Cynulliad Cenedlaethol CymruNational Assembly for Wales · Cyfarfod llawnPlenary sitting
Dydd Mercher 1 Rhagfyr 1999
Wednesday 1 December 1999
CynnwysContents
- 3Cwestiynau i’r Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau CymdeithasolQuestions to the Secretary for Health and Social Services
- 3Ystadegau Canser y Croen, y Fron a’r ProstadSkin, Breast and Prostate Cancer Statistics
- 6Darpariaeth ar gyfer Llawfeddygaeth ar yr ArennauProvision for Kidney Related Surgery
- 9Polisïau Staff-gyfeillgar ar gyfer NyrsysEmployee-friendly Policies for Nurses
- 12Profion Llygaid am Ddim (Manteision)Free Eye Tests (Benefits)
- 14Cwestiynau i’r Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Hyfforddiant Ôl-16Questions to the Secretary for Post-16 Education and Training
- 21Derbyn y Gyllideb DdrafftAdoption of the Draft Budget 1 bleidlais1 vote
PleidleisiauVotes
| PleidlaisVote | O blaidFor | YmatalAbstain | Yn erbynAgainst | CanlyniadResult |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derbyn y Gyllideb DdrafftAdoption of the Draft Budget | ||||
| CynnigMotion | 27 | 12 | 14 | DerbyniwydAdopted |
TrafodionProceedings
Cyfarfu’r Cynulliad am 2 p.m. gyda’r Llywydd yn y Gadair.
The Assembly met at 2 p.m. with the Presiding Officer in the Chair.
Cwestiynau i’r Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
Questions to the Secretary for Health and Social Services
Ystadegau Canser y Croen, y Fron a’r Prostad
Skin, Breast and Prostate Cancer Statistics
Is the Secretary for Health and Social Services aware of the Office for National Statistics’ tables that were printed in The Observer on 24 October, which show that the chances within a year of dying of cancer of the skin, of the breast and of the prostate are much higher in Wales than in any of the eight regions in England. In fact, the Welsh average is double the overall English region average for skin cancer and a third more than that for both breast and for prostate cancer? (OAQ2375)
A yw’r Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn ymwybodol o dablau’r Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol a gyhoeddwyd yn The Observer ar 24 Hydref a ddangosodd fod llawer mwy o berygl i bobl farw o ganser y croen, y fron a’r prostad o fewn blwyddyn yng Nghymru nag yn unrhyw un o’r wyth rhanbarth yn Lloegr? Yn wir, mae’r cyfartaledd yng Nghymru ddwywaith cyfartaledd rhanbarthau Lloegr yn achos canser y croen a thraean yn fwy yn achos canser y fron a chanser y prostad. (OAQ2375)
Jane Hutt The Secretary for Health and Social Services spoken in English p. 3
Jane Hutt Yr Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 3
That data must be put into context. The figures published in The Observer were based on the progress of cancer patients after treatment during 1986-90. Assembly Members will be aware that more recent data, published by the Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, shows that Wales is in line with the rest of the UK. We must understand that the survival rates reported in The Observer are not current. They are indicators of past treatment patterns. In Wales, we have a strategic direction for cancer services which is set out in the Cameron report. Action is well underway to implement its recommendations.
Rhaid rhoi’r data hynny yn eu cyd-destun. Yr oedd y ffigurau a gyhoeddwyd yn The Observer yn seiliedig ar hynt cleifion canser ar ôl triniaeth yn ystod 1986-90. Bydd Aelodau’r Cynulliad yn ymwybodol fod data diweddarach, a gyhoeddwyd gan Uned Gwybodaeth a Gwyliadwriaeth Canser Cymru, yn dangos fod Cymru ar yr un gwastad â gweddill y DU. Rhaid inni ddeall nad yw’r ffigurau marwolaethau a adroddwyd yn The Observer yn rhai cyfredol. Maent yn cyfleu patrymau triniaeth y gorffennol. Yng Nghymru, mae gennym gyfeiriad strategol ar gyfer gwasanaethau canser a amlinellir yn adroddiad Cameron. Mae gweithredu ar droed i gyflawni’i argymhellion.
That is encouraging news and I appreciate that The Observer’s data was out of date. Following our recent debate on breast cancer, I know that Breast Test Wales is giving us a first-class service. Can you inform us of any other initiatives by which Wales is leading the way in cancer services?
Mae hynny’n newyddion calonogol ac yr wyf yn sylweddoli bod data The Observer yn hen. Yn dilyn ein dadl ddiweddar ar ganser y fron, gwn fod Bron-Brawf Cymru’n rhoi gwasanaeth o’r radd flaenaf inni. Allech chi roi gwybod inni am unrhyw fentrau eraill lle mae Cymru’n arwain y ffordd mewn gwasanaethau canser?
It is important to emphasise that Wales is at the forefront in many of our cancer initiatives. Extra money has been set aside to fill key gaps in specialist provision, which will amount to £3.5 million in 1999-2000. We have established an All-Wales Cancer Trials Network in partnership with the Cancer Research Campaign, which was mentioned in our recent debate on breast cancer. Professor Robert Mansell, who is the professor of surgery specialising in breast cancer at the University Hospital Wales, is leading a UK trial. Furthermore, we have established an All-Wales Cancer Genetic Service with Macmillan Cancer Relief.
Mae’n bwysig pwysleisio fod Cymru ar flaen y gad mewn sawl menter trin canser. Neilltuwyd arian ychwanegol i lenwi bylchau allweddol yn y ddarpariaeth arbenigol, sef cyfanswm o £3.5 miliwn yn 1999-2000. Yr ydym wedi sefydlu Rhwydwaith Treialon Canser Cymru-Gyfan ar y cyd â’r Ymgyrch Ymchwil Canser, a grybwyllwyd yn ein dadl ddiweddar ar ganser y fron. Mae’r Athro Robert Mansell, sef yr athro llawfeddygaeth sydd yn arbenigo yng nghanser y fron yn Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru, yn arwain treial dros y DU. Yn ogystal, yr ydym wedi sefydlu Gwasanaeth Canser Genetig i Gymru Gyfan gyda Gwasanaeth Lliniaru Canser Macmillan.
Kirsty Williams and myself recently witnessed the impact of that service. The Cancer Genetic Service uses video conferencing to provide counselling to many people throughout Wales. Plans are already in hand to ensure that the £9.75 million allocated under the New Opportunities Fund is spent wisely according to our strategic objectives. We cannot be complacent about the current situation. However, the foundations are in place to ensure better future treatment for cancer patients in Wales.
Yn ddiweddar gwelodd Kirsty Williams a minnau effaith y gwasanaeth hwnnw. Mae’r Gwasanaeth Canser Genetig yn defnyddio fideo-gynadledda i ddarparu cwnsela i nifer o bobl ledled Cymru. Mae cynlluniau eisoes ar y gweill i sicrhau y caiff y £9.75 miliwn a ddyrannwyd dan y Gronfa Cyfleoedd Newydd ei wario’n ddoeth yn unol â’n hamcanion strategol. Ni allwn fod yn hunanfodlon ynglŷn â’r sefyllfa bresennol. Fodd bynnag, mae’r sylfeini yn eu lle i sicrhau gwell triniaeth yn y dyfodol i gleifion canser yng Nghymru.
I have a different question about health statistics, which relates to the figures that the Secretary for Health and Social Services published this morning. How confident is Jane Hutt about the accuracy of these performance indicators? I am aware that surgeons at the Prince Philip Hospital in my own constituency have done some of their own validations on figures for them and found consistent inaccuracies of, overall, up to 65 per cent. I could quote many examples, but I will not as the Llywydd, quite properly, would not let me do so. However, to quote one example, the hospital has been recorded as carrying out no serious heart surgery for three years when in fact it has carried out 24 such operations in the last year. Publishing inaccurate figures has a huge impact on staff morale and also on people’s confidence in their local facilities. I believe that the Secretary for Health and Social Services was asked by consultants not to publish these figures because they are inaccurate. Can we have an assurance that when these league tables are published in future they will be based on data that has been properly validated?
Cwestiwn gwahanol sydd gennyf ynghylch ystadegau iechyd, sydd yn ymwneud â’r ffigurau a gyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol y bore yma. Pa mor hyderus yw Jane Hutt ynglŷn â chywirdeb y mynegyddion perfformiad hyn? Yr wyf yn ymwybodol fod llawfeddygon yn Ysbyty’r Tywysog Philip yn fy etholaeth wedi arfarnu rhai o’u ffigurau hwy drostynt eu hunain ac wedi canfod gwallau cyson o hyd at 65 y cant, yn gyffredinol. Gallwn ddyfynnu sawl enghraifft, ond ni wnaf gan na fyddai’r Llywydd, yn berffaith briodol, yn caniatáu imi wneud hynny. Fodd bynnag, a dyfynnu un enghraifft, ers tair blynedd cofnodwyd nad yw’r ysbyty wedi cyflawni unrhyw lawfeddygaeth ddifrifol ar y galon, tra’i fod mewn gwirionedd wedi cyflawni 24 llawdriniaeth o’r fath yn y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae cyhoeddi ffigurau anghywir yn cael effaith ysgytwol ar forâl y staff ac ar hyder pobl yn eu cyfleusterau lleol. Credaf fod ymgynghorwyr wedi gofyn i’r Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol beidio â chyhoeddi’r ffigurau hyn gan eu bod yn anghywir. A gawn ni sicrwydd pan gyhoeddir y tablau cynghrair hyn yn y dyfodol y byddant wedi’u seilio ar ddata a ddilyswyd yn iawn?
I will explain to Assembly Members that Helen Mary Jones is referring to the performance tables, and the report on clinical indicators, that were published this morning. I made the point this morning that, because Llanelli disputed its statistics, those figures were not included. It is important to note that. In producing information of this kind we must have the confidence of clinicians and the trust of management that the data we collect—which is also data that they collect for us—is correct and robust. It is important that we have correct data in performance tables and for clinical indicators, as we produce these figures each year.
Egluraf i Aelodau’r Cynulliad fod Helen Mary Jones yn cyfeirio at y tablau perfformiad, a’r adroddiad ar fynegyddion clinigol, a gyhoeddwyd y bore yma. Gwneuthum y pwynt y bore yma fod Llanelli yn anghytuno â’r ystadegau ac felly nad oedd y ffigurau hynny wedi’u cynnwys. Mae’n bwysig nodi hynny. Wrth gynhyrchu gwybodaeth o’r math hwn rhaid inni gael hyder clinigwyr ac ymddiriedaeth rheolwyr fod y data a gasglwn—sydd hefyd yn ddata a gesglir ganddynt hwy drosom—yn gywir a chadarn. Mae’n bwysig fod gennym ddata cywir mewn tablau perfformiad ac ar gyfer mynegyddion clinigol, gan y cyhoeddwn y ffigurau hyn bob blwyddyn.
However, it is also important that information is made available. For example, the good news that came out of those tables, namely the improvements in service, should be made available. Those improvements are only evident if you can compare the results from year to year. It is important that we learn from any feedback about these tables but there are some good examples of improved performance, for example, in relation to waiting times, as well as the indicators in relation to standards of service. I endorse strongly the good work that is being done by the NHS in Wales at all levels, as shown in these performance tables and in the figures on waiting times. I am glad that the new waiting time strategy group will meet for the first time on 9 December to begin dealing with these issues, which I know are of great concern.
Fodd bynnag, mae’n bwysig hefyd fod gwybodaeth ar gael. Er enghraifft, dylai’r newyddion da a ddaeth allan o’r tablau hynny, sef y gwelliannau yn y gwasanaeth, fod ar gael. Dim ond os gallwch gymharu’r canlyniadau o flwyddyn i flwyddyn y mae’r gwelliannau hynny’n amlwg. Mae’n bwysig inni ddysgu oddi wrth unrhyw ymateb i’r tablau hyn, ond mae rhai enghreifftiau da o well perfformiad, er enghraifft, yng nghyswllt amserau aros, ynghyd â’r mynegyddion ynghylch safonau gwasanaeth. Yr wyf yn cymeradwyo’n gryf y gwaith da a wneir gan yr NHS yng Nghymru ar bob lefel, fel a amlygir yn y tablau perfformiad hyn ac yn y ffigurau ar amserau aros. Yr wyf yn falch y bydd y grŵp strategaeth amserau aros newydd yn cwrdd am y tro cyntaf ar 9 Rhagfyr i ddechrau trafod y materion hyn, sydd, mi wn, o ddiddordeb mawr.
When I introduced the topic of breast cancer in a short debate, I welcomed the fact that you said that you would consider the possibility of extending the regular screening of women to women over the age of 64, because that age group is at greater risk from breast cancer than younger age groups. Have you made any progress on that?
Pan gyflwynais destun canser y fron mewn dadl fer, croesewais y ffaith y dywedasoch y byddech yn ystyried y posibilrwydd o ehangu’r sgrinio rheolaidd ar fenywod i fenywod dros 64 oed, gan fod y grŵp oedran hwnnw mewn mwy o berygl gan ganser y fron nag oedrannau iau. Ydych chi wedi symud ymlaen o gwbl ar hynny?
That is an important point. At the moment, the service screens women over 64 at their request. This goes back to the issue of whether we should extend the screening programme to cover more age groups and not just have screening on a voluntary or request basis for the older age group. Interestingly, it appears from Breast Test Wales that people want to continue to have screening, because at that age they are used to having the screening service. I am exploring with Breast Test Wales the cost and clinical effectiveness of extending services in that way. However, it must also be a question of promoting the service. The service is available and people can request it. Breast Test Wales is important. We have a higher take-up rate for screening in Wales than in England. Some 77 per cent of women asked to come for a screening take up the offer in Wales, compared with 70 per cent in England. There are the permanent sites in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno and also the outreach service, which visits communities, particularly in the Valleys, and sets up in portacabins outside supermarkets and in car parks. I am glad that you brought that back to our attention. I will report back on our progress on that issue.
Dyna bwynt pwysig. Ar hyn o bryd, mae’r gwasanaeth yn sgrinio menywod dros 64 os gofynnant am hynny. Mae hyn yn mynd yn ôl i’r cwestiwn a ddylem ni ehangu’r rhaglen sgrinio i gynnwys mwy o grwpiau oedran ac nid dim ond cael sgrinio ar sail wirfoddol neu ar gais i’r grŵp oedran hŷn. Yn ddiddorol, mae’n ymddangos yn ôl Bron-brawf Cymru fod pobl eisiau parhau i gael eu sgrinio, oherwydd ar yr oed hwnnw maent wedi arfer cael y gwasanaeth sgrinio. Yr wyf yn ymchwilio gyda Bron-brawf Cymru i gost ac effeithiolrwydd clinigol ehangu gwasanaethau yn y modd hwnnw. Fodd bynnag, rhaid meddwl hefyd am hyrwyddo’r gwasanaeth. Mae’r gwasanaeth ar gael a gall pobl ofyn amdano. Mae Bron-brawf Cymru’n bwysig. Mae gennym gyfradd uwch o gymryd y profion yng Nghymru nag yn Lloegr. Bydd rhyw 77 y cant o fenywod y gofynnir iddynt ddod i gael eu sgrinio yn derbyn y cynnig yng Nghymru, o gymharu â 70 y cant yn Lloegr. Mae gennym y safleoedd parhaol yng Nghaerdydd, Abertawe a Llandudno a hefyd y gwasanaeth allanol, fydd yn ymweld â chymunedau, yn enwedig yn y Cymoedd, a geir mewn portacabins y tu allan i uwchfarchnadoedd ac mewn meysydd parcio. Yr wyf yn falch eich bod wedi dod â hynny yn ôl i’n sylw. Rhoddaf adroddiad yn ôl ar y datblygiadau ar y mater hwn.
Darpariaeth ar gyfer Llawfeddygaeth ar yr Arennau
Provision for Kidney Related Surgery
Is Jane Hutt satisfied with the existing level of provision for kidney related surgery in Wales? (OAQ2348)
A yw Jane Hutt yn fodlon â lefel bresennol y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer llawfeddygaeth ar yr arennau yng Nghymru? (OAQ2348)
The provision for general kidney related surgery commissioned in Wales is a matter for health authorities and, at present, I am unaware of any major problems. However, concerns have been raised with me and the National Assembly for Wales on the level of provision for renal transplantation. Perhaps that is what you wanted me to respond to, Brian.
Mater i awdurdodau iechyd yw’r ddarpariaeth ar gyfer llawfeddygaeth gyffredinol ar yr arennau a gomisiynir yng Nghymru, ac ar hyn o bryd nid wyf yn ymwybodol o unrhyw broblemau. Fodd bynnag, mynegwyd pryderon wrthyf i a’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ynghylch lefel y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer trawsblannu arennau. Efallai mai dyna beth yr oeddech am imi ymateb iddo, Brian.
Renal transplantation is undertaken at the University Hospital of Wales. As a result of recent concerns, the Specialist Health Services Commission for Wales has brought forward its planned review of the service. The Commission was set up by health authorities to plan and purchase specialist services throughout Wales. Its review will assist all health authorities in determining the future level of provision for renal transplantation. It will also consider the renal transplantation facilities available at the University Hospital of Wales, their configuration and quality, as well as the present waiting times for this speciality treatment. The review commenced last month and is due for completion by February next year.
Gwneir trawsblaniadau arennau yn Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru. O ganlyniad i bryderon diweddar, mae Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol Cymru wedi dod â’i adolygiad arfaethedig o’r gwasanaeth ymlaen. Sefydlwyd y Comisiwn gan awdurdodau iechyd i gynllunio a phrynu gwasanaethau arbenigol drwy Gymru gyfan. Bydd ei adolygiad yn cynorthwyo pob awdurdod iechyd i benderfynu ar lefel y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer trawsblannu arennau i’r dyfodol. Bydd hefyd yn ystyried y cyfleusterau trawsblannu arennau sydd ar gael yn Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru, eu ffurfwedd a’u hansawdd, yn ogystal â’r amserau aros presennol am y driniaeth arbenigol hon. Dechreuodd yr adolygiad y mis diwethaf a bwriedir ei gwblhau erbyn mis Chwefror nesaf.
That is encouraging because I have constituents and friends who are transplantees. The Welsh Kidney Patients Association has also contacted me about the lack of facilities. Are you happy that two surgeons are leaving because of the perceived lack of commitment to the facilities? If you are unhappy, what are you going to do about it? Do we have to wait until February for action?
Mae hynny’n galonogol oherwydd mae gennyf etholwyr a chyfeillion sydd wedi cael trawsblaniad. Mae Cymdeithas Cleifion Arennau Cymru wedi cysylltu â mi hefyd ynghylch y diffyg cyfleusterau. Ydych chi’n hapus fod dau lawfeddyg yn gadael oherwydd y diffyg ymrwymiad a welir tuag at y cyfleusterau? Os ydych chi’n anhapus, beth ydych chi’n mynd i’w wneud ynglŷn â’r peth? Oes raid inni aros tan fis Chwefror cyn y gwneir dim?
I was not at all happy with the University Hospital of Wales situation, which emerged through the press. I spoke to the surgeon who was leaving for a prestigious job in London. I understand that the trust has already advertised for a replacement for her. One renal consultant surgeon had already resigned, and that generated much concern. However, last week the hospital appointed a locum to start in January, at a date to be agreed.
Nid oeddwn yn hapus o gwbl gyda sefyllfa Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru, a ddaeth allan drwy’r wasg. Siaradais â’r llawfeddyg a oedd yn gadael am swydd uchel yn Llundain. Deallaf fod yr ymddiriedolaeth eisoes wedi hysbysebu am rywun i gymryd ei lle. Yr oedd un llawfeddyg arennol ymgynghorol eisoes wedi ymddiswyddo, ac yr oedd hynny wedi achosi pryder mawr. Fodd bynnag, yr wythnos diwethaf penododd yr ysbyty locwm i ddechrau ym mis Ionawr, ar ddyddiad i’w gytuno.
There is a shortage of renal transplant consultants in the UK. It is therefore important that we attract people to Wales and keep them here. I have been keeping a close eye on that. We are confident that we will succeed in securing a replacement for the surgeon that has gone to London. We will take the matter on board.
Mae prinder ymgynghorwyr trawsblannu arennau yn y DU. Mae’n bwysig felly ein bod yn denu pobl i Gymru ac yn eu cadw yma. Bûm yn cadw llygad barcud ar hynny. Yr ydym yn hyderus y llwyddwn i sicrhau llawfeddyg i gymryd lle’r un a aeth i Lundain. Bydd y mater yn derbyn sylw.
Tomorrow, I will meet Neil Harvey, the Chair of the Welsh Kidney Patients Association, as you may know, Brian. I have already met one of the association’s vice presidents, following the concerns that were raised. I will discuss those concerns further with Neil Harvey. However, I understand that the University Hospital of Wales and Llandough Hospital NHS Trust and the Welsh Kidney Patients Association have now issued a joint press statement to confirm their joint commitment to ensuring the continuation and development of renal transplantation at the University Hospital of Wales, and I warmly welcome and support that pledge. I hope that reassures you, Brian.
Yfory, byddaf yn cyfarfod â Neil Harvey, Cadeirydd Cymdeithas Cleifion Arennau Cymru, fel y gwyddoch, efallai, Brian. Yr wyf eisoes wedi cwrdd ag un o is-lywyddion y gymdeithas, yn dilyn y pryderon a fynegwyd. Trafodaf y pryderon hynny ymhellach gyda Neil Harvey. Fodd bynnag, deallaf fod Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru ac Ymddiriedolaeth NHS Ysbyty Llandochau a Chymdeithas Cleifion Arennau Cymru bellach wedi cyhoeddi cyd-ddatganiad i’r wasg i gadarnhau eu cyd-ymrwymiad i sicrhau parhad a datblygiad trawsblannu arennau yn Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru, a chroesawaf a chefnogaf yr addewid honno’n frwd. Gobeithiaf fod hynny’n tawelu’ch meddwl, Brian.
Because it is a service for Wales?
Am ei fod yn wasanaeth i Gymru?
Does the Assembly Secretary agree that, as with the previous question, the dramatic cuts in your administration’s capital building programme mean that we cannot now invest in the best possible facilities and equipment, leading to a reduction in the level of service and in our ability to attract top level staff?
A ydyw Ysgrifennydd y Cynulliad yn cytuno, fel yn achos y cwestiwn blaenorol, fod y toriadau dramatig yn rhaglen adeiladu cyfalaf eich gweinyddiaeth yn golygu na allwn mwyach fuddsoddi yn y cyfleusterau a’r offer gorau posibl, a bod hynny’n arwain at ddirywiad yn lefel y gwasanaeth ac yn ein gallu i ddenu staff o’r radd flaenaf?
Issues relating to capital are not relevant to the service at the University Hospital of Wales. As I have indicated, this is about having first-class surgeons at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to serve the whole of Wales. There is a dedicated team in that hospital. Care of transplant patients, both before and after transplantation, is absolutely vital. We must concentrate on the need to attract people to Wales and keep them here. The Specialist Health Services Commission is now looking at the whole issue of kidney and renal transplantation. Its report will advise us whether other strategic developments are needed. However, we must await that report. I urge that that report should be completed more quickly than has been anticipated. We will have that report and we will respond to it. No doubt, Neil Harvey will express his expectations clearly tomorrow. It is important that we consider the Kidney Patients Association’s opinion in responding to these concerns.
Nid yw materion sydd yn ymwneud â chyfalaf yn berthnasol i’r gwasanaeth yn Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru. Fel y dywedais, mater ydyw o gael llawfeddygon o’r dosbarth cyntaf yn Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru yng Nghaerdydd i wasanaethu Cymru gyfan. Mae tîm ymroddedig yn yr ysbyty hwnnw. Mae gofalu am gleifion trawsblaniad, cyn ac wedi’r trawsblaniad, yn gwbl allweddol. Rhaid inni ganolbwyntio ar yr angen i ddenu pobl i Gymru a’u cadw yma. Mae’r Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd Arbenigol yn edrych yn awr ar holl gwestiwn trawsblannu arennau. Bydd ei adroddiad yn ein cynghori a oes angen datblygiadau strategol eraill. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni aros am yr adroddiad hwnnw. Anogaf y dylid cwblhau’r adroddiad hwnnw’n gyflymach nag a ragwelwyd. Fe gawn yr adroddiad hwnnw ac ymatebwn iddo. Mae’n siŵr y bydd Neil Harvey’n mynegi ei ddisgwyliadau yn glir yfory. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn ystyried barn y Gymdeithas Cleifion Arennau wrth ymateb i’r pryderon hyn.
Does Jane Hutt accept that since this service moved from the Cardiff Royal Infirmary to the University Hospital of Wales, there has been a marked deterioration in it, with people now having to travel over an hour after an operation because there are no adequate facilities to keep them in the hospital? Waiting times have continued to rise. One of my constituents has been waiting two and a half years for surgery. What are you doing to address increasing waiting times?
A ydyw Jane Hutt yn derbyn y bu dirywiad amlwg yn y gwasanaeth hwn ers iddo symud o Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd i Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru, a bod pobl bellach yn gorfod teithio dros awr ar ôl llawdriniaeth oherwydd nad oes cyfleusterau digonol i’w cadw yn yr ysbyty? Mae amserau aros wedi dal i godi. Mae un o f’etholwyr yn aros ers dwy flynedd a hanner am lawdriniaeth. Beth ydych chi’n ei wneud i ddelio â’r cynnydd mewn amserau aros?
I mentioned that point earlier when I talked about the Health Services Commission’s report that we have urged forward. It must look at waiting times, which are unacceptable in these circumstances. Cardiff Royal Infirmary services transferred to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff and transfers must be handled and monitored carefully to ensure that there is an appropriate restructuring of services. These issues have been raised by the Kidney Patients Association and I will talk to its representatives tomorrow. As a result of the public focus, issues of renal transplantation and patient care have come into the public arena more, initially in an unfortunate way. However, it has highlighted the need to ensure that our services are well cared for, because it is critical that Wales has a renal transplantation unit. I have supported that from the beginning. I will explore tomorrow whether the Kidney Patients Association feels that appropriate action has been taken on those issues.
Crybwyllais y pwynt hwnnw’n gynharach pan oeddwn yn sôn am adroddiad y Comisiwn Gwasanaethau Iechyd a anogwyd ymlaen gennym ni. Rhaid iddo edrych ar amserau aros, sydd yn annerbyniol yn yr amgylchiadau hyn. Rhaid i wasanaethau a drosglwyddwyd o Ysbyty Brenhinol Caerdydd i Ysbyty Prifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd gael eu trafod a’u monitro’n ofalus er mwyn sicrhau y caiff y gwasanaethau eu hailstrwythuro’n briodol. Codwyd y materion hyn gan y Gymdeithas Cleifion Arennau a byddaf yn siarad â’i chynrychiolwyr yfory. O ganlyniad i’r sylw cyhoeddus, daeth materion trawsblannu arennau a gofal am gleifion i’r arena gyhoeddus yn fwy, a hynny mewn ffordd anffodus ar y dechrau. Fodd bynnag, y mae wedi tanlinellu’r angen i sicrhau y gofelir am ein gwasanaethau yn dda, oherwydd mae’n allweddol fod gan Gymru uned drawsblannu arennau. Yr wyf wedi cefnogi hynny o’r dechrau. Byddaf yn archwilio yfory a yw’r Gymdeithas Cleifion Arennau’n teimlo y gweithredwyd yn briodol ar y materion hynny.
Polisïau Staff-gyfeillgar ar gyfer Nyrsys
Employee-friendly Policies for Nurses
What plans does Jane Hutt have for employee-friendly policies to encourage nurses to stay in their profession? (OAQ2319)
Pa gynlluniau sydd gan Jane Hutt i ddatblygu polisïau staff-gyfeillgar er mwyn annog nyrsys i aros yn eu proffesiwn? (OAQ2319)
This is a critical issue that is close to my heart, from an equal opportunity perspective. It can also help realise the potential of the national strategic framework for nursing that we launched in July. The implementation of employee-friendly policies is a matter for individual health trusts to consider in line with local need. However, with the advent of the Assembly we now have an opportunity for a more strategic approach, and we will publish a new human resources strategy early next year. We must include extending flexible working practices and family-friendly policies in the strategy’s objectives.
Dyma fater allweddol sydd yn agos at fy nghalon, o safbwynt cyfle cyfartal. Gall hefyd helpu i gyflawni potensial y fframwaith strategol cenedlaethol ar gyfer nyrsio a lansiwyd gennym ym mis Gorffennaf. Mater i ymddiriedolaethau iechyd unigol ei ystyried yn ôl anghenion lleol yw gweithredu polisïau staff-gyfeillgar. Fodd bynnag, gyda dyfodiad y Cynulliad mae gennym bellach gyfle i weithio mewn ffordd fwy strategol, a byddwn yn cyhoeddi strategaeth adnoddau dynol newydd yn gynnar y flwyddyn nesaf. Rhaid inni gynnwys ymestyn arferion gweithio hyblyg a pholisïau teulu-gyfeillgar yn amcanion y strategaeth.
There are a number of childcare and nursery facilities, which are important for the nursing profession, and I was pleased to recently open a new nursery in Bryn-y-Neuadd Hospital. I am interested to see how the working families tax credit will help nurses, because that is for people who do not receive the higher pay levels. Childcare, family-friendly working practices and flexible shift working to enable staff to meet family needs are vital, as we lose nurses because of the inflexible hours. I have made the point to health trusts and our human resources director that there should be appropriate systems that enable nurses to stay in the service and not be forced into agencies or into other professions because of a lack of employee-friendly policies.
Mae nifer o gyfleusterau gofal plant a meithrinfeydd, sydd yn bwysig i’r proffesiwn nyrsio, a chefais y pleser yn ddiweddar o agor meithrinfa newydd yn Ysbyty Bryn-y-Neuadd. Mae gennyf ddiddordeb mewn gweld sut y bydd y credyd treth i deuluoedd sydd yn gweithio yn helpu nyrsys, oherwydd i bobl nad ydynt yn derbyn y lefelau cyflog uwch y bwriedir hwnnw. Mae gofal plant, arferion gweithio teulu-gyfeillgar a gweithio shifftiau hyblyg i alluogi staff i ateb anghenion teulu yn hanfodol, gan ein bod yn colli nyrsys oherwydd yr oriau anhyblyg. Yr wyf wedi gwneud y pwynt i ymddiriedolaethau iechyd a’n cyfarwyddwr adnoddau dynol ni y dylai fod systemau priodol sydd yn galluogi nyrsys i aros yn y gwasanaeth a pheidio â chael eu gwthio i mewn i asiantaethau neu i broffesiynau eraill oherwydd diffyg polisïau staff-gyfeillgar.
I am sure that you are aware the latest figures show that there are over 600 nursing vacancies in Wales. A survey commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing last year states that over 95 per cent of nurses who are in charge of wards believe that patients are at some sort of risk because of the lack of nursing care. I appreciate that improving nurses’ pay and clearer career paths for nurses are being addressed. However, health trusts need to be encouraged further to improve childcare facilities for nurses to encourage them back to work. As the balance in the profession is leaning towards older rather than younger nurses, the increasing issue of care of elderly dependants must also be addressed.
Yr wyf yn siŵr eich bod yn ymwybodol fod y ffigurau diweddaraf yn dangos fod dros 600 o swyddi nyrsio gwag yng Nghymru. Mae arolwg a gomisiynwyd gan y Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol y llynedd yn datgan fod dros 95 y cant o nyrsys sydd â gofal dros wardiau yn credu fod cleifion mewn rhyw fath o berygl oherwydd y diffyg gofal nyrsio. Yr wyf yn sylweddoli fod sylw’n cael ei roi i wella cyflogau nyrsys a sicrhau llwybrau gyrfaol cliriach iddynt. Fodd bynnag, mae angen annog ymddiriedolaethau iechyd ymhellach i wella cyfleusterau gofal plant i nyrsys i’w hannog yn ôl i weithio. Wrth i’r fantol yn y proffesiwn ogwyddo tuag at nyrsys hŷn yn hytrach na iau, rhaid mynd i’r afael â chwestiwn cynyddol gofalu am bobl oedrannus ddibynnol hefyd.
You have raised several points, some of which I have touched on in my response to your first question. Several trusts are now developing carers policies, for example, Gwent Community Health NHS Trust offers short-term special leave of up to two weeks paid leave, flexible working hours, job-share arrangements and unpaid career breaks, enabling people to keep their job-share posts. The Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust has a policy of allowing temporary adjustments to working practices, including alterations to shift patterns.
Yr ydych wedi codi sawl pwynt, rhai ohonynt yn rhai y cyffyrddais arnynt yn fy ymateb i’ch cwestiwn cyntaf. Mae nifer o ymddiriedolaethau erbyn hyn yn datblygu polisïau gofalwyr, er enghraifft, mae Ymddiriedolaeth NHS Iechyd Cymunedol Gwent yn cynnig gwyliau arbennig tymor byr o hyd at bythefnos gyda chyflog, oriau gweithio hyblyg, trefniadau rhannu swydd a chyfnodau di-dal allan o’r yrfa, gan alluogi pobl i gadw eu swyddi rhannu. Mae gan Ymddiriedolaeth NHS Conwy a Sir Ddinbych bolisi o ganiatáu addasu arferion gwaith dros dro, gan gynnwys newid patrymau shifftiau.
What we are doing today, I hope, is demonstrating that the Assembly wants to see these kinds of policies developed throughout Wales. We have just put the money into a carers strategy that we have all embraced wholeheartedly. The point that we made in the Health and Social Services Committee is that the carers strategy must be established universally. It is relevant to the issue of retaining our nurses who have caring responsibilities. Because the majority of nurses are still women, they have childcare and other care responsibilities. We are not as badly off as England in terms of recruitment and retention. Many young people want to go into nursing, but retention is critical. I hope that this message comes across strongly today, with you inspiring it and me responding. The message is that the human resources strategy is the right way forward. The strategy should address these issues to keep our nurses and it should recognise that career development is a pathway to improving morale.
Yr hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud heddiw, gobeithiaf, yw dangos fod y Cynulliad eisiau gweld datblygu’r mathau hyn o bolisïau ledled Cymru. Yr ydym newydd roi’r arian i mewn i strategaeth ofalwyr sydd wedi’i harddel yn frwd gennym i gyd. Y pwynt a wnaethom yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yw fod yn rhaid sefydlu’r strategaeth ofalwyr ym mhob man. Mae’n berthnasol i’r cwestiwn o gadw’n nyrsys sydd â chyfrifoldebau gofalu. Am fod y rhan fwyaf o nyrsys yn ferched o hyd, mae ganddynt gyfrifoldebau o ran gofalu am blant ac eraill. Nid ydym mor ddrwg ein byd â Lloegr yn nhermau recriwtio a chadw staff. Mae llawer o bobl ifainc eisiau mynd i mewn i faes nyrsio, ond mae’n hollbwysig eu cadw. Gobeithiaf y daw’r neges hon drosodd yn glir heddiw, gyda’ch ysbrydoliaeth chi a’m hymateb innau. Y neges yw mai’r strategaeth adnoddau dynol yw’r ffordd iawn ymlaen. Dylai’r strategaeth ddelio â’r materion hyn er mwyn cadw’n nyrsys a dylai gydnabod fod datblygiad gyrfaol yn llwybr tuag at wella morâl.
Profion Llygaid am Ddim (Manteision)
Free Eye Tests (Benefits)
A yw Jane Hutt wedi ystyried manteision darparu profion llygaid am ddim? (OAQ2337)
Has Jane Hutt considered the benefits of providing free eye tests? (OAQ2337)
Eye tests have considerable preventative health value. This is why a large proportion of the population is entitled to a free NHS sight test, especially those most at risk of eye disease or those most in need on the grounds of low income. As you know, in April 1999 the Labour Government reintroduced free eye tests for all pensioners, extending the number eligible for free eye tests from 40 per cent to 60 per cent of the population. That makes a total of about 650,000 pensioners in Wales who are eligible for free eye tests. I hope my statistics are right. I know that many Members think that free sight tests should be more widely available from the NHS in Wales. Recent legal advice suggests that the Assembly may have power to extend the categories of people who are entitled to NHS sight tests, but does not have the power to make them available to all. Another major issue is the budgetary pressures on the NHS and the priority that the extension of free eye tests should have. Therefore, I have agreed to explore these issues further with the Health and Social Services Committee and the professions involved in the promotion and delivery of optical and ophthalmic healthcare.
Mae gwerth ataliol sylweddol i brofion llygaid. Dyna pam y mae hawl gan gyfran fawr o’r boblogaeth i brawf llygaid am ddim gan yr NHS, yn enwedig y rheini sydd mewn mwyaf o berygl o glefyd ar y llygaid neu’r rhai mwyaf anghenus yn nhermau incwm isel. Fel y gwyddoch, ym mis Ebrill 1999 ailgyflwynodd y Llywodraeth Lafur brofion llygaid am ddim i bensiynwyr yn ddiwahân, gan gynyddu’r nifer sydd â hawl i brofion llygaid am ddim o 40 y cant i 60 y cant o’r boblogaeth. Mae hynny’n gwneud cyfanswm o ryw 650,000 o bensiynwyr yng Nghymru sydd â hawl i gael profion llygaid am ddim. Gobeithiaf bod fy ystadegau’n iawn. Gwn fod llawer o Aelodau’n meddwl y dylai profion llygaid am ddim fod ar gael yn fwy eang gan yr NHS yng Nghymru. Mae cyngor cyfreithiol diweddar yn awgrymu efallai fod gan y Cynulliad rym i ymestyn y categorïau o bobl sydd â hawl i brofion llygaid NHS am ddim, ond nad oes ganddo’r grym i’w cynnig i bawb. Mater pwysig arall yw’r pwysau cyllidol ar yr NHS a’r flaenoriaeth y dylid ei rhoi i ehangu darpariaeth profion llygaid am ddim. Felly, yr wyf wedi cytuno i ymchwilio i’r materion hyn ymhellach gyda’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a’r proffesiynau sydd yn ymwneud â hyrwyddo a darparu gofal iechyd optegol ac offthalmig.
Diolchaf i Jane am ei sylwadau pwysig ar bwnc sydd yn bwysig i’n plaid ni. Fel y dywedodd Jane, mae profion llygaid am ddim yn rhoi cyfle cyfartal i bobl eu cael. Byddai hynny o werth ym myd iechyd, oherwydd gall profion llygaid ddangos problemau megis glawcoma, clefyd siwgwr a phwysedd gwaed uchel. A wnaiff Jane ymuno â mi i ddatgan mai dyma’r math o bwnc y dylem eu cynnwys o fewn y gyllideb? Byddai hynny’n sicrhau y gallem ymestyn y categorïau o bobl a fyddai’n derbyn profion llygaid am ddim.
I thank Jane for her important comments on a subject that is important to our party. As Jane said, free eye tests give people equal opportunity to have them. That would be of value in the health field, as eye tests can show problems like glaucoma, diabetes and high blood pressure. Will Jane join me in stating that this is the kind of issue that we should include in the budget? That would ensure that we could extend the categories of people who would receive free eye tests.
Is Jane aware of the editorial in the British Medical Journal two years ago, when the National Assembly for Wales was just a twinkle in somebody’s eye, in which the issue of eye tests was discussed? The conclusion of that editorial was that we needed to give extending eye tests further consideration because the issue was far from clear on a scientific basis. Following that conclusion, do you agree therefore, with the statement in the Plaid Cymru manifesto that the types of treatment that should be available free on the NHS are treatments that are proven and effective interventions? The way forward is to evaluate the benefits of eye tests rather than rush into it at this stage.
A yw Jane yn ymwybodol o’r erthygl olygyddol yn y British Medical Journal ddwy flynedd yn ôl, pan nad oedd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ond yn fflach yn llygaid rhywun, lle trafodwyd cwestiwn profion llygaid? Casgliad yr erthygl olygyddol honno oedd bod angen inni roi ystyriaeth bellach i gwestiwn ehangu profion llygaid gan fod y mater ymhell o fod yn glir ar sail wyddonol. Yn sgîl y casgliad hwnnw, ydych chi’n cytuno felly gyda’r gosodiad ym maniffesto Plaid Cymru fod y mathau o driniaeth a ddylai fod ar gael am ddim ar yr NHS yn driniaethau sydd wedi’u profi ac yn effeithiol? Y ffordd ymlaen yw gwerthuso manteision profion llygaid yn hytrach na rhuthro i mewn iddynt ar hyn o bryd.
I have made clear that the Health and Social Services Committee will discuss this and talk to clinicians. I believe that that answers your point. We introduced an extension of exemptions from 1 April 1999. I was not privy to the British Medical Journal two years ago, but I read it regularly now. It is important to look at the preventative issues that Rhodri Glyn mentioned. Are we reaching the people in the community who are most at risk and vulnerable? The people who are now paying for private sight tests are families with an income above benefit level and people of working age. This matter needs a thorough debate and discussion. We must look at all the issues from the clinical perspective, the health prevention perspective, the professional perspective and from the Assembly’s perspective. As we look at this thoroughly in the Health and Social Services Committee, I am sure that we will be able to proceed in an appropriate way.
Dywedais yn glir y bydd y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol yn trafod hyn ac yn siarad â chlinigwyr. Credaf fod hynny’n ateb eich pwynt chi. Yr ydym wedi ehangu’r niferoedd a gaiff brofion am ddim ers 1 Ebrill 1999. Ni welais y British Medical Journal ddwy flynedd yn ôl, ond erbyn hyn byddaf yn ei ddarllen yn rheolaidd. Mae’n bwysig edrych ar y cwestiynau ataliol a godwyd gan Rhodri Glyn. A ydym ni’n cyrraedd y bobl yn y gymuned sydd mewn mwyaf o berygl ac yn fwyaf bregus? Y bobl sydd yn talu am brofion llygaid preifat bellach yw teuluoedd gydag incwm uwch na lefel budd-dal a phobl mewn oed gweithio. Mae angen dadl a thrafodaeth drwyadl ar y mater hwn. Rhaid inni edrych ar bob cwestiwn o’r safbwynt clinigol, y safbwynt ataliol, y safbwynt proffesiynol ac o safbwynt y Cynulliad. Wrth inni roi sylw manwl i hyn yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, yr wyf yn siŵr y llwyddwn i symud ymlaen mewn modd priodol.
