chyfraddau heintio yn codi. Felly, yr hyn nad ydym yn bendant yn dymuno ei weld yw cynnydd mewn partïon mewn tai. Os ydych chi'n credu eich bod yn fwy diogel yn yfed yn eich cartref gyda chwech neu saith o ffrindiau sydd ddim yn byw gyda chi, mewn gwirionedd, rydych chi mewn llawer mwy o berygl na'ch bod chi mewn tafarn lle mae'n rhaid cadw pellter cymdeithasol. Felly, ceir her wirioneddol yn yr hyn a wnawn a'r negeseuon ynghylch lletygarwch, pam mae'n cael ei gadw ar agor, a'r her o gyfnewid hwnnw'n syml am yfed a phrynu alcohol o siop. Rydym yn edrych ar siopau sy'n gwerthu alcohol yn faes posibl ar gyfer cyfyngiadau, ynghyd â Llywodraethau eraill yn y DU.
O ran yr hyn sydd angen ei weld ar gyfer dileu'r cyfyngiadau lleol presennol, fe fyddwn ni'n edrych yn benodol ar ostyngiad yng nghyfradd yn achosion ac ar dueddiadau yn mynd i'r cyfeiriad iawn, gan weld gostyngiad cyson yn y rhain er mwyn iddynt fod yn is na'n lefelau gweithredu ni. Rydym hefyd yn mynd i fod yn edrych ar y cyfraddau cadarnhaol, a nifer y bobl ym mhob cant sy'n cael prawf cadarnhaol. Fe fydd hynny'n dweud llawer wrthym am gyflwr trosglwyddiad cymunedol. Ac fe fyddwn ni hefyd yn edrych ar yr wybodaeth a gawn gan ein gwasanaeth profi, olrhain a diogelu am glystyrau newydd, a oes gennym ni glystyrau heb esboniad—mae hwnnw'n arwydd arall bod trosglwyddiad cymunedol yn digwydd—ond tystiolaeth hefyd o gymysgu a sut mae pobl yn cael coronafeirws yn y lle cyntaf. Felly, bydd amrywiaeth o fesurau a fydd yn cynnwys mesurau data mwy caled a gwybodaeth fwy meddal ynglŷn â'r hyn sy'n digwydd o ran ymddygiad yn y gymuned.
Ond os byddwn yn gwneud unrhyw ddewisiadau ynghylch gostwng lefel yn is, fe fydd yn rhaid inni egluro pam rydym yn gwneud hynny a beth mae hynny'n ei olygu wedyn. Yr hyn nad wyf i'n dymuno ei weld yw pobl yn colli golwg ar y ddisgyblaeth gyffredin y mae angen inni ei hailddarganfod o ran parchu ac ymarfer cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn arbennig.
Minister, residents in my region in Blaenau Gwent, in Caerphilly, in Merthyr and in Newport are now facing restrictions. I note the answer that you gave a few moments ago about how you're going to be keeping the restrictions under daily review, and I welcome that. Now that so many neighbouring authorities are facing restrictions, I'd ask would it make more sense to be thinking of reintroducing, say, a five-mile rule, instead of expecting people who live on the border between authority areas to be able to travel the length and breadth of their own authority area but not, for example, visit family members outdoors who live two miles away but only just across the border between authorities.
And finally, I'd like to ask about your Government's communications—[Interruption.] I think the previous First Minister has got—. The final question I'd like to ask is about your Government's communication of the rules that people need to follow. Given that so many people in Wales unfortunately get their news from English broadcasters, or broadcasters that are UK based, how do you suggest they keep themselves informed of the rules that will be determining their own locality? Would you expect them to find out themselves, or will the Welsh Government be considering informing them through a direct form of communication?
Gweinidog, mae trigolion yn fy rhanbarth i ym Mlaenau Gwent, yng Nghaerffili, ym Merthyr ac yng Nghasnewydd yn wynebu cyfyngiadau erbyn hyn. Rwy'n nodi eich ateb ychydig funudau yn ôl ynglŷn â sut y byddwch chi'n adolygu'r cyfyngiadau yn ddyddiol, ac rwy'n croesawu hynny. Gan fod cynifer o awdurdodau cyfagos yn wynebu cyfyngiadau erbyn hyn, fe hoffwn i ofyn a fyddai'n gwneud mwy o synnwyr i ystyried ailgyflwyno'r rheol pum milltir, dywedwch, yn hytrach na disgwyl i bobl sy'n byw ar y ffin rhwng ardaloedd yr awdurdodau allu teithio ar hyd a lled ardal eu hawdurdod eu hunain ond nid, er enghraifft, ymweld ag aelodau o'r teulu yn yr awyr agored sy'n byw dwy filltir i ffwrdd oherwydd eu bod y tu hwnt i'r ffin rhwng awdurdodau.
Ac yn olaf, fe hoffwn i ofyn am gyfathrebiadau eich Llywodraeth chi—[Torri ar draws.] Rwy'n credu bod gan y Prif Weinidog blaenorol—. Mae'r cwestiwn olaf yr hoffwn ei ofyn yn ymwneud â'r ffaith bod eich Llywodraeth chi wedi cyfathrebu'r rheolau y mae angen i bobl eu dilyn nhw. O gofio bod cynifer o bobl yng Nghymru, yn anffodus, yn cael eu newyddion gan ddarlledwyr o Loegr, neu ddarlledwyr a leolir yn y DU, sut ydych chi'n awgrymu eu bod nhw'n cael gwybod am y rheolau sy'n weithredol yn eu hardal benodol nhw eu hunain? A fyddech chi'n disgwyl iddyn nhw ddarganfod hynny drostyn nhw eu hunain, neu a fydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried eu hysbysu nhw drwy ryw fath o gyfathrebu uniongyrchol?
[Inaudible.]—challenge around travel restrictions. We had a long and vigorous discussion, you'll recall, in this Chamber when meeting entirely remotely about the five-mile guidance in respect of local travel. Now, that 'stay local' message was broadly welcomed in lots of places, including in areas of much lower prevalence of coronavirus. There is as much concern about coronavirus not coming into an area that hasn't been largely affected.
What we're doing with our current restrictions is, because we recognise community transmission is taking place within those local authority areas, we're again looking to isolate the virus within that area, to protect areas around it as well. But it goes alongside the crucial message, and in many ways the much more important message, of people needing to looking again at what they're doing to minimise the number of contacts they're having, to understand who they're having in their own home, and to remember the rules around extended households.
It should allow contact with other people, but it should be the same four households with each other, not one household choosing three others, and then one of those three households choosing a different group of people as well. That will lead to a much more significant change in transmission and not provide the protection we're looking for—but also the companionship and contact that we know is a challenge in the areas where we've had to undo those extended household arrangements. So, it's really important that people look again at how to follow the rules and stay within them, because this is actually about keeping us safe and avoiding harm.
I do think, in terms of the travel restrictions, in Caerphilly we're already seeing some evidence that people are following those. There's a reduced number of infections. And in terms of the messaging locally, I think that the council in Caerphilly, and in particular the leader Philippa Marsden, have been very clear about what's required. On the challenges in what's taking place, actually, our local media have been very responsible and very consistent in reporting in an honest way the new restrictions that are in place. That's in all of the hyperlocal media, not just in Caerphilly, but in all of the six areas where we've had to take action.
I think, though, that if we got to a point of wider restrictions, it is of course possible that there would be a message from the Government directly to the population, but that, again, is something to hold in reserve; it's not where we are now, but again, we shouldn't rule out options on the table, because we can't be confident about the path of coronavirus in the future and what we will need to do to keep the people of Wales safe.
[Anhyglyw.]—her ynghylch cyfyngiadau teithio. Fe gawsom ni drafodaeth hir a bywiog, fe gofiwch chi, yn y Siambr hon pan oeddem ni'n cyfarfod o bellter am y canllawiau pum milltir o ran teithio lleol. Nawr, fe groesawyd y neges 'aros yn lleol' honno'n gyffredin mewn sawl man, gan gynnwys mewn ardaloedd lle ceir llawer llai o achosion o goronafeirws. Ceir yr un gyfradd o bryder ynghylch rhwystro coronafeirws rhag dod i mewn i ardal na chafodd ei heffeithio i raddau helaeth.
Yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud gyda'n cyfyngiadau presennol, oherwydd ein bod ni'n cydnabod bod trosglwyddo cymunedol yn digwydd yn ardaloedd yr awdurdodau lleol hynny, yw ceisio ynysu'r feirws unwaith eto yn yr ardal honno, er mwyn diogelu ardaloedd o'i hamgylch hi hefyd. Ond mae hyn yn cyd-fynd â'r neges hollbwysig, ac mewn sawl ffordd y neges bwysicach o lawer, bod angen i bobl edrych eto ar yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud i leihau nifer y cysylltiadau y maen nhw'n eu cael, i ddeall pwy sy'n cael bod ar eu haelwydydd nhw, a chofio'r rheolau ynglŷn ag aelwydydd estynedig.
Fe ddylai hyn ganiatáu cyswllt â phobl eraill, ond fe ddylai fod ar sail yr un pedair aelwyd â'i gilydd, nid un aelwyd yn dewis tair arall, ac yna un o'r tair aelwyd hynny yn dewis grŵp arall o bobl hefyd. Fe fyddai hynny'n arwain at newid llawer mwy sylweddol yn y trosglwyddo ac nid yn darparu'r amddiffyniad yr ydym ni'n ei geisio—ond hefyd y gwmnïaeth a'r cyswllt y gwyddom ni sy'n heriol yn yr ardaloedd lle bu'n rhaid inni ddad-wneud y trefniadau hynny ynglŷn ag aelwydydd estynedig. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn bod pobl yn edrych unwaith eto ar y ffordd iawn i ddilyn y rheolau ac aros o fewn eu terfynau nhw, oherwydd mae hyn mewn yn ymwneud â'n cadw ni'n ddiogel ac atal niwed.
Rwyf i o'r farn, o ran y cyfyngiadau teithio, ein bod ni eisoes yn gweld rhywfaint o dystiolaeth o Gaerffili bod pobl yn dilyn y rhain. Mae niferoedd yr heintus yn gostwng. Ac o ran y negeseuon yn lleol, rwy'n credu bod y cyngor yng Nghaerffili, ac yn enwedig yr arweinydd, sef Philippa Marsden, wedi bod yn glir iawn ynglŷn â'r hyn sy'n angenrheidiol. O ran yr heriau yn yr hyn sy'n digwydd, mewn gwirionedd, fe fu ein cyfryngau lleol ni'n gyfrifol iawn ac yn gyson iawn wrth adrodd yn onest am y cyfyngiadau newydd sydd ar waith. Mae hynny'n wir ym mhob un o'r cyfryngau lleol iawn, nid yng Nghaerffili yn unig, ond ym mhob un o'r chwe ardal lle bu'n rhaid inni weithredu.
Er hynny, pe byddem yn cyrraedd y pwynt o orfod cael cyfyngiadau ehangach, credaf y byddai'n bosibl, wrth gwrs, cael neges gan y Llywodraeth i'r boblogaeth yn uniongyrchol, ond rhywbeth yw hwnnw, unwaith eto, i'w gadw wrth gefn; nid dyma'r sefyllfa yr ydym ni ynddi ar hyn o bryd, ond eto i gyd, ni ddylem ddiystyru'r dewisiadau sydd ar gael inni, oherwydd ni allwn fod yn hyderus am gwrs coronafeirws yn y dyfodol a'r hyn y bydd angen inni ei wneud i gadw pobl Cymru yn ddiogel.
That intervention was not meant to be, so can I just remind people that they shouldn't have their mobile phones on? And that's if you're joining us virtually, as well. And if you are going to take a call, can you make sure that your mike is muted, please? That actually threw me. Alun Davies.
Nid oedd yr ymyriad yna i fod, felly a gaf i atgoffa pobl na ddylai eu ffonau symudol fod ymlaen? Ac mae hynny yn wir os ydych chi'n ymuno â ni yn rhithwir, hefyd. Ac os ydych yn mynd i dderbyn galwad, a wnewch chi wneud yn siŵr bod eich meicroffon wedi ei dawelu os gwelwch yn dda? Mi daflodd hynny fi, mewn gwirionedd. Alun Davies.
Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. The Minister, in addressing the issues in Blaenau Gwent, singled out pubs and care homes as part of the cause of the outbreak in the borough. I was wondering if he could make any further comment on that and describe why or how the data explains that care homes and pubs have led to the issues that we're experiencing in Blaenau Gwent, and whether he intends to take any specific action to deal with issues around pubs and care homes because of that. There is some concern in the borough that we have these additional restrictions there, whilst pubs remain open. Does the Minister believe that there need to be additional powers taken or provided to local government to enable the public houses to be subject to further and more significant regulation if they are to remain open?
I'd be grateful if the Minister could outline why he believes that shielding is not necessary in these areas. There are a number of people who've been shielding for some months this year already who feel somewhat vulnerable now that we're under additional regulations, but there is no requirement for them to shield at the moment. I'd be interested to understand the Government's thinking on that.
There is a requirement—
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Wrth fynd i'r afael â'r materion ym Mlaenau Gwent, soniodd y Gweinidog yn benodol am dafarndai a chartrefi gofal fel rhan o achos cynnydd yr haint yn y fwrdeistref. Tybed a allai wneud unrhyw sylwadau pellach ar hynny a disgrifio pam neu sut y mae'r data'n esbonio bod cartrefi gofal a thafarndai wedi arwain at y problemau yr ydym ni yn eu profi ym Mlaenau Gwent, ac a yw'n bwriadu cymryd unrhyw gamau penodol i ymdrin â phroblemau yn ymwneud â thafarndai a chartrefi gofal oherwydd hynny. Mae rhywfaint o bryder yn y fwrdeistref bod gennym ni y cyfyngiadau ychwanegol yma, tra bod tafarndai'n parhau ar agor. A yw'r Gweinidog yn credu bod angen cael pwerau ychwanegol neu eu darparu i lywodraeth leol i alluogi rheoleiddio pellach a llymach ar y tafarndai os ydyn nhw i barhau ar agor?
Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallai'r Gweinidog amlinellu pam y mae'n credu nad oes angen rhestrau gwarchod yn yr ardaloedd hyn. Mae nifer o bobl a fu ar restr warchod ers rhai misoedd eleni eisoes yn teimlo braidd yn agored i niwed gan ein bod ni bellach o dan reoliadau ychwanegol, ond nid yw'n ofynnol iddyn nhw warchod eu hunain ar hyn o bryd. Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb deall meddylfryd y Llywodraeth ynglŷn â hynny.
Mae gofyniad—
Can you wind up, please?
A wnewch chi ddirwyn i ben, os gwelwch yn dda?
—for additional testing in Blaenau Gwent as well. The Minister is aware that I've got very little confidence in the UK systems and in what the UK Government has been doing over some months, and I know that the Welsh Government has provided for mobile testing and additional testing resources in other parts of south Wales. I'd be grateful if the Minister could make a commitment for additional resources to enable additional testing to take place in Blaenau Gwent.
—ar gyfer profion ychwanegol ym Mlaenau Gwent hefyd. Mae'r Gweinidog yn ymwybodol mai ychydig iawn o ffydd sydd gennyf yn systemau'r DU ac yn yr hyn y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi bod yn ei wneud dros rai misoedd, a gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi darparu ar gyfer unedau profi symudol ac adnoddau profi ychwanegol mewn rhannau eraill o'r de. Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe bai'r Gweinidog yn ymrwymo i ddarparu adnoddau ychwanegol i alluogi cynnal profion ychwanegol ym Mlaenau Gwent.
Thank you for the questions. On care homes, we've actually picked up a number of positive cases from our regular programme of testing of care home staff, and that's allowed us to understand what's taking place there and to isolate not just the staff, but to then have some protection and additional testing around the care homes affected. It is literally a handful—less than a handful—at present, but we're taking that seriously because we know the significant harm that can be caused if there's a real outbreak within a care home—not just a closed environment, but a closed environment with very vulnerable people, vulnerable to much more significant harm from this virus.
It's also reflective of what's happening within the wider community, and so there's a challenge there about how we protect people. And again, it goes back—it still starts off with contact in the home and if people are mixing in the home in larger numbers, it's likely to come through, as it has done, in a range of pubs and people coming into those pubs and if they're not respecting the social distancing guidance and the rules in those pubs as well, well, it should be no surprise that staff and people who drink there are then going to walk away with coronavirus as well. So, businesses need to do their part in following the rules with their staff to protect their staff and their customers, but customers who want to continue to enjoy the ability to go to have a drink or go out for a meal need to follow the rules as well, because otherwise, we will need to take more significant measures than I've outlined already. It's also the case that every local authority is looking at enforcement and the number of spot checks that are taking place, and that is producing a response from the more responsible parts of the business and we're also picking up issues that do require improvement as well.
On shielding, the starting point is that people who have previously shielded should follow the advice and be particularly stringent about doing so, particularly that point about who you have within your own home, about following the advice on social distancing. Our chief medical officers across the UK are looking again at shielding. It's a particularly medical model that's been adopted in the past. Now, that doesn't mean to say that it wasn't worth having, but for the next phase, we've got to consider whether that's the right approach, because we understand now that people at the greatest risk of harm aren't all neatly packaged up in the list of medical conditions. We know that if you're of certain ethnic minority origins, if you're black African or Caribbean, if you're from a south Asian origin or if you're overweight as well, you are in a higher risk category, but that won't be picked up in a medical list, necessarily, on itself, unless you have a diagnosed condition. The same for areas where there is a higher degree of socioeconomic disadvantage—much greater risk of harm, yet not picked up in our shielding advice. We're looking for a more nuanced form of advice that will still help people to understand how they can manage their risks.
And on testing, I'm happy to confirm that I do expect there to be more testing resources from the Welsh Government and national health service provision. In particular, the testing centre in Cwm should benefit from an additional lane, where those tests will go to Public Health Wales labs to supplement the challenges that we still see within the UK-led lighthouse lab testing programme.
Diolch am y cwestiynau. O ran cartrefi gofal, rydym ni mewn gwirionedd wedi canfod nifer o achosion cadarnhaol o'n rhaglen reolaidd o brofi staff cartrefi gofal, ac mae hynny wedi ein galluogi i ddeall beth sy'n digwydd yn y fan yna ac ynysu nid yn unig y staff, ond wedyn cael rhywfaint o amddiffyniad a phrofion ychwanegol yn y cartrefi gofal yr effeithir arnynt. Mae'n llythrennol yn ddyrnaid—llai na dyrnaid—ar hyn o bryd, ond rydym yn cymryd hynny o ddifrif oherwydd gwyddom am y niwed sylweddol y gellir ei achosi os bydd yr haint yn lledu mewn cartref gofal—nid amgylchedd caeedig yn unig, ond amgylchedd caeedig gyda phobl agored iawn i niwed, sy'n agored i niwed llawer mwy sylweddol o'r feirws hwn.
Mae hefyd yn adlewyrchu'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn y gymuned ehangach, ac felly mae her ynglŷn â sut yr ydym yn amddiffyn pobl. Ac eto, mae'n deillio'n ôl i—mae'n dal i ddechrau gyda chyswllt yn y cartref ac os yw pobl yn cymysgu yn y cartref mewn niferoedd mwy, mae'n debygol o ymddangos, fel y mae wedi gwneud, mewn amrywiaeth o dafarndai a phobl sy'n mynd i'r tafarndai hynny ac os nad ydynt yn parchu'r canllawiau ymbellhau cymdeithasol a'r rheolau yn y tafarndai hynny hefyd, wel, ni ddylai fod yn syndod y bydd staff a phobl sy'n yfed yno wedyn yn cerdded ymaith gyda'r coronafeirws arnyn nhw hefyd. Felly, mae angen i fusnesau wneud eu rhan i ddilyn y rheolau gyda'u staff i amddiffyn eu staff a'u cwsmeriaid, ond mae angen i gwsmeriaid sydd eisiau parhau i fwynhau'r gallu i fynd i gael diod neu fynd allan am bryd o fwyd ddilyn y rheolau hefyd, oherwydd fel arall, bydd angen i ni weithredu mesurau mwy sylweddol nag yr wyf wedi eu hamlinellu eisoes. Mae hi hefyd yn wir fod pob awdurdod lleol yn ystyried gorfodi a'r nifer y gwiriadau ar hap sy'n digwydd, ac mae hynny'n ennyn ymateb gan rannau mwy cyfrifol y byd busnes ac rydym ni hefyd yn canfod materion y mae angen gwella arnynt hefyd.
O ran y rhestrau gwarchod, y man cychwyn yw y dylai pobl sydd wedi bod ar y rhestr warchod o'r blaen ddilyn y cyngor a bod yn arbennig o gaeth ynghylch gwneud hynny, yn enwedig yr elfen yna ynglŷn â phwy sy'n dod i'ch cartref, ynghylch dilyn y cyngor ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Mae ein prif swyddogion meddygol ledled y DU yn edrych eto ar lunio rhestrau gwarchod. Mae'n fodel meddygol arbennig sydd wedi'i fabwysiadu yn y gorffennol. Nawr, nid yw hynny'n golygu nad oedd gwerth iddo, ond ar gyfer y cam nesaf, mae'n rhaid i ni ystyried ai dyna'r dull cywir, oherwydd rydym ni'n deall nawr nad yw pobl sydd fwyaf tebygol o gael niwed i gyd wedi'u pecynnu'n daclus yn y rhestr o gyflyrau meddygol. Gwyddom os ydych chi o rai cefndiroedd lleiafrifoedd ethnig, os ydych chi o dras du Affricanaidd neu Garibïaidd, os ydych chi o darddiad de Asiaidd neu os ydych chi dros eich pwysau hefyd, eich bod mewn categori risg uwch, ond ni fydd hynny wedi ei gynnwys mewn rhestr feddygol, o reidrwydd, o ran ei hun, oni bai eich bod wedi cael diagnosis o gyflwr. Mae'r un peth yn wir ar gyfer ardaloedd lle mae mwy o anfantais economaidd-gymdeithasol—llawer mwy o berygl o niwed, ond heb ei nodi yn ein cyngor gwarchod. Rydym yn chwilio am fath mwy penodol o gyngor a fydd yn dal i helpu pobl i ddeall sut y gallan nhw reoli eu risgiau.
