Y Cyfarfod Llawn

Plenary

03/12/2024

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.

1. Cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog
1. Questions to the First Minister

Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Yr eitem gyntaf ar ein hagenda ni y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Adam Price. 

Good afternoon and welcome to this afternoon's Plenary meeting. The first item on our agenda this afternoon will be questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Adam Price. 

Tanddaearu Llinellau Trydan Newydd
Undergrounding New Electricity Cables

1. A yw Llywodraeth Cymru'n agored i sefydlu cronfa effaith weledol, yn debyg i’r cynllun a gyflwynwyd gan Ofgem yn 2014, ond wedi’i ffocysu ar gefnogi’r broses o danddaearu llinellau trydan newydd? OQ62006

1. Is the Welsh Government open to establishing a visual impact fund, similar to the scheme introduced by Ofgem in 2014, but focused on supporting the process of undergrounding new electricity cables? OQ62006

Mae’n rhaid i Gymru fod yn barod i wneud newidiadau sylweddol i seilwaith ynni, i wneud yn siŵr bod ein cartrefi ni a’n busnesau ni yn gynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae’r mecanweithiau ar gyfer talu am seilwaith newydd yn fater i Lywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig, ond mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n buddsoddi'n adnoddau ni mewn cynllunio rhwydweithiau strategol, a bydd hyn yn helpu i leihau’r effaith gyffredinol.

Wales must be prepared to make significant changes to energy infrastructure, to ensure our homes and businesses are sustainable for the future. The mechanisms for paying for new infrastructure are a reserved matter to the UK Government, but the Welsh Government is investing resources in strategic network planning, which will help to reduce overall impact.

Diolch i’r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb. Fel y dywedais i, 10 mlynedd yn ôl, mi oedd Ofgem wedi creu cronfa—tua £1 biliwn dros y cyfnod yna. Ond er mwyn tanddaearu llinellau presennol, onid oes cyfle gyda ni yng Nghymru i wneud hynny ar gyfer llinellau newydd, i roi cyfle i ni arbrofi gyda thechnolegau newydd o ran tanddaearu, hefyd, wrth gwrs, a ffordd i ni ddatgarboneiddio yn gyflymach—oherwydd mae yna wrthwynebiad, wrth gwrs, i beilonau ar hyn o bryd—wrth i ni greu cronfa all wedyn dalu am y gwaddol ar ôl er mwyn gwneud llinellau yn economaidd? Gallwn ni wedyn danddaearu 100 y cant, sef polisi Llywodraeth Cymru, rhoi Cymru ar y blaen o ran y dechnoleg tanddaearu yma, a chael cefnogaeth cymunedau i’r cynlluniau datgarboneiddio, yn hytrach na’r gwrthwynebiad sydd yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd oherwydd y gofid ynglŷn â pheilonau.  

Thank you for that response, First Minister. As I said, 10 years ago, Ofgem created a fund of around £1 billion over that period. But to underground existing cables, isn’t there an opportunity for us here in Wales to do that for new cabling too, to provide us with an opportunity to experiment with new technologies in terms of undergrounding, and also, of course, a means of decarbonising more swiftly—because there is opposition to pylons at the moment—as we create a fund that could then pay for the legacy of that in order to make these lines economical? We could then underground 100 per cent, which is the Welsh Government’s policy, put Wales in the vanguard in terms of this undergrounding technology, and get the support of communities to these decarbonisation plans, rather than the opposition that exists at the moment because of concerns about pylons.

Diolch yn fawr. Wel, dwi’n meddwl bod rhaid i ni gydnabod y bydd effeithiau mawr ar y grid yn y dyfodol. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae ein polisi ni yn un sy’n gofyn am danddaearu lle bo hynny’n bosibl. Ond dwi’n meddwl bod yn rhaid i ni gyd dderbyn bod hwnna’n gostus tu hwnt—lot yn fwy costus—ac, felly, mae’n rhaid i ni drefnu a deall bod hwn yn ardal lle mae energy networks heb eu datganoli. Pe byddem ni'n cymryd ymlaen y cyfrifoldeb ar gyfer tanddaearu, byddai hynny’n gostus tu hwnt, ac fe fyddai’n rhaid i ni dorri’r arian o rywle arall.

Ond dwi'n meddwl ei bod hi’n bwysig ein bod ni yn derbyn ac yn clywed yr hyn sydd gan bobl leol i’w ddweud, ond mae’n rhaid i ni hefyd dderbyn bod costau ar gyfer egni yn uchel yn barod, ac, felly, mae’n rhaid i ni jest fod yn sensitif o ran gweld y costau hynny yn mynd yn uwch.

Rŷch chi’n dod o orllewin Cymru. Dwi jest eisiau talu teyrnged heddiw—

Thank you very much. I think that we have to acknowledge that there will be major impacts on the grid in the future, and, of course, our policy is one that requires undergrounding where that’s possible. But I think that we all have to accept that that is very expensive—much more expensive, in fact—and, therefore, we have to understand that this is an area where energy networks are non-devolved. If we were to take on the responsibility for undergrounding, that would be extremely expensive and we would have to cut funding from other areas.

However, I do think it is important that we do accept and hear what local people have to say, but we also have to accept that costs for energy are already very high, and, therefore, we have to be sensitive in terms of seeing those costs rising again.

You come from west Wales, and I just want to pay tribute today—

I want to pay tribute today to another west Walian, Terry Griffiths, who was a proud son of Llanelli—a great Welshman. He did so much for us in being world snooker champion on so many occasions. And I’d like to pay tribute to him today, and also to wish the women’s football team good luck this evening in the European football play-offs in Dublin. I’m sure we’ll all be behind them 100 per cent. 

Hoffwn dalu teyrnged heddiw i orllewinwr arall, Terry Griffiths, a oedd yn un o feibion balch Llanelli—Cymro gwych. Gwnaeth gymaint i ni o fod yn bencampwr snwcer y byd ar gynifer o achlysuron. A hoffwn dalu teyrnged iddo heddiw, a hefyd dymuno pob lwc i dîm pêl-droed y menywod heno yn y gemau  pêl-droed ail gyfle Ewropeaidd yn Nulyn. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwn ni i gyd yn eu cefnogi nhw 100 y cant.

First Minister, earlier this year in the Senedd, we had a motion, of course, calling for an update on 'Planning Policy Wales' to specifically mandate undergrounding rather than just it being a preferred option, as is currently the Welsh Government’s position—the preferred option, but not prepared to put that into planning guidance. Of course, I heard what you said to Adam Price in his question today. And you responded to me earlier this year—of course, undergrounding, if it’s feasible, if it’s possible, if it’s affordable, but, sometimes, that simply won’t be possible. But what I would say, First Minister, is that I’m concerned that the Welsh Government planning guidance is lagging behind, potentially, technological advances. If you look to continental Europe, we can see huge steps forward in undergrounding, and, in fact, there are Welsh companies—Welsh contractors—that are very much involved in that in continental Europe. So, can I ask you: if it’s still the Welsh Government’s position to not change planning guidance in this regard, can you at least start the process of investigating these new technological advances, with a view to making and changing the Welsh Government guidance, and, eventually, for you to support a position where you will only support cabling if it’s underground?

Prif Weinidog, yn gynharach eleni yn y Senedd, cawsom gynnig, wrth gwrs, yn galw am ddiweddariad ar 'Polisi Cynllunio Cymru' i orfodi yn benodol tanddaearu yn hytrach na'i gael fel opsiwn a ffefrir yn unig, sef safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru ar hyn o bryd—yr opsiwn a ffefrir, ond nid yn barod i gynnwys hynny mewn canllawiau cynllunio. Wrth gwrs, clywais yr hyn y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud wrth Adam Price yn ei gwestiwn heddiw. Ac fe wnaethoch chi ymateb i mi yn gynharach eleni—wrth gwrs, tanddaearu, os yw'n ymarferol, os yw'n bosibl, os yw'n fforddiadwy, ond, weithiau, yn syml, ni fydd hynny'n bosibl. Ond yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud, Prif Weinidog, yw fy mod i'n pryderu bod canllawiau cynllunio Llywodraeth Cymru ar ei hôl hi o ran datblygiadau technolegol, o bosibl. Os edrychwch chi ar Ewrop gyfandirol, gallwn weld camau enfawr ymlaen o ran tanddaearu, ac, a dweud y gwir, ceir cwmnïau o Gymru—contractwyr o Gymru—sy'n chwarae rhan fawr yn hynny o beth yn Ewrop gyfandirol. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi: os mai safbwynt Llywodraeth Cymru o hyd yw peidio â newid canllawiau cynllunio yn hyn o beth, a allwch chi o leiaf ddechrau'r broses o ymchwilio i'r datblygiadau technolegol newydd hyn, gyda'r bwriad o lunio a newid canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru, ac, yn y pen draw, i chi gefnogi safbwynt lle byddwch chi'n cefnogi ceblau dim ond os ydyn nhw'n danddaearol?

13:35

The Welsh Government is already involved in strategic planning groups at the GB level, but, on top of that, we've established an independent grid group to develop the principles in terms of our approach to new grid proposals in Wales. Now, they will be reporting towards the end of March. They will be undertaking the kind of investigations that you are proposing.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes yn cymryd rhan mewn grwpiau cynllunio strategol ar lefel Prydain Fawr, ond, ar ben hynny, rydym ni wedi sefydlu grŵp grid annibynnol i ddatblygu'r egwyddorion o ran ein dull o ymdrin â chynigion grid newydd yng Nghymru. Nawr, byddan nhw'n adrodd tua diwedd mis Mawrth. Byddan nhw'n cynnal y math o ymchwiliadau yr ydych chi'n eu cynnig.

Good afternoon, Prif Weinidog. I just want to follow up on both of those points, if that's okay. It's really important that we have a planning policy that's fit for purpose not just for now, but for the future—so, a planning policy that has within it an absolute assumption that the underground lines are absolutely placed underground, and that there is an exception if they can't be placed underground. The second thing is around the cost. I just wonder if the Welsh Government is open to considering doing an economic assessment around the costs for undergrounding versus that for the pylons at the moment, including what that looks like for the future of our communities in relation to that visual impact, because once those pylons are up, they will scar the landscape for the rest of our time, but undergrounding means that they cannot be seen and that our beautiful countryside stays as it is. So, will the Welsh Government consider doing an economic impact assessment, looking at those options for the future? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Hoffwn ofyn cwestiynau dilynol ar y ddau bwynt hynny, os yw hynny'n iawn. Mae'n bwysig iawn bod gennym ni bolisi cynllunio sy'n addas at y diben nid yn unig ar gyfer nawr, ond ar gyfer y dyfodol—felly, polisi cynllunio sy'n cynnwys tybiaeth bendant bod y llinellau tanddaearol yn cael eu gosod yn bendant o dan y ddaear, a bod eithriad os na ellir eu gosod o dan y ddaear. Mae'r ail beth yn ymwneud â'r gost. Tybed a yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn agored i ystyried cynnal asesiad economaidd ynghylch y costau ar gyfer tanddaearu yn erbyn y gost ar gyfer peilonau ar hyn o bryd, gan gynnwys sut mae hynny'n edrych ar gyfer dyfodol ein cymunedau o ran yr effaith weledol honno, oherwydd unwaith y bydd y peilonau hynny wedi eu codi, byddan nhw'n creithio'r dirwedd am weddill ein hoes, ond mae tanddaearu yn golygu na ellir eu gweld nhw a bod ein cefn gwlad hardd yn aros fel y mae. Felly, a wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru ystyried cynnal asesiad o'r effaith economaidd, gan edrych ar yr opsiynau hynny ar gyfer y dyfodol? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch yn fawr. That's precisely what the independent grid group is looking at, looking at the cost-benefit analysis. I think we've got to be clear that there are costs to putting it underground as well. So, if there's a problem, for example, in the grid, it could take a lot longer—and I mean weeks rather than days—to fix. So, it's not a one-way issue here; there are other things that we have to consider. And, as I say, I think we have got to bear in mind that energy costs are already high. If you underground, where the costs are likely to be higher, then they will be passed on to the consumer. And I just think we've got to be absolutely clear about that at a time when people are fearful about the amount they have to pay. So, there's a balance to strike here, which is why that independent grid group is really important. We'll wait for their recommendations, towards the end of March.

Diolch yn fawr. Dyna'n union y mae'r grŵp grid annibynnol yn edrych arno, gan edrych ar y dadansoddiad cost a budd. Rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn eglur bod costau o'i roi o dan y ddaear hefyd. Felly, os oes problem, er enghraifft, yn y grid, gallai gymryd llawer mwy o amser—ac rwy'n golygu wythnosau yn hytrach na diwrnodau—i'w thrwsio. Felly, nid yw'n fater unffordd yn y fan yma; ceir pethau eraill y mae'n rhaid i ni eu hystyried. Ac, fel y dywedais i, rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni gofio bod costau ynni eisoes yn uchel. Os byddwch chi'n tanddaearu, lle mae'r costau yn debygol o fod yn uwch, yna byddan nhw'n cael eu trosglwyddo i'r defnyddiwr. Ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn gwbl eglur am hynny ar adeg pan fo pobl yn ofni faint y mae'n rhaid iddyn nhw ei dalu. Felly, mae cydbwysedd i'w sicrhau yma, a dyna pam mae'r grŵp grid annibynnol hwnnw yn bwysig iawn. Byddwn yn aros am eu hargymhellion, tua diwedd mis Mawrth.

Gwasanaethau Deintyddol yng Ngogledd Cymru
Dental Services in North Wales

2. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am y ddarpariaeth gwasanaethau deintyddol yng Ngogledd Cymru? OQ62007

2. Will the First Minister make a statement on the provision of dental services in North Wales? OQ62007

Mae yna 88 o bractisau deintyddol ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Yn 2023-24, fe wnaeth y practisau hyn weld mwy na 170,000 o gleifion a rhoi dros 238,000 cwrs o driniaeth ar yr NHS. Mae hyn yn cynnwys cwrs llawn o driniaeth ar gyfer bron i 28,000 o gleifion newydd a gofal brys i fwy nag 14,200 o gleifion newydd.

There are 88 dental practices in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. In 2023-24, they saw over 170,000 patients and provided over 238,000 courses of NHS treatment. This includes full courses of treatment for nearly 28,000 new patients and urgent care for over 14,200 new patients.

You made a similar assertion recently, when you claimed, and I quote, that:

'The UK government will take inspiration from NHS Wales on dentistry, where reforms have unlocked almost 400,000 more appointments in the last two years'.

Now, the British Dental Association were quite brutally scathing in their response to that assertion of yours. They said, and again I quote, Llywydd, that this

'is not only grossly misleading',

in their words,

'it is an insult to the intelligence of professionals and public alike. No amount of government rhetoric and spin can change the reality that NHS dentistry in Wales is ailing and, in some parts, becoming ischaemic'.

Now, that's the BDA, not my words. So, isn't it about time that you faced up to the reality of dental services in Wales? When will your Government stop the flow of dentists out of the NHS and subsequently leaving so many communities across Wales high and dry when it comes to accessing basic dental services?

Rydych chi wedi gwneud honiad tebyg yn ddiweddar, pan wnaethoch chi honni, ac rwy'n dyfynnu:

'Bydd Llywodraeth y DU yn cael ysbrydoliaeth gan GIG Cymru o ran deintyddiaeth, lle mae diwygiadau wedi datgloi bron i 400,000 yn fwy o apwyntiadau yn ystod y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf.'

Nawr, roedd Cymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain yn ddifrïol dros ben yn eu hymateb i'r honiad hwnnw gennych chi. Fe wnaethon nhw ddweud, ac eto rwy'n dyfynnu, Llywydd, bod hyn

'nid yn unig yn gamarweiniol dros ben',

yn eu geiriau nhw,

'mae'n sarhad ar ddeallusrwydd gweithwyr proffesiynol a'r cyhoedd hefyd. Ni all unrhyw faint o rethreg a sbin gan y llywodraeth newid y realiti bod deintyddiaeth GIG yng Nghymru yn wantan ac, mewn rhai rhannau, yn troi'n isgemig'.

Nawr, Cymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain sy'n dweud hynny, nid fy ngeiriau i. Felly, onid yw'n hen bryd i chi wynebu realiti gwasanaethau deintyddol yng Nghymru? Pryd wnaiff eich Llywodraeth atal y llif o ddeintyddion allan o'r GIG ac yna'n gadael cynifer o gymunedau ledled Cymru ar y clwt o ran cael mynediad at wasanaethau deintyddol sylfaenol?

Well, I'll tell you about facts: the fact is that we've produced and delivered almost 400,000 new dental treatments. So, the BDA need to look at those figures, and, if they want to challenge them, then, yes, bring it on, because, actually, this is the contract that they have signed. Now, you're right—dentists have an option. They choose to work for the NHS or for the private sector, and the fact is that many of them choose to work for the private sector. Now, the fact is that we have to make sure that there's enough money in the system to deliver what we're able to. Now, there is a real shortage in terms of supply of dentists—this is not a Welsh-only issue, which is why what we do is to make sure that we try and increase the support around the dentists, make sure we train more dental hygienists, dental therapists, and we're really pleased to have seen that that's been done particularly in north Wales.

Wel, fe wnaf i ddweud wrthych chi am ffeithiau: y ffaith yw ein bod ni wedi cynhyrchu a darparu bron i 400,000 o driniaethau deintyddol newydd. Felly, mae angen i Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain edrych ar y ffigurau hynny, ac, os ydyn nhw eisiau eu herio, yna, iawn, rhowch gynnig arni, oherwydd, mewn gwirionedd, dyma'r contract y maen nhw wedi ei lofnodi. Nawr, rydych chi'n iawn—mae gan ddeintyddion opsiwn. Maen nhw'n dewis gweithio i'r GIG neu i'r sector preifat, a'r gwir amdani yw bod llawer ohonyn nhw'n dewis gweithio i'r sector preifat. Nawr, y ffaith yw bod yn rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod digon o arian yn y system i gyflawni'r hyn y gallwn ni ei gyflawni. Nawr, ceir prinder gwirioneddol o ran cyflenwad o ddeintyddion—nid problem Cymru yn unig yw hon, a dyna pam mai'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud yw gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n ceisio cynyddu'r gefnogaeth o amgylch y deintyddion, gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n hyfforddi mwy o hylenwyr deintyddol, therapyddion deintyddol, ac rydym ni'n falch iawn o fod wedi gweld bod hynny wedi cael ei wneud, yn enwedig yn y gogledd.

13:40

First Minister, your plan is not working. There are over 700,000 people in north Wales, and you said only 170,000 people saw a dentist in the past 12 months. That’s clearly not good enough. I have constituents who travel to Scotland in order to access an NHS dentist and others who are travelling to Albania to get their teeth sorted. Why isn’t your plan working? Well, it’s your contract. Your contract, frankly, is not good enough. It doesn’t give the right sort of support to dentists to encourage them to stay within the NHS. Will you look again at your new contract to make sure that it is fit for purpose and go back to the drawing board, working with the BDA, to come up with something that is more attractive and keeps people in the profession that they want to work in?

Prif Weinidog, nid yw eich cynllun yn gweithio. Mae dros 700,000 o bobl yn y gogledd, ac fe wnaethoch chi ddweud mai dim ond 170,000 o bobl a welodd ddeintydd yn ystod y 12 mis diwethaf. Yn amlwg, nid yw hynny'n ddigon da. Mae gen i etholwyr sy'n teithio i'r Alban er mwyn cael mynediad at ddeintydd GIG ac eraill sy'n teithio i Albania i gael trefn ar eu dannedd. Pam nad yw eich cynllun yn gweithio? Wel, eich contract chi yw ef. Nid yw eich contract chi, a bod yn gwbl blaen, yn ddigon da. Nid yw'n rhoi'r math iawn o gymorth i ddeintyddion i'w hannog i aros yn y GIG. A wnewch chi edrych eto ar eich contract newydd i wneud yn siŵr ei fod yn addas i'r diben ac ailfeddwl, gan weithio gyda Chymdeithas Ddeintyddol Prydain, i feddwl am rywbeth sy'n fwy deniadol ac yn cadw pobl yn y proffesiwn y maen nhw eisiau gweithio ynddo?

Well, we are reforming the contract. We’ve been working with the sector very closely to make sure that NHS work is more attractive and to make sure that we increase the dental workforce. As I say, that’s the broader dental workforce, not just the dentists. You will be aware that, when NHS contracts are handed back, they are reprocured, they go out—we don’t lose the NHS dentistry when people choose to work in the private sector. And, of course, if people travel to Scotland then they will have to pay in Scotland; that is not an NHS dentist that they will be seeing.

Wel, rydym ni'n diwygio'r contract. Rydym ni wedi bod yn gweithio'n agos iawn gyda'r sector i wneud yn siŵr bod gwaith GIG yn fwy deniadol ac i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n cynyddu'r gweithlu deintyddol. Fel y dywedais i, y gweithlu deintyddol ehangach yw hwnnw, nid y deintyddion yn unig. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, pan fydd contractau GIG yn cael eu dychwelyd, eu bod nhw'n cael eu hail-gaffael, eu bod nhw'n mynd allan—nid ydym ni'n colli'r ddeintyddiaeth GIG pan fydd pobl yn dewis gweithio yn y sector preifat. Ac, wrth gwrs, os yw pobl yn teithio i'r Alban yna bydd yn rhaid iddyn nhw dalu yn yr Alban; nid deintydd GIG yw hwnnw y byddan nhw'n ei weld.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Arweinwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr, Andrew R.T. Davies.

Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.

Thank you, Presiding Officer. There’s nothing like a good cheer on a Tuesday, is there? [Laughter.]

First Minister, the assisted dying Bill passed its First Reading in the House of Commons on Friday. It was an unwhipped vote. We had a similar debate here some weeks ago. I thought it was one of the best debates in the 17 years I’ve been here, where all Members expressed their heartfelt opinion on this. But, it is a fact that this piece of legislation could become law—a high probability of that. The Government has a role to lead on this here to make provision and prepare. What actions is the Welsh Government taking to move the health service, move social care, move local councils and the education system to a place where people can genuinely feel that there is a choice in the final weeks and months of their lives, rather than services that maybe aren’t able to provide that good death and, ultimately, people use the law to take an early death?

Diolch, Llywydd. Does dim byd fel bloedd fawr ar ddydd Mawrth, nac oes? [Chwerthin.]

Prif Weinidog, pasiodd y Bil marw â chymorth ei Ddarlleniad Cyntaf yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin ddydd Gwener. Roedd hi'n bleidlais heb ei chwipio. Cawsom ddadl debyg yma rai wythnosau yn ôl. Roeddwn i'n meddwl ei bod hi'n un o'r dadleuon gorau yn y 17 mlynedd yr wyf i wedi bod yma, lle mynegodd yr holl Aelodau eu barn o'r galon ar hyn. Ond, mae'n ffaith y gallai'r darn hwn o ddeddfwriaeth ddod yn gyfraith—tebygolrwydd uchel o hynny. Mae gan y Llywodraeth swyddogaeth i arwain ar hyn yma i wneud darpariaeth a pharatoi. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i symud y gwasanaeth iechyd, i symud gofal cymdeithasol, i symud cynghorau lleol a'r system addysg i sefyllfa lle gall pobl wir deimlo bod dewis yn ystod wythnosau a misoedd olaf eu bywydau, yn hytrach na gwasanaethau nad ydyn nhw efallai'n gallu darparu'r farwolaeth dda honno, ac yn y pen draw, mae pobl yn defnyddio'r gyfraith i gael marwolaeth gynnar?

Thanks very much, Andrew. I’d like to start by paying tribute to you and for the service you’ve given in this Chamber over a long period of time as leader. I know that you have passionately held beliefs and you’ve argued your cause here in the Senedd. We’ve always had political differences, but I’ve always appreciated the way that you’ve read the room, in particular on those big occasions. So, I’d like to thank you for the way that you’ve conducted yourself, on the whole, with me in the Senedd. [Laughter.]

On the question of assisted dying, clearly, the vote last week has significant implications for us as well. It’s the first stage of a Bill; there’s a long way to go with this. There’ll be a lot of detailed work that has to be done. We will need to undertake our own assessment to establish whether we need to proceed with a legislative consent motion on this issue. The focus that we have tried to make in the past few years is to really focus on quality end-of-life care, and we have put significant resources into that. And I do think that that’s got to be the first stage of whatever comes next.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Andrew. Hoffwn ddechrau drwy dalu teyrnged i chi ac am y gwasanaeth yr ydych chi wedi ei roi yn y Siambr hon dros gyfnod hir fel arweinydd. Rwy'n gwybod bod gennych chi gredoau yr ydych chi'n angerddol amdanyn nhw a'ch bod chi wedi dadlau eich achos yma yn y Senedd. Bu gennym ni wahaniaethau gwleidyddol erioed, ond rwyf i wedi gwerthfawrogi erioed y ffordd yr ydych chi wedi deall sefyllfaoedd, yn enwedig ar yr achlysuron mawr hynny. Felly, hoffwn ddiolch i chi am y ffordd yr ydych chi wedi ymddwyn, ar y cyfan, gyda mi yn y Senedd. [Chwerthin.]

O ran y cwestiwn o farw â chymorth, yn amlwg, mae gan y bleidlais yr wythnos ddiwethaf oblygiadau sylweddol i ninnau hefyd. Dyma gam cyntaf Bil; mae ffordd bell i fynd gyda hwn. Bydd llawer o waith manwl y mae'n rhaid ei wneud. Bydd angen i ni gynnal ein hasesiad ein hunain i weld a oes angen i ni fwrw ymlaen â chynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol ar y mater hwn. Y pwyslais yr ydym ni wedi ceisio ei wneud yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf yw gwir ganolbwyntio ar ofal diwedd oes o ansawdd, ac rydym ni wedi cyfrannu adnoddau sylweddol at hynny. Ac rwyf i'n credu ei bod yn rhaid mai dyna fydd cam cyntaf beth bynnag a ddaw nesaf.

Thank you for your kind remarks, First Minister. If the Presiding Officer will indulge me ever so slightly, I’ve had the privilege of three First Ministers to ask FMQs to. The first one, Carwyn Jones, I always knew when he was coming both guns blazing because he’d pull his cuffs. Just as I was asking the question, the cuffs would get adjusted, and I'd think, ‘Here it comes.’ Mark Drakeford would always flip the paper around and play with the top of the paper, and I knew he was coming for me at that point. I haven’t quite had enough time to work out the telltale signs for when you’re coming for me, but it has been a huge privilege to stand here and question the whole frontbench, but in particular the First Ministers, because that is a privilege that hopefully the country benefits from by all politicians shining that light on Government and, ultimately, being in Government if you're successful at elections. Regrettably, I was not successful at elections, and I never made the Government bench. But I have found it a huge privilege to stand here as leader of the opposition and, in some small way, make a difference to Welsh democracy and build a stronger Welsh democracy, which we have today, than when I took over in 2011.

But back to the substance of the questions that I was putting to you, First Minister, the point about palliative care is really important. Many experts in that field believe that it is an under-resourced sector and that there is a need for a complete refresh on the initiatives that Government has put forward for that sector to be able to meet the needs of people in end-of-life situations. Will you use the convening power of Government to bring those with an interest in providing that end-of-life care here in Wales together so that we can prepare for that legislative change and, ultimately, people will not feel forced to end their lives and use the legislation if that's not what their wish is?

Diolch am eich sylwadau caredig, Prif Weinidog. Os gwnaiff y Llywydd faddau i mi ryw fymryn bach, rwyf i wedi cael y fraint o dri Prif Weinidog i ofyn i cwestiynau iddyn nhw. Y cyntaf, Carwyn Jones, roeddwn i bob amser yn gwybod pryd yr oedd yn dod tân amdani gan y byddai'n tynnu ei gyffiau. Fel yr oeddwn i'n gofyn y cwestiwn, byddai'r cyffiau yn cael eu haddasu, a byddwn i'n meddwl, 'Dyma ni.' Byddai Mark Drakeford bob amser yn troi'r papur o gwmpas ac yn chwarae gyda phen y papur, ac roeddwn i'n gwybod ei fod yn dod ar fy ôl i bryd hynny. Nid wyf i wedi cael digon o amser i weithio allan yr arwyddion ar gyfer pryd rydych chi'n dod ar fy ôl i, ond mae wedi bod yn fraint enfawr sefyll yma a holi'r fainc flaen gyfan, ond yn enwedig y Prif Weinidogion, oherwydd mae honno'n fraint y bydd y wlad yn elwa ohoni gobeithio, o bob gwleidydd yn disgleirio'r golau hwnnw ar y Llywodraeth ac yn y pen draw, bod mewn Llywodraeth os ydych chi'n llwyddiannus mewn etholiadau. Yn anffodus, nid oeddwn i'n llwyddiannus mewn etholiadau, ac ni chyrhaeddais feinciau'r Llywodraeth erioed. Ond rwyf i wedi ei chael yn fraint enfawr sefyll yma fel arweinydd yr wrthblaid ac, mewn rhyw ffordd fach, gwneud gwahaniaeth i ddemocratiaeth Cymru ac adeiladu democratiaeth gryfach yng Nghymru, sydd gennym ni heddiw, na phan gymerais yr awenau yn 2011.

Ond yn ôl at sylwedd y cwestiynau yr oeddwn i'n eu gofyn i chi, Prif Weinidog, mae'r pwynt am ofal lliniarol yn bwysig iawn. Mae llawer o arbenigwyr yn y maes hwnnw yn credu ei fod yn sector nad oes ganddo ddigon o adnoddau a bod angen adnewyddu'n llwyr y mentrau y mae'r Llywodraeth wedi eu cyflwyno i'r sector hwnnw allu diwallu anghenion pobl mewn sefyllfaoedd diwedd oes. A wnewch chi ddefnyddio grym cynnull y Llywodraeth i ddod â'r rhai sydd â diddordeb mewn darparu'r gofal diwedd oes hwnnw yma yng Nghymru at ei gilydd fel y gallwn ni baratoi ar gyfer y newid deddfwriaethol hwnnw ac, yn y pen draw, na fydd pobl yn teimlo eu bod nhw'n cael eu gorfodi i roi terfyn ar eu bywydau a defnyddio'r ddeddfwriaeth os nad dyna yw eu dymuniad?

13:45

Thanks very much. I think you're absolutely right; this focus on palliative, end-of-life care is really critical. I'm really pleased to inform you that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care met with hospices together last week, and the NHS. There has been a long-standing group that has been looking at how we do end-of-life care. There has been a significant amount of work to see how we can prepare better. You'll be aware that, over the winter, for example, in the committee that works with local government, there has been increased money put in so that you can give that support, including over the weekends. All of that helps people to die in dignity at home. So, there has been a huge amount of work put into this already in Wales. I think we are further ahead than they are in England in many respects, as you heard Ilora Finlay say recently. But there is always more work that we can do. We have to recognise that we have an ageing population and the services are going to become more critical in terms of the demand that will be put upon them in future.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n gwbl gywir; mae'r pwyslais hwn ar ofal lliniarol, diwedd oes yn wirioneddol hanfodol. Rwy'n falch iawn o'ch hysbysu bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol wedi cyfarfod â hosbisau gyda'i gilydd yr wythnos diwethaf, a'r GIG. Bu grŵp hirsefydlog sydd wedi bod yn edrych ar sut rydym ni'n ymgymryd â gofal diwedd oes. Bu llawer iawn o waith i weld sut y gallwn ni baratoi'n well. Byddwch yn ymwybodol, dros y gaeaf, er enghraifft, yn y pwyllgor sy'n gweithio gyda llywodraeth leol, y rhoddwyd mwy o arian i mewn fel y gallwch chi roi'r cymorth hwnnw, gan gynnwys dros y penwythnosau. Mae hynny i gyd yn helpu pobl i farw gydag urddas gartref. Felly, gwnaed llawer iawn o waith ar hyn eisoes yng Nghymru. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni ymhellach ymlaen nag y maen nhw yn Lloegr mewn sawl ffordd, fel y clywsoch chi Ilora Finlay yn ei ddweud yn ddiweddar. Ond mae mwy o waith y gallwn ni ei wneud bob amser. Mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod bod gennym ni boblogaeth sy'n heneiddio ac mae'r gwasanaethau yn mynd i ddod yn fwy allweddol o ran y galw a fydd yn cael ei roi arnyn nhw yn y dyfodol.

That is my real concern—that the services will not be able to meet that demand and people will revert to the legislation to terminate their life before they wish to. That isn't giving people an informed position of choice. We, as policy makers, must do all we can to avoid that.

There is one thing that the Government can do, and the First Minister highlighted that the finance Minister was meeting the Chief Secretary to the Treasury some weeks ago on the national insurance rise that hospices will have to pay. Has there been any progress in convincing colleagues in the Treasury that hospices, GP surgeries and other parts of the health estate here in Wales, and the social care estate, are going to be exempt from paying the NI uplift that potentially could devastate some providers and leave a desert of provision in some parts of Wales?

Dyna fy mhryder gwirioneddol—na fydd y gwasanaethau yn gallu bodloni'r galw hwnnw ac y bydd pobl yn troi at y ddeddfwriaeth i roi terfyn ar eu bywyd cyn eu bod nhw'n dymuno gwneud hynny. Nid yw hyn yn rhoi sefyllfa gytbwys o ddewis i bobl. Mae'n rhaid i ni, fel llunwyr polisi, wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i osgoi hynny.

Mae un peth y gall y Llywodraeth ei wneud, ac amlygodd y Prif Weinidog fod y Gweinidog cyllid yn cyfarfod â Phrif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys rai wythnosau yn ôl ar y cynnydd i yswiriant gwladol y bydd yn rhaid i hosbisau ei dalu. A fu unrhyw gynnydd o ran argyhoeddi cydweithwyr yn y Trysorlys y bydd hosbisau, meddygfeydd teulu a rhannau eraill o'r ystad iechyd yma yng Nghymru, a'r ystad gofal cymdeithasol, yn cael eu heithrio o dalu'r codiad Yswiriant Gwladol a allai fod yn ofnadwy i rai darparwyr a gadael anialwch o ddarpariaeth mewn rhai rhannau o Gymru?

Thanks very much. I think we're all very concerned about the need to make sure that there are very strong safeguards in place so that the vulnerable don't feel any pressure in any way with assisted dying. There's a long way to go, as I say, and there will need to be a lot of probing in relation to that, and we'll have our responsibility as a Government to make sure that we look in detail at the implications of this Bill for Wales. 

When it comes to hospices, I was always very sensitive to the fact that they do collect a lot of money themselves. They are charitable organisations, very often, but they take huge pressure off the NHS. And so it is absolutely incumbent on us to stand with them and support them. I know that this was an issue that was discussed by the Cabinet Secretary with the hospices in that meeting this week. I think that there's still some more room to go in terms of discussion on this issue, but I think we're really sensitive to the pressures that they're under.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn bryderus iawn am yr angen i wneud yn siŵr bod mesurau diogelu cryf iawn ar waith fel nad yw'r rhai sy'n agored i niwed yn teimlo unrhyw bwysau mewn unrhyw ffordd o ran marw â chymorth. Mae ffordd bell iawn i fynd, fel y dywedais i, a bydd angen llawer o holi manwl yn hynny o beth, a bydd gennym ni ein cyfrifoldeb fel Llywodraeth i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n edrych yn fanwl ar oblygiadau'r Bil hwn i Gymru. 

O ran hosbisau, roeddwn i bob amser yn sensitif iawn i'r ffaith eu bod nhw'n casglu llawer o arian eu hunain. Sefydliadau elusennol ydyn nhw, yn aml iawn, ond maen nhw'n cymryd pwysau enfawr oddi ar y GIG. Ac felly mae ddyletswydd lwyr arnom ni i sefyll gyda nhw a'u cefnogi. Rwy'n gwybod bod hwn yn fater a drafodwyd gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet gyda'r hosbisau yn y cyfarfod hwnnw yr wythnos hon. Rwy'n credu bod mwy o le i fynd o hyd o ran trafodaeth ar y mater hwn, ond rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n sensitif iawn i'r pwysau sydd arnyn nhw.

13:50

Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Diolch, Lywydd, ac a gaf innau ddymuno'n dda i arweinydd y grŵp Ceidwadol? 

Thank you, Llywydd, and may I also wish the leader of the Conservatives well?

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish the leader of the Conservative group well after his decision to stand down and acknowledge his contribution to the work of the Senedd over many years. He knows that I disagree with many aspects of his politics and his political direction. I guess there's only one place where we've genuinely been on the same side, and that's on the Senedd rugby team. I've been very pleased to be on the same side as him then, given that he's a hard man to bring down. [Laughter.] But on a personal level, I wish him well.

First Minister, gas and electricity prices will increase in the new year, which means higher bills for many people who cannot afford it. When the Conservatives were in Government, the First Minister said:

'As the energy price cap rises again, we need an emergency budget now, to freeze energy prices, and to tax oil and gas giants.'

Does she stand by that tweet of hers from August 2020 or has she changed her mind so as not to embarrass her party boss, Sir Keir Starmer?

Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddymuno'n dda i arweinydd y grŵp Ceidwadol ar ôl ei benderfyniad i ymddiswyddo a chydnabod ei gyfraniad at waith y Senedd dros flynyddoedd lawer. Mae'n gwybod fy mod i'n anghytuno â llawer o agweddau ar ei wleidyddiaeth a'i gyfeiriad gwleidyddol. Mae'n debyg mai dim ond un lle yr ydym ni wir wedi bod ar yr un ochr, sef yn nhîm rygbi'r Senedd. Rwyf i wedi bod yn falch iawn o fod ar yr un ochr ag ef bryd hynny, o gofio ei fod yn ddyn anodd ei dynnu i lawr. [Chwerthin.] Ond ar lefel bersonol, rwy'n dymuno'n dda iddo.

Prif Weinidog, bydd prisiau nwy a thrydan yn cynyddu yn y flwyddyn newydd, sy'n golygu biliau uwch i lawer o bobl nad ydyn nhw'n gallu ei fforddio. Pan oedd y Ceidwadwyr mewn Llywodraeth, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog:

'Wrth i'r cap ar brisiau ynni godi eto, mae angen cyllideb frys arnom ni nawr, i rewi prisiau ynni, ac i drethu cewri olew a nwy.'

A yw hi'n cadw at y trydariad hwnnw ganddi o fis Awst 2020 neu a yw hi wedi newid ei meddwl er mwyn peidio â chodi cywilydd ar bennaeth ei phlaid, Syr Keir Starmer?

We know that electricity and gas prices have increased significantly since then. The war in Ukraine has put huge pressure on us, and much of that increase is now baked in, which is causing a lot of difficulties for people in paying their bills. We've all got to understand that there are compromises to be made here as well. On the previous question, for example, in relation to making sure that everything is undergrounded, we have to understand that there will be a knock-on effect there in terms of electricity and gas prices. So, we've got to be clear that we can't have it all, and at some point we have to make some very difficult decisions. We, of course, in the Welsh Government have contributed a huge amount through our Warm Homes approach, and there's significant money going into that.

Rydym ni'n gwybod bod prisiau trydan a nwy wedi cynyddu'n sylweddol ers hynny. Mae'r rhyfel yn Wcráin wedi rhoi pwysau enfawr arnom ni, ac mae llawer o'r cynnydd hwnnw wedi'i ymgorffori bellach, sy'n achosi llawer o anawsterau i bobl o ran talu eu biliau. Mae'n rhaid i ni gyd ddeall bod cyfaddawdau i'w gwneud yma hefyd. O ran y cwestiwn blaenorol, er enghraifft, o ran gwneud yn siŵr bod popeth yn cael ei roi o dan y ddaear, mae'n rhaid i ni ddeall y bydd sgil-effaith yn y fan honno o ran prisiau trydan a nwy. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni fod yn eglur na allwn ni gael y cyfan, ac ar ryw adeg mae'n rhaid i ni wneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn. Rydym ni, wrth gwrs, yn Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyfrannu llawer iawn drwy ein dull Cartrefi Clyd, ac mae arian sylweddol yn mynd i mewn i hwnnw.

She was suggesting back then that there needed to be a response to rising prices, and I'm asking whether she still believes that there needs to be a response to rising prices. It begs the question how much listening she has actually been doing in recent months. People are telling me that the cost-of-living crisis is biting this winter, yet the First Minister no longer supports freezing energy prices, as she once did, and, of course, she keeps on defending the winter fuel allowance cut. People who've been faithful to Labour for many, many years are asking what has become of Labour and whose side the First Minister is on. 

It's reported that Sir Keir Starmer is relaunching his premiership this week, in itself an admission that the promise of change meant very little. In the build-up to that relaunch, what pressure has the First Minister been putting on the Prime Minister to reinstate the winter fuel allowance, or is she so willing to back the decision to cut it that she won't even try?

Roedd hi'n awgrymu yn ôl bryd hynny bod angen ymateb i brisiau cynyddol, ac rwy'n gofyn a yw hi'n dal i gredu bod angen ymateb i brisiau cynyddol. Mae'n arwain at y cwestiwn faint o wrando y mae wedi bod yn ei wneud yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf mewn gwirionedd. Mae pobl yn dweud wrthyf i fod yr argyfwng costau byw yn brathu y gaeaf hwn, ac eto nid yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cefnogi rhewi prisiau ynni mwyach, fel yr oedd ar un adeg, ac, wrth gwrs, mae'n parhau i amddiffyn y toriad i lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf. Mae pobl sydd wedi bod yn ffyddlon i Lafur ers blynyddoedd maith yn gofyn beth sydd wedi digwydd i Lafur ac ar ochr pwy mae'r Prif Weinidog. 

Dywedir bod Syr Keir Starmer yn ail-lansio ei brif weinidogaeth yr wythnos hon, sy'n gyfaddefiad ynddo'i hun mai prin iawn oedd yr addewid o newid yn ei olygu. Yn y cyfnod cyn yr ail-lansiad hwnnw, pa bwysau y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi bod yn ei roi ar Brif Weinidog y DU i ail-gyflwyno lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf, neu a yw mor barod i gefnogi'r penderfyniad i'w dorri na wnaiff hyd yn oed roi cynnig arni?

I'm responsible for certain things in Wales, and the Prime Minister is responsible for certain things under his remit. The winter fuel allowance is something very much within the UK remit—that was their decision. What I can tell you is that I have responsibilities for things here, and I was really proud today to announce an extra £157 million going in to support public services in Wales. There's more money for health, more money for education, more money for the arts. All of those things are as a result of the fact that we have a Labour Government in Westminster that understands that, yes, of course, many older people are concerned with the cold, but they're also concerned about getting money into the NHS—they are the people who use the service more than anybody else.

Rwy'n gyfrifol am bethau penodol yng Nghymru, ac mae Prif Weinidog y DU yn gyfrifol am bethau penodol o dan ei gylch gwaith ef. Mae lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf yn rhywbeth sy'n sicr yn rhan o gylch gwaith y DU—eu penderfyniad nhw oedd hwnnw. Yr hyn y gallaf ei ddweud wrthych chi yw bod gen i gyfrifoldebau am bethau yma, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn heddiw o gyhoeddi £157 miliwn ychwanegol yn mynd at gynorthwyo gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Mae mwy o arian ar gyfer iechyd, mwy o arian ar gyfer addysg, mwy o arian ar gyfer y celfyddydau. Mae'r holl bethau hynny o ganlyniad i'r ffaith bod gennym ni Lywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan sy'n deall, ydy, wrth gwrs, mae llawer o bobl hŷn yn poeni am yr oerfel, ond maen nhw hefyd yn poeni am gael arian i mewn i'r GIG—nhw yw'r bobl sy'n defnyddio'r gwasanaeth mwy na neb arall.

I'm asking the First Minister to make the case for Wales and for vulnerable people in Wales, and I would remind her that costs on the NHS will increase as people suffer the cold this winter.

Last week, I met representatives from Age Cymru and pensioners who are campaigning for the winter fuel allowance to be reinstated. Age UK says that 37 per cent of older people will find it hard to manage over the winter without it. Remember, this wasn't a change in policy to take the winter fuel payment away from millionaires—it hits many people living in poverty.

The Scottish Government has identified money in its budget next year to provide a universal payment—that's the Scottish Government's choice, and it's all about choices. In her interview with Will Hayward published last week, the First Minister said:

'I think decisions impacting Wales should be made by the people of Wales and by their representatives.'

With that in mind, and given Scotland's more generous settlement from the UK Government, does the First Minister not want to try to find a way of following Labour's lead, or is the money coming to Wales from the UK Labour Government not enough to pay for it?

Rwy'n gofyn i'r Prif Weinidog wneud y ddadl dros Gymru a thros bobl agored i niwed yng Nghymru, a byddwn yn ei hatgoffa y bydd y costau ar y GIG yn cynyddu wrth i bobl ddioddef yr oerfel y gaeaf hwn.

Yr wythnos diwethaf, cefais gyfarfod â chynrychiolwyr o Age Cymru a phensiynwyr sy'n ymgyrchu dros ail-gyflwyno lwfans tanwydd y gaeaf. Mae Age UK yn dweud y bydd 37 y cant o bobl hŷn yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi dros y gaeaf hebddo. Cofiwch, nid newid polisi oedd hwn i gymryd taliad tanwydd y gaeaf oddi wrth filiwnyddion—mae'n taro llawer o bobl sy'n byw mewn tlodi.

Mae Llywodraeth yr Alban wedi nodi arian yn ei chyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf i ddarparu taliad cynhwysol—dyna ddewis Llywodraeth yr Alban, ac mae'r cwbl yn ymwneud â dewisiadau. Yn ei chyfweliad gyda Will Hayward a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd y Prif Weinidog:

'Rwy'n credu y dylai penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio ar Gymru gael eu gwneud gan bobl Cymru a chan eu cynrychiolwyr.'

Gyda hynny mewn golwg, ac o gofio setliad mwy hael yr Alban gan Lywodraeth y DU, onid yw'r Prif Weinidog eisiau ceisio dod o hyd i ffordd o ddilyn arweiniad Llafur, neu a yw'r arian sy'n dod i Gymru gan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU ddim yn ddigon i dalu amdano?

13:55

I'm always going to ask for more money from the UK Government—that's what I'm here to do. I'm here to stand up for Wales and that's what I will do. I'll be seeing the Prime Minister on Friday, and, once again, I'll be making it clear to him that I expect more for my nation: thank you very much, we've had the £25 million for the coal tips, but we want more; we also want more in terms of HS2. All of those things I will be bringing up with the Prime Minister, and I will always make sure that we're standing up for Wales. 

But I tell you what we do in Government, and this might be something worth him listening to: we do have to make tough choices. And when you say, 'Why don't you spend it on that?', it's easy for you to sit there and say that, but you never ever tell us what you're going to cut. We have made decisions in relation to that extra £157 million that's coming in year, which is not insignificant, and there's £1 billion coming next year. We have to make difficult decisions. We are making them on the basis of what people told me over the summer were important to them. Things that were important to them were education, health and the economy. That's what we're focusing our attention on.

Rwyf i bob amser yn mynd i ofyn am fwy o arian gan Lywodraeth y DU—dyna'r wyf i yma i'w wneud. Rwyf i yma i sefyll dros Gymru a dyna fyddaf i yn ei wneud. Byddaf yn gweld Prif Weinidog y DU ddydd Gwener, ac, unwaith eto, byddaf yn ei gwneud yn eglur iddo fy mod i'n disgwyl mwy i'm cenedl: diolch yn fawr iawn, rydym ni wedi cael y £25 miliwn ar gyfer y tomenni glo, ond rydym ni eisiau mwy; rydym ni hefyd eisiau mwy o ran HS2. Byddaf yn codi'r holl bethau hynny gyda Phrif Weinidog y DU, a byddaf bob amser yn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n sefyll dros Gymru. 

Ond fe ddywedaf wrthych chi beth rydym ni'n ei wneud yn y Llywodraeth, ac efallai fod hyn yn rhywbeth y byddai'n werth iddo wrando arno: mae'n rhaid i ni wneud dewisiadau anodd. A phan fyddwch chi'n dweud, 'Pam na wnewch chi ei wario ar hynna?', mae'n hawdd i chi eistedd yno a dweud hynny, ond dydych chi byth yn dweud wrthym ni beth rydych chi'n mynd i'w dorri. Rydym ni wedi gwneud penderfyniadau o ran y £157 miliwn ychwanegol hwnnw sy'n dod mewn blwyddyn, nad yw'n ddibwys, ac mae £1 biliwn yn dod y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae'n rhaid i ni wneud penderfyniadau anodd. Rydym ni'n eu gwneud ar sail yr hyn a ddywedodd pobl wrthyf i dros yr haf a oedd yn bwysig iddyn nhw. Y pethau a oedd yn bwysig iddyn nhw oedd addysg, iechyd a'r economi. Dyna'r ydym ni'n canolbwyntio ein sylw arnyn nhw.

As others have had their say on Andrew R.T. Davies, if I may say something too. I don't know whether this will have been your last FMQs as leader of the opposition—I don't know your standing orders as a party well enough to know whether that's the case—but you are the comeback kid of this Chamber anyway. Just to say to you, Andrew—and this may surprise you, actually—that you are held in high regard in this Chamber, and especially by me. Today, I'm sure that this Chamber would wish as one to thank you for your contribution as leader of the opposition, and to wish you well into the future. As Llywydd, there is nothing I like better than a cheeky backbencher, and I foresee more cheek on the backbenches from now on.

Gan fod mae eraill wedi cael dweud eu dweud ar Andrew R.T. Davies, os caf i ddweud rhywbeth hefyd. Nid wyf i'n gwybod ai dyma fydd eich sesiwn cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog olaf fel arweinydd yr wrthblaid—nid wyf i'n ddigon cyfarwydd â'ch rheolau sefydlog fel plaid i wybod ai dyna'r achos—ond chi yw dewin dod yn ôl y Siambr hon beth bynnag. Dim ond i ddweud wrthych chi, Andrew—ac efallai y bydd hyn yn eich synnu, a dweud y gwir—eich bod chi'n uchel eich parch yn y Siambr hon, ac yn enwedig gennyf i. Heddiw, rwy'n siŵr y byddai'r Siambr hon yn dymuno diolch i chi yn unfrydol am eich cyfraniad fel arweinydd yr wrthblaid, a dymuno'n dda i chi ymhell i'r dyfodol. Fel Llywydd, nid oes dim yr wyf i'n ei hoffi yn well nag aelod hyf o'r meinciau cefn, ac rwy'n rhagweld mwy o hyfdra ar y meinciau cefn o hyn ymlaen.

Felly, diolch, Andrew, am gyfraniad pwysig iawn.

So, thank you for your very important contribution, Andrew.

Question 3 to your neighbour, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Cwestiwn 3 i'ch cymydog, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Amseroedd Aros Triniaethau Canser
Cancer Treatment Waiting Times

3. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am amseroedd aros triniaethau canser yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr? OQ61965

3. Will the First Minister make a statement on cancer treatment waiting times in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area? OQ61965

All NHS organisations are struggling to meet rising demand for cancer investigation and treatment. Cancer performance at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is not where it needs to be. We're working closely with the health board to recover and sustain an improvement in its performance.

Mae holl sefydliadau'r GIG yn ei chael hi'n anodd bodloni'r galw cynyddol am ymchwiliadau a thriniaeth canser. Nid yw perfformiad canser ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr lle mae angen iddo fod. Rydym ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda'r bwrdd iechyd i adfer a chynnal gwelliant yn ei berfformiad.

First Minister, as the previous health Minister, you will be aware just how bad things are when it comes to patient treatment in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. In September, only 51 per cent of patients at this board began their first definitive cancer treatment within 62 days of initial suspicion—a deeply concerning figure when you consider that in England the figure is 67 per cent. Hospital waiting lists across Wales have now risen for eight consecutive months, reaching a record high of over 801,300 patient pathways in November. NHS England, by contrast, has made significant progress—and I am talking about the previous UK Conservative Government—in addressing long waits after the pandemic, with only 3.3 per cent of patients waiting over a year for treatment, compared to 23 per cent in Wales. Alarmingly too, just 113 patients in England have been waiting more than two years, while Wales has a staggering 23,701, including 10,000 of these within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. It is shocking.

Prif Weinidog, fel y Gweinidog iechyd blaenorol, byddwch yn ymwybodol pa mor wael yw pethau o ran triniaeth cleifion ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Ym mis Medi, dim ond 51 y cant o gleifion yn y bwrdd hwn ddechreuodd eu triniaeth ganser ddiffiniol gyntaf o fewn 62 diwrnod o amheuaeth gychwynnol—ffigur sy'n peri pryder mawr pan ystyriwch chi mai 67 y cant yw'r ffigur yn Lloegr. Mae rhestrau aros ysbytai ledled Cymru bellach wedi codi am wyth mis yn olynol, gan gyrraedd y lefel uchaf erioed o dros 801,300 o lwybrau cleifion ym mis Tachwedd. Mae GIG Lloegr, ar y llaw arall, wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol—ac rwy'n sôn am Lywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol y DU—o ran mynd i'r afael ag arosiadau hir ar ôl y pandemig, â dim ond 3.3 y cant o gleifion yn aros dros flwyddyn am driniaeth, o'i gymharu â 23 y cant yng Nghymru. Yn frawychus hefyd, dim ond 113 o gleifion yn Lloegr sydd wedi bod yn aros mwy na dwy flynedd, tra bod gan Gymru nifer syfrdanol o 23,701, gan gynnwys 10,000 o'r rhain ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae'n ofnadwy.

You need to ask your question now, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Mae angen i chi ofyn eich cwestiwn nawr, Janet Finch-Saunders.

Some cases involve three-year waits, with nearly 1,500 patients enduring extreme delays. So, what will you do now, First Minister? What are you doing to expand the use of the private sector and other health facilities to bring those treatment waiting times down for the people who really need it? Diolch.

Mae rhai achosion yn golygu arosiadau o dair blynedd, gyda bron i 1,500 o gleifion yn dioddef oediadau eithafol. Felly, beth fyddwch chi'n ei wneud nawr, Prif Weinidog? Beth ydych chi'n ei wneud i ehangu'r defnydd o'r sector preifat a chyfleusterau iechyd eraill i ddod â'r amseroedd aros hynny am driniaeth i lawr i'r bobl sydd wir ei hangen? Diolch.

14:00

Thanks very much. This is an area where we've absolutely got to get better. There has, however, been a huge increase in demand for cancer services across the whole of the UK, and Betsi’s no exception. I just want to give you a sense of how that increase in demand has been. Gynaecological referrals have increased by 40 per cent since 2019. Lower gastrointestinal referrals increased by 46 per cent. Skin referrals increased by 47 per cent. So, it does take time to ramp up a system when you get that kind of increase in demand.

It is something, though, that I know the Cabinet Secretary is absolutely focused on. I know he discussed it with the chair of the health board improvement board and they are meeting again in December. Underperformance relates in Betsi to four main types of cancer: urological cancers, cancer of the breast, lower gastrointestinal tract and skin cancers. So, we have got to make sure that the workforce is there and there is enough capacity, but there are systems that could improve. They are on it. I get a sense that they really are on it now. They get what they need to do, but they need to do better. So, just to give you an example, straight-to-test activity in Cardiff and the Vale is around 15 per cent higher, in Cardiff, than it is in Betsi. So, there is improvement work they can do on their systems. It is not always about money and about people.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae hwn yn faes lle mae'n rhaid i ni wella, yn sicr. Fodd bynnag, bu cynnydd enfawr i'r galw am wasanaethau canser ledled y DU gyfan, ac nid yw Betsi yn eithriad. Hoffwn roi syniad i chi o sut mae'r cynnydd hwnnw i alw wedi bod. Mae atgyfeiriadau gynaecolegol wedi cynyddu 40 y cant ers 2019. Cynyddodd nifer yr atgyfeiriadau gastroberfeddol isaf 46 y cant. Cynyddodd atgyfeiriadau croen 47 y cant. Felly, mae'n cymryd amser i ehangu system pan fyddwch chi'n cael y math hwnnw o gynnydd i alw.

Fodd bynnag, mae'n rhywbeth yr wyf i'n gwybod bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn canolbwyntio'n llwyr arno. Rwy'n gwybod ei fod wedi ei drafod gyda chadeirydd bwrdd gwella'r bwrdd iechyd ac maen nhw'n cyfarfod eto ym mis Rhagfyr. Mae tanberfformio yn ymwneud â phedwar prif fath o ganser yn Betsi: canserau wrolegol, canser y fron, y llwybr gastroberfeddol isaf a chanserau'r croen. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod y gweithlu yno a bod digon o gapasiti, ond ceir systemau a allai wella. Maen nhw'n mynd i'r afael ag ef. Rwy'n teimlo eu bod nhw wir yn mynd i'r afael ag ef nawr. Maen nhw'n deall yr hyn y mae angen iddyn nhw ei wneud, ond mae angen iddyn nhw wneud yn well. Felly, dim ond i roi enghraifft i chi, mae gweithgarwch syth i brawf yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro tua 15 y cant yn uwch, yng Nghaerdydd, nag ydyw yn Betsi. Felly, mae gwaith gwella y gallan nhw ei wneud ar eu systemau. Nid yw'n bob amser yn ymwneud ag arian a phobl.

Diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am y cwestiwn yma. Fe wnes i godi amseroedd canser cenedlaethol gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yr wythnos diwethaf, ac fe wnaeth o gydnabod ei fod o’n siomedig yn y perfformiad, a dweud bod y darlun yn amrywio o le i le. Mae’n amlwg, felly, fod yna broblem yn Betsi Cadwaladr yn benodol.

Mae gen i achosion yn fy etholaeth i. Mae un etholwr wedi dod mewn yn dweud ei bod hi’n aros saith wythnos am famogram; etholwraig arall yn aros am driniaeth canser y croen, ac yn aros 24 wythnos am y driniaeth. Wrth gwrs, mae diagnosis cynnar yn hanfodol, ond mae’n hanfodol er mwyn medru cael triniaeth ar gyfer yr afiechyd. Felly, ydy’r Prif Weinidog yn meddwl ei fod o’n dderbyniol bod pobl yn fy etholaeth i yn gorfod aros cyhyd am driniaeth? A pham fod yna loteri cod post rhwng ardaloedd yng Nghymru ar gyfer diagnosis a thriniaeth?

Thank you to Janet Finch-Saunders for asking this question. I raised national cancer waiting times with the Cabinet Secretary last week, and he acknowledged that he was disappointed in the performance, and he did say that the picture varied from place to place. It is clear, therefore, that there is a problem at Betsi Cadwaladr specifically.

I have cases in my own constituency. One constituent came in and said that she was waiting seven weeks for a mammogram. Another constituent waiting for skin cancer treatment was waiting 24 weeks for that treatment. Now, of course, early diagnosis is crucial, but it is crucial in order to get treatment for the disease. So, does the First Minister believe that it is acceptable that people in my constituency have to wait so long for treatment? And why is there a postcode lottery between areas in Wales when it comes to treatment and diagnosis?

Diolch yn fawr. Mae’n drueni, achos roedd Betsi yn arfer bod yn arbennig o dda o gymharu â byrddau iechyd eraill yng Nghymru. Felly, mae’n drueni eu bod nhw wedi mynd am yn ôl—neu efallai eu bod nhw ddim wedi mynd am yn ôl, ond jest eu bod nhw ddim wedi gallu cadw i fyny â'r gofyn yna, sydd wedi cynyddu cymaint dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. 

Ond fel dwi’n dweud, beth sydd wedi digwydd yw eu bod nhw nawr, dwi’n meddwl, yn gwella’r sefyllfa. Jest o ran, er enghraifft, dermatology, mae dau clinical lead wedi cael eu penodi. Yn ddiweddar iawn, roedd yna broblem yn arbennig yn y gorllewin yn eich ardal chi, lle'r oedd pob un yn ddibynnol ar un consultant, ac, wrth gwrs, mae hynna’n creu system sydd ddim yn robust iawn. Felly, mae pethau’n gwella, mae yna lwybr clir, ond, yn amlwg, fe fydd y Gweinidog sydd â chyfrifoldeb dros hyn yn cadw golwg craff ar bethau.

Thank you. It is a shame, because Betsi used to be very good compared to other health boards in Wales, so it is a great shame that they have taken a backward step—or maybe they have not taken a backward step, but maybe they just have not been able to keep up with that demand, which has increased so much over recent years.

But as I said, what has happened is that they now, I think, are improving the situation. Just in terms of dermatology, for example, two clinical leads have been appointed. Only very recently, there was a problem particularly in the west in your area, where everyone was reliant on one consultant, and, of course, that creates a system that is not very robust. So, things are improving. There is a clear pathway, but, evidently, the Minister with responsibility for this issue will keep a watching brief on it.

Amseroedd Aros Ambiwlansys
Ambulance Waiting Times

4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i leihau amseroedd aros ambiwlansys yng Ngorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro? OQ61992

4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to reduce ambulance waiting times in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire? OQ61992

Rŷn ni’n cymryd camau i reoli anghenion gofal brys pobl yn y gymuned a gwella’r gwaith cynllunio i’w rhyddhau nhw o ofal iechyd. Bydd hyn yn rhyddhau capasiti ambiwlansys brys. Yn yr wythnosau diwethaf rŷn ni wedi lansio’r her 50 diwrnod, wedi lansio canllawiau newydd ar gyfer trosglwyddo cleifion o ambiwlansys ac wedi recriwtio 26 o glinigwyr i roi cyngor o bell o ganolfannau cyswllt 999.

We are taking action to manage people with urgent care needs in the community and improve discharge planning. This will free-up emergency ambulance capacity. In recent weeks we have launched the 50-day challenge, launched new ambulance patient handover guidance and we have recruited 26 clinicians to provide remote advice from 999 contact centres.

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Just recently a Pembrokeshire-based emergency medical technician wrote to me expressing his frustration that Pembrokeshire-based ambulances often leave the Hywel Dda health board area—called to Waunarlwydd from Tenby, then to another emergency 60 miles away, he eventually ended up delayed, unable to offload patients outside of Morriston Hospital. This left Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire without adequate ambulance cover, and is sadly a common occurrence.

Since 2015 amber response times have gone from 11 minutes to over 113 minutes—a damning indictment of the Labour Government's failure and its mishandling of the health services here in Wales. Now, because you can't meet your targets, you're looking to move the goalposts and change the targets in the new year. So, will you just admit it, Prif Weinidog—the Welsh Labour Government haven't got a clue how to improve health services in Wales?

Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Dim ond yn ddiweddar, ysgrifennodd technegydd meddygol brys o sir Benfro ataf yn mynegi ei rwystredigaeth bod ambiwlansys o sir Benfro yn aml yn gadael ardal bwrdd iechyd Hywel Dda—yn cael eu galw i Waunarlwydd o Ddinbych-y-pysgod, yna i argyfwng arall 60 milltir i ffwrdd, cafodd ei oedi yn y pen draw, gan fethu â dadlwytho cleifion y tu allan i Ysbyty Treforys. Gadawodd hyn Orllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro heb ddigon o ddarpariaeth ambiwlans, ac yn anffodus mae'n ddigwyddiad cyffredin.

Ers 2015, mae amseroedd ymateb oren wedi mynd o 11 munud i dros 113 munud—arwydd damniol o fethiant y Llywodraeth Lafur a'i chamreolaeth o'r gwasanaethau iechyd yma yng Nghymru. Nawr, oherwydd na allwch chi gyrraedd eich targedau, rydych chi'n bwriadu newid y rheolau a newid y targedau yn y flwyddyn newydd. Felly, a wnewch chi gyfaddef, Prif Weinidog—nad oes gan Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru unrhyw syniad sut i wella gwasanaethau iechyd yng Nghymru?

14:05

Well, I just think it's really important to recognise, once again, this is also about increased demand from the public—a massive increase in demand just in the Hywel Dda region. October saw the joint second-highest number of red calls on record ever. So, let me just be clear that also what's really significant is that, despite that massive increase, they reported the best ambulance performance in Wales for response to red calls within eight minutes in October. So, you're quite right—we have to make sure that all parts of this system work, but, actually, that focus, that increase, and that increase in performance in relation to the red calls—which, of course, is the most critical one to respond to—has improved. 

When it comes to reforming the way we look at this, this, of course, was a recommendation from the health committee to review how it was done, something that was done quite a long time ago in England. We've kept to this for a long time. We are following the recommendations of the committee. There does need to be a recognition of that huge increase in demand, and making sure that we respond to the most urgent patients. 

Wel, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn cydnabod, unwaith eto, bod hyn hefyd yn ymwneud â chynnydd yn y galw gan y cyhoedd—cynnydd enfawr yn y galw yn rhanbarth Hywel Dda. Ym mis Hydref, cafwyd y nifer gydradd ail uchaf o alwadau coch erioed. Felly, gadewch i mi fod yn eglur hefyd mai'r hyn sydd wir yn arwyddocaol, er gwaethaf y cynnydd enfawr hwnnw, eu bod nhw wedi adrodd y perfformiad ambiwlansys gorau yng Nghymru ar gyfer ymateb i alwadau coch o fewn wyth munud ym mis Hydref. Felly, rydych chi'n gwbl gywir—mae'n rhaid i ni wneud yn siŵr bod pob rhan o'r system hon yn gweithio, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae'r pwyslais hwnnw, y cynnydd hwnnw, a'r cynnydd hwnnw mewn perfformiad o ran y galwadau coch—sef, wrth gwrs, yr un mwyaf allweddol i ymateb iddo—wedi gwella. 

O ran diwygio'r ffordd yr ydym ni'n edrych ar hyn, argymhelliad oedd hwn, wrth gwrs, gan y pwyllgor iechyd i adolygu sut yr oedd yn cael ei wneud, rhywbeth a wnaed gryn dipyn o amser yn ôl yn Lloegr. Rydym ni wedi cadw at hyn ers amser maith. Rydym ni'n dilyn argymhellion y pwyllgor. Mae angen cydnabod y cynnydd enfawr hwnnw i'r galw, a gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n ymateb i'r cleifion mwyaf brys.

System Cyfiawnder Ieuenctid
Youth Justice System

5. Sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi pobl yn y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid? OQ61988

5. How does the Welsh Government support people in the youth justice system? OQ61988

Although youth justice services are reserved, our devolved services, like healthcare, housing and education, play a crucial role in supporting children in the justice system. We work closely with the UK Government to support children through these services and through joint initiatives like the youth justice blueprint.

Er bod gwasanaethau cyfiawnder ieuenctid wedi eu cadw yn ôl, mae ein gwasanaethau datganoledig, fel gofal iechyd, tai ac addysg, yn chwarae rhan hanfodol o ran cynorthwyo plant yn y system gyfiawnder. Rydym ni'n gweithio'n agos gyda Llywodraeth y DU i gynorthwyo plant drwy'r gwasanaethau hyn a thrwy fentrau ar y cyd fel y glasbrint cyfiawnder ieuenctid.

Diolch am yr ateb. 

Thank you for the response. 

A couple of weeks ago I visited the John Kane Centre in my constituency, which is the base for the Cardiff youth justice service, and the Cardiff team is one of the teams in Wales that has a specialist speech and language therapist based at the centre as part of the team. And we all know how important that is, in view of the fact that 60 per cent of children sentenced in the youth justice system in England and Wales have speech, language and communication needs. All this, of course, was highlighted in the report of the Equality and Social Justice Committee.

What can the First Minister and her Government do to ensure that all young people in the youth justice system in Wales have access to a speech and language therapist that will help them understand what is happening to them in the youth justice system, particularly in the courts? 

Wythnos neu ddwy yn ôl, ymwelais â Chanolfan John Kane yn fy etholaeth, sef y ganolfan ar gyfer gwasanaeth cyfiawnder ieuenctid Caerdydd, ac mae tîm Caerdydd yn un o'r timau yng Nghymru sydd â therapydd iaith a lleferydd arbenigol yn y ganolfan yn rhan o'r tîm. Ac rydym ni i gyd yn gwybod pa mor bwysig yw hynny, o ystyried y ffaith bod gan 60 y cant o blant a ddedfrydwyd yn y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid yng Nghymru a Lloegr anghenion lleferydd, iaith a chyfathrebu. Amlygwyd hyn oll, wrth gwrs, yn adroddiad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol.

Beth all y Prif Weinidog a'i Llywodraeth ei wneud i sicrhau bod gan bob unigolyn ifanc yn y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid yng Nghymru fynediad at therapydd iaith a lleferydd a fydd yn eu helpu i ddeall yr hyn sy'n digwydd iddyn nhw yn y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid, yn enwedig yn y llysoedd?