Thank you, Jane, for your kind words about eye tests in general and the extension of the categories of people who will be allowed to have free tests. Do you agree that a fair amount of work has been done on eye tests? Perhaps Brian needs to update his reading from two years ago. One can increase the likelihood of the detection of glaucoma using a combination of three glaucoma eye tests: ophthalmoscopy, perimetry and tonometry. Do you agree that we first need to promote the use of those three glaucoma eye tests?
Diolch, Jane, am eich geiriau caredig am brofion llygaid yn gyffredinol ac am ehangu’r categorïau o bobl fydd â hawl i gael profion am ddim. Ydych chi’n cytuno fod cryn dipyn o waith wedi’i wneud ar brofion llygaid? Efallai fod angen i Brian ddiweddaru ei ddarllen o ddwy flynedd yn ôl. Gellir cynyddu’r tebygolrwydd o ddarganfod glawcoma gan ddefnyddio cyfuniad o dri phrawf llygaid ar gyfer glawcoma: offthalmosgopeg, perimetreg a thonometreg. Ydych chi’n cytuno fod angen inni yn gyntaf hyrwyddo defnydd o’r tri phrawf llygaid hynny ar gyfer glawcoma?
That is helpful. We are fortunate to have two general practitioners in our midst who both sit on the Health and Social Services Committee. Our pharmacists also contribute. It is important that we listen to the experts’ view on who is most at risk and vulnerable. I have talked to the Welsh Optical Committee and they raised the issue of a more equitable low-vision service. We need to look across the board at preventative care as well as treatment in relation to optical or ophthalmic services.
Mae hynny’n fuddiol. Yr ydym yn ffodus o gael dau feddyg teulu yn ein plith sydd ill dau’n eistedd ar y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Ceir cyfraniadau gan ein fferyllwyr hefyd. Mae’n bwysig ein bod yn gwrando ar farn yr arbenigwyr ynghylch pwy sydd mewn mwyaf o berygl ac yn fwyaf bregus. Yr wyf wedi siarad â Phwyllgor Optegol Cymru a chodasant hwy’r cwestiwn o wasanaeth tecach i rai gwan eu golwg. Mae angen inni edrych ar draws y bwrdd ar ofal ataliol yn ogystal â thriniaeth mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau optegol neu offthalmig.
Cwestiynau i’r Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Hyfforddiant Ôl-16
Questions to the Secretary for Post-16 Education and Training
Benthyciadau Myfyrwyr (Ceisiadau am Gredyd Treth Teulu)
Student Loans (Family Tax Credit Applications)
Has the Secretary for Post-16 Education and Training had discussions with the Secretary of State with responsibility for social security about the decision of the Benefits Agency to class student loans as ‘income’ when applications are made for family tax credit? (OAQ2323)
A yw’r Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Hyfforddiant Ôl-16 wedi cael trafodaethau gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol sydd yn gyfrifol am nawdd cymdeithasol ynghylch penderfyniad yr Asiantaeth Fudd-daliadau i ddiffinio benthyciadau myfyrwyr fel ‘incwm’ wrth ystyried ceisiadau am gredyd treth teulu? (OAQ2323)
Tom Middlehurst The Secretary for Post-16 Education and Training spoken in English p. 14
Tom Middlehurst Yr Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Hyfforddiant Ôl-16 siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 14
No, I have not. Jenny will be well aware that the responsibility for financial support for students rests with the Department for Education and Employment for both England and Wales. That function has not been devolved to the Assembly.
Nac ydwyf. Bydd Jenny’n gwybod fod y cyfrifoldeb am gefnogaeth ariannol i fyfyrwyr yn aros gyda’r Adran Addysg a Chyflogaeth dros Gymru a Lloegr fel ei gilydd. Ni ddatganolwyd y swyddogaeth honno i’r Cynulliad.
I am aware that the function has not been devolved, but you should legitimately take an interest in this because of its impact on recruitment in Wales. Students who apply for family tax credit—and they are, by definition, the mature students that we want to encourage back into education—are hit by a double whammy. If they apply for a student loan and receive it and then apply for family tax credit, they are rejected because they are deemed to have received an income. However, if they apply for access funds from their university, without applying for their loan, in order to apply for family tax credit, they are sent away by their university to apply for their loan because they are deemed not to have fully availed themselves of the money to which they are entitled. It is already difficult enough to attract students, particularly mature students, into higher education because of tuition fees. Do you agree that you need to make urgent representations to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to try and overcome this technicality?
Yr wyf yn ymwybodol na ddatganolwyd y swyddogaeth, ond mae hyn yn rhywbeth y dylech yn wirioneddol gymryd diddordeb ynddo oherwydd ei effaith ar recriwtio yng Nghymru. Caiff myfyrwyr sydd yn gwneud cais am gredyd treth teulu—a hwy, drwy ddiffiniad, yw’r myfyrwyr aeddfed yr ydym eisiau eu denu’n ôl i addysg—eu taro gan ergyd ddeublyg. Os gwnânt gais am fenthyciad myfyriwr, a’i gael, a chais wedyn am gredyd treth teulu, cânt eu gwrthod am y bernir eu bod wedi derbyn incwm. Fodd bynnag, os gwnânt gais am arian mynediad gan eu prifysgol, heb ofyn am eu benthyciad, er mwyn gwneud cais am gredyd treth teulu, mae eu prifysgol yn eu hanfon i ffwrdd i wneud cais am eu benthyciad gan farnu nad ydynt wedi manteisio’n llawn ar yr arian y mae ganddynt hawl i’w gael. Mae’n ddigon anodd eisoes denu myfyrwyr, yn enwedig myfyrwyr aeddfed, i mewn i addysg uwch oherwydd ffioedd dysgu. Ydych chi’n cytuno fod angen i chi bwyso ar fyrder ar yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Addysg a Chyflogaeth er mwyn ceisio goresgyn y pwynt technegol hwn?
There are several points in your supplementary question, Jenny. Income support is not an income-related benefit. Any available income, be it loaned income or otherwise, is taken into account when calculating entitlements. Ignoring the availability of the loan would be unfair to the majority of students who are not entitled to income support, as well as being contrary to the whole principle on which income-related benefits are paid.
Mae nifer o bwyntiau yn eich cwestiwn atodol, Jenny. Nid yw cymorth incwm yn fudd-dal incwm-berthnasol. Caiff unrhyw incwm sydd ar gael, boed incwm wedi’i fenthyg neu fel arall, ei ystyried wrth gyfrifo hawliau. Byddai anwybyddu’r benthyciad sydd ar gael yn annheg i’r mwyafrif o fyfyrwyr sydd heb hawl i gael cymorth incwm, yn ogystal â bod yn groes i’r holl egwyddor y tu cefn i fudd-daliadau incwm-berthnasol.
There are concerns, but if we look at student numbers and the current out-turn from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, we see that applications to higher education establishments are up—albeit marginally—2 per cent in England and about 1.5 per cent in Wales. The measures taken by this Government have assisted rather than hindered the maintenance and progress of student numbers.
Y mae pryderon, ond os edrychwn ar niferoedd myfyrwyr a’r niferoedd cyfredol a ddaw allan drwy’r Gwasanaeth Mynediad i Brifysgolion a Cholegau (UCAS), gwelwn fod ceisiadau i sefydliadau addysg uwch ar i fyny—er mai o fymryn yn unig—2 y cant yn Lloegr a thua 1.5 y cant yng Nghymru. Mae’r camau a gymerwyd gan y Llywodraeth hon wedi helpu yn hytrach nag amharu ar gynnal a chynyddu niferoedd myfyrwyr.
I am confident that the range of measures that we are taking to relieve hardship, to support students and to assist them into higher education are positive ones that will yield real benefits. There will be an opportunity for the Assembly to consider this issue as part of the review of higher education that will begin in the Post-16 Education and Training Committee next year. I am certain that Members will avail themselves of that opportunity.
Yr wyf yn hyderus fod y camau yr ydym yn eu cymryd i liniaru caledi, i gefnogi myfyrwyr ac i’w helpu i mewn i addysg uwch yn rhai cadarnhaol a fydd yn ildio gwir fanteision. Bydd cyfle i’r Cynulliad ystyried y mater hwn fel rhan o’r adolygiad o addysg uwch a fydd yn dechrau yn y Pwyllgor Addysg a Hyfforddiant Ôl-16 y flwyddyn nesaf. Yr wyf yn sicr y gwnaiff Aelodau fanteisio ar y cyfle hwnnw.
On the subject of support for students, will Tom Middlehurst outline any representations that he has received on student hardship, particularly on the damaging impact of tuition fees? I note with interest his comments that the number of students going to university has increased, but I remind him that the rate of increase was lower this year than last year.
Ar bwnc cefnogaeth i fyfyrwyr, a wnaiff Tom Middlehurst amlinellu unrhyw sylwadau a ddaeth i’w law ynghylch caledi myfyrwyr, yn enwedig yng nghyswllt effaith niweidiol ffioedd dysgu? Nodaf gyda diddordeb ei sylwadau fod y nifer o fyfyrwyr sydd yn mynd i brifysgol wedi codi, ond fe’i hatgoffaf fod cyfradd y cynnydd yn is eleni nag yr oedd y llynedd.
Theatr Gwent
Gwent Theatre
Can the Assembly give any assistance to Gwent Theatre following the decision by the Arts Council of Wales to cease funding the theatre for the next financial year? (OAQ2399)
A all y Cynulliad roi unrhyw gymorth i Theatr Gwent yn dilyn penderfyniad Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru i beidio ag ariannu’r theatr yn y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf? (OAQ2399)
All funding for arts in Wales is channelled through the Arts Council of Wales. The Council is responsible for allocating funds between different organisations. Following a bidding process that involved independent assessors, the Arts Council of Wales has decided that Theatr Iolo should provide theatre for young people in Gwent over the next three years. Theatr Iolo will provide schools in Gwent and the eastern Valleys with a full programme of high-quality productions.
Caiff pob arian ar gyfer y celfyddydau yng Nghymru ei sianelu drwy Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru. Mae’r Cyngor yn gyfrifol am ddyrannu arian rhwng gwahanol sefydliadau. Yn dilyn proses geisiadau a oedd yn cynnwys aseswyr annibynnol, penderfynodd Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru y dylai Theatr Iolo ddarparu theatr i bobl ifainc yng Ngwent dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Bydd Theatr Iolo’n darparu rhaglen lawn o gynyrchiadau o ansawdd uchel i ysgolion yng Ngwent a’r Cymoedd dwyreiniol.
I have mentioned the quality and professionalism of Gwent Theatre’s productions before. I have also referred to what I—and, I believe, many others—see as the inadequacies of the Arts Council of Wales’s consultation procedure, in terms of some of its communication strategies, its reluctance to provide meaningful feedback, and so on. These are all valid points. I refer to the board of Gwent Theatre in terms of its probity, as there has been criticism of misinformation, and so on. The probity of the board is beyond question, although it is always possible to provide varying interpretations of statistics. What action might you be able to take to hold the Arts Council of Wales accountable for its actions in this regard?
Yr wyf wedi sôn am ansawdd a phroffesiynoldeb cynyrchiadau Theatr Gwent o’r blaen. Yr wyf hefyd wedi cyfeirio at yr hyn yr wyf fi—a llawer o bobl eraill, mi gredaf—yn ei weld fel annigonoldeb trefn ymgynghori Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, yn nhermau rhai o’i strategaethau cyfathrebu, ei amharodrwydd i roi adborth ystyrlon, ac yn y blaen. Mae’r rhain i gyd yn bwyntiau dilys. Cyfeiriaf at fwrdd Theatr Gwent yn nhermau ei onestrwydd, gan y bu beirniadaeth ynghylch rhoi gwybodaeth gamarweiniol, ac ati. Mae gonestrwydd y bwrdd uwchlaw amheuaeth, er ei bod bob amser yn bosibl dehongli ystadegau mewn ffyrdd gwahanol. Beth allech chi ei wneud i ddal Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru’n atebol am ei weithredoedd yn hyn o beth?
The Arts Council of Wales must decide how it exercises its functions under its royal charter. As the existing management statement indicates, it is for the Council to determine its artistic policy and strategy, and to make decisions about the allocation of funds. The Assembly and myself must be satisfied that the Council conducts itself properly—and I stress that word—in exercising its functions. While there may be inevitable differences of artistic opinion, there is no evidence to suggest that the Council has conducted itself improperly.
Rhaid i Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru benderfynu sut y mae’n ymarfer ei swyddogaethau dan ei siarter frenhinol. Fel y dywed y datganiad rheoli presennol, mater i’r Cyngor yw penderfynu ar ei bolisi a’i strategaeth gelfyddydol, a gwneud penderfyniadau ynghylch dosrannu arian. Rhaid i’r Cynulliad a minnau fod yn fodlon fod y Cyngor yn ymddwyn yn briodol—a thanlinellaf y gair hwnnw—wrth ymarfer ei swyddogaethau. Tra gall fod gwahaniaethau anochel o ran barn gelfyddydol, nid oes dim tystiolaeth i awgrymu fod y Cyngor wedi ymddwyn yn amhriodol.
Therefore, I have no grounds to intervene. If Members have evidence to the contrary, I would like them to draw my attention to it. If there is any suggestion of impropriety—and given my constant discussions with the Chief Executive and Chair of the Arts Council of Wales, I am bound to say that I have confidence that that is not so—there is recourse through the Ombudsman.
Felly, nid oes gennyf unrhyw sail dros ymyrryd. Os oes gan Aelodau dystiolaeth i’r gwrthwyneb, hoffwn iddynt ddod â hi i’m sylw. Os oes unrhyw awgrym o amhriodoldeb—ac yn sgîl fy nhrafodaethau cyson gyda Phrif Weithredwr a Chadeirydd Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, rhaid imi ddweud fy mod yn hyderus nad oes—gellir gweithredu drwy’r Ombwdsmon.
In response to your reference to the governing body of Gwnet Theatre, I do not question its integrity or commitment one jot. I am acutely aware of governing bodies’ work in theatre. The work is voluntary and shows a great deal of commitment to communities and to the delivery of arts in Wales. I applaud their work over the years, and this does not reflect on them. We entered into a bidding process and there would always be winners and losers. There was a detailed published criteria for organisations and companies to bid against, as well as an evaluation process. The process has been fair.
I ymateb i’ch cyfeiriad at fwrdd llywodraethol Theatr Gwent, nid wyf yn cwestiynu ei onestrwydd na’i ymroddiad un iot. Yr wyf yn ymwybodol iawn o waith cyrff llywodraethol yn y theatr. Mae’n waith gwirfoddol ac yn dangos llawer iawn o ymrwymiad i gymunedau ac i gyflwyno’r celfyddydau yng Nghymru. Yr wyf yn cymeradwyo’u gwaith dros y blynyddoedd, ac nid yw hyn yn adlewyrchiad arnynt hwy. Aethom i mewn i broses geisiadau ac yr oedd yn rhwym y byddai enillwyr a chollwyr. Cyhoeddwyd meini prawf manwl i sefydliadau a chwmnïau ymgeisio yn eu herbyn, yn ogystal â phroses werthuso. Bu’r broses yn deg.
Safon Uwch Cymraeg (Addysg Oedolion)
Welsh A-level (Adult Learning)
A all Tom Middlehurst ddweud wrth y Cynulliad pa gamau a gymerir i sicrhau y bydd cymhwyster Safon Uwch sydd wedi’i lunio’n benodol ar gyfer oedolion sydd yn astudio’r Gymraeg fel ail iaith yn parhau i fod ar gael? (OAQ2324)
Can Tom Middlehurst inform the Assembly what action will be taken to ensure that an Advanced Level qualification specially created for adults learning Welsh as a second language will continue to be available? (OAQ2324)
At present, a wide review of provision for adults learning Welsh is being undertaken by the Further Education Funding Council. Without pre-empting its recommendations, I believe that such a qualification or its equivalent will continue to be available.
Ar hyn o bryd, mae adolygiad eang o’r ddarpariaeth ar gyfer oedolion sydd yn dysgu Cymraeg yn cael ei wneud gan y Cyngor Cyllido Addysg Bellach. Heb achub y blaen ar ei argymhellion, credaf y bydd cymhwyster o’r fath neu rywbeth cyfwerth iddo yn parhau i fod ar gael.
A ydych yn cydnabod bod gwahaniaeth sylfaenol rhwng dibenion cyrsiau Safon Uwch Cymraeg a ddysgir mewn ysgolion a rhai ar gyfer oedolion? Mae pwyslais mawr ar yr elfen lafar mewn cyrsiau i oedolion, a gall y bobl sydd yn dilyn cyrsiau Cymraeg yn y Cynulliad dystio i hynny. A ydych hefyd yn ymwybodol o bryderon nifer o bobl ym maes Cymraeg i oedolion na fydd digon o le i’r elfen lafar yn y fanyleb newydd ar gyfer oedolion?
Do you recognise that there is a basic difference between the aims of Welsh A-level courses taught in schools and those for adults? There is a great emphasis on the oral element in courses for adults, and the people who are following Welsh courses in the Assembly can testify to that. Are you also aware of the concerns of many people in the field of Welsh for adults that there will not be enough room for the oral element in the new specification for adults?
The Further Education Funding Council is acutely aware of its obligations to promote the opportunities for students to learn and be assessed through the medium of Welsh. Results since 1993-94 show that success. The number of Welsh-medium courses has trebled and the number of students assessed through the medium of Welsh has doubled. That is positive. I am certain that the Further Education Funding Council is aware of the issues that you have raised but, if not, I will raise those matters with them.
Mae’r Cyngor Ariannu Addysg Bellach yn ymwybodol iawn o’r dyletswyddau sydd arno i hyrwyddo’r cyfleoedd i fyfyrwyr ddysgu a chael eu hasesu drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. Mae canlyniadau ers 1993-94 yn dangos y llwyddiant hwnnw. Mae nifer y cyrsiau cyfrwng-Cymraeg wedi treblu ac mae nifer y myfyrwyr a asesir drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg wedi dyblu. Mae hynny’n gadarnhaol. Yr wyf yn sicr fod y Cyngor Ariannu Addysg Bellach yn ymwybodol o’r materion a godwyd gennych ond os nad ydynt fe godaf innau’r materion hynny gyda hwy.
A yw’r Ysgrifennydd yn cytuno y dylai pwy bynnag sydd yn gyfrifol am yr iaith Gymraeg fod yn gallu ei siarad? Gyda llaw, sut mae’r gwersi preifat yn dod yn eu blaen?
Does the Secretary agree that whoever is responsible for the Welsh language should be able to speak it? By the way, how are the private lessons coming along?
I assume that that is a serious question. I do not think that it is absolutely essential for me to be able to speak Welsh. However, it is essential to empathise with the need to further develop, enhance and promote opportunities for people to learn Welsh, and I am attempting to do that. I freely admit that I am not a very good student. I suppose it is difficult to teach an old dog new tricks, as they say. However, I am trying my best, and it does not in any way diminish my commitment to ensuring that the Welsh language is valued by all the people of Wales, whether or not they speak it.
Yr wyf yn cymryd mai cwestiwn difrifol yw hwnnw. Nid wyf o’r farn ei bod yn gwbl hanfodol imi allu siarad Cymraeg. Fodd bynnag, y mae’n hanfodol i gydymdeimlo â’r angen i ddatblygu, gwella a hyrwyddo ymhellach gyfleoedd i bobl ddysgu Cymraeg, ac yr wyf yn ceisio gwneud hynny. Yr wyf yn cyfaddef nad wyf yn fyfyriwr da iawn. Mae’n debyg ei bod yn anodd dysgu hen gi, ys dywedant. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf yn gwneud fy ngorau, ac nid yw’n lleihau mewn unrhyw fodd fy ymrwymiad i sicrhau y caiff yr iaith Gymraeg ei gwerthfawrogi gan holl bobl Cymru, boed hwy’n siarad Cymraeg ai peidio.
Codaf bwynt o drefn dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 6.31 ynglŷn â glo rhad i lowyr a’u gweddwon. Ceisiais gyflwyno cwestiwn brys ynglŷn â’r posibilrwydd y bydd yr Adran Fasnach a Diwydiant yn anfon llythyrau i gyn-lowyr a gweddwon yn rhoi cynnig iddynt dderbyn glo o Tsieina neu Columbia yn hytrach na glo o Gymru. Yr ydych wedi gwrthod fy nghwestiwn brys, Mr Llywydd, er fy mod o’r farn ei fod yn fater brys sydd o ddiddordeb i’r cyhoedd, fel sydd yn ofynnol dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 6.31. Er bod gennyf y parch mwyaf i’ch penderfyniadau, teimlaf fod dyletswydd arnaf i godi’r pwynt hwn o drefn oherwydd pwysigrwydd y diwydiant glo i economi de Cymru.
I raise a point of order under Standing Order No. 6.31 regarding cheap coal for miners and their widows. I tried to table an urgent question about the possibility that the Department of Trade and Industry will send letters to former coal miners and widows offering them the opportunity of receiving coal from China or Columbia rather than coal from Wales. You have rejected my urgent question, Mr Presiding Officer, even though I believe that it is an urgent matter of public interest, as is required under Standing Order No. 6.31. Although I have the greatest respect for your decisions, I feel that it is my duty to raise this point of order because of the importance of the coal industry to the south Wales economy.
Ynglŷn â’r pwynt hwn o drefn, gallai fod o gymorth i’r Cynulliad pe byddwn yn egluro’r modd y gwelaf fi’r modd y rhennir y cyfrifoldebau rhwng fy nyletswyddau i yn y Cynulliad, a rhai Helen Liddell, Gweinidog yn yr Adran Fasnach a Diwydiant yn Llundain. Hi sydd yn gyfrifol am y contract, ond pe byddai yna ergyd i economi Cymru oherwydd colli swyddi ym mhwll glo’r Tŵr neu Betws neu Celtic, dyletswydd y Cynulliad fyddai creu swyddi i gymryd lle y rhai a gollwyd. Oherwydd hynny, bûm yn trafod y mater gyda Helen Liddell ac yr wyf yn fodlon trafod y mater gyda Gwenda ac unrhyw un arall sydd yn cynrychioli’r ardaloedd a fyddai’n cael eu heffeithio.
On that point of order, it could be of assistance to the Assembly if I explained the way I see the division of responsibility between my duties in the Assembly and those of Helen Liddell, Minister in the Department of Trade and Industry in London. She is responsible for the contract, but if there was a blow to the Welsh economy because of job losses in Tower, Betws or Celtic collieries, it would be the Assembly’s duty to create jobs to replace those that were lost. For that reason, I have discussed the issue with Helen Liddell and I am willing to discuss the matter with Gwenda and anybody else who represents areas that would be affected.
Further to that point of order, is it in order for Members whose urgent questions have been rejected to raise a point of order and then to receive an answer from the Assembly Secretary? As a result, other Members cannot then raise points on that matter because of the way it has been done.
Yn dilyn y pwynt hwnnw o drefn, a yw mewn trefn i Aelodau y gwrthodwyd eu cwestiynau brys godi pwynt o drefn ac wedyn gael ateb gan yr Ysgrifennydd Cynulliad? O ganlyniad i hynny, ni all Aelodau eraill godi pwyntiau ar y mater hwnnw wedyn oherwydd y ffordd y mae wedi’i wneud.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Gymraeg ac yn Saesneg t. 20
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in Welsh and English p. 20
Ymatebaf yn gyntaf i bwynt o drefn Gwenda. Nid esboniaf fy mhenderfyniad heddiw ond, yn hytrach, ddull Swyddfa’r Llywydd o weithredu ar gwestiynau brys sydd o ddiddordeb cyhoeddus. Ystyriwn bob cwestiwn yn ôl ei gyd-destun ac yn ôl y sefyllfa. Rhaid imi hefyd ystyried beth sydd yn effeithio ar Gymru ac sydd felly’n gyfrifoldeb i’r Cynulliad yn ôl Deddf Llywodraeth Cymru 1998 a’r Rheolau Sefydlog. Rhaid ystyried a yw’r cwestiwn yn ymwneud â mater brys ynteu a yw o ganlyniad i benderfyniad gan gyrff eraill ac, felly, yn fwy o gyd-ddigwyddiad nag o fater brys. Dyma oedd yr anhawster yn yr achos hwn.
in Welsh I respond first of all to Gwenda’s point of order. I will not explain my decision today but, rather, the Office of the Presiding Officer’s approach to urgent questions of public interest. We consider each question according to its context and according to the situation. I am also obliged to consider what affects Wales and is therefore part of the Assembly’s remit according to the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the Standing Orders. We must consider whether the question relates to an urgent matter or whether it results from a decision by other bodies and is, therefore, more of a coincidence than an urgent matter. That was the difficulty in this case.
Byddaf bob amser yn gofyn am wybodaeth ychwanegol gan Aelodau er mwyn gallu gwneud fy mhenderfyniad. Byddaf hefyd yn ymgynghori ag arweinyddion y pleidiau pan fo hynny’n briodol, ond yn amlach na hynny byddaf yn ymgynghori gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Cynulliad perthnasol fel sydd yn ofynnol o dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 6.31. Fel arfer, byddaf yn ymgynghori cyn gynted ag y bydd y Swyddfa yn derbyn rhybudd o’r cwestiwn, gan roi mwy na’r ddwy awr sydd yn angenrheidiol imi.
in Welsh I always ask for additional information from Members in order to be able to make my decision. I also consult with party leaders when it is appropriate, but more often than that I consult with the relevant Assembly Secretary as is required under Standing Order No. 6.31. I usually consult as soon as the Office receives notice of the question, giving me more than the required two hours.
Derbyniais nifer o geisiadau eraill am gwestiynau brys heddiw. Nid cwestiwn Gwenda Thomas yw’r unig un a wrthodwyd. Dyma’r ateb i gwestiwn Peter Black.
in Welsh I received a number of other requests for urgent questions today. Gwenda Thomas’s question is not the only one that was rejected. This is the answer to Peter Black’s question.
As on most days, I have today received a number of questions deemed urgent matters of public importance by Members. These are always difficult decisions to make. They are for the determination of this Office, but I am always happy to receive representations about the questions. I prefer to receive them outside rather than inside the Chamber, as Members might seek to raise on a point of order, issues that are not otherwise available for discussion. That is always a difficulty. Many Members raise what are not actually points of order.
yn Saesneg Fel ar y rhan fwyaf o ddiwrnodau, derbyniais heddiw nifer o gwestiynau y barnwyd eu bod yn faterion brys o bwys cyhoeddus gan Aelodau. Mae’r rhain bob amser yn benderfyniadau anodd i’w gwneud. Mater i’r Swyddfa hon yw penderfynu arnynt, ond yr wyf wastad yn hapus i dderbyn sylwadau ar y cwestiynau. Mae’n well gennyf eu derbyn y tu allan i’r Siambr yn hytrach na’r tu mewn, gan y gallai Aelodau geisio codi ar bwynt o drefn, faterion nad ydynt fel arall ar gael ar gyfer trafodaeth. Mae hynny bob amser yn anhawster. Bydd llawer o Aelodau’n codi pwyntiau sydd heb fod yn bwyntiau o drefn mewn gwirionedd.
Derbyn y Gyllideb Ddrafft
Adoption of the Draft Budget
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 21
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 21
Members may be aware that the budget motion was originally tabled under Standing Order No. 19.2 due to a typographical error. This was quickly rectified and I am satisfied that it was intended that the draft budget should be tabled under Standing Order No. 19.3. However, I am not setting a precedent for changing the detail of motions.
Efallai y bydd Aelodau’n ymwybodol y cyflwynwyd y cynnig ar y gyllideb yn wreiddiol dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 19.2 oherwydd amryfusedd teipio. Cywirwyd hynny’n gyflym ac yr wyf yn fodlon mai’r bwriad oedd cyflwyno’r gyllideb ddrafft dan Reol Sefydlog Rhif 19.3. Fodd bynnag, nid wyf yn gosod cynsail ar gyfer newid manylion cynigion.
Edwina Hart The Finance Secretary spoken in English p. 21
Edwina Hart Yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 21
I propose
Cynigiaf
Edwina Hart The Finance Secretary (continued) spoken in English p. 21
Edwina Hart Yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid (parhad) siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 21
It is my pleasure to propose the Assembly’s budget in accordance with Standing Order No. 19.3. In developing the proposals, I have noted carefully the comments made at the Plenary debate on 10 November and those made subsequently by the Subject Committees. Since the Plenary debate, extra allocations have been made available to the Welsh budget through the Chancellor’s pre-budget statement and through other allocations. I shall respond to the Committees’ views and refer to the additional allocations later.
Mae’n bleser gennyf gynnig cyllideb y Cynulliad yn unol â Rheol Sefydlog Rhif 19.3. Wrth ddatblygu’r cynigion, yr wyf wedi nodi’n ofalus y sylwadau a wnaed yn y ddadl yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ar 10 Tachwedd a’r rhai a wnaed wedyn gan y Pwyllgorau Pwnc. Ers y ddadl yn y Cyfarfod Llawn, darparwyd dyraniadau ychwanegol i’r gyllideb Gymreig drwy ddatganiad rhag-gyllidebol y Canghellor a thrwy ddyraniadau eraill. Byddaf yn ymateb i sylwadau’r Pwyllgorau ac yn cyfeirio at y dyraniadau ychwanegol yn ddiweddarach.
It is important that the Assembly understands the significance of today’s motion. The motion proposes the allocation of the Assembly’s budget for 2000-01 to sub-expenditure group level, and indicates allocations for 2001-02 and 2002-03. These figures will then be fixed and will enable health organisations, Assembly sponsored public bodies, voluntary organisations and a range of other bodies which the Assembly supports, to plan ahead for the coming financial year.
Mae’n bwysig fod y Cynulliad yn deall arwyddocâd cynnig heddiw. Mae’r cynnig yn pennu dyraniad arfaethedig cyllideb y Cynulliad am 2000-01 i lefel grwpiau is-wariant, ac yn nodi dyraniadau ar gyfer 2001-02 a 2002-03. Caiff y ffigurau hyn wedyn eu gosod, gan alluogi sefydliadau iechyd, cyrff cyhoeddus a noddir gan y Cynulliad, sefydliadau gwirfoddol a llu o gyrff eraill a gefnogir gan y Cynulliad, i gynllunio ymlaen am y flwyddyn ariannol nesaf.
Committees will then be asked to comment on the detailed allocations below sub-expenditure group level. That will be the opportunity to discuss specific allocations. For example, Members will see that we propose to increase the funding of the Teacher Training Agency, which runs recruitment campaigns and promotes teaching as a career, from £202,000 next year to £420,000. This will meet the full year’s cost of a teacher recruitment adviser for Wales and enhanced recruitment activities for Wales. This is the level of the detail. The Assembly will be asked to ratify the detailed budget in February.
Gofynnir i Bwyllgorau wedyn roi sylwadau ar y dyraniadau manwl o dan lefel grwpiau is-wariant. Dyna fydd y cyfle i drafod dyraniadau penodol. Er enghraifft, bydd Aelodau’n gweld ein bod yn bwriadu cynyddu’r arian ar gyfer yr Asiantaeth Hyfforddi Athrawon, sydd yn rhedeg ymgyrchoedd recriwtio ac yn hyrwyddo dysgu fel gyrfa, o £202,000 y flwyddyn nesaf i £420,000. Bydd hyn yn talu cost blwyddyn lawn cynghorydd recriwtio athrawon i Gymru a chynnydd mewn gweithgareddau recriwtio yng Nghymru. Dyma lefel y manylder. Gofynnir i’r Cynulliad gadarnhau’r gyllideb fanwl ym mis Chwefror.
As I said on 10 November, this is an entirely new and radical way of producing a budget. It is designed to promote inclusiveness, accountability and consensus among us. The budget proposals must be seen in the round. I hope that you will agree, following our debate today, that we have provided budget allocations that will allow the Assembly’s important policy agenda to move forward.
Fel y dywedais ar 10 Tachwedd, mae hon yn ffordd hollol newydd a radicalaidd o lunio cyllideb. Ei bwriad yw hybu cynwysoldeb, atebolrwydd a chonsensws rhyngom. Rhaid gweld cynigion y gyllideb yn eu holl agweddau. Gobeithiaf y cytunwch chi, yn dilyn ein dadl heddiw, ein bod wedi darparu dyraniadau cyllideb a fydd yn caniatáu i agenda polisi pwysig y Cynulliad symud ymlaen.
This is a distinctly Welsh budget. It focuses on the particular needs and priorities of people and communities across Wales and it targets spending where the need is greatest. This budget represents what the Assembly is here to deliver: Welsh solutions to Welsh problems. We wish we could do more, and in future years I hope that we will be able to do more. However, for this year, I am confident that we have a package of measures which will bring about significant improvements in key areas of the Assembly’s work. This is on top of the high financial baselines that we have inherited.
Mae hon yn gyllideb Gymreig iawn. Mae’n canolbwyntio ar anghenion a blaenoriaethau penodol pobl a chymunedau ledled Cymru ac yn targedu gwariant lle mae’r angen mwyaf. Mae’r gyllideb hon yn cynrychioli’r hyn y mae’r Cynulliad yma i’w gyflawni: atebion Cymreig i broblemau Cymreig. Byddai’n dda gennym allu gwneud mwy, ac yn y dyfodol yr wyf yn gobeithio y gallwn wneud mwy. Fodd bynnag, am eleni, yr wyf yn hyderus fod gennym becyn o fesurau a fydd yn ysgogi gwelliannau arwyddocaol mewn meysydd allweddol yng ngwaith y Cynulliad. Mae hyn ar ben y llinellau sylfaen ariannol uchel a etifeddwyd gennym.
Our proposals provide a 7 per cent cash increase for the national health service next year, or 4.5 per cent in real terms. We are providing a 12 per cent cash increase in education and training, or 9.5 per cent in real terms. We expect an increase of over £90 million in local authority budgets. This includes the £75 million increase already planned and the money that we have added to the revenue settlement to meet the costs of the proposed teachers’ pay and appraisal arrangements. Our proposals for local councils will allow them to increase their overall spending by nearly 6 per cent.
Mae’n cynigion yn darparu cynnydd ariannol o 7 y cant i’r gwasanaeth iechyd gwladol y flwyddyn nesaf, neu 4.5 y cant mewn termau real. Yr ydym yn darparu cynnydd ariannol o 12 y cant mewn addysg a hyfforddiant, neu 9.5 y cant mewn termau real. Disgwyliwn gynnydd o dros £90 miliwn yng nghyllidebau awdurdodau lleol. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y cynnydd o £75 miliwn sydd ar y gweill eisoes a’r arian yr ydym wedi’i ychwanegu at y cytundeb refeniw i dalu costau’r trefniadau arfaethedig ar gyfer cyflogau a gwerthuso athrawon. Bydd ein cynigion ar gyfer cynghorau lleol yn caniatáu iddynt gynyddu bron 6 y cant ar eu gwariant cyffredinol.
These are significant increases, most of which will go directly to frontline services. Therefore, before anyone tries to talk down the significance of these allocations, let us not lose sight of the full picture of the whole budget. I will now turn to the specifics.
Mae’r rhain yn godiadau sylweddol, y rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn mynd yn uniongyrchol i wasanaethau rheng flaen. Felly, cyn i neb geisio dibrisio arwyddocâd y dyraniadau hyn, peidiwn â cholli golwg ar ddarlun llawn y gyllideb gyfan. Yr wyf am droi at y manylion yn awr.
First, health. Our proposals on health mean a 7 per cent cash increase next year for the NHS. As Jane Hutt has already indicated, this will translate to a 6 per cent increase for health authorities and NHS trusts. This will provide for some 540,000 in-patients, 2.7 million outpatient attendees and 320,000 day cases to be treated. This will be the highest level of hospital activity ever seen in Wales.
Yn gyntaf, iechyd. Mae’n cynigion ni ar iechyd yn golygu cynnydd ariannol o 7 y cant y flwyddyn nesaf i’r NHS. Fel y dywedodd Jane Hutt eisoes, bydd hyn yn cyfieithu’n gynnydd o 6 y cant i awdurdodau iechyd ac ymddiriedolaethau NHS. Bydd hyn yn darparu ar gyfer trin rhyw 540,000 o gleifion mewnol, 2.7 miliwn o gleifion allanol a 320,000 o achosion dydd. Dyma fydd y lefel uchaf o weithgaredd ysbyty a welwyd erioed yng Nghymru.
The £14 million extra for the next two years from the capital modernisation fund and the invest to save budget, together with planned receipts, will fund a capital programme of £54 million over this and the next two years. That will help to deliver a coherent investment strategy in support of more efficient services, encourage joint working between health and social services and assist with financial recovery.
Bydd yr £14 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer y ddwy flynedd nesaf o’r gronfa foderneiddio cyfalaf a’r gyllideb buddsoddi i gynilo, ynghyd â’r derbyniadau a gynlluniwyd, yn ariannu rhaglen gyfalaf o £54 miliwn dros y flwyddyn hon a’r ddwy flynedd nesaf. Bydd hynny’n helpu i gyflawni strategaeth fuddsoddi gydlynol i gefnogi gwasanaethau mwy effeithiol, annog cydweithio rhwng iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol a chynorthwyo gydag adferiad ariannol.
I am also pleased to announce an additional allocation from the Treasury for this year of £7.9 million. I propose to use this money to respond to the Health and Social Services Committee’s priorities, following consultation with the Assembly Secretary for Health and Social Services. I understand the support for free eye tests, which several Assembly Members have put forward as a priority. As Jane said in her response to a question earlier this afternoon, there are a number of legal questions concerning the powers of the Assembly to extend the right to free eye tests to groups other than those that are currently exempt. We also need to consider the views of clinicians, and the question of the relative priority of extending free eye tests against other calls on the health and social services budget.
Mae’n dda gennyf gyhoeddi hefyd ddyraniad ychwanegol o £7.9 miliwn gan y Trysorlys am eleni. Bwriadaf ddefnyddio’r arian hwn i ymateb i flaenoriaethau’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ar ôl ymgynghori ag Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol y Cynulliad. Deallaf y gefnogaeth i brofion llygaid am ddim, a enwyd fel blaenoriaeth gan sawl Aelod Cynulliad. Fel y dywedodd Jane yn ei hymateb i gwestiwn yn gynharach y prynhawn yma, mae nifer o gwestiynau cyfreithiol ynglŷn â phwerau’r Cynulliad i estyn yr hawl i brofion llygaid am ddim i grwpiau ar wahân i’r rheini sydd eisoes wedi’u heithrio. Mae angen inni hefyd ystyried barn clinigwyr, a’r cwestiwn o flaenoriaeth gymharol ehangu profion llygaid am ddim yn erbyn galwadau eraill ar y gyllideb iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol.
Yr wyf yn croesawu’r datganiad ar wario rhagor o arian ar brofion llygaid am ddim.
in Welsh I welcome the announcement on spending more money on free eye tests.
I welcome this announcement. It has been a long-standing Plaid Cymru policy and it is a positive health promotion manoeuvre. The people of Wales look to the Assembly to make a difference and this commitment to eye tests will begin to make that difference.
yn Saesneg Croesawaf y cyhoeddiad hwn. Mae’n bolisi gan Blaid Cymru ers tro ac yn symudiad cadarnhaol i hybu iechyd. Mae pobl Cymru’n edrych at y Cynulliad i wneud gwahaniaeth a bydd yr ymrwymiad hwn i brofion llygaid yn dechrau gwneud y gwahaniaeth hwnnw.
Thank you. If we and the Health and Social Services Committee can be satisfied on a way forward, which responds to these legal, clinical and budgetary concerns, the Cabinet would support the extension of free eye tests in Wales. We have therefore asked Jane to consult the Committee as a matter of priority—
Diolch. Os gallwn ni a’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol fod yn fodlon ar ffordd ymlaen, sydd yn ymateb i’r pryderon cyfreithiol, clinigol a chyllidebol hyn, byddai’r Cabinet yn cefnogi ymestyn profion llygaid am ddim yng Nghymru. Yr ydym felly wedi gofyn i Jane ymgynghori â’r Pwyllgor fel mater o flaenoriaeth—
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 24
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 24
I think David Melding wants to give his Conservative support also.
Credaf fod David Melding hefyd eisiau cyfleu cefnogaeth y Ceidwadwyr.
I thank the Assembly Secretary. I wonder if you have calculated how much your payoff to Plaid Cymru to get your budget through may cost you? [ASSEMBLY MEMBERS: ‘Oh’.] Do you have a figure in mind?
Diolchaf i’r Ysgrifennydd Cynulliad. Tybed a ydych chi wedi cyfrifo cost bosibl eich bargen â Phlaid Cymru i gael eich cyllideb drwodd? [AELODAU O’R CYNULLIAD: ‘O’.] Oes gennych chi ffigur dan sylw?
I do not make any calculations of payoffs. I welcome people being responsible about the budgetary process in Wales. This is about putting budgets in place to help the nation of Wales, and sometimes we have to put aside certain differences to deliver policies that are key priorities not only for Plaid Cymru but for Members of the Labour party and others in this Chamber. I will not be diverted off course from making the right decisions on a budget for the people of Wales. I will now continue.
Ni fyddaf yn cyfrifo unrhyw fargeinion. Croesawaf pobl sydd yn gyfrifol ynghylch y broses gyllidebol yng Nghymru. Mater o bennu cyllidebau i helpu’r genedl Gymreig yw hyn, ac weithiau mae’n rhaid inni roi ambell wahaniaeth o’r neilltu i sicrhau polisïau sydd yn flaenoriaethau allweddol nid yn unig i Blaid Cymru ond i Aelodau’r Blaid Lafur ac eraill yn y Siambr hon. Ni chaf fy ngwyro oddi ar y llwybr o wneud y penderfyniadau cywir ar gyllideb i bobl Cymru. Af ymlaen yn awr.