Ac ynglŷn â phrofion, rwy'n hapus i gadarnhau fy mod yn disgwyl cael mwy o adnoddau profi gan Lywodraeth Cymru a darpariaeth gan y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol. Yn benodol, dylai'r ganolfan brofi yn y Cwm elwa ar lôn ychwanegol, lle caiff y profion hynny eu hanfon i labordai Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i ategu'r heriau yr ydym ni yn eu gweld o hyd yn rhaglen brofi Labordai Goleudy y mae'r DU yn arwain arni.
Thank you. Caroline Jones.
Diolch. Caroline Jones.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Apologies for my overeagerness to come in last time—to you and to Carwyn.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of local lockdowns in driving down infection rates? Do you have any data on adherence rates to measures to tackle COVID-19 and how many people have been fined for breaking the rules? What support is being offered to tourist businesses in my region, many depending on seasonal trade, who will now have to cancel bookings as a result of this lockdown?
And finally, Minister, how do you answer the widespread criticism of the new measures? Many people wonder why it is okay to mix with people in a pub, club or gym but not be okay to visit loved ones. So, can you explain the reasoning for this so that we, in turn, can explain to our constituents and get them to support the measures? Because without widespread public support, these measures are futile.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Ymddiheuriadau am fod yn rhy awyddus i ddweud fy mhwt y tro diwethaf—i chi ac i Carwyn.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Pa asesiad sydd wedi'i wneud o effeithiolrwydd cyfyngiadau symud lleol wrth ostwng cyfraddau heintio? Oes gennych chi unrhyw ddata ynglŷn â chyfraddau glynu wrth fesurau i fynd i'r afael â COVID-19 a faint o bobl sydd wedi cael dirwy am dorri'r rheolau? Pa gymorth sy'n cael ei gynnig i fusnesau twristiaeth yn fy rhanbarth i, lle mae llawer yn dibynnu ar fasnach dymhorol, ac y bydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw bellach ganslo archebion o ganlyniad i'r cyfyngiadau symud hyn?
Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, sut ydych chi'n ymateb i'r feirniadaeth eang o'r mesurau newydd? Mae llawer o bobl yn tybio pam y mae hi'n iawn cymysgu â phobl mewn tafarn, clwb neu gampfa ond nad yw hi'n iawn ymweld â'u hanwyliaid. Felly, a allwch chi egluro'r rhesymeg dros hyn fel y gallwn ni, yn ein tro, esbonio i'n hetholwyr a'u cael i gefnogi'r mesurau? Oherwydd heb gefnogaeth gyhoeddus eang, mae'r mesurau hyn yn ofer.
On the challenge about when we'll understand the effectiveness of the local restrictions that are already in place, we indicated it will be at least two weeks before we've understood more definitively the pattern. We're seeing cautious evidence, just before the two-week review period in Caerphilly, but we'll need to understand that and then to see a sustained fall. The local restrictions that have been introduced in Scotland, in Northern Ireland and England are still, largely, in place. In Scotland they're seeing a slowdown in growth, but still a growth, in significant parts of the west of Scotland, and, as you know, England have significantly increased—there are about 12 million people, I think, in England who are under a form of local restriction. So, we need to see the evidence of what's happening in each of those areas to understand the pattern of infection in each individual case. When it comes to the evidence about them, as I said, we do have evidence of support for the measures, and a change in behaviour in Caerphilly, in particular when it comes to travel, and I think that's important. We'll see more evidence about a reduction in the number of contacts as we continue to see what happens with the case rate over the coming week.
When it comes to business support, this, again, was an issue that was raised by ourselves, by Scotland and Northern Ireland, in today's COBRA meeting, about the essential need to look again at business support. The furlough scheme has been widely welcomed, and this Government has been clear that it was a positive initiative from the UK Government. Our concern is, as we're moving into a different phase, with more restrictions likely to come in place, not less, through the winter, that not having a successor for business support may lead to businesses making choices about ending employment and making redundancies. There's a broad point there, as well as the challenges, of, if we're introducing local restrictions, or national restrictions, about further business support that's required, and that's a conversation we need to continue having with the UK Government to understand what the Treasury are prepared to do at a UK level to protect jobs and employment.
And when it comes to drinking and socialising in your own home, or in other groups, the challenge is, as we've said, and as we've recognised, people not respecting social distancing in their own home is the largest cause in the spread of coronavirus. If you're going out in a regulated environment, whether it's a gym, a restaurant or a pub, there should be additional restrictions in place on avoiding contact with other people. People, naturally, if they're in each other's homes, with loved ones, will have contact with them, and that's very difficult. And if people aren't following the rules on having an exclusive extended household, then that means we're likely to see more spreading within that household environment. It's what we have seen already in a number of the areas where local restrictions are now in place. So, that's the issue that we need to deal with if we are going to turn back the tide of coronavirus here in Wales.
O ran yr her ynghylch pryd y byddwn yn deall effeithiolrwydd y cyfyngiadau lleol sydd eisoes ar waith, rydym ni wedi dweud y bydd hi yn bythefnos o leiaf cyn i ni ddeall y patrwm yn fwy pendant. Rydym yn gweld tystiolaeth bwyllog, ychydig cyn y cyfnod adolygu o bythefnos yng Nghaerffili, ond bydd angen i ni ddeall hynny ac yna gweld gostyngiad cyson. Mae'r cyfyngiadau lleol sydd wedi'u cyflwyno yn yr Alban, yng Ngogledd Iwerddon a Lloegr yn dal i fod ar waith i raddau helaeth. Yn yr Alban maen nhw'n gweld bod y twf yn arafu, ond bod twf o hyd, mewn rhannau helaeth o orllewin yr Alban, ac, fel y gwyddoch chi, mae Lloegr wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol—mae tua 12 miliwn o bobl, mi gredaf, yn Lloegr sydd o dan ryw fath o gyfyngiad lleol. Felly, mae angen i ni weld y dystiolaeth o'r hyn sy'n digwydd ym mhob un o'r ardaloedd hynny er mwyn deall patrwm yr haint ym mhob achos unigol. O ran y dystiolaeth amdanynt, fel y dywedais, mae gennym ni dystiolaeth o gefnogaeth i'r mesurau, a newid mewn ymddygiad yng Nghaerffili, yn enwedig o ran teithio, a chredaf fod hynny'n bwysig. Byddwn yn gweld mwy o dystiolaeth ynglŷn â gostyngiad yn nifer y cysylltiadau wrth i ni barhau i weld beth sy'n digwydd gyda'r gyfradd achosion dros yr wythnos nesaf.
O ran cymorth i fusnesau, roedd hwn, unwaith eto, yn fater a godwyd gennym ni, gan yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon, yng nghyfarfod COBRA heddiw, am yr angen hanfodol i edrych eto ar gymorth busnes. Bu croeso eang i'r cynllun ffyrlo, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi bod yn glir ei bod yn fenter gadarnhaol gan Lywodraeth y DU. Ein pryder ni yw, wrth i gyfnod gwahanol ddod ar ein gwarthaf, gyda mwy o gyfyngiadau'n debygol o gael eu gweithredu, nid yn lleiaf, drwy'r gaeaf, y gallai peidio â chael dilyniant ar gyfer cymorth busnes arwain at fusnesau'n gwneud dewisiadau ynghylch rhoi terfyn ar gyflogaeth a dileu swyddi. Mae pwynt cyffredinol yn y fan yna, yn ogystal â'r heriau os ydym yn cyflwyno cyfyngiadau lleol, neu gyfyngiadau cenedlaethol, ynghylch cymorth busnes pellach sydd ei angen, ac mae honno'n sgwrs y mae angen i ni barhau i'w chael gyda Llywodraeth y DU i ddeall yr hyn y mae'r Trysorlys yn barod i'w wneud ar lefel y DU i ddiogelu swyddi a chyflogaeth.
Ac o ran yfed a chymdeithasu yn eich cartref eich hun, neu mewn grwpiau eraill, yr her yw, fel yr ydym wedi dweud, ac fel yr ydym ni wedi cydnabod, pobl nad ydynt yn parchu cadw pellter cymdeithasol yn eu cartref eu hunain, a dyna yw'r achos mwyaf o ran lledaeniad y coronafeirws. Os ydych yn mynd allan mewn amgylchedd sy'n cael ei reoli, boed yn gampfa, yn fwyty neu'n dafarn, dylai fod cyfyngiadau ychwanegol ar waith i osgoi cyswllt â phobl eraill. Bydd pobl, yn naturiol, os ydynt yng nghartrefi ei gilydd, gydag anwyliaid, yn dod i gysylltiad â nhw, ac mae hynny'n anodd iawn. Ac os nad yw pobl yn dilyn y rheolau ynglŷn â chael aelwyd estynedig benodol, yna mae hynny'n golygu ein bod yn debygol o weld mwy o ledaenu ar yr aelwyd honno. Dyma'r hyn yr ydym ni eisoes wedi'i weld mewn nifer o'r ardaloedd lle mae cyfyngiadau lleol bellach ar waith. Felly, dyna'r broblem y mae angen inni ymdrin â hi os ydym ni eisiau troi llanw'r coronafeirws yn ei ôl yma yng Nghymru.
Minister, the UK Government is talking about a six-month period now, and I guess that's one alternative approach, rather than having lockdowns, easing the lockdowns and then reimposing them, perhaps there could be a consistent level of restriction over a longer period of time, which I think would give greater understanding and certainty to communities, and probably feed through to greater compliance. So, I'm wondering whether Welsh Government is considering that sort of approach for Wales.
As far as schools are concerned, I wonder if you could say anything about Welsh Government consideration of facilitating a system where schools, pupils and staff could get tested quicker, and then the self-isolation that needs to take place if a test was negative could be shortened. That would save lost school time, which is so vitally important.
Also, I wonder if you could say anything about pubs. I know that they were significant in the Newport incidence of cases, as they have been elsewhere. So, will Welsh Government consider possibly bringing the closing time down from 11 o'clock to maybe 10 o'clock or 9 o'clock, and would there be any restrictions on off-licences to make sure that there's a level playing field?
Gweinidog, mae Llywodraeth y DU yn sôn am gyfnod o chwe mis nawr, ac rwy'n tybio mai dyna un dull amgen, yn hytrach na chael cyfyngiadau lleol, lleddfu'r cyfyngiadau ac yna eu hailosod, efallai y gallai fod cyfyngiad mwy cyson dros gyfnod hwy, a fyddai, rwy'n credu, yn rhoi mwy o ddealltwriaeth a sicrwydd i gymunedau, ac yn arwain mae'n siŵr at fwy o gydymffurfiaeth. Felly, tybed a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried y math hwnnw o ddull ar gyfer Cymru.
O ran ysgolion, tybed a allech chi ddweud unrhyw beth ynghylch sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried hwyluso system lle gallai ysgolion, disgyblion a staff gael eu profi'n gyflymach, ac yna gellid cwtogi ar yr hunanynysu sydd ei angen pe bai prawf yn negyddol. Byddai hynny'n arbed colli amser o'r ysgol, sydd mor hanfodol bwysig.
Hefyd, tybed a wnewch chi ddweud rhywbeth am dafarndai. Gwn eu bod yn arwyddocaol yn nifer yr achosion yng Nghasnewydd, fel y buon nhw mewn mannau eraill. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru o bosib ystyried newid yr amser cau o 11 o'r gloch i 10 o'r gloch neu 9 o'r gloch efallai, ac a fyddai unrhyw gyfyngiadau ar siopau diodydd trwyddedig i wneud yn siŵr bod chwarae teg?
On the final point, I think I've addressed that before, and we are considering the potential for table service and 10 o'clock closure on licensed premises. We're also considering off-licence sales as well.
On the six-month indication that the UK Government have given for England, well, the challenge is that, I guess, in planning terms, if we could predict that it would take six months to reach a different point, that would be useful for people to plan for. The challenge is we can't be certain about the course of the pandemic. What we can be clear about is that the autumn and the winter will be particularly difficult, and until we get to the point of having either a more effective antiviral treatment or a vaccine, then we're likely to have to live with a real challenge and the level of interventions we're going to need to take to keep us all safe and well. So, we'll continue to talk through this period of time, through the autumn and the winter, but I can't give a definitive guarantee about the length of time that other measures may be needed. But we're considering whether we need all-Wales not just messages, but all-Wales action, and we'll continue to review the case and report openly as soon as we're able to do so.
On school testing, this is partly about the challenge in the capacity of lighthouse labs, and it's one of the factors that have meant that lighthouse labs aren't able to cope with the capacity that was coming in and why tests have been restricted. As we saw in Scotland, there's a significant bump in the requirements for tests—people going for a test when the school year starts. That's happened with the return to school in England and Wales; that's one of the factors that have caused the problem that means that lighthouse labs aren't currently able to cope with the same volume of testing.
The challenge then, though, is about, if and when those issues are resolved, whether we want to prioritise school groups for testing, and I'm afraid the advice we've been given by our technical advisory group doesn't support testing whole school-year groups or whole school classes that are out of the school classroom. That's partly because of the time that it takes for coronavirus to develop—'If you're close enough you're going to get it' isn't as neat and as simple as, 'Take a test, you're fine to go back.' That's why there's a 14-day isolation period. It's why we needed to test people twice who have returned from hotspots from abroad as well. So, whilst the idea may sound appealing, actually the science doesn't support that being the right sort of intervention at present, but, as ever, we'll learn more about the science and the evidence, and that may well change the course of choices that we make to help keep Wales safe.
O ran y pwynt olaf, rwy'n credu fy mod wedi mynd i'r afael â hwnnw o'r blaen, ac rydym ni yn ystyried y posibilrwydd ar gyfer gwasanaeth bwrdd a chau am 10 o'r gloch ar safleoedd trwyddedig. Rydym hefyd yn ystyried gwerthu mewn siopau diod trwyddedig hefyd.
O ran yr awgrym o chwe mis y mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi'i roi i Loegr, wel, yr her yw, rwy'n tybio, o ran cynllunio, pe gallem ni ragweld y byddai'n cymryd chwe mis i gyrraedd pwynt gwahanol, y byddai hynny'n ddefnyddiol i bobl gynllunio ar ei gyfer. Yr her yw na allwn fod yn sicr ynglŷn â chwrs y pandemig. Yr hyn y gallwn fod yn glir yn ei gylch yw y bydd yr hydref a'r gaeaf yn arbennig o anodd, a hyd nes y byddwn yn cyrraedd sefyllfa o gael triniaeth wrthfeirysol fwy effeithiol neu frechlyn, yna mae'n debygol y bydd yn rhaid i ni fyw gyda her wirioneddol a maint yr ymyriadau y bydd angen i ni eu cymryd i'n cadw ni i gyd yn ddiogel ac yn iach. Felly, byddwn yn parhau i siarad drwy'r cyfnod hwn, drwy'r hydref a'r gaeaf, ond ni allaf roi sicrwydd pendant am yr amser y gallai fod angen mesurau eraill. Ond rydym yn ystyried a oes angen nid yn unig negeseuon arnom ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, ond gweithredu ar gyfer Cymru gyfan, a byddwn yn parhau i adolygu'r achos ac adrodd yn agored cyn gynted ag y gallwn ni wneud hynny.
O ran profion ysgol, mae hyn yn ymwneud yn rhannol â'r her o ran capasiti Labordai Goleudy, ac mae'n un o'r ffactorau sydd wedi golygu nad yw Labordai Goleudy yn gallu ymdopi â niferoedd y profion a pham mae profion wedi'u cyfyngu. Fel y gwelsom ni yn yr Alban, mae'r gofynion ar gyfer profion yn sylweddol—pobl yn mynd am brawf pan fydd y flwyddyn ysgol yn dechrau. Mae hynny wedi digwydd gyda disgyblion yn dychwelyd i'r ysgol yng Nghymru a Lloegr; dyna un o'r ffactorau sydd wedi achosi'r broblem sy'n golygu nad yw Labordai Goleudy yn gallu ymdopi â'r un nifer o brofion ar hyn o bryd.
Yr her wedyn, serch hynny, yw, os a phryd y caiff y materion hynny eu datrys, a ydym ni eisiau blaenoriaethu grwpiau ysgol i'w profi, ac mae arnaf ofn nad yw'r cyngor a roddwyd i ni gan ein grŵp cynghori technegol yn cefnogi profi grwpiau blwyddyn ysgol gyfan na dosbarthiadau ysgol gyfan sydd y tu allan i ystafell ddosbarth yr ysgol. Mae hynny'n rhannol oherwydd yr amser y mae'n ei gymryd i'r coronafeirws ddatblygu—nid yw 'Os ydych chi yn ddigon agos byddwch yn ei ddal' mor daclus ac mor syml â, 'Cymerwch brawf, rydych chi'n iawn i ddychwelyd.' Dyna pam mae cyfnod ynysu o 14 diwrnod. Dyna pam yr oedd angen i ni brofi pobl sydd wedi dychwelyd o fannau lle ceir problemau dramor ddwywaith hefyd. Felly, er y gallai'r syniad swnio'n ddeniadol, mewn gwirionedd nid yw'r wyddoniaeth yn cefnogi hynny fel y math priodol o ymyriad ar hyn o bryd, ond, fel arfer, byddwn yn dysgu mwy am y wyddoniaeth a'r dystiolaeth, ac mae'n ddigon posib y bydd hynny'n newid y dewisiadau a wnawn i helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel.
Minister, thank you for your statement. It's been reported in the media that Dr Shankar of Public Health Wales has suggested that a number of local authorities are currently being monitored and could face local restrictions. Those local authorities include both Conwy and Denbighshire, both of which straddle my constituency. I've just been looking on the Public Health Wales website and it suggests that the incidence per 100,000 of positive cases in Conwy is just 16.8 and in Denbighshire 18.4. Now, that's obviously considerably below the 25 per 100,000 threshold that generally triggers action from the Welsh Government. Can you tell us on what basis those local authorities are under special monitoring arrangements and can you also explain why there appears to be two different sets of data that are available to the Welsh Government to make their judgment?
So, I understand the Welsh Local Government Association circulated some information over the past 24 hours that took a snapshot of the situation on 19 September that suggested that in Conwy, the rate was 26.4 per 100,000, which is obviously over the 25 per 100,000 threshold, and that Denbighshire's was 25.1. Yet, on the same day, Public Health Wales published figures of just 19.6 in Conwy and 16.7 in Denbighshire. Why is there such a significant discrepancy, and on what basis does the Welsh Government make the decisions in terms of further intervention and monitoring?
Gweinidog, diolch am eich datganiad. Adroddwyd yn y cyfryngau fod Dr Shankar o Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi awgrymu bod nifer o awdurdodau lleol yn cael eu monitro ar hyn o bryd ac y gallent wynebu cyfyngiadau lleol. Mae'r awdurdodau lleol hynny'n cynnwys Conwy a Sir Ddinbych, y mae'r ddau ohonynt yn pontio fy etholaeth. Rwyf newydd fod yn edrych ar wefan Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ac mae'n awgrymu mai dim ond 16.8 o achosion cadarnhaol sydd yna fesul 100,000 yng Nghonwy ac 18.4 yn Sir Ddinbych. Nawr, mae hynny'n amlwg yn sylweddol is na'r trothwy o 25 fesul 100,000 sy'n gyffredinol yn sbarduno camau gweithredu gan Lywodraeth Cymru. A wnewch chi ddweud wrthym ni ar ba sail y mae'r awdurdodau lleol hynny o dan drefniadau monitro arbennig ac a allwch chi egluro hefyd pam y mae'n ymddangos bod dwy gyfres wahanol o ddata ar gael i Lywodraeth Cymru farnu yn eu cylch?
Felly, deallaf fod Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru wedi dosbarthu rhywfaint o wybodaeth dros y 24 awr ddiwethaf a oedd yn cynnig cipolwg ar y sefyllfa ar 19 Medi a awgrymodd yng Nghonwy mai'r gyfradd oedd 26.4 fesul 100,000, sydd yn amlwg dros y trothwy o 25 fesul 100,000, a bod sir Ddinbych yn 25.1. Ac eto, ar yr un diwrnod, cyhoeddodd Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ffigurau o ddim ond 19.6 yng Nghonwy ac 16.7 yn sir Ddinbych. Pam mae anghysondeb mor sylweddol, ac ar ba sail y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gwneud y penderfyniadau o ran ymyrryd a monitro pellach?
That comes back to my response to Suzy Davies, I think, earlier on, about the challenge in having delayed results. So, you have the headline rate on the day you get the tests themselves, the next 24 hours, and you then get more tests, typically coming through the lighthouse lab process, in significant numbers, and they need to put those back in on the day that the tests were actually taken in order to understand at that time what the figures were. That's my understanding of the challenge with some of the figures, which is why there's been such focus not just on the amount of tests that are done, not the lab capacity, but the amount of tests that are delivered, and how quickly the results are provided.
In terms of the watch list, it's a watch list of what's happening with a shifting picture, so we're not just looking and waiting till people reach a point in time, we're looking at a change in the rates within local authorities as well. So, we know that Conwy and Denbighshire are seeing some increases, and so rather than saying we'll do nothing until they hit a particular margin, we're saying that that's something to keep an eye on rather than that we need to intervene in the here and now. We will then, if cases do continue to rise, consider what further action we need to take.
To be fair, there's a point here for local authorities across the political spectrum, because I can honestly say that during the course of this crisis and now, we've had very constructive conversations with leaders from every party, including independent leaders, the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Labour leadership. There's a real feeling from leaders of local authorities about the sense of national mission we have, and their responsibility in their local communities, and that's what we want to see carry on moving forward. So, we'll share data openly and transparently with local authorities and local health boards. Our TTP teams are based in local authorities. They have ready access to the intelligence on changes within the pattern of coronavirus within their communities, and we will need that unity of purpose as we all strive to keep Wales safe through a very difficult autumn and winter.