Thanks very much, Julie. I remember this conversation—it was very difficult—in relation to the Equality and Social Justice Committee's recommendations in relation to this, and I responded at the time as the health Minister. Part of my response highlighted the challenges in this area because there are only around 800 registered speech and language therapists in Wales, and they face a huge demand. So, we do have to work out how we prioritise, and what we are prioritising is services like Flying Start to reach children at the earliest opportunity. So, getting the support in earlier we thought would stop some of the knock-on effect, perhaps, into youth justice later. 

I know that the Welsh Government convened a summit on this issue in January, and that was facilitated by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. They suggested new designs to give professionals in the justice system the ability to identify communication issues, react appropriately and recognise when they need to refer to specialist support. So, that's not necessarily only through access to speech and language therapy.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Julie. Rwy'n cofio'r sgwrs hon—roedd yn anodd iawn—o ran argymhellion y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol mewn perthynas â hyn, ac fe wnes i ymateb ar y pryd fel y Gweinidog iechyd. Tynnodd rhan o'm hymateb sylw at yr heriau yn y maes hwn gan mai dim ond tua 800 o therapyddion iaith a lleferydd cofrestredig sydd yng Nghymru, ac maen nhw'n wynebu galw enfawr. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni weithio allan sut rydym ni'n blaenoriaethu, a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei flaenoriaethu yw gwasanaethau fel Dechrau'n Deg i gyrraedd plant cyn gynted â phosibl. Felly, o gael y cymorth i mewn yn gynharach, roeddem ni'n meddwl y byddai'n atal rhywfaint o'r sgil-effeithiau, efallai, i gyfiawnder ieuenctid yn ddiweddarach. 

Gwn fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi trefnu uwchgynhadledd ar y mater hwn ym mis Ionawr, a hwyluswyd honno gan Goleg Brenhinol y Therapyddion Iaith a Lleferydd. Fe wnaethon nhw awgrymu cynlluniau newydd i roi'r gallu i weithwyr proffesiynol yn y system gyfiawnder nodi problemau cyfathrebu, ymateb yn briodol a chydnabod pryd mae angen iddyn nhw gyfeirio at gymorth arbenigol. Felly, nid yw hynny o reidrwydd trwy fynediad at therapi iaith a lleferydd yn unig.

I'd like to thank my colleague Julie Morgan for raising such an important question. As has been mentioned, unfortunately 60 per cent of those in the youth justice system have speech and language difficulties. This rises up to a staggering 79 per cent within the Neath Port Talbot council area. From your time as health Minister, you'll know about the link between speech and language issues and early childhood hearing loss, and I wonder, First Minister, has a study ever been conducted on the hearing abilities of those within the youth justice system and, if not, would you commit to analysing it? Thank you. 

Hoffwn ddiolch i'm cyd-Aelod Julie Morgan am godi cwestiwn mor bwysig. Fel y soniwyd, yn anffodus mae gan 60 y cant o'r rhai yn y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid anawsterau iaith a lleferydd. Mae hyn yn codi i ganran syfrdanol o 79 y cant yn ardal cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot. O'ch cyfnod fel Gweinidog iechyd, byddwch yn gwybod am y cysylltiad rhwng problemau iaith a lleferydd a cholli clyw yn gynnar mewn plentyndod, a meddwl ydw i tybed, Prif Weinidog, a oes astudiaeth erioed wedi cael ei chynnal ar alluoedd clywed y rhai sydd yn y system cyfiawnder ieuenctid ac, os nad oes, a fyddech chi'n ymrwymo i'w ddadansoddi? Diolch.

14:10

Thanks very much. I can't remember reading that in the committee's report, but I'm very happy to go and take another look, to see if that was an issue that they raised. Obviously, that is something that should also be considered, if this is an issue.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Nid wyf i'n gallu cofio darllen hynny yn adroddiad y pwyllgor, ond rwy'n hapus iawn i fynd a chymryd golwg arall, i weld a oedd hwnnw'n fater a godwyd ganddyn nhw. Yn amlwg, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y dylid ei ystyried hefyd, os yw hyn yn broblem.

Brif Weinidog, as you've heard from the previous questions, the availability of data is crucial to improve the justice system here in Wales, and due to the lack of published disaggregated Welsh data, we've been totally dependent on the tireless work and the freedom of information requests of Dr Robert Jones from the Wales Governance Centre. Now, however, at the end of November, the Ministry of Justice said that they will no longer respond to Dr Jones's requests, as they deem his applications to be vexatious. Now, he needs to do these applications, and he's been doing them since 2013, because the MOJ has failed to routinely publish these data. Now, this didn't happen under a hostile Conservative Government, it happened under a Labour Government, who's supposed to be committed to improve the justice system here in Wales.

Now, these aren't vexatious applications, it's helped the Welsh Government, it's helped the Trefnydd—the Trefnydd can attest to that—it's helped countless committees here, in Westminster, and in the Welsh Government. Will you speak to officials at the MOJ and make sure that his applications will be accepted, and to highlight to them that his applications are anything but vexatious, but are crucial to the development of the Welsh justice system here in Wales? Diolch yn fawr.

Prif Weinidog, fel yr ydych chi wedi ei glywed o'r cwestiynau blaenorol, mae sicrhau bod data ar gael yn hanfodol i wella'r system gyfiawnder yma yng Nghymru, ac oherwydd diffyg data wedi'u dadgyfuno cyhoeddedig ar gyfer Cymru, rydym ni wedi bod yn gwbl ddibynnol ar waith diflino a cheisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth Dr Robert Jones o Ganolfan Llywodraethiant Cymru. Nawr, fodd bynnag, ddiwedd mis Tachwedd, dywedodd y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder na fyddan nhw'n ymateb i geisiadau Dr Jones mwyach, gan eu bod nhw o'r farn bod ei geisiadau'n flinderus. Nawr, mae angen iddo wneud y ceisiadau hyn, ac mae wedi bod yn eu gwneud ers 2013, gan fod y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder wedi methu â chyhoeddi'r data hyn fel mater o drefn. Nawr, ni ddigwyddodd hyn o dan Lywodraeth Geidwadol elyniaethus, digwyddodd o dan Lywodraeth Lafur, sydd i fod i fod wedi ymrwymo i wella'r system gyfiawnder yma yng Nghymru.

Nawr, nid yw'r rhain yn geisiadau blinderus, mae wedi helpu Llywodraeth Cymru, mae wedi helpu'r Trefnydd—gall y Trefnydd dystio i hynny—mae wedi helpu pwyllgorau di-rif yma, yn San Steffan, ac yn Llywodraeth Cymru. A wnewch chi siarad â swyddogion yn y Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder a gwneud yn siŵr y bydd ei geisiadau yn cael eu derbyn, a thynnu eu sylw at y ffaith fod ei geisiadau yn unrhyw beth ond blinderus, ond yn hanfodol i ddatblygiad system gyfiawnder Cymru yma yng Nghymru? Diolch yn fawr.

Thanks very much. I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear that Jane Hutt, the social justice Secretary, will be meeting Dr Jones next week to discuss some of these issues.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi'n falch iawn o glywed y bydd Jane Hutt, yr Ysgrifennydd cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, yn cyfarfod â Dr Jones yr wythnos nesaf i drafod rhai o'r materion hyn.

Cynllun Arbed yn Arfon
The Arbed Scheme in Arfon

6. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog roi diweddariad ar waith adfer gwaith diffygiol o dan gynllun Arbed yn Arfon ar ôl cynnal yr arolygon dros yr haf? OQ61986

6. Will the First Minister provide an update on remedial work on the defective work under the Arbed scheme in Arfon after undertaking reviews over the summer? OQ61986

Mae swyddogion wedi adolygu’r arolygon a gafodd eu cynnal yn Arfon dros yr haf ac yn edrych ar opsiynau rhesymol o fewn cyfyngiadau ein hadnoddau. Bydd cyngor yn cael ei anfon at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai er mwyn ystyried y ffordd orau o fynd ati i ddatrys y mater ar gyfer perchnogion tai sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio.

Officials have reviewed the surveys undertaken in Arfon during the summer and are exploring reasonable options within our resource constraints. Advice will be sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government for consideration on how best to proceed to resolve the issue for affected home owners.

Diolch am yr ateb. A dyma ni yng nghanol gaeaf gwlyb a stormus arall, ac mae rhai o fy etholwyr i yn dal i ddisgwyl, yn dal i ddisgwyl i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu ar eu haddewidion i wneud gwaith adferol ar eu cartrefi. Dyma etholwyr sydd wedi rhoi eu ffydd yng nghynllun Arbed, cynllun eich Llywodraeth chi, oedd yn addo gwella eu cartrefi, ond, mewn gwirionedd, mae dwsinau o bobl yng Ngharmel, Fron, Dinorwig a Deiniolen, cymunedau sydd efo'r stoc tai ymhlith y salaf yng Nghymru—maen nhw wedi cael eu gadael i lawr. Mae eu cartrefi nhw mewn cyflwr gwaeth rŵan na chyn iddyn nhw ymuno â chynllun Arbed flynyddoedd yn ôl bellach.

O'r diwedd, tua diwedd cyfnod Julie James fel yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet tai, fe ddaeth gobaith, ac fe gynhaliwyd arolygon ar 42 o dai dros yr haf diwethaf, yn dilyn pwyso cyson gen i, ond does yna ddim byd wedi digwydd ers hynny, a dwi'n mawr obeithio nad oes yna dro pedol yn mynd i fod rŵan ar ôl codi gobeithion. Dwi'n cymryd ychydig bach o gysur o'ch ateb chi, ond beth ydy'r amserlen ar gyfer adfer y gwaith diffygiol, os gwelwch yn dda?

Thank you for the answer. And here we are in the midst of another wet and stormy winter, and some of my constituents are still waiting, waiting for the Welsh Government to act on its promises to carry out remedial work on their homes. These are voters who have put their faith in the Arbed scheme, your Government's scheme, which promised to improve their homes, but, in reality, there are dozens of people in Carmel, Fron, Dinorwig and Deiniolen, communities whose housing stock is among the poorest in Wales, who have been let down. Their homes are in a worse condition now than they were before they joined the Arbed scheme some years ago now.

At last, towards the end of Julie James's tenure as the Cabinet Secretary for housing, there was hope, and surveys were carried out on 42 houses last summer, following constant pressure from me, but nothing has happened since then, and I greatly hope that there is to be no u-turn now after hopes have been raised. I take some comfort from your answer, but what is the timescale for restoring the defective work, please?

Wel, diolch yn fawr, Siân. Mae wedi cymryd mwy o amser na'r disgwyl i ymateb achos natur fanwl yr adroddiadau, a bydd y swyddogion yn ysgrifennu at ddeiliaid tai i'w hysbysu bod y broses yn parhau. Nawr, unwaith y bydd penderfyniad wedi'i gytuno gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai a Llywodraeth Leol, bydd deiliaid tai yn derbyn y camau nesaf a'r amserlen ar gyfer pryd fydd unrhyw waith posibl yn cael ei wneud. Ac, wrth gwrs, bydd hwnna'n amodol, i ryw raddau, ar amodau'r tywydd. Felly, rŷn ni'n gwybod bod tua 393 o dai wedi elwa o Arbed yn Arfon, ac mae 57 o'r rheini gyda'r potensial i gael problemau.

Thank you very much, Siân. It has taken longer than expected to respond because of the detailed nature of the reports, and officials will write to home owners to inform them that the process is ongoing. Now, once a decision is agreed with the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, home owners will be informed of the next steps and the timetable as to when any possible work will be done. And, of course, that will be, to some extent, conditional on weather conditions. So, we know that around 393 homes have benefited from Arbed in Arfon, and 57 of those have the potential for problems.

I'm grateful to Siân Gwenllian for raising the question on behalf of her constituents today, and thank you for your response as well, First Minister. You recognise that far too many people have been adversely affected by this faulty scheme in Arfon and across north Wales, and you've mentioned the numbers of people who have been impacted. It does start to feel, though, that there's a lack of urgency around this being resolved sooner rather than later, so I wonder whether you would acknowledge that there does seem to be a lack of urgency of seeing this matter resolved, and what lessons you and the Government have learnt as a result of people impacted by this faulty scheme.

Rwy'n ddiolchgar i Siân Gwenllian am godi'r cwestiwn ar ran ei hetholwyr heddiw, a diolch am eich ymateb chithau hefyd, Prif Weinidog. Rydych chi'n cydnabod bod llawer gormod o bobl wedi cael eu heffeithio'n andwyol gan y cynllun diffygiol hwn yn Arfon ac ar draws y gogledd, ac rydych chi wedi sôn am nifer y bobl sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio. Fodd bynnag, mae'n dechrau teimlo bod diffyg brys ynghylch datrys hyn cyn gynted â phosibl, felly tybed a fyddech chi'n cydnabod ei bod hi'n ymddangos bod diffyg brys o weld y mater hwn yn cael ei ddatrys, a pha wersi ydych chi a'r Llywodraeth wedi eu dysgu o ganlyniad i bobl yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw gan y cynllun diffygiol hwn.

14:15

Well, thanks very much. Look, I think we have got to learn lessons, and it's lessons from previous schemes like the community energy saving programme scheme, and we've seen the remedial work that we've had to undertake in Huw Irranca's constituency—that work has already commenced. There is no obligation on the Welsh Labour Government to, contractually or legally, correct this issue; we are doing it because we think it's the right thing to do. So, this is going to be supportive of those people who've had shoddy work done, but, obviously, we have tightened up the situation under any new schemes to make sure that we don't have the situation arise again.

Wel, diolch yn fawr iawn. Edrychwch, rwy'n credu bod rhaid i ni ddysgu gwersi, a gwersi yw'r rhain o gynlluniau blaenorol fel cynllun y rhaglen arbed ynni cymunedol, ac rydym ni wedi gweld y gwaith adfer y bu'n rhaid i ni ymgymryd ag ef yn etholaeth Huw Irranca—bod y gwaith hwnnw wedi cychwyn eisoes. Nid oes unrhyw rwymedigaeth ar Lywodraeth Lafur Cymru i gywiro'r mater hwn, yn gytundebol nac yn gyfreithiol; rydym ni'n gwneud felly am ein bod ni'n credu mai dyna'r peth iawn i'w wneud. Felly, fe fydd hyn yn estyn cymorth i'r bobl hynny sydd wedi gweld gwaith gwael yn cael ei wneud, ond, yn amlwg, rydym ni wedi tynhau'r sefyllfa o dan unrhyw gynlluniau newydd i sicrhau nad yw'r sefyllfa honno'n codi eto.

Adroddiadau y Food, Farming and Countryside Commission
Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Reports

7. Pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o ganfyddiadau adroddiadau 'False Economy of Big Food' a 'Changing the Conversation' gan y Food, Farming and Countryside Commission? OQ62005

7. What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the findings of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission's 'False Economy of Big Food' and 'Changing the Conversation' reports? OQ62005

The Welsh Government is very well aware of the issues in these reports about negative features of the food system, which is why we are pursuing important food-related policies such as 'Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales', and universal primary free school meals, and are committed to a community food strategy.

Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol iawn o'r materion yn yr adroddiadau hyn ynglŷn â nodweddion negyddol y system fwyd, a dyna pam rydym ni'n dilyn polisïau pwysig sy'n gysylltiedig â bwyd fel 'Pwysau Iach: Cymru Iach', a phrydau ysgol am ddim i holl blant ysgolion cynradd, ac rydym ni wedi ymrwymo i'r strategaeth bwyd cymunedol.

Thank you, First Minister. We know that the cost to society of allowing these junk food companies to continue to make that the dominant food that people are eating, and the cost to the health service and our economy, makes it, I hope, a priority for the UK Government to legislate to tax ultra-processed foods and be able to use the proceeds to make fresh food available to all.

Now, the Presiding Officer will be familiar with the very successful campaign by Ysgol y Deri pupils in Ceredigion to get Welsh fruit and vegetables served in their school, and other pupils and patients are demanding food grown in Wales, which is obviously going to enhance their well-being. So, what plans does the Welsh Government have to use public procurement to pump prime expansion of fresh fruit and vegetables grown in Wales, particularly to communities where none is available?

Diolch i chi, Prif Weinidog. Fe wyddom ni fod y gost i'r gymdeithas yn sgil caniatáu i'r cwmnïau bwyd sothach hyn ddal ati i wneud y bwyd hwnnw yr un y mae pobl yn ei fwyta amlaf, a'r gost i'r gwasanaeth iechyd a'n heconomi, yn gwneud hyn, rwy'n gobeithio, yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth y DU o ran deddfu i drethu bwyd wedi'i brosesu'n helaeth er mwyn gallu defnyddio'r elw i sicrhau bod bwyd ffres ar gael i bawb.

Nawr, mae'r Llywydd yn siŵr o fod yn gyfarwydd â'r ymgyrch lwyddiannus iawn gan ddisgyblion Ysgol y Deri yng Ngheredigion i weini ffrwythau a llysiau o Gymru yn eu hysgol, ac mae disgyblion a chleifion eraill yn mynnu cael bwyd sydd wedi'i dyfu yng Nghymru, a fydd yn amlwg yn gwella eu llesiant. Felly, pa gynlluniau sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i ddefnyddio caffael cyhoeddus i bwmpio ehangu ffrwythau a llysiau ffres a dyfir yng Nghymru, yn enwedig i gymunedau lle nad ydynt ar gael?

Thanks very much. I know how passionately you feel about this, Jenny. I was really shocked with the figure that came up in that report—£286 billion, the cost of junk food to the UK public realm. It's clearly something we all need to take very seriously. The Welsh Government's role in this, I think, is to make sure we set the strategic agenda, and what we've done is to do that through creating the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023. That will require public procurement in Wales to be undertaken in a socially responsible way. So, we've said in Part 3 of that Act that it's going to be started at the end of 2025, or early 2026, and that remains the position. I know that the future generations commissioner is very much focused on this, and I'll be really excited to visit Cegin y Bobl, which is an initiative also that's driving standards in schools, and I look forward to visiting that next week. The Welsh Veg in Schools project, that's another thing that I think we should be proud of, and that's a project that involves six local authorities, and the joy of this, of course, is that it links up the local agricultural communities and the growers locally, and we've got to see more of that, and it's going in the right direction. Things have improved, certainly. In hospital meals, for example, £14 million is spent on food and drink from Welsh suppliers. So, things are improving, but, obviously, there's a long way to go.

Diolch yn fawr. Rwy'n gwybod pa mor angerddol yr ydych chi'n teimlo ynglŷn â hyn, Jenny. Fe gefais i sioc fawr gan y ffigur a oedd yn ymddangos yn yr adroddiad hwnnw—£286 biliwn, sef cost bwyd sothach i fywyd cyhoeddus y DU. Mae'n amlwg yn rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i ni i gyd ei gymryd o ddifrif. Swyddogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru yn hyn o beth, rwy'n credu, yw sicrhau ein bod ni'n pennu'r agenda strategol, a'r hyn a wnaethom ni oedd gwneud felly drwy greu Deddf Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol a Chaffael Cyhoeddus (Cymru) 2023. Fe fydd honno'n ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gaffael cyhoeddus yng Nghymru gael ei wneud mewn ffordd sy'n gyfrifol yn gymdeithasol. Felly, rydym wedi mynegi yn Rhan 3 o'r Ddeddf honno y bydd yn cael ei rhoi ar waith ar ddiwedd 2025, neu ar ddechrau 2026, a honno yw'r sefyllfa o hyd. Rwy'n gwybod bod comisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn canolbwyntio ar hyn i raddau helaeth iawn, ac fe fyddaf i'n teimlo'n gyffrous iawn wrth ymweld â Chegin y Bobl, sef menter hefyd sy'n codi safonau mewn ysgolion, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymweld â honno'r wythnos nesaf. Prosiect Llysiau o Gymru ar gyfer ysgolion Cymru, mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth arall y dylem ni fod yn falch ohono yn fy marn i, ac mae hwnnw'n brosiect sy'n cynnwys chwe awdurdod lleol, a hyfrydwch hwnnw, wrth gwrs, yw ei fod yn cysylltu'r cymunedau amaethyddol lleol a'r rhai sy'n tyfu yn lleol, ac mae'n rhaid i ni weld mwy o hynny, ac mae hynny'n mynd i'r cyfeiriad cywir. Mae pethau wedi gwella, wrth gwrs. O ran prydau mewn ysbytai, er enghraifft, mae £14 miliwn yn cael ei wario ar fwyd a diod oddi wrth gyflenwyr o Gymru. Felly, mae pethau yn gwella, ond, yn amlwg, mae yna ffordd bell i fynd eto.

Ac yn olaf, cwestiwn 8, Lesley Griffiths.

Finally, question 8, Lesley Griffiths. 

Targedau Ambiwlans
Ambulance Targets

8. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod targedau ambiwlans galwadau coch yn cael eu cyrraedd? OQ61976

8. What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure red call ambulance targets are met? OQ61976

I'm pleased to report that the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust responded to a record number of category red patients in eight minutes during October 2024. Now, we are taking action to improve the service further through focusing on reducing handover delays, our 50-day integrated care winter challenge, and recruitment of more ambulance clinicians.

Rwy'n falch o adrodd bod Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Prifysgol Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru wedi ymateb i'r nifer fwyaf erioed o gleifion categori coch o fewn wyth munud yn ystod mis Hydref 2024. Nawr, rydym ni'n cymryd camau i wella'r gwasanaeth ymhellach trwy ganolbwyntio ar leihau oedi wrth drosglwyddo, ein her o ran gofal integredig 50 diwrnod yn ystod y gaeaf, a recriwtio mwy o glinigwyr ambiwlans.

Last week, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care updated Members on work he is undertaking to improve overall ambulance response times, including red call targets. However, alongside this work, it is absolutely vital that we have a holistic approach taken to ensuring that patient flow, once a patient does arrive in the emergency department, is improved. Could you please outline what action is being taken to decrease those handover delays and reduce the number of ambulances sitting outside our emergency departments?

Yr wythnos diwethaf, rhoddodd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol ddiweddariad i'r Aelodau am y gwaith y mae'n ei wneud i wella amseroedd ymateb cyffredinol ambiwlansys, gan gynnwys nodau o ran galwadau coch. Er hynny, ochr yn ochr â'r gwaith hwn, mae hi'n gwbl hanfodol bod dull cyfannol gennym ni o sicrhau bod llif cleifion, wrth i gleifion gyrraedd yr adrannau achosion brys, yn gwella. A wnewch chi amlinellu pa gamau sy'n cael eu cymryd i fyrhau'r oediadau hynny wrth drosglwyddo a lleihau nifer yr ambiwlansys sy'n sefyll y tu allan i'n hadrannau brys?

14:20

Thanks very much. We've added significantly to the ambulance service capacity in recent times. For example, we've seen the recruitment, recently, of advanced paramedic practitioners just this year to more than 100 across Wales. That's, again, a new initiative. So, we keep on adding to these initiatives that are already in place. I've just come back from the COVID inquiry. I was explaining to them that we'd increased the numbers in our front-line services by 100 in the particular year that they were looking at. There's been an investment in the Cymru high-acuity responder unit, a £3 million investment in that. We're investing £12 million in new ambulances. So, all of those things are helping.

But, you're right, it's about the flow that we've got to address all the time. Think about the flow. We've got to fix the back end of the system. I'm really pleased that some of the additional money that has been announced this week will go towards supporting that, getting that flow right, making sure we've got additional capacity, but also the work of the care action committee in making sure that we try and keep people in their homes and don't get them into hospital, and we look after them at home, which means reinforcing the support within the community. And all that is about recruitment and moving people out of hospitals and into the community. It's not straightforward when you've got waiting lists to deal with as well, but I think there's a real recognition that that flow issue is where the real problem is, and there's a huge amount of work, I know, that goes in to try and correct that.

Diolch yn fawr. Rydym ni wedi ychwanegu llawer at gapasiti'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans yn ddiweddar. Er enghraifft, rydym ni wedi gweld recriwtio ymarferwyr parafeddygol uwch yn ddiweddar hyd at fwy na 100 ledled Cymru. Unwaith eto, mae honno'n fenter newydd. Felly, rydym ni'n parhau i ychwanegu at y mentrau hyn sydd ar waith eisoes. Rwyf i newydd ddod yn ôl o'r ymchwiliad i COVID. Roeddwn i'n egluro iddyn nhw ein bod ni wedi cynyddu'r niferoedd yn ein gwasanaethau rheng flaen, 100 ychwanegol yn y flwyddyn arbennig a oedd ganddyn nhw dan sylw. Fe fu yna fuddsoddiad yn yr uned ymateb aciwtedd uchel Cymru, buddsoddiad o £3 miliwn yn honno. Rydym ni'n buddsoddi £12 miliwn mewn ambiwlansys newydd. Felly, mae'r pethau hyn i gyd o gymorth.

Ond, rydych chi'n iawn, mae'n ymwneud â rheoli'r llif y mae'n rhaid ymdrin ag ef trwy'r amser. Meddyliwch chi am y llif. Mae'n rhaid i ni drwsio'r tu cefn y system. Rwy'n falch iawn y bydd rhywfaint o'r arian ychwanegol a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos hon yn mynd tuag at gefnogi hynny, rheoli'r llif hwnnw'n iawn, a sicrhau bod capasiti ychwanegol gennym ni, ond fe geir gwaith y pwyllgor gweithredu gofal hefyd o ran sicrhau ein bod ni'n ceisio cadw pobl yn eu cartrefi ac nad ydyn nhw'n gorfod mynd i'r ysbyty, ac rydym ni'n gofalu amdanyn nhw gartref, sy'n golygu atgyfnerthu'r gefnogaeth sydd yn y gymuned. Ac mae hyn i gyd yn ymwneud â recriwtio a symud pobl o'r ysbyty ac i'r gymuned. Nid yw hi'n hawdd pan fo rhestrau aros gennych chi i ymdrin â nhw hefyd, ond rwy'n credu bod cydnabyddiaeth wirioneddol mai'r broblem honno o ran y llif yw'r broblem wirioneddol, ac mae llawer iawn o waith, fe wn, yn mynd i mewn i geisio unioni hynny.

2. Cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a’r Gweinidog Cyflawni
2. Questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery

Yr eitem nesaf yw eitem, felly, fydd y cwestiynau i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a'r Gweinidog Cyflawni, ac mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Gareth Davies.

The next item is questions to the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery, and the first question is from Gareth Davies.

Cyflawni Targedau
Delivering on Targets

1. Sut y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn gweithio gyda chydweithwyr yn y Cabinet i sicrhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflawni ei thargedau dros y 18 mis nesaf? OQ61974

1. How is the Counsel General working with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the Welsh Government delivers on its targets over the next 18 months? OQ61974

Thank you for the question. In my role as Minister of delivery I'm providing additional capacity to support my Cabinet colleagues and bringing people together across the Government to find innovative ways of delivering delivery of all of our priorities at pace.

Diolch i chi am y cwestiwn. Yn rhinwedd fy swydd yn Weinidog cyflawni, rwy'n darparu gallu ychwanegol ar gyfer rhoi cefnogaeth i'm cyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet a dod â phobl at ei gilydd ar draws y Llywodraeth i ganfod ffyrdd arloesol o gyflawni ein blaenoriaethau ni i gyd yn ddi-oed.

Thank you very much for that response, Counsel General. Obviously, we're embarking on the final 18 months of this Senedd term before we embark on the 2026 Senedd elections, and something that is going to change is the size of the Senedd, obviously, from 60 Members up to 96. And, obviously, in questions across Cabinet members, we hear of cuts to budgets, councils struggling, and NHS funds also struggling. With the additional £120 million that the Senedd reform’s going to cost over a period of five years, does the Government still believe that that's a wise use of taxpayers' money, given the financial situation that we're currently facing, by expanding this Senedd by 36 Members in 2026?

Diolch yn fawr iawn am yr ateb yna, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. Yn amlwg, rydym ni'n cychwyn ar 18 mis olaf tymor y Senedd hon cyn i ni ddechrau ar etholiadau'r Senedd yn 2026, a rhywbeth a fydd yn newid maint y Senedd, yn amlwg, o 60 Aelod hyd at 96. Ac, yn amlwg, mewn cwestiynau ar draws aelodau'r Cabinet, rydym ni'n clywed am doriadau i gyllidebau, cynghorau mewn cyfyngder, ac mae arian i'r GIG dan bwysau hefyd. Gyda'r £120 miliwn ychwanegol y bydd diwygiad y Senedd yn ei gostio dros gyfnod o bum mlynedd, a yw'r Llywodraeth o'r farn o hyd fod hwnnw'n ddefnydd doeth o arian trethdalwyr, o ystyried y sefyllfa ariannol yr ydym ni'n ei hwynebu ar hyn o bryd, drwy ehangu'r Senedd hon gyda 36 Aelod arall eto yn 2026?

Thank you for that question. I'm not quite sure how it relates to my role as Minister of delivery or as Counsel General, but an interesting shoehorning of a political point into this question time. The Senedd reform agenda is very much about delivering the best legislative capacity for the people of Wales. It is very much about making sure that this Senedd passes the very best possible set of laws that it can in delivering for the people of Wales, and it is about ensuring that each backbencher and each member of the Government in the new Senedd will be able to play a good part in delivering a proper legislative programme, with the right amount of scrutiny and the right amount of consideration, so that each of those laws can be the best law it possibly can be. I have never ever thought that 60 people can do that for a nation, and I'm very glad to see that extra legislative capacity going in place.

Diolch i chi am y cwestiwn yna. Nid wyf i'n hollol siŵr sut mae hynna'n cysylltu â'm swyddogaeth i yn Weinidog cyflawni neu'n Gwnsler Cyffredinol, ond mae'n ffordd ddiddorol o wthio pwynt gwleidyddol i mewn i'r amser hwn ar gyfer cwestiynau. Mae agenda diwygio'r Senedd yn ymwneud i raddau helaeth iawn â chyflawni'r gallu deddfwriaethol gorau er mwyn pobl Cymru. Mae'n ymwneud i raddau helaeth iawn â sicrhau y bydd y Senedd hon yn pasio'r set orau bosibl o ddeddfau y gall hi wrth gyflawni ar ran pobl Cymru, ac mae'n ymwneud â sicrhau y bydd pob aelod ar y meinciau cefn a phob aelod o'r Llywodraeth yn y Senedd newydd yn gallu chwarae rhan dda yng nghyflwyniad rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol sy'n gymwys, gyda'r gyfran briodol o graffu a'r gyfran briodol o ystyriaeth, fel y gall pob un o'r deddfau hynny fod y gyfraith orau bosibl. Nid wyf wedi bod o'r farn erioed y gall 60 o bobl wneud hynny dros genedl gyfan, ac rwy'n falch iawn o weld y gallu deddfwriaethol ychwanegol hwnnw'n cael ei roi ar waith.

Un targed sydd yn bell iawn, iawn o'i chyflawni ydy'r targed i godi 20,000 o gartrefi cymdeithasol newydd erbyn 2026. Mae'n rhaid i mi gondemnio’r diffyg cyflawni. Dim ond 5,775 o'r cartrefi sydd wedi cael eu hadeiladu erbyn diwedd 2023-24. Mae'r diffyg tryloywder am y cynllun yn peri pryder hefyd. Does yna ddim sicrwydd y bydd pob un o'r nifer bychan yma yn parhau fel tai cymdeithasol i'r dyfodol, a does yna ddim sicrwydd eu bod nhw'n cael eu hadeiladu yn y llefydd cywir er mwyn datrys lle mae'r problemau ar eu gwaethaf. Gydag eich Llywodraeth chi mor bell i ffwrdd o'r targed, a diffyg tryloywder er mwyn rhoi hyder i ni fod y rhain y math cywir o gartrefi yn y llefydd priodol, sut byddwch chi'n symud y gwaith ymlaen? Sut byddwch chi yn cyflawni? A sut gallwch chi honni bod eich Llywodraeth chi yn delio efo'r argyfwng tai?

One target that is very far from being achieved is the target to build 20,000 new social homes by 2026. I have to condemn this lack of delivery. Only 5,775 of these homes had been built by the end of 2023-24. The lack of transparency regarding the plan is also very concerning. There is no guarantee that every one of these very few homes will continue to be social homes into the future, and there is no guarantee that they are being built in the right places in order to solve where the problems are at their worst. With your Government so far away from the target, and a lack of transparency to give us confidence that these are the right kinds of homes in the right places, how will you move this work forward? How will you deliver? And how can you claim that your Government is dealing with the housing crisis?

14:25

Thank you for that, Siân. Individual Cabinet Secretaries remain responsible for the delivery of priorities in their portfolio. So, the housing target is the responsibility of my colleague in the Cabinet Jayne Bryant. But you will know, of course, that I was the housing Minister up until extremely recently. I'm very familiar with that target. As part of my responsibility as Minister for Delivery, I am assisting Jayne Bryant in overseeing the work of the taskforce, which is now led by Lee Waters MS, in looking to see how we can accelerate the delivery of houses right across Wales—of course, the right house in the right place.

You'll also be very familiar with the fact, I know, from our previous exchanges on this subject, that we have deliberately targeted homes for social rent. We obviously deliver affordable homes as well, and, for example, the Help to Buy system, but these are specifically targeted at homes for social rent, because that was the greatest need at the point in time of the manifesto commitment last time.

We have experienced a series of things that have caused that target to be really difficult to attain, but I still think that we can make it. I have said a number of times publicly that we are hanging onto it by the skin of our teeth, but that does not mean to say that we should lose the ambition to deliver.

So, I think—. It's not for me to say exactly where we are now—you must ask the correct Cabinet Secretary for that—but I can assure you that, across the Government, one of my tasks is making sure that all of the levers across the Government that we need to deliver that target are in place. So, I've recently had discussions, for example, with the Minister for finance. I've had discussions with Rebecca Evans, who now has responsibility for planning. I've had conversations with Jayne Bryant in her housing role, but also in her local government role, to make sure that all of those levers are in place, and that's very much what I do bring to this role—bringing a diverse set of people together to make sure that we do exercise all the levers.

I have never been prepared to say that we have given up on that target, and I am not prepared to say so now, and I'm sure the Cabinet Secretary, when you ask her, will agree with that.

Diolch i chi am hynna, Siân. Yr Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet unigol sy'n dal i fod yn gyfrifol am gyflawni blaenoriaethau yn eu portffolio nhw. Felly, fy nghyd-Aelod yn y cabinet Jayne Bryant sy'n gyfrifol am y targed o ran tai. Ond fe wyddoch chi, wrth gwrs, mai fi oedd y Gweinidog tai hyd at yn ddiweddar iawn. Rwy'n gyfarwydd iawn â'r targed hwnnw. Fel rhan o'm cyfrifoldeb i'n Weinidog Cyflawni, rwy'n cynorthwyo Jayne Bryant i oruchwylio gwaith y tasglu, sydd dan arweiniad Lee Waters AS erbyn hyn, wrth geisio ystyried sut y gallwn ni gyflymu'r gwaith o godi tai ledled Cymru—wrth gwrs, y tŷ cywir yn y man cywir.

Rydych chi'n siŵr o fod yn gyfarwydd iawn â'r ffaith hefyd, fe wn, am ein bod ni wedi cael dadleuon am y pwnc hwn yn flaenorol, ein bod ni wedi targedu'n fwriadol gartrefi i'w rhoi ar rent cymdeithasol. Rydym ni'n amlwg yn darparu cartrefi fforddiadwy hefyd, ac er enghraifft, mae'r gyfundrefn Cymorth i Brynu, ond mae'r rhain wedi eu targedu'n benodol at gartrefi ar gyfer rhent cymdeithasol, oherwydd hwnnw oedd yr angen mwyaf ar yr adeg y rhoddwyd ymrwymiad yn y maniffesto'r tro diwethaf.

Rydym ni wedi profi cyfres o bethau sydd wedi achosi'r targed hwnnw i fod yn anodd iawn ei gyrraedd, ond rwy'n dal i fod o'r farn y gallwn ni wneud hynny. Rwyf i wedi dweud sawl gwaith ar goedd gwlad ein bod ni'n dal ato â chroen ein dannedd, ond nid yw hynny'n golygu dweud y dylem ni golli'r uchelgais o ran cyflawni.

Felly, rwy'n credu—. Nid fy lle i yw dweud yn hollol beth yw ein sefyllfa nawr—fe fydd yn rhaid i chi ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet priodol ynglŷn â hynny—ond fe allaf i eich sicrhau chi, ar draws y Llywodraeth, mai un o'r tasgau sydd gennyf i yw sicrhau y bydd pob un o'r ysgogiadau sydd ei angen arnom ni ar waith ar draws y Llywodraeth ar gyfer cyflawni'r targed hwnnw. Felly, fe gefais i drafodaethau yn ddiweddar, er enghraifft, gyda'r Gweinidog cyllid. Fe gefais i drafodaethau gyda Rebecca Evans, sy'n gyfrifol am gynllunio erbyn hyn. Rwyf i wedi cael sgyrsiau gyda Jayne Bryant yn ei swyddogaeth hi o ran tai, ond yn ei swyddogaeth o ran llywodraeth leol hefyd, i wneud yn siŵr y bydd pob un o'r ysgogiadau hynny ar waith, a dyna'r hyn yr wyf i'n ei gyflwyno yn y swydd hon i raddau helaeth—gan ddod â set amrywiol o bobl at ei gilydd i wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n defnyddio pob un o'r ysgogiadau.

Nid wyf erioed wedi bod yn barod i ddweud ein bod wedi rhoi'r ffidil yn y to o ran y targed hwnnw, ac nid wyf i'n barod i ddweud hynny nawr, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, pan wnewch chi ofyn iddi hi, yn cytuno â hynny.

I really welcome the £157 million that's just been announced in-year for delivering the priorities of the First Minister, especially in public services. Fixing our roads was one of the priorities of the First Minister, and, with highways and pavements and bridges really being impacted by flooding, I'd like to hear an announcement about that. I recently visited Flintshire, who are using a Pothole Pro machine, which is three times faster and more effective than the standard way of repairing roads. They just need the tar. So, I would like to ask you: will there be an announcement soon regarding fixing our highways in the budget? Thank you.

Rwyf yn wir yn croesawu'r £157 miliwn sydd newydd gael ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y flwyddyn ar gyfer cyflawni blaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog, yn enwedig o ran gwasanaethau cyhoeddus. Roedd trwsio ein ffyrdd ni'n un o flaenoriaethau'r Prif Weinidog, a gyda phriffyrdd a phalmentydd a phontydd yn cael eu difrodi gan lifogydd, fe hoffwn glywed cyhoeddiad ynglŷn â hynny. Yn ddiweddar, fe ymwelais i â sir y Fflint, sy'n defnyddio peiriant Pothole Pro, sydd dair gwaith yn gynt ac yn fwy effeithiol na'r ffordd arferol o drwsio ffyrdd. Dim ond y tarmac sydd ei angen arnyn nhw. Felly, fe hoffwn i ofyn i chi: a fydd yna gyhoeddiad yn dod yn fuan ynglŷn â thrwsio ein priffyrdd ni yn y gyllideb? Diolch i chi.

Thank you very much for that question, Carolyn Thomas. I have to say that the Minister for finance has been very clear with every single member of the Cabinet that we are not to pre-announce the budget, so I'm afraid you will have to wait with bated breath until his statement on the budget, as far be it from me to go against that piece of advice from him.

I will say, though, that the entire point of the road review that was undertaken by this Government earlier in the piece was to make sure that we refocused on maintaining the road system that we had before we added to it with other roads. That's not to say, of course, that we haven't added some roads, which are entirely necessary to the system—certainly not an anti-road policy of any sort. But it is making sure that we fix our roof before we build the extension. So, I feel sure that I can assure you that we do have those priorities firmly in place, but I am afraid that I'm not going to respond to your very nice invitation to breach the budget confidentiality until the Minister for finance does so.

Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn yna, Carolyn Thomas. Mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud bod y Gweinidog cyllid wedi bod yn eglur iawn gyda phob un aelod o'r Cabinet na ddylem ni gyhoeddi'r gyllideb ymlaen llaw, felly rwy'n ofni y bydd yn rhaid i chi aros ar bigau'r drain tan ei ddatganiad ef ar y gyllideb, oherwydd nid fy lle i o gwbl fyddai mynd yn groes i'r darn hwnnw o gyngor ganddo ef.

Fodd bynnag, yr hyn yr wyf i am ei ddweud yw mai holl bwynt yr adolygiad ffyrdd a gynhaliwyd gan y Llywodraeth hon yn gynharach yn y darn hwnnw oedd sicrhau ein bod ni'n canolbwyntio ar gynnal a chadw'r system ffyrdd a oedd gennym cyn i ni ychwanegu at hynny gyda ffyrdd eraill. Nid yw hynny'n golygu, wrth gwrs, na wnaethom ni ychwanegu rhai ffyrdd, sy'n gwbl angenrheidiol i'r system—yn sicr nid oes polisi gwrth-ffyrdd o unrhyw fath. Ond mae hyn yn gwneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n trwsio'r to cyn codi'r estyniad. Felly, rwy'n teimlo yn sicr y gallaf i eich sicrhau chi fod y blaenoriaethau hynny gennym ni'n gadarn yn eu lle, ond mae arnaf i ofn nad wyf i am ymateb i'ch gwahoddiad caredig iawn i dorri cyfrinachedd y gyllideb hyd nes y bydd y Gweinidog cyllid yn gwneud hynny.

Gwella Cyflawni o ran Llywodraeth Cymru
Improving Welsh Government Delivery

2. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am ei chynlluniau i wella cyflawni o ran Llywodraeth Cymru dros y 18 mis nesaf? OQ61966

2. Will the Counsel General make a statement on her plans to improve Welsh Government delivery over the next 18 months? OQ61966

Thank you, Janet. As Minister for Delivery, I have been supporting the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language and my Cabinet colleagues to align conversations on the draft budget with delivery of the Government's priorities. It remains the responsibility of the relevant portfolio Cabinet Secretaries to lead the delivery of the specific priorities, however.

Diolch i chi, Janet. Fel Gweinidog Cyflawni, rwyf i wedi bod yn cefnogi Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyllid a'r Gymraeg a'm cyd-Aelodau yn y Cabinet i drefnu sgyrsiau ar y gyllideb ddrafft ynghyd â chyflawni blaenoriaethau'r Llywodraeth. Mae'r cyfrifoldeb o ran arwain y gwaith o gyflawni'r blaenoriaethau penodol yn aros gyda'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet sydd â'r portffolio perthnasol, serch hynny.

Thank you. Of course, we sparred a lot over the last few years in terms of housing, and the lack of it, and the housing crisis that now faces us. As it stands, between 8,900 and 9,200 homes have been completed. Without further funds from Welsh Government, Audit Wales estimates that only 16,000 to 16,700 can be delivered by March 2026. It’s thought that an additional £580 million to £740 million may be required, beyond current budget assumptions, to deliver that 20,000 target for new, low-carbon social rented homes by 2026.

My own local authority have spent £4.5 million during the financial year 2023-24, which is set to go up, unbelievably, more. In 2022-23, the expenditure was just under £4 million, and £3 million the previous year, so you can see the pattern. Times this by each local authority, and we have a massive ticking time bomb of people living in temporary accommodation, such as hotels and things like that.

So, what discussions has the Welsh Government held on implementing the Local Government and Housing Committee’s recommendation to establish a national development corporation to accelerate house building by acquiring that land and planning the housing projects available across Wales? Diolch.

Diolch i chi. Wrth gwrs, fe wnaethon ni groesi cleddyfau yn aml dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf ynglŷn â thai, a'r diffyg yn hynny o beth, a'r argyfwng tai sy'n ein hwynebu ni erbyn hyn. Ar hyn o bryd, mae rhwng 8,900 a 9,200 o gartrefi wedi cael eu gorffen. Heb ragor o arian oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru, mae Archwilio Cymru yn amcangyfrif mai dim ond 16,000 i 16,700 a all gael eu darparu erbyn mis Mawrth 2026. Credir y gallai fod angen o £580 miliwn hyd at £740 miliwn yn ychwanegol, y tu hwnt i ragdybiaethau cyllidebol cyfredol, i gyflawni'r nod hwnnw o 20,000 ar gyfer cartrefi newydd, carbon isel cymdeithasol ar rent erbyn 2026.

Mae fy awdurdod lleol i fy hun wedi gwario £4.5 miliwn yn ystod blwyddyn ariannol 2023-24, a fydd yn codi mwy, sy'n anodd credu. Yn 2022-23, roedd y gwariant ychydig yn llai na £4 miliwn, a £3 miliwn yn y flwyddyn flaenorol, ac felly fe allwch chi weld y patrwm. Lluoswch chi hynny fesul pob awdurdod lleol unigol, ac mae gennym fom amser enfawr yn tician o ran y bobl sy'n byw mewn llety dros dro, fel gwestai a phethau o'r fath.

Felly, pa drafodaethau a gynhaliodd Llywodraeth Cymru ynglŷn â gweithredu argymhelliad y Pwyllgor Llywodraeth Leol a Thai i sefydlu corfforaeth datblygu cenedlaethol ar gyfer cyflymu'r gwaith o adeiladu tai drwy gaffael y tir hwnnw a chynllunio'r prosiectau tai sydd ar gael ledled Cymru? Diolch.

14:30

Well, thank you, Janet. I do find some of your proposals particularly tin eared to the political situation, because when I first started as the housing Minister in the Senedd before this one, we could build somewhere in the region of seven social homes for £1 million, give or take—six to eight, but seven, more or less, for £1 million. After 14 years of Tory disaster on the economy, and in particular the Liz Truss disaster, we can build four. So, the idea that you can stand there and tell me that you’re really worried about the extra money that we need just takes my breath away.

So, of course we have had to put additional investment into that programme as a result of the economic conditions that we face. We’ve also had severe supply chain issues, particularly around the price of timber worldwide, and there’s a number of other issues. However, I still say—and I said it in response to Siân Gwenllian—that, in supporting Jayne Bryant—because it is now her priority, as the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for it—we have a number of things in play that are designed to make sure that we maximise the number of homes that we deliver under the programme.

We have a number of other ways—it’s not just building homes. It never has been about just building homes. There are a number of other things we do as well. We have a programme of acquisition, for example, and we have an exemplar housing programme that supports the development of houses across the piece—the private sector as well—to the highest standard of social homes.

I remain optimistic that we are hanging on to that target, and I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of recommending to the First Minister that we step away from it. Because those homes are very needed, and amongst the reasons they’re needed is because the Tory Governments over the years sold off social housing and refused to let local authorities replace it. So, I’m afraid I’m not really enamoured of your crocodile tears.

Wel, diolch yn fawr, Janet. Rwy'n credu bod rhai o'ch cynigion yn arbennig o glustfyddar i'r sefyllfa wleidyddol, oherwydd pan ddechreuais i gyntaf fel Gweinidog tai yn y Senedd cyn hon, fe allem ni adeiladu rhywle oddeutu saith cartref cymdeithasol am £1 miliwn, fwy neu lai—chwech hyd wyth, ond saith, fwy neu lai, am £1 miliwn. Ar ôl 14 mlynedd o drychineb Torïaidd o ran yr economi, a thrychineb Liz Truss yn arbennig felly, dim ond pedwar yr ydym ni'n gallu eu hadeiladu. Felly, mae'r syniad eich bod chi'n gallu chi sefyll yn y fan acw a dweud wrthyf i eich bod chi'n gofidio yn fawr am yr arian ychwanegol sydd ei angen arnom ni'n anodd iawn ei gredu.

Felly, wrth gwrs, rydym ni wedi gorfod buddsoddi mwy yn y rhaglen honno o ganlyniad i'r amodau economaidd sy'n ein hwynebu. Rydym ni wedi cael problemau difrifol yn y gadwyn gyflenwi hefyd, yn enwedig o ran pris pren ledled y byd, ac fe geir nifer o faterion eraill. Serch hynny, rwy'n dal i ddweud—ac fe ddywedais i hynny mewn ymateb i Siân Gwenllian—sef, wrth gefnogi Jayne Bryant—oherwydd mai ei blaenoriaeth hi erbyn hyn, fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gyda chyfrifoldeb am hynny—mae gennym ni nifer o bethau ar waith a gynlluniwyd i sicrhau ein bod ni'n sicrhau'r niferoedd mwyaf o gartrefi yr ydym ni'n eu cyflwyno yn unol â'r rhaglen.

Mae gennym ni nifer o ffyrdd eraill—nid yw'n ymwneud ag adeiladu cartrefi yn unig. Nid yw erioed wedi bod yn ymwneud ag adeiladu cartrefi yn unig. Mae yna nifer o bethau eraill yr ydym ni'n eu gwneud hefyd. Mae'r rhaglen gaffael gennym ni, er enghraifft, a'r rhaglen dai enghreifftiol sy'n cefnogi datblygiad tai ar draws y maes—y sector preifat hefyd—i'r safon uchaf o gartrefi cymdeithasol.

Rwy'n dal i fod yn obeithiol ein bod ni'n dal at y targed hwnnw, ac nid oes unrhyw fwriad o gwbl gennyf i argymell i'r Prif Weinidog ein bod ni'n troi ein cefnau arno. Oherwydd mae taer angen y cartrefi hynny, ac ymhlith y rhesymau pam y mae cymaint o angen amdanyn nhw yw am fod Llywodraethau Torïaidd dros y blynyddoedd wedi gwerthu tai cymdeithasol ac wedi gwrthod gadael i awdurdodau lleol godi rhai eraill yn eu lle nhw. Felly, mae arnaf i ofn na chefais i fy swyno felly gan eich ffug-wylofain chi.

Cwestiynau Heb Rybudd gan Lefarwyr y Pleidiau
Questions Without Notice from Party Spokespeople

Cwestiynau nawr gan lefarwyr y pleidiau. Llefarydd y Ceidwadwyr, Mark Isherwood.

Questions now from the party spokespeople. Conservative spokesperson, Mark Isherwood. 

Diolch, Llywydd. 'From Caernarfon to Caerdydd: Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030', the consultation and discussion paper published by the Law Society in September, states that law firms operating in Wales will face a series of external challenges by the end of the decade. These include specialisation, recruitment and retention, technology, including AI, and the sustainability of the small local high-street firms.

How, therefore, have you responded, or will you respond, to the related statement in the paper that the Welsh Government is well placed to support the legal sector through increased support as an essential sector? 'We believe', they said,

'that The Welsh Government could...make renewed attempts at working in collaboration with the UK Government around these issues'.

Diolch, Llywydd. Mae 'From Caernarfon to Caerdydd: Reimagining Justice in Wales 2030', papur ymgynghoriad a thrafodaeth a gyhoeddodd Cymdeithas y Cyfreithwyr, yn nodi y bydd cwmnïau cyfreithiol sy'n gweithredu yng Nghymru yn wynebu cyfres o heriau allanol erbyn diwedd y degawd. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys heriau o ran arbenigedd, recriwtio a chadw, technoleg, gan gynnwys deallusrwydd artiffisial, a chynaliadwyedd cwmnïau bychain lleol ar y stryd fawr.

Sut, felly, ydych chi wedi ymateb, neu a wnewch chi ymateb, i'r datganiad cysylltiedig yn y papur bod Llywodraeth Cymru mewn sefyllfa dda i gefnogi'r sector cyfreithiol trwy fwy o gefnogaeth am ei fod yn sector hanfodol? 'Rydym ni o'r farn', medden nhw,

'y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru...wneud ymdrechion o'r newydd i gydweithio â Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch y materion hyn'.

Thank you, Mark. It’s a very good paper, and I’ve had the opportunity to discuss it with the Law Society. It has continued a trend across Wales, where firms have found it more and more difficult to continue in existence. I’m afraid the decimation of the legal aid system has really not helped there, where a large number of smaller firms relied very heavily on legal aid income in order to maintain the specialisms that they also maintained in those firms. That has become increasingly problematic with the decimation of legal aid.

I am looking forward to a law officers meeting in London—which was meant to be this week, but has, unfortunately, been delayed until January—in which I am hoping to discuss, across all four nations, what can be done to support legal services, particularly outside our cities. As a Government that believes in the rule of law, it is absolutely essential that people have access to good legal services, in order to be able to maintain their rights in a democracy. So, I assure you that I will be taking that up. I continue to have discussions with the Law Society locally, and I've asked them to do a small piece of work—I think I mentioned it to you the last time we had this exchange—on my behalf, and I'm looking forward to continuing those discussions with them. But I absolutely share that concern: we must have access to legal services across the piece for people in Wales.

Diolch i chi, Mark. Mae hwnnw'n bapur da iawn, ac rwyf i wedi cael cyfle i'w drafod gyda Chymdeithas y Cyfreithwyr. Mae hyn wedi parhau â'r duedd ledled Cymru, lle mae cwmnïau wedi bod yn ei chael hi'n gynyddol anodd i ddal ati i weithio. Rwy'n ofni nad yw dadsefydlu'r system cymorth cyfreithiol wedi helpu yn hyn o beth mewn gwirionedd, pan oedd nifer fawr o gwmnïau llai yn dibynnu yn fawr iawn ar incwm o gymorth cyfreithiol ar gyfer cynnal yr arbenigeddau y maen nhw'n eu cynnal hefyd yn y cwmnïau hyn. Mae hynny wedi mynd yn fwyfwy problemus gyda'r toriadau aruthrol i gymorth cyfreithiol.

Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gyfarfod swyddogion y gyfraith yn Llundain—a ddylai fod yn digwydd yr wythnos hon, ond sydd, yn anffodus, wedi cael ei ohirio tan fis Ionawr—pryd y byddaf i'n gobeithio cael trafod, ar draws y pedair gwlad, yr hyn y gellir ei wneud i gefnogi gwasanaethau cyfreithiol, yn enwedig y tu allan i'n dinasoedd. Mewn Llywodraeth sy'n credu yn rheolaeth y gyfraith, mae hi'n gwbl hanfodol bod pobl yn medru cael gafael ar wasanaethau cyfreithiol da, i allu cynnal eu hawliau mewn gwlad ddemocrataidd. Felly, rwy'n eich sicrhau chi y byddaf yn codi hynny. Rwy'n parhau i gynnal trafodaethau gyda Chymdeithas y Cyfreithwyr yn lleol, ac rwyf i wedi gofyn iddyn nhw wneud darn bach o waith—rwy'n credu fy mod wedi sôn am hynny y tro diwethaf y gwnaethom ni drafod y pwnc hwn—ar fy rhan, ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at barhau â'r trafodaethau hynny gyda nhw. Ond rwy'n rhannu'r pryder hwnnw'n sicr: mae'n rhaid bod gwasanaethau cyfreithiol ar gael yn gyffredin ym mhobman er mwyn pobl yng Nghymru.

14:35

Thank you. Clearly, this relates to the external challenges that they said lie ahead, and the many factors that have led to the situation currently applying. But whilst the paper states it's unashamedly Wales-centric, it adds that considerations and recommendations within this paper are applicable to areas of England with similar socioeconomic and demographic characteristics to Wales, such as the north-east and rural north-west England. Although I emphasised to your predecessors on many occasions that the cross-border nature of criminal activity must be central to the operation of justice and policing in Wales, the paper also identifies cross-border transactions as one of the key areas in which we do not have accurate, up-to-date data.

What action have you therefore taken, and will you take, to engage with the regions of England where the considerations and recommendations within the Law Society's paper are also applicable? And how have you responded, or will you respond, to the paper's statement that the Welsh and UK Governments should analyse the current available data sets and use this intelligence to initiate a systematic improvement in data in relation to the legal sector in Wales?

Diolch i chi. Yn amlwg, mae hyn yn ymwneud â'r heriau allanol yr oedden nhw'n dweud sydd o'n blaenau ni, a'r ffactorau niferus sydd wedi arwain at y sefyllfa sy'n berthnasol yn gyfredol. Ond er bod y papur yn datgan ei fod yn ddiedifar o ran ei fod yn canolbwyntio ar Gymru yn unig, mae'n ychwanegu bod ystyriaethau ac argymhellion yn y papur hwn sy'n berthnasol i ardaloedd yn Lloegr sydd â nodweddion economaidd-gymdeithasol a demograffig tebyg i Gymru, fel y gogledd-ddwyrain a gogledd-orllewin gwledig Lloegr. Er fy mod i wedi pwysleisio'r ffaith sawl gwaith i'ch rhagflaenwyr chi bod rhaid i natur drawsffiniol gweithgarwch troseddol fod yn ganolog i weithrediad cyfiawnder a phlismona yng Nghymru, mae'r papur yn nodi trafodiadau trawsffiniol hefyd fel un o'r meysydd allweddol lle nad yw'r data cywir, cyfoes gennym ni.

Pa gamau a wnaethoch chi eu cymryd felly, ac rydych chi am eu cymryd nhw, i ymgysylltu â rhanbarthau Lloegr lle mae'r ystyriaethau a'r argymhellion ym mhapur Cymdeithas y Cyfreithwyr yn berthnasol hefyd? A sut ydych chi wedi ymateb, neu a wnewch chi ymateb, i ddatganiad y papur y dylai Llywodraethau Cymru a'r DU ddadansoddi'r setiau cyfredol o ddata sydd ar gael a defnyddio'r wybodaeth honno i gychwyn gwelliant systematig i'r data o ran y sector cyfreithiol yng Nghymru?

Thank you, Mark. So, I agree with that entirely. I'm hoping to raise that at the law officers meeting, as I mentioned. I'm also hoping to go to Manchester to look at the Manchester model on probation, with my colleague Jane Hutt, in the near future. We are looking at aspects of and exploring the further devolution of youth justice and probation to the Senedd. As part of that discussion, we will be talking to the metro mayors, amongst others, about how that works for them.

I do think it's fundamental to the point I made earlier, really: we need to see a full revision of the legal aid service across Wales and we need to understand the fundamentals of that, not only in citizens' access to justice, but actually in the viability of providing legal services across the piece. Because unless that work is properly paid, many of the smaller firms on high streets up and down the land, outside of cities, really cannot make ends meet, and therefore they cannot keep going, and that in itself is a real problem. So, I absolutely will be having those conversations with all of the law officers from the UK, and I hope very much to do that, in conjunction with the Deputy First Minister and the Minister for social justice, with the metro mayors as well.

Diolch i chi, Mark. Felly, rwy'n cytuno â hynna'n gyfan gwbl. Rwy'n gobeithio codi hynny yng nghyfarfod swyddogion y gyfraith, fel soniais i. Rwy'n gobeithio mynd i Fanceinion hefyd i edrych ar fodel Manceinion ynglŷn â phrawf, gyda'm cyd-Aelod Jane Hutt, yn y dyfodol agos. Rydym ni'n edrych ar agweddau ac yn archwilio datganoli cyfiawnder ieuenctid a phrawf ymhellach i'r Senedd. Yn rhan o'r drafodaeth honno, fe fyddwn ni'n siarad â'r meiri metro, ymhlith eraill, ynglŷn â sut mae hynny'n gweithio iddyn nhw.

Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn sylfaenol i'r pwynt a wnes i'n gynharach, mewn gwirionedd: mae angen i ni weld adolygiad llawn o'r gwasanaeth cymorth cyfreithiol ledled Cymru ac mae angen i ni ddeall hanfodion hwnnw, nid yn unig o ran argaeledd cyfiawnder i'r dinasyddion, ond o ran hyfywedd darparu gwasanaethau cyfreithiol yn gyffredinol, mewn gwirionedd. Oherwydd oni bai fod y gwaith hwnnw'n cael ei dalu amdano'n deg, ni all llawer o'r cwmnïau llai sydd ar y stryd fawr ym mhob cwr o'r wlad, y tu allan i'r dinasoedd, gael dau ben llinyn ynghyd, ac felly ni allan nhw barhau, ac mae honno'n broblem wirioneddol ynddi ei hun. Felly, fe fyddaf i'n cynnal y sgyrsiau hynny gyda phob un o swyddogion y gyfraith sydd yn y DU, ac rwy'n gobeithio yn fawr y byddaf i'n gwneud hynny, ar y cyd â'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog a'r Gweinidog cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, gyda'r meiri metro hefyd.

Diolch. Continuing with the cross-border theme, the Thomas commission report makes only one reference to the key issue of cross-border criminality in the context of county lines, and the only solution it proposed was joint working across the four Welsh forces, in collaboration with other agencies, without any reference to established joint working with neighbouring partners across the invisible crime and justice border with England.

During a discussion of the prison problem on Radio 4's The Briefing Room programme last week, a former prison governor, inspector of prisons and head of an anti-corruption unit stated that, given that many of the services required to manage offenders, ex-offenders, and promote rehabilitation are already devolved to England's metro mayors, criminal justice should also be devolved to them, with prisons for serious crime retained at UK level. Given that many of the services required to manage offenders, ex-offenders and promote rehabilitation are also already devolved to Wales, what consideration have you given, or will you give, to a model such as this in discussion with UK Government counterparts?

Diolch. Gan barhau â'r thema drawsffiniol, dim ond un cyfeiriad y mae adroddiad comisiwn Thomas yn ei wneud at y mater allweddol o droseddu trawsffiniol a hynny yng nghyd-destun llinellau cyffuriau, a'r unig ateb a gynigiwyd ynddo oedd cydweithio ar draws y pedwar llu yng Nghymru, mewn cydweithrediad ag asiantaethau eraill, heb unrhyw gyfeiriad at y cydweithio sydd wedi cael ei sefydlu â phartneriaid cyfagos dros y ffin anweledig o ran trosedd a chyfiawnder sydd gennym ni â Lloegr.

Yn ystod trafodaeth ar broblem y carchardai ar y rhaglen The Briefing Room ar Radio 4 yr wythnos diwethaf, dywedodd cyn-lywodraethwr carchardai, arolygydd carchardai a phennaeth uned gwrth-lygredd, o ystyried bod llawer o'r gwasanaethau y mae eu hangen i reoli troseddwyr, cyn-droseddwyr, a hyrwyddo adsefydlu wedi cael eu datganoli eisoes i feiri yn Lloegr, y dylid datganoli cyfiawnder troseddol iddyn nhw hefyd, gyda charchardai am droseddau difrifol yn cael eu cadw ar lefel y DU. O ystyried bod llawer o'r gwasanaethau y mae eu hangen i reoli troseddwyr, cyn-droseddwyr a hyrwyddo adsefydlu wedi cael eu datganoli i Gymru eisoes, pa ystyriaeth a wnaethoch chi ei rhoi, neu y byddwch chi'n ei rhoi, i batrwm fel hyn yn eich trafodaethau ag aelodau cyfatebol yn Llywodraeth y DU?

Thank you, Mark. So, that's not actually in my portfolio, but I'm very involved in the discussions. That's a piece of work that's split between myself, the Minister for social justice and the Deputy First Minister. We're actually having a trilateral meeting to discuss it—Thursday, is it? Yes, Thursday this week. Because I accept the premise. The Welsh Government has long had an ambition to have criminal justice devolved to us, and we want to make youth justice the first step of that. It's the only part of child-centred services that isn't currently devolved to the Senedd, and we think it would make a lot of sense to start there. We will of course be pursuing that, and I was very pleased to see that exploring that possibility was part of the UK Labour Government's manifesto. As I said, we will be discussing that and a range of other issues with the metro mayors.

Various colleagues in the Government, not myself, have responsibility for the co-ordination of policing, which isn’t devolved of course, but the co-ordination and fallout from that is very much part of that. My colleague Jane Hutt has been very involved in those discussions. I did myself have the chance to meet the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales very recently and she brought up the point as well. So, we will be looking at that very carefully. I do think that county lines is one of the most difficult things we face. It is a terrible exploitation by organised crime of very vulnerable people in very difficult circumstances, and absolutely the fallout from that falls onto Welsh services. So, we take a close interest in that. As I say, my colleague Jane Hutt has been working on that for many years.

Diolch i chi, Mark. Felly, nid yw hynny yn fy mhortffolio i mewn gwirionedd, ond mae gennyf i ran fawr yn y trafodaethau. Darn o waith yw hwnnw'r wyf i'n ei rannu â'r Gweinidog cyfiawnder cymdeithasol a'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog. Fe fyddwn ni'n cynnal cyfarfod teirochrog i drafod hyn mewn gwirionedd—ddydd Iau, onid e? Ie, ar ddydd Iau'r wythnos hon. Oherwydd rwy'n derbyn y rhagosodiad. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod ag uchelgais ers amser maith i gael gweld datganoli cyfiawnder troseddol i ni, ac rydym ni'n awyddus i gyfiawnder ieuenctid fod yn gam cyntaf i hynny. Dyma'r unig ran o wasanaethau sy'n canolbwyntio ar y plentyn na chafodd ei ddatganoli i'r Senedd hon ar hyn o bryd, ac rydym ni o'r farn y byddai hi'n gwneud llawer o synnwyr i ddechrau yn y fan honno. Wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni'n mynd ar drywydd hynny, ac roeddwn i'n falch iawn o weld bod archwilio'r posibilrwydd hwnnw'n rhan o faniffesto Llywodraeth Lafur y DU. Fel dywedais i, fe fyddwn ni'n trafod hynny ac amrywiaeth o faterion eraill gyda'r meiri metro.

Cyd-Aelodau amrywiol yn y Llywodraeth, nid myfi fy hunan, sydd â chyfrifoldeb am gydlynu plismona, na chafodd ei ddatganoli wrth gwrs, ond mae'r cydgysylltu a'r adladd o hynny'n rhan bwysig iawn o'r peth. Mae fy nghyd-Aelod i, Jane Hutt wedi bod â rhan bwysig yn y trafodaethau hynny. Fe gefais i gyfle i gwrdd â Chomisiynydd Heddlu a Throseddu De Cymru yn ddiweddar iawn ac roedd hi'n codi'r pwynt hwnnw hefyd. Felly, fe fyddwn ni'n ystyried hyn yn ofalus. Rwyf i o'r farn mai'r llinellau cyffuriau yw un o'r materion anoddaf yr ydym ni'n eu hwynebu. Camfanteisio dychrynllyd ar bobl agored i niwed mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn gan droseddu cyfundrefnol yw hynny, ac yn gwbl sicr mae'r canlyniadau yn sgil hynny yn dod i ran gwasanaethau Cymru. Felly, mae gennym ni ddiddordeb mawr yn hynny o beth. Fel dywedais i, mae fy nghyd-Aelod Jane Hutt wedi bod yn gweithio ar hynny ers blynyddoedd lawer.

14:40

Diolch, Llywydd. Tomorrow, a landmark case is being heard at the US Supreme Court, whose central question has direct relevance to secondary legislation introduced by the Welsh Government earlier in the year. The American Civil Liberties Union claim that the ban introduced by the state of Tennessee on prescribing puberty-blocking medicine to trans youth, while allowing their continued prescription for other purposes, is discriminatory on the basis of sex and gender identity and contrary to the equal protection provisions of the US constitution. The case is obviously being held in a different jurisdiction, but the policy introduced by the Welsh Government is similar in its effects, and article 14 of the European convention on human rights mirrors the provisions in terms of equal protection. So, can I ask the Counsel General if she agrees with her direct counterpart, I suppose, in this case, the attorney general of the state of Tennessee, that a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth does not discriminate on the basis of either sex or gender identity?

Diolch, Llywydd. Yfory, fe glywir achos pwysig yng Ngoruchaf Lys yr Unol Daleithiau, y mae ei gwestiwn canolog yn berthnasol yn uniongyrchol i is-ddeddfwriaeth a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn gynharach yn ystod y flwyddyn. Mae Undeb Hawliau Sifil America yn honni bod y gwaharddiad a gyflwynwyd gan dalaith Tennessee ar bresgripsiynau ar gyfer meddyginiaethau i atal y glasoed i ieuenctid traws, tra bod presgripsiynau yn cael eu caniatáu ar gyfer dibenion eraill, yn wahaniaethol ar sail hunaniaeth rhyw a rhywedd ac yn groes i ddarpariaethau diogelu cyfartal cyfansoddiad yr UD. Yn amlwg, mae'r achos yn cael ei gynnal mewn awdurdodaeth arall, ond mae'r polisi a gyflwynwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn debyg o ran ei effeithiau, ac mae erthygl 14 o'r confensiwn Ewropeaidd ar hawliau dynol yn adlewyrchu'r darpariaethau o ran amddiffyniad cyfartal. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol a yw hi'n cytuno â'i swyddog cyfatebol, mae'n debyg, yn yr achos hwn, twrnai cyffredinol talaith Tennessee, nad yw gwaharddiad ar ofal cadarnhau rhywedd ar gyfer ieuenctid traws yn wahaniaethol ar sail hunaniaeth rhyw na rhywedd?