We have therefore asked Jane to consult the Committee, as a matter of priority, on whether and how to take this forward in the context of the broader primary health care strategy. We will be allocating funds within the health and social services budget to enable an extension of free eye tests to be implemented from 1 October 2000, should the Committee take the view that this is justified. In any event, the £7.9 million will be available to fund health improvements, including more capital investment and the enhancement of mental health services in Wales, which is a priority for the Committee. There are a number of neutral technical changes to the health budgets that have been accepted by the Committee and are reflected in the tables.
Yr ydym felly wedi gofyn i Jane ymgynghori â’r Pwyllgor, fel mater o flaenoriaeth, ar gwestiwn mynd â hyn yn ei flaen a sut i wneud hynny yng nghyd-destun y strategaeth fwy cyffredinol ar gyfer gofal iechyd cynradd. Byddwn yn dyrannu cyllid o fewn cyllideb iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol i alluogi ymestyn profion llygaid am ddim o 1 Hydref 2000, os penderfyna’r Pwyllgor fod cyfiawnhad dros hyn. Beth bynnag, bydd y £7.9 miliwn ar gael i dalu am welliannau iechyd, gan gynnwys mwy o fuddsoddi cyfalaf a gwella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl yng Nghymru, sydd yn flaenoriaeth gan y Pwyllgor. Mae nifer o newidiadau technegol niwtral i’r cyllidebau iechyd a dderbyniwyd gan y Pwyllgor ac a adlewyrchir yn y tablau.
I will now turn to social services. In my statement last month I indicated the priority we attach to social services. Our proposals will allocate resources for the national carers strategy, which has been widely welcomed and was a major priority for the Committee. The proposals also provide for an increase in children’s services to meet the initial costs of establishing a children’s commissioner, and to support the voluntary sector. Our proposals for local government funding allow councils to increase their spending on social services by over £50 million, or 9 per cent. This should make a significant difference to the level of services provided to children and the elderly, which are essential.
Trof yn awr at wasanaethau cymdeithasol. Yn fy natganiad y mis diwethaf soniais am y flaenoriaeth a roddwn i wasanaethau cymdeithasol. Bydd ein cynigion yn dyrannu adnoddau i’r strategaeth genedlaethol i gynhalwyr, a groesawyd yn gyffredinol ac a oedd yn flaenoriaeth bwysig i’r Pwyllgor. Mae’r cynigion hefyd yn darparu ar gyfer cynnydd mewn gwasanaethau plant i dalu costau cychwynnol sefydlu comisiynydd plant, ac i gefnogi’r sector gwirfoddol. Mae’n cynigion ar gyfer ariannu llywodraeth leol yn caniatáu i gynghorau ychwanegu dros £50 miliwn at eu gwariant ar wasanaethau cymdeithasol, cynnydd o 9 y cant. Dylai hyn wneud gwahaniaeth arwyddocaol i’r lefel o wasanaethau a ddarperir i blant ac i’r henoed, sydd yn hanfodol.
We have also accepted Jane’s recommendation that of the £500,000 provided for the setting up costs of the new regulatory arrangements for social care services and the care workforce, £300,000 will be provided for the proposed commission for care standards in Wales, and £200,000 provided for the proposed care council.
Yr ydym hefyd wedi derbyn argymhelliad Jane y dylai’r £500,000 a ddarparwyd ar gyfer costau sefydlu’r trefniadau rheoleiddiol newydd ar gyfer gwasanaethau gofal cymdeithasol a’r gweithlu gofal gael ei rannu fel a ganlyn: £300,000 ar gyfer y comisiwn safonau gofal arfaethedig i Gymru, a £200,000 ar gyfer y cyngor gofal arfaethedig.
Education and training programmes have a powerful and important contribution to make towards transforming social and economic conditions in Wales. Lifelong learning is central to our efforts to close the skills and attainment gaps in Wales relative to other parts of the UK and internationally. It is also central to giving everyone a strong stake in society, to enabling communities to develop with confidence and enterprise, to generating wealth and to advancing Wales as a desirable place to live, work and raise future generations. These are some of the themes which the Assembly will need to develop over the coming years.
Mae gan raglenni addysg a hyfforddiant gyfraniad grymus a phwysig i’w wneud tuag at drawsnewid amodau cymdeithasol ac economaidd yng Nghymru. Mae dysgu gydol oes yn ganolog i’n hymdrechion i gau’r bylchau sgiliau a chyraeddiadau yng Nghymru o gymharu â rhannau eraill o’r DU ac yn rhyngwladol. Mae’n ganolog hefyd i roi buddran gryf i bawb mewn cymdeithas, i alluogi cymunedau i ddatblygu gyda hyder a menter, i gynhyrchu cyfoeth ac i hyrwyddo Cymru fel lle braf i fyw, gweithio a magu cenedlaethau’r dyfodol. Dyma rai o’r themâu y bydd angen i’r Cynulliad eu datblygu dros y blynyddoedd a ddaw.
On education and training, our proposals provide for an extra £98 million next year. In addition, the local authority revenue settlement will enable council spending on education to increase by over £90 million. I can also announce that due to a recent decision by the Department for Education and Employment to postpone a change in employers’ pension contributions for teachers, more of that increase will be available to support new or better education services.
Ar addysg a hyfforddiant, mae’n cynigion yn darparu ar gyfer £98 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn nesaf. Yn ogystal, bydd y cytundeb refeniw awdurdod lleol yn caniatáu dros £90 miliwn o gynnydd yng ngwariant cynghorau ar addysg. Gallaf gyhoeddi hefyd, yn sgîl penderfyniad diweddar gan yr Adran Addysg a Chyflogaeth i ohirio newid cyfraniadau pensiwn y cyflogwyr i athrawon, y bydd mwy o’r cynnydd hwnnw ar gael i gefnogi gwasanaethau addysg newydd neu well.
Yr ydych yn cyfeirio at swm sylweddol o arian, sef tua £15 miliwn, sydd yn mynd i gael ei drosglwyddo i’r awdurdodau lleol. Mae’r arian yn ymwneud â thâl ar sail perfformiad. Mae yna bosibilrwydd y bydd y Cynulliad yn gwrthod y cynigion hynny. A yw’r arian wedi ei ddiogelu? Os ydym yn gwrthod y cynigion, a fydd yr arian yn dychwelyd i goffrau yr Adran Addysg a Chyflogaeth neu yw’r arian yn ddiogel gennym?
You refer to a substantial amount of money, approximately £15 million, which will be transferred to the local authorities. The money is to do with performance-related pay. There is a possibility that the Assembly may reject those proposals. Is the money ringfenced? If we reject the proposals, will the money return to the coffers of the DfEE or is it safeguarded as ours?
You are referring to the money that I made available through the local government settlement in respect of the teachers performance and appraisal system, which I indicated on the tables. I understand from a preliminary discussion with the Secretary for Education and Children that there have been discussions in the Under-16 Education Committee today concerning this and that the Committee has made some recommendations on the matter. I will need to have further discussions to establish the exact nature and position of these moneys. Once moneys are distributed in the local government settlements, they become the property of local government. I would then have to look at how the money could be utilised in local government for education priorities. I would not want to make any substantial comments at this stage but I will make the necessary inquiries and then report to the Assembly Secretary responsible, who can discuss the matter, if appropriate, with the Committee.
Yr ydych yn cyfeirio at yr arian a ddarperais drwy’r setliad llywodraeth leol yng nghyswllt y system werthuso a pherfformiad athrawon, a nodais ar y tablau. Deallaf oddi wrth drafodaeth ragarweiniol gyda’r Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Phlant y bu trafodaethau yn y Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16 heddiw ynglŷn â hyn a bod y Pwyllgor wedi gwneud rhai argymhellion ar y mater. Byddaf angen cael trafodaethau pellach i sefydlu union natur a safle’r arian yma. Unwaith y bydd arian wedi’i ddosbarthu yn y setliadau llywodraeth leol, eiddo llywodraeth leol ydyw. Byddai’n rhaid i mi wedyn edrych ar sut y gellid defnyddio’r arian mewn llywodraeth leol ar gyfer blaenoriaethau addysg. Ni fyddwn eisiau gwneud unrhyw sylwadau sylweddol ar hyn o bryd, ond fe wnaf yr ymholiadau angenrheidiol ac wedyn adrodd i’r Ysgrifennydd Cynulliad sydd yn gyfrifol, a all drafod y mater, os yw hynny’n briodol, gyda’r Pwyllgor.
Would you confirm that teachers’ pay and conditions are not devolved matters?
Fyddech chi’n cadarnhau nad yw cyflog ac amodau gwaith athrawon yn faterion datganoledig?
They are matters for England and Wales. As I have now shown my understanding of the education system, I will move on.
Maent yn faterion i Gymru a Lloegr. Gan fy mod yn awr wedi dangos fy nealltwriaeth o’r system addysg, symudaf ymlaen.
What understanding?
Pa ddealltwriaeth?
A perfect understanding, brother Bourne.
Dealltwriaeth berffaith, y brawd Bourne.
Our proposals will ensure that no five, six or seven-year-old should be taught in a class of more than 30 from September 2001. They will also continue the expansion of places in further and higher education. During the November debate, several Members expressed concern about the poor physical condition of school buildings. We share this concern. In fact, Jonathan brought in a fragment of ceiling that demonstrated that poor condition the other week.
Bydd ein cynigion yn sicrhau na ddylai’r un plentyn pump, chwech na saith mlwydd oed gael ei ddysgu mewn dosbarth o fwy na 30 wedi Medi 2001. Byddant hefyd yn parhau i ehangu lleoedd mewn addysg bellach ac uwch. Yn ystod dadl mis Tachwedd, mynegodd sawl Aelod bryder ynghylch cyflwr ffisegol gwael adeiladau ysgolion. Yr ydym yn rhannu’r pryder hwn. Yn wir, daeth Jonathan â darn o nenfwd i mewn i ddangos y cyflwr gwael hwnnw yr wythnos o’r blaen.
I do not want you to mislead the Chamber. Performance-related pay is a devolved issue, which is being discussed in the Pre-16 Education Committee. I think you want to confirm that you did not mean to say that we do not control the matter here. I want to give you the opportunity to clarify that point.
Nid wyf eisiau i chi gamarwain y Siambr. Mae tâl ar sail perfformiad yn fater datganoledig, sydd yn cael ei drafod yn y Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16. Credaf eich bod eisiau cadarnhau nad oeddech yn bwriadu dweud nad ydym yn rheoli’r mater yma. Yr wyf eisiau rhoi’r cyfle ichi glirio’r pwynt hwnnw.
Terms and conditions are an England and Wales matter.
Mae telerau ac amodau’n fater Cymru a Lloegr.
What about performance-related pay?
Beth am dâl ar sail perfformiad?
Performance-related pay is discussed in committee. It is a relevant matter for the Under-16 Education Committee to discuss. I did not intend to mislead anyone.
Caiff tâl ar sail perfformiad ei drafod mewn pwyllgor. Mae’n fater perthnasol i’r Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16 ei drafod. Nid oeddwn yn bwriadu camarwain neb.
I am sure that you did not.
Yr wyf yn siŵr nad oeddech.
Alun Michael The First Secretary spoken in English p. 28
Alun Michael Y Prif Ysgrifennydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 28
Nick did.
Yr oedd Nick.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 28
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 28
Order.
Trefn.
As I said, during the November debate, several Members expressed concern about the poor physical condition of our school buildings. We share this concern. I am therefore pleased to announce an addition to the new deal for schools moneys, which was made possible by the Chancellor’s pre-budget report. The sum will amount to an extra £2.5 million over three years, including an extra £1.5 million next year. This pushes the schools capital provision to almost £150 million over the next two years. That is in addition to any receipts or revenue allocations that local authorities may wish to direct towards improvement or replacement of school buildings through the private finance initiative.
Fel y dywedais, yn ystod dadl mis Tachwedd, mynegodd sawl Aelod bryder ynghylch cyflwr ffisegol gwael ein hadeiladau ysgol. Yr ydym yn rhannu’r pryder hwn. Yr wyf yn falch felly o gyhoeddi ychwanegiad at y fargen newydd ar gyfer arian ysgolion, a alluogwyd gan adroddiad cyn-cyllideb y Canghellor. Bydd y swm yn gyfanswm o £2.5 miliwn yn ychwanegol dros dair blynedd, yn cynnwys £1.5 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae hyn yn gwthio’r ddarpariaeth gyfalaf i ysgolion i bron £150 miliwn dros y ddwy flynedd nesaf. Mae hynny ar ben unrhyw dderbyniadau neu ddyraniadau refeniw y gallai awdurdodau lleol ddymuno’u cyfeirio at wella neu adnewyddu adeiladau ysgolion drwy’r fenter cyllid preifat.
I am also pleased to respond to the Under 16 Education Committee’s request that we look at the possibility of increasing funding to address the problems of schools in socially deprived areas, especially truancy. We have examined the budget for teacher restructuring and we are confident that we have more than adequate provision for next year. We therefore propose that £1.5 million of the money is transferred to the grants for education support and training programme to enable schools and local authorities to work with education welfare service officers to tackle school attendance and pupil behaviour issues. This underlines our and the Committee’s commitment to delivering programmes that promote social inclusion. We are also extending educational opportunities to children and adults through our extra provision for the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, the National Library of Wales, Arts Council of Wales and, I am pleased to say, the Welsh Language Board.
Yr wyf hefyd yn falch o ymateb i gais y Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16 ar inni edrych ar bosibilrwydd cynyddu arian i ymdrin â phroblemau ysgolion mewn ardaloedd cymdeithasol ddifreintiedig, yn enwedig triwantiaeth. Yr ydym wedi archwilio’r gyllideb ar gyfer ailstrwythuro athrawon ac yr ydym yn hyderus fod gennym ddarpariaeth fwy na digonol ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf. Cynigiwn felly y caiff £1.5 miliwn o’r arian ei drosglwyddo i’r rhaglen grantiau ar gyfer cefnogi addysg a hyfforddi i alluogi ysgolion ac awdurdodau lleol i weithio gyda swyddogion gwasanaeth lles addysg i fynd i’r afael â materion presenoldeb yn yr ysgol ac ymddygiad disgyblion. Mae hyn yn tanlinellu’n hymrwymiad ni a’r Cynulliad i gyflwyno rhaglenni sydd yn hybu cynhwysiant cymdeithasol. Yr ydym hefyd yn ymestyn cyfleoedd addysgol i blant ac oedolion drwy’n darpariaeth ychwanegol i Amgueddfeydd ac Orielau Cenedlaethol Cymru, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru ac, mae’n dda gennyf ddweud, Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg.
I now turn to economic development. There is continuing concern about the position on structural funds and the allocations for the future. I am aware that this will be a subject of debate in the Chamber this afternoon and I will deal with most of the matters in my closing speech. However, I will again give the following assurances. First, we believe that there is sufficient public expenditure provision available from within existing resources in the Welsh block to fully meet all the needs this year and next year.
Trof yn awr at ddatblygu economaidd. Mae pryder parhaus ynghylch sefyllfa arian strwythurol a dyraniadau’r dyfodol. Yr wyf yn ymwybodol y bydd hyn yn bwnc trafod yn y Siambr y prynhawn yma a bwriadaf ddelio â’r rhan fwyaf o’r materion yn fy araith i gloi. Fodd bynnag, rhoddaf y sicrwydd canlynol unwaith eto. Yn gyntaf, credwn fod digon o ddarpariaeth gwariant cyhoeddus ar gael oddi mewn i adnoddau presennol yn y bloc Cymreig i gwrdd yn llawn â’r anghenion i gyd eleni a’r flwyddyn nesaf.
Secondly, we believe that there is sufficient match funding available among all our project sponsors in Wales to meet likely needs when the new programmes begin. We have already outlined our proposals for a new local regeneration fund to help councils tap European funds. My original budget proposal also allocated £5 million from the Pathway to Prosperity fund towards new economic development programmes next year, and a further £10 million the following year. In view of comments by members of the Economic Development Committee, I have decided to increase next year’s allocation to £6 million. In addition, I am providing an extra £400,000 in 2000-01 and £250,000 in 2001-02 from extra funds allocated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. These programmes will lever in European funding.
Yn ail, credwn fod digon o arian cyfatebol ar gael ymhlith ein holl noddwyr prosiectau yng Nghymru i gwrdd ag anghenion tebygol pan ddechreua’r rhaglenni newydd. Yr ydym eisoes wedi amlinellu’n cynigion ar gyfer cronfa adfywio lleol newydd i helpu cynghorau i fanteisio ar arian Ewropeaidd. Yr oedd y gyllideb a gynigiais yn wreiddiol hefyd yn dyrannu £5 miliwn o gronfa’r Ffordd i Ffyniant tuag at raglenni datblygu economaidd newydd y flwyddyn nesaf, a £10 miliwn pellach y flwyddyn wedyn. Yng ngoleuni sylwadau gan aelodau o’r Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd, yr wyf wedi penderfynu cynyddu dyraniad y flwyddyn nesaf i £6 miliwn. Yn ogystal, yr wyf yn darparu £400,000 ychwanegol yn 2000-01 a £250,000 yn 2001-02 allan o gronfeydd ychwanegol a ddyrannwyd gan Ganghellor y Trysorlys. Bydd y rhaglenni hyn yn dod ag arian Ewropeaidd i mewn.
We are working on the final details of the schemes and Rhodri Morgan will make an announcement shortly. However, we intend the funds to go into schemes such as establishing an enterprise development bank or fund to address the needs of small and medium sized enterprises. In addition, we will support credit unions in Wales, promote innovation among our dynamic small and medium sized enterprises and encourage small firms to upskill their employees and proprietors. Rhodri Morgan will shortly make an announcement on all these issues, particularly with regard to how the development bank will work.
Yr ydym yn gweithio ar fanylion terfynol y cynlluniau a bydd Rhodri Morgan yn gwneud cyhoeddiad cyn hir. Fodd bynnag, bwriadwn i’r arian fynd i mewn i gynlluniau fel sefydlu banc datblygu menter neu gronfa i ateb anghenion mentrau bach a chanolig eu maint. Yn ogystal, byddwn yn cefnogi undebau credyd yng Nghymru, yn hybu arloesiaeth ymhlith ein mentrau bach a chanolig dynamig ac yn annog cwmnïau bychain i gynyddu sgiliau eu gweithwyr a’u perchnogion. Bydd Rhodri Morgan yn gwneud cyhoeddiad yn fuan ar y materion hyn i gyd, yn enwedig o safbwynt sut y bydd y banc datblygu’n gweithio.
My third and final assurance on structural funds is that if we have evidence that any of these provisions for next year are insufficient, we will address those issues urgently. I trust that with these assurances, the Assembly can now work together to create more and better quality jobs and to take the opportunity provided by Objective 1.
Fy nhrydydd pwynt o sicrwydd, a’r olaf, ynghylch arian strwythurol yw os cawn dystiolaeth fod unrhyw rai o’r darpariaethau hyn ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf yn annigonol, awn i’r afael â’r materion hynny ar fyrder. Hyderaf y gall y Cynulliad bellach, gyda’r sicrwydd yma, gydweithio i greu mwy o swyddi a gwell swyddi ac i gymryd y cyfle y mae Amcan 1 yn ei gynnig.
Concern was expressed about our proposed reduction in grant aid to the Welsh Development Agency. We continue to believe that the WDA will be a key driver in the economy of Wales. However, we must recognise that the WDA’s funding has been distorted by the LG Semicon Wales project and our proposals to restore the size of the WDA’s programme to pre LG days. It is important that the WDA now refocuses itself on the other development needs of Wales: encouraging innovation, especially in indigenous companies, spreading wealth to the disadvantaged areas of Wales and developing a world-class service along with the other major economic players.
Mynegwyd pryder ynghylch ein bwriad i gwtogi cymhorthdal i Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru. Yr ydym yn dal i gredu y bydd Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru yn symbylydd allweddol yn economi Cymru. Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni gydnabod fod cyllid Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru wedi’i lurgunio gan brosiect LG Semicon Cymru a’n cynlluniau ni i adfer maint rhaglen Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru i’r hyn ydoedd cyn LG. Mae’n bwysig bod Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru yn ailganolbwyntio yn awr ar anghenion datblygu eraill Cymru: annog arloesi, yn enwedig gan gwmnïau Cymreig, lledaenu cyfoeth i ardaloedd difreintiedig Cymru a datblygu gwasanaeth o safon ryngwladol ochr yn ochr â’r prif chwaraewyr economaidd eraill.
I now turn to housing, transport and the environment. I said earlier that we proposed a balanced package to support our key priorities. Our proposals on housing aim to deal with the backlog of council housing repairs, but also to focus the social housing grant on deprived communities and groups. The £5 million provision for housing from the Social Inclusion Fund for 2001-02 will be used for community purposes and will complement our strategy.
Trof yn awr at dai, trafnidiaeth a’r amgylchedd. Dywedais yn gynharach ein bod yn cynnig pecyn cytbwys i gefnogi’n blaenoriaethau allweddol. Nod ein polisïau ar dai yw delio â’r gwaith atgyweirio tai cyngor sydd yn aros i’w wneud, ond hefyd canolbwyntio’r grant tai cymdeithasol ar gymunedau a grwpiau difreintiedig. Defnyddir y ddarpariaeth o £5 miliwn ar gyfer tai o’r Gronfa Gynhwysiant Cymdeithasol am 2001-02 i ddibenion cymunedol a bydd yn ategu’n strategaeth ni.
The Committee has also asked for £5 million underspend this year in the social housing grant to be carried forward to next year and allocated towards housing programmes. I have discussed this with Sue Essex, the Chair of the Environment and Local Government Committee and Peter Law, the Secretary for the Environment and Local Government. I accept this proposal, which links in well with our social inclusion agenda. We propose to use these funds for the following measures.
Mae’r Pwyllgor hefyd wedi gofyn am i danwariant o £5 miliwn eleni yn y grant tai cymdeithasol gael ei gario ymlaen i’r flwyddyn nesaf a’i glustnodi ar gyfer rhaglenni tai. Yr wyf wedi trafod hyn gyda Sue Essex, Cadeirydd Pwyllgor yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol, a Peter Law, Ysgrifennydd yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol. Derbyniaf y cynnig hwn, sydd yn cyd-fynd yn dda â’n hagenda ar gyfer cynhwysiant cymdeithasol. Bwriadwn ddefnyddio’r arian hwn ar gyfer y camau canlynol.
First, my preliminary budget proposals would increase the sustainable communities for the future programme to £600,000. There is already substantial demand for this programme and we propose to increase the budget by a further £400,000 to £1 million. It will be used to provide community projects with funding to deal with underlying community and social problems.
Yn gyntaf, byddai fy nghynigion cyllideb rhagarweiniol yn cynyddu’r rhaglen cymunedau cynaliadwy ar gyfer y dyfodol i £600,000. Mae cryn alw eisoes am y rhaglen hon a bwriadwn ychwanegu £400,000 eto at y gyllideb i’w chodi i £1 filiwn. Fe’i defnyddir i ddarparu cyllid i brosiectau cymunedol i ddelio â phroblemau cymdeithasol a chymunedol sylfaenol.
Secondly, my draft budget proposed to increase the funds available for rough sleeping. This will go a long way towards overcoming problems which arise at critical times of the year, particularly in winter. However, there is a need for sustained solutions to the issue of rough sleeping, and it needs to be tackled strategically. There are also problems relating to homelessness and houses in multiple occupation. Therefore, we are considering a one-off allocation of £3.6 million to local authorities to address these issues.
Yn ail, cynigiodd fy nghyllideb ddrafft gynyddu’r arian sydd ar gael i ddelio â chysgu ar y stryd. Aiff hyn gryn ffordd tuag at oresgyn problemau sydd yn codi ar adegau arbennig o’r flwyddyn, yn enwedig y gaeaf. Fodd bynnag, mae angen atebion tymor hir i gwestiwn cysgu ar y stryd, ac mae angen mynd i’r afael â’r peth mewn modd strategol. Ceir problemau hefyd yng nghyswllt digartrefedd a thai mewn aml-breswyliaeth. Felly, yr ydym yn ystyried dyraniad unwaith-ac-am-byth o £3.6 miliwn i awdurdodau lleol i fynd i’r afael â’r materion hyn.
Thirdly, quality play is a fundamental part of the learning process for young children. There are many areas in Wales where community deprivation has resulted in a lack of good quality play facilities. We are therefore proposing to put the remaining £1 million for capital projects into improving play facilities, and providing mobile play equipment for use in rural communities and satellite housing areas. We wish to develop these proposals in conjunction with the Committee.
Yn drydydd, mae chwarae o ansawdd da yn rhan sylfaenol o’r broses ddysgu i blant ifainc. Mewn llawer o ardaloedd yng Nghymru mae amddifadedd cymunedol wedi achosi diffyg cyfleusterau chwarae o ansawdd da. Yr ydym felly’n bwriadu rhoi’r £1 filiwn sydd yn weddill ar gyfer prosiectau cyfalaf tuag at wella cyfleusterau chwarae, a darparu cyfarpar chwarae symudol i’w defnyddio mewn cymunedau gwledig a stadau tai ar gyrion trefi. Hoffem ddatblygu’r cynigion hyn ar y cyd gyda’r Pwyllgor.
On transport, we are providing an extra £8.4 million from 2001-02 to develop the trunk roads programme and pay for the bus fuel duty rebate. We are also allocating £3.4 million for next year for integrated transport projects and for the safe routes to school scheme. The £1.5 million we are providing for the national cycle network and the £600,000 allocated for the pilot public transport smartcard scheme also underline our commitment to moving the transport agenda forward in Wales.
Ar gludiant, yr ydym yn darparu £8.4 miliwn yn ychwanegol o 2001-02 ymlaen i ddatblygu’r rhaglen gefnffyrdd a thalu am yr ad-daliad treth ar danwydd bysus. Yr ydym hefyd yn clustnodi £3.4 miliwn am y flwyddyn nesaf i brosiectau cludiant integredig ac i’r cynllun ffyrdd diogel i’r ysgol. Mae’r £1.5 miliwn yr ydym yn ei ddarparu ar gyfer y rhwydwaith lonydd beic cenedlaethol a’r £600,000 a glustnodwyd ar gyfer cynllun peilot y cerdyn clyfar cludiant cyhoeddus hefyd yn tanlinellu’n hymrwymiad i symud yr agenda gludiant yn ei blaen yng Nghymru.
I know that many Assembly Members from all groups are concerned to see an improvement in the speed, frequency and routing of rail services between north and south Wales. It is a cause for considerable regret that—through no fault of the Assembly—we have not yet been able to make real progress on this in a way that could be justified to the Welsh taxpayer. I understand that Peter Law and the Environment and Local Government Committee are keen to look at this in more detail to try to identify a way forward. Allocating a figure in this budget to cover such an enhanced service could undermine negotiations with potential operators. However, I am prepared to give a guarantee that I will find resources in-year, should a solution that meets legitimate value for money concerns emerge during the next year.
Gwn fod llawer o Aelodau’r Cynulliad o bob grŵp yn awyddus i weld gwelliant yng nghyflymder, amlder a llwybrau gwasanaethau trên rhwng gogledd a de. Mae’n destun cryn ofid nad ydym eto—heb unrhyw fai ar y Cynulliad—wedi gallu symud ymlaen yn wirioneddol ar y mater hwn mewn modd y gellid ei gyfiawnhau i drethdalwyr Cymru. Deallaf fod Peter Law a Phwyllgor yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol yn awyddus i edrych ar hyn yn fanylach er mwyn ceisio nodi ffordd ymlaen. Gallai clustnodi ffigur yn y gyllideb hon i dalu am welliannau o’r fath yn y gwasanaeth danseilio trafodaethau ariannol gyda darpar gwmnïau cludiant. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf yn barod i roi gwarant y deuaf o hyd i adnoddau yn ystod y flwyddyn, os cyfyd ateb sydd yn cwrdd â phryderon gwirioneddol ynghylch gwerth am arian yn ystod y flwyddyn nesaf.
As the First Secretary and Peter Law have made clear, we will look in the first instance to securing improved services through the franchising negotiations, which are likely to take place in the new year. We need to bring Wales together. That is a fundamental issue for many of us in this Chamber. For local government, we are funding the cost of the Best Value inspections, the additional costs of the Valuation Office Agency in dealing with appeals against the 2000 rating list, and the start-up costs for the proposed standards commission. We are also committed to the environment and are proposing an extra £500,000 to be allocated annually to the Environment Agency, an extra £500,000 for national parks and an extra £200,000 for the Countryside Council for Wales.
Fel a ddywedwyd yn glir gan y Prif Ysgrifennydd a Peter Law, byddwn yn edrych yn y lle cyntaf i sicrhau gwell gwasanaethau drwy’r trafodaethau negodi masnachfraint, sydd yn debygol o ddigwydd yn y flwyddyn newydd. Mae angen inni uno Cymru. Mae hwnnw’n fater sylfaenol i nifer ohonom yn y Siambr hon. Ar gyfer llywodraeth leol, yr ydym yn talu cost yr archwiliadau Gwerth Gorau, costau ychwanegol Asiantaeth y Swyddfa Brisio wrth ddelio ag apeliadau yn erbyn rhestr drethi 2000, a chostau cychwyn y comisiwn safonau arfaethedig. Yr ydym hefyd wedi ymrwymo i’r amgylchedd ac yn cynnig £500,000 ychwanegol i’w ddyrannu bob blwyddyn i Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, £500,000 ychwanegol i’r parciau cenedlaethol a £200,000 ychwanegol i Gyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru.
Finally, agriculture. Our proposals to provide an extra £3.5 million next year, and £3.9 million for 2001-02 onwards, for the Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme have been widely welcomed, as has the extra money for the agri-food strategy, organic aid and the farm adaptation measures. Taken together, these amount to a significant step forward in helping the industry to develop a more sustainable future and a modern rural economy.
Yn olaf, amaethyddiaeth. Bu croeso cyffredinol i’n cynigion i ddarparu £3.5 miliwn ychwanegol y flwyddyn nesaf, a £3.9 miliwn am 2001-02 ymlaen, i gynllun amaeth-amgylcheddol Tir Gofal, ac i’r arian ychwanegol ar gyfer y strategaeth fwyd amaeth, cymorth organig a’r mesurau addasu ffermydd. O’u cymryd gyda’i gilydd, mae’r rhain yn gyfystyr â cham arwyddocaol ymlaen o ran helpu’r diwydiant i ddatblygu dyfodol mwy cynaliadwy ac economi wledig fodern.
In addition, I am pleased to announce our share of the £15 million that Nick Brown announced last month. This amounts to £750,000 over this year and next. I have discussed this with Christine Gwyther and we propose that £700,000 goes into organic aid and £50,000 to marketing Welsh produce through the Meat and Livestock Commission.
Yn ogystal, yr wyf yn falch o gyhoeddi ein cyfran o’r £15 miliwn a gyhoeddodd Nick Brown y mis diwethaf. Bydd hyn yn gyfanswm o £750,000 dros y flwyddyn hon a’r nesaf. Yr wyf wedi trafod hyn gyda Christine Gwyther ac yr ydym yn cynnig y dylid rhoi £700,000 i gymorth organig a £50,000 i farchnata cynnyrch Cymru drwy’r Comisiwn Cig a Da Byw.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Committee has asked that funds be provided for a new entrants scheme from 1 October 2000, pending the outcome of the proposed study into the feasibility of such a scheme. While I recognise the strong views expressed by the Committee, and in particular the Chair, Ieuan Wyn Jones, I do not think it is right that we divert Assembly resources to a new entrants scheme at this stage. However, a scheme for young farmers is one of the possible measures to be covered in the rural development plan, which is to be submitted to Brussels before Christmas. The plan will present such a scheme as an option and, as the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee is aware, it may be possible to fund it out of resources released from the modulation of agricultural support or additional match funding. I assure you that if the industry supports a new entrants scheme, we will do our utmost to get the scheme approved and funding in place.
Mae’r Pwyllgor Amaethyddiaeth a Datblygu Gwledig wedi gofyn am ddarparu cyllid ar gyfer cynllun ffermwyr newydd o 1 Hydref 2000, yn amodol ar ganlyniad yr astudiaeth arfaethedig o ymarferoldeb cynllun o’r fath. Er fy mod yn cydnabod y farn gref a fynegwyd gan y Pwyllgor, ac yn enwedig y Cadeirydd, Ieuan Wyn Jones, nid wyf yn credu ei bod yn iawn inni ddargyfeirio adnoddau’r Cynulliad i gynllun ffermwyr newydd ar hyn o bryd. Fodd bynnag, mae cynllun ar gyfer ffermwyr ifainc yn un o’r mesurau posibl a drafodir yn y cynllun datblygu gwledig, a gyflwynir i Frwsel cyn y Nadolig. Bydd y cynllun yn cyflwyno cynllun o’r fath fel un dewis ac, fel y gŵyr y Pwyllgor Amaethyddiaeth a Datblygu Gwledig, efallai y gellir ei ariannu o adnoddau a ryddheir wrth fodiwleiddio cefnogaeth amaethyddol neu arian cyfatebol ychwanegol. Yr wyf yn eich sicrhau os bydd y diwydiant yn cefnogi cynllun i ffermwyr newydd, y gwnawn bopeth o fewn ein gallu i sicrhau cymeradwyaeth a chyllid i’r cynllun.
On dairy hygiene charges, the Cabinet has made a decision in principle to fund these in Wales, thus relieving the hard-pressed dairy industry of a significant burden. However, as reported to the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee this morning, we need to seek European approval. We are determined to do everything possible to resolve or find a way around any problems that could arise from that. For this reason, I propose to maintain an allocation in the budget earmarked for the lifting of these charges.
Ar daliadau hylendid llaeth, penderfynodd y Cabinet mewn egwyddor i dalu am y rhain yng Nghymru, gan godi baich sylweddol oddi ar war y diwydiant llaeth sydd dan bwysau ar hyn o bryd. Fodd bynnag, fel yr adroddwyd i’r Pwyllgor Amaethyddiaeth a Datblygu Gwledig y bore yma, mae angen inni geisio cymeradwyaeth o Ewrop. Yr ydym yn benderfynol o wneud popeth a allwn i ddatrys neu ganfod ffordd o amgylch unrhyw broblemau a allai godi o hynny. Am y rheswm hwn, bwriadaf glustnodi dyraniad yn y gyllideb ar gyfer dileu’r taliadau hyn.
Along with our spending priorities, we must ensure that every pound available to the Assembly provides value for money. We will pursue the measures I outlined last month. We will also set up reviews of Assembly sponsored public agencies, which will involve the relevant Committees. Furthermore, we will review the Assembly’s own programmes and policies. On procurement, I will consult on how we can best adopt a strategic approach to our capital spending and how we can encourage private partnership to help us to improve capital infrastructure in Wales.
Ynghyd â’n blaenoriaethau gwario, rhaid inni sicrhau fod pob punt sydd ar gael i’r Cynulliad yn rhoi gwerth am arian. Byddwn yn mynd ar ôl y mesurau a amlinellais y mis diwethaf. Byddwn hefyd yn sefydlu adolygiadau o asiantaethau cyhoeddus a noddir gan y Cynulliad, gyda chyfranogiad y Pwyllgorau perthnasol. Yn ogystal, byddwn yn adolygu rhaglenni a pholisïau’r Cynulliad ei hun. Ar brynu, byddaf yn ymgynghori ynghylch sut y gallwn fynd ati mewn modd strategol gyda’n gwario cyfalaf a sut y gallwn annog partneriaeth breifat i’n helpu i wella isadeiledd cyfalaf yng Nghymru.
In conclusion, this budget gives us an opportunity to move the Assembly’s priorities forwards. We have ensured that Wales’s most pressing needs are addressed and that we can plan for the future. The budget proposals have taken account of our debate in October, on the values and priorities of the Assembly’s strategic plan. We will publish the draft strategic plan on the internet before Christmas, as promised, and I will tell you where to find it on the internet to avoid any technical problems. The budget will give the Assembly and its partners a further chance to steer in the direction that we want to travel.
I gloi, mae’r gyllideb hon yn rhoi cyfle inni symud blaenoriaethau’r Cynulliad ymlaen. Yr ydym wedi sicrhau yr ymdrinnir â’r anghenion sydd angen fwyaf o sylw yng Nghymru ac y gallwn gynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae’r cynigion ar gyfer y gyllideb wedi ystyried ein dadl ym mis Hydref ar werthoedd a blaenoriaethau cynllun strategol y Cynulliad. Byddwn yn cyhoeddi’r cynllun strategol drafft ar y rhyngrwyd cyn y Nadolig, fel yr addawyd, a dywedaf wrthych ym mhle i’w ganfod ar y rhyngrwyd er mwyn osgoi unrhyw broblemau technegol. Bydd y gyllideb yn rhoi cyfle pellach i’r Cynulliad a’i bartneriaid i lywio i’r cyfeiriad yr ydym eisiau teithio iddo.
Taken together, the budget and the plan will provide a powerful agenda for the Assembly. This budget offers to take Wales into the next century on its own terms. I hope we grasp that opportunity. In that context, I commend it to you. I hope that you can all see it as a new and inclusive process. However, we may want to review that process next year, and I am open to any suggestions.
O’u cymryd gyda’i gilydd, bydd y gyllideb a’r cynllun yn darparu agenda rymus i’r Cynulliad. Mae’r gyllideb hon yn cynnig mynd â Chymru i mewn i’r ganrif nesaf ar ei thelerau ei hun. Gobeithiaf y cymerwn y cyfle hwnnw. Yn y cyd-destun hwnnw, fe’i cymeradwyaf i chi. Gobeithiaf y gallwch chi i gyd ei gweld fel proses newydd a chynhwysol. Fodd bynnag, efallai y byddwn am adolygu’r broses honno y flwyddyn nesaf, ac yr wyf yn agored i unrhyw awgrymiadau.
I congratulate Edwina Hart on her presentation of the revised budget and I thank her for taking into account several suggestions made in Plenary and in Committee. As you know, I am addicted to numbers and I take great delight in seeing tables and figures because buried under the most innocent looking figures is a real story.
Yr wyf yn llongyfarch Edwina Hart ar ei chyflwyniad o’r gyllideb ddiwygiedig a diolchaf iddi am ystyried llawer o awgrymiadau a wnaed yn y Cyfarfod Llawn ac mewn Pwyllgor. Fel y gwyddoch, yr wyf yn ddibynnol ar rifau ac yn cael mwynhad mawr o weld tablau a ffigurau oherwydd ceir stori wir yn llechu o dan y ffigurau mwyaf diniwed yr olwg.
When I first saw the draft budget some weeks ago, I was disappointed because it seemed so familiar. I took down from the shelves the Welsh Office departmental report, which included the budget that was planned before the Assembly’s establishment and before confirmation of Objective 1 status and the allocation of £1.2 billion. At that stage, I was disheartened to see how little had changed.
Pan welais y gyllideb ddrafft rai wythnosau’n ôl, yr oeddwn yn siomedig am fod golwg mor gyfarwydd arni. Tynnais adroddiad adrannol y Swyddfa Gymreig i lawr o’r silff, a oedd yn cynnwys y gyllideb a gynlluniwyd cyn sefydlu’r Cynulliad a chyn cadarnhau statws Amcan 1 a’r dyraniad o £1.2 biliwn. Bryd hynny, yr oeddwn yn ddigalon o weld cyn lleied oedd wedi newid.
The budget planned by the Welsh Office for next year totalled £7,908 million and the budget we are debating today totals £7,909 million. There are similar stories for 2001-02 with £8,334 million earmarked in the Welsh Office advance plans and £8,332 million in Edwina’s budget. The main issue here is the absence of any additional budget to cover the cost of Objective 1 projects. Details of the draft budget were also a little disappointing because little seemed to have changed. Even in a fixed budget there was room for change in priorities. We always recognised that that would be the main role of the Assembly as long as it worked within a fixed budget.
Cyfanswm y gyllideb a gynlluniwyd gan y Swyddfa Gymreig ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf oedd £7,908 a £7,909 miliwn yw’r gyllideb yr ydym yn ei thrafod heddiw. Tebyg yw’r hanes am 2001-02 gyda £8,334 miliwn wedi’i glustnodi yn rhag-gynlluniau’r Swyddfa Gymreig ac £8,332 miliwn yng nghyllideb Edwina. Y prif bwynt yma yw absenoldeb unrhyw gyllideb ychwanegol i dalu cost prosiectau Amcan 1. Yr oedd manylion y gyllideb ddrafft hefyd braidd yn siomedig gan mai ychydig oedd i’w weld wedi newid. Hyd yn oed mewn cyllideb benodedig yr oedd lle i newid blaenoriaethau. Yr oeddem wastad wedi cydnabod mai dyna fyddai prif rôl y Cynulliad cyhyd â’i fod yn gweithio o fewn cyllideb benodedig.
Plaid Cymru had a list of items that it wished to see in the budget. Those were items that would bring substantial benefits to Wales within that fixed total. They included establishing an enterprise development bank, free eye tests, steps to improve north-south rail links, schemes to boost teacher recruitment and a campaign to encourage maximum take-up of pensions and social benefits in Wales.
Yr oedd gan Blaid Cymru restr o eitemau yr oedd am eu gweld yn y gyllideb. Eitemau oedd y rheini a fyddai’n dod â manteision sylweddol i Gymru o fewn y cyfanswm penodedig hwnnw. Yr oeddent yn cynnwys sefydlu banc datblygu menter, profion llygaid am ddim, camau i wella cysylltiadau rheilffordd de-gogledd, cynlluniau i hybu recriwtio athrawon ac ymgyrch i annog pawb sydd â hawl i fanteisio ar bensiynau a budd-daliadau cymdeithasol yng Nghymru.
Since that first draft budget was published, there have been many discussions and I warmly welcome the changes that have been made, especially the move towards free eye tests, the enterprise development fund, teacher recruitment and at least the intention to improve the north-south rail link. We welcome signs that the Government is considering the other issues seriously. We see that as recognition of the true spirit of inclusivity that we celebrated at our opening ceremony. I want to commend the way that Edwina has listened and responded positively to the case that we made. However, that does not mean that Plaid Cymru is totally satisified. In dealing with the details, I will concentrate on economic development and Janet Davies will cover other issues.