Daw hynny'n ôl at fy ymateb i Suzy Davies, mi gredaf, yn gynharach, am yr her o gael canlyniadau gohiriedig. Felly, mae gennych y brif gyfradd ar y diwrnod y cewch y profion eu hunain, y 24 awr nesaf, ac yna cewch fwy o brofion, sy'n dod drwy broses Labordai Goleudy fel arfer, mewn niferoedd sylweddol, ac mae angen iddyn nhw roi'r rheini'n ôl i mewn ar y diwrnod y cymerwyd y profion mewn gwirionedd er mwyn deall, bryd hynny, beth oedd y ffigurau. Dyna fy nealltwriaeth i o'r her gyda rhai o'r ffigurau, a dyna pam y bu cymaint o bwyslais nid yn unig ar faint o brofion a wneir, nid capasiti'r labordy, ond faint o brofion a gyflwynir, a pha mor gyflym y darperir y canlyniadau.
O ran y rhestr wylio, mae'n rhestr wylio o'r hyn sy'n digwydd gyda darlun sy'n symud, felly rydym ni nid yn unig yn edrych ac yn aros nes bod pobl yn cyrraedd adeg mewn amser penodol, rydym yn edrych ar newid yn y cyfraddau o fewn awdurdodau lleol hefyd. Felly, gwyddom fod Conwy a Sir Ddinbych yn gweld peth cynnydd, ac felly yn hytrach na dweud na wnawn ni ddim nes iddyn nhw gyrraedd rhyw nifer benodol, rydym yn dweud bod hynny'n rhywbeth i gadw llygad arno yn hytrach na bod angen i ni ymyrryd nawr. Byddwn wedyn, os bydd achosion yn parhau i gynyddu, yn ystyried pa gamau pellach y mae angen inni eu cymryd.
A bod yn deg, mae yna bwynt yma i awdurdodau lleol ar draws y sbectrwm gwleidyddol, oherwydd gallaf ddweud yn onest ein bod, yn ystod yr argyfwng hwn a nawr, wedi cael sgyrsiau adeiladol iawn gydag arweinwyr o bob plaid, gan gynnwys arweinwyr annibynnol, y Ceidwadwyr, Plaid Cymru ac arweinyddiaeth Llafur Cymru. Mae teimlad gwirioneddol ymysg arweinwyr awdurdodau lleol am yr ymdeimlad o genhadaeth genedlaethol sydd gennym ni, a'u cyfrifoldeb yn eu cymunedau lleol, a dyna'r hyn yr ydym ni eisiau ei weld yn parhau yn y dyfodol. Felly, byddwn yn rhannu data'n agored ac yn dryloyw gydag awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd lleol. Mae ein timau profi, olrhain, diogelu wedi'u lleoli mewn awdurdodau lleol. Mae ganddyn nhw fynediad parod at yr wybodaeth am newidiadau o fewn patrwm y coronafeirws yn eu cymunedau, a bydd angen yr undod hwnnw o fwriad arnom ni wrth inni i gyd ymdrechu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel drwy hydref a gaeaf anodd iawn.
Thank you. And finally, Dawn Bowden.
Diolch. Ac yn olaf, Dawn Bowden.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. [Inaudible.]
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. [Anhyglyw.]
No, I think there's something wrong. We can't hear you.
Na, rwy'n credu bod rhywbeth o'i le. Nid ydym yn eich clywed chi.
Okay. Got me?
Iawn. Ydych chi'n fy nghylwed i?
That's better, thank you.
Dyna welliant, diolch.
Okay, sorry about that. Three quick points from me. We've got additional restrictions now on visiting people's homes, but for some people their homes, of course, are also their workplaces. So, I'm thinking of people like music instructors and so on—people come to their homes for tutoring. And other people's homes are also some people's workplaces—I'm thinking of people like mobile hairdressers. So, it would be helpful to get some clarity that these businesses can continue to operate providing protective measures are put in place.
I've also had some concerns raised with me about incidents of lack of co-operation with TTP contact tracers, and reports of some people who have tested positive not being prepared to disclose their contacts. Now, given the potential seriousness of this in undermining attempts to stop the spread of the virus, do we need to consider enforcement of the requirements to disclose contacts?
And my final point, Deputy Presiding Officer, is that I'm very conscious of the pressures on local authorities, who are working at capacity now in dealing with these new restrictions. So, can we see some flexibility on bodies like Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales in terms of when scheduled inspections need to take place, and get agreement to delay where necessary for a few weeks to ensure that everyone in those sectors can concentrate on dealing with the issues related to the new restrictions, rather than preparing for inspections which, however important, are really not imperative at this point in time?
Iawn, mae'n ddrwg gennyf am hynny. Tri phwynt cyflym gennyf fi. Mae gennym ni gyfyngiadau ychwanegol nawr o ran ymweld â chartrefi pobl, ond i rai pobl eu cartrefi, wrth gwrs, yw eu gweithleoedd hefyd. Felly, rwy'n meddwl am bobl fel hyfforddwyr cerddoriaeth ac ati—mae pobl yn dod i'w cartrefi i gael eu hyfforddi. Ac mae cartrefi pobl eraill hefyd yn weithleoedd rhai pobl—rwy'n meddwl am bobl fel trinwyr gwallt symudol. Felly, byddai'n ddefnyddiol cael rhywfaint o eglurder ynghylch gallu'r busnesau hyn i barhau i weithredu ar yr amod y rhoddir mesurau diogelu ar waith.
Dygwyd rhai pryderon i fy sylw hefyd ynghylch achosion o ddiffyg cydweithredu ag olrheinwyr cyswllt y rhaglen profi, olrhain, diogelu, ac adroddiadau am rai pobl sydd wedi profi'n gadarnhaol nad ydyn nhw yn barod i ddatgelu eu cysylltiadau. Nawr, o ystyried difrifoldeb posibl hyn o ran tanseilio ymdrechion i atal lledaeniad y feirws, a oes angen inni ystyried gorfodi'r gofynion i ddatgelu cysylltiadau?
A'm sylw olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, yw fy mod yn ymwybodol iawn o'r pwysau ar awdurdodau lleol, sy'n gweithio i'r eithaf nawr i ymdrin â'r cyfyngiadau newydd hyn. Felly, a allwn ni weld rhywfaint o hyblygrwydd ar gyrff fel Estyn ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru o ran pryd y mae angen cynnal arolygiadau a drefnwyd, a chael cytundeb i oedi lle bo angen am ychydig wythnosau er mwyn sicrhau y gall pawb yn y sectorau hynny ganolbwyntio ar ymdrin â'r materion sy'n gysylltiedig â'r cyfyngiadau newydd, yn hytrach na pharatoi ar gyfer arolygiadau nad ydyn nhw, waeth pa mor bwysig, yn hanfodol ar hyn o bryd?
Thank you for the comments and questions. I think the education Minister has indicated that some of the point of the Estyn inspections was actually about addressing local authority plans to safeguard the interests of learners during this particular time in the pandemic. But I of course take on board the point that the Member makes about whether the balance is the right one, as we're moving into a different phase, so I'll happily discuss that with both the Deputy Minister, who's going to be up next, about CIW, but also with the education Minister about the pattern for inspections taking place, and the point and the purpose of those, because not having an inspection regime is something that is not consequence free. It's part of what we do to help keep people safe in all those institutions, but I think the Member raises a fair point about the current balance.
On home visits where that is someone's workplace, either their own home or if they're visiting someone else's home for work, at present that is permitted, even within the local restrictions, but reasonable measures must be taken, and so will differ for people depending on the task they're undertaking. The measures may be different, for example, for a music teacher, where social distancing should be possible, typically, compared to someone who is a mobile hairdresser. And we do recognise that, if we need to move to a phase where that can no longer take place, that would have a significant economic consequence for those people and they may not have easy recourse to alternative sources of income themselves. So, we recognise there's a real impact in every choice that we make.
When it comes to the lack of co-operation with the contact tracing service, I think whilst it's disappointing, obviously, that people aren't co-operating, I understand people's frustration. We have to consider the challenge of both, I think, the carrot, and I think the welcome ability to provide people with financial support, if the UK Treasury are clear and rapid in confirming that there are funds available to not just Wales, but Scotland and Northern Ireland too, to introduce a support scheme. That should help with co-operation, but also just the message that the primary point of this is to keep people safe.
We're not looking to catch people out so we can fine them, we're looking to understand information to keep them, their family and their community safe. And you will know, from clusters taking place within your own constituency, that the mixing, where that hasn't been properly disclosed, has gone into that wider family group, with partners, parents and others then being at risk of having coronavirus, and the risk profile changes as the age profile changes as well. So, our preference is to get the right sort of co-operation with people right across Wales, but, if not, we are considering options about whether enforcement and changing the rules around that is something that we could and should do. But all of this must come back to the primary purpose: what do we all need to do to help keep Wales safe?
Diolch am y sylwadau a'r cwestiynau. Credaf fod y Gweinidog addysg wedi dweud bod diben arolygiadau Estyn yn rhannol mewn gwirionedd yn ymwneud â mynd i'r afael â chynlluniau awdurdodau lleol i ddiogelu buddiannau dysgwyr yn ystod y cyfnod penodol hwn yn y pandemig. Ond rwyf wrth gwrs yn derbyn y sylw y mae'r Aelod yn ei wneud ynghylch a yw'r cydbwysedd yn un cywir, gan ein bod yn symud i gyfnod gwahanol, felly byddaf yn hapus i drafod hynny gyda'r Dirprwy Weinidog, a fydd yn siarad nesaf, am Arolygiaeth Gofal Cymru, ond hefyd gyda'r Gweinidog addysg am y patrwm ar gyfer arolygiadau sy'n digwydd, a nod a diben y rheini, oherwydd mae peidio â chael trefn arolygu yn sicr o esgor ar ganlyniadau. Mae'n rhan o'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i helpu i gadw pobl yn ddiogel ym mhob un o'r sefydliadau hynny, ond rwy'n credu bod yr Aelod yn gwneud sylw teg am y cydbwysedd presennol.
O ran ymweliadau cartref lle mae hynny'n weithle rhywun, naill ai ei gartref ei hun neu os yw'n ymweld â chartref rhywun arall ar gyfer gwaith, ar hyn o bryd caniateir hynny, hyd yn oed o fewn y cyfyngiadau lleol, ond rhaid cymryd camau rhesymol, ac felly bydd yn wahanol i bobl yn dibynnu ar y dasg y maen nhw'n ymgymryd â hi. Gall y mesurau fod yn wahanol, er enghraifft, i athro cerdd, lle dylai ymbellhau cymdeithasol fod yn bosib, fel arfer, o gymharu â rhywun sy'n trin gwallt o dŷ i dŷ. Ac rydym ni yn cydnabod, os bydd angen inni symud i gyfnod lle na all hynny ddigwydd mwyach, y byddai hynny'n arwain at ganlyniad economaidd sylweddol i'r bobl hynny ac efallai na fyddant yn gallu troi'n hawdd at ffynonellau incwm amgen eu hunain. Felly, rydym yn cydnabod bod effaith wirioneddol i bob dewis a wnawn.
O ran y diffyg cydweithredu â'r gwasanaeth olrhain cyswllt, er ei bod hi'n siomedig, yn amlwg, nad yw pobl yn cydweithredu, rwy'n deall rhwystredigaeth pobl. Rhaid inni ystyried her y ddau, mi gredaf, y cymhelliant, a chredaf y gallu, sydd i'w groesawu, i roi cymorth ariannol i bobl, os yw Trysorlys y DU yn glir ac yn gyflym wrth gadarnhau bod arian ar gael nid yn unig i Gymru, ond i'r Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon hefyd, i gyflwyno cynllun cymorth. Dylai hynny helpu gyda chydweithrediad, ond hefyd y neges mai prif ddiben hyn yw cadw pobl yn ddiogel.
Nid ydym yn ceisio dal pobl fel y gallwn ni eu dirwyo, rydym yn ceisio deall gwybodaeth i'w cadw nhw, eu teulu a'u cymuned yn ddiogel. A byddwch yn gwybod, o glystyrau sy'n digwydd yn eich etholaeth eich hun, fod y cymysgu, lle nad yw hynny wedi'i ddatgelu'n briodol, wedi ymdreiddio i'r grŵp teulu ehangach hwnnw, gyda phartneriaid, rhieni ac eraill wedyn mewn perygl o gael y coronafeirws, ac mae'r proffil risg yn newid wrth i'r proffil oedran newid hefyd. Felly, ein dewis ni yw cael y math priodol o gydweithredu â phobl ledled Cymru, ond, os na chawn ni hynny, rydym yn ystyried dewisiadau ynghylch a yw gorfodi a newid y rheolau ynghylch hynny yn rhywbeth y gallem ac y dylem ni ei wneud. Ond rhaid i hyn i gyd fod yn gysylltiedig â'r prif ddiben: beth sydd angen i bob un ohonom ni ei wneud i helpu i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel?
Thank you very much, Minister.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Gweinidog.
Item 5 on the agenda this afternoon is a statement by the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services: the childcare offer and support for the childcare sector. I call on the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan.
Datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yw eitem 5 ar yr agenda y prynhawn yma: y cynnig gofal plant a'r gefnogaeth i'r sector gofal plant. Galwaf ar Julie Morgan, y Dirprwy Weinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to update the Senedd on the position of the Welsh childcare and play sector and our childcare offer for Wales. I want to start this statement by saying a big 'thank you' and to acknowledge the exceptional way in which childcare and play providers across Wales have responded to the events of recent months. I'm sure Members would agree they deserve our heartfelt thanks for the invaluable contribution they have made and that they continue to make.
The period since March has been challenging for the sector. Even in the national lockdown earlier this year, we did not require the closure of childcare settings. It was, however, necessary to limit the number of children on site. Those settings that remained open fulfilled an essential role, enabling our key workers to undertake their critical roles. I was struck by the resolve and flexibility of so many of our providers, pulling out all the stops to ensure that they remained open. However, remaining open was not an option for all settings, and, at our lowest point, about 1,940 providers closed their doors. This represents over half of all registered childcare provision in Wales. However, today, things are looking more promising, with only around 428 settings remaining closed. And what we must remember is that, even without a pandemic, we would normally see some settings close for a range of reasons.
Fortunately, we were able to release the restrictions around childcare from 22 June. As of this week, around 1,527 of those settings that closed have reopened, which means that 88 per cent of registered providers overall are now open across Wales. However, in August we conducted a short survey of settings that were open, and that showed that most settings were expecting a 30 per cent reduction in attendance. For small settings in particular, that represents a significant reduction in demand. Our main focus now needs to be on supporting and building a sustainable sector for the future. Our approach over the coming months will be varied, including support for settings, support for the workforce and support for parents, providing them with the reassurance they need to return to childcare and the many advantages it brings to their children.
In April I made the difficult decision to suspend the childcare offer to new applications. At that point it was the right thing to do and allowed us to redirect some of the funding for the offer to help support the fight against the virus in a more direct and meaningful way. And through our coronavirus childcare assistance scheme, we supported over 9,600 children of critical workers, allowing their parents to continue their essential work, and cared for over 900 vulnerable children. Whilst the coronavirus childcare assistance scheme was a necessary and vital intervention that helped deal with the immediate crisis, it was always a priority for the Government to reinstate the childcare offer as soon as practicably possible. I'm extremely pleased that, since August, we have been able to reopen the offer.
We worked very closely with local authorities to ensure applications from parents were managed in a phased way. This has meant that parents who missed out on the offer in the summer term had their applications assessed first, with local authorities moving on quickly to deal with applications from new parents. And I want to thank local authorities for the way that they worked tirelessly to support the coronavirus childcare assistance scheme, and for working with us to bring back the offer. We couldn't have done any of this without them.
Reinstating the offer is a key part of our recovery plan. Not only does the offer provide much-needed security of funding for providers, but it helps thousands of parents, especially mothers, who seem to have been particularly negatively impacted by recent months. There were around 14,600 children accessing the offer in January and it's anticipated that around 8,000 to 9,000 children will take up the offer in the autumn term, which is approximately 75 per cent to 85 per cent of the usual take-up for autumn. Our Flying Start services have also restarted across Wales, and I am committed to completing the review of extending the offer to parents in education and training.
Alongside this, we have introduced the childcare provider grant. Although most childcare providers would have been able to access some form of Government support during the pandemic, we set up the provider grant, which allows settings to claim up to £5,000 towards their costs, to help any who were not able to access the wider business support schemes. The initial weeks of the provider grant have now started and take-up has been slower than we'd hoped, but there is still some time to go and we are working with local authorities, Cwlwm and Play Wales to further promote the grant and offer assistance in completing the application, where needed. All registered full-day care providers are also eligible for a 100 per cent business rates relief exemption until March 2022.
The workforce plan that was published in December 2017 sets out our vision to develop a highly skilled childcare, play and early years workforce here in Wales, making it a profession and a career of choice. This is more important than ever, given recent events, and we will continue to work to see its aims implemented and strengthened, with training and upskilling programmes restarting. The childcare sector in Wales is a rich tapestry of different types of organisations, all with distinct operating models and particular challenges. We must support the whole sector if we are to ensure that there is choice for families and appropriate support for all of our children, and, to that end, I'm also aiming to complete our ministerial review of play to support our thinking as we go forwards.
Deputy Presiding Officer, this Government is committed to tackling in-work poverty, to helping parents into work by removing childcare as a barrier to work, and to ensuring that childcare and play work becomes a profession that is valued here in Wales for the enormous contribution it makes towards nurturing and developing the future citizens of Wales. Thank you for the opportunity to update Members.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, am y cyfle i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd am sefyllfa sector gofal plant a chwarae Cymru a'n cynnig gofal plant i Gymru. Hoffwn ddechrau'r datganiad hwn drwy ddweud 'diolch' mawr a chydnabod y ffordd eithriadol y mae darparwyr gofal plant a chwarae ledled Cymru wedi ymateb i ddigwyddiadau'r misoedd diwethaf. Rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Aelodau'n cytuno eu bod yn haeddu ein diolch diffuant am y cyfraniad amhrisiadwy y maen nhw wedi'i wneud ac yn parhau i'w wneud.
Mae'r cyfnod ers mis Mawrth wedi bod yn heriol i'r sector. Hyd yn oed adeg y cyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol yn gynharach eleni, nid oedd angen cau lleoliadau gofal plant. Fodd bynnag, roedd angen cyfyngu ar nifer y plant ar y safle. Roedd y lleoliadau hynny a oedd yn parhau'n agored yn cyflawni swyddogaeth hanfodol, gan alluogi ein gweithwyr allweddol i ymgymryd â'u swyddogaethau hanfodol. Fe'm trawyd gan benderfyniad a hyblygrwydd cynifer o'n darparwyr, gan wneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i sicrhau eu bod yn aros ar agor. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd aros ar agor yn ddewis i bob lleoliad, a, phan oedd pethau ar eu gwaethaf, caeodd tua 1,940 o ddarparwyr eu drysau. Mae hyn yn cynrychioli dros hanner yr holl ddarpariaeth gofal plant gofrestredig yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, heddiw, mae pethau'n edrych yn fwy addawol, gyda dim ond tua 428 o leoliadau ar gau. A'r hyn y mae'n rhaid i ni ei gofio yw, hyd yn oed heb bandemig, y byddem fel arfer yn gweld rhai lleoliadau'n cau am amrywiaeth o resymau.
Yn ffodus, roeddem yn gallu rhyddhau'r cyfyngiadau ar ofal plant o 22 Mehefin ymlaen. Fel y mae hi'r wythnos hon, mae tua 1,527 o'r lleoliadau hynny a gaeodd wedi ailagor, sy'n golygu bod 88 y cant o ddarparwyr cofrestredig ar y cyfan bellach ar agor ledled Cymru. Fodd bynnag, ym mis Awst fe wnaethom ni gynnal arolwg byr o leoliadau a oedd ar agor, ac roedd hynny'n dangos bod y rhan fwyaf o leoliadau'n disgwyl gostyngiad o 30 y cant mewn presenoldeb. Ar gyfer lleoliadau bach yn benodol, mae hynny'n ostyngiad sylweddol yn y galw. Mae angen i ni ganolbwyntio bellach ar gefnogi ac adeiladu sector cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol. Byddwn yn mynd ati dros y misoedd nesaf mewn ffyrdd amrywiol, gan gynnwys rhoi cymorth i leoliadau, cymorth i'r gweithlu a chymorth i rieni, gan roi'r sicrwydd sydd ei angen arnynt i ailddechrau defnyddio lleoliadau gofal plant a'r manteision niferus y mae hynny'n ei gynnig i'w plant.
Ym mis Ebrill, gwnes y penderfyniad anodd i atal y cynnig gofal plant i geisiadau newydd. Bryd hynny, dyna oedd y peth iawn i'w wneud a chaniataodd inni ailgyfeirio rhywfaint o'r cyllid ar gyfer y cynnig i helpu i gefnogi'r frwydr yn erbyn y feirws mewn ffordd fwy uniongyrchol ac ystyrlon. A thrwy ein cynllun cymorth gofal plant coronafeirws, fe wnaethom ni gefnogi dros 9,600 o blant gweithwyr allweddol, gan ganiatáu i'w rhieni barhau â'u gwaith hanfodol, a gofalu am dros 900 o blant sy'n agored i niwed. Er bod y cynllun cymorth gofal plant coronafeirws yn ymyriad angenrheidiol a hanfodol a helpodd i ymateb i'r argyfwng uniongyrchol, roedd bob amser yn flaenoriaeth i'r Llywodraeth adfer y cynnig gofal plant cyn gynted ag y bo'n ymarferol bosibl. Rwy'n hynod falch ein bod ni, ers mis Awst, wedi gallu ailagor y cynnig.
Buom yn gweithio'n agos iawn ag awdurdodau lleol i sicrhau bod ceisiadau gan rieni'n cael eu rheoli'n raddol. Mae hyn wedi golygu bod ceisiadau rhieni a gollodd y cynnig yn nhymor yr haf wedi cael eu hasesu'n gyntaf, gydag awdurdodau lleol yn symud ymlaen yn gyflym i ymdrin â cheisiadau gan rieni newydd. Ac fe hoffwn i ddiolch i awdurdodau lleol am y ffordd y buont yn gweithio'n ddiflino i gefnogi'r cynllun cymorth gofal plant coronafeirws, ac am weithio gyda ni i ddod â'r cynnig yn ei ôl. Ni allem fod wedi gwneud dim o hyn hebddynt.
