Y Cyfarfod Llawn
Plenary
06/02/2024Cynnwys
Contents
Yn y fersiwn ddwyieithog, mae’r golofn chwith yn cynnwys yr iaith a lefarwyd yn y cyfarfod. Mae’r golofn dde yn cynnwys cyfieithiad o’r areithiau hynny.
In the bilingual version, the left-hand column includes the language used during the meeting. The right-hand column includes a translation of those speeches.
Cyfarfu'r Senedd yn y Siambr a thrwy gynhadledd fideo am 13:30 gyda'r Llywydd (Elin Jones) yn y Gadair.
The Senedd met in the Chamber and by video-conference at 13:30 with the Llywydd (Elin Jones) in the Chair.
Prynhawn da a chroeso, bawb, i'r Cyfarfod Llawn. Cyn cychwyn ar ein gwaith y prynhawn yma, dwi eisiau gwneud ambell sylw a datganiad. Yn gyntaf, fel Senedd, dwi'n siŵr ein bod ni i gyd yn awyddus i gyfleu ein dymuniadau gorau am wellhad llwyr i'r Brenin Charles wrth iddo gychwyn ar ei driniaeth canser.
Ac yn ail, mi ydyn ni i gyd fel Senedd wedi ein tristáu gan y newyddion am farwolaeth Barry John dros y penwythnos. Seren yn ffurfafen rygbi Cymru a'r byd yn y 1970au—25 cap i Gymru a phump dros y Llewod. Ond nid yr ystadegau sy'n cyfleu mawredd Barry John, ond y stori a'r delweddau ohono yn llifo fel llysywen ar y cae rygbi, heb sôn am y bartneriaeth anhygoel o lwyddiannus hynny gyda Gareth Edwards. Does dim mwy o gydnabyddiaeth o fawredd dawn rygbi rhywun nag i gael eich galw yn 'frenin' gan Seland Newydd. Diolch i'r brenin Barry John, felly, a phob cydymdeimlad â'i deulu a'i gyfeillion, a'i gyd-chwaraewyr, wrthon ni fel Senedd.
Yn olaf, dwi eisiau hysbysu'r Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 26.75, fod Bil Caffael y Gwasanaeth Iechyd (Cymru) wedi cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol heddiw.
Good afternoon and welcome to this Plenary meeting. Before we begin our work this afternoon, I want to make a few comments and a statement. First, as a Senedd, I'm sure we'd all wish to extend our best wishes for a full recovery to King Charles as he begins his cancer treatment.
And, secondly, we as a Senedd were all saddened by the news of Barry John's death over the weekend. A star in the Welsh and global rugby firmament in the 1970s—25 caps for Wales, and five for the Lions. But it's not the stats that convey Barry John's greatness, but the story and those images of his lithe majesty on the rugby field, never mind that incredibly successful partnership with Gareth Edwards. There is no greater recognition of the greatness of one's rugby talent than to be called 'king' by New Zealand. Let's thank king Barry John, and we extend our condolences to his family, friends and team mates as a Senedd.
Finally, I want to inform the Senedd that, in accordance with Standing Order 26.75, the Health Service Procurement (Wales) Bill has received Royal Assent today.
Felly, yr eitem nesaf y prynhawn yma fydd y cwestiynau i'r Prif Weinidog. Mae'r cwestiwn cyntaf gan Joyce Watson.
So, the next item on this afternoon's agenda will be questions to the First Minister, and the first question is from Joyce Watson.
1. Sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cefnogi banciau bwyd yng Nghanolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru? OQ60673
1. How is the Welsh Government supporting foodbanks in Mid and West Wales? OQ60673
Llywydd, since 2019, we have provided £18.85 million, including £2 million in this financial year, to support community food organisations. That funding assists them to access, store and distribute additional supplies of good-quality food and other essential goods which support well-being, healthy diets and personal dignity.
Llywydd, ers 2019, rydyn ni wedi darparu £18.85 miliwn, gan gynnwys £2 filiwn yn y flwyddyn ariannol hon, i gynorthwyo sefydliadau bwyd cymunedol. Mae'r cyllid hwnnw yn eu cynorthwyo i gael gafael ar gyflenwadau ychwanegol o fwyd o ansawdd da a nwyddau hanfodol eraill sy'n cefnogi llesiant, deiet iach ac urddas personol, a'u storio a'u dosbarthu.
Diolch, First Minister. Last month, I visited Ammanford foodbank and was in awe of the hard work and dedication by the staff and the volunteers. And I'd like to take the opportunity to thank them for all their commitment to helping others—it's truly inspiring. Demand for help from foodbanks has grown considerably in recent years. Before the Tories came to power, foodbanks were a marginal service, with 41,000 three-day packages handed out by the country's largest foodbank charity, the Trussell Trust, in 2009-10. Forward to 2020-21 and it's reached 2.6 million packages. The current cost-of-living crisis, delays to welfare payments like universal credit, with a five-week wait for any money whatsoever, and the reduction in local housing allowance benefits were cited as the biggest reasons for using foodbanks during my visit. First Minister, what discussions are you having with the UK Government regarding delays to welfare payments and their impact on households having to rely on foodbanks? And can I ask you to join me in thanking the staff and the volunteers at foodbanks across the country for their hard work and their dedication?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Fis diwethaf, ymwelais â banc bwyd Rhydaman ac roeddwn i'n rhyfeddu at y gwaith caled a'r ymroddiad gan y staff a'r gwirfoddolwyr. A hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle i ddiolch iddyn nhw am eu holl ymrwymiad i helpu eraill—mae'n wir yn ysbrydoliaeth. Mae'r galw am gymorth gan fanciau bwyd wedi tyfu'n sylweddol yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Cyn i'r Torïaid ddod i rym, roedd banciau bwyd yn wasanaeth ymylol, a dosbarthwyd 41,000 o becynnau tridiau gan elusen banc bwyd mwyaf y wlad, Ymddiriedolaeth Trussell, yn 2009-10. Ymlaen at 2020-21 ac mae wedi cyrraedd 2.6 miliwn o becynnau. Nodwyd mai'r argyfwng costau byw presennol, oediadau i daliadau lles fel credyd cynhwysol, ag arhosiad o bum wythnos am unrhyw arian o gwbl, a'r gostyngiad fudd-daliadau lwfans tai lleol yw'r rhesymau mwyaf am ddefnyddio banciau bwyd yn ystod fy ymweliad. Prif Weinidog, pa drafodaethau ydych chi'n eu cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch oediadau i daliadau lles a'u heffaith ar aelwydydd yn gorfod dibynnu ar fanciau bwyd? Ac a gaf i ofyn i chi ymuno â mi i ddiolch i'r staff a'r gwirfoddolwyr mewn banciau bwyd ledled y wlad am eu gwaith caled a'u hymroddiad?
Well, Llywydd, I thank Joyce Watson. Her experience is exactly mine and, I'm sure, that of all Members around the Chamber, that when you visit a foodbank, you are immediately in awe of the commitment that people who run them show every single week. But I'm always struck by the fact that one of the very first things that people tell you when you get there is how much they wished they didn't need to be doing what they are doing. And I agree with what Joyce Watson said, Llywydd, that, in years to come, the things that people will remember most from the last 14 years will be foodbanks and street homelessness. Those will be the two visible signs of the impact of 14 years of Conservative Government on the lives of those people who have the least. And the figures are exactly as Joyce Watson set out, Llywydd, in the growth in foodbanks, with the number of parcels for children in Wales increasing by 83 per cent in the last five years.
And, Llywydd, when the Conservative Government want to do something quickly, they find that they can. In all our correspondence over many years with the Department for Work and Pensions urging them to abandon the five-week wait, we're told that it's just practically impossible to do so. When the Chancellor wanted to bring forward his reduction in national insurance contributions, he found he could do it just by a stroke of the pen. And that's the difference, isn't it? The single biggest call on the discretionary assistance fund in recent years has been from people waiting those five weeks without a single payment. And these aren't people who've chosen to be in that position very often. They are people being moved by the Government from one benefit to the other. And when they move, they are forced to wait five weeks without a single penny. Now, we've adjusted the way in which the discretionary assistance fund works to help people in that position. It would be far, far better if the system worked properly for them in the first place.
Wel, Llywydd, diolch i Joyce Watson. Ei phrofiad hi yw fy un i yn union ac, rwy'n siŵr, profiad yr holl Aelodau o amgylch y Siambr, sef pan fyddwch yn ymweld â banc bwyd, eich bod chi'n rhyfeddu ar unwaith at yr ymrwymiad y mae pobl sy'n eu rhedeg yn ei ddangos bob wythnos. Ond rwyf bob amser yn cael fy nharo gan y ffaith mai un o'r pethau cyntaf y mae pobl yn ei ddweud wrthych chi pan fyddwch chi'n cyrraedd yno yw faint yr hoffen nhw pe nad oedd angen iddyn nhw fod yn gwneud yr hyn y maen nhw'n ei wneud. Ac rwy'n cytuno â'r hyn a ddywedodd Joyce Watson, Llywydd, mai'r pethau y bydd pobl yn eu cofio fwyaf, ymhen blynyddoedd i ddod, o'r 14 mlynedd diwethaf fydd banciau bwyd a digartrefedd ar y stryd. Dyna fydd y ddau arwydd gweladwy o effaith 14 mlynedd o Lywodraeth Geidwadol ar fywydau'r bobl hynny sydd â'r lleiaf. Ac mae'r ffigurau yn union fel y nododd Joyce Watson, Llywydd, yn y twf mewn banciau bwyd, gyda nifer y parseli ar gyfer plant yng Nghymru wedi cynyddu 83 y cant yn y pum mlynedd diwethaf.
A, Llywydd, pan fydd y Llywodraeth Geidwadol eisiau gwneud rhywbeth yn gyflym, maen nhw'n canfod eu bod nhw'n gallu. Yn ein holl ohebiaeth dros flynyddoedd lawer gyda'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau yn eu hannog i gefnu ar yr arhosiad o bum wythnos, dywedir wrthym ni ei bod hi'n ymarferol amhosibl gwneud hynny. Pan oedd y Canghellor eisiau cyflwyno ei ostyngiad i gyfraniadau yswiriant gwladol, canfu y gallai wneud hynny dim ond â thrawiad ysgrifbin. Dyna'r gwahaniaeth, ynte? Bu'r alwad unigol fwyaf ar y gronfa cymorth dewisol yn y blynyddoedd diwethaf gan bobl sy'n aros am y pum wythnos hynny heb un taliad. Ac nid yw'r rhain yn bobl sydd wedi dewis bod yn y sefyllfa honno yn aml iawn. Maen nhw'n bobl sy'n cael eu symud gan y Llywodraeth o un budd-dal i'r llall. A phan fyddan nhw'n symud, maen nhw'n cael eu gorfodi i aros pum wythnos heb yr un geiniog. Nawr, rydym ni wedi addasu'r ffordd y mae'r gronfa cymorth dewisol yn gweithio i helpu pobl yn y sefyllfa honno. Byddai'n llawer, llawer gwell pe bai'r system yn gweithio'n iawn iddyn nhw yn y lle cyntaf.
First Minister, the illegal invasion of Ukraine and subsequent inflationary costs have severely impacted our Welsh farmers, particularly through rising costs of the three Fs—feed, fuel and fertiliser. This has undoubtedly led to increased food costs, affecting families across Wales. So, does the First Minister agree with me that tackling food poverty in Wales depends on a robust and supported Welsh agricultural sector? If so, can he confirm that the entire £337 million allocated to support Welsh farmers under the comprehensive spending review for this fiscal year will be fully spent supporting farmers and land managers in producing environmentally sustainable, safe and traceable food? This would be a sure-fire way of continuing to supply food and produce to our supermarket shelves and the vital support for foodbanks that serve the most vulnerable in our communities.
Prif Weinidog, mae'r ymosodiad anghyfreithlon ar Wcráin a chostau chwyddiant dilynol wedi effeithio'n ddifrifol ar ein ffermwyr yng Nghymru, yn enwedig trwy gostau cynyddol porthiant, tanwydd a gwrtaith. Nid oes amheuaeth bod hyn wedi arwain at gostau bwyd uwch, gan effeithio ar deuluoedd ledled Cymru. Felly, a yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi bod mynd i'r afael â thlodi bwyd yng Nghymru yn dibynnu ar sector amaethyddol cadarn ac wedi'i gefnogi yng Nghymru? Os felly, a all ef gadarnhau y bydd y £337 miliwn cyfan a ddyrannwyd i gynorthwyo ffermwyr Cymru o dan yr adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant ar gyfer y flwyddyn gyllidol hon yn cael ei wario'n llawn yn cynorthwyo ffermwyr a rheolwyr tir i gynhyrchu bwyd amgylcheddol gynaliadwy, diogel ac y gellir ei olrhain? Byddai hon yn ffordd sicr o barhau i gyflenwi bwyd a chynnyrch i silffoedd ein harchfarchnadoedd a'r cymorth hanfodol i fanciau bwyd sy'n gwasanaethu'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymunedau.
Llywydd, the sustainable farming scheme has sustainable food production at its core. It's the first thing that the SFS is designed to achieve. We have kept the current level of basic payment scheme payments for farmers in Wales, quite unlike what has happened across our border. That was very hard won, in a very difficult budget round, and it is a very strong signal of the determination of this Government to go on investing in rural communities.
Llywydd, mae cynhyrchu bwyd yn gynaliadwy wrth wraidd y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy. Dyma'r peth cyntaf y mae'r cynllun wedi'i gynllunio i'w gyflawni. Rydym ni wedi cadw'r lefel bresennol o daliadau cynllun taliadau sylfaenol i ffermwyr yng Nghymru, yn dra gwahanol i'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd dros ein ffin. Brwydrwyd yn galed iawn dros hynny, mewn rownd gyllideb anodd iawn, ac mae'n arwydd cryf iawn o benderfyniad y Llywodraeth hon i barhau i fuddsoddi mewn cymunedau gwledig.
Diolch i Joyce Watson am y cwestiwn. Fe es i yn ddiweddar i'r un banc bwyd yn Rhydaman hefyd, ac fe glywais i storïau gan nifer fawr o bobl a oedd yn dibynnu ar y gwasanaeth, a phobl mewn gwaith oedd y rheini, sy'n ddatblygiad pryderus iawn, iawn. Ond mae'r banc bwyd arbennig yma'n rhedeg gwasanaeth cefnogi, sy'n rhoi cyngor i bobl sydd ar fudd-daliadau sy'n gallu elwa o gael cymaint mwy o fudd-daliadau sy'n haeddiannol iddyn nhw—cannoedd ar filoedd o bunnoedd, sy'n dangos bod angen i ni wneud llawer mwy i helpu'r bobl yma i gael y budd-daliadau y mae gyda nhw hawl iddyn nhw. Ond un peth penodol a achosodd bryder i fi am Rydaman oedd gweld y twf yn nifer y bobl dros 65 oed a oedd yn dod i ddibynnu ar fanciau bwyd. Felly, gaf i ofyn beth ydyn ni'n gwneud i gefnogi pobl yn gyffredinol sy'n gweld yr angen am fanciau bwyd, ond yn arbennig y rheini sy'n 65 ac yn hŷn sy'n gynyddol yn dod i ddibynnu arnyn nhw?
I thank Joyce Watson for the question. I recently visited the same foodbank in Ammanford, and I heard stories from many people who were reliant on the service, and these were people in work, which is a very concerning development indeed. But that particular foodbank runs a support service that provides advice to people who are on benefits about how they can claim more of the benefits that they're eligible for—hundreds of thousands of pounds, which shows that we need to do far more to help these people to access those payments that they're eligible for. But one particular thing that was a cause of concern in Ammanford was the growth in the number of people over 65 years of age who were becoming reliant on foodbanks. So, can I ask what we're doing to support people in general who see the need to use foodbanks, but particularly those who are 65 and over who are increasingly becoming reliant on them?
Diolch yn fawr i Cefin Campbell, Llywydd, am y cwestiwn ychwanegol yna. Dwi wedi clywed oddi wrth Joyce Watson am y ffaith, pan fydd pobl yn mynd at y banc bwyd yn Rhydaman, nad dim ond bwyd maen nhw'n cael—maen nhw'n cael cyngor ac maen nhw'n cael pethau eraill i'w helpu nhw i wella'r sefyllfa y maen nhw'n ei hwynebu. Rydyn ni wedi cydweithio'n agos â Chomisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru i helpu pobl i gael credyd pensiwn. Mae nifer fawr o bobl yn Nghymru yn colli mas ar bethau. Mae hawl gyda nhw i'r budd-daliadau yna, ond mae pobl hŷn, rydyn ni'n gwybod, yn pryderu, yn becso, a dydyn nhw ddim yn siŵr am sut mae'r system yn gweithio. Mae lot fwy rydyn ni'n gallu gwneud, ac yn mynd i wneud, gyda'r comisiynydd i helpu pobl i dynnu lawr y pethau sydd yna iddyn nhw. Ac nid jest yr arian y maen nhw'n cael drwy'r credyd pensiwn, ond mae hwnna'n agor y drws i bethau eraill y mae pobl yn gallu eu cael hefyd. Dyna pam mae'r ymdrech y mae'r comisiynydd yn gwneud yn bwysig i bobl hŷn yng Nghymru, ac rydyn ni'n awyddus i wneud mwy gyda hi i roi'r help sydd ar gael i bobl yn y sefyllfa y mae Cefin Campbell wedi ei hesbonio i ni y prynhawn yma.
I thank Cefin Campbell very much for that supplementary question, Llywydd. I've heard from Joyce Watson about the fact that, when people do go to the foodbank in Ammanford, they don't only receive food—they get advice and other things to help them to improve the situation they're facing. We have collaborated closely with the Older People's Commissioner for Wales to help people to claim pension credit. A great number of people in Wales are missing out on things .They're entitled to those benefits, but older people, we know, are concerned, are anxious and they're not sure how the system works. There is a lot more that we can do, and there's a lot more we will do, with the commissioner to help people to draw down those things that they're entitled to. And not just the money they receive through pension credit, but that then opens the door to other things that people can claim as well. That's why the efforts made by the commissioner are important for older people in Wales, and we're eager to do more with her to provide support to people in the situation that Cefin Campbell has described for us this afternoon.
Good afternoon, First Minister. Just to go from one age group—older people—to our children here in Wales, let's be honest, our benefits system from the Conservative Government is evil, odious and punitive. The sanctions that are given to families mean that we end up with poor children here in Wales. But the Welsh Government does have levers at its disposal and I'm looking forward to the roll-out of the Welsh benefits charter. But one thing that really concerns a few us of here in the Siambr is around our poverty strategy and how that can be strengthened. So, may I ask you, First Minister, how, in your view, can we strengthen our poverty strategy? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Prif Weinidog. Dim ond i fynd o un grŵp oedran—pobl hŷn—i'n plant yma yng Nghymru, gadewch i ni fod yn onest, mae ein system fudd-daliadau gan y Llywodraeth Geidwadol yn anfad, yn atgas ac yn gosbol. Mae'r sancsiynau sy'n cael eu rhoi i deuluoedd yn arwain yn y pen draw at blant tlawd yma yng Nghymru. Ond mae gan Lywodraeth Cymru ysgogiadau ar gael iddi ac rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gyflwyno siarter budd-daliadau Cymru. Ond un peth sydd wir yn poeni ambell un ohonom ni yma yn y Siambr yw ein strategaeth dlodi a sut y gellir cryfhau honno. Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Prif Weinidog, sut, yn eich barn chi, y gallwn ni gryfhau ein strategaeth dlodi? Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Well, Llywydd, there are a number of ways in which the poverty strategy aims to do more to help young people and families who are in that position. Part of it is, as Cefin Campbell said, by making sure that we draw down into Wales the help that is available for people and which doesn't always get claimed in the way that we would want it to be. Now, I recall a discussion here on the floor of the Senedd about the large number of families in Wales who were not claiming Healthy Start vouchers, and, as a result of the discussion we had here and the work done by my colleague Lynne Neagle, we have succeeded in driving up the percentage of families getting that help. Now 78 per cent of families in Wales obtain that help. That's higher than in England and it's higher than in Northern Ireland. And that does show that, where we make a concerted effort together, we are able to do more to make sure that help that is available for families is, actually, drawn down by them. That's just one example.
I'm grateful to the Member for highlighting the Welsh benefits charter. That will have a big impact in the lives of families with children, because one of the benefits that will now be automatically linked up is the help that my colleague the education Minister makes available to young people attending school who need help with the cost of the school day. So, there are a series of very practical ways in which the strategy will do more and will help young people and their families in the way that Jane Dodds has suggested.
Wel, Llywydd, ceir nifer o ffyrdd y mae'r strategaeth dlodi yn ceisio gwneud mwy i helpu pobl ifanc a theuluoedd sydd yn y sefyllfa honno. Rhan ohono, fel y dywedodd Cefin Campbell, yw drwy wneud yn siŵr ein bod ni'n manteisio yng Nghymru ar y cymorth sydd ar gael i bobl ac nad yw bob amser yn cael ei hawlio yn y ffordd y byddem ni'n dymuno iddo ei gael. Nawr, rwy'n cofio trafodaeth yma ar lawr y Senedd am y nifer fawr o deuluoedd yng Nghymru nad oedden nhw'n hawlio talebau Cychwyn Iach, ac, o ganlyniad i'r drafodaeth a gawsom ni yma a'r gwaith a wnaed gan fy nghyd-Aelod Lynne Neagle, rydym ni wedi llwyddo i gynyddu canran y teuluoedd sy'n cael y cymorth hwnnw. Erbyn hyn, mae 78 y cant o deuluoedd yng Nghymru yn cael y cymorth hwnnw. Mae hynny'n uwch nag yn Lloegr ac mae'n uwch nag yng Ngogledd Iwerddon. Ac mae hynny yn dangos, lle'r ydym ni'n gwneud ymdrech unedig gyda'n gilydd, ein bod ni'n gallu gwneud mwy i wneud yn siŵr bod teuluoedd wir yn manteisio ar y cymorth sydd ar gael iddyn nhw. Dim ond un enghraifft yw hynny.
Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Aelod am dynnu sylw at siarter budd-daliadau Cymru. Bydd honno'n cael effaith fawr ym mywydau teuluoedd â phlant, oherwydd un o'r manteision a fydd bellach yn cael ei gysylltu'n awtomatig yw'r cymorth y mae fy nghyd-Weinidog, y Gweinidog Addysg, yn ei wneud ar gael i bobl ifanc sy'n mynychu'r ysgol sydd angen help gyda chost y diwrnod ysgol. Felly, mae yna gyfres o ffyrdd ymarferol iawn y bydd y strategaeth yn gwneud mwy ac yn helpu pobl ifanc a'u teuluoedd yn y ffordd y mae Jane Dodds wedi ei awgrymu.
2. Pa fesurau y bydd y Prif Weinidog yn eu cymryd i roi mwy o ddylanwad i bobl Cymru dros wasanaethau bysiau? OQ60642
2. What measures will the First Minister take to give greater influence over bus services to the people of Wales? OQ60642
Well, Llywydd, we will bring forward a bus Bill to reform the failed system of deregulation. That will enable all levels of government to work with our communities to design and deliver bus services they need.
Wel, Llywydd, byddwn ni'n cyflwyno Bil bysiau i ddiwygio'r system ddadreoleiddio sydd wedi methu. Bydd hynny'n galluogi pob lefel o lywodraeth i weithio gyda'n cymunedau i ddylunio a darparu gwasanaethau bysiau sydd eu hangen arnyn nhw.
Thank you, First Minister, and we're looking forward to having that bus Bill in front of us, because one of the greatest frustrations for us as representatives, but also for local people, is that they have no real say over where the routes run and at what times of the day to get them to their jobs, to get them to hospitals, to get them to visit friends, particularly in the northern parts of the valleys in my constituency, but we'll all feel it throughout the whole of Wales. But one of the other big frustrations is that there is one part of the UK that has retained the powers to do that. When we had that disastrous—utterly disastrous—deregulation back in the 1980s, where the powers were stripped away from any democratic input into control over buses and routes and services and so on, one place kept it and it was London. And, in London, the passenger numbers have gone up, the routes have been sustained, investment has been massive. Everywhere else, it is has fallen away. So, can we have the assurance that that Bill will come forward? And can he clarify for us what that will mean for people to have an input into where the routes that serve their communities go and that keeps their lives and their livelihoods—give some chance to sustain them?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog, ac rydym ni'n edrych ymlaen at gael y Bil bysiau hwnnw o'n blaenau, oherwydd un o'r rhwystredigaethau mwyaf i ni fel cynrychiolwyr, ond hefyd i bobl leol, yw nad oes ganddyn nhw unrhyw lais gwirioneddol o ran ble mae'r llwybrau'n rhedeg ac ar ba adegau o'r dydd i'w cael i'w swyddi, i'w cael nhw i ysbytai, i'w cael nhw i ymweld â ffrindiau, yn enwedig yn rhannau gogleddol y cymoedd yn fy etholaeth i, ond byddwn ni i gyd yn ei deimlo ledled Cymru gyfan. Ond un o'r rhwystredigaethau mawr eraill yw bod un rhan o'r DU sydd wedi cadw'r pwerau i wneud hynny. Pan gawsom y dadreoleiddio trychinebus—hollol drychinebus—hwnnw yn ôl yn y 1980au, lle cafodd y pwerau eu tynnu i ffwrdd o unrhyw fewnbwn democrataidd i reolaeth dros fysiau a llwybrau a gwasanaethau ac yn y blaen, fe wnaeth un lle ei chadw, sef Llundain. Ac, yn Llundain, mae nifer y teithwyr wedi cynyddu, mae'r llwybrau wedi cael eu cynnal, mae'r buddsoddiad wedi bod yn enfawr. Ym mhob man arall, mae wedi diflannu. Felly, a allwn ni gael y sicrwydd y bydd y Bil hwnnw yn cael ei gyflwyno? Ac a all ef egluro i ni beth fydd hynny'n ei olygu i bobl gael mewnbwn i le mae'r llwybrau sy'n gwasanaethu eu cymunedau yn mynd ac sy'n cadw eu bywydau a'u bywoliaeth—rhoi rhywfaint o gyfle i'w cynnal?
Well, Llywydd, I'm very pleased to give the Member an assurance that that Bill is in the final stages of its preparation. It's a complex Bill, but it will come in front of the Senedd. One of the fundamental ways in which it will change the bus landscape in Wales is this: the system we have inherited and the system that we have run up until now is one that pays in a subsidy per journey, per passenger. That is a very difficult system for Government because it is inherently uncertain and you will never know how much the system will cost, and it is difficult for companies as well, because they don't have predictability about it. The future will be about subsidising routes, not individuals, so that we will have a planned, agreed, stable and subsidised system of bus transport here in Wales, so that for those routes that are socially necessary—and that's how we will be consulting the public, of course, in that we will be looking to see their views of those routes that are socially necessary—but not commercially viable, we will continue to invest the tens of millions of pounds that are put into the system today but in a way that does not give the public an adequate return on that investment. That is what the Bill will allow us to do.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n falch iawn o roi sicrwydd i'r Aelod bod y Bil hwnnw ar gamau olaf ei baratoad. Mae'n Fil cymhleth, ond bydd yn dod gerbron y Senedd. Un o'r ffyrdd sylfaenol y bydd yn newid y dirwedd fysiau yng Nghymru yw hon: mae'r system yr ydym ni wedi ei hetifeddu a'r system yr ydym ni wedi ei rhedeg hyd yma yn un sy'n talu cymhorthdal fesul taith, fesul teithiwr. Mae honno'n system anodd iawn i Lywodraeth gan ei bod yn ansicr yn ei hanfod ac ni fyddwch byth yn gwybod faint y bydd y system yn ei gostio, ac mae'n anodd i gwmnïau hefyd, gan nad oes ganddyn nhw'r gallu i'w ragweld. Bydd y dyfodol yn golygu sybsideiddio llwybrau, nid unigolion, fel y bydd gennym ni system trafnidiaeth fysiau wedi'i chynllunio, wedi'i chytuno, sefydlog ac wedi'i sybsideiddio yma yng Nghymru, fel bod y llwybrau hynny sy'n angenrheidiol yn gymdeithasol—a dyna sut y byddwn ni'n ymgynghori â'r cyhoedd, wrth gwrs, yn yr ystyr y byddwn ni'n edrych i weld eu safbwyntiau ar y llwybrau hynny sy'n angenrheidiol yn gymdeithasol—ond nid yn fasnachol hyfyw, byddwn yn parhau i fuddsoddi'r degau o filiynau o bunnoedd sy'n cael eu rhoi yn y system heddiw ond mewn ffordd nad yw'n rhoi enillion digonol i'r cyhoedd o'r buddsoddiad hwnnw. Dyna'r hyn y bydd y Bil yn caniatáu i ni ei wneud.
Of course, the UK Bus Services Act 2017 introduced reforms in England seven years ago. Although it is now more than two decades since I first raised the need to embed the lived experience of disabled people in plans and designs for local environments and services, rather than creating barriers for them afterwards, I still regularly hear from disabled people that this is still not happening. Questioning you at the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister meeting in Wrexham University last July, I referred to my meeting with RNIB Cymru, Vision Support and the VI Voices campaigning group Wrexham, people living with a vision impairment who want to raise awareness about the barriers they face, where issues raised included navigating Wrexham bus station, inaccessible transport touch screens and concerns that the Wrexham Gateway project, supported by the Welsh Government and, in principle, by me too, could create further barriers because they had no input into this. Arriva Bus have also raised concerns that they have not been consulted about this project, despite promotional materials showing one of their buses. Why, therefore, after all these years, are disabled people being denied greater influence over bus and other service plans and design?
Wrth gwrs, cyflwynodd Deddf Gwasanaethau Bysiau y DU 2017 ddiwygiadau yn Lloegr saith mlynedd yn ôl. Er ei bod bellach dros ddau ddegawd ers i mi godi'r angen i ymwreiddio profiad byw pobl anabl mewn cynlluniau a dyluniadau ar gyfer amgylcheddau a gwasanaethau lleol, yn hytrach na chreu rhwystrau iddyn nhw wedyn, rwy'n dal i glywed yn rheolaidd gan bobl anabl nad yw hyn yn digwydd o hyd. Wrth eich holi yng nghyfarfod y Pwyllgor Craffu ar Waith y Prif Weinidog ym Mhrifysgol Wrecsam fis Gorffennaf diwethaf, cyfeiriais at fy nghyfarfod gydag RNIB Cymru, Vision Support a grŵp ymgyrchu VI Voices Wrecsam, pobl sy'n byw gyda nam ar eu golwg sydd eisiau codi ymwybyddiaeth o'r rhwystrau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu, lle'r oedd y materion a godwyd yn cynnwys symud o gwmpas gorsaf fysiau Wrecsam, sgriniau cyffwrdd trafnidiaeth anhygyrch a phryderon y gallai prosiect Porth Wrecsam, a gefnogir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac, mewn egwyddor, gennyf innau hefyd, greu rhwystrau pellach gan nad oedd ganddyn nhw unrhyw fewnbwn i hyn. Mae cwmni Arriva Bus hefyd wedi mynegi pryderon nad ydyn nhw wedi cael eu hymgynghori ynglŷn â'r prosiect hwn, er bod deunyddiau hyrwyddo yn dangos un o'u bysiau. Pam, felly, ar ôl yr holl flynyddoedd hyn, y mae pobl anabl yn cael eu hatal rhag cael mwy o ddylanwad dros gynlluniau a dyluniad bysiau a gwasanaethau eraill?
Well, Llywydd, I'm afraid I can't answer in detail for how Wrexham council discharges its responsibilities in this area, but I do remember the question that the Member put to me when I was in Wrexham and I remember agreeing with him, and I agree with him again this afternoon that, when services are being redesigned, when there are new facilities like a new bus station, of course the voice of the user, and particularly those users who have particular needs, those voices ought to be heard and they ought to be taken into account in the way in which those services are designed and developed.
When we have greater control over bus services through the franchising model, it will be easier for us to make sure that those points are felt powerfully in the system. In the meantime, those who are responsible on the ground for changes to services and new developments, of course they should make sure that they consult with those local groups who have expertise to contribute, who have passengers who want to use that service and would be more likely to do so if those needs are properly taken into account.
Wel, Llywydd, mae gen i ofn na allaf ateb yn fanwl am sut mae cyngor Wrecsam yn cyflawni ei gyfrifoldebau yn y maes hwn, ond rwy'n cofio'r cwestiwn a ofynnodd yr Aelod i mi pan oeddwn i yn Wrecsam ac rwy'n cofio cytuno ag ef, ac rwy'n cytuno ag ef eto y prynhawn yma, pan fydd gwasanaethau'n cael eu hail-ddylunio, pan fydd cyfleusterau newydd fel gorsaf fysiau newydd, wrth gwrs y dylai llais y defnyddiwr, ac yn enwedig y defnyddwyr hynny sydd ag anghenion penodol, y dylai'r lleisiau hynny gael eu clywed ac y dylid eu cymryd i ystyriaeth yn y ffordd y mae'r gwasanaethau hynny yn cael eu dylunio a'u datblygu.
Pan fydd gennym ni fwy o reolaeth dros wasanaethau bysiau drwy'r model masnachfreinio, bydd yn haws i ni wneud yn siŵr bod y pwyntiau hynny yn cael eu teimlo'n rymus yn y system. Yn y cyfamser, y rhai sy'n gyfrifol ar lawr gwlad am newidiadau i wasanaethau a datblygiadau newydd, wrth gwrs, dylen nhw wneud yn siŵr eu bod nhw'n ymgynghori â'r grwpiau lleol hynny sydd ag arbenigedd i gyfrannu, sydd â theithwyr sydd eisiau defnyddio'r gwasanaeth hwnnw ac a fyddai'n fwy tebygol o wneud hynny os cymerir yr anghenion hynny i ystyriaeth yn briodol.
Cuts to bus services in the Valleys are having a hugely detrimental effect on people's lives. I'm particularly concerned about the ongoing inaccessibility of the Grange University Hospital by bus from too many communities. Lots of people in the Valleys don't drive and, to get from valley to valley, they're dependent on buses. A constituent has written to me to complain that there is no direct bus from Caerphilly town to the hospital. Their neighbour, who doesn't drive, has been having to visit his wife in the Grange for three weeks by getting buses, and they're having to catch two buses. The journey, apparently, can take more than an hour and a half, which is the last thing anyone would want when they're visiting a sick loved one. It can't be right that the biggest town in the county has no direct access by bus to the main hospital. There are towns across the south-east that similarly have no bus route to the Grange. So, what urgent work can be done, please, to open up more bus routes across the region to this central hospital?