Ers cyhoeddi’r gyllideb ddrafft gyntaf honno, bu nifer o drafodaethau a chroesawaf yn wresog y newidiadau a wnaethpwyd, yn enwedig y symudiad tuag at brofion llygaid am ddim, y gronfa ddatblygu menter, recriwtio athrawon ac o leiaf y bwriad i wella’r cysylltiad rheilffordd rhwng de a gogledd. Croesawn arwyddion fod y Llywodraeth yn ystyried y materion eraill o ddifrif. Gwelwn hynny fel cydnabod y gwir ysbryd cynhwysol a ddathlwyd gennym yn ein seremoni agoriadol. Hoffwn ganmol y ffordd y mae Edwina wedi gwrando ac wedi ymateb yn gadarnhaol i’r achos a wnaethom. Fodd bynnag, nid yw hynny’n golygu fod Plaid Cymru’n gwbl fodlon. Wrth drafod y manylion, canolbwyntiaf ar ddatblygu economaidd a bydd Janet Davies yn ymdrin â materion eraill.
In the budget for economic development, the regional selective assistance for industry has been cut from last year’s £88 million to this year’s £70 million and will be further reduced to £67 million next year. The WDA’s budget has also been cut from £131 million this year to £128 million next year and will be cut to £121 million the following year.
Yn y gyllideb ar gyfer datblygu economaidd, mae’r cymorth dewisol rhanbarthol i ddiwydiant wedi’i dorri o £88 miliwn y llynedd i £70 miliwn eleni a chaiff ei gwtogi ymhellach i £67 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf. Cwtogwyd cyllideb Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru hefyd o £131 miliwn eleni i £128 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf ac fe’i cwtogir i £121 miliwn y flwyddyn ganlynol.
These cuts are for a period in which we anticipate a growth rate 1 per cent faster than for the UK as a whole. Edwina told us that the previous figures were the result of the distortion caused by the LG project. That project was, I believe, intended to create about 6,000 jobs. According to the economic development strategy we have adopted, in the two years covered by this budget we plan to create 40,000 net additional jobs, so there is some cause for concern.
Mae’r toriadau hyn i ddigwydd mewn cyfnod pryd y rhagwelwn gyfradd twf 1 y cant yn gyflymach nag ar gyfer y DU yn ei chyfanrwydd. Dywedodd Edwina wrthym fod y ffigurau blaenorol yn ganlyniad y llurgunio a achoswyd gan y prosiect LG. Bwriedid i’r prosiect hwnnw, mi gredaf, greu oddeutu 6,000 o swyddi. Yn ôl y strategaeth ddatblygu economaidd yr ydym wedi’i mabwysiadu, yn nwy flynedd y gyllideb hon bwriadwn greu 40,000 net o swyddi ychwanegol, felly mae rhywfaint o achos dros bryderu.
A cut was always expected in expenditure for Cardiff Bay Development Corporation projects with the completion of the barrage, and it is good to see that this cut is matched by the introduction of a new budget line, the Pathway to Prosperity fund. However, important points are raised by this. Before coming to the Assembly, many of us thought that the Cardiff Bay budget would be cut to zero. We had understood that the project was a development that would become self-supporting. I have certainly spent all the money allocated to Blaenau Gwent. It is a concern that we must continue to pay £23 million, in a normal year, out of the Welsh budget for an indefinite period. I hope that that is all and that nobody has signed a blank cheque, to be paid out of our budget, for the future demands of Cardiff Bay.
Yr oedd y toriad yn y gwariant ar brosiectau Corfforaeth Ddatblygu Bae Caerdydd i’w ddisgwyl wrth i’r morglawdd gael ei gwblhau, ac mae’n dda gweld cyflwyno llinell newydd yn y gyllideb i ateb y toriad hwn, sef cronfa’r Ffordd i Ffyniant. Fodd bynnag, mae hyn yn codi pwyntiau pwysig. Cyn dod i’r Cynulliad, yr oedd nifer ohonom yn meddwl y byddai cyllideb Bae Caerdydd yn cael ei thorri i ddim. Yr oeddem wedi deall fod y prosiect yn ddatblygiad a fyddai’n hunan-gynhaliol yn y pen draw. Yn sicr, yr wyf wedi gwario’r holl arian a ddyrannwyd i Flaenau Gwent. Mae’n destun pryder fod yn rhaid inni barhau i dalu £23 miliwn, mewn blwyddyn arferol, allan o’r gyllideb i Gymru, am gyfnod amhenodol. Gobeithio mai dyna’r cwbl ac nad oes neb wedi arwyddo siec wag, i’w thalu allan o’n cyllideb ni, ar gyfer gofynion Bae Caerdydd yn y dyfodol.
The budget for the Pathway to Prosperity fund is a little imprecise. Plaid Cymru and other opposition parties pressed for this budget to be used to initiate an enterprise development bank that could play an important part in encouraging the growth of small to medium sized enterprises. Edwina has now expressed the firm intention to establish such a fund. Plaid Cymru welcome this and we hope that an enterprise development bank will be available to help new SMEs early in the Objective 1 programme.
Mae’r gyllideb ar gyfer cronfa’r Ffordd i Ffyniant ychydig yn niwlog. Pwysodd Plaid Cymru a gwrthbleidiau eraill am ddefnyddio’r gyllideb hon i gychwyn banc datblygu menter a allai chwarae rhan bwysig i annog twf mentrau bach a chanolig eu maint. Mae Edwina yn awr wedi mynegi’r bwriad pendant i sefydlu cronfa o’r fath. Mae Plaid Cymru’n croesawu hyn a gobeithiwn y bydd banc datblygu menter ar gael i helpu mentrau bach a chanolig yn gynnar yn y rhaglen Amcan 1.
I now take the economic budget as a whole. For the first year of the Objective 1 programme, we have a baseline budget of £315 million, a small cut from this year’s planned expenditure and £29 million less than the out-turned budget last year. You could say that that is bad news. Then, in the small print, we see £56 million of European regional development fund money carried forward from previous years. That looks like good news but we need to look at it a little closer.
Yn awr edrychaf ar y gyllideb economaidd yn ei chyfanrwydd. Am flwyddyn gyntaf y rhaglen Amcan 1, mae gennym gyllideb llinell sylfaen o £315 miliwn, ychydig bach yn llai na’r gwariant a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer eleni a £29 miliwn yn llai na’r gyllideb derfynol y llynedd. Gallech ddweud fod hynny’n newyddion drwg. Wedyn, yn y print mân, gwelwn £56 miliwn o arian cronfeydd datblygu rhanbarthol Ewrop wedi’i gario ymlaen o flynyddoedd blaenorol. Mae hynny’n edrych fel newyddion da ond mae angen inni edrych arno ychydig yn fanylach.
That £56 million has a curious provenance. It was first announced to the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee that £46 million of unspent ERDF money would be available in the 2000-01 budget to help fund the Objective 1 programme. Later, in the Economic Development Committee, the figure was split into £25 million for this year and £21 million for next year. It is not clear whether that £25 million has been included in the planned total for the present year, but the £21 million has been transferred to next year’s budget. Then we had the announcement that a further £35 million had been added to the Objective 1 programme. That was not new money; it came from an underspend in 1998-99. Therefore, at that stage it appeared that to the original budget line of £19 million, £21 million had been added from ERDF carry-on, and £35 million had been added from end-of-year flexibility, making a total of £75 million. The impression was given, deliberately or otherwise, that this would contribute towards Objective 1.
Mae tarddiad rhyfedd i’r £56 miliwn hwnnw. Cyhoeddwyd yn gyntaf i’r Pwyllgor Amaethyddiaeth a Datblygu Gwledig y byddai £46 miliwn o arian Cronfa Ddatblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop a oedd heb ei wario ar gael yng nghyllideb 2000-01 i helpu i ariannu’r rhaglen Amcan 1. Yn ddiweddarach, yn y Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd, rhannwyd y ffigur yn £25 miliwn am eleni a £21 miliwn am y flwyddyn nesaf. Nid yw’n eglur a gynhwyswyd y £25 miliwn hwnnw yn y cyfanswm a gynlluniwyd ar gyfer y flwyddyn bresennol, ond mae’r £21 miliwn wedi’i drosglwyddo i gyllideb y flwyddyn nesaf. Wedyn cafwyd y cyhoeddiad fod £35 miliwn yn ychwanegol wedi’i ychwanegu at y rhaglen Amcan 1. Nid arian newydd oedd hwnnw; fe ddaeth o danwariant yn 1998-99. Felly, ar y pryd hwnnw yr oedd yn ymddangos fod y llinell gyllideb wreiddiol o £19 miliwn wedi’i chwyddo gyda £21 miliwn o arian Cronfa Ddatblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop a gariwyd ymlaen, a £35 miliwn drwy hyblygrwydd diwedd-blwyddyn, gan wneud cyfanswm o £75 miliwn. Rhoddwyd yr argraff, yn fwriadol neu fel arall, y byddai hyn yn cyfrannu at Amcan 1.
However, we must look at this carefully. When the Economic Development Committee saw the full accounts there was a new item on the debit side, which was £50 million already committed under the previous round of European funding. In our papers today, the £46 million of previously unspent money is indicated, albeit in small print, but not the £50 million of unpaid liabilities. I wish we could run our family budgets on the same principle. In reality, if we take into account the allocation to the Pathway to Prosperity fund we have a total of about £35 million in 2000-01 to cover the EU contributions to Objective 1 projects and our own contribution to match funding, including the cost of the enterprise development bank. The equivalent figure for 2001-02 is £44 million.
Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni edrych ar hyn yn ofalus. Pan welodd y Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd y cyfrifon llawn yr oedd eitem newydd ar yr ochr ddyled, sef £50 miliwn a oedd eisoes wedi’i ymrwymo dan y cylch blaenorol o ariannu Ewropeaidd. Yn ein papurau heddiw, gwelir y £46 miliwn o arian na wariwyd yn flaenorol, er mai mewn print mân y mae, ond nid yr £50 miliwn o ddyledion na thalwyd. O na allem redeg ein cyllidebau teuluol ar yr un egwyddor. Mewn gwirionedd, os cymerwn i ystyriaeth y dyraniad i gronfa’r Ffordd i Ffyniant mae gennym gyfanswm o ryw £35 miliwn yn 2000-01 ar gyfer cyfraniadau’r UE i brosiectau Amcan 1 a’n cyfraniadau ni’n hunain i arian cyfatebol, gan gynnwys cost y banc datblygu menter. £44 miliwn yw’r ffigur cyfatebol am 2001-02.
The Assembly has to compare these figures with the total public expenditure indicated in our submission of the Objective 1 single programming document to Europe: £338 million in 2000 and £316 million in 2001. Even if we subtract the European social fund component which, at present, comes via the Department for Education and Employment, we will have responsibility for committing about £275 million of expenditure to be approved next year and £246 million in the following year. We agree that much of the spending, though not all, will be delayed and that there is a possibility that there will be more money available after the spending review. However, it is the budget that we debate today that is in the public domain. This is the budget that private companies and companies who are interested in major Objective 1 projects will see. It is the same budget that local authorities and the voluntary sector can look at. We have to ask how we can persuade these companies to commit themselves to major expenditure and how our programme executive can approve expenditure of £275 million next year and £246 million in the following year unless we have some guarantee and a declaration of intent that the money will be available in 2001 and 2002.
Rhaid i’r Cynulliad gymharu’r ffigurau hyn â’r cyfanswm gwariant cyhoeddus a ddangosir yn y ddogfen raglennu sengl Amcan 1 a gyflwynwyd gennym i Ewrop: £338 miliwn yn 2000 a £316 miliwn yn 2001. Hyd yn oed os tynnwn gydran cronfa gymdeithasol Ewrop sydd, ar hyn o bryd, yn dod drwy’r Adran Addysg a Chyflogaeth, bydd gennym gyfrifoldeb dros ymrwymo rhyw £275 miliwn o wariant i’w gymeradwyo y flwyddyn nesaf a £246 miliwn yn y flwyddyn ddilynol. Cytunwn y caiff llawer o’r gwariant, er nad y cyfan, ei ddal yn ôl a bod posibilrwydd y bydd mwy o arian ar gael ar ôl yr adolygiad gwariant. Fodd bynnag, y gyllideb a drafodwn heddiw sydd yn llygad y cyhoedd. Dyma’r gyllideb a welir gan gwmnïau preifat a chwmnïau sydd â diddordeb mewn prosiectau Amcan 1 mawr. Y gyllideb hon hefyd yw’r un y gall awdurdodau lleol a’r sector gwirfoddol edrych arni. Rhaid inni ofyn sut y gallwn ddarbwyllo’r cwmnïau hyn i ymrwymo i wariant mawr a sut y gall ein gweithrediaeth raglenni gymeradwyo gwariant o £275 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf a £246 miliwn yn y flwyddyn wedi hynny oni bai fod gennym ryw warant a datganiad o fwriad y bydd yr arian ar gael yn 2001 a 2002.
As a corporate body, we cannot make commitments to the full utilisation of the European funds that we all want to see until we have reasonable certainty that we will have the money in the budget. We must take seriously the lesson of the £50 million of previous commitment that we will have to fund from the 2000-01 budget. It could be over £200 million of unbudgeted commitment next time. Where would we find money of that quantity in a budget so constrained by the present formula?
Fel corff corfforaethol, ni allwn wneud ymrwymiadau i wneud defnydd llawn o’r arian Ewropeaidd yr ydym i gyd eisiau ei weld hyd nes bydd gennym sicrwydd rhesymol y bydd yr arian gennym yn y gyllideb. Rhaid inni gymryd o ddifrif y wers o’r £50 miliwn o ymrwymiad blaenorol y bydd yn rhaid inni ei ariannu o gyllideb 2000-01. Gallai fod dros £200 miliwn o ymrwymiad heb ei gyllidebu y tro nesaf. Ble byddem ni’n canfod cymaint o arian mewn cyllideb sydd wedi’i chyfyngu gymaint gan y fformwla bresennol?
We are told that we should wait until the spending review next summer. I concede that the exact level of match funding that needs to be added to our block grant will ultimately be a matter of negotiation. It may be necessary for us to continue the level of match funding that has been provided from the Welsh block between 1994 and 1999. However, when we look carefully at the budget that we consider today and when we agonise over the problems of increasing funding in the health service, education and the responsibilities of local government, I think you would all agree that there is no way that we can squeeze substantial extra funding from the present Assembly budget. I estimate that a figure approaching £100 million must be added to provide the necessary match funding if we are able to draw down the maximum level of European Union funding. The exact figure will be a matter for the spending review. It is not too much to ask, as a body responsible for the Objective 1 programme in Wales, that we have a declaration of intent. In a motion passed by the Assembly in October, it was stated that the necessary level of match funding would be added. So much for the UK component of match funding.
Dywedir wrthym y dylem aros tan yr adolygiad gwariant yr haf nesaf. Un peth a addefaf yw y bydd union lefel yr arian cyfatebol y mae angen ei ychwanegu at ein grant bloc yn fater i’w negodi yn y pen draw. Efallai y bydd angen inni barhau’r lefel o arian cyfatebol a ddarparwyd o’r bloc Cymreig rhwng 1994 ac 1999. Fodd bynnag, pan edrychwn yn ofalus ar y gyllideb sydd dan ystyriaeth gennym heddiw ac wrth inni grafu’n pen ynghylch y problemau o gynyddu cyllid yn y gwasanaeth iechyd, addysg a chyfrifoldebau llywodraeth leol, credaf y byddech i gyd yn cytuno nad oes unrhyw ffordd y gallwn wasgu arian ychwanegol sylweddol o gyllideb bresennol y Cynulliad. Amcangyfrifaf fod yn rhaid ychwanegu ffigur sydd yn agos at £100 miliwn i ddarparu’r arian cyfatebol angenrheidiol os ydym am allu tynnu i lawr y lefel uchaf bosib o arian yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Bydd yr union ffigur yn fater i’r adolygiad gwariant. Nid yw’n ormod i ofyn, fel corff cyfrifol am y rhaglen Amcan 1 yng Nghymru, ein bod yn cael datganiad o fwriad. Mewn cynnig a basiwyd gan y Cynulliad ym mis Hydref, dywedwyd y câi’r lefel angenrheidiol o arian cyfatebol ei ychwanegu. Dyna swm a sylwedd cydran arian cyfatebol y DU.
In conclusion, I must ask where is the money from Europe? Access to money coming from the European Union for projects in Wales should surely not be a matter of negotiation or uncertainty. Surely we do not have to present a case and fight a tough fight to use the money that was allocated by the EU to the Objective 1 area in Wales. Why is there not a line in this budget—in brackets even—indicating the £123 million of European regional development fund money that would be available from Europe if we could provide the match funding, or the £113 million in 2001?
I gloi, rhaid imi ofyn ble mae’r arian o Ewrop? Siawns na ddylai cael mynediad at arian a ddaw oddi wrth yr Undeb Ewropeaidd i brosiectau yng Nghymru fod yn destun negodi nac ansicrwydd. Siawns nad oes raid inni gyflwyno achos ac ymladd brwydr galed i gael defnyddio’r arian a ddyrannwyd gan yr UE i’r ardal Amcan 1 yng Nghymru. Pam nad oes llinell yn y gyllideb hon—mewn cromfachau, hyd yn oed—yn nodi’r £123 miliwn o arian o gronfa datblygu rhanbarthol Ewropeaidd a fyddai ar gael o Ewrop petaem ni’n gallu darparu’r arian cyfatebol neu’r £113 miliwn yn 2001?
I end with a serious proposal that avoids all the objections that have been raised so far. According to chapter 5, section 1 of the Vademecum for structural plans—which I believe, is a book of rules published by the European Commission—at the beginning of a round of European structural funding, the EU makes a payment, or is prepared to make a payment to the member state of about 7 per cent of the total EU contribution. This 7 per cent is cash upfront and the European rules state that advance payments should be made to final beneficiaries. This money will be vital for the hundreds of voluntary organisations and small and medium sized enterprises that are eager to proceed with Objective 1 projects but do not have the capital reserves to embark on any ambitious project.
Diweddaf gyda chynnig difrifol sydd yn osgoi pob gwrthwynebiad a godwyd hyd yma. Yn ôl pennod 5, adran 1 y Vade mecum ar gyfer cynlluniau strwythurol—sydd, mi gredaf, yn llyfr o reolau a gyhoeddir gan y Comisiwn Ewropeaidd—ar ddechrau cylch o ariannu strwythurol Ewropeaidd, bydd yr UE yn gwneud taliad, neu’n fodlon gwneud taliad i’r aelod wladwriaeth o ryw 7 y cant o gyfanswm cyfraniad yr UE. Mae’r 7 y cant hwn yn arian ymlaen llaw a dywed y rheolau Ewropeaidd y dylid gwneud taliadau ymlaen llaw i’r rhai fydd yn elwa yn y diwedd. Bydd yr arian hwn yn holl bwysig i’r cannoedd o gyrff gwirfoddol a mentrau bach a chanolig eu maint sydd yn awyddus i fynd yn eu blaenau â phrosiectau Amcan 1 ond sydd heb y cyfalaf wrth gefn i gychwyn ar unrhyw brosiect uchelgeisiol.
Under the rules published in the Vademecum, I understand that in the new year, the European Union is prepared to pay £86 million to the UK as an advance payment for Objective 1 projects in Wales. That will be held in a suspense account. Is Alun Michael telling us that, under the present rules, even this money cannot be included as a contingency element in the budget? This money—which may be oversimplified as cash kept in the Bank of England and earmarked for Wales—that the EU has ordered to be distributed at the beginning of the programme as advance payments, cannot be included as a contingency. That could not have been anticipated in the previous comprehensive spending review. I know that the money we will spend is drawn out of it but it is constrained by the Barnett limit. What we need and expect in the budget is a new and separate budget contingency line.
O dan y rheolau a gyhoeddwyd yn y Vade mecum, deallaf fod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y flwyddyn newydd yn barod i dalu £86 miliwn i’r DU fel blaendaliad ar gyfer prosiectau Amcan 1 yng Nghymru. Caiff hynny ei ddal mewn cyfrif crog. A yw Alun Michael yn dweud wrthym na ellir, dan y rheolau presennol, gynnwys hyd yn oed yr arian hwn fel elfen wrth gefn yn y gyllideb? Ni ellir cynnwys yr arian hwn—y gellir ei orsymleiddio fel arian a gedwir ym Manc Lloegr ac sydd wedi’i glustnodi ar gyfer Cymru—y mae’r UE wedi gorchymyn ei ddosbarthu ar ddechrau’r rhaglen fel blaendaliadau, fel elfen wrth gefn. Ni ellid bod wedi rhagweld hynny yn yr adolygiad gwariant cynhwysfawr blaenorol. Gwn y caiff yr arian y byddwn yn ei wario ei dynnu allan ohono ond mae wedi’i gyfyngu gan derfyn Barnett. Yr hyn y mae arnom ei angen a’r hyn yr ydym yn ei ddisgwyl yn y gyllideb yw llinell wrth-gefn newydd ac ar-wahân yn y gyllideb.
I accept that there is a challenge for us all. It has been argued that there might not be enough good projects to spend the money. However, if we succeed and go out proactively to encourage people to plan for the regeneration of the Welsh economy, we hope that we will then be faced by a large number of projects, some of which will require advance payment. At least as a contingency, I ask that the case be made for this advance payment to be available.
Derbyniaf fod yma her inni i gyd. Dadleuwyd efallai na fydd digon o brosiectau da i wario’r arian. Fodd bynnag, os llwyddwn a mynd ati’n rhagweithiol i annog pobl i gynllunio ar gyfer adfywiad yr economi Cymreig, gobeithiwn y cawn ein hwynebu wedyn â nifer fawr o brosiectau, rhai ohonynt yn gofyn am flaendaliad. O leiaf fel darpariaeth wrth gefn, gofynnaf fod yr achos yn cael ei wneud dros i’r blaendaliad hwn fod ar gael.
In July, the Assembly approved a statement that the operation of the Barnett formula should exclude the EU supporting expenditure in English spending departments and in Wales, and that structural funding designated for Wales and the appropriate level of match funding should be added. That is the Assembly’s policy and, without a contingency budget line that takes this into account, we have to regard the budget as flawed.
Ym mis Gorffennaf, cymeradwyodd y Cynulliad ddatganiad y dylai gweithrediad fformwla Barnett beidio â chynnwys gwariant cefnogol yr UE mewn adrannau gwario yn Lloegr ac yng Nghymru, ac y dylai cyllid strwythurol a ddynodwyd ar gyfer Cymru a’r lefel briodol o arian cyfatebol gael eu hychwanegu. Dyna bolisi’r Cynulliad a, heb linell wrth-gefn yn y gyllideb sydd yn cymryd hynny i ystyriaeth, rhaid inni edrych ar y gyllideb fel un wallus.
We, therefore, have a dilemma. It would be totally irresponsible to obstruct what we recognise as real progress in the details of the budget. We would not wish to deny Wales the advantages that come from some of the real effects of the Assembly’s priorities. We would not wish to cast uncertainty on next year’s finances for schools, hospitals and local government and we wish to welcome sincerely the changes that Edwina has announced: moving towards free eye tests, an enterprise development fund, recruiting more teachers, establishing a north-south link and so on
Yr ydym, felly, â chyfyng gyngor. Byddai’n gwbl anghyfrifol gwrthwynebu pethau yr ystyriwn yn gynnydd gwirioneddol ym manylion y gyllideb. Ni fyddem eisiau gwadu i Gymru y manteision a ddaw yn sgîl rhai o wir effeithiau blaenoriaethau’r Cynulliad. Ni fyddem yn dymuno bwrw ansicrwydd ar gyllid y flwyddyn nesaf ar gyfer ysgolion, ysbytai a llywodraeth leol a dymunwn groesawu’n ddidwyll y newidiadau a gyhoeddwyd gan Edwina o ran symud tuag at brofion llygaid am ddim, cronfa ddatblygu menter, recriwtio mwy o athrawon, sefydlu cysylltiad rhwng de a gogledd ac ati.
However, we cannot at this stage vote for a budget that has not addressed the key question of financing European structural funds. We will continue to press as hard as we can for the additional and match funding between now and February.
Fodd bynnag, ni allwn ar hyn o bryd bleidleisio dros gyllideb sydd heb fynd i’r afael â chwestiwn allweddol ariannu cyllid strwythurol Ewrop. Byddwn yn parhau i bwyso cymaint ag a allwn am yr arian ychwanegol a chyfatebol rhwng yn awr a mis Chwefror.
I step forward to the Speaker’s rostrum with some trepidation, having nearly fallen over.
Camaf ymlaen at lwyfan y Siaradwr â chryn betruster, a minnau bron wedi syrthio.
Edwina placed that trap down there.
Edwina osododd y fagl honno i lawr yn y fan honno.
I think Tom Middlehurst did it, although I have read several reports in the Welsh media over recent weeks about the dire consequences that could befall anybody who stood in our redoubtable Finance Secretary’s way. That has come as a great surprise to me because I have known the Finance Secretary for many years and have always found her to be a most soft and gentle person.
Credaf mai Tom Middlehurst a wnaeth, er fy mod wedi darllen sawl adroddiad yn y cyfryngau Cymreig dros yr wythnosau diweddaf ynglŷn â’r canlyniadau ofnadwy a allai ddod i ran unrhyw un a safai yn ffordd ein Hysgrifennydd Cyllid glew. Rhoddodd hynny gryn syndod i mi gan fy mod yn adnabod yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid ers nifer o flynyddoedd ac wedi ei chael yn berson tyner a thirion iawn bob amser.
I will take the risk and begin by stating that the Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly are still deeply unimpressed by the budget. We welcome the Finance Secretary’s comments about the national careers strategy and initiatives such as the rough sleeping initiative—
Yr wyf am fentro a dechrau drwy ddweud nad yw’r gyllideb wedi gwneud argraff o gwbl ar y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig yn y Cynulliad. Croesawn sylwadau’r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid ynglŷn â’r strategaeth yrfaoedd genedlaethol a mentrau megis y fenter i ddelio â chysgu ar y stryd—
You mean the national carers strategy.
Y strategaeth genedlaethol i gynhalwyr sydd gennych dan sylw.
Yes, the national carers strategy. We also welcome the extra support for organic farming in the agriculture budget. However, despite the Finance Secretary’s protestations, we still consider this budget to be essentially a budget made in Downing Street and we cannot but oppose it.
Ie, y strategaeth genedlaethol i gynhalwyr. Croesawn hefyd y gefnogaeth ychwanegol i ffermio organig yn y gyllideb amaethyddiaeth. Fodd bynnag, er gwaethaf protestiadau’r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid, yr ydym yn dal i ystyried y gyllideb hon yn gyllideb yn ei hanfod a wnaethpwyd yn Stryd Downing ac ni allwn ond ei gwrthwynebu.
I admit to some difficulty in preparing for today’s debate, because it is substantially a repetition of the debate that we had three or four weeks ago. I accept that the budget is now referred to as a draft budget, rather than a preliminary draft budget and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has reached into his bulging war chest—the one that he has amassed by confiscating the income from ever higher levels of taxation on the people of Wales—and has tossed a few baubles in the Finance Secretary’s direction so that she had something to say today and could help Plaid Cymru to make a decision on the budget. It is important to keep in mind, when debating our path through the budget preparation process, that Wales has one of the fastest rising tax burdens of any developed country. The painfully won gains in competitiveness and productivity that occurred under successive Conservative governments, are being sacrificed in a cynical re-election campaign by the Labour Government in Westminster.
Yr wyf yn cyfaddef imi gael rhywfaint o anhawster wrth baratoi ar gyfer y ddadl heddiw, oherwydd mae i bob pwrpas yn ailadroddiad o’r ddadl a gawsom dair neu bedair wythnos yn ôl. Derbyniaf y cyfeirir at y gyllideb yn awr fel cyllideb ddrafft, yn hytrach na chyllideb ddrafft ragarweiniol a bod Canghellor y Trysorlys wedi ymestyn i’w gist ryfel orlawn—honno a lenwodd drwy gadw’r incwm o lefelau cynyddol uwch o dreth ar bobl Cymru—ac wedi taflu ambell geiniog i gyfeiriad yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid fel y byddai ganddi rywbeth i’w ddweud heddiw ac fel y gallai helpu Plaid Cymru i wneud penderfyniad ar y gyllideb. Mae’n bwysig cadw mewn cof, wrth ddadlau’n ffordd drwy’r broses baratoi cyllideb, fod gan Gymru un o’r beichiau treth sydd yn cynyddu gyflymaf mewn unrhyw wlad ddatblygedig. Mae’r enillion caled a sicrhawyd o ran cystadleurwydd a chynhyrchiant dan lywodraethau Ceidwadol un ar ôl ei gilydd yn cael eu haberthu mewn ymgyrch ailethol sinigaidd gan y Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan.
I also had some difficulty in preparing for today’s debate because of my wish to avoid repeating previously rehearsed arguments. There is no doubt that the most serious single failing in this budget, and in the preliminary budget, is the failure to satisfactorily address the Objective 1 match funding issue. This has been mentioned many times before, not least by the previous speaker. However, this is the key issue and the main reason why I describe this budget as one made in Downing Street and why it is unacceptable. The leader of the largest minority party in the Assembly has stated publicly and often that he may be forced to set about removing Alun Michael from his position as First Secretary over this. I have read several reports that the coup de grâce is likely to be delivered next February. We shall see.
Cefais rywfaint o anhawster hefyd wrth baratoi ar gyfer dadl heddiw oherwydd fy nymuniad i osgoi ailadrodd dadleuon a ymarferwyd o’r blaen. Nid oes amheuaeth nad yr un methiant mwyaf difrifol yn y gyllideb hon, ac yn y gyllideb ragarweiniol, yw’r methiant i ymdrin yn foddhaol â mater arian cyfatebol Amcan 1. Soniwyd am hyn lawer gwaith o’r blaen, nid yn lleiaf gan y siaradwr diwethaf. Fodd bynnag, dyma’r mater allweddol a’r prif reswm pam fy mod yn disgrifio’r gyllideb hon fel un a wnaed yn Stryd Downing a pham y mae yn annerbyniol. Mae arweinydd y blaid leiafrifol fwyaf yn y Cynulliad wedi datgan yn gyhoeddus ac yn aml y gallai gael ei orfodi i fynd ati i symud Alun Michael o’i swydd fel Prif Ysgrifennydd dros y mater hwn. Yr wyf wedi darllen sawl adroddiad fod y coup de grâce yn debygol o ddigwydd fis Chwefror nesaf. Cawn weld.
There could be a problem with this. I do not underestimate the First Secretary’s cunning. Llywydd, you might prefer me to use words such as ‘tactical awareness’. The First Secretary, as Baldrick would say, has a rather cunning plan. He has a strategy for dealing with this difficult problem, or perhaps I should say this difficult issue. Faced with a hopeless inability to produce a budget that matches the Objective 1 programme, he has decided to produce an Objective 1 programme that matches the budget. It is simple. Through obfuscation and not proactively searching out potential new schemes, the Government has lowered expectations to such an extent that few schemes will be submitted for payment next year. Hey presto, the budgetary problems have gone. This is Tony Blair’s idea of not letting Wales down. I hope that my colleague, Alun Cairns, who is now widely considered to be an authority on this issue, will be able to add to my comments on this problem, or issue, later in the debate.
Gallai fod problem gyda hyn. Nid wyf yn tanbrisio cyfrwystra’r Prif Ysgrifennydd. Llywydd, efallai yr hoffech chi imi ddefnyddio geiriau fel ‘ymwybyddiaeth dactegol’. Mae gan y Prif Ysgrifennydd, chwedl Baldrick, gynllun cyfrwys. Mae ganddo strategaeth ar gyfer delio â’r broblem anodd hon, neu efallai y dylwn ddweud y mater anodd hwn. Yn wyneb anallu anobeithiol i lunio cyllideb sydd yn ateb y rhaglen Amcan 1, penderfynodd lunio rhaglen Amcan 1 sydd yn ateb y gyllideb. Mae’n syml. Drwy dywyllu’r mater a pheidio â mynd ati i chwilio am gynlluniau newydd potensial, mae’r Llywodraeth wedi gostwng disgwyliadau i’r fath raddau fel mai ychydig o geisiadau gaiff eu cyflwyno am daliadau y flwyddyn nesaf. Wele, mae’r problemau cyllidebol wedi diflannu. Dyna syniad Tony Blair o beidio â gadael Cymru i lawr. Gobeithiaf y bydd fy nghyd-Aelod, Alun Cairns, sydd bellach yn cael ei dderbyn yn gyffredinol fel awdurdod ar y mater hwn, yn gallu ychwanegu at fy sylwadau ar y broblem hon, neu’r mater hwn, yn ddiweddarach yn y ddadl.
I want to mention another cunning plan, which is to eliminate any opposition to this budget by stitching Assembly Members into a financial straitjacket. That theme has featured in committee discussions. We are told that any call for extra spending must be matched by a commensurate reduction elsewhere. That is a ridiculous and unsustainable approach. I accept that any serious opposition party cannot make silly demands for extra spending. However, opposition Assembly Members are not aware of the information available to the Cabinet. We have no knowledge of the extra spending that will be released by the Chancellor throughout the year and we are not connected by an umbilical cord to Downing Street or Millbank Tower.
Hoffwn grybwyll cynllun cyfrwys arall, sef dileu unrhyw wrthwynebiad i’r gyllideb hon drwy bwytho Aelodau’r Cynulliad i mewn i wasgod gaeth ariannol. Daeth y thema honno i’r amlwg mewn trafodaethau pwyllgor. Dywedir wrthym y bydd yn rhaid i unrhyw alwad am wariant ychwanegol gael ei ateb gan ostyngiad cymesur mewn man arall. Dyna agwedd hurt ac un na ellir ei chynnal. Derbyniaf na all unrhyw wrthblaid ddifrifol wneud galwadau gwirion am wariant ychwanegol. Fodd bynnag, nid yw Aelodau gwrthbleidiau ar y Cynulliad yn gwybod am y wybodaeth sydd ar gael i’r Cabinet. Ni wyddom ddim am y gwariant ychwanegol a ryddheir gan y Canghellor drwy gydol y flwyddyn ac nid oes llinyn bogail yn ein cysylltu ni â Stryd Downing neu Dŵr Millbank.
We are used to the First Secretary going on about inclusive politics, which is his way of demanding that everybody agrees with him. We do not accept that demand and we will not accept a financial straitjacket, designed to prevent criticism of this flawed budget. I would like to comment on many second tier issues or sub-expenditure groups, as they are unattractively called, but I shall limit myself to two. I support the Cabinet’s position on one of those issues.
Yr ydym wedi arfer clywed y Prif Ysgrifennydd yn rhygnu ymlaen am wleidyddiaeth gynhwysol, sef ei ffordd ef o fynnu bod yn rhaid i bawb gytuno ag ef. Ni dderbyniwn yr alwad honno ac ni dderbyniwn wasgod gaeth ariannol, sydd wedi’i chynllunio i atal beirniadaeth ar y gyllideb wallus hon. Hoffwn roi sylwadau ar nifer o faterion ail reng neu grwpiau iswariant, fel y’u gelwir mewn geiriau anneniadol, ond cyfyngaf fy hun i ddau. Cefnogaf safle’r Cabinet ar un o’r ddau fater hyn.
The local authority revenue settlement in this budget allows for £17 million top-slicing to provide a damping scheme that will spread meeting the huge deficit in the budgets of four south Wales local authorities over all the council taxpayers in Wales. Like everyone else in Mid and West Wales, the constituency I represent, I am appalled by this decision. Finance Secretary, what sort of message does that send to the prudent councils in the rest of Wales? I note that the Assembly will not contribute to meeting the cost.
Mae setliad refeniw’r awdurdodau lleol yn y gyllideb hon yn caniatáu ar gyfer cymryd £17 miliwn oddi ar y cyfanswm i ddarparu cynllun dampio a fydd yn rhannu’r baich o dalu’r diffygion enfawr yng nghyllidebau pedwar awdurdod lleol yn y de rhwng holl drethdalwyr cynghorau Cymru. Fel pawb arall yn y Canolbarth a’r Gorllewin, yr etholaeth a gynrychiolaf, yr wyf fi’n gandryll â’r penderfyniad hwn. Ysgrifennydd Cyllid, pa fath o neges mae hyn yn ei anfon i’r cynghorau gofalus yng ngweddill Cymru? Nodaf na fydd y Cynulliad yn cyfrannu at dalu’r gost.
Do you not agree that these four councils have the greatest levels of social exclusion in Wales? If we are to take your protestations of concern seriously, then you should support the assistance given to the four poorest councils in Wales, with the areas of greatest social exclusion. We must have honesty, not hypocrisy.
Onid ydych chi’n cytuno fod gan y pedwar cyngor hyn y lefelau uchaf o ddieithrwch cymdeithasol yng Nghymru? Os ydym am gymryd eich haeriadau o bryder o ddifrif, yna dylech gefnogi’r cymorth a roddir i bedwar cyngor tlotaf Cymru, lle mae’r ardaloedd lle ceir y dieithrwch cymdeithasol mwyaf. Rhaid cael gonestrwydd, nid rhagrith.
I think you are making a different point, but I will address it. Whenever a local authority is in the sort of difficulties that these four councils are, an element of that has to be reflected in the council tax charged by that local authority. Unless that happens, it is impossible to instil any degree of responsibility in local authorities.
Credaf eich bod chi’n gwneud pwynt gwahanol, ond fe’i hatebaf. Pryd bynnag y bydd awdurdod lleol yn y math o anawsterau a wynebir gan y pedwar cyngor hyn, mae’n rhaid i elfen o hynny gael ei adlewyrchu yn y dreth cyngor a godir gan yr awdurdod lleol hwnnw. Os na ddigwydd hynny, mae’n amhosibl meithrin unrhyw radd o gyfrifoldeb mewn awdurdodau lleol.
I thank you for giving way, as this directly, and unfairly, reflects on a local authority in my constituency. These problems are not the result of a lack of financial management skills but of the effects of social deprivation and poverty. We do not have a funding formula for local authorities that recognises social deprivation as a key factor. We have seen the figures and have been through them in the Chamber. Consistent with your Tory philosophy, you are talking about taking from the poorest in our society and redistributing wealth among the better off.
Diolch am ildio, gan fod hyn yn adlewyrchu’n uniongyrchol, ac yn annheg, ar awdurdod lleol yn fy etholaeth. Nid canlyniad diffyg sgiliau rheoli ariannol yw’r problemau hyn ond canlyniad effeithiau amddifadiad cymdeithasol a thlodi. Nid oes gennym fformwla ariannu ar gyfer awdurdodau lleol sydd yn cydnabod amddifadiad cymdeithasol fel ffactor allweddol. Gwelsom y ffigurau a buom drwyddynt yn y Siambr. Yn gyson â’ch athroniaeth Dorïaidd, yr ydych yn sôn am gymryd oddi wrth y tlotaf yn ein cymdeithas ac ailddosbarthu cyfoeth ymhlith y cyfoethocaf.
I will move on to my next point, which addresses that issue to some extent. The Assembly will not contribute to the damping scheme although it is free to do so. Irrespective of whether that decision is right or wrong, it means that all council taxpayers in Wales must meet a massive council tax increase next year. It is what I call the first WST, the first Welsh stealth tax. I daresay there will be more to follow.
Symudaf ymlaen at fy mhwynt nesaf, sydd yn mynd i’r afael â’r mater hwnnw i ryw raddau. Ni fydd y Cynulliad yn cyfrannu at y cynllun dampio er ei fod yn rhydd i wneud hynny. Boed y penderfyniad yn gam neu’n gymwys, mae’n golygu fod yn rhaid i holl drethdalwyr Cymru wynebu cynnydd enfawr yn eu treth gyngor y flwyddyn nesaf. Dyma’r hyn a alwaf yn dreth lechwraidd gyntaf Cymru. Mae’n siŵr y bydd mwy i ddilyn.
I will move on to the second sub-expenditure group issue. It is relatively small in budgetary terms. The Finance Secretary referred to it in some length and we discussed it in the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee this morning. It is a significant issue for the Welsh dairy industry, for the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, and for the credibility of the National Assembly in Wales. The issue is the alleviation of dairy hygiene charges.
Symudaf ymlaen at yr ail fater parthed grŵp iswariant. Mae’n gymharol fach yn nhermau cyllidebol. Cyfeiriodd yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid ato yn eithaf maith a thrafodwyd y peth yn y Pwyllgor Amaethyddiaeth a Datblygu Gwledig y bore yma. Mae’n fater arwyddocaol i ddiwydiant llaeth Cymru, i’r Pwyllgor Amaethyddiaeth a Datblygu Gwledig ag i hygrededd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yng Nghymru. Esmwytho’r taliadau hylendid llaeth yw’r mater hwn.
The morale of the Welsh dairy industry and the credibility of the Assembly are of great importance to the Welsh Conservative Group. I support the Finance Secretary’s decision to allow for an annual commitment of about £180,000 per year to accommodate this relief. The Cabinet will go forward with this issue with the support of the Welsh Conservative Group.
Mae morâl y diwydiant llaeth yng Nghymru a hygrededd y Cynulliad yn bwysig iawn i’r Grŵp Ceidwadol Cymreig. Cefnogaf benderfyniad yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid i ganiatáu ar gyfer ymrwymiad blynyddol o ryw £180,000 y flwyddyn i ganiatáu’r rhyddhad hwn. Aiff y Cabinet ymlaen â’r mater hwn gyda chefnogaeth y Grŵp Ceidwadol Cymreig.
I have already said that the Welsh Conservative Group does not find this budget satisfactory. It is not fair to place all the blame on the Finance Secretary, perhaps for fear of the redoubtableness I mentioned earlier. It is Tony who has let Wales down. With his drive to win votes in middle England and his callous disregard and taking for granted the voters of Wales, it is Tony from Downing Street who is pulling the strings. It is he who has let Wales down.