Mae adfer y cynnig yn rhan allweddol o'n cynllun adfer. Nid yn unig y mae'r cynnig yn darparu sicrwydd cyllid y mae mawr ei angen i ddarparwyr, ond mae'n helpu miloedd o rieni, yn enwedig mamau, yr ymddengys bod y misoedd diwethaf wedi cael effaith arbennig o negyddol arnyn nhw. Elwodd oddeutu 14,600 o blant ar y cynnig ym mis Ionawr a rhagwelir y bydd tua 8,000 i 9,000 o blant yn manteisio ar y cynnig yn nhymor yr hydref, sydd tua 75 y cant i 85 y cant o'r nifer arferol sy'n manteisio arno yn ystod yr hydref. Mae ein gwasanaethau Dechrau'n Deg hefyd wedi ailgychwyn ledled Cymru, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gwblhau'r adolygiad o ymestyn y cynnig i rieni mewn addysg a hyfforddiant.
Ochr yn ochr â hyn, rydym ni wedi cyflwyno'r grant darparwyr gofal plant. Er y byddai'r rhan fwyaf o ddarparwyr gofal plant wedi gallu cael rhyw fath o gymorth gan y Llywodraeth yn ystod y pandemig, sefydlwyd y grant darparwyr gennym ni, sy'n caniatáu i leoliadau hawlio hyd at £5,000 tuag at eu costau, i helpu unrhyw rai nad oeddent yn gallu manteisio ar y cynlluniau cymorth busnes ehangach. Mae wythnosau cychwynnol y grant darparwyr bellach wedi dechrau ac mae'r nifer sy'n manteisio arno wedi bod yn llai nag yr oeddem wedi gobeithio, ond mae cryn amser i fynd o hyd ac rydym yn gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol, Cwlwm a Chwarae Cymru i hyrwyddo'r grant ymhellach a chynnig cymorth i gwblhau'r cais, lle bo angen. Mae pob darparwr gofal dydd llawn cofrestredig hefyd yn gymwys i gael rhyddhad ardrethi busnes o 100 y cant tan fis Mawrth 2022.
Mae cynllun y gweithlu a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Rhagfyr 2017 yn amlinellu ein gweledigaeth i ddatblygu gweithlu gofal plant, chwarae a blynyddoedd cynnar medrus iawn yma yng Nghymru, gan ei wneud yn broffesiwn ac yn ddewis gyrfa. Mae hyn yn bwysicach nag erioed, o ystyried digwyddiadau diweddar, a byddwn yn parhau i weithio i weld ei nodau'n cael eu gweithredu a'u cryfhau, gyda rhaglenni hyfforddi ac uwchsgilio yn ailgychwyn. Mae'r sector gofal plant yng Nghymru yn glytwaith toreithiog o wahanol fathau o sefydliadau, pob un â modelau gweithredu penodol a heriau penodol. Rhaid inni gefnogi'r holl sector os ydym ni eisiau sicrhau bod dewis i deuluoedd a chymorth priodol i'n holl blant, ac, i'r perwyl hwnnw, rwyf hefyd yn bwriadu cwblhau ein hadolygiad gweinidogol o chwarae i gefnogi ein syniadau wrth i ni symud ymlaen.
Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â thlodi mewn gwaith, i helpu rhieni i gael gwaith drwy gael gwared ar ofal plant fel rhwystr i waith, ac i sicrhau bod gwaith gofal plant a chwarae yn dod yn broffesiwn a werthfawrogir yma yng Nghymru am y cyfraniad enfawr y mae'n ei wneud tuag at feithrin a datblygu dinasyddion Cymru fydd. Diolch am y cyfle i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau.
Thank you for the statement, Minister. There has been understandable concern from parents, so I welcome this today. I too would like to offer thanks from the official opposition to all our nursery and child carers, who not only do a fantastic job not only just caring for our children, but helping to nurture them and helping them grow as individuals. I welcome the fact that the system is now being reinstated, having been suspended during lockdown, for working parents of three and four-year-olds, because it's a vital lifeline for families, enabling the parents to actually earn a living.
But many nurseries have been operating at a loss due to the fall in the uptake that you've just referred to, presumably due to the ongoing uncertainty and some workers still being on furlough. What support can the Welsh Government offer to nurseries that are facing serious financial hardship due to their enforced closure, fewer children attending and increased costs to deal with COVID regulations? And what consideration has been given to setting up a transformation fund to be able to support the sector until occupancy levels pick up further than you've said, and to really review the hourly rate to reflect the additional costs that they've had to incur, as called for by the National Day Nurseries Association?
The organisation Cwlwm, which you referred to, has said that most childcare providers did not qualify for the Welsh Government support, and the sector was being ignored during the pandemic. Cwlwm, an umbrella body that represents 4,000 childcare providers, estimates 90 per cent of nurseries, day care centres, clubs and childminding services have closed in the last month, but still had to pay bills and rent. A Welsh Government scheme offering grants up to £10,000 to businesses is still not available to most nurseries, they say, because they need to be registered for value added tax, and most childcare businesses are exempt. Cwlwm chairwoman, Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, said clarity was needed so providers could pay their staff, and the VAT exemption needed to be lifted or childcare businesses would not survive the pandemic. I'd love to hear what you could say on that, Minister, please.
I hear what you're saying about not requiring childcare providers to close during the pandemic, but the reality is that many did close because numbers simply weren't viable. And in terms of our economic recovery, we need childcare settings to survive and to flourish. Indeed, following the introduction of the childcare offer, Welsh Government has been working to increase the number of childcare places by working with local authorities to create additional capacity. What assessment has the Minister made of whether these plans need revising because of the pandemic, please? Thank you.
Diolch am y datganiad, Gweinidog. Bu pryder dealladwy gan rieni, felly croesawaf hyn heddiw. Hoffwn innau ddiolch ar ran yr wrthblaid swyddogol i'n holl ofalwyr meithrin a phlant, sy'n gwneud gwaith gwych nid yn unig yn gofalu am ein plant, ond yn helpu i'w meithrin a'u helpu i dyfu fel unigolion. Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod y system bellach yn cael ei hadfer, ar ôl cael ei hatal yn ystod y cyfyngiadau symud, ar gyfer rhieni sy'n gweithio ac y mae ganddynt blant tair a phedair oed, oherwydd mae'n achubiaeth hanfodol i deuluoedd, gan alluogi'r rhieni i ennill bywoliaeth mewn gwirionedd.
Ond mae llawer o feithrinfeydd wedi bod yn gweithredu ar golled oherwydd y gostyngiad yn y nifer sy'n mynychu yr ydych chi newydd gyfeirio ato, yn ôl pob tebyg oherwydd yr ansicrwydd parhaus a rhai gweithwyr yn dal i fod ar ffyrlo. Pa gymorth y gall Llywodraeth Cymru ei gynnig i feithrinfeydd sy'n wynebu caledi ariannol difrifol oherwydd eu bod wedi'u gorfodi i gau, llai o blant yn mynychu a chostau uwch i ymdrin â rheoliadau COVID? A pha ystyriaeth sydd wedi'i rhoi i sefydlu cronfa drawsnewid i allu cefnogi'r sector nes bod niferoedd yn codi ymhellach nag yr ydych chi wedi dweud, ac i adolygu'r gyfradd fesul awr mewn gwirionedd i adlewyrchu'r costau ychwanegol y bu'n rhaid iddyn nhw eu hysgwyddo, fel y galwyd amdano gan Gymdeithas Genedlaethol Meithrinfeydd Dydd?
Mae'r sefydliad Cwlwm, yr ydych chi wedi cyfeirio ato, wedi dweud nad oedd y rhan fwyaf o ddarparwyr gofal plant yn gymwys i gael cymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru, ac yr anwybyddwyd y sector yn ystod y pandemig. Mae Cwlwm, corff ymbarél sy'n cynrychioli 4,000 o ddarparwyr gofal plant, yn amcangyfrif bod 90 y cant o feithrinfeydd, canolfannau gofal dydd, clybiau a gwasanaethau gwarchod plant wedi cau yn ystod y mis diwethaf, ond yn dal i orfod talu biliau a rhent. Nid yw cynllun gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n cynnig grantiau hyd at £10,000 i fusnesau ar gael o hyd i'r rhan fwyaf o feithrinfeydd, dywedant, oherwydd bod angen iddyn nhw gofrestru ar gyfer treth ar werth, ac mae'r rhan fwyaf o fusnesau gofal plant wedi'u heithrio. Dywedodd cadeirydd Cwlwm, Dr Gwenllian Lansdown Davies, fod angen eglurder fel y gallai darparwyr dalu eu staff, ac roedd angen codi'r eithriad TAW neu ni fyddai busnesau gofal plant yn goroesi'r pandemig. Byddwn wrth fy modd yn clywed yr hyn y gallech ei ddweud am hynny, Gweinidog, os gwelwch yn dda.
Rwy'n deall yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud am beidio â mynnu bod darparwyr gofal plant yn cau yn ystod y pandemig, ond y gwir amdani yw bod llawer wedi cau am nad oedd y niferoedd yn hyfyw. Ac o ran ein hadferiad economaidd, mae angen i ni weld lleoliadau gofal plant yn goroesi a ffynnu. Yn wir, ar ôl cyflwyno'r cynnig gofal plant, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn gweithio i gynyddu nifer y lleoedd gofal plant drwy weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i greu capasiti ychwanegol. Pa asesiad y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud ynghylch pa un a oes angen diwygio'r cynlluniau hyn oherwydd y pandemig, os gwelwch yn dda? Diolch.
Thank you very much for those very pertinent questions. Certainly, I have no—. I'm not trying to say, in any way, that the sector didn't suffer during this period, and I think, by the figures that I gave in my statement, I made clear the numbers that had closed. But also it is very encouraging, the numbers that have actually reopened. And although they have smaller numbers actually going at the moment, we're doing all we can to encourage parents to have the confidence to send their children back, because there is a degree of nervousness, and also to stress how it will enable the parents to continue to go back to work, if they're not able to work. And also, I think, as you mentioned, many parents may still be on furlough, so that means that they don't want their children to go back. So, I think there are many reasons why they're not actually there at the moment.
Certainly, there are many grants that are available that the childcare sector didn't fit into easily. They certainly were able to take advantage of the furlough scheme, and many of them did—the UK Government scheme—and they have had access to some other schemes. But we were aware that there was this gap, and that's why we have put forward the provider grant. Now, that is very new—it's only been there a couple of weeks—but that is particularly aimed at the different settings that have fallen in the loops that have existed.
So, I am confident that the childcare scheme will revive; it is reviving already. I think we all know how absolutely essential it is. It's essential for working parents, it's essential for the economy, and it's essential for the children. And I know you referred to Cwlwm today, and I was very pleased that there was a message here today to say that the position of today is that 99 per cent of cylchoedd meithrin are actually open, and we have been very worried in particular about the Welsh language provision, because the Welsh language provision has disproportionately suffered. So, I think that there is definitely hope there, and we are offering as much help as we can.
Diolch yn fawr am y cwestiynau perthnasol iawn yna. Yn sicr, nid oes gennyf—. Nid wyf yn ceisio dweud, mewn unrhyw ffordd, nad oedd y sector wedi dioddef yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, a chredaf, yn ôl y ffigurau a roddais yn fy natganiad, fy mod wedi egluro'r niferoedd a oedd wedi cau. Ond hefyd mae'n galonogol iawn, y niferoedd sydd wedi ailagor mewn gwirionedd. Ac er bod ganddyn nhw niferoedd llai yn mynychu ar hyn o bryd, rydym yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i annog rhieni i gael yr hyder i anfon eu plant yn ôl, oherwydd mae rhywfaint o nerfusrwydd, a hefyd i bwysleisio sut y bydd yn galluogi'r rhieni i barhau i fynd yn ôl i'r gwaith, os nad ydyn nhw yn gallu gweithio. A hefyd, rwy'n credu, fel y sonioch chi, efallai y bydd llawer o rieni'n dal i fod ar ffyrlo, felly mae hynny'n golygu nad ydyn nhw eisiau i'w plant ddychwelyd. Felly, rwy'n credu bod llawer o resymau pam nad ydyn nhw'n mynychu ar hyn o bryd.
Yn sicr, mae llawer o grantiau ar gael nad oedd y sector gofal plant yn cyd-daro â nhw'n hawdd iawn. Roeddent yn sicr yn gallu manteisio ar y cynllun ffyrlo, ac fe wnaeth llawer ohonyn nhw—cynllun Llywodraeth y DU—ac maen nhw wedi gallu manteisio ar rai cynlluniau eraill. Ond roeddem yn ymwybodol bod yna fwlch, a dyna pam yr ydym ni wedi cyflwyno'r grant i ddarparwyr. Nawr, mae hynny'n newydd iawn—dim ond ers rhai wythnosau y mae mewn bodolaeth—ond mae hynny wedi'i fwriadu'n arbennig ar gyfer y gwahanol leoliadau sydd wedi syrthio rhwng dwy stôl, fel petai.
Felly, rwyf yn ffyddiog y bydd y cynllun gofal plant yn adfywio; mae'n adfywio'n barod. Credaf ein bod i gyd yn gwybod pa mor gwbl hanfodol ydyw. Mae'n hanfodol i rieni sy'n gweithio, mae'n hanfodol i'r economi, ac mae'n hanfodol i'r plant. A gwn ichi gyfeirio at Cwlwm heddiw, ac roeddwn yn falch iawn bod neges yma heddiw i ddweud mai'r sefyllfa heddiw yw bod 99 y cant o gylchoedd meithrin ar agor mewn gwirionedd, ac rydym ni wedi bod yn poeni'n fawr yn benodol am y ddarpariaeth Gymraeg, gan fod y ddarpariaeth Gymraeg wedi dioddef yn anghymesur. Felly, credaf fod gobaith pendant, ac rydym ni'n cynnig cymaint o gymorth ag y gallwn ni.
Hoffwn innau hefyd ddiolch i bawb sy'n gweithio yn y sector pwysig yma am eu cyfraniad dros y misoedd diwethaf yn gofalu am blant, gan gynnwys, wrth gwrs, plant o deuluoedd rhai o'n gweithwyr allweddol, er mwyn iddyn nhw fedru parhau i gynnal gwasanaethau rheng flaen.
Yn anffodus, bu'n rhaid i hanner y darparwyr gau eu drysau, ond, erbyn heddiw, mae llawer wedi ailagor, fel y sonioch chi. Ond mae 12 y cant o leoliadau yn parhau ar gau. Mi fuaswn i'n licio ymchwilio'r ffaith yma rhyw ychydig, a gofyn i chi ydych chi'n credu y bydd y lleoliadau yma yn ailagor, yntau a ydy rhai o'r rhain wedi cau eu drysau am byth. Rydych chi'n mynd ymlaen i ddweud yn eich datganiad chi fod y rhan fwyaf o leoliadau yn disgwyl gostyngiad o 30 y cant yn y nifer o blant fydd yn mynychu i'r dyfodol agos. Mae hyn yn ostyngiad sylweddol ac yn mynd i wneud rhai lleoliadau yn anghynaladwy yn ariannol, ac yn anffodus, wrth i'r cyfyngiadau ddwysáu eto, does dim arwydd bod y sefyllfa am wella. Yn ogystal â'r effaith andwyol ar y busnesau eu hunain, a ydych chi'n credu bod goblygiadau eraill i'r gostyngiad yma? Dwi'n meddwl yn benodol am yr effaith ar blant, ar ddatblygiad cymdeithasol plant ac yn enwedig datblygiad plant o gefndiroedd difreintiedig. Rydym ni’n gwybod—ac mae yna ddigon o dystiolaeth i ddangos—pa mor bwysig ydy gofal ac addysg blynyddoedd cynnar i ddatblygiad plentyn yn emosiynol, yn gymdeithasol ac yn addysgiadol. Felly pa mor bryderus ydych chi am y gostyngiad yma yn y tymor byr a’r tymor hir, a hynny o safbwynt y plentyn?
Mae gostyngiad hefyd, fel roeddech chi’n sôn, yn y rhai sydd wedi gwneud cais am y cynnig gofal plant. Mae dipyn llai na’r arfer ar gyfer yr adeg yma o’r flwyddyn, ac un canlyniad o hynny, wrth gwrs, ydy fod yna fwy o arian yn y gyllideb benodol honno. Felly, gaf i ofyn i chi a ydych chi wedi ystyried ymestyn y cynnig i blant o deuluoedd lle nad ydy’r rhieni neu riant yn gweithio, fel eu bod nhw’n gallu elwa o ofal plant ac addysg blynyddoedd cynnar, sef rhywbeth mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn galw amdano fo o’r cychwyn cyntaf, fel y gwyddoch chi? Rydw i’n eich clywed chi’n sôn am adolygiad. Pryd fydd hwnnw’n cael ei gwblhau ac onid ydy’n briodol i symud peth o’r arian yn y gyllideb tuag at deuluoedd lle nad ydy rhieni’n gweithio er mwyn i’r plant yna gael elwa?
Ac yn olaf, sôn am y grantiau sydd ar gael. Rydych chi wedi cyhoeddi’r gronfa grantiau bach ar gyfer y sector yn ddiweddar. Mae fel roeddech chi’n ddweud, sef cronfa gwerth £4 miliwn, ond dwi'n deall ar hyn o bryd fod nifer y ceisiadau i’r gronfa yma’n fychan. Fedrwch chi ymhelaethu ar hyn? Yn ôl rhai o’r darparwyr rydw i wedi bod yn siarad â nhw, mae yna lot o waith ynghlwm â gwneud cais am grant o’r gronfa benodol yma am beth sydd yn arian gymharol fach a bod angen casglu llawer iawn o dystiolaeth. Felly, buaswn i’n gofyn yn garedig i chi edrych eto ar feini prawf y gronfa yma er mwyn denu mwy o geisiadau. Mi fyddai’n drueni pe na bai'r cyfan o’r £4 miliwn yn cael ei wario. Rydw i’n siŵr eich bod chi’n cytuno â hynny. Diolch.
I too would like to thank everyone working in this important sector for their contributions over the past few months in caring for children, including children of some of our care workers, so that they could continue to maintain front-line services.
Unfortunately, half of the providers had to close their doors, but now many have reopened, as you mentioned. But 12 per cent continue to be closed. And I would like to look into this a little further and to ask you whether these locations will reopen or have some of these closed their doors once and for all. You go on to say in your statement that most of these locations expect a reduction of 30 per cent in the number of children attending in the near future. Now, that is a significant drop and will make some providers financially unsustainable, and unfortunately, as restrictions tighten once again, there is no sign that the situation is about to improve. As well as the detrimental impact on the businesses themselves, do you believe that there are other implications to this reduction? I'm thinking particularly of the impact on children, on the social development of children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We know, and there is plenty of evidence to demonstrate, how important early years care and education is for the development of a child emotionally, socially and educationally. So, how concerned are you about this short-term reduction and possible longer term reduction from the perspective of the child?
As you mentioned, there's been a decline in the number of applicants for the childcare offer. It's lower than usual for this time of the year and one consequence of that, of course, is that there is more money in the budget. So, may I ask you whether you have considered extending the offer to children from families where the parent or parents don't work, so that they could benefit from early years childcare and education, which is something that Plaid Cymru has been calling for from the very outset? I hear you mention a review. When will that review take place and isn't it appropriate now to shift some of the funding in the budget towards those families where the parents aren't in work so that their children can benefit too?
And finally, mentioning the grants available. You have announced the small grants fund for the sector recently. As you mentioned, it's a £4 million fund, but I do understand that at the moment the number of applications to this fund is small. Could you tell us more about this? According to some of the providers that I've been speaking to, there's a lot of work attached to making an application for a grant from this particular fund and the amounts involved are relatively small and you have to provide a great deal of evidence to access the fund. So, I would ask you to look again at the criteria for this fund in order to attract more applications. It would be a shame if all of that £4 million weren't to be spent, and I'm sure you would agree with me on that point. Thank you.
I'd like to thank Siân Gwenllian for those questions. I'm pleased that she recognised the huge contribution that the childcare sector makes and that she thanked the sector for providing the opportunity for care workers to be able to continue to work in this pandemic. The childcare sector played an absolutely vital part.
At this time of the year, applications for the childcare offer are always lower than during the rest of the year, and in my statement I said that it was between 75 and 85 per cent of what we would normally expect at this time of the year. Bearing in mind that, for the reasons I used in my previous answers, many parents may be still reluctant for their children to go to childcare, many may still be working from home and trying to look after the children at the same time, and many may be on furlough still, I think there are reasons why that number is low and we anticipate that it will gradually rise as confidence grows in terms of returning children to the childcare sector.
We did do this survey in August to see what help had been made available to the sector and, in fact, 90 per cent of the people who replied did say that they had some form of Government grant from some place or other. So, I think 90 per cent did get grants, but nevertheless I absolutely accept what Siân Gwenllian is saying because it was a fragile sector before all this happened and obviously we want to give as much support as we possibly can, which is why we produced the provider fund grant. It's only been open for a few weeks, but as you say, the applications are slow at the moment, so I have asked officials to liaise with the providers—with Cwlwm in particular—to see what help can be given and to encourage the groups to apply, because obviously, many of these groups are run by voluntary management committees who are doing it in their own time, and we want to give them as much help as possible, because we certainly don't want that £4.5 million to go to waste, because it was specifically aimed at trying to plug the gaps in the childcare sector.
In terms of the review, we have been considering whether we can extend the offer to people in education and training, and people who are on the cusp of work. That review is taking place. It will report to me in the autumn, and I hope we'll be able to say something definitive to the Chamber towards the end of this term or at the beginning of next term.
In terms of the impact on children, I think Siân Gwenllian is absolutely right: so many children have suffered so much during this period, particularly disadvantaged children. I'm glad we were able to provide some support for disadvantaged children and also through the summer holidays, when we were able to give some money to local authorities to try to provide some provision during the summer holidays. But because we know that it is so absolutely crucial for the early years, for children to have as much support and help as they possibly can, I absolutely agree with her that we have to do all we possibly can to help the children catch up and help support the schools and the childcare settings to do all they can for particularly the disadvantaged children.