Mae toriadau i wasanaethau bysiau yn y Cymoedd yn cael effaith aruthrol o niweidiol ar fywydau pobl. Rwy'n arbennig o bryderus am anhygyrchedd parhaus Ysbyty Athrofaol y Faenor ar fws o ormod o gymunedau. Nid yw llawer o bobl yn y Cymoedd yn gyrru ac, i fynd o gwm i gwm, maen nhw'n ddibynnol ar fysiau. Mae etholwr wedi ysgrifennu ataf i gwyno nad oes bws uniongyrchol o dref Caerffili i'r ysbyty. Bu'n rhaid i'w cymydog, nad yw'n gyrru, ymweld â'i wraig yn y Faenor ers tair wythnos trwy fynd ar fysiau, ac maen nhw'n gorfod dal dau fws. Gall y daith, mae'n debyg, gymryd mwy nag awr a hanner, sef y peth olaf y byddai unrhyw un ei eisiau pan fyddan nhw'n ymweld â rhywun agos sy'n sâl. Ni all fod yn iawn nad oes gan dref fwyaf y sir fynediad uniongyrchol ar fws i'r prif ysbyty. Ceir trefi ar draws y de-ddwyrain nad oes ganddyn nhw lwybr bws i'r Faenor yn yr un modd. Felly, pa waith brys ellir ei wneud, os gwelwch yn dda, i agor mwy o lwybrau bysiau ar draws y rhanbarth i'r ysbyty canolog hwn?
Well, Llywydd, a great deal of work has gone on already to create new bus services to the Grange hospital. No commercial provider will provide such a service. So, while I absolutely recognise the point that Delyth Jewell has made about there being people who rely on the bus service, there clearly are not enough of them to persuade a commercial provider to put on a service directly from Caerphilly, or in the other instances that she has identified. So, any new service has to be subsidised by the public purse.
Now, we already have gone through an emergency bus scheme, a bus transition fund, and are now investing in a bus network support grant, all of which is designed to try to meet the many needs that we know exist in all parts of Wales. The Minister will have heard the points you've made this afternoon, and I'm sure that there'll be further consideration of them, but I have worked closely with the Member for Caerphilly on this issue. That has led to some improvements already, and no doubt those conversations will continue to see if more can be done.
Wel, Llywydd, mae llawer iawn o waith wedi cael ei wneud eisoes i greu gwasanaethau bysiau newydd i ysbyty'r Faenor. Ni wnaiff unrhyw ddarparwr masnachol ddarparu gwasanaeth o'r fath. Felly, er fy mod i'n cydnabod yn llwyr y pwynt y mae Delyth Jewell wedi ei wneud ynglŷn â bod pobl sy'n dibynnu ar y gwasanaeth bysiau, mae'n amlwg nad oes digon ohonyn nhw i berswadio darparwr masnachol i gyflwyno gwasanaeth yn uniongyrchol o Gaerffili, nac yn yr achosion eraill y mae hi wedi eu nodi. Felly, mae'n rhaid i unrhyw wasanaeth newydd gael ei ariannu gan bwrs y wlad.
Nawr, rydym ni eisoes wedi mynd trwy gynllun bysiau brys, cronfa bontio bysiau, ac rydym ni bellach yn buddsoddi mewn grant cymorth rhwydwaith bysiau, y mae pob un ohonyn nhw wedi'i gynllunio i geisio diwallu'r anghenion niferus y gwyddom sy'n bodoli ym mhob rhan o Gymru. Bydd y Gweinidog wedi clywed y pwyntiau yr ydych chi wedi eu gwneud y prynhawn yma, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd ystyriaeth bellach ohonyn nhw, ond rwyf i wedi gweithio'n agos gyda'r Aelod dros Gaerffili ar y mater hwn. Mae hynny wedi arwain at rai gwelliannau eisoes, ac rwy'n siŵr y bydd y sgyrsiau hynny'n parhau i weld a oes modd gwneud mwy.
Cwestiynau nawr gan arweinwyr y pleidiau. Arweinydd y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Questions now from the party leaders. The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Could I first of all begin by identifying with the comments that you made earlier and send our best wishes to His Majesty the King from the Conservative benches for his speedy recovery and praise him for coming forward with the condition that he's fighting, in the hope that it'll bring other people forward to have a speedy diagnosis, as we know the time is of the essence?
In relation to Barry John, it takes some doing to be called 'the King' in New Zealand, and that is the stature of the man, that he was such a genius on the field of rugby. In the amateur era, where so few games were actually played by players—I think fewer than 30 caps and 150 points—to be called 'the King' really is a true reward for the way he played the game of rugby on the field, both in New Zealand and here in Wales.
First Minister, today, we are hearing the story of Theresa Jones, who had to wait 24 hours for an ambulance to respond to the call from the care home that she was a resident in in Port Talbot. We also see Jeremy Bowen's mother in the A&E department at the Heath hospital, who's been sitting on a plastic chair since 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. In both cases, how long should both these individuals have to wait to be seen?
Diolch, Llywydd. A gaf i ddechrau yn gyntaf oll drwy uniaethu â'r sylwadau a wnaethoch chi'n gynharach ac anfon ein dymuniadau gorau at Ei Fawrhydi y Brenin o'r meinciau Ceidwadol am ei wellhad buan a'i ganmol am sôn am y cyflwr y mae'n ei frwydro, yn y gobaith y bydd yn dod â phobl eraill ymlaen i gael diagnosis buan, gan ein bod yn gwybod bod amser yn hanfodol?
O ran Barry John, mae'n dipyn o gamp i gael eich galw'n 'y Brenin' yn Seland Newydd, a dyna statws y dyn, ei fod yn gymaint o athrylith ar y cae rygbi. Yn yr oes amatur, pan oedd cyn lleied o gemau yn cael eu chwarae gan chwaraewyr mewn gwirionedd—llai na 30 cap a 150 o bwyntiau rwy'n credu—mae cael eich galw'n 'y Brenin' yn wobr wirioneddol am y ffordd y chwaraeodd rygbi ar y cae, yn Seland Newydd ac yma yng Nghymru.
Prif Weinidog, heddiw, rydym ni'n clywed hanes Theresa Jones, y bu'n rhaid iddi aros 24 awr i ambiwlans ymateb i'r alwad o'r cartref gofal yr oedd yn byw ynddo ym Mhort Talbot. Rydym ni hefyd yn gweld mam Jeremy Bowen yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys yn ysbyty'r Mynydd Bychan, sydd wedi bod yn eistedd ar gadair blastig ers 4 o'r gloch brynhawn ddoe. Yn y ddau achos, pa mor hir ddylai'r ddwy hyn orfod aros i gael eu gweld?
Well, Llywydd, as the leader of the opposition will know, I'm never in a position to comment on individual cases, no matter how much attention has been drawn to them. The Welsh ambulance trust has expressed its disappointment at the service that was able to be provided, and there will, no doubt, be questions that will need to be asked about the service and the advice that was given and so on, and they will do that. Our aim, as he knows, is to make sure that people who are presented at an A&E department are seen, treated and moved, either beyond the service itself or into a hospital, within four hours. The standard waiting time—the standard waiting time—from the moment somebody arrives to the time that their treatment in an A&E department is concluded is just over two and a half hours in Wales. Some people wait longer than that, and the system works hard to try to deal with that, but that is the current state of A&E services where people have to wait.
Wel, Llywydd, fel y bydd arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn gwybod, nid wyf i byth mewn sefyllfa i wneud sylwadau ar achosion unigol, waeth faint o sylw a dynnwyd atyn nhw. Mae ymddiriedolaeth ambiwlans Cymru wedi mynegi ei siom at y gwasanaeth y llwyddwyd i'r ddarparu, a bydd, heb os, cwestiynau y bydd angen eu gofyn am y gwasanaeth a'r cyngor a roddwyd ac yn y blaen, a byddan nhw'n gwneud hynny. Ein nod, fel y mae'n gwybod, yw gwneud yn siŵr bod pobl sy'n cael eu cyflwyno mewn adran damweiniau ac achosion brys yn cael eu gweld, eu trin a'u symud, naill ai y tu hwnt i'r gwasanaeth ei hun neu i mewn i ysbyty, o fewn pedair awr. Yng Nghymru, ychydig dros ddwy awr a hanner yw'r amser aros safonol—yr amser aros safonol—o'r eiliad y mae rhywun yn cyrraedd i'r amser y mae eu triniaeth mewn adran damweiniau ac achosion brys yn dod i ben. Mae rhai pobl yn aros yn hwy na hynny, ac mae'r system yn gweithio'n galed i geisio delio â hynny, ond dyna gyflwr presennol gwasanaethau damweiniau ac achosion brys lle mae'n rhaid i bobl aros.
First Minister, these are two cases that are in the public domain, put by the families in both instances to highlight the pressures on the system. They make no criticism of the staff whatsoever, and, in fact, praised the experience that they had when the system kicks in and supports the families to see their loved ones having the treatment that they require. But it cannot be acceptable when we come here week after week and we hear from the health Minister that money has been put in to improve the experience in the A&E departments across Wales and that the ambulance service is having more resource to meet the demand—all very welcome, but, as Healthcare Inspectorate Wales highlighted in their annual report, they cannot find evidence of improvements in the service. Those are their words, not mine. I've listed two experiences of two elderly individuals here. I'm not asking you to comment about the individual experience, I'm asking you to reflect on the delivery of the service and how the Government, of which you are head, is making sure that these improvements are being fed through, because, in the experience of Jennifer Bowen, she is sitting under a noticeboard that says, 'How are we doing?' The last time that noticeboard was updated in that A&E department was May 2023, and, on each of the six categories, it is blank. That's the experience people are having. So, how can we actually see a reasonable response from the Government to support the health service, in the words of the patient in Port Talbot, pulling their finger out and getting on top of this?
Prif Weinidog, mae'r rhain yn ddau achos sydd yn y parth cyhoeddus, a rannwyd gan y teuluoedd yn y ddau achos i amlygu'r pwysau ar y system. Nid ydyn nhw'n beirniadu'r staff o gwbl, ac mewn gwirionedd, fe wnaethon nhw ganmol y profiad a gawson nhw pan fydd y system yn cychwyn ac yn cynorthwyo'r teuluoedd i weld eu hanwyliaid yn cael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen arnyn nhw. Ond ni all fod yn dderbyniol pan fyddwn ni'n dod yma wythnos ar ôl wythnos ac yn clywed gan y Gweinidog iechyd bod arian wedi cael ei roi i mewn i wella'r profiad yn yr adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ledled Cymru a bod y gwasanaeth ambiwlans yn cael mwy o adnoddau i fodloni'r galw—y cwbl i'w groesawu'n fawr, ond, fel yr amlygodd Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru yn eu hadroddiad blynyddol, ni allan nhw ddod o hyd i dystiolaeth o welliannau yn y gwasanaeth. Eu geiriau nhw yw'r rheini, nid fy rhai i. Rwyf i wedi rhestru dau brofiad dau unigolyn oedrannus yma. Nid wyf i'n gofyn i chi wneud sylwadau am y profiad unigol, rwy'n gofyn i chi fyfyrio ar ddarpariaeth y gwasanaeth a sut mae'r Llywodraeth, yr ydych chi'n bennaeth arni, yn gwneud yn siŵr bod y gwelliannau hyn yn cael eu gwireddu, oherwydd, ym mhrofiad Jennifer Bowen, mae hi'n eistedd o dan hysbysfwrdd sy'n dweud, 'Sut ydym ni'n gwneud?' Y tro diwethaf i'r hysbysfwrdd hwnnw gael ei ddiweddaru yn yr adran damweiniau ac achosion brys honno oedd mis Mai 2023, ac, ar bob un o'r chwe chategori, mae'n wag. Dyna'r profiad y mae pobl yn ei gael. Felly, sut allwn ni weld ymateb rhesymol gan y Llywodraeth i gynorthwyo'r gwasanaeth iechyd, yng ngeiriau'r claf ym Mhort Talbot, i'w siapio hi a mynd i'r afael â hyn?
Well, Llywydd, I'm not responsible for an individual noticeboard in an individual department somewhere in Wales. If he wants a proper answer to his question, then I think he would recognise that the fundamental issue with both the ambulance service and A&E departments doesn't lie either in that service or in that department, it lies in the fact that so many people are in our hospitals in Wales who do not need to be in a hospital, but could be cared for successfully elsewhere, but where those services struggle to meet the demand for move-on. So, we have many, many hundreds of people, clinically fit to be looked after elsewhere, who are in a hospital bed. That means that, when an ambulance arrives at an A&E department, it finds that that flow through the hospital, as it's called, isn't working, and ambulances get delayed and are not available to go and meet another call. So, it's not an issue that you can tackle by focusing on the emergency and ambulance end of the system, by thinking that if you could put that right the problem would be solved. It is a more complicated problem than that and its fundamental challenge is in the ability of the system—the social care system and the health system—to move people through acute hospitals, freeing up beds, therefore making it easier at that emergency end of the system to give people the timely treatment they need.
Wel, Llywydd, nid wyf i'n gyfrifol am hysbysfwrdd unigol mewn adran unigol rhywle yng Nghymru. Os yw eisiau ateb priodol i'w gwestiwn, yna rwy'n credu y byddai'n cydnabod nad yw'r broblem sylfaenol gyda'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans ac adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys yn y gwasanaeth hwnnw nac yn yr adran honno, mae yn y ffaith bod cynifer o bobl yn ein hysbytai yng Nghymru nad oes angen iddyn nhw fod mewn ysbyty, ond y gellid gofalu amdanyn nhw'n llwyddiannus yn rhywle arall, ond lle mae'r gwasanaethau hynny yn ei chael hi'n anodd bodloni'r galw i symud ymlaen. Felly, mae gennym ni gannoedd lawer iawn o bobl, sy'n ffit yn glinigol i dderbyn gofal yn rhywle arall, sydd mewn gwely ysbyty. Mae hynny'n golygu, pan fydd ambiwlans yn cyrraedd adran damweiniau ac achosion brys, mae'n canfod nad yw'r llif hwnnw drwy'r ysbyty, fel y'i gelwir, yn gweithio, ac mae ambiwlansys yn cael eu hoedi ac nid ydyn nhw ar gael i fynd i ateb galwad arall. Felly, nid yw'n broblem y gallwch chi fynd i'r afael â hi trwy ganolbwyntio ar ben brys ac ambiwlans y system, trwy feddwl pe gallech chi gywiro hynny y byddai'r broblem yn cael ei datrys. Mae'n broblem fwy cymhleth na hynny ac mae ei her sylfaenol yng ngallu'r system—y system gofal cymdeithasol a'r system iechyd—i symud pobl drwy ysbytai acíwt, gan ryddhau gwelyau, gan ei gwneud hi'n haws felly ar ben brys hwnnw'r system i roi'r driniaeth brydlon i bobl sydd ei hangen arnynt.
And time and time again, we have this same conversation in this Chamber, First Minister. The problem is understood. The solutions that you are putting in place, as Healthcare Inspectorate Wales identified—not the Conservative benches, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales identified—are not showing any evidence, in their annual report, of those measures making a difference. The ambulance service have apologised to Mrs Jones. Will you, as head of the Welsh Government, which funds the health service and the ambulance service in Wales and gives it its operational direction through the ministerial instructions that are issued, apologise to both those individuals' families for the experience that they've experienced and give a commitment that we will see those improvements so that I don't have to come here again and highlight these type of tragic incidents that are sadly blighting so many people's experience within the Welsh NHS?
A dro ar ôl tro, rydym ni'n cael yr un sgwrs hon yn y Siambr hon, Prif Weinidog. Ceir dealltwriaeth o'r broblem. Nid yw'r atebion yr ydych chi'n eu rhoi ar waith, fel y nododd Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru—nid meinciau y Ceidwadwyr, y nododd Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru—yn dangos unrhyw dystiolaeth, yn eu hadroddiad blynyddol, o'r mesurau hynny yn gwneud gwahaniaeth. Mae'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans wedi ymddiheuro i Mrs Jones. A wnewch chi, fel pennaeth Llywodraeth Cymru, sy'n ariannu'r gwasanaeth iechyd a'r gwasanaeth ambiwlans yng Nghymru ac yn rhoi ei gyfarwyddyd gweithredol iddo drwy'r cyfarwyddiadau gweinidogol a gyflwynir, ymddiheuro i deuluoedd y ddwy hyn am y profiad y maen nhw wedi ei gael a rhoi ymrwymiad y byddwn ni'n gweld y gwelliannau hynny fel nad oes yn rhaid i mi ddod yma eto a thynnu sylw at y mathau hyn o ddigwyddiadau trasig sy'n anffodus yn difetha profiad cynifer o bobl yn GIG Cymru?
Well, Llywydd, I apologise to anybody whose experience of the Welsh NHS is not the experience that we would wish them to have, of course I do. It is not the case that the new services the Minister has funded and developed are not making an impact in the system. That is clearly not the case, and I don't believe that that's what the HIW report says. It is simply that the demand that the service is under means that, even when we have same-day emergency services, we have primary care urgent and emergency services—these are seeing hundreds and thousands of people every week in Wales—when we have new 111 services, where people get the advice that they need without ever needing to go to a hospital, when we have new services in pharmacy that allow the system to have an extra impact there, with all of those things there, the demand that is coming into the system means that the stresses and strains in A&E and in ambulance services remain very real. So, it is not—. Imagine if those things were not there, if they were not displacing demand to those new services, the additional stresses and strains that would be being felt. Of course, we look to see whether there are any examples anywhere else in the United Kingdom that we could draw on that would assist us in meeting the challenges of the Welsh NHS. The truth is that these are pressures everywhere. Nobody has a simple off-the-shelf solution that they can implement in the way I sometimes think that the leader of the opposition implies.
Wel, Llywydd, rwy'n ymddiheuro i unrhyw un nad yw ei brofiad o GIG Cymru y profiad y byddem ni'n dymuno iddyn nhw ei gael, wrth gwrs fy mod i. Nid yw'n wir nad yw'r gwasanaethau newydd y mae'r Gweinidog wedi eu hariannu a'u datblygu yn cael effaith yn y system. Mae'n amlwg nad yw hynny'n wir, ac nid wyf i'n credu mai dyna mae adroddiad AGIC yn ei ddweud. Y ffaith amdani yw bod y galw sydd ar y gwasanaeth yn golygu, hyd yn oed pan fo gennym ni wasanaethau brys ar yr un diwrnod, bod gennym ni wasanaethau gofal sylfaenol argyfwng a brys—mae'r rhain yn gweld cannoedd a miloedd o bobl bob wythnos yng Nghymru—pan fydd gennym ni wasanaethau 111 newydd, lle mae pobl yn cael y cyngor sydd ei angen arnyn nhw heb fyth angen mynd i ysbyty, pan fydd gennym ni wasanaethau newydd mewn fferylliaeth sy'n caniatáu i'r system gael effaith ychwanegol yno, gyda'r holl bethau hynny yno, mae'r galw sy'n dod i mewn i'r system yn golygu bod y pwysau a'r straen mewn adrannau damweiniau ac achosion brys ac mewn gwasanaethau ambiwlans yn parhau i fod yn real iawn. Felly, nid yw'n—. Dychmygwch pe na bai'r pethau hynny yno, pe na baen nhw'n disodli galw i'r gwasanaethau newydd hynny, y pwysau a'r straen ychwanegol a fyddai'n cael eu teimlo. Wrth gwrs, rydym ni'n edrych i weld a oes unrhyw enghreifftiau yn unrhyw le arall yn y Deyrnas Unedig y gallem ni fanteisio arnyn nhw a fyddai'n ein cynorthwyo i ymateb i heriau GIG Cymru. Y gwir amdani yw bod y rhain yn bwysau ym mhob man. Nid oes gan neb ateb oddi ar y silff syml y gallan nhw ei weithredu yn y ffordd yr wyf i'n credu weithiau y mae arweinydd yr wrthblaid yn ei awgrymu.
Arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth.
Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. A minnau wedi bod i ddigwyddiad i nodi Diwrnod Canser y Byd yma yn y Senedd heddiw, a gaf i ddymuno'n dda i'r Brenin ar ôl ei ddiagnosis o, a dymuno'n dda, wrth gwrs, i bob un sydd yn wynebu ac yn cael eu cyffwrdd gan ganser?
Mi wnaf innau ddweud gair o deyrnged i Barry John. Mi oedd gen i a'r teulu bêl rygbi go arbennig pan oeddwn i'n tyfu i fyny. Pêl rygbi oedd hi wedi’i arwyddo gan 15 Carwyn James a 15 Barry John o'r gêm honno i'r Urdd digwyddodd rhyw bedwar mis cyn i fi gael fy ngeni. Mae'r ffaith ein bod ni'n dal yma rŵan yn talu teyrnged i'r fath athrylith rygbi ac yn meddwl amdano fe fel un na fu erioed mo’i debyg, mewn gwirionedd, yn dweud cymaint o feddwl sydd gennym ni ohono fo fel dyn ac fel chwaraewr. Mae ein cydymdeimlad ni efo'r teulu.
Mi fyddwn ni'n troi ein sylw at y diwydiant dur eto'r prynhawn yma. Mi fydd Plaid Cymru, fel rydyn ni wastad wedi gwneud, yn dadlau'r achos dros ddiogelu Port Talbot a'r swyddi yno a dros sicrhau'r buddsoddiad sydd ei angen i ddelifro pontio teg tuag at ddyfodol mwy gwyrdd. Mae'r diwydiant dur yn teimlo, yn hollol iawn, eu bod nhw wedi cael eu gadael lawr, ond dydyn nhw ddim yr unig rai sydd yn teimlo diffyg cefnogaeth ar hyn o bryd.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. And having attended an event to mark World Cancer Day here in the Senedd, may I wish the King well after his diagnosis and wish everyone facing or touched by cancer a speedy recovery too?
And may I say a few words in tribute to Barry John? I and the family had quite a special rugby ball when I was growing up. It was a rugby ball that had been signed by Carwyn James's 15 and the Barry John 15 from that game held for the Urdd, which happened some four months before I was born. The fact that we are still here today paying tribute to such a rugby genius and thinking of him as one we'd never seen the likes of before does demonstrate what we thought of him, both as a man and as a player. Our sympathies go to his family.
We'll turn our attention to the steel industry once again this afternoon. Plaid Cymru, once again, as we've always done, will make the case for safeguarding Port Talbot and the jobs there and for ensuring the investment required to deliver a fair transition to a greener future. The steel industry feels, quite rightly, that they've been left down, but they're not the only ones who feel that they aren't being supported at the moment.
I hope we will stand firmly on the side of steelworkers this afternoon. Our determination to lift the threat of devastation to jobs and the community in Port Talbot has brought into focus what we really mean when we say we seek 'a just transition to a greener future'. But does the First Minister agree with me that supporting a just transition is a principle that should be equally important to the agriculture sector too?
Rwy'n gobeithio y byddwn ni'n sefyll yn gadarn ar ochr gweithwyr dur y prynhawn yma. Mae ein penderfyniad i godi'r bygythiad o ddinistr i swyddi a'r gymuned ym Mhort Talbot wedi dangos yn eglur yr hyn yr ydym ni wir yn ei olygu pan fyddwn ni'n dweud ein bod ni eisiau 'trosglwyddiad cyfiawn i ddyfodol gwyrddach'. Ond a yw'r Prif Weinidog yn cytuno â mi bod cefnogi trosglwyddiad cyfiawn yn egwyddor a ddylai fod yr un mor bwysig i'r sector amaeth hefyd?
Well, Llywydd, I hadn't intended to get drawn into the opening remarks that you made at the start of today's session, but given that others have, I'll just tell you this one thing. My brother recently found, amongst effects that he'd taken from my mother's home, an old autograph book that I had had as a child. Here are the first four entries in the autograph book. The first was my Member of Parliament at the time, Gwynfor Evans. The second was Barry John. The third was Gerald Davies. And the fourth was Leslie Crowther and Peter Glaze. [Laughter.] Now, if you wanted to sum up a Carmarthenshire childhood in the 1960s, I think those first four pages probably do that, and there was Barry John, up there alongside those other boyhood heroes.
To turn to the point that the Member made about steel, well, of course this Government, with our allies in the trade union movement, will do everything we can to secure a just transition and a successful future for the steel industry here in Wales. It is why the economy Minister and I were in Port Talbot last week, meeting the chair of Tata's global board, making exactly these points to him, that there is a credible alternative plan to the one that the company itself has so far put on the table. We expect, over the weeks ahead, that that credible plan will receive the attention that it needs and deserves, and that an alternative future, an alternative path to that future that Port Talbot has of green steel making, should be agreed between the trade unions, the community, and the company itself, and the Welsh Government will certainly play our part in that, just as we play our part in a just transition to the future of farming. But as the steel industry faces a transition, so does farming, and that's the journey we are on. We are there to support farming communities in it. But the future will be different to the past.
Wel, Llywydd, nid oeddwn i wedi bwriadu cael fy nhynnu i mewn i'r sylwadau agoriadol a wnaethoch chi ar ddechrau'r sesiwn heddiw, ond o ystyried bod eraill wedi, fe wnaf i ddweud yr un peth hwn wrthych chi. Fe wnaeth fy mrawd ganfod yn ddiweddar, ymhlith eiddo yr oedd wedi eu cymryd o gartref fy mam, hen lyfr llofnodion yr oedd gen i pan oeddwn i'n blentyn. Dyma'r pedwar cofnod cyntaf yn y llyfr llofnodion. Y cyntaf oedd fy Aelod Seneddol ar y pryd, Gwynfor Evans. Yr ail oedd Barry John. Y trydydd oedd Gerald Davies. A'r pedwerydd oedd Leslie Crowther a Peter Glaze. [Chwerthin.] Nawr, pe baech chi eisiau crynhoi plentyndod yn sir Gaerfyrddin yn y 1960au, rwy'n credu bod y pedair tudalen gyntaf hynny yn ôl pob tebyg yn gwneud hynny, a dyna lle'r oedd Barry John, i fyny yno ochr yn ochr ag arwyr eraill hynny fy mhlentyndod.
I droi at y pwynt a wnaeth yr Aelod am ddur, wel, wrth gwrs, bydd y Llywodraeth hon, gyda'n cynghreiriaid yn y mudiad undebau llafur, yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i sicrhau trosglwyddiad cyfiawn a dyfodol llwyddiannus i'r diwydiant dur yma yng Nghymru. Dyna pam yr oedd Gweinidog yr economi a minnau ym Mhort Talbot yr wythnos diwethaf, yn cyfarfod â chadeirydd bwrdd byd-eang Tata, gan wneud yr union bwyntiau hyn iddo, bod cynllun amgen credadwy i'r un y mae'r cwmni ei hun wedi ei roi ar y bwrdd hyd yma. Rydym ni'n disgwyl, dros yr wythnosau nesaf, y bydd y cynllun credadwy hwnnw yn cael y sylw y mae ei angen ac yn ei haeddu, ac y dylid cytuno ar ddyfodol amgen, llwybr amgen i'r dyfodol hwnnw sydd gan Bort Talbot o gynhyrchu dur gwyrdd, rhwng yr undebau llafur, y gymuned, a'r cwmni ei hun, a bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn sicr yn chwarae ein rhan yn hynny, yn union fel yr ydym ni'n chwarae ein rhan mewn trosglwyddiad cyfiawn i ddyfodol ffermio. Ond wrth i'r diwydiant dur wynebu cyfnod pontio, felly hefyd y mae ffermio, a dyna'r daith yr ydym ni arni. Rydym ni yno i gefnogi cymunedau ffermio ynddo. Ond bydd y dyfodol yn wahanol i'r gorffennol.
I thank the First Minister for his response. I'm not sensing a refusal to transition from the agriculture sector. It's that there is a feeling that it's not just, what they are being asked to do currently. The reality is that there is a feeling that this Welsh Government doesn't appreciate what impact is being felt from the laying of challenge on top of challenge on top of challenge for the sector. It's what we, and our spokesman Llyr Gruffydd, have long argued. It's not one thing necessarily. They're all chipping away, yes, but collectively they feel like a hammer blow to the industry.
The frustrations have become clear in public meetings in recent days. 'Welsh Government don't understand', they say, 'they don't see the deep impact of the ongoing failure to deal with TB, don't really understand how the shift to the Habitat Wales scheme risks undoing so many years of work, don't see that a mandated 10 per cent of tree cover just isn't workable for so many.' Welsh Government has to be a champion for farming. Agriculture has to be a partner in both tackling climate change and providing a secure and sustainable food future. So, let me appeal to the First Minister: take stock, work with the sector in a spirit that feels to the sector like co-operation.
A specific question on this: I'll turn to the trees issue, the 10 per cent tree cover. Look again at the impact that that has on land devaluation, on the loss of productive farmland, the effects on livestock levels and employment in the industry. We can meet the environmental goals. We can meet the environmental goals, but more flexibly—a just transition. Now, if the First Minister isn't willing to seek compromise here, won't the sector conclude that his Government isn't particularly interested in co-operation?
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog am ei ymateb. Nid wyf i'n synhwyro gwrthodiad i bontio gan y sector amaeth. Ceir teimlad nad yw'n gyfiawn, yr hyn y gofynnir iddyn nhw ei wneud ar hyn o bryd. Y gwir amdani yw bod teimlad nad yw'r Llywodraeth hon yng Nghymru yn gwerthfawrogi pa effaith sy'n cael ei theimlo o osod her ar ben her ar ben her i'r sector. Dyma rydym ni, a'n llefarydd Llyr Gruffydd, wedi ei ddadlau ers tro. Nid yw'n un peth o reidrwydd. Maen nhw i gyd yn cael mân effeithiau, ydyn, ond yn gyfunol maen nhw'n teimlo fel ergyd drom i'r diwydiant.
Mae'r rhwystredigaethau wedi dod yn amlwg mewn cyfarfodydd cyhoeddus yn ystod y dyddiau diwethaf. 'Nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn deall', medden nhw, 'dydyn nhw ddim yn gweld effaith ddofn y methiant parhaus i ddelio â TB, ddim wir yn deall sut mae'r newid i gynllun Cynefin Cymru mewn perygl o ddadwneud cynifer o flynyddoedd o waith, ddim yn gweld nad yw gorchudd coed gorfodol o 10 y cant yn ymarferol i gynifer.' Mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru fod yn hyrwyddwr dros ffermio. Mae'n rhaid i amaethyddiaeth fod yn bartner o ran mynd i'r afael â'r newid yn yr hinsawdd a darparu dyfodol bwyd diogel a chynaliadwy. Felly, gadewch i mi apelio i'r Prif Weinidog: ystyriwch hyd a lled y sefyllfa, gweithiwch gyda'r sector mewn ysbryd sy'n teimlo i'r sector fel cydweithredu.
Cwestiwn penodol ar hyn: fe wnaf i droi at fater y coed, y gorchudd coed o 10 y cant. Edrychwch eto ar yr effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael ar ddibrisio tir, ar golli tir fferm cynhyrchiol, yr effeithiau ar lefelau da byw a chyflogaeth yn y diwydiant. Gallwn gyrraedd y nodau amgylcheddol. Gallwn gyrraedd y nodau amgylcheddol, ond yn fwy hyblyg—trosglwyddiad cyfiawn. Nawr, os nad yw'r Prif Weinidog yn fodlon ceisio cyfaddawd yma, oni fydd y sector yn dod i'r casgliad nad oes gan ei Lywodraeth lawer o ddiddordeb mewn cydweithredu?
Well, Llywydd, first of all, I want to recognise the pressures that change brings with it. Whenever people are faced with change, there is uncertainty and there is a feeling that the future is going to be a challenge. I absolutely recognise that feeling in rural communities here in Wales. But if you turn to the specific point that the Member has raised, it would be nonsensical to suggest that the Government has not already listened and already changed the policy we have in relation to tree cover. The proposals that the Minister developed over the summer were informed by the dialogue that she had. I was with her at three different county shows, when we heard from farmers about how would we deal with those parts of land where tree cover can't be created, how would we deal with those pieces of land where there were already other things that farmers had planned to do with them, and the proposals that we have put forward answer all those questions.
Now, at the last election, this Government went in front of the Welsh people with a target for tree planting here in Wales. Plaid Cymru went into the same election with a target twice as high as the Government's target. Where does the leader of Plaid Cymru think the trees that he promised were going to be planted if they weren't going to be planted on agricultural land? So, there is a compromise to be made, I agree with him there; the Welsh Government has already shown that we have listened carefully to what farmers have said, but we will not compromise on the actions we will take to make sure that this country makes our contribution to climate change, and farming and the rural parts of Wales will make a contribution to that.
Wel, Llywydd, yn gyntaf oll, hoffwn gydnabod y pwysau a ddaw yn sgil newid. Pryd bynnag y bydd pobl yn wynebu newid, mae yna ansicrwydd ac mae yna deimlad bod y dyfodol yn mynd i fod yn her. Rwy'n llwyr gydnabod y teimlad hwnnw mewn cymunedau gwledig yma yng Nghymru. Ond os gwnewch chi droi at y pwynt penodol y mae'r Aelod wedi ei godi, byddai'n ddisynnwyr awgrymu nad yw'r Llywodraeth eisoes wedi gwrando ac eisoes wedi newid y polisi sydd gennym ni o ran gorchudd coed. Cafodd y cynigion a ddatblygodd y Gweinidog dros yr haf eu hysbysu gan y trafodaethau iddi eu cael. Roeddwn i gyda hi mewn tair gwahanol sioe sir, pan glywsom ni gan ffermwyr sut y byddem ni'n delio â'r darnau hynny o dir lle na ellir creu gorchudd coed, sut y byddem ni'n delio â'r darnau hynny o dir lle'r oedd pethau eraill yr oedd ffermwyr eisoes wedi bwriadu eu gwneud â nhw, ac mae'r cynigion yr ydym ni wedi eu cyflwyno yn ateb yr holl gwestiynau hynny.
Nawr, yn yr etholiad diwethaf, aeth y Llywodraeth hon o flaen pobl Cymru gyda tharged ar gyfer plannu coed yma yng Nghymru. Aeth Plaid Cymru i'r un etholiad gyda tharged ddwywaith mor uchel â tharged y Llywodraeth. Ble mae arweinydd Plaid Cymru yn credu y bydd y coed y gwnaeth eu haddo yn cael eu plannu os nad oedden nhw'n mynd i gael eu plannu ar dir amaethyddol? Felly, mae cyfaddawd i'w wneud, rwy'n cytuno ag ef yn hynny o beth; mae Llywodraeth Cymru eisoes wedi dangos ein bod ni wedi gwrando'n astud ar yr hyn y mae ffermwyr wedi ei ddweud, ond ni fyddwn yn cyfaddawdu o ran y camau y byddwn ni'n eu cymryd i wneud yn siŵr bod y wlad hon yn gwneud ein cyfraniad at y newid yn yr hinsawdd, a bydd ffermio a rhannau gwledig o Gymru yn gwneud cyfraniad at hynny.