Dywedais eisoes nad yw’r Grŵp Ceidwadol Cymreig yn cael y gyllideb hon yn un foddhaol. Nid yw’n deg rhoi’r bai i gyd ar yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid, efallai mewn ofn rhag y glewder y cyfeiriais ato ynghynt. Tony sydd wedi gadael Cymru i lawr. Gyda’i sêl dros ennill pleidleisiau yn Lloegr ganol a’i ddifrawder dideimlad wrth iddo gymryd pleidleiswyr Cymru yn ganiataol, Tony o Stryd Downing sydd yn tynnu’r llinynnau. Ef sydd wedi gadael Cymru i lawr.
There are many reasons why the Liberal Democrats will not vote for this budget. Several of these are more important than others, and I will go into them in detail. On balance, we feel strongly that the Government has not moved sufficiently towards our agenda to enable us to do anything but vote against the budget.
Mae sawl rheswm pam na wnaiff y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol bleidleisio dros y gyllideb hon. Mae rhai ohonynt yn fwy pwysig na’i gilydd a byddaf yn edrych yn fanylach ar y rhain. Teimlwn yn gryf nad yw’r Llywodraeth, ar y cyfan, wedi symud digon tuag at ein hagenda ni i’n galluogi ni i wneud dim arall heblaw pleidleisio yn erbyn y gyllideb.
Like all the opposition parties we have been engaged in talks with the Government on what can and cannot be achieved in this budget. I regret that those talks have been taking place behind closed doors and that the details of what has gone on have remained hidden. If inclusive politics is to work, there has to be open discussion and agreement on major issues such as the budget so that the whole process is transparent. I do not pretend that talks have not taken place, nor do I hide the fact that concessions have been made to the Liberal Democrat agenda for Wales.
Fel pob un o bleidiau’r wrthblaid buom yn cynnal trafodaethau gyda’r Llywodraeth ynghylch yr hyn sydd yn bosibl ac yn amhosibl ei gyflawni gyda’r gyllideb hon. Mae’n ofid imi i’r trafodaethau hynny gael eu cynnal yn y dirgel ac na ddatgelwyd manylion y trafodaethau. Os yw gwleidyddiaeth gynhwysol i weithio, rhaid sicrhau fod trafodaeth agored a chytundeb ynghylch materion o bwys megis y gyllideb fel bod y broses gyfan yn dryloyw. Nid wyf yn cymryd arnaf nad yw trafodaethau wedi eu cynnal ac nid wyf ychwaith yn ceisio cuddio’r ffaith bod agenda’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol i Gymru wedi cael ei chydnabod mewn rhai ffyrdd.
The provision of £7.9 million extra money for health in the draft budget statement is welcome, as is the commitment to try to find a way to apply a significant proportion of this money to restoring free eye tests. That is an important part of the Liberal Democrat agenda. We were the first party to raise this in the Assembly when Jenny Randerson had a short debate on the subject. It is a matter of regret that Plaid Cymru, who subsequently purported to support this measure, abstained in that debate. The party’s action brings into question their commitment to the measure and to the major benefit that can accrue from introducing free eye tests for all.
Croesewir y ddarpariaeth o £7.9 miliwn o arian ychwanegol ar gyfer iechyd yn natganiad drafft y gyllideb, ynghyd â’r ymrwymiad i geisio canfod ffordd o ddefnyddio cyfran helaeth o’r arian hwn i adfer profion llygaid di-dâl. Mae hyn yn rhan bwysig o agenda’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Y ni oedd y blaid gyntaf i godi hyn yn y Cynulliad pan gafwyd dadl fer ar y mater gan Jenny Randerson. Mae’n drueni bod Plaid Cymru, sydd wedi honni’n ddiweddarach eu bod yn cefnogi’r mesur hwn, wedi ymatal rhag cyfrannu at y drafodaeth honno. Mae’r hyn a wnaeth y blaid yn bwrw amheuaeth ar eu hymrwymiad i’r mesur ac i’r lles mawr a allai ddeillio o gyflwyno profion llygaid di-dâl i bawb.
However, the commitment that has been made does not go far enough. We are offered an inquiry and the limited introduction of free eye tests from 1 October 2000. The case for the medical benefits of this measure has already been made. Only universally free eye tests will suffice. They must be available from 1 April in full, not a halfway measure at some distant point in the future. By accepting this compromise, Plaid Cymru has once again sold out on this measure. The dangers to which the party is committed are clear and are only too well demonstrated by the beef on the bone issue. A deal was also struck on this. Plaid Cymru agreed that rather than vote on the matter in a Plenary session there should be a Committee inquiry. Their compromise was proved to be worthless when Nick Brown and Christine Gwyther gazumped them yesterday.
Fodd bynnag, nid yw’r ymrwymiad a wnaethpwyd yn ddigon. Yr ydym yn cael cynnig ymchwiliad a chyflwyno profion llygaid ar raddfa gyfyngedig o 1 Hydref 2000. Mae’r achos o blaid manteision meddygol y mesur hwn eisoes wedi’u gwneud. Dim ond profion llygaid sydd ar gael i bawb a wnaiff y tro. Rhaid iddynt fod ar gael yn llawn o 1 Ebrill, nid ar ffurf mesur anghyflawn a fydd ar gael rywbryd yn y dyfodol pell. Drwy dderbyn y cyfaddawd hwn, mae Plaid Cymru, unwaith yn rhagor, wedi gwanychu’r mesur hwn. Mae’r peryglon y mae’r blaid wedi ymrwymo iddynt yn amlwg fel y gwelwyd yn achos y drafodaeth ar gig eidion ar yr asgwrn. Yr oedd bargen wedi ei tharo ynghylch hyn hefyd. Cytunodd Plaid Cymru y dylid cynnal ymchwiliad gan y Pwyllgor yn hytrach na phleidleisio ar y mater drwy’r Cyfarfod Llawn. Profwyd mai diwerth oedd eu cyfaddawd pan gawsant eu tanseilio gan Nick Brown a Christine Gwyther ddoe.
We are all aware of the huge backlog of maintenance of school buildings in Wales. I staged a short debate on this problem in September. I was disappointed with the Government’s response and with the fact that so little information is held centrally on the extent of the problem. The extra £1.489 million for this year is welcome but is clearly not enough. There are no guarantees that the money set aside for capital expenditure under three separate expenditure groups in the education budget will be spent on upgrading the fabric of school buildings next year. History indicates that it will not be. If it were, I am sure that it would be under the separate budget heading of school buildings maintenance.
Yr ydym i gyd yn ymwybodol o’r ôl-groniad enfawr o waith cynnal a chadw mewn adeiladau ysgol yng Nghymru. Cynhaliais ddadl fer ar y broblem hon ym mis Medi. Yr oeddwn yn siomedig gydag ymateb y Llywodraeth a chyda’r ffaith bod cyn lleied o wybodaeth yn cael ei chadw’n ganolog ynghylch y broblem. Croesewir yr £1.489 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer eleni ond mae’n amlwg nad yw’n ddigon. Nid oes unrhyw sicrwydd y bydd yr arian a neilltuwyd ar gyfer gwariant cyfalaf o dan dri grŵp gwariant ar wahân yn y gyllideb addysg yn cael ei wario ar uwchraddio adeiladwaith adeiladau ysgol y flwyddyn nesaf. Ar sail hanesyddol, mae’n debyg na fydd. Pe bai’n cael ei wario felly, yr wyf yn siŵr y byddai’n ymddangos dan bennawd ar wahân yn y gyllideb o dan cynnal a chadw adeiladau ysgol.
How will schools in Plaid Cymru-controlled Caerphilly County Borough Council feel about this deal? They have a £20 million maintenance backlog, 13 times the extra money given today. They have at least 36 demountable classrooms that are older than 10 years. The voters of Caerphilly will need to remember that in 2003.
Sut y bydd yr ysgolion yng Nghyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili, sydd o dan reolaeth Plaid Cymru, yn teimlo ynglŷn â hyn? Mae ganddynt werth £20 miliwn o waith cynnal a chadw sydd wedi cronni, sydd 13 gwaith yn fwy na’r arian ychwanegol a roddwyd heddiw. Mae ganddynt o leiaf 36 ystafell ddosbarth symudol sydd yn hŷn na 10 oed. Bydd angen i bleidleiswyr Caerffili gofio hynny yn 2003.
There needs to be a significant start on the work that needs to be done. The work should start next year, not the year after or the year after that. The Government not only needs to allocate much more money to these budget heads this year, it must also commit to a rolling repair programme in partnership with local councils to deal with the problem once and for all, within a set timescale. That is not being done at present and is a major factor in our decision to vote against this budget.
Rhaid mynd ati i roi dechrau da i’r gwaith sydd yn rhaid ei gyflawni. Dylai’r gwaith ddechrau y flwyddyn nesaf, nid y flwyddyn wedyn na’r flwyddyn ar ôl hynny. Yn ogystal â dyrannu llawer iawn mwy o arian o dan y penawdau hyn o’r gyllideb eleni, rhaid i’r Llywodraeth hefyd ymrwymo i raglen dreigl o atgyweirio mewn partneriaeth gyda chynghorau lleol er mwyn rhoi sylw i’r broblem hon unwaith ac am byth, oddi mewn i amserlen benodol. Nid yw hynny’n digwydd ar hyn o bryd ac mae hynny’n un o’r prif ffactorau yn ein penderfyniad i bleidleisio yn erbyn y gyllideb hon.
Not everything about the budget is bad. The money put aside to establish a development bank for Wales is welcomed. However, we are disappointed that there was no announcement on a commitment to a community investment authority to ensure continuity of funding for voluntary organisations. Both these measures would help to ensure that European money is directed to pump-prime indigenous businesses and that voluntary organisations can use that money to tackle social exclusion in the areas in which they work. The Liberal Democrats have actively promoted these measures in Plenary sessions, and both have won majority support. The fact that support for a community investment authority has been ignored is disappointing and another reason to vote against the budget.
Nid drwg mo popeth ynghylch y gyllideb. Croesewir yr arian a neilltuwyd i sefydlu banc datblygu i Gymru. Fodd bynnag, yr ydym yn siomedig na chafwyd cyhoeddiad ynghylch ymrwymo i awdurdod buddsoddi cymunedol er mwyn sicrhau bod nawdd i fudiadau gwirfoddol yn parhau. Byddai’r naill fesur a’r llall yn fodd i sicrhau y sianelir arian o Ewrop i roi hwb cychwynnol i fusnesau cynhenid ac y gall mudiadau gwirfoddol ddefnyddio’r arian hwnnw i fynd i’r afael â dieithrwch cymdeithasol yn yr ardaloedd lle maent yn gweithio. Mae’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol wedi mynd ati’n frwd i hyrwyddo’r mesurau hyn mewn Cyfarfodydd Llawn ac mae’r ddau fesur wedi derbyn cefnogaeth y mwyafrif. Mae’r ffaith bod cefnogaeth i awdurdod buddsoddi cymunedol wedi’i ddiystyru yn siomedig ac yn rheswm arall dros bleidleisio’n erbyn y gyllideb.
Since becoming an Assembly Member, I seem to have spent a disproportionate amount of my time pushing the need for greater expenditure on housing. The total amount of money available for housing in Wales has fallen year on year since 1992. That has left a £1.1 billion backlog of repairs and maintenance just to restore homes to a legal state of fitness. In reality, the problem is worse than that.
Ers imi fod yn Aelod o’r Cynulliad teimlaf fy mod wedi gorfod treulio gormod o’m hamser yn hybu’r angen i wario mwy ar dai. Mae cyfanswm yr arian sydd ar gael ar gyfer tai yng Nghymru wedi gostwng flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn er 1992. Mae hynny’n golygu bod gwerth £1.1 biliwn o waith atgyweirio a chynnal a chadw, a hynny ddim ond o ran adfer tai i gyflwr sydd yn addas yn ôl y gyfraith. Mewn gwirionedd, mae’r broblem yn waeth na hynny.
That is why I am pleased that the Finance Secretary has taken note of what I, the Environment and Local Government Committee and other Members have been saying—that more money is needed for housing. The decision to restore the £5 million cut in the housing budget made in the preliminary draft budget is a move in the right direction. I particularly welcome the extra £400,000 for the sustainable communities programme, and the £1 million for play in deprived communities, both of which will make a significant contribution to social inclusion. It is important that the £1 million available for sustainable communities is used wisely to develop a sensible and co-ordinated approach to stock transfer. It is essential that any housing stock transfer is accompanied by investment in the local community and that it empowers tenants. I hope that this fund will enable work to be done on that.
Dyma pam yr wyf yn falch bod yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid wedi nodi’r hyn yr wyf fi, Pwyllgor yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol ac Aelodau eraill wedi bod yn ei ddweud—bod angen mwy o arian ar gyfer tai. Mae’r penderfyniad i adfer y gostyngiad o £5 miliwn yn y gyllideb tai, a wnaethpwyd yn y gyllideb ddrafft ragarweiniol, yn gam i’r cyfeiriad iawn. Croesawaf yn arbennig y £400,000 ychwanegol i’r rhaglen cymunedau cynaliadwy a’r £1 miliwn ar gyfer chwarae mewn cymunedau difreintiedig, a bydd y naill a’r llall yn cyfrannu’n sylweddol at gynhwysiant cymdeithasol. Mae’n bwysig gwneud defnydd doeth o’r £1 miliwn sydd ar gael ar gyfer cymunedau cynaliadwy er mwyn datblygu dull synhwyrol a chydlynus o drosglwyddo stoc. Mae’n hanfodol bod buddsoddi yn y gymuned leol yn mynd law yn llaw ag unrhyw stoc tai a gaiff ei drosglwyddo a’i fod yn grymuso’r tenantiaid. Gobeithiaf y bydd y gronfa hon yn galluogi cyflawni gwaith ar hynny.
I also welcome the extra £3.6 million for general housing to tackle homelessness. The Environment and Local Government Committee should adopt the idea of directing this towards houses in multiple occupation. These properties have the highest unfitness levels in Wales, are often occupied by students or single people on benefits or low incomes and can be used as first step accommodation for rough sleepers being rehabilitated into the mainstream community. They often present safety concerns and it is apt that we seek to make money available for initiatives on houses in multiple occupation at a time when we are moving to a national licensing scheme.
Croesawaf hefyd y £3.6 miliwn ychwanegol ar gyfer tai cyffredinol i ymdrin â digartrefedd. Dylai Pwyllgor yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol fabwysiadu’r syniad o gyfeirio’r arian hwn tuag at dai amlbreswyliaeth Mewn eiddo o’r fath y mae’r lefelau uchaf o anffitrwydd yng Nghymru ac, yn aml iawn, myfyrwyr neu bobl sengl sydd yn byw ar fudd-daliadau neu incwm isel sydd yn byw ynddynt a chânt eu defnyddio hefyd fel llety cam cyntaf i rai sydd wedi bod yn cysgu ar y stryd yn y broses o’u hadsefydlu i gymuned y brif ffrwd. Mae pryder, yn aml iawn, am eu diogelwch, ac mae’n briodol ein bod yn ceisio sicrhau bod arian ar gael ar gyfer cynlluniau ar dai amlbreswyliaeth ar adeg pan ydym yn symud tuag at gynllun trwyddedu cenedlaethol.
As we have said before, a major omission in the tables that we are debating today is that there is no new and additional money for match funding for Objective 1, 2 and 3 European funds. I do not want to go over old ground, but it is worth making it clear again that Gordon Brown’s failure to provide new money for next year has meant that £25 million of the block grant cannot be used for essential services. I know that everybody in this Chamber could spend that money many times over if they were given the choice. There is a £500 million backlog in the maintenance and repair of school buildings, a need to invest in a capital programme for the health service and a huge backlog of housing repairs in Wales. In fact, £25 million could knock £20 off the bill of every council tax payer in Wales. The list is endless. The problem is that we do not have the choice. London has let Wales down for next year. As a result, services and the fabric of the Welsh social economy must suffer. Plaid Cymru’s allowing this budget to pass is tantamount to lining up with Gordon Brown in denying Wales this money.
Fel y dywedom o’r blaen, rhywbeth amlwg sydd wedi’i hepgor o’r tablau a drafodwn heddiw yw nad oes arian newydd nac ychwanegol ar gael ar gyfer arian cyfatebol yn achos cronfeydd Ewrop Amcan 1, 2 a 3. Nid wyf eisiau ailadrodd yr un hen stori, ond mae’n werth pwysleisio unwaith eto y ffaith bod methiant Gordon Brown i ddarparu arian newydd ar gyfer y flwyddyn nesaf yn golygu nad oes modd gwario £25 miliwn o’r grant bloc ar wasanaethau hanfodol. Gwn y gallai pawb yn y Siambr hon wario’r arian sawl gwaith drosodd pe rhoddid y dewis iddynt. Mae ôl-groniad o £500 miliwn o waith cynnal a chadw ac atgyweirio adeiladau ysgol wedi cronni, mae angen buddsoddi mewn rhaglen gyfalaf i’r gwasanaeth iechyd a chafwyd ôl-groniad anferth o waith atgyweirio tai yng Nghymru. Yn wir, gallai £25 miliwn olygu gostyngiad o £20 ym mil pawb sydd yn talu’r dreth gyngor yng Nghymru. Mae’r rhestr yn ddiddiwedd. Y broblem yw nad oes gennym ddewis. Mae Llundain wedi gadael Cymru i lawr am y flwyddyn nesaf. O ganlyniad, bydd gwasanaethau ac adeiladwaith yr economi cymdeithasol yn siŵr o ddioddef. Wrth adael i’r gyllideb hon fynd rhagddi, mae Plaid Cymru wedi ochri, i bob pwrpas, gyda Gordon Brown wrth iddo wrthod yr arian hwn i Gymru.
I have also discussed previously the local government settlement in this budget. It is the worst settlement for some time. If we take out the £75 million set aside for education, there is a £26 million increase—just over 1 per cent—for non-education expenditure. That will lead to more pressure on social services, transport services, highway maintenance and much more. Council tax payers will face a huge hike in their tax bills, and all they will get in return is more cuts. This is taxation by the back door. It is essential that we address the mechanisms by which we finance local government as well as the overall money available, so that we can ensure that this will not happen again.
Yr wyf hefyd wedi trafod y setliad llywodraeth leol yn y gyllideb hon o’r blaen. Hwn yw’r setliad gwaethaf ers tro. Os rhoddwn ni’r £75 miliwn sydd wedi’i neilltuo ar gyfer addysg i’r naill du, mae cynnydd o £26 miliwn—ychydig dros 1 y cant ar gyfer gwariant ar wahân i addysg. Bydd hyn yn rhoi mwy o bwysau ar wasanaethau cymdeithasol, gwasanaethau cludiant, cynnal a chadw priffyrdd a llawer mwy. Bydd y trethdalwyr yn wynebu codiad anferth yn eu biliau treth cyngor, a’r oll a gânt am hynny yw mwy o doriadau ar wasanaethau. Dyma beth yw trethiant drwy’r drws cefn. Mae’n holl bwysig ein bod yn rhoi sylw i’r peirianweithiau ar gyfer cyllido llywodraeth leol yn ogystal ag i’r arian sydd ar gael yn gyffredinol, fel y gallwn sicrhau na fydd hyn yn digwydd eto.
There has been much talk in the Assembly of inclusive politics and the need to work together in the best interests of Wales. This budget had the potential to be a turning point. It could have led to a more inclusive form of government in which Committees exercise more influence on policy and in which the Government recognises that it is not in a majority and must consult openly with other parties.
Bu llawer o drafod ar wleidyddiaeth gynhwysol yn y Cynulliad a’r angen am inni gydweithio er lles Cymru. Yr oedd potensial gan y gyllideb hon i fod yn drobwynt. Gallai fod wedi arwain at lywodraeth ar ffurf fwy cynhwysol lle byddai’r Pwyllgorau yn dylanwadu i raddau helaethach ar bolisi a’r Llywodraeth yn cydnabod nad yw mewn mwyafrif a bod yn rhaid iddo ymgynghori’n agored gyda phob plaid arall.
This need was demonstrated only this morning when the Secretary for Education and Children dismissed the Pre-16 Education Committee as mere consultees. This begs the question of how Plaid Cymru can allow this budget to go through when it will deliver the very performance-related pay scheme that their own Assembly Members voted down this morning.
Gwelwyd yr angen hwn y bore yma pan ddilornwyd y Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16 gan yr Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Phlant fel corff i ymgynghori ag ef yn unig. Rhaid gofyn felly sut y gall Plaid Cymru ganiatáu i’r gyllideb hon fynd drwodd pan fydd yn cyflwyno’r union gynllun tâl ar sail perfformiad y pleidleisiodd eu Haelodau hwynt eu hunain o’r Cynulliad yn ei erbyn fore heddiw.
The budget could also have sent a message that we are prepared to be more transparent and open in our dealings. It could have sent a message that we recognise that the absence of a majority for any one party means that deals are necessary to get things done and that those deals should be a matter of public record. However, that is not the case. Perhaps Plaid Cymru should now publish the terms of its deal with Labour. Too much Assembly business is conducted behind closed doors.
Gallai’r gyllideb hefyd fod wedi anfon neges ein bod yn barod i fod yn fwy tryloyw ac agored yn ein trafodion. Gallai fod wedi anfon neges ein bod yn cydnabod, yn niffyg mwyafrif gan unrhyw un blaid, bod yn rhaid wrth fargeinio er mwyn cyflawni pethau ac y dylai bargeinio o’r fath fod yn destun cofnod cyhoeddus. Fodd bynnag, nid dyna’r drefn. Efallai y dylai Plaid Cymru yn awr gyhoeddi telerau’r fargen y mae wedi ei tharo gyda’r Blaid Lafur. Cynhelir gormod o fusnes y Cynulliad y tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig.
Gwrandewais ar sawl cyhuddiad yn erbyn Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales. Ni wn i am yr un ddêl na chytundeb. Dywedaf hyn rhag ofn fod pobl yn teimlo bod y gyllideb yn mynd rhagddi heb unrhyw fath o wrthwynebiad. Os oes arnoch eisiau byw yn y math hwnnw o fyd, boed felly. Fodd bynnag, cyn belled ag yr ydym ni yn y cwestiwn, nid oes gwirionedd yn yr hyn a ddywedwch.
I have listened to several accusations against Plaid Cymru—The Party of Wales. I do not know of any deal or agreement. I say this in case people feel that the budget is going ahead without any opposition at all. If you want to live in that kind of world, so be it. However, as far as we are concerned, there is no truth in what you say.
I am sorry that Gareth is not privy to the press release issued by his party leader. He will find it on BBC-online and will be able to read it in due course.
Mae’n ddrwg gennyf nad yw Gareth yn gwybod am y datganiad i’r wasg gan arweinydd ei blaid. Mae i’w weld ar BBC-ar lein a chaiff ei ddarllen maes o law.
Too much Assembly business is conducted behind closed doors. The smoke-filled rooms of the Plaid Cymru Ynys Môn selection process are being brought to Cardiff Bay. Is it not the case that when people rejected Labour in some of its heartland Valley seats and voted for Plaid Cymru, they did so because they wanted something different?
Cynhelir gormod o fusnes y Cynulliad y tu ôl i ddrysau caeedig. Mae ystafelloedd myglyd proses ddethol Plaid Cymru Ynys Môn yn cael eu cyflwyno yng Nghaerdydd. Onid y rheswm pam fod pobl wedi ymwrthod â’r Blaid Lafur yn rhai o’i chadarnleoedd yn y Cymoedd gan bleidleisio dros Plaid Cymru, yw oherwydd eu bod eisiau rhywbeth gwahanol?
Smoke-filled rooms are better than a smoke-filled phonebox.
Mae ystafelloedd myglyd yn well na chiosg ffôn myglyd.
I am sure that Owen John has had enough experience of those to get out of them.
Yr wyf yn siŵr bod gan Owen John ddigon o brofiad mewn lleoedd felly i wybod sut i ddianc ohonynt.
When people rejected Labour in some of its heartland Valley seats and voted for Plaid Cymru, they did so because they wanted something different. They did so because they were fed up of a party which denies its own members the one member one vote system and which wheels and deals in private. The people did not get what they wanted. They just got more of the same. We are faced now with a budget dictated to us by the failure of Labour’s Chancellor of the Exchequer to come up with new and additional money for Objective 1. Because of that the budget is fatally flawed. The Chancellor’s decision has deprived vital services of much-needed funds and no deals can compensate for that. We have a duty to vote against the budget for that reason. It is a shame that Plaid Cymru will not do the same.
Pan ymwrthododd pobl â’r Blaid Lafur yn rhai o’i chadarnleoedd yn y Cymoedd a phleidleisio dros Blaid Cymru, gwnaethant hynny oherwydd eu bod wedi diflasu ar blaid sydd yn gwrthod system un aelod un bleidlais i’w haelodau ei hun ac sydd yn trin a thrafod yn y dirgel. Ni chafodd y bobl yr hyn yr oedd ei eisiau arnynt. Cawsant fwy o’r un peth. Cawn ein hwynebu’n awr gan gyllideb sydd yn cael ein gorfodi arnom oherwydd i Ganghellor y Trysorlys y Blaid Lafur fethu â chanfod arian newydd neu ychwanegol i Amcan 1. Oherwydd hynny mae’r Gyllideb yn ddiffygiol y tu hwnt i’w hadfer. Mae penderfyniad y Canghellor wedi amddifadu gwasanaethau hanfodol o arian y mae angen mawr amdano, ac ni all bargeinio o unrhyw fath wneud iawn am hynny. Mae’n ddyletswydd arnom i bleidleisio yn erbyn y gyllideb am y rheswm hwnnw. Mae’n drueni na wnaiff Plaid Cymru yr un modd.
I joined my party because I was disgusted with the Tory policy of doing so little for the poverty-stricken, the disadvantaged and the homeless. People are sleeping in cardboard boxes—not in Wales, I admit, but in London. We should be thrilled and delighted that our woman Finance Secretary has crafted such a skilful budget and has managed to do so much with so little. It is sad that the minority parties act in their minority way, act as little people who are not taking Wales forward and act so negatively. I am delighted that money has been allocated to address the problem of rough sleeping and to improve north-south rail links. It is quite appalling that this country should still have to rely on the barbaric road links that I have to suffer week in, week out as I travel back and forth.
Ymunais â’m plaid oherwydd fy mod yn ffieiddio at bolisi’r Torïaid o wneud cyn lleied dros bobl dlawd, pobl dan anfantais a’r digartref. Mae pobl yn cysgu mewn bocsys cardbord—nid yng Nghymru, yr wyf yn cyfaddef, ond yn Llundain. Dylem fod wrth ein boddau bod ein Hysgrifennydd Cyllid, sydd yn fenyw, wedi saernïo cyllideb mor grefftus ac wedi llwyddo i wneud hynny gyda chyn lleied o arian. Mae’n drist bod pleidiau lleiafrifol yn ymddwyn mewn ffordd mor leiafrifol, yn ymddwyn fel pobl fach nad ydynt yn mynd â Chymru yn ei blaen ac yn ymddwyn mewn ffordd mor negyddol. Yr wyf wrth fy modd bod arian wedi’i ddyrannu i ymdrin â phroblem cysgu ar y stryd ac i wella’r cysylltiadau rheilffordd rhwng y gogledd a’r de. Mae’n warth bod y wlad hon yn dal i orfod dibynnu ar y ffyrdd barbaraidd sydd yn rhaid imi eu goddef wythnos ar ôl wythnos wrth imi deithio yn ôl ac ymlaen.
As I am the Director of Play Wales, I am delighted that Edwina can consider the smaller issues and allocate money to small but vital projects to ensure that children learn to play well, thus developing educationally and ensuring that they profit from such experiences. Nobody has congratulated Edwina on allocating money, albeit a small amount, to sustainable development. None of you little parties have considered this. Furthermore, no credit has been given—[Intervention.]
Gan mai fi yw Cyfarwyddwraig Chwarae Cymru, yr wyf wrth fy modd bod Edwina yn gallu ystyried y materion llai a dyrannu arian i brosiectau bychain ond hanfodol sydd yn sicrhau bod plant yn dysgu chwarae’n dda, a datblygu eu hunain yn addysgol drwy wneud hynny, a sicrhau eu bod yn elwa o brofiadau o’r fath. Nid oes neb wedi llongyfarch Edwina ar ddyrannu arian, er cyn lleied yw, ar gyfer datblygu cynaliadwy. Nid oes yr un ohonoch chi bleidiau bychain wedi ystyried hyn. Hefyd, ni roddwyd unrhyw glod—[Torri ar draws.]
Is no-one listening to this wonderful material? Could I start again? I will be just as rude to the Tories and the Liberal Democrats because, quite frankly, they deserve it. Nobody has considered the money that has been allocated for our national parks. Stop whingeing, you little people. Look at this budget as something—
A oes unrhyw un yn gwrando ar y deunydd ardderchog hwn? A gaf i ailddechrau? Byddaf yr un mor anfoesgar gyda’r Torïaid a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol oherwydd, a dweud y gwir, dyna beth y maent yn ei haeddu. Nid oes neb wedi ystyried yr arian a ddyrannwyd i’n parciau cenedlaethol. Rhowch y gorau i’ch swnian, chi’r bobl fach. Edrychwch ar y gyllideb hon fel rhywbeth—
Point of order. It is not within order for Members to refer to each other in a derogatory fashion. The phrases ‘little people’ and ‘little parties’—especially as I stand here 6 feet, 3 inches in my stockinged feet—are not only inaccurate but somewhat derogatory and I ask the Member to withdraw them.
Pwynt o drefn. Mae hi allan o’r drefn i Aelodau gyfeirio at ei gilydd mewn ffordd mor ddilornus. Mae dywediadau fel ‘pobl fach’ a ‘phleidiau bach’—yn enwedig gan fy mod yn sefyll yma yn 6 troedfedd 3 modfedd yn nhraed fy sanau—nid yn unig yn anghywir ond hefyd rywfaint yn ddilornus a gofynnaf i’r Aelod dynnu ei sylwadau yn ôl.
It would be different if she referred to Alun Cairns.
Byddai’n wahanol pe bai hi’n cyfeirio at Alun Cairns.
In my many waking and sleepless moments, I have considerable thoughts about the attractiveness of David Davies. I will let you into a secret: he has one of the nicest bottoms I have seen for some considerable time. [Laughter.] That thought allows me to call his party a little party of little people.
Yn aml iawn pan yn effro a di-gwsg, byddaf yn meddwl pa mor ddeniadol yw David Davies. Rhannaf gyfrinach â chi: mae ganddo un o’r penolau delaf imi eu gweld ers tro byd. [Chwerthin] Mae meddwl am hynny’n caniatáu imi alw ei blaid yn blaid fach o bobl fach.
I am pleased that you are laughing because we must not be divided on this budget. It is the best one for the people of Wales. Stop knocking it and being negative. Let us consider the positive things that Edwina has produced in her first budget.
Mae’n dda gennyf eich bod yn chwerthin oherwydd rhaid inni fod yn unfrydol ynghylch y gyllideb hon. Hon yw’r gyllideb orau i bobl Cymru. Rhowch y gorau i’w beirniadu a bod yn negyddol. Gadewch inni ystyried y pethau cadarnhaol y mae Edwina wedi’u cynhyrchu yn ei chyllideb gyntaf.
I will be a little more serious. It is always easy to criticise a budget, to pull it apart and present a wish list. However, problems with structural funds aside, it is important to recognise that we are restricted by the block grant.
Yr wyf fi am fod ychydig yn fwy difrfol. Peth hawdd bob amser yw beirniadu cyllideb, ei darnio a chyflwyno rhestr o ddymuniadau. Fodd bynnag, heb ystyried y problemau gyda’r cronfeydd strwythurol, mae’n bwysig sylweddoli ein bod yn cael ein cyfyngu gan y grant bloc.
The Conservative spokesperson talked about control by Downing Street through the block grant. I wonder, therefore, why his party not only opposed the establishment of this Assembly but opposed even more vigorously any possibility of tax varying responsibility.
Soniodd llefarydd y blaid Geidwadol am reolaeth Stryd Downing drwy’r grant bloc. Pam felly, tybed, fod y blaid hon nid yn unig wedi gwrthwynebu sefydlu’r Cynulliad hwn ond wedi gwrthwynebu, yn chwyrnach fyth, unrhyw bosibilrwydd o gyfrifoldeb i amrywio trethi.
We opposed the Assembly because we knew that every single penny spent on it, was a penny less for all the projects that Edwina Hart has tried to fund. She has been criticised, even by members of her own party, for not allocating enough money to those projects.
Gwrthwynebasom y Cynulliad oherwydd ein bod yn gwybod bod pob ceiniog a gâi ei wario arno yn geiniog yn llai i’r prosiectau y mae Edwina Hart wedi ceisio eu cyllido. Cafodd ei beirniadu, gan aelodau o’i phlaid ei hun hyd yn oed, am beidio â dyrannu digon o arian ar gyfer y prosiectau hynny.
On the other hand, the Finance Secretary has allocated money in a way that is more suited to Wales than has happened previously, particularly from 1979 to 1995.
Ar y llaw arall, mae’r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid wedi dyrannu arian mewn ffordd sydd yn fwy addas i Gymru nag a wnaethpwyd erioed o’r blaen, yn enwedig rhwng 1979 a 1995.
There has been a great deal of criticism of Plaid Cymru in the last ten minutes and I note the irresponsibility of the two small parties in this Chamber in planning to vote out a budget—
Bu llawer o feirniadu ar Blaid Cymru yn ystod y deng munud diwethaf ac yr wyf yn nodi anghyfrifoldeb y ddwy blaid fechan yn y Siambr hon yn eu bwriad i wrthod y gyllideb—
We will attack Plaid Cymru if we find that it does not oppose this budget as it should do. It has already been made clear that we do not oppose the package, so much as the fact that there are no additional funds for EU funding purposes. That is the sticking point. It has been a sticking point for Plaid Cymru, the so-called party of Wales, for a long time. Your leader, who is not here—and I am not attacking him, but the party—has made it clear that this could lead to a vote of no confidence. It has been said time and again that you regard this as an issue that goes to the heart of this Government. As there are no extra funds from Europe, we cannot understand, Janet, why you feel able to support this budget. It is becoming increasingly clear that you will support the budget despite Gareth Jones’s indication earlier that he did not realise that that was the case. At least, I think that was what Gareth said. However, it is clear that you will not vote against this budget.
Byddwn yn ymosod ar Blaid Cymru os gwelwn ni na fydd yn gwrthwynebu’r gyllideb hon fel y dylai ei wneud. Cafwyd esboniad clir eisoes nad ydym yn gwrthwynebu’r pecyn hwn, yn gymaint â’r ffaith nad oes unrhyw gyllidebau ychwanegol at ddibenion cyllido’r UE. Dyna’r maen tramgwydd. Bu’n faen tramgwydd ers amser maith i Blaid Cymru, sydd yn honni mai nhw yw’r party of Wales. Mae eich arweinydd, sydd yn absennol—ac nid wyf yn ymosod arno, ond ar y blaid—wedi ei gwneud yn glir y gallai hyn arwain at bleidlais o ddiffyg hyder. Dywedwyd dro ar ôl tro eich bod yn ystyried bod hwn yn fater sydd yn mynd at wraidd y Llywodraeth hon. Gan nad oes unrhyw arian ychwanegol o Ewrop, ni allwn ddeall, Janet, sut y teimlwch eich bod yn gallu cefnogi’r gyllideb hon. Mae’n dod yn fwyfwy amlwg y byddwch yn cefnogi’r gyllideb er gwaetha’r ffaith bod Gareth Jones wedi mynegi’n gynharach nad oedd yn sylweddoli y byddai hynny’n digwydd. O leiaf, credaf mai dyna beth a ddywedodd Gareth. Fodd bynnag, mae’n amlwg na fyddwch yn pleidleisio’n erbyn y gyllideb hon.
You should have listened to what Phil Williams said and his criticism of the structural funds issue and you should wait and listen to what I will say and until the end of the debate. The issue of finance for Objective 1 and Objective 2 will reach crisis point in a few months’ time, not at this moment.
Dylech fod wedi gwrando ar yr hyn a ddywedodd Phil Williams a’i feirniadaeth ynglŷn â’r cronfeydd strwythurol a dylech ddisgwyl a gwrando ar yr hyn sydd gennyf i’w ddweud a than ddiwedd y ddadl. Bydd mater ariannu Amcan 1 ac Amcan 2 yn argyfwng ymhen ychydig fisoedd, nid ar hyn o bryd.
As I said, I note the irresponsibility of the two parties that are smaller in number in this Chamber in planning to vote out the budget, despite concessions and moves towards the inclusivity that they so often demand. Irresponsibility at this level can only be shown by parties that know they are on the way out and have no hope of becoming the administration at any level whatsoever, parties which told us proudly yesterday of their dealings in anonymous information from unmarked brown envelopes.
Fel y dywedais, nodaf gyfrifoldebau’r ddwy blaid, sydd yn llai o ran nifer yn y Siambr hon, i bleidleisio’n erbyn y gyllideb er gwaethaf consesiynau a symudiadau tuag at y cynhwysiant y maent yn gofyn mor aml amdano. Dim ond pleidiau sydd yn gwybod eu bod ar y ffordd allan sydd yn gallu dangos anghyfrifoldeb ar y lefel hon ac nid oes ganddynt unrhyw obaith o gymryd yr awenau gweinyddol ar unrhyw lefel o gwbl, pleidiau a ddywedodd wrthym gyda chymaint o falchder ddoe am eu trafodion gyda gwybodaeth ddienw mewn amlenni brown heb gyfeiriad arnynt.
I would like to come back to the point about the restricted block grant, but first it is important to praise the Finance Secretary for her willingness to listen and her efforts in trying to meet Committee recommendations. The general thrust of the budget is welcome. I must make the point, however, that she was wise as far as her own standing is concerned, to start off with a rigorous budget and then find extra money for additional programmes during the negotiation process. She could almost have come out of local government. I will now look at some of the details. First, I refer to the Secretary for Health and Social Services’ consultation paper of 24 November which is confusing and misleading. I am pleased to say that some of those confusions have been resolved today in the Finance Secretary’s speech. What concerns me about that paper is that it constantly switched between referring to real terms to referring to cash terms. That may have been done intentionally, to make it difficult to analyse, or it may just have been the result of inexperience. We will have to wait until next year to see. For example, the paper states that the total cash increase for health and social services next year is £195 million or 7.3 per cent. In real terms this is 5 per cent and that has been explained today.
Hoffwn ddychwelyd at y pwynt ynglŷn â’r grant bloc cyfyngedig, ond yn gyntaf mae’n bwysig canmol yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid am ei pharodrwydd i wrando a’i hymdrechion i geisio cyflawni argymhellion y Pwyllgorau. Croesewir byrdwn cyffredinol y gyllideb. Rhaid imi danlinellu’r pwynt, fodd bynnag, mai doeth oedd iddi, er mwyn ennyn ffydd, ddechrau gyda chyllideb gaeth ac yna ddod o hyd i arian ychwanegol ar gyfer rhagor o raglenni yn ystod y broses drafod. Gallai bron fod wedi dod allan o lywodraeth leol. Edrychaf yn awr ar rai o’r manylion. Cyfeiriaf, yn gyntaf, at bapur ymgynghori dyddiedig 24 Tachwedd yr Ysgrifennydd Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, sydd yn ddryslyd ac yn gamarweiniol. Mae’n dda gennyf ddweud bod peth o’r dryswch hwnnw wedi ei ddatrys heddiw yn araith yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid. Yr hyn sydd yn fy mhoeni ynglŷn â’r papur oedd ei fod yn newid yn gyson rhwng cyfeirio at dermau real a chyfeirio at dermau arian parod. Mae’n bosibl bod hynny’n fwriadol, er mwyn ei wneud yn anodd ei ddadansoddi, neu efallai mai diffyg profiad oedd yn gyfrifol. Rhaid inni ddisgwyl tan y flwyddyn nesaf i weld. Er enghraifft, nodir yn y papur mai cyfanswm y cynydd mewn arian ar gyfer iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol y flwyddyn nesaf yw £195 miliwn neu 7.3 y cant. Mewn gwirionedd, 5 y cant yw hynny ac esboniwyd hynny heddiw.
Plaid Cymru has been concerned about the cost of prescription drugs. Provision for that has been increased by 8 per cent this year—a hefty increase by any standards. That is premature because the task and finish group on drug prescribing still has to report and the scope for savings in this area is significant. As you know, as I come from a local government background, I am quite cynical. I have feared that the Labour Government was establishing what I call a treasurer’s squirrel hoard. However, I am pleased that Edwina mentioned putting money towards free eye tests today and that she has looked at the matter in a careful and responsible way. Plaid Cymru was concerned about provision for free eye tests because the vote in support of that took place after a 30 minute debate and without any review of how that would be done or what its implications might be. I also call for priority for health action zones. When we turn to housing—
Bu Plaid Cymru’n bryderus ynghylch cost cyffuriau ar bresgripsiwn. Cafwyd cynnydd o 8 y cant ar gyfer y ddarpariaeth honno eleni—cynnydd sylweddol iawn yn ôl unrhyw safonau. Mae hyn wedi digwydd yn rhy gynnar oherwydd nid yw adroddiad y gweithgor gorchwyl a gorffen wedi’i gyflwyno eto ac mae posibiliadau sylweddol ar gyfer arbedion yn y maes hwn. Fel y gwyddoch, gan fy mod yn dod o gefndir llywodraeth leol, yr wyf yn dipyn o sinig. Yr oedd ofn arnaf bod y Llywodraeth Lafur yn rhoi arian o’r neilltu fel y gwna wiwer ei chnau. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf yn falch bod Edwina wedi sôn am roi arian tuag at brofion llygad di-dâl heddiw a’i bod wedi edrych ar y mater mewn ffordd ofalus a chyfrifol. Yr oedd Plaid Cymru’n bryderus ynghylch y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer profion llygad di-dâl oherwydd bod y bleidlais i gefnogi hynny wedi ei chynnal ar ôl dadl hanner awr a heb unrhyw adolygu o sut y byddid yn cyflawni hynny na beth allai’r oblygiadau fod. Galwaf hefyd am flaenoriaeth i barthau gweithredu iechyd. Pan drown ni at dai—
Do you agree that this budget does little or nothing to address the health divide in Wales? My discussions with health authorities and trusts confirm that we would be lucky to maintain the status quo with this budget next year. As well as more resources, targeting those resources is vital to ensure that places like the Valleys get the health improvement they deserve, and there is no better way to do that than through health action zones.