Hoffwn ddiolch i Siân Gwenllian am y cwestiynau yna. Rwy'n falch ei bod yn cydnabod y cyfraniad enfawr y mae'r sector gofal plant yn ei wneud a'i bod wedi diolch i'r sector am roi'r cyfle i weithwyr gofal allu parhau i weithio yn y pandemig hwn. Chwaraeodd y sector gofal plant ran gwbl hanfodol.
Yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, mae ceisiadau am y cynnig gofal plant bob amser yn is nag yn ystod gweddill y flwyddyn, ac yn fy natganiad dywedais ei fod rhwng 75 ac 85 y cant o'r hyn y byddem yn ei ddisgwyl fel arfer yr adeg hon o'r flwyddyn. O gofio, am y rhesymau a ddefnyddiais yn fy atebion blaenorol, y gallai llawer o rieni fod yn amharod o hyd i'w plant fynd i ofal plant, efallai y bydd llawer yn dal i weithio gartref ac yn ceisio gofalu am y plant ar yr un pryd, ac efallai fod llawer ar ffyrlo o hyd, credaf fod rhesymau pam mae'r nifer hwnnw'n isel a rhagwelwn y bydd yn codi'n raddol wrth i ffydd gynyddu o ran anfon plant yn ôl i'r sector gofal plant.
Gwnaethom yr arolwg hwn ym mis Awst i weld pa gymorth a oedd ar gael i'r sector ac, mewn gwirionedd, dywedodd 90 y cant o'r bobl a atebodd y cawson nhw ryw fath o grant gan y Llywodraeth o ryw le neu'i gilydd. Felly, credaf fod 90 y cant wedi cael grantiau, ond serch hynny derbyniaf yn llwyr yr hyn y mae Siân Gwenllian yn ei ddweud oherwydd ei fod yn sector bregus cyn i hyn i gyd ddigwydd ac mae'n amlwg ein bod ni eisiau rhoi cymaint o gymorth ag y gallwn ni, a dyna pam y gwnaethom ni greu grant y gronfa ddarparwyr. Dim ond ers ychydig wythnosau y bu ar gael, ond fel y dywedwch chi, mae'r ceisiadau'n araf ar hyn o bryd, felly rwyf wedi gofyn i swyddogion gysylltu â'r darparwyr—gyda Cwlwm yn benodol—i weld pa gymorth y gellir ei roi ac i annog y grwpiau i wneud cais, oherwydd mae'n amlwg bod llawer o'r grwpiau hyn yn cael eu rhedeg gan bwyllgorau rheoli gwirfoddol sy'n gwneud hynny yn eu hamser eu hunain, ac rydym ni eisiau rhoi cymaint o gymorth â phosib iddyn nhw, oherwydd yn sicr nid ydym ni eisiau i'r £4.5 miliwn hwnnw fynd i wastraff, oherwydd ei amcan yn benodol oedd ceisio llenwi'r bylchau yn y sector gofal plant.
O ran yr adolygiad, rydym ni wedi bod yn ystyried a allwn ni ymestyn y cynnig i bobl mewn addysg a hyfforddiant, a phobl sydd ar fin gweithio. Mae'r adolygiad hwnnw ar y gweill. Byddaf yn cael yr adroddiad yn yr hydref, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn yn gallu dweud rhywbeth pendant wrth y Siambr tua diwedd y tymor hwn neu ddechrau'r tymor nesaf.
O ran yr effaith ar blant, credaf fod Siân Gwenllian yn llygad ei lle: mae cynifer o blant wedi dioddef cymaint yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, yn enwedig plant difreintiedig. Rwy'n falch ein bod wedi gallu darparu rhywfaint o gymorth i blant difreintiedig a hefyd drwy wyliau'r haf, pan oeddem yn gallu rhoi rhywfaint o arian i awdurdodau lleol i geisio darparu rhywfaint o ddarpariaeth yn ystod gwyliau'r haf. Ond oherwydd y gwyddom ni fod hyn mor gwbl hanfodol i'r blynyddoedd cynnar, i blant gael cymaint o gymorth a chefnogaeth ag y gallan nhw, rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â hi bod yn rhaid i ni wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i helpu'r plant i ddal i fyny a helpu i gefnogi'r ysgolion a'r lleoliadau gofal plant i wneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i'r plant difreintiedig yn arbennig.
Minister, you thanked childcare providers and their staff for everything they've been doing. May I also thank you and Welsh Government for what you've been doing in this area? I'm impressed with the childcare offer as it's been delivered. You have it in your manifesto, but you've actually gone ahead and done it, it came in ahead of schedule, and I'm particularly pleased that you're being at least as encouraging of the private sector with the offer as you are of the public sector.
You mentioned in your statement that the childcare offer is a key part of the recovery plan, and I certainly agree with that. You said, though, that only 75 to 85 per cent of what you might expect in a normal term for people were back, and I just wonder if another reason for that may be the interaction with before and after-school care. Although generally the return to school has worked well, I have had a number of constituents who've raised concerns about the availability of before and after-school care that was there before, and concern that unavailability may prevent them going back to work. Is it the interaction of that with younger siblings which is keeping a significant number from taking up the childcare offer again?
And just to slightly also clarify the childcare provider grant, I think you said that this was only available where other schemes weren't available, but you then referenced, I think, later, them also being eligible for business rates relief. Can I just clarify, is it either/or, or are some providers eligible for both? And also were you particularly concerned to provide support to childminders who might be offering this at home, not from business-rated premises, or is that not relevant here? Thank you.
Gweinidog, fe wnaethoch chi ddiolch i ddarparwyr gofal plant a'u staff am bopeth y buon nhw yn ei wneud. A gaf i hefyd ddiolch i chi a Llywodraeth Cymru am yr hyn y buoch chi yn ei wneud yn y maes hwn? Mae'r cynnig gofal plant wedi creu argraff arnaf yn y ffordd y cafodd ei ddarparu. Mae'n elfen yn eich maniffesto, ond rydych chi wedi bwrw iddi a'i weithredu, gwnaed hynny cyn yr amserlen, ac rwy'n arbennig o falch eich bod o leiaf mor gefnogol o'r sector preifat gyda'r cynnig ag yr ydych chi o'r sector cyhoeddus.
Fe wnaethoch chi sôn yn eich datganiad fod y cynnig gofal plant yn rhan allweddol o'r cynllun adfer, ac rwy'n sicr yn cytuno â hynny. Fe ddywedoch chi, serch hynny, mai dim ond 75 i 85 y cant o blant y gallech eu disgwyl mewn tymor arferol a oedd wedi dychwelyd, a tybed ai rheswm arall dros hynny efallai yw'r rhyngweithio â gofal cyn ac ar ôl ysgol. Er bod dychwelyd i'r ysgol wedi gweithio'n dda ar y cyfan, mae nifer o etholwyr wedi codi pryderon ynghylch pa mor aml y mae gofal cyn ac ar ôl ysgol, a oedd ar gael o'r blaen, ar gael nawr, a phryder y gallai'r ffaith nad yw ar gael eu hatal rhag dychwelyd i'r gwaith. Ai rhyngweithio rhwng hynny a brodyr a chwiorydd iau sy'n cadw nifer sylweddol rhag manteisio ar y cynnig gofal plant eto?
A dim ond er mwyn egluro'r grant darparwyr gofal plant ychydig hefyd, credaf ichi ddweud mai dim ond pan nad oedd cynlluniau eraill ar gael yr oedd hwn ar gael, ond yna fe wnaethoch chi sôn, rwy'n credu, yn ddiweddarach, eu bod hefyd yn gymwys i gael rhyddhad ardrethi busnes. A gaf i sicrwydd mai'r naill beth neu'r llall yw hi, neu a yw rhai darparwyr yn gymwys i gael y ddau? Ac a oeddech hefyd yn arbennig o bryderus ynghylch roi cymorth i warchodwyr plant a allai fod yn cynnig hyn gartref, nid o safleoedd sy'n cael eu trin fel busnesau, neu a yw hynny'n amherthnasol yn y fan yma? Diolch.
I thank Mark Reckless for that question. And yes, we did deliver the childcare offer a year ahead of time and I know it has been very warmly welcomed.
I think he does make a very important point about the interaction between before and after-school care in the schools because, certainly, many of the schools have not yet introduced the breakfast clubs and the after-school clubs. There is an absolute duty, as the education Minister has made clear, that the breakfast clubs, which are free and are provided by Welsh Government money ultimately, will be coming back. But with the after-school clubs, I know that there is some concern from the headteachers about having another group, possibly, in the school that is not managed by the school at this point. And I absolutely understand that, because I do think that headteachers have been anxious and have been preparing very carefully for the children to come back to school, and, as you say, it has been very successful. But, certainly, I know of headteachers who have said that they are reluctant to have the after-school clubs back yet, but we hope that they will be introduced soon. So, I think that that is something that we will have to look at very carefully. We are in touch with the local authorities, asking them to encourage headteachers to reintroduce after-school clubs, but obviously that does relate to younger siblings and attendance. So, again, it's something I think he's right that that could contribute that.
In terms of the provider grant, I think that we were looking to try to fill in gaps where groups were not actually eligible for some of the grants that were available, because their premises didn't qualify and they were not eligible. Certainly, it is possible for them to have two separate grants from Government as long as it's not for the same thing. So, you can't apply for two different pots of money for, for example, the salary for one person, but it is possible to cover different areas. So, we are doing all we can to look for ways of supporting the childcare sector, because, as you say, it's absolutely crucial to the recovery.
Diolch i Mark Reckless am y cwestiwn yna. A do, fe wnaethom ni ddarparu'r cynnig gofal plant flwyddyn ynghynt na'r bwriad ac rwy'n gwybod y bu croeso cynnes iawn i hynny.
Credaf ei fod yn gwneud sylw pwysig iawn am y rhyngweithio rhwng gofal cyn ac ar ôl ysgol yn yr ysgolion oherwydd, yn sicr, nid yw llawer o'r ysgolion wedi cyflwyno'r clybiau brecwast a'r clybiau ar ôl ysgol eto. Mae'n ddyletswydd lwyr, fel y mae'r Gweinidog addysg wedi'i gwneud yn glir, fod y clybiau brecwast, sy'n rhad ac am ddim ac a ddarperir gan arian Llywodraeth Cymru yn y pen draw, yn ailgychwyn. Ond gyda'r clybiau ar ôl ysgol, gwn fod rhywfaint o bryder gan y penaethiaid ynghylch cael grŵp arall, o bosib, yn yr ysgol nad yw'n cael ei reoli gan yr ysgol ar hyn o bryd. Ac rwy'n deall hynny'n llwyr, oherwydd rwy'n credu y bu penaethiaid yn bryderus a'u bod wedi paratoi'n ofalus iawn i'r plant ddod yn ôl i'r ysgol, ac, fel y dywedwch chi, mae wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn. Ond, yn sicr, rwy'n gwybod am benaethiaid sydd wedi dweud eu bod yn amharod i gael y clybiau ar ôl ysgol yn ôl eto, ond gobeithiwn y cânt eu cyflwyno'n fuan. Felly, credaf fod hynny'n rhywbeth y bydd yn rhaid inni edrych arno'n ofalus iawn. Rydym ni mewn cysylltiad â'r awdurdodau lleol, yn gofyn iddyn nhw annog penaethiaid i ailgyflwyno clybiau ar ôl ysgol, ond mae'n amlwg bod hynny'n ymwneud â brodyr a chwiorydd iau a phresenoldeb. Felly, unwaith eto, mae'n rhywbeth rwy'n credu ei fod yn gywir yn ei gylch, y gallai hynny gyfrannu at yr achos.
O ran y grant i ddarparwyr, credaf ein bod yn ceisio llenwi bylchau lle nad oedd grwpiau mewn gwirionedd yn gymwys i gael rhai o'r grantiau a oedd ar gael, gan nad oedd eu hadeiladau'n gymwys ac nad oedden nhw yn gymwys. Yn sicr, mae'n bosib iddyn nhw gael dau grant ar wahân gan y Llywodraeth ar yr amod nad yw ar gyfer yr un peth. Felly, ni allwch chi wneud cais o ddwy gronfa wahanol o arian ar gyfer, er enghraifft, cyflog un person, ond mae'n bosib cwmpasu gwahanol feysydd. Felly, rydym yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i chwilio am ffyrdd o gefnogi'r sector gofal plant, oherwydd, fel y dywedwch chi, mae'n gwbl hanfodol i'r adferiad.
Thank you. And finally, Jenny Rathbone.
Diolch. Ac yn olaf, Jenny Rathbone.
Thank you very much. It is certainly the case that COVID-19 has taken a terrible toll on women's position in the workplace, because they've been targeted by employers as being the first out the door if they're needing to make redundancies. So, we've got some catch up to do on ensuring that we have an inclusive workforce, but also in ensuring that all children have the opportunity of a quality early years education and play. So, your figures of a 30 per cent reduction possibly indicate people who have lost their jobs and therefore can't afford childcare any longer, but also, obviously, the anxiety that some parents may feel about placing their children in early years education.
I fully acknowledge the wonderful work that's being done by childcare providers, certainly across my constituency—both private, public and voluntary sector—but it is a fragile sector, as you say, and we know from study after study that the most effective strategy for closing the gap in attainment is that very high-quality, comprehensive education and play that you can get. We are a long way off countries like France and Germany. Flying Start for two-year-olds has been an excellent initiative, but how are we going to get more nurseries in areas of deprivation where the private sector is very unlikely to go? They are much more likely to be cherry picking areas of our communities where there are many more people who are able to pay. I appreciate all the work you're doing, but it seems to me we have a very considerable challenge still to get where we want to be. So, I wondered if you could tell us how you're going to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to put their child into quality childcare and education, not just those with the resources to pay for it.
Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae'n sicr yn wir fod COVID-19 wedi cael effaith ofnadwy ar sefyllfa menywod yn y gweithle, oherwydd maen nhw wedi cael eu targedu gan gyflogwyr fel y cyntaf drwy'r drws os oes angen iddyn nhw ddileu swyddi. Felly, mae gennym ni rywfaint o waith dod i drefn o ran sicrhau bod gennym ni weithlu cynhwysol, ond hefyd o ran sicrhau y caiff pob plentyn y cyfle i gael darpariaeth addysg a chwarae blynyddoedd cynnar o safon. Felly, mae'n bosib bod eich ffigurau o ostyngiad o 30 y cant yn cyfeirio at bobl sydd wedi colli eu swyddi ac felly'n methu fforddio gofal plant mwyach, ond hefyd, yn amlwg, y pryder y gallai rhai rhieni ei deimlo ynghylch rhoi eu plant mewn addysg blynyddoedd cynnar.
Rwy'n cydnabod yn llwyr y gwaith gwych sy'n cael ei wneud gan ddarparwyr gofal plant, yn sicr ar draws fy etholaeth—yn y sectorau preifat, cyhoeddus a gwirfoddol—ond mae'r sector yn fregus, fel y dywedwch chi, a gwyddom o astudiaeth ar ôl astudiaeth mai'r strategaeth fwyaf effeithiol ar gyfer cau'r bwlch cyrhaeddiad yw'r ddarpariaeth addysg a chwarae cynhwysfawr o ansawdd uchel iawn y gallwch eu cael. Rydym ni ymhell ar ôl gwledydd fel Ffrainc a'r Almaen. Mae Dechrau'n Deg i blant dwy flwydd oed wedi bod yn fenter ragorol, ond sut y cawn ni fwy o feithrinfeydd mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig lle mae'r sector preifat yn annhebygol iawn o ymsefydlu ynddynt? Maen nhw yn llawer mwy tebygol o ddewis a dethol ardaloedd yn ein cymunedau lle mae llawer mwy o bobl yn gallu talu. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r holl waith yr ydych chi'n ei wneud, ond mae'n ymddangos i mi fod gennym ni her sylweddol iawn o hyd i gyrraedd y fan lle yr hoffem ni fod. Felly, tybed a wnewch chi ddweud wrthym ni sut yr ydych chi'n mynd i sicrhau bod pawb yn cael cyfle i sicrhau gofal plant ac addysg o safon i'w plentyn, nid dim ond y rhai sydd â'r modd i dalu am hynny.
I thank Jenny Rathbone for that question and for her contribution. And, of course, she's absolutely right, it's crucial for women in particular that we offer the opportunities so that they are able to work and fulfil their potential, as well as the children's potential.
I think that Flying Start has been one of our flagship programmes, and it has been, from the evidence that we've seen so far, extremely successful. I know that we've all heard headteachers say, 'Oh you know if the children have come from a Flying Start background.' The speech and language provision in Flying Start has been absolutely outstanding. So, I think we know what it is that we can do, and what we have to do is look towards extending what is provided in Flying Start much more widely. It's obviously on a geographic basis and we are more flexible now in terms of trying to get outreach for opening it up to people from outside the Flying Start areas, but that is, as I see it, the key of quality provision.
So, I think that we are considering ways of extending Flying Start, and I think that that is—. I absolutely agree with Jenny Rathbone that we are way behind Scandinavian countries, but we are making progress, and I think providing that high-quality early years is absolutely essential, so that children from deprived communities are able to enter school equally, and the evidence from Flying Start is that they do. So, we have got the key to it, and that's what we need to pursue.
Diolch i Jenny Rathbone am y cwestiwn yna ac am ei chyfraniad. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae hi'n hollol gywir, mae'n hanfodol, i fenywod yn arbennig, ein bod yn cynnig y cyfleoedd fel eu bod yn gallu gweithio a chyflawni eu potensial, yn ogystal â photensial y plant.
Credaf y bu Dechrau'n Deg yn un o'n prif raglenni, ac mae wedi bod, o'r dystiolaeth a welsom ni hyd yma, yn hynod lwyddiannus. Gwn ein bod i gyd wedi clywed penaethiaid yn dweud, 'O fe wyddoch chi os yw plant wedi dod o gefndir Dechrau'n Deg.' Mae'r ddarpariaeth lleferydd ac iaith yn Dechrau'n Deg wedi bod yn gwbl eithriadol. Felly, credaf ein bod yn gwybod beth y gallwn ni ei wneud, a'r hyn y mae'n rhaid inni ei wneud yw ceisio ymestyn yr hyn a ddarperir yn Dechrau'n Deg yn llawer ehangach. Mae'n amlwg ar sail ddaearyddol ac rydym yn fwy hyblyg nawr o ran ceisio cael allgymorth fel ei fod ar gael i bobl y tu allan i ardaloedd Dechrau'n Deg, ond dyna, fel y gwelaf i, yw allwedd darpariaeth o safon.
Felly, credaf ein bod yn ystyried ffyrdd o ymestyn Dechrau'n Deg, a chredaf mai hynny yw—. Cytunaf yn llwyr â Jenny Rathbone ein bod ymhell y tu ôl i wledydd Llychlyn, ond rydym yn gwneud cynnydd, a chredaf fod darpariaeth blynyddoedd cynnar o ansawdd uchel yn gwbl hanfodol, fel y gall plant o gymunedau difreintiedig ddechrau yn yr ysgol yn gyfartal, a'r dystiolaeth gan Dechrau'n Deg yw eu bod yn gwneud hynny. Felly, mae gennym ni yr allwedd i hynny, a dyna y mae angen inni ei ddilyn.
Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.
The Llywydd took the Chair.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, yw'r rheoliadau coronafeirws. Mae eitem 8 wedi'i gohirio, ac eitem 10 wedi'i thynnu yn ôl. Yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.24, oni bai bod Aelod yn gwrthwynebu, bydd y tri chynnig o dan eitemau 6, 7 a 9 yn cael eu grwpio ar gyfer y ddadl, ond gyda phleidleisiau ar wahân. Dwi'n cymryd nad oes neb yn gwrthwynebu y grwpio hynny.
Thank you, Deputy Minister.
The next item is the coronavirus regulations. Item 8 is postponed and item 10 has been withdrawn. In accordance with Standing Order 12.24, unless a Member objects, the three motions under items 6, 7 and 9 will be grouped for debate, but with votes taken separately. I assume that there are no objections to that grouping.
Gan fod yna ddim gwrthwynebiad, dwi'n galw ar y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i wneud y cynnig—Vaughan Gething
As there is no objection, I call on the Minister for Health and Social Services to move the motion—Vaughan Gething.
Cynnig NDM7381 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 6) 2020 a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 21 Awst 2020.
Motion NDM7381 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2020 laid in the Table Office on 21 August 2020.
Cynnig NDM7382 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 7) 2020 a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 28 Awst 2020.
Motion NDM7382 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1 . Approves The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 2020 laid in the Table Office on 28 August 2020.
Cynnig NDM7380 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 9) 2020 a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 11 Medi 2020.
Motion NDM7380 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 9) Regulations 2020 laid in the Table Office on 11 September 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynigion.
Motions moved.
Thank you, Llywydd. I formally move the three sets of regulations before us today and ask Members to support them. These regulations were all introduced under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, through emergency procedures to support our approach to tackling coronavirus. Members will be aware that the Welsh Government takes a careful and evidence-based approach to our continual review of the lockdown restrictions, including the formal requirement to review the need for the requirements and their proportionality every 21 days.
These regulations were introduced over a period from 21 August to 11 September. As well as providing for easements to the restrictions when the circumstances allow, they demonstrate the swift action that the Welsh Government is taking to respond to the recent rise in the number of cases in certain parts of Wales. Members will be aware, as we've just discussed, of the actions that we've taken with local restrictions across Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf, which we took on 8 and 17 September, respectively; and, of course, from 6 o'clock today, local restrictions will also apply to Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.
These measures seek to control the virus and protect public health across each of these local authority areas. In each area, people are not allowed to meet indoors, including from within extended households, which cannot take place at this point in time. People are prohibited from entering or leaving each county borough council area without a reasonable excuse. Finally, as we've already discussed today, licensed premises in all of these six local authorities will need to close by 11 p.m.
As set out in the coronavirus control plan, which sets out our approach to monitoring cases and controlling localised outbreaks, the restrictions are based on the principles of caution, proportionality and subsidiarity. These measures are kept under constant review and are formally reviewed every two weeks. Amendment No. 8 provided for the restrictions in Caerphilly and was originally intended to be debated today, but it will now be debated on 29 September, alongside the amendments that provided for local restrictions in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Members will be aware that the UK Prime Minister has indicated new restrictions that he intends to introduce in England, including that all pubs, bars and restaurants will be required to close at 10 p.m. Following the meeting that the First Minister and I had with Boris Johnson and other Ministers across the UK in the COBRA process this morning, we are urgently considering further national restrictions in Wales, including whether they might align with those announced for England.