I’m not familiar with the case at all, Adam. I’d be very grateful if you want to send me anything about it. I hadn’t picked it up. I’ll be looking at it from a very interested point. Obviously, the overall policy isn’t mine to look at, but I’d be very interested to see what the legal arguments there are. It’s something that we do need to keep an eye on. We are a very different jurisdiction, and indeed a very different social make-up, I’m very pleased to say. Opinion polls across Britain show a very different social attitude to the kinds of issues that you’re raising there. But I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the case at all and am not able to really comment on it with any legal certainty. But I’d be more than happy to look at it, it sounds very interesting.

Nid wyf i'n gyfarwydd â'r achos o gwbl, Adam. Fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar iawn pe baech yn anfon unrhyw beth amdano ataf. Doeddwn i ddim wedi clywed amdano. Byddaf yn edrych arno â diddordeb mawr. Yn amlwg, nid fy un i yw'r polisi cyffredinol, ond byddai gen i ddiddordeb mawr mewn gweld beth yw'r dadleuon cyfreithiol sydd yna. Mae'n rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i ni gadw llygad arno. Rydym yn awdurdodaeth wahanol iawn, ac yn wir yn gyfansoddiad cymdeithasol gwahanol iawn, rwy'n falch iawn o ddweud. Mae arolygon barn ar draws Prydain yn dangos agwedd gymdeithasol wahanol iawn at y mathau o faterion rydych chi'n eu codi yna. Ond mae arnaf ofn nad wyf yn gyfarwydd â'r achos o gwbl ac nid wyf yn gallu gwneud sylwadau arno mewn gwirionedd gydag unrhyw sicrwydd cyfreithiol. Ond byddwn i'n fwy na hapus i edrych arno, mae'n swnio'n ddiddorol iawn.

I'm very grateful to the Counsel General for that offer of looking at the case and the issues that it raises in our context here in Wales. Earlier this year, the Welsh Government introduced a regulation to prohibit the prescription by GPs of puberty-suppressing medicines for new patients under 18 with gender dysphoria that were not part of a clinical trial. The explanatory memorandum for the regulation said that the Welsh Government’s obligations in respect of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 'have been considered'. The Welsh Government is of course under a legal duty to give due regard to the convention under the terms of the Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011. Article 12 says that the opinions of children and young people should be considered when people make decisions about things that involve them. Yet that same explanatory memorandum, Counsel General, said,

'No consultation is taking place with persons to represent the interests of those who may require puberty blockers for gender dysphoria.'

How is that consistent in legal terms with the Welsh Government’s obligations under the convention? And can the Counsel General say or find out if a child rights impact assessment report was produced?

Rwy'n ddiolchgar iawn i'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol am gynnig fel yna i ystyried yr achos a'r materion y mae'n eu codi yn ein cyd-destun ni yma yng Nghymru. Yn gynharach eleni, fe gyflwynodd Llywodraeth Cymru reoliad i wahardd presgripsiynau meddyginiaethau gan feddygon teulu sy'n atal y glasoed ar gyfer cleifion newydd o dan 18 oed â dysfforia rhywedd nad oedden nhw'n rhan o dreial clinigol. Roedd y memorandwm esboniadol ar gyfer y rheoliad yn dweud bod rhwymedigaethau Llywodraeth Cymru o ran Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn 'wedi cael eu hystyried'. Wrth gwrs, mae dyletswydd gyfreithiol ar Lywodraeth Cymru i roi sylw dyledus i'r confensiwn yn unol â thelerau Mesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc (Cymru) 2011. Mae Erthygl 12 yn dweud y dylid ystyried barn plant a phobl ifanc pan fydd pobl yn gwneud penderfyniadau am bethau sy'n gysylltiedig â nhw. Ac eto, roedd yr union femorandwm esboniadol hwnnw, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, yn dweud:

'Ni chynhelir ymgynghoriad â phersonau i gynrychioli buddiannau’r rhai a allai fod angen meddyginiaethau atal y glasoed ar gyfer dysfforia rhywedd.'

Sut mae hynny'n gyson mewn termau cyfreithiol â rhwymedigaethau Llywodraeth Cymru o dan y confensiwn? Ac a wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddweud neu ddarganfod a gafodd unrhyw adroddiad ei lunio i asesu'r effaith ar hawliau plant?

I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that second one, I will certainly find out for you. I’m not really familiar with the ins and outs of it, I’m afraid. I’m just being told by my colleague that it’s an NHS England—[Interruption.] Sorry, say again. [Interruption.] Yes, we access the services via NHS England. But, Adam, I’m afraid I just don’t know the detail that you’ve read out there. I will have to respond to you in writing. I’d actually really appreciate a conversation with you about it as well; it’s something I’m very interested in. So, I will look into that for you, but I don’t have that answer at my fingertips, I’m afraid.

Rwy'n ofni nad wyf i'n gwybod yr ateb i'r ail gwestiwn, ond yn sicr fe wnaf i chwilio i chi. Nid wyf i'n gyfarwydd iawn â'r manylion, mae arnaf i ofn. Rwyf i newydd gael gwybod gan fy nghyd-Aelod mai GIG Lloegr—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n ddrwg gen i, dywedwch chi unwaith eto. [Torri ar draws.] Ydym, rydym yn defnyddio'r gwasanaethau drwy GIG Lloegr. Ond, Adam, mae arnaf i ofn nad wyf i'n gwybod manylion yr hyn y gwnaethoch chi ei ddarllen nawr. Fe fydd yn rhaid i mi ymateb yn ysgrifenedig i chi. Fe fyddwn i'n gwerthfawrogi sgwrs gyda chi hefyd; mae hwn yn rhywbeth y mae gennyf i ddiddordeb mawr ynddo. Felly, fe fyddaf i'n edrych i mewn i hynny i chi, ond nid yw'r ateb gennyf i chi ar flaenau fy mysedd nawr, mae arnaf i ofn.

The regulations were originally introduced in England, but identical provisions have been produced in Wales. In fact, there is a measure currently before the Senedd that amends them.

The Council of Europe this week has raised serious legal and ethical concerns about the implications of only offering puberty-blocking treatment to patients that are on a clinical trial. In particular, it cites the additional protocol to the Oviedo convention, which says that persons being asked to participate in a research project shall be informed of their right to refuse consent and they shouldn't be subject to any form of discrimination. For many young people, the only way to receive puberty-suppressing treatment now will be to participate in the trial, which calls into question whether consent can be constituted as free and informed in those situations. So, can the Counsel General give a view now, or undertake to give us a view in due course, having considered the matter further, as to whether she believes that the policy of the Welsh Government is consistent with the terms of the Oviedo convention, as I have suggested them? And I look forward to having a further conversation with her on this matter.

Yn wreiddiol, yn Lloegr y cafodd y rheoliadau eu cyflwyno, ond mae darpariaethau o'r un fath yn union wedi cael eu llunio yng Nghymru. Yn wir, mae yna fesur gerbron y Senedd ar hyn o bryd sy'n eu diwygio nhw.

Mae Cyngor Ewrop wedi codi pryderon cyfreithiol a moesegol difrifol yr wythnos hon ynglŷn â goblygiadau cynnig triniaeth atal y glasoed i gleifion sydd ar dreialon clinigol yn unig. Yn benodol, mae hyn cyfeirio at y protocol a ychwanegwyd at gonfensiwn Oviedo, sy'n dweud y bydd pobl y gofynnir iddyn nhw gymryd rhan mewn prosiect ymchwil fod yn ymwybodol o'u hawl nhw i wrthod cydsyniad ac na ddylen nhw fod yn destun unrhyw fath o wahaniaethu. I lawer o bobl ifanc, yr unig ffordd i dderbyn triniaeth atal y glasoed nawr fydd cymryd rhan mewn treial, sy'n gofyn y cwestiwn a ellir rhoi cydsyniad rhydd ac ar sail gwybodaeth yn y sefyllfaoedd hynny. Felly, a wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol fynegi barn nawr, neu ymrwymo i fynegi barn i ni maes o law, ar ôl ystyried y mater ymhellach, ynghylch a yw hi o'r farn fod polisi Llywodraeth Cymru yn gyson â thelerau confensiwn Oviedo, fel rhoddais i awgrym ohonyn nhw? Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gael sgwrs arall gyda hi ynglŷn â'r mater hwn.

14:45

I'm not in a position to answer that, Adam. I just do not have enough information at my fingertips and it needs a carefully considered answer. It's something I'm very interested in looking at. I will certainly have a further conversation with you about it and respond in writing. I'll have a further conversation with my colleague the Minister for health on the subject as well. So, I'll have to come back to you on that, I'm afraid. 

Nid wyf i mewn sefyllfa i ateb hynna, Adam. Nid oes gwybodaeth ddigonol gennyf i ar flaenau fy mysedd ac mae angen rhoi ateb ystyriol gofalus iawn i hyn. Mae'r mater yn un y mae gennyf i ddiddordeb mawr i roi ystyriaeth iddo. Yn sicr, fe gaf i drafodaeth arall gyda chi ynglŷn â hyn ac fe fyddaf i'n ymateb yn ysgrifenedig. Rwyf i am gael sgwrs bellach gyda fy nghyd-Weinidog y Gweinidog iechyd ynglŷn â'r pwnc hefyd. Felly, fe fydd yn rhaid i mi ddod yn ôl atoch ynglŷn â hynna, mae arnaf i ofn. 

Apelau Gwahardd Ysgolion
School Exclusion Appeals

3. Sut y bydd y Bil tribiwnlysoedd arfaethedig yn sicrhau annibyniaeth swyddogaethau paneli apêl gwahardd ysgolion? OQ61970

3. How will the planned tribunals Bill ensure the independence of school exclusion appeal panels’ functions? OQ61970

Diolch, Rhys. Under the proposals set out in our White Paper, the functions currently exercised by the school exclusion appeal panels would be transferred to a new first-tier tribunal for Wales. This would be administered by a statutory body, at arm's length from the Welsh Government.

Diolch, Rhys. Yn ôl y cynigion sy'n cael eu nodi yn ein Papur Gwyn, fe fyddai'r swyddogaethau sydd ar hyn o bryd yn cael eu hymarfer gan baneli apeliadau gwahardd o ysgolion yn cael eu trosglwyddo i dribiwnlys haen gyntaf newydd i Gymru. Fe fyddai hwnnw'n cael ei weinyddu gan gorff statudol, hyd braich oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru.

Thank you very much, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. If we went this afternoon to the youth court in Cardiff or Swansea, I can guarantee you that we'd meet youngsters who had been excluded from school. It's well documented, the impact that long-term school exclusion can have on young people entering the criminal justice system. Now, I was disappointed, and I mentioned this to the previous Counsel General, that the school exclusion panels were not included in the Welsh tribunal reform, because the work they do is hugely influential on a young person's life. Now, it is important, as you're well aware, that their work is independent and also appears to be independent. However, the members of these panels are often appointed by the local authorities, the clerks are employed by the local authorities and the hearings are usually held within local authority buildings—so, it all sways towards one party of the appeal. Currently, the only route of appeal is a judicial review, which is beyond the means of most of us. Hopefully this review of the tribunal system can include the second, upper tribunal as part of the appeal process for school exclusion. But, how will you secure that justice with regard to school exclusion appeals so that's it's not only done, but seen to be done? Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. Pe byddem ni'n mynd i lys ieuenctid yng Nghaerdydd neu Abertawe, fe allaf i eich sicrhau chi y byddem ni'n cwrdd â phobl ifanc a oedd wedi cael eu gwahardd o'u hysgolion. Mae'r dystiolaeth yn amlwg iawn o ran yr effaith y gall gwaharddiad hirdymor o ysgol ei chael ar bobl ifanc sy'n mynd drwy'r system cyfiawnder troseddol. Nawr, fe gefais i fy siomi, ac fe soniais am hynny gyda'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol blaenorol, nad oedd y paneli gwahardd o ysgolion yn cael eu cynnwys yn y diwygiad o dribiwnlysoedd Cymru, oherwydd mae'r gwaith maen nhw'n ei wneud yn hynod ddylanwadol ar fywyd unigolyn ifanc. Nawr, mae hi'n bwysig, fel rydych chi'n gwybod yn iawn, bod eu gwaith nhw'n annibynnol a'i fod yn cael ei weld fel gwaith annibynnol. Eto i gyd, fe gaiff aelodau'r paneli hyn eu penodi yn aml gan yr awdurdodau lleol, mae'r clercod yn cael eu cyflogi gan yr awdurdodau lleol ac mae'r gwrandawiadau er yn cael eu cynnal fel arfer o fewn adeiladau'r awdurdod lleol—felly, mae'r cyfan yn troi tuag at un parti yn yr apêl. Ar hyn o bryd, yr unig lwybr ar gyfer apelio yw adolygiad barnwrol, sydd y tu hwnt i fodd y rhan fwyaf ohonom ni. Rwy'n gobeithio y gall yr adolygiad hwn o system y tribiwnlysoedd gynnwys yr ail dribiwnlys, yr un uchaf fel rhan o'r broses apelio yn erbyn gwaharddiadau o ysgolion. Ond, sut fyddwch chi'n sicrhau'r cyfiawnder hwnnw o ran apelau gwahardd o'r ysgol fel bydd hynny nid yn unig yn cael ei wneud, ond y gwelir ei fod yn cael ei wneud hefyd? Diolch yn fawr.

Thank you very much for that. So, protecting judicial independence and giving greater structural independence to the administration of justice is absolutely a key objective of the structural reforms we're proposing to modernise the tribunal system. So, you've got to the nub of the matter straight off, which is exactly that it needs to be done and it needs to be seen to be done. I don't consider, personally, that those involved in the current exclusion of a child from school approach those decisions lightly—far from it—and, in a previous life, I was part of the process myself. We took very seriously both the training and the independence of the process. But, the consequences for the child and for the school are of the highest significance, you're absolutely right. And my colleague the Minister for education is very exercised about the whole issue around exclusions and making sure that each child has the right opportunity for an education. So, the decision making must be consistent and it must be unquestionably independent in the future. The Thomas commission said that decisions of this weight should have judicial scrutiny. So, I think we're in agreement about that. We've been clear that our intention is to replace the locally constituted panels with decisions in the new tribunal system at the first tier, and that approach has had clear support from respondents to the White Paper consultation across the board as well. So, that is our intention. If we're able to bring the tribunals Bill forward in this Senedd term, which I very much hope we will be able to do, then that is our intention currently. 

Diolch yn fawr iawn am hynna. Felly, mae amddiffyn annibyniaeth farnwrol a rhoi mwy o annibyniaeth strwythurol i weinyddu cyfiawnder yn llwyr yn un o amcanion allweddol y diwygiadau strwythurol yr ydym ni'n eu cynnig ar gyfer moderneiddio'r system tribiwnlysoedd. Felly, rydych chi wedi mynd at graidd y mater yn syth, sef bod angen gwneud hynny ac mae angen gweld hynny'n cael ei wneud. Nid wyf i'n ystyried, fy hunan, bod y rhai sy'n ymdrin nawr â gwahardd plentyn o'r ysgol yn gwneud y penderfyniadau hynny ar chwarae bach—ymhell o hynny—ac, mewn gyrfa flaenorol, roeddwn i fy hunan â rhan yn y broses honno. Fe wnaethom ni gymryd yr hyfforddiant ac annibyniaeth y broses o ddifrif, fel ei gilydd. Ond, mae'r canlyniadau i'r plentyn a'r ysgol o'r pwysigrwydd mwyaf, rydych chi'n hollol gywir. Ac mae fy nghyd-Weinidog y Gweinidog addysg yn ymboeni llawer iawn ynghylch yr holl faterion sy'n ymwneud â gwaharddiadau a sicrhau y bydd pob plentyn yn cael cyfle teg i ddysgu. Felly, mae'n rhaid i'r broses o wneud penderfyniadau fod yn gyson ac mae'n rhaid iddi fod yn annibynnol yn y dyfodol, yn ddiamau. Roedd comisiwn Thomas yn mynegi y dylai penderfyniadau o'r pwysigrwydd hwn fod â chraffu barnwrol arnyn nhw. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n cytuno â hynny. Rydym ni wedi bod yn eglur mai ein bwriad ni yw disodli'r paneli a gyfansoddir yn lleol gyda phenderfyniadau yn y system dribiwnlysoedd newydd ar yr haen gyntaf, ac mae'r dull hwnnw wedi cael cefnogaeth glir oddi wrth yr ymatebwyr i ymgynghoriad y Papur Gwyn yn eang iawn hefyd. Felly, dyna ein bwriad ni. Os gallwn ni gyflwyno Bil y Tribiwnlysoedd yn nhymor y Senedd hon, yr wyf i'n gobeithio yn fawr y gallwn ni wneud felly, yna dyna yw ein bwriad ni'n ar hyn o bryd. 

Data Cyfiawnder wedi'u Dadgyfuno
Disaggregated Justice Data

4. Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol wedi'u cael â'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder i sicrhau bod data cyfiawnder wedi'u dadgyfuno ar gael i Gymru? OQ61971

4. What discussions has the Counsel General had with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that disaggregated justice data is available for Wales? OQ61971

Having Wales-specific data is very important to understand how justice services are working in Wales—as I've just been discussing with Mark Isherwood, in fact—including the impact on devolved services. We've taken forward a number of our own initiatives in this area, as well as our continuing conversations with the Ministry of Justice.

Mae bod â data sy'n benodol i Gymru yn bwysig iawn ar gyfer deall sut mae gwasanaethau cyfiawnder yn gweithio yng Nghymru—fel rwyf i newydd fod yn ei drafod gyda Mark Isherwood, mewn gwirionedd—gan gynnwys yr effaith ar wasanaethau datganoledig. Rydym ni wedi bwrw ymlaen â nifer o'n mentrau ein hunain yn y maes hwn, yn ogystal â'n sgyrsiau parhaus gyda'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder.

14:50

I agree with you, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, and the Ministry of Justice agrees with us. Back in 2017, a working group from the Ministry of Justice said that it is important to have disaggregated Welsh data, and that’s been echoed by politicians here, by committees here and in Westminster. In fact, the Equality and Social Justice Committee inquiry into women’s experience of the criminal justice said that they couldn’t have a full picture of how women from Wales experience the criminal justice system because of the lack of disaggregated data. Now, a perfect example of this is a recent freedom of information application by Dr Robert Jones for the number of Welsh women who are pregnant in prisons being refused because it was too complicated. Now, we are told we won’t have any FOI requests from Dr Robert Jones. So, how on earth we going to know (1) how many Welsh people are in prison, (2) how many women from Wales are in prison and where they are held, and (3) the breakdown of Welsh prisoners by ethnicity. My question is simple: if the Ministry of Justice sees the applications by Robert Jones as vexatious, when will we have routinely published Welsh disaggregated data? Diolch yn fawr.

Rwy'n cytuno â chi, Cwnsler Cyffredinol, ac mae'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder yn cytuno â ni. Nôl yn 2017, dywedodd gweithgor o'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder ei bod hi'n bwysig i ni fod â data wedi'u dadgyfuno ar gyfer Cymru, ac mae hynny wedi cael ei adleisio gan wleidyddion yn y fan hon, gan bwyllgorau yn y fan hon ac yn San Steffan. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd ymchwiliad y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol i brofiad menywod o gyfiawnder troseddol yn dweud na allen nhw fod â darlun llawn o brofiad menywod o Gymru o'r system cyfiawnder troseddol oherwydd diffyg data wedi'u dadgyfuno. Nawr, enghraifft berffaith o hyn yw gwrthod cais rhyddid gwybodaeth gan Dr Robert Jones yn ddiweddar am niferoedd y menywod beichiog o Gymru sydd mewn carchardai am fod hynny'n rhy gymhleth. Nawr, fe ddywedir wrthym ni na fyddwn yn cael unrhyw geisiadau Rhyddid Gwybodaeth oddi wrth Dr Robert Jones. Felly, sut ar y ddaear y byddwn  ni'n gwybod (1) faint o Gymry sydd yn y carchar, (2) faint o fenywod o Gymru sydd yn y carchar ac ym mha le y maen nhw'n cael eu dal, a (3) dadansoddiad yn ôl ethnigrwydd o garcharorion o Gymru. Mae fy nghwestiwn i'n syml: os yw'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder yn ystyried ceisiadau Robert Jones yn drafferthus, pryd fyddwn ni'n gweld cyhoeddi data wedi'u dadgyfuno ar gyfer Cymru fel mater o drefn? Diolch yn fawr.

We agree with you about the importance of the data, just to be really clear. The Welsh Government absolutely agrees with that. My colleague the Minister for social justice—and a large number of other titles, the Trefnydd and chief whip—is meeting them tomorrow, or this week, certainly. [Interruption.] Tomorrow, is it? [Interruption.] Anyway, it’s very soon. One of the conversations is exactly about that, Rhys. It is exactly about how we can make sure that we have the right services in place if we don’t have the right data on which to base them. We are very sure that we need that disaggregated data. We are pushing for it. I can’t comment on the FOI matter; that’s not a matter for us. But I can assure you that we are pushing ourselves for as much disaggregated data as possible. We will be speaking to HM Prison and Probation Service about the data in Welsh prisons, but I can tell you that both I and my colleague the Minister for social justice have been exercised about women’s roles in the prison service and where they end up, and what we know about them, for some considerable time. So, I completely agree with the thrust of your question. I can assure you we are pushing as hard as we can to get that data so we can properly understand the impact of it.

Rydym ni'n cytuno â chi ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd y data, dim ond i fod yn eglur iawn. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cytuno yn gyfan gwbl â hynny. Mae fy nghyd-Weinidog y Gweinidog cyfiawnder cymdeithasol—a nifer fawr o deitlau eraill, y Trefnydd a'r prif chwip—yn cyfarfod â nhw yfory, neu'r wythnos hon, yn sicr. [Torri ar draws.] Yfory? [Torri ar draws.] Beth bynnag, yn fuan iawn. Fe fydd un o'r sgyrsiau'n ymwneud â hynny'n union, Rhys. Mae'n ymwneud â sut yn union y gallwn ni sicrhau bod y gwasanaethau priodol gennym ni ar waith os nad yw'r data cywir gennym ni i fod yn sail iddyn nhw. Rydym ni'n sicr ynglŷn â'r angen am ddata wedi'u dadgyfuno. Rydym ni'n pwyso am hynny. Ni allaf i roi sylw ar y mater rhyddid gwybodaeth; nid mater i mi mohono. Ond fe allaf i eich sicrhau chi ein bod ni'n gwthio am gymaint o ddata wedi'u dadgyfuno â phosibl. Fe fyddwn ni'n siarad â Gwasanaeth Carchardai a Phrawf EF am y data yng ngharchardai Cymru, ond fe allaf i ddweud wrthych chi fod fy nghyd-Weinidog y Gweinidog cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, a minnau wedi ymboeni am swyddogaeth menywod yn y gwasanaeth carchardai a lle maen nhw'n mynd yn y pen draw, a'r hyn a wyddom ni amdanyn nhw, ers cryn amser. Felly, rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â'ch cwestiwn chi. Fe allaf i eich sicrhau chi ein bod ni'n gwthio mor galed ag y gallwn i gael y data er mwyn gallu ddeall effaith hynny'n gyflawn.

I just want to add my concerns to those raised by Rhys ab Owen because, without Robert Jones’s hard work using FOIs to find out what the situation is, we wouldn’t know that there is a 40 per cent over-representation of black and ethnic minority people in our prisons as well as the continued increased use of prison sentences for imprisoning women with sentences of as little as one month, which have absolutely no value in terms of rehabilitation; they just cause women to lose their jobs, their homes and their children. So, I would like to add my concerns to those of others that we must have disaggregated data as well as a clear path to the devolving of criminal justice so that we can address these horrendous problems and rectify them here in Wales.

Fe hoffwn i ategu'r pryderon a gododd Rhys ab Owen oherwydd, heb waith caled Robert Jones yn defnyddio ceisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth i ddarganfod beth yw'r sefyllfa, ni fyddem ni'n gwybod bod pobl ddu a lleiafrifoedd ethnig yn cael eu gorgynrychioli 40 y cant yn ein carchardai ni'n ogystal â'r defnydd cynyddol a pharhaus o ddedfrydau o garchar sy'n carcharu menywod gyda dedfrydau o gyfnodau cyn lleied â mis, sydd heb fod o unrhyw werth o gwbl o ran adsefydlu; maen nhw'n achosi i fenywod golli eu swyddi, eu cartrefi a'u plant nhw. Felly, fe hoffwn i ychwanegu fy mhryderon at rai pobl eraill o ran bod rhaid i ni fod â data wedi'u dadgyfuno yn ogystal â llwybr eglur at ddatganoli cyfiawnder troseddol er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r problemau erchyll hyn a'u hunioni nhw yma yng Nghymru.

I'm absolutely agreeing with that. The data in the fact files are not fully verified because of the way that Dr Jones has had to put them together. But if the Ministry of Justice published data on the justice system in Wales on a more routine and transparent basis, it would negate the need for that amount of work. So, this is a point that my colleague Jane Hutt is going to be making very forcibly.

Of course, the roots of over-representation of certain ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system run very deep indeed, and that's why we need the comprehensive approach that is our 'Anti-racist Wales Action Plan', which we just refreshed now in November, and why we need to take action on it. It's why we also welcome the criminal justice system in Wales devising its own anti-racism plan, including specific commitments in areas such as staffing and leadership within the system to try to make a small inroad into taking that forward.

I could not agree with you more about the disruptive and unnecessary impact of short prison sentences, specifically on women, but also, actually, on young men. Quite often, they're too short to have any kind of rehabilitative impact, and just long enough to completely destroy any semblance of a normal life—so, about the worst of all possible worlds. So, I couldn't agree with you more there. We also know that women are imprisoned for offences that, if you were a man, you would be unlikely to be imprisoned for, so there is real discrimination in the system there as well. There is clearly a lot more work to do, but over the period of the women's justice blueprint, which I really do want to pay tribute to my colleague Jane Hutt for, we have managed to divert around 2,300 women into early intervention support instead of prison. So, it is well worth doing. We need to continue to do that and redouble our efforts. So, I'm in agreement with you—the better the data we have, the better provision we can make, the better understanding we have of the impact and the better our provision can be. So, I think we're all in agreement.

Rwy'n cytuno â hynny'n llwyr. Nid yw'r data yn y ffeiliau ffeithiol wedi eu gwirio yn llawn oherwydd y ffordd y bu'n rhaid i Dr Jones eu rhoi nhw at ei gilydd. Ond pe byddai'r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder yn cyhoeddi data ar y system gyfiawnder yng Nghymru ar sail fwy rheolaidd a thryloyw, fe fyddai hynny'n negyddu'r angen am y swm hwnnw o waith. Felly, mae hwn yn bwynt y bydd fy nghyd-Aelod Jane Hutt yn ei wneud yn rymus iawn.

Wrth gwrs, mae gwreiddiau gorgynrychiolaeth lleiafrifoedd ethnig penodol yn y system cyfiawnder troseddol yn treiddio yn ddwfn iawn wir, a dyna pam mae angen y dull cynhwysfawr arnom ni sef ein 'Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol', yr ydym ni newydd ei adnewyddu nawr ym mis Tachwedd, a pham mae angen i ni weithredu ar hwnnw. Dyna pam rydym ni'n croesawu bod y system cyfiawnder troseddol yng Nghymru yn dyfeisio ei chynllun gwrth-hiliaeth ei hun hefyd, sy'n cynnwys ymrwymiadau penodol mewn meysydd fel staffio ac arweinyddiaeth yn y system i geisio gwneud cynnydd bychan ar gyfer bwrw ymlaen â hynny.

Ni allwn gytuno mwy â chi am effaith rwygol a diangen dedfrydau o amser byr o garchar, yn benodol ar fenywod, ond hefyd, mewn gwirionedd, ar wŷr ifanc. Yn aml iawn, maen nhw'n rhy fyr i fod ag unrhyw fath o effaith adferol, a dim ond yn ddigon hir i ddinistrio unrhyw lun o fywyd normal yn llwyr—felly, a dyna'r sefyllfa waethaf bosibl. Ni allwn gytuno mwy â chi yn hynny o beth. Fe wyddom ni hefyd fod menywod yn cael eu carcharu am droseddau, pe byddech chi'n wryw, yn annhebygol o gael eich carcharu amdanyn nhw, ac felly fe geir gwahaniaethu gwirioneddol yn y system yn hynny o beth hefyd. Mae hi'n amlwg fod llawer mwy o waith i'w wneud eto, ond dros gyfnod glasbrint cyfiawnder menywod, yr wyf i wir yn awyddus i roi teyrnged i'm cyd-Aelod Jane Hutt amdano, rydym ni wedi llwyddo i ddargyfeirio tua 2,300 o fenywod i gefnogaeth ymyrraeth gynnar yn hytrach na'u bod yn mynd i garchar. Felly, mae gwneud hynny'n werth chweil. Mae angen i ni barhau i wneud hynny a chynyddu ein hymdrechion. Felly, rwy'n cytuno â chi—y gorau fydd y data sydd gennym ni y gorau fydd y ddarpariaeth a wnawn ni, a'r well ddealltwriaeth a gawn ni o'r effaith a gwell fydd ein darpariaeth. Felly, rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd yn gytûn.

14:55

Sorry, just to add to the list of Welsh data that's needed, we don't have Wales-only data on parental imprisonment, Welsh deaths in custody, as well as pregnancies and births. These are very vulnerable people who we have a responsibility for and to. So, I'm pleased to hear that you agree on the importance of this and that it's being pushed forward by your colleague. It really feels essential we get that within a short period of time in order for us to be able to see exactly what the picture is and the services that are necessary, and also the challenges that we can make as well. To not know how many Welsh people have died in custody, not just here in Wales, but across the UK, is shocking to me, and I'm sure it is to you. So, I'm pleased to hear that this is being pushed forward, and thank you for your commitment to this. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Mae'n ddrwg gen i, dim ond i ychwanegu at y rhestr o ddata sydd eu hangen ar gyfer Cymru, nid oes data ar gyfer Cymru yn unig gennym ni ynglŷn â charcharu rhieni, na marwolaethau yn y ddalfa yng Nghymru, nac ychwaith ynglŷn â beichiogrwydd a genedigaethau. Mae'r rhain yn bobl sy'n agored i niwed y mae gennym ni gyfrifoldeb amdanyn nhw ac ar eu rhan nhw. Felly, rwy'n falch o glywed eich bod chi'n cytuno ar bwysigrwydd hyn a'i fod yn cael ei wthio ymlaen gan eich cyd-Aelod chi. Mae hi wir yn teimlo yn hanfodol ein bod ni'n sicrhau hynny mewn cyfnod byr o amser i ni allu gweld yr union olwg ar y darlun a'r gwasanaethau sy'n angenrheidiol, a'r heriau y gallwn ni eu rhoi hefyd. Mae methu â gwybod faint o Gymry sydd wedi marw yn y ddalfa, nid yn unig yma yng Nghymru, ond ledled y DU, yn frawychus yn fy marn i, ac rwy'n siŵr eich bod chithau o'r un farn. Felly, rwy'n falch o glywed bod hynny'n cael ei wthio yn ei flaen, a diolch i chi am eich ymrwymiad i hyn. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Thank you for that, Jane. I do absolutely agree with that—we do, of course, need to know. We do have to have some parameter discussions though. 'Welsh' is an interesting concept. I have always regarded myself as Welsh, but I spent 10 years living in London and would have had a London address, so there is a little bit of work for us to understand what we mean by 'Welsh'—people with a Welsh address at the point of imprisonment, for example, or expatriate Welsh people living in London. Sorry for the 'expatriate', but you know what I mean. So, there is a little bit of work to do about what we mean by that. People with dependents in Wales, for example, is one of the things.

My colleague is working very hard on this agenda. I and the Deputy First Minister are assisting in terms of what we can bring to bear with our particular ministerial partners in the UK Government, and, as I say, I'm meeting with the law officers more generally to discuss it. This isn't an issue just for Wales; this is an issue for the whole system. We are as good as the data we have in terms of the provision we make, so I absolutely agree with all of that.

And then, just the last thing to say on it is that that data around families, how many children are living with a family member in prison in the system and the impact that has on their continued well-being, their attendance at school, their general health, and mental health in particular, is one of the biggest impacts we have. The difficulty of a parent returning from prison, maintaining access with their children and making sure that that child has the full benefit of that is also one of the difficulties we have, and you can't really do anything about either of those without the data to go with it, either. So, there is a pressing need for this data, and we will be advancing that with all of our power.

Diolch yn fawr, Jane. Rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â hynny—mae angen i ni, wrth gwrs, fod â'r wybodaeth. Serch hynny, mae'n rhaid i ni gael rhai trafodaethau ynglŷn â pharamedrau. Mae ystyr 'Cymry' yn gysyniad diddorol. Rwyf i wedi ystyried fy hunan yn Gymraes, ond fe dreuliais i 10 mlynedd yn byw yn Llundain ac fe fyddai gennyf i gyfeiriad yn Llundain, felly mae ychydig bach o waith i ni ei wneud er mwyn deall ystyr pwy sy'n 'Gymry'—pobl sydd â chyfeiriad yng Nghymru yn ystod cyfnod eu carchariad, er enghraifft, neu Gymry alltud sy'n byw yn Llundain. Mae'n ddrwg gen i ddefnyddio'r term 'alltud', ond fe wyddoch chi beth yr wyf i'n ei feddwl. Felly, mae ychydig o waith i'w wneud eto ynglŷn â'r ystyron a ddefnyddiwn ni. Mae pobl sydd â dibynyddion yng Nghymru, er enghraifft, yn un o'r materion hynny.

Mae fy nghyd-Aelod i'n gweithio yn galed iawn ar yr agenda hon. Mae'r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog a minnau'n cynorthwyo o ran yr hyn y gallwn ei ddwyn ger bron gyda'n partneriaid gweinidogol arbennig yn Llywodraeth y DU, ac fel dywedais i, rwy'n cyfarfod â swyddogion y gyfraith yn fwy cyffredinol i drafod hyn. Nid mater i Gymru yn unig mohono; mae hon yn broblem i'r system gyfan. Dim ond cystal â'r data sydd gennym ni'r ydym ni o ran y ddarpariaeth a wnawn ni, felly rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â'r cwbl o hynny.

Ac wedyn, y peth olaf i'w ddweud ynglŷn â hyn yw mai'r data hynny ynghylch teuluoedd, faint o blant sy'n byw gydag aelod o'r teulu yn y carchar yn y system a'r effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael ar barhad eu llesiant nhw, eu presenoldeb nhw yn yr ysgol, eu hiechyd nhw'n gyffredinol, a'u hiechyd meddwl nhw'n arbennig felly, yw un o'r effeithiau mwyaf yr ydym ni'n ei chael. Yr anawsterau pan fo rhiant yn dod adref o garchar, cadw cysylltiad gyda'r plant a sicrhau bod y plentyn arbennig hwnnw'n cael y budd llawn o hyn yw un o'r anawsterau a gawn ni hefyd, ac ni allwch wneud unrhyw beth am y naill beth na'r llall heb y data sy'n cyd-fynd â hyn chwaith. Felly, mae angen dybryd am y data hwn, ac fe fyddwn ni'n hyrwyddo hynny gyda'n holl allu.

Pumed Adroddiad Blynyddol Llywydd Tribiwnlysoedd Cymru
The President of Welsh Tribunals' Fifth Annual Report

5. A wnaiff y Cwnsler Cyffredinol ddatganiad am bumed adroddiad blynyddol llywydd Tribiwnlysoedd Cymru? OQ61975

5. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the president of Welsh Tribunals's fifth annual report? OQ61975

Thank you. The president of Welsh Tribunals's fifth annual report, Sir Gary Hickinbottom’s first in his term as president, was laid before the Senedd earlier this year by my predecessor. The First Minister and I met with the president to discuss his report, and I expect a debate will be scheduled in due course.

Diolch i chi. Rhoddwyd pumed adroddiad blynyddol llywydd Tribiwnlysoedd Cymru, sef y cyntaf gan Syr Gary Hickinbottom yn ystod ei dymor yn llywydd, ger bron y Senedd yn gynharach eleni gan fy rhagflaenydd i. Fe wnaeth Prif Weinidog Cymru a minnau gyfarfod â'r llywydd i drafod ei adroddiad, ac rwy'n disgwyl y bydd dadl yn cael ei threfnu maes o law.

Thank you very much, Counsel General. I understand that the Welsh Government has plans to introduce a Bill to the Senedd next year to reform Welsh tribunals, and I'm keen to know if the Counsel General can provide some more clarity as to what she hopes will be included in the Bill, and whether she has some certainty regarding the timetabling of the Bill. The president of the Welsh Tribunals's fifth annual report, like the previous two reports, highlighted that the Welsh tribunals have suffered from a lack of resources for a number of years, and their funding requirements seem to be spiralling upwards. I think making the tribunal service more accountable to the people is a good idea, but we need to know how this will look and how the funding issues will be solved. The president also said that the Welsh tribunals not having access to training materials from the Judicial College is becoming a real issue. So, I'd like to know if the Counsel General is also working to persuade the Judicial College to extend their remit to cover devolved tribunals. Also, on the funding issue, the spiralling costs are, of course, largely due to inflation, but I'd like to know how the Welsh Government's plans for reform will ensure that an independent Welsh tribunals service will receive sufficient resources and will not require significant funding increases year on year. Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi, Cwnsler Cyffredinol. Rwy'n deall bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru gynlluniau i gyflwyno Bil i'r Senedd y flwyddyn nesaf i ddiwygio tribiwnlysoedd Cymru, ac rwy'n awyddus i wybod a all y Cwnsler Cyffredinol roi rhywfaint mwy o eglurder ynghylch yr hyn y mae hi'n ei obeithio a fydd yn cael ei gynnwys yn y Bil, ac a oes ganddi hi rywfaint o sicrwydd i'w roi ynghylch amserlennu'r Bil. Roedd pumed adroddiad blynyddol llywydd Tribiwnlysoedd Cymru, fel y ddau adroddiad blaenorol, yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod tribiwnlysoedd Cymru wedi dioddef oherwydd prinder adnoddau ers nifer o flynyddoedd, ac mae hi'n ymddangos bod eu gofynion nhw o ran cyllido yn cynyddu'n sylweddol. Rwy'n credu mai syniad da yw gwneud y gwasanaeth tribiwnlys yn fwy atebol i'r bobl, ond mae angen i ni wybod sut olwg fydd ar hyn a sut y bydd y materion o ran cyllid yn cael eu datrys. Roedd y llywydd yn dweud hefyd nad yw tribiwnlysoedd Cymru yn gallu cael gafael ar ddeunyddiau hyfforddi o'r Coleg Barnwrol a bod honno'n mynd yn broblem wirioneddol. Felly, fe hoffwn i wybod a yw'r Cwnsler Cyffredinol yn gweithio hefyd i ddwyn perswâd ar y Coleg Barnwrol i ymestyn ei gylch gwaith i gwmpasu tribiwnlysoedd datganoledig. Yn ogystal â hynny, o ran cyllido, fe achosir y costau cynyddol, wrth gwrs, gan chwyddiant yn bennaf, ond fe hoffwn i wybod sut y bydd cynlluniau Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer diwygio yn sicrhau y bydd gwasanaeth tribiwnlysoedd annibynnol yng Nghymru yn cael digon o adnoddau ac na fydd angen codiadau cyllid sylweddol o un flwyddyn i'r llall. Diolch i chi.

15:00

Thank you very much for that, Gareth. The president of Welsh Tribunals's annual report sets out an assessment of past performance and priorities for future improvement. It's an important report. We've made a decision as a Government that we will lay the report before the Senedd each year and we will facilitate a debate in Government time. In previous years, that debate has taken place at around this time of the year, but due to the number of meetings that have taken place between Ministers and the president, it is slightly delayed. That's not because it's not important, it's because the chronology is important and it's important to lay it at the right time and they must be done in order. So, we will be bringing that debate and you will have the opportunity to make those points again. We do take them very seriously, the ones that are directed at the Welsh Government, and all views expressed by the president are taken seriously. That's an important part of why the First Minister and I met him very recently, and I've met him myself, as well.

We do continue to work on the development of the tribunals Bill and we plan to address recommendations from both the Commission on Justice in Wales and the Law Commission report on devolved tribunals in Wales in the Bill. I'm afraid I can't say at what stage the Bill will be introduced, because that's dependent on the First Minister's legislative statement. But I can tell you that we are working diligently on preparing the Bill and I hope that it will be in the fifth year of this Senedd, but we have a number of hurdles, including my discussion with the Business Committee about the programme. I am hoping that the First Minister will be able to introduce her legislative statement on the fifth year slightly earlier than we would normally do so in order to be able to prepare us for fifth-year Bills. So, I'm very much looking forward to that, but I'm not able to say categorically at this point that it's definitely in the programme—that will be a matter for the First Minister.

Diolch yn fawr iawn am hynna, Gareth. Mae adroddiad blynyddol llywydd Tribiwnlysoedd Cymru yn nodi asesiad o berfformiad a blaenoriaethau'r gorffennol ar gyfer gwella yn y dyfodol. Mae'n adroddiad pwysig. Rydyn ni wedi gwneud penderfyniad fel Llywodraeth y byddwn ni'n gosod yr adroddiad gerbron y Senedd bob blwyddyn a byddwn ni'n hwyluso dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth. Yn y blynyddoedd blaenorol, mae'r ddadl honno wedi digwydd tua'r adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, ond oherwydd nifer y cyfarfodydd sydd wedi digwydd rhwng Gweinidogion a'r llywydd, mae wedi'i oedi ychydig. Nid oherwydd nad yw'n bwysig yw hynny, ond oherwydd bod y gronoleg yn bwysig ac mae'n bwysig ei osod ar yr adeg iawn ac mae'n rhaid eu gwneud mewn trefn. Felly, byddwn ni'n cyflwyno'r ddadl honno a byddwch chi'n cael cyfle i wneud y pwyntiau hynny eto. Rydyn ni'n eu cymryd o ddifrif, y rhai sy'n cael eu cyfeirio at Lywodraeth Cymru, ac mae'r holl safbwyntiau sy'n cael eu mynegi gan y llywydd yn cael eu cymryd o ddifrif. Mae hynny'n rhan bwysig o pam y gwnaeth y Prif Weinidog a minnau gwrdd ag ef yn ddiweddar iawn, ac rwyf i wedi cwrdd ag ef fy hun, hefyd.

Rydyn ni'n parhau i weithio ar ddatblygu'r Bil tribiwnlysoedd ac rydyn ni'n bwriadu ymdrin ag argymhellion gan adroddiad Comisiwn y Gyfraith ar Gyfiawnder yng Nghymru ac adroddiad Comisiwn y Gyfraith ar dribiwnlysoedd datganoledig yng Nghymru yn y Bil. Mae araf i ofn na allaf i ddweud ar ba gam y bydd y Bil yn cael ei gyflwyno, oherwydd mae hynny'n ddibynnol ar ddatganiad deddfwriaethol y Prif Weinidog. Ond gallaf i ddweud wrthych chi ein bod ni'n gweithio'n ddiwyd ar baratoi'r Bil ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn y bumed flwyddyn yn y Senedd hon, ond mae gennym ni nifer o rwystrau, gan gynnwys fy nhrafodaeth â'r Pwyllgor Busnes am y rhaglen. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn gallu cyflwyno ei datganiad deddfwriaethol yn y bumed flwyddyn ychydig yn gynt nag y bydden ni fel arfer yn gwneud hynny, er mwyn gallu ein paratoi ni ar gyfer Biliau yn y bumed flwyddyn. Felly, rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at hynny, ond nid wyf i'n gallu dweud yn bendant ar hyn o bryd ei bod yn bendant yn y rhaglen—mater i'r Prif Weinidog fydd hynny.

3. Datganiad a Chyhoeddiad Busnes
3. Business Statement and Announcement

Y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd nesaf. Mae'r datganiad yma gan y Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.

The next item is the business statement and announcement. I call on the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt.

Member (w)
Jane Hutt 15:02:17
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, y Trefnydd a’r Prif Chwip

Diolch, Lywydd. Nid oes unrhyw newidiadau i fusnes yr wythnos hon. Mae busnes drafft y tair wythnos nesaf wedi'i nodi yn y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes, sydd ar gael i Aelodau yn electronig.

Thank you, Llywydd. There are no changes to this week's business. Draft business for the next three weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which is available to Members electronically.

Can I call for two statements today from the Welsh Government, please? The first is in relation to waiting times, in particular in north Wales, from the Cabinet Secretary for health. I was very surprised to see that, of the 24,000 people in Wales waiting for over two years for treatment, over 10,000 of those—42 per cent—are patients in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area. That's 42 per cent of those waiting over two years, in spite of the fact that just 22 per cent of Wales's population lives in that region. Clearly, it's unacceptable to have such regional inequality in terms of access to health services, and we do need to see action taken by the Welsh Government to make sure that north Wales's capacity to deal with those waiting lists is addressed. So, I would appreciate it if we could have a specific statement from the Welsh Government on the issue in north Wales.

Secondly, the Royal National Institute of Blind People published a report on barriers to those people with sight impairments in terms of their ability to cast their ballots at elections in a secret way. Many of those people who were subjected to a survey—only 26 per cent, I think—said that they currently feel able to vote independently. Clearly, we need to do something about that to make sure that our democracy, which was founded on a secret ballot, is something that people can enjoy whether they have a disability or not. I would appreciate knowing from the Welsh Government what action they intend to take in order to address this, particularly at the next Senedd elections, given that they're looming.

A gaf i alw am ddau ddatganiad heddiw gan Lywodraeth Cymru, os gwelwch yn dda? Mae'r cyntaf o ran amseroedd aros, yn enwedig yn y gogledd, gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd. Cefais i fy synnu'n fawr o weld, o'r 24,000 o bobl yng Nghymru sy'n aros am dros ddwy flynedd am driniaeth, bod dros 10,000 o'r rheini—42 y cant—yn gleifion yn ardal Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Dyna 42 y cant o'r rhai sy'n aros dros ddwy flynedd, er gwaethaf y ffaith mai dim ond 22 y cant o boblogaeth Cymru sy'n byw yn y rhanbarth hwnnw. Yn amlwg, mae'n annerbyniol cael anghydraddoldeb rhanbarthol o'r fath o ran mynediad at wasanaethau iechyd, ac mae angen i ni weld Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd y camau gweithredu i sicrhau bod gallu'r gogledd i ymdrin â'r rhestrau aros hynny yn cael sylw. Felly, byddwn i'n gwerthfawrogi pe gallen ni gael datganiad penodol gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar y mater yn y gogledd.

Yn ail, cyhoeddodd Sefydliad Cenedlaethol Brenhinol Pobl Ddall adroddiad ar y rhwystrau i'r bobl hynny sydd â nam ar eu golwg o ran eu gallu i fwrw eu pleidleisiau mewn ffordd gyfrinachol mewn etholiadau. O'r llawer o bobl hynny a oedd yn destun arolwg—dywedodd dim ond 26 y cant, rwy'n credu—eu bod ar hyn o bryd yn teimlo'u bod yn gallu pleidleisio'n annibynnol. Yn amlwg, mae angen i ni wneud rhywbeth am hynny i sicrhau bod ein democratiaeth, a gafodd ei seilio ar bleidlais gudd, yn rhywbeth y gall pobl ei fwynhau p'un ai oes ganddyn nhw anabledd ai peidio. Byddwn i'n gwerthfawrogi gwybod gan Lywodraeth Cymru pa gamau y maen nhw'n bwriadu eu cymryd er mwyn mynd i'r afael â hyn, yn enwedig yn etholiadau'r Senedd nesaf, o gofio eu bod ar y gorwel.

Diolch yn fawr, Darren Millar. Thank you for those questions. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has noted your question in terms of waiting times in north Wales, and of course, addresses these with Betsi Cadwaladr, alongside all the other health boards. And, indeed, the First Minister also responded, but I can assure you that this is noted on the record today.

Your second point is very relevant today, as it is the UN's international day of disabled people. We've just launched a really important Disability Wales Access to Politics peer network. This, as you know, is also part of the way in which we're working together and consulting on draft diversity and inclusion guidance towards enabling people to put themselves forward—diverse people, reflecting the diversity of Wales—for the Senedd election, and, indeed, local government elections. So, I will take this back, because I would say that it's the responsibility of my colleague Jayne Bryant as Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Housing, and myself, in terms of overcoming those barriers, particularly responding to the RNIB report, which, of course, we have to address.

Diolch yn fawr, Darren Millar. Diolch am y cwestiynau yna. Mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol wedi nodi'ch cwestiwn o ran amseroedd aros yn y gogledd, ac wrth gwrs, yn ymdrin â'r rhain gyda Betsi Cadwaladr, ochr yn ochr â'r holl fyrddau iechyd eraill. Ac, yn wir, ymatebodd y Prif Weinidog hefyd, ond gallaf i eich sicrhau chi bod hyn wedi'i nodi ar y cofnod heddiw.

Mae eich ail bwynt yn berthnasol iawn heddiw, gan ei fod yn ddiwrnod rhyngwladol pobl anabl y Cenhedloedd Unedig. Rydyn ni newydd lansio rhwydwaith cymheiriaid Mynediad i Wleidyddiaeth Anabledd Cymru pwysig iawn. Mae hyn, fel y gwyddoch chi, hefyd yn rhan o'r ffordd yr ydyn ni'n cydweithio ac yn ymgynghori ar ganllawiau amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant drafft tuag at alluogi pobl i gyflwyno eu hunain—pobl amrywiol, gan adlewyrchu amrywiaeth Cymru—ar gyfer etholiad y Senedd, ac, yn wir, etholiadau llywodraeth leol. Felly, fe gymeraf hyn yn ôl, oherwydd byddwn i'n dweud mai cyfrifoldeb fy nghyd-Ysgrifennydd Jayne Bryant yw hi fel Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai, a minnau, o ran goresgyn y rhwystrau hynny, yn enwedig ymateb i adroddiad yr RNIB, y mae'n rhaid i ni, wrth gwrs, fynd i'r afael ag ef.

15:05

Trefnydd, I'd like to request a statement following the press release yesterday issued by the First Minister regarding the £157 million of additional funding. I think it's important that we have clarity in terms of the breakdown, because it says in the press release that it's a mixture of both revenue and capital—to have that breakdown would be extremely helpful. Obviously, a written statement has been issued regarding one element, which is the Arts Council of Wales's job protection and organisation resilience fund. Given the interest that there has been in this Chamber and from the committee chaired by Delyth Jewell on this matter, I think having clarity and an opportunity to discuss are really important—also to give clarity to these organisations. We know there have been so many job losses, and so many organisations have had to stop functioning or cut services, so to really understand the impact of this funding, and what it means for these organisations across Wales, is crucial.

Trefnydd, hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad yn dilyn y datganiad i'r wasg ddoe a gafodd ei gyhoeddi gan y Prif Weinidog ynghylch y £157 miliwn o gyllid ychwanegol. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig bod gennym ni eglurder o ran y dadansoddiad, oherwydd mae'n dweud yn y datganiad i'r wasg ei fod yn gymysgedd o refeniw a chyfalaf —byddai cael y dadansoddiad hwnnw'n hynod ddefnyddiol. Yn amlwg, mae datganiad ysgrifenedig wedi'i gyhoeddi ynghylch un elfen, sef cronfa diogelu swyddi a gwytnwch sefydliadau Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. O ystyried y diddordeb sydd wedi bod yn y Siambr hon a gan y pwyllgor dan gadeiryddiaeth Delyth Jewell ar y mater hwn, rwy'n credu bod cael eglurder a chyfle i drafod yn bwysig iawn—hefyd er mwyn rhoi eglurder i'r sefydliadau hyn. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod cymaint o swyddi wedi'u colli, ac mae cymaint o sefydliadau wedi gorfod rhoi'r gorau i weithredu neu dorri gwasanaethau, felly mae deall effaith y cyllid hwn, a'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu i'r sefydliadau hyn ledled Cymru, yn hanfodol.

Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. I'm sure you will have welcomed the £157 million, but we will, of course, provide that clarity of detail.

Diolch yn fawr, Heledd Fychan. Rwy'n siŵr y byddwch chi wedi croesawu'r £157 miliwn, ond wrth gwrs, gwnawn ni ddarparu'r eglurder o fanylion hwnnw.

Could I ask for a statement on the provision of primary care services? In the spring of this year, the Aneurin Bevan health board awarded the contract for primary care services in Brynmawr to a Dr Ahmed and a Dr Allinson. Both are directors of over 70 companies, mainly called E Harley Street. Since the awarding of this contract, we've seen a serious and continuing deterioration of services in Brynmawr. I also understand that E Harley Street owes doctors and locums up to £250,000, and many doctors are now, understandably, refusing to work for E Harley Street and refusing to work in Brynmawr. I further understand that the company has significant debts to HMRC and to suppliers. On top of this, the practice manager was summarily dismissed last week. So, this company, with questionable business practices, can't find doctors and can't pay its bills.

In our experience in Blaenau Gwent, this does not reflect the founding values of the national health service. Clearly, many of these matters are for the health board, but the Welsh Government does have oversight of the delivery of health services across Wales and has to take a view when we have these businesses that seem more intent on the pursuit of profit than the delivery of services affecting the primary care and fundamental services offered to my constituents. I hope we can have a statement, Trefnydd, to understand what happens when a provider of services fails. 

A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad ar ddarparu gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol? Yn y gwanwyn eleni, dyfarnodd bwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan y contract ar gyfer gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol ym Mrynmawr i Dr Ahmed a Dr Allinson. Mae'r ddau yn gyfarwyddwyr dros 70 o gwmnïau, ac E Harley Street yw'r enw arnyn nhw'n bennaf. Ers dyfarnu'r contract hwn, rydyn ni wedi gweld dirywiad difrifol a pharhaus gwasanaethau ym Mrynmawr. Rwyf i hefyd yn deall bod gan E Harley Street ddyled o hyd at £250,000 i feddygon a gweithwyr locwm, ac mae llawer o feddygon erbyn hyn, yn ddealladwy, yn gwrthod gweithio i E Harley Street ac yn gwrthod gweithio ym Mrynmawr. Rwy'n deall ymhellach, fod gan y cwmni ddyledion sylweddol i CThEF ac i gyflenwyr. Ar ben hyn, cafodd rheolwr y practis ei ddiswyddo yn ddiseremoni. Felly, ni all y cwmni hwn, gydag arferion busnes amheus, ddod o hyd i feddygon ac ni allan nhw dalu eu biliau.

Yn ein profiad ni ym Mlaenau Gwent, nid yw hyn yn adlewyrchu gwerthoedd sylfaenol y gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol. Yn amlwg, mae llawer o'r materion hyn ar gyfer y bwrdd iechyd, ond mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru oruchwyliaeth o'r broses o ddarparu gwasanaethau iechyd ledled Cymru ac mae'n rhaid bod gennym ni farn pan fo gennym ni'r busnesau hyn sy'n ymddangos yn fwy penderfynol o fynd ar drywydd elw na darparu gwasanaethau sy'n effeithio ar y gofal sylfaenol a'r gwasanaethau sylfaenol sy'n cael eu cynnig i fy etholwyr. Rwy'n gobeithio y gallwn ni gael datganiad, Trefnydd, i ddeall beth sy'n digwydd pan fydd darparwr gwasanaethau yn methu. 

Thank you very much, Alun Davies. The Welsh Government is aware of local concerns, and you've brought this to our attention here in the Chamber today, around practices managed by E Harley Street. It is, as you say, the responsibility of the health board, the planning and delivery of primary medical services to their population, including managing contracts for primary care services. Those general medical services contracts were awarded by Aneurin Bevan earlier this year. But the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care will write to you on this matter and will be able to update you on the response.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Alun Davies. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymwybodol o bryderon lleol, ac rydych chi wedi tynnu ein sylw ato yma yn y Siambr heddiw, ynghylch practisau sydd wedi'u rheoli gan E Harley Street. Fel y dywedwch, chi, cyfrifoldeb y bwrdd iechyd yw cynllunio a darparu gwasanaethau meddygol sylfaenol i'w boblogaeth, gan gynnwys rheoli contractau ar gyfer gwasanaethau gofal sylfaenol. Cafodd y contractau gwasanaethau meddygol cyffredinol hynny eu dyfarnu gan Aneurin Bevan yn gynharach eleni. Ond bydd Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn ysgrifennu atoch chi ar y mater hwn a bydd yn gallu rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i chi yn yr ymateb.

Trefnydd, I would like to request an urgent statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health on ambulance response times in relation to falls. The weekend before last, an elderly woman from my region fell and broke her hip. The family called for an ambulance and then they were asked to wait. The patient was initially instructed not to have any food, water or pain medication until an ambulance had arrived. After waiting for nearly a day, the family were instructed that the patient could have something to eat and drink, along with some pain medication. Finally, after 30 hours, with no sign of an ambulance, the family decided to transport the patient themselves, despite a suspected hip fracture, as the alternative was to leave the elderly woman lying on the floor in serious pain and discomfort.

Sadly, this case is far from unique. I appreciate that the Cabinet Secretary has instigated a review into the appropriateness of emergency ambulance response measures and targets. However, I would suggest that such reviews take time and that people are dying, and will die, in the interim. While working as an orthopaedic surgeon, I undertook extensive research and produced several papers on mortality rates in people with hip fractures. Any delay in treatment resulted in increased mortality. I found that a delay in operating within 48 hours of the fracture occurring resulted in a doubling of the mortality rate, regardless of age. A 65-year-old person was just as likely to die as a frail 95-year-old. What hope do our constituents have if they can't even get to a hospital in the first place? Therefore, Trefnydd, it is vital that the Welsh Government addresses these issues, and I call for an urgent statement. Diolch yn fawr.

Trefnydd, hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad brys gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd ar amseroedd ymateb ambiwlansys o ran cwympiadau. Y penwythnos cyn yr un diwethaf, cwympodd menyw oedrannus o fy rhanbarth gan dorri ei chlun. Galwodd y teulu am ambiwlans ac yna gofynnwyd iddyn nhw aros. Ar y dechrau, cafodd y claf gyfarwyddyd i beidio â chael unrhyw fwyd, dŵr na meddyginiaeth poen nes bod ambiwlans wedi cyrraedd. Ar ôl aros am bron i ddiwrnod, cafodd y teulu gyfarwyddyd y gallai'r claf gael rhywbeth i'w fwyta a'i yfed, ynghyd â rhywfaint o feddyginiaeth poen. Yn olaf, ar ôl 30 awr, heb unrhyw arwydd o ambiwlans, penderfynodd y teulu gludo'r claf eu hunain, er gwaethaf yr amheuaeth ei bod wedi torri'i chlun, gan mai'r dewis arall oedd gadael y fenyw oedrannus yn gorwedd ar y llawr mewn poen ac anghysur difrifol.

Yn anffodus, nid yw'r achos hwn yn unigryw o bell ffordd. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi cychwyn adolygiad i briodoldeb mesurau a thargedau ymateb brys ambiwlansys. Fodd bynnag, byddwn i'n awgrymu bod adolygiadau o'r fath yn cymryd amser a bod pobl yn marw, ac y byddan nhw yn marw, yn y cyfamser. Wrth weithio fel llawfeddyg orthopedig, ymgymerais i ag ymchwil helaeth a lluniais i sawl papur ar gyfraddau marwolaeth ymhlith pobl â thoriadau clun. Arweiniodd unrhyw oedi mewn triniaeth at fwy o farwolaethau. Gwnes i ddarganfod bod oedi cyn rhoi llawdriniaeth o fewn 48 awr i'r toriad ddigwydd wedi arwain at ddyblu'r gyfradd marwolaethau, beth bynnag oedd yr oedran. Roedd person 65 oed yr un mor debygol o farw â dyn agored i niwed 95 oed. Pa obaith sydd gan ein hetholwyr os na allan nhw hyd yn oed gyrraedd ysbyty yn y lle cyntaf? Felly, Trefnydd, mae'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymdrin â'r materion hyn, ac rwy'n galw am ddatganiad brys. Diolch yn fawr.

15:10

Thank you very much indeed, Altaf Hussain. Thank you for sharing not only the circumstances you raise with us today, but also your experience as a former clinician, as an elected Member to this Senedd, which we, of course, respect. It is important, as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has been responding, particularly in terms of ambulance services. The issue around ambulance patient handover delays across Wales is something that he is addressing, because it does have an impact on ambulance service resources. We've been very clear about this with health boards. It was set out in the NHS Wales planning framework and featured as part of LHB chairs' objectives. We've invested £180 million in additional funding this year, which is to help safely manage more people in the community, avoid unnecessary transport and admission to hospital and to deliver integrated solutions. And, of course, we've got the new ambulance patient handover guidance from 29 October. But I know that the Cabinet Secretary will be addressing this as part of his 50-day challenge statement this afternoon.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Altaf Hussain. Diolch i chi am rannu nid yn unig yr amgylchiadau yr ydych chi'n eu codi gyda ni heddiw, ond hefyd am eich profiad fel cyn-glinigwr, fel Aelod etholedig i'r Senedd hon, yr ydyn ni, wrth gwrs, yn ei barchu. Mae'n bwysig, fel y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol wedi bod yn ymateb, yn enwedig o ran gwasanaethau ambiwlans. Mae'r mater o ran oedi wrth drosglwyddo cleifion ambiwlans ledled Cymru yn rhywbeth y mae'n ymdrin ag ef, oherwydd mae'n cael effaith ar adnoddau'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans. Rydyn ni wedi bod yn glir iawn am hyn gyda'r byrddau iechyd. Cafodd ei nodi yn fframwaith cynllunio GIG Cymru a chafodd ei gynnwys fel rhan o amcanion cadeiryddion BILlau. Rydyn ni wedi buddsoddi £180 miliwn mewn cyllid ychwanegol eleni, sydd i helpu i reoli mwy o bobl yn y gymuned yn ddiogel, osgoi cludiant a mynediad diangen i'r ysbyty a darparu atebion integredig. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae gennym ni ganllawiau trosglwyddo cleifion ambiwlans newydd o 29 Hydref. Ond gwn i y bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn ymdrin â hyn fel rhan o'i ddatganiad her 50 diwrnod y prynhawn yma.

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

I'd like a debate in Government time, please, to address the ongoing challenges after storm Bert. The flooding that hit our communities last week dominated headlines, and even though the water levels have gone down, the damage remains. I want to make sure the focus doesn't leave those places when the clean-up ends, because people are frightened. So many streets and businesses that were hit by flooding in 2020 have been affected again in Ystrad Mynach, Llanbradach, Blackwood and Bedwas. People are worried about when it will happen again. We're only at the beginning of the winter. We can expect more storms. We need to reassure residents that there's a plan to protect them.

We've also seen a coal tip slip down a mountain in Cwmtillery and a sinkhole open in a housing estate in Merthyr Tydfil, which seems to have been caused by a culvert collapsing in heavy rain. People across the Valleys will be worrying. There have been landslips in other villages too. So, can we have a Government debate to address people's concerns and explain what urgent steps the Government will take to protect our communities and all the people who live there?

Hoffwn i gael dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth, os gwelwch yn dda, i ymdrin â'r heriau parhaus ar ôl storm Bert. Roedd y llifogydd a darodd ein cymunedau yr wythnos diwethaf wedi cael lle blaenllaw yn y penawdau, ac er bod lefelau'r dŵr wedi gostwng, mae'r difrod yn parhau. Rwyf i eisiau sicrhau nad yw canolbwyntio ar y lleoedd hynny yn dod i ben pan ddaw'r gwaith glanhau i ben, oherwydd bod pobl yn ofnus. Effeithiwyd eto ar gymaint o strydoedd a busnesau a gafodd eu taro gan lifogydd yn 2020 yn Ystrad Mynach, Llanbradach, y Coed Duon a Bedwas. Mae pobl yn poeni ynghylch pryd y bydd hyn yn digwydd eto. Dim ond ar ddechrau'r gaeaf yr ydyn ni. Gallwn ni ddisgwyl mwy o stormydd. Mae angen i ni dawelu meddwl trigolion drwy eu sicrhau bod cynllun i'w diogelu.

Rydyn ni hefyd wedi gweld tomen lo yn llithro i lawr mynydd yng Nghwmtyleri a llyncdwll yn agor mewn ystad dai ym Merthyr Tudful, sy'n ymddangos fel petai wedi'i achosi gan gwlfert yn chwalu mewn glaw trwm. Bydd pobl ar draws y Cymoedd yn poeni. Mae tirlithriadau wedi digwydd mewn pentrefi eraill hefyd. Felly, a allwn ni gael dadl y Llywodraeth i ymdrin â phryderon pobl ac i egluro pa gamau brys y bydd y Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i ddiogelu ein cymunedau a'r holl bobl sy'n byw ynddyn nhw?

Thank you very much, Delyth Jewell. It is important that you return to this issue today, because of the impact of the flooding events in the communities that you represent, and also in the region, but also, of course, what Alun Davies has brought in terms of the situation in his constituency, in terms of the landslide and the impact it is having on the community, and the clear-up. Of course, funding was announced last week, but we need to make sure the communications get out there in terms of how people can seek the support that they need through these very difficult days after that flooding, when the publicity goes off the front page.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Delyth Jewell. Mae'n bwysig eich bod chi'n dychwelyd i'r mater hwn heddiw, oherwydd effaith y llifogydd yn y cymunedau yr ydych chi'n eu cynrychioli, a hefyd yn y rhanbarth, ond hefyd, wrth gwrs, yr hyn y mae Alun Davies wedi'i gyflwyno o ran y sefyllfa yn ei etholaeth ef, o ran y tirlithriad a'r effaith y mae'n ei gael ar y gymuned, a'r gwaith clirio. Wrth gwrs, cafodd cyllid ei gyhoeddi'r wythnos diwethaf, ond mae angen i ni sicrhau bod y cyfathrebu yn cyrraedd ei nod o ran sut y gall pobl fynd ar drywydd y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen arnyn nhw yn ystod y dyddiau anodd iawn hyn ar ôl y llifogydd hynny, pan fydd y cyhoeddusrwydd yn symud oddi ar y dudalen flaen.

15:15

I'd like to ask you, please, for an urgent statement on the issue of fuel poverty. We've seen the changes to winter fuel payments introduced by the UK Labour Government significantly increase hardship for thousands of pensioners this winter, and in my home county of Powys, 90 per cent of pensioners will lose out on this vital support. The Welsh Government's Warm Homes programme, whilst well intentioned, is progressing far too slowly. At the current pace, the Bevan Foundation reports it will take 136 years to address all fuel-poor households, which is an unacceptable generational failure. It's further exacerbated by outdated data on fuel poverty here in Wales, relying on housing stock surveys decades old, hampering our ability to be effective.

We are, once again, halfway through this winter, and this issue has been raised time and time again. So, what will you do on behalf of the Government here in Wales to ensure that our homes are warm and that this programme can continue at pace and at scale? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Hoffwn i ofyn i chi, os gwelwch yn dda, am ddatganiad brys ar fater tlodi tanwydd. Rydyn ni wedi gweld y newidiadau i daliadau tanwydd gaeaf a gafodd eu cyflwyno gan Lywodraeth Lafur y DU yn cynyddu caledi i filoedd o bensiynwyr y gaeaf hwn yn sylweddol, ac yn fy sir enedigol, Powys, bydd 90 y cant o bensiynwyr ar eu colled o ran y cymorth hanfodol hwn. Mae rhaglen Cartrefi Clyd Llywodraeth Cymru, er ei bod yn llawn bwriadau da, yn mynd rhagddi'n llawer rhy araf. Ar y cyflymder presennol, mae Sefydliad Bevan yn dweud y bydd yn cymryd 136 o flynyddoedd i ymdrin â phob aelwyd sy'n dlawd o ran tanwydd, sy'n fethiant annerbyniol i'r genhedlaeth hon. Mae hyn yn cael ei waethygu ymhellach gan ddata wedi dyddio ar dlodi tanwydd yma yng Nghymru, sy'n dibynnu ar arolygon degawdau'n ôl o stoc dai, gan amharu ar ein gallu i fod yn effeithiol.