This isn't about rejecting the growing of trees, and we're fundamentally in the same place as we were on that. What we're saying is, and what farmers are saying is the right tree in the right place. Farmers want to plant trees, but count the carbon, not the trees; have sight of what we're trying to achieve here. It's an environmental goal that we're after, not the number of trees, and we need to be able to adapt, and that is what farmers want to do.
Now, a week ago I was stressing how important it was for Welsh Government to ensure that all corners of Wales were being served equally in healthcare, as it happened, then: north, south, east and west. It's the same with urban and rural Wales: a child in poverty is a child in poverty whether they're in a rural village or in an inner city, and the need to stand up for an industry under threat is the same whether that's in a rural or an urban setting. And we're back to steel again: let's fight for Port Talbot, but let's fight for our farming sector too. Now, I enjoyed happy years living in Cardiff, but I invite the First Minister to come to the rural community I live in now, and where I was brought up. Talk to the young farmers, those in the supply chain. Young women and men like my own son, who's studying for an agriculture degree—
Nid yw hyn yn ymwneud â gwrthod tyfu coed, ac rydym ni yn yr un lle'n sylfaenol ag yr oeddem o ran hynny. Yr hyn rydym ni'n ei ddweud, a'r hyn y mae ffermwyr yn ei ddweud, yw'r goeden iawn yn y lle iawn. Mae ffermwyr eisiau plannu coed, ond cyfrwch y carbon, nid y coed; cofiwch yr hyn yr ydym ni'n ceisio ei gyflawni yma. Nod amgylcheddol rydym ni'n ceisio ei gyrraedd, nid nifer y coed, ac mae angen i ni allu addasu, a dyna mae ffermwyr eisiau ei wneud.
Nawr, wythnos yn ôl, roeddwn i'n pwysleisio pa mor bwysig oedd hi i Lywodraeth Cymru sicrhau bod pob cornel o Gymru yn cael ei gwasanaethu'n gyfartal o ran gofal iechyd, fel y digwyddodd, bryd hynny: gogledd, de, dwyrain a gorllewin. Mae'r un peth yn wir am Gymru drefol a gwledig: mae plentyn mewn tlodi yn blentyn mewn tlodi boed mewn pentref gwledig neu yng nghanol dinas, ac mae'r angen i sefyll dros ddiwydiant sydd o dan fygythiad yr un fath pa un a yw hynny mewn lleoliad gwledig neu drefol. Ac rydym ni'n dychwelyd at ddur eto: gadewch i ni frwydro dros Bort Talbot, ond gadewch i ni frwydro dros ein sector ffermio hefyd. Nawr, fe wnes i fwynhau blynyddoedd hapus yn byw yng Nghaerdydd, ond rwy'n gwahodd y Prif Weinidog i ddod i'r gymuned wledig yr wyf i'n byw ynddi nawr, a lle cefais fy magu. Siaradwch â'r ffermwyr ifanc, y rhai yn y gadwyn gyflenwi. Menywod ifanc a dynion fel fy mab fy hun, sy'n astudio ar gyfer gradd mewn amaethyddiaeth—
You are going to have to come to a question. I've been very generous with you this afternoon. Please come to your question.
Bydd yn rhaid i chi ddod i gwestiwn. Rwyf i wedi bod yn hael iawn gyda chi y prynhawn yma. Dewch at eich cwestiwn os gwelwch yn dda.
People want a future. Now, we know what the fears are: 5,000 jobs or more gone; £200 million taken out of the agriculture sector. I know the rural affairs Minister says that the modelling is out of date. Well, bring us the up-to-date modelling so that we can plan for a real future for our farming sector.
Mae pobl eisiau dyfodol. Nawr, rydym ni'n gwybod beth yw'r ofnau: 5,000 o swyddi neu fwy wedi mynd; £200 miliwn yn cael ei gymryd allan o'r sector amaeth. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog materion gwledig yn dweud bod y modelu wedi dyddio. Wel, dewch â'r modelu diweddaraf i ni fel y gallwn ni gynllunio ar gyfer dyfodol go iawn i'n sector ffermio.
Well, Llywydd, the right tree in the right place is exactly what our sustainable farming scheme seeks to achieve. That's why we are continuing to consult with the sector; that's why we will have a long transition into the sustainable farming scheme of the future. When we know how much money the Welsh Government has beyond this comprehensive spending review period, we will be able not just to model what we are proposing, but to use actual figures, because then we will know the figures we have, and at that point that's what we have promised and that is exactly what we will do.
Wel, Llywydd, y goeden iawn yn y lle iawn yw'r union beth y mae ein cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn ceisio ei gyflawni. Dyna pam rydym ni'n parhau i ymgynghori â'r sector; dyna pam y bydd gennym ni gyfnod pontio hir i gynllun ffermio cynaliadwy'r dyfodol. Pan fyddwn ni'n gwybod faint o arian sydd gan Lywodraeth Cymru y tu hwnt i'r cyfnod adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant hwn, byddwn yn gallu nid yn unig modelu'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei gynnig, ond defnyddio ffigurau gwirioneddol, oherwydd byddwn ni'n gwybod bryd hynny y ffigurau sydd gennym ni, ac ar yr adeg honno dyna'r ydym ni wedi ei addo a dyna'n union y byddwn ni'n ei wneud.
3. Beth mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei wneud i sicrhau cyflenwad digonol o dai i ddiwallu anghenion poblogaeth y dyfodol? OQ60671
3. What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure sufficient housing supply to meet future population needs? OQ60671
I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. Planning policy requires local planning authorities to allocate in their local development plans sufficient housing land to meet the needs of their communities. LDPs are informed by a range of evidence including local housing market assessments and Welsh Government household projections.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Mae polisi cynllunio lleol yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i awdurdodau cynllunio lleol ddyrannu digon o dir ar gyfer tai yn eu cynlluniau datblygu lleol i ddiwallu anghenion eu cymunedau. Caiff CDLl eu hysbysu gan amrywiaeth o dystiolaeth, gan gynnwys asesiadau o'r farchnad dai leol a rhagamcanion aelwyd Llywodraeth Cymru.
Thank you, First Minister. With the population of the UK set to increase to nearly 75 million by the end of the decade, mainly due to an increase in inward migration, the pressure for affordable housing is set to rise drastically. Sadly, local authorities and registered social landlords are failing to meet current demand, let alone future needs. We currently have 90,000 people across Wales on a waiting list for social housing, and homelessness, which you earlier touched upon, is rapidly increasing in our towns and cities. Across my region, not a single new social housing unit has been built in the past year or so—[Interruption.]—yet local authorities are forced to house homeless families in hotels as far away as Bristol.
First Minister, your Government welcomes the fact that affordable housing has been at a 26 per cent rise in the past year, but that rise is from a historical low, and still less than a quarter of what is needed to meet current demands. First Minister, will you now accept that your Government is failing to meet its housing obligations, and adopt the Welsh Conservatives' housing plan, so we can ensure sufficient housing to cope with an increasing population?
Diolch, Prif Weinidog. Gyda disgwyl i boblogaeth y DU gynyddu i bron i 75 miliwn erbyn diwedd y ddegawd, yn bennaf oherwydd cynnydd i fudo o'r tu allan, mae disgwyl i'r pwysau am dai fforddiadwy godi'n sylweddol. Yn anffodus, mae awdurdodau lleol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig yn methu â bodloni'r galw presennol, heb sôn am anghenion y dyfodol. Ar hyn o bryd mae gennym ni 90,000 o bobl ledled Cymru ar restr aros am dai cymdeithasol, ac mae digartrefedd, y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdano yn gynharach, yn cynyddu'n gyflym yn ein trefi a'n dinasoedd. Ar draws fy rhanbarth i, does dim un uned tai cymdeithasol newydd wedi cael ei hadeiladu yn ystod y flwyddyn neu ddwy ddiwethaf—[Torri ar draws.]—ac eto mae awdurdodau lleol yn cael eu gorfodi i gartrefu teuluoedd digartref mewn gwestai mor bell i ffwrdd â Bryste.
Prif Weinidog, mae eich Llywodraeth yn croesawu'r ffaith bod tai fforddiadwy wedi bod ar gynnydd o 26 y cant yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, ond mae'r cynnydd hwnnw'n dod o'r lefel isaf erioed, ac yn dal i fod yn llai na chwarter yr hyn sydd ei angen i fodloni'r gofynion presennol. Prif Weinidog, a wnewch chi dderbyn nawr bod eich Llywodraeth yn methu â chyflawni ei rhwymedigaethau o ran tai, a mabwysiadu cynllun tai'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, fel y gallwn ni sicrhau digon o dai i ymdopi â phoblogaeth sy'n cynyddu?
Well, Llywydd, I can't accept a whole series of the inaccurate assertions that the Member made in that follow-up question. Of course, I do accept that the housing system is under huge pressure. It's why we are investing record amounts of money to create 20,000 new homes for social rent here in Wales. It's why we have retained the Help to Buy scheme in Wales, when it's been abandoned in England. It's why we have put record amounts of money in the Wales property development fund and the Wales stalled sites fund, to make sure that house building can happen here in Wales.
Last month, the Home Builders Federation said that, in England, the Government would not meet even half of its housing targets. Here in Wales, we continue to invest with the industry, with our partners in the social housing movement and in local authorities, to do everything we can to create those decent homes, market homes and social rented homes that will be needed in Wales in the future.
Wel, Llywydd, ni allaf dderbyn cyfres gyfan o'r honiadau anghywir a wnaeth yr Aelod yn y cwestiwn dilynol yna. Wrth gwrs, rwy'n derbyn bod y system dai o dan bwysau enfawr. Dyna pam rydym ni'n buddsoddi'r symiau mwyaf erioed o arian i greu 20,000 o gartrefi newydd i'w rhentu'n gymdeithasol yma yng Nghymru. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi cadw'r cynllun Cymorth i Brynu yng Nghymru, pan fo Lloegr wedi cefnu arno. Dyna pam rydym ni wedi rhoi'r symiau mwyaf erioed o arian yng nghronfa datblygu eiddo Cymru a chronfa safleoedd segur Cymru, i wneud yn siŵr y gall adeiladu tai ddigwydd yma yng Nghymru.
Fis diwethaf, dywedodd y Ffederasiwn Adeiladwyr Cartrefi na fyddai'r Llywodraeth, yn Lloegr, yn cyrraedd hyd yn oed hanner ei thargedau tai. Yma yng Nghymru, rydym ni'n parhau i fuddsoddi gyda'r diwydiant, gyda'n partneriaid yn y mudiad tai cymdeithasol ac mewn awdurdodau lleol, i wneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i greu'r cartrefi gwerth chweil hynny, cartrefi marchnad a chartrefi rhent cymdeithasol y bydd eu hangen yng Nghymru yn y dyfodol.
According to UK Finance, as of June 2023, there were just under 380,000 outstanding mortgages in Wales, with a total value of £40 billion. Of that £40 billion, less than 1 per cent is with companies based in Wales. This tells us, roughly, that some £39 billion-plus of our wealth is flowing out of Wales to large multinational companies and their shareholders. So, can the First Minister provide an update on any plans to develop a locally backed mortgage provider here in Wales?
Yn ôl UK Finance, ym mis Mehefin 2023, roedd ychydig yn llai na 380,000 o forgeisi heb eu talu yng Nghymru, â chyfanswm gwerth o £40 biliwn. O'r £40 biliwn hwnnw, mae llai nag 1 y cant gyda chwmnïau sydd wedi'u lleoli yng Nghymru. Mae hyn yn dweud wrthym ni, yn fras, bod tua £39 biliwn a mwy o'n cyfoeth yn llifo allan o Gymru i gwmnïau aml-wladol mawr a'u cyfranddalwyr. Felly, a all y Prif Weinidog roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am unrhyw gynlluniau i ddatblygu darparwr morgeisi a gefnogir yn lleol yma yng Nghymru?
We have a locally based mortgage provider here in Wales: we have the Principality Building Society, we have the Monmouth Building Society, we have the Swansea Building Society. It's nonsense to suggest that we don't have organisations here in Wales. But, of course, I don't share his prejudice against people who choose to have their mortgages with companies that operate elsewhere in the United Kingdom. People in Wales have a choice as to where they go; I don't regard it as somehow unpatriotic to have your mortgage with a company where money ends up outside Wales.
Mae gennym ni ddarparwr morgeisi wedi'i leoli'n lleol yma yng Nghymru: mae gennym ni Gymdeithas Adeiladu Principality, mae gennym ni Monmouthshire Building Society, mae gennym ni Swansea Building Society. Mae'n nonsens awgrymu nad oes gennym ni sefydliadau yma yng Nghymru. Ond, wrth gwrs, nid wyf i'n rhannu ei ragfarn yn erbyn pobl sy'n dewis trefnu eu morgeisi gyda chwmnïau sy'n gweithredu mewn mannau eraill yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Mae gan bobl yng Nghymru ddewis ynghylch ble maen nhw'n mynd; nid wyf i'n ei ystyried rywsut yn anwlatgarol bod â'ch morgais gyda chwmni lle mae arian yn mynd y tu allan i Gymru.
Thank you to Altaf Hussain for tabling this important question. Of course, in order to deliver more social housing, we need to have effective planning systems in place across local authorities. Tory Members would do well to learn lessons from what's happened at Wrexham County Borough Council, where many of their politicians, their councillors, decided to vote against an LDP that they presided over. Now, First Minister, wouldn't you agree that it's time to put this sorry saga behind us, to move on for the sake of the county borough, and in order to deliver more social homes for people who desperately need them?
Diolch i Altaf Hussain am gyflwyno'r cwestiwn pwysig hwn. Wrth gwrs, er mwyn darparu mwy o dai cymdeithasol, mae angen i ni fod â systemau cynllunio effeithiol ar waith ar draws awdurdodau lleol. Byddai Aelodau Torïaidd yn gwneud yn dda i ddysgu gwersi o'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam, lle penderfynodd llawer o'u gwleidyddion, eu cynghorwyr, bleidleisio yn erbyn CDLl yr oedden nhw'n gyfrifol amdano. Nawr, Prif Weinidog, oni fyddech chi'n cytuno ei bod hi'n bryd rhoi'r saga druenus hon y tu ôl i ni, i symud ymlaen er mwyn y fwrdeistref sirol, ac er mwyn darparu mwy o gartrefi cymdeithasol i bobl sydd eu hangen yn daer?
Well, I thank Ken Skates for that question, Llywydd. The Member asked me a question about the Wrexham LDP only a couple of weeks ago, and I remember saying, at that time, that I hoped, now, that sorry story had been put to bed and that, finally, the local authority was complying with its legal obligations under the direction of the High Court. It's a great shame to me to learn that there is yet further uncertainty now being introduced into that picture. That is particularly unfortunate against the background of the Audit Wales report into planning services at the council that was published only a week or so ago. It has a very sad story to tell of the fractured relationship between members and officers at that local authority, and the significant risks that have been created to the council and, therefore, to people who live in that county borough, as a result of a breakdown in those relationships. The members of that council would be well advised to attend to the recommendations of this report and the responsibilities that lie with them not to try to encourage illegal ways of behaving, but to repair the damage that has been done by their failure to do so in recent weeks.
Wel, diolch i Ken Skates am y cwestiwn yna, Llywydd. Gofynnodd yr Aelod gwestiwn i mi am CDLl Wrecsam dim ond wythnos neu ddwy yn ôl, ac rwy'n cofio dweud, bryd hynny, fy mod i'n gobeithio, nawr, bod pen y mwdwl yn cael ei gau ar y stori druenus hon, ac, o'r diwedd, bod yr awdurdod lleol yn cydymffurfio â'i rwymedigaethau cyfreithiol o dan gyfarwyddyd yr Uchel Lys. Mae'n drueni mawr i mi ddarganfod bod ansicrwydd pellach yn cael ei gyflwyno i'r darlun hwnnw bellach. Mae hynny'n arbennig o anffodus yn erbyn cefndir adroddiad Archwilio Cymru ar wasanaethau cynllunio yn y cyngor a gyhoeddwyd ddim ond wythnos neu ddwy yn ôl. Mae ganddo stori drist iawn i'w hadrodd am y berthynas doredig rhwng aelodau a swyddogion yn yr awdurdod lleol hwnnw, a'r risgiau sylweddol a grëwyd i'r cyngor ac, felly, i bobl sy'n byw yn y fwrdeistref sirol honno, o ganlyniad i chwalfa yn y cysylltiadau hynny. Byddai'n ddoeth i aelodau'r cyngor hwnnw roi sylw i argymhellion yr adroddiad hwn a'r cyfrifoldebau sydd ganddyn nhw nid i geisio annog ffyrdd anghyfreithlon o ymddwyn, ond i drwsio'r difrod a wnaed gan eu methiant i wneud hynny yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf.
4. Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â lefelau cynyddol o ddigartrefedd ledled Cymru? OQ60664
4. What action is the Welsh Government taking to tackle rising levels of homelessness across Wales? OQ60664
The Welsh Government remains committed to our ambition to end homelessness. We are investing over £210 million this year alone in homelessness prevention and support services. That has been protected, despite the extremely challenging budgetary position. And we are also investing over £300 million this year, the highest amount ever, in social housing.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn dal i fod wedi ymrwymo i'n huchelgais i ddod â digartrefedd i ben. Rydyn ni'n buddsoddi dros £210 miliwn eleni yn unig mewn gwasanaethau atal a chymorth digartrefedd. Mae hynny wedi'i ddiogelu, er gwaethaf y sefyllfa gyllidebol hynod heriol. Ac rydyn ni hefyd yn buddsoddi dros £300 miliwn eleni, y swm uchaf erioed, mewn tai cymdeithasol.
Thank you. Homelessness is a key measure, of course, of a society's prosperity, so let's have a look at the figures during your tenure, First Minister, of five years. Last year, 5,481 households, over 10,000 individuals and 3,000 children were placed in temporary accommodation, up from 2,052 households in 2018, an increase of 167 per cent. Last year, 5,094 households were identified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, up from 2,229 households when you first came in, an increase of 129 per cent. At the same time, more than 100,000 homes in Wales sit completely vacant, an increase of 303 per cent since 2018. The numbers of rough-sleepers are increasing weekly and Inside Housing magazine has stated that, in Bridgend, temporary accommodation has increased by more than 7,000 per cent. Is it not a sad indictment of your time as our First Minister that homelessness has increased massively, and are you proud of that record? Diolch.
Diolch. Mae digartrefedd yn fesur allweddol, wrth gwrs, o ffyniant cymdeithas, felly gadewch i ni edrych ar y ffigurau yn ystod eich deiliadaeth chi, o bum mlynedd, Prif Weinidog. Y llynedd, cafodd 5,481 o aelwydydd, sef dros 10,000 o unigolion a 3,000 o blant eu rhoi mewn llety dros dro, i fyny o 2,052 o aelwydydd yn 2018, cynnydd o 167 y cant. Y llynedd, cafodd 5,094 o aelwydydd eu nodi'n anfwriadol ddigartref ac mewn angen blaenoriaethol, i fyny o 2,229 o aelwydydd pan ddaethoch chi i mewn yn gyntaf, cynnydd o 129 y cant. Ar yr un pryd, mae mwy na 100,000 o gartrefi yng Nghymru yn eistedd yn gwbl wag, cynnydd o 303 y cant ers 2018. Mae nifer y bobl sy'n cysgu yn y stryd yn cynyddu'n wythnosol ac mae cylchgrawn Inside Housing wedi nodi bod llety dros dro, ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, wedi cynyddu mwy na 7,000 y cant. Onid yw'n arwydd trist o'ch amser chi fel ein Prif Weinidog bod digartrefedd wedi cynyddu'n aruthrol, ac a ydych chi'n falch o'r record honno? Diolch.
I thank the Member for setting out so vividly the impact on Wales of the policies pursued by her Government. This is the outcome of over a decade of austerity in the lives of people here in Wales. This is the impact of the disastrous Liz Truss premiership and the impact on the cost of people's mortgages. How does she think people become homeless in the first place? It is because people have been left, as a result of those policies, in that dreadful position.
Can I take the opportunity, Llywydd, as well to correct the Member and other Conservative Members when they claim that there are 100,000 empty houses here in Wales? They're relying on a snapshot published by the Office for National Statistics. That is any sort of house that is empty on that day. The real figures are to be found in the annual figures produced of houses that are empty for over six months. That shows a quarter of the figure that the Member has identified. And, of course, this Government has allowed local authorities to charge 300 per cent of council tax on houses that are empty over that period.
I am proud, Llywydd—I am proud of the fact that here in Wales this Senedd passed a change in regulations that means here in Wales, people who are homeless are now regarded as being in priority need. Yes, far too many people are in temporary accommodation as a result, but where her party is concerned, those people aren't in temporary accommodation—they're out on the street.
Diolch i'r Aelod am nodi mor fyw effaith y polisïau y mae ei Llywodraeth hi wedi'u gweithredu ar Gymru. Dyma ganlyniad dros ddegawd o gyni ym mywydau pobl yma yng Nghymru. Dyma effaith drychinebus prifweinidogaeth Liz Truss a'r effaith ar gost morgeisi pobl. Sut mae hi'n credu bod pobl yn dod yn ddigartref yn y lle cyntaf? Y rheswm am hyn yw bod pobl wedi cael eu gadael yn y sefyllfa ofnadwy honno, o ganlyniad i'r polisïau hynny.
A gaf i achub ar y cyfle hefyd, Llywydd, i gywiro'r Aelod ac Aelodau Ceidwadol eraill pan fyddan nhw'n honni bod 100,000 o dai gwag yma yng Nghymru? Maen nhw'n dibynnu ar giplun a gyhoeddwyd gan y Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol. Dyna unrhyw fath o dŷ sy'n wag ar y diwrnod hwnnw. Mae'r ffigyrau gwirioneddol i'w gweld yn y ffigyrau blynyddol sy'n cael eu cynhyrchu o dai sy'n wag ers dros chwe mis. Mae hynny'n dangos chwarter y ffigwr y mae'r Aelod wedi'i nodi. Ac, wrth gwrs, mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi caniatáu i awdurdodau lleol godi 300 y cant o dreth gyngor ar dai sy'n wag dros y cyfnod hwnnw.
Rwy'n falch, Llywydd—rwy'n falch o'r ffaith bod y Senedd hon wedi pasio newid mewn rheoliadau sy'n golygu, erbyn hyn, bod pobl sy'n ddigartref yn cael ei hystyried mewn angen blaenoriaethol, yma yng Nghymru. Oes, mae llawer gormod o bobl mewn llety dros dro o ganlyniad, ond o ran ei phlaid hi, nid yw'r bobl hynny mewn llety dros dro—maen nhw allan ar y stryd.
First Minister, I'm sure that all of us in this Chamber can remember the disgraceful comments by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman that rough-sleeping was a so-called 'lifestyle choice', while defending her decision to restrict the use of tents by homeless people on the streets of Britain. Her shameful decisions have been translated into proposals to criminalise nuisance rough-sleeping in the UK Government's Criminal Justice Bill, which is, of course, in stark contrast to the people-centred progressive approach a Welsh Labour Government takes to people living on the streets here. So, would you agree with me, First Minister, that criminalising rough-sleepers restricts access to opportunities for the most vulnerable to engage with vital services, often their only safe route out of circumstances that forced them to sleep rough in the first place?
Prif Weinidog, rwy'n siŵr y gall pob un ohonom yn y Siambr hon gofio'r sylwadau gwarthus gan y cyn-Ysgrifennydd Cartref, Suella Braverman, fod cysgu ar y stryd yn 'ddewis ffordd o fyw' honedig, wrth amddiffyn ei phenderfyniad i gyfyngu ar ddefnyddio pebyll ar strydoedd Prydain gan bobl ddigartref. Mae ei phenderfyniadau cywilyddus wedi cael eu trosi'n gynigion i droseddoli cysgu ar y stryd niwsans ym Mil Cyfiawnder Troseddol Llywodraeth y DU, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn wahanol iawn i'r dull blaengar sy'n canolbwyntio ar bobl y mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yn ei ddefnyddio ar gyfer bobl sy'n byw ar y strydoedd yma. Felly, a fyddech chi'n cytuno â mi, Prif Weinidog, bod troseddoli'r rhai sy'n cysgu ar y stryd yn cyfyngu gyfleoedd i'r rhai mwyaf agored i niwed ymgysylltu â gwasanaethau hanfodol, yn aml eu hunig lwybr diogel allan o amgylchiadau a orfododd iddyn nhw gysgu ar y stryd yn y lle cyntaf?
I entirely agree with what Vikki Howells has just said. Her quotation from the former Home Secretary exposed the views of that Government. This was the person who was in charge of that Bill, and it was just disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful, to describe people who are in the unfortunate position that Janet Finch-Saunders set out as having made a ‘lifestyle choice’. And now, those people forced into that position are to be criminalised for what has happened to them. Suella Braverman wanted to criminalise third sector and charitable organisations that provided help to people in those circumstances. But the real point is the point that Vikki Howells makes, Llywydd—that, where people are to be helped, if you treat them as criminals, you just drive them away from the help that is available to them. There could not be a more counterproductive way of providing services for people who need them the most than to turn those people into criminals. I hope that when a legislative consent motion comes before this Senedd, we will make our views on that point clear.
Rwy'n cytuno'n llwyr â'r hyn y mae Vikki Howells newydd ei ddweud. Roedd ei dyfyniad gan y cyn-Ysgrifennydd Cartref yn datgelu barn y Llywodraeth honno. Dyma'r person a oedd yn gyfrifol am y Bil hwnnw, ac roedd yn warthus, yn hollol warthus, i ddisgrifio pobl sydd yn y sefyllfa anffodus y nododd Janet Finch-Saunders, fel eu bod wedi 'dewis ffordd o fyw'. A nawr, mae'r bobl hynny sy'n cael eu gorfodi i'r sefyllfa honno i gael eu troseddoli am yr hyn sydd wedi digwydd iddyn nhw. Roedd Suella Braverman am droseddoli sefydliadau trydydd sector ac elusennol a oedd yn rhoi cymorth i bobl o dan yr amgylchiadau hynny. Ond y gwir bwynt yw'r pwynt y mae Vikki Howells yn ei wneud, Llywydd—lle mae pobl i gael eu helpu, os ydych chi'n eu trin nhw fel troseddwyr, rydych chi ond yn eu gyrru nhw i ffwrdd o'r help sydd ar gael iddyn nhw. Ni allai fod ffordd fwy gwrthgynhyrchiol o ddarparu gwasanaethau i bobl y mae arnyn nhw eu hangen fwyaf na throi'r bobl hynny yn droseddwyr. Rwy'n gobeithio, pan ddaw cynnig cydsyniad deddfwriaethol gerbron y Senedd hon, y byddwn ni'n gwneud ein barn ni ar y pwynt hwnnw'n glir.
5. Pa gynlluniau sydd gan y Llywodraeth i gryfhau'r economi yn Nwyrain De Cymru? OQ60674
5. What plans does the Government have to strengthen the economy in South Wales East? OQ60674
We continue to work with local authorities across the Cardiff capital region to increase economic prosperity. South-east Wales has significant economic strengths, for example in semiconductors, cyber and fintech. Our plans support these strengths as the bedrock of the region’s economic future.
Rydyn ni'n parhau i weithio gydag awdurdodau lleol ar draws prifddinas-ranbarth Caerdydd i gynyddu ffyniant economaidd. Mae gan dde-ddwyrain Cymru gryfderau economaidd sylweddol, er enghraifft mewn lled-ddargludyddion, seiber a thechnoleg ariannol. Mae ein cynlluniau'n cefnogi'r cryfderau hyn fel sylfaen dyfodol economaidd y rhanbarth.
Diolch am yr ateb yna, a dwi'n falch eich bod chi wedi sôn am semiconductors yn fanna.
Thanks for that reply, and I'm glad you mentioned semiconductors there.
I'd like to focus on Newport Wafer Fab and the ongoing acquisition by the American company Vishay. I won’t detail the turbulent history of this site over the last couple of years, but it’s safe to say that the hundreds of staff working there richly deserve some good news of this takeover. Despite the interested company being headquartered in a country that is supposedly our closest ally, Westminster seems to have been dragging their heels when it comes to approving the acquisition. These delays are delaying investment, they’re delaying job security and they’re delaying expansion. Do you share the concerns and frustrations that I have, as well as the hundreds that work on the site at Newport Wafer Fab, about the wait for Westminster to approve such a key site for the Welsh economy? What’s your Government doing to ensure that this process is completed by the 22 February deadline in order to protect the semiconductor industry?
Hoffwn i ganolbwyntio ar Newport Wafer Fab a'r broses gaffael barhaus gan y cwmni o America, Vishay. Ni wnaf fanylu ar hanes cythryblus y safle hwn dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf, ond mae'n deg dweud bod y cannoedd o staff sy'n gweithio yno yn haeddu newyddion da am y trosglwyddiad hwn. Er bod pencadlys y cwmni sydd â diddordeb yng ngwlad ein cynghreiriad agosaf, yn ôl y sôn, mae'n ymddangos bod San Steffan wedi bod yn llusgo ei thraed o ran cymeradwyo'r broses gaffael. Mae'r oedi hwn yn gohirio buddsoddi, mae'n gohirio diogelwch swyddi ac mae'n gohirio ehangu. A ydych chi'n rhannu fy mhryderon a fy rhwystredigaethau i, yn ogystal â'r cannoedd sy'n gweithio ar y safle yn Newport Wafer Fab, am yr aros i San Steffan gymeradwyo safle mor allweddol i economi Cymru? Beth mae eich Llywodraeth chi yn ei wneud i sicrhau bod y broses hon yn cael ei chwblhau erbyn y dyddiad cau ar 22 Chwefror er mwyn diogelu'r diwydiant lled-ddargludyddion?
I thank the Member for those important questions. They echo points put to me recently by the Member for Newport West on behalf of her constituents. Here is an example of a very important factory, important to south Wales but important way beyond that, where the UK Government decided that Nexperia, the company who had bought the facility, were not to be allowed to continue in that ownership. They then walked away. They simply walked away. Having made that decision they offered no help, they offered no guidance, they offered no way of making a difference to that decision.
Fortunately, there is a company that wishes to invest on that site. The UK Government says that it must carry out an investment security unit clearance of that bid, and it promised that it will have completed that by 5 January. Well, here we are, well into February, and no clearance at all has been forthcoming. The Minister wrote to the Minister at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 30 January, last week, asking that they expedite the decision, and pointing out the consequences of not doing so—that any further delay in the completion of the acquisition will now mean the acquisition cannot happen until March at the earliest. That means new uncertainty: new uncertainty for employees, new uncertainty for suppliers, new uncertainty for the company that is seeking to invest here in Wales.
So, I agree with the points the Member has made. He can be assured that the economy Minister here is doing everything we can to persuade the UK Government to deliver on the timetables they themselves have set and to end the uncertainty that is rooted in the decision they themselves made in the first place.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiynau pwysig hyn. Maen nhw'n adleisio pwyntiau a gafodd eu gwneud i mi yn ddiweddar gan yr Aelod dros Orllewin Casnewydd ar ran ei hetholwyr hi. Dyma enghraifft o ffatri bwysig iawn, sy'n bwysig i dde Cymru ond sy'n bwysig ymhell y tu hwnt i hynny, lle penderfynodd Llywodraeth y DU nad oedd Nexperia, y cwmni a oedd wedi prynu'r cyfleuster, yn cael parhau â'r berchnogaeth honno. Yna, gwnaethon nhw droi eu cefnau arno. Yn blwmp ac yn blaen, fe wnaethon nhw droi eu cefnau arno. Ar ôl gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw ni wnaethon nhw gynnig unrhyw gymorth, ni wnaethon nhw gynnig unrhyw arweiniad, ni wnaethon nhw gynnig unrhyw ffordd o wneud gwahaniaeth i'r penderfyniad hwnnw.
Yn ffodus, mae yna gwmni sy'n dymuno buddsoddi ar y safle hwnnw. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn dweud bod yn rhaid iddi gyflawni proses glirio uned diogelwch buddsoddi o'r cais hwnnw, ac fe addawodd y bydd wedi cwblhau honno erbyn 5 Ionawr. Wel, dyma ni, ymhell i mewn i fis Chwefror, ac nid oes unrhyw gliriad o gwbl wedi dod. Ysgrifennodd y Gweinidog at y Gweinidog yn yr Adran Gwyddoniaeth, Arloesi a Thechnoleg ar 30 Ionawr, yr wythnos diwethaf, yn gofyn iddo hwyluso'r penderfyniad, a thynnu sylw at ganlyniadau peidio â gwneud hynny—y bydd unrhyw oedi pellach i gwblhau'r broses caffael nawr yn golygu na all y broses gaffael ddigwydd tan fis Mawrth ar y cynharaf. Mae hynny'n golygu ansicrwydd newydd: ansicrwydd newydd i weithwyr, ansicrwydd newydd i gyflenwyr, ansicrwydd newydd i'r cwmni sy'n ceisio buddsoddi yma yng Nghymru.
Felly, rwy'n cytuno â'r pwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud. Gallwch chi fod yn dawel eich meddwl bod Gweinidog yr economi yn y fan yma'n gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i berswadio Llywodraeth y DU i gyflawni'r amserlenni y maen nhw eu hunain wedi'u pennu ac i ddod â'r ansicrwydd sydd wedi'i wreiddio yn y penderfyniad y gwnaethon nhw eu hunain yn y lle cyntaf.
6. Pa asesiad y mae'r Prif Weinidog wedi'i wneud o ansawdd gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yng Nghonwy a Sir Ddinbych? OQ60649
6. What assessment has the First Minister made of the quality of mental health services in Conwy and Denbighshire? OQ60649
I thank the Member for that question. The quality of mental health services in Conwy and Denbighshire is assessed in a range of different ways, including through the local health board and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. HIW's mental health monitoring annual report was published in January. It assesses progress made and identifies areas for further improvement across Wales.
Diolch i'r Aelod am y cwestiwn hwnnw. Mae ansawdd gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yng Nghonwy a sir Ddinbych yn cael eu hasesu mewn amrywiaeth o wahanol ffyrdd, gan gynnwys drwy'r bwrdd iechyd lleol ac Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru. Cafodd adroddiad blynyddol monitro iechyd meddwl Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru ei gyhoeddi ym mis Ionawr. Mae'n asesu'r cynnydd sydd wedi ei wneud ac yn nodi meysydd i'w gwella ymhellach ledled Cymru.
I'm grateful for that response, First Minister. Mental health services in north Wales are currently in special measures due to failings, and we know that they've been in special measures and the subject of intervention since 2015. But I regret to inform you that I still get reports of persistent problems in these services, particularly in terms of community mental health services, I'm afraid, at the moment.