I'll address each of the regulations being considered today in turn. The amendment No. 6 regulations first increase the number of households able to join together in an extended household from two to four. Secondly, it also allows for indoor celebrations following a wedding, civil partnership or funeral for up to 30 people. These are limited in scope, such as an organised meal in a hotel or restaurant, and must take place in a regulated setting. Finally, it provided Ministers with the power to authorise and set conditions for a series of three pilot outdoor events for up to 100 people.
The No. 7 regulations allow for visits to residents of care homes, hospices and secure accommodation services for children. Guidance was prepared with the sector, and each place will put in place its own arrangements to enable visits to take place safely. In addition, the amendment No. 7 regulations prohibited organising unlicensed music events for more than 30 people. These can be punishable by a fixed penalty of £10,000, and we've seen it in action following the events in Banwen and other places. They also provided for casinos to reopen.
In terms of the amendment No. 9 regulations, since 14 September, all residents in Wales over the age of 11 have been required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces such as shops. This follows a continued increase in the number of cases across some parts of Wales, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of the number of people being tested. These regulations also further amended the provision for extended households. A maximum of six people can now meet indoors at any one time, and these must be from the same extended household. Children under 11 are not, though, included in this rule of six. It was also intended that today's debate would consider amendments relating to stand-alone local authority function. These have now been revoked and remade; they will be debated on 29 September.
The evidence from recent weeks is clear, we are seeing an increase in transmission rates; these are primarily resulting from people not observing social distancing and not following the restrictions. I would again stress that we are not allowed to meet other people indoors, either in their homes or in pubs, cafes or restaurants, unless we are all part of the same extended household.
Llywydd, we all have a part to play in keeping Wales safe. The restrictions and requirements set out in these regulations remain necessary to continue to tackle this pandemic, and I ask the Senedd to support them.
Diolch, Llywydd. Rwy'n cynnig y tair cyfres o reoliadau ger ein bron heddiw yn ffurfiol a gofynnaf i Aelodau eu cefnogi. Cyflwynwyd y rheoliadau hyn i gyd o dan Ddeddf Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Rheoli Clefydau) 1984, drwy weithdrefnau brys i gefnogi ein dull o fynd i'r afael â'r coronafeirws. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati mewn modd gofalus sy'n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth i gynnal ein hadolygiad parhaus o'r cyfyngiadau symud, gan gynnwys y gofyniad ffurfiol i adolygu'r angen am y gofynion a'u cymesuredd bob 21 diwrnod.
Cyflwynwyd y rheoliadau hyn dros gyfnod rhwng 21 Awst ac 11 Medi. Yn ogystal â darparu ar gyfer lliniaru'r cyfyngiadau pan fo'r amgylchiadau'n caniatáu, maent yn dangos sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu'n gyflym i ymateb i'r cynnydd diweddar yn nifer yr achosion mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru. Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol, fel yr ydym ni newydd drafod, o sut yr ydym ni wedi gweithredu gyda chyfyngiadau lleol ledled Caerffili a Rhondda Cynon Taf, 8 a 17 Medi, yn y drefn honno; ac, wrth gwrs, o 6 o'r gloch heddiw, bydd cyfyngiadau lleol hefyd yn berthnasol i Gasnewydd, Blaenau Gwent, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr a Merthyr Tudful.
Mae'r mesurau hyn yn ceisio rheoli'r feirws a diogelu iechyd y cyhoedd ar draws pob un o'r ardaloedd awdurdodau lleol hyn. Ym mhob ardal, ni chaniateir i bobl gyfarfod dan do, gan gynnwys o fewn aelwydydd estynedig, ac ni ellir eu cynnal ar hyn o bryd. Gwaherddir pobl rhag mynd i mewn ac allan o bob ardal cyngor bwrdeistref sirol heb esgus rhesymol. Yn olaf, fel yr ydym ni eisoes wedi trafod heddiw, ym mhob un o'r chwe awdurdod lleol hyn bydd angen i leoedd sydd â thrwydded i werthu diodydd gau erbyn 11 p.m.
Fel y nodir yn y cynllun rheoli coronafeirws, sy'n amlinellu sut rydym ni'n monitro achosion a rheoli achosion lleol, mae'r cyfyngiadau'n seiliedig ar egwyddorion pwyll, cymesuredd a sybsidiaredd. Caiff y mesurau hyn eu hadolygu'n gyson ac fe'u hadolygir yn ffurfiol bob pythefnos. Darparodd gwelliant rhif 8 ar gyfer y cyfyngiadau yng Nghaerffili a bwriadwyd ei drafod yn wreiddiol heddiw, ond caiff ei drafod nawr ar 29 Medi, ochr yn ochr â'r gwelliannau a oedd yn darparu ar gyfer cyfyngiadau lleol yn Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Bydd yr Aelodau'n ymwybodol bod Prif Weinidog y DU wedi nodi cyfyngiadau newydd y mae'n bwriadu eu cyflwyno yn Lloegr, gan gynnwys y bydd yn ofynnol i bob tafarn, bar a bwyty gau am 10 p.m. Yn dilyn y cyfarfod a gafodd y Prif Weinidog a minnau gyda Boris Johnson a Gweinidogion eraill ledled y DU ym mhroses COBRA y bore yma, rydym ar frys yn ystyried cyfyngiadau cenedlaethol pellach yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys pa un a fyddent yn cyd-fynd â'r rhai a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer Lloegr ai peidio.
Ymdriniaf â phob un o'r rheoliadau sy'n cael eu hystyried heddiw yn eu tro. Mae gwelliant rheoliadau Rhif 6 yn gyntaf yn cynyddu nifer yr aelwydydd sy'n cael ymuno â'i gilydd ar aelwyd estynedig o ddwy i bedair. Yn ail, mae hefyd yn caniatáu dathliadau dan do yn dilyn priodas, partneriaeth sifil neu angladd i hyd at 30 o bobl. Mae'r rhain yn gyfyngedig o ran cwmpas, megis pryd bwyd wedi'i drefnu mewn gwesty neu fwyty, a rhaid iddynt ddigwydd mewn lleoliad a reoleiddir. Yn olaf, roedd yn rhoi'r pŵer i Weinidogion awdurdodi a gosod amodau ar gyfer treialu cyfres o dri digwyddiad awyr agored ar gyfer hyd at 100 o bobl.
Mae rheoliadau Rhif 7 yn caniatáu ymweliadau â phreswylwyr cartrefi gofal, hosbisau a gwasanaethau llety diogel i blant. Paratowyd canllawiau gyda'r sector, a bydd pob lle yn rhoi ei drefniadau ei hun ar waith fel bod modd ymweld yn ddiogel. Hefyd, roedd gwelliant rheoliadau Rhif 7 yn gwahardd trefnu digwyddiadau cerddorol didrwydded i fwy na 30 o bobl. Gellir cosbi'r rhain drwy gosb benodedig o £10,000, ac rydym ni wedi gweld hyn ar waith yn dilyn y digwyddiadau ym Manwen a mannau eraill. Roedden nhw hefyd yn darparu ar gyfer ailagor casinos.
O ran gwelliant rheoliadau Rhif 9, ers 14 Medi, bu'n ofynnol i holl drigolion Cymru dros 11 oed wisgo gorchuddion wyneb mewn mannau cyhoeddus dan do megis siopau. Mae hyn yn dilyn cynnydd parhaus yn nifer yr achosion ar draws rhai rhannau o Gymru, mewn termau absoliwt ac fel cyfran o nifer y bobl sy'n cael eu profi. Roedd y rheoliadau hyn hefyd yn diwygio ymhellach y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer aelwydydd estynedig. Gall uchafswm o chwech o bobl gyfarfod dan do ar unrhyw un adeg, a rhaid i'r rhain fod o'r un aelwyd estynedig. Er hynny, nid yw plant o dan 11 oed wedi'u cynnwys yn y rheol hon o chwech. Y bwriad hefyd oedd y byddai'r ddadl heddiw yn ystyried gwelliannau sy'n ymwneud â swyddogaeth annibynnol awdurdodau lleol. Mae'r rhain nawr wedi'u dirymu a'u hail-wneud; byddant yn cael eu trafod ar 29 Medi.
Mae'r dystiolaeth o'r wythnosau diwethaf yn glir, rydym yn gweld cynnydd mewn cyfraddau trosglwyddo; mae'r rhain yn deillio'n bennaf o bobl nad ydynt yn cadw pellter cymdeithasol ac nad ydynt yn dilyn y cyfyngiadau. Byddwn unwaith eto'n pwysleisio na chaniateir inni gwrdd â phobl eraill dan do, naill ai yn eu cartrefi nac mewn tafarndai, caffis na bwytai, oni bai ein bod i gyd yn rhan o'r un aelwyd estynedig.
Llywydd, mae gan bob un ohonom ni ran i'w chwarae o ran cadw Cymru'n ddiogel. Mae'r cyfyngiadau a'r gofynion a nodir yn y rheoliadau hyn yn dal yn angenrheidiol i barhau i fynd i'r afael â'r pandemig hwn, a gofynnaf i'r Senedd eu cefnogi.
Galwaf ar Gadeirydd y Pwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Chyfansoddiad, Mick Antoniw.
I call on the Chair of the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, Mick Antoniw.
Thank you, Llywydd. With regard to items 6, 7 and 9, which are taken together, Members will know that the the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 are the principal regulations on coronavirus in Wales. The Senedd approved these regulations on 5 August 2020. We reported on the No. 6 and the No. 7 amending regulations on 14 September, and yesterday we reported on the No. 9 amending regulations. Now, we acknowledge that, while we are debating these regulations today, the Welsh Government has also made further amending regulations, which demonstrates the fast-moving nature of the Government's actions in these matters.
The No. 6 regulations came into force on 22 August and permitted up to four households to join together in an extended household, and people to gather indoors in a group of up to 30 people for certain events. The No. 7 regulations came into force on 28 August and they make further amendments to the principal regulations. These include that no person may without reasonable excuse be involved in organising certain unlicensed music events, and that a person who fails to comply with the restriction commits and offence and may be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £10,000. They also include that people have a reasonable excuse to gather indoors, to visit a resident in a care home, hospice or secure accommodation for children, and clarified that people have a reasonable excuse to gather to access educational services.
For both the No. 6 and the No. 7 regulations, we made the same merits reporting point, namely that the regulations were not subject to a public consultation or a regulatory impact assessment. We noted, though, the Welsh Government's explanation that this was due to the pandemic and the need for an urgent public health response, and that the changes are being communicated to the public and businesses through ongoing public information broadcasts and press conferences. In relation to the No. 7 regulations, we also noted that the Welsh Government has had ongoing discussions with the police forces in Wales about the introduction of a new offence.
The No. 9 regulations made further changes to the principal regulations, which came into force on 14 September. These changes included restricting gatherings indoors of members of an extended household to six people, not including any children under the age of 11, and requiring face coverings to be worn in the indoor public areas of open premises and transport hubs, unless an exemption applies or the person has a reasonable excuse for not wearing the face covering.
Our report identified two merits reporting points. The first is with the No. 6 and the No. 7 regulations. We reported there had been no public consultation or regulatory impact assessment prepared in relation to these regulations for the same reasons. However, we noted that an integrated impact assessment is being developed and will be published shortly, which we welcome. We also noted that steps were taken by the Welsh Government to publicise the changes. Secondly, we noted that these regulations introduce a tightening of coronavirus-related restrictions. As such, these regulations do fall within the territory of human rights considerations for individual rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European charter of fundamental rights. This means that any restrictions must be proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim.
Now, as regards the specific issues I've referred to in these regulations regarding meeting indoors and the wearing of face coverings, the explanatory memorandum states that the restrictions and requirements will or may engage rights under article 8, that is the right to respect for family and private life; article 9, freedom of thought, conscience and religion; article 11, freedom of assembly and association; and article 14, prohibition of discrimination. The Welsh Ministers consider, and we're in agreement, that to the extent that requirements imposed by the regulations engage or interfere with those rights, the interference is justified because it pursues the legitimate aim of providing a public health response to the threat posed by the increasing incidents and spread of coronavirus across Wales and is proportionate to that aim. Diolch, Llywydd.
Diolch, Llywydd. O ran eitemau 6, 7 a 9, sy'n cael eu cynnwys gyda'i gilydd, bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod mai Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) 2020 yw'r prif reoliadau ar gyfer y coronafeirws yng Nghymru. Cymeradwyodd y Senedd y rheoliadau hyn ar 5 Awst 2020. Adroddwyd ar reoliadau diwygio Rhif 6 a Rhif 7 ar 14 Medi, a ddoe adroddwyd ar reoliadau diwygio Rhif 9. Nawr, rydym yn cydnabod, wrth inni drafod y rheoliadau hyn heddiw, fod Llywodraeth Cymru hefyd wedi gwneud rheoliadau diwygio pellach, sy'n dangos pa mor gyflym mae'r Llywodraeth yn gweithredu yn y materion hyn.
Daeth rheoliadau Rhif 6 i rym ar 22 Awst a chaniataodd i hyd at bedair aelwyd ymuno â'i gilydd ar aelwyd estynedig, a phobl i ymgynnull dan do mewn grŵp o hyd at 30 o bobl ar gyfer digwyddiadau penodol. Daeth rheoliadau Rhif 7 i rym ar 28 Awst ac maent yn gwneud diwygiadau pellach i'r prif reoliadau. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys y rheoliad na chaiff neb, heb esgus rhesymol, fod yn rhan o'r gwaith o drefnu rhai digwyddiadau cerddorol didrwydded, a bod rhywun sy'n methu â chydymffurfio â'r cyfyngiad yn troseddu ac y gellir rhoi hysbysiad cosb benodedig o £10,000 iddo. Maent hefyd yn cynnwys bod yn rhaid i bobl gael esgus rhesymol i ymgynnull dan do, i ymweld â phreswylydd mewn cartref gofal, hosbis neu lety diogel i blant, gan egluro bod gan bobl esgus rhesymol i ymgynnull er mwyn cael gwasanaethau addysgol.
Ar gyfer rheoliadau Rhif 6 a Rhif 7, gwnaethom yr un pwynt adrodd rhinweddau, sef nad oedd y rheoliadau'n destun ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus nac asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol. Fodd bynnag, nodwyd esboniad Llywodraeth Cymru mai'r pandemig oedd yn gyfrifol am hyn a'r angen am ymateb brys er mwyn iechyd y cyhoedd, a bod y newidiadau'n cael eu cyfleu i'r cyhoedd a busnesau drwy ddarllediadau gwybodaeth gyhoeddus parhaus a chynadleddau i'r wasg. O ran rheoliadau Rhif 7, nodwyd hefyd fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cael trafodaethau parhaus gyda'r heddluoedd yng Nghymru ynghylch cyflwyno trosedd newydd.
Gwnaeth rheoliadau Rhif 9 newidiadau pellach i'r prif reoliadau, a ddaeth i rym ar 14 Medi. Roedd y newidiadau hyn yn cynnwys cyfyngu ar gynulliadau dan do o aelodau o aelwyd estynedig i chwech o bobl, heb gynnwys unrhyw blant o dan 11 oed, a'i gwneud yn ofynnol i orchuddion wyneb gael eu gwisgo yn ardaloedd cyhoeddus dan do safleoedd agored a chanolfannau trafnidiaeth, oni bai bod eithriad yn berthnasol neu fod gan y person esgus rhesymol dros beidio â gwisgo gorchudd wyneb.
Nododd ein hadroddiad ddau bwynt adrodd ar rinweddau. Mae'r cyntaf yn ymwneud â rheoliadau Rhif 6 a Rhif 7. Nodwyd na chafodd unrhyw ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus nac asesiad effaith rheoleiddiol eu paratoi mewn cysylltiad â'r rheoliadau hyn am yr un rhesymau. Fodd bynnag, nodwyd bod asesiad effaith integredig yn cael ei ddatblygu ac y caiff ei gyhoeddi'n fuan, ac rydym yn croesawu hynny. Nodwyd hefyd bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymryd camau i roi cyhoeddusrwydd i'r newidiadau. Yn ail, nodwyd bod y rheoliadau hyn yn cyflwyno mesurau tynhau cyfyngiadau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r coronafeirws. Fel y cyfryw, mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn dod o fewn cwmpas ystyriaethau hawliau dynol ar gyfer hawliau unigol o dan Ddeddf Hawliau Dynol 1998 a siarter hawliau sylfaenol Ewrop. Mae hyn yn golygu bod yn rhaid i unrhyw gyfyngiadau fod yn gymesur â chyflawni nod cyfreithlon.
Nawr, o ran y materion penodol yr wyf wedi cyfeirio atynt yn y rheoliadau hyn ynghylch cyfarfod dan do a gwisgo gorchuddion wyneb, mae'r memorandwm esboniadol yn nodi y bydd neu y gallai'r cyfyngiadau a gofynion fod yn berthnasol i hawliau o dan erthygl 8, sef yr hawl i barchu bywyd teuluol a phreifat; erthygl 9, rhyddid meddwl, cydwybod a chrefydd; erthygl 11, rhyddid i gynulliad a chymdeithas; ac erthygl 14, gwahardd gwahaniaethu. Mae Gweinidogion Cymru o'r farn, ac rydym yn cytuno, i'r graddau bod gofynion a osodir gan y rheoliadau yn ymwneud â'r hawliau hynny neu'n ymyrryd â nhw, y gellir cyfiawnhau'r ymyrraeth oherwydd mai ei amcan dilys yw darparu ymateb iechyd cyhoeddus i'r bygythiad a achosir gan ddigwyddiadau cynyddol a lledaeniad y coronafeirws ledled Cymru ac sy'n gymesur â'r nod hwnnw. Diolch, Llywydd.
I'd just like to put on the record that I believe we need to stop voting on these regulations weeks after they've been imposed. This is no longer a satisfactory state of affairs with the hybrid Plenary system we now have. The Minister himself alluded to some of the things we are voting on today in relation to raves, pilots in sports grounds, face coverings—these were all laid over a month ago, and here we are today waiting on another set of regulations that the First Minister isn't prepared to come and make a statement over.
Given the impact that these regulations are going to have on every walk of life, from the economy to potentially increased deaths from cancer and those linked to economic hardship, it's imperative that we have more timely debate on these regulations, and I do hope that the Government will subscribe to this. These have already been changed and amended in some areas, the regulations we have before us. We have near enough a lockdown in parts of south Wales, and yet, today, we are voting on regulations that were laid over a month ago. So, given that, I want to put the Government and the Minister on notice that we, as Welsh Conservatives, would like to see more debate and more challenge when these regulations are laid and this lag has to come to an end. We need to get more scrutiny on the regulations. Thank you, Presiding Officer.
Hoffwn ddweud ar goedd fy mod yn credu bod angen i ni roi'r gorau i bleidleisio ar y rheoliadau hyn wythnosau ar ôl iddyn nhw gael eu gosod. Nid yw hon bellach yn sefyllfa foddhaol gyda'r system Cyfarfod Llawn hybrid sydd gennym ni nawr. Cyfeiriodd y Gweinidog ei hun at rai o'r pethau yr ydym yn pleidleisio arnynt heddiw yng nghyswllt rêfs, cynlluniau treialu ar feysydd chwaraeon, gorchuddion wyneb—cyflwynwyd y rhain i gyd dros fis yn ôl, a dyma ni heddiw yn aros am gyfres arall o reoliadau nad yw'r Prif Weinidog yn barod i wneud datganiad arnynt.
O ystyried yr effaith y bydd y rheoliadau hyn yn ei chael ar bob agwedd ar fywyd, o'r economi i farwolaethau cynyddol posib oherwydd canser ac yn gysylltiedig â chaledi economaidd, mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn cael dadl fwy amserol ar y rheoliadau hyn, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Llywodraeth yn cefnogi hyn. Mae'r rhain eisoes wedi'u newid a'u diwygio mewn rhai meysydd, y rheoliadau sydd ger ein bron. Mae gennym ni sefyllfa sydd bron yn ymdebygu i gyfyngiadau symud mewn rhannau o'r de, ac eto, heddiw, rydym yn pleidleisio ar reoliadau a gyflwynwyd dros fis yn ôl. Felly, o gofio hynny, rwyf eisiau hysbysu'r Llywodraeth a'r Gweinidog yr hoffem ni, y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, weld mwy o ddadlau a mwy o herio pan gaiff y rheoliadau hyn eu cyflwyno a bod yn rhaid i'r oedi hwn ddod i ben. Mae angen inni gael mwy o graffu ar y rheoliadau. Diolch, Llywydd.
Mi gefnogwn ni'r rheoliadau yma heddiw yma, achos, yn gyffredinol, mi rydyn ni'n cytuno efo'r angen i gyflwyno, yn gyffredinol, y cyfyngiadau, neu lacio'r cyfyngiadau, sydd ynddyn nhw. Ond, mi wnaf innau ychydig o bwyntiau, y cyntaf o'r rheini hefyd am y broses sgrwtini a'r ffaith bod wythnosau lawer wedi pasio yn fan hyn rhwng cyflwyno rhai o'r newidiadau yma—hyd at fis ers cyflwyno rhai o'r newidiadau yma yn achos Rhif 6. Wrth gwrs bod yr amgylchiadau presennol yn ddigynsail, ond nid yn unig mae'r sefyllfa rydyn ni ynddi rŵan o ran yr oedi yma yn hynod anarferol, mae o yn anfoddhaol iawn yn ddemocrataidd. Mae o'n creu dryswch democrataidd, dwi'n meddwl, ond mae o hefyd yn creu dryswch ymarferol. Er enghraifft, efo gwelliannau Rhif 6, mae'n sôn am ganiatáu peilota cyfarfodydd awyr agored hyd at 100 o bobl mewn chwaraeon ac ati; mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi cadarnhau heddiw bod y peilota wedi cael ei ddyfarnu i fod yn rhy beryglus i barhau ac wedi dod i ben 10 diwrnod yn ôl, a dyma ni'n cael ein gofyn i gymeradwyo'r gwelliannau hynny. Felly, mae o'n creu dryswch.