Unwaith eto, rydyn ni hanner ffordd drwy'r gaeaf hwn, ac mae'r mater hwn wedi'i godi dro ar ôl tro. Felly, beth fyddwch chi'n ei wneud ar ran y Llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod ein cartrefi'n glyd a bod y rhaglen hon yn gallu parhau'n ddi-oed ac ar raddfa fawr? Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. I would like to make a statement. I will seek the business time, or indeed start with a written statement. I do want to respond to the all-important question, into these winter months, of how we as a Government are tackling fuel poverty and investing in Warm Homes, because it is a joint responsibility of myself and Jane Bryant, just in terms of the Warm Homes Nest scheme. It's £30 million to reduce the number of low-income households living in cold, damp homes, and that's our primary mechanism to tackle fuel poverty. But, of course, what's important for those households who do benefit from the Warm Homes Nest scheme is not only packages to insulate and decarbonise their home, but also advice and guidance to all of those households. In fact, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government I know has answered questions on this point.

We have to maximise income, build financial resilience, put money back into people's pockets, and I think the discretionary assistance fund and the crisis fund for people provide support for fuel and energy costs in crisis situations. We're supporting the UK Government's campaign to get eligible pensioners signed up for pension credit, so that they can access the winter fuel support scheme. But also, we are investing in the Fuel Bank Foundation, as you know, with £700,000 more funds to enable people on prepayment meters and off-grid to access that funding. But to bring it all together, I will do a statement, and find time to do a statement on tackling fuel poverty in Wales.

Diolch yn fawr, Jane Dodds. Hoffwn i wneud datganiad. Byddaf i'n gwneud cais am yr amser busnes, neu'n wir yn dechrau gyda datganiad ysgrifenedig. Rwyf i eisiau ymateb i'r cwestiwn hollbwysig, yn ystod misoedd y gaeaf hwn, ynghylch sut yr ydyn ni fel Llywodraeth yn ymdrin â thlodi tanwydd ac yn buddsoddi mewn Cartrefi Clyd, oherwydd mae'n gyfrifoldeb ar y cyd i mi a Jane Bryant, o ran cynllun Cartrefi Clyd Nyth. Mae'n £30 miliwn i leihau nifer yr aelwydydd incwm isel sy'n byw mewn cartrefi oer, llaith, a dyna'n prif ddull i ymdrin â thlodi tanwydd. Ond, wrth gwrs, yr hyn sy'n bwysig i'r aelwydydd hynny sy'n elwa ar gynllun Cartrefi Clyd Nyth yw nid yn unig pecynnau i inswleiddio a datgarboneiddio eu cartref, ond hefyd cyngor ac arweiniad i bob un o'r aelwydydd hynny. Mewn gwirionedd, rwy'n gwybod bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Dai a Llywodraeth Leol wedi ateb cwestiynau ar y pwynt hwn.

Mae'n rhaid i ni fanteisio i'r eithaf ar incwm, datblygu cydnerthedd ariannol, rhoi arian yn ôl ym mhocedi pobl, ac rwy'n credu bod y gronfa cymorth dewisol a'r gronfa argyfwng i bobl yn rhoi cymorth ar gyfer costau tanwydd ac ynni mewn sefyllfaoedd argyfwng. Rydyn ni'n cefnogi ymgyrch Llywodraeth y DU i gael pensiynwyr cymwys i gofrestru ar gyfer credyd pensiwn, fel y gallan nhw gael mynediad at y cynllun cymorth tanwydd gaeaf. Ond hefyd, rydyn ni'n buddsoddi yn y Sefydliad Banc Tanwydd, fel y gwyddoch chi, gyda £700,000 yn fwy o arian i alluogi pobl ar fesuryddion rhagdalu ac oddi ar y grid i gael mynediad at y cyllid hwnnw. Ond er mwyn dod â'r cyfan at ei gilydd, byddaf i'n gwneud datganiad, ac yn dod o hyd i amser i wneud datganiad ar ymdrin â thlodi tanwydd yng Nghymru.

Trefnydd, following the devastating flooding caused by storm Bert, the Welsh Government's response to helping businesses affected was found severely lacking. Could we therefore have a statement, please, from the Welsh Government outlining what financial support is available for businesses that have been affected?

And also, additionally, sorry, can we have a statement from the Welsh Government to hear their plan on how they intend to enable those with disabilities to have as unrestricted a life as possible? It was very disappointing today, this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, that the Government statement was cut from the agenda, considering the impact it normally has.

Trefnydd, yn dilyn y llifogydd dinistriol a gafodd eu hachosi gan storm Bert, roedd ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu busnesau yr effeithiwyd arnynt yn ddiffygiol iawn. A gawn ni ddatganiad felly, os gwelwch yn dda, gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn amlinellu pa gymorth ariannol sydd ar gael i fusnesau yr effeithiwyd arnynt?

A hefyd, yn ogystal, mae'n ddrwg gennyf i, a gawn ni ddatganiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru i glywed eu cynllun o ran sut y maen nhw'n bwriadu galluogi'r rhai ag anableddau i gael bywyd mor anghyfyngedig â phosibl? Roedd hi'n siomedig iawn heddiw, Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl ag Anableddau, fod datganiad y Llywodraeth wedi'i dorri o'r agenda, gan ystyried yr effaith y mae'n ei chael fel arfer.

Thank you very much, Laura Anne Jones. I know the economy Minister has already responded and is taking forward the issues in terms of support and response to the businesses who are affected by the flooding. Again, it goes back to Delyth Jewell's point, that we need to make sure that this is obviously, clearly on the agenda. It's clear, for Welsh Government, we're taking those responsibilities forward.

I was very pleased to attend today—I'm sure many of you were able to attend the events that took place in the Senedd for the International Day of Disabled People. What was really good was that we were able to speak about Disability Wales's Access to Politics peer network, which we as a Welsh Government are funding. I issued a written statement today on the International Day of Disabled People, and I will be doing an oral statement in the new year to update on the plans we have to deliver our disability rights action plan.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Laura Anne Jones. Rwy'n gwybod bod Gweinidog yr Economi eisoes wedi ymateb ac yn bwrw ymlaen â'r materion o ran cefnogaeth ac ymateb i'r busnesau y mae'r llifogydd yn effeithio arnyn nhw. Unwaith eto, mae'n mynd yn ôl at bwynt Delyth Jewell, bod angen i ni sicrhau bod hyn yn amlwg, yn amlwg ar yr agenda. Mae'n amlwg, i Lywodraeth Cymru, ein bod ni'n bwrw ymlaen â'r cyfrifoldebau hynny.

Roeddwn i'n falch iawn o fod yn bresennol heddiw—rwy'n siŵr bod llawer ohonoch chi wedi gallu bod yn bresennol yn y digwyddiadau a gafodd eu cynnal yn y Senedd ar gyfer Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl Anabl. Yr hyn oedd yn dda iawn oedd ein bod ni'n gallu siarad am rwydwaith cymheiriaid Mynediad at Wleidyddiaeth Anabledd Cymru, yr ydyn ni fel Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei ariannu. Cyhoeddais i ddatganiad ysgrifenedig heddiw ar Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl Anabl, a byddaf i'n gwneud datganiad llafar yn y flwyddyn newydd i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynlluniau sydd gennym ni i gyflawni ein cynllun gweithredu hawliau anabledd.

15:20

A gaf i ddatganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol am y cyhoeddiad a gafodd ei wneud wythnos diwethaf gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda ynglŷn â'r posibilrwydd y bydd rhaid aros efallai 10 mlynedd arall cyn gweld adeiladu ysbyty newydd yng ngorllewin Cymru? Nawr, i'r rhai ohonon ni sydd yn byw yn yr ardal, rŷn ni'n gwybod bod yr ysbytai presennol, Glangwili a Llwynhelyg, yn ei gweld hi'n anodd darparu'r lefel o gefnogaeth glinigol sydd ei hangen. Fe ddechreuodd y sgyrsiau am ysbyty newydd nôl yn 2006, felly gyda'r oedi o 10 mlynedd, efallai bydd 28 mlynedd o godi gobeithion ac addewidion gwag wedi digwydd. Felly, mae hyn, fel y gwyddoch chi, yn cwbl annerbyniol.

Felly, mae angen buddsoddiad brys ar ystadau. Mae angen technoleg newydd, cyfleusterau pwrpasol a chyfarpar clinigol modern er mwyn darparu'r gofal gorau posibl i gleifion yr ardal. Felly, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i esbonio sut mae e'n bwriadu cyflawni hyn a sut mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu cefnogi'r bwrdd iechyd i weld adeiladu ysbyty newydd yn yr ardal?

Could I have a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about the announcement that was made last week by Hywel Dda University Health Board about the possibility that it may be necessary to wait another 10 years before seeing the building of a new hospital in west Wales? Now, for those of us who live in that area, we know that the current hospitals, Glangwili and Withybush, find it difficult to provide the level of clinical support that's needed. The conversations about the new hospital started in 2006, so with a delay of 10 years, it may be 28 years of raising hopes and empty promises. So, as you know, this is entirely unacceptable. 

So, there is a need for urgent investment on the estates. We need new technology, purpose-built facilities and modern clinical equipment in order to provide the best possible care for patients in the area. Therefore, could I ask for a statement by the Cabinet Secretary to explain how he intends to deliver this and how the Welsh Government intends to support the health board to see the building of a new hospital in the area? 

Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn pwysig iawn. 

Thank you very much for that very important question. 

It's quite clear that this is part of capital planning for modernising and renewing our estates across Wales, which is the responsibility of the health boards, but very clearly working in partnership in terms of our NHS estates capital programme. But your points have been taken and noted today.

Mae'n gwbl amlwg bod hyn yn rhan o gynllunio cyfalaf ar gyfer moderneiddio ac adnewyddu ein hystadau ledled Cymru, sy'n gyfrifoldeb y byrddau iechyd, ond yn amlwg iawn yn gweithio mewn partneriaeth o ran ein rhaglen gyfalaf ystadau'r GIG. Ond mae eich pwyntiau wedi'u cymryd a'u nodi heddiw.

I would like to ask for two Government statements. The first is on physician assistance. Like many Members in the Senedd, I've had substantial correspondence on the subject. Those in favour argue that it provides additional qualified support to physicians, thus improving productivity. Those against say we would be better off spending the money producing more doctors. I have no strong views either way on this but I would like to have a Government statement saying what the Government's thinking is on physician assistance.

I'm also asking for a statement on the Teacher Booker system that the Welsh Government are trialling. I believe in the direct employment of supply teachers either by schools or local authorities. I have never supported a supply agency model of providing supply teachers, so an update on where you've got with the Teacher Booker system I think would be useful. 

Hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth. Mae'r cyntaf ar gymorth i feddygon. Fel llawer o Aelodau yn y Senedd, rwyf i wedi cael gohebiaeth sylweddol ar y pwnc. Mae'r rhai sydd o blaid yn dadlau ei fod yn darparu cymorth cymwys ychwanegol i feddygon, gan wella cynhyrchiant. Mae'r rhai yn erbyn yn dweud y byddai'n well i ni wario'r arian yn cynhyrchu mwy o feddygon. Nid oes gennyf i unrhyw farn gref y naill ffordd na'r llall ar hyn, ond hoffwn i gael datganiad gan y Llywodraeth yn dweud beth yw barn y Llywodraeth ar gymorth i feddygon.

Rwyf i hefyd yn gofyn am ddatganiad ar y system Teacher Booker y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei dreialu. Rwy'n credu mewn cyflogaeth uniongyrchol athrawon cyflenwi naill ai gan ysgolion neu gan awdurdodau lleol. Nid wyf i erioed wedi cefnogi model asiantaeth gyflenwi ar gyfer darparu athrawon cyflenwi, felly rwy'n credu y byddai'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf o ran ble yr ydych chi arni gyda'r system Teacher Booker yn ddefnyddiol. 

Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiynau. 

Thank you very much for those questions. 

On that point, obviously, I would raise this with the education Minister. But also we have asked in terms of the—. We need a tripartite approach to define the scope of work, because we do have 200 physician associates in Wales, and we need to understand it across the board in terms of its role. 

Ar y pwynt yna, yn amlwg, byddwn i'n codi hyn gyda'r Gweinidog addysg. Ond hefyd rydyn ni wedi gofyn o ran y—. Mae angen dull teirochrog arnon ni i ddiffinio cwmpas y gwaith, oherwydd mae gennym ni 200 o gymdeithion meddygol yng Nghymru, ac mae angen i ni ddeall drwyddi draw beth yw'r rôl. 

I would like to have a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for health, if possible, please, because two weeks ago I raised the issue that Glan Clwyd Hospital, to my grave concern, are conducting 4,000 fewer operations in 2023 than they were in 2019, and this is despite long waiting times locally and nationally, which the Cabinet Secretary for health is going to speak about next. But before Christmas we don't have a statement or any sets of questions forthcoming from the Government in order to raise this issue. So, can I please have a statement regarding this matter, what the Welsh Government's response is and what remedial work the Welsh Government will undertake with Betsi Cadwaladr in order to solve this problem, which, essentially—? Before COVID-19, they were conducting, as I say, 4,000 more operations than they currently are, and we need to get to the bottom of what the reason is behind some of those staggering statistics.

Hoffwn i gael datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd, os yn bosibl, os gwelwch yn dda, oherwydd bythefnos yn ôl fe godais i'r mater bod Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, er pryder enfawr i mi, yn cynnal 4,000 yn llai o lawdriniaethau yn 2023 nag yr oedd yn 2019, ac mae hyn er gwaethaf amseroedd aros hir yn lleol ac yn genedlaethol, y mae Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros iechyd yn mynd i siarad amdano nesaf. Ond cyn y Nadolig nid oes gennym ni ddatganiad nac unrhyw gyfres o gwestiynau ar ddod gan y Llywodraeth er mwyn codi'r mater yma. Felly, a gaf i ddatganiad am y mater hwn, beth yw ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru a pha waith adfer y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud gyda Betsi Cadwaladr er mwyn datrys y broblem hon, sydd, yn ei hanfod—? Cyn COVID-19, roedden nhw'n cynnal, fel yr wyf i'n ei ddweud, 4,000 yn fwy o lawdriniaethau nag y maent ar hyn o bryd, ac mae angen i ni ganfod y rheswm y tu ôl i rai o'r ystadegau syfrdanol hynny.

Well, I think you're going to be able to have an opportunity now to question, very shortly, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, because this is, you know, in terms of the way forward, the 50-day recognition of what we can do in terms of productivity. I think you're going to hear some really important, positive news, as you know, from the statement, in due course.

Wel, rwy'n credu y byddwch chi'n gallu cael cyfle nawr i gwestiynu, yn fuan iawn, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, oherwydd mae hyn, wyddoch chi, o ran y ffordd ymlaen, y gydnabyddiaeth 50 diwrnod o'r hyn y gallwn ni ei wneud o ran cynhyrchiant. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n mynd i glywed newyddion pwysig, cadarnhaol iawn, fel y gwyddoch chi, o'r datganiad, maes o law.

15:25

I'd like to ask for two statements, Trefnydd. I'd like the Government to make a statement on its response to the ongoing situation in Gaza, and particularly its response to the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales's recent letter to the First Minister, which states that the conflict demands Wales's continued attention and action, both for those affected abroad and for communities in Wales, in line with our statutory commitments to be a globally responsible nation under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The war directly affects many people here in Wales, with many having lost loved ones, and there are constituents in all parts of Wales holding vigils and weekly protests in order to draw attention to the horrors that are happening there on a daily basis. Over a year has now passed since the Senedd formally discussed the situation in Gaza. Since then, the situation has changed and escalated, so we need to hear the Government's response to the calls made by so many of its citizens. It's the defining moral issue of our time, and it's an issue that is directly relevant to the Welsh Government's responsibilities.

I would also like to echo the disappointment of Laura Anne Jones to the decision to scrap the planned oral statement for today on the International Day of Disabled People. As well, I welcome that you're going to give an oral statement in the spring on the progress of the disability rights taskforce. But I would also draw your attention to the fact that we need to hear about the lack of progress too, and the reasons for that, on incorporating the United Nations convention on the rights of disabled people, and also address the disability employment gap, which is considerably higher in Wales than in the rest of the UK. Diolch.

Hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, Trefnydd. Hoffwn i'r Llywodraeth wneud datganiad ar ei hymateb i'r sefyllfa barhaus yn Gaza, ac yn enwedig ei hymateb i lythyr diweddar Comisiynydd Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol Cymru at y Prif Weinidog, sy'n nodi bod y gwrthdaro yn mynnu sylw a gweithredu parhaus gan Gymru, i'r rhai yr effeithiwyd arnyn nhw dramor ac i gymunedau yng Nghymru, yn unol â'n hymrwymiadau statudol i fod yn genedl sy'n gyfrifol yn fyd-eang o dan Ddeddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015. Mae'r rhyfel yn effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar lawer o bobl yma yng Nghymru, gyda llawer wedi colli anwyliaid, ac mae etholwyr ym mhob rhan o Gymru yn cynnal gwylnosau a phrotestiadau wythnosol er mwyn tynnu sylw at yr erchyllterau sy'n digwydd yno yn ddyddiol. Erbyn hyn mae dros flwyddyn wedi mynd heibio ers i'r Senedd drafod y sefyllfa yn Gaza yn ffurfiol. Ers hynny, mae'r sefyllfa wedi newid a dwysáu, felly mae angen i ni glywed ymateb y Llywodraeth i'r galwadau sy'n cael eu gwneud gan gymaint o'i dinasyddion. Hwn yw mater moesol diffiniol ein hoes, ac mae'n fater sy'n uniongyrchol berthnasol i gyfrifoldebau Llywodraeth Cymru.

Hoffwn i hefyd adleisio siom Laura Anne Jones yn sgil y penderfyniad i gael gwared ar y datganiad llafar arfaethedig ar gyfer heddiw ar Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl Anabl. Yn ogystal, rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith eich bod chi'n mynd i roi datganiad llafar yn y gwanwyn ar gynnydd y tasglu hawliau anabledd. Ond byddwn ni hefyd yn tynnu'ch sylw at y ffaith bod angen i ni glywed am y diffyg cynnydd hefyd, a'r rhesymau dros hynny, o ran ymgorffori confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar hawliau pobl anabl, a hefyd ymdrin â'r bwlch cyflogaeth anabledd, sy'n sylweddol uwch yng Nghymru nag yng ngweddill y DU. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr am eich cwestiwn—dau gwestiwn pwysig iawn.

Thank you very much for your question—two very important questions.

I've just seen today the letter from the future generations commissioner, which I'm grateful for in terms of—. You may be aware that we are looking to ways in which we can discuss, debate the situation in Gaza, in this Senedd, which is very important, as you say. I know the First Minister has responded to questions very directly on this—obviously, not devolved, but we have our responsibilities in terms of our communities, which we are engaging with, and that's important for all of us here in this Chamber.

Yes, I've issued a written statement today on the International Day of Disabled People. You will see in it that I address not only just progress in terms of the disability rights taskforce—I want to give much more detail in an oral statement in the new year—but also I have addressed the issue of progress and the work that's being undertaken, which you'll be aware, is part of the human rights advisory group that I chair, in relation to the incorporation of the UN convention on the rights of disabled people into Welsh law.

Rydw i newydd weld heddiw y llythyr gan gomisiynydd cenedlaethau'r dyfodol, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar amdano o ran —. Efallai eich bod chi'n ymwybodol ein bod ni'n ystyried y ffyrdd y gallwn ni drin a thrafod y sefyllfa yn Gaza, yn y Senedd hon, sy'n bwysig iawn, fel y dywedwch chi. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Prif Weinidog wedi ymateb i gwestiynau yn uniongyrchol iawn ar hyn—yn amlwg, nid yw wedi'i ddatganoli, ond mae gennym ni ein cyfrifoldebau o ran ein cymunedau, yr ydyn ni'n ymgysylltu â nhw, ac mae hynny'n bwysig i bob un ohonon ni yma yn y Siambr hon.

Do, fe gyhoeddais i ddatganiad ysgrifenedig heddiw ar Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl Anabl. Fe welwch ynddo fy mod i'n ymdrin nid yn unig â chynnydd o ran y tasglu hawliau anabledd—rwyf i eisiau rhoi llawer mwy o fanylion mewn datganiad llafar yn y flwyddyn newydd—ond hefyd rwyf i wedi ymdrin â'r mater o gynnydd a'r gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud, y byddwch chi'n ymwybodol ei fod yn rhan o'r grŵp cynghori hawliau dynol rwy'n ei gadeirio, o ran ymgorffori confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar hawliau pobl anabl i mewn i gyfraith Cymru.

Well, I chaired the session of the International Day of Disabled People Senedd event with Disability Wales earlier, promoting the rights and well-being of disabled people. And I call for a Welsh Government oral statement here accordingly, because that's what they've called for today.

This year the theme, as you know, is amplifying the leadership of disabled people for an inclusive and sustainable future, emphasising the importance of advancing leadership and agency of disabled people and disabled people's organisations. In Wales, however, substantial progress is still needed to meet national obligations, under the sustainable development goals and the United Nations convention on the rights of disabled people.

Disability Wales welcomed the Welsh Government's creation of the disability rights taskforce, to produce an action plan with recommendations for tackling systemic barriers to disabled people's equality and rights in Wales. However, when I opened the All Wales People First touring exhibition in north Wales yesterday, I again heard that the requirement, in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, to give disabled people real voice, choice and control in decisions that affect their lives was not being complied with. I call for an oral statement to this Senedd, this Parliament, in this Chamber accordingly.

Wel, fe wnes i gadeirio sesiwn digwyddiad y Senedd Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Pobl Anabl gydag Anabledd Cymru yn gynharach, gan hyrwyddo hawliau a llesiant pobl anabl. Ac rwy'n galw am ddatganiad llafar gan Lywodraeth Cymru yma yn unol â hynny, oherwydd dyna’r hyn y maen nhw wedi galw amdano heddiw.

Eleni, y thema, fel y gwyddoch chi, yw helaethu arweinyddiaeth pobl anabl ar gyfer dyfodol cynhwysol a chynaliadwy, gan bwysleisio pwysigrwydd hyrwyddo arweinyddiaeth a galluogedd pobl anabl a sefydliadau pobl anabl. Yng Nghymru, fodd bynnag, mae angen cynnydd sylweddol o hyd i gyflawni rhwymedigaethau cenedlaethol, o dan y nodau datblygu cynaliadwy a chonfensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar hawliau pobl anabl.

Croesawodd Anabledd Cymru gwaith Llywodraeth Cymru yn creu'r tasglu hawliau anabledd, i lunio cynllun gweithredu gydag argymhellion ar gyfer ymdrin â rhwystrau systemig rhag cydraddoldeb a hawliau pobl anabl yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, pan agorais i arddangosfa deithiol Pobl yn Gyntaf Cymru Gyfan yn y gogledd ddoe, clywais i unwaith eto nad oes cydymffurfiaeth â'r gofyniad, yn Neddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, i roi llais, dewis a rheolaeth wirioneddol i bobl anabl o ran penderfyniadau sy'n effeithio ar eu bywydau nhw. Rwy'n galw am ddatganiad llafar i'r Senedd hon, yn y Siambr hon yn unol â hynny.

Thank you very much, and as I've said, I'm doing an oral statement to address those points in the new year. But I do urge you to look at my written statement.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, ac fel y dywedais i, rwy'n gwneud datganiad llafar i ymdrin â'r pwyntiau hynny yn y flwyddyn newydd. Ond rwy'n eich annog chi i edrych ar fy natganiad ysgrifenedig.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I ask for a statement from the Government on what action the Government can take to assist people fleeing violence and genocide in Darfur and southern Sudan? I got the opportunity to meet young men from southern Sudan. They were Zaghawa people who were living primarily in Chad, because they were fleeing the genocide, and then travelling from Chad through Northern Africa to Tunisia, over the ocean into Italy, and then through to France, and they were explaining why they wanted to come to the UK and to Wales for assistance, simply because they could speak—. They learnt English in school, and they learnt about the UK.

There’s no safe passage for people from southern Sudan to Wales and to the UK, but they need assistance. They are facing genocide. They were explaining how many of their family members had been killed and murdered, and young boys were being brought in to fight a civil war there. So, they need as much help as possible, and I’d like to understand what assistance the Welsh Government could provide to the people of that area.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Dirprwy Lywydd. A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Llywodraeth ar ba gamau y gall y Llywodraeth eu cymryd i gynorthwyo pobl sy'n ffoi rhag trais a hil-laddiad yn Darfur a de Sudan? Cefais i'r cyfle i gwrdd â phobl ifanc o dde Sudan. Pobl Zaghawa oedden nhw a oedd yn byw yn bennaf yn Chad, oherwydd eu bod yn ffoi o'r hil-laddiad, ac yna'n teithio o Chad trwy Ogledd Affrica i Tunisia, dros y cefnfor i'r Eidal, ac yna drwodd i Ffrainc, ac roedden nhw'n esbonio pam y maen nhw eisiau dod i'r DU ac i Gymru am gymorth, dim ond oherwydd eu bod nhw'n gallu siarad—. Fe wnaethon nhw ddysgu Saesneg yn yr ysgol, ac fe wnaethon nhw ddysgu am y Deyrnas Unedig.

Does dim llwybr diogel i bobl o dde Sudan i Gymru ac i'r DU, ond mae angen cymorth arnyn nhw. Maen nhw'n wynebu hil-laddiad. Roedden nhw'n esbonio faint o aelodau o'u teulu oedd wedi cael eu lladd a'u llofruddio, ac roedd bechgyn ifanc yn cael eu dwyn i mewn i ymladd rhyfel cartref yno. Felly, mae angen cymaint o help â phosibl arnyn nhw, a hoffwn i ddeall pa gymorth y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei roi i bobl yr ardal honno.

15:30

Thank you for drawing that to our attention today, Mabon ap Gwynfor, and I very much look to our Wales and Africa programme, and indeed look also to the engagement that we have with our diaspora from Sudan here in Wales and the sub-Saharan diaspora advisory committee. So, thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we will obviously look at it in terms of what we could do, or how we can also make representations, indeed, to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Diolch am dynnu hynny i'n sylw heddiw, Mabon ap Gwynfor, ac rwy'n meddwl am ein rhaglen Cymru ac Affrica ac, yn wir, rwy'n meddwl hefyd am yr ymgysylltiad sydd gennym gyda'n diaspora o Sudan yma yng Nghymru a'r pwyllgor cynghori alltudion Is-Sahara. Felly, diolch i chi am dynnu ein sylw at hyn, a byddwn ni'n amlwg yn edrych arno o ran yr hyn y gallem ei wneud, neu sut y gallwn ni hefyd gyflwyno sylwadau, yn wir, i'r Swyddfa Dramor, y Gymanwlad a Datblygu.

4. Datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol: Her 50 diwrnod newydd i helpu cleifion i adael yr ysbyty ac i wella gofal cymunedol
4. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: New 50-day challenge to improve hospital discharge and community care

Eitem 4 heddiw yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol, her 50 diwrnod newydd i helpu cleifion i adael yr ysbyty ac i wella gofal cymunedol. A galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, Jeremy Miles. 

Item 4 today is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, new 50-day challenge to improve hospital discharge and community care. And I call on the Cabinet Secretary, Jeremy Miles. 

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol o dan bwysau sylweddol. Mae’r darlun yng Nghymru yn debyg i’r un mewn rhannau eraill o’r Deyrnas Unedig. Mae pobl yn byw yn hirach, sy’n gadarnhaol iawn, i raddau helaeth yn sgil safonau byw gwell a datblygiadau mewn gofal iechyd. Ond mae mwy o bobl yn byw gyda chyflyrau iechyd cronig a hir dymor, sy’n golygu bod ganddyn nhw anghenion iechyd a gofal cymhleth. Mae hyn, yn ei dro, yn rhoi mwy o alw, wrth gwrs, ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal. Yr her i ni yw darparu’r cydbwysedd cywir o ofal a chymorth mor agos at adref â phosib i gefnogi pobl fel y gallan nhw fywydau annibynnol yn eu cymunedau lleol.

Ond, ar hyn o bryd, dŷn ni ddim wedi cael y cydbwysedd hwn yn iawn.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Our health and social care services are under significant pressure. The picture in Wales is similar to that in other parts of the UK. People are living longer, which is a real positive, and that's thanks in large part to improved living standards and advances in healthcare. But more people are living with multiple chronic, long-term health conditions, which means they have complex health and care needs. This, in turn, puts greater demands on our health and care services. Our challenge is to provide the right balance of care and support at or as close to home as possible to support people so that they can live independent lives in their local communities.

But, at the moment, we haven’t got this balance right.

We know this because around 1,600 people are currently delayed in hospital. They are medically ready to leave, but they are unable to go because they are waiting for an assessment or a package of care to support them at home. For these people, staying in hospital for a long time is not good for their long-term health and well-being.

There are also many people who are being admitted to hospital who could have been better supported either at home or in the community, if the right services were available. We want people to be cared for in their own homes, or in their local communities, wherever possible, because all the evidence shows that’s where they do best.

Such high levels of delayed discharges, or pathways of care delays, have knock-on consequences for the wider health and care system. Because the back door to the NHS is effectively closed, there is no flow through the system and the front door increasingly becomes jammed. We see this in long waits for people to be admitted to a hospital bed, in ambulances queuing for hours outside emergency departments to hand over patients, and in a lack of ambulance capacity to respond to new 999 calls in the community.

Dirprwy Lywydd, the NHS and local authorities have worked very hard in the two years since the pandemic to address these pressure points, to reduce the number of people who are delayed in hospital and to increase community capacity. Since I've been in post, the Minister for social care and I have been having monthly care action committee meetings with local authorities and NHS colleagues to discuss actions to address pathways of care delays and build community capacity. These meetings have given us a real focus on those people who are currently delayed in hospital today and the reasons why. I'll say more about the care action committee in a moment.

The real solution lies in longer-term transformation, and the development of an integrated community care system for Wales, with the right balance of community capacity to help people stay well at home. This will create the best possible opportunity to strengthen preventative services to help people live well for as long as possible.

While we work towards this long-term transformation, we continue with our focus on immediate actions through the care action committee. Since 2023, the committee has had three key priorities, each designed to support improvements in the here and now and to lead to better experiences and outcomes for people. These are, firstly, reducing pathways of care delays; secondly, increasing weekend district nursing and palliative care nursing hours to support seven-day access; and, thirdly, enhancing community support for step-up and step-down care to and from hospital.

The Minister for social care and I have met all the seven regions to hear in detail about their joint working, about what is working well and what’s having the greatest impact. I have been very encouraged by the work and the plans already in place across Wales, and have seen many examples of strong relationships and actions being implemented, but these need to be shared more widely. Examples include the pink army in the Cardiff and Vale region, which is using integrated and innovative approaches to providing community care and supporting discharge. The west Wales integrated urgent care model and navigation streaming hub are providing complex and integrated care in the community, preventing people needing to be admitted to hospital, as well as supporting timely discharge for others. And Cwm Taf Morgannwg’s optimise model and integrated white board technology are supporting a cross-sector approach to planning and managing access to care.

The care action committee work led to the development of the 50-day integrated winter care challenge and the list of the 10 best practice initiatives. The 50-day challenge, which is almost at its halfway point, is designed to rapidly accelerate existing work and create a consistent national effort to improve health and social care flow in the run-up to end of the year, when winter pressures traditionally reach their peak. This will not solve the entire problem of hospital flow or pathways of care delays, but it will ensure a collective national focus on the issue and the best practice interventions, it will help more people return home in time for Christmas, and give us valuable learning about what works and where the gaps still are. It will also set the stage for continued improvements and lead to a more sustainable, resilient and consistent level of system performance, steering us towards our long-term goal of an integrated community care system for Wales.

To support the 50-day challenge, we already have key resources and programmes in place. This includes the £146 million regional integration fund, £5 million to increase allied health professional capacity, and £11.95 million through the Further Faster initiative to build community capacity specifically. Recognising the extreme pressures on our system, I have secured an additional £19 million to support the 50-day challenge. This includes £10 million for local authorities to support reablement and domiciliary care capacity, and £9 million for the NHS specifically for community-based care.

Dirprwy Lywydd, our health and social care system faces significant challenges, particularly during the winter months, but, by working across the NHS and local government, and by focusing on what we know works, with some additional investments, we are taking robust steps to build capacity in our communities and to help people return home when they are ready. The 50-day challenge is just one part of this effort. It's a focused and accelerated approach to addressing immediate pressures, whilst also laying the groundwork for longer-term transformation. With the continued commitment and collaboration of our health and social care partners, we can create a more resilient and effective system that meets the needs of people both today and in the future.

Rydyn ni'n gwybod hyn oherwydd mae tua 1,600 o bobl yn wynebu oedi cyn cael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty ar hyn o bryd. Maen nhw'n barod i adael yn feddygol, ond gallan nhw ddim mynd oherwydd maen nhw'n aros am asesiad neu becyn gofal i'w cefnogi gartref. I'r bobl hyn, dydy aros yn yr ysbyty am amser hir ddim yn dda i'w hiechyd a'u lles yn yr hirdymor.

Mae yna hefyd lawer o bobl sy'n cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty a allai fod wedi cael gwell cefnogaeth naill ai gartref neu yn y gymuned, pe bai'r gwasanaethau cywir ar gael. Rydym am i bobl gael gofal yn eu cartrefi eu hunain, neu yn eu cymunedau lleol, lle bynnag y bo modd, oherwydd mae'r holl dystiolaeth yn dangos mai dyna lle maen nhw'n gwneud orau.

Mae lefelau mor uchel o oedi cyn rhyddhau cleifion, neu oedi o ran llwybrau gofal, yn effeithio wedyn ar y system iechyd a gofal ehangach. Oherwydd bod y drws cefn i'r GIG wedi cau i bob pwrpas, does dim llif drwy'r system ac mae'r drws ffrynt yn cael ei jamio fwyfwy. Rydyn ni'n gweld hyn o ran yr arosiadau hir i bobl gael eu derbyn i wely ysbyty, o ran yr ambiwlansys sy'n ciwio am oriau y tu allan i adrannau brys i drosglwyddo cleifion, ac o ran diffyg capasiti ambiwlansys i ymateb i alwadau 999 newydd yn y gymuned.

Dirprwy Lywydd, mae'r GIG ac awdurdodau lleol wedi gweithio'n galed iawn yn y ddwy flynedd ers y pandemig i fynd i'r afael â'r pwyntiau pwysau hyn, i sicrhau bod llai o bobl yn wynebu oedi cyn cael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty ac i gynyddu capasiti cymunedol. Ers i mi fod yn y swydd, mae'r Gweinidog gofal cymdeithasol a minnau wedi bod yn cael cyfarfodydd pwyllgor gweithredu gofal misol gydag awdurdodau lleol a chydweithwyr yn y GIG i drafod camau i fynd i'r afael ag oedi o ran llwybrau gofal ac adeiladu capasiti cymunedol. Mae'r cyfarfodydd hyn wedi rhoi ffocws gwirioneddol i ni ar y bobl hynny sy'n wynebu oedi cyn cael eu rhyddhau o'r ysbyty heddiw a'r rhesymau pam. Fe ddywedaf  fwy am y pwyllgor gweithredu gofal yn y man.

Yr ateb go iawn yw trawsnewidiad tymor hwy, a datblygu system gofal cymunedol integredig i Gymru, gyda'r cydbwysedd cywir o gapasiti cymunedol i helpu pobl i aros yn iach gartref. Bydd hyn yn creu'r cyfle gorau posibl i gryfhau gwasanaethau ataliol i helpu pobl i fyw'n dda am gyhyd â phosibl.

Tra ein bod ni'n gweithio tuag at y trawsnewidiad hirdymor hwn, rydyn ni'n parhau i ganolbwyntio ar gamau gweithredu uniongyrchol drwy'r pwyllgor gweithredu gofal. Ers 2023, mae'r pwyllgor wedi meddu ar dair blaenoriaeth allweddol, y mae pob un wedi'i chynllunio i gefnogi gwelliannau nawr ac i arwain at brofiadau a chanlyniadau gwell i bobl. Y rhain yw, yn gyntaf, lleihau oedi o ran llwybrau gofal; yn ail, cynyddu oriau nyrsio ardal a nyrsio gofal lliniarol ar benwythnosau i gefnogi mynediad saith diwrnod; ac, yn drydydd, gwella cefnogaeth gymunedol ar gyfer gofal camu i fyny a chamu i lawr i'r ysbyty ac oddi yno.

Mae'r Gweinidog gofal cymdeithasol a minnau wedi cwrdd â'r saith rhanbarth i glywed yn fanwl am eu gwaith ar y cyd, am yr hyn sy'n gweithio'n dda a'r hyn sy'n cael yr effaith fwyaf. Rwyf wedi cael fy nghalonogi'n fawr gan y gwaith a'r cynlluniau sydd eisoes ar waith ledled Cymru, ac rwyf wedi gweld llawer o enghreifftiau o berthnasoedd a chamau gweithredu cryf yn cael eu gweithredu, ond mae angen i'r rhain gael eu rhannu'n ehangach. Mae enghreifftiau'n cynnwys y fyddin binc yn rhanbarth Caerdydd a'r Fro, sy'n defnyddio dulliau integredig ac arloesol o ddarparu gofal cymunedol a chefnogi rhyddhau cleifion. Mae'r ganolfan ffrydio llywio a'r model gofal brys integredig yn y gorllewin yn darparu gofal cymhleth ac integredig yn y gymuned, sy'n golygu nad oes angen i bobl gael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty, yn ogystal â chefnogi rhyddhad cleifion eraill yn amserol. Ac mae model optimeiddio a thechnoleg bwrdd gwyn integredig Cwm Taf Morgannwg yn cefnogi dull traws-sector o gynllunio a rheoli mynediad at ofal.

Arweiniodd gwaith y pwyllgor gweithredu gofal at ddatblygu'r her gofal gaeaf integredig 50 diwrnod a'r rhestr o'r 10 menter arfer orau. Nod yr her 50 diwrnod, sydd bron wedi cyrraedd hanner ffordd, yw cyflymu'r gwaith sy'n mynd rhagddo'n barod yn gyflym a chreu ymdrech genedlaethol gyson i wella llif iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn y cyfnod cyn diwedd y flwyddyn, pan fydd pwysau'r gaeaf fel arfer ar eu hanterth. Ni fydd hyn yn datrys y broblem gyfan o ran y llif mewn ysbytai nac oedi o ran llwybrau gofal, ond bydd yn sicrhau bod yna ffocws cenedlaethol cyfunol ar y mater a'r ymyriadau arfer gorau, bydd yn helpu mwy o bobl i ddychwelyd adref mewn pryd ar gyfer y Nadolig, a bydd yn rhoi gwybodaeth werthfawr i ni am yr hyn sy'n gweithio a lle mae'r bylchau yn dal i fodoli. Bydd hefyd yn gosod y llwyfan ar gyfer gwelliannau parhaus ac yn arwain at lefel fwy cynaliadwy, gwydn a chyson o berfformiad o ran y system, gan ein llywio tuag at ein nod hirdymor o system gofal cymunedol integredig i Gymru.

Er mwyn cefnogi'r her 50 diwrnod, mae gennym adnoddau a rhaglenni allweddol ar waith yn barod. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y gronfa integreiddio ranbarthol gwerth £146 miliwn, £5 miliwn i gynyddu capasiti gweithwyr proffesiynol perthynol i iechyd, a £11.95 miliwn drwy'r fenter Ymhellach, yn Gyflymach i feithrin capasiti cymunedol yn benodol. Gan gydnabod y pwysau eithafol ar ein system, rwyf wedi sicrhau £19 miliwn ychwanegol i gefnogi'r her 50 diwrnod. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £10 miliwn ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol i gefnogi ailalluogi a chapasiti gofal cartref, a £9 miliwn i'r GIG yn benodol ar gyfer gofal yn y gymuned.

Dirprwy Lywydd, mae ein system iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn wynebu heriau sylweddol, yn enwedig yn ystod misoedd y gaeaf, ond, drwy weithio ar draws y GIG a llywodraeth leol, a thrwy ganolbwyntio ar yr hyn rydyn ni'n gwybod sy'n gweithio, gyda rhai buddsoddiadau ychwanegol, rydyn ni'n cymryd camau cadarn i feithrin capasiti yn ein cymunedau ac i helpu pobl i ddychwelyd adref pan fyddan nhw'n barod. Dim ond un rhan o'r ymdrech hon yw'r her 50 diwrnod. Mae'n ffordd benodol a chyflym o fynd i'r afael â phwysau uniongyrchol, ac mae'n gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer trawsnewidiad tymor hwy ar yr un pryd. Gydag ymrwymiad a chydweithrediad parhaus ein partneriaid iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, gallwn ni greu system fwy gwydn ac effeithiol sy'n diwallu anghenion pobl heddiw ac yn y dyfodol.

15:35

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement in the Chamber here this afternoon. I certainly welcome your acknowledgement of the problems with hospital discharge and the challenges with community care being delivered as well, and I join you in recognising the efforts by our really hard-working health and social care workers across Wales in looking to tackle this problem and work within the systems that are put upon them. And as you’ve acknowledged in your statement today, there is more to be done than just a 50-day burst to solve these problems. Whilst there is some good that is likely to come out because of this, you acknowledge, rightly, that this is not the answer to all the problems; this is something that is going to help address some of the challenges that present themselves at the moment.

It is fair to say that, across the board, pressures facing our NHS are systemic and long term. You will recognise the record waiting lists, which continue to rise, with patient pathways now north of 800,000. You’ll also recognise that 23.3 per cent of the waits in Wales are a year or longer, with, I’m sure you’d acknowledge, too many people languishing in pain for far too long. It’s right to recognise that, sadly, in some hospitals, 20 per cent of beds are occupied by patients who either are waiting to leave or who need to leave, and it’s creating record levels of demand on our health and care services. Indeed, the challenges around the long-term plan for dealing with these waits have also been acknowledged by the Welsh NHS Confederation. In response to the 50-day challenge, they said that the challenge is insufficient on its own and will not achieve a sustainable health and care system in the long term.

So, I wonder, Cabinet Secretary, looking ahead, if you’d be able to talk to some of the more long-term solutions that you see, especially learning from this 50-day challenge that is being worked through at the moment. You’ve, helpfully, listed a number of exciting initiatives from across Wales that are going to be shared, we hope, across the nation, but when will you be indicating how many of the types of initiatives you see are to be there in the long term as well, not just for this 50-day period, so we can see that positive longer term change in our health service?

You’ve also acknowledged the important role of local authorities—councils—in helping to unblock some of the existing issues in the system at the moment. We know that councils are overstretched and under pressure, and I welcome the additional £10 million that you’ve announced here today. I’d be interested to know how much you think that is going to satisfy those funding challenges that councils have at the moment, so that they can adequately undertake the duties that are put upon them. Because what we can’t see is a risk of a passing on of the buck of responsibility to our councils without the appropriate level of funding to enable them to deliver the things that are being asked of them.

Finally, Deputy Presiding Officer, ensuring that people who are ready for discharge aren’t taking up beds that are desperately needed is the big challenge, not just in Wales but across other health systems as well, and that needs to be acknowledged. I wonder, on the specific problems and the specific challenges we have in Wales, whether some of that needs to be addressed through our staffing levels and how we have our training plans appropriately in place to ensure that our staffing levels are right in the future as well. So, I’d be interested to hear from you, Cabinet Secretary, how you’re working with colleagues across the Cabinet table to ensure that the career paths and the careers in both health and social care continue to be attractive and with a clear plan to attract people into those really important roles. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, am eich datganiad yn y Siambr yma y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n sicr yn croesawu eich cydnabyddiaeth o'r problemau o ran rhyddhau cleifion o'r ysbyty a'r heriau o ran darparu gofal cymunedol hefyd, ac rwy'n ymuno â chi i gydnabod ymdrechion ein gweithwyr iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol sy'n gweithio'n galed iawn ledled Cymru i geisio mynd i'r afael â'r broblem hon ac i weithio o fewn y systemau sy'n cael eu rhoi arnyn nhw. Ac fel rydych chi wedi cydnabod yn eich datganiad heddiw, mae mwy i'w wneud na dim ond bwrlwm 50 diwrnod i ddatrys y problemau hyn. Er bod rhywfaint o ddaioni yn debygol o gael ei weld oherwydd hyn, rydych chi'n cydnabod, yn briodol, nad dyma'r ateb i'r holl broblemau; mae hyn yn rhywbeth sy'n mynd i helpu i fynd i'r afael â rhai o'r heriau rydyn ni'n eu gweld ar hyn o bryd.

Mae'n deg dweud, ar draws y bwrdd, bod y pwysau sy'n wynebu ein GIG yn systemig ac yn hirdymor. Byddwch chi'n cydnabod y rhestrau aros uchaf erioed, sy'n parhau i gynyddu, gyda mwy nag 800,000 o gleifion ar lwybrau gofal erbyn hyn. Byddwch chi hefyd yn cydnabod bod 23.3 y cant o'r arosiadau yng Nghymru yn flwyddyn neu fwy, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddech chi'n cydnabod bod gormod o bobl yn gwingo mewn poen am lawer rhy hir. Mae'n iawn cydnabod, yn anffodus, mewn rhai ysbytai, bod 20 y cant o welyau yn cael eu meddiannu gan gleifion sydd naill ai'n aros i adael neu y mae angen iddyn nhw adael, ac mae'n creu'r lefelau uchaf erioed o alw ar ein gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal. Yn wir, mae'r heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â'r cynllun hirdymor ar gyfer delio â'r arosiadau hyn wedi'u cydnabod hefyd gan Gydffederasiwn GIG Cymru. Mewn ymateb i'r her 50 diwrnod, fe ddywedon nhw nad yw'r her yn ddigonol ar ei phen ei hun ac na fydd yn sicrhau system iechyd a gofal gynaliadwy yn yr hirdymor.

Felly, tybed, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, wrth edrych tua'r dyfodol, a fyddech chi'n gallu siarad am rai o'r atebion mwy hirdymor rydych chi'n eu gweld, yn enwedig yr hyn sy'n cael ei ddysgu o'r her 50 diwrnod hon sy'n mynd rhagddi ar hyn o bryd. Rydych chi, yn ddefnyddiol, wedi rhestru nifer o fentrau cyffrous o bob rhan o Gymru sy'n mynd i gael eu rhannu, gobeithio, ledled y wlad, ond pryd fyddwch chi'n nodi faint o'r mathau o fentrau rydych chi'n eu gweld fydd yno yn y tymor hir hefyd, nid dim ond am y cyfnod hwn o 50 diwrnod, fel y gallwn ni weld y newid cadarnhaol hwnnw yn y tymor hwy yn ein gwasanaeth iechyd?

Rydych chi hefyd wedi cydnabod rôl bwysig awdurdodau lleol—cynghorau—wrth helpu i ddatrys rhai o'r materion presennol yn y system ar hyn o bryd. Rydyn ni'n gwybod bod cynghorau o dan bwysau mawr, ac rwy'n croesawu'r £10 miliwn ychwanegol rydych chi wedi'i gyhoeddi yma heddiw. Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gwybod i ba raddau, ydych chi'n meddwl, y bydd hynny'n bodloni'r heriau cyllido hynny sydd gan gynghorau ar hyn o bryd, fel y gallan nhw ymgymryd â'r dyletswyddau sy'n cael eu rhoi arnyn nhw yn ddigonol. Oherwydd yr hyn na allwn ni ei weld yw risg y bydd y baich cyfrifoldeb yn cael ei drosglwyddo i'n cynghorau heb y lefel briodol o gyllid i'w galluogi i gyflawni'r pethau y gofynnir amdanynt.

Yn olaf, Dirprwy Lywydd, sicrhau nad yw pobl sy'n barod i gael eu rhyddhau yn cymryd gwelyau y mae taer eu hangen yw'r her fawr, nid yn unig yng Nghymru ond ar draws systemau iechyd eraill hefyd, ac mae angen cydnabod hynny. Tybed, o ran y problemau penodol a'r heriau penodol sydd gennym yng Nghymru, a oes angen mynd i'r afael â rhywfaint o hynny drwy ein lefelau staffio a'r ffordd y mae gennym ni ein cynlluniau hyfforddi mewn lle yn briodol i sicrhau bod ein lefelau staffio yn iawn yn y dyfodol hefyd. Felly, byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn clywed, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, sut rydych chi'n gweithio gyda chydweithwyr ar draws bwrdd y Cabinet i sicrhau bod llwybrau gyrfa a'r gyrfaoedd ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn parhau i fod yn ddeniadol a bod yna gynllun clir i ddenu pobl i'r rolau pwysig iawn hynny. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

15:40

I thank Sam Rowlands for those questions. He is right to say that the challenge of making sure that we can safely discharge home as rapidly as possible people who are waiting to leave hospital obviously is not a challenge unique to us in Wales; it’s a challenge that all parts of the NHS in all parts of the UK face.

What we have been able to do over the last couple of months in particular, as I was touching on in my initial statement, is really work very closely with regions, both health boards and local authorities, to be pragmatic about it, really, and to identify what are the most effective interventions, and they are all things, or at least the majority are things, on the list of 10 interventions that we are asking regions to put in place, that are already in place in different parts of Wales, we note, and that's where the evidence has come from.

We've seen in Cardiff and the Vale that the use of the pink army there and the integrated discharge arrangements has had a beneficial effect, as we've seen in the Member's own region as well, in different ways—I think they call it the 'blue army' in north Wales, for example. And they have a trusted assessor role, where assessment is done obviously in a much more streamlined, holistic way, and cuts out those delays in getting multiple assessments. So, there are things that are already happening. I've probably been using every single opportunity since I became Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to emphasise just how important it is not just to be trying new approaches, but to identify what's already in the system that is working well and get better at sharing that, and this is exactly what this is designed to test, if you like. So, that's the approach that we're looking at here.

He's right to say, and I'm grateful to him for acknowledging that I had said this in the statement, that this is not a 50-day done and dusted project. One partner, one of the health boards, described it to me as, 'An intense focus in 50 days on the 20 years ahead', if you like, because of the demographic shift that all countries are facing, and I think I would recognise that.

So, the approaches, which are on the list of 10 things, are long-term changes. They are approaches that, if embedded successfully, as we hope they will be, will help to reconfigure the working relationship in particular between local authorities and health boards. But, ultimately, the long-term shift needs to be that which I was talking about in the statement, to make sure that as many people are treated outside hospital as possible. And we know that if you don't need to be in hospital, it's not a good place for you to be. That's why it's so important for us to help people to be discharged safely, so that focus on community services, and we support that with significant funding. But the Member is right to say that one of the challenges in making rapid progress at scale is the resource pressure that councils in particular are feeling, and that's why the £10 million focused specifically on reablement is about making sure that we can make people's discharge sustainable at home.

He asked me if I thought that there was sufficient resource in the system. Obviously it's been a difficult period for local authorities, facing competitive pressures in a range of key statutory and non-statutory responsibilities. In addition to the £10 million, much of the balance of £9 million will end up supporting local authorities in their responsibilities for care, so GPs supporting care homes, enabling people to be discharged into community beds, so that healthcare assessments can happen outside the hospital. All of those add up to a picture of support for local authorities, as well as the reablement funding specifically.

Diolch i Sam Rowlands am y cwestiynau hynny. Mae'n iawn i ddweud nad yw'r her o sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu rhyddhau pobl sy'n aros i adael ysbyty adref yn ddiogel cyn gynted â phosib yn amlwg yn her sy'n unigryw i ni yng Nghymru; mae'n her sy'n wynebu pob rhan o'r GIG ym mhob rhan o'r DU.

Yr hyn rydyn ni wedi gallu ei wneud dros yr ychydig fisoedd diwethaf yn benodol, fel y gwnes i ei grybwyll yn fy natganiad cychwynnol, yw gweithio'n agos iawn gyda rhanbarthau, byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau lleol, i fod yn bragmataidd yn ei gylch, mewn gwirionedd, ac i nodi beth yw'r ymyriadau mwyaf effeithiol, ac maen nhw i gyd yn bethau, neu o leiaf mae'r mwyafrif yn bethau, sydd ar y rhestr o 10 ymyriad rydyn ni'n gofyn i ranbarthau eu rhoi ar waith, sydd eisoes ar waith mewn gwahanol rannau o Gymru, nodwn, a dyna lle mae'r dystiolaeth wedi dod.

Rydyn ni wedi gweld yng Nghaerdydd a'r Fro bod y defnydd o'r fyddin binc yno a'r trefniadau rhyddhau integredig wedi cael effaith fuddiol, fel rydyn ni wedi'i weld yn rhanbarth yr Aelod ei hun hefyd, mewn gwahanol ffyrdd—rwy'n credu eu bod nhw'n ei alw'n 'fyddin las' yn y gogledd, er enghraifft. Ac mae ganddyn nhw rôl asesydd dibynadwy, lle mae asesiad yn cael ei wneud yn amlwg mewn ffordd llawer symlach, cyfannol, ac mae'n osgoi'r oedi hynny wrth gael asesiadau lluosog. Felly, mae yna bethau sydd eisoes yn digwydd. Mae'n debyg fy mod wedi bod yn defnyddio pob cyfle ers i mi ddod yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol i bwysleisio pa mor bwysig yw hi nid yn unig i fod yn rhoi cynnig ar ddulliau newydd, ond i nodi beth sydd eisoes yn y system sy'n gweithio'n dda a rhannu hynny'n well, a dyma'n union y mae hyn wedi'i gynllunio i'w brofi, os mynnwch chi. Felly, dyna'r dull gweithredu rydyn ni'n edrych arno yma.

Mae'n iawn i ddweud, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar iddo am gydnabod fy mod wedi dweud hyn yn y datganiad, nad prosiect 50 diwrnod a dyna fe yw hwn. Fe wnaeth un partner, un o'r byrddau iechyd, ei ddisgrifio i mi fel, 'Ffocws dwys mewn 50 diwrnod ar yr 20 mlynedd sydd i ddod', os mynnwch chi, oherwydd y newid demograffig y mae pob gwlad yn ei wynebu, ac rwy'n credu y byddwn i'n cydnabod hynny.

Felly, mae'r dulliau gweithredu, sydd ar y rhestr o 10 o bethau, yn newidiadau hirdymor. Maen nhw'n ddulliau gweithredu a fydd, os cânt eu gwreiddio'n llwyddiannus, fel y gobeithiwn, yn helpu i ad-drefnu'r berthynas waith yn benodol rhwng awdurdodau lleol a byrddau iechyd. Ond, yn y pen draw, mae angen i'r newid hirdymor fod yr hyn yr oeddwn i'n sôn amdano yn y datganiad, er mwyn sicrhau bod cynifer o bobl â phosibl yn cael eu trin y tu allan i'r ysbyty. Ac rydyn ni'n gwybod, os nad oes angen i chi fod yn yr ysbyty, nid yw'n lle da i chi fod. Dyna pam ei bod mor bwysig i ni helpu pobl i gael eu rhyddhau'n ddiogel, felly'r ffocws hwnnw ar wasanaethau cymunedol, ac rydyn ni'n cefnogi hynny gyda chyllid sylweddol. Ond mae'r Aelod yn iawn i ddweud mai un o'r heriau wrth wneud cynnydd cyflym ar raddfa fawr yw'r pwysau ar adnoddau y mae cynghorau'n benodol yn ei deimlo, a dyna pam mae'r £10 miliwn sy'n canolbwyntio'n benodol ar ailalluogi yn ymwneud â sicrhau y gallwn ni wneud rhyddhau pobl yn gynaliadwy gartref.

Gofynnodd i mi a oeddwn i'n credu bod yna ddigon o adnoddau yn y system. Yn amlwg mae wedi bod yn gyfnod anodd i awdurdodau lleol, sy'n wynebu pwysau cystadleuol mewn ystod o gyfrifoldebau statudol ac anstatudol allweddol. Yn ogystal â'r £10 miliwn, bydd llawer o'r balans o £9 miliwn yn y pen draw yn cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i gyflawni eu cyfrifoldebau o ran gofal, felly meddygon teulu yn cefnogi cartrefi gofal, gan alluogi pobl i gael eu rhyddhau i welyau cymunedol, fel bod asesiadau gofal iechyd yn gallu digwydd y tu allan i'r ysbyty. Mae pob un o'r rheini'n rhan o ddarlun o gefnogaeth i awdurdodau lleol, yn ogystal â'r cyllid ailalluogi yn benodol.

15:45

Dwi yn ddiolchgar i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am ei barodrwydd i ddod â'r manylion yma ger ein bron ni heddiw, a hynny'n dilyn y cwestiwn amserol ddaru ni ei gyflwyno dair wythnos yn ôl. Fel gwnes i sôn bryd hynny, mae oedi rhyddhau cleifion o ysbytai, sy'n effeithio ar tua 20 y cant o welyau mewn rhai achosion, wedi bod yn broblem aruthrol, a hynny ers tipyn, ac mae'n adlewyrchiad o'r diffyg aliniad strwythurol ac o argaeledd adnoddau rhwng yr NHS a'r sector gofal. Mae'r ffaith bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet wedi adnabod y methiannau sydd wedi digwydd yn y gorffennol ac wedi dangos agwedd newydd at y broblem yma hefyd i'w groesawu, ac mi ydym ni'n barod i'w ddal i gyfrif ar y targedau y mae wedi eu gosod.

Dwi'n llwyr gydnabod taw ar ddiwedd y cyfnod o 50 niwrnod bydd yr amser addas am werthusiad llawn o'r fath, ac mi fuaswn i'n gwerthfawrogi pe bai'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gallu ymrwymo i ddod â datganiad i'r Siambr cyn gynted ag y mae'r cyfnod o 50 niwrnod wedi dod i ben. Ond mae'n werth nodi bod yna bryderon wedi'u mynegi eisoes ynglŷn â chapasiti'r byrddau iechyd a'r awdurdodau lleol i weithredu amcanion y cynllun, a hynny'n ymarferol.

Er enghraifft, yn ystod cyfarfod bwrdd diweddaraf Aneurin Bevan, fe wnaeth y prif weithredwr, Nicola Prygodzicz, sôn am ei gofidion ynglŷn â gallu'r bwrdd iechyd i ryddhau gwelyau ychwanegol yn ddigon cyflym er mwyn ymdopi â'r pwynt o alw uchaf, sydd yn debygol o fwrw yng nghanol mis Ionawr. Fe wnaeth Phil Robson, cynghorwr arbennig y bwrdd, hefyd sôn am sut mae diffyg eglurder ynglŷn â threfniadau perthnasol gyda mudiadau gofal lleol yn rhwystr yn y cyd-destun yma hefyd. I'w ddyfynnu e yn uniongyrchol:

I am grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for his willingness to bring these details before us today, following the topical question tabled three weeks ago. As I mentioned at that time, the delayed discharge of patients from hospitals, which affects around 20 per cent of beds in some cases, has been a huge problem for some time, and is a reflection of the lack of structural alignment and of the availability of resources between the NHS and the care sector. The fact that the Cabinet Secretary has identified the failures that have occurred in the past and has demonstrated a new approach to this problem is to be welcomed, and we're ready to hold him to account on the targets that he has set.    

I fully acknowledge that the end of the 50-day period will be the appropriate time for such a full evaluation, and I would appreciate it if the Cabinet Secretary could commit to bringing a statement to the Chamber as soon as the 50-day period has expired. But it is worth noting that concerns have already been expressed regarding the capacity of health boards and local authorities to implement the objectives of the plan in practice. 

For example, during the latest meeting of the Aneurin Bevan board, the chief executive, Nicola Prygodzicz, spoke about her concerns about the health board's ability to release additional beds quickly enough to cope with the point of highest demand, which is likely to occur in mid January. Phil Robson, the board's special adviser, also spoke about how a lack of clarity regarding relevant arrangements with local care bodies is a barrier in this context. To quote him directly:

'I’m not impressed with some of the partnership stuff, it seems a bit woolly.'

'Dydy peth o'r stwff partneriaeth ddim wedi creu argraff arna i, mae'n ymddangos braidd yn niwlog.'

Felly gaf i ofyn am ymateb yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i’r pryderon yma, a sut y mae o'n mynd i fynd ati i sicrhau cydweithio effeithiol a systematig rhwng y byrddau iechyd a’r awdurdodau lleol?

Dwi’n gwybod bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn cytuno â fi taw’r elfen allweddol fan hyn ydy sicrhau nad peth tymhorol yn unig fydd unrhyw lwyddiant sy’n deillio o’r cynllun yma, a bod yna fesurau mewn lle gyda’r byrddau iechyd a’r awdurdodau lleol i wreiddio arfer da, a hynny ar sail barhaus. Yn eich ymateb i fy nghwestiwn amserol ar y pwnc yma, fe wnaethoch chi sôn eich bod yn cael sgyrsiau â phartneriaid yn ystod y 50 niwrnod ynglŷn â pha adnoddau y gallai fod eu hangen i wneud yr ymyrraeth yn gynaliadwy. Gaf i ofyn am ddiweddariad felly ar y trafodaethau yma, ac os oes gan y Llywodraeth ddealltwriaeth bellach am y fath o adnoddau ychwanegol posib fydd eu hangen y tu hwnt i'r cyfnod 50 niwrnod, yn enwedig wrth ystyried y pryderon sydd wedi cael eu mynegi yn barod gan fwrdd iechyd Aneurin Bevan?

Ac i gloi, hoffwn droi yn ôl at y thema agoriadol yn fy nghyfraniad, sef bod yr oedi yma wrth ryddhau cleifion yn symptom o’r ffaith nad yw ein system gofal mewn cyflwr i fedru cyflawni’r nod o symud gofal yn agosach i’r gymuned a’r cartref—y pwynt ddaru'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ei hun wneud yn ei gyfraniad agoriadol. Fe wnaeth Conffederasiwn GIG Cymru fynegi neges syml iawn ar hyn pan gafodd y cynllun ei gyhoeddi fis diwethaf:

So, may I ask for the Cabinet Secretary's response to these concerns, and how will he go about ensuring effective and systematic collaboration between the health boards and the local authorities?

I know that the Cabinet Secretary agrees with me that the key element here is to ensure that any success resulting from this plan won't just be temporary, and that there are measures in place with the health boards and the local authorities to embed good practice on an ongoing basis. In your response to my topical question on this subject, you mentioned that you are having conversations with partners during the 50 days about what resources might be needed to make the intervention sustainable. May I therefore ask for an update on these discussions and whether the Government has a further understanding of the kind of additional resources that may be needed beyond the 50-day period, especially when considering the concerns that have already been expressed by Aneurin Bevan health board?

And to conclude, I would like to return to the opening theme of my contribution, which is that this delay in discharging patients is a symptom of the fact that our care system is in no condition to achieve the aim of moving care closer to the community and the home, which is a point that the Cabinet Secretary himself made in his opening remarks. The Welsh NHS Confederation expressed a very simple message on this when the scheme was announced last month:

'Unless the broader challenges of demand and capacity across the whole health and care system are addressed, a 50-day challenge and action plan won’t be enough to achieve a sustainable health and care system in the long term.'

'Oni fydd heriau ehangach galw a chapasiti ar draws y system iechyd a gofal gyfan yn cael sylw, fydd her 50 diwrnod a chynllun gweithredu ddim yn ddigon i sicrhau system iechyd a gofal gynaliadwy yn yr hirdymor.'

Pan wnes i godi hyn yn ystod fy nghwestiwn amserol fis diwethaf, fe wnaeth yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ddweud nad oedd wedi cael cyfle i ystyried asesiad conffederasiwn yr NHS yn llawn. Felly rŵan eich bod chi wedi cael yr amser i adlewyrchu, beth yw eich ymateb? Diolch yn fawr iawn. 

When I raised this during my topical question last month, the Cabinet Secretary said that he had not had the opportunity to fully consider the NHS confederation's assessment. So, now that you've had the time to reflect, what is your response? Thank you.

15:50

Diolch am y cwestiynau. Mae'r ffigurau o ran pobl sydd wedi bod yn aros tu hwnt i'r amser maen nhw'n barod i adael yr ysbyty wedi bod yn gostwng fis ar ôl mis drwy gydol y flwyddyn hon. Felly, mae hynny'n galonogol. Mae angen, wrth gwrs, mynd llawer ymhellach. Dyna bwrpas y rhaglen. Ond mae hynny wrth wraidd y patrwm rydyn ni wedi bod yn edrych arno fe ac yn ei weld. Felly, dwi ddim yn credu—. Mae adnoddau yn amlwg yn bwysig, ac mae'r datganiad heddiw wrth gwrs yn cynyddu'r adnoddau sydd ar gael. Mae angen darparu'r adnoddau rydyn ni wedi eu gwneud, ac mae hynny yn sgil trafodaethau gyda phartneriaid i weld lle mae'r prif bwysau. Mae'n amlwg gyda rhywbeth fel reablement, gan ei fod e'n sail i bob peth arall rydych chi'n ceisio ei wneud i alluogi pobl i fynd adref, ei fod e'n thema gyffredin, os hoffwch chi. Beth mae hynny'n caniatáu gyda'r adnoddau yma yw dodi'r systemau yn eu lle fydd yn gallu wedyn cael eu hariannu gan y cynlluniau ariannol eraill sydd eisoes gyda ni—a gwnes i amlinellu rhai ohonyn nhw yn y datganiad—a'u gwneud nhw'n gynaliadwy i'r hirdymor. Ond, fel dwi'n siŵr y bydd yr Aelod yn cydnabod, pan ydych chi'n ceisio gwneud diwygiadau, un o'r pethau rydych chi'n gorfod gwneud yw rhedeg dwy system ar yr un pryd, ambell waith. Felly, mae angen arian ac adnoddau arnoch chi yn y cyfnod hwnnw fel eich bod chi'n gallu trosglwyddo i ffyrdd eraill o weithio sy'n fwy cynaliadwy, gan gynnwys yn fwy cynaliadwy o ran adnoddau yn y tymor hirach. Byddwn i'n barod, ac yn bwriadu beth bynnag, i wneud datganiad pellach yn sgil y 50 diwrnod i fod yn dryloyw ynglŷn â'r hyn sydd wedi llwyddo a'r hyn sydd, efallai, wedi bod yn fwy heriol.

Roedd yr Aelod yn sôn am rai o'r pethau sydd wedi bod yn heriol. Dwi ddim wedi clywed y dystiolaeth yn uniongyrchol, ond dwi'n derbyn bod pethau ymarferol i weithio trwyddyn nhw. Mae hynny wedi bod yn rhan o'r gwaith partneriaeth. Gwnes i ddim clywed enw'r person gwnaeth sôn bod y peth yn 'woolly', ond gaf i jest fod yn gwbl glir, i unrhyw un sydd ynghlwm yn y broses hon, partneriaeth sydd wrth wraidd y peth? Felly, os oes unrhyw un yn teimlo ei fod e'n woolly, eu cyfrifoldeb nhw yw sicrhau ei fod e ddim yn woolly. Felly, nid jest mater o bwyntio'r bys at bobl eraill; os oes angen gwella gweithredu partneriaeth, mae cyfrifoldeb ar bob partner i wneud hynny. 

Y cwestiwn olaf y gwnaeth e ddweud oedd ynglŷn â chonffederasiwn yr NHS. Wel, mae'r datganiad yn gwbl amlwg, onid yw e? Does neb wedi dweud mai dyma'r unig beth rydyn ni'n ei wneud. Felly, ar lefel gyffredinol, mae'n—dwi ddim yn moyn dweud 'arwynebol', ond mae'n amlwg. Beth fyddwn i yn dweud yw bod yr aelodau sydd ynghlwm wrth y gwaith uniongyrchol o ddelifro hwn wedi bod yn gweithio, dwi'n credu, yn dda gyda'i gilydd, ac wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â hyn. Cawn ni weld ar ddiwedd y 50 diwrnod beth fydd y darlun ar lawr gwlad. Fel dwi'n dweud, byddaf yn hapus iawn i roi diweddariad i'r Senedd bryd hynny.

Thank you for those questions. The figures in terms of people who've been waiting longer than the time that they are ready to leave hospital have been dropping month on month throughout this year. So, that's encouraging. We need, of course, to go much further. That's the purpose of the programme. But that is at the heart of the pattern that we have been looking at and seeing. So, I don't think—. Resources are clearly important, and today's statement increases the resources available. We need to provide the resources that we have done, and that's in light of discussions with partners to see where the main pressures lie. It's clear with something like reablement, as it's the basis of everything else that you're trying to do to enable people to leave hospital, that it's a common theme, if you like. What that allows with these resources is that we can put the systems in place that can then be funded by the other funding programmes that we already have in place—and I outlined some of those in my statement this afternoon—and make those sustainable in the long term. But, as I'm sure the Member would recognise, when you're trying to implement reforms, one of the things that you have to do is to run two systems simultaneously, sometimes. So, you need funding and resources during that period so that you can transition to other ways of working that are more sustainable, including being more sustainable in terms of resourcing in the longer term. I would be willing, and intended to anyway, to make a further statement after the 50 days to be transparent on what has succeeded and what, perhaps, has been more challenging. 