Ydych chi’n cytuno bod y gyllideb hon yn gwneud ychydig iawn neu ddim i fynd i’r afael â’r ymraniad amlwg a geir o ran iechyd yng Nghymru? Mae’r trafodaethau a gefais gydag ymddiriedolaethau ac awdurdodau iechyd yn cadarnhau y byddwn yn ffodus iawn i allu cynnal y status quo gyda’r gyllideb hon y flwyddyn nesaf. Yn ogystal â sicrhau rhagor o adnoddau, mae targedu’r adnoddau hynny yn allweddol er mwyn sicrhau bod lleoedd fel y Cymoedd yn elwa o’r gwelliannau iechyd y maent yn eu haeddu, ac nid oes gwell ffordd o wneud hynny na thrwy’r parthau gweithredu iechyd.
I agree. Peter Black mentioned housing. That is vital. If there is a lack of good housing, education and health budgets increase and people suffer educationally and have poor health. I welcome the additional money allocated to housing issues, particularly that for the homeless, but the £5 million allocated to social housing is small beer. It will be very little when divided between the 22 councils in Wales. Housing repair is a huge cost and I do not know where we will get the money to meet that cost but that issue will arise in this Assembly over and over again.
Yr wyf yn cytuno. Soniodd Peter Black am dai. Mae hynny’n holl bwysig. Os oes diffyg tai o safon, mae’r cyllidebau addysg ac iechyd yn cynyddu ac mae pobl yn dioddef yn addysgol ac o ran eu hiechyd. Croesawaf yr arian ychwanegol a ddyrannwyd i faterion sydd yn ymwneud â thai, yn enwedig y digartref, ond mae’r £5 miliwn a ddyrannwyd i dai cymdeithasol yn dila iawn. Ychydig iawn o arian fydd hynny ar ôl ei rannu rhwng y 22 cyngor yng Nghymru. Mae atgyweirio tai yn gost anferth ac ni wn o ble cawn ni’r arian i dalu’r gost honno ond bydd hwnnw’n fater a fydd yn codi’i ben dro ar ôl tro yn y Cynulliad hwn.
We have had a statement that there will be an extra £90 million allocated to education and that £75 million had been previously allocated. Most of that money will cover inflation and pay increases. It is not really extra money. To take up Gareth Jones’s point, I am concerned that a slice could be taken out of the education budget and used to administer the new system of teachers’ pay and appraisal. This is not a debate on performance-related pay and I will not pre-empt all the arguments that are being put forward. However, it is relevant to warn against taking money from schools for extra bureaucracy. Such an action would be extremely foolish.
Cawsom ddatganiad y bydd yna £90 miliwn ychwanegol yn cael ei ddyrannu i addysg a bod £75 miliwn wedi ei ddyrannu’n barod. Bydd y rhan fwyaf o’r arian hwnnw yn cynnwys costau chwyddiant a chodiadau cyflog. Nid arian ychwanegol ydyw mewn gwirionedd. I ddilyn y pwynt a gododd Gareth Jones, pryderaf y cymrir rhan helaeth o’r gyllideb addysg a’i defnyddio i weinyddu’r system newydd ar gyfer talu a gwerthuso athrawon. Nid dadl ar dâl ar sail perfformiad yw hon ac ni fyddaf yn rhagdybio’r dadleuon sydd yn cael eu rhoi gerbron. Fodd bynnag, mae’n berthnasol rhybuddio yn erbyn cymryd arian oddi wrth ysgolion ar gyfer mwy o fiwrocratiaeth. Byddai’n annoeth iawn gweithredu yn y fath fodd.
I warmly welcome the extra money for organic aid in the agriculture budget. Organic farming should be the way forward for as many Welsh farmers as possible and we need to invest as much money as we possibly can in organic aid. It helps farmers by adding extra value to their products. I am also pleased that money is being sought to meet the cost of the dairy hygiene regulations and I hope that the Assembly’s legal advisers will sort this out with the Ministry of Agriculture’s legal advisers so that that can happen as soon as possible.
Croesawaf yn fawr yr arian ychwanegol ar gyfer cymorth organig yn y gyllideb amaethyddol. Ffermio organig ddylai fod y ffordd ymlaen i gynifer ag y bo modd o ffermwyr Cymru ac mae angen inni fuddsoddi cymaint o arian ag y gallwn mewn cymorth organig. Mae’n help i ffermwyr gan ei fod yn ychwanegu gwerth at eu cynnyrch. Yr wyf hefyd yn falch fod arian yn cael ei geisio i dalu’r costau sydd ynghlwm wrth y rheoliadau hylendid llaethdai a gobeithiaf y bydd ymgynghorwyr cyfreithiol y Cynulliad yn datrys hyn gydag ymgynghorwyr cyfreithiol y Weinyddiaeth Amaeth fel y gall pethau fynd rhagddynt cyn gynted ag y bo modd.
We need to keep an eye on the bigger picture, but I would like to ask the Finance Secretary to reassure us that if any of this money cannot be spent for legal or other reasons, then it will be for the committees to decide how it will be used. Our greatest problem is that we are running Wales on a flawed block grant from the UK Government. That means good discipline and rigorous housekeeping for our new national Government. Our Government has a chance to prove its capabilities and value by showing what it can do for Wales in these straitened circumstances.
Rhaid inni gadw golwg ar y darlun ehangach, ond hoffwn ofyn i’r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid ein sicrhau, pe na ellid gwario’r arian hwn am resymau cyfreithiol neu resymau eraill, mai mater i’r pwyllgorau fydd penderfynu sut i’w ddefnyddio. Ein problem fwyaf yw ein bod yn rhedeg Cymru ar grant bloc diffygiol gan Lywodraeth y DU. Golyga hynny fod yn rhaid wrth ddisgyblaeth dda a rheolau cadw tŷ caeth i’n Llywodraeth genedlaethol newydd. Mae gan ein Llywodraeth gyfle i brofi ei gwerth a’i gallu drwy ddangos beth y gall ei wneud dros Gymru dan amgylchiadau mor gaeth.
The dark side of the moon however, is that our national Government does not have the opportunity to take the responsibility for setting its own income as well as its expenditure. It is like a child given 50p to go to the shop for sweets. It has the privilege of irresponsibility and it can, as we have seen this afternoon, blame the UK Government for lack of funding. One day, the Government of Wales will have to grow up and take responsibility.
Ochr arall y geiniog, fodd bynnag, yw nad oes gan ein Llywodraeth genedlaethol gyfle i fod yn gyfrifol am bennu ei hincwm ei hun yn ogystal â’i gwariant. Mae fel plentyn sydd yn cael 50c i fynd i’r siop i brynu losin. Mae ganddi’r fraint o anghyfrifoldeb a gallai, fel y gwelsom ni brynhawn heddiw, feio Llywodraeth y DU am ddiffyg arian. Ryw ddiwrnod, bydd yn rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru dyfu i fyny ac ysgwyddo cyfrifoldeb.
As one of those who campaigned hard for devolution, I was sure that one major benefit it would bring would be an opening up of the budget process and the ability to discover that we can spend our money wisely given the chance. Edwina’s style has proved that point. I hope that we will start to see the added value that devolution is bringing and convince those who were sceptical about the Assembly that it is money wisely spent. It will give added value to everyone in their everyday life. Glyn castigated Edwina for her co-operation. That was unfortunate.
Fel un o’r rhai a ymgyrchodd yn frwd dros ddatganoli, yr oeddwn yn argyhoeddedig mai un o’r prif fanteision a ddeuai yn ei sgîl fyddai agor allan broses y gyllideb a’n galluogi i ganfod y gallwn ni wario ein harian yn ddoeth pe baem yn cael y cyfle. Mae dull Edwina o weithredu wedi profi hynny. Gobeithiaf y gallwn ddechrau gweld y gwerth ychwanegol a ddaw yn sgîl datganoli ac argyhoeddi’r rhai a oedd yn amheus o’r Cynulliad ei fod yn arian sydd wedi’i wario’n ddoeth. Bydd yn rhoi gwerth ychwanegol i bawb yn eu bywyd beunyddiol. Ceryddwyd Edwina gan Glyn am ei chydweithrediad. Yr oedd hynny’n anffodus.
Co-operation is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength. The people of Wales want us to work together, to get consensus and to pull together good ideas for a way forward. It takes a new kind of responsibility, a new matureness in politics, to recognise that and act co-operatively. I am pleased that Edwina has led the way in that, and I hope that we can build on that in the future. I am also pleased that there is a new, themed approach to the budget. It is the joined-up, integrated way of looking at budget spending, which at the end will give additional value and additional outputs for the money we put in. I am excited because, although it would be impossible for any Member to draw up a budget that the other 59 Members would agree to, this is a new beginning for the Assembly. As Edwina said, we will build on this in subsequent years.
Nid arwydd o wendid yw cydweithredu ond, yn hytrach, arwydd o gryfder. Mae pobl Cymru am inni weithio gyda’n gilydd, i gael consensws a dod â syniadau da at ei gilydd i sicrhau’r ffordd ymlaen. Rhaid wrth fath newydd o gyfrifoldeb, aeddfedrwydd newydd mewn gwleidyddiaeth, i gydnabod hynny ac i gydweithredu. Yr wyf yn falch fod Edwina wedi arwain y ffordd yn hynny o beth, a gobeithiaf y gallwn adeiladu ar hynny yn y dyfodol. Yr wyf yn falch hefyd fod yna agwedd newydd a thematig tuag at y gyllideb. Mae’n ffordd gydlynus ac integredig o edrych ar wariant y gyllideb a bydd hynny, yn y pen draw, yn sicrhau gwerth ychwanegol a chynnyrch ychwanegol am yr arian a roddwn i mewn. Yr wyf wedi fy nghyffroi oherwydd, er y byddai’n amhosibl i unrhyw Aelod lunio cyllideb y byddai’r 59 Aelod arall yn cytuno iddi, dyma ddechrau newydd i’r Cynulliad. Fel y dywedodd Edwina, byddwn yn adeiladu ar hyn mewn blynyddoedd i ddod.
As a member of the Environment and Local Government Committee, I am particularly pleased to see three items. First, the social inclusion fund, which looks at housing not just as bricks and mortar, but in the broader community context. That is how people see their lives and their communities. Those who deal with such issues agree that should be done so that social inclusion considerations become part of our overall approach to housing.
Fel aelod o Bwyllgor yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol, yr wyf yn arbennig o falch o weld tair eitem. Yn gyntaf, y gronfa cynhwysiant cymdeithasol, sydd yn edrych ar dai nid dim ond fel brics a morter ond hefyd yn y cyd-destun cymunedol ehangach. Dyma sut y mae pobl yn gweld eu bywydau a’u cymunedau. Mae’r rhai sydd yn delio â materion o’r fath yn cytuno y dylid gwneud hynny fel bod ystyriaethau cynhwysiant cymdeithasol yn dod yn rhan o’n safbwynt cyffredinol tuag at dai.
Secondly, the £3.6 million allocated to the people most in need is most welcome. Some members of our society in Wales live in appalling situations. I hope that homelessness can be eradicated. Also, some houses in multiple occupation in the private rented sector are in an intolerable condition, so I am pleased to see an allocation there. Although social services are not the responsibility of my Committee, I am also pleased to see extra money for that. Many of the people in our communities live impoverished lives because of a lack in the social services budget. I was delighted to see that extra money.
Yn ail, croesewir yn fawr y £3.6 miliwn a ddyrennir i’r bobl sydd fwyaf mewn angen. Mae rhai pobl o blith ein cymdeithas yng Nghymru yn byw mewn amgylchiadau arswydus. Gobeithiaf y bydd modd goresgyn digartrefedd. Yn ogystal, mae rhai tai amlbreswyliaeth yn y sector rhentu preifat mewn cyflwr annioddefol o ddrwg ac mae’n dda gennyf weld dyraniad yn y maes hwnnw. Er nad fy Mhwyllgor i sydd yn gyfrifol am y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, yr wyf yn falch gweld hefyd eu bod yn derbyn arian ychwanegol. Mae llawer o bobl yn ein cymunedau yn byw bywydau tlawd iawn oherwydd diffyg yn y gyllideb gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Yr oeddwn wrth fy modd o weld yr arian ychwanegol hwnnw.
In conclusion, this budget will give added value, not only monetarily but in quality of life. A certain famous lady, although perhaps ‘lady’ is not the right word, once said that there is no such thing as society. Society is alive and well in Wales. The Assembly will be judged, not only on the way it spends money but on how it cares for and speaks up for those people who are least able to care for and defend themselves. This budget is so exciting because it demonstrates a change in spending that recognises that we will speak up for the poorest, most disadvantaged people in our society. I thank Edwina for that.
I gloi, bydd y gyllideb hon yn sicrhau gwerth ychwanegol, nid dim ond o safbwynt ariannol ond hefyd o ran ansawdd bywyd. Dywedodd un foneddiges enwog, er nad ‘boneddiges’ yw’r disgrifiad gorau, o bosibl, nad oes y fath beth â chymdeithas. Mae cymdeithas yn fyw ac yn iach yng Nghymru. Caiff y Cynulliad ei farnu, nid yn unig am y ffordd y mae’n gwario ei arian, ond am y ffordd y mae’n gofalu am, ac yn siarad dros, y bobl hynny sydd leiaf abl i ofalu amdanynt eu hunain ac amddiffyn eu hunain. Mae’r gyllideb hon mor gyffrous, oherwydd ei bod yn dangos newid o ran gwariant sydd yn cydnabod y byddwn yn barod i siarad dros y bobl dlotaf sydd fwyaf dan anfantais yn ein cymdeithas. Diolchaf i Edwina am hynny.
When you cut a path through this Government’s bombastic boasting, the real situation is a little more modest. The Conservative group welcomes the increase in real terms of the health budget. It should be increased. That follows the practice of the previous Conservative Government. The public demands increases in health spending and the Conservatives agree with that.
Pan lwyddwch i weld drwy ymffrost y Llywodraeth hon, mae’r sefyllfa sydd ohoni mewn gwirionedd braidd yn fwy llwm. Mae’r grŵp Ceidwadol yn croesawu’r cynnydd mewn termau real yn y gyllideb iechyd. Dylid cyflawni’r cynnydd. Mae hynny’n dilyn ymarfer y Llywodraeth Geidwadol flaenorol. Mae’r cyhoedd yn mynnu cynnydd mewn gwariant ar iechyd ac mae’r Ceidwadwyr yn cytuno â hynny.
However, we must see the figures as they really are. Allowing for inflation—which the previous Government always calculated out of the figures, so that you knew whatever percentage increase was mentioned was on top of inflation—the increase in NHS spending will be 5 per cent next year and 4 per cent the following year. These are the real figures. You can disregard Edwina’s 7.5 and 6.5 per cent because that does not account for inflation. They are not real increases.
Fodd bynnag, rhaid inni weld y ffigurau fel ag y maent mewn gwirionedd. Gan ganiatáu ar gyfer chwyddiant—a oedd yn cael ei ystyried y tu allan i’r ffigurau gan y Llywodraeth flaenorol, fel eich bod yn gwybod bod unrhyw gynnydd canrannol y soniwyd amdano yn ychwanegol at chwyddiant—bydd y cynnydd yng ngwariant yr NHS yn 5 y cant y flwyddyn nesaf ac yn 4 y cant y flwyddyn ganlynol. Mae’r rhain yn ffigurau gwirioneddol. Gallwch ddiystyru 7.5 a 6.5 y cant Edwina oherwydd nid yw hynny’n ystyried chwyddiant. Nid ydynt yn gynnydd gwirioneddol.
However, even the figures which the administration has given us are hugely exaggerated by the ridiculous claim that over three years an extra £1 billion will be put into the health service in Wales. I will not subject Edwina to the trauma of calculating her age using this new form of compound arithmetic that Labour has invented, but it would be well in excess of 1,200 years. I would not dare produce the precise calculation. The point is that this undermines the faith of those who elected Labour in such large numbers two and a half years ago. To analyse the performance of this Government in terms of its expenditure on health or any other public service, we would have to recalculate public expenditure since the war for every year. No Government has fiddled the figures as you are now doing through this ridiculous form of double counting.
Fodd bynnag, mae hyd yn oed y ffigurau a roddwyd inni gan y weinyddiaeth wedi eu gorliwio y tu hwnt i bob rheswm gan yr honiad gwrthun y bydd £1 biliwn ychwanegol yn mynd tuag at y gwasanaeth iechyd yng Nghymru dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Ni wnaf orfodi’r trawma ar Edwina o weithio allan faint yw ei hoed drwy ddefnyddio’r ffurf newydd hon o rifyddeg gyfansawdd sydd wedi’i dyfeisio gan y Blaid Lafur, ond byddai ymhell dros 1,200 oed. Ni fyddwn yn meiddio cynhyrchu’r union ateb. Y pwynt yw bod hyn yn tanseilio ffydd y rhai a bleidleisiodd dros y Blaid Lafur mewn niferoedd mor fawr ddwy flynedd a hanner yn ôl. Er mwyn gallu dadansoddi perfformiad y Llywodraeth hon o ran gwariant ar iechyd neu unrhyw wasanaeth cyhoeddus arall, byddai’n rhaid inni ailgyfrif beth a fu’n gwariant cyhoeddus bob blwyddyn ers y rhyfel. Nid oes yr un Llywodraeth erioed o’r blaen wedi ffidlan y ffigurau fel y gwnewch chi yn awr drwy’r ffordd chwerthinllyd hon o gyfrif dwbl.
This will be your problem. On one hand, you tell people that you are increasing health expenditure by £1 billion. Given that health expenditure in any one year is £2.5 billion, an increase of £1 billion appears to be a massive addition. On the other hand you say that there are also challenges in health—we are facing deficits in the NHS trusts and the health authorities at the moment. That is the real crisis in the health service. The trusts already project a deficit of between £30 and £40 million—we do not have a precise figure yet—and they project more deficits next year. The public read about this on the front page of the newspapers but the Government’s rhetoric is that there is no need to worry because they have put £1 billion extra into the health service. The two things are incongruous and this undermines people’s trust in you. The essential debate we should have with the public is whether we need to spend even more on health. That is an important long-term consideration and one that would have faced any Government of any colour.
Dyma fydd eich problem. Ar y naill law, yr ydych yn dweud wrth bobl eich bod yn cynyddu gwariant ar iechyd o £1 biliwn. O ystyried mai’r gwariant ar iechyd mewn unrhyw un flwyddyn yw £2.5 biliwn, mae’n ymddangos bod cynnydd o £1 biliwn yn ychwanegiad anferth. Ar y llaw arall, dywedwch fod yna hefyd sawl her ym maes iechyd—yr ydym yn wynebu diffygion ariannol yn yr ymddiriedolaethau NHS a’r awdurdodau iechyd ar hyn o bryd. Dyna’r argyfwng gwirioneddol yn y gwasanaeth iechyd. Mae’r ymddiriedolaethau eisoes yn rhagweld diffyg ariannol o rhwng £30 a £40 miliwn—nid yw’r union ffigur gennym eto—ac maent yn rhagweld rhagor o ddiffygion ariannol y flwyddyn nesaf. Mae’r cyhoedd yn darllen am hyn ar dudalen flaen y papurau newydd ond rhethreg y Llywodraeth yw nad oes angen poeni oherwydd eu bod wedi rhoi £1 biliwn ychwanegol i’r gwasanaeth iechyd. Nid yw’r ddau beth yn cyd-fynd â’i gilydd ac mae hyn yn tanseilio ffydd y bobl ynoch. Y ddadl holl bwysig y dylem ei chynnal gyda’r cyhoedd yw a oes angen inni wario mwy fyth ar iechyd. Mae hon yn ystyriaeth bwysig yn y tymor hir ac yn un a fyddai wedi wynebu unrhyw Lywodraeth, beth bynnag fo’i lliw.
One needs to be a mathematician or an astrophysicist to account for what Labour are doing with the capital programme. I will mention some of the figures. The capital line in the budget will fall from £37 million this year—which was already a cut from about £50 million the previous year—to £9 million next year. The following year it will fall further to £4 million. This is the biggest cut in the history of the NHS at a time when we have a record number of patients. Edwina Hart mentioned this in her opening remarks. We also have a record cut in new hospital provision. Those facts do not sit well together.
Rhaid bod yn fathemategydd neu’n astroffisegydd i allu ymdopi â’r hyn y mae’r Blaid Lafur yn ei wneud gyda’r rhaglen gyfalaf. Crybwyllaf rai o’r ffigurau. Bydd y llinell gyfalaf yn y gyllideb yn gostwng o £37 miliwn eleni—a oedd eisoes wedi ei dorri o thua £50 miliwn y flwyddyn flaenorol—i £9 miliwn y flwyddyn nesaf. Y flwyddyn ganlynol bydd yn gostwng ymhellach i £4 miliwn. Hwn yw’r cwtogiad mwyaf erioed yn hanes yr NHS, a hynny ar adeg pan fo gennym y nifer uchaf erioed o gleifion. Crybwyllodd Edwina Hart hyn yn ei sylwadau agoriadol. Mae gennym hefyd y cwtogiad mwyaf a welwyd erioed o ran darparu ysbytai newydd. Nid yw’r ffeithiau hyn, o edrych arnynt ochr yn ochr, yn argoeli’n dda.
However, the Government boasts that it has produced a £54 million capital funding package. That was the headline in their press release. Again, reality shatters this boast. The package is over two years and not one, it includes £19 million of previously unspent capital now brought forward and it assumes £21 million will come from the sale of surplus land. This is despite the fact that receipts in previous years have been rounding out at modest amounts or nothing at all. That is the reality. The new money—and there is some—is £14 million spread over two years. That has to be compared with the accumulative cut in the capital budget of £61 million. Therefore, the Government has cut hospital building by £61 million and given us £14 million and we are supposed to be grateful.
Fodd bynnag, mae’r Llywodraeth yn ymffrostio ei bod wedi cynhyrchu pecyn cyllido cyfalaf o £54 miliwn. Dyna oedd pennawd eu datganiad i’r wasg. Unwaith yn rhagor, mae’r realiti’n chwalu’r ymffrost. Mae’r pecyn hwn yn ymestyn dros gyfnod o ddwy flynedd yn hytrach na blwyddyn, mae’n cynnwys £19 miliwn o gyfalaf nas gwariwyd yn flaenorol, sydd wedi ei ddwyn ymlaen, ac mae’n rhagdybio y daw £21 miliwn yn sgîl gwerthu tir nad oes ei angen bellach. Mae hyn er gwaethaf y ffaith bod derbyniadau mewn blynyddoedd a aeth heibio wedi bod yn symiau gweddol fychan neu’n ddim o gwbl. Dyna realiti’r sefyllfa. Mae’r arian newydd hwn—ac mae rhywfaint ohono—yn £14 miliwn wedi ei ymestyn dros ddwy flynedd. Rhaid cymharu hynny gyda’r cwtogi cynyddol yn y gyllideb gyfalaf o £61 miliwn. Felly, mae’r Llywodraeth wedi tocio ar adeiladu ysbytai o £61 miliwn ac wedi rhoi inni £14 miliwn gan ddisgwyl inni fod yn ddiolchgar.
It is the Advent season, so I will mention some positive aspects of the budget. The Labour Party deserves a break or two. The £3 million for the national carers strategy is a generous response to this important issue. I know that it has cross-party support and I am pleased that funding has been found for respite care. I am also pleased that the figure is £3 million for the next three years, which will make a total of £9 million. That is encouraging. I also welcome the intention to fund a children’s commissioner and a commission for care standards. These again are appropriate responses. The public demands the highest standard of care and appropriate regulation. The children’s commissioner could be a pathfinder for our approach to these issues in Britain. It is to your credit that you have brought forward these initiatives. The Conservative group supports the use of the private finance initiative schemes. If a reasonable hospital building programme using these partnerships is proposed, we will support it. We want excellent NHS buildings and we can fund them either directly from the public purse, by private means, or by a mixture of both. If this gets us the new era of hospital building that we need, we welcome it and we will support you constructively.
Hwn yw tymor yr Adfent, felly soniaf am rai agweddau cadarnhaol o’r gyllideb. Mae’r Blaid Lafur yn haeddu ambell i ganmoliaeth. Mae’r £3 miliwn ar gyfer y strategaeth genedlaethol i gynhalwyr yn ymateb hael i’r mater pwysig hwn. Gwn fod y pleidiau i gyd yn gefnogol i’r mater hwn ac mae’n dda gennyf weld bod cyllid wedi’i ganfod ar gyfer gofal seibiant. Yr wyf yn falch hefyd fod y ffigur yn £3 miliwn ar gyfer y tair blynedd i ddod, a bydd hynny’n golygu cyfanswm o £9 miliwn. Mae hynny’n galonogol. Croesawaf hefyd y bwriad i gyllido comisiynydd i blant a chomisiynydd safonau gofal. Mae’r rhain, eto, yn ymatebion priodol. Mae’r cyhoedd yn mynnu’r safonau uchaf o ofal a rheoleiddio priodol. Y comisiynydd plant, o bosibl, fydd yn canfod trywydd i’n ffordd ni o ymdrin â’r materion hyn ym Mhrydain. Mae’n glod i chi eich bod wedi dwyn y cynlluniau hyn yn eu blaenau. Mae’r grŵp Ceidwadol o blaid cynlluniau a gyllidir drwy’r fenter cyllid preifat. Os cynigir rhaglen adeiladu ysbyty resymol sydd yn defnyddio’r partneriaethau hyn, byddwn yn ei chefnogi. Yr ydym am weld adeiladau NHS rhagorol a gallwn eu cyllido naill ai’n uniongyrchol o bwrs y cyhoedd, yn breifat, neu drwy gyfuno’r naill beth a’r llall. Os llwydda hyn i sicrhau cyfnod newydd o adeiladu ysbytai sydd eu hangen arnom, yr ydym yn ei groesawu a byddwn yn eich cefnogi mewn ffordd adeiladol.
Finally, we have a rather curious episode regarding eye tests. In the Health and Social Services Committee, the Assembly Secretary always refers to this matter in terms of health gain. I naturally assume that this health gain relates to the general population. However, I now realise that it relates to the health gain that this Labour administration expects, which is to scrape its budget through with Plaid Cymru’s help. Plaid Cymru has been bought off a little cheaply—£7.5 million from a £7.5 billion budget seems pretty good value as far as the Labour Party is concerned. This budget was made in Downing Street and posted to Cardiff for Plaid Cymru’s approval.
Yn olaf mae gennym episod ryfedd o safbwynt profion llygaid. Yn y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, cyfeiria Ysgrifennydd y Cynulliad yn barhaus at y mater hwn o safbwynt manteision iechyd. Yn naturiol, cymeraf yn ganiataol bod y manteision iechyd hyn yn berthnasol i’r boblogaeth yn gyffredinol. Fodd bynnag, sylweddolaf yn awr eu bod yn ymwneud â’r manteision iechyd y mae’r weinyddiaeth Lafur hon yn eu disgwyl, sef crafu drwodd gyda’r gyllideb gyda help Plaid Cymru. Yr oedd y pris a dalwyd i brynu Plaid Cymru ar yr ochr rad braidd—mae £7.5 miliwn o gyllideb o £7.5 biliwn yn ymddangos yn dipyn o fargen cyn belled ag y mae’r Blaid Lafur dan sylw. Lluniwyd y gyllideb yn Stryd Downing a’i phostio i Gaerdydd i’w chymeradwyo gan Blaid Cymru.
I do not think that we can expect much different from the Conservatives. They are great enthusiasts of public spending, which showed during the Assembly elections in May when the people of Wales gave them such a resounding vote. I must remind the Conservatives that in the policy document—
Nid wyf yn meddwl y gallem ddisgwyl dim byd gwahanol gan y Ceidwadwyr. Maent yn frwd iawn dros wariant cyhoeddus, a oedd i’w weld yn ystod yr etholiadau ar gyfer y Cynulliad ym mis Mai pan bleidleisiodd pobl Cymru mor ysgubol o’u plaid. Rhaid imi atgoffa’r Ceidwadwyr, yn y ddogfen bolisi—
Are you suggesting that the Labour Party obtained resounding support having ended up with a minority administration in the Assembly?
A ydych yn awgrymu bod y Blaid Lafur wedi cael cefnogaeth ysgubol a hwythau â gweinyddiaeth leiafrifol yn y Cynulliad?
Simple arithmetic shows that 28 to 9 is the answer to that. I remind the Conservatives that in the policy document ‘A Right Wing Revolution’, Dr Liam Fox, the Conservative spokesperson on health at Westminster said that he wanted to break the NHS monopoly, whatever that means. I suspect that it does not mean increasing public spending. Rather, it means more and more privatisation. Therefore, David Melding’s comments do not ring true.
Mae rhifyddeg syml yn dangos mai 28 i 9 yw’r ateb i hynny. Atgoffaf y Ceidwadwyr bod Dr Liam Fox, llefarydd iechyd y Ceidwadwyr yn San Steffan, wedi dweud yn y ddogfen bolisi ‘A Right Wing Revolution’ ei fod eisiau trechu monopoli yr NHS, beth bynnag y mae hynny’n ei olygu. Yr wyf yn amau nad yw’n golygu cynyddu gwariant cyhoeddus. Mae’n golygu, yn hytrach, mwy a mwy o breifateiddio. Felly, nid yw sylwadau David Melding yn swnio’n ddiffuant.
I must also comment on the Liberal Democrats’ views. Inclusive politics, as far as they are concerned, involve adopting the Liberal Democrat manifesto lock, stock and barrel. There are six Liberal Democrat Assembly Members—10 per cent of the seats and, may I add, 8 per cent of the popular vote. The views of all of the parties have been considered in this draft budget. In Westminster, the views of the two smaller parties would not have been considered at all. The fact that the largest party is willing to listen to the smaller parties illustrates how democratic this Assembly is and how different it is from Westminster.
Rhaid imi hefyd gyflwyno fy sylwadau am farn y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Mae gwleidyddiaeth gynhwysol, cyn belled ag y maent hwy dan sylw, yn golygu mabwysiadu maniffesto y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn ei gyfanrwydd. Mae chwe Aelod o’r Cynulliad yn Ddemocratiaid Rhyddfrydol—10 y cant o’r seddau a, phrysuraf i ychwanegu, 8 y cant o bleidlais y bobl. Rhoddwyd ystyriaeth i farn pob plaid yn y gyllideb ddrafft hon. Yn San Steffan, ni fyddid wedi rhoi ystyriaeth o gwbl i farn y ddwy blaid leiaf. Mae’r ffaith bod y blaid fwyaf yn barod i wrando ar y pleidiau lleiaf yn dangos pa mor ddemocrataidd yw’r Cynulliad hwn a pha mor wahanol ydyw i San Steffan.
Is the Member suggesting that the Government in Westminster should listen to the smaller parties? Surely it is within the power of the Labour Government to do so? Is he suggesting that the Labour Government in Westminster should listento the other parties and taking their views into account?
Ai awgrymu y mae’r Aelod y dylai’r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan wrando ar y pleidiau llai? Onid yw o fewn pŵer y Llywodraeth Lafur i wneud hynny? Ai awgrymu y mae y dylai’r Llywodraeth Lafur yn San Steffan wrando ar y pleidiau eraill a rhoi ystyriaeth i’w barn?
It is for the Government in Westminster to decide whether it wants to take other parties’ views into account. The fact that we listen is accepted as best practice in the Assembly. The draft budget has been before the Subject Committees, which have considered the views of other parties. That is an inclusive way of proceeding. The Government in Westminster needs to consider many issues. I cannot comment as I am not a Member of Parliament in Westminster.
Lle’r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan yw penderfynu a yw’n dymuno rhoi ystyriaeth i farn pleidiau eraill ai peidio. Mae’r ffaith ein bod yn gwrando yn cael ei dderbyn fel yr ymarfer gorau yn y Cynulliad. Bu’r gyllideb ddrafft gerbron y Pwyllgorau Pwnc, ac y maent wedi rhoi ystyriaeth i farn pleidiau eraill. Mae hynny’n ffordd gynhwysol o weithredu. Rhaid i’r Llywodraeth yn San Steffan ystyried nifer o faterion. Ni allaf ddweud dim gan nad wyf yn Aelod Seneddol yn San Steffan.
It is unfair to criticise the Finance Secretary. Her job is to collate all the responses and the requests made by the Subject Committees. Somebody has to do it. If all the Subject Committees managed to include all their priorities in the budget, we would end up overspending.
Mae’n annheg beirniadu’r Ysgrifennydd Cyllid. Ei gwaith yw dod â’r holl ymatebion a’r ceisiadau a wnaethpwyd gan y Pwyllgorau Pwnc at ei gilydd. Rhaid i rywun wneud y gwaith. Pe bai pob Pwyllgor Pwnc yn llwyddo i gynnwys pob un o’u blaenoriaethau yn y gyllideb, byddem yn siŵr o orwario.
I hope Carwyn will decide which job he is after. We used to think it was Christine’s but now I think it is Edwina’s. However, if you really are listening to Westminster—you appear to be, because you are quoting Liam Fox’s health proposals rather than David Melding’s—I am surprised that you have been unable to impress on the Treasury the need for extra resources for match funding purposes. If there is evidence of the Labour administration listening to the minority parties—there are three of us, even if one has sold out temporarily, and I am sure that in February that party will not do the same on the question of match funding—then I would like to see that evidence, as this is the crunch issue. It is a budgetary issue and whatever Edwina has done, there are some welcome points in the budget such as the rough sleepers initiative and action on the carers strategy. However, there was nothing in the budget about a commitment from Westminster to match funding. This remains a crunch issue and I am sure that the administration is also aware of that.
Gobeithiaf y bydd Carwyn yn penderfynu pa swydd y mae am ei chael. Arferem feddwl mai ar ôl swydd Christine yr oedd ond erbyn hyn tybiaf mai ar ôl swydd Edwina y mae. Fodd bynnag, os mai gwrando ar San Steffan yr ydych—ac felly mae’n ymddangos, oherwydd cynigion iechyd Liam Fox yr ydych yn eu dyfynnu, nid rhai David Melding—synnaf na lwyddoch i wneud i’r Trysorlys ddeall bod angen adnoddau ychwanegol at ddibenion cyllid cyfatebol. Os oes tystiolaeth bod y weinyddiaeth Lafur yn gwrando ar y pleidiau lleiafrifol—mae tair ohonom, er bod un yn dawedog iawn ar hyn o bryd, yr wyf yn siŵr na fydd y blaid honno yn cadw mor ddistaw ym mis Chwefror wrth ymdrin â chyllid cyfatebol—yna hoffwn weld y dystiolaeth honno, gan mai dyma galon y mater. Mater cyllidebol yw hwn a pha beth bynnag y mae Edwina wedi ei wneud, mae rhai pwyntiau i’w croesawu yn y gyllideb, fel y cynllun i helpu’r rhai sydd yn cysgu ar y stryd a gweithredu ar strategaeth i gynhalwyr. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd dim yn y gyllideb am addewid o San Steffan i roi cyllid cyfatebol. Mae hwn yn parhau’n gwestiwn hollol waelodol ac yr wyf yn sicr bod y weinyddiaeth hefyd yn ymwybodol o hynny.
I know that you would like the First Secretary’s job, Nick. Dream on.
Gwn yr hoffech chi swydd y Prif Ysgrifennydd, Nick. Daliwch ati i freuddwydio.
Alun Michael The First Secretary spoken in English p. 66
Alun Michael Y Prif Ysgrifennydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 66
Yesterday we debated the Queen’s Speech. The matters of match funding and public expenditure cover for Objective 1 came up. Today we are discussing the budget, and the topic of European funds has emerged again. It is important, because it is our first year, to make the point that budgetary processes are always difficult. There is always a request to do things differently to the proper standards of accounting. This happens when dealing with private money and with public money. There are ways in which public expenditure must be expressed. Edwina will deal with that in her closing speech. However, the point that is being made here is inappropriate. This Government has won Objective 1 status because we want Objective 1 status to deliver for those parts of Wales that are below 75 per cent of the European average of GDP per capita. There is a process to go through. We have made it clear that the money can be used next year. We are satisfied that there is sufficient money available to be able to deliver. Therefore, these interventions only raise uncertainty if people such as the leader of the Welsh Conservative Group wish to raise uncertainty. We should be sending a clear, strong message that people should plan to use the Objective 1 opportunity for the benefit of our communities. The certainty is there.
Ddoe, trafodasom Araith y Frenhines. Codwyd cwestiynau am gyllid cyfatebol a darpariaeth gwariant cyhoeddus ar gyfer Amcan 1. Heddiw, yr ydym yn trafod y gyllideb, ac mae cronfeydd Ewropeaidd yn bwnc sydd yn codi ei ben eto. Mae’n bwysig, gan mai hon yw ein blwyddyn gyntaf, gwneud y pwynt bod prosesau cyllidebol bob amser yn anodd. Mae yna bob amser cais i bethau gael eu gwneud yn wahanol i’r safonau cyfrifo cywir. Mae hyn yn digwydd wrth ddelio ag arian preifat ac ag arian cyhoeddus. Rhaid mynegi gwariant cyhoeddus mewn ffyrdd arbennig. Bydd Edwina yn delio â hynny yn ei haraith ar ddiwedd y ddadl. Fodd bynnag, mae’r pwynt sydd yn cael ei wneud yma yn amhriodol. Mae’r Llywodraeth hon wedi ennill statws Amcan 1 am ein bod yn awyddus i statws Amcan 1 weithio i’r rhannau hynny o Gymru sydd islaw 75 y cant o’r gyfartaledd Ewropeaidd o’r cynnyrch mewnwladol crynswth y pen. Mae yna broses i’w dilyn. Yr ydym wedi ei gwneud yn glir y gellir defnyddio’r arian y flwyddyn nesaf. Yr ydym yn fodlon bod digon o arian i allu gweithredu. Felly, nid yw’r pwyntiau hyn sydd yn cael eu codi ond yn creu ansicrwydd os yw pobl fel arweinydd y Grŵp Ceidwadol Cymreig am godi ansicrwydd. Dylem fod yn anfon neges glir, gref bod angen i bobl gynllunio ar gyfer defnyddio cyfle Amcan 1 er budd ein cymunedau. Mae’r sicrwydd yna.
Soniaf am amaethyddiaeth a datblygu gwledig. Cyhuddwyd y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru o beidio gwrando ar ffermwyr a thrigolion cefn gwlad. Mae’r dystiolaeth hon yn dangos nad yw hynny’n wir. Mae’r gyllideb ar gyfer amaethyddiaeth a datblygu gwledig wedi cynyddu’n sylweddol, sydd yn dangos i bobl yng Nghymru ac ar y tu allan i Gymru ein bod yn cymryd problemau cefn gwlad o ddifrif. Yr ydym yn edrych ar ffyrdd o ddatrys y problemau. Mae hynny’n dangos bod y Cabinet yn edrych o ddifrif ar broblemau cefn gwlad.
I will talk about agriculture and rural development. The Labour Party in Wales has been accused of not listening to farmers and the inhabitants of rural areas. This evidence shows that that is not true. The agriculture and rural development budget has increased significantly, which shows people in Wales and outside Wales that we take rural problems seriously. We are looking at ways of resolving those problems. That shows that the Cabinet is paying serious attention to the problems of rural areas.
Yr ydym yn ffodus fod gennym broses ddemocrataidd yn y Siambr. Mae’n dangos i bobl y tu allan i Gymru fod gennym gyllideb ddrafft a’n bod wedi ymgynghori arni. Mae pawb wedi cael cyfle i gyfrannu i’r gyllideb yn y Pwyllgorau. Mae Edwina wedi gweithio’n galed i sicrhau cyllideb o flaen y Cynulliad y prynhawn yma. Mae hi wedi gwrando ar bobl ac wedi cyflwyno cyllideb sydd yn mynd i ennill cefnogaeth mwyafrif yr Aelodau.
We are fortunate that we have a democratic process in this Chamber. It shows people outside Wales that we have a draft budget and that we have consulted on it. Everyone has had an opportunity to contribute to the budget in the Committees. Edwina has worked hard to ensure that there is a budget before the Assembly this afternoon. She has listened to people and has announced a budget that will win the support of the majority of Members.
I endorse the support for Edwina’s work and how this budget process has been undertaken. It is important that this has been an open, accessible and cross-cutting process. As someone who sought to influence the Welsh Office’s budget priorities for many years, I found myself curiously touched by Glyn Davies’s concern on behalf of the Welsh people that this budget might have been made in London. For 18 years, budgets were made in London and not by Welsh people. I wonder, Glyn, whether there is a little town between Newtown and Cardiff called Damascus at which you have stopped for a cup of tea?
Ategaf y gefnogaeth i waith Edwina a’r ffordd yr ymgymerwyd â phroses y gyllideb. Mae’n bwysig bod hon yn broses agored, hygyrch a thrawsbynciol. Fel rhywun a fu’n ceisio dylanwadu ar flaenoriaethau cyllideb y Swyddfa Gymreig am flynyddoedd lawer, cyffyrddwyd fi’n rhyfeddol gan bryder Glyn Davies ar ran pobl Cymru y gallai’r gyllideb hon fod wedi ei gwneud yn Llundain. Am 18 mlynedd, yn Llundain y câi cyllidebau eu gwneud ac nid gan bobl Cymru. Tybed, Glyn, a oes yna dref fechan rhwng y Drenewydd a Chaerdydd o’r enw Damascus lle’r ydych chi wedi aros i gael cwpanaid o de?