I'm frequently being contacted by constituents and other organisations working to support people with mental health problems who tell me that they're having difficulties in accessing support from the community mental health service at Colwyn Bay's Nant y Glyn mental health centre. Patients who contact the centre are fobbed off, they're promised callbacks that they don't receive, and even court orders to provide support to patients are being ignored.
I know that HIW has raised concerns about access to community mental health support at that centre; I've also raised concerns with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. But I'm afraid there's no evidence whatsoever of any improvement. If anything, things appear to be getting worse, and little appears to be done at the moment in terms of shining a light on these things by the health board itself, or, indeed, the Welsh Government.
So, can I ask you, First Minister, what action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that patients in my constituency can get access to those vital community mental health services that they need, so that their health is not getting worse, and that they don't come to harm?
Rwy'n ddiolchgar am yr ateb hwnnw, Prif Weinidog. Ar hyn o bryd mae gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yn y gogledd mewn mesurau arbennig oherwydd methiannau, ac rydyn ni'n gwybod eu bod nhw wedi bod mewn mesurau arbennig ac yn destun ymyrraeth ers 2015. Ond mae'n ddrwg gennyf i roi gwybod i chi fy mod i'n cael adroddiadau o hyd am broblemau parhaus yn y gwasanaethau hyn, yn enwedig o ran gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl cymunedol, mae arnaf i ofn, ar hyn o bryd.
Mae etholwyr a sefydliadau eraill sy'n gweithio i gefnogi pobl â phroblemau iechyd meddwl yn cysylltu â mi yn aml gan ddweud wrthyf eu bod nhw'n ei chael hi'n anodd i gael cymorth gan y gwasanaeth iechyd meddwl cymunedol yng nghanolfan iechyd meddwl Nant y Glyn Bae Colwyn. Mae cleifion sy'n cysylltu â'r ganolfan yn cael eu diystyru, maen nhw'n addo eu ffonio yn ôl, ond dydyn nhw ddim yn eu derbyn, ac mae hyd yn oed gorchmynion llys i roi cymorth i gleifion yn cael eu hanwybyddu.
Rwy'n gwybod bod Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru wedi codi pryderon am fynediad at gymorth iechyd meddwl cymunedol yn y ganolfan honno; rwyf i hefyd wedi codi pryderon gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr. Ond mae arnaf i ofn nad oes unrhyw dystiolaeth o unrhyw welliant. Os rhywbeth, mae'n ymddangos bod pethau'n gwaethygu, ac ymddengys nad oes llawer yn cael ei wneud ar hyn o bryd o ran taflu goleuni ar y pethau hyn gan y bwrdd iechyd ei hun, nac, yn wir, Llywodraeth Cymru.
Felly, a gaf i ofyn i chi, Prif Weinidog, pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod cleifion yn fy etholaeth i'n gallu cael y gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl cymunedol hanfodol hynny y mae eu hangen arnyn nhw, fel nad yw eu hiechyd yn gwaethygu, ac nad ydyn nhw'n dod i niwed?
I thank Darren Millar for those important points, which I do take very seriously. I'm aware of the complaints that have been made about the Nant y Glyn community mental health team service in his constituency. I know that one of the reasons why HIW recently carried out an inspection of the service was because of the number of concerns that had been raised with them. The health board itself would say that action has been taken and that the number of complaints last year was below the number of complaints received in 2022. I myself spoke with the vice-chair of the board at the weekend—the newly appointed vice chair, Gareth Williams, who will lead for the board on mental health services. He was immediately aware of the nature of the concerns that have been raised, and he echoed many of the things that the local Member has raised this afternoon, Llywydd.
We will await the report of that HIW inspection. There were no immediate concerns raised. He will know that the first thing that HIW do is to identify any things that need to be put right there and then. So, I think it is some comfort at least that there were no issues of that sort. The report is due for publication in April, and then we will have an independent assessment of the current state of services. I'm sure it will make recommendations for improvement, and I know that the Minister will work with the health board to make sure that those recommendations are taken seriously and that the necessary improvements are made.
Diolch i Darren Millar am y pwyntiau pwysig hynny, yr wyf i'n eu cymryd o ddifrif. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'r cwynion sydd wedi'u gwneud am wasanaeth tîm iechyd meddwl cymunedol Nant y Glyn yn ei etholaeth ef. Rwy'n ymwybodol mai un o'r rhesymau pam y cynhaliodd Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru archwiliad o'r gwasanaeth yn ddiweddar, oedd oherwydd nifer y pryderon a gafodd eu codi gyda nhw. Byddai'r bwrdd iechyd ei hun yn dweud bod camau wedi'u cymryd a bod nifer y cwynion y llynedd yn is na nifer y cwynion a ddaeth i law yn 2022. Siaradais i fy hun ag is-gadeirydd y bwrdd dros y penwythnos—yr is-gadeirydd sydd newydd ei benodi, Gareth Williams, a fydd yn arwain ar ran y bwrdd ar wasanaethau iechyd meddwl. Roedd e'n ymwybodol ar unwaith o natur y pryderon a gafodd eu codi, ac adleisiodd lawer o'r pethau y mae'r Aelod lleol wedi'u codi y prynhawn yma, Llywydd.
Byddwn ni'n aros am adroddiad yr arolygiad hwnnw gan AGIC. Ni chodwyd unrhyw bryderon ar unwaith. Bydd e'n ymwybodol mai'r peth cyntaf y mae AGIC yn ei wneud yw nodi unrhyw bethau y mae angen eu cywiro yn y fan a'r lle. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n rhywfaint o gysur o leiaf nad oedd unrhyw faterion o'r math hwnnw. Mae disgwyl i'r adroddiad gael ei gyhoeddi ym mis Ebrill, ac yna bydd gennym asesiad annibynnol o gyflwr presennol y gwasanaethau. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd yn gwneud argymhellion ar gyfer gwella, ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd y Gweinidog yn gweithio gyda'r bwrdd iechyd i sicrhau bod yr argymhellion hynny'n cael eu cymryd o ddifrif a bod y gwelliannau angenrheidiol yn cael eu gweithredu.
7. A wnaiff y Prif Weinidog ddatganiad am rôl y Llywodraeth yng ngwaith Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru? OQ60634
7. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Government's role in the work of the Wales Air Ambulance? OQ60634
Mae Elusen Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru yn annibynnol. Mae'n cael ei ariannu gan bobl Cymru ac nid yw'n atebol i Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae'r Gwasanaeth Casglu a Throsglwyddo Meddygol Brys, sy'n gweithio gyda'r elusen i ddarparu gwasanaethau gofal critigol arbenigol, yn cael ei gomisiynu gan y byrddau iechyd.
Thank you very much, Llywydd. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity is independent. It is funded by the people of Wales and is not accountable to the Welsh Government. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service, which works with the charity to provide critical care services, is commissioned by the health boards.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog am yr ateb yna. Yr wythnos diwethaf, fe ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog, mewn ymateb i gwestiwn gan Rhun ap Iorwerth ynghylch y cynlluniau i aildrefnu'r ambiwlans awyr, y gallai
'dau neu dri o bobl bob diwrnod nad ydyn nhw'n derbyn y gwasanaeth hwn ar hyn o bryd dderbyn y gwasanaeth o dan y trefniadau newydd'.
Dyna'r dyfyniad. Mae'r modelu yn dangos bod yr hyn ddywedodd y Prif Weinidog yn wir am fwy nag un o'r opsiynau sydd yn cael eu hystyried. Mae'n wir cyn belled ag y mae canoli gwasanaeth yn rhywle fel Rhuddlan yn y cwestiwn, ond mae e hefyd yn wir y byddai mwy o bobl yn cael eu gweld o gadw'r canolfannau presennol yn Ninas Dinlle a'r Trallwng, a thrwy gyflwyno cerbyd ymateb brys yn y gogledd-ddwyrain. Ond y gwahaniaeth rhwng y ddau opsiwn ydy bod y modelu'n dangos, drwy ganoli'r gwasanaeth, y byddai cymunedau gogledd Môn, Pen Llŷn, Meirionnydd, Maldwyn a gogledd Ceredigion oll yn colli allan yn sylweddol. Ydy'r Prif Weinidog, felly, yn cytuno â mi fod hyn yn bryderus ac, ymhellach, yn cytuno na ddylid cyflwyno unrhyw gynllun ad-drefnu sydd yn peryglu pobl yn y cymunedau yma?
I thank the First Minister for that response. Last week, the First Minister said, in response to a question from Rhun ap Iorwerth on plans to realign the services of the air ambulance, that
'Two to three people every single day who currently don't receive this service could receive the service under the new arrangements'.
That's the quote. The modelling demonstrates that what the First Minister said is correct on more than one of the options being considered. It's true as far as centralising services in somewhere like Rhuddlan is concerned, but it's also true that more people would be seen if the current centres were retained at Dinas Dinlle and Welshpool, and by introducing an emergency vehicle in the north-east. But the difference between the two options is that the modelling shows that centralising services would mean that communities in north Anglesey, the Llŷn peninsula, Meirionnydd, Montgomeryshire and north Ceredigion would all lose out significantly. Does the First Minister, therefore, agree with me that this is concerning and, furthermore, does he agree that no reorganisation should be introduced that puts people at risk in those communities?
Wel, allaf i ddim cytuno gyda'r Aelod, achos beth dwi wedi'i weld yw bod dau egwyddor gyda'r bobl a'r arbenigwyr yn y maes sydd wedi gwneud y gwaith i weld a allwn ni dynnu mwy o wasanaeth mas o bopeth sydd gyda ni ar hyn o bryd. A'r egwyddor gyntaf oedd: os yw pobl yn cael y gwasanaeth nawr, dylid parhau i'w gael—parhau i'w gael. Dyna'r egwyddor gyntaf—nid cael llai o wasanaeth, ond cario ymlaen gyda'r gwasanaeth sydd gyda nhw ar hyn o bryd. A'r ail egwyddor oedd i weld a yw'n bosibl, trwy newidiadau, i gael mwy o bobl yn gallu cael mynediad at y gwasanaeth. Dyna oedd pwrpas y gwaith i gyd.
Nawr, mae'r gwaith yna'n parhau i fynd ymlaen. Mae mwy o drafodaethau gyda phobl leol. Ond ar ddiwedd y dydd, os yw'r gwaith yn dangos y gallwn ni gario ymlaen gyda'r gwasanaeth sy'n bodoli nawr i bobl yng ngogledd Cymru, ac yn y gorllewin hefyd, a hefyd i gael mwy o bobl i gael y gwasanaeth yn y dyfodol, gallaf i ddim dweud fy mod yn mynd i fod yn erbyn y casgliad yna.
Well, I can't agree with the Member, because what I have seen is that there were two principles from the experts in the field who carried out the work to see whether we can bring more out of the services that we currently have. And the first principle was that if people are receiving the service now, then they should continue to receive that service. That's the first principle. It's not a reduced service, but it's maintaining current service levels. And the second principle was to see whether it was possible, through making changes, to have more people access these services. That was the purpose of all of this work.
Now, that work is ongoing. There are discussions ongoing with local people. But at the end of the day, if the work demonstrates that we can continue to provide the service that exists now to people in north and west Wales, and also ensure that more people are seen by the service in the future, then I can't say that I would oppose that conclusion.
8. Pa gynnydd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i wneud ar gynnal perthnasoedd â Chymry sy'n byw dramor? OQ60655
8. What progress has the Welsh Government made on maintaining relationships with the Welsh diaspora abroad? OQ60655
Llywydd, mae’r Cymry ar wasgar, y rhai sydd wedi astudio yng Nghymru, a chyfeillion Cymru sy’n byw ac yn gweithio dramor yn chwarae rôl bwysig i hyrwyddo ein gwlad. Maen nhw’n cynrychioli y gorau o ddiwylliant Cymru, ac maen nhw’n annog cysylltiadau busnes ac eraill. Rydym yn parhau i feithrin cysylltiadau â’r Cymry ar wasgar fel rhan o'n strategaeth rhyngwladol.
The Welsh diaspora, alumni, and friends of Wales who live and work overseas are important advocates for our nation. They showcase the best of Welsh culture, and encourage business and other links. We continue to nurture these relationships with the Welsh diaspora as part of our international strategy.
Diolch, Brif Weinidog. Gyda'r cyfyngiad yn cael ei godi ar bleidleiswyr Cymreig sy'n byw dramor yn yr etholiad cyffredinol nesaf, mae'n bwysicach fyth ein bod ni yn creu cyswllt gyda'r Cymry alltud. A'r wythnos diwethaf, roedd yn fraint cwrdd â nifer o Gymru alltud yn Philadelphia a Washington. Er bod nifer heb eu geni yng Nghymru, a rhai heb dras Gymreig o gwbl, maent yn angerddol, fel y dywedoch chi, dros ein gwlad ni. Maent yn cadw ac yn hyrwyddo nifer o lefydd hanesyddol, yn siarad, canu ac yn gweddïo yn Gymraeg, ac yn pobi'r piciau ar y maen gorau dwi wedi'u blasu ers blynyddoedd.
Dwi ddim yn mynd i ailadrodd consérn Cadeirydd y pwyllgor diwylliant yr wythnos diwethaf ar impact y gyllideb ar gysylltiadau rhyngwladol, ond, yn sicr, mae yna botensial enfawr fan hyn ymysg y Cymry dramor i gyfrannu tuag at ein heconomi, ein cymdeithas a'n diwylliant. Yn yr amserau heriol ac ansefydlog yma, Brif Weinidog, sut mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd i hyrwyddo Cymru yn effeithiol yn fyd-eang? Diolch yn fawr.
Thank you, First Minister. Given the lifting of restrictions on Welsh voters living abroad from participating in the next general election, it's more important than ever that we create links with the Welsh disapora. And last week, it was a privilege to meet a number of the diaspora in Philadelphia and Washington. Although many weren't born in Wales, and some don't have any Welsh background at all, they are passionate, as you said, about our nation. They promote and retain a number of historic sites. They speak, prey and sing in Welsh, and make the best Welsh cakes that I've tasted for many a year.
I'm not going to repeat the concerns the Chair of the culture committee expressed last week on the impact of the budget on international relations, but, certainly, there is huge potential here among the Welsh diaspora to contribute towards our economy, our society and our culture. In these challenging and unstable times, First Minister, how will the Welsh Government promote Wales effectively at a global level?
Wel, Llywydd, dwi'n cytuno gyda'r Aelod am bwysigrwydd gwneud gwaith ledled y byd. Ble bynnag rŷch chi'n cwrdd â phobl o Gymru ar draws y byd, maen nhw mor frwdfrydig i gynrychioli Cymru ac i gyfrannu at lwyddiant Cymru yn y dyfodol.
Clywais fod yr Aelod wedi bod draw yn America, ac, wrth gwrs, mae tîm o bobl gyda ni yn America yn barod sy'n gweithio'n galed i wneud popeth roedd yr Aelod yn siarad amdano, i wneud mwy i godi ymwybyddiaeth am Gymru, i wneud mwy i gydweithio â phobl sy'n fodlon ein helpu ni yn yr ymdrech yna. Rŷn ni wedi cefnogi, dros y blynyddoedd, yr ŵyl sydd ar gael yng Ngogledd America, sy'n tynnu pobl o Gymru at ei gilydd, ac mae nifer o Weinidogion wedi bod draw yn America i wneud yr un peth.
Well, Llywydd, I agree with the Member that we should do work all over the world. Whenever you meet people from Wales across the world, they're so enthusiastic to represent Wales and to contribute to Wales's success in the future.
I heard that the Member had been in America, and, of course, we have a team of people in America already who work very hard to do everything the Member talked about, to do more to raise awareness about Wales, to do more to co-operate with people who are willing to help us in those efforts. We have supported, over the years, the festival in North America, which draws Welsh people together, and a number of Ministers have visited America in order to do that same work.
Llywydd, I think one of the most striking things of the last six months was the visit made by the Minister for Economy to Birmingham, Alabama, to help mark the sixtieth anniversary of the dreadful events when the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was bombed, and where people from Wales made those contributions to that window that has been such a symbol of our friendship with the people of Birmingham in Alabama. And I think that stands as a real symbol of exactly the points that the Member has made this afternoon, and the determination of this Government to go on supporting those efforts.
Llywydd, rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau mwyaf trawiadol dros y chwe mis diwethaf oedd ymweliad Gweinidog yr Economi â Birmingham, Alabama, i helpu i nodi chwe deg mlynedd ers y digwyddiadau ofnadwy pan fomiwyd Eglwys y Bedyddwyr ar Sixteenth Street, a lle gwnaeth pobl o Gymru y cyfraniadau hynny i'r ffenestr honno sydd wedi bod yn gymaint o symbol o'n cyfeillgarwch â phobl Birmingham yn Alabama. Ac rwy'n credu bod hynny'n symbol go iawn o'r union bwyntiau y mae'r Aelod wedi'u gwneud y prynhawn yma, a phenderfyniad y Llywodraeth hon i barhau i gefnogi'r ymdrechion hynny.
Diolch i'r Prif Weinidog.
I thank the First Minister.
Y datganiad a chyhoeddiad busnes sydd nesaf, a Lesley Griffiths, y Trefnydd, i wneud y datganiad yma.
The business statement and announcement is next, and Lesley Griffiths, the Trefnydd, to make this statement.
Diolch, Llywydd. There are three changes to today's agenda. Firstly, the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership will make a statement on the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values—next steps. Secondly, I have postponed the debate on the Special School Residential Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) 2024, which will be rescheduled in due course. Finally, the Minister for Economy will seek a suspension of Standing Orders after consideration of the draft budget, to enable us to debate the steel industry in Wales. Draft business for the next three sitting weeks is set out on the business statement and announcement, which can be found amongst the meeting papers available to Members electronically.
Diolch, Llywydd. Mae yna dri newid i agenda heddiw. Yn gyntaf, bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol yn gwneud datganiad ar adolygiad Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru o ddiwylliant a gwerthoedd—y camau nesaf. Yn ail, rwyf i wedi gohirio'r ddadl ar y Gwasanaethau Preswyl Ysgolion Arbennig (Darparwyr Gwasanaethau ac Unigolion Cyfrifol) (Cymru) 2024, a gaiff ei haildrefnu maes o law. Yn olaf, bydd Gweinidog yr Economi yn ceisio ataliad o'r Rheolau Sefydlog wedi ystyriaeth o'r gyllideb ddrafft, er mwyn rhoi cyfle inni drafod y diwydiant dur yng Nghymru. Nodir y busnes drafft ar gyfer y tair wythnos eistedd nesaf yn y datganiad a'r cyhoeddiad busnes, sydd i'w weld ymhlith papurau'r cyfarfod sydd ar gael i'r Aelodau yn electronig.
Minister, yesterday evening I joined farmers in Narberth, in my constituency, for the NFU Cymru roadshow, with regard to the sustainable farming scheme. Last week you will have been aware of over 1,000 farmers who met in Welshpool, with concerns as to this Government's approach to agriculture and the rural economy in Wales at the moment. At yesterday's event, it was clear from NFU Cymru—. And I commend them for the way that they presented their roadshow, and their detailed analysis of the sustainable farming scheme, going through all 17 points of the universal actions. That's contrary to the Welsh Government-run roadshow events, which have only cherry-picked some of the universal actions—that has been fed back to me. Now, the irony wasn't lost on me when it was highlighted that the largest picture on the consultation is one of a tree. Farmers in Wales are feeling despondent, frustrated and angry. Last week I wrote to you, asking you to pause the consultation on the sustainable farming scheme, to allow the temperature to lower, and so that Welsh Government, farmers, and the farming unions could look again at the sustainable farming scheme, ensuring that it doesn't continue in the way that it is, which is a policy of economic self-harm, with the loss of potentially 5,500 jobs. I'd be grateful if you could update us on whether you have taken consideration into pausing the scheme, to ensure that the temperature is lowered, and that farmers aren't forced into a scheme that does not work for the sector here in Wales. Because, remember: no farmers, no food—heb amaeth, heb faeth.
Gweinidog, neithiwr fe wnes i ymuno â ffermwyr yn Arberth, yn fy etholaeth i, ar gyfer sioe deithiol NFU Cymru, ar gyfer ymdrin â'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy. Rydych chi'n ymwybodol fod dros 1,000 o ffermwyr wedi cyfarfod yn y Trallwng yr wythnos diwethaf, gyda phryderon ynghylch dull y Llywodraeth hon o ymdrin ag amaethyddiaeth a'r economi wledig yng Nghymru ar hyn o bryd. Yn y digwyddiad ddoe, roedd hi'n amlwg oddi wrth NFU Cymru—. Ac rwyf i'n eu canmol nhw am gyflwyniad effeithiol eu sioe deithiol nhw, a'u dadansoddiad manwl o'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, gan fynd drwy 17 pwynt y camau gweithredu cyffredinol. Mae hynny'n wahanol iawn i ddigwyddiadau teithiol gan Lywodraeth Cymru, sy'n gwneud dim ond dethol rhai o'r camau gweithredu cyffredinol—fe gafodd hynny ei gyfleu yn ei ôl i mi. Nawr, nid aeth eironi'r sefyllfa heibio i mi pan dynnwyd sylw at y ffaith mai'r darlun mwyaf amlwg a welir yn yr ymgynghoriad yw darlun o goeden. Mae ffermwyr yng Nghymru yn teimlo yn ddigalon, yn rhwystredig ac yn ddig. Fe ysgrifennais i atoch chi yr wythnos diwethaf i ofyn a fyddech chi'n gohirio'r ymgynghoriad ar y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy am y tro, er mwyn i'r tymheredd ostwng, ac er mwyn i Lywodraeth Cymru, ffermwyr, a'r undebau ffermio edrych unwaith eto ar y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy, gan sicrhau nad yw'n parhau fel y mae, sef polisi o hunan-niweidio economaidd, a fyddai'n achosi colli 5,500 o swyddi. Fe fyddwn i'n ddiolchgar pe gallech roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i ni ynghylch a ydych chi wedi ystyried gohirio'r cynllun am y tro, ar gyfer sicrhau bod y tymheredd yn gostwng, ac nad yw ffermwyr yn cael eu gorfodi i blygu i gynllun nad yw'n addas i'r sector yma yng Nghymru. Oherwydd, cofiwch: heb ffermwyr, nid oes bwyd—heb amaeth, heb faeth.
I am aware you have written to me, and I will of course be responding to you this week. My next meeting, as soon as I leave the Chamber after this business statement, is with NFU Cymru. We are out to consultation. I think everybody needs to remember that we are out to consultation. There is another month to go. As you heard the First Minister saying, the consultation has changed and evolved over the years. We have listened to the farmers for seven years—way before you came here. We have been listening to farmers for seven years, since the referendum vote to leave the European Union. It is a time of change, and you will have heard the First Minister say that we absolutely recognise that and understand it. I too pay tribute to the NFU for having these roadshows. I think it's important that as many farmers as possible engage with, not just the Welsh Government roadshows—. And I had a meeting with my officials just before I came into the Chamber, to get the latest data back and the discussions that are being held. And it's really very interesting to see the number of farmers who want to go along to the roadshows, to get the answers to the questions that they have around the consultation. But it is a consultation. We need to wait for that consultation to finish, in a month. There will then be further discussions, there will then be further economic analysis. No decision will be rushed. I have said that there won't be that transition to SFS until that scheme is ready. And I will be responding to you this week.
Rwy'n ymwybodol eich bod chi wedi ysgrifennu ataf i, ac wrth gwrs fe fyddaf i'n ymateb i chi'r wythnos hon. Gydag NFU Cymru y bydd fy nghyfarfod nesaf i, yn union ar ôl i mi ymadael â'r Siambr wedi'r datganiad busnes hwn. Rydym ni wedi mynd allan i ymgynghori. Rwy'n credu bod angen i bawb gofio ein bod ni allan i ymgynghori. Mae mis arall eto. Fel clywsoch chi'r Prif Weinidog yn dweud, mae'r ymgynghoriad wedi newid ac esblygu dros y blynyddoedd. Rydym ni wedi gwrando ar y ffermwyr ers saith mlynedd—ymhell cyn i chi fod yma. Rydym ni wedi bod yn gwrando ar ffermwyr ers saith mlynedd, ers pleidlais y refferendwm i ymadael â'r Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae hwn yn gyfnod o newid, ac rydych chi wedi clywed y Prif Weinidog yn dweud ein bod ni'n llwyr gydnabod hynny ac yn deall hynny. Rwyf innau hefyd am roi teyrnged i'r NFU am gynnal y sioeau teithiol hyn. Rwyf i o'r farn ei bod hi'n bwysig i gymaint o ffermwyr â phosibl ymgysylltu â'r rhain, nid sioeau teithiol Llywodraeth Cymru yn unig—. Ac fe gefais i gyfarfod gyda'm swyddogion ychydig cyn i mi ddod i mewn i'r Siambr, i gael y data diweddaraf yn ôl a'r trafodaethau sy'n cael eu cynnal. Ac mae hi'n ddiddorol iawn gweld nifer y ffermwyr sy'n awyddus i fynychu'r sioeau teithiol, i gael atebion i'r cwestiynau sydd ganddyn nhw ynghylch yr ymgynghoriad. Ond ymgynghoriad ydyw. Mae angen i ni aros i'r ymgynghoriad hwnnw ddod i ben, ymhen mis. Fe fydd yna drafodaethau pellach, ac wedyn fe fydd yna ddadansoddiad economaidd pellach. Ni fydd unrhyw benderfyniad yn cael wneud ar frys. Rwyf i wedi dweud na fydd y newid hwnnw i'r cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy yn digwydd hyd nes y bydd y cynllun hwnnw'n barod. Ac fe wnaf i ymateb i chi'r wythnos hon.
Trefnydd, I'd like to ask for a statement, please, from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism relating to how organisations within her portfolio are responding to the cuts in the draft budget. Obviously, we'll be discussing the draft budget later on, but there is a specific point. Many organisations have already opened voluntary redundancy schemes, in anticipation of the cuts, and are warning that compulsory redundancies are likely. Of concern is the fact that some of the organisations, such as the National Library of Wales, and, I believe, the Arts Council of Wales, have actually opened the schemes having just recently changed, with very little consultation, the terms and conditions relating to voluntary redundancies and compulsory redundancies. The less favourable conditions will disproportionately impact young people, but also those who have taken career breaks—most of them women who have had families. So, the statement I'd like is on what assessment the Deputy Minister has made of how organisations are preparing to implement the cuts, and how we are going to ensure that Welsh Government sponsored bodies are aligned, in terms of those policies, to make sure that there's not that inconsistency, if the worst comes and that people have to be made compulsory redundant.
Trefnydd, fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddatganiad, os gwelwch chi'n dda, gan Ddirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth ynghylch sut mae sefydliadau o fewn ei phortffolio yn ymateb i'r toriadau yn y gyllideb ddrafft. Yn amlwg, fe fyddwn ni'n trafod y gyllideb ddrafft yn nes ymlaen, ond fe geir un pwynt penodol. Mae llawer o sefydliadau wedi agor cynlluniau diswyddo gwirfoddol eisoes, gan ragweld y toriadau, ac maen nhw'n rhybuddio y bydd diswyddiadau gorfodol yn debygol. Mae'r ffaith fod rhai o'r sefydliadau, fel Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru a Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, rwy'n credu, wedi agor y cynlluniau mewn gwirionedd ar ôl newid yn ddiweddar, heb fawr ddim ymgynghori, y telerau a'r amodau sy'n ymwneud â diswyddiadau gwirfoddol a diswyddiadau gorfodol yn peri pryder. Fe fydd yr amodau llai ffafriol yn effeithio yn anghymesur ar bobl ifanc, ond ar rai hefyd sydd wedi cymryd cyfnodau i ffwrdd o'u gyrfaoedd—menywod sydd wedi bod yn magu eu teuluoedd yw'r rhan fwyaf. Felly, y datganiad yr hoffwn ei gael byddai un ynglŷn ag unrhyw asesiad a wnaeth y Dirprwy Weinidog o ran sut mae sefydliadau yn paratoi i weithredu'r toriadau, a sut ydym ni am sicrhau y bydd cyrff a noddir gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn cyd-fynd â'i gilydd, i sicrhau nad oes anghysondebau fel hyn, pe byddai hi'n mynd i'r pen a bod rhaid diswyddo pobl yn orfodol.
Thank you. Well, clearly, every budget has had to face cuts right across the Welsh Government, and the Minister for Economy, and, of course, that's the Deputy Minister's portfolio as well, had significant cuts that they've had to, then, pass on, unfortunately, to the sort of organisations that you have spoken about. I think it was a really important piece of work, ahead of the draft budget being published, that we all, as Ministers, had discussions with our stakeholders about the types of reductions that we were, unfortunately, having to pass on. And I know the Deputy Minister will continue to have those discussions, as we go forward.
Diolch i chi. Wel, yn amlwg, mae pob cyllideb wedi gorfod wynebu toriadau ar draws Llywodraeth Cymru, ac mae Gweinidog yr Economi, ac mae hwnnw, wrth gwrs yn bortffolio'r Dirprwy Weinidog hefyd, wedi gweld toriadau sylweddol y bu'n rhaid, wedyn, yn anffodus, eu trosglwyddo i'r math o sefydliadau y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdanyn nhw. Rwy'n credu ei fod yn ddarn pwysig iawn o waith, cyn cyhoeddi'r gyllideb ddrafft, ein bod ni i gyd, fel Gweinidogion, yn cael trafodaethau gyda'n rhanddeiliaid ynglŷn â'r mathau o ostyngiadau y bu'n rhaid i ni eu trosglwyddo, yn anffodus. Ac rwy'n gwybod y bydd y Dirprwy Weinidog yn parhau i gael y trafodaethau hyn, wrth symud ymlaen.
I just want to follow up on the remarks of Sam Kurtz, because they have to be seen in terms of both the impact of Brexit on our ability to ensure we have food security, as well as climate change, where we've seen Barcelona declaring a drought this month, and the very serious issues that face us all. So, I wondered if it is possible to have a debate in Government time on our food security and what we're doing to address it, including how we manage our land management programme.
You will have heard the First Minister, earlier on, saying it's very important that we try and ensure that people are not admitted to hospital who don't need to be there. So, looking at the Academy of Medical Sciences, which yesterday called on action to reduce infant deaths, where the UK is thirtieth out of 49 rich countries, on obesity, where one in five children under the age of five is obese or overweight, and tooth decay, which is well rehearsed by my colleague Jane Dodds. And in light of the Food Foundation's report on breastfeeding today, which indicates that, in a survey of mothers with children under 18 months, most of them said that they would have liked to have continued to breastfeed longer, and we know that this is one of the most important interventions—. I know that health Ministers have done a great deal to drive up breastfeeding rates, but there's always more to be done, and this is one of the ways to prevent children being admitted to hospital with either respiratory or gastric infections, because once they take off they can become extremely serious very quickly.
Fe hoffwn i sôn ychydig mwy am y sylwadau a wnaeth Sam Kurtz, oherwydd mae'n rhaid eu gweld nhw o ran effaith Brexit ar ein gallu ni i sicrhau bod gennym ddiogelwch bwyd, yn ogystal â newid hinsawdd, wrth inni weld Barcelona yn cyhoeddi sychder y mis hwn, a'r materion difrifol iawn sy'n ein hwynebu ni i gyd. Felly, tybed a yw hi'n bosibl cael dadl yn amser y Llywodraeth ar ein diogelwch bwyd a'r hyn yr ydym ni'n ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â hynny, gan gynnwys sut y byddwn ni'n rheoli ein rhaglen rheoli tir.
Fe glywsoch chi'r Prif Weinidog, yn gynharach, yn dweud ei bod hi'n bwysig iawn ein bod ni'n ceisio sicrhau nad yw pobl yn cael eu derbyn i ysbytai heb angen gwirioneddol iddyn nhw fod yno. Felly, o edrych ar yr Academi Gwyddorau Meddygol, a alwodd am gamau ddoe i ymdrin â chyfraddau marwolaethau babanod, lle mae'r DU yn safle rhif deg ar hugain o blith 49 o wledydd cyfoethog, o ran gordewdra, lle mae un o bob pump o blant dan bump oed yn ordew neu dros bwysau, a phydredd dannedd, sy'n cael ei godi yn aml gan fy nghyd-Aelod, Jane Dodds. Ac yng ngoleuni adroddiad y Sefydliad Bwyd ar fwydo ar y fron heddiw, sy'n nodi, mewn arolwg o famau â phlant dan 18 mis, bod y rhan fwyaf ohonyn nhw'n dweud y bydden nhw wedi hoffi parhau i fwydo o'r fron am ragor o amser, ac fe wyddom ni mai hwnnw yw un o'r ymyriadau pwysicaf—. Rwy'n gwybod bod Gweinidogion iechyd wedi gwneud llawer iawn i gynyddu cyfraddau bwydo ar y fron, ond mae mwy eto i'w wneud bob amser, a dyma un o'r ffyrdd o atal plant rhag cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty naill ai â heintiau anadlol neu gastrig, oherwydd pan fydd y rhain yn cychwyn, fe allan nhw fynd yn ddifrifol iawn yn gyflym iawn.
Thank you. I think you raise two very important points, but the latter one, I think, is really important. Certainly, with my north Wales hat on, I was at the Eisteddfod last summer, where I met with health visitors from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, who are doing fantastic work to continue to promote the very topic you referred to and make sure that people are aware of the benefits of breastfeeding as long as possible.
In relation to food security, which, of course, is incredibly important, and one of the things in the sustainable farming scheme—. We know the biggest threat to our sustainable food production is the climate change emergency. And I absolutely agree with your comments around EU exit. I was at a farm on Thursday, where there were seven people around the table discussing how they felt—well, I don't think 'lied to' is too strong a word—when they voted to leave the European Union, because they strongly believed in what they were told. Unfortunately, the proper information and the correct information didn't get out, and the impact of that is now being seen right across the country.
Diolch i chi. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n codi dau bwynt pwysig iawn, ond mae'r un olaf, yn fy marn i, yn un pwysig tu hwnt. Yn sicr, yn rhinwedd fy swydd o ran y gogledd, roeddwn i yn yr Eisteddfod yr haf y llynedd, pan gwrddais i ag ymwelwyr iechyd o Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, sy'n gwneud gwaith gwych i barhau i hyrwyddo'r union bwnc yr oeddech chi'n cyfeirio ato o ran sicrhau bod pobl yn ymwybodol o fanteision bwydo ar y fron cyn belled ag y bo modd.