The Member mentioned some of the challenges. I haven't heard the evidence directly, but I do accept that there are practical issues to work through. That has been part of the partnership work. I didn't hear the name of the individual who mentioned that this was 'woolly', but may I just be quite clear, for anyone involved in this process, partnership is at its core? So, if anyone feels that it's woolly, it's their responsibility to ensure that it isn't woolly. So, it's not just a matter of finger pointing; if partnership working needs to be improved, then every partner has a responsibility to do that. 

The final question that he asked was on the NHS confederation. Well, the statement is quite clear, isn't it? Nobody has said that this is the only thing that we're doing. So, on a general level, it's—I don't want to say 'superficial', but it's obvious. What I would say is that the members involved in the direct work of delivering this have been working well together, I think, and are committed to tackling this issue. We will see at the end of the 50 days what the picture is on the ground, but as I say, I will be more than happy to provide the Senedd with an update at that point.

15:55

Thank you very much for your important statement, which clearly shows that you're grasping the nettle. Being admitted to hospital is as risky as going bungee jumping, and most of us do not aspire to the latter. But, clearly, you need to be in hospital if you're having some major medical intervention, and it is the failure to get people out of hospital as soon as their medical treatment doesn't require it is what's preventing other people going into hospital for those types of operations.

I visited the pink army, and it's great to see the senior nurses co-located with the senior social workers, but there remains a huge amount more work to be done, because their aspiration is to turn around people who arrive in the emergency department and give them the care that they need in the community, where required.

Also, we could be accelerating the numbers of community nursing beds that are provided in care homes, obviously with the right personnel to go with them, because I have to say, having visited today, a busy teaching hospital is not the right place for end-of-life care. Community nursing teams are fantastic with their computerised team allocation systems, so the right person goes to the right patient. What are the main barriers to accelerating the community nursing teams to cover all community districts across Wales? Is it a shortage of district nurses, resistance to multidisciplinary working, or is it limited resources?

Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich datganiad pwysig, sy'n dangos yn glir eich bod chi'n gwasgu'r danadl. Mae cael eich derbyn i'r ysbyty mor beryglus â gwneud naid bynji, a dydy'r rhan fwyaf ohonon ni ddim yn dyheu am yr olaf. Ond, yn amlwg, mae angen i chi fod yn yr ysbyty os ydych chi'n cael ymyriad meddygol mawr, a'r methiant i gael pobl allan o'r ysbyty cyn gynted ag y mae eu triniaeth feddygol yn golygu nad oes angen iddyn nhw fod yno sy'n atal pobl eraill rhag mynd i'r ysbyty ar gyfer y mathau hynny o lawdriniaethau.

Fe ymwelais â'r fyddin binc, ac mae'n wych gweld yr uwch-nyrsys wedi'u cydleoli â'r uwch-weithwyr cymdeithasol, ond mae llawer iawn mwy o waith i'w wneud o hyd, oherwydd eu dyhead nhw yw helpu pobl sy'n cyrraedd yr adran frys i fynd adref a rhoi'r gofal sydd ei angen arnyn nhw yn y gymuned, lle bo angen.

Hefyd, gallem fod yn cyflymu nifer y gwelyau nyrsio cymunedol sy'n cael eu darparu mewn cartrefi gofal, yn amlwg gyda'r personél cywir i fynd gyda nhw, oherwydd mae'n rhaid i mi ddweud, ar ôl ymweld heddiw, nid ysbyty addysgu prysur yw'r lle iawn ar gyfer gofal diwedd oes. Mae timau nyrsio cymunedol yn wych gyda'u systemau dyrannu tîm cyfrifiadurol, fel bod y person cywir yn mynd i'r claf cywir. Beth yw'r prif rwystrau i gyflymu'r timau nyrsio cymunedol i gwmpasu pob ardal gymunedol ledled Cymru? Ai prinder nyrsys ardal, ymwrthedd i weithio amlddisgyblaethol, neu adnoddau cyfyngedig?

I thank the Member for those questions. I think she's right to say that no one intervention—and I would include the pink army in that—is the entire solution, and I'm sure that Cardiff and Vale health board would say that themselves. So, there's a menu, if you like, of 10 things that we're asking regions to put in place. One of them is an integrated approach, which the Member spoke about, but another is well-established, evidenced, flow frameworks within hospital, and a move towards seven-day working, so that patients can be discharged on the weekend; a specific focus on those patients with the longest waits; supporting GPs to support care homes where continuing healthcare assessments can be made in community beds, in the way that she was asking about, rather than in hospital, for the reasons that she gave; and helping GPs to proactively manage the 0.5 per cent highest risk population group in their clusters, with multiprofessional teams. We know those individuals are likely to be the ones who are most likely to be admitted to hospital. So, a specific approach in relation to those, if you like, higher risk cohorts, but also home-first approaches, hospital at home approaches, which a number of health boards are developing, where people get more care at home, and then an initiative I'm particularly keen on, given the questions that were asked in the business statement earlier, and that's a focus on seven-day community-based fall responses. So, we know that that can be a significant contributor to preventing admission to hospital. So, a range of interventions.

She asked about the availability of community nursing. I do think there's more to be done in terms of recruitment. I don't think it's particularly a resource issue; I think it's to do with the mix of nursing that's required. What we have set as one of the broader objectives of the care action committee is to increase district nursing capacity, for example, and that's been one of the more challenging priorities to make progress with, but it is something that the system is absolutely focused on.

Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau hynny. Rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n iawn i ddweud na fydd yr un ymyrraeth ar ei phen ei hun—a byddwn i'n cynnwys y fyddin binc yn hynny—yn ateb y broblem yn llwyr, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddai bwrdd iechyd Caerdydd a'r Fro yn dweud hynny eu hunain. Felly, mae yna fwydlen, os mynnwch chi, o 10 o bethau rydyn ni'n gofyn i ranbarthau eu rhoi ar waith. Un ohonyn nhw yw dull integredig, y soniodd yr Aelod amdano, ond un arall yw fframweithiau llif sefydledig a thystiolaeth dda o fewn yr ysbyty, a symud tuag at weithio dros saith diwrnod, fel bod cleifion yn gallu cael eu rhyddhau ar y penwythnos; ffocws penodol ar y cleifion hynny sydd â'r arosiadau hiraf; helpu meddygon teulu i gefnogi cartrefi gofal lle gellir gwneud asesiadau gofal iechyd parhaus mewn gwelyau cymunedol, yn y ffordd yr oedd hi'n gofyn amdano, yn hytrach nag yn yr ysbyty, am y rhesymau a roddodd; a helpu meddygon teulu i reoli'r 0.5 y cant yn y grŵp poblogaeth risg uchaf yn rhagweithiol yn eu clystyrau, gyda thimau amlbroffesiynol. Rydyn ni'n gwybod mai'r unigolion hynny yw'r rhai sydd fwyaf tebygol o gael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty. Felly, dull penodol mewn perthynas â'r carfannau risg uwch hynny, os mynnwch chi, ond hefyd ddulliau cartref yn gyntaf, dulliau ysbyty yn y cartref, y mae nifer o fyrddau iechyd yn eu datblygu, lle mae pobl yn cael mwy o ofal gartref, ac yna menter rwy'n frwdfrydig iawn drosti, o ystyried y cwestiynau a ofynnwyd yn y datganiad busnes yn gynharach, sef ffocws ar ymateb saith diwrnod i gwympiadau yn y gymuned. Felly, rydyn ni'n gwybod y gall hynny gyfrannu'n sylweddol at atal mynediad i'r ysbyty. Felly, amrywiaeth o ymyriadau.

Fe ofynnodd hi am argaeledd nyrsio cymunedol. Rwy'n credu bod mwy i'w wneud o ran recriwtio. Dydw i ddim yn credu ei fod yn fater sy'n ymwneud ag adnoddau yn benodol; rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â'r cymysgedd o nyrsio sydd ei angen. Yr hyn rydyn ni wedi'i osod fel un o amcanion ehangach y pwyllgor gweithredu gofal yw cynyddu capasiti nyrsio ardal, er enghraifft, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn un o'r blaenoriaethau mwy heriol o ran gwneud cynnydd, ond mae'n sicr yn rhywbeth y mae'r system yn canolbwyntio arno.

Thank you for your statement this afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. I want to ask for your view on the efficacy of local authority funding that you've given, and how that works within the funding systems for care homes from local authorities. Because some of the care homes that I visit in my constituency, private care home providers, some are only operating at half capacity sometimes, because of funding issues from my local authority, Denbighshire County Council, which has the lowest care home fee across the north Wales authorities, unfortunately. In terms of the efficacy of it and how it's going to be felt locally through local authorities, do you have an assessment of that and a view on how that will be felt on the ground and whether it'll make any tangible changes to care home staffing, recruitment, workforce and all those things that are needed to run an efficient care home that patients can be safely discharged to? Thank you.

Diolch am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Rwyf am ofyn am eich barn ar effeithiolrwydd y cyllid rydych chi wedi'i roi i awdurdodau lleol, a sut mae hynny'n gweithio o fewn y systemau cyllido ar gyfer cartrefi gofal gan awdurdodau lleol. Oherwydd mae rhai o'r cartrefi gofal rwyf yn ymweld â nhw yn fy etholaeth i, darparwyr cartrefi gofal preifat, mae rhai ond yn gweithredu ar hanner capasiti weithiau, oherwydd materion ariannu gan fy awdurdod lleol, Cyngor Sir Ddinbych, sydd â'r ffi cartrefi gofal isaf ar draws awdurdodau'r gogledd, yn anffodus. O ran ei effeithiolrwydd a sut y caiff ei deimlo'n lleol drwy awdurdodau lleol, oes gennych chi asesiad o hynny a barn ar sut y bydd hynny'n cael ei deimlo ar lawr gwlad ac a fydd yn gwneud unrhyw newidiadau diriaethol i staffio cartrefi gofal, recriwtio, y gweithlu a'r holl bethau hynny sydd eu hangen i redeg cartref gofal effeithlon y gall cleifion gael eu rhyddhau'n ddiogel iddo? Diolch.

16:00

The Member asks a very important question. I think there are a number of factors behind what I think he's observing in the question. Firstly, as he will know, local authorities set the fees they're prepared to pay for care home placements, and sometimes that can be challenging. I'm not commenting specifically on his local authority area, but there can be challenges as a result of that. One of the things that we are doing to try and better understand that is, as we look, on a monthly basis, at the patterns of discharge in each of the regions, to look at the same time about the capacity in care homes that appears, at least, to be underutilised. There can be very good reasons for that. Not all discharges are appropriate for a care home setting. Sometimes there is a need for complex support that sometimes isn't available in care homes. One of the questions relates to the nature of the assessment at the point when the patient is discharged. If that assessment underestimates the level of support that a patient requires, then that can create quite a significant additional set of responsibilities at the care home that haven't been planned for. So, there are issues in the system, which we are addressing. In the Member's region, one of the more successful interventions has been a trusted assessor, where parties agree that there's one set of assessments done by one agency or one individual. That has, I think, started to get to grips with some of the challenges that I think he’s referring to.

Mae'r Aelod yn gofyn cwestiwn pwysig iawn. Rwy'n credu bod yna nifer o ffactorau y tu ôl i'r hyn rwy'n credu ei fod yn nodi yn y cwestiwn. Yn gyntaf, fel y bydd yn gwybod, mae awdurdodau lleol yn pennu'r ffioedd y maen nhw'n barod i'w talu am leoliadau cartrefi gofal, ac weithiau gall hynny fod yn heriol. Dydw i ddim yn gwneud sylw penodol am ei ardal awdurdod lleol ef, ond fe all fod heriau o ganlyniad i hynny. Un o'r pethau rydyn ni'n ei wneud i geisio deall hynny'n well yw, wrth i ni edrych, yn fisol, ar batrymau rhyddhau ym mhob un o'r rhanbarthau, edrych ar yr un pryd ar y capasiti mewn cartrefi gofal sy'n ymddangos, o leiaf, ei fod yn cael ei danddefnyddio. Gall fod rhesymau da iawn am hynny. Nid yw'n briodol ryddhau pob claf i leoliad cartref gofal. Weithiau mae angen cymorth cymhleth nad yw ar gael weithiau mewn cartrefi gofal. Mae un o'r cwestiynau'n ymwneud â natur yr asesiad pan fydd y claf yn cael ei ryddhau. Os bydd yr asesiad hwnnw'n tanamcangyfrif lefel y cymorth sydd ei angen ar glaf, yna gall hynny greu set ychwanegol eithaf sylweddol o gyfrifoldebau yn y cartref gofal nad ydynt wedi'u cynllunio ar eu cyfer. Felly, mae yna broblemau yn y system, yr ydym yn mynd i'r afael â nhw. Yn rhanbarth yr Aelod, un o'r ymyriadau sydd wedi bod fwyaf llwyddiannus yw asesydd dibynadwy, lle mae partïon yn cytuno mai dim ond un set o asesiadau sy'n cael eu gwneud gan un asiantaeth neu un unigolyn. Mae hynny, rwy'n credu, wedi dechrau mynd i'r afael â rhai o'r heriau yr wyf yn credu ei fod yn cyfeirio atyn nhw.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you very much for your statement, Cabinet Secretary. I very much welcome the 50-day challenge, which was launched last month, because, as I mentioned in First Minister’s questions earlier this afternoon, it's essential that patient flow is improved if we are to see this whole process work far more smoothly. It's very good to see that this is a priority for you.

The majority of patients want to leave hospital and return home as quickly as possible. For that to happen in a timely manner, we need much better integration of our health and social care sectors. They need support to do that, and, more importantly, they need to improve. So, how will you ensure good practice travels, because it rarely does, with no postcode lottery across our very small country? What work is being done with third sector organisations, such as Care & Repair Cymru, for instance, to assist health boards and local authorities in delivering the 50-day challenge?

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr iawn am eich datganiad, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Rwy'n croesawu'n fawr yr her 50 diwrnod, a lansiwyd fis diwethaf, oherwydd, fel y soniais i yng nghwestiynau'r Prif Weinidog yn gynharach y prynhawn yma, mae'n hanfodol bod llif cleifion yn gwella os ydym am weld y broses gyfan hon yn gweithio'n llawer mwy esmwyth. Mae'n dda gweld bod hyn yn flaenoriaeth i chi.

Mae'r rhan fwyaf o gleifion eisiau gadael yr ysbyty a dychwelyd adref cyn gynted â phosibl. Er mwyn i hynny ddigwydd mewn modd amserol, mae angen integreiddio ein sectorau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yn llawer gwell. Mae angen cymorth arnyn nhw i wneud hynny, ac yn bwysicach fyth, mae angen iddyn nhw wella. Felly, sut y byddwch chi'n sicrhau bod arferion da yn teithio, oherwydd anaml mae hynny'n digwydd, heb unrhyw loteri cod post ar draws ein gwlad fach iawn? Pa waith sy'n cael ei wneud gyda sefydliadau trydydd sector, fel Gofal a Thrwsio Cymru, er enghraifft, i helpu byrddau iechyd ac awdurdodau lleol i gyflawni'r her 50 diwrnod?

I agree entirely with what the Member has said. What we're testing, and we hope to succeed, obviously, with this approach, is exactly that point about good practice travelling. There's been quite intensive working and quite a lot of guidance provided about how best to implement the 10 interventions. What I think has been effective is we've heard many examples in those discussions of health boards visiting one another to see what's happening on the ground, and councils working, even within the same region, in different ways. Because, obviously, when you have a regional footprint, if you're a health board, there are different councils whose residents are in your hospital, naturally. So, there's a level of variation in those relationships. That is being worked through as part of this.

The integration agenda is clearly critical. The funding that we are distributing today will be distributed through the regional partnership boards, which provide a forum for third sector organisations to be part of the planning of the response in this way. That goal of an integrated community care system, genuinely integrated at a community level, providing that holistic health and care set of services, is the goal that we are working towards. Obviously, it's an ambitious objective that will take some time to realise in full, but there are a number of our key national policies and programmes that, ultimately, have that as their underpinning. Everything from the six goals programme for urgent and emergency care at the one end to homecare policy and care home policy at the other is all designed to make a reality of that in the longer term. It is hard work to integrate a system that is operated very differently and funded very differently, but I hope that some of the ways that we are working over the course of this period will show us ways in which that can be better run in the future.

Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn y mae'r Aelod wedi'i ddweud. Yr hyn rydyn ni'n ei brofi, ac rydyn ni'n gobeithio llwyddo, yn amlwg, gyda'r dull hwn, yw'r union bwynt hwnnw ynglŷn ag arfer da yn teithio. Mae gwaith eithaf dwys wedi mynd rhagddo a chryn dipyn o arweiniad wedi'i ddarparu ar y ffordd orau o roi'r 10 ymyriad ar waith. Yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn effeithiol, yn fy marn i, yw ein bod ni wedi clywed llawer o enghreifftiau yn y trafodaethau hynny o fyrddau iechyd yn ymweld â'i gilydd i weld beth sy'n digwydd ar lawr gwlad, a chynghorau'n gweithio, hyd yn oed o fewn yr un rhanbarth, mewn gwahanol ffyrdd. Oherwydd, yn amlwg, pan fo gennych chi ôl troed rhanbarthol, os ydych chi'n fwrdd iechyd, mae yna wahanol gynghorau y mae eu preswylwyr yn eich ysbyty, yn naturiol. Felly, mae lefel o amrywiaeth yn y perthnasoedd hynny. Mae gwaith yn cael ei wneud ar hynny fel rhan o hyn.

Mae'r agenda integreiddio yn amlwg yn hanfodol. Bydd y cyllid rydyn ni'n ei ddosbarthu heddiw yn cael ei ddosbarthu drwy'r byrddau partneriaeth rhanbarthol, sy'n darparu fforwm i sefydliadau trydydd sector fod yn rhan o gynllunio'r ymateb yn y ffordd hon. Y nod hwnnw o system gofal cymunedol integredig, sydd wedi'i hintegreiddio'n wirioneddol ar lefel gymunedol, gan ddarparu'r set gyfannol honno o wasanaethau iechyd a gofal, yw'r nod rydyn ni'n gweithio tuag ato. Yn amlwg, mae'n amcan uchelgeisiol a fydd yn cymryd peth amser i'w wireddu'n llawn, ond mae yna nifer o'n polisïau a'n rhaglenni cenedlaethol allweddol y mae hynny'n sail iddyn nhw, yn y pen draw. Mae popeth o'r rhaglen chwe nod ar gyfer gofal brys a gofal argyfwng ar y naill law i bolisi gofal cartref a pholisi cartrefi gofal ar y llaw arall i gyd wedi'i gynllunio i wireddu hynny yn y tymor hir. Mae'n waith caled integreiddio system sy'n cael ei gweithredu'n wahanol iawn ac sy'n cael ei chyllido'n wahanol iawn, ond rwy'n gobeithio y bydd rhai o'r ffyrdd rydyn ni'n gweithio dros y cyfnod hwn yn dangos ffyrdd y gellir rhedeg hynny'n well yn y dyfodol.

16:05
5. Datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg: Gwella presenoldeb
5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education: Improving attendance

Symudwn ymlaen at eitem 5 ar ein hagenda ni, datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Addysg ar wella presenoldeb. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet, Lynne Neagle.

We will move now to item 5 on our agenda, a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education on improving attendance. I call on the Cabinet Secretary, Lynne Neagle.

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about one of my key priorities here today—improving attendance. As I have said before, I want all children in Wales to have the opportunity to thrive, supported by an education system that has their best interests at heart. Regular attendance and engagement in education is a priority in achieving this aspiration.

However, as Members will know, attendance rates at schools in Wales are not where we want them to be, and rates of persistent absence are far higher than they should be. Our average attendance rates in schools are improving. They currently stand at around 92 per cent for this academic year, and it is encouraging to see a continued improvement. But these are still far off the pre-pandemic levels, especially for lower income families eligible for free school meals. For children who are eligible for free school meals, attendance is 87 per cent so far for this academic year. In the 2023-24 academic year, 52.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals were persistently absent, up from 30.4 per cent in 2018-19. This year, we are already looking at persistent absence rates for children who are eligible for free school meals standing at 7 per cent, whilst this is just 2 per cent for those not eligible for free school meals. We need to do more to address this.

The reasons children and young people don't or can't attend school are often complex and varied. I have been working with the national attendance taskforce and our partners across the education sector to better understand some of the challenges they face, to help get to the root causes. Through the taskforce, three work streams were convened, focusing on youth engagement, data and research, and peer-to-peer learning. As well as providing useful insights into the challenges faced, the work streams agreed specific actions to take forward to support improvements to attendance. Of particular interest to me was the work of the data work stream, chaired by Professor Ann John. One element of the work progressed has involved linking data from the Welsh Government on daily absences with health and social services data. This will provide greater insight into the impact mental ill health, neurodivergence and deprivation are having on attendance.

I have also been encouraged by the work of the peer-to-peer work stream, chaired by Tegwen Ellis of the National Academy for Educational Leadership, and the conferences held to better understand some of the challenges practitioners face with absences from schools, and the support they've provided in sharing good practice across schools. I will also outline some of the actions being taken forward from discussions through the youth engagement work stream later in my statement. Whilst the main taskforce will hold its final meeting this month, a final progress report will collate the actions to take forward in partnership through smaller groups with clear objectives and expected outcomes, building on the work progressed through the taskforce. 

I know for some children and young people, poverty is a real issue. We hear of struggles in buying or washing school uniform, owning suitable shoes, or having a warm coat through winter, and that is preventing them from attending school. I also know that transport can be a huge barrier for some, especially for those from rural communities, the Valleys, or where transport is just too expensive. Not everyone has a car, and public transport systems do not always support simple or short trips to school.

We have seen an increase in the number of children who have mental health challenges, behavioural issues, health challenges, and those who struggle with emotionally based school avoidance. These issues have a significant impact on attendance, with children and young people now presenting with issues that are more complex and that require a partnership approach.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. Diolch am y cyfle i siarad am un o fy mlaenoriaethau allweddol yma heddiw—gwella presenoldeb. Fel y dywedais i o'r blaen, rwyf eisiau i bob plentyn yng Nghymru gael y cyfle i ffynnu, gyda chefnogaeth system addysg sydd â'u buddiannau gorau yn ganolog. Mae presenoldeb ac ymgysylltiad rheolaidd mewn addysg yn flaenoriaeth wrth gyflawni'r dyhead hwn.

Fodd bynnag, fel y bydd yr Aelodau'n gwybod, nid yw'r cyfraddau presenoldeb mewn ysgolion yng Nghymru cystal ag y byddem yn dymuno, ac mae cyfraddau absenoldeb cyson yn llawer uwch nag y dylen nhw fod. Mae ein cyfraddau presenoldeb cyfartalog mewn ysgolion yn gwella. Ar hyn o bryd maen nhw tua 92 y cant ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd hon, ac mae'n galonogol gweld gwelliant parhaus. Ond mae'r rhain yn dal i fod ymhell o dan y lefelau cyn y pandemig, yn enwedig i deuluoedd incwm is sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Ar gyfer plant sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim, mae presenoldeb yn 87 y cant hyd yn hyn ar gyfer y flwyddyn academaidd hon. Ym mlwyddyn academaidd 2023-24, roedd 52.9 y cant o'r disgyblion a oedd yn gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim yn absennol yn gyson, i fyny o 30.4 y cant yn 2018-19. Eleni, rydym eisoes yn edrych ar gyfraddau absenoldeb cyson i blant sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim o 7 y cant, a dim ond 2 y cant ar gyfer y rhai nad ydynt yn gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim. Mae angen i ni wneud mwy i fynd i'r afael â hyn.

Mae'r rhesymau pam nad yw plant a phobl ifanc yn mynychu'r ysgol, neu ddim yn gallu mynychu'r ysgol, yn aml yn gymhleth ac yn amrywiol. Rwyf wedi bod yn gweithio gyda'r tasglu presenoldeb cenedlaethol a'n partneriaid ar draws y sector addysg i ddeall yn well rai o'r heriau sy'n eu hwynebu, er mwyn helpu i fynd at wraidd y broblem. Trwy'r tasglu, cynullwyd tair ffrwd waith, gan ganolbwyntio ar ymgysylltu ag ieuenctid, data ac ymchwil, a chymheiriaid yn dysgu o'i gilydd. Yn ogystal â rhoi mewnwelediadau defnyddiol i'r heriau a wynebir, cytunodd y ffrydiau gwaith ar gamau penodol i'w cymryd i gefnogi gwelliannau i bresenoldeb. O ddiddordeb arbennig i mi oedd gwaith y llif gwaith data, dan gadeiryddiaeth yr Athro Ann John. Mae un elfen o'r gwaith a wnaed wedi cynnwys cysylltu data gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar absenoldebau dyddiol â data iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Bydd hyn yn rhoi gwell mewnwelediad i'r effaith y mae afiechyd meddwl, niwrowahaniaeth ac amddifadedd yn ei chael ar bresenoldeb.

Rwyf hefyd wedi cael fy nghalonogi gan waith y ffrwd waith cymheiriaid yn dysgu o'i gilydd, o dan gadeiryddiaeth Tegwen Ellis o'r Academi Genedlaethol ar gyfer Arweinyddiaeth Addysgol, a'r cynadleddau a gynhaliwyd i ddeall yn well rai o'r heriau y mae ymarferwyr yn eu hwynebu gydag absenoldebau mewn ysgolion, a'r cymorth maen nhw wedi'i ddarparu wrth rannu arfer da ar draws ysgolion. Byddaf hefyd yn amlinellu rhai o'r camau sy'n cael eu cymryd, yn dilyn trafodaethau, drwy'r ffrwd waith ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc yn nes ymlaen yn fy natganiad. Tra bo'r prif dasglu yn cynnal ei gyfarfod terfynol y mis hwn, bydd adroddiad cynnydd terfynol yn coladu'r camau i'w cymryd mewn partneriaeth trwy grwpiau llai gydag amcanion clir a chanlyniadau disgwyliedig, gan adeiladu ar y gwaith a wnaed drwy'r tasglu.

Rwy'n gwybod i rai plant a phobl ifanc, mae tlodi yn broblem wirioneddol. Rydym yn clywed am drafferthion wrth brynu neu olchi gwisg ysgol, bod yn berchen ar esgidiau addas, neu gael côt gynnes drwy'r gaeaf, ac mae hynny'n eu hatal rhag mynychu'r ysgol. Gwn hefyd y gall cludiant fod yn rhwystr enfawr i rai, yn enwedig i'r rhai o gymunedau gwledig, y Cymoedd, neu lle mae cludiant yn rhy ddrud. Nid yw pawb yn berchen ar gar, ac nid yw systemau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus bob amser yn cefnogi teithiau syml neu fyr i'r ysgol.

Rydym wedi gweld cynnydd yn nifer y plant sydd â heriau iechyd meddwl, problemau ymddygiadol, heriau iechyd, a'r rhai sy'n brwydro yn erbyn yr awydd i osgoi ysgol am resymau emosiynol. Mae'r materion hyn yn cael effaith sylweddol ar bresenoldeb, gyda phlant a phobl ifanc bellach yn amlygu problemau sy'n fwy cymhleth ac sy'n gofyn am ddull gweithredu mewn partneriaeth.

We also know that attitudes towards learning since the pandemic have changed. Some families view regular attendance differently since the pandemic, and others want more flexible approaches that allow remote attendance or an ability to learn from home. I am also acutely aware of the impact that poor behaviour is having. I recently discussed behaviour in schools with headteachers and trade unions to better understand the scale of the issue and what action is needed to tackle poor behaviour. There is no quick fix, and there are clear variations across Wales about what is and isn’t working in this space.

I want to be clear that I am under no illusion about the scale of the issue at hand. Tackling attendance is not an easy task; there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and it will take time. We are talking about complex issues, complex needs and longer-term cultural change. But I have been extremely encouraged to see how educational providers and the wider networks who support the education of our disengaged learners are tackling attendance concerns and working with learners to understand the issues. I want our attendance rates to improve. As a starting point, I want to get rates back to where they were before the pandemic. But I don’t want to stop there, and I want them to continue to improve. Key to this is creating a supportive, welcoming environment, which is the ambition of our community-focused schools approach. Within a community-focused school, families are made to feel welcomed, listened to and valued. Their needs, and those of their children, are understood and catered for.

This model would not be a success without the work of the family engagement officers. They play a vital role within schools. They establish and foster good relationships with families of children and young people at the school; encourage and support parental involvement in the school and engagement in children’s learning; and signpost to relevant support and services. This is increasingly important in supporting attendance and supporting learners struggling with high levels of absence. This is why today I am announcing a total of £8.8 million across this year and next year towards improving engagement and attendance. I will provide an additional £1.5 million for family engagement officers this financial year to provide greater capacity to continue the work to specifically tackle poor attendance at school. I will build on this valuable support further with additional funding in the next financial year to ensure we can retain these officers. I will also provide funding in the next financial year to enhance community focused schools and to support collaboration and professional learning across Wales.

We know that positive engagement with school is essential in fostering belonging and attendance. This engagement is often built through positive and enriching experiences outside of the classroom. As such, I will provide £300,000 for the remainder of this year, enhanced with further funding next year across the 22 local authorities in Wales to support provision of additional sporting, cultural and creative activities in our schools. I will also be providing some additional funding for our school holiday enrichment programme, also known as food and fun. Further details of this will be provided when the 2025-26 budget is published next Tuesday. Alongside this, I am keen to explore the role that youth workers play in building long-lasting relationships with learners to help them overcome the many barriers they may be facing. I want to test the impact of youth workers engaging with learners in school hours, to determine the positive impact that can have on learner engagement and attendance.

I am sometimes asked about a communications campaign to highlight the importance of school attendance. We are developing targeted communications with the right messages for the right audience to ensure we have maximum impact. I want to communicate with those struggling with attendance in a way they relate to and that shows we are listening. A piece of research has been commissioned to engage directly with children in schools to determine what messages should be delivered to encourage them to re-engage with their education.

I would like to close by thanking the dedicated staff working to support all our learners, and particularly those supporting children and young people who struggle to engage with education. Many of them go the extra mile to make sure these learners do not miss out, and they should be celebrated for their dedication. I am committed to supporting the continuation of this valuable work and I'm doing all I can to ensure all learners have the opportunity to engage in education and achieve the outcomes they so rightly deserve. Diolch.

Gwyddom hefyd fod agweddau tuag at ddysgu wedi newid ers y pandemig. Mae rhai teuluoedd yn ystyried presenoldeb rheolaidd yn wahanol ers y pandemig, ac mae eraill eisiau dulliau mwy hyblyg sy'n caniatáu presenoldeb o bell neu'r gallu i ddysgu gartref. Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol iawn o'r effaith y mae ymddygiad gwael yn ei gael. Yn ddiweddar, trafodais ymddygiad mewn ysgolion gyda phenaethiaid ac undebau llafur er mwyn deall maint y mater yn well a pha gamau sydd eu hangen i fynd i'r afael ag ymddygiad gwael. Nid oes ateb cyflym, ac mae amrywiadau clir ledled Cymru ynghylch yr hyn sy'n gweithio a ddim yn gweithio yn y maes hwn.

Rwyf eisiau bod yn glir nad wyf o dan unrhyw gamargraff ynghylch maint y mater dan sylw. Nid yw mynd i'r afael â phresenoldeb yn dasg hawdd; nid oes un ateb sy'n addas i bawb, a bydd yn cymryd amser. Rydym yn siarad am faterion cymhleth, anghenion cymhleth a newid diwylliannol tymor hwy. Ond rwyf wedi cael fy nghalonogi'n fawr o weld sut mae darparwyr addysg a'r rhwydweithiau ehangach sy'n cefnogi addysg ein dysgwyr sydd wedi ymddieithrio yn mynd i'r afael â phryderon presenoldeb ac yn gweithio gyda dysgwyr i ddeall y problemau. Rwyf eisiau i'n cyfraddau presenoldeb wella. Fel man cychwyn, rwyf eisiau cael cyfraddau yn ôl i'r man lle roedden nhw cyn y pandemig. Ond dydw i ddim eisiau stopio yn y fan honno, ac rydw i eisiau iddyn nhw barhau i wella. Yn allweddol i hyn mae creu amgylchedd cefnogol, croesawgar, sef uchelgais ein dull ysgolion bro. O fewn ysgol fro, mae teuluoedd yn teimlo bod croeso iddyn nhw, eu bod yn cael eu clywed a'u gwerthfawrogi. Mae eu hanghenion, a rhai eu plant, yn cael eu deall ac fe ddarperir ar eu cyfer.

Ni fyddai'r model hwn yn llwyddiant heb waith y swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd. Maen nhw'n chwarae rhan hanfodol mewn ysgolion. Maen nhw'n sefydlu ac yn meithrin perthynas dda â theuluoedd plant a phobl ifanc yn yr ysgol; annog a chefnogi cyfranogiad rhieni yn yr ysgol ac ymgysylltu â dysgu plant; a chyfeirio at y gefnogaeth a'r gwasanaethau perthnasol. Mae hyn yn gynyddol bwysig wrth gefnogi presenoldeb a chefnogi dysgwyr sy'n cael trafferth gyda lefelau uchel o absenoldeb. Dyna pam heddiw rwy'n cyhoeddi cyfanswm o £8.8 miliwn ar draws eleni a'r flwyddyn nesaf tuag at wella ymgysylltiad a phresenoldeb. Byddaf yn darparu £1.5 miliwn ychwanegol i swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon i ddarparu mwy o gapasiti i barhau â'r gwaith i fynd i'r afael yn benodol â phresenoldeb gwael yn yr ysgol. Byddaf yn adeiladu ar y cymorth gwerthfawr hwn ymhellach gyda chyllid ychwanegol yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf i sicrhau y gallwn gadw'r swyddogion hyn. Byddaf hefyd yn darparu cyllid yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf i wella ysgolion bro ac i gefnogi cydweithredu a dysgu proffesiynol ledled Cymru.

Rydym yn gwybod bod ymgysylltu cadarnhaol â'r ysgol yn hanfodol er mwyn meithrin ymdeimlad o berthyn a phresenoldeb. Mae'r ymgysylltiad hwn yn aml yn cael ei feithrin trwy brofiadau cadarnhaol a chyfoethog y tu allan i'r ystafell ddosbarth. Felly, byddaf yn darparu £300,000 am weddill eleni, wedi'i gynyddu gyda chyllid ychwanegol y flwyddyn nesaf ar draws y 22 awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru i gefnogi'r ddarpariaeth o weithgareddau chwaraeon, diwylliannol a chreadigol ychwanegol yn ein hysgolion. Byddaf hefyd yn darparu rhywfaint o gyllid ychwanegol ar gyfer ein rhaglen gwella gwyliau'r haf, a elwir hefyd yn fwyd a hwyl. Bydd rhagor o fanylion am hyn yn cael eu darparu pan fydd cyllideb 2025-26 yn cael ei chyhoeddi ddydd Mawrth nesaf. Ochr yn ochr â hyn, rwy'n awyddus i archwilio'r rôl y mae gweithwyr ieuenctid yn ei chwarae wrth feithrin perthnasoedd hirhoedlog â dysgwyr i'w helpu i oresgyn y rhwystrau niferus y gallent fod yn eu hwynebu. Rwyf eisiau profi effaith gweithwyr ieuenctid sy'n ymgysylltu â dysgwyr yn ystod oriau ysgol, i ganfod yr effaith gadarnhaol y gall hynny ei chael ar ymgysylltu a phresenoldeb dysgwyr.

Gofynnir i mi weithiau am ymgyrch gyfathrebu i dynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd presenoldeb yn yr ysgol. Rydym yn datblygu cyfathrebu wedi'i dargedu gyda'r negeseuon cywir ar gyfer y gynulleidfa gywir er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn cael yr effaith fwyaf. Rwyf eisiau cyfathrebu â'r rhai sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd mynychu mewn ffordd y maen nhw'n ei deall ac mae hynny'n dangos ein bod yn gwrando. Mae darn o ymchwil wedi'i gomisiynu i ymgysylltu'n uniongyrchol â phlant mewn ysgolion i benderfynu ar ba negeseuon y dylid eu cyflwyno i'w hannog i ailymgysylltu â'u haddysg.

Hoffwn gloi drwy ddiolch i'r staff ymroddedig sy'n gweithio i gefnogi ein holl ddysgwyr, ac yn enwedig y rhai sy'n cefnogi plant a phobl ifanc sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd ymgysylltu ag addysg. Mae llawer ohonyn nhw'n mynd yr ail filltir i sicrhau nad yw'r dysgwyr hyn ar eu colled, a dylid eu dathlu am eu hymroddiad. Rwyf wedi ymrwymo i gefnogi parhad y gwaith gwerthfawr hwn ac rwy'n gwneud popeth o fewn fy ngallu i sicrhau bod pob dysgwr yn cael y cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn addysg a chyflawni'r canlyniadau y maent yn wir yn eu haeddu. Diolch.

16:15

Can I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for the statement today? I'm pleased to see a statement being made by the Welsh Government on improving attendance, because I think it's absolutely crucial. You and I have had many, many debates, and I'm sure we will continue to have many more exchanges, on the ways in which we can improve our schools and the education system that exists within those schools, but, obviously, if young people are not turning up to school in the first place, that is all for naught. So, I think it's very important that action is taken by the Welsh Government to tackle this issue.

You mentioned, again, which I do welcome, that attendance is increasing in Wales, up to 92 per cent. Obviously, the equivalent figure, however, for England is 94 per cent, so we do need to ask ourselves—I think it's above 94 per cent, actually. So, we do need to ask ourselves why that disparity exists and what we're going to do to close that gap. For as much as there are specific actions in this statement that I will welcome, and others I will question and come on to, it did lack targets throughout, it did lack measurables. I think that that was clearly quite sorely lacking in your statement.

Look, targets are a good thing; I think they help galvanise the whole system around wanting to achieve those targets. If you look at the 'Cymraeg 2050' target, just one off the top of my head, for example, you see there now a whole system is galvanised around trying to achieve that target. Unless we've got a target that we want to reach in terms of attendance, whether it is reaching pre-pandemic levels, being at the same level as England or any other target you think is appropriate—I really think that this statement could have done with that target included within it.

Now, there are also complexities, as you acknowledged and I will acknowledge as well, as to why each story of persistent absence will be very different. We're clearly dealing with the long-term impact of the pandemic, and, obviously, the figures in Wales versus England—again, to use the comparison, we were higher here before the pandemic as well. So, there are clearly longer term structural issues that are not just related to the impact of the pandemic, although, clearly, they have exacerbated what was previously a problem as well.

I know that the Welsh Government employed Parentkind—back in October, I think, they released a report about understanding why pupils are absent. And they found six main findings: parents not feeling listened to; delays in assessments and support; the school environment; provision for learners; issues with the wider system; and lack of support for families. Now, I just wanted to take, if you like, the first and last one together, which is parents not feeling listened to and a lack of support for families, and I think there's quite an interesting point that I just wanted to raise with you and have you respond to, if that's okay, Cabinet Secretary. Going back to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report, obviously, we all, quite rightly, debated the headline figures, which were those Programme for International Student Assessment results in specific subjects. But one underrated thing were the figures around parental engagement in school governance. Now, the OECD average for that is 17 per cent, whereas in Wales it's just 3 per cent. So, there is a clear issue with the propensity—and this is probably cultural as much as anything—of parents to want to get involved in the governance of schools and play an active role in the formation and the activities of the school, and, therefore, probably feeling a little bit disenfranchised, then, when schools make decisions that they may or may not agree with. I wonder what more we can do to encourage more people not only to stand to be school governors, for example, but also just to get involved more in the governance and the day-to-day of local schools, as seems to happen elsewhere in the world, according to the OECD report. 

The other one I mentioned there was delays to assessments and support, and you've previously acknowledged the impact that the changes to additional learning needs is having. They haven't gone as you would have expected. I think you've acknowledged long, long waits, young people not getting the support they need, and, obviously, then, that will have an impact on a young person's propensity to want to come to school in the first place.

The final thing I just wanted to acknowledge very, very quickly, was that you mentioned two actions, if you like, that you would take. One was a communications campaign—or you were considering doing a communications campaign—can we have more detail about how that would work and when you expect that to be launched, because that seems like something that should happen in quite a timely manner, but based on the remarks you made, it didn't seem like it was very far down the track?

Finally, a move towards more funding and more emphasis on sporting, cultural and creative activities—that's something I support entirely. I do wonder, though, whether you would look again at the Bill that Sam Rowlands brought to this Senedd not so long ago, regarding outdoor education, and the impact and effect that outdoor education can have on young people and their engagement with school.

And very finally, on VCSEs to do with this as well—I think they are really important. I've raised with you before that these more technical vocational qualifications are really, really welcome, but if these are going to be classroom-based vocational qualifications and not ones where people are getting involved, the type of learner that is not inclined to attend school at the moment is only going to be less inclined when they find that a course that they thought was vocational is far more classroom-based than they initially envisioned. Diolch yn fawr.

A gaf i ddiolch i chi, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, am y datganiad heddiw? Rwy'n falch o weld datganiad yn cael ei wneud gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar wella presenoldeb, oherwydd rwy'n credu ei fod yn gwbl hanfodol. Rydych chi a minnau wedi cael llawer iawn o ddadleuon, ac rwy'n siŵr y byddwn yn parhau i gael llawer mwy o ffeirio geiriau ynghylch y ffyrdd y gallwn ni wella ein hysgolion a'r system addysg sy'n bodoli yn yr ysgolion hynny, ond, yn amlwg, os nad yw pobl ifanc yn dod i'r ysgol yn y lle cyntaf, byddai'r cwbl yn werth dim. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd camau i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn.

Fe sonioch chi, unwaith eto, ac rwy'n yn ei groesawu, fod presenoldeb yn cynyddu yng Nghymru, hyd at 92 y cant. Yn amlwg, y ffigur cyfatebol, fodd bynnag, ar gyfer Lloegr yw 94 y cant, felly mae angen i ni ofyn i ni'n hunain—rwy'n credu ei fod yn uwch na 94 y cant, mewn gwirionedd. Felly, mae angen i ni ofyn i ni'n hunain pam y mae'r anghyfartaledd hwnnw'n bodoli a beth ydym ni'n mynd i'w wneud i gau'r bwlch hwnnw. Er bod camau penodol yn y datganiad hwn y byddaf yn eu croesawu, ac eraill y byddaf yn eu cwestiynu maes o law, roedd diffyg targedau drwyddo draw, nid oedd dim byd mesuradwy ynddo. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n amlwg yn ddiffygiol iawn yn eich datganiad.

Edrychwch, mae targedau yn bethau da; rwy'n credu eu bod yn helpu i ysgogi'r system gyfan o ran eisiau cyflawni'r targedau hynny. Os edrychwch chi ar darged 'Cymraeg 2050', un enghraifft a ddaw i'r meddwl, rydych chi'n gweld yno nawr system gyfan yn cael ei hysgogi i geisio cyrraedd y targed hwnnw. Oni bai bod gennym darged yr ydym eisiau ei gyrraedd o ran presenoldeb, p'un a yw'n cyrraedd lefelau cyn y pandemig, ar yr un lefel â Lloegr neu unrhyw darged arall rydych chi'n meddwl sy'n briodol—rwy'n credu mewn gwirionedd y dylid fod wedi cynnwys y targed hwnnw yn y datganiad.

Nawr, mae cymhlethdodau hefyd, fel y gwnaethoch chi gydnabod a byddaf innau'n eu cydnabod hefyd, pam y bydd pob stori o absenoldeb cyson yn wahanol iawn. Rydym yn amlwg yn ymdrin ag effaith hirdymor y pandemig, ac, yn amlwg, y ffigurau yng Nghymru o'u cymharu â Lloegr—eto, i ddefnyddio'r gymhariaeth, roeddem yn uwch yma cyn y pandemig hefyd. Felly, mae'n amlwg bod materion strwythurol tymor hwy nad ydynt yn ymwneud ag effaith y pandemig yn unig, er, yn amlwg, maen nhw wedi gwaethygu'r hyn oedd yn broblem yn flaenorol hefyd.

Rwy'n gwybod bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cyflogi Parentkind—nôl ym mis Hydref, rwy'n meddwl, fe wnaethon nhw ryddhau adroddiad ynghylch deall pam mae disgyblion yn absennol. Ac fe ddaethon nhw o hyd i chwe phrif ganfyddiad: rhieni yn teimlo bod neb yn gwrando arnyn nhw; oedi mewn asesiadau a chymorth; amgylchedd yr ysgol; darpariaeth ar gyfer dysgwyr; problemau gyda'r system ehangach; a diffyg cefnogaeth i deuluoedd. Nawr, rwyf eisiau cymryd, os hoffech chi, yr un cyntaf a'r olaf gyda'i gilydd, sef rhieni sy'n teimlo bod neb yn gwrando arnyn nhw a diffyg cefnogaeth i deuluoedd, ac rwy'n credu bod pwynt eithaf diddorol yr oeddwn i eisiau ei godi gyda chi a chael eich ymateb iddo, os yw hynny'n iawn, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Gan ddychwelyd at adroddiad y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd, yn amlwg, roeddem ni i gyd, yn gwbl briodol, yn trafod y prif ffigurau, sef canlyniadau'r Rhaglen Ryngwladol Asesu Myfyrwyr mewn pynciau penodol. Ond un peth a danbrisiwyd oedd y ffigurau ynghylch ymgysylltiad rhieni â llywodraethiant ysgolion. Nawr, cyfartaledd y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd ar gyfer hynny yw 17 y cant, ond yng Nghymru dim ond 3 y cant ydyw. Felly, mae problem amlwg o ran y duedd—ac mae'n debyg fod hyn yn beth diwylliannol yn anad dim—i rieni fod eisiau cymryd rhan mewn llywodraethu ysgolion a chwarae rhan weithredol yn ffurfiant a gweithgareddau'r ysgol, ac, felly, yn ôl pob tebyg maen nhw'n teimlo eu bod wedi’u difreinio i raddau pan fydd ysgolion yn gwneud penderfyniadau y maen nhw'n cytuno neu'n anghytuno â nhw efallai. Tybed beth arall y gallwn ei wneud i annog mwy o bobl nid yn unig i sefyll i fod yn llywodraethwyr ysgol, er enghraifft, ond hefyd i chwarae fwy o ran yn llywodraethiant a gweithgaredd o ddydd i ddydd yr ysgolion lleol, fel mae'n ymddangos sy'n digwydd mewn mannau eraill yn y byd, yn ôl adroddiad y Sefydliad ar gyfer Cydweithrediad a Datblygiad Economaidd.

Yr un arall y soniais amdano oedd oedi asesiadau a chymorth, ac rydych wedi cydnabod yn flaenorol yr effaith y mae'r newidiadau i anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn ei chael. Nid ydynt wedi llwyddo fel y byddech wedi disgwyl. Rwy'n credu eich bod wedi cydnabod arosiadau hir iawn, pobl ifanc ddim yn cael y gefnogaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt, ac, yn amlwg, wedyn, bydd hynny'n cael effaith ar duedd person ifanc i fod eisiau dod i'r ysgol yn y lle cyntaf.

Y peth olaf roeddwn i eisiau ei gydnabod yn gyflym iawn oedd eich bod yn sôn am ddau gam, os mynnwch chi, y byddech chi'n eu cymryd. Ymgyrch gyfathrebu oedd un—neu roeddech chi'n ystyried gwneud ymgyrch gyfathrebu—a gawn ni fwy o fanylion am sut y byddai honno'n gweithio a phryd rydych chi'n disgwyl i honno gael ei lansio, oherwydd mae hynny'n ymddangos fel rhywbeth a ddylai ddigwydd yn amserol iawn, ond yn seiliedig ar y sylwadau a wnaethoch, roedd yn ymddangos na fydd hi'n hir iawn cyn ei lansio?

Yn olaf, symudiad tuag at fwy o gyllid a mwy o bwyslais ar chwaraeon, gweithgareddau diwylliannol a chreadigol—mae hynny'n rhywbeth rwy'n ei gefnogi'n llwyr. Ond tybed a fyddech chi'n edrych eto ar y Bil a gyflwynodd Sam Rowlands i'r Senedd hon yn weddol ddiweddar, o ran addysg awyr agored, a'r effaith y gall addysg awyr agored ei chael ar bobl ifanc a'u hymgysylltiad â'r ysgol.

Ac yn olaf go iawn, tystysgrifau galwedigaethol addysg uwchradd, TAAU, a'u cysylltiad â hyn hefyd—rwy'n credu eu bod nhw'n bwysig iawn. Rwyf wedi sôn wrthych chi o'r blaen bod croeso mawr i'r cymwysterau galwedigaethol mwy technegol hyn, ond os yw'r rhain yn mynd i fod yn gymwysterau galwedigaethol yn yr ystafell ddosbarth ac nid rhai lle mae pobl yn cymryd rhan, bydd y math o ddysgwr, sy'n tueddu i beidio â mynychu ysgol, pan fydd yn sylweddoli bod y cwrs yr oedd yn credu ar y dechrau ei fod yn gwrs galwedigaethol, mewn gwirionedd yn gwrs yn y dosbarth, yna fe fydd yn llai tebygol fyth o fynychu. Diolch yn fawr.

16:20

Thank you very much, Tom, and thank you for your welcome of the statement. I completely agree with you, obviously, on getting children into school—they're not getting to first base unless they're there, are they? So, it's absolutely key to our plans to improve attainment. As you've highlighted, there has been a slight improvement. We are behind England in terms of attendance rates, but all parts of the UK are struggling with attendance, and that was something I had the opportunity to discuss with ministerial colleagues in the inter-ministerial group recently in Belfast. And we are particularly worried about the persistent absence rates for children and young people on free school meals. I don't know if there's been any research done on why our figures are challenging, but I suspect it's probably linked to poverty as well, and the complexity that we're seeing within families.

Thank you for highlighting the work that Parentkind did. I think exercises like that are really important to make sure that we do, in fact, listen to families. I'm concerned that families feel that they aren't being listened to and that they feel there is a lack of support, but that's why we've got a model in Wales that is based, now, around community-focused schools. We've spent millions of pounds investing in community-focused schools and the family engagement officers are a key part of that offer. And that's what they do, really; they engage with families, including families with really complex needs. I was at Adamsdown Primary School yesterday, meeting with their FEO, and I'm meeting with the whole new network of FEOs later this week, and that is what they're doing: they're going out, they're building relationships with parents on their terms. In Adamsdown, they were encouraging the families to come in and do courses, things that would help with the children or things that they would just enjoy to get involved in the life of the school and to break down that stigma. So, I think community-focused schools are key, really, to the issues that you've raised, in particular if we are going to encourage more people to get involved in things like being school governors, because that involves confidence, doesn't it, and feeling that you're able to do that.

As you've said, I've been very open about the challenges that we're facing in implementing ALN, and we've got a plan of action to deal with that. There are particular issues where education interfaces with health. As you know, we've established a multi-agency collaborative group that is working on those issues around making sure that young people get more quick access to the help and support they need from the health service. We're developing new performance indicators. We're clarifying the legal position in terms of the Act. In particular, part of the health Minister's announcement on waiting lists recently involved £3 million for waiting lists for young people who are waiting for neurodevelopmental assessments, and there has been a design event, working with the NHS executive, to look at how we can do things differently in relation to ND assessments. But it is really important as well to recognise that children don't need a diagnosis of autism or another condition in order to get the support that they need in school.

In terms of the communication campaign, one of the things that I learnt when I was in my previous portfolio in health is that when you have a communications campaign, it has to be evidence based and you have to know that you are going to hit the mark with it. That's why we're doing this piece of work around working with young people to find out what the issues are that they feel would encourage them to come back into school, because it isn't just about learning, is it? We know that attendance is crucial for children's mental health and for them to have a sense of belonging and connectedness. So, we are doing that work with children and young people first. There was some suggestion that I should be involved in encouraging parents to send their kids to school more regularly. Well, you know, there's a consideration there of whether that would help—the Government lecturing people when they're having really challenging issues to deal with.

Your points about VCSEs are important. I think our new curriculum, because it is purpose-led and relevant, but also geared towards the needs of individual children, has a key role to play in tackling disengagement. I am really keen on those vocational opportunities, and I do think we have to be flexible. Schools are using things like reduced timetables and other things. We want to hold on to those children in the school system.

In terms of vocational opportunities, one of the things that I've been really, really impressed by seeing is junior apprenticeships, which I went to see in Cardiff and Vale College. I met with some young people there, and they'd had a challenging time in education, but they were absolutely thriving in that environment. That's what we have to do: rather than fitting children into the space that we create, we've got to make sure that the system wraps around them to meet their needs, because it's crucial that we hold on to young people and that we don't let them become not in education, employment or training. Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Tom, a diolch am eich croeso i'r datganiad. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi, yn amlwg, ar gael plant i'r ysgol—dydyn nhw ddim yn cymryd y cam cyntaf oni bai eu bod nhw yno, nac ydynt? Felly, mae'n gwbl allweddol i'n cynlluniau i wella cyrhaeddiad. Fel yr ydych wedi tynnu sylw ato, bu ychydig o welliant. Rydym y tu ôl i Loegr o ran cyfraddau presenoldeb, ond mae pob rhan o'r DU yn cael trafferth gyda phresenoldeb, ac roedd hynny'n rhywbeth y cefais gyfle i'w drafod gyda chyd-Weinidogion yn y grŵp rhyng-weinidogol yn ddiweddar yn Belfast. Ac rydym yn arbennig o bryderus ynghylch y cyfraddau absenoldeb cyson ymhlith plant a phobl ifanc sy'n cael prydau ysgol am ddim. Nid wyf yn gwybod a oes unrhyw ymchwil wedi'i wneud ynghylch pam y mae ein ffigurau yn heriol, ond rwy'n tybio ei fod yn gysylltiedig â thlodi hefyd, a'r cymhlethdod yr ydym yn ei weld o fewn teuluoedd.

Diolch am dynnu sylw at y gwaith a wnaeth Parentkind. Rwy'n credu bod ymarferion fel hyn yn bwysig iawn i sicrhau ein bod yn gwrando, mewn gwirionedd, ar deuluoedd. Rwy'n pryderu bod teuluoedd yn teimlo nad oes neb yn gwrando arnynt a'u bod yn teimlo bod diffyg cefnogaeth, ond dyna pam mae gennym fodel yng Nghymru sydd wedi'i leoli, nawr, o amgylch ysgolion bro. Rydym wedi gwario miliynau o bunnau yn buddsoddi mewn ysgolion bro ac mae'r swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd yn rhan allweddol o'r cynnig hwnnw. A dyna maen nhw'n ei wneud, mewn gwirionedd; maen nhw'n ymgysylltu â theuluoedd, gan gynnwys teuluoedd ag anghenion cymhleth iawn. Roeddwn yn Ysgol Gynradd Adamsdown ddoe, yn cyfarfod â'i swyddog ymgysylltu â theuluoedd, ac rwy'n cyfarfod â'r rhwydwaith newydd cyfan o swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd yn ddiweddarach yr wythnos hon, a dyna maen nhw'n ei wneud: maen nhw'n mynd allan, maen nhw'n meithrin perthynas â rhieni ar eu telerau nhw. Yn Adamsdown, roedden nhw'n annog y teuluoedd i ddod i mewn a gwneud cyrsiau, pethau a fyddai'n helpu gyda'r plant neu bethau y byddent yn eu mwynhau wrth gymryd rhan ym mywyd yr ysgol ac i chwalu'r stigma hwnnw. Felly, rwy'n credu bod ysgolion bro yn allweddol, mewn gwirionedd, i'r materion rydych chi wedi'u codi, yn enwedig os ydyn ni'n mynd i annog mwy o bobl i gymryd rhan mewn pethau fel bod yn llywodraethwyr ysgol, oherwydd mae hynny'n gofyn am hyder, onid ydyw, a theimlo eich bod chi'n gallu gwneud hynny.

Fel rydych chi wedi dweud, rydw i wedi bod yn agored iawn ynghylch yr heriau rydyn ni'n eu hwynebu wrth weithredu ADY, ac mae gennym ni gynllun gweithredu i ymdrin â hynny. Mae yna faterion penodol lle mae addysg yn rhyngwynebu ag iechyd. Fel y gwyddoch chi, rydym wedi sefydlu grŵp cydweithredol amlasiantaeth sy'n gweithio ar y materion hynny sy'n ymwneud â sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn cael mynediad cyflymach at y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth sydd eu hangen arnynt oddi wrth y gwasanaeth iechyd. Rydym yn datblygu dangosyddion perfformiad newydd. Rydym yn egluro'r sefyllfa gyfreithiol o ran y Ddeddf. Yn benodol, roedd rhan o gyhoeddiad y Gweinidog Iechyd ar restrau aros yn ddiweddar yn cynnwys £3 miliwn ar gyfer rhestrau aros pobl ifanc sy'n aros am asesiadau niwroddatblygiadol, a bu digwyddiad dylunio, gan weithio gyda gweithrediaeth y GIG, i edrych ar sut y gallwn wneud pethau'n wahanol mewn perthynas ag asesiadau niwroddatblygiadol. Ond mae'n bwysig iawn hefyd cydnabod nad oes angen diagnosis o awtistiaeth neu gyflwr arall ar blant er mwyn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt yn yr ysgol.

O ran yr ymgyrch gyfathrebu, un o'r pethau a ddysgais pan oeddwn i yn fy mhortffolio iechyd blaenorol yw, pan fydd gennych ymgyrch gyfathrebu, mae'n rhaid iddi fod yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth ac mae'n rhaid i chi wybod eich bod chi'n mynd i daro'r marc â hi. Dyna pam rydyn ni'n gwneud y darn hwn o waith ynghylch gweithio gyda phobl ifanc i ddarganfod beth yw'r materion y maen nhw'n teimlo a fyddai'n eu hannog i ddod yn ôl i'r ysgol, oherwydd nid yw'n ymwneud â dysgu yn unig, nac ydy? Rydym yn gwybod bod presenoldeb yn hanfodol i iechyd meddwl plant ac iddynt gael ymdeimlad o berthyn ac o ymgysylltiad. Felly, rydym yn gwneud y gwaith hwnnw gyda phlant a phobl ifanc yn gyntaf. Roedd awgrym y dylwn i fod yn rhan o'r broses o annog rhieni i anfon eu plant i'r ysgol yn fwy rheolaidd. Wel, wyddoch chi, mae yna ystyriaeth yn y fan honno pa un a fyddai hynny'n helpu—y Llywodraeth yn pregethu i bobl pan fo ganddyn nhw broblemau heriol iawn i ymdrin â nhw.

Mae eich pwyntiau am dystysgrifau galwedigaethol addysg uwchradd yn bwysig. Rwy'n credu bod gan ein cwricwlwm newydd, oherwydd ei fod wedi'i arwain gan bwrpas ac yn berthnasol, ond sydd hefyd wedi'i anelu at anghenion plant unigol, rôl allweddol i'w chwarae wrth fynd i'r afael ag ymddieithrio. Rwy'n hoff iawn o'r cyfleoedd galwedigaethol hynny, ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni fod yn hyblyg. Mae ysgolion yn defnyddio pethau fel amserlenni llai a phethau eraill. Rydym eisiau cadw'r plant hynny yn y system ysgolion.

O ran cyfleoedd galwedigaethol, un o'r pethau rydw i wedi bod yn wirioneddol falch o'i weld yw prentisiaethau iau, ac fe es i weld hyn yng Ngholeg Caerdydd a'r Fro. Fe wnes i gyfarfod â rhai pobl ifanc yno, ac roedden nhw wedi cael amser heriol mewn addysg, ond roedden nhw'n ffynnu'n wirioneddol yn yr amgylchedd hwnnw. Dyna beth sy'n rhaid i ni ei wneud: yn hytrach na gosod plant yn y man rydyn ni'n ei greu, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod y system yn eu cofleidio i ddiwallu eu hanghenion, oherwydd mae'n hanfodol ein bod ni'n dal gafael ar bobl ifanc ac nad ydyn ni'n gadael iddyn nhw ymddieithrio o addysg, cyflogaeth neu hyfforddiant. Diolch.

16:25

Diolch i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am y datganiad. Mae Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn gefnogol ers tro i'r syniad o ymbweru ysgolion i allu cefnogi anghenion eu cymunedau er mwyn gwella presenoldeb a safonau. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y cynlluniau yma ar gyfer penodi swyddogion ymgysylltu teuluoedd newydd yn cyflawni hyn, os ydyn nhw'n gallu cael eu gweithredu yn effeithiol.

Nawr, mae'r ystadegau'n glir: dyw'r lefelau presenoldeb ddim wedi cyrraedd nôl i'r lefelau a welwyd cyn y pandemig; yn wir, maen nhw wedi gostwng dros 4 y cant ers 2019. Mae anghydraddoldeb hefyd yn parhau ymysg disgyblion sydd yn derbyn prydau ysgol am ddim, gyda'u cyfraddau presenoldeb nhw dros 5 y cant yn is na'r cyfartaledd cenedlaethol. 

Gan edrych nawr ar ystadegau gwaharddiadau mewn ysgolion, roedd pob math o waharddiadau wedi cynyddu ers y flwyddyn gynt, ac wedi cyrraedd y gyfradd uchaf ers dros 10 mlynedd. Nawr, yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, cyfradd y gwaharddiadau parhaol gan ddisgyblion â darpariaeth anghenion addysg arbennig ac anghenion dysgu ychwanegol oedd 2.4 o bob 1,000 o ddisgyblion, o gymharu â 0.5 o bob 1,000 heb y gefnogaeth yma. Felly, ydy'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn rhannu fy mhryder i fod, efallai, cyfraddau presenoldeb yn gwella ychydig ar draws Cymru oherwydd bod disgyblion ag anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn cael eu gwahardd yn barhaol o'r ysgol? 

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the statement. Plaid Cymru has been supportive for some time of empowering schools to support the needs of communities in order to improve attendance rates and standards. I hope that these plans for appointing family engagement officers will deliver this, if they can be implemented effectively.

Now, the statistics are clear: the levels of attendance haven't reached pre-pandemic levels; indeed, they've fallen over 4 per cent since 2019. Inequality also continues among the pupils who receive free school meals, with their attendance rates more than 5 per cent lower than the national average.

Looking now at the statistics for suspensions from school, all kinds of suspensions had increased since the previous year, and had reached the highest rate for more than 10 years. Now, in that context, the rate of permanent suspension of pupils with special educational needs and additional learning needs was 2.4 for every 1,000 pupils, compared with 0.5 for every 1,000 pupils without this support. So, does the Cabinet Secretary share my concern that the attendance rates may have improved slightly across Wales because pupils with additional learning needs are being excluded permanently from school?

Now, one of the biggest challenges to improving attendance in school is, of course, as was noted in the statement, the provision of school transport. Learners can't attend school if they can't get to school, and both Estyn and the children's commissioner have raised concerns about cuts to school transport provision. Unfortunately, it seems, due to incoherent guidance and a lack of funding, Welsh Government are actually making it harder for Welsh learners to get to school, not easier. I'm sure none of us here would be willing to walk all the way to work, perhaps in the wind and rain, carrying our laptop and files, and then walk all the way back home in the dark after a long day. So, that the begs the question: why does the Welsh Government expect Welsh learners to have to do exactly the same just to get to and from school?

The education Secretary said previously this term that she will attend a summit on learner transport hosted by the transport Secretary, and that he is looking to update the operational guidance on the learner travel Measure. Now, I know we're fast approaching Christmas, but what Welsh learners need at this time is leadership from the education Secretary and not Welsh Government Ministers playing pass the parcel on this topic. So, how can we have confidence that the taskforce actions will work effectively if they haven't taken into account any changes that could come from the proposed summit or updated guidance? 

Nawr, un o'r heriau mwyaf i wella presenoldeb yn yr ysgol, wrth gwrs, yw, fel y nodwyd yn y datganiad, darpariaeth cludiant ysgol. Ni all dysgwyr fynychu'r ysgol os na allant gyrraedd yr ysgol, ac mae Estyn a'r comisiynydd plant wedi mynegi pryderon am doriadau i ddarpariaeth cludiant ysgol. Yn anffodus, mae'n ymddangos, oherwydd canllawiau anghyson a diffyg cyllid, bod Llywodraeth Cymru mewn gwirionedd yn ei gwneud hi'n anoddach i ddysgwyr Cymru gyrraedd yr ysgol, nid yn haws. Rwy'n siŵr na fyddai unrhyw un ohonom yma yn barod i gerdded yr holl ffordd i'r gwaith, efallai yn y gwynt a'r glaw, cario ein gliniadur a'n ffeiliau, ac yna cerdded yr holl ffordd yn ôl adref yn y tywyllwch ar ôl diwrnod hir. Felly, gan ragdybio'r ateb: pam y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn disgwyl i ddysgwyr Cymru orfod gwneud yr un peth yn union i fynd i'r ysgol ac yn ôl?

Dywedodd yr Ysgrifennydd addysg yn gynharach y tymor hwn y bydd yn mynychu uwchgynhadledd ar gludiant dysgwyr a gynhelir gan yr Ysgrifennydd trafnidiaeth, a'i fod yn bwriadu diweddaru'r canllawiau gweithredol ar y Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr. Nawr, rwy'n gwybod ein bod ni'n prysur agosáu at y Nadolig, ond yr hyn sydd ei angen ar ddysgwyr Cymru ar hyn o bryd yw arweinyddiaeth gan yr Ysgrifennydd addysg ac nid Gweinidogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn trosglwyddo'r cyfrifoldeb o un i'r llall o ran y pwnc hwn. Felly, sut gallwn ni fod yn hyderus y bydd gweithredoedd y tasglu yn gweithio'n effeithiol os nad ydyn nhw wedi ystyried unrhyw newidiadau a allai ddod o'r uwchgynhadledd arfaethedig neu'r canllawiau wedi'u diweddaru? 

Felly, i gloi, mae nifer o adroddiadau gwahanol wedi cyflwyno amrywiaeth eang o argymhellion i ysgolion, i awdurdodau lleol a Llywodraeth Cymru dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf ar sut i wella presenoldeb, megis adroddiad thematig gan Estyn, a gyhoeddwyd yn gynharach eleni, ynghyd ag adroddiad annibynnol i'r Llywodraeth ar wella presenoldeb yn sgil y pandemig. Felly, cwpwl o gwestiynau i gloi: a fydd yr holl argymhellion blaenorol hyn wedi cael eu gweithredu cyn cyhoeddi'r adroddiad terfynol gan y tasglu? Ac yn olaf, beth yw'r amserlen ar gyfer eu gweithredu nhw ac unrhyw argymhellion a chamau newydd, oherwydd, heb amserlen fesuradwy, sut gallwn ni warantu y bydd unrhyw gynllun newydd yn creu newid positif i ddysgwyr ar draws Cymru, yn lle bod yn un o'r llu o gynlluniau eraill ym Mharc Cathays sy'n casglu llwch ar y silff? Diolch.

So, to conclude, many different reports have presented a broad range of recommendations for schools, local authorities and the Welsh Government over recent years on how to improve attendance, such as the Estyn thematic report that was published earlier this year, as well as an independent report for Government on improving attendance following the pandemic. So, just a few questions to conclude: will all the previous recommendations made have been implemented before the publication of the taskforce's final report? And finally, what is the timetable for implementing them and any new recommendations or recommended steps, because, without a measurable timetable, how can we guarantee that any new plan will generate positive change for learners across Wales, rather than being one of the numerous other plans in Cathays Park that are gathering dust on a shelf? Thank you.

16:30

Thank you very much, Cefin, for those comments. I agree with you that boosting attendance is about empowering families and helping them to break down the barriers that are stopping children and young people attending school, and, absolutely, inequality is a key part of that. I am concerned about the exclusion figures for children with ALN. Some of those are, obviously, fixed-term exclusions, but they are concerning, and I think what they show is a system that is under pressure. I've acknowledged that we've got more work to do, which we are underpinning with lots and lots of funding, and also a legal review of the code and ALN Act, alongside the delivery work that we're doing. So, we've definitely got more work to do there, because I am a great believer that behaviour is communication in children and young people, and we need to tackle what the root cause of that is.

I know that you are very worried about school transport, because you've raised it before. It is certainly not a question of playing pass the parcel. I work closely with the Cabinet Secretary for transport on this issue. You're aware that we did undertake the review of the learner travel Measure. That decided not to change the mileage frameworks et cetera, and I know that there's some concern about that, but we will be issuing new guidance, which we'll also be working on with children and young people and local authorities to help that situation. It is, of course, not just about legislation; it's also about the fact that, in many areas, having the buses, having the drivers, et cetera, is a real challenge, and that's why the work that Ken Skates is leading on bus franchising and the work around the bus Bill are really important. And I hope that, if we can bring those issues together, we can have a coherent system that supports schools as well as people wanting to use public transport.