I do not think any useful purpose is served by further debate on this issue. In my role as Chair of the Economic Development Committee, I state that the Committee was obviously disappointed to hear about the reduction in its budget in the first budget statement.
Ni thybiaf y byddai trafodaeth bellach ar y mater hwn yn ateb unrhyw ddiben buddiol. Yn fy rôl fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd, dywedais fod y Pwyllgor yn amlwg yn siomedig o glywed am y gostyngiad yn ei gyllideb yn natganiad cyntaf y gyllideb.
However, I am pleased that Edwina has allocated more money to provide the basis and support for developing businesses in Wales along with the development bank. That is dear to the hearts of probably every member of the Economic Development Committee, although we may each hold a different picture of what the bank will be. A great deal of discussion and work is required to reach an agreement on how it should be developed. I am also pleased that Edwina proposed that money should be given to support the development of credit unions. These are extremely important in the poorer areas of Wales that now constitute a large part of our country.
Fodd bynnag, yr wyf yn falch bod Edwina wedi dyrannu mwy o arian i ddarparu’r sail a’r gefnogaeth ar gyfer datblygu busnesau yng Nghymru ynghyd â’r banc datblygu. Mae’n debyg fod hynny wrth fodd calon pob aelod o’r Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd, er bod gan bob un ohonom ddarlun gwahanol efallai o hanfod y banc. Rhaid wrth lawer iawn o drafod a gwaith er mwyn dod i gytundeb ar sut i’w ddatblygu. Yr wyf yn falch hefyd bod Edwina wedi awgrymu y dylid rhoi arian i gefnogi datblygiad undebau credyd. Mae’r rhain yn neilltuol o bwysig yn ardaloedd tlotaf Cymru sydd bellach yn gyfran fawr o’n gwlad.
I will not talk about Objective 1 because Alun is right to say that we have spent too much time discussing that. We must wait to see whether we have sufficient money next year. However, we have received substantial assurances on that. Next year, we will debate the future years and the question of public expenditure survey cover and match funding. I have thought about this process a great deal and it is inevitable that one seeks to defend one’s Committee budget. However, economic development should be seen in broad terms. It is important, therefore, that the Assembly does not seek to be parochial. The way in which the national economic development strategy was developed shows clearly that if we are to make progress and make a real difference in Wales by using European funds to lift the Welsh economy so that it becomes self-sustaining and self-driving by the end of the Objective 1 period, we must reach the excluded parts and foundations of society. That requires a great deal of work on health and social services to ensure that people have the support that will enable them to participate in the labour market. We must tackle the problems of homelessness and bad housing and invest a lot of resources into education and training so that people have the necessary skills. We must also tackle the real problems of social exclusion on our estates, so that when we provide more jobs, as we are beginning to do, people will be able to take advantage of them.
Ni fyddaf yn siarad am Amcan 1 oherwydd mae Alun yn gywir i ddweud ein bod wedi treulio gormod o amser yn trafod hynny. Rhaid inni ddisgwyl i weld a fydd gennym ddigon o arian y flwyddyn nesaf. Fodd bynnag, yr ydym wedi cael addewidion sylweddol ar hynny. Y flwyddyn nesaf, byddwn yn trafod y blynyddoedd dilynol a’r cwestiwn o arolygu gwariant cyhoeddus a chyllid cyfatebol. Yr wyf wedi meddwl llawer iawn am y broses hon ac mae’n anochel bod rhywun yn ceisio amddiffyn cyllideb ei Bwyllgor ei hun. Fodd bynnag, dylid ystyried datblygu economaidd mewn termau eang. Mae’n bwysig, felly, nad yw’r Cynulliad yn ymddangos yn blwyfol. Mae’r ffordd y datblygwyd y strategaeth datblygu economaidd genedlaethol yn dangos yn glir y bydd yn rhaid inni gyrraedd y rhannau o gymdeithas sydd wedi eu dieithrio a seiliau’r gymdeithas, os ydym i symud ymlaen a gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol yng Nghymru drwy ddefnyddio cronfeydd Ewropeaidd i godi economi Cymru fel ei fod yn dod yn hunangynhaliol ac yn gyrru ei hun erbyn diwedd y cyfnod Amcan 1. Mae hynny’n golygu llawer iawn o waith ar iechyd a’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol i sicrhau bod pobl yn cael y gefnogaeth a fydd yn eu galluogi i gymryd rhan yn y farchnad lafur. Rhaid inni hefyd fynd i’r afael â phroblemau digartrefedd a thai gwael a buddsoddi llawer o adnoddau mewn addysg a hyfforddiant fel bod pobl â’r sgiliau angenrheidiol. Rhaid inni hefyd fynd i’r afael â phroblemau go-iawn dieithrwch cymdeithasol ar ein hystadau, fel y bydd pobl, pan fyddwn yn darparu mwy o swyddi, fel yr ydym wedi dechrau gwneud, yn gallu manteisio arnynt.
As Chair of the Economic Development Committee, will you, or your Committee, express a view on the decision to freeze the Wales Tourist Board’s budget for the next three years, which, in real terms, means a decrease in its budget? Are you aware that a large hotel project in my constituency was scrapped as a direct result of that decision?
Fel Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd, a fyddwch chi, neu eich Pwyllgor, yn mynegi barn ar y penderfyniad i rewi cyllideb Bwrdd Croeso Cymru am y tair blynedd nesaf, sydd, mewn termau real, yn golygu gostyngiad yn ei gyllideb? A ydych chi’n ymwybodol fod prosiect ar gyfer gwesty mawr yn fy etholaeth wedi cael ei roi o’r neilltu oherwydd y penderfyniad hwnnw?
I am well aware of the gentleman who runs Dan-yr-Ogof caves and I took part in a radio programme with him recently. I am also well aware that he claims he had plans to build a large hotel. Rhodri Morgan may wish to contribute to this discussion because he was in the area recently and was unaware of any plan. The current position of the Wales Tourist Board’s budget has no bearing on that decision because there will be substantial future investment through Objective 1 and other programmes.
Gwn yn iawn am y gŵr bonheddig o ogofâu Dan-yr-Ogof a bûm yn cymryd rhan mewn rhaglen radio gydag ef yn ddiweddar. Yr wyf hefyd yn ymwybodol iawn o’i honiadau fod ganddo gynlluniau i godi gwesty mawr. Efallai yr hoffai Rhodri Morgan gyfrannu at y drafodaeth hon oherwydd yr oedd yn yr ardal yn ddiweddar ac nid oedd yn ymwybodol o unrhyw gynllun. Nid yw’r sefyllfa gyfredol ynglŷn â chyllideb Bwrdd Croeso Cymru yn effeithio ar y penderfyniad hwnnw oherwydd ceir buddsoddi sylweddol yn y dyfodol drwy Amcan 1 a rhaglenni eraill.
Dan-yr-Ogof is not included in the Objective 1 area.
Nid yw Dan-yr-Ogof wedi ei gynnwys yn ardal Amcan 1.
Glyn Davies a gododd—
Glyn Davies rose—
No, it is just outside. However, to get to west Wales, where the money will be invested, you will need to pass Dan-yr-Ogof. It is only just outside the Objective 1 area and I think that the manager will benefit considerably from that investment.
Na, mae fymryn y tu allan iddi. Fodd bynnag, er mwyn cyrraedd gorllewin Cymru, lle caiff yr arian ei fuddsoddi, bydd yn rhaid mynd heibio i Dan-yr-Ogof. Nid yw ond fymryn y tu allan i ardal Amcan 1 a chredaf y bydd y rheolwr yn elwa’n sylweddol o’r buddsoddiad hwnnw.
Point of order. Is it in order for Val Feld to hold discussions with female Assembly Members and refuse interventions from male Assembly Members?
Pwynt o drefn. A yw’n dderbyniol bod Val Feld yn cynnal trafodaethau gydag Aelodau benyw’r Cynulliad ac yn gwrthod pwyntiau a godir gan Aelodau gwryw?
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 69
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 69
Order. As you know, under Standing Orders, I am pleased to say that it is for the speaker to accept interventions and not for me. It is my role to ensure that the wishes of the speaker to give way or not give way are respected.
Trefn. Fel y gwyddoch, o dan y Rheolau Sefydlog, yr wyf yn falch o ddweud mai mater i’r siaradwr yw derbyn pwyntiau a godir, nid mater i mi. Fy rôl yw sicrhau bod dymuniadau’r siaradwr o ran ildio neu beidio yn cael eu parchu.
I will respond to that point of order. We have heard a number of voices, particularly Glyn Davies’s, rather a lot today but we have not heard from Kirsty Williams. It was appropriate, therefore, that she was allowed to intervene. It was possible that she had something new to contribute, which proved to be the case. It is a relevant consideration. I will now draw to a conclusion so that others have an opportunity to contribute.
Hoffwn ymateb i’r pwynt hwnnw o drefn. Clywsom nifer o leisiau heddiw, yn enwedig un Glyn Davies, ond nid ydym wedi clywed gan Kirsty Williams. Yr oedd, felly, yn briodol gadael iddi godi pwynt. Yr oedd yn bosibl fod ganddi rywbeth newydd i’w gyfrannu, ac yn wir dyna a ddigwyddodd. Mae’n ystyriaeth berthnasol. Hoffwn ddirwyn i ben yn awr fel bod eraill yn cael cyfle i gyfrannu.
It is important that economic development and the delivery of wealth are seen in broad terms. Economic Development is not only about the money that comes under the remit of the Secretary for Economic Development or the Subject Committee. Investment in our communities, health service, housing stock and in our education and training programmes is fundamental to our economic growth. If the work is undertaken correctly, I am happy to support Edwina Hart’s budget. I am also happy that she has found some more money and if she has any more going spare, we would receive it gladly.
Mae’n bwysig bod datblygu economaidd a gwireddu cyfoeth yn cael eu gweld mewn termau eang. Nid yw datblygu economaidd yn ymwneud yn unig â’r arian sydd yn dod o dan gylch gwaith yr Ysgrifennydd Datblygu Economaidd a’r Pwyllgor Pwnc. Mae buddsoddi yn ein cymunedau, y gwasanaeth iechyd, y stoc tai ac yn ein rhaglenni addysg a hyfforddi yn hanfodol bwysig i’n twf economaidd. Os gwneir y gwaith yn iawn, yr wyf yn barod i gefnogi cyllideb Edwina Hart. Yr wyf hefyd yn falch ei bod wedi dod o hyd i fwy o arian ac os oes ganddi rywfaint mwy i’w sbario, byddem yn ei dderbyn yn llawen.
I congratulate Edwina Hart because she has had a difficult job. People have commented on her willingness to accommodate the other political parties in trying to achieve a consensus on the budget. However, as a representative of the Labour Party in Wales, I congratulate Edwina on the budget from a Labour perspective. She has addressed our major priority issues and she has given us a commitment that money will be available for the first two years of structural funds, before the comprehensive spending review. Therefore, even from a Labour point of view, this is a good budget.
Llongyfarchaf Edwina Hart oherwydd mae ganddi dasg anodd. Mae pobl wedi cyfeirio at ei pharodrwydd i roi clust i’r pleidiau gwleidyddol eraill er mwyn ceisio cael consensws ar y gyllideb. Fodd bynnag, fel un o gynrychiolwyr y Blaid Lafur yng Nghymru, llongyfarchaf Edwina ar y gyllideb o bersbectif Llafur. Mae wedi rhoi sylw i’r prif faterion y rhoddwn flaenoriaeth iddynt ac mae wedi rhoi addewid inni y bydd arian ar gael ar gyfer dwy flynedd gyntaf y cronfeydd strwythurol, cyn yr adolygiad gwariant cynhwysfawr. Felly, hyd yn oed o safbwynt Llafur, mae hon yn gyllideb dda.
I was surprised to hear Glyn Davies’s contribution to this debate. His main message seemed to be that not enough money is being spent generally. He also complained about the emergence of stealth tax. A lady from Finchley who once lived in Downing Street, used to advise on the wisdom of the home budget. I am sure that she would be disappointed to hear Glyn talk about meeting demands by spending a vast amount of money without knowing from where that money would come. The fact that Glyn had to take that position typifies the intellectual bankruptcy of the Conservative Party in this Chamber.
Synnais o glywed cyfraniad Glyn Davies i’r ddadl hon. Ei brif neges yn ôl pob tebyg oedd nad oes digon o arian yn cael ei wario yn gyffredinol. Cwynodd hefyd am ymddangosiad treth lechwraidd. Arferai menyw o Finchley, a fu unwaith yn byw yn Stryd Downing, glodfori’r gyllideb ddomestig. Yr wyf yn siŵr y byddai’n siomedig o glywed Glyn yn sôn am ateb galwadau drwy wario swm enfawr o arian heb wybod o ble y byddai’r arian hwnnw yn dod. Mae’r ffaith bod Glyn wedi gorfod cymryd y safbwynt yna yn nodweddiadol o ddiffyg deallusol llwyr y Blaid Geidwadol yn y Siambr hon.
If some of the Assembly’s existing budget funds were not used for match fund purposes, such as the £35 million being taken out of the Assembly budget and the Pathway to Prosperity fund, there would be instant savings. A great deal of money could be saved on surveys and it would be a simple matter to save money on the other budgets. The Conservatives have carried out a costing exercise and have said that there should only be increases in the health and agriculture budgets. Those budgets are fully costed without any more increases and I hope that you accept that. However, the fundamental point is that of EU match fund projects. If the money were delivered, as we said it should be, over and above the Barnett block grant, existing Assembly budget funds used for match fund purposes could be used for other important purposes in the health and agriculture budgets.
Pe na bai peth o’r arian sydd yng nghyllideb y Cynulliad eisoes yn cael ei ddefnyddio fel cyllid cyfatebol, fel y £35 miliwn sydd yn cael ei dynnu allan o gyllideb y Cynulliad a’r gronfa Ffordd i Ffyniant, ceid arbedion ar unwaith. Gellid arbed llawer iawn o arian ar arolygon a mater syml fyddai arbed arian ar gyllidebau eraill. Mae’r Ceidwadwyr wedi cynnal ymarferiad costio ac wedi dweud na ddylid cael cynnydd ond yn y gyllideb iechyd a’r gyllideb amaethyddiaeth. Mae’r cyllidebau hynny wedi eu costio’n llwyr heb unrhyw gynnydd pellach a gobeithiaf eich bod yn derbyn hynny. Fodd bynnag, y pwynt sylfaenol yw’r un ynglŷn â phrosiectau cyllid cyfatebol yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Pe câi’r arian ei gyfrannu, fel y dywedasom ni y dylai, yn ychwanegol at grant bloc Barnett, gellid defnyddio arian o gyllideb y Cynulliad a ddefnyddir ar hyn o bryd fel cyllid cyfatebol at ddibenion pwysig eraill yn y cyllidebau iechyd ac amaethyddiaeth.
That may be true. However, we are presently operating within the block grant and we must prepare our budget according to the sums available. To suggest that we should do otherwise typifies the Conservatives’ lack of contact with reality on this issue.
Efallai fod hynny’n wir. Fodd bynnag, yr ydym ar hyn o bryd yn gweithredu o fewn y grant bloc a rhaid inni baratoi ein cyllideb yn unol â’r symiau sydd ar gael. Mae awgrymu y dylem wneud fel arall yn nodweddiadol o ddiffyg cysylltiad y Ceidwadwyr â realiti ar y mater hwn.
I am also disappointed by the Liberal Democrats’ negative attitude to this budget, especially in the light of recent diary exposures, which reveal that it was conceivable that we could have been operating on a much closer level. Maybe those diaries represented the delusions of grandeur of a particular party leader—
Yr wyf hefyd yn siomedig gydag agwedd negyddol y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol tuag at y gyllideb hon, yn enwedig yn wyneb yr eitemau dyddiadur a ddatgelwyd yn ddiweddar, sydd yn dangos ei bod yn bosibl y buom yn gweithredu ar lefel llawer mwy clos. Efallai fod y dyddiaduron hynny yn cynrychioli rhithfawredd arweinydd un blaid arbennig—
I wonder whether you have been reading the earlier edition of the British Medical Journal this afternoon, Brian. You should learn that articles by Clive Betts are not always accurate, especially if the information is given to him by your party’s people. You should look closer to home before making such accusations.
Tybed a ydych wedi bod yn darllen y rhifyn cynharaf o’r British Medical Journal y prynhawn yma, Brian. Dylech ddysgu nad yw erthyglau gan Clive Betts bob amser yn gywir, yn enwedig os mai pobl eich plaid chi sydd yn rhoi’r wybodaeth iddo. Dylech edrych yn nes adref cyn gwneud cyhuddiadau o’r fath.
We have looked carefully at this budget and while there are measures with which we agree, there are some with which we do not agree. We are not satisfied that the budget provides sufficiently for schools. We know that the funding for a school buildings repair programme is not in place. Neither are we satisfied by the fact that we still do not know from where match funding will come. It was clear in Edwina Hart’s statement that the money for match funding for the coming year will come from existing resources. That money could be used for health and education. I regret that and that is why I cannot support the budget.
Yr ydym wedi edrych yn ofalus ar y gyllideb hon a thra bo yna rai mesurau yr ydym yn cytuno â hwy, mai rhai nad ydym yn cytuno â hwy. Nid ydym yn fodlon bod y gyllideb yn darparu’n ddigonol ar gyfer ysgolion. Gwyddom nad oes cyllid wedi ei neilltuo ar gyfer rhaglen i atgyweirio adeiladau ysgolion. Nid ydym ychwaith yn fodlon â’r ffaith na wyddom eto o ble y daw’r cyllid cyfatebol. Yr oedd yn amlwg yn natganiad Edwina Hart y bydd yr arian ar gyfer cyllid cyfatebol dros y flwyddyn nesaf yn dod o’r adnoddau presennol. Gellid defnyddio’r arian hwnnw ar gyfer iechyd ac addysg. Mae hynny’n ofid imi a dyna pam na allaf gefnogi’r gyllideb.
Some of the money to which Mike refers is money that was earmarked for economic development—
Mae peth o’r arian y cyfeiria Mike ato yn arian a glustnodwyd ar gyfer datblygu economaidd—
Not all of it.
Nid y cyfan ohono.
Let me finish the sentence. Other elements of this money came from end of year savings. It is a matter of choice how we spend this money. That is devolution. Social and economic regeneration is a priority, as I am sure all parties agree. If Mike German does not want to agree with that consensus, then he can suggest that the money should be spent elsewhere. However, if we have end-of-year flexibilities and savings that we want to spend on economic regeneration, that is appropriate and should be done.
Gadewch imi orffen y frawddeg. Daeth elfennau eraill o’r arian hwn o arbedion diwedd blwyddyn. Mater o ddewis yw sut y gwariwn ni’r arian hwn. Dyna yw datganoli. Mae adfywio cymdeithasol ac economaidd yn flaenoriaeth, fel y mae pob plaid yn cytuno yr wyf yn sicr. Os nad yw Mike German eisiau cytuno â’r consensws hwnnw, yna gall awgrymu y dylid gwario’r arian yn rhywle arall. Fodd bynnag, os oes gennym hyblygrwydd ac arbedion ar ddiwedd blwyddyn, y dymunwn eu gwario ar adfywio economaidd, mae hynny’n briodol a dylai gael ei wneud.
I will return to the Liberal Democrats and the delusions of grandeur exposed by their leader’s diary. The fact that they are the smallest political party in this Assembly and yet look so hurt and offended because we have not taken on board their full agenda reflects delusions of grandeur on their part.
Byddaf yn dychwelyd at y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol a’r rhithfawredd a ddadlennwyd gan ddyddiadur eu harweinydd. Mae’r ffaith mai hwy yw’r blaid wleidyddol leiaf yn y Cynulliad hwn, ond eu bod serch hynny yn edrych fel pe baent wedi eu brifo a’u tramgwyddo’n arw am na fu inni dderbyn eu hagenda yn llawn, yn adlewyrchu’r rhithfawredd y maent yn dioddef ohono.
Rather than delusions of grandeur we have higher principles and we are not prepared to sell them out, unlike others in this Chamber.
Yn hytrach na rhithfawredd mae gennym ni egwyddorion uwch ac nid ydym yn barod i’w bradychu, yn wahanol i eraill yn y Siambr hon.
Let us come on to that. Politics has been called the art of the possible. A great deal of politics involves values, judgment and things that cannot be measured. However, there are areas where decisions can be evaluated on a scientific basis. One example is the beef on the bone ban. There was a broad consensus among all parties in the Assembly that we would look at the scientific evidence and then make a decision on whether or not to lift the ban. The Liberal Democrats have not agreed to do that on the issue of free eye tests. They have opposed this budget because a blanket commitment was not given to provide free eye tests. We have agreed that we will look at the evidence and if it supports the introduction of free eye tests then this budget will pay for a clinically effective health procedure. Why could the Liberal Democrats not support that? That is principled and would be based on clinical evidence.
Gadewch inni symud at hynny. Cafodd gwleidyddiaeth ei galw yn gelfyddyd yr hyn sydd yn bosibl. Mae llawer iawn o wleidyddiaeth yn cynnwys gwerthoedd, barn a phethau na ellir eu mesur. Fodd bynnag, mae yna feysydd lle gellir cloriannu penderfyniadau ar sail wyddonol. Mae’r gwaharddiad ar gig eidion ar yr asgwrn yn un enghraifft. Yr oedd consensws eang ymysg pob plaid yn y Cynulliad y byddem yn edrych ar y dystiolaeth wyddonol ac yna’n penderfynu pa un i godi’r gwaharddiad ai peidio. Nid yw’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol wedi cytuno i wneud hynny yng nghyswllt profion llygaid am ddim. Maent wedi gwrthwynebu’r gyllideb hon am na roddwyd addewid ddiamod i ddarparu profion llygaid am ddim. Yr ydym wedi cytuno y byddwn yn edrych ar y dystiolaeth ac, os oes cyfiawnhad, gyflwyno profion llygaid am ddim, bydd y gyllideb hon yn talu am driniaeth iechyd sydd yn effeithiol o safbwynt clinigol. Pam na allai’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol gefnogi hynny? Mae hynny’n egwyddorol a byddai wedi ei seilio ar dystiolaeth glinigol.
Most parties have had a significant input into this budget, and all of the priorities of the Health and Social Services Committee, on which I serve, for additional resources, including free eye tests, have been met—
Mae’r mwyafrif o bleidiau wedi cyfrannu’n sylweddol at y gyllideb hon, ac mae holl flaenoriaethau’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, yr wyf i’n aelod ohono, o blaid adnoddau ychwanegol, gan gynnwys profion llygaid am ddim, wedi eu bodloni—
Brian Gibbons is long suffering. I have to say that as this is the fifth intervention he has taken. One of our major reservations about the budget was the lack of a hospital building programme. That priority has not been adequately met. I am sure that you would agree with that. You cannot say that the Committee’s wishes have been met.
Mae Brian Gibbons yn hir ei amynedd. Rhaid imi ddweud hynny gan mai dyma’r pumed pwynt iddo ei dderbyn. Un o’n prif ofidiau ni gyda’r gyllideb oedd y diffyg rhaglen i godi ysbytai. Ni chafwyd darpariaeth ddigonol ar gyfer y flaenoriaeth honno. Yr wyf yn siŵr y byddech yn cytuno â hynny. Ni allwch ddweud bod dymuniadau’r Pwyllgor wedi eu bodloni.
I did not say that all the wishes were met. I said that the priorities that the Committee identified were addressed. Every single one of them was addressed, even the contentious issue of free eye tests. We have tried to address that issue in an inclusive way to meet the concerns of all the political parties in this Chamber. From my own experience on the Committee, I would say that there is clear evidence that we have listened to the political parties in this Assembly and that we have been inclusive.
Ni ddywedais fod pob dymuniad wedi ei fodloni. Dywedais fod y blaenoriaethau a nodwyd gan y Pwyllgor wedi cael sylw. Rhoddwyd sylw i bob un ohonynt, hyd yn oed fater dadleuol profion llygaid am ddim. Yr ydym wedi ceisio ymdrin â’r mater hwnnw mewn ffordd gynhwysol i fodloni pryderon pob plaid wleidyddol yn y Siambr hon. O’m profiad i ar y Pwyllgor, fe ddywedwn fod tystiolaeth glir inni wrando ar y pleidiau gwleidyddol yn y Cynulliad hwn ac inni fod yn gynhwysol.
Do you feel, Brian, that when we consider the priorities of the Health and Social Services Committee, it is right and proper that we do not allow this debate to end without paying tribute to Edwina Hart and Jane Hutt? They have succeeded in finding extra money for children’s services and the voluntary sector and we look forward to the success of the children first programme and the Sure Start project.
Onid ydych chi’n teimlo, Brian, wrth inni ystyried blaenoriaethau’r Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, na ddylem adael i’r ddadl ddod i ben heb dalu teyrnged i Edwina Hart a Jane Hutt? Maent wedi llwyddo i ganfod arian ychwanegol ar gyfer gwasanaethau plant a’r sector gwirfoddol ac edrychwn ymlaen at lwyddiant y rhaglen plant yn gyntaf a’r prosiect Cychwyn Cadarn.
I agree with that. Every time we have discussed the health and social services budget in the Committee, Jane Hutt and Edwina Hart have been able to bring extra money to our budget over and above the comprehensive spending review. As a Wales Labour administration, we have made health and social services a priority and we are delivering on that.
Cytunaf â hynny. Bob tro yr ydym wedi trafod y gyllideb iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn y Pwyllgor, mae Jane Hutt ac Edwina Hart wedi llwyddo i ddod ag arian ychwanegol i’n cyllideb tu hwnt i’r adolygiad gwariant cynhwysfawr. Fel gweinyddiaeth Lafur dros Gymru, gwnaethom iechyd a’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn flaenoriaeth ac yr ydym yn gwireddu hynny.
Brian Gibbons referred to delusions of grandeur. I wish that the Labour administration had some imagination. The hallmark of the ideas of this administration so far has shown that they are not its own. They come straight from London. We would welcome a few delusions and more imagination. Brian is wrong when he says that we have a negative approach to this. There are, as Peter Black made clear, elements that we welcome, despite the fact that the pledge on free eye tests is hedged around by so many ifs, buts and maybes that it reminds us strongly of the response to the beef on the bone issue. However, we welcome the fact that the issue has been put on the agenda, if tentatively. We obviously welcome it, as I who first raised the issue of free eye tests. We greatly regret that Plaid Cymru did not support it at that time. If they had supported it, it would have been more firmly on the agenda today.
Cyfeiriodd Brian Gibbons at rithfawredd. Byddai’n dda gennyf pe bai gan y weinyddiaeth Lafur ychydig o ddychymyg. Yr hyn sydd yn nodweddu syniadau’r weinyddiaeth hon hyd yma yw nad ei syniadau ei hun mohonynt. Dônt yn syth o Lundain. Byddem yn croesawu ambell i rith a mwy o ddychymyg. Nid yw Brian yn gywir pan ddywed ein bod yn negyddol ein hagwedd yma. Mae yna, fel y’i gwnaed yn glir gan Peter Black, elfennau a groesawn, er gwaethaf y ffaith bod yr addewid ar brofion llygaid rhad ac am ddim wedi ei amgylchynu â phob petai a phetasai y gellir meddwl amdano nes ein hatgoffa’n gryf o’r ymateb i fater cig eidion ar yr asgwrn. Fodd bynnag, croesawn y ffaith i’r mater gael ei roi ar yr agenda, er yn betrus. Yr ydym wrth reswm yn ei groesawu gan mai fi oedd y cyntaf i godi cwestiwn profion llygaid rhad ac am ddim. Yr oedd yn flin iawn gennym na chafwyd cefnogaeth Plaid Cymru ar y pryd. Pe baent wedi ei gefnogi, byddai wedi bod ar yr agenda yn fwy pendant heddiw.
We welcome the enterprise development bank. We welcome more money for housing. However, the problem that everyone faces here today is that the budget cannot be amended or changed. You cannot accept bits of it. You must accept all of it or none. There are certain issues on which much more work must be done before February. I will address education in particular, because it epitomises the two concerns that the Liberal Democrats have about the budget. First, funding levels for education and secondly, the decision-making process in this Assembly. For us to have supported the budget, we needed to see much more money in the budget line for school buildings. We are all aware of the figures that show a backlog of at least £325 million in school building repairs. The National Union of Teachers’ figure is £500 million. The real figure is probably somewhere in between.
Croesawn y banc datblygu menter. Croesawn fwy o arian ar gyfer tai. Fodd bynnag, y broblem a wynebir gan bawb yma heddiw yw na ellir diwygio na newid y gyllideb. Ni allwch dderbyn darnau ohono. Rhaid ichi dderbyn y cyfan ohoni neu ddim. Mae yna rai materion y mae’n rhaid gwneud mwy o waith arnynt cyn mis Chwefror. Ymdriniaf ag addysg yn arbennig, gan ei bod yn ymgorffori’r ddau bryder sydd gan y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol am y gyllideb. Yn gyntaf, lefelau cyllido ar gyfer addysg ac, yn ail, y broses ar gyfer llunio penderfyniadau yn y Cynulliad hwn. Er mwyn i ni gefnogi’r gyllideb, yr oedd gofyn inni weld llawer mwy o arian yn y llinell gyllideb ar gyfer adeiladau ysgol. Gŵyr pawb ohonom am y ffigurau sydd yn dangos ôl-groniad o £325 miliwn o leiaf ar atgyweirio adeiladau ysgol. Mae ffigur Undeb Cenedlaethol yr Athrawon yn £500 miliwn. Mae’n debyg bod y ffigur iawn rywle yn y canol.
We have been given a figure today of £1.4 million for school repair for this year. All one can say about that is that it is better than nothing. The problem we have with the capital investment for schools is that there is no guarantee that the money—which comes under three separate budget headings in the education budget—will ever be spent on school buildings.
Rhoddwyd ffigur o £1.4 miliwn inni heddiw ar gyfer atgyweirio ysgolion eleni. Ni ellir dweud dim mwy am hynny na’i fod yn well na dim. Y broblem sydd gennym o ran buddsoddiad cyfalaf ar gyfer ysgolion yw nad oes unrhyw warant y bydd yr arian—sydd yn dod o dan dri phennawd gwahanol yn y gyllideb addysg—yn cael ei wario ar adeiladau ysgol o gwbl.
History suggests that councils always underspend on the money they allocate to schools. I am sure that the Secretary for Education a Phlant would acknowledge that. It costs over £12 million to build a new school of significant size. Cardiff alone has a backlog of £49 million in school repairs—remember Trelái primary school. In Ynys Môn there is a backlog of £5 million, in Conwy £8.75 million, in Rhondda Cynon Taff £50 million, in Swansea £40 million and in Caerphilly £20 million. Is Plaid Cymru serious when it says that £1.4 million is enough? It is significant that during most of this afternoon’s debate there have only been one or two—I believe that there are now five—Plaid Cymru Members in the Chamber. I wish that they had been here to listen to the comments made.
Mae hanes yn awgrymu bod cynghorau bob amser yn tanwario ar yr arian a ddyrennir ganddynt i ysgolion. Yr wyf yn siŵr y byddai’r Ysgrifennydd Addysg a Phlant yn cydnabod hynny. Mae’n costio dros £12 miliwn i godi ysgol newydd o faint sylweddol. Yng Nghaerdydd yn unig mae ôl-groniad o £49 miliwn o waith atgyweirio ar ysgolion—cofiwch am ysgol gynradd Trelái. Yn Ynys Môn mae’r ôl-groniad yn £5 miliwn, yng Nghonwy yn £8.75 miliwn, yn Rhondda Cynon Taf yn £50 miliwn, yn Abertawe yn £40 miliwn ac yng Nghaerffili yn £20 miliwn. A yw Plaid Cymru o ddifrif yn dweud bod £1.4 miliwn yn ddigon? Mae’n arwyddocaol mai dim ond un neu ddau aelod o Blaid Cymru—credaf fod yna bump erbyn hyn—a fu yn y Siambr yn ystod y ddadl y prynhawn yma. Byddai’n dda gennyf pe byddent yma i wrando ar y sylwadau a wnaethpwyd.
You do not have to be in the Chamber to listen to the debate. The amount of flak that is being directed at Plaid Cymru for taking a constructive approach to this budget is interesting. We have never said that we think that £1.4 million is enough. Both Phil and Janet said clearly that this is an inadequate budget out of an inadequate block grant. We did say that the Government—and Edwina Hart in particular—had made a fairly good fist of trying to listen to what we had said, within the limits of the budget. As far as listening to the debate is concerned it would behove the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives to listen to what people say. Simply sitting in the Chamber does not mean that you are listening to the debate.
Nid oes rhaid ichi fod yn y Siambr i wrando ar y ddadl. Mae’n ddiddorol gweld cymaint o feirniadaeth sydd yn cael ei hanelu at Blaid Cymru am ymdrin â’r gyllideb hon mewn ffordd adeiladol. Nid ydym erioed wedi dweud bod £1.4 miliwn yn ddigon yn ein barn ni. Dywedodd Phil a Janet yn glir fod hon yn gyllideb annigonol allan o grant bloc annigonol. Fe ddywedasom fod y Llywodraeth—ac Edwina Hart yn benodol—wedi gwneud ymdrech deg i geisio gwrando ar yr hyn oedd gennym i’w ddweud, o fewn terfynau’r gyllideb. Cyn belled ag y mae gwrando ar y ddadl yn bod, da o beth fyddai i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol a’r Ceidwadwyr wrando ar yr hyn y mae pobl yn ei ddweud. Nid yw eistedd yn y Siambr ohono’i hun yn golygu eich bod yn gwrando ar y ddadl.
It is nice to hear from Helen Mary because I can never see her behind the pillar. The overall education budget also takes no substantial account of the plight of further education in Wales where 15 of the 28 institutions have been judged to be in a marginal or unsatisfactory state of financial health. The budget takes no substantial account of the need to improve higher education where eight of the 13 institutions are financially marginal or unsatisfactory. We believe that more needs to be done to put this right.
Mae’n braf clywed gan Helen Mary oherwydd ni fedraf i fyth ei gweld y tu ôl i’r piler yna. Nid yw’r gyllideb addysg ychwaith yn cymryd i ystyriaeth ddifrifol drafferthion addysg bellach yng Nghymru lle barnwyd bod 15 o’r 28 sefydliad mewn cyflwr iechyd ariannol ymylol neu anfoddhaol. Nid yw’r gyllideb yn cydnabod i unrhyw raddau sylweddol yr angen i wella addysg uwch lle mae wyth o’r 13 sefydliad yn ymylol neu’n anfoddhaol yn ariannol. Credwn fod angen gwneud mwy i unioni hyn.
Above all, the reason why we cannot vote for this budget is because it includes significant money that will go towards the new private sector organisation that is being set up to run the new performance management system for teachers. It is entirely wrong that we cannot find the money for school buildings but that we can find the money for a private organisation—effectively a new quango—that was rejected by the Under-16 Education Committee this morning. That is an expensive way of delivering performance-related pay for teachers. Good teachers need better pay but not in the way it is presented in this budget.
Uwchlaw popeth, y rheswm pam na allwn bleidleisio o blaid y gyllideb hon yw am ei bod yn cynnwys arian sylweddol a fydd yn mynd tuag at y corff sector preifat newydd sydd yn cael ei sefydlu i redeg y system rheoli perfformiad newydd ar gyfer athrawon. Mae’n gwbl anghyfiawn na allwn ganfod arian ar gyfer adeiladau ysgol ond ein bod yn gallu canfod arian ar gyfer corff preifat—cwango newydd i bob diben—a wrthodwyd gan y Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16 y bore yma. Mae hynny’n ffordd gostus o sefydlu tâl ar sail perfformiad i athrawon. Mae angen gwell cyflogau ar athrawon da ond nid yn y ffordd y’u cyflwynir yn y gyllideb hon.
Peter Black has already mentioned that we are unhappy about procedures as well as the outcome. The way that performance-related pay was dealt with in the Committee this morning epitomises the kind of problems to which we refer. Although it was dropped from the Under-16 Education Committee agenda at the last minute this morning, the issue of performance-related pay was debated and the Committee voted to reject the proposals that are in this budget. We were told by officials that, first, the Committee is a mere consultee and, second, that although the consultation period on these proposals has not ended, the process of advertising and letting the contracts for this new company is so far advanced that it would be almost impossible to change. The Executive has gone ahead with the system without waiting for the end of the consultation period. That is what is wrong with the way that things are run. So much for consultation, so much for transparency, so much for inclusiveness.
Mae Peter Black eisoes wedi sôn ein bod yn anhapus ynglŷn â’r dulliau gweithredu yn ogystal â’r canlyniad. Mae’r ffordd yr ymdriniwyd â thâl ar sail perfformiad yn y Pwyllgor y bore yma yn ymgorffori’r math o broblemau y cyfeiriwn atynt. Er iddo gael ei ollwng oddi ar agenda’r Pwyllgor Addysg Cyn-16 ar y funud olaf y bore yma, fe drafodwyd tâl ar sail perfformiad a phleidleisiodd y Pwyllgor i wrthod y cynigion sydd yn y gyllideb hon. Dywedwyd wrthym gan swyddogion, yn gyntaf, nad yw’r Pwyllgor ond yn gorff yr ymgynghorir ag ef ac, yn ail, er nad yw’r cyfnod ymgynghori ar y cynigion hyn wedi dod i ben, fod y broses o hysbysebu a gosod contractau ar gyfer y cwmni newydd hwn wedi mynd mor bell fel y byddai’n amhosibl bron ei newid. Mae’r Weithrediaeth wedi bwrw ymlaen â’r system heb ddisgwyl tan ddiwedd y cyfnod ymgynghori. Dyna’r hyn sydd o’i le gyda’r ffordd y mae pethau’n cael eu rhedeg. Naw wfft i ymgynghori, i dryloywder, i fod yn gynhwysol.
This is a draft budget. The Liberal Democrats hope that our concerns will be addressed before the final budget is presented in February. We also hope that by then the Executive will have demonstrated a more acceptable approach to the wishes, views and decisions of Committees. Above all, we hope that by February the Labour administration will have called in their favours from Tony Blair and received some money to cover Objective 1 funding.
Cyllideb ddrafft yw hon. Gobeithia’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol y rhoddir sylw i’n pryderon cyn y cyflwynir y gyllideb derfynol ym mis Chwefror. Gobeithiwn hefyd y bydd y Weithrediaeth erbyn hynny wedi dangos ffordd fwy derbyniol o ymdrin â dymuniadau, barn a phenderfyniadau’r Pwyllgorau. Uwchlaw popeth, erbyn mis Chwefror, gobeithiwn y bydd Tony Blair yn ei dro, dan bwysau o du’r weinyddiaeth Lafur, yn barod i gynnig arian gogyfer â chyllid Amcan 1.
It is a pleasure to see that so many Plaid Cymru Members and the Business Secretary have now come in to listen to my contribution to the debate. It is hardly a real endorsement of the three-line whip laid on Plaid Cymru Members not to oppose the budget that they have obviously been too embarrassed to remain in the Chamber for most of the debate today.
Pleser yw gweld bod cynifer o Aelodau Plaid Cymru a’r Trefnydd wedi dod i mewn erbyn hyn i wrando ar fy nghyfraniad i’r ddadl. Prin ei bod yn dangos cefnogaeth wirioneddol i’r chwip dair llinell sydd ar Aelodau Plaid Cymru i’w hatal rhag gwrthwynebu’r gyllideb eu bod yn amlwg yn rhy anghyfforddus i aros yn y Siambr ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o’r ddadl heddiw.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 77
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 77
I have had a number of references to people being absent. I have noticed that some Members who refer to people being absent have themselves been absent at times.
Cefais nifer o gyfeiriadau at y ffaith bod pobl yn absennol. Sylwais fod rhai Aelodau sydd yn cyfeirio at y ffaith bod eraill yn absennol wedi bod yn absennol eu hunain ar brydiau.
The question of match funding has been rumbling on for some time. The Assembly’s calls for full match funding for the whole of the Objective 1 programme have been ignored. Journalists have been misled and the public has been fooled by the administration. No amount of spin can hide the fact that this budget does not answer the desperate need to maximise the Objective 1 programme. We are awaiting the commitment and the guarantee for match funding for the whole of the Objective 1 programme. Otherwise, the First Secretary—I am glad to see that he has now arrived—will have to pay the price in a vote of no confidence.
Bu pwnc cyllid cyfatebol yn rhygnu yn ei flaen ers amser. Mae galwadau’r Cynulliad am gyllid cyfatebol llawn i’r rhaglen Amcan 1 yn ei chyfanrwydd wedi cael eu hanwybyddu. Camarweiniwyd newyddiadurwyr a thwyllwyd y cyhoedd gan y weinyddiaeth. Ni all faint bynnag o sbin guddio’r ffaith nad yw’r gyllideb hon yn ateb yr angen dirfawr am hybu’r rhaglen Amcan 1 i’r eithaf. Yr ydym yn disgwyl am yr ymrwymiad a’r gwarant y rhoddir cyllid cyfatebol i’r rhaglen Amcan 1 yn ei chyfanrwydd. Fel arall, bydd yn rhaid i’r Prif Ysgrifennydd—yr wyf yn falch gweld ei fod yntau wedi cyrraedd erbyn hyn—dalu’r pris mewn pleidlais o ddiffyg hyder.
Alun Michael The First Secretary spoken in English p. 78
Alun Michael Y Prif Ysgrifennydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 78
Point of order. Are we going to make a habit of commenting when people leave the Chamber? If so, the mass exodus of the Conservative Group on various occasions will then become fair game.
Pwynt o drefn. A ydym am fynd i’r arfer o dynnu sylw at y ffaith bod pobl yn gadael y Siambr? Os felly, ni fydd ond yn rhesymol tynnu sylw at ymadawiad y Grŵp Ceidwadol yn ei gyfanrwydd ar amryw o achlysuron.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 78
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 78
I am grateful to the First Secretary for his support for the point of order I made before he came in.
Yr wyf yn ddiolchgar i’r Prif Ysgrifennydd am ei gefnogaeth i’r pwynt o drefn a wneuthum cyn iddo ddod i mewn.