Mae'n rhaid, yn y pandemig yma yn gyffredinol, i negeseuon fod yn glir. Dwi'n meddwl bod angen i'r Llywodraeth yn gyffredinol edrych ar sut mae eu negeseuon nhw'n cael eu clywed a sut mae eu negeseuon nhw'n cael eu deall. Rydyn ni'n gwybod yn iawn, o engreifftiau o gyfweliadau ar y cyfryngau gan bobl yn ein cymunedau ni, bod pobl yn dal wedi'u drysu gan yr hyn y mae gofyn iddyn nhw ei wneud o ran eu hymddygiad mewn llawer o achosion. Felly, dwi'n apelio am negeseuon cliriach, ac mae hynny, i fi, ynghlwm â'r angen i'r broses sgrwtini fod yn agosach at amserlennu y rheoliadau eu hunain. Os oes yna ddryswch yn fan hyn, yn ein Senedd genedlaethol ni, does yna ddim rhyfedd bod yna ddryswch ar lawr gwlad.
We will support these regulations here today, because, generally speaking, we agree on the need to introduce, in general terms, the restrictions or the easements proposed in them. But I will make a few points. The first of those is on the scrutiny process and the fact that many weeks have passed here between the introduction of some of these changes—it's up to a month since some of these changes were introduced in the case of the No. 6 regulations. Now, of course, the current circumstances are unprecedented, but not only is the situation we're in in terms of this delay very unusual, it is most unsatisfactory in democratic terms. It creates democratic confusion, but also causes confusion on a practical level. For example, with the No. 6 amendments, it talks about allowing piloting open-air meetings of up to 100 people in sports, and so on; the First Minister has confirmed that that pilot has been judged to be too risky and came to an end 10 days ago, but now we are asked to approve these amendments. So, it causes confusion.
In this pandemic, messaging must be clear. I do think that the Government needs to look, in general terms, at how its messages are conveyed and how those messages are understood. We know from examples of interviews in the media by people in our communities that people are still confused in terms of what they're required to do in terms of their personal behaviour in a number of cases. So, I appeal for clearer messaging, and that, for me, relates to the scrutiny process being closer to the timetable of the regulations themselves. If there's confusion within our national Parliament, then there should be no doubt that there is confusion on the ground too.
I agree with what's been said about increasingly ridiculous debating things over a month after they've happened, while in the real world, new stuff is going through, often going in a different direction, at the same time we're talking about the old stuff.
I'm grateful, though, for the health Minister including in his contribution what I thought were some references to the local council-based lockdowns that we've recently had coming in. Can I clarify whether those remarks were just to be helpful and talk about something that was current, or whether particular things he was saying about that are relevant to the particular amendments we're voting on today?
Overall, our approach has been to vote against all legislative coronavirus restrictions. We consider that they are disproportionate and counterproductive, and we'd much prefer the type of approach that Sweden has exemplified successfully. We have some liberalising regulations here, but we have, and I don't know if this is the health Minister's area—. We've seen operations decline, you state, by 62 per cent in the Welsh NHS; we've seen 16,000 fewer cancer referrals. I think, on an England and Wales basis last week, we saw 70 deaths from COVID but 125 from suicide. You know, are these proportionate?
The regulations No. 6—we go from two to four extended households, which is liberalising, and also allowing life-event celebrations, which I assume are celebrations with reference to weddings; they also apply to funerals, so we support that limited liberalisation. On the No. 7 regulations, again, we support reopening casinos, as far as it goes, and also the liberalisation of visiting to care homes. There are restrictions on certain unlicensed music events, which I assume he means mass outdoor raves, given these are in a composite set of restrictions, and I think, even in Sweden, there are limits on those types of events. We will support the No. 7 regulations.
The No. 9 regulations we do not support. You have this regime of extended households—they're meeting in any event, so, as households, presumably, therefore potentially with virus transmission, if that is present—why then restrict to six in groups of households otherwise allowed to meet in differing groups of six? There's the fiddly difference, compared to England, of the arrangements for children. And also, there's the extension of compulsory face coverings, for which the Welsh Government has previously said the evidence is weak. You say you're doing research into people taking them on and off going in and out of restaurants—whether that could that be counterproductive—yet you've applied it compulsorily for shops on the basis of, at best, a very weak evidence base. So, we will support regulations 6 and 7 but vote against the No. 9. Thank you.
Rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedwyd am hurtrwydd cynyddol trafod pethau dros fis ar ôl iddyn nhw ddigwydd, tra yn y byd go iawn, mae pethau newydd yn mynd rhagddynt, yn aml yn mynd i gyfeiriad gwahanol, ar yr un pryd ag yr ydym ni'n siarad am yr hen bethau.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar, serch hynny, i'r Gweinidog iechyd am gynnwys yn ei gyfraniad, yr hyn yr oeddwn i'n credu oedd rhai cyfeiriadau at y cyfyngiadau symud lleol gan gynghorau lleol yr ydym ni wedi'u gweld yn ddiweddar. A gaf i eglurhad pa un ai bwriad y sylwadau hynny oedd bod yn ddefnyddiol gan sôn am rywbeth a oedd yn gyfredol, neu a yw'r pethau penodol yr oedd yn eu dweud ynghylch hynny yn berthnasol i'r gwelliannau penodol yr ydym yn pleidleisio arnyn nhw heddiw?
Yn gyffredinol, ein ffordd ni o weithredu fu pleidleisio yn erbyn yr holl gyfyngiadau deddfwriaethol ynglŷn â'r coronafeirws. Rydym o'r farn eu bod yn anghymesur ac yn wrthgynhyrchiol, a byddai'n llawer gwell gennym y math o ddull y mae Sweden wedi'i fabwysiadu yn esiampl lwyddiannus. Mae gennym ni rai rheoliadau lliniarol yn y fan yma, ond mae gennym ni, ac ni wn ai dyma faes y Gweinidog iechyd—. Fe ddywedsoch chi ein bod wedi gweld llawdriniaethau'n gostwng 62 y cant yn GIG Cymru; ein bod wedi gweld 16,000 yn llai o atgyfeiriadau canser. Credaf, rhwng Cymru a Lloegr yr wythnos diwethaf, inni weld 70 o farwolaethau yn sgil COVID ond 125 yn sgil hunanladdiad. A yw'r rhain yn gymesur?
Rheoliadau Rhif 6—rydym yn mynd o ddwy i bedair aelwyd estynedig, sy'n rhoi mwy o ryddid, a hefyd yn caniatáu dathliadau digwyddiad bywyd, sydd, mi dybiaf, yn cyfeirio at briodasau; maent hefyd yn berthnasol i angladdau, felly rydym yn cefnogi'r lliniaru cyfyngedig hwnnw. O ran rheoliadau Rhif 7, unwaith eto, rydym yn cefnogi ailagor casinos, i'r graddau y gellir gwneud hynny, a hefyd y lliniaru o ran ymweliadau â chartrefi gofal. Mae cyfyngiadau ar rai digwyddiadau cerddorol didrwydded y tybiaf ei fod yn golygu rêfs torfol awyr agored, o ystyried bod y rhain mewn cyfres gyfansawdd o gyfyngiadau, a chredaf, hyd yn oed yn Sweden, fod cyfyngiadau ar y mathau hynny o ddigwyddiadau. Byddwn yn cefnogi rheoliadau Rhif 7.
Nid ydym yn cefnogi Rheoliadau Rhif 9. Mae gennych y drefn hon o aelwydydd estynedig—maent yn cyfarfod beth bynnag, felly, fel aelwydydd, mae'n debyg, o bosibl, yn trosglwyddo'r feirws, os yw hwnnw'n bresennol—pam wedyn cyfyngu i chwech mewn grwpiau o aelwydydd a ganiateir fel arall i gyfarfod mewn gwahanol grwpiau o chwech? Mae'r gwahaniaeth yn y trefniadau ar gyfer plant o'u cymharu â Lloegr yn drafferthus. A hefyd, mae gorfodi gwisgo gorchudd wyneb wedi ei ehangu, er bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi dweud cyn hyn bod y dystiolaeth dros eu gwisgo yn wan. Rydych yn dweud eich bod yn gwneud gwaith ymchwil o ran pobl yn eu gwisgo a'u tynnu wrth fynd i mewn ac allan o fwytai—ac y gallai hynny fod yn wrthgynhyrchiol—ac eto rydych wedi'i gynnwys yn rhywbeth gorfodol ar gyfer siopau ar sail sylfaen dystiolaeth wan iawn, ar y gorau. Felly, byddwn yn cefnogi rheoliadau 6 a 7 ond yn pleidleisio yn erbyn Rhif 9. Diolch.
I have supported the Welsh Government's legislation throughout this pandemic, because these measures were necessary to avoid thousands of unnecessary deaths, so of course they have my backing. I will continue to support all necessary measures and will therefore be voting for all of the legislation before us today.
However, I do have issues with the way the legislation is being handled. We are being asked to vote on measures put in place, as has already been said, but I'm emphasising it, some weeks ago. While I accept that this was necessary early on in the pandemic, there is no reason I can see for us not to be voting on measures before they are put in place. We should be debating the need for these measures ahead of time so we can convince the wider public of their necessity. The Welsh Government doesn't have to convince me that the measures put in place by the coronavirus regulations are needed; they have to convince the Welsh public.
Members of the public have to take responsibility for the actions that they take, so these regulations—if these regulations had been adhered to by everyone, we wouldn't now be considering imposing further lockdowns, but there is still much confusion about what is necessary and what isn't. The only way we will avoid further local or even a national lockdown is by convincing people to stick to the rules, by convincing people of the need for the rules. Every set of amending regulations so far has been accompanied by a report of the Senedd's Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee pointing out the lack of public consultation on the regulations. So, I accept that this hasn't been possible up to now, but it is sorely needed. Minister, will you commit to holding a public consultation on measures to control coronavirus and will the Welsh Government commit to putting its legislation in front of this Senedd before it comes into effect?
If we are to avoid another national lockdown in the coming weeks and months, then we need the people of Wales on side, supporting measures, instead of some choosing to ignore them. Otherwise, what's happening in the south-east of Wales is a sign of things to come for the rest of the country. Diolch yn fawr.
Rwyf wedi cefnogi deddfwriaeth Llywodraeth Cymru drwy gydol y pandemig hwn, oherwydd roedd angen y mesurau hyn i osgoi miloedd o farwolaethau diangen, felly wrth gwrs fy mod i yn eu cefnogi. Byddaf yn parhau i gefnogi'r holl fesurau angenrheidiol ac felly byddaf yn pleidleisio dros yr holl ddeddfwriaeth sydd ger ein bron heddiw.
Fodd bynnag, mae gennyf broblemau gyda'r ffordd yr ymdrinnir â'r ddeddfwriaeth. Gofynnir i ni bleidleisio ar fesurau a roddwyd ar waith, fel y dywedwyd eisoes, ond rwy'n ei bwysleisio, rai wythnosau'n ôl. Er fy mod yn derbyn bod hyn yn angenrheidiol yn gynnar yn y pandemig, nid oes rheswm y gallaf i ei weld dros beidio â phleidleisio ar fesurau cyn eu gweithredu. Dylem fod yn trafod yr angen am y mesurau hyn yn gynnar er mwyn inni allu argyhoeddi'r cyhoedd yn ehangach o'u hangen. Nid oes rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru fy argyhoeddi i bod angen y mesurau a roddwyd ar waith gan y rheoliadau coronafeirws; mae'n rhaid iddynt argyhoeddi'r cyhoedd yng Nghymru.
Rhaid i aelodau o'r cyhoedd gymryd cyfrifoldeb am eu gweithredoedd, felly mae'r rheoliadau hyn—pe bai pawb wedi cadw at y rheoliadau hyn, ni fyddem ni nawr yn ystyried gosod rhagor o gyfyngiadau, ond mae llawer o ddryswch o hyd ynghylch yr hyn sy'n angenrheidiol a'r hyn nad yw'n angenrheidiol. Yr unig ffordd y byddwn yn osgoi cyfyngiadau symud lleol neu hyd yn oed rhai cenedlaethol yw drwy argyhoeddi pobl i gadw at y rheolau, drwy argyhoeddi pobl bod angen y rheolau. Mae pob cyfres o reoliadau diwygio hyd yma wedi'i hategu gan adroddiad gan Bwyllgor Deddfwriaeth, Cyfiawnder a'r Cyfansoddiad y Senedd yn tynnu sylw at y diffyg ymgynghori cyhoeddus ar y rheoliadau. Felly, rwy'n derbyn nad yw hyn wedi bod yn bosibl hyd yma, ond mae ei angen yn ddirfawr. Gweinidog, a wnewch chi ymrwymo i gynnal ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus ar fesurau i reoli'r coronafeirws ac a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ymrwymo i gyflwyno ei deddfwriaeth gerbron y Senedd hon cyn iddi ddod i rym?
Os ydym ni eisiau osgoi sefyllfa o gyfyngiadau symud cenedlaethol arall yn ystod yr wythnosau a'r misoedd nesaf, yna mae arnom ni angen pobl Cymru ar ein hochr ni, yn cefnogi mesurau, yn hytrach na bod rhai yn dewis eu hanwybyddu. Fel arall, mae'r hyn sy'n digwydd yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru yn arwydd o bethau i ddod i weddill y wlad. Diolch yn fawr.
I've consistently opposed these regulations, because I think that they are wholly disproportionate to the threat that coronavirus presents to us. But I'd like to say first of all how much I agreed with what Andrew R.T. Davies and Rhun ap Iorwerth said earlier on about the manner in which these regulations are approved, weeks after they've been implemented by the Government. I think that's a democratic outrage, and I also think that 30 minutes is quite inadequate to discuss such draconian measures. Relaxations, of course, are always to be welcomed, but the overall, overarching scheme of the restrictions remains. We've turned our country, effectively, into an open prison, as I've said once before, and we're now doing that on an even more draconian basis at a local level.
When you look at the numerical threat that coronavirus presents to us, you really do have to wonder whether the Government, whether it's at UK level or in the devolved administration, has any sense of proportion at all. The latest figures for the UK show that the seven-day moving average of deaths from coronavirus, or, actually, related to coronavirus—that's what appears on the death certificate as a possible cause of death—is only 22, which is exactly where it was in the middle of July. There are only 138 people in the entire United Kingdom who are in a serious or critical condition with coronavirus, and the deaths per million is 615. Even if you take that as being indicative of the number of deaths from coronavirus, as opposed to people dying with coronavirus, that, as a proportion of the total population, I don't think justifies the vast economic dislocation and also the destruction of our social life, with all the implications that has had. We've got to get things back into proportion.
Sweden has been quoted by Mark Reckless and this is a very instructive case. There are only 15 people in the whole of Sweden in a serious or critical condition with COVID. They have 60,000 COVID cases, 15 people in a serious or critical condition, and their seven-day moving average since the end of July has been between one and three deaths. Sweden has had no compulsory lockdown, although they have had social distancing measures et cetera applied on a voluntary basis.
You can't draw direct comparisons between the experience of different countries. Local considerations will always, sometimes, produce significant differences. But when you consider the vast costs that we've incurred, relative to what's happened in Sweden, for a minimally different result, I do think that that is an indictment of official policy, so I shall vote against these regulations today.
Rwyf wedi gwrthwynebu'r rheoliadau hyn yn gyson, oherwydd credaf eu bod yn gwbl anghymesur â'r bygythiad a ddaw yn sgil y coronafeirws. Ond hoffwn ddweud yn gyntaf faint yr oeddwn yn cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd Andrew R.T. Davies a Rhun ap Iorwerth yn gynharach am y modd y caiff y rheoliadau hyn eu cymeradwyo, wythnosau ar ôl iddynt gael eu gweithredu gan y Llywodraeth. Credaf fod hynny'n warth democrataidd, a chredaf hefyd fod 30 munud yn eithaf annigonol i drafod mesurau mor llym. Wrth gwrs, mae lliniaru i'w groesawu bob amser, ond mae swm a sylwedd y cyfyngiadau at ei gilydd yr un fath. Rydym ni wedi troi ein gwlad, i bob pwrpas, yn garchar agored, fel yr wyf wedi'i ddweud unwaith o'r blaen, ac rydym ni bellach yn gwneud hynny ar sail fwy llym fyth yn lleol.
Pan edrychwch chi ar fygythiad y coronafeirws o ran niferoedd, mae'n rhaid ichi ystyried tybed a oes gan y Llywodraeth, boed ar lefel y DU neu yn y weinyddiaeth ddatganoledig, unrhyw synnwyr o gymesuredd o gwbl. Mae'r ffigurau diweddaraf ar gyfer y DU yn dangos mai dim ond 22 yw'r cyfartaledd symudol saith diwrnod y marwolaethau o'r coronafeirws, neu, mewn gwirionedd, yn ymwneud â choronafeirws—dyna sy'n ymddangos ar y dystysgrif marwolaeth fel achos bosib y farwolaeth—sef yr union fan lle'r oedd yng nghanol mis Gorffennaf. Dim ond 138 o bobl yn y Deyrnas Unedig gyfan sydd mewn cyflwr difrifol neu gritigol gyda'r coronafeirws, a'r marwolaethau fesul miliwn yw 615. Hyd yn oed os cymerwch chi hynny fel arwydd o nifer y marwolaethau oherwydd coronafeirws, yn hytrach na phobl sy'n marw gyda'r coronafeirws arnyn nhw, nid wyf yn credu bod hynny fel cyfran o'r holl boblogaeth, yn cyfiawnhau'r datgymaliad economaidd enfawr a hefyd y dinistr yn ein bywyd cymdeithasol, gyda holl oblygiadau hynny. Mae'n rhaid i ni adennill synnwyr cymesuredd.
Dyfynnwyd Sweden gan Mark Reckless ac mae hwn yn achos addysgiadol iawn. Dim ond 15 o bobl sydd yn Sweden gyfan mewn cyflwr difrifol neu gritigol gyda COVID. Mae ganddynt 60,000 o achosion o COVID, 15 o bobl mewn cyflwr difrifol neu gritigol, ac mae eu cyfartaledd symudol saith diwrnod ers diwedd mis Gorffennaf wedi bod rhwng un a thair marwolaeth. Nid yw Sweden wedi cael unrhyw gyfyngiadau symud gorfodol, er eu bod wedi cael mesurau cadw pellter cymdeithasol gwirfoddol ac ati.
Ni allwch chi wneud cymariaethau uniongyrchol rhwng profiadau gwahanol wledydd. Weithiau, bydd ystyriaethau lleol yn creu gwahaniaethau sylweddol. Ond pan ystyriwch y costau enfawr yr ydym ni wedi'u hysgwyddo, o'u cymharu â'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yn Sweden, am ganlyniad sydd ychydig bach yn wahanol, credaf fod hynny'n gondemniad o bolisi swyddogol, felly pleidleisiaf yn erbyn y rheoliadau hyn heddiw.
Y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i ymateb i'r ddadl—Vaughan Gething.
The Minister for Health and Social Services to reply to the debate—Vaughan Gething.
Thank you, Llywydd. I thank Members for their contributions and I thank the committee for their scrutiny. And on the broader points raised by both Andrew R.T. Davies and Rhun ap Iorwerth on the process, these are made in mind with the made-affirmative process that this Senedd has provided for. The Government is always open to conversations about how business is transacted, and, of course, the Presiding Officer and the Business Committee have an important role in making sure this is done in accordance with our own procedures. We recalled this Senedd, of course, during the summer to pass made-affirmative regulations as well. It's an important lock on the Government's ability to make these regulations that the Senedd has to agree them for them to continue.
We are in unprecedented circumstances, as Rhun ap Iorwerth has indicated, and part of our challenge is the speed at which we need to move, but also the speed at which the course of the pandemic changes. The start of these regulations being debated today is about further easement, and yet we're now discussing further restrictions taking place right across the United Kingdom with a significant warning about the harm that will take place in this country, as in other parts of the UK, unless further measures are taken. I think Rhun ap Iorwerth's point about clarity and messaging is important. It's always important to look at how our messages are being received and understood by the public, and I do think that the four-nation engagement at leadership level will help with that in every part of the UK.
In terms of Mark Reckless's point, we'll be debating the Caerphilly and RCT regulations next week, as indicated by the Trefnydd and also in my opening. Both Neil Hamilton and Mark Reckless were keen to indicate their preference for the Swedish approach, and as the First Minister indicated earlier today, the death rate, I think, in Norway is over 200 deaths, and more than 5,000 deaths in Sweden. The comparison, I think, for the harm caused between comparable Nordic countries doesn't do many favours for the Swedish position, or indeed commend it as the approach we should take here.
You will recall that tomorrow, I think, and in the weeks to come, we'll be debating the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee's report on the first stage of response. Far from suggesting that we should have taken a more lax approach, the concern there is: did we do enough at the right time with the knowledge that we had? The Government isn't going to completely move its position and take a more laissez-faire Swedish approach to managing the real risk that coronavirus poses for all of us. We think these are proportionate measures being taken now to avoid harm in significant measure, but there is no perfect choice to make. We recognise that lockdown had downsides too.
All of the regulations today reflect careful consideration of how to balance the freedoms we enjoy with managing the significant continuing threat of coronavirus. Our approach has been guided, as always, by the chief medical officer's department, public health advice, scientific officers and our technical advisory group, and we regularly and openly publish a summary of their advice and the study they make of the evidence within Wales, the UK and beyond. As I set out, we take specific and proportionate action, as we're doing in response to the rise in cases in the south-east of Wales.
The main point, though, is that every one of us has a responsibility to make choices and to follow the measures that are in place, to keep us, our loved ones and our community safe from this infectious and harmful virus. Specifically, we all need to keep our distance from each other when we're out and about, we need to wash our hands often, we need to work from home wherever possible, we need to wear a face covering in indoor public places, and we need to stay at home if we have symptoms and while we're waiting for a test result. And we need to follow any other restrictions that are in place locally. The regulations are for all to follow for the benefit of all. We all have a role to play in keeping Wales safe, and I ask the Senedd to support these regulations.