O ran diogelwch bwyd, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn hynod bwysig, ac yn un o'r pethau yn y cynllun ffermio cynaliadwy—. Fe wyddom ni mai'r bygythiad mwyaf i'n cynhyrchiad bwyd cynaliadwy yw'r argyfwng newid hinsawdd. Ac rwy'n cytuno yn llwyr â'ch sylwadau ynghylch gadael yr UE. Roeddwn i ar fferm ddydd Iau, lle'r oedd saith o bobl o gwmpas y bwrdd yn trafod sut roedden nhw'n teimlo—wel, nid wyf i'n credu bod yr ymadrodd 'fe'n twyllwyd ni' yn rhy gryf—pan wnaethon nhw bleidleisio i adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, am eu bod nhw'n credu yn gryf yn yr hyn a ddywedwyd wrthyn nhw. Yn anffodus, ni ddaeth yr wybodaeth briodol na'r wybodaeth gywir i'r amlwg, ac mae effaith hynny yn cael ei deimlo ledled y wlad ar hyn o bryd.
Trefnydd, I'd like to call for a statement from the local government and finance Minister, providing an update on the Non-Domestic Rating (Amendment of Definition of Domestic Property) (Wales) Order 2022, and particularly the impact of that Order, a substantive part of which defines a self-catering business as one that must be let for 182 nights a year, which is an increase, as you're aware, from the previous definition of 70 nights. And you'll recall that I raised significant concerns with this Order, when it made its way through the Senedd. And I'm troubled now to hear of specific issues, which show restrictions on businesses—those self-catering businesses—during the COVID lockdown periods, and are now effectively classed as 'cancellations' with regard to those businesses, even though those businesses had no choice at the time. So, this is pushing out a number of genuine businesses to be classified as second homes and liable to significant additional costs, even though they had no choice over those restrictions that were placed upon them during that COVID lockdown period. So, I'd be grateful to see a statement from the Minister that provides this much-needed update on the impact of this Order since its coming into force nearly two years ago. Thank you.
Trefnydd, fe hoffwn i alw am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog llywodraeth leol a chyllid, i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y Gorchymyn Ardrethu Annomestig (Diwygio'r Diffiniad o Eiddo Domestig) (Cymru) 2022, ac yn enwedig ar effaith y Gorchymyn hwnnw, y mae rhan sylweddol ohono yn diffinio busnes hunanarlwyo fel un y mae'n rhaid ei osod am 182 noson y flwyddyn, sy'n gynnydd, fel gwyddoch chi, o'r diffiniad blaenorol o 70 noson. Ac fe fyddwch chi'n cofio fy mod i wedi codi pryderon sylweddol am y Gorchymyn hwn, wrth iddo wneud ei ffordd drwy'r Senedd. Ac rwy'n poeni nawr o glywed am faterion penodol, sy'n dangos cyfyngiadau ar fusnesau—y busnesau hunanarlwyo hynny—yn ystod cyfnodau cyfyngiadau symud COVID, ac sy'n cael eu hystyried i bob pwrpas yn 'ddiddymiadau' erbyn hyn o ran y busnesau hynny, er nad oedd gan y busnesau hynny unrhyw ddewis ar y pryd. Felly, mae hyn yn gwthio nifer o fusnesau dilys allan i'w dosbarthu yn ail gartrefi ac yn agored i gostau ychwanegol sylweddol, er nad oedd ganddyn nhw ddewis o ran y cyfyngiadau hynny a orfodwyd arnyn nhw yn ystod cyfyngiadau symud COVID. Felly, fe fyddwn yn ddiolchgar o gael datganiad gan y Gweinidog i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf y mae cymaint o'i hangen ynghylch effaith y Gorchymyn hwn ers iddo ddod i rym bron i ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Diolch i chi.
Well, the Minister is in her place and heard your question. I think it would be better if you wrote to her directly.
Wel, mae'r Gweinidog yn ei lle ac fe glywodd eich cwestiwn. Rwy'n credu y byddai hi'n well pe byddech chi'n ysgrifennu yn uniongyrchol ati hi.
Can I ask for a statement from the health Minister, if I may, on the electronic patient record software deployment in ophthalmology across Betsi Cadwaladr? The department across Betsi was granted the OpenEyes electronic patient record software pre COVID. Its installation was initially delayed due to COVID-related closures, and was further delayed then due to changes in management at Digital Health and Care Wales. Now, the software is tried and tested, it's ready for deployment across Betsi, and it would be of great help to practitioners because of its uses in electronic referrals and its work between primary and secondary care. It would enable records to be accessed across all of Wales as well, which of course is essential for the Welsh eye care measures to work. Now, unfortunately, Digital Health and Care Wales is no longer considering the deployment of OpenEyes across Betsi. In fact, Betsi are actively now working to develop other software that would potentially cause many years' delay before electronic patient record software can be deployed across north Wales, and that would put patients at a major disadvantage. So, we need to understand, really, whether the Minister believes that the OpenEye software, which has a minimal running cost and is proven to work, should be deployed across north Wales in order to ensure that ophthalmology patients aren't put at greater disadvantage.
A gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog iechyd, os caf i, ynglŷn â defnyddio meddalwedd cofnodion cleifion electronig mewn offthalmoleg ar draws bwrdd iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr? Caniatawyd rhoi meddalwedd cofnodion cleifion electronig OpenEyes ar draws Betsi Cadwaladr cyn COVID. Cafodd sefydlu'r meddalwedd ei ohirio i ddechrau oherwydd caeadau yn sgil COVID, ac fe'i gohiriwyd ymhellach bryd hynny oherwydd newidiadau ymysg rheolaeth Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru. Nawr, mae'r meddalwedd wedi profi ei fod yn ddibynadwy, mae'n barod i'w ddefnyddio ar draws Betsi, ac fe fyddai o gymorth mawr i ymarferwyr oherwydd ei ddefnyddioldeb o ran atgyfeiriadau electronig a'i weithrediad rhwng gofal sylfaenol ac eilaidd. Fe fyddai'n caniatáu i gofnodion fod ar gael ledled Cymru gyfan hefyd, sy'n hanfodol wrth gwrs ar gyfer gwneud mesurau gofal llygaid Cymru yn effeithiol. Nawr, yn anffodus, nid yw Iechyd a Gofal Digidol Cymru yn ystyried defnyddio OpenEyes ar draws Betsi erbyn hyn. Mewn gwirionedd, mae Betsi yn gweithio erbyn hyn i ddatblygu meddalwedd arall a allai achosi oedi am flynyddoedd lawer cyn y gellir defnyddio meddalwedd cofnodion cleifion electronig ar draws y gogledd, ac fe fyddai hynny'n rhoi cleifion dan anfantais fawr. Felly, mae angen i ni ddeall, mewn gwirionedd, a yw'r Gweinidog o'r farn y dylid defnyddio meddalwedd OpenEyes, sydd â'r gost leiaf posibl i'w rhedeg ac y profwyd ei bod yn gweithio, ledled y gogledd i sicrhau nad yw cleifion offthalmoleg yn cael eu rhoi dan ragor o anfantais.
Thank you. Well, I am aware of that; I wasn't aware that that decision had been taken. I'm not sure it is for the Minister to make that decision, but I will certainly ask her about the point that you've raised and ask her to write to you.
Diolch i chi. Wel, rwy'n ymwybodol o hynny; nid oeddwn i'n ymwybodol fod y penderfyniad hwnnw wedi cael ei wneud. Nid wyf i'n siŵr mai mater i'r Gweinidog yw gwneud y penderfyniad hwnnw, ond yn sicr fe wnaf i ofyn iddi hi ynglŷn â'r pwynt y gwnaethoch chi ei godi a gofyn iddi hi ysgrifennu atoch chi.
Good afternoon, Minister. I'd like to request two statements, if I may, one from the Minister for health again, regarding increasing support for our rural GPs. I've visited quite a few rural GPs in Powys across the last week or so to talk with them about the challenges that they face, and a common theme that comes out of the discussions is that the current contractual set-up and funding models do not sufficiently account for the extra services that they provide, such as phlebotomy, same-day appointments, et cetera, which rural surgeries have to provide because, in urban areas, you might have them at hand. So, I'm backing a rural GP payment in order to ensure that we're able to support our rural GPs. So, I'd welcome a statement from the Minister regarding the support for our rural GPs.
Also, secondly, could I request a statement from the Minister for Climate Change on progress with remediating unsafe residential buildings in Wales? I'd be very grateful for a statement on what assessment she has made of the recent tribunal case and, in particular, whether Welsh legislation is now falling behind that of England. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Prynhawn da, Gweinidog. Fe hoffwn i ofyn am ddau ddatganiad, os caf, un gan y Gweinidog iechyd unwaith eto, ynghylch estyn rhagor o gefnogaeth i feddygon teulu yng nghefn gwlad. Rwyf wedi bod yn ymweld â nifer o feddygon teulu yng nghefn gwlad Powys dros yr wythnos ddiwethaf i siarad â nhw ynglŷn â'r heriau y maen nhw'n eu hwynebu, a thema gyffredin sy'n deillio o'r trafodaethau hynny yw nad yw'r modelau presennol o ran sefydlu a chyllido cytundebol yn rhoi digon o ystyriaeth i'r gwasanaethau ychwanegol y maen nhw'n eu darparu, fel fflebotomi, apwyntiadau'r un diwrnod, ac ati, y mae'n rhaid i feddygfeydd cefn gwlad eu darparu oherwydd, mewn ardaloedd trefol, fe allen nhw fod gennych chi wrth law. Felly, rwyf i'n cefnogi taliad i feddygon teulu yng nghefn gwlad i sicrhau ein bod ni'n gallu cefnogi ein meddygon teulu yng nghefn gwlad. Felly, fe fyddwn i'n croesawu datganiad gan y Gweinidog ynglŷn â'r gefnogaeth i'n meddygon teulu yng nghefn gwlad.
Hefyd, yn ail, a gaf i ofyn am ddatganiad gan y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ynglŷn â'r cynnydd o ran adfer adeiladau preswyl anniogel yng Nghymru? Fe fyddwn yn ddiolchgar iawn am ddatganiad ar ba asesiad a wnaeth hi o'r achos tribiwnlys diweddar ac, yn benodol, a yw deddfwriaeth Cymru wedi syrthio tu ôl i'r un yn Lloegr erbyn hyn. Diolch yn fawr iawn.
Thank you. Well, it is obvious that GPs in rural areas probably have to provide different services to their patients than perhaps those in urban areas. I visited a GP surgery myself in Wrexham, in my constituency, on Friday, where it was incredible to see the range of services that they do provide. So, I think it probably is done on a surgery-by-surgery basis. But, I absolutely accept the point that you make around rural GPs. I know the Minister has been working very hard around a marketing campaign to make sure that rural surgeries are able to make it, for new GPs coming there, attractive, going forward, because we've seen a significant increase in the take-up of GP training places, but perhaps in the urban areas more than the rural areas. I'm not sure if a rural surgery payment is being looked at, but you will be aware, obviously, that there were financial incentives offered for GPs back from, I think, about 2017.
In relation to building safety, I know the Minister did update Senedd Members back in November, I think it was, about three months ago, on fire-safety issues. She has further information around tribunal that you mentioned, and I will ask her to update Members.
Diolch. Wel, mae hi'n amlwg bod meddygon teulu mewn ardaloedd gwledig yn gorfod darparu gwasanaethau gwahanol i'w cleifion na'r rhai mewn ardaloedd trefol efallai, yn ôl pob tebyg. Fe ymwelais i fy hun â meddygfa yn Wrecsam, yn fy etholaeth i, ddydd Gwener, lle'r oedd hi'n anhygoel gweld yr ystod o wasanaethau y maen nhw'n eu darparu. Felly, rwy'n credu mai'r peth tebygol yw bod hynny'n cael ei wneud ar sail meddygfeydd unigol. Ond, rwy'n derbyn yn llwyr y pwynt a wnaethoch chi ynglŷn â meddygon teulu yng nghefn gwlad. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Gweinidog wedi bod yn gweithio'n galed iawn ynglŷn â'r ymgyrch farchnata i sicrhau bod meddygfeydd gwledig yn gallu bod yn ddeniadol i'r meddygon teulu newydd sy'n dod yno wrth symud ymlaen, oherwydd fe welsom ni gynnydd sylweddol yn y niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar leoedd i hyfforddi meddygon teulu, ond efallai yn yr ardaloedd trefol yn fwy na'r ardaloedd gwledig. Nid wyf i'n siŵr a oes ystyriaeth yn cael ei rhoi i daliad llawfeddygaeth wledig, ond rydych chi'n ymwybodol, yn amlwg, bod cymhellion ariannol yn cael eu cynnig ar gyfer meddygon teulu ers tua 2017, rwy'n credu.
O ran diogelwch adeiladau, fe wn i fod y Gweinidog wedi rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau'r Senedd yn ôl ym mis Tachwedd, rwy'n credu mai dyna pryd oedd hi, tua thri mis yn ôl, am faterion diogelwch tân. Mae ganddi hi ragor o wybodaeth ynglŷn â'r tribiwnlys yr oeddech chi'n sôn amdano, ac rwyf i am ofyn iddi hi roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Aelodau.
Finally, Gareth Davies.
Yn olaf, Gareth Davies.
Diolch, Llywydd. Now that we have embarked on the six nations rugby period, I'd like to call for a statement from the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism on the Welsh Rugby Union's decision to move two of the Welsh under-20s' fixtures back to Cardiff from north Wales. Now, to provide some context, the Welsh six nations under-20s' matches have historically been played in north Wales and enjoyed by many people in the local area for well over a decade. And, for some people, it's the only opportunity for them to see live international rugby in their local area, with the majority of Welsh rugby matches and sports in general being played in either Cardiff or south Wales. For local people, it's another case of major Welsh events being focused in the south, with little regard for people in north Wales. So, can the Deputy Minister provide a statement on what discussions she has had with the WRU surrounding this matter, what the reasons are for north Wales losing live international rugby matches, and what plans, if any, the Welsh Rugby Union has to diversify its sporting offer to people across the whole of Wales, and not just in the south, because, yet again, it's north Wales missing out on significant events for those in Cardiff? Thank you.
Diolch, Llywydd. Gan ein bod bellach wedi dechrau ar gyfnod rygbi'r chwe gwlad, fe hoffwn i alw am ddatganiad gan Ddirprwy Weinidog y Celfyddydau, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth ar benderfyniad Undeb Rygbi Cymru i symud dwy o gemau dan 20 Cymru o'r gogledd ac yn ôl i Gaerdydd. Nawr, ar gyfer rhoi hyn yn ei gyd-destun, mae gemau dan 20 y chwe gwlad yng Nghymru wedi cael eu chwarae yn y gogledd ers sawl blwyddyn ac wedi eu mwynhau gan lawer o bobl yn yr ardal honno ers ymhell dros ddegawd. Ac, i rai pobl, dyma'r unig gyfle ar gael iddyn nhw weld rygbi rhyngwladol byw yn eu hardal leol, gyda'r rhan fwyaf o gemau rygbi Cymru a chwaraeon yn gyffredinol yn cael eu chwarae naill ai yng Nghaerdydd neu yn y de. I bobl leol, dyma enghraifft arall o ddigwyddiadau mawr Cymru yn cael eu cynnal yn y de, heb fawr o ystyriaeth i bobl yn y gogledd. Felly, a all y Dirprwy Weinidog roi datganiad ar ba drafodaethau a gafodd hi gydag URC ynghylch y mater hwn, a beth yw'r rhesymau dros symud gemau rygbi rhyngwladol byw o'r gogledd, a pha gynlluniau, os o gwbl, sydd gan Undeb Rygbi Cymru i arallgyfeirio ei gynnig chwaraeon i bobl ledled Cymru, ac nid yn unig i'r de, oherwydd, unwaith eto, y gogledd sydd ar ei golled o ran digwyddiadau arwyddocaol wrth iddyn nhw gael eu cynnal yng Nghaerdydd? Diolch i chi.
Thank you. I absolutely agree with the sentiments you've just expressed. This was a decision taken by the WRU. I think it was the wrong decision. I think you're absolutely right—for a lot of young people, they would never have the opportunity to come down to Cardiff to see international rugby. So, the fact that we've had the under-20s matches at Eirias Park is really important. I will certainly ask the Deputy Minister if she or her officials had any discussions prior to the WRU making that decision. If not, as north Wales Minister, I will write to the WRU and see how they came to make that decision.
Diolch i chi. Rwyf i'n cytuno yn llwyr â'r hyn yr ydych chi newydd ei ddweud. Penderfyniad gan URC oedd hwn. Rwyf i o'r farn mai'r penderfyniad anghywir oedd hwnnw. Rwy'n credu eich bod chi'n hollol iawn—i lawer o bobl ifanc, na fydden nhw fyth yn cael cyfle i ddod i lawr i Gaerdydd i weld rygbi rhyngwladol. Felly, mae'r ffaith ein bod ni wedi gweld y gemau dan 20 oed yn cael eu chwarae ym Mharc Eirias wedi bod yn bwysig iawn. Yn sicr fe fyddaf i'n gofyn i'r Dirprwy Weinidog a gafodd hi neu ei swyddogion unrhyw drafodaethau cyn i URC wneud y penderfyniad hwnnw. Os nad felly, fel Gweinidog gogledd Cymru, fe fyddaf i'n ysgrifennu at URC i gael deall sut y bu iddyn nhw wneud y penderfyniad hwnnw.
Diolch i'r Trefnydd.
Thank you, Trefnydd.
Yr eitem nesaf, felly, fydd y datganiad gan y Dirprwy Weinidog Partneriaeth Gymdeithasol ar adolygiad Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru o ddiwylliant a gwerthoedd, a'r camau nesaf. Y Dirprwy Weinidog i wneud y datganiad—Hannah Blythyn.
The next item will be a statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership on the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service review of culture and values, and the next steps. I call on the Deputy Minister to make the statement—Hannah Blythyn.
Ar 3 Ionawr, cyhoeddodd Fenella Morris CB adroddiad damniol ar ddiwylliant a gwerthoedd Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Roedd yn tynnu sylw at gamdrin a gwahaniaethu ar bob lefel, a methiant difrifol gan yr arweinwyr a’r rheolwyr.
On 3 January, Fenella Morris KC published a damning report on the culture and values of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. It exposed discriminatory and abusive behaviour at all levels, and a serious failure of leadership and management.
Daeth y Dirprwy Lywydd (David Rees) i’r Gadair.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.
In my oral statement the following week, I explained the seriousness of these findings. It's not just that some members of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff behaved appallingly, it is that the organisation failed to deter, detect or deal with that. Basic standards of good governance and management had failed, creating a toxic workplace culture in which discrimination, abuse and other misconduct went unchecked. I therefore indicated that it was not a question of if the Welsh Government would intervene, but how. I have reflected fully but urgently on the options available. I have also considered the fire and rescue authority’s formal response to the report, which it agreed unanimously on 15 January, and have had further exchanges with the chair. I am pleased the FRA’s response formally accepts the report’s recommendations in full. It could hardly do otherwise given the weight of evidence in the report, but I have seen little that adequately addresses the wider concerns I set out previously.
Sadly, I do not have confidence that the service has the internal capacity or capability to oversee its own recovery. Management at all levels, up to and including the highest, have been implicated in the identified failings. They cannot be both the problem and the solution. And the chief fire officer’s stated intention to retire is clearly insufficient to stimulate the wholesale change in processes, values and culture that will be necessary.
The authority’s plan calls for support from the Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association and others. That is reasonable. But such support needs strong foundations and clear and committed leadership to drive through change, and I see no evidence of that. When I discussed this with the chair at a recent meeting, he said only that he was obliged to trust the personnel and processes that were in place. This gives me no assurances at all.
I am also seriously concerned that these failings jeopardise the service’s ability to function safely and effectively. There are, of course, many firefighters in south Wales who are absolutely dedicated to their work. But staff who are demotivated, mismanaged, badly led and exposed to discrimination and abuse will always struggle. The lack of proper management control and tolerance of bad practice that the report identified has wider ramifications beyond issues of misconduct and discrimination. That is unacceptable in any public service, especially one charged with protecting people from serious harm. The authority’s plan does not mention this risk at all. The chair has given me general reassurance that there is and will be no effect on core services, but no more than that. That is not good enough. These risks are real and immediate, and I have two recent examples of how the identified management failures directly and seriously affect core services.
Firstly, our chief fire and rescue adviser is a highly regarded and experienced former chief fire officer. He is also the statutory inspector of the FRAs in Wales, charged with making recommendations to them and me. In recent years, he has produced reports on the lessons of the Grenfell Tower fire, on improving service capacity and on firefighter training. Each of them contains fully evidenced recommendations to improve service standards and firefighter safety. It is therefore disappointing that South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has rejected many of these recommendations out of hand. Such a response would suggest the organisation is uninterested in better ways of fighting house fires or minimising the risk of fatigue, or ensuring that firefighters have the skills they need.
Secondly, false alarms have long outnumbered actual fires. Attendance at them commits firefighters to activity that wastes time and resources for prolonged periods. There are proven, simple and safe ways of reducing attendance, and our 2016 national framework for fire and rescue services called for action to do so. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service complied straight away and its attendance at false alarms fell markedly. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has belatedly done the same. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has done nothing meaningful. The number of false alarms it attends has risen consistently in recent years, and it is clearly the worst performer in Wales and among a group of broadly comparable fire and rescue services in Wales and England. This reflects the same management insularity and tolerance of bad practice identified in the review. It has not just led to staff misconduct and discrimination, it is also affecting service quality and efficiency, and the safety of firefighters, and we must act to address that.
Finally, we have the fire and rescue authority itself. It must show strategic leadership and hold senior management to account. It has clearly done neither. The failings date back to 2015, yet the authority took no action during that period. Instead, it unanimously rejected some of the chief adviser’s recommendations last March, and a few months later gave senior officers a significant pay rise. That action now looks very ill-judged.
The authority’s response establishes a committee to oversee the report’s implementation. It also proposes to co-opt external expertise onto that committee, which is positive. But, I see no sign of the underlying weaknesses of governance changing. As with management, authority members cannot be both the problem and the solution.
All of this gives me little confidence that the review’s recommendations will be fully and sustainably implemented, and that the wider failings in management will be rectified, or that the risks to service delivery and firefighter safety will be averted. In fact, there are already further worrying signs. I and, no doubt, other Members of the Senedd will have received correspondence from many current and former members of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff raising serious grievances that they feel were never properly investigated. As I have said before, doing so shows great courage. I therefore asked the chair to ensure that these cases would be reopened and reconsidered as part of the recovery, and he agreed, yet there is no mention of it in the authority’s agreed response. In addition, in its 15 January meeting, several FRA members argued strongly against the appointment of someone from a non-firefighting background as chief officer, despite Fenella Morris KC recommending that the organisation should actively encourage such appointments.
Dirprwy Lywydd, one of the most saddening themes in the staff testimony collated in the report is a widespread belief that nothing would ever change. If we do not act, those who said and feel this will probably be proved right. I cannot and will not allow that to happen. I am, therefore, issuing a direction to South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority today, requiring all of its functions to be exercised by four commissioners. Those commissioners will be charged with ensuring the full and sustainable implementation of the review’s recommendations, as well as acting on the recommendations of our chief adviser. They will have full powers to restructure and reform service management and instil a positive, non-discriminatory culture, and they will remain until the work is finished and until South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is clearly an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all.
The commissioners I am appointing are Baroness Wilcox, formerly leader of Newport City Council and leader of the Welsh Local Government Association; Kirsty Williams, formerly Member of the Senedd for Brecon and Radnorshire; Vijith Randeniya, formerly chief fire officer for the west midlands; and Carl Foulkes, formerly chief constable of North Wales Police. The commissioners have a demanding task ahead but will receive our full support and, I am sure, that of other partners and the workforce of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. I will, of course, provide the Senedd with regular updates on their work.
In closing, I want to once again place on record recognition of all those who have come forward to share their experiences. What happened should not have happened and we are absolutely committed to righting those wrongs and achieving meaningful change. Diolch.
Yn fy natganiad llafar yr wythnos ganlynol, roeddwn i'n egluro pa mor ddifrifol oedd y canfyddiadau hyn. Nid dim ond bod rhai aelodau o staff Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru wedi ymddwyn yn ofnadwy, ond bod y sefydliad wedi methu ag atal, canfod nac ymdrin â hynny. Roedd safonau sylfaenol llywodraethu a rheoli da wedi methu, gan feithrin diwylliant gwenwynllyd yn y gweithle lle nad oedd gwahaniaethu, camdriniaeth na chamymddwyn yn cael eu hatal. Felly, fe ddywedais i nad y cwestiwn oedd a fyddai Llywodraeth Cymru yn ymyrryd, ond ym mha fodd y byddai'n gwneud hynny. Rwyf i wedi myfyrio ar y dewisiadau sydd ar gael yn llawn ond â brys mawr. Rwyf i wedi ystyried ymateb ffurfiol yr awdurdod tân ac achub i'r adroddiad hefyd, y cytunodd yn unfrydol arno ar 15 Ionawr, ac rwyf i wedi cael rhagor o sgyrsiau gyda'r cadeirydd. Rwy'n falch fod ymateb yr awdurdod tân ac achub wedi derbyn argymhellion yr adroddiad yn llawn. Prin y gallai fod wedi gwneud fel arall o ystyried grym y dystiolaeth yn yr adroddiad, ond ychydig iawn a welais i sy'n mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon ehangach a amlinellais i'n flaenorol mewn ffordd ddigonol.
Yn anffodus, nid wyf i'n hyderus o allu'r gwasanaeth ynddo'i hun i oruchwylio ei adferiad. Mae rheolaeth ar bob lefel, hyd at ac yn cynnwys yr uchaf, yn ymhlyg yn y methiannau a nodwyd. Ni all yr un rhai fod yn gyfrifol am achosi'r broblem a'i datrys hi hefyd. Ac mae hi'n amlwg nad yw bwriad y prif swyddog tân i ymddeol yn ddigonol i ysgogi'r newidiadau mawr a fydd eu hangen o ran prosesau, gwerthoedd a diwylliant.
Mae cynllun yr awdurdod yn galw am gymorth oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cymru, Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru ac eraill. Mae hynny'n rhesymol. Ond mae angen sylfeini cadarn ar gefnogaeth o'r fath ac arweinyddiaeth amlwg ac ymroddedig i sbarduno'r newid, ac nid wyf i'n gweld unrhyw dystiolaeth o hynny. Pan drafodais i hyn gyda'r cadeirydd mewn cyfarfod diweddar yr unig beth a ddywedodd ef oedd bod rhaid iddo ymddiried yn y personél a'r prosesau a oedd ar waith. Nid yw hynny'n rhoi unrhyw sicrwydd o gwbl i mi.
Rwy'n pryderu yn ddifrifol hefyd oherwydd bod y methiannau hyn yn peryglu gallu'r gwasanaeth i weithredu gyda diogelwch ac effeithiolrwydd. Wrth gwrs, mae llawer iawn o ddiffoddwyr tân yn y de sy'n gwbl ymroddedig i'w gwaith. Ond fe fydd staff sy'n ddiawydd, sy'n cael eu camreoli, a'u harwain yn wael ac yn agored i wahaniaethu a cham-drin bob amser yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi. Mae gan ddiffyg rheolaeth briodol sy'n caniatáu i arferion gwael barhau fel mae'r adroddiad yn eu nodi oblygiadau mwy eang sy'n mynd y tu draw i faterion o gamymddwyn a gwahaniaethu. Mae hynny'n annerbyniol mewn unrhyw wasanaeth cyhoeddus, yn enwedig un sydd â chyfrifoldeb i amddiffyn pobl rhag niwed difrifol. Nid yw cynllun yr awdurdod yn sôn o gwbl am y perygl hwn. Mae'r cadeirydd wedi rhoi sicrwydd i mi'n gyffredinol nad oes ac na fydd unrhyw effaith ar wasanaethau craidd, ond dim mwy na hynny. Nid yw hynny'n ddigonol. Mae'r peryglon hyn yn wirioneddol ac o'n blaenau ni nawr, ac mae gennyf i ddwy enghraifft ddiweddar o sut mae'r methiannau o nodwyd o ran rheolaeth yn effeithio yn uniongyrchol ac yn ddifrifol ar wasanaethau craidd.
Yn gyntaf, mae ein prif gynghorydd tân ac achub yn gyn-brif swyddog tân uchel ei barch a phrofiadol. Ef yw arolygydd statudol yr awdurdodau tân ac achub yng Nghymru hefyd, sy'n gyfrifol am wneud argymhellion iddyn nhw ac i minnau. Yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, fe gynhyrchodd ef adroddiadau ar y gwersi o dân Tŵr Grenfell, ar wella gallu'r gwasanaethau ac ar hyfforddiant i ddiffoddwyr tân. Mae pob un ohonyn nhw'n cynnwys argymhellion sy'n llawn tystiolaeth ar gyfer gwella safonau'r gwasanaeth a diogelwch y diffoddwyr tân. Mae hi'n siomedig iawn felly fod Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru wedi gwrthod llawer o'r argymhellion hyn yn syth. Mae ymateb fel hwn yn awgrymu nad oes gan y sefydliad ddiddordeb mewn ffyrdd amgen o ddiffodd tanau tai, na lleihau'r perygl o flinder, na sicrhau bod gan ddiffoddwyr tân y sgiliau angenrheidiol.
Yn ail, mae galwadau tân diangen wedi bod yn fwy niferus na thanau gwirioneddol ers cryn amser. Mae gorfod mynychu galwadau tân diangen yn ymrwymo diffoddwyr tân i weithgaredd sy'n gwastraffu amser ac adnoddau am gyfnodau maith. Mae ffyrdd profedig, syml a diogel o liniaru effeithiau galwadau tân diangen, ac mae ein fframwaith cenedlaethol ar gyfer gwasanaethau tân ac achub o 2016 yn galw am weithredu yn hynny o beth. Cydymffurfiodd Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru ar unwaith gan leihau yn sylweddol yr amser a ddefnyddiwyd i ymdrin â galwadau tân diangen. Fe wnaeth Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru'r un fath. Ni wnaeth Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru unrhyw beth ystyrlon. Mae nifer y galwadau tân diangen a wastraffodd eu hamser a'u hadnoddau nhw wedi cynyddu yn gyson dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, ac mae hi'n amlwg mai yno y mae'r sefyllfa neilltuol honno ar ei gwaethaf drwy Gymru i gyd ac ymhlith grŵp o wasanaethau tân ac achub y gellir eu cymharu yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Mae hyn yn darlunio'r un culni o ran rheolaeth a'r parodrwydd i oddef arfer gwael ag a nodwyd yn yr adolygiad. Nid yn unig y mae hynny wedi arwain at gamymddwyn a gwahaniaethu ymhlith y staff, mae'n effeithio ar ansawdd ac effeithlonrwydd y gwasanaethau hefyd, ac ar ddiogelwch y diffoddwyr tân, ac mae'n rhaid i ni weithredu i fynd i'r afael â hynny.
Yn olaf, ceir yr awdurdod tân ac achub ei hun. Mae'n rhaid iddo arddangos arweinyddiaeth strategol a dal yr uwch reolwyr i gyfrif. Yn amlwg, ni wnaeth y naill beth na'r llall. Mae'r methiannau yn dyddio yn ôl i 2015, ac eto ni chymerodd yr awdurdod unrhyw gamau o gwbl yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw. Yn hytrach na hynny, fe wrthododd rai o argymhellion y prif gynghorydd yn unfrydol ym mis Mawrth y llynedd, ac ychydig fisoedd yn ddiweddarach fe roddodd godiad cyflog sylweddol i'w uwch-swyddogion. Mae gwneud hynny'n ymddangos yn beth annoeth iawn erbyn hyn.
Mae ymateb yr awdurdod yn cynnwys sefydlu pwyllgor i oruchwylio gweithrediad yr adroddiad. Mae'n cynnig y dylid cyfethol arbenigedd allanol ar y pwyllgor hwnnw hefyd, sy'n rhywbeth cadarnhaol. Ond, ni welaf i unrhyw arwydd o geisio newid y gwendidau sylfaenol o ran llywodraethu. Fel gyda'r rheolwyr, ni all aelodau'r awdurdod fod yr un rhai sy'n achosi problem ac yn ei datrys hefyd.
Nid yw hyn i gyd yn rhoi llawer o hyder i mi y bydd argymhellion yr adolygiad yn cael eu gweithredu yn llawn ac mewn ffordd y gellir eu cynnal, ac y bydd y methiannau ehangach o ran rheolaeth yn cael eu hunioni, neu y bydd y risgiau i ddarpariaeth y gwasanaethau a diogelwch diffoddwyr tân yn cael eu hosgoi. Mewn gwirionedd, mae yna arwyddion eisoes o bryder pellach. Yn ddiamau, bydd Aelodau eraill o'r Senedd, fel minnau, wedi derbyn gohebiaeth gan lawer o aelodau presennol a chyn-aelodau o staff Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru yn codi cwynion difrifol na chynhaliwyd ymchwiliad priodol iddyn nhw erioed. Fel dywedais i o'r blaen, mae gwneud hynny'n arddangos dewrder mawr. Felly, fe ofynnais i'r cadeirydd sicrhau y byddai'r achosion hyn yn cael eu hailagor a'u hailystyried yn rhan o'r diwygio, ac fe gytunodd ef, ac eto nid oes sôn am hyn yn yr ymateb y cytunodd yr awdurdod arno. Yn ogystal â hynny, yn ei gyfarfod ar 15 Ionawr, roedd sawl aelod o'r awdurdod tân ac achub yn dadlau yn gryf yn erbyn penodi unrhyw un yn brif swyddog nad oedd â chefndir yn y gwasanaeth tân, er bod Fenella Morris CB yn argymell y dylai'r sefydliad fynd ati i annog penodiadau o'r fath.
Dirprwy Lywydd, un o'r themâu mwyaf trist a gasglwyd yn y dystiolaeth oddi wrth staff yn yr adroddiad yw'r gred gyffredin na fyddai unrhyw beth yn newid byth. Os na wnawn ni weithredu, mae'n debyg y bydd y rhai a ddywedodd fel hyn ac sy'n teimlo fel hyn yn cael eu profi yn gywir. Ni allaf i ac nid wyf i am ganiatáu i hynny ddigwydd. Felly, rwy'n cyhoeddi cyfarwyddyd i Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru heddiw, gan ei gwneud yn ofynnol i bedwar comisiynydd ymarfer ei swyddogaethau i gyd. Bydd y comisiynwyr hynny'n gyfrifol am sicrhau bod argymhellion yr adolygiad yn cael eu gweithredu yn llawn ac mewn modd cynaliadwy, yn ogystal â gweithredu ar argymhellion ein prif gynghorydd. Bydd pwerau llawn ganddyn nhw i ailstrwythuro a diwygio rheolaeth gwasanaethau a meithrin diwylliant cadarnhaol, anwahaniaethol, ac fe fyddan nhw'n aros nes bod y gwaith wedi ei orffen a hyd nes y bydd Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru yn amlwg yn weithle sy'n gynhwysol ac yn groesawgar i bawb.