Alun Michael The First Secretary spoken in English p. 78
Alun Michael Y Prif Ysgrifennydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 78
I was here.
Yr oeddwn yma.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 78
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 78
I am sorry. The First Secretary was in.
Mae’n ddrwg gennyf. Yr oedd y Prif Ysgrifennydd yma.
The First Secretary frequently talks about the confidence that we must instil in various sectors about the Objective 1 programme. If only he could say with the same confidence in Plenary that he could obtain from the Treasury the full match funding for the whole of the Objective 1 programme. Day by day, as we highlight this essential need, figures are fiddled, funds are moved and budgets are top sliced. A paper for the Economic Development Committee some weeks ago stated that responsibility for match funding would fall on project sponsors such as the Welsh Development Agency, the Wales Tourist Board or local government. It is clear that the economic development budget is being cut. The WDA’s funds are being cut. Problems with local government funds are well reported in the news at the moment and funding for the Wales Tourist Board is not being increased. That demonstrates the First Secretary’s commitment to supporting the Objective 1 programme. It is clearly not in his interest to obtain many applications for structural funds because he does not have the match funds to meet those commitments.
Mae’r Prif Ysgrifennydd yn sôn yn aml am yr hyder sydd yn rhaid inni ei ennyn mewn amryw o sectorau ynglŷn â rhaglen Amcan 1. O na bai yn gallu dweud gyda’r un hyder mewn Cyfarfod Llawn y gallai gael cyllid cyfatebol llawn i’r rhaglen Amcan 1 yn ei chyfanrwydd o’r Trysorlys. Ddiwrnod ar ôl diwrnod, wrth inni amlygu’r angen holl bwysig hwn, caiff ffigurau eu hystumio, caiff arian ei symud a chaiff cyllidebau eu brig-dorri. Mewn papur i’r Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd rai wythnosau yn ôl datganwyd y byddai’r cyfrifoldeb am gyllid cyfatebol yn disgyn ar noddwyr prosiectau, megis Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru, Bwrdd Croeso Cymru neu lywodraeth leol. Mae’n amlwg bod y gyllideb datblygu economaidd yn cael ei thorri. Mae arian Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru yn cael ei dorri. Ceir adroddiadau lu yn y newyddion ar hyn o bryd am broblemau cyllid llywodraeth leol ac nid yw’r arian a roddir i Fwrdd Croeso Cymru yn cael ei gynyddu. Mae hynny’n dangos ymrwymiad y Prif Ysgrifennydd i gefnogi’r rhaglen Amcan 1. Mae’n amlwg nad yw’n fanteisiol iddo ef fod llawer o geisiadau am nawdd strwythurol yn dod i law oherwydd nid oes ganddo’r cyllid cyfatebol i wireddu’r ymrwymiadau hynny.
There was an interesting development today in our debate on operating aids in the Economic Development Committee. It was stated in a Committee paper that Treasury agreement to tax relief in any form may reduce the Assembly’s block grant. That demonstrates clearly this Government’s lack of commitment to the Objective 1 programme. If we work in tandem with Merseyside, south Yorkshire and other Objective 1 areas in England and Scotland, I hardly think that they will be prepared to see their budgets top-sliced and their education and health budgets cut purely because of the operating aids that are proposed to enhance the Objective 1 programme.
Cafwyd datblygiad diddorol heddiw yn ein dadl ar gymhorthion gweithredu yn y Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd. Dywedwyd mewn papur i’r Pwyllgor y gallai cytundeb y Trysorlys i ostwng trethi ar unrhyw ffurf leihau grant bloc y Cynulliad. Mae hynny’n dangos yn eglur ddiffyg ymrwymiad y Llywodraeth hon i’r rhaglen Amcan 1. Os ydym am weithio ochr yn ochr â Glannau Mersi, de Swydd Efrog ac ardaloedd Amcan 1 eraill yn Lloegr a’r Alban, go brin dybiwn i y byddant hwy’n barod i weld eu cyllidebau’n cael eu brig-dorri a’u cyllidebau addysg ac iechyd yn cael eu torri am ddim rheswm heblaw am y cymhorthion gweithredu a awgrymir i wella’r rhaglen Amcan 1.
In a somewhat low profile paper, the Secretary for Economic Development issued a written statement announcing the merger of three funds operated by local government: the Welsh capital challenge, the local authority regeneration scheme and the strategic development scheme. These funds are being raided to be used as match funding—and I quote the Finance Secretary—‘to lever European structural funds’. She has also highlighted that the Pathway to Prosperity budget is being used similarly. That budget, which was earmarked for economic regeneration, is being raided for match funds. That is another admission that match funding will have to come from existing budgets. The only explanation is that funds are being moved from one area to another to accommodate the Objective 1 programme. The programme has to fit the budget, rather than the budget fitting the programme. This budget does not meet the essential need of match funding and Assembly Members that do not oppose it are selling out the people who have elected them, particularly those that represent constituencies in Objective 1 areas.
Mewn papur â phroffil digon isel, cyhoeddodd yr Ysgrifennydd Datblygu Economaidd ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn cyhoeddi bod tair cronfa a weinyddir gan lywodraeth leol i gael eu huno: her gyfalaf Cymru, cynllun adnewyddu awdurdodau lleol a’r cynllun datblygu strategol. Mae’r cronfeydd hyn yn cael eu hysbeilio i’w defnyddio fel cyllid cyfatebol—a dyfynnaf yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid—‘i ddechrau manteisio ar gronfeydd strwythurol Ewrop’. Mae hefyd wedi tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod cyllideb Ffordd i Ffyniant yn cael ei defnyddio mewn modd tebyg. Mae’r gyllideb honno, a glustnodwyd ar gyfer adnewyddu economaidd, yn cael ei hysbeilio i gael cyllid cyfatebol. Dyna gyfaddefiad arall y bydd yn rhaid i’r cyllid cyfatebol ddod o’r cyllidebau sydd yn bod yn barod. Yr unig esboniad yw bod arian yn cael ei symud o un maes i faes arall i ddarparu ar gyfer rhaglen Amcan 1. Rhaid i’r rhaglen honno gydweddu â’r gyllideb, yn hytrach na bod y gyllideb yn cydweddu â’r rhaglen. Nid yw’r gyllideb hon yn cyflawni’r angen holl bwysig i ddarparu cyllid cyfatebol ac mae Aelodau o’r Cynulliad nad ydynt yn ei gwrthwynebu yn bradychu’r bobl sydd wedi eu hethol, yn enwedig y rhai hynny sydd yn cynrychioli etholaethau mewn ardaloedd Amcan 1.
I am pleased to wind up the second debate on the budget process. I thank Members for their contributions. I enjoyed some, agreed with some and disagreed with others. Our discussions in this Chamber clearly illustrate the new democratic process in Wales, of which I am proud.
Mae’n bleser gennyf ddirwyn yr ail ddadl ar broses y gyllideb i ben. Diolchaf i’r Aelodau am eu cyfraniadau. Yr wyf wedi mwynhau rhai, wedi cytuno â rhai ac anghytuno ag eraill. Mae ein trafodaethau yn y Siambr hon yn dangos y broses ddemocrataidd newydd yng Nghymru yn glir, ac yr wyf yn ymfalchïo ynddi.
I certainly enjoyed the repartee across the Chamber on many of these issues. However, I reiterate the importance of agreeing the budget process today. The Assembly is not isolated from Wales; it is an integral part of it. Our decisions today impact on local government, health, the Welsh Development Agency, the Arts Council of Wales and everybody else in Wales. They need the certainty of a budget to plan their work. I thank Plaid Cymru for recognising that, as the largest opposition party, it has a responsibility. To exercise that responsibility is not to forego principles, but to show that you have principles. That is important.
Yr wyf yn sicr wedi mwynhau’r ffraethineb ar draws y Siambr ar lawer o’r materion hyn. Fodd bynnag, ailadroddaf bwysigrwydd cytuno ar broses y gyllideb heddiw. Nid yw’r Cynulliad wedi ei ynysu oddi wrth Gymru; mae’n rhan annatod ohoni. Mae ein penderfyniadau heddiw yn effeithio ar lywodraeth leol, iechyd, Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru, Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a phawb arall yng Nghymru. Mae angen sicrwydd cyllideb arnynt iddynt allu cynllunio eu gwaith. Diolchaf i Blaid Cymru am gydnabod bod ganddi, fel yr wrthblaid fwyaf, gyfrifoldeb. Nid yw arddel y cyfrifoldeb hwnnw yn golygu ildio egwyddorion, ond dangos bod gennych egwyddorion. Mae hynny’n bwysig.
I am aware that many comments on my budget today have been made here before. First, I will deal with Phil’s points on structural funds. The £50 million that he mentioned, which is the cost of existing programmes for next year, was included in figures for the Economic Development Committee from 13 October onwards. I will try to address some of the serious issues that Phil raised in the spending review process. However, I have tried to explain several times in this Chamber and in answers to questions and correspondence that a cash advance from the European Commission does not score against public expenditure until a payment is made to a grant recipient. This is not additional spending power over and above what is contained in the departmental expenditure limit.
Yr wyf yn ymwybodol bod llawer o’r sylwadau ar fy nghyllideb heddiw wedi cael eu gwneud yma o’r blaen. Yn gyntaf, yr wyf am ddelio â phwyntiau Phil ar gronfeydd strwythurol. Yr oedd y £50 miliwn a grybwyllodd, sef cost y rhaglenni presennol dros y flwyddyn nesaf, wedi ei gynnwys yn ffigurau’r Pwyllgor Datblygu Economaidd o 13 Hydref ymlaen. Ceisiaf ymdrin â rhai o’r materion difrifol a godwyd gan Phil o fewn proses yr adolygiad gwariant. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf wedi ceisio esbonio sawl gwaith yn y Siambr hon ac mewn atebion i gwestiynau a gohebiaeth nad yw dyraniad arian a ddaw oddi wrth y Comisiwn Ewropeaidd yn sgorio yn erbyn gwariant cyhoeddus hyd nes y rhoddir taliad i’r sawl sydd yn derbyn grant. Nid hawl ychwanegol i wario y tu hwnt i’r hyn sydd wedi ei gynnwys o fewn y terfyn gwariant adrannol yw hyn.
Would it be available if there was an unexpected level of spending in the first year? Could we draw on it even though it goes beyond the Barnett formula?
A fyddai ar gael pe ceid lefel annisgwyl o wariant yn y flwyddyn gyntaf? A allwn ni fanteisio arno hyd yn oed pe bai’n mynd tu hwnt i fformwla Barnett?
This money comes through the system and if it is required, we will be able to use it in the first year. I will clarify the points made on structural funds in my response. On Glyn’s reference to the umbilical cord, I thought that I had lost that some forty years ago. I certainly do not have a cord linked to Downing Street or anything else. I am very much my own person, and this budget reflects Wales’s needs. Everybody who knows me, knows that that suggestion is ridiculous. However, I will take it in the spirit in which it was made.
Daw’r arian hwn drwy’r system ac, os bydd ei angen, gallwn ei ddefnyddio yn y flwyddyn gyntaf. Rhoddaf eglurhad ar y pwyntiau a wnaethpwyd ar gronfeydd strwythurol yn fy ymateb. O ran cyfeiriad Glyn at y llinyn bogail, credwn imi golli hwnnw ryw ddeugain mlynedd yn ôl. Yn sicr nid oes gennyf linyn ynghlwm wrth Stryd Downing na dim byd arall. Safaf ar fy nhraed fy hun, ac mae’r gyllideb hon yn adlewyrchu anghenion Cymru. Gŵyr pawb sydd yn fy adnabod bod yr awgrym yna yn chwerthinllyd. Fodd bynnag, derbyniaf ef yn yr ysbryd y’i gwnaethpwyd ynddo.
Edwina, imagine that you were a member of a party that, for 18 terrible years, had dictated to Wales, creating the conditions that qualified so much of that country for future Objective 1 funding. Imagine that you then found yourself in the Chamber of a building that you did not believe should exist, courtesy of a voting system that you did not believe in. What would you do?
Edwina, dychmygwch eich bod yn aelod o blaid a fu, am 18 mlynedd ofnadwy, yn gormesu Cymru, gan greu’r amodau sydd yn peri bod cymaint o’r wlad yn gymwys i gael cyllid Amcan 1 yn y dyfodol. Dychmygwch eich bod wedyn yn cael eich hun yn Siambr adeilad na chredech chi ddylai fodoli, ar sail system bleidleisio nad oeddech yn credu ynddi. Beth fyddech chi’n ei wneud?
I do not know. That is too much of a fantasy for me. However, I accept the point. Glyn mentioned damping grants. That issue was taken out of context in some of our discussions. Damping grants are a Partnership Council issue and there are several fundamental issues relating to it. There are very poor authorities in Wales. It is all very well to say that they should get their houses in order, but local authorities had a terrible time during 18 years of Tory Government. That Government had nothing but disrespect for local government and democracy.
Ni wn i. Mae hynny’n ormod o ffantasi i mi. Fodd bynnag, derbyniaf y pwynt. Soniodd Glyn am grantiau dampio. Cafodd y mater ei gymryd allan o’i gyd-destun mewn rhai o’n trafodaethau. Mater i’r Cyngor Partneriaeth yw grantiau dampio ac mae nifer o ystyriaethau sylfaenol ynghlwm â hynny. Mae yna awdurdodau tlawd iawn yng Nghymru. Hawdd yw dweud y dylent gael trefn ar eu gweithgareddau, ond cafodd awdurdodau lleol amser ofnadwy yn ystod 18 mlynedd o Lywodraeth Dorïaidd. Nid oedd gan y Llywodraeth honno ddim ond amarch i lywodraeth leol a democratiaeth.
Glyn also referred helpfully to the dairy hygiene issue, about which I am as concerned as him. I was horrified when we first found that there might be problems with that. I think we all recognise that we must assist dairy farmers in Wales. I will pursue this issue vigorously and I am delighted to make money available for this in the budget.
Cyfeiriodd Glyn hefyd yn adeiladol at fater glanweithdra mewn llaethdai, sydd yn peri cymaint o bryder i mi ag i yntau. Brawychwyd fi pan ganfuom gyntaf y gallai fod yna broblemau gyda hynny. Yr wyf yn siŵr ein bod i gyd yn cydnabod bod yn rhaid inni gynorthwyo ffermwyr llaeth Cymru. Byddaf yn mynd ar drywydd hyn yn egnïol ac yr wyf wrth fy modd yn darparu arian ar gyfer hyn yn y gyllideb.
Peter Black made the next contribution. I acknowledge the discussions that we have had in Committee, particularly on housing, an issue which I know is close to his heart. He mentioned inclusive politics and his points about the process were well-made. As I said in my opening speech, in the coming years we might consider how the budgeting process has worked and how we might want to hone and change it. I am always open to discussion on that.
Peter Black wnaeth y cyfraniad nesaf. Cydnabyddaf y trafodaethau yr ydym wedi eu cael mewn Pwyllgorau, yn enwedig ar dai, mater sydd, mi wn, yn agos at ei galon. Soniodd am wleidyddiaeth gynhwysol a chyflwynodd ei bwyntiau am y broses yn huawdl iawn. Fel y dywedais yn fy araith agoriadol, yn y blynyddoedd i ddod gallwn ystyried sut y mae’r broses gyllidebu wedi gweithio a sut yr hoffem ei chaboli a’i newid. Yr wyf bob amser yn agored i drafodaeth ar hynny.
However, to be frank, my response to your comments on eye tests and beef on the bone, is that real opposition is responsible opposition. If I was to look at the Liberals in four years’ time and mark you on your contributions so far, on your added value and on the way you serve the interests of the people of Wales, as I would an exam paper, you would fail hands down.
Fodd bynnag, i fod yn onest, fy ymateb i’ch sylwadau ar brofion llygaid a chig eidion ar yr asgwrn yw mae gwir wrthblaid yw gwrthblaid gyfrifol. Pe bawn i’n edrych ar y Rhyddfrydwyr ymhen pedair blynedd ac yn rhoi marciau ichi am eich cyfraniadau hyd yma, ar eich gwerth ychwanegol a’r ffordd yr ydych yn gwasanaethu diddordebau pobl Cymru, fel y buaswn yn marcio papur arholiad, byddech yn methu yn llwyr.
Point of order. May I remind the Presiding Officer of the ruling made last week about the names of parties?
Pwynt o drefn. A gaf i atgoffa’r Llywydd am y rheol a bennwyd yr wythnos ddiwethaf ynglŷn ag enwau pleidiau?
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 82
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 82
The name of the party is the Liberal Democrats.
Enw’r blaid yw’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol.
It was a mere slip of the tongue, Presiding Officer. I did not intend to insult anybody. I now move on to Alison Halford’s comments. I thank her but I do not think I should stroll into the area of ‘little people’ comments.
Llithro’n ddifeddwl a wneuthum, Llywydd. Ni fwriadwn sarhau neb. Symudaf yn awr at sylwadau Alison Halford. Diolchaf iddi ond ni chredaf y dylwn fentro i drafod sylwadau am ‘bobl fach’.
I concur with many of Janet Davies’s points. She raised some serious issues. I am concerned about her point about how financial reports are presented. Sometimes, when we look at financial reports, it is unclear what the percentages in the budget mean in real money terms. I will look at how such reports are presented in the Assembly to ensure that they are transparent. If necessary, there will be more explanation of budget headings and where money is allocated in order to assist Members.
Cytunaf â llawer o bwyntiau Janet Davies. Cododd rai pwyntiau difrifol. Yr wyf yn poeni am ei phwynt ynglŷn â’r ffordd y cyflwynir adroddiadau ariannol. Weithiau, wrth inni edrych ar adroddiadau ariannol, nid yw’n glir beth y mae’r canrannau yn y gyllideb yn ei olygu yn nhermau arian gwirioneddol. Byddaf yn edrych ar sut y caiff adroddiadau o’r fath eu cyflwyno yn y Cynulliad i sicrhau eu bod yn dryloyw. Os bydd rhaid, ceir mwy o esboniad ym mhenawdau’r gyllideb ac i ble y dyrennir arian er mwyn cynorthwyo’r Aelodau.
I am one of a small number of Assembly Members who understand the difficulties that Edwina and her Cabinet colleagues have in cutting up a finite cake, when demands are in excess of what is available. Difficult decisions have to be made. I understand that they are not made on any political grounds.
Yr wyf i yn un o nifer fechan o Aelodau’r Cynulliad sydd yn deall yr anawsterau a wynebir gan Edwina a’i chydweithwyr yn y Cabinet wrth rannu teisen o faint penodol pan fo’r galw yn fwy na’r hyn sydd ar gael. Mae’n rhaid gwneud penderfyniadau anodd. Deallaf na wneir mohonynt ar seiliau gwleidyddol.
However, I understand that health authorities in Wales expect an increase in their budgets of about 6 per cent. How much of that 6 per cent is taken up by increases in salaries and compliance with the working time directive? I will understand if the Finance Secretary cannot give me a direct answer now. Perhaps she will be kind enough to write to me, and to all other Assembly Members, when she has that answer.
Fodd bynnag, deallaf fod awdurdodau iechyd Cymru yn disgwyl cynnydd o tua 6 y cant yn eu cyllidebau. Faint o’r 6 y cant yna fydd yn mynd ar godiadau cyflog ac ar gydymffurfio â’r gyfarwyddeb amser gweithio? Byddaf yn deall os na all yr Ysgrifennydd Cyllid roi ateb uniongyrchol imi yn awr. Efallai y byddai mor garedig ag ysgrifennu ataf, ac at holl Aelodau eraill y Cynulliad, pan fydd yr ateb ganddi.
I have been pursuing the issue of the cost of complying with the working time directive. I have received several comments about the cost of the working time directive. The working time directive has been implemented in the private sector to ensure good management and that workers can work properly. I will be happy to pursue that issue as it is of ongoing concern to me. In due course, when I get to the bottom of the various questions raised, I will make information available in the Library for Members.
Yr wyf wedi bod yn dilyn trywydd cost cydymffurfio â’r gyfarwyddeb amser gweithio. Derbyniais nifer o sylwadau ynghylch cost y gyfarwyddeb amser gweithio. Rhoddwyd y gyfarwyddeb amser gweithio ar waith yn y sector preifat i sicrhau rheolaeth dda ac i sicrhau y gall gweithwyr weithio’n iawn. Byddaf yn hapus dilyn trywydd y mater hwn gan fy mod yn ymddiddori’n gyson ynddo. Maes o law, pan ddof at wraidd yr amrywiol gwestiynau a godwyd, byddaf yn sicrhau bod y wybodaeth ar gael i’r Aelodau yn y Llyfrgell.
I return to the points raised by Janet Davies. I feel passionately about housing and I wish I could have done far more for housing. Housing is such a serious issue in Wales. When we look at the condition of the Welsh housing stock and how people live, it is obvious that housing issues need to be addressed. I hope that the Environment and Local Government Committee can look at strategies and priorities and take the housing agenda forward. We would almost never have enough money to rectify the wrongs that have happened in housing over the last few years. In the long-term, we have to address problems such as the social exclusion caused by estates having been built on the sides of mountains. It will take decades to right those wrongs. With the start made in this draft budget I hope that we can start to change the agenda in Wales. Maybe when the next generation looks back in 20 years’ time, they will see the value of devolution in that introduction of a positive agenda for housing.
Dychwelaf at y sylwadau a nododd Janet Davies. Teimlaf yn gryf ynghylch tai a byddai’n dda gennyf petawn i wedi gallu gwneud llawer mwy dros dai. Mae tai yn bwnc mor ddifrifol yng Nghymru. Pan edrychwn ar gyflwr stoc tai Cymru a sut y mae pobl yn byw, mae’n amlwg bod rhaid mynd i’r afael â materion sydd yn ymwneud â thai. Gobeithiaf y gall Pwyllgor yr Amgylchedd a Llywodraeth Leol edrych ar strategaethau a blaenoriaethau i ddatblygu’r agenda tai. Mae’n debyg na fyddai gennym fyth ddigon o arian i gywiro’r camgymeriadau a wnaethpwyd ym maes tai dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Yn y tymor hir, rhaid inni fynd i’r afael â phroblemau megis y dieithrwch cymdeithasol a achosir gan adeiladu ystadau ar ochrau mynyddoedd. Bydd yn cymryd degawdau i gywiro’r camgymeriadau hynny. Gyda’r dechrau a wnaethpwyd gyda’r gyllideb ddrafft hon gobeithiaf y gallwn ddechrau newid yr agenda yng Nghymru. Efallai, pan fydd y genhedlaeth nesaf yn edrych yn ôl ymhen 20 mlynedd, y byddant yn gweld gwerth datganoli gan iddo gyflwyno agenda gadarnhaol ar gyfer tai.
I am as concerned as anyone about the administration costs of all aspects of education. It is a constant complaint that we all hear. School governors want money to go into schools. I have made it clear that I will ensure that any extra money spent goes to the heart of services. In the spending review I have made a large provision for the education and training budget—£844 million. In response to Janet’s point, we have started to make a difference in education.
Yr wyf mor bryderus ag unrhyw un ynghylch costau gweinyddol pob agwedd ar addysg. Mae hon yn gŵyn cyson yr ydym i gyd yn ei chlywed. Mae llywodraethwyr ysgolion am weld arian yn mynd i mewn i’r ysgolion. Gwneuthum yn glir y byddaf yn sicrhau bod unrhyw arian ychwanegol yn mynd at galon y gwasanaethau. Yn yr adolygiad gwariant yr wyf wedi darparu cyfran fawr ar gyfer y gyllideb addysg a hyfforddiant—£844 miliwn. I ymateb i bwynt Janet, yr ydym wedi dechrau gwneud gwahaniaeth mewn addysg.
On agriculture, I am delighted with the cross-party support on the meat hygiene issue. It is important that we pursue that. Sue Essex spoke about opening up the process and building on the approach. I appreciate that it is a difficult process. If you are not an expert on budgets you start to plough through the paperwork and usually tend to be more interested in your own Committee. I would like to discuss building the approach, getting a greater understanding and perhaps making the approach more open. I welcome suggestions.
Ar amaethyddiaeth, yr wyf wrth fy modd gyda’r gefnogaeth drawsbleidiol ar fater hylendid cig. Siaradodd Sue Essex ynghylch agor y broses ac adeiladu ar yr agwedd a ddangoswyd. Deallaf bod hon yn broses anodd. Os nad ydych yn arbenigwr ar gyllidebau, yr ydych yn dechrau tyrchu drwy’r papurau ac fel arfer mae gennych fwy o ddiddordeb yn eich Pwyllgor eich hun. Hoffwn drafod sut mae ymdrin â hyn, sicrhau gwell dealltwriaeth ac efallai sicrhau gwneud yr ymdriniaeth yn fwy agored. Croesawaf unrhyw awgrymiadau.
I have covered Sue’s point on housing. Sue also mentioned the social services. I have always thought that the social services have been Cinderellas in local government. This concerns me because they deal with some of the poorest and most vulnerable groups in society—the elderly and children. It is essential that we ensure the kind of joined-up thinking that is now developing in health issues and that we understand the needs of people so that social services can deliver. There has been a stigma in relation to social services in some areas. We should be proud of the fact that we can start to change that. Social services are a provision for those in need; it does not mean that there is anything wrong with those who benefit from them. It is important that this agenda proceeds.
Yr wyf wedi delio â phwynt Sue ar dai. Crybwyllodd Sue hefyd y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Byddaf wastad yn meddwl mai’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yw Sinderelau llywodraeth leol. Mae hyn yn fy mhoeni gan eu bod yn delio â’r grwpiau mwyaf bregus mewn cymdeithas—yr henoed a phlant. Mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn defnyddio’r un ffordd gydlynus o feddwl ag a welir mewn datblygiadau ym maes iechyd, a’n bod yn deall anghenion pobl fel y gall y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol eu diwallu. Mewn rhai meysydd mae stigma ynghlwm wrth y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol. Dylem ymfalchïo yn y ffaith ein bod yn gallu dechrau newid hynny. Darpariaeth ar gyfer y rheini sydd mewn angen yw’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol; nid yw’n golygu bod unrhyw beth o’i le ar y rheini sydd yn eu defnyddio. Mae’n bwysig bod yr agenda hon yn mynd yn ei blaen.
I disagree with some of the points that David Melding made today. As an administration, we are committed to public services, particularly health. I have given £1 billion from the comprehensive spending review over three years and there are numerous issues in health that still need to be resolved. I am committed to the development of the capital programme. I would like to see such a programme. However, I am also committed to ensuring that we get a capital profile by whatever suitable means. Some people do not want anything to do with the private finance initiative. I see this as another means of levering money into sectors that need money. If these options are viable, we must choose them. I will, in due course, discuss PFI and other relevant capital programmes. I welcome contributions on this issue.
Yr wyf yn anghytuno â rhai o’r sylwadau a wnaeth David Melding heddiw. Fel gweinyddiaeth, yr ydym yn hoelio’n sylw ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus, yn enwedig ym maes iechyd. Yr wyf wedi rhoi £1 biliwn o’r adolygiad cynhwysfawr o wariant dros dair blynedd ac mae sawl mater ym maes iechyd nad ydynt byth wedi eu datrys. Yr wyf â’m bryd ar ddatblygu’r rhaglen gyfalaf. Hoffwn weld rhaglen o’r fath. Fodd bynnag, yr wyf hefyd yn ymrwymedig i sicrhau ein bod yn cael proffil cyfalaf drwy unrhyw ddull addas. Nid yw rhai pobl eisiau ymwneud â’r fenter cyllid preifat o gwbl. Yr wyf yn gweld hyn fel ffordd arall o sianelu arian i’r sectorau sydd ag angen arian. Os yw’r dewisiadau hyn yn ymarferol, rhaid inni eu dewis. Cyn bo hir, byddaf yn trafod y fenter cyllid preifat a rhaglenni cyfalaf perthnasol eraill. Croesawaf gyfraniadau ar y mater hwn.
I am pleased that you are happy with the carers strategy because it is a project that I like. I also agree with appointing a children’s commissioner. We are trying to take a sincere approach on the issue of eye tests. We are looking at what the clinical needs would be. This subject will be discussed in committee. Committee members are committed to health issues and will be able to talk to clinicians and develop the policy. I agree with Carwyn Jones’s remarks, which he expressed eloquently despite interruptions. Val spoke about the role of the Committees, and this is crucial. It is essential that I know the views of the Committees. I recognise the disappointment when I do not deliver on everything that Committees want. Rod Richards made a valuable point on that. The reason is not that I do not like what I have been asked to do nor that I do not want to do it. Politically, I want to do deliver on some issues, but I cannot do so because I do not have a margin within the budget. Kirsty Williams raised the issue of the Wales Tourist Board. I understand the crucial importance of tourism to the Welsh economy. That is one sector for which I would have liked to be able to do more. I was disappointed when I saw the article in the South Wales Evening Post. That hotel development might have been a tremendous boost for tourism in your constituency, Kirsty.
Yr wyf yn falch eich bod yn fodlon gyda’r strategaeth i gynhalwyr gan fy mod yn hoff o’r prosiect. Cytunaf hefyd â phenodi comisiynydd plant. Yr ydym yn ceisio ymdrin â phrofion llygaid yn ddiffuant. Yr ydym yn edrych ar yr anghenion clinigol. Caiff y pwnc hwn ei drafod mewn pwyllgor. Mae aelodau’r Pwyllgor yn gadarn o blaid materion iechyd a byddant yn gallu siarad â chlinigwyr a datblygu’r polisi. Cytunaf â sylwadau Carwyn Jones, fe’i lleisiodd hwy yn huawdl er gwaethaf yr holl dorri ar ei draws. Siaradodd Val am swyddogaethau’r Pwyllgorau, ac mae hyn yn holl bwysig. Mae’n hanfodol fy mod yn gwybod barn y Pwyllgorau. Yr wyf yn ymwybodol o’r siom pan nad wyf yn cyflawni pob dim y mae’r Pwyllgorau eu heisiau. Yr oedd pwynt Rod Richards ar hynny yn un gwerthfawr. Nid yw’r ffaith nad wyf yn hoffi’r hyn a ofynnwyd imi neu nad wyf eisiau gwneud hynny, yn llywio fy mhenderfyniad o gwbl. Yn wleidyddol, yr wyf eisiau cyflawni rhai pethau, ond ni allaf wneud hynny gan nad oes gennyf le o fewn y gyllideb. Soniodd Kirsty Williams am Fwrdd Croeso Cymru. Deallaf bwysigrwydd hanfodol twristiaeth i economi Cymru. Dyma un maes yr hoffwn fod wedi gallu gwneud mwy drosto. Yr oeddwn yn siomedig pan welais yr erthygl yn y South Wales Evening Post. Gallai’r gwesty hwnnw fod wedi bod yn hwb enfawr i dwristiaeth yn eich etholaeth, Kirsty.
We return to structural funds, Nick, and the mention of the WDA budget. The same points are made on structural funds time and again. I can only reiterate the assurances I made before. We will never agree on this issue, but I know where my duty lies in terms of what I must deliver on the spending review and sorting out the issues on structural funds. Let there be no doubt, when Plaid Cymru agreed to support us today, and Phil Williams spoke in the debate, he made it quite clear—
Yr ydym yn dychwelyd at gronfeydd strwythurol, Nick, a sôn am gyllideb Awdurdod Datblygu Cymru. Caiff yr un pwyntiau eu gwneud ar gronfeydd strwythurol dro ar ôl tro. Y cyfan a allaf ei wneud yw ailadrodd yr addewidion yr wyf eisoes wedi eu rhoi. Ni chytunwn fyth ar y mater hwn, ond yr wyf yn gwybod lle mae fy nyletswydd o ran yr hyn sydd raid imi ei wneud ar yr adolygiad gwariant a threfnu materion ynglŷn â’r cronfeydd strwythurol. Gadewch imi eich sicrhau, pan gytunodd Plaid Cymru i’n cefnogi ni heddiw, a phan siaradodd Phil Williams yn y ddadl, nododd yn glir—
They have agreed to support you, have they?
Maent wedi cytuno i’ch cefnogi chi, ydynt?
Yes, they indicated they were abstaining today. I shall come back to the point about deals shortly and reiterate what Gareth Jones said. Phil explained clearly the reasons why the structural fund issue will not go away. That is an honourable position to take and it is a position that we fully understand as a minority Government in the Chamber.
Ydynt, dywedasant y byddent yn ymatal heddiw. Byddaf yn dychwelyd at y pwynt o fargeinio yn fuan a byddaf yn ailadrodd yr hyn a ddywedodd Gareth Jones. Eglurodd Phil yn eglur y rhesymau pam na fydd mater y cronfeydd strwythurol yn diflannu. Mae hynny’n safiad anrhydeddus i’w gymryd ac fel llywodraeth leiafrifol yn y Siambr, yr ydym yn deall hynny’n llawn.
Jenny Randerson spoke about eye tests. I am not an expert on that, but the Health and Social Services Committee will be. I will reiterate what I said to Kirsty that the Committee will know what to do.
Siaradodd Jenny Randerson am brofion llygaid. Nid wyf yn arbenigwraig ar hynny, ond fe fydd y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol. Ailadroddaf yr hyn a ddywedais wrth Kirsty, y bydd y Pwyllgor yn gwybod beth i’w wneud.
We are all concerned about education, especially about school buildings. We all go around our constituencies and notice the problems. However, where will the money come from? I do not have a pot of gold from which I can allocate more and more money. In response to the comments about performance-related pay. I made clear that that was different money, specified for that purpose. In light of what the Committee said, I will have further discussions with Rosemary Butler about some of the issues raised today.
Yr ydym i gyd yn pryderu am addysg ac adeiladau ysgolion yn enwedig. Yr ydym i gyd yn mynd o amgylch ein hetholaethau ac yn sylwi ar y problemau. Fodd bynnag, o ble daw’r arian? Nid oes gennyf sach ddiwaelod o aur i ddyrannu mwy a mwy o arian ohoni. I ymateb i’r sylwadau ynghylch tâl ar sail perfformiad. Dywedais yn glir mai arian gwahanol oedd hwnnw, a neilltuwyd at y diben hwnnw. Gyda golwg ar yr hyn a ddywedodd y Pwyllgor, byddaf yn cael trafodaethau pellach gyda Rosemary Butler ynghylch rhai o’r materion a godwyd heddiw.
Alun Cairns’s contribution on match funding—an issue that rumbles on—shows that Glyn Davies has unfortunately misled the Chamber today. He described Alun Cairns as an expert on Objective 1.
Dengys cyfraniad Alun Cairns ar gyllid cyfatebol—mater sydd yn rhygnu ymlaen—bod Glyn Davies, yn anffodus, wedi camarwain y Siambr heddiw. Disgrifiodd Alun Cairns fel arbenigwr ar Amcan 1.
For me, his contribution was more of a tirade. Alun, you put projects in doubt by your ill advice and inaccurate comments. You must start to understand public expenditure and European structural rules, otherwise there is no point in your contributing in this Chamber. You just mislead people.
Yn fy marn i, yr oedd ei gyfraniad yn fwy o ymosodiad llym na dim byd arall. Alun, yr ydych yn rhoi prosiectau yn y fantol drwy gyngor gwael a gwneud sylwadau anghywir. Rhaid ichi ddechrau deall gwariant cyhoeddus a rheolau strwythurol Ewrop, fel arall nid oes diben ichi gyfrannu yn y Siambr hon. Dim ond camarwain pobl yr ydych.
In the interest of accuracy, when did Edwina become first aware that Plaid Cymru would support this budget, and did any discussions take place at any time with Members of Plaid Cymru about support for this budget?
Gyda golwg ar gywirdeb, pryd daeth Edwina’n ymwybodol o gefnogaeth Plaid Cymru i’r gyllideb hon gyntaf, ac a fu unrhyw drafodaethau ar unrhyw adeg gydag Aelodau Plaid Cymru ynghylch cefnogi’r gyllideb?
Plaid Cymru indicated formally in the Chamber today that they will abstain and explained their reasons why. I have had discussions with Members from all political parties in this Chamber about the budget. I have had discussions with individual Members about particular issues, and I have made no secret of the fact that I want to get this budget through and want consensus on it. If I can get it, I would like consensus and agreement on certain issues. For example, there is common ground on the issue of free eye tests in the Chamber. It is not just an issue for Labour, Plaid Cymru or the Liberal party—it is a common issue. There are issues like the development bank—
Yn y Siambr heddiw, nododd Plaid Cymru yn ffurfiol eu bod am ymatal ac eglurodd y blaid eu rhesymau am hynny. Cefais drafodaethau gydag Aelodau pob plaid wleidyddol yn y Siambr ynghylch y gyllideb. Cefais drafodaethau gydag Aelodau unigol ynghylch materion penodol, ac nid wyf wedi cuddio’r ffaith fy mod eisiau gweld y gyllideb hon yn llwyddo a fy mod eisiau gweld consensws arni. Os oes modd, hoffwn weld consensws a chytundeb ar faterion penodol. Er enghraifft, ceir tir cyffredin yn y Siambr ar fater profion llygaid rhad ac am ddim. Nid mater i Lafur, i Blaid Cymru na’r blaid Ryddfrydol yw hwn—mae’n fater cyffredin. Mae yna faterion fel y banc datblygu—
Point of order. There is a party registered in Wales called the Liberal party. It is not represented in this Chamber. [Interruptions.] I did not raise this matter. It was Carwyn Jones and others who raised it.
Pwynt o drefn. Mae plaid o’r enw y blaid Ryddfrydol wedi ei chofrestru yng Nghymru. Nid yw hi’n cael ei chynrychioli yn y Siambr hon. [Torri ar draws.] Nid fi gododd y pwynt hwn. Carwyn Jones ac eraill a’i cododd.
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 88
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 88
Perhaps it would be helpful if Members occasionally referred to you by the shorter form.
Efallai y byddai o gymorth pe byddai’r Aelodau yn cael cyfeirio atoch drwy’r ffurf fyrrach weithiau.
To return to the issue, I have had conversations with many people about individual items in this budget. I have been honest and open. I thought inclusiveness was about talking to people and attempting to secure consensus. I am sorry that David Davies does not see it that way, but that is the way I feel about this process.
I ddychwelyd at y mater dan sylw, yr wyf wedi siarad â nifer o bobl ynghylch materion unigol yn y gyllideb. Yr wyf wedi bod yn onest ac yn agored. Yr oeddwn yn credu bod cynhwysiant yn golygu siarad â phobl a cheisio sicrhau consensws. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf nad yw David Davies o’r un farn, ond dyna sut yr wyf fi’n teimlo am y broses hon.
In conclusion, I place on record my thanks to all the opposition spokespeople for the courteous manner in which our discussions on the budget have been held. I have had the opportunity to speak to individual spokespersons on certain key elements and that is in the public domain. I am sorry that we were not able to reach an agreement on the budget this year—a budget constrained by an overall pot to which it was not possible to add.
I gloi, hoffwn gofnodi fy niolch i holl lefarwyr y gwrthbleidiau am y modd cwrtais y cynhaliwyd ein trafodaethau ar y gyllideb. Cefais y cyfle i siarad â llefarwyr unigol ar rai elfennau allweddol ac mae hynny’n wybodaeth gyhoeddus. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf nad oeddem yn gallu dod i gytundeb ar y gyllideb eleni—cyllideb a gyfyngwyd gan gyfanswm nad oedd modd ychwanegu ato.
Sometimes it requires courage as a politician to accept that your responsibilities are on a higher plane than that of the cheap sound bite. I am only sorry that two parties today placed press coverage higher than their responsibility to the nation of Wales. The budget is about our responsibility to Wales. I am prepared to be judged on the budget, and I commend it to you. [Applause.]
Weithiau gall bod yn wleidydd fynnu dewrder i dderbyn bod eich cyfrifoldebau ar lefel uwch na datganiad bachog diwerth. Mae’n ddrwg gennyf fod dwy blaid heddiw wedi rhoi mwy o bwyslais ar sylw yn y wasg nag ar eu cyfrifoldebau i genedl Cymru. Mae’r gyllideb yn ymwneud â’n cyfrifoldeb i Gymru. Yr wyf yn barod i gael fy meirniadu ar y gyllideb, ac yr wyf yn ei hargymell ichi. [Cymeradwyaeth.]
Dafydd Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer spoken in English p. 88
Dafydd Elis-Thomas Y Llywydd siaradwyd yn Saesneg t. 88
We will now vote on the motion.
Pleidleisiwn yn awr ar y cynnig.
DerbyniwydAdopted O blaidFor 27 YmatalAbstain 12 Yn erbynAgainst 14
Derbyniwyd y cynnig.
Motion adopted.
Sut y pleidleisiodd yr AelodauHow Members voted
O blaidFor (27)
- Lorraine Barrett
- Rosemary Butler
- Christine Chapman
- Andrew Davies
- Ron Davies
- Richard Edwards
- Sue Essex
- Val Feld
- Brian Gibbons
- Janice Gregory
- John Griffiths
- Christine Gwyther
- Alison Halford
- Edwina Hart
- Jane Hutt
- Ann Jones
- Carwyn Jones
- Peter Law
- Huw Lewis
- John Marek
- Alun Michael
- Tom Middlehurst
- Rhodri Morgan
- Lynne Neagle
- Alun Pugh
- Karen Sinclair
- Gwenda Thomas
YmatalAbstain (12)
- Janet Davies
- Jocelyn Davies
- Brian Hancock
- Pauline Jarman
- Gareth Jones
- Helen Mary Jones
- Ieuan Wyn Jones
- David Lloyd
- Rod Richards
- Owen John Thomas
- Rhodri Glyn Thomas
- Phil Williams
Yn erbynAgainst (14)
- Mick Bates
- Peter Black
- Nick Bourne
- Alun Cairns
- David Davies
- Glyn Davies
- Michael German
- William Graham
- Christine Humphreys
- David Melding
- Jonathan Morgan
- Jenny Randerson
- Peter Rogers
- Kirsty Williams
Daeth y cyfarfod i ben am 5.21 p.m.
The sessions ended at 5.21 p.m.