Diolch, Llywydd. Diolch i'r Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau a diolchaf i'r pwyllgor am eu gwaith craffu. Ac o ran y pwyntiau ehangach a godwyd gan Andrew R.T. Davies a Rhun ap Iorwerth ynghylch y broses, caiff y rhain eu gwneud wrth ystyried y weithdrefn gadarnhaol ‘gwnaed’ y mae'r Senedd hon wedi ei darparu ar ei chyfer. Mae'r Llywodraeth bob amser yn agored i sgyrsiau am y modd y caiff busnes ei drafod, ac, wrth gwrs, mae gan y Llywydd a'r Pwyllgor Busnes swyddogaeth bwysig o ran sicrhau y gwneir hyn yn unol â'n gweithdrefnau ein hunain. Galwyd y Senedd hon yn ôl, wrth gwrs, yn ystod yr haf i basio rheoliadau cadarnhaol 'gwnaed' hefyd. Clo pwysig ar allu'r Llywodraeth i wneud y rheoliadau hyn yw'r ffaith bod yn rhaid i'r Senedd gytuno arnynt er mwyn iddynt barhau.
Rydym mewn amgylchiadau digynsail, fel y mae Rhun ap Iorwerth wedi'i nodi, a rhan o'n her yw pa mor gyflym y mae angen inni weithredu, ond hefyd pa mor gyflym y mae cwrs y pandemig yn newid. Mae dechrau'r rheoliadau hyn sy'n cael eu trafod heddiw yn ymwneud â lliniaru pellach, ac eto rydym ni nawr yn trafod cyfyngiadau pellach sy'n digwydd ledled y Deyrnas Unedig gyda rhybudd sylweddol am y niwed a fydd yn digwydd yn y wlad hon, fel mewn rhannau eraill o'r DU, oni bai y gweithredir mesurau pellach. Rwy'n credu bod pwynt Rhun ap Iorwerth am eglurder a chyflwyno neges yn bwysig. Mae bob amser yn bwysig ystyried sut mae ein negeseuon yn cael eu derbyn a'u deall gan y cyhoedd, ac rwyf yn credu y bydd yr ymgysylltu gydag arweinwyr y pedair gwlad yn helpu gyda hynny ym mhob rhan o'r DU.
O ran pwynt Mark Reckless, byddwn yn trafod rheoliadau Caerffili a Rhondda Cynon Taf yr wythnos nesaf, fel y nodwyd gan y Trefnydd a hefyd yn fy sylwadau agoriadol. Roedd Neil Hamilton a Mark Reckless yn awyddus i nodi eu bod yn ffafrio dull Sweden, ac fel y nododd y Prif Weinidog yn gynharach heddiw, mae'r gyfradd marwolaethau, mi gredaf, yn Norwy dros 200 o farwolaethau, a mwy na 5,000 o farwolaethau yn Sweden. Nid yw cymharu y niwed a fu yn y gwahanol wledydd Nordig yn fanteisiol iawn i'r sefyllfa yn Sweden, nac yn wir yn ei chymeradwyo fel y dull y dylem ei fabwysiadu yma.
Byddwch yn cofio, rwy'n credu, yfory ac yn yr wythnosau i ddod, y byddwn yn trafod adroddiad y Pwyllgor Iechyd, Gofal Cymdeithasol a Chwaraeon ar gam cyntaf yr ymateb. Yn hytrach nag awgrymu y dylem fod wedi mynd ati mewn modd llai caeth, y pryder yn y fan yna yw: a wnaethom ni ddigon ar yr adeg iawn gyda'r wybodaeth a oedd gennym ni? Nid yw'r Llywodraeth yn mynd i newid ei safbwynt yn llwyr a mabwysiadu ymagwedd fwy laissez-faire Sweden o ran rheoli'r risg wirioneddol i bob un ohonom ni yn sgil y coronafeirws. Credwn fod y rhain yn fesurau cymesur sy'n cael eu gweithredu nawr i osgoi niwed sylweddol, ond nid oes dewis perffaith i'w wneud. Rydym yn cydnabod bod anfanteision i'r cyfyngiadau symud hefyd.
Mae'r holl reoliadau heddiw yn adlewyrchu ystyriaeth ofalus o sut i gydbwyso'r rhyddid a fwynhawn wrth reoli bygythiad sylweddol parhaus y coronafeirws. Mae ein dull gweithredu wedi'i lywio, fel arfer, gan adran y prif swyddog meddygol, cyngor iechyd cyhoeddus, swyddogion gwyddonol a'n grŵp cynghori technegol, ac rydym yn cyhoeddi crynodeb o'u cyngor a'r astudiaeth a wnânt o'r dystiolaeth yng Nghymru, y DU a thu hwnt yn rheolaidd ac yn agored. Fel y nodais, rydym yn cymryd camau penodol a chymesur, fel yr ydym yn ei wneud mewn ymateb i'r cynnydd mewn achosion yn y de-ddwyrain.
Y prif bwynt, serch hynny, yw bod gan bob un ohonom ni gyfrifoldeb i wneud dewisiadau a dilyn y mesurau sydd ar waith, i'n cadw ni, ein hanwyliaid a'n cymuned yn ddiogel rhag y feirws heintus a niweidiol hwn. Yn benodol, mae angen i bob un ohonom ni gadw pellter oddi wrth ein gilydd pan fyddwn ni allan, mae angen i ni olchi ein dwylo'n aml, mae angen i ni weithio gartref lle bynnag y bo modd gwneud hynny, mae angen i ni wisgo gorchudd wyneb mewn mannau cyhoeddus dan do, ac mae angen i ni aros gartref os oes gennym ni symptomau ac wrth i ni aros am ganlyniad prawf. Ac mae angen i ni ddilyn unrhyw gyfyngiadau eraill sydd ar waith yn lleol. Mae'r rheoliadau i bawb eu dilyn er budd pawb. Mae gan bob un ohonom ni ran i'w chwarae i gadw Cymru'n ddiogel, a gofynnaf i'r Senedd gefnogi'r rheoliadau hyn.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig o dan eitem 6? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Oes, dwi'n gweld gwrthwynebiad, ac felly rŷn ni'n gohirio'r eitem yna tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig o dan eitem 7? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Dwi'n gweld gwrthwynebiad unwaith eto, felly rŷn ni'n gohirio ar yr eitem yna.
Y cynnig nesaf, felly, o dan eitem 9: a oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? [Gwrthwynebiad.] Dwi'n clywed gwrthwynebiad i'r cynnig yna hefyd, ac rŷn ni yn gohirio y bleidlais tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
The proposal is to agree the motion under item 6. Does any Member object? [Objection.] Yes, I see an objection, and so we defer that item until voting time.
The proposal is to agree the motion under item 7. Does any Member object? [Objection.] I see an objection once again, so we defer on that item.
The next motion, therefore, under item 9: does any Member object? [Objection.] I also hear an objection to that motion, so we defer the vote until voting time.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Rŷn ni'n symud ymlaen nawr at eitem 11, sef Rheoliadau'r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Gwasanaethau Fferyllol) (Cymru) 2020. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog i wneud y cynnig yna—Vaughan Gething.
We now move on to item 11 and the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020. I call on the Minister to move that motion—Vaughan Gething.
Cynnig NDM7378 Rebecca Evans
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5:
1. Yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau’r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Gwasanaethau Fferyllol) (Cymru) 2020 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â’r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 6 Awst 2020.
Motion NDM7378 Rebecca Evans
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5:
1. Approves that the draft The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 6 August 2020.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. These regulations today, as the explanatory memorandum sets out, have previously been laid twice before the Senedd, and it's my pleasure to move the regulations today. They were first laid on 17 March this year, and then withdrawn as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, then re-laid on 8 July, but withdrawn in order to correct a minor technical scrutiny point made in the last scrutiny report at that time.
The regulations are being introduced under powers inserted into the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 by the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017. The major policy change effected by these regulations is that health boards will be required to conduct and publish a pharmaceutical needs assessment for its area and to determine applications to provide NHS pharmaceutical services against that assessment. The regulations also introduce a way of dealing with breaches of the terms of service by NHS pharmacists and NHS appliance contractors.
Much work has been done by the Welsh Government in recent years to move health services that were traditionally provided in hospitals into the community, closer to where we live. We have concentrated significant effort in transforming community pharmacy to deliver a range of services that traditionally have been delivered by general practitioners, and I welcome the broad cross-party support in doing so. All pharmacies are now able to provide the common ailments service, many undertake medicine reviews on discharge from hospital, offer flu vaccinations, provide advice and support on smoking cessation and the emergency contraception service. However, the current regulatory regime and approach has been in place for over 27 years and no longer adequately reflects the ways in which the role of community pharmacies have developed in that time.
In order to maximise the public health role of community pharmacy, a role that has clearly been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of pharmaceutical needs assessments makes a fundamental change to the way in which decisions about pharmaceutical services in Wales are made by health boards. Although based on the English model for pharmaceutical needs assessments, our extensive stakeholder engagement has resulted in a made-in-Wales policy specifically focused on the provision of community pharmacy in Wales. Our model of pharmaceutical needs assessment complements the measures the Welsh Government has taken since 2017 to transform the delivery of the community pharmacy contractual framework. Once the regulations are in force, applications will move from being driven by contractors and focused heavily on the dispensing of prescriptions to a process that is alert and responsive to the broader pharmaceutical needs of their local population.
These changes to the way that pharmaceutical services are planned will enable the NHS and specifically health boards to better meet the needs of local communities and better reflect the crucial public health role of community pharmacies. I ask the Senedd to support the regulations before us.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae'r rheoliadau hyn heddiw, fel y noda'r memorandwm esboniadol, wedi'u cyflwyno gerbron y Senedd ddwywaith o'r blaen, ac mae'n bleser gennyf gynnig y rheoliadau heddiw. Fe'u cyflwynwyd gyntaf ar 17 Mawrth eleni, ac yna fe'u tynnwyd yn ôl o ganlyniad i'r pandemig COVID-19, ac yna fe'u cyflwynwyd eto ar 8 Gorffennaf, ond fe'u tynnwyd yn ôl er mwyn cywiro mân bwynt craffu technegol a wnaed yn yr adroddiad craffu olaf bryd hynny.
Caiff y rheoliadau eu cyflwyno o dan bwerau a fewnosodwyd yn Neddf y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Cymru) 2006 gan Ddeddf Iechyd y Cyhoedd (Cymru) 2017. Y newid polisi mawr y mae'r rheoliadau hyn yn effeithio arno yw y bydd yn ofynnol i fyrddau iechyd gynnal a chyhoeddi asesiad o anghenion fferyllol ar gyfer eu hardaloedd a phenderfynu ar geisiadau i ddarparu gwasanaethau fferyllol y GIG oyn unol â'r asesiad hwnnw. Mae'r rheoliadau hefyd yn cyflwyno ffordd o ymdrin ag achosion o dorri telerau gwasanaethu fferyllwyr GIG a chontractwyr cyfarpar GIG.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud llawer o waith yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf i symud gwasanaethau iechyd, a ddarparwyd yn draddodiadol mewn ysbytai, i'r gymuned, yn nes at ble'r ydym yn byw. Rydym ni wedi gwneud ymdrech sylweddol i drawsnewid fferylliaeth gymunedol i ddarparu amrywiaeth o wasanaethau sydd wedi'u darparu'n draddodiadol gan feddygon teulu, a chroesawaf y gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol eang wrth wneud hynny. Gall pob fferyllfa bellach ddarparu'r gwasanaeth anhwylderau cyffredin, mae llawer yn cynnal adolygiadau meddyginiaethau pan fydd pobl yn cael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty, yn cynnig brechiadau rhag y ffliw, yn rhoi cyngor a chymorth ar roi'r gorau i ysmygu ac yn cynnig gwasanaeth atal cenhedlu brys. Fodd bynnag, mae'r drefn reoleiddio a'r dull gweithredu presennol wedi bod ar waith ers dros 27 mlynedd ac nid yw bellach yn adlewyrchu'n ddigonol y ffyrdd y mae swyddogaeth fferyllfeydd cymunedol wedi datblygu yn y cyfnod hwnnw.
Er mwyn manteisio i'r eithaf ar swyddogaeth fferylliaeth gymunedol ym maes iechyd cyhoeddus, swyddogaeth sydd wedi'i hamlygu'n glir yn ystod pandemig COVID-19, mae cyflwyno asesiadau o anghenion fferyllol yn gwneud newid sylfaenol i'r ffordd y mae byrddau iechyd yn gwneud penderfyniadau am wasanaethau fferyllol yng Nghymru. Er ei fod yn seiliedig ar fodel Lloegr o asesiadau anghenion fferyllol, mae ein hymgysylltiad helaeth â rhanddeiliaid wedi arwain at bolisi sydd wedi'i lunio yng Nghymru ac sy'n canolbwyntio'n benodol ar ddarparu fferylliaeth gymunedol yng Nghymru. Mae ein model asesu anghenion fferyllol yn ategu'r mesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u gweithredu ers 2017 i drawsnewid y gwaith o gyflawni fframwaith contractiol fferylliaeth gymunedol. Ar ôl i'r rheoliadau ddod i rym, bydd ceisiadau'n symud o'r broses o gael eu gyrru gan gontractwyr lle mae pwyslais mawr ar ddosbarthu presgripsiynau i broses sy'n effro ac yn ymateb i anghenion fferyllol ehangach eu poblogaeth leol.
Bydd y newidiadau hyn i'r ffordd y caiff gwasanaethau fferyllol eu cynllunio yn galluogi'r GIG ac yn benodol byrddau iechyd i ddiwallu anghenion cymunedau lleol yn well ac adlewyrchu swyddogaeth hollbwysig fferyllfeydd cymunedol ym maes iechyd cyhoeddus yn well. Gofynnaf i'r Senedd gefnogi'r rheoliadau sydd ger ein bron.
Andrew R.T. Davies. Andrew R.T. Davies. No, you don't wish to speak. That's the reason you're not unmuting yourself here. Okay. I'm assuming the Minister doesn't need to respond to nobody, so I ask if everybody is content for the motion under item 11 to be agreed. Any objection? No. So, the motion has been accepted. [Interruption.] Oh.
Andrew R.T. Davies. Andrew R.T. Davies. Na, dydych chi ddim yn dymuno siarad. Dyna'r rheswm nad ydych chi'n troi eich meicroffon yma. Iawn. Rwy'n tybio nad oes angen i'r Gweinidog ymateb i neb, felly gofynnaf a yw pawb yn fodlon cytuno ar y cynnig o dan eitem 11. Unrhyw wrthwynebiad? Na. Felly, mae'r cynnig wedi'i dderbyn. [Torri ar draws.] O.
I did have my hand up.
Roedd fy llaw i fyny.
Yes, I missed that, Gareth Bennett. I'll accept that. I'll thank the Minister for drawing—I thank the Minister for drawing that to my attention, and I'll accept that as an objection, and I will delay that vote until the voting time. Okay.
Oedd, fe gollais i hynny, Gareth Bennett. Derbyniaf hynny. Diolch i'r Gweinidog am dynnu fy sylw—diolch i'r Gweinidog am dynnu fy sylw at hynny, a derbyniaf hynny fel gwrthwynebiad, a byddaf yn gohirio'r bleidlais honno tan y cyfnod pleidleisio. Iawn.
Gohiriwyd y pleidleisio tan y cyfnod pleidleisio.
Voting deferred until voting time.
Sydd yn dod â ni at y cyfnod pleidleisio, ond mae Rheol Sefydlog 34.14D yn golygu y bydd yna egwyl nawr o bum munud tan fod y cyfnod pleidleisio yn cychwyn. Felly yr egwyl i gychwyn nawr.
Which brings us to voting time, but, in accordance with Standing Order 34.14D, there will be a break now of five minutes until the beginning of voting time. So, the break will begin now.
Ataliwyd y Cyfarfod Llawn am 17:19.
Plenary was suspended at 17:19.
Ailymgynullodd y Senedd am 17:27, gyda'r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
The Senedd reconvened at 17:27, with the Llywydd in the Chair.
Iawn, felly dyma ni'n cyrraedd y cyfnod pleidleisio ac mae'r bleidlais gyntaf ar y Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 6) 2020. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans. Agor y bleidlais. Dwi'n cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 49, neb yn ymatal, dau yn erbyn, ac felly mae'r cynnig wedi'i gymeradwyo.
That brings us to voting time and the first vote is on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2020, and I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. Open the vote. I close the vote. In favour 49, no abstentions, two against, and therefore the motion is agreed.
Eitem 6 - Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 6) 2020: O blaid: 49, Yn erbyn: 2, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 6 - The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2020: For: 49, Against: 2, Abstain: 0
Motion has been agreed
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar y Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 7) 2020. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 49, neb yn ymatal, dau yn erbyn, felly mae'r cynnig wedi'i gymeradwyo.
The next vote is on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 2020, and I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 49, no abstentions, two against, therefore the motion is agreed.
Eitem 7 - Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 7) 2020: O blaid: 49, Yn erbyn: 2, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 7 - The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No.2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No.7) Regulations 2020: For: 49, Against: 2, Abstain: 0
Motion has been agreed
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar y Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 9) 2020. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig a gyflwynwyd yn enw Rebecca Evans. Agor y bleidlais. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 47, neb yn ymatal, pedwar yn erbyn, felly mae'r cynnig yna wedi cael ei gymeradwyo.
The next vote is on the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No.9) Regulations 2020. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. Open the vote. Close the vote. In favour 47, no abstentions, four against, therefore the motion is agreed.
Eitem 9 - Rheoliadau Diogelu Iechyd (Cyfyngiadau Coronafeirws) (Rhif 2) (Cymru) (Diwygio) (Rhif 9) 2020: O blaid: 47, Yn erbyn: 4, Ymatal: 0
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 9 - The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No.9) Regulations 2020: For: 47, Against: 4, Abstain: 0
Motion has been agreed
Mae'r bleidlais nesaf ar Reoliadau'r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Gwasanaethau Fferyllol) (Cymru) 2020. Dwi'n galw am bleidlais ar y cynnig yn enw Rebecca Evans. Cau'r bleidlais. O blaid 47, pedwar yn ymatal, felly mae'r cynnig yna wedi'i gymeradwyo.
The next vote is on the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020. I call for a vote on the motion tabled in the name of Rebecca Evans. Close the vote. In favour 47, four abstentions, therefore the motion is agreed.
Eitem 11 - Rheoliadau'r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Gwasanaethau Fferyllol) (Cymru) 2020: O blaid: 47, Yn erbyn: 0, Ymatal: 4
Derbyniwyd y cynnig
Item 11 - The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2020: For: 47, Against: 0, Abstain: 4
Motion has been agreed
Pwynt o drefn, Adam Price.
Point of order, Adam Price.
Diolch, Llywydd. Yn ystod ein trafodion ni heddiw, roedd nifer o Aelodau o ran y gwrthbleidiau ac hefyd ar ochr y Llywodraeth wedi gofyn am ddatganiad gan y Prif Weinidog i'r Senedd os oes yna unrhyw fwriad i gyflwyno unrhyw newidiadau polisi ynglŷn â choronafeirws a'r cyfyngiadau heddiw. Rŷn ni’n cael ar ddeall bod yna'n dal cyhoeddiad yn mynd i fod. Ydych chi wedi cael cyfathrebiad gan y Prif Weinidog neu gan y Llywodraeth o ran y bwriad i gyflwyno datganiad i’r Siambr oherwydd mae’n hollbwysig ein bod ni’n cael y cyfle i graffu’n effeithiol?
Thank you, Llywydd. During proceedings today, a number of Members from opposition parties as well as Members from the Government side had asked for a statement from the First Minister to be made in the Senedd if there is any intention to introduce any policy changes on coronavirus and restrictions today. We're given to understand that there is to be an announcement made. Have you received any communication from the First Minister or from the Government in terms of its intention to make a statement to the Siambr, because it's crucially important that we have an opportunity to scrutinise effectively?
Diolch am y pwynt o drefn yna. Mae nifer o Aelodau wedi codi'r pwyntiau yna yn ystod y prynhawn. Mae yna drafodaeth wedi bod rhyngof i, rhwng fy swyddfa i a swyddfa'r Llywodraeth ynglŷn â gwneud datganiad o'r fath neu ymateb i gwestiwn brys a gafodd ei gyflwyno hefyd cyn diwedd y cyfarfod yma'r prynhawn yma. Dwi ar ddeall oddi wrth y Llywodraeth fod yr union benderfyniadau terfynol heb gael eu gwneud eto ac felly ddim yn debygol o gael eu gwneud cyn ychydig cyn 8 o'r gloch heno, pan fydd yna ddatganiad gan y Prif Weinidog i'r genedl ar y cyfryngau, felly dwi—. Gan fod y datganiad ei hunan ddim yn barod a'r penderfyniadau perthnasol heb eu gwneud, fyddan nhw ddim ar gael i gael eu gwneud heno i'r Senedd achos fe fydden ni wedi gallu gohirio'r cyfarfod yma am ychydig ond ddim tan 8 o'r gloch, felly fe fydd yna ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth fory i'r Senedd yma er bydd y cyhoeddiad wedi digwydd heno, tua 8 o'r gloch. Felly, diolch am y pwynt o drefn a'r cyfle i esbonio'r sefyllfa yna fel dwi'n ei deall hi i'r Senedd. Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi. Prynhawn da.
Thank you for that point of order. Many Members have raised those issues during the afternoon. There has been discussion between myself, my office and the Government on such a statement being made or responding to an urgent question that was tabled and to do so before the end of this afternoon's meeting. I'm given to understand from the Government that the exact final decisions are yet to have been made and aren't likely to be made until a little before 8 o'clock tonight, when the First Minister will make a statement to the nation on the media. Therefore, as the statement isn't ready and the relevant decisions haven't yet been made, they won't be available to be made here in the Senedd this evening. We could have postponed or deferred proceedings for a while, but not until 8 o'clock, so there will be a Government statement to the Senedd tomorrow although the announcement will have been made this evening around 8 o'clock. Thank you for that point of order and the opportunity to explain that situation as I understand it to the Senedd. Thank you very much. Good afternoon.
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 17:33.
The meeting ended at 17:33.