Y comisiynwyr yr wyf yn eu penodi yw Barwnes Wilcox, cyn-arweinydd Cyngor Dinas Casnewydd ac arweinydd Cymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru; Kirsty Williams, a fu'n Aelod o'r Senedd dros Aberhonddu a Sir Faesyfed; Vijith Randeniya, cyn-brif swyddog tân gorllewin canolbarth Lloegr; a Carl Foulkes, cyn-brif gwnstabl Heddlu Gogledd Cymru. Mae gan y comisiynwyr dasg anodd o'u blaenau ond fe fyddan nhw'n cael ein cefnogaeth lawn ni ac, rwy'n siŵr, cefnogaeth partneriaid eraill a gweithlu Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Fe fyddaf i, wrth gwrs, yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Senedd yn rheolaidd am eu gwaith nhw.
Wrth gloi, fe hoffwn i roi cydnabyddiaeth unwaith eto i bawb a ddaeth ymlaen i gyflwyno eu profiadau. Ni ddylai'r hyn a ddigwyddodd fod wedi digwydd ac rydym ni wedi ymrwymo yn llwyr i unioni'r drwg hwnnw a sicrhau newid ystyrlon. Diolch.
Thank you for your statement today, Deputy Minister. I agree that it is overwhelmingly clear that the management team at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service are the ones who have been instrumental in allowing this unsavoury and harmful culture to fester within the fire service. I further agree that action needs to be taken and I share your concerns that the service is unlikely to be able to reform itself. In terms of appointing commissioners, I believe that there needs to be transparency shown and evidence provided on how the individuals you have mentioned are qualified for this role. It is not enough to say that they have previously held senior positions; if you, like we all do, want to see South Wales Fire and Rescue Service transform, we need to take staff along with the process, and enforcing commissioners with no identifiable qualifications to do so has the potential to create significant resistance within the organisation. With this in mind, Deputy Minister, when will you publish the criteria you have used to select these commissioners and the evidence that they are suitably qualified for the posts?
We read in the independent review of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service how members of the service were limited to one of two routes when faced with inappropriate jokes and derogatory or offensive comments and behaviour. Staff could either make a formal complaint that was, in their words, treated very heavy-handedly, with little to no long-term action taken, or simply say nothing and just try to ignore these comments and behaviours that were routinely made and then live with the consequences. In my mind, Deputy Minister, there was an outright failure of the disciplinary processes that were, and I suppose still are, in place, and I think it is clear for all to see that it's one of several root causes of how the poor culture has developed and been allowed to infect South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the senior team who failed to recognise and take appropriate action in many of the cases that have come to light. Ultimately, it was their responsibility to have made sure that this culture had not developed and I think it sets a poor example if they end up remaining in post, knowing that their failure has been exposed. What actions are you now going to take to address this?
I'd also, Deputy Minister, like to address one of the findings in the report that I believe is an important element of what needs to be done next. The report showed that there's clearly no recourse or procedure for reconciliation for staff to resolve issues when they first appear without disciplinary action being taken. Staff should be able to call out poor behaviour and resolve the issues without risk of damaging working relationships, without the risk of damaging career prospects and without the risk of feeling that they will be ostracised for speaking up. The truth is that the fire service is now likely to have imposed upon it extensive behavioural training courses that will be designed to change the poor culture. But unless you, Deputy Minister, specifically take action to redesign the disciplinary procedures and introduce new methods of reconciling poor behaviour early on, then you risk that very poor culture identified not being changed at all, because those individuals who are responsible will find a way to circumnavigate people they identify as likely to be offended.
There's a real big risk here that, without a well-thought-through approach from Welsh Government that is sensitive to the good and positive aspects of working in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service—and there are many—we will see more fire service men and women leaving. Ultimately, I believe that the Government has the opportunity here to completely redesign the disciplinary process that not only holds the senior management accountable if disciplinary actions do not change negative behaviours, but also allows all staff members to feel that they can resolve issues without feeling apprehensive and worried about possible repercussions. With this in mind, Deputy Minister, what actions are you now going to take to re-evaluate disciplinary procedures? You mentioned previously that no action is off the table, and I think organisations across the whole of the public sector could benefit from a revitalisation of disciplinary procedures.
Finally, I'd like to address another issue that I've previously mentioned and that is a review of older cases to make sure that staff have been treated fairly. From a personal point of view, I think it would be an appropriate way of helping the healing process and being able to view objectively the extent of the impact that this atrocious culture has had on its employees. We know that there are a number of staff who have worked for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service who were unhappy with how their complaints were dealt with. Several have contacted me, like yourself, highlighting their individual cases. They are rightfully angry at the way their complaints were handled, not only by individuals but by the organisation as a whole, and it is right that, in light of the independent review, their cases are reviewed. With this in mind, Deputy Minister, what are the timescales that people can expect their cases to be reopened and reviewed? Are you prepared to commission an independent body to undertake these reviews? And, in cases where there has been failure from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, do you expect compensation to be paid? Thank you.
Diolch i chi am eich datganiad heddiw, Gweinidog. Rwy'n cytuno ei bod hi'n gwbl amlwg mai'r tîm rheoli yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru yw'r rhai sydd wedi bod yn allweddol o ran caniatáu i'r diwylliant annymunol a niweidiol hwn fagu o fewn y gwasanaeth tân. Rwy'n cytuno ymhellach fod angen gweithredu ac rwy'n rhannu eich pryderon chi nad yw'r gwasanaeth yn debygol o allu ei ddiwygio ei hun. O ran penodi comisiynwyr, rwyf i o'r farn fod angen dangos tryloywder a darparu tystiolaeth ynglŷn â sut mae'r unigolion y gwnaethoch chi sôn amdanyn nhw'n gymwys ar gyfer y swyddogaeth hon. Nid yw hi'n ddigonol inni ddweud eu bod wedi dal swyddi uwch yn flaenorol; os ydych chi, fel pob un ohonom ni, yn awyddus i weld Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru yn cael ei drawsnewid, mae angen i ni gael cefnogaeth y staff yn y broses, ac mae perygl y bydd gwthio comisiynwyr heb unrhyw gymwysterau adnabyddadwy yn creu gwrthwynebiad sylweddol yn y sefydliad. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, Dirprwy Weinidog, pryd fyddwch chi'n cyhoeddi'r meini prawf y gwnaethoch chi eu defnyddio i ddewis y comisiynwyr hyn a'r dystiolaeth eu bod nhw'n gymwys ar gyfer y swyddi mewn gwirionedd?
Fe wnaethom ni ddarllen yr adolygiad annibynnol o Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru a sut roedd aelodau'r gwasanaeth yn gyfyngedig i un o ddau lwybr wrth iddyn nhw fod yn destun tynnu coes amhriodol a sylwadau ac ymddygiad difrïol neu sarhaus. Fe allai'r staff naill ai wneud cwyn ffurfiol a fyddai, yn eu geiriau nhw, yn cael ei thrin yn llawdrwm iawn, heb fawr ddim gweithredu hirdymor, neu ddweud dim a cheisio anwybyddu'r sylwadau a'r ymddygiadau hyn a fyddai'n digwydd yn gyson a cheisio byw gyda chanlyniadau hynny wedyn. Yn fy marn i, Dirprwy Weinidog, roedd yna fethiant llwyr o ran prosesau disgyblu a oedd, ac mae'n debyg eu bod nhw'n parhau i fod ar waith, ac rwy'n credu ei bod hi'n amlwg i bawb mai dyna un o sawl rheswm sylfaenol pam y datblygodd y diwylliant dinistriol sydd wedi cael llonydd i lygru Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Mae angen aildrefnu yn llwyr yr uwch dîm a fethodd â chydnabod a chymryd camau priodol mewn llawer o'r achosion a ddaeth i'r amlwg. Yn y pen draw, eu cyfrifoldeb nhw oedd sicrhau nad oedd y diwylliant hwn yn cael cyfle i ddatblygu ac rwy'n credu y byddai gadael iddyn nhw aros yn eu swyddi yn y pen draw yn rhoi esiampl wael iawn, o ystyried bod eu methiant nhw wedi dod i'r goleuni. Pa gamau yr ydych chi am eu cymryd nawr i fynd i'r afael â hyn?
Rwy'n dymuno mynd i'r afael hefyd, Dirprwy Weinidog, ag un o'r canfyddiadau yn yr adroddiad sydd, yn fy marn i, yn elfen bwysig o'r hyn sydd angen ei wneud nesaf. Roedd yr adroddiad yn dangos nad oes unrhyw hawl na gweithdrefn ar gyfer cymodi rhwng staff ar gyfer datrys materion wrth iddyn nhw godi gyntaf heb gymryd camau disgyblu. Fe ddylai'r staff fod yn gallu tynnu sylw at ymddygiad amhriodol a datrys y materion hynny heb berygl o niweidio perthnasoedd yn y gwaith, heb beryglu rhagolygon eu gyrfaoedd na theimlo y byddai unrhyw godi llais yn cael ei anwybyddu. Y gwir yw y bydd y gwasanaeth tân yn debygol o gael ei orfodi i ymgymryd â chyrsiau hyfforddiant ymddygiadol eang iawn a gaiff eu cynllunio ar gyfer newid y diwylliant annymunol. Ond oni bai eich bod chi, Dirprwy Weinidog, yn cymryd camau penodol i ailgynllunio'r gweithdrefnau disgyblu a chyflwyno dulliau newydd i liniaru ymddygiad annymunol ar gam cynnar, fe fyddwch chi'n peryglu unrhyw newid o gwbl yn y diwylliant annymunol iawn a nodir, oherwydd fe fydd yr unigolion hynny sy'n gyfrifol yn canfod dull o fynd o gwmpas pobl y maen nhw'n eu hystyried yn rhai tebygol o gael eu tramgwyddo.
Mae perygl mawr iawn yn hyn, heb unrhyw ddull ystyrlon gan Lywodraeth Cymru sy'n cymryd agweddau da a chadarnhaol y gwaith a wneir yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru i ystyriaeth—ac mae yna lawer ohonyn nhw—fe fyddwn ni'n gweld mwy o ddynion a menywod yn ymadael â'r gwasanaeth tân. Yn y pen draw, rwyf i o'r farn fod cyfle gan y Llywodraeth yn y fan hon i ailgynllunio'r broses ddisgyblu yn llwyr a fydd nid yn unig yn dal yr uwch reolwyr yn atebol os nad yw camau disgyblu yn newid yr ymddygiadau dinistriol, ond yn caniatáu i bob aelod o staff deimlo hefyd y gall ddatrys problemau heb deimlo pryder na phoendod oherwydd sgil-effeithiau posibl. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, Dirprwy Weinidog, pa gamau a gymerwch chi nawr i werthuso gweithdrefnau disgyblu o'r newydd? Roeddech chi'n sôn yn flaenorol nad oes unrhyw gamau gweithredu wedi eu diystyru yn llwyr, ac rwyf i o'r farn y gallai sefydliadau ar draws y sector cyhoeddus cyfan elwa ar adnewyddu gweithdrefnau disgyblu.
Yn olaf, fe hoffwn i fynd i'r afael â mater arall yr wyf wedi ei grybwyll o'r blaen a hwnnw yw adolygiad o achosion hŷn i sicrhau bod staff wedi cael eu trin gyda thegwch. O safbwynt personol, rwy'n credu y byddai honno'n ffordd weddaidd o helpu'r broses o wellhad a chaniatáu ystyriaeth wrthrychol o faint y dylanwad a gafodd y diwylliant erchyll hwn ar y gweithwyr. Fe wyddom ni fod llawer o'r staff sydd wedi gweithio i Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru wedi bod yn anhapus gyda'r ffordd y cafodd eu cwynion nhw eu trin. Mae sawl un wedi cysylltu gyda mi, fel gyda chwithau, gan dynnu sylw at eu hachosion unigol nhw. Maen nhw'n ddig iawn oherwydd y ffordd yr ymdriniwyd â'u cwynion, nid yn unig gan unigolion ond gan y sefydliad cyfan, a'r peth cyfiawn fyddai, yng ngoleuni'r adolygiad annibynnol, i'w hachosion gael eu hadolygu. Gyda hynny mewn golwg, Dirprwy Weinidog, beth yw'r amserlenni y gall pobl eu disgwyl o ran ailagor ac adolygu eu hachosion nhw? A ydych chi'n barod i gomisiynu corff annibynnol i ymgymryd â'r adolygiadau hyn? Ac, mewn achosion lle bu methiannau o du Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru, a ydych chi'n disgwyl i iawndal gael ei dalu? Diolch i chi.
Joel James, towards the end of your contribution there, you said that, in my previous statement in January, I said that nothing was off the table in terms of the action that Welsh Government may take, and, to be clear, today I'm taking decisive action to the fullest extent of the powers that I have to do so, and all the functions of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority are being conferred on the commissioners. Those commissioners have been chosen based on a range and balance of their experience, skills, background and independence. We have Vijith Randeniya, who is a very experienced and highly regarded former chief fire officer from the west midlands, but also we actually want to make sure there's a mixture of fire and rescue operational knowledge, but also an understanding of the key elements and requirements of intervention and the strong leadership that's going to be required to make that sustainable change to culture and service provision that the Member touched on in his contribution. This isn't about just individual instances of misconduct and unacceptable behaviour, it's about a culture, a system and a process that allowed them to go unchecked and unchallenged, and, actually, for the right and fair process to take place.
So, in terms of the remit for the commissioners, their terms of reference, they will be considering all of the recommendations of Fenella Morris KC's report and review on the culture and values. We expect the full and sustainable implementation of those recommendations no later than the deadlines stipulated in it. As you also said—. You touched on many things that I'd raised in the statement itself, particularly around those people who feel that their grievances or the things that they raised weren't treated in the way they should have been, or the outcome wasn't as it should have been previously, and the review, probably, and the past comments have really brought that home again and brought it back and forced people to relive really unacceptable experiences as well. That's why it is really important, as part of the work of the commissioners who take on the full role of the fire and rescue authority, that that process is established to identify those grievance cases that arise from the period covered by the report that may have been improperly and unfairly dealt with for reasons identified in the report, and to make sure that they are reopened and re-examined, leading to a fair and just outcome.
In terms of the time frame for this work, then, clearly, there is a time frame set out in Fenella Morris KC's review, which looks at an 18-month period. We will continually review that. The direction on the commissioners' posts takes effect from 5 p.m. today, and they will be in post straight away to start this really important work. I'm sure all Members in this Siambr will support us in that work. Also, as I said in my statement, I am committed to regularly updating this place on the progress of the commissioners' work, because, as we say, we are absolutely committed to ensuring meaningful change. I've said before in this Siambr to Sioned and others that I'm tired of talking about this sort of culture and behaviour, and that's why we're taking decisive action to rectify those wrongs.
Joel James, roeddech chi'n dweud tuag at ddiwedd eich cyfraniad nawr fy mod i wedi dweud, yn fy natganiad blaenorol ym mis Ionawr, nad oedd dim yn cael ei ddiystyru o ran y camau y gallai Llywodraeth Cymru eu cymryd, ac er eglurder, rwy'n cymryd camau pendant heddiw hyd eithaf y pwerau sydd gennyf i wneud felly, ac mae holl swyddogaethau Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru yn cael eu rhoddi i'r comisiynwyr. Mae'r comisiynwyr hynny wedi cael eu dewis ar sail ystod a chydbwysedd eu profiad, sgiliau, cefndir a'u hannibyniaeth. Mae Vijith Randeniya gennym ni, sy'n gyn-brif swyddog tân profiadol iawn ac uchel ei barch o orllewin canolbarth Lloegr, ond rydym ni'n awyddus hefyd i sicrhau bod cymysgedd o wybodaeth am waith tân ac achub, ond dealltwriaeth hefyd o elfennau allweddol a gofynion o ran ymyrraeth ac arweinyddiaeth gadarn y bydd eu hangen i gyflawni'r newid cynaliadwy hwnnw i'r diwylliant a'r ddarpariaeth o wasanaethau yr oedd yr Aelod yn eu crybwyll yn ei gyfraniad. Nid yw hyn yn ymwneud ag achosion unigol o gamymddwyn ac ymddygiad annerbyniol yn unig, mae'n ymwneud â'r diwylliant, y gyfundrefn a'r prosesau a oedd yn caniatáu i'r pethau hyn barhau heb eu herio, ac, mewn gwirionedd, i fod â phrosesau cyfiawn a theg ar waith.
Felly, o ran cylch gwaith y comisiynwyr, eu cylch gorchwyl nhw, fe fyddan nhw'n rhoi ystyriaeth i bob un o argymhellion adroddiad ac adolygiad Fenella Morris CB ynglŷn â'r diwylliant a'r gwerthoedd. Rydym yn disgwyl i'r argymhellion hynny gael eu gweithredu yn eu llawnder ac mewn modd cynaliadwy a hynny heb fod ddim hwyrach na'r dyddiadau cau a nodir ynddo. Fel roeddech chi'n dweud hefyd—. Fe wnaethoch chi grybwyll llawer o bethau y gwnes i eu codi yn y datganiad ei hun, yn enwedig o ran y bobl hynny sy'n teimlo na chafodd eu cwynion na'r materion a godwyd ganddyn nhw eu trin yn y ffordd ddyledus, neu nad oedd y canlyniad yn foddhaol, ac mae'r adolygiad, mae'n debyg, a'r sylwadau yn y gorffennol wedi amlygu'r neges ac wedi gorfodi pobl i ddwyn profiadau annymunol iawn i gof unwaith eto hefyd. Dyna pam mae hi'n bwysig iawn, yn rhan o waith y comisiynwyr sy'n ymgymryd â swyddogaethau llawn yr awdurdod tân ac achub, fod y broses honno'n cael ei sefydlu i nodi'r achosion hynny o gwynion a gododd yn y cyfnod a gwmpesir gan yr adroddiad a allai fod wedi cael ymdriniaeth amhriodol ac annheg am resymau a nodir yn yr adroddiad, a sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu hailagor a'u hymchwilio o'r newydd, gan arwain at ganlyniad teg a chyfiawn.
O ran yr amserlen ar gyfer y gwaith hwn, yn amlwg, nodir amserlen yn adolygiad Fenella Morris CB, sy'n ystyried cyfnod o 18 mis. Fe fyddwn ni'n adolygu hynny'n barhaus. Mae'r cyfarwyddyd ynglŷn â swyddi'r comisiynwyr yn dod i rym o 5 p.m. heddiw, ac fe fyddan nhw yn eu swyddi yn syth er mwyn dechrau ar y gwaith pwysig hwn. Rwy'n siŵr y bydd pob Aelod yn y Siambr hon yn ein cefnogi yn y gwaith hwn. Hefyd, fel dywedais yn fy natganiad, rwyf i wedi ymrwymo i ddiweddaru'r Siambr hon yn rheolaidd ar gynnydd yng ngwaith y comisiynwyr, oherwydd, fel dywedwn ni, rydym ni wedi llwyr ymrwymo i gyflawni newid ystyrlon. Fe ddywedais i o'r blaen yn y Siambr hon wrth Sioned ac wrth eraill fy mod i wedi hen flino ar siarad am ddiwylliant ac ymddygiad fel hyn, a dyna pam rydym ni'n cymryd camau pendant i unioni'r camweddau hynny.
Diolch am y diweddariad, Ddirprwy Weinidog, ac am weithredu mewn modd mor gadarn yn sgil y sefyllfa gwbl annerbyniol sydd wedi cael ei chaniatáu i godi o fewn Gwasanaeth Tan ac Achub De Cymru o ran y diwylliant ac, fel rŷn ni wedi'i glywed, o ran y gwasanaeth hefyd. Mae yna yn sicr gwestiynau mawr i'w gofyn a'u datrys o ran atebolrwydd, craffu a natur effeithiolrwydd y llywodraethiant ac rwy'n croesawu'n fawr y camau ŷch chi wedi eu gosod mas y prynhawn yma.
Roedd yr angen i weithredu i sicrhau llywodraethiant well a mwy effeithiol drwy wahanu rôl weithredol a rôl craffu’r awdurdodau yn rhywbeth sydd wedi dod i'r amlwg ers degawdau bellach, a'r cynnydd, rhaid dweud, wedi bod yn annigonol ac yn araf. Fe ddywedodd y Llywodraeth yr union beth hynny wrth gyflwyno'r adroddiad cynnydd diwethaf i'r fframwaith cenedlaethol union bedair mlynedd yn ôl ym mis Ionawr 2020. Er bod Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru yn dilyn y patrwm hwn o weithio ers tro, doedd y ddau awdurdod arall ddim yn gwneud hynny. Roeddech chi yn Ddirprwy Weinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol ar y pryd ac fe ddywedoch chi wrth y Senedd eich bod chi'n
'fodlon bod yr Awdurdodau Tân ac Achub yn gwneud cymaint â phosibl i werthfawrogi a datblygu'r gweithlu'
er fe wnaethoch chi gydnabod bod yna heriau mwy i'w datrys. Fe ddywedoch chi hefyd nad oedd y trefniadau statudol a oedd yn berthnasol i’r awdurdodau tân ac achub yn creu’r math o sicrwydd yr hoffech chi ei weld i wella effeithlonrwydd ac atebolrwydd yr awdurdodau a hefyd y byddech chi'n ymweld â’r awdurdodau i ystyried diwygiadau eraill. Fodd bynnag, penderfynwyd, er bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i ymrwymo i fesurau diwygio mewn egwyddor, na fyddai'r ddau gynnig yr oedd gan yr awdurdodau'r amheuon mwyaf yn eu cylch yn mynd ymhellach. Ac roedd hyn yn golygu wedyn na dynnwyd aelodau awdurdodau tân ac achub o gabinet cynghorau, ac ni ofynnwyd ar i awdurdodau gytuno ar eu cyllidebau gydag awdurdodau lleol.
Ydych chi, felly, yn meddwl bod diffyg cynnydd yn y maes hwn dros y blynyddoedd wedi arwain yn rhannol at ddiffyg gweithredu o ran y sefyllfa annerbyniol a welwyd yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru? Ydych chi'n fodlon gyda sut yr ymatebodd Llywodraeth Cymru i’r pryderon a nodwyd yn ei hymgynghoriad ei hun yn 2018 ynghylch diwygio’r awdurdodau tân ac achub a’r adroddiad cynnydd wedyn?
Ac yn olaf, ydych chi'n cytuno y byddai adolygiad annibynnol o'r holl wasanaethau tân ac achub yng Nghymru yn fodd o sicrhau na fydd modd i'r fath ymddygiad a diwylliant annerbyniol godi heb eu taclo eto? Byddai hyn hefyd yn gwirio nad yw'r diffygion hyn a amlygwyd gan yr adolygiad annibynnol i Wasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru ar led drwy'r gwasanaethau eraill yng Nghymru. Diolch.
Thank you for the update, Deputy Minister, and for taking action in such a robust way in the wake of the entirely unacceptable situation that has been allowed to develop within the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in terms of the culture and, as we've heard, in terms of the service as well. There are certainly major questions to be asked and resolved in terms of accountability, scrutiny and the nature and the effectiveness of governance, and I greatly welcome the actions that you've set out this afternoon.
The need to act to ensure better and more effective governance by separating the executive role from the scrutiny role of the authorities is something that has been apparent for decades now, and progress, it must be said, has been inadequate and slow. The Government said that exact thing when presenting the last progress report on the national framework exactly four years ago, in January 2020. Although the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority had been adhering to this pattern of working for some time, the other two authorities were not doing so. You were the Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government at that time, and you told the Senedd that you were
'satisfied that FRAs are doing as much as they can to value and develop the workforce'
although you did recognise that there were bigger challenges to be solved. You also said that the statutory arrangements that applied to the fire and rescue authorities did not create the kind of assurance that you'd like to see to improve the efficiency and accountability of the authorities, and also that you would visit the authorities to consider other reforms. However, it was decided that, although the Welsh Government would continue to commit to reform measures in principle, the two proposals that the authorities harboured the most doubts about would not go any further. And that meant, then, that members of the fire and rescue authorities were not removed from council cabinets and authorities were not asked to agree their budgets with local authorities.
Do you, therefore, believe that the lack of progress in this area over the years has led in part to a lack of action regarding the unacceptable situation seen in the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service? Are you content with how the Welsh Government responded to the concerns identified in its own consultation in 2018 regarding the reform of the fire and rescue authorities and its progress report then?
And finally, do you agree that an independent review of all of the fire and rescue services in Wales would be a way of ensuring that it would be impossible for such unacceptable behaviour and culture to arise again without being tackled? This would then ensure that these deficiencies revealed by the independent review of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service would be widespread throughout the other services in Wales. Thank you very much.
Diolch, Sioned, for your contribution and the work that you are doing in this area as well. I think, to touch on the challenges and issues of governance and accountability, which I think this review and the consequence of the actions that have been taken have really shone a light on, clearly, those structures aren't and haven't been fit for purpose in south Wales. And like you said, we have had wider concerns about the lack of accountability and governance in fire and rescue authorities, and you touched on, when we last proposed reform in 2018, it was strongly opposed—not just by fire and rescue authorities, but also local authorities themselves as well. However, those issues have re-emerged now, certainly, in the most distressing of circumstances, and I'm clear that we will actively consider options for reform, especially if there is evidence that comes forward that shows challenges elsewhere.
In terms of the other two fire and rescue authorities, I think, when I last gave a statement here to the Senedd Siambr, I made it clear that we would expect, even though the review applied to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, for the other two fire and rescue authorities to not just take account of the review, but to take action themselves accordingly. So, we know there are very specific and serious problems of mismanagement and misconduct in south Wales, and that's why we're intervening, but I have, since the statement in January, written to both the chairs of North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority to seek an urgent and detailed assurance on the six themes that arise from the review. The challenge now is to look at those, to reflect on the responses as we receive them, and to decide what further action may be needed as a consequence.
Diolch, Sioned, am eich cyfraniad a'r gwaith yr ydych chi'n ei wneud yn y maes hwn hefyd. Rwy'n credu, i gyffwrdd â'r heriau a'r materion o ran llywodraethu ac atebolrwydd, rwy'n credu bod yr adolygiad hwn a chanlyniad y camau gweithredu a gymerwyd wedi taflu goleuni arnyn nhw, ac yn amlwg, ni fu ac nid yw'r strwythurau hynny wedi bod yn addas i'r diben yn y de. Ac fel roeddech chi'n dweud, rydym ni wedi bod â phryderon yn fwy eang ynglŷn â'r diffygion o ran atebolrwydd a llywodraethu yn yr awdurdodau tân ac achub, ac fel gwnaethoch chi grybwyll, pan wnaethom ni gynnig diwygiadau'r tro diwethaf yn 2018, fe welodd hynny wrthwynebiad mawr iawn—nid yn unig oddi wrth yr awdurdodau tân ac achub, ond oddi wrth yr awdurdodau lleol eu hunain hefyd. Er hynny, mae'r materion hyn wedi dod i'r amlwg nawr, yn sicr, yn yr amgylchiadau mwyaf gofidus, ac rwy'n glir y byddwn ni'n mynd ati i ystyried dewisiadau ar gyfer diwygio, yn enwedig pe bai tystiolaeth yn dod i'r amlwg a fyddai'n tynnu sylw at heriau mewn meysydd eraill.
O ran y ddau awdurdod tân ac achub arall, rwy'n credu, pan roddais i ddatganiad ddiwethaf yn Siambr y Senedd, fe'i gwnes hi'n eglur y byddem ni'n disgwyl, er bod yr adolygiad yn berthnasol i Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru, nid yn unig i'r ddau awdurdod tân ac achub arall roi ystyriaeth i'r adolygiad, ond gweithredu eu hunain yn unol â hwnnw. Felly, fe wyddom ni fod problemau penodol a difrifol iawn o gamreoli a chamymddwyn wedi bod yn y de, a dyna pam rydym ni'n ymyrryd, ond rwyf i wedi ysgrifennu, ers y datganiad hwnnw ym mis Ionawr, at gadeiryddion Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Gogledd Cymru ac Awdurdod Tân ac Achub Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru i ofyn am sicrwydd manwl ar fyrder ynglŷn â'r chwe thema sy'n codi o'r adolygiad. Yr her nawr yw edrych ar y rhain, a myfyrio ar yr ymatebion wrth i ni eu cael nhw, a phenderfynu pa gamau pellach y gellid bod eu hangen o ganlyniad i hynny.
Well, I applaud you, Deputy Minister, for biting the bullet on this one, because we have known about this problem since 2014, when the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery reported and said that the fire and rescue authorities do not and cannot supervise the services they are responsible for, partly because they are themselves not able to scrutinise the operational aspects. But they clearly haven't been, unfortunately, in this case, doing the job of supervising the management and accountability of the senior management of this service. I think it begs a lot of questions around the governance of fire and rescue authorities in the future, because what does it tell us about the fundamentals of this? I note that one of the recommendations of the 2014 report was to combine ambulance services with fire and rescue authorities, given that their roles often complement each other in the work they do, and I just wondered what the Government plans to do about the future governance of fire and rescue in light of the absolute failure of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Wel, rwy'n eich cymeradwyo chi, Dirprwy Weinidog, am fynd i'r afael yn wirioneddol â'r materion ynglŷn â hyn, oherwydd yr oeddem yn gwybod am fodolaeth y broblem hon ers 2014, pan adroddodd y Comisiwn ar Lywodraethu a Darparu Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus nad yw awdurdodau tân ac achub yn ac na allant oruchwylio’r gwasanaethau y maen nhw'n gyfrifol amdanyn nhw a hynny'n rhannol am nad ydyn nhw eu hunain yn gallu craffu ar yr agweddau gweithredol. Ond mae'n amlwg nad ydyn nhw, yn anffodus, yn yr achos hwn, wedi bod yn gwneud y gwaith o oruchwylio rheolaeth ac atebolrwydd uwch reolwyr yn y gwasanaeth hwn. Rwy'n credu bod hyn yn holi llawer o gwestiynau ynghylch llywodraethu awdurdodau tân ac achub yn y dyfodol, oherwydd beth mae hyn yn ei ddweud wrthym ni am hanfodion hyn i gyd? Rwy'n nodi mai un o argymhellion adroddiad 2014 oedd cyfuno gwasanaethau ambiwlans ag awdurdodau tân ac achub, o gofio bod eu swyddogaethau nhw'n aml yn ategu ei gilydd yn y gwaith y maen nhw'n ei wneud, ac roeddwn i'n meddwl tybed beth mae'r Llywodraeth yn bwriadu ei wneud ynghylch llywodraethu tân ac achub yn y dyfodol yn sgil methiant llwyr Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru.
Thank you, Jenny Rathbone, for the points that you highlighted there, and I think it links to the previous point by Sioned Williams in terms of where we are in terms of what the lessons may be for the future governance more broadly of fire and rescue authorities. So, I won't repeat the points I made there, other than to point to the fact that, also, you'll be aware that there is Audit Wales work on the governance of fire and rescue authorities ongoing at the moment, which might lend itself to a wider conversation about where we go from here. I think it's important to point out too that amongst the terms of reference for the work of the commissioners of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority is to develop proposals for the future governance of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority that are most likely to minimise the risk of any further such failings. We've intervened here, now, and it's an unprecedented intervention in a fire and rescue authority, because we know not just about misconduct, but broader mismanagement, and like I said, there are broader lessons to be learnt as we move forward.
Diolch i chi, Jenny Rathbone, am y pwyntiau yr oeddech chi'n tynnu sylw atyn nhw nawr, ac rwy'n credu bod hyn yn cysylltu â'r pwynt blaenorol gan Sioned Williams am ein sefyllfa bresennol gyda sylwedd posibl y gwersi i ni o ran llywodraethu awdurdodau tân ac achub yn fwy eang yn y dyfodol. Felly, nid wyf i am ailadrodd y pwyntiau a wnes i gynnau unwaith eto, ac eithrio er mwyn tynnu sylw at y ffaith eich bod chi'n ymwybodol hefyd fod gwaith Archwilio Cymru ar lywodraethu awdurdodau tân ac achub yn parhau ar hyn o bryd, ac fe allai hwnnw ei gynnig ei hun ar gyfer meithrin sgwrs yn fwy eang ynglŷn â'n cyfeiriad i'r dyfodol. Rwyf i o'r farn ei bod hi'n bwysig nodi hefyd y bydd datblygu cynigion ar gyfer llywodraethu Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru yn y dyfodol fydd â’r tebygolrwydd mwyaf o leihau'r risg yn sgil methiannau eraill o'r fath ymhlith cylch gorchwyl gwaith comisiynwyr Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Rydym ni wedi ymyrryd yma, nawr, ac mae honno'n ymyrraeth ddigynsail mewn unrhyw awdurdod tân ac achub, oherwydd fe wyddom ni nid yn unig am gamymddwyn, ond am gamreoli ehangach, ac fel dywedais i, fe geir gwersi i'w dysgu yn fwy eang wrth i ni symud ymlaen.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement here today. I note the decisive action that Welsh Government is taking to ensure confidence in south Wales fire and rescue and that transformation takes place, so that unacceptable workplace practices are eliminated. I have two questions for you today. Firstly, south Wales fire and rescue is currently recruiting for a chief executive officer or chief fire officer. With your commissioners, what involvement do you expect to have in this process to ensure a leader is appointed who can tackle these cultural issues?
Secondly, your statement says that commissioners will remain until the work is finished. What sort of timescale do you imagine that they will be in place for, and how will you monitor and assess their work to ensure that they are delivering the change the service needs? What are the short, medium and long-term markers that you will put in place to assess if culture has changed?
Diolch i chi, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad yn y fan hon heddiw. Rwy'n nodi'r camau pendant y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau bod hyder yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru a bod trawsnewidiad yn digwydd, fel y bydd arferion annerbyniol yn cael eu taro allan yn y gweithle. Dau gwestiwn sydd gennyf i chi heddiw. Yn gyntaf, mae gwasanaeth tân ac achub de Cymru yn recriwtio prif swyddog gweithredol neu brif swyddog tân ar hyn o bryd. Ar y cyd â'ch comisiynwyr chi, pa ran yr ydych chi'n disgwyl ei chael yn y broses hon i sicrhau y bydd arweinydd yn cael ei benodi a all fynd i'r afael â'r materion diwylliannol hyn?
Yn ail, mae eich datganiad yn datgan y bydd comisiynwyr yn aros hyd nes y bydd y gwaith wedi ei orffen. Beth fydd yr amserlen ar gyfer cyfnod eu gwaith nhw, a sut ydych chi am fonitro ac asesu eu gwaith nhw i sicrhau eu bod nhw'n cyflawni'r newid sy'n angenrheidiol i'r gwasanaeth? Beth yw'r nodau byrdymor, tymor canolig a hirdymor yr ydych yn eu gosod i asesu i ba raddau y bydd y diwylliant wedi newid?