We are still planning to have the summit. I met recently with all the education leads in local government and they were really concerned about transport as well, and they had lots of innovative ideas, because it's also costing lots and lots of money, which is putting pressure on budgets. So, I'm really keen for local government to be involved in those discussions as well.

Although the taskforce in its current form is concluding, as I've made clear, we are still going to work with partners on the actions around attendance going forward, but in a more focused way, likely with smaller groups of those. So, a little while ago I had a deep-dive session with Public Health Wales, with Estyn and with Professor Ann John, who is an expert in the area of attendance and the mental health impacts and has a really good understanding of the data, and that was really helpful as well. We're also planning the work with young people, but also a focused piece of work around Gypsy, Traveller children as well, where we know there are particular issues around attendance. I don't think it's about collecting lots and lots of recommendations, I think it's about us all working together now to break down those barriers.

This is a very significant announcement of funding that we've made today. What's been clear to me in the work that I've done since coming into post is that there is no silver bullet in this space, it is a complex area and that's why the family engagement officers are so important, because they can do that complex work with families, whether it's poverty, parental ill health, transport issues. They can work with the families to do that granular work to make sure that the children come back to school, and I think that's really important. I hope that we will see some positive progress. I'm meeting with the network. There's a network now with an FEO attending from each local authority. I'm meeting with them this week to hear from them directly, and I really believe that, working together, we can make a difference in this space through our community-focused schools model.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Cefin, am y sylwadau yna. Rwy'n cytuno â chi bod hybu presenoldeb yn ymwneud â grymuso teuluoedd a'u helpu i chwalu'r rhwystrau sy'n atal plant a phobl ifanc rhag mynychu'r ysgol, ac, yn sicr, mae anghydraddoldeb yn rhan allweddol o hynny. Rwy'n pryderu am y ffigurau gwahardd ar gyfer plant ag ADY. Mae rhai o'r rheini, yn amlwg, yn waharddiadau tymor penodol, ond maen nhw'n destun pryder, ac rwy'n credu mai'r hyn y maen nhw'n ei ddangos yw system sydd dan bwysau. Rwyf wedi cydnabod bod gennym fwy o waith i'w wneud, ac rydym yn ei danategu â llawer o gyllid, a hefyd adolygiad cyfreithiol o'r cod a'r Ddeddf ADY, ochr yn ochr â'r gwaith cyflawni yr ydym yn ei wneud. Felly, mae gennym fwy o waith i'w wneud yno yn bendant, oherwydd rwy'n credu'n gryf mai cyfathrebu yw ymddygiad mewn plant a phobl ifanc, ac mae angen i ni fynd i'r afael â beth sydd wrth wraidd hynny.

Rwy'n gwybod eich bod yn poeni'n fawr am gludiant ysgol, oherwydd rydych chi wedi ei godi o'r blaen. Yn sicr, nid yw'n fater o drosglwyddo cyfrifoldeb o un i'r llall. Rwy'n gweithio'n agos gydag Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth ar y mater hwn. Rydych yn ymwybodol ein bod wedi cynnal yr adolygiad o'r Mesur teithio gan ddysgwyr. Penderfynodd hwnnw beidio â newid fframweithiau milltiroedd ac ati, a gwn fod rhywfaint o bryder am hynny, ond byddwn yn cyhoeddi canllawiau newydd, y byddwn hefyd yn gweithio arnyn nhw gyda phlant a phobl ifanc ac awdurdodau lleol i helpu'r sefyllfa honno. Wrth gwrs, nid yw'n ymwneud â deddfwriaeth yn unig; mae hefyd yn ymwneud â'r ffaith, mewn sawl ardal, bod cael y bysiau, cael y gyrwyr, ac ati, yn her go iawn, a dyna pam y mae'r gwaith y mae Ken Skates yn ei arwain ar fasnachfreinio bysiau a'r gwaith o amgylch y Bil bysiau yn bwysig iawn. Ac rwy'n gobeithio, os gallwn ni ddod â'r materion hynny at ei gilydd, y gallwn fod â system gydlynol sy'n cefnogi ysgolion yn ogystal â phobl sydd eisiau defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus.

Rydym yn bwriadu cynnal yr uwchgynhadledd o hyd. Cwrddais yn ddiweddar â'r holl arweinwyr addysg mewn llywodraeth leol ac roedden nhw'n bryderus iawn ynghylch cludiant hefyd, ac roedd ganddyn nhw lawer o syniadau arloesol, oherwydd mae hefyd yn costio llawer iawn o arian, sy'n rhoi pwysau ar gyllidebau. Felly, rwy'n awyddus iawn i lywodraeth leol fod yn rhan o'r trafodaethau hynny hefyd.

Er bod y tasglu yn ei ffurf bresennol yn dod i ben, fel rwyf wedi ei wneud yn glir, rydym yn dal am weithio gyda phartneriaid ar y camau gweithredu sy'n ymwneud â phresenoldeb yn y dyfodol, ond mewn ffordd fwy penodol, yn debygol gyda grwpiau llai o'r rheini. Felly, ychydig yn ôl, cefais sesiwn archwilio dwfn gydag Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, gydag Estyn a gyda'r Athro Ann John, sy'n arbenigwr ym maes presenoldeb a'r effeithiau ar iechyd meddwl ac sydd â dealltwriaeth dda iawn o'r data, ac roedd hynny'n ddefnyddiol iawn hefyd. Rydym hefyd yn cynllunio'r gwaith gyda phobl ifanc, ond hefyd darn o waith â phwyslais ar blant Sipsiwn, Teithwyr hefyd, lle gwyddom fod materion penodol yn ymwneud â phresenoldeb. Nid wyf yn credu ei fod yn ymwneud â chasglu llawer iawn o argymhellion, rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â phob un ohonom yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd nawr i chwalu'r rhwystrau hynny.

Mae hwn yn gyhoeddiad sylweddol iawn o gyllid yr ydym wedi'i wneud heddiw. Yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn glir i mi yn y gwaith rydw i wedi'i wneud ers dod i'r swydd yw nad oes ateb addas at bob diben yn y maes hwn, mae'n faes cymhleth a dyna pam mae'r swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd mor bwysig, oherwydd gallant wneud y gwaith cymhleth hwnnw gyda theuluoedd, boed hynny'n dlodi, afiechyd rhieni, materion cludiant. Gallant weithio gyda'r teuluoedd i wneud y gwaith mân hwnnw i sicrhau bod y plant yn dychwelyd i'r ysgol, ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig iawn. Gobeithio y gwelwn gynnydd cadarnhaol. Rwy'n cyfarfod â'r rhwydwaith. Mae rhwydwaith nawr â swyddog ymgysylltu a theuluoedd yn bresennol o bob awdurdod lleol. Rwy'n cyfarfod â nhw'r wythnos hon i glywed ganddyn nhw'n uniongyrchol, ac rwy'n credu'n gryf y gallwn, drwy weithio gyda'n gilydd, wneud gwahaniaeth yn y maes hwn drwy ein model ysgolion bro.

16:35

Thank you for your statement today, Cabinet Secretary, including your emphasis on community-focused schools, working with families, extracurricular activity and youth workers. Fourteen to 19-year-olds are a significant part of the equation, I think, Cabinet Secretary, in terms of those 14-year-olds that want to pursue a vocational route and are not able to have that choice that they want to exercise at school, and then often not able to go to the further education college that could cater for those choices. Then sometimes they disengage from school, they may be absent or even, if they go, not interested, and then sometimes at 16 they turn up at the college, they want to do the vocational course they wanted to do at 14, but then haven't got the required standards in terms of numeracy and literacy. So, it's a real issue. I welcome what you said about the junior apprenticeships, which our joint cross-party group meeting—the CPGs on apprenticeships and further education and skills—heard about just last week in terms of Cardiff and Vale College. One of their asks, Cabinet Secretary, was for a dedicated funding stream to enable that to happen and enable it to be rolled out right across Wales, so I wonder if you could say something today in terms of how we can facilitate those choices and deal with that aspect of absenteeism from our schools.

Diolch am eich datganiad heddiw, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, gan gynnwys eich pwyslais ar ysgolion bro, gweithio gyda theuluoedd, gweithgarwch allgyrsiol a gweithwyr ieuenctid. Mae pobl ifanc 14 i 19 oed yn rhan sylweddol o'r hafaliad, rwy'n credu, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, o ran y rhai 14 oed hynny sydd eisiau dilyn llwybr galwedigaethol ac nad ydynt yn gallu cael y dewis hwnnw y maent eisiau ei ddilyn yn yr ysgol, ac yna yn aml nid ydynt yn gallu mynd i'r coleg addysg bellach a allai ddarparu ar gyfer y dewisiadau hynny. Yna weithiau maent yn ymddieithrio o'r ysgol, efallai eu bod yn absennol neu hyd yn oed os ydynt yn bresennol does dim diddordeb, ac yna weithiau yn 16 oed maent yn troi i fyny yn y coleg, maent eisiau gwneud y cwrs galwedigaethol yr oeddent eisiau ei wneud yn 14 oed, ond yna nid oes ganddynt y safonau gofynnol o ran rhifedd a llythrennedd. Felly, mae'n broblem go iawn. Rwy'n croesawu'r hyn a ddywedoch am y prentisiaethau iau, y clywodd ein cyfarfod grŵp trawsbleidiol ar y cyd—y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar y cyd ar brentisiaethau ac addysg bellach a sgiliau—amdanynt yr wythnos diwethaf yn unig o ran Coleg Caerdydd a'r Fro. Un o'r pethau y gofynnodd amdano, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, oedd ffrwd ariannu bwrpasol i alluogi hynny i ddigwydd a'i alluogi i gael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru, felly tybed a allech chi ddweud rhywbeth heddiw o ran sut y gallwn hwyluso'r dewisiadau hynny ac ymdrin â'r agwedd honno ar absenoldeb yn ein hysgolion.

Thank you very much, John, and I know that you've been a long-standing champion of community-focused schools, and I hope that you're seeing some of that work come to fruition now with the investment and the emphasis that we're placing on the roll-out. I know that you're also a big supporter of youth work as well, and I think youth workers have an enormous untapped potential. I'm a massive fan of youth workers, and there's work that they've been doing in Blaenau Gwent, working with youth workers in school to tackle attendance problems, that I'm really keen to build on.

You raise important points about those pathways for young people. For me, it's all about holding on to young people and making sure we can keep them in the system. We know that one of the worst things for young people's mental health is becoming not in education, employment or training. There's even, in fact, a higher suicide risk with becoming NEET, so it's vital that we hold on to those young people and that we make sure that the opportunities they get in school are engaging and ones that they want to participate in.

I'm really keen to facilitate those opportunities for vocational training. I really like the junior apprenticeship scheme; I was blown away by it when I saw it in Cardiff and Vale College, because I know that, some of those learners, they'd had really difficult experiences in education and there they were, really enthusiastically participating, and they made the best sourdough bread that I'd tasted in a long time.

As you know, it's the budget next week. You wouldn't expect me to pre-empt that, but I'm aware that we have got a bit of a postcode lottery in terms of junior apprenticeships and I want junior apprenticeships to be available across Wales, so that all young people can benefit from those opportunities.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, John, ac rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi bod yn hyrwyddwr hirsefydlog o ysgolion bro, a gobeithio eich bod yn gweld rhywfaint o'r gwaith hwnnw'n dwyn ffrwyth nawr gyda'r buddsoddiad a'r pwyslais rydym yn ei roi ar y gwaith cyflwyno. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod hefyd yn gefnogwr mawr o waith ieuenctid, ac rwy'n credu bod gan weithwyr ieuenctid botensial enfawr heb ei gyffwrdd. Rwy'n ffan enfawr o weithwyr ieuenctid, ac mae 'na waith y maen nhw wedi bod yn ei wneud ym Mlaenau Gwent, gan weithio gyda gweithwyr ieuenctid yn yr ysgol i fynd i'r afael â phroblemau presenoldeb, yr wyf yn awyddus iawn i adeiladu arno.

Rydych chi'n codi pwyntiau pwysig am y llwybrau hynny ar gyfer pobl ifanc. I mi, mae'n ymwneud â dal gafael ar bobl ifanc a sicrhau ein bod yn gallu eu cadw yn y system. Gwyddom mai un o'r pethau gwaethaf i iechyd meddwl pobl ifanc yw peidio â bod mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant, NEET. Mae risg hunanladdiad uwch hyd yn oed wrth ddod yn NEET, felly mae'n hanfodol ein bod yn dal gafael ar y bobl ifanc hynny a'n bod yn sicrhau bod y cyfleoedd y maen nhw'n eu cael yn yr ysgol yn ennyn brwdfrydedd ac yn rhai y maen nhw eisiau cymryd rhan ynddynt.

Rwy'n awyddus iawn i hwyluso'r cyfleoedd hynny ar gyfer hyfforddiant galwedigaethol. Rwy'n hoff iawn o'r cynllun prentisiaeth iau; cefais fy syfrdanu gan y peth pan welais ef yng Ngholeg Caerdydd a'r Fro, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod, rhai o'r dysgwyr hynny, eu bod wedi cael profiadau anodd iawn ym myd addysg ac yno yr oeddent, yn wirioneddol frwdfrydig, yn cymryd rhan, ac fe wnaethant y bara surdoes gorau yr oeddwn wedi'i flasu ers amser maith.

Fel y gwyddoch chi, mae'r gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf. Ni fyddech yn disgwyl i mi achub y blaen ar honno, ond rwy'n ymwybodol bod gennym rywfaint o loteri cod post o ran prentisiaethau iau ac rwyf eisiau i brentisiaethau iau fod ar gael ledled Cymru, fel y gall pob person ifanc elwa ar y cyfleoedd hynny.

16:40

The myriad of failings in the Welsh state education system have been snowballing for 25 years, with the uptick in absenteeism in recent years joining the other Welsh Government achievements on education—illiteracy, innumeracy, record low PISA results, and falling pupil mental health and well-being. And whilst the additional funding to tackle the problem of absenteeism is welcome, many, including myself, have little faith that this will translate into results, given the Welsh Government's poor record on education. 

Whilst there are varied and very complex factors involved, a lot of parents have simply grown accustomed to their child not attending school following the pandemic, and we should send a clear message that this is unacceptable. So, I'd like to ask the Cabinet Secretary how the Welsh Government will sanction parents of pupils who are regularly absent from school, and what further deterrents are being implemented. I'd like to also know how the Welsh Government is tracking the success of the family engagement officers. [Interruption.] I can't see really what Lee Waters is heckling about, as it's a true—[Interruption.] It's a very true observation. 

Mae'r myrdd o fethiannau yn system addysg y wladwriaeth yng Nghymru wedi bod yn cynyddu ers 25 mlynedd, gyda'r cynnydd mewn absenoldeb yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf yn ymuno â chyflawniadau eraill Llywodraeth Cymru ym maes addysg—anllythrennedd, anrhifogrwydd, canlyniadau PISA isaf erioed, ac iechyd meddwl a llesiant disgyblion yn gostwng. Ac er bod croeso i'r cyllid ychwanegol i fynd i'r afael â phroblem absenoldeb, nid oes gan lawer, gan gynnwys fi fy hun, fawr o ffydd y bydd hyn yn arwain at ganlyniadau, o ystyried hanes gwael Llywodraeth Cymru o ran addysg. 

Er bod ffactorau amrywiol a chymhleth iawn yn gysylltiedig, mae llawer o rieni wedi dod yn gyfarwydd â'u plentyn yn absennol o'r ysgol yn dilyn y pandemig, a dylem anfon neges glir bod hyn yn annerbyniol. Felly, hoffwn ofyn i'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet sut y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cosbi rhieni disgyblion sy'n absennol o'r ysgol yn rheolaidd, a pha ataliadau pellach sy'n cael eu gweithredu. Hoffwn wybod hefyd sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn olrhain llwyddiant y swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd. [Torri ar draws.] Ni allaf weld mewn gwirionedd pam y mae Lee Waters yn heclo, gan ei fod yn—[Torri ar draws.] Mae'n arsylwad cywir. 

Address the Cabinet Secretary, never mind the backbenchers.

Cyfeiriwch eich geiriau at yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, peidiwch â chymryd sylw o'r meinciau cefn.

Well, thank you, Gareth, I think, for that contribution, negative though it was. I would have hoped that you would have seen this opportunity of a very significant injection of funding as something positive for the system. And similarly, I've made announcements recently about additional support for literacy and numeracy, raising standards, and I think we've got a really good track record of supporting mental health and well-being in schools. It's certainly one—you know, we need to do more work on it, but it's a good record of work that we've done there. 

In terms of parental attitudes, there is a challenge with parental attitudes, especially since the pandemic. Lots of people are used to working from home, so we have found there can be more of a tendency sometimes not to push on the attendance issues. I think the way that you tackle those issues is by working with those families constructively. Schools have got the option of using fines. It's best, I think, if they are used as a last resort. Those fines would be a deterrent for some families but not for all; when it comes to things like the cost of holidays, they pale into insignificance—the cost of the fine pales into insignificance in comparison with the cost of holidays.

And I think the best way to tackle what is a complex issue is not to think that there is a really simplistic solution to it, and that's why family engagement officers are so key. So, yesterday, in Adamsdown Primary School, the family engagement officer told me how she goes to the houses to support the families, how they help if they haven't got uniforms; they can provide clean uniforms; they're running courses to encourage the families into school. But some families do get fined, and I think we do have to trust the people who are in our schools doing that job to know what the best techniques are. And the family engagement officers are a really key part of that arsenal. This is a huge investment in funding in what is still a relatively new role. As I said, in response to Cefin Campbell, I'm meeting with the network of family engagement officers this week, and there will be an opportunity there to discuss how we monitor progress.

Wel, diolch i chi, Gareth, rwy'n credu, am y cyfraniad yna, er ei fod yn negyddol. Byddwn wedi gobeithio y byddech wedi gweld y cyfle hwn o chwistrelliad sylweddol iawn o gyllid fel rhywbeth cadarnhaol ar gyfer y system. Ac yn yr un modd, rwyf wedi gwneud cyhoeddiadau yn ddiweddar am gefnogaeth ychwanegol ar gyfer llythrennedd a rhifedd, gan godi safonau, ac rwy'n credu bod gennym hanes da iawn o gefnogi iechyd meddwl a llesiant mewn ysgolion. Mae'n sicr yn un—rydych chi'n gwybod, mae angen i ni wneud mwy o waith arno, ond mae'n hanes da o waith rydyn ni wedi'i wneud yno.

O ran agweddau rhieni, mae her o ran agweddau rhieni, yn enwedig ers y pandemig. Mae llawer o bobl wedi arfer gweithio gartref, felly rydym wedi canfod y gall fod mwy o duedd weithiau i beidio â gwthio'r materion presenoldeb. Rwy'n credu mai'r ffordd rydych chi'n mynd i'r afael â'r materion hynny yw drwy weithio gyda'r teuluoedd hynny'n adeiladol. Mae ysgolion yn cael y dewis o ddefnyddio dirwyon. Mae'n well, rwy'n credu, os cânt eu defnyddio fel y dewis olaf. Byddai'r dirwyon hynny yn rhwystr i rai teuluoedd ond nid i bawb; o ran pethau fel cost gwyliau, maen nhw'n ddibwys—mae costau'r dirwyon yn ddibwys o'u cymharu â chostau gwyliau.

Ac rwy'n credu mai'r ffordd orau o fynd i'r afael â'r hyn sy'n fater cymhleth yw peidio â meddwl bod ateb syml iawn iddo, a dyna pam mae swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd mor allweddol. Felly, ddoe, yn Ysgol Gynradd Adamsdown, dywedodd y swyddog ymgysylltu â theuluoedd wrthyf sut mae hi'n mynd i'r tai i gefnogi'r teuluoedd, sut maen nhw'n helpu os nad oes ganddyn nhw wisgoedd; gallant ddarparu gwisgoedd glân; maen nhw'n cynnal cyrsiau i annog y teuluoedd i fynd i'r ysgol. Ond mae rhai teuluoedd yn cael dirwy, ac rwy'n credu bod yn rhaid i ni ymddiried yn y bobl sydd yn ein hysgolion i wneud y gwaith hwnnw, i wybod beth yw'r technegau gorau. Ac mae'r swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd yn rhan allweddol iawn o'r arfdy hwnnw. Mae hwn yn fuddsoddiad enfawr mewn cyllid ar gyfer rôl sy'n dal i fod yn gymharol newydd. Fel y dywedais i, mewn ymateb i Cefin Campbell, rwy'n cyfarfod â'r rhwydwaith o swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd yr wythnos hon, a bydd cyfle yno i drafod sut rydym yn monitro cynnydd.

16:45

I agree with the Cabinet Secretary there's no simple answer here: there's no silver bullet; a number of things are going to have to come together in order for us to resolve this issue.

Having said that, I'm going to focus on one particular thing, and I'd just add my voice to John Griffiths's, in his support for junior apprenticeships. Both our cross-party groups held a really productive conversation around the benefits of junior apprenticeships. Just last week, we heard about the story of Eddie, a learner in Cardiff and Vale College, who has come on leaps and bounds and now he's potentially going to university as a result of these junior apprenticeships. So, I'll ask a similar question to what John has asked already, and given that I understand the situation with the budget, I'll ask it in a slightly different way: how do you see the structures of Government facilitating the proliferation of junior apprenticeships? There are colleges out there that are really keen to get going, but the funding is a problem, so how do you see the structures of Government working with those colleges to ensure that junior apprenticeships are available across Wales, as you've already stated is your ambition?

Rwy'n cytuno â'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet nad oes ateb syml yma: does dim ateb addas at bob diben; bydd yn rhaid i nifer o bethau ddod at ei gilydd er mwyn i ni allu datrys y mater hwn.

Wedi dweud hynny, rydw i'n mynd i ganolbwyntio ar un peth penodol, a byddwn i'n ategu John Griffiths, yn ei gefnogaeth i brentisiaethau iau. Cynhaliodd ein dau grŵp trawsbleidiol sgwrs gynhyrchiol iawn ynghylch manteision prentisiaethau iau. Dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, clywsom am stori Eddie, dysgwr yng Ngholeg Caerdydd a'r Fro, sydd wedi dod ymlaen o naid i naid a nawr mae'n bosibl iddo fynd i'r brifysgol o ganlyniad i'r prentisiaethau iau hyn. Felly, rwyf am ofyn cwestiwn tebyg i'r un y mae John wedi'i ofyn eisoes, ac o gofio fy mod yn deall y sefyllfa gyda'r gyllideb, byddaf yn ei ofyn mewn ffordd ychydig yn wahanol: sut ydych chi'n gweld strwythurau'r Llywodraeth yn hwyluso amlhau prentisiaethau iau? Mae yna golegau allan yna sy'n awyddus iawn i fwrw ati, ond mae cyllid yn broblem, felly sut ydych chi'n gweld strwythurau'r Llywodraeth yn gweithio gyda'r colegau hynny i sicrhau bod prentisiaethau iau ar gael ledled Cymru, fel rydych chi eisoes wedi'i nodi yw eich uchelgais?

Thanks, Luke, and thank you for your acknowledgement that there is no silver bullet in this space and it is really complex, and thank you for what you've said about the junior apprenticeships. I genuinely think they're a life-changing intervention for young people. We have got the budget next week, but I am committed to making sure that we've got a consistent offer across Wales. I know that they're available in south Wales, there are parts of Wales where they're not available, and I think Government has a role to play in making sure that young people have got that opportunity wherever they live in Wales. We'll have to wait for the budget other than that, but I think it's really important that there's not a postcode lottery in terms of provision for those vocational opportunities for learners who otherwise may well become NEET, with everything that that entails.

Diolch, Luke, a diolch am eich cydnabyddiaeth nad oes ateb addas at bob diben yn y maes hwn ac mae'n gymhleth iawn, a diolch am yr hyn rydych chi wedi'i ddweud am y prentisiaethau iau. Rwyf wir yn credu eu bod yn ymyrraeth sy'n newid bywyd pobl ifanc. Mae gennym y gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf, ond rwyf wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau bod gennym gynnig cyson ledled Cymru. Rwy'n gwybod eu bod ar gael yn y de, mae rhannau o Gymru lle nad ydyn nhw ar gael, ac rwy'n credu bod gan y Llywodraeth rôl i'w chwarae wrth sicrhau bod pobl ifanc yn cael y cyfle hwnnw ble bynnag maen nhw'n byw yng Nghymru. Heblaw hynny bydd yn rhaid i ni aros am y gyllideb, ond rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn nad oes loteri cod post o ran darpariaeth ar gyfer y cyfleoedd galwedigaethol hynny i ddysgwyr a allai fod yn NEET fel arall, gyda phopeth sy'n gysylltiedig â hynny.

Diolch, and thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for bringing this very important statement here today, and it's absolutely great to see the Welsh Government investing £8.8 million to improve attendance and engagement, and to hear of the success of the family engagement officers.

I was very pleased to be asked by the Cabinet Secretary, earlier this year, to undertake a piece of work on the school holiday enrichment programme, the food and fun programme, which we run here in Wales over the school summer holidays. I was so impressed by what I saw in that scheme, the dedication and enthusiasm of the people who were running it, the organisation by the Welsh Local Government Association, and I think it was an absolutely fantastic scheme. In all the schools I visited, it was clear how much fun the children were having while learning about healthy foods and lifestyles.

So, at the beginning of the autumn term, a case study was undertaken, where headteachers were asked to compare September 2024 attendances with September 2023, for the same sample group of children. The information collected did show that going to food and fun over the summer holidays positively impacts on improved attendance for children, when they return to school in September. So, I thought this was a very positive sign, because the long school summer holidays are very difficult for parents, we know, to cope financially, and children lose track of their learning. So, I was very pleased to hear that some money would be going to food and fun. Would the Cabinet Secretary agree that expanding the food and fun programme across Wales would be a valuable way to improve attendance in our schools?

Diolch i chi Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, am ddod â'r datganiad pwysig iawn hwn yma heddiw, ac mae'n hollol wych gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi £8.8 miliwn i wella presenoldeb ac ymgysylltu, ac i glywed am lwyddiant y swyddogion ymgysylltu â theuluoedd.

Roeddwn yn falch iawn o gael gwahoddiad gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, yn gynharach eleni, i wneud darn o waith ar y rhaglen gwella gwyliau'r haf, y rhaglen fwyd a hwyl, yr ydym yn ei rhedeg yma yng Nghymru dros wyliau'r haf. Gwnaeth yr hyn a welais yn y cynllun hwnnw argraff fawr arnaf, ymroddiad a brwdfrydedd y bobl a oedd yn ei rhedeg, y sefydliad gan Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn gynllun hollol wych. Yn yr holl ysgolion yr ymwelais â nhw, roedd yn amlwg faint o hwyl roedd y plant yn ei gael wrth ddysgu am fwydydd iach a ffyrdd o fyw.

Felly, ar ddechrau tymor yr hydref, cynhaliwyd astudiaeth achos, lle gofynnwyd i benaethiaid gymharu presenoldeb ym mis Medi 2024 â mis Medi 2023, ar gyfer yr un grŵp sampl o blant. Mae'r wybodaeth a gasglwyd yn dangos bod mynd i fwyd a hwyl dros wyliau'r haf yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar bresenoldeb gwell i blant, pan fyddant yn dychwelyd i'r ysgol ym mis Medi. Felly, roeddwn i'n meddwl bod hwn yn arwydd cadarnhaol iawn, oherwydd mae gwyliau haf hir yr ysgol yn anodd iawn i rieni, rydyn ni'n gwybod, i ymdopi'n ariannol, ac mae plant yn colli golwg ar yr hyn y maen nhw wedi ei ddysgu. Felly, roeddwn yn falch iawn o glywed y byddai rhywfaint o arian yn mynd i fwyd a hwyl. A fyddai'r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn cytuno y byddai ehangu'r rhaglen fwyd a hwyl ledled Cymru yn ffordd werthfawr o wella presenoldeb yn ein hysgolion?

Thank you very much. And can I place on record my gratitude to Julie Morgan for the work that she's done on the review of SHEP? I know how committed you are to the life chances of our children and young people, and I've been really grateful to you. I know that you've been out and about looking at the SHEP schemes, and have done a really important piece of work for us. And, as you say, it's also about holding on to children and young people, isn't it, through the summer. They've had the opportunity to have healthy food, but they're also engaged and connected with their peers.

We've got the budget next week, and it will be a question of waiting until we've heard the budget announcement, but as I said in my statement, I am really keen to build on the work that you've done and the evidence that you've gathered, and what we know is working on the ground. We're also, as part of this work, looking at enrichment activities as part of the school day as well. What we want is for children to want to come into school, and it's important that we all work together to do that. But thank you again for everything that you've done on the review—much appreciated.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Ac a gaf i gofnodi fy niolch i Julie Morgan am y gwaith y mae hi wedi'i wneud ar yr adolygiad o raglen gwella gwyliau'r haf? Rwy'n gwybod pa mor ymrwymedig ydych chi i gyfleoedd bywyd ein plant a'n pobl ifanc, ac rwyf wedi bod yn ddiolchgar iawn i chi. Rwy'n gwybod eich bod wedi bod allan yn edrych ar gynlluniau'r rhaglen gwella gwyliau'r haf, ac wedi gwneud darn pwysig iawn o waith i ni. Ac, fel y dywedwch chi, mae hefyd yn ymwneud â dal gafael ar blant a phobl ifanc, onid ydyw, yn ystod yr haf. Maen nhw wedi cael y cyfle i gael bwyd iach, ond maen nhw hefyd yn ymgysylltu ac yn cysylltu â'u cyfoedion.

Mae gennym ni'r gyllideb yr wythnos nesaf, a bydd yn fater o aros nes ein bod ni wedi clywed cyhoeddiad y gyllideb, ond fel y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, rwy'n awyddus iawn i adeiladu ar y gwaith rydych chi wedi'i wneud a'r dystiolaeth rydych chi wedi'i chasglu, a'r hyn rydyn ni'n gwybod sy'n gweithio ar lawr gwlad. Rydym hefyd, fel rhan o'r gwaith hwn, yn edrych ar weithgareddau cyfoethogi fel rhan o'r diwrnod ysgol hefyd. Yr hyn yr ydym yn dymuno yw bod plant eisiau dod i'r ysgol, ac mae'n bwysig ein bod ni i gyd yn gweithio gyda'n gilydd i gyflawni hynny. Ond diolch eto am bopeth rydych chi wedi'i wneud ar yr adolygiad—gwerthfawrogir hynny'n fawr.

16:50
6. Datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai: Datganiad sefyllfa canol trefi
6. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: Town centre position statement

Eitem 6 heddiw yw'r datganiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai: datganiad sefyllfa canol trefi. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i wneud y datganiad. Jayne Bryant.

Item 6 this afternoon is a statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government: town centre position statement. I call on the Cabinet Secretary to make the statement. Jayne Bryant. 

Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. Town and city centres play a crucial role in the social, economic and cultural fabric of our communities. Places and buildings matter. They are what give our towns and cities their unique identity, what gives many of us that feeling of connection and belonging, of home. This is why the health and vibrancy of our town centres remains a key priority for this Government.

Launched in May last year, the 'Town centres: position statement' sets out the challenges faced by town centres and the actions we are taking to reinvigorate them. It is predicated on Welsh Government's 'town centre first' principle that town centres should be the first consideration for all decisions on the location of workplaces and services. The position statement spans a number of policy areas, including regeneration, housing, broader infrastructure investment, economy, planning, environment and transport. Success is therefore dependent on cross-Government buy-in and wide-ranging stakeholder action.

To support this, we have established an oversight board, with a membership that includes a range of internal and external stakeholders and interests. The role of the board will be to drive forward the actions in the plan and make connections with wider cross-cutting initiatives that deliver wider sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits for Wales. I was delighted to attend the first meeting of the board in October. There, I heard directly about how members can bring their skills and experiences to bear to make progress on some of the issues that our towns and surrounding areas face, and how they can support us to deliver positive outcomes for the people of Wales.

We launched the position statement in Neath town centre, a location that epitomises a 'town centre first' approach. Supported by Transforming Towns funding, a leisure centre, library and retail units were developed. These are precisely the sorts of facilities, alongside the public service providers, that draw people into town centres, increasing footfall, strengthening our communities, and bringing our town centres to life.

The position statement describes what can be done at a national level to set the foundations for change and enable the local delivery of key public services in town centres. We continue to talk to local authorities and other public service providers about their estate rationalisation and decarbonisation plans, to maximise opportunities for the co-location of public services in our town centres. Beyond economic benefits, town regeneration has profound social impacts. It enhances the quality of life of residents and helps foster a sense of community pride and belonging. That's why everything we do must have community at its heart. To do this, we must listen and work together to ensure we meet the genuine needs and priorities of the community.

The focus on placemaking in the position statement is recognition of this. Placemaking involves understanding a place and its people, and ensuring that development, investment and change contribute positively to enhancing that town, as well as the experience of the residents living there. That is why placemaking plans are a requirement of our Transforming Towns funding. Led locally, they should start with communities, building on their needs, wants and aspirations.

On my recent visit to Caerphilly, I saw a placemaking approach in action. This includes Ffos Caerffili, a new market provision that opened earlier this year; Pentrebane Street, a mixed use development; and the hotel, leisure and residential quarter, which has the potential to provide a new hotel and residential, retail and office facilities. The approach to community engagement, with a newly formed residents committee, was hugely encouraging, delivering positive outcomes for the community-led cultural centre proposal. The Caerphilly Vision 2035 is a long-term plan, but already the interventions in the town are creating the confidence for the private sector and local businesses to invest, seen with each new and emerging proposal.

The Transforming Towns programme has supported the development of 53 placemaking plans, with a further 10 in the pipeline for potential support this financial year. Culture, arts and the wider creative industries are immensely important to us here in Wales, and I'm eager to ensure that we leverage the power of cultural and community assets in unlocking town centre regeneration. An example of this is the arts, cultural and community hub, located in the former St Mary's Church in Bangor. The development, which benefited from £1.2 million of Transforming Towns funding, has turned an empty building into a creative hub for young people and artists to create, rehearse and perform.

Whilst there is much to celebrate, I do not underestimate the challenges associated with unlocking our towns' potential. Bringing empty properties back into use is one such challenge. Welsh Government has several programmes supporting local authorities to redevelop empty properties and bring them back into use. This includes the empty property enforcement fund, available to local authorities who wish to undertake enforcement action on prominent town centre properties. Last year, we commissioned a review of this fund to consider whether it is effective in tackling empty properties. The recommendations will be instrumental in shaping the future focus of our support to local authorities in reducing the number of empty properties in Wales. Coupled with this is the forthcoming evaluation of the wider Transforming Towns programme, which will consider what's been working well, challenges to implementation, and barriers that could be removed or reduced in the future. The findings of this evaluation will help shape our future support for town centre regeneration and ongoing delivery against the 'Town centres: position statement'.

In the meantime, I look forward to visiting more towns and communities across Wales to see first-hand the significant progress already being made in transforming our towns, making them great places to live, work, visit and stay. Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae canol trefi a dinasoedd yn chwarae rhan hanfodol yng ngwead cymdeithasol, economaidd a diwylliannol ein cymunedau. Mae lleoedd ac adeiladau yn bwysig. Nhw sy'n rhoi eu hunaniaeth unigryw i'n trefi a'n dinasoedd, sy'n rhoi i lawer ohonom y teimlad hwnnw o gysylltiad a pherthyn, o gartref. Dyna pam mae iechyd a bywiogrwydd canol ein trefi yn parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth allweddol i'r Llywodraeth hon.

Wedi'i lansio ym mis Mai y llynedd, mae 'Canol trefi: datganiad sefyllfa' yn nodi'r heriau sy'n wynebu canol trefi a'r camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i'w hadfywio. Mae'n seiliedig ar egwyddor 'canol trefi yn gyntaf' Llywodraeth Cymru mai canol trefi ddylai fod yr ystyriaeth gyntaf ar gyfer pob penderfyniad ar leoliad gweithleoedd a gwasanaethau. Mae'r datganiad sefyllfa yn rhychwantu nifer o feysydd polisi, gan gynnwys adfywio, tai, buddsoddiad ehangach mewn seilwaith, economi, cynllunio, yr amgylchedd a thrafnidiaeth. Felly, mae llwyddiant yn dibynnu ar gefnogaeth trawslywodraethol a chamau gweithredu gan amrywiaeth eang o randdeiliaid.

I gefnogi hyn, rydym wedi sefydlu bwrdd goruchwylio, gydag aelodaeth sy'n cynnwys ystod o randdeiliaid a buddiannau mewnol ac allanol. Rôl y bwrdd fydd ysgogi'r camau gweithredu yn y cynllun a gwneud cysylltiadau â mentrau trawsbynciol ehangach sy'n darparu buddion economaidd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol cynaliadwy ehangach i Gymru. Roeddwn yn falch iawn o fod yn bresennol yng nghyfarfod cyntaf y Bwrdd ym mis Hydref. Yno, clywais yn uniongyrchol am sut y gall aelodau ddefnyddio eu sgiliau a'u profiadau i wneud cynnydd ar rai o'r materion y mae ein trefi a'n hardaloedd cyfagos yn eu hwynebu, a sut y gallant ein cefnogi i gyflawni canlyniadau cadarnhaol i bobl Cymru.

Lansiwyd y datganiad sefyllfa yng nghanol tref Castell-nedd, lleoliad sy'n ymgorffori dull 'canol y dref yn gyntaf'. Gyda chefnogaeth cyllid Trawsnewid Trefi, datblygwyd canolfan hamdden, llyfrgell ac unedau manwerthu. Dyma'r union fathau o gyfleusterau, ochr yn ochr â'r darparwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, sy'n denu pobl i ganol trefi, yn cynyddu nifer yr ymwelwyr, yn cryfhau ein cymunedau, ac yn dod â chanol ein trefi yn fyw.

Mae'r datganiad sefyllfa yn disgrifio'r hyn y gellir ei wneud ar lefel genedlaethol i osod y sylfeini ar gyfer newid a galluogi darparu gwasanaethau cyhoeddus allweddol yn lleol yng nghanol trefi. Rydym yn parhau i siarad ag awdurdodau lleol a darparwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill am eu cynlluniau i ad-drefnu eu hystadau a datgarboneiddio, i sicrhau cymaint o gyfleoedd â phosibl ar gyfer cydleoli gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng nghanol ein trefi. Y tu hwnt i fanteision economaidd, mae effeithiau cymdeithasol dwys i adfywio trefi. Mae'n gwella ansawdd bywyd trigolion ac yn helpu i feithrin ymdeimlad o falchder cymunedol a pherthyn. Dyna pam mae'n rhaid i gymuned fod wrth wraidd popeth a wnawn. I wneud hyn, rhaid i ni wrando a gweithio gyda'n gilydd i sicrhau ein bod yn diwallu anghenion a blaenoriaethau gwirioneddol y gymuned.

Mae'r pwyslais ar greu lleoedd yn y datganiad sefyllfa yn cydnabod hyn. Mae creu lleoedd yn golygu deall lle a'i bobl, a sicrhau bod datblygiad, buddsoddiad a newid yn cyfrannu'n gadarnhaol at wella'r dref honno, yn ogystal â phrofiad y trigolion sy'n byw yno. Dyna pam mae cynlluniau creu lleoedd yn un o ofynion ein cyllid Trawsnewid Trefi. Dan arweiniad lleol, dylent ddechrau gyda chymunedau, gan adeiladu ar eu hanghenion, eu dymuniadau a'u dyheadau.

Ar fy ymweliad diweddar â Chaerffili, gwelais ddull o greu lleoedd ar waith. Mae hyn yn cynnwys Ffos Caerffili, darpariaeth marchnad newydd a agorodd yn gynharach eleni; Stryd Pentrebane, datblygiad defnydd cymysg; a'r ardal gwestai, hamdden a phreswyl, sydd â'r potensial i ddarparu gwesty newydd a chyfleusterau preswyl, manwerthu a swyddfa. Roedd y dull o ymgysylltu â'r gymuned, gyda phwyllgor trigolion newydd ei ffurfio, yn galonogol iawn, gan gyflawni canlyniadau cadarnhaol ar gyfer y cynnig canolfan ddiwylliannol dan arweiniad y gymuned. Mae Gweledigaeth Caerffili 2035 yn gynllun hirdymor, ond eisoes mae'r ymyriadau yn y dref yn creu'r hyder i'r sector preifat a busnesau lleol fuddsoddi, a welwyd gyda phob cynnig newydd a chynigion sy'n dod i'r amlwg.

Mae'r rhaglen Trawsnewid Trefi wedi cefnogi datblygiad 53 o gynlluniau creu lleoedd, ac mae 10 arall ar y gweill i gael cefnogaeth bosibl yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Mae diwylliant, y celfyddydau a'r diwydiannau creadigol ehangach yn hynod bwysig i ni yma yng Nghymru, ac rwy'n awyddus i sicrhau ein bod yn defnyddio pŵer asedau diwylliannol a chymunedol wrth ddatgloi adfywio canol trefi. Enghraifft o hyn yw'r ganolfan gelfyddydol, diwylliannol a chymunedol yn hen Eglwys y Santes Fair ym Mangor. Mae'r datblygiad, a gafodd £1.2 miliwn o gyllid Trawsnewid Trefi, wedi troi adeilad gwag yn ganolfan greadigol i bobl ifanc ac artistiaid greu, ymarfer a pherfformio.

Er bod llawer i'w ddathlu, nid wyf yn tanamcangyfrif yr heriau sy'n gysylltiedig â datgloi potensial ein trefi. Mae dod ag eiddo gwag yn ôl i ddefnydd yn un her o'r fath. Mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru sawl rhaglen sy'n cefnogi awdurdodau lleol i ailddatblygu eiddo gwag a dod â nhw yn ôl i ddefnydd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y gronfa gorfodi eiddo gwag, sydd ar gael i awdurdodau lleol sy'n dymuno cymryd camau gorfodi ar eiddo amlwg yng nghanol trefi. Y llynedd, comisiynwyd adolygiad o'r gronfa hon i ystyried a yw'n effeithiol wrth fynd i'r afael ag eiddo gwag. Bydd yr argymhellion yn allweddol wrth lunio pwyslais ein cefnogaeth i awdurdodau lleol yn y dyfodol wrth leihau nifer yr eiddo gwag yng Nghymru. Ynghyd â hyn mae'r gwerthusiad arfaethedig o'r rhaglen ehangach Trawsnewid Trefi, a fydd yn ystyried yr hyn sydd wedi bod yn gweithio'n dda, heriau i'w gweithredu, a rhwystrau y gellid eu dileu neu eu lleihau yn y dyfodol. Bydd canfyddiadau'r gwerthusiad hwn yn helpu i lunio ein cefnogaeth ar gyfer adfywio canol trefi yn y dyfodol a chyflawni parhaus yn erbyn 'Canol trefi: datganiad sefyllfa'.

Yn y cyfamser, edrychaf ymlaen at ymweld â mwy o drefi a chymunedau ledled Cymru i weld drosof fy hun y cynnydd sylweddol sydd eisoes yn cael ei wneud o ran trawsnewid ein trefi, gan eu gwneud yn lleoedd gwych i fyw, gweithio, ymweld ac aros ynddynt. Diolch yn fawr.

16:55

Can I thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for this statement? I genuinely mean that, because our town centres are so fundamentally important. They play, as you pointed out, an incredibly vital role in our communities, providing all of our small and medium-sized enterprises with a place to do business, and also a place for people to meet and socialise, and we have to recognise that. And I want to take this time also to note that this Saturday, as we all know, is Small Business Saturday, and take this opportunity to welcome the vital role that SMEs play in our communities across Wales, and I'm sure we all here concur with this.

Successful and vibrant towns are vital to our Welsh economy, but also to the environmental, social and cultural well-being of Wales. They create a sense of belonging and identity, and they're extremely valued by their communities, rightly. However, many of our town centres are in decline, as we know. Some of this will be down to the changing way people now shop. But things like business rates have to be acknowledged. Being as high as they are also bring a lot of pressure to local businesses, especially in constituencies with high values, such as Monmouth, making it difficult for those businesses to thrive, and this will indeed be exacerbated by the new national insurance increases. We know that will, no doubt, supress growth and job opportunities.

So, Cabinet Secretary, clearly, things have to change, and you pointed out some of that change today, if we really do value our towns, and I do welcome the oversight board and what it might be doing. Even though you've explained it quite thoroughly, I have a couple of questions. How do you see the board being able to help underpin the futures of our high streets and the businesses that are within them? And how can that board incentivise businesses to continue on the high street and make them feel valued once again? Will the oversight board consider new support packages, such as trying to influence the debate around non-domestic rates relief, or other types of incentivisation, so that they don't have to trade at a disadvantage, certainly along the borders of Wales?

Moving on, Cabinet Secretary, one thing that we do need to improve is our transport infrastructure going into our towns, particularly in the rural parts of Wales. I agree with the Government's principle of addressing climate change. However, that cannot be done simply by punishing car users. So, would the placemaking agenda consider these things as well? There have to be alternative methods of transport for people to get into our town centres, and that requires at least regular and reliable public transport infrastructure—something that we know is lacking. Cabinet Secretary, what assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of rural bus routes ceasing on town centres in Wales?

And finally, Cabinet Secretary, the public sector employs almost 330,000 people in Wales—over 10 per cent of the population. Many of the sector have traditionally played an incredibly important role in keeping our high streets vibrant and open, with many employees spending regularly on our high streets. With this in mind, has any assessment been made by the Welsh Government of the effect of the increased trend of working from home on our high streets going forward? Cabinet Secretary, I wish the board well going forward. I just think the future of our town centres is so important, and we have to think of them differently as they move away from retail hubs more to destinations. We've got to do as much as we can to maintain a vibrant and healthy town-centre offer across Wales.

A gaf i ddiolch i chi, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, am y datganiad hwn? Rwyf wir yn golygu hynny, gan fod canol ein trefi mor sylfaenol bwysig. Maen ganddyn nhw, fel y dywedoch chi, rôl hanfodol iawn yn ein cymunedau, gan roi lle i'n holl fentrau bach a chanolig wneud busnes, a lle hefyd i bobl gyfarfod a chymdeithasu, ac mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod hynny. Ac rwyf am gymryd yr amser hwn hefyd i nodi y bydd yn Ddydd Sadwrn Busnesau Bach, fel y gwyddom ni i gyd, ddydd Sadwrn yma, a chymryd y cyfle hwn i groesawu'r rôl hanfodol sydd gan BBaChau yn ein cymunedau ledled Cymru, ac rwy'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yma yn cytuno ar hyn.

Mae trefi llwyddiannus a bywiog yn hanfodol i'n heconomi yng Nghymru, ond hefyd i les amgylcheddol, cymdeithasol a diwylliannol Cymru. Maen nhw'n creu ymdeimlad o berthyn a hunaniaeth, ac maen nhw'n cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr gan eu cymunedau, yn briodol. Fodd bynnag, mae llawer o ganol ein trefi yn dirywio, fel y gwyddom. Bydd rhywfaint o hyn yn sgil y newid yn y ffordd y mae pobl yn siopa erbyn hyn. Ond mae'n rhaid cydnabod pethau fel ardrethi busnes. Mae'r ffaith eu bod mor uchel ag y maen nhw hefyd yn dod â llawer o bwysau i fusnesau lleol, yn enwedig mewn etholaethau sydd â gwerthoedd uchel, fel Trefynwy, gan ei gwneud hi'n anodd i'r busnesau hynny ffynnu, ac yn wir bydd y cynnydd newydd mewn yswiriant cenedlaethol yn gwaethygu hyn. Rydym yn gwybod y bydd hynny, heb os, yn atal twf a chyfleoedd gwaith.

Felly, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, yn amlwg, mae'n rhaid i bethau newid, a gwnaethoch chi dynnu sylw at rywfaint o'r newid hwnnw heddiw, os ydym wir yn gwerthfawrogi ein trefi, ac rwy'n croesawu'r bwrdd goruchwylio a'r hyn y gallai fod yn ei wneud. Er eich bod wedi esbonio'r mater yn eithaf trylwyr, mae gennyf ychydig o gwestiynau. Sut ydych chi'n gweld y bwrdd yn gallu helpu i danategu dyfodol ein strydoedd mawr a'r busnesau sydd arnyn nhw? A sut y gall y bwrdd hwnnw gymell busnesau i barhau ar y stryd fawr a gwneud iddyn nhw deimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi unwaith eto? A wnaiff y bwrdd goruchwylio ystyried pecynnau cymorth newydd, megis ceisio dylanwadu ar y ddadl ynghylch rhyddhad ardrethi annomestig neu fathau eraill o gymhelliant, fel nad oes raid iddynt fasnachu dan anfantais, yn sicr ar hyd ffiniau Cymru?

Gan symud ymlaen, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, un peth y mae angen i ni ei wella yw ein seilwaith trafnidiaeth yn mynd i mewn i'n trefi, yn enwedig yn rhannau gwledig Cymru. Rwy'n cytuno ag egwyddor y Llywodraeth o fynd i'r afael â newid hinsawdd. Fodd bynnag, ni ellir gwneud hynny dim ond trwy gosbi defnyddwyr ceir. Felly, a fyddai'r agenda creu lleoedd yn ystyried y pethau hyn hefyd? Mae'n rhaid bod â dulliau trafnidiaeth amgen i bobl fynd i ganol ein trefi, ac mae hynny'n gofyn am seilwaith trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus rheolaidd a dibynadwy o leiaf—rhywbeth rydyn ni'n gwybod sy'n ddiffygiol. Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, pa asesiad y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud o effaith llwybrau bysiau gwledig yn dod i ben ar ganol trefi yng Nghymru?

Ac yn olaf, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, mae'r sector cyhoeddus yn cyflogi bron i 330,000 o bobl yng Nghymru—dros 10 y cant o'r boblogaeth. Yn draddodiadol, mae llawer o'r sector wedi bod â rhan hynod bwysig wrth gadw ein strydoedd mawr yn fywiog ac yn agored, gyda llawer o weithwyr yn gwario'n rheolaidd ar ein strydoedd mawr. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, a yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi asesu effaith y duedd gynyddol o weithio gartref ar ein strydoedd mawr wrth symud ymlaen? Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, rwy'n dymuno'n dda i'r bwrdd wrth symud ymlaen. Rwy'n credu bod dyfodol canol ein trefi mor bwysig, ac mae'n rhaid i ni feddwl amdanyn nhw yn wahanol wrth iddyn nhw symud i ffwrdd o fod yn ganolfannau manwerthu yn fwy i fod yn gyrchfannau. Mae'n rhaid i ni wneud cymaint ag y gallwn i gynnal cynnig canol tref bywiog ac iach ledled Cymru.

Daeth y Llywydd i’r Gadair.

The Llywydd took the Chair.

17:00

Diolch yn fawr, Peter. Thank you for that. I think you're absolutely right in talking about our vision for town centres. It's something we all feel very strongly about, as I said in the statement. Our town centres bring about pride, bring about a real value about the place that we live in, and where communities can come and gather.

I would also like to join you in reminding everybody about Small Business Saturday. That, I know, is something that we all support here in this Chamber when we're all going out to see the small businesses that are in our local communities, which is really important, but I'm sure there are many of us who use those local businesses throughout that time. We know that this time of year, with Christmas approaching, is when we do focus on that. But we know that there are those independent businesses in particular who we have supported for many years, who have been the mainstay of our town centres, and I'd like to agree with all the points you said about how important Small Business Saturday is.

Absolutely, the cultural side of our town centres is really important as well. As I mentioned, I'm really interested in how we can use those cultural entities within our communities in the town centres to be a real fulcrum, because they are so important. I've seen that in places across Wales. You described Neath; I had the fortune to go and see Neath earlier this year as well, and to see how important that has been to that place.

In terms of the town centre oversight board and the position statement, we know that over the last year there has been real progress made, but there are still some challenges. So, we've established that oversight board to provide that robust guidance and governance arrangements, focusing on delivering against those identified key actions in the position statement. I think it's really important we keep that real close focus on what we want to achieve within that. The board met for the first time in October, and it's due to meet again in January.

There's a huge amount of expertise on that board, and people with very good ideas and experience. I think it's important we use them in that to make sure that we are keeping to the points that we need to deliver on, and to challenge. I'm really looking forward to the work of the board. I was able to meet them at their meeting and I think that it's something that we need to encourage. I think they will be doing us a real service in supporting our town centres.

Diolch yn fawr, Peter. Diolch am hynny. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n hollol gywir wrth siarad am ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer canol trefi. Mae'n rhywbeth yr ydym ni i gyd yn teimlo'n gryf iawn amdano, fel y dywedais i yn y datganiad. Mae canol ein trefi yn creu balchder, yn creu gwerth gwirioneddol am y lle yr ydym yn byw ynddo, a lle gall cymunedau ddod at ei gilydd.

Hoffwn hefyd ymuno â chi i atgoffa pawb am Ddydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach. Mae hynny, rwy'n gwybod, yn rhywbeth yr ydym ni i gyd yn ei gefnogi yma yn y Siambr hon pan fyddwn ni i gyd yn mynd allan i weld y busnesau bach sydd yn ein cymunedau lleol, sy'n bwysig iawn, ond rwy'n siŵr bod llawer ohonom sy'n defnyddio'r busnesau lleol hynny trwy gydol yr amser hwnnw. Rydym yn gwybod mai'r adeg hon o'r flwyddyn, gyda'r Nadolig yn agosáu, yw pan fyddwn yn canolbwyntio ar hynny. Ond rydym yn gwybod bod y busnesau annibynnol hynny yn arbennig yr ydym wedi eu cefnogi ers blynyddoedd lawer, sydd wedi bod yn brif nodwedd canol ein trefi, a hoffwn gytuno â'r holl bwyntiau a ddywedoch am ba mor bwysig yw Dydd Sadwrn y Busnesau Bach.

Yn bendant, mae ochr ddiwylliannol canol ein trefi yn bwysig iawn hefyd. Fel y soniais i, mae gennyf ddiddordeb mawr mewn sut y gallwn ni ddefnyddio'r endidau diwylliannol hynny yn ein cymunedau yng nghanol y trefi i fod yn ganolbwynt go iawn, oherwydd maen nhw mor bwysig. Rwyf wedi gweld hynny mewn llefydd ledled Cymru. Fe wnaethoch chi ddisgrifio Castell-nedd; bûm yn ffodus i fynd i weld Castell-nedd yn gynharach eleni hefyd, ac i weld pa mor bwysig mae hynny wedi bod i'r lle hwnnw.

O ran y bwrdd goruchwylio canol trefi a'r datganiad sefyllfa, gwyddom fod cynnydd gwirioneddol wedi'i wneud dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ond mae rhai heriau o hyd. Felly, rydym wedi sefydlu'r bwrdd goruchwylio hwnnw i ddarparu'r canllawiau a'r trefniadau llywodraethu cadarn hynny, gan ganolbwyntio ar gyflawni yn erbyn y camau allweddol a nodwyd yn y datganiad sefyllfa. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn ein bod yn cadw'r pwyslais agos hwnnw ar yr hyn yr ydym ni am ei gyflawni o fewn hynny. Cyfarfu'r bwrdd am y tro cyntaf ym mis Hydref, ac mae disgwyl iddo gyfarfod eto ym mis Ionawr.

Mae llawer iawn o arbenigedd ar y bwrdd hwnnw, a phobl sydd â syniadau a phrofiad da iawn. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn eu defnyddio yn hynny o beth i sicrhau ein bod yn cadw at y pwyntiau y mae angen i ni eu cyflawni, a'u herio. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at waith y bwrdd. Bu modd i mi gwrdd â nhw yn eu cyfarfod ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn rhywbeth y mae angen i ni ei annog. Rwy'n credu y byddan nhw'n cyflawni gwasanaeth go iawn i ni wrth gefnogi canol ein trefi.

17:05

Diolch yn fawr i’r Ysgrifennydd Cabinet am y datganiad heddiw a’r newyddion am sefydlu’r bwrdd. Mae mynd i’r afael â’r heriau sy’n wynebu’r stryd fawr yn fater o frys. Mae ein strydoedd mawr ni yn atgof gweladwy o’r caledi economaidd parhaus sy’n cael ei wynebu gan bobl ledled Cymru, ac mae twf siopa ar-lein a lleoli archfarchnadoedd ar gyrion ein trefi ni wedi creu sefyllfa dorcalonnus mewn rhai ardaloedd.

Does unman yn dangos hynny’n gliriach na stryd fawr Bangor yn fy etholaeth i. Fel stryd fawr hiraf Cymru, mae hi’n enghraifft, yn anffodus, o ddirywiad mawr, efo busnesau’n cau eu drysau ac eiddo wedi cael ei adael yn wag. Ond mae yna ddatrysiadau clir y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru eu cefnogi i roi bywyd newydd i’n strydoedd mawr ni, a hynny mewn cyd-destun newydd, cyffrous. Mi ddaru chi sôn am hwb creadigol y Frân Wen yn yr hen eglwys ym Mangor, ac mae yna gynlluniau eraill ar waith yn y ddinas hefyd, yn cynnwys troi’r hen Debenhams yn hwb iechyd a llesiant. A gyda llaw, mi fyddai'n dda cael newyddion da ar hyn gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet iechyd cyn y Nadolig.

Y tu hwnt i golli busnesau, rydym ni hefyd wedi gweld colli gwasanaethau hanfodol fel banciau a swyddfeydd post, ac mae'r colledion yma yn gwaethygu'r heriau economaidd mae’n cymunedau ni yn eu hwynebu. Yn ôl Archwilio Cymru, mi fu gostyngiad o bron i 30 y cant yn nifer y canghennau banc a chymdeithasau adeiladu.

Dwi’n mynd i ofyn ichi yn gyntaf, felly, ble mae banc cymunedol Cymru a oedd yn addewid ym maniffesto Llafur, banc cymunedol a allai fod yn darparu gwasanaethau i ddinasyddion, yn hytrach nag elw i gyfranddalwyr? Mae'r sefyllfa yr un mor enbyd efo’r swyddfeydd post. Yn y degawd diwethaf, mae nifer y swyddfeydd post yng Nghymru wedi gostwng, ac yn ddiweddar, mae cau cangen swyddfa bost fawr yng Nghricieth wedi gwthio gwasanaethau post yng Ngwynedd i argyfwng. Ac yn y cyfamser, mae cangen Caernarfon yn fy etholaeth i hefyd dan fygythiad. Felly, fy ail gwestiwn i ydy: sut ydych chi fel Llywodraeth yn gweithio efo Llywodraeth y DU i sicrhau bod Swyddfa’r Post yn blaenoriaethu anghenion cymunedau gwledig dros elw?

Dwi’n troi fy sylw rŵan at drafnidiaeth, sy’n hollol bwysig efo adfer canol ein trefi ni, ac mae’r Ffederasiwn Busnesau Bach wedi amlygu hynny dro ar ôl tro. Mae gwell cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth yn gallu hybu datblygu economaidd ac annog pobl i ymweld â’n canolfannau ni, ac mae o’n gallu arwain at leihau tagfeydd er mwyn gwella profiadau ymwelwyr. Ond ar hyn o bryd, rydym ni’n yn dal i ddisgwyl y Bil bws, wrth gwrs, ac mae hwnnw’n cynnig gobaith, ond mae gwirioneddol angen mwy o gyllid.

Felly, fy nhrydydd cwestiwn i ydy: mae adroddiad Centre for Cities 'Fare outcomes' yn awgrymu pump mecanwaith codi refeniw i gefnogi bysiau; ydy Llywodraeth Cymru wedi asesu’r argymhellion hynny? Ar hyn o bryd, mae bysiau’n cyfrif am dri chwarter y teithiau trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru, ac eto, mae gwariant Llywodraeth Cymru ar fysiau ymhell y tu ôl i wariant ar drenau. Mae’n rhaid inni roi sylw i’r anghydbwysedd yma. Ac yn ogystal, parcio: a oes modd i Lywodraeth Cymru weithio efo awdurdodau lleol i ailfeddwl sut mae parcio’n cael ei reoli? Mae canolfannau siopa tu allan i’r dref yn cynnig digon o le parcio am ddim, a hynny’n rhan o dynnu pobl i ffwrdd o’r stryd fawr. Felly, oes yna ffordd i fedru trethu’r datblygiadau ar gyrion trefi er mwyn helpu i roi cymhorthdal i barcio rhatach i’r rhai sydd yn cefnogi busnesau yng nghanol ein trefi?

A jest un sylw byr: rhaid i bolisi tai gyd-fynd ag adfywio canol trefi. Mae yna gyfle gwirioneddol i Lywodraeth Cymru, yn gweithio efo awdurdodau lleol a chymdeithasau tai, i gynnig tai cymdeithasol yng nghanol ein trefi ni, uwchben siopau ac eiddo gwag. Mi fedrwn ni achub ar y cyfle i ailfeddwl ac adfywio ein strydoedd mawr, nid yn unig fel canolfannau economaidd, ond eu gweld nhw i’r dyfodol fel canolfannau cymunedol, ac yn llefydd ffyniannus i fyw ynddyn nhw hefyd. Diolch yn fawr.

I thank the Cabinet Secretary for this afternoon's statement and the news about the establishment of the board. Tackling the challenges facing our high streets is an urgent issue. Our high streets are a visible reminder of the economic hardship that is faced by people across Wales, and the growth of online shopping and locating supermarkets at the outskirts of our towns has created a heartbreaking situation in some areas.

Nowhere is that shown more clearly than the high street in Bangor in my constituency. As Wales's longest high street, it is unfortunately an example of great decline, with businesses closing their doors and properties being left vacant. But there are clear solutions that the Welsh Government could support to breathe new life into our high streets in a new, exciting context. You mentioned the Frân Wen creative hub in the old church in Bangor, and there are other plans afoot in the city too, including turning the old Debenhams into a health and well-being hub. And by the way, it would be good to get some good news on this from the Cabinet Secretary for health before Christmas.

Beyond the loss of businesses, we've also seen crucial services like banks and post offices disappearing, and these losses do exacerbate the economic challenges faced by our communities. According to Audit Wales, there's been a reduction of almost 30 per cent in the number of bank and building society branches.

I'm going to ask you first of all, therefore: where is the Welsh community bank that was a pledge in the Labour manifesto, a community bank that could be providing services to citizens, rather than making profit for shareholders? The situation is just as bad with post offices. In the last decade, the number of post offices in Wales has declined, and recently, the closure of the major post office in Cricieth has pushed postal services in Gwynedd to crisis point. In the meantime, the Caernarfon branch in my own constituency is also under threat. So, my second question is: how will you as Government work with the UK Government to ensure that the Post Office prioritises the needs of rural communities over profit?

I'll turn my attention now to transport, which is crucially important in terms of regenerating our town centres, and the Federation of Small Businesses has highlighted that time and time again. Better transport connections can promote economic development and encourage people to visit our town centres, and it can lead to a reduction in traffic jams to improve visitor experience too, but at the moment, we are still awaiting the bus Bill, and that does provide some hope, but we truly need more funding.

So, my third question is: the Centre for Cities 'Fare outcomes' report suggests five revenue-raising mechanisms to support bus services. Has the Welsh Government assessed those recommendations? At the moment, buses count for three quarters of public transport journeys in Wales, and yet the Welsh Government spending on buses is way behind its spending on trains. We do have to address that imbalance. And also, parking: would it be possible for the Welsh Government to work with local authorities to rethink how parking is managed? Out-of-town shopping centres provide adequate free parking, and that is part of the attraction away from our high streets, so is there any way that we could tax those out-of-town developments in order to help to support cheaper parking for those who do support businesses in our town centres?

And just one brief comment: housing policy needs to accord with town-centre regeneration. There is a real opportunity for the Welsh Government, working with local authorities and housing associations, to offer social housing in our own town centres, above shops and vacant properties. We can take the opportunity to rethink and regenerate our high streets, not only as economic centres, but to see them in the future as community hubs and places that are prosperous, where people can live too. Thank you.

17:10

Diolch yn fawr, Siân. Thank you for the series of questions there. At the start, you outlined some of the challenges that are faced by our town centres that we know. We've seen the trend towards online shopping happen very quickly, actually, haven't we, particularly through COVID. I think that's just meant things have gone a lot quicker than we perhaps would have expected. You mentioned the challenges particularly in rural areas, but not just constrained to rural areas, around banks and post offices, and I know that there have been many campaigns and challenges on that.

As you'll know, as I mentioned in the statement, some of this is about working across Government. I think that's really important, because it's not something that sits within one portfolio. You've mentioned the Bangor health and well-being hub as something that's come up, which I think is really interesting. The Welsh Government remains supportive of this project as funding requests undergo appropriate due diligence through the relevant grant panels. So, just to say that is an interesting idea, and that's something that has come up around Wales, as well, as we look to really think about how we can move things like health centres into town centres, to increase that footfall and to make them accessible to more and more people.

In the statement, I mentioned Bangor and the church—you'll know that very well. The £4.5 million Nyth creative hub project in Bangor was funded by the Transforming Towns fund and the Arts Council of Wales. That opened in November 2023. That transformed an empty city-centre church into a fantastic arts and community hub, dedicated to young people and artists, which is really exciting. We've also seen within Gwynedd Porthmadog, Pwllheli and Dolgellau placemaking plans, which I think is really important to see. I was fortunate, when I met with Gwynedd Council last week, just to hear about some of the plans in their area in terms of regeneration.

In terms of transport, as I say, that's something that comes under my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for transport, but I know that there are lots of things making sure that town centres are accessible to people. We want people to be able to go into those communities, but we also need to think about how people live. You mentioned housing in one of the questions that you raised, which is really, again, an important point. I've seen this within my own community in Newport, where we've had a very long high street, and some of that has transformed into accommodation. We've seen that has been done really well. I think, when we're looking at where people live, I don't know why we spent a long time putting people to live somewhere that wasn't near services. Making sure that people are able to live near the services is really important. So, there are exciting plans there as well, and I'm sure that other local authorities can see some of those examples. Hopefully, the housing part of that, which we are looking to invest in as well, is something that we'll see more and more of in our towns and city centres.

Diolch yn fawr, Siân. Diolch am y gyfres o gwestiynau yno. Ar y dechrau, fe wnaethoch chi amlinellu rhai o'r heriau sy'n wynebu canol ein trefi yr ydyn ni'n ymwybodol ohonyn nhw. Rydyn ni wedi gweld y duedd tuag at siopa ar-lein yn digwydd yn gyflym iawn, mewn gwirionedd, onid ydyn ni, yn enwedig trwy COVID. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n golygu bod pethau wedi mynd yn llawer cyflymach nag y bydden ni wedi'i ddisgwyl efallai. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am yr heriau yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig, ond nid wedi'u cyfyngu i ardaloedd gwledig yn unig, o amgylch banciau a swyddfeydd post, a gwn fod llawer o ymgyrchoedd a heriau wedi bod o ran hynny.

Fel y gwyddoch chi, fel y soniais yn y datganiad, mae rhywfaint o hyn yn ymwneud â gweithio ar draws y Llywodraeth. Rwy'n credu bod hynny'n bwysig iawn, oherwydd nid yw'n rhywbeth sy'n rhan o un portffolio yn unig. Rydych chi wedi sôn am hwb iechyd a lles Bangor fel rhywbeth sydd wedi codi, sy'n ddiddorol iawn yn fy marn i. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gefnogi'r prosiect hwn wrth i geisiadau am gyllid fynd drwy broses ddiwydrwydd dyladwy priodol drwy'r paneli grant perthnasol. Felly, dim ond i ddweud bod hynny'n syniad diddorol, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth sydd wedi codi o amgylch Cymru, hefyd, wrth i ni ddechrau meddwl o ddifrif am sut y gallwn ni symud pethau fel canolfannau iechyd i ganol trefi, cynyddu'r nifer hwnnw o ymwelwyr a'u gwneud yn hygyrch i fwy a mwy o bobl.