I thank Vikki Howells for those important questions. I'll touch on one firstly, in terms of the time frame. We've said that the commissioners will be in place until we can see and measure that sustainable change, and the review and the report itself sets out a time frame for that, which covers an 18-month period, but also targets to be met for change during that period as well. So, we anticipate, perhaps over time, that the commissioners' work will change, depending on progress, but that is something, like you say, that will need to be monitored and evaluated very closely.
Just to touch on the point around the recruitment of the next chief fire officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, the commissioners appointed have a full remit in terms of recruiting and restructuring when it comes to senior management at South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. That was one of the things we set out in the remit and the terms of reference, in terms of establishing and overseeing a senior management team and related processes that are untainted by the failings identified in the report, and as a first step to appoint a chief fire officer and, as necessary, other senior staff who appear most likely to contribute fully and effectively to the FRA's recovery.
Rwy'n diolch i Vikki Howells am y cwestiynau pwysig yna. Rwyf i am grybwyll un yn gyntaf, sef o ran yr amserlen. Rydym ni wedi dweud y bydd y comisiynwyr yn parhau wrth eu gwaith tan y byddwn ni'n gallu gweld a mesur y newid hwnnw sy'n gynaliadwy, ac mae'r adolygiad a'r adroddiad ei hun yn nodi amserlen ar gyfer hynny, sy'n cwmpasu cyfnod o 18 mis, ond gyda nodau i'w cyrraedd hefyd ar gyfer newid yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw hefyd. Felly, rydym ni'n rhagweld, dros amser efallai, y bydd gwaith y comisiynwyr yn newid, yn ddibynnol ar gynnydd, ond mae hwnnw'n rhywbeth, fel dywedwch chi, y bydd angen ei fonitro a'i werthuso yn ofalus iawn.
Ar gyfer ymdrin â'r pwynt o ran recriwtio prif swyddog tân nesaf Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru, mae gan y comisiynwyr a benodir gylch gwaith llawn o ran recriwtio ac ailstrwythuro swyddi'r uwch reolwyr yn Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Dyna un o'r pethau a nodwyd gennym ni yn y cylch gwaith a chylch gorchwyl, o ran sefydlu a goruchwylio uwch dîm rheoli a phrosesau cysylltiedig heb eu difwyno gan y methiannau a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad, ac yn gam cyntaf, penodi prif swyddog tân ac, yn ôl yr angen, uwch staff eraill sy'n ymddangos yn fwyaf tebygol o gyfrannu yn llawn ac yn effeithiol at adfer yr awdurdod tân ac achub.
It's quite depressing, really, isn't it? I can imagine the morale must be really low amongst the workforce, especially for the hundreds of employees who didn't engage in any of this appalling behaviour that's been cited. I'm interested to know how you will ensure that those who actively engage in misogyny, racism and homophobia will be dealt with, and whether some reports to that end will be coming forward.
But there's a much wider question here, and that's about the structural change, in my opinion, that's needed across public services boards in Wales—not just the fire and rescue, but the police and others as well. So, whilst we're focusing on one authority—in this case, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority—I think that we need to do a much bigger scoping exercise and look at the make-up of those in charge of holding people to account, and how they're chosen, and how they're accountable, because I think there's another issue about their accountability. Where does their accountability go? To whom is it that they're accountable? I think, if this has shown anything whatsoever, it's that we have to seriously address the composition of those boards and how they're chosen and where they answer to.
Mae hyn yn ddigalon iawn, onid ydy? Fe allaf i ddychmygu bod morâl ymhlith y gweithlu yn isel, yn enwedig i'r cannoedd o weithwyr nad oedd unrhyw ran ganddyn nhw yn unrhyw un o'r achosion hyn o ymddygiad ofnadwy y soniwyd amdano. Fe fyddai hi'n dda iawn gennyf i wybod sut ydych chi am sicrhau yr ymdrinnir â'r rhai a fu'n gyfrifol am ymddygiadau o ran casineb at fenywod, hiliaeth a homoffobia, ac a fydd rhai adroddiadau i'r perwyl hwnnw'n cael eu cyflwyno.
Ond fe geir cwestiwn llawer mwy eang yn hyn o beth, ac mae hwnnw'n ymwneud â'r newid strwythurol, yn fy marn i, sy'n angenrheidiol ar draws byrddau'r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus yng Nghymru—nid y rhai tân ac achub yn unig, ond yr heddlu a rhai eraill hefyd. Felly, er ein bod ni'n canolbwyntio ar un awdurdod—yn yr achos hwn, Awdurdod Tân ac Achub De Cymru—rwy'n credu bod angen ymarfer cwmpasu llawer mwy arnom ni er mwyn edrych ar gyfansoddiad y rhai sy'n gyfrifol am ddal pobl i gyfrif, sut y cânt eu dewis, ac ym mha ffordd y byddan nhw'n atebol, oherwydd rwyf i o'r farn fod mater arall ynghylch eu hatebolrwydd nhw. I ba le y bydd eu hatebolrwydd nhw'n mynd? I bwy y maen nhw'n atebol? Rwy'n credu, os yw hyn wedi amlygu unrhyw beth o gwbl, mae'n rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael o ddifrif â chyfansoddiad y byrddau hynny a sut y maen nhw'n cael eu dewis ac i bwy y byddan nhw eu hunain yn atebol.
Thank you, Joyce Watson. You touch on—. I think you reflected, as others have reflected in the Siambr not just today, but in January and prior to that, that what we've seen as—. There have been a number of instances over the past couple of years alone where we've heard about unacceptable behaviours in a number of workplaces, and I think there is a responsibility and I hope, by acting today so decisively, that it's the first step to rectify that within South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. But I think there's a responsibility on all of us in public life, in every workplace, including this workplace as well, to make sure that we have the right procedures in place and that our own staff are supported in terms of feeling that they can raise concerns in a way that is—that the process is there to support them as well. But on the broader points you raise around leadership, things around leadership, culture, accountability, the processes that are in place, the diversity of people in those leadership roles and within a workplace are really, really important, because this isn't just about tackling individual instances of what we would term 'unacceptable behaviour'.
I think one of the things I would like to say is we often hear the term 'woke' bandied about, and this isn't about somebody not being able to take a joke in the workplace, it's actually about being decent human beings and treating each other with dignity and respect. I used to say, back in a previous life when I worked in the trade union movement, I remember writing something, that you spend so much of your lifetime in your workplace. Unless you're either born to riches or win the lottery, you are going to spend a high proportion of your life at work and you should have an expectation that you are supported and safe within your workplace. So, you're right to highlight the need to actually look right across workplaces, and particularly across the public sector, where we have those levers in Wales to do that, and that work has started within Welsh Government.
But just to finish, really, on—. I'm very conscious that in hearing this announcement today the workforce in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service may feel anxiety and uncertainty and want to know what happens next. So, I am, of course, engaging and issuing letters to all the trade unions that represent and work with, and staff representation bodies who are active in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and we will meet collectively at the next meeting of the fire and rescue service social partnership forum, and I'm more than happy to engage and meet with them individually in the meantime. There's also some communication going out directly from me to the workforce of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, just setting out what's happening, while really seeking to reassure them that we are there to support them, and act to support them through this period of change.
Diolch yn fawr, Joyce Watson. Rydych chi'n cyffwrdd ar—. Rwy'n credu mai myfyrio yr oeddech chi, fel gwnaeth eraill yn y Siambr nid yn unig heddiw, ond ym mis Ionawr a chyn hynny, fod yr hyn a welsom ni—. Mae nifer o achosion wedi bod dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf yn unig pryd clywsom ni am ymddygiadau annerbyniol mewn nifer o weithleoedd, ac rwy'n credu bod cyfrifoldeb yma ac rwy'n gobeithio, trwy weithredu mor bendant heddiw, mai dyma'r cam cyntaf i gywiro hynny yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru. Ond rwy'n meddwl bod cyfrifoldeb arnom ni i gyd mewn bywyd cyhoeddus, ym mhob gweithle, gan gynnwys y gweithle hwn hefyd, i wneud yn siŵr bod y gweithdrefnau cywir gennym ni ar waith a bod ein staff ein hunain yn cael cefnogaeth o ran bod ag ymdeimlad y gallan nhw godi pryderon mewn ffordd sydd—bod y broses honno yn eu cefnogi nhw hefyd. Ond o ran y pwyntiau y gwnaethoch chi eu codi yn fwy eang ynghylch arweinyddiaeth, materion sy'n ymwneud ag arweinyddiaeth, diwylliant, atebolrwydd, y prosesau sydd ar waith, amrywiaeth y bobl yn y swyddi arweiniol hynny ac mewn gweithle, mae'r rhain yn wirioneddol bwysig, oherwydd nid yw hyn yn ymwneud â mynd i'r afael ag achosion unigol o'r hyn y byddem ni'n ei alw yn 'ymddygiad annerbyniol' yn unig.
Rwy'n credu mai un o'r pethau yr hoffwn ei ddweud yw ein bod ni'n clywed y term 'woke' yn cael ei ddefnyddio, ac nid yw hwn yn ymwneud â rhywun yn methu â derbyn jôc yn y gweithle, mae'n ymwneud mewn gwirionedd â bod yn bobl dda sy'n trin ein gilydd gydag urddas a pharch. Roeddwn i'n arfer dweud, yn ôl mewn bywyd blaenorol pan oeddwn i'n gweithio yn y mudiad undebau llafur, rwy'n cofio ysgrifennu rhywbeth, eich bod chi'n treulio cyfran sylweddol iawn o'ch oes yn eich gweithle. Oni bai i chi naill ai gael eich geni i olud neu ennill y loteri, fe fyddwch chi'n treulio cyfran uchel o'ch bywyd yn y gwaith ac fe ddylech fod â disgwyliad y byddwch chi'n cael eich cefnogi a'ch bod chi'n ddiogel yn eich gweithle. Felly, rydych chi'n iawn i dynnu sylw at yr angen i edrych ar draws gweithleoedd, ac yn enwedig ar draws y sector cyhoeddus, lle mae'r ysgogiadau hyn gennym ni yng Nghymru i wneud felly, ac mae'r gwaith hwnnw wedi dechrau yn Llywodraeth Cymru.
Ond dim ond i orffen, mewn gwirionedd, ynglŷn â—. Rwy'n ymwybodol iawn, wrth glywed y cyhoeddiad hwn heddiw, y gallai'r gweithlu yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru deimlo gofid ac ansicrwydd a bod yn awyddus i wybod beth sy'n digwydd nesaf. Felly, wrth gwrs, rwy'n ymgysylltu ac yn anfon llythyrau at yr undebau llafur i gyd sy'n cynrychioli ac yn gweithio gyda staff, a'r cyrff cynrychioli staff sy'n weithredol yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru, ac fe fyddwn ni'n cyfarfod gyda'n gilydd yng nghyfarfod nesaf fforwm partneriaeth gymdeithasol y gwasanaeth tân ac achub, ac rwy'n fwy na pharod i ymgysylltu a chwrdd â nhw'n unigol yn y cyfamser. Mae yna rywfaint o ohebiaeth yn cael ei hanfon yn uniongyrchol oddi wrthyf i weithlu Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru hefyd, dim ond ar gyfer nodi'r hyn sy'n digwydd, gan geisio eu sicrhau nhw ein bod ar gael i'w cefnogi nhw, mewn gwirionedd, ac fe fyddwn ni'n gweithredu i'w cefnogi drwy'r cyfnod hwn o newid.
Ac yn olaf, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Finally, Andrew R.T. Davies.
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Minister, thank you for your statement this afternoon. I've heard the word 'decisive' used several times by you today. The powers to regulate and control the fire service in Wales have resided with the Welsh Government for many years, and the Member for Cardiff Central highlighted a report in 2014. The action that the Welsh Government has taken is appropriate and is needed, and the staff members who have been on the receiving end of some of the actions that have been highlighted in the report should receive all the support that they require to, obviously, have the confidence either to stay in the service or have their concerns addressed.
But I've seen the fire service work at the high end of their game. At the recent fire in Bridgend, for example, on the industrial estate, there was that dedicated fire service working to the highest level of professionalism. I visited a fire station in Barry, and saw the dedicated crew in Barry and the commitment that they make to public service. But, what has the Welsh Government learnt from this exercise? I hear what you say about putting commissioners in, but given that you've had the authority to intervene at any juncture where you saw fit and where this evidence was brought to your attention, what measures will the Welsh Government be looking at, the measures it could have taken previously, to step in and get this done as early as possible, so that staff don't feel alienated and marginalised, and we don't see this repeating itself in other public services?
Diolch i chi, Dirprwy Lywydd. Gweinidog, diolch i chi am eich datganiad brynhawn heddiw. Fe glywais i'r gair 'pendant' yn cael ei ddefnyddio gennych chi sawl gwaith heddiw. Mae'r pwerau i reoleiddio a rheoli'r gwasanaeth tân yng Nghymru wedi bod ym meddiant Llywodraeth Cymru ers blynyddoedd lawer, ac fe dynnodd yr Aelod dros Ganol Caerdydd sylw at adroddiad o 2014. Mae'r camau a gymerodd Llywodraeth Cymru yn briodol ac yn angenrheidiol, ac fe ddylai'r aelodau staff sydd wedi dioddef oherwydd rhai o'r ymddygiadau yr oedd yr adroddiad yn tynnu sylw atyn nhw allu cael y gefnogaeth angenrheidiol i gyd er mwyn bod â hyder naill ai i aros yn y gwasanaeth neu i gael y sicrwydd yr ymdrinnir â'u pryderon.
Ond rwyf i wedi gweld y gwasanaeth tân yn gweithio ar ei orau. Pan gafwyd tân yn ddiweddar ym Mhen-y-bont ar Ogwr, er enghraifft, ar yr ystad ddiwydiannol, roedd y gwasanaeth tân pwrpasol hwnnw yn gweithio hyd at y safon uchaf o broffesiynoldeb. Fe ymwelais i â gorsaf dân yn y Barri, ac fe welais i'r criw ymroddedig yno a'r ymrwymiad sydd ganddyn nhw i ddarparu gwasanaeth i'r cyhoedd. Ond, beth a ddysgodd Llywodraeth Cymru o'r ymarfer hwn? Rwy'n deall yr hyn yr ydych chi'n ei ddweud am anfon comisiynwyr i mewn, ond o gofio eich bod wedi bod â'r awdurdod i ymyrryd ar unrhyw adeg yr oeddech chi'n gweld yn dda i wneud hynny a phan ddygwyd y dystiolaeth hon i'ch sylw, pa fesurau y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu hystyried, y mesurau y gallai fod wedi eu defnyddio ynghynt, i gamu i mewn a chyflawni hynny cyn gynted â phosibl, fel nad yw'r staff yn teimlo eu bod wedi ymddieithrio a'u gwthio i'r cyrion, ac na welwn ni hyn yn cael ei ailadrodd eto mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus eraill?
So, normally, obviously, we would expect fire service management to manage their staff fairly and well, as it should be, and we would expect fire authority members to show leadership and hold management to account, and where that doesn't happen there is a case for Government to intervene, which we have seen in this case, because there are serious and specific failings in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
You point to the number of powers of support, which I outlined in my previous statement, of support, direction, intervention. So, we're making this intervention under section 29 of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009, and this is only available when the authority has failed to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in the exercise of its functions. And we've got to this point now because we believe those failings consist of, firstly—as we've talked about today, and the focus of the review—a failure to secure the fair and proper management of staff, including a failure to deal effectively with bullying, harassment and discrimination, and also, a failure to respond to clear and obvious opportunities to improve service standards. We have taken decisive action today and, of course, we will reflect on that action and we'll reflect on the lessons learned as we move forward, and how we can learn not just across the fire and rescue services, but right across the public sector in Wales. Because, as I said, Andrew R.T. Davies, I am tired of talking about this misbehaviour and misconduct in all walks of life, in all public services, and we're taking action today, and we will continue to take action as we move forward.
Felly, fel arfer, yn amlwg, fe fyddem ni'n disgwyl i reolwyr y gwasanaeth tân reoli eu staff mewn ffordd deg a chyfiawn, ac felly y dylai hi fod, ac fe fyddem ni'n disgwyl i aelodau'r awdurdod tân ddangos arweiniad a dal rheolwyr i gyfrif, a phan nad yw hynny'n digwydd, mae yna achos dros ymyrraeth gan Lywodraeth, fel gwelsom ni'r tro hwn, oherwydd methiannau difrifol a phenodol yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru.
Rydych chi'n tynnu sylw at nifer y pwerau o ran cymorth, a amlinellais i yn fy natganiad blaenorol, sef o ran cefnogaeth, cyfarwyddyd, ac ymyrraeth. Felly, rydym ni'n gweithredu'r ymyrraeth hon yn unol ag adran 29 o Fesur Llywodraeth Leol (Cymru) 2009, ac mae hwn ar gael i ni dim ond pan fo'r awdurdod wedi methu â gwneud trefniadau i sicrhau gwelliant parhaus o ran ymarfer ei swyddogaethau. Ac rydym wedi cyrraedd y pwynt hwn nawr oherwydd yr ydym ni'n credu bod y methiannau hyn yn cynnwys, yn gyntaf—fel y gwnaethom siarad amdano heddiw, a chanolbwynt yr adolygiad—y methiant i sicrhau rheolaeth deg a phriodol ar staff, gan gynnwys methiant i ymdrin yn effeithiol â bwlio, aflonyddu a gwahaniaethu, a hefyd, y methiant i ymateb i gyfleoedd pendant ac amlwg i wella safonau'r gwasanaethau. Rydym ni wedi cymryd camau pendant heddiw ac, wrth gwrs, fe fyddwn ni'n myfyrio ar y camau hynny ac fe fyddwn ni'n myfyrio ar y gwersi a ddysgwyd wrth i ni symud ymlaen, a sut y gallwn ni ddysgu nid yn unig yn y gwasanaethau tân ac achub, ond ledled y sector cyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Oherwydd, fel dywedais i, Andrew R.T. Davies, rwyf i wedi hen alaru ar siarad am gamymddygiadau a chamymddwyn fel hyn ym mhob agwedd ar fywyd, ym mhob gwasanaeth cyhoeddus, ac rydym ni'n cymryd camau heddiw, ac fe fyddwn ni'n parhau i gymryd camau wrth i ni symud ymlaen.
Diolch i'r Dirprwy Weinidog.
Thank you, Deputy Minister.
Eitem 4 yw'r datganiad gan Weinidog y Gymraeg ac Addysg ar gymwysterau galwedigaethol. Galwaf ar y Gweinidog, Jeremy Miles.
Item 4 is a statement by the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language on vocational qualifications. I call on the Minister, Jeremy Miles.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. This Government has made a commitment to increase parity of esteem between vocational and academic education routes. We believe in the inherent value of vocational education, with its crucial links to skills, the economy and to Welsh society. We've also committed, through our co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, to reform vocational qualifications and to consider the expansion of made-for-Wales qualifications.
These commitments underpinned my commissioning of the independent vocational qualifications review, chaired by Sharron Lusher. I would like to put on record my thanks to Sharron and steering group members for the work that went into their report, which I published in September. I welcome the report and its assessment of vocational qualifications in Wales. It sets out 33 recommendations for Government, the new Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, and Qualifications Wales. It’s clear that collaborative working is key to many, if not all, of these recommendations. So, we will work closely with both organisations, and with other stakeholders, including providers of vocational education and training, to progress the ambitions of the review.
As the review made clear, Dirprwy Lywydd, there are strengths that we can build on with regard to how vocational qualifications operate in Wales, such as the increasing numbers that are available bilingually or in Welsh, and overall learner satisfaction with their courses. The report explores the pros and cons of establishing a national awarding body for vocational qualifications. While I can see the appeal of such a body, at this moment in time when budgets across the board are under such immense pressure, I accept it cannot be the priority.
The review recognises the need for pragmatism in exploring opportunities to further develop made-for-Wales vocational qualifications. I welcome the made-for-Wales approach proposed by the review. It will mean reviewing new and existing qualifications to ensure they are fit for purpose, meet the needs of learners, employers and providers, and are available bilingually. It will also mean maintaining, as far as possible, learner choice, whilst recognising the need to ensure that we have the right skills to support our economic priorities. That will mean working strategically with our partners, including regional skills partnerships and learning providers, to make best use of labour market intelligence. It also means ensuring that learners have the information they need to make informed choices about qualifications that will provide them with the best opportunities to progress in their future careers. I'll return to that in a moment.
The report calls for a national strategy for vocational education and training, and sets out the purpose and principles that should underpin that. These include responding to economic and social needs, and preparing learners to join a bilingual workforce. I accept the need for the Welsh Government to provide a clear strategic lead. We'll therefore develop a short, action-focused policy statement that provides a strategic focus on post-16 education and training and which also aligns with related strategic commitments, including net zero and, of course, our refreshed economic mission.
We can’t talk about vocational qualifications without considering the ecosystem in which they operate. We've been discussing with Qualifications Wales how we can better co-ordinate sector reviews and the development of apprenticeship frameworks, as advised by the review. This will ensure better alignment of programmes of vocational learning with employers’ skills needs.
I support the report’s recommendation that Wales does not adopt the same approach as England in the implementation of T-levels. My officials will continue to work with Qualifications Wales to monitor developments, and work to ensure stability and continued access to relevant vocational qualifications for learners in Wales. We'll also ensure that, as England develops its proposals for an advanced British standard qualification framework, our approach to 16-19 learning will continue to focus on the needs of learners in Wales.
I want to encourage more collaboration between schools and post-16 providers, to ensure that learners have the information and support that they need to progress along vocational routes where that is appropriate for them. As I have said previously in relation to Hefin David’s report on transitions to employment, everyone has a part to play in ensuring that our children and young people leave education equipped to participate fully in society. My officials have been looking at ways to better highlight existing pockets of good practice and expand this throughout the sector.
Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Mae'r Llywodraeth hon wedi ymrwymo i gynyddu cydraddoldeb parch rhwng llwybrau addysg galwedigaethol ac academaidd. Credwn yng ngwerth priodol addysg alwedigaethol, gyda'i chysylltiadau hanfodol â sgiliau, yr economi ac â chymdeithas Cymru. Rydym hefyd wedi ymrwymo, drwy ein cytundeb cydweithio â Phlaid Cymru, i ddiwygio cymwysterau galwedigaethol ac i ystyried ehangu cymwysterau gwneud-i-Gymru.
Roedd yr ymrwymiadau hyn yn sail i fy ngwaith o gomisiynu'r adolygiad cymwysterau galwedigaethol annibynnol, dan gadeiryddiaeth Sharron Lusher. Hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i Sharron ac aelodau'r grŵp llywio am y gwaith a aeth i mewn i'w hadroddiad, a gyhoeddais ym mis Medi. Rwy'n croesawu'r adroddiad a'i asesiad o gymwysterau galwedigaethol yng Nghymru. Mae'n nodi 33 o argymhellion ar gyfer y Llywodraeth, y Comisiwn Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil newydd, a Cymwysterau Cymru. Mae'n amlwg bod cydweithio yn allweddol i lawer, os nad pob un, o'r argymhellion hyn. Felly, byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r ddau sefydliad, a gyda rhanddeiliaid eraill, gan gynnwys darparwyr addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol, i ddatblygu uchelgeisiau'r adolygiad.
Fel y gwnaeth yr adolygiad yn glir, Dirprwy Lywydd, mae cryfderau y gallwn adeiladu arnynt o ran sut mae cymwysterau galwedigaethol yn gweithredu yng Nghymru, megis y niferoedd cynyddol sydd ar gael yn ddwyieithog neu yn Gymraeg, a bodlonrwydd cyffredinol dysgwyr â'u cyrsiau. Mae'r adroddiad yn archwilio manteision ac anfanteision sefydlu corff dyfarnu cenedlaethol ar gyfer cymwysterau galwedigaethol. Er fy mod yn gallu gweld apêl corff o'r fath, ar hyn o bryd pan fo cyllidebau yn gyffredinol o dan bwysau mor aruthrol, rwy'n derbyn na all fod yn flaenoriaeth.
Mae'r adolygiad yn cydnabod yr angen am bragmatiaeth wrth archwilio cyfleoedd i ddatblygu cymwysterau galwedigaethol gwneud-i-Gymru ymhellach. Rwy'n croesawu'r dull gwneud-i-Gymru a gynigiwyd gan yr adolygiad. Bydd yn golygu adolygu cymwysterau newydd a phresennol i sicrhau eu bod yn addas i'r diben, yn diwallu anghenion dysgwyr, cyflogwyr a darparwyr, a'u bod ar gael yn ddwyieithog. Bydd hefyd yn golygu cynnal dewis dysgwyr, cyn belled ag y bo modd, wrth gydnabod yr angen i sicrhau bod gennym y sgiliau cywir i gefnogi ein blaenoriaethau economaidd. Bydd hynny'n golygu gweithio'n strategol gyda'n partneriaid, gan gynnwys partneriaethau sgiliau rhanbarthol a darparwyr dysgu, i wneud y defnydd gorau o ddeallusrwydd y farchnad lafur. Mae hefyd yn golygu sicrhau bod gan ddysgwyr y wybodaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt i wneud dewisiadau gwybodus am gymwysterau a fydd yn rhoi'r cyfleoedd gorau iddynt symud ymlaen yn eu gyrfaoedd yn y dyfodol. Byddaf yn dychwelyd at hynny mewn munud.
Mae'r adroddiad yn galw am strategaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol, ac yn nodi'r pwrpas a'r egwyddorion a ddylai fod yn sail i hynny. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys ymateb i anghenion economaidd a chymdeithasol, a pharatoi dysgwyr i ymuno â gweithlu dwyieithog. Rwy'n derbyn yr angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddarparu arweiniad strategol clir. Felly, byddwn yn datblygu datganiad polisi byr sy'n canolbwyntio ar weithredu sy'n canolbwyntio'n strategol ar addysg a hyfforddiant ôl-16 ac sydd hefyd yn cyd-fynd ag ymrwymiadau strategol cysylltiedig, gan gynnwys sero net ac, wrth gwrs, ein cenhadaeth economaidd sydd wedi'i hadnewyddu.
Ni allwn siarad am gymwysterau galwedigaethol heb ystyried yr ecosystem y maent yn gweithredu ynddi. Rydym wedi bod yn trafod gyda Cymwysterau Cymru sut y gallwn gydlynu adolygiadau sector yn well a datblygu fframweithiau prentisiaethau, fel y cynghorir gan yr adolygiad. Bydd hyn yn sicrhau bod rhaglenni dysgu galwedigaethol yn cyd-fynd yn well ag anghenion sgiliau cyflogwyr.
Rwy'n cefnogi argymhelliad yr adroddiad nad yw Cymru'n mabwysiadu'r un dull â Lloegr wrth weithredu safonau T. Bydd fy swyddogion yn parhau i weithio gyda Cymwysterau Cymru i fonitro datblygiadau, a gweithio i sicrhau sefydlogrwydd a pharhad i gael mynediad at gymwysterau galwedigaethol perthnasol i ddysgwyr yng Nghymru. Byddwn hefyd yn sicrhau, wrth i Loegr ddatblygu ei chynigion ar gyfer fframwaith cymwysterau safon Brydeinig uwch, y bydd ein dull o ddysgu 16-19 yn parhau i ganolbwyntio ar anghenion dysgwyr yng Nghymru.
Rwyf am annog mwy o gydweithio rhwng ysgolion a darparwyr ôl-16, er mwyn sicrhau bod gan ddysgwyr y wybodaeth a'r cymorth y mae eu hangen arnynt i symud ymlaen ar hyd llwybrau galwedigaethol lle bo hynny'n briodol ar eu cyfer. Fel yr wyf wedi dweud o'r blaen mewn perthynas ag adroddiad Hefin David ar bontio i gyflogaeth, mae gan bawb ran i'w chwarae wrth sicrhau bod ein plant a'n pobl ifanc yn gadael addysg wedi'u paratoi i gymryd rhan lawn mewn cymdeithas. Mae fy swyddogion wedi bod yn edrych ar ffyrdd o dynnu sylw at bocedi presennol o arfer da yn well ac ehangu hyn ledled y sector.
Roedd yr adolygiad yn argymell ymestyn cyfleoedd lleoliad gwaith i bob dysgwr lefel 3 nad oedd ganddyn nhw leoliad gwaith fel rhan orfodol o'u cymhwyster. Byddaf yn derbyn yr argymhelliad hwn, gan fod pob dysgwr lefel 3 bellach yn cael cyfleoedd i gael profiad gwaith fel rhan o'u hastudiaeth, naill ai drwy'r elfen gymunedol, elfen y dysgwr, neu'r elfen sy'n canolbwyntio ar y diwydiant o'u cyrsiau amser llawn, neu drwy'r rhaglen lleoliad estynedig, sy'n cynnig cyfle i ddysgwyr lefel 3 gael mynediad at hyd at 100 awr o brofiad gwaith perthnasol i ddiwydiant. Mae'r rhaglen lleoliad estynedig yn un o bedair rhaglen beilot sy'n cael eu hariannu drwy'r gronfa arloesi gwerth £5.8 miliwn ac sy'n cael eu prif-ffrydio yn y flwyddyn academaidd hon.
Rwy'n bwriadu cyhoeddi canllawiau statudol i ysgolion ar ddysgu 14-16 yn y Cwricwlwm i Gymru fel rhan o'r gwaith o ddatblygu ein polisi ar lwybrau 14-19. Bydd cymwysterau cyffredinol a chymwysterau galwedigaethol bob amser yn rhan bwysig o hyn. Rwy'n benderfynol o sicrhau bod pobl ifanc mewn addysg orfodol hefyd yn cael cynnig cydlynol yn seiliedig ar sgiliau, cynllunio ar gyfer y camau nesaf—gan gynnwys trwy addysg gyrfaoedd a phrofiadau cysylltiedig â byd gwaith o ansawdd uchel—yn ogystal â chyfleoedd dysgu personol. Mae hyn yr un mor bwysig i'n pobl ifanc sy'n dechrau addysg a hyfforddiant ôl-16, er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn cefnogi cyfranogiad ar draws ystod o gyfleoedd a phrofiadau dysgu o safon i gefnogi datblygiad gyrfa a lles dysgwyr. Mae'r dull gweithredu hwn yn adlewyrchu'r cwricwlwm newydd, ac yn cadarnhau fy ymrwymiad bod pob dysgwr yn cael ei gefnogi yn y llwybr o'u dewis, boed hynny'n addysg, cyflogaeth neu hyfforddiant.
Roedd yr adolygiad yn argymell bod Llywodraeth Cymru a darparwyr dysgu yn cydweithio i gynnig cwricwlwm ehangach i ddysgwyr pan fo'r dewis yn fwy cyfyngedig neu pan fo nifer y dysgwyr yn isel. Rydyn ni'n datblygu canllawiau statudol sydd wedi'u diweddaru i gefnogi'r cwricwlwm 16-19. Bydd y Comisiwn Addysg Drydyddol ac Ymchwil mewn sefyllfa dda i weithio'n gyson ac yn effeithiol ar draws y system addysg drydyddol, a chyda'n partneriaid addysg, pan fydd yn gwbl weithredol. Bydd hynny'n cynnwys cefnogi dull cydgysylltiedig o ran sut y mae darpariaeth ôl-16 yn cael ei ddarparu ar bob lefel ledled Cymru, i ategu'r canllawiau statudol. Byddwn ni'n disgwyl gweld elfen allweddol o’r rôl gynllunio honno yn cynnwys ystyriaeth o’r ffordd orau i’r system drydyddol sicrhau bod anghenion sgiliau Cymru, heddiw ac ar gyfer y dyfodol, yn cael eu bodloni. Rwy'n benderfynol o weld y comisiwn yn hwyluso mwy o gydweithio a chydlyniant, ac yn darparu cyfleoedd pellach i adeiladu llwybrau clir i ddysgwyr i feysydd gwahanol o ddarpariaeth neu gyflogaeth. Mae gan bawb gyfrifoldeb am addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol.
O ran yr amserlen ar gyfer y gwaith, mae rhywfaint yn mynd rhagddo eisoes, fel y soniais i. Mae hynny’n cynnwys y canllawiau 16-19 statudol, cyfleoedd gwaith ar gyfer dysgwyr lefel 3, ac edrych ar y ffordd orau o ddatblygu strategaeth addysg a hyfforddiant galwedigaethol, gan weithio ar draws pob maes polisi cysylltiedig. Mae fy swyddogion wedi bod yn datblygu cynllun gwaith, mewn trafodaeth ar draws gwahanol rannau o’r Llywodraeth, gan ystyried y ffordd orau o flaenoriaethu ffrydiau gwaith eraill. Rydyn ni’n siarad â Cymwysterau Cymru am y camau y byddan nhw’n eu cymryd mewn ymateb i’r adolygiad yn y flwyddyn weithredol nesaf a thu hwnt. Rwy’n disgwyl y bydd ystyriaethau tebyg ar gyfer y comisiwn wrth iddo ddatblygu ei gynllun strategol, pan fydd yn gwbl weithredol.
The review recommended extending work opportunity options to all level 3 learners who didn’t have a work placement as a mandatory part of their qualification. I will accept this recommendation, as all level 3 learners now have opportunities to access work experience as part of their study, either through the community, learner or industry focus component of their full-time course, or through the placement enhancement programme, which offers level 3 learners the opportunity to access up to 100 hours of industry-relevant work experience. The placement enhancement programme is one of four pilot programmes funded through the £5.8 million innovation fund and mainstreamed this academic year.
I intend to publish statutory guidance for schools on 14-16 learning in the Curriculum for Wales as part of the development of our policy on 14-19 pathways. Both general and vocational qualifications will always be an important part of this. I am committed to ensuring that young people in compulsory education also have a coherent offer around skills, planning for next steps—including through high-quality careers and work-related learning experiences—as well as personal learning opportunities. This is equally important for our young people entering post-16 education and training, to ensure we support participation across a range of quality learning opportunities and experiences to support learners’ career progression and well-being. This approach reflects the new curriculum and confirms my commitment that all learners are supported in their chosen pathway, be it education, employment or training.
The review recommended that the Welsh Government and learning providers work together to offer a wider curriculum offer for learners where choice is more limited, or where the learner numbers are low. We are developing updated statutory guidance to support the 16-19 curriculum. The Commission for Tertiary Education and Research will be well placed to work effectively and consistently across the tertiary education system, and with our education partners, when it becomes fully operational. That will include supporting a co-ordinated approach to how post-16 provision at all levels is delivered across Wales, in support of the statutory guidance. I would expect to see a key aspect of that planning role to involve consideration of how best the tertiary system can ensure that Welsh current and future skills needs are met. I am determined to see the commission facilitating more collaboration and cohesion, and provide further opportunities to build clear pathways for learners into different areas of provision or into employment. Everyone has a responsibility for vocational education and training.