Yn y datganiad, soniais am Fangor a'r eglwys—byddwch chi'n gwybod hynny'n dda iawn. Cafodd prosiect hwb creadigol Nyth gwerth £4.5 miliwn ym Mangor ei ariannu gan gronfa Trawsnewid Trefi a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Agorodd hwnnw ym mis Tachwedd 2023. Gwnaeth hynny drawsnewid eglwys wag yng nghanol y ddinas yn ganolfan gelfyddydol a chymunedol wych ar gyfer pobl ifanc ac artistiaid, sy'n gyffrous iawn. Rydyn ni hefyd wedi gweld yng Ngwynedd gynlluniau creu lleoedd Porthmadog, Pwllheli a Dolgellau, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn eu gweld. Roeddwn i'n ffodus, pan wnes i gyfarfod â Chyngor Gwynedd yr wythnos diwethaf, i glywed am rai o'r cynlluniau yn eu hardal nhw o ran adfywio.

O ran trafnidiaeth, fel y dywedais i, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y mae fy nghyd-Aelod, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros drafnidiaeth, yn gyfrifol amdano ond rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o bethau yn sicrhau bod canol trefi yn hygyrch i bobl. Rydyn ni eisiau i bobl allu mynd i mewn i'r cymunedau hynny, ond mae angen i ni feddwl hefyd am sut mae pobl yn byw. Fe wnaethoch chi sôn am dai yn un o'ch cwestiynau, sydd yn wir, unwaith eto, yn bwynt pwysig. Rwyf wedi gweld hyn o fewn fy nghymuned fy hun yng Nghasnewydd, lle mae gennym ni stryd fawr hir iawn, ac mae rhywfaint ohoni wedi'i thrawsnewid yn llety. Rydyn ni wedi gweld bod hynny wedi cael ei wneud yn dda iawn. Rwy'n credu, pan ydyn ni'n ystyried lle mae pobl yn byw, dydw i ddim yn gwybod pam wnaethon ni dreulio amser hir yn rhoi pobl i fyw rhywle nad oedd yn agos at wasanaethau. Mae sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu byw yn agos at y gwasanaethau yn bwysig iawn. Felly, mae cynlluniau cyffrous yno hefyd, ac rwy'n siŵr y gall awdurdodau lleol eraill weld rhai o'r enghreifftiau hynny. Gobeithio bod y rhan o hynny sy'n ymwneud â thai, yr ydyn ni'n bwriadu buddsoddi ynddi hefyd, yn rhywbeth y byddwn ni'n gweld mwy a mwy ohono yn ein trefi a chanol ein dinasoedd.

I welcome the statement. We've seen pubs, churches, chapels, banks and shops closing, including anchor stores such as Debenhams and Wilko. Town centres have been changing for several years. Out-of-town developments were a problem, especially when the larger supermarkets provided a widening range of items; now, online purchases are growing, having been turbocharged during COVID. Eighty-nine per cent of people bought at least one item and over half bought clothes online last year. I haven't got the details of who, but my guess is that the average age of those people buying online was substantially lower than the age of people who were buying in shops. Why do town centres have lots of hairdressers and personal services, such as nail bars, cafes and takeaways? They are not competing with online provision from distribution centres. Bringing other services into town centres, such as culture, arts and the wider creative industries, as well as offices, would help town centres. We should be making every Saturday a Small Business Saturday, but we need to get more housing into city centres, and not just social housing, housing for everybody. And we need private development in town and city centres. What is the Welsh Government doing to try and enable private development in those areas?

Rwy'n croesawu'r datganiad. Rydyn ni wedi gweld tafarndai, eglwysi, capeli, banciau a siopau yn cau, gan gynnwys siopau angor fel Debenhams a Wilko. Mae canol trefi wedi bod yn newid ers nifer o flynyddoedd. Roedd datblygiadau y tu allan i'r dref yn broblem, yn enwedig pan oedd yr archfarchnadoedd mwy yn darparu amrywiaeth gynyddol o eitemau; nawr, mae mwyfwy o bethau yn cael eu prynu ar-lein, ar ôl y cynnydd cyflym yn ystod COVID. Prynodd 89 y cant o bobl o leiaf un eitem a phrynodd dros hanner ddillad ar-lein y llynedd. Nid oes gennyf fanylion pwy, ond rwy'n tybio bod oedran cyfartalog y bobl hynny a oedd yn prynu ar-lein yn sylweddol is nag oedran y bobl a oedd yn prynu mewn siopau. Pam mae gan ganol trefi lawer o siopau trin gwallt a gwasanaethau personol, fel bariau ewinedd, caffis a siopau cludfwyd? Dydyn nhw ddim yn cystadlu â darpariaeth ar-lein o ganolfannau dosbarthu. Byddai dod â gwasanaethau eraill i ganol trefi, fel diwylliant, y celfyddydau a'r diwydiannau creadigol ehangach, yn ogystal â swyddfeydd, yn helpu canol trefi. Dylen ni fod yn gwneud bob dydd Sadwrn yn Ddydd Sadwrn busnesau bach, ond mae angen i ni gael mwy o dai i ganol dinasoedd, ac nid tai cymdeithasol yn unig, tai i bawb. Ac mae angen datblygiad preifat arnon ni yng nghanol trefi a dinasoedd. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i geisio galluogi datblygiad preifat yn yr ardaloedd hynny?

17:15

Diolch, Mike. And thank you for those questions. You're absolutely right around the challenges for town centres and we've seen it in the past. We've talked today about, or I've mentioned, COVID perhaps exacerbating or expediating the trend towards people shopping online. But I know that there were also challenges before COVID. I had an experience of speaking to a business within Newport, my constituency, once, and when I was campaigning for this business to stay open, they told me that more people took things back there than bought there. So, I think the challenge has been there for a while. So, we must realise that it's actually just gone a bit quicker.

Just to say, in Swansea there have been lots of good things happening in Swansea city centre. We've got the Palace Theatre, which is a grade II listed building, a 134-year-old grade II listed building—that's been redeveloped into high-quality office accommodation for SMEs, and that's had over £6.96 million of Transforming Towns grant for that, and the scheme cost £16.6 million. So, it had seen a redevelopment, it's a prominent building, it had deprivation and anti-social behaviour, but it had a lot of potential. So, the building was opened in November and that's got a real high-quality, modern, commercial floor space and incubation space for digital and tech businesses, and a cafe on the ground floor—really, really exciting. So, there are some really, really good things happening in that city, Mike, as you will well know.

In terms of the housing, absolutely, we do need to see more housing, we need to encourage—whether it's social housing, but also, as you say, private developers into our town and city centres, because we do know that it's important that people live close to those services. We know that town and city centres aren't what they used to be. We don't want to see identikit town or city centres either, we need that identity within that, but I think part of the solution is around housing.

Diolch, Mike. A diolch am y cwestiynau hynny. Rydych chi'n hollol gywir o ran yr heriau i ganol trefi ac rydyn ni wedi'i weld yn y gorffennol. Rydyn ni wedi siarad heddiw am COVID, neu rydw i wedi sôn amdano, yn gwaethygu neu'n cyflymu, o bosibl, y duedd tuag at bobl yn siopa ar-lein. Ond rwy'n gwybod bod heriau hefyd cyn COVID. Cefais brofiad o siarad â busnes yng Nghasnewydd, fy etholaeth i, unwaith, a phan oeddwn i'n ymgyrchu dros gadw'r busnes hwn ar agor, gwnaethon nhw ddweud wrthyf fod mwy o bobl yn dychwelyd pethau yno nag yr oedd yn prynu yno. Felly, rwy'n credu bod yr her wedi bod yno ers tro. Felly, mae'n rhaid i ni sylweddoli ei fod wedi mynd ychydig yn gyflymach mewn gwirionedd.

Dim ond i ddweud, yn Abertawe mae llawer o bethau da wedi bod yn digwydd yng nghanol dinas Abertawe. Mae gennym ni Theatr y Palas, sy'n adeilad rhestredig gradd II, adeilad rhestredig gradd II 134 mlwydd oed—sydd wedi'i ailddatblygu'n swyddfeydd o ansawdd uchel i fusnesau bach a chanolig, ac mae dros £6.96 miliwn o grant Trawsnewid Trefi wedi'i roi ar gyfer hynny, ac fe gostiodd y cynllun £16.6 miliwn. Felly, roedd ailddatblygu yno, mae'n adeilad amlwg, roedd amddifadedd ac ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol yno, ond roedd ganddo lawer o botensial. Felly, cafodd yr adeilad ei agor ym mis Tachwedd ac mae ganddo arwynebedd llawr modern, masnachol o ansawdd uchel a man hybu ar gyfer busnesau digidol a thechnoleg, a chaffi ar y llawr gwaelod—mae'n hynod, hynod gyffrous. Felly, mae rhai pethau da iawn yn digwydd yn y ddinas honno, Mike, fel y gwyddoch chi'n dda.

O ran y tai, yn sicr, mae angen i ni weld mwy o dai, mae angen i ni annog—p'un a yw'n dai cymdeithasol, ond hefyd, fel y dywedwch chi, datblygwyr preifat, i mewn i ganol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd, oherwydd rydyn ni'n gwybod ei bod hi'n bwysig bod pobl yn byw'n agos at y gwasanaethau hynny. Rydyn ni'n gwybod nad yw canol trefi a dinasoedd yr hyn yr oedden nhw arfer bod. Dydyn ni ddim eisiau gweld canol trefi neu ddinasoedd sydd yn union yr un fath chwaith, mae angen yr hunaniaeth honno arnon ni o fewn hynny, ond rwy'n credu bod tai yn rhan o'r ateb.

Town centres are changing, of course, because people's shopping habits are changing, but I think we do need to do everything we can to support existing shops. WHSmith in Newtown is closing in the new year—it's set to close in the new year, and that was announced in the last few days. It's been there for a century. In fact, Mary Portas referred to it as 'a gem', probably because of its original features. It's really disappointing, of course, because WHSmith and chain shops actually act as anchor businesses that then attract people into the town centres to use small and local independent businesses, of course, as well.

One of the big barriers, I think, to people not going and using town centres is putting barriers up to people travelling into town centres. My own local authority area at the moment, Powys County Council, is charging £2.50 for up to two hours. They've scrapped the one-hour rate. So, if people want to dive into a shop for 10 minutes, they're not going to pay £2.50. So, I think the real issue here is making sure that councils don't just see car parks as revenue-generating arrangements for spending in other areas. So, what I would ask you, Cabinet Secretary, is what you can do to make councils take responsibility for their part in town-centre regeneration, rather than just seeing car parking as cash cows.

Mae canol trefi yn newid, wrth gwrs, oherwydd bod arferion siopa pobl yn newid, ond rwy'n credu bod angen i ni wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i gefnogi siopau presennol. Mae WHSmith yn y Drenewydd yn cau yn y flwyddyn newydd—mae disgwyl iddi gau yn y flwyddyn newydd, a chafodd hynny ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf. Mae wedi bod yno ers canrif. Mewn gwirionedd, cyfeiriodd Mary Portas ati fel 'gem', oherwydd ei nodweddion gwreiddiol fwy na thebyg. Mae'n siomedig iawn, wrth gwrs, oherwydd mae WHSmith a siopau cadwyn yn gweithredu fel busnesau angor sydd wedyn yn denu pobl i ganol trefi i ddefnyddio busnesau bach a lleol annibynnol, wrth gwrs, hefyd.

Un o'r rhwystrau mawr, rwy'n credu, i bobl beidio â mynd i ganol trefi a'i defnyddio yw gosod rhwystrau i bobl sy'n teithio i ganol trefi. Ar hyn o bryd, mae fy ardal awdurdod lleol fy hun, Cyngor Sir Powys, yn codi £2.50 am hyd at ddwy awr. Maen nhw wedi dileu'r gyfradd awr. Felly, os yw pobl eisiau mynd i mewn i siop yn sydyn am 10 munud, dydyn nhw ddim yn mynd i dalu £2.50. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r mater go iawn yma yw sicrhau nad yw cynghorau ond yn gweld meysydd parcio fel trefniadau cynhyrchu refeniw ar gyfer gwariant mewn meysydd eraill. Felly, yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ofyn i chi, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, yw beth allwch chi ei wneud i sicrhau bod cynghorau yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb am eu rhan nhw mewn adfywio canol trefi, yn hytrach na dim ond gweld meysydd parcio fel ffordd hawdd o gynhyrchu arian.

17:20

Thank you, Russell. I appreciate the comments, and I'm sorry to hear about WHSmith closing. I feel that I should declare an interest as somebody whose first job was working in WHSmith—not that one—but that was my first step on the ladder, WHSmith, so there we go. Absolutely, these iconic buildings that we see within our communities—we don't want to see them empty, they are the lifeblood of our towns, and I think that making sure that we're encouraging and supporting businesses into our town centres is really important. As you said, there are lots of independent businesses that have been doing well over many years, and have been through some really difficult times through that as well, but, as we say, we all want to support them throughout the year, not just on Small Business Saturday.

The point you make around transport—again, it's something that we hear particularly around this time of year as well, around supporting people to go into town centres around Christmas. I know some local authorities support free bus travel into city centres as well during this time. So, I know about the challenges, but it is about encouraging local authorities. We work very closely with local authorities, our officials here work well with local authority officers, trying to support them in what we can all do together to improve our town and city centres, because it's in all of our interests.

Diolch, Russell. Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi'r sylwadau, ac mae'n ddrwg gennyf glywed am WHSmith yn cau. Rwy'n teimlo y dylwn i ddatgan diddordeb fel rhywun a gafodd ei swydd gyntaf yn gweithio yn WHSmith—nid yr un honno—ond dyna oedd fy ngham cyntaf ar yr ysgol, WHSmith, felly dyna ni. Yn hollol, yr adeiladau eiconig hyn yr ydyn ni'n eu gweld yn ein cymunedau—dydyn ni ddim eisiau eu gweld yn wag, nhw yw enaid ein trefi, ac rwy'n credu bod sicrhau ein bod ni'n annog ac yn cefnogi busnesau i mewn i ganol ein trefi yn bwysig iawn. Fel y dywedoch, mae yna lawer o fusnesau annibynnol sydd wedi bod yn gwneud yn dda dros nifer o flynyddoedd, ac sydd wedi bod drwy rai cyfnodau anodd iawn drwy hynny hefyd, ond, fel yr ydyn ni'n ei ddweud, rydyn ni i gyd eisiau eu cefnogi nhw drwy gydol y flwyddyn, nid dim ond ar Ddydd Sadwrn Busnesau Bach.

Y pwynt rydych chi'n ei wneud o ran trafnidiaeth—eto, mae'n rhywbeth yr ydyn ni'n ei glywed yn arbennig tua'r adeg hon o'r flwyddyn hefyd, ynghylch cefnogi pobl i fynd i ganol trefi o gwmpas y Nadolig. Rwy'n gwybod bod rhai awdurdodau lleol yn cefnogi teithio am ddim ar fysiau i ganol dinasoedd hefyd yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. Felly, rwy'n gwybod am yr heriau, ond mae'n ymwneud ag annog awdurdodau lleol. Rydyn ni'n gweithio'n agos iawn gydag awdurdodau lleol, mae ein swyddogion yma yn gweithio'n dda gyda swyddogion awdurdodau lleol, gan geisio eu cefnogi yn yr hyn y gallwn ni i gyd ei wneud gyda'n gilydd i wella canol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd, oherwydd mae o fudd i bob un ohonom.

It's really interesting, listening to the debate so far, because for me it crystallises, actually, the needs of different towns. We've heard transport mentioned a couple of times already. Now, as somebody who has Bridgend town in the area that I represent, I wouldn't necessarily say that transport is the issue there—you have a mainline train that goes to Swansea, to Cardiff and all of the way to London; you've got the county council actually providing cheap parking, or free parking in many areas; and a bus terminus also in Bridgend town. But we're still seeing the same problems—we're still seeing empty properties and we're still seeing falling footfall.

What we are seeing, and I think you can actually peg the decline of Bridgend town to it, is McArthurGlen—out-of-town shopping centres—and that is what I think we need to start focusing our attention on. That means, actually, looking at how we use the tax system to our benefit and to the benefit of those smaller businesses that are operating in our town centres, so that we look to shift that burden so that out-of-town shopping centres pay more in tax to subsidise our smaller businesses, and we look to charge or tax more the supermarkets, again, that are pulling people out of our town centres. I'd be really interested to understand, because I think the issue here is that a number of portfolios in Government have to come together to come up with a solution to declining town centres, what sort of work is happening across the Government and across portfolios to ensure, actually, that that joined-up thinking is happening and everything comes together so that, then, we see our town centres thriving again.

Mae'n ddiddorol iawn gwrando ar y ddadl hyd yn hyn, oherwydd i mi mae'n crisialu, mewn gwirionedd, anghenion gwahanol drefi. Rydyn ni wedi clywed trafnidiaeth yn cael ei chrybwyll unwaith neu ddwywaith yn barod. Nawr, fel rhywun sydd â thref Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn yr ardal rwy'n ei chynrychioli, fyddwn i ddim o reidrwydd yn dweud mai trafnidiaeth yw'r broblem yno—mae gennych chi drên prif lein sy'n mynd i Abertawe, i Gaerdydd a'r holl ffordd i Lundain; mae gennych chi'r cyngor  yn darparu parcio rhad, neu barcio am ddim mewn sawl ardal; ac mae terminws bysiau hefyd yn nhref Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr. Ond rydyn ni'n dal i weld yr un problemau—rydyn ni'n dal i weld eiddo gwag ac rydyn ni'n dal i weld gostyngiad yn nifer yr ymwelwyr.

Yr hyn yr ydyn ni'n ei weld, ac rwy'n credu y gallwch chi briodoli dirywiad tref Pen-y-bont iddo, mewn gwirionedd, yw McArthurGlen—canolfannau siopa ar gyrion y dref—a dyna'r hyn y mae angen i ni ddechrau canolbwyntio ein sylw arno, yn fy marn i. Mae hynny'n golygu, mewn gwirionedd, edrych ar sut yr ydyn ni'n defnyddio'r system dreth er ein budd ni ac er budd y busnesau llai hynny sy'n gweithredu yng nghanol ein trefi, fel ein bod ni'n ceisio symud y baich hwnnw fel bod canolfannau siopa ar gyrion trefi yn talu mwy o dreth i sybsideiddio ein busnesau llai, ac yn ceisio codi mwy neu godi mwy o dreth ar yr archfarchnadoedd, unwaith eto, sy'n tynnu pobl o ganol ein trefi. Byddai wir ddiddordeb gennyf ddeall, oherwydd rwy'n credu mai'r mater yn y fan hon yw bod yn rhaid i nifer o bortffolios y Llywodraeth ddod at ei gilydd i gynnig ateb i ganol trefi sy'n dirywio, pa fath o waith sy'n digwydd ar draws y Llywodraeth ac ar draws portffolios i sicrhau, mewn gwirionedd, bod y meddylfryd cydgysylltiedig hwnnw'n digwydd a bod popeth yn dod at ei gilydd fel ein bod ni wedyn yn gweld canol ein trefi'n ffynnu eto.

Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd i’r Gadair.

The Deputy Presiding Officer took the Chair.

Diolch, Luke, and you're absolutely right, our town centres are very different. As I said, we don't want to see identikit town centres—they're not now, but we want to make sure that they are developed and supported by the communities that they want to encourage to go there. I think we all want to see different town centres, and they've all got that unique something about them, haven't they? I know that in Bridgend County Borough Council, recently, Maesteg town hall has opened, and I've heard really good things about that—I haven't seen the opening myself, but I look forward to visiting that. That's had an investment of £8.6 million, supported with £3.5 million of our European regional development fund funding, and that sounds like a really good prospect.

In terms of McArthurGlen and other out-of-town shopping centres that we all know of, again, that's been a trend that we've seen over the years. We know that they're being used, but, again, it's about that draw towards our town centres that's so important. I think lots of people would like to go more to our town centres; it's just making sure that we're not letting the out-of-town centres take away from those crucial points.

Some of the aspects that you raise are, actually, relevant to the work that's going on with our oversight board, so some of those actions will come out through that, because they're obviously well aware of the challenges. So, I'd expect some of those developments and some of the outcomes to come from that oversight board, and to just follow their—. I'm sure I'll be updating the Senedd and you regularly on that.

Diolch, Luke, ac rydych chi'n hollol gywir, mae canol ein trefi'n wahanol iawn. Fel y dywedais i, dydyn ni ddim eisiau gweld canol trefi unffurf—dydyn nhw ddim nawr, ond rydyn ni eisiau sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cael eu datblygu a'u cefnogi gan y cymunedau maen nhw eisiau eu hannog i fynd yno. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni i gyd eisiau gweld canol trefi gwahanol, ac mae ganddyn nhw i gyd rhywbeth unigryw amdanyn nhw, onid oes? Rwy'n gwybod bod neuadd y dref Maesteg wedi agor yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr yn ddiweddar, ac rwyf wedi clywed pethau da iawn am hynny—dydw i ddim wedi gweld yr agoriad fy hun, ond rwy'n edrych ymlaen at ymweld â hi. Mae'r neuadd wedi cael buddsoddiad o £8.6 miliwn, gyda chefnogaeth £3.5 miliwn o'n cyllid Cronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop, ac mae'n swnio fel cyfle da iawn.

O ran McArthurGlen a chanolfannau siopa eraill ar gyrion trefi yr ydym i gyd yn gwybod amdanyn nhw, unwaith eto, mae hynny wedi bod yn duedd yr ydyn ni wedi'i gweld dros y blynyddoedd. Rydyn ni'n gwybod eu bod nhw'n cael eu defnyddio, ond, unwaith eto, mae'n ymwneud â'r atyniad hwnnw tuag at ganol ein trefi sydd mor bwysig. Rwy'n credu y byddai llawer o bobl yn hoffi mynd i ganol ein trefi'n fwy aml; mae'n fater o wneud yn siŵr nad ydyn ni'n gadael i ganolfannau ar gyrion trefi dynnu oddi wrth y pwyntiau hanfodol hynny.

Mae rhai o'r agweddau yr ydych chi'n eu codi, mewn gwirionedd, yn berthnasol i'r gwaith sy'n digwydd gyda'n bwrdd goruchwylio, felly bydd rhai o'r camau hynny'n dod i'r amlwg drwy hynny, oherwydd maen nhw'n amlwg yn ymwybodol iawn o'r heriau. Felly, byddwn i'n disgwyl i rai o'r datblygiadau hynny a rhai o'r canlyniadau ddod o'r bwrdd goruchwylio hwnnw, ac i ddilyn eu—. Rwy'n siŵr y byddaf i'n rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am hynny i'r Senedd ac i chi yn rheolaidd.

17:25

I'm grateful to you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement this afternoon. I think the future of our town centres is something that all of us on all sides of the Chamber, in Government and on the back benches, have been grappling with for some decades in fact, because we've seen shopping habits change, we've seen technology change, and, as a consequence, we've seen the role of town centres change. Most of the town centres in the Valleys, for example, are far bigger than they need to be today. If you look at most of the towns I represented, when I was growing up, they were flourishing commercial centres, because we didn’t have the means to be able to go elsewhere. Cardiff was a major trip when I was growing up; it was a two-hour journey, and my grandmother would wear a hat. Today, things are very, very different. And I think sometimes we’ve repeated the mistakes from North America and not learnt the lessons from the European mainland. If we travel around the small and medium-sized towns in most parts of western Europe, you will see flourishing town centres, even in areas that are suffering the same economic difficulties that we see in many of our, for example, south Wales Valleys, but not limited to Valleys communities. What I would say to you, Cabinet Secretary, is let’s not simply look across the Atlantic at failure, but let’s look across to the European mainland at success, and let’s be looking at how we can learn lessons of other places that have succeeded. Because I worry sometimes that we’ve rushed to this American version of capitalism—

Rwy'n ddiolchgar i chi, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n credu bod dyfodol canol ein trefi yn rhywbeth y mae pob un ohonon ni ar bob ochr i'r Siambr, yn y Llywodraeth ac ar y meinciau cefn, wedi bod yn mynd i'r afael ag ef ers rhai degawdau mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd, rydyn ni wedi gweld arferion siopa yn newid, rydyn ni wedi gweld technoleg yn newid, ac, o ganlyniad, rydyn ni wedi gweld rôl canol trefi yn newid. Mae'r rhan fwyaf o ganol trefi'r Cymoedd, er enghraifft, yn llawer mwy nag sydd angen iddyn nhw fod heddiw. Os edrychwch chi ar y rhan fwyaf o'r trefi roeddwn i'n eu cynrychioli, pan oeddwn i'n cael fy magu, roedden nhw'n canolfannau masnachol ffyniannus, oherwydd nid oedd gennym ni'r modd i allu mynd i unman arall. Roedd Caerdydd yn daith fawr pan o'n i'n cael fy magu; roedd hi'n daith dwy awr, a byddai fy mam-gu yn gwisgo het. Heddiw, mae pethau'n wahanol iawn, iawn. Ac rwy'n credu weithiau ein bod ni wedi ailadrodd camgymeriadau Gogledd America a heb ddysgu'r gwersi o dir mawr Ewrop. Os ydyn ni'n teithio o amgylch y trefi bach a chanolig yn y rhan fwyaf o orllewin Ewrop, fe welwn ni ganol trefi sy'n ffynnu, hyd yn oed mewn ardaloedd sy'n dioddef yr un anawsterau economaidd ag yr ydyn ni'n eu gweld mewn llawer o'n Cymoedd ni, er enghraifft, Cymoedd y De, ond heb fod yn gyfyngedig i gymunedau'r Cymoedd. Yr hyn y byddwn i'n ei ddweud wrthych chi, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, yw gadewch i ni beidio ag edrych draw dros yr Iwerydd ar fethiant yn unig, ond gadewch i ni edrych draw at dir mawr Ewrop ar lwyddiant, a gadewch i ni ystyried sut y gallwn ni ddysgu gwersi o leoedd eraill sydd wedi llwyddo. Oherwydd rwy'n poeni weithiau ein bod ni wedi rhuthro i'r fersiwn Americanaidd yma o gyfalafiaeth—

—without understanding the human impact of it on the people we represent.

—heb ddeall effaith ddynol y peth ar y bobl yr ydyn ni'n eu cynrychioli.

Thank you very much, Alun. I agree with you on so much of that, and I think it’s important that we all recognise—. Today we’ve heard so many Members contribute in this Chamber, because we all care very much about our town centres and city centres. As I said, it’s about those identities that we have. We don’t want to see the identikit—I mean that within Wales, but I mean that as well—. We don’t all want to go to the same place; it’s not what I think the people of Wales would want to see. I’m absolutely keen that we look at examples from other places, and, like you say, many places in Europe, they are thriving, and that’s what we want to see in Wales as well. So, it’s important that, in the communities that those town centres are serving, those community voices are really at the heart of what we want to see, and that we listen to those voices, and we try to develop our plans accordingly. So, that’s why we have these placemaking plans as well, because I think those voices of the community are so crucial.

But, absolutely, I’m really keen and committed to looking at any examples of good practice across the world, and I think that we really need to do as much as we can, because our communities care about the places. And I think it’s about how you feel about where you live and where you belong, because if you know that those are thriving, that is really, really good for how people feel, as well as economically.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Alun. Rwy'n cytuno gyda chi ar gymaint o hynny, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig ein bod ni i gyd yn cydnabod—. Heddiw, rydyn ni wedi clywed cymaint o Aelodau'n cyfrannu yn y Siambr hon, oherwydd mae pob un ohonom yn poeni'n fawr am ganol ein trefi a chanol ein dinasoedd. Fel y dywedais i, mae'n ymwneud â'r hunaniaethau hynny sydd gennym ni. Nid ydyn ni eisiau gweld unffurfiaeth—rwy'n golygu hynny o fewn Cymru, ond rwy'n golygu hynny hefyd—. Nid ydyn ni i gyd eisiau mynd i'r un lle; nid dyna'r hyn rwy'n credu y byddai pobl Cymru eisiau'i weld. Rwy'n sicr yn awyddus ein bod ni'n edrych ar enghreifftiau o leoedd eraill, ac, fel y dywedwch chi, llawer o leoedd yn Ewrop, maen nhw'n ffynnu, a dyna'r hyn yr ydyn ni eisiau'i weld yng Nghymru hefyd. Felly, mae'n bwysig, yn y cymunedau y mae'r canol trefi hynny'n eu gwasanaethu, bod lleisiau'r cymunedau wrth wraidd yr hyn yr ydyn ni eisiau'i weld, a'n bod ni'n gwrando ar y lleisiau hynny, ac rydyn ni'n ceisio datblygu ein cynlluniau yn unol â hynny. Felly, dyna pam mae gennym ni'r cynlluniau creu lleoedd hyn hefyd, oherwydd rwy'n credu bod lleisiau'r gymuned mor hanfodol.

Ond, yn sicr, rwy'n awyddus iawn ac wedi ymrwymo i edrych ar unrhyw enghreifftiau o arfer da ar draws y byd, ac rwy'n credu bod gwir angen i ni wneud cymaint ag y gallwn ni, gan fod y lleoedd yn bwysig i'n cymunedau ni. Ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â sut yr ydych chi'n teimlo am ble'r ydych chi'n byw ac i ble'r ydych chi'n perthyn, oherwydd os ydych chi'n gwybod bod y rheini'n ffynnu, mae hynny'n dda iawn ar gyfer sut mae pobl yn teimlo, yn ogystal ag yn economaidd.

Thank you very much for your statement this afternoon, Cabinet Secretary. I met with Prestatyn business forum, who recently held a demonstration over business rates by covering up their shop fronts, as they have made clear that they simply cannot survive with the level of taxation that they receive. Business insolvency is also rising, and even without looking at the figures, people are aware of this, and they raise it with me regularly. They notice high streets and their communities changing, and, sadly, not for the better. Family businesses are shutting down at a frightening rate, and we can see more vacant shops on our high street. As I’ve mentioned before, the only businesses that appear to be flourishing are specific types of enterprises, such as cash-only barber shops, nail bars, gelato, sweet shops, et cetera, which are now ten a penny in most town centres.

The statistics also support the incredible rise of these businesses, and since my initial comments on the subject, it has received a large degree of attention, as the public are increasingly concerned at the changes taking place on their high streets. But the biggest impact the Welsh Government could have in restoring our high streets is for the Government to get off the back of struggling businesses by reinstating business rates relief back to 75 per cent. So, will the Cabinet Secretary re-examine the effect of business rates relief change on town centres across Wales and provide an analysis on the impact of the cuts, with a view to reversing them in the future? Thank you.

Diolch yn fawr iawn am eich datganiad y prynhawn yma, Ysgrifennydd Cabinet. Gwnes i gyfarfod â fforwm busnes Prestatyn, a oedd yn cynnal ymgyrch dros ardrethi busnes yn ddiweddar, drwy orchuddio blaenau eu siopau, gan eu bod wedi nodi'n glir na allan nhw oroesi gyda'r lefel o drethiant y maen nhw'n ei chael. Mae ansolfedd busnes hefyd yn cynyddu, a hyd yn oed heb edrych ar y ffigurau, mae pobl yn ymwybodol o hyn, ac maen nhw'n ei godi gyda mi yn rheolaidd. Maen nhw'n sylwi ar y stryd fawr a'u cymunedau'n newid, ac yn anffodus, nid er gwell. Mae busnesau teuluol yn cau ar raddfa frawychus, a gallwn ni weld mwy o siopau gwag ar ein stryd fawr. Fel yr wyf i wedi sôn amdano o'r blaen, yr unig fusnesau sy'n ymddangos eu bod yn ffynnu yw mathau penodol o fentrau, fel siopau barbwr arian parod yn unig, bariau ewinedd, siopau gelato, siopau losin, ac ati, y mae'r rhan fwyaf o drefi yn frith ohonyn nhw erbyn hyn.

Mae'r ystadegau hefyd yn cefnogi cynnydd anhygoel y busnesau hyn, ac ers fy sylwadau cychwynnol ar y pwnc, mae wedi cael cryn dipyn o sylw, gan fod y cyhoedd yn fwyfwy pryderus am y newidiadau sy'n digwydd ar eu strydoedd mawr. Ond yr effaith fwyaf y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru ei chael wrth adfer ein strydoedd mawr yw i'r Llywodraeth roi'r gorau i rwystro busnesau sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd drwy adfer rhyddhad ardrethi busnes yn ôl i 75 y cant. Felly, a wnaiff yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet ailystyried effaith newid rhyddhad ardrethi busnes ar ganol trefi ledled Cymru a darparu dadansoddiad o effaith y toriadau, gyda'r bwriad o'u gwrthdroi yn y dyfodol? Diolch.

17:30

Thank you, Gareth. Obviously, as I said, a lot of this Transforming Towns and lots of the elements of the statement that I've given today—. Actually, part of that sits within lots of other portfolios. So, some of what you've touched on today in terms of business rates, it's not within my portfolio. But we're investing £125 million of Transforming Towns funding over three years to support our town and city centres. I hear some of what you've suggested about those empty properties, and I've talked a little bit about how important we know it is to bring those empty properties back into use, and that's something that we're working with local authorities on doing. We have a number of funds and schemes within that. For example, I know that in Denbighshire—and I was there last week, talking to the leader and chief executive of Denbighshire—that Queen's Market is something that is on many people's radar; that's the former Savoy Hotel. There's a project there that proposes to return the semi-derelict site to a vibrant productive use and a more modern offer in the town centre: indoor market hall, varied food and beverage offer, temporary retail market stores, a flexible event space. It does sound really exciting. There's £6.45 million of Transforming Towns grant that has gone into that. So, there are lots of things, and we've seen that done well in other areas as well, so I'm sure that sounds quite exciting in Rhyl.

Diolch yn fawr, Gareth. Yn amlwg, fel y dywedais i, mae llawer o'r Trawsnewid Trefi hyn a llawer o elfennau'r datganiad y gwnes i eu rhoi heddiw—. Mewn gwirionedd, mae rhan o hynny'n eistedd o fewn llawer o bortffolios eraill. Felly, nid yw rhywfaint o'r hyn yr ydych chi wedi sôn amdano heddiw o ran ardrethi busnes, o fewn fy mhortffolio i. Ond rydyn ni'n buddsoddi £125 miliwn o gyllid Trawsnewid Trefi dros dair blynedd i gefnogi canol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd. Rwy'n clywed rhywfaint o'r hyn rydych chi wedi'i awgrymu am yr eiddo gwag hynny, ac rwyf i wedi siarad ychydig am ba mor bwysig yw hi i ailddefnyddio'r eiddo gwag hynny, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr ydyn ni'n gweithio gydag awdurdodau lleol i'w wneud. Mae gennym ni nifer o gronfeydd a chynlluniau o fewn hynny. Er enghraifft, yn sir Ddinbych—ac roeddwn i yno yr wythnos diwethaf, yn siarad ag arweinydd a phrif weithredwr sir Ddinbych—rwy'n gwybod bod Marchnad y Frenhines yn rhywbeth sydd ar radar llawer o bobl; sef hen westy'r Savoy. Mae prosiect yno sy'n bwriadu dychwelyd y safle lled-adfeiliedig i ddefnydd cynhyrchiol bywiog a chynnig mwy modern yng nghanol y dref: neuadd farchnad dan do, cynnig bwyd a diod amrywiol, siopau marchnad manwerthu dros dro, gofod digwyddiadau hyblyg. Mae'n swnio'n gyffrous iawn. Mae £6.45 miliwn o grant Trawsnewid Trefi wedi mynd i mewn i hynny. Felly, mae llawer o bethau, ac rydyn ni wedi gweld hynny'n cael ei wneud yn dda mewn ardaloedd eraill hefyd, felly rwy'n siŵr bod hynny'n swnio'n eithaf cyffrous yn y Rhyl.

May I thank you for your statement today? It’s very welcome. I don't want to annoy every town in my region but I will focus on one in particular, Pontypridd, that's seen the best of times and the worst of times this year. So, it really resonated with me, what you said about arts and culture being important. The new model for a National Eisteddfod that was so successful this year, the transport links that worked brilliantly, that is something we could replicate in other parts of Wales. But the worst of times in terms of the flooding, and, of course, in terms of the 'Town centres: position statement' there is reference to the climate and nature emergencies, there's a reference in terms of the construction and maintenance of flood defences, but what about flood resilience? Because we need to be able to support small businesses to remain in our town centres. We've heard a number of warnings from businesses that were impacted by the floods in terms of not being able to get insurance, what it means in terms of being able to rebuild. So, what support will you be providing to towns like Pontypridd that, unfortunately, are going to suffer flooding again and where flood defences aren't the only solution? And can I invite you to visit Pontypridd and speak to the businesses directly yourself that have been impacted by the floods, but also benefited from the Eisteddfod?

A gaf i ddiolch i chi am eich datganiad heddiw? Mae croeso mawr iddo. Nid ydw i eisiau cythruddo pob tref yn fy rhanbarth i, ond byddaf i'n canolbwyntio ar un yn benodol, Pontypridd, sydd wedi gweld yr amseroedd gorau a'r amseroedd gwaethaf eleni. Felly, mae hi wir yn taro tant gyda mi, yr hyn y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud am bwysigrwydd y celfyddydau a diwylliant. Y model newydd ar gyfer Eisteddfod Genedlaethol a oedd mor llwyddiannus eleni, y cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth a weithiodd yn wych, mae hynny'n rhywbeth y gallen ni ei efelychu mewn rhannau eraill o Gymru. Ond yr amseroedd gwaethaf o ran y llifogydd, ac, wrth gwrs, o ran 'Canol trefi: datganiad sefyllfa' mae cyfeiriad at yr argyfyngau hinsawdd a natur, mae cyfeiriad o ran adeiladu a chynnal amddiffynfeydd rhag llifogydd, ond beth am gydnerthedd llifogydd? Oherwydd mae angen i ni allu cefnogi busnesau bach i aros yng nghanol ein trefi. Rydyn ni wedi clywed nifer o rybuddion gan fusnesau y gwnaeth y llifogydd effeithio arnyn nhw o ran methu â chael yswiriant, yr hyn y mae'n ei olygu o ran gallu ailadeiladu. Felly, pa gymorth fyddwch chi'n ei ddarparu i drefi fel Pontypridd sydd, yn anffodus, yn mynd i ddioddef llifogydd eto a lle nad amddiffynfeydd rhag llifogydd yw'r unig ateb? Ac a gaf i eich gwahodd chi i ymweld â Phontypridd a siarad yn uniongyrchol eich hun â'r busnesau y mae'r llifogydd wedi effeithio arnyn nhw'n, ond sydd hefyd wedi elwa o'r Eisteddfod?

Absolutely. Diolch, Heledd, and thank you for that. I realise you wouldn't want, as you said, to just focus on one town in particular, because you have a number in your region, but it's really good to hear you talk about Pontypridd. I've been there. I went to the Eisteddfod and visited the shops that were there, which was really brilliant. But we know of some of the damage that has been done to those shops. I've seen some of those photographs and pictures of that and heard from local businesses there, and know how difficult and traumatising it's been for them with the floods recently. Actually, I believe I'm going to Pontypridd next week, so that quickly, I think. So, your wish is my command, or my wish is your command, or whichever way around that is. But I will be visiting Pontypridd, and we know that some of those shops that had suffered through storm Dennis previously, and how difficult that had been, that some were actually—. Because of the mitigation and the repairs that have been done after that, and the investment that went in, some of them have been able to be back open quickly this time. So, there is some hope with that, but I know it has been really difficult for those businesses and people that have been affected. But I think that Pontypridd has a real energy about it. I've seen it for myself when I visited, and know that there are lots of really positive things happening in Pontypridd—[Interruption.]—town centre. 

Yn sicr. Diolch, Heledd, a diolch am hynny. Rwy'n sylweddoli na fyddech chi eisiau, fel y gwnaethoch chi ei ddweud, ganolbwyntio ar un dref yn benodol, oherwydd mae gennych chi nifer yn eich rhanbarth, ond mae'n dda iawn eich clywed chi'n siarad am Bontypridd. Rydw i wedi bod yno. Es i i'r Eisteddfod ac fe wnes i ymweld â'r siopau oedd yno, a oedd yn wirioneddol wych. Ond rydyn ni'n gwybod am rywfaint o'r difrod sydd wedi'i wneud i'r siopau hynny. Rydw i wedi gweld rhai o'r lluniau o hynny ac wedi clywed gan fusnesau lleol yno, ac yn gwybod pa mor anodd a thrawmatig y mae hi wedi bod iddyn nhw gyda'r llifogydd yn ddiweddar. A dweud y gwir, rwy'n credu fy mod i'n mynd i Bontypridd yr wythnos nesaf, felly mor fuan â hynny, rwy'n credu. Felly, byddaf i'n gwireddu eich dymuniad chi, neu y byddwch chi'n gwireddu fy nymuniad i, neu ba ffordd bynnag yw hynny. Ond byddaf i'n ymweld â Phontypridd, ac rydyn ni'n gwybod bod rhai o'r siopau hynny a oedd wedi dioddef drwy storm Dennis o'r blaen, a pha mor anodd yr oedd hynny, bod rhai wir wedi—. Oherwydd y lliniaru a'r atgyweirio sydd wedi'u gwneud ar ôl hynny, a'r buddsoddi a aeth i mewn, mae rhai ohonyn nhw wedi gallu bod yn ôl ar agor yn gyflym y tro hwn. Felly, mae rhywfaint o obaith o ran hynny, ond rwy'n gwybod ei bod wedi bod yn anodd iawn i'r busnesau a'r bobl hynny y mae wedi effeithio arnyn nhw. Ond rwy'n credu bod wgni gwirioneddol gan Bontypridd. Rydw i wedi'i weld drosof i fy hun pan wnes i ymweld, ac rwy'n gwybod bod llawer o bethau cadarnhaol iawn yn digwydd ym Mhontypridd—[Torri ar draws.]—yng nghanol y dref. 

17:35

Okay. I'm really sorry. Thank you. Siân Gwenllian has already mentioned the impact, the really bad impact, of out-of-town developments, and we've seen in lots of town centres how supermarkets park their tanks on local communities' lawns and then eliminate a lot of the businesses in the town centre. So, there are two issues here. One is that, if you haven't got a car, it becomes extremely difficult to be able to get fresh food, because it's only available, after these shops close, from this said supermarket. So, I completely support Siân Gwenllian's idea of taxing these out-of-town developments.

My question to you, apart from how do we ensure that people can get fresh food within walking distance of communities—the Peckham principle—is: do we have the planning system sufficiently rigorous to prevent these sorts of horror stories happening again? It's very difficult to row back on decisions that have already been made—these organisations are there—but we absolutely don't need any more out-of-town-centre developments because, inevitably, they lead to the elimination of local businesses in town centres.  

Iawn. Mae'n wir ddrwg gennyf i. Diolch. Mae Siân Gwenllian eisoes wedi sôn am effaith, effaith wael iawn, datblygiadau ar gyrion trefi, ac rydyn ni wedi gweld mewn llawer o ganol trefi sut mae archfarchnadoedd yn parcio eu tanciau ar lawntiau'r gymuned lleol ac yna'n dileu llawer o fusnesau canol y dref. Felly, mae dau fater yma. Un yw, os nad oes gennych chi gar, mae'n mynd yn anodd iawn gallu cael bwyd ffres, oherwydd ar ôl i'r siopau hyn gau, mae ond ar gael o'r archfarchnad hon. Felly, rwy'n cefnogi yn llwyr syniad Siân Gwenllian o drethu'r datblygiadau hyn ar gyrion trefi.

Fy nghwestiwn i chi, ar wahân i sut rydyn ni'n sicrhau bod pobl yn gallu cael bwyd ffres o fewn pellter cerdded i gymunedau—egwyddor Peckham—yw: a oes gennym ni system gynllunio ddigon trylwyr i atal y mathau hyn o straeon arswyd rhag digwydd eto? Mae'n anodd iawn mynd yn ôl ar benderfyniadau sydd eisoes wedi'u gwneud—mae'r sefydliadau hyn yno—ond nid oes angen unrhyw ddatblygiadau eraill y tu allan i'r dref oherwydd, yn anochel, maen nhw'n arwain at ddileu busnesau lleol yng nghanol trefi.  

Thank you, Jenny, and thank you for the points that you've raised. I think that we've seen over the years that trend towards out-of-town shopping centres, and that's where people then went to do their shopping. And we still know that people use those regularly now. Sometimes, it's quite interesting seeing out-of-town shopping centres that are actually very walkable to the high street, and I know that people are doing that a little bit more as well. 

In terms of what we need to do about that, I think, again, it's around having this programme that we're looking at, in terms of Transforming Towns, and what we need to do to encourage and support businesses in our town centres and heritage and arts. Because we need to find where people are going. We need to make sure people are attracted to going there, so they can buy their fresh fruit and veg there—fresh fruit and veg, which we all want to see. It's about where people want to go at the end of the day, isn't it, and if there are things in our town centres and city centres that are attracting people then people will go there.   

Diolch, Jenny, a diolch am y pwyntiau yr ydych chi wedi'u codi. Rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi gweld dros y blynyddoedd y duedd yna tuag at ganolfannau siopa ar gyrion trefi, a dyna lle fyddai pobl yn mynd wedyn i wneud eu siopa. Ac rydyn ni'n dal i wybod bod pobl yn defnyddio'r rhain yn rheolaidd nawr. Weithiau, mae'n eithaf diddorol gweld canolfannau siopa ar gyrion tref nad yw'n bell i gerdded i'r stryd fawr, ac rwy'n gwybod bod pobl yn gwneud hynny ychydig yn fwy hefyd. 

O ran yr hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud am hynny, rwy'n credu, unwaith eto, ei bod yn ymwneud â bod â'r rhaglen hon yr ydyn ni'n ei hystyried, o ran Trawsnewid Trefi, a'r hyn y mae angen i ni ei wneud i annog a chefnogi busnesau yng nghanol ein trefi a threftadaeth a'r celfyddydau. Oherwydd, mae angen i ni ddod o hyd i ble mae pobl yn mynd. Mae angen i ni sicrhau bod pobl yn cael eu denu i fynd yno, fel y gallan nhw brynu eu ffrwythau a'u llysiau ffres yno—ffrwythau a llysiau ffres, yr ydyn ni i gyd eisiau eu gweld. Mae'n ymwneud â lle mae pobl eisiau mynd ar ddiwedd y dydd, onid ydyw, ac os oes pethau yng nghanol ein trefi a chanol dinasoedd sy'n denu pobl yna bydd pobl yn mynd yno.   

My office is based in Neath town centre, a town you highlighted in your statement, and over the last year I've worked with business owners in the town not just to hear more about the challenges they're facing—because many of them were very concerned because we lost a large Marks and Spencer store after 90 years of trading—but it was obvious to me that there are ways of overcoming those challenges when those big anchor stores shut, with the right support. It's not all about big developments—it's about grass-roots, ground up support as well. 

In a short space of time, we've gone from people spreading rumours that Neath market was going to close to it once again being celebrated now as a vital part of the character and economy of the town centre, and the traders themselves have delivered and supported lots of exciting events and activities designed to draw people in. So, how is the strategy supporting this type of on-the-ground activity, and how is the strategy also helping to update and make energy efficient older, iconic buildings that are crucial to town centres' prosperity and identity, such as Neath general market? Can the strategy help cash-strapped local authorities with that crucial work, in alignment with our net-zero goals? And I would invite you to come and see the vast potential and the great icon that is the historic Neath market.

Mae fy swyddfa i yng nghanol tref Castell-nedd, tref y gwnaethoch chi dynnu sylw ati yn eich datganiad, ac yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf rwyf i wedi gweithio gyda pherchnogion busnes yn y dref nid yn unig i glywed mwy am yr heriau maen nhw'n eu hwynebu—oherwydd bod llawer ohonyn nhw'n poeni'n fawr oherwydd ein bod ni wedi colli siop fawr Marks and Spencer ar ôl 90 mlynedd o fasnachu—ond roedd yn amlwg i mi fod yna ffyrdd o oresgyn yr heriau hynny pan fydd y siopau angori mawr hynny yn cau, gyda'r gefnogaeth gywir. Nid yw'n ymwneud â datblygiadau mawr—mae'n ymwneud â chefnogaeth lawr gwlad, o'r gwaelod i fyny hefyd. 

Mewn cyfnod byr o amser, rydyn ni wedi mynd o bobl yn lledaenu sïon bod marchnad Castell-nedd yn mynd i gau, ati unwaith eto'n cael ei dathlu nawr fel rhan hanfodol o gymeriad ac economi canol y dref, ac mae'r masnachwyr eu hunain wedi cyflwyno a chefnogi llawer o ddigwyddiadau a gweithgareddau cyffrous a gafodd eu cynllunio i ddenu pobl i mewn. Felly, sut mae'r strategaeth yn cefnogi'r math hwn o weithgaredd ar lawr gwlad, a sut mae'r strategaeth hefyd yn helpu i ddiweddaru a gwneud adeiladau hŷn ac eiconig sy'n effeithlon o ran ynni sy'n hanfodol i ffyniant a hunaniaeth canol trefi, fel marchnad gyffredinol Castell-nedd? A all y strategaeth helpu awdurdodau lleol sy'n brin o arian gyda'r gwaith hanfodol hwnnw, yn unol â'n nodau sero net? A byddwn i'n eich gwahodd chi i ddod i weld y potensial enfawr a'r eicon gwych sef marchnad hanesyddol Castell-nedd.

Lovely. I'll definitely take you up on visiting Neath as well. I've seen some of the progress over the years that Neath has made in being brought back to life. I know there are some exciting plans as well. We've got the former youth offending team building, which is a project that is in its early stages, I believe, that is going to deliver high-quality commercial office space, and a site that links to the town centre—it's linked to the town centre—which I think is really important in some of the things that we've talked about today, about that bringing that footfall back in is really important. 

I think for so long we've talked about anchor buildings, haven't we, anchor sites, for shops. I know that, in my own authority, often that was talked about. Debenhams—I think I was eight when Debenhams first talked about coming to Newport, and I was a lot older than that when it did, and, sadly, it wasn't there for long. We know about these anchor sites, but I think, actually, people want something a bit different, don't they? They want independent shops, they want a different feel about where they want to shop, and I think it is really important that we celebrate those local businesses, community hubs in our town and city centres. I think it's just trying to really create that vibrancy again, because that's what people really want to see.

Within our plan, again, it's looking at how we can—. Whether it's locating public sector workforce into town centres, how we can get more health centres into our town and city centres. So, it is really important that we're looking at this in the round, really. It's not just about one aspect of it; it's about what is going to draw people in to our town and city centres, what is our vision, and I think that, as long as we're communicating with our communities, putting them at the heart of everything we do, then I think we'll see a really thriving town centre again.

Hyfryd. Yn bendant, fe wnaf i dderbyn eich gwahoddiad i ymweld â Chastell-nedd hefyd. Rwyf i wedi gweld rhywfaint o'r cynnydd dros y blynyddoedd y mae Castell-nedd wedi'i wneud wrth ddod yn fyw eto. Rwy'n gwybod bod cynlluniau cyffrous ar waith hefyd. Mae gennym ni hen adeilad y tîm troseddau ieuenctid, sy'n brosiect sydd yn ei gamau cynnar, rwy'n credu, sy'n mynd i ddarparu safle swyddfa fasnachol o ansawdd uchel, a safle sy'n cysylltu â chanol y dref—mae'n gysylltiedig â chanol y dref—sydd, yn fy marn i, yn bwysig iawn o ran rhai o'r pethau yr ydyn ni wedi siarad amdanyn nhw heddiw, ynglŷn â hynny'n dod â'r ymwelwyr yn ôl i mewn yn bwysig iawn. 

Rwy'n credu ers cymaint o amser rydyn ni wedi sôn am adeiladau angori, onid ydyn ni, safleoedd angori, ar gyfer siopau. Rwy'n gwybod, yn fy awdurdod i fy hun, bod hynny'n aml yn cael ei drafod. Debenhams—rwy'n credu mai wyth oed oeddwn i pan soniodd Debenhams am ddod i Gasnewydd yn gyntaf, ac roeddwn i'n llawer hŷn na hynny pan wnaeth ddod, ac, yn anffodus, nid oedd yno am hir. Rydyn ni'n gwybod am y safleoedd angori hyn, ond rwy'n credu, mewn gwirionedd, bod pobl eisiau rhywbeth ychydig yn wahanol, onid ydyn nhw? Maen nhw eisiau siopau annibynnol, maen nhw eisiau naws wahanol o ble maen nhw eisiau siopa, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n dathlu'r busnesau lleol, hybiau cymunedol hynny yng nghanol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd. Rwy'n credu mai dim ond ceisio creu'r bywiogrwydd hwnnw eto mewn gwirionedd, oherwydd dyna beth mae pobl wir eisiau'i weld.

Yn ein cynllun ni, unwaith eto, mae'n edrych ar sut y gallwn ni—. P'un ai yw'n lleoli gweithlu'r sector cyhoeddus yng nghanol trefi, sut y gallwn ni gael mwy o ganolfannau iechyd i ganol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd. Felly, mae'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n edrych ar hyn yn ei gyfanrwydd, mewn gwirionedd. Nid yw'n ymwneud ag un agwedd yn unig; mae'n ymwneud â'r hyn sy'n mynd i ddenu pobl i ganol ein trefi a'n dinasoedd, beth yw ein gweledigaeth, ac rwy'n credu, cyn belled â'n bod ni'n cyfathrebu â'n cymunedau, yn eu rhoi nhw wrth wraidd popeth a wnawn, yna rwy'n credu y byddwn ni'n gweld canol tref sydd wir yn ffynnu eto.

17:40

Diolch i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.

And if you're committing yourself to visiting towns all over the place, there's always Port Talbot you can come to. [Laughter.]

Ac os ydych chi'n ymrwymo i ymweld â threfi ymhob man, gallwch chi wastad ddod i Port Talbot. [Chwerthin.]

7. Datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant: Arloesi ym maes gofal iechyd
7. Statement by the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing: Innovation in healthcare

Eitem 7 heddiw yw'r datganiad gan y Gweinidog Iechyd Meddwl a Llesiant, arloesi ym maes gofal iechyd. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Sarah Murphy.

Item 7 today is a statement by the Minister for Mental Health and Well-being, innovation in healthcare. I call on the Minister, Sarah Murphy.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. The history of modern healthcare is one of innovation. New ways of working, interventions, technologies and medicines have helped our health service to evolve and, in turn, helped us to improve the health, well-being and wealth of people in Wales. Since the national health service was founded, it has looked after people using a huge range of in-person, digital and virtual models of care, which are, in turn, based on an enormous number of scientific, technological and social discoveries and breakthroughs. All this contributes to our ever-changing healthcare system.

Our innovation strategy for Wales, 'Wales Innovates', which was published last year, was designed to create the right environment for innovation, so we can keep on meeting today’s challenges. The challenges are an ageing population with major public health concerns like obesity and smoking, and the demand challenges of 2 million NHS contacts per month, and the very real consequences of health inequalities. 'Wales Innovates' is deliberately cross-Government, with four mission areas across health and social care, education, the economy, and climate and nature, and this results in a range of joint investment for healthcare innovation. For example, our economy department-led flexible innovation support programme is supporting Welsh companies on research, development and innovation across multiple sectors. This has led to cutting-edge projects, including the world's first blood test for multiple sclerosis and bioprinting technology for organ replacements. And in healthcare, our innovation technology and partnerships programme is supporting networks of innovation teams and leads across NHS Wales. It is also building workforce innovation capability through our four Welsh intensive learning academies and the Bevan Exemplars programme. Other examples include Health Technology Wales, which undertakes appraisals of non-medicine health and social care technologies and models of care; the small business research initiative centre of excellence, which is based in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and funds new and innovative solutions to address unmet needs through public-private-academic partnerships from feasibility stage to prototyping and to pre-procurement. Our tackling cancer initiative leads work in lung cancer. The transnasal endoscopy capsule sponge is a novel diagnostic tool for collecting tissue from the oesophagus for AI-assisted analysis.

Llywydd, when we are talking about innovation, we of course have to turn to AI. When it comes to artificial intelligence, leadership is crucial as we integrate its use into health and social care. The AI Commission for Health and Social Care was launched a year ago and leads on the development and review of the safe, responsible and ethical environment. It is guiding the use of AI in the health and social care sector in Wales, learning from experts and the global healthcare family. One of its first actions was to endorse the use of algorithmic transparency recording standards for use in health and social care, which will be actioned next year, and taking seriously the need for trust and openness when it comes to the use of AI in healthcare.

The NHS in Wales is already deploying AI tools in diagnostic and clinical pathways: AI is increasing the detection rate, for example, in prostate cancer by up to 13 per cent. Investment in AI technology illustrates that better data means better care. For example, using imaging data for stroke presentations in emergency care, we will be able to explore direct-to-scan admission for positive stroke presentations, optimising the benefit of the recent investment in AI to speed up time that saves lives and improves quality of life.

Our refreshed 'Digital and data strategy for health and social care in Wales', which was published in July 2023, recognises the importance of having a good digital foundation to services. Choose Pharmacy is a positive example of where we have made good progress. Access to NHS Wales digital records system data enabled this service to go live. Community pharmacies can provide treatments for 27 common illnesses without the need for a GP appointment, and there have been 368,725 consultations so far in 2024, more than a five-fold increase than five years ago.

Similarly, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board have taken an innovative digital, data and value linkage approach to work with social housing providers to identify tenants eligible for the retrospective fitting of insulation under ECO4, the energy company obligation scheme. So, this reduces instances of respiratory problems, improves energy efficiency, targeting innovation to the vulnerable where health inequalities may be a factor.

Dirprwy Lywydd, there is no shortage of innovation in Wales. We must ensure we make full use of innovation to improve health and social care and improve outcomes for people. Simply put, patients need to feel this improvement. To do that, we're working with national and international counterparts through our UK ministerial group to develop a common approach to innovation adoption, which recognises joint opportunities across our healthcare systems.

In Wales, we are focusing this work on a new innovations working at scale programme, which will be launched next year. An area of priority is embedding virtual and remote care as part of our home and community-based services. This will increase the speed at which we can adopt and implement innovation at a national level. This may mean, in some instances, doing less or stopping doing some things to enable these new innovations and discoveries to be introduced. For example, teams will have to stop automatically making out-patient appointments as a default when patient-initiated follow-up is the most innovative option. The NHS executive, with its digital, data, technology innovation and value function will lead this work and enable connections to be made across networks and locally.

The system is under pressure, and requires additional capacity for innovation to allow for a step change where innovation is the responsibility of all parts of the NHS as part of taking an 'adapt, adopt or justify' approach. To do this, we are building a range of national innovation infrastructure, based around an NHS Wales innovation framework, which will support our staff to develop new ideas, turn them into reality, sharing and adopting proven new ways of working. All of these actions will support us to construct and embed a culture of constant innovation across our vital healthcare system. Bevan's legacy should be about innovation, given that founding the NHS was the primary act of innovation in healthcare itself. The ultimate goal is, of course, better outcomes and experiences for all. Diolch yn fawr.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae hanes gofal iechyd modern yn un o arloesi. Mae ffyrdd newydd o weithio, ymyriadau, technolegau a meddyginiaethau wedi helpu ein gwasanaeth iechyd i esblygu ac, yn eu tro, wedi ein helpu i wella iechyd, llesiant a chyfoeth pobl yng Nghymru. Ers sefydlu'r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol, mae wedi gofalu am bobl gan ddefnyddio ystod enfawr o fodelau gofal yn bersonol, yn ddigidol ac yn rhithwir, sydd, yn ei dro, yn seiliedig ar nifer enfawr o ddarganfyddiadau a datblygiadau gwyddonol, technolegol a chymdeithasol. Mae hyn i gyd yn cyfrannu at ein system gofal iechyd sy'n newid yn barhaus.

Dyluniwyd ein strategaeth arloesi ar gyfer Cymru, 'Cymru'n Arloesi', a gyhoeddwyd y llynedd, i greu'r amgylchedd cywir ar gyfer arloesi, fel y gallwn barhau i fodloni heriau heddiw. Yr heriau yw poblogaeth sy'n heneiddio gyda phryderon iechyd cyhoeddus mawr fel gordewdra ac ysmygu, a'r heriau galw sef 2 filiwn o gysylltiadau â'r GIG pob mis, a chanlyniadau gwirioneddol iawn anghydraddoldebau iechyd. Mae 'Cymru'n Arloesi' yn fwriadol yn draws-lywodraethol, gyda phedwar maes cenhadaeth ar draws iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, addysg, yr economi, a hinsawdd a natur, ac mae hyn yn arwain at amrywiaeth o fuddsoddiad ar y cyd ar gyfer arloesi ym maes gofal iechyd. Er enghraifft, mae ein rhaglen cymorth arloesi hyblyg dan arweiniad adran yr economi yn cefnogi cwmnïau o Gymru ar ymchwil, datblygu ac arloesi ar draws sawl sector. Mae hyn wedi arwain at brosiectau blaengar, gan gynnwys prawf gwaed cyntaf y byd ar gyfer sglerosis ymledol a thechnoleg bioargraffu ar gyfer amnewid organau. Ac ym maes gofal iechyd, mae ein rhaglen technoleg a phartneriaethau arloesi yn cefnogi rhwydweithiau o dimau arloesi ac arweinwyr ar draws GIG Cymru. Mae hefyd yn creu capasiti arloesi yn y gweithlu drwy ein pedair academi dysgu dwys yng Nghymru a rhaglen Enghreifftiol Bevan. Mae enghreifftiau eraill yn cynnwys Technoleg Iechyd Cymru, sy'n cynnal arfarniadau o dechnolegau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol nad ydynt yn feddyginiaethau a modelau gofal; mae'r ganolfan ragoriaeth menter ymchwil busnesau bach, sydd wedi'i lleoli ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ac sy'n ariannu atebion newydd ac arloesol i fynd i'r afael ag anghenion heb eu diwallu trwy bartneriaethau cyhoeddus-preifat-academaidd o'r cam dichonoldeb i brototeipio a chyn-caffael. Mae ein menter taclo canser yn arwain gwaith ar ganser yr ysgyfaint. Mae'r sbwng capsiwl endosgopi drwy'r trwyn yn offeryn diagnostig newydd ar gyfer casglu meinwe o'r oesoffagws ar gyfer dadansoddi gyda chymorth deallusrwydd artiffisial.

Llywydd, pan fyddwn ni'n siarad am arloesi, wrth gwrs mae'n rhaid i ni droi at deallusrwydd artiffisial. O ran deallusrwydd artiffisial, mae arweinyddiaeth yn hanfodol wrth i ni integreiddio ei ddefnydd mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Lansiwyd y Comisiwn Deallusrwydd Artiffisial ar gyfer Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol flwyddyn yn ôl ac mae'n arwain ar ddatblygu ac adolygu'r amgylchedd diogel, cyfrifol a moesegol. Mae'n arwain y defnydd o ddeallusrwydd artiffisial yn y sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru, gan ddysgu gan arbenigwyr a'r teulu gofal iechyd byd-eang. Un o'i gamau cyntaf oedd cymeradwyo'r defnydd o safonau cofnodi tryloywder algorithmig i'w defnyddio mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, a fydd yn cael eu gweithredu'r flwyddyn nesaf, a chymryd o ddifrif yr angen am ymddiriedaeth a bod yn agored wrth ddefnyddio deallusrwydd artiffisial mewn gofal iechyd.

Mae'r GIG yng Nghymru eisoes yn defnyddio offer deallusrwydd artiffisial mewn llwybrau diagnostig a chlinigol: mae deallusrwydd artiffisial yn cynyddu'r gyfradd canfod, er enghraifft, mewn canser y prostad hyd at 13 y cant. Mae buddsoddi mewn technoleg deallusrwydd artiffisial yn dangos bod gwell data yn golygu gwell gofal. Er enghraifft, gan ddefnyddio data delweddu ar gyfer ymgyflwyniadau strôc mewn gofal brys, byddwn yn gallu archwilio mynediad uniongyrchol i sgan ar gyfer ymgyflwyniadau strôc cadarnhaol, gan wneud y gorau o fudd y buddsoddiad diweddar mewn deallusrwydd artiffisial i gyflymu amser sy'n achub bywydau ac sy'n gwella ansawdd bywyd.

Mae ein 'Strategaeth ddigidol a data ar gyfer iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol yng Nghymru', a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Gorffennaf 2023, yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd bod â sylfaen ddigidol dda i wasanaethau. Mae Dewis Fferyllfa yn enghraifft gadarnhaol o ble rydym wedi gwneud cynnydd da. Gwnaeth mynediad at ddata system cofnodion digidol GIG Cymru alluogi'r gwasanaeth hwn i fynd yn fyw. Gall fferyllfeydd cymunedol ddarparu triniaethau ar gyfer 27 o afiechydon cyffredin heb fod angen apwyntiad meddyg teulu, a bu 368,725 o ymgynghoriadau hyd yma yn 2024, cynnydd o fwy na pum gwaith o'i gymharu a phum mlynedd yn ôl.

Yn yr un modd, mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg wedi mabwysiadu dull cysylltu digidol, data a gwerth arloesol i weithio gyda darparwyr tai cymdeithasol i nodi tenantiaid sy'n gymwys ar gyfer gosod insiwleiddio yn ôl-weithredol o dan ECO4, cynllun rhwymedigaeth y cwmnïau ynni. Felly, mae hyn yn lleihau achosion o broblemau anadlu, yn gwella effeithlonrwydd ynni, gan dargedu arloesedd i'r rhai sy'n agored i niwed lle gallai anghydraddoldebau iechyd fod yn ffactor.

Dirprwy Lywydd, does dim prinder arloesedd yng Nghymru. Rhaid inni sicrhau ein bod yn gwneud defnydd llawn o arloesi i wella iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol a gwella canlyniadau i bobl. Yn syml, mae angen i gleifion deimlo'r gwelliant hwn. I wneud hynny, rydym yn gweithio gyda chymheiriaid cenedlaethol a rhyngwladol drwy ein grŵp gweinidogol yn y DU i ddatblygu dull cyffredin o fabwysiadu arloesedd, sy'n cydnabod cyfleoedd ar y cyd ar draws ein systemau gofal iechyd.

Yng Nghymru, rydym yn canolbwyntio'r gwaith hwn ar raglen arloesol newydd sy'n gweithio ar raddfa fawr, a fydd yn cael ei lansio'r flwyddyn nesaf. Maes o flaenoriaeth yw ymgorffori gofal rhithwir ac o bell fel rhan o'n gwasanaethau cartref a chymunedol. Bydd hyn yn cynyddu'r cyflymder y gallwn fabwysiadu a gweithredu arloesedd ar lefel genedlaethol. Efallai fydd hyn yn golygu, mewn rhai achosion, gwneud llai neu roi'r gorau i wneud rhai pethau i alluogi'r datblygiadau arloesol a'r darganfyddiadau newydd hyn i gael eu cyflwyno. Er enghraifft, bydd yn rhaid i dimau roi'r gorau i wneud apwyntiadau cleifion allanol yn awtomatig fel y dull diofyn pan mai apwyntiad dilynol a weithredir gan gleifion yw'r opsiwn mwyaf arloesol. Bydd Gweithrediaeth y GIG, gyda'i swyddogaeth ddigidol, data, arloesi technoleg a gwerth yn arwain y gwaith hwn ac yn galluogi cysylltiadau i gael eu gwneud ar draws rhwydweithiau ac yn lleol.

Mae'r system dan bwysau, ac mae angen capasiti ychwanegol ar gyfer arloesi i ganiatáu newid sylweddol lle mae arloesedd yn gyfrifoldeb ar bob rhan o'r GIG fel rhan o arddel dull 'addasu, mabwysiadu neu gyfiawnhau'. I wneud hyn, rydym yn creu amrywiaeth o seilwaith arloesi cenedlaethol, wedi'i seilio ar fframwaith arloesi GIG Cymru, a fydd yn cefnogi ein staff i ddatblygu syniadau newydd, eu troi'n realiti, gan rannu a mabwysiadu ffyrdd newydd profedig o weithio. Bydd yr holl gamau hyn yn ein cefnogi i greu ac ymgorffori diwylliant o arloesi cyson ar draws ein system gofal iechyd hanfodol. Dylai etifeddiaeth Bevan ymwneud ag arloesi, o gofio mai sefydlu'r GIG oedd y brif weithred arloesi ym maes gofal iechyd ei hun. Y nod yn y pen draw, wrth gwrs, yw canlyniadau a phrofiadau gwell i bawb. Diolch yn fawr.

17:45

Thank you, Minister, for your statement here in the Chamber this afternoon. I absolutely agree with you in terms of the role that digital health innovation has in being crucial to building a health service fit for 2024 and beyond, so I'm grateful for the attention given to this topic here in the Chamber today.