In terms of a timetable for this work, some is already in train, as I've already mentioned. That includes the statutory 16-19 guidance, work opportunities for level 3 learners, and looking at how best to progress a vocational education and training strategy, working across all related policy areas. My officials have been developing a work plan, in discussion across different areas of Government, looking at how best to prioritise other strands of work. We are talking to Qualifications Wales about the steps they will take forward in response to the review in the upcoming operational year and beyond. I will expect there to be similar considerations for the commission as it develops its strategic plan, once fully operational.
Thank you for your statement, Minister. Of course, vocational qualifications are extremely important to the future of our children, yet after years of waiting for this, why was this announcement only revealed under cloak and dagger last week? All three other nations of the UK have previously outlined strategic plans for vocational education, yet the Welsh Government, and you as the Minister, are now only laying out these plans. We in the Welsh Conservatives have repeatedly called for the Labour Government to do more to deliver the skills that Wales needs, for the good of our young people and for the health of the Welsh economy going forward. Vocational education often leads to long and successful well-paid careers. The Labour Government's lack of a strategic plan for vocational education for years has ultimately led to failure to provide the skills that we need for Wales's future.
So, Minister, why has it taken this long to announce these qualifications? Will every school be offering these qualifications? As we know from the announcement last week, as it currently stands, schools will be offered the opportunity to introduce them, but there is no guidance compelling them to. It's clear to everyone that this could lead to a smaller than expected number, due to years of chronic underfunding and cuts by this Welsh Government. We've seen, year on year, real-terms cash cuts to the education budget and teachers leaving the sector in droves, with this Government failing to replace them or train up teaching assistants. So, I have serious reservations around the workload for teachers, who will now have to familiarise themselves with new qualifications, and any additional costs on already stretched school budgets. So, Minister, will additional funding be following directly to schools to encourage take-up? How do you intend to introduce them without placing even more stress on our teachers?
And finally, Minister, as you know, Wales does not have a clear assessment of our national occupational and skills needs for the future. I thought this would have come alongside this announcement, so that we can better understand the shortages we face and ensure we prioritise those skills throughout these qualifications. This is the only way that we can ensure we have the Welsh workforce futureproofed and end any reliance on foreign labour. It is also important to chart enrolments onto qualifications and learner destinations, as, without such correlation, it is difficult to determine whether there is a relevant and effective range of vocational qualifications to meet future needs. So, Minister, will an assessment of our national occupational and skills needs be forthcoming, and will you be charting enrolments and learner destinations? Diolch.
Diolch am eich datganiad, Gweinidog. Wrth gwrs, mae cymwysterau galwedigaethol yn hynod bwysig i ddyfodol ein plant, ond ar ôl blynyddoedd o aros am hyn, pam mai dim ond yn dawel a bron yn gyfrinachol y datgelwyd y cyhoeddiad hwn yr wythnos diwethaf? Mae tair gwlad arall y DU eisoes wedi amlinellu cynlluniau strategol ar gyfer addysg alwedigaethol, ac eto mae Llywodraeth Cymru, a chi fel y Gweinidog, ond nawr yn nodi'r cynlluniau hyn. Rydym ni y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig wedi galw dro ar ôl tro ar i'r Llywodraeth Lafur wneud mwy i ddarparu'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen ar Gymru, er lles ein pobl ifanc ac ar gyfer iechyd economi Cymru wrth symud ymlaen. Mae addysg alwedigaethol yn aml yn arwain at yrfaoedd hir a llwyddiannus sy'n talu'n dda. Yn y pen draw, mae diffyg cynllun strategol y Llywodraeth Lafur ar gyfer addysg alwedigaethol wedi arwain at fethu â darparu'r sgiliau sydd eu hangen arnom ar gyfer dyfodol Cymru.
Felly, Gweinidog, pam mae hi wedi cymryd cymaint o amser i gyhoeddi'r cymwysterau hyn? A fydd pob ysgol yn eu cynnig? Fel y gwyddom ni o'r cyhoeddiad yr wythnos diwethaf, fel y mae ar hyn o bryd, bydd ysgolion yn cael cynnig y cyfle i'w cyflwyno, ond nid oes unrhyw ganllawiau yn eu cymell nhw i wneud hynny. Mae'n amlwg i bawb y gallai hyn arwain at nifer llai na'r disgwyl, oherwydd blynyddoedd o danariannu cronig a thoriadau gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Rydym wedi gweld, flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn, doriadau arian mewn termau real i'r gyllideb addysg ac athrawon yn gadael y sector mewn heidiau, gyda'r Llywodraeth hon yn methu â'u disodli na hyfforddi cynorthwywyr addysgu. Felly, mae gen i amheuon difrifol ynghylch y llwyth gwaith i athrawon, a fydd nawr yn gorfod ymgyfarwyddo â chymwysterau newydd, ac unrhyw gostau ychwanegol ar gyllidebau ysgolion sydd eisoes dan bwysau. Felly, Gweinidog, a fydd cyllid ychwanegol yn dilyn yn uniongyrchol i ysgolion i annog pobl i'w gweithredu? Sut ydych chi'n bwriadu eu cyflwyno heb roi hyd yn oed mwy o straen ar ein hathrawon?
Ac yn olaf, Gweinidog, fel y gwyddoch chi, nid oes gan Gymru asesiad clir o'n hanghenion galwedigaethol a sgiliau cenedlaethol ar gyfer y dyfodol. Roeddwn i'n meddwl y byddai hyn wedi dod law yn llaw â'r cyhoeddiad hwn, fel y gallwn ddeall yn well y prinder sy'n ein hwynebu a sicrhau ein bod yn blaenoriaethu'r sgiliau hynny trwy gydol y cymwysterau hyn. Dyma'r unig ffordd y gallwn sicrhau bod gweithlu Cymru yn ddiogel at y dyfodol a rhoi diwedd ar unrhyw ddibyniaeth ar lafur tramor. Mae hefyd yn bwysig nodi cofrestriadau ar gymwysterau a chyrchfannau dysgwyr, oherwydd, heb gydberthynas o'r fath, mae'n anodd penderfynu a oes ystod berthnasol ac effeithiol o gymwysterau galwedigaethol i ddiwallu anghenion y dyfodol. Felly, Gweinidog, a fydd asesiad o'n hanghenion galwedigaethol a sgiliau cenedlaethol ar gael, ac a fyddwch yn nodi cofrestriadau a chyrchfannau dysgwyr? Diolch.
I thank Janet Finch-Saunders for her questions, although I think the questions really relate to the statement that Qualifications Wales made last week about the introduction of VCSEs, rather than the statement I'm making today in relation to the response to the Lusher review. There's no cloak-and-dagger in relation to this—the report was published in September of last year, and I'm here in the Chamber making the statement and answering questions. So, I'm not sure what part of cloak-and-dagger that definition would satisfy.
On the points that were relevant to the statement today, there are two aspects that I think Janet Finch-Saunders highlighted that are important. The first is that need to align economic policy, skills policy and vocational qualifications, as the Lusher review sets out. The Government accepts that, and she will have heard from my statement there is work under way in relation to that. And the second point that she made was in relation to our understanding of the future skills needs of the economy. She will know, of course, of the work that regional skills partnerships already undertake, in a regional footprint, to understand the needs of that region. She will also know that we have a programme for government commitment to strengthen the work that they undertake in relation to that. But as the review itself makes clear, there is a need to have a national picture of that work as well, and that will be an important part of how we take this forward.
On the points that she makes in relation to the VCSEs announcement of last week by Qualifications Wales, I welcome that announcement in the following sense: I think it is absolutely important that we help streamline the offer to our learners, so that in the pre-16 space it is a more coherent and a more focused offer, which the VCSE programme will ensure. I am keen to make sure that we develop partnerships between schools and colleges in relation to how those VCSEs are delivered, so that we can make sure that they are delivered effectively. I want to see—and Qualifications Wales has already committed to this—close working between Qualifications Wales and colleges in Wales to ensure that those qualifications, when they come forward, are both well designed and well delivered.
Diolch i Janet Finch-Saunders am ei chwestiynau, er fy mod yn credu bod y cwestiynau'n ymwneud â'r datganiad a wnaeth Cymwysterau Cymru yr wythnos diwethaf ynghylch cyflwyno TAAU, yn hytrach na'r datganiad rwy'n ei wneud heddiw mewn perthynas â'r ymateb i adolygiad Lusher. Does dim cyfrinach ynghylch hyn—cyhoeddwyd yr adroddiad ym mis Medi y llynedd, ac rwyf yma yn y Siambr yn gwneud y datganiad ac yn ateb cwestiynau. Felly, nid wyf yn siŵr pa ran o gyfrinach y byddai'r diffiniad hwnnw'n ei fodloni.
O ran y pwyntiau oedd yn berthnasol i'r datganiad heddiw, mae dwy agwedd a amlygodd Janet Finch-Saunders yn fy marn i sy'n bwysig. Y cyntaf yw bod angen alinio polisi economaidd, polisi sgiliau a chymwysterau galwedigaethol, fel y mae adolygiad Lusher yn ei nodi. Mae'r Llywodraeth yn derbyn hynny, a bydd hi wedi clywed o fy natganiad bod gwaith ar y gweill mewn perthynas â hynny. A'r ail bwynt a wnaeth hi oedd mewn perthynas â'n dealltwriaeth o anghenion sgiliau'r economi yn y dyfodol. Bydd hi'n gwybod, wrth gwrs, am y gwaith y mae partneriaethau sgiliau rhanbarthol eisoes yn ei wneud, mewn ôl troed rhanbarthol, i ddeall anghenion y rhanbarth hwnnw. Bydd hefyd yn gwybod bod gennym raglen ar gyfer ymrwymiad llywodraeth i gryfhau'r gwaith y maent yn ei wneud mewn perthynas â hynny. Ond fel mae'r adolygiad ei hun yn ei wneud yn glir, mae angen cael darlun cenedlaethol o'r gwaith hwnnw hefyd, a bydd hynny'n rhan bwysig o'r ffordd yr ydym yn bwrw ymlaen â hyn.
O ran y pwyntiau y mae hi'n eu gwneud mewn perthynas â chyhoeddiad y TAAU yr wythnos diwethaf gan Cymwysterau Cymru, rwy'n croesawu'r cyhoeddiad hwnnw yn yr ystyr ganlynol: rwy'n credu ei bod yn gwbl bwysig ein bod yn helpu i symleiddio'r cynnig i'n dysgwyr, fel ei fod, yn y maes cyn 16, yn gynnig mwy cydlynol â mwy o ffocws, y bydd y rhaglen TAAU yn ei sicrhau. Rwy'n awyddus i sicrhau ein bod yn datblygu partneriaethau rhwng ysgolion a cholegau mewn perthynas â sut y caiff y TAAU hynny eu darparu, fel y gallwn sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu darparu'n effeithiol. Rwyf am weld—ac mae Cymwysterau Cymru eisoes wedi ymrwymo i hyn—gweithio'n agos rhwng Cymwysterau Cymru a cholegau yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod y cymwysterau hynny, pan fyddant yn dod ymlaen, wedi'u cynllunio'n dda ac wedi'u cyflawni'n dda.
A gaf i ddiolch i'r Gweinidog am y datganiad heddiw? Hoffwn ategu eich diolch i Sharron Lusher am ei gwaith yn arwain yr adolygiad ac i aelodau'r pwyllgor llywio am eu cyfraniad. Fel y gwnaethoch chi sôn, wrth gwrs, mae hwn yn deillio o'r cytundeb cydweithio. Mae Plaid Cymru yn credu'n gryf ym mhwysigrwydd addysg alwedigaethol, a hefyd yn cytuno gyda'r pwysigrwydd bod cymwysterau'n cael eu creu yng Nghymru ar gyfer Cymru, a bod hyn yn angenrheidiol. Fel rydych chi newydd sôn, wrth ymateb i Janet Finch-Saunders, mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod y rhain yn cyd-fynd efo'r sgiliau allweddol hynny sydd eu hangen ar gyfer dyfodol ein pobl, ein cymunedau, ein hiaith, ein heconomi a hefyd, wrth gwrs, wrth ymateb i'r argyfwng hinsawdd.
Mi wnaethoch chi sôn yn y datganiad eich bod yn derbyn yr angen i Lywodraeth Cymru ddarparu arweiniad strategol clir ar gyfer addysg alwedigaethol a hyfforddiant, a, heb os, mae hyn yn bwysig. Ond mae angen strategaeth neu gynllun gweithredu a pholisïau cynhwysfawr i gwmpasu holl agweddau addysg ôl-16, yn hytrach nag ystyried y maes addysg alwedigaethol a hyfforddiant mewn seilo neu ar ei ben ei hun. Mae yna dal elfen gref sy'n hybu, yn anffodus, addysg alwedigaethol a hyfforddiant fel llwybr i rai sydd ddim yn disgleirio yn academaidd, yn ôl mesurau confensiynol a henffasiwn. Dwi'n credu bod yn rhaid inni chwalu'r myth yma a sicrhau bod yr ystod o gymwysterau sydd ar gael, ac sydd am fod ar gael yma yng Nghymru, yn cael eu hybu i bawb fel llwybr posib. Allwch chi, felly, amlinellu, os gwelwch yn dda, pryd rydych chi'n disgwyl y gwelwn ni strategaeth o’r fath nid yn unig yn cael ei chyhoeddi, ond hefyd yn dechrau cael ei gweithredu?
O ran y trywydd sydd yn cael ei argymell yn yr adroddiad, mae’r syniad o farchnad agored yn groes i’r graen o ran ein gwerthoedd ni yn gyffredinol, sydd, wrth gwrs, yn credu’n gryf mewn cydweithio yma yng Nghymru. Ond, o dderbyn yr opsiwn yma, mae hyn hefyd yn groes i’r sefyllfa yn yr Alban ac yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, sydd â byrddau arholi dan arweiniad y wladwriaeth yn y maes hwn, a hefyd yn rhyngwladol, lle mae naill ai cyflogwyr neu'r wladwriaeth yn arwain. Mae sefyllfa ryfedd gennym ni, lle mai dewis yr unigolyn a’r farchnad rydd sy’n arwain. Ond rydyn ni’n derbyn y bragmatiaeth sy’n sail i’r ffordd ymlaen, ac yn deall nad oes dim awydd yn y sector ar hyn o bryd, a bod heriau ariannol efo symud i greu corff dyfarnu newydd penodol i Gymru, fel y gwnaethoch chi amlinellu.
Heb os, mae angen mecanwaith cadarn i adnabod y galw am sgiliau yng Nghymru, a bod hynny’n siapio ac yn dylanwadu ar addysg ôl-16, wedyn, gan gynnwys cymwysterau. Mae angen ffordd i fonitro i ba raddau mae hynny’n digwydd yn llwyddiannus, ynghyd â llinellau cyfrifoldeb ac atebolrwydd clir o ran cyfrifoldebau a rôl arweiniol Llywodraeth Cymru, Cymwysterau Cymru a’r comisiwn CTER newydd. Ac mae angen i CTER fod yn sylfaenol wahanol a mwy uchelgeisiol na jest rheoli’r status quo, rhywbeth dwi'n gwybod rydych chi'n cytuno ag ef.
Un peth, wrth gwrs, yng nghyd-destun hyn oll, sydd wedi peri pryder ydy'r toriadau o bron i 25 y cant yn y gyllideb brentisiaethau, a sut y bydd hyn yn effeithio ar allu dysgwyr i ddatblygu eu sgiliau yn bellach yn y meysydd hyn, unwaith maent wedi cwblhau'r cymwysterau. Ydych chi'n rhannu’r pryderon hyn, ac a oes unrhyw sicrwydd y gallwch ei roi heddiw y bydd y newidiadau hefyd yn cael eu hystyried yn y cyd-destun ehangach hwn, fel bod llwybrau i ddatblygu eu sgiliau yn bellach yn parhau yn agored i ddysgwyr yn sgil cwblhau eu cymhwyster TAAU? Diolch.
Can I thank the Minister for today's statement? I would like to echo your thanks to Sharron Lusher for her work in leading the review, and to the members of the steering committee for their contribution. As you mentioned, of course, this stems from the co-operation agreement. Plaid Cymru does strongly believe in the importance of vocational education, and also agrees with the important assertion that qualifications being made in Wales for Wales is necessary. As you mentioned, in responding to Janet Finch-Saunders, we have to ensure that that does align with those key skills that are needed for the future of our people, our communities, our language, our economy and also, of course, in terms of responding to the climate crisis.
You mentioned in the statement that you accept the need for the Welsh Government to provide clear strategic guidance for vocational education and training. This is undoubtedly important, but we need a strategy or an action plan and comprehensive policies to cover all aspects of post-16 education, rather than considering the field of vocational education and training in a silo on its own. There is still a strong element of promoting, unfortunately, vocational education and training as a pathway for those who do not shine academically, according to conventional and old-fashioned measures. And I think that we must dispel this myth and ensure that the range of qualifications that are available, and that will be available, here in Wales are being promoted to everyone as a possible pathway. So, could you, please, outline when you expect that we will see such a strategy not only being published, but also being implemented?
In terms of the pathway that is recommended in the report, the idea of an open market goes against the grain in terms of our overall values, which, of course, believe strongly in collaboration here in Wales. But, in accepting this option, this also runs counter to the situation in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have examination boards led by the state in this area, and also internationally, where either employers or the state take the lead. We have a strange situation here, where individual choice and the free market take the lead. But we accept the pragmatism that underpins the way forward, and we understand that there is no desire in the sector at the moment, and that there are financial challenges in terms of creating a new awarding body specific to Wales, as you outlined.
Undoubtedly, we need a robust mechanism to identify the demand for skills in Wales, and that this then shapes and influences post-16 education, including qualifications. We need a way to monitor the extent to which this is happening successfully, along with clear lines of responsibility and accountability in terms of the lead roles and responsibilities of the Welsh Government, Qualifications Wales and the new CTER commission. And CTER does need to be fundamentally different and more ambitious than managing the status quo, something that I know that you agree with.
One thing that, of course, has caused concern in this context is the decision to cut almost 25 per cent from the apprenticeships budget, and how this will affect the ability of learners to develop their skills further in these areas, once they have completed these qualifications. Do you share those concerns, and is there any guarantee that you can give today that these changes will also be considered in this wider context, so that pathways to further skills development remain open to learners after they complete their VCSE qualifications?
Diolch i Heledd Fychan am y cwestiynau hynny. Mae gwaith eisoes yn digwydd ynglŷn â'r cwricwlwm ôl-16, fel gwnes i sôn yn fras yn fy natganiad, a rhan o hwnnw yw sefydlu canllawiau statudol i ddarparwyr fel bod y cwricwlwm hwnnw yn dilyn egwyddorion, os hoffwch chi, y cwricwlwm tan 16 ond mewn ffordd sy'n gymwys ar gyfer yr opsiynau sydd ar gael i ddysgwyr ar ôl 16. Ac mae'n gwbl iawn i ddweud ei bod hi'n bwysig bod yr hyn rŷn ni'n darparu, a'r canllawiau rŷn ni'n eu darparu i ddarparwyr, yn sicrhau mai'r peth sy'n gyrru pob penderfyniad yw'r llwybr sy'n addas i'r unigolyn, y dysgwr, sy'n cymryd y cymhwyster. Ac mae angen inni ddylunio ac ailddylunio'r ffordd rŷn ni'n darparu fel mai hwnnw yw'r egwyddor sy'n gyrru'r dewisiadau, nid y strwythurau sy'n digwydd bod gyda ni, os hoffwch chi, ar hyn o bryd. Felly, mae hynny'n egwyddor heriol, ond mae hefyd yn un creadigol iawn, dwi'n credu. Dyna, yn sicr, sy'n rhaid inni ei ddilyn fel rhan o'r gwaith hwnnw.
O ran y pwynt roedd yr Aelod yn ei wneud, y pwynt ehangach ar sut rŷn ni'n mynd ati i ddarparu cymwysterau yn gyffredinol, fy marn i yw bod yr adroddiad yn taro'r cydbwysedd pragmataidd rhwng y galw i sicrhau, ar yr un llaw, fod y cymwysterau sydd ar gael i bobl ifanc yng Nghymru yn diwallu anghenion ein heconomi ni, blaenoriaethau ein pobl ifanc ni eu hunain, ar yr un llaw, ond hefyd yn rhywbeth sy'n gymwys ac yn darparu ystod o opsiynau. Felly, rwy'n credu bod y ffordd y mae'r adolygiad yn argymell ein bod ni'n edrych ar a ydy'r cymhwyster yn fit for purpose ac wedyn, os nad yw e, beth allwn ni ei wneud i sicrhau ei ddarparu mewn ffordd amgen yn dilyn yr egwyddorion hynny mewn ffordd addas iawn. Ac mae'r syniad yma o gymwysterau sy'n made for Wales, er enghraifft, rwy'n credu yn ein caniatáu ni i daro'r cydbwysedd addas hwnnw.
O ran y cwestiwn am gyllidebau, wel, mae toriadau wedi bod i'r gyllideb prentisiaethau. Mae Gweinidog yr Economi wedi gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau anodd iawn, fel mae pob un ohonon ni wedi gorfod gwneud, a byddai dim un ohonon ni'n dweud mai dyma'r pethau y byddem ni'n dymuno eu gwneud, ac yn sicr nid dyma'r pethau rŷn ni'n credu yn y tymor hir yw'r pethau addas i ni eu gwneud. Felly, byddwn ni i gyd yn chwilio am ffyrdd i allu adfer y gyllideb honno cyn gynted ag y gallwn ni wneud hynny, ond mae cyfyngiadau ymarferol ar y Llywodraeth yn hyn o beth ac mae'n rhaid, rwy'n credu, ymateb i'r adroddiad mewn ffordd sy'n adlewyrchu a chydnabod y pwysau cyllidebol sydd ar bob un o'n darparwyr ni ynghyd â ni fel Llywodraeth.
I thank Heledd Fychan for those questions. There is work already in train in terms of the post-16 curriculum, as I broadly mentioned in my statement, and part of that is the establishment of statutory guidance for providers, so that that curriculum follows the principles of the pre-16 curriculum but in a way that is appropriate for the options available to learners in the post-16 sector. And it's quite right to say that it's important that what we provide and the guidance we put in place for providers does ensure that what drives every decision is a pathway that is appropriate for the individual learner taking that qualification. And we need to design and redesign the way that we provide so that that is the impetus behind the decision, not just the structures that we happen to have at the moment. So, that is a challenging principle, but it's also very creative, I believe. And I think that is certainly what we need to follow as part of that work.
In terms of the point that the Member made, her broader point on how we deliver qualifications more generally, my view is that the report strikes a pragmatic balance between the need to ensure on the one hand that the qualifications available to young people in Wales meet the needs of our economy, the priorities of the young people themselves, on the one hand, but can also provide a range of options for young people. So, I think that the way that the review recommends that we look at whether the qualification is fit for purpose and if it's not, what can we do to ensure that it's provided in an alternative manner, does adhere to those principles in a very appropriate way. And this idea of qualifications that are made for Wales is something that I believe allows us to strike that appropriate balance.
In terms of the budgetary questions, well, there have been cuts to the apprenticeship budget, and the Minister for Economy has had to make some very difficult decisions, as we all have. None of us would say that these are cuts that we would choose to make, and we will all be seeking ways of trying to restore that budget as soon as that is possible. But there are practical limitations on the Government in this regard, and I do think that we have to respond to the report in a way that reflects and recognises the budgetary pressures on all of our providers as well as on us as a Government.
Thank you, Minister, for your statement today. I am so pleased to see a firm commitment to move forward on ensuring parity of esteem between vocational and academic qualifications. It's what our young people deserve, what our country urgently needs if we are able to fill the skills gap of today and of tomorrow.
I understand the practical financial considerations that have led you to conclude that it's not possible to establish a national awarding body for vocational qualifications at the present time. With this in mind, how can you ensure that vocational qualifications are assessed in an appropriate manner, taking full account of students' practical skills and do not rely overly upon written assessments?
And, secondly, moving to the crucial area of work placement opportunities for level 3 learners, I'm pleased to note that these are now mandatory. However, from conversations I have with my local further education college, their learners, parents and local employers, I know securing these work placements can be extremely challenging, with placements in very short supply and some students left at risk of having to leave their courses if placements can't be secured. Minister, it's the red tape, the form filling that I'm told consistently acts as a barrier to more employers engaging in this system, so what can you do to help tackle this issue?
Diolch yn fawr, Gweinidog, am eich datganiad heddiw. Rwyf mor falch o weld ymrwymiad cadarn i symud ymlaen i sicrhau cydraddoldeb rhwng cymwysterau galwedigaethol ac academaidd. Dyma y mae ein pobl ifanc yn ei haeddu, yr hyn sydd ei angen ar ein gwlad ar frys os gallwn lenwi'r bwlch sgiliau heddiw ac yfory.
Rwy'n deall yr ystyriaethau ariannol ymarferol sydd wedi eich arwain i ddod i'r casgliad nad yw'n bosibl sefydlu corff dyfarnu cenedlaethol ar gyfer cymwysterau galwedigaethol ar hyn o bryd. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, sut allwch chi sicrhau bod cymwysterau galwedigaethol yn cael eu hasesu mewn modd priodol, gan ystyried sgiliau ymarferol myfyrwyr yn llawn ac nad ydynt yn dibynnu'n ormodol ar asesiadau ysgrifenedig?
Ac, yn ail, symud i'r maes hanfodol o gyfleoedd lleoliad gwaith ar gyfer dysgwyr lefel 3, rwy'n falch o nodi bod y rhain bellach yn orfodol. Fodd bynnag, o sgyrsiau rwy'n eu cael gyda fy ngholeg addysg bellach leol, eu dysgwyr, rhieni a chyflogwyr lleol, rwy'n gwybod y gall sicrhau'r lleoliadau gwaith hyn fod yn heriol dros ben, gyda lleoliadau mewn cyflenwad byr iawn a rhai myfyrwyr mewn perygl o orfod gadael eu cyrsiau os na ellir sicrhau lleoliadau. Gweinidog, y biwrocratiaeth ydyw, mae'r llenwi ffurflen y dywedir wrthyf yn gyson yn gweithredu fel rhwystr i fwy o gyflogwyr gymryd rhan yn y system hon, felly beth allwch chi ei wneud i helpu i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn?
I thank Vikki Howells for those two very important points. I think that, at the heart of the way in which we need to deliver the made-for-Wales qualifications is to ensure that the balance between assessed content and practical content is striking the right balance. And there have been challenges in the past, as I'm sure she's alluding to in her question, and I think it's important that we do learn the lessons of that. And I think part of that, really, is about how we make sure that providers, regulators, learners and employers are four parts of a coherent system that then meets the demands of all four elements, if she likes.
I think it's really important to make sure that, alongside the formal availability, if I put it like that, of work experience as part of qualifications, we are delivering that in practice on the ground. I do recognise the challenge that she outlines there. So, we know that the mix of the placement-enhanced programme and the community, learner, industry focus elements between them ought to cover the ground in relation to level 3 learners generally, but there are some areas of Wales where the availability of relevant work placements, in particular, can be limited. So, part of how we are seeking to address that is through the innovation funding that we provided, over £6 million of funding, that has been used to try out new ways of delivering work placement. But she's right to say this is something that we need to keep an eye on and make sure that we make a reality of it, and I mentioned a report that Hefin David prepared for the Government a few months ago. That has a number of very practical ways in which that can be taken forward.
Diolch i Vikki Howells am y ddau bwynt pwysig iawn. Rwy'n credu, wrth wraidd y ffordd y mae angen i ni gyflwyno'r cymwysterau gwneud-i-Gymru rhaid sicrhau bod y cydbwysedd rhwng cynnwys a asesir a chynnwys ymarferol yn taro'r cydbwysedd cywir. Ac mae heriau wedi bod yn y gorffennol, fel rwy'n siŵr y mae hi'n cyfeirio ato yn ei chwestiwn, ac rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ein bod yn dysgu'r gwersi hynny. Ac rwy'n credu bod rhan o hynny, mewn gwirionedd, yn ymwneud â sut yr ydym yn sicrhau bod darparwyr, rheoleiddwyr, dysgwyr a chyflogwyr yn bedair rhan o system gydlynol sydd wedyn yn bodloni gofynion y pedair elfen, os dymuna.
Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig iawn sicrhau, ochr yn ochr â'r argaeledd ffurfiol, os gwnaf ei roi fel yna, o brofiad gwaith fel rhan o gymwysterau, ein bod yn cyflawni hynny yn ymarferol ar lawr gwlad. Rwy'n cydnabod yr her y mae hi'n ei hamlinellu yno. Felly, gwyddom y dylai cymysgedd y rhaglen sy'n cael ei wella ar leoliad a'r elfennau cymunedol, dysgwr a ffocws y diwydiant rhyngddynt gwmpasu'r hyn sydd ei angen mewn perthynas â dysgwyr lefel 3 yn gyffredinol, ond mae rhai ardaloedd yng Nghymru lle gall argaeledd lleoliadau gwaith perthnasol, yn benodol, fod yn gyfyngedig. Felly, rhan o'r ffordd yr ydym yn ceisio mynd i'r afael â hynny yw drwy'r cyllid arloesi a ddarparwyd gennym, dros £6 miliwn o gyllid, a ddefnyddiwyd i roi cynnig ar ffyrdd newydd o ddarparu lleoliad gwaith. Ond mae hi'n iawn i ddweud bod hyn yn rhywbeth y mae angen i ni gadw llygad arno a sicrhau ein bod yn gwireddu hynny, a soniais am adroddiad a baratowyd gan Hefin David ar gyfer y Llywodraeth ychydig fisoedd yn ôl. Mae gan yr adroddiad nifer o ffyrdd ymarferol iawn y gellir bwrw ymlaen â hynny.
Ac yn olaf, Hefin David.
Finally, Hefin David.
I'll pick up where you left off. [Interruption.] [Laughter.] Regarding the issue of better collaborative working between post-16 institutions and secondary schools, in that report I mentioned particularly the NPTC Group of Colleges and Llanidloes High School, which has a sixth form. I highlighted that as an example of very good collaborative practice. Would it be, perhaps, a constructive suggestion that the Government could try and understand exactly what is going right there, and perhaps scale up a pilot project elsewhere in Wales to see if that can be replicated and the successes that we've seen there then happen elsewhere, and then see if you could further expand that through Wales?
Fe af ymlaen o ble wnaethoch chi orffen. [Torri ar draws.] [Chwerthin.] O ran y mater o gydweithio gwell rhwng sefydliadau ôl-16 ac ysgolion uwchradd, yn yr adroddiad hwnnw soniais yn arbennig am Grŵp Coleg Castell-nedd Port Talbot ac Ysgol Uwchradd Llanidloes, sydd â chweched dosbarth. Amlygais hynny fel enghraifft o ymarfer cydweithredol da iawn. A fyddai, efallai, yn awgrym adeiladol y gallai'r Llywodraeth geisio deall yn union beth sy'n mynd yn iawn yno, ac efallai ehangu prosiect treialu mewn mannau eraill yng Nghymru i weld a oes modd efelychu hynny a bod y llwyddiannau a welsom yno yn digwydd mewn mannau eraill wedyn, ac yna gweld a allech chi ehangu hynny ymhellach drwy Gymru?
Just to acknowledge the point that Hefin David makes, and it's very much consistent with the theme of his report, and I think it is about identifying good practice, isn't it? He mentioned Neath Port Talbot college; I have my own connection with that college from a constituency point of view. He mentioned the work in Llanidloes, but he could also, I know, have referred to the work with Maesteg comprehensive, where there is good close working between the college and the school to give learners that hands-on training in vocational areas like construction. There are also good examples in Blaenau Gwent through the Tech Valleys STEM facilitation project, and the work that my department is doing now, together with the economy department, really is trying to identify where those good relationships exist.
I think one of the challenges for us, as well as providing the guidance, case studies and ways of working that schools and colleges can draw on—. The other challenge for us is to make sure that there are no obstacles in the design of the system that just make it harder for schools and colleges to work together, and I'm very mindful of that as well.
Dim ond i gydnabod y pwynt mae Hefin David yn ei wneud, ac mae'n gyson iawn â thema ei adroddiad, ac rwy'n credu ei fod yn ymwneud â nodi arfer da, onid ydyw? Soniodd am goleg Castell-nedd Port Talbot; mae gennyf i fy nghysylltiad fy hun â'r coleg hwnnw o safbwynt etholaeth. Soniodd am y gwaith yn Llanidloes, ond gallai hefyd, rwy'n gwybod, fod wedi cyfeirio at y gwaith gydag ysgol gyfun Maesteg, lle mae gweithio agos da rhwng y coleg a'r ysgol i roi'r hyfforddiant ymarferol hwnnw i ddysgwyr mewn meysydd galwedigaethol fel adeiladu. Mae enghreifftiau da hefyd ym Mlaenau Gwent drwy brosiect hwyluso STEM Y Cymoedd Technoleg, ac mae'r gwaith y mae fy adran yn ei wneud nawr, ynghyd ag adran yr economi, wir yn ceisio nodi ble mae'r perthnasoedd da hynny'n bodoli.
Rwy'n credu un o'r heriau i ni, yn ogystal â darparu'r canllawiau, astudiaethau achos a'r ffyrdd o weithio y gall ysgolion a cholegau fanteisio arnynt—. Yr her arall i ni yw sicrhau nad oes unrhyw rwystrau yn nyluniad y system sy'n ei gwneud hi'n anoddach i ysgolion a cholegau gydweithio, ac rwy'n ymwybodol iawn o hynny hefyd.
Diolch i'r Gweinidog.
Thank you, Minister.
Mae eitem 5 wedi ei gohirio.
Item 5 has been postponed.
Detholwyd y gwelliant canlynol: gwelliant 1 yn enw Darren Millar.
The following amendment has been selected: amendment 1 in the name of Darren Millar.
Felly, symud ymlaen i eitem 6: dadl ar y gyllideb ddrafft 2024-25. A galwaf ar y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol i wneud y cynnig—Rebecca Evans.
So, we'll move on to item 6: debate on the draft budget 2024-25. And I call on the Minister for Finance and Local Government to move the motion—Rebecca Evans.
Cynnig NDM8473 Lesley Griffiths
Cynnig bod y Senedd, yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog 20.12:
Yn nodi'r Gyllideb Ddrafft ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 2024-25 a osodwyd yn y Swyddfa Gyflwyno gan y Gweinidog Cyllid a Llywodraeth Leol ar 19 Rhagfyr 2023.
Motion NDM8473 Lesley Griffiths
To propose that the Senedd, in accordance with Standing Order 20.12:
Notes the Draft Budget for the financial year 2024-25 laid in the Table Office by the Minister for Finance and Local Government on 19 December 2023.
Cynigiwyd y cynnig.
Motion moved.