Before I perhaps comment and ask questions on the more exciting parts of your contribution today, I just wanted to make the point that the ambition within here is good to see, but I know there's real frustration amongst colleagues in the health service in particular that some of the basics aren't happening in the digital space. So, for example, just using e-mails. E-mails were invented, what, decades ago now, and we're still not using them in many parts of the health service. An example of that is in optometry, where currently an optometrist has to physically sign off a letter, a letter that's physically posted to the patient's GP for referral, for that letter then to be communicated to a local hospital. That process takes a long time, there's lots of space for error, and it's a bad use of very well-qualified people's time, when simple things like an e-mail make such a difference. So, whilst there's some exciting comments in here about the potential around AI, which I'll come on to in a moment, there's a real opportunity to get some real basic stuff right here as well, which I hope you'll be able to take on board and see where those opportunities are to get the simple things done really well.

But, as you said, not only can digital innovation help in health settings themselves, but there's a huge opportunity in job creation and skill development, which I'd like to support you on. And we should be striving to make Wales a home for this sort of innovation in order to attract investment and top-class talent from around the globe. I was struck by my time in Tel Aviv earlier this year, at one of the hospitals where they purposely seek to attract people in cyber tech industries to develop really important technologies there that can be exported around the world, but also to be used for their own population as well. So, I wonder, Minister, what further plans Welsh Government have to work hand in glove with Welsh universities in particular.

I think they can play a real key role in turbocharging innovation. And one example is, recently, where I visited Swansea University, which hosts the CanSense lab, and they've created a speedy and cost-efficient bowel cancer diagnosis that uses AI to improve outcomes. They're funded by Cancer Research Wales, but it would be positive to see Welsh Government funding more innovations of this type, helping to facilitate in other ways as well, where you may see fit. I'd be interested to hear from you what more can be done in this space in particular. I think there's an issue we have in Wales, which is in spinning out companies or research from the concept. When that concept is proven, currently it's difficult to move onto the next stage to implement those concepts across our health system here in Wales. We're a small country; this should be really easy. We have a few universities here doing a great job, and it should be really easy for people to get that innovation into our health system here in Wales.

I also noted, Minister, the British Government announced in October several million pounds in funding for projects with innovative technologies and wearable sensors to support people with drug addictions and reduce drug-related deaths. It's important this funding comes to Wales as smoothly and as easily as possible. So, I'm not sure if you'll be able to comment on any conversations you've been having with counterparts in Westminster to ensure that that medical innovation and that funding for that come here to Wales.

And then finally, Minister, according to Business Wales, the life sciences industry currently employs around 12,000 people in around 260 companies up and down Wales, and that innovation is essential for medical progress, and also for stimulating economic growth and job creation, which, as you said, leads to better lives all round. So, I wonder how you and the Welsh Government are working with the private sector to help achieve the goals of innovation in healthcare. With 75 per cent of the life sciences market in Wales being export focused, the financial benefits of getting this right are huge, and will be incredibly valuable for achieving that innovation in healthcare, and indeed improving brand Wales around the world. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Diolch, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad yma yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma. Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi o ran y rôl sydd gan arloesi iechyd digidol o ran bod yn hanfodol i greu gwasanaeth iechyd sy'n addas ar gyfer 2024 a thu hwnt, felly rwy'n ddiolchgar am y sylw a roddwyd i'r pwnc hwn yma yn y Siambr heddiw.

Cyn i mi wneud sylwadau a gofyn cwestiynau efallai am rannau mwy cyffrous eich cyfraniad heddiw, roeddwn i eisiau gwneud y pwynt bod yr uchelgais yma yn dda i'w weld, ond rwy'n gwybod bod rhwystredigaeth go iawn ymhlith cydweithwyr yn y gwasanaeth iechyd yn enwedig nad yw rhai o'r pethau sylfaenol yn digwydd yn y gofod digidol. Felly, er enghraifft, dim ond defnyddio negeseuon e-bost. Cafodd negeseuon e-bost eu dyfeisio, beth, ddegawdau yn ôl bellach, ac nid ydym yn eu defnyddio mewn sawl rhan o'r gwasanaeth iechyd o hyd. Mae enghraifft o hynny mewn optometreg, lle ar hyn o bryd mae'n rhaid i optometrydd lofnodi llythyr yn ffisegol, llythyr sy'n cael ei bostio'n ffisegol at feddyg teulu'r claf i'w atgyfeirio, i'r llythyr hwnnw wedyn gael ei gyfleu i ysbyty lleol. Mae'r broses honno'n cymryd amser hir, mae yna lawer o le i wallau ddigwydd, ac mae'n ddefnydd gwael o amser pobl sydd â llawer iawn o gymwysterau, pan fydd pethau syml fel e-bost yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth. Felly, er bod rhai sylwadau cyffrous yma am y potensial ynghylch deallusrwydd artiffisial, y byddaf yn dod ato mewn eiliad, mae cyfle go iawn i gael rhai pethau sylfaenol yn gywir yma hefyd, ac rwy'n gobeithio y byddwch yn gallu eu hystyried a gweld ble mae'r cyfleoedd hynny i wneud y pethau syml yn dda iawn.

Ond, fel y gwnaethoch chi ddweud, nid yn unig y gall arloesi digidol helpu mewn lleoliadau iechyd eu hunain, ond mae cyfle enfawr i greu swyddi a datblygu sgiliau, yr hoffwn eich cefnogi chi arno. A dylem fod yn ymdrechu i wneud Cymru'n gartref i'r math hwn o arloesi er mwyn denu buddsoddiad a thalent o'r radd flaenaf o bob cwr o'r byd. Cefais fy nharo gan fy nghyfnod yn Tel Aviv yn gynharach eleni, yn un o'r ysbytai lle maent yn fwriadol yn ceisio denu pobl mewn diwydiannau technoleg seiber i ddatblygu technolegau pwysig iawn yno y gellir eu hallforio ledled y byd, ond hefyd i'w defnyddio ar gyfer eu poblogaeth eu hunain hefyd. Felly, tybed, Gweinidog, pa gynlluniau pellach sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru i weithio law yn llaw â phrifysgolion Cymru yn benodol.

Rwy'n credu y gallant fod â rhan allweddol go iawn wrth gyflymu arloesedd. Ac un enghraifft, yn ddiweddar, yw lle ymwelais â Phrifysgol Abertawe, sy'n gartref i'r labordy CanSense, ac maen nhw wedi creu diagnosis canser y coluddyn cyflym a chost-effeithlon sy'n defnyddio deallusrwydd artffisial i wella canlyniadau. Maen nhw'n cael eu hariannu gan Ymchwil Canser Cymru, ond byddai'n gadarnhaol gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn ariannu mwy o arloesiadau o'r math hwn, gan helpu i hwyluso mewn ffyrdd eraill hefyd, lle rydych yn eu hystyried yn addas. Byddai gennyf ddiddordeb mewn clywed gennych chi beth arall y gellir ei wneud yn y maes hwn yn benodol. Rwy'n credu bod yna broblem sydd gennym ni yng Nghymru, sef o ran bwrw ymlaen â chwmnïau neu ymchwil o'r cysyniad. Pan fydd y cysyniad hwnnw'n cael ei brofi, ar hyn o bryd mae'n anodd symud ymlaen i'r cam nesaf i weithredu'r cysyniadau hynny ar draws ein system iechyd yma yng Nghymru. Rydym yn wlad fach; dylai hyn fod yn hawdd iawn. Mae gennym ychydig o brifysgolion yma yn gwneud gwaith gwych, a dylai fod yn hawdd iawn i bobl gael yr arloesedd hwnnw mewn i'n system iechyd yma yng Nghymru.

Nodais hefyd, Gweinidog, fod Llywodraeth Prydain wedi cyhoeddi sawl miliwn o bunnoedd mewn cyllid ar gyfer prosiectau gyda thechnolegau arloesol a synwyryddion gwisgadwy ym mis Hydref i gefnogi pobl â dibyniaeth ar gyffuriau a lleihau marwolaethau sy'n gysylltiedig â chyffuriau. Mae'n bwysig bod y cyllid hwn yn dod i Gymru mor ddidrafferth a mor hawdd â phosibl. Felly, nid wyf yn siŵr a fyddwch chi'n gallu gwneud sylwadau ar unrhyw sgyrsiau rydych chi wedi bod yn eu cael gyda chymheiriaid yn San Steffan i sicrhau bod yr arloesedd meddygol hwnnw a'r cyllid hwnnw ar gyfer hynny yn dod yma i Gymru.

Ac yna yn olaf, Gweinidog, yn ôl Busnes Cymru, mae'r diwydiant gwyddorau bywyd ar hyn o bryd yn cyflogi tua 12,000 o bobl mewn tua 260 o gwmnïau ledled Cymru, ac mae'r arloesi hwnnw yn hanfodol ar gyfer cynnydd meddygol, a hefyd ar gyfer ysgogi twf economaidd a chreu swyddi, sydd, fel y dywedoch chi, yn arwain at fywydau gwell i bawb. Felly, tybed sut rydych chi a Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithio gyda'r sector preifat i helpu i gyflawni nodau arloesi mewn gofal iechyd. Gyda 75 y cant o'r farchnad gwyddorau bywyd yng Nghymru yn canolbwyntio ar allforio, mae'r manteision ariannol cael hyn yn iawn yn enfawr, a bydd yn hynod werthfawr ar gyfer cyflawni'r arloesedd hwnnw mewn gofal iechyd, ac yn wir gwella brand Cymru ledled y byd. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

17:50

Thank you so much, Sam Rowlands, for your recognition of the ambition and also how exciting this is. I find it very exciting. This is an area that I worked in before I got elected, and this is absolutely my passion, and I think that there is so much innovation happening in Wales. We have the brightest and the best, and I think it comes back to we're not always the best at showing some of this off. So, this is why it is really wonderful to be able to do this statement today.

I would say that, in terms of—. First of all, you mentioned about the funding and the innovation that's happening here and mentioned CanSense. Of course, CanSense was part of the Welsh small business research initiative challenge fund for cancer, which saw Welsh Government support and give funding of about £600,000, and there was £400,000 given in Northern Ireland. It was a collective thing that was happening. CanSense is one of those amazing examples, where it came out of Swansea University, it's going to help be able to diagnose bowel cancer, which is the second leading cancer that people pass away from in Wales. It's incredibly innovative, and again that was something that came from funding in Wales, and has come from clinicians in Wales.

Just to say the update though is, and I know what you mean about the kind of timing: if works and it's very innovative, then why isn't it just getting rolled out? It's because they have to go through so many trials. I wish it could be quicker myself, and that's the only thing when it comes to the health innovation, the innovation and the people who have come together in that team, and I really thank them for it—it can take time, then. It has to go through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. So, just to reassure you, that is where CanSense is at the moment, but that is something that I think we're very excited to be able to see rolled out. And there are lots of other innovations that have come through here. We've got Ibex, which is to demonstrate whether a new AI-based tool, which is about gastric, can be used to accurately triage gastric biopsies for urgent review by pathologists. There is just so much happening in this space.

You are right, as well, about the basics. The simple answer to your question around, 'We need to get this right—are we getting this right?' is, 'Absolutely, I 100 per cent agree with you.' I've got many friends and family who work in the NHS and it really gets them down. It really gets them down that they don't have the basics and that these things are taking more time, and that's very much, then, in the digital space, and this is something that we have to work on, and this is something in Welsh Government that we have to lead on, and that kind of comes back to the statement that I was making and what both of my colleagues in the health department have also said, which is that we're very much now setting that standard of, 'You have to be agile and you have to adapt, or you have to tell us why not.' And I think that in the digital space, what we're trying to say is that these are the key priorities, and the key priorities are the things that really matter to everybody on a day-to-day basis. So, with eye care, yes, that's taken longer than it should have to roll out, but it is going to be rolled out. We've got the electronic prescription system as well. That's being rolled out now, not just within all of our health boards, but also across our GPs. These are things that really will transform the NHS, and patients' experience.

You also mentioned then the kind of teletracking. I'm a big fan of this. I've seen this working in hospitals as well in England. It is very, very helpful. It can seem so simple, but you just put a band on somebody and then you can keep tabs on them wherever they are in the diagnostic pathway once they go into the hospital. Then you also have the tracking that you can do with people at home, so that you've got that follow-up. We are doing some of that in Wales, and I would like to see that rolled out. It all comes back to prevention. It all comes back to preventing people from needing to go into hospital. It all comes back to being able to diagnose people as soon as possible.

And then you mentioned the life sciences hub. We're really proud of the life sciences hub in Wales. Again, I know that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care was talking about it recently, about the work that we're doing in the genomics space. Again, we've created what innovation needs in Wales, which is that ecosystem where you can come up with these ideas and then you will be listened to and they will be lifted up. And in my statement as well, I was talking about the NHS executive. It's about taking these—. And I could read you off a million examples, but you mentioned CanSense and I won't. But just to say it's now about the NHS executive as well, with the support of Welsh Government, going out and really scaling up this innovation. But just to end by saying there is so much good happening. I will also ensure that we're delivering, though, very much, on those basics. Diolch.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Sam Rowlands, am eich cydnabyddiaeth o'r uchelgais a hefyd pa mor gyffrous yw hyn. Rwy'n meddwl ei fod yn gyffrous iawn. Mae hwn yn faes y bûm yn gweithio ynddo cyn cael fy ethol, a dyma fy angerdd yn sicr, ac rwy'n credu bod cymaint o arloesi yn digwydd yng Nghymru. Mae gennym y disgleiriaf a'r gorau, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn dod yn ôl i'r ffaith nad ydym bob amser y gorau am arddangos rhywfaint o hyn. Felly, dyma pam mae'n hyfryd iawn gallu gwneud y datganiad hwn heddiw.

Byddwn i'n dweud, o ran —. Yn gyntaf oll, sonioch chi am y cyllid a'r arloesedd sy'n digwydd yma gan sôn am CanSense. Wrth gwrs, roedd CanSense yn rhan o gronfa her menter ymchwil busnesau bach Cymru ar gyfer canser, a welodd gefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru a rhoi cyllid o tua £600,000, a rhoddwyd £400,000 yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Roedd yn beth ar y cyd a oedd yn digwydd. Mae CanSense yn un o'r enghreifftiau anhygoel hynny, lle y daeth allan o Brifysgol Abertawe, mae'n mynd i helpu i allu rhoi diagnosis o ganser y coluddyn, sef yr ail ganser mwyaf cyffredin y mae pobl yn marw ohono yng Nghymru. Mae'n hynod arloesol, ac unwaith eto roedd hynny'n rhywbeth a ddaeth o gyllid yng Nghymru, ac mae wedi dod gan glinigwyr yng Nghymru.

Dim ond i ddweud y diweddariad yw, ac rwy'n gwybod beth rydych chi'n ei olygu am y math o amseru: os yw'n gweithio ac mae'n arloesol iawn, yna pam nad yw'n cael ei gyflwyno ar unwaith? Mae hyn oherwydd bod yn rhaid iddyn nhw fynd trwy gymaint o dreialon. Rwy'n dymuno y gallai fod yn gyflymach fy hun, a dyna'r unig beth o ran arloesi iechyd, yr arloesedd a'r bobl sydd wedi dod at ei gilydd yn y tîm hwnnw, ac rwy'n diolch yn fawr iddyn nhw amdano—gall gymryd amser, wedyn. Mae'n rhaid iddo fynd trwy'r Asiantaeth Rheoleiddio Meddyginiaethau a Chynhyrchion Gofal Iechyd. Felly, dim ond i'ch sicrhau chi, dyna lle mae CanSense ar hyn o bryd, ond mae hynny'n rhywbeth rwy'n credu ein bod ni'n gyffrous iawn i allu ei weld yn cael ei gyflwyno. Ac mae yna lawer o ddatblygiadau arloesol eraill sydd wedi dod trwyddo fan hyn. Mae gennym Ibex, sydd i ddangos a ellir defnyddio offeryn deallusrwydd artiffisial newydd, sy'n ymwneud â gastrig, i brysbennu biopsïau gastrig yn gywir i'w hadolygu ar frys gan batholegwyr. Mae cymaint yn digwydd yn y maes hwn.

Rydych chi'n iawn hefyd, am y pethau sylfaenol. Yr ateb syml i'ch cwestiwn ynghylch, 'Mae angen i ni gael hyn yn iawn—ydyn ni'n cael hyn yn iawn?' yw, 'Yn sicr, rydw i 100 y cant yn cytuno â chi.' Mae gen i lawer o ffrindiau a theulu sy'n gweithio yn y GIG ac mae'n eu digalonni nhw. Mae wir yn eu digalonni nad oes ganddyn nhw'r pethau sylfaenol a bod y pethau hyn yn cymryd mwy o amser, ac mae hynny yn sicr, wedyn, yn y maes digidol, ac mae hyn yn rhywbeth y mae'n rhaid i ni weithio arno, ac mae'n rhywbeth yn Llywodraeth Cymru y mae'n rhaid i ni arwain arno, ac mae hyn yn dod a ni yn ôl at y datganiad roeddwn i'n ei wneud a beth sydd gan fy nghydweithwyr yn yr adran iechyd i'w ddweud hefyd, sef ein bod ni'n gosod y safon o, 'Mae'n rhaid i chi fod yn hyblyg ac mae'n rhaid i chi addasu, neu mae'n rhaid i chi ddweud wrthym pam ddim.' Ac rwy'n credu, yn y maes digidol, yr hyn yr ydym yn ceisio'i ddweud yw mai dyma'r blaenoriaethau allweddol, a'r blaenoriaethau allweddol yw'r pethau sy'n wirioneddol bwysig i bawb o ddydd i ddydd. Felly, gyda gofal llygaid, ie, mae hynny wedi cymryd yn hirach nag y dylai fod wedi i'w gyflwyno, ond bydd yn cael ei gyflwyno. Mae gennym ni y system presgripsiwn electronig hefyd. Mae honno'n cael ei chyflwyno nawr, nid yn unig o fewn ein holl fyrddau iechyd, ond hefyd gyda'n holl feddygon teulu. Mae'r rhain yn bethau a fydd wir yn trawsnewid y GIG, a phrofiad cleifion.

Roeddech chi hefyd yn sôn wedyn am y math o deledracio. Rwy'n ffan mawr o hyn. Rwyf wedi ei weld hyn yn gweithio mewn ysbytai yn Lloegr hefyd. Mae'n ddefnyddiol iawn, iawn. Gall ymddangos mor syml, ond rydych chi'n rhoi band ar rywun ac yna gallwch gadw golwg arnyn nhw ble bynnag maen nhw ar y llwybr diagnostig ar ôl iddyn nhw fynd i mewn i'r ysbyty. Yna, mae gennych hefyd y tracio y gallwch ei wneud gyda phobl gartref, fel bod gennych chi y dilyniant hwnnw. Rydyn ni'n gwneud rhywfaint o hynny yng Nghymru, a hoffwn weld hynny'n cael ei gyflwyno. Mae'r cyfan yn dod yn ôl i atal. Mae'r cyfan yn dod yn ôl i atal pobl rhag gorfod mynd i'r ysbyty. Mae'r cyfan yn dod yn ôl i allu rhoi diagnosis i bobl cyn gynted â phosibl.

Ac yna fe wnaethoch chi sôn am yr hwb gwyddorau bywyd. Rydym yn falch iawn o'r hwb gwyddorau bywyd yng Nghymru. Unwaith eto, rwy'n gwybod bod Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol wedi siarad am y peth yn ddiweddar, am y gwaith yr ydym yn ei wneud yn y maes genomeg. Unwaith eto, rydym wedi creu'r hyn sydd ei angen ar arloesi yng Nghymru, sef yr ecosystem honno lle gallwch chi feddwl am y syniadau hyn ac yna fe wrandawir arnoch chi a byddant yn cael eu codi i fyny. Ac yn fy natganiad hefyd, roeddwn i'n sôn am weithrediaeth y GIG. Mae'n ymwneud â chymryd rhain—. A gallwn ddarllen miliwn o enghreifftiau i chi, ond gwnaethoch chi sôn am CanSense ac ni fyddaf i. Ond dim ond i ddweud ei fod bellach yn ymwneud â gweithrediaeth y GIG hefyd, gyda chefnogaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, yn mynd allan a chyflwyno'r arloesedd hwn ar raddfa fwy mewn gwirionedd. Ond rwy'n mynd i orffen drwy ddweud bod cymaint o bethau da yn digwydd. Byddaf hefyd yn sicrhau ein bod yn cyflawni ar y pethau sylfaenol hynny. Diolch.

17:55

I agree with the Minister. This is a really exciting field. This is where it's at. If we're going to improve efficiencies, if we're going to improve outcomes, then we're going to have to get to grips with ensuring that we have an innovative environment where people feel that they can develop new ideas and roll them out. Wales is great at innovation. But we're very, very poor at rolling it out, at implementing that innovation at scale. I was fortunate and honoured to be attending the European Cancer Organisation's European cancer summit in Brussels two weeks ago, and while there, we helped launch their new cancer app, funded by the European Union. That's going to allow cancer patients in 16 countries across the EU to be able to track their progress from diagnosis through the pathway, and their GP will be able to access that information, family members will be able to access it. It's all-encompassing. Unfortunately, because of Brexit, Wales isn't part of that, but they're willing to work with the Welsh Government to help roll that out and to see if we can introduce it to Wales.

But as the title of this statement is around mental health, I'd like to touch on mental health as well. Mental health is, as I know the Minister knows, a comparatively new and underexplored branch of healthcare. It's an area where innovation can actually make a huge difference. Since far too many people across Wales continue to struggle with their mental health on a daily basis, as was clearly outlined in the recent 'Wellbeing of Wales' report, there is a real need for decisive action on this front here. As a party, Plaid Cymru were proud to have been integral in establishing a 24/7 mental health crisis hub in Carmarthen—the first of its kind in Wales—as part of the co-operation agreement. We also welcome the fact that this has paved the way for the development of similar hubs in other areas of the country. So, I'd be grateful, therefore, for an update from the Minister in her response as to the progress of this programme of work and whether she agrees that such hubs are precisely the kind of innovative action required in the field of mental health, especially to address rural inequalities.

We know that mental health is absolutely key for the preventative agenda, and this, in turn, is dependent on effective and reliable data gathering to drive early intervention. But, as I've mentioned numerous times before, the NHS in Wales remains an analogue organisation in a digital age. Mind Cymru has highlighted the lack of a mental health core data set as a particular barrier that has hampered the ability of relevant services to identify key groups of people at risk of inequality of provision. Furthermore, in a story that is sadly familiar across so many areas of the health and social care sector, there is no reliable data collection on staff shortages at psychiatric wards, for example. So, how can service providers, which are supposed to pinpoint where best to deploy their resources, do this if they remain in the dark as to gaps in capacity? So, will the Minister commit to rolling out a comprehensive mental health core data set, including routinely published information on issues such as staff vacancies and waiting times that is assessed against performance metrics?

In fairness to the Government, they have got previous form in promoting initiatives that push the boundaries on mental health care. The NHS Confederation recently highlighted the collaboration between the Arts Council of Wales and Nesta to provide online creative courses for vulnerable adults during the pandemic as an example of best practice in innovation. And we've consistently emphasised the important role that the arts sector can and must play in supporting mental health. It's deeply regrettable, therefore, that the arts sector has been hit by such swingeing cuts in recent Government budgets. So, when we hear of major job losses in the national library, for example, or the fact that our cash-strapped museums are having to consider charging for entry, it isn't just a blow to the vitality of our cultural institutions, it compromises a holistic and society-wide approach to improving the well-being of our population. So, I'd like to hear the Minister's response to that and understand what action the Minister is taking in Government to ensure that that sector gets the funding that it deserves. 

And finally, on innovation and, in a broader sense, clinical trials, we know that clinical trials are vitally important to ensure that innovative ideas are rolled out and that people get the medicine they require. So, what action is the Minister and the Government taking to ensure that we attract more clinical trials to Wales and that Wales leads the way when it comes to clinical trials? Diolch.

Rwy'n cytuno â'r Gweinidog. Mae hwn yn faes cyffrous iawn. Dyma lle mae'r cyfan yn digwydd. Os ydym ni'n mynd i wella effeithlonrwydd, os ydym ni'n mynd i wella canlyniadau, yna bydd yn rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael â sicrhau bod gennym amgylchedd arloesol lle mae pobl yn teimlo y gallant ddatblygu syniadau newydd a'u cyflwyno. Mae Cymru'n wych am arloesi. Ond rydym yn wael iawn, iawn am ei gyflwyno, am weithredu'r arloesedd hwnnw ar raddfa fwy. Roeddwn i'n ffodus ac roedd yn anrhydedd cael mynd i uwchgynhadledd canser Ewropeaidd Sefydliad Canser Ewrop ym Mrwsel bythefnos yn ôl, a thra'r oeddwn yno, fe wnaethom helpu i lansio eu ap canser newydd, a ariannwyd gan yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae'n mynd i ganiatáu i gleifion canser mewn 16 gwlad ledled yr UE allu tracio eu cynnydd o ddiagnosis trwy'r llwybr, a bydd eu meddyg teulu yn gallu cael gafael ar y wybodaeth honno, bydd aelodau'r teulu yn gallu cael mynediad ati. Mae'n cwmpasu pawb. Yn anffodus, oherwydd Brexit, nid yw Cymru'n rhan o hynny, ond maen nhw'n barod i weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru i helpu i'w gyflwyno ac i weld a allwn ei gyflwyno i Gymru.

Ond gan fod teitl y datganiad hwn yn ymwneud ag iechyd meddwl, hoffwn i sôn yn gyflym am iechyd meddwl hefyd. Mae iechyd meddwl, fel rwy'n gwybod fod y Gweinidog yn ei wybod, yn gangen gymharol newydd o ofal iechyd a heb ei harchwilio'n ddigonol. Mae'n faes lle gall arloesi wneud gwahaniaeth enfawr mewn gwirionedd. Gan fod gormod o lawer o bobl ledled Cymru yn parhau i gael trafferth gyda'u hiechyd meddwl yn ddyddiol, fel yr amlinellwyd yn glir yn yr adroddiad diweddar 'Llesiant Cymru', mae gwir angen gweithredu pendant ar hyn. Fel plaid, roedd Plaid Cymru yn falch o fod wedi bod yn rhan annatod o sefydlu canolfan argyfwng iechyd meddwl 24/7 yng Nghaerfyrddin—y cyntaf o'i fath yng Nghymru—fel rhan o'r cytundeb cydweithio. Rydym hefyd yn croesawu'r ffaith bod hyn wedi paratoi'r ffordd ar gyfer datblygu hybiau tebyg mewn rhannau eraill o'r wlad. Felly, byddwn yn ddiolchgar am ddiweddariad gan y Gweinidog yn ei hymateb ynghylch cynnydd y rhaglen waith hon ac a yw'n cytuno mai hybiau o'r fath yw'r union fath o weithredu arloesol sy'n ofynnol ym maes iechyd meddwl, yn enwedig i fynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau gwledig.

Gwyddom fod iechyd meddwl yn gwbl allweddol ar gyfer yr agenda ataliol, ac mae hyn, yn ei dro, yn dibynnu ar gasglu data effeithiol a dibynadwy i ysgogi ymyrraeth gynnar. Ond, fel yr wyf wedi sôn sawl gwaith o'r blaen, mae'r GIG yng Nghymru yn parhau i fod yn sefydliad analog mewn oes ddigidol. Mae Mind Cymru wedi tynnu sylw at ddiffyg set ddata craidd iechyd meddwl fel rhwystr penodol sydd wedi rhwystro gallu gwasanaethau perthnasol i nodi grwpiau allweddol o bobl sydd mewn perygl o anghydraddoldeb o ran darpariaeth. Ar ben hynny, mewn stori sy'n anffodus yn gyfarwydd ar draws cymaint o feysydd yn y sector iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol, nid oes data dibynadwy yn cael ei gasglu ar brinder staff mewn wardiau seiciatrig, er enghraifft. Felly, sut y gall darparwyr gwasanaethau, sydd i fod i nodi lle orau i ddefnyddio eu hadnoddau, wneud hyn os ydyn nhw'n dal yn y tywyllwch ynghylch bylchau mewn capasiti? Felly, a wnaiff y Gweinidog ymrwymo i gyflwyno set ddata graidd gynhwysfawr ar iechyd meddwl, gan gynnwys gwybodaeth a gyhoeddir fel mater o drefn ar faterion fel swyddi gwag staff ac amseroedd aros sy'n cael eu hasesu yn erbyn metrigau perfformiad?

Er tegwch i'r Llywodraeth, mae ganddyn nhw hanes blaenorol o hyrwyddo mentrau sy'n gwthio'r ffiniau ar ofal iechyd meddwl. Yn ddiweddar, amlygodd Cydffederasiwn y GIG y cydweithio rhwng Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a Nesta i ddarparu cyrsiau creadigol ar-lein i oedolion bregus yn ystod y pandemig fel enghraifft o arfer gorau ym maes arloesi. Ac rydym wedi pwysleisio'n gyson y rôl bwysig y gall, ac y mae'n rhaid i sector y celfyddydau ei chwarae wrth gefnogi iechyd meddwl. Mae'n destun gofid mawr, felly, bod sector y celfyddydau wedi cael ei daro gan doriadau mor llym yng nghyllideb diweddar y Llywodraeth. Felly, pan fyddwn yn clywed am golli llawer iawn o swyddi yn y llyfrgell genedlaethol, er enghraifft, neu'r ffaith bod ein hamgueddfeydd sy'n brin o arian yn gorfod ystyried codi tâl am fynediad, nid yw'n ergyd i fywiogrwydd ein sefydliadau diwylliannol yn unig, mae'n cyfaddawdu dull cyfannol a chymdeithasol gyfan o wella llesiant ein poblogaeth. Felly, hoffwn glywed ymateb y Gweinidog i hynny a deall pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog yn eu cymryd yn y Llywodraeth i sicrhau bod y sector hwnnw'n cael y cyllid y mae'n ei haeddu. 

Ac yn olaf, o ran arloesi ac, mewn ystyr ehangach, treialon clinigol, gwyddom fod treialon clinigol yn hanfodol bwysig i sicrhau bod syniadau arloesol yn cael eu cyflwyno a bod pobl yn cael y feddyginiaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt. Felly, pa gamau y mae'r Gweinidog a'r Llywodraeth yn eu cymryd i sicrhau ein bod yn denu mwy o dreialon clinigol i Gymru a bod Cymru'n arwain y ffordd o ran treialon clinigol? Diolch.

18:00

Thank you so much, Mabon ap Gwynfor. You are right, and you reiterated again, as Sam Rowlands also said and I said in my statement, that this is about efficiency, outcomes and also patient safety. You talked then as well about apps. I will look into more what they've done with the cancer app. I also regret that we aren't able to be part of it. However, we are doing things, I think, in a very responsible way in Wales, and we do have the great basis of the NHS app, which was, obviously, rolled out during COVID and which thousands of people are joined up to now in Wales. The potential there is huge. The NHS app is something that I get asked about a lot. It's one of my absolute top key priorities. I've put together now a group of top officials so that we can work on rolling this out. I know that we get comparisons with England, we get comparisons with other countries, but I think that we've been able to use the time to learn some of the lessons, to look at other countries and what they're doing. And my goal now is to roll it out and also be able to leapfrog, to be able to go even further. So, what you said about the cancer app is very interesting. To be honest, it will mirror very much, though, what we're trying to do through the NHS app, which is being able to show people that linkage between primary and secondary care. And having that transparency, being able to empower people and being able to explain to people what the pathways are, all of this health literacy is absolutely vital, I think. 

You also mentioned, then, mental health. It's really wonderful to hear what's happening at the mental health hub. I would say that I've got pockets of this in my community as well. They're started by some of the best people I've ever met, who just really want to give back. I think that, after COVID, a lot of people now, even more so, don't take it for granted when you can be together, that connection, that belonging, especially, as you said, in rural areas. And I was there when the Samaritans launched their work in this area, on mental health in rural communities, at the Royal Welsh show this year. I also made the point, as well, though, that I went and launched and did the very first WhatsApp message from the Meic helpline at ProMo Cymru a couple of weeks ago, which was very cool. Again, I don't know if enough people know about it—the Meic helpline, any young person can send a message, they can send a WhatsApp now and it's a real human being on the other end of it who's talking them through their problems. I think those things and having that range of access is so important.

And I also wanted to say that we do also sometimes forget that we have the '111 press 2', which is all-Wales, and, again, I see it as having so much potential. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is always telling me—Ollie John—there’s so much potential with this, because what people want is that, they may have that moment of crisis, then they want the follow-up. What we're also thinking is, in that moment of crisis, of course, you're not going to be able to get or you can't sit there and collect the data on somebody, but, afterwards, if you're going to give somebody a follow-up call, check that they're okay, check that they got the service that they required, it's also an opportunity then to just ask them a few more questions, and that will give us that better data, better care, so I agree with you on that.

Coming to the data that we collect and the points of data that we have access to in Wales, you were absolutely right—I was quite shocked myself to discover that we have so few compared to England and Scotland. I, therefore, completely understand and appreciate, when there are third sector organisations like Mind Cymru, like Beat, who will then do their own analysis, usually having to base it off inspection reports or having to base it off FOIs, because we don't have that data set readily available, that we have to get onto this. This is something that I've been talking to officials about and we have to address. I 100 per cent agree with you that.

When you say about, as well, in terms of the arts, I mean, of course, a big part of my portfolio is also the social prescribing. I'm hoping that, again, through the digital, through the innovation, that social prescribing will be an area where we can spread even further. Obviously, in the area, there's a bit of cross-Government there, but the budget will very much sit with my colleague, and the budget is, obviously, coming. But I completely agree with you on the difference that that makes to somebody's mental health and well-being, and just, again, our nation, really, and the mental health and well-being, and pride that we have in our nation, I think, are really key.

And then, I think I've answered all of your—[Interruption.] Clinical trials—yes, of course. So, just to say, we also do have, as well as all the amazing things that I've talked about today and the innovation and everything like this, we do also have a very strong international strategy. My officials go off and they talk to many other countries and organisations about having clinical trials.

I would say, though, and this is very much anecdotal on my side, we also have this SAIL Databank at Swansea University. It is world leading. It is envied by researchers across the world. There are so many people who submit requests to do clinical trials using the SAIL database. I think that we need to have a look into—this is my own personal thought here—the data and ensuring that there is that intersectionality, though, within the data, because I know that it's not always possible to do some of the trials that I think we should be able to do, and that's something that I would like to see improved. But, like I said, SAIL is envied and used and is a wonderful resource. I believe data off the people of Wales should be for the people of Wales, and I see SAIL as an excellent example of that. So, diolch yn fawr.

Diolch yn fawr iawn, Mabon ap Gwynfor. Rydych chi'n iawn, ac fe wnaethoch chi ddweud eto, fel y dywedodd Sam Rowlands hefyd ac y dywedais i yn fy natganiad, bod hyn yn ymwneud ag effeithlonrwydd, canlyniadau a diogelwch cleifion hefyd. Rydych chi hefyd wedi sôn am apiau. Byddaf yn edrych yn fwy ar yr hyn maen nhw wedi'i wneud gyda'r ap canser. Rwy'n gresynu hefyd na allwn fod yn rhan ohono. Fodd bynnag, rydym yn gwneud pethau, rwy'n credu, mewn ffordd gyfrifol iawn yng Nghymru, ac mae gennym sylfaen gwych ap y GIG, a gafodd ei gyflwyno, yn amlwg, yn ystod COVID ac mae miloedd o bobl wedi ymuno â'r ap hyd yma yng Nghymru. Mae'r potensial ynddo yn enfawr. Mae ap y GIG yn rhywbeth y caf fy holi llawer amdano. Mae'n un o fy mhrif flaenoriaethau allweddol. Rwyf wedi casglu grŵp o brif swyddogion at ei gilydd fel y gallwn ni weithio ar ei gyflwyno. Rwy'n gwybod ein bod ni'n cael cymariaethau efo Lloegr, rydyn ni'n cael cymariaethau â gwledydd eraill, ond rwy'n credu ein bod ni wedi gallu defnyddio'r amser i ddysgu rhai o'r gwersi, edrych ar wledydd eraill a beth maen nhw'n ei wneud. A fy nod i yn awr yw ei gyflwyno a hefyd gallu neidio ymlaen, er mwyn gallu mynd hyd yn oed ymhellach. Felly, mae'r hyn a ddywedoch chi am yr ap canser yn ddiddorol iawn. I fod yn onest, bydd yn adlewyrchu'n fawr yr hyn yr ydym yn ceisio'i wneud drwy ap y GIG, sy'n gallu dangos i bobl y cysylltiad rhwng gofal sylfaenol ac eilaidd. Ac mae bod â'r tryloywder hwnnw, y gallu i rymuso pobl a gallu egluro i bobl beth yw'r llwybrau, mae'r holl lythrennedd iechyd hwn yn gwbl hanfodol, rwy'n credu. 

Roeddech chi hefyd yn sôn am iechyd meddwl. Mae'n hyfryd clywed beth sy'n digwydd yn yr hwb iechyd meddwl. Byddwn i'n dweud bod gen i bocedi o hyn yn fy nghymuned i hefyd. Maen nhw'n cael eu cychwyn gan rai o'r bobl orau rydw i erioed wedi cwrdd â nhw, sydd wir eisiau rhoi yn ôl. Rwy'n credu, ar ôl COVID, nad yw llawer o bobl nawr, hyd yn oed yn fwy felly, yn ei gymryd yn ganiataol pan allwch chi fod gyda'ch gilydd, y cysylltiad hwnnw, y berthynas honno, yn enwedig, fel y gwnaethoch chi ddweud, mewn ardaloedd gwledig. Ac roeddwn i yno pan lansiodd y Samariaid eu gwaith yn y maes hwn, ar iechyd meddwl mewn cymunedau gwledig, yn Sioe Frenhinol Cymru eleni. Fe wnes i'r pwynt, hefyd, serch hynny, fy mod i wedi mynd a lansio a gwneud y neges WhatsApp gyntaf un gan linell gymorth Meic yn ProMo Cymru ychydig wythnosau yn ôl, a oedd yn cŵl iawn. Unwaith eto, dydw i ddim yn gwybod os oes digon o bobl yn gwybod amdano—llinell gymorth Meic, gall unrhyw berson ifanc anfon neges, maen nhw'n gallu anfon WhatsApp nawr ac mae bod dynol go iawn ar ben arall y neges i'w siarad nhw trwy eu problemau. Rwy'n credu bod y pethau hynny a chael yr ystod honno o fynediad mor bwysig.

Ac roeddwn i hefyd eisiau dweud ein bod ni hefyd weithiau'n anghofio bod gennym ni'r '111 Pwyso 2', sy'n beth Cymru gyfan, ac, unwaith eto, rwy'n ei ystyried yn rhywbeth sydd â chymaint o botensial. Mae Coleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion bob amser yn dweud wrtha'i—Ollie John—bod cymaint o botensial gyda hwn, oherwydd yr hyn mae pobl ei eisiau yw, efallai y byddan nhw'n cael y foment honno o argyfwng, yna maen nhw eisiau'r gwasanaeth dilynol. Yr hyn rydyn ni hefyd yn ei feddwl, yn y foment honno o argyfwng, wrth gwrs, yw nad ydych chi'n mynd i allu cael neu na allwch chi eistedd yno a chasglu'r data ar rywun, ond, wedyn, os ydych chi'n mynd i roi galwad ddilynol i rywun, gwirio eu bod nhw'n iawn, gwirio eu bod nhw wedi cael y gwasanaeth yr oedd ei angen arnyn nhw, mae hefyd yn gyfle wedyn i ofyn ychydig mwy o gwestiynau iddyn nhw, a bydd hynny'n rhoi'r data gwell hwnnw, gofal gwell, felly rwy'n cytuno â chi ar hynny.

Wrth ddod at y data rydym yn ei gasglu a'r pwyntiau data y mae gennym fynediad atynt yng Nghymru, roeddech chi'n hollol gywir—cefais dipyn o syndod fy hun i ddarganfod bod gennym cyn lleied o'i gymharu â Lloegr a'r Alban. Felly, rwy'n deall ac yn gwerthfawrogi'n llwyr, pan fydd sefydliadau trydydd sector fel Mind Cymru, fel Beat, a fydd wedyn yn gwneud eu dadansoddiad eu hunain, fel arfer yn gorfod ei seilio ar adroddiadau arolygu neu orfod ei seilio ar geisiadau rhyddid gwybodaeth, oherwydd nad oes gennym ni y set ddata honno ar gael yn rhwydd, bod yn rhaid i ni weithredu ar hyn. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth rydw i wedi bod yn siarad â swyddogion amdano ac mae'n rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael ag ef. Rwy'n cytuno 100 y cant â chi.

Pan fyddwch chi'n dweud, hefyd, o ran y celfyddydau, wyddoch chi, wrth gwrs, rhan fawr o fy mhortffolio i yw'r presgripsiynu cymdeithasol hefyd. Rwy'n gobeithio, unwaith eto, trwy'r digidol, trwy'r arloesi, y bydd presgripsiynu cymdeithasol yn faes lle gallwn ledaenu hyd yn oed ymhellach. Yn amlwg, yn y maes, mae yna ychydig o drawslywodraeth yno, ond bydd y gyllideb yn sicr yn eistedd gyda fy nghyd-Aelod, ac mae'r gyllideb, yn amlwg, yn dod. Ond rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â chi ar y gwahaniaeth y mae hynny'n ei wneud i iechyd meddwl a llesiant rhywun, ac unwaith eto, ein cenedl, mewn gwirionedd, ac mae iechyd meddwl a llesiant, a'r balchder sydd gennym yn ein cenedl, rwy'n credu, yn allweddol iawn.

Ac wedyn, rwy'n credu fy mod i wedi ateb eich holl—[Torri ar draws.] Treialon clinigol—ie, wrth gwrs. Felly, dim ond i ddweud, mae gennym ni hefyd, yn ogystal â'r holl bethau anhygoel yr wyf wedi sôn amdanyn nhw heddiw a'r arloesedd a phopeth fel hyn, mae gennym hefyd strategaeth ryngwladol gref iawn. Mae fy swyddogion yn mynd i ffwrdd ac maen nhw'n siarad â llawer o wledydd a sefydliadau eraill am gael treialon clinigol.

Byddwn i'n dweud, serch hynny, ac mae hyn yn anecdotaidd iawn ar fy ochr i, mae gennym ni hefyd y Banc Data SAIL hwn ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe. Mae'n arwain y byd. Mae ymchwilwyr ar draws y byd yn genfigennus ohono. Mae cymaint o bobl yn cyflwyno ceisiadau i wneud treialon clinigol gan ddefnyddio cronfa ddata SAIL. Rwy'n meddwl bod angen i ni ystyried—dyma fy syniad personol fy hun yn y fan yma—y data a sicrhau bod yna groestoriadedd, er hynny, o fewn y data, oherwydd rwy'n gwybod nad yw hi wastad yn bosib gwneud rhai o'r treialon rwy'n meddwl y dylen ni allu eu gwneud, ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth yr hoffwn i ei weld yn gwella. Ond, fel y dywedais i, mae SAIL yn ennyn cenfigen ac yn cael ei ddefnyddio ac mae'n adnodd gwych. Rwy'n credu y dylai data am bobl Cymru fod ar gyfer pobl Cymru, ac rwy'n gweld SAIL yn enghraifft wych o hynny. Felly, diolch yn fawr.

18:05

Thank you very much. You've packed a lot of information into this one statement and there's, obviously, lots of great stuff going on. I just wanted to highlight two of the things you mentioned. One is the imaging data for stroke presentations in emergency care to speed up diagnosis and treatment options. I wonder if you could say why you put it in the future tense:

'we will be able to explore',

because I know that, having talked to Dr Shakeel Ahmad about this—he's the national lead—that this is definitely a lifesaver. So, that's one question.

The second thing is something completely different, which is that Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has taken an innovative digital data and value-linkage approach to working with social housing to levering ECO4 for tenants, and this is very encouraging for the people in Cwm Taf Morgannwg. Unfortunately, there's not such a good tale to tell in lots of other local authorities, because, obviously, this is ECO4 money—this is money external to Wales. Having heard the evidence in the Equality and Social Justice Committee about Warm Wales, which is a social enterprise, trying to help lever this in for tackling fuel poverty, most local authorities are not availing themselves of its services through Cardiff University, which enables you to spot worst first—

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Rydych chi wedi cynnwys llawer o wybodaeth yn yr un datganiad hwn ac, yn amlwg, mae llawer o bethau gwych yn digwydd. Rydw i eisiau tynnu sylw at ddau o'r pethau roeddech chi'n sôn amdanyn nhw. Un yw'r data delweddu ar gyfer ymgyflwyniadau strôc mewn gofal brys i gyflymu opsiynau diagnosis a thriniaeth. Tybed a allech chi ddweud pam rydych chi'n ei roi yn y dyfodol:

'byddwn yn gallu archwilio',

oherwydd rwy'n gwybod, ar ôl siarad â Dr Shakeel Ahmad am hyn—ef yw'r arweinydd cenedlaethol—bod hwn yn bendant yn achubwr bywyd. Felly, dyna un cwestiwn.

Yr ail beth yw rhywbeth hollol wahanol, sef bod Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Cwm Taf Morgannwg wedi mabwysiadu dull data digidol a chysylltu gwerthoedd arloesol o weithio gyda thai cymdeithasol i drosoli ECO4 ar gyfer tenantiaid, ac mae hyn yn galonogol iawn i bobl yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg. Yn anffodus, does dim stori gystal i'w hadrodd mewn llawer o awdurdodau lleol eraill, oherwydd, yn amlwg, arian ECO4 yw hwn—mae hwn yn arian sydd y tu allan i Gymru. Ar ôl clywed y dystiolaeth yn y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol am Gymru Gynnes, sy'n fenter gymdeithasol, sy'n ceisio helpu i ysgogi hyn i fynd i'r afael â thlodi tanwydd, nid yw'r rhan fwyaf o awdurdodau lleol yn manteisio ar ei wasanaethau drwy Brifysgol Caerdydd, sy'n eich galluogi i sylwi ar y gwaethaf yn gyntaf—

18:10

So, could you just say a little bit more about that, if you have any, and if not, perhaps you could, obviously, provide that information at another time?

Felly, a allech chi ddweud ychydig mwy am hynny, os oes gennych chi unrhyw beth, ac os na, efallai y gallech chi, yn amlwg, roi'r wybodaeth honno ar adeg arall?

Yes, of course. The short answer is that, with all of these innovations that have been mentioned today, the intention is absolutely to roll them all out. I will be able to get a timetable for you on where that is, but, as I said, they come through the innovation and then it goes to the NHS executive, and it is their role then to really spread this out and partner it across. The example that you gave is very much about that prevention, so that is absolutely what we're trying to do. Again, the Minister, Cabinet Secretary, what we always keep saying is, 'This is a national health service. This is the national health service for Wales.' That goes for our digital strategy, that goes for the innovation, as well. Everything is all across Wales, and everyone should be able to have access to it. As I said in my response to Sam Rowlands, when it comes to health, it takes time, as anything does, to scale up, but it also takes time because it does have to be overseen and trained with clinicians. It has to be very, very safe. So, I want to reassure you that that is absolutely happening.

And then, I was hoping that you might pick up on the ECO4 project. I think it's absolutely tremendous. It did start in Cwm Taf Morgannwg, and it's quite simple in that they basically identified about 600 patients who were coming in, having respiratory problems. Then they referred them to the third sector, through a third party, who got in touch with them, checked their home and then checked that they were receiving pension credits and these kinds of things. We've seen this innovation in Birmingham, for example, as well. We've seen other health boards do this, where you can use certain data to identify people who you know, you could probably check up on and then prevent them coming into the NHS. I know that the Cabinet Secretary is very much doing this in the 50-day challenge. That's kind of the purpose of it—it's that prevention, it's that targeting. The data is there, so it's just about somebody in Cwm Taf Morgannwg going, 'Let's have a look at these people,' and that's the way it works. It is being shared out. We have really good networks now. We have the NHS executive as well, which is able to spread this across. But, like I said, I could give you a list—I would say every health board is doing something that's very cool and very special in some way. It is our job, then, to identify them and give them the support to scale that up so that everybody has these opportunities.

Ie, wrth gwrs. Yr ateb byr yw, gyda'r holl ddatblygiadau arloesol hyn sydd wedi'u crybwyll heddiw, y bwriad yn llwyr yw eu cyflwyno i gyd. Byddaf yn gallu cael amserlen i chi ar ble mae hynny, ond, fel y dywedais i, maen nhw'n dod drwy'r arloesedd ac yna mae'n mynd at weithrediaeth y GIG, a'u rôl nhw wedyn yw lledaenu hyn allan a chreu partneriaethau. Mae'r enghraifft a roesoch chi yn ymwneud yn sicr â'r gwaith atal hwnnw, felly dyna'n union rydyn ni'n ceisio'i wneud. Unwaith eto, y Gweinidog, yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet, yr hyn yr ydym bob amser yn ei ddweud yw, 'Gwasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol yw hwn. Dyma wasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol Cymru.' Mae hynny'n wir am ein strategaeth ddigidol, mae hynny'n wir am yr arloesi, hefyd. Mae popeth ledled Cymru, a dylai pawb allu cael mynediad ato. Fel y dywedais i yn fy ymateb i Sam Rowlands, o ran iechyd, mae'n cymryd amser, fel y mae unrhyw beth, i'w gyflwyno ar raddfa fwy, ond mae hefyd yn cymryd amser oherwydd bod yn rhaid goruchwylio a hyfforddi gyda chlinigwyr. Mae'n rhaid iddo fod yn ddiogel iawn, iawn. Felly, rwyf am eich sicrhau bod hynny'n digwydd yn sicr.

Ac yna, roeddwn i'n gobeithio y byddech chi'n sôn am brosiect ECO4. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn hollol wych. Dechreuodd yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg, ac mae'n eithaf syml o ran eu bod wedi nodi tua 600 o gleifion a oedd yn dod i mewn, â phroblemau anadlu. Yna fe wnaethon nhw eu hatgyfeirio i'r trydydd sector, trwy drydydd parti, a gysylltodd â nhw, gwirio eu cartref ac yna gwirio eu bod yn derbyn credydau pensiwn a'r mathau hyn o bethau. Rydym wedi gweld yr arloesedd hwn yn Birmingham, er enghraifft, hefyd. Rydym wedi gweld byrddau iechyd eraill yn gwneud hyn, lle gallwch ddefnyddio data penodol i nodi pobl yr ydych yn gwybod, y gallech chi wirio eu bod yn iawn, mwy na thebyg, ac yna eu hatal rhag dod i mewn i'r GIG. Rwy'n gwybod bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet yn gwneud hyn trwy'r her 50 diwrnod. Dyna fath o bwrpas y peth—y gwaith atal hwnnw, y targedu hwnnw. Mae'r data yno, felly mae'n ymwneud â rhywun yng Nghwm Taf Morgannwg yn dweud, 'Gadewch i ni edrych ar y bobl hyn,' a dyna'r ffordd mae'n gweithio. Mae'n cael ei rannu. Mae gennym rwydweithiau da iawn nawr. Mae gennym ni weithrediaeth y GIG hefyd, sy'n gallu rhannu hyn ar draws. Ond, fel y dywedais i, gallwn i roi rhestr i chi—byddwn i'n dweud bod pob bwrdd iechyd yn gwneud rhywbeth sy'n cŵl iawn ac yn arbennig iawn mewn rhyw ffordd. Ein gwaith ni, felly, yw eu nodi nhw a rhoi'r gefnogaeth iddyn nhw i'w gyflwyno ar raddfa fwy fel bod pawb yn cael y cyfleoedd hyn.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, and thank you very much for your statement tonight, Minister, on this really exciting subject. I am a fan of technology, particularly in healthcare, with my background, so it's very exciting. I agree with a lot of the comments already made during the statement, and I'd just be repeating, obviously, what's already been said, but I want to ask, really, about artificial intelligence in mental health specifically, and how that can be incorporated in mental health and delivering some of the treatments, as mental health issues are more common and, obviously, more complex and with growing complexities, and how that can be embedded within mental health services going into the future.

Just briefly, separately, as well, how can we, in your opinion, seek more synergy across healthcare systems in terms of technology? In terms of the statement and what we're discussing today, it's very exciting, but then, equally, at the same time, we've got, obviously, still paper records in the NHS. The role-out of e-prescriptions is still to be tangibly felt across the country. So, how can we get more synergy and have technological advancements across healthcare systems that can better help people? If you take e-prescriptions, for example, it's 15 years behind England, because they rolled it out back in 2008. So, there's a long catch-up for Wales, and I think, really, we should be more ambitious in trying to achieve better technological advances in healthcare in a more strategic way that can deliver positive outcomes for people across Wales. Thank you.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd, a diolch yn fawr iawn am eich datganiad heno, Gweinidog, ar y pwnc cyffrous iawn hwn. Rwy'n ffan o dechnoleg, yn enwedig ym maes gofal iechyd, gyda fy nghefndir, felly mae'n gyffrous iawn. Rwy'n cytuno â llawer o'r sylwadau a wnaed eisoes yn ystod y datganiad, a byddwn i'n ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedwyd eisoes, yn amlwg, ond rwyf am ofyn, mewn gwirionedd, am ddeallusrwydd artiffisial ym maes iechyd meddwl yn benodol, a sut y gellir ymgorffori hynny mewn iechyd meddwl a darparu rhai o'r triniaethau, gan fod materion iechyd meddwl yn fwy cyffredin ac, yn amlwg, yn fwy cymhleth a gyda chymhlethdodau cynyddol, a sut y gellir ymgorffori hynny o fewn gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y dyfodol.

Yn fyr, ar wahân, hefyd, sut y gallwn ni, yn eich barn chi, geisio mwy o synergedd ar draws systemau gofal iechyd o ran technoleg? O ran y datganiad a'r hyn rydyn ni'n ei drafod heddiw, mae'n gyffrous iawn, ond yna, yn yr un modd, ar yr un pryd, mae gennym, yn amlwg, gofnodion papur o hyd yn y GIG. Mae rôl e-bresgripsiynau yn aros o hyd i'w deimlo yn ddiriaethol ar draws y wlad. Felly, sut gallwn ni fod â mwy o synergedd a bod â datblygiadau technolegol ar draws systemau gofal iechyd a all helpu pobl yn well? Os cymerwch chi e-bresgripsiynau, er enghraifft, mae 15 mlynedd y tu ôl i Loegr, oherwydd fe wnaethon nhw ei gyflwyno yn ôl yn 2008. Felly, mae cyfnod hir o ddal i fyny i Gymru, ac rwy'n credu, mewn gwirionedd, y dylem ni fod yn fwy uchelgeisiol wrth geisio sicrhau datblygiadau technolegol gwell mewn gofal iechyd mewn ffordd fwy strategol a all sicrhau canlyniadau cadarnhaol i bobl ledled Cymru. Diolch.

18:15

Thank you very much. Those are two really interesting questions. I have a lot here on AI; we're using AI a lot across the NHS—a lot of it is early detection and diagnostics. I'll be very honest with you, I haven't seen any at the moment being deployed specifically in the mental health area. But coming back to what Mabon ap Gwynfor was asking me about in terms of the technology being used to be able to connect with people, I also would say that what we ultimately need is—. Fundamentally, it comes back to the data. We need to have better mental health data in general.

I would be quite concerned, I think, at the moment, if we started deploying AI onto the data that we currently hold in terms of mental health records. I think it's incredibly sensitive data and I think that even though a lot of people, yourself included, have done a lot to reduce the stigma around mental health, there are still some things that would impact people's lives if people were to find out, and that people deserve to keep private. So, first and foremost, I would say that we need to get better with the mental health data and the quality of it.

One of the major things that we've done is that we now have the electronic mental health record, which is being designed and deployed by Betsi Cadwaladr—a wonderful team, and I'm really confident. And then, also, Cwm Taf Morgannwg are also involved in that. I think they will lead on it and that will be rolled out across Wales, and then I believe that we'll know that we have some really quality data there to be able to use. But at the moment, I would be reluctant to put it through AI as it currently is. The data needs to be better and that's what you pointed to; there are some fundamental things here that we just have to get right.

In terms of the synergy, this is what it's all about. We've got so much good and it's just about making sure that it's everywhere—it is a national health service. We're going to have a digital summit next year, where we will be leading on the message, once again reiterating the 'once for Wales' policy. It's a national health service, everyone should be getting the same across Wales. I think that people assume that all of our medical records and everything are already linked up and that if I went into the hospital in Denbigh, they would know who I was and what I needed, but they wouldn't, and we really need to push through this.

As I said, we are behind England in some respects, but there have also been some really big mistakes that were made in England; they lost a lot of confidence from patients and people by trying to roll it out. They also damaged their relationships with GPs, in many ways, by forcing them to change the contract and take on the responsibility without negotiating with them. We're not going to make those mistakes in Wales and I think that's when we're going to leapfrog over. So, there's lots to be positive about, but I don't underestimate the challenge here, and that's why it is my priority and that's why I am setting the priorities of what we're actually going to deliver and what we're going to leave by the wayside, honestly.

Diolch yn fawr iawn. Mae'r rhain yn ddau gwestiwn diddorol iawn. Mae gen i lawer yma ar ddeallusrwydd artiffisial; rydyn ni'n defnyddio deallusrwydd artiffisial llawer ar draws y GIG—mae llawer ohono yn ddiagnosteg a chanfod cynnar. Byddaf yn onest iawn gyda chi, nid wyf wedi gweld unrhyw beth ar hyn o bryd yn cael ei weithredu yn benodol yn y maes iechyd meddwl. Ond wrth ddod yn ôl at beth oedd Mabon ap Gwynfor yn gofyn i mi amdano o ran y dechnoleg sy'n cael ei defnyddio i allu cysylltu â phobl, byddwn i hefyd yn dweud mai'r hyn sydd ei angen arnom yn y pen draw yw—. Yn y bôn, mae'n dod yn ôl at y data. Mae angen i ni gael gwell data iechyd meddwl yn gyffredinol.

Byddwn i'n eithaf pryderus, rwy'n credu, ar hyn o bryd, pe byddem ni'n dechrau defnyddio deallusrwydd artiffisial ar y data sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd o ran cofnodion iechyd meddwl. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn ddata hynod sensitif ac rwy'n credu, er bod llawer o bobl, gan gynnwys eich hun, wedi gwneud llawer i leihau'r stigma ynghylch iechyd meddwl, mae rhai pethau o hyd a fyddai'n effeithio ar fywydau pobl pe bai pobl yn cael gwybod, a bod pobl yn haeddu gallu cadw'n breifat. Felly, yn gyntaf oll, byddwn i'n dweud bod angen i ni wella o ran y data iechyd meddwl a'i ansawdd.

Un o'r prif bethau rydyn ni wedi'i wneud yw bod gennym ni'r cofnod iechyd meddwl electronig erbyn hyn, sy'n cael ei ddylunio a'i weithredu gan Betsi Cadwaladr—tîm gwych, ac rwy'n hyderus iawn. Ac yna, hefyd, mae Cwm Taf Morgannwg yn ymwneud â hynny. Rwy'n credu y byddant yn arwain arno ac y bydd hynny'n cael ei gyflwyno ledled Cymru, ac yna rwy'n credu y byddwn ni'n gwybod bod gennym ddata o ansawdd gwirioneddol yno i allu ei ddefnyddio. Ond ar hyn o bryd, byddwn i'n amharod i'w roi trwy deallusrwydd artiffisial fel ag y mae ar hyn o bryd. Mae angen i'r data fod yn well a dyna y gwnaethoch chi dynnu sylw ato; mae yna rai pethau sylfaenol yma y mae'n rhaid i ni eu cael yn iawn.

O ran y synergedd, dyma beth mae hyn yn ymwneud ag ef. Mae gennym gymaint sy'n dda ac mae'n ymwneud â gwneud yn siŵr ei fod ym mhobman—mae'n wasanaeth iechyd gwladol. Byddwn yn cynnal uwchgynhadledd ddigidol y flwyddyn nesaf, lle byddwn yn arwain ar y neges, unwaith eto yn ailadrodd y polisi 'unwaith i Gymru'. Mae'n wasanaeth iechyd cenedlaethol, dylai pawb fod yn cael yr un peth ledled Cymru. Rwy'n credu bod pobl yn cymryd yn ganiataol bod ein holl gofnodion meddygol a phopeth eisoes wedi'u cysylltu a, phe bawn i'n mynd i mewn i'r ysbyty yn Ninbych, y bydden nhw'n gwybod pwy oeddwn i a beth oedd ei angen arnaf, ond fydden nhw ddim, ac mae gwir angen i ni wthio trwy hyn.

Fel y dywedais i, rydym y tu ôl i Loegr mewn rhai agweddau, ond mae rhai camgymeriadau mawr iawn wedi eu gwneud yn Lloegr hefyd; fe gollon nhw lawer o hyder gan gleifion a phobl drwy geisio ei gyflwyno. Fe wnaethon nhw hefyd niweidio eu perthynas â meddygon teulu, mewn sawl ffordd, trwy eu gorfodi i newid y contract a chymryd y cyfrifoldeb heb drafod â nhw. Dydyn ni ddim yn mynd i wneud y camgymeriadau hynny yng Nghymru ac rwy'n credu mai dyna pryd y byddwn yn neidio drosto. Felly, mae llawer i fod yn gadarnhaol yn ei gylch, ond nid wyf yn tanamcangyfrif yr her yn y fan yma, a dyna pam mai dyma yw fy mlaenoriaeth i a dyna pam fy mod yn pennu blaenoriaethau o'r hyn rydyn ni'n mynd i'w gyflawni mewn gwirionedd a'r hyn rydyn ni'n mynd i'w adael ar ôl, yn onest.

8. Rheoliadau Dyrannu Tai a Digartrefedd (Cymhwystra) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2024
8. The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Eitem 8 sydd nesaf, Rheoliadau Dyrannu Tai a Digartrefedd (Cymhwystra) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2024. Galwaf ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Lywodraeth Leol a Thai i wneud y cynnig—Jayne Bryant.

Item 8 is next, the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government to move the motion—Jayne Bryant.

Cynnig NDM8749 Jane Hutt

Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 27.5, yn cymeradwyo bod y fersiwn ddrafft o Reoliadau Dyrannu Tai a Digartrefedd (Cymhwystra) (Cymru) (Diwygio) 2024 yn cael ei llunio yn unol â'r fersiwn ddrafft a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno ar 12 Tachwedd 2024.

Motion NDM8749 Jane Hutt

To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 27.5, approves that the draft The Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 is made in accordance with the draft laid in the Table Office on 12 November 2024.

Cynigiwyd y cynnig.

Motion moved.

Diolch, Deputy Llywydd. We have laid the draft Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 to amend the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2014, known as the 2014 regulations. The amendments reflect changes to the immigration rules, which now make specific provisions for persons who are victims of transnational marriage abandonment, and also now provide the Home Office with the discretion to lift an immigration condition that prohibits recourse to public funds. The amendments also reflect recently amended eligibility regulations applicable to England. The regulations will extend eligibility to housing and housing assistance to a person who is a victim of transnational marriage abandonment and to a person whose no-recourse-to-public-funds immigration condition has been lifted at the discretion of the Home Office.

Transnational marriage abandonment is a form of domestic abuse. It involves controlling and coercive behaviour and can leave a person abandoned or stranded abroad by their visa-dependent spouse, usually without any financial resources or immigration documents, with the aim of preventing them from returning to the UK. A no-recourse-to-public-funds immigration condition may be lifted at the discretion of the Home Office in specific circumstances, including those that are impacting the welfare of a child or causing destitution. We are also removing redundant provisions of the 2014 regulations that refer to the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013, because the accession period has come to an end. 

Before making the regulations, the signature block will be updated and a minor update made to a footnote. I hope that Members will approve the motion, as this will provide victims of transnational marriage abandonment and other persons who are in very difficult circumstances with important services. I hope that Members will also recognise that their support for the regulations will help strengthen Wales's commitment to being a nation of sanctuary, committed to human rights and promoting peace.

Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. Rydym wedi gosod y Rheoliadau Dyrannu Tai a Digartrefedd (Cymhwysedd) (Cymru) (Diwygio) drafft 2024 i ddiwygio Rheoliadau Dyrannu Tai a Digartrefedd (Cymhwysedd) (Cymru) 2014, a elwir yn rheoliadau 2014. Mae'r diwygiadau'n adlewyrchu newidiadau i'r rheolau mewnfudo, sydd bellach yn gwneud darpariaethau penodol ar gyfer pobl sy'n dioddef cefnu ar briodas drawswladol, ac sydd bellach yn rhoi'r disgresiwn i'r Swyddfa Gartref godi amod mewnfudo sy'n gwahardd troi at arian cyhoeddus. Mae'r diwygiadau hefyd yn adlewyrchu rheoliadau cymhwysedd a addaswyd yn ddiweddar sy'n berthnasol i Loegr. Bydd y rheoliadau'n ymestyn cymhwysedd i lety a chymorth tai i berson sy'n dioddef cefnu ar briodas drawswladol ac i berson y mae ei amod mewnfudo dim hawl i arian cyhoeddus wedi'i godi yn ôl disgresiwn y Swyddfa Gartref.

Mae cefnu ar briodas drawswladol yn fath o gam-drin domestig. Mae'n cynnwys ymddygiad rheolaethol a gorfodaeth a gall adael person y cefnwyd arno neu a adawyd dramor gan ei briod y mae'n ddibynnol arno am fisa, fel arfer heb unrhyw adnoddau ariannol na dogfennau mewnfudo, gyda'r nod o'u hatal rhag dychwelyd i'r DU. Gellir codi amod mewnfudo dim hawl i arian cyhoeddus yn ôl disgresiwn y Swyddfa Gartref mewn amgylchiadau penodol, gan gynnwys y rhai sy'n effeithio ar les plentyn neu'n achosi amddifadedd. Rydym hefyd yn dileu darpariaethau diangen rheoliadau 2014 sy'n cyfeirio at Reoliadau Derbyn Croatia (Awdurdodi Mewnfudo a Gweithwyr) 2013, oherwydd bod y cyfnod derbyn wedi dod i ben. 

Cyn gwneud y rheoliadau, bydd y bloc llofnodion yn cael ei ddiweddaru a mân ddiweddariad yn cael ei wneud i droednodyn. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cymeradwyo'r cynnig, gan y bydd hyn yn darparu gwasanaethau pwysig i ddioddefwyr cefnu ar briodas drawswladol a phersonau eraill sydd mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau hefyd yn cydnabod y bydd eu cefnogaeth i'r rheoliadau yn helpu i gryfhau ymrwymiad Cymru i fod yn genedl noddfa, sydd wedi ymrwymo i hawliau dynol a hybu heddwch.

18:20

Mae Plaid Cymru yn cefnogi'r rheoliadau yma, sy'n ehangu'r meini prawf i gynnwys pobl—merched fydd llawer ohonyn nhw—sydd dan anfantais mawr ar hyn o bryd. Bychan ydy'r cohort, ond cohort bregus iawn, ac mae diwygio'r rheoliadau yn pwysleisio bod Cymru yn genedl noddfa—yn lle saff a chroesawgar ar gyfer y rhai sydd heb gartref ac sy'n byw dan amgylchiadau anodd iawn.

Plaid Cymru supports these regulations, which expand the criteria to include people—mainly women—who are under great disadvantage at the moment. The cohort is small, but it's very vulnerable indeed, and amending the regulations does emphasise that Wales is a nation of sanctuary—a safe and welcoming place for those who have no home and who live in very difficult circumstances.

Galwaf ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cabinet i ymateb i'r ddadl.

I call on the Cabinet Secretary to reply to the debate.

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I welcome the opportunity to debate the regulations and thank the Member for the contribution made today. Given the clear benefit the regulations will bring, I hope that Members will support this motion.

Diolch, Dirprwy Llywydd. Rwy'n croesawu'r cyfle i drafod y rheoliadau a diolch i'r Aelod am y cyfraniad a wnaed heddiw. O ystyried y budd clir a ddaw yn sgil y rheoliadau, rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yr Aelodau'n cefnogi'r cynnig hwn.

Y cwestiwn yw: a ddylid derbyn y cynnig? A oes unrhyw Aelod yn gwrthwynebu? Nac oes. Felly, derbynnir y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. The motion is, therefore, agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Derbyniwyd y cynnig yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Nid oes pleidlais heddiw, felly daw hynny â thrafodion heddiw i ben.

There are no votes today, so that brings today's proceedings to a close.

Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 18:22.

The meeting ended at 18:22.